KEYNOTE: Harry will always think of himself as Harry but for your benefit, I will start writing Harris and Harry. (though I will likely slip up some on this and I do apologize).
P.s. I'm skipping Horcrux hunting, you've read it before, I've written it before, and honestly, I finally found a compelling HP drama that can be held up while still messing around in the realm of the books :D
Thanks Nauze!
Chapter 3 - Muggle Shenanigans
Harris would classify this summer as one of his worst.
Merlin help him, he had thought his childhood was bad, that that was the worst it could get.
Wrong.
So very wrong he had been.
Harry spent many a day cursing Andromeda into absentia even as he mourned her and his children that he would never see again.
As for what he did practically over the summer?
He attended court, played politics, and did the damage repair for what a neglected House of Black had become.
He wasn't exactly sure what the public made of him. His every vote was progressive, and yet, he had publicly snubbed Albus Dumbledore at every opportunity.
He had also refused to meet with Frank and Alice Longbottom, writing them a note instead that read:
Dear Mr. & Mrs. Longbottom,
I am glad to hear of your recovery. But I am afraid I am not the Potions Master who created the cure, merely the person who passed it along. So, there is not much we could discuss and I am not the one who deserves your gratitude, nor can I tell you who the creator of the Cure is.
I wish you and your son all the happiness in the world.
Sincerely,
Harris Magnolia Black
That hadn't endeared him into making any friends but also hadn't made him any enemies in court.
He was an enigma on the Wizengomat, a strong super of civil rights for muggleborn and non-humans, and yet not a friend of Dumbledores.
At this point in time, politicians were one or the other.
Harry's only real enjoyment that summer was shooting down Dumbledore's every attempt at talk or introduction.
His public rebuffing of Dumbledore, and the fact that despite voting in the modern way's favour, he never brought forth his own ideas or voiced an opinion. He just listened and voted.
He was a political enigma, belonging to neither side, which of course meant he was claimed by both sides.
Harris also knew, however, he would need the purebloods on his side for what he had planned, even if Voldemort had probably connected the dots on who he was.
However, he was counting on Voldemort's curiosity to get him to play with fire.
So he approached Mr. Friel Nott with the full expectation of being well received.
Mr. Nott's eyes darkened, focusing in interest as Harris approached, "Mr. Nott."
"Mr. Black."
"I had a matter which I wished to get your thoughts on," Harris said, blandly, aware of the eyes on them.
Mr. Nott raised a brow but nodded, "Of course, would you accept a private drink?"
Harry nodded, "It would be my pleasure, shall we take the floo?"
The skin around Nott's eyes tightened but he nodded.
Harris didn't allow anyone to apparate him, not if he had anything to say about it. When they got into the hall of fireplaces, Harry had the exact address of where he was going.
The Nott Estate was likely only standing because of the five house-elves who ran it. The Nott family lacked money, and what income they did have, Friel primarily used on drink.
Even still, Harry was surprised to see Blaise Zabini beside Theo on the sofa before the fire.
Both shot up to their feet, their expressions smoothing into well-practised masks.
Harry brushed the soot off even as Freil went straight for the liquor. It wasn't until he poured himself a glass and took a long draw did he say, "Harris Black, this is my son, Theodore, and his friend, Blaise Zabini. Boys, Mr. Black."
Harry felt his heart ache as he held out his hand first to Theo and then Blaise.
They took his hand, shaking it back firmly, but there was a bit of confusion breaking through their masks.
Children in the Wizarding World weren't given much credit as being on their own.
"It is a pleasure to meet you both," Harry said genuinely.
Teddy had been sorted into Hufflepuff.
But the twins had both been sorted into Slytherin. James had married Theo's daughter, Eliza Nott, and Rose had married Blaise's son, Dharmik Zabini. Over the years, and especially after Ron had been assassinated, Harris, Theo, and Zabini had grown to be, well, not friends exactly, but they had become family, finding that they had much more in common than any of them had believed.
Theo just nodded and Blaise stared at him suspiciously.
Friel came over with a glass for Harris and instructed coldly, "Get lost you two."
Theo nor Blaise needed to be told twice as they nearly sprinted from the room.
Harris would happily murder Friel.
Theo would probably have thanked him.
But Harris also knew that Lucius was Theo's godfather, and that would not help Theo now.
Draco was in enough danger as it was, no reason to put two children directly into Voldemort's path.
Harris pretended to sip his drink after they had both sat down, using a bit of wandless magic hidden at his side to make some of the alcohol to disappear.
"What is it you wished to discuss, Black?" Friel asked.
And that's why Harris had decided to go to him, because Friel had the intelligence to understand politics, just not the patience.
He would rather torture things or drink his boredom than participate in society.
"I need a favour," Harris said, jumping straight into it.
"That will cost you," Friel answered, taking another swig.
Harris was careful to keep his expression clear, "Name a price, and I'll have the funds transferred to your account."
As well as a trust fund made for Theo.
Harris didn't know if the younger Harry would have a child that would marry a Nott, but Harris remembered how proud Eliza's father had been, how Theo had nearly ruined his marriage with Daphne because he had been unwilling to ask for help.
Theo was as much family as Sirius was in Harris's mind, and as long as he could keep giving, keep helping and making things better, he would have a reason to live.
Or at least that was what he was telling himself.
"I need to know what it is," Friel said, looking at him now with a bit more interest.
"Nothing illegal, of course, I just need your support in a public matter."
"In court?"
"Yes."
Friel swirled the amber liquid in his glass, before naming a sum.
It was pricey, but not unreasonably so.
Harry held out his hand, "Agreed."
Friel stared at him, but shook on it, he needed the money after all. "Now, what's the motion."
"I want to clear my little brother's name."
"Half-brother."
"He's still blood of my blood."
"Perhaps," Friel mused, "but are you even a pureblood?"
"Given my physical appearance to the Potters, I would imagine so, but I never knew my mother, so I cannot say for certain."
"Who trained you?" Friel asked, doing Voldemort's bidding like, everyone wanted to know who 'Harris Magnolia Black' was.
"Tutors," Harris said. "Orion went great lengths to keep me hidden from view of the Wizarding World."
"Where have you been all these years?"
Harry shrugged, leaning back in his seat, "I married a witch abroad, she's dead now. So I came back to Britain to find what family I could have left to me."
Something sobered on Friel's expression at that, "I lost my wife as well."
"My sympathies."
"Nothing has been the same since she died."
Harris let the silence fill as Friel gazed into the fire.
Finally, the alcoholic said, "Clearing Sirius Black's name will not be easy, he has made enemies and most of his friends are long buried."
"To tell you the truth, I don't much care, nor do I care if he is innocent or not. I will say whatever it takes to free him."
"Why?" Friel asked, "Why go to all that trouble for a man you don't know, brother or no?"
"He is Harry Potter's godfather."
Friel's expression twisted, "Ah, yes, the Boy Who Lived. Rumour had it you had kidnapped him."
Harris shrugged, "That boy is my Heir, I will allow no harm to come to him."
Friel eyed him, "Potter is not your blood."
Harris gestured to himself, that he was literally Harry James Potter was lost Friel, but the resemblance spoke volumes.
Friel snorted, "Alright, I see your point. But no good ever came to those protecting Harry Potter."
Harris leaned forward, "No good ever came from screwing with a Black either. I want Sirius freed."
Friel was quiet for a long moment, "What of your female relatives, the Black Sisters?"
Here, Harris would lie, or at least distort the truth to appeal to the Death Eater's baser urges, "I want nothing to do with Andromeda Black, she betrayed our house in marrying a man without significance. I'm sure you can imagine, my own heritage being in question, I have little sympathy for a mother that would force that upon their own child."
Friel nodded, as if what Harris had said had made perfect sense and wasn't hypocritical at all.
"As for her daughter, Nymphadora, the poor child, I bear no ill will toward her, given she marries a respectable family."
No Death Eater would ever consider Remus Lupin as a respectable match. However, the House of Lupin would not reflect poorly on the child and thus, Tonks' marriage would not have gotten her expelled from her from pureblood circles, well, at least it would have stopped Teddy at any rate.
"Narcissa Malfoy?" Friel probed, "Bellatrix Lestrange?"
"I hold Narcissa in the highest regard," Harry said truthfully, "As for Bellatrix, well, I understand that her crimes are a bit more significant. Freeing her from prison would take more than a trial."
Friel smiled into his glass, "You would be surprised, but at any rate, I agreed to help you and I will. Given you transfer that fee and you're as clever as you think you are."
Harris smiled, as he 'drained' his glass in one swig before standing, "It truly was a pleasure, Mr. Nott."
"You're an intriguing man, Mr. Black, but one I think I could respect."
Harris bowed, before disapparating away.
Narcissa listened silently to the report Nott gave to the Dark Lord.
She had sent Draco to Lucius's family estate in France, where she had a few cousins who were always happy to have him.
She fought down a scowl when her name was mentioned and Lucius stiffened at her side.
All eyes turned to her, and she glared them all down, including, but not focusing, on the Dark Lord himself, "I say again, I have never met this man."
"He's clearly not for our cause," Macnair said angrily.
"Not so hasty," the Dark Lord said, "Blood is important to him, I can respect that."
"He stood against you," Macnair gasped, outraged.
"He saved his heir," the Dark Lord said, giving Narcissa a look that made her feel distinctly uncomfortable, "it does not mean he cannot be persuaded to see reason."
"Perhaps," Yaxley offered, "if he were to remarry, to have a son of his own, he would cease to care about Sirius and Potter."
"Then why are we speaking of helping him clear Sirius's name?" Lucius asked, "He is a nuisance and a hindrance to our cause."
Narcissa didn't make a motion there, she had loved Sirius once, they had been closer in age and might have been friends once.
Before her Aunt had begun locking Sirius in his room to keep him from 'embarrassing' them all. Before Bella had snapped.
"For every supposed Death Eater freed," the Dark Lord said, "the quicker our people can regain control of the populace. I take it as a point in our favour that Mr. Harris Black has made no declarations against us as his plain disdain of Dumbledore bodes well. The Blacks are a powerful family, and Harris appears much more competent than his brothers ever were. The risk of gaining such an ally is worth letting that runt free."
"He isn't one of us," Lucius protested, "he's obviously related to the Potters, and I can understand why Orion would have hidden him away."
Narcissa disagreed, if anything, Uncle Orion had most likely would have hidden his firstborn from his wife.
She didn't like to think what her Aunt would have done to a child conceived outside of the marital bed.
"What does it matter?" Yaxley said, "He's a Black with all the power that title implies. Widower he may be, but he is at the moment single, we could tie him to us with blood. If his allegiance can be won by strangers, by people he has never met before, we have a simple solution to assuring his alliance."
Lucius shook his head and said, "We do not have any available witches among our number."
Crouch smiled at Narcissa with lascivious eyes, "Widows are easily made."
Narcissa didn't react even as she cursed Lucius, even as Lucius leaned closer to her to warn Crouch Jr. off.
Her husband had brought these mad zealots into her home, endangered her son.
The Dark Lord chuckled, "A fertile witch would be necessary. Nymphadora could be persuaded to our causes, perhaps."
Narcissa really doubted that.
But the Dark Lord went on, "It will be something to think on. I found witches to be less reliable, but exceptions can be made. For now, we will assist Mr. Black in freeing his half-brother, and we will see if what he leads the House of Black."
Narcissa let out a slow deliberate breath and couldn't fully stop herself from thinking, Don't ever play with a Black unless you enjoy being cursed.
Harris was disappointed as ever to find how woefully defended Hogwarts was at this time.
Flying in through the window on his own wings was a simple matter.
As was finding and destroying Voldemort's Horcruxes.
Easier, as it happened, then sneaking into the Department of Mysteries and destroying that fucking prophecy.
Dumbledore was such a dipshit for not doing the same all those years ago.
Even now, Harry didn't understand what he had been protecting.
With the prophecy destroyed, the chances of Voldemort trying to convert Harry before killing him were high.
Which was good, because it would give Little Harry more time to get away.
Honestly, the only reason Harris or Harry was alive today was because Voldemort loved the sound of his own voice, whether he was a snake, a spectre, or otherwise.
Harris took the time to ward Hogwarts to his own liking, planning it for when he knew Dumbledore and McGonagall would be out of the office.
He even went to Hogsmeade and set up a number of alarm wards.
Harris had devoted much of his post-Hogwarts years learning how to ward. It was kind of fitting he had claimed the name Black; he was certainly paranoid enough to do the name proud.
He was neither happy nor surprised when he appeared at Grimmauld place and found the Order of the Phoenix present a week and a half before the start of the school term.
He entered without knocking, feeling the presence of multiple magic users before he even entered the apartment.
The entirety of the Order of the Phoenix.
Molly was fretting over Harry who looked more annoyed than anything else, while Dumbledore was attempting to lecture Sirius.
"You didn't need to summon everyone," Sirius said, "I merely said you could use the place, not that we needed your-"
"You put Harry in danger," Dumbledore cut him off.
"No, I didn't," Sirius said, enraged, "We've only made outings to France, in the muggle world, under disguises. Harry has been perfectly safe with me."
Albus shook his head, giving Sirius 'disappointed cold shoulder' as he turned on Harry, "My boy, how could you not write to us? You know how worried-"
"I did write," Harry argued, "I wrote to Ron and Hermione, and as far as I'm concerned, they are the only ones who've been really there for me."
"That's not true," Molly said, hurt all over her face. "And what about Remus, he's been-"
She looked at Remus who was wearing a guilty expression and looking healthier and cleaner than Harry had ever seen him. Honestly, it looked as if he had deaged fifteen years, and he also shaved his horrid mustache.
A distinct improvement.
Molly shrieked, "You knew where he's been this whole time!"
Sirius crossed his arms, "Yes, because Remus has been living with us."
"Why didn't you inform me where you have been?" Dumbledore demanded.
"Because," Harris said, stepping out of the shadows, not missing Snape's deepening frown lines, "you would have taken him back to where he was not welcomed. Harry Potter is Heir of House Black, this is his rightful home and place."
Albus Dumbledore turned on him, and with obvious effort kept his voice pleasant, "Mr. Black, I did not expect to find you here."
"Sirius and I own this residence, you are the guest, the outsider here, not I." Harris stepped around Dumbledore, "Sirius, I need to speak with you."
Dumbledore stepped in front of him, "Anything you have to say to say to Sirius can be shared with this-"
"Vigilante anti-terrorist group?" he asked. "I can think of a number of things I could say that would not at all be suited before this group, Dumby."
Molly gasped, "You can't call the Headmaster like that!"
Harris smirked, "Yet here I breathe. Now, if you don't mind, I need to speak with my brother and nephew."
He was halfway across the room, Harry suppressing a smile as he approached when Dumbledore said, "You don't know the powers and plots in which you are interfering. Harry Potter is not a normal child-"
Harris spun on the man, "Enough. You are done with this family. You will stay the hell away from Harry, and so help me if you meddle with his future-"
"How dare you speak to Dumbledore that way, he is a great man!" Molly all but yelled, Hagrid and Snape puffing up as well.
"Why?" Harris challenged, "Because he's powerful? Power does not make one great."
"Well, he's done more than you have ever done, he defeated the Dark Lord Grindelwald."
Harris smirked, "See that might be more impressive if they hadn't been lovers," the entire room going still, Dumbledore's were very wide and Harris had an excellent view of Snape's expression, "If he hadn't been a part of his rise and methodology, to begin with, until," Snape's expression crumpled in confusion as Dumbledore seemed to, between one and the next, curl in on himself before he raised his head in defiance.
"Until," Harris repeated, "You backed out, not wanting to be involved. I would applaud you for cleaning up your own mess, but Voldemort is your fault too. Tom Riddle was your student and you put the responsibility of ending his reign of terror on a child. A child you helped orphan."
Dumbledore shook his head, "You have no idea of what you speak."
"No," Harris said, getting in the taller man's face, his rage at his circumstances finding a convenient target, "It is you who does not understand. Somehow, in all your long years, you still fail to understand that there are consequences to your actions that others must pay. I say again, if you intercede in Harry's life again, I will ruin you."
Dumbledore's expression was defiant as he attempted to loom over Harry, his voice gone low, no longer the cheery old geezer he pretended to be.
The others seemed to shrink back, but Harris, oh Harris had longed for this conversation.
But it's hard to get back at a dead man.
"I kept Harry safe from dangers you couldn't possibly-"
Harris snorted derisively, "Is that your best defence? That one layer of death and blood magic is the best you could do? And just on the property of the house, it wouldn't have protected him on the street, or at his primary school, or even the park. The only reason it held was because no one truly believed anyone from the Order of the Phoenix would use a dark ward that required blood from the dead and the living, of a witch and her muggle sister. Furthermore, no one thought you would actually put the Boy Who Lived with a family that, if they were from another century, would have happily roasted marshmallows over the inflamed screaming bodies of 'Satan Worshippers'."
Dumbledore seemed rather done with this conversation, "Harry's family kept him safe from more than just the Death Eaters, but from the public-"
"Yes, you seem so worried about the public but I suppose since he turned eleven, he's man enough to handle the constant unimpeded harassment and gossip that surrounds him. Last year in particular, you did a bang up job of keeping him safe from the public eye. Not to mention a Tournament that has a brilliant history of getting students killed!"
Colour was rising to Dumbledore's cheeks, but Harris was beginning to have fun.
Fun riding the edge of laughter or destruction. It was good to be angry, it was a luxury he had rarely allowed himself, going so far as to get therapy after the twins were born.
But there was no amount of therapy in the world that could get him through losing everyone he had ever loved into the cosmos.
"There are forces you don't-"
"I understand perfectly well that by making those pests of humanity his so-called family, you cut him off from any type of guardianship or guidance in the magical world. You are lucky after what that boy endured that he didn't break, but year after year, you've managed to put him through trials from your lack of competence to handle terrorist threats against the school."
"No one could have predicted-" Dumbledore attempted.
"No, no could have predicted you would groom a child for slaughter through neglect and needless endangerment! Harry Potter was a child , and now he is a young man with his entire life ahead of him and it was nor should it ever have been his responsibility to destroy a Dark Lord before he is of drinking age!" Harris was finally shouting.
But Dumbledore remained quietly angry, "I don't know what you think you know, but-"
"I know everything!" Harris bellowed, "I know how the Dursleys kept that baby you forced upon them in a spider-infested closet under the stairs. How they starved him and gave him only hand-me-down clothing three sizes too big for him. How they would beat him, gave him chores until his hands blistered and until he nearly passed out from heat exhaustion." Harris looked at Hagrid, who took in an angry gasp of air. Harris gestured, "Hagrid was the first one to ever wish him a happy birthday and give him a present. Meanwhile, Harry had to grow up watching his cousin be spoiled in excess.
"Did you know that they punished Harry any time he got a grade higher than that buffoon, that he was punished for ever asking questions in school? Did it never strike you as odd how such a stubborn boy could be so afraid of his professors? How a child so enamoured with magic, so naturally talented, would lack the inclination to pursue his studies?
"And let us be perfectly clear, Albus, you are as guilty as those monsters for keeping him there. Do not pretend to me that he did not ask you to be re-homed or that there was no one willing to take him."
The entire room was silent now, and everyone seemed at a loss as to what to say.
"How do you know all of that?"
Harris turned to Harry who was staring at him in horror and confusion, "If you knew so much about me, why didn't you do anything?"
Harris smiled at him sadly, "Because I only learned of it this summer when I went to go see the Dursleys, to have the muggle paperwork signed over to our house. You are truly a Black now, Mr. Potter, I can promise you that you will never be forced to go back to that place again."
Harry stared at him, and Harris saw his own suspicion reflected back at him.
Never trust adults, they will always fail you in the end, always when you need the most.
A flash of his son's face went through Harris's mind and the thought of James not trusting him damn near broke his heart.
None of Harry's children ever had cause to doubt that were loved.
But before he could say anything more Harry turned his gaze on Dumbledore and asked one simple, little question, "Why?"
Dumbledore seemed to deflate, "I thought I was doing what was best, I never tho-"
"It wasn't your place," Harris snapped.
Hagrid looked very upset even as he spoke up, "It ain't normal for any guar-"
"It wasn't his place," Harris said firmly, he glanced at Minerva, "Do you know, Professor McGonagall?"
She had to swallow before speaking, even still her voice sounded dry as she asked, "Know what, Mr. Black?"
"That as James Potter's godmother, when both Harry's godfather and Alice his godmother, that the Potter's will defaulted Harry's guardianship to you? That it was your responsibility to either take him in or find a loving home for him?"
She stared at him blankly for a moment until his words sank and she turned on Albus, wand raised.
Harry had never seen Professor McGonagall so furious before, and Harry was kind of honoured it was on his behalf.
Actually, he was just amazed to have any adult actual stand up for him, not just try to protect him, stand up for him.
Nonetheless, he backed up away from the two professors, along with the rest of the Order of the Phoenix as McGonagall actually threw a spell at Dumbledore that he had to whip around to deflect.
It wasn't a real duel but McGonagall was enraged.
"How dare you!?" McGonagall began and then said many other things and curse words that even Harry couldn't make out because her Scottish brogue had grown so thick and he was almost certain there were a few Gaelic swears thrown in.
Harris tapped him on the shoulder and motioned him to follow, Harry followed Harris and Sirius into a little used study.
Harry shut the door, blocking the sound from McGonagall along with Mrs. Black Portrait.
Harry was the first to speak, "Did you hurt the Dursleys?"
Harris shook his head before saying, "No, however, I did use a memory charm on them which was specified to remove all knowledge of the magical world. They will remember you, how they treated you, and Petunia will remember her sister and the wrongs she paid her, but they will not remember that you were a wizard or that your parents were also magical."
Harry stared up at him, "But that's why they hated me."
Harris's smile was bitter as he said, "And one would hope with that factor removed that they will have the self awareness to regret such unjustifiable behaviour and actions."
"I wish you hadn't said all those things in front of all those people."
"All those people, aside from perhaps Hagrid, Minerva, and Remus, value you for all the wrong reasons. And besides that, you have been over isolated, community comes from pain shared. Besides, just with the facts, it doesn't mean they know you."
"I don't want their pity."
"Pity?" Harris repeated with an arched brow, "No, Harry, not pity. Pity was for the loss of your parents you never met, pity was for the dangers you are constantly. That's not what they are feeling now. The old Order of the Phoenix lost many members, James and Lily's involvement with them was the reason for their deaths. As repayment for their friends' sacrifices, they abandoned you, the Potters only son. Guilt is what they feel now and I can only hope that it makes them be more cognizant of their own choices and not give Dumbledore so much blind trust. Having faith in someone is one thing, treating a man like a god is quite another."
"It was my fault my paren-"
"It was not," Sirius snapped, "It most certainly was not your fault Lily and James were killed during the war."
"But they died protecting me," Harry reasoned.
"Harry, I have lost three children, a grandchild, and all of my family I have ever loved," Harris said, "I can promise you that I would have rather died a thousand times over than to see any of my children come to harm. Had your parents survived and you had not, it would have been a cursed life they led."
Harry stared at him, at this man who looked like his father, who was so full of wisdom and pain, yet still, Harris had been the most competent person he had ever met. "I'm sorry for your losses," Harry said earnestly.
Harris rested a warm hand on his shoulder, "Thank you, my friend. Just try to remember that the only people responsible for killing your parents were Voldemort and Pettigrew." Harris met Sirius's graze, "Everything else is immaterial, the choices and mistakes leading up to that date were not the cause of their death. Their death was caused by the people who murdered them."
Sirius looked away, and Harry reached out a hand to snag Sirius's hand.
This had been the best summer of his life, but he had seen the guilt Sirius was drowning in.
Sirius blinked very fast yet squeezed Harry's hand back before he cleared his throat, "I'm sorry too, brother, for your losses. I don't know how anyone could survive that."
Harris smiled and let his hand drop as he reached into his robe's pockets, "I'm surviving only because I still have family, one that needs looking after. Speaking of which," he handed Sirius the documents, "I secured a court hearing for you. The council is treating it as a joke so not many are showing up but I've spent the summer garnering enough support that the vote should go in our favour." Harry handed him a large ostrich-feather quill. "This is a portkey I spelled to take you into an alley a block or so down from this apartment. If something goes wrong, you will not have to return to the Dementors' care."
Harry felt his heart racing, "But I thought we needed Pettigrew?"
"Why would we need him? We aren't proving who committed the crimes against the Potters and the muggles, only that Sirius did not."
"Yeah, but I'm not popular," Sirius pointed out.
"But I am, and more than that, I've been playing coy all summer. People will vote in your favour in an attempt to garner mine."
"But surely Voldemort knows who you are now," Harry said, "Why would the purebloods want to align with you."
"Because unlike Sirius, I haven't spent a lifetime trying to rebel against the House of Black, even as a half-born bastard, I am still more head of this House than Sirius would be even if he held the title."
"But you attacked Voldemort," Harry argued.
Harris smiled, "I stood up against, certainly. But Voldemort was holding back and I did no permanent harm to his followers. The only thing I truly did is protect you but you are my only heir, and such a title in our world… It means a great deal. Assuming Voldemort doesn't attempt to murder you before me again, he will believe that there is a way to gain me as an ally."
"But you are a good person," Harry said.
Harris laughed, "I do hope so, but I am a good man who has publicly set himself at odds with the Great Albus Dumbledore, and therefore I remain convertible. I will represent you Sirius. I would like you to come up with as brief a description as you can for what happened that night, and leave out the Fidelius Charm. I'll take care of the rest."
"But that's why I'm-"
"No, you were imprisoned for killing the muggles, which you did not do, there is no proof of it."
"But the Fidelius-"
"Will mean more coming from me accusing Pettigrew than you," Harry assured. "For one, there isn't a curse that would just leave a thumb and nothing else, furthermore, they destroyed the wand. There are plenty of defences we can use to get you off, most of them truthful, and the rest are political."
"Who trained you in politics?" Sirius asked.
"Your father hired tutors and proceeded to wipe their memory of me after their efforts."
"Did he pay them?"
Harris raised a brow.
Sirius shook his head, "I shouldn't trust you, but you saved Harry's life, and I am grateful to you for standing up to Dumbledore."
"Why didn't you tell Dumbledore about the Fidelius Charm or let him be the secret keeper?" Harris asked.
Sirius was quiet for a long moment before he said, "Lily didn't trust him."
Harris nodded, "Fair enough. Now let's discuss how we are going to get you into the ministry."
"You can use my invisibility cloak," Harry said, pleased not to be cut out for this conversation.
"That won't get us through security," Sirius said sadly.
Harris smiled and laid a large portfolio case, like those used to hold rather large pictures or architecture sketches. When it was opened up, it was just assorted papers and a poster of hippogryph that looked suspiciously like Buckbeak.
Harris tapped his wand on the cross section of the two bands holding the poster in place, the poster changed and the hippogryph flew back in the imagined sky, and a light breeze filled the room.
"I'll bring you through in this and then you'll put the invisibility cloak on in the loo. That and the portkey is about as safe as I can make it for you entering the Ministry. Aside, of course, from my being with you."
"Harry said you held off the Dark Lord."
"I did, though I've managed to lose the element of surprise. He won't underestimate in a duel a second time, though I admit he doesn't know my full potential. It was a brief encounter after all."
"You have my gratitude," Sirius said.
"Nonsense, we are family, this is what we are supposed to do with one another."
Sirius smiled, "Well, I think this will be the first time I can say I'm proud to be a Black."
Harris inclined his head before asking a peculiar question, "Might I have a word with your house-elf?"
Harry didn't know what business Harris had with Kreature, but Harry was left with the strangest feeling for the future.
Real hope.
Kingsley really didn't know what to think as he watched Sirius slip an invisibility cloak off, standing in a respectable suit, hair pulled back in and beard tidy.
Of course, Kingsley had known what to think after that fiasco at Grimmauld Place. He had never seen anyone challenge Dumbledore like that, nor had he ever seen Minvera fly off the handle like that with anyone.
And strangest of all, Dumbledore had deserved that chewing out.
Kingsley didn't hate the man, but as he watched Sirius give a brief, simple, and clear defence, and Harris defending him like a certified lawyer, he couldn't help thinking how persuasive he was for a man who had never been an active part of their world before.
Harris played two angles.
The first being that Sirius was innocent, which was true, and there was a certain flavour to the truth that remained no matter what anyone said.
The second was all political manoeuvring, citing the offences of the Ministry on the Pureblood families and the scandal of wrongful imprisonment.
In sum, it was surprising for Sirius to have been able to make it to this chamber unspotted, not at all surprising when the vote to clear Sirius of all charges, saying as no physical proof but rumour even existed anymore.
Nor was it surprising when Mr. Harris Black sent around a document of recompense for damages.
Three identical copies that Fudge and Amelia would have to sign and certify.
The money he asked for certainly seemed to pain and enrage Fudge, and the clause prevented any person or creature being able to give a quote about Sirius Black or Harry Potter to the press for defamation of character.
It meant anyone in the Ministry who tried to publish gossip or hateful speech would be fined, as well as the paper, for sending that quite to print.
Kingsley actually admired that clause, and realized belatedly after it had passed his hand, that it would remove every book ever published without Sirius's or Harry's consent that invented a history of Harry's life and theories that surrounded the events of that October night could no longer be sold or printed in any shop in Britain, or at least any book that advertised itself as being a factual history.
Kingsley had to admit how clever a man like that was, and watched in amusement as Fudge signed the magically binding contracts.
He even allowed himself a small smile as Harry Potter ran from the observer stands, along with Remus, to crush a crying Sirius in a hug as he was declared a free man, cleared on all charges, though in the pit of Kingsley's stomach, he worried.
Worried because Harris Black had yet to reveal his true colours.
The man was caring and protective of his own.
But was he truly a better man than his father had been, or would he be like the majority of his family, willing to watch the world burn for any but his own?
Some things Harris and Hermione learned over the years.
The most beautiful thing was playing muggle magic tricks on wizards.
In this case, Harris had just pulled what might have been one of the greatest heists of his life in the most simplistic way possible.
It was a dark day as he pulled out his own magically sealed and ministry approved document to hand to the Azkaban guard. The wind was cold and the waves felt definitely loud.
The man read the bottom most clause over ten times, before checking it with his wand, the approval symbol of the Ministry of Magic that was impossible to forge appeared.
Harris smirked as the dumb founded Aurors summoned their patronouses and led Harry up through the prison after handing him back the legally binding government document of reimbursement for wrongful harm done to the House of Black. One that he had gone the extra distance with to get a third copy recognized by and archived with goblins.
Had Harry used any magical ink, had he used any concealment, the parchment would have burst into flame the moment Fudge would have tried to seal it.
But the same was not true for a muggle chemical based ink that took several hours to appear after being exposed to oxygen.
One feat of muggle shenanigans, two freed Blacks.
The uppermost cells in high security were bleak even with the silver light of phantom animals dancing around them.
Prisoners called out to them, screaming for freedom, for a mere reprieve from their suffering.
Or just screaming from their own personal hells they were trapped in.
Most were simply listless.
And Harris was glad that Bellatrix was unconscious by the time they got to her cell.
He pulled the smelling balm he brought with him out of his pocket nonetheless as he knelt by the skeletal woman left to rot in this cold and hopeless place. He held it to her nose for half a minute, the airborne potion ensuring she would stay asleep before he took the keys from the guard and unlocked her restraints.
Pity consumed him despite himself as he saw what had become of her body.
Harris knew she could heal physically from this, she had before, but it was hard to see anyone like this and not be moved to pity. He wrapped her in the invisibility cloak he had kept from the trial before picking her up.
No reason to let the entire prison know who had been removed.
Even with the contract, Harris still worried she would be taken from him if enough people were alerted too soon.
But Harris had every intention of disappearing with his new ward, to see if Andromeda was right or not, to see if her sister could, in fact, be healed.
"Lead the way," Harris said softly to the guards.
The two prison guards exchanged looks but nodded and Harris followed them.
Even if it was Bellatrix Black being freed, other purebloods had been freed before, Sirius included. It showed how corrupt their system was that the guards didn't arrest Harris for even attempting this.
Harris cradled Bella's chilled and bony body to his chest as they made their arduous descent through the prison.
Hard to believe that Sirius had come out of this sane, well, mostly sane, at any rate.
Harris had many doubts about doing this, but he knew that it was either he took responsibility for the woman or Voldemort was going to get to her first in his prison break.
Despite Harris's knowledge of the future, short of assassinating the Death Eaters in their cells, he could think of no way to stop Voldemort from freeing them.
Dumbledore had been warning the ministry for decades that the Dementors could not be trusted.
Harris might have the political pull to get Sirius free, but he didn't have the presence in their society to change that big of a thing.
Their government's stupidity wasn't even something Hermione had been able to fix.
So instead, Harris committed himself to Andromeda's dying wish.
He just wished that the morality of the thing she had asked him to do had been a bit more clear to his own broken heart.
AN: I feel loved! Thank you to all the reviewers, the length of this chapter was for you! I would appreciate any plot or character wishes or feedback :D