Chapter 10—Third Year

Harry was overjoyed the day Sirius Black and Remus Lupin came into his life. And although it has been over two months, Harry has yet to come down from his euphoric high. He did have a family outside the Dursleys (if you could call them a family) after all. Sirius, after hearing Harry recounting his life at the Dursleys, all the way looking as if he wanted to hunt them down and skin them alive, had offered a way out.

But before all that, Sirius had told Harry beautiful, wonderful stories about his parents and the Marauders to convince him that he was who he said he was. The Marauders—a magnificent group consisting of his father, Sirius, Remus and someone called Peter. They were the Fred and George of the past. And Harry finally figured out why Snape hated him so much.

James—his father—used to tease and taunt Snape for being small-sized and weak, for wearing worn-out clothes…for being very much like Harry really. Harry felt a tinge of guilt when he heard about that, but it was almost immediately replaced by fury. So his father was sort of an arse when he was younger, that did not give Snape the right to make his life hell. Plus, Harry was in the same situation Snape was in…didn't he see that? Malfoy was always lurking at every corner just waiting with the Taunt of the Day. But yet, Snape turned a blind eye. Snape was as bad as James for condoning bullying.

However fun the Marauders used to be, Harry had to feel a little ashamed by his father's actions. Sirius had defended James, saying that Lily, who James had loved before they had gotten together, was turned against him in the first few years of school because of Snape so James had a legit reason for being mean to Snape. James had changed in the end, Sirius insisted, and that was why Lily finally forgave him and had ended up with him in the end.

That part at least gave Harry a bit of hope that someone would come along and change Malfoy so that he would stop bothering Harry. It was as if Malfoy didn't have a life outside of Harry or something. So, Harry crossed his fingers that as Malfoy grew older, he would mature like Harry's father had and eventually stop acting like a first-class prat.

Anyway, Sirius had scowled when Harry had wondered aloud about Peter's identity and why he wasn't there with them. It turned out that Peter was the lawyer who opposed Sirius' claim to Harry by working for the Dursleys. Driven by greed, he had forgone his former best friends' wishes and good will. Harry was dumbfounded when he found out. If it weren't for Peter, he would have spent his childhood with people who actually loved him, instead of living in a dusty cupboard.

Remus had not been able to win the case for Sirius before but they believed that now, with Harry as a witness to the Dursleys' neglect and abuse (Harry had protested at the usage of the word but Sirius had told him seriously that what the Dursleys had done was abuse and therefore unforgivable), as well as Sirius' present clean record, they could easily secure guardianship over Harry.

So, in Third Year, Harry spent lots of travelling in and out of Hogwarts, going for trials, discussing matters with Remus and daydreaming of a future with Sirius. The Dursleys had been tripping over their feet to get rid of Harry but had demanded repayment for all the years they provided for the raven-haired boy. Harry had scoffed at that statement. Really, if they thought what they 'provided' for Harry required compensation and not jail time (according to Remus that is; Harry, though he loved books, couldn't stand the thought of looking through those thick law books), then they had another thing coming.

Malfoy had been as unbearable as ever, adding a new name to insult Harry with, calling him an attention seeker, as, due to last year's fiasco, Harry's trial had also been plastered over the news. Hermione had gotten sick of Malfoy's nonsense, as she knew how sick Harry felt whenever a camera was aimed his way, and had socked Draco in the jaw.

Ron and Harry had been profoundly shocked, especially since she was the one who always advised them to ignore his jibes, and had also found a new respect for Hermione that day. They knew she had the brains but damn, that girl could sure pack a punch. Malfoy was rubbing his jaw the entire week, a large purple bruise prominent on his pale face. Of course Hermione had received a detention (from Snape) but when Harry had worriedly inquired if she was all right, she had reassured him that she was "just glad to show that prick what happened when he messed with her friends".

Harry was grateful that he had been bestowed such great friends. His insecurity that they would leave him at the first sign of trouble had greatly diminished as they had showed with their actions that they would stick with him through thick and thin. First Year they had bore the insults thrown at them by Malfoy and his cronies, Second Year they had visited and kept him company through his boring time at the hospital and now, Third Year, they encouraged, supported and stuck with him through the trials, even though they were a bit hurt that Harry never mentioned his horrible home life to them.

In the end, Sirius had won custody over Harry; the Dursleys' got nothing and instead were fined for *£10,000. The trials hadn't lasted long, Harry's testimony, the physical proof (his small frame, some left over bruises from where Dudley punched him) and some hard evidence from the doctors at St. Mungos, who had showed that the state of his health and body was due to mistreatment from a young age. Thankfully, Pettigrew hadn't made an appearance or Harry wouldn't have been able to pay attention in court, as he would have probably spent majority of the time shooting daggers at him. After all, it was his fault that Harry had been stuck with a miserable childhood.

Harry had been dazed when the sentence was announced. He couldn't believe it; he was finally free, he was going to be with people who loved him now.

The rest of Third Year had been passed in a delightful blur for Harry; not even Malfoy's—he hadn't learnt his lesson, though he had a hard time looking Hermione in the eye—continuous barbs could bring him down, and at the end of the year, he went to live with Sirius and Remus—who until then, Harry hadn't known were a couple.

When Harry asked, they had been hesitant to answer, worried about how Harry's opinion of them would change. Harry truly couldn't give a rat's fart. It didn't matter who you loved; in fairytales, love always conquered all. It didn't matter if you were poor, a different creature etcetera and liking the same gender definitely shouldn't affect your romantic choices. In addition to that, Uncle Vernon had always made his disapproval of homosexuals clear, calling them "perverts and disgusting shirt lifters", and to Harry, his words were now worth less than dirt. Who was Vernon to dictate who loved who anyway? Harry didn't believe he even knew what love meant.

After spending the first week of summer repeatedly reassuring Remus and Sirius that he didn't mind their attraction to the same gender, they—Harry and his two guardians—had a blast making up for Harry's lost childhood, going to the zoo, to the swimming pool, to amusement parks and the like!

They even went to visit the Burrow—Ron's house—and for the first time, Harry enjoyed summer. The rest of Ron's brothers were great! Bill the banker (chuckle) didn't fit the stereotypical image for someone in his profession. Harry had always pictured him as another Percy when Ron had previously mentioned his job in the passing, nerdy-looking (not that Harry could talk), snobby and a right bore. Nothing could have been further from the truth. Long hair tied up in a ponytail, clothes that looked right out of a rock concert and a rad fang earring dangling from his right ear, Bill was Harry's definition of cool. Bill had a French fiancée named Fleur Delacour who Harry swore Ron had a crush on. Whenever Fleur was around, Ron would go all silly and kept on stuttering. Harry himself didn't see what was so special; Bill was much nicer to look at of the pair.

As for Charlie...Harry couldn't comprehend why his face would heat up every time he came into close proximity with Charlie. Charlie Weasley was the second eldest after Bill, short (compared to Ron and Bill, that is. Next to him, Harry felt as tiny as ever) and stocky, and he worked as a veterinarian who volunteered at animal shelters. That must be why Harry felt warm and jumpy when with Charlie; it had to be admiration.

The Weasley family was a fantastic bunch. Mr. and Mrs. Weasley had accepted Harry as one of their own, grateful that he'd saved Ginny and sad that he had suffered when he was young. "Children are meant to be pampered," Molly Weasley had told Harry before doubling his dinner portion one day. Harry had given her a wide grin and had eaten the delicious food with relish. Not all though, Harry's stomach was still not accustomed to eating large meals, even after four months having proper meals.

The Weasley siblings—all seven of them—had attempted to get Harry interested in football. It was mission impossible though. Harry just didn't see the appeal of kicking a ball around. Ron had whinged for days, saying that Harry had to like football or who was going to play with him when Fred and George eventually left Hogwarts? Too bad for him, Ginny had overheard and had stared pointedly at her brother. "I could," Ginny said, irritated. Everyone always seemed to forget that she loved football too just because she was a girl. Ron's face flushed at her statement and Harry had burst out in laughter when he caught sight of his best friend's expression. Ginny had then given a high squeal when she saw Harry before dashing out of the room. What was that all about?

Hermione joined them the week before summer came to an end—she had been on vacation before—and Harry could solemnly swear that his life was complete.