Chapter 7

Leaving Grimmauld Place

The next day when he woke up, Harry went down to the kitchen for breakfast and was greeted by a strange gap in conversation before everyone greeted him good morning. He wondered who they were talking about (NOT).

'Sit down Harry dear. What would you like for breakfast?' Mrs. Weasley fussed behind him.

'Erm, I'll take some toast?' he said confused reaching out for the plate in the middle of the table.

'Only that dear?'

'Er, maybe a boiled egg?'

'Of course dear.' And she went to boil him an egg. Harry threw Ron a confused look. Ron just shrugged and shook his head. Mrs. Weasley tried to feed him more than usual which Harry found strange but politely declined the 3rd time she tried to force another sausage on his plate.

'You must eat up Harry, never know when your next cooked meal will be with-' but she stopped herself from continuing. Harry frowned at that. What was she trying to say? That he'll be murdered soon? But his thoughts were interrupted when Sirius came in.

'Good morning everyone. Harry, we'll be leaving for Diagon Alley after lunch so it would be best if you had your trunk packed by then.'

'OK.'

'Molly, I've spoken with Arthur this morning and I'm telling you what I told him. You are free to stay here as long as you want. I will be bringing Harry with me when I come to London and he'll likely stay here when I work.'

'If that is the case why not stay here permanently?' Molly asked trying to sound polite but there was an edge to her voice.

'Sorry, but it's already decided. In any case, since the house elves at the Manor have finished with the new home two of them will be dropping by this evening to clean this place up.'

'You have more house elves? Why didn't you call them before now?' Hermione asked.

'Ah, well, my grandfather's will had been blocked by my status as a criminal. But after being declared innocent, the will enacted itself automatically, which led to the Black Manor, elves included, opening up to me and me accessing the main family vault, which we will be visiting today, so if you want something from Gringotts Harry, make sure you have your key with you.'

'But then how did you get access to this place?' asked Ginny

'This house has a different status from the Manor, it was under my parents' name so I could claim it without a will as their last living son. The manor is subject to stricter rules.'

'What? Like gain entry only with the blood of a muggle on your hands?' joked Ron

Sirius grinned 'No, that's the chateau in France.'

Harry tried laughing while he was trying to finish the second sausage and almost choked. Ron slapped him on the back and he soon recovered but he still had tears in his eyes.

'You're joking, right?' he said looking at Sirius.

Sirius kept a straight face and Harry's horror grew. Until Sirius snickered. And Harry realized, it was a joke.

'See you after lunch.' He ruffled Harry's hair and stole the half sausage Harry was still trying to finish before leaving with Harry glaring at the door and trying to make his hair settle down unsuccessfully.

'Honestly, taking away a child's breakfast.' Molly huffed. 'I'll get you another sausage dear.'

'NO! No, Mrs. Weasley, I'm full really, I couldn't eat another bite.'

'Are you sure?'

'I'm sure. Anyway, I'd better get going if I have a trunk to pack.' And he rushed out of the kitchen and nearly bumped into Sirius up the stairs to the first floor.

'Where's the rush?' Sirius asked.

'Trying to get away from Mrs. Weasley force feeding me.' Harry said.

Sirius chuckled he was still chewing on the last bit of sausage.

'I'm off to pack my trunk.'

'Don't go crazy if you don't find all your stuff, we can always come back.' Sirius said.

Lunch was the same as breakfast with Molly trying to feed Harry the amount of food he would normally eat in a week. But Harry managed to get away with just two refills until Sirius arrived in the kitchen followed by Mad Eye asking if he was ready.

'Yeah, almost. I'll just go wash my teeth.'

'But Harry dear, you still haven't eaten desert.' Molly interjected.

'It's OK Molly, we'll grab some ice-cream from Diagon Alley.' Sirius said and Harry took the opportunity to dash out of the kitchen and away from the food.

'Will Professor Moody be going with you?' asked Hermione

'Yes, as protection, and I never was your professor, lass.' Moody said.

'Can't we go to Diagon Alley too, mum?' asked Ron

'No. It is bad enough that Harry is going with such a weak escort.' She glared at Sirius.

'I arranged things differently and accepted Alastor as back up, Harry will be safe. However I think it best for you guys if you followed your parents' decisions.'

Ron deflated.

'Time to go, the Potter lad is down in the entrance hall.' Said Moody.

Harry wondered how they would all get to Diagon Alley. He didn't think it would be a good idea to side-along with all the food he had eaten. As it turned out they went by Flu-powder to the Leaky Cauldron, which was worse than a portkey with all the spinning and soot.

'I'm going to be sick.' He said as they stepped into the Alley.

'Ate too much?' asked Sirius

'Mrs. Weasley kept adding more as if I would never eat again.'

'Ah, I see. Then we should stop at the Apothecary first.' Confused Harry followed and soon was given a small vial to drink. A few seconds later and the too full stomach seemed to vanish and he felt better.

'Can't have you puking in the cart at Gringotts, the goblins would have a fit.' Sirius said chuckling.

'They are likely to charge you a small fortune for the cleaning.' Added Moody.

Their next stop was the bank and Harry got some money from his own vault before they went to Sirius's old vault 711. Sirius got a small suitcase from there before they ended up lower than Harry had ever gone, bypassing a huge white dragon and finally arriving at a corridor that was lit up by an eerie light.

'This is the first time I've been here.' Sirius said looking around.

'Weren't you named heir when you were 11?' asked Moody.

'Yes, but the heirs don't come down here until they are of age and at that point I thought I was disowned.' Sirius shrugged. 'Best you two stay out, if I know something I know that my family has probably booby trapped this place against anyone who isn't a Black.' He stepped forward towards one of the 12 doors around them and pressed his hand on it. A second later Sirius was gone.

'What happened?' Harry asked startled, 'Where did he go?'

'Inside the vault.' Said Silver-Mane the goblin that was accompanying them.

'Who do the other 11 vaults belong to?' Harry asked.

'This is the founders' hall.' Silver-mane said 'The twelve most Ancient lines on the islands have their vaults here.'

'Twelve most Ancient lines?' Harry knew Black was a Noble and most Ancient House but he thought that was just a self-made title.

'They are more legend than Merlin himself.' Moody said.

'But these vaults are real.' Harry looked around confused.

'What Mr. Moody is saying is that they are shrouded in secrecy. But the goblins know the truth.' Silver-mane grinned and said no more.

'Who are the other families?' Harry asked

Silver-mane started to point at each door clockwise from the Black door 'Bones, Longbottom, Nott, Greengrass, La Fey, Peverell, Ogden, Avery, Selwyn, Smith and MacKinnon. Or the last names they have been known to go by. The only original names are Avery, Black and La Fey.'

'Why are those three doors different?' Harry asked.

'Because those families died without a proper succession.' Explained Silver-mane.

Sirius reappeared looking strangely shook up.

'Let's get out of here.'

Moody offered Sirius his flask but Sirius shook his head. 'I don't need alcohol after that.'

The rest of the day was fairly uneventful. They walked around. Harry chose his present from Quiddich supplies (no surprise there) a new service kit for his Firebolt, the one that Hermione had gotten him was almost finished, and Sirius threw in a practice Snitch since Harry would have the space to fly to his heart's content at their new home. Sirius bought himself another owl since Hedwig would be going back to Hogwarts in about two weeks with Harry. Moody bought Harry a wand holster and told him to never keep his wand in his back pocket for fear of debuttocking himself (was that even a word).

They ended up at a very small looking store on the outside which was in fact huge on the inside and had one of the best decorator magic in Britain. Harry ended up choosing his own bed and a very comfortable floating chair for his room, which came in Gryffindor red. And then they finally ended up at Fortesque's ice-cream place. Florean was delighted to see Harry again even with the crazy rumours in the Prophet but almost fainted out of fear when he saw Sirius.

'Wasn't that article out more than half a month ago?' Sirius sighed as they sat down and waited for their order.

'Yes, but you weren't around and walking freely to make it real. That coupled with the Stubby article in the Quibbler, people probably thought the one in the Prophet was a joke too.' Said Moody.

'What article in the Quibbler?' Harry asked.

'Oh some woman claiming I am a retired rock star and her former lover.'

Harry snorted.

'Well, well, well. What do we have here?' the three turned to see Lucius Malfoy grinning at them 'It's rather brave of you to come out in the open like this Black.'

'That is Lord Black or sir to you Malfoy.' Sirius said calmly.

'You might have gotten free of your charges but you will never be-' But Lucius grew white when he saw the ring on Sirius's finger.

'That's not possible, you were disowned!'

'You shouldn't have put so much faith in the wiles of my deranged mother. She never had the power to disown me.'

'You'll regret this!' Lucius hissed but backed away and hurriedly left.

'Can that be counted as a threat?' Sirius asked Mad Eye.

'You can't press charges for him being a git, Black.'

'I just hoped to get him under Veritaserum and be done with him.' Sirius sighed.

'What does Malfoy have to do with you?' asked Harry

'He's married to my cousin Narcissa, and he was hoping the Black fortune would end up in his son's pockets.'

'Wait, you're related to Draco?'

'Is that the name they chose for the poor kid?' Sirius sighed

'I don't think you should judge name choices Black. Your whole family is named after stars.' Moody added as he ate his very pink raspberry sundae.

'I never claimed my family was sane. But I'd rather be Sirius than Draco any day.'

'You're never serious.' Harry couldn't help himself.

'Well then you cheeky rascal, what would you call me then?'

'Padfoot, Padfoot suits you better.'

'He is better behaved as a dog.' Added Moody.

'I'm not making the change permanent!' Sirius said indignantly but couldn't keep the grin off his face.

It was early evening and Harry was feeling tired after going around Muggle London and buying some normal clothes that actually fit him when Sirius called it a day and side-along aparated him to the Black Manor. Moody accompanied them to make sure they got there safely and that the place was secure.

Harry gaped as they passed through silver gates with the Black family Raven crest on them. The house was several hundred meters away from the gates and it looked like a small castle.

'Want to come inside and have dinner with us?' Sirius asked.

'Am I allowed?' asked Moody

'I keyed you in this morning when you told me you'd be Harry's escort. The rest will follow if they so choose but the vow of confidentiality still stands to any who step through these gates.' Harry realized he had already stepped through but Moody hadn't. Sirius seemed to read his mind.

'It doesn't apply to you Harry.'

'Why not?'

'I trust you.' He then turned to Moody 'I trust you too Alastor but not with Dumbledore.'

Moody sighed and stepped through. 'Lead the way.'

The castle wasn't as dark as Harry thought it would be. It was clean unlike Grimmauld place and even though a bit draughty it seemed homey and lived in. they made their way to the kitchens where two house elves were preparing dinner. It smelled wonderful.

'Master is arrived.' One of them squeaked.

'Hello Bessy, Trill. This is Harry Potter, my godson and your new young master, and Alastor Moody, a friend.'

'Welcome home young Master. Welcome to Black Manor friend Moody.' The two bowed.

'They are nothing like Kretcher.' Harry said.

'Not having my crazy mother for company does wonders.' Sirius added.

'Dinner will be ready in half an hour sir.' Bessy said.

'I knew the sensory ward worked perfectly. So you finally decided to grace us with your presence.' A tall broad shouldered man wearing a cowboy hat entered carrying a struggling house elf in his arms.

'Master Black, Master Hughes is being impossible again!' the house elf squeaked.

'Hughes, don't manhandle the elves.' Sirius said.

'I was wondering who the third person was too. Alastor Moody, retired auror, best of the best, a bit paranoid but aren't we all.' The man, Hughes said extending a hand.

'Mad Eye, this is Alexander Hughes, he's…part of the added security to this place.' Added Sirius.

'He knows an awfully lot for hired security.' Moody eyed Hughes suspiciously.

'And you're more paranoid than your file lets on.' Hughes said unfazed by Moody's suspicions. 'You must be young Harry.'

'Er, yes, hi.'

'Will you ever put me down?' Tia squeaked again.

'Ups, sorry love. There you go.' He let the elf down and she huffed as she straitened her pillow toga.

'Why you is bringing guests in the kitchens, master Black?' she asked

'I was hoping we'd eat here.'

'In the Kitchens?' she shrieked alarmed. 'You is a bad host, there is no way guests of Black eats in the kitchens!'

'But you always let me eat here when I was little.'

'You is little no more. Out, all of you out!'

The 4 wizards were pushed out of the kitchen by the three house elves with Sirius and Hughes grinning, Moody shaking his head and Harry confused as ever. Weren't elves supposed to obey their masters?

'DON'T PUNISH YOURSELVES, I FORBID IT!' Sirius yelled and led them to a sitting room with a huge fireplace and a small table they could use to eat on later.

'What is up with your house elves?' Harry asked

'What do you mean?'

'Well, all the house elves I met so far were, well, less outspoken.'

'Tia was always bossy even when I was a kid and I kind of threatened all of them with clothes if they didn't speak their minds.'

'Tia's a right gem.' Hughes added plopping down on an armchair.

'So this place has 3 house elves?' asked Harry

'Five in total. Two of them are cleaning Grimmauld place.' Sirius explained.

'Speaking of that place. It had a visitor.' Hughes said.

'What do you mean?' Mad Eye asked.

'Well, not so much a visitor but a passer-by looking for it. The wife of the douche you met at the ice-cream shop.' Hughes said pouring himself a glass of whiskey, Harry noted it was a muggle brand. 'Drink?' he asked Moody.

But Moody ignored the American and turned to Sirius. 'You're monitoring Grimmauld Place?'

'No, I'm monitoring Death Eaters and their families.' Sirius said pouring himself a glass of lemonade Bessy had dropped by seconds ago.

'So Narcissa went to Grimmauld Place.' Sirius added 'Was it before or after Lucius?'

'After. About one hour after.'

'This will be interesting.' Sirius said.

'Hang on. You've lost me. Who was monitoring Malfoy and his wife?' Harry asked confused.

'The surveillance team. You'll meet them all eventually.' Hughes said.

'You can let the Order know about them Mad Eye. In case they bump into each other. But chances are slim of that happening.' Sirius added.

'When did you organize all this?' Moody frowned.

'When I was recovering after my trial.' Explained Sirius 'But they only just set up shop here today.'

'If by today you mean at midnight last night, then yes.' Hughes added.

'Dinner is served.' Tia said as food and plates appeared at the table.

'Great, I'm starving.' Hughes quickly made his way to the table and sat down 'Tia I love you.'

Tia's ears twitched before she popped away.

'Don't aggravate the elves Hughes.' Sirius repeated and sat down too. Dinner conversation was kept light. Hughes was a big fan of Quiddich and used to play Beater. Harry looked forward to flying with the man. Moody was complaining to Sirius about Sturgis not returning his invisibility cloak. And time flew by soon Harry felt himself growing tired after an exciting day. Moody excused himself and left them.

'Ok Harry, it's time for us to go home.' Sirius said after shaking Harry awake in the armchair he had dozed off in.

'But aren't we already home?' Harry asked rubbing his eyes.

'Not quite yet. Come on.' He guided Harry to the fire place and holding a hand on the teen's shoulder he released Flu-powder and spoke 'The Den!'

Stepping out of the fireplace Harry was too groggy to register the changes around him as Sirius guided him to his room and pointed him to his own bathroom if he needed it during the night. Harry was out like a light when his head hit the pillow on the bed he had chosen for himself.

Hey guys, thank you all for the nice reviews and sorry for the long wait. Unfortunately today will not be a double update (the Black Lord chapter is still in revision) but Free Will gets the update. As usually, let me know what you think and have a nice end of weekend.