Chapter Text
Harry tapped his feet anxiously against the floor of the smallest room of 4 Privet Drive. There was a burning need to move about, but he didn’t have much to fuel that need. Ever since Dudley came home with that note about his weight there had been less food in the house. While Aunt Petunia and Uncle Vernon had ranted and raved about Dudley’s “big bones” and “puppy fat”, it hadn’t meant anything in the face of his school's demands of a diet. They couldn’t outright starve Harry in case “ that man ” was watching the house, they still maintained that everyone diet along with Dudley. And while both Vernon and Dudley could stand to lose a few pounds, Harry only had so much to work with.
His heart sunk as he thought about what his friends would say when he returned to Hogwarts smaller than he’d left. It was bad enough that they’d all thrown a party when they noticed he’d gained two stones by Christmas. Hermione even had him weigh himself to make sure, and started detailing a journal about how he was growing like she was his mum or something. It was embarrassing, but at least Sirius had told him congratulations, giving him a hug and some extra treacle that evening.
Sirius.
With every passing day that he didn’t hear from his godfather Harry worried that something had happened. Shouldn’t he have heard from him and Remus by now? He’d gotten a letter a week into summer vacation and then nothing but silence. Harry had even checked with Dobby to make sure the house elf wasn’t stealing his mail again, but Dobby promised he was doing no such thing. That was a fun afternoon. He and the house elf had chatted for a good couple of hours while they worked together to clean Harry’s room. Dobby had been appalled at the state of things now that he was no longer on a mission to scare Harry away from Hogwarts. He’d been even more appalled when Harry insisted that he help with cleaning. It turned into a game of sorts, seeing what Harry could get away with while Dobby tried to stop him. He only felt a little bad when Dobby started to cry, so they’d settled for talking about different cleaning techniques both magical and muggle.
But that was two weeks ago, and nothing could stop the looming dread building up in Harry’s chest. Sure, there was nothing in the Prophet about Sirius being caught. He would keep reminding himself that Fudge and Crouch would eagerly publish the capture and death of Sirius Black for his supposed crimes.
He hissed as his fingernail started to burn from where he’d cracked the skin. Aunt Petunia, despite her fear of Sirius Black, had demanded he clean the bathroom, leaving his hands cracked and dry from the bleach. Though he had the chance to garden which was nice.
His stomach growled. Just the thought of the garden made him hungry. Harry had taken to snacking on the dandelions that Petunia declared weeds to make up for the fact that he was only getting a slice of grapefruit for most breakfasts, half a sandwich at lunch, and meager portions of whatever dinner he was yelled into making.
Harry would need to head downstairs to start dinner soon. Maybe he could sneak a few bites of soup-
There was a loud knock at the front door. Harry straightened up, like he had all summer, at the sound. He slowly crept out into the hallway. Dudley was still moping about in his room playing video games--he could hear the sound of blasters going off from behind the door along with muffled cursing. Harry snorted. Dudley must be losing again. There were even chances of the videogame being tossed out the window in a screaming fit, which would at least provide Harry entertainment if the knock at the door wasn’t who he was waiting for.
Another sharp knock rapped against the door.
“I’m coming, I’m coming,” Uncle Vernon growled, huffing and puffing as he waddled from the kitchen. The hinges of the door screeched in anguish as he threw the door open. “What do you- You!”
The anger in Uncle Vernon’s voice could only mean one thing.
Only magic got Uncle Vernon this angry.
Harry bolted down the stairs, ducking under Vernon’s meaty grasp to fling himself at the pair of men standing outside the door. “Sirius! Professor Lupin!”
Sirius looked much better than he had when Harry and his friends had warned him about Crouch. His face had filled out handsomely, and he actually seemed to fit in the clothes he wore. He definitely rocked the Guns & Roses with leather pants and a trenchcoat. Lupin also looked healthier, less wan. There was more silver in his hair than before, but it didn’t hang as limply. And it seemed Sirius had somehow convinced Lupin to let him buy the werewolf a new wardrobe if the non-threadbare and up-to-date sweater and slacks were anything to go by. Even his scars seemed to have faded.
“It’s good to see you too, pup,” Sirius laughed, pulling Harry into a tight hug and lifting him off the ground with newfound strength.
“And it’s Remus, Harry, I’m no longer your teacher,” Lupin--no, Remus , reminded him. The words were gentle so Harry didn’t mind the correction.
“Your kind are not welcome here! Get-”
“We’ll be out of your hair as soon as we grab Harry’s things,” Sirius cut in smoothly, a malicious light to his eyes as he twirled his wand. Uncle Vernon went pale at the sight of it. “ Accio .”
“Vernon? Who’s at the door?” Petunia’s shrill voice called from within the house.
A couple of thumps like something heavy was hitting the walls echoed before a shriek sounded as Harry’s trunk came flying out, followed by a horribly upset Hedwig and all of the junk he’d pulled out already. How Sirius knew what to summon, Harry didn’t know. But it was wicked.
“Woah,” he found himself whispering as his loose items folded themselves into a pillowcase within seconds.
“We’ll send an elf if I missed anything, yeah?” Sirius grinned at Harry, ignoring Uncle Vernon’s sputtering. “You’ve been away from home long enough.”
Harry lit up and took the offered hand from Remus. The werewolf smiled before giving him a soft warning. “Hold on. We’re going to Apparate, so you might feel ill. I promise we’ll have a pepper-up potion on the other side if you need it.”
With a snap and a crack all three disappeared from sight, leaving one Vernon Dursley to shout curses down the street with a shake of his fist.
***
“Sirius, we should probably go make sure they don’t tell Dumbledore about this.”
“Damn, knew I forgot about something.”