The Dursley's finished their dinner as Dudley went up to his room to play on his computer. Vernon and Petunia had just sat down in their living room and turned on the T.V. to one of their shows when suddenly two men appeared in front of them. Petunia stifled a scream, Vernon turned purple as they recognized both men.

"HOW DARE YOU! GET OUT OF MY HOUSE!" Bellowed Vernon

"I'd like to see you try to force us out." Said Sirius.

"Wh-what do y-you want?" Stuttered a very pale in the face Petunia Dursley.

"Both of us talked to both of you about Harry Potter. We both warned you of the consequences." Snarled Snape.

"Vernon, I t-told you we should treat my nephew better. I told you they'd be back. And look! There they are. I knew it would be bad if they returned. It's worse-they are back and together. I said to do whatever it takes so that they wouldn't return like this. Serves us right whatever to they do to us."

"You should have done more Petunia. What would Lily do if she were alive?" Growled Severus.

Petunia shuddered but said nothing.

"If they were alive we wouldn't have to put up with this…with the abnormality and the rest of your lot! We wouldn't have to worry about what decent, upstanding citizens would do or think it they ever found out. Our lives would be normal and proper!" Barked Vernon.

Severus looked at Vernon and said through clenched teeth, "I was talking to Petunia. Are you Petunia? I didn't think so. Shut your fat mouth."

Vernon sat there opening and closing his mouth. Not a word uttered out of his mouth.

Severus looked back at Petunia and said, "Petunia, if Lily were alive and you and your husband had died and Dudley was placed in her care, how would Lily have treated you son?"

"Allow freaks raise my son, you are mad! If something were to happen to us Dudley would go to my sister Marge…" Vernon became suddenly silent.

"Wh-what did you do to him?"

"Don't worry about it. He's not being harmed and it can be reversed. Now back to my question."

"She would have treated him and raised him as if he were he own child."

"Yes, Lily would have. She had no mean or cruel bone in her body. And despite how mean you were to Lily when she turned eleven she would have been kind, caring and nurturing."

Petunia sat there with tears gong down he her face.

Severus removed the silencing charm from Vernon.

"Unfortunately I am a teacher at Hogwarts so I won't be able to monitor your family while school is in." Sneered Severus.

"But I can. You won't be able to bully me into anything! You won't be able to hide me from visitors." Said Sirius with a devious grin.

"You wouldn't dare to speak to any one."

"Oh, yes I would."

"What could you possibly say to normal people?"

"Oh, just that I work for children's services and that a complaint was reported and claimed that you have been abusing your nephew and that I have come out to inspect the house and to check his room. I would actually look into the room and become, convincingly, horrified and appalled."

"But there is everything in that room that the boy needs!"

"The bed is not fit for a rat! He has no bedding and no clothes!" Yelled Sirius.

"The boy has a bed to sleep on, a pillow and a blanket! He has clothes!"

"And what would people say about Harry wearing Dudley's old clothes? All though it wouldn't matter Mr. Dursley, see I'd make sure that all there was in the room was a very thing mattress on the floor, no lamp, no dresser and no closet. How would people feel about that? And don't think that I wouldn't be convincing or that I wouldn't be able to pull it off."

"Who knows maybe Sirius would find a dog dish with Harry's name on it or even chains."

"Good one Severus."

"I am sure that Dumbledore will have Harry return next summer. You will treat Harry as though he is your child. This will be your last chance!" Said Severus.

"If you are thinking of treating Harry worse than you have so you can be rid of him, then you are not thinking at all. I will make sure that your authorities are involved. You will be arrested and there is no telling what will happen to Dudley. You have no way of knowing for sure that Marge will be allowed to care for your son."

"You have until next summer to improver Harry's living conditions. Harry will have a decent bed, bedding and clothes of his own and not hand me down's of Dudley's. The both of us just might accompany Harry back here to check for our selves if you have done what we demand of you. A week into the summer holiday if you still have not done as we demand and if Harry has gone without just one meal, what you fear will come to pass." Severus said as he pulled out his wand and gave it a looping-swish.

The Dursley's screamed in fright as they felt a warm blast of air swirl around their bodies.

Sirius and Severus disapparated back to Grimmuald Place.

"Out of curiosity, what did you do to them?"

"All I did was cast a warming charm. They would feel a blast a warm are swirling around them. The charm doesn't last long though."

Sirius laughed and then called for Kreacher.

"Yes Master Sirius."

"Tell Harry that Severus and I would like a word with him."

Kreacher bowed, left and returned with Harry.

Harry sat down in the nearest chair. He sat there while Sirius and Severus told him what happened at the Dursley's Harry just stared at them, as he did not know what to say.

"If you were to go back next summer you should be treated better." Said Sirius

"And if you do go back and you are not treated better you'll never have to worry about going back there ever again. I give you my word on that." Said Severus.

Harry just nodded as words failed him. He got up and back up to his room. After a few minutes Harry told Ron and Hermione what he had been told.

"WOW! Snape actually said all that. He really is a good guy." Said Hermione.

"Blimey. Snape knew your mum." Said Ron

"He loved her and still does. Don't go around talking about how much of a good guy he it. So many people have to believe that he has only acted as though he changed sides. Promise me that you won't go around blabbering. Both of you."

"I promise mate."

"Of course I won't go blabbing. You have my word Harry."

A few days later Sirius conjured some clothes for Harry. That night a brown owl flew into the house through an open window and up to Harry's room. The owl dropped the parcel on Harry's bed and left.

Harry new it was The Monster Book of Monsters. He smiled as he unwrapped the parcel. Harry managed to rub the spine of the book before it had the chance to try and bite him.

"Harry what is that book? Who sent it to you and why?" Asked Hermione.

"It's not simply a book. It's a schoolbook. Hagrid sent it. He's taking over Care of Magical Creatures. Professor Kettleburn has retired. When the two of you get your books, rub the spine of the book. Trust me. You'll find out. I want to let the rest of the third years know about rubbing the spine, except the Slytherin's. We have Care of Magical Creatures with them. I can't wait to see their faces. We'll know how to open the book and they wont. It will be fun. Oh, Hermione don't take divination or Muggle studies. The time-turner doesn't help out at all. If you continue with what you plan to do you'll end up falling asleep and miss charms class. We will be working on cheering charms and it comes up in the exams. I'm not taking Divination. Trelawney for the most part is a fraud. She has only made one actual prediction, at this point anyway."

"At this point? What do you mean?" Asked Hermione.

"Well, she does make another one. But it won't matter. Ron! Where is your rat?"

"I don't know. Come to think of it, the last time I saw Scabbers we were still at school. Probably running around Hogwarts."

"We have to find that rat! Listen to me. Ron, your rat is a wizard, a non-registered animagus. The rat is actually Peter Pettigrew. He sold my parents out to Voldemort. Sirius and Remus will be able to make Peter show himself. Then Peter will go to Azkaban. It's just a mater of finding the rat and keeping it."

"Harry are you sure?"

"Yes! Rat's don't live as long as yours has."

"Ron don't question Harry. We have believed everything so far. Yes, some things took longer to grasp and accept. Has Harry every led us astray at all? Have we ever truly been in danger?"

"You're right Hermione. Sorry Harry."

"Don't worry about it."

Just then the door opened and there stood Ginny Weasley. As she walked in she waved to Ron and Hermione. Ginny hugged Harry.

"What are you doing here?" Asked Ron

Hermione punched Ron in the arm as hard as she could.

"I bugged mum like crazy. Dad said it was okay."

"Mum actually said that you could come here?"

"No. I left. I called for the Knight buss. That reminds me, Harry could I barrow Hedwig?"

"Of course." Harry said with a huge grin on his face.

After Ginny sent her letter with Hedwig, Harry filled her in on what had happened. He did not tell Ginny what the shirt had said though.

"Why didn't you send a letter to Snape?" Asked Ginny,

"I deluded myself into thinking that it would get better. I was also afraid of doing some serious magic that probably would have resulted in my expulsion from Hogwarts. Dumbledore said he was having the house watched. Now Dumbledore can't say that I didn't give it some time or that I didn't try. It's good to see you. I hate to say it, but you shouldn't have snuck out."

"Dad said it was okay. I wanted to see you. I'm here now and there's nothing anyone can do about it."

"I don't know, when mum realizes what you have done."

"I'll deal with that situation when it arises. Any way I sent mum a letter."

Ron rolled his eyes. Hermione looked worried. Harry had a feeling that Fred and George had a hand in on Ginny leaving the Burrow.

Just before dinner Hedwig returned. As Ginny read the letter she grimaced.

"How much trouble are you in?" Asked Ron.

"A bit. She's really mad."

"Isn't she coming to get you?"

"She say's she has half a mind to come get me. She still might. I hope not. I don't want to leave."

"Why do you say might?"

"Well, I told her that Harry's here and that the Dursley's didn't feed him. You know how mum feels about Harry."

"Hold on. How did you manage to get past mum?"

"I…uh…fed the chickens."

"Huh?"

"I told mum I was going to feed the chickens. I did feed the chickens and then I ran down the lane and called for the Knight bus."

"How did you pay for the Knight bus?"

Ginny chuckled and said, "Fred and George are missing some money."

"You stole form Fred and George?"

"No! I barrowed with out asking and left them a note."

"When they find out you are in trouble."

"No I won't, cuz they won't care. They love me and I honestly doubt that they'd tell mum."

"What are you saying, that they don't love me?"

"It's different Ronald."

"How so, Ginerva?"

"I. Am. A. Girl. I am their only sister and the youngest. Not to mention I learned some pretty cool hexes from Bill and Fred and George know it."

"That logic might work with Fred and George but it won't work with mum."

"Okay you two, it's dinner time. I don't know about all of you but I'm hungry and going down to eat."

Harry got up and left the room with Hermione right behind him. Shortly after they left Ron and Ginny followed.

Harry and Hermione looked over at Ginny to see her frozen in place and slightly pale.

"Mum."

"Ginerva. How dare you lie to me!"

"I did feed the chickens."

"You didn't come back!"

"I never said that I would. I'm sorry mum. I wanted to see Harry. And Hermione. I sent an owl. Dad said it was okay."

"You are too young to be going off by yourself."

"Would you have brought me if I had asked."

"We will never know now, will we."

"Can I please stay? I promise I won't take off on my own again without permission."

Mrs. Weasley was thinking about it. She looked at Sirius.

"It's fine Molly. Ginny can stay if you're okay with that. It's not a problem."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes I am sure. Should I bring everyone to your place or meet you in Diagon Alley?'

"It might be easier to meet in Diagon Alley."

"We will see you then. Since you are here, would you like to eat with us?"

"Thank you for the offer Sirius. I should get back and finish fixing dinner." Said Mrs. Weasley and then disapparated.

Two days later Sirius took Harry, Ginny, Ron and Hermione to Diagon Alley. After going to Gringotts they met up with the rest of the Weasley family and finished their shopping. Sirius, Harry and Hermione accompanied the Weasley's home.