Harry looked down at the page in front of him in confusion. It wasn't the fact it was written in Russian that was giving him trouble, it was the theory on time that the man was trying to explain. He just couldn't wrap him mind around it. So, he was happy when a knock sounded on his door to distract him.
"Come in," Harry called as he placed a marker in the book and closed it.
Remus poked his head around the door, the scratches on his face healing up quickly.
"Remus," Harry greeted with a smile. "Come in."
"Hi, Blake." Remus greeted as he carefully moved into the room. "I wanted to apologise for what happened last week."
Harry sat back in his chair and eyed the other man, he still looked sick and his face was pale.
"No need," Harry replied. "Come on in and take a seat."
Remus smiled at him and moved to one of the armchairs, looking around Harry's rooms.
"Thank you," Remus said. "I'll only be staying for a couple more days."
"Why?" Harry asked. "The term doesn't finish for another week?"
"It may have been leaked that I'm a werewolf," Remus said softly, looking away.
Harry frowned, "Severus?"
"Possibly," Remus conceded.
"I still need to look at your curse on the full moon," Harry reminded him casually.
Remus's head shot up.
"What?" He uttered in shock, his eyes wide.
"Did you forget?" Harry asked casually, with a smile.
"No, it's just with everything that happen…"
"What? You would think that I would just abandon my work on the new Wolfsbane potion?" Harry asked. "And the work that Severus has done?"
"Yes," Remus answered flatly.
Harry looked confused then huffed a laugh.
"I have dealt with things a lot darker than your curse, Remus Lupin." Harry purred. "People that take great delight in torturing and the pain they can inflict on people. Dark curses that people willing take into themselves and some that are just animals that kill and rape at will. People twisted by the dark arts and carry out acts of violence on a whim."
Remus grew pale at the words.
"You are not one of them," Harry stated firmly. "You don't let that curse harm anyone. You could have turned on any one of us that night."
"That was Sirius," Remus said in a small voice. "He stopped me from hurting anyone."
Harry smiled at him and Remus shifted uncomfortable.
"Really?" Harry questioned as he sat back in his seat.
"Yes."
"You have seen the curse within you," Harry stated, his eyes locked on the werewolf. "Do you think it would have stopped at a dog? Do you think Black would have been able to stop you? If you wanted the taste of blood in your mouth?"
"I don't know," Remus stuttered.
"If a new Wolfsbane potion could allow you to have a balance with your curse would you take that?"
Remus nodded slowly, unable to speak.
"Great," Harry said. "In that case I want to see you next full moon?"
Remus seemed to think that over before nodding.
"Yes, thank you." Remus whispered, hope blooming in him for the first time in a very long time.
"We might want to leave Severus behind this time," Harry smirked with a wink.
Remus laughed. "Might be a good idea."
xXx
A week after the incident with Black found Harry at the Ministry of Magic. He passed over both his wands at the front desk to the surprise of the ministry worker before heading towards the Auror department.
He hated the Ministry and everything that it stood for, it was a miscarriage of justice from the moment that he walked into the entrance. To see the statue of the wizard standing proud with all the other magical creatures beneath him to the injustice of their legal system. Which was one of the main reasons that he didn't like to enter the Ministry through the main foyer.
Harry sneered at it all as he made his way towards the lifts and yet he knew he was a part of the place and that just frustrated him more. He knew times would change but that didn't mean he had to like what they did now. He could only nudge them in the right direction.
"Can I help you?" A young blonde woman greeted him at the files section of the Auror department.
"Yes," Harry replied. "I have new evidence in the Sirius Black case."
The blonde smiled widely. "Of Course sir! Let me get the Auror in Charge."
He hadn't gotten this kind of reception the last few times that he'd come to address the Black case but at the same time Sirius had been locked away in Azkaban and as they say. 'Out of sight, out of mind.' A tall black man came towards Harry with a smile on his face.
"Auror Kingsley Shacklebolt." The man announced when he got close and held his hand out.
"Blake Sun," Harry replied, taking the man's hand.
"Nice to meet you," Kingsley said happily. "Jane tells me you have some information about Sirius Black?"
"Yes," Harry replied. "I have memories that I would like to add to his file that would prove him innocent."
Jane gasped beside them as Kingsley's smile froze.
"Would you like to do this in your office?" Harry asked politely.
xXx
Harry looked back down at the address on the piece of paper in his hand before knocking on the door of a small cottage. The forest around the house was thick and peaceful as small birds darted around in the late afternoon sun. He could understand why the werewolf would find this a comfortable place to live.
"Blake," Remus said with a grin as he pulled the door open.
"Remus," Harry greeted.
He gave the man's hand a shake and moved into the cottage. It was small, was the first thing that Harry thought as he moved through the door and into the main room. It did have a small fireplace to the left of the main door which kept it warm and a kitchenette to the right and two other doors which Harry was sure would lead to a bedroom and a bathroom.
"Cosy," Harry remarked.
"Yeah," Remus replied. "It was the only thing I was able to keep from my parents, since werewolves can't inherent in the wizarding world, but they had this house titled in the muggle world. They couldn't take it away. Would you like tea or coffee?"
"Whatever you are having is fine," Harry answered. "The sun should be setting in about an hour. Do you have somewhere you transform?"
"I have a basement," Remus replied as he worked in the kitchen. "When I take the Wolfsbane potion I just move around the forest."
"Did you want me to keep sending you the Wolfsbane?" Harry asked, taking the mug Remus held out.
"That would be very nice," Remus conceded. "But what can I do to repay you?"
"Oh, you will." Harry laughed. "You're my guinea pig."
"Ah," Remus replied, unsure.
Harry winked at the other man.
"Did I not mention that?" Harry questioned innocently.
"Well, if I had known that." Remus deadpanned.
Harry just laughed.
"I've reopened the Sirius Black's case with Auror Kingsley Shacklebolt at the Ministry." Harry announced calmly. "I used my memories of Peter Pettigrew, I requested the man's file as well."
Remus looked shocked. "You did what?"
"I used my memories," Harry repeated, looking confused. "You can take a picture of a memory to use in legal cases."
"I didn't know that," Remus replied, looking interested.
"They don't do it as much here in the UK but use it a lot in the States and other countries."
"Like in a Pensieve?"
"Similar, we use a crystal to catch the memory which doesn't fade from your mind." Harry explained. "They take a transcript from it and that's used in court. You can then produce a photo from the memory. Makes it better for abuse victims so that they only have to relive the torture once instead of every time they are need in court."
"Ry mentioned that you are related to James?" Remus asked.
"I am," Harry replied. "My father's mother is from the Potter line. The goblins could give you a better family tree. It's just easier to say I'm a cousin."
Remus looked him over.
"I can see the Potter line," Remus remarked.
"Ha!" Harry barked with a smile. "You should see my hair if I grow it out."
"You got the Potter hair?" Remus asked with a smirk.
"Oh, yes." Harry replied. "It's a curse I tell you."
"James used to make it work," Remus said with a smile as he remembered the man. "His father had it worse. You do look a bit like James."
"Have you spoken to Ry about his father?" Harry asked in interest as he sat back in his chair.
"Yes," Remus replied. "I had a few more photos to add to his collection and I'm sure that Sirius will fill him in on more stories. Since, they worked as Aurors together for a while."
Remus's smile faded a little at the other man's name. They spoke quietly for a while after that before moving to the basement, which the access was from outside. Harry looked around the small space and the reinforced doors leading down. It was just a bare stone room with nothing else.
"You don't keep anything down here?" Harry asked.
"No," Remus replied. "If I use this room, it means I don't have any Wolfsbane."
"You don't have Wolfsbane all the time?" Harry inquired and the other man wouldn't meet his eye.
"Not when I have to eat," Remus retorted blandly.
Harry let that slide as he removed a piece of chalk from his pocket and drew a circle on the floor. Remus moved into the middle of it and Harry placed his wand to the circle, making it flared up green before going clear.
"Did you want me to leave the door open when I leave?" Harry asked.
"Yes, thanks." Remus said then suddenly straightened up. "It's time."
Harry leaned back against the wall and waited. Remus sat on the floor and closed his eyes before crying out, his back arching, as his fingers dug into the stone. Fur sprouted along his back and over his shoulders as he pulled out of his shirt and quickly slipped out of his jeans and pants. Harry turned away to give him some privacy.
He turned back as the crying turned into howling and looked into the flashing brown eyes of the werewolf and shivered. He forced himself away from the wall and moved towards the circle. The wolf growled at him, making Harry pause. Remus should be in control of the wolf, not that Remus looked much like a wolf.
The animal he'd turned into was longer limbed and human/wolf like to be called a true wolf. Harry frowned, he remembered the shape that Remus had taken on the last full moon. It had definitely been more wolf-like than human.
"Remus?" Harry uttered softly.
The werewolf flicked its ears and stopped growling as it looked the wizard over. Harry could see the eyes turn softer, almost more human like as they looked at him and took a sniff of the air as Harry moved closer. Harry could see Remus taking in his scent as those eyes watched him.
"I'm going to cast the spell now." Harry announced as he pulled his cherry wand. "Ipsum Reelare."
The dark mist poured out of the werewolf as well as a soft light mixing together into the shape of a true wolf. The wolf stepped forward looking between Harry and Remus. Harry lowered himself to the floor in front of the circle and studied the wolf. Light and dark swirled together as the wolf sat and looked at him. He picked up the two strands of the curse with his mind and looked them over.
"Producat in Lucem," Harry whispered, light flowing out of his wand and across the barrier.
The wolf cocked its head as the light entered Remus. The werewolf's shape sharpened and colours started to come into the wolf's coat, white, black and rusty brown. The werewolf howled as its shape changed and suddenly the human/wolf changed into a true wolf to reflect the curse Harry was seeing. His spell broke leaving Remus standing alone in the circle.
"Remus?" Harry asked.
The wolf looked up at him with the same eyes that Harry was used to seeing, his eyes clear for the first time.
"Are you okay?" Harry asked in concern.
The wolf nodded at him, shook all over before sitting back, panting slightly as he just watched Harry.
"I used a light spell to boost the light curse already there," Harry explained. "I've taken recordings with my wand to look over later. Do you feel okay for me to drop the barrier spell?"
Remus nodded his head again. Harry slowly reached forward and broke the circle.
The wolf stretched before moving forward and bumped its head against Harry's leg. Harry's heart was beating a hundred miles a minute as the beast stepped passed him and into the night. Harry sighed and slowly got to his feet.
"I need a drink," Harry announced to the bare room.
xXx
'Hey Severus,
Are you able to try the Wolfsbane potion in a glass cauldron?
Thanks, Blake'
'Blake,
You owe me 50 Galleons, cracked before the willow bark could be added.
Severus.'
'Hey Severus,
Thanks for trying, what about a glass stirring rod?
Blake'
'Blake,
That worked and I was able to add more steel needles before the willow bark, which would reduce the amount of Wolfsbane the werewolf would have to take. Can you add in a charm to extend the potion's life?
Severus.'
'Hey Severus,
I should be able to. I have a light spell I want to add at the end, we might be able to make a potion that someone would only have to take once a year!
Blake.'
'Blake,
When you say light spell, there are a couple of 'light ingredients' that we could use instead of a couple of 'darker ingredients' we will try them once you are back at the school in a couple of weeks.
Severus.
'Hey Severus,
Sounds great! See you then. The French ministry is driving me crazy here. They just won't see sense. I'm sure they will be happy to see me leave.
Blake.'
xXx
"Dad!"
Harry put the pen he had been using back on the table and placed a marker on the page in his book. Ry barrelled into the house with a letter in his hand.
"What is it, Ry?"
"Ron's dad got tickets to the Quidditch world cup!" Ry cried, holding out the letter for Harry to take. "He has an extra ticket and Ron asked if I could go."
Ry looked up at Harry, smiling widely, his green eyes pleading. Harry sighed, reading through the letter. He knew something had happened but wasn't sure what. He did remember the dark mark glowing in the sky, he would never forget that green glow.
"Please?" Ry pleaded, after Harry finished the letter.
"I have something for you," Harry said, instead of giving an answer.
"What?" Ry asked, puzzled.
Harry got to his feet and limped into his bedroom before returning with a silver and black bracelet in his hand. He retook his seat and held the bracelet out to his son. Ry took it in his hand, knowing his father, it wouldn't just be a bracelet.
"What is it?" Ry asked. "It's beautiful."
"Only you can put it on or take it off and it will simply tell me if you are in danger," Harry replied, he'd put a lot of time and work into making the bracelet to make it right. "It will also tell me where you are. I would like you to wear it and I will only use the tracking in it if it tells me that you are in trouble. I tried to add in protection spells but they just wouldn't stick."
"Wow," Ry gasped looking down at the bracelet. "Thanks Dad."
"I will contact Ron's Dad about you going along to the Quidditch."
"Thank you!" Ry cried and hugged his father.
Ry grinned and placed the bracelet around his wrist which shrunk to fit comfortably.
xXx
Harry looked down at the potion's text in front of him with a frown.
"What does this mean?" Harry asked Severus turning the text around to show the other man.
Harry was back at the school after dropping Ry off at the Weasleys a week ago. Severus and him had been working on the list of healing potions for St Mungo's hospital. They were taking a break while one of the potions shimmered for the next two hours before it could be finished and bottled. Harry had been surprised how easily they worked together, he was sure they would trip over each other but that hadn't been the case.
Severus looked down at the book he held out and read the line Harry was pointing out. He flicked the book closed and looked at the author.
"An idiot," Severus remarked. "You don't cut up arrowroot with a silver knife for that kind of potion."
"Good to know." Harry remarked with a laugh. "Anything worth reading in this?"
"Not in this one," Severus noted. "Try Silva Cannon instead."
"Will do," Harry replied as he set the text to the side.
Suddenly he felt something wrong and frowned. He pulled his cherry wood wand and looked down at it, feeling out the wrongness, it was the bracelet he had given Ry.
"Is it the Quidditch World Cup Day?" Harry asked, looking up at the other man.
"I think so," Severus said slowly. "Why?"
"The bracelet I gave Ry, it's indicating that he is in trouble." Harry stated as he moved to his feet. "I better go."
"Do you need back up?" Severus asked as they moved through the castle.
"Should be okay," Harry replied as they came to the Hogwarts's front gate. "How much trouble can one boy get into?"
Severus snorted. "It's Harry Potter."
Harry grinned, disaparated and arrived in chaos. Tents were being whipped about everywhere as a family of muggles were being held in the air above a group of people marching towards the tents. Harry could already see Ministry workers moving in on the crowd. Harry ignored everyone around him and pulled his cherry wand and cast a spell on the hovering family.
They stopped spinning in the air as Harry sliced through the spells from the crowd below. He cast a protection charm around the family and he pulled them closer before he looked around for a safe place to put them. Aurors finally flooded into the crowd as Harry brought the family close together and brought them down in the cleared area around him.
"Blake!"
Harry turned to see Kingsley running towards him with his wand out and eyes wide in the dancing lights around them. The man made an intimidating figure as people parted around him.
"They're safe," Harry quickly said. "I've placed a protection charm around them, nothing will get through it. I have to go, my son is here!"
"Go," Kingsley yelled out, as he got closer. "I'll watch them."
Harry nodded and rushed off into the forest, following the charm in Ry's bracelet. Cursing as people appeared and disappeared around him. The Ministry would have it under control soon enough. He cast a quick light spell so he could see better where he was going as he hurried through the forest.
Suddenly the Dark Mark lit up the sky ahead of him. Bathing the night in a green glow as screams erupted around him. Harry shivered at the sight but didn't miss a step. He skidded into a slight clearing to see Ry, Ron and Hermione staring up at the grinning skull.
"Praesidio!" Harry yelled quickly.
Hermione and Ron turned their wands on Harry before they recognized him and lowered them quickly. Suddenly twenty wizards appeared around them.
"STUPEFY!" Twenty voices yelled a the same time that Ry yelled "DUCK!"
Harry just stood calmly, his cherry wand in his hand as he fed the protection charm around him and the children. The spells bashed into the barrier around them as Harry poured the power in and the charm flared.
"You bloody idiots," Harry snapped at the same time that Arthur yelled. "Stop! Stop, that's my son!"
Harry held the charm as Arthur Weasley emerged from the crowd. He could feel the stunning spells curling around and into the night. All the spells stopped and Harry breathed a sigh of relief, without a proper grounding, the spell had more of the chance of breaking. He held his wand at his side as he glared around at the men and woman and some looked away.
"Ron, Hermione, Ry are you okay?" Arthur questioned. "Blake what are you doing here?"
"Out of the way!" Crouch yelled striding forward and eyed Harry off. "Who did this!"
Crouch pointed a finger at the hovering Dark Mark while the children moved closer to Harry.
"Dad didn't do this!" Ry shouted back. "I heard someone over there!"
"Yeah," Hermione pipped up. "They said a spell or something and that appeared." Pointing up at the skull.
Harry looked up at the Dark Mark again still feeling the shiver down his spine even after all this time as people shifted around them. The sight still brought fear and a chill and a hardness came into Harry's eyes before he focused back on Crouch.
"A likely story," Crouch said tensely.
"Believe what you want Mr Crouch, but my son and his friends are innocent," Harry stated as he stepped forward until he touched the edge of his protection charm. "And I have worked with at least four of the wizards and three of the witches gathered around you. I am sure one of them can vouch for me. Since, you have forgotten who I am."
Harry smiled as Crouch's face turned red. Amos Diggory nodded to Harry and moved off in the direction that Hermione had pointed earlier.
"I have something," The man called as he moved back to the waiting wizards and witches, a limp house elf in his arms.
"Winky," Hermione gasped.
"A house elf?" Harry asked in puzzlement.
"Mr Crouch's house elf." Hermione hissed.
"Is this true?" Harry asked, looking at the limp figure. "That is interesting."
"Well," Crouch stuttered, looking pale.
"She was holding this as well," Amos said, holding up a wand.
"Hey, that's mine!" Ry cried out, taking a step forward but Harry placed a hand on the boy's shoulder and pulled him back behind him.
"What!" Amos yelped. "So you cast the Dark Mark!"
Harry's eyes flashed green and a few people shifted. His temper was well known, if someone pushed him.
"That is my son you are talking about!" Harry hissed in a deadly voice.
"Ah," Amos, backtracked. "Sorry, got carried away. Couldn't have been your son, Blake."
"I'm glad we have cleared that up," Harry hissed, glaring at the people gathered.
Harry held his wand up and the Dark Mark exploded above them into sparks of green light as he broke through the spell. He whispered spell and light flooded the clearing. He cancelled the protection spell and stepped towards Amos.
"If you can give me my son's wand, Mr Diggory." Harry said sharply, holding his hand out. "Mr Weasley and myself can take the children away while you investigate. I'm sure that Auror Shacklebolt will have questions for me and paperwork to fill out."
Amos hesitated before he handed the wand over while Crouch splattered. Harry looked over at the man and he shifted. The Ministry still didn't know what to make of him. Harry twisted his lips up in a lopsided smile and Crouch shivered.
"But-" Crouch finally got out.
"It is late, Mr Crouch." Harry said flatly. "I am taking my son, his friends and helping Arthur round up the rest of the Weasley family before Kingsley finds me. If you have any questions I will be around to answer them later."
The Ministry workers moved out of his way as Harry limped towards them. Mr Weasley quickly hugged his son before moving after him. Harry could hear Amos and Crouch arguing quietly as they moved back towards the campground. He was sure they would find him later.
"How did you get here, Blake?" Arthur asked, once they were out of earshot of anyone.
"Ry has a bracelet that I can trace if he's in trouble," Harry explained, smiling down at his son. "Here, Ry."
Harry handed Ry's wand back to him as the boy grinned up at him. He ruffled Ry's hair as he groaned and whacked his hand.
"What will happen to Winky?" Hermione asked, looking over her shoulder.
"She was found with a wand and the Dark Mark hovering in the air, Ms Granger." Harry replied softly. "It doesn't look good."
"Why?"
"Magical creatures are not allowed to use a wand," Arthur replied.
"But she could have just picked it up!" Hermione cried.
Harry shook his head.
"The law forbids non human's from using a wand…well, most non-humans." Harry amended.
"What!" Hermione yelped. "That's not fair!"
"I agree," Harry nodded. "However at this time, that is the law. That however doesn't leave them helpless. House elves had strong magic even without a wand-"
"Dad!"
Harry looked around but it wasn't for him this time. The rest of the red headed mob surrounded them, making Harry, Ry and Hermione feel like the odd ones out.
"Blake!"
Harry looked over at Kingsley.
"We need you over here and I need a statement," Kingsley called as he made his way over.
"Can you look after Ry?" Harry asked Arthur.
"Of, course." Arthur grinned.
Harry gave Ry a hug then held the boy at arm's length.
"Look after Arthur for me, Ry." Harry said with a grin.
"I will," Ry agreed. "Can I stay with them until school starts?"
Harry looked over at Arthur, who nodded.
"Okay, but no flying car."
xXx
It was the early hours of the morning by the time Harry had answered all the questions thrown at him and had made his way back to Hogwarts. He limped slowly up towards the school as the light touched the horizon. He stopped for a few minutes before ploughing on towards the castle doors and the dungeons. Cursing the Ministry the whole way, he was sure that he hadn't heard the end of the events of tonight.
He opened his door to find Severus sprawled out across his lounge. The man must have fallen asleep while waiting for him to return. He looked down at the taller man, he looked softer somehow in his sleep. His black hair framed his face, from where it had escaped his hair band, against his pale skin. There was a book on the floor next to the lounge that Severus must have been reading before he fell asleep.
Harry flicked on the kettle and pulled two cups out of the cupboard and put the right amount of sugar and coffee in both cups while he waited. He looked over at Severus again as the man shifted in his sleep and had to smile. This man was so much different to the Professor that had hated him. He still had the same greasy hair and pale skin but wasn't as hardened and sour as the Snape he remembered. It's funny how a child's mind was so much different to an adult's mind when looking at events.
He knew that Ry and Severus didn't get on very well, but they both seem to try for his sake, which he was grateful for. He knew they would never be friends, but they could make it work. The clicking of the kettle had Harry turning back and filling the cups up with hot water and topped off with milk. He placed one cup on the coffee table in front of Severus.
"Severus," Harry whispered, grasping the man's shoulder.
The man snorted before waking, looking up at Harry through his hair.
"Hey," Harry said softly as he stepped back
He took a seat in his armchair, enjoying the warmth of the fire next to him.
"Hey," Severus replied, pulling himself into a sitting position.
"Coffee's in front of you," Harry reported as he gestured to the cup.
"Thanks." Severus replied. "What happened?"
"Some Death Eaters gate crashed the camping grounds at the Quidditch Cup," Harry said calmly, noticing how Severus's hands clenched around the cup. "One of the idiots cast the Dark Mark into the sky with Ry's wand."
"What!" Severus yelped.
"Yeah," Harry agreed, taking a sip of coffee. "Ministry came in wands blazing. The idiots that they are."
"Potter okay?"
"Yep, managed to stop the twenty or so stunning spells from hurting him, Ron and Hermione." Harry explained. "Bloody pack of idiots when it comes to Death Eaters."
Severus placed the cup down before he could spill it as he looked at Harry with unreadable black eyes. Harry could pick up on his body language and could tell that Severus watched him just as sharply. They had reached am impasse, something that had been between them but they had never spoken of.
"I can understand their overkill," Severus muttered.
Harry nodded and questioned, "You must have only been young when the first war started?"
"I don't like to talk about it," Severus replied, not meeting Harry's eye.
"Because you were a Death Eater?" Harry asked mildly, taking a sip of his coffee.
Severus shot to his feet. "How?"
"Sit down," Harry said calmly, sitting back in his chair.
Severus just stared at him.
"Severus, please sit."
Snape slowly sat back down, sitting on the edge of his seat.
"How?" Severus questioned again.
Harry pointed at his arm and said calmly, "Dark curse."
Severus relaxed. If he could see the dark curse then the man had known the minute that he met Severus that he was a Death Eater.
"I wasn't here for the war," Harry lied. "I was helping the Germans clean up after the last Dark Lord, I wasn't too sure what was happening over here in England until the goblins contacted me about James being killed."
They fell into silence and Harry left it up to Severus about what he would say. What he wanted to tell him.
"I was recruited before I even finished school," Severus said softly. "My father…my father was a bastard."
Harry let the other man gather his thoughts, sipping on his coffee.
"My mother was a witch," Severus continued. "My father killed her so I killed him."
Harry's eyes widened, he hadn't heard this before.
"He was my first kill, the blood hadn't even dried on my hands…When I turned up at Albus Dumbledore's door step." Severus said hollowly. "I begged him to help me, that I would do anything."
Harry swallowed the bile in his throat. Yes, he had killed people and he had no doubt that he would again but the thought of a child killing his own father after the man had killed his mother turned his stomach.
"I offered to spy for him," Severus whispered.
Harry sat forward in his chair and placed his smaller hand on Severus's knee. Snape looked up at him and gave him a soft smile. Harry was sure that the man hadn't told many people his story before and gave the man a soft smile as their eyes locked.
"You were a child," Harry stated softly. "The stupid things I did as a child could fill this room."
Severus nodded and moved his hand until it was covering Harry's. He gave Harry a nod of thanks.
Harry yawned suddenly which had Severus snorting.
"Sorry, long night." Harry replied, sitting back in his seat and finishing the coffee.
Severus moved to his feet and looked down at him.
"I'll see you tomorrow then," Severus said. "Good night, Blake."
"More like good morning, Severus." Harry retorted with a grin.
Severus gave him a smile and gasped his shoulder as he passed him on his way out of the room.
xXx
Harry sat back in his seat at the Head Table next to Severus as Albus read out the last name of the competitors for the Triwizard Cup. He ignored the glare from Moody further down the table as he looked out on all the students. The old bear of an Auror had already made his point clear on his dislike of Harry and he had made sure that the man knew that the feeling was mutual.
Albus turned away from the cup when it suddenly lit up with green light and puffed out another name. The Hall went silent around them. Albus reached forward and snagged the piece of paper out of the air in surprise. He looked down through his half-moon glasses at the piece of paper. His blue eyes flicked up to the Head Table briefly and Harry could feel the coldness in his stomach. He glared down the table at Moody and the man gave him a twisted smile.
"Harry Potter," Dumbledore called out.
Silence greeted him, until a hollow bang of Mr Blake Sun's head hit the table. A couple of students giggled. Ry just looked shocked as his eyes flicked between his father and the Headmaster.
"Mr Potter," Dumbledore called again. "Please make your way to the side room with the other competitors, please."
Ry made it to his feet shakily before moving towards the side room as whispers erupted around the room. He glanced up at his father but the man still had his head on the table and Snape just smirked at him from beside his father. Ry quickly looked away as he made his way to the room the Headmaster gestured to.
"Ah, crap." Harry cursed, making Severus snort and clap a hand to his shoulder.
Ry's name coming out of the Cup was a binding contract. His son was now a part of the game and there was nothing he could do about it.
xXx
Harry threw down his pen in frustration as the yells echoed down the hallway to his rooms. He'd had enough! He normally liked the quiet sounds of the students but not today. Today, they just grated on him as he tried to get his work done.
He limped out of his room, the volume increasing as he headed towards the potion's classroom. He just knew what he would see. The fourth year Gryffindor and Slytherin class were waiting outside the classroom. One house on one side of the hallway and the other house on the other side with his son and Draco Malfoy facing off, wands drawn.
Harry slammed down his cane, forcing his magic into the stones, a loud crack like a gunshot echoed down the hallway. All the students froze.
"Enough!" Harry hissed as he limped closer. "I don't care what this is about but the noise in this hallway is unacceptable!"
Ry went to say something and Harry cut him off with a glare.
"You will stand outside this classroom and wait quietly for Professor Snape to let you in," Harry stated sternly before he looked at the smirking Severus in the doorway briefly. "Or I will charm this hallway with a silencing spell, understand?"
Murmurs of agreement filled the corridor.
"These children are your responsibility," Harry stated turning to Severus. "Deal with them."
The Slytherins waited for Snape to snap back at the other man, but it didn't come. Severus gave Harry a smirk before he looked the students over with a dark look.
"25 points from Gryffindor," Severus drawled, hearing groans from one side of the hallway and snickers from the other side. "And 25 points from Slytherin. Sit at your seats and open your books to page 203 and start reading."
The children filed into the room quietly and Severus shut the door behind them before turning to Harry. Severus gave him a smirk with a glint in his eyes.
"Keep this up and you will replace me for most feared teacher," Severus drawled. "And I have held that record for some years now."
Harry snorted and gave him a wink.
"Can't take that away from you, now can I?"
xXx
Harry was halfway through his class when his phone rang shrilly from the bench at the back of the room, a few students looked over in puzzlement. He picked the phone up and pulled the cord loose.
"Excuse me," Harry muttered as he answered the phone. "Blake Sun."
"Blake," Conner Fritz's voice, from the German Ministry floated down the line.
"Hold on a sec," Harry said into the phone and turned to the class. "Please excuse me for a couple of minutes. Please read through the next section of your books and we'll test the spell when I get back."
The ten students gave him nods of agreement from where they were sprawled out on the floor of his classroom. He didn't normally work out of books but this spell needed ground work before practise.
"Sorry Conner. What can I help you with?" Harry asked as he walked out into the hallway.
"We found something you might be interested in," The man explained excitedly. "Can you spare some time to have a look at it?"
"What would this thing be?" Harry questioned.
"It looks like a time rip," Conner said.
Harry froze.
"I'll be there as soon as possible. Don't let anyone near it. Should I meet you at the Ministry?" Harry asked.
"Yes, yes." Conner replied. "I shall see you then."
Harry ended the call and just stood there for a couple of minutes. He sighed as he looked down at the charmed phone in his hand before he slipped it away in his pocket. He ran a hand over his head at the thought of a time rip before he moved back into his classroom.
xXx
"See," Conner said excitingly, showing Harry the ripple in the air before them.
Harry looked at the brown haired man before turning to the rip. The soft glow of the edge of the rip stood out the most even in the sun, like a frame around the scene before him. He stepped up to it before he pulled his dark wand. He placed the tip close to the middle of the rip as he looked into the magic before him. He could feel the cold air on the other side of the divide. The rip was only small, not enough to step through but there was enough to see a street covered in snow on the other side. He could feel and see the time magic on the air. He wasn't sure if what he could see was the past or future but it was defiantly a time rip.
"Have you seen something like this before?" Conner questioned.
"Oh, yes." Harry replied. "This one won't last long, maybe a couple more days."
"Really?" Conner said as he looked back at the ripple, blue eyes wide. "Can we do anything to hold it? Or widen it?"
"Nope," Harry replied. "It's just two times slightly touching."
"Do you know what caused it?"
Harry shrugged in indifference.
"Could have been a big explosion of magic, a time event or just two times coming together where someone made a choice that changed history." Harry explained. "If you are lucky, someone on the other side might talk to you."
"Can we touch it?" Conner asked stepping forward.
"I wouldn't." Harry stated turning to the taller man. "You can study it and look into the window while it's open but I wouldn't touch it or place anything through it. It should close itself in time. Thank you for calling me, it's always interesting to look at this kind of magic."
xXx
"Mr Malfoy?"
Draco turned to see Black Sun leaning on his cane in the hallway behind him. He smirked at the crippled man before moving back down the hallway towards him.
"Yes?" Draco asked, intentionally leaving out the sir at the end.
Sun looked down at him with pale green eyes.
"Please come with me," Sun said calmly.
"But I have charms!" Draco whined.
"Yes," Sun drawled. "I am aware of that and so is your Professor. Follow me, Mr Malfoy."
Sun turned on his heels and Draco had no other option but to follow the limping man. Draco sneered even more. What kind of wizard would allow himself to become crippled? He mustn't be as good a curse breaker as he had heard to allow himself to get so injured that a mediwizard wouldn't have been able to fix it.
"Please take a seat," Sun commanded as he opened a door into a small office.
Draco took the seat on one side of the table while Blake sat down and looked him over. He shifted slightly under his piercing eyes, there was just something about Sun that put him on edge. Like he was seeing more than just what Draco wanted him to see. He sat up and carefully masked his face, he is a Malfoy after all. Sun just smirked at that look.
"Professor Flitwick came to me a couple of days ago, asking if I would teach you advanced Charms," Sun explained, surprising Draco. "I contacted your father about it and he is happy for you to take the extra classes."
Draco sat speechless, he didn't think he was really that good at charms, potions yes, charms not so much.
"Severus mentioned how good you are at potions as well," Blake continued, as if reading his mind. "I was considering teaching you how to combine the two together. Now, before you give me an answer. This is very advanced magic and as I tell my other students. My lessons will not be as regular as your normal classes. Would you be interested?"
"Can I think about it?" Draco answered.
"Of course." Blake replied, with a smile. "Just tell Severus or myself the answer when you decide. If you wish to start it next year instead of this year. That is up to you."
"You'll be here next year?" Draco asked in surprise, Sun didn't have many students and didn't spend much time at the school.
"Yes," Blake replied. "You are free to go now, Mr Malfoy. You may join your class or have a free session."
Draco thought about it for a few minutes before looking up at Sun. Those green eyes just watched him.
"Okay." Draco announced.
Blake raised an eyebrow.
"I'll take your lessons, sir." Draco commented.
He'd heard whispers from his father and a few of the other students about Voldemort returning to power. He'd also heard his father mention Sun and the Ministry. If Voldemort was coming back then he had a feeling he would need all the help he could get, even if it was from a cripple.
"Fantastic," Blake said happily. "I'll get your timetable off Severus tonight, are there any times you don't want extra lessons?"
"Ah," Draco replied unsure. He'd never been asked that before from his teachers since they just normally assigned times. "I like Friday nights and Saturdays free."
"No problems," Blake replied and wrote that down in the book in front of him. "I'll have Severus give you a time at breakfast for either that night or the next day. If that doesn't suit you, just let him or myself know and I'll change it to another time. Sound good to you?"
Draco looked surprised and was starting to think that Sun wasn't like all his other teachers.
"No problems, Mr Sun." Draco replied, looking the other man over.
"Perfect," Blake exclaimed as he stood and moved to the door. "I'll quickly show you the classroom you'll be meeting at."
Draco followed the man a couple of doors down the hallway, where he opened the door. Draco was surprised to see a mostly empty room with just a long table at the back and a large bronze circle indented in the floor in the middle of the room.
"We'll do the charms side of the lessons here," Blake explained. "The potions side will be done in the potions classroom, when it is free."
"Okay," Draco agreed, a little unsure.
"Have a good afternoon, Mr Malfoy."
"You too, Mr Sun."
xXx
Harry led a ragtag group of students away from the castle and across the lawn towards the Great Lake. He had students from every house in his group today from fourth year to seventh. Ry and Hermione were at his heels with a couple of Ravenclaw and Hufflepuffs and Draco and a couple of sixth year Slytherins at the rear. It was a clear Sunday afternoon and Harry didn't normally have advanced classes on a Sunday but he needed the daylight for today's class as he walked the class further from the castle.
"Where are we going, Dad?" Ry asked, looking around.
"As far from the castle without leaving the wards," Harry replied, enjoying the sun on his back.
Harry led them into a clearing near the Great Lake and sat down on a boulder.
"Spread out and take a seat on the ground, please." Harry ordered. "Don't conjure anything to sit on."
Everyone took a seat with only a couple of grumbles. All of the students knew by now not to question Harry's orders. Unless they had a good argument ready to go.
"Okay," Harry said, making himself comfortable. "I want you to close your eyes and get comfortable."
A few of the students looked around confused, before they complied.
"Okay," Harry repeated. "This is either going to be a very boring or very interesting class for you all. I want you to calm your breathing and just relax. Try to focus on the air around you, the quiet, the birds or the ground beneath you."
Harry watched the class as they settled in, some even laid on their backs on the grass or just sitting with their legs crossed. It was such a pleasant afternoon with a slight breeze to keep it cool with the sun beating down.
"There is magic around you all the time," Harry said softly. "We tap into it via our wands and the core of magic within us. We use the words of a spell to focus our minds and our wands to channel it."
Harry let that hang for a few minutes.
"We can also tap straight into the magic and pull on it," Harry continued. "When we are working with charms and wards we are 'picking' up these strands of magic. To either strengthen them, add to the core of the magic already there or to add our own spells to the mix. Now, I want you to focus on the ground beneath you."
Harry pulled his cherry wand and placed it against the boulder he was sitting on. He slowly poured some of his magic into the ground. Ry and a couple of other students jolted at the feeling of the magic and Harry slowly turned the magic into a growing charm under the students.
"Just focus of the ground and open your mind to the feel of it, how the grass feels and how hard the earth is under it." Harry suggested softly.
He watched as a couple of other students opened their eyes and looked around puzzlement. He took notice of which students could feel the magic and which couldn't.
"Can you feel the magic?" Harry asked, about half the class nodded. "If you can't, try and focus your mind. This kind of magic isn't suited to everyone and can sometimes take a while to master."
Harry could see Hermione's eyes screwed up tight as she tried too hard. While Ry sat next to her and felt along the magic that Harry had sent out. Draco and a few out students felt the magic out and he was sure that a few had fallen asleep. Harry pulled back the magic from the grass, leaving it about two inches longer than it was before. A couple of students followed the magic back to Harry. He cut the magic off and a few students focused on him.
"Okay, you can open your eyes and wake Mr Stevens and Ms Dodson." Harry remarked with a bit of amusement. "Can anyone tell me what the spell was that I cast?"
Hermione looked put out that she didn't know the answer. Draco raised his hand hesitantly.
"Yes, Mr Malfoy?"
"Um, a growing charm?" The blonde answered, unsure.
"Correct," Harry said happily. "Could you feel anything else?"
Draco shook his head.
"Anyone else feel any other spells or charms?"
The students shook their heads and glanced around at each other.
"We have moved out here because of the wards on the school," Harry explained. "If we were too close to the school, the wards would have made it harder to feel the magic."
Hermione's hand went straight up into the air.
"Ms Granger?" Harry asked.
"How far out do the wards for the school stretch?" Hermione questioned.
"Quite far," Harry answered vaguely. "The founders laid down the wards when they started the school. Every student and teacher that have called this place home has fed into them."
"So, there isn't a boundary?"
"There is," Harry answered. "But it depends on which wards you are talking about, each one is different and has a different range. If you gave me some time I could probably tell you each one and where they stop, but we don't have that kind of time. Now, I want the students that felt the magic to move to the right and the ones that had trouble please move to the left."
Eight students, including Draco and Ry, moved to the right and the other fifteen students went to the left. Harry knew it would take time for the students to master this kind of magic. It was something that he was sure that they hadn't come across before. Most of the magic taught at Hogwarts was more about hand movement and the theory of the spell. He would be teaching the students a different way.
"Okay," Harry instructed. "The students on the left please pair off, except for Ms Granger. Everyone on the right, except Mr Malfoy, please move to one of the pairs."
Once all the students had worked themselves out into trios and Hermione and Draco had moved to his side, Harry nodded.
"Okay, I want one person to make a barrier charm and the other to use a stunner. The last person I want you to try and sense the magic in either spell." Harry explained. "When the bell rings, I want you to change, okay?"
"Yes, sir."
Harry pulled a small bell from his pocket and placed it on the boulder. He moved to his feet and took a couple of steps away.
"Mr Malfoy, please make a barrier charm." Harry ordered.
Harry felt the charm go up a foot in front of the blonde. Harry liked Draco's spell work, he was always very precise and he would work hard to get a spell perfect. Severus reported that he was the same with his potions.
"Very good, Ms Granger please move towards Mr Malfoy with your hand out." Harry instructed. "When you hit the barrier, run your hands over it and open your mind to see if you can feel the magic."
Hermione moved forward until she touched the barrier. Draco smirked at her, which just made her glare at him.
"The hardest thing about feeling out magic is to tune out everything else." Harry remarked, as he stepped back to the boulder and rang the bell.
"It just feels like a wall," Hermione told him.
"Can't you feel the magic, Granger?" Draco sneered.
Hermione glared back at him and put both hands onto the barrier. After a few more minutes, Hermione still looked frustrated.
"Okay, Mr Malfoy. Can drop the spell," Harry sighed, ringing the bell again.
Draco smirked wider at Hermione, making her glare even more. Harry pulled his cherry ward and cast a barrier spell between the two students and they started. Draco placed his hand on the barrier as Harry poured more magic into it. The invisible barrier turned white then blue as it became more solid. Harry pushed more magic into it.
Hermione reached her hand out in wonder. Harry poured even more magic into the spell turning the barrier a green colour, almost the colour of the death spell. He stopped adding magic before it could crack from the strain.
"Can you feel the magic?" Harry asked softly.
"I think I can," Hermione whispered. "It feels strange, like it wants to protect something."
Harry smiled and let the spell drop.
"Very good, Ms Granger." Harry congratulated.
"That was amazing," Draco gasped.
Harry noticed that the other students had forgotten what they were doing and had been focused on Harry, Hermione and Draco.
"Okay, everyone." Harry called. "I think we will call it a day. When you get some spare time, if you could practice sensing the magic. There are plenty of wards and charms in the castle and on the grounds to feel out. Write down what you feel and where you found the magic and I'll look the list over. The person that senses out the most spells by this time next week with get a box of chocolate frogs. No cheating, I will know. Have a good night everyone."
Everyone moved back to the castle. Ry gave him a wave before moving off with Hermione.
"That was a interesting spell."
Harry turned at Severus's voice as the man moved towards him from near the forest.
"It was just a barrier charm," Harry replied, with a shrug. "With way too much magic poured into it. If you need to put that much magic into that spell then you are in some deep trouble."
"We were never taught to sense magic," Severus remarked as he came to stand next to him. "Where did you learn it?"
"Japan," Harry replied. "They don't teach it much here in England. They focus more on the spells but not the magic itself. The first time I saw someone 'sense' the magic of a curse I was blown away. It's the best way to work with wards."
"I can understand that," Severus agreed. "Can you cast the barrier charm again?"
"Sure," Harry replied.
He brought the charm up again, a blue wall appeared next to them. Severus reached out a hand and touched it. Harry watched in amusement as Severus ran his hand along the barrier.
"It's cold," Severus stated.
"Yeah, it takes the water out of the air." Harry replied.
"It's not green?"
"What colour do you want?" Harry asked with a laugh. "I can do it most colours, except pink, don't ask."
Harry dialled it up to the green colour and held it there for Severus before dropping the spell.
"Was there something you wanted or did you just want a lesson?" Harry asked with a smirk.
"How about some dinner in Hogsmeade?" Severus asked.
"Sure," Harry replied easily. "I could go for a beer."
"Students do tend to make adults need alcohol." Severus muttered with a smile.
"Ha, I can agree with that." Harry replied with a wink.