DISCLAIMER: This story is based on characters and situations created and owned by JK Rowling, various publishers including but not limited to Bloomsbury Books, Scholastic Books and Raincoast Books, and Warner Bros., Inc. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended.
Inspired by Reddwarfer's The Beauty of the Alternate Universe Challenge, found on The Silver Snitch . net
Alcohol and Side-Along Apparition are a dangerous combination. The world lurched alarmingly under Sirius's feet and he clutched Remus's arm. The werewolf felt solid under his hands and calmed the swirling dizziness eddying around him. He risked a glance around him. Remus had brought them to stand under a signpost, whose foggy white letters glowed ghostly in the Muggle streetlight and blended together into an indecipherable puddle. Sirius shook his head, trying to clear it, and the earth tilted again.
"Merlin, Sirius! Let's reconsider this tomorrow." Remus slid an arm around Sirius's back and under his arm to keep him upright. "Harry will be fine for one night."
Sirius locked his knees, straightened his back and pushed off Remus. "Want to explain your one night theory to James and Lily?"
Remus looked like he had been punched and Sirius winced. A sad look followed even as Remus turned away sending a cold wash of shame over Sirius's skin. Reaching out, he squeezed Remus's shoulder gently. "I need to check on Harry. I need to make sure he's okay."
Remus nodded. "This way." Sirius followed as Remus set off along the pavement.
Sirius stared at the houses as they walked. He couldn't be sure which one they were headed to because to his eye they all looked the same. Identical home butted up against identical home and they marched along each side of the street as in a military review. Only the house numbers seemed to differentiate them.
"Duplicating charm?"
Remus snorted. "Of course not. It's a matter of economy. Shall I Disillusion you?"
Sirius shook his head. "So, they're poor?" Money was not something Sirius had ever done without. Sure, growing up in the bigoted pureblood Black household had its downside, but he had never suffered due to any material lack. It wasn't until he had met Remus that he began to see how poverty exacerbated problems. As a werewolf, Remus would've suffered. As a poor werewolf, Remus suffered more. Everyone had problems. Better to be rich and have difficulties than to compound trouble with empty pockets.
Harry was destined for trouble. Sirius grinned. After all, Harry was the son of a Marauder. The smile faded quickly. High jinx aside, Sirius had spoken to several Aurors while at the Ministry earlier and many of the Death Eaters were unaccounted for. Some of the followers fanatically loyal to Voldemort would seek revenge. Yes, trouble was coming for little Harry and Sirius was damned if he was going to let some poor Muggles try to handle it.
With a muttered incantation, Remus had Disillusioned himself. His disembodied voice quietly replied. "They live comfortably. Another child in the house wouldn't be a strain."
"We'll see." Sirius shifted into Padfoot.
Padding behind Remus, the first thing that Padfoot detected wasn't a scent, but a sound. The muffled cry of a child which grew louder as they neared one of the homes and Sirius concluded it was coming from the house that they were approaching. Remus turned onto the walkway at number four and Padfoot dashed past him. The window facing the street was obscured by drapes, so Padfoot cut around the side of the house, leapt over the fence and trotted around to the back. Remus followed, grumbling on how they shouldn't be doing this even as he scrambled over the fence.
The Dursleys were remodeling. Part of the rear wall of the house had been removed and was covered with overlapping plastic sheets. A concrete slab had been poured in the shape of half of a hexagon and large bolts poked up in each angle. To Padfoot it looked like the lower jawbone of some mammoth creature that Hagrid would've wanted to play with. Dodging construction material stacked in the yard, Padfoot wiggled his way over to the edge of the opening.
Pressed close to the wall, ears perked, Padfoot listened. The wailing of the child still sounded strangely muffled and he couldn't figure out why. Remus carefully crossed the yard and stood beside him, keeping out of the light filtering into the yard through the nearly translucent plastic.
A clink of china sounded out between the sobs and then a man spoke. "Will he ever shut up?" His voice had the sharp edge of frustration.
"He'll give up eventually, Vernon," replied a waspish feminine voice.
Padfoot made to lunge but a strong hand grabbed his fur and restrained him. Remus crouched beside him and whispered to the snarling animagus. "Don't. Just listen." Padfoot snuffed but sat.
"How are we ever going to explain this to Marge." Vernon was speaking again.
"I was thinking of the neighbors." Petunia sounded worried. "What will they think?"
"There, there, Pet. I'm sure they'll only think the best of you by taking in some orphaned wastrel."
Petunia sniffed. Sirius growled low in his throat while Remus stroked him soothingly. The muffled crying tapered off and for a brief moment the world revolving around Privet Drive was quiet and still.
"You think he'll be some sort of freak like them." There was disgust in Vernon's voice.
"We'll keep him from Dudders, Dearest."
"There'll be none of that funny business, Pet. If we're stuck with him, then he'll grow up normal."
"Of course, Vernon. He'll never know anything about all that."
Sirius pushed himself to his feet. All his muscles vibrated and he felt Remus's fist tighten its grip. How long did Remus expect him to continue to listen and not act?
"And Dudders won't be doing without. I won't let some freak cousin steal food from his plate." Vernon pounded on the table in emphasis. This must have startled the child because the wailing began again.
"Bloody hell!" Vernon smashed his fist once again on the table.
"Let's go upstairs," soothed Petunia. "We won't be able to hear him in the cupboard from there."
Sirius lurched from Remus's grip, ignoring the torn fur, and crashed through the plastic sheeting.
… to be continued…