The next week passed quickly for Harry and Sirius. The house was growing together well. The house elves were doing a great job. If was quite funny how they'd get Harry and Sirius away from anything that might need cleaning. Squeakers and Dobby went as far as making Harry cry to get Sirius away from one of the upstairs bathrooms. Granted in return Sirius told Dobby that he wasn't allowed to clean for a day as punishment. He did know though that Dobby was now stuck in the kitchens cleaning in there.
At the moment, Harry was upstairs playing with Sheba, the two young pups had gotten quite close to one another in the past week that they had been at the house. Sheba was a shadow to say the least; anywhere Harry went Sheba was sure to follow. (Sounds like Mary Had a Little Lamb...) Sirius sighed for what seemed like the hundredth time in the last ten minutes. The house elves had all but shoved him out of his little room when they wanted to clean it. His room was by far the worse room in the entire house. Sirius didn't spend any time cleaning it, there was still though a think layer of dust everywhere. He had spent all his time in re-improving Harry's room, anything to get the little boy to laugh.
Sirius was a bit obsessive really. He barely did anything that didn't in some way have something to do with Harry. It was rather sickening. Jumping to his feet, he couldn't stand it any more. As much as he hated saying it he needed to get out of the house. And he was going to take Harry with him.
"Harry!" Sirius yelled through the house. There was a giggle from Harry's room. As Sirius neared the room the door was open a little and Sirius peeked in. Harry was lying on the floor with Sheba on top of him licking his face, then the little black dog would jump off of Harry and try to lick some other part of his boy.
"Padfoot! Help!" Harry said while laughing Sirius stepped into the room smiling, he then scooped his godson off the floor and swung him around.
"Is that better?" Sirius asked changing the position he was holding Harry in. He was now dangling from his ankles. Sirius was watching intently every emotion that crossed his godsons' face; he didn't want to scare the boy.
"Put me down!" Harry yelled indignantly as Sheba started licking his face again.
Sirius laid Harry gently down onto the floor and picked the dog up instead. "Now Sheba what have I told you, you can't attack him unless I'm here to help." Sirius said in a serious tone, Harry bust out laughing. Averting his gaze to the little black haired child he mock glared. "Fine." He held Sheba right off the ground and smiled at Harry who was shaking his head. "Sick 'em." He laughed and let Sheba go. Harry squealed and rolled over shielding his face from the crazed little dog.
"Please Sirius!" Harry pleaded and Sheba started licking one of Harry's ears again. Harry started to cough while he was laughing. Sirius sat down quickly next to his godson and patted his back until he got his breathing under control again.
"There! All better." Sirius said hugging Harry who nodded his head clutching his chest. "Now, since I'm now a free man what do you say we go shopping? We can get some stuff for you and Sheba." Sirius smiled and got up, Harry didn't follow.
Harry sat there looking at his hands. He didn't want to go, there would be so many people there. "I...I scared." Pronglet stuttered out glancing up to see Sirius' reaction.
Sirius whined. "What are you scared of? It'll be fun." He bent down and picked Harry up in his arms. "Come on I won't let any one hurt you okay?" He soothed rubbing the little boys back. Harry slowly nodded his head trusting his godfather completely. Sirius jumped for joy, "Yes. Alright go get dressed in something muggle and I'll meet you by the fire place." Sirius said getting all excited at the prospect of being able to walk out of the fireplace a free man.
They would first stop in the Leaky Cauldron and then go out into Diagon alley and then maybe they would catch a cab into Downtown London. But for sure they would walk through the streets with their heads held high.
Ten minutes later a very sooty Sirius and Harry stumbled out of the fireplace in the Leaky Cauldron, Sirius quickly swooped Harry up into his arms before he could fall. "Now then..." Sirius murmured checking to make sure he had his wand up his sleeve. "Let's go to Gringotts and get some money then we'll go look around Diagon Alley then we'll go into muggle London. How's that sound?" Sirius asked the little boy clutching him. Harry nodded his head slightly.
Sirius pointedly ignored the quizzical stares he got as he walked through the busy pub. He even smiled at two or three witches that he remembered dating all those years ago. Finally getting to the back gate to find it already open, Sirius slipped through still holding Harry. He shut the gate behind him, watching a blond pair of people walk hurriedly away from the barrier. 'Odd. They look familiar.' Sirius shook the thought off and casually walked though Diagon Alley.
A bumpy ride and an hour later Sirius and Harry finally walked out the doors of Gringotts Wizard Bank with their wallet extremely full. Holding Harry's hand in his own they sauntered though the Alley looking in every shop. In Flourish and Blots they bought some children's books for Harry, they also bought a few cookbooks... Sirius wasn't the best of cooks. Sirius shrunk the twenty something books and put them in is pocket.
The next shop they went to they spent a much longer time in, The Quidditch Store. Harry had to hurry to keep up with Sirius who at the moment was in heaven. He couldn't resist all that he bought, how could you not buy a new set of Quidditch balls in the carrying case, four new Dragon's Flurries? They were the best brooms out you couldn't get better; Sirius also couldn't help but buy some Quidditch robes and pads for himself and Harry... and some extra ones. Finally, after and hour and a half, Sirius and Harry walked out of the shop with humanguse grins on their faces.
"What do you say Harry? Some ice cream?" Harry nodded his head. Walking into the Ice Cream parlor Sirius split a big sundae with Harry. Harry was now a very happy little boy.
The next hour and a half they went through the rest of the shops not looking for anything in particular, they did get new robes, and Harry's wand. Nick was extremely happy to see the both of them.
"Sirius my boy!" Nick greeted them as they walked though the door to the shop. Sirius had long since forgiven his Uncle. "Well... Here to get your wand?" Sirius nodded and in seconds Harry had his wand.
"Well that went fast." He said smiling as red and gold sparks flew out the end of Harry's wand.
"Yes. I knew that would be his wand. It pushed itself onto the floor the moment you brought him here nearly a month ago." Nick explained taking it away from Harry who was at the moment blowing up a vase. "It's alright Harry. Well anyway, Sirius I didn't tell you how sorry I was for scaring you." Nick said putting his hand on Sirius' shoulder who quickly shrugged it off. "I'm sorry. I know how you must have felt. I couldn't tell you because you would have tried to stop me and kill the rat yourself and that wouldn't have done any good."
Sirius nodded his head. "I understand. Now we must be going, we still have to go to muggle London." Sirius said briskly taking Harry's new wand shoving it in his pocket grabbed Harry and walked out the door, not saying another word to his uncle.
Once in muggle London Sirius finally said something. "Well, where do you want to go?" He asked taking hold of Harry's little hand and leading him through the street. Sirius got side tracked by a pretty lady walking past and didn't notice the same two blonde people roughly shove past Harry making him whimper and fall to the ground. As the lady walked off Sirius noticed that Harry wasn't holding his hand any more.
"Harry?" Sirius yelled looking around frantically for his godson, fear threading through him, as he couldn't find his godson. Back tracking he finally found Harry huddled against a garbage can, tears of fear falling down his face. Sirius pushed through the throng of people to his godsons' side. "Sh... I'm sorry." Sirius said pulling the boy into a hug. "It's okay now. Sh... it's okay. We're going home now. It's okay. I'm sorry." Sirius said again. Harry shook his head and pointed down the alley where a very odd scene was taking place.
Sirius quietly picked Harry up and walked closer to what was happening pulling his wand out as he came upon the scene. An older man with white hair was standing over a boy lying on the ground. Sirius was going to turn away when he saw the man raised his cane and slammed it down onto the little boy. Images from his past pushed into Sirius' mind shaking his head he set Harry down and ran forward towards the two people.
"What in the nine hells do you think your doing you sick bastard!" Sirius screamed intercepting the cane wincing as he felt the blood on it. The older man pulled back the top of the cane and out came a wand. Sirius quickly dropped the end of the cane and brought out his own wand.
"Mind your own business." The man said finally looking up. Sirius stumbled back; it was Lucius Malfoy, his darling cousins' husband.
Sirius glared at the man. "I don't think so Malfoy." Sirius hissed watching out of the corner of his eye as the little boy shivered and coughed up blood. "What the hell were you doing to that boy?" He asked keeping his wand trained on the elder man.
"Black." He spat out as he finally recognized the man. With out waiting another second he threw a curse at Sirius who ducked it easily and sent his own.
After what seemed like forever battling Lucius, Sirius felt something brush his pants leg glancing down he saw Harry grab hold of the other boy's hand and his own leg and apparated.
Harry landed back in the alley way though, with out Sirius or the other boy. Lucius saw him and growled. "You... Boy!" He yelled Harry got to his feet getting ready to run. Out of no where the head of the cane clammed into the left side of is head. Harry's vision swam as he fell to the floor. He was quickly dragged to his feet by the man pulling his hair. "Where did they go boy?" Lucius asked shaking Harry roughly.
"I... I don't know." Harry whimpered out as Lucius glared at the boy.
"What is your name boy?" He spat out letting the boy drop to the ground. Harry didn't try to get up from the spot on the ground.
"Ja...James Evans." Harry said he didn't think he should tell him his real name.
"Well James. What do you suppose we do with you, hm?" Harry shivered and shrugged his shoulders. A black gloved hand struck him in he face. "Answer me you insolent boy!" Harry whimpered as Lucius raised his cane.
Harry covered his head as the cane fell. "I... I don't know sir." Harry cried as Malfoy laughed and pulled Harry to his feet again looking into his eyes.
"You've been hit before. I can see it in your eyes. You know pain." Lucius smiled insanely, "You have no idea what levels of pain I can take you too." He stepped back away from the cowering boy and raised his wand. "Cru-"
Sirius caught the younger Malfoy before he could hit the ground. "I'm s...ss...sorry." He cried as Sirius laid him down gently onto the floor. "I... I won't take any more food... please... stop!" He cried and curled into a little ball.
"Squeakers!" Sirius yelled making the shivering boy cringe. The blue eyed elf appeared next to Sirius moments later. "Go to Hogwarts, get Poppy and tell her it's an emergency!" Sirius ordered, Squeakers disappeared a second later. Sirius then called for another house elf to get some cloth and a bowl of water.
Sirius dipped the cloth into a pale of water and wiped off some of the blood around the boy's mouth. "My name's Sirius. What's yours?" Sirius asked the little boy coughed a little before answering.
"Dray...co..." He said stuttering. "Sorry." He said quickly when he realized that he was coughing up blood onto the carpet.
Sirius smiled as he heard the front door slam calming Draco who jumped, panicked by the sound. "Sh... It's okay. We're going to take care of you." Sirius said as Poppy rushed into the room.
"Sirius Black can't you keep Harry-" She stopped when she realized that it was most definitely wasn't Harry lying on the floor bleeding. "What happened?" She asked going into matron mode.
"Thank god you're here! Take care of him I have to go find Harry!" Sirius quickly disappeared with a loud pop.
Sirius reappeared just as Lucius raised his wand not really thinking of what spell he was saying he yelled the stunning curse hitting Malfoy in the side, he dropped like a ton of bricks.
"Harry!" Sirius fell down next to Harry who was holding his head in his hands completely unconscious. "You sick bastard Malfoy." Sirius picked Harry up and did a series of complicated wand movements before sending Malfoy straight to the Dursleys with his wand, he would then after two day's of being stuck in the house with the muggles be transported to Mad Eye Moody's office at the Ministry of Magic.
Harry didn't wake up the rest of the afternoon. The blows to his head took a lot out of him. Draco on the other hand barely closed an eye if he could help it. Sheba was snuggled up to Harry's side, not letting him out of her site, she even let Draco walk around the room without growling at him if he got to close to the bed.
It was now nearing two am when Harry finally woke up to find himself in his own room, on his bed, with his dog sleeping next to him, and a boy he didn't know sitting on the floor in the corner of his room.
Harry jumped up when the other boy sniffled. Not making any noise though Harry quietly walked over to the door and switched the light on making the other boy cover his eyes against the blinding light.
"Who are you?" Harry asked walking over to the blond haired boy who had his knees drawn up to his chest with his hair covering his face.
You could see his eyes flicking every where around the room. "Draco." He said quickly as Harry neared closer to him. "I'm...I'm sorry for waking you up... It won't happen again I swear." Draco said hurriedly snapping his mouth shut quickly.
Harry was a bit shocked that some one was apologizing to him. "No..." The blond boy looked up at Harry warily. "It's okay..." Harry smiled and sat down across from Draco. "I'm Harry." Harry introduced himself, smiling at the blond. "Um... Why are you crying?" Draco shrugged his shoulders wincing a bit. "I understand." Draco gave him a look before Harry pulled down the sleeve exposing a big bruise he had on his shoulder from his earlier in counter with Malfoy Senior.
"It hurts." Draco said simply looking away from Harry, he started to bite his nails. "I don't know what..." Draco began but stopped when he realized that he was going to say what he was thinking, his father always said a Malfoy could never do that. It was beneath them. Harry some how picked up on what he, Draco was thinking.
"He was wrong." Harry said quietly not missing the shock that showed on Draco's face. "It's not beneath you... it's in here." He pointed to his heart. "I feel the same way... 'till jus' about a month ago I was never allowed to tell any one what I felt or what I thought." Harry said feeling the other boy open up to him.
A comfortable silence passed over the two young boys, both thinking about their so-called families. Harry broke the silence. He didn't like it. "So... How old are you?" 'Yah right Harry what a conversation starter.' He thought to himself as Draco answered; '6'.
"You?" Draco asked after a moment.
"Same."
Once again the two lapsed into a silence. The lights went of on their own accord Draco whimpered as the soft glow of moonlight made shadows dance across the floor. Harry promptly clapped his hands.
"I'm sorry you can turn them off..." Draco visibly shook as he said this. Harry shrugged his shoulders.
"Nah... they aren't doing any harm. If you want them on just clap your hands twice and think about lights and they'll come on." Harry explained as he yawned loudly.
"Sorry." He murmured his eyes falling close before popping open again. "I'm going to be, and so are you." Harry stood up, as Draco lay down on the floor ready to sleep there.
Harry on the other hand had come to like sleep in his bed. He turned his back on Draco and focussed on the large bed. He glared at the bed wishing that it were two beds instead of one. There was a splitting sound and his bed was split in half. It wasn't the best job but it would do. Harry doubled over in pain as raw cuts raced their way around his chest and stomach.
"Harry?" Draco asked worriedly as Harry fell to his knees, sweat forming on his brow. "Are you okay?" He asked even though he knew he wasn't. Draco quickly stood up and walked over to the boy and rested his hand against the black haired boy's shoulder pulling away quickly when Harry flinched and stood up staggering to one of the beds.
He climbed into his bed quickly to hide the blood that was seeping onto his shirt, from Draco. "That's your bed." Harry choked out before letting the darkness swallow him.