**I'm really sorry about taking so long, you have my total permission to fry, boil, shoot, stab, gut, or torture me in any way you see fit. Or you can just hate me because I hate myself for taking so long. Again I'm sorry! Enjoy

Chapter 21: Information Overload

Sirius refusing to let his Godson out of his sight for a single second hulled a protesting Harry by the back of his robes all the way up to Dumbledore's office. Where he then proceeded to shove him onto the empty couch, before practically sitting right on top of him, just in case Harry had any sudden ideas of bolting.

"Sirius I'm not going anywhere." Harry muttered annoyed. "So you can stop treating me like a wild animal who needs to be caged."

Sirius turned and gave Harry a look that clearly said he didn't believe him before turning back to Dumbledore who started the meeting.

* * * * * *

It was much to Harry's relief, and Sirius's annoyance, that Dumbledore didn't release the group until around midnight when he noticed that they were really not getting much accomplished with half the group asleep and the other half trying not to fall asleep while doing anything but listening. So he sent them all off to bed promising they'd finish the discussion later that week at the scheduled Order meeting.

"Well that was enlightening." Harry said once they had all reached the bottom of the stairs and Snape and McGonagall had taking their leave.

"If you say so." Kairi said yawning.

"I do, but Dumbledore's right, it's late and I'm tired. So I think I'll take his advice and head up to bed now, I'll see you all in the morning." Harry said edging slowly away from the group.

"Nice try." Sirius said quickly grabbing the back of Harry's robes again before he could get far. "But you aren't going anywhere, but with me to our quarters."

"Oh come on Sirius! It's late and I'm tired!" Harry said complaining. "Can't we finish talking in the morning?"

"Yes I suppose we can." Sirius said thoughtfully. "First thing in the morning to be precise, which is why you'll be coming with me to your nice empty bed in our quarters."

"Sirius this is so unfair." Harry whined. "I'll come and see you tomorrow I promise. Just let me go up to the common room to sleep so I can inform my friends I'm back."

"You can inform them in the morning, they're probably asleep by now anyway." Sirius said reasonable while continuing to drag Harry down the hall.

"I seriously don't think they'd care if I woke them up." Harry said sulkily. "Besides this is child abuse."

"First off Harry me being Sirius, I do in fact think your friend would mind if you woke them up. And secondly you're not a child and therefore this isn't child abuse." Sirius said. "Besides you couldn't prove a thing."

Harry knowing he couldn't win against Sirius alone glanced pleadingly around at the other adults for some help.

"Sorry Harry, but I still have to live with him for the rest of the school year." Remus said holding his hands up in defense. "Otherwise I'd help you."

"And I figure I'm already in enough trouble as it is." Demin piped in softly trying not to wake the sleeping Delia in his arms.

Harry turned pleading green eyes on his last hope, only to have them dashed as Kairi shook her head negatively.

"Sorry Harry." Kairi said grinning. "But I've already had to deal with both Sirius and Demin for the last week while you were gone. Let's just call it payback."

"Jeez thanks." Harry muttered crossly. "Just for the recorder if Sirius does end up killing me in the morning I'm coming back to haunt every one of you."

"And why, dear Godson, would you even think I'm going to kill you in the morning?" Sirius asked curiously.

"No particular reason." Harry mumbled.

"Ah huh right." Sirius said unconvinced. "You know the more you talk the more I get curious as to why you have elf magic and never bothered telling me."

"Oh, no special reason." Harry said off handedly.

Sirius gave Harry another look that clearly said he didn't believe him in the slightest before turning to the recently arrived portrait and giving it the password.

"Now Godson of mine," Sirius said turning back to Harry and motioning for him to go on in ahead of him. "get your messy haired arse inside and make sure you stay there until I give you orders otherwise."

"Aye Aye Captain." Harry said mockingly, giving Sirius a salute before muttering quick goodnight's to everyone else before disappearing.

* * * *

"Harry James Potter get your cute disappearing ass up this instant!" Harry heard a familiar voice call to him.

"Umm . . . don't particular want to." Harry muttered sleepily while burying his head deeper into his pillow.

"Well that just too darn bad isn't it?" The voice said exasperated, before Harry suddenly found his blankets unceremoniously ripped from his grasp.

"What the . . .?" Harry asked rolling over intending on snatching his blankets back only to find himself suddenly falling before painfully landing hard on the floor with a loud thud.

"Ooo ouch, that hurt." Harry said rubbing his aching beside.

"Awake now?" the voice asked amusedly.

"Huh what? Ginny?" Harry asked looking confusedly up at the smiling redhead. "What are you doing here?"

"Looking for you of course." Ginny said rolling her eyes as if this was obvious. "Do you know that Sirius is on the rampage looking for you?"

"Huh, why would Sirius be . . . oh crap!" Harry said, finally realizing where he was and why.

Two hours after Sirius had practically locked Harry in his room, Harry had expertly crept out of it and into Sirius's room where he had then 'borrowed' the tracking necklace for the night before memorizing himself into the protection of the Lair where he had eventually fallen asleep.

Harry knew when he had decided to leave that Sirius was going to be beyond furious when he woke up and realized he was gone, but at the time Harry hadn't really cared. He had just wanted a good night's sleep without worrying about facing Sirius first thing in the morning and besides he really needed to talk to Demin first.

"So, Sirius is awake and on the rampage huh?" Harry asked, picking himself up off the floor and stretching. "I'm guessing that's how you knew I was back?"

"Correct." Ginny said laughing. "Sirius came storming into the Great Hall early this morning demanding everyone and anyone to tell him where you were. At first Ron, Hermione, and I had thought Sirius had finally just lost it with you disappearing on us so much, until Kairi came bouncing into the Great Hall with Delia right behind her. Hence we realized Sirius was not in fact losing it and was just as you so nicely put it, 'on a rampage.' I must say we were all very relieved to hear you were back, even if it was from an accusing and angry Sirius."

"Sorry about that." Harry said cringing. "I just really needed to get away from him last night."

"I'm sure." Ginny said raising one of her eyebrows in question. "Something tells me there's more to this then you're saying."

"Observant as always I see." Harry said grinning. "I knew there was a good reason I loved you."

"Ha! That better not by the only reason." Ginny exclaimed.

"Of course not!" Harry said in mock outrage. "There's the fact you love me unconditional, you're beautiful, you have heck of a temper, you're caring, stubborn, loyal, need I go on?"

"No." Ginny said laughing. "I think you've about covered my good points."

"Good." Harry said in relief, taking the blankets back from Ginny and beginning to fold them.

"So are you going to tell me what you're hiding?" Ginny asked watching him closely.

"Yes, but not right now." Harry said. "I've got to go make my peace with Sirius first and I'd really like Ron and Hermione here as well. Speaking of which, where are they?"

"Pretending to help Sirius look for you." Ginny said suddenly pinning Harry with an accusing look.

"What?" Harry asked perplexed.

"You'll think what!" Ginny cried incredulously. "I can't believe you didn't come and inform us the minute you were back!"

"Well I kind of figured that letting Demin know that his daughter was safe and alive was first on my to do list when I got back." Harry said defensively. "How was I suppose to know that Sirius was going to hold me hostage the minute I returned! He's gone completely crazy!"

"Well if he has, then I don't blame him." Ginny said glaring daggers at him.

"And just what is that suppose to mean?" Harry asked.

"It means you could drive just about anybody crazy! I don't even thing Saint Joub would have enough patience to deal with you!"

"Just whose side are you on here?" Harry asked incredulously.

"Having Harry Potter as a Godson? I'm going to have to say Sirius's." Ginny said crossing her arms over her chest and continuing to glare at him.

"I feel so betrayed." Harry said hurt. "I disappear for a week, not by my own accord may I add, only to come back to find all my friends have turned against me. Do you even realize that Sirius is probably going to kill me by the end of the day?"

"Again if he does, he probably has good reason." Ginny said determinedly. "Merlin knows I want to kill you myself for disappearing on us again! You had us all really worried! You had me really worried." Ginny finished in a whispered.

"Ginny," Harry said gentle, his angry depleting as he walked over to her and drew her into his arms. "I don't disappear on you just to make you worry."

"I know that." Ginny said wrapping her arms tightly around his neck and lying her head on his shoulder. "But when I woke up in the hospital wing a couple of days later where they told me you were missing and they didn't know where you were, I thought something really horrible had happen to you this time. That this time you really weren't coming back."

"I'm sorry Ginny." Harry muttered into her hair. "I really I'm."

"I know you are." Ginny replied softly. "As I am for yelling at you just now."

"I believe that yelling at me is in your rights as a friend and a girlfriend." Harry said smiling slightly. "Therefore no apology is needed."

"I'll be sure to remember that." Ginny mumbled contently. "Now all you have to do is promise me you'll stop disappearing and I'll be happy."

"I'm afraid I can't promise you that." Harry said unfortunately. "But I will promise you I will always come back to you if it's within my power."

"Wizard Promise?" Ginny asked turning her head to look at him.

"Wizard's promise." Harry said without hesitation, sealing it with a kiss.

"Oh dear!" A sudden voice exclaimed seconds later, causing to the two kissing teens to brake apart and glare furiously at the other intruding teens.

"Could you guys come back later, we're busy." Harry said capturing Ginny's lips again.

"So we see." Hermione said grinning. "But I'm afraid if you don't go talk to Sirius soon our beloved school won't be standing for very much longer."

"And if you don't stop playing tonsil hockey with my sister you won't be standing very much longer either." Ron added annoyed.

The two teens once again broke apart, Ginny glaring murderously at Ron.

"Ron unless you want Harry going around acting like you whenever you kiss or even look at Hermione the wrong way, then I suggest you stop telling Harry and me what we can and can not do." Ginny said glaring at her brother and tightening her grip on Harry.

"You know Ginny does have an excellent point." Harry said winking slyly at Hermione. "I really do need to start looking out for my little sister."

"What? You wouldn't . . . You can't . . . she not even your sister . . ." Ron stammered afraid of what Harry might do.

"True she's not my real sister, but she might as well be." Harry said shrugging. "I love her like one."

"And beside I've always wanted an older brother." Hermione said playing along. "And personally I don't believe I could ask for a better one. Don't you agree Ginny?"

"Most defiantly." Ginny said still glaring at her brother. "If only we could all be so lucky."

"All right I get it!" Ron huffed. "I'll mind my own business, happy?"

"Ecstatic." Ginny said grinning triumphantly.

"Now back to the real problem." Harry said. "Just how mad is Sirius?"

"Very." Hermione said.

"I do believe he said something along the lines of hunting you down even if it meant tearing down the last remain stones of Hogwarts just so he could fry you in hot oil before locking you in a dungeon for life." Ron quoted, throwing himself in an armchair.

"Wow." Harry said impressed. "He must be really pissed."

"Oh he is trust me." Ron said.

"Oh I almost forgot." Hermione added. "We ran into Demin on our way here, though he didn't seem out for your blood like Sirius I think he just wanted to talk to you."

"Umm . . . I guess I really should go and find those two before they really do, do something destructive." Harry said thoughtfully, finally releasing Ginny and heading for the door.

"What? You just wait one minute Mr. Potter." Hermione demanded. "I want to know where you were all this time and why Sirius is looking for you?"

"Hermione I really think finding Sirius before he really does destroy Hogwarts is a little more important then explaining to you right now." Harry said opening the door. "I'll explain everything when I get back ok."

"Well if I come back." Harry corrected himself just before the door shut behind him.

"And just what is that suppose to mean?" Hermione asked turning back to the remaining two teens bewildered.

* * * * * *

Soon Harry once again found himself walking the familiar hallways to Sirius's quarters trying his hardest to avoid as much as the student population as possible.

It had crossed his mind that he could just mesmerize himself there, but he quickly dashed that idea as he wanted to delay talking to Sirius as long as possible.

So slowly walking down the last remaining stretch of the hall, Harry was taken by complete surprise when he was suddenly grabbed from behind and dragged backwards by the waist into an empty classroom, while the other figures hand clasped firmly over his mouth to muffle his surprise cry.

It took Harry's surprise senses a few moment to finally kicked in before the unknown figure instantly found themselves flat on their back with one of Harry's many hidden knifes pressed against their throat.

"Who are you and what do you want?" Harry asked coldly, not able to make out any of the person's profile in the dark.

"You should already know who I am and as for what I want, I want you to get you heavy butt off me." The voice demanded amusedly.

"Demin?" Harry asked bewildered, quickly removing his knife from his mentor's throat and getting to his feet.

"Glad to see you still know who I am." Demin said getting to his feet and brushing himself off. "Nicely done by the way."

Harry blinked stupidly at Demin for a couple of more minutes, not quite believing what had just happened before suddenly regaining his senses and starting to yell.

"Demin have you completely and utterly lost your mind!" Harry shouted. "I could have really hurt you! Or worse killed you! What in Merlin's name were you thinking!?"

"Now Harry calm down." Demin said calmly. "Would I have grab you like that if I hadn't known I could stop you at any point from causing me harm? I am after all your teacher."

"I don't know, would you have?." Harry asked rhetorically, while shakily claiming the empty seat in front of him desperately trying to calm down. "Just don't do that again."

"No I don't think I will." Demin said smiling approvingly. "Your fighting technique is getting even more unpredictable, even too me."

"Ha!" Harry suddenly shouted. "You just admitted I could have hurt you!"

"I said no such thing." Demin said grabbing the seat in front of Harry and sitting down. "I simple said that 'IF' I was to attack you in the future I could be running the risk of you hurting me. There's a difference."

"Yeah whatever." Harry said shaking his head. "Just as long as you aren't going to do it in the future I don't care what you just said. Why'd you hauled me in here in the first place? And it better have not been for your amusement."

"Of course not." Demin said as if this was obvious. "I just needed to talk to you alone."

"Well we're alone, so start talking?" Harry said resting his chin on his hands and giving Demin his full attention.

"There's actually a couple of things I wanted to talk to you about." Demin said sighing. "Sirius being one of them."

"Ah." Harry said wincing. "Can we start with something else?"

"No." Demin said firmly, suddenly turning serious. "This should have been done along time ago, preferable the minute we had returned to the Elf Realm with Sirius and Remus. Sirius is your guardian Harry and he had every right to know then, as he does now."

"I know that Demin." Harry said closing his eyes. "And in most cases you would have been completely right in telling my guardian right off, but not in Sirius's. Don't you understand that Sirius would have absolutely freaked out and possible killed you without really stopping to think about it! You were a complete stranger to him! And to top it off you were the stranger that kidnapped his godson for a solid month without a word that I was safe! He had already lost my parents, spent half his life in Azaban, and another two years on the run, do you really think that if we had told him that you had nearly killed me, accident or not, he would have hesitated even a second before hurting you? Damaging any chances you had at a friendship! Haven't you've seen I'm the only thing left linked Sirius's to a happy past? And that I'm the only thing linking him to a future right now? Sirius needed this time to adjust to you, to learn to trust you. He need time."

"Time!? Time is what got us into this mess!" Demin exclaimed. "I do understand what you're saying, but Sirius found out through the worst way possible! He found out through another source when it should have been one of us!"

"Don't you think I know that Demin?" Harry said gripping his hair with his hands. "But it doesn't mater now, it's too late. What's done is done and in the past and what needs to be done is now. We move forward not looking back and face the consequence to come, head on and unafraid."

Demin just sat and stared at Harry for a full minute before slowly breaking into a smile.

"Sometimes I wonder just how old you truly are." Demin said shaking his head admiringly.

"I'm going to take that as a compliment." Harry said returning Demin's smile before mellowing again. "So what are we going to do?"

"What we should have done in the first place." Demin said firmly. "Tell Sirius the truth, I respect Sirius too much for anything less, especially when it comes to raising you."

"Hey!" Harry said indignantly. "Why does everybody think I'm such I bad child to raise?"

"Not bad, just difficult." Demin amended grinning.

"Jeez thanks." Harry said sarcastically. "But keeping to the subject at hand I do agree with you, we will tell Sirius the truth. However, I think it would be better if I did it alone."

"No way." Demin said shaking his head. "I am not a man to coward from a mistake I made or let another take the punishment for it and you know it."

"Yeah, I know." Harry said looking up at Demin. "But at least I know for a fact Sirius won't kill me."

"Harry." Demin said reprovingly.

"All right, all right." Harry said holding his hands up in surrender. "I figured it was at least worth a shot."

"If you say so." Demin said glancing at his watch. "But you don't need to worry about me. I can take care of myself, even if it is against Sirius Black's famous temper."

"I'll be sure to remember to engrave that on your tombstone when we bury you." Harry said mockingly. "Here lies Demin of the Elf Realm who conceitedly thought he could taken on the ex-convicted Sirius Black and live to tell about it. May his poor foolish soul rest in peace."

"That's beautiful." Demin said getting to his feet. "I would hate to think you didn't love me enough to engrave something so loving on my headstone. Just please don't forget to put loving father somewhere upon it."

"Demin that wasn't meant to be funny!" Harry replied sourly.

"Nor did I think it was." Demin replied. "Now enough stalling, let's go."

"Wait didn't you say you needed to talk to me about some other things too." Harry asked quickly.

"Indeed I did." Demin said pulling Harry to his feet. "But those matters can wait until later."

"You mean 'if' there's a later." Harry muttered as he exited the classroom behind Demin.

* * * * *

A little too soon for Harry's liking Demin and him had tracked down Sirius and were now facing off with one pissed off Godfather and one curious ex- werewolf in their quarters.

"Before I start yelling at you," Sirius said in an eerily calm voice while glaring at Harry. "Would you kindle return the necklace you stole."

It took Harry a few seconds to comprehend what necklace Sirius was talking about before reaching into his robes and pulling out the tracking necklace Diane had given him.

"Before I return this Sirius, will you please promise to let me explain why I left last night? Preferable before you start yelling at me." Harry asked looking at his Godfather hopefully.

"I don't believe you're in any position to be making deals Harry." Sirius said through clench teeth. "Now hand over the necklace."

"Sirius please." Harry pleaded. "I had my reasons, all I'm asking is that you hear them out."

For a moment there was silence as Sirius searched Harry's face for something, before finally relenting.

"Fine." Sirius said. "But I'm making no promises not to yell at you afterwards."

"That's all I was asking for." Harry said tossing the necklace back to Sirius who immediately placed it around his neck.

"Now the reason why I left last night is actually quite simple." Harry said fidgety. "I left because of you Sirius."

"What?" Sirius asked looking taken aback.

"Sirius you can't deny that you were being confining last night." Harry said. "The minute I got back you wouldn't let me out of your sight and by the end of the day I was really needing some space. I needed time alone to think about what had happened to me and what had happened here while I was gone."

"Plus I was tired Sirius. Tired of being the world's savior, tired of barely escaping death's clutches once again, tired of being an adult, simple tired of being me. I may not be a normal kid, but I'm just that, a kid. One who wants to have fun once in awhile and hang out with friends without worrying about adults affairs. I know that's not remotely possible with Voldemort on the loose and the world looking to me to stop him, but just for last night I wanted to be alone just like any other teenager. I didn't do it to make you angry or to be funny and I honestly meant to be back here before you woke up, but as you see I didn't quite make it."

The room was silent after Harry had finished everyone reflecting on what he had said and no one really knowing what to say.

"I'm sorry Harry." Sirius finally said his angry completely deflating. "I can't completely know what you're going through because I'm not you, but I do understand. I think you know how much I hate seeing you go through all this, especially when you asked for none of it. But I also know that neither you nor I have much choice in the matter. All I can do is walk through this with you and I will, every step of the way watching your back as you watch mine."

Harry stared at Sirius for a moment before suddenly throwing his arms around him and hugging him tightly.

"I don't care what anyone says, you're the best guardian my parents could have every appointed me." Harry said voice full of emotion. "I love you Sirius and thank you."

"I love you too kid." Sirius said returning the hug just as fiercely. "Always remember that and remember no matter what I will always be here for you when you need it."

"I will." Harry promised releasing Sirius from the hug. "As long as you promise not to be so suffocation next time."

"I guess I can be a little overprotected at times, especially last night." Sirius said reluctantly.

"A little?" Remus choked out.

Sirius threw Remus a glare that clearly said 'butt out' before turning back to Harry and saying. "I guess I was just afraid that if I turned my back on you for just one second you would disappear again and I just couldn't deal with that right now. My sanity is hanging on by a thread as it is."

"Like I told my friends," Harry said. "I don't disappear on purpose or just to cause worry. I just don't seem to have any control over it."

"I know," Sirius said. "and I am sorry for treating you like a prisoner."

"Let's just call it even." Harry said. "I did after all leave when you strictly told me not to."

"Deal." Sirius said smiling. "Now that that's cleared up, please enlighten me and tell me why you have elf magic."

"Oh yeah." Harry said shooting Demin a worried glance, forgetting for a moment the really reason they were there. "Would you just believe it's a natural talent I have?"

"Yes and I am really an intelligent dog who is able to turn into a man at will." Sirius scorned.

"Well that is quite debatable." Remus commented again from his spot beside Sirius.

"What part?" Harry asked. "Him truly being a dog or him being intelligent?"

"Both I believe." Remus said chuckling.

"Very funny." Sirius said unamused. "But I don't believe I am the one who is suppose to be on trail here. So if you two are done, Remus will you kindle shut up and Harry start talking."

"All right chill." Harry said slumping back in his seat. "Just promise me you'll keep an opened mind about this."

"First he'd have to have a mind to . . ." Remus started to say but instantly stopped when he received another death glare from Sirius.

"Despite what Remus may think I do in fact have a mind and I promise to keep it open." Sirius said impatiently. "But if you don't start explaining some things right now I have half a mind to feed you Veritaserum."

"You wouldn't." Harry said in disbelief.

"No?" Sirius asked raising in eyebrows in challenge. "I may love you, but that doesn't mean I wouldn't do it."

Harry just stared at Sirius wide eyed for a moment before realizing Sirius was being dead serious and quickly started talking.

"Do you remember what I told you about my training schedule when I first returned here?" Harry asked.

"Yes." Sirius said nodding.

"Well I may have, sort of, left out a few minor details along the way." Harry said invasively.

"Such as?" Sirius asked.

"Such as Demin's cruel techniques, his hard physical labor he made me do, his . . ."

"Harry!" Both Demin and Sirius shouted at the same time.

"I already know all that." Sirius said getting more irritated. "If you remember correctly I did spend some time with you in the Elf Realm."

"Yeah I know." Harry said realizing he couldn't stall any longer. "But do you remember the days Demin and I would disappeared for an hour?"

"Yes." Sirius said.

"Well I was trying to restore what the elves call a mediation shield." Harry said. "I sort of messed up my first attempted and I needed to correct it."

"I have never heard of such a shield." Remus said looking curious.

"Most wizards haven't." Demin commented. "It's an elven technique that faded out of the wizarding world centuries ago."

"So you mean this shield was used in our world at one time?" Remus asked.

"Indeed." Demin said. "Many centuries ago when travel between our Realms wasn't restricted and we could freely traveled across the realm's boarder our people shared knowledge with one another and this mediation shield was one of them."

"So how does this shield work?" Remus asked intrigued.

"Mediating shielding is the process of bringing both your physical and magical energies to the surface, where you then align them equally so that they are in perfect harmony, before intertwining them together to create a body shield." Harry explained.

"However, achieving the prefect harmony between the two energies is very difficult." Demin said. "Much more for wizards then elves because of the much higher potential for magic wizards have. But if you do happen to succeeded in aligning them, then you have created a shield powerful enough to block both magical and physical attacks at the same time, for a longer period of time, without drawing on you magical reserve."

"If this shield is everything that you say it is, how come wizards aren't using it anymore?" Sirius asked suspiciously.

"Like I said it's very difficult to learn, so after time most wizards just stopped messing with it when other more easier spells were discovered. But what completely ended the use of this spell in the wizarding world was the fact that it has some dangerous side effects on wizard's powers if the spell isn't done correctly."

"Then what gave you the right to teach Harry such a spell?" Sirius asked angrily.

"There were many factors involved." Demin replied sadly. "One, Harry need to learn a shielding spell for his protection for training exercises. Two, this was one of the most common shields we use in my realm since we have no difficulties with it. And thirdly, which was the deciding factor in all of this, I was ordered by the elders to teach him this particular shield, or at least I was lead to believe they had ordered it."

"What do you mean by that?" Sirius asked sharply.

"At the time one of the nine elder's on the council approached me and instructed me to teach Harry the mediation shield, making me believe it was the will of the council. But what he really did was lie to me and betray the council." Demin said bitterly. "If I would have been smart enough I would have gone and questioned the council on such a decision."

"Why would you have?" Harry cut in angrily. "You didn't know at the time that there were risks involved when teaching a wizard this shielding. This is and never was your fault Demin and you know it! So stop blaming yourself!"

"What do you mean Demin didn't know?" Sirius asked confused. "He just told us he did."

"He didn't at the time." Harry said fervently. "The history of this shield and the dangerous of it in correspondence with the wizards goes back many centuries and since no documents were ever recorded about the dangers on either side it wasn't common knowledge. Then the realm crossing was restricted so not many wizards found themselves traveling to the Elf Realm wanted to learn this shield so eventually this knowledge just faded out with time. Do the math Sirius, Demin was born many years after this occurrence and since there's no written record there's no way he could have known. The only one's who still do know of this knowledge are the nine elders and by the time they told Demin it was already a little too late."

"Why do I get the feeling I'm not going to like where this ends up?" Sirius asked.

"Probable because you're not." Harry said sighing. "It's not a pretty story just remember you asked for it."

"Nope, definitely not going to like this." Sirius said. "But you've already go my interest peaked so please continue."

"Like Demin was saying, he was ordered by one of the elders to teach me this shield, so teach me he did." Harry said continuing the story. "It only took me a full day to align my powers so that they were balanced perfectly and about another three days to intertwine them together to create the shield. At the time it seemed to both Demin and I that I had mastered the technique without any problems and very quickly at that. But what we didn't see was the one critical mistake I had made while intertwining my two energies. I had crisscrossed just one of my strings wrong and this caused my shield to slowly start to untwine from each other, while also causing a power struggle to start between my two energies."

"You see instead of Harry's two energies working together like they should have been doing, they were constantly fighting each other for dominance whenever Harry called upon the shield." Demin explained further. "I'm sure you can just imagine the destruction and strain that this two energies were causing Harry's magical structure fighting each other all the time. And like most things that are put under to much strain it will eventually collapse. That's exactly what happened to Harry's shield two weeks later during one of our regular training sessions that caused an almost fatal accident."

"You see Demin and I would use these shields every time we would pick up a weapon or spar with each other on the mat." Harry continued knowing Demin didn't want to tell this part. "But before we would even start the real serious stuff, Demin and I would warm up by using a very mastered practice routine. If someone were to watch it, it would look very much like a dance routine, only difference is we were using swords as well."

"Anyway on this particular day we were warming up like always with this routine when I started to notice my shield was acting strange. But instead of stopping and telling Demin I just ignored it and continued. It was about half way through the routine that my shield finally just couldn't take anymore and it shattered. Before I could comprehend what had happened, I suddenly found myself an immense physical pain."

"You see," Demin said when Harry didn't continue. "I had run my sword straight through his chest."

As Demin's words fell of his tongue the room got completely silent as Sirius and Remus paled and stared at the two in horror.

"You did what?" Sirius finally choked out after a minute.

"You've got to understand Sirius that Demin had been expecting me to block his blow." Harry said jumping in quickly before Demin could. "We had practice that routine hundreds of times flawlessly and even then when we did make a mistake our shields had always been there to protect us. It was my fault I got hurt, I should have told Demin to stop the minute I felt my shield acting up, but I didn't. And when my shield shattered I completely let my guard down and left myself wide open to Demin's attack who had absolutely no idea what had just happened. I do believe Demin was more surprise then I was when his sword went through me."

"I don't think surprised would be the right word." Demin said softly. "More like completely and utterly horrified."

"Yes I guess that would describe your face as I fell to the floor and Delia started screaming bloody murder." Harry said carefully.

"So you stabbed him?" Sirius asked slowly just to make sure he had heard correctly.

"I had." Demin said softly. "It even took me I few seconds to realize what I had done, it just seemed too unreal. After I had regained my senses I immediately sent Delia for help as I went to see what damage I had done and stop the bleeding. Only then when I had ripped open Harry's robe did I notice there was no blood."

"What do you mean there was none?" Sirius asked incredulously. "You bloody well stabbed him!"

"I know what I did Sirius." Demin said heavily. "I was there."

"Sirius," Harry said warningly.

Sirius who was still in shock threw Harry a dark look before rounding on Demin again. "First you tell me you stabbed my Godson and now you're telling me that he was miraculously ok? That there was no blood?!"

"Sirius stop it!" Harry said sternly. "It was an accident! Do you really believe Demin would hurt me on purpose?"

"No, I least I don't think he would." Sirius said tightly.

"Sirius you're been I damn hypocrite." Remus suddenly cut in. "Think about what you're saying and think about your own past."

Sirius flinched at Remus remark and abruptly shut his mouth.

"I'm sorry Sirius, but that need to be said and I think you know it." Remus said softly.

"You're right, like always." Sirius said sighing. "I'm sorry Demin I had no right to yell at you, especially when I know you wouldn't hurt Harry anymore then I would."

"No apologize are necessary." Demin said smiling slightly. "You're anger is completely understandable and not unexpected."

"Nevertheless I am sorry." Sirius said. "Please continue I know there's more to this story I need to know."

"Indeed there is." Demin said sighing. "As I was saying I went to stop the bleeding only to discover there was none, that's until I looked closer. That's when I discovered that Harry's blood was being blocked by what appeared to be an invisible barrier, so instead of the blood seeping out of the wound it was being kept in and spreading around inside of him."

"Oh Merlin." Remus whispered horrified.

"That was my thoughts exactly." Demin said. "So moving quickly I tried to use my magic to cross the barrier to stop the bleeding, only to meet residents from the invisible barrier. I didn't know what the barrier was or where it had come from so I just keep on trying to get through it so I could help Harry, who's breath was becoming shallower by the minute."

"Finally five agonizing minutes later helped arrived and I moved aside certain that they would be able to get passes whatever defense Harry had put up, but when they too could not get passed it I started to panic. So thinking quickly we sent for the elders while carefully transporting Harry to a private medical faculty. When the elders arrived not long after they too tried every healing and shield destruction spell they could think of and again nothing worked. Harry's invisible barrier continued to block us."

"That's when Nico and the elders pulled me aside and asked me what had happened and that's when Lord Eric the elder that had lied to me stepped forward and confessed what he had done. He told the council that he had instructed me to teach Harry the mediation shield without warning me of the dangerous. He did it because he knew I would have defiantly questioned the council if I had known and that would have giving Lord Eric away."

"That's the point where I was informed by a furious Nico the dangerous of the shield to a wizards. I'll tell you I never came so close to killing one of my respected friends until that point, even know if Lord Nico hadn't stopped me Lord Eric would probably have been dead." Demin said darkly. "Lord Eric had deliberately lied to me, betrayed the council, and had intentionally put Harry in danger. When I had demanded to know why he done it he told me that it was for Harry's own good, that Harry need to know the mediation shield if he was going to survive long in a battle with Voldemort."

"So he did it intentionally to hurt Harry?" Sirius asked dangerously. "Just to see if he could handle it?"

"No." Demin said. "I honestly think Lord Eric thought that Harry was going to have no problems mastering the technique. It was a rash judgement that almost cost Harry is life. Though when I look back on that day I really should have seen the dangers without being told, it should have been obvious."

"Demin," Harry said warningly, massaging his aching temples. "I swear if you don't stop blaming yourself for this I'm going to do something you'll regret."

"That'd make two of us." Sirius said taken them all completely by surprise.

"What?" Sirius asked defensively when they all continued to stare at him. "Did you think I was going to jump Demin the minute I got him alone?"

"Well, that thought did cross my mind." Harry muttered. "Among other things."

"I don't blame Demin even the slightest for this accident." Sirius said. "I know now that Demin would never intentionally hurt you. I could see that the first day I met him, that the love he holds for you is that of a son."

"Thank you Sirius." Demin said sincerely. "I don't think you know how much your forgiveness means to me."

"Oh I think I do." Sirius said glancing briefly at Harry and Remus who knew now that Sirius understood.

"However," Sirius continued darkly. "Lord Eric is another matter entirely."

"Unfortunately Lord Eric has already been dealt with." Demin said throwing Harry an annoyed look. "Even if it wasn't to my liking I must stand by the ruling."

"Don't you dare look at me like that." Harry said pointing accusingly at Demin. "I had already started a war in my Realm I really didn't need to start one in yours."

"You wouldn't have started a war just by pressing charges Harry." Demin said sighing. "But like I told you then, I'll respect your decision even if I don't like it."

"Like you had a choice." Harry muttered.

"Let me get this straight." Sirius said glancing between Harry and Demin. "Harry didn't press charges against Lord Nico even though he almost killed him?"

"More or less yes." Demin said. "When Harry did finally wake up and we informed him of the situation he refused to press charges, he wouldn't tell us why, but he simple refused to."

"Sirius before you start lecturing me, just know that what's done is done and you should respect my decision as well." Harry said.

"Since I still don't know the whole story yet, I'm going to reframe from judgement for now." Sirius said discreetly. "So please continue and tell me how you finally broke the shield."

"What make's you think they broke the shield?" Harry asked.

"You're sitting here aren't you?" Sirius shot back.

"Good point." Harry said.

"Yes the barrier did finally collapse, but to this day we still haven't figured out how." Demin said shaking his head. "You see after Lord Eric's confession we immediately knew what the problem was, we just didn't know how to counter it. You see Harry's mediation shield had sometime between the time it had shattered, to when I stabbed him and then pulled out the sword had reassembled it's self inside of Harry's body and that was the barrier that was keeping us out. So putting Lord Eric under house arrest the other elder's escorted him from the building, while Lord Nico and I stayed behind in Harry's room to discuss what we could possible do knowing Harry's time was running short."

"How had Harry survived this long anyhow?" Remus asked.

"Just what kind of question it that to ask?" Sirius asked vexed.

"I very good one," Demin commented. "because we were wondering the same exact thing at the time. But we learned later that Harry's magic had still been intact enough to realize he was in serious danger needing medical help and was therefore fighting with all it had left inside to keep him alive."

"Ah, I see." Remus said nodding.

"Good now stop interrupting and let Demin finish." Sirius said annoyed.

"By all means." Remus said.

"Like I was saying we don't know exactly what brought down Harry's barrier, but sometime around three hours after the incident Harry's hand started to glow silver and blue and the next thing we knew Harry's body went into a seizure from sudden magic backlash and blood started gushing out. We immediately knew that barrier was down and within a matter of seconds Harry was under going the most extensive magical healing that my people have ever attempted by five of our brightest and most powerful healers."

"Blue and Silver magic did you say?" Sirius choked out in a strange voice causing them all to turn and look at him.

"Sirius?" Harry asked worriedly, noticing that his godfather had gone completely white and his eyes had glazed over. "What's wrong?"

When Sirius didn't even acknowledged that Harry had spoken and remained immobile Harry quickly got up and walked over to him while glancing anxiously at the other two men.

When Sirius still didn't respond to Harry's gentle shaking of the shoulders Harry started to panic.

"Sirius!" Harry cried gripping Sirius's shoulders more firmly and shaking him roughly. "Damn it Sirius answer me!"

"Harry?" Sirius finally asked, looking up as if seeing him for the first time.

"Yes Sirius it's me." Harry said anxiously. "What's wrong with you?"

"You're alive right?" Sirius asked, unexpectedly seizing hold of Harry's wrists and jerking him down to his knees so that they were eye level. "This isn't a dream is it?"

"Sirius you're starting to scare me, what's gotten into you? What's going on?" Harry asked.

"Did that . . .?" Sirius started to asked but stopped as his throat suddenly felt constricted.

"Did that, what?" Harry asked anxiously.

"Did that accident happen on July 21st?" Sirius finally asked shakily.

Harry could do nothing but stared at Sirius eyed wide and speechless.

"How did you . . . ?" Demin finally choked out, just as surprised as Harry.

"So I'm right?" Sirius stated turning to look at Demin who could only nod numbly.

"Sirius how in Merlin's name did you know that?" Harry asked finally finding his voice. "We haven't told a soul about this."

"It was a dream. Or at least I had thought it was." Sirius said turning back to Harry, his eyes taking on a distant look. "The day of July 21st I started to feel unusually tired very early in the afternoon and I couldn't for the life of me figure out why. Seeing how I hadn't done anything but sleep for days. It was almost as if someone was trying to pull me into the land of unconsciousness. So finally around eight that night I gave in and went to bed."

"I'm not sure how long it took me to fall asleep, but when I did I suddenly found myself standing in an unfamiliar hallway full of people in white and blue suits gathered around in a circle talking quietly with one another. I remembered I couldn't hear what they were saying so I decided to get closer. When I finally got within hearing distance I heard them saying that their patient wasn't going to survive much longer if he didn't receive help soon and that it was a miracle that he had survived this longer. I didn't understand what they were talking about or what it had to do with me suddenly being there, so I asked them, but they didn't answer. That's when I realized that they couldn't see me or hear me and nor could I clearly see their faces."

"That's when I heard distant crying and before I could stop and thinking about it my feet was following the crying down the hall. It led me to a room with five figures in it. Two of them were talking quietly in the corner, while two more where seating in a chair by the bed and the fifth was lying in the bed still and motionless."

"That's when a suddenly become terrified of what ever dream I was in. Terrified of who I would find in that bad, terrified that is wasn't a dream and that my nightmare had finally become reality. At that point I just wanted to turn and run, never to look back, but I didn't seem to have much choice in the matter as I unexpectedly found myself standing directly next to the bed staring down at the prone figure lying there."

"It was you." Sirius choked out staring directly into Harry's eyes this time. "The one thing in this world that could possible terrify me and bring my world crashing down was there, lying it that bed, white as death and motionless. I remember one thought keep running through my mind, 'this is a dream, this isn't reality, this is a dream, this isn't reality.' But the more I repeated it the less I believed it, so wanted to proved that it was just a dream I reached out and touched you cheek only to pull it back instantly. Your skin had felt ice cold to the touch, but what scared me was that it had felt so really that it shattered my illusion that this was a dream. That's about the time you opened your fever-glazed eyes and looked directly at me. I remember you smiled sadly at me for a moment before slowly turning your head and staring at something only you could see. Then after a while you turned back to me looking lost and confused. That's when you spoke to me, you asked me what I was doing there and why cou . . . could . . .yo . . . you . . . se . . ."

"And why could I see my father?" Harry finished for him in a whisper.

Now it was Sirius's turn to stare at Harry eyed wide a speechless.

"That's when you started to cry." Harry continued softly, his eyes never leaving Sirius's. "You told me that I couldn't, under any circumstances, go with my father. That I belonged here with you and nowhere else. That my father could wait for me to join him until later. I remember telling you I didn't understand what you were talking about, but by then you were totally incoherent. That's when my father started talking to me, he told me that for once in his life Sirius was right and it wasn't my time to die and I need to go back. When I asked him how, he told me all I need to do was take your hand and everything would be fine. When I told him I didn't understand he just smiled at me and told me that he loved me before placing my hand within yours and disappearing."

"And that's when my hand started glowing blue and yours started glowing silver." Sirius said dazed. "I remember holding your hand until it got too hot to keep a hold of and that's when I suddenly find myself awake and in my bed at Remus's house breathing heavily."

There was silence after the two had finished their story. Everyone lost in their own thoughts.

"That's the night I found you sitting on the couch around one o'clock in the morning staring at your hand and muttering to yourself." Remus said looking at Sirius completely amazed. "You keep repeating the same phase over and over again no matter how many times I tried to snap you out of it. You keep saying 'if I don't acknowledge it, it's not real. If I don't acknowledge it, it's not real.'"

"And that's exactly what I did." Sirius said looking at Remus. "I reasoned that the dream was simple a nightmare brought on by stress from Harry's disappearance and pushed it clear to the back of my mind, never wanting to think about it again. And I hadn't, not until Demin spoke of the silver and blue magic, then the dream was suddenly right before my eyes."

"I as well brushed it off as a dream, an hallucination brought on by my high fever." Harry said in awe. "But it was real. All of it was real. Sirius, my dad, my dad telling me what to do and Sirius." Harry suddenly stopped and turned wide eyes at Sirius. "You saved my life, you brought down my barrier when no one else could."

"But I don't understand how." Sirius said bewildered. "Or how was I got there in the first place."

"I believe I have a theory to that one." A voice behind them said suddenly, causing them all to start violently.

"For Merlin sakes Albus, don't do that!" Demin said clutching his racing heart. "You nearly gave me a heartache."

"Sorry about that Demin." Albus said chuckling lightly as he claimed the last remaining armchair. "I assure you that wasn't my intent."

"Sure it wasn't." Demin said skeptically.

"Er . . . Professor, how long have you been back there?" Harry asked nervously.

"Quite long enough." Dumbledore said turning to Harry and giving him a calculating look. "I must say a never thought your tell of how you got elf magic would turn out so fascinating."

"Join the club." Sirius muttered rubbing his aching head. "Though technically we still haven't heard how Harry ended up with elf magic."

"True, true." Dumbledore said smiling. "But I do believe Demin was getting to that point just before you all got side tracked and unexpectedly solved the mystery of Harry's barrier."

"I was in fact." Demin said nodding. "However, I think I'd like to hear your theory on Sirius's miraculous barrier breaking first."

"I second that motion." Sirius said leaning back in his chair. "So Albus how did I do it?"

"Quite easily." Dumbledore said smiling. "You see in the wizarding world when a parent names a Godfather or a Godmother it isn't just a title one invokes upon one for honor, even if that is how it is viewed in today's society. It is also for creating a magical bond between the child and the Godparent the usually lies dormant for the child's life, unless the child is in need of it. Such as when I parent dies and responsibility of that child's care is left to them."

"How come I was unaware of this?" Sirius asked.

"Most Godparents are Sirius, as are the parents." Dumbledore explained. "You see this bond does not form between every godparent and godchild, there has to be certain criteria's from the very beginning. So as there has to be unconditional love and protection on the Godparents part and complete love and trust on the child's part. However, even the slightest mistrust or hate on either side can server this bond for good."

"So what exactly are you saying?" Sirius asked suspiciously. "Are you implying that Harry and I share such a bond?"

"Indeed I am." Dumbledore said seriously. "But I'm not implying Sirius I'm telling."

"How could this bond still be intact?" Sirius asked. "I haven't exactly been the best Godfather! I've spent most of Harry's life in Azaban or on the run for Merlin's sake!"

"I don't think you understand Sirius." Dumbledore said shaking his head. "This is very old magic at work here and it takes more then misunderstandings to break such a bond. Sure the bond had dimmed over time you were absent to the sense that Harry didn't even know it was there while growing up, but nevertheless it was there."

"What about Harry's third year?" Sirius asked. "Harry hated and mistrusted me so much I think he wanted to cause me bodily harm, oh wait I forgot he did. How did that not break the bond."

"Because it was all I misunderstanding and lack of information and somewhere deep in Harry's subconscious he knew that, therefore the bond remained untainted." Dumbledore said. "It's very complicate magic, that I don't even understand completely, which is why most Godparents and parents are unaware of it. However, I think if you and Harry look closely enough you will find that I am right."

"This is unbelievable." Sirius said staring at Dumbledore as if he were crazy. "I think I need to sit down."

"You are sitting down." Harry pointed out rolling his eyes. "Professor if what you are saying is true then how did this bond help Sirius save me that day?"

"It's simple really, you see when Sirius said he felt a force pulling him into sleep, there literal was a force pulling him, it was the force of his magical bond that ties him to you." Dumbledore said. "So once it at actually pulled Sirius into sleep the bond then connected you to him directly by taken his shadow form and transporting it to where you were. It's not very unlike what you did when you Astor-projected Harry."

"Ok so now we know how he got there." Demin said. "But how did he break the shield?"

"Just like any parent who has control over their child's medical decision, it's the same sense with what Sirius did to Harry's magic. When Harry's magic was blocking you from rendering aid, it was because it didn't recognize you and thought you were there to cause harm. But when Sirius showed up he unintentionally used the bond between them in order to break the barrier down by simple taking Harry's hand and letting Harry's magic recognize him as the higher authority, so he would drop the shield."

"I think I understand now." Demin said slowly. "Sirius was basically the key to our locked door."

"Precisely." Dumbledore said beaming.

"This is just a little too much to take in all at once." Sirius said dazed.

"You're telling me." Harry said. "You do realized I'd be dead if it wasn't for you, don't you?"

"Tell you what, you just try to stay out of trouble for awhile and we'll call it even." Sirius said.

"Sirius you're been asking for the impossible all year with that and so far a haven't done a very good job obeying it. You do know that right?" Harry asked.

"Yes I do, but I know you can at least keep trying. I did after all save your life." Sirius said jokingly. "Now before my mind goes on vacation from information overload would you please explain why you have elf magic?"

"Oh yeah." Harry said. "Demin?"

"Right." Demin said nodding. "Like I told you once Harry's shield had broken we started to heal him using five of our strongest healers. But we quickly noticed that it was taking a lot longer for Harry's injuries to react to the healing magic, due to the fact that Harry's body was only using about a half of the magic we were giving him while the other half just seem to vanish. What we didn't see until we were done and Harry was stable, was that Harry's magic was actually taken the other half of the healer's magic and manipulated it into pure elf magic. His magic then took the manipulative magic and placed it into the damage voids of his magical structure that the mediation shield had caused. In other words Harry was rebuilding his damage magical structure by simple using our magic!"

"How is that even possible?" Remus asked. "That would basically be like taking A positive blood and giving it to an O negative person, it's a death warrant!"

"You're completely right, it is." Demin said smiling at Remus. "And we honestly have no idea how Harry accomplished this much less lived through it. But the fact is he did and he now has a magical structure identical to that of a child that was born of a wizard and elf."

"That's Incredible." Remus mutter shaking his head. "Completely incredible."

"Indeed Remus." Dumbledore said chuckling softly. "Incredible yes, but surprising no."

"And just what is that suppose to mean?" Sirius asked.

"You Sirius of all people should have learned by now that with Harry you must expect the unexpected," Dumbledore said his eyes twinkle madly.

"Well I hate to disappoint you Albus, but I'm afraid that not even in my wildest imagination did I suspect something that this had happen to cause Harry to have Elf magic." Sirius said crossing his arms across his chest and leaning heavily back in his chair.

"I'm going to have to agree with Sirius on this one Albus." Remus said still dazed.

"So that's how you have elf magic, huh?" Sirius asked.

"Yep that's pretty much it." Harry said shrugging. "I screwed up the shield damaging my magical structure in the process, then in my stupidity Demin stabbed me, which lead me to bring you along to saved my butt, and then while the elves were healing me I burrowed their magic to rebuild mine. Then after that IhadtofixedtheshieldsothatIcoudcontrolit thus causing no more harm. So can I leave now?"

"What!" Sirius exploded. "You went back to learning that shield after all that had happened?!"

"Wow you caught that?" Harry asked amazed.

"You better start explaining." Sirius said pinning Harry with a dangerous look.

"Look Sirius even though I hadn't constructed the shield right, it was still apart of me." Harry explained. "You see when my shield shattered in me all it did was compacted it into a little tight intertwine ball of magic. If I had just left it like that it would have eventually gotten bigger until it exploded. So you see I had to relearn how to reconstructed the shield."

"Do not worry." Demin said reassuringly. "Lord Nico and I watched over him every step of the way. The shield is now perfectly intact and will be causing Harry no more problems."

"So you see I'm perfectly fine." Harry said cheerfully. "So now can I go?"

"Fine go." Sirius said wearily. "I got the explanation I wanted from you. Demin on the other hand I still have plenty of questions left."

"You're not going to kill anybody after I leave are you?" Harry asked suspiciously.

Sirius opened his mouth to respond, but another voice beat him to it.

"You mean he hasn't killed anyone yet?" Kairi asked coming into the room and looking disappointed that her brother was still alive.

"Very funny." Demin said sourly. "And just where have you been?"

"With Delia. We went up to Madam Pomphry's office to work out a schedule so Delia can balance her lessons and help Karen out as well." Kairi replied taking a seat on Sirius's lap. "Delia nor I particularly wanted to relive Harry's accident with you."

"Nor would I have wanted you to." Demin said smiling at his sister. "Thank you for taking care of her."

"You're welcome." Kairi said smiling. "Now what's this I hear about Sirius not killing anyone?"

"If you fear for your brother's life then don't." Sirius said. "He's free from my list of people to kill."

"Too bad." Kairi pouted. "I was kind of hoping that you would ruff him up a bit, Merlin knows he needs it."

"Why thank you dear sister." Demin said sarcastically. "It's so nice to know I've got such I loving sister watching my back."

"But of course." Kairi said smirking. "You know what they say, revenge is sweet."

"Speaking of revenge." Sirius replied darkly. "Do you know Lord Eric and where he dwells in your Realm?"

"Yes." Kairi said turning to Sirius with a frown. "Why do you ask?"

"I want to pay him a little visit and wanted to know if you would be so kind as to come along?" Sirius asked innocently.

Kairi frown slowly turned upward into an evil smile as she nodded. "I would love to accompany you."

Harry groaned and quickly got to his feet and made his way to the door.

"Ah Harry, aren't you going to stop them?" Remus asked, glancing anxious at Sirius and Kairi who were plotting out their revenge.

"Nope." Harry said opening the door. "I've already got enough problems on my hands, you're going to have to deal with them yourself."

And with that Harry closed the door behind him and quickly disappeared down the hall.

Next chapter: We'll have a Harry, Draco showdown. Learn what animagus forms the others will become, and some Voldemort action.

Again sorry this took so long, please forgive me.