He found that the grounds of Potter Manor were beautiful, well kept and a perfect place for this part of his morning routine, noticing that the property was very isolated and largely surrounded by woodlands, a far cry from the urban living he had experienced throughout his life thus far. The Potter's clearly liked their privacy, something that Harry could certainly appreciate.
The wildlife seemed to share his opinion of the property as he could hear the calls of several different animals, both of the muggle and magical variety, though the only thing he did see were a few Thestral's milling around within the shallows of a distant tree line that disappeared within the thicker confines of the forest as he neared them.
He finished his run and completed the rest of his exercises before entering the house once again to fetch some water from the kitchen. It was still early and he had no idea what time the rest of the occupants would wake so he opted to wait for them before having his breakfast and decided that he would pass the time by reading, not wanting to rouse anyone prematurely with his spell work.
He entered the kitchen and noticed that he in fact was not the only person awake. Sirius was sat at the kitchen table, clutching a mug of hot chocolate with a contemplative expression on his face.
"Hey Sirius" Harry greeted the boy.
Sirius jumped at the unexpected intrusion and breathed a sigh of relief when he caught sight of Harry.
"Hey Harry" he greeted the teen with a shake of his head.
"Are you always up this early?" Harry questioned with a frown, noting that it was barely 6am. Sirius shook his head in the negative.
"I couldn't really sleep" he admitted hesitantly. "I'm just trying to decide what I should do" he added with a shrug.
"About what?" Harry asked as he poured himself a glass of water.
Sirius sighed.
"Everything I guess" he said quietly.
"Such as?" Harry asked further with a frown. "I feel like I'm in the way now" the boy answered simply, hanging his head.
"What do you mean?" Harry returned.
Sirius looked at him speculatively and sighed again.
"It's just that you obviously haven't spent much time with James and your parents over the years and it just feels like me being here now isn't right" he began sadly. "I don't hold that against you, this is your family I just don't want to be in the way of you all catching up" he finished with a deep swallow.
Harry sighed and shook his head at the boy.
"That's complete bollocks" he stated simply.
Sirius's head snapped up and he looked at Harry curiously.
"From what I've heard you are just as much a member of this family as I am" Harry continued. "You might be even more so" he added. "You're right, I haven't spent much time with them but the last thing you are is in the way" he said firmly.
He sighed again before continuing.
"I don't know much about your home life but given the fact that you've spent a lot of time here over the years, I'm guessing it's not good" he deduced. "I don't want anything for anyone to change in this house and that includes you" he explained sincerely. "I don't want to come between you and James in anyway, yes, he is my brother, but from what I know, you're just as much a brother to him and I don't want you to think that has to change in any way, hell I'd like to get to know you better too, you seem like a decent guy" he concluded genuinely.
"You really mean that?" Sirius questioned hopefully.
Harry nodded.
"It doesn't take the same blood to be family Sirius and as far as I'm concerned, you will always be welcome here, so don't ever think you're in the way because you belong here just as much as me" he finished honestly.
Sirius smiled and let out a deep breath of relief.
"I'd like to get to know you too Harry" he responded. "And thank you, being here means everything to me, I can't go back there" he explained with a shake of his head. "You don't have to" Harry pointed out flatly.
Unknown to the pair the conversation they had shared was heard by Dorea who was now smiling at the duo from just outside the kitchen.
"Good morning you two" she greeted them as she entered the room. "And why are you up so early?" she questioned.
"I'm pretty sure Sirius was coming up with a way to get James back for the prank yesterday" Harry answered. "And I went for a run" he shrugged.
"Where did you run?" Dorea asked urgently.
"Just around the grounds" Harry answered with a frown.
Dorea's eyes went wide.
"Oh, I'm sorry Harry, we should have told you not to go out there before sunrise, there are sometimes some unfriendly creatures closer to the house" she explained apologetically. "You mean the Thestral's? Harry asked curiously.
"You saw them?" Dorea questioned worriedly. "Are you ok?"
Harry shook his head.
"Thestrals are only dangerous if you provoke them" he replied. "I've ridden one before" he added casually.
Dorea shook her head at the boy but didn't question him further on the matter. From the very little that Charlus had shared with her she knew that riding a Thestral was a very small thing.
"What's wrong with you?" Harry asked Sirius, noting that the boy was pouting slightly while staring into his cup.
"My hot chocolate is cold" he huffed.
"Are you not a wizard?" Harry chuckled. "Aunt Dorea took my wand" Sirius muttered unhappily.
"And why did I take your wand Sirius?" Dorea cut in with a raised eyebrow.
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