Truths
By Neurotica
Twenty-Two
Arrangements had been made by Sirius to accompany Dumbledore and Moody to his childhood home just two days before the next full moon. Sirius was understandably reluctant to reenter the home he had not set foot in since he was sixteen years old.
Number Twelve, Grimmauld Place had not changed a bit since the last time Sirius had seen it. It was still dark and musty with a feeling of growing imprisonment in its walls. Dust had built up over time giving Sirius the thought that he was the first Black to see the floors since his dear mother had died.
"Looks empty," Moody growled, his magical eye spinning in all directions.
"That's creepy, Mad-Eye. You do know that, right?" Sirius said, watching the electric blue eye spin. It was starting to make him nauseous.
"Shut it, Black," Moody retorted quietly.
Sirius sighed and looked around the house. "Check the basement kitchen. There's a boiler cupboard down there where the old house-elf lives."
Moody's eye pointed down and began to move again. "Yeah, he's there."
"Is he alive?"
"Yeah."
"Damn," Sirius muttered.
Dumbledore studied their surroundings in interest. "With a bit of sprucing up, I believe this will suit our needs just fine," he said cheerfully
"Mmm," Sirius grunted. He really didn't want to be there again.
Dumbledore started down the hallway and stopped abruptly when a shrill piercing cry invaded their ears.
"HOW DARE YOU ENTER THE HOUSE OF MY FOREFATHERS!" cried Sirius' mother in her portrait. Her eyes spun around the hall and she spotted Sirius.
"YOU!" she hissed. "FILTH! ABOMINATION OF MY FLESH!"
"Shut up, you old hag!" Sirius yelled back. He brandished his wand and attempted to silence the portrait.
It didn't work.
"—BREAKING INTO MY HOME! BLOOD TRAITOR! MURDERER!"
They tried stunning the portrait. The mad woman still howled in fury.
"ABANDONER OF YOUR FAMILY! MUDBLOOD LOVER! FILTHY GRYFFINDOR!"
Moody searched furiously for something to silence the portrait. Finally, he tore off a moth-eaten curtain from a nearby window, and with the help of Dumbledore and Sirius, covered Mrs. Black's portrait, thus, silencing her.
The three wizards stood against the wall, panting for breath.
"Lovely woman, Walburga Black," Dumbledore said dryly.
"Wasn't much better in the flesh, I can assure you," Sirius said, panting.
"Kreacher wonders who has awoken his mistress. Kreacher hears Mistress' screams from his cupboard," said a croaking voice from behind the three wizards.
Sirius spun around and faced a thing just as bad as his mother: his mother's old house-elf.
"Kreacher," Sirius said coldly.
Kreacher looked up and his eyes widened. "Master has returned. But Master is with others. Who are they, Kreacher wonders."
Dumbledore crossed to the house-elf slowly. "Hello, Kreacher. I am Albus Dumbledore. This is Alastor Moody," he gestured to the scarred figure next to him, "and I am certain you already know Sirius."
"Kreacher wonders why the senile old coot is speaking to Kreacher as if he is Kreacher's friend," the house-elf muttered.
Dumbledore raised his eyebrows, but Sirius spoke first. "Watch what you say, Kreacher, or you'll be on that bloody wall sooner than you think."
"What wall?" Moody asked, looking at Sirius.
"Don't ask," Sirius replied darkly, not taking his eyes off Kreacher.
"Kreacher wonders why there is visitors. Mistress hasn't told of any guests to Kreacher. Kreacher wonders if his Mistress has invited them..."
"We were invited, Kreacher, by Sirius. He has allowed us to come have a look at this house." Dumbledore gestured around them.
"Master has invited them," Kreacher continued to mutter to himself. "Kreacher hears word that Master is a murderer and a follower of He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named. Kreacher wonders if this is true."
"Kreacher, go back to your cupboard and stay there until we leave," Sirius growled through clenched teeth, still holding his wand in hopes of finding a reason to curse the house-elf.
Kreacher bowed low to the ground. "Kreacher must do what Kreacher is told. Even if Master is a blood traitor," he added under his breath as he retreated down the basement stairs.
Sirius made to go after him, but Dumbledore and Moody held him back.
"We have work to do, Sirius," Dumbledore warned sternly.
Sirius nodded resignedly after a moment and followed the older wizards up the staircase.
"Phineas says his other portrait is in your old bedroom, Sirius," Dumbledore said to Sirius' back.
Sirius nodded mutely, and led the way to the room in which he spent sixteen miserable years. "Just in there." He pointed to the closed door, but made no move to open it.
Dumbledore smiled slightly. "No need to go in just yet."
Sirius sighed in relief.
After a brief tour of the large house, they stood once more at the front door.
Dumbledore looked around him one more time. "Yes, I believe this will work wonderfully. Thank you, Sirius."
"No problem," Sirius said. "It's not as if I was going to use it for anything. Although fire wood would be nice..."
With that, the three wizards left Number Twelve and Apparated to Hogwarts for Dumbledore, the Ministry for Moody, and the cottage for Sirius.
"So how was it being back there?" Remus asked as he beat Sirius terribly at wizard's chess.
"Not much different than when I lived there. My dear mother screamed at me, called me a—what was it—an 'abomination of her flesh'; Kreacher muttered, called Dumbledore a senile old coot. The house itself was still as evil as it was ten years ago. Some things never change," Sirius said, as his queen was suffered a fatal blow from Remus' knight. "Like this." He gestured at the board. "You still kick my arse at chess."
Remus smiled. "Just like the good old days."
Sirius laughed and stretched. "Been taking your potion?"
"Yes," Remus replied. "Just as bitter as it was last month, but worth the feeling the day after."
Sirius nodded. "Where's Harry run off to?" he asked, looking around. "He was just here..."
"He went to get some of his coloring books," Remus replied as he watched the chess pieces mend themselves after a most brutal battle.
At that moment, Harry came back in the room with an arm full of crayons and a large book with dragons on the cover. He set himself up at the coffee table, kneeling before his supplies. He looked over at Sirius and Remus before starting on his drawing. "Are we going to Hogwarts tomorrow?" he asked.
"No, it's the day after tomorrow. You and I are going to Hogwarts, but Remus can't," Sirius told his godson.
Harry nodded and began to color a Norwegian Ridgeback. Sirius and Remus watched Harry color for an hour or so before Remus spoke. "Let's put this stuff up, Harry, you need your bath. You can finish your picture tomorrow."
Reluctantly, Harry nodded and closed his coloring book. "Okay."
Sirius helped Harry with his bath water, and left him alone to get himself clean.
While Harry bathed, Remus and Sirius helped themselves to a apple pudding.
"That woman can cook!" Sirius commented thickly through a mouthful of apple and pastry.
Remus nodded happily, but swallowed his delectable dessert before commenting. "Better than I ever could!"
Once Harry had finished his bath, Sirius read him a story, and he and Remus kissed him good night.
"So what've you got planned while you're at Hogwarts?" Remus asked once they had returned to the living room to pick up Harry's toys.
"I thought I'd take him to Hogsmeade. Show him the sights. Introduce him to real butterbeer at the Three Broomsticks," Sirius replied, collapsing into his recliner.
Remus nodded and sat on the sofa. "Sounds good. I always preferred Three Broomsticks butterbeer to the stuff they sell in Diagon Alley."
"I think you just preferred Madam Rosmerta." Sirius grinned.
Remus blushed slightly. "Shut up, Padfoot."
Sirius laughed as a pillow flew at his face.
"Hi, Professor," Harry said as he and Sirius stepped out of the fireplace at Hogwarts.
"Hello, Harry, Sirius," Dumbledore replied with a smile. "How are you two gentlemen this fine evening?"
"Wonderful, sir," Sirius said, wiping soot from his robes.
Harry headed straight for Fawkes while Sirius sat across from Dumbledore. The two watched Harry and the phoenix interact for a few moments. Fawkes seemed to have gained a great liking for Harry.
"How are things at the Ministry, Sirius?" Dumbledore asked, handing Sirius a cup of tea.
"Thank you," Sirius said. "Things are crazy, sir. People keep owling in wanting to know why we haven't caught whoever was behind the attacks. Moody's had five Howlers so far. And Rita Skeeter keeps popping up asking for an interview with me, wanting to know what Azkaban has done to me, and what it's like raising the Boy-Who-Lived."
"And what did you say to her?" Dumbledore asked, his eyes twinkling merrily.
"Told her that if she didn't leave, I was going to shove her quill up her—er, somewhere inappropriate." Sirius caught himself and sent an apologetic look to the headmaster.
Dumbledore laughed. "Yes, she has been quite the pest since she began to work for the Prophet. Madam Bones has been forced to have guards around her to get away from Miss Skeeter's questioning."
Sirius shook his head. "That's ridiculous. As if Bones doesn't have enough on her plate as it is..."
Dumbledore nodded, but was unable to respond. Harry had started tugging on Sirius' cloak looking excited. "Can I have a phoenix, Sirius?" he asked eagerly.
Sirius laughed. "Er, they're pretty rare, Harry. I don't think we'll be able to find one in Diagon Alley."
Harry's face dropped slightly in disappointment. "Oh," he said, turning back to Fawkes.
"If you are anything like your father, Harry, I believe you will be seeing a lot of Fawkes, and this office, during your Hogwarts years," Dumbledore said, smiling at Harry.
Sirius barked a laugh. "Very true, sir. I got to know Fawkes quite well during school. Saw him at least once a week."
"Really? Why?" Harry asked.
"Because Professor Dumbledore loved to have the Marauders for tea," Sirius replied easily with a grin to Dumbledore.
Dumbledore chuckled. "Well, I suppose I had better get back to work. The new term starts tomorrow, and there is much to be done."
Sirius stood. "Ah, yes, new term for all the Hogwarts kiddies. The best part about a new term was always the start of term feast. I really miss those. And hearing what Filch had banned during the summer. I think when we started it was at one-fifty, and by the time we graduated we were at three-twenty-seven."
Dumbledore rose and escorted Sirius and Harry to the door. "Yes, Argus did not seem to like the three of you," he said casually. "And as for my favorite part of start of term, I quite enjoyed the new term prank performed by a certain three students who shall remain nameless." The twinkle in Dumbledore's eyes was near hypnotizing in mischievousness.
Sirius laughed. "Yeah, I enjoyed those too. Come on, Harry. Got your stag? Good. Thank you again sir, for allowing us to stay. It's much appreciated."
"Not at all, Sirius. Enjoy your evening." Dumbledore smiled.
Sirius and Harry walked down the stone steps and straight to their quarters.
"What are we going to do now?" Harry asked once he had put his bag into his room.
"Well, if you want, we could go down to the village and explore."
"Yeah!" Harry yelled excitedly, picking up his stag and going for the door. "Can we take the shortcut?"
Sirius grinned. Like father, like son, he thought happily. "I don't see why not," he said, taking the Marauder's Map from his bag.
"Can I do it?" Harry asked eagerly.
"Yeah, come here."
Harry took Sirius' wand carefully, and tapped the parchment. "I solemnly swear that I am up to no good," he whispered. The map appeared and Harry looked up to Sirius, smiling from ear to ear. "I did it!"
"Good job," Sirius said, taking back his wand. "You're a natural at that. Just don't tell Moony I let you use my wand."
"Okay! Come on!"
Harry held the map and led Sirius expertly through Hogwarts' main halls and corridors before they reached the familiar—at least to Sirius—humpbacked witch.
"Okay," Sirius whispered. "Make sure no one's coming."
Harry scanned the map with his tongue sticking out the corner of his mouth and nodded. "Nothing." He grinned.
Sirius tapped the witch and muttered, "Dissendium."
Harry climbed in first and slid down the stone slide to the tunnel; Sirius was right behind him. "Do you have Prongs?" Harry asked when Sirius had stood from the ground.
"Yep. I'll trade you for the map."
Harry took his stag while Sirius wiped the map clean and neatly folded it, placing it into his robes. He muttered, "Lumos," to give them some light as they traveled through the dark tunnel.
Half an hour later, Sirius peeked through the stone trapdoor—all was clear. Sirius went through first, and helped Harry into the basement cellar of Honeyduke's. Quietly, they went up the cellar stairs, avoiding the creaking step that had almost had the Marauders caught once or twice, and peeked carefully through the door. The shop owner's back was turned helping a customer select some chocolates. Quickly and quietly, Sirius and Harry tiptoed their way across the shop, and out the door.
"That was cool," Harry said happily.
Sirius grinned. "Yeah, it was. Come on, let's go see if Zonko's has anything new."
The two spent an hour checking out things they could possibly prank Remus with. By the end, Sirius had spent fifteen galleons and ten sickles.
"Where to next?" Harry asked, balancing his stag and a small bag of prank supplies in his arms.
"How about the Three Broomsticks?" Sirius suggested.
Harry agreed, and minutes later, they walked through the door of the pub Sirius and James had tasted their first firewhiskey.
"Sirius Black!" cried a voice from behind the bar. "I wondered whether or not you'd come to see me!"
"Rosie, m'dear! Looking beautiful as ever! How are you?" Sirius said as Madam Rosmerta came from behind the bar to hug Sirius.
"I'm doing great," she replied. "And who is this?" she added as she looked down at Harry with a large, friendly smile.
"Rosie, this is Harry. Harry, this is Madam Rosmerta," Sirius introduced them.
Harry smiled shyly and said hello.
"You can call me Rosie, Harry. My god, he looks just like James," Rosmerta said to Sirius. "Come on back, I'll get you a table."
She led Sirius and Harry though the tables of customers, most of which were staring openly at the two of them.
Both ignored it.
"Your usual table, Mr. Black," Rosmerta said as she wiped the table clean.
"Thank you, Rosie," Sirius said, taking a seat next to Harry.
"What can I get you boys tonight? Anything you want, it's on the house for my favorite customer," Rosmerta said happily, taking a pad of parchment and a quill from her pocket.
"Why thank you, Rosie, that's really sweet of you. I think we'll both have the special, and two butterbeers," Sirius said.
Rosmerta nodded and said their orders would be right out, then headed back to the bar to serve her other customers.
"Can we go see Hagrid later?" Harry asked, looking around the pub.
"Sure, that's fine," Sirius replied.
People were still looking at their table in curiosity. At least they're not whispering this time, Sirius thought gratefully.
Rosmerta floated over their drinks to the table moments later.
"Cheers, Harry," Sirius said, clinking his glass against Harry's. He took a large gulp and sighed happily. "Oh yeah. I've missed that."
"This is really good!" Harry exclaimed, sipping from his mug carefully so he wouldn't spill butterbeer all over.
"Yeah, just wait until you try the food!"
At that very moment, their food arrived at the table. Sirius and Harry ate quietly and happily, occasionally telling the other how good the food was.
Once they had finished clearing their plates, Sirius and Harry had another round of butterbeer at Rosmerta's insistence. After thanking the barmaid graciously and promising a return in the near future, Sirius and Harry set off towards the castle.
"Why aren't we going through the secret passage?" Harry asked, holding his stag in one hand, and Sirius' hand in the other. Sirius had shrunk their Zonko's bags for the trip back.
"Because it will be harder not to get caught at this time of night. There aren't many people in Honeyduke's," Sirius said.
"Oh."
As they made their way through the Hogwarts gates, Sirius looked up to the full moon, wondering how Remus was fairing tonight.
Sirius and Harry passed the winged boars and trudged their way across the grounds to Hagrid's hut.
"You think he's home?" Harry asked, narrowing his eyes to see the small hut.
"I'm sure he will be, unless he's up at the castle."
They walked up to the wooden hut and knocked. There was no answer. They waited a few moments before deciding Hagrid wasn't at home. Sirius and Harry turned back towards the castle when they heard a booming bark coming from the edge of the Forbidden Forest. Harry detached himself from Sirius and ran to greet Fang. The boarhound launched himself onto Harry, knocking him to the ground. Harry's stag flew somewhere to his left.
"Fang!" Harry laughed as Fang drooled all over him. Sirius would have helped his godson if he hadn't been so busy laughing.
"FANG!" boomed a new voice. Hagrid had just emerged from the forest. He chuckled at the sight before him and easily pulled the large dog off of the small six-year-old.
"Hello, Harry, Sirius! How are yeh?" Hagrid asked, picking Harry up and dusting some of the dirt from his clothes. The force nearly knocked Harry to the ground again.
"We're well, Hagrid. Just got back from the village. Thought I'd show Harry the sights," Sirius replied, still snickering to himself.
"Well, come in, come in. I got some tea an' I jus made rock cakes!" Hagrid said, leading the two to his hut.
"Ah, tea would be wonderful, Hagrid, but we just ate. No need for the rock cakes."
"Suit yerself," Hagrid replied.
They entered the small house and Sirius and Harry sat around the large table while Hagrid made tea.
"How's it feel bein' back at the Ministry, Sirius?" Hagrid asked, sitting next to Harry. Fang had his head resting on Harry's knee, and was now drooling contently.
"It feels good. I mean, it's been busy around there, and some of the new Aurors are running around like a Hippogriff with its head chopped off, but I'm used to that. James and I started out at the worst possible time for new Aurors, so it's nothing I can't deal with," Sirius said, sipping his tea.
"Yeah, I understan'. I remember Lily tellin' me 'bout that sister of hers. Sounds rotten if yeh ask me," Hagrid whispered while Harry and Fang played on the floor.
"Yeah, she's something else alright. I'm not happy she's dead or anything—no one deserves to die that way—well, I can think of a few people, but you know what I mean," Sirius said.
"I know what yeh mean. How's Remus these days?"
"Not bad. He's been teaching Harry how to read and write and stuff. They both seem to be enjoying that." Sirius laughed as Fang pinned Harry to the floor, and licked his face. Harry's glasses went flying from his face. Sirius summoned, cleaned, and placed the round-rimmed spectacles into his robes for safekeeping.
Sirius and Hagrid talked for another hour until Harry fell asleep. The younger wizard thanked Hagrid for the tea, removed Harry's hold on Fang and headed back to the castle. Sirius' good mood came to a very abrupt end when he spotted one of the few people that could cause him to do something worthy of being thrown right back into Azkaban for a life stay.
"Well, well, well, if it isn't Sirius Black. Long time no see," said the cold drawling voice of Sirius' cousin-in-law, Lucius Malfoy.
"Malfoy," Sirius said coldly, still holding a sleeping Harry.
"And is this who I think it is? Yes, I can see his scar. How adorable it is to see the Boy-Who-Lived in the arms of a mad mass murderer," Malfoy said softly, looking closely at the boy in Sirius' arms.
"How's Pettigrew these days, Malfoy? You and him getting all chummy with Voldemort again?" Sirius sneered, his hold increasing on his godson.
"Tsk, tsk, Black. You shouldn't say his name. Why would I have anything to do with a traitor like him and the Dark Lord?" Malfoy said softly.
Sirius heard the noise of heavy, ragged breathing below him. He looked down and saw a house-elf with large tennis ball eyes looking at him and Harry in awe. It seemed he was fighting to say something, but he remained quiet.
Sirius looked back to Malfoy's smirking face and narrowed his eyes. "What are you doing here, Malfoy?"
"Having a word with the Headmaster, Black. I am a school governor, after all. Must attend to the less desirable things once in a while," the other wizard replied smoothly, examining his fingernails.
"Well, it seems your business here is complete. Why don't you go on back to your mansion and start planning what you want your cell in Azkaban to look like," Sirius spat.
Malfoy made a face of mock-surprise. "But I thought the Azkaban guards didn't allow interior decorating. You should know. I bet the dementors miss you, Black." He smirked again.
If Harry hadn't been in his arms, Sirius would have taken that smirk right off his face. Instead, he did something he had never done before: Sirius Black walked away from a fight. It wasn't worth his time, and he had to get Harry to bed—it was long past his bedtime. He walked straight up the castle steps, and left Malfoy and his elf staring at him.
"The Dark Lord will rise again, Black. You can count on that," Malfoy whispered. "Come, Dobby, I have better things to do than converse with blood traitors and half-breeds."
Sirius stopped in his tracks, and debated heavily on setting Harry down on the steps to curse Malfoy straight to hell. Malfoy, however, walked away, kicking his house-elf as he crossed the grounds. Sirius shook his head in disgust and continued to their quarters. His first order of business at work the next day would be to have Moody send a team of Aurors to search the Malfoy Manor, just for the fun of it.
In Harry's room, Sirius quietly and gently laid his godson down in bed, took of his jacket and shoes, and covered him up. He removed Harry's glasses from his cloak and placed them on the bedside table. Sirius kissed Harry's forehead and looked around. Something was missing from the scene.
Where's his stag? Sirius thought, perplexed. Harry hadn't left that thing anywhere since he got it for his birthday… Then he remembered Fang knocking Harry to the ground, and his stag flying from his arms. Sirius amused himself with the thought of James flying around in stag form for a moment. Harry didn't seem to notice that he didn't have his faithful stuffed animal—they could get it in the morning.
Sirius left Harry's room and went to his own bed. He fell asleep as soon as his head hit the pillow.
Moony curled up contently on the basement floor, basking in the moonlight. The wolf had showed no signs of unleashing itself on its human counterpart, and Remus was happy to know that he wouldn't wake up in a pool of blood in the morning.
As he yawned, Moony had a strange feeling in the pit of his stomach. It wasn't something he had felt before, not on a full moon anyway. The last time Remus had had this feeling was the night Lily and James were murdered. It was the sense of something terrible. Something was very wrong. But what was it? Sirius and Harry were safe at Hogwarts; nothing could touch them there with Dumbledore around...
Blaming it on over-protectiveness, Remus fell asleep in the corner, the thought of bacon and eggs going happily through the werewolf's dreams.
Harry could not sleep. He tried and tried, but he just couldn't keep his eyes closed. He had woken up just a few minutes after Sirius left the room, looking for Prongs, but he wasn't there. Harry sat up in bed and sighed. He remembered exactly where his stag had gone, but he'd forgotten to pick it up before going into Hagrid's hut.
Harry got out of bed and quietly crossed to Sirius' room. His godfather was sleeping on his back, his arms and legs spread over the bed, and his mouth hanging open. If Harry hadn't been so preoccupied with his stag, he probably would have thought of a very humorous prank to play on him.
Cautiously, Harry approached him. "Sirius," he whispered, poking his godfather's arm.
Sirius didn't stir.
"Sirius," he said a bit louder.
"Mmph," was the reply.
"Sirius, wake up, I left Prongs at Hagrid's."
Sirius replied with something that sounded like "mimble wimble," and went on snoring.
Frowning, Harry looked around the room. Through the window, he could see the full moon shining brightly across the grounds. There was plenty of light...
Harry thought for a moment, and nodded to himself. It wouldn't be hard, crossing the grounds to Hagrid's. And didn't Remus and Sirius always say that Hogwarts was one of the safest places in the world?
Smiling at his decision, Harry left Sirius' room, put his shoes and a jacket on, and headed out the quarter's door. He stealthily went through the castle corridors without any incident—he'd been through them enough times to know where he was going. Harry pushed open the castle doors easily and stepped out into the moonlight.
He crossed the grounds quickly. Things seemed a lot different at Hogwarts in the nighttime, and Harry was eager to get back into his bed. The wind was still, and the only noises were owls hooting in the distance and Harry's feet crunching the grass.
He remembered a dream he'd had when he'd first come to live with Sirius and Remus. There was a dog, a wolf, and a stag playing in a forest that looked just like the one he was headed towards. Of course, all forests kind of looked alike, but try telling that to a six-year-old. With that thought, Harry sped his walk to Hagrid's feeling a bit more comforted.
Harry reached the edge of the forest in no time and began looking for Prongs. The boy thought he had heard a low, menacing growl from behind him, but when he looked around, he saw nothing. His mind must have been playing tricks on him. A large smile formed on Harry's face as he spotted his stag. Walking over to it, his back facing the forest, he picked up his stuffed animal, and made to head back to the castle.
The last thing Harry felt before he was knocked out was a pair of rough, strong hands grabbing him around the waist and neck, dragging him deep into the Forbidden Forest. His stag still lay forgotten at the edge of the trees.