Hi! Just wondering...anyone actually reading? Love to hear from ya!
Chapter 2
Harry watched the fireplaces whiz by. When the scenes in front of him started to slow down, he squenched his eyes together because he knew what was coming. He landed with a hard thud next to the Dursley's when he finally transported to his final destination. His adopted family stared horridly at him as he rubbed his head from where it had hit the hearth as he had fallen out. It was obvious to Harry that their memory charm had worn off. His uncle who was the first to speak.
"How dare you....forcing us to come to this place, boy," Vernon Dursley roared.
"But I didn't....didn't the Professor tell you danger was coming?....you needed...."
Harry was unable to finish his sentence for his uncle had picked up his small frame and threw him against a wall, knocking the breath out of him. A small trickle of blood fell from his mouth and he rapped his arms around his chest in pain. As he gained his composure, his eyes became narrow slits as a staring contest with his uncle commenced.
His uncle broke the stair and smiled only when he looked to where Harry had been before and saw his wand and other prized possessions. As he put his foot down hard on the wand to crush it, Harry painfully scurried across the room to grab it from under his feet. He got there not a moment too soon, but his hand was crushed under his uncle's gigantic foot. Through the excruciating pain, all he could think was the wand was ok and he wouldn't have to invest in spell-o-tape. Humor was all that Harry had to fall back on at this point. "Where is Sirius and Professor Dumbledore?" he thought.
He then looked at his Aunt, tears forming in his eyes but he refused to let them have the satisfaction of seeing him cry. She was holding his beloved photo album.
"So....what do we have here?" as she turned to the first, then quickly to the second page. Harry knew exactly what was on that page because he had stared at it thousands of times. It was the beloved picture of himself with his mom and dad. She slightly jumped as the picture started waving back at her. A barley audible gasp from Harry was heard.
"Like this picture do you Harry?" she said as she fingered the page. Horror tore across Harry's face as she lifted it up, knowing what she was about to do. He heard himself screaming....pleading as everything seemed to go in slow motion as the page started to rip strait into the middle of the picture. His aunt only uttered an "oops" as an evil smile spread across her face. As she dropped the picture, the crowd of people watched it float as if it was a feather to the floor.
The moment the paper hit the floor, a familiar roar came from the fireplace. The Dursley's jumped back against the wall at the sound and sight of it all. Harry was oblivious to his godfather backing out of the fireplace struggling with Harry's trunk. The only thing he was focused on was the half of the picture lying on the floor. He picked it up and held it closely to his chest as the tears silently started to run down his cheeks.
"Finally....we were making sure that everything was secure so that he couldn't trace where we had gone. Is everyone alri...." Sirius broke off as he turned around and quickly surveyed the scene. He looked over at Harry who was rocking back and forth with the torn page clenched in his hands against his chest then over to Petunia Dursley holding the photo album. A fire fermented in his gut as he turned his attention back on the shaking Harry. He walked over to where Harry was; his face turned away from his grandfather so that he wouldn't see. Sirius kneeled down beside Harry and placed his hand on his chin and tried to pull Harry's face to look at him but Harry resisted.
"It will be ok, son."
With that, Harry let his face turn towards Sirius and they locked eyes. The pain in Harry's once twinkling emerald green eyes, the blood trickling from the corner of his mouth and the bruise forming on his swollen cheek were only magnified by the silent tears.
Sirius let go of Harry and stood up....his anger and attention now focused on the Dursley's. He slowly walked over to Petunia Dursley, snatched the album out of her hands, closed it shut and slid it over to Harry. He squatted down in front of Vernon Dursley, and finally broke the silence.
"How dare you touch him you filthy muggle. That child has been through enough pain for 5 lifetimes without the likes of you giving him more."
Harry's uncle stood up in front of Sirius as if to show that he was bigger and stronger.
"He is mine and my responsibility to do with what I want. Your kind are who left him on MY doorstep 14 years ago. Out of the kindness of my heart I took him in....fed him....clothed him....with no reimbursement. Out of my own pocket. How dare you accuse me of mistreating him!"
He tried to step past Sirius to get to Harry but instead Sirius was quicker. He stood up and with all his power clasped his hand around Mr. Dursley's throat. Mrs. Dursley quickly leapt to her feet and tried to pry the hands off of her husband. Dudley was cowering in a corner whimpering.
"I was once sent to Azkaban for being falsely accused of killing a man. I do not mind going back there for murder in order to protect my godson."
With Vernon Dursley's size, and Petunia Dursley's help, they were able to tear Sirius's hands off and throw him back. He immediately stood up and drew out his wand and stood back up.
"You will now pay for every comment....every bruise....every unkind thought that you ever had about that boy."
At the middle of the comment, another rush from the fireplace and Albus Dumbledore stepped out. He saw Sirius as he slowly raised his wand. Quickly, Dumbledore grabbed his wand and yelled.
"Expelliarmus!"
Sirius's wand flipped behind him and went straight into Dumbledore's waiting hands. Sirius, in shock of not knowing who did that, turned his back towards his new enemy. Vernon Dursley took that opportunity and rammed full force into the back of him. With anger in his eyes and voice, Dumbledore shouted "Segregare!" and both the men were sent flying to opposite sides of the room. Then Dumbledore surveyed the situation....seeing Harry, on the verge of consciousness; Vernon Dursley, who was now accompanied by his wife checking him over and Sirius, who still looked ready to kill, he guessed what had happened. Dumbledore looked at Sirius intently.
"See to Harry." Sirius didn't have to be asked twice. He went straight over to Harry and surveyed his injuries.
"He needs to be taken to the hospital wing immediately. Madam Pomfrey must attend to him now."
In the meantime, Dumbledore walked over next to Vernon Dursley and threw a large sack with a fortune in muggle money and a small sack of wizard money at him.
"I want you gone. You are no longer responsible for Harry. You will mention Harry to no one. There is enough in that sack to make a very comfortable new life for yourselves. If you are foolish enough to go back to your house and ignore the threat that is out there," Dumbledore swept his eyes across the room and made sure to catch Harry's eyes, "no one is responsible for what happens."
Dumbledore pointed his wand towards a door in the house. He mumbled something and it unlocked and blew open.
"This is the town of Hogsmeade. There is a train in the middle of town. Buy tickets and go to wherever you want. You will never be contacted by our kind again as long as you are gone by sunset."
Sirius gently cradled Harry in his arms with a gentleness that he had never known. The last words that Harry heard was his godfather's gentle whispers of, "It will all be alright now."
*********************
A bright light was staring down in Harry's eyes. He could see it even through his closed eyelids. He didn't want to wake up....his body felt it needed at least another two weeks of sleep. As he turned his head to the side to try to escape the light, he felt a light pat on his hand.
"Harry?"
Harry blinked his eyes towards the voice....only being able to see where it was coming from, not who it was because someone had removed his glasses. He reached over to the bed side table and felt around but someone put their hand on the side of his cheek and helped put his glasses on. The figure came into view. It was Sirius.
"Do not ever do that to me again kiddo....that was too close for comfort." Harry felt Sirius' hand brush the hair off of his forehead.
Professor Dumbledore came hurriedly came through the door of the Hospital wing. "He must have eyes everywhere....he always seems to know where the action is," Harry thought to himself. Sirius seemed to have read his mind as he smiled at him.
"How are you feeling now that your up, Harry?"
"Much better Professor, thank you."
"I'm glad you did not sleep through your birthday Harry. It is much easier to celebrate when you are awake."
Harry smiled. He did not believe that he had slept for 6 days. It was now July 31 and he was 15 years old. Madam Pomfrey must have given him a potion so he would sleep until all of his injuries were healed. A look of remembrance came over Harry's face....then a smile like nothing was wrong. He slowly slid his arms under the blankets on his bed and pulled his sheets up to his neck as if he were laying back down, acting as if nothing was the matter.
"We already know Harry....do not try to cover it up."
Harry looked down at the bed. Sirius uncovered his godson's arms and held one of his hands.
"How did it happen?" And Harry was forced to tell the story of the breaking bottle.
"Why did you not tell us what they were like? I knew you did not like going back there in the summers, but you should have told us why."
Harry shrugged. "Everyone always just said it was for the best. I guess I just believed them....and thought that it was maybe normal. I shouldn't have had the bottle out anyways for Uncle Vernon to see. He had told me countless times not to have stuff like that out so that people can see. This was the first time for something like this to happen, though." Dumbledore and Sirius looked at Harry like they did not believe him.
"And besides....everyone was so worried about what happened to Cedric....I didn't want to be anymore of a bother."
Dumbledore sat on the side of Harry's bed. "Listen to me. This is not normal. This is wrong and nothing you did brought it on. It is not your fault. They will never touch you again. I give you my word. And Sirius and I have devised a plan to prevent it." Dumbledore looked at Sirius and smiled.
"Do you want to tell him or should I?"
Sirius smiled and looked at Harry. "It would be an honor if you would come live with me. I have a little house now. Kind of an apology from the Ministry of Magic, I think, for keeping me locked up for all of these years."
Harry could hardly believe his ears. His dream was finally coming true. He was going to live with someone who his parents had trusted with their lives. He kept replaying in his head what Sirius had just said.
"I will understand if you would rather live with the Weasleys' or here at Hogwarts," misinterpreting the pause.
A smile of pure joy spread across Harry's lips as he nodded, unable to speak. Sirius let out the breath he had been holding and smiled while patting Harry on the back.
"Then it's settled. Harry will live with you for now on," Dumbledore remarked matter of factly. "Now, if you feel up to getting dressed, you can move into your new home today."
Harry was out of bed and grabbing is clothes as soon as the words came out of Dumbledore's mouth. "Slow down a little," said Sirius, his voice very light and airy, "you still are weak. Your body needs a little more time to heal."
He nodded and slowed down a little, taking his clothes behind a curtain and changing. As soon as he had finished he came back around and sat at the edge of the bed so that Madam Pomfrey could check him over and give the final ok for his leaving.
As soon as the inspection was completed, they headed to Dumbledore's office to use his fireplace. Sirius went first. He threw the powder in, clearly spoke "Black Manor" and disappeared in the rush of fire. Harry looked back at Dumbledore and smiled.
"Thank you sir.....for everything."
"Your welcome, Harry. Happy Birthday. I will see you at your....um....I look forward to seeing you later."
A definite twinkle was in Dumbledore's eyes as he smiled at Harry. He wondered what was going on, but figured it would be best to just ignore the slip. Harry nodded and stepped towards the fireplace, taking a palmful of dreaded Floo powder. He threw it into the fire and distinctly spoke "Black Manor," just as his godfather had done before him. He reluctantly stepped in and the world went by in front of him.
Chapter 2
Harry watched the fireplaces whiz by. When the scenes in front of him started to slow down, he squenched his eyes together because he knew what was coming. He landed with a hard thud next to the Dursley's when he finally transported to his final destination. His adopted family stared horridly at him as he rubbed his head from where it had hit the hearth as he had fallen out. It was obvious to Harry that their memory charm had worn off. His uncle who was the first to speak.
"How dare you....forcing us to come to this place, boy," Vernon Dursley roared.
"But I didn't....didn't the Professor tell you danger was coming?....you needed...."
Harry was unable to finish his sentence for his uncle had picked up his small frame and threw him against a wall, knocking the breath out of him. A small trickle of blood fell from his mouth and he rapped his arms around his chest in pain. As he gained his composure, his eyes became narrow slits as a staring contest with his uncle commenced.
His uncle broke the stair and smiled only when he looked to where Harry had been before and saw his wand and other prized possessions. As he put his foot down hard on the wand to crush it, Harry painfully scurried across the room to grab it from under his feet. He got there not a moment too soon, but his hand was crushed under his uncle's gigantic foot. Through the excruciating pain, all he could think was the wand was ok and he wouldn't have to invest in spell-o-tape. Humor was all that Harry had to fall back on at this point. "Where is Sirius and Professor Dumbledore?" he thought.
He then looked at his Aunt, tears forming in his eyes but he refused to let them have the satisfaction of seeing him cry. She was holding his beloved photo album.
"So....what do we have here?" as she turned to the first, then quickly to the second page. Harry knew exactly what was on that page because he had stared at it thousands of times. It was the beloved picture of himself with his mom and dad. She slightly jumped as the picture started waving back at her. A barley audible gasp from Harry was heard.
"Like this picture do you Harry?" she said as she fingered the page. Horror tore across Harry's face as she lifted it up, knowing what she was about to do. He heard himself screaming....pleading as everything seemed to go in slow motion as the page started to rip strait into the middle of the picture. His aunt only uttered an "oops" as an evil smile spread across her face. As she dropped the picture, the crowd of people watched it float as if it was a feather to the floor.
The moment the paper hit the floor, a familiar roar came from the fireplace. The Dursley's jumped back against the wall at the sound and sight of it all. Harry was oblivious to his godfather backing out of the fireplace struggling with Harry's trunk. The only thing he was focused on was the half of the picture lying on the floor. He picked it up and held it closely to his chest as the tears silently started to run down his cheeks.
"Finally....we were making sure that everything was secure so that he couldn't trace where we had gone. Is everyone alri...." Sirius broke off as he turned around and quickly surveyed the scene. He looked over at Harry who was rocking back and forth with the torn page clenched in his hands against his chest then over to Petunia Dursley holding the photo album. A fire fermented in his gut as he turned his attention back on the shaking Harry. He walked over to where Harry was; his face turned away from his grandfather so that he wouldn't see. Sirius kneeled down beside Harry and placed his hand on his chin and tried to pull Harry's face to look at him but Harry resisted.
"It will be ok, son."
With that, Harry let his face turn towards Sirius and they locked eyes. The pain in Harry's once twinkling emerald green eyes, the blood trickling from the corner of his mouth and the bruise forming on his swollen cheek were only magnified by the silent tears.
Sirius let go of Harry and stood up....his anger and attention now focused on the Dursley's. He slowly walked over to Petunia Dursley, snatched the album out of her hands, closed it shut and slid it over to Harry. He squatted down in front of Vernon Dursley, and finally broke the silence.
"How dare you touch him you filthy muggle. That child has been through enough pain for 5 lifetimes without the likes of you giving him more."
Harry's uncle stood up in front of Sirius as if to show that he was bigger and stronger.
"He is mine and my responsibility to do with what I want. Your kind are who left him on MY doorstep 14 years ago. Out of the kindness of my heart I took him in....fed him....clothed him....with no reimbursement. Out of my own pocket. How dare you accuse me of mistreating him!"
He tried to step past Sirius to get to Harry but instead Sirius was quicker. He stood up and with all his power clasped his hand around Mr. Dursley's throat. Mrs. Dursley quickly leapt to her feet and tried to pry the hands off of her husband. Dudley was cowering in a corner whimpering.
"I was once sent to Azkaban for being falsely accused of killing a man. I do not mind going back there for murder in order to protect my godson."
With Vernon Dursley's size, and Petunia Dursley's help, they were able to tear Sirius's hands off and throw him back. He immediately stood up and drew out his wand and stood back up.
"You will now pay for every comment....every bruise....every unkind thought that you ever had about that boy."
At the middle of the comment, another rush from the fireplace and Albus Dumbledore stepped out. He saw Sirius as he slowly raised his wand. Quickly, Dumbledore grabbed his wand and yelled.
"Expelliarmus!"
Sirius's wand flipped behind him and went straight into Dumbledore's waiting hands. Sirius, in shock of not knowing who did that, turned his back towards his new enemy. Vernon Dursley took that opportunity and rammed full force into the back of him. With anger in his eyes and voice, Dumbledore shouted "Segregare!" and both the men were sent flying to opposite sides of the room. Then Dumbledore surveyed the situation....seeing Harry, on the verge of consciousness; Vernon Dursley, who was now accompanied by his wife checking him over and Sirius, who still looked ready to kill, he guessed what had happened. Dumbledore looked at Sirius intently.
"See to Harry." Sirius didn't have to be asked twice. He went straight over to Harry and surveyed his injuries.
"He needs to be taken to the hospital wing immediately. Madam Pomfrey must attend to him now."
In the meantime, Dumbledore walked over next to Vernon Dursley and threw a large sack with a fortune in muggle money and a small sack of wizard money at him.
"I want you gone. You are no longer responsible for Harry. You will mention Harry to no one. There is enough in that sack to make a very comfortable new life for yourselves. If you are foolish enough to go back to your house and ignore the threat that is out there," Dumbledore swept his eyes across the room and made sure to catch Harry's eyes, "no one is responsible for what happens."
Dumbledore pointed his wand towards a door in the house. He mumbled something and it unlocked and blew open.
"This is the town of Hogsmeade. There is a train in the middle of town. Buy tickets and go to wherever you want. You will never be contacted by our kind again as long as you are gone by sunset."
Sirius gently cradled Harry in his arms with a gentleness that he had never known. The last words that Harry heard was his godfather's gentle whispers of, "It will all be alright now."
*********************
A bright light was staring down in Harry's eyes. He could see it even through his closed eyelids. He didn't want to wake up....his body felt it needed at least another two weeks of sleep. As he turned his head to the side to try to escape the light, he felt a light pat on his hand.
"Harry?"
Harry blinked his eyes towards the voice....only being able to see where it was coming from, not who it was because someone had removed his glasses. He reached over to the bed side table and felt around but someone put their hand on the side of his cheek and helped put his glasses on. The figure came into view. It was Sirius.
"Do not ever do that to me again kiddo....that was too close for comfort." Harry felt Sirius' hand brush the hair off of his forehead.
Professor Dumbledore came hurriedly came through the door of the Hospital wing. "He must have eyes everywhere....he always seems to know where the action is," Harry thought to himself. Sirius seemed to have read his mind as he smiled at him.
"How are you feeling now that your up, Harry?"
"Much better Professor, thank you."
"I'm glad you did not sleep through your birthday Harry. It is much easier to celebrate when you are awake."
Harry smiled. He did not believe that he had slept for 6 days. It was now July 31 and he was 15 years old. Madam Pomfrey must have given him a potion so he would sleep until all of his injuries were healed. A look of remembrance came over Harry's face....then a smile like nothing was wrong. He slowly slid his arms under the blankets on his bed and pulled his sheets up to his neck as if he were laying back down, acting as if nothing was the matter.
"We already know Harry....do not try to cover it up."
Harry looked down at the bed. Sirius uncovered his godson's arms and held one of his hands.
"How did it happen?" And Harry was forced to tell the story of the breaking bottle.
"Why did you not tell us what they were like? I knew you did not like going back there in the summers, but you should have told us why."
Harry shrugged. "Everyone always just said it was for the best. I guess I just believed them....and thought that it was maybe normal. I shouldn't have had the bottle out anyways for Uncle Vernon to see. He had told me countless times not to have stuff like that out so that people can see. This was the first time for something like this to happen, though." Dumbledore and Sirius looked at Harry like they did not believe him.
"And besides....everyone was so worried about what happened to Cedric....I didn't want to be anymore of a bother."
Dumbledore sat on the side of Harry's bed. "Listen to me. This is not normal. This is wrong and nothing you did brought it on. It is not your fault. They will never touch you again. I give you my word. And Sirius and I have devised a plan to prevent it." Dumbledore looked at Sirius and smiled.
"Do you want to tell him or should I?"
Sirius smiled and looked at Harry. "It would be an honor if you would come live with me. I have a little house now. Kind of an apology from the Ministry of Magic, I think, for keeping me locked up for all of these years."
Harry could hardly believe his ears. His dream was finally coming true. He was going to live with someone who his parents had trusted with their lives. He kept replaying in his head what Sirius had just said.
"I will understand if you would rather live with the Weasleys' or here at Hogwarts," misinterpreting the pause.
A smile of pure joy spread across Harry's lips as he nodded, unable to speak. Sirius let out the breath he had been holding and smiled while patting Harry on the back.
"Then it's settled. Harry will live with you for now on," Dumbledore remarked matter of factly. "Now, if you feel up to getting dressed, you can move into your new home today."
Harry was out of bed and grabbing is clothes as soon as the words came out of Dumbledore's mouth. "Slow down a little," said Sirius, his voice very light and airy, "you still are weak. Your body needs a little more time to heal."
He nodded and slowed down a little, taking his clothes behind a curtain and changing. As soon as he had finished he came back around and sat at the edge of the bed so that Madam Pomfrey could check him over and give the final ok for his leaving.
As soon as the inspection was completed, they headed to Dumbledore's office to use his fireplace. Sirius went first. He threw the powder in, clearly spoke "Black Manor" and disappeared in the rush of fire. Harry looked back at Dumbledore and smiled.
"Thank you sir.....for everything."
"Your welcome, Harry. Happy Birthday. I will see you at your....um....I look forward to seeing you later."
A definite twinkle was in Dumbledore's eyes as he smiled at Harry. He wondered what was going on, but figured it would be best to just ignore the slip. Harry nodded and stepped towards the fireplace, taking a palmful of dreaded Floo powder. He threw it into the fire and distinctly spoke "Black Manor," just as his godfather had done before him. He reluctantly stepped in and the world went by in front of him.