Pyrotechnics
Part Two
Summer
Author's Note:
THIS IS SLASH! YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED!
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter. Or the Lugovaloses. They made themselves and used me for their own ends. In fact, if you know where they came from, someone let me know?
I decided to post the first two chapters in one go, simply because the first chapter is an introduction as opposed to any real plot. That and I figured more feedback would be most helpful. Truthfully I wasn't going to continued on with this, because original characters are not my thing, but the Lugovaloses truely grew on me. And I don't know why. So, feedback would be greatly appreciated.
I hope you like
the second instalment.
oOooOo
Harry did show up bright and early the next day, still yawning. Chara made a face at his baggy clothes and shook her head. "Good grief, kid, don't they buy you clothes?"
"No, Mum Chara," Harry murmured. "They give me Dudley's old things. And buy my shoes at thrift stores."
Chara blinked and shook her head. "Good heavens. Well, what you're wearing won't do. Let's see if I have some old things of Phyrrus that'll fit you. Go ask him if he knows. I know we brought some, we thought maybe the girls would be able to use them, and if they didn't want them, I'd wear them. At least he's got decent taste." Chara laughed and headed back outside, sending Harry upstairs to find Phyrrus.
The slightly older boy was in his room, trying to find something and obviously having little luck. Chara had been up for a while, apparently, but Phyrrus was still dressed only in a wife beater and boxers. Harry felt himself go red and he stuttered out the request. Phyrrus shrugged. "Maybe. It'd be in the truck, though. Mom's probably found them by now."
"Harry!" Chara's voice drifted up the stairs. "Found it!"
Phyrrus shrugged. "I know her too well."
Harry nodded, still blushing, and rushed out of the room, towards Chara. "Here. We kept a couple of pairs of jean shorts, some jeans, some shirts, nothing impressive. I've got a suit left from him that he almost never wore that you can try on if you'd like, but. . . you don't seem like you'd need it. Anyway, go put these on, they should fit much better."
Harry stared at the clothes she handed him. A pair of cut-offs, a tee-shirt with a picture of some strange dinosaur on it--"Yoshi," Chara muttered, rolling her eyes--and a green and black cloth belt. "Go change." She told him, pointing to the bathroom. Harry raised an eyebrow and went to change. At least the clothes fit him, Phyrrus, despite all his muscles and his height, was about Harry's build--or used to be. Besides, anything beat what Dudley used to wear.
Harry blushed, looking at the floor, but only had a moment before Chara put him to work. They spent the day finishing moving in, and Harry couldn't believe all the stuff they'd brought. "We shrunk it for the flight," Chara explained, "And pulled it all out for the truck so it wouldn't be strange when we moved in. We're used to it, my husband's job used to ensure a move every few years and we were married for several years before I had the kids."
"Oh." Harry smiled. "I'm glad you moved here."
"So am I," Chara laughed. "Now, in regards to a successful day of moving, let's go get some supper out! We're all dirty and smelly, but that's okay! Know anywhere good near-by?"
"Not really. They don't like to. . . you know, take me out," Harry sighed.
"Ah, we'll find somewhere," Phyrrus threw an arm around his shoulders and steered him outside. "Surely there's a MacDonalds around somewhere. The things are fu--er--flipping everywhere!"
"Of course. It's MacDonalds." Chara laughed, dragging the group after her. They found a nice little restaurant, taking a seat in the back corner. Soon the conversation revolved around the wizarding community in Britian, and River, Rayne, and Phyrrus found the place in the positive Dark Ages.
"What do you do without TV?" Rayne asked, her eyes wide, as though life without television was unfathomable.
"Read a lot," Harry shrugged, and both twins considered that.
"Not too bad," They announced together, voices blending eerily. "But still! It's TV!"
"Not having TV is not the end of the world," Phyrrus reminded them. "You won't have it at Hogwarts."
"No Saturday morning cartoons?" Rayne asked, lip quivering.
"You'll be
coming home most weekends, remember sweetie?" Chara reminded
her youngest, smiling. "Don't worry about it." She payed
the bill, then drug everyone to a shoe store, forcing Harry to get a
pair of sneakers similar to Phyrrus'. Phyrrus got a new pair of red
converse shoes, and the girls each got a hot pink pair. River was
crooning over hers the entire way home.
oOooOo
When the school letters finally came two weeks later, Harry spent more time over at the Lugovalos residence than at home, mostly hanging out with Phyrrus and the twins. Chara, who worked, would come home to a fully cooked meal made by Phyrrus and Harry. River and Rayne, exhausted from a day in the park, were sleeping on the couch until Chara roused them for supper. The twins, with Chara's help, cleaned up the dishes while Harry and Phyrrus made their way to the living room, letters in hand.
"Where do you go for this stuff?" Phyrrus asked, crashing on the couch.
"Diagon Alley," Harry yawned, looking for a way to lay down. Phyrrus shifted, allowing Harry to lean against him, resting his head on Phyrrus' chest. "It's a great place. You'll really like it. Aunt Marge is coming this week. I don't want to see her."
"You can stay over here," Phyrrus told Harry idly, combing his fingers through the other boy's hair. Harry relaxed further, his ear over Phyrrus' heart. Phyrrus smiled at him, and Harry felt a blush stain his cheeks.
"I don't want to be a problem," Harry murmured as Phyrrus continued to pet his hair.
"It won't be," Phyrrus replied, sighing. "Not at all. Mom likes you, the twins like you--I like you." Hesitence. Harry glanced up at Phyrrus, green clashing with gold. There was a brief pause, and Phyrrus cupped Harry's cheek, tilting the smaller's face upward and pressing their lips together.
For several long moments, Harry didn't react, just trying to process the new feelings. Phyrrus pulled back, face pinked, eyes downcast. "I'm sorry."
"No, don't." Harry murmured, reaching up to catch Phyrrus' face, tangling his fingers in Phyrrus' long hair. He smiled and tilted his face back up. "But. . . you can make it up to me by doing it again. Please, Flame."
"Call me Phyrrus, please." And then, Phyrrus complied, bringing their lips together and gently lapping at Harry's mouth. The kiss turned heated as Phyrrus' tongue began to trace the contours of Harry's mouth, and Harry gave a soft whimper. Chara walked in to find the two on the couch, somewhere between kissing and making out.
"All right," Chara tapped her foot. "Enough. Harry needs to go back to the Dursleys'. It's late."
Phyrrus kissed Harry shortly, letting the other go, and Harry stood shakily, cheeks burning. "I'm sorry, Mrs. Lugovaols! I didn't mean to make you mad! I--Phyrrus and I--"
"I've been expecting it since you met him," Chara rolled her eyes. "I'm not overly concerned. Besides, what have I told you about calling me Mrs. Lugovalos? Go home, Harry. You need to get some rest before your aunt comes, and tell your uncle you'll be accompanying us to Diagon Alley after your aunt leaves, okay?"
"Thanks, Mum Chara." Harry smiled shyly and waved, walking out the door to the twins singing.
"Harry and Phyrrus sittin' in a tree, K-I-S-S-I-N-G! First comes--"
"SHUT UP!"
"Eek! Mom! Help!"
"You're on your own, brats."
"Phyrrus! No tickling! Phyrrus! Ah! Ahahahaha! Phy--hahaha!"
Harry shook his head, laughing, and headed towards the Dursleys, the twins' laughter ringing in his ears. When he pulled the door open, Vernon snarled at him. Harry frowned, crossing his arms defensively, eyes narrowing. "Mu--Mrs. Lugovalos wants me to help them with a shopping trip to London the day after Aunt Marge leaves," Harry told his uncle warily.
"Fine," Vernon snapped. "And no funny business from you, got it?"
"Not if you sign my Hogsmeade form," Harry agreed, then began to head for the stairs only to have Vernon grab him.
"You're going back to the cupboard for the week," Vernon snarled. "I don't want her asking why we moved you."
Harry's eyes grew wide and he shook his head numbly, unable to believe what his uncle was telling him. "I--I'll tell!" Harry threatened, squeakily.
"You can't if we don't let you out," Vernon snarled, lifting the small teen by the scruff of the neck and tossing him into the cuboard. Harry banged on the door until his small hands cracked, tears streaming down his cheeks.
"Shut up!"
Petunia shrilled, and Harry rocked back, staring around the room in
fear. He hated dark, enclosed spaces. With a whimper he made his
way to the pile of blankets they'd left him and curled him, falling
into a frightened sleep to avoid the darkness of the tiny cupboard.
oOooOo
Harry was let out only to cook meals, use the bathroom, and do chores. Any other time he was locked in the tiny cupboard, sitting in the dark. Fear ate away at him, terrifying him completely. He hated the cupboard, the dark, enclosed, space. Marge didn't care, only talked about his parents non-stop. Harry thought it was going well until the last night she was there.
He was playing the neat little server boy as always, his stomach grumbling lightly in protest to the week with little food. His body was grumbling too, but that was mostly from the heavy hand his relatives used on him. "Now, it's like I see in dogs," Marge slurred, grabbing Harry's small wrist in her heavy grasp. Harry let out a thin cry as she wrentched his arm to the breaking point. "Something wrong in the bitch, something wrong in the pup."
"There was nothing wrong with my mum or my dad!" Harry screamed, trying to pull away from her. Marge snarled and twisted, a sick crack echoing though the house as Harry stared at his arm, which now hung at an odd angle. He cradled it to his chest, sobbing and white as a sheet. "Don--don't touch me!" Harry cried, backing away.
Marge sneered at him, and her face slowly puffed up, large and large, and then the rest of her body followed until she was floating towards the ceiling. Vernon tried to get her down, to no avail. "Set her right, boy!" He snarled, grabbing Harry's broken arm. Harry screamed, managing to get it out of the man's grasp, but Vernon grabbed the scruff of his neck. "Now, or I'll beat you black and blue."
"I can't!" Harry sobbed. "I can't set her right. I don't know how!"
Vernon shoved him down, kicking him several times, then turned back to Marge. Harry crawled off, calling on his magic to unlock the cupboard door and gather his things, shrinking them down. Wand in his left hand, he rushed out the door, then stopped, wondering what to do. He couldn't go to the Lugovalos' house, he probably wouldn't be welcome, but he had no where else to run. He wouldn't make it far with a broken arm, either.
Sobbing, Harry ran towards their house, wanting Phyrrus, and wanting to feel safe in his arms. He tripped over a large dog laying on the ground, panting heavily. Trash cans clattered from his fall, making half the neighborhood come alive. "A-are you lost too?" Harry asked, petting the dog. The animal whined, nuzzling Harry and tried to get up, only to fall again, clearly injured and starved.
"I guess no one takes care of you, either," Harry sniffed. "I'm trying to get to the house over there, but I don't think I can."
"Harry!" Chara cried, rushing outside. She had been the only one to look and see what was happening. Everyone else just grumbled discontentedly before returning to their television programmes.
"Mum Chara," Harry sobbed, reaching for her. He didn't care that she would think he hated them after staying away from the house for a week, he didn't care that she might hurt him, like his uncle had. The only memories he had of Chara were warm and kind.
"Hey, sweetie," Chara murmured, petting Harry head and calling for Phyrrus. Phyrrus appeared moments later, eyes wide.
"Harry?"
"I'm sorry," Harry wailed. "They locked me in the cupboard and I couldn't get out and I didn't mean to not talk to you. Please don't be mad, Phyrrus, I'm sorry!"
Phyrrus lifted the other teen easily, pressing a kiss to his forehead and turning toward the house while his mother took care of the dog. "I'm not mad, and I don't hate you, baby." Phyrrus murmured, laying them both on the couch. "It's all right."
Harry clung to the teen like a lifeline, sobbing and refusing to let go, no matter how much his broken arm hurt him. Chara pried them apart just as Rayne and River appeared. "Harry?" River asked, tugging his broken arm. Harry's face went white as his arm was jiggled.
"It's okay, you two. Harry will be fine." Chara's voice was calm and soothing despite the situation. "I want you two to go warm a little broth for both Harry and the dog, all right? Phyrrus, will you go find something for Harry to bite?"
Harry curled around his arm as Phyrrus hurried off. Chara gently petted his hair. "This is going to hurt, all right? Instead of screaming bloody murder, Phyrrus is going to bring you something to chew on, okay? In order to fix your arm properly I've got to set it into place. That will hurt. The healing part might sting, but setting your arm will feel like I'm ripping it off, okay?"
Harry managed a nod, and Chara smiled. "That's my brave Harry. It'll be okay."
Phyrrus returned with a strip of leather, Harry suspected it was an old belt, and slipped it between Harry teeth before gathering the smaller teen in his arms and settling behind him on the couch. Harry reached up, grabbing Phyrrus' hands with his good one, and held out his arm. Chara kissed it lightly to make it "all better" the grasped it tightly and pulled. Harry bit down as hard as he could, hand tightening against Phyrrus', nails drawing blood, tears streaming down his face. A thin scream forced itself from his throat as the bone resettled. Chara waved her wand, chanting an incantation, and the bone healed itself with a brief, stinging pain.
"All done, sweetie," Chara said gently, pressing another motherly kiss to Harry's arm. "All better."
"That hurt," Harry rasped, still clinging to Phyrrus as the two little girls brought in some broth. Phyrrus took Harry's and fed him, peppering his face with kisses as his mother coaxed the dog into eating. The dog whined, but lapped the broth noisily.
"Can we keep him?" River asked, eyes bright. "Please?"
Chara sighed. She really should have known better. But the dog seemed well behaved. "Sure. But you get to walk him, and if he makes any messes, you get to clean them up."
"You hear that?" Rayne stroked the dog's head. "You have a home now."
"Let's all get some sleep. I'll be filing for custody of Harry in the morning." Chara frowned. "You obviously have mundane birth records, and since that is the case, I'll go through that court system. How's that sound?"
"Will it work?"
"I can get the Dursley's to sign over your custody no sweat." Chara smirked. "Phyrrus, he's going to have to sleep with you. But no funny business, understand?"
"Yes ma'am," Phyrrus saluted, lifting Harry and carrying him upstairs.
"To bed, you two," Chara ordered the little girls, who nodded and rushed after Phyrrus. It was quite late by then, nearly ten, and Chara glanced at the dog.
"There's something odd about you," She murmured, but shook her head. "Come on. I'm the only one not sharing my bed, so I suppose you'll be sleeping with me, you mutt." She knuckled the dog's head fondly, and the animal whined, managing to get to his feet and limp after her. Chara managed a few light healing spells on the dog, then shrugged. She was a doctor, not a vet. At least the animal was walking better.
"What are we going to name you?" She wondered out loud, frowning slightly. The dog whined, nuzzling her hand. Chara smiled as she crawled into bed, smiling at the dog with a wane grin. The dog curled up against her and Chara sniffed.
"I guess you need protection from the night terrors too, huh?" Chara wiped at her tears. "It kills me the way they treat him, you know? Harry's such a good boy, and they treat him like dirt. He doesn't deserve his lot in life anymore than my kids deserve to grow up without a father. But Dudley is a little bastard and his family loves him. It's not fair."
Burying her face in the dog's dirty, matted fur and ignoring the smell, Chara cried in the darkness. Her heart broken sobs poured over the dog's ears, her tears bathing his dirty fur.
The dog tried to
comfort her, nuzzling her and whimpering while Chara clung, crying,
until late into the night.
oOooOo
When Harry woke, he felt safe. A very uncommon occurance, especially during the summer. Phyrrus had snuggled up to Harry, wrapping his strong arms around Harry's thin waist. "Wake UUUUUUP!" Two small voices cried as River and Rayne leapt onto the bed, landung on top of Harry and Phyrrus. Phyrrus moved so he was protecting Harry from their landing, and frowned at the two girls.
Rayne caught River and drug her off the bed. "I'm sorry, Harry. I didn't know you were hurt."
"It's okay," Harry replied, sitting up and stretching. "Just some bruises. You didn't hurt me."
"Phyrrus felt. . . sad," Rayne tried to explain, and Harry blinked. Rayne usually allowed River to do the talking, rather than do it herself. "Like we hurt you. We didn't mean to."
"It's okay," Harry told her again, smiling. "Really. Let us get dressed and we'll find something to do today."
"Mom's already gone," River informed the two as they rolled out of bed. "Left a note that said for Phyrrus to take us to the park and make sure we got lunch. Said to eat supper without her, she won't be back 'til late."
"All right," Phyrrus smiled. "Let us get dressed and I'll fix pancakes for breakfast, all right?"
"Uh huh!" River and Rayne dashed from the room. Phyrrus smiled at Harry.
"Works every time," Phyrrus told his boyfriend, kissing him. Harry melted under the hot assult as Phyrrus' tongue warred with his own. The taller boy backed Harry towards the bed, laying him gently on it, and continued to kiss him. Harry was enjoying the moment, Phyrrus was careful not to allow his hands to wander, and it was several minutes before Phyrrus called a halt to their make-out session to get some clothes on. Harry was panting, and quickly pulled on a pair of cut-off jean shorts and a royal blue tank top.
"You know, I do like pancakes," Harry winked, and Phyrrus laughed, pressing a kiss to Harry's lips before waltzing out of the room.
Breakfast was uneventful, and the dog--which Chara had told them to name--followed them around, begging for scraps of food. Chara had restricted the poor thing to a light diet, warning them that it might die if they didn't stick to the diet she set out, allowing the poor animal's stomach to get re-aquainted with food. Phyrrus had obeyed, feeding the dog broth again, but leaving some meat in it this time. The dog wuffed his pleasure and offered a doggie grin, plumed, black tail waving in happiness.
"Mom said to name the dog, too." River informed them, finishing off her pancakes.
"Padfoot," Harry said immediately. Phyrrus blinked.
"Why?"
Harry gave the other a confused look. "He. . . reminds me. . . but I can't remember what of."
Phyrrus shrugged. "I suppose that's as good a name as any. What do you girls think of it?"
Rayne smiled. "He likes it. I would have called him Blackie, though. But he doesn't like that name."
"Can you always pick up animals emotions, Rayne?" Phyrrus frowned. "I thought you couldn't."
"I can't," Rayne shrugged. "But I understand his."
Phyrrus shrugged and glanced at River, who also said that she could feel the dog with her empathy. Empathy that usually only worked on humans. Phyrrus shrugged a second time. He could deal with that later. "Before we hit the park, I think we should bathe our new friend, here. He reeks."
Harry got an odd look on his face, and Phyrrus offered a lop-sided grin. "He smells," Phyrrus shrugged. "You'd like a bath, right?" He asked the dog, who woofed, making Rayne giggled.
"He likes that," The little girl them, leading the dog to the bathroom. "We can put him in the tub. Cold water isn't nice."
"Mom is so going to kill me," Phyrrus muttered, but followed the girls, Harry trailing behind, deep in thought. Why had this dog reminded him of something? He'd never had a pet before Hedwig, who was off delivering a letter to Ron, though she'd surely come to Chara's house. But this dog, he was so familer. And where had the name Padfoot come from? As far as Harry could remember, he had never even heard the name Padfoot before.
It took nearly an hour to wash the dog, who enjoyed every moment of their primping, until the girls begged to paint his nails. Phyrrus refused the request, and Harry was oddly relieved. Phyrrus smiled at Harry, wrapping an arm around Harry's waist. They took off for the park after packing a picnic lunch, and stayed there until supper time, then made their way to the diner down the road. Chara had left money in case they wanted to go out, and they had enough left for ice cream afterwords.
Harry was delighted. Everything they had done today was a rare treat, even the ice cream, and he had been with Phyrrus. Phyrrus leaned down and pressed his lips to Harry's in a quick, gentle kiss, making Harry blush. Then the five--four humans and a dog--curled up and watched the disney version of Robin Hood.
When Chara got
home she was delighted to see River and Rayne curled up on the floor
in front of the couch using the dog as a pillow, sleeping peacefully,
and Harry and Phyrrus were curled together on the couch. Smiling to
herself, Chara got her camera, and snapped several pictures, crooning
in delight. The dog's ear twitched, but he didn't wake, and Chara
smiled. Too cute. . .
oOooOo
The next morning Chara smiled. "I've got the paperwork all done," Chara announced. "Harry is my ward. I did not adopt you, because you and Phyrrus dating would have been very, very awkward, but you are still my ward." Chara grinned.
Harry clapped his hands and hugged the woman tightly. "Thank you so much, Mum Chara."
"You're a good kid, Harry. We couldn't leave you to such a fate. Not at all."
Harry blushed. "Well, I used my magic, I'll probably be expelled."
"That was clearly an accident, Harry." Chara's voice was firm. "Besides, they're in a uproar to find you. They think some madman has taken you and gone and killed you. I set them straight right quick--Rayne, what's the matter?"
Rayne stared at the dog, shaking her head and frowning. "You said that the madman had gone to hurt Harry and Padfoot--"
"Who?" Chara was beginning to feel like she was at an odd tennis match.
"Padfoot. The dog. Anyway, the dog was upset and indignate, as though he would never hurt Harry like that. But, Mom, you said animals can't feel that sort of thing."
"Animals can't," Chara agreed, pulling out her wand and sending a spell at the dog. "But humans can."
The dog whimpered as it slowly changed back into a man. A man Harry instantly recognized from the man on the news. Sirius Black. He shouted, leaping away, and the commotion made Chara offer him a strange look. When the man didn't attack, however, just sat and stared at Harry, Harry slowly edged closer. "You're that man from the news," Harry finally said aloud. "I thought you were dangerous."
"I supposed most would call me that," Sirius croaked. "But I meant no harm. I just wanted to see you. You look a lot like your father, you know that?"
Harry nodded, looking nervous. "If you knew my father. . . you'd be a wizard. And they said you escaped from jail. . . was it to come after me?"
"Most people would think so," Sirius managed bitterly, and smiled greatfully as River handed him water that Rayne had fetched.
"Why?" Rayne asked softly, leaning forward to gently touch Sirius' chest, right over his heart. "You're good. Can't they feel that?"
Sirius shook his head. He told them that most wizards thought he had betrayed James and Lily Potter since he was their secret keeper, and that Peter Petigrew, another man in their group, really had been the secret keeper. It was Peter that betrayed the Potters, though Sirius felt it was his fault. He explained that he had seen the picture of Ron Weasley in the Daily Prophet with the rat on his shoulder at the tomb. With Peter on his shoulder. He sighed and bit his lip, obviously not expecting any of them to believe it.
"He's not lying," River announced as Rayne watched him with her odd, pale eyes. River looked to him as well, and he felt as they they were ripping apart his mind and examining his soul by their gazes. "And he loves Harry. Like a father but not?"
"I'm Harry's godfather," Sirius nodded, sighing.
Chara blinked. "Okay, so let me get this straight. You were wrongfully imprisoned for thirteen years without trial for killing Harry's parents and thirteen other people, not to mention that you slept with me last night? I'm--I was--nevermind."
"Look, it wasn't. . . sexual, not at all," Sirius crossed his arms. "I have a mate, and you were so distraught that. . . I couldn't leave you there, alone."
Chara smiled gently. "Thank you, then. Who is your mate? We need to contact her. And Harry can write Ron. We can meet him in Diagon Alley, get the rat and solve all of this, okay?"
"We had better get the rat first," Sirius muttered. "Moony won't believe any of that."
Chara crossed her
arms and sat on the couch, thinking. Harry just stared at the man.
"Are you really my godfather?"
oOooOo
