Chapter Text
Remus Lupin and Sirius Black opened the front door of their cottage in Godric's Hollow. Someone was knocking frantically on the door. It was a rainy and cold morning in July and they weren’t expecting any visitors. Remus blinked in surprise:
Minerva McGonagall was standing on the front step wearing her usual green robes and witches hat. She looked worried and there was a small boy standing by her side.
“He needs your help.” she said, gently pushing the boy forward.
Remus looked at the boy. He was thin with matted black hair and dull green eyes…and a scar like lighting that stretched across his face.
“Harry?” Sirius asked with uncertainty.
Harry, who had been staring at the floor looked up. Harry was eight now and they hadn’t seen him since he was a baby.
Dumbledore had promised them that Harry was happy and safe and they had been told that they needed to stay away from him for his own safety. Harry didn’t look happy or safe.
"He's been with Lily's sister all these years." McGonagall told them.
"Petunia?" Remus frowned. Lily had never been close with her older sister. It was a cause of great upset for her while they had been in school. Lily would never have chosen Petunia to raise Harry.
“Come in.” Remus said abruptly, stepping to one side.
McGonagall looked relieved “Thank you so much,” she said with a nod “I can’t stay. Dumbledore doesn’t know that I’ve taken him…But I couldn’t let him stay with those muggles." She looked at Harry "...Potter, This is Sirius Black and Remus Lupin. They will look after you.”
Harry nodded and watched her start to hurry down the tiny path towards the gate.
“Wait!” Sirius called out “Minnie…Doesn't Harry have a cousin?” he asked, worried for the other boy. If Harry had to be rescued, what about his cousin?
Minerva nodded, noticing the anxious look on Sirius’ face. She knew at once that he was thinking of Regulus Black.
“I’ve taken his cousin, Dudley, to stay with Mrs Figg.” She explained.
Sirius nodded though he was confused. That was all he needed to know.
Minerva waved, walked quickly across the small front garden and then in a second she had vanished from sight.
Harry watched her go, he had not moved from the front step.
“Come in.” Remus said again.
Nervously, Harry followed them into the hallway. It took a few seconds for his eyes to adjust from the outside he had left to the cosy darkness of the cottage but he was used to the dark.
“I’ll make some tea.” Remus mumbled.
Harry remained in the hallway clutching a plastic bag. Through the half-open door of the kitchen he watched Remus cautiously.
Sirius walked back into the hallway and looked at Harry.
"Come on," Sirius said, feeling slightly awkward as he led the way into the living room.
It was a comfortable room with large windows. The front window looked out onto the church and graveyard, the other onto a garden at the side. There was a large fireplace where a small fire was burning. Stretched out beneath the side window were a few shelves filled with books, old newspapers, photographs, records.... and odds and ends of all sorts. There was a small table with two chairs and the stone floor was covered with a faded crimson and golden rug. Harry glanced at the armchairs by the fireplace.
"Pull that chair up by the fire and I'll find you something to eat." Remus said quietly as he walked in. Harry made no movements for a few moments before he dragged one of the table chairs to sit beside the armchair, then out of breath he sat down in front of the fire.
Remus rushed back to the kitchen and Sirius sat in one of the armchairs, staring at Harry.
Harry stared at the floor, swamped by his thin gray jumper and shorts that were almost long enough to be trousers. He tugged nervously at the tops of his socks.
In the kitchen Remus cooked some bacon and spread butter over a thick slice of bread. He put the plate onto a tray along with a cup of tea and carried it into the living room.
"Here you are," said Remus, and Harry reluctantly moved from the warmth of the fire, dragged the chair back and sat at the table.
Remus held out a sugar bowl and Harry politely took a spoonful then quickly another. He bit into his sandwich, but felt sick. He didn't feel hungry but remembered apprehensively he needed to do as he was told and it was better to eat as much as he could while he was allowed.
He took another big bite and chewed the food slowly as he stared out of the window at the garden and then the churchyard.
"Aren’t you hungry?" Sirius asked from his armchair.
Harry looked startled. "Yes sir," he whispered timidly and stared miserably at the plate.
“You can have some later if you're not hungry just now.” Remus reassured with a smile.
Sirius beckoned Harry back over to the stool.
“Remus, maybe you can bring in some biscuits. Harry, bring that tea over here."
Harry returned to the stool by the fire, blinking in confusion at the plate of chocolate biscuits that had seemed to suddenly appear.
He held the warm mug of tea tightly in his icy hands and shivered. He was still clinging to the plastic bag.
Sirius leaned towards him with a grin. "What’s in the bag, then?"
Harry shrugged. "Some of my things." he said with little emotion. One of his socks slid halfway down his leg, revealing a large bruise on his shin.
“How did that happen?” Sirius frowned.
The little boy pulled the sock up quickly.
"Best drink that tea before it’s cold," said Remus, sensing that the subject needed to be changed. Harry looked intently at the fire and slowly drank his tea. Sirius looked anxious, “We need to sort out his room," he declared.
Harry didn’t say anything. Just shivered and continued looking into the fire. Remus walked over to make sure that the fire was still burning well.
Sirius went to the hallway and came back with a red and yellow scarf. “Here's an old scarf of mine," he muttered, and he threw the Gryffindor scarf over Harry’s knees. Harry grabbed it. He had never been given anything before.
Remus noticed another bruise on the boy's knee but said nothing for a few moments. "You can have a look around the living room and garden…you can even go into the garden or across to the church, there’s nothing to be afraid of here."
"No, sir," agreed Harry politely.
The two men left the room and Harry listened to the sound of their footsteps going up some stairs and then gradually fading. He hugged himself tightly and rocked backwards and forwards.
"I must be good," he whispered urgently to himself and he rubbed a sore spot on his arm.
He was dreading the moment when Mr Black and Mr Lupin would discover that he was a freak.