Harry Potter, a skinny boy with jet black hair and stark green eyes, once again found himself wandering the streets of Magnolia Crescent, frustrated after weeks without word from the wizarding world. As he flopped heavily onto a swing he thought about his 'friends' who had barely written this summer, what messages he got were short and vague, not nearly enough to satisfy his longing for information. He felt them slipping away from him, only intensifying the sinking feeling that he was alone once more if one didn't count his Aunt and Uncle – which Harry did not.
Many times he had wished to run, grab his things from their prison under the stairs, tuck Hedwig under his arm and leave Privet Drive forever. But he reasoned that these were just fantasies, where would he go? How far would he reasonably make it without using magic?
His back pulled and pain shot through him as he stood, the cupboard under the stairs had been barely large enough to accommodate him at eleven now, at fourteen and sharing with his large trunk, there wasn't even room for him to straighten his legs. Harry began making for the gate of the park, but before he reached it there was movement to his left. Reeling around Harry reached for his empty back pocket where his wand would normally sit, stomach dropping when he realised it was locked in his trunk along with the rest of his belongings. Preparing his aching body to run he turns to vault over the fence but is tackled and pinned to the floor by something warm and heavy before he can land. Harry reaches up to try and free himself; fingers tangling in matted fur, the weight on top of him was suffocating until he kicks out hard with his legs and finally rolls out from under the animal.
Before him sat a large black dog, who had given a whimper at his rough treatment before sitting back head cocked to one side. It took Harry seconds to recognise those grey eyes regarding him with a fatherly affection, leaping upon the animagus.
"What are you doing here Padfoot, if you get caught?" Harry buries his face in the long fur, clutching onto the dog who licks his ear affectionately and barks. The dog's shape ripples and changes under Harry's fingers and he soon finds himself tightly embraced against his Godfather's chest, finally drawing away he looks down Sirius' figure.
He was looking a lot healthier than last Harry saw off him, he no longer looked as gaunt as he once had and his clothes, although not fine, were not hanging in tatters from his body. "You haven't been reading the Prophet have you, pup?"
"No, my Aunt and Uncle… not fond of owls." Harry brushes over the subject, painfully thinking of Hedwig shut away in her cage, "why? What's happened? Not Voldemort." Harry's eyes widen and Sirius ruffles his hair.
"No kiddo, good news." Pulling a paper from the inside of his jacket and handing it to Harry, who unrolls it hesitantly, the picture on the front leapt out at him. A small rat like man cowering away from the dementors enclosing him – Harry didn't envy the photographer being that close.
PETTIGREW FOUND, ALIVE
The headline blazed across the top of the paper, and Harry felt his jaw go slack much to the amusement of his godfather , "but… but this means?" Harry chokes and Sirius lets out a joyful laugh.
"I'm FREE, a free man once more." Sirius grins at the teenager who is still staring in disbelief at the front page, and who knows how long he would have remained there if Sirius had not tugged it from his hands. "Are you following me kiddo, you know what this means?"
"You're… free?" Harry seemed a little in shock and Sirius gives his a light clip round the ear.
"For the chosen one, you're awfully slow tonight," he chuckles, "it means my offer from last year still stands… if you wanted to…" Sirius hesitates before finding himself back in a bone crushing hug surprised to find tears soaking into his neck. "Hey, pup, I know its good news but…" Sirius pulls back clumsily wiping tears from the younger one's face. "Should I know about anything?" Harry shakes his head forcing a grin to his lips and sniffling back further tears.
"Okay, how about we go get your things?" Sirius stands offering a hand to Harry, "I have a few choice words for the Dursleys as well." He growls under his breath as he leaves the park, a protective arm slung around Harry's shoulders.
Harry could do nothing but fret on the way home; there had been nothing on the muggle news about Sirius' freedom. How were the Dursleys going to react when Harry strolled in late and with a known killer in his wake? He wanted to bombard his Godfather with questions, but until they were both safely out of number four Privet Drive with his trunk in tow he didn't think he was capable of forming sentences. As they turn into the crescent Harry hears a faint popping sound and his eyes fly to the dark alley where he had first spotted Sirius in dog form the previous summer, but instead of the black shaggy dog, out of the shadows emerges an equally familiar scarred face.
"Moony, do you really not trust me?" Padfoot rolls his eyes as his old friend approaches clasping Harry's hand tight in his own. "Here to keep an eye on me…" Sirius mutters under his breath but Harry stills finds himself too preoccupied to take in the arrival of his old professor and with them behind him continues down the road towards 'home'.
"What's happened?" Moony murmurs under his breath to Sirius as they fall into step three paces behind Harry. Padfoot can only shrug, regarding the boy with a careful eye as he trudged head bent towards the white gate. Speeding to catch up with the teen they are right by his shoulders by the time they reach the front door and Lupin squeezes Harry's shoulder reassuringly.
"We're right here, cub." He murmurs softly and Harry nods briefly but gratefully in his direction.
My first attempt at HP fiction. Be gentle with me. Advice and Ideas always welcome. thank you x