Thursday morning found all five sitting at their respective tables, they knew that they would all have more than enough attention after the morning and had decided against stirring the cauldron any more. Yesterday, they had sent off the lengthy letters to the board and then received a long fire call from Sirius that had resulted in him almost coming through to beat the Headmaster for the abuse Harry had suffered and now the fun was about to start. Dumbledore hadn't been seen at either lunch or dinner the previous day after he had received a letter from a barn owl that had him paling him and sending furtive glances towards Harry before he rushed out in magenta robes. As the first flutter of wings and the sounds of soft hooting met Daphne's ears, she quickly glanced over to her boyfriend who was staring at the large window where the owls came in from with a smirk that sent shivers running down her spine, he glanced at her, eyes darkening with that emerald blaze that she loved and she felt an answering grin spread cross her lips. Hedwig landed in front of her plate and deposited a letter plus newspaper and Daphne quickly handed the beautiful bird a piece of bacon before the snowy owl spread her wings and flew to the shoulder of her owner who rubbed the feathers cooing at his companion as Neville grabbed the Quibbler which Sirius and Harry had both agreed to do the interview for a neither wanted to give the Prophet an inch of attention.
Head of Black, Heart of Gold
Lord Sirius Black wins guardianship battle of Boy-Who-Lived
Chosen One left with abusive relatives
Trial of the Innocent Lord
Two days ago Wizarding Britain was shocked to find out that the betrayer of the Potters was innocent of all wrong doings. In his trial facts were revealed that showed us all how wrong we had been to even consider Lord Black guilty of anything and we at the Quibbler do apologise for any hurt our previous articles may have caused.
This reporter has been privileged to find Lord Black agreeing to give an interview into the recent events that have affected him and Harry Potter, his Godson and heir.
XL: Thank you for joining us today Lord Black.
LB: The pleasure is all mine, Mr Lovegood and please call me Sirius.
XL: Only if you call me Xeno, first I would like to ensure you have fully recovered from your dreadful experience in Azkaban?
LB: Yes, thankfully I have received excellent support and care from Doctor Clemence Etienne, who not only took excellent care of me but who also helped me to prepare for the trial. The French Ministry also wanted to ensure I had full mental and physical capacity before standing for trial and were very gracious in ensuring I had the help I needed.
XL: That's excellent news. My first question is about why you left England? How did you actually manage that?
LB: After my marvellous godson and his friend saved me I headed straight to Gringotts; many might have questioned this course of action but I knew without a doubt they would take care of me for the simple reason that I had never been convicted, therefore I was still Head of House Black and they would never wish to make me unhappy. They organised for me to go straight to my family's chateau in France and they would also ensure my safety and put me in contact with the French branch of Gringotts. I left England for another simple reason which is that I didn't think there was anyone here who could help me. Anyone I could trust to help me.
XL: There was no one here you thought could help you? No one at the Ministry?
LB: No one that would give me the time of day. I knew if I dared write to one of my old contacts there, none of them would believe me. Only a few ever saw past my last name despite the good work that I did for the Ministry and I felt that if I dared go near then most would turn me in.
XL: That is most unfortunate especially considering your position in this world. Is that why you waited until France to contact anyone?
LB: Yes, I had already started to see Dr. Etienne -whom Gringotts had helped me contact – and had decided to send a letter to an acquittance who I believed would give me the benefit of the doubt, he had been one to observe the closeness of James and I. I had hope that he would listen and he did. I had sent an anonymous letter to Remus Lupin, asking him to respond to Gringotts. They barely let him in the door before they threw a portkey on him, he was not pleased with the delivery though happy to see me of course. He was certainly not happy that I was writing to a member of the law enforcement who could have me killed but I have always been more reckless.
XL: The trial happened quickly, were you surprised?
LB: Not as much as I thought I would be, I naturally didn't expect it to be so quick but the fact that I was so willing to come forward and shared the memories clearly helped. I was more surprised that he replied the first time than with the trial news to be honest!
XL: How did the trial go in France? Clearly satisfactory for all but the British Ministry, why do you think that was?
LB: The trial itself went excellently, the members were given all the necessary information beforehand and were introduced to the case without the bias that the British Government have towards me. They asked all the questions to stop any doubt from anyone's mind as well as using veritaserum and the use of the pensive immediately to negate any objections. When Monsieur Allard asked for the same here in Britain Minister Fudge rejected the proposal on account that memories can be tampered with and veritaserum is dependent on the persons perspective. We obviously got the go from the head of the DMLE but it was a fight.
XL: You don't sound surprised?
LB: In all honesty I am not, I have always had to prove myself to the Ministry. When I went to interview for a position as a hit wizard they made several remarks about my family and my dark magic knowledge helping me before they ultimately said no one would trust me and rejected my application the first time, it was only when James and his father spoke up on my account that they agreed to let me into the programme. That the Ministry didn't believe their allies would do everything to prove my guilt or innocence and then wanted to further prosecute to be sure, no I was not surprised.
XL: Well I for one am sorry to hear that, of course I know there is a stigma surrounding some older families but for you to sound so used to it is surprising.
LB: Oh I was used to it after my first year of Hogwarts, although I was close friends with many muggle-borns and for the most part an alright guy. There were many people who knew my family name and refused to let me forget it, it was good that I had close friends who would remind me how different I was from them.
XL: Your friends must have meant a lot to you.
LB: They were and are my everything. They helped me get through some of the toughest moments I have had to face.
XL: And one of them made you godfather. Tell me about that moment.
LB: Oh man, that was singularly my proudest and most emotional experience I have ever had. Lily had been in labour for hours and they had called me in for the last two hours as she's broken James's hand and wanted to hold onto someone else. When Harry eventually decided to grace us with his presence James held him first and just stared at this screaming bundle. I was supporting Lily in sitting up and she was still holding my hand as she looked at the both of them with just love and wonder. The mother was then allowed to hold her son and Harry stopped crying and blinked up at her. I remember thinking that I should leave but I just couldn't, they both turned to me and Lily lifted him into my arms. Said it was time for the godfather to hold him, I couldn't speak and just nodded…They were both so obvious about it, like it hadn't even been discussed it was just known.
XL: Mr Potter certainly seems happy with you if the actions of the trial are any indication and yet it wasn't until last year that you had any interaction, could you explain this?
LB: I think its part subconscious, maybe there's a part that recognises me from when he was small. I spent practically every other day with the Potters, I was his first word maybe a part of him recognised me. I think as well there's the fact I'm pretty much the first adult he has been able to trust. Although I naturally haven't been around him for long since I have been, I have listened to everything he has had to say, I haven't pushed any of his concerns aside and I have never lied or with-held information from him. And perhaps the third and most compelling argument is that I have shown him that I care, that I will always be there and fully on his side no matter what.
XL: I'd like you to expand on those comments if you would.
LB: He has given me permission to speak of this but I will not reveal too much information and I ask you to respect that. Harry hasn't had many positive experiences with adults. His childhood was certainly not one that James and Lily would have wanted for him, his relatives didn't treat him with kindness or love or care but rather the opposite and is constantly surprised when I show and tell him how much I want him as family. As for his years in Hogwarts they have been less than ideal, surely you have heard the rumours of the heir of Slytherin?
XL: I admit I have heard of them but thought it children exaggerating especially when there was no investigation and the board of governors released a statement saying everything was well within Hogwarts walls. Was that not the case?
LB: Oh Merlin no! It was a very traumatic time for all the students, but for Harry as soon as the students heard of his Parsletongue abilities they immediately declared him a Dark Lord. He had snide comments and was shoved in corridors right from the start. By the time the end of the year rolled around he had gone and complained to several teachers who did nothing but tell him to keep his head down. Then there was the situation with me, even though I obviously meant him no harm no one had told him about me. They had dementors placed around the school for his protection and yet they tried to take his soul! And then finally this year, he has put up with so much pressure and abuse from his classmates for something he had no control over. And through all this he had teachers contribute more to his pain. Adults, teachers and people in authority have done nothing for him and then I arrive, willing to do whatever it takes to show him what a family can be like and to take guardianship of him.
XL: He has certainly been failed by people who should have been able to help and I can't believe he's been through so much. However, as you mention it lets talk about your guardianship if you don't mind. In your trial you made it clear that you wanted guardianship, how long until you are granted it and what stages do you have to go through?
LB: Of course I don't mind, if fact I'm very happy to reveal all the details. I am actually already Harry's guardian. This all stems from the fact that I was never convicted, because of that my guardianship which was granted due to the Potters will was never revoked therefore he was actually placed illegally with his relatives. However we did go straight to Gringotts after the trial to ensure he is my heir etc and the French Ministry actually gave me a mental and physical examination to ensure that I had the proper ability to care and raise him.
XL: Oh my goodness what a surprise! First of all congratulations what wonderful news for the both of you! I can't imagine many will be happy with this turn of events?
LB: Probably not but we are and that's what matters.
XL: Indeed, well I think that will be all for today, thankyou again Sirius for joining us today. May you bring fear to your enemies and joy to your loved ones.
LB: Thank you Xeno, I hope your business remains profitable and you continue to reveal the truth to those that fear it.
The hall was loud as people spoke over each other and waved the paper around between them. In the middle of it all Harry and Neville sat in a small bubble of privacy ignoring everyone calmly discussing the next steps of the plan.
"So Dumbledore is suitably distracted from this display but we both know he's going to fight the guardianship."
"It's untouchable, there is nothing that can be done and as much as he'll want to kick up a fuss, he legally can't do anything. Besides he has his hands full with trying to find ways to scrounge up what he took."
"What will you do to him if he can't?"
"Oh we already know he can't, there's too much of it that is missing from the vaults. But it's not the money we're interested in, turns out he has taken some rare books, journals of my grandfathers and a few other belongings from us. He was even the one that had my dad's cloak before he returned it to me at Christmas 1st year. We just want him to do what he can to get himself out of the hole, Sirius thinks he'll try and barter with information."
"What's that going to do?"
"Well the thing is I'm not sure. Sirius says my parents were going to tell him something big a few days before they were killed. It was the reason they were in hiding, Dumbledore had talked to them before and why they were determined to hide after fighting the war for so long. Remus says mum sent him a letter just before they left, apparently asking for some old blood rune spells, she said it was for a theory that she was working on to protect me."
"Sounds big, what do you think?"
"I know my parents would have done anything to protect me, I know from my memories of that night and from what Sirius tells me. If Dumbledore has any information about why they went into hiding and why Voldemort came after us specifically I want to know it. But as Remus says that's something for the adults and Griphook to work through. Mine is to make it through the final task and cause some mischief."
"Well you're certainly doing that with this article, Sirius is a good talker. The fact he alluded to all teachers not just gave names will get people talking."
"Yep and from what I gather, Xeno wants to have his daughter interview me here about the specific details."
"Ah yeah, Luna Lovegood, she's a Ravenclaw in the year below. She's really sweet but quite and a lot of her classmates bully her because she's a little different."
Harry looked up, the calm hardness in his eyes that he always got when he heard something, he didn't like but was willing himself to remain in control to hear out the person.
"Different how?
"Well when she was 9 her mum died and she saw it happen, since then her dad has kind of focussed his time on the magazine so she's been alone for a few years. She sees things that other people can't and is incredibly perceptive but doesn't really understand society ques and such, people call her 'loony' because of it."
Harry nodded thoughtfully and looked over at the Ravenclaw table before making a mental note to think more on it as he turned back to his breakfast.
"Okay we'll do something about that later, right now we still need to find a way to keep Dumbles distracted so that Snape can be properly got rid of."
"Well the board are sending someone today, from what I'm aware of they have permission to examine any teacher for any reason at any time and they're sending Marchbanks and Selwyn to have a fair look at what occurs. They'll disillusion themselves and observe the class before deciding if the case needs to be taken further."
"Great, hopefully by the time Dumbles has got back from Gringotts Snape will be packing his bags!"
Laughing the two friends gathered their things and started to head to DADA meeting up with the snakes along the way and Neville felt his grin widen at the unaffected, casual way that Harry slung an arm around Daphne's shoulders and she mockingly tried to escape before reaching up and kissing his cheek. Harry had gone into barely any detail about his life with his relatives, but Neville knew it had been bad by the way Daphne would immediately stiffen and ice crystals would fly from a narrowed gaze. From the combined knowledge of what he knew and what the article said, he felt a burst of happiness and determination in knowing his first real friend at Hogwarts was doing well and he would continue to be so. Theo also felt a similar sense of resolve as he saw Daphne burst into giggles at her boyfriend's teasing, the Ice Queen had never been so open with anyone, the only one who came close to revealing this side of her was her sister. The Boy-Who-Lived had always been a quiet sort, even when Malfoy gave it his all to insult him, the green eyed Gryffindor rarely unleashed the fire that they had seen a few times this year, Theo knew it was the support Harry had found through Daphne and Neville and a lesser extent Tracey that gave him the new motivation to break through the wall that he'd built around himself and Theo once again felt relief pour through his veins at the knowledge they included him in their lives.
As they walked around the corner to Moody's classroom, Snape came storming round and stopped short at the sight of their group his eyes rested on Harry and hate seeped from his gaze as they moved slowly over the group and the five watched as his hand twitched slightly and he moved swiftly until he came to a stop directly in front of Harry.
"Not everyone is fooled by your little sob story Potter, and when the people realise that you really are a spoiled, arrogant nothing I will enjoy seeing you crumble. You and Black." He shoved roughly past and headed towards the dungeons.
"Which classes are being inspected?"
"He has 2nd year Gryffs and Snakes now, 6th year Puffs and Claws after and then us for fifth period."
"Good. He'll not last the day." Satisfaction coated his tome and Neville gave a mock shiver.
"Careful there Harry, you're giving off Dark Lord vibes."
Harry pouted at him.
"Mate why do you always ruin my fun!"
As they waited outside the room for the lesson to begin Harry ignored the eyes of his old housemates, Hermione was standing by herself a little further away in a pose that reminded Harry of the first-year girl when she had managed to alienate people with her brash and blunt manner. The little group that was his year were clearly muttering about him or at least the article. He felt another pang of loss as Ron clearly caught eyes with him before deliberately turning his back as he started to speak to Seamus instead. Daphne nudged him and asked softly if he was alright. He sighed.
"I know it shouldn't but it does still kinda…well…"
"Hurt?"
"Yeah, he was my best mate and now its like we're total strangers, Hermione at least apologised and then helped with the trial. Ron has done nothing, he didn't tell me about the dragons, or ask if he could help with the trial or anything. And Ginny…well."
"Yeahhhh, that girl is nuts." Said Tracey with her usual subtle attitude though it was at least quiet.
"Tracey!" Daphne whispered harshly; she didn't like the weaselette but nuts?
"She is! All that stalking all her friends are doing. It's weird! I don't know how you've put up with it."
Since the second task, Harry had had to dodge his way around Ginny and 3 of her friends who seemed to think that Harry wanted their attention. He'd only been able to allude them so many times was because of the map and he'd bribed Peeves to keep them busy.
"They just don't understand the damage is done, the twins are trying to set them straight."
"Still, and all that giggling."
Daphne snorted, a wide smile on her face as she recalled being in the library and hearing the giggling through the bookshelves.
"She's just a bit Boy-Who-Lived mad. She'll stop as she gets older…maybe ten years or so."
"Oh hush you." Harry said, wrapping his arms around his girlfriend tickling her sides before the door swung open and Moody's gruff 'come' and them breaking apart.