The next couple of days went by slowly, it was nearing the end of term and everyone was busy studying for and taking exams. Harry was exempt from them to take time to grieve Dumbledore simply told Harry's professors that he had given the boy a proficiency test of which he had passed with flying colors.
Not that Harry wouldn't have been able to. His average grades were an act thought up by Dumbledore to hide the fact that Harry had been tutored since he was young. No Dumbledore simply wanted to keep Harry happy by giving him the time off.
About three days after the incident at the ministry Harry was sitting on a low tree branch hanging over the lake when his trained hearing picked up on a noise behind him. He quickly and silently swung from a higher branch to the bank of the lake ducking low behind the tree aiming his wand in the direction of the noise.
"It's only me pup." A soft voice called out.
"Remus?" Harry asked standing up right.
"Yes pup." Remus shook his head. His hair had more gray in it than the last time Harry had seen him.
"Who was in the shrieking shack the night I found out Sirius was innocent?" Harry then asked suddenly.
"You, Ron, Hermione, Sirius, Pettigrew in rat form of course and Snape came in later." Remus counted off on his fingers.
"Thank Merlin, Moony." Harry approached the man throwing his arms around him hugging him tightly. "I was afraid you would blame me for what happened."
"Of course not I would never blame you for something like that." Remus replied hugging him back just as tightly.
The two of them roamed the grounds for a little while talking. Harry told Remus he hadn't been able to read the journal yet but he would after school ended and he had chosen a property to live on.
"Sirius' will reading is on Saturday. He probably won't tell you about it, but it is your right to be there." Remus informed.
Harry immediately knew Remus was referring to Dumbledore, the old man's meddling was becoming a nuisance.
Time for dinner eventually rolled around and it was time for Remus to make his leave.
"I'll send for you once I'm settled." Harry gave the man one last hug. "I have ideas and plans but I need your help."
"Anything Harry, you know that, I'm behind you one hundred percent of the way."
With that parting the two went their separate ways. Harry sat alone at the end of the Gryffindor table. Most of the school knew what had happened and most of them were now avoiding him all save for a few girls who thought this new bad boy persona was appealing.
After dinner, Harry, who was not ready to face his common room just yet made his way to the library and sat doodling in a sketch pad for a while, he never noticed anyone else entering the library until someone else sat down at his table looking at his drawing of a big black dog.
Harry looked up as he heard the chair move out, and found himself looking at none other than Draco Malfoy.
"What do you want Malfoy?" He asked without much conviction. Draco fidgeted for a moment before he finally spoke.
"I heard about your godfather. I just wanted to tell you I'm sorry for your loss."
"I don't need nor do I want your pity Malfoy", Harry replied tiredly.
"I'm not pitying you, it just seems like every one you care about gets taken away from you and you've never done anything to deserve that kind of pain. That's all" Draco shrugged and stood walking towards the doors.
Harry stood there dumbstruck watching his retreating back unable to form the coherent words to call him back and not sure why he wanted to.
Harry sat there dumbfounded staring blankly at the wooden doors Malfoy had exited through for a good quarter of an hour before he finally shook his head to clear his thoughts and headed back to the common room hoping it would have emptied by now.
He had no such luck and as soon as he entered Ron stood up and approached him.
"I can't believe you still have the nerve to show your face here Potter." He spat. "Can't you tell no one wants you here?"
"Move Ron," Harry hissed trying to move past him.
"No, I told you no one wants you here." Ron repeated a little louder this time looking around the common room for support. As people started agreeing and cheering him on Ron got cockier pulling his wand and pointing it at the raven haired boy.
Harry's eyes glittered dangerously and he was about to curse Ron into oblivion but the red head fell to the floor gasping for air grabbing his stomach before he could do anything.
"Tsk tsk now Ronald." Harry heard and turned to see Fred and George standing behind him, both had their wands trained on their brother.
"Now, you know you should run for the bathroom.." George grinned.
Ron jumped to his feet grabbing his arse. Then with a wide eyed look he took off for the bathroom.
"Though you probably won't make it in time." Fred called after his retreating back. The two walked up and each placed a hand on Harry's shoulder.
"Exploding diarrhea curse, we invented ourselves." George chuckled then joined his twin in glaring around the common room.
"If anyone else has a problem with Harry, please we would love to hear it." Fred announced.
"Who wants to go first?" George looked around almost like he actually expected someone to volunteer.
Everyone went back to what they were doing none of them wanted to tangle with the Weasley twins.
"Thanks guys," Harry gave them a smile which was rare anymore.
"Anything for you." Fred teased.
"Yeah yeah. Come on lets go up to the bedroom there are less ears in that cornfield." Harry suggested leading the way.
He had a plan formulating and he would need all the help he could get.
Once they made it to the boys dorm which had quickly turned into Harry's dorm they all sat down on the bed and Harry closed the hangings throwing up several silencing spells and wards to keep any unwanted eavesdroppers from hearing anything.
"Sirius left me everything, he made me the heir to the Black family fortune." Harry began before stretching out with his head in Fred's lap with his legs across George's.
Fred began to run his fingers through Harry's raven locks as the teen continued to speak.
"Since I am heir to two family fortunes now that makes me a legal adult and eligible to collect on them both."
"Oh you're legal now." George grinned interrupting.
"Like it stopped you before when I wasn't" Harry retorted effectively silencing the red head.
"Sirius' will reading is on Saturday. But Dumbledore will try to keep me from going. Remus told me about it. Dumbledore will probably try to keep me from getting the inheritance."
"Well what do you need us to do Harry?" Fred questioned.
"You know we are behind you one hundred percent no matter what." George added.
"In the letter I received it says I have acquired several homes and properties, when I go to the reading of the will I am going to review my assets and choose a property after which I will contact both of you as well as Remus to come to the home I choose and we will discuss the plans, however the basic idea is to take Voldemort and Dumbledore down." Harry growled deep in his throat.
"So you are going to start your own war party?" Fred asked.
"I am going to start my own fraction and we will be victorious." Harry sat up a fire burning in the depths of his emerald eyes.
"So where do we come in?" George leaned forward in interest.
"Well I'm obviously not going to be able to do any recruiting. I would really prefer to stay the anonymous rich guy funding everything until it comes down to the wire so I can pretend to remain in Dumbling dorks good graces. So you guys along with Remus will recruit suitable people to my side. People who believe the ministry needs a change, the laws need to be updated, Muggle born witches and wizards should be taught more and better prepared before entering the wizarding world." Harry looked at the red headed twins with a maniacal smile on his face.
"I will make the world a better place."
"We will be honored to be a part of that." Both of them announced at once.
"Yes well with all of that out of the way are you guys staying or leaving? I'm tired." Harry spoke through a yawn.
"We really must be getting back." George frowned.
"As much as we would like to stay." Fred followed suit.
Harry took down the silencing spells and wards and showed them to the door.
"Remember if anyone gives you any trouble don't hesitate to contact us. We still have our coins." Fred smiled hugging Harry.
"We will be here in the blink of an eye." George hugged him as well.
"Thank you both and good night." Harry smiled softly before shutting the door and going to flop down on his bed. As tired as he was he couldn't seem to fall asleep. Finally with a sigh Harry rolled over and pulled Sirius' journal out of the drawer. He flipped open the cover and began with the first page.
Property of Sirius Orion Black
I solemnly swear that I am up to no good.
Harry cocked his head to the side looking at the second line. It looked darker, fresher than the rest. Harry flipped through a few pages looking to see if perhaps Sirius had used a different ink at times but he found no trace of the darker ink. Only huge blank spaces between entries almost as if some were missing.
Harry flipped back to the first page and looked at it again. With a smirk he pointed the tip of his wand to the book and whispered "Mischief Managed."
Suddenly more of the dark writing appeared and Harry was strongly tempted to blast it with a hex thinking back to second year.
Harry chanced a glance down at the page and heaved out a sigh of relief.
Kiddo, I'm so so so sorry for having to make you relive the chamber, this was the only way I knew of to get this information to you and only you. If you have received this it means my worst paranoid fears about Dumbledore were correct.
This journal holds all of the secrets I could never tell anyone, I am almost positive you will not want to believe most of it so I have left little footnotes with each entry to try and help you better understand. I hope this helps you figure out who you really are.
Padfoot,
Harry flipped to the next page and began to read the first entry.
Lily and James' wedding is tomorrow and I'm the best man, I know traditionally the best man is trusted to keep secrets. That's why he gets to throw the bachelor party but I never expected the secret I would be keeping would be Lily's.
Lily came to me last week she looked like a nervous wreck, I sat her down and poured her a cup of coffee and she suddenly just let loose like a waterfall. She told me that she didn't love James, That she was only marrying him because he could support her and give her a decent sort of life. She informed me that she was in love with another man, but that he had become a death eater and their separate views on things pushed them apart.
She was speaking of none other than Snivellus Snape.
Your mother detested James until about sixth or seventh year. Then all of a sudden she was all about him. I found out later that about the same time she started dating James was the same time Snape took the mark.
Harry looked down at the last paragraph blankly. He didn't know what to think or do. The one person in the world who hated Harry as much as Voldemort had been involved with his Mother. With a shake of his head Harry moved on to the next entry.
James' mother gave me this journal for graduation she said to document my travels and my experiences. It seems that all I use it for is sharing Lily's dirty little secrets.
Her visit today was bad. She seriously screwed up this time, she's pregnant and she isn't sure if the father is James or Snape.
I may have yelled a bit and called her a whore but then she told me what happened. She and James hadn't gotten into an argument because James was stuck so far up Dumbledore's arse and refused to do anything unless the old coot told him it was okay.
Lily stormed out of the house and apparated to The Leaky Cauldron to get a room for the night, she ended up at the bar drinking and Severus was there. They both sat down to talk and hash things out and to drink together. One thing led to another and well I'd rather not repeat the rest maybe if I don't record it I will never have to think about it again.
In the end Lily asked me to help her by insuring if the baby wasn't James he wouldn't find out,
I refused but the more she pleaded I finally gave in and agreed to change his appearance with a spell at birth but she had to agree that it would only be until the child was seven and then the truth would have to be told because the spell would wear off.
She agreed to this and we have entered into a magical contract. I hope James can forgive me.
Again kiddo I told you there would be things in here you wouldn't believe. But this is as honest as I can possibly be in writing James was Dumbledore's lap dog. Your mother was a bit more of a free spirit. She didn't believe in Dumbledore's methods. She felt that if muggle borns were educated a bit more from an earlier age wizards tolerance of them may be better.
Harry sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose before moving on to the next entry which would be sure to change his life forever.
The baby was born today and even as a new born you can tell James had nothing to do with the creation of the child. I performed the spell to make him take on James' appearance.
The spell will wear off at midnight on his seventh birthday and Merlin help him if Lily never tells him or James the truth. The spell of course can be renewed but it cannot be performed by a blood relative so if Lily decided to not tell her husband of her deceit she will have to let someone know.
No matter what, the spell will not last past midnight on the child's sixteenth birthday.
She named him Harry James Potter and she made me his godfather.
Harry couldn't even read Sirius' footnotes on this one he slammed the book shut and grabbed the Marauders Map. After checking to see if his path was clear Harry exited the dorm not even bothering with his invisibility cloak.
In his mind he was daring Snape to stop him.
Harry made a beeline for the black lake encountering no one on his way. Once there he climbed up onto his favorite branch overhanging the water and leaned back against the tree trunk, closing his eyes he inhaled deeply and exhaled sharply, his eyes flying open.
"Is this just a lucky coincidence or are you stalking me?" Harry practically growled.
Only the sounds of nature answered him so he gritted his teeth together speaking again.
"Malfoy, I know you are there so come out before I blast that tree to pieces you with it!"
A blond head poked out from behind a tree a few feet away. He had an ashamed look on his normally stoic face. He looked up into Harry's green eyes and his Slytherin mask fell back into place.
"Can I ask why it is you have decided you need to follow me like a lost mutt?" Harry asked disdain apparent in his voice.
"I wasn't following you." Draco lifted his chin indignantly.
Harry jumped from the tree branch landing gracefully on his feet he approached Draco swiftly.
"No? Then how is it you just happen to be at the lake at three AM hiding behind a tree watching me?" he demanded.
"Who says I was watching you?" Draco questioned.
"I could feel it, you were staring at me. Maybe if you laid off on the poof cologne I wouldn't have smelled you and you would have gotten away with it." Harry retorted giving a small sniff of the air.
"Ouch, someone piss all over you? Or are you always this pleasant company?" Draco rolled his eyes crossing his arms
"I don't recall asking for any company Malfoy particularly yours." Harry snapped
"But yet, you are talking to me" Draco smirked his signature smirk.
"I'm not in the mood Malfoy just tell me why you are following me and get it over with," Harry sighed moving to lean against the tree trunk.
"Well I haven't been following you, I would call it observing. In some way I have felt a change in you, and I was merely curious as to what caused it. Call it what you will." Draco waved his hand dismissively.
"I call it stalking and I don't think you knew me well enough to begin with to judge rather I've changed. I haven't I've just decided I'm to old to play make believe anymore. It was time to quit pretending." Harry stated pointedly.
"Then you haven't experienced stalking...", Draco smirked, "...But why have you been pretending? And to whom?"
"And I have no desire to so don't get any ideas. I've been pretending to everyone... wait.. why am I even talking to you? I know I need sleep now, we hate each other, you are not my friend I don't have to explain myself to you. Why do you even care?" Harry ran his fingers through his already messy hair.
"So sure about that? Why wouldn't I care? I'm not made of stone you know, as hard as it may be to believe I do care about other people, and lets say, even though we aren't friends, we still play a big part in each others life. Hogwarts really wouldn't be the same without you, who would I taunt and mess with then?" Draco teased.
"I don't know who the poor soul will be but hopefully it brings you as much joy to annoy the hell out of them as it has to annoy me." Harry frowned.
"Aww you give yourself too little credit, no one would be able to fill your shoes when it comes to being my amusement." Draco smiled showing brilliant white teeth. Harry took a moment to respond. Malfoy actually didn't look half bad when he smiled. Almost like a completely different person. Finally Harry shook himself out of it and answered the blonde who had started looking at him with a look that almost seemed concerned.
"Too bad Malfoy I don't know if I'll be returning to Hogwarts next year."
"Why would that be? You hate me that much that you have to escape from me?" Draco taunted but there was an underlying feel to his words.
"Don't flatter yourself Malfoy. I have bigger concerns than you or some school yard rivalry." Harry sighed sinking to the ground still leaning against the tree. His lack of sleep and proper nutrition over the past few days was starting to take a toll.
Reaching into his pocket he pulled out a lighter and a pack of cigarettes. He lit one up and looked at Draco almost as if daring him to say something.
"You have changed. Muggle bad ass habits? Exactly what have made you like this?" Draco asked moving to sit next to him.
"I haven't changed, I told you I'm just done pretending to be someone I'm not, I'm sick of being Dumb Dorks lap dog." Harry took a long drag off of his cigarette blowing the smoke in Draco's face.
"If you are going to blow it in my face anyway, then just hand me one."
"The almighty pure blood Malfoy smoking a muggle cigarette. I think the earth may stop spinning." Harry commented lighting another one and passing it over to the blonde.
"Told you I wasn't as cold as I may seem. You're not the only one play pretending."
"Yeah well I'm done pretending Dumbledore can find a new child to extort." Harry lit himself another one. He couldn't believe he was sitting smoking a cigarette with none other than Draco Malfoy and they weren't trying to hex each other. It was actually nice and just for the night Harry pushed the thought of Draco using any of this against him and chose to just enjoy the company.
"So what are you gonna do instead?"
"I'm not joining Voldemort if that's what you're thinking." Harry looked at Draco like he had grown an extra head.
"That wasn't what I meant. I'm not in league with him as you would think, that is my role playing which is keeping me alive. So don't worry about me trying to recruit you or anything."
"Well what if I tried to recruit you instead then?" Harry asked looking Draco right in the eyes. He didn't want the blonde to mistake this for a joke.
"You mean to say that you are creating your own army? For what, and who exactly are you fighting?" Draco's eyes had gone wide in surprise.
"Not an army per say, nothing that big. It is easier to work in secret with smaller numbers. I'm fighting against the man who stole my mother and the man who has ruined my life." Harry's eyes darkened.
"So, how would that help me? The moment the Dark Lord figures out I'm not loyal I'm a dead man. What can you offer that would be worth that risk?" Draco quirked up an eyebrow.
"You are a Malfoy you have more money than most people see in a life time. What could you possibly want?" Harry rolled his eyes.
"Well that's just it, I don't. My father has money, and I will only get them if I act like the perfect Malfoy heir and do exactly as my father wants me to. So if I rebel I will never see a dime, I would sooner see my own death than being that. What I want, is to be able to be myself."
"I don't know what to tell you Malfoy, all I can offer you is a home to live in and my protection." Harry rubbed his temples to rid himself of the headache he was getting from the stress of dealing with everything.
"You think you can protect me? You still don't know exactly what the Death Eaters are capable of, especially when it comes to traitors among themselves. Trust me, I wouldn't live for long." Draco shuddered at the thought.
"Follow me." Harry stated getting to his feet moving towards the forbidden forest.
"Where are you going?" Draco asked scrambling to his feet.
"Into the forest. Are you coming or not?" Harry asked stopping to look over his shoulder.
"Why?"
"Because I want to show you what I'm capable of, but I can't risk anyone else seeing it." Harry sighed getting irritated.
"Why do you trust me? I though I was just a poof with bad cologne to you." Draco crossed his arms.
"Who else do I have to trust Malfoy?" Harry asked looking at the ground in front of him waiting to see if Draco would follow,
"Are you telling me that you don't have anyone else to trust at the moment?" Draco asked disbelievingly walking up to where Harry stood.
"Other than the Weasley twins and Remus, no I don't. Everyone thinks it is too dangerous to be around me or are afraid of me because of what happened at the tri-wizard tournament." Harry started walking again.
"Why would they be afraid of you because of that?" Draco questioned falling into step with him.
"Everyone believes I killed Cedric in the Cemetery." Harry replied through gritted teeth, This was a rather sore subject for him.
"But you didn't. That was the Dark Lord." Draco looked out the corner of his eye at the brunette.
"Of course it was." Harry replied entering the forest.
"So the only reason you trust me, is because you are in desperate need of confidantes? I feel so honored." Draco either hadn't picked up on Harry's sarcastic reply or he had chosen to ignore it which caused the teen to shake his head and roll his eyes.
"I feel like I can trust you. I just have a gut feeling about it. Now quit badgering me about it before I change my mind and decide you're just a git who isn't worth my time you poof." Harry had a lopsided grin on his face showing his harsh words were merely his way of teasing.
"Oh really now, and what makes you so sure I'm a poof, huh?" Draco fired back.
"It's either that or you use two different men's colognes." Harry moved closer to the blonde inhaling deeply near his neck.
"Actually I don't wear cologne."
Harry quirked an eyebrow and stuck his nose directly against Draco's skin inhaling again taking in the scent.
"Oh well it's none of my business." He shrugged moving away further into the trees.
"Why smelled something you liked?" Draco caught up quickly.
"Not particularly." Harry wrinkled his nose. "Maybe without the extra men's cologne smell added to your natural smell, but tell your boyfriend not to bathe in his cologne it's rubbing off on you and it doesn't blend well with your chemistry."
"Who says I have a boyfriend?"
"Fine your butt buddy." Harry scowled as they moved further into the woods, almost no light was coming in through the branches making it virtually impossible for a normal person to see where they were going. Harry heard Draco stumbling over branches and rocks along the way.
"With the way you speak about homosexuality, one would almost think you're trying to cover up your own little dirty secret." Draco commented moving a little closer.
"I'm not trying to hide anything. No one has ever thought to ask me about my sexuality." Harry smirked knowing Draco wouldn't see him in the dark.
"Really, so now would be the moment I should ask, huh?" Draco had moved close enough that his arm was brushing against Harry's.
"Ask what exactly? You must be more specific." Harry had a smile on his face and the feeling was foreign to him.
"What exactly rocks your boat?" Draco asked
"Well I don't have a boat but I suppose if I did, waves would rock it. We should be far enough in now, no one can see us from the castle." Harry replied easily.
"Waves, huh? Nope really can't see that coming." Draco smirked
"But to answer you innuendo, yes I'm gay." Harry rolled his eyes.
Draco paused for a second, unsure how to react to that. "Is that so?"
"Yeah why? Got a problem with that?" Harry turned to face the blonde.
"Why would I? You seem sure that I am too, so if that were to be true, I wouldn't, now would I?"
"Well you haven't exactly denied it. Now did we come all the way into the darkest parts of the forest to talk about our sexual preferences or are we here so I can prove I could protect you?" Harry questioned. He knew Draco couldn't see two feet in front of him even though he personally could see everything quite clearly.
"Sure, show me your tricks mini Merlin"
Harry shook his head. The blonde truly had no idea. "Merlin would be jealous if he saw what I can do."
Harry began by conjuring a series of floating blue orbs of light so Draco could see better.
"Go sit over there please." He pointed towards a boulder at the edge of the clearing he had led them to. "And for the record nothing about me is mini."
"Of course not, why would bloody Potter lack in anything. When was life ever fair."
Harry quirked his eyebrow again looking over his shoulder. "Jealous much?" Ignoring the scowl on Draco's face Harry moved to the center of the clearing and began dropping the glamours that he hadn't gone without since Dumbledore had began training him. The glamours that hid his true muscle tone and his height. When he had finished he removed his glasses as they did nothing for his vision. That was already perfect. The glasses were all a part of his pretend life.
When he finally finished and turned to face Draco he stood at about six foot three and his clothes were tighter fitting against the muscles. All things the glamours kept hidden from the world. Dumbledore told him he had to hide all of this so that when he went up against Voldemort it would take him by surprise. Harry knew it was so no one would find out Dumbledore had put him on a vigorous exercise routine from a young age.
"Your secret power is to do glamour charms? That will have the Death Eaters shaking in their boots." Draco scoffed.
Harry smirked at him and turned to face the trees on the other side of the clearing.
"This clearing wasn't here a week ago." He commented before planting his feet firmly in the soil and rubbed his hands together. After a moment of concentration he stood up straight and threw his arms out he brought them back together clapping his hands together. When he did, a powerful gust of wind took down every tree standing in the way at least a mile into the forest.
Draco was still sitting on the boulder when Harry turned back to face him. His mouth was hanging open and he was blinking in surprise. Harry crossed the space between them and closed Draco's mouth for him.
Grinning he leaned against the boulder. "Are the Death Eaters shaking in their boots yet?"
"Guess they would be... Why have you been hiding this? This is phenomenal," Draco was still looking wide eyed at the trees. Or where the trees used to stand anyway.
"Because Dumbledore wants me to be his secret weapon against Voldemort." Harry waved his hand and a cool breeze blew through the clearing.
"So this is how you rock a boat huh?"
"No, you would know it if I had rocked your boat."
"Is that so? How exactly would you do that?"
"Guess you'll just have to keep wondering about that one, now won't you?" Harry smirked a true Slytherin smirk before he extinguished the lights leaving them in complete darkness again.
"Aw don't be a spoiled sport." Draco huffed.
"I'm not. We hate each other remember?" Harry called from somewhere along the path they had taken to get into the woods.
"Hey, where are you going? I can't see a fucking thing. You can't leave me out here." Draco scrambled off the rock walking in the direction he had heard Harry's voice. As he walked the ground lit up in an eerie shade of green almost as if the foliage was lighting up showing him the way. By the time he made it out of the forest Harry was already there waiting for him. Sitting cross legged on a rock glamours back in place.
"Waiting for something? I figured you'd be gone by now."
"Just making sure you made it out alive. I don't need another death on my conscious." Harry replied with his chin resting on his hands.
"Wow, I didn't know you cared so much." Draco replied sarcastically.
Harry just shrugged moving off the rock and heading back towards the castle. He was almost out of Draco's sight when he heard Harry's voice clearly in his ear almost like he was still standing there.
"By the way I don't hate you Draco."
