Hey everyone,
Boy, this has been a crazy month for me. A ton of meetings at the start of the month made it so I barely had any writing time and by the time we were halfway through the month, I felt so exhausted from all these meetings, I just wanted to sit down and watch YouTube videos all the time and barely work on the chapters.
Of course, I have no desire to let this month go without a chapter update, especially not for this gem of a story or a few others because, even though this story does not always get as many visitors as say A Divine Hogwarts (which has been finished as of me editing this), I just love the pairings, the people most prominent in the story and how they are developing.
This story, might only be in the starting chapters of the Philosopher's Stone, but already there are strong bonds practically everywhere, people are getting the burns they deserve, there are secrets and mysteries growing all over the place and honestly, it's just fun seeing Sirius squirm as he tries to keep James being alive a secret.
Yeah, I love this story,

Venquine1990


Chapter 13
Fighting A Losing Battle

28th of January 1996
Destiny's Haven
Albus' POV

The meeting at dinner last night has definitely done the reputation of one of my favorite students a lot of good as it seems that those who wanted to believe the Prophet just for the sake of Harry being famous are now regretting this and some of them are even thinking through all the other things Harry has been through and feeling bad.
Ms. Granger seems not amused or accepting of this, especially those who are only now feeling guilty for wrongs they committed against Harry in his first year, yet it seems as if all of them are willing to wait until Destiny deems Harry ready to return, yet his retreat could not have come at a more unfortunate timing if possible.
Just minutes after I revealed what Destiny had decided for the young boy – and his godfather, though she did not speak of this for obvious reasons – did I discover something that I know is the boy's biggest heart's desire. Yet at the same time did the return of Harry's actual parents come with news even I never could've expected.

Sirius and Harry are not the only ones taken by Destiny – the lost brother of Harry as well as the lost son of Alice and Frank have also been taken from wherever they had been sent to all those years ago, yet it had not been the fact that Harry had his brother back that had shocked me; it was the actual bond between James and Sirius did.
"That those two kept their actual romance from the entire world, while getting two kids and being at war. That is just incredible." Are my last thoughts after I returned from a short visit to the Order's Headquarters and my last thoughts before bed, yet when I wake up, do I instantly notice that I am no longer in my own room.

Yet I am not really kidnapped either as the room I am in is just too luscious for that to be the case and after dressing myself in some very nice looking sky-blue robes with cloud-white stars on them and a wizard's hat with the same pattern, do I move out of the room and down the staircase on the left of said door.
And the sight that meets me at the end of the staircase is a very welcome one indeed. Sirius, a boy who look to be Harry's age who has russet colored hair, a young man who is one year older than Harry and who has hair that is just a few tints lighter than that of either Sirius or James and thus looking a nice shade of brown along with a boy one year his senior with silver-white hair.
The sons of James and Sirius as well as Frank and Alice are seated with Harry's actual father as well as a boy I suddenly realize can only be Harry himself at a fancy looking table that is filled to the brim with all kinds of breakfast meals and all of them are laughing and smiling as they talk with each other and eat, but then the child of Alice and Frank notices me.

I smile gently at the boy, yet him looking away from the other alerts them as well and when Sirius and Harry turn around, do I suddenly notice something that shocks me senseless. Harry, upon taking a closer look at him, looks exactly like a son of James and Sirius is supposed to look and his new looks together with the outfit he wears suit him incredibly well.
"Ah Albus, I see Lady Destiny wasted no time in fulfilling my request of last night. You hungry? She and her magic make a mean dish of scrambled eggs, really." Sirius then says and while intrigued over what he could want of me coming here, can I not help but smile as it's quite obvious that being here has done Sirius a lot of good.
I sit next to the man, making sure not to look at Harry as I do, but then Sirius says: "Albus, quit it." The hiss in his voice sounding quite lethal and shocking me enough I drop my cutlery, while the others look at us and I say: "I told you before and I will say it again; playing two sides of the same coin can't work in a situation like this."

This makes me sigh, part of me relieved that Sirius isn't revealing information that isn't for the boys to hear, yet the man shocks me as he says: "Also, Harry seem to be fighting his own personal battle somewhere in your school that is causing him physical pain, but because you ignore him, does he constantly convince his friends not to report this to you with lame excuses.
Sorry son, but they are." And while the news that Harry has been hurt during some kind of struggle but won't admit this to me shocks me, is it the nickname that Sirius gives Harry that makes me look between the two and Harry says: "Yeah, dad told us yesterday when we arrived. I love the fact that I have my dad back, professor, I really do."
Yet just by that single sentence and a quick look at Sirius do I know all I need to. Harry does not know that his mother has been in hiding, pretending to be dead, for all these years, yet Sirius is definitely planning to tell the boy sometime today. I take a deep breath to calm myself of all these shocks and smile at the boy as I say:

"That is good to know, Harry, and I would like you both to know that I was visited by Lady Destiny myself yesterday and that her message made many people realize their mistakes in believing the Prophet over you –.""You mean over you." Sirius suddenly interrupts me, while preparing a bagel and shocking me as he does.
We all look at him and he says: "You never asked either Harry or me as Harry's godfather and magical guardian for permission or consent to use his name to further forward your and his claims of Voldemort's return. Because of that, did the both of you get attacked and slandered and while you can manage that, Albus, does Harry not.
He is a teenager, granted one who has adult experiences when it comes to battling and dangerous situations, but a teenager nonetheless. He has no experience with social standings, political agendas or handling public reputations and so it was unfair to dreg both your names through the mud just to get your point across.
And next to that, why did you never think of using Lily and James' sacrifice to prove your point, regardless of how many times I actually recommended you doing so?" This last one silences me, Sirius' subtle use of the word sacrifice instead of deaths not passing my attention, yet I lower my head in shame nonetheless.

Sirius then sighs and says: "Sora, Harry, please take your breakfast to the other room. Riku, I trust in your ability regarding the Darkness – yes, last night proved that to me – I would like you here as you seem like the kind of person who uses all forms of magic in a very defensive and protective manner, which I can use right now."
And while I am shocked that the man has so quickly accepted someone who uses Dark Magic while being a child of Light Wizards, does Harry seem a little put out to being told that he can't be part of this conversation, yet to my shock does the boy not say anything to object to this as he just complies with his father's wishes.

The two boys leave and when the door has closed behind them, do I turn to Sirius, who actually pulls out several papers from under the plate he had been eating from and he hands me to them as he says: "Just read this, it's from the same book as the page you received yesterday." I nod at this and then decide to share my own info.
"Sirius, I just want you to know that I already did some research into those people we read about meeting Harry when he was young. Kingsley was one of them and I already got him to swear to me that his meeting with Harry was pure coincidence. Kingsley was just shopping for an anniversary gift in the same town as where Harry lived."

Sirius nods, but I can tell that the man doesn't care for this at the current moment and I read through what he has given me, the words I read of what Vernon Dursley has once said making me whiten and my whole body wishing to tremble, which I push down to show only through the hands holding the papers together as I read.
Read about the man as Harry receives and gets denied his first of the many letters we sent him, read as the man discusses said letter with his wife. Read as the man admits to having actually desired to use violence against his own nephew. And read of how he, in the end, hides them by moving into a terribly described shack in the sea.
"That place was worse than London, Albus, yet when I commented on this, did Harry try and down talk it by saying that he had forgotten how bad it all was thanks to all his other adventures. That boy has been mistreated in so many ways, I feel as if the treatment I got from my mother is saint like. And I HATE my mother!"

The man spats at the end and then he brings home the one thing I never wanted to admit: "Albus, family doesn't instantly mean love and care. Look at Snape, look at Percy and the Weasleys, look at me. You have three prime examples of this, so stop expecting that which will never happen and leave Harry where he belongs.
With me and with Sora and Riku." And while the man sounds like he is finished, can I tell that he very much wants to add James' name to this as well and while I wonder why the man keeps on refusing to admit that his mate is still alive and back, do I nod before I decide to give the man some initiative to this as well and I say:

"The Stag has brought the Flower Back to Base." And while the son of Alice and Frank looks at me as if I have just admitted to be in love with his father or something, does Sirius get wide-eyed before he sends me a wordless Are you sure to which I nod and the two of us then share a silent nod of understanding between ourselves.
Sirius then regains himself and says: "Albus, Lady Destiny has presented me and the others with seven books and several what Sora calls DVD's. that are about both of their lives and I already know that we are not to leave until all the books have been read and all the DVD's – well, I think watched, seeing the TV screen near them."
Riku then nods to confirm this and I turn to Sirius with wide eyes as he says: "We started reading yesterday and we're only on chapter four this morning. It will take a long time, perhaps even all year, just to get through the books. The DVD's I cannot say for sure, but they apparently cover the last two and a half years.

I'm really sorry, Albus, but the Order will have to fight off Voldemort and his army without me and without my boys, because I don't think Lady Destiny will do for us what she has done for you today." And while I worry for the future of our world, do I still agree with the man and show him that I do so with an agreeing nod.
Sirius nods and says: "However, when we come back, we will have exactly that what Voldemort seeks, so to speak. Riku, if you would?" And to my shock does the silver-haired boy summon a silver-colored blade with two parallel groves running down the blade, several round indents etched asymmetrically along each edge and a black and blocky guard. There is also a keychain attached to the other side of the guard that is made of three circles.

"It's apparently called a Keyblade, Albus, and its magic is quite different from our own. It controls the elements and can even summon all kinds of creatures, yet it also has a different kind of draining system regarding its uses as using just a curing spell will make them incapable of using magic for some time, or so they've told me.
Both Sora and Riku had Keyblades when they came here and Harry earned his rights to a Keyblade yesterday. Oh, and Albus, I don't think I need to tell you what happens when a Potter mates a magical creature and then has kids, do I?" And instantly I understand the man's unspoken words as I ask: "Do you know?"

The man nods and because I want to let James know of this more than anything else, do I look at the man inquiringly as he says: "His name is Lea. He was apparently the one who brought us all here and he has already fallen for my son, both with his old looks and new. He was also the one who provided Harry with his new outfit."
I nod at this, remembering how good Harry looked in the blue turtleneck with black jacket and brown pants and say: "I will be sure to let those important to us know, Sirius." To this the man nods and says: "See that you do – and take those with you to get those blasted Dursleys arrested." Shocking me with his venom at the end.
"Sirius –.""Are you actually going to disagree?" The silent youth then suddenly asks me and he goes on: "Harry hates it there! He told us he ran away! What kid that loves being somewhere runs away from the place?""He – he went back." I try to argue, but Sirius breaks down my argument and strongly as he says:
"Yes, because other than me and my rights as his father, who exactly cares for Harry so much they go against their respect for you to prove you that's a bad idea?" And while I sincerely want to answer with several names, do I know that, in the end, my reputation would have eventually convinced them not to do so and I sigh.

"Albus, you're a good man, but you lack someone who tells you that you're wrong every now and then. You might not have meant it, but your reputation, like Fudge but on a lower level, has gone to your head and so you ignore crazy and terrible signs unless they get shoved in your face. You need to wake up – and start listening.
Yes, you are older than most of us. Yes, your wisdom is practically legendary. Yes, you have a brilliant reputation that even Fudge's little slandering campaign can't damage permanently. But you're still human, Albus, and like all humans, like me with Wormtail, like Snape and his grudge, you – make – mistakes.
And maybe, just maybe, all of this isn't just for Harry to heal of his past and for me to learn of my older son's past. Perhaps this is just Destiny's way to make sure that, before the war really breaks out, we have solved all the mistakes made in the last four years, including yours, mine and those of everybody else.

My question is, are you willing to admit to your mistakes and live up to the need to fix them?" The man then asks me, sincere worry and an undertone of doubt, probably based on all he has already read of my mistakes, sounding through the man's voice as he looks at me, his eyes asking the same question his voice just did.
I sigh at this, having never wanted for a man like Sirius to distrust or even doubt me and I ask: "Do you think Lady Destiny could just keep sending me the pages where you find my faults, Sirius?" To which the man smiles and says: "Probably – plus those that describe the foolish mistakes of everybody else. You're not alone in that, remember?"
And the fact that the man can kid around with me so soon after voicing his worries about my person, pride, reputation and willingness to make up for my mistakes makes me sigh in relief before the man sighs and says: "I won't lie to you, Albus." Making me concerned as it's obvious that whatever the man has planned will hurt me.

He then looks at me and his eyes alone prove how badly he is fighting himself over whatever he has to tell me and while on one side I can see the father that will move heaven, earth and probably even the distance that kept him from his older son to keep his kids and family safe, does the other side seem to be berating him over this as well.
This other side seems dedicated to the Order and those who Sirius fought alongside with during the last war and while I can't help but wonder and fear whatever could make the man fight between his love for his family and his loyalty to his friends, do I truly feel for the man that has already sacrificed and fought against so much else.
Yet his next words, the words of whatever he has planned that causes this inner struggle, silence me and shock as he hollowly says: "If what Harry and I suspect and fear comes to pass and I get in a near-death experience – then I will not hesitate and I will take Riku and my family back to where Riku and Sora came from.
I will leave England and I will leave the war to you. I am willing to fight this battle, Albus, but not if it means taking Harry his family a third time in a row. That never, Albus, that never." And just the conviction in the man's voice at the last part makes me know that the side of his that is loyal to the Order – is fighting a losing battle.


Holy crap, INTENSE!
But seriously this chapter was pretty hard and I had to reference several other chapters a few times and even checked the thumbnail for this story a few times to remember what Harry's new outfit looked like, but I am still very, very proud of this chapter, even if the whole Muggle subject was just breezed over.
But then again, the next Muggle chapter is seriously just one of the most disgusting and horrid one of all the books and I just didn't feel like bringing so much dark muggle stuff into this story two to three chapters in a row. However, I do also have good news and that regards the visitors to the room at certain times.
Once Sirius reveals to Harry and Sora that his mother is still alive will James become part of the roster of people who report happenings in both worlds/universes to those of their world/universe. Of course, Lea won't really have much to report, but James will be replacing Albus and that is because the family deserves family time.
Hope you enjoy,

Venquine1990
PS. The revelation will be with the Diagon Alley chapter, I think.