A Black Meeting

It occurred to Harry that it didn't really make sense that he had to catch the Hogwarts Express back when he'd have to be transported to Diagon Alley and the hospital Sirius was recovering in, as Dumbledore had discussed with him, along with a few other matters.

Surely it would make more sense to just take a portkey?

Instead he spent a few hours in a compartment with Hermione, both of them reading.

The third member of their group, Neville, had decided to stay at Hogwarts for the break, much like Ronald who kept trying to hang out with them.

From the twins Harry had heard about how the Weasleys were visiting family in another country, which explained why the members of the family still at school stayed behind.

Neville, on the other hand, still had problems with his family and wasn't planning on confronting them until he had to.

His confidence may have been improving since he got a new wand and was able to consistently cast spells in lessons, but that didn't mean he was ready to face the guy who dropped him out a window or the one who insisted he use an unsuitable wand.

He could only hope that the way he improved over the year would make a point to his grandmother.

Finally the train pulled into the station.

[|]

Remus had barely noticed the Christmas break coming up.

He had never had much of a home life since the run in with Greyback, something that included holidays like Christmas.

At Hogwarts, once Dumbledore had arranged for him to attend, he had always ended up spending the breaks at the school.

After they finished he did get to spend some holidays with James' family.

Until the war began.

During the war there weren't any truces for holidays or any other events, the 'purebloods' who followed Voldemort disregarding all such traditions the wizarding world was built upon.

As the world concluded he lost all his friends, leaving just the family who couldn't deal with him, who saw him as a reminder of Greybacks visit, to spend the holidays with.

As soon as he could he moved out, tried to start his own life on his own terms.

The relief from his family when he left was so palpable he never even considered returning for the holidays.

As the years passed, holiday after holiday going by where he could only watch others spend the time with their loved ones, it wore on him, until he started to deliberately forget about holidays to avoid the pain, wishing it could be him with the other marauders once more.

When Dumbledore approached him about working at Hogwarts, teaching his best friends son, he agreed immediately.

It all came back to him, the times spent with his friends, but he only remembered the holidays as they came, too late to plan for.

As such the Christmas break was a total surprise to him, his blocking of holidays too automatic by this point.

But then, there was nothing for him outside the school so it didn't seem to matter too much, he'd spend the time at school, finishing all the marking he had left and establishing proper lesson plans for when he had to take time off, rather than let Snape set work on werewolves again, for all students old enough.

Then Dumbledore made another request.

Harry was planning to take the chance afforded by the break to visit Sirius and do some Christmas shopping, something for which he needed a guide, someone to take him to St Mungos and Diagon, then provide a Portkey home.

Remus hadn't realised Harry had grown up so far away, somewhere that he needed an unfamiliar set of Portkey co-ordinates to set the destination.

He had considered refusing, but he didn't have any real reasons to.

Plus he hadn't seen Sirius since that night...

In any case, he had been given the job of escorting Harry, but was only reminded that this was the day once the Express, the easiest way to and from Hogwarts, had left.

It seemed Dumbledore hadn't appreciated his use of the train to return to Hogwarts.

There were three alternatives for going between Hogwarts and London; broomstick (which was slow and had always been uncomfortable for him, his inner wolf preferring to keep its paws on the ground), apparition (which he had never been able to get a license for, his 'little furry problem' interfering) and the Floo network (which, much like apparition, required heading to Hogsmeade).

Technically there were also Portkeys, but returning to Hogwarts with one meant sticking to a strict schedule.

It was fortunate for him that Madam Rosmerta remembered him more fondly than he likely deserved, and was more than willing to let him use her Floo connection getting to and from London.

And so here he was on Platform 9 ¾, waiting for Harry to arrive.

Finally the train pulled in, students pouring out, laughing with each other as they headed for their parents or guardians, some pointing him out in surprise.

Harry was the last to leave, carrying his trunk by a handle over his shoulder.

Lupin couldn't help bu frown at the sight.

He knew all too well how heavy those trunks were, and there was no way anyone, especially a first-year, should be able to lift one alone, even with both hands.

Well, for his last year he had been able to use a featherweight charm, so maybe Harry had found someone to cast one for him. Not an approach to be recommended, given how unexpectedly they could wear off if not cancelled.

"You're with me Harry," he announced as he approached.

"Professor? How did you beat me back?"

"The Floo network," Lupin explained vaguely. "There's a connection in the village I was able to get permission to use."

"That just raises more questions," Harry complained.

Lupin tried not to chuckle. "Let me guess, you didn't know about the village? Hogsmeade, you get to visit third year onward. Or the Floo network? It's a system that allows near instant and effortless travel between any two connections."

"I was more interested in why I had to take the train if you could get here faster."

"You may have noticed that the headmaster has something of a fondness for tradition. Anyway, follow me."

"Are we going to be using this 'Floo network'?"

"The hospital, uh," Lupin did a quick check that nobody was close enough to hear, not wanting to reveal Harrys parentage accidentally, "that Sirius," he added in a whisper, "is being treated in is in London, close enough to walk."

"Do you have any idea how suspicious it is to suddenly start whispering mid-sentence," Harry asked with a wince. "It just draws attention."

That... sounded familiar, Lupin realised.

The Marauders had come to the same conclusion at school.

[|]

It turned out that Lupins 'within walking distance' wasn't quite as close as he'd thought.

Wizards didn't have anywhere near the same stamina as ninja.

It was interesting, learning that the hospital was hidden in a building with a false front, one that identified when it was safe to enter.

Now this, unlike the station entrance, was something that should interest Jiraiya.

The station 'enchantments' had seemed useful, until he learned that they needed someone (who was invisible from the outside) to tell when it was safe to leave and the measures to keep people from noticing didn't work on ninja.

Or at least, probably didn't, he was the only test so far.

But copy the work on this 'St Mungos', adjusting it to work only for specific individuals rather than anyone with magic, and you could set up safehouses across the Hidden Continent without fear of discovery.

Combine smaller such locations with Floo connections and you would have a safe, secure means of travelling wherever you needed to go.

The receptionist just inside the hospital gave them the directions they needed to Sirius.

Harry couldn't help but wonder what the meeting would be like...

[|]

Sirius didn't precisely recall how he ended up in St Mungos from Azkaban.

He seemed to remember something about a trial, but after... five years?

That was about right, wasn't it?

Still, the hospital was doing wonders for his Dementor exposure. He was almost able to remember the good times in his life now!

Like when James and Remus visited him in the hospital wing after... something, with the rat nowhere to be seen.

No, that couldn't be right.

When was he ever in the hospital wing without James in the next bed?

And why did Remus look so old?

And where did those scratches on James face come from?

"Harry," James said, confusing Sirius.

Surely he could remember his name, they didn't even know a Harry.

No, that was what James called his son, wasn't it? But there was no way James would have confused him for his own son.

"You're the one who's confused," James said.

What was James talking about? He hadn't said anything.

"Yes you have. You're speaking out loud."

"That can't be right..."

"Yes it is! You've been calling me James even after I told you I was Harry," James... no, Harry laughed.

"If this is an improvement I dread to think how you were before," Remus joked. "How are you?"

"Better now I'm out of Azkaban Moony," he said as cheerfully as he could manage.

Given Remus' wince it fell flat.

"I'm sorry. I should have realised you wouldn't have done what they said. If I'd been a proper friend-"

"You'd have been in the cell next door, I know," Sirius finished the joke.

"What? No, I'd have got you out. I just don't get why none of you told me."

Sirius sighed. "There were rumours that He could steal knowledge straight from the minds of Dark creatures, including werewolves. We knew you would never betray us..."

"Sorry, why did you call him 'Moony', and why is the Dark creature thing important?"

Remus winced. "It was my nickname at school," he diverted. "The four of us called ourselves the Marauders. I was Moony, Sirius is Padfoot and your father, who he kept confusing you with, was Prongs."

"Hey, you can't deny how much he looks like James! Just with Lillys eyes."

"Plus the whisker marks and lack of glasses," Remus answered flatly. "It really isn't a surprise that nobody seems to have realised without being told."

"That's one answer," Harry nodded, "What about the Dark creature thing?"

Remus hesitated.

"You... didn't mention your 'furry little problem'?"

"Furry little problem?" Harry snorted. "Hope you don't mind if I borrow it."

"Why are you keeping it a secret from Harry? And more to the point, how are you keeping it a secret?"

"We haven't exactly known each other that long," Remus pointed out.

"You mean Harry hasn't been living with you?"

"Easy Padfoot," Remus was suddenly pushing him back into the bed. "Harry is right here, he's safe. It's okay."

Sirius let himself fall back onto the bed.

"Right, Harrys safe, right here. But... where were you?"

"The village of Konohagakure," Harry answered. "I doubt any of the followers of the Taboo guy have heard of it."

"Taboo guy," Sirius snorted. "That is much better than 'You-Know-Who' or 'He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named'."

"Really, they called him that? How about 'He-Who-Must-Be-Forgotten'? I mean, with the Taboo stopping anyone using his name..."

Sirius burst out laughing. "He-Who-Must-Be-Forgotten! I like that! You're definitely the son of James! So, you're in Hogwarts already? What is Gryffindor like these days?"

Harry frowned. "Why do you think I'm in Gryffindor?"

"Well, where else would you be?"

"Slytherin," Harry started, nearly giving Sirius a heart attack, "if it wasn't for Malfoy. Or Hufflepuff if not for... I can't remember that guys name..."

"Wow," Sirius muttered, "never thought I'd have anything to thank a Malfoy for. Even if my cousin did marry in..."

"Sirius, focus."

"I am in Gryffindor as it happens," Harry admitted. "It's been... different. I don't really have any real frame of reference..."

"There are a lot less teachers than when we were students," Remus took over speaking. "Just one of us for each subject. Except Muggle Studies, that still has an OWL and NEWT teacher."

"Sorry, OWL? NEWT?"

"The two main levels of qualification. Ordinary Wizarding Levels and Nasty Exhausting Wizarding Test."

"That doesn't- make a lot of sense," Harry continued more slowly. "Why not just basic and advanced?"

"The old Sorcerors apparently liked their acronyms, they're everywhere. And by this point it's tradition to keep them."

They kept talking for a while, it was only when visiting time came to an end that Harry and Remus finally left.

[*]

In the end it didn't take too long for Harry to find presents for everyone he was buying one for, after which the professor cast the Portkey charm on his trunk, which saw him nearly instantly sent to Hokages office, which, as had been arranged by mail, was empty aside from the Hokage and his ever-present ANBU guards.

"Hey, old man, I'm back!"

The Hokage laughed quietly to himself. "Welcome home Harry. I trust everything has been going well?"

"Well enough," Harry shrugged. "There are a couple of things I need to talk to you about, apparently my birth parents assigned me a godfather."

"On the subject of godfathers, Jiraiya had an idea that could help you stay up to date with your training while at this school. But first, tell me everything. It's been too long since our last chat!"

Harry happily started explaining everything, going over different details to his letters.

It was good practise for mission reports.


AN: Sorry about the delay, part of it is my routine being thrown off significantly. Given my autism, that isn't exactly good for my ability to work. Combine that with an improved planning system (as in noting what should come next chapter rather than just rereading the previous and building from there), and hopwfully there won't be such a large gap in the future.

Don't worry, Harry is going to make fun of he-who-must-be-forgotten in other ways. I have plans for his response to learning that the taboo guy can still return. And he is going to have a talk with Lupin about their furry little problems.

And once again we see Harry finding what parts of the wizarding world works as part of the ninja world.

On more annoying news, I haven't heard about anyone taking up either of my challenges.

Go on, give it a try! It doesn't need to be perfect.