Chapter 4: Padfoot
The next day seemed like any other day to Harry. But it turned out to be the day that changed Harry's life forever.
He was peeling potatoes, when the doorbell rang. "Cupboard now!" hissed aunt Petunia. This always happened when visitors came. Harry had to sit in his cupboard, quiet as a mouse. He crept into his cupboard, closed the door and sat down in the corner. He listened to the conversation in the kitchen. "Hello, Petunia," said a man's voice. "Who are you? How do you know my name?" said aunt Petunia, sounding a little scared. "I am Sirius black. I was James's best friend - you know, your sister's husband?" said the man. "I am also Harry's godfather." "My Godfather?" Harry whispered. "You're not having him! I'm not getting into trouble!" shouted aunt Petunia. Harry longed to run out of his cupboard and shout, "I'm here! Please take me away!" "Vernon!" Petunia screeched. Uncle Vernon came thundering down the stairs, showering Harry with plaster inside the cupboard below." What I is it, Petunia?" asked uncle Vernon. "He wants to take Harry away," said Petunia." "No!" yelled uncle Vernon. "If you won't give him to me, I'll just have to search for him."
Harry heard Sirius rush up the stairs. He heard him open one door, then the others. Then Sirius stormed back down the stairs. "I've searched all the bedrooms. I found your son's room and another room full of toys. But where is Harry?" The Dursleys didn't say a thing. Suddenly, Sirius saw the cupboard under the stairs. He threw open the door. "Harry? Is that you? "Um, yes," said Harry nervously. "Are you my godfather?" "I was your dad's best friend. I was your parents' best man at their wedding." Harry looked at the man. He was handsome, with lots of black hair framing his face and kind laughing eyes. Harry instantly liked the man. "Harry, would you like to come and live with me?" said Sirius. "Yes, please!" Said Harry. Serious grinned. "Good, then will go get your stuff."
Harry crawled back into the cupboard and Sirius followed. When he saw the cupboard, Sirius gasped. "Harry, is this your bedroom?" he said open-mouthed. "Yes," whispered Harry. Sirius looked as if he was about to throw a fit. Then he put an arm around Harry protectively. "How dare you make my godson sleep in a cupboard!" he growled back out into the hallway. "That's disgusting!" Sirius sat down on Harry's bed. Then he instantly jumped up again. "This is no bed for a child!" he shouted. "Right, Harry - you go get your toys and things,' said serious in a much gentler voice.
Harry found a small overnight bag in the corner of his cupboard. He packed an old jumper of Dudley's, his pyjamas, his toothbrush, his little toy soldiers and his teddy. "Harry, are those the only toys you've got?" asked Sirius. "Yes. Dudley has two rooms full of toys, but the Dursleys don't give me any. I found these myself." Sirius looked livid. "Are you so cruel? You haven't given him any toys!" yelled Sirius back into the hallway. "Wow, he must really care about me," Harry thought. "It's not all that bad. I kind of like the spiders - and I don't really mind the hard bed, I'm so tired after all my chores." Harry told Sirius. "It's only really bad when I'm locked in as punishment," he added. It was true. "He's a seven-year-old boy! How dare you treat him like a servant! How dare you lock him up like a criminal!" serious bellowed, now moving into the hallway. "Harry, you wait there please," said Sirius. Then he picked up the telephone and began to dial.
The telephone conversation went like this: "Hello, I'm reporting a case of child abuse." There was a brief pause. "A boy. Seven years old." Another pause. "An orphan, living with his aunt and uncle." "Well, they've been making him do lots of chores, sleep in the cupboard and locking him up inside a cupboard if he's done something wrong. They don't give him any toys, either." "I don't know. I'm his godfather. I only just got custody of him." "Thank you." Sirius set down the phone receiver. Harry picked up his overnight bag and Sirius took his hand. "Let's teach them a lesson, shall we?" Sirius said grinning. And with that, he turned into a big black dog. The Dursleys screamed! Once Sirius turned back into a human, he and Harry ran laughing out the door.
Serious and Harry took a bus to Sirius's home. It was a nice big house, with a large garden. Harry saw a swing and trampoline. The front door was painted blue and there were blue curtains at the windows. Sirius led Harry up the path and inside. The living room was painted red, and it had a matching sofa and armchairs. It also had an old-fashioned fireplace. Sirius and Harry sat down on the sofa. "Now Harry, I'd like to ask you some questions please." said Sirius. "Okay," said Harry. "Harry, what do you know about your parents?" "I know they died in a car crash, and I know they were drunk," replied Harry. Sirius looked as if he was about to explode. "No Harry, that's not true," he said. Then he took a deep breath. "Your parents were a witch and wizard, Harry." "But how could they be? Magic isn't real," said Harry confused. The Dursleys had always told him that magic wasn't real. "I'll prove it to you," responded Sirius, pulling out a long thin wooden stick from his pocket. He waved it around and made a cushion fly around the room. Harry gasped. Sirius must be telling the truth then. Magic was real and his parents were a witch and wizard. "Do you believe me now?" asked Sirius. Harry nodded, amazed. "Good, then I'll tell you what happened." "There was a really evil wizard. He did lots of cruel things. His name was Voldemort. Your parents were good, kind people. Very brave and clever too. They joined a group who fought Voldemort. One day, he came to your house and killed your parents. Then he tried to kill you - but you survived somehow. And somehow, you also appear to have blasted him into oblivion." Harry sat there stunned. "Thank you for telling me," he said quietly. "You're welcome, Harry." He paused. "There is something else I need to tell you. You're a wizard." "Wow!" Harry whispered. Then Sirius reached out his arms and hugged Harry.