Harry Potter
All things considered, Harry Potter considered the day to be a bit of a mixed bag.
For starters, being attacked by Dementors while with his cousin was certainly not the way he wanted to spend his morning. Not to mention having to explain to his Uncle just why Dudley was looking suitably drained and mildly listless when they eventually dragged their bodies into Number 4. The shouting and smack against his head from Uncle Vernon had certainly not helped with his overall emotional state at the moment.
Then there was the Ministry and that had proven to be the highlight of his day.
“I’m sorry, you mean to tell me that the people in charge of keeping the spooky soul suckers from Saturn in captivity had no idea that a few of them decided to come to visit Privet Drive,” the amount of incredulity in his voice was honestly a record for Harry at that point.
A few hours after Harry had walked in with Dudley the Ministry had come knocking at the door. Specifically, a handful of Aurors and one lady with a far too heavy infatuation with the color pink. And cats if the thick layer of fur plastered across the garishly pink sweater was anything to go by.
“Mr. Potter, while I have no idea what you mean by ‘Spooky Soul Suckers from Saturn’, I can assure you that the Ministry has no record of any Dementors being sent this way,”
The only one who seemed to be somewhat competent, a rather tall dark-skinned man who went by Shacklebolt, tried his best to sound reassuring though it was doing little to actually help Harry.
“Just like Ministry was so sure that Sirius Black was the one who betrayed my Mum and Dad. Or how they were so sure it was a good idea to have joy-drinking jerks floating around a school full of children. Oh, let’s not even mention the fact you all refused to tell people that Voldemort is actually back,”
“Ahem,” the pink monstrosity coughed from her spot on one of Aunt Petunia’s sofas, “Any claims of the return of any Dark Lord have been patently proven false and the Ministry would kindly ask you to stop spreading such falsehoods,”
“Right, so I just dragged myself to a graveyard after the Third task and Cruico’d myself did I? Or maybe I was just dueling my imagination. Besides, that still doesn’t absolve you of how well you all managed to mess up Sirius’ whole case,” Harry muttered the last part with bitterness in his voice.
Not only had the Ministry placed his Godfather in Azkaban without a trial, but when they finally revealed Peter for the literal rat he was, the man managed to give them the slip once again. Only to wind up slicing open Harry’s arm at the end of the Third Task. All for his blood to bring back Voldemort.
I give it freely. I give it freely.
He still couldn’t shake that memory, or the desperation in his voice at the time.
“I am sure those are merely just the words of a boy with far too much of an imagination. You are so creative with your little…trinkets here in the Muggle world, who is to say you aren’t just as creative of a storyteller,”
“Listen, Cheshire Cat, if you want to call me a lair just do it. No one likes it when someone beats around the bush,”
The pink creature looked ready to retort before Shacklebolt managed to get control with a cough of his own.
“Nevertheless Harry, using magic in front of a Muggle underage is expressly forbidden. It is one of the most important tenants of the Statue of Secrecy,”
“If it doesn’t account for trying to protect your own life, then maybe the entire thing be rewritten. Surely you don’t just expect Wixen to sit idly by why Muggles are being hurt by something that only we can fight against,”
The sarcasm laced in his words seemed to make the lavender-haired girl leaning against the wall chuckle ever so slightly, her hair shifting to a deep shade of red. Harry would kill to learn how to do that himself. Would make hiding his scar a lot easier if he could just distract everyone with shockingly purple hair.
“Even if you are justified in your actions, you must still answer for them young man,” the pink beast spoke, “As such, we will be collecting your wand to be snapped for your transgressions,”
Harry was just about to unleash a rather expletive-ridden row onto the pink lady but was stopped by the sound of feet rushing into the living room from the kitchen.
“You can’t do that! Harry saved my life from those hooded creeps,” shouted Dudley, trying to throw off the arms of his Mum insisting he come back into the kitchen and away from the ‘freaks’.
Shacklebolt looked honestly taken aback by Dudley and his cry in defense of Harry
“Are you saying that you were truly attacked by Dementors,”
Dudley had managed to wrestle out of his Mother’s grip, standing up as tall even as his Father muttered about how he was interacting with the ‘wrong sorts’,
“Uh Y-yes sir. I had gone by Harry’s…hideout so he could come make breakfast. When we were walking through the tunnel it started getting cold, like really cold. I could see my breath and it is way too warm for that,
“Anyway, Harry started to freak out, saying that this shouldn’t be happening or something. Next thing I know, three of those black-robed monsters are waiting for us at the end of the tunnel. Harry told me to get behind him and he pulled out his wand you see. Started casting this mist stuff that seemed to push them back. I don’t remember much after that cause I collapsed but it wasn’t until I saw this deer thing running the rest of those monsters out,”
In that moment Harry felt nothing but actual gratitude for his cousin. It wasn’t quite at the level of familial love, but it was about as close as they had ever been.
“Ahem. The testimony of a Muggle is hardly worth anything. Who is to say that Potter didn’t just confound the young Muggle like he seems to do with those that believe his lies about He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named being back,” the pink woman cut in once again, this time earning a glare not just from Harry, but from Shacklebolt and the red-haired girl as well.
“Madame Undersecretary, if you do not stop with your needless accusations I will have you removed from this case. Regardless of your connections with the Minister,” Shacklebolt seethed, clearly at his wits end with her as well.
The pink woman closed her mouth, but her eyes never left Harry, shining with a deep malice that not even Draco had leveled at him.
“Despite what Madame Umbridge may have said," Shacklebolt continued, "the testimony of a Muggle can be used as evidence to support the claim of a Wixen. His description of a Dementor and its effects are spot on, as was his depiction of the method of how to banish them. I would feel more comfortable if this matter was dealt with in a trial, as opposed to being rushed by the Minster,”
“We have orders to snap the boy's wand! You cannot just go against-,”
“Umbridge, while the Minister can make requests to the DMLE in certain matters, he has no direct power in how we handle situations. As such, it is as the Head of the Auror department I am moving this matter to be handled in Potter’s court case, without the snapping or collection of his wand. My decision on this is final,”
Harry watched as Umbridge looked extremely bitter and angry, her glare going from himself to Shacklebolt in equal measure. With a loud harrumph, the woman gathered her notepad and turned on her heels, apparating away with a more deafening CRACK than what was necessary.
“I swear, Fudges’ Under Secretaries get worse every year. Though that pink toad takes the cake,” the witch against the wall finally spoke, making Harry bark in laughter
“A toad! Wish I had thought of that. Though can’t imagine pink toads are good for anyone’s health,” Harry clapped his hands together, looking expectantly at Shacklebolt, “So that’s it then? I get to keep my wand and I just have to show up for court to once again say there were really Dementors trying to suck me soulless,”
“Not exactly,” Shacklebolt slowly spoke, making Harry quirk an eyebrow in confusion.
“What do you mean ‘not exactly’? It seems like everything is good for now,”
“While you may be going to court Harry and there is no need to snap and collect your wand, you still knowingly performed underage magic in front of a Muggle. The procedure for such a thing is to place you under house arrest with your Magical Guardian until your court date,”
“Slow your road real fast. What do you mean by Magical Guardian? Are you talking about Sirius, because Dumbledore said I couldn’t move in with him even though he had been cleared on his charges earlier this year,”
Shacklebolt looked as if he was mildly irritated, though Harry had no idea as to what, even as he muttered the words ‘That meddlesome old man’ under his breath.
“That is correct. While Dumbledore may have been named your acting Magical Guardian while Black was wrongly incarcerated, upon his acquittal of all charges Black rightfully became your Magical Guardian as per your parents’ wishes,”
Hope, actual hope began to well up inside of Harry. Sirius was legally his guardian. He had someone he could live with that wasn’t his Aunt and Uncle. To say he was giddy would be seriously underselling the mirth that was practically foaming at his lips. And he wasn’t the only one to be excited by the news.
“You mean to tell me that this ungrateful brat could have been living with someone else instead of us normal folks this entire time,” came the boisterous voice of Uncle Vernon, still standing fearfully in the kitchen.
“While I do not believe Harry to be ungrateful, that is correct Sir. It is reasonable to assume that, with Sirius only being exonerated this past March, the thought to place young Harry with his rightful guardian may have slipped the mind of his previous one,”
“I don’t care what slipped his mind. If it means this freak can be gone then I want to see it done. Not only that but we should also be compensated for taking care of the whelp for all these years. Especially if he had someone who should have been doing it all along,”
Sensing that his Uncle was heading for one of his legendary shouting spats, the man's face already nearing a deep shade of purple that was challenging the witch’s hair with its vibrancy, Harry quickly stepped in between the two men.
“I’m sure Dumbledore just forgot. And I’ve only been here for two weeks so it shouldn’t be that big of a deal,” Harry began, knowing that he was just going to draw the ire of his Uncle, which was far better than it being directed to the freaking Auror of all people.
“A big deal!,” Vernon roared, his fear of the Wixen in his home forgotten as he came barreling at Harry, grabbing the boy's shirt in one meaty fist, “Were it not for you and all this foul freakishness you bring in this house, my boy wouldn’t have been attacked by whatever those creatures were that you clearly made up. That Umbridge lady was right when she said to snap your wand. You are too much trouble you disgusting little-“
As Vernon raised his hand and Harry curled in on himself, there was a sudden loud pop followed by an even louder bang. Harry felt a rush of air as Vernon was struck backward by a spell, leaving him stunned on the ground. He turned around, expecting to see Shacklebolt brandishing his wand, but was stunned to see someone else instead.
“Padfoot,” Harry all but whispered fondly, as his Godfather stood tall, his wand not wavering an inch from the prone form of Uncle Vernon.
“Hello pup, looks like I came just in time to rescue you from your fine family,” his voice was laced with sarcasm as he looked over at the other figure that came alongside him, Albus Dumbledore.
“I’m sure that whatever happened it was merely a misunderstanding. Those happen in most families after all,” the eldest Wixen in the room said with a grandfatherly twinkle in his eyes.
“Yeah well, the Dursleys aren’t the most common of families,” Harry spat back before he went running into the arms of Sirius who had finally dropped his wand, “I missed you so much, Sirius. I was worried I wouldn’t get a chance to see you before the term started. Did you know that you are my actual guardian now,”
The excitement had once again returned to Harry’s voice as he looked up at the one adult that he could actually view as a father figure. In the short time they had known each other, Sirius had been more of a parent than any other adult Harry had come across. Well, not counting Lupin.
“Yep. Dumbledore was just telling me when he heard about this whole Dementor fiasco. Which I am sure is just a misunderstanding that will blow over. For now, though, how’d you like to ditch your loving family and come live with me,” Sirius asked, his eyes just as wide as Harry’s with unrestrained happiness
“More than anything. Though I’ve got to go grab some stuff first. Actually, do you want to come with me to pick them up,”
The rest of the world seemed to melt away as Harry eagerly tugged Sirius away from the rest of the people in Number 4. He was sure Dumbledore and Shacklebolt were trying to talk with a still shouting Vernon but none of that mattered to Harry. Not at that moment. Sirius was really here and was coming to take him away from this hell of a house. For years Harry had been dreaming of this moment, of someone coming to save him from his relatives. Wanting someone to actually see just what he was capable of and all that he had done. To just tell him those words he had been carving to hear since he made his first robot.
‘Good job Harry. I’m proud of you’
Now, with Sirius free to actually be his Guardian, Harry was finally going to have that. Finally, have someone that could apricate just how smart he really was.
Harry dragged Sirius up the stairs and to his room, not catching the spiteful eye his Godfather was giving the numerous locks and the catflap that were still attached to the door. Opening it for the both, he gave Hedwig a smile before turning to face Sirius.
“Want to hear something really cool Siri,” Harry asked, practically bouncing on his feet at the prospect of showing off his creation
“Sure Pup. Whatever you want to show me go ahead and knock my socks off," It was all the confirmation that Harry needed, his smile a mile wide.
“PRONGS, say hello to Sirius if you don’t mind,” Harry spoke to the open air.
“Good Afternoon Sirius Black. It is a pleasure to meet you, Harry has spoken quite a bit about you,” came the voice of the AI from a nearby salvaged speaker.
Harry felt his arm get yanked as Sirius pulled out his wand and pushed Harry behind him
“Stay back there Pup, I don’t know what’s going on, but someone is trying to impersonate James. I’d know his voice anywhere,”
“What? No that’s PRONGS, he is an A.I. I built. I changed his vocal patterns to match what I remembered Dad sounding like,”
Sirius, wand still brandished, gave Harry a confused look,
“Harry, you were barely just one when you were last around James, how could you possibly know what he sounds like,”
“I…I found out when I was at the graveyard…when I dueled Voldemort,” Harry looked down at his trainers, his voice dropping ever so slightly, “Something happened when our spells connected and I got to see him and mum. They saved me. I couldn’t forget his voice so I fiddled with PRONGS vocal processor until I got as close as my memory could recall,”
Sirius looked down at Harry, his hands resting on the boy's shoulders.
“Uh, that is…nice Harry. I’m glad you even named him PRONGS, but I don’t think we can bring him with us. Since magic and muggle contraptions don’t work so well,”
Harry searched Sirius’s eyes, looking for something. A scant glimmer of approval or genuine curiosity at how Harry had managed to create PRONGS in the first place. Instead of that, all he saw was confusion. Confusion and what looked like a mild fear as his eyes continued to roam the room, looking for any place PRONGS may be hiding.
He doesn’t care, does he?
The question didn’t leave Harry’s lips, but the sting of what the answer was hurt all the same. Biting his lip, Harry swallowed his potential tears before giving Sirius and rueful smirk.
“Didn’t think about that. Let me just take of one thing and we can get the rest of my stuff. Hey, PRONGS,”
“Yes Harry,” came the vocal double of James, making Sirius jump once more.
“I want you to execute project codename; ‘Later Bitches’. You know what to do, right,”
“Of course. I’m uploading myself and all your experiment data to your secure site. As well as igniting the charges in your shed. I will await your return, Harry,”
There was a faint sound as PRONGS transmitted himself and all of Harry’s notes and projects to a server he had managed to purchase some time ago. It hurt a bit, knowing that PRONGS was going to be basically hibernating until Harry could activate him again. The A.I. had been his companion while suffering with the Durselys. Hell, it was practically like a child in Harry’s eyes and he was just stuffing it away someplace.
Like he was, stuffed into a cupboard.
“I’ll see you soon PRONGS, I promise,” Harry whispered, before giving Sirius a broad smile, “Alright, you going to help me carry my stuff or are you going to be a dog to get out of it,” quipped Harry, earning a rueful smile from Sirius
“Unlike you, I can do magic freely Pup. So yes, allow me to gather all of your stuff so I can finally bring you home,”
As Sirius began to cast spells, quickly and neatly bundling all of Harry’s items, the boy turned that word over in his mind. Home. He was going home. Going to a place where he wouldn’t have to hide how smart he was. Where he wouldn’t be called a freak simply for being born with the ability to do magic. Perhaps a home where he could tinker and work on his projects freely and without worrying about an Aunt or Uncle who despised him for it.
Maybe, just maybe, Number 12 would be three times the home that Number 4 should have been for Harry.
All he could do was hope.