Disclaimer: Do I have to do this? Ugh, fine. All characters, settings, etc that you recognise are copyrighted to JK Rowling and Bloomsbury Publishing.
STAND BY ME
Chapter 1
Memories of a time long ago.
It was the week after the holidays began and Harry Potter had returned to number 12 Grimmauld Place.
To re-enter his Godfather's house was one of the hardest moments of Harry's life. Unlike facing dark wizards he could not fight this and he could not run away from this. All he could do was stand staring unseeingly down the entrance hall. There was emptiness and sadness in this house where there had once been happiness and joy. There was a light wind that slightly ruffled his messy hair. He saw a small happy boy playing with another boy of maybe 9 or 10 years old running down the hall towards him laughing merrily without a care in the world. "Come on you can't catch me" cried the figure. Then as suddenly as they had come they disappeared back into the hollow loneliness of the house.
Behind him Dumbledore put a hand on his shoulder; "Harry."
With unshed tears glistening in his eyes Harry turned to look at the old man.
"I'm sorry you have to go through all this Harry I know how difficult it must be. I have another place that I want to show you before you must return to your relatives but before we do take as much time as you need." With that he turned, went into the kitchen and closed the door.
Harry had come with Remus and Dumbledore to the house. Remus had already departed up stairs leaving Harry and the headmaster alone together.
Harry appreciated the understanding the headmaster had shown. He had not wanted his friends to see him like this. It was something he felt he needed to do alone.
As Harry gazed at the old mans retreating back the boy began to pondered the image he had seen. He shook his head trying to clear it.
"He cannot see them young one." Came a harsh whisper "only the select few can see the shadows"
"What?" Harry asked as he jumped out of his skin and turned to see who had spoken. It was the old portrait of Mrs Black.
He than he registered what has been said.
"The what?"
"He was very brave you know" It was the old portrait of Mrs Black. She was now in her own world talking more to herself than anything.
Snapping out of her own thoughts she turned to address him.
"I was told one day you would come, I would know you by your abilities.
"This house was known to be safe. A man came here one day when everyone was out he said he was the first of the Blacks. He said that he was able to come here because the bloodline was about to all but die out. He said that the line was one of the sacred protectors of the light. I did not believe him until he was able to remove my portrait from the wall.
"He said it would be hidden until the line died out or when the saviour of the world the soldier of the light would make himself known. Then the portrait would come unstuck and that happened the first time you entered this house. Take what is hidden behind this canvas it will help you. I do not agree with your cause but this was the sacred duty of my family line so it must be done or the consequences be faced. Only the chosen few will see." Her face then showed she was lost in her own thoughts again and the last thing she said was "Through all his faults he was brave." With that the canvas and frame in which she hung split in two and fell from the wall, heartbroken for the last of her long line had gone and the fact both parts of the story had come true.
Harry stood in shock.
Behind the tapestry there appeared a small door no bigger than 12 inches wide and 6 inches tall. The handle was made of a silver coloured metal which dipped into the door so as not to stick out into the back of the portrait.
The Kitchen door opened. The order started to filed out.
"Wotcha Harry" It was Tonks.
"Hi Tonks" he said with a smile that didn't quite meet his eyes.
She walked up to his side and stood stunned at what she saw.
"Harry?" How…what?"
She closed her mouth. Still staring wide eyed where the portrait had once been.
More people where joining them now.
"How did he do that?"
"What happened?"
"Harry what happened here."
"Why do you think it was me? I didn't do anything she just… just fell off the wall. Why are you accusing me?
"We are not accusing you of anything Harry we just want to know how this happened."
"I don't know I think she misses him. He was the last of her line she has nothing left to stay for. I think she did it to herself."
He did not want to tell them what she had told him. What did intrigue him was that not one of them seemed to be inclined to see what was behind the door.
A sudden thought hit him there was very few of the old peaces of furniture left around the hall and Mrs. Black's picture had been the last thing left on the walls. He did not think this was the moment to ask what had happened.
The crowd slowly filed out until the only ones left in the house were Dumbledore, Snape and McGonagall.
"Very well Harry we are almost finished our discussions." With that they left and returned to the kitchen. As Professor Snape passed Harry he felt a strong wave of dislike towards the man. What Harry was not expecting was to feel the equally strong feeling of dislike to come back at him from the man. He did not know what to do he had never felt anything like this. It was similar to the emotions that he got through his scar but without the pain. He stood rooted to the spot unable to do anything with the rage of both him and his teacher coursing through his veins. Harry closed his eyes and took a deep breath. The feelings went away as quickly as they had come.
Harry was left standing in the corridor.
Taking another deep breath he turned around to face the door in the wall. He wondered again why he seemed to be the only person that could see the door. Then Mrs Black's words came back to him. 'Only the chosen few will see.'
Harry paused for a moment wondering what he should do. Could this be a trap should he go and get someone tell them about it or should he just do as his curiosity and instincts told him?
As always Harry being Harry he chose to go with his curiosity. He reached out with his hand and just before he touched the handle an image of an old man doing what he was doing appeared in his head. The man was clean shaven. He wore a long black robe that almost touched the ground. He had tidy, grey, very short hair that appeared to once have been a sandy brown colour. Harry could not see the man's face as he had his back to him. He was placing something in the wall. Harry snapped out of it.
I wonder what that was he thought to himself, hesitating in what he was about to do. Shaking the image out of his head he reached out and pulled the handle hard.
The door opened very smoothly. It did not make a sound like Harry thought it would. He peered inside.
Inside the wall there was an old box. Harry reached in there was just enough room for him to place his hands down the sides so he could pull the box free. He did this. He closed the door and now holding the box in his hands he started to climb the stair. Unknown to Harry the door had faded into the wall not to be found until it was needed again.
He found his feet had led him to Sirius old room. He turned the door handle and went inside.
He placed the box gently on the bed.
The box was made of Oak. There was a metal catch that had to be flicked up to open it.
Below the catch. It had a beautiful ornate design. There was a picture of a rose in full bloom carved into the front. Its stem wound all the way round in a Celtic knot style. At intervals around the box were carved pictures, one of an otter, one of an owl, one of a badger and finally one of a wolf.
On the lid of the box was carved in intricate detail was a phoenix its wings spread wide emerging in flames from a rose bush.
After he had carefully examined the design, Harry tried to open the catch. It wouldn't move.
Feeling slightly annoyed Harry stood up. Moving over to the mantel he picked up a photo of himself with Sirius that had been taken the previous year. There was also one that had been taken of him, the Weasley's and Hermione. As he walked back to the bed he decided to keep them because he had no recent ones of Sirius and very few of his friends.
Just then there was a knock at the door. Harry not wanting the box to be found which would end in him having to answer awkward questions quickly thought of a place to hide it. Under the bed looked good but just as he was about to move to hide it, it shrunk to a size that would easily fit in his pocket. He quickly pocketed it.
"Come in" he called.
"Harry" It was Remus Lupin.
"Moony."
Remus came across the room ad sat down next to Harry on the bed there was an awkward silence.
"Harry. How are you holding up?"
"As best as can be expected I suppose. You?"
"The same" after a moment Harry spoke a thought that had been bothering him since the incident.
"Why did you hold me back?"
"Harry, what could you have done?"
"I could have done something."
"Harry I lost him too."
"But it was my fault."
"Harry, Sirius died doing what he loved. He was not a man to follow the rules."
"I know but…"
"He died to save you there is no greater sacrifice than to die for one you love. Are you going to begrudge him that final glory by wishing for him to be back at your side?"
Harry stalled. He had never thought of like it that. Tears welled in his eyes and trickled down his face, unable to stop them he fell into the tight comforting embrace of the last marauder.
"But I love him" he sobbed
"And he loved you, more than you will ever know."
After a while he let Harry go. Harry wiped away the tears from his face. He did not like to cry especially around other people. He inhaled deeply. Remus took him by the shoulders and looked him directly in the eye.
"Harry, what happened was not your fault. You couldn't of known what would happen if you went to the Ministry that night. You went to save him; you did a brave and noble thing that night. You were tricked into believing that he was in danger."
"But it was a trap and I should have known. If I had done my Occlumency properly than none of this would have ever happened. If I had done something anything…"
"But you did Harry. You went and checked to see if he was here. It is not your fault that Kreature lied to you."
At this Harry froze
"Where is he? I'll kill that…. that…?"
Harry didn't have the words to describe how he felt about the house elf.
Remus suddenly became very rigid.
"I…"
Harry saw this. "What is it Moony?" he asked quietly.
Remus sighed
"When I came back that night I was angry… angrier than I have ever been in my life. They tried to stop me but I had completely lost it. Well to cut a long story short I killed him. He was happy that he had caused Sirius's death and I… I just lost it. If Tonk's wasn't there I would have trashed the whole house. I broke everything I could lay my hands on.
At this Harry chuckled
"What Harry you think its funny that I killed another living thing that I killed in cold blood?"
Harry stopped when he said this.
"No its not that, I did the same thing, plus that explains the lack of furniture"
"What?"
"What. What?
"Harry. I'm being serious."
Harry took a deep breath. Should he tell Remus about that day? Was he ready? He had not spoken about the previous year with anyone after he left Dumbledore's office in June.
Remus was looking at him trying to gage what he was feeling.
Harry took another deep breath.
"I wrecked Dumbledore's office. I was angry. He wouldn't let me out. I'm not proud of it, but I know how you felt." He told me a lot of stuff about why I was attacked as a child. He also told me the content of the prophecy. I can't tell you about it I'm…I'm not ready.
Remus sighed.
"Wait till your ready. I'll always be here to talk if you need it I'm here for you."
"Thanks Moony."
He saw what Harry had in his hand.
"If there's anything you want to keep then you better take it now because an awful lot of the stuff in the house is going to be destroyed. The books will stay as they may come in handy but the ornaments will go."
"I don't think I want any of it. I will take these pictures I don't have many of him and on the furniture front I think you've already done a good deal of that already, Professor."
Remus took a playful swipe at Harry's head, which Harry ducked with ease.
"Come on you little tyke. We better head for dinner before you have to go," chuckled Remus.