Quirriell

Severus was still staring at his student.

"Explain that in more detail."

Harry shifted nervously on his bed. He wasn't feeling well at all right now, but he had promised his teacher he'd tell him.

"I don't really know where to start. It's best if I just open the door straight away.

You still remember Quirrell?"

A snort had to suffice as an answer for the boy.

"Um, well, yes. No matter what you're about to hear, please don't interrupt me or I'll lose the thread completely."

At the pleading look, the man nodded.

"Well, you know, Professor Quirrell was a clever man. I received a letter from Gringotts shortly after his death. It said that I was Quirrell's heir. He explained this in more detail in an enclosed letter. The professor said that whoever freed him from his existence as a possessed man would inherit everything from him."

Severus was about to say something but was interrupted by his student.

"Please Professor, I'll explain in a moment.

The letter said that Quirrell had done everything possible to prevent his body from being taken over. When he realized that he wouldn't have enough strength, he put all his research in a safe place and wrote his will. The man knew that he would die, he was literally eaten up by the alien spirit. When Voldemort described himself as a parasite, he wasn't lying.

Shortly after the letter, everything the professor had in his private rooms appeared in my room."

Harry interrupted himself because he had to stop Beast from nibbling on the bedding.

Severus was more than astonished at what he had heard. He had never expected Quinius to be so far-sighted. Apparently he had underestimated the man.

"I assume the book you're holding is from him?"

Harry looked down at his lap and nodded.

"Yes, and here's where it gets interesting for you. This book is all about black magic. Quirrell was a really brilliant researcher. Incidentally, his aim was also to reunite the two branches of magic."

"And what does it say?"

The boy had to suppress a laugh. His teacher was just as curious as he was.

"Like I said before, not all unforgivables are black magic. The Crucio is a white magic spell and the fact that you, as an expert in the field of dark magic, didn't know that proves to me that you've never used the spell."

"Of course not, I've never used any of the three spells but I would never have thought that that spell, of all things, was white magic."

"Why is that? White and black are just words, it has nothing to do with one magic being evil and the other not, we've already clarified that.

It's much more the case that white magic is based on physical strength and black magic on mental strength. That's why many white magicians are very muscular, while black magicians are rather thin."

Severus looked at the boy, annoyed.

"Would you please stop lecturing me about things I already know."

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to lecture you, but Blacky. He doesn't seem to have known yet.

All right, the reason why black magic was banned is much simpler than everyone thinks. It has to do with the persecution of witches in the Middle Ages. Back then, many wizards had a bad attitude towards Muggles. They didn't really have anything to fear, but it was annoying. After all, they had to hide. This caused resentment and after a while there were more and more attacks on Muggles who burned supposed witches. Priests were particularly affected.

The Ministry wanted to prevent further clashes, so they created an enemy that hadn't existed before."

Both Severus and Blacky's lights lit up.

"So they simply banned some of the magic to prevent attacks on Muggles?"

"Exactly."

"But why black magic? Is that also in the book?"

"However. The people in power at the time were all white magic. That applied to a large part of the population. Mainly because people didn't have as many comforts back then as they do today. If you had a strong body, you had a better chance of survival. Above all, you were better protected against disease. So you simply made a minority out to be evil and then the Muggles were no longer an issue. A very popular concept, not only among wizards.

Over time, the actual reason for this measure was forgotten and it was considered to have always been true. This led to the development of black magic families and since they thought black magic was evil, they simply labeled any spell that caused bad things as black. The Ministry didn't really want to set the record straight, otherwise they would have had to admit they had made a mistake."

Severus scratched his head - that was pretty hair-raising news. Blacky also seemed thoughtful.

"Mr. Potter, may I borrow the book?"

"Of course."

"Did you get any more from Quirrell?"

"Yes, everything he had at school I have downsized in my suitcase. Except for the clothes, I threw those away. You just couldn't get the smell of garlic out and then there was a key for a dungeon. But I haven't had time to look at it yet."

Severus nodded, glancing down at the book. There was the letter his student had mentioned.

When he read it, the man had to swallow. Quirinus had really done everything he could to kick out his unwelcomed guest. It must have been terrible to know that only death could set you free.

"Mr. Potter, we should go back to the bank as soon as possible. I'd love to know what else the man left you."

Harry smiled.

"With pleasure. Tell Professor, the principal has forbidden you to deal with black magic, but what do you think about it?"

Severus looked at his student and the dog scrutinizingly.

"Still the same as before. I want this branch to be recognized again. Especially if everything you've told me is true."

"May I help you with that?"

Severus looked at the boy again in surprise.

"Is that what you really want?"

"Of course, finally something I really want to fight for. Besides, if magic is allowed again, then the werewolves can be helped too."

"Why are you harping on about this? What

do you associate with these beings?"

"Quite simply, they can't help their behavior. I grew up in a Muggle household and was always completely irritated when my wild magic broke out. I was afraid of myself and I think that's how the werewolves feel too."

Severus swallowed hard.

"You're quite right about that. I'm sure you'll get on well with this year's DADA teacher. After all, he's a werewolf."

Harry looked at the man with wide eyes. The dog pricked up his ears too.

"Really? How did he manage that? Normally they hardly get any work."

"Ask our principal. I'm sure he'll do a good job but don't tell him I said that."

"Why not?"

"Because I went to school with him. His name is Remus Lupin, and he nearly killed me back then in his wolf form. Your father saved me."

Harry's eyes had widened at the tale.

"Is that why you don't like my father? I read somewhere that the hardest thing to forgive is owing someone your life."

Severus snorted.

"If you ask Dumbledore, that's exactly what he would tell you as the reason, but it's not true. Mr. Potter, I hate to tell you, especially after what you told me about your kinship."

At this point, Severus interrupted himself, he really didn't want to spoil the child's illusion.

"What Professor? If my father has done something that justifies your hatred of him, then please tell me."

The man took a deep breath.

"Well, your father was about as bad as your cousin as a teenager. He and his friends often bullied others. Especially the Slytherins and especially me. I don't know why I was their favorite victim. It only stopped when we were in sixth year."

Harry slumped his shoulders in resignation.

"Great, my dad was a bully. What did my mother say about that?"

"She was always shouting at him, like I said she had a temper. Lily didn't go out with him until the seventh year. By then he had improved."

"But you still don't like him?"

"If I stripped you down to your underwear and left you hanging upside down in the air in front of the whole school, would you like me?"

"HE DID THAT?"

"Well, your father was about as bad as your cousin when he was a teenager. He and his friends often bullied others. Especially the Slytherins. And especially me. I don't know why I was their favorite victim. It only stopped when we were in sixth form."

Harry slumped his shoulders in resignation.

"Great, my dad was a bully. What did my mother say about it?"

"She was always shouting at him, like I said, she had a temper. Lily didn't go out with him until seventh grade. He'd improved by then."

"But you still don't like him?"

"If I stripped you down to your underwear and left you hanging upside down in the air in front of the whole school, would you like me?"

"HE DID THAT?"

That didn't help in the slightest. On the contrary, the magic got wilder and wilder. Hedwig had already taken flight. She was sitting on a outhouse.

If Severus didn't think of something soon, the Leaky Cauldron wouldn't be around for much longer.

Blacky tried to approach the boy but it didn't work.

When Severus couldn't think of anything else, he fought his way through the whirlwind of magic to the child and took him in his arms.

"Relax Harry, it's alright. I'm alright. Look at me."

The use of his first name seemed to work. Slowly, the magic subsided.

Slender hands wrapped around Severus and held onto him tightly. The teacher tightened his embrace.

"That's good. Now look at me."

The boy looked up hesitantly.

"See, there you go."

Harry didn't say anything for a while. He just looked up at his teacher.

"Professor, I'm not like that."

"I know."

Slowly, Harry detached himself from the man again. He took a step back and tilted his head.

"Professor, have you changed your hairstyle?"

Severus didn't even need to look in the mirror, he knew what he looked like. Probably just like his student and the dog.

"Why don't you look at your human dog?"

Harry did as instructed. Blacky's fur was sticking out in all directions, his tail was also puffed out like a squirrel's tail.

"Um."

"One thing's for sure, hairdressing is out of the question for you. You have absolutely no talent for that."

"I assume that was my wild magic?"

"Right, we really need to practice that."

Harry looked at his teacher for a while before a cheeky grin crept onto his face. Then he looked down a little.

"I hope Harre's the only thing you've got going on at the moment."

As soon as he had said that, he jumped behind the bed to safety.

Severus stared after the fleeing student. He hadn't really said that, had he? But the way the little boy was hiding behind the bed, he certainly had.

Now Severus was grinning too. You could play this game with two people.

"Why do you ask? Do you want to look?"

Harry's head popped out from behind the bed and he stared at his teacher in amazement.

Then he burst out laughing and fell backwards.

Blacky had sat down next to the boy and watched as he rolled on the floor laughing.

"Professor, that was great."

While Harry was still laughing, Severus fixed his hair.

He then went over to his student and the dog and stroked the four-legged friend's fur.

"Are you responsive again now?"

Harry struggled to get up.

"Yes, everything's fine again."

"Good, then tidy up here. I'll go down to Tom

and tell him everything's all right. Don't let him call the Aurors."

While he was saying that, he also tried to fix Harry's hair.

"It's like tilting at windmills."

Harry grinned. Otherwise, he didn't move. He was enjoying the attention far too much. He was so rarely touched in a friendly way. Usually only Hermione did that and she always almost squeezed the air out of him.

"I'm giving up.

Tomorrow we'll go to the bank and see what else Quirrell left you."

The visit to the bank had taken longer than expected. Not because there were problems with the inheritance, but because there was so much.

The former professor had amassed a great deal of wealth in all his years of traveling. There was also real estate. Plus gold and jewels and a whole dungeon full of books.

It took them a few hours to fight their way through this damned library. Severus and Harry decided to take only the books on black magic for the moment.

Afterwards, Harry wanted to know from the goblin whether he could have his family ring and Severus almost became abusive. The clerk said that Dumbledore would have the ring. As he was the boy's guardian, he had the right to keep watch over the ring and the family register.

The fact that the old man hadn't seen fit to give both to the boy when he was thirteen didn't exactly speak to well for him.

Severus was still in a bad mood when they arrived back in Harry's room. This time, no one had dared to speak to them. That was probably due to the basilisk look the teacher was walking around with.

"Just as well the old man can't see into your book. You can only do that if you wear the ring or pay a blood toll and neither is possible for Dumbledore."

"The book you gave me said that the family books contain the family's secrets."

"That's right. That's why they're secured."

"And I have no way of getting to them?"

Severus shook his head.

"Not until you turn seventeen or you get another guardian."

"And how do I get another guardian?"

"You can't, your godfather is on the run."

"My godfather?"

Severus looked at the little boy dumbfounded.

"He didn't even tell you about it? Sirius Black is your godfather."

"WHAT? But, he betrayed my parents to Voldemort. At least that's what the papers said and he's said to have killed twelve Muggles and another wizard."

Severus sat down next to the boy. He didn't really want to tell him, but the child had a right to the truth and the whole thing, not just morsels.

Blacky had laid his massive head on Harry's lap and was whimpering heartbreakingly.

"Harry, I've already told you a lot about his father and his friends. Sirius Black was one of them. There was also Remus Lupin and Peter Pettigrew. The four of them called themselves the marauders and yes, they lived up to that name.

The reason I was almost killed by Lupin was Black. He lured me into a trap, after all, all three of them knew that Lupin was a werewolf."

"What, but that was attempted murder. His friend would have become a murderer without meaning to. Why did he do that? And why did my father give my godparenthood to someone like that?"

"I thought for a long time that Black was just evil. After all, he comes from a black magic family.

I only started to think about it when he was shipped off to Azkaban for betraying your parents and the marauders.

You know, no matter what I personally thought of the man, he was an absolutely loyal friend. He would never have betrayed your parents and certainly not to the Lord, he hated Death Eaters with a passion."

"But if it wasn't him, then who was it? And why are you so sure about that? He could have acted out of fear."

Severus looked thoughtfully at his student. He stroked Blacky's fur a few more times, who listened attentively, before continuing.

"That exactly is impossible. How can I best explain this?

Narcissa came to me shortly after her wedding and asked me for a potion that would make her afraid."

"Why is that? And what does that have to do with Black?"

"Please let me finish. You can ask questions afterwards.

I gave her the potion. Especially because there was still a war on at the time. If I hadn't, I would have had to expect my cover to be blown.

After the war, she came to me and complained that her son was always afraid and that it was my fault, I had brewed a potion that was too strong. When I asked her questions, it turned out that she had drank my brew when she was pregnant.

Don't look so aghast, I'll explain.

I looked just like you did back then. Narcissa then told me a family secret. The members of the Black family can't feel fear. It's not possible for them. That's what gave rise to the rumor of Black madness.

Fear is essential for survival, if you don't have it, you put yourself in the worst dangers without recognizing them.

Narcissa wanted to use the potion to prevent her child from suffering the same fate.

However, as Draco also has the genes from another family, they prevailed. Besides, the potion is not intended for fetuses and you know the result. Draco is a coward in the book."

Harry had listened intently to the explanation.

"So that means Sirius Black did a lot of nonsense in his school days because he wasn't afraid. and that's why you're sure he wasn't working with Voldemort."

"Indeed he did. Like I said, I couldn't stand the guy but when I started investigating, a very clear picture emerged. There's no way Sirius Black betrayed your parents. He was also the first one on the scene and pulled you out of the rubble."

"If he really was a Death Eater, he could have killed me and no one would have noticed. All he would have had to do was drop me on the floor. As an explanation, he could have said my mother fell on top of me."

"That's exactly right. That's what I think too, but no one would ever listen to me, after all, I'm only free myself because of Dumbledore."

"If you call it free. But if Sirius Black didn't betray my parents, who did?"

Severus shrugged his shoulders.

Suddenly, Blacky started to go crazy. He started to whimper and finally threw himself on the floor in front of Severus.

"What's wrong with the little one?"

Severus rolled his eyes. Little one, my ass.

"I've agreed with him that he'll do exactly that when he wants to change back into a human. Seems like it's time now. Well then, let's see who's behind the fur."

Harry looked curiously at the dog. He was interested in that too.

Severus drew the wand and spoke the spell that allowed Blacky to change back into his human form.

For the next minute, Severus and Harry stared speechlessly at this human.