Harry got off the train and froze. It felt like something heavy had hit his chest. His vision began to cloud up. There waiting for him he found Petunia, Vernon, and Dudley, all dressed nicely and looking around excitedly. Next to them stood Remus and Sirius. Vernon was talking quite animatedly with Remus who seemed to be rather involved in the conversation as well. Petunia and Sirius were talking in whispers, causing Petunia to giggle every so often. Dudley, on the other hand, simply gawked at everything.
His cousin was the first one to see him. Dudley nodded, and walked over to him, trying to look cool while also clearly excited to see him.
"Mate." Dudley pulled him into a quick hug. "This magic stuff is brilliant." He leaned closer. "And the birds that go to your school. Are you sure I can't came with you?"
Harry laughed. "Trust me, D. You don't want to. This is the first year that no one has tried to kill me."
Dudley's face went hard. "You need some muscle, you let me know."
Harry cleared his throat and wiped his eyes. This was the cousin he could have had for years. The family he could have had. It took everything he had not to take the train back to Hogwarts and kill Dumbledore. Only the hard truth that he wasn't powerful enough yet stopped him. A quick sneak attack might work, but the old man was crafty enough to have something prepared for that.
"Harry!" Petunia called. She waved him over. "Sirius and I were catching up. It's been years." She paused. "Where is Rook?"
"Uh." Harry looked to Sirius.
Helpfully, his godfather shrugged.
"He stayed at Hogwarts." Harry said slowly. "Decided that he liked the forest nearby. I think he found a lady friend."
Vernon clapped his hands. "Haha! The chair is mine!"
"Please, dear." Petunia shook her head. "You were moping around for days after they left. And don't tell me it was just Harry you were missing. I saw you sitting on the couch when you thought I wasn't looking."
Vernon blustered and blushed. "He was a good dog." He finally muttered.
Harry sent a sly grin to Sirius.
"We were discussing where you were you going stay this summer." Sirius chimed in.
"What did you come up with?" Harry asked.
"My place still needs some finishing touches." Sirius said. "The glass case worked great, by the way."
"Yes, thank you." Remus shook his head. "The headaches."
"How about you spend the summer with your aunt and uncle, we can pick you up for the World Cup, and next year you can stay with me?" Sirius said.
"World Cup?" Harry asked.
"You caught that, eh?" Sirius smiled broadly. "I've got some tickets to the World Cup. I'm not missing it this year. You, me, and the mongrel here. Box seats."
"That sounds wicked." Harry said. He shot a guilty look to Dudley.
"No worries." Dudley waved the look away. "Tried to make heads or tails of the game for the last hour. No clue how that works. What's the point of the rings if the gold one ends the game?"
Harry laughed.
"Harry." Fred spoke cautiously. "Are you alright there?" George asked.
The twins had moved up to flank him, a step behind to either side ready to step in if needed.
"Fred. George." Harry turned to the twins. "This is my aunt Petunia, uncle Vernon, and cousin Dudley. The vagabond there is Sirius Black, my godfather, and you know Professor Lupin."
"Remus." The werewolf said with a nod. "A professor no more."
"You're okay with this?" George whispered. "They had bars on the windows, mate." Fred matched the tone.
"It's a long story." Harry turned and gave them a smile. "Thanks for looking out, but it's no problem at all." He looked over to his aunt and uncle. "Would I be able to invite Fred and George over this summer?"
"Of course." Petunia smiled broadly. Her smile took a dastardly turn. "We'd love to hear any stories you have of Harry through the years."
"We have those." The twins said in unison.
"On second thought." Harry turned back to the twins. "Nope. Not happening."
"We aren't hooked up to the Floo." Petunia said. "I don't trust it with all this Voldemort business."
Her face went hard after she spoke. Vernon put an arm around her waist, pulling her close.
"Not the time to talk of such things." Vernon turned a concerned look to the twins. "Send an owl and we'll get something arranged." He looked to Harry. "I'm going to take Petunia out for some air. Dudley knows where we parked."
"Fred! George!" Molly Weasley yelled from a distance that didn't require such volume. "There you are! Oh, Harry dear, how are you?" Molly looked over at Sirius with a small touch of unease.
"Fine." Harry turned to look at Dudley. "Where did they park?"
Dudley looked at him funny. He shrugged. "I'll show you."
Sirius and Remus fell in beside them as they walked.
"Don't like her much, pup?" Sirius chuckled.
"She's overbearing, loud, and treats everyone like a child." Harry had to push down the anger that was building inside. "I wouldn't be surprised if she slipped Arthur a potion before they got married."
"That's not an accusation to say lightly." Remus shot Harry a worried look.
"Have you seen the man?" Harry shook his head. "He's a kind, caring, and curious. He's a completely different man when she's not around."
"He wouldn't be the find man beaten down by a woman." Sirius sighed. "Molly was quite the looker back in her day."
"That's not something I ever needed to know." Harry shuddered.
"It's true." Remus' voice had a touch of humor to it. "She was a year or two ahead of us, but I do remember how nicely her sweater fit."
"How she managed to get her skirt so short without getting in trouble I will never know." Sirius said in a dreamy manner.
"I should have gotten you neutered over the summer." Harry grumbled.
Remus howled with laughter.
"That's not funny, pup." Sirius glared at him. "It's bad enough that your uncle was in talks to have be stud a few litters."
"Like that wouldn't be the first-" Remus was stopped by a stinging hex to his foot. "What?"
"Finish that sentence and the summer of our sixth year will be next." Sirius tried to look angry at Remus.
"You wouldn't dare." Remus stared right back.
"So, there we were, fresh off the Express when Moony here gets an idea." Sirius started.
"Me?" Remus practically yelled. "It was you and Prongs!"
The two men broke down into a hushed argument. Harry looked over to Dudley. His cousin shrugged.
"Why would my dad want send him out to stud?" Dudley asked after a moment.
Harry found himself smiling again. This was already a better summer than the last time.