Chapter 7 : Petunia Dursley's Awful Afternoon


In the middle of a balmy summer afternoon, two sharp pops disturbed the languid silence of Privet Drive. There was no one around to see the two men who appeared without any warning on the sidewalk. It was too hot for anyone in their right mind to be outdoors, and the Muggles who lived on Privet Drive tended to pride themselves on being firmly in their right minds.

"Is that it?"

"Yes, Number 4."

"Come on, then."

Together, they walked up to the front door and knocked.

"Yes?"

"Petunia Dursley?"

"I am."

The taller of the two men looked her over with narrowed eyes. "I've come to see my godson, if you don't mind."

"Your godson?" Petunia's eyes widened. She pulled the door open a little more, her eyes raking over their attire. "No, we don't want your kind here. Go away."

The door slammed abruptly in their faces.

"Huh," said Sirius. "Well, I reckon we'll just leave, then."

"Right."

They exchanged a look, pulled out their wands, and in another few seconds were standing in the front hallway, sneering at an indignant Petunia.

"Why don't you just have a seat over there, Petunia?" Remus said. He saw no particular reason to terrify or harm her. A lot of Muggles who had magical relatives felt the way she did. It was unfortunate, but he wasn't going to get all worked up over it.

"Well?" Sirius asked impatiently. "Where is he? Or do I need to search the house?"

"He... he isn't here," Petunia said, looking more than a little desperate. "He's... out."

"We'll see." Sirius's wand spun around on his palm, pointing at the staircase.

"Wait, Sirius," Remus said, but Sirius was already half way up the stairs, and didn't stop.

A few minutes later he was back, frowning. His wand had gone wonky on him, and a search of the rooms hadn't gone much better.

"What?"

"I don't know. He isn't up there." He let the wand spin again, and again it pointed at the staircase. "Odd."

"Hold on," Remus said, coming around from where he had been standing next to Petunia. "What's that?"

Together, they walked past the stairs and stopped in front of a narrow door.

"What was it Snape said, exactly?" Sirius asked in a low, dangerous tone. His eyes seemed transfixed on the small, barred window.

Remus swallowed. "Not to tell Albus we were going. That's what."

They seemed to reach for the door handle simultaneously, and their fingers brushed. Remus jerked his hand back. "Go ahead."

Sirius hesitated. He couldn't help wishing he wasn't the one who had to throw that door open.

But he did it.

"Oh, fuck." All the air had gone out of his lungs. "I don't bloody believe this."

The boy who had been sitting on a dirty mattress with his knees drawn up and a tattered book spread out over them, looked up with a frightened, trapped expression.

"We aren't going to hurt you, Harry," Remus said. His voice shook badly. "We're friends of your parents."

Harry perked up, the fear replaced with a mixture of curiosity and hopefulness that wouldn't have been possible had he not met another man in just the same way. "Did they ask you to check on me?"

"I'm your godfather, Harry," Sirius said. He knelt down so his face was more on level with the boy's. "Your father was my best friend."

"Oh!" Harry's face broke into a smile. Perhaps this man would give him a picture of his Dad. Then he frowned. Maybe they weren't wizards, after all. "Is that anything like a fairy godmother?"

Remus snorted.

"Er... No."

"We are wizards, though," Remus said. He smiled as the boy looked up at him with gratitude that he had been understood. "And since he is your godfather, he is also your legal guardian."

"That means you'll live with me. Quit using long words, Moony."

Harry seemed to think this over for a few moments, his face very serious.

"You do want to live with me, don't you?" Sirius asked, frowning slightly.

"For Merlin's sake, he's only just met you. How could he?"

Harry looked up, his eyes very large and very bright. "Oh, I do! I really do. Only...." He looked down again. He was thinking of the other man who had visited him. His Mum's best friend. But... he had never asked Harry to live with him. Harry had just hoped he might, someday.

"What is it, Harry?" Remus asked softly. "Will you miss your Aunt?"

"Oh, no," Harry said quickly. His eyes darted fearfully in Petunia's direction.

"Your Uncle?"

Harry paled visibly and didn't reply.

"Your cousin, then?"

"No," Harry said, shaking his head. He had quite made up his mind. "I wouldn't miss any of them. Please take me away."