Freedom within
tw- graphic depiction of child abuse, slight suicidal ideation
Sirius Black and Remus Lupin had always cared for Harry Potter- only a fool would think otherwise.
Despite the fact that they had limited interactions with him (if any at all), the couple had always tried to keep the boy safe, regardless of their limitations. They did this in ranging ways, most of them involving padfoot watching from a far.
However, miraculously, Remus Lupin had landed a job within the primary school that Harry was enrolled in.
"Remus isn't this going too far..? I mean, obviously I've been observing him for years but, this? This is-"
"We both want what's best for him. We need to help him get out of that house. Away from the Dursleys. You said it yourself, Pads, these past 6 years you've seen nothing but the light slowly dim in his eyes.."
Sirius sighed deeply, "I suppose you're right.. Just, be careful, okay? Dumbledore was already under the impression that I was meddling with Harry's care by just watching over him."
"I know, but really, Dumbledore put him in that house in the first place, I don't care what he thinks. Harry needs us, needs you, his godfather."
***
Harry Potter was always considered a quiet child. Shy, introverted, lack of socialisation, skittish. That's just how everyone knew him to be, from an early age he'd been, in a way, withdrawn from others. Nobody really thought much of it.
Nobody thought much about anything to do with Harry, to be honest.
Not the unruly, if not slightly matted, black hair on his head. Not the glasses that were always slightly askew on his face. Not the massively oversized clothes that hung loose off his malnourished body.
And not the deep purple bruises that ranged in sizes across his whole body. Nor the faint, circular scars that were littered upon his forearms that also slowly traced a trail down the back of his neck, hiding beneath his worn clothes.
Vernon Dursley made absolutely sure that any trace of their mistreatment was meticulously covered up.
(Because, really, how embarrassing would it be for the neighbours to find out that their nephew was an absolute, utter freak and they were failing at all their attempts to make him normal?)
He managed to cover up all traces so easily, Vernon began to wonder how stupid everyone must've been to not notice. Of course, being 7 years old Harry never questioned the treatment he received from the Dursley's; he just suspected it to be normal, all families did this when their family unsuspectedly did magic.
To Harry, magic was wrong. He was never to perform it within the Dursley household, or at all, for that matter. Anytime he was caught, it was only natural that punishment was in order.
It was a hot summer day. The Dursleys along, with Harry, were sitting outside, Petunia basking in the sunlight, her pasty white skin on show in attempt to catch a tan (which was always proven to be unsuccessful), Vernon sweating more than usual, his red splotchy face looking more-so, and then Dudley who was far to consumed in the process of picking apart the chrysanthemums, in Petunia's rose bed (and chucking the dismantled petals at Harry) to be bothered about what his parents were doing.
Harry sat, calm and unfazed by his cousins action, he'd grown used to it by now. It was only when Dudley decided to exchange throwing the petals to throwing the sharp stones from the rock beds.
"Hey-! stop it!" Harry spoke, slightly muffled as to not catch the attention of his aunt and uncle.
Dudley continued to pester.
"Dudley, it hurts! Stop-" Harry threw his arms up in response. But then a short-of shield formed around him, blasting all the sharp stones back at Dudley, causing him to get a fair share of scrapes littered across his skin.
"DAAADDD-!" Dudley wailed, lifting his pudgy self off the grass to pursue his parents on the patio. "MUM, DAD!"
It was then that Harry realised what he'd done and his stomach sank.
"HARRYDIDYOUKNOWWHATAGAIN!" he rambled, already out of breath from the short journey from the other side of the garden.
Harry didn't know what Vernon had said in response. Everything became blurry as his ears began to ring.
Tears, slap, crying, punch.
Panic was creeping in as Vernon roughly grasped Harry's fragile wrist with bruising force and threw him into the cupboard- but not until he'd taken out his lightbulb, first.
He threw the small boy into the cupboard under the stairs and locked the door.
Harry muffled his sobs with the one toy he had that wasn't completely ruined at the hand of Dudley; a brown well-loved teddy bear. If Vernon heard him crying, it would only result in more pain, so he tried his best to stifle the sobs. But to his avail, his attempts were futile.
Desperately, he crept under the stained sheets of his "bedding", breath hitching in his throat.
This was all Harry had ever known, who could've blamed him for thinking that this was ordinary behaviour? Magic was unnatural, he was a freak that deserved what he had coming for him.
***
On Remus' first day of work, he tried to treat it like any other, he really did. But anxiety was swimming just below the surface.
"What if Dumbledore finds out? Well, I mean, he will won't he? It's inevitable. Godric knows I'm going to be in so much trouble. I-"
Sirius placed a calm hand on his shoulder, beginning to kneed it supportively. "Moony, Moony... relax! I've been watching his for years and I never got into the shits with him. You'll be fine." he said in a way that was unsure, like he was still trying to convince himself.
In response, Remus sighed deeply, some of the tension being relieved in his shoulder as he leaned into his boyfriend's touch. "You're right Pads... It's not like I'm doing anything wrong..." his voice wavered, "I just want to help the poor lad."
Sirius frowned, "I know, so do I. Just... Just be careful, okay? Don't rush into anything."
Remus responded with a firm nod.
"I can't stand to see him looking so miserable all the time..." Sirius let go of his shoulders to pinch his own nose bridge, indicating his stress. "I feel like I've let him down."
"Pads.... you know as well as I do that the consequences would be much more dire for you than me, you had to keep your distance, it isn't your fault." Remus said softly, as he laid a gentle hand on Sirius' cheek.
He leaned into his touch and released a crooked smile whilst glancing up at their antique grandfather clock across the room. "Well, you best get going. Unless you want to be late on your first day?"
Remus whipped his head around to look at the clock, letting out a slight gasp as he realised the time. "Goodbye!" he pecked Sirius on the lips, then grabbed his briefcase and disapparated out the house.
***
Harry set off to school that day with his bones aching and a familiar burning sensation lurking beneath his oversized school shirt. The previous day he'd accidentally performed a levitating charm on one of his toy cars, it was harmless, really, but Vernon caught him in the act and reminded his of the fact that he was freak.
-flashback-
His cigarette sizzled through the skin of nephew, despite his cries and pleas and reminders that it was an accident.
"I'M SORRY, I- I DIDN'T MEAN TOO." his attempts to wriggle free of Vernon's strong grip were futile, because, really, what malnourished 7 year old boy would ever be able to over power an overweight fully grown man.
With bruising grip Vernon dragged Harry to his cupboard under the stairs, backhanded him around the face and then shoved him, with full force, into his damp, dark cupboard.
Harry performed his usual ritual, trying to stifle his cries, but today the pain was far too much.
"I-I didn't mean to" he softly repeated to himself.
The cigarette burnt another hole into his skin, the sound of the flesh sizzling permanently engraved into his brain. The discomfort was too much for
him and all that happened was his sobs getting gradually louder.
The cupboard door snapped open violently.
His hair was roughly grabbed and he was pulled out the cupboard; another broken cry caught in his throat.
"We put a roof over your head, put clothes on your back, and we ask you for one thing in return, but you can't even do that." Uncle Vernon spat ferociously. "Well, I tell you what, I've had enough of it. I think it's about time I beat some real sense into you, boy."
With that Harry's eyes opened as wife as saucers.
With every kick to his ribs or stomach or head, the fragile boy felt more bile arise in his throat. He swallowed, hard, as to not create anymore trouble for himself. After all, this was his fault in the first place, if he could just control it.
When Vernon had finally beat the boy senseless he, of course, threw Harry back into the cupboard and slammed the door.
He sat in the dark, bloodied and bruised, not even daring to cry. He grabbed his teddy bear, held it close to his chest and hid under his duvet.
-end of flashback-
The discomfort Harry felt as he trudged to school that morning was unbearable, every bruise and aching muscle screaming, pleading for him to collapse. But he couldn't. That'd draw attention to him, people would find out about uncle Vernon, and he'd always warned Harry that they wouldn't understand their "situation" as Vernon called it.
He dragged his feet along the pavement, letting the world around him become nothing more than a blur and a ringing in his ears. He'd always found it helped on the days that the pain became too much to bear. On the days when all he wished was that he'd died in that stupid car crash that took his parents' lives.
He would never admit that, though.
Before he knew it, he arrived at the door of his classroom.
Harry liked school, he always had. He took comfort in being so far away from evil uncle Vernon and aunt Petunia, he still had to suffer with Dudley's annoyances but usually he'd find a quiet spot in school to hide from him, he'd usually just read a book to pass time. Once, he got so indulged in his book, he didn't realise lunch time has finished and it was nearing the end of the day! But- of course- his uncle and aunt found out, so he was sent to his cupboard without dinner that night.
Harry shook his head vigorously, trying to get the memories out. He was at school, he was safe (at least for the next 7 hours, providing Dudley didn't track him down). Suddenly, an extremely tall man emerged from the classroom. He had shaggy brown hair, sparkling brown eyes with flecks of green that lingered in the centre of his iris. And three pink tinted scars tearing the middle of his face. Harry stared up at the strange man in shock and unconsciously began to cower back against the wall, shrinking in on himself to appear smaller than he already was. He didn't like new people, whenever new people showed up to the Dursley's, on the rare occasion he wasn't locked up in his cupboard, they'd always pick on him or say things about his father; call him " a good-for nothing tosser".
The unknown man looked towards Harry and offered a kind smile before saying:
"Good morning everyone, if you'd like to come in and take your seats, anywhere is fine for now."