Disclaimer: Sorry I think I forgot a disclaimer on the last chapter, but here it is. I don't own anything and I am making no money. Darn.
A/N: Also note that I realize this is starting slowly but I want to establish where certain characters are and what they are doing. I hope to take this story through several different characters and their views of what is occurring, so setting the tone may take some lengthy paragraphs, try to bear with it. I promise to get things rolling in the next chapter or two. Also. Sorry I haven't posted lately but I have been without internet, as such I have a hard time finding time to post let alone thank you or respond to your reviews. I assure you I will do both in the next chapter, so please review and all questions and comments are welcome. Thanks. Darkphoenix.
Sirius Black rolled over on his side trying to escape the cruel sunshine streaming through the window, which was ruining his one attempt at a lie in that he had had in ages. He smothered his face into his pillows. He was finally beginning to get used to sleeping in a bed, one with the comforts of sheets and pillows. He had spent so long on the floor of his filthy cell in Azkaban and then a while after that living on the run and sleeping in caves. It was a welcome relief to be staying with Remus Lupin and enjoying the finer things in life such as sleeping in human form, getting regular meals and having a shower at his disposal.
Sirius again shifted trying to find a comfortable position, finally just giving in and swinging his legs over the side of the bed preparing to face his day. He glanced at his reflection staring back at him from the floor mirror on the other side of the room. He hardly recognized himself. His reflection was finally beginning to look like the young man he had left behind so many years ago. Living with Mooney had turned out to be really good for Sirius. His skin was returning to a more natural shade, and his hair was finally neat and well groomed. The only thing that remained of the fugitive and prisoner he had been were his eyes. His eyes conveyed all too clearly that this man had lived through dark times and had a troubled mind, although lately his feelings of guilt had morphed into feelings of worry over what the future had in store, particularly where Harry was concerned.
It hadn't been long since the end of the Tri Wizard tournament when he'd had to leave his Godson yet again. Sirius had hated doing it, and the look on Harry's face despite his understanding tone had been heartbreaking, clearly Harry had really needed him, and yet again he hadn't been there. He knew that Harry must be suffering, he was the type to take things upon him and suffer for it, and it was killing Sirius that he couldn't go to Harry straight away. Of course he had written to Harry as often as possible, and Harry had always responded straight away, always assuring his godfather that he was fine. Sirius didn't buy it for a moment. Harry's letters gave away so little, and for him they were the only indicator he needed to know that his Godson was struggling at best. First of all Harry only wrote in response to him, never did he initiate contact anymore. And although his letters were cordial, they always lacked the playful tone that was uniquely Harry's. Sirius sighed as he finished getting dressed, his Godson was suffering, and his hands were tied.
"Sirius, you hungry?" Sirius had been so wrapped up in his thoughts that he hadn't heard Remus knock and then stick his head in the door.
"Yeah, I am coming."
"Why are you so melancholy?"
"No reason."
Remus followed his friend down the stairs, smiling knowingly at his back.
"Harry on your mind again huh?"
Sirius glared towards Remus as he began to pull the dishes from the shelves and place settings on the small kitchen table.
"Why do you insist on asking questions to which you already know the answer to?"
"It's a gift. He'll be alright you know."
"I hope so, I am just worried he's blaming himself, and he hasn't got anyone to either distract him or reassure him, I don't think those muggles he lives with are very understanding of magic or of Harry's situation."
Remus inwardly groaned. If Sirius knew how the muggles treated Harry he would hit the roof and do something stupid, it was probably best that Sirius think whatever he wanted to until Harry corrected him.
"What makes you think that Harry is blaming himself, he did nothing wrong, from what you told me he did some very remarkable not to mention selfless things at the end of the year, so where is this coming from?"
"Ron Weasley wrote to tell me that his mother and father had been completely informed on my situation, and he filled me in on what happened after I had left Hogwarts. He wasn't very clear, I don't think Harry knew he was writing to me, but the tone of the letter suggested that while Harry looked like he was handling things well, Ron and Hermione could tell he felt guilty and were worried how he would handle going back to the Dursleys, something along the lines of them not being supportive."
"You could be right, but maybe Harry isn't really berating himself over last year."
Sirius shook his head. "Moony, you were his professor for an entire year, you've been able to spend more time with him than I have for crying out loud. Can you honestly say that you think that Harry could so easily let go of the events of the past year? He can only deal with so much on his own."
Remus sighed, he knew just as well as Sirius did that Harry was struggling, but somebody had to play devils advocate for Sirius otherwise he was liable to go do something very stupid.
"Padfoot, lets give him a little credit and a little time, we have some things that we absolutely have to take care of right now for Dumbledore, but perhaps after we are finished I could discuss the possibility of Harry going over to the Weasley's sooner than expected and perhaps staying here for a day or two, the best you can do for now is to continue to write to him, he'll be alright."
"Alright. I just…"
"What?"
"It's just that I want to be there, I hardly know him, I don't know how he grew up, or what his first three years at Hogwarts were like, I just don't want to miss anymore. I already feel so attached to him Remus, he believed me, and protected me, it feels so wrong that I can't do the same for him. And now I am wondering what the Dursleys are like, I don't know anything about them, Lily never spoke of her sister, and I have a funny feeling about them by the way Ron spoke of them, what do you know?" Sirius eyed Remus suspiciously.
Remus didn't think it wise to tell Sirius all about Harry's relatives so he sidestepped. "Listen, you'll be here from now on, and I know Harry well enough to know that that means a great deal to him, he's never expected anything from you Sirius, trust me he understands why you can't always be there. As for the Dursleys I don't know too much either, but Dumbledore seems to think he is safe there, and his safety is first and foremost right?"
"Alright, alright no more lectures, lets just eat breakfast." Sirius said as he held his hands up as a symbol of defeat. He didn't mean to worry so much about Harry. He knew better than most that he could look out for himself.
Just as Sirius and Remus were finishing up with breakfast a small gray owl flew through the open window and deposited the latest edition of the Daily Prophet in front of Remus. Sirius stood and began to put the dishes in the sink.
"So are they still printing those fascinating stories about me?"
Remus snickered under his breath as he unfolded the paper, and then muttered a barely audible curse as he read the headlines.
"What, don't tell me that that fool Fudge has finally acknowledged Voldemort's return? Or better yet what is he trying to pin me for this week?" When Remus didn't laugh, or even make a sound Sirius turned to face him.
"Remus, what's wrong?" Sirius knew his friend well enough to know that something was really wrong, but when Remus didn't respond Sirius knew he wouldn't like whatever that rag had printed this time. He cautiously walked to Remus' shoulder to peer at the paper for himself, and what he read made his blood boil.
Harry Potter: The Boy Who Lived or the Boy Who Killed?
From your special correspondent Rita Skeeter comes the latest in a string of fascinating stories that Albus Dumbledore, the Headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry has attempted to keep hidden from the wizarding community. Several startling discoveries have been made this year about our once heroic boy who lived. He was once seemingly a young man who lost his parents at a young age, desperately yearning for a loving parental figure to step in and guide him. Unfortunately, that was not to be. He is reported to be living with his Aunt and Uncle in a muggle community, (this of course is due to the fact that his only legal wizard guardian is none other than the insane mass murder Sirius Black.)
It wasn't until this year however that several facts were discovered that cast a much more unfavorable light upon the boy who lived. He was discovered to be, by this very journalist, a parselmouth. The ability to talk to snakes is a trait that has been long associated with dark wizards, but if that isn't enough his mental stability has come under question as well. Several times during the last year Potter collapsed claiming to have passed out from the pain in his head, his scar to be exact.
It wasn't until the end of his last semester that Mr. Potter actually became dangerous, although he was widely accused of opening the chamber of secrets and letting loose a Basilisk on his classmates, a task that could only be performed by a parselmouth. Though no one died during that incident, times have changed. Mr. Potter entered himself as the fourth contestant in the famed tri wizard tournament this year and as we all know the tournament ended with disastrous results. While Potter was one of the favored contestants to win the tournament many feel that perhaps he used devious means to win the title in the end. A Mr. Cedric Diggory a loyal Hufflepuff seventh year was tied with Potter entering the last task, and somehow the Hogwarts champion was killed.
It is the opinion of many that Mr. Potter may have taken his need to feel accepted and recognized too far in competing in the competition, and is perhaps responsible for the death of a fellow classmate. Whether or not Mr. Potter was implicated in the untimely and gruesome death of his classmate remains to be seen. But this reporter would like to know why so many secrets were kept from public knowledge. Perhaps Dumbledore thinks the famed boy who lived is beyond the level of our law, but I for one would sleep better knowing that Mr. Potter was thoroughly investigated and properly punished for any crimes committed. With the fragile peace we have worked to build over the last several years it would be a shame to allow another dark lord to rise, and after all it must take some amount of power, perhaps dark power to block the infamous killing curse. Shouldn't our esteemed Minister work to counter any threat even if it means prosecuting the boy who lived. Until next time, Rita Skeeter.
"I do not believe the gall of that woman. How can the wizarding community allow her to continue to print this trash?" Sirius had exploded into a full-blown uproar upon finishing the article.
"How could anyone believe that Harry would be capable of killing, and to win a simple competition no less?"
"Sirius, you need to calm down, the real question here is what that woman is up to. You know as well as I do that she doesn't write without a purpose, and she never has shown support for the ministry before."
"You don't think she could be trying to get Harry brought up on charges do you?"
"It is very unlikely, but I think that it is possible that someone put her up to it, probably to disrupt Harry's credibility."
"But who would have anything to gain by throwing Harry to the wolves… unless, you don't think Fudge would use this to cover up Voldemort's return do you? Dumbledore did warn us that Fudge would be desperate enough to try something stupid."
"I don't know, but I think we should contact Dumbledore, just in case."
"Alright, but what about Harry?"
"What about him, he won't know that any of this is going on, and its best that we don't tell him, he doesn't need any more stress right now, and it could be that Rita is just being her normal insufferable self."
"And if she's not?"
"Then we will deal with it, the ministry won't be able to get to Harry without Albus knowing, and I don't think that he would allow them to take Harry in for questioning without an adult present. So for now lets just owl Dumbledore."
Cornelius Fudge placed the paper down on his office desk, a wicked smile spreading across his face. Rita Skeeter had done well. The woman really had absolutely no morals when it came to a good story, she'd print lies against her own family if it meant a news worthy article. Such ambitious allies were difficult to find, but not necessarily difficult to control and manipulate when the proper motivators were used. Fudge inwardly smiled again. At this rate the Potter problem would be solved rather quickly. Rita had managed to discredit him enough during his last school term and the Tri Wizard tournament that there was already a nice seedling of doubt and mistrust nestled in the minds of the wizarding public, Fudge merely had to cultivate it. The fact of the matter was, he'd already begun.
Fudge had learned early in his term how to appease the general public, a task not easily done after the terror and mistrust you-know-who's reign had caused, but if he intended to maintain his position, and be well accepted it had been an absolute necessity to learn how to quell rumors as well as how to start them. In the years he'd worked as minister he'd learned a few very useful universal truths. First of all, most people, especially the educated were difficult to control if you didn't understand implicitly what made their world turn. Rita for example was driven by power; power of the press had given her a rather high opinion of herself, which led to truth number two. People with high opinions of themselves or low opinions of others in respect to themselves were also easy to get around. The arrogant need only be fawned over and more often than not their inflated egos prevented them from seeing the true manipulations. Another group of people who were easily misdirected and often manipulated were the naïve. Fudge's new personal assistant was a perfect example if not an odd combination of naïveté and ambition. While Percy Weasley was intelligent, and certainly loyal to his family he desperately longed to be more successful than the rest of his family. Fudge even sensed a certain disdain for his father's lack of ambition in the ministry. Couple Percy's overwhelming drive to succeed with his blind faith in the ministry and the kid could be very easily misdirected. He still maintained the naïve belief that the ministry was everything good and ordered about the wizarding world, an idea Fudge was more than happy to help maintain, he could after all be an excellent source of information.
And finally while an individual can be difficult to control or convince, their power is relatively meaningless in comparison to what an angry mob can do, a mob of upset people could be devastating to a reputation, which was why Fudge was so careful about the rumors that filtered from the ministry to the public, while a mob could be a formidable opponent, it could be an even more formidable ally, an ally Fudge intended to utilize to the fullest. In fact he expected to begin receiving ample amounts of letters justifying action against Potter by tomorrow.
Fudge had been very busy while Rita had been writing. He'd been to pay his respect to the Diggory's. He well knew that if he had enough general support to go after Potter he could proceed, yet it would be better if the demand for justice came from a justified source. Amos and his wife had been hit hard by the loss of their son, and Fudge intended to exploit their pain. Parents as a whole were difficult to deal with, they were too damn proud of their kids, and more often than not their children did no wrong in their parents minds. They were the first to complain and the last to be satisfied, which is why Cornelius could never run Hogwarts. Parents however, did have one fatal weak spot, one point that if manipulated correctly could give Fudge all the power he'd ever need to neutralize Potter and perhaps Dumbledore as well. Parents were fiercely protective of their kids. Amos Diggory needed someone to blame for his son's death, someone he could go after, someone who could pay. He wasn't satisfied with Dumbledore's explanation; there was no justice in it, no real end. Fudge had to laugh, he'd been so easy to convince that their should be an investigation, Fudge had skillfully planted the right cues here and there, and by the time Fudge was ready to leave Amos was ranting and raving at him to investigate Potter. Now Rita was going to go interview him, bringing his thoughts public, and with a respected man such as Amos speaking out it would only be a matter of time before most of the rest of the Hogwarts parents were demanding the ministry insure their children's safety.
Fudge left the Ministry's building and apparated home. He fully expected to have to have a pile of letters demanding an investigation on his desk tomorrow morning, Diggory's part in the plan was just backup, justification. "By the end of the week Potter would have no credibility left, and Dumbledore will be under heavy scrutiny." Fudge mused. His position would be secure. He was already ready to move when the time came, a few officials were already looking into the event of the tournaments, his most trusted of course would be appointed to the review committee. Fudge was ready to act.
Two days later Sirius and Remus had still not heard back from the owl that they had sent Dumbledore. The papers had not printed another headlining story on the subject though there was a rather scathing interview done with Amos Diggory, where Amos proceeded to insist that the ministry needed to look into the matter so that he and his wife could find peace. The article was on the second page and nothing else had been printed since then, perhaps Rita had just run out of stories to tell. Yet Sirius was still a bit anxious about what Rita's intentions had been. So finally just to get Sirius to calm down and leave him alone, Remus decided that perhaps they should try to fire Dumbledore and speak with him directly. Remus strode over to the fire place where Sirius was waiting for him and threw some dust into the flames and called out, "Albus Dumbledore please."
It was a while before there was any response, and when there was finally someone staring back at them it was Minerva McGonagall.
"Sirius, Remus, what can I do for you?"
"Well we were trying to get a hold of Professor Dumbledore, is he out?"
"I am afraid he's out of the country on business, he probably will not be back until the end of the week. Why, is there a problem?"
Remus quickly answered before Sirius had the opportunity to begin ranting. "We aren't sure. Have you read the Daily Prophet recently?"
"Yes, are you concerned about what that ridiculous woman wrote about Harry?"
"Somewhat curious as to her motives would be a better statement, we're concerned she may be maneuvering for something, do you know how to contact Albus?"
"You can send an owl, though it may take a while. I don't think this is anything to worry about Rita's been nastier than usual this past year, especially where Harry is concerned."
Before Remus could answer Sirius had spoken up, "We know but most of what she had written up until the third task had been mostly harmless rumors, then she wrote that piece about him being dangerous and now she's written about him again, only this time she is far more suggestive. She's going out on a limb calling for an investigation that would implement Harry in murder, it is all well and good to claim he's dangerous, but to try to prove it is taking a risk that isn't Rita's style. So why do it?"
"I don't know, but it could be nothing, I'll let you know when Albus returns I am sure he will have some insight for us, unless there is something else gentlemen I must return to work."
"Certainly, thank you for your time Minerva." Remus quickly answered before Sirius could push the issue any further. With a quick nod Minerva was gone and Remus' living room was quiet again.
"Well I guess we wait, I am going to write Harry, see how he's doing. He hasn't written back from my last letter yet." Remus eyed Sirius as he retrieved some parchment and a quill.
"Sirius don't say anything to upset him, he doesn't need to know anything until we do, right?"
"Of course, I am not that thick you know. But I do want to try to write to him as much as possible, if that's the only way that I can be there than I am going to do it as much as possible, or at least until he starts sending me owls telling me to stop being such and overprotective ninny." Remus had to smile at that last statement.
"Well at least you are aware of it."
"Very funny."