This should go with out saying but I do not own Harry Potter or any characters within the are copyright by their owners and this piece is just a little itch in my head that I had to take care of I do however take credit for the plot and three original characters placed in here to grease the wheels.
Author's notes the story takes place immediately after the Half Blood Prince and is basically the author's continuation of the story so it should basically be considered AU after the release of Hollows
Chapter One Late ArrivalsDumbeldore's Funeral
Harry watched from the lake as the crowd began to disperse. Ron and Hermione had left him there to go perform their prefect duties one last time and make sure that the remaining students made it safely onto the train. Watching the crowd Harry noticed something truly peculiar, he saw somebody arriving. "Why would any one miss the funeral and come here afterwards?" Harry mused as he continued to watch the figure with interest. It was hard to figure out what the person looked like at such a distance but form the way he walked and carried himself this individual showed a more than a little confidence. Striding past the crowd he - Harry could now defiantly make out that it was a him - made his way toward the Headmaster's grave not giving anything else a second look. The man now knelt in front of the grave seeming to speak a few words and place something there in front of it. Then with just as much purpose the man got up and headed straight in the direction of Minister Scrimagour who had now noticed the mans presence and was proceeding up to him with Harry noticed no fewer than four aurers flanking his sides. The man seemed unperturbed by the show of strength on the Minister's part. They exchanged a few words before the new arrival handed a scroll of parchment over to Scrimagour. The minister seemed to take his time reading it before slipping it into the pocket of his robes the man then pulled up the sleeve on his own robes showed the minister something then said a few words the minister nodded and the Auror escort dispersed and the man left his conversation with Scrimgeour and now headed in Harry's direction.
Harry's eyes narrowed as he now got a better look at the man. Salt and pepper hair on his head revealed a man that was that was about the age his parents should have been if they still survived. The man's dusty brown eyes held a sunken quality that reminded harry of his late godfather Sirus. His clothes seem travel worn but not as shabby as Lupon's had been when harry met his late fathers close friend. Harry didn't like this man however; a friend of the ministry was not a friend of his, not to mention that he hadn't even managed to show proper respect and consideration to the late headmaster.
"Hello Harry, It's good to finally see you in person." The Stranger spoke in a warm fashion. Harry's response however was ice cold, "what do you want?"
The man took a step back almost like he had just been bitten and Harry felt a little guilty about his quick judgment after all it seemed like that happened to him all of his life. "My name is Sam Stormcrow and I think that we may have somehow gotten off on the wrong foot here so I think I should give you this right now." Sam said as he handed Harry an envelope.
Harry instantly recognized his name on the envelope but more importantly Harry recognized the hand righting, Dumbledore, Harry tore into the letter.
Dear Harry,
If you are reading this then that means I am no longer your Headmaster. I have enjoyed the time that we have been able to spend together and I hope that you have found these lessons to be valuable. I have only these few things to ask of you first remember your promise to return to your aunt and uncles this summer for both your and their protection. Second the man before you is Samuel Stormcrow a former student of mine and a friend to your parents there are many thing that he can teach you that I could not have trust him and he can help you. Finally forgive Severus I know that this may be difficult for you but I tell you this he has done nothing other than what I have asked him to. I know that this is a lot for you to take in but you cannot let grief and anger consume you, you must be strong for yourself for your friends and for the rest of the world I know that this is asking a lot from you but there is nothing more that I can give you than I already have.
Yours forever
Albus Dumbledore
Harry stared at the letter in his hands forgive Snape this had to be a trick Snape killed Dumbledore the man whose funeral had just finished and here stood a man claiming to be someone just appearing out of his parents past that he had never heard of never seen until this day someone who says that he is knew and was a close friend to Dumbledore and that Dumbledore told him secrets that he hadn't told any one else this was too much for Harry to believe. "How do I know that this isn't a fake?" Harry demanded.
"I don't know what I can do to make you believe me but I will do what ever it takes to convince you that I am sincere and that I mean you no harm."
Harry didn't know why he didn't just walk away then but something in the man's eyes made him stay and ask, "If you were such good friends with my parents then why did Sirus of Lupin never mention you?"
"Honestly because I never was that close to James I was a year ahead of your parents at school and in a different house the most dealings that I had with James was more as a rival since I played seeker for the Ravenclaw team and we were even opposing captains during my last two years at Hogwarts."
"If you weren't that close why did Dumbledore's letter say that you were?"
"I wasn't that close to James but your mother and I were friends since her first year or more accurately I was in love with the girl who was her best friend and that made me her friend also. But that is a much longer story than we have time for right now as it seems that you are missing your train."
Harry turned and sure enough he caught sight of the Hogwarts express pulling out of the station without him. "Great," Harry thought, "now I'm stuck here for the time being. I don't suppose there is anybody still around that can prove your story?"
"Sure do you still have the photo album that Hagrid gave you first year?"
"Of course it's over there in my trunk. Waite a minute how do you know about that?"
"Where did you think Hagrid got most of the pictures from, Sirus?"
At the mention of his late godfather Harry's temper began to rise again. "Sirus was innocent; it was Pettigrew who betrayed my parents!"
"Is that what happened? It never did sit right; the idea that Sirus would betray James, but of course that is what the evidence pointed to. Besides the ministry is not going to set somebody free based on the hunch of someone that has already been sent to Azkaban for the use of dark arts."
"You were sent to Azkaban?" A mix of fear and curiosity tinting Harry's voice. "Were you innocent like Sirus?"
"Unfortunately No, I was quite guilty of my crime, but I have served my sentence and am still paying the price." With this Sam rolled up is sleeve and showed harry the mark that it bore. It was a strange spiral with runes surrounding it."
Harry was confused. He had half expected to see the dark mark when the man showed his forearm instead there was this symbol that made no sense to him so Harry voiced the obvious question.
"This is a tracking seal that allows the ministry to locate me any where in Brittan and to see what spells exactly that I am casting. That is why I had to show this to Scrimgeour he was making sure that is was intact and working before allowing me to conduct my business in this country."
"And what business is that?"
"As Dumbledore said in his letter I am to train you in certain skills."
"He wanted you to teach me Dark Arts?"
"No, and I wouldn't even if he had, the dark arts have a way of consuming a person and it is very difficult to come back from that. I was only able to with the help and support of a good friend and the unconditional love of my daughter. I can tell you the entire story if you will permit me to return you to your aunt and uncles."
Harry considered the offer for a moment. He needed to find a way home anyway although he had been planning to return to the Burrow as Ron had suggested it seemed like a good idea to get his week with the relatives over with a quickly as possible. He would still be able to make it to the Wedding it wasn't until the end of the month. He also didn't really know if he was able to face staying under the same roof as Ginny. As much as he wanted to protect her he wanted to be with her just as much or even more and that was dangerous. "Alright I'd like to hear your full story." Harry finally decided.
"Is this every thing then?" Sam said motioning to Harry's trunk. Harry nodded and the two proceeded out to Hogsmead. On all of his Hogsmead visits Harry had never seen a car on the streets and this time was no exception. He was puzzled for a moment until his companion pulled out something that was unmistakably a key. Pressing a button on the chain suddenly a Muggle auto appeared in front of him. Harry didn't know that much about vehicles but this one was unmistakably built for speed its appearance just screamed for it to be driven fast. The engine started up when Sam petted the roof sounding suspiciously like a cat purring. "I've had Eleanor here since before you were born. Sirus was so jealous when I got her she's way better than that old bike he had." Sam grinned noticing Harry's appraising stare. "Shall we be going then?"
Harry wasn't surprised when after they made their way out of Hogsmead the car became airborne. "Won't traveling in a flying car get us in trouble? I mean my friend Ron's dad works in the misuse of muggle artifacts office and I already got in trouble once for arriving at school in a flying car."
Sam laughed, "That was you? I think your dad would have been proud, but I doubt that Lilly would have approved. No this car is fine since it is not technically a muggle artifact it just looks like one on the outside. If you were to open the hood there would be no confusing this for a normal car. So I think we should be safe from the ministry. At least I hope."
Harry looked out the window surprised to see the landscape streaming by so quickly when he hadn't felt the acceleration, reasoning that it must be another magical enhancement Harry turned to the driver "You promised me a story"
"So I did."
a/ n – not much here except some set up for the story I promise a little more action in chapter two.