"I never wanted to go to Hogwarts!" Petunia lied. Sirius and Remus both snorted. "I didn't!"
"So either you're lying or Lilly was lying." Remus said. "Considering the fact that she was my best friend I'm going to believe what she told us years ago."
Petunia's face turned white. "What did she tell you?"
"You owled Dumbledore and begged him to go to Hogwarts." Sirius snorted. "I remember when we graduated, I tried owling him and begging him to let us go back to Hogwarts. He didn't even answer so at least you got an answer."
Petunia's face went from white to beet red. "She never knew about that! I never told her."
"She was doing some digging in your room." Remus said with a laugh. "It doesn't matter right now though. Don't be embarrassed about it. I'm pretty sure if muggles knew about Hogwarts they would be begging to go. Maybe even creating their own acceptance letters." ()
"Isn't that right!" Sirius snorted. "I know I would!"
"Are you going to come or not?" Remus asked impatiently.
"I guess we'll go." Petunia tried hiding the excitement in her voice. "Come along Dudley."
"Ready, Harry?" Remus asked.
"Yes." Harry answered and bit his lip. "M-may I ask a question?"
"You just did." Remus laughed. "Go ahead you don't need to ask permission."
"What is Hogwarts?" Harry asked.
"It's a place where witches and wizards go to school to learn magic." Remus answered.
Harry covered his mouth and gasped at the use of the 'M' word. "Y-you said m-m-magic."
"Nothing's wrong with magic, pup." Sirius said and ruffled Harry's hair. "You'll be going there someday. To learn magic."
"You're getting rid of me already?" Harry asked sadly.
"Of course not! All witches and wizards go there. This will always be your home. You won't be going there until you're 11." Sirius said.
"I'm a wizard?" Harry asked incredulously.
"Yes! Just like me and Moony. Your Dad was a wizard too. Your mom was a witch!" Sirius said. "Ready now pup?" Harry nodded.
"Good. Now we'll be getting there through the fireplace." Remus said and walked over to the large fireplace in the sitting room.
The others followed him and Petunia cleared her threat. "Excuse me? What do you mean fireplace?"
"It's called the floo. The floo network is a bunch of magical fireplaces that transports you to another magical fireplace. We use this." Remus paused and grabbed a small black bag. "Inside is floo powder. You grab some powder and drop it on the fire. Then when the fire turns green, you walk in and say your destination. When you say your destination you need to speak loud and clearly."
"Then the flames engulfs you and takes you to your destination." Sirius laughed. "Would you like to go first?"
Petunia's face froze after Sirius said the word 'engulf'. She grabbed Dudley's hand and took a step backwards.
Remus glared at Sirius. "You scared her!"
"I was just being honest." Sirius said. "I must not tell lies!"
"It doesn't hurt at all Petunia, I promise. The flames are not even a little hot. It's safer than apparating." Remus said. "Would you like to apparate instead?"
"N-no. What about Dudley?" Petunia said.
"I'll take Dudley with me." Remus answered and handed her the powder. "Just throw it in there. When the flames turn green go in. I want you to say, 'Albus Dumbledore's office, Hogwarts'. Say it clearly and loudly."
Petunia nodded and kissed Dudley on the cheek. She threw the powder onto the fire and it instantly turned green. Her eyes grew wide and she hesitantly walked in the flames. She was very relieved to find that she couldn't feel the flames at all. "Albus Dumbledore's office, Hogwarts."
Albus was sitting at his desk and chatting with the former headmasters about Harry. In the last hour he was becoming extremely impatient and annoyed. Sirius and Remus were supposed to get him that morning and it was already 4 o'clock in the afternoon.
"It is your own fault, Albus! Who in their right of mind would allow my irresponsible grandson to care for a child?" Phineas Black said. "Do you want the Potter boy to die?"
Albus was about to answer when he heard a bang and a scream coming from his fireplace (which made him jump). He walked over to investigate and his eyes widened as he saw who it was.
"Petunia Dursley?" Albus said incredulously. "How did you get here?"
"I used the loo." Petunia said and got up off the floor and tried to pat the dirt off of herself.
Albus chuckled. "Here let me help you." He pointed his wand at her and the soot disappeared. "Come take a seat."
Dumbledore showed her to his desk and motioned for her to take a seat. She took a seat and looked up and jumped. "W-what are those?"
"They are portraits of all of the headmasters of this school before me." Dumbledore answered.
"Why are they moving?" Petunia asked.
"Do you expect us to sit still all the time?" Phineas yelled which made Petunia scream. Remus came rushing in with Dudley in his arms after hearing said scream.
"What happened?" Remus asked.
"Nothing to worry about, Remus." Albus answered. "Who is the child?"
"This is Dudley Dursley." Remus answered and put him down next to Petunia.
Remus sat down as Harry and Sirius came walking in hand in hand. "Hello Dumbledore."
"Sirius. Please sit down." Albus said.
Sirius sat down and picked Harry up to sit on his lap. Harry paid no attention to anything in room as he was staring at the man who sat behind the desk.
Albus stared back at the boy and hid his cringe at the sight of his cuts and bruises. He felt a wave of utter sadness pass through him.
"Ah so this must be Harry!" Albus said. "My name is Professor Dumbledore. Nice to meet you."
"N-nice to meet you too, sir." Harry said quietly.
"Do you like your new home?" Albus asked.
"Yes sir." Harry answered.
"That's good. Now why were you all late?" Albus asked. "I have been waiting for hours for you to arrive."
"We're sorry. There was some things we had to take care of." Remus said.
Dumbledore's face turned white. "What things? Vernon better still be alive." He said to Sirius.
"Don't look at me." Sirius said and looked at Remus.
Dumbledore turned to Remus and his eyes grew wide. "Remus?"
"He's alive and well. He's just in jail." Remus said. "Petunia and Dudley will be living with us for a while."
"Why?" Dumbledore asked incredulously.
"To help with Harry." Remus said.
"She let Harry get hurt every day." Dumbledore said.
"She's sorry." Remus said.
"So if Peter came to you two and said, 'I'm terribly sorry for giving away our best friends location, resulting in their murder. I'm also very sorry that because of me, Harry almost died. Can I live with you three?' What would you say?" Dumbledore asked angrily.
"That's different, Albus." Remus scoffed.
"You're right!" Dumbledore said. "Peter gave away their location in fear because if he didn't, Voldemort would kill him. Petunia let Harry get abused by her husband every single day for 5 years. If she were to stand up for Harry, Vernon wouldn't have killed her. She let him get hurt willingly."
"I regret everything." Petunia said through her tears. "I-I would take it all back if I could."
"Harry, do you forgive your aunt?" Dumbledore asked. "If you do then I'll let this go."
"Yes sir." Harry said.
"Why?" Dumbledore asked.
"Because she didn't mean it, sir." Harry said through tears.
"Forgive me, Harry. I didn't mean to make you cry. I'm sorry." Dumbledore said. "Well you need to be seen by Madam Promfrey. Are you alright?"
"Yes, sir." Harry answered and wiped away his tears.
They all stood up and left the office. Petunia looked around in awe at everything she saw. She smiled at all the paintings and screamed when she saw The Bloody Baron go through a wall. Her eyes lit up when she saw the moving staircases.
Harry was also in awe but not as much as Petunia. He often had various dreams of magic and somehow, Hogwarts was how he imagined any magical place to be. The only difference was that he always imagined people turning into animals.
As they got closer to the hospital wing they passed another ghost who winked at Harry and made him chuckle. When they were just around the corner they were stopped by a severe looking witch. She had black hair and green eyes that were framed around her square glasses. She was tall and wore emerald green robes.
"Albus what is going on?" The witch stopped the group and asked.
"Ah, Minerva. Let me introduce you to some people." Albus said and turned to Petunia. "This is Petunia Dursley and her son Dudley Dursley."
"Dursley? What in heavens are they doing here?" Minerva asked.
"And this here is Harry." Dumbledore said.
"Harry Potter?" She asked. "What has happened to him?"
"We will talk later, Minerva. We are off to see Poppy." Dumbledore said. "Could you please have Severus meet us there with healing potions and nutrition potions."
Minerva nodded and walked away. Harry wondered how the lady knew who he was but as soon as she was gone he pushed it to the back of his mind.
They finally reached the hospital wing and they walked through the door. There were multiple beds lined around the wall. A lady with grey hair and blue eyes came walking up to the group.
"Hello Albus. What can I do for you?" The lady asked.
"Hello Poppy." Dumbledore said. "I have Harry Potter here to be looked at."
Poppy was expecting Harry to come soon but she gasped when she saw him. She had tears in her eyes from just looking at the bruises and cuts that she had just cleared a week ago.
"Lay down at a bed, Harry dear." Poppy said. Harry walked over and laid down on the closest bed. "Do you have any other bruises or cuts?"
"Under my shirt." Harry said. "Would you like me to take it off?"
Poppy nodded and Harry sat up and slowly pulled his shirt off of him. Poppy and Dumbledore gasped.
"It's worse than it was last week!" Poppy exclaimed.
"When did you see him last week?" Sirius asked.
"Lucius called me to heal him. It was gruesome. This is so much worse." Poppy said. She was about to use her wand to check all of his injuries when the door opened.
"I have the potions, sir." Severus said. "Is Potter here?"
"Yes." Dumbledore said and wiped a tear off of his cheek.
Severus walked over to the bed and placed the vials on the stand before looking at Harry. He looked at Harry and he gasped. He was surprised that any child could look this bad, this broken. He tried to show hatred on his face but it was difficult for him to show hate to him. He formed a fist as he slowly looked at all of Harry's injuries.
"Harry, this is Professor Snape." Remus said.
"Hello Professor Snape." Harry said and held out his hand.
Severus looked at the small hand being held out to him and took it in his own. He gently shook it and released it.
"Nice to meet you, Harry." Severus said. "How are you?"
"I'm fine, sir." Harry answered.
Severus turned around and saw Petunia looking at him. He clenched his fist and gritted his teeth.
"You were Lily's friend. Severus." Petunia said after taking a step away from him.
"How dare you say her name after you let her son get treated this way!" Severus yelled and took a step towards Petunia before being stopped by a hand on his shoulder.
"Let's go out into the hall, Severus." Dumbledore said. The two turned away before stepping out into the hallway.
Sirius watched in confusion. He never liked Severus at all but seeing him like this that changed things. It seemed to Sirius that Severus actually cared about Harry. After a minute you could hear Severus yelling for a few seconds before it became quiet. Sirius figured that Severus either stopped yelling or Albus used a silencing charm.
Poppy continued with the test with her wand. Minutes later she got the paste and began rubbing it all over Harry's bruises and cuts. She fixed his broken rib and got rid of the gash on his lip. She also rubbed a calming lotion on the boy's back. The bruises were gone but he might still feel some pain. She used her wand to get rid of the burn marks as well. She kept up a conversation with him while she did her work. She didn't get much out of him but she didn't give up. When she was finished Albus and Severus came back in the room.
"Well that's all. You're good as new Harry. I just need you to drink these two potions. They are going to help heal anything we missed and give you some essential nutrients that I'm sure you haven't gotten much of in the last 5 years." Poppy took a break to send a quick glare at Petunia before turning back to Harry. "How do you feel dear?"
"I feel great! Thank you so much!" Harry said.
Sirius picked Harry up and hugged him tightly. "You will never get hurt like that again pup."
"I hope not." Harry said with a small smile.
"I promise on my life, Harry." Remus said and patted Harry's back. Harry freed one of his arms and put it around Remus's neck for him to join the hug. Remus hugged Harry back and his heart swelled to twice its size. When they finally let go, Sirius and Remus thanked Poppy.
"Albus, is it alright if we show Harry and Petunia around and stay for dinner?" Remus asked.
"Of course." Dumbledore said and Sirius jumped excitingly. "I'll be in my office if you need me. I'll see you at dinner. I'm glad you're alright now Harry. It was a pleasure to meet you."
"Thank you, sir." Harry said.
"You don't need to call me sir all the time Harry. Not until you go to school here." Dumbledore laughed and left.
Severus was just about to follow when he felt a hand on his shoulder. He turned around slowly only to see Sirius standing before him.
"Thank you Severus." Sirius said seriously and offered him a hand to shake. "I just wanted to apologize for everything that me and James did to you as kids. We were foolish."
Severus was shocked to say the least. He never imagined hearing those words come from his mouth. He stared at his hand for a few seconds before hesitantly grabbing it firmly and shaking it.
"I apologize as well." Severus said with a nod and walked away from the room.
"Wow, Padfoot, you're growing up! I never thought I'd see the day." Remus said and wiped away a fake tear.
Sirius shoved him away. "Shut it, Moony.
"Ready for your Hogwarts tour?" Remus asked Harry, Petunia and Dudley.
The three nodded as Sirius picked Harry up and placed him on his shoulders.
"This was my favorite place in the world, Harry. You'll love it."