Chapter Text
Dearest Sirius,
I met you for the very first time half a decade ago, from day of writing. Back then you were a small, thin child, with dark circles under your eyes and a sharp little face. You barely came up to James’s chin, and yet you walked with the self-assured swagger of a much older child. Arrogance, some may have called it. But when you smiled, your eyes sparkled with such genuine joy, and when you laughed, your little nose wrinkled so innocently, and when you hugged James goodbye, it was full of the humblest kind of love.
My heart recognised you immediately. Yes , it said. There he is.
James spent almost every moment that Christmas talking about his new friend, his best friend, his Sirius. Even at 11, he worried for you.
The next time I saw you was two weeks later, and even in that short time at home, your light had dulled. No sparkling eyes, no little nose wrinkled in mirth, and certainly no love. But the very moment the Blacks had left, James ran up to you, throwing his arms around your neck and almost knocking you both to the ground. You clung to him, and some of your light began to return.
My heart recognised the two of you. Yes, it said. There they are.
The last time I saw you was just a few months ago now, and yet it feels like another half-decade. You stood shoulder to shoulder with James, tall and strong and brave, nothing like that small, sharp child I had met all those years ago. You hugged me goodbye, and I hated to let you go.
But as I watched you wave out of the train window with James, my heart sang. Yes, it said. There he is. There they are. There you are.
My son.
My son. Both of my sons, stronger and braver and kinder than I ever could have hoped.
You made a horrible, horrible mistake, darling, I understand that. You hurt Remus very deeply, and broke a very important promise. You put lives in danger. But I think you expect me and Monty to punish and condemn, to pull away and close off, when we will do nothing of the sort. A parent's job is not to be judge, jury, and executioner, but to be teacher, mentor, and protector.
Sirius - my son, James’s brother, and a Potter by any other name - you'll always have a home here with us, love. You'll always be our son.
The ring bears our family crest, as I'm sure you already know. It belonged to Monty’s great uncle - a good man, an Auror who was renowned for protecting the weak at all costs. It landed him in hot water more than once, but he never let that stop him from doing what was right. Monty says he would have liked you a lot, and it makes us both very happy to offer you his signet ring as a reminder of your place in our family.
We love you, Sirius. We also miss you terribly, so do come home for a visit soon, alright?
Take care, love, and Merry Christmas,
Mum & Dad