After dinner that evening the students were sent off to Gryffindor common room while the Order had a meeting.
Harry and Ginny were sitting in Harry's favourite chair, Ron and Draco were playing chess, and Neville, Hermione and Luna were all reading.
Hermione looked up from her book. "Harry, what-" she began to say but stopped and smiled.
Harry was asleep in the chair with his arms wrapped around a sleeping Ginny. The others looked up when Hermione stopped mid sentence. "Madam Pomfrey did say they'd get tired earlier tonight" Draco said.
Hermione nodded. "Yeah, but if Bill, Percy and Charlie see them sleeping like that…" She trailed off.
"I don't think there'll be much trouble" Ron said, gaining confused looks from everyone. "They were talking to mum and dad about it after we left the hospital wing" he explained. "Mum and Dad know something that none of us do."
"I think all the adults do" said Neville quietly, "they've all been acting strange when it comes to Harry and Ginny." The other four nodded in agreement.
Two and a half hours after dinner everyone that was staying in the tower walked through the portrait hole. "Long meeting" said Ron.
Sirius, the first one through, nodded. "What have you lot been up to?" he asked.
"Hermione, Neville and Luna were reading, and Draco and I have been playing chess" said Ron.
"What about Ginny and Harry?" asked Bill, frowning.
"They fell asleep not long after we got back" said Hermione, nodding to the chair they were asleep in.
Bill, Charlie and Percy moved to see what she was talking about while Sirius watched them closely. But to everyone's surprise they just left them without saying a word.
Sirius looked at them, surprised, then looked at the others. "Come on, Molly said if you were all up to shift you to bed" he said.
"But Sirius…" moaned Ron.
"Don't 'but Sirius' me, I've been on your mother's bad side once tonight and I don't plan on being again. Now off to bed" he said sternly, although there was a twinkle in his eye.
Bill, who was behind Sirius, nodded to his youngest brother. When Ron, Hermione, Luna, Neville and Draco had all gone up to bed along with the twins Bill looked at his sister and her boyfriend.
"What about them?" he asked Sirius.
Sirius looked at them and was surprised to see Harry's green eyes looking up at him. "How long have you been awake?" he asked.
"I heard you come in" said Harry sleepily then shook Ginny gently. "Come on Gin, you have to go up to bed" he said.
Ginny nodded sleepily and got off of his lap, mumbling a good night to them all before heading up to the room she shared with Luna and Hermione.
When she was gone Harry looked at the four wizards in front of him. "Why is Mrs Weasley angry at you?" he asked Sirius.
"Usual reason" said Sirius, smiling. Harry smiled slightly too. "Get to bed kiddo; you look dead on your feet." Harry nodded, saying good night then going up to his dorm room.
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The next few days went back to normal routine. Harry and Ginny went for their runs, once of twice bringing Sirius along as well. It was pretty difficult to pull him out of bed but they just about managed.
On Wednesday Harry and Ginny were up first as usual. When they met down in the common room Ginny asked "will we bring Snuffles with us today?" she asked, teasingly.
Harry nodded. "I think so." He smiled and they walked up the staircase quietly so as to not wake any one else.
When they reached Sirius' room Harry opened the door quietly and peeked his head in. He frowned and stood up, looking around. "Padfoot?" he asked.
"Yeah, kiddo?" Harry turned to see Sirius standing in the bathroom doorway.
"You're up early" said Harry.
Sirius smiled. "Well, I thought getting myself up would be better then you two waking me up some godforsaken way."
"Aw, I wanted to try the bucket of cold water" said Ginny. "Remus said that makes you scream like a girl."
Sirius looked from one to the other. "I was wondering how you knew how to wake me" he said then smiled evilly. "I need to make a small stop on the way outside."
Then the three of them left Gryffindor tower and Sirius led them to Tonks' room, which she had been sharing with Remus since Harry's Birthday.
"Lady Daffodil" said Sirius to the coat of arms which stepped aside.
"How did you know the password?" asked Ginny.
Sirius grinned. "I heard Dumbledore tell them."
They tiptoed into the room. The first room they walked into was a living room with a sofa, desk and fireplace. "It's nice" said Ginny.
Sirius walked over to where there was another room, poking his head around the doorway to make sure they were both still asleep. He waved Harry and Ginny to come over to him but they both shook their heads, grinning. Sirius shoulders slumped and he sighed.
He walked back over to them. "They are perfectly covered" he said. They still looked hesitant. "Oh come on, you'll never become the next generation of Marauders if you act like this" he said, mockingly.
"Fine" they said together and followed Sirius into the bedroom. The three emerged ten minutes later with smiles on their faces.
"Okay, now we can go" said Sirius, smiling.
The three of them then went down to the lake for a run with Sirius in his dog form. They ran for an hour before heading back into the castle and showering and changing.
When the three of them were dressed they headed down to the Great Hall to eat and talk. "So what are you up to today, Sirius?" asked Ginny while eating her boiled egg and toast.
"I need to go to Gringotts to work out some investments" he said. "You two got your lessons today?" They nodded. "What are you going to do for the morning?" he asked.
Ginny shrugged. "Tell the wizarding world I'm of age" said Harry casually.
"You sure you want to do that, Harry?" Sirius asked. "You don't have to if you don't want to. Don't let Fudge bully you."
Harry nodded "I want to. I talked to the Headmaster last night about it and it's all set up" he said. "Will you come with me, Sirius?"
"Of course, kiddo" said his godfather.
Not long after that everyone started to come down to breakfast. Soon enough Tonks and Lupin were the only ones not at breakfast.
"Have Tonks and Lupin gone out?" asked Ro. But after a second her question was answered for her.
"SIRIUS ALPHARD BLACK" echoed through the halls.
"Nope" Sirius said, turning to the doors and waiting for his cousin. He only had to wait a second.
"Okay, the wake up call was funny" she said without even a hello to anyone. "But this," she said, pointing to her long Black hair, "This is going too far. Now fix it!"
Sirius frowned. "I didn't do that" he said. He looked at Harry and Ginny. "Did you?" They shook their heads. Just then Lupin walked through the door too. Sirius looked up at him then fell to the floor, laughing uncontrollably.
"It's not funny, Padfoot" growled Lupin. Sirius looked up at his friend again which only caused him to laugh harder. There stood Remus J. Lupin with bright pink heart. "Sirius, I suggest you fix this before I kill you" he said dangerously.
"None of us did that, Remus" said Harry. "We don't know how to fix it."
"Could have to do with the full moon" said Sophia.
"But that's not till Saturday week" said Tonks then looked at Sirius who was still laughing. "Would you shut up?" she snapped.
Sirius looked up at his little cousin. "Oh, like you didn't fall into a laughing fit when you saw his hair." Tonks smiled slightly. "See." She rolled her eyes.
"Back to how to fix my hair?" Lupin reminded them.
"And mine" added Tonks.
"Can't you just morph it?" asked Hermione.
"No" Tonks sulked, sitting in the seat Sirius had fallen out of. "I can't morph everything" she said.
"I'm sure its nothing, dear, and it will just wear off" said McGonagall, reassuringly. "Maybe let Poppy have a look at the two of you after breakfast." She looked at Madame Pomfrey, who nodded.
"Good. Now both of you eat up and Sirius, get off the floor" said Dumbledore. Soon enough everyone was eating again.
Half an hour later Tonks and Lupin went up with Madam Pomfrey to the hospital wing while the others headed off to work or their classes.
"Harry, we'll be leaving for the Ministry in half an hour" said Dumbledore. Harry nodded. "I'll meet you and Sirius in the Entrance Hall."
"Yes, Sir" said Harry and Dumbledore left. Harry turned to Sirius and Ginny.
"You should change into your green robes" said his godfather. Harry nodded. "I'll meet you back here in half an hour" he said.
"Okay" answered Harry and took Ginny's hand. They walked back up to Gryffindor tower and up to Harry's room.
As soon as they were in the room Ginny kissed Harry. "What was that for?" Harry asked.
Ginny shrugged. "Hadn't done it in a while" she said.
"Well, in that case…" He leant in and kissed her. They spent the next ten minutes making out before Ginny pulled away.
"You really should get ready" she said. Harry nodded, getting off his bed where they had been lying and moved to his trunk where his green robes were neatly folded.
He went into the bathroom to change and when he came back out a few minutes later he looked at his watch. "I better get back down to the Entrance Hall" he said.
She nodded and stood up, kissing him again. "It'll be okay" she said.
Then they walked back down to the Entrance Hall where Sirius was waiting. A second later Dumbledore came down the marble staircase. Harry kissed Ginny on the cheek again before the three wizards walked out of the castle.
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To none of their surprise as soon as they apparated into the lobby of the Ministry everyone started to stare. Dumbledore took no notice of them and began to walk over to the elevators.
After six floors the three got out and followed walked along the corridor to a large door. Before going in Dumbledore turned to Harry. "Are you ready?" he asked.
"As I'll ever be" he answered. Dumbledore smiled and nodded before walking into the room, Harry behind him and Sirius taking the rear.
As soon as he walked in Harry could feel all eyes on him. The room was about the size of Dumbledore's office and full of reporters from all the wizarding magazines. Dumbledore walked over to where the Minster was standing next to a podium.
"Mr Potter, Mr Black" he greeted them. Sirius just nodded.
"Minster" said Harry.
After a moment of talking Fudge stepped forwarded to the podium and addressed the reporters. "Good morning" he said, "I assume you are all wondering why you have been called here. Well, as of last 30th July Mr Harry Potter has been recognised by the Ministry as a legal adult."
The room erupted with voices asking questions. Fudge raised his hand to silence them and after a moment the voices died down. "I will let Mr Potter answer your questions himself" he said then looked at Harry, who steeped forward.
"Good morning" he said. "I assume you all have a lot of questions to why I, at the age of sixteen, am of legal age. Well to put it plainly I am the last living Potter. I have taken my place as my head of house in conjunction with the wizarding laws" he explained. "If any of you have any questions please raise your hand."
Many hands rose and Harry pointed to a thin man with a moustache. "Michael Lewis, Daily Wizard. Why have you only come out about this fact now?"
"I didn't see the need. The Minster knew, along with some other Ministry officials" answered Harry.
Harry spent the next five minutes answering questions before pointing to a young looking man at the back. "What do you plan on doing with Hogwarts?" he asked.
Harry frowned. "I don't understand what you mean" he said.
"You are the heir to the four founders are you not, Mr Potter?" the man asked.
Harry stared at him. "And who exactly are you?"
"James Tynan" the man said. "Are you discarding your claim to the Hogwarts fortune, Mr Potter?"
Harry knew that name and he smiled slightly. "No Mr Tynan, I don't plan on disowning my claim" he said calmly.
Sirius looked at Dumbledore. "Who is that man?" he asked.
"One of the board members' grandsons" replied Dumbledore.
"Are you saying that you are the founders' heir?" the reporter from the Daily Prophet asked.
Dumbledore stepped up behind Harry. "Hogwarts has accepted him as the heir and all evidence shows that Harry is the last living member of all four founders" he said calmly.
"No offence, headmaster, but you have to admit this is a little farfetched" another reporter said.
"Actually, it's not" said a voice said from the back of the room. "Gryffindor predicted himself who the heir to the founders would be and Mr Potter fits that description perfectly." The owner of the voice stepped out of the shadows. "Not to mention if you trace his own family back it links with all four founders."
Clara McGonagall looked up at the podium and spoke again. "And before anyone decides to take judgment on a sixteen year old taking on all that responsibility, Mr Potter has already shown he can handle it in the last few weeks."
"And you are?" one of the reporters asked.
"She is my link with the governors and governesses that control the goings on in Hogwarts" said Harry.
"Clara McGonagall" said another reporter. "So you agree with letting Mr Potter run the school?"
"Actually, the headmaster runs the school" she said. "But I agree with letting Mr Potter have control of the goings on."
"What about in the term time, Mr Potter? What will you do then?"
"I have already discussed that with the headmaster and three people that will help me out."
"Yeah, two werewolves and a Black" said Tynan, snorting.
"Is that true?" asked another reporter.
"What?" asked Harry, "that Sirius will be working for me?"
"No, that you've hired two werewolves?" asked the reporter.
"Yes" was all Harry said, as if it was nothing out of the ordinary.
"Do you have any idea what you are doing?"
Harry looked at the woman who had spoken. "I know full well what I am doing by hiring them, Madam" he said, "and I will not judge them on something that happens to them once a month. Both of them are on the Wolfsbane potion and will remain on it as part of their contract."
"So you believe in werewolves' rights?"
"Yes" said Harry, forcefully. "You have no right to judge my decision on hiring them. Nobody does. I should not have to justify my actions to any of you. I will do what is needed to keep Hogwarts safe from Voldemort as well as ensuring it runs smoothly." He stepped away from the podium and walked out the door, ignoring the cringes at Voldemort's name and the uproar of objections and questions.
Sirius ran after Harry as he left the room, closely followed by Dumbledore and Clara. Harry kept walking until he reached the elevator. By the time it reached their floor the other three had reached the doors.
The five stepped into the lift and Sirius pushed the button in silence. None of them spoke while it moved. Harry was the first to step out of the elevator into the lobby and Sirius sent Dumbledore a worried look. Just as Sirius, Dumbledore and Clara reached the apparition point Harry disappeared in a silent pop.
When the three arrived in the Hogwarts grounds none of them were very surprised to hear Harry yelling loudly at nothing in particular.
"Harry?" said Sirius cautiously but Harry changed into his lion form and ran off in the direction on the lake. Sirius made to go after him but Dumbledore stopped him.
"Leave him be for the moment, Sirius" said the headmaster, placing a hand on the other wizard's shoulder. The three of them watched the golden lion leap across the grounds.
TBC…
