Summary – Sometimes, a person has to do what a person has to do. And when it comes to children…something should and will be done!

a/n – This is AU, because I love the Harry-adopted back stories. I love them. But hopefully this shall be different.

A Muggle Saves the Day

Part 1 – School!

Dudley Edward Dursley did not want to get up on that wonderfully spring morning. The past weekend he had stayed up to watch the three stooge's marathon on the classic channel. The night before this particular Monday, Dudley had stayed up to watch all three Star Wars on said channel. Now, he was so tired that all he wanted to do was stay in bed. He moaned when his mother came into the room with a bright smile and as she opened the blinds, he rolled over with the pillow atop his head.

"Now, now," Petunia crooned to her only son. "Up and a'tem, dear, you have the science test today. Oh, I am sure my smoky-poo will be the best!" she said as she crossed to the wardrobe to pick out her son's clothes.

Ever since Dudley had started in primary school; his mother had done the same thing every morning. She awoke, did her own beauty routine, then she awoke Dudley while Vernon was getting ready. With a cheery smile, she would say something to the effect of being the best while getting his clothing. He would huff and whine to try and not be made to go to school, but this was one thing his parents were very adamant about. He would go to school and get the best education they could get him so that when he was an adult he would be able to get the very best job. Vernon had aspirations of his son being the president of the drill company while Petunia hoped for a Doctor or maybe a Lawyer.

Dudley didn't know exactly what he wanted to do. But having a job where he could watch the telly and eat popcorn all day didn't sound so bad to him.

"Come now dear, up! Up!" his mother wasn't going to take it today. So Dudley decided to wheedle as much candy out of his parents that morning as he could in revenge for her treating him like the urchin under the stairs. Why he had to go to school with such an embarrassment was beyond him!

Finally, he groaned as he got up. Body fat jiggled as he moved over to the dresser. He ignored how fat he was (he didn't really like it but eating made him feel so much better) and ran the brush through his short hair. Crew cuts were all the rage these days and it took him a week to get his mother to take him to the best hair dresser in London just to get a crew cut she could have done at home.

Petunia gave him a kiss on the cheek and then left her son to dress himself. She had to get the embarrassment under the stairs up to make breakfast and then both boys would go to school. He rolled his eyes, he wondered if he could ditch. He had ten pounds, he was sure it wouldn't be that hard. If anyone asked he would say that he was home schooled, it always worked.

Meanwhile, Harry James Potter had a whole different morning routine. Every evening he would mop the kitchen floor before bed time, he would be able to take a short, cold shower and then get into the baggy pj's his Aunt had graciously given him. Then, he would try and remember his dreams. Sometimes he dreamt of a flying motorcycle. At other times he dreamt of a lady with red hair and green eyes, his eyes. There was also a man, with hair that went everywhere and antlers.

In the morning, Aunt Petunia would trump down the stairs humming some tune or other, she would bang on his wooden door and yell at him to get up. Of course, Harry would never moan or whine, he wasn't allowed. He would simply roll out of bed and go into the kitchen to make sure he didn't burn the bacon.

Then he would serve the family, get some for himself, do the dishes and get dressed for school. Harry was quick at changing and he was always ready before Dudley ever left the breakfast table. On this morning, Dudley refused to budge till his Mum gave him half a pound of candy, of course, the only time Petunia ever got any time to herself was when the boys were at school and Vernon was at work. So, of course, she gave Dudley what he wanted.

Dudley ran (more like quickly waddled) down the street to Piers' place while Harry just went to school (running) as fast as he could. He hated Dudley and his gang, their favorite game was "Harry Hunting" which Harry, of course hated. But, there was one person in the whole world that didn't put up with it and the first time Harry and met her, well, he was surprised to say the least.

Friday, the week before…

Harry ran down the hallway.

They were playing "Harry Hunting" one again and poor little Harry Potter was it! He was always it and he hated the game with a passion. One day, Harry would love to see a bigger kid give Dudley one-fore just for picking on him, Harry. That would never happen because Dudley was the biggest kid around. Dudley made everyone else afraid to be Harry's friend.

That was why Harry always stayed in the class room where it was marginally safe. The play ground was a terrible place to be when Dudley wanted someone to beat up on.

Behind him he heard the gang get closer; deciding that he had to hide and do it fast – he ducked into a class room. However, Piers saw this and called out to the other kids. Harry didn't bother to see who was in the room before he hid in the utility cabinet.

As the other kids rammed into the room; Harry heard the voice of his teacher. Miss Noelle Tempest. She was a young woman, in her early twenties, she had short red hair and gold/green eyes. She didn't take any crap from her students either. Harry could tell that the kids that had been trying to catch him were scared.

"Well…Mis….ah…" Dudley tried.

"Don't give me that crap, Mr. Dursley. Now, if you have no business here I suggest you go and enjoy your play time. If I find you trying to beat up Mr. Potter again, I shall take the cane to you," Miss Tempest said. (Harry imagined she glared imposingly at the boys). Harry heard the sounds of the kids apologizing before leaving the room. He waited a few moments before he poked his head out.

"Harry…are you all right?" Miss Tempest asked. Harry could only shrug.

"Come out now, you can stay here till your next class, does that sound all right to you?" she asked. She wasn't exactly sure if this was game he played with the older kids or not, but by the way Harry came into her class with a black eye or a broken hand, she had her doubts. Harry nodded and quietly found a desk to sit at. Miss Tempest went back to her grading,

Harry hoped that Miss Tempest would let him be in her class room again that afternoon. He was sure that if he explained just a little bit that she would take pity on him and let him be with her.

Azkaban Isle – Someplace unknown off the coast of Ireland

Sirius Black growled as he was pulled down the hallway by two Dementors. Their scaly hands danced along his limbs, pulling him along but at the same time feeling the coldness within his limbs. He was only brought out of his cell for one thing and one thing only…to be interrogated. Every once in a while some wizard would get it into their heads that they should get him to talk. But it never worked, Sirius Black was made of tougher stuff than most wizards.

The black hooded demons brought him to the highest tower of the Island Prison. It was round with a chair in the middle of the room of which he was chained down too. In front of the one window, which was open to let in fresh air, was a man. He was tall and wore a black cloak, had long metallic hair and striking blue eyes.

"Malfoy, I didn't think you would step foot in here on your own volition," Black was able to say with a scratchy voice.

"Sirius Leigh Black, everyone was so surprised that it would be you who betrayed the Potters to their death," Malfoy didn't turn away from the window.

"I didn't do it," Black replied confidently.

"Oh, really?" Malfoy now turned to the man.

"You know it wasn't me, you're one of them, a Death Eater. The only difference is that I'm not going to compromise my integrity," Black replied with a sneer.

"I didn't think you would, actually, I'm here to make sure you don't talk," Malfoy said, he searched his cloak for the correct pocket and drew out a silver flask. It had snakes all over it. Smirking he drew forwards.

"It makes me ill to see you so sick, my friend,"

"What the hell do you think you're doing?" Black bared his teeth at the man.

"Only what family should do for family," Malfoy replied. He grabbed Black's jaw, working his fingers; he made Black's mouth open. He made the prisoner drink whatever concoction he had made. Black would have spit it back if Malfoy didn't hold is mouth shut in a vice like grip. Black had no recourse but to swallow.

"There, there, cousin," Malfoy smirked.

"What the hell was that supposed to be?"

"Don't worry about it…"

"Why are you here?" Black asked.

"The Ministry has decided to look into the night the Potters died,"

"Oh? Let me guess, they want me to confess, right?"

"That isn't going to happen,"

"The potion…"

"Entails to tell the truth. It is a more powerful version of virtue serum,"

"Brilliant," Black sighed, sacking down within the chains.

"We might as well get to it then, it should be working by now, what is your name?"

"Sirius Leigh Black," he replied automatically, his eyes glazed over in apparent will weakening.

"Excellent, let us get on with it then," Malfoy grinned.

It was just another school day for Miss Tempest, this time she was doing some revision since some of the children didn't seem to understand long division, well, all but one. Little Harry James Potter was quite smart for a kid. He usually sat at the back of the class with oversized clothes and he didn't look around. Sometimes she had to remind him to look at the chalk board. But the worst of it was that she had an inkling of what was going on at the Dursley house. The other problem was that she didn't have any proof. And Harry Potter wasn't going to talk about it either.

Now, he sat in the back of the class room, diligently doing the problems once again. Her contemplation of the young Potter stopped when she saw that Dudley Dursley wasn't doing any of his problems.

"Mr. Dursley, what are you doing passing notes in my classroom?" she glared. Dudley seemed to not notice, he threw the not back to the other kid. That wasn't going to fly at all, so what did Miss Tempest do? Well, she marched over there, and took the young boy by the ear.

"You are coming with me, the principle has a most wonderful cane you have to see," she said, and hauled him out of the class room. The children all looked after them, they were most astonished. Dudley always made the teachers go batty, but no one had thought that a teacher would give him a spanking!

"Dudley Dursley is gonna get his ass whipped!" one of the kids yelled. The others started clapping and cheering, finally the bully of the school yard would get what was coming to him. They settled down to quick and friendly chatter about the situation.

Only, it was Harry who knew that in the end, he would be getting it worse at home.

When it was over, Sirius was surprised when other ministry agents flooded the room.

"Why haven't you confessed," Crouch glared at him, Sirius didn't bother to look up. The restraints fell away and he was made to stand.

"Take him out, we will get a confession out of him yet," Crouch said. Sirius was dragged out of the room kicking at his captors. Torture at the Prison was something no one wanted to go through.

His guards weren't Dementors this time; but they easily overpowered the frail man and finally they emerged onto the highest tower were executions had taken place at the prison. They tied the prisoner to the pole that stood in the middle of the square.

"Obviously magic won't work on you,"

Sirius knew the Minister of Magic when he heard the overbearing git. "So, muggle torture it shall be," he sounded pleased. His shirt was ripped from him and he shivered in the chilly evening air. He gasped as cold water was splashed all over him.

"W-wwhat…?" he stuttered from the cold, however, he let out a horid scream as his back was struck. The stinging sensation led him to one conclusion…

"Those muggles really did know what they were doing when it came to lashings," Crouch laughed. Sirius shut his eyes tight, wishing that he was anywhere else than where he was.

"James! Where is Pronglet?"

"He's out with James, they went to the park," Lily said as she met Sirius at the door.

"Great, thanks Lily," he grinned and ran out of the house the same way he arrived. Lily giggled as Sirius ran off. It was Harry's first birthday and she was sure the boys had something planned for the youngest Marauder.

When Sirius caught up with James, he was slowly swinging Harry. The boy giggled and kept saying "Fas, da!" Sirius laughed and hugged his best mate before doing and under dog for the child. Harry giggled happily while James freaked out and tried to make the swing stop as safely as possible.

"Sirius! You know Lily would kill you if she saw you do that!"

"Oh puleeze!" Sirius waved it away, "Harry loves it," was his excuse.

"Sirius, will…answer a question for me?" James looked up, his dark eyes shinning with an unnamed emotion.

"Sure, what is it?"

"Who killed me…?"

"What…?"

"WHO KILLED ME!!"

"WHO KILLED JAME POTTER?"

"IT WAS WORMTAIL!! WORMTAIL THAT NO GOOD RAT!!"

A/N – Okay, first I would like to point out that we don't know what goes on at Azkaban, and I think that the warden would do something like this to extract a confession. This is AU…so don't be surprised if I do something else that's weird. Oh, and at the time this fic is set, I imagine that copral punishment at school was something that was done. It makes it easier to write it. But, Dudley deserves it if you ask me!

And just on the side note, I'd probably not spank my kids.

Ta,

Dizzy.