Chapter Nine
"So Hagrid did something for your grandfather and it's connected to the break-in at Gringott's," Ron summed up what Harry had explained when he had the chance to sit down with him and Neville in a corner of the common room.
Harry nodded. "Yeah. Grandpere's house was broken into around the same time." He paused. "Well, one of his houses. I think he's got a lot of them. He has to move around a lot."
"Why does he have to do that?" Ron asked, looking between Neville and Harry.
Harry gave a small shrug. "I don't know. We moved around because we were afraid people were going to find us."
"By people you mean-" Ron trailed off.
Harry nodded. "Yeah. Voldemort's followers."
Ron shuddered.
Harry ignored Ron's distaste for the name and continued on, looking to Neville. "If Hagrid brought up Grandpere when talking about that vault being opened, it probably has to do with the people who broke into his house too."
Neville nodded. "It makes sense. Grandpere's house was broken into two night before that."
Harry thought about it. "If it was in a vault, that means Grandpere has something. Something that dark wizards would want."
Harry and Neville just stared at each other, trying to think about what it could be. They didn't get to see Grandpere often. They didn't really know that much about what he did when he wasn't visting them.
"You said your Grandfather was your mum's teacher, right?" Ron pointed out. "What did he teach your mum?"
"Something to do with making swords," Harry replied. "I'm not sure what. I don't know much about making swords. It hasn't been long I've been training with them either."
"Yeah, he only got his own in August," Neville said with a nod. Harry grimaced.
Ron's eyes went wide. "You've got a sword?!"
Harry held up his hands, looking around the common room to see if anyone had heard Ron's loud question. "Shhh..." he nodded. "Yeah. I do."
Ron crinkled his nose. "You're not talking about that stupid wooden one you take out every morning, are you?"
Harry glowered at Ron. "You know I could do a lot more damage to you with that 'stupid wooden one' than you could do to me with a real one, right?"
Ron gulped as Harry arched a brow at him. "Yeah... Well..."
"The Chocolate Frog Card!" Neville said suddenly. "Remember, on the train? You pointed out Grandpere was mentioned on it. He did something with Dumbledore. Whatever he did with Dumbledore probably has to do with whatever Dumbledore is doing with him now!"
"Do you remember what it said?" Harry asked.
Neville shook his head. "No..." Sometimes Neville had a terrible memory. "Do you still have the card?"
Harry shook his head. "I left it on the train. It was Dumbledore. I have six of him at home."
He leaned back, considering the situation. He needed to find out what had been taken from that vault. What dark wizards would destroyGrandpere's house in order to find. But he didn't know where to start, other than finding someone who had that damn Chocolate Frog card.
He heard the turning of a page from the opposite corner of the room. He smiled, seeing Hermione engrossed in a book.
"I have an idea."
"Swordmaking," Hermione repeated as she pulled a book off the library shelf. Harry'd only managed to catch Hermione when she wasn't busy several days later. "You want to know about swordmaking. Why do you think I would know anything about that?"
"Because you know about everything," Harry replied. "And if you don't know, you know the best way to find out about it."
"Oh." Hermione smiled. "Well..." She set her book down on the table. "Why do you want to know anyway? Swordmaking isn't that common anymore, ever since they went out of favour as a weapon. It just became too hard to conceal them from Muggles and they were never that useful compared to wands..."
Harry opened his mouth to disagree. He thought swords could be very useful, but if he was trying to get a favour from Hermione, it probably wasn't a good idea to disagree with her.
Hermione sighed. "And it's very advanced. All I know is it isn't really a wizard discipline. Mostly, wizards leave it to goblins."
"That might be true here, but other countries..." Harry muttered to himself. He shook his head.
"Didn't you say that your mother made swords?" Hermione asked. She nodded. "Yes, I remember you saying that at the Welcome Feast. Why don't you ask her?"
Oh, that would go over well. Padfoot, Kachan and Moony would go spare if they found out he was investigating this. They'd already had enough problems with him knowing Grandpere's home was attacked. "I just can't. Can you help me?"
"I have a lot of work to do," Hermione replied.
"Please Hermione?" Harry gave her a smile and reached out, touching her hand. "You're the best student in the school. If anyone can help me, it's you."
"The best?" Hermione blushed.
Harry nodded. "Of course you are! You always know the answers to everything class! I'll find the answer ten times quicker if you help me."
Hermione bit her lip. "Well..." She nodded. "All right. But only when I'm not busy. It could do me good to look at something outside of my own interests. It could set me on a new research path." She cocked her head. "But what are you looking for specifically?"
"What a wizard named Nicolas Flamel would know about the subject."
Sirius leaned casually against the gargoyle concealing the entrance to the headmaster's office. He let out a yawn and pushed his hair out of his face. He'd been waiting for about twenty minutes. In that time, a few students had passed him by, muttering about the man standing there. He was pleased to note several of the older girls found him attractive. It was nice to know he still had the touch, even if the idea of using it was utterly repellent.
He stood up straight when he saw Dumbledore coming up the corridor. "Headmaster. Glad you could join me. I'd sent an owl saying I was coming at six."
Dumbledore stopped in front of Sirius. "I do apologize. I was detained. Jelly baby!" He announced and the gargoyle revealed the staircase to his office. "Now, if you would join me..."
Sirius followed Dumbledore up the stairs to his office. He threw himself down into the chair across from Dumbledore's, steepling his fingers. "Thanks for the toaster, Dumbledore. You were right... It is a very good one."
"A card would have sufficed," Dumbledore replied. He gave a respectful nod to Fawkes before sitting down in his chair. "But you are well aware of that. So I suspect you are here for ulterior reasons. I normally schedule parent-teacher conferences if there is a problem."
"Is there a problem?" Sirius asked, sitting up straighter.
"Harry is a very bright boy. I've seen him working quite diligently on a number of projects. Professor McGonagall informs me he had several books on animagic he brings with him to class..."
"Like father, like son," Sirius said quietly.
"...But he's wilful, prideful, arrogant and quick to anger." Dumbledore finished. "Again, like father, like son. And the issues of nature versus nuture remains murky, as such words could be applied to both his biological and adoptive fathers. He has already lost fifty points to Gryffindor."
Sirius sighed. "And how many of those points were taken off by Snivellus?"
"Professor Snape has every right to take points from Harry," Dumbledore stressed. "And I have had words with him about his prejudices. While I think it has been a bit slow going, Harry is fitting in at school. He is a hard worker. Your wife will be pleased to know he wakes early every morning in order to practice his duelling. He's made friends outside of Mister Longbottom, although the two of them are as close as brothers. Mister Longbottom is also flourishing. Now, is there anything else I can do for you?"
Sirius smirked, putting his hands behind his head as he put his feet up onto Dumbledore's desk. "Quite a bit. I didn't come here to talk about Harry. But I wasn't about to interrupt you."
Dumbledore arched his brow, looking at Sirius' feet on his desk. "And what pray tell have you come to discuss with me."
"The Philosopher's Stone," Sirius replied.
"We have already discussed that." Dumbledore leaned over, pushing Sirius' feet off his desk. "I will not discuss it with a parent any further."
"I'm not here as a parent," Sirius replied with a shrug. "See, I was sitting at home thinking to myself... Self, you're not happy with what Dumbledore is doing at the school right now. But there's not really much you can do about it, is there? I mean you're a mechanic. A badass former Auror mechanic, but a mechanic all the same." He leaned in. "But then I said to myself: Self, didn't your mother grant you the Black Family school gubernatorial seat?"
"That seat has been empty for nearly eleven years," Dumbledore pointed out.
"Ah-" Sirius pointed a finger at Dumbledore. "But the seat is only relinquished by death, choice or forfeited by jail sentence. As you said, the seat is empty. I am perfectly within my right to take it once again."
"The School Governors will be quite upset. It made it so much easier to pass votes with an odd number. I was never needed to be brought in for a tiebreaker. They always hated that."
Sirius smirked. "Well, it is painfully obvious to me that you have not discussed the protection of the Philosopher's Stone with the school governors, despite their right to know when a dangerous object is brought into the school."
"The Stone is quite well protected," Dumbledore insisted.
Sirius nodded. "Oh, I suspected as much. Spells, enchantments... Perhaps barrier guarding creature or two..." He folded his hand. "Good protection for the Stone. Not so good for the student who happens to stumble upon those protections."
"We've taken precautions against students stumbling upon the protections." Dumbledore pointed out.
"Right." Sirius laughed. "I'm sure it was something along the lines of 'don't go down this forbidden corridor. It's absolutely forbidden and in no way enticing for teenagers to explore'."
"Not every teenager is like you and your friends, Sirius."
"I'm sure there are at least a few here," Sirius replied. He thought about how adventurous Harry had always been. "Like father, like son after all."
"Do you think I would try to lure your son into something dangerous involving a rare and dangerous piece of magic?" Dumbledore frowned deeply.
"I don't know." Sirius stood up. "But I am going to be keeping an eye on things here. Dropping in unannounced."
"You could just send your cousin," Dumbledore smiled. "She is quite fond of our Defence Against the Dark Arts professor."
Sirius paused. "How long have you known about that?"
"Most likely, not as long as it has been going on," Dumbledore replied. "I would take disciplinary actions, but I have no evidence they were involved at all when she was a student and he was a professor. Although I do suspect their relationship may have influenced his decision to take a sabbatical. Regardless, your cousin has been to the school several times since school began."
"And she's still young. An Auror in Training." Sirius crossed his arms over his chest. "I finished my training. I saw combat. I know what's dangerous. And I want to make sure everything is safe for your trap."
"My trap?" Dumbledore echoed.
Sirius nodded. "Yes. Putting the stone in so high-profile of a place... That's not hiding it. You're using it as bait. You're hoping to bring Voldemort out, because you know he's the one looking for it."
"It could be one of his followers," Dumbledore replied. "Doing it in hopes to benefit him."
"And which do you think it is?" Sirius asked.
Dumbledore sighed. "That I need to find out. I won't be able to stop what I don't understand." He gestured to the door. "You know the way out, Mister Black."
"Come on, Harry," George prodded Harry. The Weasley twins flanked him on either side. "You're only punishing yourself."
"Just try-out!" Fred cried. "Use one of the school brooms! If you're as good as you think you are, you'll get on the team!"
Harry groaned. It had been like this since he'd turned down Oliver's offer. He looked at both of the twins in turn. "I'll think about it. I don't know. Is Oliver still on about the fact that I've got a Nimbus 2000 that is going to waste?"
Both of the twins went quiet, looking away.
"Thought so." Harry sighed. "I might come to try-outs. Maybe."
"Maybe is good," Fred said with a nod. "Maybe we'll get him to stop moaning now."
The twins ran off, leaving Harry alone. He shook his head and sighed.
"What was that about?" Harry jumped at the familiar voice. But his heart began to pound as he whirled around.
"PADFOOT!" Harry threw himself into Padfoot's arms, hugging him tightly. "What are you doing here?"
"Had to see Dumbledore about something." Padfoot replied, hugging Harry tightly. "But I didn't want to leave without seeing how you were doing."
Harry pulled back, grinning. "I'm fine. I mean... I've missed you. I miss everyone at home. How are they all doing?"
"Everyone's fine," Padfoot assured him. He rubbed the back of his head thoughtfully. "Well, JJ's been a bit moody since you left. A lot moody, actually. Think he really misses you and Neville."
"We miss him too." Harry frowned. "So why did you have to see Dumbledore?" Padfoot wouldn't come to see Dumbledore unless it was something serious. "Am I in trouble?"
"Of course not!" Padfoot insisted. "Why? Is there something you should be in trouble for?"
Harry averted his gaze.
"Thought so." Padfoot clapped him on the back. "To be expected, honestly. Dumbledore did mention you'd been disrespecting Snivellus."
"He calls me Potter." Harry kept his gaze off of Padfoot. He knew that it would've made Padfoot happy for him to have kept the Potter name, but it had never felt right to him.
"He's just trying to get you angry," Padfoot muttered. "He knows you don't like it. He wants to get a rise out of you to have an excuse to take points off of you." He nudged Harry in the side. "What would be even more frustrating is if you were the perfect student. Show him up."
"Are you just saying that so Moony and Kachan won't get mad at you for encouraging me to be a troublemaker?" Harry asked, finally looking up at Padfoot.
"What? Me?" Padfoot let out a barking laugh. "Like I'd be afraid of Moony and Kachan."
Harry thought so. "So if you're not here about me. What is it? It is Grandpere?"
"What do you know about that?" Padfoot asked, far too quickly too defensively.
"That the break in at Grandpere's house had to do with the break in at Gringott's. And that Hagrid emptied the vault out before it was broken into," Harry answered honestly. "What was in the vault?"
"Don't worry about it." Padfoot placed a hand on Harry's shoulder. "It's protected. Dumbledore's too clever by half as much as I hate to admit it." He pointed a finger at Harry. "Don't do anything to get yourself hurt or in trouble."
"Look who's talking!" Harry laughed, shaking his head.
Padfoot didn't laugh along with him. He shook his head. "Harry, you have to stay out of it. You're going to get yourself hurt if you don't."
Harry's laughter died. He shook his head fractionally, looking up at Padfoot. "But Padfoot-"
"I mean it!" Padfoot's voice was rough. "Can you please just... Listen to me. Don't get yourself into this. I'm taking care of it. I'm going to make sure you don't get hurt in all of this."
Harry's stomach flipped. He stared up at Padfoot in abject horror. The normally jovial face of his adoptive father was deadly serious. "It's him, isn't it?"
"What?" Padfoot shoved his hands into his pockets, trying to look casual.
"Voldemort," Harry clarified. "The person who broke into Gringott's. Who broke into Grandpere's house. It was Voldemort, wasn't it?"
"I didn't say that," Padfoot insisted.
"You didn't have to," Harry replied. "You're scared. You're scared I'm going to get hurt. Who else would want to hurt me?"
Padfoot pulled Harry into another tight hug. "Just go to classes, Harry. Do well. Listen to those twins and try out for the Quidditch team. You don't need to get involved in this."
Harry pulled away from Padfoot. "Isn't he going to come after me?"
"That's why you don't have to go looking for trouble." Padfoot cupped Harry's face. "I'm going to do everything I can to keep him away from you. But I can't do that if you're going after him. So please... Just... Be a model student for now."
"I'll do my best." Harry sighed. He allowed Padfoot to hug him once again. "I might end up getting into a fight with Draco Malfoy though. He's a real prat."
Padfoot stroked the back of Harry's hair. "Just try not to get caught, all right?"
Harry was finding lessons to be very monotonous. His professors were nowhere near as fun as getting tutored by his family. The only bright point in classes at Hogwarts was he was able to actually use magic, as opposed to just getting lessons on the theory.
Still, Harry was thrilled when flying class came. He was less thrilled when he found out the lesson would be with the Slytherins. He'd managed to avoid Malfoy since the train, but his loathing of the pale boy had not diminished in the slightest.
The first lesson was dreadfully dull. The only thing they did was practice getting the broom to go up, pushing off the ground and hovering several feel in the air. Harry had been doing that since he was small. It was a sentiment shared with most of the children from wizards families. Those like Hermione, who were muggleborn, all looked slightly pale from just that much excitement.
"Bit of a waste of time," Hermione muttered to herself as they went to put their brooms away. "All of the other lessons we could be working on and they have us flying brooms. There are so many other ways to get around in the magical world. Floo powder, apparition, carpets, flying horses..."
"You were the girl in Muggle school who complained about having to take PE, weren't you?" Harry asked Hermione.
Hermione bristled. "There are better ways one can use their time."
Harry grinned. "I actually agree. This isn't flying. This is hovering. Complete waste." He gave her a grin. "Want to see what real flying looks like?" He went to mount his broom.
"You're going to get yourself in trouble," Hermione sniffed, unimpressed. "Just because you want people to think you're clever."
"I am clever," Harry retorted. He grinned at her. "Come on, admit it... I'm at least a little bit clever."
Hermione glared at him. "I think you think that enough for the both of us."
"Uh, how disgusting," Malfoy sneered as he immerged from the broom shed. "Found a Mudblood girlfriend, have you, Black?"
Harry's lip curled in disgust. "What?"
"You heard me," Malfoy mocked. "A little Mudblood girlfriend. Then, I guess your mother was one and that's why she got herself-"
Harry swept his broomstick under Malfoy's legs, knocking him flat on his back. Harry pressed the handle against Malfoy's chest. "Never say that word in front of me."
Harry pulled back the broom as Madam Hooch strode towards them. "Black! Malfoy! What is going on?"
"Malfoy's tripped," Harry lied. "I was just helping him up."
Harry smirked and held out his hand to Malfoy to help him to his feet. Malfoy ignored it, getting up, moving close enough to be nose-to-nose with Harry. "You're a joke, do you know that, Black? Always using Muggle duelling."
"There's nothing Muggle about it," Harry sneered. "You're just an idiot."
Malfoy shook his head slowly. "You couldn't handle a real wizard duel."
"Try me," Harry snapped back. "Tonight. Midnight. Out in the courtyard."
"I'll be there," Malfoy hissed. "And this time you'll have to prove you know how to use your wand."
Malfoy strode off, while Harry went to finally put away his broom. When he emerged, he found Hermione glaring, at him, arms crossed over her chest. "Did you think that would impress me?"
"I wasn't trying to impress you," Harry snapped. "I was defending your honour, but I'd do it for any Muggleborn who was called that word."
"And now you're going to duel Malfoy just to prove yourself tough." Hermione sniffed. "I'm sure it will be worth losing Gryffindor even more points because it means you'll be cool."
"You know Hermione's right," Neville said as he followed after Harry down the corridor. "You don't have to fight Malfoy just to prove you're cool."
"I'm not doing it to prove I'm cool!" Harry snapped irritably. "I'm doing it because he called Hermione and Lily Mudbloods." Of course, he was also doing it because Malfoy said Harry couldn't.
He could fight in a proper Western wizard duel. Sirius had taught him all of the rules for it. He just preferred Mahō Budō. He had been learning it for longer. It didn't require the use of a wand. Someone who had mastered the techniques was able to cast magic without the use of any tools, just their own body. Wands were nothing but something to focus on.
But he could duel all the same.
"You know Yuki wouldn't like this," Neville insisted. "She's always telling you to know when to fight."
"That's fine for her to say now," Harry shot back. "Padfoot told me about all the times she got into duels in school."
"If you don't want to be here, you don't have to be, Neville," Ron pointed out, walking alongside Harry. "I'm going to be Harry's second."
"I don't need a second," Harry flexed his fingers around his wand. "I'll blast Malfoy back in a heartbeat."
"At least you're not overconfident," Neville grumbled.
"Ahem," a painting of a ballerina cleared her throat just before Harry turned the corner to the corridor leading out to the courtyard. "A very nice young man just ran through my painting. He said that Filch is patrolling the corridor. He recommended you go back."
Harry looked to Neville and Ron. He dramatically sighed. "Head back towards the Common Room. I'll get Malfoy later."
He now brought up the rear, Neville and Ron ahead of him. He purposefully moved slowly. Once they were sufficiently ahead of him, he took a turn down another corridor. He would find a way out of the castle. He wasn't going to let Malfoy call him a coward.
As Harry crept down the darkened corridor, he heard the sound of footsteps. He gulped when Professor McGonagall came into the light.
Instead of scolding him, McGonagall smiled broadly. "Wotcher, Harry."
The image of McGonagall shifted into that of Dora. She tilted her head slightly. "What are you doing here? It's midnight!"
Harry opened his mouth to speak, unsure of what to say to her.
"You're getting yourself in trouble. You've only been here a month and you're already sneaking about at night..." She shook her head slowly.
"What are you doing here?" Harry asked defensively.
"You're eleven, Harry. I'm sure you can figure it out." Dora tilted her head down the corridor. "I was going to see Quirinus. But I heard you coming. I've got to make sure you don't get into trouble."
"I'm not-" Harry started.
Dora crossed her arms over her chest. "Who are you duelling?"
Harry shook his head furiously. "I'm not..."
Dora just raised an eyebrow. Harry huffed out a breath. "All right! His name is Draco Malfoy and he's a git. He called my friend Hermione and Lily... Well... The M-Word."
Dora's jaw dropped, mouth falling open. "That's horrible! I would-" She cut herself off. "Still, there's no excuse for you going out for a midnight duel. You could get really hurt and in trouble."
"You got into trouble all the time!" Harry protested. "And you're breaking the rules right now! I'm pretty sure Professor Quirrell's not supposed to have his girlfriend sneaking into the castle!"
Dora's face turned very red and she looked away. "Well..." She shifted uncomfortably. "It's a stupid rule, isn't it? Professors are only allowed significant others if they're married. So outdated. Besides..." She leaned in. "I think Quirinus is going to ask me to marry him!"
Harry's eyes widened. Dora getting married? "Seriously? But..."
"But what?" Dora asked.
"You're just... Dora." Harry replied awkwardly.
Dora blinked, frowning deeply. "Are you saying that no one would want to marry me?"
Harry shook his head. "No! It's not that! It's just... Well, you're really young and... I thought... I thought you'd want to be just Dora for a few years."
"And I'll still be Dora. Just a married Dora." She laughed. "I'm not sure, but I think so... I mean, he's been more nervous than usual lately..."
Harry wondered how Dora was able to tell if he was more nervous than usual, considering what he was like. But he let it go. She seemed happy and he didn't want to ruin that for her.
"So can you... You know, spend some time with him? Try to get to know him better?" She smiled broadly. "You mean the world to me, Harry. And so does he. So... I want you two to get along."
Harry thought about it for a moment. He had been very uncomfortable when he'd spoken to Quirrell. And his lessons were incredibly dull. But Dora loved him. So finally, he nodded. "Of course."
"D-D-D-Dora?" Quirrell whispered as he walked down the corridor. "I-I w-w-was w-w-wondering wh-where y-y-you w-w-were."
Dora smiled as Quirrell approached her, hugging her from behind. "Sorry. I was on my way. I just got distracted by Harry here."
"Professor." Harry gave a nod and gulped. He'd been caught out of bed. "I... Umm..."
"I know Harry is out of bed, but maybe we could give him a break this time, Quirinus?" Dora looked over her shoulder to smile at him. "I mean, he is catching us breaking the rules too..."
"R-R-Right..." Quirrell nodded. "B-B-But st-st-straight t-to b-b-bed w-w-with y-you."
Harry gave another nod. "Yes Sir. Um... You two have a good night then."
Harry awkwardly turned and hurried off back towards Gryffindor Tower, his duel with Malfoy long forgotten about.
Quirinus held Dora tightly as they watched Harry disappear down the corridor and around the corner. "He seems to be doing well," Dora asked. "I hope you two-"
Quirinus brought his hand up to her forehead and she fell limp in his arms. He picked her up in a bridal carry, hauling her to his chamber. He laid her down on the sofa. "Master, why must I keep doing this to her? Knocking her out and altering her memory..."
"We have no time for her sentimental drivel."
"But we could just not see her..." Quirinus reached a hand down, touching her cheek.
"She is a gateway to Potter. She can help you gain his trust. Get him alone."
Quirinus' hand hesitated on her cheek for one more moment before pulling away. "Master, we should just concern ourselves with the Stone."
"We will have the stone! But my resurrection will be for naught if my followers believe a child can stand against me."
"But Master, your followers..." Quirinus hissed in a breath.
"One remains loyal. One stayed hidden. So mind your tone. You can be replaced."
