AU! Sirius and Remus raise Harry together.

IWSC SEASON 4, ROUND 7

WWN, Writing School: Get A Move On

BEAUXBATONS: Exchange Student 2

WC: 675/900


The monster. Was right behind him.

Twigs crunched under its feet.

Shuffling noises came from deep in the interior of the woods, deadened by the cunningly woven web of leaves. Sirius's ears perked up at the tinkling sound of Remus pouring tea in the kitchen. Hope inflated his chest like a balloon. Feet pounded on the earth. One, two, three steps. He could make it…right?

Sirius glanced over his shoulder.

The wind whipped the monster's hair over its shadowy eyes.

With its sharp claws, bared teeth, and pitch-black fur, it was the most terrifying creature Sirius had ever seen. It was too strong, too fast, and too deadly.

Adrenaline coursed through Sirius's veins. Sweat dripped down the arch of his spine, trickling into the waistband of his ripped sweatpants. His tongue was like a slab of lead, cloven to the roof of his mouth. His throat was parched, and his lips were chapped and flaky. Only Merlin could save him now.

Ignoring the burning in his calves, he pumped his legs harder. The monster's claws stretched closer. And closer.

Sirius's foot caught on a root. Shit.

He screamed. Time stopped while his life flashed before his eyes. It was a comparatively short life, but he had seen a lot, hadn't he? Still, he was too young to die.

His arms and legs whipped back and forth like a salad being tossed in a bowl, and he went sprawling across the grass and landed on his belly. His rib cage rattled like an angry rattlesnake. When his chin hit the ground with a soft thunk, metaphorical stars danced behind his eyelids, mocking and deriding him for his pain.

It was over.

"Rawwwwwwr!" The monster pursuing him leapt through the air and landed on his back to straddle his waist.

A loud grunt escaped Sirius and his breath was knocked out of him. "Oof!"

"You're it, Uncle Pads!" Harry's innocent voice exuded excitement. He struck his chubby fists on Sirius's back and laughed. The joyful, light-hearted sound that never failed to put a smile on Sirius's face. "I caught you. I caught you!"

"I tripped, Bambi. You wouldn't have caught me otherwise," Sirius muttered. He winced at the splitting pain in his jaw. He held his breath to soothe the throbbing, even clenched his teeth to prevent it from spreading, but it didn't work.

"Doesn't matter. I won." Harry bent to wrap his thin arms around Sirius's neck and almost squeezed the life out of him.

Sirius's jaw was still smarting, but he would endure that pain and more just to see his five-year-old godson this happy. After he and Remus had saved his godson from the Dursleys' house three years ago, Harry hadn't smiled for a long time.

Harry clung to him like an octopus when he sat up and said, "I demand a rematch."

"Nope." Harry popped the 'p' and shook his head, his hair flying and smacking Sirius's face. "I won."

"Urgh, fine, you little monster. You won this time," Sirius grumbled, and he wrapped his arm around Harry's waist and hauled him onto his lap, tickling him mercilessly. Harry's laughter echoed through their miniature garden. "Now, let's go back inside and see what Uncle Moony's making for lunch."

Harry's eyes glinted with mischief. The sight reminded Sirius of James, but before he could head down memory lane, Harry was sprinting towards the house. He yelled over his shoulder, "Let's go, Uncle Pads. I want to tell Uncle Moony how you cried when you fell like a baby!"

"Oh, no, you don't," Sirius barked, stumbling after him.

Harry's shrill laugh echoed through their garden. And despite the pain in his jaw, Sirius smiled. He loved hearing the delightful sound.

"Uncle Moony," Harry yelled, and Sirius groaned. "Uncle Pads fell and cried like a baby! It was awesome!"

"I did not!"

"You did too!" Harry taunted and blew him a raspberry before sprinting straight into the house. Shaking his head and wincing at the throbbing pain spreading to his cheekbone, Sirius followed his godson inside.


1 point for including at least 2 sentence fragments. (Copy them to your A/N):

Feet pounded on the earth. One, two, three steps.

The monster's claws stretched closer. And closer.

1 point for using a sentence fragment badly. You heard me. The best way to learn is through mistakes. (Copy it to your A/N):

The monster. Was right behind him.