The sleeping arrangements were easy enough - Andromeda transfigured a few things and managed to fit a second bed into the room Harry always stayed in. Harry said he didn't mind sharing the space with Solieyu. Solieyu, on the other hand, thought that Harry just wanted to keep an eye on him. Harry seemed particularly intrigued by the case.
Half a week later, the trio had been feeling cooped up. So, while Andromeda was still off at work, they had decided to go out for a walk. It was a beautiful summer's day with only the thinnest of clouds littered in the sky, and it was milder than the average August afternoon tended to be. Harry and Tonks showed Solieyu around the area, including a trip to Privet Drive. As they went, Harry shared tales of what he had gone through over the years due to the Dursleys' abuse.
"I honestly don't know how you can stand even being around them." Solieyu said, glancing up at the second floor window Harry had pointed out. "I think your idea for next summer sounds good, though. I doubt the headmaster will deny you protection. Especially after what happened to you this year."
"That's what we're hoping." Tonks said.
"Yeah. If he tries weaselling out of it, I'll weasel out of the house. I'll just need to remember to pocket my wand this year. If my life's in danger, I doubt anyone would mind me doing an Alohamora or two to escape out a locked door." Harry said, slipping his hands into his pockets. "I'm faster than all of them, anyway. The only problem there is the stuff in my trunk. I've got some very special things in there that can't be replaced. Dad's cloak, the shard of the Stone... all my important stuff, really."
"We'll fight tooth an' nail for ya, Harry." Tonks said, smiling. "So stop worrying about what's gonna happen a year from now, alright? Hey, let's show Leon where we met each other!"
"Yeah, that sounds like a good idea. My legs are getting a bit tired, anyway. Care to sit down and just enjoy the day for awhile in the park?" Harry asked.
"Sounds good to me." Solieyu said. "Will I be treated to a reenactment of the moment in question, or just told about it?"
"I dunno if I could fit into the space I was hiding under." Harry said, raising his eyebrows. "I've grown a fair amount since then."
"Yeah. All height, no mass. You're scrawny, Harry." Tonks said, prodding him in the arm.
"Hey, you said I was pudgy a few weeks ago." Harry said, shooting Tonks a glare.
"Yes, well you've obviously absorbed all that pudginess since." Tonks said, sniffing.
"Oh, shut it. And make up your mind about whether you think I'm puffy or thin." Harry said.
"You're definitely in no danger of being overweight." Solieyu said. "I daresay you could stand to eat more."
"Mum's taking care of that. And your mum seemed pretty intent on fattening Harry up, too." Tonks said, grinning.
"Oh, man, don't remind me." Harry said, clutching his stomach. "I thought I was gonna burst that first night. Like, if I had one wafer-thin mint, I would've just ruptured."
"Now there's some pleasant mental imagery." Solieyu commented.
"We're here." Tonks said, smiling as they reached the end of the road that the park was located on.
"Damn it, and look who else is." Harry spat, motioning just down one of the nearby streets.
Following his gaze, Tonks groaned and Solieyu just looked confused at the sight of Dudley and his gang sauntering along. Dudley was making wild gestures and random punching motions as he spoke. "Probably talking about beating up some six year old." Harry growled.
"We gonna turn around?" Tonks asked.
"We'd probably better." Harry said, scowling. "We can't use magic out here in the open or anything. We'd be sitting ducks. I can outrun them, I can't out-fight them. Hey, Leon, can-- Leon?"
As Harry turned, he found Solieyu down on one knee, a hand across his pained face. Kneeling beside him, he asked, "What's wrong? Oi, Leon, pull it together!"
"Sorry..." Said Solieyu through clenched teeth. "We need... to get out of here. Quickly..."
"That was the plan." Tonks said, leaning over. "But what's wrong?"
"Khh... It's nothing." Solieyu muttered, shakily getting back to his feet. "Come on..."
"I could probably rig together a shortcut, but it'll require a bit of moving. Leon, you feeling good enough to hop some fences?" Harry asked, glancing at his friend warily.
"As long as there aren't too many." Solieyu said, looking as though he was fighting with whatever was causing him pain. He was starting to sweat and his breathing was coming in short bursts.
Nodding, Harry looked once to Tonks and asked, "How about you?"
"I'm not about to be shown up by a pair of boys." Huffed Tonks.
The trio turned, Harry and Tonks on either side of Solieyu to help him should he need it, and together they headed for the second house down the street. Harry said that their back yard and the one past would be a good start to their impromptu hike. Just before they reached the house's driveway, Solieyu dropped again, this time letting out an anguished cry. Harry froze as Tonks' head jerked around.
"Shit!" She swore. "They heard him."
"Leon! Dammit, what's wrong? We can't help you if you won't--"
"You don't need to know!" Hissed Solieyu violently, twisting his head up to stare at Harry through dull, yellow eyes. "Just help me up..."
"Be glad I'm a good friend." Harry growled. "I wouldn't be taking that kinda crap under normal circumstances. Come on, Tonks. Let's get him out of here before he sprouts another head or something!"
Tonks nodded, helping Harry heft Solieyu back to his feet. The long-haired boy wobbled slightly, but the three continued forward as one. But once they reached the house's fence, they realized that the plan wasn't going to work. Solieyu didn't seem to have the energy to get over it and he was certainly too heavy for Tonks and Harry to lift him over.
Slumping down, Solieyu panted, "Tonks... run back to your house... On the dresser is a small case. I have the key on me... just... hurry..."
"Are you sure? Will you two be okay?" Tonks asked, looking from Solieyu to Harry.
"I've dealt with him before." Harry said, a steely look in his eyes. "What's the worst that could happen?"
"Don't... ask that..." Solieyu breathed.
"Go on, Nymmy. You're easily the fastest of the three of us. Especially with Leon down. I'll need to try distracting Dudley and his group as long as I can." Harry said.
"Right. Hold tight, guys!" Tonks called, leaping the fence in one deft motion.
As Dudley's gang approached - they were slowed considerably by their leader - Harry knelt next to him again, he asked, "Tell me what it is, Leon. Does it have to do with your condition?"
"What... was the first... clue?" Replied Solieyu in as waspish a voice as he could muster through the strained breathing. "...Harry... If she doesn't hurry, this is going to pass... and then..."
"And then...?"
"...Promise me something. If... it's obvious what I'm about to do... stop me. I don't care how... just stop me..." Solieyu murmured.
"Leon?"
"Promise me, damn it!" Solieyu hissed.
"...Right. I promise. Just... try and keep it together until Tonks gets back, huh?" Harry said, wincing as a swirl of horrible thoughts entered his head.
"Well well..." Came another voice from nearby. "Look who it is. Hey, Big D, I think your stupid cousin has himself a boyfriend."
"Good afternoon to you too, Piers." Harry spat, getting to his feet again. "I see you've managed to remove your lips from Duddie's arse long enough to speak. A bit cliched, but I don't expect poetry from your lot, anyway."
"What did you say?" Piers snapped, starting forward. A thick arm brought him to a halt. Turning, he scowled. "C'mon, Dudley, let us have a go! You get to have all the fun."
Cracking his knuckles, Dudley smiled. "Dad told me that if I ever saw him, I should beat him stupid in his place."
"Shame I can't pull some more wild magic." Harry murmured, to himself more than anyone else. Then, louder, he continued, "Aww, does ickle Duddiekins have to make food cooked by his horrible, horsey mummy? Do you miss my cooking that much?"
"When did you start mouthing back, anyway?" Dudley asked, narrowing his eyes as he stomped forward in a sort of angry waddle. "You wouldn't act so big if dad was around."
"It's hard to act 'big' with you or him, as you have that gimmick trademarked." Harry commented. "How many chins do you have now, 'Big D'? Three? Or did we make the jump to five or so already?"
"Shut up!" Dudley roared. He pulled back one of his massive arms and shot it forward startlingly fast. Unprepared, Harry got clocked and was sent down onto his backside. His vision went completely black for a moment and he had to focus hard to get everything back into view.
"Touchy today, aren't we?" Harry said, chuckling faintly as he got to his feet again, albeit slowly. "Your time of the month?"
"Harry..." Solieyu croaked. "Get... get out of here..."
"I'm not leaving you." Harry stated. "A little punch or two isn't gonna be anything new to me."
"Not... what I meant..." Solieyu said. Slowly, he got back to his feet, using the fence behind him for support. "I don't think... I can hold it back anymore..."
"Hold it back?" Harry asked. "Hold what back?"
"Look, he's gonna crap himself!" Snorted one member of Dudley's gang. This was apparently very funny to the group, as they all began laughing. The laughter was soon to die, however. Solieyu had pushed himself away from the fence, shot past Harry, and delivered a solid, painful-sounding left hook to Dudley's face. Dudley was the one caught offguard this time, crashing onto his sizable hindquarters as the rest of his goons plus Harry stared at him.
"Leon...?" Harry said, slowly.
Another sharp hissing sound came from the boy. Whatever was happening, Harry couldn't see, but it was making the rest of Dudley's gang back away with wide eyes. Dudley began to get to his feet, but Solieyu turned and connected his right knee to the fatter boy's numerous chins, sending him back down. It also seemed to knock him out cold, as his arms flopped out to the sides upon impact.
Harry's mind was racing. He could count the times he had seen Solieyu using physical violence on one hand. And even then, he was never quite so forceful. But here, he had apparently knocked his cousin out cold in just two shots. Harry had never seen that happen in his entire life. But his stance was awkward - Solieyu was hunched over, breathing heavily, and clutching at his face again. He was clearly wobbling, though his body wouldn't seem to let him fall again.
"Wh...what are you...?" Asked one of Dudley's gang.
Solieyu glanced up sharply at the boy, staring at him through his fingers. Harry moved up beside his friend to try and help him out should he need it. When he was close enough to see his friend's face, he was shocked. Solieyu's eyes were almost transparently yellow now, a sharp contrast to their usual golden hues. His skin was quite pale and he still seemed to be sweating a fair amount. Only now did Harry notice the boy's hands shaking as badly as his legs. Whatever was messing with him, it looked to Harry as if Solieyu was trying to fight it away best he could.
Trying and failing, if Dudley was any indication.
The next few minutes were spent almost motionless by all present. The tension proved too great for Piers Polkiss, however, as he turned and started bolting down the sidewalk. Solieyu shot off after him, catching up quickly - Piers kept tripping up - and leaping at the boy. Piers' head bounced off the concrete as he fell. The noise caused Harry and the rest of the gang members to wince. Solieyu leaned down close to Piers' face for a few moments and said something very quietly to the boy before getting off of him.
Solieyu shakily made his way back to Harry, sending Dudley's group a hard look as he did. Piers was staring after Solieyu with a look of absolute horror on his face. Once he managed to regain control over his body again, Piers let out a shriek, scrambled to his feet, and ran off as fast as his legs could take him.
"...What did you tell him?" Harry asked quietly as Solieyu moved back to the fence to lean on it for support. But Solieyu just shook his head in reply. Harry made a mental note that Solieyu hadn't really spoken since he had got to his feet.
"Ooooooiiii!" Came a cry.
Harry looked up to see Tonks leaping back over backyard fences. "Leon! Got the case!" She called, holding the object up as proof.
Once she joined back up with her friends, she handed Solieyu the case. He reached into the pocket of the faded, black jeans he had on and produced a small key. Using it to open the case, he pulled out one of two small vials of red liquid. He handed the case back to Tonks, who peered at the remaining tube with a confused look. Harry also looked, but his glance was on the one his friend was uncorking. The liquid was thick and seemed to swirl all on its own. Solieyu gave the vial a strange look before downing its contents in one gulp.
Letting himself finally slump to the ground, he held the empty tube up towards Tonks, who took it and carefully set it back inside the case, which she then closed. Figuring that the trouble was over, but knowing that a good half dozen large teens were still lingering about, Harry turned his gaze their way. Hoping his shoddy acting skills were still enough to trick the simple-minded, he smiled wickedly at them and said, "You'd better hurry. See, my friend's... not quite right, you see. You all seemed to have seen it. Well, this stuff makes him go crazy. Saw him nearly kill this one kid who tried messing with him... It was awful."
Dudley's gang, being of very little sound mind, started to step back slowly. Harry nodded at them. "Yeah, best to just get outta here. Me and Tonks know how to calm him down. Don't worry about Big D here... I promise he won't be harmed any more than he already has."
"...You won't be around him all the time, Potter." Snapped one of the members feebly as the group slowly went from a backpeddle to a run. "We'll get you next time!"
Harry and Tonks watched them make their escape, both shaking their heads. "They'll get me next time? They need to stop watching cartoons." Harry said. And then, looking down at Solieyu, he asked, "And what about you? Feeling more yourself?"
"Much." Solieyu murmured. "Thank you. Both of you."
"Not a problem." Tonks said. She handed the case out. "You wanna lock this back up?"
Solieyu took the case and, with still-shaking hands, did just that. "I think I'll be good to walk again... but I may need some support."
"That's not a problem, either." Harry said, extending a hand. "Come on, let's get you back to Tonks' house. You sound tired."
"I am tired." Solieyu admitted, stowing the case in a pocket as he accepted the hand up. He smiled wanly at Harry, who noticed that the boy's eyes were back to their normal color. "And I wouldn't mind something to get the taste out of my mouth. I have to take this vile potion regularly, despite hating it... it keeps my... condition, as you say, in check."
"If it keeps it in check, why do you hate it?" Tonks asked as the three began their slow trek home.
"The taste." Solieyu explained with a weak shrug. "It tastes like blood."
The gears in Harry's mind came to a screeching halt.
oOoOoOoOoOoOo
Solieyu had refused saying more than he had on the matter, though he did restate that he was going to explain all on Halloween. After the half hour walk back to Number Nine, Solieyu had spent the rest of the day asleep. Harry and Tonks related the story to Andromeda, who fire-called Maria. Unfortunately, Maria didn't seem too keen on divulging her son's secret, either. So whatever had happened, it would remain a mystery for a little while longer, at least.
The next day, Solieyu still seemed to be worn out, and spent much of his time just lounging around and not speaking. Harry and Tonks didn't mind so much. They had seen first-hand how badly the boy was affected and neither liked it. So they gave him time to recuperate. His health and spirit seemed to return quickly enough, though they didn't venture too far from Number Nine on the occasions they left the house.
September 1st was rapidly approaching and, as it did, Andromeda seemed to get nervous. For a few days, she would come home looking more and more worried about something. She also seemed to get overly protective of the three children in her care. Whenever asked, she would brush it off and say that work was just getting stressful and leave it at that.
The trio had tried working out what it could be, but none of them could think of a logical explanation. One came on its own during their trip to Diagon Alley, however. Andromeda had been putting it off as late as she could, for reasons she wouldn't confess to. As soon as the group entered the Alley, it all became apparent. Wanted posters were all over the place. All depicting one man. A man with long, dark hair and wild eyes. He had a five o'clock shadow and was laughing in the moving photo. Below the photo was his name and information about him.
"Sirius Black..." Tonks read. "...Hey, Mum, wasn't your maiden name Black?"
"Yes..." Andromeda said, worry evident in her voice now. "Sirius Black and I are related. Cousins. You too, I'm afraid."
"We're related to a wanted murderer?" Tonks cried.
"Not so loud, Nymmy." Andromeda said, frowning. "...And unfortunately, we are. He... Well, they say he went mad one day. Blew up a street filled with Muggles, amongst other people... This really isn't the time or place for this and... and I think Harry has a right to hear the full story."
"Me?" Harry asked, raising his eyebrows. "Why me? Should I know this guy or something?"
"...You shouldn't, no. And if things had gone right, you never would need to know of him." Andromeda said, putting a hand out on Harry's shoulder. "But... Sirius Black has escaped Azkaban. He's on the loose now..."
"He broke out?" Solieyu asked. "How?"
"Nobody knows... that's the problem." Andromeda said, glancing around nervously. "But he's loose now and, as no one knows where he's gone, the whole of wizarding Britain's on high alert."
"So what does that have to do with me?" Harry asked.
A pained expression on her face, Andromeda squeezed Harry's shoulder and murmured, "Because he's probably going to come looking for you."
"What? Why?" Harry cried.
"...I really don't want to have this conversation here, Harry." Andromeda said. "But... Well, Albus seemed so damned sure of himself, and the boys at the Ministry are up in arms about it, too..."
"That's why you've been so paranoid about us going out!" Tonks said, looking like she had just put two and two together. "Jeez, Harry's fought a guy with two faces and a basilisk, not to mention Riddle's memory. So what if some loony cousin of ours is wandering. S'not like he knows where we live or anything."
"And why would he come after me, anyway?" Harry asked. "What did I do?"
"You lived." Andromeda said. Sighing, and sensing that she wasn't going to be able to hold off on the conversation until later, she continued, "When HE came into power all those years ago, your parents were thought to be potential targets. They went into hiding. They used a very strong charm to keep themselves hidden... but it required a Secret Keeper. Sirius was that man."
"But if they were hidden, how..." Harry began. But, once again, the gears started turning and things quickly fell into place. Stepping away from the hand that Andromeda still had on his shoulder, Harry moved closer to one of the wanted posters. "...He told Voldemort where they were, didn't he? ...He's the reason they died."
Tonks looked from her mother to Harry, then over at Solieyu. His eyes were darting around the area, narrowed as if he sensed something. "Leon? What is it...?"
"...Nothing. Thought something felt off, that's all. Probably still feeling the effects of the incident a few days ago. Harry, you alright?"
Harry was silent, still staring at the poster. Eventually, he nodded. "Yeah. Just... gimme a minute? This is a bit much to take in."
"This is why I was hoping to wait." Andromeda murmured, reaching out and placing a reassuring hand on Harry again. "I don't like it any more than you do, though. In addition to being related to a killer, having to know that he did that to your parents is... hard to deal with. I didn't know Lily and James very well, but..."
"It isn't your fault." Harry said, looking over his shoulder. "...And don't worry, it's not like I'm going to freak out and start blaming you guys or anything. Still, it's... it's a lot to try and take in."
"It is. Come on, we need to get back to the house. The sooner we get out of a public place, the better I'm sure we'll all feel. Albus assures me our house is safe, though. He also said that Hogwarts' wards were all being double-checked."
"Yeah, fat lot of good those've been lately." Tonks muttered.
Harry smiled slightly. "Yeah. If Hogwarts is as 'safe' as it's been the last two years, I'll probably end up fighting this Sirius Black guy in the Great Hall or something before the school year's up."
"Don't even joke about things like that." Andromeda said, making a face. "I worry about things like that enough. My imagination doesn't need encouragement. Now come on, all of you. Thankfully, there's no celebrity book signings this year and people aren't lingering around in public. We'll be in and out at all the places we need to go to. And, as you can see, the Ministry's provided Diagon Alley with enough Aurors to handle anything."
"Was wondering about them." Harry said. "Seemed strange for people to just be standing around like that..."
The group set off again, with Tonks saying that if any cousin of hers caused Hogsmeade vacations to be called off, she'd show him worse things than explosions. This caused Harry to groan, remembering that his permission form was tucked away under the loose floorboard in his bedroom at Number Four. Andromeda said she'd talk to Dumbledore about it for him, to which he thanked her. As the four walked off, none of them noticed a large, black dog staring out from the shadows, watching them leave.
oOoOoOoOoOoOo
Author's Notes: Dun dun duuuuun.
You know, this chapter was supposed to mainly be the Diagon Alley trip. Even had a run-in with Malfoy planned. But as I felt that was kinda old (and he'd have a number of chances at Hogwarts, anyway) and since this is gonna be Solieyu's big secret-revealing book, I figured I'd let him steal Malfoy's thunder this once. If you guys haven't worked it out by now, I dunno what to say. All will become clear in... ...uhh... Actually, I dunno how many chapters. Still only running off that five-chapter guide I wrote up in the beginning. After chapter 5, I'll sit down and plan the next five out, though. I'll be able to give you a good indication after that.
I hate family trees. Mainly because I've never been good at relations. I'm assuming that Tonks is a cousin as well and not a niece or something. Someone correct me if I'm wrong, by all means. Seems odd for my Tonks to think of an 'Uncle Sirius,' though. Anyway, oughta be interesting once Sirius shows up in human form, eh?
I'm tired and cranked out everything from Leon's first drop to one knee clear through the end in one sitting. Eyes are tired, too. Good hour and a half of writing, as I kept stopping to check certain things and such. So... Yeah. Next chapter is the trip to Hogwarts. And you all know what THAT means! I'll hopefully crank it out pretty quickly. I want to get Remus' characterization set up.
Special thanks go to Raven Nightwish for helping me brainstorm. Had a bit of writer's block, which, in addition to the games I got a week or so ago, has been keeping me from finishing the chapter.
Post-Edit Update: Hopefully things'll turn out fine. This chapter REALLY hasn't wanted to behave for me in regards to proper formatting. Ach. I also hope I didn't miss any typos and the like, as I'm doing about four things at once right now, so I only had time to briefly skim through as I was fixing the formatting.