Disclaimer: Standard stuff (I don't own anything, I won't be making profit, any resemblance to previously published content is purely coincidental, JK Rowling is the coolest, etc.). If I make any legal errors regarding copyrighted material, inform me and I will correct them immediately.

Harry Potter and the Lightning Scar

Tuesday, June 21 was the second full day of Harry's summer (the Hogwarts Express having returned to King's Crossing on Sunday). Having showered before bed and collapsed—exhausted from the day's labors—just before midnight, Harry nevertheless awoke at dawn, and found himself following the previous day's script almost to the second. He was relieved, though, to find that the list of chores for the day was substantially shorter than that of the previous day. His relatives would never admit it, but Harry had been extremely efficient and productive, qualities forged of long experience and his desperate desire to keep his mind occupied on anything not related to the Marauders and the summer that might have been, as he knew that fantasizing about a life with Sirius and Remus would do him no good—and no small amount of ill—since it would almost certainly never be realized.

As he scrubbed the kitchen floor, he was startled from his idle musing by a loud squawk, as a large gray post owl dodged Dudley's pudgy hands in the sitting room.

"Get this ruddy bird out of here," Dudley whined, "it's blocking the telly!"

Harry immediately moved to relieve the obviously tired owl of its burden, and carried it upstairs to drink from Hedwig's water bowl. He grinned as he opened it, instantly recognizing Sirius's ostentatious paw print and Remus's somewhat more dignified script.

Harry,

I'm planning on taking Snuffles hunting for rats, so we won't be able to spend much time with you this summer. That said, there is a plan in place that I think you'll enjoy a great deal. Owl back if you want us to come by tonight and discuss the details. Hopefully you haven't unpacked your trunk yet.

Remus (and Snuffles)

Harry's eyes widened as he read the quick note, and immediately dashed off a reply, heart pounding all the time. Could it be that this summer was looking up?

Remus and Snuffles,

I can't wait to see you tonight. Come after dinner, around seven—if nothing else, it wouldn't hurt to let the Dursleys know I've got the big bad wolf and an ill-tempered hound looking out for me.

Harry

The remainder of the day was almost intolerably slow, as Harry checked and re-checked that his trunk was packed with all of his possessions. Finally, after clearing away the dishes from dinner, Harry looked at his watch and sighed with relief. 6:55 PM. He cleared his throat and addressed his relatives.

"Um...Uncle Vernon? Aunt Petunia?"

"What do you want, boy?", Vernon asked, clearly not paying Harry much mind.

"I just wanted to tell you both that some...of my lot...are stopping in tonight."

The response was—as he had anticipated—pure chaos. Dudley fell off his seat in fear, and scampered (well, more like waddled quickly) off to his room, covering his behind. Petunia's face paled, and she froze in place. Vernon stuttered, his face turning a deep purple, before finally finding the words he wanted.

"WHAT IN BLAZES DO YOU MEAN?! WE'LL NOT HAVE THEIR KIND IN OUR HOUSE! ONE IS BAD ENOUGH!"

Harry allowed his wand, which had been holstered up his right sleeve, to slip down into his hand. The movement did not go unnoticed, and his uncle's mouth snapped shut with an audible click. Harry opened his mouth to explain, but before he could speak, the doorbell rang, and Harry's uncertain expression turned to a small but confident smile as he strode to the sitting room and threw open the door and looked up into a kindly concerned face.

"Everything alright, Harry?" Remus asked, drawing his wand.

"Yeah, it's all good. I was just telling my relatives that you were coming to visit. Where is—"

He was interrupted mid-sentence by a huge black dog, which tackled him and began licking his face. After losing a short wrestling match (which the Dursleys looked upon with horror and Remus looked upon with a satisfied grin), Harry and the Grim extricated themselves from each other.

"Aunt Petunia, Uncle Vernon," Harry stated, gesturing towards his relatives, before pointing at Remus and Sirius in turn. "This is Remus Lupin, werewolf and master of Defense Against the Dark Arts, and this is Sirius Black, late of Azkaban prison." The Dursleys gasped in shock and fear; while they had been distracted by Harry and Remus, the dog had transformed into the escaped mass murderer they had seen in the news for the last year.

"Nice to meet you, Dursley" Sirius said genially, before his expression turned glacial. "I trust you've looked after my godson?"

The not-so-veiled threat hung in the air, weighing down the ensuing silence. Nothing further needed to be said; the message had obviously been received loud and clear. The three wizards gave the Dursleys a pointed look before Harry gestured toward the stairs, and the Dursleys fled to the master bedroom.

"Well, then" Harry prompted.

"Ah! Yes. To business," Remus took up the thread of conversation, and quickly explained their plan to seek out Peter Pettigrew, compel his testimony, and clear Sirius's name.

"...and your letter also mentioned some sort of plan for me?" Harry asked.

Remus and Sirius looked at each other, then turned back to Harry with identical grins. Harry was immediately and forcibly reminded of Fred and George Weasley, right as they were about to do something they probably shouldn't.

"I think you're going to like this."