For the first time since Walburga Black’s reign, laughter filled 12 Grimmauld Place. The only remaining heir and the black sheep to the dreadful “Noble” House of Black (in his opinion, the only thing worthwhile about this house was that they were all dying out) smiled almost smugly at the aggressive splashes of red hair that filled the predominately green and black household. His awful mother would be rolling in her grave to see all of the “blood-traitors” that filled this house now. He took great delight in knowing that vile Walburga would have a conniption now. The only thing that would make this better would be if he could transfigure the entire house to Gryffindor colors. ‘If only I had a wand,’ he regretted that his wand was snapped when he was taken into Azkaban. ‘Maybe I can talk Fred and George into doing it. I’m sure those boys would be able to achieve it…’
His Cheshire grin caught the attention of Molly Weasley. Her brown eyes narrowed suspiciously; her mouth set into a disapproving frown. If possible, his grin only widened. It was always nice to know that his reputation still proceeded him. Molly didn’t even know what he was smiling about and yet she still thought he was up to no good.
“Harry James Potter, are you actually being prattish enough to tell me that the Holyhead Harpies are somehow less talented because it’s an all woman’s team?!” The youngest Weasley’s exclamation broke through most of the conversation going on in the dining room. Everyone at the table turned to look at the two teens. Sirius raised an eyebrow. Harry suddenly looked impossibly uncomfortable and nervous; Sirius noted with amusement that he kept glancing between the redhead and the glaring brunette that sat beside his best friend. He couldn’t contain his chuckle at his godson’s expense.
“W-What?” He stuttered; his green eyes wide. “N-no! I didn’t mean that!” Ginny crossed her arms over her chest and quirked her eyebrows at him as if demanding his explanation. Sirius couldn’t help but stare at them in interest. For a moment, all he could see was a bumbling James and a stern, disapproving Lily at the Great Hall; but the differences between the two quickly discouraged that image. Ginny’s hair was so much brighter than Lily’s; her face was covered with signature Weasley freckles; and she was fighting a smile at Harry’s clear discomfort. “I…I just meant that it’s got to be difficult because of how Sirius grinned when he realized, just as Harry did, what she was doing. “Hey, wait…You’re teasing me!”
“Of course I am, Potter!” Ginny laughed. “You honestly think I’m that touchy?” Sirius couldn’t help but glance to the only other teenage girl at the table that was. Hermione Granger flushed at Ginny’s statement and turned back to the conversation she had been having with a rather amused Ron. That was another relationship that was amusing to watch unfold, but Sirius disregarded them for the moment. He wanted to see how his godson handled that rather tricky question.
“Well, the Holyhead Harpies is your favorite team,” Harry muttered. Sirius’ smile returned when an astonished look crossed Ginny’s face. Clearly, she hadn’t known Harry paid attention. He hid his chuckle behind the rim of his goblet.
Yes, his original assessment was wrong. To his knowledge/gossip around the house, Ginny had had feelings for Harry since the day the met. In the beginning her feelings had been superficial, but they had evolved into something more the longer she was around Harry. Yes, it all sounded very familiar to Sirius. It sounded like how James’ feelings for Lily evolved over the years despite Lily’s complete disgust. Yet, unlike James, Ginny pursued relationships with other boys. She tried to move on.
Despite the slight similarity in the way James’ and Ginny’s feelings developed, Sirius could see little of Lily’s actions in Harry. He didn’t avoid Ginny because of the way she felt; in fact, he seemed to be content not addressing them as not to hurt her. Right now, Sirius was questioning that. It was too early for him to confront Harry on it, but he believed his godson was starting to see Ginny as Ginny . He only hoped that the boy woke up before he lost his chance. In that way, at least, he was like his mother. When Lily came to the realization that she returned James’ feelings, James had been ready to move on.
His attention was pulled fully back to the two teens by Harry’s laughter. It was a sound he had been deprived of; and if Ginny could always make his godson laugh like that, then Sirius most definitely gave their relationship his stamp of approval. He smirked. He had the feeling Harry would like it just as much as Ginny would.
Sirius’ stamp of approval was simple: a place in the honorary Marauder album (which was really just a large diary that Lily had given him for Christmas). The book was charmed to expand every year to accommodate more pictures, notes, and drawings. Most of the album contained pictures and notes from the Marauders’ own school years. (Come to think of it, he should probably pull Harry aside soon and show him. He would probably enjoy it). Lily and James had an entire section of the album devoted to them. If the look on Remus’ face was any indication, then his fellow Marauder would approve of his decision.
The conversation between Harry and Ginny lulled, but the silence did not bother the two of them. They didn’t seem to realize that they were staring at each other, almost lovingly. Sirius smiled and discreetly filed the image away so that he could redraw it in the album.
As they sat there and looked into one another’s eyes, still smiling, and occasionally giggling, it became evident to Sirius that it was time to pass down the legendary album to the younger generation. He grinned.
Sirius couldn’t wait to see their relationship unfold.