Chapter 21
Leap of Fa.
09:16 pm 18th November, Room of Requirements, Girl's Chamber.
It had been an hour since Harry asked Sirius to tell him about his parents and in turn the dog animagus asked for some time to think things over, most would consider it to be a mundane question after all what orphan wouldn't want to know about their parents, but not this orphan, it had been three months plus since they had found each other and the emerald eyed boy hadn't bothered asking him at all hence the sudden question was quite startling to Sirius.
It seemed quite stupid to worry about something like this but he couldn't not take the chance to worry, especially with how his godson's mental faculties worked, and though he was no expert… hell his mantra for every psychological problem was to tough it through. Lily had mentioned that the muggle study of Psychology - their equivalent of mind healing - had progressed quite a lot, and without doubt had progressed further still, he mixed it along with magical mind healing and tried to figure out how his godson's mind worked but it had been a slow trek to say the least, but from experience both general and his Harry's specific coupled with common sense made him realize that he couldn't simply assume anything in the boy's case and had to be sure they were on the same page in every interaction.
So he called Harry and began, "So about your earlier request about information on your parents, why do you want to know about them all of a sudden? And Harry please for all it's worth reply honestly, whatever your reason be, tell it to me and in as much detail as you can so that I can decide what to inform you of and how, after all there are quite a lot of things your parents had told me in their confidence and I believe as not only your godfather but more importantly their friend it is within my rights to withhold that information."
In turn his godson simply stared at him for a while and then cocked his head towards the right and went into what Sirius had started to call thinker mode, trying to solve a situation using whatever warped parody that went for logic in his mind, the solutions could range from utterly brilliant to downright horrifying, for instance his when godson had informed him about how he had anchored some protections on the girl, one in particular that would teleport her to her room should she be in any form of danger, he achieved this by storing an overcharged ward stone in a small cylindrical container that the girl worn around her neck like a pendant, utter brilliance.
Then he had asked Harry if he had any ideas for how they could prove his innocence, the boy replied by going to the courts and submitting him to a veritas serum trial, it was a textbook answer so he thought it prudent to correct his godson's naive idea by informing him of the complexities of the court especially corruption by the likes of Fudge and , his godson's solution was to kill them, when Sirius countered by saying that they'll simply be replaced by someone as worse if not more so - ignoring the incredulity of the idea itself, he's had it one too many times himself - the boy replied that he'll keep killing till someone fair is placed in the position of power, at this Sirius simply stared at his godson, and not for the first time realized just how out not his depth he was, then simply sat down with his head in his hands and let out an exhausted sigh.
Before their current conversation could continue any further the girl got up from where she was drawing using crayons and asked them for "Foo?", taking it as his cue, Harry busied himself in preparing their dinner and before they knew it, it was already bedtime for both the girl and Sirius.
=0=0=0=0=0=
11:07 pm 19th November, Gryffindor Common Room, Hogwarts.
Ginny silently opened the portrait and entered the common room, praying no one was there to catch her sneaking around, especially after last year….
Unfortunately luck was not on her side as just before she could rush up the girls dormitory someone behind her cleared their throat, and she jumped around, wand in hand only to find her brother Ron, she glared at him and ground out "What the hell Ronald! You scared the living daylights out of me!"
Yet again unfortunately for her he wasn't cowed by her anger instead stared back defiantly and retorted, "me? I'm not the one who's been disappearing to Merlin knows where all the time and sneaking around way past the curfew!"
She flinched at his accusation and bit her bottom lip but otherwise stayed silent, there was a time when she would have involved him in all of her shenanigans he was her partner in crime, he was tired of being ignored by the whole family while she was smothered by her family's attention for being the baby girl, but ever since he came to hogwarts their relationship changed, the attention he received from his friends meant he wasn't alone anymore, meant he didn't have time for her anymore and she hated that, then there were the events of last year, they played not a little part in creating this distance between them, till last year she had believed that her brothers could keep her safe from everything - though in her naive mind everything meant from their mother's anger to monsters from fairy tales, not real life nightmares that came in the form of an innocent diary - but now things were different, she was trying to stand up on her own, so cornered she did the only thing that she could right now, she lashed out, "You mean like last year? When you were so concerned about me? When I had shut myself off everyone and had nearly starved myself to the point where I hit malnutrition?"
The words had the intended effect and Ron flinched, averting his glare from his sister and turning them down on the floor, his hands tightened into fistst and his face turned scarlet but he didn't respond, and that alone was heartbreaking to Ginny as she had expected a shoutfest and not this…
After a few moments where neither said anything Ginny rushed back into her dorms leaving Ron standing alone in the common room.
=0=0=0=0=0=
09:02 pm 20th November, Headmaster's office, Hogwarts.
All the heads of the house along with Dumbledore were seated, a lone seat was left vacant for someone, the atmosphere grim, soon the door was opened and gave way to the resident werewolf of the school Remus Lupin, who was carrying a tray of mugs with hot chocolate.
"Evening everyone! Thanks for waiting," he began as soon as he closed the door behind him before taking his seat and placing the tray on Dumbledore's desk for others to help themselves like he did.
Taking a mug for himself Filius began, "So we have a new problem this year, as if the dementors weren't enough to worry about on their own now we have to deal with someone who can render Hogwarts' wards moot, and if this new problem is tied with the whole reason for those monsters being here, namely one SIrius Black, then it's just worse all the more, and yes from my and Albus's investigation we've confirmed that someone was there in the shack, someone who has managed to conceal their presence almost totally - thankfully leaving just enough for us to find out that someone was there in the first place - now Remus, if you wouldn't mind please tell us why do you think that it was indeed Black who had trespassed our school?"
Taking a sip he began, "It's unexpected, that's a third of Sirius's personality summed up in one word, then it's also chaotic another third of his personality, when we were in the order Sirius wasn't feared simply because he was a strong wizard but because even in the chaos of battle, the rush of adrenaline on which he thrived, he was known for doing things that no one could possibly think of, he once summoned a lot of water using the Aguamenti maximus charm and then turned it into wine and set it on fire thus also burning three death eaters instantly."
The staff had varying reactions, Filius raised his eyebrows, Pomona was left with a gaping mouth, Minerva's lips had thinned out while Severus sneered, Dumbledore's eyes turned flinty in clear disapproval.
Remus gave an amused chuckle and responded, "We thought he was good not that he had escaped the black madness, well turns out we were wrong about the former, and the rest is history as you know it, but the point still stands, somehow Sirius is behind this, why? I don't know but it'll be soon, How? I'm running through some of our contacts to see if anyone would have access to any ancient artifact that could do this, though I find it to be highly unlikely but it'd be better than doing nothing."
Snape was the first to comment on this, "You always were useless, the only thing you were good for was to gang up on others with your useless friends, and what's the guarantee that you aren't working with Black? After all.." was as far as he got when the usually mild mannered DADA professor grabbed him by the collar and slammed him on Dumbledore's desk, his Amber eyes making direct contact with Snape's black ones.
Dumbledore in his most calm voice intervened, "Remus, let Severus go, please."
Once again surprising everyone in the room, Remus defied Dumbledore and tightened his grip on Snape's collar and growled, not unlike his alter ego, then said, "Enough, Snape Enough! Since the moment I stepped foot on these grounds you've been an insufferable bully just like you used to back when we were students, the only difference being back then you used to hide behind your death eater friends now you hide behind Dumbledore, and I find it highly ironic that you're accusing me of helping out a death eater conveniently ignoring the fact that you are one. But no more! I'll be civil with you, and in turn expect civility from you should you ignore this compromise I'll bite rather than growl."
Dumbledore intervened once again, his voice still calm and soft, but sharp, no longer requesting but ordering, "Remus! Let him go, and Severus has my full confidence he is no more death eater than I am and you know very well that he must keep up his act to be ready when Voldemort returns."
Remus slowly let go Snape but then turned his glare at the ancient headmaster, and just like the venerable man spoke in a soft voice, "No Albus, whether you you believe it or not Severus Snape is still very much a death eater, We fought the dark alongside you, we shed our blood and sweat along you, we lost our friends along you, because the dark disgusted us, because we wanted to protect those who couldn't protect themselves, Snape on the other hand was perfectly content being a part of the said darkness till it offended him, till it threatened to destroy something he obsessed himself with, and had it not done that? He would've never changed sides, so while he might have your confidence he does not have mine, keep him in line."
Having said his piece he turned about and left the office leaving the rest of its occupants utterly speechless.
He marched up to his dorm and went to sit upon the bed, letting out a huge breath as he did so, he honestly couldn't believe what he had just done, when Snape said those things he wasn't able to control himself any longer and channeling James he confronted both him and Albus about his grievances with them, or at least some of them, and not only did he felt a righteous exhilaration but also felt like his dearly departed friend would be proud of his little display, after all James always did encourage him to be bolder.
=0=0=0=0=0=
02:15 am 21st November, Laboratory, Room of Requirements, Hogwarts.
For the past few days Sirius wasn't the only one who had been wondering about what to do, Harry had been running his own calculations concerning different scenarios where he tells Sirius the truth and his reactions to it, to say the least it was not going well, anything concerning emotions and interpersonal interactions were his weakness, he could recognize emotions by basic body postures and diagnostic spells that would inform him of the chemicals being released by the brain thus help him figure out the emoints being felt by the subject it did little to help him understand people's actions and reactions, even with all the psychology books he had gone through, knowledge that could be necessary to help his parents recover from traumatic the experiences of their deaths once they're resurrected.
Thus he went to the one person he knew who was a master at the art of communication, planning, and decision making, Director Hennessey, he told the old man an outline of his situation without going in detail, in turn the director simply asked him "Do you trust this man?"
Trust was a feeling, and just like all other feelings he knew what it was by description, but never having felt it he pondered on how to answer the question, he figured trust is built upon consecutive successful interactions, as Poseidon had once told him that she trusts their teammates to look out for her because they've always done it, using that as a model he compared his interactions with Sirius and found that the man had always done as he had been asked to and had also kept his secrets thus far such as his Sanctuary and the Girl - the fact that the man didn't have any reason to change his behaviour was an added factor - so he concluded that he could in theory of things trust the man, as such replying in affirmative, he left the Director back to doing whatever he was.
After he returned to the girl's chamber he fed her and after she was asleep he approached Sirius, he signalled to the man to follow him, and then all of a sudden they were transported from the girl's chamber to the laboratory, if Sirius was startled he didn't let it show, then Harry led Sirius upto the ritual formula where both observed it for a few minutes in silence.
"The place is quite fancy and impressive though I can't understand the purpose of most of it like the thing in front of me, enlighten me..." the ever impatient Sirius began breaking the silence, though before he could complete his thought he was interrupted by Harry who handed him his notebook which had a long passage written on it, he immediately began reading it as fast as he could.
"The mural in front of you is a ritual formula, the ritual is of my creation, one used to revive dead people, I intend to use it to revive Mother and Father, on Halloween I came across an artifact that can help me achieve this faster and efficiently, yet I failed, and I believe that was most likely due to my lack of information about them as people, hence why I am asking for your cooperation…" as soon as he was done reading he turned to his god son, when he had read the words ritul circle his blood had ran cold, fearing that he had lost any chance of ….. then the rest of the message sank in, and he looked at the boy in a mix of Awe, Hope, and Disbelief.
He took in a deep breath, and thought it over before he gave an explicit reaction, he recollected everything he had been taught about rituals, then he began, "This ritual how does it work? Can you give me a brief outline?"
Harry nodded and then began writing and when he was done he handed a two page explanation to the dog animagus, in turn the man started going through the notes faster than before and before he was done with a single side of the first page his face was marred with a horrified expression and he turned to his god son feeling not a little pity and fear for the child, he took a deep breath and sat down on the floor, patting the spot next to him, taking the cue he sat next to his godfather, they spent a few minutes in silence and then Sirius let out a long sigh.
Turning to Harry, Sirius cupped his face using both of his hands and then looking him in the eye he began "Harry, you shouldn't do this, this… it goes against everything your parents stood for, most importantly the fact that it hurts you in some way, and that is something nor they nor I could ever condone."
Harry once again went into thinking mode and then looked at Sirius, then he computed what his godfather said with all the data that he did have, and came to the conclusion that the man had some form of misunderstanding as no part of his plan could hurt him, and related as much to the old man.
Sirius frowned at first wondering how to explain his point of view, then thinking it through he began, "Harry, there's a lot I don't know a lot about rituals but I know that every ritual takes as much as it gives if not more. And you said it yourself it will cost you a part of your soul and neither your parents nor I as your godfather would condone that."
Harry took in his words and worked them over, if what Sirius was saying was correct he would have to reconfigure the ritual, though that would mean pushing back the timeline, even with the Resurrection stone the longer he waits to bring them back the harder it will get.
Almost as if he could read his godson's mind Sirius spoke up, "No Harry I'm not asking you to develop a Safe way to bring them back, I'm saying you shouldn't bring them back, there's a saying, just because you can doesn't mean you should, and it applies in our situation."
Harry turned to his godfather wondering why he was saying this, so he asked, "Is it not my filial duty to do what I can for my parents? I have learned that it is every child's responsibility to do what they can for their parents, so that they may have a peaceful and long life, and I cannot do that if they are dead, then why are you trying to prevent me from bringing them back?"
Sirius gazed at the young boy with not a little pity, and before he could stop them a few tears escaped his eyes, then looking him in the eye the dog animagus began, "No Harry you have it wrong, yes had they been alive your filial piety would have been to care for them in all ways possible, but they are not, as such your filial piety changes to taking care of yourself, ensuring that you can lead the best life within your means as that is for which they gave their lives, not because they were simply fighting against the Dark but also because they were fighting for you, for your life."
Harry couldn't understand what his godfather was talking about so he asked the man to elaborate on it.
Sirius tapped his chin for a few minutes and then began speaking, "As you know your parents were killed by Voldemort, he killed them because not only they opposed him but also because there was a prophecy, one that stated that either you or Neville Longbottom would be the cause of his downfall in future, and Voldemort wanted to prevent that from happening at all costs, he prioritized hunting down both of you and your families above everything else, and we all know how that went, luckily your mother was able to stop him, but as you've informed me that Voldemort isn't as dead as we would've liked, I don't know anything more about the prophecy or about them in general, but I know this much your parents, James and Lily wouldn't want you to exhaust your life trying to bring them back, and before you begin, even if you hadn't been born they would've been hunted down by Voldemort and his cronies."
Having said his piece Sirius stood back observing his godson who was quite visibly contemplating and then all of a sudden Harry disappeared from where he was standing, and all the man could do was pray for everything to turn out alright.
=0=0=0=0=0=
09:55 pm 22nd November, Corridor near Library, Hogwarts.
Remus saw Neville and his friends running past him, most probably rushing towards their dorms, and as he turned the corner he saw a file lying haphazardly, most probably dropped by some student when they were in a hurry, as he went to pick it up he read a word from the papers peeking out of the file, Sirius Black.
A/n : I'm so so so sorry for not updating for so long but my health has suffered a lot recently hence why my priorities had to be shuffled around.
