Unspoken Chapter 7: Sirius on the warpath, a harry potter fanfic

Unspoken
by Teddylonglong

Please refer to chapter 1 for my disclaimer and warnings. Thank you.

"Remus, where's Harry?"

Remus let out a deep sigh. "Dumbledore sent him to the Dursleys, his muggle relatives, and forbade everyone to go and see him, stating that he wanted him to grow up far from the magical world."

"Idiot." Sirius shook his head in annoyance. "Doesn't he know that Petunia absolutely hates magic? Her husband is even worse. I'll go and get him. I'll be back shortly."

With that, he apparated from the spot. He remembered vaguely, where the Dursleys lived, as he and James had been there once casting protective wards around their house to possibly keep out Death Eaters during the war. Even if the two sisters' relationship had been not good to say the least, Lily had felt responsible for Petunia, fearing that she and her family might be a target for Death Eaters.

Arriving in the park of Little Whinging, he swiftly transformed into his canine form and went to look for the house. To his relief, it was not far, and, confirming that the street that was lined by identical looking muggle houses was void from people, he changed back.

A moment after he rang the bell, Petunia opened the door, glaring at him in apparent disgust. "You!" she shrieked. "What do you want?"

"Where's Harry? I am his godfather, and I want to take him in."

Petunia scoffed. "Where were you four years ago, when that good-for-nothing freak came to live with us? He's gone to visit a friend."

"Which friend? Where is he?"

"I don't know."

"All right. I'll be back in two hours then."

Sirius returned to the Dursleys' house every two hours, only to receive the same response each time.

"I'm going to kill Dumbledore," he uttered to Remus, before he stepped into the fireplace to floo to Hogwarts after taking his friend out for dinner that evening.

"Don't kill him. Harry and I really need you here and not in Azkaban."

Sirius nodded in silent promise.

When he exited the fireplace in the headmaster's office, he realised that the old wizard was just playing Wizards Chess with his deputy headmistress.

"Sirius, my boy. How nice of you to pay an old wizard a visit."

"Don't my boy me. You should have known that I wasn't their Secret Keeper. You cast the Fidelius charm after all. I could instigate a trial against you, old man. But I have a more important agenda. Where is Harry?" he growled, merely casting a small smile at Minnie in silent greeting. 'I wonder if she's really on Dumbledore's side,' he thought in absolute annoyance at the old wizard's behaviour.

"Harry is happily living with the only family he has. The Dursleys have a son of the same age, and I am sure that they're growing up as brothers."

"That's dragon dung. Petunia always hated magic. She even detested Lily for it. Oh well, we'll see, but I'll tell you now that if anything happens to my godson, I'll have your head for it. Just so you know, I'm going to take him in, and considering that he's my godson, you won't be able to keep me from doing so."

"Ah, Sirius, but you don't understand the full background. It is adamant that Harry remains with the Dursleys due to the blood wards I cast around the Dursleys' home."

Sirius scoffed. "Blood wards because of Lily's sacrifice? They won't work anyway, considering that there's no love between Petunia and Harry. She disliked him even as a baby. Oh well, you'll hear from me. Good bye, Dumbledore, Minnie."

With a last growl at the old wizard, Sirius returned to Remus' place, knowing that his friend was as worried about his godson as himself. 'Remus seems totally depressed anyway, which is understandable as a werewolf without a job and without friends. I'm glad that I can be here for him and Harry now.'

He made a short detour to his own home to fetch a bottle of fire whiskey, deciding that they at least had to celebrate his newly found freedom.

It was almost midnight, when a silver-grey cat Patronus appeared in front of him and spoke in McGonagall's voice. "Sirius, please contact me as soon as possible. I can tell you something about Harry."

Without considering the matter, Sirius strode over to the fireplace.

"Sirius, it's quite late," Remus warned him, however, Sirius merely shrugged. "Minerva McGonagall's office, Hogwarts."

It took a while, before Minerva's head appeared in the flames. "Sirius!"

"I am at Remus'. Will you please step through? The fireplace is 'Wolf's den.'

"Step back."

A moment later, the old witch stepped out of the fireplace. "Remus, Sirius." A rare smile crossed her face, as she greeted her former students. "I am very happy to see you both."

"The pleasure is on our side," Remus replied, returning the smile, before he offered her a seat and a glass of fire whiskey, which the professor accepted – much to Sirius' surprise.

"What do you know about Harry?"

Minerva sighed. "I need both of you to swear me a wizard's oath to keep what I tell you now a secret."

'Nothing is just easy now, is it?' Sirius thought in annoyance, before he followed Remus swearing his wizard's oath.

"Thank you, both. Do you remember Rebecca Lestrange and Artemis Nott?"

Remus nodded. "They were in our year at Hogwarts."

"What does that have to do with Harry?" Sirius could not resist asking, as he was not interested in any offsprings of Death Eater families, not caring that he was one himself.

"They have taken Harry away from the Dursleys noticing that they neglected him. Now, Rebecca's Squib sister Regina Lestrange is raising Harry. She is a wonderful person, and they invited me to spend New Year's Eve with them. Harry has turned into a wonderful, happy child."

"Thanks Minnie. Tomorrow, I'll go and get him then. I am his godfather after all."

To his annoyance, Minerva shook her head. "No, I wouldn't do that. Harry has been living with Regina now for about six months, and she has become the closest thing to a mother to him. You cannot take him from her without really harming Harry. I am sure that he wouldn't mind having one or even two godfathers in addition though. In any case, I suggest that we all go and visit them tomorrow. Let me call Regina first thing in the morning, and then I'll contact you."

Seeing Remus nod in apparent delight, Sirius grudgingly agreed, resolving to consider how to proceed after getting to know Harry's new guardian.

'I'll need to speak with Meli, too,' he thought. 'I hope she hasn't found anyone else in the meantime. I still love her, even if Harry was my number one priority today.'

By the time Minerva stepped through the fireplace followed by Remus and Sirius, Rebecca was waiting for them just by herself in Regina's living room. Everyone else was already seated in the dining room waiting for them to have lunch together.

"Hello Minerva, Remus and Sirius. You might remember me. Rebecca Lestrange."

Receiving greetings in return, she added, "Remus and Sirius, I need you to swear me a wizard's oath to keep everything concerning Regina, Harry, Connie and her parents as well as Artemis and myself a secret."

Sirius cast her a look of apparent distrust, however, readily swore his oath upon Minerva's request.

"Thank you both. Let's have lunch together with the others." She then led them into the dining room and introduced Regina and the newest members of the Lestrange family to her former classmates.

Harry eyed the two wizards who accompanied Rebecca and Minerva with apprehension. He knew that one of them was his official godfather and that he might want to take him away from his new mother. If he had come to the Dursleys to take him away a year ago, he would have been thrilled; however, he had his own family now with his mother, Connie, Lucy, Rebecca, Artemis and Connie's parents.

"Hello Granny Minerva," Connie greeted the old witch in apparent delight.

"Hello Granny Minerva," Harry echoed, casting the professor a small smile.

"Hello Harry and Connie, these are Sirius Black and Remus Lupin, Harry's parents' best friends." Minerva introduced the two wizards, returning his smile.

"Hello Mr. Black and Mr. Lupin, I am Connie, Harry's friend. You probably know Harry?"

"Hello Connie, hello Harry. Please just call me Remus," Remus replied in a soft voice, which Harry found very soothing.

"Harry!" Sirius cast him a broad smile. "Do you remember me? I am Padfoot, your godfather."

Harry lightly shook his head. "I am sorry, sir. Nice to meet the two of you though."

He inwardly sighed in relief, when the attention was diverted to his mother, who chose that moment to greet their guests and motioned them to take a seat.

"Regina Lestrange?" Remus sounded surprised.

"I am a Squib and therefore could not attend Hogwarts. Nevertheless, Rebecca, who is two years younger than me, always kept me updated on everything."

"Thank you very much for taking Harry away from the Dursleys, while I was incapacitated. Now, I am back and will take care of him." Sirius cast him a broad smile. "Harry, you're going to live with me, and we'll have much fun together."

"No sir. I have my own family now, and I am very happy here," Harry spoke up in a firm voice, before he let out a bout of accidental magic, causing his surroundings to blur.

Regina observed in surprise how Harry all of a sudden vanished from the spot. 'He probably made himself invisible, because he doesn't want Sirius to take him away,' she thought in concern, before Lucy began to let out a series of small yowls.

"Lucy, what happened?" She worriedly stepped around the table, only to realise that Harry's seat was empty. "Rebecca, did he learn to apparate?"

Rebecca shook her head. "The Unspeakables are training Harry," she explained to their guests, "but they did not teach him the Unspeakables' method of travelling let alone apparition yet, considering that he's only five. Perhaps it was accidental magic?"

Artemis rose from his seat. "I'll go and check the Unspeakables' office. Perhaps, he somehow went there."

"He did not use his Portkey. That I'm sure of," Regina thought aloud. "If everyone is done eating, I suggest that we have some tea in the living room, while we wait for him to return."

Everyone complied, and she realised in relief that Lucy apparently decided to cuddle with Connie on their usual spots on the sofa, daring anyone to take Harry's seat.

"Sirius, it's your fault. You must try to be less impulsive. Harry surely was afraid that you'd take him from the family he has finally found." Remus lightly scolded his friend, causing Regina to smile at him.

"I think so, too." Rebecca's voice was accusing, before she added in a lighter voice, "I am sure that he'll come back though."

"I tried to think to him, but he doesn't reply, and I can't sense his emotions," Connie spoke up.

Sirius stared at the girl in apparent bewilderment; however, Remus cast him soft kick into the side along with a warning look and asked in a soft voice, "You're able to communicate through telepathy?"

"Yes. He bonded with me on Christmas."

"He what? He's only five. I have the feeling as if I was in a wrong film."

"Apparently, his bonding with Connie did less harm to him than your words that caused him to vanish." Rebecca glared at Sirius, just when Artemis returned, stating that Harry was not in the Unspeakables' office.

"If you believe to be in a wrong film, what should we say?" John suddenly spoke up. "It was our daughter he suddenly bonded to, and for us as muggles, it is not a normal thing that five-year-olds bond with each other and are happy about it."

"You're muggles?" Remus looked from John to Giselle. "I wouldn't have noticed. You mix in really well."

"Thank you, Remus." Giselle chuckled. "That's because of our newly found magical family here. They've already taught us a lot."

"I'm even training with the Unspeakables, too, even though I'm muggle."

Regina smiled at the girl, thinking, 'She's really good for Harry. He has completely changed, since he came here last summer.'

Sirius suddenly grinned. "Harry seems to be a worthy Marauder, bonding with a muggle girl at the age of five. He seems to have chosen well though, young lady. I can see that he seems to be happy here, and while I'm not going to ask him to live with me anymore, I'd still like to fulfil my role as his godfather, and in extension Connie's of course, and to get to know him and visit him every now and then."

Regina nodded in confirmation. "Of course. We'll be happy to have you and Remus as godparents, won't we, Connie?"

"Yes." Connie grinned, broadly. "Are you good at flying, sir? We love to fly, but I always need someone to take me, because I can't fly myself."

Sirius began to laugh. "I love to fly, and Remus here is a good flyer as well. We'll take you flying at any time."

When Harry could see clearly again, the dining room was completely empty. 'What happened?' he thought in shock. 'What did I do now?'

'Harry, where are you?' Connie's thought suddenly penetrated his mind.

'In the dining room, but you're all gone.'

'Wait.'

An instant later, Connie stormed into the room closely followed by Lucy.

"What happened?"

Connie stared at him, wide-eyed. "Nice question, Harry. You suddenly vanished from the sight. Where did you go?"

Harry shrugged, seeing that Rebecca entered the room. "I was here. I don't know. I didn't want Sirius to take me away."

"Did you perhaps manage to time slide?" Rebecca smirked.

"I can't time slide, and Nix told me that it might take me years to succeed. I didn't even try to do it."

"Perhaps accidental magic?" Rebecca quirked an eyebrow. "Anyway, the others are in the living room wondering where you are. Come. Your mother will be relieved to have you back. She was very worried what might have happened to you, and Sirius promised that he won't take you away from here."

Harry nodded and swiftly made his way into the living room, where he climbed onto his mother's lap and whispered, "Sorry Mum."

"I'm just glad that you're safe, sweetie," she whispered into his ear. "I love you, son."

"Love you, too," he whispered back.

During the following months, Harry and Connie eagerly continued their studies. While they both found the primary school boring to say the least, they knew that it was important to continue. While it did not matter for Harry if he attended the school, as he was going to be accepted at Hogwarts anyway, for Connie it would be essential to finish it to be able to proceed to a secondary school and consecutively to university.

During their primary school classes, they spent much time telepathically discussing what they had learned at the Unspeakables' office, as they only had very few theoretical classes together. At most times, the various Unspeakables taught Harry their respective areas of magic. Altogether, he studied a broad field of knowledge. Connie was a slightly different matter due to her lack of magic.

However, when Harry turned eight, Croaker instructed him to choose five teachers including Devil, as his training would be mandatory.

Harry discussed the matter with Connie and his teammates multiple times, before he finally decided to continue studying Alchemy with Archie, Potions with Whisker as well as the Animagus transformation with Felina. Knowing that Whisker and Felina were researching for a method of time travel as well as a way to give a muggle or Squib magic, he decided on Nix as his fifth teacher, who continued teaching him time sliding.

'Perhaps, at some stage, I can combine Felina's and Whisker's method, provided that they manage to develop one, with time sliding,' he thought, when he informed Croaker of his decision. 'If I succeed, I can go back in time as far as the Great Merlin and ask him if it's possible to give a muggle magic.'

To his relief, the head Unspeakable seemed to be contented with his choice. At least, he did not object but instructed him to intensely study, considering that he would not have so much time anymore when he was going to attend Hogwarts in three years' time.

'Do I even wish to attend Hogwarts?' Harry wondered; however, he knew that while his mother would accept any reasonable choice he made, his godfathers, Sirius and Remus, would be extremely upset if he refused to attend the school they seemed to adore so much.

The Marauders had made it a habit to spend every Sunday at Regina's place together with the Coxs, and Harry had the impression as if they had all become a large, loving family, which made him very happy.

To his surprise, he realised soon that each of his teachers adjusted the next goal for his studies to his eleventh birthday, which would be in three years' time and a month before his Sorting into Hogwarts.

"I intend for you to be able to produce the Philosopher's stone and brew the Elixir of Life by the time you turn eleven." Nicholas smiled. "However, before I teach you such a thing, you must prove yourself. During the following two years, you will make your own wand and your own broomstick. Which aim do you wish to pursue first?"

"Sir, does it afford magic to make a broom?" Connie looked from Harry to Nicholas, wide-eyed.

"Yes dear, I am afraid that you won't be able to make a broom for him; however, you might be able to advise him on the details on the construction as well as the ingredients for his wand."

"That's not what I meant, but yes, I'll be happy to support him. What I meant was that if it affords magic, perhaps, he should make his wand first."

"Very clever, young lady. However, it does not afford that much magic, and I believe that Harry won't even need a wand to construct his broomstick."

Harry nodded in understanding, knowing that he could often just wish for things.

"Nevertheless, we should make your wand first, so that you'll have plenty of time to get used to using your wand to cast magic." Nicholas sighed. "I believe that you won't wish your classmates at Hogwarts to know that you're proficient at wandless magic."

"Oh no, I don't." Harry's response was so quick and firm that Connie chuckled in apparent amusement.

"Harry and Connie, you have already brewed all the potions, which students are taught at Hogwarts during the first three years." Artemis somehow looked smug. "I am afraid that I cannot yet give you a choice what to study next, as I need you to take your OWLs at Potions, before I can really involve you in experimental research."

"Will I be able to take the OWL with Harry?" Connie cast the older wizard an eager look.

Artemis let out a deep sigh. "As you know, most potions do not require the use of magic, and the Ministry of Magic would not know that you're a muggle if we registered both of you under your Unspeakable names. However, if by chance the potion you need to brew is one, for which you have to cast a spell, you won't be able to pass the exam."

"If we can take the exam together, can't I cast the spell at her potion? If I do it wandlessly, no one will know that it wasn't Connie but me."

"Ah, Harry, you're the best." Connie stepped over and pulled him into a bear's hug.

Artemis smirked. "That might work, but if the examiner notices it, you're going to be disqualified from the exam and will have to wait another year to try again."

Harry shrugged. "It's worth the risk, isn't it?"

"Very well, you'll have to intensely practise that cheat, but leave me out of it and don't tell anyone." Artemis smirked.

"Thanks Artemis, thanks Harry." Connie grinned, broadly. "Can we begin with the next fourth-year potion then?"

Rebecca questioned him about the animal he wished to become, causing Connie, who was again listening in on his lesson, to chuckle.

Harry cast her a look of pure irritation, before he admitted, "I can't decide between a yeti, a dog and a phoenix." His feeling only intensified, when Rebecca began to laugh, and Lucy gave the witch a warning growl.

"Don't worry, sweetie, that wasn't a ridiculing laugh, but an admiring one," Rebecca said to the canine, gently caressing Lucy's fluffy ears. "Do you have a reason for each of these forms?"

Harry nodded. "A dog because of Lucy, a phoenix, so that I can go to see Connie at any time, when I'm at Hogwarts, or a yeti, because he's so fluffy, and Connie likes him."

=A doggy of course, so we can have a proper dog fight.=

"She has a point," Rebecca commented hearing Harry's translation. "As to going to see Connie, we're going to teach you the Unspeakable method of transportation soon. That's less obtrusive than using a phoenix Animagus form. Apart from that, there are other means, which will allow you to see Connie on a daily basis. Don't worry about that now."

During the following months, Harry and Connie intensely studied ingredients with Nicholas to determine the three most adequate components for Harry's wand, while they eagerly brewed the fourth and fifth-year potions under Artemis' tutelage.

However, the Animagus transformation seemed to be more difficult. Harry tried to transform his left hand into a paw during every free minute, provided that anyone was with him who could call for help if necessary. However, that request from Rebecca did not really restrain him, considering that at least Lucy and at most times also Connie were together with him.

It was on the Sunday morning before Christmas that Harry suddenly spiked fur. He still had his hand and not a paw, but nevertheless, he was over the moon with joy at his obvious progress.

'Today is Sunday, so I can show it to Remus and Sirius,' he thought in excitement, only to be disappointed, when Sirius came alone.

"Remus won't be able to join us today, but he'll be here for Christmas Eve dinner tomorrow."

Connie suddenly dashed from the room and only returned a few minutes later. "Sirius, last night was the night of the full moon. Is Remus perhaps a werewolf? Do they really exist?"

Harry cast her a horrified look; however, Sirius seemed proud. "My goddaughter must be the most intelligent girl of her age."

"Artemis, Harry? Why don't we try to invent a cure for werewolves?"

Artemis nodded. "That's what we're going to do once you've both taken your OWLs next summer."

Eight months later, a few days before the beginning of a new school year at Hogwarts, the results of the exams, which had recently taken place at the Ministry of Magic, were announced in the Daily Prophet.

'Unspeakable Paws, Potions OWL, result 'O', Unspeakable Turtle, Potions OWL, result 'O', …'

'They took their OWLs and passed them both with an O, even Connie,' Minerva thought in amazement, unaware of the broad smile that crossed her face.

"Minerva, what makes you so happy?" Albus leaned over to get a glimpse at her newspaper.

"A, I was just wondering why Unspeakables would take their Potions OWL. Everyone who has finished Hogwarts has at least taken their OWL already," she swiftly lied, knowing that she could not admit to the old wizard that the nine-year-olds behind these two Unspeakable names were her surrogate grandchildren.

"That is strange indeed. I wonder how the Unspeakables recruit their members if not from Hogwarts."

"Perhaps, they're not even humans." Filius cast Albus a questioning look.

The headmaster shook his head. "That I don't know. I only know Croaker, the head Unspeakable, but even his identity is a mystery to me."