Disclaimer: Not mine. Don't sue, I'm poor.
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"Never assume the obvious is true."
-William Safire
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Harry Potter sat motionless in his room staring vacantly out his small window.
Dumbledore was supposed to be arriving any minute to take him to the Weasley to spend the rest of the summer.
His things were still strewn all over his room. He'd received the note three days ago but the closest he'd gotten to packing was locking Hedwig in her cage.
Harry had the time, it was just that he couldn't strike the feeling that something might happen or that the letter wasn't real, and he wouldn't really be leaving Privet Drive so soon. It had been less than a month and it felt too good to be true that he wouldn't have to stay.
Harry looked at his clock. It was eleven o'clock on the dot.
The streetlights outside dimmed and went out. Harry smashed his face against the window to get a better view.
He saw a figure coming up the walk.
Dumbledore.
Harry leapt from his seat and started packing frantically. He pulled up his large trunk on his bed and started to shove his belongings inside. His books, his invisibility cloak, the Marauder's map…
"Ow!" Harry pulled out his hand from the trunk. He had a small gash on the tip of his index finger. A little blood trickled from the cut.
Luckily it wasn't too bad. The grabbed a tissue from the table and wrapped it around the cut. Harry shuffled his things around in his trunk in order to find what had cut him. He pulled out a fragment of glass.
It was a shard of the mirror Sirius had given him. His face tightened at the reminder. Not that he'd forgotten…it just sort of added a bit of gas to the flame.
"Sirius…" The whisper escaped his lips as he held the glass carefully in his palm.
There was a loud knock at the front door.
"Shit!" He cursed. He still had a lot left to pack and was nowhere near ready to leave.
His attention went back to the mirror. He swore could hear voices coming from it…one painfully familiar.
"Harry?"
He dropped the mirror in shock. Before it had shattered into unsalvageable particles on the floor, he swore he saw a pair of piercing gray eyes looking back at him.
Harry stared at the pieces strewn on his wooden floor.
It was him! It was Sirius!
He swallowed and he could feel a lump in his throat.
Hadn't he heard him? Saw his eyes?
But…
But then, why hadn't he replied the last time he'd used the mirror - back at Hogwarts?
Harry tried to clear his thoughts.
He had to of imagined it, Sirius was definitely dead…as much as he didn't want to admit it. His mind must have been playing tricks on him.
"Who the bloody hell is knocking at this time of night?" His uncle Vernon bellowed from downstairs.
He'd totally forgotten to tell his aunt and uncle that Dumbledore was coming. Harry sprinted to the foot of the stairs to see Albus Dumbledore standing serenely at the doorway in front of Vernon.
"Ah, hello Mr. Dursley. So sorry about the time, but I assume Harry told you I would be coming?"
Harry cringed. Vernon just stood there, his jowls flapping dumbly, as he stared at Dumbledore.
"I suppose that would mean he did not. Oh well, no matter." The Professor smiled amicably and stepped inside.
The old wizard's twinkling blue eye reached Harry at the stairs, "Hello Harry, I should like to speak with you about something before he head out to the Burrow. I wish to do it inside to avoid any eavesdroppers."
"Here?" Vernon asked from behind Dumbledore.
"Yes, I do hope you don't mind."
Petunia stepped from out of the living room and stiffened when she saw Dumbledore.
"How are you this evening Petunia? And your son Dudley?" He indicated the plump teenager whose head was poking out of the bathroom doorway.
Petunia just walked up next to Vernon shutting the front door clearly hoping none of the neighbors saw the strange old man enter their home.
Harry came down the stairs quickly. Albus indicated for him to take a seat at the couch in the living room. The Dursleys disappeared to another room to avoid being in the wizard's presence. It was probably the fastest Harry had ever seen Vernon or Dudley move in his life.
"What is it Professor?" Harry asked as Dumbledore took a seat in front of him.
"It's about Sirius Black's will, Harry." Dumbledore said softly, "He left everything to you."
"Oh."
Harry didn't really care if Sirius had left him a hundred million galleons. It had come at the cost of his godfather, and he didn't think he could ever have the heart to spend it.
"There is one issue Harry, included in that which gave to you… He left you Number 12 Grimmauld Place."
"The Order can have it." Harry looked away from Dumbledore and took to examining a very interesting patch of carpet.
"While I thank you for the generosity Harry, I'm afraid it's not that simple." The older wizard stated.
"Why's that?"
"I believe that the Black Family Home may have some form of enchantment on it. One that would prevent any person not of pureblood to inherit it. But, there is one way to find out if Sirius's will held true."
Harry was curious, "How?"
Dumbledore pulled out his wand, "Well, if you inherited the House you would also inherit certain things that go along with Grimmauld Place. Like its house-elf perhaps?"
"Kreacher? I don't want to own him! Not after what he did."
"Would you rather he fell into the hands of Bellatrix Lestrange? She is the next logical heir to the Black estate, should Sirius' will be overridden. Kreacher would gladly tell her everything that went on during the Order's time there."
Harry paled, "No! She can't get the house. She killed Sirius!"
"I know Harry." Dumbledore tried to soothe him.
Then the professor flicked his wand causing Kreacher to appear in the Dursley home.
The old house-elf was shaking and with his hands covering his substantially large ears.
"No! Kreacher won't! Kreacher won't!"
"Order him to do something Harry. Then we will know whether you inherited Grimmauld Place."
"Kreacher won't obey terrible Half-Blood! Kreacher won't!"
"Kreacher shut-up!" Harry screamed.
"Kreacher won't! He won't!" the house-elf continued his rant despite Harry's order.
Kreacher continued to protest for a while and then finally took notice of the fact that Harry had ordered him to do something and he did not obey.
A wide grin spread over his face revealing the few teeth he still had left.
He let out a victorious laugh, "Ha! Kreacher doesn't serve the Half-Blood! Kreacher doesn't serve Harry Potter!"
Before they could stop him he disappeared, off to find his new master.
Harry felt as though he'd been slapped and was numb, "What now?"
Dumbledore looked surprised as well as saddened by the turn of events.
"We will just have to find a new base of operations for the Order…and hope that whatever information Kreacher could give them is not terribly detrimental to our cause. It would be slightly out of date, so perhaps it will be of little use."
Harry nodded grimly.
Bellatrix got Grimmauld Place? It wasn't right. She killed Sirius and inherited part of his possessions because of it?
Dumbledore stood solemnly, "Harry why don't you get your things then we can head to the Burrow?"
"Alright, Professor."
Harry couldn't help but recall his godfather's voice and fathomless grey eyes staring back at him.
Was he really gone?
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"They all think I'm dead." Sirius sat at the table across from Faith.
It was mid-afternoon in L.A. and Faith had just gotten up after some much needed rest. Sirius had been explaining the finer details of the Wizarding world and his past. He grabbed another slice of the delicious muggle food the Slayers had gotten called 'pizza' and set in on his plate.
"That does put a damper on things. I suppose just showing up out of nowhere wouldn't turn out so well. They'd just think you were an imposter." Faith took a sip of her drink, "Plus, it probably won't help that I'm tagging along, seeing as how not only should I be dead too… they have pre-existing prejudices when it comes to my parents. And who the heck could blame 'em?"
No kidding.
"Yeah." He took a bite of the pizza and savored the flavor. This food was exquisite.
Faith just stared at him.
"Stop making out with the pizza! God!" she teased, "You want me to leave, so you two can be alone?"
Spike chose that moment to amble into the kitchen. He opened up the refrigerator pulling out a mug which he put into the other muggle contraption pressing a button. He turned to them and saw the open box of pizza and snatched a slice.
Spike pulled the mug out of the machine and took a test swig.
Was that blood? Sirius wrinkled his nose. That was disgusting.
"Just be glad I'm not sucking it out of you. You bloody prude." Spike sneered.
Sirius noticed he looked a lot like a Malfoy at the moment. He had the same high cheek bones, pale face and condescending sneer. The likeness would be a lot more striking if his hair color were real.
"So we gotta think of a good way to approach the Order, right? Maybe track down someone specific, someone who would believe it was really you? Maybe this Dumbledore guy?" Faith proposed.
"That's a possibility I suppose. I would sort of like to go see Harry as soon as I can, maybe first thing; I need to be sure he's okay."
Faith's brow furrowed, "That frankly sounds like a terrible idea. You said the kid saw you die. He's what fifteen, sixteen? You just show up at his door he's gonna flip his shit. You need to go to someone older first, someone more level headed. We have to do this careful so we don't wind up getting cursed or something."
She took another slice, "If you want to go in gun's a blazin', go right ahead. But I'll stick to the wayside and avoid the crossfire, thank you very much." She stuffed practically the entire piece of pizza in her mouth.
This girl ate nearly as much as Buckbeak.
It was good to see Faith appeared to have learned to be a little more cautious over the years. That was something Sirius himself always had a problem with. He did things on a whim never really considering the consequences.
A few Slayers ran into the kitchen to refill their plates giggling amongst themselves. They grabbed some of the food from the table and walked off.
"You're right. But, I can't help but worry about him." Sirius couldn't forget the pain he saw in Harry's eyes as he fallen through the veil.
Faith looked sympathetic, "I'm sure he's fine. From what you've told me, he sounds like he can handle his own. I'm sure he's sad and all, but that's no reason to go in to this thing half-cocked."
She went to take another sip from her glass, but stopped half-way.
"Did you hear that?"
"No. What?" Sirius glanced around worried.
"Shit!"
Sirius's eyes bulged and he looked down to the side pocket of his pants.
"Mate…Did your pants just swear?" Spike looked bemused.
Sirius was confused as well, "I don't…"
The two-way mirror! Of course!
"Harry?" Sirius pulled the square mirror from his pocket quickly.
He saw his godson, but it was muted and he could only see a glimpse of Harry's eyes. Lily's eyes.
Harry started to get smaller and smaller…and then the image shattered.
"Harry! Harry!" He got up from his chair frantic.
"What is that thing?" Faith stood as well to get a look at it.
"It's…It's a two way mirror. I gave the other mirror to Harry, so he could talk to me if he needed too. I'd forgotten I had it."
He gazed at the small mirror worried, "I think he may have broken his…" Sirius shoved the mirror in his pocket, "He may be in trouble. We have to go!"
"Woah, woah, woah! Calm down there cuz, lets not be conclusion jumpers here!" Faith held up her hands , "Maybe he just dropped it. I mean, you are dead after all, having a dead guy reply to your message would certainly make me drop something accidentally."
"I can't risk it! We need to…"
"Okay, okay fine! Can you transport there or what?"
"I can apparate, but I don't think I can manage such a distance from here to London, especially if I were going to side-along apparate with you."
"Well that wicca lady, Cimmeron, can send us back, she's probably rested enough to open another portal…"
The two of them rushed out of the kitchen and toward the stairs to find her.
"Girly, if you think you're gonna go anywhere with this guy without me, you've got another thing coming!" Spike came running after them.
"Spike…" Faith started to protest.
"No! You listen to me. You came here to help Angel and the rest of us. You! All these other slayers wouldn't be here if not for you! The city might still be overrun if you had not hauled ass to get here. I might not be standing here if you hadn't come. While you may not think that means anything, it means a hell of a lot to me! I'm not letting you run off by yourself!"
Faith crossed her arms appraising him, "What would B say? You come back to un-life and you're off helping me? I would love for you to come with me, just so I can see the look on her face when she finds out."
Spike chuckled and turned to Sirius, "So what do you say to me joining your little crusade?"
"We can use all the help we can get." Sirius had his doubts about the vampire, but Faith seemed to trust him.
"Then, perhaps you would not mind if I accompanied you as well. I am loath to let you simply take my pet and leave me behind," Illyria stared at them from the corner; it looked as though she had been observing the Slayers eating on the other side of the room.
Faith looked uncomfortable at the thought of the Old One coming along, "Umm…Leery, how do we know you won't, I don't know…join the evil wizards?"
Illyria cocked her head, "I care not which of your pathetic species rules this planet."
"That's not really reassuring Illyria." Faith frowned.
"Nor was it meant to be. I do not wish to help you, or any other primitive faction. I merely wish to keep an eye on the half-breed. He is…important…to me." Illyria looked uncomfortable with the admission.
Spike patted the blue woman on the shoulder, "Thanks Smurfette. You're important to me too."
Illyria eyed the vampire's hand and glowered.
Raven passed the three of them on the way to the kitchen. She stopped when she saw them all standing there.
"You going somewhere Faith?"
"I'm going to England with Sirius. I have something I need to do."
The blond looked at Spike and Illyria then back to Faith, "And they are going with you? Can I come too?"
"I don't know Rave, that doesn't sound like a good idea…It's going to be…"
"What? Dangerous?" The girl scowled, "Please! I'm a Slayer just like you! And I've been stationed on an active Hellmouth for over a year! Why can't I come?" She whined.
"Princess has got a point." Spike smirked.
Faith sighed, "Look I…"
There was popping noise followed by the appearance of a short decrepit being between the younger slayer and Sirius, that caused everyone to flinch backward.
"Where is Kreacher's mistress? Where is Bellatrix Lestrange?"
"Gah! Kill it!" Raven lept back and grabbed for a weapon.
Kreacher had his back to Sirius so he didn't take notice of him. "Why would my mistress associate with filthy muggles? That is not…" He spun slowly to look at the group and stopped dead when he saw Sirius.
"Sirius Black!?"
Sirius thought the old house-elf was going to have a heart attack.
If only.
"Surprised to see me Kreacher?"
"But… You are dead! The mudbloods and blood traitors traipsing through Mistress's house said so. This is not possible!" Kreacher stumbled and fell backward.
"Afraid it is."
"You are still my Master?" Kreacher panted, "I sent myself to my master, and it sent me to you! It was supposed to be BELLATRIX!!"
"What the hell is that thing?" Raven lowered the knife she'd grabbed.
"This is Kreacher, he's a house-elf. House-elves are servants bound to the houses of Wizarding families. He belongs to the Black Family Home, which I currently own." He looked back to Kreacher menacingly, "Although I would rather I didn't own him."
"I think the feeling's mutual." Faith knelt closer to elf and grinned, "You know...he's sort of cute."
Spike sputtered, "Are you high Slayer? He looks like Gollum mated with a raisin!"
"He's like one of those pug dogs…so ugly they're adorable…"
She looked at Sirius excitedly, "Can I keep him?"
Sirius couldn't believe his ears.
Kreacher huffed, "Kreacher is not a pet! Kreacher is a house-elf!"
Faith smirked, "My mistake."
She held out a hand in greeting, "Hello Kreacher, the house-elf. I'm Faith."
He looked at the hand like it bore the plague as he pulled himself back to his feet.
Then Kreacher actually looked at the owner of said hand and stood rigid.
"Kreacher knows you."
"Does he?" She raised an eyebrow.
"My mistress- she wept for days, when her niece's daughter died. But, you are not dead…"
"There's a lot of that going around." Spike remarked.
"Kreacher does not understand how this is…How both Sirius Black and Eris Lestrange are not dead…"
He stepped closer to Faith nearly hitting her face with his long crooked nose, "And he wants to know why the daughter of Bellatrix Lestrange, would associate with such filth as Kreacher's 'Master'."
"Filthy, huh?" She stood and looked Sirius over.
"I'm mean… he could use a shower, but I wouldn't go so far as to say he's filthy. Smelly, maybe." She winked playfully.
"I believe the 'filthy' to which this minor humanoid speaks is more metaphorical that physical." Illyria stated as she studied Kreacher.
"Wow. Really?" Faith rolled her eyes.
Illyria glared at Faith, "Are you mocking me?"
"Who me? Why would I mock you? You're Illyria…god-king of the primordium….You were god to a god….blah blah blah…whine, whine, whine."
Illyria looked like she might attack Faith for her impertinence, but she did not make any move to assault her.
Sirius pushed past Faith toward the house elf, "Kreacher, can you check on Harry for me? I need to know if he's alright."
Kreacher showed irritation at this, "Yes, of course Master. Kreacher lives to serve. But, it would be a waste for him to check on Harry Potter, when he already knows the Potter brat is perfectly fine."
"How do you know?" Sirius asked suspiciously.
"Because Kreacher was just with him and Albus Dumbledore. They wished to see if your will, which gave the Black home to that terrible half-blood- Oh, what my mistress would say- overruled the house enchantments." Then Kreacher sneered, "They think the house and Kreacher now belong to Bellatrix. Kreacher certainly wishes this too."
"Yeah, I bet you're just dying to spill all the Order's secrets to that bitch." Sirius growled.
Faith gave him an unreadable look at that. She might have been angry or simply unnerved by his unfettered hatred of her mom, it was hard to tell.
She clapped her hands together changing the subject, "Well, there you go Sirius. There's no need to go rushing back to England before we even get our pants on straight."
"Besides, I think I may have a plan."
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