Dumbledore was having a bad evening. It started the moment he entered his office which doubled as his home and it had only intensified with every minute that passed. He sank his head into his palms and rubbed his temples. He liked to think he was not a superstitious man – if there was any group of peoples who had the right to be superstitious it was the wizards and witches – but he liked to think he was smart enough to tell mythical beasts from myths and legendary artefacts from legends. Yet he was a human and fell prey to the most human of pitfalls like anybody else, such as the feeling of being followed so that you look behind you ready to confront only to find that there was never anybody there – and perhaps deep inside you knew that all along anyway.
He looked around, almost desperately trying to find something out of place or something stolen. It was like returning to you home to find all of your possessions had been stolen and replaced with an exact copy – utterly ridiculous and yet so disconcerting all the same. There was only one person who could enter his office without his permission, or indeed – knowledge, and it was perhaps that encounter which left him so shaken. He had come here before, when he had just broken out of Azkaban and he had only just unlocked his core then – he was lot more powerful before. He had retrieved the cloak – he could not call it stolen seeming as Sirius had taken it to return to its rightful owner. He had not overturned anything or broken anything and the hat and the wardrobe had practically handed it over to him.
Perhaps he had gone overboard this time. He had never once doubted how serious Sirius was, the trouble was, he had never doubted whether or not he was correct before either, and in this case, one of them had to be wrong. It was all worked put in his mind, Harry would grow up away from magic and fame, (he had not wanted him abused, that was an unfortunate side effect, but he was safe from death eaters all the same). Dumbledore would teach him all he knew, he was far too young to learn about prophecies but when the time was right he was learn about horcruxes and Harry would learn he had to die. There was dark magic in his scar, it would give them information on Voldemort's movements while it lasted, but ultimately The Dark Lord would have to kill him.
Of course he could not tell Sirius this – Sirius had to be kept apart from Harry and the whole battle. Sirius would rather keep Voldemort alive and keep battling him back rather than have Harry die or even hurt. He could sympathise with the father, but they all had to make sacrifices in a time of war, some more than others. Some of Voldemort's followers were incredibly loyal and therefore it did not matter how much Sirius crumbled the old empire, it could be built up once more. He was being called upon to answer his actions though and how was he to answer his actions when the truth was a scheme for Harry to willingly be led like a lamb to the slaughter? Sirius would run him through for it but he truly believed it was the only way.
Then suddenly the headache Dumbledore had been experiencing ever since he entered his office disappeared and everything became clear to him like a film being removed from his eyes. As the realisation dawned, his aged face paled further until it resembled the parchment lying unsorted on his desk – someone had casting legilimency on him. He stood up and whirled around searching for the perpetrator with his magic, searching for that which his eyes evaded. This explained why all thoughts of Harry and Sirius and his plans had leapt in an almost explanatory matter to the forefront of his mind. "Alright, come on out Sirius, I know you're there!" But where was he? His magic could sense no foreign being hidden by magic or by object in any area of the room, just Fawkes, the sorting hat and the portraits of the previous headmasters smirking at him.
The sound of raucous laughter started to fill the room and with astonishment and a mounting sense of dread, Dumbledore saw that it was coming from the portrait of Phineas. He stared at the laughing form of his predecessor's predecessor, "what are you hiding from me?" His voice was soft and level but when no answer was forthcoming it rose in volume, "what are you hiding from me?"
"No need to get your beard in a twist old man," said a different voice as Phineas sobered up. "I have every intention of showing myself to you." Just then, the once headmaster stepped aside and Sirius appeared in the frame, standing behind him further back in the frame, smirking. "Did you know that you can access any painting you wish as long as you have the permission of the person or people in the portrait? Of course, my dear old granddad is not going to deny me the chance to get one over you, I have been hiding in plain sight for over an hour, drawing all of your secrets out of your head like lemon drops out of a silver bowl." He strode forward and clasped forearms with the previous Lord Black in a show of respect and thanks before hopping out of the portrait.
"Don't pretend that you're not impressed," Sirius smirked as he stood before the aged headmaster. He leant against the desk and ran a hand through his hair, "you're right about a lot of things," he admitted. "You're right about the horcrux in Harry's head, I already know and you're right about me finding the prospect or beating Voldemort down again every time he attempts to rise more appealing than letting Harry die. You're right about not underestimating me but if you think your ideas will work and your little plan play out then you're dead wrong. Harry is my son and I will not allow him to be manipulated or hurt and I will sort this matter out. Do not ask me how because I simply do not know yet, but I swear on my magic that I shall not allow him to be killed."
"I understand by the way old man," he continued with an easy smile, sitting down on Dumbledore's desk while the headmaster, feeling like an outsider in his own quarters stood near him awkwardly. "I understand why you did what you did and your plan is logical, painfully logical and I take my proverbial hat off to that plan. I do not agree with it though and it shall not carry through and you are right, I am tempted to carry out retribution towards you for merely thinking that and for carrying it on even after I escaped from Azkaban. I know you know how powerful I am, I defeated you once and I can defeat you again, I am a threat to you." There was a heartbeat of silence and Sirius raised his eyebrow before sighing and binding Dumbledore where he stood.
"You have either gotten far too trusting or doddery for your old age Dumbledore. From the moment I exited the portrait you have just been standing there idly, staring at my dashing figure. I blatantly told you 'I am a threat to you' using those words and still you did not even think to cast a simple shield around yourself!" Sirius raised his hand and flicked his fingers, a push of magic sending the frozen man onto the floor on his back. Sirius followed through and placed a foot onto his chest and released the magical bonds; a golden lightning bolt of magic protruding from Sirius' hand, the tip poised just above Dumbldore's jugular prevented him from moving. "The plan does not particularly anger me, the reason I am here is for retribution for my son. Have I not made it clear to you before that your interference will not be tolerated?"
Dumbledore tried to answer but Sirius cut him off, "I have not given you permission to speak!" He tried to calm himself down but his core was swirling around the room, delighted to be let free and serve out just desserts to this man having been restrained days before. "I did not hurt you that day, Harry was there and shaken and he needed me to be with him, Regulus is still a little loyal to you and does not want you hurt, Remus is too innocent to be exposed to your downfall and Severus – Merlin knows, but I still held back. You should consider yourself lucky, had Harry had one scratch on him I would have pushed this blade home. I am not going to simply let you go with yet another threat though; I have come to you for an oath."
"Sirius my boy-"
"Not another word! I could still kill you and it would be the end to my problems but inside I do not believe you quite deserve it. Swear on your magic that you will stay out of my business, you will not harm me or my pack in any way and you will cease your influence."
"I, Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore, Headmaster of Hogwarts School, Chief Mugwump and Order of Merlin, hereby swear on my magic to end all influence I have over the life of Sirius Orion Black, Lord of the most Ancient and Noble House of Black and all under his protection. I will not bring harm to him or his pack through words, magic or physical contact, directly or indirectly, through action or inaction through my titles, through my name, through my power and through my being. So have I sworn, so mote it be." A faint golden glow enveloped the two of them before Sirius nodded and released the old man fully. Dumbledore got to his feet, "I have sworn everything except cordiality to you, so forgive me for telling to get the hell out!"
Sirius laughed, the headmaster unknowingly going up in the Lord's mental rankings by several notches. He had never heard the grandfatherly man use such uncouth language, he was usually so reserved and polite, he felt quite honoured to be one of the only ones to be able to make him lose his cool. He was very much satisfied by the results of his visit, he had managed to catch up with a very old family member and gotten the headmaster out of his hair for good or have him risk losing that which defined who he was as a wizard. Sirius bowed first to his ancestor and then to the headmaster before heading to the floo.
"I know you know that I don't like it and I would prefer for you to stay on Black Property. I have the deeds to several apartments in both Diagon alley and Hogsmeade if you do not want to stay longer in Grimmauld 12." Charlus Potter had loved staying late in both of those places and having parties in the junction between Diagon and Knockturn alley and he and James had stayed in one of the three apartments he owned in the area frequently. "Now that you can apparate, it is of course imperative that you drop by once a week or so, to say hello and assure me you are ok even if you do not stay for any mentionable length of time." His voice trailed off when he realised the only person who was even half listening to him was Regulus.
The teens were not even looking at him; they were all staring at their surroundings with mirroring expressions Sirius could not really place. It could have been wonder, which was what he had been hedging before, but it could have been horror just as easily. He ran a hand through his hair and rubbed the back of his head awkwardly, resisting the temptation to hop from foot to foot and pull on his clothes like Harry did when he was nervous – it was not fitting behaviour for a Lord. "Are you guys alright? I just wanted to do something you, I could hardly have you going back into the conditions you left the house in, a lot of work needed to be done." He stopped himself there before he started to sound like he was making excuses – he had done them a favour and if they didn't like it then they were being ungrateful.
It didn't stop their lack of response from worrying him – they had been in his care for a total of six months and he loved them – all of them, dearly. He crossed his arms and tried to pretend that he was not aware of their ignoring him as they entered their home and looked for signs that it really was the same place. A lot of work had to be done, the two house elves he had purchased for them had done most of the grottier work such as ridding the woodwork of insects and mice but Sirius and Regulus had done a lot too. They had identified six separate bedrooms, using the other rooms for dining and lounge areas and had taken it upon themselves to throw away all of the burnt remains of the sorry excuse for bedding and purchasing 12 four posters for them.
The downstairs had been completely redecorated, with the absence of stairs, there really had not been another choice. They had decided to keep the wall gone but had fixed the edges so it was not quite as obvious the hack job that had been done removing it. The carpet and rug could not be saved so they had been replaced, and there was new leather furniture lining the walls on top of linoleum flooring. They had brought the books for all the subjects available for all the years, Transfiguration and Charms to Ancient Runes and Arithmancy, there was also a secure room for combat training and a room designated to Potions. They may be flying the nest, or perhaps this would be flying back home, but Sirius and Regulus would not let their teens skip on their schooling, to get anywhere in this world, one needs an education.
Seeming as Sirius and Regulus had not had to wait for their magic to mature as they taught, they had skipped straight to second year syllabus and the teens worked diligently throughout the day to train themselves up to the level they should be. The older ones inevitably knew a little more than the younger ones, but the difference was marginal so they taught them altogether, giving the younger ones more lessons to make up the difference. The most studious would be ready to sit their OWLs in a matter of weeks, perhaps two months at most. They were responsible enough to study without someone breathing down their necks to make sure they do so, Sirius would trust them to study for their chosen NEWTs almost entirely independently, but would seek out tutors if the need arises.
Why weren't they saying anything? He put his hand on Sasha's shoulder as he was the one closest to him to murmur an apology if that was what he required. The contact seemed to break whatever trance he had entered and he spun around like prey spotting a hunter before registering him. A couple of tears were in his eyes and without a word he launched himself at his Lord, wrapping his arms tightly around his waist and sobbing into his chest. Sirius was not a stranger to physical contact or hugs, but he did not get them from the teens all that often, they liked to believe they were grown up and did not need such reassurance, no matter how flawed the thinking may be. They had grown while they'd been with him, even little Dexter was level with his shoulder now, but occasionally, they still acted like the children he'd rescued.
The others came up to him or Regulus, or both and enveloping them in a hug. They either cried or laughed and shouted or whispered 'thank you' in varying volumes but equal measures of pure gratitude and joy. They came to William last, he had purposefully waited, letting the younger and more emotional children go first. The now 23 year old man had grown the most in the time they'd been together, mentally and physically. They had rescued a young man who was desperately trying to pretend he wasn't young or a child and that he was fully capable of looking after Dexter and the others. Now he was an adult, intelligent and sophisticated, it was pleasure and a privilege to know such a strong young man; they could not pick a better candidate to look after the younger ones they had invested so much in.
Both Black brothers knew they would miss William the most. He was the one who did not need as much teaching and often helped to teach the younger teens what he knew about runes and astrology – the more written pieces of work – they were all strong when it came to spell work and courses like DADA. They would miss their talks in the evening over wine when they discussed all manner of topics, usually the other teens, sometimes politics and they would breach the revolution that was underway now and again. But sometimes they would just joke with each other, those were the easiest of evenings, when they would sit together and joke and laugh and drink. They remembered when Sirius taught William how to meditate without getting hungry and thirsty and needing a piss after 10 minutes like Regulus had.
They remembered when Regulus managed to get him to produce his first patronus and it had taken the form of an immature Starstrike dragon. They had all been surprised at that, it was a rare reptile native globally, but only found nesting near hot springs, it was the only dragon that was miniature and very beautiful as the name suggests, pure white with silver wings. Wizarding families liked to try and keep them as pets, often forgetting they were dragons and could grow to about the size of a dog kennel. They had taken a trip to Italy and managed to capture one so they could study it and perhaps work out why it was his patronus form. William had never before seen any sort of dragon and the puzzle had them locked in library after library searching for answers.
In the end, their copious research in and out of Italy yielded no results. They did not know what they had been expecting, William did not bond with the dragon or find out he could speak dragonese or anything, but it was an interesting trip. They found the hard way out that a fully grown dragon could carry off a human with very little difficulty when Harry decided he wanted a closer look. Unwilling to harm such a rare species of dragon, Sirius ended up flying after him and intimidating the dragon into dropping whatever it thought harry was, treasure (Starstrikes like all dragons adore hoarding treasure), a hatchling or prey. They found out the dragons without a shadow of a doubt were wild animals not to be domesticated, they were stubborn, independent and occasionally vicious – which is why they never worked as pets.
As William walked forward, Sirius knew their young man was thinking the same thing and reliving the same memories. He approached Regulus first, he no longer had the stiffness or awkwardness he harboured before and held out a hand for him to shake. Sirius watched the interplay and almost laughed out loud when Regulus did no more than raise an eyebrow at the offered hand. Honestly, had William truly thought he was going to get away with that? Regulus grabbed the hand and yanked, tripping the man off balance and catching him in his arms because if any situation warranted a hug it was this. Not wanting to be left out Sirius joined in, throwing one arm over each young man, and much like his younger siblings by blood and by choice, William murmured his heartfelt 'thank you' into the chests' of his rescuers and guardians.
As heartfelt as his gratitude was, it was nothing compared the passion conveyed when the Black brothers replied with how much they were going to miss them all.
The house was quiet without the teens in it to make life more interesting. He was use the rigid structure of lessons, training and spending time with Harry. When he was younger he would have revelled in having less to do but after so long of having to do a lot, now he had distinctly less, he did not known what to do with his time. He found he spent an inordinate amount of time either meditating or sparring with Regulus. While he enjoyed teaching Harry and Hermione, they were only 7 years old, one had to watch what one said and how they said it, and the things they could learn was limited. They were both smart children and they could up to fifth year material theory wise, but practically, by the time they started Hogwarts (if they still both wanted to go) they could only have just started 2nd year material.
Indeed, Harry had regaled Hermione about his adventured in the school and she had decided quite categorically that this was where she was going to be schooled also. This was exactly like her character and neither Black nor Granger had expected any other response. Sirius had to sit through Harry explaining the moving pictures, the ghosts the staircases, the classes, quidditch and the teachers he'd met and all the wonders of magic. Sirius was still uneasy about his son going to that magical school, wanting to home school him like he had the teens, he had managed to squeeze three years into 6 months with them, he could do the same once Harry was 13. He did not like that school and had recently threatened and forced the headmaster to bend to his will. But he had promised Harry's education would be Harry's choice and Harry's choice it would stay.
He wanted his son to keep up with muggle studies such as math, English, history and science and keep in touch with technology too, one day, he may even be able to find a way to integrate muggle technology and magic. The two usually do not go well together, but the heart behind being a prankster was being an inventor so he did not cast aside the idea just yet. He hugged Hermione whenever he saw her and exchanged tense but cordial conversation with her parents. The Grangers were still trying to accept Adam Tanner was Sirius Black and the whole concept of the magical world. They viewed the secrets he'd kept as being lied to and on that vein, he was still lying to them, but the Black Lord was scared of being abandoned because his life was dangerous and all those he was close to, was dragged into that danger.
Sirius was just glad they were opening up to him and was aware that one day he was going to have to open up about the whole truth revolving around him and the currently dormant Voldemort and about little Harry, the prophecy and the boy-who-lived. It was unfair to them to be kept in the dark because they were muggles because they were a prominent part of his life and Harry's, but they didn't need to be told yet. After all, if he said so, they might grab their daughter and run for the hills and he couldn't have that. It would be so much easier with the teens here, not only were they so much better at smoothing things over, Jean loved them. She had always wanted more children but a complicated at Hermione's birth prevented it and as for the teens – well it was almost nauseating to see how much they adored being mothered.
Word of Lord Black had not gotten out the way Sirius had wanted it to. He had wanted to wait until the seating of the Wizengamot and then make his grand entrance as Lord Black and Potter Regent. As things stood, everybody already knew thanks to Dumbledore wanting to get cheap points after humiliating him and refusing to listen even after his scheme of kidnapping Harry simply for his undivided attention. The news was received with disappointment when it was discovered there was no blond haired, purple eyed stranger, just him playing it up for dramatics and humour. The revelation however was not overly surprising and would have been ultimately accepted between the time it took to enter the hall of the wizengamot and reach his seat even if the twist in the tale had not been released to the public earlier.
Sirius was no fool or novice when it came to politics no matter what anybody else may think. He was only a disgrace to family once he turned eleven and became a Griffindor, before that, he was the prized first born son. His family were proud of him for making friends with James Potter even so, he was last scion of an Ancient and Noble house despite the lack of their pure blood agenda – plus they were related, however weakly. They were even willing to believe he had become a Griffindor purely to befriend him as is the Slytherin way and were distraught when their son fell prey to Griffindor traits later in his schooling life, befriending 'mudbloods', pranking his year mates – it simply wasn't done. His father had died an early death, Sirius had only just turned 17 years old at the time, the man may have taken this belief to his grave.
Orion Black, the last Lord of the house had adored him and refused to ever cast him out. His mother had succumbed to the madness that had plagued her for years and turned all of her attention of Regulus but it made no difference. Sirius had been schooled ever since he was old enough to read and write and no matter how much his mother insisted to her husband, that Sirius was a lost cause, during the summer holidays that practise only intensified. It was Sirius who was brought along to the meetings, Sirius who was educated of etiquette, Sirius was forced to attend lecture after lecture and recite passages from law and members of high ranking wizarding families and Sirius who knew about politics. Regulus had been delighted that he never had to be schooled in the same manner – there was only so much their mother knew for her to teach.
As Sirius stood by his seat, he cast his trademark smile around the room, the one that made the ladies swoon and Amelia give him a mock stern look. Yes, he knew about politics, it was a lot like teaching really – it was about public and private faces and a hell of a lot of acting. He knew nothing interesting was going to be announced bar his seating as the Black Lord and Potter Regent – no new laws were being passed. He also knew he should wait a few weeks, possibly months before he started protesting against certain laws already in place – such as those that discriminate against werewolves receiving certain jobs, schooling and rates of pay. He wanted to go for it straight away, but he knew how to play the game and it was simply unfortunate the game involved so much patience as this did not come to him naturally.
Amelia gave him a small smile before she commenced the meeting which he returned. He was the reason she was now the Minister of Magic. When the Daily Prophet was released with the leaked information, Fudge probably pissed himself before running off to Austria. Besides himself, Amelia was really the only logical choice. If someone like Amelia had been in charge from the beginning then all those death eaters would not have been in the government at all because she knew where people like Malfoy's true allegiances lay and would not let them run the government for her. With Amelia, Peter would have never gone to the other side, believing it was winning, James and Lily would not have died and he would not have gone to Azkaban – and even if the first two did still happen – she would have made sure he got a trial.
Now, all is well that ends well or words to that effect. He had been arrested and he had broken out and he had made his first kill with Gate Master that allowed him to go after all the others. He had unlocked his core to become a vigilante, his brother had been returned to him – he was Harry's father, he had a strong brother, he had defeated Dumbledore who was possessed by the ring he stupidly wore. He had been reunited with Tonks and Remus and met Teddy, their little cub and had managed to get some information out of him. He had gone back to Azkaban, killed more people and rescued his cubs and he was now sorting out their new home, as unhappy as he was with the place personally, now they were fully healed, physically and mentally from their unjust time in prison.
The ministry however, was in his pocket, and Sirius did not want that to change as long as he was around to reap its benefits. The world decided it owed him a favour, not just as an apology but for doing what everyone else was too afraid to – something. The name Lord Black-Potter carried a lot of weight, indeed he had carried the other surname since he was 16, but since he'd never been disowned he could not inherit it formally until now, seeming as he was the regent for the house. He was fully intending on using his name to get his teens who were well on their way to being fully educated into jobs all around Diagon Alley, Hogsmeade, and if possible, into the ministry. It did not have to be a prominent member, just a foot in the door for his spy network.
Amelia would bend over backwards for him now she knew about the teens, for he had told her. She could legally do nothing as there were no records of them – but with the treat of Lord Black bringing it to light, and being the current head of administration it was her job to deal with it – she'd rather pay him a few favours that wage war with him. The only place that was left to reign in was Hogwarts, and as he was already at war with the Headmaster, his chummed up position at the right had of Amelia could only strengthen his word. Fudge had been eating out of Dumbledore's hand but Amelia could stand on her own and would not allow anybody to control her, of course this was exactly what Sirius was planning – but Dumbledore was too obvious.
People allowed Dumbledore to control them because they brought into his delusional world that he knew better than they did, even concerning their own life and it got people killed and death eaters acquitted. He was sure that with a little bit of work he could have a seat of the board of governors, the teens would probably find more than their current group, they would refer them to him and with luck he could send a few into Hogwarts to scout out how it was. If Harry was set on going there then it better be pretty bloody brilliant. Hopefully he could dig up some dirt he'd keep quiet – for a price and his money would sort out the rest. With a crumbled empire of Voldemort so he had nothing to return to and allies everywhere his revolution was complete and Britain would be his.