Please read the notes if you haven't read the previous story.

Title: Harry Potter and His Last Year

Author: Leela

Rating: PG

Summary: Sirius is free; Harry is head-boy; Ron Hermione are a couple, yet the second war continues, throwing the Wizarding World into chaos...only Harry has the power to defeat it. Can he prevail? A seventh year fic.

Disclaimer: Still don't own anything, apart from Bonnie and Claire, my OC's.

NOTES: This is a sequel to my first fic: Harry Potter and the Door Through the Veil. It would be a good idea to read that first before proceeding onto this one, however I do try and explain what happened in the last story at certain points. It may be a bit confusing but hopefully if I explain everything you will not need to read the first story, however I do strongly advise you to, because of the complexity of the Veil that does play a major role in this story as well as in the last one. If you do not fancy in reading the whole of the first story, then I recommend that you read Chapters 10 till the end of the story. They will give you most of the major information even though if you do read from the beginning it will make much more sense. Any questions about the last story or this one will be answered either in the next post or by e-mail, depending on what the question is.

Now onto the story!


Harry Potter and His Last Year

Chapter 1: A New Home

Godric's Hollow glistened in the evening moonlight, lighting up the ancient house. It was not full moon though half of it could be seen when the clouds were not covering it. It was eight o clock in the evening, and Harry Potter had arrived at the current headquarters of the Order of the Phoenix. He had just come from the King's Cross Station in London, after arriving back from Hogwart's. He felt happier then he had been in years, mainly because his last year had ended in a way he had never thought possible.

One year ago Harry had seen his Godfather, Sirius Black, fall through the Veil at the Department of Mysteries, however during his school year he had fathomed out (with a little help from his friends) about that event, discovering many things about his own past and finally coming to the conclusion that Sirius was still alive.

One of the amazing things about him was that both of his parents were the heirs of Godric Gryffindor, one of the four founders of Hogwarts, and the reason for this was because both of them had come from different branches of the line. Dumbledore had explained to Harry how to identify the heir of Gryffindor, and it was by the green eyes and unruly hair. Both traits had continued down the line until they had met up again, making Harry the last surviving heir of Gryffindor. Even thinking about it amazed him.

Harry glanced up at the house: its windows on the outside were stained and the bricks were falling into decay, however that was because of the charm Dumbledore had placed upon the house to protect its inhabitants from discovery. Inside the house was very different; filled with joy and happiness, and its rooms were decorated in a homely manner making Harry feel welcome, for this had been where he had lived before his parents had been murdered, now it served as the headquarters of the Order of the Phoenix.

The Weasley's led him to the front door, quickly checking their surroundings they walked inside. Harry had been told tensions had been high in the last few weeks. Voldemort had many spies around the Ministry, and it was possible that at least someone from the Order was working for him, however each member went through a screen process with Dumbledore before they were allowed to even know the location of headquarters. So far Dumbledore had not led them astray in that part.

There were only a few Order members present (Tonks, Kingsley and Mundungus) and Harry found himself being greeted by all of them, congratulating him on what he had done. He looked around eagerly for Sirius but to his disappointment couldn't see him.

"Sirius had to go to the Ministry of Magic. He's suddenly become an instant celebrity!" Tonks explained, answering Harry's unasked question. "Everyone wants to hear 'the story' over and over again. Half of the Wizarding world is still in shock about it all! And of course, Harry, your name keeps popping up all over the place. Word has finally got round that Sirius is trying to get you adopted or something like that. There are a few people protesting against that who don't believe a word of it, saying that Pettigrew had a brother who something, and that Sirius is still a raving lunatic." She shrugged.

"How can they when there is so much evidence? Besides the trial has been and gone." Harry said, slightly awed that anyone would try and contradict a court's ruling.

"They don't want to except the truth." Kingsley explained. "It was hard for them to realise that Voldemort was on the loose again, but to hear that Black is innocent...well that is another story...to them he'll always be guilty whether he committed the crime or not."

Harry shook his head disbelieving. "Incredible! Absolutely pathetic! Next thing we'll know is that they won't believe that they are actually Wizards!"

Harry and Ron were allocated a room, and they levitated their trunks upstairs. A year ago, because of the circumstances, any student who remained in the custody of the Order could do magic at any age as long as it wasn't dangerous. Harry, Hermione, Ron and Ginny had been given proper certificates, and it had been good that they had, for not long after the Headquarters of the Order at Grimmauld Place had been attacked by Voldemort's Death Eaters. It was now unsafe to go that house so Godric's Hollow was the safest place for them. At least the certificates still stood. Besides in a couple of weeks, it was Harry's seventeenth birthday, and he would be able to do magic legally anyway.

The room he shared with Ron held two beds one on each side of the room, blankets drawn across them with a sheet folded on the floor underneath for the colder summer nights. They put their trunks at the side of their beds and began to unpack: Harry putting his homework on his cabinet, ready to be done when need be. Ron on the other hand stuffed it all in his trunk, only bringing out his chest set and a photo of him and Hermione together.

Once they had done Harry and Ron went to the stairs, Harry looking up at the second floor knowing full well what he would see if he stepped upon the landing. When he had first done that Harry had fainted as the house had shown him the night his father died but later he had seen a memory of him and his mother playing in the hall. He had been told that the house was conscious and chose to give certain people memories of the place. So far only Harry had experienced these but he had in fact lived here as a baby...so, he mused, it was quite natural for him.

Sirius was waiting for him downstairs at the kitchen, grinning. He looked much healthier then the last time Harry had seen him; his hair was cropped shorter but still sat about his shoulders, neater and combed, and light showings of a beard were beginning to show. He wore the finest Wizarding robes that he could afford.

"Hey, how are you?" Harry asked.

Sirius shrugged, "Fine. The Ministry are giving me anything I want as long as its within rights. There's going to be a formal hearing to see if I can legally adopt you until your eighteen. I know that you can live by yourself now but I would feel better if you had a mature parent around for a while."

Harry grinned. "It would be nice to live with you, after all, you wanted me to back in my third year."

"Three years later I'm a free man!"

It was strange for Harry to hear that. If Pettigrew had not escaped from Hogwarts that night, then Voldemort would not have returned, he, Harry would've been living with Sirius already. "Do they need my consent then?" Harry asked.

Sirius nodded. "Yes they do. They think that Azkaban might have damaged my brain in some way. Dumbledore supports it. He's the one who will be fighting for it."

"What about the Dursley's? Will they have to attend?"

"No, I don't think so. Dumbledore has got a written confession from them so...basically I should be allowed to adopt you. I'm sure the magical community will be in an uproar over it though, so it'll be interesting."

"Where will we live then if everything goes to plan?" Harry wondered, "Here?"

"Somewhere that I've been welcome to for many years. The last place people would expect to look."

"Where?"

"Find out when we go there. The hearing is in a couple of days anyway. Just enjoy your time here while you can."

"I'll try," Harry said, grinning. He was curious as to where his Godfather was planning on taking him. But then he would have to wait and see.


Mrs Weasley had supplied Harry with red and gold Wizarding robes, to make him look smart for the hearing. On the day he felt extremely nervous even though everyone comforted him telling him it would be his overall decision if he wanted to live with Sirius or not.

He flooed to the Ministry with Arthur where Sirius was already waiting for them with Dumbledore. They were led to the courtroom where Arthur (who was still acting Minister of Magic) would review the situation and then pronounce what he thought would be best.

Harry stood on one side of the room; Sirius on the other, looking nervous but smart. The eyes of many Wizards and Witches watched them with curiosity. Then the hearing began, Arthur Weasley speaking aloud and describing the situation.

"We are in this court today to make a decision regarding the home of Harry Potter. His Godfather, Sirius Black, has filed for guardianship of him until Harry Potter is of the age of eighteen. Though Mr Harry Potter is of legal age to move out of any said home, a new law is being brought in to say that any Wizard or Witch under the age of eighteen must remain under the guardianship of their closest relative. Because of the special circumstances of Harry Potter, his remaining relatives cannot come to court but have written saying that they do not want him. In circumstances such as these the said subject would be put in an orphanage unless a suitable family or person is found. I now turn to Mr Black. If he would be so kind to tell us why he would take in Mr Potter until he is eighteen."

Harry glanced at Sirius and saw him hold himself up before stepping forward and speaking. His voice did not waver, though Harry could detect a slight quiver in it.

"I believe that Harry should have a better ending to his childhood then has had during the past years since his parents death. His father, James, was my best friend, and it was because of this that I am his Godfather. I promised to raise his son if anything happened to him and his wife, Lily. Due to other circumstances I have been unable to do so. I know that Harry is a sensible lad and will not make my life difficult, and maybe it will make us both happy. I firmly believe that Harry should live with me because he needs someone who cares for him. I can give him that if given the chance."

Arthur's secretary, Amelia Bones, took the words down, and then it was Harry's turn. He explained how he would love to be part of a family again, one that loved him and cared for him. When he had finished speaking he felt that everything would be alright.

Arthur and the Jury went to talk it over and the tension rose in the room while Harry and Sirius awaited the verdict. Dumbledore was standing there, smiling, knowingly.

At last, after what seemed like hours, but was only fifteen minutes, the Jury filed out and Arthur took his place. He picked up his papers shuffled them, cleared his throat and read the verdict of which they had decided upon.


Harry walked out of the Ministry of Magic, happily. The hearing had gone well, and the court had granted Sirius custody of his Godson. Even though he was of legal age to leave home, Harry didn't really feel ready. He had never had a proper home, but at least he could live with the one person he wanted to.

Daily Prophet reporters had been waiting for the verdict and when Harry and Sirius had come out they had been bombarded with questions; the only thing Harry said was that 'he was a very lucky boy' and then Sirius was steering him away to the nearest fireplace to Floo back to Headquarters.

That evening Sirius and Harry left to go to their home, but it was the last place Harry had expected to see. As Harry was the last Potter, he had inherited his Grandparents house; his father's childhood home, and that was where he and Sirius were living.

The house was old and was situated in the middle-of-nowhere enchanted by many spells to be kept hidden from Muggle view. The house had been done up before they had arrived so it was homely. It had three floors but each room was huge and decorative. The furniture had been restored and cleaned, and photographs of James' childhood had been spread throughout the house.

Even standing in the hallway, Harry couldn't believe that he was living in the house of his father, the house of his inheritance. At last his life was turning out to be the way he wanted.

TBC

A bit rubbish for a first chapter, but not much really going on...yet.

I know, not much going on, but it will get better. Please review and tell me what you think! There'll be more Harry/Sirius bonding in the next chapter. (It's not slash either so no need to worry, I hate that stuff!)