AN: Apologize about the long wait here. It's been very chaotic between juggling work and college. I tried to implement your ideas in this next chapter.

Puck627: Sorry to say that Buckbeak will still be dead in this story. I love him, but he's just not needed in this fanfic.

Hope you enjoy!

~NicoDiAngeloLover7

Touched by Death – Chapter 14

Harry had his face pressed against the glass. He was currently riding on the Hogwarts Express back to Kings Cross. The small Gryffindor was still wearing his uniform, not wanting to change into Dudley's castaways until the last minute. He honestly was dreading the arrival, fully aware that he would be spending the summer with the Dursleys once again. The young Gryffindor couldn't believe how this year had turned out really. For one, he didn't have another murderer after him. Said accused was still awaiting trial which may not happen for another month for all Harry knew. Harry knew that Marcus would be right and the Slytherin was.

It had turned out that Bones met with Harry personally to take Pettigrew. She didn't quite believe the tale, but she said she would take a look into it. She was not going to ignore the tale like the Minister. Who heavily protested, he wanted Bones to just brush aside the inquiry. Harry had honestly been shocked to see Bones shoot down what the Minister said, even to the point of pressing charges to negligence. Harry had not expected to see the Minister again so soon, but he knew that Marcus would have loved to witness this. His boyfriend had told him once about this minster not having a spine to do much of anything. Though, Harry didn't doubt that Madam Bones would charge the Minister with negligence and everything she could if he tried to interfere. Madam Bones seemed like a strict woman, like Professor McGonagall. The small respect that Harry had for the Minister of Magic at the beginning of the year was diminishing quickly.

The thing that had shocked Harry was the fact that Dumbledore had tried to speak to him. Harry didn't really pay attention to what was said. Something along the lines that Harry should have came to him before doing something like this. Harry had finally gotten a firmer grasp on why Marcus and Slytherins hated the Headmaster so much. It made Harry wonder why Dumbledore would want to know that he sent Pettigrew with Bones. It didn't have any reassuring thoughts, the small Gryffindor wondered if Dumbledore would have tried to prevent the apprehension of Pettigrew. Therefore, preventing the possibility of Sirius being proven innocent. The idea of thinking that was horrifying to Harry. Did Dumbledore want to keep him miserable at the Dursleys? Despite that Harry would always ask the Headmaster about staying with the Weasleys or at Hogwarts opposed to his relatives. The Potter heir assumed that his question would remain unanswered forever, as Dumbledore would never elaborate on why he did things the way he did.

A very worrying thought that Harry had was what would the Headmaster do if Sirius was declared innocent and he started to live with Sirius and his boyfriend?

Harry wasn't quite sure what to believe and he couldn't write a letter to Sirius. He knew currently that Sirius was under some heavy wards on whatever property he was at. Harry couldn't risk sending a letter quite yet to find out some answers. He knew at least that Sirius would appear on the date of court in front of Wizengamot. Just like Marcus, Sirius did not trust the Ministry. After everything Harry's godfather had been through, the young Gryffindor didn't blame the man. Considering that it was the same ministry that was the one that threw his godfather in Azkaban without a trial. Leaving Sirius there to rot and let his mind go insane. And then still let an innocent man be guilty to save his own hide.

Another worry that plagued Harry's mind was about Professor Lupin. Harry wasn't sure what to feel about Professor Lupin. He had never quite forgiven the professor since the last time they spoke. And now in the open, lied the truth. Professor Lupin was a werewolf. In some Harry sort of sympathized with the man, lycanthropy was a terrible curse to bear. Although, Harry still wanted nothing to do with the man. There may be a day where he forgave him, but that was not today. That didn't change the fact that Harry was a bit happy that there was some curse on the Defense position.

Harry was already hating his summer with the Dursleys. Spending time at Privet Drive was always hell to him. It didn't help that his entire family on his mother's side of the family despised him. His Uncle and cousin made that quite clear the day he arrived on their doorstep thirteen years ago.

The young Gryffindor rubbed his arm absentmindedly. Vernon had grabbed at him earlier a little too rough and a bruise was slowly forming. It didn't help that Harry's arm was starting to ache.

There was a knock at the door. Immediately Harry grew apprehensive. As far as he knew, the Dursleys were not expecting any company. His Aunt and uncle weren't big fans of his kind, either. But as far as Harry knew, he wasn't expecting anyone to come get him yet. Though Sirius and Marcus had said something about retrieving him for the summer. They never did specify when that would be. Though Marcus hadn't stopped talking about the Quidditch World Cup that would be hosted in England this summer in his letters. Harry rolled his eyes fondly, trust that Marcus would be as much as a fanatic about Quidditch to rival Wood.

Harry was walking slowly towards the door when he heard the shout.

"Answer the door, Freak!"

The Gryffindor narrowed his eyes in the direction of his uncle's yell. Harry didn't make a retort as he opened the door. The urge to say something towards his uncle was strong.

Harry froze as the door swung open.

Before him stood Sirius grinning ear to ear with Marcus beside him. Marcus was scowling, though his expression brightened at seeing Harry.

Marcus' eyes narrowed once he saw the state of his boyfriend. It didn't help that Dudley's castaways were hanging off Harry's thin frame.

"I will kill them..." the Slytherin growled under his breath.

Sirius had noticed the state of his godson almost instantaneous. His eyes were murderous.

Harry wound up sighing, if he had known that Sirius and Marcus were going to show up. He would have tried to wear something else and damned his uncle's anger about it. That didn't stop Harry from trying to cover the bruise on his cheek. Something about him not being fast enough to dodge Vernon's swinging fist when he wasn't being fast enough to cook his breakfast.

Harry wound up staring so much and not saying a word that his uncle managed to make his way into the room.

"Boy! What is taking you so long?!" was Vernon's thunderous voice. His voice changed to accusing when he glanced who was at the door. "Who the hell are you?"

Harry's voice finally came back, "Uncle Vernon, meet my Godfather, Sirius Black and my boyfriend, Marcus."

It had almost looked with Vernon was going purple with anger until he suddenly looked very pale.

Harry almost laughed at the look. Wanting to add fuel to the flame.

"You remember hearing about Sirius, don't you Uncle Vernon? He's the same murderer you saw and heard on the telly last summer."

If you looked closely, you probably would have noticed Sirius trying not to laugh at the frightened look on Vernon's face. Even Marcus was fighting hard not to laugh.

Vernon looked deathly pale as he took a few steps back. Almost like he was telling his guests to come in. He seemed to keep choking and not able to find his voice.

Aunt Petunia seemed to come into the room to see who was at the door. "Vernon… who was at the door…" the woman cut herself off.

"Unpleasant as always, Petunia…" Sirius drawled.

The thin woman almost seemed to flinch back. "Black…" her voice shook.

"Nice to know you're as heartless as ever," Sirius stated.

"You have no business here," Petunia tried to make her voice strong.

"I think you will find, that I have every right to be here," Sirius' voice went a little cold.

Petunia froze up a little, she glanced back at the Potter boy. She didn't try to hide her glare at him. And if the boy flinched a little, that wasn't her issue.

That wasn't to say that Sirius missed that small interaction. With that did Petunia let both Marcus and Sirius into the house, if anything to prevent any spying neighbors.

Marcus had wound up looking around the dull house. He wasn't very impressed with what he saw. He become livid when he came across the cupboard under the stairs. It didn't take him long to find what was inside the cupboard. Just like it didn't escape his notice there was not a single portrait of the small Gryffindor.

No doubt if Harry had been paying what his boyfriend was doing, he would never let the Slytherin come close to that room. Harry was otherwise, occupied with what Sirius was saying to his family. He honestly rather not have anything concerning his muggle relatives be found out. But this was better than the alternative of living with the Dursleys forever. Harry wasn't stupid, he knew that Sirius wasn't here just to visit him. The man had promised him that he would live with him, but his innocence had to be proven first.

By the time Harry looked around, he noticed Marcus was gone. He knew the Slytherin didn't go far. His eyes widened at the thought that Marcus must have been curious what his life was like. With that Harry dashed upstairs, not before that Sirius gave him a critical look.

Harry didn't bother to give the look much thought as he continued to race upstairs.

That's where Harry saw Marcus in the room that the Dursleys' gave him when he was eleven. Harry could feel his hands start to shake, he had never wanted his boyfriend to find out. He knew the Slytherin saw some things in his mind when he helped him out. Harry was eternally grateful that Marcus never asked him about it at the time.

Marcus was trying to control his anger, feeling that someone was behind him. No doubt Harry tried to find where he was. The Slytherin stared the broken window where iron bars used to be. "They locked you up like a fucking animal…" It never escaped the older boy's notice that there was a cat flap and several locks on the door.

Harry didn't say anything.

Marcus turned around and looked at Harry. His anger almost melted away. The Gryffindor looked vulnerable. He wouldn't be surprised if Harry planned to never let Marcus find out about his life. Marcus didn't hesitate to bring Harry in a death embrace. "Your family won't get away with this, I promise you."

Harry's sagged in Marcus' death crushing hug. He could feel the tears trying to form. Harry was pretty sure the tears were for relief.

Marcus didn't hesitate to bring his boyfriend in a searing kiss. Pushing all his emotions for the small Gryffindor.

If it wasn't for Marcus' grip, Harry's knees would have buckled underneath of him. Harry tried to return the kiss as much as possible. That only made Marcus' grip tighten slightly.

The kiss didn't last very long before they broke apart.

"Thanks," Harry muttered.

Marcus glared around the room but gave a small smile at Harry. "Let's get all your stuff out of here and see if Sirius has murdered your family yet. With luck, he already has."

Harry snorted, no doubt Marcus would be disappointed if Sirius didn't let the Slytherin have his two bits worth.

Harry and Marcus slowly made their way back downstairs. Harry was trailing his trunk behind him, which included everything from the hidden loose floorboard.

Harry wasn't sure if he was surprised to not find the house not in a mess yet. He didn't quite manage to mask his laugh, the image of the Dursleys' being petrified of Sirius. Who was still standing before them.

The younger Gryffindor narrowed his eyes in suspicion. He knew that his godfather did something, besides his relatives knowing that a supposed murderer was in front of them.

Sirius smiled cheerfully as he noticed his godson coming down the stairs.

"What did you do?" Harry asked Sirius, his eyes narrowed.

Sirius started whistling innocently.

Harry snorted, "does that mean I get to leave now?" He would leave the question alone for now.

Sirius grinned, "you bet, pup. We'll have to apparate."

Harry grimaced, he had a feeling that he would hate it. If it was anything like Flooing, there was no doubt of hating that type of transportation.

There weren't many ways of wizarding transportation that Harry knew. But he already knew that he hated Flooing and riding the Knight Bus. Yet the young Gryffindor preferred flying over those two magical transportations. He had heard of apparition, he couldn't remember when he first heard of the concept. He definitely remembered someone mentioning apparition when everyone was talking about the Sirius Black. It was when Sirius had vanished from inside the castle and everyone thought he had apparated.

The word, apparition made Harry a bit nervous. Nobody really explained what apparition was, only the idea that Sirius Black may have done it and you learn how to between 6th and 7th year at Hogwarts.

"Don't forget that you will be taking potions as soon as we get there," Sirius warned when he saw Harry grimace at them mentioned wizarding travel.

Harry felt like he wanted to gag, it wasn't a surprise to know that he despised the taste of potions. The small Gryffindor would have bet that Snape made potions taste disgusting on purpose. He was fully aware that the Potions Master was solely providing potions for the Hospital Wing. He had suffered under a lot of potions over the years because of Quidditch. Though the taste of Skele Grow had to have been the worst.

Harry had made his own potions to help stock the Hospital Wing, though Madam Pomfrey was very critical that the potions were to be perfect. Madam Pomfrey was still very tight lipped about if there was a way to flavor potions so they would taste better. It did make Harry wonder if there was even a way to flavor disgusting potions.

The small Gryffindor looked at his godfather critically, the older man looked far too cheerful. No doubt that his godfather was going to take enjoyment of Harry apparating for the first time.

"You're taking enjoyment out of this, aren't you?" Harry glared at Sirius.

"My godson gets to side-along apparate for the first time, course I am," Sirius barked out a laugh.

Harry glowered before realizing Sirius' words. "Side-along?"

"Well there is no way you're going to apparate by yourself. And risk yourself getting splinched when it can be prevented."

Harry's head was spinning, he didn't even know what splinched meant. He had a strong feeling that Sirius wouldn't tell him until after he side-along apparated with one of them.