The stories on this site are based on characters and situations created and owned by JK Rowling, various publishers including but not limited to Bloomsbury Books, Scholastic Books, Raincoast Books, and Warner Bros., Inc. No copyright or trademark infringement is intended. This story is for entertainment purposes only and no money exchanged hands. Seriously. This story may not be posted elsewhere without the consent of the author. Any similarity to any real persons, living or dead, is coincidental and not intended by the author.
A huge thank you to my beta reader, PhoenixFanatic999, for making this story bearable for mortal eyes.
Confrontations
It was a dream; he knew it was a dream, the fact that he stood knee deep in a stream where with mountains all around, admiring Mother Nature that was his dreamscape. He had never seen such a plain of green grass before, clear blue cloudless sky, crystal clear flowing water and breathed such refreshing air.
"Whoa…" Harry was mesmerized.
A gentle breeze swept by, he actually closed his eyes and chuckled as he felt it over his messy hair and skin. When he opened his eyes, he saw a stag and a doe on one side of the stream. Before he could say anything, he felt something behind him and quickly turned around. On the other side of the stream was Snuffles, with his tongue out and wagging his tail excitedly. He took a quick a glance at the stag and doe, then back at Snuffles. Snuffles was no longer alone, a snowy owl was perched on his head, a tabby cat stood by his left, a wolf on his right, while a fox, an otter, and a hedgehog were in a line up front.
"Snuffles?"Harry was puzzled. "Are they your friends?"
The snow white owl took flight, straight towards him which Harry proceeded to held out his arm. It landed while hooting proudly with its puffed out feathery chest.
"Hello." Harry smiled.
It hooted back while looking at him with its amber yellow eyes.
"Do you want to be my friend too?" asked Harry.
Another flap of its wings, the owl flew back onto Snuffle's head. Again it hooted, with its head went up and down beckoning Harry to come join them. Harry walked gingerly through the stream's current, keeping his eye on the small group of animals the whole time. When he finally walked out of the stream, he could no longer hear the flow. His dreamscape changed as the stream and the other side of it where the stag and doe once stood completely disappeared. He was suddenly standing at the edge of a cliff, in which the sound of the stream had been replaced with the loud crashing of waves down below. The other side was now the sea that stretched out to the horizon, this was another scene that Harry had never seen before in his entire life.
"Is that the sea?" Harry slowly looked from left to right, admiring the view.
Snuffles merely barked, while the rest approached him.
A myriad of animals began to pop up into existence all around Harry, he was taken aback by the sheer number of animals he had never seen or even thought existed. Numerous land creatures big and small, from domestic to wild, of the frigid polar ice to those of the hot desert sands, stood in gathering across the plain. It didn't matter if there were animals that Harry had never heard or read about, whether he knew what they were or not, it was beyond doubt entrancing.
When Harry looked up, he saw so many birds and bats fly up above in circle. They were much more difficult to be distinguished, but Harry was captivated just the same. Some repeatedly flapped their wings while others simply seem to spread out their wings and merely soar. The brief blow of water from the sea alerted Harry that it was from a whale's blow hole, he was then shown the simultaneous breeching of a dolphin, a killer whale, and a great white shark.
"This… This is… wow, Snuffles," Harry was almost speechless, there were probably just as many if not more creatures swimming in the water that he just couldn't see.
It was then all the creatures of the land, air, and sea simultaneously began making noises. Roars, howls, barks, squawks, screeches, croaks, hisses, along with stomps of hooves or paws could be heard. Harry noticed them glowing white altogether, the light all around him became brighter and brighter though he simply stood there. He didn't shield himself with his hands, his eyes didn't shut, nor did he turn away from all the bright lights.
Harry woke up, finding himself resting his back against a tree and the book 'A Beginner's Guide to Transfiguration' on his lap.
"Had a nice nap, Harry?"
Said boy was at his godfather's hiding place, the same place he had been going for almost two years. At first to spend time with a big black shaggy dog at its den, now to spend time with his godfather, and occasionally visited by a werewolf and a cat Animagus. One of Mrs. Figg's pets did accompany Harry from time to time. His godfather smiled from where he sat, by the entrance of the den, where several books lay all around on the ground. The den was concealed amongst the trees and thick bushes, also surrounded by Muggle repelling wards.
"Hm? Oh yeah," Harry momentarily lifted his glasses and rubbed his eyes, "I had that dream again."
Harry could never really remember what the dream was about; all he could remember was the blinding white light. Though he always did feel completely invigorated every time he woke up from that dream, something that Sirius wasn't worried about. Both McGonagall and Lupin had given Harry a lot of books to read, some stored at Mrs. Figg's house while others in Sirius' den. His favorite book was 'Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them' by Newt Scamander. Harry stared at the Transfiguration book before him, it had been a gift from 'Aunt Minnie', and he had been reading it from cover to cover again and again ever since. He frowned, albeit only slightly, upon thinking the overall content of the book and the basic theory of Transfiguration and its branches of magic.
"You want to tell me what's wrong?" asked Sirius.
"It's nothing," Harry's frown disappeared.
"Come on now, you know I'll keep asking you until you tell me what's on your mind." Sirius quickly got up and sat beside Harry, "now tell me."
"Is it really hard? I mean," Harry flipped through the pages, and looked at his godfather, "Aunt Minnie told me Transfiguration is the hardest thing I'll learn in Hogwarts."
"That's what got you worried?" Sirius
It still tickled Sirius' funny bone whenever Harry called her 'Aunt Minnie', the witch was well known as a serious, stern, and emotionally composed disciplinarian at Hogwarts. As professional as she was, she did have a close relation with Lilly, and showed a softer side to the Potters. Sirius could still remember the look of her face when one year old Harry had called her 'Unnie Minnie' after much of James' teasing when she had dropped by.
"How hard is it? Learning how to change into an animal? Because I really want to become just like you," Harry finally confessed, "Aunt Minnie, and my dad…"
To Harry, the magic that is Transfiguration interested him more than any other subjects, much to McGonagall's delight. Sirius finally knew the reason why, the first performance of magic Harry had seen was of his dog turning into a human. Apparently Harry's interest in Transfiguration was more because of his interest in becoming an Animagus.
"You want to become an Animagus?" Sirius raised an eyebrow.
"Of course!" The excitement in Harry's eyes made it even harder for Sirius as he thought about the idea.
"Already planned of exploring Hogwarts under a full moon with the friends you'll make?" Sirius joked.
"May be," Harry had never really thought about it, he looked at his godfather, "it doesn't actually have to be during a full moon."
Sirius laughed, and proceeded to ruffling Harry's already messy hair. Harry looked happy at the prospect of making friends of his age.
"You'll get to make the best of friends there," assured Sirius.
"You really think so?" asked Harry.
"I know you will. Let me tell you the one thing your father told me about friends, it was when I had ran away and stayed with the Potters. The same thing your grandfather taught your father."
Sirius always had Harry's undivided attention, just as Harry always had his.
"Be the best person you can be to those around you, no matter what. Trust your friends, believe in them. Don't let anything get in between you and your friends. One of the greatest things about your father was his unwavering trust in his friends; in me, in Remus, and even Peter…" Sirius trailed off and sucked a breath. "Peter's betrayal of your father's trust shouldn't stop you from trusting your friends."
Funny, the first time he heard it he wondered it sounded more along the lines of a Hufflepuff rather than a Gryffindor. Perhaps it was more of the courage in facing any adversity because of a friend, to let nothing falter one's belief for his friend.
"I won't." Harry took the lesson to heart.
"Minerva meant every word she said, Harry. I'll admit, Transfiguration was the hardest compared to all the other subjects, your father and I spent three years becoming Animagi. James always seemed to have a knack for Transfiguration. He was always better than me and Remus ever since I could remember." Sirius reminisced his years at Hogwarts. "Do you think you'll be up for it?"
"So you'll teach me?"
"Either that or you'll be trying to learn it in secret." Sirius answered, "At least with me keeping an eye on things, it wouldn't be too hard or dangerous. Not sure what Minerva would say about this if she finds out. On one hand, she knows a whole lot about Transfiguration more than I ever will. If we're lucky, she might even give you lessons by the time she finds out."
"Doesn't matter. Promise you'll teach me?"
"I promise." Sirius assured him.
"Do you think I'll have to register like Aunt Minnie?"
Sirius snorted, "I think we'd be better off being our little secret, Harry."
Being by Harry's side was changing Sirius just as much all those dreaded years in Azkaban had done to him. Sirius would spend most of his time in contemplation of his godson whenever Harry wasn't around. While he was known to be courageous and loyal, he too was known for his recklessness, immaturity, and ill temper. Sirius hated to deny it, but Remus once pointed out he was quite vicious to those he loathed, particularly his so called prank in telling Snape the way to the Shrieking Shack. Almost killing Severus, exposing Remus' secret as a werewolf at the time, and expulsion was the least of the Marauders' concern if the 'prank' actually worked.
It was the reason that totally surprised him when James and Lilly made him Harry's godfather, he knew he was very close to James but at the same time thought Lupin was the better man. Sirius even asked if this was some sort of prank, James had a good laugh because of it though Lilly only assured him it wasn't. If there was one thing he really benefited from Azkaban, it was the strengthening of his resolve to become the godfather he was meant to be.
'Well, you two, how am I doing?' Sirius looked up at the canopy of leaves where rays of sunlight beamed in between. 'Not too bad of a godfather, I hope.'
"Hey Sirius?" Harry asked tentatively.
"Hm?"
"I'm really glad you're my godfather," Harry grinned, the happiest Sirius had ever seen him.
"I'm glad too, Harry," Sirius sighed as he savored this moment, just adding another memory of their time together. "I really am."
May be it was pure coincidence, or some assurance that he was on the right track, but it really didn't matter, not to escaped prisoner.
o.o.O.O.O.O.o.o
Harry woke up to the sound of thunder booming and storm pelting against the window. It was raining, hard, judging by the constant rain drops that pelted on the dull window panes. The flashes of lightning, the rumbling of thunder, and the crashing waves over the rocky island didn't stop the island's four guests from sleeping. It was no good night's sleep, despite the tedious day spent to reach the place. Apparently this would be the second place Harry had ever slept besides his cupboard under the stairs. The other place was Mrs. Figg's house in which he stayed over whenever the Dursleys went out on vacation.
Though he couldn't really say this was improvement. It was much bigger, but was also dustier and had a mustier smell altogether than his cupboard. Harry didn't know how in the world his uncle, Vernon, found out about such a place to hide. He didn't even know why such place existed in the middle of nowhere in the place. This was a sad excuse of a human dwelling on an island that was made up mostly of rocks in god knows where.
"Ouch." Harry winced a bit as he felt the fabric of his shirt shift over his back.
The pain on his back had forced him to sleep on his stomach ever since Vernon had whipped him on the day he got his letter. Yells ensued on that morning; Harry told them he knew that he was a wizard, the truth about his parents, and Hogwarts. Petunia figured out that someone somewhere in Little Whinging was a freak just like her nephew. All those times he spent outside the house, it made Petunia remember of her sister, Lilly, and the long haired pale boy. It had been the most painful whipping, Vernon yelled at Harry for his insolence, ungratefulness, and most important of all, thinking he could beat the magic out of him.
Harry stared at the drawing of a birthday cake complete with eleven candles and the words 'Happy Birthday' on the dusty floor, it had been wiped away just before he slept. He wished to be back home as soon as possible, not the cupboard at Number Four Privet Drive, but where he usually meet his surrogate family.
He had been beyond happy when he turned ten, the very first time he had ever celebrated his belated birthday with his cherished family. Thanks to them, he now had clothes and trainers that actually fit. Before he could say anything when he had received his gifts, McGonagall told him that the clothes and trainers had special charms and spells that kept Muggles from noticing them. The Durleys wouldn't notice anything; Petunia herself could hang and fold yet still not notice them. Not that she has ever done so ever since Harry handled washing, hanging, and ironing his own clothes.
Three Dursleys and a Potter sat together just about to eat their breakfast, canned baked beans, when they all heard sounds coming from the chimney. Petunia worriedly turned to her husband who was fetching the shot gun that lay upright on the nearby wall. Harry wondered what his uncle would do next if more letters would flood down the chimney. Would his uncle finally give up and simply hand over the letter? Would he end up getting more whippings from his uncle?
An owl fell down, all black being covered in soot, and flapped its wings in attempt to shake off the soot off its feathers. Upon laying its eyes on Harry, it slowly walked towards him reminiscent to that of a penguin, with a letter in its beak. Vernon finally snapped upon such sight, he could no longer tolerate all the craziness anymore.
"Blasted owl," He closed one eye as he leveled his shotgun, slipped one pudgy finger by the trigger, and took aim at the owl.
"No!" Harry lunged from his seat and grabbed onto Vernon's shotgun seconds before it fired.
The missed shot caused a lamp next to the sofa to be shatter into smithereens, the owl screeched in panic upon hearing the gun shot. Harry fell onto the floor after Vernon easily wretched the shot gun off out from Harry's hold.
"I HAVE HAD ENOUGH OF ALL THIS, BOY! YOU HEAR ME!" Vernon shouted, looking down at his nephew. "NO MORE!"
The owl then landed between them, dropped the letter on the floor, and screeched angrily at Vernon.
"You've mailed your last letter, bird," Vernon readied his shot gun and took aim again.
"Don't shoot it!" Harry lunged and grabbed hold of the owl.
"Oh yes I will! You think I'm going to give in? Let you go to that school of freaks?" Vernon narrowed his eyes.
"I won't let you shoot it! I won't! You can tear the letter! Whip me again for all I care. I don't care. Just leave it alone." Harry held the own closer and turned away, looking at his uncle over his shoulder.
"I'm going to blow that bag of feathers, boy, then the next one, and the next one. I'll shoot them all down! Each and every single owl they'll send. Maybe then they'll get the message, and finally stop sending the blasted letters."
"If you're going to shoot it, you'll have to shoot me too!" Harry yelled.
Perhaps it was the stress of being bombarded by the letters day after day, the tiresome journey they went through to reach the hut on the rock in the middle of nowhere. May be it was the lack of proper sleep, the uncomfortable bed, or the hunger. Whatever it was, Vernon Dursleys had chosen the wrong words to shout at his nephew.
"MAY BE I WILL, BOY! I'LL SHOOT YOU NOW, AND FINALLY BE DONE WITH ALL OF THIS!" Vernon shouted.
Suddenly a blast disintegrated the front door into fine sawdust and grains of metal, startling Harry and the Dursleys from the argument. It was one of the rare times in Harry's entire life to ever see McGonagall, Remus, and Snuffles utterly furious.
"What now? Who are you people and wha-" "Vernon stopped yelling, realizing the witch's hat and the robes that Minerva wore, most importantly the wand in her.
He knew full well she had just used to blast the door off its hinges. However it was the man who stood in between the old woman and the extremely shabby clothed man that completely made Vernon and Petunia pale in fear. Sirius was snarling, nothing a man should be able to, regardless of the fact he wasn't Snuffles, and hastily walked towards the four of them.
"Aunt Minnie…Remus… Sirius…" Harry murmured.
The last name jolted the memories of Vernon and Petunia when they thought they've seen the shaggy man before. He was the escaped prisoner, serial murderer announced in the television and newspapers almost two years ago. Petunia and Dudley screamed while Vernon flinched and dropped his shotgun when it had instantly imploded itself under intense pressure of magic. It was now nothing more but a crushed mass of pressurized metal and splintered wood. Dudley tried to hide behind his mother, though it looked ridiculous considering he was quite fat while she was so thin. Vernon looked down at what was once was his shotgun, and then back at Sirius.
"You… you… you're one of them…" Vernon stuttered, realizing the mass murderer was a wizard.
"You're bloody hell right, I am! You accursed piece of swine! You have just abused my godson for the last time!" Sirius yelled.
"G… g... godson?" Petunia shakily looked at Harry and then at Sirius.
"Harry?" McGonagall quickly headed towards the said boy, Lupin right behind her.
"I should curse you right here, right now, Dursley." Sirius' glare on the fat man in front of him intensified, "Change you into a swine, but then what difference would that make? May be I should change you into a fish, and throw you out to sea. No, that would be too easy. What do you two think I should do with them?"
Lupin was helping Harry onto his feet in which the owl hopped out from his hold and flew onto McGonagall's shoulder. Harry hugged the old witch like he always did whenever she came by. She only visited them during the summer, though there were the rare times she did during weekends. Sirius told him that McGonagall was probably skipping a trip to Hogsmeade.
"You actually came," said Harry.
"Of course we came," Lupin turned to the Dursleys, "We're sorry it took so long."
McGonagall hugged back, though Harry cringed and drew back in response. Sirius knew exactly why Harry did just that.
"The bastard whipped you, didn't he?" Sirius knelt down to Harry's back.
Harry remembered the day they looked at his back, it was when he had accidentally shown them on his tenth birthday. Both McGonagall and Lupin gave Harry some of the books of the wizarding world, though Harry wouldn't care less the fact that Lupin's were old. McGonagall had also given his a set of clothes, ones that actually fit him, with charms and spells that would avoid the Dursleys from noticing them. In his excitement of the celebration of his birthday, he had forgotten about the scars on his lower back which Sirius noticed straight away. As much as Lupin hated it, he had to hold Sirius down from rushing straight towards the Dursleys' house.
It was several days later after his birthday that McGonagall brought various potions and salves, of Poppy Pomfrey's recommendations, for Harry's scar and his overall health.
Harry didn't know what to say to Sirius, he couldn't lie to his godfather since this was no trivial matter. He couldn't just tell him to forget about it. It hurt, but at the same time he didn't want Sirius to get angrier than he already was. Would Sirius somehow hurt them? Did he really want Sirius to hurt them, hurt Vernon in particular, like they did to him?
"Dear Merlin," McGonagall covered her mouth in shock.
Lupin glowered at the Dursleys, though he was well prepared to stop Sirius should the Animagus try to harm the Dursleys. Not that they didn't deserve it. Sirius didn't care if his teeth were going to crack from how hard he was gritting his teeth.
"You're not going to live with them ever again, Harry." Sirius looked at the Animagus and the werewolf. "He's moving out, it's now or never. Arabella would be more than happy to have Harry live with her. You said that yourself."
"He's right, Minerva," agreed Lupin.
"But something has to be done about the wards, they'll alert Albus. He'll know, and as much as we all hate to admit it, Arabella's place can't protect Harry like those blood wards can." replied McGonagall.
"Vernon. That cat crazed woman is a freak too…" Petunia mumbled, upon realizing their neighbor's full name, Vernon merely snorted.
Harry grimaced and was about to say something to that insult, though McGonagall was faster.
"Mrs. Dursley, I'd appreciate it if you remain quite, especially since you have just insulted my friend."
"How about we all sit down?" Lupin tried to ease the tension in the air.
"I rather stand. You heard him! Sit and keep your mouths shut, all three of you. You'll talk only when we're talking to you. Well? ARE YOU ALL DEAF? SIT DOWN!" Sirius startled the Dursleys with his yell.
The Dursleys sat back on the chairs, their breakfast of baked beans left unfinished on the table was the last thing on their minds.
"Sirius." Lupin called out to him.
"They deserved that and more, Remus, you know that." Sirius kept his eyes on the three Muggles "Not so nice being the ones yelled at, is it?"
"Let's get back to our conversation about the wards, I think it's safe to say they won't alert Dumbledore," said Lupin.
"But Albus pinpointed out Harry's location to all the way here. He would have sent Hagrid here instead if I hadn't alerted volunteered to see Harry myself."
"He can find Harry's location anytime he wants as long as those blood wards exist, I'll give him that." admitted Sirius, he then pointed out, "But he can't monitor Harry all the time. He wouldn't have looked for Harry if Arabella hadn't told him in the first place. Like I've said, he's only aware of the blood wards' existence."
"As long as they're still there and Arabella tells him everything's fine, he won't bother checking up on Harry," added Lupin.
"But what about the protection of the blood wards? It's the best we've got, Arabella can't protect him." McGonagall pointed out.
"She won't have to. We're still using them, after all Arabella's house is also within those wards," Sirius replied, he beamed upon McGonagall's realization. "Remus and l had our suspicions since they would leave Harry at her house whenever they go on their little trips or vacations. Harry would still be protected, even if he wasn't staying at their house."
"I've already checked the exact locations of the wards, we were right," Lupin nodded, "Dumbledore won't know since Harry would still stay within the wards."
"Are you two sure about this?" asked McGonagall.
"As serious as my own name," answered Sirius, Lupin nodded, he then looked at his godson, "How about it, Harry?"
"You mean live with Mrs. Figg?" asked Harry incredulously.
"Well? I'm sure living in a house of cats is a whole lot better than with these three." Sirius glanced at the Dursleys then back at his godson.
"Of course!" Harry jumped at the opportunity, "Are you sure it's alright with her? I could help out, with the cooking and gardening."
"We already said it, didn't we? Arabella will be more than happy to have you. Don't worry, you won't trouble her," said Lupin, picking up the letter on floor. "I know you've been waiting a long time to read this letter ever since we told you about Hogwarts."
"He's not the only one," said Sirius, both Lupin and McGonagall knew what he meant.
So Harry did and read the content out loud. "Dear Mr. Potter, we are pleased to inform you that you have been accepted at the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry."
"That settles that." Lupin turned to the Dursleys, "Harry's moving out. You'll never have to deal him under your house ever again."
"And maybe we won't have to deal with you too." Sirius added.
"That's it? We took him as that old crack pot told us to, clothed him, fed him, sent him to school, and we get nothing in return?" asked Vernon. "That old man made us take him into our house, while you were probably too busy rotting in prison or too busy killing people like us?"
"What did you just say?" Sirius shook in anger, rage returned to his widened eyes. "You only gave him clothes that no longer fit that pig of a son of yours! You made him cook the food that you eat, feed him just enough just so he doesn't starve. Just so people won't ask questions. You. Starve. Him. For. Days. As. Punishment."
Vernon was about to interrupt him, but Sirius continued on with his magic radiating into the air.
"You beat him when he out performs your son in any way at school! HOW DARE YOU? AFTER EVERYTHING YOU'VE DONE TO MY GODSON? YOU SHOULD BE GRATEFUL YOU'RE WALKING AWAY WITHOUT A SCRATCH."
"Like we've said, we'll take care of him from now on." Lupin pulled Sirius back. "I'm a bit surprised at you, Sirius, I thought you would have at least punched him in the face."
"Oh believe me, you have no idea how much I want to." Sirius's fists shook, his fingernails almost cutting into his palm.
"Mr. Black here was framed, he never killed those Muggles, it was someone else." McGonagall looked at Petunia, "The same person who betrayed your sister and brother-in-law and lead their killer to their home,"
"Voldemort…" Petunia whispered to no one.
Realizing what she had just said, with everyone had heard and looking her, she clapped a hand over her mouth as if she had said a foul word. As much as Petunia hated her sister, she had asked Dumbledore who had killed her sister and remembered the name. Harry lost his mother, she lost a sister that Halloween night.
"F-f-fine! Good riddance, he's all yours. I will not spend a single penny or do anything for the boy ever again. You can go and learn your little magic tricks for all I care," replied Vernon.
"Oh Vernon, what will the neighbors say?" Petunia wondered nervously. "What if he finds out?"
"Who? That old bearded buffoon? I couldn't care less what he'll do. Let them settle it amongst themselves." Vernon's mustache twitched left to right as he thought up ideas, "As for the neighbors, we'll just make something up like we always do whenever anyone asks about the boy."
Sirius, Lupin, and McGonagall looked at one another, despite Arabella being the only contact that Dumbledore has in Little Whinging, they shudder to think if the Dursleys spill everything to Dumbledore.
"If Dumbledore ever does ask, just say he's staying with Arabella for a while, understand? This will be our little secret. No one has to know, not even him," said Lupin.
"As long as he's out of my house and I won't have to deal with all this unnaturalness ever again," replied Vernon, he sneered at Harry. "But if anything ever happens to them, if they get themselves in a mess and get blown up like your parents were, don't expect us to take you back, boy."
A shimmering glass-like shield appeared in front of Dursley, its strength evident from its visibility, cast by McGonagall silently. Sirius did nothing but glared at Vernon with utmost loathing, he never thought he'd hate someone more than he ever hated Snape.
"If I wanted to attack him, I would have already bit and torn his neck apart before you two could have done anything about it," said Sirius, slowly backed away.
He turned into the big black dog in an instant, causing all three Dursleys to scream, he was going to make them truly understand what he just said. He scared the Durleys even further with his vicious barks and snaps of his fangs. Vernon cursed as he fell off his toppled seat in trying to back away, while Petunia and Dudley were left shaking and whimpering after the initial loud screams of terror from the transformation. Sirius changed back just as fast, yet both Lupin and McGonagall didn't even show any of disapproval at his recent acts of intimidation.
"I think you've made your point, Sirius," commented Lupin.
"Enough of that, Sirius," ordered McGonagall.
McGonagall didn't really feel she needed to reprimand Sirius of his outburst. Sirius hadn't done any physical or magical assault, though she could very intervene the very second he would despite what he had said. They all remained silent, minutes passed by, each looking at one another. Just when the Dursleys thought the discussion has ended, McGonagall walked and stopped in front of the Dursleys.
"There's still the fact that Harry has to visit the house from time to time." McGonagall pointed out.
"What?" Harry turned his head to her.
Vernon would have asked too, if he wasn't paralyzed in fear from Sirius' transformation. Sirius forgot about clearing that topic with the Dursleys, now remembered about the fact that the wards had to be recharged. McGonagall had asked Dumbledore about Harry's status once he started going to Hogwarts, once the wizarding world knows the Boy-Who-Lived has returned. Harry would still have to go back to the Dursleys during the summer holidays.
"I knew we were forgetting something," muttered Lupin.
"Harry has to be close to her in order to charge the wards," McGonagall looked at Petunia. "The closer and longer they stay together, the faster the ward charges."
Minerva had done her research on blood wards whenever she had spare time, reading most of the books from the forbidden section of Hogwart's library.
Sirius grimaced in frustration, "How often?"
"Since the wards are already charged, Harry won't have to do anything until he returns from Hogwarts next year," answered Lupin, which calmed Harry a bit.
"As for the exact duration of the charging, I'm not sure. I will have to inspect the blood wards myself." McGonagall frowned.
"I could go there and continue gardening every morning. Water the plants, pull weeds, stuff like that …" Harry suggested, he now had all their attention. "If I have to, then help prepare breakfast and dinner? As long as I get to stay with Mrs. Fig, I don't think I care doing all that."
"You don't have to, Harry." Sirius commented with a grimace.
"But I want to. I mean… If there was anything I liked there, it's the cooking and gardening."
This somehow had piqued Lupin, McGonagall and Petunia's interest, again with Harry's offer of cooking and gardening again. Meanwhile Vernon, Sirius, and Dudley were left baffled, wondering what Harry was talking about.
"The few times I felt happy, even though I hated it at first, was cooking and gardening. All the work I put into, even if I had to, I got to enjoy it in the end. Aunt Petunia taught me how to cook and do the gardening. She turns on the telly in the kitchen and doesn't stop me from watching those cooking shows. Whenever I did watch, all those chefs always looked happy, excited, and some time later I felt a bit of that too… tasting and eating what I cooked, even if I got to eat a little of it… It's same for the garden too, all that work I…" Harry trailed off, definitely felt uneasy at the looks they were giving him.
He was sure Uncle Vernon thought that he was mad or something, Petunia on the other hand somehow felt guilt and shame. McGonagall seemed like she was about to cry judging by her puffy eyes, though she managed to control herself by simply pursing her lips tight for a second. Sirius took a deep breath, looked up the ceiling as he closed his eyes, and sighed.
"You may look like James on the outside, but you definitely have your mother's heart, Harry," commented Lupin, lightly patting Harry's shoulder.
"That he does, Remus," agreed McGonagall.
"They don't deserve your help," said Sirius.
"I'm sure we'll work something out," replied Lupin.
"Let's go. I don't know how long I can stay here without cursing them," said Sirius.
"I'll carry your bag, Harry," Lupin made his way to the bag by the sofa, easily recognizable given the poor state it was and Harry's smell from it.
Harry slowly followed after McGonagall, Lupin and Sirius right behind them. The witch waved her wand as she stood by the door frame, causing all the debris and splinters of wood to gather and formed into the front door. The door attached itself back in place though still opened for the three of them to pass. Sirius spared one last look of disgust at the Dursleys and left, and slammed the door shut behind him.
"To think someone like her is related to Lilly and the Evans," muttered Sirius.
"Who are you to say that? Oh Mr. Sirius of the Noble and Most Ancient House of Black," smiled Lupin.
"Don't remind me," said Sirius.
When McGonagall told Harry to hold her hand, he knew they were going to Apparate.
"Where are we going?" wondered Harry.
"Arabella's, we need to tell her about this little turn of events and your change of accommodation. Treat your back while we're at it," Sirius frowned at the last bit.
"After that?"
"We go and celebrate your birthday," Lupin smiled, so did Sirius and McGonagall.
"You told me that cousin of yours went to some zoo in Surrey for his birthday," said Sirius.
"Yeah, are we going there too?" asked Harry, all excited.
"No," Sirius smiled even wider, "We're taking you to the London Zoo."
Sirius, Lupin, and McGonagall had a long discussion about the trip to the zoo several days ago. A lot of persuasions had to be done. Both Sirius and Lupin had to persuade McGonagall into postponing the trip to Diagon Alley. Lupin had to be persuaded into joining McGonagall and Harry for that trip, convincing him that Harry would have wanted him to be there regardless of his werewolf status. In turn, much to McGonagall's initial disapproval, Lupin persuaded Sirius to join them in their trip to the zoo. Muggles and wizards wouldn't recognize Sirius once they've cast a glamour on him.
It was after the eventful day at the zoo, after dinner at Mrs. Figg's house, that they told Harry of the bad news.
Sirius had to leave, all of them begrudgingly agreed it was the only way, before Harry goes to Hogwarts. He would have to purposely reveal himself every now and then. If not, Fudge would continue on with the plan he had discussed with Dumbledore and the twelve Governors of Hogwarts School. The plan of having Dementors stationed around Hogwarts, as a precaution against Sirius. It had to be done because the Aurors had to know that he was far away, away from the British Isles. To convince the wizarding world that he wasn't after Harry, the belief that had everyone worried since the day he escaped Azkaban two years ago.
++Sneak peek++
"Oh my… I can't believe I've almost forgot about this particular wand." Ollivander opened the box, and actually used a levitating charm on the wand to remove and inspect it up close. "Everything similar with the wand you just tried, holly and eleven inches, aside from the cores of course. The core of the previous wand was phoenix tail feather, while this wand's core is…" He trailed off upon running the tip of his forefinger across the wand's smooth surface. "Ah, yes… Ferocious as ever."
"Ferocious?" Harry echoed.
McGonagall and Lupin seemed perturbed just the same.
Rate and review?
That way I know what questions that needs answering in the story or how I'm doing. I know I'm sticking too much with the books from the looks so far, and the progress is kinda slow. But it's not like the Philosopher Stone, Chamber of Secrets, etc. smacked the reader right in the beginning... At least next chapter is the first look on Harry and the whole mystery. I'm kind of mixing the books and the movies, though I do lean more on the books. Thank you for the few encouraging reviews.