Most of the events during the "Prisoner of Azkaban" will stay the same. I won't elaborate on them.

Note that Buckbead is safe now and the investigative methods will come in handy by the end of the chapter.

~soul-bond speak~

Investigative Success

Harry really enjoyed the weekends at Hogsmeade. Aunt Petunia had demanded to see the form. She remembered Lily's stories about the village and was eager to send him there.

While the students of the third year and above were out, the castle was nearly empty. Erik checked the corridors before pacing before a wall until a door appeared. After entering, he met his friend and their CAT3.

"Any lead on Black?" Catherine asked as he sat down behind his desk and worked on the sightings.

"He appears to be moving north. Last sighting was in Glasgow, three days ago. Before he had been seen in London, that was at the beginning of the term. Looks like he is heading towards Hogwarts."

"Maybe to finish his job and kill Harry?" CAT3 gasped at that suggestion.

Erik shook his head. "No. He was sighted in privet drive just the day we left. We would have crossed him. If the reports are true that he blew up that street with a wizard and sixteen muggles, why would he hesitate at three muggles and two boys? Also, looking at the old files, he didn't even get a trial. He practically begged for Veritaserum but the Wizengamot didn't see it necessary to hear him out because the evidence was enough."

While he worked on that, Catherine trained her apprentice. Soon dinner time passed and they had a snack in the room.

After that Erik left first for his scan while Catherine dissipated into the shadows for her patrols.

At the way up he crossed a painting and stopped. "Fat lady?" He saw the guardian of the Gryffindor tower hiding in the painting. "He..He was there. Si...Siri...Sirius Black." "DAMN!" Erik sprinted upwards. The stairs sensed the urgency and instead of swinging around they directly connected to give him the shortest way to the tower.

Dumbledore took immediate action. All students were moved to the great hall. Erik was on guard duty while Catherine and the staff searched the castle and the grounds.

Slowly, the routine returned into the school. Another portrait took the job of guarding the Gryffindor Tower. Sir Cadogan was challenging everyone to prove his bravery.

The next news were that Gryffindor wouldn't begin against Slytherin but against Hufflepuff. Slytherin had withdrawn their team with the reasoning that they had no seeker at the moment.

One day Harry arrived late at DADA: "I'm sorry, Professor Lupin.." he stopped. Lupin wasn't there. Instead Erik sat at the desk. "It's alright, Mr Potter. I was just reviewing your progress." He returned the notes to its owner, Hermione.

"We will swap the topic, as I'd like to talk about the category system of the international Supernatural Law Enforcement. As you know I am a member of its strike team, which means, I'm right at the front. We will start with Vampires as they are more common known here."

Erik began to explain that what they had known as vampires were just the lowest on the scale. "Sub-Category 5 is what you know as a vampire. But there are also born vampires. Those are the real danger. Most of them stay to themselves but when they decide to use their power, things can become nasty. While the Sub-Categories can be fought like it is told in tales of vampire hunters, the main Categories are truly immortal when it comes to conventional fighting."

He pulled out a drawing of a human skeleton. "Nearly all injuries considered lethal to humans don't apply. The only weak spots are the heart and the brain. Beginning from Category 3 it's only the brain. However, to kill the brain you have to get past the defenses and then get past the skull.

The key is another Vampire of the same category or higher, or armor-piercing rounds."

Erik continued to explain how the each category needed more power. "The strongest vampire ever seen was categorized as a seven. To kill that one I would have to fire a cannon right at point blank. Now, considering the odds for that, the survival chances for humans are below zero."

The system for the werewolves was similar. Instead of numbers, letters were used.

"The main difference is that Sub-Categories are forced to change on a full moon and are usually wasted the days afterward. The main categories are more shape-shifters. They can turn when they want to and where they want to."

The homework was to compare the category system and comply a list of four weapons to fight them. The students should choose four which would cover most categories. "Class Dismissed"

The next weekend everyone ran out to the pitch. Gryffindor vs Hufflepuff. Thanks to the gear provided last year Gryffindor had a great stance. But in the middle of the game Harry felt frosty. They had gained a lead of 200 to 50 points. Then he saw it, the grim. Sitting on a vacant bench. He temporarily lost control and sacked down. "Harry! Harry, behind you!" He heard Wood shouting. He saw Diggory racing after a small golden ball. He turned his broom around and sped towards the, As he was just behind Diggory a cold feeling rushed through him. He looked down. Hundreds of dementors surrounded the pitch. "NO! Not Harry! Please, not Harry!" "Step aside, foolish bitch!"

Harry had the feeling of falling. He fell and slowly lost his conscious. Before he lost all senses he saw a face with brown eyes, framed by fire.

"NOO!" Harry cried as his eyes snapped open. Erik pulled a syringe out of his arm. Harry felt his heart racing as he looked around. "What happened?" "You crashed." Fred said. "About fifteen metres." George added. "We thought you were dead." Alicia sobbed. "You didn't react after Ginny caught you." Ron said. "Ginny?" Harry asked. Said girl was right beside him. "I'm here, Harry."

"You should have seen her. One moment she was right beside us and the next we see you falling she caught you." "How..." Harry began but just in this moment Dumbledore entered. "Magic. Especially the Magic of Love is really powerful. But I must demand that everyone besides Miss Weasley and Lieutenant Winston leave now. And don't try any tricks. The doors are charmed."

"What happened to my broom?" Erik reached down and put a sack onto the bed. "After you fell down it continued flying" He explained. "and had an encounter with the Whomping Willow. I'm sorry." He turned the sack upside down and the remains of the reliable broom fell onto the bed.

"But we are here to talk about something else than the loss of your broom, Mr Potter. Miss Weasley, along with her mentor, has decided that you should know about something."

"Know about what?" Harry began but Erik interrupted him. "Last year when we took you to the Burrow. Remember what I said? That we had a Category 3?" Harry nodded. "And with what I told you in the last DADA lesson about the categories and their abilities?" Harry felt his head throbbing. "No way!" He looked at Ginny. The girl gave him a shy smile. "It's me. I'm the youngest CAT3 ever recorded in history." "But how?" Ginny sat down on the next chair. "Dad explained that since generations there had been no female Weasley born. I am the first since seven generations. We have a bloodline that only manifests in females. The Weasleys were the first and only vampire clan to side with the humans. That's also why the laws against vampires don't apply to me."

"But why are you telling me this?" This time Erik answered. "Because her magic recognizes you as a soul-mate. A true soul-bond is only created if the mates kiss once. They can share everything. Emotions, thoughts. Feeling through the other's senses. She feared that you would find out on your own terms and conclude something wrong."

But Harry protested. "But we never kissed before."

"Yes, you did. Remember the chamber of secrets? When the Basilisk threw you, you landed on her. It is possible that your lips touched. That's also why you survived the Basilisk poison in the first place. Ginny unknowingly injected a part of her blood into you which canceled the effects of the poison."

Harry thought about it until he remembered something. "Shouldn't I have become a vampire myself?"

Erik scratched the back of his head and looked over to the headmaster. Dumbledore continued.

"Lily sacrificed herself for you. The Blood wards are still in place. I guess that you either absorbed certain abilities like you did with Voldemort or that it was simply rejected. Only Time will tell."

The two men left the new couple to talk to set up a special room reserved for couples in Hogwarts.

Ginny looked after the closing door before moving her chair up to be closer to Harry.

It was nearly unbelievable that just with the beginning of puberty they had found each other. According to Madame Pomfrey magic didn't care about age restrictions or the current morale.

"So that puts us on dating terms?" "Yes, it does." A voice behind Harry scared them.

Catherine was sticking out of the wall. "What? I control shadows. That is my special ability. Just like you control fire, Ginny." Catherine disappeared again. "Yeah. Apparently I used fire teleportation like the phoenixes when I caught you." She said while rubbing her neck.

The doors opened again as Dumbledore and Erik returned. "This is the official contract concerning your soul-bond. The magic will recognize it as such and you will be emancipated. Full rights."

The two looked at the parchment.

Below the title there were two blank spaces for their names. According to the instructions a blood fingerprint was enough to verify the identity. Everything else would be organized by magic.

Harry and Ginny both cut their thumb and pressed it against the parchment. Erik took the paper back and Dumbledore waved his wand. "By the rights granted to me, Professor Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore, by magic I declare you, Lord Harry James Potter, and you, Lady Ginevra Molly Weasley, lawfully wedded under the statute of soul-mates. Witness to this bond is First Lieutenant Erik Winston."

Erik opened a second parchment. "The rights of a soul-mate are the same granted to every person who is considered an adult on the society they live in regardless of their age. Any applicant of laws cutting these rights are ruled invalid by magic." He looked at Ginny and Harry. "I know that both of you have successful claimed your title of lord and lady. Now the question is: Do you, Ginevra Molly Weasley, give up your maiden name and take the name of your husband?"

"No." was the swift answer. "I will stay a Weasley until we are of age and can marry properly. I don't want any word going out by now. However I want to join my property with the Potters."

"As it was said it will be done."

Lord rings appeared on Ginny's and Harry's hands. Ginny had a phoenix on it while Harry's had a stag standing proudly on a rock. The rings started to change as both animals appeared on both rings. Now a phoenix residing in the stag's horns.

A golden band appeared around the two and pulled them together. Both looked surprised before the lost themselves in each others eyes. Then they kissed. Dumbledore and Erik decided that it was for the best to leave the two alone. Pulling the privacy curtain around the two lovebirds they instructed Poppy not to let anyone in to disturb the two.

The following weeks Harry refused to go to Hogsmead. Ron and Hermione had questioning looks but Harry argued that he had homework to cover. He wasn't ready to tell Ron that he was married to his little sister. They spent time in the common room. Occasionally a younger Gryffindor would cross the room but apart from that they could snog undisturbed.

One day Erik called both to him.

"As you know we." He pointed at him and Catherine. "Are your financial guardians."

He told them about the uncover of an old account running on the Weasley name that was never claimed. Now the decision was, to either add it to Ginny's phoenix account or set up a discovery, to give it to the whole Weasley family. I want you to give it to my family Catherine nodded. "I'll set up a discovery of a debt of the Lord of the Potter-Clan to the Weasleys. The papers are old enough to pull that stunt."

While she disappeared for the set up Erik reached under his desk. "I also discovered this: You know that the Longbottoms are in an instable mental state. However, there might be a cure but for that, they will have to be transferred to America." "How does this affect us? Ask Neville." Harry said.

"Because the company that produces the cure is corrupt. The CEO works to gain money, not to help like it was stated in your parent's will." "My parents?"

Erik pulled out a sheet and tapped on a name in the middle of it. "The company is your property. You can make the decision."

On the morning after christmas eve it was time to open the presents. He got the same sweater and cakes from Mrs Weasley as every year, a reminder of the friendship to the family.

Hermione had given him a book on Hippogriffs. Ginny's present was a small clock which would point out the direction she was. Erik had sent both of them the survival guide for beginning Cobra-Operatives. It was a special edition for wizards.

As he cleared the packages a long one appeared from under his bed. Ripping the paper open he stopped. Ron's jaw dropped. "WOW! That's the firebolt mark II!"

Harry searched the ground. "No card. Who would send me this?"

Erik sat down at the table. Catherine had just left for her shift as he returned from the night shift. He put his helmet down and yawned. Instantly his goblet was filled with a strong coffee. He downed it in three seconds and continued with three more.

He scrolled over the newest Intel on Sirius Black. "Looks like he moved north again. A drone spotted him moving along a highway before it lost him again. He is going for a beeline towards Hogwarts." Just as Dumbledore convinced Professor Trelawney to sit down, Erik stood up again.

"You were thirteen at the table! The first to stand up is to die!"

Erik shook his head. "I'll take my chances. Wouldn't be the first time."

"But I foresaw it!" Erik turned around and continued to walk backwards. "I live with a Category 7. What do you expect?"

Trelawney was surprised. Dumbledore handed her a book which looked quite similar to Harry's edition of the survival guide.

The following weeks, students returned and picked up the routine. The friendship between Hermione and Ron was shattered after Scabbers disappeared and was apparently eaten by Crookshanks.

That gave Harry and Ginny less time together, as both had to keep their friends from killing each other. It didn't help that their friendship was already beaten down a notch by Hermione telling a teacher about the new firebolt.

Said firebolt lied before Erik. He had contacted all sellers, and the one in diagon alley was sure that it was ordered in the name of Harry Potter, but the money was from a vault outside the Potter-clan.

A charm had made sure that the owls wouldn't give the package to anyone but the one who ordered it. Also, a check for fingerprints was useless. The broom was as clean as new, apart from Ron's and Harry's prints. A few unknown prints could be linked to the teachers who had touched it during the investigation. "Let's face the facts: There is no way Sirius Black cursed this broom. Although I'm interested why he would spend money on an unknown boy. Even if he's the son of his friend."

"Black betrayed the Potters. No one knows about his intentions." Snape sneered.

Erik shook his head. "Doesn't add up. I mean the explosion was blamed to kill Pettigrew and the people around him. However, nothing was found, except for a finger. Doesn't help that it was a clean cut."

"How would you know?" McGonagall asked. "Cops take notes, you know. In a patrol there is at least one who has a camera hidden to record. Even the cops themselves don't know who has it.

Recordings are classified but still. Black was imprisoned without a trial and I heard he begged for the Veritaserum. No one who is guilty would beg for that."

Erik walked up the tower to return the broom to Harry. The boy immediately ran out to train on it. The game against Ravenclaw was already next week, so he had to get used to the new broom quickly.

He was also getting used to hear Ginny in his mind. He and Ginny now had lessons with Erik and Catherine, the only other cross-species soul-bond.

It was the day of the match. Harry flew up with his team. His new link was great. While sight-sharing was irritating, her advises were really good.

~Cho is right behind you.~ Ginny said. A wave of jealousy swept through him. ~Follows me everywhere?~ ~Yes.~

Harry dropped into a dive. Cho, who thought that he saw the snitch, followed. Harry decelerated to let Cho catch up.

~Bludger behind you. Go right!~ Harry broke out of the dive. He gained altitude and searched the pitch again.

He discovered it on the other side next to the goal posts. Racing towards the small golden ball,Cho blocked him suddenly. A barrel roll got him around her and he continued. A loud "Oh!" got his attention. Looking down he saw three dementors. Without thinking he summoned his patronus and sent the stag off. Cho had accelerated past him and reached for the snitch. Suddenly Harry reappeared above her and caught the snitch from right before her fingers in his canopy roll.

The celebration continued into the night. At one in the morning McGonagall appeared and sent them all to bed. "No detention or points taken." She smiled. Without a remark, everyone left to get a little sleep before the course began.

"AAAAAARRRRRRRGGGGHHHHH! NOOO!" Ron screamed.

Everyone was awake instantly. Harry could here the door to their dorm being closed as he looked over to Ron. Ron cowered in the far corner of his bed and stared at the ripped parts of his bed.

Erik looked around as the figure rushed past him. "Hey! Stop right there!" He went into pursuit and followed the figure outside. He fired a warning shot, but the man dropped to the ground. Erik jumped over the fence and saw a dog running away. No trace of the man.

Returning to the castle, he was called to the Gryffindor tower.

"Indeed, I let a man enter. He had all the passwords of this week. Written on a small note." Sir Cadogan said proudly. Erik facepalmed. He had the feeling that even Peeves would take this job more seriously.

"Professor!" Erik called. McGonagall turned around to face him. "A man just ran into the forbidden forest. I have reasons to believe that it was Black."

"Yes. Apparently he attacked the third-years' dorm. We think he was after Potter and got the wrong bed."

Erik shook his head. "No. If Black is a killer he would have simply silenced the victim before getting the other. Also why would he get the wrong bed? He got in there unnoticed, he wasn't in a rush."

Investigations followed. They concluded that Black had to be an animagus. A black dog, to be precise. However, Professor Dumbledore took Erik's advise and ordered a capture at all costs.

Despite the events, the match of Gryffindor vs. Slytherin was on.

It was the dirtiest match ever. Gryffindor managed to lead the game with 40 to zero.

Montague crashed into Alicia and got a revenge hit from Fred. Both teams got a free shot but only Alicia scored. Harry flipped over to dodge two bludgers as Ginny warned him.

Dropping down he let the Slytherin beaters crash into each other above him. Applause rose as Katie scored. Fred and George flew in a protective circle. Bole and Derrick used this and smashed both bludgers at Wood. Hit at the head, the keeper fell from his broom and was barely caught by Angelina.

"FOUL! TIME-OUT!"

The team landed. "We need a keeper." Katie crashed down next to them, clutching her arm. "And a chaser. I'm out." She said. Fred and George looked at each other. "Ginny is a good chaser. She trained in secret." "Get her." Harry said. The others listened to him like he was the captain filling in for Oliver. He thought about capable keepers. "Get Ron, too. He might not be the best, but better him than no one."

Ron wasn't the best but he could do his job. After letting one in by Flint he got up. Wood shouted instructions into the microphone to help his fill-in. Ron was too static. He didn't move much to block the quaffle. He never caught it. One strong try was nearly out of his reach but he grazed it strong enough to let it bounce off the goal hoop. But the action got him off balance and he hang from his broom in a comical way.

"Great save by Weasley!" Lee commented. Now Weasley has the ball. Flint moves in to intercept, no he has to stop. Great aim by Weasley."

~Stop staring at me and look for that snitch~ Harry shook his head. He didn't notice that he stared at her. He saw something golden flash on the ground and raced for it. Just meters away his broom suddenly slowed down. He looked around. Malfoy had caught up far enough to grab Harry's broom.

"FOUL!" Hooch shouted. Along the ranks everyone shouted their anger out. Ginny got a free shot. She threw at the right hoop The Slytherin keeper tried to catch it, but the force behind the ball threw him off the broom. The quaffle along with his hand passed the loop. The other houses laughed at the Slytherin hanging from the loop. ~That should teach them.~ Ginny grinned.

"100 to 30 for Gryffindor!" Lee shouted. Harry turned his attention back and gasped, as he saw Malfoy speeding towards the Slytherin goal posts. There, just above the pitch, was the snitch. Harry urged his broom to go faster as he felt two bludgers rush past him. Both hit Malfoy and let him drop onto the field. Harry grabbed the snitch but was too low to pull up. He let himself drop from the broom and landed on his back.

Ginny hold her breath as Harry crashed. The team landed and ran towards him as the boy stretched out his hand. Enclosed between his fingers was the golden snitch.

To an outsider, it might seem like something exploded, as the Gryffindors celebrated their victory. Even the other two houses, Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff, celebrated Slytherin's fall.