Delayed Conversations

In the end, Harry was left feeling that the weekend was a waste of time.

There just wasn't that much to do around the castle except explore.

He did make a friend in Hagrid, who he decided to meet with on an at least semi-regular basis. And finished his explorations of the castle, as far as he could tell.

Finally it was time for the next week to begin, not soon enough for him, but too soon for his classmates.

Breakfast was different, the lack of classes the last couple of days letting people have breakfast nearly whenever they wanted meaning that his slightly different sleep patterns (and the laziness of nearly everyone else) leaving Harry eating almost alone over the weekend.

The change back to eating with everyone wasn't entirely positive, as it meant a return of Ronald Weasley and his lack of any table manners.

The time without Ronald at the table had reinforced Harrys impression that it wasn't simply a difference in what was considered good manners between countries, and having grown used to the absence of his eating habits felt it was time to do something about it.

Especially given how close to him Ronald always seemed to end up sitting.

"Why do you eat like that," he finally asked, trying to keep at least some of his disgust out of his voice.

There was a vague sound from him, that could possibly have been meant as an answer but was too muffled by his mouthful of food to make out.

Hermione winced. "Swallow first, then speak," she instructed in a somewhat nauseous manner.

He swallowed the mouthful and tried again.

"My brothers. They're... into pranks. And experiments. Potions and spells."

"And you've learnt not to trust your food unless you eat it fast enough," Harry surmised. A thought crossed his mind. "The twins right? Who keep boasting about knowing where the kitchens are?"

Ronald shrugged. "Your point?" He was already digging in again.

Hermione was also curious where he was going with it.

"You know, where all your food comes from? If they're going to mess with your food, it's already happened by the time it's up here."

Ronald froze, mouth full of the food he was no longer convinced was safe to eat, face losing colour.

"That was cruel," Hermione sighed, but Harry just shrugged.

"I was fed up with his lack of manners. It was getting hard to eat."

[|]

There was a certain muttering about the events at breakfast throughout the school, mainly people wondering how he'd got Ronald to stop eating like that.

As such, it wasn't too surprising when the twins came to talk with him.

"My brother here was wondering," one began, "just what you said to our dear," the other continued, "you mean delirious," the first corrected, only for Harry, no longer amused by their act to interrupt.

"This is about Ronalds response to our discussion of table manners," he stated, before tilting his head. "How did you set that act up so quickly?"

"We have a few prepared," one brother admitted.

"But how did a discussion on table manners lead to ickle Ronnikins stopping eating?"

"Apparently he has had bad experiences with your experiments and hadn't put together the way you had access to the kitchens," Harry commented lightly. "It came up because we were growing sick of his lack of table manners. In some cases literally."

The twins shared a look.

"I guess we might have gone slightly overboard," a twin admitted.

"But we didn't mean it like that. Are people really feeling sick from being around him at mealtimes?"

Harry nodded. "I'm pretty sure people would prefer it if you could convince him to learn proper table manners."

"Not our specialty," they responded in unison.

"Not even if it involves pranking?"

"What did you have in mind?"

"If you created a potion that would have some... interesting effects on someone who ate it too quickly could you convince the kitchen workers, House-Elves I guess, to put it into the food? Maybe something that breaks down quickly so that anyone who takes the time to use proper table manners won't be effected?"

"Pranking the school in such a way the staff might not complain," one twin mused.

"Sounds fun," the other finished. "But I don't think we can make a potion break down."

"But magic does tend to respond to intention, so it might be possible to make one that will only affect those who don't use proper table manners. It might take some time..."

"What do you mean about magic responding to intent?"

It was something that hadn't been mentioned in class yet.

"It isn't something anyone really teaches, but spells respond to what the caster wants or expects. You can't overwrite the nature of the spell completely, but a disarming charm can grab whatever they are holding by itself or blast the target back as well."

"Or if you lack confidence," Harry realised, and the twins nodded.

"Then something will go wrong, nine times out of ten. Who is it in your year?"

Harry frowned. "My year?"

"There's always someone who lacks confidence," they responded. "It can take a while for them to overcome their problems, but when they do they tend to be some of the best spellcasters to come from Hogwarts."

"They get used to forcing their magic, building up their 'magical muscles', so to speak, then," Harry mused.

The twins shrugged. "Maybe. Never did work it out. Anyway, we'll be working on our 'corrective methods for Ron. But shouldn't you be heading to your next lesson?"

Harry nodded, heading off.

He had a lot to consider.

[|]

Over the next few days he observed Neville at he tried casting spells, in those classes that involved practical spellcasting.

Neville quite clearly expected his spells to fail, which seemed likely to be the reason they did if the twins were to be believed.

His plans to confront Neville about his lack of confidence was delayed, however, by the discovery of their first flying lessons that Thursday, in the afternoon after History of Magic and Defence for the morning and a few more in the afternoon.

It would have been more reassuring having the lesson so soon, if it wasn't for the fact that Astrology, studying how the stars and planets affected (or could be used to track other effects on) magic, was around midnight on Wednesday.

Sure, people did get to use the first period to catch up on their sleep, but that didn't quite make up for the lack of sleep overnight.

Not that things were entirely normal until then, even discounting the brief argument with Malfoy about Nevilles newest gift from his gran; a remembrall (which Harry wasn't entirely convinced about the utility of).

[|]

"Could you hang back for a moment, Harry," professor Lupin requested as his class let out.

Seeing as they didn't have more lessons until after lunch Harry was quite happy to see what Lupin wanted.

"What is it, professor," he asked as the other students left.

Lupin waited until they were alone to answer.

"You are aware that Namikaze isn't – I mean wasn't your original name?"

It was clear that the professor wasn't sure how to breach the subject.

"I am aware I was adopted, if that's what you're trying to say."

"Your name was Potter, James was one of my closest friends," Lupin continued.

Harry frowned. "Why didn't you say something earlier?"

"I-I can't help but feel that I let your parents down," Lupin admitted. "There were four of us, your mother wasn't really one of the group you understand, close as brothers we were. When your parents had to go into hiding, I'm still not sure why it was so important you hide as you had been born by that point so it wasn't you, your mother uncovered a spell that could keep all three of you completely secure. The problem was it needed someone outside the group being hidden and was only secure for as long as they didn't reveal the secret."

"So my mother had access to secret family magics or something?"

Lupin laughed, if only briefly. "No, her parents were non-magical. Her whole side of the family besides her from what I recall. She was just skilled at charms and research."

"By the sounds of it something went wrong with the spell," Harry commented.

"You could say that. The four of us trusted each other implicitly, so James was only ever going to choose one of us. Beside us there was Peter Pettigrew and Sirius Black. Your godfather."

Harry froze.

It had been one thing to learn he had been adopted, and another to find out about his godfather. And now he was hearing about another godfather.

"What... what happened to him?"

"He betrayed us."

Lupins voice was flat.

"Sirius was the one James trusted over the rest of us, even with the level of trust we had between us. As such he was the only choice for secret keeper. The only one who could betray you to Voldemort," there was a twitch at the name, but far less than Harry expected.

A surge of anger ran through Harry, but he used his training to suppress it.

"How did you fail us?"

"I knew Sirius was the obvious choice and considered suggesting that he be used as a decoy, that I should be secret keeper instead. But in the end I decided not to, and Sirius betrayed you and killed Peter."

"I'm not sure if they would have accepted the suggestion, it would be the obvious move for a traitor," Harry commented. "Did Peter die before or after my parents were betrayed?"

"After, he confronted Sirius." Lupin shook his head. "I'm sorry, I shouldn't be talking about this. Dumbledore suggested I should talk with you about your parents."

"We could discuss my parents over the weekend," Harry suggested, "after hearing about that I'm not sure if I'm ready to hear about what he was like. Just... do you know why Sirius betrayed us?"

Lupin hesitated. "I... don't. If it isn't in the court records you'd have to ask Sirius yourself. I couldn't face attending the trial."

Harry nodded, having expected as much.

"I'd... better get lunch," he told Lupin. "See you later, professor."

"Harry, when it's just the two of us, you can call me Remus. If your parents were still around I'd have been like an uncle to you."

[|]

Rather than join everyone for lunch Harry took a detour to the owlery.

He wasn't unfamiliar with the concept of betrayal, after all everyone in Konoha knew of the way Madara had turned against the first Hokage, Hashirama.

What he wanted to know was why.

Why did the man his father trusted most betray him?

Remus' mention of the court records gave him a lead, one that he felt he could leverage his apparent fame to access.

Some of the books he had bought covered the leadership of the wizarding world, so he knew the position he wanted to contact.

In the end the letter he sent was somewhat straightforward.

Minister, it read, you would know me as Harry Potter, although I haven't gone by such a name for as long as I can remember. I will not be mentioning my name here, as I do not wish to be overwhelmed by those who wish to thank me or who have different motives for getting close.

I have recently learnt that my apparent godfather, Sirius Black, was the one who betrayed my parents and caused their deaths.

As such, I would appreciate it if you could look at the court records to find out why he betrayed them and pass the answer along to me.

As you no doubt understand, I can't help but wonder what would drive someone to betray such trust as my parents held in him.

I will understand if you feel that such information cannot be made public, but if you do choose to tell me you can send your response by the owl I sent this letter with.

Yours faithfully

The erstwhile Harry Potter

He signed with a flourish, and folded the parchment into an envelope, addressed to the office of the minister.

"Hedwig," he called, receiving a prompt response from the owl.

He'd sent a couple of letters back home over the weekend, but beyond that Hedwig hadn't seen much exercise.

"Hedwig, I'd like you to take this letter to the minister and wait for a response. I know it isn't as long a journey as the others I've sent you on, and you don't him personally, but are you willing to do it?"

Her response was the same affirmative chirp as ever, as she happily took the letter and flew off, hopefully to bring answers back.

He watched her leave before returning to the Great Hall.

He still needed lunch after all.

[|]

The headmaster observed the happenings with Harry with interest.

He'd been keeping an eye on Harry whenever he had the chance to interact with Lupin and had heard what Lupin had said about Sirius.

Harry was always going to hear about the betrayal, so he wasn't too upset, but had hoped that Harry would come to him first.

In any case, he had intended to bring Fudge in on the events, and Harry acting alone rather than with him could be better for his relationship with the ministry.

He would just have to wait to find out what happened.


AN: I may or may not have mentioned, but I'm not always good with titles or names. In any case, the chapter titles should be enough to keep track of what they're about.

Sorry about the week delay. I ran into a fun (if long) story that I started reading at about the same time that my weekly schedule got disturbed. Given my autism, that wasn't exactly conducive to keeping my writing going.

Hopefully I will be getting back to the schedule properly. Or rather, getting to the schedule proper, given my track record.