Chapter 7

The following few days after the duel were sombre affairs for the school.

They had all witnessed two people try to kill each other and the winner was now walking among them. A killer walked among them.

Harry hated the stares, the murmurings… it was exactly like his previous time in Hogwarts.

Filius had recommended that they release the information regarding the status of Tracey Davis, Pansy Parkinson and Gemma Farley. It would eventually become common knowledge that their fathers were in Azkaban and that they were without a family. Revealing the concubine contracts would prevent anyone from trying to claim them and forcing another duel.

Trying to claim a person who was already claimed was theft. Harry could simply report this and have them charged by the DMLE.

Harry had stood up in front of the Great Hall at breakfast the day after the duel with the three girls at his side. He had been very firm that anyone who treated them as less than a fellow student would be booted from his home.

Much to Dumbledore's annoyance, Minerva had stood behind the girls nodding in approval to Harry's word. He had a feeling that he might lose a few more students.


It was nearly February before anything of note occurred. Harry continued with his stargazing and his plans to explore space.

The lightning charm he had used in his duel was a result of researching ways of duplicating electricity. Apparently, the creator of the spell was also very intrigued by this naturally occurring energy. Ben Franklin, after many close calls with natural lightning strikes, had decided to develop a spell to achieve the same effect.

Harry often occupied an armchair in the Slytherin Common Room. It was one he conjured himself, much to the amazement of his housemates. At first he had only done it so he could keep an eye on the students and stop any bullying, but his clear advancement over his peers had made him something of a tutor.

This was something that really pissed Draco off. Especially as two certain Slytherins were now advancing beyond him.

"Excellent work Greg." Harry nodded approvingly to the larger boy who was grinning proudly. "Now, go break it and repair it five more times so you know you've got it down pat." He said as he handed the boy his stuffed hippogriff.

Gregory Goyle looked a little crestfallen at that. This was one of his cherished childhood toys.

"Greg," Harry said softly. "If you can manage to repair Mister Griffy every time then it won't matter when someone tries to hurt him. You can always make him better."

That seemed to steel his resolve.

Harry wrinkled his nose thoughtfully.

"Vinny, have you got that severing charm down yet?" He called over to Greg's constant companion.

Vincent Crabbe simply held up a half torn First Year Book of Spells sadly.

"Right. Greg, go repair Vinny's book. He breaks it, you repair it. We'll let Mister Griffy have a rest for now."

Greg just nodded in relief as he headed off to help his friend.

"You think you're so smart, don't you Potter?"

Harry just sighed at the annoying voice that came from his side. He looked up to see Malfoy standing there, sneering as usual. "Have you mastered the charms, Draco?" Harry challenged lightly.

"I could perform those long before I came to Hogwarts." He boasted.

Whilst Harry had no doubt that his family flaunted the law and let him play with a wand, he doubted that Draco could do more than swing the stick.

"Then when we complete our end of year exams, our marks will show just how smart we really are." Harry said. "Maybe we could ask the teachers to publish a ranking list? Then you can show everyone that you are the best in the school?"

"Everybody already knows I'm the best." Draco frowned in confusion.

Harry just chuckled. "Draco, so far I have completed every piece of homework before you. I have earned more points for Slytherin than you. I know for a fact that most first year Ravenclaws (and a certain Gryffindor) have already started working on second year spells.

"The teachers have had to constantly correct your work in class and your grades are only just average.

"You are the only one who thinks you are the best."

Draco turned red with indignation. "Shut up Potter! I'll not have you spreading your lies about me!"

"Careful there, Malfoy." Came the warning voice of the current Slytherin Seeker, Terence Higgs. He was sitting at a nearby table with his homework, but like most of the students, he was watching the current conversation. "You are about to insult the Head of an Ancient House. Being called a liar is almost as bad as being called a thief."

Draco bristled at this but turned and stomped off.

"Thanks Terry." Harry said quietly.

Terence just gave a little snort. "I don't want to have to worry about another visit from the Obliviators. Even if the first one was entertaining."

"You know he isn't going to stop, right?" Adrian Pucey asked the young lord from his seat at the same table with Terence. "His little suspension hasn't curbed his ego one bit. He's already talking about how he intends to be the Seeker next year."

"If his father has his way he'll get it." Terence sighed in frustration as he threw down his quill. "Flint was already receiving letters from Malfoy Senior."

"Snape won't allow it and neither will I." Harry said firmly. "I like the way you two play. You never cheat." He gave a glare at the other three remaining members of the team that were at a nearby table.

"If I find that the three of you are cheating come the next game I will have you removed from the team and new tryouts will be held." He said warningly.

The two beaters and the keeper glared murderously at him.

"We still need a Captain and a new Chaser." Adrian pointed out.

"You two can hold a joint Captaincy for now." Harry suggested.

"I'm the senior player." Lucian Bole said heatedly as he stood up and stomped over. "The Captaincy goes to me."

"The Captaincy goes to whoever our Head of House says it should go to." Adrian and Terence tried to hide their smiles as Harry was clearly un-intimidated by the towering beater. Harry continued on. "You are hanging onto your position by the thinnest thread possible. If it were up to me I would have you booted already."

"Harry, we're already down one player, we don't need to lose any more." Adrian chided teasingly.

"Sit down Bole." Cyril Meakin, the current seventh year prefect ordered. "We can excuse Draco because of his youth and naivety. You have no such excuse."

Reluctantly the large boy returned to his table. But not without glaring at Harry.

"Potter, don't go around making threats like that. If you are going to talk to Professor Snape then do it and do it privately. We don't need to be creating unnecessary rumours for the rest of the school." Meakin instructed sternly.

Harry wanted to grumble and pout. He was eleven so he could get away with it… but not after he had just put Malfoy in his place.

"Alright. I'll go see Professor Snape." Harry said as he levered himself out of his chair. "Anyone want to use my chair? It will last till about midnight." He offered.

"A bit small for most of us Potter." Adrian smiled. "But thanks."

"Can I use it?"

Harry turned to the fairly quiet Millicent Bulstrode. "Sure Millie. Just remember, it will be gone by midnight… so don't fall asleep in it."


"I'm warning you now Mister Black, none of us who know Harry are pleased with you." Minerva stated angrily as she led Sirius Black and Amelia Bones up the path to the gates of Hogwarts. "Much of the horrors he's suffered could have been avoided if you hadn't shirked your responsibility that night.

"Harry doesn't say anything about it and I doubt he blames you. But those of us who know him and love him hold you at least partially responsible." She said as she stormed onwards, never looking back.

"I think I've paid enough for my actions that day." Sirius grumbled.

That was not the thing to say to Minerva McGonagall. She spun on her heel to face him, a look of righteous fury on her face. "But you weren't the only one who paid for your stupidity, were you?" She demanded. "Because you weren't there to take care of your Godson, he was consigned to a living hell."

"There were plenty of other people he could have been placed with!" Sirius retorted angrily. "You and Flitwick were two of the people that James and Lilly recommended I turn to if the worst ever occurred."

"Enough!" Amelia said as she elbowed her way between the pair. "I will not have you fighting in front of Harry. He's been through enough in just the past few days. I do not want him having to re-hash the past decade in its entirety!" She stepped back and took a calming breath. "Now, we will go and find our young Lord and you will be polite and courteous. You will let him set the tone for your meeting." She warned Sirius. "Are you both ready to continue?"

Sirius nodded ashamedly. He had come to see Amelia as something of an angel. She had been the one to drag him from his cell on Azkaban. She had been there and believed every word he said. Something that no one had done since Halloween 1981.

Amelia gave a pointed nod to Minerva and they continued their trek up the hill.

They were greeted at the gates by Albus himself.

"Sirius, it is good to see you free." The old man twinkled. "It was quite the horrifying shock to discover that not only where you innocent, but that the real traitor was living amongst us."

"Bet it wasn't as shocking as waking up in Azkaban without knowing why or how you got there." Sirius countered dryly.

"Quite. I believe Madam Bones is investigating charges against Barty Crouch for his crimes against you."

"Expect to be very busy very soon, Chief Wizard. You will be required to examine the case of every prisoner in Azkaban personally."

"As time permits, Amelia." Albus assured her.

"I'm sure the Prophet and the Ministry will be interested to hear that you are willing to let innocent men suffer because you are too busy." She retorted scathingly. "If you are having trouble balancing your roles then maybe you should relinquish a few?"

"A discussion for another time." Albus said dismissively, but there was a hint of annoyance. "I believe the young man you are looking for is this way." He said more jovially as he led them towards the Quidditch Pitch.

"There's no match today." Minerva frowned.

"No, but with the… loss… of Mister Flint, the Slytherin Team needs a new member. Professor Snape decided to have all the members of his house try out… even the first years."

"Still can't believe little Harry is a Slytherin." Sirius grumbled. "James must be turning in his grave."

"I would hope not." Minerva scowled at him. "Harry has done more for Slytherin in a single term than Salazar himself in his entire lifetime. Slytherin House is finally respected instead of despised."

"But it's Slytherin!" Sirius wined childishly.

"And Peter was a Gryffindor."

Sirius immediately clammed up. It was a sore point. Below the belt in some ways, but all things considered, he appreciated that Minerva was so protective of his godson.

As they reached the pitch they could see the Slytherin students in the stands whilst the hopefuls trying out were in the sky on their brooms.

"I will leave you to it. Sirius, I would appreciate it if you would come and see me in my office before you leave. I have some things I need to discuss with you." Albus excused himself.

Sirius nodded absently. He was more focused on trying to find Harry in the stands.

He was jogged out of his search as Minerva bustled past towards a nearby Filius who was watching the flyers with clear excitement.

"Isn't he amazing, Minerva?" He bubbled. "It's like he was born with wings!"

High above the other flyers, a small figure could be seen tumbling in the air, performing barrel rolls, diving, soaring, banking at extreme angles.

"Merlin! Is that our Harry?" Minerva gasped.

All of a sudden the flyer nose-dived.

"He's falling!" Minerva cried out as she pulled her wand.

"No!" Filius placed a restraining hand on her arm. "I've seen him do this before."

As the flyer neared the ground (at what was at least terminal velocity) it became clear that it was indeed, her Harry.

"He's going to kill himself!"

"Just watch, Minnie." Filius begged, still smiling.

Harry was nearly a foot off the ground when he suddenly veered up and began flying parallel to the ground… still only a foot high.

"HARRY JAMES POTTER YOU GET OVER HERE RIGHT NOW!" Minerva screeched.

Unfortunately, this broke Harry's concentration and he took his eyes off what he was doing.

"Dammit Minerva." Filius hissed as he watched Harry dip too low, his feet touching the ground causing him to start to tumble head over heels at a speed that was fatal in car accidents.

Harry was just lucky he was a wizard and a bit sturdier than the average human.

He groaned from his tangled position on the grass.

He was currently staring at his own butt, which was above him as his head was on the ground looking up. His broom was passed between his right arm and chest up between his legs.

He was fairly dazed and had no idea where to begin to untangle himself.

"Harry? Are you ok?"

"Fil? Did I win?" Harry asked groggily, even though he couldn't see his tiny uncle.

"It seems to have been a tie between you and the ground." Filius said dryly. "The judges may call for a re-match due to interference from the spectators." He glared at Minerva who was busy ignoring him as she cast diagnostic spells at him.

There was a sharp crack.

"Merciful Merlin! What on Earth where you doing, Harry?" Poppy Pomfrey asked as she saw the tangled body.

"Crashing… I think." Harry said thoughtfully. "Oh, hello Sirius." He said as he saw the familiar face appear high above him from between his legs.

"Poppy, is it safe to… straighten him out?" Minerva asked.

"In more ways than one." Poppy muttered with a glare at her patient.

Working together, Poppy, Minerva and Sirius carefully began laying out Harry until he was lying staring straight up at the over cast sky.

"Hold on a second, Harry. I need to pop your hip back in." Poppy said soothingly.

"Yeah… gonna need that later." Harry said absently. "Urg!"

It was a small sound… accompanied by a slight widening of Harry's eyes.

"You could have at least given him a pain relieving potion first, Poppy!" Minerva scolded.

"Regrettably, Harry is more than experienced with dislocated joints." Poppy said sadly. "He barely noticed. I'll take him straight up to the Hospital Wing and put him to sleep. He'll be fine in the morning."

With that she placed a small disk on Harry's chest and the pair of them vanished.

It was something Harry had worked out with the Hat and the castle to allow Poppy to get to emergencies quicker.

Poppy was very pleased… even more so as she had just won a fairly large bet stating that Harry would be her first call out.

"Is he insane?"

The two professors turned to the wide-eyed Sirius Black.

"Professor! Is Potter ok?" They were interrupted by Terence and most of Slytherin running up to them.

"He should be fine Mister Higgs." Filius assured them. "He took a nasty tumble, Madam Pomfrey may keep him in overnight but I'm sure he will be up and around by morning."

"Thank Merlin. I'm not sure what we should do for now. Harry is definitely our new Seeker, I'll quit the team if I have to."

"Well, you do still need a new Chaser. From what I witnessed you are still one of the best flyers in your house. With a bit of practice you could take up that position." Filius encouraged.

"Seekers make better back up Keepers." Sirius piped up. "Why am I helping the Slytherin Team?" He asked himself.

"Because your godson is their star player?" Minerva scowled.

"Keep running your housemates through the drills, Mister Higgs. I will have Madam Hooch come and supervise. Perhaps you should take a short break until she arrives?" Filius said.

Higgs just nodded at the suggestion/order.


"So… you're a Slytherin."

Harry's eyes narrowed as he regarded his newly released godfather from his hospital bed. "No. I am the Slytherin." Harry corrected. "I am the Lord of the House of Slytherin and I determine what a Slytherin is."

That one took Sirius aback. It wasn't the response he was expecting from an eleven-year-old. Especially a muggle-raised eleven-year-old.

"Erm… your dad was a Gryffindor?" Sirius offered uncertainly.

"As was my mother, my godfather, my godmother and countless others." Harry rolled his eyes. "Is this going to become an issue?"

"No! No, no… it's just… I remember decorating your room in Gryffindor colours… it seems… pretty darn strange to see you sporting Slytherin colours." He nodded to Harry's tie. Poppy had promised he could sleep in his quarters so he hadn't put on his pyjamas.

"The room that I spent maybe a year in? The one I slept in before I spent ten years in a room with no colour?"

"Erm…"

"Is that your catchphrase? Did my parents have one?" Harry asked innocently.

"Err-" Sirius winced and silently cursed himself as he repeated himself. But he looked up and saw the twinkle of humour in the boy's eyes. Sirius leant back in his uncomfortable chair thoughtfully. "Your parents did have one each… from what I remember. Your mum's was something along the lines of: 'James Charles Potter! When I get my hands on you…'

"Your dad's was sort of a response. 'Lily! No! Please! Noooooo!'" Sirius mimicked hiding behind his hands from an unseen assailant.

"Ah… how sad… my mother was abusive to my father." Harry shook his head mournfully.

Sirius' eyes widened in horror. "What? No!"

"Harry, do behave. Give the poor man a chance." Filius chuckled from the end of the bed.

"But he's so easy." Harry whined.

"Wait… you were having me on?" Sirius asked doubtfully.

"Well… that all depends on how much trouble you have with me being a Slytherin." Harry said seriously. "That one is a deal breaker. I have put a lot of work into my house and I'm not-"

"Whoa! Easy there!" Sirius said quickly as Harry built up steam. "I had Slytherin friends. Not as many friends as I had enemies." He admitted. "But they were good people. When you think about how dangerous it was to be a Slytherin back in the 60's and 70's you begin to realise just how good they were. Positively Gryffindor-ish to stick it out."

"Hey now! No need to be insulting." Harry snapped.

Sirius checked and was relieved to see that spark in Harry's eye.

"Fine, I won't call the slimy snake a lion." Sirius said blithely. "So tell me, Great and Powerful Lord of Slytherin, what have you been up to since you arrived at Hogwarts?"

Harry looked at Filius. "You didn't tell him anything about me?"

"You'd have to ask Amelia or Sirius. I only saw him today." Filius looked to the former inmate.

"Amelia told me a lot of what happened to you between that Halloween and you arriving at Hogwarts. She mentioned a few things about you claiming the title of Slytherin… nice one by the way… but other than that… Professor McGonagall has been going on about how I abandoned you and that the Dursley's are my fault."

Harry just snorted dismissively. "You certainly didn't do me any favours by running off instead of doing your duty to me… but I would say most of the blame rests with Dumbledore. He's the one who placed me with those… people. He's the one who didn't stop them fr… well… I blame him." Harry clammed up.

"Sirius, perhaps we should let Harry rest." Filius interjected before the dog in human skin could press on what Harry was going to say. "Harry, Mister Higgs was insistent on you taking up his role as Seeker." He said smugly. "I believe he even threatened to break his broom if you refused."

"You're a bastard Uncle Fil." Harry glared at him.

As Filius and Sirius reached the door they were met by several first years. Most of them were Slytherins but there were at least two Gryffindors in the mix.

"Erm… can we see Harry, sir?" One of the Slytherin girls asked meekly.

"Of course Miss Parkinson. Miss Farley, I am placing you in charge of this group. Mister Potter needs his rest and I don't want you disturbing Madam Pomfrey or spending too much time with him and wearing him out."

"Yes Professor." The fourth year sounded like she was making a solemn oath.


Filius had escorted Sirius to Dumbledore's office after being informed that he was expected. Sirius entered alone and took the offered seat but not the offered lemon drop.

"Sirius, I feel that the recent revelations of your innocence will have a larger impact on Harry than most people will understand." Albus said solemnly. "I don't know how much Amelia has told you but Harry has become… unruly."

Sirius frowned. "What do you mean? He seems to be well respected by his fellow housemates and his Professors."

"Yes, he has become something of a beacon… a charismatic leader." Albus allowed. "But he has developed a tendency to flaunt the rules. He doesn't just ignore the authorities, he makes outlandish claims and then goes on to attempt to perform ridiculous feats based on those claims."

Albus sighed and continued. "I don't know how this has happened but it seems that his… ego, has managed to grow beyond reasonable proportions. His actions alone have cost three girls their fathers, the life of a man on these grounds and the theft of a very valuable artefact.

"That doesn't even begin to take into account the fact that he put a sword to the neck of the King of the Goblins."

Sirius laughed… then he noticed that Albus didn't appear to be laughing with him. "You're joking?"

"I'm afraid not." Albus said gravely. "He directly put the lives of himself, Amelia Bones and Minerva McGonagall in danger as they were with him at the time. His actions could have started the next Goblin rebellion."

"Sweet Merlin… and the Ministry hasn't stepped in?"

"Madam Bones has managed to keep things fairly quiet. I don't understand why she is insistent on catering to the young lad's every whim, but it isn't helping."

"Alright…" Sirius said slowly. "I can accept that Harry might be… eccentric, but why are you telling me? He doesn't even know me."

"It might be possible, with support from myself as his Headmaster and the Head of the Wizengamot, to enable you to have him declared too young for his titles. This would simply mean that he could no longer wield the power until he came of age.

"You would then be able to direct his affairs yourself. One of the most important things, and most dangerous, is he has stated he will not return to the home of his mother's sister this summer. There are ancient and powerful protections there that will keep him safe. I also believe that it might help curb his ego if he were denied the privileges he has experienced these past months."

"Amelia said that the Dursleys were abusive." Sirius said suspiciously.

"Amelia is not a mother. Her only experience of dealing with children is her niece Susan. The Bones family are fairly wealthy and as such, Susan would have been raised by the family elves.

"She has no idea how to reprimand a child and so she sees the punishments that Harry received as Draconian." Albus said dismissively.

Sirius just gave a non-committal nod. "I'll discuss it with Harry first."

"I fear that may be a lost cause, my boy." Albus said wearily. "I have tried for months to get the lad to calm down and be more respectful but alas, he seems to take it as a challenge to be even more… rambunctious."

"Don't try, won't know." Sirius said, paraphrasing something that Lilly would often say. She would probably hex him silly for mangling the English language though.

"As you feel best Sirius." Albus said as he calmly rose, an unspoken signal that the meeting was over. "Regardless of this, it is good to see you free. It was heart wrenching to see Peter being walked through these halls and realising it meant we had wronged you so."

Sirius just gave another tight nod. He was still a bit peeved over his 'little vacation'.


Sirius had gone to Professor Flitwick as soon as he had left Dumbledore's office. He had noticed that Harry and the tiny professor had developed a bond of some sort so he reasoned that Flitwick might have more insight into Harry's… 'rambunctiousness'.

Filius had listened calmly as Sirius related the contents of his meeting.

"I can safely say that it is a good thing that Minerva isn't here." Filius said with a disturbing calm. "No doubt she would already be halfway to Albus with a nasty hex or two waiting at the end of her wand."

"You mean instead of me?" Sirius said sourly.

Filius raised an eyebrow at the remark but decided not to pursue it at this time.

"Tell me, Mister Black, was the Sorting Hat in the room?"

Sirius blinked at the question that came out of the blue. "I… erm… possibly?"

Filius nodded, understanding that Sirius probably wasn't all that focused on his surroundings. He was likely still trying to convince himself that this wasn't a dream and that he was actually free.

Filius hopped off his little armchair headed to his fireplace.

"Slytherin Common Room."

As the fire erupted in green flames he put his head in. "Ah, Miss Farley, perfect. Could you find Harry and ask him to have the Sorting Hat brought to my quarters? I just have a few curious questions to ask. Just ask him to humour a nosy Ravenclaw." The jovial man winked at the girl.

Receiving a reply he stepped out of the fire and returned to his seat. "And now we wait." He told Sirius.

"What will the Sorting Hat do?" Sirius asked.

"The Hat is part of the connection to the Castle. It will tell us its and the Castle's opinion of your meeting with the Headmaster."

"Oh." Sirius felt a little uncomfortable with the revelation that he was being watched by a giant building.

The two men sat in an uncomfortable silence for several minutes before there was a small knock at the door… not the metal clang of an armoured fist that Filius was expecting.

On opening the door Filius sighed as he saw Harry standing there with the Hat on his head. "Nosy Ravenclaw?" Harry said dryly. "Leave the slyness to the Slytherins, Uncle Fil."

Filius just rolled his eyes as he let Harry in.

"So, Sirius, you actually believed the cock and bull story Albus was spinning?" Harry glared at the man as he conjured his own armchair. Something that Filius and Minerva insisted he do to keep up practice.

"I wouldn't say I believed it outright." Sirius insisted. He couldn't help but feel intimidated by this eleven-year-old. "But he mentioned events and I wanted to get a different perspective on what he said."

"The old coot was playing you Black." The Hat spat from his new perch on Harry's lap. "He doesn't like the fact that Harry has near complete control of the castle and that he spoiled his little game of cat and mouse with Lord No Name."

"Lord No –"

"Formerly known as Voldemort." Filius said tiredly as he settled into his own armchair.

"None of that really matters, Black." The Hat said sternly. "What matters is that you even considered trying to take things from Harry that were rightfully his. Harry has already had Draco Malfoy branded a thief for stealing another student's Remembrall… the Castle would have no trouble supporting Harry in branding you a thief. And you don't come with the protection of bribing the Minister."

"What about the deaths, the thefts and the… goblin incident?" Sirius asked curiously.

"Deaths? I only know about one death." Harry frowned.

"Something about three girls and their fathers."

"Those gits?" Harry said with a hint of incredulity. "They aren't dead. They're just enjoying the hospitality of Azkaban for attempted line theft."

"But there was a death?"

"I was challenged to a duel. The duel was to the death. I won." Harry shrugged.

"You can read the details in the paper or get them from Amelia." Filius warned as he knew Harry didn't like to think about that day.

"And the theft?"

"Sure, the thief was Dumbledore. The victim was pissed and has threatened to tell the world about the true Albus Dumbledore if the geezer steps out of line… I guess we should give him a call tomorrow." He said as an aside to Filius.

"And the goblin thing?" Sirius asked.

"They were being difficult. However, being the cunning and exceptional epitome of a Slytherin that I am, I managed to withdraw all my gold and belongings and get a blood contract stating they will never seek to harm me." Harry said smugly.

Sirius looked to Filius who just shrugged to confirm.

"I can read about this?" Sirius asked carefully.

"Or speak to Madam Bones." Filius added. "She is aware of everything and can reveal any information that isn't considered confidential."

Sirius stood up slowly. "I'll bring myself up to speed then. I still feel that I am too far behind everyone else. I don't like the feeling that I am being manipulated." He said with steel.

"A wise move." Filius agreed.

"Just a warning though, Sirius, if you do betray me… I'll never forgive you." Harry said softly.

It was at that moment he saw what he hadn't been shown since he first laid eyes on Harry Potter the first year. He finally saw the eleven-year-old boy who had been betrayed and abused for all of his life and was scared he was about to suffer it all again.

Sirius knelt down quickly and grabbed him in a hug. "I will never betray you Harry. I might fail you. I might not understand you. But I will never ever betray you."

He felt his heart break a bit as he felt the young lad begin to sob in his shoulder. Sirius held him tighter, letting him ride it out.

Eventually the sobs subsided and Sirius held at arms length to look the red eyed boy in the eyes. "You are mine, Harry James Potter. You're mum and dad gave you to me. When we are old and grey you will still be mine and I will still remind you of that fact.

"When you finally get snagged by a girl I will remind her that you were mine first and I still have the right to protect you. Your grandfather was the one who taught me that parenthood doesn't end when a child grows up. It is a role that we fulfil till we have both passed on."

Harry visibly shuddered.

"You go on, Sirius." Filius said softly. "Harry can stay here for the night. I'll take care of him."

Sirius reluctantly headed to the door as Filius tucked Harry's head onto his own shorter shoulder. When the door closed and they were alone, he looked down at the boy. "Harry?"

"The last time I saw him… he fell into the veil." Harry sniffled. "It all came back… the pain, the loss, the anger… it was all Dumbledore's fault… that…bastard!" Harry hissed as he moved away sharply from Filius. "And he's doing it again! Playing with my life, using me like a chess piece!"

Filius glanced around the room as items and furniture began to vibrate. Harry's anger was being translated into the easiest form of energy he had access too: magic.

"Not. Any. More!" Harry shouted angrily as he turned and stormed to the door.

"Filius, put me on and follow him!" The Hat ordered.

It was fortunate that it was the end of the day and curfew was fast approaching. If the students had been in class they would have noticed the small form of Harry James Potter stomping through the hallways as more and more suits of armour and ghosts fell in step behind him.

"Harry, please calm down!" Filius pleaded as he struggled to keep up. Harry might only be eleven but he still had longer legs than his half-goblin uncle.

"Not this time Fil." Harry growled, not slowing down.

"Eeek!" Filius Flitwick squealed as he was scooped up by a suit of armour and carried along behind Harry.

He quickly pulled his wand and sent a messenger spell to Minerva and Amelia… after a moment's consideration he sent off a third message.

Filius was shocked when they reached the gargoyle that guarded the stairs to the Headmaster's Office and it hopped off its plinth and actually led the way up the stairs.

When the doors to the office slammed open of their own accord to admit the stone gargoyle followed by Harry Potter, Filius Flitwick and nearly twenty suits of armour… Albus Dumbledore was understandably surprised and confused.

Unfortunately his first thought for action was probably his worst. "Mister Potter! I have repeatedly told you that you cannot use the castle- oof! What is the meaning of this?" He demanded as he was shoved into his chair by two of the suits of armour and held firmly in place.

The gargoyle stopped in front of the desk and crouched low as Harry used him as a stepping stone to stand on the desk.

Harry's wand zipped out and cast a silencing charm at the elderly man.

"Listen carefully Albus Dumbledore." Harry seethed angrily. "You have gone too far. Trying to manipulate Sirius into betraying me!

"You will stop trying to interfere in my life or I will destroy you. I will tell the world about the secrets of Albus Dumbledore. The truth about why your dad killed those kids. The truth about you and Grindlewald. The truth about Ariana. The truth about the Philosopher's Stone and the truth about how you treated myself and Tom Riddle!"

With each statement Albus grew paler. He struggled and tried to speak but the armoured hands were far stronger and the silencing charm meant he couldn't even hear his own voice.

"All this time you thought you'd been dealing with a little boy who had stumbled upon some power and was using it like a kid with his daddy's wand…

"The truth is that I am a freed slave who has been granted power and intends to use it to save others from my fate. I am nothing like you Dumbledore. I don't have any grand plans of enslaving muggles. I just want to see my friends live happy lives. I just want to live in peace.

"You are currently my biggest obstacle.

"Understand this, Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore, step out of line one more time and I will challenge you to a duel to the death."

Albus' expression turned stony and he stiffened under the grasp of his restrainers. He lifted his chin to indicate his voice.

Harry just smirked and released the silencing charm. "Whatever you say had better be sensible, Albus."

"Do not challenge me, Harry." Albus warned sternly. "I do not want to kill you, but in a duel I would have no choice. Nothing you have said to me here tells me you are ready to handle the responsibilities of power. You dish out threats like I hand out lemon drops." He chastised angrily from his forcibly restrained position.

"Kill me?" Harry smiled darkly. "But I've already beaten you, Albus. Did you really buy that story of you over powering the Elder Wand?" He chuckled. "I took it from you and destroyed it!" He hissed.

"But-"

"Poppy obliviated you because you found out information that pertained to me that she deemed confidential. Uncle Fil and Moody took turns blasting off your fingers." He smiled with glee.

"Alright lad, take a step back now."

Harry turned and saw Minerva had arrived with Nicholas Flamel, Amelia Bones, Alastor Moody and Aberforth Dumbledore.

Moody had his wand out and was the one who had spoken.

Nicholas, who was wearing his aged glamour, stepped forward. "Have you actually thought through what you are doing Albus?" He asked gravely. "Our Harry here actually owns this castle. He would be well within his rights to kick you out. He could very well close the school and choose to use the castle as his private residence.

"But that is what Harry could do." He said. "Let's talk about what you are doing. You are trying to tear the boy away from the only family he has ever known. Filius and Minerva. You want to send him back to people who have tortured him severely and you tried to use a man he is supposed to call his 'father' to do it.

"What exactly is your justification for that?"

"There are blood wards that are empowered by his mother's sacrifice. Harry will be safe there."

"Hmm… blood wards… if these wards are so important, why did you even bother sending him an invite to attend Hogwarts?" Nicholas queried.

"Hogwarts is one of the safest places on the planet. He can attend school here before returning to his relatives in the summer." Albus explained.

"Why couldn't he stay here in the summer? If Harry's safety is really that important then why would you risk sending him out of your sight?"

"He needs to spend time with his family. He needs to learn values." Albus lectured.

"Values? From the family that locked him in a cupboard for ten years?!" Minerva screeched. "From the family that beat him, starved him and showed him nothing but hate?"

"It was for the Greater Good." Albus said, practically pleading with them to just accept his word.

"What Greater Good?" Amelia asked curiously. "I take great interest in history, Dumbledore. As the head of the DMLE I have travelled to many countries and met with many of my foreign counterparts. Only once have I come across that phrase."

"Nurmengard." Moody growled as the memory hit him. "Grindlewald's party line was: 'For the Greater Good'. He had that same phrase carved over the gates of the prison."

"By the gods boy! What on Earth would possess you to follow the ways of that genocidal little runt?" Nicholas demanded in disgust.

"I am no fool, Nicholas." Albus said defensively. "You know full well I do not subscribe to Gellert's ideals. I work for the Greater Good of all." He said proudly.

"Perhaps we should carve that over my cupboard?" Harry said snidely.

"If it teaches you a little humility-"

"Albus Dumbledore!" Minerva exclaimed in shock.

At this point Aberforth stepped forward calmly. "Tell me, Brother, young Harry here has called forth quite an impressive array of people that are all supporting him. Myself included.

"Your own mentor is here and questioning your actions.

"Who could you call to speak on your behalf that has half as much experience as the Sorting Hat or Nicholas? Who could you call that knows you better than Alastor, Minerva or myself?"

Albus honestly didn't have an answer for that.

"You see, Brother, each of these people are good upstanding citizens with morals that compel them to protect others. Wouldn't you agree?"

"Of course." Albus wasn't sure where this was going.

"Then why is it, that in the face of condemnation of these seven beings who you acknowledge as good and decent, do you insist on staying your path?

"The last time you acted so foolishly it cost us our sister."

Albus flinched at that.

"Actually, the last time it pushed Tom Riddle into becoming Voldemort." Harry spoke up, still clearly angry.

"Yes… that's right." The Hat nodded in agreement. "You treated young Tom in much the same way. You sent him back to that orphanage, knowing how he would be treated. You knew he was heading down a dark path and there was a chance you could have stopped him with just a few acts of kindness."

"Tom was consumed with hatred long before I met him." Albus insisted sternly. "He hated his parents because he believed they abandoned him and he hated his fellow orphans because they abused him."

"And you knew this." Harry stepped forward next to Aberforth. "You knew he was abused and you sent him back to that orphanage. Just like you keep trying to send me back to be abused by the Dursleys.

"All you had to do was reach out to Tom. He would have still hated them, but you could have helped him."

"You could have given him something to distract him from his hate. A reason to love." Nicholas added. "A little compassion, having him placed with a loving family instead of being sent back to that hell hole and he might have grown to be a great man."

"And no." Harry added quickly. "Sending me to live with the Weasleys for a few weeks after suffering months with the Dursleys each summer is not enough."

Albus' eyes widened in shock. He had no idea how Harry knew that that was his intended plan.

But he rallied himself. "It is very easy for you to all judge me in hindsight. The benefit of being able to look back as an uninvolved party. But you were not there. You did not see his eyes, the way he sized people up. The look of satisfaction after a student was murdered."

"So you admit you made a mistake?" Nicholas queried.

Albus nodded sadly, still held in place by the suits of armour. "I am only a man."

"Yes, but you are repeating the exact same mistakes with Harry." Amelia snapped irritably. "A young man who seems to exhibit none of the signs that Riddle did. This is a child who has willingly placed himself between the students of this school and Lord No Name himself!

"He did so in front of all of us and yet you still seem to treat him like a misbehaving child."

"He tortured that man! He killed Flint!" Albus said angrily as he tried to stand.

"He defended himself you stupid fool." The Hat snarled. "He didn't cast the first curse at Flint or call for the duel. He wasn't the one who knowingly let the bastard Riddle into the castle. That was you!

"You are responsible for endangering the lives of all these students and teachers."

"And for nearly destroying my stone and killing myself and my wife." Nicholas said stonily. "Harry's actions have literally saved hundreds. And that was just since he arrived at Hogwarts.

"So, boy, are you prepared to admit you are wrong? Again?" Only Nicholas Flamel could get away with calling a one hundred and ten year old man: 'boy'.

And Albus knew it.

"I will admit that maybe there are some things I do not have the full details of." He said with a shrewd look at the people in his office, willingly protecting the boy who was clearly unafraid. And it wasn't due to the adults protecting him or the suits of armour standing just behind them. "I will admit that maybe I need to re-think my current plans.

"But I believe you all have a lot more to answer for." He glared at them. "It has become clear to me over the past months that Harry knows far more than he should.

"At first I believed someone had been visiting him at his family's home and teaching him. But he also knows far too much about myself and my past."

He allowed a small look of triumph to cross his face as the adults tightened their grips on their wands.

"Something is very wrong here. If you want my cooperation then you will need to tell me everything." He leaned back and relaxed into his chair, ignoring the two arms holding him down.

There was a good few second's silence as the adults shared looks.

"I say we just obliviate the old goat." Harry piped up calmly.

"Short term solution to a long term problem, lad." Moody growled.

"Silence! All of you!" Nicholas barked as he began to pace.

The others all just complied.

After a few turns along his pacing path, Nicholas turned to group briefly. "Filius, please contact my wife, ask her to join us." He ordered before returning to his pacing.

Harry just shrugged as he tossed another silencing spell at Albus before conjuring chairs for everyone so they could sit whilst they waited for Perenelle to arrive and Nicholas to finish his pacing.

It only took ten minutes for Filius to return with a very curious and extremely peeved Perenelle Flamel. She walked regally into the room whilst allowing Filius to lead the way. She did not attempt to walk faster than the tiny man's legs would allow but she still seemed to walk with purpose.

Unlike her husband, Perenelle didn't bother with aging glamours to hide her youth. She looked like the same beautiful blonde haired twenty-something that she was when she had her first dose of the Elixir of Life.

Nicholas said nothing as she walked up to him. He merely turned and looked her straight in the eye.

After a second Perenelle raised an eyebrow and turned to Harry. "I will take the Unbreakable Vow."

Harry was surprised at this. Harry was more than happy to offer Perenelle the chance to take the Vow and learn his secrets. She had just laughed and claimed that she trusted her husband and didn't need to know. She was more interested in making sure that Harry was taken care of.

"Are you sure?" Harry frowned. He didn't want to burden the woman who he wished was his grandmother.

She smiled and knelt down to hug him. She whispered in his ear. "I have seen eyes like yours before, Harry. I know you are older than you seem, I will still love and care for you."

Harry was literally speechless as he stood there, mouth open.

Perenelle shuffled back and took Harry's wrist in hers and wrapped his fingers around hers. "Filius, would you officiate?"

Filius just nodded and pulled his wand as he stepped up to their joined hands. "Perenelle Flamel, will you keep the secrets of Harry James Potter so long as he requests it? Sharing it with none but those he allows?"

"I will." She said solemnly.

Filius tapped the joined hands and thin stream of fire, like a piece of string or wire, wrapped around the joined hands.

"Will you aid him in his tasks if he asks so long as he does not seek to harm the innocent or hurt others for his pleasure and benefit?"

"I will."

Another tap and another flame of binding.

"Will you care for him like family? Loving him as he should be. Chastising him when he is truly wrong and helping him to stay on the path of light?"

"I will." This time she smiled fondly at the boy who blushed at having another person willingly claim him as family.

Filius tapped their joined hands and a final tongue of fire wrapped around them.

"Welcome to the family, Perenelle." Filius smiled at her as the flames disappeared, sinking into their skin.

"I haven't had a grandson in a long time." She said as she pulled Harry back into a hug.

"Harry, do I have your permission to share all my memories of your secrets with Perenelle?" Nicholas asked as Perenelle released him.

"You do." Harry said sadly. It wasn't that he didn't trust the woman… she had just sworn an oath to him. He feared her looking at him in a different light. She would know he wasn't really eleven. She wouldn't treat him like the child she loved. He would become another soldier in this fight to her. He knew she would still care… but that…innocence in the way she cared would be lost.

"Why you unmitigated little bastard!"

Harry looked up to see Perenelle with her wand pointed just millimetres away from Dumbledore's nose.

Safe to say… she wasn't happy.

"You have the gall to try and play god?" She demanded. "I have seen a lot of people try to control others. I have seen them do everything from magical oaths to simple imprisonment.

"But I would never have expected it from someone like you!

"Hat, tell me, was Gryffindor your choice for young Albus?" She asked without moving her wand.

"I know what you're thinking my dear, but that is not the case." The Hat chuckled from Harry's head. "Albus is not a cunning snake hiding in the lair of lions. He is a simply an arrogant lion who thinks he knows better than everyone else."

"And where would you have placed me?" She asked, just out of idle curiosity.

"Hufflepuff, sure and true." The Hat said firmly. "Harry could have gone anywhere. But I pushed him into Slytherin as I thought he was worthy of claiming the titles and power he won from Riddle."

"You are responsible for his placement in Slytherin?" Albus asked in shock. "I thought it was because he chose it!"

"Well of course he chose it. Every student has the right to question my suggestion and reject it. Many do it in the name of family tradition."

"Perenelle, do you have any suggestions on how to handle this situation?" Nicholas asked his wife seriously. "I was attempting to think of something he had done that would allow Harry to call in a debt, but I couldn't."

Perenelle was, as Albus would put it, crafty. Sure, she would have been the ultimate Hufflepuff, but that doesn't stop one from exhibiting the traits of other houses. Harry was the best example of that, Hermione was another good one.

"Albus has become so mired in his plans and subtle manipulations that a blunt course of action would be best." Perenelle said with a calculating glare at Albus that made him very uncomfortable.

"Whilst you could ruin his name in the papers, drive him from the castle or even have him charged, it would not solve the problem of Albus himself."

Albus very much looked like he wanted to object to being called 'a problem'.

"I recommend a couple of choices be put to him:

"One: He takes the same vows that we took.

"Two: We obliviate him of this latest meeting and simply inform young Sirius of the situation and ensure he helps keep Harry safe from Albus' machinations.

"Three: He signs a contract, similar to the one Harry signed with the goblins that prohibits action against each other."

Nicholas nodded and turned back to the still restrained Albus.

He was interrupted by Perenelle. Apparently she wasn't finished,

"Four: We kill him.

"Five: You call in the Life Debt he owes you and that he violated when he used our stone as bait in his little games." She sneered.

As surprised as everyone was at that revelation, it was clearly Albus who was shocked the most.

He went so pale that it looked like he might be opting for a voluntary variation of Option Four as he might drop dead from the shock.

Nicholas was looking at his wife in disgust at the thought. "A slave?"

"As we have recently learnt, Husband, a slave has the freedoms you grant it." Perenelle still stood with her wand, unwavering in front of that old hooked nose. "You can simply order him to keep your secrets, leave Harry alone but live the rest of his life as he wishes."

"Still… a slave?" He reiterated.

"I would say we should only consider death and slavery options if Albus refuses the other three." Filius offered.

"Yes." Nicholas said quickly. He very much didn't want a slave. He had worked hard with the French and British to abolish slavery in all forms over his six hundred years. "Quickly Albus, make a decision. Take the vows, be obliviated or sign the contract."

"And what if-"

"There is no negotiation here, boy!" Perenelle snapped. "You are defenceless, our prisoner. You live and die at our pleasure. You should be grateful that we are allowing you a modicum of choice.

Perenelle was Nicholas' reason for hating slavery. He had seen her as a young maiden, captured from the Norse seas, awaiting to be bid upon. He had sunk every possession he had into purchasing her and then spent the rest of the next few centuries accumulating wealth to buy more that he would free and protect.

Most of his work on building wealth led him to the creation of the Philosopher's Stone. His work in France and Britain was made easier when they declared that any slave that set foot on their land became free.

As it was, Perenelle still had nightmares of waiting to be sold like cattle. She herself owed Nicholas a Life Debt and would gladly pay it if she ever had the chance.

Albus, meanwhile, was thinking of a way out of this. He was running through the wording of the vows they had used and if there would be a way around them.

"The contract." He said finally.

Contracts could be broken by either party invalidating them. He would just have to bide his time to see if the boy would break it first. He doubted that there was much the child could do in the wizarding world that wouldn't affect him. His roles in the school, the Wizengamot and the international stage meant that sooner or later their paths would cross.

Filius quickly pulled out a piece of parchment. Nearly every Ravenclaw had an enchanted pocket that held several pages of parchment, a quill and an inkpot.

The muggleborn's also had a notepad and biro. Occasionally a fountain pen. It was a huge joke amongst them that the stupid wizards couldn't tell the difference. A few of the sixth and seventh years had cast charms on their fountain pens so no one would suspect otherwise if they were seen.

Even Filius didn't know.

"I assume I will not be permitted to add my own terms?" Albus asked hopefully.

Perenelle just scoffed. "I don't know what happened to you Albus, but you have fallen very far."

Albus just looked pointedly at Fawkes who was sitting on his perch, calmly watching.

"Ha! You think that because you have a Phoenix familiar you can claim it as proof that you are right?" Nicholas laughed. "A Phoenix is loyal and good. But he won't ever betray you unless you betray him. Even then, the most he will do is leave you."

"Hedwig always tells me when I am wrong." Harry frowned. "Usually in the most painful way she can." He said as he rubbed his shoulder where she would squeeze him with her talons.

Harry's expression dropped as he realised that currently, Hedwig didn't do that. Their relationship was too new. His only truly faithful friend had given her life to save him… when compared to his known actions of Fawkes, future and past, Hedwig might as well have been a Phoenix herself.

"I have finished." Filius announced. "Madam Bones and Professor McGonagall have both inspected it. Lord Slytherin, if you would sign please?"

Harry didn't bother reading it. Everyone in the room, save Albus, Fawkes and the Hat, had taken the same Unbreakable Vow Perenelle had.

It was then passed to Albus who grimaced as the first thing he saw was Harry's signature:

Lord Harry James Potter of Slytherin, Head of the House of Potter.

He then read the rest of the contract.

"If this contract is broken it will result in death!" Albus exclaimed.

"Then don't break the contract." Harry said with a smirk and shrug.

"Surely that is a touch extreme?"

"We could just kill you now." Perenelle offered casually.

Somehow, she was still standing there with her wand pointed at him… didn't she ever get tired?

"You were given options Albus." Nicholas warned. "You picked this one. I believe Harry will allow you to take one of the others if you've changed your mind."

Albus visibly scowled but took the blood quill and signed with a flourish.

Albus Percival Brian Wulfric Dumbledore

Headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry

Chief Wizard of the Wizengamot

Supreme Mugwump of the International Confederation of Wizards

It took a good minute for Albus to finish signing.

Perenelle finally relaxed her stance and picked up the contract. She read it over and laughed as she took Albus' quill and signed as a witness before passing it to Amelia to sign as the second witness.

"You are not as cunning as you thought!" Perenelle said in fits of giggles.

"Darling?" Nicholas curiously queried.

"Look at what the fool used as his signature." She instructed.

Amelia had finished signing and handed it to Nicholas, she had no idea what was going on.

As he read, his face developed a huge smile.

"Oh Albus. People made a truly heinous mistake when they appointed you to positions of power." He chuckled.

"Explanation? Please?" Harry asked.

"The fool has let his ego over take him." Perenelle explained. "By signing as the Head of the ICW, Wizengamut and the school he has signed on behalf of the positions themselves. Whoever takes over from him will also be bound by this contract."

"Hmm… it also means that Harry's heirs will be bound by the contract." Moody frowned thoughtfully as he recalled seeing Harry having signed as Lord Slytherin and Head of House Potter. "That could be a double edged sword."

"A problem for the future." Perenelle said dismissively. "Albus I can't tell you how pleased I am by your 'generosity'." She told the scowling man mockingly.

As the group left the room laughing… laughing at him… he was released by the armour who also left.

Once he was alone he turned to the portraits. "Armando, I require you to keep a record of what has occurred here today. I may be bound from interfering but that won't stop others from continuing the fight."

He was met by the sound of mocking laughter as the portraits broke down in hysterics.

"You stupid little brat!" Phineas laughed. "We are Hogwart's portraits. We are bound to serve the castle. As such, we are bound to serve its owner. You are the one we will be spying on!"

Albus suddenly felt the need to relocate his office.