AN: First thanks to Galahad0015 for an Idea I hadn't even considered yet. This chapter gave me problems the whole way dialogue is definitely the part I'm struggling the most with.

AN2: Not much action in this chapter, we get some interaction with a couple of chararacters that have been on the sidelines for most of the story, and a hint of what's coming down the the road.

AN3: Who ever invented 'Auto-correct' should be punished most severely. I spend more time going back and fixing words it's "Corrected" for me than anything else.

DISCLAIMER: See chapter 2

Gringotts Bank, Diagon Alley, London, 7/1/1975, 09:26

Bellatrix LeStrange was having a good week first off she had not been assigned to go on the mission to 'Diagon Alley' which was a complete disaster and ended up causing her husband to lose his mind, literally (she was most thankful to the Dark lord for that, she now had complete control over the Lestrange vaults and she didn't have to touch her pig of a husband). Rodolphus was in the long term care ward of St. Mungos and Rabastian was unable to take the Lordship over because his brother and Lord was still technically alive.

Secondly, her master had given her a priceless treasure to keep save and she had earned the position of his first Luitenant, she would command her own team of Death Eaters when they attacked Hogsmeade this coming October. she was beyond honored at his faith in her and she would not disappoint him.

She had just arrived at the Goblin bank and demanded the teller to "Take me to my vault" Quite rudely if she were honest with herself, but didn't give it much thought after all 'goblins didn't have feelings, they were just nasty little creatures meant to serve her'

The Goblin slid from his stool and stiffly replied "follow me please, Madam LeStrange" and led her from the lobby to the mouth of the tunnels where they both climbed into the cart and rocketed down the tunnel at eye watering speed twisting and turning randomly, The cart seemed to be traveling much faster than usual. 'this is probably the little buggers way of getting back at me for being rude to him. Well the jokes on him because I love speed' she thought happily as they passed through a waterfall.

Bellatrix had no idea that she had just set off alerts all throughout the bank. Since the first Horcrux had been found over two years ago the Goblins had set up sensors all over the bank to detect if any entered Gringotts, which was a violation of several treaties. Any vault found to be housing a soul or soul container was automatically confiscated. So of course they would allow her to place a Horcrux in her vault and let her leave oblivious to the fact she had lost everything in the LeStrange vault. Goblins love easy gold, and as the driver seen the sensor on his cart silently flashing red telling him Bellatrix had a contraband item in her possession he grinned and thought to himself "I wish I could see the look on her face when she finds out her vaults our ours now".

Arriving in front of her vault she had to wait for the Goblin to shake the clanker and an ear splitting metal on metal sound resonated through the cavern. The sound made the blind white dragon cower into a corner exposing the door to her vault.

She quickly opened her vault by pressing her Ladies Ring to the LeStrange seal etched in the heavy metal door. She then wandered her way between the goblin made armor and the strange priceless skins of creatures long since extinct. Gold and jewels covered the floor and heaped high almost touching the ceiling on either side of the pathway. She came to the very back of the vault and removed the the tiny goblet it was truly a beautiful piece it had a badger etched into the side of it, It had two finely wrought handles and a raised base and it was made of solid gold if she wasn't mistaken.

She levitated it up to the highest shelf that had been carved out of the srone that made up the walls of the vault. She also grabbed a sizeable bag of Gold coins and exited the vault her job complete.

The ride to the surface was just as fast execept now the Goblin operating the cart had a satisfied toothy grin that made her shudder. Exiting the cart and not long after the bank, she made her way to her Aunt Walburga's house, her grandfather had called a family meeting.

/C.o.t.R\

Number 12 Grimmauld Place, London, 7/1/1975, 12:00

Well somehow Arcturus had talked him into coming to this meeting, luckily Melania had volunteered to watch Nymmie and Iggy otherwise this stessful experience would be amplified significantly. He really needed to stop leaving them with their Great-Grand parents so often, they always came back bouncing off the walls from all the sweets Melania gave them.

Arcturus had called this meeting to discuss how the 'House of Black' would handle the current situation, with the two attacks last week.

The news about Azkaban terrified him and made one point very clear, "The Reaper' took issue with anyone associated with the current 'Dark Lord'.

Harry and Andromeda had arrived early and we're currently sat a their place at the very end of the table furthest from Lord Black (The closer to the head you sat the higher your rank in family hierarchy). They were joined by Narcissa who was chatting away with Andromeda while Harry sat across from the two lost in thought.

The Rune had been on his mind since their return from Azkaban. It was a simple power transfer rune that had been branded into the center of his chest when he was pulled from the future.

It kind of looked like an insect with a diamond body, or an 'A' placed on top of a 'V' with the crossbar for the 'A' extending out to end with a circle on each end of it.

They Rune was illuminated blue when he returned from Azkaban and he could feel his strength returning very quickly. When he told Andy this she had run a core detection spell he had taught her during her training.

She got a reading of twenty-eight percent and before she could cancel the spell it climbed to thity-two percent.

She hadn't let him think much more on the subject that night, she saw proof he was recovering. So she had dragged him to the room to work off some energy. (Adrenaline did wonderful things to Andromeda's sexdrive).

Over the next few days he had scoured every text he owned that had to do with runic magic. He couldn't find anything relevant, A runic aray made a bunch of runes work in tandem with each other. The runes had to be balanced by other runes that kept the array from destabilizing, otherwise they could fail and explode outward with the magic that charged them. A single rune was thought to be useless, yet the one branded on his chest seemed to draw in ambient magic and accelerate his core's recovery.

The floo coming to life drew him from his thoughts and the rest of Andromeda's family stepped out one after the other.

Cygnus stepped out first he only took the time to scowl at Harry before taking his place near the head of the table next to Sirius' father Orion.

He was followed soon after by Druella who gave a soft smile to her daughters and a nod in his direction then took her place across from Cygnus to the left of Walburga.

Finally out stepped Bellatrix who sat across and to the right of him beside Andromeda.

Soon more members he never met arrived and the gap between his group and the direct line was filled in. Then when it seemed every one had arrived Arcturus called for lunch to be served.

Harry noticed that Bellatrix remained silent only taking time to shoot glares his way every so often. Harry also noticed his wife's eyes narrow at her older sister when she did this and Harry just sighed internally. He really didn't want to be anywhere near this meeting and shooting a glance Sirius' way saw his feelings reflected on the face of his fifteen year old God Father.

It took an eternity it seemed for the desert to be served and Arcturus to get to business.

The plates had vanished leaving everyone at the table looking expectantly towards the Head of the table

"Alright let's get straight to it, firstly we're about to be plunged into war. The attack on the Alley was the opening shot. The House of Black will be neutral in this-

"Why on earth would we be neutral? The Dark Lord will purge our world of Mudbloods and return purebloods to our proper place!" Walburga shrieked across the table.

"Sience! We will remain out of it, if the last few days has taught us anything, it's that "The Reaper" has declared the Dark Lord and his cause an enemy! Him and whoever is working with him have killed over a hundred Death Eater's and wiped out the entire race of Dementors, I will not have his wrath brought down on my family!" Arcturus roared to the now silenced room.

Bellatrix had to use every bit of her admittedly limited self control not to speak up on behalf of her master. But even she knew to keep her mouth shut around her grandfather.

Lord Black cleared his throat again "Hadrian and Andromeda I would like to ask you to take my Heir to stay at your home for the duration of the summer. He needs to be trained in combative magics, it would ease my mind to know Sirius can take care of himself, will you please do this for me?"

Shocked Harry looked at Andromeda in askance who gave a nod of agreement, he then met Lord Blacks gaze and gave a nod, and "We would be honored to Lord Black"

Arcturus nodded approvingly Then started to speak again "You have my gratitude, we also need to go-

He was Cut off by Bellatrix this time "What qualifies this filthy halfblood to train your heir? If anything I should train him" She demanded hotly.

Arcturus actually smirked this time "Forgive me if I'm wrong Bellatrix, but if I recall the last time you challenged Hadrian he left you gasping for breath in the dirt in the middle of Diagon Alley?" I want Sirius trained by the best, so unless you can prove yourself better than Harry in our dueling chamber my decision is final" Arcturus stated quite bluntly.

Bellatrix actually winced at the memory, she was in agony for three days after that confrontation and the Halfblood had not even been paying her attention, his eyes had been locked onto her fathers. He had not put any power into the spell that hit Her and it felt as if she had been kicked by a horse. No she would not be dueling him when she had his full attention 'let him be Sirius' problem'. Bella thought to herself.

After Bellatrix made no attempt to speak again Arcturus continued on "We also need to go over some rules, No one in this family is to suport this Dark Lord. I have also decided that there are to be no more of these arranged marriages" At this Arcturus glared at Cygnus before continuing "That Malfoy boy attempted to take liberties with Narcissa and don't get me started on the moron Rowle you tried marrying Andromeda off to." Again he glared at Cygnus who was looking uncomfortable being the center of his father's ire. "No Narcissa is free to choose her own suitor within reason and finally the family vaults are sealed to anyone not named Arcturus Black, I will not have anyone funding this Dark Lord with Black Gold behind my back". Arcturus took his seat again and tuned out the many protest and exclamations of angerbfrom his children. Walburga and Cygnus in particular looked livid at the news they were essentially cut off.

Soon after most cleared out in a huff, Bellatrix being the first to leave when Arcturus excused everyone.

Harry stayed in his seat until the kitchen was mostly empty, he then made his way to the Head of the table where Arcturus and Sirius were talking he then cleared his throat "I will pick Sirius up from your cottage this evening, I have to get the house squared away and arrange for his lodgings." Harry informed Lord Black.

"That's fine Hadrian, I really do appreciate this, I'm sure you'll have him trained up in no time. Arcturus said amicably before shaking Harry's hand

Harry then turned to Sirius and said menacingly "get ready for a long two months" then left before Sirius could answer

Sirius was already having second thoughts about this idea his Grandfather had come up with, and now he was really getting worried. In his anxious state he didn't even see his grandfather smirking at him. Arcturus knew combat training was brutal and now his grandson would learn that as well. It was time for his heir to grow up and combat training would definitely help him do just that.

/C.o.t.R\

Evans Farm, Durham County, England, 7/2/1975, 05:30

Sirius was very rudely awoken when he was doused by a jet of icy water spraying him in the face, it only stopped spraying when his feet hit floor and a pair of athletic shorts was thrown at him, "Get dressed you have five minutes" Harry barked before he closed the door. Sirius groggily pulled on the shorts that he was given and then pulled on his socks and the strange trainers Harry had given him last night, they had a checkmark on the side of the upper and a waffle pattern on the sole. They felt comfortable and light on his feet as he laced them up, he left his room and met Harry by the front door.

"Alright follow me" Harry told Sirius as he lead him outside and they walked down to the barn, once they were inside Harry got straight to business. " Okay well start easy, I want you to run twenty laps around the room" Harry stated and when Sirius just stared dumbly at the room he shot a stinging hex that got him moving.

Sirius was pissed the way his grandfather talked he would just be having a little lighthearted dueling training with Harry and then Andy would make him cookies while he played with the children and just hung out at his cousins all summer.

What he got was jerked out of a nice dream right before 'Marlene was taking her top off' awoken by a jet of ice cold water and then drug out to a barn before the roosters even woke up. He was then made to run laps around the inside of the barn , but oh of course the inside is the size of a bloody Quiditch pitch! Everytime he slowed down he got a stinging hex to the back. 'This is not how your supposed to treat an Heir grandfather!' Sirius seethed in his mind.

Finally lap twenty was complete and Sirius collapsed onto the slightly padded floor panting for breath.

"Well now that the easy part is done time for some push-ups" Harry said cheerfully and when Sirius didn't move he cast another stinging charm. The boy just barely dodged it and quickly got into the push-up position and begun said exercise.

This was Hell, after push-ups, he had to do sit-ups then pull-ups. He was given a five minute water break before he was made to stand in a six foot circle and had stinging hexes fired at him that he was supposed to dodge. When this was finally finished he was told to shower before breakfast was ready. When he exited the barn he saw that the sun had risen and he slowly trudged into the bathroom to have a peaceful shower, or so he thought that was the idea. Until someone came in the bathroom, he called out to say he was in here, his cousin Nymmie answered "Sorry Siri I really got to pee" and heard the seat slam down. He heard her get up to leave a minute later, when he was washing his hair. The sound of flushing was heard followed by the door slamming shut. Sirius howled as the cold water run out and he was scalded by incredibly hot water. "Could this day get any worse?" Sirius muttered

It could, after breakfast Harry run him through muggle hand to hand exercises which consisted of holding different stances before shifting to the next. "Why are you teaching me muggle fighting?" Sirius asked feeling his muscles groan from holding this stance for what seemed the thousandth time.

"Simple sometimes you won't have your wand on you, It will also help you dodge spells more fluidly, Next stance" Harry answered before getting back on task.

At 11:00 Harry called a stop to his physical training "Alright this is how it will work from now until school starts, physical training until 11:00" Harry threw a book which Sirius caught "That book contains combat spells I want you to master on your own. This room is warded against the trace, cast magic anywhere outside this room and the ministry will know." Harry told him and then pointed to a target range toward the back of the barn. "use the Target dummies to learn the spells, after dinner Andromeda will start your dueling practice" Harry finished speaking.

Sirius sighed in relief at those words only for his heart to drop when he seen the smirk on Harry's face "She's going to be just as brutal isn't she Sirius asked fearing the answer

"I trained her myself, so I imagine she will use my techniques. Don't worry in about two weeks your body will get used to the regiment, now come on its lunch time and if we don't hurry Nymmie will eat it all" Harry chuckled and led the way to the house.

The whole way to the house Sirius had one thought 'What the hell did I get myself into!'

/C.o.t.R\

Evans Farm, Durham County, England,7/15/1975, 08:00

The whole crew was having breakfast, Sirius still looked wrung out, Nymmie and Iggy were chattering quietly in between bites of Oatmeal, Harry was pouring over the morning paper, while Andromeda kept her eye on the children and ate her own breakfast bacon and eggs with a side of toast same as Harry's.

When Sirius complained to his cousin one morning about getting porridge while her and Harry got a real breakfast she told him "Beat me in the dueling ring once then you can have bacon, until then eat your breakfast".

Harry's paper perusing was interrupted by an Owl landing in front of him, with a heavy heart he offered the bird his last piece of bacon which the greedy beast devoured, callous to Harry's sadness at having to hand over his last piece of fried goodness.

Sighing, he took the scroll from the Owls leg ignoring his wife snickering at him and broke the Gringotts seal as the owl flew back out the window. After reading the letter twice he looked up at Sirius and tried to let him down easy "Sorry Sirius I have to go to the bank shortly, so We won't be able to do the rest of your physical training today." Harry said in the tone of someone delivering devastating news.

"Sirius looked like Christmas had come early and smiled happily "That's okay Harry, I'll find something to do" he said in a very controlled voice though inside he was dancing a jig.

"Nonsense I'll drop the kids at Grandfathers and run him through the rest of his training" Andromeda said casually.

Sirius' face fell and he dejectedly spooned his porridge around his bowl. "You really don't have to Andy, I'll be okay for one day.

Andromeda just smirked "I can't risk harming your training really it's no trouble at all, Siri" Andy replied innocently.

"Yah gama gama" Nymmie and Iggy chourised as Andy got them ready for the trip to their great-Grandparents house

They ran over to give Harry hugs who scooped them both up and hugged them and over their giggling told them "be good for Grams and Gramps, I love you both" then kissing their heads before he sent them on to their mother who lead them towards the floo.

"I love you to daddy" Nymmie chirped back. "I love you dad" said Iggy more shyly.

After they said their goodbyes Andi herded them through the floo and the kitchen went almost silent minus the occasional sigh of Sirius. Harry just chuckled to himself and kept reading the paper until Sirius spoke up "She's more brutal than you are during training"

"Really? Andi couldn't be worse than me surely, she so gentle and sweet." Harry asked feigning surprise.

"She is! She uses that stinging hex for everything, and she's mean" Sirius pouted

"I'll talk to Andromeda about being nicer in training, okay champ" Harry asked Sirius somewhat sarcastically.

Sirius didn't pick up on the sarcasm and nodded in gratitude smiling happily. It was almost cruel but Harry had to push him and hopefully he would come out all the better for it, and once he "talked to Andy" Sirius' life would become more miserable.

Silence once again reigned and Harry read his paper and enjoyed some peace and quiet before what was to be a long day at the bank. Andy got back about fifteen minutes later and led a sulking Sirius to the training grounds before he headed for the bank.

/C.o.t.R\

Gringotts Bank, Diagon Alley, London, 7/15/1975, 09:30

Harry entered Long Blades office and was surprised to see Helga Hufflepuffs Goblet and The Gaunt family ring on his desk. Long Blade was looking over a map of the United Kingdom and looked up when he noticed Harry was there staring at the items on his desk.

"Mr. Black I'm glad you responded so promptly, about two weeks ago your sister in law placed this" he pointed to the goblet "in her vault, we had sensors placed all over Gringotts after your discovery at Hogwarts. We detected that she was carrying a Horcrux when she entered the bank, she was not carrying one when she left. We used the treaty of 1294 as premise to search her vault and upon finding a Horcrux seized her vault. Now the reason we called you in is because you came from a different time and I can almost bet you've fought him before you came back to this timeline. We need to know how many Mr. Riddle created so if you have any information on the subject could you please share it with me" Long Blade finished talking and looked at Harry expectantly.

Harry just gaped at the Goblin how he was able to make the leaps of logic he did was truly shocking, still if the goblins dealt with the Horcruxes that would be one less problem for him to have to deal with, and horcrux hunting the last time had been miserable tedious work. Granted he knew where most of them were. Still If someone else wanted the job they could have it and the Goblins seemed to really hate Horcruxes.

Harry sighed before answering " In my time he made six.

Hufflepuffs Cup, Ravenclaws Diadem, Slytherins Locket, The Gaunt family Ring, A muggle Diary with the Name Tom M. Riddle engraved on the cover and a large Snake called Nagini.

He entrusted the diary to the Malfoy family, he hid the locket in a cave by the sea and the snake he kept with him at all times". Harry listed off.

"That adds up with our scrying" Long Blade said showing Harry the map that had three red dots at one location somewhere in Nottingham Harry recognized the place easily enough 'Nott Manor.' there was one solitary dot in Wiltshire also easily recognizable as 'Malfoy Manor'. "We will monitor the items and destroy them at our earliest opportunity, but we might have to hire you to get the one in Wiltshire" Long Blade stated bluntly.

Harry nodded I've done crazier things before, Yes if you need that job done the Reaper might just pay the Malfoys a visit, and I'll even do it "gratis" Harry chuckled.

Long Blade didn't usually pick favorites but Mr. Black was one of his favorite customers.

/C.o.t.R\

Evans Farm, Durham County, England, 8/1/1975, 11:00

Sirius sighed as he slumped to the floor, his muscles wrecked, he had bruises on his forearms and blood on his face where he was to slow to block a punch from his cousin. The hand to hand training had progressed from going through the different stances, to actually sparing with them. Most of the stances were different blocking techniques, his teachers slowly showed him the practical way to use those stances in their sparing sessions.

After he had told Harry about how mean Andy was in training Harry had asked her to be nicer to her cousin she had nodded "I promise I won't be so mean in our dueling practices" she had said innocently. She had then demanded Harry let her take over Sirius' hand to hand training every other day to make it up to her poor cousin. Sirius who had been eavesdropping at their door had gone from relieved to very worried very quickly. He had good reason to worry, apparently his cousin took exception to being tattled on to her husband, she had been merciless in their first few training sessions after that and was quite liberal with the stinging hexes. Harry was insane for marrying her, the woman was a sadist!

He had gotten used to the physical exercise which got progressively longer as time went by. The first week he had run twenty laps, then did twenty five pushups, fifty sit-ups and ten pullups. At the start of every week five more were added to each excercise. So this morning he had done forty-five laps, fifty pushups, seventy-five sit-ups, and thirty pullups. The weird thing was it wasn't nearly as tiring as his first week of training, and he always felt good after He had also noticed that his stomach, arms and chest were starting to get some definition and he was actually starting to enjoy his morning runs.

Harry came into the training room at eleven thirty and watched Sirius practicing the piercing hex, he was letting Sirius learn spells on his own because the spell work was the easiest part of dueling and it let the boy find his own preference and style. Clearing his throat to get the boys attenton, Sirius looked up from the dummy he had just drilled a hole through.

"Have you done any practice on spell chaining? Because that spell in particular makes a very good chain" Harry asked before demonstrating on the dummy Harry silently cast ten Piercing hexes the wand motions flowing seamlessly and it looked like a continuous blue jet of light leaving his wand, the hexes struck making loud thumps on contact with the wood, the poor dummies chest was riddled with sickle sized holes.

"How did you cast the spells with no incantation?" Sirius asked he was deeply impressed by that display.

"Well the way I was taught was to cast some spells with your eyes closed, any spell will do, and feel they way the magic flows through you keep that feeling remember it and try and force that feeling of your magic through your wand with the intent of the spell your trying to cast. That garbage in the textbooks about saying the incantation in your mind works for some but it limits what they can do. Willing your magic to do what you want it to outside the boundaries of incantations is the secret to non verbal casting. Just be warned it is a slow process" Harry told Sirius

Sirius was concentrating drinking in Harry's words and he got a gleam in his eye "I think I'll practice that, thanks for the advice" Sirius said already closing his eyes and preparing to cast a spell.

Harry smiled in pride, the boy had come a long way in just a month. He had stopped whining about eveything after Andy took over some of his hand to hand training. His sweet wife's kindness must have inspired Sirius to work harder, because on the days Harry taught him hand to hand the boy showed vast improvement. Now he was pushing himself to improve his magic and showed a real determination to improve. Harry smiled he was really going to miss having Sirius around when the boy left for school. Harry nodded, 'its about time I take a greater hand in Sirius' magical training, I think Ill take over his dueling training this evening' Harry thought to himself and headed to the house to inform Andromeda of his plans. 'This might take some take some negotiating, Andromeda liked dueling Sirius, she told Harry it was therapeutic and Harry had a feeling he was going to have to come up with some concessions. Maybe if he got her Adrenaline up...