When Harry, Remus, and Sirius land in Little Hangleton, everything screams at Harry to get away, far, far, away from it. But he tries to shake it off and plunders through.
Sirius and Remus also seem to be struggling not to flee the scene.
''There are some pretty strong wards around this place,'' Remus murmurs with his wand at the ready.
''Bloody hell, Moony! Strong is an understatement,'' Sirius grumbles while stepping closer to Harry. Harry feels amused that Sirius thinks he can or need to protect Harry, while Harry doesn't need it at all.
''What did you expect from the 'Dark Lord','' Harry snorts. The two adults both nod in agreement with a frown, and they slowly make their way towards the shack. Harry waves his hand to unravel the wards, it's hard work, but he hadn't expected anything less from Tom.
The man was brilliant when he was still sane and extremely powerful. It wasn't a surprise that he is the only Dark Lord that can help Magical Britain back to where they are supposed to be.
Harry steps forwards, and the wards disappear around him. It is as if the wards accept him. He doesn't want to know what the reason is behind that.
When he looks back, he sees Remus and Sirius watching him with worried expressions. They can pass the last wards and are pushing against it with no progress.
''I'll be fine, stay on watch. I'll be right back.'' He tries to assure them, but Sirius only pales.
''Why can't you take us with you?'' He pleads.
''Because the wards won't let you in, and I don't want to waste any more time to dismantle them. No need to worry.'' He dismisses, maybe it's harsh, but he really doesn't need any help with this.
Sirius and Remus definitely don't like it, but they let Harry go while staying watch. Sirius even turns into Padfoot to sniff around.
Harry turns back to the cabin, which seems ready to fall apart. Harry grimaces when he sees the dead snake nailed on the door and speaks in Parseltongue to gain entrance. Tom is easy to predict with this, he is the only Parseltongue in Britain, or so he was until Harry.
The door swings open, and out of habit, Harry brings up his wand. Even if it doesn't work for him anymore, well, it works, but it doesn't do much. His wandless magic is just as accurate as the wand, and he has another wand waiting for him. He only needs to get his hands on it.
He walks into the cabin carefully, fully expecting a trap, but it remains silent, and nothing moves. He walks through the cabin but can't find anything that screams Horcrux. He was so sure that the resurrection stone was here. He can practically feel it! But where the bloody hell is it?
Harry takes a step, and three things happen at the same time. The first thing Harry registers is the creaking of the floorboard he stepped on, the second is the slamming of the door he had left open on purpose, and the third is the echo of a hiss of way too many snakes.
Harry is just in time to jump to the side when from out of nowhere, hundreds of snakes emerge. They're all hissing, and Harry can barely make out the words, but some filter through.
'Kill - Protect - Master - Maim - Protect Master!'
''Stop!'' Harry yells in Parseltongue, and the snakes stop, much to Harry's surprise. And to their own, if Harry guesses correctly when a tentative ''master?'' is hissed.
''Y-Yes, Master, stop attacking. Go back. I need to retrieve something.'' Harry stumbles out, a little overwhelmed at the army of snakes in front of him that suddenly halted their movements.
''Sorry, Master.'' One in the front hisses while lowering his head slightly. ''Give the word, and we will go back to slumber.'' The snake tells him, and Harry is stumped. Which bloody word does the snake mean?!
''Uh, Please ?''
Harry could've hit himself. Tom Riddle would've never used please as an order to stop the attack of his snakes. Harry is pulled from his musings when the snakes start to hiss again and show their fangs. Several snakes start to advance, and Harry is pushed into a corner.
''Shit. I'm sorry for this .'' He says emphatically before muttering ''Incendio''.
Harry flinches from the hisses the snakes emit while he makes a path for himself to the floorboard that must contain the Horcrux. He tries to block the pained noises and feels bad for the snakes that only are following orders from their master.
He's finally back at the floorboard and quickly rips it out with his magic. He then lifts the ring he sees lying there without touching it. He feels that there are multiple charms and hexes for extra protection on the ring alone. He feels irritated that he can't use the stone in the ring just yet, but that will be fixed when Tom is back in a body. When he has removed the charms and hexes, he can at least put the ring on. Feeling closer to the stone already soothes his magic. As if it already knows what Harry means to it and what the stone means to Harry.
He then makes his way back, still keeping the snakes at bay with fire. '' I'm so sorry .'' He hisses again at them just when he steps out of the cabin and slams the door. He then runs back to the edge of the wards where a pacing Padfoot and Remus are waiting.
''Are you okay?'' Sirius asks as soon as he turns back to his human form. Harry nods while panting. ''Let's get out of here.''
Remus grabs him quickly by the shoulder while twisting on the spot. They land in the house, and Harry falls to his knees, coughing. He waves the two worry warts away when they frantically start checking him.
''I'm fine, I'm fine, just some smoke inhalation.'' He chokes out. Remus then pulls out his wand and passes it over Harry's chest. As soon as he's done, the coughing stops, and Harry can take a clean breath.
''Thanks.'' He says while closing his eyes. He tries to ban the pained hissing noises he still hears. He feels so guilty for burning those snakes. But at the time, he hadn't seen another option.
''What happened?'' Sirius asks when Harry keeps seated for a moment to calm himself. Harry explains what has happened, and they both grimace at the mention of the army of snakes.
''You did what you had to do, Harry, and it worked out. You have the Horcrux,'' Remus reassures him, and Harry nods. He pulls out the ring while it is still wrapped in a cloth. He then walks to the library with the werewolf and animagus trailing him.
''Do not touch this until I've cleared it. Are we clear?'' Harry tells them seriously before laying the ring on the desk.
He then starts to dismantle the multiple hexes and charms on the ring.
It's a long process, but after an hour, he has succeeded. He can now touch the ring without his hand falling off.
He does so immediately. When the ring settles on his finger, he feels a calm settle over him.
''Uh- is this normal?'' He hears behind him, he startles a little, he hadn't heard Sirius and Remus the whole hour he was busy with the ring. To be honest, he thought they had left.
He turns to look at them, and they are both eyeing him warily.
''What?'' He asks with a frown.
''Harry, you're glowing,'' Remus tells him calmly, and Harry immediately looks at himself and sees that yes, he is glowing. Well, this is awkward.
''I have no idea why,'' Harry tells them, a little lost. A reassuring presence presses against his shoulder, and Harry turns around. Death has somewhat materialized in front of him, and he hears Remus and Sirius gasp behind him.
''Death!'' Harry says with a smile on his face, which Death returns. Death trails his fingers over the ring Harry is wearing, and the glow his body was emitting dims.
''It's the magic of the resurrection stone. It recognizes you as his master. Because you already have the invisibility cloak, it gave a strong surge of magic. It will be even worse when you finally get your hands on the elder wand.'' He explains calmly.
Harry scrunches up his nose, not looking forward to waiting but also not looking forward to winning the elder wand when the time comes.
Death rests his hand on Harry's shoulder, making Harry look at the man. ''You did great tonight. You're one step closer to the end goal. Do you remember the ritual?''
Harry nods with a smile, grateful for the praise he got from his adoptive father.
''Good, then I must go before Lady Fate registers I'm gone.'' He says with a wink before fading away. Harry sighs. He misses his adoptive father, but that he came to check on him means a lot to Harry.
''Harry?'' Comes the tentative question from behind him. He turns back to Remus and Sirius, who are both a bit pale.
''I'm fine.''
''We know you are,'' Remus assures him with a soft smile.
''Do we need to do the ritual right now? Or is it better to do it in the morning?''
Harry thinks about it for a moment before deciding. ''Morning, it is no use to do it now when we can't do anything about them.''
Sirius walks up to him and pulls him into a careful hug. When he lets go, he claps Harry one more time on the back before pulling Remus with him out of the library. Harry sinks down onto one of the couches and stares at the ring.
He feels the magic of the resurrection stone, but he also feels the Horcrux within the ring, it pushes against his own magic, testing the waters, but it doesn't seem hostile at least.
''Oh, Tom, you complete imbecile.'' He sighs, still staring at the ring.
They decide not to do the ritual to find the other Horcruxes the next couple of days because Harry completely forgot it was Yule.
Thankfully he hadn't forgotten to buy presents for his friends. Izzy would've killed him if he hadn't gotten her anything, he's sure. Harry is roughly wakened up the next day by an excited Padfoot on his bed.
''Get off, you mutt!'' He yells when Padfoot slobbers all over his face. Sirius in dog form does not stop until Harry sends a poking hex his way. Padfoot whines and turns back into Sirius, rubbing his bum and pouting. Seriously, he's a grown man. Harry rolls his eyes at his godfather.
''That was unnecessary,'' Sirius grumbles.
''No, Harry was completely in his right, Sirius, just like I was when I kicked you out just an hour ago,'' Remus says when he walks into the room. He then turns to Harry.
''Happy Yule, Harry.''
''You too, Remus.''
''Oi! And me? Is nobody going to greet me with a happy Yule?'' Sirius demands Harry and Remus both look at him very unimpressed.
Sirius grumbles and walks out the door when Dobby pops in front of him in the hallway. ''HAPPY YULE, MASTER HARRY'S GODWOOFY!'' Before glitter erupts all around him. Sirius lets out a very unmanly shriek at the surprise from the elf while Harry and Remus are too busy laughing.
''I will get you two for this!'' Sirius yells before retreating to his room, leaving a trail of glitter.
Harry doesn't mind the treat, he knows he will be pranked by Sirius one of these days, but this was too good an opportunity to ignore.
The first Yule day goes by quickly, Remus, Sirius, Harry, and Dobby celebrate it together, and Harry feels for the first time at home since he came back from Death's realm. Death and Lady Magic couldn't come by, and they don't celebrate the holiday like mortals. Harry just gives them an offering with a ritual he learned from them, Sirius and Remus join him in the ritual, and Harry feels his magic respond happily that he can share this with them.
He knows that Sirius and Remus both are having troubles with the whole bringing back Tom thing, but they don't show it to Harry. He hopes that they can get used to the idea before it's time to bring him back.
The second Yule day, they go to the Weasley's. Hermione is also there, and even Draco had been invited, but he has declined, not wanting to impose, the brat may have changed, but he knows that the Weasleys still have problems with his family. So Harry feels glad that he took that into consideration. He hadn't even expected for Draco to share with his father that he was together with a muggle-born.
The day isn't strained much to Harry's relief. He mostly hangs out with Fred and George, who are horribly flirting with him, much to his embarrassment and to their amusement. Ginny is mostly at Hermione's side and keeps giving glances to Harry, now there is more than one year between them, he feels awkward around the girl, but she is talking to him and not stuttering. So that's a win.
Ron has invited Seamus and Dean, and they are having fun which Harry is glad for. He's glad Ron has them. Ron has even spoken a couple of times to Harry, even if it was mostly to ask if he could pass the food.
Mrs. Weasley and Mr. Weasley are glad to have him, Remus, and even Sirius as a guest. Apparently, Dumbledore had explained to them that Sirius was innocent, so the old goat had done something right.
At the end of the day, the three of them are completely stuffed and decline Mrs. Weasley's offer for them to stay over. They floo back to Peverell Mansion, and Harry is glad that the holidays are over now. Tomorrow they will finally do the ritual to find the other Horcruxes.
He feels anxious but also glad that they are finally going to do that, he feels restless now they haven't done it yet, and there is no other distraction. While the ring still sits on his finger and the magic of the hallow keeps the Horcrux at bay, he still feels a tingle of magic that isn't his own or that of the hallow, and he just knows it's Tom's.
He was expecting that, but what he wasn't expecting was that the magic almost felt calm against him as if it was in the right place and completely at ease with Harry. Something Harry thinks is because of the Horcrux in his own head. Yes, he knows he himself is a Horcrux, the one Voldemort didn't want to make, or at least, not within Harry himself.
He is curious about how Tom will react when he finds out how far his mind has deteriorated because of the stupid things he did with the Horcruxes. Harry is at least not above it to rub it in his face after he has brought him back to life.
Harry lays in his bed at the Mansion and imagines about how the resurrection of Tom Riddle is going to go. He already knows what kind of ritual Voldemort himself wants to do, and he has also worked out another ritual with Lady Magic to replace it. He only needs all of the Horcruxes, well, all that are left, because the Diary is still destroyed, a very dangerous and difficult potion and four sacrifices.
Flesh donated by a hopeful participant.
Bone from the father unknowingly taken.
Blood willingly given from an equal.
And Magic from Lady herself.
He sighs when he goes over the sacrifices again. He knows he needs to be the one to give Tom blood, something he is ready for. Lady will be there for the Magic. She will know when the time has come and will stand by his side to guide him through the ritual. Bone from the father is something Voldemort also needed for his own ritual, so Harry is going to expect that he is going to take care of that. The only problem is the flesh donated by a hopeful participant. He doesn't know who is the best option for that part.
He refuses for it to be Wormtail. He will catch that rat at the first possible opportunity, maybe it could be Remus or Sirius, but they need to be more accepting about the whole resurrection thing before he can ask that of them.
He has ideas for the potion that needs to be brewed, which will gift Tom a new body, but he already knows that it will not be received well by his godfather, so he still keeps that part for himself until the end of the holiday.
Harry knows that Voldemort will take him for one of his own sacrifices to bring himself back, and he suspects it will be on the day of the final task that that's the main reason why Harry was entered in the Tournament at all. He doesn't know who entered him, and he will find that out eventually. He only doesn't know if he wants to thank them or hex them into oblivion.
Harry falls into a restless sleep but is glad when morning comes, and he can finally begin the ritual to find the other Horcruxes. He wants to get this part of the plan over with as quickly as possible. Harry just feels unsettled that there are more of Tom's Horcruxes all over Britain. It doesn't feel right that they are not together. Maybe it's something that's part of his Master of Death thing, or maybe it's something else he doesn't know. He just knows that they shouldn't be apart.
Harry is the first one up and goes to the kitchen to grab a quick bite before he goes to the ritual chamber in the Mansion. According to Sirius, every old Mansion has ritual chambers, mostly from before Dark magic was banned, and when people could still perform most of the rituals.
The older families never got rid of them even after the ban. Something Harry is glad for now he has his own old Mansion.
He is still munching on an apple when he walks into the chamber. The old magic resting here reaches out to him, and he closes his eyes for a moment to just feel. He doesn't jump at all when he hears someone scrape his throat behind him. He doesn't.
He totally did.
''Morning, pup, excited for today?'' Sirius asks with a smirk, but Harry can see the shadows beneath his eyes and the restlessness in the twitching of his fingers. Sirius isn't as serious as he wants to be for Harry.
Harry can appreciate Sirius's sentiment to appear strong and determined, but he can understand his nervousness.
Harry has been nervous himself ever since he came up with this plan with Lady Magic. Even a couple of years can't shake off the nervousness.
He claps Sirius on the back and squeezes his shoulder, silently thanking him for being here today.
''Excited isn't the right wording, but I'm ready.'' He replies with a small smile.
Remus isn't part of the ritual today because it wasn't necessary and because the full moon will be in a couple of days. He needs his strength to deal with that and not with the recovery of a ritual.
Sirius and Harry are both strong enough to do the ritual with just the two of them.
They take their positions, and Harry starts the chant after placing the ring in the middle. He is reluctant to part with the ring for multiple reasons, but he shakes it off.
Sirius follows him in the chant, and their eyes drift close, and soon the first Horcrux shows itself in some kind of vision. It's a cup with a badger on the front, and it is standing on a shelf inside a vault. The next one is a locket with a snake, and a crying elf is cradling it. The elf whispers about master Regulus, but Harry doesn't understand it before he's transported to the next vision.
A diadem shows itself in the middle of piles and piles of rubbish, the vision seems to zoom out, and Harry sees himself pacing in front of a wall three times, and he knows where this one is.
Then a snake slithers in his vision with its teeth bared and a pale hand stroking the head.
Harry gasps when he himself walks into his vision after the snake disappears, and he curses himself because Sirius must have seen it too. The vision zooms in on his scar before they are both thrown out of the visions.
They are both kneeling and panting, and when Harry looks up at Sirius, he sees that his godfather is pale and shaking.
''No, no, no, no, no, no, no,'' comes the choked whisper, and Harry crawls over to Sirius, too tired and too weak at the moment to even stand up.
''Sirius?'' He asks worriedly. He reaches out a hand towards Sirius and ignores his flinch when he touches his shoulder carefully. Sirius seems lost for a moment like he doesn't see Harry in front of him.
''Harry?'' Sirius whispers. ''I'm here.'' He replies.
Sirius blinks a couple of times while Harry keeps his hand on Sirius's shoulder to anchor him.
Finally, he seems to come back to himself and takes a few deep breaths before he narrows his eyes at Harry. Even completely tired Sirius can pull off a glare.
''A Horcrux? How long have you known?''
''Well-''
''You knew the whole time, didn't you?'' Sirius sighs while rubbing his face.
Harry purses his mouth, because yeah, it was one of the first things Death told him when they started talking about the whole 'bring back the Dark Lord thing.'
''Figures, you're just like your mother,'' He grumbles while trying to stand. Harry doesn't know what Sirius means, but he takes it as a compliment. Sirius wobbles, but he finds his footing and reaches out a hand to help Harry to his feet.
He doesn't release Harry's hand but does pull him closer to look Harry into his eyes. ''Do not keep any more important secrets from me, okay?''
Harry looks into the steel grey eyes of his godfather and swallows heavily. Sirius is taking this way better than he initially expected, and he nods in agreement.
''I know where one of them is,'' Harry tells Sirius.
''The one at Hogwarts? I didn't recognize the room, but the stones in the corridor seemed familiar.'' Sirius tells him, and Harry smirks. ''Room of requirement,'' He just replies, making his godfather groan.
''We never found that one!'' He replies, sounding a lot put out.
Harry chuckles and guides Sirius out of the ritual room towards the library so they can sketch a plan. They know one of them is in Gringotts at least, and one at Hogwarts. The snake will be a problem, but Harry is certain that Voldemort will bring her to his resurrection. The other problem will be how to get the one at Gringotts and where the hell the locket is.
When they are seated inside the library, they tell Remus what happened and what they've seen.
''Tom sure knew how to choose his Horcruxes,'' Harry says with a smirk when they've finished telling Remus about the Horcruxes.
Both men look at him with quizzical expressions. ''A diary, a ring, a locket, a diadem, he seems like a teenage girl.''
Sirius snorts out a laugh but quickly grows serious again before sighing.
''I know where the locket is, and I have a suspicion in which vault the cup is.'' He tells them warily.
''Seriously? How? Where?'' Harry immediately asks, almost jumping up and down in excitement. He cannot believe it's going to be this easy!
''The elf that had the locket is- Kreacher,'' He tells them with a grimace, making Harry frown. He had heard about Kreacher. It's the Black house-elf who hates Sirius. Remus is watching Sirius with a wary expression.
''He was talking about someone named Regulus,'' Harry says as a statement, not knowing who this Regulus is. Remus chokes back a gasp, but Harry and Sirius still hear it.
''I need a drink for this,'' Sirius tells them, and immediately Dobby appears with three tumblers and Firewhiskey. It's ten in the morning, but they don't bat an eye while Sirius pours the whiskey.
After Sirius has thrown back a tumbler with whiskey, he starts talking about his brother and how his brother joined the Death Eaters when he was just eighteen.
''It's my fault. When I ran from home, I should've taken him with me- but he was the perfect little Black heir,'' Sirius spats with a slur, already intoxicated after three other drinks.
''Sirius, you couldn't have known.'' Remus starts softly, but this only enrages Sirius. ''I could! I could! My mother did everything to push us in that direction. I refused, but Regulus-'' He lets out a harsh laugh. ''-Regulus was a Slytherin, Regulus only heard how great the Dark Lord was, from our parents, and from his housemates. He wasn't even talking to me after I ran from home.'' Sirius sneers but brokenly.
Tears are spilling over Sirius's cheeks, and Harry regrets that Sirius was needed for the ritual. If he had known what would happen, he wouldn't have asked for his help. But with this information, they are a lot closer to their end goal. Harry feels guilty about the thought, but he can't shake it. He needs his godfather's help.
''I'm sorry, Sirius,'' Harry tells him sincerely. He's sorry that Sirius's help is needed with bringing back the Dark Lord, the man that killed his best friend. He's sorry that Sirius needs to relive a part of his past that hurts him so much. He's sorry that he can't do it without him.
''No! You're not!'' Sirius screams, and Harry's face crumbles. He feels shame that Sirius is right at some point, he needed this information, and he couldn't have gotten it without Sirius. ''-You are doing the right thing, Harry, every witch or wizard with a Dark affinity needs this, needs your help, so even if it's difficult for me, I don't care, it's like you said, it's for the greater good!''
Harry is staring in awe at his godfather before rushing to him and tackling him in a hug. Sirius hugs him back just as fiercely, and they don't let go until a couple of minutes later.
Sirius wipes his face while Harry and Remus kindly ignore the tears he has shed.
''The locket is in Grimmauld place. And I think the cup is one of the vaults that used to belong to Bella. There were Black heirlooms in there.'' He finally grumbles before throwing back another tumbler of whiskey.
Harry rubs his mouth, trying to suppress a grin. ''This-this is good news. The locket we can get from Kreacher.''
''And if I remember the Lordship clauses correctly-'' Remus starts with also a smile on his face, which Harry knows for sure he remembers because he had read them when Harry took the titles of Potter and Peverell, ''-then if you as Lord claim to know for sure that there are heirlooms of your house in a certain vault, the Goblins are required to show you the vault so you can take the heirlooms back.''
Harry felt like laughing but held it in. Not wanting to jinx anything.
''But Harry is supposed to be the next Black lord, and you told me he refused that title in Gringotts,'' Sirius says, sounding really confused and drunk.
''Sirius, you can take the Lordship,'' Harry said. The man himself blinked a couple of times before bellowing out a laugh.
''Me? The black sheep of the family being Lord Black?'' He laughs even harder when he says it out loud, and he keeps laughing until it almost seems manic.
''Who else, Sirius?'' Harry says when it tampers down to chuckling.
''You! You should be Black Lord, Lord Black- All that shit!'' Sirius says while pointing in Harry's direction emphatically.
''I already have two Lordships, and to be honest, I don't want the Black title too, at least not yet. I have plans for you to be Lord Black.'' Harry responds carefully, not wanting to push Sirius into another fit.
''But-but-you?'' Sirius splutters before he deflates. ''I never thought to become Lord Black.'' He murmurs finally.
''Why don't we talk about this in the morning?'' Remus interrupts.
Harry frowns at him. ''It is morning.''
Remus chuckles before motioning to Sirius, who is swaying in his seat.
''I know, but he needs a bed after so much Firewhiskey.''
Harry tries not to groan, but it's a close thing. He really wants to go looking for the locket at least, but he understands that Sirius needs some rest.
''Fine, but tomorrow we will go looking for the locket, try to give Sirius his Lordship, and hopefully try to locate the cup in one of the vaults we can enter with his Lordship.''
Remus raises his eyebrows at Harry while Sirius is just blinking a little sluggishly.
''That's a lot to do in one day.''
''I know,''
''You're serious?''
''No, I'm Sirius,'' Sirius replies with a big grin before he giggles. GIGGLES. OK. It's really better if Sirius is going to lay down for a while.
''Goodnight, Sirius,'' Harry says before he sinks down onto a couch again while Remus guides Sirius to their bedroom.
He's restless again. But he pushes it away. He gets out one of his school books and decides to study for his NEWT's, he should probably look into the hint they had gotten for the next task, but Harry decides that it's not his priority right now, mostly because he doesn't want to hear the egg scream again.
When you pay Goblins enough money, they will do anything for you, even do business with an escaped convict under an Invisibility cloak.
Sirius was still in protest to be Lord Black but finally agreed when Harry again refused. He seemed a little hurt at that, but Harry reminded him that he's a seventeen-year-old boy and he already has two Lordships, and maybe, just maybe , he guilt trips Sirius a little for trying to push even more responsibility to himself. To which Remus drily comments that he really is more like his mother than his father.
Harry asks them what they mean, and they finally tell him about his mother. After hearing only about his father, he listens intently. They tell him how Lily Evans was cunning, smart, mischievous, and if she hadn't been a muggle-born, would definitely have been in Slytherin.
''-and then she charmed his hair green, Slytherin green, for almost a week! And James-'' Sirius is choking on laughter, ''-James couldn't turn it back. He was a master in transfiguration, but charms? No-just no.''
''So she denied him for six years before she finally started dating my father, while my father was pining after her since the first day they met?'' Harry asks, sounding amused. They should be leaving to Grimmauld place. They have retrieved the cup this morning (just like Remus told them they would be able to) but hearing about his parents, well, to know something more about them, is priceless.
''We hexed him so many times when he was waxing poetry about her eyes, or hair, or skin, he even waxed poetry about her feet one time,'' Remus tells him, a little disturbed. Harry cringes a little at the last part but still laughs.
He sighs and feels like a weight has been lifted. Hearing about his parents made him feel normal for a while—just Harry, instead of everything that is hanging above him.
''Are you ready to go to Grimmauld place?'' Harry asks while looking at Sirius and Remus. Sirius grimaces, he would rather not go to his old childhood home, but there is no choice. It's where they will find Kreacher.
They get ready and floo to the house. It is dark, and Harry grimaces at the stale air that hangs there as if something has died in here. He also feels a shiver run over his spine, something that tells him that they should leave, but he ignores it.
''Kreacher!'' Sirius immediately screams. They all want to get it over with and just go back to Peverell's mansion.
''Filthy blood traitor has entered the Ancient and Noble House of Black, with a half-breed and werewolf as companions, Mistress would have whipped him.'' Comes the raw voice of a very, very dirty and rimpled house elf.
Harry scrunches up his nose and is glad that he has Dobby as house elf instead of this bitter creature.
''Shut up, I'm Lord Black now, and I need something,'' Sirius growls out, clearly getting more agitated by the elf.
The elf sneers at him, ''Kreacher will never serve traitor,''
Sirius puffs himself up for a retort, but Harry interrupts him. He doesn't want to be here any longer than necessary.
''Kreacher, give us the locket Master Regulus gave to you.''
Kreacher sways and almost collapses to his knees with wide eyes. ''What does half-breed knows about evil locket?'' He croaks out.
''We know you have it, and we know it's here somewhere. Give it to us. We will take care of it.'' Harry continues. For some reason, his uneasiness grows the longer he is in this house. But he can't place why.
Kreacher's lip starts trembling, and he's on the verge of crying. Harry gets really uncomfortable. Hermione crying is one thing. He can handle that, at least a little, but an unfamiliar house-elf? Nope, that's not something Harry is ready for to deal with.
''Uh, Remus?''
Because let's face it, Remus is the most emotionally stable of the three of them. Remus steps forward without hesitation and kneels in front of Kreacher. The elf is still on the verge of breaking down but still sneers at Remus when he steps closer.
''Dirty werewolf scum,'' He murmurs, but Remus ignores the comment.
''Kreacher, could you get the locket? We will take it away.''
Kreacher seems to debate with himself for a moment before turning to Harry again, ignoring Remus and Sirius.
''Is locket going to be destroyed?''
Harry doesn't really want to lie to the elf, but he wants to get out as soon as possible. ''Yes, Kreacher, it will be gone.''
Kreacher nods to himself and vanishes. Harry stands and looks around him. His magic is pulling at him to go, but he doesn't see any threats around him.
''We need to go as quickly as possible.'' He says to Sirius and Remus, and they both look at him quizically.
''What's wro-''
Before Sirius can finish his question, the doorbell rings. They all look like a deer caught in headlights until Kreacher pops back into the room. He hands the locket to Harry, who carefully takes it from him, he doesn't want to be hexed, but he thinks all the hexes or charms are gone. Otherwise, Kreacher would've died already.
Harry makes a rash decision and pulls the locket over his head before tucking it under his robes.
''Kreacher, who is at the door?'' Sirius asks when the knocking doesn't stop.
''Kreacher will check it, Master .'' The last word comes out like a growl, but for some reason, Kreacher seems lighter, less tired, and less grim.
Before any of them can stop him, Kreacher is at the front door and opening it. It's silent, and the three men are waiting anxiously for who has approached the Ancient and Noble House of Black.
Kreacher enters the room with a firm scowl on his face. ''Dumbles is here for Master.''
Harry lets out a snort at the name before schooling his features when Dumbledore enters the room. He seems happy to be there and doesn't seem to notice the rising tension in the room.
Harry represses a hiss when the locket burns a little against his skin as if feeling that there is another presence in the room for which it should be wary.
''Headmaster, what can we do for you?'' Remus asks, clearly the one who is recovered the quickest from the surprise.
Dumbledore gives them his best disappointed look, something Harry is immune to, but Remus and Sirius shrink in themselves a little.
''I didn't hear from either of you the last couple of months and was worried. You do understand that I would hate it if Sirius was arrested again or if something worse would've happened. He was still on the run the last time I checked. And Remus, are you sure it's safe for you to be with Harry when the full moon is almost at its peak?'' He almost tuts in disappointment, and Harry grits his teeth when he sees both men flinch at the Headmaster's words.
He didn't want to gain Dumbledore's attention, but he couldn't let him get away with this. ''I can promise you, Headmaster, Remus can control himself perfectly. And Sirius has been safe and healing. Something he should've focused on when he escaped, especially with him being innocent. But of course, you know that.'' It's also something you could have done something about. Harry adds in his head.
''Harry-'' This time, Dumbledore does tut, and he turns his disappointed grandfather look to him. ''I really want to check if everything is okay with you. Being in Death's realm has changed you. Where are you living now? Maybe we can go there for a cup of tea.''
Harry snorts, no way in hell that he's going to tell Dumbledore where he lives. Dumbledore clearly doesn't know that Remus and Sirius are living with him, and that's something he wants to keep that way.
''I'm sorry, Headmaster, but as you sure can understand, I want to keep my living arrangements quiet. Didn't you tell me yourself I should be safe?'' Harry drawls. Sirius coughs behind him, but Harry knows it's to suppress a laugh.
''What are you actually doing here, Headmaster?'' He then casually asks.
Dumbledore grimaces but quickly schools his face into his grandfatherly appearance. ''I got a message when you entered the home. Sirius had told me a long time ago I could use this house as a base, so I had special wards placed.''
Harry looks back to his godfather, who is frowning and clenching his jaw.
''I said that to you when I was captured on Hogwarts grounds when I thought I would get the Dementor's kiss. Because you told me you could do nothing for me.'' Sirius tells Dumbledore with a glare.
''My boy-'' Dumbledore starts. ''I couldn't do anything for you. There was no evidence about your innocence.''
''Remus could've shared his memories, Harry, Ron, and Hermione too!'' Sirius barks out, getting mad at the Headmaster, something Harry is secretly glad for.
''Sirius, you and I both know that Remus's memory couldn't have been used in court because he's a werewolf-'' Harry sees Remus cringe in the corner of his eye, and he clenches his fists in the unfairness of it all. He really needs to balance the magical world again. ''-and Harry, Mr. Weasley, and Miss Granger were underage, the court would've waved it away as their imagination.'' Dumbledore folds his hands in front of him as if to say, 'you can't argue with this, I'm right, and you're wrong.'
It makes Harry even angrier, and the locket burns warmer against his skin. Harry can barely suppress the flinch of it, but he doesn't want to draw Dumbledore's attention to the locket.
Sirius, unfortunately, deflates. ''You believed me. They would've taken your word for it.'' He says, just for arguing sake.
''I do believe you, but again, even the word of an old wizard is not enough evidence.''
''So you let two thirteen-year-olds free an escaped convict with a Hippogriff? Seems legit.'' Harry can't help but snark.
Dumbledore's eyes snap back to Harry, and Harry feels the push against his mind and pushes roughly back. No way that Dumbledore is getting inside his head.
''It's still rude to use Legilemency against people without asking first, Headmaster.'' Harry snarls, making Dumbledore quickly look away. Sirius grabs Harry's shoulder while glaring at Dumbledore.
''You know what. I hereby withdraw my offer. You can't use this house anymore for your plans. I want you out.'' Sirius tells Dumbledore harshly. Harry had been expecting Sirius to be protective of him, but he hadn't expected this explosion. Sirius is barely keeping back his rage.
''My boy, be reasonable. It's clear you're still not thinking clearly. How could you after being in Azkaban for such a long time.'' Dumbledore tried, but Sirius was furious.
He turns towards the silent house-elf who is looking with a sneer at the Headmaster. ''Kreacher. Please help our guest -'' How he said the word guest, it was clear how much he despised Dumbledore at the moment. Kreacher stood up straighter and looked at Sirius with a gleam in his eye. ''-out of the building, and make sure he doesn't return.''
''My pleasure, Master.'' Kreacher said with a big bow and a creepy grin. Dumbledore started flinching and hopping on the spot every time Kreacher snapped his fingers. Harry doesn't know what Kreacher is doing, but it's very amusing to see.
''Ah! Stop it! Stop it! I command you!'' Dumbledore tried while he tried to step away from the elf, but Kreacher wouldn't let up. ''Master commanded Dumbles to be removed. Kreacher only listens to Master.'' Kreacher says, trying to sound innocent while also grinning like a loon.
''Call him back, Sirius!'' Dumbledore demands, but Sirius is just watching the scene with a mischievous look in his eyes.
''Kreacher, remember when Mother wanted that lawyer gone?'' Sirius says in a very calm voice. Kreacher's grin becomes even bigger, and Harry barely held his laughter when Dumbledore started to get spots all over his face and started coughing. Harry didn't know what Kreacher was doing, but he took a careful step back from Dumbledore.
''You can't harm me! It's against the law!'' Dumbledore screeched.
''Then Dumbles must leave. Dumbles is trespassing.'' Kreacher sneers at the Headmaster. Harry thinks that the elf hasn't had so much fun in a long time.
Dumbledore started reaching for his wand, but Kreacher saw it happening and was having none of it. Harry tried not to grimace, his magic was pulling at him to get to Dumbledore's wand, but he couldn't get it, not yet. It was too soon in the game.
Kreacher snapped his fingers again, and this time Dumbledore was blasted towards the front door. Harry, Sirius, and Remus all followed out to the hallway to watch the spectacle. Harry had quickly put a silencing charm on the screeching portrait of Sirius's mother when her curtains flew open because of the commotion.
Dumbledore was pressed against the front door, and it looked really painful. It was as if Kreacher's magic was pushing him through the door instead of waiting for it to open. Dumbledore was groaning in pain and tried to fight Kreacher's magic, but everybody always forgot that house-elves could be powerful and use other magicks than wizards. Especially a house-elf from the Ancient and Noble House of Black can use magicks that most people will have forgotten a long time ago. And it certainly isn't light or even a smudge of grey magic. Harry is sure that it's dark magic, but he doesn't judge. He knows that Sirius is a Dark wizard, Remus is a Dark creature, and he himself is a Dark wizard.
The Light Lord cannot cope with this kind of magic.
Kreacher seemed to be almost dancing, hopping from one foot to the other. He was really having a lot of fun with this. Harry made a note to himself not to get on Kreacher's bad side.
''Kreacher, I think you've played enough. The Headmaster needs to leave. He's probably busy.'' Remus tried to placate, Kreacher glared at Remus, clearly not ready to listen to a werewolf. He then looked towards Sirius, and Harry thought he tried to look innocent, but he wasn't sure with all the wrinkles. It just looked a little disturbing.
''Master?'' He then asked, and Sirius seemed to snap out of watching Dumbledore with barely suppressed glee. He quickly scraped his throat when he saw the unimpressed glare from Remus.
''Ah, uh, yes, Kreacher, kick him out. Make sure he remembers not to come back.'' Sirius then says with a smirk. Kreacher grins back at Sirius, and Harry thinks it wasn't the best idea for those two to team up, but he thinks he will be safe.
The door starts to spin as if it's a revolving door, but with a lot more speed. Harry can only see a blur with the door and Dumbledore. Dumbledore is more a purple blur, while the other side of the door is black.
The door seems to slow down after a couple of minutes, and Harry sees the green color on Dumbledores face. When the door slows to a halt, the side with Dumbledore on it stops on the outside.
It's silent for a moment until they hear puking from outside, and Harry snorts. It sets off the other two, and it doesn't take long before they all clutch their sides in laughter.
Harry knows that Dumbledore will probably retaliate when he's back at Hogwarts, but he still has a few days of freedom.
When they have finally regained their composure, Sirius kneels down in front of Kreacher, who looks very pleased with himself.
''Kreacher, I know you and I haven't had the best relationship, but thank you. You've helped us a lot today. Good job.''
Kreacher looks at Sirius with wide eyes, clearly not expecting a thank you at all. Then he scowls at Sirius.
''Master is now Lord Black. Kreacher is at his service.'' He says resolutely. Harry thinks back at how just an hour ago he was still all 'Kreacher will never serve traitor,' but Harry doesn't care. He has the locket, and it's safely resting against his chest. The burning sensation had stopped as soon as Dumbledore was out of the door.
Sirius sighs. ''That's fine. I only am not going to live here. You can come with us to Peverell Mansion, but if you want to stay here and actually clean the Black house, that's also fine by me.''
Kreacher seems to think about it before nodding to himself. ''Kreacher will stay here unless Master Black needs him.''
Sirius nods and seems a little relieved. ''That's good, we are going now. I will call you when needed. You can expect Remus and me later in the week so we can put a Fidelus charm on the house. I don't want anyone here who isn't invited. It's time for the House of Black to become respectable again.''
Kreacher seems to cheer up on this announcement. ''Kreacher will make sure that the House of Black is in best condition!''
''Thank you. We are going now. We will see you later this week.''
Kreacher bows towards Sirius, his nose almost touching the floor, then he gives two haltingly bows to Harry and Remus before popping out of the room.
Sirius rubs his face with his hands and groans. ''I want a drink.''
''You drank enough for a while yesterday,'' Remus says while delivering a slap to the back of Sirius's head.
''Oi! I deserved it yesterday, and today, I am having a difficult week!''
''You're having a difficult life. That doesn't mean you need to become an alcoholic.''
Sirius pouts and turns to Harry. ''Do you see what I have to live with?!''
''Hé, you chose him, don't get all cranky on me,'' Harry replies with a smirk. ''Let's go back home,''
When they are back inside Peverell Mansion, Harry takes a deep breath. He pushes his hand against the locket beneath his robes and feels the Horcrux thrumming beneath it—the Horcrux on his finger thrumming in tandem like a heartbeat.
''I'm going to my room for a bit.'' He tells them, and Sirius and Remus are too busy bickering like an old married couple to really pay attention to him. So Harry leaves them to it.
When he enters the room, he falls on his bed. Then he pulls the locket from behind his robes into his hand to look at it. His ring hums in satisfaction for being in contact with the locket, and Harry glances across the room towards the cup. Remus and Sirius wanted him to store all the Horcruxes together, but Harry will not pull them apart, and he's not going to part with the ring. So the only solution is all the Horcruxes with Harry.
The only problem will be Hogwarts, at least for the cup, he can wear the locket and ring, but he does think that wearing the Diadem will gain too much attention.
The next couple of days, Harry decides that they deserve a little time off, so he doesn't bother Sirius and Remus with his next step of the plan yet.
It also was the full moon, and since Harry doesn't have an Animagus form. (Not yet, at least) he can't join them.
A couple of days later, he approaches them and has already sent Dobby for some tumblers and the Firewhiskey. He knows this will go terribly, but he also knows that he will get what he needs.
''Sirius, Remus, glad to see you here.'' He starts, sounding a little - okay, a lot - awkward.
Remus immediately looks up suspiciously from where he's sitting on the couch. He is reading while Sirius has his head in his lap, and with the hand he isn't holding the book with, he's carding through Sirius's hair.
Sirius seems almost to be in a coma with how comfortable he's lying.
''Harry, what do you want?'' Remus asks while narrowing his eyes. Harry rubs his hands through his hair a little anxiously.
''Well-'' Dobby decides this is the perfect moment to pop in with Firewhiskey. Sirius is blinking a little slowly before looking at Harry. ''We're not going to like this, are we?''
''Probably not.''
Sirius groans but lifts himself. He pours himself, Harry, and Remus a bit of whiskey before waving a hand at Harry for him to continue.
''We need a potioneer, a very good potioneer.'' Harry rushes out. It takes a couple of moments before realization dawns on their faces.
''Snivelus? You want to involve him?!'' Sirius starts to whine before throwing himself dramatically against the cushions of the couch.
''I can brew! I can make the potion! We don't need Snivelus!''
''Sirius-''
''He's so greasy!''
''Sirius-'' Remus tries to interrupt, but it's no use.
''AND! He hates us! Hated your father, hates me with a burning passion that is returned with love! Hates Remus! And Remus is one of the sweetest human beings on earth!'' Remus blushes but seems pleased. Harry rolls his eyes. His godfather sure loves the dramatics.
''So you love to hate him?'' Harry asks confused, making Sirius gag.
''I don't love anything about Snivelus!''
''He loved my mother.'' Harry then simply states, and it blows all the wind out of Sirius's sails.
''Wh-how do you know that?'' Sirius asks weakly before Remus pushes the tumbler whiskey back into his hand.
''Death,'' Harry replies with a shrug before crossing his arms.
''We need his help. Not only with the potion but with the next steps, he's invaluable. He can spy on Dumbledore for us.''
Sirius snorts, ''do you really think that he will follow you? He was a Death Eater! And now you're going to ask him to betray his new Lord.''
Harry just nods, and Sirius and Remus just look at him for a moment, completely shocked by the simple gesture.
''Fine. Fine. Get him. But I don't think you can change his loyalties.'' Sirius snaps before throwing back another glass of Firewhiskey.
''Thank you. But please don't bait him when he's here.'' Harry asks them before calling Dobby and giving him the letter he had already written.
When Dobby disappears, Harry starts pacing. He really needs Snape's help, and he's pretty sure he will succeed, but he can't be sure. Snape is a man that only plays by his own rules.
It takes almost fifteen minutes before Dobby knocks on the library door.
''Master Harry sir, Snapey is here.''
Harry pursues his lips to hold his laughter and aims a glare at the snort Sirius lets out.
''Let him inside, Dobby, thank you.''
Dobby beams at Harry and quickly opens the door for Snape.
Snape comes into the room with a sneer on his face and billowing robes. His glare is mostly aimed at Remus and Sirius before turning to Harry.
''What am I doing here, Potter-Peverell?''
Harry puts his hands behind his back and tries to look calm.
''You're here because I need your help with something, but I can only tell you after a secrecy vow.''
Snape scowls at Harry. ''And why would I agree to that without even a hint about what this concerns?''
''Because it's way too important. I wouldn't have asked you if I didn't know for sure that it's significant. Isn't that enough?''
''And what will I get in return?'' Snape drawls.
''Freedom from your life debt to my father,'' Harry replies with a stone face, he hears Sirius curse behind him, but he ignores it for now.
Snape seems to be taken aback by the offer before he schools his face in something unreadable.
''Fine. A secrecy vow it is.''
Harry quickly gives Snape the wording, and Snape repeats them before they are both bathing in golden light. After Harry pours Snape, also a tumbler with Firewhiskey, only for Snape to raise his eyebrows at it as if it's poison. So Harry decides to just jump in.
''I need a special potion to give the Dark Lord a body.''
Snape springs up from the seat he had taken as if burned.
''You're insane! Why would you even- no never mind - you are completely and utterly-''
''Yes, I know. It's insane, stupid, foolish, dumb, and I can name a couple of other words that will come down to the same thing. I still need that potion.'' Harry tells him resolutely.
Snape sinks down into the seat again, a little intimidated by Harry, he is slowly starting to respect Harry in this schoolyear, and Harry knows this.
''Why?'' Snape grounds out finally. Remus hands him over the Firewhiskey, and Snape grudgingly takes a sip. Harry starts telling him about Tom Riddle, about the Horcruxes they are gathering, about how without Tom, Magical Britain will fall and after the Wizarding world. What his plans are to bring back balance, and how Lord Death and Lady Magic have helped him forming a plan.
''So, now I need a Master Potioneer to make a potion to bring back a body with the ritual Lady, and I have made.''
Snape is silent for a moment before standing and throwing back the whiskey.
''You are completely crazy and idiotic. I will have no part of this.'' Snape tells him before starting to walk out of the library, but Harry isn't finished, and he will get Snape's help, even with emotional blackmail.
''Snape! How much do you regret going to the Dark Lord with the information about the Prophecy?'' A wounded noise comes from the couch, and when Harry glances towards it, he sees Remus holding Sirius back with a white-knuckled grip. Thank Godric for Remus Lupin.
Snape freezes but doesn't turn around.
''I know, Snape. I know how much you loved my mother. How much you regretted pushing her away, and then you didn't know what the Prophecy meant before you ran to your Lord.'' Harry says while slowly making his way to Snape.
Snape's stand is rigid, clearly not expecting Harry to know any of this.
''When you begged the Dark Lord to leave Lily alone, you didn't care about my father or me, as long as my mother would live.''
Harry hears growling coming from the couch, and he holds up his hand to stop Sirius and Remus from doing anything rash. He hopes that they will let him explain everything later.
With a lot more alcohol.
''I don't hold that against you,'' Harry tells him earnestly. ''The Dark Lord asked my mother to step aside three times. Three times before he became too impatient and fired the killing curse, but it was enough for my mother to protect me with magic the Dark Lord had forgotten or never learned.''
Snape still hasn't responded or turned around, but it doesn't bother Harry.
''She used magic you had taught her, Snape. You , as her best friend until she was sixteen. Because of you, I lived. And you kept saving my life. I know what you did in my first year with Quirrell on the Quidditch pitch. I know that you were worried about me in my second year when you saw I could talk to snakes. I know you tried to shield Hermione, Ron, and me from Remus last year during the full moon, just like I know that you would've let yourself be killed as long as I would survive.''
He's now standing in front of Snape, he sees that the man is too stubborn to let himself cry, but Harry can see the devastation on his face by being reminded of his only and best friend. His first and only love.
''Only because I have her eyes,'' Harry says softly, finishing his tirade.
Snape finally looks Harry in the eyes, and Harry can almost see him sag in relief to see the green emerald eyes, but Snape is too composed for that.
''What potion do you need?''