Disclaimer: I don't own it, so stop looking at me that way!
A/N: How do you like it so far? Good? I hope so. The upside of having a story to write: I don't have to baby-sit my bratly sister!
Chapter 4: Grimmauld Place
Sometime during the summer, Harry didn't know when exactly, Remus found it a good idea to come and get him. Harry was washing the dishes at the time. His uncle was beating on him for the non-existent specks of dirt on the dishes. Harry didn't care. He may have known he hadn't done a thing wrong, but he didn't care. He wanted Vernon to beat him. He wanted the pain.
Still, he washed the dishes, not flinching, not cringing. Just scrubbing the dishes. So when his uncle stopped, it took him a few moments to notice. He realized there was just the sound of running water. Harry turned. His eyes widened as he saw Remus, Moody, and Tonks standing behind him. The entire room was silent, save for the running water behind him. He stood, staring, with a wet dish clutched in one hand, and the dishrag in the other.
"Wotcher Harry! We decided to come and get you!" Tonks announced cheerfully. Harry glared and shook his head. He turned back to the dishes and began scrubbing again. Everyone stared at him. Remus walked up and placed a hand on Harry's shoulder. Harry shook it off. "Harry, come on, let's go. We'll get your stuff, you can stop washing the dishes." Remus told Harry. Harry ignored him. "Out! Get out of my house! Can't you see he wants to stay!" Vernon yelled angrily. "Silence you yammering fool of a Muggle!" Moody yelled at Vernon. Vernon spluttered angrily. Dudley hid behind his mother. Tonks ran upstairs for Harry's trunk, which had never got unpacked.
Harry continued washing the dishes, oblivious to what was going on around him. Petunia stared incredulously at Harry. "Harry, don't you want to leave?" Remus asked him curiously. Harry shook his head. Vernon grabbed Harry's arm and jerked him around to face everyone. Harry stared at the floor. "Boy, tell them to leave. Tell them!" Vernon told him, shaking him around. "Stop it! Leave him alone! What do you think you're doing?!" Remus shouted, pulling Vernon's meaty hand off of Harry's arm.
Behind them, unnoticed, the sink was filling up with water. Harry jerked away from Remus's stare, and ran away up the stairs. Remus stared after him, a look of utter astonishment on his face. Moody glared dangerously at Vernon, his magical eye staring up through the ceiling at Harry. "What have you done to him?" Moody asked dangerously. Dudley backed away, and Petunia crept towards the living room. "And where do you think you're going?" Remus asked her. Vernon appeared unsure of what to do with himself. Moody took another step towards Vernon. "You tell him he should come with us! Give him your permission." Moody whispered. Vernon nodded, frightened.
Harry sat on his bed, upstairs, trying to ignore Tonks's incessant chitchat. "And you really don't know what you've been missing! Everyone's been so worried about you, and I told them that you were fine. Of course, no one really believed me, so I had to come and see you. I'm so glad you're going to be coming back with us!" she told him. Harry stared at her, a look of utter loathing on his face. But he didn't say anything.
Tonks grabbed his trunk again. "Will you help me get this downstairs Harry? It's a little heavy." She asked. Harry ignored her. He turned away, staring out the open window. "Oh, don't worry Harry, we've got Hedwig." She told him, misinterpreting his stare. "Are you coming?" she asked. Harry ignored her, still staring out the window. She blinked and dropped the trunk. "Harry?" she asked walking over to him. He glanced up at her, the hate gone from his eyes, replaced by a dark cloud of sadness. "Oh, Harry, are you still upset about Sirius?" She gave him a hug. Harry shrugged off her arms and walked over to the door where his trunk was waiting. He walked over the trunk and back downstairs.
He walked into the kitchen where Remus was screaming at Petunia and Moody was fixing to hex Vernon. The scene went silent as Harry walked back over to the sink, where the water was flowing onto the ground. Remus walked over to Harry. Harry turned off the water and stared blankly at the water on the floor. He picked up the towel and started wiping it up. "Harry, are you ready to go?" Moody asked. Remus just stared, unsure of what to say. Tonks came tumbling down the stairs, Harry's trunk flying down above her. "Aaaah! Help! Ouch! Ow! Urgh! Ye-owch!" She shrieked as she hit each of the consecutive stairs. Every head whipped around to stare towards the staircase. Remus ran to help and Moody went back to his threatening.
At last, after another hour, and many threats, they had Harry convinced to come with them. Or at least, ready to shut them up.
They arrived at Number Twelve Grimmauld Place much later that night, Harry in tow. Once again, Mrs. Weasley was there to greet them, and Hermione and Ron were there as well. So were Fred and George, much to Mrs. Weasley's dismay.
Remus carried Harry's stuff up to his room, trying very hard not to wake Sirius's mother. Ron was waiting for Harry in their room, though Harry said nothing to him. Harry walked over to his bed and lay down. Ron looked at him. "Well, it's nice to see you too Harry." He said dryly. Harry just sighed. Fred and George apparated next to him. "Hullo Harry! Nice to see you!" Fred grinned. "We were wondering when you were going to get here! You'll never guess what happened!" George exclaimed. Harry turned over and stared at the wall. "What's wrong with him?" George mouthed at Ron. Ron shook his head. " I dunno." he said. They all stared at him a few more seconds, then Fred walked over and layed a hand on his shoulder.
"Oi, Harry, something the matter?" he asked him curiously. Harry looked up at him, his emerald eyes shining with unshed tears. Fred sat down on the bed beside Harry. Silence fell over the room, Harry staring at the wall, Fred staring at Harry, and Ron and George staring at each other.
At last Harry sat up and looked at them. Fred waited expectantly, an expression of concern on his face. "Yes?" he asked. Harry stared at him. He blinked.
Ron stared at the scene unfolding before him. George coughed, trying to hide a laugh. Harry stared at George. George smiled. "Yes Harry?" he asked. Ron stared at Harry. "Goodnight Harry." He said quietly, before turning over and falling dead asleep. Harry turned to stare at Ron as well, although Ron paid him no mind, being asleep and all.
Fred looked annoyed. "Well Harry? Aren't you going to at least say hi? It's been all summer since we've seen you!" he asked in an annoyed sort of way. Harry brushed his hair out of his face with one hand, and straightened his glasses with the other. He then promptly turned to face the wall once more. This ended all attempts at communication from either of the twins.
After exchanging a glance, the two boys walked out of the room and onto the landing, quietly shutting the door behind them. Harry could faintly hear them arguing in whispers as they walked off down the hall.
Harry listened to the noises of the house. He could hear Ron's snores and footsteps above him as Fred and George walked towards their room. He heard Hedwig's soft hooting and the sound of muffled voices downstairs. He got up and walked out the door, leaning over the railing so as to hear the adults better.
"Well we went to get him today didn't we?" Tonks was asking. He couldn't see her. He heard the sound of someone replying, though what exactly they said he couldn't tell. "Well, no they weren't treating him as nicely as he had told me.but how could I have known?" Harry heard Remus tell someone. There was more mumbling and Harry heard something clatter to the ground as Tonks yelped an apology. Harry strained to hear more of the conversation. They were, after all, most obviously talking about him.
"Professor Dumbledore will be most unhappy with this development. Are you sure Remus?" someone asked anxiously. Harry thought it might have been Snape, but he wasn't quite sure. This question was followed by the sound of something breaking and Mrs. Black's unearthly screeches. Harry, realizing he wouldn't hear anymore of the conversation, went back into his room and crawled into bed.
It was a few more hours before Harry finally fell into an uneasy sleep.
A/N: How do you like it so far? Good? I hope so. The upside of having a story to write: I don't have to baby-sit my bratly sister!
Chapter 4: Grimmauld Place
Sometime during the summer, Harry didn't know when exactly, Remus found it a good idea to come and get him. Harry was washing the dishes at the time. His uncle was beating on him for the non-existent specks of dirt on the dishes. Harry didn't care. He may have known he hadn't done a thing wrong, but he didn't care. He wanted Vernon to beat him. He wanted the pain.
Still, he washed the dishes, not flinching, not cringing. Just scrubbing the dishes. So when his uncle stopped, it took him a few moments to notice. He realized there was just the sound of running water. Harry turned. His eyes widened as he saw Remus, Moody, and Tonks standing behind him. The entire room was silent, save for the running water behind him. He stood, staring, with a wet dish clutched in one hand, and the dishrag in the other.
"Wotcher Harry! We decided to come and get you!" Tonks announced cheerfully. Harry glared and shook his head. He turned back to the dishes and began scrubbing again. Everyone stared at him. Remus walked up and placed a hand on Harry's shoulder. Harry shook it off. "Harry, come on, let's go. We'll get your stuff, you can stop washing the dishes." Remus told Harry. Harry ignored him. "Out! Get out of my house! Can't you see he wants to stay!" Vernon yelled angrily. "Silence you yammering fool of a Muggle!" Moody yelled at Vernon. Vernon spluttered angrily. Dudley hid behind his mother. Tonks ran upstairs for Harry's trunk, which had never got unpacked.
Harry continued washing the dishes, oblivious to what was going on around him. Petunia stared incredulously at Harry. "Harry, don't you want to leave?" Remus asked him curiously. Harry shook his head. Vernon grabbed Harry's arm and jerked him around to face everyone. Harry stared at the floor. "Boy, tell them to leave. Tell them!" Vernon told him, shaking him around. "Stop it! Leave him alone! What do you think you're doing?!" Remus shouted, pulling Vernon's meaty hand off of Harry's arm.
Behind them, unnoticed, the sink was filling up with water. Harry jerked away from Remus's stare, and ran away up the stairs. Remus stared after him, a look of utter astonishment on his face. Moody glared dangerously at Vernon, his magical eye staring up through the ceiling at Harry. "What have you done to him?" Moody asked dangerously. Dudley backed away, and Petunia crept towards the living room. "And where do you think you're going?" Remus asked her. Vernon appeared unsure of what to do with himself. Moody took another step towards Vernon. "You tell him he should come with us! Give him your permission." Moody whispered. Vernon nodded, frightened.
Harry sat on his bed, upstairs, trying to ignore Tonks's incessant chitchat. "And you really don't know what you've been missing! Everyone's been so worried about you, and I told them that you were fine. Of course, no one really believed me, so I had to come and see you. I'm so glad you're going to be coming back with us!" she told him. Harry stared at her, a look of utter loathing on his face. But he didn't say anything.
Tonks grabbed his trunk again. "Will you help me get this downstairs Harry? It's a little heavy." She asked. Harry ignored her. He turned away, staring out the open window. "Oh, don't worry Harry, we've got Hedwig." She told him, misinterpreting his stare. "Are you coming?" she asked. Harry ignored her, still staring out the window. She blinked and dropped the trunk. "Harry?" she asked walking over to him. He glanced up at her, the hate gone from his eyes, replaced by a dark cloud of sadness. "Oh, Harry, are you still upset about Sirius?" She gave him a hug. Harry shrugged off her arms and walked over to the door where his trunk was waiting. He walked over the trunk and back downstairs.
He walked into the kitchen where Remus was screaming at Petunia and Moody was fixing to hex Vernon. The scene went silent as Harry walked back over to the sink, where the water was flowing onto the ground. Remus walked over to Harry. Harry turned off the water and stared blankly at the water on the floor. He picked up the towel and started wiping it up. "Harry, are you ready to go?" Moody asked. Remus just stared, unsure of what to say. Tonks came tumbling down the stairs, Harry's trunk flying down above her. "Aaaah! Help! Ouch! Ow! Urgh! Ye-owch!" She shrieked as she hit each of the consecutive stairs. Every head whipped around to stare towards the staircase. Remus ran to help and Moody went back to his threatening.
At last, after another hour, and many threats, they had Harry convinced to come with them. Or at least, ready to shut them up.
They arrived at Number Twelve Grimmauld Place much later that night, Harry in tow. Once again, Mrs. Weasley was there to greet them, and Hermione and Ron were there as well. So were Fred and George, much to Mrs. Weasley's dismay.
Remus carried Harry's stuff up to his room, trying very hard not to wake Sirius's mother. Ron was waiting for Harry in their room, though Harry said nothing to him. Harry walked over to his bed and lay down. Ron looked at him. "Well, it's nice to see you too Harry." He said dryly. Harry just sighed. Fred and George apparated next to him. "Hullo Harry! Nice to see you!" Fred grinned. "We were wondering when you were going to get here! You'll never guess what happened!" George exclaimed. Harry turned over and stared at the wall. "What's wrong with him?" George mouthed at Ron. Ron shook his head. " I dunno." he said. They all stared at him a few more seconds, then Fred walked over and layed a hand on his shoulder.
"Oi, Harry, something the matter?" he asked him curiously. Harry looked up at him, his emerald eyes shining with unshed tears. Fred sat down on the bed beside Harry. Silence fell over the room, Harry staring at the wall, Fred staring at Harry, and Ron and George staring at each other.
At last Harry sat up and looked at them. Fred waited expectantly, an expression of concern on his face. "Yes?" he asked. Harry stared at him. He blinked.
Ron stared at the scene unfolding before him. George coughed, trying to hide a laugh. Harry stared at George. George smiled. "Yes Harry?" he asked. Ron stared at Harry. "Goodnight Harry." He said quietly, before turning over and falling dead asleep. Harry turned to stare at Ron as well, although Ron paid him no mind, being asleep and all.
Fred looked annoyed. "Well Harry? Aren't you going to at least say hi? It's been all summer since we've seen you!" he asked in an annoyed sort of way. Harry brushed his hair out of his face with one hand, and straightened his glasses with the other. He then promptly turned to face the wall once more. This ended all attempts at communication from either of the twins.
After exchanging a glance, the two boys walked out of the room and onto the landing, quietly shutting the door behind them. Harry could faintly hear them arguing in whispers as they walked off down the hall.
Harry listened to the noises of the house. He could hear Ron's snores and footsteps above him as Fred and George walked towards their room. He heard Hedwig's soft hooting and the sound of muffled voices downstairs. He got up and walked out the door, leaning over the railing so as to hear the adults better.
"Well we went to get him today didn't we?" Tonks was asking. He couldn't see her. He heard the sound of someone replying, though what exactly they said he couldn't tell. "Well, no they weren't treating him as nicely as he had told me.but how could I have known?" Harry heard Remus tell someone. There was more mumbling and Harry heard something clatter to the ground as Tonks yelped an apology. Harry strained to hear more of the conversation. They were, after all, most obviously talking about him.
"Professor Dumbledore will be most unhappy with this development. Are you sure Remus?" someone asked anxiously. Harry thought it might have been Snape, but he wasn't quite sure. This question was followed by the sound of something breaking and Mrs. Black's unearthly screeches. Harry, realizing he wouldn't hear anymore of the conversation, went back into his room and crawled into bed.
It was a few more hours before Harry finally fell into an uneasy sleep.