Chapter 6 ~ Heritage
-separater-
Harry lay on his bed at the Dursleys' thinking about the last year. He would have been staying with his godfather, but Dumbledore was still attempting to get him a fair trial. It was all so unreal. The fact that he still had someone who was willing to care for him was … odd.
He closed his eyes and slipped into sleep …
He blinked as he stood in line in Professor Lupin's classroom. The werewolf was testing them all on what they knew of magical creatures. He could smell the wolf that lurked inside the professor from almost anywhere within the castle. As a fifth year he was pleased with most of the work so far. It was a bit too easy, but not nearly as offensive as the year before. That was insulting to say the least.
When it was his turn he glared at the students who were staring at him.
"Now, Mr. Potter, we shall see how you fair against your fears." The man said. Harry was a bit confused, but thought he knew what the man was talking about. There were only a few creatures who could instill the true fears of a wizard, and it was most likely a boggart. This was supposed to be a test, and review, so that would make sense.
He faced forward as Lupin opened a chest. Out came a boggart, like he thought, but this time it did not turn into the blinding light. This time, it became a wraith-like creature with decaying flesh. Before Harry could move a coldness settled in his bones and he could hear screaming. The screaming got louder and he clutched his head. Think … how can this be made into something hilarious … Yes!
He smirked and held onto his head with his left hand. With the thestral hybrid senses it was much harder to block out the noise but he managed. He pointed his wand at the boggart and said the spell to counter it. The boggart became white and fluffy with a tail, which, was hihilarious on the dementor it was trying to impersonate. He encountered a dementor on the train on the way to school, and the same had happened. That time, he was unable to block out the ringing in his ears and collapsed. The Gryfindors teased him, but at least he hadn't wet his pants like Ron Weasley had.
He sat on the train and waited for something to happen. It was way too quiet, and that meant that it was likely that a strange thing was to occur. Sure enough, thirty minutes later, the train ccame to a halt. Fog rolled in through the windows and the outer door nearest to him opened. A creature that smelled fowl came into the train car, and Harry could tell it wasn't human, or even alive for that matter.
The creature walked down the corridor of the train, making everyone shiver in either disgust or fear. For some it was true fear, but most were just afraid for petty reasons. The creature stopped in front of Harry's compartment and slid it open. He blinked as the soft light of the lights in the corridor filtered into the compartment. The creature seemed to be sniffing the air for a moment and then it was focused solely on the boy.
He clutched his head as a high pitched scream ripped through his skull. There was a flash of green light behind his eyelids and then he dropped to the floor of the compartment. He hissed in pain as the screaming continued to get worse. He blinked open his eyes and forced his gaze to the creature, who was now staring at him with a grotesque hand reaching out for him.
He blinked up at the ceiling as he clutched his time turner. It was how he had been taking extra classes this year. With permission from Dumbles, he was going back in time to save his godfather. Draco was to come with him in case he needed help. The headmaster had given him his father's invisibility cloak during Christmas and now he was going to put it to good use.
He clutched tightly onto the time turner as he spun its dial a few times. Draco stood next to him and they made their way out of the hospital wing as soon as they could move again. They followed their past selves as Harry watched himself send a stinging hex toward Ron Weasley. The blood traitor deserved it, for he had insulted both Draco and Harry respectively.
He sneered as the mudblood tried to shoot a curse at Draco's past self, who was laughing at the sight the weasel made. Without thinking Harry cast the same curse he'd sent at her just hours before. The cutting curse made her shut up and she started to cry from the pain. Both Harry and Draco laughed as they followed their past selves to where Hagrid's hut was.
The Care of Magical Creatures teacher was an oaf, but Harry had to admit that he knew his share about them. The Hippogriff Buckbeak wasn't too bad either. Harry rather liked the creature, and laughed every time he remembered how Ron got injured for insulting him. The weasel managed to get himself a bed in the hospital wing for a week afterward. The hippogriff had been furious and attacked him as he tried to curse it.
When the weasel refused to bow and the hippogriff did not give him respect he grew angry. He pointed his wand at the creature, and no one was sure exactly what he was planning on doing. It was obvious his intent was malicious however. The creature lunged for him and clawed the wand out of his hand, as blood seeped onto the boy's arm. The small loss of blood sent him into a feverish state, and Harry teased the boy for being weak for quite some time afterward.
Now they watched their former selves hide in the garden behind Hagrid's hut. A few men were inside, and Harry could hear them talking about Buckbeak's execution. He could not let that happen. He signaled for Draco to follow as he freed the creature. They took the hippogriff into the forest and then waited. Shouting could be heard fifteen minutes later and the two Slytherins smiled at each other. Harry glared at the animal as it tried to make sounds. They managed to not be found and then Harry smirked at Draco. They were going to change history drastically.
He pulled on the rope he'd conjured to lead the animal around. They waited a moment as their past selves walked by them and then left the cover of the forest. Draco gripped his arm tightly as a howl was heard through the nearly still castle grounds.
"I am staying here. I can distract Lupin." The blonde said. Harry nodded and steered Buckbeak away. They had done this before after all …
Harry disillusioned the creature and shrunk it. He put the fun-sized hippogriff into the pocket of his robes and slipped on his cloak. He then climbed the wall of the castle to the room he knew that Sirius Black was held captive. He used a minor cutting curse and a charm to shatter the glass of the window as he came to it. The grey eyes of the Azkaban escapee looked at the window with suspicion.
He climbed into the room and cast a silencing charm so as to not be overheard.
"Sirius, I have come to set you free."
The man stared at him for a moment, seeming not to recognize him. Then a spark of hope crossed into his eyes as he glanced up and down the boy's body.
"Harry-"
"There is no time for talking. Get out down the window and make your way to the end of the wards. Then aparate out of here." Said harry.
"There are rumors that you are the heir to Slytherin. That you are the next dark lord. Why would you help me?" the man asked. The escaped convict was lurking around the castle prior to being put into this room. Harry growled and let his glamour down. Sirius gaped for a moment and then stood up. Harry slashed out at the ropes that bound Sirius with his claws and snapped them. The man gave him a nod in thanks and went to the window. Harry tossed him a spare wand he'd found lying in the forest and glared at him.
"What is it?" he asked.
"You are dark aren't you? You're the child of Lily and James but you're dark."
"yes. I am a 'dark creature,' and I don't agree with Dumbledore all that much. Why are you asking anyway? Isn't it enough that I am setting you free?"
"How things have changed …" Sirius said.
Harry tilted his head to the side in question.
"Remus Lupin is a werewolf. When Dumbledore agreed with the ministry in the last war … I wanted to kill him. They took him from us … they locked him up … all because he was a werewolf … I will not side with someone who does that … Harry?"
"yes?"
"If you are what opposes Dumbledore, I want to join you."
"You will have to clear your name first. I think that someone can catch Petigrew and then …"
"He is a rat animagus. If anyone could catch him it would be another animagus. Harry …"
"I can transform into a black and silver wolf. I have been able to do so since I was a child. It was something Dumbledore calls accidental magic, but I do not believe him."
"You take care of the rat and I'll escape." Said Sirius.
"I will see what I can do. Shouldn't you at least tell Remus you're alright?" asked Harry.
"I will try. I might not have time. I can sense them … the dementors … they're here …" the man said. Harry nodded and shot a glare at the latest of his 'courageous' acts.
"Go." He said.
"Harry, I am your godfather. I would not lie about that."
"I believe you. If you want to live you must go." Harry said. Sirius nodded and slipped out the window. Harry followed, but at a much more slow pace.
AS Harry made it to the ground he hissed in pain. There were many dementors, and their presence was starting to bring on the screams. He made his way around them and to the other side of the lake. From there, he could be out of the way of his past self. He knew he'd cast the patronus to save Sirius earlier, but it had looked like someone else did it.
Lupin taught him how to cast a patronus after his test in class. It took a while, but Harry was able to conjure a corporial patronus by Christmas. This pleased the professor and he awarded Harry house points. That made no difference to the boy, he just wanted to be able to protect himself against them.
He grinned as Draco came over to kneel next to him.
"Where's Buckbeak?" the blonde whispered.
"I have him shrunk in my pocket. I think I'll let him loose somewhere. If Sirius gets his name cleared I might let him take care of the creature." Harry said. Draco nodded and turned to watch as Harry, his past self, and Sirius were surrounded by dementors. When their past selves seemed to be more effected than he remembered by the dementors Harry glanced to the right.
There was nothing there. He'd seen the reflection of the patronus from there …
"Harry you have to cast the patronus. It was most likely a reflection." Draco said.
"What makes you say that?"
"Who else do you know that can cast a grey wolf as their patronus?" the blonde asked.
"No one. I guess I can try. Expecto Patronum!"
The wolf materialized and Harry jerked his head toward the dementors. The wolf chased them off and then returned to his side. He saw something small running and snarled. He sent a stunning spell toward whatever it was and was satisfied to hear it fall to the ground. He and Draco came over and found out what it was.
It was Petigrew in his rat form. Harry turned a rock into a cage and put the rat inside of it. He cast a spell to keep the rat inside and then turned to Draco.
"I guess we see from here. I will do all I can to help out when Sirius has his trial."
"If he does that is. He was rumored to be working for the dark lord. Petigrew was supposed to have been manipulated."
"It was not true. Sirius told me otherwise."
"And you believe him?" asked the Malfoy.
"Why would he lie? If he was lying wouldn't Durante have noticed?" harry asked. He'd told Draco and introduced him to Durante at the beginning of the year.
"I suppose …" Draco said.
-separater-
Harry awoke and yawned. It was now July 31st. He glanced at the clock to find it was almost 12:00 A.M. Then he would be fourteen, and it would be another year he had to deal with easy classes at Hogwarts. At least he would be a sixth year this year, and things were supposed to be much harder after fifth year, at least according to Fred and George, who were also in his year.
The two Gryffindors were annoying, but they could be good company sometimes. They felt that certain subjects were too easy as well. Harry liked to talk to them about advanced studies sometimes. Draco despised them, but that was to be expected considering the rivalry between their families.
He glanced at the clock to find it was one minute before 12. He gently rubbed circles into the small hippogriff's neck that was seated on his lap. The creature was not fond of being the size of a stuffed animal, but it was the only way for Harry to keep him from being discovered here at the Dursleys. When he was able, he would set the creature free, or give it the choice of where to live. But for now, the creature was fine with this arrangement. It had food, water, the occasional exercise, and someone who would care for it.
Harry put Buckbeak underneath his desk as the digital numbers on the clock changed to 12:00 A.M. A fierce pain went through his body as he tried to stay focused. His vision went blurry and he could barely think straight … and then darkness ...
Durante hissed as the boy fell.
/What is it?/
When there was no answer he grew panicked. He slid himself into the boy's pocket and hoped someone would help.
-separater-
Sirius Black stirred as he felt strange. He had been living in a cave near Hogsmede since escaping from the dementors. He had Harry to thank for that, but right now something just felt wrong. He aparated to the place that he'd only seen once. A student that he'd overheard told him Harry was living with muggles when he was prowling the castle, and there was only one set of muggles that he would be placed with.
Lily had written in her will that if anything were to happen to her son he was to go to Remus, Severus, or himself. Because of the way Dumbledore was, the manipulative bastard, he probably didn't listen. The only muggles that could technically take him in without adopting him were Lily's sister's family. Those muggles were some of the worst, especially the husband.
Sirius was suspicious of the old man ever since he suggested taking Remus into custody. The man had continued to make his own decisions, with absolutely no regard for the people he was affecting. It only seemed that he was doing things for 'the greater good,' which did not always seem right. Sirius and Remus never trusted the old coot much after the first war with you-know-who. Now, he had left Harry in this place …
He could feel the raw and dark magic that Harry tried to hide most of the time from his place behind the hedges near the house. The house was not important, all that was might be in trouble. Lily never liked her sister much after she started school, and for good reason. The woman was horrible, and the man was so much worse. Once Lily went to visit them and came back bloody and bruised, but still alive. If that was what Harry was living with during the summer … He was going to kill the old man.
He took a deep breath and transformed into his animagus form. He pressed a paw into the door bell and waited. A fat man came out dressed in only shorts and he was glad he was a dog at the moment. The sight was disgusting and he never wanted to see it again. The man grunted and tried to shut the door as he saw a dog on his doorstep. Sirius wacked the door with his tail and the man grudgingly let him in.
"If you get fur on the carpets I will kill you." The man muttered, seeming to still be partially asleep. Sirius waited in the living room until the man scowled and left. He then sniffed for his nephew's room.
It didn't take too long for him to figure it out. He climbed the stairs and gaped as he saw locks on the door. The way the moon shone on them made him wonder if they were even used regularly. He pushed his nose against the door and was surprised when it opened. He went inside and was surprised yet again at what he saw.
Lying limply on the bed was Harry, and he could smell the same hippogriff in the room as well. He went over to harry and nudged him with his nose. The boy did not wake, he didn't even stir. Sirius growled lowly and shifted to his human form. He locked the door with a spell and stared at his nephew.
Harry seemed a bit different to him. He could see claws, his hair was a bit longer, he seemed like he would be taller, and two pearly white fangs poked out of his mouth. Lily … what was she again? That's right! Thestral hybrid or something like that … I have got to get him somewhere safe. If that's true and she told me it probably would be, I need to get him somewhere safe.
She had told him that thestral hybrids got their magical inheritance when they turned fourteen. If he remembered right, Harry should be fourteen as of a few minutes ago. There was only one other person who would know more about thestral hybrids than he did who was still living … Severus … He had to take the boy to Severus.
He picked up the unconscious boy and glanced at the hippogriff that was the size of a stuffed animal.
"Are you coming with?" he asked. The creature squawked and nodded. He shrunk the animal and pocketed it. He then aparated out of the house. If he remembered correctly, Severus lived at Spinner's End … right?
-separater-
The potions master of Hogwarts was startled from his sleep by loud knocking. He grumbled and got out of bed. Who would be knocking at this hour, and why were they so loud for that matter? His room was on the second floor and he could still hear the knocking. It had to be something important …
As he got closer to the door he picked up a robe from the couch and pulled it on over his night clothes. He opened the door and was shocked at what he saw. There was a man holding a boy and the man seemed familiar. The boy definitely was …
"Black? What ar you doing here at this hour?" he said in an irritated voice.
"Snape I need your help."
"With what? Why are you carrying Harry anyway?" the potions master asked as he rubbed his eyes.
"I know what he is Severus. He is fourteen and …"
Snape growled and let the man in.
"How did you survive long enough to bring him here Black?"
"Harry and Draco are the ones who could answer that better."
"Harry and Draco? Draco was no where near …"
"I have seen them together so often … when I was hiding on the castle grounds … I have no doubt that Draco helped with my escape from the dementors." Said Sirius.
"Fine. So tell me, what happened exactly?" Snape asked.
"I felt strange and went to where I thought Harry would be. His relatives … Lily's sister's family … that was where he was living. One of the Slytherins who wasn't too fond of him mentioned him living with muggles …"
"The old man sent him to live with them? Now I am curious … Why put him with people who obviously hate wizards?" Snape asked. Sirius blinked in confusion.
"I used to live next door to Lily when we were kids. Her sister was always jealous, and her parents were no better. I am sure they raised their 'normal' daughter to hate wizards."
" … right … I got there and found him like this." Sirius said. Snape nodded and started walking toward the stairs. Sirius did not follow so he said:
"Follow me Black. Although he is James' child, I do not hate him. I have been helping him with … his creature …"
This got Sirius to start moving rather quickly.
Snape snickered at the Black's confusion and led him upstairs. He opened the door to the spare bedroom and motioned for Sirius to put Harry on the bed. The Black did so and he glanced at the thestral hybrid for the first time since letting them in.
There were changes, but to him they seemed subtle. He'd seen as the little boy turned into the more mature thestral hybrid/vampire/dragon.
"How much have you deduced Black?"
"I … He's definitely a thestral hybrid."
"yes but there is a lot more … He is also a vampire and a dragon as well."
"What? Isn't that impossible …"
Snape snickered and said,
"No it's not. This is the first I have seen of it, but he hasn't died yet."
"Don't talk about my nephew like that Severus …" Sirius growled. Snape snorted and glared at him.
"You think I would say something like that if it wasn't true? I may have been a spy, but there is no point in lying to you. You would figure out the truth anyway."
"…"
"All we can do right now is wait until he wakes up."
"Alright." Sirius said as he looked around the room for the first time.
"You can sleep in here. Feel free to transfigure anything into what you need Black."
"Severus?"
"Yes Black?"
"YOU can call me Sirius. If you have been helping him … there is no point for our old rivalry ... I say we call a truce for Harry's sake."
"I agree Bl- Sirius."
"Thanks." The dog animagus said as Snape left the room.
Sirius turned the nearest chair into a small bed he could sleep on. He looked at his nephew and nearly gasped in surprise as a snake slithered out of the boy's pocket. It glared at him for a moment and then hissed. It almost seemed like the creature was relieved to Sirius. It coiled itself around Harry's neck and hissed in warning at the man. Sirius shrugged and laid down to sleep.
-separater-
When Harry woke up it was to darkness. What the fuck is going on? I should be able to see … Wait a minute … Thestral hybrids sometimes loose their sight …
"Where am I?" he asked.
"You are in my house." Snape said. Harry blinked and then nodded. He sat up and rubbed at Durahnte's scales to coax the snake to let go of his neck.
"What happened to me?" he asked.
"That is what I would like to know." Said Snape.
"I remember looking at the clock and then … there was so much pain …"
"You are fourteen this year Harry correct?" asked Snape.
"Yes. Why?"
"You do know that thestral hybrids have their magical inheritance at age fourteen right?" asked Sirius. Harry was not expecting the animagus to be there and growled at him.
"And when were you planning on telling me you were here Sirius?"
"I was asleep and … Sorry. Wait … Can you not see me?"
Harry sighed and blinked. There were no images that he could see.
"No. I think the inheritance took my sight."
"With two carriers of thestral hybrid capabilities … this does not surprise me." Snape said.
"What do you mean?" asked Harry.
"There was so much extra power that your body needed to get rid of something to keep it. Your eyes must have been the first thing your magic saw that could be taken."
"I guess so …" Harry said.
"How did this happen? Harry would you do an inheritance test if we took you to Gringotts?" Asked Sirius.
"I am curious myself actually." Said Harry.
"We must wait until tomorrow. I am sure you are tired." Said Snape.
"I feel fine." Harry said, his eyes completely red.
Snape grabbed Sirius and dragged him out of the room.
"What the hell Snape …"
"He will need something to tame his blood lust. You can't tell me you did not notice how his eyes looked Black?"
"I … Fine."
Fifteen minutes later Snape and Sirius came back into the room where Harry was. Snape handed two bottles to Harry and told him to drink them.
"What are these anyway?" Harry asked.
"One is a nutrient potion. It does not look like you have been eating very well. The second one is for blood lust. It is a potion that contains the blood of a thestral, which will satisfy your need for blood much longer than any other creature's blood."
Harry nodded and downed the potions.
"I suggest that you get some rest now Harry. Magical inheritance can take a lot out of you." Snape said.
"Alright. Do you have any rats around here? I am sure Durante is hungry."
/Yes./ the snake replied.
"I can find some." Snape said. Harry laid down and almost growled as the bed dipped beside him.
"It's just me Harry." Said Sirius.
"I am going to make sure you are cleared of that … of what that traitor did to you." Said Harry.
"How is he a traitor if you are dark?" Sirius asked.
"He got you thrown in prison. I don't care who he worked for, I am not going to forgive him for it." Harry said. Sirius ran his hand through Harry's long hair and sighed. The boy tensed, but did not stop him.
Harry felt a strange kinship toward the man who was supposed to be his godfather. It was strange, but he went with it. That is why the rat had to pay. He sold out his parents [something that Harry wasn't so upset about because he never knew them] but his offense against Sirius, the only family plus Lupin that he had left … that was unforgivable.
-separater-
The next day found Harry, Snape, and Sirius at Gringotts. They had all showered, and even Severus had to say Black looked a lot better clean. Harry was using the strongest glamour he could on his creature traits. The claws and fangs were not as easy to hide as he would like. Thankfully the claws only appeared when he was angry, but the fangs he had to hide.
The goblin at one of the counters watched as they came in. There was Lord Black, Lord Snape, and the other … he wasn't exactly sure who the boy was. He was around five feet nine inches, had hair that fell a few inches below his knees, and he wasn't human. The goblin couldn't tell exactly what creature he was, but he was definitely not human.
"Name." the goblin said as they came up to the counter.
"Harry Potter. I would like a heritage test." Said Harry.
"There are a few …" the goblin said.
"The best one you have. Charge it to the Black vault." Sirius said before the goblin could continue. The creature nodded and gestured for them to follow.
Harry listened for the footsteps of the others and then followed. That was how he'd gotten around after figuring out he was now blind. He could sense the magical signatures of people, so that helped too. It wasn't that different from the way it used to be. He was just using his other senses now.
The goblin stopped at a door and ushered them in.
"Mr. Black, I am assuming you do not know of his … heritage?" the goblin asked.
"That is what we are here to find out." Said Snape. The goblin nodded and brought out a knife and parchment. He handed them to the boy and waited.
Harry cut his arm and let the blood fall onto the parchment. He spelled the letters to translate into something he could now read and started reading aloud:
"Name: Alanius Regulus Black
Parents: Regulus Black [birth father] and Arabella Fig [birth mother]
Age: fourteen years
Creature status: yes
Creature: thestral hybrid [due to blood adoption from Lily Potter-Evans] vampire, dragon
Abilities: control of fire, control of electricity
Heir to the house of Potter, the house of Ravenclaw, the house of Slytherin, [magical heir] the house of Black
Inherited traits: parseltongue [Slytherin line] telepathy [birth mother.]"
"Regulus? My own brother did not tell me of his child?" Sirius asked, not believing this.
"The test cannot lie." The goblin said.
"Fig was a squib." Snape said.
"She had some … issues with controlling magic, but she was not a squib." Said Sirius.
"Issues?" asked Harry.
"She was a vampire. Her affinity was dark and using a wand was often times hard for her. I think that a lack of blood as a child messed up things." Explained Sirius.
"What about the dragon part?" asked Harry.
"I think that came from the Black line." The goblin spoke up.
They all turned to him with various forms of confusion on their faces.
"The Black line has had exposure to dragons at various times. Some even were nearly killed by them. It is rumored that a few of them mated with the dragons." The goblin said.
"… okay so why would Lily Potter blood adopt me?" asked Harry.
"Something happened to Arabella. I think she may have been tortured for some reason. Either way she kind of went crazy. That's why she lives with a lot of cats and has almost no human contact." Said Sirius.
"Except for me." Said Harry.
"What?" asked Sirius.
"Sometimes the Dursleys sent me to her house when they wanted to leave the house. Said it would be 'dishonorable' or something of the like if I came along." Harry said with a snort.
"That is ... never mind." Sirius said, rubbing his head.
"Is there anything you would like from the vaults you now have access to Mr. Black?" asked the goblin as he addressed Harry.
"Not that I can think of at the moment. Are there any glamours on me?" Harry asked.
There was some shuffling as the goblin took the parchment from Harry. He did something to it and handed it back.
"I made the test show more results. Go ahead and read it." The creature informed.
"Glamours: yes. [magical adoption]
Blocks on magic: yes [block on dark magic due to Albus Dumbledore]
Compulsions: attempted [Albus Dumbledore]
Memory blocks or obliviations: yes [age 3] [age 5] [age 9.]"
Harry sighed and tried not to get angry. Things were not good when he did, and with all this new power who knew what would happen now.
"Can you remove the blocks and glamour?" he asked instead.
"yes." The goblin said. Harry braced himself for the changes.
There was a strange feel about him for a moment and then it was gone. He blinked and found that he could feel magic everywhere. He could also tell that Sirius smelled different than Severus.
"Sirius have you taken any of Lupin's blood into your body?" asked Harry.
"yes, why?" the Black Lord asked.
"That was part of what was blocked. I am sure you will discover a few other things." The goblin said.
"What did the glamour reveal?" asked Harry.
"You look a lot like my brother now. I can see a hint of green in your eyes … the same eyes that he had … But there is also the rings of red from the vampire as well." Said Sirius.
"You look like a Black now Alanius." Said Snape.
"About that … if anything, call me Alan. I think I should start using my birth name now." said Alan.
"I can except that." Said Sirius. He was so happy now. He had a nephew, not that Harry was never his nephew, but now it was confirmed by blood. If Lily were here he'd have a lot of things to talk to her about.
"I could remove the memory blocks, but it would be better to let them fade on their own. Some wizards go mad from the experience of the flood of so many memories." The goblin said. Harry nodded and they left the bank.
-separater-
A/N:
I was going to start his fourth year at Hogwarts in this chapter, but things got too long. That will be the next chapter, and I am sure people are glad to have a bit more of an explanation.
R and R