Sirius was surprisingly ready first even though Remus woke up first. He paced back and forth in the sitting room while he waiting for Remus.
"Ready?" Remus asked cautiously.
"No. What if I can't stop myself from hurting them?" Sirius asked worriedly. "You may have my wand but you can't take a way my fists."
"Do you even know how to fight?" Remus asked.
"Of course I do." Sirius asked incredulously.
"I'll be right by your side Padfoot. I won't let you lose control." Remus said. "Ready?"
"No. I need to talk to Lucius. I'll be right back." Sirius said. He stopped pacing and went to the fireplace. "Malfoy Manor." He said and dropped the powder.
Remus sighed as he watched the flames in the fireplace. He's been waiting days for this and now he has to wait longer.
Sirius found himself in a rather large living room (not larger than his) and stepped out of the fireplace.
"How may Dobby help you sir?" A little house elf with big eyes asked.
"Hello Dobby. Could you please let your master know that Sirius Black is here." Sirius answered. The elf nodded his head and walked around the corner.
Sirius looked at the various pictures placed on the fireplace. They were all of Draco. Him laughing with his Narcissa as they read a book, him riding a little toy broom, him as a tiny baby with his famous blonde hair and many more. He was about to pick up a picture when he was interrupted.
"Hello Sirius." Lucius said. "Is something wrong?"
"Were supposed to get Harry today and I need you to come with me." Sirius said. "Well if you would, that is."
"Of course I will." Lucius said. "Why do you need me to go?"
"I need an extra person there, besides Remus, to control my anger. I don't want to get sent back to Azkaban for killing those muggles." Sirius answered.
"Who will hold me back?" Lucius answered with a strained laugh.
"When you saw Harry, why did you care? I thought you hated Harry as much as Voldemort did." Sirius asked.
"I imagined that happening to Draco and I couldn't hold myself back from helping him. Harry is only 6 and he had to endure pain from those filthy muggles for who knows how long. I don't hate Harry. I didn't agree with killing muggles or muggleborns or anyone."Lucius sighed. "I was a teenager who loved power and by the time I understood what I would have to do it was too late to leave The Dark Lord's side. He would have killed us."
"Hello Sirius!" Narcissa exclaimed.
"Hello Sissy. It's been a while." Sirius said.
"Years is more like it." She said and walked up andbembraced her cousin.
"Haven't been hugged by you pretty much ever." Sirius commented as he returned the hug.
"Things are different now Sirius. We can finally act like a family." She said.
"Mummy. Who is this?" Draco asked and walked up to Narcissa and motioned for her to pick him up.
"This is our cousin, Sirius. Sirius, this is Draco. I'm not sure if you ever met him before." Narcissa said.
"I've seen him around when he was a baby but that's all." Sirius said. "Hello Draco!"
"Hello Sirius. Are you going to get Harry? Is he coming here?" Draco asked.
"I am getting him but he will be staying at my house" Sirius answered. Draco nodded but looked disappointed. "Someday very soon I will bring him over to see you if you'd like."
"Yes please!" Draco said. Sirius tousled his hair.
"We better go before Remus gets worried. Goodbye Narcissa, see you later Draco." Sirius said.
"Be good for your mum, Draco. I will be back." Lucius said and kissed his son's head. "I love you." He said to his wife and son.
They both apparated back to The Black Family mansion. The walked in the front door and there stood a furious Remus Lupin.
"You were gone for over a half hour. I want to go get my Godson. I almost left without you." Remus scolded Sirius and turned on the spot foot to 4 Privet Drive.
"Let's go." Lucius said.
"Wait! I think I'm too weak and nervous to go alone. I need to side-along apparate. I was going to go with Remus but-" Sirius said but was cut off.
"Just take my arm Sirius." Lucius said.
Sirius grabbed his arm and Lucius turned and soon they both felt the sensation that comes along with apparating.
They appeared in front of the road sign and the three began walking to number 4.
"This is where they live?" Sirius snorted.
"It's actually a nice house." Remus scolded. He was often embarrassed by his home and would have loved one like this.
"I know, Moony. I'm nervous so I need to insult something to calm myself." Sirius said with a shaky voice.
Remus sighed and placed a hand on his shoulder. "It will be fine, Padfoot."
They walked up the path of the house and Lucius knocked on the door. The door opened to reveal a thin lady with blonde hair and a a long neck. At first the lady had a smile but as soon as she saw who was at the door she pursed her lips, making her look like a horse.
"You're one of them." The lady stated. "Get out!" She tried to slam the door but Remus placed his foot in front of the door to stop it.
"We're here to get Harry." Remus stated calmly.
"You were the freak's friends, weren't you?" Petunia said.
Sirius's right hand clenched into a fist at the word, 'freak's'. "What do you mean, 'freak'?" Lucius placed his hand on Sirius's shoulder to calm him down.
"I mean my freak of a sister and her freak husband." Petunia answered.
"I need my wand, Remus." Sirius said through his clenched teeth.
Remus's eyes widened. Sirius hardly ever used his real name unless he was furious.
"No." Remus answered. Remus pushed open the door and Petunia walked backwards. "Where is he?"
"Vernon!" Petunia screamed.
A big man that the three men recognized as Vernon Dursley came stomping into the hallway.
"Get out now! I will call the authorities! Out!" The man yelled.
Lucius pulled out his wand and stepped up to the man and pointed his wand at his throat. "Do you honestly think that you or any other muggles can detain us? I've killed people before Dursley. Where is the boy?" He whispered just loud enough for the adults to hear. Vernon turned around and ran to the living room.
"Sirius look upstairs. Lucius cold you look in the rooms down here?" Remus said. Sirius ran upstairs to check the rooms and Lucius wandered around downstairs while Remus stood up to Petunia. "Do you really hate your sister that much that you would let her son get abused?"
"Y-yes! She was a freak. Just like her son and just like all of you." Petunia spat at them.
"I was friends with Lily for a long time. She's told me a lot about you. You wanted to go to Hogwarts like her. You were jealous. Lily would go to see Dumbledore every week to ask if you could come. She didn't stop asking until the second half of our second year." Remus took a small breath. "She would send you gifts and souvenir's and you would return them. She once snuck out of Hogwarts and went to a muggle shop to send you a necklace in 6th year. She sent it by mail and signed the card 'To Petunia. I love you and miss you very much. Love Always Auntie.' I remember watching her and wondering why she signed it Auntie. She said you wouldn't accept anything from her. Remember her owl that she got in 3rd year? She had piercingly blue eyes. She said they reminded her of you so she named her owl, Tuney."
Remus pulled out letters in his robes that he saved from years ago during the summer. He handed them to Petunia, who was now crying.
"Lily and I sent letters every day. She talked about you a lot." He pointed to a sentence on the letter. "Here she said, 'Petunia asked me to hand her the jam during breakfast. I've been here for three weeks so far and that's the first thing she's said to me. Maybe she's forgave me for being a freak.' I used to tell her nonstop that she wasn't a freak. It took years for her to see herself as anything but a freak.
Petunia looked up from the letters and looked at Remus. "Are these really from her?"
"Yes they are." Remus answered. "Have you ever hit Harry?"
"No." Petunia answered. "Vernon and Dudley would."
"You let your son hit your nephew?" Remus asked, incredulously.
"Vernon would encourage it." She answered.
Sirius came running downstairs and went up to Remus. He looked at Petunia and was surprised at the tears. "Uh, he's not upstairs."
Lucius came back in the hallway. "He's nowhere down here."
"Where is he?" Remus asked as his hands shook. He was beginning to think that they were too late. That he was gone.
Petunia's eyes widened and stepped back away from Remus. "H-He's-"
Sirius started to get tears in his eyes. "No. He's not dead! He c-can't be dead. My God we were too late." Lucius came up to him and placed his hand on the man's shoulder again.
Petunia shook her head. "He's alive." She walked off into the living room and sat on the couch next to Dudley and began crying.
'What have I done? How could I let him get hurt?' Petunia thought to herself. 'They thought he was dead. He could have easily died from Vernon's hands.
"Please just tell us where he is." Remus said quietly.
Petunia tried to talk but her tears and her guilt made her words unrecognizable. Meanwhile Dudley glanced at his mum and saw the tears and then turned back to the T.V.
Sirius stood in front of the television. "You, boy. Where is Harry?"
"Get out of the way!" Dudley yelled.
"How the hell do you turn this thing off?" Sirius asked.
"Mum! I'm going to miss my show. Tell them to move!" Dudley screamed.
"Tell us where Harry is and he'll move. If you don't then I'll break it." Lucius sneered.
"He's in the cupboard now move!" Dudley yelled.
Sirius moved and looked around. 'Did he just say cupboard?' He thought to himself.
Remus looked around and thought the same thing. "Which cupboard?" He asked Dudley and received no answer. Petunia pointed her finger to the stairs and began sobbing even more. "Lucius could you get her to sign these adoption papers?" Lucius nodded and the two Godfathers ran to the stairs.
Remus nodded to Sirius and Sirius began opening the door with a shaky hand. When the door finally opened they both looked inside to see a small boy facing against the opposite wall. The boy looked to be sleeping.
Remus placed a gentle hand on the boy's shoulder and Harry flinched and woke up. "Harry."
Harry turned around and saw two strangers staring at him with tears in their eyes. He sat up abruptly and hit his head on the ceiling of the cupboard. He rubbed his head and scooted backwards.
"Hello Harry. My name is Remus and this is Sirius. We're here to take you home with us." Remus said.
Both Remus and Sirius were in tears as they saw the boy's face. He had the famous messy hair that belonged to his father and the beautiful green eyes from his mother. He also had various bruises and scratches along his face. 'Obviously they didn't care about Lucius's threat.' They both thought.
"Hello." The boy answered with a dry and scratchy voice.
Sirius choked out a sob as he heard his voice. 'When's the last time he's eaten or had anything to drink.' He thought.'
"Why are you crying?" Harry asked and scooted forward to reassure him.
"I've just missed you so much Harry." Sirius answered.
"Have we met before?" Harry asked.
"Yes. When you were a baby. We saw each other almost everyday. We were your Mum and Dad's best friends." Remus answered for Sirius.
"My parents?" Harry answered and his eyes lit up. "Are they here too?"
"Um, well-" Sirius started.
"No Harry. I'm sorry but they can't come back." Remus said sadly.
"Oh." Said Harry and he lost the excitement in his eyes. "So they really did die in a car accident?"
"What? What do you mean car accident." Remus asked angrily.
Harry backed away. "Are you angry? D-did I say something wrong? P-please don't hit me." Harry said with tears in his eyes.
Remus's face softened. "I will never hit you Harry. I promise. I was just wondering who told you that your parents died in a car accident."
"My uncle said that my Dad killed himself and my mum by driving drunk. They got into an accident." Harry answered.
"What!" Sirius yelled.
Harry backed up against the wall and started sobbing. "P-please don't hit me! I-I'll do anything just please! I'm still very sore!"
Sirius starting crying as well and went inside the room. He crawled over to Harry and put on a hand softly on the boy's cheek. "I swear to you, Harry James Potter, that I will never hit you. I love you so much and so does Remus." Sirius said to the boy.
Harry quieted down and crawled towards Sirius. Sirius picked him up and put him on his lap and hugged him. Sirius's heart swelled and he hugged the boy back tightly.
"I'm leaving the Dursley's?" Harry asked.
"Yes." Remus answered. "Can I have a hug too Harry?"
"Y-you won't-" Harry started before being interrupted.
"Never." Remus said and Harry crawled to Remus and hugged him.
The three crawled out of the cupboard and they stood up. Sirius gasped as the light hit Harry's arm. "Remus! Look at his arm!"
Remus looked at the boy's arm and saw bruises in the shape of a hand. He gulped down the anger he had and tears came down his face.
"Harry, when was the last time you were hit?" Remus asked through his gritted teeth.
"This morning." Harry answered casually.
"Why were you hit?" Sirius asked.
Harry's eyes widened. 'If they know what I did then they won't want me.' He thought to himself.
"W-well I-I-" Harry couldn't finish and he just started crying uncontrollably.
"Harry? What's wrong?" Sirius asked and picked him up. Harry wrapped his arms around Sirius and put his head on his shoulder and kept crying. They walked back in the living room and glared at Vernon.
"She signed them." Lucius said and walked over and looked at Harry. He gasped and clenched his fists and turned to Vernon. "I told you what would happen if you laid a finger on this boy again. I told you! What kind of man hurts a 6 year old boy?! A coward!" Lucius spat at Vernon.
Vernon couldn't stand to get called a coward in his own home so he stood up. "How dare you call me a coward. The boy bloody well deserved it! He's a freak! Nothing but a freak."
Remus felt Harry flinch every time the word, 'freak' was said. Remus rubbed his back and whispered in his ear. "Don't listen to him, Harry. He's wrong."
"I'm wrong?" Vernon laughed. "The boy stole from me. That deserved more than a few punches. He's lucky my belt broke yesterday!"
"Vernon stop it!" Petunia cried.
Vernon ignored his wife and shoved Lucius. Lucius's eyes widened and he clenched his fist. "Remus take my wand." Remus took his wand and Lucius sighed and pulled his hair into a ponytail.
Vernon started laughing at the man. He stopped abruptly as he flew backwards from a force that came to his face. He was being punched multiple times. Lucius could feel the blood of the man on his fists and he couldn't get himself to stop.
Remus's eyes widened and he put Harry down and him and Sirius pulled Lucius off of him. "Lucius calm down!" Lucius finally calmed down and leaned against the wall. Remus picked Harry back up.
"Are you okay, Harry?" Remus asked.
"Yes." Harry answered quietly.
"Well we better get going before we all go to Azkaban." Remus said. He started walking away but was stopped.
"Wait!" Petunia yelled and ran to Remus and placed a hand on his shoulder. "There are some things you should know."
Remus turned around to face her and nodded for her to continue.
"Well obviously Harry needs medical attention. It's worse on his back and stomach." Petunia sighed. "A-and he hasn't eaten in about a week and a half." She began crying again. "That's why Vernon punished him this morning. He tried to eat the crusts off of Dudley's plate when he took care of the dishes."
"What? Was he like your slave?" Sirius asked through clenched teeth.
"Practically." She sobbed. "He cooked and cleaned for us. Vernon would make him sit on a chair against a wall and watch us eat. I-I'm so sorry."
Sirius tried to calm himself down but it wasn't working. He knew he had to be strong for Harry so he turned around and headed to the door.
Remus started to follow but stopped when he felt Harry flinch. He turned to look at Harry just as an overly large had slapped him across the face. Harry screamed and Remus, Sirius and Lucius turned around.
"Petunia. Take Harry and your son outside. Now!" Remus yelled.
Petunia grabbed Harry and pulled Dudley out of the living room by his hand.
Remus pulled out three wands and handed Sirius and Lucius theirs. They all pointed their wands at Vernon and screamed, "STUPEFY!" Vernon flew backwards and hit the wall and fell to the ground unconscious.
"That felt good." Remus breathed. The other two men agreed and went to a phone that laid on an end table. He dialed, 101 and waited for a voice at the end.
"101- which service do you require?" A man with a low voice asked on the other end of the phone.
"Police." Remus answered rather loudly.
"I am transferring the call now. Could I please have the address."
"4 Privet Drive, Surrey." Remus said.
"Now what is the emergency?" The man asked.
"My Godson has been getting abused by his uncle. He just hit him across the face. We would like to press charges. The uncle is unconscious right now." Remus answered.
"Someone is on his way. Please stay there for questioning." The man said.
"Right. Thanks." Remus answered and hung up.
"How do you know how to use that thing?" Sirius asked.
"It's called a telephone. Lily taught me in 5th Year." Remus answered. "Well the police is on their way. We need to stay here and wait. Lucius you can go home if you'd like."
Lucius rubbed his neck. "That's probably a good idea. Make sure to bring Harry over sometime soon. I'll just say goodbye to him."
Lucius left and Remus and Sirius sat down on the couch.
"What's that?" Sirius said and pointed to the television.
"It's called a television. Muggles use it. It has moving pictures for their entertainment." Remus said.
Sirius got up and went into the kitchen. "What's this?"
"Fridge. Muggles use it to keep their food and beverages cold." Remus answered.
"And this?" Sirius asked again.
"A microwave. It is used to warm up food." Remus answered.
Sirius explored the kitchen for a while longer and Remus went into his pocket and got out two vials of Veritaserum and forced it down Vernon's throat. Then he cleaned up the blood and hid all the bruises except for once. When a knock came from the front door, Remus did the counter curse to wake up him up.
Remus went to answer it and just as he let the men in Sirius yelled, "Moony, what's this? It's a metal box thing with two long holes in the top."
"It's a toaster, Padfoot." Remus yelled. "Come right in." He said to the officers.
The two officers looked at each other in confusion and they placed their hands closer to the batons on their belt.
"Could you please explain what has happened?" The taller officer asked.
"We came here to get our Godson. We are adopting him and when we came here we found that the boy lived in a cupboard under the stairs. He has bruises and cuts everywhere. We will be taking him to a doctor when we leave. He also starved the boy for a week and a half. When we went to leave the man slapped the boy across the face. We would like to press charges." Remus said.
"Alright well first where is the boy and what's his full name and date of birth?" The shorter woman asked.
"He's outside with his aunt. Sirius go get Harry. Harry James Potter and he was born on the 31st of July, 1980." Remus said.
Sirius went outside and told Petunia to come back in. Sirius picked Harry up and brought him inside.
The officers looked at the boy and their eyes widened. "Oh no!" The man said as the woman held back her tears.
"He's only 6?" The woman asked. Remus nodded. "S-show us his back please."
Sirius lifted the shirt off of Harry and watched as Harry flinched. When he saw Harry's back he broke out in sobs. It was worse than they thought. His entire back was black and blue with patches of yellow and purple.
The officers both now had tears in their eyes. "We'll need pictures." The man said.
The woman ran out to the car and wiped her face while she got out a camera. She came back in and took a few pictures of his stomach, back, arms, legs and face.
"Where is the man who did this?" The lady asked.
"He's right in the living room." Remus answered. "Petunia can you take them upstairs." Petunia nodded and took Harry from Sirius and brought the two boys upstairs.
Vernon was starting to wake when they went in. The woman went up to the man and put his arms behind his back and arrested him right there.
"Vernon Dursley, you arrested for child abuse and neglect to your nephew, Harry Potter. You do not have to say anything, but it may harm your defence if you do not mention, when questioned, something which you later rely on in court. Do you understand?" The officer asked.
"Yes." Vernon said.
"Do you have anything to say?" She asked? Vernon just shook his head.
"Are you saying that you didn't abuse Harry?" Remus asked.
"No I'm not saying that I didn't. I did every day for 5 years." Vernon said and then his eyes widened.
"When's the last time you fed him?" Remus asked. "We will need to let his doctor know."
"Almost 2 weeks." Vernon answered.
"Is it alright if I ask him another question, officer?" Remus asked.
"Go ahead and ask as many as you want." The woman said through tears.
"Do you regret abusing and neglecting Harry? Do you think he deserved it?" Remus asked.
"I will never regret hurting that freak. Of course he deserved every last slap, punch kick and burn I gave him." Vernon snarled.
Remus glared at the man as Sirius started yelling. "Harry never deserved any of it! You told Harry his Mum and Dad died by driving drunk! You're a worthless arse. They died saving him!" Remus nudged his side to stop him.
"Do you need anything else from us officer?" Remus asked kindly.
"No. You are free to go. Good luck with Harry. I'm so sorry this has happened to him. At least we know that this man will be rotting away for a long time. He just confessed everything! Goodbye." The woman said. The other officer shook hands with both Remus and Sirius and wished them luck.
Remus went upstairs to tell them they could go while Sirius went outside to wait. Remus opened the door to Dudley's room. Petunia was sitting on the floor with tears in her eyes and she was playing with both boys.
"We can go now, Harry." Remus said gently. Harry smiled at him a nodded.
"Harry. I'm so sorry for everything. Could I please have a hug?" Petunia asked nervously.
Harry smiled at her and nodded. He walked over and she gently hugged him and he hugged her back.
"I'm sorry too, Harry. I don't want to be a bully." Dudley said quietly. Harry smiled and nodded to his cousin.
"Goodbye Harry." Petunia said sadly.
"Actually Petunia I was going to invite you both over for tea until Vernon is out of here. They still have paperwork to do and they need to get more evidence." Remus said. Petunia nodded and they all headed downstairs and shielded the small boys eyes from Vernon.
"How will we get there?" Petunia asked once they were outside.
Sirius walked over and scrunched his eyebrows. "Are they coming too?"
"Yeah they're coming for tea." Remus answered.
"Sirius can you apparate on your own?" Remus asked.
"Hold on, let me try." Sirius answered and turned on the spot and landed a few feet away. The movement shocked Petunia, Dudley and Harry. "Yeah I can."
"Okay. You take Dudley and I've got Harry and Petunia." Remus said.
"Why can't I have Harry?" Sirius complained. Remus glared at him and Sirius rolled his eyes. "Not that I don't mind Dudley I just want my Godson."
"You'll get him when we get home." Remus said. Sirius picked up Dudley and held him tightly to make sure the chubby boy didn't get hurt. "Petunia grab my arm tightly and do not let go. Don't worry about Dudley he'll be fine."
Petunia hesitated for a second before grabbing hold of his arm tightly. Sirius left first and then Remus turned on the spot and they ended up back at the mansion. Petunia and Harry's eyes widened at the size and beauty of the place.
"Welcome home, Harry." Remus said.
"This is where you live?" Harry asked incredulously.
"Yes and now you do too." Remus answered. "Are you okay, Petunia? You can let go now."
"S-sorry." She stuttered and let go. "How did we do that?"
"Magic." Remus shrugged. Harry's eyes widened again but he stayed silent.
"Let's go." Remus said.
The three walked into the house and Remus put Harry down. Dudley and Sirius were sitting on the couch talking. Dudley ran over to Petunia and indicated that he wanted to get picked up.
"Mum this place is huge." Dudley exclaimed. "I want to live here too!"
"We already have a house Dudders." Petunia said and Dudley nodded sadly.
Remus cleared his voice before speaking. "Actually Petunia, I was wondering if you and Dudley would like to live here?"