Harry didn't tell Sirius about the Dursleys in nearly as much detail as he'd gone into with Lupin. His relationship with Sirius was different from the one he had with Lupin. In some ways, he felt closer to Sirius, because Sirius was his godfather and had offered to adopt him. But Harry knew Lupin better than he knew Sirius, thanks to a year of DADA class and additional tutoring to teach him the Patronus charm. Of course, it wasn't just about the closeness of each relationship—Harry had never told Ron or Hermione much about the Dursleys, and he was closer to them than to anyone else in his life.

But aside from all of that, Lupin felt more . . . stable. As Harry told bits and pieces of his childhood, the vein that bulged in Sirius's neck made Harry nervous, not for his own safety but for Sirius's. Harry couldn't know if Sirius was going to risk his life to try to take revenge on the Dursleys somehow. It seemed like something he might do. Sirius had contained himself when it came to Umbridge, but only just barely.

They'd been talking for less than a half an hour when Lupin returned through the fireplace. His shoulders slumped, and he sighed heavily as he brushed the ash and leftover Floo powder off his patched robes.

Harry cleared his throat. "Sir—I mean, Remus. Not that it's any of my business, but . . . what errand did you need to run?"

"I've just spoken with Professor Dumbledore."

Harry cringed internally—he didn't want to make any more trouble when Dumbledore had already been so busy this school year. Then again, Dumbledore must have already known about some of what was happening at the Dursleys. That first Hogwarts acceptance letter had been addressed to the cupboard under the stairs. "What did he say?"

"He asked me to tell you the real reason you've been sent to live with the Dursleys."

"Oh!" Harry blinked a couple of times. On the one hand, he was looking forward to this explanation; on the other, he didn't want there to be an explanation. He wanted it all to have been a mistake, something that could be easily remedied by sending Harry somewhere, anywhere else—though preferably, to live with Sirius.

"Have you ever heard of blood wards?"

Harry breathed in to speak, but Sirius cut him off. "Blood wards? That's the reason my godson's been abused all his life?"

Lupin frowned. "Sirius, let me explain it to him."

"There are wards over this place!" Sirius cried. "We can protect him."

"That might be, but he has the right to know why it's been done this way."

Harry slid cautiously to the edge of his seat. "Dumbledore knew about what was happening at the Dursleys?"

"I'm not sure he knew as much as you told me, but I don't want you to think you were completely abandoned, Harry. The reason why you've been forced to live with them so long is that living in the home of your mother's sister affords you some magical protection against Voldemort."

"Because my mom gave her life for me?"

Lupin nodded. "Death Eaters cannot find you while you are at their house, and some measure of that protection remains with you throughout the year as a result of those wards. It's possible that you are alive today because of them."

Harry let out his breath and lowered his head. He knew Lupin's promise had been too good to be true. "Thanks for trying."

Lupin's brow furrowed. "Harry?"

"I've got to go back, don't I?"

"No," Sirius said. "There are wards over Grimmauld Place. You're not going back to them."

"Sirius," Remus said, and Sirius was quiet.

Harry shifted his weight. Maybe there was still hope. "Are the blood wards . . . better?"

"It depends on who you ask," Lupin said.

Harry shrugged. "I'm asking you."

Lupin took a deep breath. "I think it's possible that the difference in protection could mean your life."

Harry nodded solemnly. "Okay. I—"

"Let me finish, Harry. It could mean your life. I'm not saying it will. There are other factors to consider."

"What factors?"

"Your health, and the fact that Voldemort has made an attempt on your life almost every year you've been at Hogwarts."

"Do you think I've survived all those times because of the blood wards?" He supposed it explained a lot—he'd gotten awfully lucky.

"I don't know. What I do know is that the improvement in your health, particularly your mental health, would be vast if you moved in with a family of wizards who loved you. They could strengthen you. And that could be the different between life and death for you."

Harry wanted to throw up his hands and yell at Lupin to give him a clear answer, but this year had made him start to see that things weren't always that simple. There wasn't always a clear answer.

"You have a great destiny, Harry, and your life is more precious and important than you know," Lupin said. "I'm honored for the trust you've shown me, and for the part I've been allowed to play, but I am not your guardian. Professor Dumbledore made the decision about where you should live when you were a baby. I am not in a position to revoke this decision."

"So . . . you're saying I have to go back?"

"I am not. As much as you might wish otherwise, you are still a child; it is normal that others should make decisions for you. But you came to me out of fear, Harry, and that's a powerful thing. I want to give you a choice where you have not had one before."

Harry swallowed hard. "What choice?"

"You can return to your aunt and uncle and suffer through the remainder of this summer and next. I believe you will be of age by the end of next summer, and the blood wards will no longer be in effect."

"And if I don't?"

"We can report the child abuse. It is likely that muggle law enforcement will intercede on your behalf; it is possible that the Dursleys will be prosecuted. The Ministry of Magic will find a home for you."

Harry turned to Sirius, hoping he could read the question in his eyes.

Sirius smiled sadly. "I would love to take you in, Harry, but I can't be your legal guardian until my name is cleared."

Harry sighed. He understood, but he couldn't bring himself to say that he did. "So it's stay with the Dursleys or fight them in court so I can go live with strangers?" Neither option sounded great.

Lupin winced. "Regardless, you're going to sleep here for the night. Whatever decision you make, we can talk about it in the morning."

"Yes, sir." Harry had really been hoping Lupin would say he could stay at Grimmauld Place for the summer, but he supposed that would have been too much to hope for. Nothing in his life had ever gone that smoothly.

After Harry had gone to bed, Remus sat awake with Sirius by the fireplace. Sirius gave him a pointed look. "You're not going to allow him to go back to the Dursleys," he said.

"I doubt he will," Remus said. He'd wanted to give Harry the option, but he would have been very surprised if that was the decision the boy made.

"Then . . . are you really going to allow him to be taken in by strangers? Again?"

"They won't be strangers."

"No, you're right. They'll be a family the Ministry chose. Look me in the eyes and tell me that isn't worse."

Remus rubbed his forehead. He didn't like the idea, certainly, but he didn't know what to do. "What do you suggest?"

"You adopt him."

Remus's eyes widened, and he looked up to see Sirius's eyes piercing his. "Me? But you're his godfather."

"And for all we know, my name might never be cleared."

"Siri—"

"You were right, Remus. I'm not ready to be a father, and I won't be ready before Harry comes of age." Sirius half-smiled. "But Harry respects you."

"He respects you, too."

"He loves me. And I love him, too. But respect is different."

Remus knew he was right. Harry was James's son through and through, and Sirius hadn't really grown out of his Marauder phase, either. Harry was a good kid, and remarkably well-adjusted, given his childhood, but he made poor decisions at times, reckless choices he didn't need to make. Sirius wouldn't dissuade him; if anything, he'd be right there with him. Sirius would never stop being a friend to Harry for long enough to be a father to him. Remus didn't believe it was impossible for a father to be a friend to his son, but it was a very different kind of friendship.

It was, admittedly, the kind of friendship Remus had with Harry now.

But such a guardianship wouldn't be practical. For one thing, the ministry would never allow it. For another, Remus was still dangerous. If he failed to take the Wolfsbane potion just once, he could kill Harry, or turn him. Even with Wolfsbane, Remus was unavailable to be Harry's guardian for one day out of every month. The boy needed consistency. Then again, one evening a month wasn't much . . .

"I'll think about it," Remus said. He didn't want to get his hopes up.

But the grin on Sirius's face told Remus that Sirius's hopes were already sky high.