A/N: Right, so it's a bit short, but some explaining is done, more for the readers' sake than anything. And I've given up on figuring how many chapters I have left to go. This chapter gave me a couple of ideas for future events, and since I'm keeping around 1,000 words per chapter ('cause it's a nice, round number that I know I can hit and usually exceed most weeks), things are going to happen relatively slowly. Hell, it's been the same morning for six chapters now. Most of my previous attempts at long fics each had chapters about as long as the first six chapters of this fic, which is probably why I never got anywhere with them, but it also means that my estimation of what constitutes one chapter is way off.
I meant to say in my last chapter, if you like this story, you should go and read A Promise Worth Keeping. I can't remember the author's name, but I'm sure you'll find it easily if you do a search. Anyone who's already read it will have noted the plot points that I jacked from that fic. But it's a great AU, and definitely a better fic than this one.
Ok, that's everything that comes to mind. As always, thank you to everyone who reads and everyone who reviews. Oh! I just realized, I never told you that I don't own HP. This may come as a shock to everyone, but I don't. I don't get any monetary profit from this fic. The rights really do belong to JKR and WB. If they did belong to me, I and the rest of fandom would have to call JKR and WB with a collective WTF! And then there'd be weird music, with a guy in the background talking about a journey not of sight and sound, but of mind, while breaking windows float through the air. And then it'll all turn out really badly, 'cause that's what happens when that music plays, and I'd get my come-uppance for whichever of the Seven Deadly Sins I was guilty of, or just because a passing alien thought I'd make a fun toy for his daughter. And I just don't want to deal with that sort of hassle. So, in conclusion, it's really better that I don't own the rights to HP.
Chap. 7
"Honestly, I don't know exactly how we found him," Remus said. "Sirius and I discussed it at length last night, and I got what information I could from my own books this morning. The spells you used are old magic."
Dumbledore nodded, but didn't say anything.
"You know better than I do that there are any number of theories about how old spells like these work, which is one of the reasons they're not used by the average witch or wizard."
Harry had the very odd impression of an overgrown student reciting his times tables for the teacher as Remus spoke.
"I can only assume that the protections you set shield against unknown enemies as well as known ones. Older magic tends to work in many ways like that, while being altogether too subtle to really analyze with modern methods. When he ran away, he didn't want to be found by anyone. I expect that the great degree of feeling he had strengthened the magic, so that literally anyone who was searching for him, police, Auror, or Death Eater, wouldn't be able to find him unless he jumped out from his hiding places and shouted. Given the age of the spell, it would have been a lot of subtle things that got in the way of finding Harry, things that no one even realized was interference. Being called away just when they were about to stumble upon him. A slight variation in the casting of any tracking spell. Variations on the spells we use to repel Muggles, making things look completely uninteresting to searching eyes. A dog barking at the same moment he made too much noise.
"From what Sirius said, Harry had probably come to a point that he wanted someone to find him, but that he didn't want it to be a cop or a Death Eater or anyone of that sort. Being found by a friendly dog was a fortuitous event, by Harry's thinking. Being found by someone who also didn't want the police, Aurors, or Death Eaters and yet had his best interests in mind made it especially promising. I expect that's what caused the sudden change in Sirius's behavior that evening. We'd been combing London magically for a week, with Sirius occasionally turning into Padfoot to search for Harry's scent. That evening, though, he decided that he would strike out on his own. An entirely Sirius thing for him to do, so I expect he was influenced by Harry's protection."
Dumbledore nodded sagely; Harry's brain just felt a bit numb, so he suspected that all had made more sense to the adults than it had to him.
"I had suspected that Petunia's protection would work in a similar way," said Dumbledore. "Of course, I had hoped it would never be tested in the way that it has. I would be very interested to learn of any further developments in your research."
Remus nodded. "Of course."
"If there are any materials I can give you access to, I would of course be more than happy."
"Yes, thank you."
A sudden eruption of viscious growling and barking alerted the three to the new arrivals a moment before someone pounded on the door.
Remus drew his wand before answering, hardly opening the door before two men and a woman, all wearing the same kind of black robes and scaly boots, pushed their way in.
The tallest of the three, a broad-shouldered fellow with dark hair and eyes, glared at Remus.
"You're Lupin?"
Remus didn't pocket his wand, but he didn't raise it, either. He nodded.
"That mutt of yours needs to be chained. He's a right menace. You'll be fined for assaulting Aurors."
The three Aurors spun at the sound of growling right behind them, pulling their wands.
Before they could select a spell, though, the dog morphed into Sirius, who stopped growling, but looked no more pleased by the visitors.
"Black!" the second man, a redhead, said.
"You're trespassing," Sirius said.
"We've been sent by the Ministry," the woman, tall and brown-haired, announced.
"Why?"
"We've received word that Harry Potter has been found and is being held at this address," said the first wizard.
"He isn't being held anywhere," Sirius answered.
All three Aurors threw skeptical glances at Remus.
The second man said, "We've been ordered to take him to the Ministry for processing before returning him to the Muggles—"
Harry hardly had the chance to dread returning to Privet Drive before Sirius replied, "You're not taking him anywhere without my permission."
Remus took a step forward and asked as one inquiring about the weather. "When you say processing, what do you—?"
The first wizard cut across Remus as though he hadn't spoken.
"The Ministry don't care about your permission, Black."
"I'm his legal guardian, so they had better start caring."
"He's off his bloody rocker," the witch said.
"Mr. Black is actually in full control of his faculties, and his rights."
Everyone turned to look at Dumbledore, still sitting in the old wingback, a mug in one hand and half of a biscuit in the other while he smiled benignly.
"Professor, sir," said the redheaded wizard.
"Headmaster," said the witch.
The lead wizard glowered, but said nothing.
"Mr. Potter is indeed Mr. Black's legal charge," Dumbledore continued. "And he is right that the Ministry cannot remove him from his custody without the proper documentation."
Sirius glared at the black-robed wizards. "Which means you're going to keep your dirty paws off of him."
"It'll be an easy sell, telling the Ministry you're insane, exposing the Boy Who Lived to things like that." The lead wizard nodded at Remus, who gave no sign of noticing.
Sirius, on the other hand, bristled visibly. Harry scrambled from the couch to stand, not sure what he could say or do, but hating the broad-shouldered wizard for talking about Remus like some piece of foul rubbish.
Dumbledore stood, as well, except that he was still smiling.
"Well, thank you for the tea, Remus. I really must be getting back to Hogwarts. Send me an owl if your research turns up anything interesting."
"Yes, of course."
"And Harry, it was very good to see you again." Dumbledore reached out to shake his hand. "You may also send me an owl, any time that you like."
Sirius and Dumbledore exchanged a formal farewell, and then, a moment later and as though by magic, the Hogwarts Headmaster and the three black-robed wizards were back outside, Remus locking the door behind them.
"Dumbledore just helped me keep custody of Harry," Sirius said, still glaring at the door.
Remus nodded.
Sirius's eyes narrowed further. "Manipulative bastard."
Remus nodded.