The Lambs

3. Life Goes By

July 31st 1989

The years had flown by. Since that fateful December in 1982 when Harry had finally come home to join the inhabitants of Hogwarts, Fenrir had only made one more attempt to kidnap the young prince. Insanely, the man had attempted to throw a rope and grappling hook over the wall and climb up. He had managed to reach the top of the wall, without touching the wall, miraculously, when one of the guards had finally noticed him. Everyone had been too busy watching the young prince celebrate his 3rd birthday. Ever since then, Harry's birthdays were a little more private and a lot more guarded.

But that wasn't enough to dissuade Harry now. He stood, hands on his narrow hips, 9-years-old today, and pouted. His scruffy raven hair fell into his brilliant green eyes and he stomped his little bare foot. James rolled his eyes. The child was a mess. He and Draco had gone out to play, and yet there stood Draco, his clothes almost shining they had remained so clean. Yet Harry was shoeless, his clothes were barely more than rags and he had lost his glasses. It was all James could do not to laugh at him when they first came over.

Hearing what they said however caused James to become very serious. "Absolutely not." He said sternly. Not waiting for a reply, he turned back to talking to Peter. Sirius gave a small shrug and a wink to Harry over James' shoulder. Draco pushed Harry to the side, watching as Sirius walked away from the group.

"Oh!" Harry gasped, eyes widening. Draco resisted the urge to smack his friend and pulled Harry by the arm over to Sirius. "Siri! Tell Dad that I want to go outside the wall for my birthday!"

"Why, kiddo?"

"Draco went for his eight! And I couldn't go even though I was invited, and the Weasleys brought everyone to the Arcade when Fred and George turned 13, but I couldn't go then either. How come I can't have a birthday party outside the wall? I can't even have a birthday party inside the wall! You all lock me up in my room for the day, mum, dad and me and some boring presents! Draco isn't even allowed to come!" Harry's eyes were watering up and Sirius reached out to run his fingers through his godson's hair.

"Hey, kiddo." He said softly, "There is a reason this happens to you, ok. But you just have to trust us for now, cause we can't tell you. It's safer this way!"

"If something is going to happen to me, wouldn't it be safer to tell me so I can avoid it?" He said, sounding so mature Sirius had to rub his eyes and make sure Harry was still only 9-years-old.

"I understand, and strangely I agree, but we're doing this your dad's way until you're older, ok?" He paused. "And anyway, why do you want to go do something weird and human outside of the wall?"

"You used to be human, and it's not weird."

Draco snorted. "Father took me to a 'play barn', with some of the other children, so it would be easier for my mother to visit us. I wasn't happy at all, but it wasn't so bad once you got used to it. It was actually kinda fun." He allowed a half-grin to slip over his face for a second before it was gone. He stared at Harry. "So, we going to sneak out then?"

"You're what?" Sirius cried.

"If dad wouldn't let us go, and Lucius said we had to ask my dad, then we decided we were going to sneak out, and take a knife or something to protect ourselves. It isn't that far, it's only 3 miles through the forest."

"The Forbidden Forest, Harry, is forbidden for a reason." Sirius crossed his arms over his chest and tried to look stern.

"Draco went through it before." Harry pointed out stubbornly.

"With his father, and several other adults." Sirius' eyes narrowed for a second, before he realized how ridiculous he looked - arguing with a child. "Fine, I'll talk to your dad. Maybe we can compromise." Both children cheered, before they took off together back to Malfoy Manor.