The Leader

Chapter 16

Sirius Reveals All

Spare Bedroom - Potter Manor - Ground Floor (Sirius' Old Room) - England

"Remus?!" cried Sirius, relieved beyond belief to see his partner there, if you could call them partners. He had been suffering from depression for years, and that didn't make a good relationship. If anything they were just friends right now, had been since he was released from Azkaban. He had been too weak and frail, still was in some respects, although mostly mentally rather than physically. Sirius had piled on weight, so he could search further for his godson, determined to find him and re-introduce him to the magical world. That hope had dwindled a long time ago, but Gryffindors weren't known for giving up, and Sirius didn't think he could live without Harry, so he kept going. He only knew what Dumbledore had told him, which was that Harry had disappeared during the summer after his first year, with no clue as to where he was. The Dursleys had been questioned more than once, not just by Dumbledore but by the Ministry as well. They knew nothing of how Harry had disappeared; they had picked him up at the train station and taken him home. None of them had been questioned about why an eleven-year-old boy would want to leave; otherwise their comfortable life would have been not so comfortable anymore.

"Finite Incantatem!" murmured Remus, removing all the bonds that restrained Sirius, keeping him on the bed. The werewolf shook his head, Harry really didn't trust people. How did he make this clear to Sirius? He had only five minute to tell him everything.

"What are we doing in Potter Manor?" asked Sirius, sitting up, recognizing the room all too well. This was the room he used when he had stayed with James and his parents when he was sixteen. The drawers he'd used were still there; his name was cut into the wood, and SB stood out like a sore thumb in the otherwise immaculate room. Standing up he moved over to the bare furniture, his fingers trailed over the letters reverently. He had loved living here, it was the most welcoming and peaceful environment he'd ever felt in his life. Although he had admittedly loved the privacy afforded to him when he bought a flat with his uncle's money.

"Sirius, I need you to listen closely, and please don't do anything…stupid," said Remus, closing his eyes, knowing without a doubt that Sirius probably would. Then again he wouldn't have expected Sirius to act like that during an order meeting, or rather just before one started ― when only a few Order members had been present.

Sirius sobered up, staring at Remus, his heart pounding away like a drum. He could only think of a few reasons they would come to Potter Manor. Was his godson alive like he had always prayed he was? He didn't care what he was like; he just wanted to be part of his life. Had he been living on the streets? Before making his way here when he gained his inheritance at the age of seventeen? No, he couldn't allow himself to be carried away; Remus might have only come here out of sheer desperation. Although why he had been bound to the bed was a bloody mystery. He'd also been healed; none of the damage he remembered from before he fell unconscious was there. "What is it?" asked Sirius, swallowing the lump forming in his throat. He always got like this when he thought about his little godson, remembering the child as he had last held him.

"Harry is here, in the manor," stated Remus, raising his hands when Sirius made to move past him, obviously wanting to see his godson. "Sirius…you have to understand he's…different. He's not a child anymore, try and treat him with respect, as an adult."

"Different?" echoed Sirius, why use that particular word? And how would Remus know more than he did? After all, it had been the full moon last night; he wouldn't have been able to see anyone, never mind Harry. And why the hell had he been tied up? None of it was making sense, and there was only one way for that to happen ― to find out for himself. "Let's go, I want to meet him," he demanded, keeping his impatience hidden.

"Just…just remember, yeah? That he isn't James, isn't Lily, he's his own man," said Remus, trying to find the right words to use. Soon Sirius would know Harry was a vampire, and he prayed that Sirius would show Harry the same nonchalance he had displayed when he had learned he was a Werewolf. He wasn't prejudiced; it was hard to be when you romped around with a werewolf at the age of sixteen. The fact Harry could hear every word he was saying also made him hesitant to say too much. He was already in Harry's bad books, without ending up any further.

"Yes, I understand, now take me to him," said Sirius, moving around Remus and opening the bedroom door. He knew this place like the palm of his hand, but he didn't know where they were meeting so he waited on Remus to lead the way. He realized it was the main sitting room, or as many called it, the 'living room' since it was where people spent the most time. His heart was thumping a mile a minute, he was so nervous; after all these years of searching he was meeting his godson. His eighteen-year-old, adult godson, whom he hadn't seen in seventeen years, give or take a few months. Three years of searching for him had led to this moment; he had thought he'd ruined everything, but he'd just been so angry.

Remus opened the door and led Sirius in; praying with all his might to every deity in the world that Sirius wouldn't screw up. Once both of them were in the room, he closed it before watching Sirius intently, just waiting on the moment he would blow up. Sirius had always had a very short temper, something that was all too obvious in every Black; thankfully he didn't have the all encompassing madness the others had seemingly inherited.

Sirius Black looked around the room almost eagerly but managing to hold it in, until he saw Harry for himself. He had to remember he was a stranger to Harry, he didn't know him so he might not react well to any heartfelt reunion. His heart skipped a beat, and his eyes widened in shock when he saw Severus Snape sitting on the sofa. He had assumed the wizard had died! It was quite a logical assumption to make, he hadn't returned to Hogwarts or Spinners End after all. Although Dumbledore hadn't been successful in gaining entry to Spinners End; apparently it was locked down tighter than the foundation of a house. Did Dumbledore know? No, he couldn't, otherwise he wouldn't have been so cross. Had he not gone to the clan of vampires after all? Well, obviously not, otherwise he wouldn't be alive, right?

"I've been told you were looking for me, Lord Black," stated Harry, speaking from where he still sat in his favourite chair. Technically he wasn't a Lord really, but an escaped prisoner until he was proven innocent. Or rather in his case, proven he wasn't guilty of the crimes he was thrown in Azkaban without trial for.

Sirius snapped his neck towards where he heard the voice, and his jaw dropped and eyes widened further, making him look almost comical. Harry was a vampire, his godson was a vampire. It was little wonder he had chosen to remain hidden! If it was bad for werewolves, it was ten times worse for vampires since that wasn't an ability the Ministry deemed 'controllable'; there was no potion to impede their bloodlust. His mind ran a mile a minute, a vampire…Snape…the clan…they must have taken Snape in instead of killing him. "You're part of the Coven Dumbledore is trying to arrange meetings with, aren't you?"

"I'm not part of it," stated Harry, staring at Black and seeing him in a new light. He obviously wasn't as stupid as he had thought, either that or Azkaban had changed him from the idiot he used to be. "I built it. I am the Leader of the largest Coven in the United Kingdom." There was no denying the smugness rolling off the eighteen-year-old in waves.

"Why?" asked Sirius, why build up a Coven? Why remain hidden? Why spare Snape? Why keep him bound earlier? He didn't know what he was asking, but he certainly wanted answers.

"I will be asking the questions first; sit down," Harry said, his voice demanding. "Both of you."

Sirius was too stunned to do anything but what Harry had ordered, sitting across from him, his blue eyes taking in everything he could see. This was his godson; he didn't care that he was a vampire, or that he'd built up a power base that made him want to run a mile from. Dumbledore guessed the 'leader' had somewhere between twenty to thirty vampires in total at his beck and call. Green eyes, standing out against his pale aristocratic face, tall graceful limbs, he must have only been turned a few years ago, if that. This wasn't the face or body of a child, but that of a grown man…he had to have only been a vampire a year at the most, surely?

Remus said nothing, quickly getting used the fact Harry didn't know how to ASK for something, and he just constantly demanded them. Walking around the couch he took a seat next to Sirius, and across from Harry and Severus, who despite being in different pieces of furniture were quite close. He actually wanted answers to the questions Harry was going to ask, or no doubt going to ask. He didn't know Harry well enough, he was very unpredictable. So was Sirius these days, he didn't know what had gotten into him. The fact he was so calm was beginning to freak him out, actually; this wasn't the Sirius he was used to. Although he could grudgingly admit, it was a Sirius he could find himself liking quickly. It had been a long time coming; perhaps Sirius had finally started to grow up at long last.

"You will want breakfast I assume?" It wasn't a question. Almost as if Dobby and Harry were connected mentally, the House-Elf appeared with food which he placed on the table along with one goblet of blood for Harry. He was extra exuberant this morning, perhaps at having more food to make for 'guests'. Harry didn't know and he didn't ask.

"Thank you," said Remus, taking two plates and handing one to a quiet Sirius, who hadn't stopped staring at Harry for even a second.

Severus took a plate, nodding his thanks silently, watching as Harry smirked at him. Severus gripped at the plate tightly as that smouldering look did things to him that should be illegal. Was Harry aware of the effect he caused? He was a vampire; he probably did know, which didn't sit well with him at all. He breathed deeply, allowing the aroma of the food to make him growl hungrily. He hadn't eaten so well in his life, Dobby always made sure that he ate a lot, it was as if he was an emaciated child. He didn't want to be in the same room as Black and Lupin, yet he didn't want to leave, he wanted to know why Black had done something…so out of character.

The meal was eaten in silence, or in Harry's case drank in silence, which didn't bother him by the looks of things.

Remus noticed the food on his plate was rawer than the others'; Harry must have given Dobby orders to make sure his food was cooked that way. Or rather not cooked, as the case may be. A day ago this would have disgusted him, but he knew it tasted delicious; it was as if even as a human he still had the stomach of a werewolf. Maybe he did, and surprisingly he managed to eat it all despite the fact he'd eaten a plate of raw meat just under fifteen minutes ago. Would he fill out and look like the others instead of this gaunt appearance he had right now? Merlin, he couldn't get his head around the thought that he would have died within months if he'd continued taking the Wolfsbane potion.

Harry didn't have the patience to wait any longer, especially since his meal was all consumed. Nothing, not even information, got in the way of him and his food. Or blood as it may be, but it was the sustenance he needed to keep him alive, so it was food to him. Placing the goblet on the table, he threaded his hands together, and tapped his thumbs on his chin, looking thoughtfully at the two light wizards in his home.

"Why did you kick Dumbledore out of Grimmauld Place?" asked Harry, not one for beating around the bush. "I was under the impression you and Severus hated one another."

Severus withheld a twitch, hearing his name on Harry's lips; dear Merlin, would this ever stop? Was he just attracted to him or was it something on a primal level he felt drawn to? He knew it wasn't the 'thrall,' since to exude that you had to concentrate on the person in question, and Harry wasn't. He'd always been drawn to the Dark Arts, dark magic; it comforted him in a way light magic never could. The fact that Black was being referred to as Lord Black made him even smugger. Harry Potter liked him better than he liked his own godfather; it was childish and juvenile, but one couldn't help their own thoughts and feelings.

"My personal feelings for Snape don't come into this; in the Order you stick together, you don't betray them," said Sirius, his face alight in indignant fury.

Harry sat back, placing his hands on the arms of the chair as he observed Black as if he was an odd specimen he'd never seen before. "And that act alone led you to evicting Dumbledore and risking your return to Azkaban or being kissed again?" Doubt was obvious in Harry's tone; you would have had to be deaf to not hear it.

"Dumbledore is the Head of the Wizengamot; he could have made sure I received a trial. I did everything he ever asked me to do, proving myself to the light over and over again. Pushing myself harder than anyone else, just to prove that I was nothing like my family. James swore he would tell him; tell Dumbledore that I wasn't the secret keeper. Not only that, I saw them writing about it in their wills the day the spell was cast, but James' and Lily's wills were never read. Five weeks ago I got word back that it had been Dumbledore who prevented their wills being read, closing and locking the Potter vaults completely. Leaving them virtually inaccessible even by the goblins. Until you were seventeen, all you would be able to access was your trust vault," said Sirius bitterly, his blue eyes like ice chips. "I just assumed Dumbledore never got told, I mean…he seemed so sincere when he apologised for thinking I had betrayed my best friends. Then I began to suspect, and had a private investigator look into it; I got everything I wanted over a month ago. Then the whole thing with Snape…I realized he must have known. He was sitting there looking broken fucking hearted that Snape wasn't around; I realized it was all shit. I tried to remain normal; if I wanted to find you, Harry, I knew I had a better chance in the Order. I just couldn't do it anymore, the thoughts that went through my mind once I knew…that maybe he had a hand in your disappearance…or if he was just keeping you from everyone…I snapped; told him to leave, that he was no longer welcome in Grimmauld Place."

"You've only had this property a year?" asked Severus, turning to face Harry curiously, wondering if he would reveal anything.

Remus was shocked by what Sirius had revealed; why hadn't he said anything? Didn't Sirius trust him anymore? Sirius would always come first to him, before the Order, before Dumbledore, before anything. Surely he knew that? If not...well, he didn't know what to think. A private Investigator? Dear Merlin, he wanted to rip Dumbledore to shreds for leaving his partner in Azkaban all those years. He didn't doubt him, never would, not with everything Harry had said to him twice in fact.

Harry snorted, "Of course not, I emancipated myself, gaining full control of my vaults at the age of twelve. Although I didn't use this property until a few years ago."

"Why didn't you have their wills read?" asked Sirius, frowning in confusion.

"Because I did not know about them," replied Harry, arching an eyebrow wondering if he could accuse him of lying. "I was more interested in them making me money, I took risks, huge risks that had the Goblins quite shocked and positively proud; they have a great deal of respect for me. I had to take leaps, otherwise I wouldn't be where I am today. To lead a side means you need a big bank balance, especially when they are ostracised from society and rely on any income they can possibly get. Coming together they learn new crafts, which enable them to get jobs; the Goblins are only too happy to help when my name crops up," he revealed smugly.

"Your real name?" enquired Severus, his black eyes glittering.

"Of course not, I'm not that stupid. No, the name I use is Darnell Raven Thorn," answered Harry, smirking viciously.

"Darnell? Meaning dark secret? Very fitting," mused Severus, impressed.

"Indeed," said Harry wryly.

"If you get your parents' wills read ― I will be proven innocent," said Sirius, interrupting their conversation.

"Of course," said Harry sardonically, he wasn't stupid, and didn't appreciate someone thinking he was.

"I think he means would you do it?" said Remus, rolling his eyes at Sirius' foolhardiness.

"I will see my Goblin about it today," replied Harry, "I have business at Gringotts anyway," he added flippantly.

"May I join you? I need to see about getting my vaults locked down or transferred; I do not want Dumbledore getting his hands on them," asked Severus, he wouldn't put anything past Dumbledore.

Harry nodded curtly, agreeing to allow Severus to accompany him. If he was planning on transferring them, it meant he wasn't in any hurry to die; perhaps he should have the potions brewed. He had a feeling that Severus would ask for them sooner or later; he was betting on later, he was a very stubborn wizard. Powerful and stubborn, a good combination, perhaps that was why he was attracted to him. Well, that and the fact they were magically compatible, which was a term insipid teenagers and old wives would call 'soul mates' but that term was never used in anything other than romance novels. As he told Severus, he wouldn't push him into anything. Which meant he wasn't going to let himself be hurt by getting involved with someone who might die. The attraction was obviously still there, but there was nothing he could do about that.

"So Dumbledore is planning on writing to me?" asked Harry, focusing on Black once more.

"He wants to call a truce, so you and your…people will fight Voldemort; wants you to believe he will put in a good word at the Ministry and maybe implement a few legislations to make it easier for all vampires," said Sirius. "He promised the same thing to the werewolves but he never followed through."

Remus nodded beside him. That was true, he'd been saying that since he was seventeen years old and he first joined ― using him to try and get other werewolves to join the cause or stay out of the war altogether. Neither had worked very well; they all responded to Greyback... well, at least during the last war they had. Now it seemed the werewolf community was divided between Greyback and Jack, the two Alphas. It seemed as though Harry's pack was much larger than Greyback's; the last count was up to ten werewolves on Voldemort's side. Harry could, if he wanted to win this war, shred Voldemort's ranks and come out, making the Ministry realize Vampires weren't all that bad. Although he had to acknowledge they might hate Harry for being a vampire, just because of whom he was. It could go either way, but if he made himself out to be harmless, there was every chance he could have the wizarding world eating out of the palm of his hand. Harmless…that's something Harry didn't look, especially the way he always had such smug or angry looks on his face.

"I have no need for his help; when the time comes, my people will take their places within the Ministry and purge any problems," said Harry seriously.

"You are going to overthrow the Ministry?" squeaked Sirius, gaping in even more shock.

"Not so much overthrow it, I am content to let things come to me in good time. It will happen so slowly nobody will know it's happened. There might be a few people who suspect otherwise, but they won't be able to prove it. Even if they could, the people will be so much better off that they won't want the old Ministry back. The power belongs to the people, and I shall see that they get their share of it, even if it just gives them the appearance of power," Harry said powerfully, his green eyes twinkling deviously.

"Why are you telling me this? Do you trust me?" asked Sirius, gazing at Harry thoughtfully.

Severus snorted in derision, he didn't think Harry trusted anyone, but for a wizard who had ensured everyone's silence he did keep his plans close to his chest. Admittedly he was confessing a little, but he still didn't let them know when and how it would happen, just giving them little snippets to give the appearance of trust. What he had learned so far was awe-inspiring, it was a deviously, Slytherin move, how the boy had ended up in Gryffindor he didn't know or understand. Voldemort just wanted to take over completely, but Harry's plan from the sound of it…made it sound like he was placing his men one by one in the Ministry until they were all replaced with men he approved off. He wouldn't be surprised if there were a lot of them already IN place. "How in Merlin's name did you end up in Gryffindor?" asked Severus. Since he met him he'd wondered, there wasn't a Gryffindor bone in his body.

"Hey, we are smart, just not book smart…" said Sirius, insulted.

"I begged the Hat to put me in Gryffindor," revealed Harry, watching as everyone gaped at him once more.

"Of course," sighed Severus, shaking his head. "Dumbledore's manipulations again?

"I think he meant it to be," Harry said, "but I caught on very quickly and decided to play along until…" Harry halted here before clamming up; obviously he didn't want to talk about it.

"Until?" echoed Sirius, sitting forward eager to hear more, he didn't care that his godson had basically told him he was meant for Slytherin.

"Nothing," Harry replied coldly.

Remus put his hand on Sirius' thigh, giving it a firm squeeze, there was nothing sexual about it, no, and Remus was warning Sirius NOT to go there. He didn't want Sirius to be on the wrong end of Harry's rather violent temper, and it was violent. Admittedly he had done the wrong thing, but it was easy to do something wrong when you didn't know someone or their buttons. Harry was terrifying when he wanted to be, and he did want to be that way. Even when he was angry, though, he was constantly looking out for everyone around him. His people loved him, and he could see why, but Harry needed someone in his life ― someone not afraid to stand up to him ― someone like Snape.

Dobby popped in, giving the mail and paper over before collecting the used dishes and placing them on the tray, clicking his fingers the tray and its contents disappeared. Dobby gave them all a silent nod, much like his Master before he disappeared as well. Knowing House-Elves it would be to go and clean the dishes that had just been used.

Albus Dumbledore & Minerva McGonagall - Hogwarts - Great Hall - Scotland

Albus Dumbledore sat at the teachers' table, contemplating yet another failure, which seemed to be so frequent as of late. Things were going wrong, and he didn't like it at all. Not only had he lost his spy, Potions Master and Head of Slytherin, but Sirius Black and Grimmauld Place as well. No doubt the Azkaban escapee had been kissed, and Grimmauld Place as well as that damn elf now belonged to Bellatrix Lestrange. Which meant they were compromised; everything the elf had overheard would soon be in Bellatrix Lestrange's and Voldemort's hands. He had been too hasty in alerting the Aurors that he'd seen 'Sirius Black' in London. He'd just been extremely pissed off; after keeping the man safe for years, this was how he was repaid? By being told to leave? Black was only alive on his say so! And Black had learned that the hard way; so be it, he would just have to make alternative plans.

He sighed softly, what did he do for a safe place to meet now? He couldn't use Hogwarts, that was just careless, especially with the number of little Death Eaters roaming around in his school. If he thought he could get away with it, he would ensure they were escorted from the premises the day Hogwarts started back up. Regretfully Voldemort did not mark students; he was too smart for that, at least he thought so. Perhaps he could have them searched the night they got here? Their trunks and their forearms to check for the mark, that way he could ensure at the very least his students were safe. He never counted the little Death Eaters as his students; they weren't worth the ground they walked on. He would need to have the others agree with him, and with the war getting so bad he was sure he could convince them…they all had children, nieces, nephews and grandchildren at the school after all. So easy to manipulate, yes, perhaps that was a good solution, Albus thought stroking his beard as he waited on the food coming up from the kitchen.

"Good morning, Albus," greeted Minerva, entering through the main doors, swiftly walking towards the teachers' table and the Headmaster.

"Good morning, Minerva," Albus replied, smiling briefly at his Deputy Headmistress.

"Has the Order meeting been re-scheduled?" asked Minerva, claiming her seat; as soon as she did so the food appeared ― very good timing. Automatically she began plating food to eat as she awaited Dumbledore's reply.

"No, I'm afraid not," said Albus, unable to think of an excuse, and decided against giving one. He had Obliviated Molly and Arthur of what happened between him and Sirius Black yesterday. He didn't want anyone knowing he had been the one to reveal Sirius Black to the Aurors, and as loyal as they were, they could have easily joined the dots. He had made sure it had been an 'anonymous call', nothing that could be traced back to him, not even the Floo call. After all, it would be odd that he called it in instead of fighting, he was Albus Dumbledore after all. He wouldn't need an excuse soon, it would no doubt be in this morning paper that Sirius Black (Azkaban escapee) was finally brought to justice and had the Dementor's Kiss performed on him when he tried to escape.

It meant fewer excuses, but it didn't help with the fact he now needed somewhere else to meet. The Burrow was too well known, so that was definitely out of the question. He couldn't think of anywhere big enough to hold the meetings, unless…he got the Ministry to agree that he be the Potter estate keeper (Power of attorney). If he could swing it as a way of trying to draw Harry out into the open if he was somewhere…or if he was living in one of his properties, unaware of what was happening, he would be able to get to the properties and see for himself. Of course they would agree, they needed their hero, and he needed someplace to have the meetings, although if it did help him find Potter then all the better. Using the boy's own money to try and find him…it was an amusing thought. He didn't think for a second the boy was in any of those properties, he didn't know about his money, he had made sure of it. Even if he had discovered it somehow later in life, he would have had his parents' wills read, and he was so sure he was in them... and he hadn't been called to attend a will reading. Usually one required proof of mental instability to acquire control over an heir's vaults after they turned seventeen, but considering the boy was missing…there was no one to argue otherwise.

"Albus, are you alright?" enquired Minerva, noticing that he wasn't eating and had been quiet for the past five minutes.

"I'm fine," beamed Dumbledore, quickly grabbing food to eat―he had plans to enact, after all. "Thank you, Minerva," he added, grateful for her concern.

"No problem," she replied, taking a sip of coffee, which was still very hot.

"Where is Irma?" asked Albus, noticing she wasn't there.

"Probably in the library, new books came today, if I remember our conversation last week properly," said Minerva, after swallowing the piece of toast. It was rather cold in here, removing her wand she rapped her cloak and wrapped it around herself. The wand went back into its original position, as she began to immediately warm up.

"Ah, that explains it," said Albus amused. Irma and her books, nothing got as much attention as the books she had in her care. She'd given him some grief over the years, but he couldn't sack her without proper cause. He never had a good enough reason either; she was a hard working employee. He also didn't want to have to hunt for a new librarian, especially with having to hunt down a new Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher each year. The school was about to start up again soon, so he now had two teachers to find, a Potions professor and a Defence Professor. As if looking for Harry and keeping control of the Order wasn't enough work for him to do, and he couldn't burden Minerva with it, not only did she have her own duties, he preferred to be the one to employ someone... the worse they were, the better in his opinion. Well, for Defence anyway, he couldn't do that for Potions ― not without causing the deaths of his students ― not something he wanted for future and potential Order members.

"Yes, it does." said Minerva just as amused as Albus.

Instead of the normal flock of owls that usually came in the morning, only two entered through the space in the roof, flapping their wings as they got to their intended person.

"Ah, the papers, I wonder what awaits us today," said Albus, his blue eyes twinkling wickedly. He removed the paper from the owl, putting the coins in the pouch on its leg, then watching it fly off having done its duty. It was a simple barn owl, simple maybe, but they were fast, and they lived a long time; it was the most popular owl to chose from. Unrolling the paper, he eyed the front, ready to put on the performance of a lifetime only to stutter in shock.

"Oh no! Albus, what do we do?" asked Minerva, wide eyed and terrified.

SIRIUS BLACK SIGHTED IN LONDON -

ESCAPED AURORS WITH KNOWN WEREWOLF REMUS LUPIN'S AID

"Albus, what do we do?" repeated Minerva, wringing her hands in worry for her two favourite Gryffindors.

"There is nothing we can do," said Albus, a confused frown marring his features. The Aurors had gone alone? Why hadn't they taken the Dementors with them? They were supposed to take the damn Dementors with them! He cursed under his breath violently, things were not going well at all. Now he couldn't use Grimmauld Place closing on them as an excuse, since they would expect it to still grant them access. Then another idea hit him―it was perfect. "We certainly cannot use Grimmauld Place now, not with the Ministry patrolling the area; we cannot draw unwanted attention to ourselves."

"You are right of course, I hope they got to safety," said Minerva. That was another Order member who couldn't hunt for Harry, the poor boy. She prayed to Merlin every night that the Death Eaters hadn't had a hand in it. She would prefer that Harry had left on his own accord, not wishing to remain in the Muggle world after spending a year at magical school. Yet she didn't think it was probable, someone would have seen him, and he was too famous to stay hidden for long without rumour reaching them.

"They are smart, I'm sure they will have," soothed Albus, not wanting her alarmed. He would need to dispatch both of them; he couldn't have the two of them alerting the others. He didn't want his Order members divided; no, they belonged to him, and Lupin had done the wrong thing in aiding Black's escape. The question now was where would they go? Lupin's flat? No, they were smart enough not to go there, that was the first place the Aurors would look. Unless he Obliviated Remus; he was too handy to kill, his connections to the werewolf communities…such a connection wouldn't come up again. The only other with more influence over them was Greyback. Would it work on the werewolf? If it didn't, then he wouldn't have much of a choice.

"Yes, they are," said Minerva in agreement, calming down. She hoped they got in touch, even just a little letter to let her know they had gotten away unscathed.

"I have business at the Ministry today; will you be alright to oversee the school?" Albus requested making it sound like a question rather than the hidden demand it was.

"Of course," agreed Minerva immediately. They couldn't leave the school undefended, especially with Voldemort out there. No, there always needed to be one person in the school to call for aid if anything happened.

"Good," said Albus, finishing his breakfast before standing up. To the Ministry he would go, to put forth a claim on the Potter estate to obtain power of attorney, and then he would need to look for Black and Lupin. If he had time he would go to Gringotts and enquire about properties big enough to hold order meetings in, just in case he wasn't successful in gaining control of the Potter accounts. It was a slim hope, but he had to try, at the very least. "I shall see you later," he added as he stalked towards the doors.

Harry & Severus - Potter Library - Potter Manor - England

"Have you heard back from Rick?" asked Severus, entering the library where Harry spent a great deal of his time. Lupin and Black were at the warehouse, being introduced to everyone else. The look that had appeared on Black's face when he learned Harry had spelled him so he could never reveal his plans had been comical. It was obvious to him that Black genuinely thought Harry did trust him, so part of Black was still stupid even if he had grown a backbone and a brain since.

"No, they won't return until they've completed their mission," Harry told him from where he was buried in a book.

"Will they find food alright?" Severus wondered, concerned.

"They will, they know better than to neglect themselves," Harry said waving away his concern.

"Are we still going to Gringotts?" Severus asked as he took a seat, right across from Harry, reading the title of the book that had Harry so enthralled.

"We are," assured Harry firmly.

"Dumbledore will be looking for them," warned Severus, cautiously.

"No doubt," snorted Harry, "I would be too, if they knew too much and could spill the beans so to speak. I removed the tracking charms on them, they won't be found unless he gets tipped off that they are here... which is doubtful."

"You are so sure you cannot be betrayed," admired Severus, "Does everyone have the same spell on them?"

"They do, and they agreed to have it put on willingly, so they knew they couldn't betray me and that I would know they never would," confessed Harry wryly. Putting the book down, he faced Severus, wondering what had made him so…talkative. "You want something…talk," he added grimly.

"I want the potion," confessed Severus, as tired as he felt emotionally he didn't want to die in agony as he was poisoned. Part of it was also his Slytherin self-preservation, and to give a middle finger to Voldemort.

"Alright, I assume you want to make it yourself?" Harry said knowingly.

Severus nodded curtly.

"Thought as much, now brew enough so that it lasts a fortnight, and that you successfully de-age to a time before the mark was put on. Once you've calculated how much you need, it should be fairly simple; the vials will need to be large, I'll need to add my blood to it and mix them thoroughly once it's been standing for fifteen minutes, then it will be ready for consumption. I will need to drink from you before the blood is added, and only then will you drink it. You should prepare yourself for bed rest for the entire fortnight; you won't be able to move without bowing over in agony," Harry instructed. "So make sure you have things to pass the time surrounding you."

"You make it sound like you've gone through it," said Severus; it wasn't just a third person's view of what happens, he was sure of it.

"I did," said Harry, "My creator, my sire, my father wouldn't have turned me any other way; who would want to be stuck as an adolescent twelve-year-old for life? No, the only difference is I took an aging potion, and after everything I went through at the Dursleys'…even that didn't prepare me for the agony of having your muscles stretching so fast repeatedly for two weeks," he stated grimly.

"You looked seventeen at the age of twelve? That must have been rather confusing," said Severus, quite shocked.

"Not at all; I liked it and the independence that came with it," said Harry. "I never felt like a child, I was never allowed to be one."

Severus nodded grimly, getting it without Harry needing to say anything about his life at the Dursleys'. "I'll brew the potions upon our return."

"Let me see your arm before we leave," demanded Harry, "No arguments."

Severus bit his tongue savagely, as he bared his forearm. Soon, soon it would be gone, and he wouldn't need to rely on anyone for anything, especially not to save his bloody life because he was being poisoned.

Harry looked it over, his cool fingers gliding along the flesh, enjoying the response he garnered in turn. Soon, he would claim what was his, would have his match by his side, ruling with him. He couldn't have chosen better; he was fierce, loyal and he would look after the others. Dumbledore's loss was truly his gain. He just had to make Severus see there was nothing wrong with submitting to another, submitting to him and allowing him to take care of him. If not, well, it would be tricky, but he would do whatever was necessary in the end.

"It's fine, we can go," Harry said eventually, letting go of the arm, wishing it was something much more intimate he was stroking. There would be time for that, the next two weeks would give him ample time for Severus to understand that submitting didn't need to be a fight. He would need to get everything done now, and clear his calendar for the next fortnight; he wasn't leaving Severus alone to go through the change. Kai hadn't left him alone, so he would never leave Severus alone.

There we go edited :) thanks Jordre