The Tree House
Harry awoke, being careful to keep his eyes closed. What if it had all been a dream? He worried. Last night had been wonderful, but he had a sneaking suspicion that in his depression he imaged Hedwig returning with Sirius. He then heard an indignant hoot coming from Hedwig's cage. Opening his eyes he felt the hard floor beneath him. He wiggled out of the tattered sleeping bag, big enough to hold two him. He stood up and stretched in his boxer shorts. He reached down on the floor and picked up his glasses. Putting them on he saw the world clearly now, especially the sleeping figure of Sirius.
Harry grinned to himself again, smiling at his luck. Suddenly Sirius stirred; sitting up suddenly he pulled out his wand and aimed it Harry's chest. Seeing it was merely Harry, Sirius let out a sigh of relief. Harry however, had backed away and was nervously watching Sirius.
"Warning Harry, never stand over a sleeping wizard," Sirius replied jokingly. He grinned at Harry and got out of bed. Much to his surprise Harry was now eye level with him. He smiled approvingly at the sudden growth his godson had taken.
"I'm not sure if you're the same Harry anymore," Sirius said, chuckling in a father like way at him.
Harry blushed slightly. It was true that Harry, usually the short scrawny one, especially compared to his friend Ron, had suddenly grown since sixth year. Harry, in typical late bloomer fashion had suddenly gained several useful assets. The first was sudden growth spurt of five inches making him as tall as his friend Ron now. At first, after Harry had noticed that he had suddenly grown, he gawked as his now even skinnier body. Annoyed and having nothing better, he began to slowly work out, gaining muscle mass. The results showed beneath his nightshirt, his legs now muscled, he felt completely ready for the Quidditch season to come.
"So now that you're here, what are you planning to do?" Harry asked, drawing the subject away from himself.
"Well I thought you might like to spend the rest of your vacation with me?" Sirius suggested. He shrugged and walked over to the window. "It's all up to you, if you'd rather be with the Dursley's-"
"NO, no," Harry cut him off, "Not that the Dursley's have been as awful as in the past, the thought me almost finishing school and leaving them has made them almost civil, however well things are slightly boring on Privet Drive." Harry began to shift on his bare feet, anxious for a change already.
"Well, I suppose then it's settled. Pack up, I need to go make some preparations. I'll return for you at, say midnight?" He questioned.
"Sure," Harry responded happily.
Sirius glanced at Hedwig's cage, noting her indignant look Sirius laughed.
"I'll give you're owl a break and apparate; but first," Sirius walked over to Harry's still open window, swinging one leg over the ledge, he waved good bye to Harry and threw himself out the window. Landing softly on the ground, he checked to make sure the coast was clear than changed into his animal form. Jogging away, he left Privet Drive to find a place apparate.
"HARRY!!!!!" came Aunt Petunia's shrill voice from down stairs. Harry sighed and left his room.
He walked into the kitchen to find the Dursley's sitting down to breakfast. Dudley, now slightly thinner do the dieting his mother had put him on when he was 14, now was slightly too large for the Dursley's kitchen chairs. His fat flowed over his pants a slight amount. Harry grinned as Dudley chewed his tenth piece of bacon. The sight of Dudley eating always amused Harry, it reminded him of the trouble Dudley had with dates. Particularly with one girl, who despised Dudley because of his obesity and his stupidity. Harry had the sneaker suspicion however that she merely came over to talk to Dudley to see him. I was a disconcerting thought for Harry and hated to think of what would happen if Dudley caught on.
"How dare you sleep in! Did you expect me to put out breakfast for you?" Aunt Petunia asked her voice going shrill in indignation.
Harry didn't respond, but simply sat at the table and helped himself to some bacon and toast as Uncle Vernon and Dudley ignored him. Feeling particularly cruel, Harry smiled and addressed his Uncle Vernon.
"Uncle Vernon," he grunted from behind his newspaper, "I was just wondering, my convict godfather wants me to visit him, so he's picking me up tonight. I won't be back for the rest of the summer."
Fear took over Vernon Dursley's voice. "His coming? Here?"
"Yes," Harry hid his grin in a glass of orange juice.
Vernon cleared his throat, "Just make sure he doesn't make any trouble."
Harry grinned, he noted Dudley eyeing the last piece of bacon greedily.
"Hey Dudley, can I have that last piece of bacon?" Harry asked innocently, Dudley glared at Harry and was close to refusing him when Uncle Vernon ordered Dudley to hand it to Harry. Harry chuckled silently as chewed his bacon, giving Dudley a triumphant look.
The rest of the day passed uneventfully as Harry packed his things for school and the rest of the summer. Finally with a large trunk and a large owl cage before him, he wondered how Sirius planned on transporting all these things. When midnight finally came, Harry sat on his bed waiting for Sirius's return, suddenly with out warning, Harry heard a loud smack coming from outside. Running over to the window, Harry looked out seeing a swearing Sirius on the ground with a dead tree branch next to him.
"Sirius, why don't I just let you in through the front door?" Harry called down, concerned.
Sirius stood up angrily and walked towards the front of the house. Stealthily, Harry sneaked down the stairs to the front letting a disheveled Sirius into the house. Brushing off his robes, he glanced at Harry.
"Ready?"
"Almost let me get my trunk and Hedwig." Harry turned to leave for the stairs when Sirius laughed and muttered, "Accio trunk and Hedwig." Floating down the stairs come Harry's trunk with an indignant Hedwig on top.
"Shall we?" Sirius gestured towards the door. Harry walked out, annoyed, as an underage wizard Harry was not allowed to practice magic outside of Hogwarts, therefore everything had to be manually done. He turned around and grabbed on end of his trunk dragging it completely outside. Sirius walked out closing the door, then turned into his dog form leading the way away from Privet Drive. Harry followed puffing behind Sirius, walking through dark alleys and side streets when suddenly Sirius stopped and sat down. Harry stopped gratefully and waited. Sirius handed Harry a note that he had been carrying in his mouth. Unfolding it Harry read:
Harry, summon the night bus. We're heading to Hogsmeade and then to the mountain.
Harry nodded at the dog who wagged his tail. Sticking out his wand, Harry waited for the distant rumble of the Knight bus to come. Suddenly it did, nearly knocking Harry over. Annoyed at the horrible driving Ernie Prang was notorious for, Harry walked onto the bright purple vehicle.
"Welcome to the Knight Bus, emergency transport for the stranded witch or- Why 'ello 'arry!" Stan greeted him. Stan immediately grabbed Harry's trunk from him, Harry held Hedwig.
"What'll be mate, a bed for 11 sickles, chocolate for 14 or a toothbrush for 15?"
Harry dug around in his pocket and pulled out 14 sickles.
"Right this way," Stan walked down the aisle to an available bed as Sirius and Harry followed behind.
"Where to mate?" Stan asked when he had found a spare bed.
Harry settled himself on the bed, pushing his trunk beneath it with his feet. "Hogsmeade."
Stan nodded and headed off the front of the bus. The Bus lurched along the street at an uncomfortably fast past. Harry began to absent-mindedly stroke Sirius behind his ears while concentrating on not being carsick. Sirius growled with pleasure and licked Harry's hand comforting him. Finally and luckily for Harry, the Bus arrived in Hogsmeade before Harry lost his dinner.
"Have a good night 'arry!" Stan yelled as Harry and Sirius exited the Bus.
Harry and Sirius walked by the Three Broomsticks, towards the mountain behind Hogsmeade. After a long and difficult climb with Harry dragging his trunk and Hedwig up the mountain, they reached a mangled looking tree.
Sirius stepped forward and using his mouth, pulled down a lower branch, the tree revealed a door and using his paw, Sirius opened it. Walking down a long narrow passageway, Sirius and Harry were now in a large, modestly decorated room filled with flowers with various notes attached to them. Leading away from this room was a hallway which lead to a kitchen and several other rooms. Sirius than transformed to he normal self, straitening his robes, he smiled at Harry.
"Welcome to my humble abode."
Harry awoke, being careful to keep his eyes closed. What if it had all been a dream? He worried. Last night had been wonderful, but he had a sneaking suspicion that in his depression he imaged Hedwig returning with Sirius. He then heard an indignant hoot coming from Hedwig's cage. Opening his eyes he felt the hard floor beneath him. He wiggled out of the tattered sleeping bag, big enough to hold two him. He stood up and stretched in his boxer shorts. He reached down on the floor and picked up his glasses. Putting them on he saw the world clearly now, especially the sleeping figure of Sirius.
Harry grinned to himself again, smiling at his luck. Suddenly Sirius stirred; sitting up suddenly he pulled out his wand and aimed it Harry's chest. Seeing it was merely Harry, Sirius let out a sigh of relief. Harry however, had backed away and was nervously watching Sirius.
"Warning Harry, never stand over a sleeping wizard," Sirius replied jokingly. He grinned at Harry and got out of bed. Much to his surprise Harry was now eye level with him. He smiled approvingly at the sudden growth his godson had taken.
"I'm not sure if you're the same Harry anymore," Sirius said, chuckling in a father like way at him.
Harry blushed slightly. It was true that Harry, usually the short scrawny one, especially compared to his friend Ron, had suddenly grown since sixth year. Harry, in typical late bloomer fashion had suddenly gained several useful assets. The first was sudden growth spurt of five inches making him as tall as his friend Ron now. At first, after Harry had noticed that he had suddenly grown, he gawked as his now even skinnier body. Annoyed and having nothing better, he began to slowly work out, gaining muscle mass. The results showed beneath his nightshirt, his legs now muscled, he felt completely ready for the Quidditch season to come.
"So now that you're here, what are you planning to do?" Harry asked, drawing the subject away from himself.
"Well I thought you might like to spend the rest of your vacation with me?" Sirius suggested. He shrugged and walked over to the window. "It's all up to you, if you'd rather be with the Dursley's-"
"NO, no," Harry cut him off, "Not that the Dursley's have been as awful as in the past, the thought me almost finishing school and leaving them has made them almost civil, however well things are slightly boring on Privet Drive." Harry began to shift on his bare feet, anxious for a change already.
"Well, I suppose then it's settled. Pack up, I need to go make some preparations. I'll return for you at, say midnight?" He questioned.
"Sure," Harry responded happily.
Sirius glanced at Hedwig's cage, noting her indignant look Sirius laughed.
"I'll give you're owl a break and apparate; but first," Sirius walked over to Harry's still open window, swinging one leg over the ledge, he waved good bye to Harry and threw himself out the window. Landing softly on the ground, he checked to make sure the coast was clear than changed into his animal form. Jogging away, he left Privet Drive to find a place apparate.
"HARRY!!!!!" came Aunt Petunia's shrill voice from down stairs. Harry sighed and left his room.
He walked into the kitchen to find the Dursley's sitting down to breakfast. Dudley, now slightly thinner do the dieting his mother had put him on when he was 14, now was slightly too large for the Dursley's kitchen chairs. His fat flowed over his pants a slight amount. Harry grinned as Dudley chewed his tenth piece of bacon. The sight of Dudley eating always amused Harry, it reminded him of the trouble Dudley had with dates. Particularly with one girl, who despised Dudley because of his obesity and his stupidity. Harry had the sneaker suspicion however that she merely came over to talk to Dudley to see him. I was a disconcerting thought for Harry and hated to think of what would happen if Dudley caught on.
"How dare you sleep in! Did you expect me to put out breakfast for you?" Aunt Petunia asked her voice going shrill in indignation.
Harry didn't respond, but simply sat at the table and helped himself to some bacon and toast as Uncle Vernon and Dudley ignored him. Feeling particularly cruel, Harry smiled and addressed his Uncle Vernon.
"Uncle Vernon," he grunted from behind his newspaper, "I was just wondering, my convict godfather wants me to visit him, so he's picking me up tonight. I won't be back for the rest of the summer."
Fear took over Vernon Dursley's voice. "His coming? Here?"
"Yes," Harry hid his grin in a glass of orange juice.
Vernon cleared his throat, "Just make sure he doesn't make any trouble."
Harry grinned, he noted Dudley eyeing the last piece of bacon greedily.
"Hey Dudley, can I have that last piece of bacon?" Harry asked innocently, Dudley glared at Harry and was close to refusing him when Uncle Vernon ordered Dudley to hand it to Harry. Harry chuckled silently as chewed his bacon, giving Dudley a triumphant look.
The rest of the day passed uneventfully as Harry packed his things for school and the rest of the summer. Finally with a large trunk and a large owl cage before him, he wondered how Sirius planned on transporting all these things. When midnight finally came, Harry sat on his bed waiting for Sirius's return, suddenly with out warning, Harry heard a loud smack coming from outside. Running over to the window, Harry looked out seeing a swearing Sirius on the ground with a dead tree branch next to him.
"Sirius, why don't I just let you in through the front door?" Harry called down, concerned.
Sirius stood up angrily and walked towards the front of the house. Stealthily, Harry sneaked down the stairs to the front letting a disheveled Sirius into the house. Brushing off his robes, he glanced at Harry.
"Ready?"
"Almost let me get my trunk and Hedwig." Harry turned to leave for the stairs when Sirius laughed and muttered, "Accio trunk and Hedwig." Floating down the stairs come Harry's trunk with an indignant Hedwig on top.
"Shall we?" Sirius gestured towards the door. Harry walked out, annoyed, as an underage wizard Harry was not allowed to practice magic outside of Hogwarts, therefore everything had to be manually done. He turned around and grabbed on end of his trunk dragging it completely outside. Sirius walked out closing the door, then turned into his dog form leading the way away from Privet Drive. Harry followed puffing behind Sirius, walking through dark alleys and side streets when suddenly Sirius stopped and sat down. Harry stopped gratefully and waited. Sirius handed Harry a note that he had been carrying in his mouth. Unfolding it Harry read:
Harry, summon the night bus. We're heading to Hogsmeade and then to the mountain.
Harry nodded at the dog who wagged his tail. Sticking out his wand, Harry waited for the distant rumble of the Knight bus to come. Suddenly it did, nearly knocking Harry over. Annoyed at the horrible driving Ernie Prang was notorious for, Harry walked onto the bright purple vehicle.
"Welcome to the Knight Bus, emergency transport for the stranded witch or- Why 'ello 'arry!" Stan greeted him. Stan immediately grabbed Harry's trunk from him, Harry held Hedwig.
"What'll be mate, a bed for 11 sickles, chocolate for 14 or a toothbrush for 15?"
Harry dug around in his pocket and pulled out 14 sickles.
"Right this way," Stan walked down the aisle to an available bed as Sirius and Harry followed behind.
"Where to mate?" Stan asked when he had found a spare bed.
Harry settled himself on the bed, pushing his trunk beneath it with his feet. "Hogsmeade."
Stan nodded and headed off the front of the bus. The Bus lurched along the street at an uncomfortably fast past. Harry began to absent-mindedly stroke Sirius behind his ears while concentrating on not being carsick. Sirius growled with pleasure and licked Harry's hand comforting him. Finally and luckily for Harry, the Bus arrived in Hogsmeade before Harry lost his dinner.
"Have a good night 'arry!" Stan yelled as Harry and Sirius exited the Bus.
Harry and Sirius walked by the Three Broomsticks, towards the mountain behind Hogsmeade. After a long and difficult climb with Harry dragging his trunk and Hedwig up the mountain, they reached a mangled looking tree.
Sirius stepped forward and using his mouth, pulled down a lower branch, the tree revealed a door and using his paw, Sirius opened it. Walking down a long narrow passageway, Sirius and Harry were now in a large, modestly decorated room filled with flowers with various notes attached to them. Leading away from this room was a hallway which lead to a kitchen and several other rooms. Sirius than transformed to he normal self, straitening his robes, he smiled at Harry.
"Welcome to my humble abode."