AN: In no way am I connected to Harry Potter

The fireplace crackled.

"You sure you got everything?"

Harry patted his pocket. The shrunken trunk was still there. "Yes." He had never really unpacked.

"Good." Sirius fell quiet for a moment. "If you need anything, I'm a mirror call away, alright?"

"Alright."

…

H-How do I say goodbye to Sirius? Can't he turn into Padfoot to make it easier?

"Enjoy yourself, Harry."

"Yeah. I will. You too. Be careful around Dumbledore."

Sirius chuckled. "Don't worry about me. I'll see you at Easter."

They hugged. Harry wasn't sure who moved first. It didn't matter. Sirius patted his shoulders as he stepped back.

"Take care Harry."

With a smile, Harry threw the floo powder down. "The Burrow."

Harry again stumbled out of the fireplace. He grumbled silently.

One day, I will figure out how to floo properly.

At least he hadn't face-planted. Remain standing two times out of three was not too bad of a record.

He was engulfed in a second.

"Harry!"

Harry squirmed a little so he could breathe. "Hello, Mrs Weasley."

She pushed him back a little and surveyed him with a critical eye, even more than before. "Good to see you, Harry. The boys are outside on their brooms. There's a spare one in the shed for you. Lunch will be ready in two hours. Let me have your trunk and I'll drop it in Ron's room."

"Thanks, Mrs Weasley." He would never turn down a game of Quidditch. He pulled his trunk out of his pocket, dropped it onto the nearby table and fled outside.

The first thing Harry noticed in the shed was a very familiar set of bars. That made Harry stop. He had a better look around. He recognised things like a spanner that would be found in a tool box. There was a radio, but that could be magical. Sirius did say magicals had a version, though he wasn't sure whether magical and muggle was first.

Shaking himself, Harry located the broom. A Cleansweep and it was in pretty good condition considering how old it must be.

Harry remembered the area they had marked out for their Quidditch practice. Fred, George, Ron and Ginny were already in the sky. They were tossing a Quaffle between them, with others trying to intercept it mid-air.

"Hurry up Harry!" Ron called as he spun his broom around to chase Ginny.

Ginny's pretty good. She'll be on the team soon.

Even in the air though, there was a nagging worry.

It'll be fine. He'll be fine.

What was the worst that could-

Harry didn't finish that thought.

Sirius had put this off as long as he dared.

However, when the man finally sent him a letter via phoenix about Harry's living arrangements, Sirius knew he had to meet with Dumbledore.

He flat out refused to meet with the Headmaster, Supreme Mugwump and Chief Warlock in Hogwarts. He didn't trust him anymore. Not with Harry and that was the main topic.

Sirius had been blunt and told him to meet him in one of the rooms in the Three Broomsticks. He had brushed up on his anti-eavesdrop spells. Dumbledore had replied with a disappointed 'this is hardly necessary but if it makes you feel better' in more polite words.

Sirius hadn't replied to that one.

He had arrived twenty minutes earlier than their agreed time under a Disillusion Charm. The first thing he did was check there was no charms already in the room. A wave of his wand and he was satisfied. He took a seat and waited.

There is no way this is going to go well but until we have this talk, we won't move on. I just need to remember that this is a discussion, not an argument. In a straight up fight, I would lose.

Sirius took a breath.

When it came to Dumbledore, Sirius had a very long list of issues with him and that was on Sirius alone. Harry had gone through even worse in Sirius' opinion.

Yes, I'm doing a good job of not getting angry at Dumbledore.

Sirius sighed.

It must have been ten minutes, but it only felt like one when Dumbledore arrived.

"Ah, Sirius. Good to see you."

"Pleasure." Sirius didn't get up. He waved his wand to put up the final anti-eavesdropping spells. This was not a conversation he wanted people to overhear. He had practiced carefully; nothing bigger than an ant was going near them.

Dumbledore frowned as he sat down. "Do you honestly believe that necessary Sirius?"

"Given that Harry has an entire franchise that he is not profiting from or even knew about until recently: yes. I don't want our talk plastered over the Prophet." He gave Dumbledore a glare for that. "And it will be quite the talk."

"Indeed." Dumbledore took the seat opposite. "I hope I can help you work through your anger."

Sirius continued as if he hadn't spoken. "I have also written down my schedule for the today so if any of my memories don't add up later, I won't be happy."

"Have I earned that much distrust Sirius?"

"You've earned far more." Sirius kept a cold lid on his anger. Anger had lost him so much before. He would not make the same mistake again. "But I will say that particular worry comes more from your most recent DADA professor. Where is he now, anyway?"

"St Mungo's," was the prompt reply. "I do not believe he will be leaving soon."

Good. "You hired him."

"You remember the difficulty in acquiring Defence Against the Dark Arts professors, Sirius. He was the only applicant."

"Was Voldemort the only applicant the year before?"

That might have been a scowl there. "I am not all-knowing. I had no idea."

"You brought the Philosopher's Stone to Hogwarts the same year Harry started, Dumbledore. You're going have to do better than that." Harry had seen it as a (mostly fun) adventure. Sirius hadn't been amused.

James and Lily had not died so Harry could face Voldemort when he was eleven.

Eleven.

And hadn't it been convenient that help had only arrived when Harry was magically exhausted and on Death's door.

No, Sirius wasn't going to be forgiving Dumbledore for that any time soon. After all, there were many other options available to him. Such as the option of going to the Ministry by phoenix, floo or Apparation.

Let it go for now Sirius.

Dumbledore considered a moment before replying. "My friend Nicholas had asked me to safeguard the Stone. Hogwarts was the safest place."

"And what of the students? A stone that gives eternal life and fortune? Never mind Voldemort; anyone would kill for that. You put the whole school at risk."

"The students were safe."

"Troll."

Dumbledore sighed. "I must say I missed an avenue in that regard-"

"And correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't the Slytherin Common Room in the dungeons?" It hadn't taken long for the Marauders to figure that out.

"I honestly believed the troll to be near the third floor. That was where the stone was hidden."

"So you were suspicious of Quirrell from the very beginning?"

"His behaviour was…abnormal and he was a new professor. I kept a closer eye on him that I normally would."

Sirius thought. Did he want to continue to discuss Quirrell now or should he move on and revisit the topic if need be? Dumbledore had sidestepped the question and Sirius thought that in itself answered the question. Could Voldemort have really avoided detection from Dumbledore for over a year, especially when he had practically invited trouble into the castle?

However, Sirius had little to learn by continuing that topic directly.

"Now that I have answered your questions, I would like to discuss Harry's living arrangements."

Sirius gave him an incredulous look. "Answered my questions? Dumbledore, we've hardly started with my questions. But I will go with this one next: why should I keep Harry in a school that has been proven to be a death trap?"

Rather than be worried, Dumbledore just let out a long sigh. "We have been over this Sirius. Hogwarts is the safest place for Harry during school hours and the Dursleys are the safest place for him outside it."

"Safe. Let's look at first year, shall we? Nearly eaten by a Cerberus when exploring, nearly killed by a troll, nearly thrown off his broom to his death, the Mirror of Erised that should have never been near kids, the Forbidden Forest after curfew, Voldemort in said Forest feeding off unicorns and I'll put the whole gauntlet in together save for the facing of Voldemort at the end of it."

It was even worse saying it all aloud.

Sirius folded his arms and waited with a blank face.

Dumbledore frowned. "You are oversimplifying the situation and overstating the dangers."

"If anything Dumbledore, I'm understating them. Even if I wasn't, that is quite a list on its own. Let's go through Hogwarts and then we'll have a discussion over whether Harry returns."

"Then I shall address the points in order. I gave a warning that there was a deadly animal on the third floor-"

"Your warning was 'out of bounds to all that do not wish to suffer a most painful death'. I don't think James and I would have even unpacked before we went and had a look. From the sound of it, a lot of students had a look. Harry was one of the few who didn't go looking and accidentally stumbled across it. Even worse, an Unlocking Charm? Really?"

"Hagrid was the one responsible for Fluffy. He needed to gain access. I do not believe the students knew anything of it. Not everyone is like you and James."

Sirius didn't buy that for a second. "Not even the Weasley twins? I am very doubtful that kids have changed that much since I was one."

"I am satisfied no one was harmed." Dumbledore looked like he really believed that. "Onto your next point. I ordered the students to their Common Rooms and personally believed the troll was on the third floor. The troll would have struggled on the Grand Staircase, so the students would have been safe on their way to the Common Rooms. Harry chose to leave the group and go looking for it."

That wasn't exactly right and did Dumbledore seriously just blame Harry for this? "No, he chose to go warn Hermione. That is not the same thing. How did the troll even get in the school to begin with? Voldemort couldn't have gone looking for it, transported it to Hogwarts and let it in during the time Quirrell was gone." That plot took some planning and someone should have noticed.

"The broom I knew nothing of and I attended all the following matches to ensure it wouldn't happen again."

Sirius wasn't going to argue that one, save for the Snape as referee thing and that wasn't important at the moment. Dumbledore hadn't responded to his following comment on the troll. That didn't make sense. Dumbledore had nothing to gain by the troll being in the castle and a lot to lose. Was it that simple? Dumbledore didn't know anything about it until it happened?

It might be. Alone, I would believe it. But not with everything else. Maybe he really did have nothing to do with that.

"The Mirror was always to be the final obstacle. However, I only obtained it during the Christmas holidays and I never found the time to move it before Harry found it."

Sirius swallowed. This was a topic he had to talk about, but it was the one topic he didn't want to talk about. "Really? Because you seemed to know Harry had visited more than once. Then you planted the idea in his head he was going to see it again."

"I moved it three days later. I wasn't sure if he would return."

That could be true, but Sirius doubted it. He opened his mouth to argue the point, demand elaboration but he stopped. He relaxed once more. Better to make that point during the end of year summing-up.

"Forbidden Forest?"

Dumbledore almost seemed to perk up. Bastard. "Ah, that had nothing to do with me. As I understand it, Minerva set the detention but Hagrid convinced her to pass it on to him."

McGonagall had said the same thing but she had said Dumbledore said there was no danger. "Yet it went through her and also through you. I know Hagrid; he would have asked you about overseeing their detention before asking McGonagall. I have brought this up with her and she said you reassured her there was no danger."

"They were with Hagrid. There was no danger."

"Hagrid split them up."

"That I did not know about."

Sirius wanted to yell at him. He swallowed and took a deep breath. Clearly Dumbledore was going to use Hagrid as a scapegoat for that meeting of Voldemort and Harry. He was probably going to do the same with the acromantulas. Sirius grudgingly admitted the latter was correct.

However, this time definitely wasn't.

Yet there was no way Dumbledore could have predicted Hagrid would split them up. The first time, Harry had stayed with Hagrid and Neville had been alone with Draco…

How much does Regent Longbottom know about this?

He had been quiet a little too long to continue this argument. Hagrid had been at Hogwarts so long, he almost did count as staff. In all the ways that mattered, he was.

"A centaur saved him."

"There are many allies in the trees as well as Voldemort." Dumbledore was proud of that.

"The other centaurs weren't happy about it." That fact sent a chill down his spine. It was one thing to be neutral, but the way Harry described it, the centaurs had been almost angry. Angry centaurs were never a good thing.

Dumbledore entwined his fingers as he leaned back in his chair. "Centaurs are…fascinating beings. We know so little about them. I cannot hazard a guess as to why they would behave like that. They normally aid students that are lost in the Forest. Perhaps they had their reasons for not wanting to help, but they did."

Sirius was sure they had a good reason.

They seemed to have drifted off topic a little.

"So you claim ignorance on Voldemort nearly killing Harry in the Forest?"

"A poor way to phrase it, but perhaps I should not have allowed Hagrid-"

"Now here's the rub. You went to the Ministry in the morning. Why the bloody hell did it take so long for you to get back? Why were First Years able to get past a series of obstacles for stopping a Dark Lord?"

Again, Dumbledore considered his answer. That boiled Sirius' blood. "I suspect a Compulsion Charm-"

"Dumbledore. Shut up and listen." The growl made the old man sit up a little. "Lily was fond of some muggle sayings. One popped into my head when I heard about Harry's years here. 'Once is an incident, twice is a coincidence and three is a pattern'. I don't remember the exact words she used, but that was the essence of it. One life-threatening experience: fine. Two…Voldemort is there so I suppose. But all that? Either you are very incompetent or you were far more involved in Harry's adventures than you showed. Which is it?"

Dumbledore didn't respond. Not even in body language.

"I'll tell you what I think. I think it's the second one. 'You did do this thing properly'. I want the truth Dumbledore. Let's be on the same ground before tackling second year or the Dursleys."

One.

Two.

Three.

Four.

Dumbledore sighed. "I…suspected Voldemort had not died that Halloween. The Flamels did ask me to safeguard their stone and they placed it in a vault in Gringotts for someone to pick up. I thought it coincided nicely when Harry would visit Diagon Alley. I asked Hagrid to pick it up-"

"Why Hagrid?" Sirius asked. It was a point that had bothered him for a while. That Dumbledore had skipped over 13 years ago to Harry's introduction did relief him a little. "Shouldn't you have sent someone more familiar with muggleborn children to collect Harry?"

"Hagrid offered and I thought Petunia had told Harry of the magical world."

Sirius raised an eyebrow, disbelief rising. "Despite the amount of letters you had to send?"

And there was something more to that because Harry went suspiciously vague around that part. Why did he want to know if the letters are automatically written or not? He remembered so many key quotes perfectly…

Perhaps it was best Sirius didn't know. He had just gotten his freedom. He wasn't going back to Azkaban because of the Dursleys. Harry would…

"No one keeps track of them." Dumbledore gave a little smile. "There were no issues that Hagrid couldn't handle."

"Except tell Harry anything about the magical world or even how to get on the platform. Snape probably would have been better." Maybe if Snape had a better idea of Harry as Harry and not as a clone of James, he would have been more tolerable.

Can't believe I just said that.

But then, he knew Petunia before Lily even left for Hogwarts. He must have known she wouldn't treat Harry right, so there was no way he thought Harry was a spoiled jerk. Or he knew but didn't care.

Definitely the latter.

Sirius wished he had never said that. But it was too late.

"Severus was not available to collect Harry. The only other staff member was Professor Trelawney and I decided against that."

Trelawney? From Harry's letters about Ron's time in Divination, it was better Hagrid than Trelawney.

Bet Snivellus made himself unavailable on purpose. Probably for the best.

Deep breath.

Back on topic.

"Okay. But Hagrid didn't tell him about the culture or the government. Harry has an important place when he is older."

"Admittedly, that would not occur to Hagrid and I didn't think it important enough to mention to Harry when he was younger. A new culture is very difficult to grow accustomed to and I wished to simplify it for Harry."

Sirius could sort of see that. Lily didn't learn about Lord Potter until after she was dating James. "When did you plan to tell him?"

"After his OWLs. He would have a more…concrete understanding of our world then and he already sees it as his home. I did not wish to complicate things."

"And the fact that he sees Hogwarts as his home more than the Dursleys didn't tell you something was wrong?"

There was a brief hesitance there. Faster than light but Sirius still caught it.

"I had no reason to believe-"

"You knew."

Dumbledore knew.

Dumbledore knew Harry had been abused there. Physically; mentally; emotionally…

And he kept sending him back!

"I did not know-"

"We're done here." Sirius stood up.

"Let us not be hasty Sirius-"

"Shut up!" Sirius took a deep breath. He refused to look at the man. "You knew Harry was abused there or you very strongly suspected it. You did nothing! You put him there and kept sending him back. You want to send him back now! No Dumbledore. We'll continue another time. Right now, I'm starting to think that surviving Voldemort was the easy part of Harry's life. You are the true villain now. We'll talk again before the holidays are over. I really don't want to send him back to your domain."

If he stayed any longer, he would hex the bastard.

He couldn't avoid slamming the door behind him.

Without bothering to leave the pub, he Disapparated back to Potter Manor.

Dumbledore knew.

Dumbledore knew what Harry went through. Probably knew from the second he was left there what he went through. He wants to send Harry back.

Was it really guilt that kept him from getting a trial for me? Or was it because he knew damn well I would never allow Harry to go through what he did so I needed to be eliminated and screw the truth. Screw justice and second chances.

Harry needed to be at the Dursleys for some reason and no effort was made into them treating him well. He ran away! It clearly wasn't the first time he was pushed too far but Dumbledore doesn't give a damn about that.

Too busy setting up meetings with Voldemort in his personal playground.

Jinxy popped in. "Would Master Sirius like some tea?"

Sirius blinked. When had he entered the living room? "No thank you, Jinxy. I need to be alone. I wouldn't mind some things I could destroy though."

Jinxy bowed. A line of cheap vases were Conjured out of thin air. Jinxy popped away.

A flick of his hand and the vases all shattered.

It didn't make Sirius feel any better.

Even worse, he would have to go back to Dumbledore and talk through it properly.

Sirius rubbed his temples. "Fucking dammit."

Fawkes flamed in.

Sirius glared at him. "What do you want?"

Ignoring his tone, the bird plucked a letter off his leg and held it out for him.

Sirius waved a wand over it to check for curses, but it was clean. Fawkes tilted his head, but just waited. The handwriting mocked him.

"Did he just write this?"

Fawkes nodded.

…

Sirius sighed. "Look, you know I'm angry at him rather than you, right?" Fawkes nodded. "I want to say thanks for helping Harry in the Chamber. But I'm fighting for Harry. Dumbledore isn't."

Fawkes let out a song note. Gentle and soft, but sad. He leaned forward for Sirius to take the letter.

With great reluctance, Sirius did so.

'Dear Sirius,

I can understand your anger. I will explain my reasoning now for leaving Harry at the Dursleys. When Lily died, she left a powerful blood protection with Harry. There are blood wards on Privet Drive that protect him while he resides there.

I would like to continue with our discussion and do agree that it would be best to clear the air before Harry returns to Hogwarts. Might I suggest the Three Broomsticks tomorrow at 2pm?

Yours sincerely,

Albus Dumbledore'

Sirius scowled.

Fawkes trilled.

"So he says. But he never checked up on him Fawkes. He knew Harry was abused and did nothing to stop it. If the Dursleys knew they were being watched, then they would have treated him more normally. He asked not to go back to the Dursleys at the end of his first year. Dumbledore did nothing."

Fawkes let out a sad note. Then a more comforting trill.

"I don't care if Dumbledore cares about Harry or not. At the rate he's going, he's going to get Harry killed after a very unhappy existence! That isn't caring about someone. Besides, he's his Headmaster. Not his parent." Dumbledore had no right to order Harry anywhere during his summers.

But he was Dumbledore. Dumbledore did what he wanted.

Fawkes gave an indignant squawk.

Sirius just gave him an unimpressed look. He flipped the parchment over.

'2 is fine'

He offered it to Fawkes. "Off you go."

A long, joyous song flowed through the room. Fawkes took the parchment and flamed away.

Sirius groaned.

Blood wards. Never heard of them. If they are that powerful, then the Blacks would know about them. Maybe…It's time I re-read the Black Library.

That meant returning to Grimmauld Place.

Dammit.

Fucking dammit.

Sirius walked outside.

He took a deep breath.

Okay. Grimmauld Place. I need to go there.

He Disapparated.

Number 12 Grimmauld Place.

Sirius had intended to never set foot in this place again.

In an out. That is all. Then I'll only return to burn it to the ground.

Dumbledore had never forced Sirius to return to Grimmauld Place. He couldn't care less what happened to him.

Yet he was very insistent with Harry.

Potter Manor couldn't have a Fidelius Charm put on it. However, that wasn't to say it was defenceless. The war wards were incredible; it was only because Voldemort was a descendent of Slytherin that made them move. The Founders would have knowledge that today would have forgotten. The Potters certainly had some magical theory inherited from Gryffindor they hadn't shared with other families.

That was another thing to bring up with Dumbledore tomorrow.

The place was even more disgusting than he remembered. Before, it had reeked of Dark Magic, but at least it had been clean. Now though…

"Well, well. Back again, bastard child? At least you redeemed yourself in the end."

Sirius froze.

She's dead. I confirmed that myself. She's dead.

It took a moment for him to realise it was a painting.

Fiendfyre was on the tip of his tongue, but Kreacher's appearance halted him.

"What is blood-traitor Master doing at the Noble House of Black?"

Master.

That was the only word that registered in that sentence. He was Kreacher's master. Of course he was.

"Master? That boy is not your master-"

"Being the Lord Black, I am." His hand twitched. He stilled. If he started Fiendfyre, he couldn't be sure right now he would stop it in time to save the Library and there was no way he was going through coming back here without what he came for. "First rule Kreacher: you are to be silent unless I say you can speak."

The elf glared at him. He didn't speak.

The portrait spoke. Sirius didn't hear it.

"Second rule: that portrait never disgraces my senses again. Destroy it or horde it. I don't care which as long as I never see it or hear it again."

The portrait shut up.

Kreacher growled.

But a snap of his fingers and it was gone.

"I will be in the Library Kreacher. You are not to disturb me unless for an emergency. I'm sure there is plenty for you to be doing." He strode to the staircase. He stopped on the third step. "You are also forbidden to leave this house unless I allow it."

Dobby had visited Harry.

Harry had Black blood. Sirius didn't want Kreacher anywhere near him.

The Library didn't have a speck of dust or dirt in it.

Right. Blood wards. But I might as well get through as much as I can. A refresher course from my childhood should help me more against Voldemort, such as ways to avoid death. There is something tingling in the back of my mind there.

Swallowing, Sirius headed over to the correct section.

Blood wards. Would be considered Dark Magic these days, but Sirius knew a lot of blood spells weren't. This one probably wasn't but he needed to check the specifics.

Where did Lily find that magic though?

Sirius did know one thing.

He wasn't sleeping tonight.

Harry was worried.

It was nearing midnight and he hadn't heard from Sirius.

It was Dumbledore and while they had issues with the man, Harry didn't want to believe something had happened.

But the idea had taken hold and he couldn't shake it.

With a sigh, Harry sat up. He glanced at Ron and waved his left arm with a quiet whisper. "Muffliato."

Ron wasn't bothered in the slightest.

The stone in the leather almost seemed warmer. It always felt like that after Harry used wandless magic. It might just be him, but Harry found it easier and less draining. It didn't really help his progression much though.

He grabbed the mirror. "Sirius."

Sirius answered. He wasn't in bed and he wasn't in Potter Manor either. "Harry. Is something wrong?"

"I was about to ask you that. I thought you were going to call me."

Sirius blinked. There was movement that might have been him checking his watch. "Half midnight? Could have sworn it was nowhere near that late…"

"What happened with Dumbledore?"

"That…isn't finished yet. I'm going to see him again tomorrow."

That was something, Harry supposed. "What happened?"

Sirius took a moment to answer. He was picking his words. "He admitted that he had some hand in first year. We'll be talking about that tomorrow. We then got onto the Dursleys. He said he…There are blood wards on your house. I've researched them and agree they're good."

Did that mean that Sirius-

"That does not mean you'll be going back to the Dursleys. You'll never go back there. It only means I understand why he left you there. Not that I agree with it."

Harry let out a breath. "Right. These blood wards…What do they do?"

"Right. It's based on your mother's blood, so Petunia had to be there. They are protection against magical threats; people intending to do you harm. Dementors wouldn't be able to touch you in there nor would Inferi. From how I understand it, Death Eaters can't harm you there either and almost certainly not Voldemort."

"Okay." All that sounded good. But…Harry didn't bring up the obvious problem.

Sirius did. "However, there is a note that it is for wizarding magic only. The Dursleys can hurt you. A house elf can hurt you. A dragon could show up and hurt you. Honestly, there aren't many wards better against wizards but it is really obscure and difficult to find."

"But you did?"

"The Blacks are an ancient family Harry. These wards are probably listed in the Potter Library as well. If there are blood wards on Potter Manor, they would protect you and not me. I don't think there are but I'm not sure."

That was a simple problem. "Black blood would work."

"Harry, a lot of wizards are related to the Black family. The wards wouldn't work against them. Lily didn't have many relatives."

Harry winced. He had forgotten that. "Right."

"Anyway, I'll have another look around Potter Manor tomorrow. There should be a record somewhere of the wards."

"Okay. So…Dumbledore?"

Sirius sighed. "As I said. Tomorrow. I think he was trying to protect you with the blood wards, but I can't say anything more than that."

Harry thought. He sighed. "Do you think they worked?" If they had worked… "I mean, Professor Quirrell…He…"

"I don't think the blood wards had anything to do with Quirrell, Harry. I think it was the protection Lily cast on you that night that did that. Blood wards are location specific."

Harry rubbed his scar absentmindedly. "Do you know what my mother did, exactly?"

"…Sorry Harry. I don't."

"Maybe Dumbledore knows?"

"Maybe. I'll ask him. Even if he doesn't know, he'll have a good guess."

Harry scowled. "He won't tell."

Sirius smiled. It lit up his obviously tired face. "I'm not a kid Harry. He'll tell me. I've also put forth a good reason why I think he is just as dangerous as Voldemort to you." That's not true. Dumbledore's just…what? "It's an adult talk Harry."

That was an attempt to cheer Harry up.

It didn't work.

"How was your day?"

That didn't really work either, but he took the opening. "Really good." He thought what to say, but couldn't find anything. "By this time next year, Gryffindor could have a four Weasley Quidditch team."

"That sounds like a confusing match."

Harry snorted. "Talk to you tomorrow, Sirius."

"Goodnight Harry." The mirror went blank.

Harry let out a breath.

Dumbledore had had a good reason for leaving Harry at the Dursleys. He didn't have a good reason for never checking up on him.

He didn't have a good reason for leaving Sirius in Azkaban.

Other than for leaving Harry at the Dursleys.

Harry might forgive Dumbledore for leaving him at the Dursleys for this obviously good protection, but he would never forget it.

He would never forgive him for what happened to Sirius.

"Finite Incantatem."

Due to the worrying thoughts fizzing around his head, it took a while for Harry to drop off.

Into the lion's den again.

This time, Sirius wasn't going to run away. He was going to Conjure something to destroy; Dumbledore's opinion of him be damned. He was not going through this a third time.

Last night had done nothing for his temper.

But a few of the insane topics he had read did cool his head. There was callous neglect, there was dark and then there was evil.

Again, Sirius arrived first. He set up many anti-eavesdropping charms. He took deep breaths and meditated.

Okay. No more running. Start with the Dursleys this time.

Sirius had been doing well until that topic came up. This time, he felt calmer. He didn't think he overreacted yesterday; overreacting would have been hexing Dumbledore, no matter how much he deserved it.

Not that I was actually likely to hurt him.

However, Dumbledore was very influential. Sirius did not want him as an enemy; he just didn't want him to have power over Harry.

When it came to the adoption, Sirius thought it happened too fast for Dumbledore to interfere and the Minister had been eager to placate him. Putting Harry with a magical rather than muggle might have also been a reason.

Legally, there was nothing Dumbledore could do.

On the other hand, he could easily use the media and public to his advantage and make things difficult for them. He could argue that after Azkaban, Sirius was not a suitable guardian.

No.

At the moment, Dumbledore was a bigger worry than Voldemort was.

Right. I'm better prepared today and I'm running out of time before Harry returns to Hogwarts. We need to settle this today.

Sirius knew that Voldemort wanted to kill everyone that opposed him and had taken personal interest in Harry.

He didn't know what Dumbledore's game was. He was against Voldemort, but that didn't mean he was with Sirius and Harry.

Lord Black. Less Gryffindor and more Slytherin. I lost my head yesterday. Of course it would be to Dumbledore and not to the neutral or idiotic Heads.

Was it worth bringing up Godric's Hollow with Dumbledore now?

Sirius had pointed out to Harry that he could just walk back into the cottage as it was legally his, but he wasn't ready for that. In letters, he had suggested visiting at Christmas. Christmas rolled around and neither had worked up the will to go. Again, they put it off.

Dumbledore entered. He took the opposite seat with no fanfare. "Sirius. Shall we discuss the Dursleys first?"

"Yes." There was still no anger today. If anything, Sirius felt numb. "I researched blood wards. I cannot argue they are powerful. However, it still doesn't excuse you ignoring the abuse inside. That was always my point, not why you left him there in the first place."

Dumbledore sighed. "Perhaps the situation wasn't ideal, but Harry was safe." Sirius just raised an eyebrow. "At the time, I thought you were a Death Eater. I also knew of Harry's grandmother; any Black, including Bellatrix and especially Narcissa, would have a strong claim to him. By putting him with his maternal aunt, no one could contest a stronger connection."

Sirius understood all that. That wasn't the issue, even if he would never have given Harry to the Dursleys in the first place.

"I had not left Harry unsupervised. Do you recall Arabella Figg? She now lives nearby and keeps an eye on him. She did report that the Dursleys did not treat Harry as well as their own son, which could be considered a mercy, but he was getting enough to eat and enough exercise. She did not report any abuse."

That was easily answered. "The Dursleys are obsessed with appearing to be normal. They aren't going to show themselves as child abusers. Muggles look at that very poorly; they're considered scum." Dumbledore didn't respond. "What about when Harry asked not to be sent back?"

"Alas, I thought he was exaggerating. He was eleven, after all."

"But you never bothered to find out. You also knew right from the beginning that the Dursleys weren't the best for him."

"Perhaps they were not as nurturing as they should have been, but Harry has grown into a fine boy."

There was that word again. 'Perhaps'. Dumbledore didn't think he did anything wrong.

"He's never going back there."

"He must, Sirius." Dumbledore sounded exasperated rather than angry. "The blood wards-"

"Let's switch topics for a moment, shall we?" Sirius could see that this was going to be like talking to a brick wall, so he was going to try something different. "The wards on Potter Manor. Do you remember the main reason why Lily and James went into hiding?"

Dumbledore considered for a moment. "I believe it was because Voldemort is the Heir of Slytherin."

"Exactly. They were concerned about what knowledge from his ancestors he would have known." Sirius glared at the man. "However, if they knew Riddle was just an isolated child from an orphanage, they never would have moved. He didn't know any magic that could take down those wards, did he?"

"He discovered the Chamber of Secrets. It is possible that there were records there from Salazar himself."

That was a fair argument, annoyingly, but it didn't apply now. "Harry has been down there Dumbledore and there was never records from Salazar. Besides, seeing as Parselmagic is focused mainly on healing, it is rather unlikely that is what that Founder specialised in."

"Harry was only down there a brief time and didn't search the Chamber thoroughly." So Dumbledore didn't know about Harry's visits to Medusa…Did he even know about Medusa? "Also, there are rumours that Parselmagic is strong for wards also. It was a possibility."

"A very far-fetched one. Besides, Voldemort had to learn where Potter Manor was and surprisingly few people actually knew the location. Even less now, unless you've been blabbing."

"So you are living in Potter Manor."

"We are. As you know, it has the strongest wards available save for the blood wards and they aren't needed. The wards cover the same weaknesses. Now we know that Voldemort doesn't know any magic worse than the Black family," which was honestly bad enough, "then the Manor is the safest place for him."

"I disagree. Voldemort travelled into Europe and it is unknown exactly what magic he has learned-"

"That is a completely different argument from the one you had with James and Lily," Sirius pointed out. "And Grindelwald was from Europe also. Charlus and Dorea were satisfied with their home at that time. So were James and Lily until the Slytherin argument."

Maybe if James and Lily had stayed in Potter Manor, they might still be alive.

Sirius had had enough of this roundabout.

"Perhaps. However-"

"The topic is closed Dumbledore. First, Voldemort or the Death Eaters have to find Potter Manor. Good luck with that. They never found it throughout the entire war. Second, the Manor cannot be connected to the floo network save for when the inhabitants decide to allow it so they can't use that." Sirius had been suspicious of the timings that the floo network was down for 'necessary maintenance' during the war, but no one supported his argument to do something about it. That was not important right now. "Three, some of the wards on Heads' homes, including Potter Manor, are lethal and the Death Eaters know that. They are not going to try unless they are sure of what they are doing. Fourth, anti-Portkey and anti-Apparation wards never bothered Charlus or James and I know why. Fifth, if Voldemort does know so much about ward-breaking, then how can you be so sure he won't get past the blood wards? Do I need to go on? I have a lot more arguments."

Dumbledore entwined his fingers as he considered each of Sirius' points. He sighed. "That is not necessary. I will concede for now. However, when Voldemort returns, we will revisit the topic."

Sirius knew that was the best he was going to get for now. Seeing as he was never going to allow Dumbledore to put Harry back, he was willing to let this matter go. His standing would only have grown stronger with time.

"Very well. We were discussing Harry's first year, weren't we?"

"We were." Dumbledore had obviously considered what to say during the past hours. "Have I explained my actions with the troll and the Forbidden Forest to your satisfaction?"

"I suppose." The troll was one big screw-up, but Sirius didn't think Dumbledore had an active hand in it. "I accept your explanations but I heartily disagree with them. The Mirror of Erised is something I am sure you planned Harry to come across. Right now, let's move on to the gauntlet, which was conveniently perfect for those three."

"A Cerberus is an accepted guard dog across the world, especially in Greece. Hagrid had acquired him before he was needed and I accepted his offer." Okay. Convenient for Dumbledore and Hagrid is Harry's friend, so what exactly wouldn't matter. "The Devil's Snare may be in the First Year course, but no later and is a very rare plant unless you are in a job concerning Herbology. It is often forgotten." The Devil's Snare has been used for assassinations throughout the ages so doubtful but possible. "Someone who has studied a Cerberus and recognises a Devil's Snare is not likely to be practiced in Quidditch. Those keys were resistant to Summoning Charms." That could be a fair point; Harry's a born flier. "Someone who enjoys Quidditch and is skilled enough to catch a key is often not strategic enough for chess; Seekers are often separate from the main game." There's a lot at stake for an assumption like that. Besides, James was good at chess and Quidditch. "The troll was Quirrell; I had no word in that." But after they beat one on Halloween, you wouldn't have been concerned. "A Potions riddle requires logic to be used in a way that is not really applied in everyday life." Unless you're muggleborn and enjoy puzzles. "The Mirror. One could not gain the Stone if they intend to use it."

"Thank goodness Voldemort thought house elves were beneath him," Sirius finally commented.

From the flicker across his face, Dumbledore had not thought of that either. "Voldemort is very dismissive of other people."

"Yet Harry being there and acquiring it meant that Voldemort did have the chance to get it. You arrived at a very convenient time. There's that word again Dumbledore: convenient."

"You believe I had a hand in it." A statement. Not a question.

"I do. I explained my reasoning yesterday. Besides, if you wanted to stop someone then fill all the bottles with poison. Let's not go there. I want to know why. Harry may or may not be too young to know why he was set up to meet his parents' murderer. I am not."

…

"The threat to Harry was minimal. I had two questions: 'what was Voldemort's attitude towards Harry' and 'is the spell his mother performed still active'? I had hoped to learn the answers in controlled conditions rather than later on when his life was in genuine jeopardy."

There was so much wrong with that; Sirius didn't know where to start. After a few seconds thinking on it, he decided not to go there. They would be here all day.

"Your answers?"

"First: Voldemort seemed to hold Harry responsible for his situation rather than Lily. Second: his mother's spell protected him from Quirrell or, more accurately, from Voldemort. Voldemort will search for a way to overcome that."

Sirius considered. None of those points were new and they weren't worth risking Harry's life for. One thing he did learn was that Dumbledore was certain Harry had to fight Voldemort. Why?

"Do you know what spell Lily used?"

"Unfortunately, no. It was part of the reason I thought it wise to test it in controlled conditions."

Lily was a muggleborn so where did she learn such an obscure spell?

Unless she invented it.

That was possible. Even likely, actually.

"There is one thing that confuses me Dumbledore. How did this whole Boy-Who-Lived thing get started?"

It didn't make any sense. The Killing Curse had two characteristics: it kills and it doesn't leave a scar. Harry was alive and had a scar.

Was he even hit by a Killing Curse? Why did everyone think he was?

This was a topic Dumbledore hadn't gone over, apparently. It took him a few seconds to decide what to say.

"I had monitors on the Potters-"

"Why?"

"I had my reasons."

"And I'm asking what they are."

"…If you remember, the Death Eaters had stepped up their attacks on the Order itself. James and Lily had been a threat to Voldemort for some time and, admittedly, I feared you were the spy. They would not hear of it."

Sirius glared. "Was that because my name or something else?"

"Honestly, I believed it due to the incident in your sixth year. Severus could have been killed and, for more relevance, Remus put down due to your prank."

"One: Snape knew it was a werewolf from the beginning. Both you and I know that and knew it back then. Besides, you didn't punish me for it. My friends did that. Second: I didn't think he was stupid enough to go down after a werewolf, especially as this was a time Wolfsbane hadn't been invented. If anything, Snape should have worried you as he planned to get Remus killed and he was the one that bullied him the least."

"You behaviour towards Severus was another reason."

Sirius shrugged. "I'm not proud of how I behaved back then, but I never went after innocents. With Snape, it started with words. It escalated to spells after he started it and later years, he was certainly no angel. How many people were in the Hospital Wing because of him?"

"You enjoyed it."

"And your argument is 'so did the Death Eaters, therefore I was one'? That's weak, Dumbledore. I hated the Dark since I was a child. I never supported them. What was your reasoning to why I changed my mind and betrayed someone I considered my brother?"

…

"Is the reasoning that weak or did you never have one? Was it just so convenient that I was out of the way so you could do whatever you want with Harry that you didn't bother to think?"

There it was.

The first show of anger.

It was gone within a millisecond.

"Do you think so little of me that I would have left you in Azkaban so you wouldn't interfere with Harry's placement?"

"Yes." That shocked him. "After all, Snape is a confirmed Death Eater but one word from you and he is suddenly a spy. When exactly did he turn spy? What lives did he save? On the other hand, my case was so flimsy Harry got it thrown out with only the support of the DMLE. Where were you, Dumbledore?"

"So all this is out of petty spite?"

Sirius could see what Dumbledore was going for. He twisted it a bit. "I think twelve years of Azkaban gives me some leeway to be suspicious of the people that fought by my side for years; people I called friends and said they knew I would never turn dark. My leader who was so focused on second chances that he disapproved of when we fought back against the Death Eaters. Spite? No. I'm looking for ulterior motives Dumbledore. Obviously you aren't interested in truth or justice. Petty? Again: Snape."

"Severus has made many sacrifices-"

"Like what? And if you're going to say Lily, I will point out he burnt that bridge in our fifth year."

"Because of his treatment from the Marauders."

Sirius scoffed. "You're blaming that on us? If anything, we made their friendship stronger. It was a matter of time Dumbledore. Lily wasn't stupid. Snape called all other muggleborns 'mudbloods'. Lily was the exception; she knew that. She had been fed up with Snape's choices for months. That was the straw that broke the camel's back when he finally called her that. What exactly has he sacrificed? Why does he get to torture Harry with what was stolen from him?"

Harry didn't sacrifice his parents. They were taken from him.

"So you refuse to acknowledge your fault?"

Now the anger was starting to stir. "As I said, I'm not proud of how I treated Snape. However, I know for a fact that he would have still become a Death Eater even if we had left him alone. Whether it was due to the people he hung out with or because he is a petty, vindictive person…We may have sped it along, but we are not solely to blame. Besides, you don't believe bullying makes a person dark." Sirius smiled, almost cheerfully. "Shall we move on to Harry's second year? Starting with the bullying he went through that, by your words, should have turned him into a murderer."

There was a second flash of anger.

Sirius felt a flicker of satisfaction.

"Harry is a celebrity. He will face distaste and aggression in the future. He needs to know how to handle it."

"Surely he got that when McGonagall took off 150 points in his first year." Dumbledore opened his mouth, but Sirius wasn't interested in whatever empty platitudes he had. "And we're back to why Harry is a celebrity. Why is he known as the Boy-Who-Lived and not the son of the people who stopped Voldemort?" They had drifted very far off that topic.

Had that been the point of the attempted guilt tripping?

Or was it because Dumbledore really didn't want to go into the reason he was monitoring the Potters? Sirius didn't believe for a second it was only due to thinking Sirius was a spy.

"The monitors told me that the Killing Curse had been cast three times in the house, but there was still someone alive in there. It was Harry. I sent Hagrid to Godric's Hollow to collect him and bring him to the Dursleys. I began to pass on the word the war was over, but I did not give out details. We left Harry with his relatives and I returned to the Ministry."

Given the Harry Potter franchise that Dumbledore sold, Sirius didn't believe that he had nothing to do with it. "So if you didn't give out details; who did? And why send Hagrid who had no way to get to Surrey?"

Dumbledore smiled. "I had provided him with a portkey." With a baby?! "However, I must say I preferred your method but I needed Harry safe as soon as possible. Hagrid is under my protection and is large enough to protect Harry with little risk." The main reason Sirius handed him over. "As for the Boy-Who-Lived legend, I did speak with Hagrid. I suppose it was my fault for telling him." Not so sure that's all you did. "I had thought you were also partly responsible for the leak, but it must have been Peter."

Wormtail?

Dumbledore was blaming the Boy-Who-Lived on Wormtail?

Given that he was on the run from me, that's really unlikely. You're more involved Dumbledore.

For now, Sirius was not going to press further on that topic. "Back to second year. The cat was Petrified on Halloween. Why did it take so long to revive it?" Sirius didn't care about the cat or Filch but if it happened once, it could happen again. They should have stocked up on Mandrake Draught then.

"The Mandrakes were not ready."

"And you decided not to buy any?"

"That was Severus' decision. He was concerned that the potion may be contaminated or come from a unreliable source."

Sirius would take anything Snape said with a pinch of salt. "So because it was a cat and then muggleborns, you stayed cheap."

Dumbledore frowned, but not exactly at him. "Alas, I could not convince the Board of Governors to allow me to release the money to buy the ingredients so Severus could appraise and use them."

That could have been true. The Board only did something when pureblood Ginny Weasley went into the Chamber. Lucius had in control of the Board then and given that he was responsible for everything that happened that year…

"Yet you didn't reach into your own pocket? If you were feeling cruel, you could have gotten the money from the muggleborns' parents. They would have paid and you would have known it was a Basilisk. Or you could have listened to the Sorting Hat."

"Harry has commented on that already. My thought process was that it could not be a Basilisk because they do not Petrify. I do not know how Miss Granger reached that conclusion."

"She did have the clue of Parseltongue. That does suggest a serpent of some kind." Sirius leaned back. "I wonder how many students in Hogwarts are Parselmouths. I imagine there were more than Harry but after the way he was treated…"

Parseltongue ran in the Black family. Not all of them were Parselmouths, but some of them must have been. Sirius was and so was Bellatrix. Narcissa and Andromeda weren't. Draco Malfoy definitely wasn't. Nor Ron Weasley. Many pureblood and half-blood students had Black blood in there somewhere, so it was highly unlikely Harry was the only one. They just hid it.

Metamorphmagus also ran in the Black family, but Andromeda's daughter was the first for many generations. They couldn't really have that claim anymore.

What does that say about the pureblood cause?

"I do not believe Parseltongue is as common as you think, Sirius."

"I never said it was common. I just said I didn't think Harry was the only one." Dumbledore had again ignored Harry's treatment.

This isn't just building up resistance. He has a reason for not interfering. Not a chance in hell he'll tell me though.

Just like in the last war, Dumbledore was going to play his cards very close to his chest.

Let him. He'll have to learn the hard way that he has to work with us if he wants our help. Given that he seems to place Harry in the centre of any plan with Voldemort, he'll find that out sooner rather than later.

This meeting had gone…pretty much how Sirius expected: Dumbledore had given explanations that were almost certainly not the whole story, dodged questions he didn't want to answer or had no answer for and refused to give up vital information such as why he kept insisting on putting Harry in Voldemort's way.

"Why did you keep the school open? Surely that was just putting the students in danger." The Basilisk may not be Dumbledore's fault, but not closing the school was crazy.

"Voldemort was the acknowledged Heir of Slytherin. I suspected he was responsible this time also but I did not know how. That was what I was investigating."

"How?"

"Admittedly, I was looking too close at the Slytherin students. It did not occur to me that the artefact had been planted on someone else. I feared that if I closed the school, it would merely return when the school was reopened. No one would stand for Hogwarts to be closed indefinitely."

Sirius almost scoffed. "Mrs Weasley would have found that diary within minutes of it arriving in her house." That woman had been a nuisance, but he could tell she cared for Harry. She must care for her daughter.

Dumbledore smiled. "Agreed. However, I never would have suspected the Weasleys."

Neither would Sirius, honestly. "So what was that diary, exactly?"

"I am unsure. I am in the process of researching it." He probably had a good guess, but also didn't want to share. Typical.

"Have you considered asking the Unspeakables?"

"I have but I am unwilling to. Rookwood was an Unspeakable who was unveiled as a Death Eater. I fear there may be more."

Sirius had thought there were vows involved with being Unspeakables. He thought that writing off all of them because of one was a bad idea, but he wouldn't be sharing anything with anyone in the Ministry without a Vow.

"Do you have any further questions?"

Sirius groaned. His head hurt. "Honestly Dumbledore, my question still hasn't changed. Why should Harry attend Hogwarts? You have no care for his health, obviously have no intention of stopping the student body from bullying him for whatever reason they deem fit and dangerous situations seem drawn to him whether or not you're involved." Dumbledore waited patiently. "However, Harry enjoys Hogwarts, has good friends and nothing has happened this year. He's happy so he will return."

"Then I have one question for you, Sirius."

Sirius was immediately on alert. "And that is?"

"Voldemort will return. Of that, I have no doubt. Do I have your support?"

Sirius gave him a long look. "I am against Voldemort, Dumbledore. However, we lost the last war. Our only victory was Lily removing Voldemort temporarily. Then it appears we surrendered and let Death Eaters walk. Their children rule the halls of Hogwarts. My main goal is to protect Harry; from Voldemort and from you if necessary. Lily and James didn't die so you could play with Harry's life in your experiments."

Dumbledore tilted his head. "I see. That is your standing. Then I bid you good day."

"Likewise, Headmaster." That was all he was to Harry.

Sirius remained in the Three Broomsticks for an hour after Dumbledore left before leaving himself.

'Black and Potter,

Interesting proposition. Fair point.

I accept.

Obviously there will be days that I'll work with only one of you, but I agree Black could do with a refresher course. Also gives you an opponent on your own time Potter but make sure you actually learn even if he is holding back.

I look forward to our fights. First lesson: fights are far dirtier than duels. No rules. Don't worry about missing school but get ready for unreasonable hours and brutal combat.

I will contact you three days before the lessons. Remember my gift Black.

Constant vigilance!

Moody'

Harry stretched as he lay back on the bed.

Tomorrow, they were heading for King's Cross to head back to Hogwarts.

Harry was already packed so he could have a few minutes lie in while the Weasleys ran around the morning. The Summoning Charm would be very handy then, though he would have to be careful not to let Mrs Weasley see.

"Um, Harry?"

Harry opened his eyes. "Ron? Is something wrong?"

Ron groaned as he collapsed on his bed. "Mum wants you over at Easter as well."

Harry said nothing.

"I told her that you would want to spend some time with Sirius. She doesn't trust him. I think she thinks he bought his way out and was freed on a technicality and is really irresponsible. She's worried for you."

That explains it.

Harry had caught her scrutinising him, more than last year. He had ignored it. Now it was very focused in his mind.

"I-I just overheard her and Dad talking. Mum was trying to convince Dad to adopt you."

Is she now? So she doesn't care that the Dursleys were starving me but she does care about Sirius treating me well?

"What did your Dad say?"

"He said that you looked a lot better and happier than you did in the summer. He didn't think we knew Sirius well enough to judge and that he was careful because his friends had thought the worst of him."

Harry's response wasn't fair on Ron, so he didn't say anything.

"Look, she does mean well but…Don't get too angry with her, okay? I mean, I know what you said when I accused Sirius…And I did kind of deserve it but…She's just trying to look out for you."

Harry sighed. "If she brings it up, I'll be nice for as long as I can." He smiled at Ron. "She can be a bit stubborn so…"

Ron shakily smiled back. "Yeah, I know. Especially when it comes to her kids and I think she thinks of you as one so…" He shrugged in the way that said everything.

"Sorry Ron. As much as I like red hair, can you imagine Jordan's commentary if us five are on the same team?"

Ron laughed. Then he stopped. "You know, I'm thinking of going for Keeper when Wood leaves."

"Go for it. Play at Hogwarts like you do here, no one is going to beat us."

"Like they could beat us now. That Cup is staying in McGonagall's Office until after we graduate."

Harry relaxed a little.

That's not really fair. She's only trying to look after me. There aren't ulterior motives everywhere.

Ron was out the minute his head hit the pillow.

Harry stayed awake a little longer. Thinking.

This time last year, Harry would have jumped for joy (not literally) about the Weasleys adopting him. Everyone in the family liked him (even Percy) and the Burrow felt more like home than Privet Drive did, only below Hogwarts.

But everywhere was under Potter Manor now.

Mrs Weasley had taken him in only because he was Ron's friend; had even knitted him a jumper in First Year before she properly got to know him.

As much as he didn't want to upset her, he would stick up for Sirius.

But she hasn't even mentioned anything like that to me and Ron only overheard it when eavesdropping. Maybe she won't bring it up.

Harry hoped she didn't.

That way was better on everyone.

AN: JK once said that Snape was one of the most complex characters. I disagree. I think that title goes to Dumbledore.

The first book really doesn't make much sense if you take it at face value. Reading it through after completing the whole series makes it even worse when you know about age lines, Fidelius and throwing an eleven year old Harry in Voldemort's way when the prophecy is ambiguous on the victor. It was really difficult to write from a sensible point of view. I think the 'you call this place home' is just the way Dumbledore speaks; Harry does say that Hogwarts is his home and that has no effect on the wards.

Another thing I never understood was how word got around Harry was the Boy-Who-Lived and survived a Killing Curse. It was only the day after Halloween and a lot of people seemed to 'know' what happened.

The blood wards are another thing difficult to argue as it is never really stated what they do. It is stated that they provide protection from Inferi and dementors and the Death Eaters waited for Harry to leave before attacking him. Good points but Grimmauld Place was safe enough for Order meetings when under Fidelius. I wonder if it was just a way to maintain the status quo at the beginning of every book. Lily's protection seemed to be something else entirely as after the fourth book, Voldemort can touch Harry but cannot walk through the blood wards (though that could be he never tried).

An interesting thing about Sirius is that he's different in every book he's in. In the third, he's quite crazed with single minded determination. In the fourth, he's methodical, intelligent and careful. In the fifth, he was depressed, reckless and, in a way, living through Harry. In the seventh, as a ghost, he's the calmest we've seen him. I think that says a lot about his mental state and how the environment affects him.

Thanks for reading.