Susan & Harry

A/N: The world of Harry Potter belongs to JKRowling I'm just playing in her sand box and make no money from this.

Rating is mature for future language, violence and mature subjects. This story does not follow the JKR timeline and adventures will be quite different.

Ships: Susan/Harry. Neville/Hermione

Genera: Drama, Romance.


Chapter 3: Hunted

Sirius Black was considering his options. He had barely escaped Azkaban with his sanity mostly intact. Hiding out in his animagus form, he was searching for the one that betrayed him. Half starved for the past ten years, he had taken to stealing scraps and begging for food as he could in his dog form. Frequently he was reduced to eating rats and whatever small game he could chase down. He dared not resume his human form for fear of capture and being returned to that hell hole or worse. He shuddered at the thought.

Meanwhile, a certain rat animagus was shivering with the thought that Black was free. Sirius would be looking for him and would kill him immediately if he found where he was hiding. He'd considered it a stroke of luck that he'd found a home as the pet of a wizarding family. He'd have to be very careful now, ready to bolt at the first sign that Black was close.


Susan was the first to spot the problem. It was never a good sign when the Headmaster scowled. "Harry, I think the Headmaster wants to speak to you."

Albus had fixed his eyes on the detraining students, wanting to catch Harry as soon as possible. As he surveyed the crowd, his eyes spotted him walking with Miss Bones and her Auror escort. Also with them was the Longbottom heir and the mudblood Granger. Try as he might to isolate him from the others, it seemed an impossible effort. Harry was practically tied to Susan and if his eyes didn't deceive him, they were holding hands. 'Surely not,' he groaned. He met her eyes for a moment and detected defiance in them as she glared back at him, before he looked away. "Damn, it's worse than I thought!" he muttered. "I have to talk to young Harry to see how much influence she has in his life."

"What do you think he wants Susan?"

"Nothing good if his scowl is any indication," she replied. "He is a master legilimens, Harry, so never look him in the eyes. He reads thoughts, in other words. It's a branch of mind magic that is technically illegal to use without the person's permission. I suspect he won't ask your permission, and as a powerful wizard in our society, he will probably be able to get away with it. Don't look directly at him and if he forces you to, kick him hard where it hurts. Otherwise he'll read your deepest thoughts and obliviate you afterwards. Be careful, my love."

There it was again, Love! He trusted her and therefore what she said was the truth. She loved him and that would be all he needed. "I'll be careful, I love you too!" he replied as he briefly kissed her.

Albus saw that, even at that distance, and it confirmed his worst fears. This was bad, very bad. He'd have to obliviate both of them and steer them to different people. It was too early for love to form; they were just too young. Next year, Genevra Weasley would be attending, she would make a suitable partner for Mr. Potter, with a little guidance and persuasion.

"Mr. Potter, may I have a word with you?" he used his best grandfatherly tone, hoping to gain some trust.

"Yes, Headmaster, is there a problem?" Harry asked warily.

"Please come with me, there is something I wish to discuss in private."

"I'm sorry, Headmaster, but I won't discuss anything with you after what you tried to do to prevent me from joining Susan for Christmas. Where I go, she goes, and by extension, her Auror escort as well."

Albus ground his teeth in frustration. Deciding to take a different tack, he released a bit of information. "Sirius Black, the notorious murderer has escaped and is likely looking to hurt or kill you. I merely wanted to assure your safety. It is not safe staying with the Bones family, it would be best if you stayed here at Hogwarts where the wards are strongest."

"Again I ask, Headmaster, why is this any concern of yours? What I do out of school is none of your business!" he replied forcefully. "The Bones Manor is quite well warded and Madam Bones can call on the Aurors if needed."

Harry had accidentally met the headmaster's eyes and immediately felt a pressure in his mind. "HEADMASTER! What are you doing? You know it's illegal to read people's minds without their permission!" he shouted.

Hestia immediately brought her wand out and cast a stunner at Albus. She growled in frustration as the barmy old goat cast a shield to protect himself. "Albus Dumbledore! If you wish to stay out of Azkaban for the illegal use of Legilimens, I'd suggest you cease right now!"

"HOW DARE YOU!" he shouted. "I'll have your badge for this unwarranted interference…" Then he gasped in agony as Harry kicked him in his privates.

Susan glared at the headmaster. "You'd best rethink that, Headmaster. My aunt can legally arrest you for what you attempted."

Albus sputtered ineffectually, intense pain on his face. "One hundred points from Hufflepuff and a months detention with Professor Snape, Miss Bones and Mr. Potter," he ground out.

Hestia fixed her eyes on the headmaster, knowing her mental shields were strong enough to prevent an invasion. "You will be hearing from my boss, Albus Dumbledore, and you will most certainly not like what she has to say. Good day to you sir."

With that, she escorted the pair to the Great Hall for dinner.

Albus had suffered a humiliating defeat and was smarting. Never mind his private parts were aching; he'd have to sit down for awhile to recover. "Damn those three!" he swore vehemently. He'd somehow have to catch Mr. Potter alone. Perhaps the portraits could help, they were, after all, under his direct control.


Sirius Black had steadily headed north towards Scotland and Hogwarts Castle, sensing perhaps, that his quarry was hidden within its confines. He'd been a fool to trust Peter and he'd paid. Ten long years in Azkaban; Peter would pay dearly for his traitorous ways!

He was now within two days hard walk to Hogwarts and the pads of his paws were sore. Vengeance burned bright in his blood, the Blacks, after all, knew about vengeance. His mother had burned his name off the family tapestry and tried to disinherit him, but his father refused, and Lord Black was a stubborn, crusty old pureblood. He had hopes of rehabilitating Sirius to the pureblood way, but it was not to be. He'd met James Potter and the two hit it off immediately. He'd been sorted into Gryffindor, much to the chagrin and disgust of his family and told not to bother coming home again. James' father, Charlus Potter was reluctant to accept him, but finally James won him over and he was treated as if he were a Potter. When James married Lily and had Harry, James named him as his godfather. Sirius was over the moon and played with Harry and the visiting Bones child of Harry's age. What was her name now? He couldn't quite remember. He could remember that Harry and...Susan, that was her name, got along very well.

He hadn't thought of Harry for quite some time, but wondered where he lived now. Hopefully, with the Longbottoms or Bones. Then a thought occurred to him; Harry would be there in his first year!

He had to get there, but how would Harry receive him? He was a wanted criminal, never mind he had never been tried, just thrown in Azkaban and locked away for ten years.

Sirius was desperately thin and suffered from years of bad food, not to mention the draining effect of the Dementors. It had become harder each year to remember how to change, until in desperation, he transformed and slipped through the bars. Padfoot was now thin enough to slip through. Once free, he had the difficult job of swimming the distance back to the mainland. He'd almost drowned but with a final burst of energy, he barely managed it and immediately collapsed on the shore, gasping for breath. He lay there for what seemed like hours until he heard the guards searching for him. No one had ever escaped Azkaban before, but they had never imprisoned an animagus before. His first thought was moving away from the area and then getting food. Several days later he'd worked his way to Hadrian's Wall, but it was still a long way to go. He'd been lucky, it had not snowed yet, although it had gotten progressively colder. As a dog animagus it wasn't a problem so far, but when he encountered snow...he didn't want to think about that, especially if he was still far away from Hogwarts. Fortunately his luck was still with him. The Hogwarts Express had stopped, not far from where he was for some unknown reason. He took a chance and clambered aboard, noticing that someone had cast a Patronus spell. Odd, he thought, then he looked at the shape, for it was almost solid. 'Prongs!' The thought so shook him that he almost missed what happened next. The stag Patronus rammed into a Dementor! 'That's impossible!' he thought. What happened next shook him to the core; the Dementor disintegrated. All that was left was some foul smelling ash. "I must be insane; you can't destroy a Dementor." Yet here was the proof.

A commotion erupted just ahead of him and he spotted his old friend Kingsley, along with a pretty blonde that he supposed was also an Auror. Instantly he decided to hide, only there were precious few places to hide on the train with no wand. He backed up the corridor until he reached the next carriage. Chancing it, he changed back to a wizard and continued on through the train, luckily not meeting anyone. It seemed that everyone was hiding from the Dementor. He reached the first car and hunkered down. This carriage was empty and he slipped into the compartment nearest the baggage car. Nobody wanted to be near the baggage car and in any case, the train was hardly full. Not everyone went home for the holidays. He locked the door, drew the curtains and settled down for the ride. The train resumed its journey after someone went up to the engine driver to signal him to restart the journey. Sometime later, the train slowed and he figured they had arrived at Hogsmeade station.

Slipping out the door after everyone had detrained, he looked around. The students had taken the waiting carriages to the castle. Now came the hard part; where to stay. It was bitterly cold, but that didn't bother him. It had started to snow, so staying far away from Hogwarts might not be a good idea. Then he had a bright idea. The Shrieking Shack! Almost the ideal place to stay. He knew how to get there; via the Whomping Willow and the tunnel. Staying out of sight, he prodded the knot on the trunk and slipped down the hole and into the tunnel. A quick race down in his dog form and he was inside the shack. It was cold inside and rather dark, but he curled up and awaited the dawn.


Ron Weasley had been watching Scabbers. Something was wrong with his pet. He put it off to being in the Slytherin dungeons. Nobody in their right mind would want to be there. Millicent Bulstrode had pursued him relentlessly, and truth be told, she was beginning to grow on him. He had no other friends in Slytherin and the Twins teased him mercilessly whenever they saw him. He'd taken to hiding for Merlin's sake, from his own brothers. Millicent found him with a suddenly squirming Scabbers.

"What's wrong with your pet, Ron?" she asked, not unkindly.

"Dunno, he's been acting off for the past few days."

"How old is he?" she asked suspiciously.

"Dunno, I got him from my brother Percy and he had him for years. Why?"

"I think off is too mild a word, that's not a normal rat; rats don't live that long," she reminded him.

"Well, he's not magical, if that's what you mean," Ron replied.

"No, but he could be an animagus disguised as a rat!" she stated drawing her wand.

Scabbers panicking, bit Ron's finger. Ron, shocked that his pet would bite him dropped him and Scabbers made a run for it.

Millicent sent a stunner, managed to miss the rat and fired another stunner as the rat dodged and weaved its way to freedom.

Millicent chased after him, followed by Ron, who yelled, "Don't hurt him Millie!"

Millicent, now convinced that rat was not as he appeared ran, firing curses but just missing the rodent each time.

Scabbers knew the jig was up, but he had a few tricks up his 'sleeve'. He ducked behind a tapestry and ran down a hidden corridor, with Millicent and Ron in hot pursuit. Ron and Millicent had never been this way before, but doggedly tried to keep up. Suddenly Scabbers transformed back into Peter Pettigrew and pulling a hidden wand, stunned both Ron and Millicent. 'I'm not safe here, best head for the Shrieking Shack,' he thought.


Susan, Harry and Neville met up after the welcome back dinner and looked for Hermione.

Hermione, meanwhile, had settled down in her dorm, thinking about Neville. "That kiss on the train...I've never even kissed a boy before, but it was wonderful," she sighed. 'Neville sure has changed since the beginning of the year, maybe I should see if...No wait a minute, it's just hormones, we're too young. But Harry and Susan...and I do like Neville. He's just as smart as Harry, but in a different way.' The thought, once formed, wouldn't leave her alone. "Argh, not now! I need to do well here, it's important to me to be the best I can be." The thought of Neville's kiss and more importantly, her response, would not leave her alone. It was maddening. She couldn't read and later she found she couldn't properly sleep. Neville and 'The Kiss' kept replaying in her mind. She would doze off and start to dream and Neville invaded her dreams. She would start imagining him lying over her, kissing her, doing naughty things until finally she succumbed to a deeper sleep. She awoke the next morning with her knickers damp. "Oh my god!" She was mortified, realizing that her dreams had caused her body to react. She'd had her first 'wet' dream.

Neville had trouble sleeping that night as well. 'We snogged! Hermione Granger and I actually snogged. Merlin she's a great kisser,' he thought. "Hang on Neville, this ride will be a wild one!"

Susan and Harry had stayed awake for hours after lights out time. Both were absorbed in the multiple problems of: How did he manage to kill a Dementor, what was Dumbledore up to, and how did we get together as a couple so soon?

Both fell into a fitful sleep, wondering about everything that had happened over the holidays.

Harry was wondering how he was going to remain with Susan next summer. Susan was wondering the same, but she knew her aunt would find a way to make it happen.


The head of the DMLE was furious. Once again, Albus Dumbledore had overstepped his authority. Amelia had almost enough evidence to put Lucius Malfoy away, but presenting it to Fudge would be a problem. Cornelius owed his continued support and lifestyle to Malfoy and would hear nothing against his pureblood upstanding friend. The death of his son had hit him hard, but getting him to believe that Lucius was responsible would be a hard sell, even with Harry's pensieve memory.

Amelia had a good mind to arrest Albus for trying to invade Harry's mind, but she would let it go for now, as Harry seemed able to look after himself. She smiled at the resourcefulness of the young lad when Hestia had owl mailed her the memory. Albus had been brought down a peg that day, but she knew the battle was far from over. Just what was Dumbledore's interest in Harry, beyond his duty to teach and administer the school? There was something else, she was sure of it. She had asked around through her ministry friends if there was anything odd, but so far came up blank. Why was Harry hidden after Voldemort was destroyed by Harry as a baby? The official answer was that there were still Death Eaters out there that would like to avenge their Dark Lord, and Harry was always going to be a target, but it must be more than that. Dumbledore taking what seemed to be a personal interest was out of character for the old wizard. Usually he contented himself manipulating people to do his bidding. 'That must be it! He has a plan for Harry and won't tell anyone what it is!' she suddenly realised. Finding that plan would be the key to getting Harry out from under his control.

Well, the prosecution of the Dursleys was going well. They were formally charged with child abuse yesterday and were to appear in a muggle court today to answer the charges. Amelia had made sure that the evidence was incontrovertible, air tight in fact. She had a sworn signed statement from Harry, plus she was due to testify for the prosecution as a close friend. Dumbledore was effectively kept out of the loop. They were going down. She had photographic evidence of his many injuries and independent medical opinion on what that kind of treatment would do to a child. She'd also a plan to take Harry in as a ward, but that was not as solid as she'd like. The muggle justice and child placement services were notoriously slow to make a decision. She wouldn't let Harry be sent to an orphanage. She would obliviate people if necessary to make sure that didn't happen. Paperwork would need to be taken care of too. No trace of Harry going anywhere other than to her as his guardian, would be allowed.


Peter had started to ascend the stairs from the tunnel when he was caught in a body bind and stunned.

"Hello Peter," a cold voice spoke as he was awoken. "I think we have a few things to discuss before I kill you!"

"S-Sirius!" a panicked Peter Pettigrew stuttered. "H-how did you find me?"

"Well, technically you found me, but I've been looking forward to finding you after the traitorous thing you did by betraying the Potters. Then you had the gall to frame me! You have no shame Peter, so you are going to do a few unpleasant things before I kill you. First will be a signed confession, in your own blood, then you will tell me all you know about the Death Eaters that escaped justice. For now, you will tell me all you know about Harry Potter."

"Please, Sirius," he begged. I couldn't help it. The Dark Lord was taking over and I-I was promised protection if I joined him. He has ways, Sirius, I…"

"You sniveling little bastard, I would have died, as you should have before betraying James and Lily! What about Harry, now! The truth, Wormtail, I want to know everything!"

Eventually it all came out, but Peter knew very little about Harry. Supposedly Ron, his owner, was to befriend Harry, but that didn't happen. He'd been sorted into Slytherin and had no contact with Harry who was sorted into Hufflepuff.

Peter betrayed all the Death Eaters he knew and eventually signed a confession in his own blood. He begged Sirius for his life, promising to testify at his trial.

Sirius considered that for a minute and almost agreed when Peter suddenly broke free and transformed. Sirius had confiscated Peter's wand and fired stunner after stunner at him before finally catching him as he was about to escape through the door.

"Peter, Peter, Peter. You useless piece of excrement. I should kill you right now, but I have a better idea." Peter was bound in magical ropes and stunned to make sure. Sirius was taking a chance, but he needed to contact his old friend Amelia Bones. The Bones girl was at Hogwarts but getting her and Harry here was a bit of a problem.


Ron and Millicent were eventually discovered stunned behind a hidden corridor. The Twins, George and Fred Weasley, were asked where their brother was by Professor McGonagall. After checking their secret map, George spotted him and Millicent in the hidden corridor. Of course they knew of this shortcut to the third floor and had used it many times. This was definitely tease-worthy material. Ron would never be allowed to forget the romantic tryst he had with Millicent.

When it came out that Scabbers was an animagus and was hiding as a rat to escape detection. The description of the man closely resembled a long thought to be dead Peter Pettigrew.


The next day, Harry awoke to find a note slipped onto his bed. Reading the note, he immediately called for Susan. "I woke up to find this note, Susan and I don't know what to make of it. How did anyone even get the note to me?"

Susan looked at the note and gasped. "Harry, this is a note from Sirius Black! He wants to meet with us! Harry, Black is the one that betrayed your parents...wait, he signed it Your Godfather, Sirius Black! Sirius is your godfather? If that's true, he couldn't have betrayed your parents; there's a magical oath involved. I need to contact Auntie."

"I have a godfather? A godfather who was in prison? A trial would have cleared him, wouldn't it if he was my godfather?"

Susan thought a brief minute about that. "Of course! He must not have received a trial. Let's talk to Hestia, she can reach Auntie faster than an owl."

Hestia read the note and asked the headmaster permission to use his floo for a floo call. Albus was wary, but decided to comply.

"Amelia, Harry needs to talk with you right away. Can you come here, it's important."

After asking and being granted the use of the floo, Amelia greeted Albus and Hestia.

"What's up, Auror Jones?" Amelia, all business, asked.

"Harry's received a note, you better look at it," Hestia replied.

Albus was intrigued; just what kind of note would call for the head of the DMLE to drop everything and come here?

The trio marched down to the Hufflepuff tower and walked into the common room where Harry and Susan were waiting.

"I found this note on my bed this morning," as he handed the note to Amelia.

Albus started to protest that he should see the note first, as it seemed to breach the school's security.

Amelia brushed his protest aside when she read the note. "This is indeed a security matter, but concerns national security, so I'm denying your request. Mr. Potter and my niece will accompany me to a secure classroom to discuss this. There will be no portraits or listening spells to overhear what we say, Headmaster Dumbledore. This is now classified as secret and I will not have word of this spreading."

Albus huffed and cajoled, but Amelia was adamant. When they were in the empty classroom, Amelia locked and sealed the door as well as casting anti-eavesdropping spells around the room, including the ceiling and floor. One could never be too careful when dealing with Albus.

"Now, the note said he wanted to meet with you and Susan, this is not a good idea. Sirius Black killed thirteen muggles with one spell as well as Peter Pettigrew."

"But Mr. Black was Harry's godfather," Susan interjected. "As such, he couldn't betray the Potters! This should have been brought out in his trial. Why wasn't it; did he even get a trial?"

Amelia blinked. "Susan, I never realised that. If Sirius didn't betray the Potters, he must not have been the secret keeper for the Fidelius Charm! Someone else betrayed them. I haven't seen the transcript of the trial, but I'll be sure to find it and look. Now, what do we do about you meeting Sirius Black? There's still the death of thirteen muggles to deal with."

Harry spoke up at that point. "I'd like to hear from him what happened. Why would he want to see me and Susan? Sure, he may be my godfather, but he must realise that he could be captured if he spoke to anyone."

"Maybe he has some new evidence," Susan speculated. "What if Pettigrew faked his own death, maybe even killed the muggles to implicate Sirius?"

"We don't know anything yet, Susan, but it's a good guess," Amelia replied. "In any case, all we have as Pettigrew's finger after the blast that killed the muggles. Just send him a note that we'd like to talk to him, but don't say where or when. I'd be very interested in how that note wound up on your bed."

"Err, how am I going to send a note?" Harry asked.

"Just trust that he has a way to contact you, Harry. Write the note and leave it on your bed."

"We don't want the Headmaster to know about this, do we, Auntie," Susan replied.

Amelia snorted, "Certainly not. That crazy old coot would find someway to turn it to his own advantage. Albus must have known that he was Harry's godfather, why wasn't that brought up?"

"Like I told Susan, I don't trust him, he's way too controlling," Harry replied.

Amelia left right after that to investigate whether Sirius received a fair trial or not.


Albus Dumbledore was thinking hard. What could the head of the DMLE have seen in that note to cause her to claim national security secrecy? He'd have to find out. The portraits might be able to overhear something. At least that was his only hope. "Wait! Does this somehow tie into Mr. Weasley and Miss Bulstrode being stunned and the description of their attacker?" Thinking back, he remembered the description. He'd call both of them in and scan them for the memory. Surely he couldn't be faulted for that.

When the two arrived, he bade them sit and recount what they remembered, meanwhile using legilimency on both, 'just to confirm the facts,' he reasoned. When he saw the memory of Peter Pettigrew, he made the leap of logic necessary to deduce that Sirius Black was close by.

"So that's why she didn't want me to see the note! Sirius must have written Harry, wanting to see him." He couldn't allow that to happen. If Sirius were allowed to tell his story, his own plans would suffer. He had planned too carefully for that to happen.