Chapter 12 - Dumbledore's Man

"I should have gone to McGonagall," said Harry angrily. He'd read Hermione's instructions and followed them to the letter. By the time he'd returned with Hagrid, the killer had been stumbling through the hallway. If not for the mercy of a death eater, Ron and Hermione would be dead, all because he couldn't think for himself. He'd let down his two best friends when they'd needed him most. They'd never forgive him, he'd finally be sent back to the Dursleys, and what was even worse was that he knew that he deserved it.

Uncle Vernon was right, there was something wrong with him.

"You are being far too hard on yourself Harry," said Dumbledore, his eyes twinkling. "It was Mister Ronald Weasley who was instructed to find Professor McGonagall. It was Miss Ginny Weasley who was instructed to find me. Miss Granger herself has admitted that it would have been far wiser to have just told me her suspicions earlier instead of foolishly confronting Peter."

"I should've checked on Ron and Ginny," Harry continued, swallowing. "I'd known something wasn't right between them. It's my fault. If you want to throw me out for this sir, I understand. I'd just like to tell my friends that." Harry sucked in a breath and wiped his nose. "That, I'm sorry."

Dumbledore's warm laughter filled the room, he put his hand on Harry's shoulder to steady himself. He wiped his twinkling eyes and smiled. "You're not going to be expelled, Harry. In fact, you'll be given an award for your part in apprehending Peter Pettigrew." Dumbledore held out several sheets of parchment- the notes Hermione and Ginny had taken throughout their investigation- and Harry's name was scattered everywhere, more often than Ron and Ginny combined. "Miss Granger credits you with supplying the critical question which allowed her to infer that the killer was Scabbers."

"I just asked what anyone would. I don't deserve an award, I deserve to be expelled," Harry said dismissively. He swallowed, and pressed on. "I knew, Headmaster- that the killer had been in the room with us on the night that Hermione told us to stop investigating. I figured it out the morning after. I didn't know the killer was Scabbers but I knew he was watching us. And when… When Hermione didn't go to you, I didn't trust you either, sir. Even though you're headmaster, even though you fought Voldemort, I didn't trust you… I should have… The note Scabbers left, it never mentioned he was a rat. You couldn't solve the case without knowing that. I should've realized you needed me. 'Evil exists when good men do nothing.' I did nothing. I'm sorry sir."

"Remarkable." Dumbledore smiled broadly. "Harry my boy, you mustn't blame yourself for that. I could have interviewed you at any time. I was the one who chose not to- that is my mistake, not yours. Now, enough of this, there is a man who would very much like to meet you."

With that, Dumbledore opened the door to Snape's office.

A man with sunken eyes, waxy skin, and yellow teeth greeted Harry with a nervous smile. "You look just like James," said the man. "Except for your eyes, you have Lily's eyes."

"Thank you sir," said Harry stiffly. "But I don't deserve it. My father would never have messed up like I did. I almost got my friends killed."

The man barked a laugh. "Ha! But you didn't, did you? James was always leading us into trouble, and always getting us out of it! Still- he never tried to capture a death eater, not unless you count Snivellus, which I don't. You've got one up on your ole' man Harry, I'm sure that somewhere out there, he's looking down on you proudly! Your friends are probably already looking forward to your next grand adventure."

Harry allowed himself to smile. "You really think so?"

"I know so." The man scooted around Snape's desk, and gave Harry a hug. "I'm Sirius Black. I'm the one you helped set free. I'm your godfather."

"It was mostly Hermione," said Harry, feeling a little guilty. "I hardly did anything."

Sirius patted Harry's shoulder knowingly. "So I've heard. I'm quite curious about this young Slytherin. About all your friends. I want to know that my godson is hanging out with the right sort."

And so Harry described his friends. Nervously at first. Then sensing Sirius's interest, Harry shared more and more. He finished feeling strangely warm. Like he'd just finished a feast after being trapped in the cupboard for a week.

"So Hermione is Prongs," said Sirius, smiling broadly. "And Ron's Lily- tough luck on that one mate. And you, you're Padfoot."

"Who is Padfoot?"

"That's me," Sirius said, grinning. "You're the number two in your group. Hermione chooses the adventure, you've got to make it fun! She's got a little Moony in her, so you've got to be the one who convinces her not to go to the teachers and ruin everything. For that matter, Ron's got a lot of Moony in him as well."

"Err… Fun?" Running as fast as he could to Hagrid, afraid that he'd return and find Hermione dead, nothing about that had been fun.

"Yeah," said Sirius brightly. "All three of you should've been fighting the death eater from the start! It was just Wormtail, and it sounds like she'd gotten him asleep. If it had been all three of you, I'm sure you'd have overpowered him."

"You really think so?" Harry asked. "I doubt it. I've only just gotten here. I didn't know anything about magic until a couple months ago."

"Until a couple months ago?" Sirius frowned and narrowed his eyes. His knees jittered back and forth, until finally they stilled. "Harry… In my family, it was taught that muggleborns were inferior. It wasn't until I met James, until I was sorted into Gryffindor, that I realized what hogwash it all was. After that, I couldn't pretend otherwise. My entire family- they supported You-Know-Who. I tried to change them, Harry, prove to them that their beliefs were ignorant. And they tried to change me in turn. But no matter how often Mother called me an embarrassment, told me I was ruining the family name, told me that there was something deeply wrong with me, it made no difference. I was Sirius Black- Gryffindor through and through. I dreaded returning to them every Summer. To that ignorant, hateful, house filled with people who loathed me. But…" Sirius favored him with a crooked smile that didn't quite seem happy. "But… I cried when I was disowned. It hurt when my mother finally threw me out, because for all of the anger between us I'd always thought we were family. And then James took me in and I realized what a fool I'd been. He was my family. Not them. That's not to say it was easy, I still missed my mother, my father, to this day I regret not being able to save Regulus. But those feelings were small compared to the happiness of living with James, with a family that accepted me. Looking back I only wish that Mother had disowned me sooner."

Harry swallowed.

And he told Sirius about the Dursleys. About the cupboard under the stairs. About Dudley. About the smelting stick. And about no funny business.

Sirius shook his head sadly, and patted Harry's shoulder. "From now on, stay with me over the Summer. As I stayed at James's. I'm your Godfather Harry, think of it as a favor to me."

Harry found himself nodding. Sirius- he'd just met him, but he was surely better than the Dursleys. In the few minutes he'd spent with Sirius he'd learned more about his mum and dad than in his entire time with Aunt Petunia and Uncle Vernon.

"I'm afraid that won't be possible," Dumbledore said sadly. "There are blood wards protecting Harry, that will only work as long as he stays with a blood relative of Lily Evans. It is regrettable, keeping Harry with people who treat him so poorly, but it must be done for his safety."

It was like ice water had been poured onto him. Of course. It was too… It would have been more than Harry deserved, spending a summer with Sirius. He didn't quite understand how, but he was sure that this was his punishment for letting down his friends.

"I understand sir." Harry and Sirius had said it at the same time. With the same sadness. The same resignation.

"Couldn't have been that easy," Sirius said ruefully. "I'm out of Azkaban. Peter's caught. A happy enough ending for me I suppose, and better than I deserve."

Harry met Sirius's eye and the two of them shared another smile. Connected. A warmth spread through his chest.

There was a knock on the door. Dumbledore's eyes twinkled madly. "Our next guest!" The door swung open. "Your savior Hermione Granger and one of the newer members of the Order of the Phoenix, Severu-"

"Get away from her Snivellus," Sirius barked, his wand drawn. "I don't know how you got here but I'll send you-"

Sirius's wand flew into Dumbledore's hand. "Severus is the Head of Slytherin. He joined the fight against Voldemort before his fall and has demonstrated his loyalty enough to earn my complete trust several times over. No man had done more to mitigate Voldemort's harm than Severus Snape. You will treat him with the respect he is owed Sirius, or risk offending your godson's greatest ally."

Sirius's eyes widened, and he shook with barely constrained rage. Harry had seen the expression before, with Uncle Vernon when he'd freed the boa constrictor, and he tried to hide in the corner of the room. But Sirius glanced at Harry and seemed to regain control. "Pleasure Severus." He nodded at Hermione. "Hello little lady. I'm Sirius Black. The one you saved from Azkaban."

"Err… Hello," said Hermione timidly, staring up at Snape.

Harry had always thought Snape hated him, but he'd never received a look filled with half the venom that Snape was giving Sirius.

"I'm curious," said Snape, his voice cold. "How Peter Pettigrew became Lily's Secret Keeper. Under veritaserum he told us it was your suggestion. Is this true?"

Sirius's glare crumbled, and he looked every bit a man who'd spent the last ten years in prison. "It is… You're... You're right. Now that Peter's taken care of, I deserve to rot. My best friend is dead because of-"

"Voldemort," said Harry softly.

"Right you are, Harry." Dumbledore smiled pleasantly at Snape. "I find myself surprised, Severus, that you would leak classified information in front of students. Especially one as clever as Miss Granger. Perhaps it would be for the best if you took your leave."

Snape snorted and sneered down at Harry. "I doubt you would be so forgiving, Potter, if the one who'd betrayed your parents wasn't so handsome and charming, if Black wasn't so pathetically desperate for friendship that he'd offer it to an eleven-year-old child. Would you forgive Peter Pettigrew as well, for offering your parents to the Dark Lord?"

"That's different," Harry said. "Pettigrew knew what he was doing."

"And Black should have known," Snape roared. "Pettigrew was a coward! Always eager to side with the strongest bully in the schoolyard- the outcome would have been obvious if he had only given it an ounce of thought! If he'd not been so arrogant as to consider himself capable of anticipating the Dark Lord's actions."

"It was a mistake," Harry insisted.

Snape opened his mouth to argue, but Hermione excitedly cut him off. "Oooh, I've figured it out! Professor Snape accidently-"

"Silencio," said Dumbledore serenely, as Hermione's mouth continued to move silently, her shoulders bobbing in excitement. Harry desperately wished he could read lips. "I did warn you, Severus, not to mention confidential information in front of Miss Granger. Now, off you go."

Snape nodded and left without another word, his face pale. Harry and Sirius eagerly waited for Hermione to regain her voice.

"Quirrell," said Dumbledore simply, before undoing the charm.

Hermione nodded, deflating a bit. "I did figure it out, you know," she said stubbornly, to nobody in particular. But she refused to elaborate on Snape. "I overheard your conversation by the way. Against Professor Snape's urging of course, he insisted that it was 'private.' Where is his curiosity? It makes me seriously question his value as a spy," Hermione said brazenly. "I think it's absolutely shameful what the two of you had to put up with. No funny business, what a horrible thing to say to such a poor young boy. It's alright to cry, you know? I think you're very brave, Harry. And you as well Sirius, for sharing your own sad childhood and providing companionship for Poor Harry."

Harry wanted very much to curl up in a ball and die. He'd not realized how very annoying and interfering Hermione was until-

"You shan't stay with the horrid Dursleys any longer," said Hermione pompously. "I insist you take Sirius's offer. And yes, I heard Headmaster Dumbledore's protests, but they're really very silly. A simple Fidelius Charm should grant you safety over the summer."

Harry asked what the Fidelius Charm was, and Hermione eagerly explained it to him. She was just great. Brilliant really. He shan't hear a word against her.

"Well…" Harry and Sirius said, looking at Dumbledore hopefully.

Dumbledore frowned. "The problem with the Fidelius Charm is that it puts someone in danger. Under veritaserum, Peter Pettigrew accused the Potters of asking him to die for them. And there is, unfortunately, an element of truth to such a statement. Would you be so selfish as to put one of your friends in danger, Harry, just to have more fun during the Summer?"

Harry deflated. No. He wouldn't.

Hermione clucked impatiently. "Don't be silly, Headmaster Dumbledore. They could just use you as a Secret Keeper. Nobody would dare attack you."

Harry brightened.

Dumbledore sighed. "No. Harry cannot stay with Sirius over the Summer. Nor the Weasleys. Nor any other wizarding family. He must stay with the Dursleys. I'm afraid you'll just have to trust me on this."

Hermione and Sirius seemed to accept this. Harry knew he should as well, Dumbledore was the wise old wizard and Harry was just a stupid kid. But a nagging little voice insisted, 'Why?'

"No," Harry said sharply, and found his voice rising with every word. "I don't accept it. The Dursleys would be glad to be rid of me, and I'd be happy to never see them again! If Sirius is willing to look after me over the Summer and it isn't putting anyone in danger, I don't understand why I can't stay with him. If there's some reason, tell me- or do you just want to see me suffer?"

"Is my word not enough?" Asked Dumbledore sadly.

"No!" Said Harry, surprised by the firmness of his voice. "Just because you're powerful doesn't mean you're good."

Dumbledore smiled wistfully. "I suppose I'd be disappointed with anything less, Harry. But you see, the truth is a beautiful and terrible thing, and should therefore be treated with great caution. I had not wished to submit Sirius to it, so soon after Azkaban. It will hurt him deeply, I'm afraid. Still, you are a very important person, Harry Potter, and if you insist on the truth, you shall have it."

"I insist," said Harry immediately.

Dumbledore glanced at Sirius. "I am about to say some things that while true, are most unkind and unlikely to help-"

"I'm staying," Sirius said firmly.

Dumbledore nodded and turned to Hermione. "Miss Granger, please leave," said Dumbledore gently. "And do not eavesdrop."

Hermione nodded and turned to the door when Sirius suddenly wrapped her in a hug.

"Thank you," Sirius said, his voice quivering. "Azkaban was… I was going mad. Losing myself, little by little. Thank you so, so much."

"Oh well," Hermione said, blushing. "It was nothing really."

"Well it was everything for me," said Sirius. "If you ever need anything, just reach out to me and I'll do whatever I can to help."

"Err… You're welcome," said Hermione, sounding a little guilty for some reason. She scurried away.

Dumbledore smiled brightly at the awkward exchange and cleared his throat once they were alone. "Well then, the truth… Your father was a bully. The damage he caused as a child helped turn the two greatest wizards of his generation to the Dark Lord. If you repeat his mistakes, the results will be even more disastrous. The Dursleys, as cruel as they may be, have raised you into a humble, wise boy who genuinely values other people. And for all of Sirius's good intentions, he has only ever displayed the disposition to raise you into a monster… Perhaps this is hard for you to believe, but you've seen my fears occur. Think of how your Uncle Vernon cherishes your cousin Dudley, more a friend than a father. Never punishing him for his mistakes, encouraging the boy for his every wrongdoing. Would you trade places with Dudley?"

"My father was a bully?" Harry asked glumly. Hagrid, Professor McGonagall, everyone had praised his parents. Dumbledore had to be mistaken.

"Hardly," Sirius said quickly. "He was a good man, your father- the best I ever knew. Is this about Snivellus, Dumbledore? I don't know what he's told you, but he gave it to us as good as we gave it to him."

Harry's heart sunk. Dumbledore was telling the truth. His father had been a bully. Would he really have been like Dudley if he'd been raised by Sirius?

Harry didn't know. It was possible that there was a little bit of him that was evil. He had set a boa constrictor on his cousin after all, and he'd laughed about it. Somehow, now it didn't seem quite so funny.

"Listen Harry," Sirius said desperately. "Dumbledore's mistaken about your father. When we learned the truth about Moony, he was the one who convinced us to accept him." Sirius glanced at Dumbledore. "That's why we're animagi sir, I shouldn't have kept it from you- but it was because of James. It was all to show Moony we accepted him- all of him. And if James really had been a bully to Snivellus then why would he save-"

"Would you stop calling Snape that?" Harry snapped. Each time he heard Sirius say 'Snivellus' it was like a knife to the image he'd had of his dad. He'd always felt so proud when Hagrid compared him to his father- had Hagrid been insulting him the entire time? Calling him a bully? Saying Harry didn't deserve to be in Hogwarts?

He was starting to think Dumbledore was right. Maybe he was better off with the Dursleys.

"Harry," Dumbledore murmured softly. "Your father was a bully when he was a child, that is true, but Sirius is also right. James Potter was among the kindest, most accepting, and bravest children I've ever known. For all the wizards he turned dark, he turned just as many to the light. Remus and Sirius couldn't have asked for a better friend. He wasn't perfect, but neither are you, neither am I, neither is anyone."

Harry nodded, but he didn't really feel any better. His dad had been a bully. He'd never even met him, why did it hurt so much?

"Did you really think we were bullies, sir?" Sirius asked Dumbledore. "We were, weren't we? We were… All this time I thought I was different from my family, but in the end, I couldn't run from what I was. I… It was because of me that James became a bully wasn't it? My influence. I'm poison aren't I?… The dementors were right."

Dumbledore hummed thoughtfully. "It is possible. But I was wrong about Severus, I was wrong about Peter, and I could be wrong about you. Not about you being a bully Sirius, that is in the past, set in the stone, but perhaps you would make a good guardian yet. I am asking you to be Harry's father Sirius, not his friend. Do you have the strength to punish Harry when he does wrong? More importantly, do you have the strength to punish Harry when he is right, but must be punished anyways?"

"I don't know," Sirius admitted.

"A humble answer," Dumbledore said proudly. "You will have ample time to prove yourself worthy of guardianship. The Chamber of Secrets has been opened, and between you-and-me, I am quite certain that Lord Voldemort has infiltrated the school." Dumbledore didn't seem bothered by the fact. Actually, he seemed positively delighted. "I'll be inviting several wizards to protect certain at-risk students and monitor the situation. Sirius, you'll be watching over Harry. If you prove a positive influence on the boy, Harry will spend his summers with you. How does that sound?"

"Err… Straightforward and fair, sir," said Sirius, sounding surprised. "Thanks for giving it to me straight. I'll do my best."

Harry nodded. "That sounds reasonable."

"Remarkable." Dumbledore said earnestly. "I had not thought you would react half as well to my fears, although I can't say why I underestimated you so. Thank you Harry. For forcing this old man to do what was right rather than what was easy."

Author's Note: Thanks for reading! Hopefully this chapter made it clear that Dumbledore is much the same as he was in cannon. He can afford to be a cooky old man as he prefers with Harry, but with Hermione's near sociopathic selfishness (albeit with a strong sense of right and wrong) he has to be more stern and critical. Also we see Dumbledore grow due to Harry's influence. And now onto the reviews:

ViviTheFolle - I'm really glad you enjoyed this version of Dumbledore! And Ron's going to be the primary viewpoint character in the next two chapters, and hopefully step into more of the deuteragonist role. Thanks for the review!

Iwik - I think Dumbledore was never in a situation where he had to be that stern with a student. Hermione isn't the next Voldemort, but her carelessness could solve just as much trouble. Hope you liked the Sirius Harry reunion! Thanks for the review!

Luiz4200 - Sirius is free and he's going to be a recurring character in the series. Note that here he's realized that he's done wrong by Snape, something he never admitted in canon. Take that for what you will… Thanks for the review!

James Birdsong - Thank you!

Gja03 - I hope you enjoyed this one!