Up To No Good

Chapter 4

Professor Severus Snape was, as his apprentice would say, in a pickle. He was very conflicted. Peter Pettigrew had been found. He was currently sitting on his desk in Animagus form, immobilized. Which meant...Sirius Black was innocent.

Severus had always hated Sirius and his hatred was returned ten-fold. Sirius had all he could ever want; money, friends, a non-abusive family. Severus had lived in poverty and fear of his father. His mother, Eileen Prince, had tried to protect him, but she wouldn't do anything to hurt her husband. No matter how much Tobias beat her, she still loved him.

Lily Evans had been Severus' first friend. His best friend. His first love. However, in Slytherin, it was difficult to hold his own. He had picked up some mannerisms that he first thought were harmless, but ended up driving his friend away. Severus tried to apologize to Lily, but his comment drove her into the arms of his enemy's best friend. James Potter. Oh, he hated James Potter. Loathed him, even. But it was more because he got the girl. Severus hated Sirius Black's personality and overall character. Sirius Black was enemy number one, followed closely by James Potter. He and his prankster friend tormented him, acted like they owned the school. They were bullies. Gryffindors believed all Slytherins were evil when, in fact, they were bullied by the 'brave, kind-hearted' Gryffindors. The prejudice ran deep and no one attempted to quell the rumors. Namely, Headmaster Albus Dumbledore. Oh, he knew about the bullying, but he never stopped it. That's probably why Severus was so hard on the Gryffindors. They bullied him; he was only bullying them back.

Severus hated Sirius; that much was plain. However, he never wanted Sirius dead or mortally wounded. He hated Sirius from a distance. Sirius, however, returned that hatred up close and personal. He tried to kill Severus.

Sirius wasn't expelled, but given detentions. Not like he never got any before. It was Severus who was spoken to by the Headmaster with disdain, like a common criminal. He was sworn to secrecy about Lupin's condition. He was angry for a long time.

When he found out that Sirius betrayed the Potter's, his hatred increased. Sirius killed the woman he loved. He deserved every year in Azkaban. Sirius deserved prison for his attempt to murder Severus. He deserved everything he got.

Or that was what he thought. However, Sirius Orion Black was serving a life sentence in a prison for evil and murderers. No wonder he escaped; he had spent twelve years in a prison that could cause insanity and literally rip the happiness away from you. Only the darkest of people belonged there. And Sirius Black did not fit that category.

He could just kill the rat now and let Sirius be on the run for the rest of his life. He tried to tell himself that Sirius deserved it, but it was a hard sell. He had already spent twelve years in prison, probably blaming himself for the death of his friends, blaming himself for not apprehending Peter. He had spent enough time in misery.

Severus stood, grabbing the rat and a bottle of Veritaserum from his private stores. He Floo-ed to the Headmaster's office, requesting the Minister be present for this.

Sirius deserved two of those years for the attempted murder. He was ten years overdue for a Ministry pardon.


Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore had never felt this old and defeated. When Severus Snape marched into his office with a bottle of Veritaserum, demanding an audience with the Minister of Magic about Sirius Black, he had feared the worst. Sirius Black was necessary to help mold Harry into the Warrior of the Light he must become. If Sirius was captured, he would be given the Kiss, and Harry would never know the truth and be cautious of the Ministry. But, if Sirius was caught and given Veritaserum, he could divulge the truth, and Harry would be removed from his relatives, and the blood wards protecting him would be void.

The Minister of Magic stepped through the Floo with Amelia Bones, part of the Wizengamot, and Rufus Scrimgeour, Head of the Auror Office. They were seated and they waited for Severus to reveal his information.

Another chair appeared, and a rat was placed on it. Severus asked Rufus to perform the Animagus Revealing Spell. Rufus looked confused but did as he was asked. The rat glowed red.

Albus Dumbledore eyes widened slightly, but did not show any other indication of his surprise. Damnation. Peter had been caught.

Peter was forced into his human form and force fed Veritaserum. He confessed everything from being the Secret-Keeper to serving for Lord Voldemort. The Minister of Magic looked ill, and he knew this would tarnish the Ministry's reputation. An innocent man was thrown into prison without a trial. An immediate pardon was in order and reparations would be given to Sirius Black by tomorrow morning. The only necessary thing was to register Sirius Black as an Animagus.

Once his office was empty, Albus sighed and rubbed at his temples. He needed to tell Harry about his godfather and hope that he would choose to stay with his Aunt. Petunia was Lily's sister, and Harry was Lily's son. Surely Harry would yearn for that connection, no matter what went on behind closed doors.


Harry Potter could not be more confused. The Headmaster had just told him that his godfather, Sirius Black, was not after him. In fact, he was innocent of his crime. What he didn't know, was what the crime was. Dumbledore was trying to skate around it. Eventually, Harry was told everything. Ronald Weasley's rat was an Animagus, a wizard disguised in animal form. The wizard in question was Peter Pettigrew, Secret-Keeper for the Potter's, and their eventual betrayer. Peter Pettigrew had been caught, and his godfather's charges were being absolved.

He could not be happier. He would never have to live with the Dursley's again. He could live with his godfather. He never had to go back to that place again!

"Harry," started the Headmaster. "I must ask you to remain with your Aunt Petunia."

"What?"

"Your godfather has spent over twelve years in prison. He might have lasting effects of his imprisonment."

"You don't know that," said Harry. "He could be fine. I want to live with him. It's not up to you, sir."

"Harry, your Aunt's house protects you—"

"No!" exclaimed Harry. He finally had a chance to get out of that hell hole. There was no way he was giving it up. "It might protect me from everyone outside, but not from the inside. Did you know that my room for the first eleven years of my life was a closet? The cupboard under the stairs, my letters said. To punish me for being 'freaky', my Uncle would lock me in my cupboard for days with no food, no water. Only a bucket to do my business if I needed to. My cousin would beat me, and he was only encouraged to beat the 'freakishness' out of me. The only reason my Uncle didn't beat me himself was that he was afraid my 'freakishness' would transfer to him. My Aunt used to swing at me with frying pans. I learned to duck and run very quickly after I got hit the first few times. I wasn't allowed to eat at the table with them. I had to wait for them to be done, and I would get whatever was left over. Did you ever notice how small I was? I was starved at least twice a week. I remember on my sixth birthday, I had asked if I would get presents like Dudley. Instead, I got the cupboard for a month. They used to slip me stale bread and murky water every six days. And you want me to stay there? No. I won't go back."

"Harry," said Dumbledore. "I didn't know. I apologize. Maybe I can assign a guard to watch over you there and stop your Aunt and Uncle's criminal negligence."

Harry was so shocked, he almost fell over. "Did you listen to a word I said? I will not go back!"

"It's necessary to keep you safe from harm."

"I am harmed. I was harmed. It didn't keep me safe."

"There is protection around that house. As long as you call it home, it will always protect you."

"I never called that place home! It was a house, but never a home. I always thought of Hogwarts as my home."

"As long as your Aunt considered you family, the blood protection would shield you. Only a family member can provide that protection," Dumbledore amended.

"She never considered me family! I was never in a family photo, and she never even considered my mother a part of her family. She kept the fact she had a sister hushed up. No one knew. She didn't consider me family. And I wouldn't go back, even if by some miracle, she did. And there are other kinds wards that can protect me; blood wards aren't the only option!"

"Harry—"

"No! I won't go back to that place ever. Never. You couldn't make me if you tried. You aren't my guardian or my father. Sirius is now. So stop telling me what to do!"

Harry ran out of the Headmaster's office, almost running into a Disillusioned Severus Snape.

Severus was shocked speechless. Harry Potter wasn't arrogant and bullying like his father. If he was raised by his father, maybe, but Dumbledore put Harry with his criminally negligent Aunt, who Severus remember, hated Lily after she discovered her powers.


Dumbledore took his head into his hands. This was not turning out like he thought it would be. Sure, he knew Petunia wouldn't raise Harry like a prince and he had known something was amiss when Harry return to the Wizarding World terribly undernourished and twitchy. After contacting Petunia and seeing her bitterness firsthand, he had felt terribly guilty. However, it was necessary for Harry to grow up ignorant of his heritage. Harry Potter had to be groomed to represent the Light and this was not at all part of the plan! Now, Harry would be raised by Sirius, and not receive the blood ward protection. He knew Sirius hated his family house, so they would live somewhere else. If he could place monitoring charms around that house, maybe he could gain some insight. However, Harry coming down so hard on him meant only one thing: Harry would not trust him anymore, and that would be a major issue. Dumbledore had been hoping that Harry would see him as the only father figure in his life. Now, because Sirius was back, Remus would help him regain his sanity stolen by the Dementors and all of his plans would be foiled.

Dumbledore shook his head. If only Severus had kept this to himself...


Severus Snape never felt so wrong in his life. He had taunted Potter about being arrogant and spoiled, just like his father. Instead, he was neglected by his mother's family, and Dumbledore knew and spoiled him at Hogwarts to make up for it. Potter admitted his family was extremely negligent and his room for the first eleven years of his life, something that Severus had only done to his best friend. It must have taken a lot to swallow his pride and use his childhood as a weapon against Albus. It would be difficult to trust the Headmaster now that Severus knew that he had been a party to the negligence in the Dursley household.

Maybe he could be a little easier on the boy...


When Sirius Black, disguised as Padfoot, saw the morning paper, he thought it was a hoax to lure him out of hiding. However, when he heard the murmuring of the Hogsmeade villagers, he knew it was true.

They had caught Peter, and Sirius was free. And everyone knew. His godson...Harry would know. He could live with Harry. James' son. Lily's son.

He could see Remus.

He was more than a little shocked when he read the end of the paper.

Severus Snape, Potions Master at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry and captor of the traitor Peter Pettigrew, offered an olive branch to Sirius Black. "Though we weren't the best of friends, and even though we tortured each other during our school years, Sirius Black does not deserve twelve years in Azkaban. When I discovered Pettigrew, I had a choice to make: let my childhood enemy live forever on the run, or let bygones be bygones and let him enjoy the life he's been deprived of. I hope he enjoys his freedom with his godchild."

Sirius Black got to the Ministry as soon as he could. He had discreetly bought some new clothes and got his hair cut to a more appropriate ear length. He could barely recognize himself. He no longer looked like an escaped convict, but a weary man.

The Minister met with him as soon as he entered the Ministry building. Sirius seemed understanding, but on the inside he was fuming.

"Minister Fudge, I understand that back then were dangerous times. However, would have appreciated a trial, or an interrogation with Veritaserum. If you could add a new law that every criminal is entitled to a trial, I would appreciate it."

"Of course, Mr. Black," scrambled Fudge. "And of course you will be compensated for your twelve years in Azkaban. Is there anything else you want?"

"Guardianship of my godson, Harry Potter."

"Of course. Anything else?"

Sirius thought really hard. What did he love? Harry Potter. Remus Lupin. Quidditch.

"Is there a Quidditch game coming up soon?"


Remus Lupin could not feel guiltier. His best friend, whom he thought was a traitor, had been framed. His friend whom he mourned as a hero was alive and a betrayer. He was standing next to James' Potter's son, who could attract more danger than his father. Harry looked so much like James, but acted more like Lily. He was innocent but that was waning fast. He had dealt with so much more than a child of thirteen should have to. He acted so much more mature than he should have to.

They were in his office, waiting for Sirius. Harry wanted to meet him, and Remus wanted to apologize.

Remus was unprepared to see Sirius, even though he saw him coming with the Map. Though he was wearing new clothes with a new haircut, he still looked much older. His skin seemed to sink into his face, held up only by bone and some muscle. The strands of gray mixed with the greasy black made him look much older than he was.

"Sirius," Remus breathed, almost too shocked for words.

He smirked. "Looking good, old man."

Sirius was engulfed in a hug as Remus babbled his apologies. "Sirius, I wish...if I had known...you shouldn't have..."

"Moony," Sirius sighed. "Moony, it's okay. I'm fine."

Remus got a hold of himself and released his friend, looking embarrassed. Sirius finally dared to glance at Harry, and Remus could feel the shock pouring from him.

"I look just like my dad," said Harry quietly, running his fingers through his hair. "I have my mum's eyes, though."

"Harry," whispered Sirius, before grabbing his godson in a rough embrace, tears leaking down his face. Remus looked at the scene and realized that Sirius never really got to mourn for James and Lily, too absorbed in finding Peter.

"Sirius," said Harry. Sirius looked up to find Harry's eyes watering. "I know that—that you're my godfather. My Aunt and Uncle, well, they don't like me too much, and I was hoping that—maybe I could..."

"Harry," interrupted Sirius. "You can live with me. The Minister gave me custody of you."

"Oh, thank Merlin," he gasped, pulling his godfather back into his embrace.

Remus felt like he was intruding in a private moment, but he needed to speak with Sirius.

"Harry," said Remus. "Do you mind if Sirius and I take a few minutes to catch up?"

Harry looked back at his godfather before nodding and leaving for his common room.

"Padfoot, I think Harry is downplaying his life at the Dursley's. I don't think he was beaten, but I think you should talk to him about it."

Sirius looked shocked but nodded seriously. "What did you need to talk about, Moony?"

"How are you?" asked Remus.

"Fine. Why?"

"Don't say fine, Sirius. Don't lie to my face."

Sirius ran a hand roughly over his face and through his hair. He was not fine. He was still traumatized, trying to forget his years in Azkaban in vain. So absorbed with finding the traitorous rat, he never really had time for the deaths of Lily and James to sink in.

"Remus," he started. "Lily and James are gone."

Remus's hand came to rest across Sirius's shoulders. "I know."

"Harry is thirteen."

"I know."

"I'm not okay." His voice wavered. Remus's hand tightened around his shoulders.

"I know. I'll be here for you, Padfoot."

Sirius wept for all the years he lost, for his godson, for his best friends. Sirius wept, knowing Remus would be there to help him. And Sirius would need all the help he could get.


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