Title: A New Chance Continued

Author: pyrodaemon

Author of Original Story: Curalium Lacrimo

Pairing: Harry Potter/ Luna Lovegood

Rating: M for Future Content

Archived: fanfiction(dot)net under pyrodaemon

Beta: Blueowl and Nubial Sheep

Disclaimer: This story is based on characters and situations created and owned by JK Rowling, various publishers including but not limited to Bloomsbury Books, Scholastic Books and Raincoat Books, and Warner Bros., Inc. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended.

A/N: Why is it when you turn 21 everyone seems to think you should get pissed? I had my annual family Christmas party on the 20th of December and my birthday is the 23rd and it seemed that every adult in my family wanted to see me drunk. I had a drink with over eight different people. My who'd never drank anything before in my life. Then my cousin thought it would be funny if we all drove out to find Santa Claus. Santa Claus, Indiana. I'd like to say that I enjoyed the ride and that Santa Clause is a beautiful place. I can't because I was too busy being drunk and then (we stayed there for the night seeing as two of the people in the car weren't capable of driving and the one who drove us up there was tired) too hungover to care about anything. And I haven't even gotten into New Year's!

People are evil. My family more so.

So why is the chapter this late? Cough laziness. Pure and simply. Sorry about that everyone. And why did I tell you that story? I'm still outraged that my family would do that to me. Then laugh at me when I complained. I'm sure I'll find it funny in a month though.

Chapter 15

Tails of the Rat

Harry woke up the second day of Break with a yawn so deep and long that it continued even as he stretched. He let out a groan when he saw it was still dark out but, when upon seeing that it was five-thirty he decided to get up and get his morning shower out of the way.

When he stepped into the kitchen of the Cauldron some time later, he blinked upon observing that no one else was there.

Uh . . . Well, I guess they can't really stay up all night just to babysit a bunch of whiny wizards, Harry thought.

Harry busied himself by making some fried eggs and toast, and then wrote a short note for Melinda on a scrap of parchment – which he made flash different colors to attract her attention – telling her that he'd already had breakfast and his potions, and that he was going to Gringotts to get some money before making his way to London to spend the day just wandering around the town.

What he did not tell her was that he had The List and was going to start getting some things marked off, not that she would know what The List was. His first order of business was to go to Gringotts and retrieve money -- a great deal of it -- in both Muggle and wizarding currency. The second was to go to all the junk and specialty stores in the Alley in search of a Pensieve. Unfortunately, after hours of looking through piles of useless secondhand merchandise he was forced to admit defeat. However, the shopkeepers had all promised they would keep their eyes peeled for one, so at least the morning wasn't completely wasted.

The third task on his list was to head to London to buy a Muggle glass etching kit. He'd learned a long time ago (or rather, far in the future) during the war – a time when Wizarding items were virtually nonexistent – that by using a simple etching kit he could not only make glass unbreakable by inscribing it with Runes, but that he could make it do anything he wanted. Going out and buying a large assortment of of glass products was expensive and laborious, but the effort was worth it. Taking care of it now also had the benefit of giving him the opportunity to cast spells in Muggle London, just to see if he'd get an owl from the Ministry.

Upon returning, Harry went straight back to his room and started on his first project: making a box for Sirius. He was rather proud of himself for coming up with the idea, which was simple enough that it had been easy to work out the details. All his creation really consisted of were two boxes that were connected together magically, so that whatever you placed in either of them was automatically sent to the other. With these, Harry could send Sirius food and nutrient potions, letters or even soap (the last Harry added after remembering what Sirius looked like the first time he'd seen him in the Daily) and Sirius could send letters back to him in return. It was really quite ingenious if he did say so himself.

The boxes Harry had picked out – which he had been very selective in choosing since they had to be completely identical for the runes to work – were three by two feet by two feet. The Runes he was drawing on the box were so small they might as well be invisible, his intention of course. It was hard to break a Rune that you couldn't see. Of course, anyone wanting to find the Runes could just try to enlarge the box - Hermione would do that, he knew - but he had taken precautions against that as well. Having a glass box this big explode in your face wasn't something he imagined would be pleasant, or easy to survive.

After he finished with the box, which had taken him the better part of three hours to complete, he started making nutrient potions for Sirius of a type that he'd invented during the war, meant specifically for victims who'd been captured by Voldemort but later released, or that had been left for dead, or had the 'prison' Voldemort was using, usually a manor owned by one of the rich pureblood Death Eaters, taken by the Order. Harry had seen too many people in awful condition that conventional potions couldn't cure to not want to do something about it.

Hopefully, by the time Sirius got out of prison this time, he'd be at least a little put together. Harry contemplated a palm-sized glass globe resting innocently on his desk. Hmm . . . if I use Eihwaz, Algiz, Uruz and Teiwaz then....

Harry knew his idea might not work. It was actually pretty foolish of him to even dream of it working, but anything he could do to help Sirius until he could get the man freed was all to the better. He wished he'd been able to do something earlier, but Dumbledore kept a very stern eye on all of his movements. Harry wasn't sure if the man suspected something or if he'd done it the first time and Harry just hadn't seen it, but he wasn't taking any chances. Now that he was out from under the man's eye – and Harry was sure he was, he'd thoroughly scoured his room for any type of investigative charms and found only a basic 'tell me if harmed' charm (one that every mother put on their child's room no matter their age) that was old and hadn't been cast by anyone Harry knew – he could move with much more freedom. Harry knew Mrs. Weasley still held that same charm on Bill and Charlie's room even after they'd already grown and moved from the house.

"Hedwig?" Harry asked looking at his oldest friend. "Do you think you could take a letter to Sirius Black?"

Hedwig gave him an offended look and clicked her beak at him. A smile broke out on Harry's face at that. He knew it always offended Hedwig when he suggested she couldn't accomplish any task he set for her but, she knew he didn't mean to offend. "Thank you, Hedwig, you really are the best owl ever. Now if you can't get the letter to him, don't worry about it. It's not a big deal."

Hedwig ruffled her feathers then snapped at him again. Harry shook his head with a smile and wrote the letter.

Dear Sirius Black,

Please solemnly swear.

Yours,

H. J. P., Prongs Jr.

Harry hoped that the letter would get the point across to Sirius without giving it away to anyone else who might or might not read the mail. Harry knew that prisoners could receive mail, but Sirius Black was such an infamous person they might not allow anything through to the man.

Harry cast several spells on the parchment, mostly to hide the fact that he was casting spells – Hermione really is a genius for inventing these masking charms – then when the parchment went blank again, he set the password that only a Marauder would know and wrote another letter.

Dear Padfoot,

Firstly, I'm glad that being in Azkaban hasn't rattled your brains too badly if you're able to read this letter. I really am Harry Potter and I know you didn't betray my parents. A little Blue bird told me so. The box that came with this letter will be invisible to everyone else as soon as you cut your finger and run it over the base of the box; please make sure to spread the blood onto as much surface area as possible, without endangering yourself. After that, my box will activate and I'll be able to send you potions and food. The blue globe that you will find in the box will hopefully lessen the effects of the Dementors. I can't promise anything because I haven't had the time or even a proper way to test it, but it's the best I can do in these circumstances. Frankly, if I never see a Dementor it will be too soon. The orb will become invisible as soon as you place three drops of blood on it. Keep it near you at all times.

I want to start by saying that I'm sorry you were never given a trial and I'm sorry that you were thrown into Azkaban as an innocent man. But most of all, I'm sorry that people thought - think - so little of you that they believe you betrayed my father. I know you're better than your family, though apparently other people aren't willing to see that.

I am working hard to get you out, but the Ministry is not going to be very happy to have their errors made public; especially not one of this magnitude. I hope you have the strength to hold on just a while longer. My potions and some proper nutrition should help give you some more time. A friend of mine assures me that he's doing everything he can to get you out and that I'd know when to act. Please keep up hope,

The potion that looks like blood is a nutrient potion and will help you gain some weight. Take three mouthfuls every four hours for the first three days. On the fourth day, take five mouthfuls every six hours. By the end of the seventh day, you should start feeling better and you'll need only to take the potion once with every meal, meals which I will start supplying for you when I'm sure they won't do more harm than good.

The blue potion is Dreamless Sleep. I want you to take it every night for three weeks until your body is well on its way to recovery.

The bright green potion tastes absolutely foul, but will help you feel better immediately. I recommend you plug your nose when you drink it. Take it all at once, and before you take any other potion.

The last potion is just a general healing potion. It will heal any minor pains you have but I can't give you anything stronger until you're off the first potion.

The plate, bowl, cup and cutlery that came with the box are spelled to mask any smells the food lets off and are invisible to anyone else - or will be when you place blood on the runes on the bottom of the plate, bowl and cup and on the back of the handle on the spoon, fork and knife - so the guards won't suspect anything. They are also spelled not to give off sound. There is also parchment in the box along along with a quill and ink. Please write back to me. I would dearly love to hear from you.

Your loving Godson,

Harry Potter

Harry tapped the parchment with his wand and wove it into the spells on the box so that when the second letter showed up, the box would as well. He gave the first letter to Hedwig and watched as she took off.

He turned back to the globe and sighed. "Here goes nothing," Harry murmured as he called up every thought he'd ever had about Sirius, from the incredulous moment when he realized Sirius was innocent to the joy brought when Sirius asked Harry if he would like to live together to saving Sirius' soul from the Dementors. Harry thought of the months he spent with Sirius and of the Christmas, the only Christmas that ever felt like something even close to a family event, and finally to the memory of looking up and realizing Sirius had come to save him at the Department of Mysteries. Harry put all of those memories, from the almost overwhelmingly powerful emotions to the littlest stray thoughts, into his spell and whispered the enchantment.

Harry was glad that he'd left the window shutters and the drapes drawn, otherwise the light show from his spell would've been seen by every person within a mile's radius. Harry smiled proudly at his globe, which now glowed the silver of its housed Patronus Charm. It would hopefully help keep Sirius sane and, if not happy, at least in slightly better spirits.

He stuck the globe, potions, parchment, along with the cutlery, bowl, cup and plate with a watch on top inside the box. He charmed an ink pot to draw ink from his own stores and grabbed three sturdy quills, which he placed inside. The box was nearly full now so he let it be. He closed the lid and set it on his dresser near its brother and waited for Hedwig to get to Sirius. After that, he left his room to eat dinner with Melinda and Tom, got his shower and went to bed.

Harry woke with a start and looked around rapidly. The moment he sat up, the lights in his room flared up, dim enough so as not to hurt his eyes, but bright enough for him to know that nobody was in the room with him. Just in case, he stood up and peeked out into the 'hall' made by the bookcases. No one was in the room.

So, who or what woke me?

Looking around for the disturbance, Harry couldn't see anything likely for a moment, until his eyes fell on the dresser and saw that one of the boxes was missing. Specifically, Sirius' box was missing.

"Yes!" Harry hissed excitedly as he felt a weight lift from his shoulders. He hadn't actually been sure Sirius would get the letter.

Seconds later, Harry's box hissed and glowed a light purple in color, a sign which meant its counterpart had been activated. Harry let out a smirk and put on clothes, casting an illusion over himself to make him look like a plain, uninteresting twenty year old man. He grabbed a handful of bills and made his way to the nearest convenience store, where he purchased three boxes of pre-made broth, in chicken, beef, and vegetable varieties. He'd start with the very basics now, just plain broth that Sirius could sip slowly throughout the day until his stomach grew to be able to handle complex solids again. He made his way back to his room – exceedingly glad that he had his own private entrance – and poured vegetable broth into the cup.

Sirius,

Drink this but very, very slowly. Wait for ten minutes after you drink the potions - which you should've by now - then take a sip every so often until your stomach gets used to food again.

I hope I don't have to tell you that drinking it all at once is a very, very, very bad idea. I will anyways. Slowly, Padfoot, slowly.

Your loving godson,

Harry

Harry smiled slightly as he lay back in his bed and went to sleep. When he woke up the next morning, his box was glowing intermittently. The light was dim, and the effect was more like a pulse. He jumped out of bed, nearly tripping over the covers tangled around his legs, before grabbing the box and opening it. There was a letter sitting there.

Dear Harry,

I'm so glad you believe me even though you probably don't even remember me. I was there when you were born, your mother went into labor when your father was out getting her some ice cream and I had to stand in for him for nearly two hours. I don't know what your dad was doing but whatever it was got me into a great deal of trouble (and by trouble I mean she broke my nose twice and my wrist once). Your mother could be a really vicious woman when the mood struck her…

Anyways, the globe works! It works very well I haven't felt this good since I was sixteen. I do want to know where you got these from - whoever it is should sell them to the public and make a killing, since I'm sure they'd help with nightmares.

Look at me rambling. I just don't know what to say to you. How are you? Really? Who raised you? I know they wouldn't let Remus Lupin near you as a child (he has a chronic condition that makes it so he's not always safe) but I hope whoever it was treated you well and gave you everything your parents would've wanted for you.

I'm sorry I couldn't be there for you. I don't know if you know what happened but, well, no one really knows what happened. I suppose I should explain shouldn't I?

Your parents were targeted by Voldemort along with another family - the Longbottoms actually - which is ironic seeing as Frank and Lily were good friends and Alice had her baby just a day before Lily at an Order meeting. Oh, right; you wouldn't know what that was so I should go back farther shouldn't I?

Back in the late sixties whispers came that a new dark lord was rising. Most people generally ignore these whispers because most dark lords get themselves killed long before they become a threat to the general public; you know, what with all the ways dark rituals that can go wrong or with them thinking they're more powerful than they really are and getting themselves blown up by a more powerful wizard. Anyway, so there were whispers about a new dark lord, but it wasn't until the self-proclaimed Lord Voldemort killed the entire Beacon family - who have always been very powerful and good at dueling magics - that the world started taking him more seriously. But by then it was too late; Voldemort already had himself a huge following and more and more wizards were flocking to him every day, either at the pressure of their families or because they wanted to kill mudbloods – and if I ever hear of you saying that word then I'll--well I don't know what I'll do but it'll be painful and humiliating – or simply because they got off on killing. Several of Voldemort's more powerful members were sadists and enjoyed causing their victims as much pain as possible, sometimes sending the victim's body back to their relatives in pieces.

By '78 Voldemort was so powerful people were being killed right and left it seemed, and everyone was more terrified than you can possibly comprehend. You didn't know who his death eaters were or even who just supported him but didn't actively fight for his cause. You knew that he can control people and make them do any number of terrible things without being able to stop themselves. So you're scared you might be hit with a spell that'll have you killing your wife and kids, and scared of your mother and father and your brother and sister and even your best friends, because they might be under that spell already. Every week there was news of more death and more disappearances and more torture. The Ministry of Magic was in disarray, who didn't know what to do because they ignored the problem for too long, for far too long. And when I said there were killings every week I meant in the magical world. The Muggle world was hit even harder than us. Thousands of Muggles were killed every time I turned around or at least that's what it seemed to me. Muggles couldn't defend themselves against magic, you see, didn't even know what it was. There was terror everywhere with people panicking and confusion was thick in the air because you didn't know who to trust, or if you could even trust yourself!

The Ministry was useless between trying to keep the public as calm as possible and trying to keep the Muggle Prime Minister from declaring war on us and wiping the entire lot of us off the planet. And they could've too. Lily told us about those S-Bombs that those Americans used to end War Two. No shield spells could have possibly held against those. Just "boom" and we're all Thestral chow.

So Dumbledore - you probably know him as your headmaster - set up this group of people willing to fight against Voldemort and his death eaters. Dumbledore's a great man, Harry, a really great man. He was the only person Voldemort ever really feared, you know? Hogwarts was the only place Voldemort wouldn't go near, and for good reason. Dumbledore for all his age could wipe the floor with Voldemort; no matter how many rituals the bastard used on himself Dumbledore was still better. Dumbledore knew more and had better resources at his disposal... Dumbledore was just BETTER!

…So the Order of the Phoenix was a group of people who fought Voldemort and his death eaters. They didn't always have to go into active battles with him, but they did supply information and whatever else we needed. And we needed them so much. Your parents in particular. Lily was everything the death eaters claimed a Muggleborn couldn't be — pretty, smart, vivacious and above all a DAMN powerful person. Your Mum could take on any of the death eaters, up to and including my old cousin Bellatrix Black, and come out on top. Put her together with your father and myself? We fought Voldemort himself to a standstill and held him off until reinforcements could arrive. Three times we did that, damn us. Because of that Voldemort started targeting us. It wouldn't have been so bad if we hadn't found out that Lils was pregnant. We were all so happy, Lily and James and me and Remus; so happy that you were coming along -- never forget that! Remus was never going to be able to have a kid and I was a playboy and could never see myself settling down with anybody, but Lily and James… you couldn't possibly know how happy it made them just to know you were coming. James was over the moon and Lily didn't stop smiling for three whole months, literally. Her face was stuck like that. They were just so damn happy.

Dumbledore held us after a meeting in April and told us (me and Remus and Lily and James and Alice and Frank) that Voldemort was coming after us. I say 'us' because there's no way that me or Remus would EVER let you get hurt if we could help it, so he was coming after US and not just you and your folks. Alice and Lily were nearly hysterical trying to think of ways to save you two kids.

Lily came up with the Fidelius Charm. It was a bang-up little charm that allows something to be completely hidden, and I mean completely. The only draw back was that it couldn't be used on people or pets or anything like that. It could only be used on our homes, so that they were completely safe inside the house but if they stepped outside then they Would lose the protection. Oh, they used other charms as well, but that was supposed to be the ultimate charm to protect them. And it was, and still is… As long as your Secret Keeper is safe and doesn't tell anyone where you are. That's where we messed up. Or rather, where I messed up. You see, I was your parents Secret Keeper from April of '79 all the way up to October 25th of '81. Someone must have told Voldemort that I was the Secret Keeper. Everyone knew there was a spy in the Order but no one knew who it was because the information Voldemort acted on wasn't consistent. We tried to rat him out by giving misinformation but he caught it EVERY SINGLE TIME! It was infuriating, frustrating and damn scary. We personally knew that someone close to us was spying on us. I thought it was Remus, but James wouldn't hear a word about it. Remus was just---

Remus is a werewolf, so I suspected him even when I swore to him that his condition didn't matter to me. I SWORE! I told him over and over and over again that it didn't matter to me. I said I wasn't a biased bastard and that I hadn't taken in what my parents spoon fed me from the moment I was born, but I went and did. I thought Remus was the spy and I'm ashamed of it. I had my reasons. Remus was always disappearing on off days, even when it wasn't the full moon, and he rarely saw us and never came to see you. Ever. I realize now that he was terrified of hurting you, but back then it looked suspicious. I know that it wasn't really. James saw to the heart of the matter immediately and wouldn't let me speak badly of Remus. We even came to blows about it a few times. I know now that I just wanted a reason to suspect Remus that sounded good to me. Because he was a werewolf. Because I'm as bad as my parents. No, I'm worse, because I swore I was nothing like them. It's worse isn't it? To claim to be a person's friend but turn on them the minute something bad comes along? My parents hated werewolves and half bloods and Muggleborns and halfbreeds and made no secret of that fact. I claimed that I didn't share their prejudice, but I did, really.

I'm an awful person Harry. Truly awful. I hope Remus can forgive me one day. I know I can't.

I've told you what happened to the rest of the world. But I didn't tell you why we changed Keepers. Like I said, someone must have told Voldemort that I was the secret Keeper because I kept getting attacked, and it was more than accidental like it had been before. I was being targeted, and Voldemort wanted me alive. He'd never wanted a person alive before, which made it both easier and harder to get away from his goons. Easier, because they didn't use deadly force on me, but harder because they were bloody everywhere. It seemed like every time I turned around a death eater was right there. But I didn't mind. I didn't, Harry. I'm not a coward! I'm not! I took down more death eaters that year than any other person -- including Mad-Eye! And I was just a Junior Auror! Merlin, but it was a nuisance.

I didn't mind, Harry, I didn't. I would've done anything for you and Lils and James! Anything including die. But then I was captured and tortured for days and days and days... I didn't know how long until later. Three weeks I held against those bastards. Three bloody weeks! And they didn't get anything from me. I was proud of that, but I'd never been so scared in my life! I knew I was just steps away from breaking. I would've told them anything they wanted to know after that. Anything at all. If they'd just stepped up the torture when they found themselves being invaded I would've told them. Harry I would've and I---

Here the parchment was dotted with small wet spots, where tears had fallen on the page, Harry's heart ached for his godfather.

…But James saved me. James and Remus and Mad-Eye and Dumbledore himself came and saved me. I was a mess though. Knew I wouldn't be able to stand another session so I begged James to change Keepers. I wouldn't have, Harry, if it was just me on the line; but I loved you and Lily and Jimmy. I loved you with everything I was, everything I am. But I know myself, I know the limits of my strength and I couldn't have fought them again, not again, and held out. You were in danger and I couldn't be the one to put you there.

I just wanted you to be safe. And Lily and James. So I knew that Jimmy had to pick another person to be the Keeper. It's easy to do, much easier than initially putting up the charm. Just a spell, a chant and there you are. New Keeper. Remember when I said I didn't trust Remus? I thought he was the traitor, so I picked HIM!!! Peter Pettigrew, a boy I grew up with. His family has always been neutral, in every War the Wizarding World has ever witnessed for as long as anyone can remember. So my parents allowed me to befriend him before school started and Jimmy's parents just adored him. This chubby little boy with a pointed face who was always tagging along after Jimmy, but couldn't really keep up with him because he was slow. I didn't meet Jimmy until the second day of school - after I'd been sorted into Gryffindor - but Peter was his friend, so he couldn't have been a bad person. Everyone always thought that me and Remus and James let Peter tag along with us, but that wasn't how it worked. We were the Marauders, and if you couldn't keep up with us then you didn't hang out with us. Peter has always been able to hide in the background; he'd be right at the scene of the crime, but no one would even think twice about him being there, and then he'd use James' pensieve and we'd get to see what happened, exactly, and people's reactions to it.

And Remus, he'd research all the spells for us. God he was so smart, and not like me and James where we just didn't have to study very much, he was frighteningly intelligent, said something once about having an IUQ of 197 or something like that. I don't know what in hell an IUQ has to do with being smart but he was awfully proud of it. Remus was so happy when we found out about him being a werewolf.. Well, no, that's not true. He was so terrified at first that he actually passed out; but when we told him we didn't care, and that it didn't matter to us, he was so happy he cried (and I've seen Remus loose a leg in the heat of battle and still keep fighting, so that was a big deal). It got reattached so he still has it: his leg, I mean; lucky bastard.

Peter, though; he was every bit as clever as we were, but he just wasn't as smart as us. I should have expected something like that. Peter was too good at hiding in the background, far too good. Even we forgot he was there sometimes, like at Order Meetings or when we were discussing where to hide next. I should have realized it. Remus didn't even go to half the Meetings because he was so busy recruiting the werewolves on our side while at the same time trying to get a job to support himself. What with all the attacks going on, most people didn't know he was a werewolf, so that wasn't the problem; but when you've got a job and the building blows up it gets a little hard to keep that job. Me and Jimmy did what we could but... Remus has always been a very, very proud person. He wouldn't just accept charity, no matter how well-meaning, or how necessary it was. 'Course I understood. Because I was the same way; when I ran away at sixteen my trust was killed so I was trying to survive completely on my own. It doesn't sound that bad, but I grew up a spoiled little brat and was given everything I wanted before that point. So, Remus was nearly always gone, which meant that he wasn't at the Meetings, or there when we were planning where we were next going to hide - or at least decide when it was time to move on - because at the end there Lily was so scared (for you) that she wouldn't even tell Dumbledore where they were going. 'Course, James always told me, which is probably why everyone thinks I betrayed them. James trusted me more than he trusted anyone but Lily. I should have continued to be the Keeper, I know I should have now, but back then I didn't think I could survive another run in. I didn't!

I know that I'm to blame, Harry. I blame myself, and you should too. I know it and that's why I'm here., but I want you to know what really happened that day, on October 31.

I'd had a bad feeling all week and it just kept getting worse and worse as time passed until I woke up that morning. I've always had a touch of Sight, just enough to know when something affecting myself or my friends is going to happen. I knew that James and Lily and you were in danger, even more than usual so I went to see them. Lily laughed at me and told me I was silly. She never believed in divination. But I think that goes more to worshiping McGonagall than anything else. Seems to me if McGonagall says sometime is woolly then it must not be worth a real wizard's time. James knew that my feelings were usually right but he'd never suspect us. James regarded it as the height of dishonor to mistrust his friends and would never allow me to speak a bad word about any of them. He told me I was getting paranoid in my old age, first suspecting Remus, and then suspecting Peter? He told me I was spending too much time with a bloke named Moody - he's famous for being paranoid, and he just keeps getting worse and worse every time I see him. Saw him. He kept getting worse and worse. I really haven't seen him in years, have I? Anyways, James told me to take a load off and play with you for the day. I did, and we had a lot of fun, we did. You'd missed me because I wasn't around as much as I had been before. Lily said you cried for me all the time.

I went home that night, knowing something was going to happen and that I should've stayed, but Lily told me to go home and relax. I'm such a failure, Harry; I knew I was right - knew it better than anyone - and I just left. I just left them to face Voldemort themselves and there's nothing anyone could ever say that changes that fact.

When I got home I couldn't even sit still I was so restless, so out of it. Out of my mind with worry. I went to visit Remus, and the full moon wasn't for weeks so he was at the peak of health and he told me I was being silly, that I should listen to Lily and go sleep. Remus was another McGonagall-worshiper. I knew Peter, at least, would listen to me and let me mope around his house so I went there. It was 10:48 when I stepped inside his house; I remember the time exactly 'cause I glanced down at my watch. I went inside because Peter didn't answer, though he should've been home. I'd asked him what his plans were the day before and he said 'nothing'. He's always been scared of Halloween, so I figured he was going to hide under the blankets like he used to. When I saw he wasn't there I just thought he must have run out to get some milk or something. He was never a very good shopper because he never made a list and he was far too forgetful to remember everything he needed.

After fifteen minutes of waiting I got worried and went looking around the house. There wasn't a sign of a struggle, so I knew he hadn't been taken by Death Eaters. Peter was weak, always had been, but he could fight enough to keep them from taking him by surprise or anything like that. I went to his room and I couldn't believe what I saw.

Peter had out his funeral robes hanging on the wall, pressed and everything. I knew them well because I had the same pair, and so did James and Remus. We bought them together to use at James' parents funeral, then at his uncle's and my uncle's then at Kitty Pure's funeral. Pure was our teacher at the Auror Academy... But I knew they shouldn't be out because no one we knew had died in the last week or so. Then I knew why he had them out. Peter knew that someone close to us was going to die and knew exactly who it was because he was taking part in the death. He had a plan all worked out. And then I saw a piece of paper. It was a eulogy for me, Lily, James and you. It was all going to be wrapped up in one neat little package, Harry; all of our deaths.

He was working for Voldemort though.

I knew I had to get back so I called Remus and told him to get Dumbledore and get to the Potter house immediately. I went there as quickly as I could, but it had already happened and Hagrid was there. I fought him, so hard. I was your GODFATHER! I should have been the one taking you and caring for you. You were crying so hard and loudly but the house had collapsed and James and Lily were laying there, out on the lawn, so still and pale. Hagrid had moved them. You wanted me, you begged for me but Hagrid wouldn't give you to me. "Dumbledore's orders, Sirius, I'm sorry but it's Dumbledore's orders!" Like I cared what that stupid old bastard wanted!

But Hagrid is a strong person; he can't be touched by most magic, and any curse I would've sent at him might have hit you instead anyway.

But I knew what happened. Peter was with Voldemort when he died. I didn't know Voldemort was dead at that time, but I knew that if you were alive something had gone very, very wrong with his Plan. So I went after Peter I tracked him like the traitorous little bastard he was, all the way to a small street in London. Peter had it set up as a safehouse in case we found out he was spying on us. After all, who looks in their backyard for the person they're hunting? I did, damnit! I had the little bastard. I knew I could beat him; I'd done it thousands and thousands of times before. Weak, pathetic little Peter. I should've remembered that he was a clever little rat bastard. I asked him why he did it, why he betrayed you and James and Lily., I screamed it at him. He just laughed, took out his wand and cut off his finger. I was so shocked I couldn't do anything else. He turned his wand behind him and did some spell - I don't even know what it was - but the next thing I knew the ground was shaking like an earthquake and then I was thrown into a building twenty meters behind me.

When I came to I was under arrest and then thrown in Azkaban. I waited for months for someone to come and question me. I knew Dumbledore wouldn't just let me rot in there, Dumbledore knew me, knew I wouldn't have cast that spell, or killed all those people. Then six months passed, then a year. I didn't even find out until the third year exactly why I was in Azkaban. They thought I'd betrayed Lily and James, thought it was me that got them killed. I fought for Dumbledore for three years, I gave him information on my family and he left me to rot in Azkaban without even coming to tell me how disappointed he was. He didn't even come to ask why I did it. He betrayed me just as much as Peter betrayed us.

So there it is. Everything. I know you don't have to believe it, but that's the truth.

I want you to know that I love you Harry. More than I loved even James and Lily. You were my entire world and I never would've done anything to hurt you. I'm so sorry that I couldn't be there for you.

All my love,

Sirius Black

Harry finished reading the letter and sat back, staring at the wall before him. His eyes burned and there was a lump constricting his throat that made it hard to breath. If he'd had any qualms about getting Sirius out of jail, at that moment they disappeared. The letter he had just read was disjointed, jumping from subject to subject, like a person who wasn't quite all there in the head wrote it, or a man so full of guilt that he couldn't think past it.

Harry's lips tightened as he pulled out a quill. If he was going to pull this off then he needed to be prepared for anything. Dumbledore was a very intelligent person and tricking him was going to be a challenge in and of itself.

Harry Potter,

You don't know me but I know a great deal about you. I don't know what you've learned about our world but it would do you a great deal of good if you'd get into contact with your godfather. He is not guilty of any crime save loving your family too much. Azkaban is truly an awful place, but they do allow prisoners to receive mail. Perhaps getting a letter from your godfather will shed some light on the situation.

Your Faithful Servant,

Blue

Harry Potter

I know that you took my advice and got into contact with your godfather. I told you Sirius Black was innocent, and I think any doubts you had were put to rest with his letter.

The rat in this cage is, in fact, Peter Pettigrew. I suggest you get into contact with Albus Dumbledore as soon as you possibly can. Pettigrew needs to answer for his crimes.

Your Faithful Servant,

Blue

It was still early in the day and Harry knew he could pull this off. Ron and the other Weasley's had gone to visit Charlie in Romania. Harry just so happened to be able to make a portkey that could travel that distance without draining himself dry. He loved being a powerful wizard, you could just do so much.

"Harry, dear, are you doing anything at the moment?" Melinda's voice came through the thick door.

Harry stood up and opened the door. "I was reading."

"Would you like some breakfast?"

"Yes, thank you," Harry stepped outside his room and straight into the warm kitchen.

"I've made eggs, french toast, hot cakes, toast, sausage and bacon. You can have whatever you want."

"Thank you," Harry said as he got a plate and loaded it with food. Everything was piping hot and fresh, and the kitchen was filled with the delicious perfume of baking pastry and frying meat, as well as the merry crackle of grease on the hot pan.

"What are you going to do today?"

"Walk around London for a little while I think," Harry said with a shrug. "I've never been here before so I think it'll be good to familiarize myself with the city."

"That sounds like a good idea," Melinda said. "I do want you to be in here the day after tomorrow, however, so I can take you Christmas shopping and get your Gringotts account all settled out."

"Will do, thank you," Harry finished his breakfast and went to his room. He dressed in Muggle clothes and left the building using his entrance. He got on a train and made his way across the city. He was so glad that the Trace was gone; it wouldn't do to have people know what he was doing.

When he got off the train, he looked around and nodded to some people across the way before picking up a bit of trash, a half-filled plastic water bottle to be precise, before making it into a portkey that would take him all the way to Romania.

As always any questions or comments can reach me through review or PM and I'll do my best to answer.

Added: January 06, 2009