DISCLAIMER: That part of this world and those characters you've seen before belong to their Creator: JKR. The rest is mine - although I cannot quit my day job as I make no $$$ from this…
A/N: Wow! Over 100 reviews in a day or two!
FAMILY WARDS (AGAIN!) (guess I'll have to explain this in a later chapter - after the kids get back from Japan…)
The memory component is complicated in its effects. It makes people either forget the family or forget why they may be important. Not everyone is affected the same way:
The memory component does not affect Muggles or young magical children at all (unless the children want to cause harm).
The memory component does not affect family or those who are both trusted by the family and TRUSTWORTHY. Thus, Minerva, Sirius and Remus are totally unaffected.
The memory component affects anyone who seeks to cause harm to any member of the household. In essence, they forget about all of it. Dumbles can be told of Harry Potter now and he won't care. It's just another name to him and even if shown newspapers and such, he will not connect the Boy-Who-Lived with the real Harry Potter.
All others (with one exception) will remember Harry AFTER they meet him following the formation of the Ward. They will have forgotten anything they knew about him before the Wards were formed.
The exception is David Greengrass and that's only because he and Mike Evans are working that case. He remembers when he opens the file, then forgets when he moves on to something else. Bloody annoying really, but as the ward has not effect on Mike, he can still work the case.
WHY DIDN'T ANYONE FIGURE OUT PETTIGREW IS ALIVE? (or Harry for that matter) AFTER ALL, BIRTHS AND DEATHS APPEAR ON A MAGICAL WALL IN THE MINSTRY.
The Wall is in the Records Office. No one really goes there at all. The Clerks could care less and are less than willing to volunteer information to other Ministry people 'cause they are generally considered bottom tier employees. Any records that one would need are sent by mail, so no one goes there to look for themselves and most Magicals believe what they see in the papers. And, now that the Wards are up, no one is likely to give the Wall a second glance (at least for Harry) (The wall is not considered conclusive evidence of anything - for some reason - and is not admissible in the magical courts. Documents are, wall is not. And Birth, Marriage, Death records are not created magically and the Ministry does not create a birth record for Muggle Borns at this time until they are accepted to Hogwarts…) (Also, even though Harry, Hermione and Clarice have their names in the School ledgers, it cannot be consulted until the year they turn eleven, a magical protection from the last war to prevent Death Eaters from finding young Muggle Borns and their families…)
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO: ST. MUNGO'S
SATURDAY, JUNE 18, 1988 - DIAGON ALLEY, LONDON, U.K.
The Grangers, McGonagall and Mr. Weasley spent the next several minutes talking off to a side while the children continued talking with each other. Harry was able to hear snippets of the conversation and realized that McGonagall and Mr. Weasley were trying to encourage the Grangers to allow the three of them to visit the Weasley children or vice versa every once in a while.
"It would be a wonderful introduction to the magical world and allow them room to play and children like them to play with," Mr. Weasley said. "It would also provide my kids with an introduction into the Muggle world. It's amazing how little we really know about it or understand it. Molly may not be to keen on the idea, but I think our children should learn all they can about the world at large. Goodness knows I know so little about it and I'm a supposed expert! Never even heard of Dentists before, can you imagine?
"I mean I know cars and such, but have no idea what makes them tick really. I know about eckeltricity, but have no idea what it is and such. My real dream is to learn what makes airplanes stay up. I'm sure that's all common knowledge to you all, but we know nothing about it."
The problem was, while everyone came to agree it would be a wonderful idea, the Granger family schedule was packed for the time being. Hermione still had a week of school and Clarice still had to finish her lessons. Once school ended, they had only a few days to get ready for their trip to Japan to the Watanabe School - the Grangers called it a summer camp. After that, they would be home for less than a week as they planned to leave for America on holiday on from August 2nd to the 16th. There were some whispers as well, but it was generally agreed that any "play dates" would probably be after the Grangers returned from America.
Molly returned as the conversation seemed to end. She seemed more relaxed and Fred explained to Harry, Hermione and Clarice that their Mum could yell a storm, but usually calmed down afterwards. Percy and his older brothers were probably grounded for the summer, but once they got home they would probably have to do nothing more than de-gnome the garden a few times, a chore George then explained to the three children which did not seem all that bad at all. Everyone soon said goodbye as the Weasleys had more shopping to do and the Grangers had appointments at St. Mungo's, the magical hospital. Harry had been told they were going there to see his godfather and was surprised about "appointments." To be honest, he was tired of Doctors.
_____________________________________________________________
They left Diagon Alley and walked a couple of blocks through the non-magical part of London before arriving at an old looking department store called Purge & Dowse, Ltd. The sign said it was closed for renovations. McGonagall told everyone that it was really the magical hospital and the façade was to keep non-magicals from being too curious. In the store window were manikins wearing faded clothes that looked at least twenty years out of date. It was explained that most visitors used magical transport to get to the hospital, but this was the "street" access.
McGonagall spoke with one of the dummies in the window and the window seemed to shimmer. She told them to just walk strain through. It took a little convincing before Harry gave it a try. He passed right through what should have been glass and brick and found himself in a reception area. The others soon followed.
McGonagall led the others to what looked like a receptionist beneath a sign that said "Welcome Witch." She stated her purpose, that there were appointments for the three children with Pediatrics for check-ups and then they were going to visit a patient named Sirius Black. The witch at the counter didn't seem to bat an eye. They were directed down a hall to the third corridor on the left and then all the way to the end where there was a waiting room and they could check in with the duty nurse for their appointments. Sirius Black was on the Fourth Floor in room 437.
Harry complained at first. No one had told him he had to see a doctor! He had spent a month in hospital! He was sick of doctors! McGonagall explained this was a magical check up and as he never had one before it was important. Upon hearing magic would be involved, he calmed down a little. Hermione, on the other hand, practically squealed with glee at the thought. They checked in at Pediatrics and waited to be called. Clarice seemed indifferent, Harry seemed to mope, but Hermione seemed to fidget with anticipation and experiencing even more of this strange and exciting world.
They did not have to wait long. Hermione was called first and she and McGonagall went off with a woman who called herself Healer Anna Meadows. Clarice was next and left with Rose Granger and Healer Tabitha Tobias. Harry was called moments later by Healer Ted Tonks. Robert Granger went with him.
"Call me Ted," Healer Tonks said as they entered what looked to Mr. Granger to be a fairly ordinary examination room.
"Bob."
"Non-magical, right?"
Bob nodded.
"I was raised that way. My whole family was non-magical 'cept me. Bit of a surprise when I found out, you know. First time to St. Mungo's?"
"It is."
"What do you do for a living, Bob?"
"My wife and I are Dentists. We have our own practice not far from here."
"Really? Another health care professional? Wonderful. Well, you may note many of the things we do today are little different than what you are used to, but some are very different."
"Looking forward to it."
"Right then, let's see what's what little guy!" Ted said turning to Harry. "Let's get you up on the table here," he added lifting Harry onto what looked like an ordinary examination table. Ted then brought out what looked like an ordinary blood pressure device and stethoscope.
"That's just like what they used at my other hospital," Harry observed.
"A lot of our stuff is," Ted replied. "In some instances, we really haven't come up with magic that's truly better than technology. Fair few Purebloods hate that. For example, we don't really have any magical dentists."
"You don't?" Harry and Bob Granger said simultaneously.
"Oh, there are some things we can do with magic, but fixing cavities and straitening teeth - nope. We have contracts with regular Dentists to do teeth. Which reminds me…our London Dentist retired recently. It's a real bother referring people to Birmingham for their work. If you and your wife are interested, we might be able to throw some business your way."
"How would that work? Would they come to our office?"
"No. There's an office in Diagon Alley. You would have a magical device called a Portal installed at your office that would allow you or your wife to step between one and the other."
"Staffing?"
"Two Dental Hygienists and an x-ray technician, all Muggles with magical relatives. The receptionist and records keeper are witches."
"I'll talk to my wife about it."
"Brilliant! Now to our little patient."
The first part of the examination was not unlike the examinations Harry had experienced at the hospital. Having been through more than a few, it actually put his mind at ease a little. Deep down, however, he was concerned that this Healer would wind up giving him more shots. He had come to hate needles. He was then asked to drink a strange looking, ruby red liquid.
"What's this?" Harry asked.
"It's a diagnostic potion, Harry," Healer Tonks replied. "You'll be taking at least two different ones today. This one allows me to do an internal exam and see how your injuries are recovering. It will also allow me access to your vital organs to see how they're doing. I'll be honest, it's not the best tasting stuff in the world, but the rest of the exam is painless."
"Okay, I guess," Harry said sheepishly as he put the potion to his lips.
"YUCK!" he exclaimed. "That's nasty!"
The Healer then waved his wand over Harry's body and Harry saw it glowing with different colors. What Harry did not see, Robert did. Behind Harry were three dimensional representations of Harry's internals: bones, organs, everything. The Healer could even magnify the image.
"That's amazing!" Robert said.
"Better than an MRI," Healer Tonks agreed. "The one drawback is we have yet to come up with an effective way to store the imagery for later review. So, I have to take copious notes."
"So why aren't you writing?"
"Look over there," the Healer said indicating a desk in the corner. Harry and Robert looked and could see a quill furiously writing away all by itself. "It's a mind linked quill," Healer Tonks explained. "It's keyed to my mind. I think it, it writes it down." Several minutes passed as the Healer continued his wand waving and observation of the imagery.
Harry could see the Healer frown.
"What's wrong?" he asked.
"Well, for the most part nothing," Healer Tonks said. "Your injuries have healed very nicely and it looks like they took real good care of you at St. Bart's. You're health is fairly good all thinks considered and you seem to be eating well now. How long have you been with the Grangers?"
"Not long," Harry said. "They're my foster parents. I went with them when I left hospital. Before I was hurt, I never met them before."
"Who did you live with before, Harry?"
"My Aunt and Uncle."
"Were they the ones who hurt you?"
Harry nodded. "Mostly my Uncle, but yeah."
"Did they feed you?"
"Not much."
"That's patently obvious. You are clearly showing signs of prolonged malnutrition. That's what's got me concerned."
"Why?"
"Your gastro-intestinal system shows classic signs of acute distress associated with prolonged malnutrition."
"What's that mean?"
"The system consists of your stomach, small intestine and large intestine. It helps you eat and digest food. Most of the digesting happens in your small intestine which is like a long hose that's tangled up in your tummy. What's left is usually waste, but your large intestine tries to get more food out of it. What's left after that is poop. What I can see from the scans is your stomach is too small for your size. I need to run another scan so see just how much damage you suffered and whether we can fix it, okay?"
"I - I guess."
"This next test will test your magical development. Again, you'll have to take a potion, although it's not as bad tasting as the last one, okay?"
Harry nodded as a grey potion was handed to him. He drank it and it was actually rather bland. Again, the Healer began waving his want and Harry watched the magical quill scribbling furiously.
"Interesting," Healer Tonks said.
"What?" both Harry and Robert asked?
"I expected a stunting of his magical development due to his nutritional deficiency, just not this much. It seems Harry's magical core is bound."
"What does that mean?" Harry asked.
"You are a magical being, Harry," the Healer said. "As such, you have a physical and magical body. The physical body is human. The magical body we call a 'core.' It does not physically exist, but it grows just as your body does, although it keeps growing long after you have reached your physical maturity. By being 'bound,' I mean someone has tied it up in a magical rope, for lack of a better description. It's a spell. It means your magical core is not being allowed to grow."
"Why would somebody do that?" Robert asked.
"Don't know," Healer Tonks said. "It's illegal to due without Healer authorization and as Harry here has never seen a Healer… The effect is to stunt his growth magically. So long as he's bound, he can never achieve his full potential magically. Medically, the spell is only authorized if the child has a history of potentially dangerous bouts of accidental magic. And even then, the bindings are removed when the child is six or seven. To leave them on longer is dangerous."
"Who would do such a thing?" Robert asked.
"Dumbledore," Harry said flatly. "He wants a martyr, remember?"
"But why this?"
"Maybe I was a powerful wizard," Harry suggested. "Maybe I was powerful enough to come through this alive. Kind of hard to be a martyr if your murderer can't kill you."
"Can you remove this binding?" Robert asked.
"I'm going to have to," Healer Tonks replied. "The prolonged malnutrition has stunted Harry's growth both physically and magically. He should be at least three inches taller than he is. Now fortunately his condition was discovered before he entered puberty so it may be reversible. There are treatment I can prescribe that will allow him to catch up to where he should be, but they won't work properly if his magic remains bound. Aside from that, he's healthy."
"Treatments?"
"I am going to prescribe a potions regimen for Harry. The first potion with be an unbinder to remove the bind on his magic. He will take one dose daily for three weeks. Once that is done, he will take two potions that will aid in both his physical and magical growth. He will take those daily, one potion with one meal and the other with another meal, for six months. Those potions will allow him to catch up to where he should be had he been properly nourished. You do know that as a magical child he needs half as much food again per day than a non-magical child, don't you?"
Robert Granger nodded.
"Good. Now for the last bit and the one I am sure Harry is going to hate."
"Shots?" Harry asked with dread in his voice.
The Healer nodded. "You got shots in the Muggle world for Muggle diseases. Well there are magical diseases as well. Since you have now entered our world, you need the shots to keep you healthy."
"I hate shots! They gave me a bunch of them when I was in hospital."
"I know, but it is necessary, Harry."
"Fine! What are they?"
"You need one to prevent Dragon Pox. That's a nasty disease that can be disfiguring as in make you look real bad for the rest of your life. There's another for Spratogotti, another nasty and disfiguring illness. Finally, there's a shot for Wizard's Flu. While that one won't damage you physically, it can damage your magic."
"I guess," Harry moped.
_____________________________________________________________
Sophie Tompkins opened the door to the private room occupied by one Sirius Black. She could not help it, she thought. As a Healer, she was supposed to be developing a detached objectivity to her patients. But this man, long in Azkaban and recently exonerated of any wrong doing did something to her on an emotional level she never knew she had. Try as she might to stop it, she knew she was falling in love with the man.
"Sirius?" she asked softly.
"I'm decent," he said with a chuckle. Sirius was not bed ridden. His room had a comfortable sitting area with a large window and a view and he was seated in a recliner reading a book. He was allowed out of bed, but could only leave the room for therapy or examinations. Since he could not leave the hospital, his room was fine. He found the rest of the hospital almost as depressing a residence as the prison. Still, he had taken a huge step up in quality of life and this Sophie was worth any mild restrictions. When he could leave this place, he had decided he was going to ask the younger woman out. Goodness knows he could use a date.
"You have a visitor," she said.
"Serious?"
"No, you are," she chuckled having long since learned his love of puns on his name. "Shall I send him in?"
"By all means, Sophie Luv."
She blushed. She's so lovely when she does that, he thought.
A tall, sandy haired man entered the room. "Sirius?" he asked.
"Moony!" Sirius exclaimed. "Damn it's good to see you!" Sirius leapt to his feet and hugged his old friend. "Sophie? This is my oldest living friend, Remus Lupin."
"Pleased to meet you," Sophie said.
Remus looked at Sirius and raised an eyebrow.
"This is Sophie Tompkins," Sirius continued. "She's a Healer in Training assigned to keep me in line."
"An impossible task, no doubt. Nobody's succeeded before," Remus laughed.
"Oh, he's not so bad," Sophie said. With that she smiled and left the room.
"You old dog," Remus laughed at his friend.
"What?"
"She's a cutie."
"I swear, I've been a perfect gentleman to the young lady."
"A first?"
"Note I used past tense. I am considering asking her out once they release me."
"You like her?"
Sirius nodded. "Then again, six and a half years in Azkaban…"
"Had I known," Remus Lupin said, "I would have tried to do something…" His voice faded away as his guilt in believing his best friend was a murderer overcame him.
"How could you?" Sirius asked honestly. "You weren't there and I'd dare say the powers that be controlled the news. I'm just glad to see you, my old friend."
"Yeah, me too, Padfoot. No one should have been made to suffer what you did."
"Hmph."
"What?"
"If McGonagall is right, I got off easy."
"What do you mean? You were in Azkaban! Never tried! That's hell on earth! You are alive when most would be dead!"
"As Padfoot, I found I could avoid the worst of it. Damn Dementors left my shaggy ass alone. But Harry was sentenced to the Dursleys!"
"Who? Harry? Not Harry Potter?"
"Dumbledore seems to have sent MY GODSON! to live with Lily's vile sister! Lily and James were clear that that could never happen except over their dead bodies… Bugger all! That's what happened!"
"And it cost little Harry his life," Remus said sadly.
"Actually, I'm told he's safe."
"What?" Remus exclaimed in disbelief, "How? I mean it's been in the papers he was confirmed dead! They had a memorial service to him and everything!"
"A reliable source informed me he was in hospital at the time of his alleged demise," Sirius chuckled. "I even have a picture of the lad taken after he supposedly died." Sirius showed Remus the photo of Harry with the two girls. "Seven years old and already a babe magnet," Sirius said with a laugh.
"Who are the girls?"
"One is his sister Clarice."
"Sister? I didn't know he had a sister."
"She was born when you were on the continent for Dumbledore. She was three months old when it all happened. That night, Dumbledore asked me to take her to a friend of mine so she could be adopted. He said it was necessary that they be separated for their own safety and, at the time, I agreed. She was. Her adoptive father died a year or so ago. She and her Mum were in a car crash about a month ago. She was injured, her mother was killed and she wound up at the same hospital as Harry."
"And Harry?"
"Haven't seen him," Sirius confessed. "McGonagall said the bastards damn near killed him. He was starved, unloved and beaten for sport!"
"I'll kill the bastards, just say the word."
"Too late."
"What do you mean?"
"The Dursleys are dead already."
"How?"
And Sirius then began to tell his one remaining friend all he had been told about the life and suffering of his Godson.
_____________________________________________________________
Harry and Robert stopped by the Apothecary on the way back to the main waiting room where they were going to meet up with the others. Harry was given a single, clear vial containing a pale blue liquid. The Potions Master explained it was the potion that he would take to unbind his magic, but the vial would provide him with all three potions. It was a magical vial that replenished itself after use. Once he took a dose, the vial would remain empty until it was time for his next dose. When he finished taking the unbinding potion, the vial would provide him with a physical growth potion each morning and the magical growth potion in time to be taken with his supper. Both Robert and Harry thought this was pretty cool.
When they arrived in the waiting room, the others were waiting. Clarice was holding a vial not unlike his own. He could see she had been crying.
"What's the matter, Sis?" Harry asked.
"Sh-shots," Clarice said. "I hate them!"
"Yeah," Harry agreed. "I had them too."
"So did Hermione," Clarice added.
"What's that for?" Harry asked indicating the vial.
"Some potion I have to take. The Healer said something about my magic being binded."
"Me too."
"Really?"
Harry nodded. "After that, I have to take potions to grow. Healer Tonks said I'm no where near as big or as magical as I should be 'cause my relatives didn't feed me right."
"Oh. I'm sorry."
Harry shrugged.
"Hermione's lucky," Clarice added. "She doesn't have to take icky potions."
Harry looked at Hermione. She was holding several pamphlets. "What'd you get, Hermione?"
She smiled at him. "A bunch of things to read about magical sicknesses and medicine and stuff! Isn't this day exciting?"
"Well, I suppose. I never consider getting shots exciting."
"Okay, aside from the shots," Hermione agreed rubbing one of her arms. "That wasn't fun."
"Well," McGonagall said, "let's head up."
"Where?" Clarice asked.
"We're going to visit your godfather, Sweetie," Rose Granger said. "He's staying here for a while."
"Oh."
________________________________________________________________________
The three children and three adults followed the directions to the main stairway and climbed for what seemed like forever until they reached the fourth floor where they had been told Sirius was staying. As they emerged from the stairway, they found themselves in yet another waiting area with yet another "Welcome Witch." She did not seem as friendly as the one they had met before.
"May I help you?" she asked in a bored voice.
"We're here to visit one of your patients," McGonagall said.
"Which one?" the witch replied sharply.
"Sirius Black."
"Really? Friend, family, fan or are you lot here to heap abuse on him like most of his supposed visitors?
"Friends and family," McGonagall said.
"Relation to the patient?"
"Two of these children are his godchildren."
"That's a new one. Okay," she sighed board again, "I'll see if I can find someone to escort you back to him. Your name please?"
"Minerva McGonagall."
"And the rest of the crowd?"
Minerva paused. She was not about to disclose that the famous yet dead Harry Potter was here. "Harry and Clarice Jameson, Robert, Rose and Hermione Granger."
"Thank you." The witch then saw something or someone. "Oi! Tompkins!"
A young blond woman dressed in Healer attire approached. "Yes Abigail," the woman said impatiently.
"Black's got some more visitors. You think you can escort them down to his room?" The voice was patronizing to say the least.
The woman looked at the visitors. "Oh, no problem," she said brightly deciding to ignore the condescending attitude. "Professor McGonagall! It's so good to see you again. Are these them?"
"Yes Sophie."
"Well, Sirius already has a visitor, but I'm sure he'll be thrilled to meet all of you!" She then turned towards the others. "I'm Healer-in-Training Sophie Thompkine. Sirius is one of my patients. Follow me please?"
Harry observed his surroundings with interest as the group headed down a long corridor. The first thing he notices was that while the whole floor seemed very well lit, just like at the other hospital, there were no lights that he could see. He realized it had to be magic.
He then noticed a boy about his age seated on a bench. The boy had dark brown hair, but Harry could not see the boy's face for it was buried in his hands. The boy was crying quietly. Seated next to him was an older woman who might be about the same age as Aunt Minnie. The door next to the bench had a sign on it that said: "James Thickey Ward - Spell Damage - Long Term Care." Harry could not help but hear some of what the two seated people were saying.
"Your parents were very brave," the old woman said to the boy
"They're never going to get better, are they Gran?" the boy said in an almost accusing tone.
"There's always hope, Neville."
They left the crying boy behind and soon reached a door with the number 437 on it. Harry could hear laughter coming from within. The young Healer knocked, indicated to the others to wait, and went inside. Harry could hear what was being said inside.
"You seem to be quite popular today, Sirius," the young Healer's voice chided.
"How so?" a man replied.
"Feel up for some more visitors?"
"Who?" the voice asked suspiciously.
"Professor McGonagall," the Healer replied, "and she brought some friends."
There was a long silence before the man replied. "Bring them in."
The Healer reappeared and motioned towards the door. "You can go in now."
Harry seemed to instinctively take the hands of the two people on either side of him who happened to be Hermione and Clarice. He swallowed and the entered the room with the two girls at his side.
There were two men in the room each seated in a comfortable looking chair by a window that allowed the sun to light the whole room. One man was dressed in what Harry recognized as a wizard's street clothes. It would stand out on the streets of London, but would actually blend in in Diagon Alley. The man had short, sandy hair and looked to be younger than the Grangers yet older than the Healer. The other man was clearly in pajamas and a robe. He had longer, dark hair and looked really thing even from a distance. Harry could swear this man had tears in his eyes.
"As I live and breath," the dark haired man said. He rose shakily from the chair and slowly walked over to the three children. When he was right in front of them, he knelt down and drew all three of them into a hug. Harry could sense the man was crying. He eventually broke the hug and leaned back and looked each of the children in the eye, studying them briefly.
"I'm Sirius Black," he said. "You must be Harry," he added looking Harry in the eye. Harry nodded.
"You must be Clarice," he said next and then followed with "and you must be Hermione. Your 'Aunt' Minnie has told me a lot about all of you.
"Oh, my how you two have grown," he said with a smile. "When I last saw you, Harry, you were still trying to figure out how to walk without help, although that never stopped you from riding the broom I gave you on your first birthday," he added with a laugh.
"And Clarice, you were such a lovely little baby. I'm so sorry," he cried. "I feel I let both of you down by not being there for you."
"It's not your fault," Harry said. "We know why you couldn't help."
"Doesn't make me feel any better. I should have been there for both of you. Especially you, Harry. You know you should never have lived with those foul relations, don't you?"
Harry nodded.
"I'm sorry. I'm sorry about both of you. Some godfather I've been, eh?"
"It's okay," Clarice said. "I had wonderful parents. We understand why you could not be there and I'm glad you're here now."
"Th-thanks," Sirius said.
"You knew our parents, right?" Harry asked.
Sirius nodded. "James and Lily were among the best friends anyone could ask for. I miss them every day."
"Did you know my parents?" Hermione asked.
"Eric and Erin Puckle, right?"
Hermione nodded.
"Not as well. They were a couple of years behind James, Lily and I at school and in Ravenclaw. After they finished, I knew them through the Order of the Phoenix. They were a lovely couple. I'm sorry."
"S'okay," Hermione said looking at the floor, "I don't remember them."
"Hey," Sirius said softly, "don't be sad. Minnie said the Grangers are wonderful parents."
"They are," Hermione agreed. "Still…"
"Well, assuming the Ministry has not confiscated my property, I have pictures of them, and of James and Lily I can give the lot of you."
"Y-you do?"
"As do I," McGonagall added.
"Thanks," all three children said in unison.
Sirius laughed, "It'll give me something to do while I'm stuck here in Limbo. Tell you all what. Sometime between now and when you get back from that camp thing I've been told about, I'll give each of you albums of pictures of your parents and such."
"I'd like that," Harry said with a smile.
"How long will you be here?" Hermione asked.
"Probably until the end of July," Sirius replied.
"Why?"
"They want to fatten the old dog up a bit and make sure he's not barking," Remus Lupin spoke for the first time. "Then again, Padfoot here has been barking for a long, long time."
"Padfoot?" Harry asked. "And who are you?"
"Remus Lupin," Remus said. "I was one of your parents best friends as well. Padfoot is what we used to call Sirius here. It was his nickname in the Marauders."
"Marauders?"
"You Dad, Sirius and I were pranksters when we were in school. That's what we called ourselves. A more creative group of jokesters has never graced the halls of that fine institution."
"Don't be too sure on that score," McGonagall said. "The Weasley boys are giving you lot a run for your money and the two worst haven't even started yet."
"Weasleys? You mean Arthur and Molly's…" Sirius began.
"Bill's in his sixth year, Charlie his fourth. They gave me fits for their first three years of school each. I swear the older one eggs the younger on! Now Percy, who just finished first year is the pranking king. They seem to retire when their protégé is ready to continue the family business," McGonagall laughed. "I'm told the twins, Fred and George will make the older brothers appear tame. Fortunately, I've got another year before I have to put up with those two."
"It's good to know that our legacy lives on," Sirius chuckled. "We wouldn't want your life to get dull, Professor, would we?"
"The hardest part of my job is keeping a strait face when a particularly clever prank is revealed," McGonagall chuckled. "It's even harder considering my own tenure as a student."
"What do you mean?"
"It would seem that you Marauders and the Weasley clan are following my legacy as a student."
"Really? I would never have guessed."
"Tis true. As a student I gave Dumbledore and Headmaster Dippett fits as well!"
"We may well have to compare notes sometime."
"Looking forward to it."
"So is that why they say you're barking," Hermione asked, "'cause you pranked people?" Her arms were crossed against her chest. Hermione Granger did not think too highly about pranks having been the victim of far too many already in her short life.
"No, Hermione," Sirius said softly. "They are worried about the effects of six and a half years in Azkaban and, to be honest, you can't blame them for being concerned."
"Why?" Harry asked.
Sirius sighed and the joy in his eyes faded. "If there is truly a hell on Earth, Azkaban is it. From the day I entered until the day they sent me here, I almost never left my cell. I seldom had visitors, and all of them were cops questioning me about Death Eaters, as if I knew. The human guards only showed up to deliver food, collect the dirty dishes and I guess to remove corpses from the other cells. The real guards are not even human."
"What are they?" Clarice asked.
"They are called Dementors. Apt name really. I'm not sure what they really are. Beings? Demons? They are certainly horrible.
"Dementors are not truly alive. They look like - well Death, black cloaks, Black hoods, no faces, skeletons for hands. Horrible. They feed off of emotions, particularly any positive ones. When they are around, all happy memories and feelings are lost to you and you are left with only your most painful of memories and emotions. Most prisoners either die from despair or go insane.
"But you didn't?"
Sirius shook his head. "Don't think so."
"Assuming he was sane to begin with," Remus chided.
"Why? How?" Harry asked.
"Two reasons, near as I can figure," Sirius said. "First off, I knew I was innocent and I knew I had been framed. That's not a happy thought and as it was the one most on my mind when I was available, it suppressed those thoughts that Dementors prefer. The second reason … do you know what an Animagus is, Harry?"
Harry nodded. "It's a witch or wizard that can turn themselves into an animal. 'Aunt' Minnie can turn into a cat."
"And," Hermione added, "it's one of the things they are going to try and teach us this summer. I'm really looking forward to…" Hermione stopped talking as she and the others watched Sirius transform into a large, black Irish Wolfhound. The dog then began licking Hermione's face and she begn to squeal. Harry and Clarice laughed, only to get licked as well before the dog transformed back into Sirius.
"Gross!" Hermione complained.
"You're an animagus!" Harry said.
"An unregistered one, no doubt," McGonagall added.
"But how does that help? How'd you become one?"
"As a dog, I still think like a human and can remember like one, but my emotions are that of a dog. Dementors have no effect on animals. Basically, the only time I was human was when the human guards were around. Once I sensed the Dementors, I was a dog again. They had no effect on me whatsoever. Being a dog had another advantage as that place is bloody cold all the time. I only wish I had access to flea powder."
"That explains a lot," McGonagall noted.
"How'd you become one?" Harry asked. "Why?"
"How is complex. As for why, aside from the fact it's pretty cool, my friends and I became animangi our Fifth Year to help our friend Remus here."
"What do you mean?"
"Your father, a boy named Peter Pettigrew and I became animangi out of concern for our friend Remus. He has a condition where he becomes a right nasty beast one night each month. He can be dangerous to humans at that time unless precautions are taken. But, he's harmless to animals. We became animangi to keep him company and our Marauder names were based upon the forms we too. I am Padfoot. Your father was Prongs as his form was a brilliant Stag. Peter was Wormtail as he was a rat - in more ways than one come to think of it."
"Are you an animangus too, Mr. Lupin?" Hermione asked.
"No. I can't be one even if I wanted to."
"Did you have a Marauder name?" Harry asked.
"Moony."
Hermione's eyes went wide and she gasped! "You're a werewolf, aren't you?"
"Don't be silly, dear," Rose Granger scolded.
"What makes you think that?" Remus asked the girl.
"Until a few weeks ago, magic was fake," Hermione said. "It was fantasy and all that. Then I learn it's real and I am a witch and I see it's real. Fantasy is just non-magical myth and legend. But all legends have at their heart a grain of truth, yes?
"You have a problem that comes about once a month, right? When you have that problem, you're not truly human, right? Your friends chose to become animals so they could be with you when it happened as you were dangerous to humans but not animals. Your Marauder names is Moony, as in Moon. Even in Non-magical lore, we know of werewolves. Once a month, when the moon is full, you change into a beast. Am I right?"
"You are a bright one," Remus said, "and you are right. I am indeed a werewolf."
"But you seem like a decent man," Rose protested.
"Mum," Hermione said, "what makes you think his condition makes him evil? He is dangerous one night a month. But what about the rest?"
"Still," Rose began.
"She has a point, Mrs. Granger," McGonagall said. "Most Weres are responsible people and secret themselves away on the days of a full moon. They are harmless because they separate themselves from the temptations of their beast natures. The ones that made legend are the ones who are evil all the time. There are a handful who are. They taint the ones like Remus here who are not."
"Bloody Ministry doesn't even consider him truly human," Sirius growled.
"That's insane!" Hermione protested.
"Indeed it is," Sirius agreed. "James and I figured out about our friend's 'little furry problem' early on. Lily - your Mum - figured it out too. James and I were there a few times as humans when he transformed and while he was wicked scary, he never attacked us."
"I could still sense they were friends," Lupin said. "Others might not have been so lucky had I not been contained and isolated."
"As humans, we could not stick around," Sirius said. "Moony here would get increasingly agitated in his Were form. His human side kept him from attacking, but it was excruciatingly painful for him to hold back. Only Lily could sit with him in human form and not get his beast riled. As animangi, we could spend the time with him, let him out of his prison as it were and run the countryside. We could keep him away from human prey and prevent him from injuring himself, which is what would happen when he remained sequestered."
"So you broke the law to help your friend?" McGonagall asked.
"Yes. It was the right thing to do."
She nodded.
"An unjust law is no law at all," Robert Granger said. "Long ago it was so written. We are all under a moral obligation to obey no unjust law and to resist such laws at all cost."
"It seems to me that that's what should have happened before when my parents died," Harry said. "I mean the more we learn about the magical world the worse it seems. Someone should have made it better, not worse. I want to think that's what they died for: to make the world a better place. I know that's what's worth fighting for. Anything less is not worth nothing. Sensei has suggested as much and I now agree. The world can have no birthrights. You rise or fall because of who you are, not who your parents were."
"Bloody hell," Sirius said.
"Sensei told us what the current system led to," Harry said. "It led to the extermination of the entire human race. The current system is elitist. It's not democratic. The people have no say in their rulers. That must end. It may take years to change thinks and no one's gonna listen to a kid, but I want it to change. Its current form must die and a better form for all mankind must rise from the ashes. I hereby dedicate my life to the betterment of all mankind and to the destruction of all ideas that say one person should lord over another solely by virtue of their birth!"
"Me too!" Hermione exclaimed.
"Me too!" Clarice added.
"You sure you're only seven, Harry?" Robert Granger asked.
"I am," Harry replied.
"Well, count me in and I want to help."
"Me too," Rose added.
"Damn Cub," Sirius said, "I never expected that! Wow! Prank the World!"
"Wow is an understatement," Remus added.
"You sure don't do normal," McGonagall said. "So when does this revolution really start?"
"Can't say," Harry said, "don't know. I just think it needs to."
"We're with you Harry," Hermione said.
"I don't want you with me, I want us with us."
"What do you mean?"
"I'm not wanting to be a leader or nothing. I just think this is a good idea."
"It is, Harry," Remus said. "And we don't expect you to lead anytime soon. But, don't think you can't."
"I…" Harry began.
"Don't think you can't until you've tried and proven it so," Sirius said.
"Okay, I guess."