Hey everyone,
Well, this series seems to have a whole lot more life in it than any of my other stories, but then again, this series was created so that my mind could be emptied out of possible side-ideas and I could regain or keep my focus on my main stories, so that I am filling this up means that my mind is too filled for my main stories right now.
Is that a problem, you may ask? Depends on how you look at it. At one hand it keeps me from finishing what you all followed and favorites my account for. But on the other hand, does it also give me a way to show you, my loyal readers, what inspires me to make the stories that you always come back to.
Either way, enjoy,
Venquine1990
Challenge #7
Resistance
"No." One word. Only one with which I respond, the only word that comes out of me upon hearing what is expected of me, the only answer I find worthy of the crazy idea suggested to me by the man in front of me, the same man that – in my book – is making the situation around us worse with each and every decision he makes.
The ancient man, and those around me, all look shocked at hearing me say this one word, but I easily detect a hint of relief in the emerald green eyes of my godson, the young fourteen year old boy that is currently situated in a Hospital Wing Bed and who has been the sole witness of everything that went wrong this same evening.
The memories of what he told me he had witnessed and experienced still hurt as they are only a few hours fresh, yet I focus not on them, but on the man before me, who seems to recover quickly and opens his mouth, obviously with the intent to either reprimand me or convince me to change plans, yet I interrupt him and say:
"You can't send me out, Albus. Sending me to gather the Old Crowd would be like handing me to Fudge. They think I killed Lily and James. They think I allowed Voldemort entrance to their home. If I try it with any of the old crowd, they will think I am trying to betray them just like they believe I betrayed my friends.
Next to that, did you mention Fletcher in your list of people and if anyone would love to get his hands on a bit of money it's that filthy thief, as you well know. And finally, can you not – and I mean not – expect of me to leave my godson's bedside now that he has just witnessed murder, Albus, you cannot expect that of me."
The man has wide eyes and seems stiff with shock at hearing me break down his orders with my reasons and I turn to Harry, lying one of my ragged hands on top of his own as I say: "Harry is my main priority. He was when he was born, when his parents were killed, when I escaped from Azkaban and he is now."
By now the young redhead that I know is Harry's best male friend and the bushy haired female that I know is Harry's closest female friend are smiling in pride at me, while the mother of the young redhead has wide eyes as she looks at me, yet none of this matters to me as I see the sheer gratitude shining in Harry's eyes.
The boy then turns his hand around and grabs mine, squeezing it in an unspoken sign of gratitude and while that sign may seem insignificant to others, does it mean the world to me as I sit myself down on the boy's bed, being careful not to sit anywhere close to him as I can only imagine how exhausted he must be physically feeling.
"Sirius, what of Poppy? She will be here any minute now and if she sees you –." Albus tries again and while I keep my focus on Harry, do I say: "I would have been more worried about what Snape here could have done, seeing the history between us. Besides, we both know my form and I will be so again before she comes back."
The man seems stumped by hearing this and says: "Sirius, you must understand." But at this do I finally turn away from my godson, only to send a glare of pure Black fury the man's way, causing for Mrs. Weasley who stands beside him, to let out a small scream of fear as I stand up, release the hand and ferociously say:
"No, Albus. You are the one who should understand. You should understand that not everything you decide is always for the best. You should understand that sending me after the Old Crowd is like signing my death Sentence. You should understand that you're not the only one who cares for others or wants them safe and loved.
I care too, Albus. And right now the only thing I care for is my godson. And if I recall correctly, was it your decision fourteen years ago that made me decide to give Harry up. And while I may not have Seer blood, do I highly doubt even half of the events of the last year would have happened had I not been persuaded into that act."
The man looks taken aback, obviously not expecting me to throw such accusations into his face and while the worry I felt last year, during my flight away from Hogwarts on Buckbeak the Hippogriff, when I was contemplating what I had seen and heard while around Harry, resurfaces yet again, do I glare at the man and say:
"Fourteen years ago I decided that you might know better what was best for Harry than I, as I felt myself too struck down by grief and anger to really think straight. That decision didn't just cost me, Albus, it cost my godson as well. And don't say a word in your defense, old man, because I have plenty of evidence against you."
The man looks shocked and while the woman beside him seems too stressed with her fear for a so-called murderer to – as she obviously desires – let loose on me, do I ask: "What 13 year old accepts the invitation of a wanted man to come live with him, Albus? Especially one that is supposedly raised in a loving home?"
At this both teen and elder cringe for different reasons and I go on: "Also, what teenager relies more on said wanted man than he does on his own teachers? And why haven't I seen a single letter go back or forth between Harry and his relatives? And, most importantly, did I or did I not, see Harry run away from home two summers ago?"
At this the woman and Snape shout in shock and fury each: "You were there?" But I ignore them both as I look directly at Albus, my grey-blue eyes daring to contradict him and the man calmly answers: "Harry still went back and he shall again, Sirius." But to this do I see Harry send the man an aggravating glare and I snap:
"Because he wants to or because you order him to – like you ordered him to report to you in your office earlier this evening?" And instantly I have the desired effect as the woman turns from me to the elder man before me as she asks: "You did what? Albus, how could you? That poor dear is completely traumatized and you – you –."
And just her loss for words seems to say it all as the man finally shows a hint of guilt as he looks at her and I say: "Harry will have nightmares from you demanding that report, Albus, I am willing to bet my freedom on that. And seeing the look he just send you, do I think that sending him back to those Muggles with that is a bad idea."
To which both of Harry's friends nod empathically, making Snape, who is still in the room thin his lips as he sneeringly asks: "Why don't we just get down to why we're all quarrelling here like newborn ducks without heads and ask Boy-Wonder himself what he wants. He's clearly the cause for this whole drama."
But at this I glare at the man and say: "No, the cause for this fight is Dumbledore not realizing that he is separating the wrong people for a second time in almost a decade and a half." The man sneers at me, but I ignore this and say: "Still, your suggestion has merit and I say we make use of it. Harry, what do you want, kiddo?"
At this everyone turns to the young man, me again taking my old position of sitting on the side of his bed with my hand on top of his and Harry seems to contemplate his answer as he says: "I – I want Sirius to be somewhere safe. Somewhere Fudge won't ever find him. Somewhere – somewhere I can stay with him over summer."
This makes wide smiles appear on the faces of Harry's friends, while Mrs. Weasley seems shocked that my little boy cares for me so much and Dumbledore asks: "Harry, wouldn't you rather –?" But then Harry turns his glare full-force on the man and asks: "Will you get off your bloody pink cloud and see that I hate it there!"
Shocking the entire room silent.
And there you have it!
Wow, that went way better than I expected! I was just planning on Sirius going against Albus' wish of gathering the old crowd – I mean really, there must have been a reason Rowling didn't tell us about that bar the conversation mentioned here – but for Harry to grow a backbone and go up against Albus as well was unplanned.
Still, I always believed that Dumbledore was either too old and thus turned senile, a stupid, stubborn old goat or some manipulative ass-wipe out for Harry's money and fame. Never really liked the guy and if you want me to fully explain why, we'll be filling a good three pages of reasons, so don't bother me with that, please.
Anyway, challenge rules here:
Rules:
Defiant Sirius
Harry-Sirius Father-son bond
Dumbledore choosing someone else to gather the old Crowd
Sirius remaining with Harry to the end of the year
Sirius finding a home for Harry and himself to stay at
Sirius allowing the Order to be moved elsewhere, while he lives with Harry – Order: Grimmauld, Sirius: Wherever possible.
Guidelines:
Fudge seeing sense before summer starts
Sirius getting his freedom back
Susan Bones discovering who Harry's pet really is
Sirius adopting Harry
Sirius and Harry moving to a renovated Godric's Hollow
Forbidden:
Sirius leaving Harry
Dumbledore convincing Sirius
Snape attacking Sirius
Sirius getting caught and killed – caught and freed acceptable, killed unacceptable
Sirius choosing the Order over Harry
I know the story doesn't really have a lot of rules or anything, but this is more one of those where I wanted this story to happen, but where I always got lost on what to do once Sirius convinced Dumbledore he should remain at Harry's side. Therefore, do I allow free range of things once the story reaches the ending of fourth year.
Enjoy the next challenge,
Venquine1990