Sirius' paws thumped satisfyingly on the pavement. It was a sleepy summer night, and he'd found slipping into the neighborhood of Little Whinging fairly easy; he'd apparated outside the wards of Grimmauld Place, then transformed into the shaggy black dog as soon as he'd landed in the little alley he remembered from his previous trip here before Harry's third year. Dumbledore didn't exactly know he'd left, but what he didn't know wouldn't hurt him.

Mundungus had dropped by the house earlier. Sirius had nearly gone mad already, sitting in that dark dusty house day after day. So when Dung had told him that he needed someone to cover watching Harry while he looked into some stolen broomsticks, Sirius had jumped at the chance. Dung didn't care that he wasn't allowed out of the house, had grinned and thanked Sirius before scurrying off to wherever the stolen brooms were.

Sirius thought he'd pop in and catch up to Harry, and maybe give those muggles he had to live with a scare while he was at it. He'd felt guilty about the fact that his godson was stuck here, that Sirius himself couldn't tell him anything in his letters. He'd fought with Dumbledore about it, but every time he brought it up Dumbledore assured him, firmly, that he knew what was best for Harry. Sirius wasn't so sure about that.

Ah, here, Sirius thought. Number 4, Privet Drive. The house was dull and neat, the little front garden meticulous, the grass cleanly mown. Sirius thought that maybe on his way out he'd dig up the flower beds.

Turning his head both ways, Sirius bounded into the backyard. No one was around; dusk had settled, and he figured most people had retired to their houses for the night. Now, what was the best way to get to Harry? He probably shouldn't go bouncing in, although that might be a good way to mess with the Dursleys. He paced around the back yard, which was just as tidy as the front, sniffing the grass as he thought about it.

Sirius perked his ears up. What was that? He circled closer to the house; he could hear the murmur of voices, and they sharpened as he drew nearer, his superior dog hearing able to pick up on noises he normally wouldn't have been able to.

"What was that, boy?" The voice was loud and rough. Sirius didn't like the sound of it at all.

"Nothing, sir," said Harry. Sirius could hear the bite of anger in his godson's voice.

"I think you're lying, boy. I heard you muttering under your breath. Why don't you spit it out?"

Tense silence.

"I swear," Sirius could hear the man getting up, the creak of the floorboards and the thump of footsteps, "That you had a problem with what I said to you about your chores."

"No problem," Harry spat out. "Only anyone with half a brain could see that I've been keeping up with them, but that's more your problem than m-"

Crack.

"Take the trash out and go to your room. No meals."

The back door banged open suddenly, and Sirius saw Harry's silhouette illuminated against the doorframe before he shut the door behind him and stepped outside, dragging a bag of trash with him.

Sirius transformed back into a human, his feet hitting the grass with a soft woosh.

"Harry!"

Harry jumped, nearly dropping the bag of trash he was holding.

"Sirius?"

Sirius quickly walked over to Harry.

"What are you doing here?" Harry asked, incredulous. He cast a nervous glance back at the Dursley house.

Sirius didn't answer. He grabbed Harry's chin gently. Harry flinched slightly, almost imperceptibly, but Sirius still noticed it. Turning his face toward the light, Sirius saw the red mark blossoming on his cheek, the fading black eye beneath his glasses, the healing split lip.

"I'm going to kill him," Sirius said, pulling his wand out of his sleeve. "I'm going to kill him."

"No," Harry said, grabbing his arm. "Don't go in there."

"They're hitting you. Merlin knows what else they're doing to you." Sirius could feel the anger rising in him, almost blotting out everything around him. He wanted to march in there and hex Dursley senseless.

"You can't do magic here, Sirius," Harry said, eying the way he was twirling his wand in his hand. "I'll get in trouble with the Ministry."

That was true. "I don't have to use magic," Sirius said, curling his hands into fists.

"Sirius!"

Sirius looked at his godson. Harry was watching him with genuine worry.

"Fine," Sirius said. "I won't do anything. Not right now," he added.

"Okay," Harry said. His face broke out in a grin. "It's good to see you, Sirius. But what are you doing here?" He added suddenly. "You're still being looked for the ministry! Anyone could've seen you!"

"Relax," Sirius said, grinning despite the situation. "Animagus, remember?"

Harry laughed. He opened his mouth, about to ask Sirius about where he was staying, but the door suddenly opened. Harry jumped.

"Hurry up, boy!" Aunt Petunia snapped. "Or you can spend the night out there!" She slammed the door behind her.

Sirius had already started toward the Dursley house, wand out. Harry grabbed his arm.

"Sirius," he said, "please. Just leave it. You'll make things worse for me."

"You think I'm leaving you here?" Sirius said.

"Are you saying-"

"You're coming with me. Let's go get your stuff."

Harry couldn't believe it. "But, Dumbledore-"

"Screw Dumbledore. Let's get you out of here."

Was this real? After stewing here all summer, fighting for any scrap of news he could get, his anger flaring up, his nightmares, dealing with his relatives-after all that, Sirius was really going to get him out of here? He'd hoped for this every summer, that he wouldn't have to stay at the Dursleys, that someone would come get him, and here Sirius was. He couldn't help the grin that bubbled up onto his face, despite the fact that his stinging cheek made it hurt to smile.

"Yeah, alright," Harry said. But how would he explain this to the Dursleys?

"I'll come in with you. Tell them you're leaving," Sirius said, seeing the look on Harry's face.

"I dunno…" Would that make things easier or harder? On the one hand, the Dursleys would be thrilled to have him gone far earlier than they could have expected; on the other, they wouldn't appreciate someone they believed to be a mass murderer, on top of being a wizard, bursting into their house and threatening them.

"No magic, okay?"

Sirius nodded. "I solemnly swear."

"Alright," Harry said. They walked into the house together, Sirius squeezing a reassuring hand on Harry's shoulder.

000

It didn't go well.

Harry had stepped into the bright lights of the Dursleys' kitchen, Sirius at his side, and Aunt Petunia had let out a horrified little scream before calling for Vernon. Sirius could feel Harry stiffen.

"Don't worry," he'd whispered, giving his shoulder another squeeze. That oaf wouldn't be hurting his godson again.

"What is the meaning of this?" Uncle Vernon had roared once he got to the kitchen.

"I'm Harry's godfather. I'm sure he's told you about me," Sirius said, flashing Vernon a smile.

"Get out of my house!" Uncle Vernon had sputtered after a few minutes of stunned silence.

"We'll be leaving shortly," Sirius said, pulling out his wand and twirly it idly in his fingers. "Harry just needs to get his things and we'll be on our way."

Uncle Vernon stared at the wand in Sirius' hands, his face quickly turning a dangerous shade of purple.

"Fine! Get the boy out of here, that's a favor to me," he finally snarled.

Sirius gestured for Harry to go upstairs. Uncle Vernon watched him go, but didn't follow him. Once Harry was upstairs, Sirius moved closer and trained his wand on Uncle Vernon.

"If you touch him again, Dursley, I'll kill you. That's a promise."

Uncle Vernon continued to sputter in rage, but didn't say anything. A few minutes later, Harry had rushed back downstairs, his trunk packed and Hedwig's cage under his arm. He looked between Sirius and Uncle Vernon, who were standing much closer to each other than they had been when he'd gone upstairs. He noticed Sirius' wand was out.

"Ready," he said.

"Let's go," Sirius said.

"Good riddance," Uncle Vernon muttered underneath his breath. Sirius reared around and punched him in the face, his fist connecting with a satisfying crack.

"Vernon!" Aunt Petunia screamed, rushing over toward her husband.

Sirius pushed Harry out the door, quickly getting them out of there, leaving the shouts of the Dursleys behind.

000

"I can't believe you punched Uncle Vernon," Harry said. He was sitting in the kitchen of Number 12 Grimmauld Place. Sirius had brought out some butterbeer while he fixed some food. Harry sipped at it gratefully. The smells of food sizzling made his mouth water. As Sirius had guessed, he hadn't been eating too much lately.

"He had it coming," Sirius said. He brought a bowl over to Harry, filled to the brim with a heavy stew, and some thick slices of bread. Harry dug in immediately. Sirius watched him eat for a few minutes. He was so thin.

While Harry was eating, Sirius went upstairs, rummaging around in the bathroom for some basic first aid supplies; he wasn't too good at healing spells, but he thought he might have some bruise salve lying around. Once he found some, he headed back downstairs to find Harry slurping up the last of the soup.

"Want some more?"

"I'm too full. Thanks, though."

"Let's take a look at your face."

"I'm fine," Harry muttered, looking down.

"Harry. Look at me."

"I said I'm fine!" Harry snapped.

"You don't look so fine to me."

"I didn't ask you to come get me."

Sirius paused.

"I know. I just think some salve might be a good idea. Okay?"

"I'm fine."

"Do it for me, then."

Harry sighed, crossing his arms, but let Sirius come closer. He tilted his head up again.

"Quite a bruise you got here," Sirius commented, rubbing some salve on it. He could feel Harry stiffen.

"This happen a lot?"

"I said I was fine."

Sirius sighed.

"You know, I thought the same thing when I was your age. Turned out I wasn't so fine."

"What d'you mean?"

"I dealt with this same stuff. My parents weren't so great."

"Really?"

"Oh, yeah. A family full of dark wizards didn't take so kindly to my rebellious Gryffindor attitude."

Harry cracked a small smile.

"Things got so bad I ran away from home. Went to live with your dad."

"Really?"

Sirius smiled. "Your grandparents welcomed me with open arms. Never looked back."

"Wow," Harry said softly. "That's great."

"It was," Sirius agreed, spreading some more salve over Harry's eye. "You have any other bruises?"

Harry looked away. Sirius took that as a yes.

"How about you take your shirt off and let me have a look," he suggested gently. Harry didn't say anything.

"I can tell you some stories about your dad and me. Make things go faster."

"Could you tell me about your family?" Harry asked suddenly.

Sirius smiled slightly. "It's not such a great story."

Harry shrugged. "I'd like to hear it anyway."

"Alright," Sirius said, picking up the tin of bruise salve. "Where to begin…"

A/N: Hello everyone! I got the idea for this story and it hasn't been leaving me alone, so I finally started writing it! This story will basically tell about Sirius' years at Hogwarts and life with his parents, while also dipping back into the present to focus on the Harry/Sirius bonding. I'll still be updating Reverberations, so don't worry! But I'd love to know what you all think about this, and if it's worth continuing:)