I think this is the longest chapter I've ever written, and I'm sorry it took so long. Again, thank you LoveHopes for Betaing for me :)
The next morning, Harry felt more comfortable then he'd ever felt. His old bed, and first bed ever, was lumpy and hard. While the bed he had now was warm, soft, clean and comfortable. Sighing, he sat up and glanced around himself. He'd never admit it to anyone, he didn't even want to admit it to himself, but he actually liked the bed, the room and the castle. He just didn't like the people in it.
There was a knock on his door.
"Come in." Harry said lazily. The door opened and Remus Lupin walked in. He looked nervous, Harry noticed with an inward grin.
"Hello Harry." He said, running a hand through his graying hair. He walked over to the bed and slumped down into the chair sitting beside his bed. Harry razed an eyebrow, but didn't say anything.
"I…I'm suppose to show you around school today." Lupin said, when Harry only gazed at him. Harry huffed and laid back down in bed, turning away from the older man.
"Not interested." He mumbled, faking sleepiness. Harry was always early up, getting food for the family, pick pocketing, playing with Tiny and Fay…There was always something going on early in the morning.
"Come on Harry. Look, I'm sorry about what I did, I didn't-"
"Didn't know what would happen? What did you think would happen? Everyone thought I was dead, of course they would want to search for me if they knew I was alive. You ruined everything! I was fine, living with my family. I don't want to be famous! I hate that everyone know who I am! If it was just me, then I probably wouldn't have minded that much, but you dragged my family into this too, you put my family in danger, and that is something I wont forgive you for. So give me one fucking good reason to follow you around some old school, to talk about crap I don't even care about!" Harry yelled at him angrily. He'd wanted to yell at him since the day they were caught. Remus looked at him sadly, and his head fell into his hands. Harry did not feel guilty about yelling at him.
"Honestly Harry, I…I wanted us to find you, and take you here so you could learn magic. But I wanted to give you a home, since you lived on the streets, and if you didn't want to go to Hogwarts, then that would be fine with me. You could of lived in my apartment, done whatever you wanted. If I'd known that they would make you go here against your will, I wouldn't of said anything. I really am sorry about all of this, and dragging your family into it." Remus said with such sincerity that Harry couldn't help but believe him. He wasn't happy about it, but he still believed him.
"So you had no idea that all of this would happen? You were there to get us though, on that road." Harry reminded him.
"It was to late then. You'd been in the paper for two days, and everyone was out looking for you, even the bad kind. I'm sure Black's been keeping taps on you as well. Everyone knew you were alive…" He trailed off. Harry nodded in understanding.
"Do you at least want to walk around the castle for a bit? All the students are in class right now, and I brought you some clothes." Remus said uncertainly. He picked up a bag and handed it to Harry. Harry opened it quickly, and frowned at it.
"What the fuck, you brought me a dress? Do I look like a girl to you?" Harry asked angrily, tossing the robes to the end of the bed. No way was he walking around in a dress all day. He pulled the covers of off himself and jumped down from the bed. He only had his pants with the bloody leg, and no shirt. Remus chuckled.
"No, they are wizard robes. Like the once I'm wearing. It's your school uniform. And please, don't use such language." Harry frowned.
"You mean I have to walk around school looking like a penguin?" He asked incredulously. He had seen the uniforms. And while he didn't mind the girl's short skirts, he did mind looking like a geeky little prick.
"No way am I wearing that." He said stubbornly, biting the ring in his lip. It was a new habit of his, something he had started doing right after he got it. It kept his mind of the gunshot in his leg.
"I'm sorry Harry, but you have to, you don't-"
"You know what? I'm sick of you people always telling me what to do. I can't go home, I have to go to school, I can't cuss, I can't hit anyone, I have to lay down when you say so, I have a freaking curfew! Who the hell do you think you are? I don't want to wear it, so I'm not going to!" Harry said angrily. He slipped his shoos on and walked right past the surprised teacher.
"Harry wait!" Lupin yelled after him. Harry just kept on walking, and flung the robes he'd picked up on his way out of the window. The weather was nice, he noticed with a small smile. He would have been out and playing in the city a long time ago if he'd been at home.
"Harry, stop!" Again, with the commanding, Harry thought to himself. Lupin caught up with him breathlessly after the running.
"What do you want?" Harry asked annoyed as he searched for a way out.
"To take you to the Great Hall so you can have some breakfast." Lupin said, gasping for breath. Harry looked out the window, and back at the professor. He was hungry…but he could probably find something outside to eat.
"Come on." Remus said, as he started to walk the other way. Harry sighed and followed him.
After a very quiet breakfast, on Harry's part anyway, they walked outside, as Harry had wanted to do all day. Lupin had given him a black T-shirt, and said it was a little inappropriate to walk around a school shirtless.
"What are they doing?" He asked the older man. Harry pointed to the group of people who walked into the woods, following a huge man. They had the stupid school robes on, some of them with red, and others with green.
"They're having a Magical Creatures class with Professor Hagrid. I think they're third years…do you want to have a closer look? We could probably join them, if you'd like." Lupin said kindly. Harry wanted to be mad at him, he honestly tried with all his might, but he just didn't have it in him. Lupin was trying so hard to make it up to him again, and he'd said sorry so many times. Besides, Harry could sort of understand his reason for telling that he was still alive.
"Sure." Harry answered finally. He wasn't going to tell the professor that everything was all right between them, because that would be too awkward. He just hoped that the older man would figure it out on his own.
Harry heard a lot of talking from all the animals they walked past. He couldn't just stop and talk with them like he wanted, though, because he wasn't sure if it was okay for people to talk to animals. It certainly wasn't in the muggle world. Harry gave a shudder, he was starting to think like a wizard too.
"Are you cold?" Lupin asked, noticing his shudder.
"No. its really hot out today, I'm fine." Harry assured him. They stood a little to the side and watched as Professor Hagrid talked about the Hippogriff Buckbeak. There were more of them there, but Buckbeak was obviously Hagrid's favorite. The bird…thing was grumbling unhappily to itself. As were the other Hippogriffs.
"Oh, e'llo Professor Lupin! An' this must be young Harry." The giant greeted them. Harry felt his eyes go wide when the giant walked over to them. He was huge up close. Hagrid was staring at Harry's wings with interest, and curiosity.
"Dude, what sort of steroids did you take?!" Harry exclaimed when Hagrid stood right in front of them. Some of the students laughed, while Hagrid frowned, and Lupin clamed a hand over Harry's mouth before he could say anything else.
"Wha' you talkin' abo'ut? What ar' Steroid's?" Harry almost sniggered at the way the guy talked, but stopped himself just in time. He'd met a lot of bums who couldn't talk proper English.
"Nothing Hagrid. Just some muggle slang words." Lupin said, laughing nervously.
"We just wanted to watch your lesson today. Didn't we, Harry. Harry?" While Remus was talking to Hagrid, Harry had slipped away from them and walked right up to Buckbeak. The Hippogriff stared at him coldly, and was about to raise one of its claws.
"Oh put that down." Harry whispered as he continued to walk towards the huge animal. Buckbeak was so surprised that he lowered his claw in confusion.
"Harry get away from there!" Lupin yelled. Harry ignored him and walked the rest of the way, and patted the Hippogriffs beak.
"Hey there." Harry whispered happily. The huge animal looked down at him startled.
"You can speak with us?" The bird screeched. It sounded like that for the rest of the class anyway. To Harry, the bird was only talking very loudly.
"Yes, and I'm standing right here, so you don't have to yell. No one knows I can speak to animals, so I can't just have a conversation with you here, you know? I can probably talk with you later though." Harry whispered hurriedly into the Hippogriffs ear.
"What are you?" Buckbeak asked snobbishly, looking down at him. Harry noticed that all of the Hippogriffs held their heads high, their chests puffed out and looking down on everyone else. Even each other.
"Harry, that was dang'rous stuff. Never jus' walk up to a Hippogriff. They're very proud creatures'." Hagrid said, loudly so the whole class could hear. Harry nodded and walked back over to Lupin, ignoring all the looks he was getting from the two classes.
"Of course Potter could just walk over to the beast. He is one himself!" The blond boy said loudly, earning a lot of laughter from the students in green.
Harry felt his blood boil. He hated it when rich people looked down on him just because he was different then everybody else. He stalked over to the blond boy, who was just as tall as him, and punched him square in the nose. Lupin grabbed both of his arms from behind, but Harry flapped his wings hard one time. Remus flew off his back, landing a few feet away from everyone else.
Harry jumped on the boy on the ground, and tried to hit him again, but was stopped by the roar coming from the huge teacher.
"Oi! Wha' yer think yer doin'?!" Hagrid roared, and ripped the two boys apart. He was holding Harry around the wings, and the blond boy around the neck.
"You'll regret this Potter!" The blond boy yelled. Harry tried to lunge at him again.
"Stop it! The both of yer!" Hagrid yelled, making the whole class winch. Lupin had scrambled up on his feet, and was walking over to them angrily.
"Harry, come with me." He said. It wasn't in an angry voice, more disappointed and firm. Harry hated it when people did that to him. Crystal did it all the time when he was depressed and drinking. It rarely happened, but he had his times.
Harry shrugged Hagrid's hand of off his wings, and started walking after Lupin.
"That Potter is crazy. Letting someone like him into school. Just wait until my father hears about this…" Harry tried to ignore the blond boy, and the rest of the class. They were all whispering behind him. He was glad when he was out of hearing range.
"I can not believe you! We were there for ten minuets. Ten minuets Harry! You walked up to a deadly creature like it was a little puppy, and then you punch Mr. Malfoy in the nose." Remus ranted, shaking his head.
"Your father didn't care much about the rules ether Harry, but that doesn't mean-" Harry cut him off with a wave of the hand.
"Look, I didn't know that the bird-thing was a deadly beast okay? And you heard what that prick called me! How was I suppose to just let him get away with that?" Harry asked, ignoring the comment about his dad. To be honest, he was curious. But he didn't want to show it. His parents were dead. Gone. Never coming back. If he started to know things about them, learn how they acted…they would seem much more real. He didn't want that. Harry was just happy with knowing his parents loved him when he was alive.
"How? You could of just ignored it! Harry, you didn't have to say anything at all! You could of just let it be. And don't tell me you didn't understand that they were dangerous. You should of realized that when it raised its claw." Remus rambled on. Harry glared up at him.
"I'm not going to just sit there and take every word that's thrown at me. I know I'm abnormal, okay? I know that it's not normal to have freakishly large Dragon wings sticking out of your back. But I'm trying to ignore them, and he wasn't making it any easier. Besides, why should he get the last word?" Harry said. Remus sighed and stopped. Harry stopped as well, and looked out at the huge lake in front of them. He sat down, still staring. Remus sat down beside him.
"So use your mouth and not your fists. They'll just get you into a lot of trouble. Actually, maybe you shouldn't use your mouth…" Lupin teased. Harry cracked a small smile.
"Harry…you have to start behaving. If you don't, you'll be expelled, and the ministry will come and take you." Remus said with a sigh, all traces of smiles gone. Harry leaned back on his wings, soaking up as much sun as possible.
"I know…but, I've never been to school before. I don't know how to act. And I've never had a reason to control my temper before. I usually don't get mad, but when people like him starts talking…I just can't help it." Harry said, surprising himself. Since when did he start opening up to other people then his family? Remus looked surprised to, but pleased.
"Well, you are suppose to be quiet when the class is going on. If you have something to say, raze your hand, if-" Lupin started.
"I know all the basics. I was talking about with other kids, my age. I'm use to playing around with a dog and a little girl. How do I act around people my age?"
"Ah yes, charming little girl. Fay, was it?" Lupin asked politely. Harry chuckled. Fay was only charming when she felt like it. She could be a downright monster at times.
"Yeah…wouldn't use the word charming and her in the same sentence though." Harry said with a chuckle. There was a long silence.
"Harry…why did you run away from the Dursley's?" Remus asked hesitantly. Harry's head whipped up in his direction.
"That's no ones business but my own." Harry snapped with a glare. He wasn't about to tell anyone what happened there. He hadn't even told his own family. They knew he'd been abused, but they didn't know exactly what happened. Harry was not about to share it with them ether.
"Sorry, I won't ask, just curious." Remus said apologetically. Harry nodded stiffly, and tried to think about something else. If he was going to think about the Dursley's he wanted to be alone. Preferably with a bottle of whiskey.
"What are they doing?" Harry asked, pointing to the two people who were walking over the grounds with broomsticks.
"They're going to play Quidditch. it's a ball game where you fly around on broomsticks." Remus explained hurriedly.
"Can we go over and watch?" Harry asked hopefully, watching as the two figures disappeared into the huge pitch.
"No." Remus said at once. Harry turned around and looked at him.
"Why not?" He demanded.
"Because of what happened just an hour ago. Harry, you-" Remus started, but Harry cut him off.
"And how am I suppose to learn, if I never get to interact with children my own age?" Harry asked, standing up. He crossed his arms over his chest angrily when Lupin stood up as well.
"If you promise not to fight anyone, and not just walk around and do what you want, then we can go over to them. And Harry please, please try to control that tongue of yours." Lupin pleaded as he started walking. Harry was quick to follow him.
"So, can you fly?" Remus asked, a little uncomfortable. Harry glanced up at him with an annoyed look.
"No." He said, a little bitterly. Remus chuckled.
"Don't worry, I'm sure you'll get it in time." Harry just rolled his eyes. He was sure that he wouldn't be able to fly, that the wings were just there for show.
"Whatever." Harry muttered as they walked into the pitch.
"This, Harry, is Hogwarts School of witchcraft and wizardry's Quidditch Pitch!" Remus said, flinging his arms out.
"…" Harry just stared at him with raised eyebrows, and a skeptical look on his face. It was just a pitch, what was there to get so exited about?
"Professor Lupin!" Someone yelled from above them. Remus and Harry looked up to see two figures flying down to meet them.
"Ah, Mr. Diggory, Miss. Chang. Nice to see you today, how are you?" Remus asked, beaming. It was obvious that he liked the two students. They grinned back, and landed on the ground, leaning on their broomsticks.
"So, did you get away from Madam Pomfrey?" Diggory asked lightly, eyeing his wings.
"Eventually." He replied, not really wanting to share. The pretty Asian girl next to him stuck her hand out for him to shake.
"Hi, I'm Cho Chang." She said brightly. Harry stared at her hand, but didn't take it.
"Harry." He answered instead, nodding his head to her. Lupin gave him a funny look, but didn't say anything. Cho lowered her hand hesitantly, looking a little hurt.
"Do you, huh, want to fly? I mean, do you want to fly with a broom?" Cedric asked as he stumbled over his words.
"Sure." Harry said, grabbing the broom he was handed.
"Just straddle it, and kick off. If you want to go down, lean forwards, if you want to go up, lean the tip up. Its simple, really." Cedric said, as Harry got on the broom. Harry nodded and kicked off from the ground. He tucked his wings in as tightly as possible, so that they wouldn't make win resistance.
The feeling of flying was incredible. The wind rushing in his ears, the feeling of adrenalin that pumped through him. Harry made the tip of the broom go up, up until he was hanging upside down. He made the broom go down in a loop, took a sharp turn left, one up, one down. The possibilities were endless.
"Harry!" Lupin yelled, waving his arms around. Harry flew down reluctantly. When he was about five feet in the air, he spread his wings out as long as they were. The broom was slowed down considerably. Harry tried to flap them one time really hard. The broom stopped al together, so he tried flapping them one more time, and was surprised when he felt as light as a feather, and jumped up, balancing on the broom that was hovering in mid air.
He tried flapping them one more time, jumping off the broom, but when he pulled his wings up, he lost his balance and fell down in a heap of wings and limbs.
"Harry, are you okay?" Remus's worried voice carried over the pitch, as the others ran over. Cho was the first one there, trying to help him up. Harry shrugged her hands off. He didn't like it when people touched him.
"I'm fine." He said, as he straightened out his wings. They were both okay, and he couldn't feel any pain coming from them, so he assumed everything was fine.
"Harry, that was brilliant!" Cedric said as he ran over to them. Lupin was walking really fast. His face was torn between amusement, worry, awe, and disapproval. Harry gave a hesitant smile. He just fell off a broom, how the hell was that brilliant? He thought to himself sarcastically.
"Harry you promised me." Lupin said as he caught up with them.
"I promised I would watch my tongue, I promised I wouldn't do anything out of line, and it worked fine. I just wanted to try something. Besides, it sort of worked. Thought you'd be happy." Harry mumbled, hoping to make him guilty. Remus only raised an eyebrow at him, not born yesterday.
"I'm fine! Relax! Don't get your nipples in a twist…" Harry said, rolling his eyes. Lupin's other eyebrow shot up, and Cedric snorted, trying to control his laughter. Cho sent him a halfhearted glare, not finding the joke funny at all.
"What am I going to do with you…" Remus muttered to himself, shaking his head.
"Um, we have to go, we're not even suppose to be here…" Cedric said with a nervous chuckle. It was like a light bulb went on in Lupin's head.
"That's right. I forgot about that. Miss. Chang, you don't even have free periods yet. I forgot all about that…well, if you don't tell anyone that I was here with Harry, then I won't tell anyone that you were out here ether. Deal?" Lupin asked, and his face looked much younger. Cho and Cedric looked surprised, and then nodded enthusiastically, thanking him.
"It was nice seeing you again, Harry. Maybe we can play a game sometime soon? You were really good on the broom." Cedric complemented him. Cho looked like she wanted to protest, but didn't. Harry was sure she would of if Lupin wasn't there.
"Um…sure." He said uncertainly. Cedric grinned, waived and walked away, Cho following after him with a small smile on her face.
"Still hate your wings?" Remus asked kindly.
"Shut up." Harry mumbled. Remus chuckled, and started walking again. Harry followed him, and they walked in silence until they reached the castle.
"You will be sorted into your house at dinner tonight, Harry." Lupin informed him, sitting down on the edge of a fountain. It was very pretty out there, Harry noticed. The only annoying thing was the birds. While everyone else on the planet found small birds adorable, and they're singing pretty, they'd never listened to the lyrics before. Harry was pretty sure that the songs they used in mating season would be R-rated.
"How many houses are there?" Harry asked, his fingertips touching the water. Discretely, he started heating it up slightly, just for fun. He hadn't been able to use his powers all day, and it was really starting to annoy him.
"Four. Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw and Slytherin." Lupin said absently, staring up at the sky. Classes were still on so nobody bugged them out there. Everything was quiet. Other then the birds singing.
"What's the difference? And how do I get out of being sorted into Hufflepuff? No way am I going to be in a house with such a silly name." Harry said with a chuckle. He made the little pool warmer, not really noticing just how warm he was making it.
Lupin gave a laugh too, and glanced over at him.
"Well, I can't disagree on you with the name, but you can't tell anyone I said that, since I'm a teacher. Well, Gryffindor is for those who are brave, noble and daring. Hufflepuff is for those who are loyal patient people. To get into Ravenclaw, you have to be very smart, and you have to learn things quickly. Slytherin is for those who…well, they're cunning, sneaky and get what they want." Remus finished, his brows knitted together.
"You mean sneaky little fuckers like politicians then?" Harry questioned with raised eyebrows. Remus shot him a look torn between amusement and warning.
"Well…I'm not all brainy, but I do learn things quickly. I'm as impatient as they come so luckily Hufflepuff is out of the question. I've…" Harry stopped short. He knew he was sneaky, since he could steal things so easily. You had to be, if you didn't want to get caught. But he couldn't tell Remus about that…Sure, he liked the guy, but he seemed a little uptight when it came to the law.
"What the…" Lupin exclaimed suddenly. Harry followed his gaze and saw him looking down into the water. Silently and subtly, he balled his hand into a fist and laid it in his lap so Remus couldn't see his fingers where in the water. He tried to look surprised though. About ten or twelve fish were floating around the little pool, being boiled to death.
"What happened to them? The water is suppose to be icy cold, straight from the mountains…" Lupin said, puzzled.
"I dunno. Maybe it was magic?" Harry said with a hint of sarcasm in his voice. Remus didn't seem to notice though, which Harry was happy for. That could lead to unwanted questions.
"Filch won't be happy about this." Remus said, shaking his head sadly. He looked up at Harry with a small smile.
"Do you want to go someplace else?" Lupin asked him. Harry thought it over.
"I don't know, I like being outside. I've been in the castle far to long. Isn't there anything we could do, for fun?" Harry asked, missing Tiny immensely. Tiny was his best friend, and they always had fun around the city. There was always something to look at or do.
"Other then flying and talking with friends, I don't think so." Lupin said thoughtfully.
"Well, can't we walk around in the forest again until dinner time?" Harry asked hopefully. Maybe he could get away from Lupin for a while and talk to some magical animals. He even found himself wanting to talk to the Hippogriffs. Maybe they could teach him how to fly.
"Do you promise not to wander off? The forest isn't called the forbidden forest for nothing. There's a lot of dangerous creatures in there, more then you'll probably find anywhere else in the UK," Lupin said seriously.
"Hey, the Hippogriff thingy didn't kill me, I'm sure non of the other monsters in there is goanna do it ether." Harry said lightly. Harry jumped down from the stone they were sitting on by the pool and started walking. Lupin followed him with a frown.
"People with such attitudes are usually the first ones who gets killed." Remus said wryly, grinning. Harry gave him an amused smile.
"Didn't know you had it in you, Professor." Harry mocked him with a laugh. Remus laughed to as they walked over the grounds towards the forest.
"What sort of dangerous creatures are there, magical that is?" Harry asked curiously.
"Well, theirs Hinkypunks, Vampires, Centaurs, Unicorns and Spiders." Remus said, naming of a few.
"Of course there's a lot, lot more then that. Even an innocent looking plant could kill you with its poison if you don't know what your doing." Lupin had gone into lecture mode, so Harry tuned him out.
They were now a few feet into the forest, and they were still walking. Harry saw two gray eyes stare at him from a bush. He stared right back at them.
"What do you recon that is?" Harry said, pointing at the bush. The thing behind it would have no place to run, other then behind a tree. Still they could see what it was when it moved. It wasn't one of the most brilliant places to hide.
"Is it a poisonous bush that will leap at us and kill us if we look at it long enough? Watch out, it's got a flower!" Harry yelled over dramatically, pointing at the bush. He started laughing at his own joke, and walked over to the bush.
"Harry you don't know what's behind there." Lupin warned him. Harry only scoffed silently to himself. He peered over the bush and looked down. A huge black dog, that was a little smaller then Tiny in height, laid like a ball with both of his paws over his eyes. Harry could count all of its ribs, and the fur was long and dirty.
"What happened to you?" Harry breathed out to the dog, looking down at the thing with pity. The dog looked up at him with shock, if a dog actually could do that.
"Hey Remus, its just a stray dog. We can take him to my family, Fay can take care of him." Harry said as he walked around the little bush. The dog was staring at him open mouthed.
"Harry don't touch it, you don't know if it's even a dog! And it could bite and be full of rabies for all you know." Remus said as he got closer.
"It won't hurt me." Harry called back. Lupin started walking over to him, and the dog got a panicked look on his face.
"Relax, he's a nice guy." Harry whined out to the dog softly so Lupin wouldn't hear.
"Harry please, you don't-" He stopped talking when he saw the dog. His face was full of shock, which turned to anger. He grabbed Harry around his upper arm forcefully and placed himself in between himself and the stray dog. Harry found it a little wired that the dog didn't answer him. But then again, something was just off with the whole dog. It didn't even act like a real dog.
"Harry go back to the castle." Remus said, pointing his wand at the dog.
"Oh Remus for crying out loud, the dog isn't full of rabies. Sure it looks like hell, but like I said, Fay can fix him up." Harry said with a roll of his eyes. He was surprised that Lupin would ask him to go alone back to school.
"Just do as I say." Lupin answered him stiffly.
"No." Harry said stubbornly. He wanted to know what was so special about the dog.
"Harry, tell him that I just want to talk. He'll understand." The dog barked. How the hell was Harry suppose to tell Remus that? He couldn't say that he could talk to animals, that would just be stupid.
"Maybe the dog just wants a…uh, chat?" Harry said hesitantly. That sounded stupid, even to his own ears. The dog threw him an annoyed look.
"I've met this, Black dog before. Trust me, he's insane." Remus sneered the word 'black'.
"Yes Remus, I can see that the dog is black. Thank you for pointing out the obvious. And the dog isn't insane." Harry said, as if he was talking to a four year old. Remus shot him a warning look.
"Trust me on this one Harry."
"What's so special about it? You didn't do much with Buckbeak." Harry said, annoyed. The dog sighed and its back hunched slightly. Paws became feet, hands and most of the hair went away beside the mop on his head. Before them stood a man with a jail suit on, wild black hair and wax like skin. He was dirty from head to toe, and his eyes had a pained look in them.
"Hi, Remus." The man said. Something in Harry's mind clicked. He'd seen him before, on the news.
"Sirius Black?" He asked hesitantly. He wasn't so sure anymore if the guy was crazy or not. He looked rather crazy, but so did Leggy.
"Hello Harry, and before you jinx me Remus, let me speak, please." Black said, holding up both of his dirty hands. Crystal would of washed him up before anything else, Harry thought with a pang. He missed his family.
"And why should I listen to you Black? You got Lily and James killed. He was your own best friend! I don't care about your reason, you deserve to die for what you did!" Remus yelled, surprising Harry. He had been very quiet and calm the whole time he'd known him.
"Lupin listen to the guy at least. It can't hurt. He doesn't have a wand, you do." Harry reminded him quietly. He was very curious as to know what Sirius had to say. And surprisingly, he didn't feel angry that he had 'killed' his parents. If he had done it, that is. It was probably because he still didn't know how they looked like, so they weren't really real to him.
"Fine. Start talking." Remus said, glaring. Black looked like he could of leaped with joy. Well, if his body had been in better condition, maybe.
"Well, you see, we didn't tell you this, because I was convinced that you were the traitor back then. We switched secret keepers over to Peter instead of me. I was James closest friend, everyone would think it was me, it was just too obvious. I should have known when Peter didn't protest, because he's usually such a cowered. But I didn't and now their…" He stopped to take a shuddering breath.
"I went to check on him that night, but he wasn't home, and their was no sign of any struggle. So I went over to James's place to see if everything was okay…" Sirius stopped again, looking down at his shoos. Remus had lowered his wand, and it was hanging loosely in his hand.
"But, you killed Peter and all those muggles…they saw what happened." Remus said, his hand tightening around his wand again. Sirius shook his head.
"I tried to kill him, but he tricked me. He started yelling so the whole street could hear about how I betrayed Lily and James. He cut of his own finger and transformed into a rat, hiding down in the sewers." Black finished off angrily. Harry only listened to the story with interest.
"So…this Peter guy, he's still alive then?" Harry asked the now two silent men. Black glanced at him and gave a small smile, nodding.
"But why didn't you say something?" Remus asked, astonished.
"I didn't get a trail. They just sent me straight to Azkaban without anyone listening."
"Why don't we go up to the castle then, and tell Dumbledore? He could get you free." Harry suggested. It seemed like Dumbledore was the one with most power in the whole Wizarding community. Even more so than Fudge.
Both of the older men's eyes darkened at that. Sirius shook his head.
"He was the one that got me sent there. We told him that I would be the Secret Keeper, but we gave the secret to Peter instead." Black explained.
"But why did you break out now though? Why not do it right away?" Lupin asked, changing the subject rather quickly. Sirius took out a wrinkled peace of parchment from his jail suit and handed it over to Remus. Harry walked closer and looked over his shoulder.
"Hey, that's the twins! And Ron…damn their family is big." Harry said with a low whistle. Sirius pointed a dirty finger to Ron's shoulder.
"That's him. That's Peter. I could have recognized that rat anywhere." Sirius said, almost stabbing the moving picture with his finger.
"I could probably get him." Harry said with a shrug. Both of the older men's head whipped up to him expectantly. Sirius actually had a bit of joy in his dead, haunted eyes.
"If I could get him, I could give him to Remus and then you can make him testify for you. In the meanwhile we could keep you, Sirius, as a pet or something." Harry suggested. Lupin smiled at the idea, and glanced up at Sirius with exited eyes.
"That could actually work, you know." He said, sounding like a little kid on Christmas. Sirius nodded his head excitedly.
"So, which house is he in, and how does the whole house choosing thing work?" Harry asked, putting his hands into his pockets. Sirius took the bit of parchment and put it into his jail suit again.
"Well, you get the sorting hat on your head, which can read all of your thoughts, so it chooses what quality you have, and puts you into the house you will do best in." Remus said, summing it up quickly. Harry raised an eyebrow.
"To be all magic fantastic and shit, you guys are really unoriginal. A talking hat?" Harry smirked at the silly thought. A hat that can read your deepest thoughts, and then he frowned.
"If it can hear everything in my head, I don't want to put it on." Harry said, taking his hands out of his pockets. He crossed his arms over his chest and looked down, kicking a stone with his beat up shoe.
"Why not?" Sirius asked.
"Because I've got things in my head that I don't want to share." Harry replied.
"Don't worry about it. The hat is thousands of years old, and has heard millions of people's thoughts. Besides, it has a charm on it, so everything it hears is confidential. It can't tell it to anyone, not even Dumbledore." Remus reassured him. Harry bit his piercing, thinking it over. It would probably be okay if no one could hear him…
"Okay, fine. Which house does Ron belong to?" Harry really hoped that it wasn't Hufflepuff. That would just be too embarrassing.
"Mr. Weasely is in Gryffindor, with the rest of his family." Remus said confidently.
"Arthur Weasely's children?" Sirius asked, looking up. He had sort of spaced out of the conversation for a few minuets. Remus nodded, and looked back at Harry with concern.
"Harry there are other ways to get Peter. Once you're in a house, you can't get out again. You should let the sorting hat chose for you." Remus told him. Sirius scoffed and leaned back on a tree, crossing his arms over his chest.
"Oh please, Gryffindor is the best house, and you know it. You can't go to Hufflepuff, that would just be embarrassing." Harry had to laugh at that. Sirius smiled and Remus looked disapproving.
"You can't go into Ravenclaw ether, because they only study there. Where's the fun in that? And Slytherin is just a bunch of nasty old slimy bastards. Sneaky as hell, I'll give them that, but they're as evil as the Grindewall the whole lot of them." Sirius said, spitting on the ground. Harry was surprised at the venom in Sirius's voice, but then again he wasn't. The guy did seem a bit…crazy.
"Sirius don't tell him that, let Harry decide for himself who he likes and doesn't like." Remus scolded him, but Harry could tell that his heart wasn't in it.
"Its alright. I'll probably come to the same conclusion at the end of the week." Harry said with a laugh. Sirius laughed too, but stopped when Remus glared at him.
"Honestly, your still acting like you're a child." Remus said, rolling his eyes. Sirius gave a huge grin, and you could see a little of the man he used to be. There was a comfortable pause where no one said a word. There really wasn't anything left to say. But Harry still felt that he needed to break the silence, since it was getting late.
"Well, why don't you change back into a dog, and I can say I found you. Fay will take care of you. Oh, and I have another dog named Tiny, so when he tries to beat you up for not being a real dog, tell him you're a friend of mine." Harry said, and Sirius and Remus looked at him.
"Yeah about that, how do you talk to dogs anyway? Or can you talk to other animals as well?" Harry felt like punching the guy. Remus was standing in between them! How could he just say something like that?
"I can't talk to dogs…" Harry said with a nervous laugh.
"Yes you can." Sirius said obliviously.
"Harry?" Lupin asked hesitantly. Harry threw his hands up in the air, exasperated at Black's stupidity. How stupid could you get?
"Fine, I can talk to dogs, cats, Hippogriffs you name it. But this doesn't leave us. If you tell anyone, I'll tell Dumbledore about him." Harry threatened Lupin, as he pointed at Black. Sirius got an amused look on his face.
"He looks just like James, but he acts more like Lily." He said with a chuckle, starting at Harry fondly.
"Trust me, there is more then enough James in there as well…" Remus muttered. Sirius gave a barking laugh.
"Well, its almost dinner, and Harry will be sorted then so we need to go. I think I can take you to Harry's family if we hurry, and then you'll meet me out here again tonight. Okay?" Remus asked, giving his friend a hug. Sirius nodded silently and transformed back into a dog.
"What should we call him?" Harry asked as they started to walk back to the school grounds. Instead of walking towards the school this time, they walked over to the gaits instead.
"Padfoot." Remus said without thinking it over.
"And his name's Moony, and your dad's name was Prongs. We were marauders at school. At least that's what everyone called us." Sirius barked happily as he trotted beside Harry. Harry couldn't answer him out here though, so he just smiled at him.
They reached the gaits and Harry was told to wait there. It didn't take much convincing, since Harry didn't want to run away anymore. Well, he wanted to, but he felt that he couldn't. He couldn't do that to his family.
About twenty minuets later, Lupin came back. When he saw Harry sitting on the ground, playing with some grass in his hands, he looked surprised.
"Your still here?" He asked, astonished.
"Yes, didn't you want me to wait, like you told me to?" He asked, amused. It was funny to surprise sometimes.
"Yes, I suppose I did. Come, dinner is suppose to start, and we're running a little late."
"Did you tell them about him not being a real stray dog?" Harry asked quietly.
"No, I didn't. I told them that you asked if Fay could take care of him, and that the he was named Padfoot. He's going to sneak out tonight, so I told them to let him sleep downstairs." Remus said as they walked into the castle. They started walking towards the Great Hall, and everyone became very silent when they stopped in the doorway.
Okay, I realise that a lot of you will be mad at me when you don't get your way with the story. But you guys have to remember that I'm the one making it, and I am trying to get some of your oppinions in here. Most of you hated the H/G paring, so congrats, I'm not doing it. But I won't tell you who I'm going to pair him up with ether, because that would ruing the story for you.
Thanks again for reading, and I hope you review! (No Flames, please)