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Harry\'s Shadow	By : SpeedyTomato Category: Harry Potter > Slash - Male/Male > Harry/Sirius Views: 41818 -:- Recommendations : 5 -:- Currently Reading : 16
Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter and make not a knut off this strange work of fanfiction.

Chapter List
- 5
- 6
- 7
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Beta'd by the most wonderful, amazing and stupendous Tenchi. Woman, you are the best and love you for all you do for me!

With help from Lynn who works with me when it comes to flow, continuity, laying out this complicated mess to make it work and other issues.

Also, to Tash who spent several long hours working with me to make sure this would come across right.

Chapter 6

As summer started, Harry was excited. On September first he would be on the Hogwarts Express headed for the most exciting adventure of his life. Factored in was the bonus that he would be away from his aunt until winter break. That was a plus he liked almost as much as going away to school by that point.
Like the summer before, he enrolled in a couple programs to keep him busy until it was time to start Hogwarts. Unlike the year before, he couldn't focus on them like normal. Even reading, something he adored, couldn't take his mind off of what was coming in the fall. He tried, though, pressing on, having fun with those in the programs and the recreational activities. It was just hard waiting.
Aunt Petunia was a tad harder to take this summer, something that Harry loathed. It seemed that she, too, was focused on the fall. The difference was that she was—well, the only way Harry could phrase it was stressing. That wasn't exactly right, but it was close.
The reality that he was going to leave her, then she would be alone for long stretches of time, was sinking in fully and had her stressed. When she stressed out, she tried to not only cling tighter, but go out of her way to do what he called bribe him silly. He knew that she was still in that whole make it up to him and/or turning him into Dudley bit. It was his sneaking suspicion that it was her way of proving to him she wanted him around. It didn't work. Sirius told him he thought part of it was her fear of being alone and losing him to the world he belonged in. Harry didn't care either way, he just wanted away from her. Not only was she angering him with this junk, but making him uncomfortable. Though Sirius had told him to try since the deaths, even he wasn't saying that anymore, agreeing that he needed to not only get away from her, but stay on his toes about anything odd she might pull.
June just seemed to drag on forever, no matter what he did or how busy he tried to keep himself. All he could focus on was Hogwarts and getting away from his aunt. While he kept himself busy with the summer programs, swimming, going to the movies, all the things he liked, his mind just jumped back to Hogwarts and that he was going to go in the fall. It didn't help that he was keeping a running list of all the bits and bobs he wanted to take when he left for school. Sirius helped him with that, along with a list of what he did need to have, aside from the term list of the normal items. Though it didn't help his antsiness to leave, it did keep him focused on goals and what he needed to do before the time came.

Sirius, too, was getting anxious as summer started. There was much to do to prepare for what would come in the fall, for both of them. One other item had to happen this summer, but it couldn't be handled until Harry turned eleven. So, he was doing the best he could to get everything in place he could until then.
At this time, he was going out more while Harry slept. He told his godson he was and why, of course. Since they were now in London, it made it easier on him to get information he needed because of the Alley and other places. From what he could gather, everyone seemed to know that Harry Potter was going to Hogwarts this fall and there was a buzz about it. That was expected and he didn't pay much attention, other than to rumors. One in particular had caught his attention, though it wasn't really a rumor.
Hagrid had been in the Leaky Cauldron one night when he had been there listening to what was being said. The half-giant had been talking to a few people he remembered and who had helped the Order in the last war. It seemed that Albus was already preparing for a fight to get Harry to Hogwarts as he was sure Petunia wouldn't allow it. It made Sirius grin. While he was damned sure Petunia didn't want Harry to go, she was planning on it, so there was nothing to worry about. He also learned that Albus didn't know where Harry was since they had moved. Even better. That wouldn't last long, only until the letters were mailed out, but it was good for now and meant he didn't have to worry too much about Harry until then. So, he could keep up what he was doing for now.
While out, he kept an ear cocked for what else might be going on. That's how he picked up on the whole bit with the Stone and some other odd areas. Oh no, he did not see this as a coincidence. Harry coming to Hogwarts was an event that would trigger all kinds of hell. And that meant he had to keep his godson out of it the best he could. It was going to be no mean feat either. He would handle it, though.
Mostly, he was working with keeping Harry calm. That wasn't easy, what with the adventure starting in the fall. He was managing, for the most part. While Harry couldn't exactly focus on what he normally would, he was doing fine and having fun. Sirius kept pointing out that he wouldn't be able to do some of what he liked once he went to Hogwarts, only on his breaks, something that helped. As he tried to keep Harry focused, he took on the task of keeping an eye on Petunia.
She was—well, she was getting worse. Each payday was bringing expensive gifts for Harry. They weren't the electronic sort, but bits he would be able to take to school with him in the fall. For a time he was actually wondering if the foolish woman was putting herself in real debt to buy what she was amassing for his godson. A late night nosy through her financial records told him that wasn't the case, thankfully.
Vernon had left her a great deal of money from various insurance policies. The company he worked for also gave her a tidy sum because it was their car he died in and it was proven the brakes didn't function right. Then there was his retirement plan. After that was the insurance on Dudley. Though it wasn't close to what paid out for Vernon, it was a good sum. It appeared Vernon had been rather anal about getting insurance. The sale of the house, furnishings, car, all that had left Petunia fairly well set. When she had told Harry the job she had now paid well, she hadn't been joking. It did. Oh no, it wasn't what Vernon had made, but she was doing quite well.
From what he could deduce, the household expenses and whatnot were all paid by her job. She didn't have to dip into anything else to cover them. What she was getting for Harry came out of her check and she was dipping into one fund for parts of it. Even then it wasn't making much of a dent. At least he didn't have to worry about the foolish woman getting them in serious financial problems because of her obsession for making Harry into Dudley and trying to bribe him into forgiving her for all she had done.
As what would have been Dudley's birthday approached, she grew worse. That was actually understandable and he got it. He really did feel for the woman when it came to that area. Of course, like the year before, she was more emotional and tried to cling harder to Harry. Even Harry understood it, though you could tell by the look on his face that he didn't like it. And, like the year before, she was taking the day off to go visit the graves. Thankfully, this was the one bit she didn't pressure Harry to go with her to attend to. He was sure his godson wouldn't handle it well. Well, he wouldn't either, honestly.
Now he just had to wait and stay alert. Plenty was coming he had to handle, some very tricky, so he needed to be ready as he was sure hell was coming, in plenty of ways.

As Harry walked towards the kitchen to get his brekky, he was sorting through the mail he had picked up after it dropped through the slot in the door. It was Saturday, a couple of days before his birthday, so Aunt Petunia was home. He could smell brekky cooking and his stomach grumbled slightly from the wonderful aroma of the bacon frying. Since he got regular meals now and wasn't that scrawny kid he had been before Sirius came, his stomach was tuned into getting fed at normal times, so he was starving.
After taking a seat at the table and sipping the juice his aunt had waiting on him, Harry began to sort the mail into piles. Most was Aunt Petunia's, of course, but there were a couple bits for him, like from the summer programs he belonged to, mail from friends at school and the like. However, on the bottom of the pile was a parchment enveloped addressed to him, giving the address as the bedroom in the front of the house. As he looked it over, he grinned hugely while the obviously pleased Sirius explained it was his Hogwarts letter.
With a trembling hand, unable to stop grinning, Harry opened it then read what was there. It was just how Sirius had explained, though there was an addendum on the bottom that someone named Hagrid would come to collect them on the 31^st to take them to Diagon Alley. This Hagrid person would have the key to a vault he had at the bank there.
When he finished reading it, he said, quietly, “I got my Hogwarts letter, Aunt Petunia.”
After quickly putting the bacon on a plate and cracking in the eggs, Petunia turned around and smiled at Harry, though it was somewhat of a sad one. It was official that he would be going. She still wasn't sure how she would handle him being gone. Once she made sure the burner was turned down low, she came over and held her hand out for the letter. When Harry gave it over, she nodded as she read. “On your birthday. We'll make a day of it.” After doing another quick read through of what was there, she said, “Not sure who this Hagrid is or why he has a key to your vault, but it's for the best. Mother and father had a right awful time taking your mother to get her supplies. Yes, help is good.”
Lip quivering a bit, knowing what this heralded, she tried to smile then said, “I had a couple plans for your birthday. We can do those as well after taking care of this. If I remember right, it'll take hours to get what you need. There's plenty to do and some of it takes time.”
“That's fine,” Harry told her, unable to stop grinning. As far as he was concerned, this was the greatest birthday present he could ever get. While he knew he was going in the fall, this was like finally getting the confirmation it was all real. Nothing in the world felt better than this. Well, other than Sirius coming into his life. Nothing could top that.
Once she handed the letter back, she told him, turning to finish breakfast, eyes somewhat misty, “Keep hold of the letter and don't lose it. We'll need the list in it. There are other bits and bobs to pick up as well, so it'll take us time. You'll enjoy it.”
After reading through the letter there a few more times, Harry was full of questions about some of what it said. He would wait to talk it over with Sirius when they finished eating. While Aunt Petunia might know, he wanted to hear it from Sirius instead.
Dishing up the food, she brought it over to the table then loaded Harry's plate up. Though he wouldn't eat all of what was there, as it was the size of the meal Dudders always consumed, she kept hoping Harry would just keep eating a bit more a day until he was at that level. It would be comforting to her if he would start going that route. Ignoring his wrinkled nose at the amount of food there, she put some on her own plate then told him, “We'll get you an owl for a pet. Those are most useful, for plenty of bits. Your mother had one. It's how she wrote back and forth to mother and father. I'll get one as well, so we can exchange letters. If I remember right, there was some kind of box or something you could buy to attach to the house so the owls could drop the letters in without being noticed. We'll need that, what with being in London and all. Owls aren't common here.”
As Harry ate, he nodded. Sirius was quietly explaining that an owl was the best option. It was as far as Harry was concerned as well. He wasn't really a cat person after dealing with Mrs. Figg's for so long. And though Aunt Petunia might pretty much let him have anything he wanted, he was sure she would draw the line at a toad. Even he couldn't see much use in a toad anyway.
Petunia stood then grabbed a pad and pencil off the counter. After making a note about the owl and box, she then began to work on other items they would have to grab during this venture. As she wanted Harry to have the best and all he would need, there was plenty there. There was also the issue of him taking plenty from home. Though she knew the electronics she bought for him wouldn't work at Hogwarts, she wanted to try at least with the phone. It was something they were going to have to look into. As she wrote, she explained to him what she was doing, listing off what she thought he needed or could remember, asking his input on plenty of it. After all, it was him that would take it with. She also told him to start making a list of what he wanted to take with him, explaining that electronics were out. While the first of September was a little over a month off, they needed to prepare.
For once, Harry listened intently to his aunt, answering what he was asked and giving the input she wanted. He was still excited about the coming start of term. At Sirius' prodding, so it didn't look off, he also asked about what she knew when it came to other areas, like how to get there. That was included in the letter, of course, about Kings Cross station, but she would know how to get on the train because of his mum.
With a smile, Petunia began going over what she knew of the train. Once she finished there, she talked about the Alley and what she could remember of the visits to it with her sister and family. While she was feeling downhearted, knowing that she was about to lose Harry for most of the next year, and slightly panicked at the thought of being alone for the first time in over twenty years, she pressed on. After all, this was a big step for him, one she knew was coming since he was left on the doorstep. And she sure wasn't going to ruin her relationship with him like she had his mother. No, that would leave her completely alone in the world, something she just couldn't handle. All it meant was she would deal accordingly and stay in touch. Well, that and make sure he got plenty of gifts over the year to remind him how much she cared for him. And to remind herself that she had a lot of making up to do for how she had treated him over the years. Such shows of materialism always worked with Dudley. Though Harry was different and didn't have the same reaction, he would eventually come around and things would go back to the way they used to be once he did.

After breakfast, while Aunt Petunia was out getting groceries and tending to the normal errands, Harry was up in his room, relaxing. As he normally didn't go with her to tend to such bits, this wasn't odd. Usually, he was playing on the computer, reading or watching the telly. Today he was talking to Sirius. As he held his Hogwarts letter, something he planned to keep forever, if he could at all manage, he asked, “So, do you know who this Hagrid is?”
“I do,” Sirius nodded. He was seated behind his godson on the bed, holding him close. “He's a huge guy, and I mean enormous, bigger than anyone you've ever seen. From what we heard over the years, he's half-giant. While he's big and intimidating to look at, you'll like him. He's a very nice man and quite kind. Only those with their noses stuck up in the air don’t. He's odd in that he likes really dangerous animals and likes to keep them as pets, but everything else about him more than makes up for it.” Then, with a grin, he nudged Harry and joked, “If he offers to give you a pet, decline. It might eat you! Well, that and never eat one of his rock cakes. You'll end up with broken teeth if you do.”
Harry couldn't help but chuckle at that bit, shaking his head. “I assume it's normal for someone to escort people with Muggle parents?”
“Not that I've heard of,” Sirius admitted with a sigh. “I'm betting this is at Albus' behest as what I heard was he's expecting problems with your aunt about you going. There isn't one, of course, but he doesn't know that. When it comes to Hagrid, just be careful what you say around him. While he might not mean to, he sometimes reveals too much. There are plenty of bits we don't want him to hear or know about.”
“I can make sure,” Harry assured him. As he was the closed-mouth sort about most of his life, that wasn't such a hardship and something he did normally. He was sure his aunt would as well since there was plenty that went on that she didn't want anyone knowing about.
As he read more of the letter, he asked, “This bit with my vault key—what's up with that? It seems odd to me. I mean, wouldn't it have gone to Aunt Petunia with the other stuff she needed?”
“It is odd,” Sirius admitted with a sigh and nod. “I'm sure that it had to do with the way your aunt and uncle were with you and Albus being afraid they'd take your money. Nothing to worry about there. Since you're really smart, suggest to your aunt that she get a full accounting of that vault and any others you may have. There might be more than one. I'm also sure that she'll probably end up paying for all your supplies and you won't have to touch any of it. It's just to be on the safe side. You might want to grab some spending money. You won't get to go to Hogsmeade yet, but you can get catalogs from stores you can order fun bits from, that or if you need something. One of the two. The older ones in your house can go into Hogsmeade, so you can give them money to pick up whatever you'd like. It's best to have some on hand. It might be a good idea for your aunt to convert some of her money to our kind as well in case she needs to pick up something for you. Better safe than sorry.” As Harry was the kind to think plenty through, these wouldn't be odd suggestions from him.
After making a note of those suggestions on a running list he had, Harry nodded. “I will.” Once he did, he looked back at the letter then asked, quietly, “How much do I need to start worrying about what's coming? You've told me there's plenty to stay alert for.”
After wrapping his arms around Harry, Sirius gave him a kiss on the side of the head then assured him, “You don't. Don't worry about any of it. Let me do that for you. I'll keep you safe. All you need to worry about is school, studying and those your own age. The bigger picture I'll take care of. If there's something to watch out for, I'll let you know. Nothing to worry about. I'll keep you safe just how I always have, Harry. It might be a tad harder in that castle, but I'll manage.”
After a smile and nod, Harry leaned back against Sirius, adoring how it felt to be held that way. While Aunt Petunia liked to hug and hold him now, hers made him feel uncomfortable Sirius' didn't. He loved it when Sirius held him and would let him do it all he wanted. Once he looked over the letter once more, he set it aside with his ever growing list then asked, “There's something else coming this week from what you said? Something I need to take care of?”
“There is,” Sirius confirmed with a nod. “The night you turn eleven, you should get the papers from my estate since you inherited everything when I 'died'. That's the standard. The goblins are usually very circumspect about sending them, so your aunt shouldn't see them. Once you get those, we need to go sometime this week and get into the house I inherited from my family. There's a ton there that needs done to get it up to livable condition again. Since the elf in there was barmy before I went to Azkaban, I'm sure he'll be worse now. Nothing to worry about as I'll walk you through how to deal with him and get him moving in the right direction.”
“How are we going to manage that one?” Harry asked after thinking it over for a couple moments. “You know what Aunt Petunia is like with me and keeping track of where I am.” The last part was delivered with a tone of exasperation since his aunt's seeming need to do that now made him slightly mental and he hated it.
“Nothing to worry about there,” Sirius assured him, giving him a squeeze. “The house isn't actually that far from here, only a couple of blocks outside the normal area she says is safe. We'll manage just fine. I'm saying we go on a Friday as that's not only the day she has to stay late at work, but has bits to tend to after she's done, like the bank. She's also busy enough that she doesn't check in like she normally does. It shouldn't take long to get in and start what we need, but it'll give us the extra time we might need if we have to have it.”
“We'll go about it that way,” Harry agreed. After all, Sirius knew just what he was doing and his plans always worked, so this one was bound to as well.
“Nothing to fret over, we'll get it sorted quickly,” Sirius assured him with a squeeze. Then he changed back to the original topic, “Right, get your ever growing list out and we'll go over it again. I'm going to suggest that we get you one of the deluxe school trunks, something you can suggest when you see it. Not only is it better than the normal ones, it has compartments to separate everything and expansion charms so you never have to worry about running out of space. Considering the amount of clothes and shoes you have, not to mention your collection of books, you're going to need it.” Sirius then grinned as he heard Harry chuckle and agree as he picked the list back up. Sirius held him close, resting his head on his shoulder. “I love you, Harry, always remember that. And I'll love you like no one else in the world ever will.”
“I know,” Harry told him with a smile, leaning into Sirius. And it was true. No one, anywhere, could ever love him like Sirius or do for him what his godfather had done. Ever. Sirius was special and he would always love him and want to be with him. From what Sirius said, in the future there would be a way to get his body back. It was something Harry couldn't wait for. Once Sirius had his body back, he said they would be together forever and no one could ever change it. While Harry was only ten, he couldn't wait for that either. All he wanted in his life was Sirius. If it entailed them being together forever, he was all for it.
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Harry\'s Shadow