Chapter 26

Remus had stayed behind at the Ministry, awaiting Sirius. He watched with joy as his over-excited friend rushed a few Ministry members, shocking them as he changed from a shaggy black dog to a strangely clean and healthy wizard. Wonders of having a competent Potions Master on your side. Severus, grudgingly, stayed at the werewolf's side as they waited for the over-eager ex-convict to finish questioning the Ministry. He wanted nothing more than to return to his cool dungeons, the further from this courtroom the better.

"Siri!" The dark eyed wizard grinned happily as he bounded over to his long time friend.

"Remy! I'm finally free!" He hugged both men, not caring when Severus tensed at the touch. "Come on! We have to find Harry!"

And within mere moments the three had tumbled from the fireplace, into Albus Dumbledore's office, just in time to see and hear Harry reveal himself, his true self. They had stared, stunned at the revelation. Who knew that little Harry Potter had actually grown up? And not just as anybody but their past Defense Professor, Assassin Vulcan Shadow.

A stumbling pattern of two families shook them from their daze, each trying to catch their balance and moving to avoid further collisions. Remus, on the other hand, had immediately rushed to the door, hoping to catch Harry. He had a split second of inhaling a very familiar scent after tumbling from the fireplace. And he wasn't going to let it go this time. This time the wolf won, it was going to claim another.

He barely recalled hearing Sirius and Severus rushing after him. He only had eyes for the hidden figure a few meters ahead. Tensing his body, Remus leapt from his running pace and seconds later brought down a quite surprised Harry Potter. He snarled viciously as the scent drove him wild. He yanked the younger man's head to one side, deeply inhaling the intoxicating scent that had driven him wild in his Seventh Year. "Shadow."

"Uh, Harry?" Emerald eyes peered up at a very confused Sirius Black. "What's going on?"

"Why don't we take this to my office, Remus? Surely he won't think of trying to pull off a Gryffindor stunt of running off." Excellent idea. Remus had already been thinking of dragging Harry somewhere to keep him, to question him. And that made him literally drag the man through the confusing corridors.

Once safely ensconced inside the private quarters of one Severus Snape, "Drink, Snape?"

Onyx glared heatedly at a grinning Sirius, "Take a flea bath, mutt."

Sirius laughed at the mutter, laughing harder when he was handed a glass of brandy. But he turned sober when Remus slammed his godson into the nearest wall, snarling. "Uh, Harry?"

The man held by a very irate werewolf sighed heavily, "Should know better. Domino and Elixa aren't here, they're home. Didn't think Remus would be around just yet."

"I want answers, Shadow."

Harry winced at the hissed name, "My earned name is Assassin Vulcan Shadow. The Avians took me from Azkaban, allowed Sirius to go free, before transporting me to their home. I was told that I had been chosen to be a warrior to The Powers That Be, the ancient Gods. They were also the ones to train me to be the Assassin I am. I spent countless years bleeding for them. In return I was allowed one gift but with a price. I never realized how far things had gotten when I came to your Seventh Year to teach. I'm sorry."

"Uh, Remy, let him go." The snarl turned to Sirius, who held his hands in mock surrender, "Please?"

Harry found himself free of one set of strong hands and quickly grasped into another pair, his godfather, "Sirius. I know about being your godson. The Avians made sure to tell me everything of my past history that no one was willing to tell me."

"That's great! You can live with me now!"

"Forget it, mutt. Potter will not be staying in that disaster of a place you call home. Not until you release the terror twins."

Sirius flushed, bright with shame and embarassament. "Uh, no?"

"Terror twins?"

A deeper blush, "Yeah, uh, sorta got mixed up with the twins. The Weasley Twins, Fred and George."

"What do you mean mixed up?"

"What the mutt is trying to say is he has been with the twins." Harry snickered at the disgusted look on Severus face, growing more at the delighted yet embarrassed grin on Sirius. "I'm surprised Molly hasn't neutered you for touching them, especially when she found out about that when you were still a convicted murderer."

"Hey! They wouldn't stop! Damn persistent twins, they are! Not my fault they chose to listen whenever they wish!" Ah, Harry thought this was the clue as to how the Twins and Sirius had been involved while Sirius was on the run. The twins did like worshipping their idols, The Marauders, he just didn't realize how much.

Severus immediately grabbed the man, forcing him closer to the now opening door, "Then go be persistent with them! Serves you right for letting them corner you on the third floor when you shouldn't have left Lupin's rooms."

Sirius whined in response, "I was bored!" He deliberately forgot to mention that he had willingly let the twins corner him, he always had a weakness for redheads, not that he had ever told anyone.

Remus never bothered to wait for the door to fully shut before turning on Harry. WHAM! "Ow! Will you stop! That bloody hurts!"

"For a Vulcan, it shouldn't. And you, Mister Potter, will not be leaving these rooms for some time." Emerald eyes widened at the sudden twin heated looks. "You dug your grave this time, Potter. And this time no one will drag your hide from it. This time I will see you pay."

He knew Severus had always wanted to see him get into some type of trouble in which no one, not Severus or the Headmaster, could pull him out of. He opened his mouth to retort but could only cry out in sudden pain and surprise when Remus took matters in his own hands by latching onto the delectable neck, biting down hard with a smug grin.

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By nightfall, Hogwarts readily moved about, allowing her child to skulk through her halls, seemingly stalking a chosen prey. And that chosen prey was conversing quite well with several of his Gryffindor friends. "Ah!"

They had all jumped, wands pulled out in seconds, when a lone dark figure leapt from the shadows, smirking. They shuddered at the show of fangs, "Well, well, wandering students. Just before curfew."

Gulping, "S-sir?"

The head tilted to one side in consideration. "No matter. I found what I was looking for. Neville Longbottom." Said student shuddered in sudden fear, "May we?"

The clumsy, chubby Gryffindor froze at the sight of this stranger male. The shadows, the rough voice, and the pointy teeth made him terrified to be alone with the figure, especially since that's what they obviously desired. "S-sir, wha?"

"No worries, Nev. I won't bite. Gryffindor honor. My mates," they shivered in a strangely revolting desiring way at the drawn out word, "made sure of that."

But that didn't mean he felt safe. Where's that Gryffindor spirit the Hat kept talking about? Gran would tell you to buck up and face your fears, just like the boggart deal. "A-all right."

"Neville!"

"I'll be okay, guys. Just wait around the corner." Fearful he may be, but not stupid. He wasn't moving from this spot, not when anywhere else could be fatal. And with his friends around the corner, he felt slightly safer.

Gleaming, amused emerald eyes watched as the small group of boys trotted, backwards and wands in hands, to the said corner. With a flick of his wrist, Harry erected a simple Silencing Charm. From the corner, the brave Gryffindor boys watched as the figure's lips moved rapidly. Neville's face grew quite pale as his mouth suddenly dropped open. He seemed to then stutter about something, blushing a fiery red. And his companion merely smirked before rapidly saying more. Then seconds after finishing, the man sauntered back into the shadows, leaving behind a very still Neville Longbottom, who suddenly flew by them and didn't stop until he reached the Gryffindor dorms. "What was that all about?"

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At the same time, Albus was holding a late Order meeting. "I was told to call you all here in the event of the final battle. I've received confirmation from several sources that Voldemort plans to attack by dawn. He will be arriving at the edge of Hogwarts' wards. We will be going out to meet him before he can manage to make the wards fall. Several of you will stay behind at various points in the castle to watch over the students. I have already sent Filius and Minerva around to each House. They shall charm each entrance to prevent the exit of any student from said House during the battle. Madame Hooch has also agreed to help the two in warding the windows, just in case. The Ministry has agreed to allow the Aurors and Unspeakables to join us. The curse breakers, and possibly a select few of the Unspeakables, will be monitoring the wards around Hogwarts as well as the Ministry. They will be the ones to either strengthen the wards or swiftly replace those that fall. I suggest each of you try to get some sleep and to be ready before dawn."