Disclaimer:

I do not own the characters of Harry Potter, these belong to that wonderful author JK Rowling and the various publishing companies used to publish her works. I am however borrowing them, no not to make money but for fun and fun only.

Summary:

This is a one-shot where Sirius Black apologizes to Severus Snape. It is based on the wonderful story “The Best Revenge” by Arsinoe de Blassenville, which deals with Severus finding out how Harry was raised before he headed to Hogwarts and want he does for Harry… This story will take place between Sirius and Severus and will deal with two very proud men that have to work together for one boy they both care about deeply. So with that said on with the story!

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Severus Snape sat at his desk working on a paper he intended to have published in Potions Weekly, a magazine he published in many times a year and brought him monies he needed more than ever now. He had more than one person to care for now as he felt it his duty to help care for one Harry Potter. Though the headmaster gave much of the monies and such that made sure Harry was dressed as the boy-who-lived should Severus enjoyed getting things for him himself. He delighted in seeing the boy happy and healthy though he rarely showed outward emotion to this effect.

Severus though his childhood was grim but he had it easy compared to Harry, he got three meals nearly every day when there was money for food which was most of the time. His father chose to mostly ignore him and when he did speak to him it was cold and clipped and he did hit his son but no more than what was custom in the mill town Severus had grown up in. Severus had grown up poor but Harry had lived in a home that could afford to take care of him, in fact his aunt had money from the state to take care of Harry and had spent it on her worthless son. Well he had helped take care of them had he not? At least the boy Dudley was a better child because of what he had done and was actually doing well in school, imagine that!

Severus did not look like a the hero of one small young boy, no teen now and Harry really was not small any more, he was average height for his age. Severus had long greasy looking black hair that hung like curtains on each side of a sallow thin face with black eyes, large hooked nose and thin lipped mouth. He was clad in well made robes of black and he was a tall man at six feet tall. He was a thin man but not skeletally so and despite his greasy hair he looked as if he did take care of himself. He finished writing and was reading over his paper when there was a knock at his door.

“Come in.” He said in a rich velvet voice looking up to see Sirius Black come into the room. “What do you want Black?”

“May I speak to you Severus?” Sirius asked.

“What do you want, if you think I am going to walk out of Harry’s life you have another thing coming, that boy needs me, I have been there for him and cared for him when he had no-one else to.” Severus said softly.

“I know, I wanted to thank you for all you have done.” Sirius said humbly.

Severus looked up and schooled his features to not betray the shock he was feeling. Sirius bloody Black thanking him? Severus looked up at one of his old enemies from school, Sirius had changed, gone was the haughty cocky boy and in his place was a tall humbled man. Azkaban had changed him, he was still a handsome man with long nearly black wavy hair, a trimmed goatee and pale but healthy looking skin and haunted gray eyes. He was clad in simple robes in olive green with maroon buttons down the front and trim on the sleeves and collar in the same color. Severus motioned to a chair and Sirius sat down looking over at Severus, it was hard for him to be here, to realize he had been so wrong about the man before him.

“Severus I know I don’t deserve any forgiveness from you of all people but I wanted to apologize.” Sirius said and when Severus just sat back in his chair and looked at his one-time enemy he went on. “I had no right to treat you as I did, you cannot really blame James, it was Peter and I who really wanted to torment and torture you. James just went along and well Remus, well I was not a good friend to him, none of us were really. But I was the worst, I said I did not want to be like my parents but I was, I was and the way I treated you proved that.”

“Thank you Black, but to me that is just words.” Severus replied coldly.

“I know, I know that is why I am doing more, really doing something, you know that I own the Lestrange manor, I am turning it into an orphanage for orphaned magical children so that none have to suffer as my godson did and will be raised with love and respect.” At the surprised look from Severus, “also I am setting up a fund for students who cannot afford to go to Hogwarts, they will get new wands and robes a year guaranteed, and I have written a book on bullying and why it is wrong.” Sirius said.

“That is very good of you, may I see it?” Severus said his curiosity getting the best of his anger and bewilderment of Sirius’s attitude towards him

Sirius handed it over and was not surprised or even offended when Severus waved his wand over it to check it. He had a right to after all the way he had treated Severus in school, he actually felt horrible for what he had done, especially after Severus had taken such good care of Harry when Severus had every right to hate the boy because in truth how James had treated him in school. Severus read through the small book and looked impressed, he put it down and looked up at Sirius and he had a choice to make, he could continue the feud and refuse to accept Sirius’s apology or he could be the bigger man and accept it. It was his choice after all, he knew what he would do, for Harry he would accept the apology, but he would not be nice, no he was not known to be nice after all and he was not going to ruin his reputation by starting now.

“You did well here Sirius.” Severus said, “but what do you intend on doing with it?”

“Um well I spoke to the headmaster and he wants to get it to every student starting next year.” Sirius said, “half the money made will go to Harry the other well that will go to the fund I told you about.”

“You changed, are you really Sirius Black?” Severus asked. “What Animagmus form did I want to become in school?”

“A Raven, I overheard you speaking to Regulus and you hexed me for it. I think I still have the scars.” Sirius replied.

“It is you, as I said you changed, Azkaban do that to you?” Severus asked.

“No, not really, you know what did it?” Sirius said, “after I got out I had a good long look at myself and realized I had been a horrible ass not just to you but to so many others.”

“Yes that you are.” Severus said.

“Look I doubt we will ever be friends, and I don’t intend on stopping pranking you but I will never willingly hurt you and I want to give you this.” Sirius said handing over a large key. “It’s ah to my home, I hear by give you hearth, board and room to my house anytime you need it.”

“Black that is really too much…”

“No, it’s for Harry mostly you know, he still wants to see you and well as he is going to be living with me well…”

Sirius trailed off looking over at Severus who was looking at him thoughtfully. He was about to say something when another knock came at the door and Harry came into the room. He was clad in school robes and his green eyes lit up as he looked at the two people who cared so very much for him in the same room. Harry’s black hair stuck up all over the place and covered the lightning bolt scar on his forehead. He had grown and though he would never be tall he would at least be average in height, like his father had been. He looked from Severus to Sirius and wondered why they were in the same room, Remus had warned him these two did not get along and them in the same room would be deadly. Yet here they were in the same room sitting calmly talking!

“Harry what can I help you with?” Severus asked.

“I can come back sir, I just needed to ask you about the sleeping draught you wanted an essay on?” Harry asked.

“I can come back later.” Sirius said getting up.

“No stay, I think Harry would like to know what we were talking about.” Severus said.

“What were you talking about sir?” Harry asked.

“Remember when I told you how awful I was to professor Snape in school?” Sirius said to Harry.

“Yea I remember.” Harry said not catching the surprised look on Severus’s face.

“Well I apologized to professor Snape and this summer he can visit you whenever he wants.” Sirius said, seeing Harry’s face light up made him feel warm inside.

“Thank you Sirius!” Harry said running and giving him a great big hug. “Thank you so much!”

“Thank you Sirius.” Severus said standing up and putting out his hand. “I accept your apology.”

“I will do right by Harry, I promise.” Sirius said smiling taking his hand, “and by you too Severus.”

Severus nearly said something scathing to Sirius but seeing Harry there he didn’t. He had to be getting soft or addled yet he didn’t feel like torment Sirius. He knew how hard it was for Sirius Black to apologize and though he had done it mostly for Harry he had meant it. Severus could not help but be happy for once even with Sirius Black now taking care of Harry. If someone told him a year ago he would be getting along with Sirius Black he would have told them they were crazy. Sirius left after giving Harry one more hug and Severus turned to helping one of his star pupils in potions with his essay.

The End.