A/N: I wished I owned Harry Potter. Alas, I do not. Ms. Rowling, I'd be happy to take it off your hands
Chapter 36: Dinner for four
December, 1994
"I wouldn't be overly nervous," Harry told Lupin as the ex-defense professor straightened his robes for the umpteenth time. "I think she is more interested than mad. She was willing to back down pretty quickly once it was clear she couldn't follow Sirius."
"I still can't believe he did the one thing that I expressly told him not to do," Remus told Harry. "He is so mindless sometimes."
"Look, I'm less than pleased that Sirius decided to go talk to the head of the DMLE, even if she is his true love" Harry said. "But he is nothing if not stubborn. Maybe one day he will act like a rational adult, but now that it has all shook out ok I'm not mad."
"Really?"
"No," Harry snarled. "Apparently it went well enough for Sirius to be able to reconnect with his lost love, and she seemed reluctant to really chase him down. But I'm still mad at him. She will need to know some things to keep him safe, and I had no intention of doing that. Sirius forced my hand."
"You are going to tell her the entire truth?" Remus asked.
"Well, the entire truth is a tricky thing," Harry said. "I'm not planning on lying or misleading her, but as it has been pointed out to me recently, I have a lot of secrets. Certain things have to stay hidden."
"Of course," Remus said, and Harry patted him on the back. "I do hope you reconsider your desire to keep the headmaster out of the loop."
"That wasn't entirely my decision," Harry explained. "He knows all he needs to about Sirius, and if he wanted to, he could free him. He's the chief warlock as the Wizengamot. For whatever reason, he won't do it. He knows as much as he needs to know. When I came back here, my teachers were quite insistent that he not learn anything about a variety of things that happened this summer. I doubt he would be willing to use active legilimency on me, and without that he won't ever learn the important stuff."
"What are you really worried about?" Remus asked.
"Well, he knows that I didn't spend a lot of time at the Dursley's," Harry said. "But he doesn't know that they are not my legal guardians, and that Hayashi-Sensei started the legal proceedings to have him replaced as my magical guardian, as well as the adoption process. Besides," Harry continued, "there are a few things that you don't know either."
"Is there someone who knows everything?" Remus said.
"Well, I think Hermione knows almost everything, as far as classmates goes," Harry said. "Akira knows a little more, but even he doesn't know what the biggest secret is… probably."
"So no one knows everything?" Remus said with a laugh as he knocked on the door they had been standing in front of for the last 10 minutes.
"I guess not," Harry said. "Well, my secret master knows all the important stuff."
"The guy I wasn't allowed to meet this summer when I visited with Takashi?" Remus asked.
"Yes," Harry said as he nodded his head at the question. "He spent a lot of time training me on my occlumency and spent a lot of time in my mind, so he knows just about everything. He just doesn't care all that much about things he deems unimportant, and the entirety of the "Dark Wizard" issue the U.K. has doesn't bother him in the slightest."
"That's a narrow view to take," Remus commented.
"I don't know how strong Voldemort is," Harry noted. "But I am 100% confident that if Hayashi-Sensei got involved, there would only be one winner, and his name isn't Voldermort. My other master would end it before you blinked. He's… special."
"He's another genius?" Remus asked. Harry frowned a little, and Remus laughed at Harry's expression. "You forget, I did train with Takashi a little bit myself. I am well aware of his clarifications."
"No, I remember," Harry said, his frown deepening. "But no, he isn't a genius. He doesn't really fit classifications. I guess some people might call him a natural, but even Hayashi-Sensei says he is a talent you see only once in a generation. People like him don't live in the same world as the rest of us."
"Before we go in, might I ask a question and beg a favor?"
"Go ahead." Harry seemed curious, which Remus thought was a good thing.
"For the favor, I ask you not get too mad at Hermione."
"I'm not." Remus was surprised at that. "Hermione has always believed in justice, authority figures, and the system. She is doing what she does because she cares for me. Don't forget there was a real chance I ended up hurt or in Azkaban. Besides, she already helped me break all the laws last year. I'd like to give her at least until the end of the year to have to do that again." Remus chuckled at that. "What's your question?"
"Akira was the one that actually bailed you out and got Sirius out. Why not ask him to be your adult support? Not that I am not honored by your trust in me."
"Honestly? Akira wasn't supposed to be here. I was under the impression that Akira was in Japan. I guess he heard the news and knows me better than I know myself. He is back in Tokyo now, after kicking my ass two days straight." Remus nodded ruefully. "Good enough?"
"Yes thank you Harry."
"You are welcome Remus." Harry knocked on the door and heard steps behind the door. "Remus, your collar is askew!" Remus grabbed his robe and tried to adjust it as the door opened. "Hi Susan!"
"Hi Harry!" Susan said, giving him a brief hug. "Thanks for coming?"
"I was really pleased by the invitation," Harry said with a smile. "Oh Remus, your collar is fine." He walked past Susan whistling a little. Remus grinned as he stepped in. Harry saw Remus's nose twitch. "Something interesting?" he whispered to the older man.
"Apparently Sirius did some serious reconciling with Susan's aunt," Remus murmured. Harry had to hide a grin.
"Mr. Potter!" Madam Bones said as she stepped forward. "It is a pleasure to meet you. Susan has said you have been the center of a lot this year."
"Susan has been just as important," Harry said, shaking the woman's extended hand. "She was the person who finally convinced Fleur to join our champions alliance."
"Yes, I've heard about that," Madam Bones said. "I also understand that despite your relationship with my niece, you went to the ball with Ms. Delacour."
"Auntie!" Susan protested.
"I am well aware that you two are not a couple," Amelia said with a wry smile. Harry had blushed bright red and had been unable to meet her eye. That was the reaction of a boy who was saw her niece as a girl, not one that was currently dating a Veela who her niece as described as "goddess-like".
"Auntie!" Susan almost shouted.
"I hope you understand why we concocted the lie," Harry said as his blush disappeared.
"I do understand, and now that we have that out of the way," Amelia said, indicating the spread behind her, "I hope we can enjoy a nice holiday meal."
"I have to ask," Remus said as they all sat down, "are you here today as Madam Bones, head of the DMLE, or Amelia Bones, an old acquaintance?"
"Mr. Lupin, it is the holidays," Amelia said with a smile. "I will not be working until after New Year's day. I am happy that although my niece is not coming home, I get to see her and spend some time with her." Susan blushed at that statement as her aunt smiled fondly at her. Harry laughed a little at that, but the laugh sounded hollow.
"Then it must be Remus," the ex-defense professor said. "I believe the woman I am speaking to is quite close to my best friend."
"Oh, that would be an understatement," Amelia said as the first course appeared on the table. "I assume you mean that Sirius is your best friend?" Remus nodded. "Well, I wouldn't say we are quite close. I would be willing to admit that Sirius is the love of my life, and if he is innocent I will force him to marry me sooner rather than later." Harry and Remus who were both drinking choked at that statement.
"Oh, that's wonderful!" Susan exclaimed. "You still love him, after all this time?"
"It was stupid for him to come and see me, but the moment I saw him, the moment he touched me, it all came flooding back," Amelia said with a half-smile. "If you are willing to believe that there is one person everyone is destined to be, Harry's Godfather is it for me. I'll wait as long as I need to and do whatever needs to be done to be with him, if he is truly innocent."
"He is," Harry told her.
"So what actually happened that night?" Amelia asked. Harry looked at Remus, and the older man simply shrugged.
"Well, it turns out that Sirius was not the secret keeper for the Potters," Harry said, starting the remarkable story of Sirius Black. Remus chipped in with details when necessary. The story took longer than when he had told Susan as Madam Bones had more than a few questions. She was delighted to learn how Sirius escaped so that future prisoners could not. Madam Bones was very forthright that she did not like that the ministry used dementors, so Harry relented and told her about the special effects his Patronus had. That development took them deep into the main course.
"So the Japanese Embassy?" Amelia finally asked as desert arrived. "I don't believe that for a second. Even if Akira is indeed the son of the famous Takashi Hayashi, there is no way a portkey could penetrate the wards of an embassy."
"Well, he actually does have a portkey that will take him to the embassy," Harry said. "But I feel fine telling the off-duty Amelia Bones that Sirius is not in that embassy. My original plan was to get him out of here the same way he came in."
"With his hippogriff?" Susan asked. Amelia raised an eyebrow at that statement.
"No, I changed Buckbeak's color and let him free," Remus explained
Sorry Auntie, that's a whole other story, and it's really not why Harry is here," Susan reminded her.
"You are correct," Amelia said. "So, not in the embassy?"
"Not in Britain," Harry said. "Turns out the moment he got captured, Akira was planning on me doing something stupid and trying to break him out. He was still furious at me. Kicked my ass for a few hours yesterday."
"Harry, a professor physically beat you?" Madam Bones asked, her eyes twitching at that revelation.
"Well, I did deserve it," Harry commented. "And he didn't do it as his role as a professor at Hogwarts. He did it as my mentor and brother."
"Still, there is no excuse for an adult to hit a child," Amelia countered.
"First of all, I am legally an adult," Harry said. "Second, if you were training Susan, would you never hit her with a spell if she conducted a poor defense?"
"That's different," the head of the DMLE said.
"Why?" Harry asked. "If my defensive skills were better, it wouldn't matter when Akira I and I fight. I get closer to beating him every week. He has to fight at 80% strength to ensure his victories. We started the year at 50%, so that's really good progress. Until I can stop Akira from landing shots on me, it's an abject lesson in spell casting and fighting."
"We will get back to Sirius in a minute," Amelia said. "From what my niece tells me, you stayed with and trained with Takashi Hayashi this summer."
"Well, he is one of two masters I had this summer." All three people leaned in at this. Most of Harry's friends knew he had been taught by two people, and Harry had very intentionally avoided naming the second one, even if the name would have meant nothing. It was important that the older students, especially those with parents working for the government did not hear the name.
"Are you going to tell us the name of the other one?" Susan asked after a minute's silence. "We could swear an oath to not divulge his name."
"Look, I really don't like it when people swear on their magic. I think it's easy to figure out a way around an oath, and who knows what might happen in the future? It's not safe for my master's name to be floating around in your head."
"Can you at least tell me if I need to be worried about his presence in our country?" Amelia asked.
"Oh, he left. He came this summer at Hayashi-Sensei's request. He was around when Voldemort was still alive," Harry frowned as he saw all three of his dinner companions flinched at the name, "and even though he was 21 at the time, the consensus among his peers is that if he had faced Voldemort the night before he attacked me and was so inclined to fight him, I wouldn't have this scar."
"So inclined?"
"Well, he is a curious guy. Very little interests him, and it's possible that he wouldn't consider Voldemort a worthy opponent. He is a very powerful wizard, probably beyond the level of Dumbledore. But he is a transcendent talent with magical martial arts, and according to Hayashi-Sensei the way he blends martials arts and magic is at a level that has rarely been accomplished."
"Look, is he dangerous or not?" Amelia asked, clearly annoyed.
"No, you don't need to worry about him," Harry said. "He couldn't care less about what is going on in Britain. I think the last time he took an active role in shaping world events he was in the muggle world, and most wizards wouldn't understand the events he gets involved in."
"I tend to be more informed than normal," Amelia said. "It's an occupational hazard. What did he do?"
"Well, are you familiar with the Berlin wall?" Amelia nodded.
"I'm not, and I'm in muggle studies," Susan said.
"I've seen the textbook," Harry commented. "You should drop the class next year. Dean and I could probably teach you more useful knowledge in an afternoon. I hear it's an easy Exceeds or Outstanding, though I figure your parental figure would prefer you learn more at the expense of grades." Susan blushed a little, but nodded in understanding "Well, the last time he got involved in the world at large, he helped bring down the wall."
"That's terrifying," Amelia admitted.
"He tends to go overboard," Harry explained. "That wasn't his intention, but things spiraled out of control and he figured it might be worthwhile to end communism. Like I said, transcendent talent."
"But I shouldn't be worried?" Harry just grinned at Amelia's inquiry. "Ok, on to other issues then."
"Where Sirius is, you mean?"
"I would appreciate knowing, just to make sure he is safe."
"Well, as it turns out your niece was indirectly responsible for Sirius safety," Harry said. The two adults in the room turned to look as Susan, who looked as confused as them.
"What?" Susan asked.
"Well, you were the one who introduced me to Fleur," Harry said. "As it turns out, Hayashi-San is familiar with her father. So while Hayashi-San would not approve of the special portkey being used for a family member he is not related too, he was okay providing a portkey that sends the user to Chateau Delacour." Amelia and Susan looked at him in shock, and Remus who had been keyed in last night had a sly grin on his face.
"That's ridiculous!" Amelia shouted. "A portkey across the channel, going in between countries? Not only is that preposterous, no one person could create a portkey with that much power!"
"You are right," Harry replied. "It was not just one person. As I understand it, once Monsieur Delacour agreed to provide the portkey, Hayashi-Sensei had two French wizards and two Japanese witches make it. Sirius gave us a floo call last night and he is doing fine. He said he has never been pampered as nicely as he is being right now. As I understand, the Delacours are quite well off, and they have more than kept their promise to take care of Sirius."
"Well, if he is happy and healthy, then so am I," Amelia told the two men. Susan smiled and squeezed her aunt's hand. To be entirely honest, Susan had only seen her aunt happier once time in her life, and that was when Susan returned from her first year at Hogwarts and they had gone out to celebrate.
"I assume you have other topics you would like to discuss?" Remus said. Amelia nodded, and as they ate dessert in the form of ice cream the two students discussed their classes. Susan focused on the amazing tutelage of Professor Hayashi in contrast to Professor Moody, as Akira now taught almost every class. Harry avoided multiple questions about potions and focused on his rapidly improving transfiguration and defense skills due to his private sessions with Professor McGonagall.
Eventually the ice cream was finished, and Harry and Remus stood up, thanking the two women for hosting them for the night. Amelia and Susan were gracious as they accepted the thanks, but a slight mischievous smile played over the face of the head of the DMLE.
"Harry, I was hoping you might stay and talk with me for a minute." Remus stopped by the door, and Susan glanced at her aunt. "Alone." It was soft spoken, but there was an element of command in her voice. "Remus, if you would take my niece back to the Hufflepuff common room?" Remus nodded, and Susan glared at her aunt. "Susan, I suggest you go with him. If not, I would be happy to tell Harry all about your birthday party when you turned five-"
"Consider me chastised," Susan said as she quickly walked from the room, so fast she did not even say goodnight. Remus nodded to the two remaining people and walked out after Susan. Harry retook his seat and the two sat in silence for a few minutes. Eventually, Amelia took a sip of her tea sitting in front of her and studied Harry over the rim of the teacup.
"You have excellent patience for someone your age," Amelia said after another few moments.
"Practice and discipline," Harry remarked. He was curious why Madam Bones had asked him to remain behind, and while he had offered a lot of information over the course of the night and had little intention of directly lying to her, there was no need to give her anything more but blurting out things she would not know unless Harry told her. He was more than content to let her dictate the conversation.
"I have 3 questions for you, if you don't mind."
"Do I have a choice?"
"Of course you do," Madam Bones said, and Harry gave an undignified snort. "I'm serious, Harry. If you don't want to answer one, you have that right. This is not a trial or interrogation." Harry considered the offer for a moment.
"Go ahead."
"You have built quite an unusual friend group, if you don't mind me saying." Harry raised an eyebrow at her. "I understand you are friends with the smartest witch of her age?" Harry didn't respond at the statement. "You have also ensnared the daughter of one of the most powerful men in France, the son of Amos Diggory who will certainty be running for Fudge's position, Hannah Abbott who will one day have a seat on the Wizengamot along with her soon to be more than boyfriend Neville Longbottom. You also seem to be friendly with the seeker of the Bulgarian team, a certain Ms. Greengrass, and the daughter of one of the more popular newspapers after the Daily Prophet."
"Those are… interesting observations, but that is not a question," Harry pointed out.
"Do you have any plans for this group that seems to orbit you?" Amelia asked him point blank
"Plans?" Harry laughed. "I was good friends with a certain Ron Weasley my first three years. He was a jealous friend, and while he is a good person at heart, spending so much time with him and Hermione made it hard to make more friends. This year, I decided to make a few more. You can't have too many friends. As for plans, I'm 14."
"You are also Harry Potter."
"Would you like to be the next minister?" Amelia stared at Harry in shock. "I'm sure we could make it happen in a few years, when Fudge's term is up."
"No, I don't want that at all."
"So two more questions," Harry pointed out.
"Right." Amelia was clearly shaken by the fact that Harry seemed indifferent to the position of the most important wizard or witch in Britain. "You are involved with the French champion, a Ms. Delacour?"
"Honestly, I couldn't tell you," Harry said. "People say she is different because she is French, or because she is Veela. I think regardless of where they are from, girls are universally perplexing. I have been attached at the hip with Hermione since first year, and she baffles me every day."
"She is the so called-smartest witch?"
"She hates when people call her that. Probably as much as I hate the boy-who-lived. Maybe even more. But she is brilliant. To cut off your question, she is my best friend, and I love her but idea of being romantically involved with her has never occurred to me and it would never happen. One, because as you said, there may be something between me and Fleur, and if there isn't, there a few other people I might be interested in. Two, she and Cedric are involved and I have intention of getting in the middle of that. But let's keep that between us for the time being. They don't need anyone butting in and ruining it."
"Harry, this has been one of the more interesting discussions in my life," Amelia admitted.
"You have a third question, one that you are very reluctant to ask," Harry said, as he noticed Amelia hunch over a bit.
"Are you reading my mind?" Amelia said, a flush of anger rising to her cheeks.
"Just your body language," Harry assured her. "You are too honest, and you wear your heart on your sleeve. To be honest, that's probably a good thing for a law enforcement officer and for trying to get Sirius to be honest with his feelings, but it's pretty bad if you want to be a politician. I'm happy you turned down my offer."
"You were serious?" Amelia said.
"Absolutely," Harry said, studying the women he suspected would be honorary aunt soon enough. She would be if he had his way. He liked what he saw. "This has been eye-opening for me as well."
"How so?"
"You are very… real. I didn't know my godfather did real. I think that when you two get married, it will be a good effect on him."
"Planning our wedding already?" Amelia asked.
"No," Harry said. This seemed like a good time to see what the head of the DMLE was like "Amelia, I'm afraid I have been less than honest with you." He removed a shoe from his robes. "Since Sirius is on private property belong to Fleur's father, the French won't extradite Sirius. But if you really want to see him," Harry sat the shoe down on the table, "Just grab it and say Padfoot."
"I can't in good conscience," Amelia said, and Harry smiled. "What's so funny?"
"Oh, that's just a shoe I stole from one of my dormmates. I'm not going to carry around something like an international portkey. I'm not crazy." Amelia frowned at his deception. "If you want, I can answer your third question."
"I haven't asked it."
"You don't have to. I'm not deaf or blind.
"Why am I not surprised? More unsavory characters, for lack of a better world-"
"Just call them what they are" Harry interrupted. "Death eaters."
"Not all of them are," Amelia countered.
"Just for the moment, I'll forgo formality so I can reinforce the point I feel obliged to make. Amelia, I don't know what I would do. But I think that you can't play with kid gloves. These people are really dangerous, and your first responsibility is to the people you have under control, not the people they are hunting."
"Authorize my aurors to use the killing curse?" Amelia looked horrified.
"No, that's crazy," Harry said. "But don't play around with people that have death in their name. There are plenty of other curses to use. But I'd stay away from the unforgivables. They are a special brand of curses."
"What do you mean?"
"The entrail expelling curse is just as likely to cause death as the killing curse if cast with enough power. So why is one an unforgivable curse, while the other is just a spell likely to cause death?" Amelia didn't have an answer. "Because every time you summon the anger to use it, you lose a little bit of yourself. The power of the curse becomes addicting, and you become numb to things that would cause other people to pale."
"If my people start to kill, public opinion will turn quite quickly," Amelia told him. "We can never afford to lose the moral high ground to the dark lord."
"I understand that, and you are in a very tough position. I'm not going to commit you to anything or say to do something you would regret. But stunning spells only? That is dangerous to your people in more than one way. I won't go out on my boy-who-lived soapbox to say anything unless you are absolutely certain it is necessary," Amelia nodded at that, "but if you need it, I can help. If not, I'd prefer to stow that for the rest of my life."
"So if someone tries to use the killing curse on you?"
"They would regret it." Harry said, and Amelia recoiled from the cold look in his eyes. Hearing it from a 14 year old boy, or man in Harry's case was worrying. But hearing him saying it so casually had her slightly terrified. "If that is all?" Harry stood, gave a small bow, and left Amelia sitting in stunned silence.
-O-O-O-O-O-O-O—O-O-O—O-O-O—O-O-O-
"What did she want to talk about?" Susan asked the next morning as they sat down for breakfast. "I saw auntie off this morning, and she looked like you had stabbed her."
"Nothing too serious," Harry lied, and from Susan's accusing look he knew that it had not been a convincing lie. "If you want, we can talk about it later, but I suggest we avoid it."
"Why?"
"Your aunt didn't want to hear some of the things I said." Harry ran his hands through his hair, trying to create some semblance of order from the mess on his head. "I think she knew what I was going to say, but it still worried her."
"Are you trying to make me mad by being intentionally vague again?"
"I'm not trying to make you mad," Harry said with a faint smile. "It's not anything too secret, we just had a difference of opinion, and I think she is a little worried about my opinion, given the fact that this year I have gathered an odd assortment of friends." Susan glanced around the breakfast table, taking in the group of people that were eating with them.
"Yeah I guess you have." Harry smiled as Susan ceased the line of questioning, taking the time to think about his answers last night. Most people might assume what he had said was posturing, and if Harry heard any of his friends saying similar things he would be tempted to box their ears in. But there was a palpable weight lifted off his chest having said aloud what had been stirring in his mind ever since August. He was a different version of Harry, and now that he had people to protect, nothing and no one would hurt the people around, regardless of the potential personal cost.