Disclaimer: JK Rowlings owns the sad box. I just brought my own shovel.
Chapter 10: Collision Course set
Liberty Hall Philadelphia Pennsylvania 3 hours later
Jacks shrunk his cycle and put it in his pocket then turned and walked into Liberty Hall. Once inside, he headed for a door that other visitors didn't seem to notice. As soon as he passed through the door, he was met by a robed, hooded wizard whose hood hid his face in shadows.
"Welcome to the the Philadelphia branch of the Hall of Mysteries. What brings you to our neck of the woods?" the wizard asked once Jacks closed the door.
"Argo requested my presence and authorized my access to the Interdepartmental portal." Jacks told him.
"Authorization, please?" the Unspeakable requested.
"Authorization BlackJack. Pass code 'Hell's a comin'." he supplied.
"Accepted, Lord Belarion. Please follow me." the Unspeakable led the way deeper into the department to a glowing arch and stepped back.
"Thanks." Jacks said as he walked into the portal.
"Safe journey." the Unspeakable replied just before Jacks walked through the portal and was transported away.
Argo was waiting by the portal as Jacks stepped out and walked forward with his hand out to his old friend.
"Hello, Argo. What's so important that you had to drag me in here?" Jacks asked as he shook hands with his old friend.
"I think we should retire my office." Argo said as he turned and led the way through the halls to his personal office.
"What's this about, old friend?" Jacks asked.
"Just wait, Jacks. I know this isn't going to be easy for you but you need to sit down. I received a letter from across the pond and this was included in it." Argo said as he handed him a sealed piece of parchment.
When he took it Jacks turned pale as he recognized the handwriting. Argo noticed this and pulled his hood back to expose his face. Sitting down behind his desk he retrieved two glasses and a bottle of scotch. Pouring two glasses he slid one across the desk to his old friend.
"Thanks, John. I really need this." Jacks said as he took a sip of the scotch, then stopped and swirled the liquid around in the glass.
"Are you going to read that?" John asked him.
"Give me a little bit, John. I can't face it just yet." Jacks said as he took another sip of his drink.
"What's got you so wound up, Jacks? This isn't like you." John said, concerned.
"Sorry, Argo. It's just that my past is something I wanted to leave behind." Jacks said as he looked at the letter again.
"So, I take it, you'll read that later." John said as he watched the pensive look on his friends face.
"No. I guess I'd better get this over with." Jacks said as he put the glass on John's desk and opened the letter.
While John watched his face Jacks read the letter and his face went from pain to anger to rage, finally settling on determination.
"John, I'm going to have to go home. I'll be packing everything and taking it with me." Jack said, his voice tight with rage.
"What's going on, Jacks. Talk to me here." John said.
"It's a long story, John. It goes back to the first war with Voldemort in England. But I really don't want to go into that. Just write it off as past history, John. I've got to go back."Jacks said, tiredly.
"Why you, Jacks? Why do you have to go back? You've done a lot of good work here." John said as he looked over at his old friend.
"Because it's something I have to do. It's a family obligation, old friend. One I can't ignore." Jacks explained then downed the last of his drink in one shot.
"Alright. What do I tell the team that usually runs back-up?"
"Jade's in charge. They don't need to know anything, John. This is something that is out of their jurisdiction and I want them to stay the hell out of it. Am I clear?" Jacks demanded.
"Crystal clear, old friend. I wish you the best of luck. Make sure that you get all of your toys. You might need them." John said and nodded at the door.
"Thanks for everything, Jacks. You're one of the best sub-contractors we've got." John said as he raised his hood while Jacks got up and turned to leave.
"See you, Argo." Jacks said as he walked out of the office and headed for the apparition point and took it home.
When Jacks got home, he used wandless magic to start packing everything and headed up to his bedroom where he opened the compartment behind his closet and retrieved his robes and his staff.
"Damn you, Cornelius. You're going to regret this." Jacks thought as he put on his robes and took his staff in hand.
When he returned to the living room everything was boxed and shrunken to manageable size.
"Shecky, Kami, I need you." he called and two house elves appeared in front of him.
"What can we do for you, Master Samuel?" the female, Kami asked.
"It's time to go home, Kami. Something has happened. Joseph and his wife are both dead. They were killed by Death Eaters." Samuel explained to them.
"What about Mistress Katherine, Master Samuel?" Shecky asked.
"From what I know, she's well. But she is alone and needs us. Take everything to the Manor. I'll see you there." he commanded.
"Yes, Master Samuel. We will see you there." the two elves said in unison and disappeared, taking everything with them.
Samuel set the wards on his home so no one could break in and apparated to the American Ministry to catch a portkey to England.
#12 Grimmauld Place
Kitchen
Sirius walked into the kitchen after settling Katie in with Harry and got a cup of coffee. Once he had it, he sat down at the kitchen table where he found Tonks drinking tea.
"Okay, Tonks. What is Miss Bell doing here?" Sirius asked as he looked her in the eyes.
"Madame Bones wanted her in protective custody until we could contact Lord Belarion at her father's last request." Tonks shared and Sirius jaw dropped as he heard this.
All of a sudden the answer to his prayers had been dropped in his lap and he leaped across the kitchen to hug his cousin.
"Thanks, Tonksy. You may have just helped two people and not one." he said as he let her go and headed for the door.
"What the hell are you talking about, mutt?" she said in confusion.
"Look, I can't tell you right now. But I promise that I'll let you know as soon as I can?" he promised as he ran out the door and headed up to Harry's room.
Harry's room
Harry was watching Katie as she slowly came out of her faint and sat up in the bed in panic.
"Where am I? I saw Sirius Black, the murderer." she was ranting as she looked around wild-eyed until she saw Harry. "Harry, what are you doing here? Did Sirius Black capture you too?"
"Easy, Katie. Slow down and take it easy. You're safe here, I promise." Harry said as he tried to get her to calm down.
"Harry, Sirius Black is a known killer. How can you be so calm?" she asked wildly.
"Katie, wait." Harry said as he took out his wand, "I swear on my life and my magic that Sirius Black is not a killer and he will not hurt you."
Harry was surrounded by a golden glow and then he performed a "Lumos" to prove his point.
"How can you say that?" she asked almost hysterical as she looked at him in shock.
"Because he is my god-father Katie. He didn't kill anybody and that's the truth. He was set-up when they arrested him. But I can tell you that Peter Pettigrew is alive and well. We've seen him and he was alive and well until he cut his arm off to give Voldemort a new body." Harry said, although his voice wasn't as strong as he wanted it to be.
"Wait, what? How do you know that?" Katie asked confused.
"Because Voldemort used my blood as part of a ritual to regain his body. Pettigrew killed Cedric just for being there." Harry explained as he lay back into his pillow.
"What are you doing here then?" Katie asked as she swung her legs over the side of the bed to get u and walk over to him. Then "You don't look so good, Harry." she said as she sat on the bed next to him.
"That's what happens when you try to die." he said as he lay back to rest.
"What do you mean try to die? Harry James Potter what the hell did you do?" she demanded, getting angry.
"Let it go, Katie. It's already been dealt with." he said as he looked at her.
"We aren't done talking about this, Harry. Where are your friends?" she demanded.
"I don't have any anymore. Except for you." he said.
"What are you talking about? What about the Weasleys and Granger?" she asked, confused.
"Katie, they betrayed me. When I needed them they turned their backs on me and listened to Dumbledore's orders to leave me on my own and not even write me letters." he said.
Katie was flabbergasted by what she was hearing. She couldn't believe that anybody would treat somebody who was supposed to be their friend that way. She also had a hard time believing that Dumbledore would treat anybody that way.
"What? Why?" she asked seriously upset by this.
"Perhaps you should ask Lord Belarion this when you see him." Sirius said from the doorway, causing her to whirl and face him.
"Easy, Katie. He's on our side." Harry said gently to keep her calm.
"How do you know about that? What do you know about Lord Belarion?" she asked in fear.
"Because I used to know Jack..uh, Lord Belarion in school. He used to run with my cousin before she went off the deep end." Sirius offered as an explanation.
"I don't understand. What are you talking about? How can you say that he used to run with your cousin." she asked, still confused by what she was hearing.
"Why don't we wait until we hear from Lord Belarion and let him tell you. I assume you asked Madame Bones to contact him?" Sirius asked.
"Yeah. My father gave me specific instructions about that." she admitted.
"I was sorry to hear about Joseph. He was a good man." Sirius said as he walked in and sat on the end of Harry's bed. "From what I understand you're on the House Quidditch team."
"Yes sir. I'm one of the Chasers. But Harry is the one to watch. He's a to-notch Seeker." she said as she looked at Harry.
"Sounds like you have a real case on my godson. Want to tell me about it?" he said as he watched her closely.
"Nothing to tell. Harry's my friend. Or at least I hope he is." she said as she looked back at Harry with a little half smile.
"You didn't turn your back on me during this last year. Maybe you didn't come right out and support me but I understand why you didn't. You were out-numbered and you didn't want to risk trying to stand u to a whole house. That makes you different from those so called friends of mine." he said as he looked her in the eyes.
"What does that make me?" she said s she looked at him, somewhat ashamed.
"Human. That's what. But there is a way you can help Harry now." Sirius told her.
"What is that?" she asked brow furrowed as she looked at Sirius.
"Take Remus Lupin with you to meet Lord Belarion and let Remus talk to him." Sirius said.
"Why? He's not going to cause him any trouble is he?" Katie asked.
"No. But Remus will be able to explain to Lord Belarion what happened and maybe that will be enough to help Harry get out from under Dumbledore's thumb." Sirius offered.
"Sirius. You know better. Before we go there, I still have to talk to Remus." Harry said in a warning tone.
"Okay. So why don't we we talk about something else." Sirius asked.
"Better yet, why don't you go get Remus and take Katie to get something to eat." Harry suggested.
"Sure thing, pup. Come along, Miss Bell. Let's get something to eat." Sirius offered and led the way out of the room.
A/N: This should be interesting. Now we have a glimpse of the mysterious Belarion. I hop you enjoynthis as much as I enjoy bringing it to you.