"HE'S WHERE?"

The woman's shrieks were so loud that they awoke the portrait of Mrs. Black. Now there were two shrill voices echoing throughout the confines of the house. Remus ran out of the kitchen followed by all the Weasley children to silence the portrait while Sirius faced the wrath of a very irate Mrs. Molly Weasley who had discovered that Harry was not within the house.

It was only by sheer dumb luck that she had discovered the plot. While visiting her husband in the hospital, she had learned that Arthur and the Healer had decided to use stitches to try and close the rather pesky wounds. A rather heated argument had broken out and her children had all excused themselves. When she had gone to gather them all up, she discovered that Ron had run into Hermione and Neville Longbottom. It was to Molly's dismay to learn that Hermione was now dating the Longbottom boy, as she had hoped Ron and Hermione might begin dating. However, she had no assumptions, as Ron was a very shortsighted boy, and Hermione was very smart, and quite intelligent. It would be no time at all before some boy swooped in ad charmed the girl away from her rather thick son.

As she approached she overheard Ron telling his friends that Harry and Sirius had fooled his mother, and Harry was now visiting his girlfriend, of which Mrs. Weasley did not approve of. Harry was meant for Ginny, and Molly had been trying to think of a way to subtly suggest to Harry that he was meant for someone else. She had hoped Ginny and Harry would get there on their own, but Ginny was inexplicably shy around Harry, and Harry never seemed to noticed how lovely Mrs. Weasley's only daughter was.

On top of that, Harry was dating a Slytherin, whom Molly was more than positive had Death Eater connections.

"Molly, you need to calm down. He's fine." Sirius said holding up his hands, trying to make the red haired woman settle down. He still hadn't realized he was fighting a losing battle. Sirius didn't fear much. After all, he'd nearly been kissed by Dementors. But somehow, a fuming Molly Weasley seemed to force him to cower just a bit.

"He's perfectly fine. He's with his girlfriend's family. Tonks sent word that he's quite safe."

"That bunch of snakes? My gods Sirius you may as well gift wrap him and present him to You-Know-Who."

"Molly, you're being ridiculous." Sirius said. "You've no proof that the Greengrass' are dark. We've been over this. It's Harry's choice who he dates."

"Ridiculous? Am I the only one in this house who cares at all about poor Harry's well being? I knew you could be irresponsible, but this the height of depravity. How could you not realize what that girl is doing to him? Batting her pretty little eyes and who knows what else, charming Harry to believe everything she says, and then gaining his trust all so her family could deliver Harry to…"

"ENOUGH!" Sirius shouted, finally stopping Mrs. Weasley's tirade. "I have had the opportunity to speak to the girl on several occasions, and I believe her to be the exact opposite of what you believe her to be. Now, you've just suffered a horrible shock with Arthur, so it's natural for you to be a bit concerned about those you care about, but you need not worry so much about Harry. He's fine, and I'm quite sure he's enjoying a very lovely dinner with his girlfriend's family."

"How have you spoken to the girl?" Mrs. Weasley asked, her hands going to her hips, eyeing Sirius suspiciously."

"The same way I've been able to talk with Harry whenever he's needed me." Sirius said ominously. The two way mirrors were a secret, and Sirius feared that if Dumbledore found out about them, he might try and take them away. Sirius didn't want to risk not being able to communicate with his Godson, especially since Harry sometimes really needed a friendly, grown up ear to talk to.

"If anything happens to that boy, it will be on your head. And I would think after everything…" Molly Weasley stared hard at the convict. "That you would have far better judgment in regards to that boy."

Molly stalked off, muttering loudly to herself. Sirius settled into a chair, pounding his fist on the table. He was angry. Angry at Molly Weasley for being an overprotective mother. Angry at Dumbledore for trying to force Harry to live a sheltered life, and not allowing him the experiences any other normal teenager was allowed to have. But he was also angry at himself, because, loather though he was to admit it, some of what Molly had said had struck home.

He was still sure that Harry was in no danger with the Greengrass family. Daphne seemed for all intents and purposes to be a normal fifteen year old girl who was deeply in love with his godson, and Harry seemed to genuinely care for the girl in return. It was true that he knew virtually nothing about the girls family, though he'd always heard that the Greengrass clan was, for the most part, neutral in the last war, and so far as he knew, had no desire to get involved in any sort of war now.

"No." Sirius said firmly to no one. "He's fine."

Even as he said it, the smallest twinge of doubt was beginning to creep inside his mind. Sirius got up from his seat and opened a cabinet where he took a large bottle of Ogden's finest, and a glass.

"I think this is going to be a long night."

It wasn't quite as grand as Hogwarts, but it was amazing. There was such a wide variety of dishes, Harry wondered how many House Elves the Greengrass' employed. The smells wafting in the air as Harry and Daphne made their way to the dining area made Harry salivate so bad, he had to wipe his mouth.

"Thank you very much for inviting me to dinner, Mr. and Mrs. Greengrass." Harry smiled genuinely as the all sat down for dinner. Mr. Greengrass sat at the head of the table with his daughters on either side of him. Harry sat in between Daphne and her mother who was seated at the opposite side of the table from her husband.

"It is our pleasure, Harry." Mrs. Greengrass smiled kindly.

"Ever since our daughter told us she was seeing you, we have both been rather curious about you." Jonathan said as he piled turkey on his plate. "There have been some rather wild tales that have reached our ears over the years, not to mention all the rather misleading stories in the Daily Prophet."

"You can't believe everything that they write." Harry said, trying to hide the bitter resentment in his voice.

"No, it's why we've been so anxious to speak with you." Mr. Greengrass said, looking straight at Harry. Harry felt a shiver under the man's gaze. Mr. Greengrass was like a stone statue come to life. His eyes gave nothing away, and Harry wondered if the man was a Legillimens.

"There are rumors that say that Dumbledore is telling the truth." Mr. Greengrass continued.

"About Voldemort." Harry said. Mrs. Greengrass' fork fell to her plate, while Mr. Greengrass shuddered violently. However, neither Daphne nor Astoria even so much as twitched. This did not go unnoticed by the adults.

"I'm sorry." Harry said quickly.

"No need to apologize." Mrs. Greengrass said softly. "We are a victim of our own fears. I noticed neither of you two had a reaction."

Both Astoria and Daphne shrugged.

"I guess we've just gotten used to hearing it out of Harry." Astoria said.

"He didn't grow up learning to fear the name, like we did." Daphne added. He uses the name so often, that anyone who spends any significant time around him will start doing it as well. I think that's why it doesn't frighten us anymore."

"Dumbledore told me that fear of a name just increases fear of the thing itself. I don't think we should fear his name because it just gives him more power. He's not even what he claims to be."

Mr. Greengrass looked up, his eyes narrowing a bit. "What do you mean?"

"He's a half blood. His father was a muggle. He even went to Hogwarts. He's gone to great lengths to hide that from the rest of the world."

"Did he?" Mrs. Greengrass asked, astonished.

"He changed his name to Vol- er…You-Know-Who after he left school." Harry remarked, looking between the elder Greengrass'. Abigail looked across the table to her husband who looked as if he was puzzling over something. "What was his real name?"

"Tom Marvolo Riddle. His father was a muggle named Tom Riddle, and he lived in Little Hangelton."

"How do you know all this?" Mrs. Greengrass asked curiously.

Harry was about to answer when Mr. Greengrass stopped him. "Excuse me, but I don't know that this is proper dinner conversation. Perhaps after we've had pudding we might return to this topic. I have a few questions for you Harry. It is my understanding that Dolores Umbridge forced you to use a rather dark object."

"The Blood Quill?" Harry asked. He held up his scarred hand to show Daphne's father the result of his detentions.

"I see." Mr. Greengrass sighed. "I had hoped that Daphne was being alarmist. I should have known better. I am sorry that I doubted you at all, Daphne."

"Had our places been reversed, I don't know that I would have fully believed it of you. At least you looked into it. Thank you for that."

"Unfortunately Harry, Minister Fudge has done everything he can to protect himself, and by extension, his High Inquisitor." Mr. Greengrass spat out the words. "If you could get hold of the Quill, perhaps you might have a case."

"I doubt that." Harry shook his head. "She made it clear to me that there was no way anyone would believe me over the might of the Ministry."

"In that, she might have been mistaken." Mrs. Greengrass smiled, patting Harry's hand. "You see, there are more than a few people on the Wizengamont who disagree with Minister Fudge's course of action. However, there is a bit of fear among them. If the Minister will go after Dumbledore, who, to my recollection at least, has never mislead the people, who else might he try to discredit?"

"Not to mention the fact that Lucius Malfoy has the Minster in his pocket. Over the years, Malfoy has been able to influence more than a few votes on laws he wanted passed or eliminated. It is fairly widely believed that Fudge is nothing more than a puppet to Malfoy."

"Why has no one ever questioned, or even challenged it?" Astoria asked.

"Complacency." Mr. Greengrass shrugged. "We have experience fourteen years of peace and prosperity, and there was not really a reason to try and improve our political system, or at the very least, try and rid it of corruption. However, now I fear it might be the beginning of our undoing."

"Is it too late to fix it?" Daphne asked.

"No, but it would require a group of people to stand up and call out the Minister. One person can not do it alone. Well, unless that person already had some influence of their own. Dumbledore could, if he chose."

"But he doesn't want to be Minister." Harry said. "He's turned down the job a few times, hasn't he?"

"That he has." Mr. Greengrass nodded. "But he wouldn't have to take the job. If he just spoke out against the Minister. I mean, really spoke out, people would listen. I am curious as to why he's allowed this Umbridge woman to use methods of torture on you. I'm sure he's aware of it."

"He should." Harry said. "Our friend Hermione reported it to Professor McGonagall, but nothing happened."

"There must be a reason that Dumbledore has not acted." Mrs. Greengrass said.

"It's possible he's trying to maintain a low profile, or else be sacked as Headmaster. You have to admit, given the current situation, it makes sense. If he were sacked, those children would under the influence of the Ministry, and those who influence the Ministry with gold." Mr. Greengrass said sourly.

Harry thought about that for a few moments. Maybe if the Headmaster would just come out publicly and tell everyone about Voldemort, maybe they could prepare people for the war that was almost at their doors. But he remained so ambivalent, as if he didn't care. What could he hope to accomplish with this attitude?

"Hello?" A familiar voice called from the sitting room.

Mr. Greengrass rose from his seat, followed by the rest of the diners, and went into the sitting room to find a rather haggard looking Tonks. The metamorphous tried to smiled, though it looked forced, and Harry could see that the Auror was upset about something.

"I'm sorry, Harry, but we need to go now." Tonks said, looking forlorn.

"What? Why?"

"Mrs. Weasley came home early and found out you were gone. She contacted Dumbledore, and he insisted that we bring you back straight away. He's a bit put out."

Harry's expression turned to anger as Daphne took his hand, squeezing it tightly.

"We haven't finished dinner yet." Harry said bitterly.

"I'm sorry, but…Well, he's really angry, Harry. I'm a bit surprised he didn't come himself."

"Perhaps it's best if you returned home, Harry." Mr. Greengrass said flatly. "Perhaps we will be able to arrange another visit in the near future, and we can continue our discussion." The man held out his hand for Harry, who shook it firmly.

"It was a great pleasure to meet you." Mrs. Greengrass. Smiled, taking Harry's hand once again. She and her husband turned to leave, allowing Harry and Daphne a moment to say goodbye. Astoria gave Harry a quick hug before leaving as well.

"Will you write me for the rest of the holiday?" Daphne asked.

"You have Hedwig from my last letter." Harry smiled. As soon as you send her back with a reply, I'll write you back. She'll be happy for the work, she hardly gets any." Harry smiled. The two embraced and share a long deep kiss until Tonks cleared her throat reminding them that HArry had to get going. Daphne stayed until the fire died back down and returned to the dining room, where the rest of her family was eating.

"Interesting young man." Mr. Greengrass gave another rare smile as Daphne resumed her seat "He makes a good first impression."

Daphne smiled to herself. It was an amazing feeling to know her father approved of her boyfriend.

"Oh Harry, we were so worried." Mrs. Weasley descended upon Harry, hugging him so tightly, Harry thought he might pass out from lack of oxygen. "Are you alright?"

Harry pushed her away, feeling the slightest pang of guilt when he saw the hurt in her eyes, but his anger was quite overpowering at the moment.

"Harry?" She asked worriedly.

"You had no right." Harry said softly. "I was perfectly safe."

"I was only looking out for you." Mrs. Weasley said, a bit hurt.

"And I appreciate that you care about me, I really do. But it's my life, I should be allowed to live it. I'm sick to death of being protected. It doesn't do any good anyway, because if he really wants to, Voldemort can get to me, he's proven it over and over again."

"You're correct Harry."

Harry turned to see Albus Dumbledore in the doorway to the kitchen. He looked terribly upset at the moment. "Yet we still feel the need to try and keep you safe."

Harry's anger began to boil as he stared at the Headmaster. This man had been basically controlling his life, and Harry had no real idea why. He'd gone along with it, mostly because he'd been unaware of it until this year. Now, in this moment, Harry had had about enough.

"If you truly wanted to keep me safe, then you need to tell me everything, right now. Tell me why I'm so important to him. Tell me why he killed my parents to get to me. Why the fuck am I so damned important to him?" Harry shouted. He looked up at Dumbledore and held the old man's gaze. He'd faced Voldemort, arguably the most frightening man alive. Harry was not going to be cowed by his headmaster.

Dumbledore took a deep breath before he spoke. "It is not yet time…"

"No." Harry said quickly. "It's past time. Every year since I've come into the wizarding world, I've been forced to act when you refused to. The Sorcerer's Stone, The Basilisk, Sirius. Last year I was entered into a contest that I should never have been forced to compete in, and got no help, and ended up being part of a ritual to resurrect Voldemort. And let's not forget what I've been forced to suffer at the hands of my so called relatives."

"Harry," Mrs. Weasley started.

"This year I've feel like I've been singled out by the Ministry, and no one has done anything to help me. Tonight I learned that if you would only come out and tell the world what was happening, we could actually prepare people for the war. Sir, you're going to be responsible for people getting killed because you won't do anything to stop Fudge's campaign of fear."

Dumbledore sighed heavily. He turned and retreated into the kitchen.

"Harry that was very rude. That girl has had a terrible influence on you." Mrs. Weasley said sternly.

"How can you be so sure? Have you ever met her, or talked to her?" Harry said scornfully. Before the Weasley matriarch could respond, Harry followed the headmaster into the kitchen. He found Dumbledore sitting down across form Sirius, who was drinking fire whiskey, with a smug smile on his face.

"Nice speech kid." Sirius toasted the youth. It was quite clear that Sirius was more than a bit tipsy.

"I don't think he needs more encouragement." Dumbledore shook his head.

"You got to admit he's made several points."

Dumbledore looked up at Harry and nodded. "I wanted only to spare you from the burden that had been placed upon you. However, it has been made more than clear by you and Professor Snape that you have been ready for what you must learn for a long time. I, However, am not yet ready to take away your childhood."

"Professor, I never had one to take away." Harry said bitterly. "The Dursleys saw to that."

This made Dumbledore hang his head shamefully. His greatest mistake was leaving the boy with those hateful muggles and never going to check on him. He felt at the time that he'd had no choice, and it would seem, as events unfolded right after Voldemort's initial defeat, that he had been correct. However, as the years went by, and Dumbledore had learned of what Harry had suffered, the old man realized he should have listened to his deputy headmistress, and his greatest friend. He should have found someone else to take the boy in.

"I hope that one day you can forgive me for the part I have played in your life, Harry. It was my deepest wish to see you have as normal a childhood as possible. Had your Aunt and Uncle at least been decent to you…"

Dumbledore shook his head gravely. "And yet, you have managed somehow to become a remarkable young man. What might have become of you if I had acted differently?"

"Albus, you can't fix the past. You can only repair your mistakes by not repeating them." Sirius said, filling his glass and sliding it to the Headmaster. Dumbledore took the glass and drank it in one gulp. Harry could se a bit of steam coming out of Dumbledore's ears.

"You are both right." He said woefully. "I promise you Harry, that I will begin explaining everything to you before the school year ends. I ask only that you be patient with me, as I am trying to solve several riddles myself. I ask that you continue in your venture to teach your peers in the ways of defense, and I will provide you any assistance that I can."

"So long as you keep your word, sir, I will keep mine." Harry nodded.

"I know that I do not deserve it, but I ask that you trust in me, Harry." Dumbledore said as he rose. "We will speak very soon, Harry. I hope that you are as ready as you think you are."

Dumbledore thanked Sirius for the whiskey and left the house. Harry sat down heavily, feeling exhausted, and anxious as well.

"Well done, Harry." Sirius grinned, pouring a bit of fire whiskey and sliding the glass to his godson. "I think you earned it."

Harry drank the amber liquid down just as he'd seen Dumbledore do, immediately regretting the action, as the cool liquid burn his throat on it's way to his stomach, where it felt like it was boiling his insides.

Harry began coughing and wheezing. Sirius chuckled softly. "Able to stand up to the great Albus Dumbledore, but give him a bit of fire whiskey…"

"Not funny." Harry wheezed.