Thank you, all of you for reading this story so far and to all of you who took that extra minute to review.
Harry Potter and the Trip to the Past
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Chapter – 4
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It was a truly a spectacular summer in Scotland where the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry was located, hidden away from muggles and heavily warded and fortified against any magical attacks, made possible by protection spells from the Founders' themselves and then after them by almost every Headmaster.
Professor Dumbledore himself was responsible for a good many of them, having placed them all around Hogwarts during the time of Grindelwald when he was not even a Headmaster and then later as Headmaster during the time of Voldemort's first rise to power.
It had been ten years since the fall of Voldemort and Dumbledore and indeed the entire Wizarding World were enjoying the peace and quiet that came after one Harry James Potter defeated the darkest Lord of recent times.
This year he would be attending Hogwarts. Dumbledore had already seen his reply letter and had been very happy that he had been allowed to send a reply. He had thought that Harry might have needed rescuing but it was not so.
The letter to Harry Potter had been addressed to a cupboard under the stairs and Dumbledore had felt very sad when he had seen that. Usually the letters were sent automatically but in Harry's case Dumbledore had wanted to see the letter and he had been shocked.
McGonagall had been very scathing and she had reminded Dumbledore about her concerns ten years ago and had left angrily when Dumbledore had not agreed to reconsider his place of residence because of the protections there.
When Harry's letter had come at breakfast the day before carried by a huge snowy owl Dumbledore's eyes had twinkled madly as he listened to McGonagall who read the letter aloud.
Snape had scowled and passed rather inappropriate comments that had forced Dumbledore to rebuke him mildly. Snape had stormed out in anger and had vanished for the rest of the day.
Today morning Snape had appeared but was scowling so badly that everyone gave him a wide berth and Dumbledore had looked inscrutably at him before silently attending to his breakfast. It was rather early but almost all the professors were there rising early to take advantage of the great summer they had been enjoying.
Dumbledore was sipping his spiced tea when he noticed a huge ordinary barn owl flying towards the Head table with a cage tied to it. Inside the cage was a rat and it was apparently sleeping. There was a letter tied to the cage and Albus Dumbledore frowned as the owl came to him and held out its leg.
He whipped out his wand and cast a good many spells and finding the rat and the letter harmless, he removed the package and the owl soared away to vanish once it crossed the School wards.
Meanwhile Albus Dumbledore was opening the letter and he skimmed it and his eyes grew big and round with shock. The letter had done the impossible. It had thrown Albus Dumbledore for a six.
He cleared his throat and started to read aloud to his amazed and slightly worried colleagues who were looking at him in shock. They had never seen Dumbledore exhibit emotions so unguardedly.
Dear Headmaster,
The rat inside the cage is an animagus that goes by the name of Peter Pettigrew. Yes, the rat is alive and he was the secret keeper of the Potters and not Sirius Black. He is also a death eater and once you transform him and feed him with veritaserum, you will get all the answers you need.
Sirius Black is in Azkaban for a crime he has not committed. I presume that you are capable of ensuring that justice will be done to both Black and the bloody rat.
Be careful; he can and will transform in a second's time and will escape if he can.
Dumbledore finished the short, abrupt and very blunt note amidst a deathly silence and looked around at everyone.
"If Sirius is indeed innocent… Merlin! Albus we have condemned him to ten years in that hell hole with the dementors." McGonagall was horrified.
"This letter is a farce. Maybe the wolf wrote it to save his friend." Snape snarled in rage. But why now after all these years, came unbidden to his mind and he snarled once more.
The rest were muttering uneasily among them when Albus Dumbledore clapped his hands asking for silence.
Dumbledore stood up, "Severus can you please get the veritaserum at once. I will wait here for you."
Snape stood for a moment as if to argue but seeing the look on Dumbledore's face left silently.
Dumbledore levitated the cage and set it in the middle of the room. The House tables were not put up and the Great Hall was very empty. Snape came very soon breathing very hard. He had been running to his office and back and the moment he came and stood near Dumbledore, Dumbledore flicked his wand and opened the cage and levitated the rat.
He banished the cage and set the rat on the ground, stunned it once and then cast the animagus to human transformation spell.
All of them looked in amazement when before their eyes the rat became a man; Peter Pettigrew. Dumbledore's face became pinched with anger and Snape if one would have seen him then was pale with shock.
"Incarcerous" thick ropes flew out of Dumbledore's wand and bound Peter tightly. Then Dumbledore flicked his wand once again, "animagus stoppero," to ensure he would not transform and run away again and finally, "enervate,"
Pettigrew blinked and then squeaked when he saw he was bound and in his human form and in the presence of Dumbledore and other Hogwarts staff members.
Snape went to him and roughly lifted the sleeves of his left arm and gasped. The dark mark could be very faintly seen. Dumbledore's face flushed in anger and his lips thinned impossibly.
"Please give him the veritaserum Severus." He told Snape tightly.
Snape wrenched the mouth of the squeaking rat and placed three drops of the truth serum. Dumbledore waited only for his eyes to glaze over.
"What is your name?"
"Peter Pettigrew."
"Are you a death eater?"
"Yes" came the monotone answer.
"Who was the secret keeper of the Potters when they were attacked by Voldemort?" Snape asked this question in a strangled voice.
"I was."
"Did you give the information of the secret of Godric's Hollow to Voldemort?" this was Dumbledore.
"Yes I did."
"When did you become the secret keeper?"
"I became their secret keeper one week before the attack by the Dark Lord on them."
"Why did Sirius make you their secret keeper?"
"Because Sirius was sure that everyone would think that he was the secret keeper and by doing this he thought that even if he were captured and killed James, Lily and Harry would have been safe."
Snape's eyes were emitting fire as he looked at the rat and Dumbledore actually snarled in anger but did not ask any more questions. He stunned Peter and asking McGonagall and Snape to accompany him, called for Fawkes.
A second later the four of them had vanished in a flash of fire.
They landed in the Atrium and Dumbledore swiftly walked right to the Minister's office, not even waiting for the checking of the wands there. He flashed an aura of power that made everyone run away from his side.
"Minerva will you please go to the offices of Amelia, Alastor and Rufus and ask them to come directly to the questioning centre." He said not breaking in his stride and stepped into the lift.
He got out at the Minister of Magic's office and McGonagall continued to bring the said persons.
"Is the Minister in?" he asked stopping for the first time after he had entered the Ministry and waited as the young secretary rushed in to inform Minister Cornelius Fudge that Professor Dumbledore was here.
Minute later Fudge himself came running out and looked shocked to see a man who had been thought dead and in fact had been awarded the Order of Merlin First Class now presumably stunned being levitated by an angry Albus Dumbledore who was leaking so much magic, it was frightening.
"What?" Fudge spluttered in shock, "What is this Albus? How?" he looked baffled, at the stunned Peter, "How… is he alive?" he asked hesitantly.
Dumbledore nodded and then all of them went into the auror questioning chamber and were almost at once joined by Mad-Eye Moody, Amelia Bones and Rufus Scrimgeour. They were taken aback to see a man whom they had known was dead until now. Amelia Bones wasted no time and pulled out a bottle of veritaserum that McGonagall had thoughtfully told her to bring.
They asked all the questions all over again and when they learned that he had been a pet rat of Percy Weasley, all of them were taken aback and Dumbledore, Snape and McGonagall's faces tightened in remembrance of seeing Percy's pet rat so many times.
Amelia Bones called for Arthur Weasley. The moment he entered the room, rather confused, she asked him not giving him any time to think. "Arthur do you remember this rat?" Dumbledore had changed him into a rat once again.
Arthur smiled. "How did the little rascal come here? Yes Amelia this is Scabbers, Percy' pet rat."
"Where did Percy find him?"
"By our garden one day when he was very small." Arthur Weasley ran down when he saw the serious faces of the others. "Is there any trouble?" he asked looking at all of them.
For an answer Dumbledore flicked his wand and Peter stood there snivelling in all his glory. Arthur shouted in shock jumping a step behind. "Someone knew who he was and where he had been hiding. I received him today morning." Dumbledore added when he saw the genuine shock on Arthur's face.
"But why should he hide Albus? After all Black is in Azkaban." Arthur was confused. Dumbledore told him in a few sentences about his treachery and Arthur was horrified.
"What! A death eater has been in my home and has been cuddled by my children all these years?" he stared at Peter in shock and revulsion and stepped back once more. "But when did someone come to our home and take the rat? I saw him yesterday night." Arthur was confused.
"Did you leave the house?" Dumbledore asked Pettigrew. Pettigrew shook his head. Dumbledore frowned. How did the person know that Pettigrew was at the Weasleys and how did he bypass the wards?
"Arthur, the wards," Dumbledore trailed off when Arthur shook his head. "They are fine Albus. They are tied to me and I know. They are fine even now."
Before he could ponder about it McGonagall spoke briskly.
"We must get Sirius out of that hellhole right now." McGonagall told Dumbledore who turned to Fudge. He nodded at once. It was early days as Minister and he was very dependant on Dumbledore.
"Yes Albus. We should release an innocent man right away."
"I want Peter kissed at once Cornelius. Can you call for the Wizengamot right away?"
In ten minutes the Wizengamot gathered and all of them were suitably horrified by the mere presence of a dead person. Dementors were called and two hours later Peter Pettigrew was kissed by orders of the Wizengamot and his Order of Merlin Ist Class was cancelled.
An hour later Sirius Black was a free man.
He was released from Azkaban and was understandably bewildered. Albus Dumbledore was standing at the gates of Azkaban along with Snape, McGonagall, Moody, Amelia Bones and Rufus Scrimgeour.
He walked unsteadily and looked with confusion at everyone. "What happened? Are James and Lily alive?" he asked in a desperate hope.
Dumbledore smiled sadly. "I will explain everything Sirius. First come with me to Hogwarts and then we will talk."
"Harry?" Sirius asked only one word.
"He is fine and will be starting Hogwarts this year. Come." Dumbledore said smiling and he held on to the gaunt and dirty man who had not even noticed Snape and McGonagall and calling for Fawkes vanished from Azkaban.
They landed in the infirmary and Dumbledore left Sirius to the mercies of a startled Pomfery who started treating him after Dumbledore assured her Sirius was innocent. He promised Sirius they would talk when he had enough rest. "Suffice to say Peter was captured and found to be a death eater Sirius. He was kissed an hour before you were released. I will tell you the rest later."
Sirius had to be content with that and ten minutes later he was sound asleep in a bed for the first time in ten years.
It was only after ten days that he woke up fresh enough and sane enough to understand everything and it was lunch time on the twelfth day that Sirius was cleared by the School nurse to be up and about. He dressed in robes someone had left thoughtfully for him, maybe Dumbledore he thought and went down to Dumbledore's office.
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Harry had slept until lunch and then he flashed away to a shady corner of the park and then walked to his home. His aunt waited until he came inside before screeching at him for coming so late and told him he could do without lunch.
She did not listen to his explanations of hitching a ride home and nor did she care enough to ask him if he had managed to get all that he needed to go to Hogwarts. Harry went up and placed a sickle into the pouch had a scrumptious lunch and relaxed on his hard but turned soft bed.
His thoughts scattered in many directions, primarily going to his kids, and then to Ginny whom he had met yesterday and then centred on Sirius. He wondered what was happening and when he would finally get to know about what Dumbledore had done with Wormtail and based on that information, with Sirius.
The days went by slowly and Harry cancelled all the charms he had cast over everything that evening and was now conspicuously reading all kinds of things.
The next day his aunt had come to know through Dudley that the 'freak' was reading many strange books.
"Boy who gave you the money to buy all this?"
"Aunt it was from the wizarding bank." Harry told her innocently and casting a charm at her that made her wordlessly able to accept his explanation without any fuss.
She grumbled and walked back, yelling at him to come down and prepare food and from there everything had gone just fine.
It was the 31st of July. Harry was eleven and thirty seven years old respectively. He woke up as usual in the morning (he had stopped staying up until midnight long back) and started his work at preparing breakfast. His 'family' here was never going to wish him a happy birthday. Harry was feeling very morose. His last few birthdays had begun with his children waking him up with birthday wishes, hugs and kisses.
The family had just settled down for breakfast when the door bell rang. "Boy, see who's at the door." Vernon Dursley said automatically without looking up from the newspaper.
Harry scowled at the 'Boy' and got up and stormed to the door. He was already feeling very bad and now he was the Dursley house elf, he thought angrily to himself. He opened the door and stopped right there, his eyes wide with shock.
Harry gasped and stared at Sirius Black who was looking anxiously, happily, worriedly and expectantly at the door. His eyes widened and his grin when he recognized the person standing in front of him split his face into two, "Harry?" he asked softly.
"Yes?" Harry stammered so many emotions running through him. Sirius was very thin almost gaunt, but his eyes were bright and his smile was lighting up the whole universe.
"Boy! Who is it?" shouted his aunt.
Harry blushed and looked at a frowning Sirius whose wide grin had stopped abruptly at the unfriendly shout of 'Boy who is it'.
"I don't know uncle Vernon." Harry called out and turned to Sirius, "Who are you and what do you want?"
"My name is Sirius Black Harry. I am a friend of your dad." Sirius told him and watched with a painful clench of his heart when Harry's face lit up like a Christmas tree.
"You knew my dad?" Harry asked him, inwardly thrilled to see Sirius in the flesh and also slightly worried about his acting abilities. While he was genuinely happy to see Sirius he had to pretend that he did not know Sirius and he obviously could not remember meeting him in the first fifteen months of his life. Harry only hoped he would be able to carry it off.
"Boy who is it?" Petunia came striding and stopped when she saw Sirius. "You…, you are," she stopped not knowing what to say and looked inside for a second and then, "What do you want?"
"To meet and talk to Harry and take him away for the rest of his holidays until he has to leave for School. That is," Sirius looked at Harry and gulped, his face flushing with worry, "if Harry would consent to come with me."
He was shocked a minute later when Harry said delighted, "Of course, I may go may I not Aunt Petunia?" he looked at her anxiously but the charms held and she was pleased to get Harry off her hands sooner than she had thought and she nodded briskly. "You may leave right now if you want." She told Harry who wasted no time and looking at Sirius for a moment ran off inside.
Petunia did not invite Sirius inside and glared slightly at his robes which looked very nice and upmarket but were not normal clothes after all, "We have told the boy to stay in that School for the whole year and also ask if he can spend summers there as well. If they don't allow then perhaps you can take him off our hands." She looked enquiringly at him.
Sirius was shocked. What kind of people were Lily's sister and her family? He could have been a death eater and all she could ask him was if he could keep Harry for the summers as well. No wonder Harry had run off to get his things and be away from here as soon as possible.
He was going to have words with Dumbledore; he decided and glared at Petunia who flushed under his scornful look. "I will try to make sure he never has to come here and if he does it will be for very brief periods." He told her stiltedly and scowled when she nodded her head in satisfaction and was not insulted at all.
Harry came back in five minutes with a shabby bag, "I am ready Mr. Black and thank you very much for having me. I promise I won't be a bother."
Sirius smiled though it was very strained and nodded his head. He could not speak for the life of him.
"Goodbye aunt."
"Hmm. Remember stay in the School for the holidays." Was what his aunt said not noticing the snarl on Sirius's face.
"Come on Harry. Off we go." Sirius said making an effort to sound happy and shrugging off the nasty taste the Dursleys left in his mouth. He looked at Harry and took in his small frame and shabby dress and his mouth set itself in a straight line.
He looked down at Harry and seeing the worried look smiled and catching Harry's hand went to the edge of the wards just as Dumbledore had told him. Crossing them Sirius bent down and held Harry's hand tightly.
"Harry I am going to do some magic now. Do not be scared alright?" he asked Harry who was amazed that Sirius could be this patient. Of course he was a lot smaller and Sirius thought he really did not know or understand anything much of the Wizarding World but still Sirius was a lot more patient than he remembered.
Harry nodded his head and a minute later Sirius had enveloped Harry in his arms and had almost silently apparated to the small park near No. 12 Grimmauld Place. Harry cast the warding charm wandlessly and silently on the place between nos. 11 and 13, but could not see the house. That meant only one thing. The house was already under the Fidelus Charm.
Harry cancelled his spell and looked at Sirius who was busy scribbling something. "Here Harry. You were not scared were you?"
Harry shook his head blushing slightly. "It was awesome Mr. Black. What was this?"
"Sirius, the name is Sirius Harry, never Mr. Black okay?" Harry nodded his eyes wide. Sirius laughed and held out a piece of paper and asked Harry to read it, "Read that Harry. I will explain everything once we are inside the house. I have been here only since yesterday myself."
Harry looked at the piece of paper. The Black home may be found at No. 12 Grimmauld Place.
"Read it?" Sirius asked Harry when he looked up. "Now look straight and repeat the words in your mind."
Harry already had and now he could see the familiar home appearing between nos.11 and 13.
He had Grimmauld Place as a second home and also as a place for meeting contacts once he had moved to Godric's Hollow. Harry and his family along with Ron, Hermione and their kids had also spent weekends there now and then.
But now all Harry could think of was to somehow get hold of the horcrux before something happened to it.
"Wow Sirius. This is cool. Is it magic?"
Sirius nodded happily and taking Harry's hand went to the door and opened it. Harry was transported to his summer after fourth year when he had stepped in Grimmauld Place for the first time.
"BOOD TRAITORS! BESPOILING THE HOME OF MY FATHERS! FILTHY HALF BLOODS!" Was the welcome Harry received when he got inside and he just remembered in time to stand in shock seeing the portrait that could apparently not only talk but curse as well instead of saying something very sarcastic as he usually did before he flicked his wand and closed the curtains.
Sirius was already running to the portrait to stop her from speaking more. "Stop it." He roared and at that time another figure came running to help Sirius. Harry almost danced with sheer happiness when he saw Remus Lupin running to pull the curtains to close the portrait.
"What was that?" Harry asked a scared look on his face.
Sirius smiled at Harry's fear. "That was my dead mother Harry. Wizards and witches can prepare portraits that can speak and talk like them after their death if they cast a particular spell on it. But all that later, now come on. This is my parents' home and I am going to get it all cleaned up this week. So think of good ideas to decorate and after breakfast you can go around the place and choose your room. Mine is the first door on the left on the second floor and Remus here has the next."
"Sirius slow down a little. You haven't even told him who I am and you are acting if he knows everything." Remus grinned and looked at Harry's bewildered face and laughed, "Harry I am Remus Lupin. I was also a friend of your dad." Remus held out his hand at Harry.
Harry took it smiling slightly and thinking that he had changed one more thing. This Remus was not the tired man he had known in his third year but a very happy man who had one of his friends with him and was not suspected of betraying the other and seeing justice done to the traitor.
Harry thought he had never seen Remus so happy. Not when he had been teaching in Harry's third year and not when he was having an on off relationship with Tonks in Harry's sixth year and not even when he had finally eloped. Though, Harry thought with a pang as he remembered his first future, Remus had been thrilled when Teddy had been born. He had simply beamed the whole time he had come to Shell Cottage to give Harry and the others the news.
"Hello did you know my dad too?" Harry asked Remus now remembering to speak softly, though the happiness that shone through his eyes was very real.
Remus's face grew sad. He smiled softly at Harry and nodded. "Both Sirius and I were friends with your dad and mum. Once we get you settled we will tell you all about them. Okay?"
Harry nodded smiling shyly in return. They went into the kitchen and had a huge breakfast much like Harry was used to. Then they went into the drawing room with Sirius throwing an arm over Harry's shoulders.
"Can I go and explore the house, please?" Harry asked Sirius when they had sat down curiosity in his eyes.
"Of course and don't forget to choose your room and Remus and I will help you decorate it as you would like." Sirius told him grinning a bit tiredly. Remus who was looking at his friend anxiously nodded to Harry before turning back to Sirius. "Sirius I think you must rest." Remus turned to Harry, "He has not been very well, Harry. We will explain everything to you once all of us settle down."
Harry nodded looking at Sirius with equal anxiety before he was shooed away by Sirius who told him he was feeling sleepy and nothing else. Harry went into the long parlour silently and watched how Sirius slumped and Remus making sure Harry was not there, levitated Sirius to his room.
Harry waited until they had gone and then raced up the stairs. He went directly to the third floor and opened one of the rooms and went straight to a cabinet. He cast his magic to keep Kreacher away and then swiftly removed the locket from inside the cabinet. He had remembered from so long ago when he had cleaned along with Ron and Hermione and Sirius and they had found the strange locket that they were unable to open then.
The locket was where he had remembered it to be and Harry removed it and banished it to his shrunken trunk to lie with the other horcrux and then raced up to the attic. He knew Remus would come after him once he had Sirius settled down and they would not leave him alone for a long time.
Harry was right and he had only opened the attic door and had gone inside and came out directly and went down into the third floor and into the room he had gone before to retrieve the horcrux when Remus came searching for him.
Harry was standing innocently by the cabinet and looking through it.
"Ah, there you are Harry. Come along, most of these things are not fit to be touched. They have a combination of hexes and jinxes on them that could hit out at those who touch them. You did not touch anything did you?"
Harry shook his head and then followed Remus and soon they were exploring the house and Remus was giving him a crash course in Wizarding History and about any item he felt safe Harry could know about.
They chose Harry's room; rather Harry bagged the next room to the one he had shared with Ron, mainly on account of the now empty portrait of Phineas Nigellus that still hung in his old room. The room Harry had bagged was Hermione's and Ginny's before, and Harry went and sat on the bed. Remus summoned his shabby bag from downstairs and earned a 'cool' from Harry who grinned at Remus.
"That was great and now may I show you some magic Mr. Lupin?"
"Remus, Harry. The name is Remus." Remus grinned at Harry and Harry was struck by how much Remus was smiling. He had never been like this before. "What magic do you have to show me?"
"Aunt sent me to Diagon Alley and told me to buy everything I need there. I went inside and watched a few people going out on the other side of The Leaky Cauldron and I too went in." Harry said enthusiastically. Remus gaped at the boy who continued talking, "Remus the place was fantastic. I just walked along and found that there was a Wizarding bank and you know what Remus, the bank was run by goblins." Harry had only started his explanation when he was cut off sharply by Remus. "Harry you went to Diagon Alley alone?"
Harry nodded his eyes wide and apparently not noticing Remus's astonishment. "Remus you won't believe it. I slipped a note saying I was Harry Potter and I wanted to know if my parents had left me anything. You see," Harry looked up in shame at Remus who frowned at the look, "aunt Petunia told me to buy everything on my own and I was not sure how to manage that." here Harry's voice wobbled a little and Remus looked down at the small boy in sympathy almost snarling in anger at the Dursleys but remained silent, waiting for him to continue.
Harry on his part looked at Remus and reassured by his look of sympathy continued trying to stick to the truth as much as he could, extremely grateful he had told the goblins that under no circumstances should they reveal that Harry had even known about the family vault, let alone gone inside. He wanted the portraits of his parents to remain where they were for the present unless Sirius brought the topic up; then Harry would have no choice but to agree. But until then Harry decided to remain quiet.
"The goblin took me aside and asked a drop of my blood on a piece of paper, but it looked different same as my Hogwarts letter," Harry looked up at Remus who responded to the unasked question, "That was a parchment Harry, go on."
"Yes a parchment and then it nodded and told me that there were two vaults one was my family vault that I could get when I turned seventeen, doesn't it have to be eighteen?" Harry asked wide eyed.
"No Harry in the Wizarding World you come of age at seventeen, but go on. This is extremely fascinating." Remus told him, hurrying him. Harry was very pleased with himself. He had a sudden on the spur of the moment brain storm and had told Remus about his family vault and that the goblin had told him he could access it only after he was of age. That would keep Remus and Sirius away; at least Harry hoped so.
"Then I went to the vault and taking the pouch the goblin gave me along with a key it told me to keep safely and put some money into the pouch. Then I was wondering how to take money if this was over because," Harry blushed once again, "Uncle Vernon would not allow me to keep coming to Diagon Alley and if," here Harry's voice went very quiet and he became red, "If they knew I had money, they would take it away from me and then I would not be able to pay my way to Hogwarts or for my books or clothes."
Harry fell silent now beet red and Remus patted him on his head scowling at Lily's sister and her family. "You did the right thing Harry," and was rewarded with a relieved smile, "I asked the goblin how I could get money once the money I had taken was over and if I must come and poke my hand and drop blood on that paper every time and if they had branches near Surrey, but Remus, you won't believe what the goblin did. It did something to the money pouch and told me that I could withdraw money by stating the amount in pounds sterling as well as magic money." Harry proudly finished with his explanations. Now it remained for Remus to ask questions. Remus did not disappoint.
"What did you buy?" he asked amazed at all Harry had done.
In answer Harry removed the shabby bag from the desk near his bed and putting his hand inside and rummaging it brought out a small matchbox. He placed his hand on the centre where there was a small circle and it turned into a multi compartment trunk. Remus clutched his chest and gaped at Harry.
Harry nodded amicably, "Magic!" he said excitedly and then placed his hands on the sensor and opened it and showed Remus his clothes that he now took away and arranged it in his cupboard and then all the books except those on the Dark Arts and then his wand.
Remus almost drooled over the number of books until he remembered that Harry had done all this alone. He turned to Harry who was now arranging his stationery and his perch and the owl cage that also had a mechanism to enlarge. "I bought an owl. I named her Hedwig and I sent her to Hogwarts with my reply. She is so intelligent Remus. I only told her where to go like the shopkeeper told me to do and she flew away."
Harry looked at Remus proudly and Remus smiled weakly at him, patting him on his head. "You did very well Harry. So you enjoyed Diagon Alley?"
"And Knockturn Alley. Oh yes, I did. Both were great." Harry told Remus who gasped and stared at Harry, his mouth opening and closing in a very funny manner. Knockturn Alley, Remus was thinking in shock. Harry was truly James's boy and Sirius's Godson.
"I bought a lot of books from there, almost in every subject Remus. For this School, I will be prepared and I will do well." Harry told Remus fiercely. Remus frowned for a second sensing something behind those words but did not query seeing Harry's face blush and become slightly guarded.
"Show me your books once again." Remus told him and from then on both Harry and Remus descended into a lengthy discussion of the various books Harry had bought. Harry had been through in his purchases and had included books on every subject and variety.
"Can you think of a way to unlock this? I got this book at a shop in Knockturn alley and that shopkeeper told me that no one had succeeded in reading this book." Harry asked Remus handing over the Self – Updating Book of spells.
Remus was flabbergasted. Harry was a surprise; a surprise for which Remus was not prepared and he was shocked and did not know how to deal with the innocent knowledge that Harry exhibited. He took the book in his hands and immediately ran his wand checking the book for any dark activity.
Not finding any Remus fawned and drooled all over it, asking Harry to try many things and then losing patience trying many things himself. "Well there is one thing we have not tried Harry. We will try that and if that does not work, well we will have to go and return it."
Harry nodded getting ready to poke his finger and drop the blood from his finger on to the book. That was the only thing they had not tried.
"Show me your hand Harry. I am now going to poke your finger and place a drop of blood on the book to see if that would do the trick. If it doesn't well, we will have to keep it aside." Remus told him.
Harry nodded his head in understanding. "Just like the goblin asked me to place a drop of blood at the bank."
"Yes Harry." Remus smiled and flicked his wand at Harry's thumb. Harry waited with bated breath when the book glowed. Remus shouted in joy and urged Harry to go ahead and open the book. "I am sure we have broken the charm. This book has found your blood compatible." Remus told him.
Harry was staring at the book in shock. The lady had told him that so many had tried. Why had they not been able to open it? All of them would have tried the blood first unlike Remus and Harry who had tried it last, Harry knew. He was suddenly afraid of what he would find inside the book.
Remus saw Harry staring at the book and impatiently grabbed it from him and opened the book. He was very disappointed because the book remained blank for him. Harry was a bit reassured by that. He could bluff his way if the book said something that Remus would think it not fit for an eleven year old.
He opened the book and just managed to stop the loud gasp from his mouth when he read the words aloud to Remus Lupin knowing that he would not understand the significance.
"This book belongs to Ignotus Peverell and this is the self updating Book of Spells." Harry read this to Remus who looked thoughtful but did not recognize the name or the significance of the name.
Harry continued reading. "This book has chosen you as a worthy owner. The moment your blood was accepted, this book has now been bound to you. No one else will be able to read this book except you so treat it with care.
"There are two ways to operate this book; one, to go by alphabet and look through all curses, spells, hexes, jinxes, charms and the like found under that particular alphabet and second, to write in the blank page what you would need a spell for, the first page is left blank only for this purpose. For example, if you would write a spell for levitation, then in the next page you will start reading about levitation, the spell required to cast the spell, the positive effects and negative effects of casting the spell many times if any and the various purposes for which you could use this simple spell. Use your finger to write and your palm to wipe after reading.
"Good luck young man or woman whoever you are. Use it wisely and cautiously.
"Ignotus Peverell."
"This is great Harry. You could learn a lot of things with this book." Remus was as thrilled as Harry.
They spent some more time with the book by Harry writing some basic spells that Remus told him to, and reading out about the spell. Then closing the book and putting everything away neatly, Harry got up and went down to the kitchen to help Remus prepare lunch. They peeped in on Sirius on the way but he was still sleeping soundly so Harry and Remus spent the afternoon with Harry asking Remus all kinds of questions and Remus answering everything to the apparently extremely enthusiastic boy who had a thirst to knowledge and a keen desire to learn.
End of Chapter – 4
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