Office of the Minister of Magic.

The office of the Minister of Magic was a grand place. The room was decorated with paintings, the walls were lined with bookshelves, the floor was covered with expensive rugs and there was a table in the centre of the room made of oak. Behind the table sat the Minister of Magic Cornelius Oswald Fudge and he was talking to his guest for the day, Sirius Black who had come to meet him for the first time since he had been exonerated.

"What can I do you for you, Sirius?," asked the Minister.

"Minister...," Sirius started before he was interrupted by the Minister.

"Call me Cornelius. All my friends call me by my name," he replied.

"Cornelius then. Cornelius, I wanted a favour from you."

"What is it?"

"You see, Harry Potter is my ward and I wanted to take him to my place which I have recently bought. But he insists on staying with his aunt and uncle for two weeks for some reason that I don't understand."

"What is the harm in it? The lad certainly loves them," said the minister.

"The problem is that he wants me to live with him during the time that he is living with his muggle relatives and as a wizard I cannot get by without using magic..." Sirius left the rest unsaid.

Cornelius laughed jovially, "Of course I understand now. Since the area is muggle, you are concerned about using magic in there. Don't worry, since little Harry's relatives know about magic, you can use it in their house."

"But the Ministry would think that Harry used the magic, and they will try to expel him," said Sirius with enough anxiousness in his voice.

"Oh, I get it. I will let Mafalda in the office of Underage Use of Magic know about it and see will know that it is you using the magic," said the Minister.

"Minister, Mr. Malfoy has sent a letter that he wants an audience with you and will arrive here in 10 minutes", said his secretary poking her head in the door.

Sirius immediately stood, "I will see you later, Cornelius."

Sirius left the office of the Minister thinking about ways to take Fudge away from Malfoy. They needed the Minister in their own grasp.

King's Cross

When Harry reached the muggle side of the station, he was surprised to see Sirius standing with his uncle and aunt. He was wearing a t-shirt and jeans with sunglasses and looked like one of the hundred muggles going on about. As soon as he saw Harry, he grinned from ear to ear, "Surprise! Harry,we are here to take you home."

Harry could only watch in shock. He had no idea that how Sirius had managed to make his uncle and aunt agree to it. However, by the looks of it, Vernon and Petunia looked like they had been caught on the wrong foot and had no idea this was going to happen to them.

Sirius was hugging Vernon with one arm and Petunia with another, grinning from ear to ear and said to Petunia, "Petunia dear, your nephew has come home after a year. Won't you greet him?"

She opened her arms wide, awkwardly, "Harry, you are looking great."

Vernon however was at end of his patience and growled, "Boy..."

Sirius looked at Vernon with cold eyes, "Language Vernon."

Vernon Dursley whimpered, "Sorry, Mr. Black. Harry, son, we are getting late."

Harry decided he had enough of bizarre for a day. He pulled his trunk behind him which was taken by Petunia, "Let me take it, Harry. You would be tired."

Hogwarts

"You did what?," asked McGonagall in shock.

The Headmaster smiled that smile which never fooled her, "I sent Sirius to live with Harry at Harry's relatives."

"But why?," she asked dumbly.

"Because Sirius wanted to live with his godson as soon as he reached London. I suggested that he could persuade the Dursleys to let him live with Harry for two weeks and then take Harry with him."

"You are truly an evil man, you old goat," said McGonagall, "those muggles don't know what they are in for."

Privet Drive

When they reached Privet Drive, Sirius had Harry walk into the house with him leaving the Dursleys behind. Vernon who was left with Petunia said, "You go on in and see to it that they don't scare Dudders. I am coming after you."

"Vernon, he is a wizard! How can I manage him?," she asked him, worriedly.

"Please understand Petunia," he beseeched, and she walked inside, shrugging.

Vernon dragged the trunk behind him and brought it in. As always, he shoved it in the cupboard under the stairs and joined the others in the sitting room where Sirius was looking at the photos on the walls.

After Vernon sat, he asked, "Why are there no photos of Harry in the house?"

Vernon opened his mouth to say something and then thought better of it. He could sense the fury in Sirius's voice and knew no excuse would be enough.

Petunia however had the courage to answer, "Because he is not my son."

Sirius turned his fury on her, "Is he your blood or not? Is he Lilly's son or not? Did you never love your sister?"

Before she could say something, Sirius spoke again, "Anyway, since I am going to live here for the next two weeks, there are few rules which are going to be followed."

"Now you listen to me," interrupted Vernon, "You are under my roof, and you will abide by my rules."

Sirius looked incredulously at the muggle, "You dare interrupt me, muggle?"

"I don't care what you think but I am not going to let you walk over us," Vernon was almost shouting.

Sirius pulled out his wand from his sleeve, twirling it between his fingers, "You were saying, muggle?"

The sight of the wand put Vernon off immediately and he retreated to a corner of the sofa. Petunia however snapped, "Don't threaten my husband."

Sirius laughed, "Or what? You will shout at me? Have you not learned what wizards can do with a few words? Lilly never told you anything?"

Before any of the Dursleys could respond, Sirius silenced both of them with a silencing charm, "Anyway, I am done with you both. Now listen here and listen well. Till the time I am here, you both will do everything possible to be pleasant hosts to us. I prefer breakfast in my bed, and you will bring it to me. You will do all the chores around the house and when I leave, I will pay you enough in muggle money that would be equal to a month's salary."

The thought of money was captivating. To be repaid for feeding Sirius didn't feel like a bad deal to them. They could keep up with it just for two weeks.

Then Sirius turned to Harry, "Now Harry, where is your cousin?"

Suddenly there was a whimper and they saw Dudley hiding behind a curtain in the sitting room. How long the boy had been there was anybody's guess but it amused Harry that he could keep silent for so long.

"Come out, boy," said Sirius, "I am not going to harm you."

Reluctantly Dudley walked out, and Sirius looked at him in surprise, "Round, aren't you? Take after your father, I guess. Now what is your name?"

"D... Dud... Dudley" said the boy and Sirius noticed that the boy had his hands on his backside as if preventing from something.

"Nice to meet you, Dudley," said Sirius to the boy and then turned to Petunia, "Now Petunia, be a dear and cook dinner for everyone. If you tried to tell about me to anyone, it will be a bad idea."

It was best day for Harry in Privet Drive. Petunia had made some tasty food for them and there was even treacle tart. Vernon kept eating silently and didn't speak a word. Harry realised that the man was still silenced.

After dinner, Sirius turned to him, "Now Harry, take me to your room."

Harry looked sideways and Sirius immediately realised there was something wrong.

"Harry what's wrong? Where is your room?"

"It's nothing, Sirius. My room is upstairs. Come, I will show you."

When they reached the room, Sirius roared in fury, "Why are there so many locks on your bedroom door? And why there is a cat flap on the bottom of your door?"

Harry didn't reply. Sirius understood something and came thundering down the stairs, "Dursley, where are you?"

The look on Vernon Dursley's face would have made Harry laugh if he were not worried about Sirius's anger.

Sirius had his wand out and had undone his silencing spell and was saying in a very menacing tone, "Dursley, let me be straight with you. I am an extremely dangerous man and a mad wizard. I can do things that you can't think about. Things are about to turn worse if you don't start speaking about why there are so many locks on Harry's room and a cat flap on the bottom of the door."

Vernon Dursley cowered in terror and his heart was thumping so hard that it looked like it would burst. His face was red with embarrassment and shame and his voice came in whimpers.

It took about 10 minutes for Sirius to get the story that the locks had been put on the door to imprison Harry in his room and the cat flap was used to give him his food.

Sirius looked murderous, "You have done what no sane man would do to a child. You are a waste of space, Vernon Dursley, and a horrible man. I want to kill you here, but I don't want to go back to prison."

Finally, he seemed to think of something as his face contorted in a wicked grin, "Oh, I know what to do with you."

He waved his wand once and Vernon Dursley was replaced with a big fat hideous cat. In a second, Sirius Black was replaced with a big black dog and the cat took off in fright. Sirius kept chasing him until the cat ran to the room upstairs and into the room through the cat flap!

Sirius then returned downstairs, "Go and join your husband in that room, Petunia. If he does not run away tonight, I will change him tomorrow. And take your son with you. I will need your bed tonight."

Of course, Petunia Dursley wasn't going to object.

Sirius walked with Harry to Vernon's bedroom where they crashed into bed at once, with Harry hugging the older wizard.

Ah, it's you!

The next morning, Harry woke up early and got out of bed when Sirius asked, "Where are you going, Harry?"

"To cook breakfast," Harry replied.

Sirius sat up instantly, "What do you mean?"

So, Harry told him how Petunia had him prepare breakfast since he was about 5 years old, and she would punish him if he made a mistake. It eventually got to other things that they had done over the years and by the end of it, Sirius was ready to murder the Dursleys.

"Boy," called Petunia from the hall as Sirius still comprehended what the muggles had been doing to Harry, "Come and prepare breakfast."

Harry started to get up when Sirius caught his hand, "You are not going. Let me see what she wants."

Sirius walked out, in his robes which were open from the front and beneath he was just in his under garments, "What you making a racket for, Petunia?"

Petunia yelped and averted her eyes, "Nothing."

Sirius casually sat at the table, "Let me make it truly clear, Petunia. If I hear once more that you are trying to get Harry to do some chores around the house, then I will turn you into a hen and feed you to a dog. Is that clear?"

She whimpered in panic.

"Now be a good dear and make a full English breakfast. Also bring your worthless husband and I will change him back."

Vernon, the cat, was hiding behind a wall and walked out. With a casual flick, the cat was replaced by Vernon Dursley who looked like he had not slept a bit in the night.

"Sit down Vernon," said Sirius.

As Vernon sat down, Sirius turned to him, "You know I had heard a lot about you from James. He told me all about the meeting where Lilly had introduced him to you and Petunia. Lilly really loved her sister and if something had happened to you, she would have taken your son in and raised him like her own. But you are a waste of space, and you offend me. I am being kind and allowing you to sit with me while you are not worthy of picking up my shoes. You are proud of this tiny box that you call house and I own manors that would put you to shame. I have so much money that you can't even imagine. This boy that you insult, degrade continuously is a sign of hope to the wizarding world. Besides that, he is heir to a fortune so vast that he could keep you as a servant. From what I remember, he has atleast four houses in this country itself and that is not counting what he will inherit from me. If you had tended to him with love and care, I would have given you so much that you could not count now however it is only out of necessity that we reside here. Once our necessity is over, we won't ever darken your doorstep again. Also remember that the boy has kept you safe all these years because it is due to him that this house has a magical protection which cannot be breached. You disgust me, Vernon Dursley. Now be gone before my patience runs away."

As Vernon retreated, Sirius turned to Petunia, "I am appalled at you, Petunia. Your sister loved you and this is what you do to her son? When you were not talking to her, she was very worried and wanted you to talk to her. When she was in hiding during the war, she was distraught that you would not reply to her letters. She told me that with your parents dead, you were the only family left to her outside of James and Harry, yet you never tried to contact her. She once told me that in case she died and Harry was to be raised by you, she believed that her sister would raise her son with love. If she could see you now, she would be disgusted by you. After your parents died, she reached out to you, but you never reciprocated to her. Shame on you Petunia Dursley. If I had my way, I would have taken Harry away from you, but I am bound by some rules. We are going to be living here for just 2 weeks every year for the next few years and I would appreciate if you would try to be cordial to him."

She said to him curtly, "We were eleven when I heard that she was a witch. She got the best of everything. She was the pretty one, she was a witch, and she was the favourite daughter. I was not as good as to my parents who fawned over her. She got to go to that school, and she married that Potter. She always got the best of everything, and did she ever show that she cared? I called her and that Potter to dinner with me and Vernon and what did he do? He made fun of Vernon."

Sirius started laughing, "Did you think that was it? James was genuinely curious about it. He talked to him about wizarding world because he thought that your husband knew about it. He was trying to engage him in a conversation, but I see now that your husband thought otherwise. Now leave me in peace to have some breakfast with my godson."

About a minute later, Harry joined Sirius at the table.

"Now Harry, today I would like to see the room which we could not see yesterday. Then we are going out to have some fun. Will you like it?"

Harry nodded, "Yes, I like it."

As they gathered for breakfast, Petunia gave Harry a generous helping and Dudley whined, "Mum, I am hungry. Give me more."

"There is all that is there, Dudders," she tried to coddle him, "I promise there will be more next time."

"Take it from the freak," whined Dudley, "I want it now."

Sirius froze in his tracks, fury etched on his face as he turned to Dudley, "What did you say?"

"Nothing, he said nothing" said Vernon trying to save his son.

Dudley however was having none of it, "I said take it from the freak. You all are freaks. Why do you bother us normal people?"

Harry gulped at the anger that he could see on Sirius's face and realised that there was only a little time before things would turn bad for the Dursleys, but he could do nothing. The only thing that he could do was watch helplessly as the Dursleys dug their own graves.

"Freak? Is that what you think we are? You want to know what a freak like me can do to you?"

Sirius looked deceptively calm but the air around them was heavy. Sirius had pointed his wand at the boy, and it looked like he was going to curse him when the bell rang!

Harry sighed in relief and Vernon barked orders to Dudley, "Go and open the door, Dudders."

Dudley was grateful to get a chance to tuck tail and run.

After a minute, he called from the front door, "Mrs. Figg is here."

Mrs. Figg was an old woman who lived further down the lane and kept cats. She looked after Harry whenever the Dursleys went on a vacation, etc. She was of medium height, wore carpet slippers and her evening gown. Walking behind her was one of her cats, Mr. Buttercup. The woman was always kind to Harry and tried to help him in little ways and that was why Harry liked her.

Sirius saw the old woman and arose from his seat in surprise, "Arabella! What are you doing here?"

The woman smiled, "Doing my duty, what else."

Petunia asked her, "Do. Do you two know each other?"

Arabella smiled, "Yes, I know Sirius Orion Black here. I was a member of the Order of Phoenix during the first war and later I came to live here to keep an eye on Harry on Dumbledore's orders."

Harry was shocked to say the least, "Dumbledore's orders? What do you mean? Are you a witch?"

She shook her head ruefully, "No, I am a squib. I cannot do any magic, but I was extremely useful to Dumbledore in the war and after the war was over, he sent me here to keep an eye on you discreetly."

"And you never told Dumbledore about how they were treating me?," Harry asked her.

"Dumbledore knew. I had once very terse words with him about it, but he told me that there was no other option. It was done for your safety, Harry," she explained, "It was for this reason that I was chosen to stay near you."

"Petunia, be a dear and get some tea for the guest," said Sirius to Petunia.

Petunia stood from the table reluctantly and Sirius had already turned to Vernon, "Where are your manners, Vernon? Is this your hospitality that you didn't ask about her health?"

Mrs. Figg looked on amused. She had known Sirius Black during the war and knew he had the reputation of a prankster. A brilliant and powerful wizard but a prankster, nonetheless.

Sirius had turned to Dudley, "Where are your manners, Mr. Dudley? Has your mother never taught you to greet a lady?"

Harry didn't know how he was supposed to feel. On one hand, Sirius being there was a great deal for him on the other hand, he was treating the Dursleys like they were worthless... Suddenly it hit him out of nowhere. Sirius was making them feel as they used to do to him. He was teaching them what it meant to be humiliated, scorned upon.

"Are you giving them a demanding time, Sirius?," Arabella asked.

Sirius turned to her, "I am appalled that you will think so, Arabella. I am just giving them the care that they have given to Harry over the years."

She nodded, "That I can understand but Dumbledore has told me to tell that you are not supposed to go overboard in your enthusiasm."

As Sirius and Arabella talked among themselves, Harry was paying attention to his breakfast when an owl tapped on the window of the backdoor.

"What in the blazes!?," roared Vernon, "Boy, I will not have ruddy owls tapping on the door, bringing your freakiness in the house."

Sirius looked towards Vernon, showing his wand casually, "Language Vernon. There are children around."

Vernon gulped at the sight of the wand. Sirius flicked his wand, and the owl flew in landing before Harry.

Harry recognised the letter and took it from the owl. The owl kept waiting patiently and Sirius asked him, "Are you not going to open the letter, Harry?"

Harry reluctantly opened the letter.

"Heir Potter,

How are the holidays going on for you? I am enjoying holidays and waiting for the Quidditch World Cup. My father has got us tickets and prime seats for the final. Are you coming to watch the final?

Another clue for you- If you are going to the world cup, I will try to meet you.

Where are you living by the way? Send me your response by this owl.

Later"

Harry turned to Vernon, "Uncle Vernon, where is my trunk?"

"You are not going to use those 'things' in my house, boy," growled Vernon.

Sirius however had raised his wand already, "Accio Harry's Trunk."

There was a crash and the door of the cupboard under the stairs flew off its hinges as the trunk crashed through the doors and came flying into the room.

Vernon who was standing in the doorway, had to throw himself to the ground to prevent himself from getting run over by it.

Sirius meanwhile was talking to Harry, "Take out what you need, Harry. And then take your trunk to your room. Where is your wand?"

Harry showed him his wand which he had stowed in his trunk.

"Keep it on you at all times, Harry," said Sirius, "I am not allowing you to practice magic all the time but if the need arises, you are free to use it."

"Look here now...," interrupted Vernon when Sirius turned his wand on him, "You want to say something, Vernon?"

Vernon Dursley cowered at the sight of the wand, "No. I mean it's alright, Mr..."

"Lord Black," Sirius corrected him, "Call me Lord Black."

Harry wrote an answer for the first time to his mysterious friend.

"Dear

I don't know who you are, and I have not been able to work out anything from the clues. What I know is that you are either a Ravenclaw or a Hufflepuff. No Slytherin would take an interest in me.

I am fine and living with my muggle relatives. I tried to write to you before, but Hedwig wouldn't know where to take the letter. I have no plans for the world cup yet, but I heard Ron telling me that his father was going to get the tickets.

Later

Harry Potter."

As Harry was finishing the letter, Mrs. Figg left telling them to visit her when they had the time.

"Harry, if you are done with the breakfast then let's get you settled in your room," Sirius was saying, "We have a long day ahead."

Harry dutifully stood and started to drag his trunk behind him when Sirius chided him, "Are you a wizard or not?"

"But Sirius, I am not allowed to use magic at home," Harry protested.

"Nonsense Harry," Sirius said, "You will not get in trouble if I permit you to use magic here."

"But I was given warning when Dobby used magic here two years ago," Harry said.

"Who is Dobby?," asked Sirius.

"A house elf," Harry replied.

"A House elf in a muggle house!," Sirius exclaimed, "what a house elf was doing here?"

"I will tell you later," said Harry.

"No, we will talk now. Let's go to your room," said Sirius pointing his wand at the trunk and shot a spell at it, "Locomotor Trunk."

The trunk started levitating in air and came behind them as they walked up towards the second-floor bedroom.

As they entered the room, Sirius howled, "Dursley, get your worthless hide up here or I will turn you into a rodent and run you under the tyres of my motorcycle."

Vernon Dursley had never run in his life but at that moment, he came running up to the room, out of breath and panting.

Sirius turned to glare at him, and Vernon seemed to shrink in size, "I have barely controlled my fury, Vernon but you are pushing me to the extreme. Do you want me to curse you so bad that your life will be a living nightmare?"

Vernon said nothing but his puce red face told everything that was to be said.

"You did not even have had the decency to give him a proper room? Was that so hard for you? Does blood matter nothing to you? Be gone with you. I will deal with you later, now."

As Vernon Dursley retreated, Sirius was eyeing the bed which was in the room. He waved his wand in a complex motion and the bed was replaced with king size four poster bed like those in the Gryffindor Dorms. Another wave of the wand and the locks on the door had vanished. Another flourish of the wand and the room looked changed. Finally, Sirius transformed the table in the room into a big heavy table complete with drawers and a chair.

Just then there was a knock on the door and Petunia was there, "Harry, I have asked Vernon to buy a closet for this room. It will arrive here today."

Having said that, she abruptly turned and left the room. Harry could see that her eyes were moist, and her voice was hitched as if she had been crying but he had no idea how that could be.

Harry turned to Sirius, "What was that about?"

Sirius shrugged, "I may have guilt tripped into doing something for you. Now, let's arrange your books, shall we?"

Harry opened the trunk to retrieve his books when Sirius waved his wand, and the books flew out of the trunk and started to arrange themselves into the bookshelf.

After that was done, Sirius had him sit and then asked him, "Now there are a lot of things that I want to talk to you about. First tell me who is Dobby and how did a house elf came to be in a muggle house?"

"Dobby was a Malfoy house elf. He worked for them and in the holidays of my first year, he came to Privet Drive to convince me to not to return to the school. I had no idea why he wanted that, and I was determined to return to school. He tried make the Ministry act against me and to make the Dursleys stop me from going back, he made a pudding fall on the heads of some guests of the Dursleys. Enraged, Uncle Vernon put bars on my window and locks on the door. I was rescued by the Weasleys who came in a flying car to get me out of here. Later, at school Dobby tried to make me return by trying to injure me. He closed the portal on the station, and we took a flying car to school which we crashed in the Whomping Willow. Later, he enchanted a bludger to come after me during a match and it broke my wrist. Our DADA Professor vanished those bones trying to mend the hand. Later that year, the chamber of secrets was opened, and the basilisk was set free. After I killed the Basilisk, I freed him from the Malfoys by tricking them into giving him clothes."

Sirius had a look of horror on his face, "And where is this Dobby now? Is he bonded to someone?"

"No, he wanted to be free. He is not serving any one now."

"Harry, do you have any idea what you have done?," Sirius asked him in horror.

"What happened?"

"Harry, I know you were brought among muggles so you wouldn't know but House Elves need our magic to survive. They bond with wizards because it is our magic which keeps them alive. It is mostly symbiotic relationship."

"You mean I killed him by setting him free?," Harry asked him in panic.

"Call him," Sirius said.

"Dobby," Harry called, and a moment later there was loud crack, and the house elf appeared, "the great Harry Potter calls for Dobby?"

Sirius had his wand trained at the elf, "Who do you serve, elf?"

Dobby looked at him and replied, "I serve no one. Dobby is free elf."

"Elves cannot live without a magical bond," Sirius said, "How are you alive?"

"I am bonded to no one because no one wants to pay a house elf," replied the diminutive elf.

"Will you work for me?," Sirius asked him, "I will give you two days off a month and 2 Galleons a week."

Dobby nodded eagerly, "I will, master."

Sirius took his hand and said, "I Sirius Orion Black, Lord of House Black take Dobby, the house elf as my house elf from this moment. So, I say so mote it be."

Sirius pulled out handful of coins and gave them to Dobby, "This is your first month salary. You are to use the rest to buy yourself some decent clothes and then come to see me about your duties."

As the elf vanished, Sirius turned to him, "Now get ready Harry. We are going shopping."

Harry nodded and as he pulled out clothes from the trunk, Sirius asked him, "Why are your clothes so big?"

"TheyarenotminebutcastoffclothesofDudely," Harry said quickly.

"Harry, reply to me slowly and clearly," he said soothingly.

"These... these are not mine but Dudley's cast offs," he said quietly.

Sirius' eyes rolled for a moment before he sighed, "If I had taken a moment to think things through, it would have saved you all these troubles. If I had stopped to think and did not go after Peter all those years ago. Never mind, today we are going to shop for clothes."

"But Sirius, I don't have that much money," said Harry.

Sirius glared at him, "Harry, let me take care of that. And, you have so much money that even two or three trunks full of clothes won't make a dent in your finances. Besides being your godfather, it is my responsibility."