A/N: Two Chapters in one day? What kind of crazy sorcery is this?
We call it the muse my friends. Enjoy!
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5
Harry and Susan had spent the next few hours answering questions and preformed some wand work, proving that they were either really advanced or that they were indeed telling the truth. They had even had dinner up there as Dumbledore had asked the house elves to provide Dumbledore had pulled out his pensive trying to get memories of their meeting with Death but the memories refused to be removed. Instead Harry focused on all the times he'd been beaten, battered, bruised and abused by the Dursleys and those memories came out easily as he placed them in the pensive. "I'll warn you though. These can get a little…graphic." He watched as the four of them dove into the pensive. He didn't need to relive it. Instead he picked up his shirt and put it back on waiting for them to finish.
A few moments later they returned from the pensive. Dumbledore was pale as a ghost while Madam Bones and Professor Sprout were a mix between anger and horror. Madam Bones was so angry she was shaking. Susan looked at Harry and she had tears in her eyes. She ran over and hugged him. "I'm so so sorry Harry. That was awful. I can't even imagine how you survived that and managed to become the wonderful person that you are," she whispered to him. He blushed for a moment before shrugging.
"Just lucky I guess." Susan laughed but didn't leave his side. She suddenly felt very protective of Harry. She wouldn't let anybody hurt him like that anymore, despite the fact that she knew he could take care of himself.
"So…," Harry began as he sat down, Susan sitting next to him still holding his hand, which did not go unnoticed. "Now that I've let you all in on our little secret I have a few simple requests. 2 to be precise. To be fair, the first one is really a demand or a notification. One, I'm not going back to the Dursleys…ever. Nothing you can say will make me change my mind. I don't care about the blood wards. I'd be better off facing Voldemort again than living there.
"Agreed," said Madam Bones and Professor Sprout in unison. "He can stay with Susan and I," said Madam Bones. Professor Sprout nodded in agreement. Dumbledore, who was slowly regaining color, just nodded. After what he just saw, he couldn't help but feel as though he made the wrong decision. Minerva had tried to tell him. Tried to warn him but he did what he thought was best…like always.
"Secondly," he turned to Madam Bones, "I would like your help to free my godfather, Sirius Black but turning in the actual murderer of innocents and betrayer of my parents, Peter Pettigrew. Under Veritaserum he will confess. Now if you give me a few minutes I can prove he exists within the castle and in the meantime if you'd like to grab a few aurors we can get this wrapped up before the evening is through." Madam Bones nodded and went to the fireplace to make the call. After everything she had seen and heard from her niece and Harry she had no reason to believe he was not telling the truth. While she was doing that, Harry turned to Professor Dumbledore. "Sir, could I borrow Fawkes for a quick jaunt…with his permission of course. I can't exactly get into Gryffindor Tower this time around." Dumbledore nodded. This time Harry turned to Fawkes. "Would you mind running me up to Gryffindor tower and back really quick?" Fawkes trilled in approval and swooped down towards Harry. Harry grabbed hold of the Phoenix's tail feather and they disappeared in a flash of fire.
The twins were playing a game of exploding snap with Lee Jordan while Ron and Hermione had started on their homework much to Ron's complaining. There were a few other students at tables and on couches talking. Nobody could have expected what would happen next.
With a giant FWOOSH and a flash of flame Harry Potter had arrived in the middle of the Gryffindor common room with a Phoenix on his shoulder. He looked around before taking a bow as the whole of the Gryffindor common room stared at him. "Thank you very much. My name is Harry Potter and I'll be here all week." At that Fred, George and Lee started clapping and cheering. They didn't know how he managed it but it was bloody brilliant. He walked over to the trio with Fawkes still sitting on his shoulder. "Hey guys," he whispered "I need to borrow the Marauder's Map. I'll bring it back later this evening. Promise."
"Normally we'd deny knowing such a thing…" Fred answered.
"Or how you know about it to begin with..." George added.
"But that was bloody brilliant…"
"And it's only your first day."
With that Fred ran up to the dormitories to get the requested item. While he was gone Hermione and Ron came over looking amazed and surprised.
"Bloody hell mate. That was unbelievable. How did you manage that?"
"It was the phoenix obviously Ronald," Hermione replied in her know-it-all tone not even managing to correct Ron for his language. "The question is where did you get a Phoenix?"
"His name is Fawkes and he belongs with the headmaster. He was the one who brought us here. Isn't that right," he asked Fawkes. Fawkes chirped and trilled in response. Harry swore if he didn't know any better he'd think he was proud of himself.
Fred returned a moment later and handed Harry what appeared to be a blank piece of parchment. "Thanks guys," he replied to the twins. "I'll have it back tonight…although I may have to use the door next time."
"What and ruin your showmanship," replied George
"That's right. We're expecting something better than that…" responded Fred.
"Although that is going to be hard to top…"
"Quite right."
Harry looked at the pair of them with a mischievous grin. "What can I say guys? When you're hot, you're hot." With that both Harry and Fawkes disappeared in a burst of flames, leaving Fred and George laughing in their wake.
With a final burst of flame they reappeared back in Dumbledore's office and Fawkes flew off to his perch. Harry thanked Fawkes before turning to the two aurors who had their wands drawn in surprise. "Sorry to startle you. Just popped out for a minute. Came back in a flash though," he said with another of his famous Potter smiles. Susan giggled while the rest of the adults cracked a smile. He walked over to the headmaster's desk and lay the seemingly blank piece of parchment on it before pulling out his wand and tapping it. "I solemnly swear that I am up to no good." With that the map revealed itself. "What you are looking at is a piece of master design that tracks every person within the school showing where they are right now. For instance if you look at the spot for the headmaster's office," he pointed to the area on the map. "You will see all of our names including a Nymphadora Tonks and a Kingsley Shacklebot. Nice to meet you. I'm Harry Potter. Now having proven that the map works if you will kindly turn your attention to the Gryffindor dormitories you will notice someone that doesn't belong. Someone believed to be dead. Someone…who betrayed my parents," his voice turning icy cold. As the adults crowded around the map they gasped in awe at the name that they saw.
"It can't be."
"No way."
"How?"
"I can answer that last part," Harry added with a very Sherlock Holmes attitude. "It's quite simple my dear Watson. You see Peter Pettigrew is an unregistered animagus who goes by the pet name of Scabbers. You see the only thing they found of Pettigrew at the scene of the crime was a missing finger. If you happen to notice the rat you will notice that he too seems to be missing the same finger. Coincedence? I think not. Now the quickest way to resolve this would be to send a message to Professor McGonagall telling her to have Ron Weasley bring his rat down here. She can ensure the cage is shut tight so that the rat can't escape in case he figures out what's going on and tries to make a break for it. Once here you can cast the animagus detection spell, verify what I've said, force him to change back and the rest as they say is history."
The adults looked at Harry rather impressed. He'd been through a lot but he came in here, laid it all out on the table for them, and his first thought had been to rescue his godfather. Dumbledore sent a patronus to Professor McGonagall just as Harry had suggested. Shacklebolt took up position by the door while Tonks stationed herself about midway up the room. Professor McGonagall showed up with a nervous looking Ron Weasley carrying a cage with a rat in it. As soon as the door shut Kingsley stunned the rat much to the horrified look of Ron.
"Sorry about that Mr. Weasley but if our suspicions are correct that is not a rat at all but a wanted man. If you would be so kind as to set it on the table for the aurors to look at," came the calm voice of Dumbledore. Ron nodded in shock as he went and put the cage on the table before heading over next to Harry and Susan.
Kingsley cast an animagus detection charm on the rat and he briefly glowed bright blue. He then pulled the unconscious rat out of the cage and laid it in the middle of the floor. While this was happening Dumbledore had once again sent his patronus out asking Professor Snape to bring a bottle of veritaserum to his office immediately. In the meantime, the unconscious rat had been transformed into an unconscious man who was quickly bound to a chair and had a spell placed on him that prevented him from shifting back to his rat form and escaping. Harry walked over to the map, closed it and whispered the words "Mischief managed" as he tapped on the parchment causing it to revert to its previously blank state before putting it in his pocket.
A moment later Professor Snape walked in and was shocked at the sight he saw. Three first year students, one being Harry Potter, two heads of house, two aurors, the head of Magical Law Enforcement, and a man presumed to be dead long ago. "It appears I've missed something," he said in an inquisitive tone as he handed the bottle to Dumbledore who in turn handed it to Tonks who was nearby.
When he looked at the first years with a raised eyebrow Weasley had shirked back and the young girl had held on to Mr. Potter. Harry shrugged and grinned before filling Professor Snape in on the details he had revealed about Pettigrew moments before. Snape watched with a feint curiosity as he listened to Potter's retelling of the story, event and facts. Afterwards, they watched as they aurors and Madam Bones gathered around the chair and placed three drops of the serum on his tongue before casting Ennervate.
About an hour later they had a complete confession in front of several viable witnesses. Shacklebolt and Tonks took Pettigrew away through the floo when they were finished. Madam Bones said she would be along shortly to fill out the paperwork since she was the one who brought them here. She then turned to Harry and knelt down beside him. "What you have done tonight. What you've said and did and will continue to do is going to save the lives of so many countless people Harry, including that of your godfather who I promise will be out by the end of the week. It will be good to see him again. We used to be close him and I. Anyway, I will keep you updated on the progress and maybe you can come and meet him…again. I have to get going now. Do me a favor and watch after Susie will you."
Harry saluted with a smile. "Yes ma'am, Madam Bones! I'll keep a close a close eye on her." Madam Bones hugged Harry as she laughed, "Remember you're going to be staying with us now so you can call me Aunt Amelia or even Aunt Ami if you want." That earned her another mock salute. "Yes ma'am, Aunt Ami ma'am!"
"What am I going to do with you," she said as she shook her head before turning to Susan and hugging her. "I'll see you soon Susie Q. I love you. Behave and take care of Harry will you?"
Susan smiled and followed Harry's example by saluting. "Yes ma'am, Auntie Ami, ma'am!" With that Amelia Bones stepped into the floo and disappeared. At some point, Snape had disappeared.
"All right first years," Professor McGonagall said. "It's about curfew time so you should probably get back to your common rooms…and no dawdling Mr. Weasley."
"Actually Professor, I've got to run up to Gryffindor and return something I borrowed earlier that helped us catch Pettigrew. I can walk Ron up there."
"Hey! I'm coming too! I've got to keep an eye on you remember," added Susan.
"Of course you are. I wouldn't expect anything less from you Sue." He turned to Professor Sprout. "Is it ok if Sue and I run this up to Gryffindor really quick? We won't be long. We're just going to return it and then we'll be back."
Professor Sprout looked at Professor McGonagall who just nodded. "That's fine. I'll see you back in the common room…actually I would like you to stop by the hospital wing and have Madam Pompfrey look you over before you head back. I would like to make sure everything is ok with you. I will meet you there."
Harry and Sue looked confused for a moment but then nodded. The three first years left the office with Harry and Susan holding hands the entire time. "This is going to be an interesting year," Professor McGonagall said.
"It most certainly is," replied Dumbledore.
"If what they said is true, especially about Quirrell then we need to do something," replied Professor Sprout before filling in Minerva, who looked confused, about the earlier events of the evening.
"Calm yourself Pamona. Young Mr. Potter has provided us with a great deal of knowledge and information for one so young. Although I guess he's not really young. Neither of them are. While they may appear to be physically young, their minds still exist at the same age they were before they left. As for Professor Quirrell we shall keep an eye on him for the time being. We've got some time according to Mr. Potter. Now you better get down to the hospital wing if you hope to meet Mr. Potter there. Please do let me know the results."
Professor Sprout nodded and left as she heard Minerva and Albus start talking about the night's events behind her. She would worry about her young badgers first and then take care of everything else. She noticed how close Harry and Susan were despite their claims of not really being friends in the other timeline. She wasn't sure if it was true friendship, destined to become something greater, or clinging on to each other as part of a time forgotten. Only time would give her the answer. As she approached the hospital wing doors she saw her two young badgers approaching from the opposite direction. "Ahhh…perfect timing," she said with a smile before they headed inside.