This Time, I'm Saying No

by DZ2

Hello darlings: by the time you hear this message, I'll be long gone. Because I finally understand what you want: you want a pawn, a martyr, a scapegoat. Well, this time, I'm saying no! Dark/Evil Harry/Neville;

1. No More Mr Nice Guy

This Time, I'm Saying No: A Harry Potter Fanfiction

Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or any of its associated characters: all rights belong to JK Rowling. I do not own any crossover references used in the story: all rights belong to their original creators. I do own any OC spells explained at the end of a chapter.

Plot: Hello darlings: by the time you hear this message, I'll be long gone. Because I finally understand what you want: you want a pawn, a martyr, a scapegoat. Well, this time, I'm saying no!

Author's Note: So, admittedly, this is a random little idea that I hope people will enjoy and find interesting, just as I hope to enjoy writing it.

Anyway, let's see where the road takes us and, as always, if you don't like it, don't read it.

Dedication: I'd like to dedicate this story to my good friends and loyal fans: my recommended reads are any that are on my favourites list.

Key Pairing: Harry/Neville

Other Pairings: To be determined

Normal Speech

'Thoughts'

/Parseltongue/

Chapter 1: No More Mr Nice Guy

None of them knew it at the time, of course, but the moment that an average meeting of the Order of the Phoenix was interrupted by the cracking sound of a House Elf appearing was the moment everything started to crumble for the members of the aforementioned anti-Voldemort vigilante squad, also known as the Albus Dumbledore Group Therapy Organisation.

Suffice to say, given the fact that their Headquarters, which was located at Number Twelve, Grimmauld Place, London, was supposed to be warded against all intruders, under the Fidelius Charm and protected from owls, Floo, Portkeys and even phoenix-travel, not to mention how the only House Elf in residence was a surly, ungrateful crazy old thing named Kreacher, the Order were definitely surprised.

When the Elf disappeared as quickly as he had appeared, leaving behind a familiar-looking red envelope, however, the surprise turned to worry for every member of the Order, especially Albus Dumbledore, who watched with bated breath as the envelope, a Howler, rose up and shifted into the familiar mouth-like shape.

However, when the loud voice from within spoke with a very surprisingly-calm tone of voice, it wasn't just the calm tone that surprised them.

But also whose voice spoke to them from the Howler's mouth;

"Hello, my freaky darlings," said a familiar, young-toned male voice, which almost everyone around the table recognised as soon as they heard it.

For it was the voice of the formerly-fourth-year student of Hogwarts, Golden Boy of Gryffindor, Boy-Who-Lived, Harry James Potter.

Only, as the Order listened in, including a white-faced Sirius Black and an uneasy-looking Remus Lupin, all of them, even those who'd never heard Harry's voice, let alone met the boy in question, couldn't help but feel a chill run through their bodies at how calm, apathetic and uncaring the young man sounded, even as his voice was projected around the kitchen space.

"By the time you hear this message and decide to finally get your heads out of the sand or out of the asses of certain senile old bastards, madmen, megalomaniacs with an inferiority complex or useless politicians, I'll be long gone and I thought I'd do you all a favour and explain that I won't be coming back until the new term in September. But I warn you all now: don't bother looking for me, don't even try. Because I finally understand what you want: you want a pawn, a martyr, a scapegoat. Well, this time, I'm saying no!"

From where he sat at one end of the long table that housed all present members of the Order, Sirius' eyes darkened while his pale face became more-normal in its colouring as he looked from the letter to Dumbledore, who seemed to have gone somewhere between red and white as he listened to Harry's voice.

Unseen by Sirius, next to him, Remus Lupin's eyes flashed amber while the werewolf gripped his hands particularly tightly as he too observed the strange reactions of the Headmaster, all the while listening to his cub's voice address the room.

"Are you listening, Dumbledore? For four years, I've done EVERYTHING you asked and EVERYTHING I could for the sake of the home I never had and because I believed…no…I stupidly pretended to understand that everything had a plan and a reason for happening. I stood up for you, time and time again, fought in your name, worked in your stead and even risked my life…my SOUL…for you and for everyone else and what do I get out of it? Poisoned, strangled, having my soul nearly sucked out THREE TIMES, lies about my family, false trails and hopes that I might actually be allowed a normal life, a normal home and a normal family and now, the golden disc on the highlight reel, TOM'S FUCKING RESURRECTION!"

While a red-faced Molly Weasley made a passing remark about Harry's language in a Howler, which was rich coming from the Human Howler, Sirius felt Remus tap him on the shoulder, causing the Black Lord to look up to see his friend's face was a contorted mass of rage, sorrow, guilt and fear, all of which were aimed at the voice that even Sirius could hear was tinged with pain, betrayal and all manner of defeat.

How he'd even managed to craft a Howler, let alone one with such a calm tone until he felt it was necessary to shout, was a question in it of itself, but there was no mistaking the pain they now heard in Harry's voice as he went on.

"It took me a while to realise it in the end, but, in the highly-unlikely event you're actually there doing something right, you selfish bastard who everybody claims is the greatest wizard in the world, but runs away at the first sign of danger, let me tell you when and how I realised it. Actually, irony of ironies, it was your ignorance that would make the Dursleys look like freaking Einsteins that put me onto it, so I should say thank you, old man. You see, when the same man I warned you about WEEKS before the Third Task had me at his mercy and you conveniently appeared and put an end to him, even letting Fudge have him kissed like the sheep's wool-brained corrupt little twat he is, I began to realise just how little you're actually willing to do UNLESS it involves keeping your little pawn safe. I mean, you have me left with magic-hating Muggles, but the Minister himself comes for me when I run away from home; you openly know I am rescued by the Weasleys, who I hope are there with you because I'm not even started with THEM, especially that overbearing little bitch who THINKS she can replace my Mum!"

This time, Sirius was on his feet before Molly had a chance to open her mouth, a wand in his hand and his eyes blazing furiously as he pointed it at her, his voice low, but filled with the same madness-fuelled warning and recklessness he'd shown in the Shrieking Shack as he hissed, "Don't!"

Unsurprisingly, nobody seemed willing to help, save Remus, who took a visible spot near Molly, his own wand now in his hand while his eyes, which were still amber in colour, were locked onto Molly as he growled, "Sit down, Molly, or I'll make you sit!"

As Molly sank back into her seat, her face so red, it could have made Vernon Dursley envious, Remus looked up again as the Howler went on.

"What was I saying? Oh yes, I remember; you know I'm rescued by the redheads, even before I'm there barely one day, and yet, conveniently, this is the same family who lets Mrs Hitler openly scream down King's Cross Station about Muggles and Platform Nine-and-Three-Quarters and, again, I'm sure it's just a coincidence, but they're also there to be my friends, my surrogate family and my life-support when I have nowhere else to go. Do you know, I only just realised while I was thinking up how to voice this Howler that the only friends I have are them and Granger? I mean, I haven't even given as much as a second of time to anyone else…well, off the Quidditch Field anyway."

For a moment, dead silence filled the room before the Howler actually seemed to clear its non-existent throat as it went on.

"Then, of course, we get to Sirius, not to mention Remus: I find it hard to believe he wasn't allowed to know where I lived for twelve years, not to mention that, in all that time, the man who cast the charm couldn't have walked into the Ministry, gotten Sirius his trial, vouched for his innocence and, oh yes, gotten me out of the Dursleys' home…not unless he WANTED me there!"

"Will someone silence that thing?" demanded Molly, but even when Dumbledore himself drew his wand, Sirius, Remus and, to Sirius' surprise, Severus Snape were there to stop the old man, the eyes of the Potions Master filled with rage as he shook his head at his employer while the Howler went on.

"And now, after all the bullshit I've had to put up with at Hogwarts, when my life is in even greater danger than EVER before, mostly because of how Tom has MY BLOOD running through his veins…"

"WHAT?" Thundered Sirius, but the Howler's voice drowned out his even as he glared daggers at Dumbledore.

"Where do you send me? A safe house under magical protections? No; a magical dwelling where I might have a cat-in-hell's chance of being prepared if and when Tom and I dance to your tune again? Nope; somewhere I might even get my mind off of it because I have friends or so much as respectable family who WANT me there? Pull the other one: where do you send me, old man? BACK TO THE DURSLEYS!"

Again, the walls seemed to tremble at Harry's rage being expressed, almost like his fury was on a whole other level to theirs, as he continued laying into the old man and his flock.

"So, even though I'm sure we're going off-script in your Grand Design, oh noble Director of the Movie of Harry Potter's Life and Death, I'm telling you here and now: effective immediately, I am DONE with you, with your sheep, with your plans and, most of all, I am DONE letting my eyes stay closed when there's so much to see. And IF my theory about a certain someone is true and he's there too, then please, my least-favourite, but, and I willingly admit this, bravest of all adults I know outside of an illegally-named criminal and a werewolf, I am asking you…no…begging you to go to your other employer and give him this message from me: as far as I am concerned, Britain is his…and IF we meet again, tell him: I won't fight, I won't argue and I won't even rely on sheer dumb luck. If he wants to kill me, fine; if he wants to imprison me, I only ask for a comfy cell; if he wants anything of me, he can have it because, in case it slipped your minds, I'M NOT AS OLD, EXPERIENCED OR AS POWERFUL AS LORD BLOODY VOLDEMORT! I NEVER CAN BE, I NEVER WILL BE AND I NEVER HOPE TO BE! ALL I EVER WANTED WAS A NORMAL LIFE AND YOU…ALL OF YOU, YOU STOLE THAT FROM ME, ESPECIALLY YOU, ALBUS-TOO-MANY-NAMES-DUMBLEFUCKER! GET THE POINT?"

In a spooky, but surprising manner, the Howler then flew over to Dumbledore, right up to his broken nose as the voice of its creator snapped at him;

"YOU WANT A PAWN? GO FUCK YOURSELF AND, IF YOU EVER TRY AND CLAIM CONTROL OVER ME AGAIN, I SWEAR, ON THE GRAVES OF THE PEOPLE YOU KILLED, I PROMISE YOU, I WILL KILL YOU MYSELF!"

Weirdly, as the last words flew from the Howler, the red envelope actually burst into flames, though not before the last words lit up the air around Dumbledore, much like how the spirit of Tom Riddle had written his name in the air in the Chamber of Secrets.

As the ashes fell to the floor, Dumbledore, white-faced and beyond-terrified, only had a moment to move before, to the shock of everyone else in the room, it was Sirius who launched a punch at Dumbledore, breaking his nose again while he snarled at the rest of the room.

"ALL OF YOU, ADULTS AND CHILDREN ALIKE, GET THE FUCK OUT OF MY HOUSE!"

"Sirius…" gasped Arthur Weasley, but Sirius wasn't listening to reason.

"Anyone who is still here by the time I hit three, save for me or Remus, will not like what happens when they find out what happens when the true magic of the Blacks is unleashed…and don't bother threatening me, Molly: this is my house and you all knew what you were risking when you walked through those doors…which reminds me; one…"

"Albus, stop him! He…he's gone mad!" cried Molly.

"TWO…"

"Sirius, think of the kids, they're Harry's…" Arthur began, but before he could finish, Sirius held up his hand, three fingers in the air.

"TH…"

"EVERYONE OUT!" Cried Albus, earning sudden movements from everyone else at the table, save Sirius and Remus, as well as the children of the Weasleys as well as Hermione Granger – all of who'd been listening in as soon as they heard Harry's voice echo through the house – as they ran down the stairs and towards the front door.

As Severus went to leave, however, Sirius grabbed his arm before he hissed, "Give him Harry's message and, as much as I don't like how he puts it, tell him the lot."

With a nod, Severus left, leaving Sirius and Remus alone in the house; curiously, not even Walburga Black's portrait seemed willing to react to the fury, hatred and raw emotion that had been voiced in Harry's Howler.

When the door to Grimmauld Place slammed shut behind the last member of the Order, Sirius let out a slow, shaky breath before he looked to Remus, who blinked for a long moment before, letting out a breath of his own, the werewolf asked, "Well…that happened."

"Yep," said Sirius, rotating his shoulders before he looked off to a nearby corner of the house as he asked, "So how much longer are you going to hide there under your Dad's cloak, pup?"

In response, an amused laugh broke from the shadows of the kitchen before, from beneath the folds of his Father's Invisibility Cloak, fourteen-year-old Harry James Potter stepped out of the shadows, his green eyes filled with a glint of amusement and warmth as he walked around the table before he hugged his godfather, earning a soft laugh from Sirius.

Remus, meanwhile, chuckled softly before he asked, "Really though, cub? A threat to kill Dumbledore if he tries anything? You do realise he'll milk this for all it's worth, don't you?"

"Good," said Harry, staying in his godfather's embrace even as he turned to Remus, who was smiling like a real sly wolf as he explained, "Because it means he'll do exactly what I know he's going to do, but by the time he realises just how far and how deep I've cut to slice off my strings, it'll be too late to stop me. I'm just thankful you two played your roles."

"And Snape?" asked Sirius, earning a shrug from Harry as the Black Lord asked him, "Where'd his loyalties come from, kiddo? I know he owes James a debt and always had a thing for Lily, but…"

"Severus' loyalties have always belonged to me, Sirius," argued Harry, surprising both men with how he used the Potions Master's name as he went on. "Like a lot of things came out when Crouch thought he had me at his mercy, I also realised that much about him at the same time. I don't know what this means for me and Tom, but, right now, knowing I've made the old bastard a little frightened and unsure of himself is enough."

While Remus laughed again, Sirius frowned curiously before he asked, "So you know what he's going to do next? Albus, I mean?"

"Yep," answered Harry, looking at his godfather with a warm smile as he shrugged ruefully;

"After all, he can't have the dangerous criminal, Sirius Black, off the leash now, can he?"

No

"Cornelius, thank you for seeing me."

"Trust me," said the Minister, looking up at Dumbledore as he sat behind his desk, his hands clenched together tighter than tight as he explained, "I would rather roast my eyeballs over dragon fire than indulge you right now, Albus, but my secretary told me it was an emergency."

"Indeed," said Dumbledore, his eyes glinting in their usual manner as he explained, "I thought you might like to know where Sirius Black is hiding."

Of all the responses he expected, however, the one Fudge gave him was not the one he wanted to hear at all;

"Unlike you and, as will soon become public knowledge, Albus, thanks to an anonymous benefactor who claims they have the Ministry's best interests at heart, I know all about Lord Black's innocence and the attempted coup you tried to arrange in having him set up as a traitor and murderer. I also know Peter Pettigrew is still alive, which is why I have ordered a full investigation into the arrest, including all involved with it…"

By the time Fudge looked up, he smirked and scoffed when he saw Dumbledore was gone.

"Damn; I really wanted to have him wait long enough to arrest him for stirring the pot with these absurd rumours about You-Know-Who, not to mention questioning him relating to activities that would force our nation's hero to make such a slanderous claim just because Albus told him to."

Wow…or rather, WTF? Harry…did he…did Sirius…did the Marauders just play a prank on the Order and their puppetmaster?

What's our hero up to?

Keep Reading to Find Out

Next Chapter: September comes around and fifth year begins, but it looks like the wounds opened with Harry's Howler have festered in certain places; however, it also looks like Harry's a man of his word;

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