A/N: I do intend to wrap up the Horcrux hunt and Dumbledore in two books, well mostly with Dumbledore. The snake that Voldemort created will be alive and eventually will be dealt with in GoF. My Prisoner of Azkaban will deal with Bellatrix, the Goblet of Fire will be the same, except for minor changes and The Order of the Phoenix and Half-Blood Prince will have a different basis and in the last, the Deathly Hallows will involve someone looking to reunite the stone, wand, and cloak for a different reason than Voldemort.

The One Appointment We all Must Keep

Chapter Seven

Harry, Hermione, and Neville were seated in the Common room working on the latest assignment for charms when an owl dropped in and landed in front of the surprised trio. Reaching for the note, Hermione read the outside then handed it to Harry who had reached into the outer pocket of his book bag to get it a treat.

Opening it up, he grinned and announced: "It's from Professor McGonagall, my godfather wrote to her asking to visit me this weekend since there is a Quidditch game."

"Grandmother already mentioned she might attend the game, the Board of Governors is meeting this week," Neville said. "Hermione will be able to meet both of them."

Hermione looked at Harry and said, " Are you sure you don't want to spend this visit just the two of you?"

"No, I mean, I am sure Sirius is going to want to talk to me about some stuff, but I really, really want you guys to meet him." He said with a grin. Hearing the sound of Oliver Wood arguing with someone they looked up at the Quidditch team entered the common room looking like they had taken a bath in the mud. "What happened to all of you?"

Groaning the twins sat down then looking at Oliver said: "He tortured us, hours upon hours of practice and then he asked Professor Flitwick how to make it rain and it's all your fault."

Giggling as she saw all of the team were nodding in agreement or glaring at Oliver Wood, Hermione asked: "How is it Harry's fault?"

"He was the one who mentioned that Sprout and Hagrid had a way of watering the plants. Since we are playing Hufflepuff, he asked Flitwick and they had small clouds following us around. With Wood being his usual Quidditch obsessed self we are lucky he didn't have lightning created." Katie said while wringing water out of her hair.

The players went upstairs to shower, the twins still moaning then stopping "Hey Harry, sorry but Wood is getting pranked."

Shaking his head, Harry saw the other two looking at him so he softly explained what he told the twins about bullying.

"Harry that is wonderful, I am glad you stood up to them." Neville said his eyes not meeting theirs for a few seconds then he said "I didn't think it was funny when they would do that sort of stuff but didn't want to get them in trouble with Professor McGonagall. I only warned them to leave me alone."

When Neville had gone up to bed and the rest of the common room was quietly studying, Hermione reached over and grinned at Harry who was wrapping up his own homework. "Harry, thank you. I hate bullies but didn't think of it that way. I mean about the twins. I forgot to tell you that night because I was more interested in explaining to Draco about electronics."

Harry chuckled and looking at Hermione said "He is funny the way he reacts. It's obvious the magical world is about fifty years behind the muggle world when it comes to these things."

"More like they are stuck where we were technology wise during World War II minus movies," Hermione said thinking about it. "They are just developing a more streamlined version of the radio, Harry."

Harry kept looking at the clock on the wall, he had gotten up at six this morning and had showered and grabbed his book bag. Inside instead of class stuff he had the few things he had belonging to his parents including the baby book that he wanted to ask Sirius about.

Finally, just as he was beginning to pace, the door to the common room opened up and he saw Sirius with Professor McGonagall who was shaking her head and wearing a frown.

"Professor, what is going on, Sirius can stay right?" He asked anxiously.

Turning to Harry and seeing his fear, she let go of her annoyance and said "I'm sorry Harry that wasn't about Mr. Black, well not completely. I was upset with the portrait guarding the entrance to Gryffindor."

With a smile and a wink, he said "Was she flirting with Padfoot? I think it is something about the Black family because she does the same thing with poor Draco. He won't even come anywhere near here even if I just have to grab something."

"Padfoot?" His Head of House asked with a raised eyebrow. "That nickname wouldn't have anything to do with why you were registering with the Ministry would it, Mr. Black?"

"Why do you still have the ability to make me feel like I am a student and sneaking back into the tower?" Sirius muttered not feeling at all like the thirty-five-year-old adult male he was.

"Maybe because you and I are both well aware that your friends and you deserved way more detentions than you ever served?" She said with a suppressed smile before looking at the two of them. "Harry, I had the house elves set breakfast up for the two of you in the small anteroom."

Harry was given a quick hug by Sirius then they walked down the stairs and to the anteroom. When his godfather began to speak, Harry had an idea when he looked at the various paintings and wrote him a note.

Sirius read it then using his want softly said: "Stupefy."

"I guess you aren't as naive as I was worried about," Sirius said when all of the paintings froze. Sitting down at the small table, he had a thought and checked for any charms or potions then suggested Harry join him.

"I have so much to tell you," Harry said. "First, however, tell me what you have been up to since being free."

Sirius wanted to insist on Harry talking first, wanting to hear everything about his godson but seeing his interest said "Fine, but you owe me then because I want to hear about you."

"So...?" Harry asked as he bit into a piece of bacon.

"I am apparently Lord Black. My father either forgot to legally remove me from the family or was automatically reinstalled as a result of my brother's death." He said. "Oddly enough when I talked to my cousin Andromeda, she along with Narcissa were under the impression that somehow my cousin Bellatrix who was in prison with me is the Head of House.

"Show I bow to you?" Harry asked with a wink.

"Only if you want me to steal all of your toast," Sirius replied reaching over and grabbing a slice of it in spite of his own plate having some.

"Still, you should look into it, who knows maybe it is another example of Dumbledore interfering," Harry replied.

"I have the Goblins looking into it, they are much better at that then I am. I am apparently rich enough that no one will be able to challenge me for custody of you."

"So I can come live with you?" He asked holding his breath.

"Once school is out, yes. Any sooner and McGonagall will hex me six ways to Sunday." Sirius said then when Harry threw himself into his arms, he couldn't resist hugging the preteen, the thin weight of the boy making Sirius want to cry as he couldn't help recalling holding Harry while he had been a baby.

"Where? I mean are you living at Grimmauld?" Harry asked.

Sirius pulled back and looked down at his Godson. "How did you know where my family lived?"

Harry winced inside as he recalled he shouldn't know that but thinking quickly said: "I looked it up and found it in a book along with your family tree."

"McGonagall did say that you were smart," Sirius replied. "That you are friends with Neville Longbottom, Draco and a very smart young lady named Hermione."

Grinning Harry said "You have no idea. I struggle to keep up with her."

Considering that his former head of house said that Harry and Draco were second and third in their year but that the young woman was first but not by much, Sirius could only chuckle. "So in answer to your question, no. I found some muggle property that my family owns. I am thinking of moving us into that."

"Can Hermione come visit?" Harry asked eagerly.

"We will need to talk to her parents but I am fine with that," Sirius replied then filled him in on some business. "I spoke to the Goblins, Harry."

"Did they tell you that someone has been helping themselves to things from my family vault?" Harry asked quietly, hiding his eyes not wanting Sirius to figure out that he knew more than he should.

"Yes, he did. I am going to deal with that today among other things." Sirius replied. "Harry, I paid a visit to your Aunt and her husband. You won't be going back there and I am so sorry that I let my anger take charge and didn't do as your parents requested."

His eyes coming up to meet Sirius', Harry said "It was bad but it is in the past. If I think about it, I don't blame you, I blame the person who put me there."

"You know who it was?" Sirius asked.

"The Goblins didn't tell me but Hagrid did." Harry said, "The Headmaster sent me to them. Left me in a basket outside their door."

"Harry first thing we are doing this summer is getting you checked out by the hospital and not St. Mungos. Most of the young healers owe him and I want someone independent to check you out." Sirius said softly.

Nodding, Harry said, "Do you know why he did that?"

"No, but I will be asking him," Sirius replied. "If you ever want to talk, I promise I will listen."

"Thanks," Harry said as they quietly ate then Sirius renewed the spells on the paintings and he looked around and did a reveal spell to check the room. Finding a small magical quill recording their words, he blew it up and then shook his head in annoyance.

"I don't know if that was the press or the Headmaster. They have been following me around begging for an interview."

Harry took a deep breath then looking at his godfather made him promise to think before reacting then told him. "I think that the Headmaster tried to set me up with some friends."

First telling him he had sent Hagrid to guide him to the magical world, Harry said "I asked around and usually a teacher does it. I was also told that I should have been given a list of things and a small guidebook which I never got."

"What else Harry?"

Telling him about the key but how he had wanted to turn it over himself so Hagrid had agreed he added: "The Goblin said that no one should ever have my key except me."

"He is right."

"When I got to the station, I figured it out by accident. I leaned on the wall and fell through onto the platform." Harry told him to cover how he had gotten to the train. "I wanted to watch everything so I put my trunk on the train and met Neville then went back outside. There was this red-headed woman on the muggle side shouting about forgetting how to get to the train and saying something about platform nine and three-quarters."

"A red-headed woman?" Sirius asked, almost positive he knew who that had been.

"With lots of kids, she came over and offered me help but I told her I was fine. She grabbed my arm and well in the muggle world we are taught about stranger danger and I tried to get free. Eventually, I pulled my arm from her hand and saw this family with a trunk and went to them. They came through the barrier with me then the other woman kept trying to put me in the same compartment as her son, Ronald."

Now Sirius was worried.

"Anyhow, he later showed up where I was seated in on the train. Draco and he got into it and then Ron kept saying that Draco was evil and Draco kept saying that he knew who was appropriate companionship. I told them both I make my own choices and that if either of them wanted to be friends, they had to either get along or stop trying to tell me what to do."

"Good for you," Sirius said impressed by his ability to stand up for himself.

"Draco left and Ron told me that his mother told him that he was to be my friend and that he was to guide me into the magical world. Anyhow, he was rude to Hermione so she went to help Neville locate his toad that got loose. I kicked him out along with the candy I had bought since he seemed so interested in it."

Chuckling, Sirius said, "What happened next?"

"Well then we got here and there was the sorting. When this Ron was sorted into Hufflepuff, he got a howler from his mom and she sort said more of the same in it then the Headmaster blew it up before it finished. It took a few weeks but Ron got the hint that I didn't want to be his friend." Harry said as he realized how true that way and felt guilty considering how good of a friend he had been the first go round.

"Was this before or after the non-duel?" Sirius asked. Seeing Harry look at him surprised, he said: "McGonagall told me since she was required to now that I am your guardian."

"I had no idea it was that big of a deal until Draco told me then Mr. Weasley forced Ron to apologize," Harry said quietly. "Neville explained later on how pureblood politics work and I had a book that belonged to my parents that explained more."

"How has Professor Snape been treating you, Harry." Sirius wanted to call him Snivillous but McGonagall had reminded him that Harry wasn't James and to not insult one of Harry's teachers.

"No different than the other Gryffindors but I can see in his eyes that he doesn't like me," Harry admitted. "It's sort of there but not there, Sirius. I know from Mom's books that they were friends at one point and that he and my dad didn't get along."

Showing him the baby book and watching his eyes water, Harry said "This was in the vault. We found the page that lists you as my godfather and then I guess you know the rest."

Nodding as he turned the pages and saw where the photos and mementos stopped, he said: "Draco's mother filled me in."

"His dad is scary, isn't he?" Harry asked holding his breath.

"Lucius Malfoy is all about money and power, nothing more," Sirius said looking up at Harry. He had never liked the blond snob and the feeling had been mutual going all the way back to the day they had first met.

"He was so angry with Draco when he didn't end up in Slytherin. Draco hasn't outright admitted it but he is scared about going home at the end of the year." Harry said.

"I am working on it, Harry," Sirius said. "As Narcissa's Head of House, I am looking for a loophole that not only frees her but gets her custody of her son."

The two finished eating and reviving the paintings, they went outside and walked along the paths towards the greenhouses. Harry filling him on school and his friends as well as Christmas. "Oh bother, I just remembered, I was going to give the twins the sweater to give back to Mrs. Weasley but it still is in my trunk."

"I will take care of it, Harry," Sirius said almost certain that he knew what Molly Weasley was up to. In spite of it being wartime, he recalled the excitement from the Weasley family as the woman gave birth to a daughter after six sons. "So what do you want to do this summer?"

"Everything," Harry said with a grin. "Except maybe going to the zoo, I think I was banned last year after I accidentally set a snake loose and put my cousin in its cage."

"Now this is a story I have to hear." Draco drawled from where he was standing in front of the Greenhouse holding a book. "You're early. Neville went to wash his hands and I think Hermione went to help him."

"Since when does Neville need help washing his hands?" Harry asked.

The boy in question was exiting the greenhouse followed by an annoyed Hermione who smiled when she saw how happy Harry
looked. "You could have helped."

"I tried, you ignored my warning," Draco said. "Next time, don't play around with dragon dung."

Glaring at the blond, Neville said: "It's fertilizer."

"It stinks," Draco replied with a shrug. "Anyhow, we have something way more interesting to talk about than your interest in digging in the dirt, apparently Harry is banned from something called the zoo."

"Harry?"

Looking at Hermione, Harry filled them in. "So anyhow, I talked to him."

"You talk to snakes?"

The three students and Sirius were staring at Harry and he was recalling how he had felt the second year. With lowered eyes, he said, "It's a result of what of my scar from when that man killed my parents."

"Oh, Harry." Hermione hugged Harry and in spite of the seriousness of the situation, Sirius smirked at the sight of his godson and the young girl being so cozy.

When they pulled back, Harry was told by Draco. "You might not want that to get out."

"I have told no one but the four of you." He said quietly. "I know that it is a Slytherin trait."

Sirius who knew how the Dursleys were wished that he could make them pay for every single second of pain they had put his godson through but counting to ten, he just stood there and watched his friends support Harry.

Sirius went back to his place for the night and rejoined them early the next morning. Once again he had breakfast one on one with Harry.

"Sirius, I think you should know something." With that, Harry told his godfather about the odd occurrences at school. "Plus there is something very odd about Professor Quirrell."

Shaking his head, trying to imagine how a fully grown troll had to have looked to his godson and the other first years, he was proud of how well they had worked together to protect themselves.

It also explained what McGonagall meant regarding keeping his eyes open during the Quidditch game. Still, he wanted to take a look at this Quirrell. Finishing the hotcakes and bangers, Harry and Sirius went to locate his friends who were just leaving the Great Room.

An afternoon spent with the foursome and a meeting with Augusta Longbottom had Sirius being glad he was now free. It had been exhausting and yet the most incredible time since he had been with his friends and Lily.

By the time that Dumbledore was aware that Sirius Black was wandering around his school, the Quidditch game was over and the Gryffindor team had won. As he was returning to his office, he heard the sound of a deep voice behind him saying. "Albus, we need to speak."

Wincing when he turned to see Sirius Black standing there looking at him with anger in his eyes, Dumbledore wanted to offer an excuse but when Minerva joined him he suggested that he join him in his office.

When his Deputy Headmistress came up too, he said: "I am sure that you have other things to do, Minerva."

"Sirius requested I be here for this, Albus." She stated as they entered his office.

Once seated, Sirius said. "Whatever it is you are up to regarding my godson it is at an end. I spoke to the Board of Governors yesterday while they were meeting in Hogsmeade, Albus."

His lips pressed together, Albus said: "I don't know what you are talking about."

"Yes you do, you miserable old goat," Sirius replied still sounding calm in spite of the insult. "I know that you were behind my not getting a trial, I know what you did to Remus and you had better hope when I locate him that he is physically in one piece."

"What did he do to Mr. Lupin?"

"The Headmaster helped Remus get a job in Australia then suddenly the Headmaster signed legislation that refused entry into this country from certain illnesses unless they had paperwork signed by that nasty piece of work Umbridge. Even if they were born here, Minerva. See, while Remus couldn't have custody of Harry in the magical world, Lily and James arranged it so that he could in the muggle world."

"Albus, what did you do?" McGonagall asked.

"I was outvoted on that legislation," Albus replied as smoothly as he could. "I had to sign it as Chief Warlock of the Wizengamot."

"Albus, I looked at the votes," Sirius said and saw the older man glaring at him before reaching for one of his idiotic lemon drops. When he was offered one, Sirius faked taking one. He had always thought that they were laced with a potion and here was a chance to find out if he was right.

"Now, the next thing is that as of my release, I became Harry's guardian in both the muggle and magical worlds. I also reported the Dursleys for child abuse. Albus, it was on the muggle news, to make it go away this time, you would have to obliviate the memories of all of London. Their files are also protected from you this time."

Seeing McGonagall looking at him, Sirius snapped "Turns out that the Headmaster removed the memories and files from those whose job it was to protect Harry from this abuse. Every single teacher at his primary school and half of the neighbors on Privet Drive reported the abuse. The great leader of the light, not only removed the memories but put the muggles under a notice me not charm so that they didn't see what the Dursleys were doing to Harry."

"I had to protect him. He needed the protection of his mother's blood." Albus said glaring at Sirius, furious with him for challenging his authority.

"Albus, I am a Black, I learned more about blood spells by the time I was admitted to Hogwarts than most of the Unspeakables know now. What you don't seem to want to realize is that those spells only work when there is love behind them. Lily's love wasn't enough, Petunia, her sister had to love Harry and she hates him."

"No sister..."

"Really want to go there, Albus?" Sirius taunted him. "I am well aware of the lack of love between your brother and yourself and the reason why. I would suggest you keep your crooked nose out of Harry's personal life and stick to being the Headmaster at his school."

When the old man began to speak, Sirius said "You should know, if something were to happen to me, now that his parent's will is public, Harry is automatically emancipated and put under the guardianship of a whole list of people, none of which would help you. While we are it, I know what you tried with the Weasleys."

"Is this about Ron befriending Harry?" Minerva asked.

"It's a little more than just that, Professor," Sirius said. "Now if you will excuse me, I wish to say goodnight to my godson before I leave."

Meeting Harry in the Gryffindor common room, Sirius hugged his godson and took the bundle he gave him. "I will deal with this tonight. For now, just keep being cautious. Oh, here, something that I found when the Goblins took me to your vault. Open it alone."

Harry walked off with the package, sure that it was his dad's invisibility cloak. Sure enough, it was along with a small folded parchment. Opening it and having a good laugh when he saw it was another version of the Hogwarts map, he went upstairs and locked it in his trunk.

Arthur Weasley read the note and looked at his wife who was demanding to know who had written to him. "It's for work. I have to meet someone at the Ministry."

When Ginny looked up from where she was attempting to bake her first cake, Arthur smiled at his little girl and promised to be back soon before taking the floo to the Ministry.

Finding Sirius Black waiting for him, he greeted the former prisoner and asked: "Sirius, what was so urgent?"

"I need to wait for someone, but it is important, Arthur and we wanted to keep this out of official channels."

Amelia Bones who arrived minutes later and the three of them went to a conference room. "Arthur, what can you tell me about Harry Potter and your wife?"

"Molly?" Arthur looked at them and said, "I know that she was somehow involved in Ron's clumsy attempt at befriending the Potter boy."

"Were you aware of this?" Sirius said sliding the betrothal agreement to him.

Seeing his surprise then acceptance, Sirius said: "You aren't upset?"

"No, I think that it would be good for Ginny, why?" Arthur felt it explained why his wife had filled his daughter's bedtime stories with the Boy Who Lived.

Sirius hated to give him the bad news but knew that it had to be done. "Arthur, Harry's parents expressly forbade a betrothal contract. It isn't legal."

Feeling a bit disappointed, Arthur said: "They are only children, I am sure that since they aren't aware of it, we can just rip it up and no one will be the wiser."

"It's more complicated than that, Arthur," Amelia said gently. "There were stipulations in it that have had your wife receiving a hundred galleons per annum from the Potter vaults, which was never legal. She has received over a thousand galleons already."

"Does that mean the marriage must take place?" Arthur asked.

"Arthur, no. Harry is under no obligation to marry your daughter." Sirius said. "While the contract states your family may keep the money, it's an illegal contract. Tomorrow morning, the headmaster is going to be ordered by the Goblins to return the money."

Seeing his confusion, Sirius said, "When that happens, the contract will automatically replace Harry's name with his."

"Why?" Arthur asked. "That makes no sense, Albus..."

"Made a betrothal contract between your family and Harry under the Dumbledore house. The money was the bond." Amelia said as gently as she could. She was well aware that Molly wore the pants in the Weasley family and had since the marriage. "It's a legal contract between Albus and your wife signed in your name. To free your daughter you have to repay the galleons."

"But if it is being torn up, and Albus is replacing the money." Arthur went silent as he realized the implications. Turning to Sirius he asked, "Are you sure that we can't keep this contract, please I am asking for the sake of my daughter."

"Arthur no. I feel for you, I truly do, but Harry isn't responsible for this mess. Albus and your wife are." Amelia said firmly. "I would personally go public if Sirius had agreed to it. What I have seen in the files regarding how Harry was treated by his relatives if anyone deserves his freedom in making his future choices it is Harry."

Arthur felt ancient as he sat there trying to find a way out of this mess.

"Arthur I am sorry but that isn't it." With that Sirius unwrapped the sweater and the food. "We found compulsion charms on these items that your wife sent to Harry for the holidays."

Closing his eyes, Arthur felt sick as he heard what they told him about the sweater. "Let me guess, love potion on the food."

"No, a loyalty potion keyed to the Weasley family." Amelia gently replied. "Arthur, we both know the rumors in school regarding Molly and how you two started dating. I am not pressing charges and neither is Sirius on Harry's behalf but we want this to stop now."

Albus read the note requesting that the Wizengamot be called to order that week to discuss a multitude of new laws, filings, and cases. Looking between the note from the Board of Governors requesting a meeting and the one from the Wizengamot and Albus decided to use one to escape the other.

After all the Board could only remove him from his job as Headmaster if every single one of them were in agreement so he wasn't too worried and he really was not in the mood to deal with whatever it was that Sirius had complained to them about.

What no one seemed to understand was that Harry Potter had to guided in a certain way after all the boy had a prophecy to fulfill. Packing what he needed for the quick visit to London, Albus sent a note to Minerva to deal with the Board of Governors, after all as the Deputy Headmistress it was her job when he was away.

Arthur went home and once Ginny was in bed, looked at his wife. He didn't say anything just yet, he just sat there, his mind reeling from what he had found out from the Goblins.

The money had been being transferred from the Potter account to his illegally and his wife who had been responsible for their finances had known about it and spent it already. He could repay the funds but it meant that Ron and Ginny wouldn't be able to attend Hogwarts the next year. He had been shocked to find out that unlike their older sons, Ron's fees hadn't been paid for the entire seven years, that his wife was paying year by year.

Sitting there, he closed his eyes, trying desperately to figure out a way around this other than letting his daughter end up betrothed to Albus, all he wanted to do was go back and change things.

Finally deciding to write to his two eldest sons asking them to come home for Easter, he then sent a note to Minerva asking that his children be allowed to return home that weekend.

When he was finished, he looked at his wife and said: "The children will all be here for Easter."

"We should send the Headmaster a note and invite that poor Potter boy, after all, he couldn't come for Christmas," Molly said reaching for a quill and parchment only for Arthur to remove them rather roughly from her hands.

"Let me be very clear, Molly. Harry Potter is not coming here for Easter or for his summer break, or for Christmas next year. He is not interested so you need to let this fantasy go. I am sick and tired of this. And you are to stop telling Ginny those ridiculous stories about him. They are all lies. Harry didn't grow up some pampered prince, he was abused and treated terribly. He isn't going to show up and marry Ginny, he isn't going to turn into Prince Charming. Enough, it is absolutely enough."

With that, he left the house and went to his shed needing to get away from his wife before he said something he couldn't take back.

Lucius Malfoy crumpled up the scroll he had been reading. He had written to the Goblins requesting information regarding the trust fund that had come to his son on his birth and how the magic involved worked.

Their reply had made it very clear that his last hope regarding his suspicions had been shattered. Now, he was determined to get revenge and to remove the mistake he had made from the family line in a way that kept the truth about things silent.

Lifting one of the books he had purchased earlier that week just in case he was correct, he read the opening line on the first page and hoped against hope that there was an answer in the book to solve this problem.

Harry was sitting on his bed, writing out a letter to Sirius when his words began to move. Reading what it said he silently groaned and hoped he could at least avoid detention in the forest this time. How on earth could he have forgotten about Hagrid and his pet baby dragon Norbert?

TO BE CONTINUED