"What is so important that it could not wait until morning, Remus?" Dumbledore asked.
"Turn around." Lupin pointed behind Dumbledore.
Dumbledore spun in place and blinked in shock at what he saw. A clean, tidy and very much younger Sirius Black being passionately kissed by another man.
"Ahem, excuse me, gentlemen." Lupin interrupted them.
"What?" Black raised his head, only to meet the amused gaze of his former Headmaster. "Albus!" He cheered.
"Sirius Black." Dumbledore whispered.
"I'm ba-ack…" Sirius said in a sing-song manner.
"But… But the Veil?" Dumbledore stammered.
"Spat me out the other side." Sirius shrugged.
"The other side?"
"From researching the Veil, I've been forced to the conclusion that where the Veil spits out those that enter it, is different for each person." Sirius started.
"Research?" Dumbledore asked. "Where did it send you?"
"Germany, 1945." Sirius replied. "I've spent the last year and a half, since then, studying it. Finally, I worked out how to get it to send me back, here."
"How…?" Dumbledore was reduced to simple questions.
"Runes, Albus." Sirius explained. "Hours upon hours of studying runes and working out what each of them represented. They're not ideographic like is taught in Study of Ancient Runes at Hogwarts. They're used as individual alpha-numerical symbols. It took me months, after figuring that out, to work out how to get it to… well… basically send me 'return to sender' using the point of origin of the last use. Even then, it was touch and go. I had four possible 'return' destinations. The first was September solstice in the Veil chamber, the second was September solstice outside the shack, the third was three minutes later in the Veil chamber and the fourth was three minutes later outside the shack." He ticked them off on his fingers. "What actually happened was three hours earlier, outside the shack."
"I see." Dumbledore nodded but Sirius was unsure whether or not he really understood. "And what do you plan to do now?"
Sirius snorted. "Look at me, Albus, actually look at me." He ordered. Dumbledore did as Sirius directed and, after a few seconds, he caught his breath in shock. "Yes, exactly. But here's the thing. Sirius Black died tonight. And I'm thinking we can use that. Get Bucky and I, new identities and let us train Harry."
"Bucky?" Dumbledore asked.
"That would be me." A clearly American voice spoke out and Dumbledore blinked, his wand spitting out a stunning spell, he'd forgotten about the other man.
"Really?!" Sirius exclaimed.
"Well, it's not just Remus, is it?" The American man asked the room.
"Apparently not." Remus responded.
"What just happened?" Dumbledore asked.
"Bucky seemed to be immune to any magic that's not Sirius'." Remus told the Headmaster.
"Immune?"
"It's beginning to look that way." Remus said, looking at Sirius and Bucky standing close together.
"I see."
"I'm glad someone does, 'cause I don't." Bucky huffed.
"Sirius, do you know the core defining charm?" Dumbledore asked the Animagus.
"Yes…?" Sirius frowned. "That's one of the Greek-based charms, right? Vasikós Orismós?"
"That's it." Dumbledore nodded. "If you would cast it, please. It should give us an idea of what degree of immunity he has."
Sirius looked to Bucky and the soldier nodded, so he cast the charm. "Vasikós Orismós" A nebulous shape fluttered into being in front of Bucky's stomach. "Now what?"
"Vasikós Orismós" Dumbledore also cast but his wand was pointing at Sirius. Within a few moments a similarly nebulous shape formed in front of his stomach, too. "And that would be what I was looking for." Dumbledore nodded.
"What?" Sirius looked from the shape in front of him to the one in front of Bucky and over to Dumbledore.
"They're the same." Bucky said.
"Exactly." Dumbledore smiled, his eyes twinkling. "Exactly. And that means that only Sirius' magic can affect you. To anyone else's, you are a Void."
"A void?" Bucky asked.
"A Void is someone like yourself, who is immune to magic, however, they are usually immune to all magic, it just fails to affect them in any way." Dumbledore answered, putting a little emphasis on the word 'Void'. "I've only ever come across one other Partial Void, which is more likely what you are. It's so rare."
"Is it dangerous?" Sirius asked, concern filling his voice.
"No." Dumbledore shook his head. "Not really. It just means that you are the only one who can cast magic on him and any potion that he takes will have to be made by you."
"Good thing, I got an O in my Potions' NEWT, then." Sirius huffed.
"I'd say so, yes." Dumbledore laughed gently. "I'd also say that you appear to be significantly young than I know you are."
"Yes." Bucky nodded. "Remus did an age revealing charm and it showed Siri as being twenty-five, he lost eleven years returning here. I lost five years."
"The Veil is a most magical item." Dumbledore mused. "We know little about it. However, I would postulate that unless you were to enter the Veil again, your ages will not be affected any further than they already have."
"In English?" Bucky tilted his head.
"It's not likely to be reversible." Dumbledore summarised.
"Huh." Bucky grunted.
"New identities?" Dumbledore asked. "Did you have names you'd like to use?"
"I was thinking that I'd use Alphard as my father, keep the Black name and title." Sirius said quietly. "Cyril Paddrick Black."
"Yes…" Dumbledore mused. "That would work well." He turned to Bucky. "And you, sir? Will you be using your existing name or choosing a new one?"
"A little of both." Bucky answered. "I've been James Buchannan Barnes since I was christened but Bucky Barnes is a member of the Howling Commandos under the leadership of Captain America, my best friend and brother-in-all-but-blood, Steve Rogers. If this is the same world I came from, we can't risk some muggle raised kid recognising my name. So, we talked it over with a few advisors and came up with the idea of portraying me as the grandson of James Buchannan Barnes and named after him and Steve. Buchannan Steven James."
"I have no idea of whether that will work or not." Dumbledore tilted his head. "My knowledge of muggle history of the time is a little vague, we in the wizarding world were more concerned about Grindelwald, you understand?"
"I do." Bucky nodded. "Which is why we hashed out as much as we could before we left."
"I shall call Alastor and get him to see to the parchmentwork. And what of Harry?"
"We get to train him." Bucky said firmly.
"He needs to return to his Aunt's house." Dumbledore started, only for Sirius to cut him off.
"No, that's not safe." Sirius explained. "Riddle, snakeface, whatever you want to call him. He took Harry's blood in his resurrection, remember?"
"Yes, I recall Poppy having to treat the wound." Dumbledore nodded.
"But that would mean that the blood wards on Privet Drive would see Riddle as an extension of Harry." Sirius said. "It negates the purpose of your wards, completely."
"Oh, my." Dumbledore blinked in surprise, that had never even occurred to him, he'd been so focused on the wards protecting Harry, that he'd forgotten the implications of Tom having taken Harry's blood that night in the graveyard.
"Exactly." Sirius nodded. "Now, we also plan not to tell anyone, other than a few trusted advisors, who I am."
"Alastor, of course." Dumbledore nodded. "Severus, I-"
"No, not Snape."
"Sirius, you must put your differences aside. I trust him implicitly." Dumbledore assured him.
"You might but I don't." Sirius argued. "And unless you are prepared to explain why you trust him, I won't be. Especially given the way he's treated Harry, since he arrived at Hogwarts." Sirius wasn't rude, he wasn't abrupt, he was just stating a fact.
Dumbledore frowned. "I'm not sure that I can do that. It is an intensely personal subject."
"Ask him." Sirius said. "Just don't tell him about me, I won't give that permission until I know why you trust him. I have that right, Albus, and you know it."
"Regardless…" Bucky said. "If Snape is still your spy in Riddle's ranks, it's better for him, if he doesn't know about Siri, safer for him if Riddle questions him. Riddle can do that mind-reading thing, right?"
"Occlumency, yes." Dumbledore nodded. "And yes, I see what you mean. It would be safer for him and for you both, if he didn't know of your survival. I also understand, now, your need to understand why I hold him in such regard. I shall speak with him sometime tomorrow." He shook his head and corrected himself. "Sometime today. Dawn is fast approaching."
"It is." Bucky nodded. "And Harry?"
"I shall speak to him, as soon as I've spoken to Severus." Dumbledore stated. "But I do believe that it would be wise to limit who is told. Mr Ron Weasley is a good and loyal friend, but he has his mother's temper and his father's inability to withhold information. Miss Granger, on the other hand, is loyal and is quite capable of keeping her mouth closed. Mr Longbottom is an up-and-coming wizard, he's gained confidence following Harry, this last year. Miss Lovegood sees things in a unique way, but that didn't stop her from following Harry into the Ministry. Other than them, I'd also suggest Mr's Fred and George Weasley, they are marvellous with their pranks, Miss Weasley is a powerful witch, seventh children often are. And Aurors Tonks and Shacklebolt."
"Sirius?" Bucky asked.
"Harry, of course." Sirius replied. "I'm hesitant about Ron and Ginny, I've heard some of Molly's tales and love potions are frequently mentioned."
"No?!" Dumbledore gasped. "Surely not? You don't think…?"
"I don't know what to think." Sirius shook his head. "What would you think? Hermione and Ron argue whenever the two of them are in the same room. And Ginny looks at Harry like he's a feast and she's starving of hunger. But to me, she always looks like she's trying to hang on the edge of whatever group that Harry's in."
"Hmm…" Dumbledore hummed and thought about the few times he'd seen the children. "You might be right."
"And the twins?" Sirius shrugged. "They're working hard towards their shop. I can't see that they're going to have enough time to train with us."
"We're talking multiple hours each day." Bucky added.
"Then it might be best to leave omit them, as well." Remus suggested. "Which leaves Harry, Hermione, Frank and Alice's lad, Neville and Pandi's girl, Luna."
"Pandi?" Sirius asked.
"She married Xenophilius Lovegood, remember?"
"Oh, yeah… I forgot that." Sirius turned to Dumbledore. "Can you get permission from their families? Augusta is formidable witch, she might not be agreeable. Pandi and Xeno should be fine."
"Pandora Lovegood was killed in a spell-creation accident in April 1990." Dumbledore told Sirius.
"Ah, is that likely to make Xeno stop Luna?" Sirius asked.
"It shouldn't." Dumbledore frowned. "I think I might go and speak to him personally, instead of sending a request." He paused in thought. "Same with Augusta, too, I think."
"And the Grangers, too." Remus said. "Only courteous, Albus."
Dumbledore sighed. "Yes, I suppose it is." He nodded. "I'll speak to the families and see to permissions, Alastor will see to your parchmentwork and getting underage exemptions for the four children. The Express leaves Hogsmeade in a few days, I'd like to have all this settled by then, but I'd prefer not to tell the children of your survival until then. If I have their families' permission, I'll have the children met at King's Cross by Remus, Alastor, Nymphadora and Kingsley and brought to your location. Do you have somewhere in mind?"
"Uncle Alphard's island in the Irish Sea." Sirius replied. "It's unplottable and has been under fidelius since before I started Hogwarts."
"You father's island?" Dumbledore put heavy emphasis on the 'father'. "Might I ask, who is the Secret Keeper?"
"I am." Sirius replied. "I've been the keeper since fifth year. Alph- Father insisted." He corrected himself. "I can make the portkeys and issue Moody with a copy of the secret."
"Excellent." Dumbledore beamed. "I'll send Alastor a Patronus and get him to meet me in my office, first thing this morning. Then I'll speak to Severus. After that, I'll pop out and see Mr Lovegood, Lady Longbottom and the Grangers. Hmm… Should I tell Petunia that Harry shan't be returning to them?"
"I would. Give them some warning of the wards coming down." Remus said.
"Yes, I suppose I should. After that, I'll speak to Harry and whichever of children I have permissions for." He looked at the three men. "Remus, I suggest that you very briefly return to Grimmauld Place, pack up your things and join Cyril and… will you still go by Bucky?" The last question was directed to Bucky, who nodded. "Very good. The Express heads for London on Saturday, we have a lot to do and little time to do it in, gentlemen. I suggest we get what sleep we can, in what remains of tonight, for the next few days are going to be rather busy."