Rodrick stared at the headmaster. Fawkes dozed off in the background. He watched idly as several silver trinkets took loops around the office. When he turned his gaze towards the Daily Prophet, he sighed when he didn't find any signs of Black on it.

"How have you been feeling?" The headmaster asked, a kind smile on his face.

Rodrick shrugged, "Occulumency has helped... A lot"

"Indeed, it is a remarkably useful skill," Dumbledore replied.

"Besides," Rodrick started as he relaxed his head into the chair. "I was kept somewhat busy," he finished, the hint of a grin on his face.

There was an amused look on the headmaster's face, "Yes, the show you put on yesterday was quite impressive"

Rodrick's face soured slightly, "People are still bothering me about the 300 points though, did you really have to do that?" he asked with a frown.

Dumbledore raised an eyebrow at him, "I had figured you would like that quite a lot; it certainly pushed your house further ahead in the rankings"

He sighed as he turned his gaze back to the paper, "Still... it's a little much don't you think? And I'd rather people didn't know the real reason for it... I've been telling my house you made a mistake and were meant to give me only 30 points,"

Dumbledore chuckled at the answer, "Yes I suppose that would be quite amusing, I take it no one believed you?" he asked a small twinkle in his eye.

Rodrick scoffed, "Almost everyone bought it," he answered much to the headmaster's disappointment.

The expression quickly changed, however, "Even then, a number of points are still nothing compared to what you did. You gave the man his freedom back..." The headmaster sighed, "I am not confident it would've happened had anyone else been involved... You're perhaps the only one here who would've listened,"

Rodrick nodded slowly, "I can't blame them... I mean they thought he was a murderer, people ought to feel uneasy about that sort of thing I suppose"

"And yet you didn't," The headmaster spoke out pointedly.

Rodrick shrugged, "I can't judge him for it, even if it was true,"

Albus frowned at the words, he waited for the boy to clarify.

"My grandfather did a lot worse and I never really put that thought into my head when I spoke with him,"

"I see..." The headmaster spoke out, "It doesn't explain why you decided to speak to him in the first place, nor how you even knew to find him," the light in the headmaster's eye increased.

Rodrick fidgeted as he looked away, debating what to say before sighing. "I had a vision of him, showing up,"

Dumbledore's eyes widened, "You didn't inform anyone," he spoke, there was a small frown appearing on his face. "It's rather reckless,"

Rodrick laughed, "You did say my parents were Gryffindors..." he spoke, amused to see the headmaster hold back a chuckle. "But it was my grandfather's words regarding Black that were the main reason,"

The headmaster moved his head forward, his attention piqued. "Your grandfather?"

Rodrick nodded, "He told me Black wasn't as black as the world thought he was."

The headmaster usual kind face switched to a thoughtful one, Rodrick felt himself shrink at the sudden gaze.

"Peculiar..." Albus muttered.

Rodrick nodded slowly, "I wanted to know what he meant... I doubted the professors would be as willing to find out... To give him that chance to speak."

There was a hint of sadness that entered the headmaster's eyes, "Something that would've quickly turned into regret..." he spoke, thinking of what could've happened. "I must still ask that you be more careful in the future,"

Rodrick changed the subject, "I have other things that need my attention anyway."

"Back to your old project?" Albus spoke amused, shaking his head as he saw the boy nod eagerly.

"I was thinking of flooing here in Christmas, to test it out," Rodrick spoke, his eyes almost glowed with determination.

"Yes, that would probably be for the best," Albus remarked, "Have you given your grandfather's untimely passing any thought?"

Rodrick flinched slightly at the bluntness, he raised his eyes to meet the headmaster's gaze. "I have... There's a possibility... I could probably confirm it if I read the book in my vault..." He started, he watched as the headmaster' attention seemed to increase, He wants to read it aswell? Sighing, he finished his words, "I don't think I am ready yet though... I don't really want to confirm it."

"That is understandable,"

"Is there a reason you want to read the book?" Rodrick asked quickly.

If the headmaster was surprised by the sudden question, he did not show it. "I believe the mystery surrounding your grandfather could be solved by it"

Rodrick raised an eyebrow, "Mystery?" he questioned.

Albus nodded, "Your grandfather's strange knowledge cannot simply be blamed on visions, you told me regarding the war how he'd known of his impending loss and now his knowledge regarding Black and not to mention the vision you received of Voldemort, one that is no longer possible."

Rodrick nodded slowly to each one, "You think the answer lies in the Deathly Hollow book?"

"Yes, I believe it does... It might also explain his strange behavior during and after our duel," Albus confirmed.

"Strange behavior?" Rodrick asked with a frown. "I thought he was sent to prison straight after?"

Albus shook his head, "That would be the common misconception, he was in fact captured two whole months after he'd lost the duel... Even then that duel was..."

Rodrick raised an eyebrow, "What?"

Albus sighed, "I'd known your grandfather a while... I do not mean this in an offending way but before the war, I had always had an edge over him in terms of skill,"

Rodrick had an amused expression on his face, the headmaster wasn't one for subtlety. "I believe that was why you won," he pointed out. To his surprise, however, Albus shook his head.

"That is the strange part when I fought him... He was better, far better. For some reason he had gained a tremendous amount of power in a small amount of time, I had been astonished to see the level of power he'd shown"

Rodrick's straightened up, "But... If that was true, why did he still lose?"

Albus had a thoughtful look on his face, he slowly took out his wand. "His wand's loyalty... Wasn't directed to him. It was directed to me... It made it almost impossible for him to beat me as long as he used it, he must've realized it... however, with no other wand, it was quickly made apparent who would, no matter how long, eventually win." He sighed again, thinking of the past, the headmaster finished, "If you were interested to know... The duel lasted a quarter of a day,"

Rodrick's eye's widened, he looked over the wand... Recognising it from the book. "That's one of the Hollows..." It was an exact copy. Slowly he took in the words of the headmaster then, "Why was its loyalty to you?"

Albus shook his head, "A mystery I haven't been able to solve"

Rodrick's eyes were still locked to the wand, "And you think the answer's in the book?"

"Perhaps..." When he saw the uncertain look on the boy's face, the headmaster clarified, "You do not need to find out the content's of it if you are uncomfortable with it. It will not result in the end of the world," Albus spoke, amusement lining his face.

Rodrick sighed in return, "You still want to know though."

"Knowledge is always good to come by," Albus remarked.

"Perhaps... I'll consider finding out the contents of that book... I don't plan on doing so anytime soon... While it may answer questions... It could also bring out more problems as well," He didn't feel like telling him that the fourth hollow was in fact in his vault as well...

Albus nodded grimly at that, he understood the thought... if he'd never found out about the deathly hollows in the first place... The glow in his eye returned when he realized the boy had made no promise of actually showing him the book. In true Slytherin fashion.

The two settled into an uncomfortable silence before Rodrick asked about the situation with Black.

"It is complicated, unfortunately..."

Rodrick inwardly swore, "Don't tell me Fudge is refusing to believe it?"

Albus quickly shook his head, "He does believe it... He doesn't know how to go about it... He had been difficult to persuade until Black reminded him of the missing trial," Albus noted amused as Rodrick looked away at that point. He shook his head, the boy planned for almost everything.

"Pettigrew?" Rodrick questioned.

"In a cell at the ministry," He watched as the boy narrowed his eyes before he continued. "We have already taken memories of him under Veriteserum, there is no worry of sabotage... Professor Snape was very willing to allow us to use his potions," Albus remarked amusedly.

Rodrick sighed at that, as long as they had proof... "Why is it taking so long?"

"Fudge at the current moment in time, is stalling,"

Rodrick lowered his head slightly, "He's hoping to release the news after some of the attention regarding Black has died out..."

Albus nodded.

"I am surprised he's even allowing it in the first place," Rodrick muttered.

"Well, he was also told he could take credit for the whole thing, I hope that isn't a problem?" He asked pointedly, looking at the boy's reaction.

Rodrick shrugged, "I don't mind, Black knows the truth anyway," he replied, with a grin.

Albus shook his head, amused.

"So it'll get sorted out?"

Albus nodded at that, "Yes it looks to be done by Christmas, Black seems to want to spend it with his godson, wanting to make up for lost time as he put it in his own words."

Rodrick raised an eyebrow towards the headmaster, "That's good for them" He remarked.

Albus stared at the boy in front him, "You seem to have taken a rather large interest in young Harry Potter's situation, as well as Black's"

Rodrick leveled a stare at the man before sighing, "He's a Horcrux..."

Albus didn't react, "How does that factor into this?"

Rodrick gaze didn't shift, "The danger's of removing it is quite large. I just figured if Potter might end up dying to kill Voldemort, he should at least enjoy the small life he has," his voice echoing into the room. "And Black seems to have suffered enough... if the two can find solace in each other then..."

Albus' eyes softened at the words... slowly his mind pierced the points together, "You believe your mother had a similar situation?" Memories of the girl slowly filled the headmaster's mind...

Rodrick's eyes widened at that before he slowly nodded, "Just a guess really... I didn't know much about her, from what my grandfather told me though. She didn't enjoy much of her life before she..." his mouth closed.

"Removing a Horcrux doesn't necessarily require death," Albus pointed out.

Rodrick shrugged, wiping his face. "You never know,"

Albus chuckled slightly, "Do you always plan for the worst?"

Rodrick gave the headmaster a wane smile, "It's helped me so far,"

Albus raised an eyebrow at him, looking towards his arm.

Rodrick didn't even need to look to know what he was referring to, "Hey it could've been worse, I could've died"... "So you'll let them then? you'll let Black you know, actually take care of his godson?"

Albus sighed, "I am not entirely sure he'd be capable of that... He wasn't the most mature person... And the dangers are still there"

"It's better to put him in a place he's more likely to stay, then one he'd run away from," Rodrick pointed out, "Even if one is safer than the other, there's no point if Potter's always trying to escape, at least with Black you can keep an eye on him,"

Ablus furrowed his brows, "What makes you think he'd run away?"

Rodrick chuckled, "I had a talk with him when he did. In Knockturn Alley,"

"That is a highly irresponsible place to go to," Albus frowned.

"See! My point exactly, he wouldn't have done that if he was in a place he wanted to stay," Rodrick remarked, barely able to hold his laughter.

"Why do I feel like you were responsible for that small adventure?" Albus questioned exasperated.

Rodrick shrugged, "I don't know what you're talking about," He had to turn away lest he winds up proving his guilt. "Where is Black anyway?"

"He is staying with family friends of Harry Potters"

"Weasleys," Rodrick muttered.

Albus nodded, "Until everything is sorted out at any case... I will take your thoughts into consideration... They certainly have their own merits..."

Rodrick nodded to that eagerly, "When you make the right choice, which is giving the boy his freedom, Tell him I helped you make that choice. I'd like it if he owed me,"

Dumbledore frowned, "I am starting to think you're not doing this out of the goodness of your heart."

Rodrick barely managed to hold his laughter, "The goodness there is, is currently been used on a few people I am afraid, everyone else I am still a Slytherin with," he finished as he got up from his seat.

"I see..." Albus sighed, I wonder what his cost really will be... "I believe I've kept you long enough, there is a person waiting outside for you," Albus remarked, a shadow of a smile on his face when he saw the flushed look on the boy's face. It was a relief to see the boy so open about his feelings. While he might share a lot of the dark lord's similarities... there were also quite a lot of differences... Thankfully it was the ones that truly mattered.

As he left the headmasters office, Rodrick's grin seemed to grow as his thought's regarding the person was confirmed. He quickly pulled the girl into a hug surprising her.

"I feel like we've been doing that more often than usual," Daphne remarked cheerfully. "So how is your quest to freeing Sirius Black?" She quickly asked, surprising the boy.

Rodrick's snorted, "How did you know?"

"Vision, 300 points, suddenly leaving to 'rest'"

Rodrick shook his head, "I guess you really are a Slytherin,"

Daphne ignored the remark before latching onto the boy's cursed arm, amusing him, "So tell me about it then"

Rodrick stared at the girl lovingly at the sudden action, she didn't flinch at all regarding it... He started walking away, intent on going to the black lake. "Alright. I guess it all started..."