I Don't Own Harry Potter
"So, my good sir, why are you waiting outside painting? I don't mind the company but I've been here as a guard against all evils! So if you don't know the password you must leave!" Sir Cadogan, the painting that had taken over the job of the Fat Lady, was quite insistent of that fact, I just looked at him and said.
"Blundering Snatch. Oh close yourself up, I don't wanted in, just letting you know I do know the password" The Knight just saluted at me and the hatched closed up again as I continued to lean against the wall while thinking about the fact that I really should have brought a book with me, because this is dreadfully boring. I had been standing here for over forty minutes now waiting on Sirius to show up.
It wasn't like I had anything better to do but really it would be nice if some of my plans didn't revolve so heavily on waiting, it's a pain to just sit around, though it usually gives me time to work on other stuff at least, unlike tonight. But still, I just stayed against the wall and waited and waited and then waited some more, for at least another twenty minutes until I saw a faint bit of movement down the hall.
Pressing myself against the wall even more, I waited until I could practically see the man's tall form walking out towards my direction with a sheet of parchment in his grip, before pulling out my wand and slowly raised it up to my chest. After a long second, I spun on my heels and faced the man, who was looking at me with surprise and called out quietly.
"Stupefy"
I've figured out the nonverbal version of the spell but it has the tendency to be a bit under powered which is not what I want at the moment so verbal it is. With that, I flicked my wand at the stunned man and watched as he was lifted up before I continued on my way to the Chamber of Secrets. Yep, I remember that I have access to that place, never forgot really, just never found any reason to use it until recently.
It took a lot of effort, well not really it was mostly a lot of time from the scope of the project, but transfiguring a long flight of stairs to lead me down to the Chamber was much more preferred to the broom I had to take the first time around so I figured it was worth it. Entering a side chamber to the main hall where the mostly preserved basilisk was laying dead, I floated Sirius to the ground and pulled out a rat-man out of my pocket then took a few healthy steps back before reviving the unconscious man.
"Hello there, my name is Kyu" With that I watched as Sirius jumped up onto his feet and looked around at me sharply before noting what I had in my hand, he seemed to stall for just a moment before his better judgement failed him as he lunged at me. He didn't get far as half way through I casted one of my most used dueling spells at him. 'Colloshoo' and with that his shoes were bound to the floor and he fell.
"Peter Pettigrew isn't going anywhere, and neither are you until you explain what's going on, because I've done my best but clearly I'm missing a few key details" Sirius pushed himself up with his bony arms and glared hateful murder at me, I think it's because of my tie, after all, on it had the Slytherin colors to signify what house I'm in.
"Oh, and why would you care about my explanation? And how do you know that name?" I'd really like to met someone who didn't immediately ask questions, because that has yet to happen, hell this chamber is two for two on that front. Still, I just waved my hand and transfigured a chair for me to sit in as I had been standing for the last hour and a half, plus it shows him to not think I'll be useless without my wand.
"Because I think there's a strong chance that you didn't kill anyone, which means someone else must have, someone close to you clearly if you breaking out of Azkaban is of any indicator. So with that in mind, I figured out the most likely way you would have broken out of such a place is by being an animagus, and if that's the case and this person is a very good friend of yours at one point then they're also more than likely an animagus as well. With that in mind and with the knowledge that you weren't planning to kill Harry, but yet you still attacked the Gryffindor painting, it must mean that this person is in there, and more than likely in their animal form. So with a bit of research I learned of a rat that has had a very long life span for a non-magical creature so more than likely they're the culprit. And with even more research I figured out you're closest friend in school, two are dead, and the other is a werewolf. So that means one isn't dead, and considering the death of Peter Pettigrew is full of inconstancy it's clear he was more than likely alive and is this rat in my hand. So how am I doing so far?"
Sirius was looking up at me in shock, if it wasn't for the fact that I have a naked man in my hand at the moment as a stunned rat I'm sure I would have found this a lot more amusing. After a very long pause, Siruis just laughed loudly before slowly composing himself and said in a tone that conveyed he was just boggled by this.
"A thirteen year old found all this out in a year, a bloody teenager is smarter than all of the Wizengamot and Dumbledore himself. That's fucking hilarious!...Still, if you know all this, why ask me a question?" I kind of forgot he's not really all there at the moment, he's focus seems to have begun shifting in and out, like he thinks this actually might be a dream instead of reality.
"Well, for starters, I don't know the entire story which is annoying me, and to be honest, I also kind of only did this for Harry, otherwise I wouldn't have done any of this, really I just like puzzles" His eyes seemed to snap back into focus as he looked up at me.
"You know Harry?" His tone was suddenly more demanding as I just nodded before saying.
"Well yeah, been friends with him since first year, though mostly nowadays it's his friends that come up to me to talk, and that's really only for favors now that I'm thinking about it...I should talk to him more, we haven't really talked since he thanked me for his Christmas gift" My words were chosen for a very good reason, to get him to trust me as he clearly still cares about his Godson, though I was also just now realizing that that fact myself, I really don't talk to him much anymore, I hardly noticed, but that's because I'm perpetually busy.
Still my words worked and with that he began to explain everything he knew as I hummed at certain points like something had just made more sense, even though I already knew all this already, it doesn't hurt to put on a performance just to be safe. Afterwards he seemed to slump down even further onto the ground somehow before asking.
"So what now? Now that you know all this what are you going to do?" He's voice seemed to break me out of my thoughts as I shrugged like I didn't really know or care that much before standing back up while unfreezing his feet from the ground as I began to speak about whatever seemed to come to mind, at least for him, I had chosen these next words for a reason.
"Preferably, we go up to the headmasters office and you tell your story, he'll probably believe you if I add in details about how I figured all this out, and then you get cleared of all charges and this rat get shipped to, I don't know, Azkaban. Though if you want you could kill him if you want but that would be killing any proof that you're innocent and you'll have to spend the rest of your life on the run" Sirius slowly stood up and looked at me for a long moment before saying in a soft voice.
"I could be free?" I just nodded, I don't think he figured that could happen, he's a bit damaged and clearly a bit more than I thought if he never even considered the idea of doing something else expect killing Wormtail. After a long moment he nodded and said with a hint of disbelieving covered by a cold hope that he didn't seem to know how to cope with.
"I want to be free" I just nodded before waving for him to follow me back to the entrance way, noting his amusing reaction to the massive dead snake. This has been going better than I figured it would have to be honest.
"Well then, Kyu my boy it would seem that you've decided to do something about this years events once again. I must say, I'm quite impressed by these stories" I just shrugged as I watched with mild interest as Sirius scarfed down food like no tomorrow, I wonder if I should let him know eating to much is bad for someone in his shape, more than likely he'll be puking that up within the hour.
"But what I want to know is how you figured out how Sirius and Peter were animagi?" I blinked as I looked at the old man for a moment before considering if I should before deciding that it would just be another thing to use to make him trust me some more, and with that I quickly shifted into my grey fox form in my sit as I looked up at Dumbledore who seemed very interested in the sudden transformation.
"Ah, I see, so you spotted one of your own then, I knew you've shown quite the gift in transfiguration, beating my own records in the subject showed as much, but to think you figured it out in you're third year? Remarkable" I just shifted back and watched Sirius who was looking at me like I was an unending source of amusement before shrugging at the two and said.
"I did it last year actually, after the whole thing with the basilisk I didn't have anything else to do and I read about it in a book so I figured why not" Now Sirius looked like he wanted to pout a small bit as he muttered something about beating James' record. Good for me then. Though I noted the fact that Dumbledore's gaze seemed to have changed when he looked at me, before it was slightly guarded but now, well it was a lot more with a hint of like he was comparing me to someone.
"Ah, well that's even more impressive now isn't it, I don't believe I've ever met someone that does as much as you do" Sirius was looking back at me again, clearly wanting to know about what I meant by 'the whole basilisk thing' clearly knowing that there was a story there, but instead of indulging him I just said.
"I've found that idle hands, a love of learning, and crippling insomnia don't play nice with each other" The headmaster nodded like what I had said were wise words that he himself knew about all to well.
"Well now, I do believe I have a minister to wake up and a pardon to get sorted out. I have you're statement in my memory so there's no reason for you to continue to be here" I just looked at the man for a long moment, wonder if I should use this to get some influence over the minster but I doubt I could manage all that much, if I played it right I could probably get a Order of Merlin but I didn't care much for one though I'm sure I could use it to increase my influence.
"Sure, I have some reading to get back to anyway. Oh, I recommend getting Harry up in a bit so he knows that someone isn't trying to kill him anymore, I've learned that knowing such a thing can be a little stressful. I'll see you all in a few hours then" And with that I walked away out of his office, though I noted that this was a bit easy to be honest, I feel like Dumbledore is beginning to get a soft spot for me.
Isn't that nice, it's what I was planning on anyway, I also think he's starting to see a bit of himself in me as well, and to be fair we do have a surprising amount in common, after all he took my idle hands comment like he knew from very personal experience, he's also a prodigy at transfiguration and a few other comparisons that don't matter as much.
I should also look into how I'm going to get Blaise to not be annoyed at me, I mean I did tell him I was planning on doing something, so he can't be to angry at me. But because I kind of skimped on the details I'm sure he's going to be annoyed still, well I can deal with that later, for right now I get to ignore the threat of nagging by continuing my reading.
Everyone was talking my ear off at the moment which was annoying, Blaise was nagging me like I figured, my brokers weren't helping by asking me a lot of questions until they all seemed to figure out that I was beginning to get annoyed at them. Then there was Harry who seemed to not know if he should be more angry at me for keeping him out of the loop or glad that I reunited him with his Godfather.
Either way everyone knew it was me that figured it all out, apparently the Daily Prophet did a piece on it. I didn't read it of course but it was interesting to here from outside sources that aurors are stupid. Because they had revived the rat from being stunned and forced him back into his human form and on the transfer he escaped, it was annoying to say the least to be honest.
But Sirius was in the middle of being set free so sliver-linings and all that, though on a fun note I've been informed that their is a strong possibility of getting an Order of Merlin after all. Both because I did capture Sirius Black and because I revealed that he was innocent of all charges. I got no idea what class, though word of at least Second has been going around, and I'll be honest the attention will both be a nice bonus and an annoying side effect.
I really don't like unwanted attention but I kind of need it so I just am in a state of having to just deal with it. But all that's for later, as at this moment I was slowly becoming aware of the fact that Snape was currently glaring murder at me at the moment from his seat at his desk as I, along with the rest of Slytherin and Gryffindor of third year, worked on our assigned potion.
I don't think he likes that Sirius isn't going to die which I think is a bit petty of the man but then again he does have that in spades so that's something. He wasn't foolish enough to try and do something to me but I could tell he really want to throw a hissy fit at the moment. Which was just childish, I have a lot of things that don't go my way but I don't pout about it.
Then again usually when that happens I'm not pouting because I'm having to jump for cover as my most recent experiment explodes on me. Eh, same difference really, well not really, I just think he's being a bit idiotic in his unfounded hate. Well Sirius did try to kill him and I'm pretty sure if someone tried to do that to me I would kill them back but still, it's been like twenty years he should be over it by now.
I'm thinking about this to much I feel, but to my credit I had finished the potion in question like twenty minutes ago and judging from the shades of color from the other cauldrons around me everyone is still at least ten minutes off from being done, and Neville's is already ruined beyond repair. In fact I'm surprised that the cauldron is still in one piece, that shade of yellow usually indicts that potion has turned acidic.
My thoughts were interrupted as the dungeon door opened, glancing over my shoulder, I noted at the person who had come in was Lupin, looking at the man, he nodded to Snape, who was looking at said man in extreme disgust and said.
"Sorry to interrupt Severus, but the headmaster has need of Mr. Malo, if you would allow him to finish and send him up" He looked like he was about to shot the man down by making some spiteful comment, but before he could I just stood up and stretched like I had been doing nothing for the last half an hour, which to be fair I haven't really, and said to him.
"I finished a while ago, I'm ready to go now" Lupin looked quite like he was trying to remain passive as it looked as if Snape's eyebrow twitched by a ferocious amount. Without looking at the very angry man anymore than was needed I nodded at Lupin and grabbed my bag before walking out with him, with a slight twitch up at my lips as well. As we began to walk, I noted that Lupin was giving me a few side glances, after a moment I met one of them with a questioning eyebrow, he just sighed after a moment before saying.
"I've been told that you knew I was a werewolf, you don't seem to care, why is that?" I blinked at that before snorting a bit and said simply as Lupin turned to me, shocked at my reaction to, in his mind at least, serious question.
"Why would I? It's not like I haven't dealt with worse, besides you're only dangerous for like one day a month and as Blaise as put it, apparently I'm much more scarier than you are" He didn't seem to know what to do with that information, after a moment he just nodded as we continued on down the corridor for a while more until we can up on the headmasters office door after getting past his stone password of 'Gingersnaps'.
"Ah, I'm glad to see you've arrived, now then, I know that you've already give your a statement but it would seem that not everyone is satisfied just yet. Sirius, if you would" With that I looked on as Sirius, who I almost didn't recognize because of the simple fact that it looked like he had a shower, also fun fact, he cleans up nice, walked up to me and looked like he wanted to jump me into a hug, but held back, clearly ti would seem Dumbledore was smart enough to bring up my touch aversion to him.
"I just...well I wanted to say thank you, I doubt I was a pretty sight when you caught me, yet you still helped out. Just thanks" I nodded, not really knowing what else I should really do in this situation, it's not like I'm good with this stuff, because I really am not good at this. After a short moment of contemplation, I finally said.
"I didn't do it for, so give that hug you seem to want to give me to him. Ok?" He just laughed before nodding to me, watching as he walked away with Lupin in tow, the two seemed to be talking about something of great interest as they hurried along. Turning back to Dumbledore, I wasn't sure what I should be doing at the moment now, but after a long second, he said.
"Kyu, just in case you were worried, I decided to keep you're little transfiguration project out of the prying ears of the aurors" I blinked before looking over at him at that, interesting. It would seem he trusts me a bit more than even I figured he would, that's nice. I didn't really mind with that secret coming out but it's very nice to still have that bit of extra anonymity whenever I would need it.
"Thank you, that will make my life just a small bit more easier" He just grinned at my words before chuckling to himself like he had just thought of an amusing joke. After a moment under my questioning gaze he just simply said.
"Sorry my dear boy but you just reminded me of an old friend, he always balanced more than he could realistically handle, and yet he always managed, it was remarkable, I do dare say I'm quite envious of that shared talent you seem to share with him" I let out a small laugh of my own at that and said.
"Trust me, I'm not all that good at it myself either, I've had to regulate my work to my friends just so I can allow myself to sleep once and awhile" He nodded at that with a faint look of something in his eyes that I wasn't sure how to qualify before he simply said.
"Well, that is another skill that has alluded me all this time, the ability to relegate tasks, I do my best but I've always found myself liking to know where I always stand" I nodded to that.
"I agree fully with that one, it's why I still don't sleep enough as I should" He hummed at that before seemingly noting something I didn't in one of his whirling gizmos on his desk as he stood up and said to me as he walked around his desk.
"Well it would seem that I have an appointment to keep with the Ministry. So you should hurry along back to you're classes before you miss much more" And with that he walked into his fireplace and disappeared, which was very confusing as I know he didn't use any Floo powder and he never said his- oh, he did say it, to me, clever. I do wonder who he managed the powder though.
Still, with that I shook my head and walked out of the office back to potions, before realizing I was now suppose to be in Charms from how long my suddenly and unexpected visit to the headmaster had taken. So with that I course corrected and headed onward to Flitwick's classroom.
I blinked again to myself as I looked down at the purple ribbon in my hand, it had ended up being second class my Order of Merlin. It was still neat, and I'm the youngest every to receive one so that's pretty cool. Blaise had made a big deal of it, which I think was unneeded but I think that might be because I had just tossed the thing in my trunk right after the minister had delivered it to me.
I didn't really care much for it no matter how much it seemed to come up in conversation recently, but Blaise is refusing for me to just say I have it. I think he's more proud of the ribbon than I am, I blame pure-blood upbringing, of course he would blame my muggle upbringing for my lack of care on the matter, so I think it evens out. As for the reason as to why I was looking at the ribbon in my hand is because everyone had bugged me enough that I figured if they wanted to look at it they could.
"Here, it's a bit of dyed silk that's tied up all fancy like with a bit of gold pressed into it, might I add that you people are strange" With that I tossed the thing on the table in front of my Brokers as they all looked at it for a long second, clearly admiring it before they all seemed to turn to me, giving me a side glance at my sarcastic comment. I think the wanting to look at the very rarely given out medal to honor was enough for none of them to snap at me.
I just sat back and watched as the three all seemed to take a few long glances at it before passing it around, I really don't understand people when it comes to stuff like this to be honest. Still, I didn't say anything as I just pulled out a book and looked into it with a small pit of boredom in me that I didn't particularly like. Boredom is worse than the extreme levels of stress I've gone through in recent years.
But the problem is I've run out of new books to read and I have a feeling that none of my Professors would give me a pass for the restricted selection books on the dark arts. So with that, I had to use the books I have on hand all of which I've already read more than once. Note to self, get some more light reading at Knockturn alley when this school year ends because I'm running out of things to read.
Sure I've complain about it but that doesn't mean that I like not having anything to read. I don't even get to use all my free time with experimenting at the moment because no one wants to leave me the hell alone. Fame is such a drag, but that was just a side point really as I just keep thinking of ways to complain about being the center of attention at the moment.
But I'm good at ignoring my own problems with my life so with that I just continued on reading, waiting for the three to get bored with examining the item in question. Truly it should happen in a minute considering the ribbon didn't even have any magical effect, I would know, I examined it myself to see if there was anything like that. It's one of the reasons why I was no longer caring about the item itself, named after the greatest and most famous wizard of all time, and it didn't even change colors or something.
This entire chapter is just Kyu finally wrapping up the plot of Prisoner of Azkaban a few months early. The whole thing with the Order of Merlin is because Fudge's instances to give Snape one in the book because he was so glad to finally have Sirius captured because of bad press or something like that, so I figured it would be similar here as well so Second Class Order of Merlin because why not. Anyway, See ya.
