Chapter Forty-Two

The next day, the family gathered for the short walk to Number 4. Sirius and Remus led the way, with Harry and Neville behind them, last were Augusta and Arabella. Sirius had at first protested everyone coming, but they had informed him in no uncertain terms that they were family, and as Neville put it "family sticks together!"

The adults had all agreed with him, so they all headed for the Dursleys' home.

Remus knocked on the door. When Petunia answered, she made a face like she'd swallowed an extremely sour lemon.

"What do you want?" she hissed, "if you freaks think you can come back here after last night-"

Sirius put his hand up, causing her to stop talking and step back.

"After today," he said, giving her a look that would melt steel, "none of us has any intention of darkening your doorstep again," he smiled wickedly, "unless of course there is another…problem like yesterday's. Then we'll have to…deal with it appropriately."

Petunia winced and stepped away from the door, "there won't be," she said quickly, "now what do you want?"

The group stepped into the house and followed her to the kitchen, where dinner preparations were already underway.

"What we want," said Remus, taking out a sheaf of papers, "is for you to sign these papers giving guardianship of Harry to us."

"You know," said Sirius, tapping his chin, "Vernon will have to sign these too. When is he due home?"

Petunia huffed, "any minute. Is that all we have to do, sign these papers?"

Augusta nodded, "that's all."

"Will they work in the normal world?" she asked.

"These are just for Harry's school," said Sirius, "we are already his guardians in the magical world."

Just then, Dudley burst into the room, "Muuum! I'm huuungry! When's din-" he stopped short when he saw the people in the kitchen and ran to hide behind his mother, "what are they doing here?" he asked in a scared voice.

"They just need your father and I to sign some papers," said Petunia, "dinner will be done in a little while, Diddykins."

"Does that mean I won't have to see the freak at school either?" asked Dudley with a gleeful smile.

"Harry will continue at the school until the year is over," sneered Sirius, causing Dudley to back up, "and you," he pointed a finger at Dudley, "will leave him alone. Or," he smiled wickedly, "you will face a lot worse than jail. You'll deal with me."

Dudley gulped.

Remus gave Sirius a look, but Sirius signed, don't worry Moony, you know I'd never hurt a kid. I just want to scare him so he leaves Harry alone.

Remus nodded and Harry signed, Look I think it's working.

Sirius grinned and nodded at Harry.

"What are you doing?" Petunia said, her voice a near shriek, "you're not putting some freakish spell thing on my Dudley!"

Before Sirius could answer her, they heard the sounds of a car door slamming and the footsteps that preceded the walrus' entrance.

Vernon Dursley was home….again.

…..

Vernon Dursley was in a foul mood to eclipse all others. In times past, this type of mood had often led to extra 'punishments' for the freak. But now, even thinking about the boy and those other freaks pushed his temper (and his blood pressure) to new heights. First, the little freak had gotten his Dudders in trouble at school, and then that whole fiasco with his freaky family, winding up with him waking up on the floor to a sobbing Petunia and a still unconscious Dudley.

And as if that wasn't bad enough, he thought with a huff, slamming the car door and walking up to the house, one of my biggest contractors decides they want to 'go in a different direction' he huffed again, he was certain those freaks had caused this. He couldn't wait to sit down in his chair with some dinner and a stiff drink, or three.

He opened the door and headed for the kitchen, where he could already smell dinner cooking.

"Petunia!" he called, "I'm home!" he went toward the kitchen and stopped dead. The boy and his freaky family were back.

Without pausing to think, he bellowed, "YOU!" and charged straight at Sirius, intent on doing as much damage as possible.

Before anyone could stop him, Harry stood in front of Sirius, hands raised, palms facing out toward the charging, clearly insane, man.

"YOU…..WILL….NOT….HURT….MY….FAMILY!" He shouted, as once again, Vernon found himself blasted into the nearest wall. This time, he remained conscious, but he quickly found he could not move from the wall. He was stuck fast.

Sirius grinned and clapped Harry on the back, "way to go Pup! Thanks for your help."

Remus, Augusta, and Arabella all nodded, ruffling his hair and patting his back.

Sirius turned to where Vernon was stuck to the wall. Petunia and Dudley had rushed to him and attempted to get the clearly fuming man off the wall, but were unsuccessful.

"As we were saying," said Sirius with a cheery grin, "all you have to do is sign these papers giving custody of Harry to us."

Vernon simply glared at them, still fuming.

"Of course," said Sirius slinging his arm around Harry's shoulders, "if you can't even hold your temper that long, I could always let the pup blast you again. I think he does deserve a couple more shots, after all you put him through."

Everyone but the Dursleys chuckled at this, and Harry blushed.

Vernon muttered unintelligibly, his face redder than any cartoon just before the volcano erupted over its head.

"What was that?" asked Sirius, mockingly holding a hand to his ear.

Vernon's face grew redder as he mumbled, "I'll sign your ruddy papers."

"And hold your temper?" asked Augusta, as if doubtful such a thing was possible.

When Vernon nodded grudgingly, Sirius turned to Harry, who waved his hand and let Vernon down.

When Vernon was let off the wall, he was put down much harder than he expected, causing his legs to buckle as he hit the floor hard, landing right on his overlarge rear. This caused a room-wide mini earthquake, which in turn caused several cups and plates to fall from their cabinets to shatter on the floor.

Petunia shrieked as Dudley cowered behind her.

Remus raised his wand. At Petunia's gasp, he said, "I'm only doing this so we don't cut ourselves with the broken shards."

With a wave of his wand, all the broken glass repaired itself and set itself back in its rightful places.

"Now," said Arabella, "will you sign the papers or not?"

Vernon struggled slowly to his feet, "let's get this over with," he said as he made his way to the table.

Once everything was signed, the little family made their way happily back to Arabella's house, all giving Sirius a look as he was currently laughing to himself and rubbing his hands together.

"What are you doing?" asked Remus.

"Just planning," Sirius grinned, "remember, the best pranks are the one where they don't know it's a prank."

Remus nodded, a slow evil grin crossing his face.

"And now that we're out of there for good, Operation Dursley Destruction can begin.

They all laughed at that, slinging arms around each other as they made their way home, each adding something to the plans.

Life for the Dursleys was about to get very….interesting.