Chapter Seven: Sirius Matters and Other Things:

I will see you soon Sirius, Remus, I promise… The war did not go well, now another darkness rises and death comes too soon for most…I will change that… I will do what I was born to do and no longer hide… Because of me so many died before their time, so many dead and now a virus to kill off the human race, even with the vaccine the muggle will see us dead… But not if I go back, not if I go back…

Harry drew his heavy black winter cloak closer around him and drew his hood lower over his head as another gust of ice cold wind blew into his face. He was grateful for magic as the mild sticking charm kept his hood on and kept him a bit warmer. Walking with him was Ginny and they were going to see Sirius in Hogsmeade once more, this was the fifth time since Sirius got his trial and was fully proclaim innocent. He had claimed he was going to make the Wizarding world remember just what the Blacks were capable of. He of course let Harry and Narcissa and a few others like the Weasleys know just what that meant. What had been interesting was the way Dumbledore treated Harry after his breakdown. Dumbledore did not avoid him but called him to his office and actually apologized and swore to tell him everything he knew to take down Voldemort. Harry thought back to that day with a bit of fondness, well shock might be a better way to put it.

The headmaster had not looked happy, he was sad and even Fawkes could not cheer him up. Harry refused a seat and stood glaring trying hard to keep his temper. It was this man's fault the years after the war, well not fully, no Harry could see part of that was him. He had hid mostly and did not help as much in rebuilding, but still! Dumbledore had done so much by not telling him what he needed to know, what he needed to do.

"Mr. Potter I am sorry in how I treated you. Miss Weasley was very correct in what she said and I fear I have treated you as only a thing, a weapon and not the remarkable young man you are."

"Yes, glad of you to admit that." Harry said coldly.

"I have trouble trusting, the last was Tom." Dumbledore said.

"You trusted Tom?" Harry said nearly laughing, "I thought you hated him, he fears you."

"No, no I still do not hate him, I could not as well,." Dumbledore said, "when I found him in the Orphanage I saw a lonely hard boy and thought I could help him. I thought he was just a rough boy who needed guidance, I took care of him in school, even helped get the orphanage he was in evacuated to the countryside during WWII. I would have adopted him if he let me but he would not."

"You wanted to adopt Tom?" Harry asked shocked.

"Oh yes, I wanted to give him a family, to show him what love was but he did not want it. He left Hogwarts and I heard he worked for Brogan…"

"Yea I heard of that place, I saw a cabinet there that looks exactly like one in the room of requirement." Harry said, "if we are to be honest with each other and I see you are how did Voldemort make himself able to survive like he has, he is not a ghost but something else."

"Horcruxes." Dumbledore said, "nearly the most vile of all the dark arts, well witches would say that the pregnancy potion is the most vile as it makes men able to carry a child, I once saw what a witch did to two men who used it, rather violent witches can be, now where was I?"

"Horcruxes sir." Harry said, "you are being honest and so I will be honest with you sir, do not betray my trust in what I tell you."

"I give my word."

"Tommy boy created seven Horcruxes, I was one but that is gone now. Two are destroyed, a diary and the diadem of Ravenclaw, the others are a ring, a cup and a locket and yes my mum was able to see all of Tommy boy's life and what he had done. I ask only to allow me to destroy them."

"Of course, if that is what you wish to do Harry, I will not stand in your way or treat you as I have." Dumbledore said.

"Well I am the only one who can stop Voldemort, just trust me sir, please, I will not betray you I swear it." Harry said.

"And I will not betray you, I will do my best to trust you, you are not like Tom at all." Dumbledore said, "you are a good young man Harry and I was wrong not to see that before."

Harry came back to the present and saw the Hogshead up ahead. Like all the buildings in Hogsmeade it was made of whitewashed brick and tiled roof. In fact if Harry had seen a Roman village Hogsmeade would look more like that than an English village as it was created closer to the time of the Romans and the ancient witches and wizards would have kept ancient knowledge far longer. There was a reason that Hogwarts was built solidly of stone and not wood of the muggle castles of the age. Hogsmeade was its own kingdom and had far more in common with Byzantium stonework than Anglo Saxon wattle and daub. In fact Hogwarts was so soundly built that over the centuries very little had to be done to keep it in good shape, a few new stones here, better glass here and there, restored mosaics and finally replacing the Roman style toilets and plumbing in the middle of the 19th century was all the castle needed.

Hogsmeade had, for centuries been a little kingdom in its own right, most of the magical in all of the British isle had lived in three places, the valley of Hogsmeade, Diagon Alley and the Seven Isles, one of which was Avalon the last being Azkaban far to the north. All were ancient but only Hogsmeade and Avalon had been formed around the time of the Roman occupation. Diagon Alley had been formed later, when Hogwarts was created and the magical people that were not in Hogsmeade or the seven isles off the coast of England had started to band together into communities like Diagon Alley and later places like Godric's Hallow, Raven's Crag and Blood Stone Moor. When the floo was invented shortly after Hogwarts was created it made for safer and easier travel for most of the magical world. Apparation was as ancient as magic itself but there were many who could not Apparate. The floo saved lives and made it easier for magical peoples to hide and move around. Portkeys were a smaller easier to hide option to portals that not only took massive amounts of magical energy but were not things that could be hidden from muggles. Until recent times travel around the world was nearly as long for magical as it was for muggles.

Harry came to the high street, its yellow paving stones hidden under snow, the same stones that lined the road from Hogwarts to here. He was not headed to the Three Broomsticks, a cheerful place with good drink and food, no he was headed to the Hogshead. It was a sinister looking place, part inn part pub it still was a fun place to visit, though it looked run down Harry suspected that was done on purpose to add an air of mystery to the place. The food was good here and the ale too was rich and good. He wanted to see his godfather but did not want to be in the spotlight, which was why he came here. He saw Sirius and grinned, he was clad in robes of dark maroon. Harry was glad he looked so healthy and happy, and he knew Sirius was happy because of him and he swore he would do all he could to keep him alive and happy too.

"Hey Sirius, good to see you." Harry said hugging him, "staying out of trouble?"

"Somewhat, well Narcissa keeps me on a tight rein she does, I threw Bellatrix out of the family. If it were legal I would annul her marriage just to see her scream in fury."

"You can't do that?" Harry asked.

"Oh no, marriage vows and all, and really it is a smart thing, my dear parents would have annulled Andy's marriage rather fast if they could."

"That is good," Ginny said coming up and taking a seat," next time you see Fred and George you will know who is who."

"Oh is that where you disappeared to." Harry said, "what did they do this time?"

"Annoyed me, what is Bill doing here with her?" Ginny hissed.

Both Sirius and Harry looked to see Bill seated with Fleur chatting with her and enjoying himself. Fleur was lovely, long shimmering blond hair, clear blue eyes and lovely skin. She was clad in winter robes of blue with matching cloak and seemed to enjoy being with Bill. Harry knew that she was part Veela, a near human race that all were natural firebird Animagmus. Humans were affected by their natural Veela charm, but what most did not know is a Veela could only marry for love. It was part of their magic, the males of the race rarely were seen and so many thought only women were Veela, this of course was not true but Veela women did fall in love with human wizards and Harry hoped that Bill and Fleur would fall in love again and marry, they had so loved each other and were so good for each other too.

"Oh there is no problem with her." Harry said, "if they fall in love that would be great, she is nice even to me. Treats me just like the little boy I am to her."

"Did you try to ask her out?" Sirius smirked.

"Yes and I apologized after, what was I thinking?" Harry asked, "it was rude of me when I have Ginny here."

"Yes well that is my brother she better not be using him!" Ginny hissed.

"I doubt it, Veela rarely ever toy with wizards, if they like a wizard then they will date them, and if there is love, real love on both parts, wedding bells." Harry replied.

"You are so like your mother, always learning new things." Sirius said, "I am glad, I loved your father, really did but Lily, well she kept us all grounded."

"You more than most, hello Harry." Remus Lupin said walking up clad in new brown robes and boots and brown cloak, "Ginny, Padfoot mind if I join you?"

"No, not at all, Snape finished torturing you for the day then?" Sirius asked.

"He is not torturing me, I volunteered for the testing, least I can do with what I am." Remus replied.

Sirius was glad that Remus had a job now, Severus made enough money what with teaching, a few potion patients and selling potions when he had the time to hire Remus. Remus had tried to say he would work for free but Severus had threatened very painful and horrible things if Remus refused pay. There was a friendship of sorts now between Severus and Remus, Remus showed Severus he was not the monster Severus thought, that he could be trusted. That he saw Severus as alpha and had taken to defending him and doing the right thing by him. Sirius was not Remus's alpha no matter that he was a dog Animagmus, no that was Severus. It was in writing even, a contract binding Remus to Severus as his servant made sure of that.

"I still do not like him." Sirius said.

"Oh please, he is not a bad man, in fact he helped me after the chamber." Ginny said softly, "he personally brewed the potions I needed those first few weeks."

"He is biased to his own house!"

"No more than Minerva is." Remus said, "besides he is smart and kind to let me work for him."

"He pushes me to do my best." Harry said, "you were a bully in school Sirius, pranks are for fun, not to humiliate or harm others. Many of yours did harm others."

"Yea, yea you are right." Sirius said, "Narcissa has made me see a mind healer, got me to see I was just like my lovely parents, well I was heading that way. I did apologize to Severus, he punched me in the nose."

"Well that is an improvement." Remus said, "if he really hated you he would have made you scream in pain."

"Yea, well Poppy fixed it up and scolded me for upsetting Severus." Sirius said, "and Harry you are right, I was a right bully."

Harry was glad that Sirius was starting to see his behavior in school was that of a bully. He still was not about to allow him around Hermione as she did not like him at all. Ginny was able to handle him and made it clear she would use her favorite bat bogey hex on him if he dared annoy her. Harry said he would follow that with a stinging hex. Harry was happy, the first task had gone so well, and he loved watching it and not being in it at all. Fleur was in first place after the first task, Cedric and Krum were tied. Harry was glad not to be in the tournament and was glad that he could watch it as from this angle it was really dangerous and he had got so very lucky. Now he had the Yule Ball to look forward to and was looking forward to going with Ginny.

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Harry sat calmly at the Gryffindor table eating breakfast, his prank should be walking in shortly in the form of two twin boys. Really it served them right, engorging charms on the Slytherin brooms was not funny, most of the time their pranks were very funny and light hearted, but sometimes a prank they thought funny was not. The engorging charm if it had worked would have caused the boys pain not amusement. Harry heard snickering and some laughter and looked up and grinned. Into the great hall two boys clad in normal school uniforms and robes with the Gryffindor crest were staring at him murderously as they walked over to him. They were still identical, with dark green hair and silver skin they walked over to where Harry sat and sat down clearly not in a good mood. The teachers watched hands near wands as they hoped there was not going to be a brawl.

"Not funny mate." Fred said (Harry knew who was who, Fred had two freckles over his right eyebrow George one), "Slytherin colors?"

"Yea, what did we do to deserve this?" George said.

"Engorging charm?" Harry shot back.

"Well it was funny." Fred replied.

"Too true brother dearest." George smirked.

"No it bloody well was not!" Harry snapped, "how would you like your bits enlarged, on a broom?"

"Oh, well we were going for fun not pain." Fred said.

"And the garroting gas?" Harry ground out, "that could kill, you know what a garrote is?"

"Well it was meant only to go around the legs." George said.

"Okay nothing like that again." Fred said, "we really were not trying to hurt anyone."

"Yea just cheer people up!" George added.

"So how long until this all wears off?" Fred asked.

"Two weeks." Harry said.

"No, two weeks as green and silver?" George said, "Harry!"

"Oh come on you look lovely, I could have made you girls." Harry said, "or look like them at least."

"Please, you have to take it off!" Fred begged.

"Yes, this, we cannot go around this way for two weeks!" George added.

"Ask your brother, I can't take the spell off, maybe he can." Harry replied.

"Bill will take pictures." Fred groaned.

"Then send them to mum." George nearly wailed.

"Tough, you got what you deserved." Harry replied, "pranks are for what gentlemen?"

"For fun and not to hurt, but Harry." Fred replied.

"We were not trying to hurt anyone, but we will be careful." George added.

The Gryffindor table went quiet as Severus Snape glided over to the Gryffindor table. He looked from the green haired silver skinned twins to Harry who was trying to look innocent. Harry wondered how many points he was going to lose for his little prank. Severus raised an eyebrow and Harry ducked his head knowing his was in trouble, yet he was not expecting what happened next.

"So you two have disturb the school with your antics do you?" Severus said.

"Um well all for inner house co-operation sir?" Fred said.

"Yea we look great don't we?" George said.

"Yes, oh and five points to Gryffindor for such co-operation."

The hall was quiet as he headed up to the head table in a billow of black robes. This was something that would go down in history for sure as Severus Snape did not award points to the Weasley twins or Harry Potter for that matter!

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One week later Harry wanted to kill both Ron and Draco. Ron knew Harry was friendly with Draco now and Draco had changed, was changing for the better. He had seen what real evil could do, had seen his father murdered before his eyes. It had started a painful change that would lead to a strong wizard and man but he was still a boy and prideful too and so was Ron. It led to a heated argument outside the potions classroom waiting for Snape to come and let them in and ended with Hermione cursed. Harry had moved fast and disarmed both boys before they could think and Neville was by Hermione's side her teeth growing so fast they were down to her chin in no time. It was at this time Severus came up and took in the scene.

"What is going on here?" He demanded.

"Ron and Draco decided to fight and hurt Hermione!" Neville said, "Harry had to take their wands sir."

"I did not hurt her that was Malfoy!" Ron snarled.

"Shut up Weasel!" Draco said.

"Enough!" Harry said," how dare you, both of you! Look what your fighting got, look what happened to Hermione! You are both to blame! How could you do that to her!"

"Harry I, I…"

"Shut it Ron."

"He…"

"I see, well I know how to solve this, detention, Weasley, Malfoy, Potter you will take Granger to the hospital wing now!" Severus snarled.

"Yes sir." Harry replied.

"Oh and ten points from Gryffindor for fighting and five from Slytherin. Potter, Malfoy and Weasley's wands if you please!"

"Yes sir." Harry replied.

"Two points for quick thinking and stopping a duel Potter." Severus said, at the stunned look from Harry, "move now or it's detention for you too!"

Harry did move and got Hermione to the hospital wing quickly. There was something good out of this, just like the time before or the future Hermione had her teeth shrunk down to a more attractive level. Harry then put a few thoughts in her head that would get her parents more clients, help the magical world and hopefully help the magical world see muggles in a better light. He could only wait and see and hope that this worked.

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So a transition chapter here, Harry is no shy school boy anymore, well he is a school boy but one who will stand his ground a bit more forcefully. I wanted to show Dumbledore as human, and having actually cared about Tom Riddle, what if he had not shown all his memories of Voldemort? What if he had taken the lad under his wing and loved him and was betrayed for that? That is something to mull over I think.

On another note, I am fully against male pregnancy, it is a direct threat to women, if a man could have kids then what happens to women? Yea we get killed off as men would not want to stand for "competition" around. Witches too would not stand for it and would kill any wizard that tried to use it you can count on that. No way would a witch give up her greatest power to a man, no way at all.

Harry is working with Sirius as is Narcissa by getting him to a mind healer. He has to know that certain things are not pranks, changing people colors, funny if not over done. Trying to turn a fellow student into Remus's chew toy, not funny. Oh and Harry did have a right to prank Fred and George too, they did a few pranks that were not funny but really they did not mean harm and like most teens did not fully think before they released them. Bill is still at the school as he is now sorting through the room of requirement to find the treasures there.

Anyway do review please!