Chapter 04
Searching for items and truths
Ron's POV
After breakfast, I quickly head for the Gryffindor common room with the rest of my House, them to just get some clean clothes and get ready for the rest of the reading and I myself for a chance to check out the Sneakoscope I got Harry last summer. Still, thinking about the thing makes me shocked at what it's actually doing.
"Pinpointing us to whatever Black is trying to use to prove his innocence. It's just – incredible." But then suddenly something hits me like a brick rock and I think: "Wait, that can't be right. Harry told me everything from his trunk was from before he turned eleven, so there can't be anything in there that Black could have given him."
Stopping halfway up the staircase to the Boys' dorm I wonder what it could then be that the Sneakoscope is trying to warn us about and Percy asks: "Is something wrong, Ron?" And I decide to be honest with my older brother as he does know most of us all when it comes to magical items like Sneakoscopes and the like.
"The Sneakoscope isn't warning us about something Harry has in his trunk, because Harry told me he bought everything inside of that during his first shopping trip in Diagon Alley and everything else is just old clothes he got from those Muggles. So there just can't be anything in there that Black gave him that night."
My brother looks at me shocked and I ask: "So what do you think it was whistling about?" He shakes his head and asks: "Let's think of this reasonably. How many times have you heard it ringing now?" And I answer: "Twice. Once when I used Errol for a trip he might not be able to take and once on the train here."
This makes Percy grumble and he says: "And did you have anything on you when you used Errol? Something that belonged to Harry perhaps?" I shake my head and he says: "Well then, either Bill is right and the thing is faulty – or there is just something we're not seeing. I suggest you get that thing and find a manual about it."
I nod, while hating that I will have to go to the library and quickly rush up to the boys' dorm when Percy says: "Wait, didn't it ring when Bill told us it could be faulty?" And I cringe as I say: "Fred and George had put Dung beetles in his soup." And Percy cringes as he says: "No wonder he didn't eat anything afterwards."
Before he rushes off to get some clean clothes. In the mean time do I enter the dorm and – now knowing that Black wants something that's inside here – I look around, trying to see if there could be anything that Black could want – or use – to prove his innocence. Not seeing anything, I sigh in defeat and think:
"Hopefully the book will tell us." I then quickly rummage through Harry's trunk, prying his lock open quite easily and as soon as the lock has been opened, does the Sneakoscope ring for a very short time, before apparently realizing that I did with good reason. Yet the sound stayed long enough for me to pinpoint it and I grab it with a smile.
Deciding to take things like this with caution – seeing how this one item can decide the fate of a possibly innocent man – I stand near the heater in the middle of the room and twirl very slowly on my left foot, the Sneakoscope held in my outstretched hand, firmly, but with slightly open palm to help it improve its observation.
For a very short second it again lights up, but I apparently move too fast for it to pinpoint the evidence I'm looking for and I twirl again, this time even slower and hear a very short ring, making me stop on my feet. Looking at the brightly glowing, but softly ringing item, I see that my arm is stretched out between my bed and Harry's.
"So it is something I have. But Harry never gave me anything I didn't give back – unless." And suddenly I realize it. "THE PICTURE!" I shout at the top of my lunges and I rush back downstairs, hoping to find my family before they move back to the Great Hall. My luck is with me as Percy and the twins are in chairs by the fireplace.
Rushing over to them, I halt and lie my hands on my knees, the Sneakoscope still in my hand and Percy asks: "Is everything alright? We heard your scream all the way down here." Instantly getting to business once I've regained my breath, I turn my hands to fists and asks: "Do any of you still have the picture?"
My brothers look at me shocked and I say: "The picture. The one of us that got into the Daily Prophet. Do any of you still have it?" And to my disappointment do they all shake their heads. I groan and say: "The only other one who has it is Harry. I don't want to go through his stuff again." And then George asks:
"But why do you want the picture anyway, Ron?" And Fred says: "Yeah, that holiday was ages ago." I quickly answer: "It's not the holiday. That picture got into the newspaper –." And Percy seems to read my mind as he says: "Three days before Sirius Black escaped." I point my finger at him and shout: "EXACTLY!"
While my other two brothers look at us shocked. But then Percy says: "But Ron, the only things on that picture was us and Scabbers. There was nothing on that picture that could have let Black know there was evidence out there that –." But then the twins say: "No there was." And my brother and I look at them.
Then one of them says: "Ron and Harry are the same age." And the other goes on: "And Black was obviously sane enough to still remember this." Then the other starts: "And with knowing that Ron was old enough for Hogwarts." And the other ends: "He knew Harry – who has the evidence – was also old enough for Hogwarts."
And the four of us shout: "So he escaped, knowing finally where to find the evidence for his freedom." And everyone in Gryffindor, who had been watching us since I ran over to my brothers, looks at us, shocked that we made this conclusion. But personally, I wouldn't have cared if the entire magical world had seen us.
Never – since Percy had gone to Hogwarts for his first year – have I felt this close and this connected to my brothers and feeling like we're not four different brothers with four years age difference, but an actual quadruplet, I smile at my brothers, who smile back at me, making it very obvious they experience this amazing closeness too.
Trying to control my emotions – as this isn't really the place for us to fully regrow the amazing bond we had when we were dreaming of Hogwarts and preparing Percy for it – I take a deep breath to get the lump out of my throat and say: "I'll – I'll go find that manual on the Sneakoscope. See you back in the Great Hall."
My brothers nod and I quickly leave, leaning against the frame of the Fat Lady once she closes and trying not to show the portraits around me how much this moment between my brothers and I means for me, in fear it would be told to others, reach Slytherin ears and be used against me – probably by Malfoy junior.
Then I snicker as that little speech of Greengrass was absolutely brilliant and while I can barely believe that a Snake stood up to a Snake for a Lion, has my respect for the Greengrass House – which was always quite high because Lauren Greengrass has an excellent reputation as a Raven – grown quite strongly.
I then shake my head and while proud of myself for using this thought as a distraction, do I also berate myself on it as figuring out everything I can about the Sneakoscope can help me find out what it is that Black is looking for. And so I quickly head for the Library – not at all expecting to find Harry when I arrive there.
Harry's POV
For the last hour since breakfast ended did I get new clothes from my Gang, that my future self had apparently been able to shrink before sending them on their way, and did I search most of the First and Second floor for the yearbook that could reveal how my dad knew about the Marauders' Map, not to mention others things about him.
Wanting to know more about the man I look so alike, my spirits haven't been dampened by the fact that I haven't found this yearbook yet at all – if anything, the continuing of the search fires my spirit and need to find it up more and more as each secret hiding spot and little crane or corner that I check turns up empty.
By now I'm at the Second Floor library and I'm going through everything that belonged to the Students of the seventies – or at least everything they might have used while being students here, thanks to Madame Pince. She even brought me a box filled to the brim with Lost and Found items and I've been browsing it for minutes.
Then suddenly a familiar voice asks: "Harry?" And while leaning over the edge of the chest, do I see Ron with the Sneakoscope in his hand in the entrance of the Library. I smile at this and run over before I say: "Ron, let the Sneakoscope check me. Maybe Black hid the evidence on my body with Disillusionment spells."
My best friend looks shocked, but nods and with the Sneakoscope on his open palm, he moves it from my forehead down to my chest and down both my arms before going down to each of my legs. He then moves to my back and does the same, but the Sneakoscope doesn't even light up a bit during any of this.
We both sigh and I say: "This just doesn't make sense. I know –." But then I realize it and shout: "THE WARDS!" Ron looks at me and I say: "Someone put wards up that grandpa didn't know about, remember? Wards that kept all of my mail from Lupin away from me! What if that same person took the evidence?"
Ron looks at me wide-eyed and he shouts: "I'll go tell the gang! They're probably on their way to pick up that Aunt Rosie of yours so they can go check out those wards as well!" I nod and then look at Madame Pince, but the woman seems too busy dusting off some books in a far corner of the library to notice our shouting.
Amazed at how far the woman is willing to go to let us get to the bottom of this, I give her turned back a grateful smile and – having a feeling that she knows that I'm smiling – I walk back to the chest, looking through it very carefully, checking every book for spells and for any signature that could have been my dad's.
Finding nothing, I sigh, but only in very slight disappointment as I wasn't really expecting my dad to have hidden the yearbook in such an obvious place. I then raise my hand to my chin and think: "No, knowing my dad, he would have hidden it somewhere no one would ever look. But where would people not look for his stuff?"
This makes me hum softly as I cross my arms and look up, a technique Aunt Rosie taught me to help me figure things out. "The library is definitely a place I wouldn't easily find my dad, not if he was such a Quidditch fanatic as he –." And then it hits me and I shout: "OF COURSE!" Before rushing out of the library.
Running almost the same path I ran when running from Filch for the first time in my First year, I end up in the Trophy room quite quickly and smile as I walk over to the beautiful small golden badge showing that my dad was a Seeker. "No one would ever dare touching your badge, dad, so it figures it's the perfect hiding spot."
I mumble softly as I charm the glass around it away – just like I incidentally did before my first – and grab the badge, turning it around to find a small block, the size of my nail, hidden under the pin of the badge. Then suddenly I hear clapping behind me and turn around to see a wide smiling Professor Lupin clapping at me.
"You followed me?" I ask him and he shakes his head and says: "I just decided to wait here to see how long it would take you. James really hoped his son would take after him so he could replace his badge with that of his heir and hand his heir his yearbook. He just wanted proof that his son was a Quidditch player and a prankster."
This makes me tilt my head and Remus whispers: "Your Patronus. The picture." And I remember seeing the stag, before it hits me and I whisper: "Prongs. My – my Patronus is –." And Professor Lupin – with a voice thick with emotion – says: "Is the embodiment of your father's Animagus form – secret Animagus form."
This makes me smile widely and he says: "Although I don't think it will stay secret for very long." This makes me tilt my head and I look around, but then Lupin shakes his head and says: "When my secret comes out, it will surely be linked to this secret. I just hope your future self was right in allowing this to come out."
This worries me and I say: "I can –." But Lupin shakes his head, a calm smile on his face and he says: "The secret of your father has to be divulged. It's how Sirius escaped Azkaban." This shocks me and then Lupin walks off and confuses me as he passes me while saying: "Black dogs are your best friend, Harry, remember that."
Lupin's POV
Waiting for Harry wasn't hard at all, while I do wonder how long I can keep from him that James might not be his father, but his mother. Still I wonder who the other parent is and while I know that a simple counter-spell for whatever glamour he is wearing can really help, do I feel that I have other things to do first.
"Besides, it will be easier for Sirius if he has a Harry he recognizes while we read." My mind tells me and I agree with myself, ignoring how stupid that sounds, as I leave the trophy room, knowing I gave the best advice I could currently give this poor little boy. Then, as I leave the castle, I see something that worries me.
Albus and Minerva seem very determined as they both almost march out of the grounds and I ask: "Going somewhere?" Loving how that shocks them just like it shocked my friends all the time while we were students. The two turn around and Albus says: "Minerva and I are meeting with Cornelius and after that will head for Privet Drive."
I nod, knowing the two have just as important jobs to do as I have and I say: "Harry already found the yearbook. He's really intelligent." Albus nods, while Minerva hides her shock and she asks: "Where was it?" And I smile as I say: "Hidden as a button under the pin of his Seeker Badge. No one ever touches that, after all."
The two look shocked this time and then Albus says: "A very obvious location if you think of James, yet totally unexpected as your statement on that badge is indeed quite right. Other than polishing – which is done at the front, not at the pin – no one would ever think, let alone dare, to take that out of its case."
He then smiles and says: "That's my nephew." And I say: "And grandson. It took James three months to think of that hiding spot and get the shrinking charm done right and it only took Harry one hour and ten minutes to find it." Albus nods, his pride almost glowing off of him and he says: "I will be sure to reward Harry later."
I nod and head for the Forbidden Forest, ready to search for my friend there as I'm sure Sirius hid himself there last night before heading to wherever he could have hidden himself since he arrived here, which is a lot quicker as I expected of him, but now that I know what he used to escape Azkaban, do I feel stupid for not thinking of it.
I enter the forest and my eyes quickly adapt to the darker environment around me as I walk past first the outer edge of the forest and then slowly walk in deeper, my eyes on both my surroundings and my own feet to make sure I don't step on anything that can give away my position and can help me listen to any sounds around me.
Then suddenly my nose picks up several scents at once and one of them makes my grip on Moony weaken as the werewolf howls, recognizing it as that of one of the creatures it had run with all those years ago. Turning my head to the scent, my eyes take a few seconds to see a pair of gleaming eyes in a very thick bush.
Looking from the eyes to the rest of the bush, it takes me a little longer to see the dark fur and long body of my best friend's Animagus form, but it seems as if Sirius, in those seconds, realizes that I've seen him and as I see his body tensing, ready to make a dash for it, do I reach out, causing him to swiftly turn around.
Not wanting to lose my friend again, I shout: "PADFOOT!" Purely out of instinct and it seems as if this name is a sign for the dog to tense and for it to slowly tilt its head my way, looking at me with gleaming curious eyes and I smile, hiding my tears, but not the happiness I feel at seeing my long lost friend – and pack mate – yet again.
Sirius' POV
After attacking the Fat Lady the night before did I kind of expect for Remus to come looking for me here, especially as he must have recognized the claw marks I left on her frame, but for him to call me Padfoot just when I want to run away and avoid any possible confrontation, is something that has me halting in my tracks very quickly.
I turn my head to him and feel glad that I'm a dog as my wide eyes would have probably amused Remus like no tomorrow if he had seen them as I myself see the happiness shine in those amber brown eyes – happiness that I am here and happiness that I indeed did stop at hearing that – almost – two decades old nickname.
Shaking my head and changing back ever so slowly, as to make sure that I can still change back and dash away would Remus curse me, I see Remus smile widely at me and then he asks: "What was it?" And I shake my head in confusion as he asks: "What evidence of your innocence did you hide when you gave Harry to Hagrid?"
I look shocked and wonder if he even read the Daily Prophet last summer. Deciding to play along as it seems that Remus actually believes in my innocence, do I say: "Help me back into Hogwarts and I'll show you." Knowing that telling him to get me back into Gryffindor common room would be a step too far right now.
Remus nods, to my shock as I had expected him to get angry and demand an answer, something he had often done when I evaded his questions back when we were young, he says: "We're reading of Harry's life. Some of his friends travelled back in time, with help of Time Sand, and we're reading of the future."
This shocks me as it suddenly makes sense as to why Remus would think that I hid evidence on Harry if he – through the story – heard Hagrid speak of how I gave him Harry and my motorbike and then I decide to stall for time and ask: "Did you check my bike before looking for me?" And by his wide eyes do I know that he didn't.
I smile and he asks: "Will you show us?" I shrug and say: "I can't exactly remember if I left it there, I remember using it to get to – to them –." Here I halt as I can just not believe – even now – that James is really dead, let alone Lily – and I take a deep breath, before suddenly feeling something I would have never expected.
Remus has his arm around my shoulder and is holding my arm with the other, the look in his eyes showing me he understands my pain and I suppress the urge to howl with him as I almost instinctively know that Moony never howled over the loss of his pack-members. Hating how my friend hurt, I ask: "Does Harry know?"
Wanting – more than anything – to have a chance with the one person who is just as important to me as Remus is right now and the man nods as he says: "We read of a meeting between Fudge, Minerva, Hagrid, Filius and Madame Rosmerta. They discussed it in the middle of the Three Broomsticks – during a Hogsmeade weekend."
This makes me hit myself on the head and I ask: "What did they think? That because Harry has no allowance to go there that they wouldn't be overheard? Wait, if you're reading of Harry's life –." But the wide, almost giddy smile on my best friend's face, has me asking: "He – he has – does he – does he have –?"
Remus nods and then, as we finally emerge from the dense bushes and trees at the outskirt of the forest and leave it behind us – me instinctively looking behind me as to hide back there and not be caught – does he take a deep breath and say: "Sirius, the – the reading also revealed something else – about Harry's family."
This shocks and worries me and I ask: "Something about those he lives with? I saw him run away from their house, but I haven't been there long enough to see who he lives with. Did they do something?" But then see Remus look at me wide-eyed and realize he hasn't read about me meeting Harry at the Muggles.
Sighing, I bark once and the man nods, now appeased as he says: "No – and while it worries me that a child would run away – does our discovery not concern Harry's current guardians – even if Harry doesn't seem to be flourishing there at all. No – we – we discovered – that James –." Instantly I stop him and shout:
"JAMES WAS A WONDERFUL MAN AND HE WOULD NEVER – EVER – DO ANYTHING TO HARM HARRY! DON'T –!" But then Remus growls and I silence myself as he says: "That wasn't what I meant. What I wanted to say is that James was apparently Albus' nephew – Charles being Albus' brother."
The words sink into me like a rock causing an avalanche of emotions and I ask: "How – how long has – Harry?" But I can't bring myself to it. The thought that my escape was for nothing, that I won't be able to care for my Godson once I had saved him of that monster, tears my heart to shreds and makes silent tears run down my eyes.
Again Remus hugs me with one arm around me and the other on my upper arm as he says: "Only since last night and everyone I've talked to agrees that Harry – is in need of three guardians." I look at him confused and he says: "Albus does want to make up with Harry for failing him – or so he says – but the age difference is still there.
You and Harry have less of an age difference and you were closer to James than Albus was. Albus can tell Harry all about his grandfather – and his actual great-grandmother, Albus' mum – and you can tell him all about James." I nod, already thinking of a few of the tales I have always wanted to share with my little boy and I ask:
"And the third? And what about Lily?" Remus sighs and says: "The friends that came for Harry are all Elementals and if I have to go by what they told me, is Harry James' son – but not Lily's. And I know –." The man snaps at me as my temper flares up for another shouting and I stop at his dominant tone as he says:
"I know James would never betray Harry, but seeing how little we really know of what happened that night and the days after, is it very well possible that things happened before Lily and James were killed. Who's to say they didn't try a blood adoption because they found Harry as an orphan, but only James succeeded, for example."
I look at him shocked and he says: "Look, a lot has been revealed the last twenty-four hours and it really makes me wonder not just about Halloween night, but about just about everything concerning us all. You, me, James, Harry – everyone we've ever known. I'm seeing them in a new light and I hope this reading will prove me right."
I nod now, understanding where Remus is coming from as the man had always been the adventurous one of us when it came to mystery and unsolved puzzles and whatnot and I ask: "So what about the third?" Here Remus laughs and asks: "Think you can accept to see your Godson with a Possible Soul Mate at age thirteen?"
Albus' POV
The fact that James took three months and that it only took Harry one hour and ten minutes to find it makes me feel pride at both boys – and a growing need to have James back in our midst. Sighing as this can never happen – not even now that Remus and I suspect for James to have been Harry's mum instead of dad, I think:
"I need to get back in contact with Aberforth. The more family I can grant Harry, the better it will be. And no one can teach Harry how to have fun and be yourself no matter what better than Abe, not even Sirius – being as wild and unpredictable as he was." I then realize my own thought pattern and as we pass the Hogwarts gates, do I ask:
"Minerva, how high do you rate the chance of Sirius still being as unpredictable and wild as he was as a teen, when you count along the fact he had to protect himself against Dementors for twelve years?" And the woman sighs and says: "Fifty-fifty, Albus, but only seeing what we found on the Fat Lady last night before the reading."
Understanding her point of view, I take her hand softly before Apparating us both to the small side room Cornelius had set up for me in his second year as Minister – to apologize for allowing Lucius to suspend me, something I had never blamed the man, even if I still think his arrest of Hagrid was nothing short of barbaric.
Luckily enough did I manage to convince Cornelius later that same week to give Hagrid a chance to prove himself worthy of magic and now that Mr. Malfoy will have to admit that he faked the injury, I know that it will be only a matter of time before Cornelius will realize that only Mr. Malfoy is against the supposed wild Hippogriff.
Happy at the fact that everything seem to working in the favor of those I cherish as my friends and family, do I softly knock on the door to let Cornelius know I arrived, before entering the office with Minerva and happily accepting the flamboyant orange chair with red stars on it that Cornelius has been conjuring for me these past few meetings.
He then conjures a more simple and plain chair for Minerva and the woman thanks him before he asks: "What brings you here, Albus? Was it Black? I heard rumors he entered the premises. Are those true?" Deciding to put this behind us first, as Cornelius will surely be invited to the Cat, Rat Dog chapter, do I say:
"Yes Cornelius, the rumors are true, but we also have evidence that Black didn't harm anyone within the Hogwarts walls. One of the paintings didn't have that same luck, but I am determined to hire a proper renovator at earliest convenience. That is, however, not why Minerva and I came to see you this morning."
"Then why did you? And why are you hiring? Won't Argus Filch restore the painting?" I shake my head and say: "The same evidence that we've gained that Black is out of the castle at the moment, has also revealed that Argus is severely lacking in several aspects of his job and that he is letting his state as a Squib get to him."
The man cringes and I ask: "Cornelius, tell me honestly, did Argus ever threaten you?" The man nods and says: "Just about all the time, Albus. He almost had me hanging from my ankles for not wiping my feet as I came into the castle after a Quidditch Match in the fall of my Fourth. Professor Sprout saved me that day."
I sigh and say: "And such information has never reached my ears, Cornelius, or I would have taken the same action I plan to take this year all those years ago, when that happened to you. Still, that is not what I am here for and – as Minerva and I have another address to travel to – would we like to get to the order of business."
The man nods and I ask: "Cornelius, how much would you be able to control your hormones and emotions if you were the age my students are now?" The man turns red and then a soft hem-hem is heard behind me and I see Dolorus Jane Umbridge stand behind me, in the doorway to her office as she asks:
"How is this relevant to your order of business, Headmaster? I thought you were in a hurry, not in the intend to humiliate our Minister for Magic." I sigh, having never understood the woman and say: "I did not, Dolorus, I simply wish to let Cornelius understand where I am coming from, thus the relevance behind my question."
The woman huffs and I ask: "Cornelius?" And the man says: "Well Albus, back in age eleven to thirteen, I wouldn't really have hormones, but you know me, I would be unable to keep my emotions – ." And then, to my great joy and Minerva's relief, does my favorite Minister understand as he whispers: "The Dementors."
I nod and say: "Cornelius, there is a Quidditch match only three weeks away. How do you think the students will react to that?" And the man answers: "Their excitement will be all over the place. And with – with the Dementors so far from the Castle itself – they'll think it a feast – THEY'LL ATTACK THE PLAYERS!"
Cornelius' POV
I know I'm not seen as the Brightest Minister of my Year, but Albus has been stimulating me and pointing me in the right direction for the last three years I have been in office and even during the many years I was a student under his tutelage. And so, I appreciate how Albus has helped me realize – something horrendous.
"How could I not think of the emotions of such hormone driven witches and wizards? How could I not remember that happy memories and emotions are exactly what Dementors feed on. And the Pitch! It's almost right next to the gates and located near the Forest. The Dementors prowling there will be able to attack only too easily."
All this runs through my mind and I snap: "Dolorus, get the Head of the Department of Control and Regulations of Magical Creatures here right NOW! And bring a strong team of Hit-wizards, too! Those Dementors need to be back in Azkaban and we need proper replacement on the double! Immediately, you hear me?"
The woman looks deeply shocked as I have never behaved like this before and when she wants to open her mouth – probably to object – do I curse and shout: "Curse it, woman, I don't want any excuses! If those Dementors stay at Hogwarts during the game, we'll have a severe case of murder on our hands. NOW MOVE IT!"
And she runs out of my and her office, straight past her fireplace in her hurry to follow my orders. I, in the mean time, sit back down as I had stood up with my hands on my desk and sigh deeply, trying to regain my cool before I ask: "What evidence exactly did you find, Albus?" And the man smiles at me as he answers:
"Seven youngsters, ranging between the ages of fourteen and twenty, have arrived from the future through help of Time Sand that willingly came to them. They took with them five books, under which one that concerns this year and the other four about the upcoming four years. These books were also given to them by Time Sand."
This shocks me senseless as I have never heard of Time Sand doing that and I ask: "Why on earth would Magic let Time Sand do that?" And Albus sighs as he says: "According to what we were told, will the next few years be all about a whole new war we will have to prepare ourselves for – and the books are the means to do that."
Sagging down in my chair, I look at the man in shock, but in his eyes I can tell he is not lying to me or trying to tell me some cock and bull story like Rita Skeeter so often does when she writes a new article. Fearing what will happen in this new war and trying not to think of it, I ask: "Who – who are the books about?"
And new hope rises in my chest as the man answers: "They're about Harry, but he is none too happy about this and I sincerely cannot blame him. He held a speech to the students just last night and if you wish, I will be happy to show you." I nod and pull the Emergency Pensive out of the vault under my desk, setting it in front of my friend.
Albus pulls out his wand and puts the tip of it against his temple, being extremely careful as he pulls it away and I see the silver strand of his memory get attached to the tip, wounding around it as it breaks from Albus' mind before he taps his wand against the silver glass bowl and allows for the strand to fall into the flowing mist.
For a short second, do I see a crying young man with messy black hair and I wonder why Harry Potter would be crying during his speech before I look at Albus and my friend motioned me to enter the memory as he says: "For us, once is enough." Nodding in understanding, do I enter something that I never thought I would see.
Harry Potter is seated in Albus' lap and the man is actually holding the boy as a grandfather would hold his grandson as Harry talks back to little Malfoy junior and seems to shock the school with his knowledge on wind patterns and how they help to improve a Seeker's ability to see even the smallest of things.
He then confesses – to my shock – how the Dursleys apparently punished him for being better than his cousin and how he still has people expecting the most ridiculous things of him even here. He then heads for the Owl Stand where I know Albus holds his speeches and the speech the young man gives has me in tears.
About what the students expect of him and how they have been expressing that over the last few years. How it has hurt the lad and made him feel unwanted unless he did exactly what they wanted and how they always asked so much of him, but never asked him one question that he seems to find more important than anything.
Then the new gang that I see sitting in the middle of the sleeping bag filled hall seems to know what question to ask and the answer the young man gives breaks my heart in a thousand pieces before he leaves for the Antechamber with his eyes closed and his hand in his mouth and I exit the Pensive and the memory once again.
Looking at the two people in front of me, I see Albus' eyes shining with understanding and hidden tears and the man says: "Cornelius, you have to make sure someone honest and caring prints this speech in the Daily Prophet. We have to bring the truth – of Lily Potter being the true hero – out in the open, for Harry's sake."
Nodding at the man in agreement, I see that the Hit Wizards and Auron Asterfield – Head of the Department of Control and Regulations of Magical Creatures – standing in the doorway and I quickly shake my head and put the Pensive back in the vault before crossing my fingers on my desk and say: "Come in, gentlemen."
Albus then nods and says: "Minerva and I will take our leave now. Am I right to assume that you will have the Dementors away from Hogwarts by nightfall and that you will visit us for the Reading soon?" I nod at the man, intrigued by what the future can hold and the two then leave through the small side chamber on my left.
Taking a deep breath to regain my bearings, I hear Dolorus ask: "Cornelius, what on earth did that man show you?" And I answer: "Something that will remain between him and myself until further notice, Dolorus. Now please get your writing equipment, this new course of action needs to be brought out to the public."
The woman nods and she quickly conjures herself a small desk on the left of my office, sitting down and summoning her required equipment while Asterfield takes his seat in Minerva's old chair and the two Hit Wizards stay standing behind him. And with this assemble in front of me, do I start an action I know will change the future for good.
Minerva's POV
I know Cornelius was as touched as we all were by seeing Harry at his most vulnerable and ask: "Was it really a good idea to show Cornelius that entire memory?" As Albus and I walk through the small sideway dividing up Magnolia Crescent and Wisteria Walk and Albus says: "I don't like it myself, but it was indeed necessary.
Cornelius had to see that Harry is just a regular boy. He – more than anyone – can convince the rest of the Ministry of this and get the ball rolling, so to say. And if the Ministry starts to realize that –." The man ends and I continue: "Then soon every witch and wizard will have forgotten about the fame and see the child behind."
The man nods and says: "Now onto other matters." And I nod as it still fills me with rage to think that the Dursleys treated their nephew with such distaste, to not even give him the presents and letters we send him over the years to make sure he was alright and happy. Arriving at our destination, Albus slowly pulls his wand out.
Nodding at him, I bend my back a little with my hands behind my back and my eyes on the magnolias growing just inside the fence gate of the front yard and while I fake to examine them, does Albus move his wand in front of his chest in delicate patterns, performing several spells to check for wards while hiding his wand from view.
The man gasps and says: "Several wards to keep letters away, all of them broken by Hedwig, but only by her. Any other owl that would have tried getting in here would have gotten a nasty shock, bad enough to kill it." This shocks me and I ask: "So that's why all our owls needed medical treatment upon their return?"
Albus nods and says: "There is also another ward around, one I never would have placed here, but its source is hidden through the Owl ward and Hedwig's own magic is hiding that source." This aggravates me and I ask: "What other ward?" And Albus turns a stern eye my way, his twinkle gone as he says:
"A ward to eradicate any positive feeling for Harry while he is inside this house. It doesn't enchant the negative feelings those Dursleys have been feeling for him, but it does take away every chance Harry ever had of being loved, thus effectively breaking any Blood Ward I had hoped to create to defend my poor little grandchild."
This shocks the living daylights out of me and I ask: "How long has that ward been active?" And Albus waves his wand some more, while I fake to closely examine a large white magnolia flower with yellow carpel by softly pulling on one of the petals. Then Albus sighs and says: "Since November the third in nineteen eighty-one."
And I ask: "You mean, a day after we brought Harry here? Who would do that?" Albus shakes his head and says: "We can only hope that the books will tell us. For now, we best focus on getting back everything I ever send my little grandson." I nod at the man and we walk onto the pavement, both of us aware of the eyes watching us.
Petunia's POV
Those freaks might try their best to fool the others of this amazing neighborhood, but I recognize them right away and while I am glad that they are at least trying to behave normally, do I still hate to see that long thin stick waving around the man's front, as he seems to be looking onto and over the house, as if trying to see something.
Hating that he is being so obviously out of it, something that can possibly ruin my reputation, I instantly leave for the front door when I see them walk up the pavement after seemingly having to discussed some things that apparently shocked the female of the duo quite aggressively and I open the door before they can knock.
Hoping to have shocked them, I hold back a growl as they just walk in, apparently having spotted me while I was staring at them through the window and then the man makes ice grow in my chest as he says: "We are here for Harry's things – or should I say, the things you used for Dudley while they had Harry's name on them."
Shocked that he asks for them now, I ask: "How – how do you know?" And the man answers: "We are performing some actions that allowed for Harry to come out with certain secrets you, I believe, would have never wanted to come out in the first place. Now I am not here for small talk, I am here for the items I requested."
Hating how he's trying to force me, I ask: "And why should I give them to you?" But then the man suddenly seems to grow as he towers over me, the twinkle I temporarily saw in his eyes gone and fury blazing in his blue eyes, turning them icy cold as he spats: "Because it's either the items or Aurors invading your house, Petunia."
And while I know exactly what Aurors are – having heard that freaky Snape talking about them – do I try not to show my fear at that happening as I say: "You can't expect me to keep all those things. Dudley is a very active boy and he accidentally destroyed some of them." But then the man shocks me again as he says:
"And threw the golden watch I send for Christmas in 1990 out the window when you took the boys to the zoo for Dudley's birthday." I look at the man wide-eyed and shout: "HOW DO YOU KNOW THAT!" And the man answers: "Harry has friends inside this neighborhood, even if he doesn't have family here."
This angers me and I ask: "So you're letting kids spy on us? I take it that's how you knew of the cupboard?" But the man's eyes now show confusion and the woman asks: "What cupboard?" And I whiten as it seems my belief was wrong. Then the man turns his eyes into the hallway and he asks: "You mean, that cupboard?"
And he motions for the one that still has the small padlock and the ventilation system on the door. Hating how we never thought of taking those off during the brat's blasted school year I want to take a step forward to stop the man as he walks over, but the woman beside him suddenly gives me such a stern glare, I instead step back.
Feeling as if I'm back in my last year of primary school and told by my teacher that I should be more like Lily, who was really studious and beloved by all our teachers, I try not to feel that same antipathy as I felt all those years ago as I just know that won't be taken lightly by the strict woman standing in front of me.
Her colleague then opens the door to the cupboard and after looking inside it for a few minutes, does he ask: "Why is Harry's name etched in the back wall?" Angering me as the brat had done that at age five and I had never liked it as I say: "That was his work. He scratched it there with his nails. I didn't do that, you can't blame me."
"I never gave any blame, I simply asked a question." The man answers, still not looking at me as he seems to study the scratch marks and then turns back to me as he ask: "I do, however wonder why Harry would feel the need to mark a cupboard of all things as his territory. Can you perhaps explain that, Petunia?"
I whiten as I always feared them finding out and then decide to confuse them in the hopes of letting them go away and I say: "As if you don't know. You wrote those letters to him three years ago, didn't you? Those stupid letters with his address and everything, inviting him to that freak show you call a school."
The man's stare turn from accusing to downright furious, his eyes now blazing like a storm raging over sea and he asks: "Are you saying that this cupboard was written down on his first acceptance letter as a bedroom?" I nod and he says: "Then I wouldn't have known as our envelopes are written down by a Self-writing Quill."
This shocks me as I just admitted to have locked the brat away in that cupboard and I shriek: "It was his idea! He went there! When we first got him, he instantly went in there! I was shouting at Vernon not to shout himself because he could wake Dudley and the brat just went in and stayed there. It wasn't my fault."
But then the man spats: "Yes, yes it was." I look shocked and he says: "Harry went in there, after you were screaming along with your husband, because he was witness of Lily screaming as she died. He was witness to his own mother's death and, while still an infant, was he aware that he could not get comfort from you.
That made him seek out a different form of comfort and for some people, darkness means comfort. So going into this small, dark place is something a lot of babies do if they are indeed afraid. It will feel to them as if they are hiding in their mother's chest with their eyes closed. It was a clear sign that he needed love and comfort."
Shocked at this as I never would have thought of it that way, do I see the man advancing on me and he says: "Don't tell me you never closed your eyes when afraid, wishing that the darkness behind your eyelids would offer comfort and safety of what your eyes would see if they were opened. Don't tell me you never did, because I know."
I hang my head, realizing that there were many times as a kid that I closed my eyes and I mutter: "I never wanted the brat anyway." And Albus spats: "Then you will be very relieved to know that Harry will be gone for good from this house, the minute you have given me all the money and possessions I send Harry over the years."
And finally do I cave in and say: "Second floor bedroom, the one with the locks. But like I said, most of it broke on accident, so I don't see –." But the man has already left up the staircase and while walking up, does he say: "Harry does not care for the items, Petunia, but for the meaning behind them, the reason they were given to him."
This makes me hang my head and I say: "If you really want everything that ever belonged to those two, you'll need to go up the attic as well." This makes the two look confused and I sigh as I say: "With the brat here and me being her sister, did that freak send all of her stuff to my place after she died through her will."
"And you never shared that with Harry, with her own son? You just hid it away?" The woman asks shocked and the man says: "You shrink and pack everything that belonged to Lily. I'll do the same with what I know was send here for Harry to get and then we'll leave." The woman nods and the two leave up the stairs.
About half an hour later the man comes back down and says: "You really used too much money on your son, Petunia, he will never respect you with how much you give him. He will only expect more and more and if he grows out of the house, he will expect you to bring him a gift every time you visit. His toys prove so."
This makes me want to shout at the man, but he holds up a hand and says: "Which is why I changed all of it to the money you never spent on Harry once. It's all in here and he will receive it all back as it originally came from his father's vaults. I really thought I could trust you, Petunia." The man shakes his head and leaves.
Shocked that he took Dudley's old toys and changed them into his freakish money, the fact that that freak has a vault doesn't even register with me as I hear the woman cursing in loud Scottish, making me blush as my mother taught Lily and me Welsh as well as Scottish before she went off to that rotten school in the north.
Turning to the woman, I see her glaring at me so fiercely, I almost feel like falling into my favorite chair in fear as she says: "You kept too much from the wrong person, Petunia. Let's just hope we can still fix that or I will personally hang it over your head." And with that she storms out, leaving me absolutely baffled.
Rosie's POV
I had sensed the magic of my old friend, Albus Dumbledore, when he entered the Playground on the far edge of the community, but the man had apparently still not known of my presence here, as he had, together with McGonagall – shockingly enough – made his way for the house of my favorite neighbor, young Harry James Potter.
Wondering what the man could be up to as Harry had ran away from his relatives house three weeks before summer had actually ended, I suddenly can't help but wonder if Harry finally came out with everything that is actually going on inside that house – with help of an unknown source and Arabella Figg.
I know the woman is behind part of Harry's suffering as her faking to be talking with cats makes her a famous act on the internet, allowing for her to make money through it, which she splits in half to pay Dursley for his mistreatment of the poor lad. Wondering if Albus has discovered about this, do I decide to go investigate.
But then something happens that I didn't expect as seven youngsters that I recognize even if they seem to have aged amazingly, walk over to my front porch and the youngest of fourteen with long black hair ringing down to his shoulders and very clear blue eyes says: "Good to see you again, Aunt Rosie." In that excited voice I know so well.
Looking at the children in shock, does the oldest say: "Time sand." And instantly I understand. Glad that their younger selves are at camp right now, a camp I was able to arrange for them as those monsters of parents of theirs never allowed them to go to Primary school, do I ask: "How have you been, boys?"
The teens sigh and the eldest says: "Not too good, Auntie, or we wouldn't be here. We've come to take you to Hogwarts with us, Harry is waiting for you there." This makes me smile widely, but I still feel the need to ask: "What about the Plan?" And the eldest girl says: "I repeat Jeremy's earlier words. We're here."
To this I nod and a few minutes later have I packed all my things and have I talked to my landlord that I will be out of the house for a couple of months to visit and help relatives of mine in the high north of our nation, something that made the Scottish man very happy and made him more than willing to hire a maid for me to keep the house.
After this do I meet with the team behind my house and the youngest says: "Professor Dumbledore already checked the premises. There were wards around, but nothing indicating that someone stole stuff out of the house. On the other hand were the wards a little over-excessive and definitely had a hand in the abuse."
This worries me and I ask: "What wards?" And the boy answers: "I'll answer once we're out of Muggle territory." I nod, having a strong feeling that Arabella must have seen Albus and is now looking for a way out of trouble and so I spare a glance behind me, but don't see anyone passing by my front door.
Feeling relieved as I know that the woman can't cast spells to hide herself to save her life, I see the eldest girl take a rotten old grocery bag out of the backpack she was carrying and she says: "Professor McGonagall made sure it was big enough for all of us. Should transport us straight into the Antechamber, she said."
This makes me smile and after holding on through a tremendously quick journey of swirling colors and a losing sense of direction, do we arrive in a small side-chamber with wooden benches against the walls and stone benches in the middle of the room, where four pillars divide the four benches apart and make for a small area in the midst.
Looking around, I sigh as it has been ever so long since I first came to Hogwarts, even if I don't even remember anything about it other than my studies, my O.W.L. and N.E.W.T. exam and my graduation and the girl with oak brown hair and forest green eyes asks: "Are you alright, Auntie?" I nod at her and say:
"It's just been a really long time since I was here last and I feel it's a shame that I seem to have lost my memories of this wonderful place. Let's just hope that being back here will help me remember a little more than just my studies and how I did on my two most important test – and my Graduation Day, of course."
The group shares a look at this and the eldest girl with soft blond hair with icy-blue strands in it, says: "Auntie, we think that whoever took your memory has been doing bad things to others as well." I look at her and she says: "We found evidence that Sirius Black might be innocent, he'll be in on the reading we're doing as well."
This shocks me and I ask: "And Harry will be well-protected during the reading?" But the youngest says: "We don't believe he will be in any danger in the first place. We think Black is after something that can prove his innocence." I look at the group in shock and realize that this trip will be about more than just helping Harry's future.
