Chapter 4

Moony, Padfoot and the Half-Blood Prince

[Author's note: I've been travelling for a few days, and currently I'm heading out to another country, so I'm not sure how often I'll have wifi access. This story pretty much writes itself, so I'm reasonably sure I'll have some ideas written down by the time I get back. I'll update if I can – and if not, there'll be multiple chapters next week.]

Sirius' tale was vindicated by indisputable evidence put together by Sherlock. While Mycroft usually didn't meddle with the magical world, he was still Lord Holmes and held a seat at the Wizengamot, as he had inherited the title when his father abdicated. Mr Holmes often claimed that he'd just been waiting for Mycroft to turn seventeen so he could dump the title (and the accompanying headache) on his eldest because he knew Mycroft was way more capable than he ever could be.

Mycroft, of course, had excelled at it. It annoyed Sherlock to no end, but even the detective could acknowledge his brother's usefulness. In fact, Sherlock made himself scarce whenever Mycroft threatened to pass on the title to him.

So it happened that an emergency session of the Wizengamot was called, and Sirius Black's innocence was proved beyond doubt. Besides his freedom, Sirius was also given a substantial sum as compensation (not that he needed any), as well as additional privileges, which included access to Hogwarts and concessions on taxes.

Peter Pettigrew (or Scabbers, as Harry and his friends knew him) was nearly Kissed by the Dementors, but managed to escape with his life and soul intact. Sherlock ranted at the Aurors who were in charge of security, insisting they were worse than the muggle police. He was nearly jinxed by the annoyed Aurors, but Harry stepped in at the right moment.

"Sherlock!" Harry called. "Come on, I want to go home."

The six Aurors who were being dressed down by Sherlock turned to look at him.

"That's Harry Potter!" one of them called, and they all went over to shake hands with him.

"Do you know this Squib, Mr Potter?" another asked, pointing at Sherlock. "He's been a pain in the arse; we were about to jinx him."

Harry laughed. Sherlock, a Squib? "That's my guardian," he said happily. "Don't mind him; he's paranoid about my safety."

The Aurors were shocked. "We thought you were under the aegis of Lord Holmes."

"I am. That's his brother."

With a cry of "You are Sherlock Holmes?!", the Aurors ran to Sherlock, an inch away from clamouring for his autograph and raining him with questions on deduction and applied magic.

Sherlock, in his inimitable style, turned up his nose at them.

XXX

Emrys and Harry waited in the hall for Sherlock and Mycroft when they saw Sirius with another man, arguing heatedly.

"Why didn't you tell me you had switched, Sirius?" the man asked. He looked pale and exhausted, and his skin was covered with scratches.

"We were warned there was a traitor in our midst, Remus," Sirius snapped. "And it's not as if you came forward to swear my innocence."

"I was told Dumbledore performed the ceremony himself!" the other man – Remus – cried. "And I thought…I thought…" He looked away. "I am sorry that I doubted you. I am sorrier than I can ever express, Padfoot."

"And I am sorry I doubted you, too, Moony," Sirius said quietly.

The two friends stared at each other for a long time before folding into an embrace.

"Do you want to meet the cub?" Sirius asked. "He made it all possible."

Remus nodded eagerly and the two men made their way to Harry. Harry and Emrys quickly started a random conversation to pretend they had not been eavesdropping on Sirius and Remus.

"Harry, meet Moony – also known as Remus Lupin, and your new Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher."

"Really? You're teaching DADA?" Harry asked curiously.

"Very pleased to meet you, Harry," Remus said softly, his brown eyes glistening. "Has anyone told you that you look…"

"…just like my father but with my mum's eyes?" Harry finished for him. He smiled. "Almost everyone I've ever met in the wizarding world."

"I'm sorry," Remus said immediately. "James and Lily were dear friends and I'm glad to see them live on in you."

Emrys was regarding Remus with narrowed eyes.

"How will you manage the classes around full moon days?" Emrys asked bluntly.

Remus went white. Sirius frowned. Harry just looked confused.

Remus was saved from responding by the arrival of Mycroft and Sherlock. The Holmes' exchanged a dark look.

"Perhaps we should discuss this at a secure location," Sirius said. "I know just the place."

XXX

12 Grimmauld Place was both grim and old. It was also unplottable and blood-protected, and no one except the Black heir could open it.

They were greeted by a screaming portrait of Sirius' mother and the grumpiest house-elf in the world.

Sirius and Remus seemed to expect the invective, and went in unruffled. Harry walked in next, only to be stopped by a blood-curdling cry of "half-blood mongrel!"

Emrys, who was right behind Harry, nearly bumped into the frozen boy. Emrys' eyes flashed gold. Sirius' mother shut up immediately. Kreacher fell at Emrys' feet, wailing.

"Forgive Kreacher, Master Emrys," the old elf begged. "Kreacher did not know Master Black had such great friends."

Emrys nodded curtly at the elf and led Harry inside. Mycroft and Sherlock came in next, without incident.

Once they were all seated comfortably in the dusty dining hall, Sirius turned to Emrys and asked, "How did you know?"

"Know what?" Harry asked.

"That Sirius' friend is a werewolf," Sherlock declared. "It's obvious."

"How the hell is it obvious?" Sirius asked.

"His robes are cheap and have been mended many times – so, problem getting employed. The wand is Cherrywood, most likely with a dragon heartstring – so, a competent, skilled wizard. Why would such a wizard have trouble being employed? He looks tired and ill two days after the full moon. The scratch patterns indicate a large dog or wolf, and there are many similar scratches of varying ages. So, a werewolf." Sherlock rattled off in a single breath.

"Brilliant," Harry whispered. Sherlock beamed at him.

"Which brings us back to the classes," Emrys said.

Remus sighed. "Dumbledore has promised me Wolfsbane and a substitute teacher."

"Who will be the substitute teacher?" Harry asked.

"Professor Snape," Remus replied.

"No!" Sirius said. "That greasy git will sabotage your potion and your classes!"

Harry groaned. "He will terrorise me in two classes now?"

"Dumbledore trusts him," Remus said quietly.

"Dumbledore trusted Harry's relatives and Peter Pettigrew," Sherlock spat. "Not exactly a glowing recommendation." He turned to Harry. "Tell me about this Snape."

So Harry began his tale, right from the first time he had ever laid his eyes on Severus Snape. The three Holmes looked thoughtful.

"And what do you know about him?" Sherlock asked Sirius and Remus. The Marauders gave them a brief sketch of their Hogwarts years.

"So Snape was friends with Harry's mother?" Sherlock asked.

Sirius and Remus exchanged a dark look. "He was probably in love with Lily. Lily was always trying to protect him from us, right up until the day he called her a Mudblood in front of half the school," Sirius said.

"And he was a supporter of Voldemort? Are you sure?" Emrys asked.

"Yes. He was a Death Eater. He was released because Dumbledore claimed Snape had been a spy for him," Remus said.

"I want to meet this man," Sherlock declared. "Despite his abominable behaviour towards Harry, he seems to go out of his way to protect Harry every time he's in danger."

"Indeed," Mycroft said, stroking his chin with a long finger. "Let me see what I can arrange, brother dear."

XXX

True to his word, Mycroft turned up with Severus Snape at 221B in a few days. Sherlock was teaching Harry how to use his microscope and Emrys was making tea when they arrived.

"Always in time for cream tea, aren't you, Mycroft?" Sherlock quipped.

"Hush, little brother," Mycroft chided. "You have guests." He led Severus to a chair.

"Er, hello, Professor," Harry greeted his least favourite teacher, taking a seat next to Sherlock.

Severus looked sharp in a well-fitted muggle suit.

"Potter." Severus inclined his head. He focused his raptor gaze at Harry and went white with anger. "Petunia," he swore. "I will kill them."

Harry took a step back. Emrys stood up.

"I hoped a Professor would be aware that reading the minds of hapless students is frowned upon," Emrys said.

Snape blinked and turned to stare at Emrys.

"You will find that Legilimency does not work on me – or my brothers. I'm sure you've already tried with Mycroft," Emrys continued.

Snape turned the colour of sour milk. "Apologies," he murmured.

"You have been keeping Harry safe," Sherlock spoke up. "Yet you pretend to hate him, and are regularly unfair, even cruel, to him. Explain."

Severus paled, and then smirked. "Very good, Mr Holmes – I am impressed."

"I don't think he knows it himself, Sherlock," Emrys said. "He loved Lily and he can see her eyes on Harry, but he also hated James, who is also visible in Harry. Perhaps he imagines Harry should have been his son."

Severus stood up. "Lord Holmes," he said to Mycroft. "Did you bring me here to be insulted by your brothers?"

Mycroft stared him down, and Severus resumed his seat.

"I am not my father, Professor," Harry said quietly. "I am not my mother, either."

Severus stared at him hard. "Yes," he said finally. "I can see that now."

"Why do you protect me?" Harry asked.

"Your mother was my best friend. You…have her eyes."

"Would you still have hated me if I was in Slytherin?"

Severus sighed. "I don't hate you, Potter." He smile slightly. "You wouldn't have lasted a day in Slytherin, with your hero complex."

"I was nearly sorted into Slytherin," Harry told him. "The Sorting Hat only put me in Gryffindor because I begged it to put me anywhere except Slytherin."

Severus looked shocked.

"I hope, Professor, that a Holmes ward, a child of your friend and a student who has been mistreated by his own family – would be treated better in the future," Mycroft drawled.

Severus nodded. He looked at Harry. "Why didn't you ever say anything, Potter? Someone would have put Petunia and her fat husband right. The Headmaster, Minerva – or even myself."

"No one cared. Dumbledore left me there," Harry said in a small voice. "And you hate me. I was afraid Professor McGonagall might hate me too, if I told her the truth."

"I swore to protect you when you were born," Severus said crossly.

"And how on earth was Harry supposed to know that when you have been nothing but abusive towards him right from the start?" Emrys snapped.

Severus sighed. "I have been remiss."

It was Harry who forgave the bitter man first. "Could you tell me about my mother sometime, Professor? Sirius and Remus said that you knew her before Hogwarts, and that you were best friends."

"Yes, of course," Severus said. "I will try not to be unnecessarily cruel in the future, Potter, but I cannot be friendly to you in public, either. The Dark Lord will rise again, and I will have to take over my spying duties again. If I am known as your ally, Dumbledore will lose a resource. When we need to speak, I must assign you a detention."

"How will you protect Harry if you serve Voldemort?" Emrys asked angrily.

"I'm bound by an Unbreakable Vow," Severus replied. He looked straight at Sherlock. "If that does not satisfy you, I am happy to make another."

"Unnecessary," Sherlock said. "I wonder if you are aware of the extent of Dumbledore's machinations to deprive Harry of appropriate guardians, though. I am wary of people who trust him blindly, and most of his teachers seem to fall into that category."

"He is the most powerful wizard on earth at the moment. Even the Dark Lord fears him. And Harry is bound to the Dark Lord by a prophecy. If you can find a way to keep Harry away from Albus' manipulations and yet defeat the Dark Lord, you will have my unhindered support," Severus swore.

"Thank you, Professor," Sherlock said. Harry asked at the same time, "What prophecy?"

"Albus will tell you himself when the time is right." Severus pinched the bridge of his nose.

"Is he raising Harry as a lamb to slaughter?" Sherlock asked in a dangerous voice.

Severus flinched. The three Holmes brothers received their answer. Harry looked resigned to his fate.

"Merlin save us," Severus whispered.

"Don't worry, he will," Emrys promised quietly. "Tell us about this prophecy, Professor."