Chapter 10: Hogwarts

The years passed and it was finally time for Harry Potter and Acquila Black to attend Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. "Father, do I really have to attend a place headed by that horrible man who put you in prison and tricked our family into thinking I was dead?" Acquila asked.

"In spite of this, Hogwarts is still the world's best magical school and you've been spending too much time with Arcturus if you're so formal with me." Sirius commented.

"Show more respect, Sirius!" Lord Arcturus Black ordered. "And it's just a matter of time until I'm gone so she'd better spend as much time with me as she can."

"Anyway, Hogwarts is the best option for as long as Snivellus minds his own business." Sirius told Acquila. "Just don't get sorted into Slytherin. If you do, I'll transfer you to Beauxbatons."

"Your parents didn't transfer you to Durmstrang for getting sorted into Gryffindor." She replied.

"I intervened because I didn't want the continent to have Sirius as a reference for what to expect of the Noble and Most Ancient House of Black." Arcturus explained. "Of course, you probably would get purposely sorted into Slytherin just to be transferred away from Hogwarts and safe from Dumbledore."

"True that, Lord Arcturus." Acquila replied.

"There's no need to worry, Acquila." Sirius argued. "The Headmaster won't want you dead."

"You're correct, Father." Acquila agreed. "What he hoped to gain from Mother's death isn't affected by what happens to me."

"Acquila, I know about Regulus' crazy theories but they're just that. Crazy." Sirius replied. "Yes, Dumbledore wants Harry to live with the Dursleys but I don't think he would kill Athena just to prevent her from taking Prongslet from them."

"So, do you believe the theory that Moody tried to have the both of us killed for the McKinnon estate?" Acquila asked.

Sirius groaned. Meanwhile, Harry had just finished reading his Hogwarts letter. "Cool! I was accepted!" He exclaimed.

"Do you really want to go to Hogwarts?" Petunia asked.

"Yes, Aunt Petunia." Harry answered.

"In that case, let's send the acceptance reply and then contact your Godfather." She said.

A few days later, the Blacks were at the Leaky Cauldron waiting for Harry and the Dursleys. Acquila, Sirius, Regulus and Arcturus were the only ones left with the name. "Who do those muggles think they are to leave us waiting like that?" Arcturus asked.

"They're coming by muggle means, Grandfather." Sirius replied.

The door connecting the Leaky Cauldron to the muggle world opened and Harry and the Dursleys entered. "Better late than never." Arcturus grumbled.

"Don't mind him, Vernon." Sirius intervened. "Is Prongslet ready to buy his school supplies?"

"I certainly am, Sirius." Harry replied.

"That's Harry Potter!" Someone exclaimed. "But what's he doing with that murderer?"

"That accused murderer is Harry's Godfather." Petunia Dursley defended Sirius. "Now please let us into Diagon Alley so we can buy the supplies Harry and Acquila need."

Tom the bartender opened the gate and they went together to Gringotts. If any wizards and witches there had any problem with Harry being near the Blacks, they kept it to themselves since Gringotts was neutral territory. They presented keys to both Harry's and Acquila's trust vaults and withdrew money. After they left, they chanced upon Professor McGonagall. "Mr. Potter, what are you doing here with…" McGonagall stared at the Blacks. "those people? Weren't you supposed to wait for a Professor to guide you since you're a muggle-raised student?"

"Excuse me, but I don't believe we've been introduced before." Harry replied.

"I'll handle this, Prongslet." Sirius replied and then addressed McGonagall. "Minnie, this is my godson Harry James Potter. Prongslet, this is Professor Minerva McGonagall, Hogwarts' Transfiguration Mistress and Deputy Headmistress."

"Don't call me 'Minnie', Black." She replied. "You might have gotten away with your past crimes but if you harm Harry or Acquila I'll see to it that it's the last think you'll do."

"Harry's Hogwarts letter had no instructions about a Professor being sent to guide him." Vernon argued.

"My mistake." McGonagall replied. "I forgot to reclassify him as 'muggle-raised'."

"And Sirius Black is innocent." Dudley said. "He managed to enter our home in spite of Dumbledore's protection against wizards and witches with harmful intent towards my cousin."

"Someday someone will figure out how to bypass the wards." McGonagall declared and entered Gringotts.

They then went to Madam Malkin's store to buy robes. Harry and Acquila stood next to a year-mate named Zacharias Smith. "Harry Potter, what are you doing with them?" Smith asked in disgust after introductions were made. "One of them betrayed your parents to He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named!"

"Peter Pettigrew framed him." Harry replied with a frown.

"Or so they say." Smith argued. "The Blacks are the darkest family around."

"Which is why Pettigrew chose my grandson as a scapegoat, Smith." Arcturus replied.

"Don't talk to my son like that." Zacharias' father demanded.

"Your son started with the hostility." Vernon replied.

"He's not the one defaming a dead man."

"Presumed dead man." Regulus said.

"We'd better stop this discussion." Mr. Smith suggested.

Harry, the Dursleys and the Blacks went to Flourish & Blotts to buy the books Harry and Acquila needed. "My godson and my daughter need these books." Sirius said and handed the lists to the clerk, who was professional enough to avoid commenting on Harry and Sirius being together. "And they also need the extra books that used to be required back when Professor Slughorn used to be Hogwarts' Potions Master. I don't know what Snivellus was thinking when he removed that from the list."

After buying the books, they walked outside the store and Sirius suddenly stopped. He looked at a corner and said. "Come out, whoever you are."

Moody revealed himself. "You've learned too well, Black." He commented.

"Be careful, Acquila." Regulus told his niece. "This is Alastor Moody, the man who stands to inherit your fortune after you die."

"Do you mean the bad man who falsely claimed to have a good reason to believe whoever killed my mother did so on my father's orders?" Acquila asked.

"His other crimes are a good reason to believe him guilty of that." Moody argued.

"They wouldn't even if there were no grounds to doubt my grandson's supposed guilt." Arcturus replied. "Now leave before I report you to Minister Fudge."

Moody reluctantly did as Arcturus demanded. The group then went to Ollivander's to buy a wand. Wand maker Garrick Ollivander asked which kid would be the first and insisted on attending one at each time. They agreed that Harry would go first. It was a decision they regretted as Harry tried practically every wand in the shop before settling for one made of holly and phoenix feather. They were unnerved by the fact the phoenix whose feather Harry's wand core was made of also provided the feather that became the core of Voldemort's wand but decided it was good news because of what'd happen should the two wands be used against each other. Afterwards, it was Acquila's turn and she was chosen by a wand incredibly fast.

After that, they exchanged goodbyes and went back to their homes.

End chapter.