A/N: hi all. Here's chapter three, a bit dialogue heavy but I'm trying to develop the relationships a bit more before I throw everyone into the deep end. I hope the story has been easier to read than the previous one, I do plan on fixing the first book's poor formatting when I have time.

Speaking of not having time, I've got three assessments due over the next week for university so I'll likely not have much time to update. Thankfully next chapter is pretty chill so I can sort of chip away at it until it's done over the week when I want a break.

I haven't got any responses to whether you guys would be interested in fic recommendations so lemme know your thoughts on that, or don't I suppose, that would be answer enough.

Anyway I hope you enjoy :)

Chapter Three: Promises

July 12th

6:23pm

The Black Chateau

Harry

The air around the black chateau was smelt of a mixture between the salty and spell residue which had a distinct acidity to it, like the smell of burnt rubber. Such are the effects of dark magic and a sparring challenge made in a coastal region. It was a knackered Sirius and satisfied Harry walking back to the Chateau bantering about the match.

"So… about that butterbeer," Harry teased.

Wincing before replying, Sirius petulantly declared, "you cheated!"

Smiling at Sirius' attempt to save himself, Harry just shook his head and continued walking towards the entrance. The rare sunny day that they had enjoyed made the Chateau look more beautiful than ever, the light shining through the windows at just the right intensity. But now it was turning dark and the dark and imposing headquarters/home they were used to had returned. The sound of waves crashing on the cliff side and the sea breeze howling paired well with the looming building to create an intense and dangerous atmosphere.

As Harry was about to compliment a specific spell chain Sirius had used he felt his pocket heat up significantly. At first he thought Sirius had lit his pants on fire as a prank but soon he recognised the feeling as the changing D.A. coin. Pulling the galleon free, he read the new inscription with worry.

July 12th, 6:30pm

Checking the time, Harry realised that six thirty was in three minutes. Pocketing the coin, Harry hastily excused himself to Sirius and took off into the building in search of Remus or Tonks.

'This could just mean that she just wants to leave the Weasley's but I'd be foolish to not treat it as urgent,' he thought as he jogged down hallways checking rooms. Hearing voices behind Remus' temporary room he knocked on the door but received no response. Checking the time once more he saw that it was already six thirty-one, knocking once more and receiving the same response he became agitated. Casting an alohomora, he barged into the room to be met with a sight he would never be able to erase from his memory.

A startled, "Oh bollocks!" came from a half naked Remus Lupin.

A more angry, "Wha- Harry! Get out!" came from an equally half naked Tonks who looked to be trying to decide whether to cover up or curse him.

Harry rushed back out and slammed the door behind him shouting, "I'm so sorry!" Laughter greeted him as he calmed down, Sirius had clearly caught up with him and fairly easily deduced what happened. Sighing, Harry addressed Sirius before the old prankster could get a jab in. "Hermione just changed the coin we used to communicate throughout the year, I only told her to do that if she needs me. It seems my intended rides are occupied so you're going to have to give me a lift."

Sirius snorted and said, "haha ride, get it? Cause that's exactly what they—"

"Sirius," Harry interrupted. "Not right now. We're going to the Burrow, I don't think there will be any problems but be ready for danger."

Sirius mumbled something about 'being no fun' and held out his arm. Harry grabbed it and the two vanished with a loud pop.

July 12th

6:15pm

The Burrow

Albus Dumbledore

Albus Dumbledore is generally seen as a highly humble man, doesn't bask in his notoriety and doesn't flaunt his fame. However those who know him well know that he likes to exercise his elevated status in the little things. Like how he just always knows who's at his office door, or arriving 'fashionably' late to an order a meeting or, just like he was doing now, showing up at your doorstep with no prior notice. Arriving at the edge of the wards to the Burrow, Albus went over his plan.

'After all the trouble I went through to locate Horace I still have no hope of convincing him to rejoin the staff without Harry. Of course the boy is nowhere to be found and hasn't been since the press conference, the Weasley's are my last hope at locating him on short notice.'

Walking up the lovely stepping stone path to the Weasley front door, Albus wore his signature smile as he wrapped his knuckles on the door.

The door opened to reveal Molly Weasley who showed signs of crying recently. "Hello Albus," she said, attempting to sound cheerful.

"Good evening Molly, might I steal a moment of your time?"

"Of course, please come through to the kitchen." Molly answered, leading him through the house. "Tea?" she asked once they had reached the kitchen.

"No thank you, I'm here on order business and must be swift," Dumbledore replied. Taking a seat on a high stool he continued by asking, "you wouldn't happen to know where Mister Potter is would you?" As soon as Harry's name was mentioned Molly's face went through several emotions quickly, rage, anger then sadness. Dumbledore only managed to catch them all because of years of reading people.

"Sorry Albus," a new voice said. Arthur Weasley had entered the kitchen and went to comfort his wife before continuing. "We haven't seen Ha-, Mister Potter for quite some time."

Catching the general aversion to Harry, Dumbledore realised he was unlikely to find his whereabouts here. Ready to give up, Dumbledore stood and began to prepare some words of comfort when a fourth person joined the conversation.

"I can find him Professor," Hermione supplied. "There's no guarantee it will be him who comes but it will be someone who can find him." She motioned for him to follow her back outside and he followed with a nod to the Weasley parents. They both understood this topic was unwelcome in the Burrow.

Once they were both outside Hermione spoke up again, "professor, I've had a lot of time to think about things recently and I don't think Harry trusts you very much. So before I do this I need you to promise me that it's important."

'My my, Miss Granger standing up to authority, a welcome surprise. Such loyalty too, Harry, you do seem to bring out the best in people.'

"It would only be a slight exaggeration to say that the world as we know it depends on me speaking to Harry tonight," he said gravely.

Hermione stood a little straighter and gave him a quizzical look before fishing something out of her jeans pocket and handing it over to him. "Change the date to today and the time to a few minutes from now, it would help if you thought of Harry as you did it as well so only his changes."

Dumbledore took the coin and examined it with his wand, "a modified protean charm? How marvellous, tell me what was the inspiration for such a device?" he said whilst doing as she instructed.

"The dark mark."

To say that Dumbledore's eyebrows disappeared into his receding hairline would not be an exaggeration but nonetheless he appreciated the ingenuity. 'The resourcefulness of children is truly wonderful, although perhaps a better role model would've been ideal,' he thought. Offering the device back he spoke, "yes well, creative if nothing else. Voldemort is prone to corrupting even the most unlikely things."

"I know what he and his followers are capable of sir." Hermione replied despondently.

Realising that he may have been insensitive, Dumbledore did his best to not seem sheepish. The two stood in silence for a moment, Hermione feigning stoicism and Dumbledore finding a way to apologise delicately. The notion was not necessary however as a loud pop was heard towards the edge of the wards.

'Quick response time my boy and is that… Sirius? Risky, brave but risky. I suppose that solves the riddle of who has been accommodating him.' he thought.

The new arrivals rushed over to the pair, Harry made for Hermione and immediately fired off questions quickly, "are you okay? Has something happened? Did he make you call me?"

Hermione, used to being on the other end of this interaction, smiled and replied, "I'm fine, no nothing has happened and he didn't force me to do anything, I offered to help."

Relieved, Harry took a step back and regarded Dumbledore as though he were sizing him up. Turning back to Hermione he asked, "how are things with the Weasleys?"

"In one word? Awkward. I feel like most of them only keep me around because I was Ron's girlfriend. Molly and Ginny look at me weirdly and the rest mostly ignore me." She admitted, glad to get it off her chest. The Weasley household no longer knew how to treat Hermione and that feeling of unease was amplified by their grief, no one could blame them but it wasn't pleasant for Hermione.

'Poor soul,' Dumbledore thought. 'At least Ron knew of her love before he passed, of course that makes it more tragic.'

Harry nodded his head in empathy, "right, you're coming back with us. Do you want to go help her pack Sirius?"

Seeing Harry's eyes flick to Dumbledore as he said that, Sirius recognised it more as a dismissal than a question. "Sure, c'mon Hermione I'm sure your books alone is a two person job." The two left and returned to the Burrow to pack leaving Harry and Dumbledore alone.

"Loyal friends are hard to come by, Harry. You've done well for yourself." Albus said, breaking the silence.

In rebuttal, Harry replied, "not just friends, family."

"Indeed." Albus acquiesced before continuing on to the heart of the matter. "By now Harry, I'm sure you're wondering why I required your presence tonight."

Leaning on the side of the garage door, Harry replied, "Actually Headmaster, after all these years I just assumed it was another problem you want me to fix. The thing I'm wondering is whether or not it will be worth my time or not."

'Oh Harry, if you knew how much you sounded like Severus right now I imagine you would be none too pleased.' Dumbledore thought before replying. "Harry, as much as you wish to think of me as the enemy, it simply is not true. I wish to end Tom Riddle's reign of terror as much as you do. Tonight's venture was to be an olive branch, the man I seek to find has vital information on the history of Tom Riddle which I assure you is not easy to come by."

For a brief moment Harry's eyes lit up before they snapped back to cool indifference. "Alright then, why don't we just nab him and be done with it?"

"To speak not of the moral implication, he has more worth to us alive and free. He is a master of potions and was a friend to your mother." Dumbledore said quickly, disturbed by Harry's nonchalant suggestion.

Shaking his head Harry sighed, "I have about seven voices in my head telling me that you're hiding something and that I should not give you the satisfaction of my help. But if the man has information on Tom then he is more valuable than he realises."

'I have truly damaged our relationship haven't I? Let us hope the bridges haven't been fully burned. The world depends on it.' Albus realised. "I'm glad you recognise his importance, if you do agree to accompany me I can swear to do you no harm. As you know your life is more valuable than mine."

Searching Dumbledore's eyes for deceit, Harry found none. He pulled out a small rectangular mirror and spoke Sirius' name. A moment later the man he called for appeared in the hand held mirror and they began speaking. "Sirius, I'm following a lead tonight. Get Hermione settled in please and let her know I'll talk to her tomorrow."

Apprehensive, the older man replied, "ah sure pup, do you want me to call some back up?"

'Backup… the Greengrass girl perhaps? Or my own order members who have chosen a new leader I wonder?'

Harry turned his gaze from the mirror to Dumbledore. After a moment he mumbled what Albus assumed was, "fucking olive branch" before giving the negative to Sirius and ending the call.

Dumbledore smiled, "thank you for trusting me Harry, it means so much."

"I have little choice." Harry started, killing Dumbledore's optimistic mood. "I have no means of finding him myself and as you said, it is vital we find him and learn what he knows. Who is he by the way? What do we know about him?"

Clearing his throat, Dumbledore recovered from the shut down. "The man is Horace Slughorn," he revealed before elaborating. "The man taught potions to a young Tom riddle and, much like many others, was disarmed by the boy's charm and cunning. You see he had a penchant for 'collecting' students he felt were going to be successful and invited them to parties and such."

"I'm guessing that's where I come in?" Harry interrupted amused.

Dumbledore once again smiled but it was less cheerful and more mirthful, "yes." He stepped forward and offered his mangled right arm to Harry. Seeing Harry's confused and weary look he explained, "it's quite painful but I am assured it is not contagious. Come, we must go before he goes into hiding once more."

Cautiously, Harry took the offered arm and for the second time that night, he vanished, this with a small pop.

July 13th

7:18 am

The Black Chateau

Sirius

"And if you need anything else, just ask for Dobby, he's usually around somewhere." Sirius said, speaking to Hermione at the dining table. Dobby had prepared an exquisite feast for Hermione's arrival but the problem with that was that only the two of them would be enjoying it. Tonks was already at work and Remus and Harry had already had their breakfast, being early risers.

"Thank you Sirius, if there's anything I can do to help around here then let me know. I'd like to show my appreciation for letting me stay here." Hermione said earnestly. Nearly all night she spent touring her new accommodation in wonder and she felt the need to repay them somehow.

Munching on a hash brown before replying, nodded his head and said, "I'm sure Harry would appreciate some help with something, he'll be back from meditating soon and you can ask him then."

The two dug back into their breakfast in silence, enjoying Dobby's cooking. Their meal was interrupted when Dobby popped into the room with what looked like a letter in his hand.

In his usual excitable way he announced, "Master Dog! A letter for the great and noble Mr Potter! Oh, and how are you enjoying Dobby's cooking Miss Grangy?"

Sirius took the letter whilst Hermione replied, "it was wonderful Dobby, thank you very much."

The conversation the two were having was drowned out as Sirius cracked open the letter. He felt it was best to check it himself before handing it to Harry in case of any nefarious enchantments. Although he already had a hunch because of the ministry seal, he checked to see who it was from reading;

To: Mr Harry J Potter

From: Rufus Scrimengour, Minister for Magic

'The bugger is persistent, I'll give him that.'