Revelations
"Harry, The Headmaster wishes to see you in his office, the password's 'canary creams'" Professor McGonagall said as Harry entered the Transfiguration class.
Harry rolled his eyes wondering what he had done now. It had only been a few months since he was sat in Dumbledore's office after the death of his Godfather Sirius and he wondered why he had to see him.
"Canary cream's" Harry mumbled as he approached the stone gargoyle. It sprung aside and Harry mounted the stairs, each step filling him with a mixture of wonder and fear. He only ever seemed to be in this office when it was bad news.
"Take a seat Harry" Dumbledore's voice broke into his thoughts. Harry reluctantly sat down on the nearest chair. Immediately hot chocolate appeared on a tray in front of Dumbledore. Passing a cup to Harry Dumbledore blue eyes clouded. It was rare for the wizard to show his emotions, and it made Harry feel worried.
Harry shifted uncomfortably in his seat.
"Are you okay Professor?"
Dumbledore sipped his hot chocolate then looked at Harry straight in the eyes.
"I know this summer wasn't easy Harry. You were looking forward to living with Sirius and that was snatched cruelly from you. I know you began cutting yourself in the holidays.."
"How did you...?" Harry gasped.
"We shall discuss that later. Harry, the news I bring is not bad, but I fear that you may not take this well. I think it is best that I explain once you have seen this."
The fireplace in Dumbledore's room crackled, as a figure entered via Floo. The figure landed on his feet, much like Sirius used to, Harry remembered. Pain ran through his body as he remembered his departed Godfather. After losing his parents Sirius had been his only parent figure, now he was gone Harry felt more alone than ever. Memories flooded back into his mind as he remembered watching his Godfather die. The mysterious figure, with his back to Harry looked at Dumbledore, waiting for permission from the old wizard to turn around. Dumbledore nodded and the figure slowly turned, removing the hood that covered his head.
"Sirius? No it can't be. Your dead, I watched you die. You fell through the veil. Dumbledore? Is this? No. You would have told me! You knew how badly I was hurting, you wouldn't have let me go through the summer I've had!" Harry's emotions raged and he stood up, wanting to escape from this sick joke. His godfather was dead, he'd just dealt with it, and he'd just picked up the pieces of his broken heart and glued them back together. He'd just learnt how to survive without his Godfather.
Harry's world began to spin, his already exhausted mind unable to take in what stood before him. Sirius. It couldn't be. He was dead. He had watched his godfathers face disappear through the veil never to be seen again. He watched that handsome marauder's face disappear. Sirius death had replayed through his head until he had finally learnt how to block it out. This could not be happening. Harry's legs began to wobble, as though the bones had turned to jelly. The last thing he saw was Fawkes flying over towards him as his world turned black and his head rushed to meet his feet.
Several moments later, Harry came round. His vision was still blurry and he found that he was led on the couch, by the window. He slowly pushed himself to a sitting position, looking stunned and confused. "Accio glasses" Harry muttered wand in hand, and his glasses flew into his spare hand. He placed them on his nose before turning his attention to the two figures sat opposite sides of Dumbledore's desk. The old man eyes seemed to be twinkling in a way Harry had rarely seen them twinkling.
"Yes Harry, it is Sirius. I'm sorry that you had to find it out this way, but I made an error of judgement, it was the mistake of an old man. I thought you would handle it better if you saw Sirius first and heard what he had to say. I did not realise it would put such a strain on you." Dumbledore got up from his seat and walked towards Harry, handing him the cup of hot chocolate he had previously started. Harry gingerly took the cup, and took a sip. Instantly energy rushed through Harry and the reality of the situation came back to him. He jumped up from the couch.
"You evil, stupid, lying BASTARD! How could you do this to me? How could you stand there at the end of last term and tell me that he was dead! How could you make me spend this summer with the Dursleys? You know how much they despise me! But you don't care do you, as long as I was out the way! And how could you do this to me Sirius...we were meant to spend the summer together! But didn't that matter to you?!" Harry ran for the door and reached for the handle. It was locked. "Let me out!"
Dumbledore looked fondly over his half-moon spectacles. "No, not until you hear what Sirius has to say!"
"I don't care what he has to say, or what you have to say. I don't care, not after what you've done to me! I hate you! I HATE YOU!" Harry exploded into tears, the pain that had been living inside him escaping him, breaking through his wards like a river breaking through a dam.
"Child, you need to listen to your godfather. You have every right to hate us, perhaps we should have told you sooner. But Sirius had his own reasons for not telling you, and I felt that it was up to him when you learnt this news"
"Go on then," Harry said, stubbornly taking the seat Dumbledore had transfigured next to the desk.
"Albus, maybe you should explain..." Sirius began
"Nonsense Sirius"
"Harry, Dumbledore did not know that I was alive until nearly the end of August. I did not know that you thought I was dead. I was confused when Albus and Severus found me."
Harry looked confused and Sirius realised he had not chosen the best place to begin.
"Sorry, I'll start from the beginning. Whilst you were at Hogwarts, Kreacher began to get funny. I mean funnier than normal. He started leaving the house a lot and I thought one day that I saw him at the end of the road. I left the house, not thinking to use my Animagus form, and when I arrived at the end of the road I was cursed. I was unable to move and I was dragged away. I was taken to a location that I do not know, and Kreacher would come and feed me. The food was stale and only just enough to keep me alive. After many weeks of this Kreacher did not visit for many weeks, then when he did, the curse was lifted, I was able to move, but was very weak. I couldn't even transform. I was hit with the Crutacious curse several times and then I blacked out. The next thing I remember I was staring into the face of Albus, in the attic of Grimmauld Place."
Harry took a few minutes to accept all this information. His brain was buzzing with many questions. Who did Harry see die then? Why were Snape & Dumbledore in the attic? Were they looking for Sirius will? Harry never realised that there were a pair of blue eyes watching him as he thought through these questions. Harry's thoughts flicked to Kreacher. Hermione had told them to be nice to the house elf! And now look what he had done. Ok, so Kreacher could have been treated nicer... but that did not justify what Kreacher had done.
Dumbledore read Harry's mind, for the first time, trying to understand the emotions this boy was feeling. Sirius stared at Dumbledore, unable to tell anymore of the story. He wished Harry would talk, say something, anything. Abuse he could take, silence he couldn't.
"Harry, the Sirius you saw die was a Death Eater, using Poly-Juice potion. Kreacher rescued Sirius from the attic of the Malfoy's house. He took him back to the attic and we found him there. We were clearing through the house, as we thought the memories would be too hard for a grieving child to deal with. We were, to say the least, surprised when we found Sirius. Severus immediately helped Sirius into a room, and stayed with Sirius until he regained his strength. That's what he was doing there the day that you arrived. He was, amused by your duelling skills, but he never meant to hurt you, he didn't want you to see Sirius in the state that he was in. Kreacher is being punished for his actions, and he knows he has serious consequences to pay. We believe he may have been possessed by Voldermort."
Harry looked at Sirius, tears running down his face.
"I thought you'd died." He said, flinging his arms around Sirius neck, breathing in his smell. How he had missed the familiar scent of his Godfather. Sirius embraced him back, relieved that the 16 year old he had so fondly watched grow up, and understood that he had not done this to hurt him.
Harry and Sirius basked in each other's presence for a moment, forgetting the presence of Dumbledore for a while. Dumbledore's blue eyes twinkled with joy, as a tear escaped his eye.
There was a loud pop as Dobby the house elf appeared. Sirius and Harry broke away from each other, and Harry re took his seat.
"Dobby can you ask Remus and Severus to come to my office please, and we will require some nibbles too."
"May I go now professor?" Harry enquired. He was excited about telling Ron and Hermione the news. He couldn't wait to see their reactions, knowing that they would both be as overjoyed as he was. Sirius death had hit them hard too; they had known Sirius...more fondly as Snuffles...since they had first met him in their third year.
"Not yet I'm afraid Harry. We have some more news for you...only you may be a little more...prepared for this than anyone else." Dumbledore's eyes twinkled again, and inside a part of Harry stirred.
Lupin and Snape entered the office together, both looking confused.
"You asked to see us Albus?" Lupin inquired.
"Yes, I have an important revelation to do with Harry that directly effects you." Harry gulped. He wasn't so sure he was going to like this news either.
Sirius snickered; he knew what was coming next and hid his grin behind his long black hair. Severus wasn't half in for a surprise.
"Harry, The Headmaster wishes to see you in his office, the password's 'canary creams'" Professor McGonagall said as Harry entered the Transfiguration class.
Harry rolled his eyes wondering what he had done now. It had only been a few months since he was sat in Dumbledore's office after the death of his Godfather Sirius and he wondered why he had to see him.
"Canary cream's" Harry mumbled as he approached the stone gargoyle. It sprung aside and Harry mounted the stairs, each step filling him with a mixture of wonder and fear. He only ever seemed to be in this office when it was bad news.
"Take a seat Harry" Dumbledore's voice broke into his thoughts. Harry reluctantly sat down on the nearest chair. Immediately hot chocolate appeared on a tray in front of Dumbledore. Passing a cup to Harry Dumbledore blue eyes clouded. It was rare for the wizard to show his emotions, and it made Harry feel worried.
Harry shifted uncomfortably in his seat.
"Are you okay Professor?"
Dumbledore sipped his hot chocolate then looked at Harry straight in the eyes.
"I know this summer wasn't easy Harry. You were looking forward to living with Sirius and that was snatched cruelly from you. I know you began cutting yourself in the holidays.."
"How did you...?" Harry gasped.
"We shall discuss that later. Harry, the news I bring is not bad, but I fear that you may not take this well. I think it is best that I explain once you have seen this."
The fireplace in Dumbledore's room crackled, as a figure entered via Floo. The figure landed on his feet, much like Sirius used to, Harry remembered. Pain ran through his body as he remembered his departed Godfather. After losing his parents Sirius had been his only parent figure, now he was gone Harry felt more alone than ever. Memories flooded back into his mind as he remembered watching his Godfather die. The mysterious figure, with his back to Harry looked at Dumbledore, waiting for permission from the old wizard to turn around. Dumbledore nodded and the figure slowly turned, removing the hood that covered his head.
"Sirius? No it can't be. Your dead, I watched you die. You fell through the veil. Dumbledore? Is this? No. You would have told me! You knew how badly I was hurting, you wouldn't have let me go through the summer I've had!" Harry's emotions raged and he stood up, wanting to escape from this sick joke. His godfather was dead, he'd just dealt with it, and he'd just picked up the pieces of his broken heart and glued them back together. He'd just learnt how to survive without his Godfather.
Harry's world began to spin, his already exhausted mind unable to take in what stood before him. Sirius. It couldn't be. He was dead. He had watched his godfathers face disappear through the veil never to be seen again. He watched that handsome marauder's face disappear. Sirius death had replayed through his head until he had finally learnt how to block it out. This could not be happening. Harry's legs began to wobble, as though the bones had turned to jelly. The last thing he saw was Fawkes flying over towards him as his world turned black and his head rushed to meet his feet.
Several moments later, Harry came round. His vision was still blurry and he found that he was led on the couch, by the window. He slowly pushed himself to a sitting position, looking stunned and confused. "Accio glasses" Harry muttered wand in hand, and his glasses flew into his spare hand. He placed them on his nose before turning his attention to the two figures sat opposite sides of Dumbledore's desk. The old man eyes seemed to be twinkling in a way Harry had rarely seen them twinkling.
"Yes Harry, it is Sirius. I'm sorry that you had to find it out this way, but I made an error of judgement, it was the mistake of an old man. I thought you would handle it better if you saw Sirius first and heard what he had to say. I did not realise it would put such a strain on you." Dumbledore got up from his seat and walked towards Harry, handing him the cup of hot chocolate he had previously started. Harry gingerly took the cup, and took a sip. Instantly energy rushed through Harry and the reality of the situation came back to him. He jumped up from the couch.
"You evil, stupid, lying BASTARD! How could you do this to me? How could you stand there at the end of last term and tell me that he was dead! How could you make me spend this summer with the Dursleys? You know how much they despise me! But you don't care do you, as long as I was out the way! And how could you do this to me Sirius...we were meant to spend the summer together! But didn't that matter to you?!" Harry ran for the door and reached for the handle. It was locked. "Let me out!"
Dumbledore looked fondly over his half-moon spectacles. "No, not until you hear what Sirius has to say!"
"I don't care what he has to say, or what you have to say. I don't care, not after what you've done to me! I hate you! I HATE YOU!" Harry exploded into tears, the pain that had been living inside him escaping him, breaking through his wards like a river breaking through a dam.
"Child, you need to listen to your godfather. You have every right to hate us, perhaps we should have told you sooner. But Sirius had his own reasons for not telling you, and I felt that it was up to him when you learnt this news"
"Go on then," Harry said, stubbornly taking the seat Dumbledore had transfigured next to the desk.
"Albus, maybe you should explain..." Sirius began
"Nonsense Sirius"
"Harry, Dumbledore did not know that I was alive until nearly the end of August. I did not know that you thought I was dead. I was confused when Albus and Severus found me."
Harry looked confused and Sirius realised he had not chosen the best place to begin.
"Sorry, I'll start from the beginning. Whilst you were at Hogwarts, Kreacher began to get funny. I mean funnier than normal. He started leaving the house a lot and I thought one day that I saw him at the end of the road. I left the house, not thinking to use my Animagus form, and when I arrived at the end of the road I was cursed. I was unable to move and I was dragged away. I was taken to a location that I do not know, and Kreacher would come and feed me. The food was stale and only just enough to keep me alive. After many weeks of this Kreacher did not visit for many weeks, then when he did, the curse was lifted, I was able to move, but was very weak. I couldn't even transform. I was hit with the Crutacious curse several times and then I blacked out. The next thing I remember I was staring into the face of Albus, in the attic of Grimmauld Place."
Harry took a few minutes to accept all this information. His brain was buzzing with many questions. Who did Harry see die then? Why were Snape & Dumbledore in the attic? Were they looking for Sirius will? Harry never realised that there were a pair of blue eyes watching him as he thought through these questions. Harry's thoughts flicked to Kreacher. Hermione had told them to be nice to the house elf! And now look what he had done. Ok, so Kreacher could have been treated nicer... but that did not justify what Kreacher had done.
Dumbledore read Harry's mind, for the first time, trying to understand the emotions this boy was feeling. Sirius stared at Dumbledore, unable to tell anymore of the story. He wished Harry would talk, say something, anything. Abuse he could take, silence he couldn't.
"Harry, the Sirius you saw die was a Death Eater, using Poly-Juice potion. Kreacher rescued Sirius from the attic of the Malfoy's house. He took him back to the attic and we found him there. We were clearing through the house, as we thought the memories would be too hard for a grieving child to deal with. We were, to say the least, surprised when we found Sirius. Severus immediately helped Sirius into a room, and stayed with Sirius until he regained his strength. That's what he was doing there the day that you arrived. He was, amused by your duelling skills, but he never meant to hurt you, he didn't want you to see Sirius in the state that he was in. Kreacher is being punished for his actions, and he knows he has serious consequences to pay. We believe he may have been possessed by Voldermort."
Harry looked at Sirius, tears running down his face.
"I thought you'd died." He said, flinging his arms around Sirius neck, breathing in his smell. How he had missed the familiar scent of his Godfather. Sirius embraced him back, relieved that the 16 year old he had so fondly watched grow up, and understood that he had not done this to hurt him.
Harry and Sirius basked in each other's presence for a moment, forgetting the presence of Dumbledore for a while. Dumbledore's blue eyes twinkled with joy, as a tear escaped his eye.
There was a loud pop as Dobby the house elf appeared. Sirius and Harry broke away from each other, and Harry re took his seat.
"Dobby can you ask Remus and Severus to come to my office please, and we will require some nibbles too."
"May I go now professor?" Harry enquired. He was excited about telling Ron and Hermione the news. He couldn't wait to see their reactions, knowing that they would both be as overjoyed as he was. Sirius death had hit them hard too; they had known Sirius...more fondly as Snuffles...since they had first met him in their third year.
"Not yet I'm afraid Harry. We have some more news for you...only you may be a little more...prepared for this than anyone else." Dumbledore's eyes twinkled again, and inside a part of Harry stirred.
Lupin and Snape entered the office together, both looking confused.
"You asked to see us Albus?" Lupin inquired.
"Yes, I have an important revelation to do with Harry that directly effects you." Harry gulped. He wasn't so sure he was going to like this news either.
Sirius snickered; he knew what was coming next and hid his grin behind his long black hair. Severus wasn't half in for a surprise.