Chapter THIRTEEN

Prophecies and Horcruxes

...

Sirius watched his son out of the corner of his eye as they made their way through the Ministry and down to level 10 and the Department of mysteries.

The last few weeks since the incident with Quirrell and Voldemort his son had become somewhat clingy. He refused to leave his father's sight; he wouldn't even go flying unless Sirius came with him or sat out on the back patio in clear sight of the flying boy. Of course, he knew why Harrison was acting the way he was, but as the days and then eventually more than two weeks went by with no improvement, he was starting to get a little worried.

So, making a mental note to schedule an appointment with their mind healer for Harrison, Sirius placed his hand onto the boy's shoulder in silent support as the approached their location.

He nodded in greeting to the younger man sat at the front desk of the main lobby of the department. "Sirius and Harrison Black to see Elton Sacks, we are his 2 o'clock appointment," he stated firmly.

"Of course, sir's, just through those doors to your left and state which subdivision you need when you enter, and the door will open for you." He told them, after first confirming their identity.

Guiding Harrison through the door, Sirius stated clearly to the room they had entered, "Hall of Prophecies." When the doors stopped spinning and the one directly in front of them opened, they walked through to find a large room filled with rows upon rows of shelves with orbs sat upon them.

They must have sat off some sort of charm when they entered the room, because they hadn't even been there for more than a minute, when an older grey-haired gentleman, came around the corner of one of the shelves to greet them.

"Ah you must be Lord Black, and Heir Potter-Black, excellent you're right on time." He told them joyfully.

"Yes, thank you for agreeing to meet with us, Mr. Sacks" Sirius told him shaking the mans offered hand, smiling slightly when his son copied him.

"What can I do for you today, Lord Black?"

"12 years ago, a prophecy was made involving my son here and one other person. We would like to collect it, and take it with us, I don't wish for it to get into the wrong hands, you understand?" Sirius told him firmly, leaving no room for argument. While it may be normal protocol to leave a copy of Prophecies inside this room until they have been fulfilled-unless there was a serious reason it needed to be removed-, he was not leaving it to chance that Voldemort, might actually attempt to retrieve it himself in the future.

"I can take you to view it of course sir, but I cannot have you remove it, we have protocols to follow, surely..."

"I'm aware of the usual protocols, but as I'm sure you also know, that in the case of one of the occupants of a prophecy being in potential danger of the other, an exception is made, where the prophecy can then be removed. Trust me, once you see the names on the orb, you will agree with my decision to take it with us today."

Still feeling a bit unsure, Mr. Sacks directed them to follow him to row 97. There on the top shelf, sat a small round orb, no larger than the palm of Sirius hand filled with white fog. On a tag attached read the words,

S.P.T to A.P.W.B.D

DARK LORD

& (?)

HARRISON POTTER

Elton Sacks gasped shocked when he noticed the names written on the Prophecy description tag, now understanding why Lord Black was adamant the orb be removed, as he could only imagine what danger the child would be in if word were to get out. So, giving his two guests a nod of approval, he directed the boy to remove the Prophecy from its resting place. "If that is all gentlemen, its best you get that somewhere safe, best to hear it, and then destroy it I would say."

"Thank you for all your help, we shall be on our way then," Sirius nodded to the man, before turning once more to his son. "Put that in your robe inside pocket pup, we will deal with it at home, come on let's get out of here."

Harrison did as he was instructed and followed his dad back out of the isles of Prophecies and through the door to the same hall, which once again stopped rotating when Sirius asked for the way out. Once they were back in the main lobby, they bid goodbye to the receptionist and made their way to an open fireplace and flooing home.

HPSBHP

Later that same day, Harrison was sat in his father's office where they were about to break the orb and listen to it for the first and last time.

"Alright son, just smash it on the desk here, and we will see what we are up against hmm?" Sirius told him trying to keep his nerves hidden in front of the boy.

Nodding, Harrison raised his hand and brought the orb down on the desk letting it drop the last few inches where it smashed into tiny little pieces and a monotonous voice rose from the fog.

"The one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord Approaches.

Born to those who have thrice defied him, born as the seventh month dies.

And the Dark Lord will mark him as his equal, but he will have power the Dark Lord knows not….and either must die at the hand of the other,

For neither can live while the other survives.

The one with the Power to vanquish the Dark Lord,

Will be born as the seventh month dies!"

Harrison and Sirius sat shocked at what they just heard, neither having suspected anything like this would be revealed when they had first collected the orb.

"I have to kill him, don't I?" Harrison asked barely above a whisper.

"No!" Sirius told him immediately.

"But you heard, 'Either must die at the hand of the other', so it has to mean, I'm either a killer, or I die!" The almost 12-year-old exclaimed.

"Harrison, Prophecies are a tricky branch of magic, there could be dozens of explanations for each one. We can't jump to conclusions all right" Sirius told him as he got up and walked over to comfort the boy. "We will figure this out, but you are NOT dying, or being forced to kill if I can help it am I clear?"

Harrison just nodded into his dad's chest, to rattled to speak at the moment having used up his energy in his outburst.

"Come on, let's go flying for a bit, get our minds off it for the moment, and come back it when we are both settled. There is still time to figure this out pup, I promise!" Sirius spoke as he led his son through the house and out the patio doors. "We can make a trip to the Black Town House, the library is bound to have a few books on Prophecies there, and we will do some research, but no matter what, remember you aren't doing this alone. I will be there helping you the entire time!"

Harrison took a few steadying breathes as the made their way towards the pitch. He was still freaked out, but he trusted his dad, and he knew he would always be there to help. So, forcing himself to focus on what they were doing at the moment, he took off into the air and just breathed as he enjoyed the freedom flying always gave him.

HPSBHP

The following week was Harrison's 12th birthday. He had noticed he wasn't receiving any mail from his friends a week or so prior, so had asked his dad to look into it and used the Floo to call on his friends to invite them to his place for the day, where they spent the afternoon flying on the pitch, and relaxing in the pool.

Sirius had gotten the houseleves to make them a buffet style meal with all of Harrison's favorites, and a large cake designed to look like a quidditch pitch was brought out in the evening shortly before his friends bid him goodbye, wishing him a happy birthday one last time.

He had received a lot of candy from 'Sugarplum's Sweet Shop', as well as books, and quidditch gloves from his friends, and Remus – who had come by to wish Harrison Happy Birthday in person and spend the day with Sirius-, but his gift from his dad was by far his favorite. He had received an entire series of books on Robotics and their uses.

After reading more into the work of Tony Stark, and his advancements into the field of A.I and reading an article all about the Robot he had created as part of his Master's Thesis, Harrison wanted to know what else he could do with Robotics; maybe he could figure out a way to use it to help people. It was definitely a potential subdivision of Peverell Inc., that could possibly be the focus of the muggle branch of the company in the future.

He knew he would be spending the rest of the summer poring over these books and writing down his ideas -into a journal he had specifically for the company- he wanted to look into. Already he was looking into which degree or degrees he would need to attend University for in a few years.

HPSBHP

With the stress of the prophecy, Sirius had wanted to distract his son for a while allowing him to enjoy his 12th birthday, so had made sure the two spent a lot of time just relaxing for the first part of the summer. Between mandatory sessions with Mind Healer Thomas to deal with the trauma Harrison had faced back in June, they took day trips to some of their favorite properties to visit the beach, or villages nearby and just submerge themselves in the different cultures for a few hours. Thus, it was late August before they were able to make the trip to the Black Townhouse in London.

After returning from, taking Harrison on a small holiday as was becoming tradition, and shopping for school supplies. Where Sirius had to threaten Harrison's new DADA Professor Gilderoy Lockhart, when the man tried using his son as a publicity stunt, and then had to break up a fight between Lord's Malfoy and Weasley before they could leave the building, empty handed with the exception of an owl order brochure. Harrison had just used his dad's owl Apollo the next day and ordered his new books, of which he had conveniently left all of the Lockhart's books out when his dad told him he suspected the man to be a fraud and not to waist a galleon on them. Sirius had been a year above Lockhart in school and remembered how he was always taking the achievements of others and trying to play them off as his own.

So now only a few days before he would board the express for his 2nd year, Harrison followed his father through the front door of 12 Grimmauld Place, his eyes widening as he looked around the first floor of the house. The walls were all dark Grey almost black, with Green and silver décor scattered throughout. There was obviously a lot of magic littering the place, as Harrison could feel it in the air.

He Followed his dad up two flights of stairs being as quiet as he could after he was warned about a portrait of his Grandmother that was hidden behind thick drapes in the entry way.

When they made it into the library, Sirius had side with relief, knowing that it was now safe to talk freely. "Don't touch anything alight pup. We don't know what nasty hexes or curses could be placed on the books in here."

"Alright dad." Harrison promised as he looked around the room, noticing a tapestry on the back wall, that he decided to examine as he waited. A small smile appeared on his lips when he noticed his name attached via line to a spot that had been blasted off. Knowing that it was his Father's name, and even though his Grandmother had tried to remove her 'blood traitor son' from the family, she hadn't really succeeded. Harrison name now appearing was more proof that the family magic would always accept his father, and Harrison no matter what others may wish.

While his son was preoccupied with the tapestry he had only heard of and never seen in person, Sirius began browsing the shelves and pulling books down after checking for any tampering.

When he had all the books he could find for the moment, an hour had passed, and his son was sat in a chair watching him. "Alright kiddo, let's get out of here, this place gives me hives." He said with an exaggerated shudder and earning a grin from his boy.

It was while they were about to head back down the stairs, when they heard a croaky voice coming from the drawing room off the landing above them. Sirius raised his hand and silently shushed Harrison, telling him without words to be as quiet as he could as he led him quickly the rest of the way down and back out the front door. He let out a relieved breath when the door shut behind them, glad he didn't have to deal with either the house-elf or the portrait of his Mother.

HPSBHP

It was now, September 1st and Harrison was once more sat in a compartment with his three closest friends, each of them happily enjoying sweets from the trolly as they told each other of their Summer or read a book to pass the time.

Unknown to Harrison, after watching the train leave the station, Sirius had apparated to Grimmauld in search of a specific book on Prophecies he had remembered that morning seeing in his father's office as a boy.

It was easy to find, sat on the second shelf front the top, covered in a thick layer of dust, as he suspected the elf hadn't entered the room since the old man had passed nearly 10 years prior.

Sirius left the room intending to leave the house once more with hopes of not having to deal with either the house-elf or his Mother's portrait. But as he started making his way down the stairs, Sirius stopped suddenly when he heard something about his brother and the Dark Lord.

"Kreacher has failed Master Regulus. Kreacher cannot destroy Dark Lordy's necklace as Master ordered." The elf was muttering angrily to himself.

BANG!

Sirius jumped slightly when suddenly there was some kind of an explosion above him.

"Kreacher, has failed again and again!"

Making his way up the stairs and stepping into the drawing room silently, he was able to be witness to the old dirty elf's continuous tries of destroying an old silver locket, adorned with a snake on the front.

"Kreacher, what are you doing?" He demanded of the elf.

"The blood traitor is back, oh How he broke my poor mistresses' heart he did." The elf muttered as he automatically bowed low; forced by the bond to his new master.

"Enough Kreacher, stand up and tell me what you are doing. What does that locket have to do with Regulus? And don't you dare lie or leave anything out, I want to know everything!" Sirius demanded of the elf.

"Master Regulus came to Kreacher one day before he died, said the Dark Lordy is needing an elf. He ordered Kreacher to go with the Dark Lordy and do as he says. He takes Kreacher to a cave and makes him drink a potion from a bowl. Kreacher sees bad bad things, then he throws Kreacher away from him and puts the locket inside the bowl and fills it with the potion again and leaves poor Kreacher there.

But Master told Kreacher to come home, so Kreacher does, and Master is worried when he sees Kreacher, asks what happened. So Kreacher tells him, then Master Regulus tells Kreacher not to tell anyone and to stay in the house. Then he leaves and doesn't come back for days.

When Master returns, he's different, not acting right. He tells Kreacher to take him to the cave that the Dark Lordy took him, so Kreacher does. Master drinks the potion and he screams and screams. Kreacher tried to help, but he ordered Kreacher to keep giving him the potion, then when its gone, Master takes the locket, and replaces it with another like it, and tell Kreacher to take the real locket and go home and destroy it, never to return to the cave. But Kreacher failed Master's last order. Kreacher has tried and tried to destroy the locket, but Kreacher can't."

The elf finished with a wail as he fell onto the floor in loud sobs.

Sirius stood there in shock. His little brother, who he always believed had gotten cold feet and ended up killed for it, had really been trying to bring Voldemort down. Regret filled Sirius at that very moment, wishing he could have known and saved him.

Saving him, may not be a possibility but he could make sure Regulus didn't die in vain, so with a determined set to his jaw, Sirius turned back to the elf still laying on the floor, though his sobs has dwindled down to near silent sniffles.

"Kreacher, I'm going to help you keep Master Regulus's last order. I know how to destroy that locket; I've already had one destroyed in the past year. Give it to me and I will take it to be destroyed immediately." He ordered the elf gently.

"Yous can destroy it?" Kreacher asked unsure.

"Yes, now hand it over." He ordered Firmly.

Once he has the locket in hand, he placed it into his robe pocket, before making his way downstairs once more and leaving the house. His next destination; Gringotts bank. Sirius had figured out what the locket could be almost immediately. As the elf told his brothers story, his suspicious grew, and as he held the locket even for only a moment, he felt the same dark magic radiating off it that he felt as the black smoke left his suns scar and was directed into the cube before being destroyed the year prior.

HPSBHP

When he arrived at the bank Sirius asked to see The Potter and Black account manager immediately -having hired the Goblin to run both accounts to make it easier- and was directed to his office by another Goblins moments later.

"Lord Black, how may I help you today?" Sharpclaw asked after all formalities were out of the way and they were both sitting comfortably.

Pulling the locket from his pocket and laying it on the desk Sirius spoke, "Can you tell me if my suspicions are correct, is this another Horcrux?"

Sharpclaw picked up the locket and examined it closely, running his fingers along the surface as he spoke quietly in gobbledygook.

"Hmmm, yes, it reeks of the same darkness that once was in Heir Potter-Blacks scar, I can feel the essence residing within." Sharpclaw told him quietly as he continued to work. "I would like to give this to our curse breakers, have them run some tests before we destroy it Lord Black, this is the 2nd of its kind, created by the same wizard. There may be a way to determine if there are others."

"Do whatever you have too, just keep me informed, I want to know everything you learn. If we can find the others if there are any before the Dark Lord returns Harrison might be able to avoid the fight all together." Sirius told him, hoping he was right, though somehow, he knew his son wouldn't be so lucky "As I'm sure there will also be a large fee for your services, take it from the main Black accounts as usual."

"Of course, Lord Black it will be done, and I will send you regular updates, will there be anything else you are needing?"

"No that will be all, now I must get home and figure out exactly how I'm going to tell my son this new development when he calls on the mirrors tonight." Sirius stated as he stood and bid Sharpclaw a good day and leaving his office and out of the bank towards home.