บท 64: The Visit
Days passed without any reply from Harry. Izzy and Sirius grew concerned. They had hoped that Harry would be eager to meet his godfather, but the silence was troubling. After discussing their options, they decided that a direct visit to the Dursleys might be the best course of action.
On a bright and unusually warm summer afternoon, Izzy and Sirius apparated to Privet Drive. The pristine, cookie-cutter houses lined the street, each one looking almost identical to the next. The neighborhood was eerily quiet, the perfect embodiment of suburban monotony.
Izzy led the way up the path to Number Four, her father following closely behind. She took a deep breath, trying to steady her nerves. This visit was important, and she needed to make a good impression. She reached out and rang the doorbell, the chime echoing through the house.
After a few moments, the door swung open to reveal a large, beefy man with a mustache. Vernon Dursley stared at them with a mixture of suspicion and annoyance.
"Yes? What do you want?" he barked, his eyes narrowing as he took in their unusual attire.
"Good afternoon, Mr. Dursley," Izzy began, her voice polite but firm. "My name is Izanami Black, and this is my father, Sirius Black. We are here to see Harry."
Vernon's face turned an alarming shade of purple. "I don't know how you people found us, but you have no right to come here!" he snapped. "Harry doesn't need any more of your kind meddling in his life."
Sirius stepped forward, his expression calm but resolute. "Mr. Dursley, Harry is my godson, and we have every right to see him. We won't take up much of your time, but it is important that we speak with him."
Vernon's eyes bulged, his mouth opening and closing like a fish out of water. "You people have caused enough trouble as it is! Harry doesn't need any more of your nonsense!"
Izzy maintained her composure, though she could feel her patience wearing thin. "We understand your concerns, Mr. Dursley. But this is not up for debate. Please fetch Harry. We won't stay long."
Vernon glared at them, his mustache quivering with rage. "Fine," he spat. "Wait here." He turned on his heel and stomped up the stairs, shouting, "Boy! Get down here! You've got visitors!"
A few moments later, Harry appeared at the top of the stairs, his expression one of surprise and confusion. He made his way down slowly, his eyes flicking between Izzy and Sirius.
"Izzy? Sirius?" Harry's voice was filled with a mixture of disbelief and hope.
Izzy smiled warmly. "Hello, Harry. We wanted to see you and talk about some important things. May we come in?"
Harry nodded, though he cast a wary glance at his uncle. "Of course. Come on in."
Vernon huffed and puffed, clearly displeased, but he didn't object. Izzy and Sirius stepped inside the Dursley home, feeling the oppressive atmosphere almost immediately. They followed Harry into the living room, where Petunia and Dudley were watching television. Petunia looked up with a start, her face paling at the sight of their guests.
"Harry, who are these people?" Petunia asked, her voice trembling slightly.
"This is Izzy Black, and this is Sirius Black, my godfather," Harry explained. "They're here to see me."
Petunia exchanged a nervous glance with Vernon, who was still fuming in the doorway. "Well, make it quick," she said, trying to regain her composure. "We don't want any trouble."
Sirius nodded, his tone respectful but firm. "We won't be long. Harry, we wanted to talk to you about some important matters. Can we sit down?"
Harry led them to the couch, and they all took seats. Izzy began to explain the situation, carefully choosing her words.
"Harry, we didn't get a response from our letter, so we decided to come in person. Sirius has been released from Azkaban, and we wanted to make sure you're okay. There are some things we need to discuss, but most importantly, we want you to know that you have family who cares about you."
Harry's eyes widened. "Sirius, you're free? That's incredible! But why didn't I get your letter?"
Izzy glanced at Vernon, her suspicion growing. "It seems there might have been some interference. But we're here now, and we want to make sure you're safe and well."
Harry nodded, a look of gratitude on his face. "Thank you. It's been... difficult here. But I'm so glad to see you both."
Sirius reached out, placing a hand on Harry's shoulder. "We'll always be here for you, Harry. You're not alone."
The tension in the room began to ease as they talked, the connection between them strengthening. Despite the Dursleys' obvious discomfort, Izzy, Sirius, and Harry shared a moment of understanding and hope, the promise of a brighter future ahead.
The atmosphere in the Dursley household remained tense as Sirius and Harry continued their conversation. Vernon's annoyance was palpable, but it was tempered by a visible fear of the wizards in his home, especially considering Sirius' reputation. Petunia and Dudley sat quietly, casting nervous glances at their unexpected guests.
"So, Harry," Sirius said, his voice warm and filled with affection, "tell me everything. How have you been holding up?"
Harry smiled, a rare sight in the Dursley household. "It's been tough, but I'm managing. Hogwarts feels like home, you know? And now that you're free, it's like things are finally looking up."
Sirius nodded, his expression softening. "I'm glad to hear that. We have a lot to catch up on, and I want to make sure you're well taken care of. You're my godson, after all."
Izzy listened quietly, a small smile on her face. She was happy to see the bond forming between Harry and Sirius, but she knew they needed more time together to solidify their connection.
Vernon, standing near the doorway, finally spoke up, his voice laced with irritation and fear. "Alright, you've had your little chat. Now, if you don't mind, we have our own lives to get back to."
Sirius turned to face Vernon, his eyes narrowing slightly. "We won't be long, Mr. Dursley. But there's something important we need to discuss with Harry."
Vernon crossed his arms, his mustache twitching with agitation. "Fine, but make it quick."
Izzy took a deep breath and decided to broach the topic that had been on her mind. "Harry, Sirius, I've been thinking. Given everything that's happened, it might be best if you came to stay with us for the rest of the summer."
Harry's eyes widened in surprise. "Really? I'd love that, but... will it be okay with the Dursleys?"
Vernon spluttered, his face turning an even deeper shade of purple. "Absolutely not! He's our responsibility, and we won't have him gallivanting off with you lot!"
Sirius stood up, his demeanor calm but authoritative. "Mr. Dursley, Harry is my godson, and he has every right to spend time with his family. This environment is not conducive to his well-being, and I won't allow him to suffer here any longer."
Petunia, sensing the gravity of the situation, placed a hand on Vernon's arm. "Vernon, maybe it's for the best. Harry will be safe with them."
Vernon stared at his wife, his expression a mix of shock and anger. "Petunia, you can't be serious! We can't just let him leave with them!"
Petunia's eyes were pleading. "Please, Vernon. Think of Harry. He deserves to be happy."
Vernon grumbled, his resolve wavering. "Fine. But only for the summer. He comes back here at the end of it."
Harry's face lit up with joy. "Thank you, Uncle Vernon. I promise I'll come back at the end of the summer."
Sirius smiled, a weight lifting off his shoulders. "Thank you, Mr. Dursley. We'll make sure Harry is safe and well-cared for."
Izzy nodded, feeling a sense of relief. "We'll take good care of him. You have our word."
With the arrangements made, Harry quickly gathered his belongings, eager to leave the Dursley household. As they stepped outside, Harry took a deep breath, savoring the feeling of freedom.
"Thank you, Izzy. Thank you, Sirius. This means a lot to me," Harry said, his voice filled with gratitude.
Sirius wrapped an arm around Harry's shoulders. "We're family, Harry. We'll always be here for you."
Izzy smiled, feeling a sense of accomplishment. They had taken the first step towards building a stronger family bond. The summer ahead promised to be filled with new beginnings and healing, a chance for Harry and Sirius to truly get to know each other.
As they walked away from Privet Drive, the sun setting behind them, Izzy felt a renewed sense of purpose.
As they walked away from Privet Drive, the events of the day replayed in Izzy's mind. The conversation with Vernon, the agreement to let Harry spend the summer with them, and the palpable relief on Harry's face all left a significant impact on her. Despite the tension, it felt like a victory for their small, but growing, family.
Izzy considered the logistics of their journey back to Grimmauld Place. The Night Bus was an option, albeit a rather chaotic one. As they reached the end of the street, she thought about how useful it would be to have a driver's license. Being able to drive would certainly make situations like this less complicated and more comfortable.
"I've been thinking," she said aloud, as much to herself as to Harry and Sirius, "maybe I should get a driver's license. It would make these trips a lot easier."
Sirius chuckled, a glint of amusement in his eyes. "I can imagine you behind the wheel, Izzy. That would certainly be something."
Harry grinned. "I'd love to see that. Though I think I'd prefer a broom any day."
Izzy smiled, feeling lighter as they walked. "Let's catch the Night Bus. It's the quickest way back."
With a wave of her wand, the familiar triple-decker bus appeared with a loud BANG, screeching to a halt beside them. The door swung open, and they were greeted by Stan Shunpike, the conductor.
"Welcome to the Knight Bus, emergency transport for the stranded witch or wizard. My name is Stan Shunpike, and I will be your conductor this evening," he recited.
"Three to London, please," Izzy said, stepping aboard and paying their fare.
They found seats as the bus jerked violently into motion. Sirius and Harry struggled to keep their balance, swaying with each sudden lurch and turn. The beds slid back and forth, and passengers held on for dear life.
Izzy, however, with her heightened senses and agility, managed to stay upright with ease. She watched with a mix of amusement and concern as Sirius and Harry tried to find their footing.
"Hang on tight!" she called, a playful tone in her voice. "It's going to be a bumpy ride."
Harry laughed, gripping the edge of his seat. "No kidding!"
Sirius, looking slightly more pale than usual, managed a grin. "This is worse than being chased by Dementors."
Izzy shook her head, marveling at their resilience. Despite the chaotic ride, there was a sense of camaraderie and adventure that made the discomfort bearable. The Night Bus careened through the streets, narrowly avoiding obstacles and making impossible turns, until finally, they reached their destination.
With a final lurch, the bus came to a stop, and the trio disembarked, grateful to be on solid ground again. They stood outside Grimmauld Place, the old, dark house looming before them.
"Home sweet home," Sirius said with a sigh, his eyes taking in the familiar sight.
Izzy led the way inside, the comforting gloom of the house enveloping them. Kreacher appeared, bowing deeply. "Welcome back, Mistress, Master Black, and young Master Potter."
"Thank you, Kreacher," Izzy replied, her voice warm. "We'll need some tea, and perhaps something to eat. It's been a long day."
As they settled into the kitchen, the events of the day began to sink in. Sirius and Harry talked animatedly about their plans for the summer, while Izzy listened, feeling a sense of contentment. This was just the beginning, but it was a good start.
Izzy sat back, sipping her tea, her thoughts drifting to the future. There was so much to do, so much to learn. She was determined to make a name for herself, to carve out a destiny that was uniquely hers. Harry and Sirius were part of that future, and she would do everything in her power to protect and support them.
But for now, she was content to enjoy this moment, surrounded by family, ready to face whatever challenges lay ahead.
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