Chapter 75:
Harry shook his head; he had never spoken to the portrait in this life. "No, sir. I have been to his office a few times over this year, though. He is rather persistent in trying to get me up there."
Phineas hummed as observed the boy. "Strange, you seem very familiar."
Sirius sighed and ran a hand through his hair. Fortunately, it had regained a lot of its former glory with the help of his healers and the goblins who he had visited once again.
"If you would pass along anything, we would be grateful. However, as it's Harry's birthday, I think we should get going. We have the day planned before dinner tonight with the Malfoy's," he told the painting.
"Oh, finally living up to the family's standards, are we?" asked the painting snidely. Sirius had never gotten on well with the painting growing up and after he had entered Hogwarts it had been even worse. However, he knew that Phineas' loyalty was to the Blacks and he would help.
Sirius glared. "I'm finally free of Dumbledore's manipulations and giving people a second and last chance," he said.
Phineas hummed and looked pleased. "Good. You have to potential to bring our family back to it's former glory."
Sirius nodded and walked away from the painting, grabbing Harry's hand and pulling him along when the boy seemed to stop and stare at the painting. Harry wondered if Phineas was sensing things about him from his other life encounters. ~
The rest of the day passed quickly. The two men had planned it so that Harry could experience as many things as possible. They had apparated him to muggle London and taken him to a matinee performance of a west end show. They had had lunch in Italy - really, Sirius had paid for an international floo to take them all to Rome to have lunch in a private wizarding area of the Colosseum, and then they had explored the city for a few hours, seeing the main sights easily with the help of magic. Harry had also bought a load of souvenirs for his friends, even getting Draco something.