Chapter 11

Margot

Two days later Harry had finally finished his last bit of homework, his transfigurations essay, and with Sirius's help he was sure he'd get an O on it, after all, the man was an illegal Animagus.

'Now are you going to tell me what you have planned?' Harry asked rolling up the parchment and setting it aside.

'Well, you did complete your homework well enough so I could tell you or…'

'Sirius, this isn't funny, are we going or not?' Sirius grinned as he stir-fried their dinner. It was still weird seeing Sirius cooking and not just that, cooking without magic. 'Why do you know how to cook without magic anyway?' Harry huffed.

'I dated a muggle right after Hogwarts. She taught me and told me I looked good in just an apron.'

'Ewww. Too much information!'

'You asked.'

'You could have lied.'

'To you, never.'

Harry smiled fondly at the older man. It was odd, they had been living together for barely 3 days but Sirius didn't fit with any parent image Harry had concocted in his head. Maybe because Sirius wasn't his parent but his godfather. And yet, he found it easier to talk to Sirius about things than he did any other adult. He thought back to what Sirius said that first day after the hearing and realized his feeling of unease and insecurity had been grounded in just what the older man had said. Harry hadn't known Sirius back then. He knew he was his godfather and that he cared about him but he barely spent a few hours in the man's presence and written a few letters. That was not enough to know someone. But he was getting to know Sirius now, and he liked the man a lot, even when he was teasing Harry.

'Come on, pup. Stop daydreaming and let's eat and then we'll plan our vacation.'

They ate on the terrace and the seafood with vegetables was definitely a nice change from all the local food he had been having all summer.

'How did you learn to cook Asian?'

'Well, there was this exchange witch from Thailand-'

'STOP!'

Sirius sighed 'We'll have to talk about the birds and the bees aren't we?'

Harry almost choked on a piece of prawn. 'Just let me survive dinner.'

‚Safer subject. What's your favourite food?'

Harry had to think for a bit. 'I'm not sure. I mean, at the Dursleys I didn't get much say in the matter so there was no point in having a favourite. And everything at Hogwarts tastes great.'

'Ok, easier question. Sweet or Salty?'

'Salty. You?'

'Salty too.'

'Spicy or mild?'

'Mild. This actually is borderline for me. I love it, but any spicier is a no go.'

'Hm, need to remember that. I'm spicy.'

Harry rolled his eyes at the double meaning.

'Bitter or Sour?'

'Uh, neither, ok, maybe sour.'

'Not a fan either, but I'll take bitter over sour.'

Harry liked this game they played at dinner. Simple choice questions to understand the other person. It also helped speed up the learning process, after all, Harry wouldn't ask Sirius his favourite colour, it sounded very pansy. But a choice between red and green somehow sounded less stupid in a teen's mind where men weren't supposed to have favourite colours or think about them anyway.

With dinner cleared away. Harry was in charge of washing dishes, with a wand, since the trace had been removed one day prior, Sirius gestured to the couch and once Harry settled he pulled out a long silver chain with an hourglass on it. Eyes growing wider by the second and mouth opening in disbelief Harry managed to stutter.

'You got a time turner? How?'

'You remember the DOM wizard back in Amelia's office?'

'Yes.'

'Well, he works in the place where they store these little things.'

'And he just gave you one?'

'Well, not just. I had to do a bit of convincing and promise we won't be using it to change anything. This is for our vacation only. No trying to stop Voldemort from returning, no screwing with Fudge.'

'But-'

'No Harry. Croaker is right. At this point changing something is likely to make things worse.'

'So how far back can it go? Hermione had one that went back hours.'

'Oh, this one goes back 3 months.'

'3 months?'

'It's going to be a long vacation. And I'll begin teaching you Occlumency, maybe a bit of defence too.'

'3 months of vacation?'

'Yup, outside the country so we don't risk running into anyone we know, and we'll have disguises too.'

'Where will we go?'

'Well. Anywhere we want. But I will want to first stop at the place I got sorted out and see about your scar.'

'But three months ago they didn't know you.'

'But I'll know about them. Which will get them to trust me since the Clinique is under Fidelius and only a trustworthy person can know about it.'

'But I won't see it.'

'You'll be with me until the secret keeper can key you in to the secret. Mind you, you'll have to keep quiet about it even to Ron and Hermione.'

'Obviously, it's a Fidelius. OK. How do we do this?'

'Well, I exchanged some galleons for muggle money today and took a big bag of our money for good measure. I charmed our fake muggle papers. We'll still have to buy the plane tickets to France when we get there, apparently, you can't buy tickets in August for May, but inside France, I can side-along apparate you until you get the hang of it yourself.'

'OK.'

'We'll travel light, sort of. I got us two backpacks but they are magical so the inside is bigger than the outside. Get some clothes packed and be ready to leave tomorrow after breakfast.'

'Will the others know that we're going?'

'I let Tia and Hughes know just in case.'

And so some of the best months in Harry's life began.

The plane ride was interesting but only because Sirius was marvelling at everything around him. Partly why they decided to use a transfiguration that made Harry a 31-year-old adult with a 7-year-old son. Charles de Gaulle was a maze packed with Muggles but they found the way out easily: They went inside the bathroom and Sirius apparated them away. So they were at the Clinique and rang the bell to a place Harry couldn't see.

'Do you have an appointment?' a disembodied voice asked from somewhere in front of them.

'We're here to see doctor Margot.' Sirius spoke French. The man eyed them both suspiciously but nodded.

'Er, Harry can't see you yet.' Sirius added.

'Give him this.' And soon Harry was staring at a piece of parchment with an address. Thinking hard on the address he was soon faced with a hedged fence and an iron gate and a bored-looking man in a white robe who they followed inside.

'Doctor Margot is inside.' The clerk said and let them pass through a door.

Said doctor, a lady in her late 50's early 60's as it was looked up from her desk.

'I don't know you.' She said frowning.

'Yet.' Sirius smiled.

Margot eyed him suspiciously before taking out her wand and pointing it at him. Harry tensed up.

'It's all right Harry. She's just checking if what I'm saying is true.' Sirius explained.

A few moments later Margot's eyes widened and she lowered her wand.

'Welcome back I should say. But I still don't know your name.'

'Sirius Black and this is my godson Harry Potter. You will treat me in about two months.'

'That must be a powerful time turner to go back 2 months…'

'Three actually. We're on vacation.'

'Ah, I see. Then why are you here?'

'I was wondering if you could do a check-up on Harry here. He's been having some nightmares and some headaches to do with the scar on his forehead.'

'Very well, come with me.'

To say that Harry was confused about how easily Sirius got what he wanted was an understatement. It helped that Sirius was completely at ease about the whole thing but Harry was starting to wonder what sort of person was his godfather to have such power over people who barely knew him.

They were led to a locker room where Harry was asked to strip down to his shorts and enter a very white, very empty room. OK, now he was starting to panic. This looked like the places he saw in horror movies or psychological thriller where the main character is locked up in the loony bin.

'It's OK Harry.' Sirius said 'They'll just do a full check-up. I can't go in, because it's supposed to be a one-person room. But I'll be here when you get out.'

'How long will it take?' he asked Margot

'About one hour. There's a bed, you can lay down and sleep if you feel like it.'

Harry looked at the door with dread, one hour.

'Why just one person?'

'Because two magical people going in there won't tell me what your diagnostic is, it will confuse the wards and spells within the walls and I will get a mesh up of the two people not knowing what to treat and who to treat it off.' Explained Margot.

The unease in his face must have shown.

'I'll be right outside the room Harry. I promise nothing will happen to you.' He hugged Harry.

'One hour.' Harry repeated.

'One hour.' Sirius nodded.

Sirius took a seat in the observation room where Margot instantly started analysing the data coming from the diagnostics room. There was a window which went only one way and Sirius could see Harry moving around first before settling on the bed and just looking up at the ceiling. Sirius said nothing as Margot did her work.

'How are you feeling?' she finally asked halfway through the one hour.

'Better. You helped me heal so that I could be a good guardian for Harry.'

'That's not the only reason why I healed you.'

'No, it's not. But it's the reason I chose.'

Margot watched him through her elegant glasses but said nothing else until the diagnostics were done.

'You can go and get him out. Get him dressed and we can talk about what I discovered.' Sirius stood up and went to Harry who looked up from the bed as the door opened.

'All done? Because that was boring.'

'You're lucky, back in 1980 they didn't have spell rooms like this. They had probity probes and they got in everywhere.' Sirius said poking Harry in the side. Harry jumped away grinning. Before he started pulling on his trousers and then they followed Margot to her office.

'Well, it's not good news.' This sobered the two grinning men up. 'First off, you'll need to start a potions diet because for a 15-year-old you're too skinny. There are traces of nutrient potion in your body.' She turned to Sirius 'I take it it's the one I prescribe you two months from now.'

Sirius nodded 'That was a good start however you're a grown man, and Harry is still growing, his potion will be different from now on to encourage not just bodyweight but his growth as well.'

'That's not too bad.' Harry tried to see the upside.

'The potion is horrible to the taste and unfortunately, sugar nullifies the effects.' Margo added.

'He'll stomach it.'

'I don't doubt it. Also, exercise.'

'I fly.'

'Flying is good, muscle-building exercises are better. I'll give you a list. Might want to pick up swimming or maybe some combat sport.'

'I can help with that.' Sirius said

'You can?'

'Aurors are trained to fight without a wand. I may be a bit rusty, but we'll get better together.' Harry nodded.

'Another thing we found is a protective barrier. It's ingrained in your skin and it has been with you since infancy.'

'Dumbledore explained, my mother's sacrifice.'

'Yes, and no. It started with her sacrifice but was extended by a ritual to last this long. I'm assuming this is Mr Dumbledore's work.'

'You know Dumbledore?'

'Everyone knows Dumbledore, by reputation. This is something he would think up. The ritual makes for your mother's protection to last if you live with a blood relative of hers.'

'That's why I was at the Dursleys.' Harry's eyes widened.

'Yes, that is correct.'

'The protection will expire now since you are living with me.' Sirius told Harry . ‚Are you OK with that?'

‚Voldemort already took my blood in the ritual. The protection won't help anymore' Harry shrugged.

'It will remain for a while. I can analyse this and let you know more exactly when the protection will be gone.' Margot added. 'It is dangerous to rely on such protection in the long run. The protection would have been directed only at the man himself, not his followers nor would it have worked had he chosen to poison you.'

'Which only means that we'll have to teach you how to defend yourself against attacks.' Sirius said.

Margot nodded before continuing.

'Now the most troubling problem. Your scar.' They sat up straighter. 'It's dark magic. The signature is however unlike anything I've seen before. This is from the killing curse when you were a baby.'

'Yes.' Harry didn't question how the witch knew, they had given their real names and Harry Potter was well known even outside Britain.

'Well, it's a unique phenomenon so I'll need time to get through all the data I gathered today. You said you have headaches.'

'That's right. It hurt before when Voldemort was close by. But last summer I had dreams, which weren't really dreams, more like me seeing what was happening and now after he came back, it's been hurting on and off all summer.'

'From what I can tell and from what you're telling me, the curse linked Voldemort and Harry in some way.'

'Is it a two-way connection?' Sirius asked and Harry grew white at the implication. If he could see Voldemort, then Voldemort could see him. That was not good.

'The likely answer is yes. But since the connection manifests in dreams or visions and pain in the scar I would have to say the connection is sporadic at best and only accessible at times, most likely when both you, Harry, and Voldemort let your guard down. After his return, it's become more powerful because Voldemort became more powerful. There is some good news though, I don't think Voldemort is aware of the connection yet.'

'How do I stop it?'

'Since it's likely a link between your minds Occlumency is a must. You must learn to close your mind to him. Sirius, you know Occlumency.'

'I do.'

'Then I suggest you use these three months to teach him.'

'I'll learn.' Harry said with conviction.

'That, however, is but a temporary solution. The Dark Magic must be removed.'

'Is there anyone you know who can tell us more?'

'There are a few people that may be more knowledgeable.' Margot said 'I'll contact them and send them the results of the check-up for them to study.'

'Do it. Do you think you will have more answers by the time our three months are up?'

'Naturally. We'll discuss more when you come back, I will expect you on…the 15th of August' she said after checking her calendar. 'Now, your potion and diet.' She went to a cabinet and opened a drawer. 'The vial is self-replenishing. You drink it all in the morning before breakfast and the next morning it's all filled up again. The diet is more of a guideline since you'll be on vacation, but I expect you to eat more than just sweets or fast food.' She turned to Sirius 'Where will you be going?'

'We'll start in France. After that, we'll see.'

When they reached the Black Chateau in France Harry glared at Sirius.

'I thought you were joking.'

'About the Muggle blood, yes. Not the Chateau.'

'Really?'

'Old family remember. The Blacks had so much time to accumulate their wealth, it is vast.'

'And you couldn't contract a lawyer to make sure you had a trial?'

'Ah, but back then I didn't have all this. Sure I had some money from my uncle Alphard but mostly I had to work for a living. Come on. If I remember correctly, this place is kept under a preservation charm.'

They went inside and indeed every furniture piece was covered by spell sheets, which were keeping everything in pristine condition. There were self-cleaning charms for the floors and walls as well as self-repair charms for the structural elements. The place was in excellent condition but empty otherwise.

'So, do you want to sleep in different rooms or should we camp out in the drawing-room together?'

'Drawing room together before we explore tomorrow.'

'Sure. There's a guest bathroom right next to it. You can go first.'

Harry did and took his time feeling the need to wash away the tension from what Margot found out about his scar. When he got out using a bathrobe Sirius had handed him before entering, his body felt better but his mind was still upset. They could get out on a terrace from the drawing-room. That was where he found Sirius using a portable grill to cook their dinner.

'Hope you like sausages because I didn't pack much food with us. We'll have to go hunting tomorrow.'

'I hope you're thinking of grocery hunting and not deer hunting.'

'Actually, this place has a fair bit of woods on the north side if you want to have Bambi for lunch tomorrow.'

'Definitely no.'

'Prongs would approve, it would be like hunting your brothers and sisters.'

Harry decided to ignore the tease and ask something that was on his mind ever since the transfiguration essay. 'How did you and dad chose your Animagus form?'

'Well, it is in part choosing and in part who you are. You get to choose what animal you'll be, but only in so much as it is compatible with your traits.'

'So how do you know if you're compatible with what you chose?'

'That's where Occlumency will help you.'

'What do you mean?'

'You have to know yourself. Yes, I know it sounds like a load of psychological dung but it's what will make the transformation easier. You can't be a porcupine if you're a cuddly puppy at heart.'

'And Occlumency helps how?'

'You'll sort through your experiences to help raise the shields you need. Sorting means you'll decide what is important to you and what is not, basically you'll get a semi external view of yourself.'

'When can we start?'

'Tomorrow morning, after breakfast. I was thinking we can start with a bit of running before eating. Shower, then find a nice spot inside or outside and get to work.'

'Sounds good.'

'We'll see how it goes but one hour in the morning and one hour in the evening should do. Then we have everything in between to explore a little and maybe I'll teach you some useful spells and jinxes too.'

'It doesn't sound like a vacation but, I think it's a good idea to use this time to learn.'

'Oh it will be a vacation, you'll see.'

And Harry did see. Aside from their morning and evening training sessions, which included exercises and a sort of mixed martial arts in the morning and spell work in the evening apart from Occlumency they had the day free from 10 to 6 in the afternoon which meant Harry got to see some very fancy French towns and villages. Try out the local cuisine in different restaurants and actually have fun.

A/N: Maybe it was short, but it's just the beginning of their Holiday. Hope you enjoyed it. Thank you for the reviews, they were most helpful. As usual, have a nice week. :)