Disclaimer: I do not own anything other than the story line . All rights belong to J.K. Rowling

Chapter Four: Harry's Summer Holidays, Part 1

Harry woke feeling refreshed and excited for the first time in a very long time. In point of fact, he couldn't remember ever feeling this contented. He really wasn't awake yet, and had that sleepily contented feeling one feels when he is in-between sleep and waking.

He got up, feeling very much at home in his new room. His room. It had such a nice feel to it. He had never had a real room of his own before. To think that people as great as the Grangers had given him, Harry Potter, a complete nobody, a room of his own.

He decided that he would have to do something nice for his new guardians. He envied Hermione having a family like she did. He had never know his parents, so he didn't really know what it meant to have a family. It didn't mean that he couldn't enjoy seeing them be together though. He could live his dream through her.

After checking the clock and seeing that it wasn't yet half six, he staggered out the door and made his way down the massive hall of portraits on his way to the stairs. He really liked this room. It felt like family should. To see pictures of all the ones that you loved meant a lot. With a twinge of sadness Harry remembered that he had never even seen a picture of his parents.

He made his way softly down the stairs. It took him a while, but he eventually found his way to the kitchen. It was much bigger than the one at his aunt and uncle's house, but he figured that he could make do, provided that he could find everything that he needed.

He let out a huge yawn. As he closed his mouth and opened his eyes he realized that he wasn't alone. He was too sleepy to be truly startled, so he just stopped and looked at the mysterious intruder. With a shy smile of recognition he walked over to the older of his safety guard.

Remus Lupin liked to think that in his thirty one years of life he had seen and experienced enough that very little startled him anymore. He was completely and utterly unprepared for what would greet him this morning. He was sitting at the kitchen table enjoying a quick read through of the Manchester Guardian. He very seldom got to enjoy a Muggle newspaper, so he was taking his time with the morning printing.

With his enhanced senses it was very difficult for someone to sneak up on him, so he of course heard the soft footfalls of the young lad as he walked sleepily towards the room. Remus smiled as he saw his young charge wander in, looking for all the world as if he had just been in a very compromising position. His hair was mussed, his pajamas were buttoned up incorrectly while he had a green ribbon tied around his sleeve, and he had a dreamy expression on his face that, had he been a little older, Remus would have sworn had been the result of a strenuous snog session.

He took all of this in with great amusement. He enjoyed it when Harry graced him with a small, shy smile. He watched bemusedly as Harry walked over to him. He was completely unaware of what was about to happen.

Harry stopped less than a foot from the older man. He reached out with his hands in a universal gesture. Remus Lupin, hardened werewolf and self-avowed crusty gentleman, couldn't help but take the young boy into his arms. Harry hugged Lupin happily and whispered into his ear.

"Good morning Uncle Moony," the boy said in a sleepy voice. "Where's Uncle Paddy?" Remus gasped in surprise and almost lost his grip on poor Harry. To his credit, he caught him quickly, eliciting a small giggle from the boy.

He set Harry down, looking hard at the boy, though he tried to temper his expression. "What did you say Harry?" he asked in a shaky voice.

"Where's Uncle Paddy? You're always with Uncle Paddy…" Harry stated simply. He looked a little confused.

"Harry," Remus started, and then stopped as Tonks walked into the kitchen. She waved at him to continue as she plunked herself into one of the seats at the table.

"Harry, your Uncle Padfoot is in prison. He's the one that betrayed your parents." Tonks shot him a disgusted glare.

"No, that's not right," whispered Harry as he cocked his head to one side, his eyes narrowed in concentration. Both Lupin and Tonks were openly staring at him now. "Uncle Paddy was so upset at what the rat-man did to Mummy and Daddy…"

"Harry, what are you talking about?" Remus said softly as he reached out to lightly grasp Harry's arms.

"I don't really remember, Uncle Moony," Harry replied just as softly. He screwed up his face as he tried to remember. "Mummy was crying, really hard…" He looked up at Remus, tears starting to form in his eyes. "Why was Mummy crying?" He was starting to shake now.

"There was a really bright green light…" The tears were streaming down his face. "Then Uncle Paddy was holding me and rocking me, and he was really mad at the rat-man." He looked at Remus pleadingly. "I don't know why he was so mad. He, he gave me to someone and then he left." He sniffled a little.

"I'm sorry, I don't remember any more…"

"It's alright, Harry, you don't have to remember any more," Remus said as he lifted Harry into a soft hug. As he was holding Harry like this the Granger family made their entrance to the kitchen. Hermione practically sprinted the distance between her and Harry. Very quickly the hug became a three-way as Hermione joined in.

"Oh Harry," she sobbed. "I had the worst dream… You were so upset, and I had to get to you, and, well I woke up and then you weren't in your room, so I got Mum and Dad, and we came down here…" She was almost hysterical.

"It's alright, Princess," Harry said as he twisted around to return the hug from his best friend. As he did so, he craned his neck to look at Lupin. "I'm sorry Uncle Moony that I couldn't remember more."

"It's alright Harry, you've given my something that I haven't had in a very long time… hope," Remus replied.

As they untwined themselves from each other, Remus shared a knowing look with Tonks. The younger witch smirked at the older man, in a tell-tale I-told-you-so manner. The older man just nodded in return.

Harry, for his part, didn't want to break the hug he was sharing with Hermione. Princesses were made for hugs, any knight knew that, and his Princess Hermione was perfect in the role. He settled for keeping one arm around her as he turned to the Grangers and greeted them good morning.

"Uncle Moony?" Harry started. When Remus returned his full attention to Harry he continued. "What did my Mum and Dad look like?"

Remus looked at him like he had grown a third eye. "What do you mean Harry?" he asked. "Surely you've seen a picture from your aunt and uncle?"

"They don't have any, and they didn't want me to mention them. Uncle Vernon would hit me if I asked about them," Harry replied.

"He would hit you?" Remus asked in a low, dangerous tone as Tonks let out a scandalized gasp. "How?"

"If I spoke out of turn he would punch me. Sometimes he would punch me in the face, if it was during holidays. Most of the time he would punch me in the chest. Sometimes he would punch me here," he pointed to his right kidney. "That really hurt. After he would punch me he would throw me in my cupboard and lock me in until I stopped crying."

"That bastard!" Robert Granger hissed. Hermione's mum had joined Hermione in holding Harry.

"If I mentioned my dreams, or if something strange happened to me, he would get really mad. Then he would use his cricket bat to hit me. I didn't like that…"

Remus and Tonks stood up. Remus looked over at the Grangers. "We need to take care of some unfinished business." He crouched down in front of Harry. "Tonks and I shall be back soon. You stay with the Grangers at all times, alright?" Harry nodded. "We'll bring back some pictures of your parents, I promise." He stood up and walked over to Tonks. He grabbed her hand and with a twirl and a pop they were gone.

*0*0*

The pair apparated into a small flat in the middle of Whitechapel. It was rather run down, with a drab and dreary look to it. The wallpaper was peeling in several places, and Tonks could spot a couple of roaches scurrying to find shelter from the sudden intruders.

Outside the window the large golden dome of a Muslim mosque could be seen prominently in the background. Voices carrying on in Arabic gave the young witch a hefty clue as to their location. Smells of roasted mutton carried in through the open window.

"Merlin Remus, you live here?" Tonks muttered in surprise. She was met by an embarrassed glare from her host.

"Just what the bloody hell did you expect?" Remus spat out. "I'm lucky to have this. My kind aren't very welcome anywhere you know…"

Tonks had the good grace to blush at this. "Sorry," she murmured.

"It's alright," Remus replied. "Just hit a nerve is all…"

"Don't worry about it Guv'nor," Tonks said lightly. "Cor blimey, I was just surprised is all. Don't end up in Whitechapel much. Not a real savory place, this." She grinned at the older wizard. "So, you wanted to do something?"

"Yeah, I wanted to get even with that great whale, Dursley." He looked at Tonks knowingly. "Oh yeah, we've met. Petunia was James' sister-in-law after all. Never did like the gormless prat." He grinned at Tonks.

"James, Sirius and I were part of a group of pranksters at Hogwarts." Tonks' eyes grew wide at this. It seemed that she had an inkling of where he was leading to. "We called ourselves the Marauders…"

"Cor blimey," she whispered, her eyes widening even more. A look of reverence passed over her face. "Never thought I'd ever meet any of you…" She smiled at him and then her face lit up as she realized just what he'd said. "My cousin was a part of this?"

Lupin nodded. "I've had an idea. I need you to look at some pictures that I've got. Then we need to work on your voice for a few. After that, I think we can really put the Dursleys in their places." He grinned a very feral grin.

"Ooh, you are an evil creature, aren't you? I like the way you think," Tonks said in a sultry tone.

"You've no idea," Remus replied with a smirk.

*0*0*

Petunia Dursley was not a happy woman as she heard the doorbell ring right in the middle of her vacuuming. Who in the world would be calling at half seven on a Saturday morning? As she shut down the vacuum she heard Vernon grumble from the kitchen. She sighed as she walked to the door to answer it.

She opened the door and all the color drained from her face. She tried to breath, to scream, to run, to do anything, yet she couldn't. She couldn't bring her feet to move. At long last she caught a sharp, startled breath.

"Lily?" she croaked.

The woman in front of her scowled. "Is that all you have to say for yourself, sister?" she asked. With a sweep of her hand she pushed the door the rest of the way open and she and the man behind her stepped in past the stunned woman.

"Petunia, sweet, who is it?" Vernon asked as he made his way carefully through the hall. It had recently gotten somewhat harder to navigate his great bulk through without causing mayhem with every step.

"You!" he gasped as he stepped into the foyer and saw the two standing in his house.

"Yes, Vernon, me," replied the redheaded witch in front of him. Her hair billowed back as if blown by an unfelt, ethereal wind. She motioned to the couch. "Sit," she said simply. The great lump just stood there, holding on to a carton of ice cream in one hand and a spoon, which was dripping its contents onto the rug in the other. "SIT!!!" she roared. Both Dursleys decided to obey rather than face the all too obvious consequences otherwise.

Remus, in the meantime, had walked over to a small doorway that lead to a cupboard under the stairs. There were a series of locks on it. With a flick of his wand it swung open. He winced as the odor hit him. His enhanced senses made this almost painful.

Inside was all the evidence that the werewolf needed. He not so gently closed the door and latched it. He walked briskly over to the foyer closet. Opening it he found two items he wanted and pulled them out. He walked over to Lily/Tonks and stood next to her, a wild look in his eyes.

"What do you want with us, freaks?" asked Vernon. Petunia let out a scared yip as she heard her husband.

"You've a lot to answer for, sister," was the reply. "You were entrusted with the care of my baby…"

"Against our will," muttered Vernon. A low growl forced him to look up in Lupin's direction. The Muggle blanched as he saw that Lupin was holding his bowling ball in both hands. The werewolf's eyes flashed yellow as he touched the wolf inside, and with a snarl and a loud crack he ground the bowling ball into so much powder in his hands. He dusted his palms along his robe, and then picked up the cricket bat. He regarded it as he held it.

"Years of abuse!" Lily/Tonks shrieked. The Dursleys winced.

"Mum, what's going on?" came a voice from upstairs. With a flick of the witch's wand Dudley Dursley floated down the stairs, immobile. He came to rest on the couch with his parents.

"You tortured him!" she screamed. She nodded to Lupin. He flicked the cricket bat. It sliced straight through a granite topped writing desk as if it wasn't even there. It fell cleaved in twain by the blow. Lupin took the bat and grasping it in the thickest part, broke it in two as if it were a matchstick.

A large wet stain had appeared on the front of Vernon's trousers. The scent of human defecation hit the werewolf's nostrils and he had to fight to keep from retching. Petunia fainted. A flick of the witch's wand revived her.

"Oh no, sister of mine, you do not get out of things this easily. I think you need to learn a little of what my child went through." She flicked her wand and the door to the cupboard under the stairs grew to three times its normal size. Another flick and it swung open. "In," she said, motioning for the door.

Not wanting to upset the pair anymore than they already had, the three Dursleys scurried into the cupboard. It was plenty large enough for them inside however. The door swung shut and the Dursleys could hear the locks being thrown.

"Perhaps, in a few day's time, I might feel the teeniest bit guilty over this. Should that happen I might even let Remus here convince me to come and release the locks on this door, but I shouldn't count on it if I were you," she said.

"And I wouldn't get too comfy in there, this isn't how my Harry had his room…" As they heard the outer door slam they felt sheer terror as they realized that the walls were returning to the normal size for the cupboard, just big enough for one under-nourished young boy. Their shrieks and moans of anguish echoed on into the night…

*0*0*

Harry, the Grangers, Lupin and Tonks spent the rest of the day going over all the photo albums that Lupin could find. It was by far the best time that Harry could ever remember having. He sat on the couch, with Hermione snuggled up next to him thinking that nothing could be better than this.

As the children went up to bed Harry could hear Mr. Granger ask Lupin and Tonks if they could speak to them for a little while before everyone else went to bed. Harry wondered briefly what they could want, but he was too tired to really care at the moment, and too deliriously happy to be able to think of anything but his parents and the wonderful young girl who was holding his hand and leading to their rooms to go to sleep.

Meanwhile, down in the living room, the adults had settled in to have their discussion. The first thing that they wanted to know was just what had happened after Lupin and Tonks had left. After a short session of beating around the bush, the werewolf and metamorphmagus relented and told their tale.

Robert and Jean Granger really didn't know what to think. While they couldn't really stand what the Dursleys had done to Harry, it was tough to justify what Tonks and Lupin had done. They had after all, taken full advantage of the fact that the Dursleys were non-magical and couldn't defend themselves. After a short debate on the subject, during which Lupin and Tonks grudgingly ceded the Granger's point, and promised to release the Dursleys the next day, they decided that they could live with things.

"Now, said Robert, "we've a few questions concerning this situation that the children have found themselves in…"

Author's Note: I think that I hate the Dursleys more than any other characters in the entire Potterverse... Next up, the Grangers ask some very pointed questions, Harry learns the true definition of love, and oh yeah, they have a birthday party in Harry's Holidays, Part 2...