DISCLAIMER: I do NOT own Harry Potter.
The Fire of the Phoenix
The Time is Running Out
Two weeks had passed and the trial would be in five days. Even if the time was running out, Sirius couldn't make himself say the words.
The twins were doing better, physically at least. Phoenix's leg was almost 100% again and you could clearly notice that most of the bruises that covered her battered body were less visible; in fact, some of them were even gone. The same with Harry's. He did all he could to ignore the increasing pain on his right lung - he supposed it was punctured slightly by his healing ribs when he flooed- but he didn't tell anyone. It wasn't worth bothering Sirius and Remus with, he had worse in the past after all.
The weeks after the adoption went as normal as they could in the Marauder's Household. Sirius was still Sirius for Harry and Phoenix, even though he was legally their father. He insisted nothing had to change and that he didn't want them to feel like he was trying to replace James. The Twins were more relaxed with Sirius after that, it was like he knew exactly what was going through their heads – which he probably did. Even if they were still wary, scared of everything, Sirius always made them feel better and they didn't know how to act with all the - could it be love? - he was showing. They didn't want to make him angry doing or saying the wrong thing. The twins could see the pain in his eyes every time they flinched or tensed when touched and tried their best to stop the habit, but 13 years of abuse couldn't be deleted or forgotten that easily.
Remus different from Professor Lupin, was more carefree and looked younger and he seemed to make his special mission to fill the twins up - he could give the Weasley matriarch a run of her money. He was always the one who remembered the schedule of the twins' potions being his usual responsible self and he was always happy to help them with school work and everything they needed.
Regulus was sarcastic and much like his Uncle, couldn't take off that cheeky grin from his face (though you could barely see Sirius' anymore). He seemed trying to get closer to the twins - especially Phoenix. Trying is the keyword. They were getting used to him since he could be seen many times having a one-way conversation with the twins. You could see that the twins didn't want to push him away but didn't know how to act around new people, especially Phoenix.
Harry had two friends at Hogwarts, Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger but Phoenix had no one but her brother. Sure, she was around them many times but she couldn't say they were their friend, the Weasleys – Ron had six brothers, two who had already left Hogwarts – were very loud. That's why Harry was seen near Ron when his brothers weren't around. Hermione was very bookish like Phoenix but she didn't like competition and being the second best and Phoenix – who could give Hermione a run for her money – would rather not cause a fight. And of course there was also the fact that she was too shy to talk to anyone, the fear her Uncle inflicted upon her was still there, even if she didn't see him for the most part of the year. Harry somehow was the last 'damaged' of the two since he didn't suffer the sexual abuse but his failure at protecting his sister along with being taught that everything bad was his fault, gave him a huge inferiority complex.
Mentally Harry and Phoenix were still the same, even if they wanted to relish of the feeling of being safe, they couldn't, because they had never known what it was before and every progress was dulled by the blood-filled nightmares that haunted their nights. They could be seen sneaking into each other's bedrooms late at night, seeking comfort. It could seem foreign for other siblings but it's their reality for so long that it was difficult to let go of it.
Sirius, Remus and even Regulus tried to talk to them about it but the twins refused to say anything about their past, the only thing Sirius and Remus knew was what the twins told them when they woke up two weeks ago and this would make everything more difficult since Harry and Phoenix would need to testify and show memories of the abuse at the trial. There was more to it than they let on and it hurt Sirius not to know what he could do to help. The twins still flinched at every touch, harsh move or loud noises and would shrink away from anyone who did something they weren't expecting. Their relatives taught them well to fear what could happen next if you weren't on your guard.
Currently Sirius and Remus were having a heated argument in the study. An argument that both of them were so familiar with that could recite the words out loud.
'Sirius, you can't postpone it any longer. The trial is in five days and the twins need to prepare themselves for it. When you delay it you are depriving them of precious time.' The werewolf sighed and ran a hand through is greying hair. 'They have to know what is going on, you can't let them go there and be surprised. It'd destroy every little bit of progress we've made.' Sirius took a deep breath and ran a hand none-too-gently through his face, leaving red marks where his fingers touched.
'Don't you see it Remus? From the moment I tell them that they'll have to face their relatives - whom we promised they wouldn't have to see ever again, mind you - it'll all be destroyed. I can't do that Remus. I can't say the words which might and probably will destroy everything. I can't turn their nightmares into reality. I won't let them suffer because of those muggles again.'
Remus knew where this was leading on, even if it was the first time Sirius mentioned it. Of course Sirius was still blaming himself, he wouldn't be Padfoot if he didn't. Remus was a fool to believe that Sirius had gotten over it so easily.
'I know that Sirius. And it wasn't your fault. You didn't know what was going to happen when you followed the rat.' He said tiredly, the full moon would be in a few days and Remus would be transforming in the locked basement, even if he'd rather go to somewhere safer. The basement was warded and it was almost impossible to open it from the inside as human without a wand, let alone as a werewolf without an opposable thumb and that was Sirius' way to convince him.
'But I did it anyway! If it wasn't for my selfish thinking they would've grown up in a loving family. If it wasn't for me Lily and James would still be here!' Sirius buried his face in his hands as Remus put a hand on his shoulder.
'They agreed Sirius. James trusted Peter with his family. It was the rat's choice to betray them. It was Voldemort's choice to cast the curse. Not yours.' Remus said and took a deep breath. 'I wish it could be different Padfoot. But if this is the only way to put the Dursleys-' He spitted out the name. 'In prison. You-'
'You! You! You! Why don't you tell them if it's so easy?' The ex-convict jumped up from the chair he was sitting on and started to pace around the study.
'Because they trust you, Sirius.' The werewolf said tiredly. Sirius was about to interrupt when Remus silenced him with a look. 'They trust you more. They completely adore you. You can relate to them, you know what they are going through and what they need to hear. You're their father, Sirius.'
'Only on paper.' Sirius mumbled.
'And in heart. They look up to you; they want your approval for everything. Didn't you notice? You have to tell them Padfoot, their trust and health is in game right now.'
Sirius stopped pacing and took a deep breath - he seemed to be doing that a lot lately. 'I guess it's time for our first family meeting.'
However, the expression 'Family Meeting' was not adequate for that moment since Remus and Regulus went somewhere while Sirius talked to the twins about the trial. 'Way to help me Moony!' Sirius thought sarcastically.
Sirius sat down on the coffee table and looked in the twins' eyes. They were looking at him apprehensively and scared. The tension in the room was almost palpable.
'You know what your relatives did to you was wrong don't you?' Sirius started in the best way he could think of, though it wasn't good at all. Sirius didn't function well under pressure.
The twins looked down and didn't answer. Phoenix took her hand up to her mouth and started to bit her nails while Harry fidgeted with the hem of his shirt; nervous habits which Sirius was quick to notice.
'Stop that Phoenie; you'll end up hurting your fingers.' Sirius took her hand in his gently and did the same to Harry's and he knelt down in front of his godchildren not noticing that his voice sounded harsher than he intended to.
'S-S-Sorry.' She said quietly.
'You have nothing to be sorry for.' he kissed her hand and gave Harry's a squeeze. 'Hey, look at me.' They looked at him rather reluctantly. 'What they did was very wrong and you absolutely did not deserve it.' You could clearly see in the twins' eyes that they didn't believe him though they wantedto. Sirius was about to ask if they trusted him but the words that came out of his mouth were different. Maybe it was because unconsciously he was afraid of the answer. 'Did I ever lie to you?' He asked and the twins shook their heads quickly. 'So trust me on this okay? I only want the best for you.'
'O-Okay' Harry and Phoenix answered in unison.
'What they did was wrong so they have to be punished for it. We requested a trial to make sure they get what they deserve and it will be in five days.' The room was silent as the twins processed the information, their face blank. Sirius decided it was best to get over with it sooner rather than later. 'You'll have to testify and they will request some memories.' Sirius could see them both shaking and put a hand on their shoulders. 'I will be there, Remus will be there too. You won't be alone. I won't let them touch you or even look at you.'
Sirius panicked as the twins tried to get up and run out of the room, luckily the door was closed and he managed to grab them. He pulled them both to his chest and held them firmly yet gently as they tried to get away. One of them or maybe it was both combined in a burst of accidental magic knocked him out of his feet with a strong wind and blasted open the door. They both ran out of the room leaving a lost Sirius on the floor trying to process what happened. He than got up and ran out of the room to search for his favourite godchildren.
Phoenix and Harry ran out of the room as if they were fighting for their lives, what in their minds they were. They didn't have to run much though, they found a door very different from the ones in the rest of the manor. This one wasn't majestic with golden doorknobs as the others. The door looked slightly worn and heavy as if it wasn't supposed to be there. It seemed to camouflaged.
In a burst of magic they opened it and ran down the stairs, barely registering that the door had closed itself and that they didn't know how to turn the lights on. They huddled themselves in a corner, keeping close to each other though it didn't seem to help to stop the memories swirling their mind.
Harry couldn't think of anything but the fact that he would have to see his relatives again, the ones who hurt and beat him for thirteen years of his life. They were trapped in the nightmares of their past. Flashback kept running through the twins' minds, similar yet different. They couldn't get out of there; in their minds no one came to save them they were more alone than ever. The red of blood was suffocating; they could feel the pain all over again, even though it was psychological. Their breath was ragged and they were pale, they heard screams and later would notice that it was theirs.
Harry was six, he was gardening his Aunt's prized flowers. She would have a meeting of her Gardening Club and that afternoon would happen in #4 Privet Drive and everything had to be perfect so she could show of to her snob 'friends'.
'Are you done boy?' He heard his Aunt Petunia shriek as he wiped the sweat out of his forehead with the dirty sleeve of his long sleeved shirt. It was summer and he could feel the sun burning his skin. His throat was dry for spending the day without as much as a glass of water. He wondered where his sister was and if she was safe. He forced the fear down his throat as he heard thundering footsteps from behind him. Someone lifted him up from the scruff of his neck and he immediately knew who it was.
'What do you think you're doing boy? Taking a rest? We keep you here because of the goodness in our hearts and you do nothing but burden us.' He kept his voice low so he wouldn't catch the neighbour's attention but it was still threatening. 'Let us see what you will be when I'm done with you boy.'
He was to frightened to say anything when his Uncle grabbed the gardening fork that was on the corner. He knew he was in for it this time. He barely notice when they entered the house and his Uncle started to scream insults at him.
'UNGRATEFUL FREAK! THAT'S WHAT WE'VE GOT FOR TAKING YOU IN! YOU SHOULD HAVE DIED WITH YOUR PARENTS! THE WORLD WOULD BE BETTER OF WITHOUT YOU!' Vernon Dursley kicked and stabbed his small nephew with the fork not even flinching with the amount of blood that came out of the previous wounds.
Phoenix was standing on her tiptoes as she tried to set the table without seeing what she was doing since she was prohibited to get on the chair. She distantly heard the sound of a glass shattering and she sat on the floor and tried to make herself invisible even though it never worked. She knew she would be punished for it and the so dreaded moment came when Petunia Dursley lifted the four year old by the hair and carried her to the stove when she grabbed the small hands and pressed them on the hot grill. Phoenix tried to keep herself from crying out loud as she felt the calloused skin of her hands – not like the hands of other four year old – disrupt. She could feet hot blood streaming down her fingers and it only seemed to make her Aunt angrier that she was dirtying the spotless stove. What she felt next was the boiling water that was being heated for tea being poured on her. Her limbs burned in agony as she cried.
'SHUT UP YOU B*TCH! HOW COULD YOU BREAK THAT GLASS? DIDN'T I TEACH YOU ANYTHING? DO YOU THINK YOU CAN GO BREAKING MY THINGS AND DON'T PAY?' Aunt Petunia yelled, her usual well kept blond hair falling down her face. 'YOU USELESS FREAK! YOU'LL PAY NOW.'
Unaware it wasn't really happening; Harry and Phoenix were shaking on the floor tears streaming down their face. The non familiar room seemed even scarier now that screams filled the previous silence but different from the screams of a transforming werewolf these where screams of terror from two thirteen year olds who'd seen too much and couldn't bear it.
Sirius searched the whole house twice without stopping to even breathe properly. His heart was beating fast and he could feel something was wrong. His mind was creating millions of scenarios where the twins were bleeding and being tortured by a nameless face. He then passed running through the study door for the third time when he noticed something. On the floor there was a rug and over the rug was a hair band and in front of it was the basement door. The only room he hadn't thought about checking.
Sirius blasted the door open at once, not bothering with what he destroyed in the way. He ran down the stairs much like the twins did fifteen minutes ago and what was waiting for him at the end was much alike and different from what his vivid imagination came up with.
The twins' eyes were unfocused and almost white; you could barely see their irises. They were letting out blood curling screams and Sirius didn't protest when his body moved automatically towards them. They looked like they were in another place, another reality.
He crunched down next to them and somehow managed to pin both of them down. He shouted their names to get some response but had none. How he wished Remus hadn't talked him into telling the twins alone. He lost all notion of time as he mumbled soothing words and called the twins' names. They were still thrashing under his restraining hands when Sirius felt a cold hand on his shoulder. He turned around to see his fourteen year old nephew's pale face, normally he would have asked him to leave but somehow his body didn't answer to his commands. Regulus looked and was terrified. He'd never thought something like this could happen. His white face was even whiter and the cheeky grin was absent from his serious face. His eyes were dull as handed his uncle a Calming Draught but he didn't seem to realise it. Remus was trying to pry Phoenix from Sirius hands but he wouldn't release her.
Remus and Regulus went to the village near their house to give Sirius some time to talk the twins but Remus felt something was wrong and they both apparated the closest to the house they could, though it wasn't close at all. Then they ran more than they'd ever done and arrived to find the house open but Remus with his enhanced smell sense even better because of the fool moon smelt blood and fear. They could hear screams coming from the basement, somehow the wards had fallen. Remus summoned Calming Draughts and threw the door open.
Regulus and Remus managed to get through Sirius' arms and pour the potion down the twins' throats just as they closed their eyes in exhaustion. But thankfully now, they were sleeping.
Sirius who seemed to have unfrozen now let out a breathe he didn't know he was holding and surveyed the room. His hands were red from the blood coming from the twins as they carved their nails into their skin. The room was a mess, the little furniture that had in the basement was thrown into pieces on the floor. Remus – he now noticed he was there – was shaking and pale, his eyes yellow and wolfish. Regulus seemed perturbed, as if he'd never seen something so terrible.
Harry was sweaty and pale; his raven coloured hair was sticking to his forehead and contrasting with his abnormally white skin. Sirius brushed the hair out of his godson's face and left his hand there. Phoenix red hair looked like lava around her face and was the only thing that had some colour.
'Uncle Sirius?' Sirius looked at Regulus with tired eyes and tried – and failed – to smile.
'You shouldn't have seen that.'
Regulus ignored and asked in a small voice. 'Are you okay?'
Sirius nodded. 'They will be fine.' He said like he was trying to convince himself.
'I asked if you are okay.'
Sirius smiled shakily and ruffled his nephew's hair. 'I'll live.'
After a while Remus and Sirius gathering the twins in their arms and took them to somewhere comfortable upstairs while Regulus made tea for the three of them.
Before being forced out of his darkened bedroom Sirius took a last look to the bed where his children were sleeping peacefully – he hoped. They didn't look any different from other teenagers their age but Sirius knew that in muggle or wizarding world, they would always be different. They would always be singled out.
When the twins woke up it was evening and it took a while to remember what happened. Phoenix snuggled closer to her brother as he put an arm around her. He knew exactly what she was feeling and the other way around. He kissed the top of her head and tried to comfort her, even if he needed comfort as well.
'We'll be okay, Phoenie.' He tried to convince himself as much as he tried to convince her. But they both knew he was failing miserably.
That's how Sirius found them when he woke up from the voices and transformed back to human. He was quick to jump out of the end of his bed and with a flick of his hand that was next to him the table light was turned on.
'How are you feeling?' He asked, his voice hoarse as he sat down next to them on the edge of the bed and extended his hand, setting them on his lap so they could see he wasn't about to strike them. Only thinking that in their mind it was a possibility was enough to make his heart ache.
'S-Sorry for t-today.' Harry said quietly and Phoenix looked at Sirius, her green eyes somewhat dull.
'You don't have to apologise.' Sirius said shaking his head. 'I would never do anything to hurt you. Or would Remus for that matter. I don't feel pleasure seeing you sad or hurt.' He sighed and grabbed their hands in his, much like he did when they started that conversation sooner that day. 'I need you to understand that, okay?'
'S-Sorry' they said in unison and looking down.
'Don't apologise for something you have no control over.' They opened their mouths again to apologise but swallowed the words before they could slip out of their mouths. 'I don't like it any more than you do. I promised you would never have to see them again and I have to break that promise and I apologise for it. But you have to know that I'm only doing that so I can mend and fulfil that promise in the future. To keep them away from you forever.'
Harry and Phoenix could see the pain in his eyes and looked down but Sirius tilted their heads back up so they were meeting his eyes.
'I will be there for you and with you. You will have to answer some questions and show them memories as I said earlier today and after that you'll never have to see them again. Can you do that for you? For me?' He said the last part quietly but his voice was filled with pain and the twins nodded. 'I love you like you are my own. I only want the best for you. I know you can't believe me now but I hope that in the future you will when I say it. I love you and you are not alone, you'll never be alone. I'm with you.' They nodded and tried to blink back the tears. Sirius held out his arms and gathered them in a hug; he kissed the top of their heads and mumbled nonsense words and let them cry in his arms as much as they wanted to. He moved and leaned into the headboard taking the twins with him. The way could be blurred and uncertain but they would cross that bridge together when the time came.
A/N: Sorry for the delay. My computer broke down and I had to send it to the repair. I'm rehearsing like crazy for my play and for my ballet presentation and on top of it all I had a really bad writer's block. I wrote three different versions of this chapter and I hope you liked this one, it is way better than the others. I also wanted to thank to my beta for his opinions and criticism, I really appreciate it.
I'd love to hear suggestions for the trial and the future of this story and I love reviews hahaha
Anyway, I hope you liked it and please review your suggestions :) And the next chapter will be the Dursley's trial!
PS: If you want to see how Phoenix and Regulus look like tell me by Review or PM and I'll send you a link :) I won't post it here because I like personally like to imagine what the characters look like and I know some of you do as well.
SHOULD I WRITE AN ONE-SHOT ABOUT REGULUS AND PHOENIX'S SORTING? (review your answer or vote on the poll that's on my profile page)