"We're right here, cub." He murmurs softly and Harry nods briefly but gratefully in his direction.
Harry could not keep the trembling from his hands as he reached for the door handle, fearing not only his uncle's fury but the reactions of his closest confidents. They had only seen him among wizards, the confident Harry that was so much like his father, what would they think of Harry's submission towards his guardians? Finally Harry pushes the door open stepping just inside and waiting for the inevitable –
"POTTER!"
The living room door had already slammed open and the purple face of Vernon Dursley loomed, his figure almost filled the whole hallway and Harry would have tried to back out the way he came if it weren't for the two figures at his back. "Cupboard now and if I hear one single sound out of –"
Vernon finally catches sight of the two figures flanking the teen, they were dressed in muggle clothing but their appearance was never going to earn the approval of Mr Dursley. His eyes flicker from Sirius' unkempt stubbled chin to the scars adorning Remus' face. If possible his face turned an even darker shade of purple and he seemed to shake with rage but the final straw came when he saw a flash of the wooden wand sticking out of Sirius' pocket. His roar must have carried down the entire street, but it was matched by that of Sirius.
"YOU LOCKED HIM IN A CUPBOARD! MY GODSON!" Padfoot leaps into action, wand outstretched and Dudley who had just looked around the corner squeals and disappears back into the kitchen.
"He deserves it, dirty little freak," Uncle Vernon mutters although doesn't move from where he was pinned against the wall, his eyes never leaving the wand tip pointing at him, "when I get my hands on you boy, you will learn the true meaning of respect." He finally drags his gaze from the wand to land on Harry who had stumbled back into Remus' chest. He would have whimpered were his jaw not clenched so tightly his teeth ached.
Tiny sparks fly out of the tip of Sirius' wand and whether intended or not Mr Dursley has to back up to escape them burning his cheek. "You will never hurt him again, never speak or even look upon my Godson," Sirius growls shoulders shaking with anger, "Harry, fetch your things. Now." Sirius doesn't turn, taking every effort he had not to scream all the hexes in the world at the monster before him.
Harry remains frozen, wide eyed and held up only by Lupin's steady hands on his shoulders. "Come on, cub, take me to your things." He says soothingly and Harry takes a few robotic steps forward sliding open the numerous locks on his cupboard before the door swings open. Lupin barely supresses a growl of his own, the space was barely enough for a house elf let alone a growing teenager. Not only that but a large trunk filled half of the space and a majority of the rest was taken up by a snowy owl, Hedwig, who cooed as light streamed into the room.
"Bloody owl –" Vernon mutters but is rapidly silenced by a glare from Sirius, Harry watches as Lupin lifts Hedwig's cage and with a flick of his wand Harry's trunk floats of its own accord onto the doorstep of number four. Harry leans into the cupboard and wraps his fingers around the small metal stag Sirius had sent to him at the beginning of the summer, before allowing himself to be led from the house.
"Pads, leave him," Lupin calls from the door, but a furious Sirius either didn't hear or chose to ignore his level headed friend. "Harry needs to go home, Sirius." Lupin tries once more and the mention of his Godson's name seems to pull Sirius back to reality and he lowers his wand taking a step closer to Mr Dursley.
"If you EVER threaten him again, you'll have me to answer to. You choose the wrong man to piss off Dursley." Sirius mutters darkly before turning on his heel and marching straight past Remus and Harry, who was tucked under his arm. In seconds he was disapperating and had vanished from the perfectly mown front lawn. Remus leads Harry down the path and away from the house, his trunk magically tailing them.
"He's mad," Harry says looking up at the werewolf professor who sighs a little nodding and taking a left out of the garden gate. "What did I do?" Harry questions and Remus stops turning the younger towards him, bending to meet his eye.
"By the Gods Harry, you've done nothing wrong." Remus lowers them both to sit upon the sign that proclaimed privet drive. "No, Sirius has always had a hot temper, he and Prongs were fiercely loyal and relished in the idea of a good fight should someone they love come to harm. James would have acted in exactly the same way..." Lupin tales off to ruffle Harry's already tousled hair. "I expect he is quite angry at himself for ever letting Dumbledore send you back here, for not keeping a closer eye on you, for not jinxing your uncle a thousand times over – but he is not upset with you."
Harry stays silent, scuffing his worn shoes against the pavement until Lupin gets to his feet once more, "have you apperated before?" He asks and Harry shakes his head, those green eyes widening once more in fear. "Nothing to be scared of just shut your eyes and hold on tight to me." Harry obediently gets to his feet and wraps his arms around Lupin's waist, it felt strange to be hugging his old professor but Remus tucks Hedwig's cage tight under his arm, holding onto Harry with the other. "Hold your breath, it helps." He says before Harry feels a powerful pull upwards and a tight squeezing sensation, as though he were being pulled through a straw before finally his feet hit ground hard and his aching bones protest loudly.
"Alright, I've got you." Lupin keeps a steady arm around Harry, holding him upright until he finds his footing once more, "very well done Harry, very few people land on their feet… your Godfather splinched himself the first time." Lupin whispers the last bit and finally a small smile adorns the teens face, satisfied for now he turns and guides Harry to the house behind him.
Harry wasn't sure what he expected, the burrow maybe? Certainly not this whitewashed house, brand new and enclosed in masses of fields and forests, no car or plane disturbed the silence of the night here. "The Black family have money, then the ministry's hefty sum for wrongful imprisonment – Sirius has been waiting for weeks to show you this place, Dumbledore however seemed somewhat reluctant." Lupin explains as they walk to the front door.
"How did he persuade him?" From what Harry knew of Dumbledore he rarely changed his mind and had a reason for every action. However in this case he was especially glad Sirius' charm had won out.
"Well, he didn't exactly –" Lupin stops his hand on the door when it opened from inside, Sirius in the doorway, a trademark smirk back on his face.
"Welcome home, pup." He grins, tugging Harry inside.
Thank you so much for all the kind feedback. I could hardly believe so many people enjoyed the first chapter. i'm not as happy with this one as the last, seemed a little OOC? but I hope you'll enjoy it all the same. Thanks for reading. x