Chapter Two: The Golden Trio

Disclaimer: Not mine in any shape or form

Author's Note: While this is an alternate parentage story, I don't want Harry to immediately give up all morals and turn evil. I might give him dark magic, but I will try to keep him mostly in character. So Dumbledore won't become this evil megalomaniac (although he will stay a manipulative bastard…)

Harry fell asleep sometime around four in the morning, and woke up to the sound of screams. He bolted up, frantically searching for his glasses. He threw on his clothes and bolted to the common room, the source of the scream. What he found was surprising to say the least.

Fred and George had most likely been testing out new products, and as a result a large number of students were now sporting animal ears and tails. The scream had come from Lavender, who was pulling at her mouse ears and tail in dismay. There were about twenty students affected, and Harry wondered how Fred and George could have gotten them to all eat something, after all, Lavender would never try a prank on purpose.

The answer was revealed soon enough as Fred and George came up behind him, and Fred, or who Harry thought was Fred, said, "Why, hello there our-"

"Mini Marauder friend," George? finished.

"What happened here?" Harry asked, a bit too surprised to say anything else.

"Now that-" a twin said

"Is easily answered," finished the other.

Their twin-speak was quite dizzying, but they continued talking in the same manner.

"We invented a potion that works-"

"Like a muggle smoke bomb-"

"You throw it on the the ground and-"

"Kabaam! A room full of animal ears and tails."

Harry laughed, "That is rather funny, glad it didn't happen to me-"

Suddenly a puff of smoke was in Harry's ace, and he felt a tingling sensation on his lower back and head. He felt the top of his head to find a pair of deer ears and antlers, and he could feel his newfound deer tail twitching behind him. He was reminded of what Sirius had said his dad's animagus form was, he was still quite annoyed.

Harry scowled, "Really? Really guys? Whatever, have you guys seen Ron or Hermione?"

The twins pointed to a corner where Hermione sat with a book...and cat ears and a tail. Harry sighed and walked over to her, sitting down beside her, "Hey 'mione," he said.

She looked up, a bit surprised. She had been so engulfed in her book Harry wondered if she noticed the antlers and tail. "Oh, Hullo Harry," she said, returning to her book.

Harry sighed, he had decided last night that it would be best to tell Ron and Hermione about the journal, after all they were his two best friends, and he trusted them with his life. He had, on multiple occasions. Then he saw Ron across the common room, without animal characteristics, and motioned him over.

"Umm," Harry started, "Well, see I found something out yesterday, and I want you guys to…" Harry trailed off. he didn't know what he wanted Ron and Hermione to do exactly.

"Can we go the astronomy tower?" he asked, "I'd like a place more private."

They both nodded, and the three of them headed towards the tower. On their way there they passed a number of students, also out on a Saturday enjoying the last week of school. Of course, none of the other students had cat ears or antlers, but it was the principle of the thing.

On their way to the tower Ron motioned towards Harry and Hermione and said, "So what's with the new look? I'm guessing a prank."

Hermione gave Ron an exasperated look, "Yes Ron, as a matter of fact it was your brothers that did this, I assume it will go away soon, hopefully."

Just as she finished speaking the animal ears and tails disappeared from both Harry and Hermione. They both sighed in relief

The rest of the walk was quiet, and too soon, for Harry at least, they reached the tower. They sat down in the empty room and, after Hermione put up an anti-eavesdropping spell, waited for him to start talking.

"Well, see, umm…" Harry was having trouble knowing where to start with everything. He took a moment to take a deep breath before continuing. "Yesterday, a bit late, Sirius sent me a box of my Dad's old stuff, see, and I started looking through it…"

"I found his journal."

Ron and Hermione both looked excited, but then Hermione noticed the lack of excitement in his posture and words. She said, "What was in the journal?"

Harry sighed again, "Don't be mad at me, please, I couldn't handle it if you were angry at me, or we stopped talking…"

It was Ron who spoke next," Mate, whatever it is, we'll stand by you. I mean, your trusting us with whatever this is, so do you really think we would abandon you?"

Harry smiled, no matter what happened, at least he had friends like this. He told them about what he had found in the journal. He told them how he didn't quite believe it, but what if it was true. Harry even showed the two of them the journal, which he had brought with him.

During his retelling Ron and Hermione had looked both shocked and confused. At the end of it all Ron spoke up.

"So basically what you're saying here is that your parents adopted you, and you may or may not be the son of deatheaters."

Harry nodded, and then Hermione said, "Harry, this would never jeopardize our friendship. It doesn't matter who your parents are, you are more than that. If your birth parents really are...death eaters, then it won't change the way I see you. After all, you've already fought Voldemort twice, I highly don't you're going to join him. "

Ron nodded in agreement, and Harry felt overjoyed. He had been terrified they would reject him, but the had stayed by him.

"Thanks guys," Harry said, "you have no idea how much this means to me."

They both nodded and Ron said, "There is one problem, from what you said, your gonna turn into somebody else on your fifteenth, and you have no idea who your birth parents are."

Harry ran his hands through his hair, "I know, but I have no idea how to figure out who they are…"

Then Hermione said, "Well, your parents were most likely wizards, and they were either captured by Voldemort, or one of his servants. That means the daily prophet might have said something about a dead child, or a mass family murder. There is even a possibility you had been stolen at birth, and taken to Voldemort's lair."

Ron looked contemplative, "Well, the ministry had this big book of every magical person born in Britain, it's in the department of records."

Hermione brightened, "All we would need to do is look at children born a few months before July 31st."

"But guys," Harry said, "How are we supposed to get into the ministry?"

They paused, then Ron said, "My dad works there, maybe over the summer we could have him take us with him to work, and we could sneak away. I know parents sometimes bring their kids to work."

Harry and Hermione both agreed it was a good idea, then they started trying to plan when they could meet over the summer. Ron told them that apparently there was going to be the quidditch world cup this year, and that since neither Harry or Hermione could watch it in the muggle world maybe they could come to the Burrow.

This seemed like a great idea, until everyone hit a roadblock. The Dursleys. They would never, under any circumstances let Harry go anywhere he might enjoy himself. Just by telling them it would be a quidditch world cup, not that they knew what that meant, the Dursleys would forbid him. Mainly because although they didn't know what quidditch was, they knew it would probably be another freaky thing he did.

Harry decided they would have to trick the Dursleys into letting him go. At the very least, Harry would have to straight out lie. He thought about possible ways to go about this.

After asking the other two Hermione came up with a brilliant plan, "If you tell them you are going to my house, and that you won't be back for the rest of the summer, I think they might let you go."

"Why?" asked Ron.

"Well see," Hermione said, "my parents are dentists and if the Dursleys are as mundane as you say then they shouldn't have a problem with you spending the summer with a bunch of dentists. We just won't mention that we are going to Ron's."

Harry smiled at Hermione, "That's bloody brilliant," he said, "I think they'll fall for it too. Especially with the whole not seeing me again part."

Then Ron said, "So the quidditch world cup is on August 22nd, so you think we should get together on August 15th, so we have time to go into the ministry."

Hermione nodded, "That should work,' was all she said. With that, the matter seemed resolved, at least for the moment. Harry was amazed at how quickly they accepted the situation and promised to stand by him. It was why they were his best friends.

The three left the astronomy tower and went to the great hall, because it now seemed to be about lunch time. After eating, the hung around outside for a bit, and joked around. Generally they seemed to be getting into the pattern of things.

The three settled back into a routine of Hermione worrying, Ron and Harry lazing, and other normal stuff. Soon exams came out, Hermione had great scores, and the end feast arrived. Hermione announced she was giving up muggle studies, and although the loss of the time turner was sad, they didn't need it. All too quickly the were on the train to king's cross.

In the middle of the train ride Harry received another a letter from his godfather. he opened it and read it with delight.

…

Dear Harry,

I hope this finds you before you reach your aunt and uncle. I don't know whether they're used to owl post.

I forgot to mention in my last letter that Buckbeak is safe and sound with me. I won't include any more information about where I am in case this letter falls into the wrong hands. I have some doubts about his reliability, but he is the best I could find, and he did seem eager for the job.

I believe the demonter are still searching for me, but they haven't a hope of finding me here. I am planning to allow some muggles to glimpse me soon, a long way from Hogwarts, so that the security on the castle will be lifted.

There is something I never got around to telling you during our brief meeting. It was I who sent you the Firebolt-

…

"Ha!" said Hermione triumphantly. "See! I told you it was from him!"

"Yes, but he hadn't jinxed it, had he?" said Ron. "Ouch!" The tiny owl, now hooting happily in his hand, had nibbled one of his fingers in what it seemed to think was an affectionate way.

…

Crookshanks took the order to the Owl Office for me. I used your name but told them to take the gold from my own Gringotts vault. Please consider it as thirteen birthdays' worth of presents from your godfather.

I would also like to apologize for the fright I think I gave you that night last year when you left your uncle's house. I had only hoped to get a glimpse of you before starting my journey north, but I think the sight of me alarmed you.

I am enclosing something else for you, which I think will make your next year at Hogwarts more enjoyable.

If you ever need me, send word. Your owl will find me.

I'll write again soon.

Sirius

…

Harry looked eagerly inside the envelope. There was another piece of parchment in there. He read it through quickly and felt suddenly as warm and contented as though he'd swallowed a bottle of hot butterbeer in one gulp.

...

I, Sirius Black, Harry Potter's godfather, hereby give him permission to visit Hogsmeade on weekends.

…

"That'll be good enough for Dumbledore!" said Harry happily. He looked back at Sirius's letter. How would Sirius feel if he knew Harry wasn't James' son. Would he still want to protect him? James had said he was going to tell Sirius, but panicked. Did that mean he didn't trust Sirius? His godfather was always talking about how much he looked like James, but apparently this wasn't his true appearance.

Granted, Harry's patronus was a stag, so Harry obviously saw James as a protector and father, but he wasn't born to Lily and James Potter. Harry hoped that when he told Sirius, which he would, that Sirius would still accept him, like Ron and Hermione did. He shook his thoughts away from that and saw something else on the letter.

"Hang on, there's a PS..." he said.

...

I thought your friend Ron might like to keep this owl, as it's my fault he no longer has a rat.

...

Ron's eyes widened. The minute owl was still hooting excitedly.

"Keep him?" he said uncertainly. He looked closely at the owl for a moment; then, to Harry's and Hermione's great surprise, he held him out for Crookshanks to sniff.

"What do you reckon?" Ron asked the cat. "Definitely an owl?"Crookshanks purred.

"That's good enough for me," said Ron happily. "He's mine."

The rest of the train ride was uneventful, mostly games of exploding snap, and once the train reached London The three split up to head towards their respective families.

Harry bid Ron and Hermione good-bye, then wheeled the trolley bearing his trunk and Hedwig's cage toward Uncle Vernon, who greeted him in his usual fashion, meaning to say he grunted in disdain.

"What's that?" he snarled, staring at the envelope Harry was still clutching in his hand. "If it's another form for me to sign, you've got another -"

"It's not," said Harry cheerfully. "It's a letter from my godfather."

"Godfather?" sputtered Uncle Vernon. "You haven't got a godfather!"

"Yes, I have," said Harry brightly. "He was my mum and dad's best friend. He's a convicted murderer, but he's broken out of wizard prison and he's on the run. He likes to keep in touch with me, though ... keep up with my news ... check if I'm happy ..."

And, grinning broadly at the look of horror on Uncle Vernon's face, Harry set off toward the station exit, Hedwig rattling along in front of him, for what looked like a much better summer than the last.

Author's Note: I love the reactions I'm getting from this story, and don't be afraid to review. If you don't like something I want to know why! I love reviews, from a simple spell check to an angry rant about why you hate this story I love them all. And yes, I made Ron and Hermione stay Harry's best friends. Next chapter will have ministry trip and maybe a parent reveal.