Face off

(Harry)

I was in my last potions class of the year, Snape was assigning work for over the summer. After he released us, he told me to stay behind to speak with him. "What did you want to talk about Professor," I was gritting my teeth.

"Professor Dumbledore wishes me to instruct you in Occlumency. I will need to unfortunately know where you are this summer." I could almost see the disgust radiating off him.

I smirked, mom was excellent at Occlumency. "Why don't you see how good I am. If I'm good enough, then we won't have to see each other the entire summer."

"Cocky as ever Potter, just like your father."

I glared, "Confident isn't the same as cocky, sir."

"We'll see. Legilimens!"

I could feel Snape's attack, it was violent and direct. While I watched him struggle to get through, I realized that this was the style Voldemort used. Old Tom Riddle has less subtly than a rapist. I kicked him out a few seconds later.

He sneered. "You could do better."

I just looked at him. "Are you satisfied or would you like another demonstration?"

He shook his head. As I was about to leave I heard him say, "At least he got one talent from his useless mother."

No way was I going to let that slide. Spinning around I yelled "Stupefy!" The spell knocked him into the wall behind him. I woke him and said, "I don't care what value Dumbledore has for you, but if you ever say anything about my parents again, I will make you wish Voldemort killed you in the last war." I left soon after that.

At the end of the week, Snape had yet to punish me in any way. It seemed odd, but I wasn't complaining. Hermione hadn't talked to me about what I said in the room of requirement, but if she had I would have been shocked. Ron was talking about how the Weasleys were planing to go to the Quidditch World Cup. I told him that Sirius had tickets, so I might meet them there.

After the leaving feast, I ran into, almost literally, Fudge as he was entering. "Ah Harry, just the man I was looking for." About twenty people from various papers were there. "As you may have heard, Sirius Black was found not guilty of the crimes he was accused."

"Yes I heard."

"Well I'm here to inform you that Sirius Black is your godfather, and if you're willing legal guardian."

I just stared at him, and not in the nicest way. He started to talk again.

"I understand that this is a shock to you Harry, but surely you would like to remain in the wizard world?" I nodded. This caused Fudge to relax.

I decided to speak. "I am glad Sirius Black was found innocent after twelve years without a trial." Fudge paled. "However, I recently came across my family's will. I agreed to be an emancipated minor earlier this year."

The press loved it. Fudge was flabbergasted. "You can only sign such a document in the presence of an adult that is legally responsible for you."

I nodded. "My head of house was kind enough to stand in for me. My Aunt and Uncle agreed to it as well, it's all been documented." I hate the press, but they're useful. The press turned their attention towards Fudge allowing me to escape. I joined Hermione and the rest of the ones who went with me to the ministry, minus Luna, in one of the carriages. On the train ride home we laughed and talked. Hermione gave me an odd look from time to time, but nothing else of importance happened.

When we arrived at the station, Sirius was waiting there with Remus. I walked over to them with a smile. Remus was smiling slightly, but Sirius was full out grinning, much like the Cheshire Cat. Hermione and Ron came over and said their good-byes and I turned back to them. "So where are we going?"

Sirius glanced at Remus and said, "I was planning to restore my family's house and make it a safe place to work and live in, but I need to replace Kreacher."

I smirked, "No problem, I already have someone to replace him."

Remus looked surprised, "Oh? How did you do that before we even brought it up?"

I explained my second year enough to explain Dobby. "I hired him to work for me, I guess he grew on me."

They laughed. "I see. Well, why don't you have Dobby meet us there," said Remus.

"And then you can explain why a house elf would go through so much trouble to 'save' you," injected Sirius.

I nodded my agreement, Sirius shrunk my trunk and placed it in his pocket. When we were walking out of the station I asked, "Once we get setup, could you two teach me some extra magic?"

Remus glanced around before answering, "There is just that little restriction that is applied to minors."

I nodded, "But not to emancipated minors."

Sirius looked surprised, "What do you mean emancipated?"

"At the time I wasn't sure if I was going back to the Dursleys or not, so I signed the part of my parents will that emancipates me at twelve if I'm not living with either of you."

Seeing 'Uncle' Vernon, I waved and said, "Don't worry Uncle, you won't be needing to take me with you, I'm going with my godfather."

Vernon rolled his eyes. "Your headmaster sent us a 'message' that you were to return to our house, and you will be."

I froze, that arrogant bastard! He is trying to force me to go back there. "I'm sorry, in case you forgot, I received my emancipation earlier this year. I don't have to go with you under any circumstances, besides, I am free of all the rules that prevented me from harming you before."

Vernon's face turned purple. "Fine, go and never bother us again." With that he left.

I felt someone grab my arm, turning I saw it was Sirius. "Calm down Harry, your starting to attract attention." Looking around I realized a lot of people were staring. I nodded and we got a taxi and went to 12 Grimmauld Place.

Once we entered, Kreacher attacked. Remus had created a shield to protect us, that was when Dobby showed up. The two house elves stared at each other, Kreacher mouthing various insults.

I got a look at Dobby's face, I have never seen that look of pure hatred on his face before. Usually he was happy, sometimes sad, but never angry. We stayed back out of the way. Kreacher tried to send a few spells our way, but Dobby blocked them. "Kreacher is bad house elf," said Dobby.

"Kreacher good house elf, he serve his mistress well," Kreacher replied.

"Kreacher treat family bad, Kreacher leave."

"Kreacher not abandon family like you."

Dobby flinched. The two of them glared at each other. "Dobby good house elf, never try and hurt family," Dobby's eyes hardened, "Dobby true to family. Dobby make sure Kreacher never hurt family."

Suddenly all hell broke loose. Kreacher screamed like a crazed animal, attacking Dobby with the magic house elves used. Dobby was countering all of it, not seeming to be fazed by it in any way. Dobby's expression was almost cold as he fought.

Finally Dobby launched an offensive. He started to hammer away, inflicting serious blows on Kreacher. Dobby's eyes burned with anger, and I don't think he saw Kreacher anymore. He flung Kreacher into a wall, and with a snap of his fingers, set Sirius's mother on fire.

"That's enough Dobby!" I grabbed his arm. For a second I thought he was going to attack me, but he calmed slightly, anger still burned in his eyes. Sirius and Remus put out the fire and subdued Kreacher. The portrait was past redemption, Kreacher wasn't much better off.

About two hours later, Kreacher died of his injuries. No one asked questions about the why, just accepted it. Hermione, once she knew where I was, came over and asked what had happened. We were in the kitchen with Dobby while I tried to explain what happened. I got right up to the part where Dobby intervened when I faltered. I could tell that Dobby was listening, I couldn't bring myself to cast him in a negative light. Dobby decided to intervene.

"Dobby attacked him."

Hermione looked at him, "But how did he get so injured?"

I watched Dobby shudder. "Dobby come to help Harry Potter and his family. Kreacher mind gone, so he spouts out foul words. Dobby tell Kreacher to leave, but Kreacher won't so Dobby protects family."

"But did you have to go so far," Hermione said worried.

I decided to get involved. "Hermione, have you ever buried your dark emotions, like anger and rage?" She shrugged. "Dobby and I have that in common. Dobby is the kindest individual I have met outside of you. But he and I have the habit of burying the emotions that could get us into trouble." Glancing at Dobby I finished with, "Everyone has a breaking point."

"Dobby stopped seeing Kreacher miss Hermione. Dobby saw old family and Dobby could not hold back." He started sniffing. "Dobby only want to do good."

"That you did Dobby," as I placed my hand on his shoulder. "We would have given him clothes and he most likely would have died from either exposure or from our defending ourselves." Addressing Hermione, "Don't think that all house elves want to be free."

Dobby nodded, "Some house elves serve good masters, they truly enjoy serving them. Only a same few are unhappy, but they serve cruel master's that ensures their servanthood."

Hermione nodded and we sat silent for a minute. Glancing at Dobby she said, "Harry, could we talk about that thing we were talking about before we left school?"

We walked into the study, which was vacant of pictures, and sat down. "So which part did you want to talk about Hermione?"

She took a couple of deep breaths before starting. "When you said I would be meeting the girl that you like, what makes you so sure since you changed the future?"

I smiled, "I couldn't change your encounter with her without changing you." She looked completely confused, it was funny actually. "Assuming I went all the way back to first year, all that would change is that I would have begun talking to her sooner."

"So this girl, you knew her in our first year?"

"I thought she was a bit odd, but I didn't know her that well." I was trying so hard not to just tell her.

She glared at me, "You could just tell me."

I shook my head, "I wanted to make sure that she would feel the same way about me. I believe she doesn't see me as the boy-who-lived, but I have no clue if she has feelings for me."

"Its Ginny."

I just stared at her before realizing she was serious. "Uh, I don't think so. Ginny didn't start school until our second year."

Hermione seemed to believe this was the answer, "But you first met her before you even met Ron."

"Same time actually, Mrs. Weasley was how I learned how to get on the train. Besides, me and Ginny? That's just wrong."

She looked suspicious, "And why is it wrong?"

"Because dating my sister is more than a little disgusting."

"But she's not your sister."

"Perception rules reality Hermione. I have always viewed her as either Ron's sister, or more recently as my sister."

She bowed her head, "I don't have any clue then."

I placed my hands on her shoulders. "Don't worry, when I find out how she feels for me, I will tell you who she is."

We spent the rest of the time she had to stay talking about our plans for the summer. Hermione would be joining the Weasleys for the world cup, I told her that I would be going with Sirius and Remus. We joked about the things we intended to study during the summer, I told her that I was able to work with magic, to which she responded, "Oh I'm so envious of you."

"No you're not."

She looked offended for a moment, before paling slightly. "I guess you're right, I'm not."

After she left, I started to explain the future to Remus and Sirius, everything good or bad. They took my words seriously after a few comments that only James Potter would know. We setup the Fidelius Charm so that Remus would be only one who could allow entrance. After we finished that, Sirius and Remus began to test my abilities.

A/n: Yea my beta's back! Thank you for the reviews! Next up: I'm going to embarrass a particular red head, and it ain't Ron or Ginny. Heh, heh, heh…