THE STRANGE MAN

Harry turned on his camp cot, disturbed by the noises coming from outside his cupboard door. He knew he wasn't supposed to come out during the night for he might wake Dudley, but curiosity overtook the small child. He winced as he stepped off his bed; his ankle having not fully healed yet, after Uncle Vernon had slammed it in the door last Thursday. Harry opened the door just enough for his little eyes to peep through. He saw a strange man standing in the spotless living room. The man was tall and had black curly hair to his shoulders, but his face was hidden by his cloak. The strange man was yelling at Uncle Vernon

"…..You asshole, where is Harry. Tell me or else…."

The strange man's words sounded familiar, but he couldn't remember where he'd heard them before. But he knew somehow in his little head that this man was good and wanted to help him.

Uncle Vernon was stuttering "You…You…get outta my house you freak…or I'll…um…call the police…yeah…I'll call the police."

"Call the police, huh?" he snarled pulling a long, pointed stick from beneath his cloak and pointing it straight at Uncle Vernon, who stumbled backwards, terrified of that stick, but Harry had no idea why. Uncle Vernon tripped over an armchair in an attempt to get away.

"Harry's not here….I swear".

At this Harry cried at the top of his lungs, wanting to be heard "I'm here lemme out, pwease lemme out"

He heard loud, banging footsteps clunk towards him. Then the door creaked open revealing the strange man's face. Harry let out a cry and backed up against the wall afraid and wishing he had never shouted out.

The man then spoke his voice kind "it's all right Harry I'm not going to hurt you" He whispered softly.

The man spoke nicely to him something he wasn't used to at all. Harry edged a little closer to the man, feeling safe, though for reasons he didn't understand. He kept a cautious eye on the man's hand.

The strange man spoke again "Hello, Harry you might not remember me. My name is Sirius but you can call me Padfoot".

As Sirius waited for an answer he gazed upon the toddlers little body that was littered in scars, cuts and grazes. He seemed to be much smaller than most toddlers, 'though' Sirius thought 'He didn't have many to compare too'. He was wearing a torn shirt that hung on him loosely exposing his malnourished and skinny frame. He had a severely swollen ankle and a large gash across his cheek. Sirius's face flushed with anger but he tried to calm himself down as not to scare the already afraid little boy.

Harry plucked up his courage and spoke quietly "why are you here…sir". He quickly remembered to call him. Sirius frowned at Harry calling him Sir, that wasn't normal for children was it?

"I am your Godfather Harry, when you were born your parents asked me to look after you if anything ever happened to them" he paused "that's only if you want me to…of course".

Harry looked into the man's face "I can come wif oo" Harry didn't quite believe the man's words. "weely?"

Sirius answered "Really, come here." He beckoned

Harry stepped forwards as Sirius wrapped his hands around the little boy he had wanted to see for so long. Harry tensed as the man's arms wrapped around him. The boy looked so much like James the resemblance was uncanny. But his eyes were green like Lily's, though they held a certain sadness that hers never did.

At that moment a very-purple-in-the-face Uncle Vernon came to Harry's doorstep. Sirius sensed this, he turned around and punched Uncle Vernon in the face as hard as he had ever hit anything in his life.

"YOU FUCKING BARSTARD" he yelled as his fist connected with Vernon skin. But regretted yelling as Harry placed his hands over his ears and began to cry. Sirius ran over to the toddler and tried to comfort him. Harry removed his hands from his ears once he knew that Sirius's anger was not directed at him.

Sirius then picked Harry up placing him on his hip and stalked out the door. By the time he had reached the end of Privet Drive, Harry was already fast asleep, drooling down the back of his shirt. Sirius smiled and kissed the little boy's forehead before apparating into 12 Grimmauld place.

Sirius walked through the front door to find an extremely shocked Remus and Dumbledore waiting in the living room. He couldn't tell whether they were shocked at him leaving at such short notice or the state of Harry. Judging by their open-mouthed expressions he suspected the latter. He carried Harry up to the least 'scary' bedroom which was he and Regulus's old playroom. Being careful not to wake Harry, Sirius placed him under the covers before kissing his forehead and closing the door.

He walked down the stairs slightly breathless from so suddenly apparating.

"You didn't kill anyone did you Padfoot?" Remus asked worriedly.

"Don't worry...I didn't" replied Sirius "but I came close to it"

Dumbledore was frowning slightly but Remus looked relieved that Sirius hadn't murdered anyone trying to get to Harry.

"I must leave you two gentleman now" declared Dumbledore abruptly as he stood up and strode towards the door.

Another Chapter finished YAY!

Next Chapter will be up next Sunday

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