Disclaimer: No I don't own anything, please don't sue me.
Harry was still shaking like anything when the three arrived at the small, countryside cottage. Sirius and Remus kept shooting him worried looks which Harry did his best to ignore, keeping his eyes fixed on the world through the car window during the whole journey and trying to muffle the unhappy thoughts filling his head. Harry was staying as far away from both of the adults as much as he could without making it seem too obvious. He thought they may have caught on though.
Why couldn't they all just leave him alone? They said this was all just for his own good, but Harry had been happy where he was with Lord Voldemort. He had rarely ever felt content at all with the Dursleys. The feeling of joy was new and alien to him, however travelling away with these strangers, Harry was already missing it.
"C'mon Harry," Sirius smiled encouragingly as he opened the door to the car. He reached in to help Harry out, but the boy immediately shied away. A little put out, Sirius stood back and gave Harry some space. "Welcome to your new home."
The house certainly didn't look that bad, but it would never be home for Harry. Although small and cosy this new place was, Harry would always long for the amazing passageways at the mansion he was used to. Ivy crept all over this house and it was rather pretty with all the greenland surrounding it.
Also, rather hard to escape from, Harry thought wryly.
"This way," Sirius called, leading them into the house. It all felt rather fake to Harry. All the cheerfulness. It wouldn't last, these things never did.
"We haven't quite finished decorating yet," Sirius admitted as he strode around the house, eying the unfinished parts. He seemed to be avoiding looking at Harry's dark, miserable face. Remus, however, appeared extremely worried and didn't take his eyes off Harry.
"We can get you some stuff tomorrow," Sirius continued, trying to fill the silence, "the shops will be closing around now. How about you have a quick look as the room we're going to decorate to be yours, and then we can have dinner.. and get better acquainted, perhaps."
The room was "to be painted any colour you should so desire" and all the basic furniture. Apparently they were going to "do it up" just for Harry. He found that he didn't care. He just wanted to go home.
The dinner was a simple, but tasty omelette each. Harry picked at his, ignoring Sirius' inane chatter and jokes.
"So Harry..." Sirius said at last, looking at his Godson expectantly.
"Is there anything you'd like to talk about?" Remus asked gently.
Harry shook his head.
"You really must eat more," Sirius urged. He exchanged a pained look with Remus. He so wanted to reach out to Harry and get through to him. However the boy was so distant and cold. And lost.
"Could I go to bed now, please?" Harry asked quietly.
"What? Oh yes, yes of course," both adults assented, 2it has been a very long day."
Harry nodded and made his way to his room, wondering what Draco was doing now and whether Voldemort might come and rescue him. It didn't look like. Of course Harry realised that he wasn't worth it.
He was just pulling off his shirt when he heard a gasp from the doorway. Sirius Black had crept in soundlessly and was horrified at the scars left from Uncle Vernon.
"Merlin Harry - what happened?"
Harry shrugged and climbed into bed rather awkwardly.
"Harry was... was this Voldemort?"
Harry shot back up at this.
"No of course not!" he shouted, "he's the one who rescued me. Who healed me!"
No way was Harry going to let anyone insult someone who had been so kind to him.
Sirius raised his hands in defence, intending to bring it up with Dumbledore later.
"Ok, ok... I'm sorry, I meant no offence," he sat on he end of Harry's be, trying to ignore Harry's obvious discomfort at having someone so close.
"Look I know it's hard and you don't know me very well," Sirius begun nervously. He was never that good at going heart to heart and this particular speech he'd run over in his head so many times, "but Remus and will always be here for you should you want anything at all... or simple to talk. I'm sure you'll love it here once you get to know everyone... Remus and I love you very much."
Well, Harry though, it's a bit stupid to love someone you've only known for a few hours, who hasn't said more than twenty words and appears hostile. Idiot.
"Ok." Harry whispered, unused to and uncomfortable with such open displays of affection.
"Well... erm... ok, sleep well then."
* * *
Remus and Sirius were both woken in the middle of the night by the most wretched screaming. They each ran out of their separate rooms, bumping into each other in the hallway and ran into Harry's room. Sirius' hair was matted and tangled, falling into his face. He stared through the strands of hair to see the trembling, thrashing young boy on the bed. Perspiration ran down his face and he muttered feverishly in his sleep.
"No. No. No."
Without a second thought Sirius was kneeling by his Godson, coaxing him into waking up. Stroking his hair and lightly shaking him,
"No!" Harry jerked awake. Animal like eyes widened and he cried; "No! Get off me! Don't touch me! Just don't touch me!"
"It's ok Harry. I won't hurt you - ever!"
Sirius promised reverently.
"You're not at the Dursleys anymore, Harry," Remus murmured , he had been informed of Harry's history.
"Please," Harry was close to tears as he drew further and further away from Sirius and Remus, "leave me alone. I want to go home. I want my Father."
*
These episodes continued ever night. Through the day Harry refused to say anything except "I want to go home." No matter what Sirius and Remus did, they couldn't get a response from their charge. He ate very little and by the end of the week the two men were desperate.
Harry had now taken up to trying to stay awake all night in hope of not falling to nightmares and having the embarrassment of Remus and Sirius coming in as they had every night. They soon worked out what he was doing though. He couldn't have a sleeping potion every night, when Harry did consent to taking something. Finally one particularly terrible night... they used the last resort.
"I'm going to call Dumbledore," Remus whispered to Sirius and left his friend to deal with a near hysterical Harry.
The place suddenly seemed dark and frightening to Harry, who could still taste the nightmare.
"Harry - please. Talk to me," pleaded Sirius. Big emerald eyes met his for a moment, before glancing away again. They were filled with fear. "Tell me about - anything - the nightmare, Voldemort, the Dursleys. Quidditch.... Anything!"
"I want to go home," Harry repeated in a small voice.
"I'm afraid you can't go back to Voldemort, Harry," came the soft voice of Albus Dumbledore from the doorway, Remus right behind him, "but we will do out very best to find a place where you can be happy."
Clad in a robe pulled over a nightshirt, Dumbledore approached Harry. But as soon as he got close; Harry recoiled.
"This has happened every night," Sirius whispered to Albus, "he was having a nightmare - he won't talk. He only ever says that he wants to go home. And scars... Albus, there are scars all over his back.
"I think," Dumbledore announced sadly, watching Harry's shaking figure, "that it might be best if I take Harry back to Hogwarts with me. If only for a little while. You may of course visit, Sirius, Remus. However due to recent events I do think this would be the best for Harry."
"I just want to go home. Please."
* * *
Lord Voldemort was not angry. No, that was an understatement - he was furious! Of all the tricks he could've fallen into... and his death eaters couldn't even protect one small child. It might take weeks to repair the damage! And who knew what Harry would be like when he finally got him back.
At first his reports from Wormtail, who had been spying on Harry, were quite good. Hysterical, wouldn't talk to anyone except to say he wanted to go home... All things that Dumbledore and his circus troupe would have difficulty with. But now he was being put into Dumbledore's care... Voldemort feared the worst.
A/N Wow! I updated twice in two days! Are you shocked? I am! Trying to make up for the terrible wait I put all you wonderful people through. A little short once again, I'm sorry. I was writing this at twelve am last night, so please review. The ending with Voldemort was a little rushed I guess... sorry. I'm updating this in a rush, so sorry there will probably be tons of mistakes... I'll correct them later.
Thank you so much for your reviews by the way!! They are all brilliant! Please fuel the updates by taking a moment to do so again.
