A/N I am not JK Rowling nor Rick Riordan
I am continuing this story and as per lilyemma's request there will be no bashing
Chapter 9 – What do you mean, Sirius?
Harry Potter was waiting for 10 pm on Saturday 13th September 1975 for Sirius Black, his godfather, to call on the magic mirror from the same date and month in 1995. He was getting impatient. Sirius finally called.
"Are you free, yet?" Harry demanded.
"I am, pup. That's not the big news though. Fudge has grown a backbone and there have been changes at the Ministry. 7 Death Eaters working for it were executed. The 10 in Azkaban were also executed. A new oath was introduced and 200 purebloods refused to take the oath. The Order of Phoenix had people thrown out of the Ministry, too."
"Isn't that just throwing more recruits Moldieshorts way?"
"Pup, the Ministry was expecting everyone to take the new oath. It was far easier than dosing everyone with veritaserum."
"So, what has Noseless been doing?"
"Nothing. That's got us all worried. He's still got 23 marked Death Eaters."
"Perhaps, he's going to stand against Fudge?" Harry laughed. Sirius, however, wasn't.
"He was never charged with anything or declared public enemy number 1. Too many supporters in the Wizengamot for that. Dumbledore isn't doing anything, either."
"No change there then. It's ridiculous that Riddle was never declared a criminal with all the deaths he caused. Did you find out why you got sent to Azkaban?"
"Dumbledore believed I was the Secret Keeper." Sirius sounded bitter. "He knew I wasn't even there, when he cast the Fidelius. I know I told everyone that they should say they believed me to be the Secret Keeper but not to get me sent to Azkaban without the Wizengamot trial that was my right. I couldn't believe the rat came up with that trap for me all by himself."
"The Rat spent nearly 13 years with Dumbledore's biggest fans. Perhaps the ideas came from Dumbledore?"
"That's not a cheery thought, pup."
"No, it isn't. Sirius, what is the job of the first auror on a crime scene?"
"To secure the crime scene and summon other aurors. Not to move from the scene until a senior auror gives permission."
"So why did you let Hagrid take me away from the crime scene? Why did you go after the Rat? Why didn't you search the property? I saw the Rat return Voldie's wand and cloak to him, which means he was in my nursery room. Why didn't he finish me off? Who was there to stop him? When did Dumbledore take my dad's Cloak?"
"Dumbledore had the Cloak? That's a Potter heirloom and Noble and Most Ancient families do not lend their heirlooms."
"Do you know when Trelawney was hired?"
"August 1979. She was interviewed in the Hog's Head. James and I were trainee aurors assigned to take statements. A spy overheard half of a prophecy and escaped."
"I've heard Trelawney give a full prophecy. Her voice changed and she gave the full prophecy. She didn't conveniently stop for someone to take part of a prophecy to Moldie and make me a target. She didn't remember giving the prophecy. If Dumbledore has kept Trelawney at Hogwarts because he thinks someone could get the prophecy out of her, he's never heard her make one and any prophecy is fake or he interviewed her elsewhere and staged the Hog's Head "interview".
"The spy was Snape."
"What?" Harry was incensed. Everything became clear. Dumbledore's constant 'Snape has my complete trust' meant Snape was a double agent. Harry wouldn't trust Snape, if his life depended on it. He overlook that time Snape had cast a counter curse, when Quirrellmort was trying to curse him off his broom. How many people had Dumbledore given up to build Snape's credibility? The Longbottoms? The McKinnons? The Bones? The Prewetts? He said the names outloud. He didn't know he had until Sirius responded.
"Your guesses could be correct."
"Foe glasses, Dark Detectors and Sneakoscopes would be useful items for wizards and witches to have as well as Wards."
"The items, yes. Very few people can set up wards. Aurors can do it, because it's part of the training. It's never been taught at Hogwarts. The families rely on theirs, which was why they agreed it should never be part of the curriculum."
"How has James been?"
"He's not killed anyone since Senior Undersecretary Dolores Jane Umbridge, who had been put into Hogwarts as a professor by the Ministry. That was last week."
"What was his reason?"
"She attacked him after he raised questions about her eligibility to teach at Hogwarts. Dumbledore sent Hagrid off to talk with the giants and brought in a new Care of Magic Creatures professor. He knew Hagrid didn't have the right qualifications."
"There's nothing about creatures that Hagrid doesn't know and Hermione's lesson plans are excellent."
"Hagrid's finished his OWLS. At least, he finally graduated Hogwarts." Sirius sounded wistful. "The OWLS were done in secret, mind. How have you been?"
"I've been practicing sword fighting with Annabeth. When she suggested it, I didn't have a sword and said so. Lo and behold, the Sword of Gryffindor appeared. That took all my excuses away. She's very skilled at using a sword."
"Harry, that sword has been missing for centuries."
"I used it to kill the basilisk in second year. Dumbledore did take it off me very quickly, mind you. Bit like he returned my father's cloak to me at Christmas in 1991. He didn't sign the note. Just said James had let him borrow it."
"Harry, that Cloak is a Potter Heirloom and Noble and Most Ancient families don't loan out any artefact. One possibility is that it will kill anyone not of your blood. Feuds have been started like that in the past."
"Dumbledore lied," Harry said, in disbelief. "The club is going really well. You've got to promise me that you'll have James and Hermione stay with you over Christmas."
"Sure, pup. Will do."
"I'm really glad you're finally free. Will you go back to your job as an Auror?"
"I don't know. I'm thinking I'm going to have to with all these purebloods leaving the Ministry, if only to support Minister Fudge. I'll contact you this time on the 19th September."
"Don't go," Harry all but shouted, but Sirius had rung off. Harry tried to re-establish the connection, but Sirius was not picking up. Harry wanted relationship advice about Annabeth. He knew Percy was interested in her and didn't know how to compete for a girl's affections. Dealing with Percy had become Harry's main preoccupation. Sparring with him was becoming deadly. Harry wasn't the swordsman Percy was. He stayed in the bouts because he was naturally quick. Desperate defence did not help him win.
Peter Pettigrew had noticed that James was avoiding him. Harry found that Peter had a Dennis Creevey-like adoration of James Potter. It could just have been a mask Peter had worn to get close. The rat had definite Slytherin qualities. Harry couldn't stay aloof with Peter. He had to involve Peter in activities the Marauders had planned. The Marauder pranks would have to begin. They had to. McGonagall didn't involve herself in House activities. You had to go see her or cause trouble to get her to take any interest in you. Peter wanted to play pranks on Slytherin House members. Harry immediately got suspicious. He became even more so, when Peter volunteered to place them under the prank. Harry thought about it. Then agreed. He could use Polyjuice potion to trade places and see what Peter had planned. That would be a month. Harry thought he could get to keep Myrtle onside by making it there, like Hermione had done.
It turned out to be easy to gather the hair he needed from the Slytherin. The idiot had crashed into him. The hair secured, Harry gathered the other ingredients. Myrtle would prove to be good company. Harry listened to her story. She did know who Lord Voldemort really was and said that was probably why she won her case to stay permanently at Hogwarts. Harry was less than enthused to hear of her haunting Olive Hornby. He'd never been one to be vindictive. He shuddered when he thought of Hermione's hunting down of Rita Skeeter. Relentless and vindictive. All she had done was listen to Hermione's profession of love for him in her beetle animagus form and then print it. Harry stopped, gobsmacked. That had been true, every word of it. Krum had told him that Hermione spoke about him all the time, clearly upsetting Krum. Harry wondered how he could have been so dense. He must have said that out loud for Myrtle told him it was because he was a boy. There was nothing he could do, separated as they were by time and his feelings for Annabeth.
Harry knew or suspected that animagus training/research would soon begin. October was the latest he could delay it from happening. He hoped the fact he and his father shared the same patronus meant they'd share the same animal form. Harry knew his Potter luck meant they wouldn't.
Harry was having real trouble accepting the existence of the Greek pantheon. From what he remembered from his primary schooling the Greek Gods were your usual extended homicidal family with a whole bunch of issues that would make American therapists rich beyond the dream of avarice. It was like muggles and magic. It was far easier not to believe. The three he had with him were noted for having parents who did not get along. Both Athena and Ares had done Poseidon out being the chief god of two Greek cities. Poseidon had cursed the Spartans with being useless at fighting on horseback in revenge. That was relatively mild to sinking a third of Athens in revenge. Poseidon was apt to do nasty things and here he was getting between a son of Poseidon and a daughter of Athena. Harry reflected it was well for history that Poseidon hadn't made the Athenians crap at fighting in boats on the water.
He thought of the medals awarded to ancient civilisations. The Gold to the Babylonians. Silver to the Persians and Bronze to the Greeks. The Romans got iron. Harry wasn't aware of an iron medal. His teacher had then told the class about 10 attempts to recreate the wonderful Roman Empire, including the penultimate attempt, which was peaceful. Harry's eyes, he remembered, had long since glazed over preventing him from hearing any explanation, which occupied the rest of that lesson. That teacher could give Binns a run for his money. Perhaps they'd been related?
Harry's predicament was not knowing how the Greek Pantheon would take being involved in the affairs of Wizards and Witches. Harry knew that Hecate was the Greek goddess of witchcraft. He had no idea what relation she was to the Olympian 12. Oh, that's who she was. Must have been Vernon's influence. That special lesson on the Titan Hecate whose wickedness the Greek gods had confined and banished, meaning that there was no such thing as magic.
The next morning, Harry walked into the Room of Requirement and asked the three sparring Greek demigods, "Tell me how does the Titan Hecate gets on with the Greek gods?"
The three fell on their butts. Harry decided if Hecate was watching that, she'd be rolling around on the floor laughing her ass off.
Strangely, it was Clarisse who recovered first.
"Hecate doesn't interact much with the rest of us. She doesn't trust us to look after her children at the camp. She is not really friendly." Clarisse stopped speaking, as though this was all that could be said on the subject. Percy looked like he was going to say something, but Annabeth was shushing him. Harry looked to see if there was anything else he could ask.
"Why did you three fall over, when I asked you?"
Harry didn't get any further.
"You're not really asking that are you?" Annabeth asked.
"Yes, I am."
"We don't really co-operate well with Hecate's children. There's a mutual antagonism between us and between our parents and her. It's not quite war, but it isn't peace. We didn't know you were aware of it and out surprise got the better of us."
Harry hadn't known, but his own non-relationship with his cousin sort of pointed the way. He found out the hard way in sparring that these three disliked being made fun of. Seeker instincts kept him out of harms way. These demigods really went all in in their training. That made Harry wonder about the monsters they went up against. They'd all have to be fast against Voldie's giant snake. Not for the first time, Harry wished he'd got the Potter head of House ring to be able to portkey to the Potter Manor.
At that time, Lord Charlus Potter was deep in thought. He'd seen the Potter head of House ring on Harry's finger, although Harry didn't seem to know it was there. For the first time Charlus Potter felt a failure. He'd failed to uphold the Potter family name. He'd let Dumbledore steal the victory over Grindelwald and the Elder Wand. He'd been too deep in his cups over his son's death to prevent Dumbledore removing House Potter from the Wizengamot. He'd been too disgusted with the wizarding world falling over itself to heap laurel after laurel and title after title on Albus Dumbledore.
The life Harry had explained to him was the consequence of his inaction. Charlus had to do something right. The alliance with the Blacks was his first step. He'd been close to Mr Longbottom. He wasn't close at all to his widow. She'd come from a family traditional at odds with House Potter. Charlus reminded himself that he had to prove himself worthy of the ring. To regain his Wizengamot seat, Charlus needed to overturn the 1919 Act making it illegal for wizards to fight for their muggle sovereign. This was treason. Charlus had argued this time and time again ever since the Act had come into being. What he'd not done was invoke the monarchy or rather sought its assistance. Truth was that he had as little time for the muggle monarch as any other pureblood. Her help was now needed. Pride had prevented him before and that had to go.
Charlus wrote three letters. One to Arcturus Black offering an alliance conditional on the Blacks helping House Potter regain its seat on the Wizengamot. The second to Augusta Longbottom, Regent of House Longbottom reaffirming the historic alliance and asking for a meeting. The third, partially spelled to ensure no muggle read the portions of his letter to the Queen dealing with the aforementioned Act.
Then he went off to prepare. The recipients of the letters had various reactions. Arcturus Black almost fell off his seat. He hadn't thought the Potters were serious about an alliance. That was despite the article in the Daily Prophet and their earlier meeting. Yes, he would move heaven and earth for such an alliance. All Charlus was asking was the return of his seat.
Augusta Longbottom was flattered to receive the missive. She agreed to a meeting and suggested a number of dates.
The Queen was shocked to discover she had wizard subjects. She'd known about them, of course, but had had no contact. She had not replaced the Royal Wizard who had died shortly after her coronation. She wrote Charlus back, inviting him to an audience.
Charlus was pleased with the initial responses. There was one more contact he needed to re-activate. Major Bartholomew Humphrey had been a muggle commando assigned to his division - a fancy name for a squad of wizards – and an American too boot. Dipping his quill in the inkpot, Charlus began to write. He had to tell Bart about the new Dark Wizard who liked to hurt ordinary people as well as wizards and how ordinary people needed to have their governments alerted to defend their people. Charlus believed that Dumbledore knew who Voldemort had been before he took up the so-called title. Only MACUSA had the clout to force Dumbledore to spill the beans. This letter would take the Potter owl a while to deliver and return with a response.
Squibs had rights. The Potters had believed it and fought for it. Dorea had never understood the Potter family motto 'Leave none behind', but she understood that the Ministry had been wrong to allow families to kick them out and pay them no further heed. It had lead Purebloods to believe that they had only to threaten to riot to make the Ministry do whatever they liked. Wizarding kind could not survive the alienation of the muggleborn and that was where certain Purebloods were taking it. She'd taken the news that Charlus was attempting to forge a Potter-Black alliance with more than a pinch of salt. Her marriage to Charlus had resulted in her being blasted off the Black family tree. She wasn't sure how she regarded this development. She would support her husband, now, as she had 66throughout their marriage. Action he was taking against Dumbledore was long overdue in her opinion. Dorea Potter had her own contacts and those she now used. There were several soirees she would be attending and she knew the buttons to push. She was a Black, regardless of the family tapestry statement on the subject. Daddy had really not liked the Potters. Her marriage had alienated the Potters from a number of Light families, at the time. She had been happy in her marriage, but it had been the wrong move for the Potters from a strategic point of view.
Fleamont Potter had not worked out how Harry had found himself in James' body. None of the family tomes on time travel covered that. Going back in time or transferring consciousness was possible. Combining both was incredibly risky. Fleamont doubted it could be done and yet proof was sitting in Hogwarts. He started re-reading the books in the family library, again.
Harry, as James, was doing well. He was actually doing as well as James would have done. The headmaster Albus Dumbledore was surprised. From information he'd received from his future self, Harry Potter was a mediocre student who relied on Hermione Granger for his grade. Harry's teaching in the DADA club was reported as being of very high quality. Dumbledore had made himself invisible and watched Harry teach and Harry was very good. No-one suspected that he was not James Potter. He'd picked up the mannerisms and writing style of said James Potter much faster than Dumbledore had believed possible.
Harry had got back his essays and they were as good as the ones James had submitted at the beginning of term. He was ecstatic. He'd never done that well before. Sirius and Remus were impressed. Peter wondered why they were making a fuss.
Lily Evans had been annoyed by being tricked by James Potter into going on a date. She'd gone back to where Myrtle haunted and had found the History of Magic textbook and the approved Ministry and ICW course in the History of Magic. Lily wondered if James was plotting a coup against Binns. Her friend Alice was observing Lily and Myrtle was observing the pair. Myrtle had taken to observing Binns, as well. The ghost had nearly put her to sleep as well, which was quite an achievement. No-one had observed her entering the classroom, since all the students were asleep.
The next time harry was in her lair, Myrtle explained what she'd observed.
"Binns nearly put me to sleep," she said.
"Isn't that impossible?" Harry asked.
"Yes, it is. It was quite the achievement. It was like being alive again. I'd quite forgotten just how much of a bore he was. I think you should perform an exorcism," Myrtle stated.
"Would he even notice?" Harry said, sarcastically. "The only time I've seen him interact with a class was to answer a question about the Chamber of Secrets."
"You've seen an interaction?" Myrtle was impressed. "I never have."
"You should find Sed Exocrcismus works. I never thought I'd share that with a mortal, but for you Harry, anything."
"That means a lot to me, Myrtle. Thanks," Harry said.
The next History of magic class Harry had, he waited until Binns was half an hour in. He was droning on about a 1632 Goblin Rebellion. Harry was almost asleep.
"Sed Exorcismus," he said, in the manner of his favourite spell forcing his arm out as far as he could. Binns had a moment to look shocked and was forcibly removed from the classroom. Harry had some moments of satisfaction, before Binns came back into the room. Once again, Harry cast the spell and again Binns shot through the wall. Again, he returned. Fainter, slightly, Harry thought. Once more, Binns returned. Again, Harry cast the spell. Others saw what he was doing. The next time the spell was cast, 20 voices raised as one and Binns stood there looking like he was being torn apart. 20 pupils cast he spell one more time and Binns just exploded.
In, through the wall, floated Myrtle Warren. She carried on the lesson. No-one fell asleep and she made the lesson interesting. The students were pleased. Dumbledore was less so. He summoned James Potter.
"What have you done, Harry?" Dumbledore asked, eyes twinkling.
Harry remained silent. He'd not even been offered a sweet, laced with whatever. Dumbledore tried again. Still, Harry remained silent.
"You removed a long standing and valued member of staff."
"He failed to teach the curriculum. He should have been removed years ago. How many times have YOU PROMISED THE GOVERNORS THAT YOU'D HAVE A WORD WITH HIM?" Harry was shouting, now.
"Now, Harry, you must be reasonable. You must re-summon him." Dumbledore's eyes were no longer twinkling.
"No."
"I don't really want to threaten you, Harry, but if you don't, I will reveal your true name to the entire school."
"Go right ahead and really piss off the Department of Mysteries and break several laws relating to time travel. Another thing, Dumbledore, never call me Harry, again." Harry moved to open the door.
"I'm afraid I cannot let you leave," Dumbledore said. Harry just left. Harry had the gargoyle change the password. Let Dumbledore puzzle his way out. He'd find he could not apparate, despite being Headmaster. That was giving a hint as to what the elder Harry Potter would become. Still, Harry could always claim he was acting liked a fed-up teenager. He thought Sirius and Remus would give him what-for, when he met up with them.
Sirius and Remus were more shocked that Dumbledore wanted Harry to bring Binns back. Everyone was celebrating the end of Binns. James Potter was the toast of four common rooms. He was the toast of staff room, too. None of the staff could work out where Dumbledore had got to. He didn't normally partake in shindigs, but he usually made an appearance. The staff didn't really care.
Harry enjoyed his party. As he lay in drink enhanced pre-sleep, Harry pondered the problem of Minerva McGonagall. She should have been present at his meeting with Dumbledore. Harry had checked the rulebook and found out that the Head of House had to be present for all meetings involving students of that House and the headmaster. Harry remembered his own meeting with the headmaster and Snape. Every one of those had been contrary to Hogwarts rules, and Harry had been furious.
Harry had to write to Croaker telling him what he'd taken part in and Dumbledore's reaction and threat. Harry used the owl the Department had sent to Hogwarts. Harry sent the Potter owl to Lord Charlus explaining the same thing and pointing out McGonagall's non-attendance at the meeting. Harry really wanted Lord Arcturus Black and Lord Charlus Potter on the governing board. Unfortunately, the elections had already concluded for governors.
Lord Charlus had a good laugh on learning that a class had exorcised Binns. He was less amused to hear of Dumbledore's threats and McGonagall's absence. Croaker had a similar reaction to Binns' departure. Dumbledore's threats to reveal Harry was a most serious breach of the Ministry's laws that the Wizengamot had passed, before Dumbledore's time, of course. He made plans to visit Hogwarts and speak with Dumbledore. This would be tiresome. Harry was doing what he was supposed to, but this was Dumbledore. He was more slippery than an eel.
The following afternoon Lord Charlus Potter and Lord Arcturus Black met for the first time not to negotiate a marriage alliance. Lord Arcturus wryly wished he was negotiating a marriage alliance between James and Bellatrix. That would be a strategic disaster for House Potter. Charlus must come up with a better offer. Arcturus laughed. He spied Charlus coming into the meeting area. Gringotts was hosting the meeting.
"Good afternoon, Arcturus, I trust you are well," Charlus began.
"Well, enough, Charlus. To what do I owe the honour?"
"We need to support Minister Eugenia Jenkins and the Ministry and to form an alliance," Charlus stated.
This came as no surprise to Arcturus. He too wanted to counter Dumbledore's Order of the Phoenix. Charlus was being direct. Had he forgotten who to negotiate?
"What benefit is it to me to ally with you?"
"I've already said we need to support Jenkins. You've Pollux going around making everyone thinking he's your heir. He isn't and I know who is. You've let Walburga have far too much freedom blasting people off the Black tapestry. Your forthcoming marriage alliances with the Malfoy and Lestrange Houses suggest at least tacit support for this new Dark Lord. You're the only one who can demand this Dark Lord prove his pureblood heritage. You need this alliance to prove you still run House Black. I need your support to get my seat back, in the Wizengamot."
Arcturus had not been spoken to so directly in a very long time. He nodded. The alliance was set up and written down. The key points were the restoration of the House Potter to the Wizengamot seat, support for Minister Jenkins, opposition to the Death Eaters and Order of the Phoenix as weakening the authority of the Minister and Ministry. Arcturus conformed that Pollux had overreached and wasn't his heir. The two Lords demanded the Dark Lord prove both his Lordly status and his pureblood status. The seals of the two Houses were affixed and the treaty of alliance made.
The Daily Prophet has a field day. One humourous article about the whole class exorcising Binns and the non-funny story about the Potter-Black alliance written by Rita Skeeter. Lord Voldemort would take the article very badly. His currently marked Death Eaters would take being described as branded like muggle cattle particularly poorly.
Harry liked the story about Binns, since 10 of the 20 in the class were Slytherins. That made it impossible to paint him or rather James Potter as the villain of the peace. He was pleased to read about the alliance. From the scowls on the faces of the Blacks, they took a different view.
Dumbledore had finally hit on the password to get out of his office. He was surprised to find Croaker waiting to talk with him.
"I am rather busy, Croaker."
"This is not something that can wait."
"Come on in," Dumbledore sighed. The pair entered his office and sat down.
"I had a missive from Harry Potter. He explained his role in Binns' removal and Myrtle's taking up the position. I was also informed, as I am required, about your threat to out him. The laws on Time Travel are very clear. You can't do that. I am required to slap notices/warnings on you Albus Dumbledore. It doesn't matter, if you're angry with him. He's abiding by the rules."
"He's unreasonable. He won't bring Binns back."
"What did McGonagall have to say on the matter?" Croaker asked.
"She wasn't present," Dumbledore admitted.
"That'd be another requirement, Dumbledore." Croaker was finding it difficult to keep his temper.
"I shall ensure that she is present for future discussions with Harry Potter." Dumbledore had no choice in the matter. How truthful he was being, Croaker would have to wait to find out. Croaker wanted to demand the device that allowed future Dumbledore to communicate with past Dumbledore, but he didn't know what it was. Even the source from a more distant time didn't know what it was.
Voldemort assembled his original dozen Death Eaters: Rosier, Lestrange, Crabbe, Goyle, Carrow, Travers, Selwyn, Avery, Flint, Nott, Rowle and Fitzhugh. He attacked Fleamont Manor, where Charlus and Dorea were breakfasting with Fleamont and Euphemia. By the time the wards were taken down and anti-apparatition spells cast, the four knew they could not escape and the floo access had been disabled. They had been training and so were all in battle armour.
Fitzhugh, Travers, Rowle and Rosier were all dead before the 13 penetrated the Manor. Charlus moved to engage Voldemort and proceeded to hold his own. The other 8 thought they held the upper hand against 3. Flint and Lestrange fell. Selwyn was wounded. Euphemia picked up a wound. Voldemort retreated. Charlus cut through the anti-apparition spells and made Fleamont Manor Unplottable and Untrackable. He then went to the Ministry to find out why his floo accessed had been cut off. Fleamont took Euphemia to St Mungos for treatment.
The person who was responsible for floo access was Mrs Flint. Charlus said, "Your husband died this morning. You blocked my floo. You can join him." He killed her. He left. Aurors heard the exchange. No action was taken or attempted against him.
Harry kept the copy of the Daily Prophet with the report about the attack.