Hello and welcome to the next chapter of 'Like a Lightning Bolt' and the first chapter of 2015.

Someone raised the point of figuring out what age Bloodrune is based on things that have previously been said, however in the previous chapters only an estimate to his age has been given. At the bottom of the chapter I will put down his age as well as a few altered ages of original characters in order for people to know how old those characters are if they so wish.

And I was right, it was guessed very quickly, and very frequently. Kind of my fault, my first disclaimer already showed that I like her as a character. The arc that focuses on her will be more of a backburning arc for a while, it will be there but not, as while readers may have guessed as to who she is, it will take a long time for Harry and the others to find out who she is, as I will say only 9 characters know that information as a definite, several others have suspicions.

Also, some people have addressed that they are worried Bloodrune will be an OP OC, he isn't, he is above average in terms of magical power and advanced in Duelling compared to most. Snape is the dead average among the Staff in terms of Duelling skill whereas Sprout is for power. Bloodrune would beat Snape 7 out of 10 times, while if he were versing Flitwick, he would lose 7 out of 10 times.

As stated the timeskips will begin to cover a lot more time, an important thing to remember is that between the Duelling class, their individual study time, and their group study the quartet will be picking up spells that in canon they may not have learnt till later.

Now, onto the chapter.

"Speech"
'Thoughts'
"Spells"
Book Names

Disclaimer: See previous chapters.

Chapter 11

Over the next few weeks the group continued in a steady pattern, without many major interruptions other than the interview with Rita Skeeter. Rita had shown up the Saturday after their first Duelling class, in which Harry told her everything about his bumping into Sirius while he was in his Animagus form, to finding out the information about rats in Diagon Alley, to how he realized that Scabbers was actually Wormtail. Rita ate it all up and when she published the article in the Quibbler it had sold out within hours of going on sale. As a result of the article the general public was utterly against Peter Pettigrew, as well as several people calling for Crouch and Bagnold, the people who locked Sirius up without a trial, to be called up in front of the Wizengamot themselves to answer for what they did.

Sirius had been released from St Mungo's the weekend after the article, sending Harry a letter to let him know that he had applied to have Harry's guardianship transferred to him. He also informed Harry that he had begun renovating his family home with the help of the Goblins of Gringotts and their curse-breakers, his family home having quite a bit of Dark artefacts within due to his family's previous Dark leanings. He also eluded to something that he wanted to speak with Harry about, it having apparently been important enough to cause the Goblins to lower the costs of their services, which in and of itself was something rare. Other than that the letter exchanged between Harry and Sirius were mostly for the two to bond, and so far they had learnt quite a lot about each other.

Harry also continued sending and receiving letters from Tonks, learning quite a bit about his cousin in the process. He had also started speaking with Andromeda after she sent him a letter at her daughter's recommendation, although she hadn't sent many as she had apparently been too busy ensuring Sirius didn't paint the entirety of the Black family's house maroon and gold. Something that had surprised Harry was the receiving of a letter from Narcissa Malfoy, showing that Draco had indeed come through with his promise of informing his mother about his interest in his Black family cousins, however most of the letters Harry had gotten from her contained more information on the Black family and pureblood traditions than personal information such as he had received from Sirius and Tonks.

Inside Hogwarts itself, Harry had continued his friendships with the Slytherins and Astoria as well as occasionally having conversations with Draco. The two usually only had short conversations, the previous hostile tension between them making long conversations quite awkward, however the two had begun to move past that shortly after Draco apologised to Hermione for how he had acted the year previously, him admitting that it had occurred to him that this might have been a source of their tension, which Harry later admitted it had been. Harry had also made acquaintances with a few of the Hufflepuffs in his year during the Duelling Club meetings, where Bloodrune had made sure that the groups included different people in order to give everyone a chance to develop through exposure to other people's Duelling Style.

Harry and Neville had continued Duelling one another both in the Duelling class and during their study sessions, the two beginning to develop styles based around their magic's personality, Harry learning more spells that are precise and already rather fast while Neville began working on more wide area spells as well as attempting to find a medium for himself between shields and dodging. The group had found that Luna and Hermione had a similar style that fit them, both simply casting many different spells in an attempt to overwhelm an opponent, the main difference being in the types of spells used, Luna focussing on more prank spells that offensive ones, using the Marauder's notebooks to learn spells, such as ones that make people dance and ones that caused people's clothes to begin tying them up, throwing in disarmers and stunners in between the prank barrage. Hermione however had focused on learning several different cutting spells as well as focusing on piercing spells, hoping that with her variety she would be able to overwhelm an opponent with small injuries, with the ability to throw in more damaging ones if the need was there.

The twins had actually begun joining them for their study sessions, especially after they found out Harry was fine with them using the Marauder's journal during them. With the addition of the twins Harry and Neville came up with the idea of them Duelling in pairs, allowing them all to begin working on teamwork. Harry found the twins worked better together than they did separately, Fred having a more offensive style while George had a more defensive, allowing them to cover each other's weaknesses.

Between the six of them, only Harry and Luna had any progress with getting their Patroni to appear, with Harry having a misty shield that would occasionally seem to try and bend into itself while Luna was only able to get a very small mist to appear.

Harry had extended his offer to the twins about learning to become Animagi with Harry and Hermione to Neville and Luna, who accepted nearly straight away. After reading through the notes on it, Luna and Hermione decided the best time to brew the revealing potion would be during the Christmas break, when they had no classes and there was less people in the castle.

In classes the group had continued to perform well, the major surprise coming from Potions, with Snape laying off of Harry and Neville, surprising the both of them. After a few lessons, they had found that without Snape hovering over them and harassing them, there were less Potions accidents, as Snape was not distracting them as much, allowing them to finish their potions in much better quality than they had previously.

The trial for Peter had been set for October 31st, with Sirius and Remus getting permission from McGonagall to take Harry to the trial due to him being responsible for Pettigrew's capture. The two had also informed Harry that they had a surprise for Harry after the trial.

Halloween morning started for the group with a tense breakfast, nobody wanting to bring up Pettigrew's trial which would take place in the afternoon. The tense atmosphere was broken however when Sirius walked into the Great Hall behind Remus, sporting a pout to match his currently pink hair.

"That was an overreaction Moony." Sirius grumbled as he followed behind Remus.

"Next time Padfoot, don't attempt to wake me up with a water charm, because if I am not in the bed when you cast it, I will hit you with revenge." Remus replied, nodding to the group as he walked past them.

"Stupid morning people not getting pranked. Morning all, we need to go talk with McGonagall before we can leave ok Harry?" Sirius had stopped grumbling when he walked by Harry, not catching the awe filled looks of the twins.

"Ok. Are you going to get your hair fixed before we go?" Sirius simply waved Harry off as he walked down towards the Staff Table, his hair already reverting back to its natural black.

"So, did they tell you when you are coming back tonight?" Hermione asked, as the group watched Sirius and Remus talk with McGonagall.

"They mentioned that we might not make it back for the feast, otherwise I don't know." Harry replied.

"Have they mentioned what it is the three of you are doing after the trial?" Neville turned away from the Staff Table to look at Harry as he waited for a reply.

"Nope, they just kept saying it is a surprise and I am not allowed to know beforehand." Harry gave a light glare at the back of Sirius' head as he spoke.

The group watched as Sirius made an exaggerated bow to McGonagall and the rest of the staff, with Remus standing off to the side shaking his head at his old friend's childish antics. After Sirius stopped bowing the two began walking up to the group.

"Alright Harry, we have a couple of trips to make before we go to the Ministry for the trial, so we just got the permission we needed to take you now rather than later." Remus said to Harry.

"So say goodbye to your friends Harry, you will see them all later tonight." Sirius' grin was stretched right across his face, having cheered up by being a smart ass to the Staff.

"Bye guys, I'll see you all tonight yeah?" Harry asked as he got up from the table.

"Of course, we'll be waiting for when you get back Harry." Neville replied.

"Of course, you will be getting firsthand experience with how a criminal trial is run in the Wizarding World, I want your opinion on the differences between it and Muggle trials." Hermione replied, much to the amusement of the others.

"Of course, we will wait in the room if you haven't made it back by dinner." Luna replied.

"We of course, will be around," "Causing mischief," "Making chaos," "And all around brightening people's day," "So we should see you when you get back." The Twins saluted him and the two Marauders as they walked away.

With a crack, Harry and Remus arrived in the Arrival Zone of Diagon Alley, an area within the alley which was not covered by the Anti-Apparation and Anti-Portkey Wards which covered everywhere else within the Alley in order to limit accidents caused by sudden appearances. Shortly after the two arrived, Sirius appeared next to them.

"That. Was. Horrible." Harry breathed out from his bent over position as he resisted the need to vomit up his breakfast.

"Don't worry, it's better when you are able to Apparate on your own." Remus rubbed Harry on the back as he spoke, trying to help him keep from throwing up.

"In all fairness, he is doing better than Prongs did. First time I saw him ever get Side-Along Apparated he blew chunks all over the Ministry reception area." Sirius grinned at Harry who had righted himself while Sirius spoke, who faintly returned the grin.

"So, I get my apparent inability to get along with magical travel from my Dad?"

"No, just Side-Along Apparation, your mother is the one who magical travel didn't agree with, Floo travel spat her out at high speeds, Portkeys sometimes left her in the nearest tree to the landing point, and while she never vomited, anytime she didn't Apparate herself she would get very dizzy for a few minutes." Remus explained as the trio walked towards Madame Malkins.

"Why are we going to Madame Malkins? I don't any more robes." Harry asked as they walked in the door.

"Because Harry, you are Heir Potter, and this will be your first appearance in front of the Wizengamot, you will need formal robes adorned with your house crest," Sirius replied in a formal sounding tone, quite surprising Harry, "I did take my father's lessons to heart on being an Heir, I just never really put them to use." Sirius explained.

"This is the first stop we need to make, we also need to pick up some other things from Ollivander's." Remus added when he realized that Sirius was not going to explain.

"Lord Black, what a pleasure to see you out and about after your exoneration," Madame Malkin stated as she walked into the main area of the store from the backroom, "What can I do for you today?"

"Thank you Madame. Today I would like for you to fit myself for formal robes with the Black Crest emblazoned upon them. Also, Heir Potter will need the same but with the Potter Crest," Sirius began, before turning and winking at Harry, "Also, this rather shabbily dressed fellow behind me needs a set of formal robes as well, no House symbol. Charge all three to the Black accounts."

"Sirius! I don't need formal robes, and I certainly don't need you to pay for them." Remus stated, obviously not liking his friend buying him clothes.

"You are right, I am sorry Moony. Take back that last order Madame, it needs to be a set of formal robes and a full wardrobe, I can't have a friend of mine walking around in such shabby clothing." Sirius grinned at his friend as Remus gaped at him, words unable to form due to his surprise. Harry simply laughed at the reaction of Remus to what Sirius did.

Madame Malkin took the three into the back area where she took the measurements for the robes, and much to his annoyance, all of Remus' measurements, with Sirius standing there informing Madame Malkin that for all of their purchases he wanted them in the highest grade materials she has available for use, with the formal robes being a rush job. Sirius making a comment to Madame Malkin outside the earshot of the other two.

After the three finished in Madame Malkin's, they walked over to Ollivander's, which was unsurprisingly empty, due to very few parents buying their child's wands before they receive their Hogwart's letters.

"Ahh, Hello Lord Black, Mr Lupin, Heir Potter," Ollivander acknowledged the three as they walked in the door, "I take it none of you are having wand issues are you?

"No sir, we are here for wand care kits, something that neither of us apparently remembered to buy when we bought our wands." Remus sheepishly stated.

"Yes, that and three Flick-Draw Holsters please, with all the necessary enchantments. Please put all that to the Black account."

"Dammit Sirius I can pay for my own things." Remus grumbled at his friend.

"Too bad, I'm paying." Sirius immaturely stuck his tongue out at his friend as he spoke, causing Harry to laugh once more.

"Of course, right away." Ollivander vanished into the back, returning with three wand holsters and three kits. The holster that Sirius took was of a crimson Dragon hide, Remus receiving a blue Dragon hide one, and Harry receiving a green one.

"These are perfect, thank you Ollivander." Remus thanked Ollivander, while Sirius and Harry shook the man's hand.

"I take it the three of you would like a demonstration of how they work?" Ollivander asked, at the three's confirming nods, he demonstrated to them how they use the holsters, after which the three said goodbye to Ollivander as they went to their final destination in the Valley, Gringotts.

"I don't need any money Sirius, I have everything out of my Trust Vault this year in blood locked money bag." Harry stated, noticing that Remus was grumbling about how he too had his own money.

"Ah, but that's not why we are here, we are here for some paperwork." Sirius replied, smiling at Harry as he did so.

"Paperwork?" Harry asked.

"Yep, I just need to sign a few documents, and with you there to witness and approve, I will be your legal guardian." Sirius' beaming smile was matched only by Harry's own as he heard what Sirius said.

"Really? Excellent!" Harry excitedly stated. The three walked up to an unoccupied Teller, waiting for the Teller to address them, as was proper etiquette among the Goblin Nation.

"Yes wizard?" The Teller inquired.

"Well met Teller," Sirius began, inclining his head as he did so, the other two following his lead, "I have an appointment with Masters Ripfang and Clawheart."

"Well met, go on through to Master Clawheart's office, he is expecting you." The Teller indicated which passage to take, nodding his head to the three as they began to leave, the three returning the nod as they left.

The three walked down the corridor to Clawheart's office, adorned with a plaque declaring him the Head Accountant for the House of Black. When they walked in the door Harry recognised one of the Goblin's there as the Head of his own family's accounts, Ripfang.

The five all exchanged greetings, with Ripfang explaining everything that his approval of the guardianship forms would mean for him. After the explanation, Harry and Sirius began signing off on all the paperwork.

"Ok, that's all of the forms signed, we will have them lodged in the Ministry but as of this moment you Lord Black are the legal guardian of Heir Potter till he comes of age," Clawheart stated as they finished signing the forms, "There is just this last form you needed to sign Lord Black."

"This is the one I requested? Filled out as asked?" At the Goblin's nod, Sirius signed the line, before sliding the document over to Remus, "Remus, I need you to sign that line, this contract ensures that should I pass you will immediately have guardianship of Harry." Astounded at what his friend was saying, and the serious tone with which he was using, Remus signed the page.

"Excellent, that will be filed with the others, and of course, with this one when you sign it," Clawheart passed over another document, which Sirius signed, already knowing what the contract was, "Wonderful, here is your copies of the signed forms Lord Black, may your enemies fall upon your sword."

"And may your coffers fill like rivers made of gold." The three bowed as they left, Harry and Remus repeating the goodbyes to the two Goblin's as they left. The three then returned to Madame Malkin's.

"Ah, excellent, I just finished all of your formal robes, the modifications on the original orders that you asked for have also been added Lord Black." Madame Malkin smiled at the three as she led them to the change rooms so as they could get into their formal robes. When the three emerged, Sirius looked at the other two, smiling at them as he saw the Black family crests on each of them.

"Ahh Sirius, could you explain?" Remus asked, motioning towards the crest on his robes. It had been a long time since Remus had been concerned with crests such as these, so he was unfortunately unable to remember what the positioning of his meant.

"Well, that form I had you sign in Gringotts? I made you an honorary Black, you don't need to take the name, but you are now legally considered a Black. As such, if something happens to me, you will be made Regent Black in order to oversee the affairs of my house and my Heir," Here Sirius pointed at the Black family crest resting on Harry's shoulder next to his Potter family crest, "As well as to execute my will." The slack jawed expression of Remus caused Sirius to let out a barking laugh that reminded Harry of the man's Animagus form.

"What, but, I can't accept that Sirius." Remus began.

"I won't hear it," Sirius cut Remus off before he could begin listing off more denials, "You Remus, are my last living brother in all but blood, if I fall I am looking after both Harry and you. Understood?" Sirius' forceful tone shocked Remus, but he nodded his acceptance as he realized why Sirius made him an honorary member of his house.

With the three saying goodbye to Madame Malkin as they left, they headed back to the Arrival Zone. Once there they Apparated away, once again Remus Side-Along Apparating Harry while Sirius Apparated himself.

A short chapter this time, clocking in at about 3200 words, but as the next chapter contains Pettigrews trial it will be quite large, and unfortunately, I have simply run out of time to post it. I haven't had much time to right this chapter, between having gone back home for Christmas and now having to get ready to switch apartments where I live, I've been quite busy.

Now, the ages of the characters that I said I would include:

Ezekial Bloodrune: July 23rd 1940. Making him 53 at the opening feast, remember, Neville was trying to remember how old the Professor was, he didn't know for sure when he said his age.

These three have had their ages changed, but not their physical appearance, this coming more into my 'Magicals age slower' thing:

Filius Flitwick: October 17th 1927

Minerva McGonagall: October 4th 1922

Albus Dumbledore: June 5th 1861

So yeah, that's when they were born for my fic.

And the timeskips have taken us all the way from the 2nd week of term to Halloween. Naturally, most of third year will pass without much really happening, as with the whole Sirius getting exonerated the main issue of Prisoner of Azkaban has already been neutralized, so not next chapter, the chapter after, will most likely be a wrap up of things that happen during the rest of this term, with a bit of proper story taking place around Christmas. This will most likely be followed by a finishing of the third year, in preparation of Goblet.

Anyway, until next time,

Lucison.