Chapter 16

"It is almost the end of the year. I wonder what sort of adventure I will have this time." Harry wondered. "Are you looking for adventure, Harry?" Harry looked up into Hershia's eyes. "No. I would rather deal with Mrs. Malfoy to end the year." Hershia hummed lowly. "No. I would rather deal with Mrs. Malfoy to end the year." Hershia hummed lowly. "I thought you already dealt with her. Do you want to kill her? That will just land you in Azkaban." Harry chuckled. "No one can ever suspect a third year of such crimes." Was the casual reply. "But…" "I won't kill her; she just won't have any choice but to shut up about her punishment." "Do I want to know." Harry shifted to look away from her. "What I am going to do is something no pureblood would wish upon their enemy. She will learn not to mess with Draco."

Silence stretched for a while and Hershia itched to end it. "Are you done with looking over Sal's notes?" "A while ago, yeah. They are quite detailed so there wasn't much additional research to do. His spells are ingenious even in this time and the theories would captivate any scholar." "Will you extend on it?" Hershia asked. Harry turned to her. "Hm?" "It has always been his dream; for his heir to complete his work. That includes his ideals on muggles and muggleborns." "I would love to, love, but one thing at a time." Hershia nodded in understanding. "It is a huge task. If you can complete this one I would be glad." Harry caressed the basilisk's chin. "The task can never be truly completed, you know that. Even so, I will do my best. I must go." Hershia nodded and watched the third-year leave. She sighed before going back into the pipes.

"Harry, you must concentrate on your studies. Disappearing like that will not help you in any way." Hermione scolded. Harry rolled his eyes, sitting down for breakfast. "I beg to differ." She rounded up on him. "And how is missing our study sessions and History class going to help you in any way?!" Harry waved her off. "It doesn't matter." Before she could scream again he stopped her. "Look Hermione, I have never failed a single class. I don't see myself doing so even now. I know what I'm doing, I'll be fine." She huffed but let it go. Harry sighed, looking over the great hall. He needed to leave this place soon. He booked a meeting with his accounts manager and he couldn't miss it. The wards would be an issue, though he could sneak past them through the Shrieking Shack. Dumbledore would know he left, but he would deal with that when it comes.

Snape wasn't at the head table, bit if Draco told him about his situation it would be understandable. He frowned. That bitch that calls herself Draco's mother was nothing but a worthless piece of shit. Lelita's thoughts, Harry would not put it that way, he would just kill her. 'Fantastic idea, my lord.' 'You know I can't.' 'Yes, your boyfriend begged you not to.' Harry sighed in exasperation. 'That's not how I feel about Draco and you know it.' 'I wonder what he would think about your so-called feelings. Would he be disgusted?' 'We're not talking about this.' With that Harry blocked his demon. He focused on the absence of Remus Lupin. It was a full moon today. He huffed, thinking about the man's hatred for himself. He had been a werewolf since his infancy and he still couldn't handle it. It was pitiful, really. Instead of spending that time wallowing in self-pity he could have been learning to be in sync with his wolf. Look at Greyback. An outlaw and right bastard he may be but he made peace with his wolf. That's probably the only good thing that could be said about the alpha.

"Are you planning anything tonight?" Hermione questioned giving him a nasty look. He just smirked at her. "Who knows." She growled and looked away, stabbing her toast moodily. She was growing attached, he noticed. Harry doesn't know whether to be victorious or horrified. 'I'd be disgusted too, but you need her.' 'For once you are talking sense.' Lelita huffed. 'Just because I agree with you doesn't mean I want it. All this beating around the bush is making me sick.' 'It's not just Granger is it?' Harry asked, seeing where this was going. 'No! Of course it's not just it. You are a Shadow Fae, mightiest of all daemons. You should not be tiptoeing around these idiots, just take what you want! Please Harry, be the leader you were born to be.' Her pleading made Harry close his eyes. 'The world doesn't work like that anymore, Lita. Subtlety is a valuable tool and I'm using it. World domination will come, but for now I have a few things to fix.' 'That might as well take years.' Harry smiled secretly. 'A small price to pay.'

He left after breakfast, choosing to attend History class today. Hermione was thrilled to hear of it. He met Draco during Runes class. He was a bit down but as the day went by he seemed to lighten up, though he did not want to be very far from him if he could help it. At dinner he was rather annoyed by Weasley's incessant complaining about his lost pet rat. Granger was also keeping a close eye on him. Can't he just get some peace in this hovel?

'Maybe taking the Shrieking Shack route was not such a good idea.' These were Harry's thoughts as he was backed into a corner, a squeaking Scabbers in his rather bruising grip. He had fled for Hogwarts grounds barely after curfew, on his way to his meeting with Griphook through the Shrieking Shack. That was when he stumbled into Scabbers scurrying across the grounds as if he had the hounds of hell after him. Maybe he did, but Harry did not consider it when he shot the disgusting thing with a stupefy. Maybe Draco would be willing to lord this thing over Weasley or maybe bargain with him. He got into the entrance under the disgruntled tree and was within the Shrieking Shack when he was attacked by a rabid dog. He even had the bloody leg to show for it. In his shock, he drew his wand but it was snatched from him by the mutt. It was then he realized this wasn't a normal dog, it was an animagus. It was Black.

Sirius Black reverted to his humanoid form and pointed the wand at him, or rather the fat rat. His suspicions were then confirmed. The Weasley rat was Peter Pettigrew. He kept a tight grip on the traitor even as Black ordered him to release him with an insane look in his eyes. "Put the rat down." "Why? This rat is a student's pet that I intend to return." "That is not a rat! Which rat lives over a decade?!" Black screamed. Harry gave him a leveled look. "Maybe you can tell me what this non-rat did to you then." Black growled like the mutt he was. "He ruined my life and yours. Now put him down so I can kill him." "No. Tell me everything about this 'rat' and what it did. Then I will decide if I want you to kill it."

Black hesitated for more than a minute then he spilled. A very biased version of the war and Pettigrew's part in his parent's deaths. How he was betrayed and spent twelve years in Azkaban. Harry smiled. No one told him the full version of how his parents died or the events that led to it. He had suspicions but hearing it from the lips of someone who was involved made him sure. Even so, he did not let go of the rat, which was squirming more vigorously ever since his name was mentioned. With a bit of wandless magic the rat was rendered incapable of reverting to his humanoid form. Black glared. "I've told you everything. Let go of the rat." "No." "What? Let me kill the treacherous bastard!" Black shouting, whining like a brat that has been denied his favorite toy.

Before Harry could say anything more, Black moved to snatch the rat from his hands. Harry prepared to have the shadows stop him but a stunner was shot at him. Harry turned shocked eyes to Lupin, who had just entered the room. He tied Black up in ropes then woke him up again. "Was it you who betrayed Lily and James." Black's eyes widened. "What? No. I would never do that Remus. It was that rat, Pettigrew! He is right there in Harry's arms. He won't let me kill him." Lupin glanced at Harry, the rat then back at Black. "How can I trust you?" Black looked betrayed for a second. "I swear on my life, Moony." He was completely serious. Lupin released Black who climbed to his feet. Lupin did not give him back his wand though. "Harry, release the rat. We need to put him back in his original form then take him to the ministry. It will prove Sirius Black's innocence."

Harry shrugged. "I don't care. I have other plans for Pettigrew." This gave them pause, then Lupin sighed. "Harry, I know you are mad and may want revenge on him right now…" "No, I don't." They looked at him confused so he elaborated. "I don't want revenge. As I said, I don't care. I never knew my parents, never will. I don't love them just as is expected for someone who has never even met the people. There is nothing to love, nothing to remember, nothing to avenge." The two were shocked, not believing what just came out of his mouth. "What?" Black asked, voice breaking with emotion. Harry waved Pettigrew at their faces. "This rat is not going to the ministry. I'd rather milk him of all the information he can give me about Voldemort and his bootlickers. Set him up as bargain for Voldemort, if the dark-lord-wannabe even cares about the pathetic thing. After I'm done toying with him, he will be all yours. Until then."

"You don't care about Lily and James?" Black asked brokenly. Harry raised an eyebrow. Lupin stepped forward, seemingly having gotten over the shock. "Harry, we need Pettigrew to free Sirius." "His freedom will have to wait for a little bit. I'm sure Dumbledore is willing to hide Black in the meantime." "Harry…" "Black has spent twelve years rotting away in Azkaban I'm sure that a few more in a hideout will be nothing." He summoned his wand from the werewolf's limp fingers. "Now if you'll excuse me." He was now making his way to the exit that led to Hogsmeade. That was when he heard it. The pained groan of a man transforming into a wolf. He turned back to see the full moon exposed by the passing clouds and shining through a small window right onto Lupin. 'Shit!' By the time he thought of running the transformation was over and Lupin had seen him. He snarled ferociously and prowled closer.

Harry called on his power but before he could use it Lupin whimpered and moved back. He shook his large head as if to clear it before bounding away to the forbidden forest. Black, who had transformed to his animagus form, gave him a long stare then ran after the werewolf. Harry was left standing there, confounded by the turn of events. "What just happened?" he asked himself. Lelita answered. 'That was a dark creature noticing another creature as its superior and taking its place beneath you.' 'Does it happen with every dark creature?' 'Well no. Some will be more resilient than others.' The raven turned to take his leave of the shack and to Gringotts, rat still in his grip. 'Right…I'm late for my appointment so I better rush to it. It's a shame Gringotts wards won't permit shadow walking.'

Griphook was already waiting for him at the bank. He looked disgruntled to be kept waiting even for five minutes. "Heir Potter." He greeted the boy as he entered the private room. The first time Griphook saw him he was eight years old. The boy was dignified even in ratty clothing and tinier than even some goblins he knew. He had this aura around him that silently announced the power hidden beneath, and if there was anything goblins respected more than money it was power. The boy had, without much fanfare, told him he was heir Potter and wanted control over his accounts. Thereafter there was a lot of talking and bribing and Griphook was satisfied enough to overlook the fact that the child was not even of Hogwarts age. The next few weeks were spent much in the same fashion, but Griphook was greedy. He tried to compromise a few of the boy's plans so he could get more money. He almost died for it. He is now more afraid of this boy than he is of the dragons they keep beneath their feet.

Now he was being controlled by a thirteen-year-old boy. Said thirteen-year-old boy sat opposite him with a squirming rat in his tight fist. "I need a cage for this. Charmed to be inescapable and prevent any animagus changes, please." He said. Griphook snapped his fingers and a small cage appeared. A few more gestures and the cage was ready. His client put the animagus within the cage and closed it. "I apologize for being late, Sir Griphook. I was rather derailed on my way here and had to take care of something." Harry said. The goblin nodded. "It is forgivable, Heir Potter. What business did you want to complete today?" "Don't worry, it won't take too much of your time. I want this rat to be milked of every incriminating memory. From his Hogwarts days to today. Then I want you to contact the Daily Prophet and leak this information slowly. The purpose of this is to convince the masses that Sirius Black is innocent and also to reveal what happened the night Voldemort killed the Potters. Do not reveal where you got this information from or who gave it to them. It must be anonymous. Once they are properly convinced I want a recent picture of the rat's human form to be revealed to the public. The ministry is going to demand he be given over to them. Do as they say, but hand him over dead. I don't care what you do with him until then. Are we clear?"

Griphook nodded. Although these are not instructions Harry was going to give the goblin, he revamped his plans to fit the current situation. His previous plans were not going to work anymore. "Now that has been taken care of, I have some other business to discuss." Griphook sat straighter, listening attentively. He was given two photographs. They were of children Harry's age, if not a bit older. "Their information is at the back. I want you to create legal identities for them. They are to go to Hogwarts next year. They previously went to Dumstrang. Make any adjustments you see appropriate. Run those by me." Griphook nodded once again, affirming his compliance. "When do you want the IDs?" "As soon as possible Griphook. Just don't mess up." With that, Harry stood up and left. Griphook grit his teeth. He hated Potter no matter how much money he got from the deals, but he respected him nonetheless. Someone who could outsmart him so thoroughly and even gained the respect of the King. He looked at the now prone rat. What was up with that anyway?