Center of the Circle
MarauderMac.
All creative thoughts and ideas are credited to Ms. J.K.R.
Ch. 3: I Don't Get Out a Lot
Professor Dumbledore was sitting at his desk reading the list of prospective student for the upcoming year. He had been having an average summer so far. When the students were gone the school seemed much lonelier and far too quiet, but he was keeping busy.
He was startled by a tap at his office window. He stood and let in a large brown owl that looked to be from the post department. He detached the letter and saw it was written on lined Muggle paper with a single piece of tape holding the paper closed. Interested, Dumbledore opened the letter and after reading the first line of post nearly missed his chair as he began to sit. He read:
Dear Mr. Dumbledore,
My name is Harry Potter and if I have learned anything about this world or myself in the past week it is that that is a name you know very well. When I stumbled on Diagon Alley I am sure I learned things that I was not meant to know, but there was one thing I wanted to talk to you about.
I apparently have a Godfather in jail. I would like to meet him. In fact he is apparently my legal guardian and I would like your help setting it up. A lady in the store told me you were the headmaster of the school here in Britain and gave the impression that you could help me. I don't want to make a fuss, but I've never known my parents, and my relatives refuse to talk about them.
If you don't know who I am, or don't know who Sirius Black is, or are not in a position to help me then could you please explain, and if it is the last option please recommend someone from your government who could help me. I feel a little silly giving my letter to an owl, but this one looks trustworthy and the teller told me that it would get to you. My tenth birthday is in a week so perhaps that would be a good time to meet him. I am not sure my relatives would like an owl coming to the house so if you could respond by regular post that might be better.
Thank you
Harry Potter.
Harry Potter stumbling upon Diagon Alley. Harry Potter discovering he is famous. Harry Potter finding he has a felon as a Godfather, and most importantly wanting to meet the man. This was not good. This was so not good.
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Harry Potter sat in his cupboard feeling very pleased with himself. He had sent the letter yesterday so assuming the owl was only slightly slower that Hedwig was- no, as Hedwig is- then the Headmaster had received the letter sometime earlier this morning.
He would not immediately act, he would call together Snape and McGonagall and hopefully Remus. They would fight and argue until they were blue in the face, but then decide that they had no other option. They would then take a day or two planning the visit and then stop by the house. Dumbledore would undoubtedly come by himself to greet his famous future pupil and give him the old twinkle-eyed-grandfather routine. That could convince Harry to do anything last time around, but he was wise to Dumbledore's tricks by now and wouldn't let himself be handeled. Dumbledore could be a sneaky, manipulative meddler, but he was only trying to help and in the end he had the same goals as Harry did himself. So he wouldn't fault the man for his weaknesses, only concentrate on how to be even more sneaky and manipulative himself.
The exact timeline of events in the next week did not really matter and it was not the reason he was so pleased with himself. Harry was reveling in the serendipitous turn of events that brought about the letter. He was only nine, but he still had all of his magical power and memories, so he wasn't really nine at all. He Apparated to an alley behind the Leaky Cauldren and then wondered in. He gave a slightly dazed and lost look to Tom the barkeep and before he could snap his fingers Tom was opening up the doorway into Diagon Alley.
Harry hoped that if his Godfather really did get free Harry would either be able to live with the man or visit him on a regular basis, and that meant contact with the magical world. Even more importantly it meant that when he got to Hogwarts and knew things no 11 year-old should know he could always say that Sirius had taught him. Genius! I say.
Seven day's later found Harry just as smug, but even more bored. Being nine was dull. He had no friends or anyone to talk to, and all he could do was sit around and think. And by think that mostly meant think about Ginny. Harry had stolen a few quid from his Aunts pocketbook for the owl and they had, of course, noticed this. That is how he found himself locked in the cupboard for the tenth consecutive hour. He had an inkling that his relatives were purposely giving him copious amounts of water and no bathroom breaks in the hopes that he would wet himself. A horrifying thought weather you are ten or twenty. His birthday was today, and so far it had not been his best.
No that title was saved for his 18th birthday when he proposed to Ginny with his mothers ring. She had been two weeks from her 17th birthday at the time and the day after her birthday they had been married by the Minister of Magic himself in her office with Ron, Hermione, Mr. Weasley, Fred, George and Bill as witness. That was all that was left of the Weasley family, but for that day they were happy; something that had become a bit of a rarity in their lives. As Harry sat there and thought of his now 7 year-old wife, there was a knock at the front door.
"Hello Mr. Dursley. I have come to speak with young Mr. Potter, if he is in."
"You! You're one of his kind. I won't have you in my home. Out. He'll meet you in the park in ten minutes. Out. Out. Out!" He then preceded to slam the door in the face Albus Dumbledore himself. Vernon walked to the cupboard and unlocked it. Harry scrambled out of the little space and stood in front of his uncle. He found he couldn't stand still and began an obnoxious dance that involved hoping from one foot to the other while holding his hands in front of his pants.
"Oh, all right. Use the bathroom." He said exasperatedly. Harry didn't need telling twice and sprinted for the loo. After he releived himself he joined his Uncle in the hallway. "Boy, go to the park. Talk to the old man, but don't tell Petunia. If she asks I let you out and you left to play for the day. Anything you learn you will never mention. Understood?" Vernon said. Harry could tell he was trying to sound menacing, but it didn't work. But for the sake of appearances he nodded humbly.
"Yes Uncle." Harry said quickly. He ran to the door and sprinted towards the park. Dumbledore was sitting on the park bench with his back to Harry. He was sitting next to a thin man who had sand blond hair that looked to be going grey
"Hello." Harry said in his best 10 year-old boy voice. Both men turned and looked at the boy. Lupin smiled nervously and Dumbledore stood.
"Well, hello Harry Potter. I am Albus Dumbledore. I am Headmaster of Hogwarts."
"You got my letter then. I was starting to worry."
"No worries my boy. I would have sent a letter, but I confess the details of the Muggle mail system have always perplexed me." Harry smiled at the thought and even Dumbledore laughed at his own eccentricities. He then turned to Lupin and motioned for him to join the two. He stood and walked in front of Harry. His head was slightly bowed and he looked extremely sheepish. He couldn't stop looking at Harry, but still had yet to speak. "This is my good friend Remus Lupin."
"Hello. Are you a teacher at his school?" Harry asked. He knew it was a mean thing to say, considering how badly Remus wanted that, but if he could plant the idea in the Headmasters head perhaps he could have his wish a year early.
"Alas, no. He was a great friend of your fathers, and also of Sirius Blacks." Dumbldore said.
"Really? Oh, wow. What were they like? What did they do? Where did the live? Do you think-"
"Harry, my boy. Hold on there. I know you must have many questions, but at this time we are on a bit of a schedule. So perhaps we can talk a little and then go see your Godfather."
"Really? I can see him? Today? Let's go. Let's go right now." Harry said with a light in his eye's that he didn't need to fake. He saw Remus flinch again at the sight of Harry's excitement.
"We'll see to that in a moment, but first I thought you would like to know a little about the man." Ahh, there was the old Dumbledore. He plans to tell horror stories and scare me out of my curiosity. Well, it won't work, but I'll let you try.
"Okay. So he was friends with my father, but what about my mother. They were friends too?"
"Yes, the three were very close." Remus told him in a strained voice.
"Was he best friends with my dad?" Pause.
"Yes." He told him reluctantly.
"What did he do? Why is he in jail." At this Remus looked to the Headmaster.
"He betrayed your parents and killed many innocent people."
"No! How did he betray them?" He asked the old Headmaster.
"He told the man who was trying to kill them where they were hiding."
"Well, how do you know it was him and not someone else?"
"He was the only one who knew." Remus finally said.
"Well, what did he say at his trial?" The two shared a shamed look.
"..."
"He did have a trial, didn't he?"
"I'm afraid not. It was different times and things were very crazy then, But let me assure you of his guilt."
"Well, I don't care. Nobody know's a person like their best friend and I want to know about my father."
"Well, my boy, that is why I have brought his other very good friend Remus here."
"Okay-that's great. And really appreciate that, but I'm not dumb. I see what you're trying to do. No matter what you say about him I'm still going to want to meet him."
"Harry..."
"I mean it." Dumbledore looked again to Remus and had a silent conversation. In the end it was apparent that Albus had won and the two turned back to the young boy.
"All right Harry. We can go."
"Now?"
"Yes, now."
"All right, let's go."
"Okay. Now we are going there by Portkey. Do you know what that is."
"No."
"It will teleport us."
"Really? Cool."
"Yes, very cool. Now if you will put a finger on this old watch here."
When they landed it was in a small receiving room. There were four stern Magical Law Enforcement Aurors standing rigidly by one door. When then saw that people had arrived they approached and one gave a hand to the fallen Harry.
"Mr. Dumbledore."
"Yes, hello Kingsley. May I introduce Mr. Rumus Lupin and young Mr. Harry Potter." If Harry hadn't been so excited at the prospect of seeing his long dead godfather he would have noticed that the eyes of the four men bulged out unnaturally far from their heads. He did see the door, though, and immediately made a bee line for it.
"Is he this way?" He asked excitedly. He reached up towards the doorknob but one of the Aurors stood in his way.
"As you can see we were unable to dissuade Mr. Potter from his considerable excitement for meeting Mr. Black."
"I can see." Kingsley said in a professional voice. "Well, Mr. Potter. Since the man is still your legal guardian we are obligated to allow you two to visit, but I must check you before you go in there. I am going to scan you using my wand."
"Oh, okay." The scan took about five minutes and was prolonged by Harry excitedly bouncing on the balls of his feet waiting for them to open the door.
"Now Harry, I have to warn you that he may not be what you expect. He has been here for many years and..." Lupin said, "He might not want to talk to you at all is all I'm saying."
"Okay, Remus. I get it. But can we start already." Harry said. In his world the man had been dead for five years, and that was longer than the entire time he had ever known him. The chance to see him, to speak to him was too good to pass up. They slowly opened the door and ushered Harry into a chair at a cold metal table. Remus stayed behind, deciding not to face his old friend.
Harry sat and looked to the other door across from where he entered. He didn't have to wait log before Sirius was shown in. He looked slightly better than when Harry had seen him that day in the Shrieking Shack, but it still wasn't good. He was very thin and old looking with as much grey hair as Remus. His eye's darted around the room in confusion until they landed on Harry. Harry stood from the table and walked until he was right in front of the man.
"Hello."
"H-harry." Sirius said. He sounded much like Harry had when he had used his voice the first time in the hospital. Harry looked around the room at the six others congregated. They saw his look and all but Kingsley quietly exited.
"I was told that you are my Godfather."
"I- I am, Harry."
"Oh." Harry appeared to be thinking about this for a moment. "I was told you were my father's best friend."
"I was."
"And I was also told that you betrayed my parents to their killer." Harry told him.
"I didn't Harry. I- It wasn't me." Harry had thought that his Godfather might not want to talk about these things, but per usual all it took was a small prod in the right direction and people would tell him just about anything, though, in fairness, it helps when you already know the information and therefor the right questions to get you what you wand. He felt no slight guilt over using people like this, but in the case of his Godfather it was necessary. For over an hour Sirius explained every detail of how he came to be there.
"So is that why I'm famous?"
"I guess so. Are you famous? I wouldn't really know. I don't get out a lot." Harry smiled at the man. Trust Sirius to make a joke about his own false imprisonment while still in jail.
"Hmm."
"What Harry?"
"What? Oh, nothing. I just had a really good idea, but I'll tell you next time I see you."
"N-next time?"
"Yeah next time. They have to let me back- you are my guardian, after all."
"I guess I am."
"Anyway, tell me a story about my father, or about my father and mother." Harry said. Sirius tried to smile at his enthusiasm.
"Well, I don't know what you've been told, but you are the spitting image of you father. The face, the hair, even those round glasses."
"Really? He wore glasses?"
"Oh yes. But your eye's. You have your mothers eye's." Harry smile. He'd never tire of hearing that.
"What did they do?"
"Well, they got married right after school. Your mother always wanted to work in Charms and Arithmancy- that's making spells. She had a good job lined up at the Ministry of Magic but when she found out she was pregnant she decided to put it off for a year, and after you were born she and James were already hiding so..."
"Oh,"
"Yes and then James. I don't know what he had planned long term, but I know that right out of school he was offered a reserve Chaser for a professional Quiddich team."
"A reserve what for a what team?" That was all Harry needed to say to start Sirius on a forty minute tangent on the in's and out's of the game. Harry couldn't help but think he was a little like Ron. Sirius was in the middle of describing the different moves when there was a knock at the door. The Headmaster entered.
"Harry, my boy, it is getting late, and you must get back to your Aunt and Uncles."
"AUNT AND UNCLES? What the hell does that mean? You don't mean that horrid Petunia?"
"Yeah, do I have to go back?"
"That's where you grew up? What about Mooney or one of Lily's friends, the Longbottoms?" Sirius asked.
"Enough!" Dumbledore said in a stern voice. He only looked at Harry, and his disgust for Sirius was plain for anyone to see. "Mr. Potter, we are leaving in five minutes."
"O-okay." Harry said. He looked to his Godfather and was suddenly overwhelmed. He took a few steps and threw his arms around his Godfather. It took a moment but the man finally hugged him back and held him close. Harry maneuvered his head near the man's ear. "I WILL get you out of here. If I have to break in here myself you will not live in here for ever. I promise you that." He said fiercely. Sirius let go and looked disbelievingly into Harry's eyes. Harry could see the man was on the brink of tears and it broke his heart. He hugged him quickly again and then followed Dumbledore out.
As Sirius watched him retreat he could do nothing but cry. He had a complete and total breakdown. He cried for fear that he would never see that boy again, he cried for fear that he might live there forever, he cried for James and Lily, he cried for the young wizard that grew up in the Dursley house, and he just cried.
As Harry landed back in the park he looked between the two adults. By the pale look Remus had Harry guessed that he had been listening, but by the confused look on the Herdmasters face Harry would guess that he hadn't.
"Mr. Lupin, it was very nice meeting you. I'd like a way to write you, but right now that's just not possible, so it may be a while. Thank you for taking me to see him." Harry turned the corner and around the tall hedge, but instead of going back home he Apparated outside the Leaky Cauldron. He had already written his letter and now all he needed to do was mail it.
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Thirty minutes later Barnabas Cuffe was packing up to floo home for the day when a Diagon Alley post owl tapped on his window. He let the bird in and examined the paper. As a pureblood he had no idea what kind of parchment this was but it was enough to peak his interest. He opened the letter and almost wet himself.
Dear Mr. Cuff,
My name is Harry Potter and I led to believe that that is a name you will recognize. If not, then let me explain. I am the son of Lily and James Potter.
I have just today visited Sirius Black in Azkeban Prison and am now fully convince he is innocent of the murders and he was sent there for-without trial. I would love for you to write a story about this and get it all out in the public. He is innocent and a good man and I will do whatever I have to to see him free and to likewise see myself free of my horrid Muggle relatives.
I feel that this is a story that might interest you and many others. If that is true I would like to meet you and tell you everything.
I live in Surry and I have no idea where your offices are, but I understand you have the power of teleportation (I don't know what you call it but you go from one place to another that is very far away in a split second). If that is so, perhaps you could meet me for a small interview and maybe a picture to go with your article. I am unable to receive mail right now, so I will be in the park at the corner of Wisteria Lane and Private Drive in Little Winging, Surry at 2:00 tomorrow. You can come, or you can send someone else. (Note: If I see Rita Skeeter I will run for all hell and send my next letter to the Quibbler) If you don't show I will assume you are not interested.
Thank you
Harry Potter.
Talk about your lucky day. Mr. Cuff had just won the lottery. People would beat each other over the head just for a picture of the Boy Who Lived, but an interview? a scandal? This was just to good to be true. Harkiss Waylad waked in at that moment. In a split second decision he decided it was Harkiss' lucky day as well. He had just landed the story of this life.
Harkiss Waylad was 60 and completely grey in the hair. He was Muggleborn and married to a muggle so he certainly understood the reason there could be no confirmation owl if the boy lived with Muggles, but he couldn't help but feel like this was a hoax. Imagine his surprise when a small black haired boy walked up to his bench and introduced himself as Harry Potter.
It took a moment to regain his wits after seeing the legendary scar, but once they got to talking he found the kid to be frighteningly straightforward. He was no-nonsense when it came to talking about his Godfather. It was clear that he was on a mission and Albus Dumbledore, Cornelius Fudge or Merlin himself couldn't stop him.
Remus Lupin was in his small cottage drinking tea early one evening. He was thinking about Harry and trying to decide weather he should visit him or not. Harry was probably just as confused as he was, and being only ten, who knew what he'd do. One thing was for sure, though, and that was to take thing's slow. There was no need for quick, brash action. At that thought an Extra Edition Daily Prophet arrived. Remus paid the delivery owl and sat down to read his paper.
HARRY POTTER SPEAKS...IN THE DEFENCE OF SIRIUS BLACK!
In a rare interview given by none other than Harry Potter, the Boy Who Lived, the topic of discussion was notorious killer and supporter of You Know Who, Sirius Orion Black. The man was once a close personal friend of the Potters and even young Harry's Godfather and guardian. When Harry learned of this fact just two weeks ago he was determined to meet the man. When Mr. Potter began asking questions he found that his Godfather had been in prison for nine years for a crime he claims to have never committed, and even more curiously he was never given a trial...
Remus didn't continue to read but picked up the floo and went strait to the three broomsticks to begin the long trek up to the school.
(A.N. Hello ladies and gents. Thanks jlyric, clt, Griffindor-Mom, Fk306, Caliko, Wolfawaken, insanityismytrademark and Thokul. Cheekymonkey- I use dates from the Harry Potter Lexicon time line. But I will keep it in mind and try not disappoint. Same goes for you James-Padfoot. RiaChan- He's Sirius, I can't have a story without him! As for Snidgey...(Thinks of what to say as I sit smugly at my computer) you'll just have to wait and find out- though if I do say so myself it is one of my more brilliant ideas.
As someone who has never reviewed a fic in her life I feel it would be very hypocritical of me to put a R&R note here but just know that they mean a lot to me. I'll see you all next week. -Mac.)