Adult-FanFiction.org : Harry Potter

Toonie\'s Love	By : SpeedyTomato Category: Harry Potter > Slash - Male/Male > Harry/Sirius Views: 50454 -:- Recommendations : 3 -:- Currently Reading : 10
Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter and make no money off this story.

Chapter List
- 8
- 9
- 10
Beta'd by the amazing Tenchi. Love you, woman, you're the best!

With help from Lynn who works with me when it comes to flow, continuity and other issues.

For update notices for this, or any of my works, you can follow me on Twitter or FaceBook, both links are on my profile. Or send an email to SpeedyTomato_updates@Live.com. Just mention the name of the story you want the notice on or you can request updates for all of them. Make sure to include your age or DOB or no updates! Also, add us to your approved mailing list because we aren't jumping through hoops to get approval to send to you! Thanks to Rogue for running that for me!

Chapter 9

Looking between Remus and Sirius, who were flanking him on either side of the bench at the kitchen table, PJ nodded. This was good. After about an hour of working with the two, it appeared they had at least the basics of the mobile phones down. As the two hadn't really encountered them before seeing his, he had to start with the very basics and press on. It had been frustrating, but he had managed. Going in, he had programmed his number into it then made it a quick dial they could do easily. That helped. It also helped that the ones they had were just the basic phone, something far less complicated than the one he used. He then walked them through other bits just in case. One of the things they both wanted was to be able to use the camera on it. That was understandable, of course. As that was really easy to teach them, even though it resulted in several very bizarre self portraits of the two, they had it down quickly.

Nodding, having just managed to call PJ's phone from his own for the first time, Sirius said, “This is good! We're just going to have to practice a bit to get it down automatically.”

“It won't take long,” PJ told him, ending the call on his mobile that Sirius had just made.

“This is what we need, PJ,” Remus nodded, examining his phone again. “Anything we need to remember?”

“Just make sure you carry the documentation I gave you with you at all times,” PJ told him. “My publisher has you both certified as bodyguards for me. That's enough to allow you to have and use a mobile. If you're stopped or questioned about it by the DMLE, all you need to do is produce it.”

“This was a great idea,” Sirius admitted, closing the phone and setting it on the table by him. “How hard was it for you to get that through?” He knew PJ had spent a large part of the morning with his publisher. From what he said, it was about more than one thing, though this was part of it.

“It wasn't as hard as I thought it would be,” PJ admitted honestly. “With me being here and being in a 'relationship' with you, it didn't take much talking. Being in the UK alone, with all that's going on, is enough, honestly. The rest—they were actually talking about getting me a bodyguard in case I have to do publicity work. They're hoping for that with this new book coming out. Going about it this way saves them not only money, as they would have to pay for one, but the hassle of finding someone I could deal with. So, it just took filling out some forms. As you both did that as well and they're all off to the proper places, we're golden and won't have a problem.”

“It's what we need,” Sirius told him firmly. “This way we can get a call if you run into a problem.”

“It'll also give you some more freedom as you won't have to drag us along everywhere and can just call when you get ready to leave so we know there aren't issues,” Remus said, pleased with the phone, planning to take plenty of pictures with the camera. “You said you can print out any pictures we take?”

“I can,” PJ grinned, figuring that was coming at some point. “I have to do it through the laptop, but I know how.”

“Wonderful,” Remus smiled. “I do like this function!”

“I thought you might,” PJ chuckled.

“It has real, legitimate uses, too,” Sirius said as he nodded. “We can use it for plenty and we won't get in trouble for having them. Most aren't going to realize what in Merlin's name this is, so we can take pictures of all kinds of activity. That can only help.”

“Didn't think of that,” PJ admitted, though he was pleased with this. It would save a lot of time and hassle for him, not to mention he could go about some bits by himself while having recourse to get help if he needed it. That was good.

As he was about to press on, wanting to tell them to read the users manual so they could get a better feel for some of the other functions they could use, he looked up when he heard the front door open. Since this wasn't odd by now, what with so many in and out all the time, he wasn't worried. It more a curiosity of who it was, hoping like hell it wasn't Ginny. However, when Dumbledore came in, he was less than pleased. The less he had to deal with the man, the better off he would be. Now he just had to wait to see what was going on.

Taking a seat at the table, Dumbledore picked up the phone by Sirius and looked at it, brow furrowed. Glancing at Remus, who was holding his, he asked, “How did you manage to get your hands on these? I know they are illegal, so we don't want problems.”

“PJ,” Sirius said, grinning. Quickly, he walked the old man through what they had them for. Shrugging, he said, “It's legit. We have the proper paperwork to carry them, so no one can grouse.”

Understanding, Albus gave a vigorous nod. “This is good, though. Well, we know PJ will end up a target, sadly. If his publisher is willing to do this for you, you'll hear no complaining from any of us. More protection for someone that doesn't need pulled into this mess.”

Taking the phone back and sitting it down, Sirius asked, figuring that if this was business, his godson was going to vanish quickly. “Something wrong, Albus?” He asked, assuming whatever was going on was big as Albus himself came over. If it was minor, he would have sent someone else.

Folding his hands on the table, Albus sighed then said, “I've actually come to talk to PJ and ask him for something.”

Brow furrowed, PJ didn't like that at all. “What do you need?” He asked, glancing between Sirius and Remus. With the way the manipulative old man was, he had to stay on his toes so that he didn't get drawn into this nightmare.

“I was wondering if your papers had arrived yet,” Albus told him, smiling a little. “I know you said they generally don't get here until the afternoon, but I was hoping that they may be in.”

“I don't know,” PJ said honestly.

“What's going on, Albus?” Sirius asked, curious and wary. If he wanted to see something in the paper, Sirius was damned sure it had to do with that upcoming article.

“There is a teaser about an upcoming article I saw in a few of our newspapers. They weren't much, but I was hoping, as PJ's come from the colonies, they might have more,” Albus explained, looking between all of them.

To make it sound good, Sirius asked, sure what he would hear, “What kind of article?”

“On the war,” Albus said honestly. Shaking his head, he added, “I know overseas papers have covered it plenty, but this one sounds different. I'm trying to get a feel for what they might have to say. Though I've tried, I can get nothing out of anyone when it comes to what might be in it. As it's by a wire service based out of the colonies that none of our papers carry except one of the weekly’s that won't come out until after the article hits elsewhere, I'm hoping to get an inkling about what it might say. It was my hope that one of PJ's papers might have a bit more of a teaser than the ones I've seen from the continent.” Looking at PJ, he asked, “Could you see if your papers are in yet? I'll read it here to get a feel for what might be in it then wait for the papers until you're done with them to do a more thorough look through.”

“I can do that,” PJ told him after a glance between the two flanking him and seeing them nod. Calling Poe, who flew in at top speed, rapping, tapping and nevermore-ing before he even arrived, he then sent the bird off to check.

“This is most appreciated,” Albus told PJ honestly. “I'm not sure how much will be in them that we can use, but I want to see what's said so I might, maybe, be able to piece together what could come of it.”

“Understood,” Sirius said with a nod. Grinning, changing the topic while they waited for Poe, he said, “The paintings and elf heads are gone.”

“Really? How did you manage that?” Albus asked, intrigued, though pleased with that.

“We took out the whole wall,” Sirius chuckled then explained PJ's suggestion, something that worked wonderfully.

“Oh, this is good,” Albus admitted with a firm nod. “No more shrieking and diatribes is a wonderful thing.”

Sitting there, PJ didn't like spending time with the man and playing nice, but knew if he vanished it would look odd. So, he was going for staying as quiet as he could. That way, it wouldn't cause issues and the old goat couldn't fish for information. He just hoped Poe would be fast with this.

After Albus left once he read the papers, looking highly disturbed, PJ said, after Sirius and Remus put up the standard wards, “I think he knows that this will end up huge.”

“I agree,” Sirius nodded. Grinning, he added, “I just don't think he realizes how big, though.”

“It would be fun to be a fly on the wall when he realizes just what's coming out,” Remus admitted with a small smile.

“Oh yes,” Sirius said with a huge grin. “I'm sure we'll get to see plenty of the aftermath, though! That'll be fun.”

“Just be prepared for plenty of company that day,” Remus schooled PJ.

“I plan to make myself as scarce as possible,” PJ told him honestly. “If it means hiding in our room all day, I'll do that. I don't care. It's not something I want to be around.”

“My suggestion is to take that day, once you wake up that is, and make it the one you talked about for going to the library to do research. With the mobiles, you can check in with us so we know you're safe. As you told us that is strictly among Muggles, it should be fine,” Remus suggested.

“I might do that,” PJ nodded firmly. “It'll keep me out of here, something we need.”

“Yeah, good plan. I'm sure you can come up with plenty to do to keep you out of the house and safe,” Sirius sighed. “Just check in so we know you're staying safe. And stick to Muggle areas only. Nothing among our kind.”

“I can do that as well.” PJ grinned. “Plenty to do, no problem. I'll stay out until dark.”

“Good plan,” Sirius told him. Sighing, he asked, gently, “Is everything ready to move T tonight?”

“I have one thing to take care of, something odd, but it won't take long. Other than that, we're fine. The solicitor will meet us at the appointed place tonight,” PJ assured him. “It's just nerve wracking. I'm going to check with her multiple times today as she has a serious case of the nerves over it, but we shouldn't have a problem. She's already said that rotten arse husband of hers won't be around. There was something or other that she came up with to get him out of the house and made sure that he wouldn't return until long after she's gone. It's just--,” trailing off, he shrugged, looking between the two.

Putting a hand on his godson's shoulder, Sirius gave it a squeeze, “No need to explain, we get it. Rest assured, we'll be there with you through it all and make sure it goes as smoothly as it can. And we'll keep watch. Nothing to worry about. You have it as ready as you can get it. It's just got to play out.”

“I know,” PJ admitted. “It's just hard. And the waiting is going to make it worse.”

“Oh, we get that,” Remus chuckled softly, giving him a clap on the back. “Just keep reminding yourself that you have as much in place and ready as you can get. Anything odd and we'll all handle it. Between the three of us, we'll get her out with no one causing problems.”

“Until then, just find something to do to keep yourself from going barmy or we'll get out of the house for a bit. That should help,” Sirius told him.

PJ sighed, though once more nodding, as he ran through what had to come. As the countdown was on to the time it was happening, it wasn't as easy as it sounded. He'd manage, though, like he always did.

Stepping into the room they shared, Sirius' eyes immediately went to PJ. It was almost time to leave for Little Whinging, so he and Remus were ready. All he planned to do with this was to make sure that PJ was fine. Oh, the man was keeping his cool, no doubt there, but you could tell there was some apprehension as the time drew closer. He hoped to talk a little and make sure he knew just what was coming so that he was as prepared as he could get.

Seeing him over by the bird's perches, talking quietly to Hedwig, his brow furrowed a bit when he saw her cage there. Stepping over, he put a hand on PJ's shoulder and asked, “Everything alright?”

“We're good,” PJ told him with a nod. “Just talking with my girlfriend about what she agreed to do.”

“What's that?” Sirius asked, curious, reaching out to stroke the old owl's head.

“She's agreed to go stay with Toonie until she feels like she is used to everything. Once that happens, she'll come home,” PJ explained, looking at Sirius.

“Are you sure about that?” Sirius asked, gently. “She's been with you a long time.” What he didn't add was, because of how old she was, that she might not make it back before she died.

“I am,” PJ told him firmly. “She's always a soothing presence and Toonie is familiar with her. It'll give her 'someone' familiar to have around when her whole world has been turned upside down.” Smiling at Hedwig, who was nibbling his fingers affectionately, he added, “And I think it'll do my girlfriend good as well. She doesn't like that she can't do what she used to do. This gives her a way to do something that helps someone. When I asked her about it, she showed more animation than she has in a long time, in a good way. Trust me, I know when she doesn't like something, and she seemed to respond favorably to this idea.” Lowering his voice, he added, “And she's given me her promise, in her own way, that if the time comes—well, you know, she'll be here. I'll trust in that.”

Now understanding, Sirius nodded. Giving PJ's shoulder a squeeze, he said, “It'll probably do both of them good, actually.”

“That's my thought,” PJ said, looking at Sirius. “It'll be fine. We have a way set up that she can get back without flying, so we're good. Toonie will like it as she'll have 'someone' she knows to talk to. It might not be the same as having a person around, but it should help.”

“It should,” Sirius admitted. Lowering his voice, he asked, “You're ready for this?”

“I am,” PJ told him firmly. “Just nerves from what all could go wrong, nothing more. It's the right thing to do, something I've been trying to talk her into for years.”

“Then we'll be fine,” Sirius soothed. “Nothing to worry about. You concern yourself with T, let Remus and I take care of watching out for stupid shite. It'll go fine.”

“It will,” PJ said, voice far firmer than it was before. “She'll be gone and safe in a couple hours.”

“She will,” Sirius nodded. “Why don't you double check to make sure you have everything you wanted to take. I know you said there was something, then we'll get out of here.”

“I can do that,” PJ said, giving his girl a couple more strokes on her feathered breast.

Pacing around the small area of the play park he used to come to, PJ kept glancing in the direction that he knew Toonie would come from. It was just a few minutes before the time she was supposed to turn up, something that had him about to crawl out of his skin. While the impulse to walk around the town was there, as he hadn't seen it in almost a decade, he was staying right where he was. That would be a chance he didn't want to take. As it was, they had every protection they could think of up to keep them hidden. No, he needed to stay right where he was and not move. Besides, he wasn't all that curious. From what they had seen so far, nothing much had changed over the years. The same small houses that looked the same, which told him he doubted the attitude or anything else had improved either.

Looking up when the signal went off that his aunt was approaching, he waited, relieved and more on edge than before because of what was coming. When she stepped through the wards and he got a look at her face, he felt the liquid fire surge through his veins, eyes narrowing dangerously. Hurrying over to her, he took in the black eye then hissed, “That rotten arsed bastard.”

“Don't you dare, PJ,” Petunia told him firmly, using that voice she always did in the past to get him to listen. “Leave him alone.”

Reaching up and gently touching her face, seeing a few more bruises, PJ shook his head, temper still flaring, before producing his wand. “I'll get rid of them.”

Allowing her nephew to do that, Petunia then said, “You will not do anything to him, PJ. Promise me.”

Rubbing a hand over his face, trying to calm himself after he finished getting rid of the bruising, PJ said, “He would deserve anything I could throw at him, Toonie!”

“He would,” Petunia agreed with a nod. “Keep in mind that what's about to happen will probably hurt worse than anything you could do. He won't have me around to cook, clean, shop, all those kinds of areas. He will have to do it himself for the first time in years. Not to mention that the only people in the world he'll have left are Dudley and Marge. He has no friends and most can't stand him. It's doubtful he will ever find anyone else. So, he'll be alone, completely.” Reaching out and brushing a lock of PJ's hair off his forehead, she gave a grim smile, “That is a fate worse than whatever you could come up with. And it's the best revenge in the world as he brought it on himself.”

Looking at her, PJ gave a grim smile himself and nodded, “It is.” Pulling her into a hug, he said, “You'll be out shortly and he can't hurt you again.”

Giving her nephew a tight hug, she then pulled back and said, chin held high, “I will.” Glancing over at the two she didn't recognize that were standing by PJ's solicitor, she said, “Introduce me to your godfather and his friend. I've heard so much about them from you.”

Happy to have something to do besides focus on what hexes he wanted to use on Vernon, PJ quickly made introductions.

Nodding to the two old friends of her sister, Petunia told them, voice firm as stone, “You keep PJ safe, just like you promised. No drawing him into this mess. I didn't get him out so he could end up right back in the middle of it.”

“We will,” Sirius assured her with a smile. This was good. It was the first interaction he had seen between the two and now understood what PJ had talked about. His godson obviously really loved his aunt and was worried about her. It was also obvious, from the looks Petunia gave PJ, that she felt the same way about him. “He'll be as safe as we can keep him.”

“Good,” Petunia said with a bare nod. “I may not know magic, but if I hear you are letting him get drawn in, you don't want to deal with me over it.”

“He'll stay out of it,” Remus told her with a soft chuckle and a smile. This was something he liked and a confirmation of so much they heard from PJ.

“Good,” Petunia said with a nod. Looking at PJ, she handed over a small bag. “Those are for you. I kept them all these years and thought you might like to have them. They're letters your mother wrote me over the years. I dug them out when making sure I had everything I wanted to take.”

Taking the bag and smiling, PJ nodded. “I will. Thank you.”

Quietly, she said, “There are bits in there you can use for various areas and information you probably need to know. Just—don't let it set you off. Promise me.”

Curious about that, PJ assured her, “I won't.” Sitting the bag down on the picnic table, he grabbed his satchel and pulled out an album. Handing a photo album over, he said, “Those are the pictures you wanted. I gathered up the best I could find on my computer and made it up for you. I also included the newest ones from the shoot for my new book cover.” Lowering his voice, he smiled then added, “I have some of mum in there, too. I don't have many, but I made copies for you of the ones I do have.”

Clutching the album to her chest after taking it, Petunia smiled at him. “Thank you, PJ.”

“You're welcome,” he told her with a grin. Gesturing to Hedwig, he said, “Like I told you on the phone, Hedwig agreed to go with you until you think you can handle being alone. She's good company, even though she's a bird. It'll give you 'someone' to talk to, anyway. She knows how to get back here when it's time, don't worry about that.”

Smiling at the owl that was looking intently at her, Petunia nodded. Though it seemed odd, she appreciated this. It would be nice to have something familiar around when her whole world was about to change. That might make it easier.

“You have all your papers?” PJ asked. Seeing her give a firm nod, he pressed on, “Good. My solicitor,” he said gesturing to the man that was there with them, someone who nodded to her, “is going with you. The one I set up for you will meet you there and turn over everything you have to have, like the keys. He'll have some papers for you to sign as well to start everything else. Tomorrow, he'll have more for you to take care of. He's also found someone to give you a tour of the town, help you get settled, stay with you during the day, all that, until you think you can handle it on your own.”

“That's probably for the best, yes,” Petunia told him, looking more uptight by the second.

“If you're uptight, unnerved, whatever, you have my phone number. There is a new mobile waiting for you when you get there that Vernon can't trace. Use that. My number is already programmed into it. Call me. We'll talk as long as you need, I swear,” PJ assured her.

“I may do that,” Petunia admitted.

Stepping forward, PJ pulled her into a tight hug them said, “And no rethinking this. It's for the best. They'll walk you through absolutely everything when you get there. If you have questions, they'll have a way for you to get in contact with them.” Pulling back and looking at her, he smiled, “It'll be fine, I swear.”

“It will,” she said, smiling just a little bit herself. “No rethinking the choice either. You have my word.” Reaching out and cupping his cheek, she said, softly, smiling a little bigger, “I'm so proud of you, PJ. You are just as much my son as Dudley is and I love you like one, never forget that.” Huffing slightly, she added, “I do suppose it's worthless to get you to promise not to go on another 'adventure' like you did in North Korea?”

“It's worthless,” PJ told her with a winning grin. “I'm a big boy now. I can pretty much handle myself.” Lowering his voice, he added, “And I love you too. I've been your son since that day I was left on the doorstep. Most didn't know that, but I did. And that's all that mattered to me.” Leaning forward, he gave her a kiss on the cheek.

Hugging PJ again, she patted him on the back, still smiling. She hadn't gotten to do this much over the years as he was away or, before then, when they had to hide so much, so it felt good. “You keep yourself safe with this mess. Promise me that.”

“You have my word. Between me, Sirius and Remus, I'll be fine. I just have to worry about a certain female that has me in her sights and is trying to 'take me away' from Sirius. That's my big problem right now, not the other mess. The rest of it? Don't worry. I know better than to get involved.” He assured her.

“We need to go, PJ,” Barry Wentworth, PJ's solicitor said quietly. “We have much to do and the time on the Portkey will run out soon.”

Nodding, PJ said, grabbing Hedwig's cage and handing it over to his now trembling aunt, “I'll come visit as soon as I can. Call me for anything. Even if you just need to talk.”

Taking the bird's cage gently, clutching tightly to it after putting the album in the bag thing PJ had given her for her possessions, Petunia nodded, “I will.”

“I love you, Toonie, and it'll be fine,” he assured her.

“It will be,” she told him with a shaky nod, waiting to see what to do. Looking at her nephew, she gave him a small smile and said, “I love you, too, and thank you.”

“Nothing to thank me for,” PJ told her firmly. Then, after Barry walked his aunt through what to do, the two were gone, whisked away by the Portkey.

Standing there, looking at the spot they had been, PJ was relieved. It had gone perfectly. That was good.

Walking over and putting a hand on PJ's back, Sirius smiled, “She put on a real good show for everyone, didn't she?” While some, when taking the first step on the path of a life changing event, said things they didn't mean or to sound good, what he just heard, and saw, was enough to tell him that Petunia did love PJ, a great deal.

“She did,” PJ said with a grin, understanding what Sirius meant. “She's always loved me. It was just—she was in a bad position.” Shaking his head, he said, “Vernon is an arsehole and always has been. The last few years have just gotten worse with it. That's all.”

Looking at Sirius, he said, “She's always been there for me, even when it couldn't be in person. We talked when we could, wrote letters mostly, but she was there for me in some way. Every chance she could, she came to see me and we spent time together. That wasn't easy, but she did it. And she was there for the important events like me graduating, getting awards, all that. We just couldn't take pictures, for obvious reasons. The choice to get me out and put me somewhere safe just showed that. That's the reason she did it, not to get rid of me. Before she talked to me about it, she scoured for schools all over the world that would be the best for me and would keep me the safest. That took time and a lot of effort. If she had just wanted to send me away, she could have found an easier way to go about it. No, she did it to protect me. And she kept right on doing that, keeping it all to herself and fending off everyone trying to find me. That wasn't easy.”

“I think we understand that now,” Remus said softly, smiling himself. “Lily would be most pleased, with both of you.”

“That's mum's sister. They—well, they are both mum, just in different ways,” PJ shrugged, not sure how to phrase it. “They both protected me the best they could. Aunt Toonie just had to hide it well.”

“And she did that for all the right reasons,” Sirius assured him, grinning. “While I wanted to throw plenty of hexes at her over the years for so much shite, that's changed. She did the right thing.”

“She gave me a life I adore and choices I would never have had if I stayed here,” PJ told him honestly. “You don't do that to get rid of someone.”

“No, you don't. She did what was right for her child,” Remus added, still smiling.

Clapping PJ on the back, Sirius said, “Let's grab something to eat then head home. When we get there, you can explain this whole North Korean adventure she mentioned.”

Laughing at that, grabbing the bag Toonie gave him, PJ said, “I'll let you read the article it spawned first, then explain it. I have that on my computer. It was what cemented my choice to be a reporter. However, Du Bois better stay the hell away from Toonie or hope she doesn't know who he is if she does ever meet him. If he doesn't, she's apt to beat him with something for us doing it, even though it was years ago.”

“Oh, this should be good,” Sirius chuckled, guiding PJ away. Looking back at the spot the two had vanished from, Sirius gave a silent thanks to the woman that, apparently, loved his godson as much as Lily had. He hadn't ever thought the woman he encountered a few times while they all desperately tried to find Harry could love her nephew. He was wrong on that and, for once, he was thankful he was mistaken. While Lily would always be Harry's mother, he had finally met his second mum and she pleased him as well. Yeah, this was good.
- 8
- 9
- 10
You need to be logged in to leave a review for this story.You need to be logged in to leave a review for this story.
Report Story

Toonie\'s Love