Chapter 18

Lyria hastily read the owl and then ran down the stairs and into the kitchen. "Sirius!"

"What?" He jumped up. "What is it?"

"It's Harry... he left the school." She handed him the owl Dumbledore had sent, vaguely wondering why he hadn't sent Phineas.

"What?" Sirius scanned the letter and crumpled it. "Of all the....he's way too reckless sometimes...."

"Like his father?" Lyria suggested, checking for her wand. "Let's go."

"No, Lyri.... what about Catie?"

"I... you can't use her to... you damn well better be careful!" She snapped irritably.

He kissed her quickly. "I will." Sirius said before grabbing his cloak and disappearing out the front door.

She sighed and picked up her daughter. "Catie, let's hope your dad uses his head for once." She kissed the child's cheek.

Sirius was in Dumbledore's office instantaneously. "What is going on?" He demanded angrily. "How can you just let him leave?"

"Sirius... Harry has the opportunity to end this war right now... but he will need the Order's help. Including you."

"And you didn't think to notify me before he left?"

"He left before I was even aware of it."

"Where is he now?"

Dumbledore explained the situation as quickly as he could. "But Sirius, I must ask you to be careful... the last time you were involved in a battle in which Harry was involved..."

"I remember quite clearly." Sirius frowned and shook his head.

"Very well. I will be joining you shortly."

Sirius made his way to Harry.

By the time Sirius arrived, Harry was already locked in battle... so much so that he hardly noticed Sirius's arrival. He looked more... adult than he ever had.

Sirius was quickly engaged in battle and somehow found his way over to Harry. "You should have waited."

"I didn't," Harry replied.

"When we get home, you're grounded."

Harry grinned appreciatively and turned his attention back to the battle.

Sirius shouted curse after curse, taking out as many deatheaters as he could.

~*~*~*~

As the last hint of green light vanished, Harry raised his head and looked around. The battlescene was a mess... but it was worth the mess, the fight had been worth it for once, for in the middle of it all was the dark lord's dead body, facedown.

Sirius looked around and placed a hand on Harry's shoulder.

"It's over..." Harry said quietly.

"You killed him."

"Yeah..."

Sirius squeezed his shoulder. "Come on... you're still grounded."

Harry grinned. "I guess the rest of my seventh year is going to be kind of boring now, no one's going to try to kill me."

"I'm sure there are plenty of people who'll obsess over you."

He groaned. "Great."

Sirius let out a low chuckle. "Come on, let's return to Hogwarts to join the mass celebration of your success."

"Where's Lyria?" Harry asked suddenly, looking around.

"At the house with Catie."

"You left her there? I think you're grounded too."

"What was she supposed to do? Catie's still a baby."

Harry just grinned. "She's still going to be mad at you."

Sirius shrugged.

"Can we go back there? I think I'd rather be at that party than at the school..."

"It's your night."

"Thanks."

Sirius nodded.

The two went back to Number Twelve Grimmauld Place, where Lyria was waiting, not even having bothered to put Catie to bed.

Sirius followed Harry into the house, wearing a triumphant grin.

"Thank goodness you're both here in one piece, because I'm going to kill you both," Lyria told them, but she was smiling.

"Well Harry killed Voldemort, so that should get him a nice pardon, shouldn't it?"

"And what's your excuse?" She asked with raised eyebrow. "You're likely to get punished worse."

"I was watching his back!"

"And who does that leave to watch yours?"

He shrugged. "The dead deatheaters?"

"You could have joined them, Sirius! You could have been killed and you're standing there being a wiseass!"

"That's what I do best."

"You're asking for it, Sirius Black."

He flashed her a wide grin and twirled her around.

Lyria kissed him firmly, sliding her fingers into his hair.

Harry snorted. "I'll keep away from your bedroom tonight, then." He grinned.

"Go... you go find something to eat... or take a bath... you're starting to smell a bit." Sirius replied to Harry.

"Hah, you don't much like it when other people are wiseasses," Lyria told Sirius with a grin.

Harry laughed and disappeared into the kitchen.

Sirius kissed her again.

Lyria rested her head on his shoulder. They were safe, Catie was safe... "You know, if there was some way to clear you, I think today would be perfect."

"Today is perfect."

She kissed him softly.

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