Darkness on the Horizon Chapter 16: Third Year - Rescuing a Grim, a harry potter fanfic

Hadrian had decided to put Tom's diary at the back of his mind, and focus on slightly more important things.

Mainly, getting, his dogfather out of Azkaban.

"So, we need to convince Fudge to give him a trial. If only we could find Pettigrew..."

Hadrian and Dudley, along with Grandma Dorea's potrait, were in the library, the former two poring over law books which covered bills from after Grandma Dorea's time. Which, to be fair, wasn't very long ago.

"You're leaving for Hogwarts tomorrow. Ask Dray, his father is on the Wizengamot after all."

Hadrian shut the book he had been reading. "Very well, no point in wasting my energy now."

Dorea looked down at the two young boys and couldn't help remember another boy just like her grandson, who would pore through books and devour any knowledge that came his way. She smiled, Thomas would be coming back soon. Oh, Charlus would have loved to see this. Unfortunately, her stubborn husband had not gotten a potrait done in time, but she was sure her soul and his were frolicking happily in the afterworld.

She turned back her attention to the two teens. "Well, boys, until then, what are you planning to learn next?"

Dudley immediately spoke, "Avance is going to start training me in knife throwing."

"And you, Ri?"

Hadrian seemed to be in deep thought. "Does either side of my family have an affinity for necromancy or blood arts, Grandma?"

Dorea was startled by the question, but nodded. "The Blacks have great affinity for blood magic, and the Peverells are immortalized necromancers. What are you upto now, Ri? It will take years for you to become a necromancer or a blood mage."

Hadrian looked up, avada kedavra eyes bright. "Only if I want to become one. I simply want to learn enough blood and death magic to get out of a fix if I need to. And I have a feeling I will be in a lot of dangerous situations in the coming years. Will you teach me, Grandma Dorea?"

Dorea raised a sculpted eyebrow. "What makes you think I know any blood magic, Ri?"

The amused snort was expected. "You're a Black, Grandma. Every Black would know a little bit of blood magic, no matter what."

Dorea sighed. Hadrian was a Ravenclaw, she should remember that.

"There are several books in the library that will help you, read those."

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

"Dray, how would I go about getting someone in Azkaban a trial if they didn't get one the first time?" Hadrian asked as soon as the blond slid open the compartment door. The Slytherin closed the door behind him and took a seat next to Hadrian, mulling over the question.

"Azkaban without a trial or concrete evidence is unheard of. You would have to convince the Minister or the Chief Warlock to conduct a trial. I'm guessing this is about Sirius Black?" Hadrian nodded.

A few minutes later, Hermione and Neville walked in, Luna in tow, and seated themselves across the two boys.

"So, what subjects have you chosen?" Luna asked, head tilting. Hadrian gave her a look. Knowing Luna, she already knew the answer.

"Mione and Ri chose everything," Draco said with a snort. "I opted out of Divination and Muggle Studies, while Nev skipped Arithmancy and Muggle Studies."

"I'm impressed that you all scored high enough marks. So you're all going to get time turners then?"

Hermione laughed as she spoke, "You already knew that, Luna. Are you going to do the same?"

"Oh yes, but I won't attend Divination. The old hag is a fraud," the wispy blonde said with a pout.

Hadrian smiled at the sight of his closest friends laughing together.

"Draco, you remember the plan, right?"

"Yes, Ri. Start putting ideas in the Slytherins' heads, get vows of Silence and get them to you."

"Good luck."

The two boys split up, joining the herd of students going to their House tables.

xxxxxxxxxxxx

"Welcome back, children, to another wonderful year at Hogwarts. Before the feast begins, I would like to introduce you all to your new Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher, Remus Lupin," Dumbledore said with a genial smile. Hadrian looked up to see a gray worn out man, so unlike the one he remembered.

He caught Neville's eye and tilted his head towards Lupin. The boy nodded after a glance at the Teachers' table.

'Just like I thought. Dumbledore managed to get to Moony,' Hadrian thought grimly.

"Don't worry, Hadrian. A long talk will sort out everything between you two," Luna murmured from his side. The blonde's words didn't make him cease his worrying, but did ease his mind a little.

"When do you suggest I approach him?" he asked.

"You don't need to. He'll seek you out himself."

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Hadrian and Hermione rushed into Divination, and sat by Neville, who was already there, considering he didn't have Arithmancy or Muggle Studies.

"I'm opting out of Muggle Studies," Hadrian told his two friends once he caught his breath. "It is absolutely useless."

Hermione nodded. "Me too. I can't believe they are so outdated!"

Neville shrugged helplessly. "Why in Merlin's name did you even take the class? You've both been raised by muggles!"

Hermione took this opportunity to launch into a lecture about how important it is to have different perspective of things.

Hadrian, meanwhile, took a look around the classroom, which didn't look like a classroom at all, more like a cross between someone's attic and an old-fashioned tea shop. At least twenty small, circular tables were crammed inside it, all surrounded by chintz armchairs and fat little poufs. Everything was lit with a dim, crimson light; the curtains at the windows were all closed, and the many lamps were draped with dark red scarves. It was stiflingly warm, and the fire that was burning under the crowded mantelpiece was giving off a heavy, sickly sort of perfume as it heated a large copper kettle. The shelves running around the circular walls were crammed with dusty-looking feathers, stubs of candles, many packs of tattered playing cards, countless silvery crystal balls, and a huge array of teacups.

A voice came suddenly out of the shadows, a soft, misty sort of voice.

"Welcome," it said. "How nice to see you in the physical world at last. "

Harry's immediate impression was of a large, glittering insect. Professor Trelawney moved into the firelight, and they saw that she was very thin; her large glasses magnified her eyes to several times their natural size, and she was draped in a gauzy spangled shawl. Innumerable chains and beads hung around her spindly neck, and her arms and hands were encrusted with bangles and rings.

"Welcome to Divination," said Professor Trelawney, who had seated herself in a winged armchair in front of the fire. "My name is Professor Trelawney. You may not have seen me before. I find that descending too often into the hustle and bustle of the main school clouds my Inner Eye. "

Nobody said anything to this extraordinary pronouncement. Professor Trelawney delicately rearranged her shawl and continued, "So you have chosen to study Divination, the most difficult of all magical arts. I must warn you at the outset that if you do not have the Sight, there is very little I will be able to teach you. . . Books can take you only so far in this field. . . "

"Many witches and wizards, talented though they are in the area of loud bangs and smells and sudden disappearings, are yet unable to penetrate the veiled mysteries of the future," Professor Trelawney went on, her enormous, gleaming eyes moving from face to nervous face. "It is a Gift granted to few. You, boy," she said suddenly to Neville, who almost toppled off his pouf. "Is your grandmother well?"

"I think so," said Neville tremulously.

"I wouldn't be so sure if I were you, dear," said Professor Trelawney, the firelight glinting on her long emerald earrings. Neville gulped. Professor Trelawney continued placidly. "We will be covering the basic methods of Divination this year. The first term will be devoted to reading the tea leaves. Next term we shall progress to palmistry. By the way, my dear," she shot suddenly at Parvati Patil, "beware a red-haired man. "

Parvati gave a startled look at Weasley, who was right behind her and edged her chair away from him.

"In the second term," Professor Trelawney went on, "we shall progress to the crystal ball - if we have finished with fire omens, that is. Unfortunately, classes will be disrupted in February by a nasty bout of flu. I myself will lose my voice. And around Halloween, one of our number will leave us for ever. "

A very tense silence followed this pronouncement, but Professor Trelawney seemed unaware of it.

"I wonder, dear," she said to Lavender Brown, who was nearest and shrank back in her chair, "if you could pass me the largest silver teapot?"

Lavender, looking relieved, stood up, took an enormous teapot from the shelf, and put it down on the table in front of Professor Trelawney.

"Thank you, my dear. Incidentally, that thing you are dreading - it will happen on Friday the sixteenth of October. "

Lavender trembled.

"Now, I want you all to divide into pairs. Collect a teacup from the shelf, come to me, and I will fill it. Then sit down and drink, drink until only the dregs remain. Swill these around the cup three times with the left hand, then turn the cup upside down on its saucer, wait for the last of the tea to drain away, then give your cup to your partner to read. You will interpret the patterns using pages five and six of Unfogging the Future. I shall move among you, helping and instructing. Oh, and dear," - she caught Neville by the arm as he made to stand up, "after you've broken your first cup, would you be so kind as to select one of the blue patterned ones? I'm rather attached to the pink. "

Sure enough, Neville had no sooner reached the shelf of teacups when there was a tinkle of breaking china. Professor Trelawney swept over to him holding a dustpan and brush and said, "One of the blue ones, then, dear, if you wouldn't mind. . . thank you. . . "

When Harry and Hermione had had their teacups filled, they went back to their table and tried to drink the scalding tea quickly. They swilled the dregs around as Professor Trelawney had instructed, then drained the cups and swapped over.

"So?" Hermione asked, looking at Hadrian dubiously. Hadrian glanced down. "All I can see is blobs of- oh look, that looks like a book. And a chair. Seems you are going to get some time with your newest book, Mione," he said, looking up with a grin.

Hermione huffed. "Well," she said, glancing down at the teacup in her hand. "Yours looks like a blob with legs."

Trelawney swoops in. "Let me see that, dear." She glanced at the tea leaves from over her owl glasses. Suddenly, she dropped the teacup. Her hand were trembling.

"Oh dear. I am so sorry," she said fretfully. "What's the matter, Professor?" Lavender asked, glaring at Hadrian like he had personally offended her.

"You, boy," she pointed a trembling finger at the Boy-Who-Lived. "You have the Grim!"

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Professor McGonagall looked curiously at her third year Gryffindors. They all seemed shaken up.

"What's the matter with you lot?"

"Please, Professor," Hermione Granger said, pale-faced. "We've just had our first Divination class-"

"Of course. Tell me, which one of your year mates is going to die?"

Startled, the brunette witch said, "Hadrian Potter."

"Ah." Professor McGonagall was not blind. She knew that several lions had ostracized the girl for her knowledge, foolish cubs, and she had befriended the small emerald-eyed boy who reminded her so much of her favourite students.

"I assure you, Ms. Granger. Professor Trelawney predicts a student's death every year, and every single one of them are living happy, healthy lives."

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

"Welcome to your first DADA class of the year," Remus said with a grin, looking at the third years in front of him. He spotted a mop of black hair and shockingly green eyes, and felt his heart clench.

"Please put away your books and gather in front," he continued, muffling his laughter when he hear a girl mutter 'No books!' in the most scandalized tone. Ravenclaws.

"Today, we'll be dealing with something called Boggarts. Now, can anyone tell me what a Boggart is?"

Several hands went up, to no one's surprise, it was the Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff class, after all.

He chose a student at random, and ended up giving twenty points away to both Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff as they answered question after question.

"Well," he said, clasping his hands together. "Now that we all know what to do, you lot will be facing off a boggart one by one. Get in line, please. And remember, the incantation is Riddikulus."

All the students lined up. Remus smiled reassuringly at the girl in front.

"I assure you, Ms. Patil, you have nothing to worry about. Just think of ways to convert your biggest fear into something hilarious."

The Indian girl nodded resolutely, though her wand arm wavered a little.

Remus opened the wardrobe with a swish. One limb, then another. A mummy stepped out of the wardrobe.

"Something funny, Ms. Patil!"

"Riddikulus!"

The white tape began unravelling, causing the mummy to trip. The children burst out laughing at the sight.

"Well done, well done!"

Students began stepping forward, a little more at ease after they had seen their classmate face off the creature.

Neville stared at the sight in front of him, unable to comprehend what he was seeing. A dead Hadrian Potter lay in front of him.

"Oh, Nev. I'm alright, I'm right here," Hadrian murmured into his ear after he slid to stand next to his friend.

The students were a little traumatized at the sight, but put it down to the fact that Hadrian seemed to be the only true friend the Neville had, even as a Hufflepuff he was incredibly shy.

Remus turned to glance at the last student, and staggered at the sight of bright green eyes. Unearthly power seemed to glow in them.

Before Hadrian Potter could step forward, Remus banished the Boggart back to its wardrobe.

"Well, kids, that's it for today. Bell's going to ring any minute now, so you may leave."

He turned around after the dismissal, sorting through the lesson plans on his desk.

Hadrian was slightly taken aback at the Professor's sudden dismissal. He waited patiently as all his classmates left, waving away Neville and telling him to not wait for him.

"Hello Professor."

"Ah, Mr. Potter," Remus said, turning around. Despite the use of his surname, Hadrian noticed the warmth in his eyes, which put him at ease. This was his Moony.

"I'm sure you're wondering why I didn't allow you to face the Boggart. I believed it wouldn't be a good idea to allow Voldemort to appear in front of a class of thirteen year olds," the man said with a forced chuckle.

Hadrian tilted his head to the side. "Why would you, of all people, think that, Professor? Of your own Lord?"

Time froze.

Remus stared at the boy in front of him. "Harry- oh Merlin, you know?! How-"

"Breathe, Moony."

The words calmed the werewolf down, before his head snapped to him again. "What-"

Hadrian tapped his forehead. "I have an eidetic memory."

A moment later, he found himself in a tight embrace, Remus nuzzling him, mumbling over and over, 'Cub.'

Sometime later, both of them pulled away. Hadrian was glad it was currently lunch. Remus, too, seemed to remember, and snapped his fingers for an elf to bring them some food.

Seating his cub in front of the desk and then sitting behind it, Remus gestured for him to start eating, and drank in the sight in front of him.

"Someone should start talking," Hadrian said dryly.

"Harry-"

A small petite hand stopped him. "My name," its owner said, "is not Harry Potter. I am Hadrian James Potter-Black."

Remus nodded meekly. Hadrian smiled. "But you can call me Ri. All my friends do."

"I'm sorry, Ri. Well, how about you start and explain how you know what you know." At the thirteen year old's skeptical look at the room, he chuckled. "Don't worry, I have put up privacy wards."

"Well, like I said, I have an eidetic memory. And I also obtained Mom's pensieve memories. I remember you and Paddy and everybody else."

Remus' face darkened. "About Padfoot, Ri-"

"He didn't betray us, Uncle Moony!" The name brought a smile to the older man's face, but then it vanished again.

"I know, Ri. But I managed to sneak into Azkaban and talk to him. He... he doesn't remember anything. He thinks that Marvolo killed Lily and James, and that he is a Light wizard. A Black, light?!"

"Oh, Moony." Hadrian walked around the desk and hugged him. "Don't worry, I know everything. We'll figure a way to save him and bring our family back together."

The fierceness in the words made Remus look up, and his breath hitched as he saw the swirling power in the emerald eyes. This was no ordinary child, oh no. This was a Prince looking for vengeance. He tugged Hadrian next to him, and said, "We will, I believe in you. For now, let's get to know each other, yes? Twelve years is a long time, Cub. So what have you been up to, here?"

And the two spent the next three hours telling each other old stories. It was fortunate that Remus had no more classes that day, and Hadrian had missed only Herbology, which Professor Sprout would excuse him for just this once.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Remus had given something to Hadrian before he left. A map he had confiscated from a student.

"But if you confiscated it from a student, why are you giving it to me?"

Remus laughed. "This map was made by the Marauders. You know who they are?"

Hadrian nodded eagerly at that, reverently looking at the parchment in his hand. "You, Paddy, Dad and Wormy."

At the last name, Remus' face began showing signs of anger. Curiouser and curiouser, Hadrian thought idly as he watched emotions play across his pseudo-uncle's face before it settled into a smile again.

"Off you go, Ri, wouldn't want you to miss dinner, too."

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

"Well?" Draco asked excitedly, as they sat in the library, all five of them.

"We have another Professor on our side," Hadrian said, as he finished his essay and charmed it dry.

"My Prince, I think you should start using your time turners. Especially if you want to reach your majority on time," Luna said without looking up from her textbook.

Hadrian paused, before sighing. "You're supposed to be a Seer, not a mind reader, Lulu. Very well, we shall."

Hermione cocked her head to the side. "I'm not opposed to it, obviously, but just what will we be learning? Oh, and how many hours back will this time turner be able to take us?"

At this, Hadrian smirked. "The time turners given to students are only supposed to be able to take them back by six hours at the maximum."

"Supposed to?" Neville's resigned tone made all of them laugh.

"Yes, Grandma Dorea gave me a complex spell that would be able to take us back twenty four hours at a go, allowing us to relive entire days. And the best part is we can still use it in the day to go about our normal classes."

"Meaning we will age twice as fast," Hermione said, cogs in her brain already turning.

"Yes, but Magic works in slightly weird ways. On your next birthday, you'll be fifteen, no matter that you started using the turner months after your birthday. So on our fifteenth birthday, we'll turn seventeen."

His friends seemed gratified. Neville suddenly paled. "How on earth will we pass for the age we're supposed to be, then?"

Draco looked at him weirdly. "Glamours, Nev."

Hadrian took a deep breath. "Are you sure you want to do this. It is going to strain your mind and body. It's going to be extremely challenging and stressful. And - and you'll lose out on parts of your childhood," Hadrian started strong but finished with a whisper.

His lieutenants looked at him weirdly. "We are going to be by your side no matter what, My Prince," Hermione said softly.

"Stop trying to deter us, you won't succeed," Draco agreed.

Hadrian nodded and stood, bidding them goodbye and hurrying to his dorm so no one would see the tears fall.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

The Saturday of the first Hogsmeade visit, Hadrian collected his friends time-turners. Though Mimsy had forged Aunt Petunia's signature on it - and didn't that thought make him sick- he decided to tell Professor Flitwick he was staying back this weekend to honour his parents. It wasn't an unbelievable lie, considering Samhain was only four days away.

Hadrian stood at one side of the ritual room Hogwarts had provided, while Luna drew the runes. She had plucked the chalk out of his hand and said that it was her job, so Hadrian stepped aside and let the blonde continue.

Once the runes were made and everything set up, he placed the time turners in the middle of the circle. Immediately, the nearby runes began glowing blue.

He carefully made his way through the steps Grandma Dorea had told him to do, before ending the ritual an hour later.

"Vrijeme se okrene, okrene vrijeme, nitko ne zna, dok ne dođe do cetvrtog zvona."

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

"Oh, I'm so excited," Hermione whispered, as the four of them snuck into the Room of Requirement after dinner.

Hadrian smiled at his bookworm before clasping his hands together.

"So, we will now turn back the turner twenty four times, and this will take us to the same time yesterday. We will eat, sleep and only then will we begin something new. Since it is eight right now, at eight again, we will head back to our dorms, and sleep. And this process repeats for the rest of the year."

"What about Luna?" Draco asked, eyes going to his fellow blonde, who was flitting around the bookshelves the Room had given.

"Luna can use the turner along with one of us."

"But- won't that be dangerous?" Hermione chewed on her lips worriedly. "I mean, we don't know how it can affect her-"

Luna laughed as she appeared near the brunette, the sound like tinkling bells. "Don't worry about me, Mione. I'll be fine," she reassured with a smile.

Hadrian smiled. "Well, let's go then!"

After all of them turned their turners, Hadrian immediately shooed them into the bunker beds the room had provided, along with a curtain as a divider for the girls and boys. Hadrian personally thought it was a little unnecessary since none of them had ANY romantic feelings towards each other, but let it be, just in case.

The next morning, Hadrian snapped his fingers for Mimsy. The little elf appeared with a pop and a confused look on her face. "Master Hadrian bes here? But Master Hadrian went to class, didn't he?"

Hadrian explained to the little elf what they were doing, and she immediately promised to bring them food every few hours. After a hearty breakfast, all five children gathered near the bookshelves.

"Pick any topic you like, and finish reading the theory, before you start practising. Any help we need, we can ask the older portraits. They are quite eager to share knowledge. And when we finally do practicals, we can smuggle in Uncle Sev or Uncle Moony."

Luna drifted towards the Runes section, while Neville hurried towards transfiguration. Draco seemed to have a hard time choosing between Potions and Charms, but finally decided to go with the latter.

Hermione looked overwhelmed at the number of books and stricken that she could choose just one. Hadrian walked up to her. "Mia."

The bushy-haired girl look startled at her new nickname, before smiling slightly. "I don't know how to choose, Ri!"

"You can read all these books if you want to. Just finish one section fully before moving on to the next."

Hermione nodded, before reaching out and plucking off the shelf a book on curses and hexes.

Hadrian smiled at his friends before going to his school bag and taking out the book on blood magic that he had started reading.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Hadrian and his group had settled into a routine.

Samhain came and went. For the first time, he got to hear stories of his parents, from both Professor Lupin and Snape.

Draco succeeded in getting his Slytherin friends' attention, who, when they realized just who Hadrian was and what he remembered, joined them in the library during the afternoon and on weekends.

The Weasley twins were quick to realize who now had the Marauder's map, and prostrated before Hadrian when they realized he was the legacy of their idols. They were not Slytherin haters like their family, and mingled with the library gang freely.

Cedric Diggory had been a surprise. He had been quite close to Luna, and happy she had found new friends who didn't tease her for being special. Whenever the older teen needed a break from his own group of friends(which was quite large considering how popular he was), he would slip into the back of the library.

Cedric Diggory's joining brought along two more Hufflepuffs, both from Hadrian's year - Hannah Abbott and Susan Bones. Their arrival didn't really thrill Hadrian since their families were staunchly Light.

Madam Pince quite liked their group, which was quite a good thing, because she would suggest books for them to read for extra knowledge, and those books often turned out to be gold mines. The woman was god sent.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Yule came. Hermione invited Hadrian and Dudley over for the vacation, and both of them were grateful to have some reprieve from studying and training. Mr. and Mrs. Granger were delightful, and very open-minded people. They had heard the political agendas of both sides in the Wizarding World, and their insightful questions and belief that the Dark was not evil definitely made Hadrian's day. Week. Month.

After getting back to Hogwarts, one afternoon in the Room of Requirements, Hadrian decided to open the Marauder's Map and examine it. Till then, he had only used it to make sure the seventh floor corridor was empty for his friends to enter the Room of Requirement. He ran his fingers over the moving names, marvelling over the ingenious creation before his eyes spotted something that sent him into a rage. Peter Pettigrew was sitting in the third year Gryffindor boys' dorm.

To their credit, the Weasley twins didn't ask any questions, just stole their brother's rat and brought it to him. Hadrian was on his way to Professor Lupin when he was intercepted by Professor McGonagall. She took one look at the rat, inspected one little paw, and took him straight to Dumbledore's office.

"Headmaster! That rat is Peter Pettigrew!" Dumbledore was startled by the sudden shout. He took the rat from Hadrian, who was helpless to stop it.

Uttering some sort of spell, Dumbledore cast, causing the rat to take the form of a man. Dumbledore stared at him gravely, twinkle gone from his eyes. He ushered McGonagall and Hadrian out of his office, assuring them that Pettigrew would be handed over to the authorities.

Hadrian explained what had happened to his friends, who were as mad as he was. They all knew Pettigrew would 'escape' before anyone could question him. After all, Dumbledore wouldn't imprison the one who had given him the Potter's location.

And the next day's paper proved just that.

Pettigrew alive, escapes from Ministry! by Rita Skeeter.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Fortunately, the sighting was enough to bring Sirius Black to the Wizengamot for a trial.

The trial takes place on a Sunday. Professor Dumbledore was the one to take him there. Fortunately, Remus Lupin was allowed to tag along, curbing his homicidal tendencies.

Hadrian took a seat in the galley, Moony next to him.

The gavel hit the table. "Bring in the defendant."

A man in black torn garb was dragged in. Black, matted hair, and a pale, hollow face. Azkaban had not been kind to the charismatic Black. Luckily, his cuffs were removed before he sat in a chair right in front of the judge.

"Lord Black, it seems like a grave error has been made by the Wizengamot. Do you consent to the use of Veritaserum?"

The Black's lawyer stood up, but was cut off by a clear voice. "I do." Everyone in the room stared at the man. Sirius Black had come out of Azkaban sane. Hadrian clutched Uncle Moony's hand hard. Good thing the latter was a werewolf, or e would have probably had a few broken bones.

"Very well. Administer it."

An Unspeakable walked forward and tipped three drops of a clear liquid into Sirius' mouth. His eyes fogged over.

"Are you Sirius Orion Black, son of Walburga and Orion Black?"

"I am."

"Very well. Let us begin. Were you the Secret Keeper to the Potter House in Godric's Hollow?"

"No."

"Did you disclose its location to Voldemort?"

"No."

"Have you, in any form, aided or been in service of the Dark Lord known as Voldemort?"

Hadrian held his breath. Dumbledore looked especially curious.

"No."

Because it was true. Voldemort's Inner Circle were his family. They were not in service of Voldemort, they were allies of Marvolo Slytherin.

"Administer the antidote."

As Sirius's eyes cleared, the judge spoke again.

"Sirius Orion Black, you are hereby cleared of all charges. The Ministry will pay for any fees you incur at St Mungo's or by any other specialist called in. Your property that you choose to live in will be warded by the goblins, free of cost. The Ministry will also reimburse you with an annual fee of sixty thousand galleons for the next twenty years, to make up for this grave injustice."

Hadrian clenched his teeth. No amount of gold could make up for what had been done to his godfather. The next sentence caught his attention.

"You are now a free man, Lord Black. You are once more recognised as a Lord of the Wizengamot. You may leave."

Hadrian and Remus jumped out of their seats, rushing towards him. "Paddy!"

Sirius turned around, and his face lit up with joy. "Prongslet!"

"Hey Padfoot."

"Hey Moony."

The two Marauders hugged, squishing Hadrian in between, not that he minded. Their little reunion was broken by another voice.

"Sirius, my boy!" The man turned away with a happy smile.

"Headmaster, I'm free once more!"

"Joyous news indeed, my boy. Where will you live now?"

Sirius thought for a moment. "Probably Grimmauld Place, as its in London and closest to Hogwarts and Harry. I want to spend as much time as possible with my Prongslet," he said with a chuckle, tugging the boy closer to him. Hadrian smiled, then caught Remus' eye. Remus was looking at Sirius thoughtfully, but broke out of his reverie to say, "Let's have a family dinner today. Is it alright with you, Headmaster, if Harry comes back a little late? I'll be with him of course."

"Yes, yes, my boy. You lot go ahead." With a chuckle, Dumbledore disappeared along with his atrocious robes.

Sirius grinned. "I want a hamburger. Let's go to muggle London. I have waited twelve years for a hamburger."

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Remus, Sirius and Hadrian sat in one booth of the fast food restaurant Sirius had insisted on.

"Shoot, Moony. You've been dying to ask me something," Sirius said, taking a bite of his burger.

"Grimmauld place?" Hadrian put down his burger, interested in where this conversation was going.

"Mmh, quite dusty, but with some work, it'll be good as new."

"Siri."

"Mind blocks are a finical thing, Moony. Especially when the Dementors get close." He was met with two wide-eyed looks.

"You-you told me you were light," Remus yelped.

Sirius snorted. "A Black, being Light? Don't make me laugh, Moony."

Hadrian's Ravenclaw brain took in what had just happened. He threw himself into Sirius' arms, hugging him with all his might.

One more piece of his broken family was back in its place.

It took over two hours to finally explain everything to Sirius. He had gracefully agreed to let Dudley stay with them as well (more like forced Hadrian to force Dudley to stay).

Hadrian had worried about his things in Potter Manor, but Sirius had changed his mind and was going to join them in the Manor ("It's much nicer anyways, and I miss Mimsy's cooking.") where he already had a bedroom. Remus too had been coerced into staying with them and Hadrian couldn't have been happier.

Seeing Hadrian's bright smile when he walked into the Room of Requirement was enough for his Lieutenants to piece together what had happened. Their smiles grew too.

Hadrian bid his friends goodbye before finding Remus. "Ready to go home, Ri?"

Hadrian thought of his friends who had just said goodbye to, and then of Dudley and Padfoot. "A piece of home. Let's go, Moony."

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

: Extra long chapter to make up for my extra long absence! I'm so sorry guys, I'm currently in the middle of exams and I'm swamped with school work, so chapters might take some time to appear.
I'm so sorry, please don't hate me :(

~Cynrei