Chapter 20 – 50 Ways To Say Good Bye

Note: Chapter Title from Train's song '50 Ways to Say Good Bye'

Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter or any of its characters.

Now that that's out of the way, let's begin…

Last time,

"Severus, what the fuck is happening here?"

"I told you, we need your help," He replies, Remus gives him a bewildered look before turning back to the voice.

"It's nice to see you too, Brother," Phia Lupin says with a smirk.

Now,

"Oh, your Brother, am I? Must have missed that in the decade it's been since you spoke to me."

"It's hardly my fault we stopped speaking."

"IT WAS YOUR DAMNED DECISION!"

"YOU MURDERED SOMEONE, REMUS!"

"HE KIDNAPPED YOU!"

"YES, BUT YOU DIDN'T JUST MURDER HIM, YOU FUCKING USED MAGIC TO FORCE HIM TO KILL HIMSELF!"

"DO YOU THINK I'VE SOMEHOW FORGOTTEN THAT?!"

"I THINK YOU SOMEHOW FORGOT TO CARE!" The two stand glaring at each other and breathing heavily.

"What do you want?" Remus asks, ignoring Lucius looking to Severus in concern at Phia's words, Severus just shakes his head.

"Your help."

"Funny way of asking for it." As Phia takes a deep breath to calm herself, Remus takes a moment to take in his sister. Her hair is cut into a short wavy bob with a fringe, and something about her just seems older, more mature. A decade will do that, he supposes.

Phia looks up at him again, "I know what it's like to have to do something a bit less than ethical to protect what you love. That's why I'm here. I wish you hadn't done it, wish he weren't killed in my name. But I understand now, and I'm sorry I left you, again."

Remus is completely shocked but nods, "I'm sorry it came to that." It's all he can give her, she knows, she nods.

"I've got a bit of a situation on my hands and I need your help to solve it."

"How is it that Severus and Lucius came to be involved?" Phia looks awkward for a moment, sharing a look with Severus who seems sheepish. Remus notices and narrows his eyes, "So…how long have you two been talking without telling me?"

"Erm, we…never really stopped." Remus just nods, not speaking.

"Re?" Severus asks carefully.

Remus pinches the bridge of his nose, "I cannot work out if I'm too sober or not sober enough for this."

"We really need to talk about your alcohol intake," Lucius tells him.

Remus glares, "Why are you here exactly?"

"Right, that would be the convoluted side of the plan," Phia says.

"What plan?! What is even happening right now?"

"Okay, here's how it is. The King of Vienna-"

"Vienna is a city, wouldn't he be the King of Austria*?" Remus interrupts.

Phia nods, "Yes but as Vienna is the capital and where the royals reside, it's sort of like the rest of the country is lead by Vienna, so by being King of Vienna you lead the country. It's a thing with the locals, and not the point."

"Right, continue."

"The King of Vienna liked my books." She pauses for a moment, looking emotionally overwhelmed, and Remus just has absolutely no idea what's going on right now. "He came to a book signing, we went to coffee afterwards and things sort of progressed from there."

"Progressed as in…?"

"We got married a year later."

Remus blinks at her for a moment before clearing his throat, "What happened to you being a Lesbian?"

"I found someone I loved so much it didn't matter."

Remus scrunches his nose up, "Could you be more of a sap?"

"Oh, just because you don't have a romantic bone in your body!"

"Phia, we really need to get back to school soon," Severus warns.

Phia nods again, "Right so, over the past two years, a lot of the royal family died in various ways, people started thinking we were all cursed and grew concerned the family would die out altogether. A few months ago…Adalbert, my husband, was assassinated." Phia breaks off again, Remus walks forward and hugs her without thought, she buries her face in his chest as he holds her.

A few moments later she pulls away, nodding at him, he steps back again.

"There's only one member of the family left, Adalbert's cousin, Reginheraht. He's the one that killed the rest of his family, made it all look like an accident except Adalbert's. By the rules of the kingdom, given we have no heirs, the throne is mine and will remain mine if I marry within the year, otherwise it falls to Reginheraht. He offered to marry me so that I might still care for my country, but that bastard killed off his entire family to get that throne, I can't leave my country in his hands."

Remus nods, "Okay, so what is it you need from me?" Phia cringes awkwardly for a moment, Remus looks to Lucius and Severus who both look away, "Guys?"

"I want you to use your voodoo like you did on Derek and get him to step down and sign the country over to my blood line, then he has no claim to the throne and I don't need to get married."

Remus blinks at her, "I'm getting punked, aren't I?" None of them speak. Remus walks over to the desk, pouring himself a cup of the whiskey still in the decanter. He swallows it down before turning back. "Okay, side stepping all of the obvious moral issues with this, what about the statute of secrecy? This is highly illegal!"

"That would be where my presence comes in," Lucius tells him. Remus looks to him expectantly, he holds up a vial. "The convoluted part."

"The rest of this wasn't the convoluted part?"

"We want him to do a blood adoption of you," Severus says.

Remus crosses his arms and looking like he just can't accept that those words came out of his ex-husband's mouth. "You do realise this will change what I look like, right? People will notice."

"I've altered it ever so slightly, at most it'll change your eye colour," Severus tells him.

Remus suddenly looks at him, "Eye colour? Blood…blood…blood…" Remus mutters, the other three exchange confused looks. "Sev, don't you see, that's what he did to Harry!"

Severus' eyes widen as he catches on, "That's why the protection works! Oh, that's brilliant. I mean fucked, but also brilliant."

Remus nods, then shakes his head and goes back to the previous conversation, "Why exactly am I getting adopted?"

"Because, should we get caught, you'll have the protection of a Malfoy, everything that goes with that. The best lawyers, social standing, people will look at you and see a Malfoy, not a Werewolf," Lucius replies.

"You realise that both legally and biologically speaking that would make you my Father, right?"

"No, it won't. I got the blood from both my parents. With Severus' alterations, it still shouldn't change your appearance much." Remus seems uncertain.

Phia grabs his forearm, "You used to say you'd do anything for me. Please, help me save my country."

Remus looks at her, then sighs, holding out his hand for the vial which Lucius hands over. "Bottoms up." He drinks the potion. A few moments later a ripple goes through him, Remus appears quite a bit younger, as in his true age rather than his premature aging age, and his eyes change from green to the typical Malfoy grey.

Lucius gives Remus a strange look, Remus raises an eyebrow. "Hm, Purebloods may be right about blood purity after all."

"What?" Severus asks incredulously, knowing Lucius has never bought into that crap.

"You seem younger. Lycanthropy causes stress on the body and can cause premature aging. We know that a Werewolf bite will kill Muggles, so clearly they are less equipped to handle it. You seem younger, as I said. Technically speaking you are now a pureblood, and apparently that means your body is able to handle Lycanthropy better."

"Which means half-bloods' wizard genes are actually diluted…" Remus realises.

Lucius nods, "I don't think it affects their magic, but I do think it means magic will die out in their line fairly quickly if they don't breed with wizards."

"And Muggleborns?" Remus asks, ignoring his sister's obviously waning patience now that wizards were being discussed. Quite hypocritical if you ask him, given she just used a potion to help her country but, needs must he supposes.

"I imagine it's something of a clean slate, a way to keep reintroducing pure wizarding blood into the population, preventing it from dying out." Lucius is frowning, thinking this all through rapidly.

"Right, while you think through wizarding genetics, which is actually incredibly interesting, perhaps we should get back to this," Severus suggests, Lucius hums his agreement though he seems very distracted.

"So what now?"

"Now, we go to Austria."

Remus goes over to the desk in the study, grabbing a sheet of paper and a quill.

Inimicus,

So, long story, SS can explain, but I will be out of contact for a few days. I'll be back by the trial though, I promise.

I'll see the girl before the trial, but there's a slight possibility this will go very wrong, so I have a favour to ask in case it does.

All of my research is being kept safely at my old place of employment, the owner can be trusted and will be able to continue on with my work. For several complicated reasons, I can't write to there directly. If there is someone in your ranks not openly associated with either of us in any direct sort of fashion, would you please have them write a letter or even pop into the shop, Bridge's Potion Supplies, it's in Knockturn Alley. Just speak to Bridget and tell her Wolfie asks that Budgie continue what he'd been doing. And that I'll explain later. Oh, and she will probably have all the answers you need about Arthur and Merlin, whatever the reason for your asking me to look into it.

I wish you luck,

Metum

"Severus, do me a favour, I need you to pass this on for me without reading it," He says, handing him the now folded up letter. Severus raises an eyebrow, Remus smirks, "Strange things happening around Hogwarts lately, eh?" He comments quietly. Remus can't tell if Severus seems surprised, impressed, or exasperated, but all the same he nods, pocketing the letter.

"Strange indeed."

Remus grabs Severus' arm just as he and Lucius go to use the floo and return to Hogwarts.

"Tell them it's from Metum," Remus says to Severus quietly, the man barely reacts, merely nodding and joining Lucius. Remus stands, looking around the room, for a moment before nodding, "Yep, fuck this place." Then he leaves with Phia, contemplating how hard it would be to burn down a manor of this size as he goes.

When Severus gets back to Hogwarts, he bids Lucius adieu and heads to the Slytherin Common Room.

"Parkinson," He calls as he walks in.

Pansy looks up from her book, getting up and following him when he walks out. "Professor?"

He pulls the note out of his sleeve in a sharp movement, handing it to her. "Give this to Inimicus, it's from Metum." Pansy calmly puts it in her pocket and nods, Severus nods back and leaves, vaguely wondering when this all became so organised and smoothly running.

That night at dinner, Pansy sits between Hermione and Harry, surreptitiously slipping the letter into his pocket without interrupting conversation or looking his way, Harry doesn't react at all.

After dinner, once safely in his four-poster, Harry pulls out his enchanted parchment, "Draco."

Amans,

I either need my cloak or you to go to the restricted section tonight.

Inimicus

A few moments later he gets a reply.

What am I looking for?

Also, Addens says that letter (What letter?) is from Metum.

Harry raises an eyebrow in surprise, pulling the letter out of his pocket and looking at it, he puts it aside for the moment.

Anything to do with helping a seer recall a vision.

If it's a prophecy that was made aloud, you could find who is involved and get it from the Hall of Prophecies, couldn't you?

Harry frowns at the message. Snape's vision wasn't spoken aloud which means it's not a prophecy and the orb won't be there. But Lady Prince's vision a thousand years ago was. Of course, Pansy said they grew more focused as it got closer to the event occurring, so that may be useless. Plus, the Hall of Prophecy wouldn't have existed, so there should be no orb.

Nope.

I'll have a look

That done, Harry returns to the letter from Remus.

Inimicus,

So, long story, SS can explain, but I will be out of contact for a few days. I'll be back by Sirius' trial though, I promise.

I'll see the girl before the trial, but there's a slight possibility this will go very wrong, so I have a favour to ask in case it does.

All of my research is being kept safely at my old place of employment, the owner can be trusted and will be able to continue on with my work. For several complicated reasons, I can't write to there directly. If there is someone in your ranks not openly associated with either of us in any direct sort of fashion, would you please have them write a letter or even pop into the shop, Bridge's Potion Supplies, it's in Knockturn Alley. Just speak to Bridget and tell her Wofie asks that Budgie continue what he'd been doing. And that I'll explain later. Oh, and she will probably have all the answers you need about Arthur and Merlin, whatever the reason for your asking me to look into it.

I wish you luck,

Metum

"All right, Harry?" Neville asks as he and Ron enter the room, Harry hums slightly.

"What's going on, Mate?" Harry chucks the letter to him, Ron reads over it, "Who's Metum again?"

"Moony. We figured that name is probably too well known now."

"And Pansy loves naming things," Ron adds, Harry nods.

"My Gran goes to that store a lot, she mentioned Not-Professor-But-Always-Professor Lupin used to work there, but he quit a while back. I could ask her to pass along the message?" Neville offers.

Harry nods, "That'd be brilliant, thanks Nev." Neville nods, "Hey Neville…" Harry trails off.

"Yeah?"

"Do you have many pictures of your parents?"

Neville seems surprised but shakes his head, "My Gran has a bunch of my Dad from when he was a kid, obviously, but the only one of he and Mum is their wedding day."

Harry pulls his photo album out from underneath his bed, "Hagrid contacted old friends of my parents a few years ago looking for photos of them for me, a few of them have your parents in there too. I thought you might like some copies." Neville smiles, nodding. "Oh, there's actually one in here of you, me, Sirius, Uncle James, and your Father." He flips through to find it and shows Neville who seems entranced.

"I never realised we knew each other as kids."

Harry nods, "Moony said he and Snape used to baby sit us. Our parents were friends and, with everyone busy fighting the war, we, along with Jamie, were often passed throughout the group together to whoever was free at the time. Also, we watched Bambi a lot," Harry tells him.

Neville laughs, "I've no idea what that is. Must be a Muggle thing."

Harry shrugs, "I've not seen it, but I've heard of it."

"You guys should get Remus to show you sometime," Ron suggests, the two seem excited by the idea. Ron's happy his best mate is forging so many connections with his past lately. He was worried he might be forgotten or left behind, but it's not Hermione or Neville he first approached and trusted with this business about Dumbledore, it was Ron. Well, okay it was the Slytherins, but out of his friends it was Ron, and it proved to Ron that even if he gains more family, he and Harry will always be the best of friends, and brothers in their own right.

The next morning Harry finally gets a reply from his Father.

Harrison,

I hope your lesson went well and that my true identity is secret enough to not give you any trouble.

When you say Uncle, do you mean James, Sev, Pete, Frank, or Remy?

What is it you want to discuss?

Regards,

Your Father

Harry groans in frustration. When Ron looks over, Harry holds the envelope up, addressed to 'Harrison'. Ron laughs at him while Hermione hits Ron and smiles comfortingly at Harry.

Father,

My. Name. Is. Harry.

When you say Uncle Frank, do you mean Frank Longbottom?

I want to talk about Uncle Moony. He told me months ago that you two were friends once, why are you having him hunted?

I did it privately so that only I and a teacher saw it. There was one surprising identity on there, I'm sure you can imagine which relative I am referring to. I'll be getting an explanation on that when next we see each other.

I'd like to say I hope you're having fun but, given what I've heard of your fun, I should probably hope you aren't…anyways, school's good, Uncle's on the run, and name is not Harrison, is Harry.

Also, a snake tried to kill Dumbledore. It was actually pretty frightening, just came out of freaking nowhere and then I had to talk to it because no one else could and it was actually sent to kill him by someone named Iminicus, or possibly Inimicus, I don't know, something weird. Did you have anything to do with that? Or is someone else trying to kill him?

He told us not to worry, said to trust him to protect us but…well, given everything that's happened in the past, I don't.

Your Son,

Harry

Harry sends the letter off with Hedwig again, turning around just in time to see his sister's face become as pale as her hair.

"Mio?" He asks in concern, Pansy's eyes immediately snap to her girlfriend. Hermione calmly folds the letter in her hands and places it on the table, leaving her hand on top of it as she looks at it, nonplussed.

"Mio?" Pansy parrots, Hermione doesn't look away from the letter.

"Hermione?" Draco asks, putting his hand on top of hers. She finally looks up, meeting his eyes. He sees the emptiness in them that he feels empathically coming off of her, just beginning to tinge around the edges with grief as whatever she read slowly sinks in. Then a sob escapes her mouth and she covers it with her hand. Tears begin falling as she gets up, running out of the Great Hall. Everyone watches her leave, Draco then picks up the letter, opening it and reading it.

"Draco! She might not want us to see," Harry admonishes.

Draco rolls his eyes, "Be gallant all you like, I'm going to help our sister the best way I…" Draco trails off as his eyes widen, he gets up and sprints over to the teachers' table.

"Draco?" Lucius asks as his son comes bounding over to him, his concern for his daughter clear in his eyes even as the rest of his face remains carefully blank. He had felt her heart slowly break and knows that Draco must have as well. Such is the curse of true empathy. Draco hands over the letter, Lucius reads through it quickly before he gets up, striding out of the room. Draco takes a deep breath, heading back to the table and trusting his Father to be the right one to deal with this.

"What's going on?" Ron asks when he retakes his seat.

Draco looks worried, "She got a letter from her carers," He tells them, his face morphing into anger rather quickly, "I'll let her tell you if she chooses to."

Hermione doesn't tell them, doesn't speak to them, doesn't leave her room for a day.

But the next morning she's at breakfast, and not happy.

"Morning, dear Sister," Draco greets, Hermione looks sad but also happy and very confused. Harry goes to speak but is distracted with another letter.

Harry,

Yes, I do mean Frank Longbottom, did no one tell you of he and your Aunt Alice?

Remy has something I need and if I don't find it, then I am afraid I will need him to tell me where it is. I have little choice.

This snake had nothing to do with me, I assure you. One wonders what this individual thinks they are doing, though I am glad to hear you are growing wise to the Old Man's tricks.

It is good that school is going well for you, I shall save us both the trouble of a hard conversation and speak nothing of my own activities.

I assume you are referring to Delphini. No, the spell did not make a mistake. I trust this teacher will remain quiet about such things?

Your Father

"So um…" Hermione begins, "The Willows have decided not to be my parents anymore. Mr Willows lost his job and they can no longer afford to have two children," She tells them, gasps are heard all around and instantly three people are hugging her, she smiles sadly, "As such, the Ministry has to obliviate them, like they did the Grangers, and they're going to forget they ever knew I existed."

"But you can stay with your father, right? Now that you know about each other?" Lavender asks.

Hermione sighs, "For several complicated reasons, which, by the way, you and I need to talk later," She tells Harry pointedly, Harry grimaces nodding, "No, I can't. Remus is my God-Father and, due to recent events which I think the three of you will find of particular interest," She says to her brothers and Blaise who share a confused look, "Father seems to think he can gain custody of me, Werewolf or no."

"Yes but, Uncle Moony's on the run from Death Eaters, how is he supposed to care for you?" Harry asks, frowning in concern.

She sighs, "I really don't know, but Father is going to get in touch with him as soon as he can about it. Unfortunately, he's doing something at the moment and can't receive post nor is he anywhere near a floo."

"Sev has a mobile phone so that he can get in touch with Remus in case stuff like this happens, why not get him to call?" Blaise asks.

Hermione shrugs, "He mentioned trying it but didn't seem to be holding out much hope of Remus being able to respond."

"So basically, until the trial, we know nothing," Ron realises, Hermione nods, Ron shrugs, "Worst comes to worst, you move in with us."

Hermione seems surprised but then a smile spreads across her face, "Yeah, I guess I do."

Father,

They did, I just never realised the extent of the relationship.

Has it occurred to you that if he does not wish to tell you, nothing you do will be able to make him?

And yes, the teacher will stay quiet. Didn't want me branded with your legacy.

Harry

"Did you guys see the Prophet this morning?" Blaise asks, everyone shakes their heads except Seamus who nods and promptly puts the daily edition in the centre of the group. There's an article in it about Dumbledore, Harry, the snake, and Inimicus. Harry inwardly finds it amusing to see himself spoken about from two different perspectives in one article, but nothing other than concern shows on his face.

"You don't think he'll succeed, do you?" Ginny asks.

Harry frowns, "If anyone can stop him, Dumbledore can." And not a lie was spoken. Everyone was pleased the plan with the Quibbler worked.

Lucius stalks into the Great Hall, an orange feather in his hand and McGonagall at his side. Harry can't help but snicker, Draco groans, Hermione looks exasperated, and Ginny not-so-subtly high-fives Harry.

An hour after curfew, Harry sneaks into the Chamber and through it to the entrance in the Potions Lab. He hears Severus and McGonagall at the door and opens the passage a crack to see McGonagall leaving and Severus facing the other way. Harry creeps out, in full Inimicus gear, and is leaning against Snape's desk when he turns around.

"Oh fuck!" Severus exclaims, Inimicus lets out a distorted chuckle. "What is it?"

Inimicus pulls the letter from Metum out of his pocket, holding it up between his pointer and middle fingers on his left hand. "Metum tells me he has to leave for a time, says you can explain?"

"He's in Vienna helping his sister take over the country." Severus can't see under the mask and thus does not know for sure, but he's fairly certain Inimicus just blinks at him for a moment.

"Right," He eventually says.

Severus looks amused, "Is there anything else I can help you with?"

Inimicus stands up, pulling the Diadem out of his pocket and placing it on the desk with his gloved hands, "This is the Diadem of Rowena Ravenclaw."

"What happened to it?" Severus asks, walking over and noticing its less than stellar condition. He also can't help but wonder how the hell Inimicus ended up with a historical artefact of legend that's been lost for over a thousand years.

"That is what I am hoping you will be able to tell me. It was tainted with some kind of dark magic, I have reason to believe it held a piece of Voldemort's soul." Severus looks up in shock. "It is the second such object to turn up."

"It sounds like a horcrux. It keeps him from dying, that must be how he survived to possess Quirrell. If there were two, there are probably more."

"Will he be able to tell if they are destroyed?"

Severus shakes his head, "I do not believe so."

"Do you have any idea how many others he will have made? Or what they might be?"

Severus frowns, crossing his arms, "No, but I think Dumbledore may have an idea. He found a ring some time ago. It's killing him. It shouldn't be able to be cured, but he seems to have a plan to do just that and is entirely unconcerned."

Inimicus nods, Harry inwardly being glad that Severus has reached a point that he will tell him that, "Thank you for your help, Severus."

"How did you get Potter to agree with showing his memories at the trial?"

Inimicus smirks from behind the mask, "Potter would do anything for his best friends, especially now that one of them is his sister."

Severus frowns, "Blaise and Pansy spilt the blood purity test on her in Potions, if they cast the disillusionment spell on her as well…they did it on your order. This has been going on a long time…" Inimicus stays quiet as things fall into place. "But then you knew what she was hiding, or at least that she was hiding something. Even Potter and Weasley had no idea." Inimicus says nothing. "How did you know?"

"When dealing with me, you will soon come to realise that there are some things you should not even bother asking about, there will be no explanation. Good night, Severus, and thank you for your help." Inimicus walks out of the room, quickly pulling the cloak over him as he walks down the corridor, a spell on his shoes to make him silent.

Severus moves to the door, looking down the corridor and finding it empty.

"How in the…?"

The next day, Harry is called into Dumbledore's office.

"Harry, how nice to see you again."

"Good morning, Headmaster," Harry replies, taking a seat when directed to.

"This school has been rather chaotic lately, as I am sure you have noticed, so I have not been able to speak to you before now about certain things you discovered in Charms class." Harry looks down at his hands, he'd been wondering when this would happen. "Mr Potter –"

"Please, sir. It's Riddle-Potter-Black." Dumbledore raises an eyebrow at him, he shrugs, "I don't see the point in hiding from it."

"Harry, you and I both know that your parentage does not dictate who you grow to be, you saw that first hand in Sirius."

Harry flinches at the name, not because he can't stand to hear it, but because if Dumbledore still thinks he's barely coping, any weirdness in his behaviour will likely be chalked up to that.

"To deny my Father is to deny my Mother and she has sacrificed enough for me without me dismissing her place in my life."

Dumbledore nods, apparently placated, "Now, I have heard about you staying with Professor Malfoy and young Draco."

"They have been very kind to me."

"I am sure they have, but you have a particularly volatile history with them. I wonder if you wouldn't be more comfortable staying with the Weasleys or, perhaps, going back home to the Dursleys."

Harry screws his nose up, attempting to calmly breathe through his growing anger, "With all due respect, sir, that is not my home. I am never going back there, and as much as I love the Weasleys, I am quite happy where I am."

"Now Harry, you saw first hand the side they have chosen in this war –"

"Sirius once told me that the world isn't split into good people and Death Eaters."

Dumbledore nods, "A noble sentiment, but you must understand the danger you are placing yourself in."

Harry tries not to snap, he fails, "As opposed to remaining in the abusive household you left me in for fifteen years?"

Dumbledore sighs, clearly, something would need to be done. "Harry, the reason –"

"I know. Blood protection. But they aren't my blood, are they?"

Albus has three options here, and none of them are good. When in doubt, deny everything. "No, they aren't."

"Then you made a mistake and I will be staying where I am."

"Of course."

Harry deflates, "I'm sorry Headmaster, I don't mean to be rude, I'm just finally in a place where I feel at home and I don't want to leave."

Albus nods understandingly, nothing but care and compassion in his eyes, "You know I am only looking out for you."

"I know sir, but at the moment, I need to look out for myself."

Yes, Albus thinks, Something definitely needs to be done about this. Given the last time he allowed something like this to continue it ended with Bellatrix Lestrange, well, he has more drastic means of controlling the situation this time than he did when it was young Remus Lupin sat before him.

A few days later, Severus, Lucius, Hermione, Harry, Neville, Benoit, and Draco head to the Court house. The others had wanted to come as well but were unable to convince McGonagall and Severus that their presence is necessary. They were lucky Draco had managed it. Neville had been epic.

"You see this here, Professor? This is my family, and that there is Sirius Black. Tell me again I have no reason to be there," He says while showing McGonagall a photo Harry had made a copy of and given to him. She had simply sighed and gestured for him to go with the others.

Lucius had been in touch with Arthur Weasley who had been surprised at Lucius' involvement. After all of it was explained to him, the two worked together to plan the best defence they could under the circumstances. Obviously, Harry's memories were all they had, though they had gotten in touch with Remus a few hours before they left the school. He claimed to have more information but he might be a tad late and "for god's sake, stall them until I get there."

"Right then, Harry, you ready?" Arthur asks him as the group walks into the room, everyone taking a seat in the stands.

"No, but, I'm going to do it anyway."

"You're a good man, Harry."

"Thank you, Mr Weasley."

"If we could have silence," The Minister requests, everyone falls silent, "In the case of the people against Sirius Black, this trial begins. Now, Lord Malfoy, I believe you have new evidence?"

Lucius steps forward, "We would like to submit a previously un-viewed memory of Mr Harrison James Riddle-Potter-Black, the only witness of the crime Sirius Black was accused of left alive."

The Minister nods, "If Mr…Riddle-Potter-Black was it?" Harry nods. "If you would please take a seat whilst we locate a pensieve."

"We requested one prior to this, it should be waiting outside," Lucius tells him, Minister Scrimgeour nods.

The pensieve is brought in and placed in front of Harry, floating in the air.

"Mr Riddle-Potter-Black, if you would?"

Harry hesitates, "Could I request that Professors Snape and Malfoy, Mr Weasley, Little Benni, and my sister all leave the room for this?" Lucius and Severus look at him in surprise, Arthur opening his mouth to argue when Scrimgeour holds up a hand.

"We will call you back in once the memory has been viewed." They seem very unhappy but move to wait outside.

"You may want to go as well," Harry tells Draco and Neville, neither move, "Very well, may I proceed Minister?" The man nods. Harry uses his wand to pull the memory of his Aunt and Uncle's death from his mind, putting it into the Pensieve. A spell is cast on it that will allow the courtroom to view the memory.

James Potter sits on the living room floor with baby Harry.

"Mio," Harry says, looking around in confusion.

James smiles, "Your sister is with Mummy and Uncle Moony, Harry. Remember? They left earlier."

"Un Moo!"

James sighs, "You know, you are never even close to this excited when I walk into the room. I'm your Uncle too, in case you hadn't noticed." Harry blinks at him. "And yet you get excited for Sev as well."

Harry giggles, "Unc Sev."

"Are you terrorising our nephew, Potter?"

James grins giddily as Lily walks into the room, "Now, when have I ever terrorised anyone, Potter."

Lily smirks, "How about every day of your life, you know, ever."

"Shut up, Evans."

"Shu up."

James looks down at Harry with a frightened look, "Oops."

Lily sighs, picking Harry up off of the floor, "Uncle James is naughty, isn't he?" Harry nods, James laughs, then there's a bang at the door.

James turns around, eyes widening as he sees it is not Sirius. "Lily, it's him, take Harry, I'll hold him off!" Lily holds Harry tight as she rushes up the stairs, but as Harry looks over her shoulder he sees a flash of light and his Uncle fall to the ground.

"Unca?"

Lily shuts them into the nursery, suddenly very glad Hermione is not here. Lily puts Harry in his cot. "Harry. You are so loved. Mummy loves you Harry, Daddy loves you." The door is blown open, Lily spins around, seeing Voldemort enter the room.

"Stand aside," Voldemort demands.

"No. Tom, please, fight this. This isn't you, you're possessed by Voldemort, you can beat it, please."

"Foolish girl, I said stand aside! I will not allow my son to be hidden from me any longer." Lily stands her ground. Voldemort raises his wand, "Avada Kedavra!" Lily's eyes widen as the spell comes towards her, instinctively diving out of the way of the thing she knows will kill her. The spell hits Harry.

"HARRISON!" Two voices scream. Harry blinks in confusion, both Voldemort and Lily freeze in confusion as well. Then Harry's eyes start glowing green.

"What are you doing to him?!" Lily demands of Voldemort.

"Anything that happens to him now is on you!" The glow grows ever brighter before a wave of energy sweeps throughout the room, flattening Lily to the ground and sweeping Voldemort backwards and out of the window. Footsteps are heard before a man comes into the room.

"Unca Worm!" Harry says desperately, beginning to wail in fright at everything that has happened. Peter Pettigrew looks around, he looks out the window and finds Voldemort gone before he kneels down beside Lily.

"I am so sorry Lily, I'm so sorry. I had no choice, I had to tell him. I'm so sorry. Forgive me, forgive me." What that he looks over at Harry, sparing a forced smile to the toddler before rushing out. Harry wails in despair and fright and confusion.

A few minutes later, Severus Snape comes running in, promptly looses his shit, and then leaves again. Ignoring all cries of 'Unca Sev' from the traumatised Harry. Mere moments after that Sirius shows up.

"Harry!" He calls instantly rushing over to the child.

"Dada!"

Sirius holds his son close, trying to calm him. He kneels down beside Lily, "Oh Lily, oh Merlin I'm so sorry," He says, crying into his son's shoulder as much as Harry cries into his. "Don't worry Harry, don't worry, everything is going to be fine. I'm going to find him. I'll find that traitor and I will kill him and everything is going to be okay." He carries Harry out of the room, covering his eyes and preventing him from seeing either corpse again.

"Who's there?" A voice calls out.

Sirius pulls his wand out as he walks through the broken door and finds a large man in the yard. He sighs in relief, "Hagrid, it's me."

"Mr Black, Headmaster Dumbledore sent me. Says I'm supposed to take the boy so he will be safe while he sorts everything out." Sirius nods, looking, to present-day Harry, rather frantic.

"Right, right, um, here, take my bike," Sirius tells Hagrid, fishing the keys out of his pocket and handing them to Hagrid, "Harrison, I will be back, okay?"

"Dada!" Harry cries, reaching out for him.

Sirius kisses is forehead, "I will be back."

"Dada!" Sirius apparates away. "DADA!"

Harry gulps as he's thrown out of the memory along with everyone else. Everyone is stunned into silence. Harry stares, frozen as he feels what his one-year-old self felt at the time, fear, a lot of fear, and anger. He didn't know children so young can even feel anger like that, but his younger-self had known someone had hurt his Uncle, had known his Aunt was hurt. Everyone was loud around him and no one would listen to his cries and he needed help and no one would help and his baby self was angry.

"I can see why you asked the others to leave," A member of the Wizengamot states. Harry just swallows harshly, blinking away tears. The others are told to come back in, all instantly checking on Harry who says nothing. He's glad about the flicker of regret he sees in Snape's eyes at forcing his hand about this, then remembers the pain he witnessed in the man not a moment ago and instantly forgives him.

"Is there anything else the defence would like to add?" Scrimgeour asks.

Lucius and Arthur exchange looks, looking to the door and back again, knowing they could stall no more, "The defen –"

"Wait!" They look to see Remus Lupin rushing in, Benoit's face lights up.

"What is he doing here?" Someone asks.

Remus rolls his eyes, "Well fine, if you don't want Peter Pettigrew in custody, I guess I'll just leave."

"Mr Lupin," Scrimgeour calls, exasperated. Remus nods, walking forth. "What are you talking about?"

"I –" Remus turns around, rolls his eyes, "One moment." He walks back to the door, opening it, "Oi, idiot, this room!"

"Sorry!" Everyone looks over at the voice, then Peter Pettigrew walks in.

"What the fuck?!" No one is quite sure who spoke, but all agree.

"Now, if I might be permitted to speak, I would like to prove Peter Pettigrew, Sirius Black and, slightly irrelevantly, Bellatrix Lestrange, innocent of all crimes."

Note:

*Austria is not ruled over by a royal family, I made all of that up.

So, to clarify, Phia had a very loving relationship with Adalbert that was probably not particularly physical for the most part seeing as she's not attracted to men, it would have been a much more emotionally centred relationship though other acts may well have occurred occasionally. Phia still considers herself a lesbian, and is certain that Adalbert is the only exception she could make to that.

Also! It wasn't particularly clear in this so I thought I'd just quickly explain, the blood for the adoption came from Lucius' parents. Both parents are dead, I'm sure you remember his father dying but his mother died 'off screen' as it were. But, as we saw with the whole Zombie creation incident, wizards keep preservation charms on their dead and as such Lucius was able to retrieve the blood years after their death.