Taking Flight

Disclaimer: I don't own the Harry Potter universe. All recognisable characters, content or locations belong to their respective owners. No copyright infringement intended.

Chapter Three: I'll Be There For You

Despite evidence to the contrary, Harry was rather intelligent. However, a decade of his relatives' disdain had trained Harry to do only as much as what was expected of him. His friendships formed by Hermione - the eternal teacher's pet - and Ron - with his inferiority complex a mile wide - only exasurbated the issue, never mind all the expectations that came with being the thrice-damned 'Boy Who Lived'.

Whatever the case, Harry had spent much of his free time in his last four years at school learning as much magic as he possibly could. He'd studied up on Runes and Arithmency with the use of Hermione's notes - had even sat the exams for third and fourth year - and when not learning new spells, runic arrays or solving arithmancy equations, he'd probably been learning the seven different formal duelling forms from Professor Flitwick.

Those seven duelling forms had since been ingrained into his muscle memory, just as the rules and regulations of the formal duelling circuit had been memorised up and down, back to front and inside out. All that was left for Harry to do in relation to the art of duelling was to improve his stamina, build up an impressive spell repertoire and to improve his casting and transition speed. All of that, of course, came with time, commitment and practise.

Hence his current task, jogging through the streets of Camden town. The elves had procured some exercise clothes from Gods knew where and Harry had chosen to take full advantage of it. No longer restricted by his relatives' rules, Harry had risen early, had run through the stretching exercises his primary school PE teacher had taught and had set off on a brisk jog to explore his new surroundings.

The culture he saw - a far cry from the prim and proper expectations of Little Whinging's desperate housewives - made Harry smile, certain that he could grow to love this place. He did, however, have plans that day so he began making tracks back to his new flat, returning with enough time to scarf down breakfast courtesy of Jive - also with the same peculiar aftertaste from the night before - and to get ready for his aforementioned plans.

His first stop was Gringott's, wherein he met with a particularly fearsome goblin named Throatsmasher. Efficient and professional, Harry was in and out within forty five minutes, with a basic understanding of the status of the Black family accounts, a self-updating record of the wizard and muggle share markets and the strong encouragement to start investing. Apparently, the goblins weren't particularly fond of near-stagnant accounts, though if Harry's basic understanding of bank systems was right, it was no particular surprise. Their profit wouldn't be nearly as high without active accounts, so with that in mind, Harry promised himself to take a look at the status of the share market as soon as possible. It would probably also help if he sold off his declining shares as well.

The next stop on his list was an optician's whom, after a variety of diagnostic spells, summarily binned his specs, spelled corrective lenses onto the surface of Harry's eyes and handed the teen a stoppered bottle. It was a potion of some sort, designed to help the corrective lenses repair the damage done to Harry's eyes. It would take up to three months depending on the amount of damage, but by October, Harry should be able to boast perfect vision. He couldn't wait.

At noon, Harry was waiting across the road from Buckingham Palace, in the shadow of a towering building, on the look out for a familiar canine. it didn't take him long, amused to find the far healthier looking beast of a dog seated directly beside one of the palace guards. Of course the mongrel would take any amusement he could find and with the tourists all eyeing him as though he was part of a zoo exhibit, there was certainly some to go around.

Harry waited a little while longer to make sure no one else was around, ensured he looked presentable and crossed the road. He passed through the crowd gathered and approached the dog animagus with a collar and lead in hand. "There you are, Snuffles. I've told you over and over again: don't break from your lead, you terror."

Harry clipped the collar and lead to a fussing canine and managed an appropriately apologetic look toward the expressionless guard.

"I'm so sorry sir. He's a wily bugger." Expecting no reply and in fact receiving none, Harry tugged Snuffles a far way out of sight, took hold of the canine's scruff and activated the port key built into his head of house ring. The magic tugged the pair through a nauseating funnel of magic that deposited them in the living room of Harry's apartment, where upon which both boy and now man were beset upon by an agitated Hedwig.

After he'd soothed her ruffled feathers, released her of the letter she'd been carrying and rewarded her with a number of owl treats, Harry gestured for Sirius to take a seat in the living room, deposited the letter in his study and made his way back into the main part of the flat. The living room and kitchen were divided by a marble counter, so once Harry had handed his godfather a bottle of water and drained a mouthful of his own, Harry looked expectantly at the man.

"First off," Sirius began, "Kudos for escaping Privet Drive. You have Dumbledore's people in a tailspin. Your ingenuity has impressed even Snivellus, though he hasn't said as much. Given that he's not been dragging your name through the mud though, I suppose it's compliment enough, the greasy bastard."

Sirius took a large swig of his water, gestured for Harry to take a seat in the available armchair and continued, "I'm sorry I didn't tell you about your inheritance. I was under the impression you were already aware and just didn't give a damn. I won't make that assumption again. Can you tell me everything that's happened since you left Privet Drive?"

Harry eyed the man warily. "Can I trust you not to go blabbing to Dumbledore and company? I'm mighty displeased with him right now and quite frankly, I'm not particularly thrilled with the actions he's taken concerning me and the entire wizarding world, really."

Sirius looked long and Hard at Harry, grey eyes unfathomable against Harry's own verdant gaze. Harry had never seen the man look so - well - serious. "Harry, my loyalty has only ever been to the Marauders and by extension, you. I can say with absolute certainty that Remus feels the same. Anything you say to me won't go anywhere beyond this room, unless you give me express permission otherwise."

Harry nodded his acknowledgement, recapped the events of the last three days and finished up with, "I need your help. And Remus' too, if he's willing."

Sirius nodded slowly, downed the last of his water and watched, curiously, as it vanished into thin air. "I guess we need to start by getting you caught up with everything you should have learned as the heir of two Ancient and Noble Houses. We'll go from there. This is the Camden flat, isn't it? Lily's old place?"

"It's a flat in Camden, yes," Harry confirmed. "And I suppose it is."

Sirius nodded his acknowledgement, got to his feet and approached the hearth. "I'm going to floo to my place. I'll be back with Remus and some introductory books. You have a lot to learn."

"Don't floo," Harry insisted, "I don't want to be tracked. Call for Jive, if you please. He'll bring you back here."

Sirius nodded his understanding, departed through emerald flames and left Harry alone. Rather than sit idle though, Harry retreated into his study, picked up the missive from neville and began to read.

Harry

I'd be happy to help you any way I can.

I assume that due to the visit from our illustrious headmaster searching for you, you'd prefer discretion in this matter? In which case, I'd be happy to meet you in a place of your own choosing.

Otherwise, would Rosewood Cafe on Fyne Alley at midday on the sixth suffice?

Kindest regards

NFL

With a relieved sigh, Harry penned an affirmative response, sealed it and tied it to a slumbering Hedwig's talon. She'd know to deliver it when she woke, but in the mean time, it was lunch time, Harry was hungry and his godfather hadn't yet returned with their wayward werewolf friend in tow. Therefore, he helped himself to one of the elves' pre-prepared lunches, dug in with gusto and kept an ear out for the sound of Jive popping in.

They still hadn't arrived by the time Harry was done, so once he'd cleared away his dishes, Harry cracked open his school things and began making headway into his summer assignments, aware that he was putting a lot more effort into the task as he normally would. Harry was a far different person to the fourteen year old who'd started out the last school year though, so perhaps it would be no surprise at all.

He was in the middle of trying to make sense of Professor Snape's extraordinarily convoluted assignment task when Jive popped in with Sirius and Remus. He dropped the assignment like a hot potato, banished his school things back to his trunk and greeted the two Marauders with a wave.

"Sorry it took us so long," Sirius apologised, settling himself into the seat he'd previously occupied. Remus settled down on the other available armchair. "I was collecting the necessary books when Molly Weasley decided to harangue me about the state of the house - as if I can help it, the barmy hag - and it was difficult to get away from her long enough to get everything I needed. We've managed to successfully fool everyone into believing that Remus and I have stolen away for a self-pity bender, however, so we can stay for a while."

"Who would have thought our subterfuge skills would come in handy once again?" Remus pondered, an ironic sort of smile on his face. Before Sirius could answer though, Remus changed the subject, gaze now on Harry. "I just want you to know that my loyalty - much like Sirius' - is to the Marauders - namely you, Padfoot and your parents' memory - and no one else. I would not hesitate to do anything you ask of me."

"Your faith is astounding," Harry admitted, "I've never been able to rely on someone so completely."

Sirius smiled, patted Harry on the knee and answered, "Well you can start now. Beginning with us teaching you all you need to know."

"Joy," Harry deadpanned.

Remus chuckled, withdrew a shrunken trunk from a fold of his robes and answered, "You have no idea."