And I thought.

Later that morning Alex arrived looking quite grim. "Sorry, vacations over. Harry, Sirius you are going to need to stay with the Dursleys for a few days. Just until we can make a few precautionary preparations." Harry noticed Alex giving a Sirius a knowing look and Sirius nodding. She turned to Remus, "Remus, I need you to come with Lee-Lee and I to Snape manor." Remus nodded.

"When?" Harry asked.

"Well, now. Harry you'll need to pack Sirius's things up in your trunk for the time being. At least until we can all settle in at the other house." Alex explained.

Lee-Lee began bouncing up and down. "No mummy! I want Hawwee to stay!", she cried.

"Honey, why don't you go with Remus and help him pack your things up? Severus and Selina are waiting for us." Alex asked.

Lee-Lee sighed and walked sulkily to her bedroom. Remus disappeared behind her, and Harry and Sirius began packing their own things.

"We are going to Snape Manor? Snapes house?", Harry asked Sirius stuffing some of his socks into the trunk. "I thought it was dangerous there."

Sirius nodded, "That is why we are going to stay with the Dursleys for awhile. Just long enough for them to cast protective wards. Come on.", he said closing the trunk and levitating it into the hall.

Alex was waiting by the front door. "You will need to transform Sirius."

Harry turned to watch as Sirius melted into the familiar great black dog Snuffles. "Wow, you are going to have to teach me how you do that some day.", he said grinning.

Harry's trunk lifted into the air and shrank. Alex plucked it out of the air and placed it into her pocket. "Come on." she said opening the front door.

Lee-Lee burst into the living room. "No! I want Hawwee to stay wiff me!", she cried.

"Harry will be back munchkin, I promise. Now go help Remus pack up your things.", Alex said.

Lee-Lee pouted and rushed over to Harry. She latched herself onto his leg with a grip that would put a Gryndylow to shame. "Pwease don't go Hawwee.", she cried.

"I'll be back Lee-Lee.", Harry said trying to calm the little girl.

"Harry is only going for one or two days, baby. You can show him your room at Snape Manor. Ok?", Alex said softly prying the little girl off of Harry's leg.

Lee-Lee sniffled and wiped the tears out her eyes. "Ba-bye Hawwee. I wuv you.", she whimpered.

Harry smiled and kissed her forehead. "I love you to Lee-Lee."

Alex handed Lee-Lee to Remus and started out of the door.

**** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** ****

They were surprised to find the Durselys house empty when they arrived. Alex used her wand to discretely open the door, and restored Harrys trunk to its normal size. She hugged Harry and left without saying a word. Harry quickly locked the door behind her, and Sirius resumed his human form.

"I forgot Hedwig." Harry exclaimed. "And I need to send a letter to Ron."

Sirius picked up Harry's trunk and headed up the stairs. "Which one of these rooms is ours?", he asked.

"Third door on the left, just past the bathroom." Harry answered following him.

When they entered the room Sirius opened the window. "Don't worry about Hedwig. Just leave this window open and she will follow you."

Harry nodded feeling relieved. He looked out across the hall and suddenly remembered. "Ugh, I'd forgotten. Aunt Marge is here."

Sirius turned to open the trunk. Harry could almost swear he saw a mischievous grin cross his god father's face, but his bland reply seemed to convince him he was imagining things. "Really. Hmm. I supposed we had better stay out of her way, then."

"That won't be easy." Harry said. "She is as big as a house. Come on. We can make some sandwiches for lunch and I can show you what a video game is."

They headed down stair. Sirius had a blast playing Diablo with Harry. "This is just like magic!", he kept saying and, "Muggles are genius!" and "Hey, that amazon looks just like a girl I went to school with."

When the Dursleys arrived home later that afternoon they were shocked to find Harry and Snuffles sitting on the living room couch. Aunt Petunia looked as though she had swallowed her own tongue. When she managed to find it she stuttered out, "What-is-that-dog-doing-on-my-sofa?!"

Snuffles climbed down to the floor and sat down by Harry's feet. Marge decided to take the now vacant space next to him. When she sat Harry was thrown up into the air and fell back down again with a, "Umph."

"So, what breed is it?" She asked peering at Snuffles with her piggy eyes.

"I'm not really sure. His name is Snuffles." Harry answered.

Petunia rushed over to sit in the chair nearest the sofa. "Harry, I thought that you were staying with Mrs. Figg for the week. Is she all right?", she asked looking worried.

"Oh, yes ma'am. She is fine. She is taking care of her nephew at the moment. There was a bit of an emergency." Harry explained. Keeping his explanation closest to the truth was the best possible way to keep from explaining twice. Once for everyone and once for everyone except Marge.

"Is he ill?", Uncle Vernon asked sounding a bit hopefull. He sat in the chair nearest the window and smiled.

"No, sir. It has something to do with his wife. I really don't know all the details.", Harry explained.

"What does he do, this nephew?" Marge asked gruffily.

"He is a teacher at Harrys school." Petunia chirped nervously.

"He is my chemistry teacher." Harry explained.

Marge nodded, "Sounds like a repectable man."

Harry heard Uncle Vernon snort in disgust and noticed Aunt Petunia fidgeting nervously. Dudley must have noticed too because he walked over to Snuffles and sat down beside him on the floor. He moved to pet Snuffles but pulled back quickly looking at Harry. "This isn't his dog is it?", he asked Harry nervously.

Snuffles growled in warning causing the poor boy to jump.

"No, Snuffles!" Harry said feeling a bit guilty for reprimanding his Godfather. "Don't worry Dudley. He won't bite. He was just letting you know he doesn't like Professor Snape.

Dudley sat back down and began petting Snuffles cautiously. "I don't like him very much either.", he whispered and turned to Harry. "Did he use Snuffles in one of his-experiments?"

Hmm, Harry thought. That sounds as good as any excuse for a dog disliking someone. Maybe, Dudley wasn't the lunk head he thought he was. "Yeah.", Harry said sadly, nodding his head. "That is why the Headmaster of my school gave him to me. I saved him from Snape and he has been protective of me ever since." Well, it was mostly the truth.

"What? They allow this monster to experiment on dogs?" Marge bellowed. "What kind of school allows its teachers to experiment on dogs?" She pounded her meaty fist on the coffee table ratteling the vase of petunias.

Aunt Petunia jumped up so quickly Harry thought she might actually yell at Marge for abusing the furniture. "Uh, I will go start dinner. Harry will you give me a hand?", she asked moving toward the door way and glaring at Uncle Vernon. Harry followed along with Snuffles.

They prepared a large dinner of, salad, Roast chicken, roast potatoes and spinach. Dudley pulled out the chair next to Harry to sit and Snuffles jumped up beside him.

"Uh.", Dudley said stupidly.

"Get that dog away from the table!" Aunt Petunia screeched at the top of her lungs.

"Come on Snuffles. Sorry, you need to get down." Harry said pointing to the floor and feeling stupid.

Snuffles growled and stayed put. Marge grinned and began doling out food on the plate in front of him. "Go on. You know what you want then, don't you boy. Let him eat at the table Petunia.", she said heartily.

So, Snuffles joined them at the dinner table. Dudley pulled in an extra chair from the kitchen while Petunia sulkily prepared another setting for him.

"You are a trouble maker." Harry whispered to Snuffles when everyone else was caught up in discussing the weather. Snuffles looked as though he was grinning as he munched away on his chicken leg.

"Dudders! What are you doing? EAT!" Marge bellowed. "If you keep eating like a bird you'll end up looking like that!", she said jabbing her finger in Harry's direction.

Snuffles bared his teeth and growled loudly at Marge.

Harry choked down the last of his dinner and said, "Come on Snuffles. I have a lot of homework to do." Harry noticed the pathetic look on Dudleys face and added, "Dudley do you think you could help me? Professor Snape gave us some particularly difficult homework and I know you are pretty good in Chemistry."

Dudley smiled gratefully, "Sure, Harry." He said and followed Harry and Sirius up the stairs.

Once they entered Harrys room Dudley plopped down on the bed and sighed, "Marge free zone. Thank God!"

"Has she been that bad? I thought you didn't mind her so much, because she pays you well." Harry said grinning.

"Ugh. She keeps complaining that I am getting to thin. She says that American Football is too dangerous. She thinks Coach Witherspoon has shifty eyes. Blah-blah-blah!" Dudley said rolling his eyes. "I am glad you are back Harry.", he added grinning.

"Well, I am glad to see you, but I wish Marge weren't here." Harry said. "Uh, Dudley. Can you keep a secret?" Harry asked closing the bedroom door.

Dudleys eyebrows rose up in surprise, "Sure. What is it?"

Snuffles transformed into Sirius Black right before his eyes. "Uh-uh - uh- Harry?"

"Its ok Dudley. This is my Godfather, Sirius Black. Remember, I told you he didn't actually kill anyone." Harry said nervously.

Sirius stepped forward and offered his hand. "Nice to meet you Dudley. I have heard a lot about you.", he said.

Harry grinned. Hopefully, Sirius wouldn't tell exactly what he had heard about him. The peace might explode back into war again.

Dudley shook Sirius' hand. "Nice to meet you sir. How did you do that?"

"Magic.", Sirius said smiling.

"So, tell me about this aunt of yours." He said sitting beside Dudley.

***the next chapter should be fun. I hope. Thanks for reading!***