Author's note:
Finally, I've been wanting to write this chapter for so long! Hope you like it :)
I gave BOTH Sirius and Remus the title of Harry's godfather in this story. I think that, while James would definitely have picked Sirius, Lily's first choice would've been Remus. And, since Harry has no godmother, they gave him two godfathers.
Also, in this fanfiction, the Ministry is aware of Remus' lycanthropy.
CHAPTER 4
The next few days were tiring. Sirius hardly slept, plagued by nightmares of a darker place. He was tired and cranky, though he let Andromeda shove numerous potions a day down his throat without cursing her like he would've had he not been in so much pain. When the potions took effect, he felt fine physically. He walked around in the cottage, helping Remus and Tonks with whatever it was they were doing. Tonks had taken off work for the rest of the week, and Remus had lost his job at a lousy pub, again. The lingering effects of the Dementors affected him more than he dared to admit, and he found himself slipping into a whirlwind of sadness.
He tried to play it off, cracking jokes here and there, but Sirius didn't fool anyone with his charade. He saw how Remus touched him more often, a reassuring pat on his shoulder or a comforting squeeze in his hand. Remus had never been one to initiate touch often, a habit still ingrained from his childhood, even though he realized that Sirius would never be disgusted by him. Remus had tried to get him to talk, but Sirius had brushed him off every time.
"I'll stop pestering you," Remus said eventually. "But know that I'm here for you, Padfoot, and that I'll stay here – waiting for you to open up, no matter how long it takes."
The honesty in his voice had almost made Sirius spill his every emotion. Almost.
It was two days later, when McGonagall had come over for tea, as she tended to do every Sunday, when Sirius asked, "When's Harry coming home? I'd like to see the lad."
Remus' movements stilled and he gulped, shoulders tense as he stared at Padfoot like a deer in headlights. Tonks shifted closer on the red, ragged couch an took his hand in hers, rubbing her thumb gently in circles.
It was McGonagall who answered. "He doesn't live here, Sirius."
The black-haired man frowned. "What?! Why not?" He turned towards Remus angrily, eye blazing, but before he could utter the hurtful words that had been at the front of his mind, McGonagall interrupted.
"The Ministry pulled the werewolf card. They refused to grant Remus custody – or even visiting rights. We don't know where he is."
Sirius' eyes widened, his fury now directed at the prejudiced, pureblood old wizards and witches running their government. How dare they? How dare they keep little Harry from Remus, from his family. Remus had been one of Harry's favourite people, from the very beginning really. When Lily and James didn't manage to calm the wailing boy down when he was teething, they called Remus, not Sirius. The werewolf's rumbling voice and gentle movements never failed to calm the baby down. And later, whenever Remus was visiting, Harry had demanded his Unca' Moony read him his bedtime stories – not James, not Lily, not Unca Pa'foot. No, the boy had wanted his Unca' Moony. Remus' eyes had lit up at the very sight of little Harry. He had been the light in their lives. They had no right to keep Harry away from Remus.
"We're going to the Ministry tomorrow," Sirius said, his voice laced with angry conviction. "Harry's coming home."
While McGonagall was secretly proud of both Sirius and Remus for loving the way they did – fiercely, protectively – she felt the need to point out, "Harry might be happy where he is now. He might love the parents that are raising him. It could be very damaging to a child to be pulled away from their home like that."
The two men didn't say anything, pondering on McGonagall's statement. It was Remus who first responded, his voice gentle. "We are his godparents. Whether or not Harry wants to come here and live with us, I want to be in his life. I want to tell him about Lily and James, I want to watch him grow up."
Sirius nodded solemnly, agreeing wholeheartedly with his friend. "We have to go to the Ministry tomorrow."
"They might not be cooperative," McGonagall said.
Sirius frowned. "Why not?"
The elder woman sighed. "They have fought so violently against Remus' custody claims, claiming that there was no way they'd ever hand custody of the Boy Who Lived to a dark beast. I'm just saying they might not want to hand the information over the an ex-convict."
Sirius' temper rose. "They'd be bloody lucky if I didn't sue them for sending me to Azkaban without a proper trial. Don't worry, Minnie, they'll be cooperative or they won't know what hit them."
Remus, Tonks and McGonagall all wore similar smiles at that statement. Sirius had been so sullen, so numb for the past days. It was relieving to see him so passionate about something again.
Whispers followed them as Sirius and Remus walked into the Department of Magical Law Enforcement. Sirius didn't seem to mind it all that much, but Remus was tense. He didn't like the scrutinizing gazes of strangers following his every movement.
"Sirius?" a deep voice rumbled on their right side.
"Kingsley?" he asked, surprised.
The broad-shouldered man grinned as he approached them. "Heard you were innocent."
Sirius nodded. Kingsley had been a few years above them at Hogwarts. Though he was a Ravenclaw and older than the Marauders, they'd been good friends. Kingsley was one of the very few people to have found out about Remus' lycanthropy. He vowed to take his secret to the grave.
Kingsley turned to Remus. "Tell your witch I need her. The paperwork is killing me this week."
Remus laughed. Tonks and Kingsley were partnered when she graduated from the Auror Academy – and they worked well together. "If I tell her that, she might as well take another week off."
Kingsley laughed and nodded. "What brings you here?"
The smiles disappeared from their faces. "Custody of our godson – Harry Potter."
Kingsley's brows shot up, but he didn't comment. He just motioned for them to follow him into the Auror office.
They were lead to a middle-aged haughty, blonde witch, who sneered at Remus for the numerous letters he'd sent the DMLE in his fight for custody.
"Beasts shouldn't be allowed in the Ministry, let alone learn to write." Sirius had growled at her. It had taken numerous threats from Sirius, who had no qualms throwing his reputation as the sole Black Heir into the conversation, for the blonde toerag to retrieve the information about Harry's whereabouts. By the time they left the Ministry, with a promise to Kingsley to go out for drinks sometime, Sirius was boiling with rage. The parchment with the address – 4 Privet Drive, Surrey – crumbled in his fist.
Remus faced his friend and gripped his shoulder. With the authority of the Alpha he was, he said, "You need to calm down. We're going to see Harry, and you won't do the boy any good if you're angry."
"Petunia Dursley," Sirius growled. "They put him with that vile woman."
Remus nodded. He was not happy about that either, recalling the woman's attitude during Lily and James' wedding. He had to hold Sirius back from turning into Padfoot and pissing on the woman.
"Take a deep breath," Remus instructed. When Sirius had calmed down sufficiently, he gripped Padfoot's hand and apparated away with a plop.
Remus ringed the bell at 4 Privet Drive, his heart beating fast. In the corner of his eye, he saw Sirius wipe his sweaty hands on his Muggle jeans. He didn't know whether it was the remaining anger, or the nervousness of meeting Harry that made his hands sweat, but he sincerely hoped Sirius would find it in himself to be polite to Harry's current guardians. Sirius and Remus shared a hopeful look at the sound of footsteps on the other side of the door, followed by the distinct clinging of keys.
The horse-like smile on Petunia Dursley's face disappeared immediately at the sight of the two wizards. Though they had met only once, neither party had forgotten the other's appearance.
"Good afternoon, Mrs. Dursley," Remus said, smiling politely.
Petunia narrowed her eyes and hissed, "What are you doing here? Your kind is not welcome in my home." Her eyes darted anxiously over the empty street.
Remus opened his mouth to answer, but Sirius cut him off.
"Is Harry home?" he asked eagerly. Remus resisted the urge to roll his eyes.
"Yes." Petunia's answer was clipped. "The boy is here. Please leave now." When she moved to close the door in their faces, Sirius' stuck his foot in the way and wormed his way into the hideous salmon-coloured hallway. Remus followed him tensely.
"We'd like to meet him," Remus said, trying to remain polite, though Moony howled inside his head, warning him something was terribly wrong. The way Sirius' shoulders tensed and his jaw set dangerously tight told Remus Padfoot felt the same.
"Who's at the door, Petunia?" a gruff voice came from the living room. Vernon Dursley, as purple-faced and beefy as the last time Remus had seen him, stormed into the hallway at the sight of the two wizards in his hallway – front door still open.
"LEAVE!" he yelled. "NONE OF THAT FUNNY BUSSINES IN MY HOME!"
While Sirius snarled at the man, much resembling the way his Animagus form would, Remus held his hands up defensively. "We just want to meet little Harry," he said calmly. "Please."
Vernon's eyes darted towards the white cupboard under the stairs, and Remus' eyes widened angrily, all politeness vanished as he stormed past Vernon, pushing the beefy man out of his way. Sirius slammed the purple-faced man against the wall. Hard. Years of fighting with Slytherin rivals in school had taught him how to fight.
Remus pulled out his wand, his entire body trembling with rage. He was usually a very composed man, but when one of his loved ones was threatened, all sense of propriety vanished.
"Alohomora." The white door to the cupboard opened and Remus crouched down.
And there, against the far corner of the dark, dusty cupboard, sat the most precious little boy, fat tears silently streaming over his chubby cheeks. Remus mustered what he hoped was a kind, reassuring smile, forcing the anger back down, and breathed softly, "Oh Harry."
His stomach lurch as he took notice of the many, many bruises and scratches on Harry's pale skin. He didn't know what Petunia had done to him, but he knew that he was never allowing Harry back under her care.
Harry's tattered shirt hung loosely off his scrawny body. A particularly nasty-looking scratch on the boy's cheek had Remus worried. He raised his hand to touch the boy's cheek. Harry shut his eyes closed and flinched at Remus's gentle touch. Remus frowned and gently brushed the skin under the red scratch with his thumb. The look of utter bewilderment when Harry opened those green eyes again made Remus wonder how long ago it was since someone had touched him with an ounce of tenderness.
Harry stared at him, green eyes wide and fearful, as his small body trembled. Remus' heart clenched. The last time he'd seen Harry, he had been joyous and full of life, constantly giggling and causing enough mischief that Prongs proudly declared he was a 'true Marauder's son' while Lily rolled her eyes.
"I'm your Uncle Moony," Remus said. "I was a friend of your Mum and Dad." The use of past tense still hurt.
Harry stared at the tall man for a long time. The shudder coursing through his emaciated body at the word Uncle didn't go unnoticed. "Mummy and Daddy?" Harry whispered eventually. His voice sounded so small, so scared.
Remus nodded, trying so very hard to keep the friendly smile plastered on his face, not wanting to scare the boy. "Yes, they were my best friends." He stretched out his hands. "Come here, cub," he said gently.
Harry frowned slightly for a moment, contemplating. "I won't hurt you, cub," Remus said, fury bubbling up in his chest at the mere fact those words of reassurance had to pass his lips in order for his godson to trust him.
Harry slowly stood and when he was close enough, Remus pulled the boy in a tight embrace. Harry stiffened at the contact. "It's okay, cub," Remus murmured. "I won't hurt you. I promise. I'll protect you. I love you"
At those words, Harry melted into Remus' robes and clutched at his robes. Remus wondered if there had been any adult in the past two years to have uttered those three little words to him. Remus pulled back and gently brushed the messy, black fringe out of his eyes. His heart clenched at the sight of the red lighting-shaped scar on his forehead. He had heard of it, of course, but never seen it. Remus pressed his lips against Harry's forehead, right over his scar, and closed his eyes mournfully. He should have trusted his instincts against Wormtail. Guilt overwhelmed him.
Harry stared at him with curiosity, his cheeks still red-splotched, though he was no longer crying. Remus smiled sadly and pressed another kiss on his forehead. "Do you want to come and live with me, Harry?" he asked, not wanting to just whisk the boy away.
Harry nodded eagerly and hugged the tall man again. Remus held him tightly as he stood again. Sirius' head snapped in his direction. His eyes widened at the sight of Harry's too skinny, bruised body. "You bastard," he growled and tightened his grip on Vernon's throat.
Harry stared at the violent scene with wide, fearful eyes and buried his face in Remus' shoulder.
"Ssh, it's okay, cub," Remus soothed the trembling boy. "Nobody will hurt you. I'll keep you safe. Uncle Moony is here now."
Sirius' fist collided with Vernon's purple face with a loud CRACK. Harry whimpered.
"Padfoot," Remus said, his voice full of authority. "We need to leave – now. Leave justice to the Ministry."
Sirius stared at Remus defiantly, but nodded when his eyes flickered to the still trembling boy in Remus' arms. Harry clutched at Remus' shoulders with his every being, not wanting to face his Uncle Vernon's violent wrath. Sirius turned to Vernon and snarled threateningly, "I'll ruin you for this."
Sirius slammed Vernon against the wall one last time with a loud thud again and darted out the front door, clenching his fists as if resisting the urge to beat the beefy man to pulp. Harry flinched at the sound. Remus pressed a reassuring kiss on the boy's crown and followed Sirius out the door, rubbing his hand soothingly over Harry's back with promises of safety.
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