A/N: I know you all hate me for making you wait like this. I have been truly busy with work and and trying to find a second job. So writting has taken a bit of a backseat for me, but i'm still working on this. it just is taking longer than i would necessarily like. anyway asked for the Poll. even if i take those who voted in reviews, Harry/Luna is still leading strong with 16 to Drarry 15. sorry. i don't think Draco's gonna end up with Harry. I am partial to Draco/Ron...but that's just me having a thing for redheads and sexy blonds. the twins could be fun...(SMACK)...OW Katelyn!?

Katelyn: Would you start the story already!?

Magic:fine, on with the fic.

Chapter 7

Harry was now extremely bored. His father had called him through the floo at the Malfoy's Estate a couple hours ago to tell him he would be late tonight. Katelyn was still at the shop, Tom was watching some of the potions Carl had brewing in the Basement for different reactions, and he had read through most of his school books already. He sighed as he put down his theoretical spell creation text and went to the kitchen to have a snack. He could call one of his friends to come over...but then again most of his friends were muggle, and muggle classes started on the first not the fifth like the Academy. He supposed he could call one of his magical friends. But most of them were either going to be busy, or he really couldn't deal with them in a one on one setting. With a sigh he opened the Fridge and settled for just a can of Tab. When the thought hit him. He could explore the attic he hadn't thought about doing so in long time now. Not since he was seven and accidentally found his dad's Boggart. That was not a pleasant experience. Course now he had a wand and he remembered the incantation should he make the same mistake. ( not that, that would happen since his Father had moved that trunk into his basement workshop.) taking his soda with him he made his way to the stairs.

The Attic Door was located just outside of Carl's room. Since both Katelyn and Harry were shorter then him, the string was longer, and he could often be heard groaning over it hitting him in the face when he walked out. But even though it was longer he was still a couple inches short of reaching it and had to jump to get a decent hold on it to pull it down. Once he had the Ladder down he made his way up the stairway into the dusty eves. There was allot more space then you might expect from the size of the house do to a mild spacial expansion charm his father had placed on it. It wasn't as expansive as the one on his workshop, but it was still fairly big.

Harry started moving the boring boxes he already knew about, like the X-Mass decorations, or Halloween costumes. That is until he found one with a Label. 'S.W. Premier costumes.' curious, he opened the box and found a long piece of white fabric sitting on top. When he pulled it out he noticed a picture fall out of it's folds onto the floor. Picking it up, he examined it in the limited light he had from a nearby window. It was an old Polaroid. Two people were shown in it, a man and a woman. The woman was wearing the white robe and had what almost looked like cinnamon buns on the sides of her head. The other was he recognized as a Darth Vader Costume. With the helmet under one arm. It took Harry a minuet to realize that the two were Katelyn and Carl.

"Oh, I'm keeping this..." he said pocketing the picture and laughed when he found an old light saber toy.

He continued his search all the way until he noticed that more of the boxes he found with Labels the more the handwriting started to change. Finally hidden under some old chest filled with prank items, like mouse trap gum, or snakes in a can. He found a box labeled 'Carl's School Things'. His Dad never really talked about his life in the Academy. The classes and certain clubs, sure. But never allot of his friends. He had asked old Mr. Fremont about it once. The old man had only smiled and said,

"He'll tell you in his own time."

Maybe this was a way for him to get some answers. As soon as the box was opened, he noticed a purple leather bound book lying on top of the pile of things. On the front cover, emblazon in gold, were depicted two brooms crossed over a wand pointing downward towards the image of a dragon. Beneath it were the words 'Magia potestatem aeternam' the saints power is magic. It was the seal of the Salem Academy, a yearbook.

Opening it up he noted all of the signatures on the inside cover alone. Some were charmed to do little animations, like one changed into the form of a man dancing a jig. Whilst another would be a bouncing ball that would explode into the name on the third bounce. Checking the year he noted it was from his Fathers last year and started flipping pages. To his fathers name. He snorted when he saw his Fathers picture. Right now Carl had clear skin, short cropped hair that he would sometimes gel if he had the time. And he wore contacts, to show his blue green eyes. The Carl in the photo though was another story. Teen Carl had Long thick Brown hair that was tied into a pony tail that fell over his left shoulder. A pretty bad case of acne, and thick horn-rimmed glasses. To make matters worse, he had braces. Carl was in every aspect of the word, a nerd.

Beneath the name and photo was a list of all the clubs he was in. Chess club, Tutors society, Dueling Club...ect. At the very bottom of the list was one club that sounded so mundane he never thought he would see it in a magic school. Drama Club.

Checking the page he turned through the book to see the section was further towards the back. The Title page for it had a full moving Photo of who Harry guessed were the members of the Club. In the Front was Carl wearing what looked like a Roman Toga, behind him dressed in similar Garb was another teen who was resting his head on Carl's shoulder both were smiling then he would whisper something into Carl's ear and they would double over laughing as the others in the Photo would glance at them with amused expressions. Harry didn't recognize the person in the photo, but then again he didn't know allot of his Dads friends. Beneath the Photo was a list of all the names involved and a few of the show's they did. Most of them Harry didn't know. Putting the book to the side he started looking through the box.

He found some old Dueling robes made of Dragon hide. More then a few Playbills from some of the play's his dad was in. an old Wizard Chess set. The horn-rimmed glasses, those Harry laughed at. And a small pouch of light tan leather that he couldn't open no matter how hard he pulled. Shrugging his shoulders he glanced at his watch and saw that Katlyn was due home in less than an hour. Putting everything back, except the year book and the photo in his pocket. He walked back downstairs to see if he could find anything worth while on the T.V. Until Katelyn got home. Then the fun would really begin.

Tom was becoming bored very quickly. It wasn't that he minded watching the potions experimnts that Carl had been working on for him as he handled the hard stuff, but only being able to 'watch' said potion brew was annoying as all hell. Finally he noticed one of the potions change color from a forest green to a cerulean blue with tiny clumps in it. Just as Carl had said it should. Supposedly the potion was supposed to be able to make the drinker 'temporarily' immune to the unforgivable s. Though Tom had reminded Carl already, that because the unforgivable s were raw magic based they were heavily tied to emotions. Which meant only an emotion stronger than the one used in the spell could overcome it. That having been said it was almost impossible to find an emotion strong enough to overcome the hatred used in the killing curse before it hit you. He let out a long suffering sigh. He hated not having a physical form.

Carl had attempted to create what he called an 'Homonculus' which was a human body with no mind or soul. Idealy, Tom would have posessed the homonculus and acted as Harry's brother. But the experiment had been a failure. The body wasn't the problem. The problem was that his soul was bound to the book, and the only way out of the book was if another piece of soul was nearby. Meaning his body, and the main piece of it. Looking at the clock on the far wall he decided to check and see what Harry was up to. Maybe he had found something interesting that could keep them 'both' entertained.

"And that should bring you up to speed I think." Carl said finishing his explanation to the Wizengamot.

A Tall woman with a stern face and a monocle in her eye stood to address him.

"Forgive me my lord, but what you have described, is worse then I would treat a house-elf."

"And you're point is? Madame..."

"Bones, you're Eminence. And I had no point. Though I would like it known that this body was informed that the boy had a member of the magical community nearby his place of residence to watch over him." Madame Bones explained.

"As much as I would love to continue to listen to excuses as to why my adoptive son was left in those conditions, we are here to address the issue of another matter." Carl said looking around the room with a firm gaze noting almost all either looked frightened or ashamed. "I do promise to revisit this at another point in the foreseeable future, and will meet out some of you to speak with at length about this subject." he finished with a nod towards Augusta, who returned the gesture in kind.

Before any one else could say anything, though many sent death-glares in Dumbledore's direction, two Aurors escorted one very sickly looking Black into the room. Behind them held back by what looked like a mongoose patrounus, were three Dementors. Carl frowned at the dark creatures.

"Are those really necessary?" he asked gesturing to the Dementors.

A little known fact about Dementors is that they were originally brought into this world by Morgana Le'fey during what is now called the war of change. It was the war that pitted Merlin against her and both lost a great deal in fighting it. True, in the end they had settled their differences, but light magic and dark magic would never be able to work alongside one another for very long. Dementors, in their own right, were not loyal to anyone, other then a person who's darkness is greater then theirs. They had a history of turning on their supposed masters. So he naturally did not trust them.

It was a Tall black wizard with a deep baritone voice who answered. "Yes, it's protocol sir."

Black was then chained to a chair in the center of the room before the proceedings got underway.

"This is to begin the trial of one Sirius Orion Black," Dumbledore intoned, seeming to not like the idea at all for a moment before brightening again. "Should he be found innocent I move that proper compensation be paid to him for his unlawful incarceration."

"Let us first determine if he is guilty," said a broad shouldered blond man a few seats over from Lucius. "I find it hard to believe that Sirius Black is innocent after all this time."

"It would be appreciated if everyone could keep their personal opinions to them selves, until this trial has come to a close. My lord." Carl countered with a glare to the man, who sat back down rather quickly.

Dumbledore cleared his throat before continuing "How dose the defendant plead?"

Sirius opened his mouth but all that came out was a raspy cough. Carl frowned at this and conjured a Glass. With a quick aquamenti he filled it and walked over to the chained man. Dumbledore frowned at this action.

"My Liege, please refrain from giving the defendant any substances during this trial."

Madame bones was out of her seat faster then anyone could see. "How is the man to defend himself, Chief Warlock, if he is unable to even speak?" Dumbledore was about to say something, but one look around the room told him that this was a fight he would not win.

Meanwhile, Carl was holding the glass to Sirius' lips for him to drink. He tapped the glass a couple times to get him to look up. Once he did, Carl sparred no moment in entering his mind. It took all of a second for him to find what he was looking for. Sirius was innocent, and all he cared about was that Harry was safe. Leaving his mind Carl noted the glare Sirius sent at him so he whispered so only he could hear.

"Harry is safe, I'm going to get you out of here." Sirius was shocked for a moment but quickly controlled his features.

Carl returned back to his place as Dumbledore put forth the question again. This time the answer came. It was still dry and weak, but it held a conviction few would recognize as he spoke "Not Guilty."

The order was then issued to administer the Veritaserum. Once it had taken effect several questions were asked, that undoubtedly proved his innocence. With every question that was asked he noted how Dumbledore seemed to fall deeper and deeper into thought. The trial wouldn't take long at this rate. In fact it looked to Carl as though Madame's Bones and Longbottom were about to move for a verdict.

"I move that the defendant be found innocent of all crimes of which he stands Accused." Spoke Bones in a 'no nonsense' tone of voice. Nicholas Flemel stood next.

"I Second the motion,"

Dumbledore sighed, "The motion has been seconded, shall we put it to a vote?" there were nods all around

"All those in favor of his innocence?" He asked raising his hand saying "I". wouldn't do to be caught going against black at this point in the game.

Counting those who had agreed with the vote there were more then 38 I's.

"The I's have it. Serious Orion Black shall be cleared of all charges, his Titles and Lands be returned to him, his accounts will be unfrozen, and a deposit of 20,000 Galleons shall be placed into your Gringots account as compensation for you're unlawful imprisonment. Let the time be noted as 8:25 on August the 1 st of the year 1991." so saying Dumbledore struck the Gavel bringing the trial to an end. The Aurors from before made a move to help Black out of his chair but Carl stopped them.

"I got him," so saying he waved his wand opening the chains on the chair. He then proceeded to guide black out of the room.

Gellert didn't consider himself overly intuitive. If anything he was highly practical. He needed proof of something before he would believe it. So you might understand how out of character it was for him to feel a chill run up his spine at half past eight one night and he intrinsically knew something was wrong. Glancing out his door window he made sure the guards were gone before clapping his hands in a specific sequence that released the spell on his cell. If anything his 'cell' was more like a small apartment. Albus brought him gifts every year when he came, and had even invented this spell just for him. He was a very thoughtful lover when it came to things like that. Walking over to a mirror on the wall he tapped it twice and a shabby woman's face appeared in the glass. Her Dark mane strewn about as though caught in the wind.

"I take it you felt that chill my love?" she questioned.

"Yes, any idea what it was?"

"They removed Black earlier today, I can only assume it has to do with him. My pet's will tell me more when they return." she answered with a kind smile. 'it looked kind, even if she is evil.'

Gellert bit his lower lip. "What about on the other front? Is the plan still feasible?"

"My dear Gellert, when this is done the three of us will live in eternity. Regardless of who the victor is. So long as one of them dies."

He sighed in relief. "Albus will be here tomorrow, I can see how things are going then. Is there anything you want me to pass on to him?" Gellert asked running a hand through his thinning hair.

"My love, dear Gellert. Give him my love." with that the connection ended and Gellert flopped into a nearby wing-backed chair with another sigh. Looking at himself in the now ordinary mirror.

"Oh, Gellert. You've gotten old." he said touching his face.

He snapped his fingers and a small house elf appeared kneeling before him.

"Master be wantsing Loke?" it asked in that high pitched voice.

"Fetch me some Polka would you Loke. Also some food." he said in exasperation

Loke looked up and nodded but made no move to do as asked.

Loke had allot of freedom with his master, he knew. Gellert had always had a soft spot for house elves. Even during his reign as a dark lord. So if one wanted to say something to him they only had to wait until asked for their word on a matter. Course that only happened in private, but being in a cell alone for over 60 years...you don't get much more private.

"What is it Loke?" Gellert asked not actually looking at the little elf.

"Loke is worried for master," he began earning a curious look from Gellert. "Master sighs more than he used to, master doesn't study his books no more either. Master sleeps longer each day. Loke is worried for master's health."

Gellert chuckled and placed a hand on top of Loke's head earning a teary-eyed look.

"I'm old Loke, and up to this point I thought I was working to better our entire world. But as the years have worn on, I have grown to realize, everything I have done was for me." he said sitting back again.

"I love Albus and Ariana both. And they are what get me moving each and everyday. But when you're old, you haven't much to live for." at this he pointed to a chest in the corner.

"Do you remember what I told you about that chest Loke?" he asked the now bawling elf who could only nod.

"I want to hear you say it."

"I-If m-m-master d-dies, Loke i-i-is to o-open ch-ch-chest..." he said through sobs before Gellert reached down and picked up the tiny crying elf.

"You have been my constant companion all these years, and I will never be able to tell you how thankful I truly am for you." after a few minuets Loke calmed down enough to go do as he was instructed. Meanwhile, Gellert, with his Polka in hand, walked over to the chest and opened it to show a set of clothing that were going to belong to the son he would now never have. Looking back at the mirror as he closed it again one thought went through his mind.

'How did it ever come to this, Morgana?'

TBC

A/N: So, what did you think? I deliberately did Gellert like this because his character is so open that I felt I had to make him a some what teary character. and i know i did allot of cliff hangers here but most of it was to set up for the opening in the next chapter. Please Reveiw and vote. remember all harry pairings come down around chapter nine.