Harry Potter the God Slaying Sword
ESKK: Well new chapter let's begin this epic.
(Start)
Harry and Al entered the pub as Al even though had been here only once or twice she knew a pub when she saw one. Especially during the Dark Ages when the battle weary Magius were persecuted for their use of magic by fanatical Christians during their Inquisitions against magic. As they entered they were being guided to Room 11 to which Harry then opened and smiled when he saw Hedwig there.
"Hedwig." Harry greeted as he was surprised to see her there.
"Mighty smart bird you have their Potter. Just arrived here five minutes before yourself and Ms. Azif." The Igor looking person said before the sound of a throat clearing was heard as the trio looked and saw a man looking outside the window.
"As the minister for magic it is my duty to inform you both Mr. Potter and Ms. Azif that earlier this evening young Mr. Potter's uncles sister was located above the Dursley household attached to a rope on the chimney. The Accidental Magic department has been deployed and she had been punctured and her memory modified." The man said before he began to make his way to the duo revealing himself as Fudge. "She will have no recollection of the incident what so ever. No Harm done." Fudge said as he walked over to the duo as Al noted he was trying to butter them up.
"Pea soup?" He offered as Harry and Al looked.
"I'm good/No thank you." Al and Harry both answered as they looked to the minister of magic.
"Anyway sir I'm to assume accidental magic is a loophole in the law for underage wizardry since children don't have a proper grip on their magic when it happens is that correct?" Al said as she looked to, Fudge as she was sitting next to Harry on a comfy chair.
"That is correct seems we know who had the brains between you." Fudge joked as Al snickered herself as Harry knew arguing with Al would make him loose in the end. "But running off as you two did was very irresponsible with the state of things." Fudge said as he looked to the two.
"The state of things, sir?" Harry asked as he looked to Fudge.
"We have a few killers on the loose." Fudge said as Al looked to him.
"I know Sirius Black is one of them who was no doubt arrested after a long and tiring trial." Al began as she saw Fudge freeze up a bit as Al smirked a bit. 'No trial that's a good start.' Al thought remembering Metatron's warning to them that not all Blacks were evil. "But it begs to question who the other killers are." Al said as she looked to Fudge wanting some answers. "I mean I believe we should know considering we did an irresponsible thing without being aware of the going on inside the Wizarding World." Al said as she looked to Fudge.
"Not much on the other two I'm afraid one usually perform a thorough clean up when he kills save for a single black feather and the other one she slaughters whatever gets in her way." Fudge said as both magic users heard this knowing Metatron fit the bill for blood soaked messes.
"But any of those details don't matter your both safe and that's what matters." Fudge said putting his hand on their shoulders as Al caught sight of the fear he felt. The Black Lodge has been becoming bolder with their movements and Fudge is trying to lie his way to avoid another possible war. "And tomorrow you will both be on your way back to Hogwarts." Fudge said as Harry and Al then both saw the books nearby.
"Are those our school books near Hedwig?" Harry asked as he took note of his new books.
"Yes I took the liberty of picking them up for you before your arrival here." Fudge said as Harry and Al saw this but saw Fudge was after something here. "Now then Tom will show you to your rooms." Fudge said before Tom began to drag them off.
"Hedwig." Harry called as Hedwig then flew over and landed on Harry's waiting arm.
"Oh and children." Fudge began for one last time. "While you're here it would be best that you refrain from wandering off." Fudge said with a hint of warning as Harry and Al nodded before making their way out of the room with their books and Hedwig. No doubt after the night they had they needed some rest for the rest of their summer.
(The next morning Room 11)
The group had arrived at the inn room as they had separate rooms as once Al was settled and went straight to bed that night. Once she was up she walked in just in time to see Harry fighting a monster book. "Um… do I want to know?" Al asked as she saw Harry had stomped on the book with teeth and eyes.
"Probably not." Harry confessed as he didn't even want to know about this book either.
"Probably Hagrid's idea." Al said as she poked the book with a stick she found once it was locked back up with the strap on it.
"Probably." Harry admitted as he saw the book could have bite someone's arm off if it was allowed to roam.
"Ok so I'm going to wander about screw minister candy." Al said as Harry saw her leave the room.
"Of course you will." Harry said knowing Al didn't follow orders that well from random strangers. "Hey wait for me!" Harry called as he went after Al as he needed to make sure she didn't do something to put a target on their backs as they wanted to enjoy their last day of holidays.
As they left the room Harry had wanted to check out some information on the new Firebolt he had been hearing about thinking that he would at least meet, Joseph, Elisa, Ron and Hermione tomorrow, on the Hogwarts Express. But once they were outside the Pub in Diagon Alley they began making their way to the nearby ice cream parlor as hearing someone yelled their names as they turned.
"Harry! Al! HARRY AL!" Hermione was heard as it seems she was also here as they looked and saw Ron, Hermione, Joseph, and Elisa all of them, sitting outside Florean Fortescue's Ice Cream Parlor — Ron looking incredibly freckly, Hermione very brown, both waving frantically at him with Joseph looking very rich but friendly and Elisa as normal the quiet one of their band of misfits.
"Finally!" Ron said, grinning at Harry as he sat down with them once they grabbed some ice cream as Joseph smirked at them. "We heard you were in the Leaky Cauldron but Joseph said to let you sleep in a bit no doubt scared about the visit of your horrid aunt and leaving you with her." Ron joked as Joseph looked to them.
"Hey when Harry gets even he goes all out." Joseph said fearing of another Great prank war occurring in Hogwarts.
"Plus knowing Al she must have talked Harry into getting their supplies early once they got their letters." Elisa said as Harry smiled a bit.
"Yeah we got them early." Al said as Harry nodded.
"See told you so now pay up!" Joseph called as Ron cursed and paid Joseph the Galleons of their small side wager on Harry's supplies.
"So how come you knew we were staying at the Leaky Cauldron?" Harry asked as he looked to Ron wondering if Daphne told them.
"Dad." Ron simply stated as it was kind of obvious if one were to think about it.
Arthur, who worked at the Ministry of Magic, would of course have heard the whole story of what had happened to Aunt Marge.
"Did you really blow up your aunt, Harry?" Hermione asked in a very serious voice as Al scoffed a bit.
"Yeah he did by accident but she deserved it." Al said as she leaned on her chair enjoying her frozen treat once it was served as this cause Ron to roar with laughter.
"It's not funny, Ron," Hermione said sharply to Ron as Joseph joined in a bit.
"I don't know it's kind of funny." Joseph said as Hermione rolled her eyes at this.
"I swear you should be a Gryffindor and not a Slytherin." Hermione said as Joseph smirked as did Elisa.
"Then you wouldn't have eyes and ears in the house of snakes." Joseph said as Hermione smiled to him as that much was true for them.
"Honestly, I'm amazed neither of them were expelled." Hermione confessed as she was glad they got off the hook so easily with this.
"So am I." Harry admitted before he continued. "Forget expelled, I thought I was going to be arrested." He said as he was surprised he got off scot free before he looked to Ron. "Your dad doesn't know why Fudge let us off, does he?" Harry asked as Al wanted to know as well.
"Probably 'cause it's you, isn't it?" Ron said with a shrug, while he was still chuckling. "Famous Harry Potter and all that. I'd hate to see what the Ministry'd do to me if I blew up an aunt. Mind you, they'd have to dig me up first, because Mum would've killed me." Ron said as he shivered as Joseph smiled a bit.
"Oh don't be such a baby Ron it just goes to show your mum cares about you enough to enact proper punishment when you act up and make sure you become a good adult when you leave the nest." Joseph said as he smiled to Ron envying him for still having his mother.
"Anyway, you can ask Dad yourself this evening. We're staying at the Leaky Cauldron tonight too! So you can come to King's Cross with us tomorrow! Joseph, Elisa, and Hermione will be there as well!" Ron said as Joseph smiled as did Elisa.
Hermione nodded, beaming. "Mum and Dad dropped me off this morning with all my Hogwarts things." Hermione added as Joseph and Elisa nodded.
"Same here." Joseph said as he looked to them.
"Only it was Joseph's dad since he had some meeting to attend to." Elisa said as it looked like Elisa may end up as Joseph's secretary in the future if not his wife.
"Excellent!" Harry said happily glad their group was back together again.
"So, have you got all your new books and stuff?" Al asked as she looked to their friends.
"Look at this," said Ron, pulling a long thin box out of a bag and opening it. "Brand-new wand. Fourteen inches, willow, containing one unicorn tail-hair. Finally understand what you mean about him charging by the hour, Al. And we've got all our books," He boasted before he pointed at a large bag under his chair. "What about those Monster Books, eh? The assistant nearly cried when we said we wanted two." Ron asked as Harry and Al both cringed at this a bit remembering their first 'meeting,' with the blasted thing.
"What's all that, Hermione?" Joseph asked, pointing at not one but three bulging bags in the chair next to her.
"Well, I'm taking more new subjects than those two, aren't I," Hermione said as she looked to them. "Those are my books for Arithmancy, Care of Magical Creatures, Divination, the Study of Ancient Runes, Muggle Studies..." Hermione listed off before Al cut her off there.
"What are you doing Muggle Studies for? You're muggleborn. Wouldn't you already know all about muggles?" Al asked as Hermione then smiled.
"But it'll be fascinating to study them from the wizarding point of view," Hermione said earnestly.
"She's not wrong and this just means me and her will have more classes together with Elisa." Joseph said as Elisa nodded having as many bags as Hermione did and more if Elisa was counted.
"Are you all even planning to eat or sleep at all this year?" Harry asked, while Ron shook his head. Hermione ignored them like Elisa while Joseph laughed a bit.
"I've still got Ten Galleons," Hermione said, while checking her purse. "It's my birthday in September, and Mum and Dad gave me some money to get myself an early birthday present." She said as Joseph smiled to the soon to be Birthday girl on the table.
"No, I don't think so," said Hermione composedly. "I really want an owl. I mean, Harry's got Hedwig, Joseph has Elvira, and you've got Errol..." Hermione said wanting her own owl like Harry, Joseph, and Ron.
"I haven't. Errol's a family owl. All I've got is Scabbers." Ron corrected as he then pulled his pet rat out of his pocket. "And I want to get him checked over," Ron added, placing Scabbers on the table in front of them. "I don't think Egypt agreed with him." He finished as with the trip and return as well as physical training he had been going over he needed to keep a closer eye on Scabbers health. Scabbers was looking thinner than usual, and there was a definite droop to his whiskers.
Al meanwhile had a great distrust for Scabbers as Joseph was right here and Scabbers wasn't reacting like most if not all animals do around the Slytherin. "There's a magical creature shop just over there," Harry interrupted her thoughts, as knew Diagon Alley very well by now. "You could see if they've got anything for Scabbers, and Hermione can get her owl." Harry said as Joseph smiled nervously.
"Yeah I'll sit this one out you know how animals feel around me." Joseph said as Harry nodded in understanding as Elvira was the exception to this rule.
"I'll see if we can find anything Elvira may need that Owl always seems like he came back from somewhere." Harry admitted as Elvira always seemed to be the one to deliver Joseph's letter and correspond between Harry and Joseph with Hedwig. So in turn they paid for their ice cream and crossed the street to the Magical Menagerie as Joseph and Elisa took their leave to Gringott's as they had something to do over there.
There wasn't much room inside. Every inch of wall was hidden by cages. It was smelly and very noisy because the occupants of these cages were all squeaking, squawking, jabbering, or hissing. The witch behind the counter was already advising a wizard on the care of double-ended newts, so Harry, Ron, and Hermione waited, examining the cages, while Al checked out the kittens inside the magical pet shop.
A pair of enormous purple toads sat gulping wetly and feasting on dead blowflies. A gigantic tortoise with a jewel-encrusted shell was glittering near the window. Poisonous orange snails were oozing slowly up the side of their glass tank, and a fat white rabbit kept changing into a silk top hat and back again with a loud popping noise. Then there were cats of every color, a noisy cage of ravens, a basket of funny custard-colored fur balls that were humming loudly, and on the counter, a vast cage of sleek black rats that were playing some sort of skipping game using their long, bald tails.
The double-ended newt wizard left, and Ron approached the counter.
"It's my rat," Ron began to the Witch as he looked to her. "He's been a bit off-color ever since I brought him back from Egypt." Ron said as he looked to the Witch.
"Put him on the counter," The witch said, pulling a pair of heavy black spectacles out of her pocket.
Ron lifted Scabbers out of his inside pocket and placed him next to the cage of his fellow rats, who stopped their skipping tricks and scuffled to the wire for a better took. Like nearly everything Ron owned, Scabbers the rat was secondhand (he had once belonged to Ron's brother Percy) and a bit battered. Next to the glossy rats in the cage, he looked especially woebegone.
"Hmm." The Witch began, while picking up Scabbers. "How old is this rat?" She asked as Ron looked to her.
"Dunno but he is Quite old. He used to belong to my brother." Ron explained as he looked to the Witch unaware to Al listening in on them.
"What powers does he have?" The witch asked, examining Scabbers closely.
"Uh." The truth was that Scabbers had never shown the faintest trace of interesting powers. The witch's eyes moved from Scabbers's tattered left ear to his front paw, which had a toe missing, and tutted loudly.
"He's been through the mill, this one," she said as she looked to the Witch.
"He was like that when Percy gave him to me," Ron said defensively as Al began to think Scabbers wasn't exactly wizarding normal.
"An ordinary common or garden rat like this can't be expected to live longer than three years or so." The witch said as Al then went wide eyed for not realizing this sooner. "Now, if you were looking for something a bit more hard-wearing, you might like one of these..." She said indicated the black rats, who promptly started skipping again.
"Show-offs." Ron muttered as Al knew the Rat wasn't normal if it lived longer than three years as it has.
"Well, if you don't want a replacement, you can try this rat tonic," said the witch, reaching under the counter and bringing out a small red bottle.
"Okay, how much... OUCH!" Ron cried out buckled as something huge and orange came soaring from the top of the highest cage, landed on his head, and then propelled itself, spitting madly, at Scabbers. Al had come running over at the scream, ready for a fight when she saw the scene before her as did Harry.
"NO, CROOKSHANKS, NO!" The witch cried out, but Scabbers shot from between her hands like a bar of soap, landed splay-legged on the floor, and then scampered for the door.
"Scabbers!" Ron shouted, racing towards him. Al managed to grab him, and handed Scabbers to Ron. Ron had a hard time keeping Scabbers in his pocket, so he, and Harry left the store while Al went back to browsing for a new pet.
"What was that thing?" Ron asked, messaging his head.
"It was either a very big cat or quite a small tiger. Or a demon. Are there demons?" Harry asked, looking at Ron. Ron was saved from having to answer by Al, who had walked out of the store with a small black kitten.
"Where's Hermione?" Al asked, looking around to see that she had not followed them out of the store.
"Probably getting her owl," Harry answered.
The group of four waited outside Magical Menagerie, each taking turns petting the small black kitten Al had decided to name Edward. After a little while, Hermione came out, but she wasn't carrying an owl. Her arms were clamped tightly around the enormous ginger cat.
"You bought that monster?" Ron gasped, his mouth hanging open as Al smirked as now Edward had a friend.
"He's gorgeous, isn't he?" Hermione asked, glowing as Al agreed.
"Great now Edward here won't have to be lonely." Al said presenting her new cat as the black kitten was in the Grimoire arms.
The cat's ginger fur was thick and fluffy, but it was definitely a bit bowlegged and its face looked grumpy and oddly squashed, as though it had run headlong into a brick wall. Now that Scabbers was out of sight, however, the cat was purring contentedly in Hermione's arms.
"Hermione, that thing nearly scalped me!" Ron argued as he looked to Hermione.
"He didn't mean to, did you, Crookshanks?" Hermione said as Al chuckled.
"Hey how about we get Elisa a cat of her own that way while the boys have their owls we have our kittens." Al said as Hermione smiled.
"That sounds like a splendid idea." Hermione said as Ron went pale.
"Oh no." Ron cursed realizing if Hermione, Al, AND Elisa all got cats then Scabbers wouldn't survive the school year. Add the fact rats were easy pray for Owls when they go hunting he began to regret not getting a replacement Rat.
"Don't worry Ron keep Scabbers close to Joseph and the cats will leave him alone." Harry said as Ron figured that was the best bet.
"Yeah um keep the rat away from me I don't want the plague." Joseph was heard as he and Elisa walked in carrying a briefcase of sorts no doubt concluding his business in Gringotts.
"Joseph bloody hell how long have you been there?!" Ron cried out in shock as he saw her.
"Long enough." Joseph said as he kept his distance to not scare Hermione or Al's new pets.
"And I must confess getting a new pet would be a splendid idea but since Ron has his Rat I will need to balance out my new cat with a familiar." Elisa said as she smiled to them. "And I think I know just the creature for it." Elisa said as she smiled to them all. "I shall return momentarily." Elisa said as Joseph smiled.
"Ron if it's any conciliation I'll have a funeral ready for Scabbers." Joseph said as a joke to which Joseph glared at him for that one.
"That reminds me, you forgot your rat tonic," Hermione said, slapping the small red bottle into Ron's hand. "And stop worrying, Crookshanks will be sleeping in my dormitory and Scabbers in yours, what's the problem? Poor Crookshanks, that witch said he'd been in there for ages; no one wanted him." Hermione said gushing at her cat as it purred enjoying the loving it was getting.
It wasn't long until Elisa came back as she held a cat of her own as on her head was a small Dragon Newt as it looked to everyone. "I'm back." Elisa said as Ron cried out in sorrow as he now knew Scabbers was as good as dead. "This is my new Kitty her name is Mina and the newt is Dracul." Elisa introduced as she named her new Bengal Kitten and dragon newt after two wildly infamous dark beings.
"Great might as well start running a zoo here folks." Joseph said as he knew this would be a handful for them all before they began making their way back to the Leakey Cauldron.
(Later back at the Pub)
The group of five arrived back at the Leaky Cauldron where they found Arthur sitting in the bar, reading the Daily Prophet before he took notice to them Harry in particular. "Harry!" he said, smiling as he looked up to him. "How are you?" He asked as he looked to Harry smiling to him.
"I'm fine thank you." Harry said as Al smiled as she held her new kitten.
Arthur put down his paper, and Harry saw the now familiar picture of Sirius Black staring up at him. "They still haven't caught him, then?" Al asked as she looked to the picture and remembered seeing him somewhere before.
"No." Arthur said, looking extremely grave. "They've pulled us all off our regular jobs at the Ministry to try and find him, but no luck so far." He said as Harry and Al saw this was a bad idea to send others besides professionals to go after Sirius.
"Wait, why would they do that? If he's dangerous, wouldn't it be better to just have professionals..." Harry asked, brow furrowing as he didn't realize Al was thinking Sirius was innocent.
"Would we get a reward if we caught him?" Ron interrupted as he looked to them. "It'd be good to get some more money..." he said as after dealing with the Philosopher Stone, Rose with Demonbane Blood, and a Basilisk with the Eldritch God Yig he assumed they can handle it.
"Don't be ridiculous, Ron," Arthur said, who on closer inspection looked very strained. "Black's not going to be caught by a thirteen-year-old wizard. It's the Azkaban guards who'll get him back, you mark my words." He said as Harry shrugged a bit at this.
At that moment Molly entered the bar, laden with shopping bags and followed by the twins, Fred and George, who were about to start their fifth year at Hogwarts; the newly elected Head Boy, Percy; and the Weasleys' youngest child and only girl, Ginny.
Ginny, who had always been very, taken with Harry, seemed even more heartily embarrassed than usual when she saw him, perhaps because he had saved her life during their previous year at Hogwarts. Plus it seemed working with the Marauders Organization had matured her to be professional at HQ but outside she like a giggly school girl. She went very red and muttered "hello" without looking at him, before going to Al and chatting with her, cooing over Edward the black cat. Percy, however, held out his hand solemnly as though he and Harry had never met and said, "Harry. How nice to see you." Percy greeted as Harry nodded in response to the elder Weasley.
"Hello, Percy." Harry greeted, trying not to laugh as Al was smiling a little.
"I hope you're well?" Percy said pompously, shaking hands. He seemed to be ignoring Al. The whole debacle was rather like being introduced to the mayor.
"Very well, thanks..." Harry said as he noted Percy has changed a bit.
"Harry!" Fred said, elbowing Percy out of the way and bowing deeply. "Simply splendid to see you, old boy..." Fred greeted smiling at Harry.
"Marvelous," George said, pushing Fred aside and seizing Harry's hand in turn. "Absolutely spiffing." George said causing Al to smile as Joseph took to the back with Elisa watching the scene before them while they also caused Percy to scowl at this scene.
"That's enough, now." Molly Weasley said cutting in on the twins little twin speech.
"Mum!" Fred said, as though he'd only just spotted her and seizing her hand, too. "How really corking to see you..." Fred began only for his mother to stop him.
"I said, that's enough," Molly said, depositing her shopping in an empty chair near her. "Hello, Harry, Al. I suppose you've heard our exciting news?" She pointed to the brand-new silver badge on Percy's chest. "Second Head Boy in the family!" she said, swelling with pride at her son's accomplishment.
"And last," Fred muttered under his breath as Ron could agree on that one.
"I don't doubt that." Molly said before frowning suddenly. "I notice they haven't made you two prefects." She commented as Joseph saw the classic family 'why can't you be more like your brother,' cliché going on right here.
"What do we want to be prefects for?" George said, looking revolted at the very idea. "It'd take all the fun out of life." George said as he'd rather have fun with his life in Hogwarts/
"Could you imagine them as prefects?" Elisa whispered to Ginny and Al who had wandered away from the twins. "They'd probably prank everyone, using their privileges." Elisa said as Al found that very true.
Ginny giggled at that, still petting Edward and Mina as the cats purred at the touch. "You want to set a better example for your sister! And for Elisa and Al!" Molly snapped at the twins as Joseph laughed a bit at this.
"Ginny's got other brothers to set her an example, Mother. And Al has Harry while Elisa is a Slytherin." Percy said as Elisa saw the hateful tone he used there on the Slytherin part.
George then heaved a sigh after Percy vanished to change. "We tried to shut him in a pyramid," George told Harry of his, Ron, Fred, and Ginny's small scheme. "But Mum spotted us." He confessed as Al smiled a bit.
"If it were me I'd do the same." Al cut in as she smirked at them.
Dinner that night was a very enjoyable affair. Tom the innkeeper put three tables together in the parlor, and the seven Weasleys, Al, Elisa, Joseph, Harry, and Hermione ate their way through five delicious courses. Ron and Ginny were being asked 20 questions on the recent happenings of their internship with Hermione as Ron smiled and told them the cover stories he and Ginny agreed on to keep their real job hidden for Harry's sake.
Joseph wasn't a fast eater as he ate calmly as he talked with his friends as Elisa was the quite girl but she talked to people regardless. Though inside Joseph was happy to be part of a family like this but heart wrenched at what he must do. Nothing of importance was to occur this year save for Sirius escape and seeing as his mother was friends with Sirius and the Marauders Joseph knew something would throw a wrench in his plans. Plus with him trying to develop a new spell in the Chamber of Secrets he had a lot of free time to himself.
Joseph envied them here he envied them for having their freedom to choose while Joseph was bound by the chains of his real father and the Eldritch Gods who use him to be their anchor.
"How're we getting to King's Cross tomorrow, Dad?" Fred asked as they dug into a sumptuous chocolate pudding as Joseph and Elisa both enjoyed it.
"The Ministry's providing a couple of cars," Arthur said as he ate the pudding causing everyone looked up at him.
"Why?" Percy asked curiously as he wanted to know like everyone else did.
"It's because of you, Perce." George said seriously. "And there'll be little flags on the hoods, with HB on them..." George began as Fred saw the joke they were going to use.
"...for Humongous Bighead," Fred finished as this caused everyone except Percy and Molly snort into their pudding to stifle their laughter at Percy's expense.
"Why are the Ministry providing cars, Father?" Percy asked again, in a dignified voice.
"Well, as we haven't got one anymore." Arthur began causing Harry, Al, and Ron to cough a bit as their food went down the wrong hole remembering how Harry in his Magius form changed the mentioned car. "And seeing as I work there, they're doing me a favor..." He confessed as his voice was casual, but Harry, Al, Joseph, and Elisa couldn't help noticing that Arthur Weasley's ears had gone red, just like Ron's did when he was under pressure.
"Good thing, too," Molly began as this was a good thing for their sheer number as they practically had a Quiddich Team at this point. "Do you realize how much luggage you've all got between you? A nice sight you'd be on the muggle Underground... You are all packed, aren't you?" She asked as they all looked.
"Ron hasn't put all his new things in his trunk yet," Percy said, in a long-suffering voice. "He's dumped them on my bed." Percy ratted out as Al glared at him for that one.
"I thought that was my bed," Ron complained as he honestly didn't know.
"You'd better go and pack properly, Ron, because we won't have much time in the morning." Molly said as Joseph smiled.
"I'll help you Ron organization is my forte." Joseph said as he was still the best chess player in Hogwarts after all.
After dinner most everyone felt very full and sleepy. One by one they made their way upstairs to their rooms to check their things for the next day. Ron and Percy were next door to Harry and Al with Joseph there to help Ron pack like he promised. Harry had just closed and locked his own trunk and Al was busy double checking hers when they heard angry voices through the wall, and Harry went to see what was going on.
Harry was listening to the voices out in the hall.
The door of number twelve was ajar and Percy was shouting.
"It was here, on the bedside table, I took it off for polishing..." Percy said as Joseph could be heard trying to calm things down.
"I haven't touched it, all right?" Ron roared back as it was clear an argument was going on here.
"What's up?" Harry asked, looking from brother to brother before Joseph spoke.
"Long story short Percy lost his badge (Percy: I did not!) While Ron here is missing Scabbers medicine while helping Percy look for his missing badge." Joseph explained as he looked to Harry.
"My Head Boy badge is gone." Percy confirmed, rounding on Harry. Harry took an involuntary step back just as Joseph got between them both.
"So's Scabbers's tonic." Ron also confirmed as he throwing things out of his trunk to look. "I think I might've left it in the bar..." He said as Harry nodded to this.
"You're not going anywhere till you've found my badge!" Percy yelled as Joseph then rubbed his eyes in annoyance seeing as he just helped Ron organize his trunk before the missing stuff was noticed as gone.
"I'll get Scabbers's stuff, I'm packed," Harry said to Ron, and he hurried downstairs before Percy could rope him into looking for his badge.
"Wait don't leave me here!" Joseph cried out but alas Harry ditched him to the arguing red heads.
Harry was halfway along the passage to the bar, which was now very dark, when he heard another pair of angry voices coming from the parlor. A second later, he recognized them as both Arthur and Molly Weasley. He hesitated, not wanting them to know he'd heard them arguing, when the sound of his own name made him stop, then move closer to the parlor door.
"... Makes no sense not to tell him Harry's got a right to know. I've tried to tell Fudge, but he insists on treating Harry like a child. He's thirteen years old and..." Arthur was heard as Molly seemed to differ.
"Arthur, the truth would terrify him!" Molly said shrilly. "Do you really want to send Harry back to school with that hanging over him? For heaven's sake, he's happy not knowing!" Molly said as it was clear the mother hen was coming out.
"I don't want to make him miserable, I want to put him on his guard!" Arthur said as Harry heard this as now he knew he needed to be on guard with Al. "You know what Harry and Ron are like, wandering off by themselves. They've ended up in the Forbidden Forest twice! Even Al needs to be careful considering that there are those who would literally put her under a love potion just to have her ancestor's untouched fortune." Arthur said as he had been hearing rumors of plans to remove Al or capture her to have access to Alhazered's vault.
"But neither of them should do that this year! When I think what could have happened to them that night they ran away from home! If the Knight Bus hadn't picked them up, I'm prepared to bet the two would have been dead before the Ministry found them." Molly said as it was clear that Al was also involved somehow.
"But they're not dead, they're fine, so what's the point..." Molly said as it was clear she was trying to protect them.
"Molly, they say Sirius Black's mad, and maybe he is, but he was clever enough to escape from Azkaban, and that's supposed to be impossible. It's been three weeks, and no one's seen hide nor hair of him, and I don't care what Fudge keeps telling the Daily Prophet, we're no nearer catching Black than inventing self-spelling wands. The only thing we know for sure is what Black's after..." Arthur argued as it seems he was realistic.
"But Harry will be perfectly safe at Hogwarts." Molly said as Harry knew Molly was worrying over nothing seeing as he and Al were pretty capable fighter in their Magius form plus they have Demonbane to fall back to if they need it.
"We thought Azkaban was perfectly safe. If Black can break out of Azkaban, he can break into Hogwarts. Besides, remember last year, and the troll?" Arthur brought up as Harry gave Arthur points for those perfect examples.
"But no one's really sure that Black's after Harry..." There was a thud on wood, and Harry was sure Arthur had banged his fist on the table.
"Molly, how many times do I have to tell you? They didn't report it in the press because Fudge wanted it kept quiet, but Fudge went out to Azkaban the night Black escaped. The guards told Fudge that Black's been talking in his sleep for a while now. Always the same words: 'He's at Hogwarts... he's at Hogwarts.' Black is deranged, Molly, and he wants Harry dead. If you ask me, he thinks murdering Harry will bring You-Know-Who back to power. Black lost everything the night Harry stopped You-Know-Who, and he's had twelve years alone in Azkaban to brood on that..." Arthur said as he knew Sirius was coming for Harry.
There was a silence. Harry leaned still closer to the door, desperate to hear more. He knew there was more to the minister's rules than he said. But he also remembered Metatron's warning and it seemed this one fit perfectly to not trust everything he read on the news. 'Is Sirius Black actually innocent?' Harry wondered as he knew Metatron was an unknown but she always so far went out of her way to help him when they meet.
"Well, Arthur, you must do what you think is right. But you're forgetting Albus Dumbledore. I don't think anything could hurt Harry at Hogwarts while Dumbledore's Headmaster." Molly defended as it was clear she was a firm believer of Dumbledore's power.
"But what about the others Al in particular?" Arthur asked as Molly was silent for a moment before she continued.
"Dumbledore didn't return until after they went into the Chamber. I suppose he knows about all this?" Molly said as Arthur was heard nodding.
"Of course he knows. We had to ask him if he minds the Azkaban guards stationing themselves around the entrances to the school grounds. He wasn't happy about it, but he agreed." Arthur said still believing Harry deserved to know the truth.
"Not happy? Why shouldn't he be happy, if they're there to catch Black?" Molly asked as she knew those Dementor's are not to be trusted.
"Dumbledore isn't fond of the Azkaban guards." Arthur said as he shared that sentiment. "Nor am I, if it comes to that... but when you're dealing with a wizard like Black, you sometimes have to join forces with those you'd rather avoid." He said as he knew this was needed for now.
"If they save Harry..." Molly said as Arthur sighed to this.
"...then I will never say another word against them," Arthur said as he still didn't like this but took note of the time. "It's late, Molly, we'd better go up..." Molly said as Harry then went wide eyed as he heard chairs move. As quietly as he could, he hurried down the passage to the bar and out of sight. The parlor door opened, and a few seconds' later footsteps told him that Arthur and Molly Weasley were climbing the stairs.
The bottle of rat tonic was lying under the table they had sat at earlier. Harry waited until he heard the bedroom door of Molly and Arthur Weasley close, then headed back upstairs with the bottle.
Fred and George were crouching in the shadows on the landing, heaving with laughter as they listened to Percy dismantling his and Ron's room in search of his badge.
"We've got it," Fred whispered to Harry. "We've been improving it." The badge now read Bighead Boy. Harry forced a laugh, went to give Ron the rat tonic, then shut, himself in his room and lay down on his bed making a mental note to talk to Al about this in the morning.
So Sirius Black was after him. This explained everything. Fudge had been lenient with them because he was so relieved to find them alive. He'd made Harry promise to stay in Diagon Alley where there were plenty of wizards to keep an eye on him. And he was sending two Ministry cars to take them all to the station tomorrow, so that the Weasleys could look after Harry until he was on the train.
Harry lay listening to the muffled shouting next door and wondered why he didn't feel more scared. Sirius Black had murdered thirteen people with one curse; Arthur and Molly Weasley obviously thought Harry would be panic-stricken if he knew the truth. But Harry happened to agree wholeheartedly with Molly that the safest place on earth was wherever Albus Dumbledore happened to be. As long as you don't go looking for trouble. Didn't people always say that Dumbledore was the only person Lord Voldemort had ever been afraid of? Surely Black, as Voldemort's right-hand man, would be just as frightened of him?
And then there were these Azkaban guards everyone kept talking about. They seemed to scare most people senseless, and if they were stationed all around the school, Black's chances of getting inside seemed very remote. Who would willingly go near them after having escaped from them?
No, all in all, the thing that bothered Harry most was the fact that his chances of visiting Hogsmede now looked like zero. Nobody would want Harry to leave the safety of the castle until Black was caught; in fact, Harry suspected his every move would be carefully watched until the danger had passed.
He scowled at the dark ceiling. Did they think he couldn't look after himself? He'd escaped Lord Voldemort three times; he wasn't completely useless... Plus with Al and Demonbane on his side he could take him on but then his mind crossed to what Metatron had urged from him in her warning.
"I need to talk to Daphne about Black." Harry said as he then felt a flash go in his mind to what Al had mentioned. "And I need to hear about his court case as well." Harry said as he knew something was amiss with this Sirius Black Business.
(Scene Break the next Morning)
Tom woke Harry the next morning with his usual toothless grin and a cup of tea. Harry was just persuading a disgruntled Hedwig to get back into her cage when Ron banged his way into the room, pulling a sweatshirt over his head and looking irritable. Joseph was already bright eyed and bushy tailed as he instead of tea had taken coffee which he was enjoying no doubt to start his day.
Al gave him a brief look before curling back up on her bed. Apparently she had decided that she was done getting ready. Harry frowned knowing how Al was not a morning person in the slightest, before turning to face Ron.
"The sooner we get on the train, the better. At least I can get away from Percy at Hogwarts. Now he's accusing me of dripping tea on his photo of Penelope Clearwater. You know his girlfriend. She's hidden her face under the frame because her nose has gone all blotchy..." Ron said as Percy was being a major Git.
"I've got something to tell you, both of you," Harry began, turning towards Al, but they were interrupted by Fred and George, who had looked in to congratulate Ron on infuriating Percy again. Al got up at this, although she did not look very aware. Fred and George gave her a strange look.
"Harry, what's wrong with old Al? She looks like an Inferius." One of the twins said, looking a little uneasy at this. Harry looked at the Grimoire as she was not a morning person in the slightest.
"A what?" Harry asked, looking at all three Weasleys. Ron smacked his head.
"Right, you grew up with muggles. An Inferius is a dead body that someone evil has brought back," Ron explained. Harry looked confused.
"I thought you couldn't bring people back?" Harry asked, shaking Al a bit to try and wake her up a bit more. She merely muttered something unintelligible, attempted to swat away Harry's hands, and leaned against the dresser.
"Ron's a bit off," the other twin said, looking unnaturally serious. "They're more like animated corpses. Either way, only evil wizards and witches bring them back, like You-Know-Who. He had an entire army of Inferi, full of people he killed."
"She's not dead, she's fine, just...not awake? This is, uh, normal for her, she really hates mornings." Harry reassured the three Weasleys. The twins frowned, but Ron just shrugged and headed down to breakfast. But they understood about hating mornings after all only a crazy person would like waking up early and Joseph so far fit the bill if it wasn't for his coffee.
Harry made sure Al walked in front of him, and had to keep a hand on her to make sure she didn't fall off the stairs. Something was definitely up. After he talked with everyone about Black, he needed to contact Daphne and HQ to let them know they needed information on Sirius Black's trial and conviction.
They headed down to breakfast, where Arthur was reading the front page of the Daily Prophet with a furrowed brow and Molly was telling Hermione, Elisa, and Ginny about a love potion she'd made as a young girl. All four of them were rather giggly, with Edward sitting in Ginny's lap attacking a piece of string Ginny was dangling in front of her.
"What were you saying, earlier?" Ron asked Harry as they sat down. "Later," Harry muttered as Percy stormed in. During breakfast, Percy and the twins got in a fight, with Molly yelling at the twins on Percy's behalf. Ginny was sitting next to Hermione with Edward, since Joseph and Elisa were sitting with Al near Harry. Elisa and Joseph managed to wake Al up by the end of breakfast, as Al was awake enough to protest the amount of food Harry had put on her plate for a third serving.
Harry had no chance to speak to Al, Ron or Hermione in the chaos of leaving; they were too busy heaving all their trunks down the Leaky Cauldron's narrow staircase and piling those up near the door, with Hedwig, Elvira, and Hermes, Percy's screech owl, perched on top in their cages. Two small wickerwork baskets stood beside the heap of trunks, one spitting loudly.
"It's all right, Crookshanks," Hermione cooed through the wickerwork. "I'll let you out on the train." Hermione said as Al walked over to her new kitty Edward with Elisa near Mina.
"Same to you, Edward." Al smiled as she smiled at her cat as Mina was looking ready to burst with energy.
"You to Mina." Elisa said as Mina really wanted out to run and play.
"You won't," Ron snapped wanting to protect his rat. "What about poor Scabbers, eh?" He pointed at his chest, where a large lump indicated that Scabbers was curled up in his pocket.
"We can replace him?" Joseph joked as Ron glared at Joseph who eased back a bit. Soon Arthur who had been outside waiting for the Ministry cars, stuck his head inside.
"They're here, Harry, come on." Arthur said as Harry nodded and followed Arthur with Al close by.
Arthur marched Harry across the short stretch of pavement toward the first of two old-fashioned dark green cars, each of which was driven by a furtive-looking wizard wearing a suit of emerald velvet. Al frowned, and followed right behind as she didn't like being treated like a child but the mission came first. She gave her master a questioning glance, and he mouthed later. She nodded, a little annoyed at how closely they were being watched by the Weasley parents. It was quite different from the past two weeks of freedom. "In you get, Harry, Al." Arthur said glancing up and down the crowded street.
Harry got into the back of the car. Before Al joined him, she saw the same black dog that had followed them in the Alley sitting and watching...in muggle London. She frowned, but got in after Ron started to complain she was being slow. Hermione joined the three in the car, and Ron breathed a sigh of relief when Percy was turned away from the first car by his father just as Joseph and Elisa came in with them.
(Scene Break Kings Cross Station that same day)
The journey to King's Cross was very uneventful compared with the Knight Bus. The Ministry of Magic cars seemed almost ordinary. When they weren't sliding through gaps that normal cars certainly couldn't have managed. They reached King's Cross with twenty minutes to spare; the Ministry drivers found them trolleys, unloaded their trunks, touched their hats in salute to Arthur, and drove away, somehow managing to jump to the head of an unmoving line at the traffic lights. Al stared at them as she rolled her eyes at this as magic really has changed in the time she's been around and becoming weaker in humans.
"Those seem like useful cars." Al said, before being jostled by Arthur as he followed her master. Al and Harry both locked eyes one confused, one resigned, over what the elder Weasley was doing. Harry again mouthed later, and Al scowled. Later was not a word she enjoyed having in her vocabulary. She noticed that the dog had apparently managed to follow them to the station, and she gave it a glare. This was beginning to cross over into the 'strange' category of the magical world, instead of just the 'maybe I've never heard of it'. That category had been recently created by Al and Harry knowing with the recent two years as well as fighting the Black Lodge in an underground war the two had sworn they were not going to accept anything as face value so they can be ready for something trying to kill them be it Voldemort or the Black Lodge itself.
"Right then." Arthur began glancing around them. "Let's do this in pairs, as there are so many of us. I'll go through first with Harry." He said as that was the best plan for now.
Arthur strolled toward the barrier between platforms nine and ten, pushing Harry's trolley and apparently very interested in the InterCity 125 that had just arrived at platform nine. With a meaningful look at Harry, he leaned casually against the barrier. Harry imitated him, as did Al who had caught up to them, giving Arthur an apologetic look as she rather stay close to Harry.
In a moment, they had fallen sideways through the solid metal onto platform nine and three-quarters and looked up to see the Hogwarts Express, a scarlet steam engine, puffing smoke over a platform packed with witches and wizards seeing their children onto the train.
Percy and Ginny suddenly appeared behind Harry and Al followed by Joseph and Elisa. The first two panting a bit having taken off in a run.
"Ah, there's Penelope!" Percy said, smoothing his hair and going pink again. Ginny turned away from Percy, hiding her laughter. Percy strode over to a girl with long, curly hair, walking with his chest thrown out so that she couldn't miss his shiny new badge. Unsurprisingly, there seemed to be a matching new badge that the Ravenclaw was excited to point out to her boyfriend.
Once the remaining Weasleys and Hermione had joined them, Arthur led the way to the end of the train, past packed compartments, to a carriage that looked quite empty. They loaded the trunks onto it, stowed Hedwig, Elvira, Edward, Mina, and Crookshanks in the luggage rack as Dracul hid in Elisa's robes, then went back outside to say goodbye to Arthur and Molly.
Molly kissed all her children, then Hermione, then Harry, then Al, followed by Elisa who did not like it, and Joseph who was blushing but tried to hold back tears and kept it well hidden save for Elisa's view. He was embarrassed, but really quite pleased, when she gave him an extra hug. She had tried to do the same to Al who then pulled back blushing a bit no doubt feeling like an embarrassed teen with her emberassing parents which Molly took as a good sign.
"Do take care, won't you Harry?" Molly said as she straightened up, her eyes oddly bright. Then she opened her enormous handbag and said, "I've made you all sandwiches. Here you are, Ron... no, they're not corned beef... Fred? Where's Fred? Here you are dear..." Molly said as she smiled at them all.
"Harry," Arthur then began as he looked to Harry. "Come over here for a moment." He asked as He jerked his head towards a pillar, and Harry followed him behind it, leaving the others crowded around Molly. Al noticed, and slipped behind Harry. Anything Harry was going to be told Al should be aware of as well as they were partners after all.
Arthur gave her a look and then resigned preferring not to start a fight with Al right now. "There's something I've got to tell you before you leave..." Arthur began in a tense voice.
"It's all right, Arthur," Harry began with a smile. "I already know." Harry confirmed as Al saw this.
Al and Arthur both stared at him in disbelief.
"You know? How could you know?" Arthur sputtered, ears turning a bit red. Al raised her eyebrows, and Harry threw her a later sign. She scowled but didn't leave.
"I, err, I heard you and Molly talking last night. I couldn't help overhearing," Harry added quickly with an apologetic look.
"That's not the way I'd have chosen for you to find out," Arthur said looking anxious.
"Honestly it's okay. This way, you haven't broken your word to Fudge and I know what's going on." Harry confirmed as Arthur looked to him
"Harry, you must be scared..." He said as Harry looked to him.
"I'm not," Harry said sincerely as it was true. "Really," he added, because Arthur was looking disbelieving to Harry. "I'm not trying to be a hero, but seriously, Sirius Black can't be worse than Lord Voldemort, can he?" Harry asked as Al smirked a bit.
'Or Master Therion and the Eldritch Gods.' Al mentally added as she knew NOTHING was worse than those things or Master Therion.
Arthur flinched at the sound of the name, but overlooked it. "Harry, I knew you were, well, made of stronger stuff than Fudge seems to think, and I'm obviously pleased that you're not scared, but..." Arthur began as he looked to them.
"Arthur! Arthur, what are you doing? It's about to go!" Molly called as she was now shepherding the rest onto the train.
"They're coming Molly!" Arthur called before turning to both Harry and Al.
Arthur then looked back to them and kept talking in a lower and more hurried voice, "Listen, I want you to give me your word..."
"...that I'll be a good boy and stay in the castle?" finished Harry gloomily.
"Not entirely," said Arthur, who looked more serious than Harry had ever seen him. "Harry, swear to me you won't go looking for Black."
Harry and Al stared, "What!" There was a loud whistle. Guards were walking along the train, slamming all the doors shut.
"Promise me, Harry," Arthur said, talking more quickly still, "that whatever happens..." He began as Harry knew this.
"Why would I go looking for someone I know wants to kill me?" Harry said blankly.
"Harry's not that stupid," Al said, before Harry punched her in the shoulder. "Well, you aren't." Al confirmed as she knew Harry enough that he was stupid at times.
"Swear to me that whatever you might hear..." Arthur said as he wanted to make sure they stayed safe.
"Arthur, quickly!" Molly cried out before Harry and Al ran to the train to board it as they had to hurry or miss it.
(Later inside the Hogwarts Express)
Steam was billowing from the train it had started to move. Harry ran to the compartment door and Ron threw it open and stood back to let him and Al on. They leaned out of the window and waved at Arthur and Molly until the train turned a corner and blocked them from view.
"I need to talk to you in private," Harry muttered to Ron and Hermione as the train picked up speed. Joseph nodded as Ginny knew this and lead the twins, Joseph, and Elisa away to give the original four some privacy.
Harry, Al, Ron, and Hermione set off down the corridor, looking for an empty compartment, but all were full except for the one at the very end of the train.
This had only one occupant, a man sitting fast asleep next to the window. Harry, Al, Ron, and Hermione checked on the threshold. The Hogwarts Express was usually reserved for students and they had never seen an adult there before, except for the witch who pushed the food cart.
The stranger was wearing an extremely shabby set of wizard's robes that had been darned in several places. He looked ill and exhausted. Though quite young, his light brown hair was flecked with gray.
"Who d'you reckon he is?" Ron hissed as they sat down and slid the door shut, taking the seats farthest away from the window.
"Professor R. J. Lupin." Hermione whispered at once as Al inspected him.
"How'd you know that?" Ron asked, goggling at Hermione.
"It's on his case," she replied, pointing at the luggage rack over the man's head, where there was a small, battered case held together with a large quantity of neatly knotted string. The name Professor R. J. Lupin was stamped across one corner in peeling letters.
"Wonder what he teaches?" Ron said while frowning at Professor Lupin's pallid profile.
"That's obvious," Hermione whispered to Ron as it was the obvious answer. "There's only one vacancy, isn't there? Defense against the Dark Arts." Hermione said as Harry and Ron looked to him as did Al.
The third years had already had two Defense against the Dark Arts teachers, both of whom had lasted only one year. There were rumors that the job was jinxed.
"Is he dead?" Al asked, going to poke the man. Harry stopped her, making her sit next to him.
"Well, I hope he's up to it," Ron said doubtfully. "He looks like one good hex would finish him off, doesn't he? Anyway..." he turned to Harry, "what were you going to tell us, Harry?" Ron asked as Al then cleared her throat while Harry began to tell him.
Harry explained all about Arthur and Molly's argument and the warning Arthur had just given him. When he'd finished, Al had her eye narrowed with the same cold look she had given Uncle Vernon when they left, Ron looked thunderstruck, and Hermione had her hands over her mouth. She finally lowered them to say, "Sirius Black escaped to come after you? Oh, Harry... you'll have to be really, really careful. Don't go looking for trouble, Harry..." Ron said as Al then looked to Harry and Ron.
"Hey we don't look for trouble actively trouble finds us." Al said as she then sighed. "Plus… I have some reasoning to believe Sirius is actually innocent of any crimes." Al said as Ron and Hermione both looked shocked.
"Pardon?" Hermione asked as she looked to the Grimoire.
"Look a picture can say a thousand word and I saw a good chunk of those in his photo on the Prophet, Anger, loss, and grief, a man who lost his world and went after the person who caused it." Al said as she looked to them. "If you guys feel like talking what happened when he was caught?" Al asked as she wanted answers on Sirius.
"Not much…" Ron asked as he looked to her. "My dad said Peter Pettigrew died trying to catch him Sirius shot a curse killing Pettigrew and multiple muggles." Ron said as Al looked to him. "They say the only thing left of Peter was his finger." Ron said as Al then shot up wide eyed.
"Wait you said only a finger?!" Al called as Ron and Hermione were both caught off guard.
"What importance does a finger play Al?" Harry asked as she then rubbed her eyes in annoyance.
"I've seen many people fake their deaths like that cut off their finger during an explosion but the explosion on a pipe line should have left a corpse a finger could not have survived in other words it was a diversion." Al said as Hermione and Ron heard this.
"She's not wrong why a finger and not a corpse?" Hermione asked as Ron heard this.
"Are you saying Black was framed?" Ron asked as Harry looked seeing the logic.
"Voldemort was dead so if Peter wasn't loyal to him then why else would he possible fake his death?" Harry asked as pieces began to lock into place for them.
"Wow this is like the earliest we've ever began solving a mystery." Al said as their luck may just be turning around now.
"Yes plus if I were falsely imprisoned for a crime I did not commit I'd hate to admit it but I'd want to break out as well so I may clear my name." Hermione confessed as Ron saw this as well.
"So… we're probably going to go looking for a mass murderer and ask his side of the story?" Ron asked as he knew he had been training his body for an event like this one.
"For no probably yes." Al said as Ron then sighed.
"I was afraid you were going to say that." Ron said as they also had to get any updates on orders from Daphne and the arriving Deus Machina Aeon.
"Well anyway if we have some form of thing to do at Hogsmead then you guys will have to go without me and Al." Harry said as they were unable to get the signature from Petunia before running away after blowing up Marge.
"Well in case Black is a Murderer we may have to bring out the, you-know-what to subdue him if needed." Al said as she looked to Lupin who she was believing may be faking sleep.
"Yeah that may be helpful." Harry said knowing what she was actually talking about.
"So any thoughts if Therion and the Black Lodge may try and use Black to his advantage?" Al asked as they had to be ready.
"Who knows but if he does we'll be ready." Ron said as he knew Master Therion was strong but Harry and Al were catching up this his strength real fast.
"I hope so." Hermione said as they had all agreed to keep Joseph and Elisa out of their small club for their sake after Joseph was used for his blood as the true heir last year by Riddle.
"For now we need to focus on getting more information on Black if he was falsely imprisoned we need to know so we can clear his name and if he did not have a proper trial we need to get him that trial." Harry said as he was not going to let an innocent man be in Azkaban like with Hagrid last year.
"Agreed." Al said as she looked to Lupin betting her Galleons he was faking being asleep there. Al would benefit to know she would actually win this bet as Remus Lupin was in fact pretending to be asleep.
Remus Lupin was very good at pretending to sleep. It was almost necessary given who his roommates were in Hogwarts. At first, Remus thought it would be a good way to learn more about the atmosphere at Hogwarts, but when Harry ended up in his compartment, he was overjoyed. He could learn about the boy who would have been like his nephew.
The first topic of conversation was a bit sore. Remus didn't realize that no one would tell Harry how close Black was to his father. He understood why, but for him it was almost impossible to think about Sirius Black and not think James Potter. He did his best to ignore the topic, and just listen to the voices of Harry and his friends. He could almost pretend that everything was perfect, and he was just listening to the two talk about Hogwarts, or whatever interested them, with Peter and either Lily or James would come and interrupt soon...
But then during the entire conversation they began talking as if they were hiding a secret as they began to discuss what they knew about Sirius. And Remus was shocked to learn that Al made an excellent point with Harry on Peter. Why would an explosion only leave a finger behind while destroying the rest of the body? Furthermore Remus was also angry and grief stricken when James and Lily died and if Remus wasn't the brains he may have attacked Sirius as well. But Sirius was the secret keeper so if anything he was the only suspect… unless there was an unknown variable in all of this mystery around him.
But then Remus remembered Peter was an Animagi so if anything he could have easily transformed into a rat after cutting off his finger and blowing the pipes to escape and live in hiding. It was the most important part as since Peter was an unregistered Animagi this would mean he could easily hide among Rats in the country full of them. This in turn meant that Sirius may actually be innocent and Peter may have been the real traitor. When he thought of this it took all of his self-control not to twitch as this meant he may have blamed Sirius for a crime he did not commit.
If Harry and his friends wanted to find the truth from Sirius Remus was going to help them in hopes that Sirius was actually innocent of the crime.
(Later)
He might not be very good company, but Professor Lupin's presence in their compartment had its uses. Mid-afternoon, just as it had started to rain, blurring the rolling hills outside the window, they heard footsteps outside in the corridor again, and their three least favorite people appeared at the door: Draco Malfoy, flanked by his cronies, Vincent Crabbe and Gregory Goyle.
Draco Malfoy and Harry had been enemies ever since they had met on their very first journey to Hogwarts. Malfoy, who had a pale, pointed, sneering face, was in Slytherin house; he played Seeker on the Slytherin Quiddich team, the same position that Harry played on the Gryffindor team but Draco was the backup Seeker as Joseph was the main Seeker of the team. Crabbe and Goyle seemed to exist to do Malfoy's bidding. They were both wide and muscly; Crabbe was taller, with a pudding-bowl haircut and a very thick neck; Goyle had short, bristly hair and long, gorilla arms.
"Well, look who it is," Malfoy said as Al glared at him as he had his usual lazy drawl, pulling open the compartment door. "Mr. and Mrs. Potter and their pet Weasel." Draco taunted as Al glared at him as she hated being reminded about that damn Prophet bullshit. Crabbe and Goyle of course chuckled trollishly being complete tools here.
"I heard your father finally got his hands on some gold this summer, Weasley. Did your mother die of shock?" Draco taunted as Al and Harry both saw Ron was getting edged as they may have to hold him back.
Ron stood up so quickly he knocked Crookshanks's basket to the floor. Al was on her feet as well, wand twitching as she looked the threesome over before she could go for her fists Professor Lupin gave a snort.
"Who's that?" Malfoy asked, taking an automatic step backward as he spotted Lupin.
"New teacher," Harry said, who got to his feet, too, holding Al and Ron back. "What were you saying, Malfoy?" Harry asked almost daring Draco to try something.
Malfoy's pale eyes narrowed; he wasn't fool enough to pick a fight right under a teacher's nose.
"C'mon," he muttered resentfully to Crabbe and Goyle, and they disappeared.
Harry and Ron sat down again, Ron massaging his knuckles. Al watched as the Slytherin trio walked down the corridor before Harry grabbed her and made her sit down.
"No fighting them," Harry hissed at her as Al scowled in response to this.
"Not unless they start it," she hissed back as Harry then sighed.
"I'm not going to take any crap from Malfoy this year," Ron was saying angrily. "I mean it. If he makes one more crack about my family, I'm going to get hold of his head and..." He said as Al agreed with him.
"Don't worry I'm sure we can have Joseph and Elisa help us get even with Draco." Harry said as Ron agreed while made a violent gesture in midair. "Ron," Hermione, hissed pointing at Professor Lupin, "be careful..." She warned but Professor Lupin was still fast asleep.
The rain thickened as the train sped yet farther north; the windows were now a solid, shimmering gray, which gradually darkened until lanterns flickered into life all along the corridors and over the luggage racks. The train rattled, the rain hammered, the wind roared, but still, Professor Lupin slept.
"We must be nearly there," Ron said, leaning forward to look past Professor Lupin at the now completely black window. The words had hardly left him when the train started to slow down.
"Great. I'm starving. I want to get to the feast..." Ron said while he was getting up and walking carefully past Professor Lupin to try and see outside.
"We can't be there yet," Hermione said, checking her watch. "So why are we stopping?" She asked as then both Harry and Al felt it a darkness had entered the area.
The train was getting slower and slower. As the noise of the pistons fell away, the wind and rain sounded louder than ever against the windows. The train came to a stop with a jolt, and distant thuds and bangs told them that luggage had fallen out of the racks. Then, without warning, all the lamps went out and they were plunged into total darkness.
"What's going on?" Ron's voice said from behind Harry.
"Ouch! Ron that was my foot!" Hermione gasped and scolded as she looked to the others.
Do you think we've broken down?"
"No… we got company." Al said as she and Harry began to get up as this was like first year all over again.
There was a squeaking sound as Ron wiped a patch clean on the window and started peering out.
"There's something moving out there," Ron said as they all felt a cold chill enter the area. Harry and Al knew it well but this was nothing compared to Master Therion. Soon footsteps ominous and dark was heard as Harry began to make his way out of the compartment with Al to see who was trying to attack or harm them.
"Ron, Hermione stay safe." Harry said as he and Al looked and once they were out of the compartment they saw him. It was a man but he was covered head to toe in black armor much like Metatron's own white armor but he was clearly male. Accompanying him were cloaked figures that towered the ceiling as they seemed to not notice him.
"Tell me… are you Harry Potter and his Grimoire the Necronomicon Al Azif?" The figure asked as Harry looked to him.
"Who wants to know?" Harry asked as the figure looked to him with piercing red eyes.
"I am Sandalphon the Black Angel of the Black Lodge. My master the Grand Sorcerer Master Therion had dispatched me to locate Metatron at my own discretion and bring her to him. You and Al Azif were the last two to see her thus I have come to demand you reveal her location to me." Sandalphon said as Harry glared at him.
"Sorry… but Metatron normally appears when she wants to appear." Harry said as Sandalphon glared at him.
"That was not a request if you will not tell me her location… then I shall use you to bring her to me." Sandalphon said as Harry and Al got ready for a fight. Sandalphon then sent the Dementor's forth as they went on the attack as soon with a small burst Harry and Al were in their Magius form as he grabbed both by the neck in response.
"Harry don't stay to close they're trying to suck out your happy memories!" Al called but it was too late as one came from behind and got close to Harry as Harry went wide eyed at this. He then growled and punched it away as it glared at him.
Soon Remus opened his eyes and sent a spell at them as Sandalphon then charged forward as Remus saw him as he restrained Harry to the wall. "Impressive you powered on through the Dementor's." Sandalphon said as he glared at Harry.
"Get off!" Harry roared as he sent a punch at his head knocking him back a bit as Sandalphon saw a wand pointed at him as Remus was pointing his wand at him.
"Give up and sees your aggression." Remus warned as he knew Harry was in trouble.
"That wand…" Sandalphon said as he then looked to Remus. "What does it stir something inside?" Sandalphon said as he then glared at Harry. "Heh it's too crowded and noisy here Arkham should provide a better battleground." Sandalphon said as Remus then went wide as Hermione and Ron saw this.
"Professor run!" Hermione called out before Harry, Al, and Remus were all dragged into Arkham by Sandalphon by a burst of magic caused by him.
"Uh oh." Ron said knowing whatever damage causes in Arkham would reflect onto their world.
(Arkham)
Harry with Al were on the ground as Remus was as well as he saw Sandalphon descend upon them as Harry and Al glared. "Sorry about this professor." Harry said as he looked to Remus.
"Harry?" Remus asked as Al looked to him.
"How do you know his name already like that?" Al asked noticing how Remus was talking to Harry with familiarity.
"Questions best saved when your lives aren't at stake." Sandalphon said before he began firing beams of pure magic at them forcing Harry to bring up his Mystic Defense.
"Professor long story short we're in the magical core of the universe called Arkham we need to be careful how we fight here because any damage done here if major enough can reflect upon our world." Harry explained as Al looked as Remus saw this remembering hearing about random explosions, tornadoes, and earthquakes as he looked to them.
"I see." Remus said as he pointed his wand at Sandalphon. Remus then looked up and was wide eyed at a full moon as he panicked. "Harry run!" Remus yelled expecting pain but Al then focused and the full moon changed to a half-moon. "W-what?" Remus asked as he saw the moon changed suddenly.
"Huh a werewolf that's a new one." Al said as she was catching her breath a bit.
"Al what did you do?" Harry asked as Al looked just before Sandalphon charged at them forcing the two to separate.
"Just running on a hunch was all!" Al called before Harry grabbed Remus and jumped away to a building top.
"You cannot escape boy." Sandalphon said as Harry then acted.
"SCIMITAR OF BARZAI!" Harry invoked as soon the Scimitar appeared blocking a blade strike from Sandalphon. Harry then pushed Sandalphon off as the two then flew upward as Harry went for the first attack. Harry struck downward at Sandalphon who then made a smirking sound and blocked the attack with ease.
"Pathetic." Sandalphon said before charging a fist and then struck against Harry in the stomach hard as Harry felt the air inside leave and maybe a few ribs breaking from the punches power.
"Harry!" Remus called as Harry fell down before switching weapons with ease.
"ITHAQUA AND CTHUGHA!" Harry invoked summoning his guns and firing at Sandalphon who then used his wings to block the attack from both bullets before charging at Harry and grabbing his head.
"To weak!" Sandalphon roared before slamming Harry's head into the ground hard and creating a crater. "Not even worth my time." Sandalphon said before he lifted Harry by the head and threw him aside to the wall where he busted a whole in it. "Weak… just like that." Sandalphon began before he went wide eyed as he felt something appear a greasy haired boy hanging upside down like he was being bullied.
"Harry now!" Al was then heard as Harry then used his body to grab Sandalphon's arm and twist him over causing him to fall over from it.
Harry then roared out and punched Sandalphon in the face before he felt blades pierce him as he looked and saw Sandalphon's wings doing that. "Never let your guard down." Sandalphon said as he then threw Harry off of him before stomping his foot on his neck choking him. "Now you will answer where, is Metatron, boy." Sandalphon said as he then felt the Crucio hit him as he looked and saw Remus there. "I'll deal with you in a bit wolf so stay put." Sandalphon said as Remus glared at him.
"Leave my surrogate Nephew alone!" Remus roared firing a blasting curse at Sandalphon who then let Harry go.
"Very well then if you're so eager to die I shall send you on your way." Sandalphon said as he looked to Remus who stood his ground.
"No Professor run!" Harry called out but Remus ignored him.
Once Sandalphon was upon Remus he glared ready to hit him as this was a suicide attempt. "REMUS!" A new voice was heard as soon a white blur bashed into Sandalphon as the two ended up rolling in a tussle before crashing into a building as Harry and Remus both ran to look.
Soon from the rubble Sandalphon stood as he glared at the new foe and saw the White Angel Metatron was there. "So it seems my hunch was spot on put Potter in enough danger and you will appear Metatron." Sandalphon said as Metatron glared at her foe.
"Are you two ok?" Metatron asked glancing to the two as she showed she wasn't going to let them get hurt again.
"Y-yeah thank you Metatron." Harry said as he was saved by her again.
"Well you found me what do you want from me?" Metatron glared as she wanted answers.
"Master Therion has sent me forth to bring you back Metatron to complete your creation with the mental imprinting." Sandalphon said as Metatron glared at him.
"Over my corpse! I refuse to be a slave to Therion after he robbed me of my daughter and my son!" Metatron yelled before igniting her bream blades and charged at Sandalphon as he glared at her and the two clashed with his own blades ignited.
"Then I must bring you to him by force!" Sandalphon roared out before he began to battle her in a battle of skills as it was magic and hand to hand as they punched and kicked at each other and even used the beam blades and their wings to combat each other.
"Their designed the same way the only deciding factor will be skill and who wants it more." Al said as she saw the battle as Remus was tending to Harry's injuries with Al aiding him.
Sandalphon and Metatron landed on a building and charged at each other trading punches and kicks at each other trying to beat the other as Metatron would not go back to a place she was to be enslaved to and Sandalphon would return her to the Black Lodge by force under Master Therion's explicit orders.
Metatron was then grabbed by her head and slammed down but she used the momentum to flip to her front and then send an upward slash at Sandalphon with her energy blade and sliced through his mask causing some of it to fall off to reveal a human face under it.
Metatron got up and then went wide eyed under her own helmet as she saw a familiar face though scared like her own but still recognizable save for the mystic seal tattooed onto his face. "No…" She began as she began to step back in shock and fear. "It can't be you." Metatron said as she knew this face as he looked to her with a cold look on his face. "How can he do this?!" Metatron yelled before extending her wings and flying to Harry and Remus.
Once she was upon them she created a bomb which she dropped and vanished back to the Hogwarts Express as Harry lost consciousness as Sandalphon was then knocked back by the resulting explosion as the last thing Harry heard before things went black was a scream and Al calling out to Harry.
(Later Hogwarts Express)
"Harry! Harry! Are you all right?" Hermione said, slapping Harry when she didn't get a response.
Harry opened his eyes, as Al noticed the floor shaking no doubt the Hogwarts Express was moving again as they saw the lights had come back on. Harry seemed dazed, looking from the seat he must have slid out to the people around him. Ron and Hermione were kneeling next to him, with Metatron who was leaning on the wall and Professor Lupin watching. Al was also there as Metatron watched over Harry no doubt not wanting to leave him be till she was sure he was ok.
"You're lucky we got back to Hermione and were able to deal with your injuries." Al said as Metatron looked to them. "Metatron helped and well luckily no one will notice that you were hurt before." Al said as Metatron watched them. Metatron then helped Harry back to his seat next to Al as Metatron looked to him making sure he was ok.
"Does anything hurt at all Harry?" Metatron asked as she looked Harry over.
"Yeah," said Harry, looking quickly toward the door. The hooded creature had vanished. "What happened? Where's that, uh, that thing? Who screamed?" Harry asked as he was confused.
"No one screamed." Ron said, more nervously still.
"But I heard screaming." Harry said as Metatron saw this.
"The Dementor can do something like that with the right memory." Metatron revealed just before a loud snap that made the students all jump. Professor Lupin was breaking an enormous slab of chocolate into pieces.
"Here. It will help." He said to Harry handing him a piece of the Chocolate.
"That… was a Dementor?" Harry asked as he didn't know what was scarier Sandalphon or the Dementor.
"Yes one of the very same from Azkaban." Lupin said as he was now giving chocolate to everyone else save for Metatron who politely turned it down.
Everyone stared at him. Professor Lupin crumpled up the empty chocolate wrapper and put it in his pocket.
"Eat. It'll help. I need to speak to the driver, excuse me..." Remus said taking his leave as he strolled past everyone and disappeared into the corridor.
"I should go to." Metatron said as she began to get up. "If Sandalphon is after me he will possibly use you all to draw me out." Metatron said as she then looked to Harry. "Harry if you see him again if any of you see him again run do not approach him he's not one to be reasoned with as he is now." Metatron said as she looked to them.
"Wait but why do you keep protecting me?!" Harry asked before Metatron held her hand to Harry's face gently rubbing it like a mother would her child.
"Listen to me its best you do not know. In fact as far as this goes we are merely allies against a common foe." Metatron said as even with a synthesized voice Al, Hermione, and even Ron could note the sadness and grief in her tone. "So please sweetheart… don't fight Sandalphon." Metatron said before she handed a note to them. "Give this to Remus when he comes back… and please head my warning." Metatron said before she took her leave as well and soon they saw her fly pass the window no doubt heading to wherever she needs to go next.
"Are you sure you're okay, Harry?" Al asked as she was watching Harry anxiously hoping he would be ok.
"I don't get it... what happened after I passed out?" Harry asked, wiping more sweat off his face.
"Sandalphon can control the Dementor's from what Metatron revealed but his its limited control so he only had the two." Al said as she looked to Harry.
"We'll be at Hogwarts in ten minutes, Are you all right, Harry after that tussle you had?" Remus asked as he looked to Harry.
"Yeah… oh and Metatron said to give this to you when you returned." Harry said passing the letter to Remus who took it and nodded.
"Very well I shall see what it says when I am able." Remus said as they soon began to talk as they made their way to Hogwarts for their third year at the mentioned school of Witchcraft and Wizardry.
(Scene Break Metatron)
Metatron arrived at the Weeping Willow and began making her way to a secret area under it as once she was inside the Shack like place she smiled solemnly. "The Shrieking Shack it's been a while." Metatron said as she made her way to a table and undid some of her armor to treat her injuries which were bruised or bleeding. She then began applying a healing ointment with some magic to deal with the minor stuff and used mainly magic and possibly stitching for some of the major injuries. "I know your there Black show yourself as you can see I'm injured." Metatron said as soon a black Dog came out and transformed into the escaped Sirius Black in the form he was when Al had met him.
"How did you?" Sirius asked as Metatron then cut him off.
"Don't just know that I have the same target as you Peter Pettigrew." Metatron said as she treated her own injuries. "I know your innocent that's why I'm going to help clear your name if you can catch Pettigrew first." Metatron said as it was clear Peter was not on her friendly side.
"Wait you want to kill him?" Sirius asked as Metatron glared at him.
"Yes and make him suffer slow and painfully." Metatron revealed as she had spent two years looking for him and she won't let him escape her vengeance no matter what.
"Fine but I will stop you from killing him I need him alive to clear my name." Sirius said as Metatron scoffed.
"Don't worry he will be alive long enough to confess." Metatron said as she stitched her wounds up. 'Then… I'll go after Sandalphon… and free you James.' Metatron thought as she knew who Sandalphon truly was under the armor as she didn't realize Therion would go to this extreme to push Harry to reach his full magical potential.
(TBC)
ESKK: well here we are the newest chapter. Anyway as you all leave please be sure to leave a review and as always ja-ne.
