AN: I'm so sorry America for the ruling that's been passed this last week. I won't say much more because I know fanfiction is often used as a space to get away from real life. But I am sorry this is something you have to now deal with across the board. I wish there was some way to help.

It almost feels redundant to carry on with a usual introduction, but...sometimes normalcy is helpful. So...hello all. This is a day late. I had a difficult Sunday evening with some difficult conversations, so I was just drained. But it's here. I hope you enjoy the shorter - but still drama filled - read.


Chapter 34: Give a little more than you take


2nd July, 1994

Three weeks after his students had boarded the Hogwarts Express, Albus found himself walking the cobbled Hogsmeade pavements with Fawkes flying above him. He focused on how his breath was still visible in the night air, despite it being July. Scotland rarely gave them warm nights, so on occasion, Albus walked through the night with a standard cloak and allowed the biting chill to surround him. To remind him that he was still vulnerable to the elements. That, despite his magic, he was still human.

It was easy to forget sometimes.

That had been what had hooked Gellert and Tom; that they were above the very things that made them human and vulnerable. It wasn't difficult to see how they had conflated vulnerability with weakness, and if Ariana hadn't...well, Albus could have found himself walking a very different path than Hogsmeade's quaint streets that evening.

Fawkes cawed from above him, and Albus followed his familiar with a smile. It was later, perhaps, than he normally walked, but his strolls were just as much for Fawkes as they were for him. His familiar had been cooped up in the castle for too long - there was no documentation on what happened to phoenixes around Dementors, but Fawkes had stayed away from them all the same, rarely leaving the office for the castle grounds.

They were gone now though. Fawkes was free to stretch his wings and fly.

Everyone had breathed a sigh of relief at the Ministry calling them off. With nothing seemingly untoward happening this year, the students had celebrated Gryffindor's win of the House Cup with the enthusiasm they were robbed of last year. Hogsmeade had become more lively; reminiscent of earlier days. His staff were all in better spirits - apart from Remus who had left quietly and without a goodbye, and Severus who was still in the care of St Mungos.

He was glad that the students felt safer, but every year it was becoming clearer to Albus that things were spiralling out of control. Sirius Black was still on the loose, Severus had been struck with Lycanthropy, a time turner was missing, a student had not boarded the Express, and Halley Potter was drawing further and further away from him.

Was it because of the abuse? She'd said nothing further was happening, and Arabella Figg commented weakly on her when she was back with her relatives. But Albus wasn't quick to believe Halley.

The Dursleys may not have been physically harming her any longer, but the damage was surely done. Halley was in a delicate state. It seemed to him that Halley was on the precipice of something, but what that something was - and worse, what would influence it - was unknown to him.

Perhaps it was worth having more time with her next year. Minerva had been right in that he'd hoped Remus would be able to build a connection with the girl. And he'd hoped that they had. If Halley keeping his secret was any indication, then perhaps they had.

But Remus had said she was distant and slow to trust. Would spending more time with Halley really do much other than foster apathy for him?

Albus was under no delusion; though she tried to hide it, Halley had shown time and time again that she felt anger towards him for leaving her with the Dursleys. He couldn't blame her. He hadn't wanted to place too much burden on her in her first year, and her second had been traumatic as it was. Adding the knowledge of Lily's protection on the Dursley's home wouldn't have done any good.

But perhaps if she knew why he couldn't move her from the house, Halley might understand. Albus didn't expect forgiveness from the child, but understanding might go some way towards making her more prone to trust. Perhaps to adults as well.

Yes, perhaps that could be a start.

That still left a myriad of other complications to consider before the start of the new school year, however. Albus sighed. Complications were too easy of a word to use, but nevertheless he would prepare himself for a series of interviews.

Albus made a habit of looking for a new Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher at the start of each year. Whether the curse was true or not, teachers never stayed longer than a year. Alistair had agreed to teach Defence early on, especially when Albus had told him that the Triwizard Tournament was being reinstated in Hogwarts this coming year. Alistair had snorted at the security measures in place, saying he would teach. Arguably, no one was better suited to instil the practice of vigilance in the children, but Albus couldn't help but wonder if his slight prejudice against the Durmstrang headteacher was what pushed him to accept.

That was settled at least, but Severus was still recovering. There had yet to be a full moon, and as such no one knew the extent to which he would transform - or whether he would transform at all.

There was little hope for that. Poppy's diagnosis of teeth being what had caused the wounds had been confirmed further by other medi-witches. Severus had been attacked on a full moon by a fully transformed werewolf.

If the board found out, he would not be allowed to teach. And Albus doubted that the rest of his faculty would be too pleased to allow another werewolf to teach after this year's events.

Severus would be dismayed. Albus would need to find him a suitable replacement income. He owed it to him at the very least.

And it left the problem of needing to replace Severus as Potions professor, and as the Head of Slytherin.

Albus had toyed with the idea of asking another staff member to take on the additional responsibilities, but between their own duties and the influx of an additional 100 students, it wasn't likely they would be able to do it.

Replacing Severus would be a challenging task to do considering the short notice, but it was one he needed to do post haste. He hoped the position would be easier to fill at least.

And as for Black…well, it was why he knew Halley was lying. In the process of explaining how Black had used the secret entrances within the castle to move around it, Remus had told him that Black hadn't been the Potter's secret keeper. He'd told him that it was indeed another of their friends.

Albus immediately sealed off the ones he and Remus had known about, but there were sure to be others. The castle was as large as it was magical.

But even if Black was not out to kill Halley as he had initially feared, Black was still unstable. His motives were unknown.

Albus sighed once again. This walk was doing little to clear the thoughts from his head, it seemed.

"Fawkes?" He heard another caw, and shortly after Albus felt a powerful gust of wind as Fawkes landed on his outstretched arm. "Shall we head home?"

Fawkes made a sound of agreement, and Albus smiled. He prepared himself for apparition. Fawkes would join him there; he didn't like to apparate when he had his own method of transportation.

Albus felt the recognisable tug and squeeze of apparition in his navel, and then he was at the threshold of his cottage.

He'd left the family home to Aberforth - the memories of it were painful enough without having to be reminded of it every time he left Hogwarts for the summer - and had purchased a homely cottage in the Scottish moors amongst the purple lavender and the silvery bushes.

It was not too far from the school or his brother if anything went wrong, but still far enough that he was alone with only nature - and Fawkes - to keep him company. He preferred it that way; being greeted by the sounds of the wind on the moor, of the birds squawking along with his familiar, or the occasional wayward sheep bleating.

Only…

Albus aimed his wand towards the unknown shape that was leaning against his front door. The shape wasn't moving, save for the shallow breathing and tremendous shivers wracking its body in the cold wind.

He moved closer, and only then did he recognise the shape of a large black dog. And when Fawkes appeared in a flash of orange flames, the dog could be seen more clearly.

Remus had shown him memories of Black so that he could be identified in his animagus form, and this was certainly that dog. Sirius Black was half dead on his front doorstep.

Albus wanted to say that it was odd, but it was just that sort of evening.

"It seems we have a guest," he said. A guest, and perhaps an answer to some of the questions that had been ringing around in his head for weeks now. If Black wasn't trying to do away with Halley, then what did he want with her? And what would he do now that Pettigrew had escaped once more?

Black couldn't stay a dog, even if it would be easier to move him about, so Albus carefully cast the spell that transformed him back into a human before binding Black in ropes and bringing him inside. The man slept through it all, unaware of Albus lying him gently on the sofa and lighting the fire.

He was dirty and injured, and Albus' mind cast back to Halley sitting in his office looking very similar.

Systematically, Albus healed the cuts that he could see. As he got further down, he noticed a foul smell coming from Black's leg. Frowning, Albus pulled the clothing back to see a long, jagged cut that was swollen and seeping a yellow pus. He held his breath as he worked on it, first cleaning it with alcohol to hopefully stop any infection, and then using magical means to try and further sterilise the wound.

It would need better care, but as Albus bandaged it, he knew it would be alright for now. At the very least Black wouldn't need his leg amputated. He had enough medical knowledge for that.

Black slept through it all. He'd only stirred and muttered when the firewhiskey had been poured on the wound. If he had slept through that, it was likely that he wouldn't wake for some time. Albus would have to wait for his answers.

It was going to be an uncomfortable rest of the night in the armchair.


Black woke before Albus, which was somewhat concerning. A loud thump and a groan signified that Black had stirred and hit the floor. It was a testament to how tired Albus must have been that he didn't wake before the trump. He was a notoriously light sleeper.

"Where am I?" Black gasped out, likely winded and panicked from the fall.

Albus lifted himself from the chair and flicked his wand, righting the man into a comfortable position on the sofa. Black seemed dazed and…feral. It was the only way to describe how he was shifting, baring his teeth and sniffling around the room, like a frightened animal.

It made sense in a way; he would have spent a considerable amount of time in his Animagus form - perhaps enough to begin taking on the characteristics in his human form as well. The thought made Albus want to loosen the bonds on him, but that was not a smart move. Especially in his condition, and especially if Black still had a wand on him.

"You're in my house, Black. How did you find it?" Albus asked.

Black watched him for a moment, carefully. His eyes focused and then it was like every bit of tension had released from his body. In an instant, Black was calmer, more focused. He looked very different.

"Dumbledore," he rasped out. "James - when they - Hagrid came here. I had to make sure she was safe first before -"

Albus hadn't known that Black came with Hagrid that night. He'd told Hagrid to bring Halley to him so that he could make plans for her safety. The man had been wrought with grief and fear that night - Albus hadn't even thought to ask if anyone had come with him.

It also answered the question of whether he had a wand or not.

"I see," he said.

Black shifted against the bonds. "I waited to find you. I waited for…a long time."

Albus got the sudden impression that Black wasn't just talking about waiting on the doorstep. So many things had happened the night Black was sent to Azkaban that Albus hadn't stopped to think about any of it. When he'd read the next day that Black had killed the thirteen Muggles, along with Peter's declaration, he had just assumed that's what had happened.

The generation of Blacks that had walked through the school at that time had all succumbed to the Dark - whether fueled by their madness or not - that Albus had just thought it was Sirius' turn.

But it hadn't been him. Sirius had stayed loyal to James - so much so that he had made sure that Halley had been safe before trying to avenge the Potters.

Albus had been wrong, and that assumption had left an innocent man to rot without any word of a trial.

His hand found his way to the crooked bridge of his nose as Albus sighed out slowly and deeply. He'd made so many mistakes.

"I'm sorry, Sirius," he finally said. "I'm sorry I doubted you, and I'm sorry that you spent so many years in that horrific place without a trial."

Sirius looked confused, but he nodded nonetheless. "She said - she said we could get help. That you would help us."

"Who did?"

"Halley."

"When did she say that?" Albus asked slowly. "In the shack?"

"She's not safe," Sirius said. He became frantic again. Sirius began struggling against the bonds, looking pleadingly at Albus. "There's a dangerous wizard - he's teaching her that it's ok to hurt -"

Albus frowned. "On Hogwarts grounds?"

Sirius shook his head.

He wasn't making sense, and Albus wasn't sure how to help him. Except…if Sirius could show him his memories, then that would make things exponentially easier. He didn't want to risk Legillimency on his clearly unstable mind - he had gone through enough as it was - but the pensieve was in his office at Hogwarts. It would take less than no time to get them both there.

"I would like to help you, my boy - but I will need to see your memories of the man. Are you willing to come with me to Hogwarts?"

Sirius nodded his head wildly. The matted clumps of hair whipped back and forwards and Albus half considered letting the man shower first. But if he left it too long, who knew what mental state Sirius would be in. No, it was better to do this now. As soon as possible while they still could.

"Come with me."

Albus floo'd them directly to his office and was met by the grumbling portraits, whose interest perked up at the sight of Sirius.

"I say, isn't that one of mine?" Phineas Black asked, unhappy to be woken from his snooze. "The one that caused no end of mischief with those other miscreants?"

"Indeed it is," Albus said. "Unfortunately, we don't have the time to discuss old students, so if you would all excuse us."

Phineas huffed at the dismissal, but returned to his nap. Albus was quite sure he - and the other portraits - were all pretending to ignore them both, but there was little he could do about that now. Instead, he prepared the pensieve. It wouldn't take long to do, but he was more concerned about the lucidity of Sirius' mind.

Memories were already fickle things, but the memories of an abused man were even less reliable.

Albus finished his preparation and then turned back to the man. Sirius was looking around the office with a small smile, hopefully having fond memories. "Sirius?"

"We got sent here a lot," he said.

"I recall," Albus replied gently, "but it's important that we focus on the task at hand. I need you to think clearly about the night that Pettigrew escaped."

An immediate shift came over Sirius once more as he began angrily muttering to himself. He took a wand from his pocket, and Albus tensed before realising that the wand was broken. It wouldn't work - but then how had Sirius gotten himself to his cottage?

"Blistering rat! I wish I had killed him -"

"Sirius!" The man focused back on Albus. "Please. Recall that night and the night you saw Halley with the wizard."

Sirius paused then, as if something had just occurred to him. "She won't get in trouble, right sir? It's not her fault."

The way he moved from one state into another was difficult to digest. Albus had seen the same sort of manic emotional buoyancy a few times in his life around a few people, but it was still uncomfortable every time someone shifted their emotions so quickly around him. However, he would need to place his own feeling of discomfort aside for now; Sirius had answers, and he needed his help, so Albus slowly shook his head.

"If she's in trouble, I'll need to know. It's the only way I can help her. Halley is vulnerable."

His words seemed to ease some of Sirius' agitation, and a look of concentration came over his face. When he was ready, Albus slowly, very slowly, brought his wand to Sirius' temple and extracted the memory. Sirius still flinched when he felt the wood touch his skin, but he kept still as Albus did so.

The first memory was a whispery silver. The second was a dull grey. They both circled each other in the pensieve, and occasionally Albus could see snippets of the memories floating to the surface.

"Do you want to join me, Sirius?"

Sirius shook his head. "Don't like it - not a good memory."

Albus understood, but he didn't want to leave Sirius unattended and to his own devices in his office. "In that case, why don't you take a seat until I'm done. Your leg must be hurting you, at any rate."

Sirius nodded. He staggered to the chair, and just before he sat down, Albus cast a sticking charm to it. With the broken wand, Sirius was unlikely to be able to reverse the charm, and he would have to stay seated until Albus was finished.

It didn't seem like Sirius noticed it much, but Albus waited until he was sure that Sirius was sitting. Then he turned back to the pensieve and submerged himself in it.

The scene was dark, lit only by the light of a fire. But there was a figure facing it. Considering the options, Albus felt it was likely this was the man Sirius was talking about. He would look now, and then wait for the rest of the memory to play out.

He walked from the corner that Sirius was crouched in, in animagus form, and around the chair the figure was sitting on. The fire flickered steadily, but as he turned to get a better look, Albus came face to face with the cold stare of a teenaged Tom Riddle.

Albus yanked himself out of the pensieve with a gasp. Tom was still alive - some form of him that wasn't Voldemort was walking around and was influencing Halley. It had to have been the diary - it had to have been!

That was when everything had stopped making sense.

He had suspected that Tom had made Horcruxes - perhaps not as a first resource, but it had been one of the options. And seeing the face of his seventeen-year-old self, remembering what Halley had said took place in the Chamber of Secrets…it was what fit together.

He was back. There was more than one of him in existence.

And he had Halley in his clutches.

Albus needed to make sure that she was safe - he needed to make sure that Tom couldn't get to her anymore.

But if she was meeting him - if she had been meeting him on multiple occasions, then what was he to do? He couldn't take her away from the Dursleys - especially now! And Halley wasn't telling him the truth.

He'd known it - but now he needed to figure out why. If Halley was being coerced into meeting with Tom, then there was a chance. But if she had chosen to side with him…

What could he do?


AN: This was it. The final chapter of Year 3. I hope you've enjoyed it thus far. I'm going to be taking a couple of months off to write up year 4. I have 3.5 chapters already, but I am in the process of buying a house so, while I hope I'll be able to write a solid 5-7 more chapters, I do not know if that's very feasible. I'm gonna try.

Regardless, I wish you all a good couple of months. I hope you've enjoyed the ride, and we'll continue with the drama, the tragedy and the manipulation on the 4th of September 2022. (Also - I'll never say no to a cheeky review. It's scientifically proven to help with a writer's motivation, hehehe).