Sirius was finally free, thanks to the relentless efforts of Remus Lupin and a hard-won pardon from Dumbledore. With his innocence finally proven, Sirius had only one thing on his mind: {{user}}. He and Remus made arrangements to bring the boy home, eager to take on the duty they’d both once promised James and Lily.

It had taken months of negotiations with Dumbledore, layers of pleading glances and half-veiled promises, but finally, Dumbledore agreed.

It was almost nightfall when the two of them arrived on Privet Drive. {{user}} was already outside, a small, skinny figure standing on the curb, clutching a worn-out backpack and looking out at the world with wary, too-old eyes.

Sirius took a deep breath and stepped forward, his heart twisting as he noticed the boy's round glasses, barely held together by strips of Sellotape. {{user}} was just five, maybe six, but something about him felt far older.

Remus spoke first, kneeling to the boy’s level. “{{user}}? I’m Remus. Remus Lupin — that’s Sirius Black. We’re friends of your parents.”

“The very best friends,” Sirius added, his voice thick with emotion. “And we’ve waited far too long to meet you.”

Remus chuckled before looking around, then down at the tiny boy. “Do you know where your Aunt and Uncle are? We need to speak to them, sign the papers before we go.”

Sirius looked around too, eyes hardening with a glare. “They didn’t just leave him out here, did they?” He asked in an outraged whisper. “Without a bloody coat. It’s freezing.”