Chapter 19

New Theories

The boys were hit full on and Harry felt the instant urge to start crying. No, not just crying but bawling. He bawled so loudly, as his tears fell so freely down his face, his nose running. Harry spluttered and continued to cry. He did not know why he was crying but he had. For all the pain, he had suffered, and he had pent it all up inside him. He cried for Cedric, Neville, all the people lost in the last war. He remembered the stay with the Dursleys.

He kept crying, it seemed that there was no end to his tears as the kept coming. He could only barely make shape of Malfoy who was also bawling as well. His face was so red compared to his white blonde hair. He imagined his face was red too. He continued to splutter, sobbing and crying. He wondered how long he would cry. He cried for all the privacy he could not have. He cried for the times he lost house points, and for the times, that Voldemort was out to get him. He cried even harder at the loss of his parents. Crying by the amount of injuries, he had gotten at Hogwarts. Times with Dudley beating him and he cried for the fact that he was taught not to cry.

He cried for Sirius for wrongly imprisoned, for Remus being a werewolf. As for the fact that Wormtail's a traitor and sobbed, his nose feeling so wet, he couldn't control anymore. His heart ached for something he never had. Something he did not know what it meant. Love and he cried for not knowing love. He cried for his friendships he had created here at Hogwarts. He remembered Dumbledore's disappearance and continued to cry. There was no end to any of this at all, wasn't this suppose to wear off after five minutes? He cried for not being able to stop crying. He then slowed his sobs, his tears coming to a halt. His ache nearly disappearing. He felt something in his face and could not see clearly. His glasses were fogged up from crying so much. All he heard was silence in the room. Wasn't everyone supposed to be practicing their Power joint charm?

"Harry? Have you stop crying?" asked someone faintly.

"Y-yeah," replied Harry, sniffing.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to do that," said the same voice.

"It's okay, it's okay Hermione. I think I feel different now, I…" said Harry.

"Malfoy isn't doing good either, I never saw anyone crying so much. That spell we cast, well, its called Tear-jerker, but it's… supposed to relieve all the moments you wanted to cry…."

"Oh and you think I never had any moments when I wanted to cry?" asked Harry.

"…Yes," said Hermione softly.

Harry sighed in exasperation, he thought that she should have known better. "Where did everyone go?"

"Well, it is as you said, it's a difficult charm to pull off. Only a handful made it… but…" she bit her bottom lip, looking over to Malfoy who was getting himself together, more specifically his pride.

"But what?"

"Most of them ended up in Hospital Wing," she said as Harry gave a weird sound of huff but in aggravation. "I'm so sorry Harry, we shouldn't have put that on you two."

"Sorry, but I have to go," said Harry, standing up, making his way out of the Room of Requirement and went straight for the Hospital Wing. When he came there and found himself beyond baffled, he was bewildered. All of the beds were filled with students but luckily none of them were in any serious pain. Just oddly placed and misplaced spells that had gone wrong. He berated himself for not being able to watch the situation that had gotten out of control. The other half had been helping Madam Pomfrey and assumed that they were the ones that cursed or hexed their opponents.

Collin came up to him, fear evident in his face, and Harry knew what was coming. After all, they might be thinking that t full out fight had broke out.

"Harry, it's not what you think. We weren't capable of doing the magic yet," said Collin meekly.

"It's okay Collin, I was informed of the situation. I'm sorry I couldn't have seen to that everyone do the charm okay."

"But back there, Hermione and Luna cast a really powerful spell that made you cry. You, well, didn't stop crying for like twenty minutes."

"Really? Man, and it's supposed to last five minutes or less," remarked Harry.

"I know, we tried to take you two to the wing but well, you had refused. Did something with some light or something," said Collin with confusion in his face.

"Light?"

"Yeah, from both of you," replied Collin.

"Mmm, well I'll check on the others, you go see what you can do," said Harry, walking to a student who got hexed with Full-Body bind and even with a simple counter charm could not take the hex off. Harry frowned at this, looked around for a partner, and found that Malfoy just came in.

"Hey Malfoy, come here," said Harry, calling after him.

"What is it Potter?" asked Malfoy silkily.

"We need to do the Power joint, I can't counter with this full-body bind. Care to try?"

"Why should I help a Hufflepuff?" he sneered.

"Malfoy," said Harry in his threatening tone of voice.

"Or what you will do? Hex me?" he smirked.

"In fact I will do just that if you don't help right now or you can go away and help the others. Maybe preferably from your own house?"

"Yeah I'll do just that," said Malfoy, about to turn away.

"Only if you help me countering with this Full-Body bind Malfoy. Or I'll come and hex you so much that you cannot even recognize yourself in the mirror."

"Potter, stop threatening me or you'll have something up your neck!" growled Malfoy and sighed, looking around. He took his wand out. "On three."

"Good, one, two, three!"

"Finite incantatem unita!" The spell hit the third year Hufflepuff and his arms sprang loose as well as his legs as he gave out a breath of gasp.

"See, if you hadn't argued, you would have already be away by now," said Harry smoothly.

"Shut up Potter," he said as he left the bedside to other beds to see if any Slytherins need some help. Harry said in irritation and looked back at the Hufflepuff.

"T-thanks," he said meekly as he got out of the bed.

"It's no problem really, I have to help the rest," said Harry leaving him.

"Mr. Potter!" screeched Madam Pomfrey from behind Harry. Harry winced inwardly and turned around to face her. "How on earth did this happen?"

"Well, in our meeting today, we were practicing defensive spells. The last one I was teaching, Hermione and Luna performed the Power-Joint with the Tear-Jerker hex. Well, as you can imagine, we cried for twenty minutes straight."

"We?"

"Oh an anonymous partner. I'm sure he would not like to be known."

"It's Malfoy sir," said one student. Harry gave a loathing look to the student who blabbered to her and made her look away scared.

"Oh, Mr. Malfoy? Interesting… well, I can infer from there then," she said, bustling around with the students. Harry went to help the rest of the kids and when everyone who were able to leave for the day left. Only a few stayed behind for an overnight observation. Harry almost left to go back to Gryffindor tower when he heard a familiar voice calling his name.

"Mr. Potter," greeted Professor McGonagall.

"Evening ma'am," said Harry.

"I heard of several things that had happened in your club tonight. Why were you teaching them a powerful spell?"

"It was my intent to have some teamwork among their own enemy here at Hogwarts and that seemed to be the best way to go. Of course, I did not expect everyone to be able to do the spell on their first or second try. However I have failed in keeping watch of what is going on, because of that, many ended up in the Wing," he said with a sigh. "I did not want anyone to end up there."

"That is a foolish thought Mr. Potter, every magical lessons has its own risks. Yours are the highest, how can you expect not to see anyone in the wing from your club? Heavens, I have lost count of how many students ended up going to the wing because of their foolishness in Transfiguration."

"So, you're saying that I'm expecting too much and that I have to be more realistic?" asked Harry.

"Indeed Mr. Potter, that is exactly what each of the professors here at Hogwarts need to keep in mind. Including all of the clubs founded here at Hogwarts. Goodness, some injuries even came out of Gobstones," said Professor McGonagall, shaking her head sadly. "You simply cannot prevent injuries, but you can to the best of your abilities. Having seven meetings and only one meeting had ended up in the wing. I should say that's something to be proud of."

"Thanks Professor," said Harry. "I need to get some sleep now, good night Professor McGonagall."

"Good night Mr. Potter," and Harry left to the common room. He found Hermione, Ron, Ginny and Mark in the room and made his way to the table they were sitting at.

"Hey guys, were you waiting for me?"

"Yes Harry, we want to know what happened when the walls came up around you and Malfoy," said Hermione, getting to the point.

"Oh," said Harry, laughing slightly. "That, well, we just wanted to test a theory out. Promise me not to freak or anything? Don't even report to any of the Professors. Okay? Can I have your word?" The group looked around at each other anxiously.

"Sure Harry, I don't see what's the problem," said Mark.

"I suppose I can keep this a secret," said Ginny quietly.

"But mate," began Ron but Harry gave him a hard stern. He gave a sigh and nodded. "Okay Harry, I'll keep my word. Hermione?" She stayed quiet, looking at Harry. Harry supposed it was because she had relied on reporting to the professors when things happened.

'Well, not all the time,' thought Harry. She finally gave out a deep sigh and nodded.

"Okay Harry, it had better not be anything serious or anything that breaks the magical law," said Hermione. Harry stayed quiet, wondering how to go about that. "Harry?"

"Well," began Harry, biting his bottom lip.

"Does it do something with the laws Harry?" asked Hermione.

"Hermione, please, it's a theory that we have worked out on and it worked. Please Hermione, don't tell anyone until we know more about it. Okay?"

"More about what?" asked Hermione sharply.

"Just give me your word."

"Fine, I won't tell anyone until we're ready to!"

"Thanks Hermione, well as you know the Blocking spells can only defend against standard to intermediate spells right?"

"Yes Harry, and its always have been, get to the point!" said Hermione impatiently.

"Well, Malfoy brought up the point that I am a powerful wizard and what not. I doubt that I'm stronger than Dumbledore though. Anyways, he mentioned that it may work against the Unforgivables against me."

"Oh no Harry!" said Hermione as the group except for Mark realized something.

"Yeah, we tested, so that is why we put up the walls around us, we didn't know it would explode in such magnitude. So, he threw the Cruciatus curse at me while I defended, as you saw, it worked."

"You mean, that explosion, that it had worked?" asked Ginny, wide-eyed.

"Yeah, except I think it will be useless against Death Eaters and Voldemort right now because I didn't have any energy to keep walking."

"Oh that's right," said Hermione, remembering when he keeled over at the stairs. "What will you do?"

"I don't know, I said that we could train," said Harry.

"We? As in us?" asked Ginny.

"No, not us, Malfoy, and me, sorry for the confusion," said Harry.

"You're crazy Harry, he would jump you!"

"Hermione, do you think I'm gullible?" asked Harry seriously.

"Well no but--"

"I don't see why not then," said Harry. "Anyways, we have this new theory that it may just work against the Killing curse. Of course we wouldn't practice that on each other," said Harry hastily when he saw the horror-stricken on their face and Hermione was about to start lecturing. "I will just have to use the knowledge and hope that it will work against the killing curse. If it does, well, I'm sure I'll find a way to make it so that everyone can defend themselves."

"…" No one dared not say anything, or perhaps that they were speechless.

"If only that could happen Harry," said Harry. Meanwhile Mark was getting confused by the minute and finally spoke up.

"What are you talking about these Unforgivables?" asked Mark.

"Oh, they're spells that if you cast them on a person, you are guaranteed a life-sentence in Azkaban…." Explained Harry trailing off.

"What do they do?"

"Well, obviously the Killing curse is what exactly what it means," said Hermione.

"The second spell is the Imperius curse, which allows the caster to control the person to whatever they wish. The caster could have the victim rob a bank, kill someone, be a spy for themselves, and so on," said Harry. He looked at Mark, pausing for a minute and continued.

"The last one, is called Cruciatus Curse, which casts the most painful thing you can imagine. Just think, every single one of your bones breaking, your organs crushing, your eyes bulging to the painful measures, your muscles and tendons being ripped away. Your skin grows hot and painfully itchy. Of course they don't actually happen, but that is how you would feel if you were to be put under Cruciatus curse. A friend of mine, his parents were put under that curse and were tortured for so long that they became insane. They no longer recognize themselves or the world around them. It is awful to think that you go visit them twice a year and they don't remember you at all…" said Harry sadly.

"Wow, those curses sound horrible," said Mark.

"It is, that's why they are Unforgivables, I, well cast the Cruciatus curse on a Death Eater last year. I went to Azkaban for a time," said Harry with a shudder.

"What about Malfoy?"

"It is purely educational and testing our theories," said Harry, getting up from his seat. "Now you better not repeat what you heard about this tonight unless it's to ourselves. We will not discuss this again until all of us are together again some other time if you wish."

"Okay Harry," said Mark as everyone nodded in agreement.

"Good, I'm turning in for the night. Good night," said Harry going up the stairs.

"Good night Harry!" chorused the group.

Next day at breakfast, Harry was surprised to see Hedwig with mail for him. He held his hand out as Hedwig landed on his arm.

"Hey, morning Hedwig, how are you?" She gave a delightful hoot in answer. "That's good to hear, what you got there for me?" He untied the mail from her leg and Hedwig walked up his arm and sat on his shoulders as Harry gave her some bacon bits. She gave a hoot as she ate them gratefully. Harry opened the letter and began to read the contents.

Hey Harry!

Guess what? Yesterday at the Ministry, we have finalized the Guardian papers, geez, it was so tedious but you are worth having with me here. I hope the school is going good for you. No trouble I hope? Well, of course there has to be some trouble knowing you. Every single year you manage to get in trouble one way or the other. So, I hope you will update me on what is going on.

Oh, and I think you should note that your Ministry hearing is on November the twentieth. Which is only four days away by the time you read this, I know you will miss some lessons, but I'm sure they will understand. But if that slimy git is on that day, I'll make some sort of deal with him so don't worry. (Harry chuckled at this) Well take care Harry, I'll see you on the 20th.

Sirius Black

"Who's that from?" asked Ron, eating hash browns.

"Sirius, he's officially my Guardian, isn't that great?" asked Harry, drinking pumpkin juice.

"Congrats Harry!" exclaimed Ron. Harry grinned as Hermione gave him a smile and Ginny gave him a bit of congratulations. Harry saw that Mark had stayed silent. He knew that he was still the ward of Ministry and frowned. He hope that he could convince Sirius to at least take Mark in. It should be easier than with Harry couldn't it?

"Hey Mark, cheer up, I'm sure we'll let you stay with us," said Harry.

"I hope so, I don't want to go to an Orphanage," said Mark.

"Me too, I heard horrible stories about them, well of course, from my aunt and uncle. So I cannot be precise, and the time when Voldemort was in Orphanage when he came here. He wasn't exactly happy with the muggles I guess."

"Damn, now I really don't want to go there."

"Don't worry, I'm sure we can convince the Ministry now that Ron's dad is the minister. It should be a piece of cake."

"Piece of cake?" asked Ron while Ginny looked confused.

"Muggle saying," said Hermione, Harry and Mark, and they all laughed.

"Oh," said Ron, frowning, trying to understand what piece of cake really means.

"It means that it will be really easy," explained Hermione after a time because Ron wasn't eating his breakfast.

"Oh, but that doesn't make any sense…."

"Imagine this then Ron, you know when there's a slice of cake and you can easily get them?"

"Oh yeah, well not with my mum around…" mumbled Ron.

"Exactly, a piece of cake," said Hermione, grinning.

"I think I get it," said Ginny, smiling.

"Wow, I actually know and understand a muggle saying! Wait 'til Dad hears about this!" said Ron, laughing. The group laughed as they ate their breakfast.

Four days later, Harry had to wake up an extra hour earlier than usual, of course he had to continue his hearing and he felt the familiar feeling in his stomach. He growled in frustration, this was the third or fourth time that's happened this month! Of course, he knew he would have to get off this one easily. There was no reason to expel him from Hogwarts, no reason at all. He got dressed in his school uniform, the better he looked, the better chances he would have. Plus, it never hurts to have good impression against the people he would see today.

He went down to the common room and found Mark waiting there, confused; he walked to where he was standing. "Morning?"

"Morning Harry, ready?"

"Oh, you're coming?"

"Yeah, I got a letter in the middle of the night, have to come, anyways, where do you think they would meet us...?"

"I expect the Entrance Hall, first lets get some to eat," said Harry, exiting the common room, followed by Mark. They walked down the moving stairs and taking short cuts down to Great Hall. Two boys found them to be empty, and felt fine with Harry. He sat down, grabbed some warm toast, and poured himself some pumpkin juice.

"Think you'll get off this one?" asked Mark.

"I should," replied Harry, eating his breakfast. "I mean, there are no reason to expel me unless they hate me and that was last year. Luckily, I have a good judge on my side, in my first and second hearing. Hopefully the third as well," muttered Harry, drinking his contents from the cup. Harry finished his breakfast, looked to Mark, and saw him finishing up as well. Harry stood up without word and he followed suit.

"Okay, lets go," said Harry, going to Entrance Hall. They waited there for few minutes and did not wait long, Sirius and Remus came in with Hagrid. "Hey Sirius, Remus, Hagrid. Morning to all of you."

"Mornin' 'Arry," replied Hagrid. Sirius practically picked Harry up from the floor and hugged him.

"Harry! Hey, how are you doing today on this fine morning?" asked Sirius.

"Sirius, put me down!" said Harry, squirming in his embrace. He put him down a bit sadly. "Sorry Sirius, I'm not used to that yet," he explained sheepishly.

"But seriously, how are you Harry?" asked Remus. Harry nodded and shrugged as if to say okay. "I'll take that as a yes, well, shall we go?"

"Wait, wait, I want to tell them," said Sirius suddenly.

"Not now, after the hearing," said Remus.

"But Remus, I think they should know," argued Sirius.

"Know what?" asked Harry irritated.

"Sirius, you shouldn't have said that. Oh I suppose we'll tell you now but I wanted it to be a surprise," he gave Sirius a meaningful glare who seem to shrink but with mirth.

"What?" asked Harry again.

"Well, Sirius not only just made you his legal son, but Mark as well," said Remus, grinning. Harry blinked several times, and it slowly sunk but realized what he had just said.

"What, you mean…" said Harry slowly.

"I think he means to say that Sirius is my…" said Mark slowly, unable to believe it.

"Legal Guardian?" asked Harry, finishing what Mark began. Sirius and Remus nodded in answer; Harry gave out a laugh. "And four days ago I was assuring Mark that he wouldn't have to worry about the Orphanage! And I was going to convince you to take Mark in as well, apparently I don't have to do that," he said with a grin. He gave Mark a brotherly hug.

"Alright!" exclaimed Mark.

"This is certainly a big surprise!" said Harry happily. He would have to add this moment to the list when he had to conjure a patronus next time. He felt really happy, living with his Godfather and his father's best friend Remus, as well as having his only distant blood relative living with him. How can things possibly be any better? He gave Sirius and Remus a big hug after letting Mark go.

"Thank you so much!" exclaimed Harry. "But shouldn't we need to get going?" asked Harry on a more serious note.

"Ah! Yes, yes," said Remus and Harry turned to Hagrid and found him crying but smiling under the large amount of beard.

"Oh Hagrid," said Harry softly as he hugged him. "I'm sorry that I couldn't visit you, can I do that tonight?"

"Yea, I woul' be deligh'ed!" said Hagrid while wiping away a tear. "Oh seein' yeh like this makes me so 'appy," said Hagrid. Harry grinned at looked at the others. "Well, best if yeh get goin' now."

"Yeah, thanks Hagrid, bye," said Harry and the newly formed family exited Hogwarts to the entrance of the grounds. Sirius had explained that they would be taking the Knight Bus. This made Harry cringe horribly and Mark saw the discomfort on his face.

"What's wrong with the bus?" asked Mark.

"I don't like the rides too much," admitted Harry. "You'll see what I mean when you ride the bus."

"Ah Harry, it is not that bad," said Remus, chortling.

"Oh but it is," argued Harry. "Don't listen to Remus."

"Hey, you shouldn't say that!" said Remus with a scornful look. Remus sighed exasperatedly, and stuck out his wand for the bus. The bus appeared with a loud bang, and the door opened.

"Hello, welcome to the Knight bus, it is only thirteen sickles for a ride to anywhere that is on land, add five knuts if you would like some pumpkin juice! Welcome aboard, welcome aboard," said the familiar face he saw back in his third and fifth year. He climbed on and the rest followed. Harry decided to stay to the front as possible. He saw that few old witches were in the back row, muttering something about Knight bus. Harry sat down in one of the sofa chairs and Mark sat next to him. Sirius and Remus had gone to the third floor of the bus.

"I don't see how this is horrible, this is better than the muggle system!"

"Don't say anything like that until after you ride the bus," said Harry darkly, paying the fare with a galleon and nine sickles for Harry and Mark.

"Whatever you say," said Mark and the bus took off with a loud bang, effectively sending the seats over and colliding with other chairs. "OW!" The bus made a sharp turn and sending Harry and Mark crashing into the window and falling back on the couch. Mark groaned in pain and saw everything in front of him to be jumping out of the way. "This… this is madness!" Another loud bang and went across a field of grass, sending Harry and Mark backwards and crashing on top of their heads.

The bus came to an immediate halt, hurling the boys forward into the back of sofa that they were sitting in. Mark groaned again in pain. "Y-you are right Harry, I don't like this ride at all… how much longer?" moaned Mark as they stood up.

"I don't know, I hope it's soon," mumbled Harry as they sat down again. One of the old witches had gotten off and Harry heard a whiff of her mutterings.

"…Finally, I'm home! Home, home, oh my lovely home… "

Then with another loud bang, Harry smartly grabbed a handle, which he only just realized it exists. He berated himself; this would have been so much better if he saw that there were handles in the previous rides.

"Oh…I'm glad you got that handle," said Mark, lying down against the sofa.

"Yeah, me too… if I had seen this before…"

"Heh, you sound mad," said Mark.

"I am mad," said Harry with a grin. When they finally reached Ministry of Magic, the four males got off the bus and Harry stretched happily. "Oh thank god that ride's over. Do we have to take it again on the way back?"

"I'm afraid so Harry," replied Remus. Mark and Harry groaned at this and they climbed into Telephone booth that had not worked in years. Remus picked the telephone up and began speaking.

"Hello, Remus Lupin here," he said.

"Hello, welcome to the Ministry of Magic, please state your name and your business here," woman said in her cool tone of voice. Harry sometime wondered whose voice was that and shrugged mentally. He may never actually know.

"Remus Lupin, Sirius Black, Harry Potter, and Mark Evans. We are all here for Harry's Disciplinary Hearing," replied Remus.

"Thank you and please put the badges on your shirt where it is visible. Now transporting you down," said the voice. The telephone booth started moving downwards and the view of Atrium came. When the booth came to a stop, the voice spoke again.

"Please go register your wand at the end of the Atrium. Thank you and have a pleasant day."

Harry, Mark, Sirius and Remus made their way to the room where they had to have their wands weighed and registered. After the task had been completed, they went to the elevators and waited for one to be available. After ten seconds, one of the doors opened and they went in. Sirius pressed the number two floor.

"Well, this brings memories," said Harry.

"Oh yeah, isn't this the same elevator we were in when the Dementors came?"

"Yeah," replied Harry.

"Yeah, not a pleasant one though," said Sirius darkly.

"Yeah, not pleasant… oh well, we're here, wow, we didn't stop at any other floors," said Harry as they got off the elevators. They made their way to the room where Harry's hearing is held. When they entered the room and sat down. The judge and the jury weren't in yet.

"We're early," said Remus.

"Yeah, for once," remarked Harry. Then Madam Bones entered the room and someone in front of her said something.

"All rise for the judge!" When Madam Bones sat down in her seat. "All sit down."

Harry sat down, and the jury he saw from the last hearing entered the room. He smiled in greeting them. He had to make them think that he is a good person.

"So, everything in order now Mr. Potter?"

"If you mean concerning my Guardian, yes, I have him with me today. Here's Sirius Black," he pointed to his Godfather.

"Good, good, let's get down to business shall we?" she asked, and Harry nodded.