Disclaimer: I own nothing but the plot line and the original/new characters in the story. The rest belongs to JKRowling. **starts crying hysterically** how I wish I owned them!

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New Powers



Chapter Three: Recovery and the Rest of the Summer



It took Harry three weeks to recover, during which he had many visitors. The entire Weasley family had stopped by with Hermione, twice. Fred and George managed to sneak in and pull a prank on Madam Pomfrey once a day to cheer Harry up a bit. Ginny had become good friends with Harry since the day he arrived as she was there the most often.

Luckily they had quite a lot in common to talk about, including their experiences with Tom Riddle. Ginny had confided in Harry that she was developing feelings for Draco Malfoy, and that she'd love to date him. Harry had chuckled and said that Ron had better not find out. Harry had confided in Ginny that over the past few weeks it had become blatantly obvious that Harry himself was gay, leading to a full out discussion of both the Quidditch team boys, and every other guy at Hogwarts including Professors.

Ron was a bit jealous at first, then assumed Harry and Ginny were starting to date and he'd shut up about it. Hermione however, figured it out and Harry told both Ron and Hermione as well that he was gay. He'd noted somewhat absently that while red-heads and dark-haired men were extremely attractive to him, blond men all seemed to remind him of his Uncle and cousin.

He'd talked to Sirius and Remus about it, when the two had told Harry that they were restoring their wedding vows. Vows that Sirius and Remus had said to one another in front of their friends and family back when James stood beside Sirius, and Severus beside Remus. Apparently, Severus didn't like the Potters much because James had left Severus for Lily. Harry found that rather ironic, considering that he had to admit that his father had good taste in men, as he himself was slightly attracted to the older man.

Nearly all of his professors had at one time or another sat and talked with him. Harry had a rather bonding moment with Severus Snape when the Potions Master answered Harry's question, "Why, exactly do you hate me so much?"

Severus had stared at him long and hard before saying, "I don't hate you Harry. I despise your father. I had a relationship with him that would have resulted in you having my black eyes instead of Evans' green eyes had your father not left me for her. I became a spy to keep him safe, and he threw all of our plans in my face with a ring on Lily Evans' finger."

Harry looked at him for a moment before saying, "Then he didn't deserve you."

Amazingly, from that moment on there had been an almost Father/Son bond between the two. Severus was currently seeing a Muggle Bio-Chemist by the name Jason Gardner. Harry had met the man once as Jason knew that Severus was a Wizard, and had nearly died laughing when he realized Jason was almost the splitting image of Sirius Black with rich green eyes instead of blue.

He had however had a lot of time to think, and he wasn't mad much anymore over the situation. He'd found out that Albus Dumbledore was his Great- Grandfather. The two had many discussions ending mostly with Harry proclaiming that he no longer trusted the older Wizard. It had hurt unbelievably when he found that the entire time the Dursley's were abusing him, someone else had a home to offer and slammed the door closed in his face before even thinking about it.

There was one conversation between the two that started to put the Great- Grandfather and Great-Grandson back into their normal trusting and loving relationship as they should have been. Harry had broken down and finally asked the Headmaster, "Why didn't you want me?"

Albus sighed and said, "Harry, very few people knew I ever had children. Can you imagine what Voldemort would have done had he known not only that you were as the Potter line already placed you, the sole Heir to the Gryffindor bloodline, and my last remaining Heir?"

They had several discussions over Harry's bloodline over the three weeks, during which Harry found out that his Father's bloodline was the last remaining one with ties to Godric Gryffindor, who had at his time been the last remaining Heir to Merlin's bloodline. And when you added in Albus Dumbledore's bloodline which had a number of very powerful Wizards and Witches in it dating back to the beginning of Magic itself, including Merlin's apprentice, Harry Potter had a bloodline to put any Pureblood Wizard to shame.

So, remembering all of that information Harry sighed and said, "I suppose he would have wanted to come after me sooner than he had, considering."

Albus nodded and said, "I hope you can forgive me Harry. I would have told you eventually, and I wouldn't have wished for you to find out because of all this."

Harry nodded and said, "It will take time for me to trust you again, but I forgive you for not telling me."

Albus smiled and said, "Thank you Harry."

After that conversation, things between Albus and Harry were much better. Finally though, the three weeks were drawing to a close and Harry was being released from the infirmary, from which he would be going directly with Remus to his home with Remus' lovable dog Snuffles. As they prepared to leave by portkey, Sirius transformed into his dog self, while Remus prepared the portkey, and Harry wrapped his arms around Sirius to forget about the mode of transportation he was about to take.

Remus finally grabbed onto Harry's arm as the portkey activated moments later. Harry instinctively held Sirius tighter to him, ignoring Sirius's choking noises for air, and not letting go when they landed with a thud on the floor. Harry merely buried his head in his godfather's overgrown black furry dog shoulder and refused to look up as the memories of the last task of the triwizard tournament came rushing back to his head.

Harry didn't even notice Sirius transforming back and holding him close, he simply broke down sobbing muttering, "No, no, no, no. . . . Cedric, no. . . . not again. . ."

Remus and Sirius exchanged a glance over Harry's head and without hesitation Remus went into the next room to fire-call Severus and ask him to floo over with massive amounts of calming potions. Harry simply sat on the ground, cradling Harry close and rocking him gently while rubbing calming circles on Harry's back. After nearly five minutes Remus came back in with Severus, who was carrying several potions.

Severus kneeled next to Sirius and Harry, holding a now open bottle of a calming potion to Harry before saying as gently as he could, "Harry I need you to drink this for me."

Harry vaguely recognized Severus's voice and opened his lips a little, allowing Severus to spill the entire potion down Harry's throat without any further assistance. Harry choked slightly as he swallowed it, but almost instantly calmed and loosened his grip on Sirius. Sirius whispered, "Harry it wasn't your fault Cedric died. Neither of you knew that cup was a portkey, there was no way anyone could have known."

Harry simply nodded, he'd already come to that conclusion on his own, but Cedric being killed in front of him had a profound affect on him. Especially when it came to traveling with Portkeys. Severus grasped Harry's chin and forced him to look Severus in the eyes. Severus stared into Harry's eyes for a moment before saying, "You're going to use portkeys from this moment until you no longer react the way you just did. DO NOT give into Voldemort like this Harry. Don't let him win."

Harry stared at Severus for a moment before nodding and standing. Sirius and Remus' jaws were almost on the floor watching Severus with Harry, having not witnessed them in private during Harry's hospital stay. Harry took a deep breath and asked, "Well? Where's my next portkey?"

Severus conjured up two of them before handing Harry the two on rings so he could grab them and travel back and fourth without a problem. Severus explained, "They will bring you back to the Shrieking Shack in a room in the upper level away from the entrance ways and back here. I've set no limits so when you're done make sure you're here before you stop and then have Sirius or Remus destroy them both."

Harry nodded before starting by taking the first portkey to the Shrieking Shack. It took Harry four hours before he could use either portkey without any reaction at all, and another hour before he felt comfortable with that kind of travel again. Each time Sirius and Remus would be waiting next to his spot at Remus' home, which made it easier. Severus left after the first time Harry came back from the Shrieking Shack.

While Sirius and Remus hadn't liked the idea at first, they had to admit it was helping Harry more than any calming potion could have. That night at dinner Ginny, Ron, Fred and George Weasley joined them for dinner. Harry sat in-between Ginny and Fred, whom Harry couldn't help notice blushed every time their knees knocked under the table. Sirius, deciding to flirt with disaster just a bit asked, "So, Ginny, you and Harry seem to be getting closer these days."

Harry blinked, Sirius and Remus knew that Harry was gay and he was a little confused as to why his godfather was acting like this. Ron and Ginny were looking at Sirius as if he'd grown a second head while Fred and George exchanged confused looks. Harry smiled a bit shyly and then said, "Uh, Sirius, you know I'm gay."

Sirius frowned and said, "Oh, right."

Harry sighed and said, "We're becoming better friends if that's what you're looking for. Beside, she has her eye on someone else, has for a while now."

Ron, Fred and George turned curious eyes to Ginny, who was blushing and now saying, "Shut up Harry."

Remus chuckled and joined the conversation by asking, "Anyone you have your eyes on Harry?"

Harry blushed a deep red, but deciding to test the waters a bit he pressed his leg against Fred's not moving it as he said, "Not really sure yet."

Sirius laughed at the blush on his cheeks and said, "Alright, what's his name?"

Harry barely registered that Fred was blushing right along with him and that somehow Fred's hand had landed on Harry's knee during the time it took Sirius to ask. Smiling slightly Harry said, "I'd hardly tell you before I've even talked to him about it."

Remus, Ron, and Ginny snorted but didn't hide their laughter as George teased, "What, don't want your internationally recognized as an escaped convicted mass murderer godfather to scare him away?"

Harry looked highly indignant at that and said, "He's innocent! And besides, Sirius wouldn't do something so bloody stupid. Besides his animagus form would scare them away anyway."

George, Ginny and Fred who hadn't seen Sirius's form raised eyebrows and looked at Sirius expectantly. Sirius sighed and before he could do anything Remus said, "Oh no you don't. Not at my table, get down on the floor if you're going to show them. I'll not have a dog at this table while I eat regardless of who the dog is."

Sirius pouted a bit but stood up and backed away from the table before turning into his dog form. Fred imitated Professor Trelawney and in an overly dramatic high-pitched voice said, "Oh no! The GRIM!"

Harry, Ron and Ginny burst out laughing and George said, "You should show up in you animagus form once during Divination. Trelawney would likely have a heart attack on the spot!"

That of course caused everyone to laugh hysterically, while Sirius's tail wagged enthusiastically as his eyes sparkled with laughter. After calming down Remus waved his wand and their dinner dishes disappeared as another set of dishes with desert appeared. Sirius changed back, everyone started to eat their deserts and chat amongst themselves, though Harry, Fred and George remained silent.

Harry noticed that Fred's hand was no longer on his knee, but resting slightly on Harry's thigh. Harry almost grinned at that, but let his hand drop on top of Fred's, which turned over and intertwined their fingers under the table. Harry smiled slightly when Fred squeezed his hand, but merely squeezed back and kept eating ignoring everyone else.

Fred's thumb was unconsciously rubbing against Harry's thumb in soothing small circles when George happened to look down, and slightly snickered at it before getting elbowed in the stomach by Fred. Harry however was completely oblivious to this, as Remus had asked him about studying extra defensive methods privately with Professor Snape when Harry went back to school so that Sirius and Remus could stop by and help with the lessons once in a while.

Harry of course agreed instantly to which Ron shouted, "HARRY! YOU CAN'T BE SERIOUS! THAT GREAS-"

Harry raised an eyebrow and then interrupted the would be long line of horrible things about the Professor with a snort and said, "Ron, do you know how many times that man has saved my life?"

Remus raised an eyebrow at that, but literally sat back and watched as the rest of the room's jaws dropped collectively. Fred and George slightly less than the rest of the room as they had gotten away with quite a lot when that Professor looked the other way from time to time. Ron stuttered out, "W-w-what?"

Hermione would have been proud of Harry at that moment as Harry calmly said, "If Professor Snape hadn't been at that first Quidditch game I would have fallen from my broom as Quirrell hexed it and died from the impact. If he hadn't been so bloody paranoid during my second year and told Malfoy to shoot off that snake while Malfoy and I dueled, I never would have found out I was a Parselmouth and never would have realized the voices I was hearing was actually a snake of some sort and Hermione never would have figured out it was a Basilisk."

Harry smiled at Ron's utterly unbelieving face and continued, "The man faces Voldemort on a regular basis, knowing he could be killed with the flick of a wand if the overgrown snake ever found out that Snape took anything he was ordered or overheard straight to Dumbledore. At the very, very least he deserves the respect of being referred to as nothing other than 'Professor Severus Snape' and without all those comments. Without a spy in Voldemort's inner circle we'd likely have already lost this war."

Sirius muttered, "James is rolling in his grave. . ."

Remus beamed out, "Yes, but Lily is giving Harry a standing ovation."

Harry blinked and looked at them both, while Ron managed out an angry, "Who are you and what have you done to my best friend? You sound like Hermione."

Harry looked at him and said blankly, "Grow up. We have bigger things to worry about than petty childish things like Malfoy, or whether or not we'll win the Quidditch game, or whether we'll win the House Cup. Maybe this isn't real enough for you, but I happen to be at the top of Voldemort's hit list and am getting rather sick of meeting him face to face and then being expected to just go back and be a normal child. Normal children don't worry about being murdered by an overgrown two year old that's tired of not getting his way with the world!"

Sirius looked at Remus and said, "Never mind, James is ready to come out of that grave and knock some childhood into the boy."

Remus raised an eyebrow and replied calmly, "James? Please. He'd be half way to Voldemort to murder the bastard, and I'm surprised you aren't."

Ginny interrupted what could have been a lengthly argument with, "Ron, Harry's right. It isn't real for you because you haven't faced it the way I have, or the way Harry has. I know how Tom Riddle's mind works Ron. He's a vindictive bastard that's out for blood. Harry's blood."

Ron attempted to interrupt and Ginny cut him off with, "You have to learn to control your flinching at Voldemort's name, your jealous behavior towards Harry, and your childish anger towards Slytherins in general. If, for instance, Draco Malfoy could still be persuaded to switch sides, and he teamed up with say, Harry, or Fred and George, the Death Eaters would never know what hit them. But we have to do as Harry said and stop this childish nonsense, or we will lose this war."

Harry nodded in agreement and added on, "You have a point about Draco Malfoy. Honestly I can't imagine living with Lucius as my father. Can you imagine how he's grown up? Having all these ideas drilled into his head, and likely being tortured or at the very least abused at the slightest deviation from them. I can hardly see Lucius Malfoy cuddling up with a child of any age and calming his fears."

Ginny frowned and nodded before saying, "Yes, yes, the poor dear."

Ron interrupted with a loud shout of, "This is UNBELIEVABLE! You're actually feeling SORRY for MALFOY? May I remind you, Harry and Ginny, that he has done NOTHING but call Hermione a 'mudblood', set us up for Filch, make fun of our lack of money. . ."

Harry interrupted with, "And you didn't think that he had simply called Hermione a 'mudblood' because he was expected to as a Malfoy? Or that he's been taught his entire life to look down upon those without the same lifestyle that he lives? Or perhaps he's simply jealous because your mother and father lavish you with attention, affection and care, while his probably left him to the house elves?"

Ron was turning an unusual shade of red at this point and Fred added on, "Harry and Ginny seem to have some points there. Maybe if you had been the bigger person about it, you two would be friends right now."

Harry smiled at Fred before asking, "What exactly would you have done if I'd shaken Malfoy's hand on the train during our first year, Ron?"

Ron looked unearthly mad as he said, "I would have bloody thrown you off the train."

Harry smiled and his eyes twinkled a bit, making him resemble his Great- Grandfather as he said, "Did you know, Ron, the Sorting Hat wanted me to be in Slytherin? The first time you and I met, all you did was gawk at the scar on my forehead, and do you ever wonder why I didn't accept Malfoy's offer of alliances?"

Everyone was gawking at him wondering where this had come from, but Harry had simply had enough of Ron's jealous rages and fights where they didn't talk for weeks because Ron didn't believe him. Harry went on saying simply, "I continued to sit with you because Draco Malfoy reminds me of Dudley Dursley and I didn't want a damn thing to do with anyone that reminded me of my cousin. Which probably means I owe my two best friends, and the relationship that the three of us have, to my cousin, who beat the living shit out of me while helping his Mum and Dad to do the same a month ago."

Sirius and Remus looked at one another, as this was information that they had never heard before. Fred's thumb was still rubbing against Harry's under the table and it wasn't just George that had noticed, Ginny had noticed now as well. Ginny was trying hard not to giggle at the sight, it was hard to imagine Harry not being married into the Weasley family somehow, and she just thought that out of all her brothers it would have been Charlie, or maybe Ron, or even Percy, but not Fred or George.

George was struck between loyalty to his brother, whom he knew was being irrational and had a mild temper, or loyalty to the person that in his opinion was already the Captain of the Quidditch Team, a person who had invested in he and Fred's company, and someone he considered to be a good friend. George shook his head, if it came down to it, his blood brother wouldn't win this one.

Fred on the other hand had made up his mind when Ron started talking, he could see Harry's point of view clearly and knew his brother had a temper to rival Snape's. Besides, when this conversation was over, he was going to have a serious conversation with Harry about starting a relationship. Well, maybe not a serious conversation, but a conversation about it nonetheless.

Ron however, was beyond mad. This was ridiculous! His best friend was sitting here telling him that if Draco Malfoy had been nice on that day at the train, Harry would have made friends with him. Their enemy, and Harry is saying that had Malfoy not said those things to him when they met, Harry would be friends with him. Remus stood up as if sensing this could only get worse and suggested, "Harry why don't you go upstairs and study and Sirius will see the Weasley's home?"

Harry was rather reluctant to let go of Fred and instead of paying attention to what Remus had said, pulled Fred right up with him not letting go of his hand as he went up to his room calling behind him, "Bye Ginny! Bye George! Bye Ron."

Sirius and Remus blinked and watched as Harry literally dragged Fred out of the room. Not that it appeared that Fred had any objections. Ginny and George snickered as they watched while Ron looked flabbergasted. Remus smiled and said, "Well, it would appear Harry has a preference for the older red heads."

Ginny snorted and said, "More like older anything. The only boys I couldn't get him to like in the least were blonds and Ron. Seems Harry knows Ron too well to like him that way. Anyway, Thank you for having us Mr. Black, Professor Lupin."

Remus smiled while Sirius grinned and said, "Please, Sirius and Remus, none of that title nonsense. We're not old men yet!"

Within moments the three had gone back through Remus' fireplace and Sirius and Remus were left staring at the staircase Harry and Fred had gone up wondering what was going on with their godson and Fred. Harry and Fred however, had gone straight into Harry's room and somehow instead of talking they ended up kissing and in one another's arms on Harry's bed holding one another close.