Disclaimer: J.K. Rowling owns all to do with Harry Potter, his friends, family and enemies. This story is for fun, not profit.
Where Do I Begin?
Chapter Two
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With his first hello;
He gave meaning to this empty world of mine.
There'd never be another love, another time.
He came into my life and made the living fine
He fills my heart
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Remus walked into the house a few weeks later and crashed into the umbrella stand in surprise at the bellows of Molly Weasley from somewhere in the house. "YOU LEFT YOUR POST TO GO AFTER CAULDRONS – DO YOU KNOW HE WAS ATTACKED BY DEMENTORS – ARABELLA TOLD YOU NOT TO LEAVE – HE'S JUST A BOY!"
He halted in the hallway to listen to the din, vaguely aware that Sirius was trying to close the velvet curtains around he mother's screaming portrait. "Give me a hand here!" he shouted. Remus grabbed the other curtain and pulled it towards Sirius. The old woman had spotted him and her icy glare burned right through his soul, reducing him to his fifteen year old self.
"Half-breed! Filth! Get it out of my house! I warned you Sirius! You're a disgrace! Fraternising with half-breeds! Get it out! GET IT OUT!" the elderly woman screamed, point her bony finger at Remus. He was back in the memory of her icy glare freezing his soul before she swished her wand and the yellow spark sent him crashing through the second storey window. The glass rained down about him and sliced his skin as the dew soaked his pajamas.
"SHUT-UP YOU OLD BAG!" Sirius roared back holding the curtains closed against the shrieks.
The house suddenly fell quiet as Mundungus dashed for the front door; Molly hot on his coat tails, firing sparks from her wand. "Lousy , good-for-nothing . . ." Perhaps the threat of a mother's teenage child being susceptible to other's influences was the reason all these witches knew the spell for dismissing cretins from their homes. Or perhaps Molly was possessed by the previous lady of the house. He never did learn how to perform an exorcism which was a bit of a challenge as it involved something muggles called Holy Water of which he, unfortunately, was allergic.
Sirius quickly pushed Remus upstairs to the drawing room out of danger as Molly rounded on them, wand gripped tightly in her hand. He pulled out a piece of paper from his robes and handed it to him as he went to shut the door. Remus pulled out his wand; "Lumos."
The advance guard will go and pick up Harry immediately.
Remus knew it was from Dumbledore, for he had just received the exact letter three minutes ago before he apparated to the front door. "What happened?" he asked.
"Harry was attacked by Dementors," Sirius growled as he paced back and forth across the room. "Mundungus left only for a few minutes when they attacked. I should've been there. I could have stopped them."
Remus shook his head and sighed. "Who are you kidding? You've got no wand. You'd be easily recognized and the Dementors are purposely hunting you down!"
"Exactly! If I gave myself up he wouldn't be in danger!" Sirius snapped back.
The day before his resignation, Dumbledore had visited him in the Infirmary wing. He explained to Remus what had happened the night of his transformation. When the old wizard mentioned that Sirius had been trapped at the lake by the Dementors, Remus felt as though he had been torn in twain. Had it not been for a certain young wizard, Sirius' would now be an empty shell of a man, devoid of soul and purpose. The very thought wrenched at his heart and the idea that he had not been there to help made everything more painful. Yet here was Sirius, willing to give his life over for Harry's safety. How could he selfishly give up his life and leave Remus alone in this world?
Remus glowered at him; "Don't say that. Don't you ever say that." He sighed and sat down on the sofa. Perhaps self sacrifice is what parents do when their child is in danger, after all James and Lily had done so. But Remus could not bear the thought of losing another friend to the dark forces. Especially Sirius. "Besides we don't know who controls the Dementors these days. They could've come across Harry by coincidence." Then again, the rumors about the joining of Azkaban and Death Eater forces could not go unmentioned.
"Or Voldemort could have sent them," Sirius finished Remus' train of thought, as he sat beside him. They were not sure about anything these days, except that the Dark Lord had risen and he was hunting down a prophecy hidden in the depths of the Department of Mysteries. Where he was, what he was doing at present, how many followers he had recruited could only be assumed and that had been their undoing the first time. It had caused the deaths of many of their friends; two of their closest ones.
"So you're going to get Harry?" Sirius asked and he slid in next to Remus on the sofa.
"As soon and the others arrive. Moody will no doubt want to double check our Disillusion Charm and backtrack to Persia so not to be followed," Remus smiled. He watched Sirius eyes light up and knew the next question. "You have to stay here."
"But you'll be up at least a thousand feet in the air. At night. No one will be able to see me," he begged.
"Sirius, the answer is no. You can set a bed up for Harry and some linen in Ron's room while we're gone. We won't be long and then you can have him all to yourself," Remus patted him lightly on the shoulder. "You can't compromise Harry's only place for protection."
Sirius threw his head back on the dusty cushions; "If they've attacked, he's hardly protected." The forlorn puppy eyes gave way to resignation and it was then that Remus realized that Sirius had grown up into a responsible wizard, no matter what be his little quirks. "I miss James. He would've let me come," he mumbled.
"You know perfectly well he would not. You would now be on the floor cradling a broken jaw," Remus said. "Then Lily would hex your feet to the ground."
They both looked at each other and smiled. Lily was known for the best hexes, most of which she had trialed on James. "I should really teach Harry that one. They would've wanted me to," he whispered hoarsely through a stream of tears trickling down his face. Before Remus knew it Sirius had buried his face in Remus' lap and began to bawl. He had never seen him like this and it broke his heart. The strong supportive man was a quivering mess and Remus had nothing to give him but false reassurance.
"Oh Sirius," he whispered and gently rubbed the man's shoulders. "They know your taking great care of their son. They know you're an honest man, a kind hearted man."
Sirius began to calm down and quietly sobbed. "What if I stuff up? I'm his godfather and I can't even leave this house to protect him. I'm not the shining example of morality." he hiccupped.
"I'll help you. We'll all help you and Harry," he whispered brushing the long black hair with his fingers. "You'll never be alone again. I promise."
"You do?" Sirius whispered. He begged for reassurance like that of a child, but who knew what the year would bring. Within a month a battle could break out and Remus could be killed or controlled under the influence of transformation. He was not a soothsayer and did not have the inner eye.
"Shut-up, Padfoot," he said and Sirius curled up beside him, his head on Remus' lap and fell asleep as long fingers stroked his hair.
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