DISCLAIMER: I do NOT own Harry Potter.
The Fire of the Phoenix
Rescue
Three days before, morning.
Sirius' trial has just ended and he couldn't even explain how it felt to be free. After a week of interrogations, they found Peter Pettigrew guilty and cleared Sirius Orion Black of all charges. The Ministry gave Sirius money (though he didn't need more) and said they would grant Sirius wish. Sirius asked for the guardianship of his godson and goddaughter Harry Potter and Phoenix Potter as well as to list Remus as their second guardian - since he was their godfather as well. Should anything happen to him, the Ministry had the duty to grant his wish, even though Remus is a registered werewolf.
Dumbledore had been a little reluctant to let Sirius and Remus take the twins away from Privet Drive at first but after a bit of talking - and shouting on Sirius' part - he accepted grudgingly. As Remus said: 'they need to live, not only survive.' Remus couldn't shake off the feeling that something was terribly wrong and this feeling was later confirmed by Sirius -who was feeling the same - driving the men mad with worry.
Through the year Remus, as the DADA professor, had never heard Phoenix speak a word, not even to say a spell and when she did, even his werewolf hearing couldn't hear. Sure, he was proud of her, non-verbal spells are pretty advanced magic but why wouldn't she talk? She used to be very talkative as a baby; in fact both of the twins wouldn't stop talking. He noticed as well that Harry was very protective of her and she of him; he never saw them apart and heard Harry asking his sister if she was okay many times. Why wouldn't she be okay? Was she ill? Seeing them together brought back memories of Lily and James, only without the snogging part and somehow, without the light in their eyes. He remembered that particular moment in his first class with the Gryffindor 3rd Years when he said they would be facing Boggarts, he saw both of the twins tremble and saw Phoenix bury her head in Harry's neck. It would be an adorable sight if it wasn't for the given circumstances. And if his memory wasn't failing him, he remembered them backing away from the wardrobe even before the mention of the boggart. He wished he would have talked to them, but something held him back. He was scared his godchildren wouldn't accept him, or were better off without the werewolf. And even if someone had said something was really wrong, it was easier for him to ignore that voice in his head than to admit he was the wrong one and that he should have tried harder to get them.
Remus was pacing in the waiting room when the doors opened snapping him out of his thoughts, Sirius was walking towards him. He looked tired and his eyes were still haunted but for the first time since he saw Sirius in the Shrieking Shack there was a gleam in his eyes and he was truly smiling. Remus didn't need to hear the words, Sirius was free, and Padfoot was back! He reached out for Sirius and gave him a tight hug, trying to express in it all he couldn't say. Sirius fiercely returned the hug and when they pushed away, both men's eyes were shining with unshed tears. Sirius then, extended Remus a paper. Remus looked at him questioningly.
'Just look.' Sirius said with a hoarse voice from lack of use. Remus read the paper and looked up at Sirius grinning face shocked.
'How?'
Sirius shrugged. 'I have my ways.'
Remus hugged him again, he couldn't believe it happened. How did it happen? He tried to get the guard of the twins many times but his 'condition' wouldn't let him and now he would be able to be a part of their lives, if they let him that is. 'Thank you, Siri.' Remus said with his voice shaking.
'It's nothing.' Sirius waved his hand aside. 'You have as much right as I do. Lily and James wanted both of us as their godfathers, and I can't do it alone.' Remus smiled. 'So! Let's get them!' Sirius made an attempt to run but Remus grabbed his shoulder.
'Whoa Sirius, calm down. You haven't got a house yet and I'm sorry to tell you this but you stink.'
Sirius sighed. 'You're right. But after we get everything sorted out we're going to get them.'
It took two days to get everything sorted out; they found a house - or mansion - in the outskirts of Sussex that had 5 bedrooms, a drawing room, a library, a study, a dining room, a kitchen, a basement, an attic as well as a big garden ("to play Quidditch!" as Sirius quickly pointed out). The house was surrounded by a forest and took time to convince Remus to move with them but after the "reasonably boring marauder" ran out of excuses he had to oblige. Sirius put a good use of the thousands of galleons the Ministry gave him buying the manor and making it as different as he could from the house he grew up in. They spent hours decorating the house and choosing the furniture they wanted to replace, especially in Harry's room and Phoenix's room (that were side by side with Sirius and Remus taking the two bedrooms in front of them, the other room would be used as a guest bedroom).
Harry's room was red and gold; the bed resembled the one in Gryffindor Dorm Rooms, the covers had snitches that actually moved! Next to it a big golden-snitch lamp on his bedside table, there was a place designed to put Harry's Firebolt on the wall and the walls were bare (with plenty of space to put Quidditch posters), except for a Gryffindor banner; there was an arm chair and a desk and next to it a dark red rug, a wardrobe and a shelf (Remus insisted). They also enchanted Harry's ceiling to look like a perfect day for Quidditch (or night depended of the time). Phoenix's room was light pink with dark red; they put a lamp shaped in form of the Hogwarts Castle on her bedside table, there was a wardrobe next to her bedroom door and a desk next to it, everything in light wood to contrast with the dark red. Her covers had pixies and butterflies flying around them. Her rug was light pink and her walls were bare. A comfortable armchair was put next to the shelf now filled with books. Both rooms were basically the same, what made them different were the details.
For a moment they worried if their bedrooms were too childish but thought against it: "They probably never had anything like it at the Dursleys, they lived as muggles - we should put magic." Sirius pointed out.
Remus' bedroom was light blue and quite simple, a shelf, a wardrobe, a desk, nothing much. Sirius was the same, just dark green and messier.
Sirius had improved his appearance as well. He shaved and got his hair cut a little below his chin, looking younger. He gained weight eating everything on his path plus nutrient potions and potions to increase appetite. The man's grey eyes were still haunted and he still was too thin but 'that's what Azkaban does to you' Remus thought wryly.
They found themselves apparating to Privet Drive early that morning. Remus couldn't get Sirius to understand that it was too early to knock on peoples door and he had to admit to himself that he wasn't trying too hard. When they found #4 they stood there for a moment, then Remus rang the doorbell. Their feeling of something wrong that was getting harder to ignore each day, increased even more now and they were sure that it was not something silly it was indeed something terribly wrong here and Remus heart clenched painfully when he recognized the smell. Blood. Remus grew pale.
'Remus, what is it?' Sirius looked at him concerned.
Remus didn't answer but broke the door open with a kick. Sirius then was able to catch the scent. They ran searching for the source of it and found themselves in the kitchen with a horrible sight. Time went still.
Phoenix laid almost unconscious next to the hob, her head bloodied and clothes soaked, her trousers were ripped in a way that it barely covered the lower members and next to her was a frying pan. The girl's leg was in an unknown angle. Harry was lying next to her, his mouth and nose bleeding with his left hand pushing the floor white the right clutched the boy's shoulder. It looked like he was trying to protect Phoenix from the view. And when they looked around, they saw who Harry was trying to protect his sister from, the big whale that was Vernon Dursley was holding a belt in a hand and a bloodied knife in the other.
'WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON HERE?' Sirius screamed and grabbed his wand pointing it at the man's face. 'I SWEAR DURSLEY, TRY ANYTHING, TRY MOVING AT ALL AND I SWEAR I'LL KILL YOU.'
'WHAT ARE YOU FREAKS DOING IN MY HOUSE? GET OUT! GET OUT NOW! I DON'T WANT PEOPLE FROM YOUR LOT NEAR ME OR MY FAMILY.'
'SHUT THE F-!' Sirius held his wand in Vernon's neck.
'Sirius!' Remus interrupted and when Sirius looked at him, he saw that Remus looking not at Vernon or Sirius, but at Harry and Phoenix who were cringing in fear. In a second Sirius crossed the room and knelt next to them, with Remus right by his side. Harry tried to block Phoenix from their view but failed and let out a low cry.
'Shh pup, you're alright. We won't hurt you; we won't let him touch you or Phoenix ever again. It's me, Sirius. Hush calm down pup, I'm here now. Shh.' Sirius said in a soothing voice and was about to wipe Harry's tears when decided against it. He saw Remus trying to comfort Phoenix who was lying down behind Harry.
'Hush darling, I won't hurt you cub. I promise. It's okay, I'm here now, Sirius is here. You and Harry are safe, we are taking you home.'
'YOU WON'T TAKE THEM ANYWHERE! THE FREAKS ARE OUR NIECE AND NEPHEW, OUR RESPONSIBILITY AND THEY WILL STAY HERE!' Remus got up from Phoenix's side and walked towards Vernon, you could see a glimpse of the wolf trying to take control.
'Then why didn't you treat them like that you bloody monster?! If I were you I would stay out of our way, unless you want to see what's left of your house in a matchbox and everything you care about destroyed.' Remus said in a low and dangerous voice, his eyes turning into a cat-like amber and Vernon backed away, standing beside his wife and son that were shaking in the corner of the room. Remus then looked at Sirius who was trying to comfort both of the twins. 'Can you handle them while I get their things?' The Animagus nodded and Remus left the room, following Harry and Phoenix's scents. He found himself facing a cupboard under the stairs. 'Impossible.' He said to himself praying it wasn't the truth. But when he opened the door he found a small blood stained cot and some clothes on the floor. He couldn't believe that two thirteen year olds could fit in there but the blood and smell told him that the inhuman was possible. There was no sign of their trunks and he wouldn't take any of that rubbish. When he walked empty handed to the kitchen he saw that the Dursleys weren't there and that both of the twins were unconscious.
'Where are those bas-monsters?'
'I don't know. It's better for them they are not here. The only thing that kept me from killing those bastards were Harry and Phoenie.' He growled.
Remus shook his head. 'You would be no use for them in Azkaban, Sirius.' Then, Sirius sighed and looked down.
'You're right. Where are their trunks?'
'Couldn't find them. They are not in the cupboard.'
'In the WHAT?' Sirius jumped.
'Later, we have to go. They're losing too much blood.'
Sirius nodded and summoned their trunks, who came banging on the walls towards him. He shrunk and put them in his pocket. Then, he bent down and picked Harry up carefully as Remus did the same with Phoenix.
'He weighs as light as a feather.' Sirius frowned.
'Did you expect different after what you saw?' Remus asked wryly.
Sirius shook his head and sighed. When they were leaving they saw the Dursleys in the drawing room.
'Sign this so we can go.' Sirius growled and, holding Harry with one arm like a kid, tossed the paper to Petunia who was about to say something but thought better after a look from the enraged werewolf and signed, passing it to Vernon who wasn't that intelligent.
'I won't sign anything of your lot! They will stay here!'
Sirius flicked his wand and Dudley became a pig. 'Sign. NOW.' Sirius growled, blocking Petunia's screams. Vernon with a shaking hand signed the paper and it disappeared.
'The spell will wear off in 48 hours, until then have fun with your new son.' Sirius laughed dryly.
'Think about what Lily would have done if the roles were reversed, Tuney.' Remus said and then, they walked out of #4 and apparated home.
It was already a long day.
A/N: Thanks for reading! CHAPTER REWRITTEN AND SPELLCHECKED
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