Chapter 7

Harry exited the healing chambers to allow Sirius to be healed. Sirius changed into the ritual robes and took his place upon the stone table.

Healer Steal-weather approached him. "Now Lord Black, we will run some diagnostic spells on you. Please remain still."

Sirius nodded and Andromeda and Steal-weather began circling him. Andromeda with her wand swirling in intricate patterns and Steal-weather murmuring and twitching her claw-like fingers. Lights shown around Sirius that were being studied by the healers

Andromeda furrowed her brows and cleared her throat before speaking. "Well, to begin with the obvious, I think. From the years in Azkaban and then the time spent on the run subsequent to your escape, you are malnourished. Even with receiving a healthier diet these last two months, you have a long way to go. I will provide you with a list of potions and a diet plan to follow. Mental health will be another issue. Lack of sleep due to stress and nightmares for example. I suggest on the nights that you will need sleep the most taking dreamless sleep but no more than twice a week at most. It's highly addictive."

Steal-weather jumped in. "You also have a tracking charm and compulsion charm, same as Lord Potter. Your muscles are atrophied from the malnourishment, bones are more brittle also. Potions, proper diet, and some sleep will help those. There's not much we can do for you Lord Black other than heal some of your fractures, remove the charms, and educate you on how to self-heal. Although—what do you know of healing clinics, such as ones with time bubbles?"

Sirius furrowed his brow, "I do not believe that I have heard of them. Andi?"

Andromeda paced slowly in front of Sirius, "That… That could be good for both you and Harry, Sirius. In a time, bubble you would go in for a certain amount of time to heal but time outside of the bubble would barely change at all. For instance, some work in a way that no matter how long you spend inside, only a week passes outside. Some work as 1 day passes outside while a month passes inside. It would give you and Harry enough time to heal properly before he is to be back at Hogwarts and before the war really takes off."

Steal-weather continued, "I have contacts with such a place. It is as Healer Tonks described. If you are to spend, I would venture to guess 6 months, in the time bubble, 6 days will pass in our time. The clinic is hidden and therefore we do not disclose the location. You and your party will meet here and take a portkey to the clinic. Then once healed physically and mentally, you will return with a portkey. It is run by what some refer to as 'half-breeds'. Werewolves, Vampires, and Veelas."

Sirius sits in thought for a few moments, "I will have to speak to Harry of course." He says as he runs a hand through his hair. "But I believe it would work to our advantage well. Would this be after the ritual?"

Steal-weather nodded, "Yes, once we remove the bind and the piece of soul in his scar. I would like him to go soon after."

Sirius nodded slowly, "And say I have a friend who is a werewolf that is also in bad shape…?"

Steal-weather rubbed her chin, "I do not see why he would not be welcomed. They would provide wolfsbane—for a price."

Steal-weather and Andi went to work removing the charms on Sirius and fixing the small fractures they could find. Once finished, Sirius thanked Steal-weather for her services and told her to take payment from the Black family vaults. Now dressed in his House of Black robes, Sirius strolled back to the conference room to speak with Harry and Andi.

Harry listened intently as they explained the clinic. The idea of being able to finally heal his body while working on his mind was appealing. Harry thought it would be a good excuse to learn occulemency with having access to a mind healer. "I think we should do it Padfoot. I think Moony should too, but how are you going to convince him?"

Sirius smirked, "Well Pup, I'll use you of course! Say you don't want to go without him and Moony can't say no if it involves getting you healthy!"

Harry narrowed his eyes trying to hide a grin, "You would use me like that?"

Sirius sighed dramatically, "Oh Harry Harry Harry. You have so much to learn if you want to be a true Marauder. It's going to be so much fun!"

Harry laughed as Sirius wrapped an arm around his shoulder. They told Andi that they would plan their trip for the clinic once the ritual was complete and made their way to the floo they came from. Steeling his nerves, Harry deposited the floo powder into the hearth and called out "12 Grimmauld Place Library". Once he reached the barrier, he whispered the password Sirius gave him with a tap of his wand on the bricks, "Mischief Managed." Harry stumbled out of the floo and dusted himself off just in time for Sirius to slink out behind him.

"How do you do that?!" Harry asked exasperated.

Sirius screwed up his face, "Do what Pup?"

Harry gaped and waved his hand at the fireplace, "Bloody walk out all graceful like you took a stroll through the park! I fall on my face every time!"

Sirius chuckled and ruffled his hair, "Don't worry. We'll practice. I grew up with the floo remember. Proper pureblood shite. 'One must not make a fool of one's self in public and disgrace the family.' " Sirius quoted with an exasperated roll of his eyes.

Removing the wards placed on the library doors, Sirius and Harry ventured out into the Black family home. Any plans of sneaking away unnoticed died immediately when met with an enraged Molly Weasley. Harry immediately stiffened, recalling the discrepancies of his vaults. Sirius, on the other hand, narrowed his eyes, clenching his fist.

"And just where have you two been?! We have been trying to get into that disgusting library for hours!" Molly screeched with her fist planted on her fat hips.

Sirius' lips thinned as his jaw tightened. "I do not believe that it is any of your business where I nor my godson have been."

Molly scoffed and through her hands up, "You cannot take Harry out of this house!"

Harry narrowed his eyes, "Since when?"

Molly turned to Harry with wide eyes, "Harry dear, it's not safe for you to be running about no matter where this… this—man thinks you should go!"

Harry placed a hand on Sirius' arm to keep him quiet, throwing him a pleading look, before turning his attention back to Molly. "For one this 'man' is my godfather whom I trust with my life. Second, I can choose if and when I am going to leave. I understand it is an issue of safety, which is why I would not go somewhere unless it was important."

Molly gaped at him, "Harry you are a child! Sirius does not know how to raise a child when he still acts like one! You must stay in this house where you are protected. The wards and the Order members are here to keep you safe dear boy. What would be important enough to risk your life?"

Harry stepped in front of Sirius, closer to Molly, "I am not a child and I do not need to be raised. I raised my bloody self for the last 14 years." Harry noticed the group of teenagers closing in around the scene and a few Order members but continued on, "I am grateful for your family offering me a safe place to escape the Dursley's a few weeks each summer, but you are not my mother. My mother died, protecting me, and she would respect that I am old enough to discern whether something is important enough to risk. A risk that never happened. We took precautions by taking a portkey directly into the office we had a meeting at and a secure floo back. We were guarded the entire time by the most trustful of beings. I will not have you condemning my godfather, nor will I be treated as a prison in his home by someone who is here as a guest."

Molly let out an undignified squawk as Harry and Sirius brushed past her. Harry narrowed his eyes at the Weasleys before grabbing Remus and Sirius by the arms and towing them into Sirius' study. Harry sat stiffly on the loveseat while Sirius took his place behind his desk and Remus perched on the edge of the desk to face both Sirius and Harry.

Remus glanced between Harry and Sirius, "Well?" he questioned.

Sirius sighed and threw up multiple privacy wards with a flick of his hand. "You are currently looking at Lord Black and Lord Potter, Steward Lupin."

Remus furrowed his brow, "Steward?"

Sirius gave a crooked grin, "Come on Moony, you know I hate paperwork. Besides it will not only give you a decent job, but you can teach Harry about money management and all of that to which I honestly do not have the patience."

Remus stood up, "No. No. I will not take your money! I will teach Harry but no money."

Harry rolled his eyes, "Come on Moony! If you work for us that means you can be involved in everything legal, you could sit in the Potter seat while I can't, you can tell those tossers at the ministry to stuff it too, which in my mind is the best bit! Sides," Harry sniffed, "If you don't take the money, I'll just slip it in your vault anyways. One galleon at a time."

Sirius huffed a laugh while Remus put his head in his hands murmuring, "Just like James." Before giving a resigned sigh, "Fine, Fine! Now, tell me what happened. You were gone for—" He looked at his watch, "Close to three hours. It couldn't have taken that long to gain your Lordships."

Harry frowned and gave Sirius a sad look. Sirius fidget with a quill on his desk. "Where to begin… There's the part where we found out that Dumbledore sealed James and Lily's wills which proved my innocence and that Harry had a list of people who should have went to, or the part where we spoke to the head of the DMLE and a solicitor to secure a trial, hmmm also Dumbledore and Molly stealing from Harry's vaults…" He snapped his fingers, "Oh ya!" smacking himself on the forehead, "Dumbledore bound Harry's magic to less than 50%, put a compulsion, glamour, and tracking spell on him, potioned him with loyalty potion, didn't tell us there's a piece of Voldemort's soul stuck in his scar, and had a compulsion and tracking spell on me!"

By the end, Sirius was standing hunched over the desk, face red and knuckles white from gripping the edge. Harry sat with his head in his hands slightly shaking and Remus stood gobsmacked, stuttering out unintelligible words, before turning and punching a large whole in the wall.

Remus racked a hand through his hair before walking briskly to Harry and pulling him into a tight hug. "You'll be okay cub. We'll get through this, together. We'll make them pay." Harry nodded as he clung to Remus.

Remus propped his chin on top of Harry's head to look at Sirius before asking hoarsely, "What are they going to do?"

Sirius sat down next to Remus, leaning into his side, before rubbing a hand down Harry's back. "They have to perform a ritual of sorts. Bill Weasley will actually be there. He's the one who identified it as a Horcrux. While they are already going to be preforming that ritual, they will also remove the bind on his magic. They need a large, open space with ritual stones. I suggested Potter Manor and pup has Tilly showing Dobby the ropes right now. They're going to owl us in a few days with more information."

Remus nodded, running all the information in his head. "Okay so let's just get it all out there. Tell me about the spells on Harry, specifically why he's bloody taller and has no glasses would be nice." He said with a half-smile at Harry. "Then about the money, the trial, the… the w-wills. Just, I need to be prepared."

So, Sirius and occasionally Harry relayed all the information they learned at Gringotts to Remus. Every so often Remus would pace the length of the study, cursing under his breath. Kissing Harry and Sirius on the head before returning to his previous anxiety and anger. When they were finished all three sat quietly for a while, drinking a cup of tea from Kreacher, before Remus spoke up, "Dumbledore's been using Harry…"

Sirius and Harry nodded, "Yup."

Remus gritted his teeth, "He knew about the scar…"

They nodded again, "Yup."

Remus growled, eyes flashing gold "He's going to pay."

Sirius and Harry gave a small vindictive smirk each, "Yup!"

After composing themselves Sirius suggested they change out of their stuffy Lord robes. Harry shuffled his feet and mumbled, "That's okay. I think I'll stay in mine."

Sirius looked confused and Remus narrowed his eyes thinking quickly before it dawned on him. "Ahh Harry, I forgot to tell you. While you and Sirius were out on your grand adventure, I made a quick stop at Sirius' old flat that he shared with me after Hogwarts. I found some clothes and I'm sure he won't mind sharing."

Remus stared pointedly at Sirius, but it was unneeded because the man jumped up and clasped his hands. "HA HA we can match prongslet!" Remus huffed a small laugh while Harry rolled his eyes, pretending to be exasparted, "Okay, If I must."

Soon enough Harry was dressed in worn black jeans and a Sex Pistols shirt while Sirius wore torn light blue jeans and an ACDC shirt. Remus though just wore casual trouser and a nice t-shirt.

"Now Pup, I want to give you a little lesson on how to act like your dad. You're going to let whatever they say roll right off you, okay? Watch me. Chin up, shoulders back, not a care in the world, right? Ruffle your hair a bit. Give a wink when you make a cheeky comment. Lord Harry James Potter does not have time for the greedy peasants!"

Harry laughed nervously and tried to imitate Sirius while Remus was biting his lip to keep a straight face. "It's all in the shoulders Pup, not the hips. You are not a girl." Sirius corrected gently. "Better, better. Yes, hmm that will do for now. Let us walk through the gates of hell." Sirius waved him through to the kitchen.

As Harry strut through the door and flopped down in a chair at the table, everyone stopped speaking. Sirius and Remus followed his leave and began filling their plates. Harry didn't bother looking at anyone in particular but eventually shifted his gaze across from him to see a happy Tonks.

"Hey, Tonks! Haven't seen you in a bit." Harry said with a small grin.

"Well Harry you definitely look much better. Oh! I forgot," Tonks leaned in to whisper, "I snuck over to the muggles and gave them a little pay back for what they did to you."

Harry gaped at her and whispered, "What did you do?!"

She laughed quietly and whispered, "Bought some dung bombs off the ginger demons and threw them through the mail slot."

Sirius, Remus, and Harry busted out in a loud barking laugh. Everyone starred at them. Harry then noticed not only were all the Weasleys bar Percy and Charlie present but also the four heads of houses of Hogwarts, Dumbledore, and about 8 order members.

Just then Hermione spoke up accusingly, "Harry, where are your glasses?"