As always, say thank you to Kyae and Hawk Wood for beta'ing!
Enjoy!
Harry sat into the backroom of the Leaky Cauldron and sighed as he heard a pair of footsteps on the wooden floor and some clicking of claws. When he looked up Remus Lupin stood in front of him and looked at him with narrowed eyes. The dog tilted his head and sniffed at his robes before he barked loudly.
"Close the door will you?", sighed Harry and Lupin flicked his wand and muttered several spells and jinxes.
In an instant the black dog changed into a human shape. Suddenly Sirius Black stood in front of him and looked him up and down. Harry looked at his godfather and saw that he was much better looking then when he last had seen him. He now had short black hair and looked a lot more like he did on his parents' wedding picture. He had gained back his aristocratic and haughty Black good looks, that everyone of his family had. All traces of his years in Azkaban nearly had disappeared and he looked healthy and well fed.
"Merlin's Beard! Harry James Potter what're you doing here?", Lupin demanded to know while his godfather grinned happily.
"I might as well be hanged for a dragon as an egg…", said Harry quietly sighing and stood up to look at them better.
Sirius' and Lupin's eyes widened when they saw that he was now nearly as tall as them and had gained muscles and weight.
"Gulping gargoyles! You've grown kiddo!", said Sirius astonished and gave him a rough and manly hug. "When my nose wouldn't be as good as it is I probably wouldn't even have recognized you!"
"Yeah…", said Lupin and took in his new appearance.
"You're gonna be a real heart-throb this year!", joked Sirius and patted him on the back. "The ladies will worship the ground you walk on!"
"Thanks.", said Harry and smiled slightly. "You look better as well."
Sirius grinned happily and Lupin threw himself exasperatedly into a free chair. "Harry what the hell are you doing here? We all thought you're at your relatives' house. Dung said you didn't leave the whole day!"
"You mean Fletcher?", asked Harry and Lupin nodded, surprised. "He so totally sucks in shadowing people! When I discovered him he nearly was catatonic with the thought that he'd be punished for it and I made a deal with him."
"A deal?", asked Sirius curiously with raised eyebrows.
Harry nodded. "Yeah. I told him that when he takes me to Diagon Alley I won't tell a soul that I know you people are shadowing me."
"Good one kiddo!", laughed Sirius and Remus shook his head and looked at him seriously.
"You shouldn't be wandering around in Diagon Alley on your own with Voldemort going around. It's dangerous! I don't understand why you left your relatives' house. There you're as safe as you'd be at Hogwarts! I mean how could you even consider going out on your own? It would be okay in the muggle world but-"
"Hold your hippogriffs!", said Harry and held his hands up. "Should I be scared that old Voldy's lurking behind a bin or a corner and throws an Avada Kedavra at me when I pass by?"
Sirius broke into barking laughter at the image and even Lupin chuckled a bit.
"But seriously, we're serious here.", said his godfather after a while and Harry raised his eyebrows. "Why are you even here? And what in the name of Merlin's blue boxers did you eat the past four weeks?"
Harry shrugged. "I was shopping for my birthday."
Sirius and Lupin nearly gave him heart attack by shouting in unison: "HAPPY BIRTHDAY!"
"Damn! Today's the 31st of July… I nearly forgot with all the things going on…", said Sirius, ashamed, and Lupin nodded.
"Is the 'Chicken-Club' so much trouble?", Harry wanted to know smirking. "Or has Dumbledore got you on your toes for information gathering?"
Lupin looked at him oddly. "So you know?"
Harry threw a quick glance at his godfather and nodded. "It wasn't hard to find out that Sirius meant the Order of the Phoenix when he referred to the 'Chicken-Club'. But really. You're the second one who asked me today why I'm here."
"Who else asked you?", Sirius wanted to know quickly.
"I had a short meeting with the greasy haired git that calls himself my potions professor not too long ago. He was determined to find out why I was here and had a nice chat with me."
Lupin snorted and Sirius frowned a bit before he grinned again.
"But what should we do now? Didn't your relatives ask where you're going?"
"Oh, please!", now it was time for Harry to snort. "My relatives aren't even at home for the next seven days! They left to visit uncle Vernon's sister."
Lupin and Sirius looked at each other with a gleam in their eyes and reminded Harry not surprisingly a lot of the twins.
"Does Mr. Moony think what Mr. Padfoot thinks?"
"Mr. Moony thinks so Mr. Padfoot. What does Mr. Padfoot say?"
"Mr. Padfoot thinks it is a brilliant idea Mr. Moony!"
"So it shall be then Mr. Padfoot."
"Mr Padfoot is really excited at the thought!"
"So is Mr. Moony."
"May Mr. Outsider inquire what Misters Moony and Padfoot are talking about?", interrupted Harry loudly. "Mr. Outsider is quite confused at the moment."
Sirius and Lupin chuckled and grinned at him.
"You're coming with us kiddo.", answered Sirius. "Why bother staying at Privet Drive when your relatives aren't at home anyways? We just move your planned departure a little bit forwards."
"YES!", screamed Harry in joy and jumped into the air. "When do we leave? I still got my things at the Dursleys'."
"Relax cub.", said Lupin chuckling. "We're going to apparate to Surrey to get your things but first I have to speak with Dumbledore."
Harry nodded. "You do that, Professor."
"Please Harry. I wasn't your Professor for over a year. Call me Remus or Moony."
"As you wish Moony.", said Harry and bowed playfully.
"You use the floo and go to Privet Drive and pack your stuff. We're going to get you then."
Harry grinned and took a bit of floo powder and threw it into the fire. He stepped inside and vanished to Mrs. Figg's house.
...HPHPHP...
He fell out of the fireplace and nearly crashed into a small coffee table. He heard a scream and took his wand out. He blinked.
Mrs. Figg laid sprawled on the floor and looked at him with wide eyes.
"By all that's holy…", she said and staggered to her feet. "Harry dear? Is that you?"
Harry nodded. "Sorry Mrs. Figg. I haven't got much time. My godfather's picking me up in a few minutes."
He left Mrs. Figg standing there perplexed and hurried to the front door. For the first time he managed not to trip over one of the many cats that were running around in the house and was outside in a flash.
He walked along the street when suddenly the air around him grew cold and a familiar feeling crawled up his spine. He felt that all happiness and hope left him and his breath quickened.
He looked at a car's window which slowly started to freeze. "It can't be…"
His breath was visible now and came in small clouds out if his mouth. He looked around but couldn't see anything.
Harry slowly started to walk again and clutched his wand tightly with his hands. The street lights that were already turned on flickered and disappeared and for the early evening it suddenly grew dark.
He stopped again when he felt that something brushed his cloak from behind and whirled around just to be face to face with a foul creature that he had hoped to never see again. A Dementor.
He jumped backwards and held his wand high when two more Dementors appeared behind the first one.
"Today's not my day!", he cursed and took another step back when they closed in on him.
"Expecto Patronum!"
A slight silvery mist shot out of the tip of his wand, but soon vanished. He had practiced the curse over a hundred times together with Malfoy but still couldn't really get it right in front of an actual Dementor! His eyes widened as one of the Dementors started to reach with his glistening greyish and scabbed hand to it's hood.
Harry didn't wait long. "Expecto Patronum!"
Nothing… the Dementor pulled it's hood down and Harry could see the thing that was his mouth.
"Damn… Ex-expecto… Patronum!"
Again just the silvery mist. What the heck was wrong with him?
The Dementor closed the distance between itself and Harry. Harry staggered backwards when the screams of his mother rang in his ears. He heard the cold laughter of Voldemort and his father's shouts…
A cold hand gripped his neck and he was lifted from the ground. He smelled the foul breath of the Dementor who was ready to give him it's kiss.
"No… you don't you filthy scumbag!", whispered Harry quietly when he felt his insides growing cold and his rapidly beating heart slowing down.
"HARRY!", he heard somebody scream loudly.
He raised his wand. "Expecto Patronum!"
Finally! The bright shimmering silver stag broke out of his wand and the Dementor immediately jumped backwards. The stag galloped around on the street and drove the Dementors away with his antlers. He lifted his hooves and suddenly a bright silver dog and a wolf joined him.
Harry smiled slightly when all three of the Dementors disappeared into the sky. "Moony, Padfoot and Prongs… together again."
He looked to his left were Remus and Sirius were not standing far away. They stared at the three patronuses too and snapped out of it when they suddenly vanished.
"Kiddo! Are you alright?", asked Sirius, panicking, and ran over to him, Remus on his heels.
Harry slowly stood up and nodded briskly. "Yeah… I'm okay."
Remus sighed relieved and reached into his pocket. Harry stared at him open mouthed when he handed him and Sirius a piece of chocolate and bit in himself.
"Are you always going around carrying chocolate in your cloak?", he asked baffled.
Remus shrugged. "I just love chocolate. And as you can see it comes in handy."
"Yeah…", said Sirius with narrowed eyes. "I just want to know what Dementors were doing here… oh damn! Harry did underage magic!"
"And we've got company at the peanut gallery.", threw Harry in.
They looked around and saw that lots of the neighbours were staring at them with their jaws reaching the floor.
"Bollocks!", cursed Sirius and scratched his head. "This is going to cause a whole lot of trouble with the Ministry."
Remus sighed and Harry raised his wand.
"Oblivate Maxima.", he said quickly and a bright blue flash blinded them for a short moment. "That's done. Come on!"
He hurried along the rest of the street until he reached the doorstep to number four. He opened it with a quick Alohomora and went inside.
"Are you insane! You already did enough underage magic for today!", hollered Remus.
Harry ignored him. "Accio trunk, Hedwig's cage and Firebolt."
"Harry James Potter!", hissed Remus angrily when Harry's things came flying down the stairs and landed in front of him.
He grinned at Remus while Sirius was smirking in a very Slytherin like manner. Harry swished his wand and his things shrank to the size of golf balls. He bent down and put them into his pocket.
"I give up!", said Remus exasperated. "You probably are already expelled from Hogwarts so why bother…"
"Moony?"
"Not yet Padfoot. I'm thinking about a way to lessen the consequences."
"Moooony?", Sirius tired again.
"Not now!"
Sirius looked at Harry who grinned cheekily and took a deep breath. "MOONY!", they screamed together.
Remus threw his hands in the air. "What is it, damn it?"
Sirius moved his hands around. "Have you seen any Ministry owls? Or someone who wants to snap Harry's wand?"
Remus blinked and then shook his head for the negative. Harry looked down at his suddenly very interesting shoes.
"So... Harry doesn't seem to be in trouble at all.", concluded Sirius.
Remus blinked again. "You… you're right. This is… rather unexpected."
"Can we go now?", asked Harry whining. "Dumbledore gave his okay, didn't he?"
"Yes pup, we can go now.", said Sirius and grabbed his shoulder. "But at first you have to read this."
He gave him a piece of parchment and Harry carefully read it. The headquarters of the Order of the Phoenix are at Number Twelve Grimauld Place, London.
"Are Ron and Hermione there as well?", he asked his godfather who nodded. "I didn't know you still lived in this house after your mother died. Isn't there a grumpy old house elf running around taking orders from her picture?"
Sirius and Remus looked at each other with wide eyes and Harry slapped his forehead. He wasn't supposed to know that!
"Well…", said Sirius unsure and Harry felt the familiar sensation of Apparation tingling in his muscles. "Let's go then."
...HPHPHP...
When they stood on solid ground again Harry looked around and saw that they were standing on a old and dusty street that Harry had often seen in the pensive of Narcissa Malfoy when she had taught him about the Dark Arts and the proud pure-blooded families.
He looked around but didn't see Number Twelve. Instead he just saw Number Eleven and Number Thirteen. He looked between the two houses when Remus appeared next to Sirius and him and suddenly the two houses moved and another door appeared. After the door followed a wall and two big windows and with a crack he stood in front of Number Twelve.
"Ah… the Fidelius Charm… is Dumbledore the Secret-Keeper?", Harry wanted to know.
Sirius nodded and exchanged a look with Remus who just shrugged helplessly. He led Harry trough the door and he found himself in a dimly lit hallway with a big staircase and a pair of giant curtains at the wall.
"Dumbledore awaits us in the kitchen. It's the staircase that leads down.", whispered Remus. "He said that nobody else will be there at the moment. We are going to get your room ready in the meantime."
Harry nodded and quietly passed the curtains which again earned him a surprised look from the two Marauders. He went down the stairs and opened the door. He didn't bother to look around because he already knew what the whole house looked like even if he had it just seen in memories. In front of a big fireplace stood the familiar form of Albus Dumbledore. He had his back turned to Harry and was crouched down a bit and he realized that he was making a floo-call to somebody.
He quietly turned to the cupboard on the left side of the kitchen and took out a bottle of butterbeer and then leaned at the stove while he shrank his cloak and put it into his jeans pocket.
After a short while the flames in the fireplace died down and Dumbledore straightened himself before he turned around. He stopped and blinked when he saw Harry standing at the stove and then smiled with a twinkle in his eyes.
"Harry, my boy! My… you have grown, look at yourself!", he said and looked at him approvingly. "Sit down, sit down. We've got much to talk about. How were your holidays till now?"
Harry nodded after a while and murmured a short answer. Dumbledore hadn't been looking into his eyes. He had always stared at his head or his shoulders. He narrowed his eyes and sat down on a chair near the fire.
"It's nice to see you Professor.", said Harry when Dumbledore was seated as well. "I hope you are well, Sir."
"Indeed I am.", answered Dumbledore and still didn't look into his eyes and it started to annoy Harry greatly. "And by the looks of it you are faring well too."
"Yeah…", said Harry slowly as he scanned Dumbledore's face. "Professor… may I ask why you aren't looking at me but merely at my shoulder?"
Dumbledore's head rocked up and he shortly looked into his eyes before he looked elsewhere again. "Sorry, my boy. It comes with the age."
Harry said nothing.
Dumbledore coughed quietly. "Well… like I said… we've got much to talk about. I was surprised when Remus called me and told me he met you at the Leaky Cauldron and that your relatives weren't at home."
"Professor…", said Harry quietly in a low whisper when Dumbledore looked everywhere but him and caused him to flinch slightly. "If you are worried about Voldemort gaining information through me… I'm a skilled Occlumens."
Now Dumbledore looked into his eyes. The surprise evident on his face. "You know Occlumency? How's that?"
"I had enough time over the holidays if you know what I mean, Sir."
"You had enough… time?", asked Dumbledore slowly. "But it's impossible to learn Occlumency in just four weeks."
"I had enough time.", said Harry again and suddenly Dumbledore's eyes widened slightly as he nodded.
"It seems that we have more to talk about than I thought.", he said seriously. "My first question is if I may test your mental shields. Just for safety."
Harry nodded and stared into Dumbledore's eyes as he felt a prodding sensation in his mind. He blinked and raised his Occlumency shields and then it was gone and Dumbledore gasped.
"I'm impressed Harry.", he said after a short while and smiled at him with his twinkle turned on fully. "You are indeed a very skilled Occlumens. I never saw somebody who could throw me out of their mind this fast."
"Thank you, Sir.", Harry smiled back. "So can we procced?"
"Yes, of course.", answered Dumbledore and folded his fingers. "At first I would like to know when and how you gained access to a time turner and for how long you used it."
Harry nodded. "Very well. I will try to leave nothing out." He took a little time to sort everything out. "You can say it began after the third task and Voldemort's return at the graveyard…"
...Flashback...
Harry groaned as he woke up under the familiar ceiling of the Hogwarts Hospital Wing. He tried to get out of his sheets that were tangled around his legs. Suddenly he heard a grunt and looked to his right only to find his bed curtains there. He drew them back and saw the form of Professor Moody – this time the real one – laying at the other side of the room.
He blinked and reached for his glasses that laid on his nightstand. He didn't bother to wait for Madam Pomfrey to check on him and stood up a little bit shakily. Harry noted relieved that he wore some normal clothes and not a standard hospital gown and looked out of the window. It was just dawn and he reckoned that it was between five and six o'clock.
He crept out of the Hospital Wing before the nurse realized that he was awake and went down the corridor. He didn't really know were to go and decided to take a stroll around the lake.
When he passed the Entrance Hall he heard footsteps and hurried a little bit. He opened the doors and breathed in the fresh morning air and sighed. The events of the last day came to his mind and he shook his head and slowly went to the Quidditch field where he could still see the maze of the third task.
He went through the locker rooms and was standing at the entrance of the maze after a short while. He struggled with the memories of Voldemort and Cedric's lifeless body and shuddered. He looked at the trophy that lay on the ground exactly were he had reappeared the last evening and knelt before it. Harry didn't dare to touch it again, out of fear that it would bring him back to the graveyard. He flinched as he heard footsteps again and raised his wand when they suddenly stopped behind him.
"Relax Potter," said a familiar voice and he turned around.
"Malfoy?", Harry asked surprised and took a closer look at the other boy.
Malfoy looked like he hadn't slept in days and his normally perfectly styled hair stood up in every direction much like his own. His robes were a bit crumpled and he hadn't drawn his wand so Harry lowered his own.
"What are you doing here?", Harry wanted to know, suspicious.
"I guessed that you would be here and came down." Malfoy hesitated. "I… want to talk to you about something."
"What?", asked Harry perplexed. "About what?"
Malfoy sighed and sat down on the soft grass. Harry too hesitated a moment and sat down in front of him.
"You have to swear that you won't tell anybody about it!", said Malfoy pleadingly.
After a short while Harry nodded. This wasn't the Draco Malfoy he knew. "I… I swear."
"Good. So… yesterday… after you came back from the graveyard with Diggory's body… my father sent a letter to me." Harry nodded when Malfoy's voice faltered and he went on. "He… he wants me to become a Death Eater and I don't know what I should do… I had hoped that you… well that you could help me somehow."
Harry raised his eyebrows. "Why me? How would I be able to help you?"
"Because you are the bloody 'Boy-Who-Lived' and all that!", said Malfoy a little bit louder and didn't look at him.
Harry rubbed his head. "I… well I don't know what to say… I didn't expect that you, of all people, don't want to become a Death Eater. I mean… no offence but you always go around like Voldemort's junior brigade."
Malfoy sighed. "I know… but it's just because of my father. I had to act like a total moron and the little junior killer. Otherwise he would have punished me."
"And what changed your opinion?", Harry wanted to know curiously.
"My mother now is divorced. Yesterday it became officially approved by the Ministry. I live with her now. Father is still able to come into our house but he has no longer the right to tell me what to do. I… my mother is really happy now and nothing is more important to me that it stays like this. She may not look like it in public, but she abhors You-Know-Who and his actions."
Now that was a real surprise for Harry! He had met Narcissa Malfoy at the Quidditch world cup and she looked like she was just another one of those proud and arrogant purebloods. But then again… Malfoy didn't seem to be what he always led Harry to believe also.
"What do you want to do about it then?", he asked the blonde Slytherin.
Malfoy looked up. "I want to train to fight against the Dark Lord! When my father finds out that mother and I are against this pureblood hierarchy, he will be furious and I can tell you that he won't hesitate to kill my mother and me. I rather hoped that… that you could help me with this task."
"How would this work? The day after tomorrow when the train arrives at King's Cross, I will be locked away at my relatives' house until someone decides to let me come over."
"You could stay at my house.", suggested Malfoy and Harry's eyes nearly popped out of his head.
"Are you serious?", he asked loudly.
Draco smirked. "No. Sirius is that mutt of my cousin who runs around here somewhere in his animagus form. My name is Draco."
Harry stared at him, mouth agape and then burst out into laughter but stopped when he realized something.
"You know about Sirius' animagus form and didn't tell anybody?"
Malfoy nodded. "In third year… you know when we had that little truce after Granger punched me in the face…" Harry chuckled a bit. It was right, after that incident they really had a little truce, but it had only lasted three weeks. Not that his friends knew about it. "After that, shortly before the trains' departure, I saw the huge black dog and immediately knew that it was Sirius."
"But Malfoy… how?"
"My mum… she was on very good terms with him when they were in school. Not like my Aunt Bellatrix and the other Slytherins. She found out about his transformation in her seventh year and told me when he broke out of Azkaban last year."
"I see.", mused Harry. "But your father is going to kill me on the spot when I stay at your house!"
Draco shook his head. "My mother and I are staying in an old Manor in France for the holidays. Father probably will still come sometimes, but we will be alerted of that then."
"So you really believe Voldemort is back?", Harry asked quietly. "And you want us to train together to fight against him?"
"I do.", Draco said.
"And so do I.", said a girl's voice behind them with a heavy accent.
Harry and Draco whirled around and stared at the person who came across the field to them and sat down on the grass. It was Fleur Delacour, the Beauxbatons' Champion.
"What?", Harry and Malfoy asked simultaneously.
"I 'eard w'at 'ou were talking about. And I vant to fight 'im too.", answered Fleur. "I believe 'ou when 'ou say zat Voldemort eez back."
"Äh, Fleur this is nice but… how?", asked Malfoy.
Fleur chuckled. "Ahh, but 'ou forget zat I live in France. And I owe 'Arry somezing because 'e rescued my zister Gabrielle."
Harry and Draco looked at each other and shrugged before they smiled at her.
"Then I look forward to seeing you at France Manor, Fleur. You can reach it by floo.", said Malfoy. "And by the way Potter… my name is Draco, got it?"
Harry smiled sligthly. "But only when my name is Harry."
"I meet you, zen, at ze station of ze 'Ogwarts Express.", said Fleur and stood up smiling.
The two boys nodded and stood up as well. Fleur kissed them each on the cheek and left.
Harry turned around too, but was stopped by Malfoy.
"Thank you… Harry."
Harry smile grew. "No problem, Draco."
...End Flashback...
"After that Mrs. Malfoy picked Draco and me up at the station. She waited there together with Fleur who was disguised and we went to France Manor.", said Harry to Dumbledore who listened intently with the twinkle in his eyes on full force. "After three days, when we had finished our assigned homework with a little help from Fleur, Mrs. Malfoy found out that we wanted to train together and showed us her time turner. We used it regularly and Mrs. Malfoy instructed us in the Dark Arts and the history of the proud pure-blooded families. She was also the one who taught us three Occlumency and a little bit of Legilimency. I know this house from the roof to the basement, because Mrs. Malfoy had a lot of memories from here."
"This is really an remarkable achievement, my boy.", said Dumbledore after a short silence and played with his fingers. "Tell me. How long were the holidays for you with the time turner?"
Harry smiled sheepishly. "A little less than a whole year, Sir."
"I thought as much.", smiled Dumbledore. "But it seems to have helped you to improve a lot. And it tells me why I didn't get an owl from the Ministry because of underage magic at Privet Drive today and that you are expelled because of it."
"You know about that?", Harry asked surprised.
Dumbledore nodded. "The protection around the house alerts me when magic is done in Surrey and can filter the different magical signatures. I realized it was yours and waited for an owl, but it didn't come. May I ask why you did magic?"
Suddenly the door opened and Sirius, followed by Remus entered the kitchen.
"Because there were three Dementors in Little Whinging," said Remus gravely and Harry gulped down some butterbeer after the long story.
Dumbledore's eyes flashed dangerously and he looked at Harry. "Dementors?"
Harry nodded briskly and saw that Sirius and Remus often threw strange looks at him.
"Pup… I wanted to ask you something…", said Sirius hesitantly. "How did you know about this house and that Kreacher takes orders from my mothers portrait?"
Harry looked at Dumbledore. "I assume you will tell them anyway?" The Professor nodded and Harry grinned. "Then I don't have to tell them now. This will be your job then."
Dumbledore chuckled while Sirius and Remus groaned in disappointment.
"Where are Ron and Hermione?", asked Harry after a while of silence. "You said they were here, didn't you?"
"They are upstairs and cleaning the house. It looks like a bomb exploded up there. The whole Weasley clan is here. Except Percy, he had a big argument with his parents and the two eldest Bill and Charlie. The latter are at work."
"By the way your room is on the third floor. The first door when you go up.", said Remus.
"Would you not tell my friends that I'm here? I want to wait until breakfast.", said Harry and grinned mischievously.
"Of course pup!", said Sirius with an equal grin. "I think it's time that you get an actual Marauder name! It's your fifth year at Hogwarts after all."
Harry nodded and stood up. At the door he turned around smirking and looked at Dumbledore and then at the two last Marauders. "Think about something that stands in relation with the name of the Order. And it's black by the way."
He waited until it dawned on them and chuckled as Sirius' and Remus' jaws hit the ground while Dumbledore looked at him in astonishment. Before they could say anything else he had left the kitchen and went up the stairs to the hallway.
He stopped in front of the curtains and heard a very loud 'NO WAY!' from the kitchen. He jumped when the curtains opened and a shrill scream echoed through the hall. Harry blinked and looked into the face of Walburga Black, Sirius' mother.
"DISGRACES, SCUM AND BLOOD TRAITORS IN MY HOUSE! MUDBLOODS! Filthy little-"
"Shut up Lady Black!", said Harry calmly.
She stopped and looked at him. "Who are you, boy, that you dare to talk to me!"
Harry stared back into the eyes of the painting. "My name is Harry James Potter."
Mrs. Black sneered at him. "You are the half-blood who killed the Dark Lord! Get out of my sight!"
Harry shook his head slowly. "No. I just wanted to say hello from your niece Narcissa."
The Portrait blinked. "You know my little Cissy?"
Harry nodded. "I spent the last weeks together with her and her son Draco."
Mrs. Black was silent and scanned him from head to toe. Harry smirked when she looked into his eyes and raised his eyebrows.
"You… don't seem too bad.", she said then. "Maybe you are able to throw this filthy scum out of the house."
"I'm afraid that is not possible Lady Black.", said Harry formally and looked at the stairs were he now could see two persons standing, watching him.
"Why's that?", she asked curiously.
Harry bowed in apology. "This isn't my house, so I have no right to decide who is allowed to have entrance. I would love to help you, but I can't. My apologies Lady Black."
"At least you are a well mannered young man who has respect to his elders.", said Mrs. Black and smiled. A disturbing sight how Harry thought.
"That is how it has to be.", said Harry and bowed again. "I don't want to be rude, but I have to go. I have some activities planned that are of utmost importance which can't be delayed. It was nice to talk to you Lady Black."
"Likewise.", she said and the curtains closed.
Harry heard hushed whispering at the stairs and looked at the two people standing there. One was a teenage girl who had smooth brown curls reaching her mid back, chocolate brown eyes and a very athletic body. The other one was a tall and lanky redheaded teenage boy with blue eyes and freckles on his nose. Harry smiled when he saw his two best friends standing there. Even if he was sure, that they wouldn't recognize him.
He stepped forward and stopped in front of them. They stopped whispering and looked at him with wide eyes.
Harry grinned on the inside and bowed slightly in front of Ron before he took Hermione's hand and kissed it softly. Oh yes, he wasn't the only one who had grown. In his opinion Hermione looked much more beautiful than Fleur.
"It's a pleasure to meet you two.", he said and stared deep into Hermione's eyes who blushed and looked at her feet, slightly smiling. "Especially such a beautiful lady who looks like she could light the whole house with her dashing appearance."
Hermione's blush deepened and Harry satisfied looked at Ron who stared at him.
"It's a pleasure to meet you as well.", Hermione said quietly.
"Yeah…", said Ron scowling.
"I'm sorry, but do either of you know which room Remus Lupin and Sirius Black set up some minutes ago? I don't know my way around the house and I'm afraid I will end up in the wrong room."
He looked smiling at Hermione and realized that his heartbeat quickened a little bit when she looked into his eyes.
"Yes. I saw that they made a room ready. I can lead the way if you want to.", said Hermione and Harry saw how Ron rolled his eyes.
"This would be excellent.", Harry replied.
Hermione smiled and Ron's scowl deepened when they climbed the stairs. They stopped on the third floor and Hermione indicated to the first door in the hallway.
"This is the room they set up."
"Thank you very much.", said Harry and kissed her hand again. He nodded to Ron who briskly nodded back and quickly led Hermione away from him.
Harry smiled when he heard them whispering the way down the stairs.
"Who was that?", asked Hermione.
Ron's answer followed suit. "I don't know but he's a dark wizard for sure. Have you seen Mrs. Black? She never gets so friendly with anyone except Snape!"
"Oh Ron, you're worrying too much."
"But he talked like Malfoy!"
"Strange. I just heard Malfoy talking with insults until now and what he said definitely weren't insults."
"But he is dark!"
He heard Hermione sighing. "But really good looking…"
He grinned and entered his room. It was simple and elegant at the same time. A large bed stood in the middle of the room and a wooden wardrobe was there. His clothes were already inside and Hedwig sat perched on the windowsill.
Harry shuffled through his pockets and took out some owl treats.
"Here you are girl.", he said as she gratefully took them. "For this morning and the quick delivery of Draco's letter. Are you up to another flight to France tomorrow?"
Hedwig hooted softly and nibbled his finger. He took that as a yes and threw himself on the bed. Suddenly he was exhausted. He changed his clothes into some comfortable boxers and drifted off to sleep.
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Dark Phoenix of Slytherin