"You are being charged with using under age magic, in front of a muggle, endangering the statute of secrecy. How do you plead?"

"Guilty"

Everyone was astonished to hear the boy-who-lived say that, even his mentor Professor Dumbledore.

"Harry, we discussed this. What are you doing?" Dumbledore hissed at Harry.

"You will know soon enough."

The verdict was declared and Harry was taken to Azkaban. All the while, the only thing running in his mind was Hermione's words from her letter a few days ago. She had written- 'Harry, the death eaters are on the move. I was in Diagon Alley last week and there was a minor attack. The leader was of course Malfoy Sr. He identified me and my mother, who was with me at that time, but before he could attack, Professor Snape saved us. When the Aurors arrived, they took him away. I tried to intervene, tried to tell them he was not attacking but blocking it instead, but they did not pay any head to me. I am feeling very guilty Harry. He went to Azkaban to save me and mum. I wish I could do something.'

Harry was shocked, yes, but then he reflected on the last four years he had spent in the wizarding world. Snape, though sour and insulting and overall unpleasant, had protected him always. There must be a reason for the sourness, he knew. Whatever it may be, he could not leave an innocent in Azkaban, after knowing what it could do to a man, hearing about it from his godfather. So, when the opportunity presented itself, just a week after Hermione's letter, he grabbed it, even after Dumbledore saying to plead not guilty and he would see to the rest.

Harry knew he had disappointed Dumbledore, but right now he was only thinking of rescuing an innocent from the land where dementors roamed freely. After talking at lengths with his godfather over the last year, he knew some tricks. He had also worked hard and achieved his animagus form in just a year. Sirius said he was extremely powerful and talented to have achieved that. Hermione, who had started with him, hadn't achieved it yet, though she knew what she would turn into. Harry just prayed that at some point in his life, Snape would have been curious like a normal person and tried to be an animagus. If not, Harry was ready to teach him at the prison itself, if he would allow it that is. If not, all of this will be for naught.

When Harry reached the prison, to his utter good luck, or as McGonagall would say, sheer dumb luck, he got the cell beside the person he wanted, Severus Snape.

Harry waited till the guards left. He observed that Snape was sitting still, very still, on the stone floor at a corner of his cell. His face looked blank, as if soul less. Harry began to get tensed. What if he was too late? What if the dementors had already left Snape of no use? All of this would be for nothing then.

After the guards were gone, Harry leaned over to the iron rods that separated their cells and called out. "Professor... Professor Snape... Hey Snape look at me..." That did it. Snape's head jerked up and saw who had called his name. Recognition flashed in the darker than the night onyx eyes. He hissed, "Potter. What have you gotten yourself into now?"

"Well, I used the Patronus charm in front of a Dementor. Guess I offended him a bit too much." Harry replied smugly.

"Speak the truth you bloody smart mouth."

"Okay, okay don't get your knickers in a twist sir. To say the truth, there indeed were two dementors at Privet Drive who were trying to suck the soul out of me and my muggle cousin. I had to use the patronus to save us both. But the Wizengamot doesn't qualify it as self-defence but as risking the statute of secrecy. So, here I am."

"And Dumbledore did not try to keep you out of prison for it?"

"Actually he did but I did not give him a chance. I already plead guilty before he even was given a say."

"Why you stupid..."

"Woa woa woa... Hold on please. I plead guilty so that I could help you leave this place. I have no intention to stay here for long. There is also one other person that I need to break out from here, though that can wait."

The gobsmacked look that Snape gave him made Harry giggle. But in a moment's time, the gobsmacked look changed to fury.

"Why you little cretin? What do you think of yourself? I have not saved your hide for the last four years for you to lose it in your hare-brained schemes." By the end of the tirade, Snape was breathing hard. He had been in Azkaban for two weeks, and it had taken its toll on him and it showed.

Instead of shouting back, which Harry knew would be unproductive, he replied calmly, "Professor, you may think we Gryffindors barge in without a plan, and most of the times you would be right, but sometimes, where it is important, we do plan. I have a plan; trust me, for this once. You can bite my head off once we are out of here."

Snape looked suspicious, but the thought of freedom after two weeks of utter torture far outweighed any rational thoughts he may have had of taking help from a Potter, a 15 year old Potter at that.

Slowly, very cautiously, he asked, "And what is this great plan of yours?"

Harry perked up at that. "First tell me professor, have you ever tried the animagus transformation? Are you an animagus?"

"Yes to both, but how does it matter? I am unregistered and if they come to know I will have additional sentence."

"Oh! It doesn't involve telling them anything at all. Do you know how Sirius got out? Oh stop making that sour face. Just answer the question. Trust me on this. It's related."

"Alright. No I didn't bother to ask Black how he got out. Judging by your questions, his animagus form was involved?"

"Yes... Well his dog is too big to walk through the bars, so he waited for the dementors to open the door for their daily rounds and then he slipped out when the door was open. What is your animagus form?"

"I am a Bald Eagle, but instead of dark brown, my body feathers are pitch black."

"That's great. That means we can leave tonight itself."

"Actually no. The first night, the guards as well as dementors watch the prisoner like a hawk. We can leave tomorrow. Now, who else are you going to break out? And how are YOU going to get out? Even if I fly out, we don't have keys."

"Oh don't worry about that. I have something planned. And about the other prisoner, you will have to wait and see."

The night and the next day were hell for Harry. The dementors were relentless. Snape helped. When the dementors were not there, he would ask him to follow some meditation steps that helped lock the memories deep within. It was advanced mind magic but Harry was learning it fast out of necessity. The next night soon came.

After the dementors left for the night, Snape transformed into a huge majestic bald eagle with a body as black as his eyes and the white head that shone silvery. After he was out and transformed back, he waited for Harry to come out. He had his doubts about the boy's confidence, but all his doubts flew out the window when suddenly the said boy transformed into a powerful, fire breathing baby dragon, and not just any but a Hungarian Horntail, the same that the boy had faced in the Tri-Wizarding Tournament. Even as a baby, the dragon came up to his shoulders.

The dragon animagus just blew a little of his fiery breath over the iron bars and they melted away like butter. Then Harry transformed back and stepped out of the melted bars as if he was stepping out of the Gryffindor Common Room. He led Snape further inside the depths of Azkaban and climbed down the steps to reach a lone secluded cell. The man within was frail and almost gone, just breathing.

Harry again transformed and melted the bars to reach inside. He sat beside the man and shook him lightly. "Sylvan, is it you?" The man whispered.

"Yes father, it is me. I came to take you away. Come, come with me."

"Oh Sylvan, you kept your promise."

"Yes I did. Now come. We must leave before they realize."

Harry helped the man up and led him out. Towards the North side of the building, there was a cliff which was left open and unguarded, as a drop from there would lead to sure death. They did not know what boon they had provided to the three escapees.

Snape listened to everything, but did not say anything at the moment. He was sure to get the whole story -dragon carried the man on his back as he flew while Snape flew as an Eagle along with them. It felt like they flew forever before reaching an Island where Harry landed smoothly before a big wrought iron gate. Snape recognized the Potter Crest over the gate, a Gryffin with a snake on his shoulders, with its tail hanging from the left side, raising its hood on its right shoulder.

After transforming, Harry conjured a silver knife and cut a slit on his palm and touched the blood smeared palm on the gate, such that his pulse point touched the paw of the Gryffin. Only then did the gate open wide for of walking the rest of the way, Harry again transformed into his Dragon and flew the unknown man till the main gate of the castle like building, closely followed by the bald eagle. At the door of the castle, Harry again repeated the process of blood recognition before entering the house. As soon as he did, an elderly house-elf popped in front of them, "Master, is that you?"

"Ah well..." Harry tried to explain, "Technically I am your master, just not the one you may be waiting for."

"Oh Tichy's magic does recognize you of my master's blood. You are my master now. What can Tichy do for you?"

"I have come here to seek refuge Tichy. My companions and I were wrongfully imprisoned. We have fled from there."

"No harm will come to master here. No one other than whom master allows can enter here. I shall prepare dinner for you. You all look tired. You must rest after you eat something. If you will please wait in the living room, I shall prepare dinner and your rooms to stay."

Tichy sat the guests in the living room and introduced Harry to the five other elves who worked inside the house. "Master, this is Milly, she cooks and takes care of the kitchen, and also the small herb garden she has grown just at the porch or the back door through the kitchen. These are Maddy and Tibby, they keep the house clean and dust free. Snippy and Snappy are twins. They tend to the outside garden and also the owlery. I am the head elf. I supervise work here as well as in the estates. I know you do not know anything about the estates but I am sure you are staying for a few days. You will have time to ask. Now you must eat and rest. You have had a long flight."

"Thank you Tichy. That would be very nice."

All the elves bowed and popped away to tend to their work. All this while, Snape was trying to identify the unknown man while the man seemed to try to hide away from him. He seemed familiar though.

Once the elves were gone, Snape turned to Harry and said only one word, "Explain". So Harry did.

"Promise me to listen to it in the entirety and only then speak." After Snape's nod, he continued,"This all started the summer after my third year, a year back. After my obligatory two weeks to replenish the blood wards at the Dursleys got over, Remus came to pick me up. He and Sirius had somehow convinced Dumbledore to let me stay at Grimmauld place over the summer. I got to know about them, also my parents, a lot. I know why you hate my father and Sirius and by extension me. And trust me, Sirius and Remus are not proud of it. I know he still pretends to be immature and arrogant but that is a mask he must carry, just like you must carry the mask of the death eater. Yes he told me everything about your spying. Grimmauld and by extension any magic done there, cannot be detected by the Ministry. So, he trained me. I wanted to become an animagus when he told me about him and my father. And he was rather proud when I acquired a magical form within a year too. He also trained me in defensive and offensive spell-casting, some borderline dark, along with Remus. Remus also reviewed my first through third year curriculum as my marks were abysmal. You may have noticed my marks have improved considerably the past year. He also took me to Gringotts. There I came to know about my heritage which was hidden from me, I don't know the reason why. Knowledge about this place is the result of those long hour meetings with my account manager. They also counselled me over many of my mental issues. It is because of those sessions that I was confident enough to break things with Ron. I could not take his petty jealousy just because he was my first friend.

As for this man here, Professor, meet Regulus Arcturus Black. Yes I know you know him. Please be patient. While I was at Grimmauld, I was given his room to live. Hidden in a secret compartment of his desk drawer was his secret journal. I was curious and read it. I found out that he had joined Voldemort under the pressure of his mother. He never wanted to. He wanted to run to his older brother and ask refuge, but his pride did not allow him to do it. He had written about the secret that will help us finish the Dark Lord once and for all. Some two weeks before his death, or rather disappearance, he mentioned about his life stone. I found it stuck to the same diary, towards the back of it. As written in the entry, it was still glowing and not at all dead. That's when I decided to involve Sirius. Sirius did help, after he was done crying and cursing himself simultaneously. Sirius cast a blood locator spell last Christmas break, which obviously a blood relative could cast, and transferred it to me in my dragon form. Then Remus cast a strong disillusionment charm on me and I flew, following the lead of the locator. That is how I found him. I met him every chance I got throughout the rest of the year and we are quiet close. He is a calmer, Slytherin version of Sirius and he really understands me.

As for you, Hermione sent me a letter explaining what happened. I have heard Sirius' account of his stay at Azkaban. I did not want you to suffer the same, even though you loathe me. When the Dementor attack happened and I was told I would be expelled, this plan began to form in my head. I secretly met with my account manager and finalized the plan the day before my hearing. The rest, you already know."

Harry took a deep breath and waited for Snape to say something. What he said was unexpected. "This... Is... Too much to take in at once... Give me the night to think?"

"Of course. Take your time professor." At that moment, Milly popped in to announce dinner. It was a simple stew with warm fresh baked bread and butter. All three of them ate their fill. Maddy and Tibby then led them to their rooms. Harry's room was the master bedroom on the second floor, while the other two occupied guest rooms in the floor above him. After having a long hot bath in the en-suit bathrooms, they all slept as soon as they reached the bed and their heads hit the pillow.

The next morning dawned bright and clear. When Snape came down, he saw that Harry was already there, with Tichy, doing something near the fireplace. After just a moment, the fire turned green and two figures stepped out, Black and Lupin.

He was taken aback by the cheery smile that Black gave him. He was too surprised to react. Once they were settled and Regulus joined them at the breakfast table, (after a rather boisterous welcome by Sirius) Sirius apologized to Snape. He said, "Snape, I have had twelve years to review my memories of all the pranks we played. When it turned to bullying, we never knew. Forgive us. We need you as much as you need this sanctuary now. Let's call a truce, atleast till old snake face is gone for good."

Snape let off a long breath, and very tiredly said, "Fine. I too have no strength to fight on pity things any more. But remember this Black, one more prank and your very next meal will be your very last."

"Deal. Now that we are fed, let's discuss what will be our next course of action. Regulus?"

"Okay... So the Dark Lord has made Horcruxes... "

It took some two hours to explain everything to everyone. The locket was already secure with Sirius. He also took up the task of getting the Hufflepuff cup as he could enter Bellatrix's vault as her head of house. The diary was already gone. They needed the Diadem. Harry decided to involve Hermione. On Snape's objection he said that she already knew what he knew. She was his best friend. She would be the best candidate. Remus said he would help her as he knew secret passages to get in.

"The last one is tricky. It is in Gaunt Shack in Little Hangleton. The problem is, only a parselmouth can touch it without being killed."

Harry smiled at that and said, "I didn't tell you that my mother was descended from Salazar Slytherin's squib line did I?"

"Lily was the descendent of Slytherin?" All four adults looked astonished.

"Hello... Earth to Sirius... Why are you four so astonished? The parseltongue had to come from somewhere right?"

"It is rather hard to digest." said Remus. "But let us proceed further. What to do after we get all the horcruxes?"

"After talking to... Father... I visited the chamber and got as many basilisk fangs as I could. They are with Sirius."

"You went to the chamber again?" Snape asked angrily.

"The basilisk is dead professor. There was no more danger."

"What if the basilisk had little snakelets roaming about the chamber?"

"Sir, with due respect, the basilisk was male and there was no other basilisk to mate with."

"How do you even know it was male?"

"Because the voice of a male snake is distinctly heavier than that of a female, whose hisses are much longer and sort of shrill."

"Well... If you can hear them..."

"I can if you remember... "

"Stop it both of you. You fight like Sirius and Lily, worse even." said Remus.

"Sorry" Harry mumbled.

Plans were discussed and finalized. Everyone went for their own work, Harry to write a letter to Hermione, Remus and Sirius back to Grimmauld, from where they would contact Gringotts, and Regulus and Severus to rest, as they were still tired from their ordeal. Severus vowed to brew some strong nutrition and healing potions for Regulus when he was feeling a little more strong himself.

A year later...

Final battle of Hogwarts...

The forces of the dark were standing on the cliff facing Hogwarts. The followers were at the front while Snake Face stood at last, to do the last victory march after his dark forces kill everyone. When the Saviour of the Wizarding World vanished a year ago, Voldemort relaxed and revised his plans. Instead of going on a killing spree, he gained his strength and increased his following. Now, after a year of training and information gathering, he was standing in front of Hogwarts to finally graze it to the ground and declare himself the supreme Lord of Wizarding Britain. But just then, someone called him from the back, "Hey VoldyMoldy."

He turned back to find himself face to face with the five people he never thought he would meet at that moment. Standing at the middle was Harry Potter. On his right were Sirius and a very much alive Regulus Black, smirking mockingly at him. On his left were Severus, his spy and potions master turned traitor, and the werewolf Lupin. For the first time he felt fear, which he did not show. He did not fear Potter, for what can a mere child do. But the other four were honed duellist. Nevertheless, he was immortal. Though he could not complete making seven horcruxes, he had still made five. He would have made another, but Nagini was averse to the idea and living Horcruxes were tricky to control. Severus smirked bigger, sensing Voldemort's thoughts. Mockingly, he said, "Why don't you try reaching for your Horcruxes if you are so confident of your immortality?"

Only then did Voldemort realize that he could not reach out to any of his Horcruxes. The ex-spy laughed. "Why master... Cannot reach them? How will you? They are no more... as you will be no more in a few moments." And the battle ensued.

When the few death eaters nearest to them realized what was happening, they joined too. In between this chaos, Voldemort cast the killing curse at Severus, who had betrayed him so thoroughly, but it never hit its mark. Harry's body hit the ground like a puppet whose strings were cut. Severus was in shock, Sirius screamed, but Regulus was in utter rage. In a moment's time he doused all eleven death eaters present there, in their moment of distraction, and aimed his wand at Voldemort. The Dark Lord was ready too. Voldemort's Avada Kedavra and Regulus' Bombarda Maxima met with each other at the centre. Regulus put all his power into his spell, and ultimately, without his horcruxes to draw from, Voldemort's own spell coupled with Regulus' blew him to bits. There was nothing left of him for his followers to salvage.

Regulus picked up the only son he knew and apparated away, leaving the rest of the death eaters for the school and aurors to handle. Sirius, Remus and Severus (who Remus had to drag away) followed.

When they reached the castle they now called home, Regulus laid Harry's still form on the living room couch. He could not hold it in anymore and started to bitterly cry all his grief for his lost son. Sirius was in his own grief, crying on Remus' shoulder. The only one not crying was Severus Snape. He came up to the couch and yelled, "Potter... Get up right now or I am going to feed you my nastiest potions, or better yet make you brew my nastiest concoctions." He proceeded to hold Harry's arms and make him sit upright and began to shake him violently. Harry's head began to loll from one side to another, as if lifeless. Remus came forward to interrupt but stopped dead on the spot when he heard a whispery voice.

"Severus you are going to dislocate my shoulder."

Severus stopped abruptly, mid shake. Did he hear it right? "Sylvan? Is that you?"

"Yeah it's me... Now quit shaking me... It hurts."

Severus crushed him to his chest. After a moment, he said, "The next time you attempt anything like that, you will get such a sound smacking that you will not be able to sit for a month."

"I am sixteen you know, not six."

"Well you sure don't act like a sixteen year old. You act like sixty. Who told you to get in front of that curse? And how are you alive by the way? Not that I am not happy. Just curious."

"Oh well. Turned out I also had a piece of Voldemort's soul. Because it was involuntary, it was not enough for him to sense or draw from, but enough to keep him on this plain. I met the master of death after dying, or whatever, and he explained to me that now that death had claimed one soul, Voldemort's, I had the choice to go back. So I came."

"We are glad you did. Now tell your father and godfather to stop crying. Their voices are grating on my nerves."

"Okay Daddy."

Remus chuckled. Harry had named all of them such that they meant his father in some or the other language. Regulus was Athair now, Irish for father, Severus was Daddy or Dad. Remus himself was Papa and Sirius was Atta, latin for father.

While they were being ushered heroes in the Wizarding World, the five men lived peacefully in their small island castle. Sirius was exonerated, after Pettigrew was captured during the final battle. Harry kept in touch with Hermione, Neville and a few other friends. When he came to know that Slytherins like Draco, Blaise, Crabbe and Goyle had helped in the fight, he met them and thanked them personally. They were also among friends now. In fact, Harry had known about Crabbe and Goyle from before, as their fathers were the main informants of Regulus about the activities of the Dark Lord.

Life was good and peaceful. They had a small company which sold custom made potions, ward stones, potions ingredients, herbs, and charms. Severus looked after the potions department with surprisingly Harry as his assistant. He was home schooled now. The OWLS he gave under the guidance of the four men bore excellent results. So now he assisted Severus and trained under all of them for his NEWTS. The charms department was Sirius while Remus and Regulus made ward stones and other warding elements.

In about two years, Harry would finish his NEWTS and apply for mastery in potions as well as charms, as they were his two best subjects. In about four years' time, he would get mastery on both. In six years' time, he would marry Hermione and she will then assist Sirius in his charms work, expanding it even more. In eight years' time, Draco will join Harry in the Potions department of the firm and Neville will join in the ingredients and herbs department, expanding it to include a herbology garden. In ten years' time, all four older men would retire to play with their first grandchild, Lilian Rosa Granger-Black-Prince-Potter, who would later absolutely resent her parents to give her such a long name. In fifteen years' time, Draco's wife Astoria and Neville's wife Adele will also join the firm, Adele to assist Neville and Astoria to assist Hermione. In twenty years' time, the elders will only play with the eight children of the three pairs and not worry about anything else. The life of the adventurers would be fulfilled and joyous, for ever after, though, never boring.

But what would happen to the rest of the Wizarding World? Well, who really cares.