Chapter 6

Parallel paths

The Order meeting was scheduled for 10 o'clock but most members showed up earlier especially after word got around that Sirius had returned that morning. Albus Dumbledore had arrived at Headquarters at 7 o'clock and requested to speak with Sirius alone. Ron, Hermione, the twins and Ginny all wanted to eaves drop but Harry knowing in part what was going to transpire in his godfather's study didn't feel like it, his faith in the headmaster had been shaken and he wasn't sure if he agreed with Sirius's choices either. They soon found out that they couldn't use the extendable ears, someone had put a spell on the door and no sounds could be heard from within.

'Do you think Dumbledore is yelling at Sirius?' asked Ron

'He did quite a reckless thing but I can't imagine Dumbledore yelling.' Said Hermione.

Harry said nothing which made Fred and George eye him suspiciously.

'Harry, do you know something?' Hermione asked.

Harry turned away from them and looked out the window.

'You know, don't you?' Ron added 'Tell us.'

Harry shook his head 'Sorry, I can't. It's personal.'

'Personal? But it was Order stuff?' Ron frowned.

Harry shrugged 'Look, just leave it for now. They'll tell us something at some point.'

'That's easy for you to say. Sirius sent us away earlier today.' Huffed Ron. Both he and Hermione had no recollection of the conversation they had overheard between Remus and Sirius, instead they knew they had come into the office and Sirius had asked to speak with Harry alone and so the two left and took an afternoon nap.

Inside the office Sirius and Dumbledore weren't having a nice conversation.

'Sirius, I am so happy you got back safely, but I must say you took a very big risk something I hope won't happen in the future.'

'The risk was mine to take, I don't regret taking it.'

Dumbledore frowned 'Does that mean you'll do it again?'

'What I do with my life is not really your concern now is it?'

'No it isn't, but as a person who has your best interest at heart-'

'Do you really?'

'What do you mean?'

'Do you really have my best interest at heart?'

'My dear boy, where is this coming from?'

'I don't know, you tell me. Did this have my best interests at heart?' he pushed a piece of paper in front of Dumbledore.

'I thought you were their secret keeper.' Dumbledore said white faced.

'You know, I actually believed you when you told me that back in Harry's third year. But then I started analysing what happened and as much as I wanted to believe you there was something nagging at me. That maybe, maybe I shouldn't.'

'What do you mean?'

'Why didn't you come and talk to me before signing this?'

'The evidence-'

'The evidence was hearsay.'

'Nevertheless both you and James said you were secret keeper. And then the explosion, the witnesses, granted they were muggles but still. You have to understand it was a compelling story.'

'Indeed so compelling that everyone forgot that I was responsible for the capture or death of almost as many death eaters as Mad Eye as an Auror. So compelling that everything I had done so far for the Order was swept away without even the courtesy of a visit from you. I understand Bagnol and Crouch were vicious and didn't know me. But you, you knew me.'

'I can't justify my inaction except that those were chaotic times. I made a mistake.'

'Yes, but you don't usually make mistakes. Not like this anyway. When I got to thinking I came up with two possible explanations. One was that you deliberately let me rot because it was convenient to you and the second was that you truly believed me to be a monster. But if that were the case when and how did your opinion of me change. I'll dismiss the first explanation for lack of evidence if nothing else. So my question to you is, did you ever trust me?'

'Of course-'

'Don't answer without thinking it through first. Did you ever trust me?'

'I admit I had my doubts.' Dumbledore said with a sigh 'But you proved them wrong!'

'So you trust me now?'

'Of course!'

'Good because you will now tell me everything about the Prophecy at the DOM.'

'Sirius that information-'

'So you don't trust me then.'

'I do trust you, but if you get caught, if that information gets back to Voldemort.'

'He already knows part of the Prophecy.'

'Yes, but he doesn't know everything.'

'Well then, start with what he does know.'

'I don't think-'

'I am Harry's guardian. For me to be able to protect him properly I need to know why Voldemort has this obsession with him.'

'Very well, I can tell you that much. As you might already suspect the prophecy points out that Harry may be the one to have the power to defeat the Dark Lord. That was why Lily and James, and Frank and Alice too, went into hiding. The prophecy could have meant either Harry or Neville as they both fit the description: born to those who thrice defied Voldemort and born at the end of July. Voldemort however didn't hear all of it that is why he is obsessed to hear it now since Harry managed to escape from him not once or thrice but four times.'

'Is anything inside that prophecy that Voldemort doesn't know and can actually be useful against him?'

'I can't say.'

'You can't say or you're not sure.'

'It's a prophecy, it's vague at best.'

'Well then, why don't we ask Croaker to destroy the damn thing?'

'What?'

'You know, why use resources to guard something we don't need and that can become a liability in the long run if we can simply eliminate it.'

'We don't know if we don't need it yet.'

'Do you know the exact wording?'

'I do yes.'

'Then why do we need the copy in the DOM?'

'Because then Voldemort might turn towards the one that made the prophecy in the first place.'

'And that is?'

'I can't tell you.'

'Obliviate the person then, case closed. Hell, obliviate yourself even.'

'You can't be serious.'

'I'm dead serious. I don't give a shit about some prophecy that marks Harry as a target. I agree the information might be of value to Voldemort if he cares to believe in it but I do not believe fate is set in stone.'

'What are you saying?'

'I'm saying that before Voldemort gets to Harry he'll have to go through me first. And I'm done playing nice.'

'Even if we destroy every trace of the prophecy the fact still remains Voldemort knows part of it and WILL go after Harry.'

'Agreed. So my next question to you is, why the secrecy around him?'

'What do you mean?'

'If you know that Voldemort is coming after him, why not tell him? Why not prepare him for it?'

'Harry is still a child!'

'He is young, but he's been through so much you can hardly call him a child anymore.'

'Are you honestly saying you would put this burden on him?'

'No, I won't put this burden on him, because you and the prophecy have already done that! Voldemort IS after him, whether I want it, or he wants it. My question is, why not prepare him for it, why keep the boy in the dark?'

'I'm hoping to prologue this until he is older.'

'You want to keep the war going until Harry is ready? Have you gone mad? The longer Voldemort remains a threat the more people die and suffer. And why would you want to prolong it when you should want to end it? The way you talk it seems you yourself believe in this prophecy and you yourself have put the burden on Harry's shoulders but are acting as the good guy who withholds the exact information Harry needs to actually survive this!'

'That is going too far! I have always acted with Harry's interests at heart.' Albus got angry.

'Really? Where were his best interests when you placed him with his aunt?'

'Lily's protection was strongest there. No wizard could harm him in that house.'

'No but two Dementors attacked him just shy of two weeks ago, near that house.'

'He needs the protection to survive.'

'Voldemort stole that protection and you still sent him there this summer!'

'Voldemort may be able to touch him but his Death Eaters-'

'Voldemort made this personal. Do you honestly think he will send someone else to finish the job?'

'It is unlikely but-'

'But nothing.'

'I didn't say anything to you about you obtaining guardianship. I know he will be better protected with you now that you are a free man than he would be at the Dursleys.'

'Thank you for your approval.'

'This conversation doesn't warrant sarcasm.'

'No, perhaps not. But it does warrant the truth, and so far you have been skirting it.'

'What do you want me to say?'

'Nothing. You've made it clear to me now that I can't expect an honest answer from you.' Sirius got up from his chair.

'Sirius-'

'At the meeting tonight I'll let everyone know I'm leaving the Order.'

'You can't, this is what Voldemort wants, to have us divided.'

'We are divided because of lies and secrets. You don't trust me Dumbledore. In fact I doubt you trust anyone. And I can't trust you if you don't trust me. I've learnt this the hard way.'

'What will you do then?'

'What I must to keep Harry safe.'

'There is nothing that will change your mind.'

'Nothing but the truth and even then…' he shook his head 'I'll be honest with you even if you show your trust in me, I can't trust you anymore. Not with Harry's life, and not with my own.'

'Voldemort is the only one winning here.'

'At this moment, I trust him more than I do you. At least I know his motives.'

Dumbledore paled at this and stood up.

'About your trial.'

'I don't see how that is any of your concern.'

'You should have found another way, Sirius. Nothing can be more important than your soul.'

'I don't know what you're talking about.' Sirius said evasively.

'We would have found a way after the war was over to declare you innocent.'

'The way you found a way when Fudge wanted to have the Dementors kiss me? Using Harry, a child of 13? No, your way is using others to do the work for you. I will not become a burden when I can stand on my own two feet.'

'You were never a burden.'

'Maybe that's the wrong word. An obstacle is more the right way to describe me. An obstacle for you to control the Potter's location, an obstacle for my mother to the Black Power because grandfather made me heir instead of father, an obstacle for Voldemort to the full Black family and now an obstacle to you and your control of Harry.'

'You're determined to see me as the bad guy. I was never against you.'

'You were never for me either. And honestly, I don't care anymore, do what you want with your little Order, but stay away from Harry and me.'

Sirius took a long moment to compose himself after Dumbledore left. He felt hallow inside but he couldn't falter now. Harry needed him.

'Tia!' a pop later a house elf appeared in front of his desk.

'Master called.'

'How are the preparations for the house going?'

'We is almost finished, sir. We still needs to take care of the furniture.'

'Good, thank you Tia. Please leave Harry's room free. I want him to pick his own furniture tomorrow.'

'As you wish sir.'

'What about the Black Manor?'

'It is ready for use sir. The wards there have been updated and only the people you keyed in this morning can get in sir.'

'Have any of them arrived yet?'

'Not yet sir. They be sending message they come at midnight.'

'Thank you.'

'Sir, why is this place so dirty?'

'Kretcher kind of went crazy and let everything run wild.'

'Want me to send two elves to clean sir?'

'Tomorrow, after we leave. And tell them to be extra careful there are dark objects here.'

'We will clean everything carefully sir. If we finds dark objects we destroy.'

'Good, but if they are too dark or too powerful you let me know and I'll deal with them. No need for any to die.'

'Yes sir.'

'You may go.'

Sirius looked at the clock, it was almost 9 o'clock and he hadn't eaten anything since noon but he highly doubted he could stomach anything at this point. He wrote some letters and reviewed some documents to get his mind out of the gutter.

It was soon time to face the Order. He went in the kitchen where everyone was already seated. Conversation dropped the moment he entered. He didn't need to guess who they were talking about.

'Good evening.' He greeted and stood between Remus and Mundungus, leaning on the only free chair at the table, his usual chair.

'Glad to see you're all right Sirius.' Kingsley said. The Auror in charge of the Sirius hunt had taken a liking to the ex-convict after learning the truth.

'Well, I think the order of business today should be started by me.' Better get it over with fast he mused.

'As fascinating as your story is Black, I doubt it's any great secret as you're wearing the Black family ring.' Snarled Snape.

'As usual Snape, you put two and two together and got Troll. No, this ring isn't the cause but the effect of me being declared innocent. And since the cause won't be subject for debate, all you need to know is that I had a trial and magic did the rest, I'll cut through to the effects.'

'What? You mean you won't tell us how you've done it?' asked Vance.

'No. I won't and it's final.'

'You can't do that! This is Order business!' said Molly

'No actually, being declared innocent is not Order business it never was, and after tonight it will be even less so.'

'What do you mean?' Kingsley frowned.

'After my talk with Dumbledore I realized I can't work with him anymore. That is between him and me and from my part I won't comment. He is of course free to explain this to you after I leave.'

'After you leave? But this is your house.' Frowned Tonks.

'Yes, and I offered it as headquarters. I am not withdrawing my offer. You can still use it as you see fit.'

'That's mighty generous of you especially since you can use your elf to spy on us.' Added Moody.

'That is your problem if you wish to believe it. It is also up to you if you wish to remain here or not. Arthur, Molly, you are also welcome to stay here with your children, it is a safer place than your own home and Harry would rest easier knowing his friends are safe.'

'But you won't stay here?' asked Arthur

'No. As I said, my time serving the Order is done. I inherited responsibilities as the new Lord Black and I must attend to those, but most importantly, I've finally been given the chance to do what James wanted me to do from the start.'

'So what will you do?' Tonks asked.

'I will still fight against Voldemort, and if you need help you can ask it of me, if it doesn't interfere with my own plans I will help you.'

'You can't go at it alone lad.' Moody said frowning.

'No, but I can't go at it with people I don't trust either and who don't trust me. I will be moving out tomorrow evening and Harry will be living with me from now on. Our new location is under protection and I won't divulge it. If you wish to contact me, letters will find me at Black Manor.'

'You won't be at Black Manor?' asked Moody

'You can't take Harry! He's better protected here!' Molly almost shouted.

'Harry's protection is my concern Molly. I am his legal guardian.'

'Some guardian you are, half mad from Azkaban. You are not fit to raise that child or any child!'

'I am fitter than you if you consider him a child still.'

'Why I-'

'Molly, that's enough.' Arthur said sternly.

'To answer you Alastor, no, Black Manor will be a base of operation but our home will be somewhere else. At the moment there are two of you who are keyed in the wards at the Manor. The rest of you, should you wish to personally talk to me, I suggest you ask permission or you'll find your lives cut shot. All the Manor's defences are active as of three hours ago.'

'Who are the two?' asked Kingsley

'Remus and Tonks.'

'Of course you'd have your pet werewolf on your side.' Snarled Snape.

'Shut it Snape. Why did you key me in?' frowned Remus

'Because you too can be reckless sometimes and I wasn't about to take chances to have you incinerated by a barrier because you forgot to ask permission.' Sirius shrugged.

'And me?' Tonks asked frowning.

'Er, well you are a Black and I was going to talk to Meda about reinstating her as a member of the family if she wants to.'

'You'd do that for mum?'

'She is my favourite cousin. Just so you both know, entering Black Manor even with permission is accompanied by a vow of silence. So if you do come by, anything discussed or anything that you will see behind the manor's walls is subject to the vow unless I specifically say otherwise.'

'That's convenient.' Muttered Moody.

'I'll let you finish your meeting in peace.' He nodded once to them and left. The door closed and pandemonium reigned supreme.

'Enough!' Albus said 'Sirius's choice is a blow for us, but he is entitled to his own opinion and his own decisions.'

'That may be so Albus, but you can't honestly let him leave like this and take Harry with him.' Molly added immediately.

'He is the legal guardian, the magic is binding and absolute, I can do nothing to stop him.'

'I thought the muggles…'

'That changed when he returned this morning. I checked at the ministry.' Explained Dumbledore.

'Surely this can't be right! He must have used some form of dark magic…' started Molly.

'IT WASN'T DARK MAGIC!' Remus spoke loudly.

'Of course you would know everything.' Snarled Snape

'No, not everything. But I know enough and no, I'm not going to share. It's his life, not our business. Besides, he will have to deal with the consequences of his actions.'

'Why did Black say he can't trust you Albus?' asked Moody

'Because I didn't trust him when he trusted me. I was one of the people who signed his incarceration without a trial.'

Everyone fell silent at that.

'Well, can't say I blame him then.' Muttered Moody.

'We'll need to decide if we stay here or not.' Said Kingsley.

'For what it's worth I don't think Sirius will use Kretcher to spy on us.' Said Remus.

'Your faith in the murderer is reassuring.' Snarled Snape.

'Will you give it a rest already? You hate the guy for telling you how to get past the Womping Willow. He didn't show you head first down that tunnel you went of your own accord, Snape. And don't even try that innocent act, if you didn't know I was a werewolf why the hell did you choose the night of the full moon to do so in the first place. The only one at fault for endangering your life that night was you and your obsession to getting us expelled.'

'Of course you would defend him, you were in on it too.'

'No I wasn't!'

'Severus, Remus, that's enough!' Dumbledore interceded. 'For the time being we will continue to use this place as headquarters. Sirius may no longer be in the Order but he is still fighting against Voldemort.'

'How can you be so certain of that Dumbledore?' asked Vance 'What if he takes Potter and hands him over to the Dark Lord tomorrow.'

'I trust him to keep Harry safe.'

'That's all good to say but-' Molly started.

'Enough! Sirius has made his choice, now it's time to move on.' And so the meeting followed other topics. Although the tension was palpable.

When it was all over Remus found Sirius in the study overlooking some documents.

'Well, it's over.' Remus said.

'Good.'

'Is it though? There are some who now think you're on Voldemort's side.'

'Let them think what they want. I don't really give a damn.'

'They might try to stop whatever it is you're trying to achieve.'

'Doubt they'll manage it.'

'So you do have a plan.'

'You didn't think I would simply do this on a whim, did you?'

'You are known to act rashly.'

'Well, not anymore.'

'You should know Albus asked me to talk you back in the Order.'

'And will you do it?'

'No.'

'Will you leave the Order then?'

'No. But if you need help, I'm here for you.'

'Thank you. You too.'

Remus extended a hand and Sirius sighed before pulling him into a hug. 'Don't be a stranger.'

And with that Remus left his oldest friend. Sirius sighed, he didn't like to do this alone, but he wouldn't ask Remus to choose between him and Dumbledore. He knew his friend owed the headmaster a great deal, and trusted Dumbledore above all. Sirius just hoped it wouldn't mean his friend's destruction.

The younger generation were all in the dining room when Molly came in huffing and puffing.

'It's almost midnight, you lot should be in bed by now!'

'Anything interesting happen at the meeting mom?' Fred asked

'Yeah, there was a big commotion when the door opened and Sirius got out.' Added George

'Bed all of you, and don't speak that man's name to me again!' she shrieked.

They all scurried back to their rooms but after lights out Fred and George popped in on Harry and Ron.

'So, any idea what Sirius did that got mum so pissed?' Fred asked.

'It could be something to do with how he left this place.' Suggested Ron.

'It isn't.' Harry finally said. They were going to find out anyway, might as well stop them from speculating. 'Sirius left the Order.'

'WHAAAT!?' both twins whisper-yelled at that.

'Anyway, I'll be leaving with him tomorrow afternoon for our new house.'

'You're leaving Headquarters? But this is the safest place there is…' Ron added

'Wait, if Sirius leaves, will this remain headquarters?' George asked.

'The Order can use this place as much as they want. Or so Sirius said.' Harry shifted under the covers.

'That's nice of him. Wonder if we'll stay or leave too?' Ron asked.

'If we leave, we'll never get any information at the Burrow.' Fred added.

'And this place is way more secure than our home is.' Added George.

'It will be weird though if we stay. I mean the house isn't ours.' Ron said.

'Your parents will probably decide and tell you tomorrow.' Sighed Harry.

'Do you really have to go?' Ron asked.

'Yeah.'

'Why?'

'Sirius is my guardian now, so he decides.'

'But why can't he stay too, I mean it is his house?'

'You're an idiot Ronnikins.' Said Fred

'Didn't you figure it out yet? Sirius doesn't like this place.' Said George.

'How did you know?' Asked Harry

'Well, did you see his room? It's completely different from anywhere else here.' Said George.

'Oh.' Harry hadn't been in Sirius's room before.

'Well, good night, don't let the bed bugs bite.' And the twins were gone. Ron tried to talk more but Harry didn't feel like talking much. He wasn't sure how he felt about leaving or about Sirius leaving the Order. He understood his godfather's reasoning but, he still had doubts, it didn't help that all this was happening without him having any control over it. Ron finally fell asleep and started snoring loudly and Harry took this chance to sneak out. He needed to talk to Sirius, what about even he didn't quite grasp, he just knew he needed reassurance.

He found the room on the third floor by the sign with the name on it and knocked. The door opened and Harry saw Sirius was still at his desk.

'Harry? I thought you were asleep already. Is something wrong?' he got up and joined Harry near the bed.

'Um, well, I just wanted to know if everything went well with the meeting and if Ron and the others will stay here after we leave.'

'It's up to their parents if they remain here or not. I assume they'll let me know their decision tomorrow. It was a rather tense meeting although my part in it was short, they'll need time to cool off and think things through.'

'So we're really leaving?'

'Yes Harry, we are. Tia let me know they will have everything ready by tomorrow evening, all that will remain will be your own room.'

'Why?'

'Well, I was thinking you can pick your own furniture when we go shopping for your present tomorrow.'

'Oh.'

'You don't like the idea.'

'It's not that. It's just…well, I've never decorated anything in my life. And you don't have to-'

'I told you before, I want to, have to has nothing to do with it.'

'Still, it's just, well it's a bit too much. I mean, going from the spare bedroom of my cousin's to picking my own furniture.'

'OK, then I'll just ask Tia to pick the same as she's done for me and we can just window shop tomorrow. No pressure at all.'

'Thanks. Um, Sirius, will I be able to come and visit Ron and the others?' asked Harry

'If they stay here yes, you will. I can bring you along whenever I have work to do in London and you can visit them then.' Harry smiled at his godfather.

'I'd let you run around Diagon alley or in Muggle London if Voldemort and his cronies weren't on the loose. As it is, it's a bit of a risk.'

'I did go outside on walks when I was at my aunt's.'

'Yes and look at how that turned out.' Sirius sighed 'Don't worry, you won't be stuck inside the house where we'll be going and you'll be able to floo back and forth from there to Black Manor after every security detail is finalized.'

'Black Manor?'

'Yes, my family had this as a town house and another as a country house. I'll be using the country house as a base of sorts and it will be a fast point of entry for us to our own house via a private Floo network. It's a closed circuit and it will allow only you and me to move in between.'

'What if I want to talk to you through the Floo and you're at that house and I'm at Hogwarts?'

'Well, in that case you won't use the Floo. You'll use this.' He went to the desk and took a pocket mirror from inside one of the drawers.

'A mirror?'

'It's a two way mirror. And I'll have the pair.'

'That's convenient.' Harry turned the mirror around and his stomach gave a small jolt at the name on the back.

'It was your dad's. We used them when we had to do separate detentions.'

'I…don't know what to say.' Harry mumbled feeling warm at the thought of an object that had been his father's was now his again.

'You can say you need to sleep. It's almost one in the morning and we'll have a long day tomorrow.'

'Why weren't you sleeping then?'

Sirius smiled 'Because I wasn't sleepy yet, but now.' He exaggerated a yawn.

Harry rolled his eyes but got up to leave.

And that was the last chapter before my holiday starts. Please let me know your thoughts on the story so far and a big thank you to those who have reviewed and favorited the story. Until next time, I am off on an adventure. Iris out.