Author Note: I apologise for the long wait, I was having trouble tying off all the loose ends before the next big event in the story, which is why this chapter is so choppy. My writing speed shout increase again now. I hope you continue to enjoy either way!
Harry and Hermione sat down for breakfast early the next morning with Sirius. Despite his vindication, most people still eyed him warily and gave him a wide berth. They were joined, as usual, by Luna, Neville and Draco. Draco, however, seemed even more despondent than usual.
"So Padfoot," began Harry as he readied his pancakes, "have any thoughts on your welcome back prank?"
Harry could practically feel the twins snap their attention onto him at the mention of one of their personal heroes.
"Welcome back prank?"
Harry had a huge grin. "You're a Marauder, isn't that what you do? Moony is probably waiting for his underwear draw to attack him or something."
Sirius' face morphed into a grin to match Harry's. "You really are the son of Prongs, aren't you?"
Hermione, who could see the twins shell-shocked reactions from her seat, had to bite her tongue to stop herself from giggling.
"Well, I've gotten up to a fair amount of mischief myself over the years."
"Hmm... You mean like this?"
Harry studied Sirius for a moment when nothing happened, until snickering caught his attention. He stood and scanned the hall, but he couldn't see anything. The sniggering got louder. Then he looked himself over and nearly jumped with surprise.
His robes were now hot pink and covered in twinkling yellow stars. He had grown a long white beard that hung a few inches off the floor and his glasses had curved into a crescent shape. Overall he looked passable as a shorter Dumbledore.
He chuckled. "Mr Black, something seems off here!"
Half the hall burst out laughing when, instead of his normal voice, he spoke in Dumbledore's grandfatherly tone. Harry, however, looked shocked he had spoken like that.
If possible, Sirius's grin got wider. "Of course, Professor, my mistake. Where would you be without your loyal deputy-headmistress?"
Hermione, who had been biting her fist in an attempt not to laugh, was now dressed as McGonagall, and her hair was tied back in a similar knot. When she realised what happened, she jumped up. "Sirius Black! Change me back this instant!"
Luna fell onto the floor crying with laughter at Hermione/McGonagall's Scottish accent. After a moment, an evil smirk spread across Harry's face.
"I don't know, Hermione. If Sirius likes us looking like this, then we might just have to indulge him." Before Hermione could reply, he pulled her into a heated kiss, which soon deepened into a full-on snog. Over a minute later they came back up for air. To find half the hall was laughing even harder, while the other half was starting to look green around the gills. Sirius himself looked ready to vomit, and blanched when Hermione stated rather loudly (still in the McGonagall voice). "Oh, Harry! You're beard tickles!" A couple of the older students actually made a dash for the loo at that.
"Alright! Alright! I relent!" Sirus cried as he turned them back to normal.
Harry's grin didn't falter. "Now you know what you're getting into, I won't go east on you next time."
Sirius gulped nervously, while mentally he was already preparing his revenge. Harry glanced over to the staff table. Dumbledore was, as usual, serene, as if his clone hadn't just made out with a McGonagall look-alike in the great hall. McGonagall herself looked distinctly green, as did Sprout. Flitwick was clutching his side from laughing so hard, and Snape was impassive. Just then the morning post arrived, including the daily prophet.
The Boy-Who-Lived does it again... and AGAIN!
The front page featured a young Harry seemingly defying Voldemort's wraith and briefly covered the two times he had banished Voldemort since starting Hogwarts. Next was an article exonerating Sirius and taking pot-shots at the ministry. Finally, a notice from the editor told the reader that the next three issues would cover, in great detail, Harry Potter's first three years at Hogwarts. After that, the regular content of Quidditch scores and gossip columns returned.
o0O0o
After classes finished Harry and Hermione used the new floo connection in their quarters to head directly to the Ministry and ask for Black Phoenix. They were ushered into what appeared to be a dimly lit interrogation room. It featured three metal chairs and a metal table with inbuilt Pensieve and cuff-bar.
After a short wait, the door opened into the dim room and a silhouette lumbered in followed by Broderick Bode. The figure was using magic to conceal themselves, giving them the appearance of a three-dimensional shadow. The mysterious person was short and slightly rotund, with a hint of feminine curves. Bode stood by the door, watching attentively.
"Thank you for coming on such short notice." Said the figure. The voice was unnatural, even slightly synthesized. "I am Black Phoenix."
"Uhhh... you're welcome?" Said Harry, looking confused.
Hermione rolled her eyes. "It's a pleasure to meet you. Why are we here?"
"I need to know the truth of what happened the night Sirius Black escaped from Hogwarts."
Harry was quick to mask his alarm. "Uhh... we don't know anything about..."
"Don't bother denying it, Regent-Lord Black. From the report Madam Bones brought back, I don't think it's possible for you not to be involved." When nobody spoke Black Phoenix continued. "Of course, there won't be any charges levied for what you divulge in this room."
Harry and Hermione had a quick mental conversation, before Harry let out a sigh. "Will a memory do?"
o0O0o
Marcus couldn't quite believe what he was seeing. Sitting on the table were three consecutive special editions of the daily prophet. Each one covered one of his son-in-law's years at Hogwarts.
According to the letter he received from Hermione, every single detail was accurate. Having read them through, he couldn't decide who had gone bananas, his daughter or the world.
o0O0o
The following Saturday found Harry, Hermione and Sirius visiting Gringotts.
"The Tonks are once again part of the house of Black." Stated Griphook professionally as he tucked the freshly-signed form into a draw on his desk. "Now, onto the marriage of Bellatrix Lestrange. Before you dissolve her marriage, there is the small matter of Mrs Lestrange's dowry. Here is a complete list of the Lestrange vault, and an estimation of the worth of all items contained therein, choose at your leisure. You can, of course, have the dowry partially or completely repaid in Galleons instead."
Harry took the scroll and gave it a quick glance. He was about to tell Griphook to reclaim the full dowry in Galleons when something caught his eye. "Hufflepuff's cup." He croaked out. Hermione sat up straight and took the list from Harry, while Sirius looked at him quizzically.
"What would you want with Hufflepuff's cup?"
Harry ignored him turned back to Griphook. "The house of Black will take Hufflepuff's cup, and the remaining balance in galleons."
Griphook nodded. "Very well, I shall have the cup sent to your family vault an..."
"NO!" Shouted Harry and Hermione in unison. Harry looked sheepish. "Uhh. what I meant to say is can you have it sent up here?"
Griphook looked thoroughly confused as he nodded and filled in some forms, before giving them to Harry so he could sign them. Then he drew a final form from another draw. "Here is the form to cast Bellatrix Black out of the family."
Sirius was grinning as Harry signed the document.
"Now, onto the main event. I assume you wish to take up the mantle of Lord Black, Mr Black?" Sirius nodded. "Very well, I'll need you to fill out this form..." he handed Sirius what appeared to be a multi-page questionnaire "... in triplicate."
Sirius groaned and spent the next ten minutes filling in forms.
"And Regent-Lord Black I need you to sign this." Harry signed the offered document, and immediately felt the ring disappear from his finger. Griphook slid the head-of-house ring box over to Sirius and slid a black ring box over to him. Harry opened it to find another signet ring. This one was gold and engraved with the black family crest, a raven's head with a wand in its beak.
"That's the heir apparent ring." Said Griphook, seeing Harry's confusion. Harry nodded and put the ring on, which re-sized itself to fit his finger. Sirius put on the head-of-house ring and they bid Griphook farewell. They passed through the lobby quickly, as the Basilisk corpse was on display there and people were queueing to view the memory of the fight for a sickle.
o0O0o
Dumbledore took a deep, relaxing breath as he stepped into the Burrow's garden. The last week had been hell. Ever since Harry had decided to air all of HIS dirty laundry to the whole school, he had been fighting tooth and nail to retain what little of his reputation remained intact.
The three consecutive special editions of the Daily Prophet certainly hadn't helped. Thankfully Harry hadn't revealed the truth about his upbringing. If that happened, then he would be lucky to escape crucifixion.
Now he had been summoned in his capacity as Chief Warlock to witness the Weasley's family trial, a welcome break from the political and emotions chaos of the past week. He made his way around the house and physically stopped when he saw the size of the sea of red-heads. There looked to be about forty members of the Weasley family present, seated on bleachers beside the quidditch pitch. On the pitch itself stood two lecterns and a raised platform with three wooden thrones.
Dumbledore flicked his wand and a large, plushie armchair appeared beside the bleachers, which he sat down on happily. He gave Bill Weasley a quick nod.
Bill cast a week sonorous on himself and stood. "All rise! Prosiding over today's family trial, the oldest living female Weasley, Comonia Weasley..." An old lady hobbled out of the house and took the far right chair on the raised platform. "...The oldest living male Weasley, Abraham Weasley..." A man who appeared to be in his late sixties walked out of the house and took the far left chair. "...And the Head of House Weasley, Arthur Weasley!"
Arthur followed and took the middle seat. "You may be seated. Bring out the first defendant." Ron strode out of the house, trying to keep his composure, and took his place behind one of the lecterns. "Prosecutor, please take your place." Charlie Weasley made his way to the other lectern, carrying a bulging suitcase. "Your opening statement please, Prosecutor."
o0O0o
The sun was partially set by the time the trial was closed for a half-hour recess. The first four hours had been filled with repetitive witness statements from Hogwarts, including the letters from Harry, memories from Ron's 'confrontations' with the students, and Arthur's memory of the Howler, as well as the defendants' arguments against each point. The next hour was a quasi-QandA session between the two defendants and the whole Weasley family.
Dumbledore had nearly lept out of his conjured armchair when the recess was called and walked surprisingly quickly straight to the nearest bathroom, thankfully he got there before the queues began to form. When he had relieved the pressure in his bladder he made his way to the kitchen and downed a litre of water. Sitting still for five hours in the bitter British winter without reprieve or refreshments wasn't easy, especially when you were over a century old. Reluctantly he made his way back to the garden to wait for the sentencing.
Twenty minutes later all the Weasleys were seated again. Arthur stood to deliver the verdict. "Molly Weasley, we have reviewed your case and find you guilty of behaviour unbefitting of the house of Weasley, however, your infraction was minor. Consider this your first, and last warning. If you act out again you will be judged extremely severely. Do you accept our terms?"
Molly nodded, looking thoroughly humiliated.
Arthur turned his attention to his youngest son. "Ronald Billius Weasley, we have reviewed your case and find you guilty of behaviour unbefitting of the house of Weasley. For your punishment, you will spend all of your remaining summers with your Aunt Muriel until you turn seventeen. Make no mistake, if you were an adult I would disinherit you myself! You are also on your last warning, and if you act out again will be judged very harshly. Do you accept our terms?"
Ron was red in the face, whether from anger or embarrassment was debatable. Reluctantly he nodded his head.
o0O0o
The night before the second task Harry was sitting at the end of the Gryffindor table. While that in itself wasn't strange, the company that surrounded him was. Hermione, Neville, Luna and Draco were nowhere to be seen. Instead to his left sat Cedric Diggory, across from him was Viktor Krum, and to Viktor's left was Fleur Delacour.
"So how would this work exactly?" Asked Cedric as he peered as Harry questioningly.
"Just like the traditional cup, I suppose, four teams, six matches, fun for everyone."
Viktor snorted. "Iz zis anozer vone of your pathetic attempts to distract us?"
"I am NOT trying to distract you!" Snapped Harry, gaining more than a few questioning glances. Harry let out a deep sigh. "I'm sorry, with Hermione so far away and our bond closed I'm really off balance. My head feels empty and vulnerable and my emotions are on the fritz."
"She really means a lot to zou, no?" Said Fleur, studying his reaction closely.
"We are, quite literally, two sides of the same coin, she's my better half. We share our power, knowledge, memories and even our very soul. She means more to me than life itself." Fleur seemed shocked at his answer, before looking away, unable to face the determination in his eyes. Harry turned to face Viktor. "And no, I am not trying to distract you. Cedric can vouch that I like to play fair, as does he. I would have done what we did, regardless of whether you decided to join in or not."
"Harry's right. If it wasn't for him, I wouldn't have known about the dragons." Interjected Cedric. Harry gave him a grateful nod.
Viktor harumphed but said nothing.
"Well, assuming the headmaster gives his permission, I'm in. I'm sure I can get the other Hufflepuffs onboard, what about you two?" Cedric said with a grin.
Fleur smiled brightly for several seconds. Harry noted some of the boys sitting close to them seemed to be near-catatonic. Cedric looked distinctly uncomfortable and was looking anywhere but at Fleur, and Viktor was slightly flushed. "I vill join in also. In France, zey do not let me play because I am a part of ze Veela. I vill have my team ready in time."
Harry smiled, both at Fleurs acceptance and the fact he was unaffected by her allure. "I'm sure some of the Ravenclaws will be willing to join if needs be. And you, Viktor?" Viktor locked eyes with Harry, before giving him a cut nod and returning to his food. "Good, I'll have a word with the headmaster after the task tomorrow."
Harry watched as Fred and George walked into the hall quickly and made their way towards the staff table and whispered to McGonagal, who went white. She then whispered to Dumbledore, who straightened slightly but otherwise seemed unaffected. Shortly after a seventh-year Slytherin walked up and repeated the performance with Professor Snape, who then passed it on to Dumbledore. This time he seemed slightly distressed and raised a silencing ward around them. He, Snape and McGonagall talked quickly before at once glancing at Harry. Dumbledore dropped the charm and stood from his throne. He walked around the table slowly, McGonagall and Snape flanking him, and walked towards Harry slowly.
"I hope your listening Skeeter," whispered Harry, "because things are about to get interesting."