Chapter Nine: Meeting Harry:
Sirius sat calmly sipping tea as he waited to meet his godson. He had written the lad, told him why he had not been in his life and offering him a home if he wanted it. He had tried so many times to write him, to come back but was stopped each time. Plane tickets could not be bought, he could not sneak over on a boat. He tried to send letters, but they always came back. He found himself betrothed to Rachelle and found in time he loved her. She too had tried to help but no such luck, not until his grandfather let him come back. Turns out, his grandfather had used two of his house elves to keep him away. Sirius was still bitter about that, but did not blame the elves, they were only doing what they were ordered to.
"So, Harry, he is alright?" Sirius said, "I would have taken him but for my grandfather."
"I know, he is fine now." Dumbledore said, "Petunia did not abuse him, but he was not treated well, his bedroom was a cupboard under the stairs."
"That is what a poor family does, they have money, what did they spend the money sent them on?" Sirius snapped.
"Nothing, they refused to touch it." Dumbledore said, "ah Harry is here, come in Harry."
The boy was here at last. Sirius too him in, skinny, short but healthy he looked more like his mother than father, except for his hair. That was a rat's nest of hair, and if he was like most Potters, he never needed a haircut, and his hair was always like this. Not even Sleakeasy worked on it very well, if at all. Harry was wearing the colors of Hufflepuff, and Sirius found they suited the lad. He did not wear glasses and carried himself with confidence but not arrogance like his father had. Dumbledore bid Harry sit and soon the lad had a cup of tea in hand.
"I am Sirius Black, your godfather, my grandfather sent me to America and would not let me come back until recently, would not let me write to you either." Sirius said, "I am sorry for that."
"Not your fault sir, why did he do that?" Harry asked.
"To keep you safe, there were death eaters out there that would have hurt you." Sirius replied. "I would have taken you with me to America, but grandfather did not think that was safe."
"It's okay." Harry said, "I am well, and here and you are too."
"You are so like your mother in understanding." Sirius said.
"I can't stay upset, you are here now and that is what matters." Harry said, "besides you sent that lovely box of sweets, Hufflepuff says hello."
"I am, how do you like Hogwarts?" Sirius asked.
Harry grinned and told him all about the fun he was having and the friends he had. He told him about his summer before he started Hogwarts and everything. Sirius smiled, Hufflepuff was really the best choice for him, and it showed. He liked Sprout and all and liked how Hogwarts was treating him. He had friends, lots of friends and even Zac was nice to him now, he knew Harry was not a prat nor stuck-up. Harry was friends with all the Weasleys too.
What was even better was the fact Sirius was now on the board of governors and that meant he could be at Hogwarts. The rule for the board was that one had to have a mastery in a subject taught at Hogwarts. Sirius, after some very hard work did, he had a masters in Ancient Runes. He barely passed to get it, but he had it, and he would be here at Hogwarts now and then. In fact, today he was going to observe some classes and show he was supporting all professors here. He turned back to Harry and saw a boy who had been through a lot in his short life.
"So, Harry, did you really sleep in a cupboard under the stairs?" Sirius asked.
"Yes, it was not that bad, I was not abused, I got three meals a day, was allowed to do what I liked in school and learned how to cook breakfast and can clean too." Harry replied and at a look from Sirius, "I am better off than Dudley, he is fat, stupid and will never be able to take care of himself."
"Oh, but you can?" Sirius asked.
"Yes, I can do maths, he can't, I can write an essay, he can't, I can cook, he can't, I can keep a house neat and clean, he can't. He is a bully, and I am not." Harry replied, "so I think I got the better deal in the end. My relations did me a favor."
"Those far older than you would not see things this way." Dumbledore said.
"I er, listened in to my teachers at school, they said I was better off than my cousin who was too spoiled." Harry said, "and I saw that was true, before I learned that I was upset but not now."
"Does your cousin know you are a wizard?" Sirius asked.
"No, he does not need to know, professor Sprout decided that he does not need to know." Harry replied, "I agree."
"That is for the best." Dumbledore said.
"Now Harry what do you like to do besides classes and quidditch." Sirius asked, "prank others?"
"Well not really but Fred and George, well…"
Sirius grinned a wide grin, he had promised to never do "pranks" coughbullyingcough again, but Fred and George needed to learn that some of their pranks were not nice. The headmaster sent them away as he did not need to hear the plotting. This prank was going to be all Remus, Remus always did funny ones that were not harmful and were funny for everyone, even if he was not allowed at the school, yet he still managed to talk to Harry via mirror and helped him create the potion. It was simple, and Ron would see to it that the twins got what was coming to them. He was tired of being pranked by his own brothers after all.
That evening two identical boys came into the great hall clad in outfits straight out of Victorian England. Very ugly outfits indeed, on one side of the wide collar of each was the word Tweedle and on the other side was Dee for one, and Dum for the other. The twins were not amused as they found themselves walking to the front of the room to recite. Snape looked pained and McGonagall looked like she was going to rage at someone. Then the boys started to recite from a poem from Lewis Carroll and his book Through the Looking Glass:
"The sun was shining on the sea,
Shining with all his might:
He did his very best to make
The billows smooth and bright —
And this was odd, because it was
The middle of the night.
The moon was shining sulkily,
Because she thought the sun
Had got no business to be there
After the day was done —
"It's very rude of him," she said,
"To come and spoil the fun."
The sea was wet as wet could be,
The sands were dry as dry.
You could not see a cloud, because
No cloud was in the sky:
No birds were flying overhead —
There were no birds to fly.
The Walrus and the Carpenter
Were walking close at hand;
They wept like anything to see
Such quantities of sand:
If this were only cleared away,'
They said, it would be grand!'
If seven maids with seven mops
Swept it for half a year,
Do you suppose,' the Walrus said,
That they could get it clear?'
I doubt it,' said the Carpenter,
And shed a bitter tear.
O Oysters, come and walk with us!'
The Walrus did beseech.
A pleasant walk, a pleasant talk,
Along the briny beach:
We cannot do with more than four,
To give a hand to each.'
The eldest Oyster looked at him,
But never a word he said:
The eldest Oyster winked his eye,
And shook his heavy head —
Meaning to say he did not choose
To leave the oyster-bed.
But four young Oysters hurried up,
All eager for the treat:
Their coats were brushed, their faces washed,
Their shoes were clean and neat —
And this was odd, because, you know,
They hadn't any feet.
Four other Oysters followed them,
And yet another four;
And thick and fast they came at last,
And more, and more, and more —
All hopping through the frothy waves,
And scrambling to the shore.
The Walrus and the Carpenter
Walked on a mile or so,
And then they rested on a rock
Conveniently low:
And all the little Oysters stood
And waited in a row.
The time has come,' the Walrus said,
To talk of many things:
Of shoes — and ships — and sealing-wax —
Of cabbages — and kings —
And why the sea is boiling hot —
And whether pigs have wings.'
But wait a bit,' the Oysters cried,
Before we have our chat;
For some of us are out of breath,
And all of us are fat!'
No hurry!' said the Carpenter.
They thanked him much for that.
A loaf of bread,' the Walrus said,
Is what we chiefly need:
Pepper and vinegar besides
Are very good indeed —
Now if you're ready, Oysters dear,
We can begin to feed.'
But not on us!' the Oysters cried,
Turning a little blue.
After such kindness, that would be
A dismal thing to do!'
The night is fine,' the Walrus said.
Do you admire the view?
It was so kind of you to come!
And you are very nice!'
The Carpenter said nothing but
Cut us another slice:
I wish you were not quite so deaf —
I've had to ask you twice!'
It seems a shame,' the Walrus said,
To play them such a trick,
After we've brought them out so far,
And made them trot so quick!'
The Carpenter said nothing but
The butter's spread too thick!'
I weep for you,' the Walrus said:
I deeply sympathize.'
With sobs and tears he sorted out
Those of the largest size,
Holding his pocket-handkerchief
Before his streaming eyes.
O Oysters,' said the Carpenter,
You've had a pleasant run!
Shall we be trotting home again?'
But answer came there none —
And this was scarcely odd, because
They'd eaten every one."
The two bowed deeply and went to take a seat, the prank wore off and the great hall burst into laughter. Fred and George took it with good grace as they knew they had been bested and deserved it. Still, they wanted to find out who had done that to them and get them back. But what if it were Harry? No, he would never do that, would he? He would knock them down but never outright prank them. Would he? They did not see the look that Ron gave to Harry at the Hufflepuff table, nor did they see the near smirk from Snape. He was not one to like pranks, but they deserve that, after pranking him last year. They deserved that in full.
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I have plans for Sirius, big ones. As for Harry, ah Harry, he did do this prank, but Fred and George were asking for it. They really were. As I said before, canon is no longer possible, this is heavy AU, though some things will stay the same. But most will not.
Do Review please!