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Harry was used to being alone. He had never had someone there to protect him. In the Dursleys' home, he was shunned and hidden in the cupboard under the stairs. At school, he was ignored unless it was because he was The Boy Who Lived. Either way, he was used to it at this point. It’s been a year since Sirius escaped Azkaban, and he has finally been cleared of all charges. This is the first time Harry has gone to see him since he became a free man. While Sirius may be Harry’s godfather, Harry knows better than to get his hopes up. There was no reason to believe this would turn out any differently.
Harry had arrived earlier that night and went straight to his room. So far, he has sat awake in his room, too uncomfortable to sleep in an unfamiliar home. Getting restless, Harry crept outside to clear his head and get a drink of water. Since his release, Sirius had put a lot of effort into cleaning up Grimmauld Place. While it was still a dark and dreary place, it was cleaner, with a few homey touches that showed Sirius’s personality. There were smiling pictures of Harry’s parents and the Marauders framed around the house. As well as bright splashes of Gryffindor red through random pillows and blankets Sirius had haphazardly strewn around. As Harry made it to the kitchen, he heard a noise from the living room.
“Prongslet?” whispered Sirius, “What are you still doing up?”
Sirius was standing in the entrance of the living room, very clearly tired. He looked like he had just woken up, and his long curly hair was even more wild than usual.
“I was just getting a drink of water,” Harry explained. “I couldn't sleep.”
“Come on, then,” Sirius sighed, turning around to sit on the couch. “No point heading back to your room if you can’t sleep.”
Harry followed Sirius, but paused when he saw how little room there was on the couch. It was a small, but cozy couch with a fluffy maroon blanket draped across the back. With Sirius sitting there, Harry would be sitting shoulder to shoulder if he sat down as well. Harry loved his godfather, but after so many years of abuse from the Dursleys, he wasn't very used to having physical contact with others, especially with parental figures. After a moment of hesitation, Harry plopped down next to Sirius. Sirius yawned into his hand, and then draped it across Harry's shoulders, pulling him closer to his side. Harry stiffened before relaxing into his godfather's embrace.
Sirius didn't say anything, but Harry could see him starting to doze off to sleep. Slowly, Harry could start to feel his eyes drift closed as well. Harry was now fully resting on Sirius, and Sirius began to run one of his hands through Harry's hair. This was the first time Harry had ever experienced this, but he didn't think he ever wanted it to stop. The room was dim with only the warm flickering of the fireplace illuminating it. Harry could hear the soft puffs of his godfather's breath as well as the subtle sound of his heart under where Harry's head was resting on his chest. As Harry drifted off to sleep, he felt safe for the first time in his life.