Eventful Christmas- I (17/18/19/20)
The day before the Christmas, Luna, Hermione, Neville and Harry donned dragonhide gloves, fetched the special box for the tiara, and went off to the RoR. The girls had been warned to stay behind the boys because they did not have fairly developed shields. Well, Luna probably did, but they were untested and risks were best not taken. Adrenaline, killing curses and Fiendfyre were very poor alternatives for mental shields. It was after all, very likely, that there would be compulsion charms or something of that sort on the Diadem. Hermione and Luna would help spot the wretched thing, but would not go close. There was also something that Hermione had come up with, and it was a truly clever idea.
The day after classes for the term ended, three days before the train would leave, Luna went up to Helena Ravenclaw's ghost, or, as she was known to the student populace, the Grey Lady and asked for an audience. The quirky little Ravenclaw had made friends with the tower ghost in her first year.
"Helena," she called out in her dreamy musical voice.
"Ah, it's you, Luna. How are you? I didn't get to meet you much this term," the ghost answered, floating down to the girl's level.
"I am sorry about that Helena. Many things changed all of a sudden."
"Do they still bully you?"
"No, they don't. One of my friends sprayed the Nargles with Grim's breath-smoke. Now they don't affect me badly."
"That is good," Helena said with a smile. She liked the little girl and did not like the way her own house members treated her. "Was there something you wanted my help with, Luna?"
"Hmm?" asked Luna distractedly. "No, no. Actually, there was something we wanted to show you. I think you might get angry. But we thought that it would be best if we were truthful about this to you."
"Oh?"
"Yes. Will you meet my friends?"
"You have me intrigued, little lady. I think I shall meet your friends; I do think I shall, at that." She followed the girl who skipped away to the Room of Requirement, where a small sitting room had been made for the meeting. The three friends, she noted, were all Gryffindors, and not Ravenclaws.
As one, Hermione, Neville and Harry stood to greet her, Hermione curtseying, and the boys bowing and kissing the ghost's knuckle. Neville was the one chosen to speak. "Lady Ravenclaw, it is an honour to meet you."
"As it is mine to meet you all," she replied. "Luna said you had something to tell me which would likely draw my ire. We should get straight to the matter," she ordered imperiously.
"Indeed, my Lady." Taking a deep breath, he continued, "This is about the Diadem."
Helena's expressions turned stormy immediately. "I SHOULD HAVE KNOWN! YOU AREN'T THE FIRST TO COVET THE DIADEM! I REFUSE TO HELP YOU! AND YOU LUNA!" she roared, turning on the little blonde haired girl. "I BELIEVED BETTER OF YOU THAN TO BETRAY ME THUS!" Luna was cringing away in fear and hurt at that.
"LADY RAVENCLAW!" shouted Neville. "Please, Ma'am, listen to us before you lose your temper. We know why it is a sore point for you, and what we want to tell you is that we have found it. However, it has been turned into the receptacle of the worst sort of Necromantic Dark Magic by..."
"Tom?" completed Helena.
"Yes Ma'am. You knew?"
"No," she replied shortly. "But he was the only person I ever told the whereabouts of the Diadem. Logic dictates that he must have done something to it."
"Yes, my Lady. Would you consent to starting anew? We want to tell you what we know, Ma'am." Helena peered and glared at Neville, and then nodded curtly.
"I am Neville Longbottom, scion of the Ancient and Most Noble House of Longbottom, and of the Most Noble House of Dearborn. This is Lord Hadrian Potter, also the Lord Gryffindor, Lord Slytherin and Lord Peverell. This is my cousin and daughter of House Dearborn, Hermione Granger. You of course, know Luna. Now that the introductions are out of the way, I believe we can discuss the matter at hand."
"Yes. Before we start," she asked Harry, "are you the one who is temporally displaced?"
"Yes Ma'am. May I ask how it was that you knew?" He glanced at Luna, who had a faint smile on her face. She nodded at him gently.
"Fawkes and Hogwarts are temporally omniscient, my Lord Gryffindor. Hogwarts has been telling us who haunt her that her Heir doesn't know to talk to her."
"I am sorry Ma'am," Harry replied contritely. "I did not know of such sentience. Could you please tell Lady Hogwarts that I would like to learn as I don't know much apart from what appeared in Salazar's journals?"
Helena smiled grimly and nodded. "I shall do that. Now back to the matter at hand. Why and how do you know about the diadem?"
"My Lady, as you know that my friend here is temporally displaced, you can be given a brief explanation. Tom Riddle, who later took the name Voldemort, made several...soul pieces. Harry was on a mission to destroy those after his resurrection in the...other time. He found out that the Diadem was one such container."
"I see," she said, hatred seeping through her words. "I should've known. Tom did seem to be one who would indulge in magics most vile and evil. So you truly do wish to destroy the diadem."
"We are not sure, Ma'am. We wish to destroy the soul piece, yes. But we want to save such an important artefact that would remind us of Lady Rowena, and let Hogwarts display it with the pride and honour, that it deserves. As of now, we are collecting the known containers."
"How should I know that you don't want it?" Helena challenged.
"We firmly believe Ma'am, that, wisdom cannot be obtained through artefacts, but through experience and learning. We do not wish for undue gains. We offer oath to prove our intents."
Helena looked at them impassively for some time, before nodding. "Your offer is enough. May I know where it is?"
"You must know that this room changes into whatever the one who asks needs. This is the room of requirement. We wish to leave you alone with the Diadem, and will collect it two days hence. We will open it for you."
"Thank you," Helena said fervently. "Is there anything that I can do for you?"
"If it will not be too much, would you pass your learning and knowledge on this matter – anything that you already know or will learn henceforth – to us? We wish to do no harm to the Founders' artefacts. We would also be obliged if you could tell us about any personal belongings of the Founders' that have gone missing. Tom Riddle has used Helga Hufflepuff's Cup, Salazar Slytherin's locket and Ring, Lady Rowena's diadem and something else which we are not sure of, but know of, along with a diary that was destroyed at the end of last term. The other artefact of his is the Special Services to the School Award for setting poor Isaiah on Hogwarts, killing a student and getting Hagrid expelled. We have reason to believe he wanted to use the wand of a Founder and Gryffindor's shield also. But we have retrieved those. The last thing that I told you we know of, but aren't sure of is in the Magical Museum in Diagon Alley. I can feel it there. We have a theory that he intended to make eight such containers, using two artefacts each of each founder, apart from at least one personal possession. As of now we do not have a number to base the theory on, but we are assuming nine or thirteen. Also Salazar is accounted for, or at least so we believe. We've no way to actually confirm our theory. And," Harry added with a mischievous grin, "Could you convince the Bloody Baron to sever Sir Nicholas' head properly?"
"I will, children. You do me and Hogwarts a great service. I shall help you in your endeavours." She looked at Luna, who had resumed her placid face. "I am sorry, my Moon-child. The Diadem has been a sore point for me ever since I betrayed my own mother." She sighed. "I should have known you were the better person, Luna."
"It is alright Helena. You had a temporary case of Wrackspurts." Helena only gave an odd smile as she went to see the Diadem for herself.
"How did you know, Luna?" asked Harry, accosting her.
"How did I know what?" she asked back innocently.
"How did you know that I am...what did she call it? Ah yes, temporally displaced?"
"Helena told me that there was someone who was temporally displaced a few days before you met me at the end of last term. Since you were the only one who was behaving differently, I knew that it was you."
Harry wisely decided to just give the little blonde a hug and to not say anything.
Each of the four friends methodically worked their way around the room, collecting books of all sorts after testing them for any sort of magical influence. Even if they would not be able to tell whether it was cursed like the diary, they could at least be protected if it was something bad. It took them the whole day, but by the end, they had collected all the books which Dobby had miniaturised and taken to Gringotts for curse-breaking. They had been paid twenty-five galleons for the job. It was Luna who spotted the Diadem. The effect of the thing was obvious. She walked to it in a daze, before Harry tackled her to the ground. Neville quickly took the Diadem and placed it in the special box that he had in his pocket. Dobby popped the box away to Marauders' Place.
The trip back to King's Cross was fairly uneventful, initially. There were a few people checking in every now and then, but that was for the customary seasons' greetings. For those that didn't, like the first years and seniors, the group made a point to meet and greet. The quietness lasted for barely half the trip. By this time boredom had started settling in. It just didn't sit well with any of the Marauders. They sifted through several ideas back and forth with the twins to no avail, till Luna came up with the solution.
"Why don't you hijack the communication system on the train?" She received four identical, extremely evil grins. The occupants of the train were then subjected to four hours of people from each compartment singing carols. While there were a few Bludvic Bludds and Celestina Warbeck aspirants, the general consensus was that no Potter should ever be let near the magical communication system. Harry was locked out of the compartment as punishment for the better part of the next two hours.
Moony was again, not on the train. All teachers had to stay back for two days, and it was particularly terrible for Moony as the full moon was just round the corner on the 27th. Sirius would be side along apparating him to Marauders' Place before Christmas Eve. In the meanwhile, Amelia, Sirius and Harry would be going over to Grimmauld Place for the Locket, to the Gaunts' shack for the Ring and would be collecting the cup from Bellatrix's vault. Harry sincerely hoped there would not be any complications.
Down at the station, Sirius and Amelia had come to pick their respective wards. For Harry this was new. He now had a real family, a father to go home to. Amelia and Susan were both going to join the Blacks at Marauders' Place the next day, after putting the Ossuary under temporary lockdown. People, Harry could see, were having the same reaction to the old mutt as they had to him. Either they were afraid of him or sucking up to him. Amelia was also having problems due to Sirius' 'natural charms'.
Harry walked down to Sirius and gave him a hug. "Father, it is good to see you."
"And so it is good to see you too, son," Sirius replied in his 'pureblood' voice. "Now young mutt, how are things going on?"
"Just fine, old mutt; we need to collect that other furry mutt too, do we not?"
"Yes. But we need to visit some places with the beautiful lady here. She wants to know the time." Harry's eyes widened comically at that and he looked at Amelia, who nodded curtly.
"Does the 31st work for you?"
"It should."
"Good; I think I need you both and Moony, Neville and Hermione to tell you the time."
Susan looked at the three in confusion (what Nev would have called 'cute confusion') and made a mental note to ask her Aunt how she knew Sirius Black, and what the odd conversations the three had meant. "Why do you two call each other 'mutt'?" she asked curiously.
Sirius and Harry smirked identically. For Amelia, the stark resemblance to the terror two of James and Sirius was never more marked. "We will show you tomorrow, Sue." Susan pouted.
They soon met up with friends and their families, alliance members and children of the Alliance, informally. It was some sort of protocol. The alliance members generally rotated Christmas-cum-New Year Parties between them each year hosted a couple of days after Christmas. It was an unwritten rule that the party would be hosted by an active House with both a Lord and a Lady. It fell to reason that the list went down significantly at that. There were only seven Houses that could host the party. This would be the first such party that Harry would be attending, if invited, and he looked to Sirius for advice, and followed it without hesitation. The invitations were delivered roughly a week before Christmas Day.
On the other side, they met the Grangers and Hermione. Sirius had met the elder Grangers a few times over the past month, and had told them about their re-induction into the House of Black. He had also met David's mother, Ursula Granger nee Black. The Grangers had been invited to celebrate Christmas with the family, if they could. Hermione jumped at the idea, but David invited Harry and Sirius along with Amelia and Susan to the Grangers' family party instead. They would be over as Ursula's guests. It made sense. Larger parties did not get invited to smaller congregations – it was always the other way round. They also made plans to meet the Weasleys for lunch at a restaurant David recommended. Molly had warmed up considerably to the idea, and after the devastation of the Leaky Cauldron (which was being rebuilt), there was a readymade niche to step into for Molly. Both Sirius and Molly froze when they saw each other, but there was no doubting the easy camaraderie Sirius and Harry shared. Against her better judgement, Molly was civil to the ex-inmate. She had known the reputation Sirius had, as did James, and she feared that Sirius would see James instead of his godson. There was also the fact that she did not want to be replaced as the parental figure in Harry's life that she had assumed. She was somewhat right to fear on both counts. While Sirius did not see Harry as James, Harry was trying to be James for him. And yet, he was also trying to be like Sirius, albeit unconsciously. As for being replaced, Harry had replaced Molly around the same time as he had retrieved Ginny from the chamber.
Sirius also had a surprise for his son and for his to be wife and niece for Christmas day. It was something he loved, wanted, and in fact had been gifted to him by a woman he loved in various ways, and had left him his godson to care for. It was a fact that all the marauders had at one point had at least a crush on Lily Evans. But his Lycanthropy meant Remus wouldn't pursue her, while Sirius already had a betrothed in Marlene. He initially did not like Marlene for the same reason as any other decision his family made for him, but after he had started talking to her he realised that she was nothing like the Blacks. They had not fallen in love, but knowing that they were blood-betrothed, they had become very close friends, particularly over the time they spent as Order of The Phoenix operatives. And he was going off track again. Sirius knew that it was not normal, but like Harry, he too was stuck in two different times. There was no sense of anything beyond his innocence and also, guilt, in Azkaban. He had become a weird and terrible parody of a Rip van Winkle storyline. At least Harry had strong changes and fights to fight. Sirius had spent a majority of the time in Marauders' Place. It was a terrible thing that he was feeling jealous of his godson.
They picked up some Chinese takeout and apparated to Marauders' Place (which had only been expanded laterally after Mrs. Figg's eviction and a structure which completed the Hallows' sign was built adding more rooms for guests. This central 'line' had two rooms facing each other across a corridor which had twelve such rooms on each of its two floors. It had no ground floor), where Dobby was watching TV, specifically, Leeds defeating Arsenal 2-1. Both Marauders and the Elf scowled at the result, the agony of which was exacerbated by Tony Adams' own goal at the hour's mark. "The only way Arsenal will finish this season in a respectable manner is if they score ten goals a match. At least we have defeat-able (another concocted word, instead of the accepted 'beatable') opposition for the next four games!" Sirius groused as they took out all the anger on the chicken. It was amusing to see the elf and the man as passionate about football, but then again, Harry did not know much about either. He played along. It was a traditional obsession that had been started in the previous generation, and had to be carried on by him. He wondered whether his mum spent the Month of May wearing yellow ribbons.
Sirius had procured tapes of entire seasons from 1980-81 to 1992-93. The three spent the night watching the 1989 season.
Amelia arrived the next day with Susan around ten in the morning, only to find the two boys/men and the elf sleeping away the morning with the TV thing paused as Luton Town hosted Arsenal. She remembered this – Sirius had insisted on watching it sometime in November. The whole room was in proper disarray, exactly the sort that she would expect from a bachelor's pad, so to speak. It irritated her to no end. She had been worried about Susan's reaction to Sirius. The man had been a prisoner till very recently, even if he had recovered fairly well. She could only hope that the girl would accept Sirius as the man she knew him to be, on his own merits.
She shook them all awake, only for Sirius to mumble, "It is pointless, mate. Liverpool are going to win the season...lemme sleep," as he turned away. Harry was not too different. "I will do the assignment Hermi-nee, Puddlemere are spanking Chudley right now. 'Tis fun..." Susan giggled, or rather would have, as she tried to get around the fact that her Aunt knew these two people rather well enough to drop in unannounced. She'd also found blackmail material as she realised that Harry was dreaming about Hermione Granger. She was a girl, after all.
Amelia was getting incensed by the minute. "SIRIUS BLACK AND HARRY POTTER, WAKE UP THIS VERY MINUTE!" Amelia had used her Auror Commander's voice and it gave instant results. The two sprang from their positions on the couch and the floor respectively, blinking owlishly and groping around. Dobby took one look at the irate witch and popped off. "GET YOURSELVES CLEANED UP AND READY IN THE NEXT TWENTY MINUTES!" Amelia continued for good measure, and the two hastened to comply.
"Auntie?" asked Susan. "How do you know them so well?"
Amelia sighed. "I knew Sirius from before his incarceration in Azkaban, sweetie. And you and Harry were supposed to be brought up together."
"Really?" asked Susan wide-eyed.
"Yes. That is something that I need to talk to you about."
Twenty minutes later they were explaining things to Susan. "You see, Susie, Sirius is The Lord of the Ancient and Most Noble House of Black, Son of House Potter and also was – is – my betrothed. I was to carry the name of Bones so that you would not have to be a second wife or something of that sort. And before you ask me, yes I loved him and still do, even though this prat is six years my junior and somehow is as much a child as his godson can sometimes be, and as he and James once were."
Susan gaped at her Aunt. "He was supposed to be Uncle Sirius?"
Harry burst out into barking laughs at that. "Uncle Sirius, oh that is rich!"
Sirius was not in the least amused. "Tell us when you will be done," he said in a clipped tone. When Harry showed no intention to relent, he silenced him and turned to Susan. "Ignore him. He is touched in the head."
Amelia glared at Sirius before continuing, "Yes. He was supposed to be Uncle Sirius to you. If Peter had been caught, we would've been married, and Sirius and his godson, and I and my niece would have been family."
"But you said he is Lord Black..."
"I had a betrothed, Marlene McKinnon for the Black Line. She was killed by Death Eaters, or so it is said. Nobody found her body. And given what we know about Pettigrew, such situations turn me into old Mad-Eye. Azkaban does that to you," he said bitterly. "After I refused to be a Death Eater, I was blasted off the tapestry, but not disowned officially. My younger brother Regulus was a wiser man than I, though he chose to be Voldemort's minion – with a catch. He wilfully betrayed Voldemort and found the way to defeat him once and for all. But being a Death Eater is a lifetime of service. There is no retirement plan. Once he knew what the matter was, he left clues, but was himself killed. He went out fighting. In the end, in our own ways, both Regulus and I worked against Voldemort. And Susan – don't fear the name. It is a fake."
"Lord Black..."
"Call me Sirius, Susie, there's a good lass. I am accustomed to formality only from those I don't like. And believe me, I had met both of you – you and this git here – while you were wee babies. I loved you both from right that moment."
Susan smiled at the man. "Sirius, for all that it is worth, I am really sorry." Sirius smiled at her. "I hope I can say this for my Aunt. Whenever I was told about the boy-who-lived, I was told that he was betrayed by a very close friend of the Potters, but you were never named. My Aunt did believe your innocence personally, though she could not really speak it."
"Thank you Susan. And I know your aunt too well to think otherwise, though I must confess, I wondered why she never even came for visits." Susan made to protest, but Sirius continued, "I know why not. Bureaucracy worked at its finest. I can only thank her for not judging me by my name and helping Harry to free me after I escaped."
"How did you escape?"
Sirius smiled brightly. "Now you are asking the right questions young lady!"
"You do know that you are speaking like Dumbledore, don't you Padfoot?"
"I remember silencing you, Pup," Sirius ground out.
"I am far powerful than you are, old mutt."
"Ego isn't fetching Harry," Amelia said.
"Sorry Auntie Amy," Harry replied unapologetically.
"You aren't really sorry," Amelia replied.
"Of course I am not. How can I be when I can take Sirius' mickey?"
"Do you mind? I am talking to my new niece here, git." Turning to Susan, he asked, "Where were we?"
"You were telling me how you escaped."
"Hmm. Harry broke me out."
"WHAT?"
"Yes. He learnt about me and found out Peter Pettigrew to be the Weasleys' rat at the end of last term. He put two and two together, and learnt the Patronus charm and allied charms to make the Happiness reach me. He cast – what is that you call it, Pup?"
"A Happiness Hamper," Harry supplied helpfully.
"Yes that. He sent me Happiness Hampers till he had a house of his own, and had Pettigrew arrested by his Garnarukran friends. Then he gave me the go-ahead to break out. I slipped out in my Animagus form."
"You are an animagus too?" Susan asked wide eyed.
"Yes. Mind you, after I came here, I learnt that I was doing it wrong all along, but that comes later. Harry kept casting Happiness Hampers and we shared the Dementor Effects for the rest of the time till my escape."
"Will you show me?"
"Will I show you what?"
"Both the Happiness Hamper and your Animagus form," Susan promptly replied.
"Of course; Harry, send her a Hamper will you?"
Harry silently sent the girl a hamper, only to frown as she collapsed and started twitching. "What is it with these girls? Every time I do this they start twitching and flailing!" he yelled in frustration.
Amelia watched her niece suffering...immense pleasure. Then, what Harry said permeated through her brain. "You did this to other girls?"
"Yeah; Ron was being a prat and he got Hermione's temper to volcanic temperatures. So I sent her and her dorm-mates with whom she was...er...discussing the matter the Hampers and they had the same reaction! She spent the next two days grinning like a loon!" Both adults burst out laughing at that. "What? Tell me!" They just laughed even more.
"How did you get them together and keep the Hampers secret?" Sirius asked at last.
"I got into their dorm, of course!"
Sirius took one look at him, the grabbed Harry in a headlock. "Oh, my son is a Marauder!" He sniffed and wiped away fake tears. "You did what none of us could do! I am so, so proud!"
"Sirius!" scolded Amelia. "Don't spoil, goad and encourage him!"
"But Amelia!" protested Sirius.
"NO!"
Sirius pouted. "Alright," he said in exaggerated defeat.
"Now listen here, Harry. No more sending Hampers to girls, and no more going into girls' dorms. Do you understand?"
"Alright; but I was just trying to help! And can somebody tell me what has happened to Susan?"
"I will tell you later, Pup. It is not something I can tell you with her around."
"I haven't hurt her, have I?" Harry asked with real concern.
Amelia snorted. "No Harry. She isn't hurt – quite to the contrary, in fact. This is similar to what Remus told you the other day. Susan could get addicted to the Hampers."
"Okay."
"How did you get into the girls dorm anyway?" asked Susan, who had finally regained control, though she still had a massive twitch and a gigantic grin.
"By my animagus form," answered Harry. "I just scampered up the stairs after giving in to the animal instincts completely."
"How?" asked Susan just as Sirius said, "But we had tried in our seventh year and it didn't work!" in protest.
"Did you become the animal? Maybe you didn't. Anyway, be thankful you didn't. Imagine the havoc Pettigrew might have caused." Sirius shuddered at the thought.
"You didn't answer me, Harry. How did you transform in the common room and scamper up the stairs? You are too large for the Castle's Doors!"
"I was in my Pup form Susan."
"You...What?" she shrieked as the implications hit home. "You have another form?"
"No. I have two more. Both Sirius and I do. Even Neville has three and we are working on a fourth. Anyone can do that."
"Neville is an animagus?" Susan asked in vehement surprise.
"Yes. But don't tell him that I told you." Harry noted that she latched on to Neville's forms immediately.
"Pup, let us show her. We are confusing everyone here with seemingly several parallel conversations." And so Sirius transformed into Padfoot and Harry into Pup. Susan gasped, as Amelia crouched down to the two canines and petted them. Harry then gave in to the Grimm's instincts, red-eyed and smoke breathing.
"A Grimm!" both ladies screamed. Sirius joined in with the same and Susan almost fainted. Slowly, the two transformed back. It took the Bones girls a long time to calm down.
When she had calmed down adequately, she asked, "Can you teach me?"
"I can. But I won't. Generally, ladies are taught by ladies and males are taught by males – unless a husband or a wife teaches their spouse. You will realise why." That caused Susan to blush heavily.
"And, well, Susan that, is why we call each other some sort of dog-appellation. Harry is my Pup, and I was once known as – and still am – Padfoot. Does that answer the question you asked us yesterday?"
"It does." Susan then looked at the two oddly and said, "Who could've imagined seeing you two in your natural habitats?"
"You mean as domestic dogs?" asked Sirius, making her crack up again. "No; seriously, you liked Pafoo' and Onsh as you called us, very much, especially our fur. You were one bad fur puller. In fact, both I and Prongs, I mean James, Harry's dad, used to take you on rides when you were very little. We always made sure to hide from your Aunt though."
"What was he?" Susan asked curiously.
"A stag – you loved his antlers." They talked some more about little Susan, and her parents, and Susan found that she liked Sirius very much.
Amelia felt relieved. Susan was the most important person for her, and she had taken to Sirius quite easily. It had been something she feared while moving their relationship ahead.
After breakfast, they went first to Grimmauld Place, the London home of the House of Black. Wands out, Sirius and Harry made small slices to their thumbs and wiped the blood on the door. Amelia and Susan waited outside on the pavement, sitting on chairs Sirius had conjured, under notice-me-not, disillusionment and repellent charms. Whichever way they looked at things, Kreacher was of questionable sanity. Until the elf and the portrait had been dealt with, they weren't going to subject either of them to the bleak old House. It was simply too dangerous and not worth the risk.
Back-to-back, they entered the House. By the time Harry had first entered Grimmauld Place in the O.T., it was already being inhabited by people; so most of the undesirable magic had been done away with. When they found large enough space for them to stand without being hurt in anyway, Sirius called Kreacher. The elf popped into existence in front of them immediately and started hurling nasty abuses.
"Dirty half-blood and blood-traitor scum of my mistress' loins is being returning and orders Kreacher around like he is Master..."
"I am your Master, Kreacher. I'm Lord Black," Sirius growled, thrusting his ring into Kreacher's face. He wanted nothing more than to beat the snot out of this thing – he had hated the elf all his life. But Sirius did not want to show what Harry called his Vernon side. It had been the ultimate insult from his godson. So he hurried on. "Kreacher, I know that my brother had told you to destroy a locket he had stolen from the Dark Lord. I know how to destroy it. I order you to give it to me after removing any magic you have placed on it."
Instantly, the wretched creature's demeanour changed. "Bad master is being knowing how to destroy the locket? It be's dirty and evil."
"I know how, Kreacher. Regulus was doing just the same thing I was and am doing – we were both fighting the Dark Lord. Regulus was more efficient by far, yet."
"But how is bad master being opens locket?"
Harry crouched down to Kreacher's level, making sure to display his Heirs' Ring and Slytherin House Ring. "You couldn't have opened it Kreacher. It was Salazar Slytherin's locket. You would need to speak Parseltongue to open it." He showed his rings to the elf whose eyes widened, and continued, "I am a Parselmouth, Kreacher, and I am also Lord Slytherin. The locket will open for me."
"Nasty half-blood is being Lord Slytherin?" Kreacher asked almost reverently.
"I am."
"Mistress!" shouted the elf. "Mistress! Lord Black and Lord Slytherin is being coming into this home!" The Portrait immediately started screaming and screeching. Only the words ensured that it was not in distaste. Neither had time to deal with the demented portrait as of then, so Sirius flicked his wand (twelve inches, holly and dragon heartstring) and shut the curtains over the portrait.
"Kreacher, time is of essence if we wish to destroy the locket. I don't want to talk to my mother," he said with a sarcastic stress, "right now. Just bring the true locket here. Remove any magic you have placed on it. Do not try to find any loopholes or technicalities in my orders. Also, henceforth, you are never to believe in the pureblood supremacy beliefs. You will make a list of everything that anyone in the family has ever spoken in your presence or ordered you to do. After that, you will forget everything, except for any orders that you shall be given after this sentence ends. You will never answer to Bellatrix or Narcissa. Draco and Lucius are dead, and so is Rudolphus. I have reinstated Andromeda and her daughter, who has the gift of House Black. Her husband is now a son of the House of Black. Remember, Amelia Bones, Harry and I, as of now, are the only people you will answer to. Do you understand everything?"
"Yes master."
"Look, I don't hate you Kreacher. I just have to do Regulus' work fast, or his death will be a waste. Do you want that?"
"NO! Master Regulus be dying bad death. Kreacher is not wastes it!" He popped off and brought the Horcrux to them. Sirius retrieved the crystal case and gingerly placed the locket in it with a look of utmost disgust. The glazed look Kreacher had in his eyes dissipated almost instantly.
Harry crouched down to Kreacher's level. "Kreacher, I'm going to destroy that portrait of Lady Walburga. I want it replaced by a portrait of Regulus. Afterwards, if you want, you can have a new portrait of Lady Walburga commissioned to keep in your room. I also want you to clean up the House of Black and make it fit for the residence of the Lord of an Ancient and Most Noble House. Whatever changes you can make, just ask Sirius, okay? On second thoughts, ask Amelia and Susan. Can you do that?" He did not wait for the Elf to answer. He summoned Gryffindor's sword and slashed across the woman who tortured Sirius. The deafening shrieks of pain died out after some time.
"I will be doings that, brat-master Harry."
"Good; now remember to never use the words blood traitor, half-blood, or mudblood. If you want to use a term for muggle-born people, just use the term Salazar Slytherin coined: newblood. Do you understand?"
"Yes Master."
"Now, I will send over Winky elf to help you."
"Master sends Winky?" Kreacher asked in unabashed joy. "Master is beings very kind! Winky is being Kreacher Elf's granddaughter! She is working with Crouchy!"
"No longer, Kreacher. Sirius is now also going to be Lord-Regent Bones. Winky works for Amelia now."
"Thank you, kind master!"
"And Kreacher, I want you to wear some clothes. I am not freeing you," he added hastily at the Elf's mounting shock and dismay. "I just want you dressed in a manner that is befitting your status as the elf of an Ancient and Most Noble House. These rags do not befit that position. If I show you the clothes, can you make them for yourself?"
"I is being doing that Master." He was shown a tuxedo, which he copied and promised to tailor and wear. He also promised to learn and speak proper English
"Excellent! Get to work then, Kreacher, we've this House's reputation to salvage!"
"That went well," muttered Sirius, as he let in Amelia and Susan, both of whom grimaced immediately at the state of the House.
"Well we did attack his pulse point. Praise Regulus and voila, Kreacher is a wonderful help." Sirius nodded grimly.
The work at the Gaunt Shack was done far too easily. Firstly, the Peverell House Ring was a Portkey straight to the Shack. Then it instructed him on the way to remove the enchantments on the Shack. There were three poisonous snakes, none of them indigenous, which were killed by slicing with the Sword. The access was also similarly easy. It was when they reached the ring that Sirius had to be stunned. He didn't have Cassiopeia teaching him Occlumency. After firing several superpowered 'Finite Incantatem' at the Ring, Harry could feel the banging of the spells on his shields reducing to a dull thrum. He nearly forgot about the Elder Wand. A 'Finite Incantatem' using that resolved the issue altogether. It was only then that he levitated it into the case. He revived Sirius before sagging in tiredness. The fight against Voldemort's spells had taken a lot out of him, again. Sirius quickly apparated him to Grimmauld Place again, where he was forced to sleep off the effects after a hearty snack.
Later that evening, Amelia received a communication from the Auror guarding Dumbledore (he was a high security patient). The old man had woken. He had also specifically asked to meet Harry. The way in which Harry's face contorted in fury, hatred and indignation scared his companions, none more so than Susan. At least the other two knew why.
But then, instead of blowing up as he so very wanted to, he took a deep breath and composed his face into an expressionless mask. The sudden change scared them far more. "This is going to be the real Dumbledore," he murmured to himself. "Sirius, Auntie Amy, would you two mind coming with me? I have no intention to be alone around him."
"That goes without saying, Pup."
"No. Understand the seriousness of the situation, Sirius," he said with a glare, and in a tone that Sirius did not come up with the pun-joke. "This is Dumbledore we are talking about. This is Dumbledore, who I have defeated – as was necessary – by spurious means. If he is still under the effect of that spell, he will be liable to try anything."
"Paranoid, much?"
"If I were Voldemort or Snape, I would have contingency plans in place to ensure that the control would continue unimpeded. I would have started Dumbledore on a regimen of mind-altering potions while he was under my control to infuse my thought process into him, making it as natural as would be possible."
"When did you last meet Mad-Eye, Harry?" Amelia asked innocently.
"Not yet, in the here and now. But that doesn't mean I am being needlessly paranoid. There simply is no scope for being careless. I would appreciate if you two spoke to Dumbledore for the most part. I want to observe. Let me predict. He will start off with "Harry, my boy," and all that faux joviality, before giving you a condescending acknowledgement. This is pure, classic Dumbledore – a move to ensure that you will start to feel fidgety, as if you are intruding. If I am right, and no offence Suzy, but he won't even acknowledge you.
"Next, he will try to get you out of the room by saying that he has something important to discuss. The Dumbledore under Snape's control might even have laced his words with a mild compulsion. I am not sure about this one. He'll then talk about absolutely nothing of importance when you refuse to leave. At this point, I will deal with him."
You seem to have too much information on everyone, including their actions, Harry," Susan said suspiciously.
"Of course I do. It is my business to know other people's business," he said with a Lockhart-esque grin.
"You really are a smug prat aren't you, you git?"
"If Auntie Amy had allowed it, I would have wagered you twenty galleons."
"Right now, given how – as Susan said – you are being a smug prat, I myself will wager you fifty," Amelia said.
"Prepare to lose, woman!"
The four stood in St. Mungo's the following day, the 20th of December, awaiting clearance to be met by Dumbledore. Even as they waited, Harry turned over all three wands to Sirius. He did not want to be enticed by the idea of killing Dumbledore. The man in question looked totally different when they finally saw him. His hair and beard had both been trimmed to give him the appearance of an old man admitted for his age related problems. Harry schooled his face into an expressionless mask and mercilessly squashed his bloodthirsty side down. He wanted Dumbledore to make all the mistakes. Moreover, as he had to remind himself yet again, this was now in a fairly high probability, the real Dumbledore. He would have to be studied before any stand with or against him could be taken.
"Ah, Harry my boy," said the man jovially, "and who's this? Sirius and Amelia is that you? Please do sit." Sirius had brought along a bag of sherbet lemons and other assorted sweets. Dumbledore ruffled through them and beamed at the man. "Thank you so much Sirius."
The Blacks and Bones sat in the chairs reserved for visitors. Susan was fidgeting as she only knew that her three companions were in total disagreement with the Headmaster. The other three just stared at Dumbledore who was happily sucking on a sherbet lemon. The Auror on guard duty and the Healer assigned to Dumbledore looked at the man with a mixture of reverence for who he was, confusion regarding his behaviour and pity because they felt his age was finally catching up with him. When neither side spoke for at least five minutes, and both his overseers had seen that the visitors which included Sirius Black and Harry Potter, and Director Bones and her niece had not responded to Dumbledore's pleasantries whatsoever.
"Professor Dumbledore?" asked the Auror. "You called these people."
"What? Oh yes." Then he frowned. "I only called Harry." As one all four stood up and made to leave. The healer, Auror and patient were flabbergasted.
"He wanted to talk to Lord Potter, Director Bones!" protested the Auror.
Amelia was not amenable to being questioned in this matter. Harry had pegged Dumbledore perfectly. He had done exactly what Harry had said he would.
"Lord Potter is Lord Black's son. And I am here to accompany them. You, Wilbert, have no business to decide whether Lord Potter wants to talk to someone or not. And may I remind you, that your loyalty should lie not with individuals but with your job. Right now, you are showing excessive loyalty to Mister Dumbledore." The Auror Harris Wilbert stepped back.
"Amelia, listen now," protested Dumbledore. "I just wanted to have a very important discussion with Harry here..."
"Whatever you want to say to him will have to be said in the presence of Amelia or me. I am his godfather, and she is someone he trusts. If you have anything to say, it will be with us present or not at all. And if you do care, Albus, then you shall ask for privacy from your babysitters as well." Sirius' voice was soft, menacing, but filled with contempt against the man who had connived to tear his family apart. "We know much more than you ever would Albus, and I think it is time you stop throwing tantrums and get of your high chair. Be a man for once, if you have the courage." He looked to the Healer Martins and Auror Wilbert and said softly, but firmly, "Get out." Under the combined glares of three extremely politically powerful people, one of whom still had the wildness of Azkaban, the two hastened out of the door.
Amelia was about to cast standard protective charms and wards, but Harry stopped her. He took back and used the Elder Wand (Amelia, Susan and Sirius' eyes widened upon seeing Harry use Dumbledore's wand) and silently cast all the protections Hermione did and then added a level of imperturbability to the protections. From the corner of his eye he could see Dumbledore look at the wand with wistful longing and smiled to himself. Once he was done, he pushed all the chairs together and transfigured them into a squashy couch large enough to seat them all and then nodded to Amelia and Sirius to signify that he was done.
"Do you even need to speak the incantations anymore, Harry?" Dumbledore asked in what seemed to be genuine curiosity. Perhaps it really was, for Fawkes flashed in to Dumbledore's side and perched on the head of his bed. The bird then started crooning slightly, calming tempers. Harry looked at Sirius to intervene.
"He hasn't needed to speak the incantations since the end of last term," Sirius replied shortly. Then with definite pride in his voice, he said, "He can even cast the Patronus Charm silently!"
"Oh? Would you care to show us, Harry?"
Sirius gripped Harry's shoulder and gave the one finger tap sign signifying 'yes'. Harry went a step further, and sent a Hamper to Dumbledore, aimed at helping whatever goodness remained in the man. The Patroni swirled around him and around Fawkes. The Phoenix was a symbol of purity of being, but the Patronus was a symbol of purity of magic. Fawkes trilled a long song happily. As 'Mione pawed gingerly at Albus, he gave a heartfelt sigh and said, "Marvellous!"
"Is that why you wanted to meet him, Albus? To see his Patroni or his control on his magic?" asked Amelia with an air of impatience. She caught the look in Harry's eyes that announced without words that he had won the wager. Amelia so hated to lose and she had just lost fifty galleons.
Harry had an extreme urge to strengthen his Occlumency shields to maximum all of a sudden as they waited for Dumbledore's answer.
"No, Amelia. I wanted to thank him."
"Oh?" asked Sirius. Of the others, Amelia had schooled her surprise, Susan hadn't and Harry remained impassive. Dumbledore frowned.
"Yes. I believe it was Harry who freed Fawkes from the curse. By killing Snape," Dumbledore spat the name, "he freed me from the control. Do you know how the curse works, Sirius?"
"I cannot say that I do, Headmaster."
"It works on two components. One is the casting and the other is the control. Anyone loyal to the caster could perform the control part. The only rider is that if the controller is of lesser power than the controlled, the curse has to be renewed frequently."
"Is it so?" asked Director Bones.
"Yes. Severus had to reassert the control every two days."
"I see. Is that all?"
"You do not want to say anything?"
"You called us because you wanted to speak. As of yet, we haven't had any fruitful discussion to which to respond, Headmaster," Harry tiredly said. "As of yet, the only things we've heard is blaming. Professor, you're trying to blame your failings on a man who I never respected, always hated but still will give the honour reserved to an opponent. Why are you denigrating the dead?"
"You are defending Severus, I see."
"You know full well, that it's Garnarukran tradition to honour the enemy too, if he died in battle, fighting honourably. I can see you are playing games. And I don't have much patience to deal with you. I'll ask you outright. What do you want?"
"Indeed. What do I want? I want two things, chiefly. Firstly, I want the answer to a question. How did you feel when you killed Severus?"
"I knew I had to kill him. I am not happy that I had to take his life, but I wanted revenge. Most importantly, I wanted to ensure that Voldemort would not remain alive due to this one Death Eater. I feel sad that I had to take yet another life, but I don't feel sad that I took out an enemy, one among the rank of the hostiles, preemptively."
Dumbledore started chuckling. "You, my boy, have become grey. This is most excellent." Fawkes trilled in agreement. "If you had felt elated that you killed him, beyond the fact that you defeated him, I would've thought that you were going on the path to darkness. I will not deny you the happiness and relief that revenge, however fleeting, will bring you."
"Alright," Harry dismissed with a shrug.
"The second thing," Dumbledore pushed on, "is that I ask you to forgive me for everything."
All the visitors were quiet. "No. You don't deserve forgiveness, yet. Like all things, it too has to be earned."
Dumbledore looked at Harry with shrewdness and contemplation. "Is that the way you will think, Harry? I don't have many years to live. Who knows, you might miss your chance to forgive me."
"I think that would be you missing your chance at redemption. As I said, you have to earn your peace of mind. Only that way can one truly enjoy it."
"You have changed."
"Being forced to live by others' decisions makes a cocoon, Headmaster. Breaking free makes one stronger."
"What do you think I need to do?" Dumbledore asked curiously. He was having a discussion about the nature of change and forgiveness and all such things with a thirteen year old.
"You need to forgive yourself for the four deaths you have never forgiven yourself. You have to realise that the one truth that you seek, it no longer matters. You have to realise that one day, they will all still be there for you, waiting, on the other side. I know, for I have been there, Headmaster. You have let sorrow and misplaced guilt blind yourself. They have made you remiss in your duty. You strive to drive others away from the pain you felt, but forget that emotions don't fight a war. Justice does. I will tell you what you once told me. Do what is right, not what is easy. You forgot to punish your students' misdemeanour, hoping they would find the error in their ways. Now, only death can correct them."
"You know..." Dumbledore whispered, wide-eyed.
"I do. There are some people I met in a place that people fear, but shouldn't, apart from Dad, Mum, and both sets of Grandparents." Here Sirius clasped his shoulder very painfully. "It was the night when I oscillated between the worlds as I tried to get rid of a parasite. Those people told me that I had to free you before I could relay their message and forgiveness."
"Are you... do you mean...?"
"Yes. You know, I crossed over briefly when I got my scar cleansed. It was so nice, peaceful and happy. Everything here seemed so pointless and meaningless – mere squabbles of overgrown bullies. But those people, a little girl who was distressed by your first fall and lost her life in it, in particular told me that for all your great capabilities as a Warlock, a Wizard and sorcerer, you have always been a bit too susceptible to idealistic suggestion. She is unhappy that you have kept her killer – who also took away her niece and nephew – alive, still." Dumbledore nearly shot up and winced in pain. Sirius and Harry helped him become comfortable again. "She is not happy. But she understands why it pains you. So let me relay, in their words, "You are forgiven. For whatever it is that you wish to be forgiven, you are forgiven. Just don't fail those that still look up to you for guidance. Trust those who trust you." I've quoted it, headmaster, as I was told."
"Are they happy?" Dumbledore asked.
"Where they are, Professor, no unhappiness can touch them. There are slight disagreements, of course, but unhappiness? No. I can testify, sir, that it was just too great a temptation to stay back."
Dumbledore cracked a wan smile. "Did she say when I could join?"
"No sir. I truly do not know. May I be so audacious as to quote what you said to me once back to you? "Death is but the next great adventure," you had said. Perhaps not knowing is what makes it that much more...adventurous?" Here Dumbledore chuckled outright. "She did say though, that you still have some work to do with leading Magical Britain through the reformation it needs direly. How long that will take, she truly did not say."
There was a protracted, but not uncomfortable bout of silence. "That still leaves the part regarding you forgiving me."
Harry sighed. "I do not know. I am not yet ready to forgive you sir. Your actions, even though not your own, probably," he added with a rather pronounced stress which told everyone that Dumbledore was not yet of the hook, "have caused me far more hurt and damage than a person can possibly bear. I came very near to snapping and travelling down that path that Tom Riddle walked – minus the quest for immortality, of course. The ones in that place helped me. But I have still a lot to heal, and you have still a lot to atone for, before I may be ready to forgive you. To forgive will mean that I shall trust you once again as much I once did, and I must say it without hesitation that such trust, as of now, exists not. It may come in time, but that time is not now."
"I understand," replied Dumbledore. "I have failed you and the whole of magical Britain for the past several years. I must confess that I have spent all the time after you came out of that Chamber stewing over perceived slights to me, without considering the consequences of my actions. Whether or not those thoughts and actions were mine is of no importance. But I must say that this is most excellent. I thank you for being so forthright. I must say that I am proud of the person you are becoming, and that I think I rather like you this way than the person you would have become if you had been on the path that my actions had set out for you."
"Thank you, sir."
"With that in mind, I must ask you, what do you think I should do?"
"You are far more experienced, far wiser than I will ever be, sir. At best I can only suggest that you should not forget that people have lives and that every life is valuable, except if it is that of a DE. Do not consider this as me pointing out your mistakes sir, but we would like it if you became a teacher again. We have been here for nearly half an hour, sir, but you have not even acknowledged Susan. She is your student too, sir, and you have not set a very good example for a teacher. Sirius was exonerated, and it was your moral and legal responsibility to ensure that no innocent suffered the horrors of Azkaban. You failed him, far worse than you failed me. He was your student once, who fought with and for you in the last war, and yet lost twelve years of his life to terrible horrors. You offer him no apologies and also nothing more than simple acknowledgement. Director Bones, another ex-student, is an upstanding witch of honour, who has chosen to talk to you instead of revelling in Christmas with her newfound family in what little respite she finds from her work. Again, you do not find in yourself to talk to her. It is these things that the person I told you about warns you against. People, and not agendas, make society, war and anything that is not material."
Dumbledore ducked his head, before turning to Susan. "Please accept my apologies, Miss Bones. It truly seems that I've lost touch with my students. It seems I really have fallen too far. And Sirius, I think we need to have a long talk when I am finally released from this gaol. And the same goes for you, Amelia. May I belay my congratulations on your impending marriage?"
"Thank you, Headmaster," Lord Black said simply.
"I've something to be given to you as a sign, Professor," Harry said seriously. "I believe I'll take your leave now. The visiting hours draw to a close. I've family to visit." He made to leave, but paused and placed a package one containing what were surely books and the other pudgy on the bedside table. "I've a question. If there was a choice between saving one immediately and sacrificing this one person for the betterment of the Wizarding World or for a chance to help someone redeem themselves or for a spy to keep his position, what would you choose? Saving the person or the other option?"
Dumbledore stumbled over his words. "I...don't really know. I'd like to think I'd do whatever is correct in the situation."
Dumbledore immediately realised that it wasn't the correct answer. Harry's face went as blank as a clean board and just as impassive as well. "I see." Two words said in the most inflectionless and emotionless manner told Dumbledore that he had just made yet another mistake. He seemed to make too many of those, lately.
The old man could only look at his pupil's departing back with much sadness. He could recognise the mistakes – his mistakes, irrespective of whether or not he was controlled – had caused this seemingly irreparable breach between them.
"Hello godmother," he said softly. "Hello Uncle Frank." He patted each of their hands in turn. "I didn't know much, you know. I didn't know you before. I didn't even know of you before. So forgive me if I don't know what to say. Anyway, I duelled against Snape to the death last month. We even caught and killed Peter. I am sorry to give you the bad news. He and Fenrir's pack ate Mr. Dearborn, your brother. And it was Peter who betrayed you, using the slip of parchment. I'm sorry. So is Sirius. But don't you worry, godmother. I've Neville's back, just as he has mine. He is going to kill Crouch now. He is a very strong Wizard, you know?
"I don't know if you can hear me. But it is alright. I just wanted to meet you again. I must have done so, before. I will go now. I will come again. It was nice meeting you."
Back in his room, Dumbledore opened the books-package first. It contained a letter.
Respected Headmaster,
Are you Bilbo Baggins, enamoured by power you should not hold? Are you Bilbo Baggins, unable to get past the responsibility of holding power which you shouldn't? There are several Frodos willing to help you share the burden!
Are you Théoden, led astray by the words of your Wormtongue? Your Wormtongue, Snape, is no more. Will you gather the strength to fight again to defend what is right?
Are you Isildur, who made the mistake of letting evil to fester? Become Aragorn instead, willing to fight the grim fight to correct those mistakes!
Are you Gandalf the Grey, lost in the abyss to a fight you chose? Be resurrected as Gandalf the White. Are you Saruman, led astray by the enemy? Give up the lust for power, for knowledge and wisdom are your greatest strengths. Gather elf, man and dwarf, and lead the fight against the darkness that approaches.
The Elves of Rivendell await you on the shores to the West, willing to accept you if you are true. We need you as Gandalf again, superior in knowledge, skill and wisdom.
Read the books and you will see that, there are parallels. We are there to help you pick up the strings of the fight, where you were forced to abandon them.
Yours in Disappointment, and in Hope,
Harry James Potter
The Books were The Silmarillion; The Hobbit; The Fellowship of the Ring; The Two Towers; and The Return of the King. Dumbledore was intrigued. Nobody had ever given him muggle books before.
The other package was soft. He opened it to find thick woollen socks.
"Arianna, Marianne, Percival and Persephone forgive you. Forgive yourself. This token is from them. Gellert Grindelwald is a chink in the Order's Armour. Execute him immediately."
Sirius, Susan and Amelia were shocked as Dumbledore said, "Thank you, Harry, my boy," before he started sobbing.
Later that evening, Sirius anonymously dropped in a tip regarding the curse, and also a suggestion to check for mind-altering potions. He then spent the rest of his time making plans for the seventy galleons his son had won from his wife and niece to be.