DISCLAIMER: I do not own Harry Potter, he belongs to J.K Rowling and if you are reading this and think any different then St. Mungo's should be your next port of call.

Chapter dedicated to Jeanne2 and Yana5 for their support and review of every chapter since the story has started, you don't know how much it means to me.

Chapter 22: Try Honesty

October 4th 1991

"They're awake."

These words reverberated through Harry's ears several times before he felt he could move. Suddenly he felt very small again, he was going to see Sirius and Remus again and they were all right. His breath hitched in his throat as he visibly calmed himself, on the inside however he was a crescendo of emotions.

Opening his mouth, he simply replied; "Let's go then."

With a nod from Dumbledore as simple conformation of his statement, Harry watched as the Headmaster waved his hand and suddenly Harry knew he was invisible even if he could just about make out him. "Of course!" Harry thought to himself, "He wouldn't announce himself by walking through the Common Room; even Professor McGonagall rarely comes in downstairs let alone the dorms."

Walking down the stairs in front of Dumbledore, Harry walked his way stealthily to the exit, not wanting to get in to any conversations or worse confrontations. Being Harry Potter however, nothing seemed to go as he planned.

He was so close to the exit, only ten or so steps away when he heard the voice he had become to hate with a passion, a voice that seemed to follow him around every day, a voice that never had anything good to say, the voice of Ron Weasley.

"Where are you going Potter?" Ron spat as if saying his name was a sin, "It's close to curfew but I suppose that doesn't matter to the Great Harry Potter. Going to learn some more Dark Magic are you. Actually I hope you do as you'll probably lead the Aurors to your two criminal buddies, Black and Lupin and we all know that so many Dementors want to give them a little kiss, I even heard they were fighting each other over who gets the pleasure!" Ron laughed crazily as if he had just said the funniest thing ever.

Fuming, Harry repressed his magic and simply said, "Goodbye Ron."

Turning round and taking another couple of steps, Harry froze dead in his tracks when he heard what Ron had to say next, his body shaking more and more with every word that the boy said.

"You're a disgrace, Potter. It's lucky your parents are dead; otherwise they would have been ashamed of you. You think you are so special, you're nothing but a junior Death Eater whose parents are turning in their graves!" Ron screamed in Harry's face as the whole Common Room fell silent with the unbelievable words Ron had just said. They might not have liked Harry and some hated him but to say that was beyond the line.

Harry felt like he was suffocating, "Were his parents ashamed of him?" he thought briefly before dismissing the notion as he knew the truth about his live and the events around it. Then he felt it, white hot hate in his very core, he couldn't suppress it. Harry vaguely felt Dumbledore casting silent Calming Charms on him but it was to no avail.

Turning to look at Ron, the boy took three steps back at the deadly look in Harry's emerald eyes. Harry had his wand in his hand in a blur but before he could use it, he felt a massive vice like grip take hold of him and make him walk the last through steps out of the portrait hole. Turning to look back at Ron, Harry told the boy in a voice that promised revenge.

"Enjoy your body Weasley as when we finish this, you will never have full control over it again!"

Dumbledore had to literally throw him out in to the corridor where the first thing Harry did was let out his magic, two suits of armour were vaporized as bolts of Core Magic ripped through them. Slamming his hands on the wall, Harry barely noticed that he had made huge dents in the stone. Tears of anger, frustration and helplessness streaming down his face, Harry felt the comforting hand of Dumbledore on his shoulder.

Looking up at the man, Harry realised the reason why so many people feared Dumbledore. The look on the face of the Headmaster made Harry's one a minute previous seem like a smile. Power and Authority was rolling off of him in waves, Dumbledore removed his hand from Harry's shoulder and with a gentle wait here, the Headmaster strode into the Gryffindor Common Room.

A few minutes later the Headmaster exited, a grim look on his face as punishing students was what he felt to be the worst part of his job. Giving Harry a sad nod, the pair made there way in depressed silence. Harry had later found out that not only had Ron been reprimanded in front of the whole of Gryffindor House but he was also giving nightly detention with Snape for three months. To rub salt into the wounds, Dumbledore had also promised to speak to his parents about the matter.

The walk to the Hospital Wing was done in complete silence as if Harry and Dumbledore were heading to a funeral but both were too caught up in their thoughts to think about the situation ahead of them. Harry was in turmoil not knowing whether his parents would have approved of the life he has led while Dumbledore was thinking about the power Harry had and also how despite all his years, he had no meaningful words of comfort to offer to the boy.

Upon entering the Hospital Wing though it was like a vacuum had sucked up all the bad thoughts that he was having. Seeing Remus and Sirius awake and talking was enough to forget all the things that Ron had said…for now.

Flinging himself at Sirius who was closest, Harry started mumbling, "I am so glad your fine, you looked dead, then Remus collapsed, what happened?

"Whoa little one!" Sirius exclaimed returning his godson's hug with vigour, "Nothing much. I just happened to get into a duel with Voldemort, nothing big really."

At this statement, Dumbledore couldn't hold back from the conversation much longer, he stepped out of the shadows and said in a voice that sounded amused yet stern at the same time: "Then I'm sure you and Mr. Lupin must have an interesting story to tell, I would love to hear it."

Harry was in the process of hugging Remus when Dumbledore said this and Harry felt the werewolf stiffen. Wanting to calm the pair down and to quell their fears, Harry said.

"Don't worry, Professor Dumbledore here was the one that saved you guys, he brought you up here and notified me when Fudge and his Aurors arrived."

At this statement the pair visibly relaxed and Harry had to only wait a few seconds before Dumbledore gently reprimanded him for lack of respect to the Minister. A small smile graced Harry's face as he saw Sirius and Remus looking at him lovingly; it really had been far too long since they had seen each other, considering that they had never been apart for barely a day, let alone over a month.

Sirius, ever the impatient Marauder broke the silence, "So, what happens from here Albus? What do you want from us?" he asked quietly, questioning whether he really wanted to know the answer.

Dumbledore did not answer the question immediately; he instead seemed deep in thought. Finally he sighed, looking much older than normal and answered, "I need the truth, the full truth and then we can see what happens from there."

Sirius and Remus looked at each other for a moment, looking like they were communicating telepathically before Remus spoke, "You will get the full truth but Albus we need you to promise on thing: If anything ever happens to us while Harry is still a minor, please make sure that he is looked after" The werewolf's tone was full of love and fear for his young cub.

Dumbledore answered quickly, "You have my word gentlemen." He said in a tone full of respect and understanding.

Nodding his head, Sirius and Remus began alternately telling their story with Harry eager to help in the parts that he knew about. They spoke for hours, Dumbledore wanting to know everything while Sirius and Remus were thankful for someone listening, all past grudges gone as the three of them went on to discussing the threat tat a newly risen Voldemort possessed. Harry was shocked at hearing what had happened to Sirius ad Remus after he had gone to Hogwarts and also a little guilty that Sirius and Remus had to wait till he was old enough before they started to fight for their innocence. Sirius must have seen Harry's face change and pulled his godson into his arms.

After asking every question they could think of, Dumbledore was in tears at the torment he had put two innocent men and by extension Harry. He apologised profusely and there was a time that Remus and Sirius would have blasted the old man into the wall for even making such a lame gesture after all the pain he had put them through but times had changed and so had the priorities of all the men in the room. Sirius and Remus learned an important thing that many a great light wizard in recent years has forgotten: Albus Dumbledore is not infallible.

Emotions were running high but they were brought crashing back down to Earth when Remus, the ever sensible one, brought up the topic of the Ministry. It was then Harry's turn to tell his story of all his meetings with the Ministry. After telling them all about it, Sirius fumed, and then seemed really proud before acting all worried about his young charge. Remus meanwhile snickered at how Sirius was reacting but was looking at Harry through sad eyes, seeing for the first time just how much his life has been affected through no fault of his own.

A comfortable silence lapsing in, Dumbledore was interrupted by Professor McGonagall who burst through the doors looking very angry and flustered, something that even Sirius and Remus had never seen let alone Harry. Approaching Professor Dumbledore, the Professor opened her mouth to speak but upon catching a glimpse of Remus and Sirius sitting up in bed she lost whatever words were on her lips.

"What Minerva, what troubles you?" Dumbledore asked with an unmistakable tone of urgency to his voice, knowing that it takes a lot to get his Deputy that way.

"Albus, it's the Minister. He's here with three whole squads of Aurors; he says that he has evidence to believe that you have Black and Lupin within the building. Even worse than that, he says that he wants to take Harry to the Ministry for questioning!" McGonagall exclaimed clearly worried about the safety of her young Gryffindor.

Albus gave no visible sign that the words of his Deputy affected him, he just sat there, stoic as ever before answering, "Cornelius has taken the route I feared. The hysteria of your reappearance has just made him eager to sate the publics demand. I must go speak to our Minister. Do not leave this room until I return. That is of great importance, do you understand."

With that statement hanging in the air, Dumbledore strode from the room with determined strides followed by a confused McGonagall. An oppressive silence filled the Headmasters exit, all attempts at small talk ended quickly until Harry spoke up with a question that shocked Sirius and Remus.

"Padfoot, Moony, would my parents be ashamed of me?" Harry asked in a pained tone, emotion dripping from his voice.

"Of course not Harry, your parents loved you very much and always will. What made you ask that?" Remus asked concerned about the look on Harry's face.

"It's just someone said that my parents would be ashamed of the way I am now, being bought up with you two. He said that I was basically a junior Death Eater." Harry replied bluntly.

Jumping to his feet, Sirius al but shouted, "I've never heard of such rubbish Harry. We aren't evil, your parents loved you and so do we. You, Remus and I or your parents for that matter have nothing to be ashamed about. If anything they would be proud of the boy you have grown to be, so forget all this nonsense."

As Sirius wrapped his arms around him, Harry felt so much better hearing the words from his Godfathers mouth and his fears about his parents being ashamed melted away.

His Godfathers voice snapped Harry out of his daze when he asked:

"So what fool put this ideas into your head?" Sirius's angry tone implied that he was not happy in the slightest with the person who upset his precious godson.

Before Harry was able to answer his Godfather however, Dumbledore re-entered the ward frankly looking very worried. Wasting no time in preamble, the Headmaster cut straight to the point.

"Cornelius was beyond the point of reason, I'm sorry. He is on his way up here now with a whole division of Aurors. We must get you all to safety, even you Harry. Cornelius believes that you are helping Sirius and Remus with their "schemes"." Dumbledore gravely announced not looking happy in the slightest.

"Where are we to go though, I'm pretty sure that the cottage has been discovered by the Death Eaters. We can't just wander around the country!" Sirius exclaimed not bothering to think before speaking.

"The Shack!" Remus answered cryptically all of a sudden, Sirius looking at him like he was crazy. "The Shrieking Shack" Remus elaborated giving Sirius a "you really are stupid" look.

"Perfect" Dumbledore announced before looking pensive. "You must go now, Cornelius nears. God speed and take these now. I'll be in touch."

Dumbledore then handed Remus and Sirius a potion each that Harry identified as some type of Energy Potion though he wasn't a hundred per cent sure.

Taking the potion quickly, Sirius and Remus felt much more energised and drawing their wands, the trio left the Hospital Wing behind Dumbledore who said that he was going to delay the Minister for as long as possible.

The trio crept through the corridors, taking as many secret passages and unused corridors as possible. Harry was thankful that the Marauders knew the castle so well. Suddenly, as they ducked behind a passage Harry spoke up:

"Why don't we cast Invisibility Spells on ourselves. That's how I hid you two first time round." Harry asked as if they were all the dumbest people in the world.

"Harry, hiding a non-moving object is much easier than trying to make a moving person invisible. At a push Sirius and I might just be able to accomplish it but it would leave us terribly drained and unable to defend ourselves." Remus explained kindly, his quiet voice echoing in the passage.

Through amazing luck the three made it to the Entrance Hall without any problem. The Entrance Hall was currently empty so the trio made a dash for the doors. Getting to the doors without being seen, the trio sped out onto the lawns and hopefully freedom.

Alas, it was not to be. Like a person on the edge of dying, being told they were to live only to be then told that they would in fact die, Sirius, Remus and Harry had the luck of running into a group of ten Aurors who obviously were patrolling the grounds.

Reacting quickest, Sirius sent an Explosion Hex at the group of Aurors sending some diving for cover, Sirius turned to Remus and Harry.

"Go now, Remus take Harry and get to safety, I'll meet you there later. Don't look back, run please." Sirius said quickly, tears filling his eyes.

Remus was about to object before taking one last look at his oldest friend. Nodding his head slightly, Remus mumbled something to Harry before the pair took off for the Whomping Willow while by now all the Aurors were standing, wands pointing at Sirius who had gone into a defensive stance. Stalling for a plan, Sirius got an idea. Donning his most evil smirk that sent a chill of fear running through some of the more new Aurors, Sirius let his aura show before announcing in a tone that made the Aurors quiver:

"So, who here wants to challenge a Dark Lord?"

Then he raised his wand

AN

Now that's a better speed!

I have another new short story posted. It's very near completion and should be entirely finished by the time YHSR 23 is published. It's called Strength in Sacrifice and the first chapter is up now!

Let me just re-assure you readers, I AM NOT giving up on this story, however I think that this will be my only novel length story for a while, I'm more into short stories at the moment.

OH and for all of you who are intrigued or want to use some of the types of magic that I have used in my stories, I have posted a little document/essay called Magic, it should answer some questions.

REVIEWER RESPONCES

Araidel: Nice imagery! Just for you, in one of the remaining chapters I will put in something that you may well need a pack of calming pills for!

AKA Hummer: I know what you mean about stories, I have over 150 on three different accounts, and it's hard to remember which is which sometimes especially if they are not the best ones.

Blackstar9: Sorry, No Philosophers Stone storyline in this, if you want them I can recommend you a couple, just drop me a mail and that goes for any reader wanting a story recommendation!

the-grey-lord-of-disorder: as above, mail me with what category and I will help out.

Brenna8: Harry isn't anywhere near the level of Dumbledore or even Sirius or Remus…yet? I actually did put in a line that said Dumbledore put his hand on Harry's shoulder and he felt a lot better and energised otherwise yes he would have collapsed.

Shadowed Rains: Finally, someone who understands, but tell me this, have you ever worked out why because I haven't.

Mafioso: I don't find your review annoying at all, in fact I prefer them as they help me become a better writer. About being wordy, I think that this may be because I don't like to be repetitive in my statements whenever possible. Sorry Ron isn't my favourite character but I like Gryffindors and I am not in love with Neville but this is the way it's to be for the story to work. You will hate the way I've portrayed Ron in this chapter but I'll do you a deal, you keep reading and I'll have Ron apologise and make up with Harry slightly at the end. Harry is in for a fall pretty soon, that all's I say but he will recover but he won't be the "hero", my lips are now buttoned.

Cheers

Halstead