the_debt_of_time

a little different because it's so natural, but the bonds we choose, well, breaking them
is.. ." He hesitated as he remembered Remus describing to him the cold, painful feeling
that he had felt when James and Lily, and even himself, had died.
"What does a bond do?" Harry inquired, breaking Sirius out of his dark thoughts.
"Strengthens your magic. It ties you to the person, and you share magic really, but
only if the bond is sealed. Every bond goes through three stages. Preparation, provocation,
and sealing. So, for instance, you and I share two types of bonds. Familial because I'm your
godfather. That bond was prepared when I became friends with your parents and shared
bonds with them, it was provoked when your father asked me to be your godfather, and
sealed the first time he placed you in my arms. Usually, bonds are sealed through a ritual,
but we don't really have one for godparents. You share a similar bond with Teddy."
Harry's eyes widened suddenly as though he finally understood. "Is that why I'm so
protective over him? I didn't want to say anything because it seemed weird, but I feel like
he―"
"Belongs to you?" Sirius asked, and Harry slowly nodded. "Yes. That's exactly how
I feel about you." He ignored the tightness in his chest at the look of sudden elation on
Harry's face. Instead, he smiled and cupped the back of Harry's head in his palm. "You're
not just the son of my friends, you're mine. My boy."
Harry cleared his throat and swallowed hard, looking like he, too, was trying to fight
through the emotions that were surfacing.
"It's all right, Harry," Sirius said, offering him a bit of relief. "There's more to go
through. You share another bond with Teddy that connects you and I, through Remus. A
Pack Bond. When we were teenagers, your father, Mia, and I became a part of Remus's
pack."
"Not Pettigrew?" Harry asked curiously.
"Fuck no," Sirius spat, scowling. "Cowardly little shit wasn't there when... Sorry.
Mia wouldn't have had him in the pack anyway. She couldn't stand Peter."
Harry's brows furrowed again. "She couldn't? Then.. ."
"Why were the rest of us still friends with him?" Sirius asked and then shrugged.
"She had pretty decent reasons at the time, but Mia got really smug when she was right
about something and, well, your dad... Once you were friends with James, you were