A week later the Daily Prophet announced that the LeStrange's had died in Azkaban.
That night, Professor Dumbledore nodded to Harry over dessert. Harry took Hermione and Ron and went up to the Headmasters office and the Gargoyle nodded and jumped to one side.
Harry stepped onto the stairs, and they carried them up to the door, where he walked in.
Professor Dumbledore's smile faltered "Ah, Miss Granger and Mr Weasley." he said.
"It saves me having to tell them, as I'm going to tell them everything anyway" said Harry.
Professor Dumbledore took a breath, exhaled and started talking.
"Well, Sirius went to Gringotts, with some help from a certain ex-defence teacher, got a cup and used that handy fang. I have to say, I was very saddened, as it really was Helga Hufflepuffs cup, and now its… just so much junk. Perhaps the Smiths' will be able to use it as a pattern to get a replica made."
"The Smiths" asked Hermione.
"Oh Hepzibah Smith was the last known owner of the cup, till she was murdered by her house elf. In hindsight, it looks more like more of Tom Riddle's work" said Professor Dumbledore.
"Smiths, as in Ernie Smith?" asked Ron "He's… a descendant of Helga Hufflepuff?"
"I believe he is, yes" said Professor Dumbledore. "The other items, we have already removed. We will need to make an appointment with the Department of Mysteries. The Unspeakables that work there may know something about possible treatments for Harry's… issue" said Professor Dumbledore.
"How do we know he really has … that problem?" asked Hermione.
"Ah" said Professor Dumbledore "I assumed he'd transferred some of his powers when he gave you his scar. Odd things happen in magical backlashes."
"You knew?" asked Harry.
"I suspected" said Professor Dumbledore "Your letter has enormously simplified matters."
"Well, Tuesday I just have Transfiguration and History of magic" said Harry. "Or Thursday, Defence and Transfiguration. The rest of the week is pretty full."
Professor Dumbledore nodded woodenly "I'll make the necessary enquiries" he said.
"Any progress in getting Sirius Black a trial?" asked Hermione "He's been very helpful. Pivotal, in fact."
Professor Dumbledore nodded slowly "Quite. Sadly, there is a lot of resistance in the wizengamot."
"Well, once I'm fixed up, Uncle Tom will, apparently… be mortal. And we've got his address." said Harry.
"We've got his postal code" said Hermione "We could send him a get sick soon card." she joked.
"Or a bomb" suggested Ron.
"Ron" said Harry, "If he's my uncle… his house will be mine when he dies. I'd like a house. Future me looked awfully sure of the address. I bet he lives there."
"Not with Sirius?" asked Hermione.
Harry nodded "If I'm married in the future, I'd want my own house. That stands to reason. And Grimmauld place is a dump." With a drunk in it went unsaid.
Professor Dumbledore smiled, but not very convincingly. "I'll send you a note when I have an arrangement for you" he said, looking like he'd just eaten a dogfood flavoured Berties Bott's every flavour bean.
Over the next three weeks, Harry complained to Hermione and Ron about Headmasters who took ages to organise things, and was the subject of good-natured ribbing from Ron about asking Daphne Greengrass out. Greengrass had taken to watching Harry across the great hall, not in a particularly friendly way.
She had also elbowed him on the way to the potions stores cupboard, quite painfully.
"Watch it Greengrass" snapped Harry.
"Oh shut up Potter." she said grumpily.
"Potter-Black" said Harry, in as pompous a tone as he could, and Draco Malfoy, who had pushed in front, swung around, holding a jar of rat livers "You, you're a Black now?" he said "You can't be."
"Sirius Black did it" said Harry "Wants me to die from disgust at being related to you, apparently. Oh, and I'm named the heir of Black to, so shove that where the sun doesn't shine, Malfoy."
Draco broke an entire jar of rat livers over Harry at that point.
Snape decided that even though Harry was covered in rat livers, and Draco had started it, that Harry was due some detentions.
"Unfair asshole" muttered Harry, for Ron's benefit, as they tried to make hair-raising potion. What the damn potion was even for, Harry had no idea.
Snape's detention was of course, scrubbing out used cauldrons, while being abused.
Harry finally lost it.
"Look" snapped Harry "I get it, I look like James Potter, and he hated you, and you hated him. I'm not James Potter. I might be his son, but he died when I was one, because of some stupid prophecy, that he-who-shall-not-be-named believed in. I have no memory of him, and the only one I have of my mother is her screaming when she died" Harry turned to glare at Snape, who was looking at Harry oddly. Wide-eyed, and paler than usual. Harry felt a faint scratching behind his eyeballs. His mind started to wander. Harry blinked, and the weird feeling stopped, and he turned back to his crappy detention.
"Potter" said Snape abruptly "Get out."
Harry put the brush down, and turned to look at the greasy git "What?"
"Leave. Get out of my offices" said Snape.
"Detention tomorrow?" asked Harry "It's just Professor Dumbledore's organising a thing and I dunno when that will be. I might not be able to make it."
"Get out, and do your homework. For once!" said Snape angrily.
Not one to look a gift bat in the yellow-toothed mouth, Harry left.
-==0==-
It was weeks later, and Harry had almost forgotten about it, when Harry was sent a note by owl at breakfast.
"Headmasters office, nine am sharp. You are excused classes A.P.W.B.D."
"Oh it's today" Harry said to Hermione "My interview."
Hermione nodded distractedly, eating toast with one hand and turning pages with the other.
Harry went off, hoping it was over before lunch. He had free periods till then anyway.
Professor Dumbledore took Harry by floo to the ministry, which was, as Harry remembered, grand and also… had the impression of being an anthill, powered by flying memos.
All the way down in the lift, to the night floor then down a long dark tiled corridor, to a black door, where a wizard in a grey robe sat on a small stool. He was dark haired, but round, like a button made from a beetle.
"Albus" they said.
"Algernon" said Professor Dumbledore.
"This is Harry, who as we discussed, has the issue" said Professor Dumbledore.
Algernon took Harry through the door, leaving Professor Dumbledore behind, and across a round room to a door on the far side, down a black tiled corridor, to a door, then through it, into a black tiled corridor, then down that, and into an anonymous door labelled simply 'Croaker'
The room was an office, Harry thought, like Professor Dumbledore's but, square, with walls covered in boring brown paint. A high-backed wooden chair with straps had a large crystal mounted over it on a multi-jointed metal arm. It looked like something from a Frankenstein movie, thought Harry.
"Just sit in the chair, Mr Potter" said Algernon mildly "The straps, before you ask, are in case you become faint, or struggle. Precise alignment of the crystal with the…. Cursed scar is required."
Harry sat down and was strapped in. "This is going to be a test. We'll measure what's in the scar, and from there, we'll look at how to remove it."
"Did Professor Dumbledore not tell you?" asked Harry sitting down.
"Well" said Algernon "Albus can be a bit dramatic sometimes, and at others, rather economical with information. I feel safer checking for myself."
Algernon lowered the crystal on the jointed metal arm, and set it to just touch Harry's scar.
Then Algernon tapped it with his wand, and it throbbed in rainbow colours, finally settling on a familiar black smokiness.
"Same stuff came out of the locket" said Harry, surely, eyes nearly crossed looking at it so close to his forehead.
"Well" said Algernon "That's very unusual."
"Good thing this is the department of Mysteries "said Harry, and smiled. Algernon didn't laugh.
"I'll get someone who can treat this" said Algernon "Don't go anywhere" he added, and left Harry strapped down.
Ages later, a tall, thin, red-haired wizard with a large moustache came in, pushing a trolley of potions vials.
Algernon followed "So we need the vessel to be destroyed, without permanently killing Mr Potter here." he said.
"Permanently killing?" asked Harry loudly "I don't want to die!" HE tried to move and realised his was utterly at their mercy. 'Oh bugger,' he thought to himself.
"Well, you are anchoring him to life, so… really it's for the best" said Algernon.
"I'm only fifteen" said Harry loudly "I haven't even snogged a girl yet!"
"Well, we will endeavour to only kill you temporarily" said Algernon "Cavill here is the department's expert on temporary death."
"Just a few seconds" said Cavill, smiling and exposing long, yellowing teeth "Then, before your soul's had time to wander off, a quick shock to restart your heart, and you'll be right as rain."
"Right as rain?" asked Harry.
"There may be some slight memory loss" admitted Cavill. With that, he cast a spell and the chair changed into a bed. One, Harry noticed he was still strapped to. Cavill cast a diagnostic charm of some sort "Nine stone four" he said, and did some calculations on parchment "Don't want too big a dose, or too small" said Cavill, and measured blackish potion from a jar marked with skull and crossbones, into a small measuring cup. "That'll do it" he said, and held the tapering cup to Harry's lips "Get it down, and you'll be right as rain, probably."
"Probably?" asked Harry, his shirt getting wet with sweat, as he struggled against the straps.
"Well, one in eighteen dies" admitted Cavill.
"How many times have you done this?" asked Harry.
"Eighteen" said Cavill, and tipped the cup into Harry's open mouth before he could protest.
-==0==-
Harry woke up on an… infirmary bed at Hogwarts. Madam Pomfrey was wringing her hands, and much nearer, Professor Dumbledore stood, holding a small black rock in his hand. Harry inhaled, a ragged gasp and the Headmaster closed his hand on the stone.
"Ah Harry" said the Headmaster with forced joviality "You gave us quite a scare there."
"What happened?" Harry asked, feeling… like he'd gotten pins and needles everywhere. His arms and legs felt… floppy and clammy.
"You had a reaction to the treatment. The treatment worked and … Uncle Tom won't be bothering anyone again" said Professor Dumbledore, and the ends of his mouth went up, like he was trying to smile. But couldn't.
"Professor" said Harry "They said they were going to kill me temporarily."
"Well… a little longer than a few seconds, but you're good as new now" said Professor Dumbledore.
"You will have to stay in bed till morning, Mr Potter" said Madam Pomfrey.
"Which means you will miss Defence." said Professor Dumbledore "I will give you an excuse slip to give to Dolores."
-==0==-
Madam Pomfrey did allow Harry to go to breakfast, where the ghastly sight of a smiling Professor Snape lay in wait at the high table.
Harry's breakfast for some reason, tasted like wet cardboard.
"It's not natural" hissed Ron. "He's smiling. He must be up to something really awful."
Then the Daily Prophet arrived, and apparently some prominent citizens had been photographed fleeing the country by international portkey, carrying shrunken trunks of treasure.
Mr Malfoy, for one, and in a different photograph, a Mr Rowle.
Draco Malfoy evidently didn't like that, as he got up from the Slytherin table and came over to see Harry Potter.
"What did you do, Potter?" asked Malfoy loudly.
"What I always do" said Harry tiredly "Defeated Voldemort, Permanently this time. I didn't make your father flee the country. After all, he was imperioused in the first war, wasn't he?" asked Harry.
Malfoy went still, veins on his forehead visibly pulsing. "You will die for this, Potter. People won't stand for it."
"Way ahead of you" said Harry blandly "I've got a note from the Headmaster and all."
Harry took out the parchment he'd left the infirmary with.
'Due to being temporarily deceased, Harry Potter missed classes on Thursday APWBD.' Malfoy looked utterly confused. Harry could just barely manage a grin at that.
Harry finished some toast and tea, and the tea just tasted like warm water.
-==0==-