I'm back after a (way) too long break. But school has been horrible and I've been dividing my time among other interests as well. Also, I wrote this chapter, didn't like it and wrote it again, lost it and wrote it for the third time. So it's been a bit difficult to get this one out. But it is what it is now, and aalens has already beta'd it.

What else... Reviews have been absolutely amazing, as always.

farwalker: yes, Master is the medicine man I mentioned in the previous chapter

Rhionae: Thank you for noticing the mistake with the distance. I was mixing kilometres with miles and I've changed the schedule a bit now.

This chapter also has some little plans considering the horcruxes and the next one especially concentrates on those.

Now, let's get on with the story.


Disclaimer: I do not own Harry and no money is made with this.


OF SHADOW, SHINE AND SHADES by dra6on

Chapter 11. Up the Game

His Master had known how to drive in his original universe. In fact, he had been a magnificent driver.

Apparently that was a skill the man was to pick up in the next ten years because at the moment Caelum had to cast a levitation spell anchored to Harry and his seats to keep them from banging against the ceiling, windows and other seats as the Mind Arts Master went a little crazy with the gears. Caelum silently apologised to their car for the rough handling it was getting and thanked his luck when the ride lasted only ten minutes. Harry's legs wobbled beneath him as he shot out of the vehicle after it came to a sudden halt. Caelum followed at a more dignified pace and carefully blanked his face.

Before them stood a shabby house on the shore of a lake. He vaguely recognized the place from some of the talks he and his Master had shared but had never been here before. This was supposed to be the man's sanctuary, the place where no one else was welcomed.

Might be another difference between the universes.

"In, in. How's your conjured tea?"

"Mediocre," Caelum answer while making sure Harry was alright. He was clearly nervous and distrustful of the man but apparently trusted Caelum enough to go along with this at the moment. Then again when Caelum left him alone with the eccentric teacher... Better not think about that yet.

They followed the man inside the house. It was clear that expansion charms were in use as the outward appearance had definitely not prepared them to step into a luxurious suite complete with the latest muggle technology. Caelum huffed under his breath at the word "latest" his mind had supplied. More like ancient. Additionally a fourth of the room seemed to be dedicated to the man's practice. There were books piled on the floor, potions workstation and Caelum recognized some of the concentration enhancers he'd used.

When he'd stayed in a cave.

And ran under the blazing sun.

Without even a wish for luxuries.

...

"Alright, what's the delay? Tea, tea."

Turning to the table standing comfortably in the kitchen area, Caelum called for his holly wand and with a swish produced a beautiful china tea set for three. The wand was returned to the non-space before Caelum took a seat, Harry nervously following his example. Their host busied himself with pouring their tea.

"Now, as I understand it, you're both carrying some serious darkness within you. You especially." He pointed at Caelum. "Where or whenever I've taught you, for me to reveal that technique you must have been in a pretty serious situation. Not to mention dangerous. And it's affecting you even to this day because those shields hide even existence. Kind of like the Untouchables."

He tasted his tea and grimaced. "The boy again needs to start with the basics. And those start with isolating the dark entity attached to his soul from his psyche and magic. At the moment it's muddling his senses and I won't have it."

"I have a what?" Harry asked, his tea sitting before him untouched. Caelum felt uneasy with this approach. He was so young... Should he be told or not? And taking this approach would lead to him making the same mistakes Dumbledore had done with him... It was Harry's life and he had the right to make his own decisions and to know his own destiny. And his Master spoke as if confining the horcrux was somehow possible.

But what would be the effect on Harry if the boy found out about carrying a soul particle from the murderer of his parents? Especially now without the support of an occluded and organized mind? He'd seen older men go insane with the darkness of Voldemort and he would, could not risk his younger counterpart.

Caelum made his decision.

"There were some traces of darkness that attached to you that night your parents were murdered," Caelum explained in a roundabout way and the Master shot him a brief glance at the white lie. "You were hit with the Killing Curse and no one has survived it before. It is a Dark curse and I should have expected it to have some effect but..."

Harry had blanched at the explanation and shook his head so that black locks went flying around. "I... what has it done to me?"

"It can be suppressed so it doesn't affect you in any way," the Mind Arts Master replied solemnly. "It has not directed your thoughts but simply made it harder for you to express yourself and access your magic. If you allow me, I will create a prison for it until it can be removed." The man's eyes flickered to Caelum at that but the mage kept his gaze on Harry. He did not know how to extract it without killing Harry.

He didn't know...

The hole in his chest opened again, the feeling of letting down so many people, but he ignored it and kept his attention on Harry. He rose and stepping to the boy's side he gathered the unresisting form in his arms. He rubbed circles on the boy's back until Harry wrapped his arms tentatively around Caelum's neck and buried his face in the mage's shirt. The mage sat back down, Harry still in his arms and looked at the Mind Arts Master, fully acknowledging his responsibility for the lie. The man gave a tiny nod and Caelum felt the presence wash over him as the old man began his work.

It lasted hours and all the while Caelum held Harry who didn't move even though he must have felt the foreign presence invading his mind. Caelum was both amazed at the work his Master was performing and a little worried that he wasn't sensing it as well as he should have. He had passed most Mind Arts Masters in their profession but last year had been horrible for him in every aspect.

"Done."

The mage looked up to see the brown haired man slouched in his chair wiping sweat from his forehead. He raised an inquiring brow and lowered his shields for the silent answer his Master sent to his mind, "The Dark One was a Master as well. It is no easy work forcing a fighting soul piece into a prison when it has earlier had relatively free rein."

The mage nodded and turned to Harry. The boy's eyes were closed and would have seemed to be asleep if not for the unnatural stillness of his body and the short breaths hissing through his pursed lips.

"Harry, how're you feeling?"

They waited patiently for the answer and were rewarded after a few tense moments. The ten year old nodded against Caelum's shirt and the arms loosened their tight hold.

"It feels... different, I guess. I..." He paused to gather his thoughts. "I know that... Master is where he is without looking. But you're still not there. I mean, I'm not feeling you. Why's that?"

Letting the boy down from his lap Caelum ruffled his hair affectionately and smiled. "I have shields that keep me and my magic hidden. I only lower them when using magic and even then only slightly. It's because," he continued anticipating the next question, "I need to keep myself and my magic under control and I couldn't do that the normal way."

His Master nodded though the hunger for new knowledge never left his eyes. Caelum sighed inwardly at the signs of a future interrogation but knew Harry needed to be the first one to know. If he promised to tell them at the same time it could serve as an incentive for the Mind Arts Master to teach Harry to the best of his ability. He pushed these thoughts through his shields and immediately felt the attention of his Master caught. The man grimaced but nodded all the same.

Harry had stayed oblivious to their exchange and was looking around the room as if it was the first time he'd seen it. His green eyes were sparkling with interest and for a moment Caelum was glad he'd decided against revealing the truth. Harry deserved to have a few happy moments. And he would have to research the extraction of horcruxes so that he could deliver some good news when the time to confess finally was upon them.

"Ah, better get started," the now golden eyed man proclaimed and got up, turning to the boy. "We begin with... concentration."

The rest of Sunday and the beginning of the week passed with both Caelum and Harry taking part in the lessons, Caelum mostly reinforcing his shields and keeping an eye on his Master. Syl, who had been silently enjoying the heat of the desert, had finally showed his head and their teacher had been intrigued with their ability far beyond what Caelum was comfortable with. The older wizard could feel those eyes weighing and comparing his two guests and Caelum knew some of the similarities were glaringly obvious – even if he kept his tattoos and true eye colour hidden and the blood adoption to the Black family had changed his features slightly.

But Thursday marked another change in their weird existence. Today Caelum would be leaving Harry alone for the first time since the Nigellus incident, as he had come to refer it within the confines of his mind. And for the first time with someone he didn't entirely trust. But he had to go the Ministry and Harry needed to keep learning. The mage suspected the Master would deal with the harsher side of the boy's training while he was absent.

Caelum left the talk with Harry to Thursday morning, knowing he had more than enough time with the time difference to be at midday in England none the wiser about his little trip to Australia.

So, before his Master could steal Harry for another day spent in meditation he drew the boy aside and sat him on the table.

"I need to go back to England for a bit," Caelum started and Harry's attention was immediately entirely his. "Just for today to visit the Ministry and get my mail. I'll leave Syl here, as it is doubtful I can steal him away from the sunny spot." He glared at the reptile lazily twined around his own body on the window still where sun was directly shining.

"You're coming back today?"

Even though the general question was asked in a nonchalant way the undertone of the question was that of uncertainty and Caelum hid his smile at the attempted show of bravery. He reached out to ruffle Harry's hair and for the first time the boy actually leaned into his touch. Like a dog craving to be scratched.

Now that simile was wrong on so many levels.

"I'll be back sooner than you think. I think Master is going to work you hard today but try to bear it, okay? You can soon enter your mindscape and then begins the building of shields and melding your mind and magic together. When that's done, we'll have a nice and long talk."

Harry nodded, returning to his studies and Caelum, after taking one look around, whirled on the spot and Disapparated soundlessly.

At his immediate arrival at Grimmauld Kreacher popped next to him carrying a huge pile of envelopes and as soon as Caelum had relieved the ancient elf of his burden a white bolt of a hawk shot to his shoulder where sharp claws dug into his skin.

"Aah! I suppose you missed me?" the mage queried from Citala and she screeched her dissatisfaction. Hiding his winces at the pain the mage made his way to kitchen where the old clock informed him it was only half past midnight and he had- what was the word he'd heard Americans use? Half a... nychthemeron? – or something like that – before the Auror would make an appearance.

Taking a seat and getting a cup of tea before him he began the tedious task of going through the letters; Malfoy, Arcturus, Cassiopeia, Minister, some unknown, some Dark family...he sneered at the letters and pinned short but courteous answers. The last one was from Ollivander, informing him that his wand was finally ready and he could come and pick it up during open hours.

"Kreacher," the mage called and only a second passed before the ancient elf house popped next to him.

"Yes, Master?"

"I will be visiting Ollivander at ten in the morning and possibly the goblins of Gringotts as well. An Auror is to be escorting me to the Ministry today and he should arrive around midday. If I for some reason have not returned by that time, please treat the guest with respect even if he is a muggleborn. I cannot have you affecting the general opinion I am attempting to form."

"Kreature will do his best." The elf bowed and disappeared without further instruction. Caelum returned his attention to the letters from his relatives. Cassiopeia was almost openly threatening him and Malfoy... he couldn't understand the man's motives. There was a trace of well hidden respect but he knew with men like Malfoy one had to stay on one's toes at all times. And he couldn't forget the torture the man had put him under in his own universe. It was a miracle he hadn't killed the blond already but one wrong move and he might just snap, his instincts taking over. And he had to lay low.

At least until Harry was in Hogwarts. Eight months. And then his ward would be under Dumbledore's control and Caelum doubted his ability to influence the boy enough in this short time for him to stymie Dumbledore's efforts to gain the boy's trust.

Though Harry will always remember their first meeting when the old codger threatened his saviour. But is it enough?

The power to shape Harry into anything was in his hands and he would be tempted again and again. It would be so easy to turn the kid into a perfect soldier who would fit right into Caelum's non-existent plans but he couldn't do it. He wanted Harry to see the truth and make his own decisions. That he hoped the boy would oppose both Dumbledore and Voldemort – well, it was just that. Hope. It might be that Harry would decide to see Dumbledore as the lesser of two evils. Or maybe even come to see the old man as his leader.

It was too early to ponder on these questions. If Caelum managed to destroy the horcruxes there wouldn't even be a war. Harry's horcrux... It was the greatest problem and out of the range of his capability at the moment. But he would hope and he would persevere. And he would make sure also Harry survived.

oooOOOooo

At ten past ten the mage once again stepped into Ollivander's old shop, the bell announcing him. There was no one in sight but his sensitivity had increased from the meditation of the past few days and he could feel the old man in the back room. Only three seconds passed before the shop owner made his appearance.

"Ah, Mister Black. You've come."

A way to state the obvious, Caelum sneered but showed none of his emotions on the outside. "I received your letter. May I see the end product?"

The man seemed to bristle at his choice of words and Caelum hid his smirk. Elves and their pride. Ollivander snapped his fingers and a black case appeared in his hands. Slowly, almost reverently, the man pulled out the wand inside it. "Dragon heartstring from a exceedingly vicious Vipertooth I encountered in my youth and maple of an over three hundred years old tree. Twelve and a half inches. May it serve you well."

The mage grasped the proffered handle and felt familiar recognition settle within him. They matched – but then again with Ollivander's expertise it would have been a miracle if they hadn't. He whirled the wand experimentally in his fingers producing green and black sparks and smiled. Perhaps he could now stop using his wandless magic publicly and let his possible enemies forget the power he possessed. So far he had simply showed his ability to move things wandlessly and small illusions. He had not cast any real spells – except for silencing Cassiopeia and that could be interpreted as compulsion through family magic that he was capable of as the Head of the family.

"Thank you. It is a good match." He pulled out twenty galleons. "I hope this covers all of the cost."

"Quite, quite. If you do not mind my curiosity-" I do, Caelum thought, "I would welcome any knowledge of the unknown channeler I mentioned earlier. After reading the results from measuring you, it certainly has my interest piqued.

Caelum felt his eyes harden and from the flinch knew the wand maker had noticed as well. "I am afraid I cannot help you. And it would be wise not to spread rumours as something might happen.

"Have a good day, Ollivander."

He left the shop with his new wand in a pocket already sewn in his robes and headed for Gringotts. The bank was bustling with customers and Caelum noticed some kids waiting in line. So the Christmas holidays still weren't over. He passed the people and the tellers and walked right up to one of the guards.

"Will you please tell Gobteeth that Mr Black would like to meet him."

The goblin looked him up and down but Caelum could see the recognition in his eyes. He nodded briskly and abandoned his post after sharing a telling look with the other guard. In the end it only took a mere ten minutes for Caelum to be seated in Gobteeth's office and facing the displeased face of his account manager.

"What is it?"

The mage smiled. "I wanted to inquire about the state of my brother's affairs. Has there been any progress?"

"You only informed me of the situation a little over a week ago and it's been Christmas. Stupid humans and their stupid holidays. What meaning does Christmas have for wizards, I ask." The goblin seemed to be mumbling to himself but Caelum had to agree. There was power in the old holidays – he himself had used the power of Winter Solstice in his spell that ended with him here – and to worship something muggle was very unnatural for pureblooded wizards and yet everyone still celebrated Christmas.

"Alright, I have inquired about the case from the Ministry but received very strong suggestions to leave the case alone. When I mentioned the lack of trial, they actually sent a representative from the Department of Magical Enforcement that told me that the case was closed and in turn attempted to inquire about my client. Your name was of course kept out of the discussion." Caelum nodded his appreciation.

"So far I haven't even managed to confirm the lack of trial which in itself suggests there is something they want to cover up. You might actually be onto something with your paranoid claims." Caelum ignored the jab. "I will continue to look into this but I think it will be extremely difficult to get any results. You could attempt to have a meeting arranged but if they have slightest suspicion about your intentions it is not going to happen. Also without any contacts to the Ministry, it is practically impossible."

"Then it is good that I have a meeting scheduled in the DMLE today." He knew he couldn't bring up the matter today but one had to start somewhere. He did not even know who he would be meeting.

"Also, on the matter of your account, I have invested in the Bolt company as you suggested and liquidated you shares in companies that have not produced any significant profit in the past decade and that are not expected to do so in the future. I thought it necessary in the event of your gamble with the brooms misfiring."

"Such confidence you have in me," Caelum sighed and Gobteeth glared. "Fine, have it your way. If I recall correctly, you get ten percent of all the winnings I make so please, keep up the good work."

Gobteeth bared his teeth and it wasn't a goblin smile but a threat and Caelum's neck prickled. He levelled a serious look on the goblin and the smaller one relented. "You seem to have little interest in the fortune."

"I already have money," Caelum shrugged. "And if I ever need more, well, there are ways to obtain it even without the trouble of maintaining one's fortune. Not that I don't appreciate your efforts. I'm simply more interested in the objects I inherited than in the money."

Gobteeth gave him the already familiar look that questioned his sanity but the mage ignored it. He slid a parchment across the table. "I put up a list of places I'd like to invest in. Please, simply go with it. I have my reasons."

The goblin glared at him.

Caelum smirked and got to his feet before hesitating and slowly lowering his body back into the chair. He pulled out his newly purchased wand and cast a questioning glance at the goblin. "Do you mind if I cast my own privacy wards? It is not to insult you," he hastened to explain when murderous glint entered the black eyes of his account manager. "I trust the goblins to keep their secrets. But... –I wish to discuss the matter of my blood that occurred last week. –"

Gobteeth sneered but nodded and Caelum let the wand curve over them in a large arc. A blue mist enveloped them for a few second before vanishing from sight but they could both feel the blanket of silence that was covering them and the mage had to smile at the wand. It worked better than he'd hoped for, even if he'd been ridiculously careful with the amount of power.

"This concerns young Mister Potter?"

He wasn't certain but Caelum almost could detect a hint of genuine curiosity behind the question. Were the goblins thankful about the vanquishing of Voldemort as well here? Was it because he'd earned their trust that he'd been helped so much in the adoption and the fake name? It was only speculation but he wondered if there was a grain of truth in this line of thinking...

"Yes," he answered. "There was an incident involving Phineas Nigellus Black's portrait. I used the Reficio Spell but it is possible he noticed something amiss and reported it to Dumbledore. After my duelling him, he will most certainly find me suspicious as I turned up at the same time Harry disappeared."

"You duelled Albus Dumbledore? Countered Hogwarts' magic?" Gobteeth blurted out but quickly scowled at the triumphant look on Caelum's face. "Never mind. You want us to direct his attention elsewhere?" Now the goblin sounded condescending.

"He will certainly check the fake name you created for the adoption and shortly figure out the origin. I understand the issue was handled with absolute secrecy, only yourself and the prince know, correct?"

"And Griphammer, but he is trustworthy." Gobteeth scribbled on a parchment and deposited it in the box on his table. "I will make sure your status isn't compromised. Where is Mister Potter at the moment?"

"Why?" The mage's suspicious nature was immediately acting up at such a blunt question.

"He has an account with us; the money his parents left him. The Potters were quite wealthy in the early 1900s but the wars ate a lot of their wealth as they were involved in both. You are his guardian by the Agreement by Blood and are entitled to receive his statements if you wish so. Though it would be difficult to explain to Gorgek as to why you are entitled to them without going into detail."

"Harry can do whatever he wants with his money once he turns eleven and returns to the public's eye." Caelum sighed. "It is his, and I have no intention of claiming it. Will he inherit any seats?"

"In the Wizengamot, yes, but that is all. The Potters lost their influence with their money and even the manor was destroyed when Annabel and Christopher Potter were attacked and killed. It burned to the ground."

"He's lost a lot of his family inheritance..." Caelum trailed off. Another difference then. He fingered the money pouch on his belt and was not for the first time, grateful for the magnificent inheritance he himself had been left. Money, magical artefacts and a library, and the manor where he'd founded a magical orphanage. Nothing like that awaited Harry in the future.

"There might be something in Godrig's Hollow. Something that will only open to the true Heir of the family," Gobteeth suggested. "It has been raided by many hunters and I'm afraid a lot of unattached things have vanished with time. The Ministry wards on protected property are only so-so." The goblin sneered.

"He's not ready. Maybe later..." Caelum shook his head and stood up, dispelling the privacy ward. "Thank you, Gobteeth. May your gold continue to flow.

"Now I have an Auror to entertain."

It turned out that he beat the escort to the Black London house but only by five minutes. Kreacher did not talk, as he'd been ordered, when the figure in standard black robes arrived through the floo but the mage could see the nervous glances the young Auror kept shooting his surroundings and the silent but glaring elf.

"Mr Black, I'm here to-"

"Escort me to the Ministry. Yes, I am all ready. Shall we take the floo or Apparate?"

The floo it was and Caelum actually had to subject himself to the wand checking procedure, which, thanks to his earlier visit to Ollivander's, was not a problem. The young Auror, who actually was about his age, guided him to the elevators and they took one to level two. Caelum was gratified to notice that not much had changed from his memories, but then again the British Ministry of Magic had never really suffered in the wars. People had fought over the control of the Ministry but even Apophis had left the actual building alone – for the most part.

"The Head Auror is questioning you personally." Probably because of the Dark status of his family. "Please wait here,"

The idiot actually left him alone in the Head Auror's office. What the fuck? Caelum looked at the piles of papers on the desk and stifled his first instinct to go through them. There was a cabinet on one wall and it was probably filled with some pretty sensible information. What the... Did the world have to be at war for wizards to understand the value of common sense?

The mage would have had plenty of time to go through anything in the office in the time it took for Rufus Scrimgeour to arrive in his office. The Head Auror looked younger but already wore the wire-rimmed glasses Caelum had seen on him in his own universe. But instead of completely yellow eyes his eyes were only yellowish and their gaze attempted to pierce the wizard before him.

The mage bowed his head with respect and ignored the disdainful air around the Head Auror as he took the seat behind the desk without even offering to shake hands. "Mr Black. The Ministry is grateful for your cooperation. The matter is of course that of your illegal entry to our country."

Scrimgeour looked like he would have wanted to accuse him of something much worse. And all because of the name, Caelum thought wryly. Had I appeared before him as a Potter, we would have already been through with this. Come to think of it, he didn't even introduce himself.

"I used muggle transport. Airplane. I believe your Ministry does not monitor those."

"The wards on the country should have picked up on your arrival."

"Oh, really." Caelum smiled charmingly. "I understand that is not my problem in any way. If the country's wards are defective, it is hardly my fault. I understand the Minister has been cutting your budget. Maintaining those wards must take a lot of money if..." The Auror's jaw twitched. If they even existed. Portkey, Apparition, sure, those were understandable but you could not cast a ward that would detect a wizard without that wizard first doing magic. And that was mostly used for detecting underage offenders.

"It must be hard on you to suddenly leave Australia and take up the Head position of the Black family."

Small talk? From Scrimgeour?

"Not really. I've already had enough excitement in my life." Caelum smirked. "Getting involved in politics will be nice for a change."

The Head Auror's expression darkened even more. Apparently the idea of yet another wizard with a Dark background influencing the Wizengamot did not appeal to the Dark wizard hunter. Too bad there was nothing he could do about it.

"If this was all..." He let the sentence trail off.

"Yes, thank you for your cooperation."

It was an obvious dismissal and Caelum resisted the urge to throw something back. He'd never liked Scrimgeour in his old universe, never liked the way the man handled things. In his mind Light had to rule and that was the only way about it. He could not understand the existence of a balance of which Caelum knew he was an example . Light and Dark together, and Dark used – mostly – for protection, not destruction.

The mage hid his personal opinion by bowing his head once again and silently left the office. There was no Auror waiting to escort him away and he welcomed the chance to do some digging around the Ministry. He wanted to take a look at the Ministry Archives but knew it was unlikely without actually breaking in. And it would not be good for his future if by some off chance he got caught in the act.

Quickly reviewing the levels in his head he headed to the elevators once more. The Archives were on level ten, along with the courtrooms, or at least he supposed they were with the building being the same. He was the Black Head so naturally he would have a seat in the Wizengamot. When was the next session? He would have to ask. Actually, he might as well look for someone to explain things for him as he couldn't trust his previous knowledge.

Wizengamot Administration Services were located on level two.

He took a look around and sure, right next to the door leading to the Misuse of Muggle Artifacts Office was a door with a sign that read Wizengamot Administration Services. Maybe someone there could actually set him up for any important meetings.

Whereas the Auror Department was filled with desks, divided into different groups based on positions, the Wizengamot Administrations Services only had four desks and one door leading to a separate office. The mage immediately garnered the attention of everyone in the room and as all were women, he could see the immediate effect.

"Hello, sir. How may I help you?"

He smiled charmingly. The witch was about his age, blond and small, but he couldn't help but be amused, as he always was when people attempted to hit on him.

"I am Caelum Black, the Head of the House of Black . I would like to be informed of the meeting times of the Wizengamot, as well as be supplied with someone who can introduce the Ministry to me."

Four widening pairs of eyes greeted him. So his reputation had preceded him. Or at least that of his name. Instead of being famous he appeared to be infamous in this world. Well, he'd face the consequences of his choices.

"Ah, Helena can help you there." The blond pointed at the second blond witch who looked as if she was right out of Hogwarts. But any doubt Caelum might have had about choosing her vanished when he let his mind brush against hers and encountered a buzzing activity that appeared to analyze everything in sight. He smiled slightly and the young witch blushed prettily.

"Great! Ms Helena; do you mind giving me an overview of the Wizangamot and the general functions of the Departments? I read a volume on law and am familiar with it but the everyday information I have not been able to find as of yet."

"Umh..." She was speechless for a moment, only capable of staring at him in disbelief over her thick frames. "I... Sure, Mr Black. If you don't mind taking a seat."

He was guided to sit in the chair opposite of her desk and she sat down on her own seat, clearing the scattered parchments on her desk into a neat pile.

"Shall I start at the beginning then? Wizengamot is the highest juridical organ of the Wizarding government of Britain. It is the court that judges offenders and convenes once every two weeks for routine meetings where the issue of laws is discussed. As the Head of the House of Black you have a seat among the members, as do all of the oldest and most influential wizarding families. There-"

"Is it possible for a muggleborn to gain a seat in the Wizengamot?" Caelum intervened. It hadn't been in his world and, if the vehement shaking of her head was anything to go by, it wasn't here either.

"No, one has to have at the least the status of a half-blood to sit in the Wizengamot. The number of members is always around fifty and new members are voted to their seats by the old members – unless it is a case such as yours. And as I was saying, a rotation of members is called in every Tuesday and Thursday for routine sessions to judge minor offenders. Not every crime committed in the Wizarding world will be judged by the full court, only the high profile cases and the gravest crimes. You following?"

The witch blushed when she realized the very informal way she was addressing a Head of an old family but she seemed to have been completely focused on her explanation.

Caelum waved her worry away. "You are a good teacher. Did you consider that profession?"

Now he was rewarded with a surprised blink. "Not really... Anyway, all of the cases go through us, the Wizengamot Administration Services, and we are also responsible for the records of all trials. The next full session is on the fourteenth and they will be discussing..." Caelum let her voice fall to the background as his mind took a different route. This place was what was keeping them from getting Sirius' files? He cast a quick glance and wondered if some seduction was in order... But was he ready for that?

His immediate answer was: Hell no.

"-creatures. That's about what I can tell you about the Wizengamot. You were interested in the Departments?"

With a nod of permission the witch launched into a detailed description of all the governmental affairs going on in the ten levels of the Ministry. She was surprisingly well informed but not much was new to Caelum. It seemed that most differences between the worlds had originated from the past few decades. He could do this. He could survive and save this world. For himself and Harry.

When the witch finally finished, Caelum thanked her profoundly and apologised for taking so much of her time but being the Head of an old family had its perks and it seemed these women were always required to do something for the Wizengamot members. Good to know for the future, especially when he decided what to do with the Sirius situation.

At the moment he however had been reminded of his second seat on the Board of Hogwarts' Governors. Lucius Malfoy was one, and he should write and inquire about the responsibilities and meetings. The Defence Against the Dark Arts post could not be left in the hands of Quirrell... And he needed to check on the horcruxes, and destroy them.

The closest one was the locket in the cave but he really didn't want to face thousands of inferi at the moment. It would leave a Dark stain on him that would last for weeks. The cup...? It would be easy to get. The charms were complex but having gone through them once already and with his Staff he could manage easily.

And now he got the feeling he'd forgotten something important... Ah, his Master had wanted British potions ingredients. Which meant the Apothecary in the Alley. He squished the sorrow spreading in his heart and briskly made his way to the elevator. One floo trip later he was in the Leaky Cauldron and the sorrow had turned into his instincts warning against this very strongly.

The mage stood indecisive until he realised the attention he was garnering and swished through the pub before Tom could try to talk to him. Well, at least he could go to the Alley before making the final decision. But as the tiles revealed the Alley and he stepped inside, the mage was frozen at the sight of a familiar figure just stepping out of the very shop he was supposed to be visiting.

His breath hitched in his throat and behind his shields his magic soared higher with recognition. The Potions Master was arranging something in the bag he was carrying and Caelum had a perfect view of his profile. His nose was crooked here as well, the mage noticed with distant amusement. The urge to run was so strong. He already took one step closer, the familiar name on his lips, ready to smother the love of his life with kisses and apologies when the man seemed to sense something and looked abruptly up, meeting him eye to eye.

A shudder passed through Caelum's body. He never wanted to see that look again in his life. Never from the one he cherished above all else... No!

Severus Snape Disapparated away and Caelum Black slumped against the wall of the cauldron shop.

So close...


A/N: A glimpse of Severus, and I'm sorry for the angst. The pace of this fic is going to quicken soon, so he will be making another appearance in a couple chapters :)