Chapter two

Harry knew he would not hear from Sirius for a while as he was not even in this country, so he spent his time reading and rereading his text books, starting from first year. He tried so often at Hogwarts but with Hermione always nagging and Ron who seemed to always want to skive off any work, Harry didn't get a lot of time. He also had to sneak away or behind his curtains to do his work. Now he had his trunk thanks to the threat that Sirius could turn up at the Dursley's, Harry thought it was time for some serious review without having to worry about Hermione nagging and bitching all the time.

Apart from using the bathroom or joining the Dursley's for their diet induced meals Harry never left his bedroom. He would like some fresh air but he had seen order members, just occasionally. One thing that struck Harry was how easily he did see them, he knew they were supposed to stay out of sight and he knew that he, Harry Potter, was not supposed to know he was being watched. When Harry did find out he was seriously pissed off but realised he couldn't do much about it. If he tried to go for a walk he knew he could use his cloak but wasn't going to take the chance of it being ruined, whether by magical or muggle means, like Dudley and his gang.

So for the remainder of that day and the next Harry kept reading, and he was finding out more than he ever thought possible. He had sent Hedwig away for some extra books before he left Hogwarts, he wanted to learn more about the school but also some of it's laws, especially in regards to underage wizards.

It was the second night that Harry was woken by a light touch to his foot, he jerked awake, grabbed his wand which was under his pillow.

'It's me Harry, calm down.'

'What were the first words you said to me when I had you on your back in the shrieking shack?'

'Are you going to kill me Harry.'

'What did my father turn into and why?'

'A stag, to help Remus but he liked the stag as he thought of it as mate to Lily's doe patronus. Are you satisfied it is me or do you want to ask something else?'

'I think it's you but I will see once the hour is up, you won't be leaving until then.'

Sirius nodded then sat on the end of the bed, he noticed Harry kept his wand in his hand even though he relaxed his grip.

'Hermione, well, that's up to you and I have to agree with you, I didn't take to her even though I only saw her for a short time. Lily was smart, the smartest witch around yet she never flaunted it, not like Hermione.'

'She's arrogant about it, has to make sure everyone knows. The thing is and I never told anyone, but I would be as smart as her, I hide it for two reasons.'

'Let me guess, the way Hermione is treated by other students?'

'Yes, until Ron and I became her friend she never had any friends and I know she's not liked by most of the students there. The other is the Dursley's, I got into a habit of dumbing myself down to escape punishment.'

'About that, I was told they really cared about you, thought of you like a second son. Albus and Remus told me that, by the way.'

Harry scoffed, 'Sirius, this is Dudley's second bedroom, I only got this room when my Hogwarts letters first arrive, my room was a blasted cupboard. I've never been given much food, there's been days I wasn't given any. I have never received a gift from them, not birthday or Christmas, I don't even get to have a day off from being their slave on my birthday.'

'Slave, tell me.'

'I do everything, that's pretty much it. Dudley makes sure there is a lot more work for me, but I do inside and outside, I even have to cook for them. It's only these last couple of weeks that I haven't had to do anything, they are really scared of you.'

'Me, what do I have to do with this?'

'They saw your picture of the news, knew you were an escaped criminal, a murderer. Well, I didn't correct them just said you were my godfather, my father's best friend. It took a few seconds before Petunia realise who you were, Sirius Black, best man at my parent's wedding.'

'Good one, at least it keeps them in line. Okay, now I have not been told by anyone including Remus about the night you were left here. When I read that I knew I couldn't trust them. It was bad enough they lied to me about how you were treated, but to leave you out in the night just makes me furious. You are right, a dog, even a small dog could have ripped you apart, you were only a year old. I know the magical world has sick people in it, there is rape but not many would ever abuse a child that way. Lily explained a lot about the muggle world, it made James and I want to go hunt them down making sure to torture them by cutting off their dicks. But with you, it was just luck that you weren't seen. There was one thing you never mentioned that Lily told us about, child smugglers. There are some that kidnap children, sell them to people overseas and turn them into prostitutes.'

'I never knew about that, but it doesn't surprise me. Onto something really important, the teachers at my old school saw how many bruises I had on me yet none bothered to do anything about it. Sirius, this is…well, serious, Vernon gets really angry, especially when he drinks. I can see it, he's building to something, I just don't know what.'

'Okay, when do you leave for the Burrow?'

'A couple of days, I never told them just in case.'

'Good, okay, there is things you can do but I can't be mentioned Harry. If Albus gets words I helped then I've lost my protection. I know I could leave but I want to remain close in case you need my help. Now before I tell you some things you could do, that dream and what it means. There is something special happening at Hogwarts this year, it was being kept from everyone apart from who is involved. It's a legendary tournament against the three biggest magical schools, Hogwarts is hosting it, the other two are Durmstrange which most people believe breed dark witches and wizard and the other is Beauxbatons. There all supposedly on the side of light, but as you know there are dark people even inside Hogwarts.'

'So this tournament could be what they meant, about how to get me.'

'Yes, but I found out that there will be an age limit and an age line to stop anyone under seventeen entering. The trouble is it would not be too hard for someone older to get past that to enter you. If he really has someone inside Hogwarts then I would say that is what he is planning. The names will be selected on Halloween night, the night before Halloween the cup will be sitting there for all who wants to enter.'

'I don't go to the Halloween feast, not since the first one. I only found out my parents died that night a few weeks after the first Halloween at Hogwarts, so now I avoid it. Most realised why, so Dobby usually brings me something to eat.'

'Until I escaped I didn't know what day it was, but I will not be celebrating that night, ever. Now the thing is, okay, you get out of being there that night but the night before. We need a way for you to be out of commission for a few days before until a few days after. It has to look good which means spending at least four to five days in the hospital where Poppy can keep an eye on you. If your name comes out then it will be proven you didn't do it which will cancel the magical binding contract. All they have to do is check the magical signatures on the parchment to prove it wasn't you.'

'Even though I don't fancy spending five days in the hospital, I'll do it, I can study since I haven't been able to, mainly because of Hermione. About her though Sirius, she is smart, we've all seen it, she gives me advice about what books I should read. I didn't let her know I checked out those books, they were hopeless, completely useless. I send Hedwig to buy me books after reading through the booklist that Flourish and Blotts provide, they have been really useful.'

'Maybe she sensed you were smarter than you let on and tried to hinder you. But would she be the type to check previous students test scores?'

'She has, she told me, she went on about Dumbledore's scores and how Snape got o+ in potions and that's why he's so good.'

'So she didn't mention anyone else?'

'McGonagall and a few names I didn't recognise, why?'

'Your mother, she had the highest scores in every subject in the history of Hogwarts. Harry, she got oo's which has never been done before, but even Dumbledore never got oo in all his subjects, he did get one oo, that was in transfiguration and why he ended up teaching it, he invented a lot of the transfiguration spells used today.'

'Bloody hell, so my mum was a brain. Hermione would have known that and didn't tell me, bitch.'

'She was worried you could be like your mum.'

'Well, I'm smart, I'm not that smart. Charms and transfiguration are my favourite classes and I know I will get o in my owls, defence I'm naturally good at and will get an o, potion I wanted to like but Snape makes it impossible. It's lucky he won't be testing us for our O.W.L.s or we'd all fail. He takes great pleasure it making sure I have a t or p for every test.'

'He loved your mother Harry, he just can't get past the fact she chose your father, who you look like.'

'Fucking hell,' Harry's eyes widen, he was lucky he didn't yell or his uncle would be running into the room. Now he knew why Snape looked at him like he was dirt.