Chapter Nineteen

A/N: Thank you guys for all the great reviews you've been writing! I really does inspire me to write more, and write better. And thanks to everyone who helps to correct my mistakes. The reaction to this story is SO much better than I ever expected, especially for my first story, you guys have really been great. Enjoy!

Kiani Skyrider

Harry (Remus) slipped out of the car as soon as it stopped, intending to get in and to the trunk as quickly as possible to avoid Vernon, only to come around the side and hit Vernon square in his fat stomach. He bounced off, almost fell, and tried to dash around, only to be grabbed by the collar and hoisted up to stare into the angry little eyes of Vernon Dursley, whose face was a mixture of a deep red and blotchy puce.

"I told you boy, told you I'd get hold of you one way or another. That godfather of yours can't protect you now!"

Hearing a noise too soft for Vernon to notice, Harry/Remus grinned, "I wouldn't bet on it."

Giving him a shake, Vernon snarled, "why you little freak! I'll-"

"Do what? You touch me and we'll be gone! And that protection thing will be gone too. Sirius and Remus will take me away. They'll hex you into a cockroach, and leave you that way!"

Vernon gave a vicious smirk, "No they won't. Sooner or later they'll realize what a little freak you are and dump you on the street where you belong! Like we should have years ago!"

Harry stilled in Vernon's grip, his eyes blazing at the man who held him. "How …..DARE …. You." he said coldly, "how DARE you say that to Harry! You've had plenty of warning, and after the shit you pulled today, you'll be lucky if it's Sirius who hexes you!"

Vernon dropped Harry just as he began to change, "what the HELL sort of FREAKISHNESS is this?!" he bellowed so loudly that Petunia came rushing out to the garage.

"What's going on Ver- oh!" she exclaimed at the sight of the rapidly-changing Remus.

"What in the world?" a confused Petunia asked.

Remus grimaced as the last of the potion left his system, "it would seem, Petunia that your husband wanted to 'show the freak that he can still get to him'" Remus smiled wickedly as Petunia paled, "lucky for us - and you by the way - Sirius and I suspected something like this would happen, so we came up with this little plan."

"By the way, Vernon," Sirius said from behind as Petunia gasped at his sudden appearance, "you might want to make sure people are who they seem to be before you go threatening them." Sirius matched Remus' wicked grin.

"W - what will you do to us?" Petunia asked.

Sirius' smile widened, "oh, WE won't do anything to you."

"In fact," said Remus, eyes locked on both Dursley adults, "we'll be gone within two hours. Along with any protection this house has."

Sirius' grin widened more at Petunia's pale face, "I'm sure it won't take Voldemort's followers long to...pay you a little visit."

"Let's just go, Padfoot," Remus said, glancing at the pale and clearly nervous Petunia, "we have a lot to do to get Potter Island ready for us to live in."

Sirius smiled and slung his arm around Remus' waist, "OK Moony, let's go get the pup and pack," he turned to the Dursleys, "I'd say see you around, but for your sake, I really hope I don't."

They walked to the trunk arm in arm, looked at each other, and smiled.

….

Albus Dumbledore sat at his desk. He was supposed to be doing paperwork, but he had pushed it to the side. Minerva will be happy to help me with this, he thought as he reached for a lemon drop, she always is. Just as he popped the sweet into his mouth, the floo flared green, and Arabella Figg's head appeared.

Albus got to his knees, "ah, Arabella, how are you?" he asked, eyes twinkling merrily.

"Fine, fine Albus," Arabella said, "you asked me to call after Sirius had his meeting with young Harry."

Albus his his smile well, "and how did it go?"

"Oh fine," said Arabella nonchalantly, "a bit awkward at first, but they got along nicely in the end. Sirius said he wants to arrange more visits with Harry at my house."

Albus was barely able to hide his frown, "oh? He did?"

Arabella nodded, "yes. Said he'd contact you soon."

"I see," said Albus, "I thank you, Arabella, for allowing them to use your house. I was afraid someone would try to follow Sirius, but no one did. Did you see anything unusual?"

"No," said Arabella, "nothing here."

"Very well, Arabella. Thank you for contacting me."

"Of coarse, Albus. Anything I can do to keep the poor boy safe."

"I understand," said Albus, "please let me know if there's anyone unusual in the neighborhood."

Arabella nodded, "I will, Albus. I best be going, I need to get to the market."

"Very well," replied Albus, "I'll let you get going, then. Good bye, Arabella."

"Good bye, Albus," said Arabella before the call was disconnected.

Albus got up from his place by the fire. That gets harder every time, thought Albus as his knees protested the position and movement.

He sat back at his desk and smiled as he reached for another sweet from the bowl on his desk. He sighed, I just knew Black was going to be trouble! He thought somewhat angrily, first, he wanted a meeting, now he wants more. Worst of all, he'll probably bring Lupin next. Albus knew that even if Black was oblivious enough to miss the abuse, Lupin wouldn't be. He was smart, and besides that, his damn werewolf senses might pick up on the scent of fear or blood. Damn it! He thought bitterly, I need to find a way to get Black out of the way, and keep him there this time! He thought he'd done it when Black went to Azkaban, I'll need to get Lupin out of the way, now too. There has to be a way! He swept everything further to the side, sat back, and began to plan in earnest.

Sirius and Remus headed straight to the living room, where Harry was happily engrossed in one of his mum's books.

He looked up as they entered, "how did it go?" he asked.

Remus smiled, "the meeting went great. But we need to pack."

"Wait a minute," said Sirius, "I want to hear what's going on."

"Huh?" asked a confused Harry as Sirius turned to a blank picture frame and waved his wand.

"Just a little spell we set up," said a smiling Remus as he ruffled Harry's hair, "for when you had to interact with them for school or whatever. It lets us listen to what's being said upstairs."

Harry just smiled and grabbed Remus into a big hug, "thank you!"

"Anything for you pup," said Sirius as Harry drew him into the hug, "now shhh. I think you'll both want to hear this."

They quieted just in time to hear Petunia's voice coming from the frame, as well as get a good view of the Dursleys' living room.

"- could you, Vernon? I told you we needed that protection!" Petunia wrung her hands in distress.

"What do we need that nonsense for? I say good riddance to them and the little freak!" Vernon waved his hand in the direction of the cupboard.

"And let the other freaks who killed my sister come here? They'll come, and when they don't find the boy, they'll kill us!" Petunia screamed frantically.

"Think you went a little overboard on that one, Pads," said Remus

"That makes it better, after the shit he tried to pull- owww!" he exclaimed as Remus smacked him on the back of the head.

"No swearing!" he hissed.

"Shhh!" said Sirius, gesturing to the frame.

" - can't even hold your temper!" Petunia was saying as she gesticulated wildly.

"Why should I have to in my own damn house?" groused Vernon.

Petunia sighed, "oh Vernon, you would do it to protect your family. If not for that," here her voice turned snarky, "you could do it because they paid you."

Vernon grumbled, "only once."

SMACK! The sound of Petunia's hand slapping Vernon's cheek made the little family wince as one.

"How petty can you be?" she asked, "you know they would have wanted to go out again. Besides, there is the little matter of the protection for your family!" the last bit was said in a high screech.

"I'm sorry Pet," Vernon said, sighing, "I don't know why the little freak gets me so wrought up."

"We just have to hope they don;t leave," said Petunia.

"What can I do Pet?" asked Vernon.

"Hmmm," Petunia frowned, "as much as I hate to say it, maybe if you apologize, and agree to leave the boy alone…."

Vernon sighed again, "if I have to, Pet. We need to have our family protected."

"These two might be freaks, but from what I heard Lily say to our parents once, the followers of that madman are worse than they could ever be," said Petunia.

"What's the difference?" Vernon asked, "freaks are freaks."

"These two might threaten us, might even turn us into something. The others would kill us. Or worse."

Vernon gulped, "w - worse?"

Petunia nodded.

"I'll do it, Pet," said Vernon, "I'll do what I have to."

"All right Vernon," said Petunia with a tremulous smile, "now, let's just hope they come up before they leave. Once they leave, the protection is gone."

"All right Pet," said Vernon.

Sirius smiled as he ended the spell, "what do you think? Everyone is affected here, so everyone gets a vote."

Harry looked up, "I - I'd like to stay. He didn't do anything too bad. Not anything worse than before. And if we leave, Dumbledore will know something's up. And I like my school." he said, all in a rush.

Sirius nodded, "Ok, Harry's vote is stay. Moony?"

Remus frowned, "Harry has made some good points. Most important is what Harry needs. I say we stay for now, with a lot more monitoring and some new conditions."

Sirius sighed, "then I'll agree. There are some things we can do."

"Like what?" asked Harry curiously.

"There's a spell parents use," Sirius said, "your mum and dad used it whenever they went out. Surprised the hel-" Sirius winced as Remus pinched his arm, "heck out of me when Lily repeated everything I did with you the first time I babysat."

Harry beamed, "really?"

Remus laughed and ruffled Harry's already messy hair, "really, cub. Surprised me, too the first time."

Harry giggled, "I like hearing stories about my parents."

Sirius smiled sadly, "and we have plenty to tell you, pup. But for now, want to go deal with the Dursleys?"

Harry made a face, "not really, but we should, right?"

Remus and Sirius both put their arms around Harry, and each other, "Right!" they chorused.

Harry straightened his shoulders proudly under their arms, "let's go!"