Beta: None

Original release date: 5/27/2014

Disclaimer: I do not own anything in the Harry Potter universe.

Chapter Ten – High in the Sky

Arriving at Diagon Alley, Dumbledore strolls down the streets until he finds Marauders Emporium, and enters, with the tinkling sound of a bell in his ears. Turning around and facing the door, Dumbledore sees a bell hanging from the top of the door.

A voice calls out, "Be right there."

Dumbledore begins perusing the store when a muffled thump is heard and nearby shelves shake slightly. A few moments later, Remus steps out of the door leading to the back, smiling, before seeing who he has for company, and frowns.

"How may I help you today, Headmaster?"

Turning around, Dumbledore strokes his beard thoughtfully and replies, "It's good to see you again, Remus. How have you been?"

"I've been fine. Now, how may I help you?" replies Remus shortly.

"It's been ten long years since we last spoke. I'm curious to know what you've been up to during that time." queries Dumbledore innocently.

Crossing his arms, Remus states firmly, "I've been enjoying myself and life. Now, please answer my question as to why you are here, buy something, or please leave."

In a hurt tone of voice, Dumbledore replies, "You wound me, Remus. But as you wish then. Do you know who has guardianship of Mr. Harry Potter?"

"Yes, I do."

A pause in conversation ensues, and Dumbledore asks, "Will you tell me who has guardianship of Mr. Potter?"

Remus opens his mouth to reply when a new voice joins the conversation, "Remus and I do, Albus."

Dumbledore and Remus turn and face the direction of the speaker, and see Sirius standing feet shoulder width apart, and his arms crossed.

"Well, Sirius, I think Harry would be safer with the Dursley's…" begins Dumbledore.

"Harry will not be leaving us, Albus." states Sirius firmly, hands clenching into fists.

"Harry will be much safer with the Dursley's, I assure you." insists Dumbledore.

"Why do you say that?" queries Remus.

"Just believe me, I have the best interests for Harry at heart."

"If you can't give Remus and I a good reason as to why Harry should be taken into your care, then expect nothing but contempt for you, Albus."

Sighing, Dumbledore replies, "If Harry goes and stays at the Dursley's, I can erect a powerful ward around their abode that will better protect him from anyone that wishes to do him harm."

Harumphing, Sirius shoots back, "Then why not cast the ward around our property instead? You know that Petunia and the rest of her family hate magic with a passion. He wouldn't be welcome there."

"This is a particularly difficult and complex ward spell to cast."

"There shouldn't be any issue erecting the ward around our property…unless it is a forbidden charm." replies Remus snidely.

"Harry going and living at the Dursley's is for the Greater Good."

"What do we have here?" queries a new voice.

Dumbledore and Remus turn and face the direction of the new voice, where Director Bones is standing by the door to the back, with Sirius off to the side, smirking.

Dumbledore turns around suddenly and picks up a Padfoot's Amaranth Wind, and asks, "What does this do?"

"Don't change the topic, Dumbledore. Sirius here asked me to get here very quickly. What about Harry, the Dursley's, and the greater good?" queries Director Bones in a steely tone of voice.

"Just the protection of magical Britain."

"Protection from what, Albus?" retorts Director Bones.

'This knowledge mustn't be revealed yet' "Nothing my dearest Amelia."

Walking over to a shelf before anyone else can add anything, Dumbledore picks up a Padfoot's Amaranth Wind, and asks, "What does this fine item do?"

Snorting at Dumbledore's avoidance tactic, Sirius replies sarcastically, "It basically makes a farting sound and inflates itself when there isn't any more pressure on it, or anyone sitting on it."

Examining it closely for a few seconds, Dumbledore asks, "How much?"

Trading looks with Remus, Sirius replies, "Five sickles."

"I'll take three." replies Dumbledore warmly and smiling.

Rolling his eyes, Remus walks over to the register, and proceeds to check Dumbledore out. Sirius and Remus watch Dumbledore disappear out of the front window before Sirius says wearily, "I need a cup of coffee" before turning to Director Bones and asking, "would you like to join me, Amelia?"

With a clearly confused look on her face, Amelia asks, "What is 'coffee'?"

Smiling, Sirius offers his arm to Amelia, and says, "I'll explain when we get there. But we're going into the muggle world, so robes aren't the best choice of attire."

/*same day morning time at the Burrow*/

Ginny exits the kitchen door and goes to begin the chores she had been assigned and arrives at the shed where an assortment of items reside, including the broomsticks. Organizing the shed, Ginny discovers the Nimbus 1700 that Harry had loaned her for the Quidditch game a few weeks back. Walking hurriedly back inside and asks, "Mum, I need to send a letter to Hogwarts. Can I send Errol?"

Without looking over her shoulder, Mrs. Weasley asked concerned, "What for, Ginny?"

"Just something to Harry. Nothing important."

"That's fine then."

Ginny smiles and runs off to her room to write her letter.

Harry,

I discovered your Nimbus 1700 here today. I'd like to give it back to you, but I'm not certain how or when.

Your friend,

Ginny

Standing up from her desk, Ginny grabs the letter, moves down the stairs at such speed that she could have been mistaken for flying, and quickly ties the letter onto Errol's leg, who hoots faintly, and flies out of the kitchen window.

/*at the end of the first week of classes*/

The Gryffindors head down to the front lawn for their first Quidditch lesson. Arriving, the Gryffindors set down their bags and walk a little ways to the broomsticks that await them. The Slytherins arrived before them and were already standing by their brooms.

Madam Hooch arrives right behind the Gryffindors and calls out, "Quickly now, stand beside a broom. Weasley, it doesn't matter which one you get, just get to one!"

A few moments later everyone was standing beside a broom, and Madam Hooch calls out, "Now stick your hand over the broom and say firmly, 'up'."

The sound of everyone saying 'up' is heard but very few people get their brooms to rise into their outstretched hand. However, an overly enthusiastic broom jumps into Hermione's hand, and then continues to rising, taking Hermione ever higher into the air, before she shrieks and falls. With reflexes that would rival a hydraulic actuator, Neville runs after Hermione, and catches her, before tumbling to the ground himself.

Madam Hooch hurries over and looks over them quickly, saying, "Best we go to Madam Pomfrey. Everyone else, stay here, and KEEP YOUR FEET ON THE GROUND!"

Neville puts an arm around Hermione's shoulders, and together they with Madam Hooch head into the castle. A minute or two after Madam Hooch, Hermione, and Neville leave, Malfoy picks up something from the ground, and says loudly, "Oh look, Granger's dropped her wand."

"Give it back, Malfoy." growls Harry.

Malfoy twirls Hermione's wand for a few moments before replying, "Nah, she shouldn't be here anyways. Her kind aren't welcome here", before getting on his broom and heading into the air, heading what looks to be the Forbidden Forest.

Snarling, Harry grabs the school broom, and flies off towards Malfoy, who becomes startled with the speed that Harry is gaining on him with, and then tosses the wand away from him and towards the school, so Harry wouldn't have a reason to get near him. Zooming away, Harry catches Hermione's wand, and drifts slowly down to the ground where the rest of the class is, with Professor McGonagall standing impassively to the side, hand on Draco's shoulder.

Touching down, Harry walks over to Professor McGonagall who has an unreadable expression on her face and commands shortly, "Follow me, Mr. Potter, Mr. Malfoy", and strides into the castle.

Arriving at Professor McGonagall's office, chairs are conjured and slid into the backs of Harry's and Draco's knees, forcing them to sit. "Now, Mr. Malfoy, please explain what you and Mr. Potter were doing in the air when the rest of the class was safely grounded."

"I was talking with Crabbe and Goyle about how interesting our flying lessons will be, when Potter, err, Mr. Potter decided to jump on his broom and headed towards me. I got on my broom and tried to get away, but he was too good, so I had to throw my wand so he'd go after it instead." states Draco, attempting to craft a story on the fly.

Professor McGonagall finishes scribbling on a piece of parchment, and then turns to Harry and says, "Mr. Potter, it is now your turn to tell me your side of the story."

Harry recites how Hermione had gotten a broom that was itching to go skywards, how Neville had caught her before she had hit the ground, Draco picking up Hermione's wand, and how Draco had thrown the wand and that he, Harry, had caught it to return to Hermione.

Turning to Draco, Professor McGonagall states coldy, "Mr. Malfoy, your side of the story does not add up, as why wouldn't Madam Hooch stop Mr. Potter if he was going after you? In addition to that, the majority of your class's version corroborates with Mr. Potter's version, with Miss Parkinson, and Messrs Crabbe and Goyle giving a different version, none of which agree with yours. Twenty points from Slytherin, and a nights worth of detention should help you not tell lies to professors anymore. You are dismissed, Mr. Malfoy."

Waiting until Mr. Malfoy had left and the door closed, Professor McGonagall turns to Harry before saying, "Mr. Potter, I need you to follow me", before leaving the room, with a confused Harry following behind.

A few minutes later, Professor McGonagall stops beside a classroom door, opens it, and asks loudly, "Professor Quirrell, can I borrow Mr. Wood for a few minutes, please?"

"C-c-certainly, M-m-m-m-minerva." Stutters Professor Quirrell.

A well built male student exits the classroom with a confused look on his face when Professor McGonagall exclaims as quietly as she could, as to no disrupt classes still in session, "Wood, I think Potter here would be the seeker you're looking for."

Author note: Thanks for sticking with me for the past six months if you've been reading this long. :)

When I began to write this chapter, I had an idea of what I wanted, and then I changed my mind, and that happened a few times before I finally got it written. Also, this will not be a bashing fanfic, so please do not be led to believe that.

Seeing as my betas got this chapter mixed up with chapter 11 to look over, if you spot something that looks out of place, or you have a question, feel free to review or pm me about it, and I'll fix it up [if it is a mistake]. Thanks. :)

Edit: I missed one of my notes to betas. Hopefully no one saw that.