Hi There! Thanks for reading this far! Chapter 6! Hope you enjoy it and with a bit of luck make it right through to the end! :)
Thanks to everyone who reviewed the last chapter A.K.A. SherWatsonLocked, ObsessedwReading, Harry Albus Potter Dumbledore, Bookwormkat1, nagagoo, imaginationceleberation, and finally The-Girl-Who-Dreamed (Literally made my day!) :D
Harry blinked sleepily. He wasn't entirely sure how long he had been unconscious since he left Privet Drive, but he was finding that keeping his eyes open was a more difficult task than he would have hoped for.
"You should sleep." Sirius told him as he settled the tray on the bedside table. "You look exhausted."
Harry nodded mutely, too tired and weak to speak. He hadn't felt so drained in a long time, not since that last night in the Hospital Wing. 'Don't think about that' Harry admonished himself. It only caused pain and hurt, pain that he could do nothing to better.
"We'll speak when you're awake, Harry." Remus said with a soft smile as he quietly left the room, taking the tray with a half empty bowl of soup with him.
Sirius watched as his friend left both Harry and himself alone before he turned back to his Godson. He looked so small and venerable lying paralyzed in a bed that was just a little too big for him, his face pale and scarred, his eyes tired and haunted…when had things gotten so bad?
'Probably the night that you went after Pettigrew, when you left him alone' a nagging voice said in his head. The voice was right, though. Harry would never have ended up like this if he hadn't left him that Halloween night, heck if he hadn't traded with Pettigrew he would have been raised by how own parents…not monsters!
"I'll leave you to sleep." Sirius said quietly as he went to get up, but just as he was about to turn for the door he felt something tug on the sleeve of his wrist. He turned back around to find Harry looking up at him with those big, sad eyes. He didn't say anything. Harry wasn't sure whether his mouth just didn't seem to want to work, or if he was too tired, but no words came out.
"Of course, I could stay." Sirius said with a grin, feeling as though for once he was doing his proper job as a Godfather, and being there for his Godson.
Harry let a small smile slip. Of course he knew that it was childish and silly to want a grown man to stay with you because you are too afraid to sleep, especially for the boy who lived, but he was simply too tired to care.
Remus sighed as he cupped the hot steaming cup of tea in his hands, his mind frantically trying to process all that had happened within the last 24 hours. If someone had told him that he would have found the boy he considered to be as good as his own beaten and bloody in his own relative's house, then he would have told them that they were mad. Now, however, everything had changed.
He should be used to experiencing self-hatred, that feeling he got whenever something went drastically wrong, whenever he was incorrect, the feeling had he long since got used to. Yet it still coursed through him, the frustration, the anger, the guilt, every emotion running through him.
Why hadn't he seen it? He had taught him for a whole year, he had spent time alone with him! He had seen his exhausted he had looked on that train journey to Hogwarts, how his clothes were too big for him…two years ago!
And what had he done? Nothing! He had shook it off, told himself that nobody in their right mind would harm Harry, that maybe it was just a coincidence that the clothes he saw him in was big. He had never felt more ashamed than he had in that moment when he realised what the horrifying truth was, that all along Harry was being abused and tortured by his own family!
"He's asleep." A voice said, pulling him from his thoughts as he noticed Sirius walking around to take the seat next to him, which he dropped into with a great sigh.
"He must be exhausted." Remus said with a nod, as Sirius ran his hands through his hair.
"What am I going to do, Mooney?" Sirius almost pleaded in a broken voice.
Remus opened his mouth to tell him exactly what he should do, to be there for Harry, that there was nothing else that could fix him. But he was interrupted from his speech when the door opened and Madame Pomfrey almost ran into the room.
"Harry's fine, Poppy. He was awake, but…" Remus started to tell her, swirling the tea in his mug as he did so, but he was quickly cut off.
"That's not why I am here, Mr Lupin." She told him sternly, an almost panicky edge on her voice. "Dumbledore knows that Mr Potter isn't with his relatives. I don't know how, I can ensure you that I certainly was not the one to inform him, but he's coming. He knows he is here and is on his way."
Sirius looked sharply up at the school nurse, who was red in the face and breathing in short gasps as though she had just ran all the way from Hogwarts.
Remus, as usual the practical one, stood and gently placed a hand on Pomfrey's arm.
"Thank You for letting us know, Poppy." His voice was calm, but Sirius knew his friend all too well not to notice the same alarm in his voice that he was currently feeling.
Madame Pomfrey nodded before hurrying out of the door and back to the castle, silently hoping that she wouldn't bump into the headmaster.
"What are we going to do?" Sirius panicked as frantically swept a hand through his hair, worry and stress over taking him. He would not let that meddling old fool take Harry from him…not again!
Remus honestly didn't know what they were going to do. They could always try to hide Harry, but Dumbledore would find out one way or another, he had a habit of seeing right through people. But then what? Give up without a fight? Take the risk of letting him take Harry and send him to his probable death?
"I'll take him." Sirius said with a new found determination as he marched stubbornly towards the door.
"What?" Remus asked him with a frown.
"I'll take Harry. Dumbledore isn't here yet. I'll grab him and we'll run. Go somewhere far away where he won't find us." Sirius replied seriously, all the while trying to get past Remus who was barricading the door.
"Sirius, be serious!" Remus exclaimed loudly. It was a reflection of just how serious the situation was when Sirius didn't respond with his usual overused response to the word.
"I am! Remus this is Harry! Harry! You aren't actually going to let that old fool take him are you!" Sirius shouted in frustration, ignoring Remus' slight wince.
"Be quiet! You'll wake Harry!" Remus hissed. It wasn't so much as Harry waking which worried Remus, but how he would react to hearing shouting and raised voices. He had heard Poppy! Emotional damage and mental damage! There was no telling what he would do if he heard the exact same tone of voice in Sirius as he had so many times in his uncle.
The plausible part of Sirius' mind seemed to be thinking the same thing as he immediately quietened his tone.
"Sirius, listen to me." Remus implored. "Harry has to stay here. He is still very ill, he's not stable enough. Dumledore will find us one way or another we cannot out run him!" Sirius opened his mouth, but Remus quickly cut him off. "I know! Dumbledore has power, but not enough power! You are Harry's Godfather, Sirius. You. Not Dumbledore. And this is your house. While Harry is under it he will not be able to force him away."
Sirius finally stopped resisting as he sunk into one of the hard, wooden kitchen chairs. Remus was right…as usual. Dumbledore would threaten it, he would be high and mighty, but would he actually be able to go through with his threats?
Sirius was an escaped convict, he was known throughout the wizarding world for being a murderer, the reason that Harry was an orphan…but even Dumbledore had lost his credibility over the summer with the Ministry sprouting so many lies. But he still had more power…and he knew Remus knew it!
But then what about Harry? Would it really do him any good to hide? He was a teenage boy, he should be allowed to live like a normal fifteen year old would. In a house, surrounded by family who love him, not running for his life. Harry needed care that he would only be able to get if they could at least access the public, it would do him no good living in some shack on a god forsaken rock!
Sirius jumped out of his thoughts at the sound of the front door slamming open alerting them both to Dumbledore's arrival. He followed Remus who had marched determinedly past him and through the door to the front porch, where they were met with the familiar sight of Mrs Black screaming and raging, Dumbledore standing at the bottom of the steps as he spelled the curtains on her portrait shut.
"Albus." Remus said grimly, his teeth nearly grinding as he did so.
Dumbledore turned to face the two men, his face a mixture of anger, frustration, and something that they couldn't quite put their finger on.
"Remus. Sirius." Dumbledore nodded at them, but neither nodded back or showed any kind gesture in return. "It has come to my attention that young Mr Potter has left his home…you wouldn't know where he is would you?"
Those piercing eyes were boring into both of them, a sheer determination and manipulation shining through them.
"No idea." Sirius said shortly as he glared at the Headmaster, Remus remaining quietly by his side.
"Are you quite sure?" Dumbledore questioned him, and they knew, they both knew without a doubt that Dumbledore already knew exactly where Harry was. "If you would be so kind as to retrieve, Mr Potter, I will be taking him back to his relatives."
"No." Remus growled to the shock of Sirius. He didn't think that he had ever spoke to the headmaster with such ferocity. "You are not taking him anywhere."
"Ah! You see, that is where you are wrong, Mr Lupin. Harry belongs with his relatives. They are the only family he has left." Dumbledore told him, his hands gripped as though he was getting ready for a fight.
"They are not his family!" Sirius spat, ignoring Dumbledore's look of disgust and annoyance. "They beat him, Albus! They beat him and hurt him!"
There was silence in the porch, all that could be heard was the flickering of the lamps hanging on the walls, and the shallowness of their own breathing.
"I'm sure that it is not that bad." Dumbledore told them indifferently. "If Harry told you so, he may merely be looking for a way to get away from his relatives. I am aware they are not the kindest of muggles, but they are his family. They would not him."
"Are you saying that my Godson is a liar?" Sirius hissed as he took a step closer to Dumbledore, their faces practically touching.
"I am saying that Harry is a very stubborn young man." Dumbledore retorted, his voice still calm. "He would likely say anything to stay away from his family. He may resort to lying if he were desperate enough. He is after all only human."
"Get out. Now." Remus growled, his eyes glowing with disgust as he stared at the man who had once been the only person he had ever looked up to.
"I did not mean to upset you…" Dumbledore started with a deep sigh. "I merely have Harry's best interests at heart."
Sirius scoffed to himself, he wondered if the mad old fool actually believed that. It was painfully clear to him, and even Remus now that the only interests he had was in himself. They certainly weren't in Harry. He had been the one to let him go to the Dursley's. He had left him to face a life of abuse and pain, a life without love. He had let him face Voldemort time and time again. He was the reason that Harry was lying in a bed unable to walk, haunted by his own memories…and he had the audacity to claim that Harry had made it all up!
"He has been through a lot." Dumbledore said solemnly, his head bowed. "He may not be lying, but perhaps his mind is protecting him. Creating a story which he would believe. My dear boys I do not blame you for falling for it."
"Are you insane?" Sirius exclaimed as he looked at the headmaster with horror. "Are you seriously suggesting that Harry has gone crazy?"
"It is a very real possibility." Dumbledore said shaking his head sadly as he did so. Remus and Sirius were both thinking the same thing … this has got to be a joke! The headmaster would start laughing and insist that he truly did believe them…but he didn't.
"Get out of this house now…or we will make you!" Remus growled, the wolf inside him coming to the surface as he stepped towards the headmaster who backed away, a slight spark of fear in his twinkling eyes.
"Fine." Dumbledore sternly replied, as Remus slowly backed up on him, leading him to the door as he did so. "But I must warn you now, gentlemen…the Ministry will realise that the boy is missing. And when they do they will eventually find him…and you. They will be less than happy that he has been kidnapped by a murderer and a werewolf." He continued cruelly. "If you insist on hiding the boy, then you should do it on your own head. I trust you know the punishment for kidnap."
Sirius stood a short distance away from the two men. Of course he knew the punishment, ten years in Azkaban. Of course he was already wanted, everyone who didn't know the truth thought of him as a dangerous, murderous, maniac…if he were caught he would either be sent to prison or given the price already on his shoulders. But Remus was different. He was a Werewolf. The ministry were already looking for excuses to exterminate them. There was no guarantee that they would even let him live.
"Get out now." Remus repeated, unfazed by the Headmasters threats.
Dumbledore swiftly walked out of the door with one last glare at Remus and Sirius, before he disappeared into the night.
Remus silently turned to face Sirius whose face was red with fury.
"Do you think he'll tell them? The Ministry?" Sirius asked Remus, an edge of nervousness to his voice.
"Oh, there's no doubt about it." Remus replied grimly, thrusting his hands into his trouser pockets.
"But Remus, if they catch you…" Sirius said, his face wearing a frown of worry.
"It doesn't matter." Remus replied quickly. "They won't catch us…and if they do, then we'll fight them. We won't let them take Harry."
"But you could die." Sirius stuttered, staring at the door as though it would be broken down at any second, Aurors storming in to take Harry and Remus away from him.
"It's worth the risk." Remus replied quietly. Harry was worth it … Sirius was worth the risk.
"I think I need a drink" Sirius sighed, running a hand through his wild hair as Remus smirked grimly.
'You're not the only one' he thought.
Just as they were both making their way through the grim corridor down to the kitchen, a harsh scream sounded throughout the house…and this time it wasn't Mrs Black. It was Harry.
So you made it! Thanks again for reading…it literally, honestly does make my day when I get a favourite, or a follow, or review. I hope you enjoyed the chapter, and for those of you who are following the story thanks for sticking with it!
The Next Chapter will be out soon…. Chapter 7: The Nightmare!
Until then ….