Disclaimer: We all know how these work, I acknowledge that J.K. Rowlings, Warner Bros. and Scholastic own Harry Potter and all other characters and settings from cannon, and I get to write whatever I please and even add in characters of my own as long as I don't get any money. The no money sucks but there you go, at least I don't get lawyers knocking on my door. Addendum: If you recognize a name of a character from elsewhere it isn't mine.

Sirius' Savior

Chapter 50 The Year Draws to a Close

Harry's mid terms came back with A's. He was glad to be back in school with his friends but missed sharing a room with Dominic. His ninth birthday was mostly overlooked by his own request because of the planned birth of the triplets the next day and the fact it was finals week. Just as his test let out he dialed Sirius' cell. "Well?"

"Two sisters and a brother all healthy and Beth is doing fine. James Sirius is five pounds, Elizabeth Marie is four and a half pounds, Lila Rose is four and a quarter." Medi-witch Thompson taught me a spell that will make formula become like breast milk from Beth so we're good. I'm amazed and Harry they're so tiny. I thought you were small but Lila is half the size you were. You'll be on your own at the house with Winry for the next few days be sure you take care of Sheba. How was your Latin test?"

"Walk in the park."

"Good."

"I've got to go Michael wants to review for the final in math."

"Okay, later then."

The day the babies came home Sirius put a silencing spell on Harry's room so he could study and sleep uninterrupted by the babies cries. But the last day of finals Harry came home and insisted the spell come down so he could hear and help. His helping at night didn't last long though after a week he requested Sirius show him the silencing spell so he could take it down and help during the day and sleep uninterrupted at night. Sheba decided she liked Harry and Harry's room better than Beth and Sirius' room that held the three cradles.

Harry learned to change diapers but after James hit him in the face with urine he did his best to make sure any diapers he changed were for the girls. He loved giving the babies their bottles. It was simple which ever baby got up first got first dibs on Beth and as result Harry also learned the formula to breast-milk spell and he would feed the second baby or sometimes the third. During the school break George and Walter worked with him on his occlumency and started to teach him the fundamentals of potions. Rachel came back from her extended vacation and worked with Harry on transfiguration and martial arts.

Sirius was thrilled to be a father but even he admitted having three newborns in the house was hard. When the second week of September came around Harry was delighted to start sixth grade. He was taking Humanities, once again privately doubling up on it, Social Science, Pre-Algebra, Biology, Composition, Latin, Orchestra, Horsemanship, Cotillion, and Japanese. He decided to join the soccer team, the Astronomy club and the debate team. He and Dominic were once again roommates. However they had new suite mates, Timothy Anderson Howell the Fourth who was as pretentious as his name implied and Steve Higgs who was a scholarship student. Within four hours Harry and Dominic took Steve under their wings and departed the suite to get away from Timothy.

"It's going to be a long trimester with that jerk." Steve said.

"No kidding." Dominic agreed.

"Yes talk about your over inflated opinion of yourself." Harry agreed.

Michael came over, "Hey Harry you're taking Pre-algebra right? Any chance you'll tutor me?"

"Sure thing Michael. Michael meet our new suite mate Steve Higgs, Steve this is Michael Coldsmith Briggs the third and don't let his pretentious name fool you he's an entirely different kettle of fish than the snob in your room."

"Ouch Harry you wound me. So who's your roommate Steve?"

"Timothy, don't call me Tim, Anderson Howell the fourth."

"Ooh, my sympathy is with you. His family is a lot like mine the difference is he still wants his dad to give a crap. I gave up on that long ago. Needless to say the boy has issues. So tell us about yourself Steve."

"My Dad's a SEAL with the U.S. Navy. My folks are split. I'm in sixth grade. I got top of my class test results last spring and the school came and talked to me about coming here. My grandma and my mom didn't want me to come. But my dad thought it was a good idea and so did I. I figure my mom just didn't want to give up her free baby sitter and the fact that if I'm not living with her my dad won't be giving her child support for me. In case you can't tell I don't like my mom much, something about her cheating on my dad while he was on tour out of the country. Grandma is okay but she blames all the problems between my folks on dad which is bullshit.

"What are your stories?"

"Well.." Dominic told his story, followed by Michael and Harry told his last.

"So I just have one question how a little shrimp like you get in the sixth grade?" Steve asked.

The tone of the question was offset by the twinkle in Steve's brown eyes.

Harry grimaced as Michael and Dominic started laughing.

"I'm nine. I'm smaller because I'm younger by two years."

Dominic managed to stifle his laughter. "Don't let his small stature fool you Harry here has it where it counts, he is one of ten kids in our year group that carries a straight A average and he knows martial arts."

"Shoot! What time is it?" Harry frantically looked at his watch. "I've got to go meet Sensei." He ran off like his tail was on fire.

Dominic looked at Michael, "Where's Verun and Kamala?"

"Their dad was recalled to India for a higher position."

"Bummer."

"So Steve what classes are you taking beyond the obvious that is?"

A few weeks later Harry got permission and invited his friends to visit his home for the weekend. Harry felt bad for Michael and Steve since Michael's dad didn't care and Steve had a choice his grandma's or staying in the dorms with his jerk of a roommate. Timothy was making enemies of his suite mates in a hurry. He would yell at them for leaving little stuff like a toothbrush in the bathroom but would leave the room a mess with his towel on the floor. Three weeks into school they got the floor parent involved and tried to work through the problem but it didn't work very well Timothy claimed they ganged up on him and they were to blame. All three of the boys put up with Timothy's rants about how they made to much noise to much mess and how Timothy took anything chocolate that they brought into the suite.

Harry wanted to prank him to kingdom come after that but refrained until the final day of the trimester. When he set up a bunch pranks that would affect Timothy even after he left school. All in all Timothy was going to have a very bad day. Harry started by warning Dominic and Steve not to try and eat any chocolate in the suite and he left laxative laced brownies out. Timothy was a chocoholic and didn't think twice about taking it when he noticed the brownies. He ate three brownies careful to get every crumb. Harry set up a bucket of ice water to dump on him in the bathroom after removing everything of his, Dominic's and Steve's from the bathroom and made sure that Timothy's toiletries were in the bathroom. Dominic and Steve agreed that the mild scolding from the floor parentand having to mop up the bathroom was worth the appalled expression on Timothy's face as he got soaked. Timothy took a hot shower and washed his hair with doctored shampoo and it was hard to smother their laughter because in his hurry he didn't look in the mirror and notice his now pink hair. He was rushing trying to get ready for his father's assistant to pick him up when he saw a chocolate bar on Steve's desk. Harry had been helpful and set out a set of clothes while he was in the shower. What he didn't tell Timothy was that he had lightly dusted them with itching power and had slipped unwrapped chocolate bars and dead rats like the biology department used to feed the boa constrictor into Timothy's suitcase and set it near the radiator that warmed the room.

Steve, Dominic, and Harry watched as he left. Harry noticed the floor parent looking at the three of them with an arched eyebrow after Timothy walked by. Harry smiled innocently back as he noticed that Timothy had already unwrapped the chocolate bar and was a bout to bite into it. "Wait for it..." he whispered to his two friends. A few seconds later Timothy bellowed and ran to the water fountain. Harry had bought a hot pepper bittersweet chocolate bar.

The floor parent went to check on Timothy. Five minutes later he came in and frowned at the three boys. "That wasn't kind."

"He's earned it." Harry said unapologetically.

"If it weren't for the fact that school is technically not in session I would have to punish you. I admit that Timothy isn't the most likable person..."
"He steals anything chocolate." Dominic said.

"Always makes messes and blames them on other people." Harry added.

"Tries to cheat by copying other peoples homework." Steve added.

"In short Mr. Collins we formally request a change in suite mates for next trimester. We put up with him for the fall trimester but we feel that to inflict that..." Dominic started.

"Small minded, grasping, lying..." Harry continued.

"Prejudiced bigot on us again is cruel and unusual punishment. " Steve finished.

"Request noted." He frowned again. "Although I must admit to being disappointed that you three did that to him. When are your families coming?"

"Rachel and Alexis are coming for us in half an hour and Dominic and Steve are spending the weekend at our place. Then Monday we'll be taking everyone to the airport for the school group trip. "

"Si, Signore Collins I'm very excited about the new trips being offered by the school. Especially since the first one takes us to Italy I'm looking forward to showing my friends the beauty of my home country."

"You're going too, Steve?"

"Yes my dad's team is doing a duty tour out of Naples. I'm getting the trip as a Christmas present and I've extended my visa and put off the trip back for a week so I can see my dad over Christmas. Dominic is staying to visit his family and he and I will actually be coming back the same flight."

"Well have a good trip and come back safe."

"Mr. Collins so you know, I'm the one responsible for what happened to the jerk. I planned it and executed it if any thing comes back on anyone it's me clear?" Harry firmly stated.

"I'll keep what you said in mind Harry."

"Thanks Mr. Collins." all the boys chorused.

Outside they met up with Michael and then all four boys piled into the minivan driven by Rachel and escorted by Alexis.

That weekend they had a blast they shopped for some Christmas presents, played in the pool at the house and cuddled the babies that now could sit up and look at things. The boys were amused to discover that Sheba liked to swim. When they were in the pool she climbed in with them.

The trip was something new that the school was trying during the breaks there would be an educational/ fun trip offered since travel was one of the most enriching experiences possible. The student council chose the locations and the travel agency organized the trip. The travel agent wound up being shocked by the response in addition to the five teachers, ten parent/chaperones, and a hundred students sixth grade and up there were also about twenty bodyguards for the trip. Monday they took their packed bags, passports, and tickets and went to the airport. Harry was being accompanied by Alexis, Robert who was another of Sirius' recent hires and Zoe who had stayed on as part of the WIS team that saw to security for the Blacks. Goodbyes to Sirius, Beth, and the babies were swift.

Italy was interesting the tour started in Rome then went to Assisi. From Assisi they went to Venice in Venice while shopping Harry found a dress for Beth that he made one of the parents try on for him. Then they went to Florence where Dominic's grandparents lived. His grandfather had connections so their group didn't have to wait when they went to see Michaelangelo's "David". Then the tour went to Tuscany followed by Capri. At Capri Steve left the group to stay with his dad, while the rest of them returned to Rome. Over the course of the trip he found gifts for all the security personnel. Harry was amazed at how much film he was taking home, somehow he had ended up being the group's official photographer. Dominic's grandfather met them in Rome to take him back to Florence. While the rest of the group returned home for Christmas.

Harry got back and the first thing he did was to sleep twelve hours straight. When he woke up the first thing he saw was a frowning Beth. Having seen that look before he said"What did I do?"

"Does the name Tim Howell ring a bell?"

Harry smirked and said "It might."

"What are you smirking about? Two days after you left Sirius and I got an irate phone call from that boy's father and he claimed you ruined his son's suitcase and clothes dyed his hair and made him sick."

Harry noticed his godfather hanging back behind Beth holding James and Lila listening to the conversation. "I pranked the heck out of the jerk. If he got sick it was his own damn fault. He's a stuck up pig. All trimester he lord's over Steve, Dominic and I. He's Timothy Anderson Howell the fourth. His father is rich and such a big shot. Never mind that I could probably buy and sell his daddy two times over. He's American and not a scholarship student from a ghetto. Dominic's nothing but a wop, and I'm too young to know anything never mind I'm in the same grade and a straight A student when he has trouble earning a C. He copied Steve's homework twice before we got wise to him and stopped leaving it in the room when we weren't there. That could have cost Steve his scholarship as it was he got called to the principal's office.

"All trimester he threw fits if any of the rest of us left out toothbrushes out but we got docked for our suite being messy three times because he was too lazy to pick up his crap. We tried several times to go through channels and the steps for conflict resolution with Mr. Collins but he refused to follow through on any of the supposed agreements saying his daddy donates heavily to the school and he didn't have to. Furthermore if any of us had something chocolate he'd steal it.

"Would you rather I did a carpet impression and let him walk all over the rest of us?" he finished.

Sirius couldn't resist, eyes twinkling he said, "What all did you do?"

"Sirius!"

"I kept it mundane. Laxative brownies, a Hot pepper chocolate bar which I didn't give him mind you, I just left them out where he could find them. Ice water dumped over his head, pink hair dye in his shampoo which his bleached to white blond hair absorbed beautifully, itching powder on his clothes, I suppose I did go a little over board with the dead rats and the unwrapped chocolate in the suitcase next to the radiator with his school uniforms though."

"Oooh. James would be proud."

"Sirius! Harry shouldn't do things like that."

"And this other boy should get away with what he did?"

"I didn't say that!"

"Look Beth, I'll pay for what got ruined, but I want a sit down meeting with him, his oh so important father, Mr. Greer, Ms. Fortourney, Mr. Beckett, Mr. Collins and you, Sirius. I want his daddy to know exactly what kind of prick his son is."

"Harry, language!" Beth scolded.

"Agreed, Harry." Sirius said.

"Sirius!"

"Discussion is over Beth. Harry has a right to defend himself and he was mindful of the school rules and waited to do it until school was officially over for the trimester. I won't take him to task for it, to do so would be hypocritical. I call the school and set up the meeting."

Christmas with the whole family at the Castle was very nice, everyone liked the gifts Harry had found in Italy and elsewhere. Harry had gifted his school friends with tickets to see the touring company of "Les Miserables" when it was playing at Wolf Trap the Friday before school started and invited them for the weekend. He had sent his many pen pals small tokens of affection and had sent his summer teachers gifts he knew each would appreciate.

Harry liked the wizard chess set Roderick and Maryanne gave him, Sirius and Beth gave him a Bokken and a Katana and a set of three fencing swords foil, epee, and sabre plus the required safety equipment and private lessons for a year in both kendo and fencing. He got mostly books from his Uncles, Aunt, and security detail. He was surprised by receiving gifts from Mal and Mai Reynolds they sent him a potions supply kit. Remus and his family and friends in the U.K. sent him three pewter cauldrons of various sizes, a potion makers scale, and a potion makers tool kit that would let him process ingredients and stir his potions properly. His biggest surprise however came in the form of a gift from Yiska Walker.

Two months ago Harry had finished organizing his mind buildings so he had reluctantly started to go through the burned out building that had held the fragment. He had taken to putting up a silencing spell the nights he sorted the memories and he could only do it while he was at home with Sirius and Beth. He had only done a couple of rooms so far but those rooms had caused horrible nightmares. When Harry opened the present from Yiska it held a large ten inch diameter dream catcher and with it was a letter.

Atsah,

A soul that has been marked by evil such as yours undoubtably doesn't always rest easily. Jim and I both felt as if we were disrespecting our beliefs by taking the eagle feathers from you. We have spoken to the Department of Wildlife, the Bureau of Indian Affairs and numerous others the result is in front of you. Our tribe was grateful for the generosity of your guardian and yourself so thirteen clans contributed a fetish each, twelve wolves and an eagle, another gave the yarn and two others gave the beads other. I made the juniper hoop and Jim gave the leather lacing and the turkey feathers. My Mother the tribes most respected weaver and medicine woman did the crafting herself. As a tribe we have called for the blessings of the spirits that guide us and ask that they guard your dreams as you heal from the battle for your soul. Look closely at the feathers you will notice that there three suspended with two feathers in place, one is from a turkey and the smaller ones are the body feathers from your eagle. Also in the box are the legal forms that grant you permission to have just these three golden eagle feathers in your possession. Hang it above your bed Atsah, and may your dreams be warm and refreshing.

The remainder of the year was quiet until the day before New Years Eve, when Harry and Sirius went to Stuart-Cavanaugh to deal with the fall out of Harry's pranking. The whole meeting became rather anti climatic when Mr. Howell refused to admit that Timothy was at least partly to blame and demanded Harry's expulsion. Harry handed him seven hundred dollars which he knew would cover the cost of the suitcase itself and the clothes that were in it. And bluntly said, "Mr. Howell it was excessive of me to do what I did to Tim's suitcase here is money sufficient to replace what was damaged. That said, I don't apologize because he deserved every last bit of it and brought it on himself, but considering his example I can't say I'm surprised. Good day." Harry rose and left the room. Sirius followed without a word.

Mr. Howell sputtered to the staff, "What! You're just going to let that spawn walk out without apologizing to Timothy."

Mr. Greer, the principal, had listened carefully and had examined the records of both students involved and knew which child he believed. So he answered, "Restitution has been made I consider the matter of the pranks on your son closed. However I have to tell you that your son will be on probation here until the end of the present school year and if he fails to improve at the end of the year you will be asked to find another school."

"What? Why? I made a large donation to this school."

"Stuart-Cavanaugh is an elite school academically, however we strive for inclusiveness amongst the student body. Your son's frankly poor attitude towards that goal, his questionable grades, this accusation of cheating, and Mr. Collins' report of less than satisfactory behavior in the dorm makes me believe we may not be the best fit for your son's educational goals. And so far as your donation, a donation with strings attached isn't a donation it's a bribe. Furthermore Mr. Black too has made generous donations without strings, so this discussion is over."