A/N: A very quick update! I don't usually update this quickly, but motivation struck, so here I am lol

I think this is gonna become a longer fic, so feel free to stick around for the ride!


The two were later, much later, interrupted by the return of the Weasley family. Even minus the presence of their father, the other teenagers carried enough festive spirit that Harry and Sirius had no choice but to break away from the events of the morning, both adopting similar expressions of content, at least outwardly.

Internally, Harry's nerves were still running sky-high. He watched Sirius anxiously out of the corner of his eyes, watching his godfather chat to Ginny. She was laughing at something Sirius had said, but Harry could see the slight downturn in Sirius's eyebrows, and the strain in his voice. The second Ginny moved away from the conversation, he slunk into the shadows, the same brooding expression on his face that had been there in the days leading up to the start of term.

Harry half wanted to go talk to him again, but he wouldn't know what to say. They couldn't exactly talk about the scars in the presence of so many others, and Harry could tell that trying to bring up any other topic would immediately be shot down by Sirius. He tended to hyperfocus on the task at hand, which unfortunately was not what Harry needed at this point in time.

Finally, after Mrs Weasley asked him for the third time if he was feeling okay (he still looked 'pale' according to her), Harry gathered the courage to go face Sirius, knowing he'd be surly at best. Despite the fact that the anger wasn't directed at Harry, he had no doubt that Sirius would harbour some confusion, even resentment, over the fact that Harry had not confided in him. To be honest, Harry didn't blame him. He knew what it was like to be left in the dark; it always hurt most when it came from those you loved.

When there was a general lull in Ron's rant, one Harry had paid no attention to, he got up. Edging his way around the table as surreptitiously he could, he was getting close when he felt an arm on his shoulder.

"Harry? Could I have a word?"

Lupin gently but firmly tugged him into the kitchen, out of earshot. Hermione was bringing plates in, but tactfully swerved back out. Harry knew that she had figured out that something was up, she'd been looking curiously between him and Sirius for the whole meal. Usually they were inseparable. Harry looked back to see her sit, not in her usual place, but in the chair Harry would usually take, next to Sirius.

"I think it would be best that you leave him for a bit," Lupin said, following Harry's gaze, "he can be- rash, at least when he's angry."

"Yeah," Harry replied, "I know. I just wanted him to… I don't know."

"Cheer up?" Lupin supplied. "Your heart is in the right place Harry, but leave it to Hermione."

"Does she know that he knows?" Harry asked, turning his head sharply to face them. "And that you know, for that matter," he added bitterly.

Lupin looked back at Harry.

"I am sorry that I had to find out like this. But you will not begrudge me for now worrying- "

"So she knows?"

"She asked me if something had happened while they were out. I didn't give details but she figured something out, she's a bright girl."

Harry watched as Sirius leant forward in his chair, listening intently to Hermione. Disantly, he heard the front door opening and shutting. More arrivals.

"So you're here to tell me to leave Sirius alone? Or that I should've told you about Professor Umbridge sooner?"

"Neither. Though, I am incredibly concerned that you didn't tell either me or Sirius. I don't wish to be overprotective, nor annoying, and I certainly do not wish to become your adversary. There's a fine line between protective and -"

"- overbearing," Harry finished, reluctantly smiling. "Sirius said that too. Though that was before he even knew about my hand."

Lupin's eyes flickered down to the glove.

"Does it hurt?"

"Now? No. But it does when she makes me do it, yeah."

"Harry, you do realise that this is an unjust punishment, right?"

"Yeah," Harry answered. Lupin didn't look convinced.

"Harry, she's torturing you. It is both unlawful and morally wrong."

"Yeah," Harry said again, "I get it."

"Do you?" Lupin replied darkly. "The words that Umbridge is forcing you to write into your own skin are not merely a coincidence. They connect not just to your lessons, but the detentions as a whole."

"I know, they -"

"Has she been telling you not to tell anyone?"

"No," Harry answered firmly.

"Are you sure?"

"Definitely," Harry reiterated, catching the slight waver in his voice. He fumbled. Had Umbridge said it? It felt like she had, but he didn't think she'd said it. But, then, why would he know not to? Surely he would usually tell Sirius, he told him everything. Maybe Umbridge had mentioned it? Or not? Maybe Harry was misremembering it. Stumbling, Harry caught his voice before he voiced these thoughts aloud.

Lupin didn't mention it, but his eyes narrowed.

"Okay. That's good. We- We need to sort this out tomorrow morning. I'll get Sirius up, we can have a talk before the day begins. Sound good?"

"Yeah," Harry answered. He knew he had more chance of reasoning his case well, if Lupin was there to keep things calm. "Sirius seems angry. You know, about the detentions. I don't want to cause any trouble -"

"Don't worry. It's not directed at you in the slightest," Lupin said, "the opposite rather. Personally, I was half hoping he would charge after the Umbridge woman before I had a chance to stop him. I could've joined in."

At Harry's alarm, Lupin smiled, clapping a hand on his shoulder.

"You're not annoyed too, are you?" Harry asked tentatively.

"Oh, no, I'm fuming," Lupin said, in a voice far too pleasant for the occasion, "just better at hiding it than Sirius."

With that, he nodded at Harry, who was taken aback by the statement, and swept out the room, leaving Harry by himself. Picking himself up, Harry followed slowly a few minutes later. Their absence had gone unnoticed by everyone, or everyone Harry could see, which came as a relief. He didn't need rumours about him spreading between his friends as well as his enemies.

Settling back at the table, he stared glumly at his plate. He'd made a mess of things. More of a mess than if he'd just told Sirius to begin with. Now he would have to wait until the morning to discover his fate. And Lupin had succeeded where Sirius had not, and Harry felt doubts seep into his mind over his evening meetings with Umbridge. His memories, once crystal clear, felt foggy, as if he wasn't quite sure what to make of them.

He really wanted to talk to Sirius. But he was still talking to Hermione. However, when he looked up, he saw Hermione sitting across from him. That meant that -

Harry glanced at Sirius. He was no longer reclining, sitting moodily in the shadows, but was upright, attentively watching -

Ah. Harry had forgotten about the people who'd turned up while he'd been talking with Lupin. Swiveling around on his chair, he was surprised to see not only Snape, but Professor McGonagall there too, shrugging off her cloak. Term had ended a couple of days ago, but Harry didn't often see teachers at the headquarters. Snape occasionally, but otherwise they tended to stay within the school. Clearly someone, and Harry had little doubt who, had driven them away. While Snape's presence would be highly undesirable, McGonagall could be quite nice when she thought of it. Speaking of which, Harry needed to ask her about their homework, which he had forgotten to take note of.

He turned back to the table, vowing to ask her later. He didn't need yet another detention on his list. But a subtle movement caught his eye. Sirius, rising and quietly making his way towards the pair of teachers. Harry drummed his fingers against his chair leg nervously. It didn't take a genius to put the dots together. Confronting the other teachers about Umbridge's detentions was definitely a good idea. Harry just- just didn't want to have to face them both. The stares, the shock.

Well, better ask about the homework before Sirius got there first, Harry thought, getting up. He made a beeline for his transfiguration teacher. She was still whispering to Snape, heads bowed and close together.

"Uh, hi, professor, uh, could I ask you something?" Harry began, greeting her awkwardly. She looked down at him over her spectacles.

"Good evening, Potter. Certainly, presuming that the matter is not sensitive?"

"Oh, no it's just about the homework," Harry replied, hastily composing his sentences as he went. He hoped to god that Sirius would have the idea to stay back because, if he didn't, this would go more badly than Harry had thought. "See, I read chapter seventeen, and the bit on the infusion of charms made sense, but I wasn't sure on the implications of -"

"Ah. Mr Black, glad to see you again," Professor McGonagall said, confirming Harry's fears. He felt Sirius put a hand on his shoulder, and stopped talking, his mouth going dry.

"Professor, I'm happy you could join us -" Sirius replied.

"For the last time, it's Minerva. And we're just popping through. Needed to escape for a few hours. Apparently it's good we did, Potter was just asking me about the homework," she answered, nodding at Harry to continue, "I presume it was Dwair's theory you're talking about?"

"Uh… yeah," Harry said uncomfortably, fully aware of the attention of all three adults upon him, "I was hoping that you could clarify what she meant when she mentioned the laws that go alongside charms inclusion -"

"I did clarify that in the lesson, but I'm sure you and Mr Weasley had great reason not to pay attention."

Sirius laughed, and ignoring Harry's muttered apologies, he smiled at Professor McGonagall.

"A bit too much like James I think, Professor," he said.

"I always found him to be much more like Lily. At least until you came along. He becomes more like you every day."

Sirius raised his hand to his chest in mock horror.

"Are you suggesting that I'm a bad influence?"

McGonagall raised her eyebrows in answer. Harry was not used to seeing her laid-back (if one could ever describe her as such), but she certainly wasn't quite so intimidating now. Both he and Sirius had relaxed slightly: Snape had slunk past, leaving them in more pleasant company.

"So, Mr Potter, Dwair's principles -" McGonagall began.

"May I have a word?" Sirius interrupted. Harry shut his eyes. He could already imagine McGonagall's affronted look - "Now."

"Now?"

"Right now."

"I suppose. I'll be right along Potter, give me a -"

"You might want to bring Sniv- Severus. Oh, and Harry needs to come too."

There it was. Harry waited until McGonagall, with a mildly confused expression, went to get Snape, then grabbed onto Sirius's sleeve.

"Sirius, no, we can't!"

"Yes we can."

"No! Lupin said we should -"

"I don't care. They need to know."

"But -"

"I am not going to force you to come with me, Harry. I will not subject you to that again, telling one person was stressful enough. But I thought you'd want to be there to- to give the full picture. I can tell them myself -"
"No! We don't need to tell anyone, Sirius, please, Lupin can -"

"What would you do if it was Ron? Or Hermione?"

"I -" Harry began, but stopped.

What would he do?

The answer was painstakingly obvious. Telling someone would be the clear answer. He would convince them to do it, and support them through it. But- It was just so much harder when it was him who had to be the object of scrutiny. Yet… this was Ron and Hermione they were talking about. They'd wanted him to tell someone. But what would it do against Umbridge? What would it do for anyone? Now everything was messed up, all because Sirius knew. Maybe telling someone wasn't the best idea. Or maybe it was? Sirius might be able to fix things. But it was the government they were against-

Harry shook his head in confusion. Everything in his head felt muddled, nothing was set in stone.

"I- I'd want them to tell someone," he finally concluded, from the mess of his thoughts.

"Exactly. So you have a small taste of how I'm feeling now," Sirius replied dryly. Harry rubbed his glove nervously.

"So do I have to show them or…?"

"You don't have to do anything you don't want to," Sirius said gently, "I won't force you, I would never."

"...I'll come," Harry said eventually. Sirius smiled, but didn't say anything. He motioned for Harry's teachers, who had just arrived, to follow him into another room, one half-hidden in shadow, away from the others.

Harry followed them, ducking under Sirius's arm. He waited until the door swung closed, shutting out the noise from the meal. Sirius came to stand behind him, then cleared his throat.

"So. I'm sure you know about Harry's detentions?"
"Yes," McGonagall answered, "he's received quite a few this first term. And I'm sorry but I cannot help you with that. Even when some…" she threw a sideways glance at Snape "may not have been fairly given -"
Sirius glared at Snape for a second, then refocused.

"It's not Sni- Severus who's worrying me. Though I will be following that up -"

"Potter deserved mine just as much as -"

"Don't you dare do this now -" Sirius snapped, "Afterwards. This is important."

He paused, taking a breath and squeezing Harry's shoulder.

"Professor Umbridge? I think she's given him a few?"

"A few would be an understatement, but Sirius, once more, if you're here to complain about the number then -" McGonagall said exasperatedly.

"How many has she given him then?" Sirius asked.

"I'm sure Potter would be able to enlighten you."

Sirius looked at him cautiously.

"Harry?"

"Uh… a lot?"

"How much 'a lot'?"

"Pretty- Pretty much every night -"

Sirius swore, prompting an outraged remark from McGonagall. Even Snape looked up, moderately more engaged.

"As much as I appreciate you have certain issues with ah- anger…" Snape said testily, "I don't think swearing in present company is -"

"Oh, for Merlin's sake, I don't have time to deal with you right now!" Sirius replied furiously. "I only brought you along because I thought you might want to see what was happening at your school -"

"You have no idea -"

"Severus!"

It was McGonagall this time, her voice sharp. Harry jumped.

"What was that, Sirius?" She asked, still glowering at Snape. Sirius hooked on to the opportunity.

"Right. So. Lines right? That's what she's making them do?"

"Yes. Standard punishment, boring but not -"

"Have any of you ever attended these detentions?"
"I have, in fact," McGonagall replied, after a thoughtful pause, "Creevey, a year below Harry."

"Just lines right?"

"Yes, indeed. I thought we established -"

Sirius clenched his fist, cursing Umbridge under his breath. Harry watched his teachers, their hesitancy growing by the second.

"Hasn't she been giving Potter lines too?"

"That's what I thought," Sirius said grimly, "that's what I was told."

"What has Potter been doing for his detention, then?"

Harry felt a prickling discomfort. The question was directed to him.

"I… lines too."

Sirius shot him a warning look.

"I'll tell them if you don't want to," he said. Harry shook his head hastily.

"I mean they were technically lines. She just got me to write 'I must not tell lies' the whole evening."

"Every evening?" Snape asked. "Seems extensive -"

"Extensive? Are you just going to ignore what she's making Harry write?" McGonagall interrupted. She didn't often use Harry's first name, and he could feel the atmosphere of the room drop. "You should have told me. I do not accept punishment like that, not when it could be… mentally damaging."

"That's not the worst of it in the slightest, professor. She's -" Sirius began, then stopped suddenly. He tightened his grip on Harry's shoulder comfortingly. "She's making him use a blood quill."

McGonagall's noise of protest would have been comical, if not for the genuine horror laced through it. Snape breathed out sharply.

"She -"

"They were outlawed years ago," Snape said, voice low, "How could she -"

"I don't know. Sirius replied. "But she has one, and Harry's been using it. He's got the marks to prove it -"

"I can…?" Harry said, motioning taking his glove off. The idea made him faintly sick, but if he had to -

"You don't have to," Sirius assured him. "But if you want -"

"There's no need, Harry," McGonagall said gently, once more using his first name. "We believe you -"

But Snape interrupted; Harry clutched his wrist protectively, "Actually, I would like to take a look -"

"Listen here, Severus -" Sirius began loudly, "You do not have the rig-"

"I assure you, Black, it is not curiosity prompting me. I might be able to help -"

"How would you help?" Sirius asked scornfully, "Mix up some chemicals for -"

"Sirius! I'll do it, it's fine." Harry replied. Sirius gave him a nod, after a brief moment of scowling at Snape.

Harry, as steadily as he could, took off his glove. The faint white lines on his hand, shimmering in the light, looked even more pronounced than before. Sirius stood back and allowed the others to come closer. Both of the teachers stared at the scars analytically, their gazes calculating, masking their emotions far better than Sirius had done. Eventually, just as the silence grew unbearable, Snape took Harry's hand.

"Does it ache?"

"Sometimes. Vaguely," Harry replied nonchalantly.

"That- that hag!" McGonagall exclaimed, "I knew she was bad, but this is too far! I will not have her harming -"

She continued, talking to herself more than the other three. Snape was still studying Harry's hand.

"I- I might have something that could help with this," he muttered, "If you would care to allow me to apply it?"

Harry nodded quietly, not replying. His mouth still felt too dry. But Sirius, probably overcoming an internal battle, said, "Thank you. We would appreciate it."

It was several minutes later when Harry emerged from the room, followed by Sirius. Tiredness was creeping upon him, and his godfather had clearly sensed it. Excusing them both, he had arranged to return to talk to them. But Harry had said all he could, and all he wanted to, on the matter. The rest of the people at the meal had dispersed, only Tonks and Lupin remained, clearing the table. Sirius nodded at them, then guided Harry out, up the stairs and towards his room.

"I'll tell you what they say tomorrow," he said, "but you look exhausted."

"Yeah. Just tired. I'll get up early tomorrow to -"

"It's okay," Sirius assured him, giving him a brief one armed hug, "take your time."

Harry, after returning the gesture, opened the door, almost falling into bed. Ron was asleep already, his soft breathing filling the room. Harry, fully clothed, climbed under his covers, pushing the events of the day behind him. He knew sleep would escape him, but it was worth a try.

He didn't know how much longer he could bear being awake.


A/N: Thank you so much to the reviewers! I'll try to reply individually, but just know I appreciate them so much!

I hope you enjoyed!