TEN

The meal had started a little tense and awkward, but degraded into jokes and laughter in due course (the twins presence made it impossible not to) and lasted relatively late, but the Weasleys all drifted off to bed around nine, until eventually only Mrs. Weasley and Harry were left, at which point she tried to tell him he had to go to bed now.

'Come on, up to bed with you.'

Harry just gave her a very unimpressed look. He would be squashing this habit out now. Apart from anything else he was actually 30, and could also clearly remember the sudden loss of her care after Ginny and he ended, as if the damage was still fresh.

'You are not my mother. If you are tired, then I shall see you in the morning.'

Harry pulled out a book on Runes, and proceeded to take great pleasure in ignoring Molly's swelling rage. However after a moment Tom (probably sensing trouble) came up and asked if Harry would like his usual late night hot chocolate yet. Harry declined, politely. With Tom there chatting away at Harry as if it were normal, Molly could hardly yell like she wanted, and with a huff headed up to bed with only a last snide remark about being ready by eight the next morning. Harry rolled his eyes. He had already packed, but he seriously doubted that all the others had. Ron and Percy were probably still up and arguing over Percy's missing badge (which Harry had seen one of the twins thieve during dinner).

Giving it a few minutes to make sure Molly wasn't going to return, Harry drained his hot chocolate (Tom as usual hadn't taken no for an answer) then headed for the bathroom.

A few minutes later Harris Noir, exited through the back of the pub. Once in the little courtyard Harry pulled on his invisibility cloak and released his Aura before tapping the brick three up, and two across from the small weed growing above the lid of the bins. Harry (or rather Harris) had to make one more stop to the bank. His school things had cost more than he had expected, and had already withdrawn all his funds from the Potter account this year.

The Knockturn entrance to the bank was rather busy at this time of night. People were milling about the alley having had a late dinner, or before heading to one of the clubs, and several of the businesses preferred to open only at night. It suited the vampires much more too.

Harry ignored several odd looks he was getting. For the most part he was actually recognized. Msaw was a popular place after all, and Harry had been there for the whole previous summer. It was still odd for an apparent child to be wandering the alley at night, however Harry's Aura was leeching absolute darkness, so he wasn't approached on his way to the bank.

'Key please.'

Harry had been thinking of other things and startled slightly at reaching the front of the line. The goblin looked very unimpressed, so Harry produced his little silver key as quickly as possible.

'Wait here a moment.'

Harry did so, expecting a cart Goblin to take him down to the vault. He was therefore surprised when the teller walked across to another Goblin and collected a pile of papers.

'Your mail wards have obviously been working, however it will cost you a fee of six Knuts per letter to collect the mail that has been re-directed to your account.'

Harry raised one eyebrow, but was actually very pleased.

'That will be fine.'

'There are three letters.'

'I'll collect the money from the vault while I am down there.'

'As you wish.'

Harry was then given another Goblin to escort him on the cart. Harry enjoyed the ride as usual, and was glad he'd forgotten to allow for twice the purchases (for twice the subjects). Apart from the rollercoaster ride, he otherwise wouldn't have got these letters until next year. He didn't want to open them in the bank, but he was sure he recognized at least one of letter's the handwriting, and it had him intrigued. He hurried out of the bank and into the alley.

Harry would kick himself later, but he was so preoccupied with thoughts on the letter, that he wasn't being as watchful as he should. It was still knockturn alley, and he was still a child wandering it at night. As such, he let out a rather girly scream when he was suddenly pinned to the wall by a pair of pale arms.

'Hello Pretty.'

Harry blinked up at the vampire in shock. Despite their bad reputation, vampires very rarely actually attacked anyone.

'Good evening.' Harry replied politely, knowing it would bother the man that he appeared completely unworried that he was pinned to the wall by a monster. While the man was distracted, Harry's hand found the wand in his pocket. The problem was, he really didn't want to use it. He wouldn't get in trouble from the ministry for underage magic, as they were very biased against Vampires, however he would have a very hard time explaining why Harry Potter was in Knockturn Alley at night, and done up as the persona Harris Noir.

Mentally Harry cringed.

'You look awfully lonely tonight.'

Harry let go of his wand, and stared at the Vampire in shock.

'Are you propositioning me!?' He felt a total idiot for spluttering, but he was thrown for a loop.

'You interested?' The Vampire wriggled his eyebrows. It took quite a lot of effort for Harry to keep his Slytherin mask up.

'Sorry, but I'm a bit busy tonight. I'm flattered though.' And Harry was, really. Vampires were notoriously picky.

'Pity.'

And before Harry could as much as blink, the Vampire had gone again, melting into the shadows.

Harry stood pinned to the wall by shock for a long moment afterwards. Eventually he let out a shaky laugh and continued on his way back to the Leaky. It was a bizarre night.

Harry made it back to the Leaky Cauldron with little issue, having donned his invisibility cloak before reaching Diagon. It wasn't until he got to his room that something occurred to him.

.:So much for you defending me:. Harry griped at Apep.

.:Sorry master:.

Harry gave Apep a sardonic look.

.:Harry:. Apep corrected. .:But you were fine, and he only wanted to play. I could taste it:.

Harry let out a snort, still rather shocked.

.:Who are the letters from?:. Apep asked, when Harry didn't verbally respond.

Harry pulled the letters from the pocket he'd placed them in.

.:I'm not sure about the first two, but I think that-:. Harry unsealed the third and nodded.

Dear Theif,

I should like to congratulate you on such a strong alibi. I am curious about the device you seem to be using to alter your Aura, perhaps we could discuss it over Christmas dinner? Peri is insisting you visit, and I am completely helpless against her charms. We realise that writing to your counterpart would be quite suspicious, and I suspect you will be under close surveillance this year, however I have had plenty of time to develop tricks to confuse mail-birds. What is the name of your beautiful snake?

Yours,

Nick Stone

Harry looked up crossly from the letter.

.:The Flamel's seem to have discovered Harris Noir:. Harry grumbled.

.:Will you give up the persona?:.

.:No:. Harry frowned and re-read the letter, .:He thinks my mail is going to be watched:.

.:You can ward against it:.

.:Yes, but I shouldn't be capable of it at this age. Not to mention that would only alert them that I knew it was happening:.

Harry pushed his anger to the side for a moment and re-read the letter once more, then grinned. It was an absolute privilege to be invited to visit the Flamels, even if it were unlikely to work out. And he liked them.

With a bit of reluctance Harry put the letter aside, then opened the next envelope. It was nothing more exciting than a receipt from his stays at Msaw. The third was the catalogue he had requested from the apocathery. Harry placed all three in the warded section of his trunk. He penned a simple note to Flamel before turning in.

Nick Stone,

Tell your wife thank you very much for the offer! I don't have any plans for Christmas, but if a simple letter is an issue, then how shall we explain my visit? I appreciate the point about the mail too. How has your warding project come along?

Theif (and his snake Apep)

Despite being probably the last to go to sleep, Harry got the pleasure of giving Molly Weasley a smug grin from the breakfast table the next morning, as he was first down. What's more, his trunk was packed and ready to go sitting at his feet, his bill was paid, and he had almost finished breakfast. She let out a frustrated huff, but was quickly distracted by Fred running past at full speed. George was nowhere in sight, but Percy could be heard screaming at someone from the top of the stairs.

Harry sat calmly eating his pancakes as the usual Weasley pandemonium swirled around him. At two minutes to eight he finished up and took his plate up to the bar, thanking Tom for his stay.

Arthur, who had been outside waiting for the Ministry cars, stuck his head inside. He startled to find Harry waiting for him right next to the door.

'They're here,' he called to his family. 'Harry, come on.'

Arthur marched Harry across the short stretch of pavement toward the first of two old-fashioned dark green cars, each of which was driven by a furtive-looking wizard wearing a suit of emerald velvet. Harry recognizes it as a transfigured hit-wizard uniform.

'In you get, Harry,' said Arthur, glancing up and down the crowded street. Harry only just managed not to let out a snort.

Harry got into the back of the car and was shortly joined by Ron, Seamus and, to Ron's disgust, Percy. Harry wasn't particularly pleased with any of his fellow passengers, and filled in the time of travel ignoring them completely and imagining the reaction he'd get if he let Apep out of his pocket while in the car.

The journey to Kings Cross was rather uneventful, all things considered. The Ministry of Magic cars seemed almost ordinary. Though Harry noticed that they could slide through gaps that Uncle Vernon's ridiculous new company car certainly couldn't have managed. Harry idly wondered if the drivers even had a proper license. Regardless of muggle legality, they reached Kings Cross with twenty minutes to spare despite peak hour traffic; the Ministry drivers found them trolleys, unloaded their trunks, touched their hats in salute to Mr. Weasley, and drove away, somehow managing to jump to the head of an unmoving line at the traffic lights.

Arthur kept close to Harry's elbow all the way into the station. Harry found this a tiny bit irritating, but knew Arthur meant well so let it pass.

'Right then,' Arthur said, glancing around them. 'Let's do this in pairs, as there are so many of us. I'll go through first with Harry.'

Arthur strolled toward the barrier between platforms nine and ten, pushing Harry's trolley and apparently very interested in the InterCity 125 that had just arrived at platform nine. With a meaningful look at Harry, he leaned casually against the barrier. Harry imitated him with ease.

In a moment, they had fallen sideways through the solid metal onto platform nine and three-quarters and looked up to see the Hogwarts Express puffing smoke over a platform packed with witches and wizards seeing their children onto the train. Percy and Ginny suddenly appeared behind Harry. They were panting and had apparently taken the barrier at a run.

'Ah, there's Penelope!' said Percy, smoothing his hair and going pink again and striding over to a girl with long, curly hair. He walked with his chest thrown out so that she couldn't miss his shiny badge. Ginny grinned and tried to catch Harry's eye, but Harry was busy skimming the platform for his friends. As soon as he spotted Daphne, he said a polite thank you to Arthur, trying to disappear before he could get caught up in Molly's fussy goodbyes. It had been nice being part of the family of red heads again, but the comfort was disturbed by the memory of being abandoned by them after Ginny and he ended.

Arthur seemed to read his thoughts on disappearing, if not the cause.

'Harry,' he said quietly, 'come over here for a moment, would you?'

He jerked his head towards a pillar, and Harry followed him behind it, leaving the others crowded around Molly.

'There's something I've got to tell you before you leave -' said Arthur in a tense voice.

'It's all right, Mr. Weasley,' said Harry, 'I already know.' Originally he had been planning on letting Arthur stammer on, but he took pity. Arthur was a good man for wanting to warn Harry, and apparently one of the few who didn't let house prejudice get in his way.

'You know? How could you know?'

'Well to start I heard you and Mrs. Wesley talking last night. I couldn't help hearing,' Harry added quickly. 'Sorry, but-'

'That's not the way I'd have chosen for you to find out,' said Arthur looking anxious. Harry sneered internally, He shouldn't have only just been finding out anyway.

'It's fine.'

'Harry, you must be scared-'

Harry couldn't help it, he finally lost the battle with his amusement at the whole situation and snorted.

'I'm not,' said Harry sincerely. 'Really,' he added, because Arthur was looking disbelieving. 'Sirius Black can't be worse than Voldemort, can he?'

Mr. Weasley flinched at the sound of the name, but overlooked it.

'Harry, I knew you were, well, made of stronger stuff than Fudge seems to think, and I'm obviously pleased that you're not scared, but-'

'Oh Fudge knows I know.' Harry interrupted.

'What?! But he-'

'Arthur!' called Molly before Arthur could properly get his head around that, 'Arthur, what are you doing? It's about to go!'

'He's coming Molly!' said Mr. Weasley, but he turned back to Harry and kept talking in a lower and more hurried voice, 'Listen, I want you to give me your word-'

'No.'

Harry had absolutely no interest in breaking his word, and he had every intention of trying to find Sirius.

Arthur looked very worried. 'Harry, swear to me you won't go looking for Black.'

Harry didn't reply.

There was a loud whistle. Guards were walking along the train, slamming all the doors shut.

'Promise me, Harry,' said Mr. Weasley, talking more quickly still, 'that whatever happens-'

'Have a good year Mr. Weasley.' Harry said, sliding towards the train.

'Swear to me that whatever you might hear-' Arthur sounded a little desperate now.

'Arthur, quickly!' cried Mrs. Weasley.

Steam was billowing from the train it had started to move. Harry ran to the compartment door and Fred threw it open and stood back to let him on. The twins leaned out of the window once Harry passed and waved at their parents until the train turned a corner and blocked them from view. Harry's final glimpse of Arthur saw him looking very pale. It was a pity to leave him to worry, but Harry wasn't going to lie.