A Birthday Wish (Title will be changed next chapter!)
The Heart's Wish
Harry sat in the darkness; the only light that of the moonlight glowing under the door. It was quite stifling in the cupboard under the stairs, but Harry didn't notice, he had become used to it. He couldn't help but play with the pendant his Godfather had given him. At first he wasn't sure what to make of it, since jewelry was such a girly thing, but Padfoot had assured him boys could wear jewelry too, and the necklace had been his since he was a little boy.
That had brightened Harry up considerably. Padfoot must care a lot for him to give him something that he'd owned for such a very long time. He didn't consider it to be like Dudley's cast offs, no, the pendant (that's what Moony called it) was bright and shiny and looked new.
His thumb ran over it. It was nice, he decided, and pretty in a boy way he assured himself. Little silver stars glittered from a backdrop of domed midnight blue. It was cool against his hand, the other hand rubbing at his eyes, red and swollen as they were from crying.
For some reason he had thought maybe, just maybe, Sirius and Remus would have given him a surprise visit. They had done it last year on his birthday. The Dursley's had spent much of the day taunting him over the fact that obviously the two men were too busy or didn't want to spend time with him. It had been all he could do to keep his hurt inside until he was safe in his cupboard.
If he had known that Sirius and Remus were even now preparing for his appearance, he might have felt better. His mind ran over what Sirius had told him in the park as he took a hiccupping breath. He was to make a wish on his birthday, Sirius said that the pendant would have to substitute for candles on a cake, and he was to hold it, close his eyes and wish real hard that he was living with him and Moony. Harry wasn't to think of anything else.
For Sirius to say aloud what Harry's wish had been for the last two years and to seem to want it too, did a lot to reassure him of his own self worth. He had turned the wording of his wish over and over in his head, skeptical, but still somehow believing that an adult could tell him the truth, and that something like magic could be real. He had after all turned the teacher's hair blue though he couldn't say how he did it, he knew it was him.
The Dursley's had thought so too and he'd been confined to his cupboard. Maybe this time would be different, and he wouldn't have to worry about the Dursleys' again.
Taking a deep breath he shut his eyes, clenching them tight, afraid that if they were to somehow open his wish wouldn't work. The pendant was held between his hands, the metal still cool. "I wish.. I wish…" and despite what Sirius had told him, he found himself thinking of other people too. Why couldn't he wish it? No, Sirius had told him what he should wish for, "I wish I were with Moony and Padfoot…" but he couldn't help the little whisper in his heart and in his mind that he wished he were with his mother and father too.
If only Harry had known that he needn't say his wish aloud, that it was what was in his heart that mattered, he might have concentrated a little more on thinking of only Moony and Padfoot. As it was, he did not, and the pendant turned hot, and though Harry wanted to drop it, he was unable to do so.
In the next moment he felt a cool breeze against his skin, a breeze that shouldn't by any means be present in his cupboard. And when he opened his eyes, it wasn't his Uncle Moony or his Godfather Padfoot, but instead a wolf, it's golden eyes intent upon him, as it hit the grass hard just feet in front of him, obviously having been leaping before, and teeth pulled back in a snarl of the likes that caused Harry to do what any other sensible just turned seven years old boy would do. Scream. Then scramble up and run the other way. It was a good plan, but one that failed as he ran into a black creature that was just as large, if not larger, causing him to fall backwards.
Harry's breath was coming in gasps now, and he felt as if he couldn't breath. Just as the world went black, he could have sworn he saw the shape of a man looming over him where once the black monster had been.
Sirius stood over the young boy with a look of confusion. "What the bloody hell is a kid doing out here?" he asked, unconcerned about Moony coming closer. The two had been out in the forest behind the Potter's home, romping as they did every full moon, when the boy just appeared in between them. Luckily Moony had noticed and stopped half way in his leap, although the look on his furry face had still been one that would understandably scare a kid. As loathe as he was to admit it, Sirius was thankful that Snivellus had come up with the wolfs bane potion. That he should be thankful for anything the greasy bastard had done was still a surprise and one that rankled.
It was Moony who moved him into action. The werewolf nudged him, and though it was Remus who was in control, Sirius understood his fear of getting too close. Bending down he picked the child up, marveling at how light he was, but then again he'd never had much interaction with children.
"Dumbledore or home?" he asked the werewolf. It was surely an odd occurrence that a child would just appear. There'd been no sound of apparation and nothing that could be termed a portkey. Was it some new development of the Voldemort's followers? Perhaps they had used this child as a guinea pig. He wouldn't have doubted it. Which begged the question of whether he should go straight to the headmaster of Hogwarts, or take him somewhere closer that would give him more immediate attention if he were hurt.
The small boy in his arms made a soft noise, and caused him to make his decision. "Potter's it is." Moony made an agreeable noise. There was always time to get to Hogwarts later. They could not apparate within it's walls, and would have to travel to Hogsmeade and walk their way up. Or ask Dumbledore to come through, but he rarely left Hogwarts unattended.
Moony walked closely beside him, alert to the creatures around them. Though the Potter's place was under fidelus, he still felt that it was unsafe. If a young boy could appear, why not a death eater? He scented no danger though, only the vaguely familiar scent of the child in Sirius' arms.
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ATTENTION: Both Title and summary will change with next chapter. Title will be: People We Should Never Meet. Summary is to come.
