Author's Note: I don't own anything Harry Potter related. It all belongs to JK Rowling.
Pronouns will follow character usage.
Sirius woke up with a nasty hangover. Holding his head in his hands, he looked over at the end table near the couch he fell asleep at, and noticed that there was a translucent blue colored potion. Recognizing it, as he'd had this exact potion many times throughout his life, Sirius popped the cork off and downed the vial in one go.
Shivering, Sirius sighed to himself, "Ugh, damn hangover potions still taste horrible. I wish Lils was here, she'd find a way to make them taste better." 'Yeah, probably after a four-hour lecture about getting this drunk at my age', he thought.
Taking a glance at his watch, he noticed it was only seven in the morning.
"Ah hell, gonna have to take the kids to Hogwarts today. Wouldn't do for several kids to be missing. Dumbledore would be right furious."
Remembering his promise to Madam Pomfrey, Sirius figured his best course of action was to gather the kids and have them Floo to the Hospital Wing. His stomach rumbled, remembering that he hadn't eaten dinner last night. 'Ah, maybe after a breakfast for us all. I'll summon Kreacher to get some ready while I go wake up the guests'
"Kreacher!" The house-elf popped into the room, a few feet from Sirius, still sitting on the couch, with a glare on his face that could really only be rivaled by Walburga Black, Sirius' mother.
"What does runaway lord want." It wasn't a question, but rather a very terse statement.
"Kreacher, please prepare breakfast for our guests – " the house-elf looked like he wanted to mutter some slurs under his breath, but before he could, Sirius loudly continued "- AND I won't have you be muttering anything under your breath. They are guests of the House of Black, and you will treat them as such! That means no name calling and no antagonizing them. Do I make myself clear?"
Kreacher just looked at his feet, grumbling under his breath so that Sirius couldn't hear him.
"What was that? Am I understood, Kreacher?"
"Yes!" Kreacher nearly shouted back.
"Good, now go prepare breakfast. I will go gather our guests."
In the time it took Sirius to stand up, Kreacher had popped away, and then popped back.
"What is it, Kreacher?"
"Lord runaway, there be someone in the kitchen, already making breakfast."
"What? Who?"
"It be the new scary lady."
"Huh. Didn't know she could cook. Fine, then you go gather the other guests, tell them to be down here in ten minutes."
Kreacher popped away to complete his new task, however begrudgingly he wanted to do it. Sirius raked a hand through his shoulder length black hair. A couple of breaths later, Sirius walked down a flight of stairs and down a hall towards the kitchen and dining room. Opening the door that led to the kitchen, he noticed that Isolt had her red hair tied back, an apron (which he didn't know where she got, as far as he was aware he didn't own any aprons), and was whistling a tune he wasn't familiar with as she went about the kitchen, stacking pancakes on a plate. She had apparently already cut some fruit and poured the sliced fruit into bowls, one for each of the human residents of Grimmauld Place, and she had a large pitcher of syrup at the ready as well. She had also apparently cooked some bacon, with slices ranging from super crispy to just barely crispy. The smell of bacon, one of Sirius' favorite breakfast foods, finally broke him from his stupor.
"You know, I could get used to this, Isolt. You need a place to stay?" Sirius laughed as he stepped further into the kitchen.
Isolt nearly jumped out of her skin. "Oh! Sirius! Didn't notice you come in. I uh, tend to get a bit absorbed in whatever task I'm doing, sorry. I hope you don't mind if I made breakfast? Cooking has always helped get my mind off things. It was one of the few chores I didn't mind doing growing up."
Sirius chuckled, "No, you're quite alright, I don't mind you cooking breakfast. Though I have to ask, did you make it yourself or did you magick it?"
Isolt turned around, with a look that reminded Sirius of Lily's whenever he had asked a stupid question. "Sirius, I make everything myself. From scratch. It's a habit from my childhood and from being on the run for three years. Less chance of my magical signature being found."
"Ah, well, sorry to bring up unpleasant memories. Though you'll excuse me if I say that it smells delicious?"
Laughing, Isolt turned back around, calling back to him, "Of course I don't mind. Though flattery doesn't mean you'll get yours any earlier than everyone else. I know how you are, Mr. Flatterer."
At this, Sirius laughed, deciding to take a seat at the table, notably, Isolt realized, he was not at the head of the table, as was customary of lords and ladies of noble houses.
The door to the kitchen opened again, and the group of students piled in, rubbing their eyes, with some being more vocal at having been woken up so early.
Ron; however, stopped his griping when he smelt the food being made.
"Pancakes!? Ms. Peverell, did you make breakfast?" Ron's eyes were just about the size of his stomach, and the other students groaned, knowing that Ron's famous appetite was about to be on full display to the two wizards who saved their lives last night.
Chuckling, as this Ron Weasley was just like hers. "Yes, Mr. Weasley. I did. Now, if everyone would please sit around the table, I can start serving you all. Please eat up, you all need your strength after last night, and I get the feeling the Hogwarts staff would not appreciate it if you came back hungry."
If anyone had noticed, they'd have seen a rather somber look flash across Isolt's face as she turned back to the food she had finished making just moments before the group had come in.
Pulling out her holly wand, she gave it a slight flick and the food began to plate itself, everyone getting a decently sized stack of pancakes, a bowl of fruit, and some bacon. The students, all hungry, dug into their meal with much fervor. The only two who didn't seem to eat much were Isolt and Harry, both of whom had noticed the other didn't eat much.
Isolt gave Harry a small and sad nod, before urging him with her eyes to eat some more. He relented, but only because he didn't want to be rude.
Halfway through the meal, Isolt decided to break the silence. "Well, I got to meet young Mr. Potter last night, I'd very much like to meet all of you, if that's alright?"
The students looked at her, and Ron looked annoyed that he'd have to stop shoveling his food into his mouth.
Isolt continued, "It would be rude of me to ask your names and not give mine in return. So, without further ado, my name is Isolt Peverell, last of the House Peverell, as far as I know. I'm also related to young Mr. Potter here, which is why I held him back last night."
The group, sans Harry and Sirius, looked at her in shock. They looked at Harry, who gave a nod, and he introduced the group. "Well, I'm Harry, as you knew, and to my right is Hermione Granger, the brightest witch our age." Hermione flushed at the compliment, "And to my left is Ron Weasley, though you'll have to excuse his manners." The group chuckled at Harry's comment, and Ron tried to say hey through a mouthful of food.
"Anyways, the girl to the left of Ron is Luna Lovegood, she's really perceptive; and to her left is Ginny Weasley, the youngest Weasley, she's got a wicked Bat Bogey Hex, so watch out; then across from her is Daphne Greengrass, who I only met yesterday; to Daphne's left is Sirius, he's a troublemaker, and finally, to Sirius's left, and your right, is Neville Longbottom, the most loyal and courageous friend any of us know."
"Ah, thanks Mr. Potter. Though, if Ms. Greengrass may excuse me, how did you end up with this group of troublemakers?"
"Well, Ms. Peverell, I was serving a detention in Umbridge's class, Harry and his group were dragged in themselves, and got roped into their escape and rescue attempt." The young Greengrass responded, with a properness that Isolt figured was taught to all young Pureblood ladies growing up.
"Ah. Well, thank you for answering me, and thank you Harry for introducing me to your friends! I think it's time we got them back to Hogwarts, eh Sirius?" Isolt looked over to Sirius, who seemed to be lost in thought.
"Sirius!" Isolt called out, playfully throwing a wadded up unused napkin at him.
"Huh, what? Sorry, got lost in thought." Sirius mumbled.
"I said we should probably take the kids back to Hogwarts now."
"Ah, yes, that we should. I'll go get the Floo ready."
Standing up, Sirius only got halfway to the door before Isolt called out. "The Floo? Why would we take that? I can just portkey us there."
"What? You can portkey us all through the wards of Grimmauld Place and through Hogwarts wards?"
"What, like it's hard? If you don't remember, I portkeyed us through the Department of Mysteries, the Ministry, and the wards here, last night."
The entire group stared at Isolt, in a mix of terror and awe, as she just casually admitted that she could portkey through some of the strongest wards in existence in Britain.
"Ms. Peverell, just how strong are you? Isn't portkeying through wards, let alone those of the Ministry and Hogwarts, incredibly difficult?" Hermione asked.
'Ah, there's her studious nature. Was wondering when that'd come out.' Isolt laughed to herself.
"Well, currently, I'm a bit magically exhausted, the magic I performed yesterday before I came to your aid was quite exhausting. But, in my current state, I could probably go toe-to-toe with Dumbledore. Hell, I'd probably win if it was both Dumbledore and McGonagall fighting me."
For the second time in about a minute, there was shocked silence and mouths agape in Grimmauld Place. It seems there was a lot to Isolt Peverell that was a mystery.
"Well, uh, that's quite powerful. If you ever do get in a fight with them, please make sure to tell me so I can be far away from the destruction." Sirius gulped.
"Hahaha, of course, Sirius. Anyway," Isolt grabbed her chair and muttered Portus, giving the chair a faint blue glow, "y'all ready?"
"Seriously, a chair?" Harry asked, not realizing he had said that out loud.
"Of course! I am absolute pants at magical travel, and always fall, so having a chair means I can stop myself by falling by just sitting down. The perfect plan!"
The rag-tag group of wixen grabbed the chair, and felt a pull behind their navels dragging them through the wards.
The group landed in the middle of the Great Hall, in the middle of breakfast. As she mentioned just moments before, Isolt quickly pulled the chair under her so she wouldn't fall.
"Ah damn, I meant to portkey us into the Entrance Hall, not the Great Hall." She said, to no one in particular.
Standing up, Isolt dusted herself off and looked over to the Staff Table, seeing all the members currently there standing with their mouths open, except for Dumbledore, who seemed to have that damnable twinkle in his eye.
"Ah, Professors! Mr. Black and I thought it prudent to return your wards to you, all unharmed of course!" She bowed, turning her head to Harry and winking.
The teenagers quickly dispersed, heading to their respective house tables, most likely to spread tale of what had happened last night and this morning.
"Ah, well thank you. Though I find myself at a disadvantage, as I don't know who you are, nor how you are able to portkey straight through the wards, Ms.?" Dumbledore said, looking over his half-moon spectacles straight at Isolt Peverell.
"My name is Isolt Peverell, last of the Peverell's, and recently returned to Britain. I happen to be a relative of young Mr. Potter. As for how I portkeyed through the wards, well, that's a trade secret, my boy."
The students in attendance at breakfast all laughed, hearing Dumbledore's catch phrase being thrown back at him. Dumbledore; however, did not find this amusing.
"Well, perhaps we can discuss this in my office. Sirius, I'd like you to join us."
Sirius looked at Isolt, and though she hid it well, he could tell that Isolt did not like Albus Dumbledore one bit.
"Well," Isolt's voice said in a steady tone, "if it's the illustrious Albus Dumbledore inviting us, who would we be to deny him a simple conversation. Though, Headmaster, if I may ask, why didn't you help Sirius Black get a trial in 1981, and why didn't you tell Harry Potter about the prophecy, or the Horcrux in his scar?"
Albus Dumbledore, a wizard of over one hundred years, paled for the first time in nearly fifty years. The last time he'd been this surprised, Grindelwald was just starting to wage his war. 'How does this witch know about the prophecy and the horcrux?!' Albus was panicking internally, but outwardly he maintained his composure.
Mutterings could be heard across the hall, wondering what was meant by what this Ms. Peverell had just asked. Surely Sirius Black had received a trial? And what was this about a prophecy? And a horcrux?
"Well, surely, I don't know what you're talking about. Sirius was convicted all those years ago." Albus conveniently 'forgot' to answer the second half of the question, in hopes that this witch took the bait.
"Albus Dumbledore. Do not lie to me. I'd like a full answer, here and now, to my questions. Both of them."
Sirius Black had to take several steps away from Isolt. The sheer aura surrounding her was becoming thick with pressure. The chair she had brought with them was cracking under the pressure. Sparks of multi-colored light flicked in and out of existence around Isolt.
"Ms. Peverell, I don't know who you think you are, but barging into my castle and demanding answers of me is not a wise decision." Albus hated having to use his authoritarian side, but this damnable witch was quickly becoming a thorn in his side.
"I have told you who I am. Now thrice I ask, and thrice I demand, will you give me an answer to my questions?" Isolt's stare was leveled straight at the headmaster, as if daring him to stare her in her eyes.
Sighing, Albus sagged into his chair. Isolt was calling on old magicks, seldom practiced, to force Albus into answering him publicly. If he didn't, magic itself would extract a price from him equal to the knowledge she requested. Albus was many things, but a fool that rushed into a situation unprepared was not one of them, but it seemed this witch was forcing him to do just that.
"Fine. I'll answer."
Isolt only stared, not noticing the stares she was getting from everyone in the Great Hall, student and professor alike. No one had ever dared demanded answers from the Headmaster, let alone question him, and manage to force him to answer.
"I'm waiting."
"Yes, yes, I know. I didn't help Sirius Black get a trial because it was better for Harry to grow up without his oath-sworn godfather. And I didn't tell him about the prophecy as I wanted him to live a normal life. As for the horcrux, I was hoping to use it to get more insight into Voldemort's plans." Albus slumped further in his chair.
McGonagall looked like she was ready to hex the old man. "You mean to tell me you manipulated events around Harry Potter for your own plans? Is this why you refused to let me take him in when his parents died? Why you pushed my concerns aside when I mentioned how horrible his relatives were!?"
Harry panicked for a moment. Not only did both Dumbledore and McGonagall know about his relatives, but Dumbledore had forced him there, kept Sirius from him, and was using him in his spying plans. He turned to look at Ron and Hermione, a look of horror on his face. Unfortunately, as he did so, he noticed that several students had turned to look at him, with a mix of confusion from the wixen-raised ones, and pity from the muggle-raised ones. 'They know. Holy shit they know.' Harry was panicking inside.
"Yes Minerva, though I am loath to admit it."
"I will be telling the Board about this, Dumbledore." Minerva McGonagall was giving the old wizard a patented McGonagall stare.
Sirius was at a loss. Isolt Peverell was shoehorning one of the most powerful wizards of all time into admitting his faults, in front of everyone. Just how powerful was she? He knew she was crazy strong, after all, she did defeat Voldemort in her timeline, but this was a different kind of power. In a battle of wits and fortitude, she had forced Dumbledore to concede.
"Ms. Peverell, I hope that satisfies your curiosity. Now, may I ask that we continue this in my office?"
"Fine, I'll agree to that. On one condition: Harry Potter comes with. This will pertain to him, and unlike you, I will NOT leave him in the dark."
When those gathered would re-tell the story of this day, none of them would forget the time that Albus Dumbledore's eye twitched.
"That is acceptable." Albus stated through gritted teeth.
"Harry, Sirius, come with me. We have an appointment to keep." Isolt called out, relaxing her aura back into her. 'How long have I been keeping that up? Oops. Sirius and Harry both rushed to join her as she strode out of the Great Hall, leaving the entire hall flummoxed as to what had just happened.
As the doors of the Great Hall closed behind the trio, every single student that day vowed to never forget what had happened, nor what Dumbledore had admitted to, in front of no less than eighty witnesses. The collective opinion of the students regarding their Headmaster dropped several points, and would continue to fall as those in the Great Hall would tell the story to those who had slept in.