Inside the cauldron the potion simmered slowly, like some kind of sluggish black tar. At one time the pot had been made of bleached white bone, but it was now blackened entirely from its use. Finally, the liquid had reached the desired rolling boil, thinning to the consistency of gruel and the man standing over it smiled. Carefully scrapping a diamond bladed knife across the surface of a large bone that had been resting beside the cauldron, he sent chips scattering across the table. They were swept into a wrinkled hand and deposited into the mixture. Albus stirred the resulting potion smoothly with a crystal rod, carefully observing the rising steam as it swirled and eddied. It took thirty minutes for the mixture to completely cool before the headmaster could scoop the small amount of residual fluid out of the cauldron and pour it over a carefully prepared piece of parchment.
Fine lines of silver spread out from the centre of the parchment, a strange mixture of symbols and runes emerging to cover the entire page. With a frown the man, lifted another piece of parchment from the desk and placed it beside the first. Cross comparison revealed their similarities. Laying one sheet over the other and holding them above a lit candle confirmed that they matched exactly. Magic, he had extracted from the bone he had retrieved from the dungeon at Nurmengard matched that on record for Percival Graves. Therefore, it was an easy conclusion that they were the man's remains. Though of course it was possible that Percival Graves could have killed the person in the cell in some way that had infused the skeleton with his magic, it seemed unlikely. The man having disappeared long before the construction of the edifice had been complete. The killing curse was one of the only spells known to confer a magical signature, that was the reason he had not taken any of Lily and James' blood from their rapidly cooling bodies (it was fortunate that he had already obtained some before they went into hiding) that Halloween night but he had harvested Harry's. Whatever spell Lily had used to stop Voldemort, Albus in no way believed that it was something the boy had done, had apparently protected Harry from the same contamination.
With the first step complete Albus just needed to obtain a sample of Percival, the younger's, magic so that it could be compared to the others. The spell for obtaining a sample of magic from a live wizard was simple enough, any medi-witch could do it. Albus was struck by the thought that perhaps Poppy would have a copy of the boy's magical signature already, the boy had spent some time in her infirmary after all, and she had been unsure of what had been wrong with him, so it was conceivable that she had conducted the spell. A slight smile on his face he waved his wand to preserve his results and sent the cauldron to his favoured elf for cleaning and hurried to the hospital wing.
Being summer holidays, Poppy was on her annual vacation and not currently residing in the castle, so Albus felt quite safe in sneaking into her domain. The doors swung open easily before his raised hand but as he stepped across the threshold he was stopped by a curious ward. It was quite unlike anything he had observed before. A springy opaque surface that looked like the surface of a bubble, all swirling fingerprints of technicolour. Albus Dumbledore prodded it with his wand. It gave and then sprang back with a snap.
"Bombarda," he said more curious to see the affect than anything else as he could not determine what the ward was designed to do apart from keep people from the hospital wing, though it clearly did something. To his surprise the spell was simply absorbed into the surface causing a red patch of colour that soon disappeared into a technicolour swirl. With a frown he raised his wand again saying more forcefully, "Bombarda Maxima." This time it took a full minute for the large red patch to dissipate, strangely the surface of the ward appeared thicker than before. "BOMBARDA MAXIMA!"
The next thing Albus knew he was sitting on his rump in the dirt by the front gates of Hogwarts. He stood and dusted himself off. Glaring up at the castle he could just see in the distance. With an angry limp he took off up the path. He would be having words with Poppy when she returned. In the meantime, perhaps a trip to … Argh, his anger grew. Was nothing easy anymore?! There was only so much insolence that he would tolerate, and that limit had been exceeded. At least in his own castle his will should be law, that was sacrosanct! First, he would have to find a way to obtain something of Percival Graves' … no, he took a deep calming breath and considered his the matter. First, he was going to pull out the tome he had taken from the Flamel's and make the potion ready to use on Harry Potter. After all he still needed to convince Slughorn to return to the school. Having Harry assist in the endeavour would be an ideal way to test that the potion was working and perhaps provide an opportunity to sample Graves' magic. The plan allowed some of the man's rage to abate and he hastened up the path to return to his office.
-o0o-
Down in the dungeons, another man was also busy with his potions. The dour, dark-haired man was unaware of the staffing changes afoot which would mean he had to abandon his passion for a task that was unwanted and unasked for, regardless of the content of the rumours that the students spread. For now, he was busy looking at the swirling liquid inside a glass phial.
"What in the Gods name are you trying to do Albus Dumbledore?" he huffed.
In preparation for Harry's coming Occlumency lessons, the Pensieve sat on his desk. With a practiced hand he uncorked the phial and tipped the silvery contents into its depths. Instead of being pure silver, the threads were contaminated with lines of black. Using his wand, he gently prodded one of the strands. With a hiss vapour rose from the surface of the liquid. Memories just should not do that! Severus hurried to his bookshelf in search of something which might lead him to the answer he sought. Finally, he remembered a mention of Pensieves in an old book on Legilimency. Having been banned by the Ministry, he had not bought it with him to Hogwarts, and it was still in the old house at Spinner's End. He quickly tidied away the memories before disappearing through the floo. In all honesty, Spinner's End was the very last place that Severus wanted to return to, but he would do whatever it took to protect Harry.
-o0o-
With a very faint pop, a slim hooded figure appeared out of thin air on the edge of a river. There was no other sound apart from the whisper of the black water and no sign of life apart from a scrawny fox that had slunk down the riverbank to nose hopefully at some old fish-and-chip wrappings in the tall grass. He had frozen, wary eyes fixed upon the strange figure, who having obviously taken their bearings, set off with light, quick strides, its long cloak rustling over the grass. The fox crouched, startled by the sudden movement, lowering itself almost flat in the undergrowth. It leapt from its hiding place and scurried up the bank.
"Just a fox!" the figure was shown to be a woman by the sound of her relief laced voice.
The woman gained the top of the bank, where a line of old railings separated the river from a narrow, cobbled street. She stood looking at a row of dilapidated brick houses, their windows dull and blind in the darkness. Ignoring her feelings of contempt at such a place, Narcissa, slipped through a gap in the rusty railings and hurried across the road.
Her cloak billowed behind her as she darted through an alley between the houses into a second, almost identical street. Some of the street lamps were broken; Narcissa ran through the patches of light and darkness. At last, she hurried up a street called Spinner's End, over which a towering mill chimney seemed to hover like a giant admonitory finger. Her footsteps echoed on the cobbles as she passed boarded and broken windows, until she reached the very last house, where a dim light glimmered through the curtains in a downstairs room.
She knocked on the door and stood waiting, breathing in the smell of the dirty river that was carried on the breeze. Desperately she hoped that the man she wished to see was home. After a few seconds, she heard movement behind the door, and it opened a crack. A sliver of man could be seen through the gap. A man with long black hair parted in curtains around a sallow face and black eyes.
Narcissa threw back her hood. She was so pale that she appeared luminescent in the darkness; combined with the long blonde hair streaming down her back it gave her the look of a drowned person.
"Narcissa!" hissed the man, opening the door cautiously, so that the light fell upon her. "What a … pleasant surprise." She did not see his wand drop into his hand.
"Severus," she said in a strained, desperate whisper. "May I speak to you? It's urgent."
He considered this for a moment, before reaching his decision. The shaking of her hands as they nervously smoothed the front of her dress indicated that she had not come to do the Dark Lord's bidding but on some quest of her own, "But of course."
He stood back to allow her to pass into the house, closing the door with a snap. They stepped directly into a tiny sitting room, which had the feeling of a dark padded cell. The walls were completely covered in books, most of them bound in old black or brown leather, a threadbare sofa, an old armchair and a rickety table stood grouped together in a pool of dim light cast by a candle-filled lamp hung from the ceiling. The place had an air of neglect, as though it were not usually inhabited.
Snape gestured Narcissa to the sofa, thoroughly perplexed by her presence. She did not seem to have come with the intent to harm him, the pervading emotion he could detect was fear. She threw off her cloak, cast it aside and sat down staring at her white and trembling hands clasped in her lap.
"What can I do for you?" Snape asked, settling himself in the armchair opposite.
"We…we are alone, aren't we?" Narcissa asked quietly.
"Yes of course. No other remembers this place. Indeed, I am surprised that you found it, I had not thought you would have been aware of it," Snape waved his hand casually summoning a tray from another room, not acknowledging the way that the usually poised woman stumbled over her words. When it had settled on the table, he poured two glasses of blood-red wine and handed one to Narcissa.
The blonde took several sips before saying in a rush of tumbled words, "Lucius once told me where you lived. I took a chance because I had to see you. You are the only one who might be able to help me-" She took a great, shuddering breath and started again. "I have nowhere to turn. We are nearly prisoners in our own home."
"How can that be? Is the Dark Lord not dead Narcissa?"
"No," she whispered. "Currently he is inhabiting the body of a…" She shuddered, "But he makes his will known well enough. I… I have come to bargain for my son's life."
"Draco!"
"When he was chosen to lead the mission at the ministry Lucius believed that it would raise our standing in the Dark Lord's eyes. That should he emerge successfully from the encounter he would stand next to our Lord in all things. Instead, it was an unmitigated disaster. You know as well as I that there is always a price to pay for such a failure. It might be put off for a time while the Dark Lord regains a body, but what do you think this will cost us when he returns to his full strength? The Dark Lord will not allow it to go unpunished. Lucius does not see it nor does he want to see, how the snake hovers around Draco!"
"You believe the Dark Lord will kill your son?" he asked surely, it was the only thing that explained why she had taken such a risk.
"Yes," she admitted with her head bowed. "If not outright then by assigning him some impossible task."
"I am hardly in a position to provide for the boy's safety. I will be less welcome in the Dark Lord's ranks than Lucius."
"You were there at the Ministry; it is now clear whose side you are on. Go to Dumbledore, ask him to spare my son," she begged.
"Dumbledore would turn the boy into a spy! He would be no safer than he is now," Severus said derisively. Then he stood, and moved to stare out the grimy window, "And Draco? What does he think of your plan?"
"He does not know I am here," she admitted.
"And yet you think he will agree?"
"Just protect him. Even if he does not agree surely, you can do that without his knowledge!"
"He is not always in my sight Narcissa," Severus turned back to her. "What would you offer me in return?"
Her blue eyes lifted to meet his gaze, "A life for a life. There is a boy."
"A boy?"
"In the dungeons at the manor. A boy and his mother. I do not know what they are wanted for but I… I will…"
"What Narcissa? Smuggle the boy out from under their very noses? What if you are caught? What would happen to your precious Draco then? What would happen to you?"
"I believe I can get him out …please…" she begged, sliding off the couch onto her knees. "He is my only son!"
"I cannot help someone who does not wish to be helped!" he warned.
"Please just try." her hands reached towards him imploringly.
Severus bowed his head in consideration, as if there was a chance he would turn down the offer.
"When would you be able to get the boy out? And why not the mother as well?"
"It is easier to smuggle out one. I can stun a child and carry him, her I cannot. Besides it will be easier to hide that he has gone."
"When?"
"I think … I … might be able to get him out on Friday. There is a meeting planned then. The way will be clear."
"Bring him here."
"Make a vow first, promise me you will save Draco!" she demanded.
"I promise that if you rescue the boy, I will do everything I can to save Draco as far as I am able." There was a flash of silver, sealing the vow. She knew it was the best she was going to get.
Letting a slightly less fearful Narcissa out of his house, Severus took a deep breath and rested his forehead against the wooden door, his eyes closed. It was the right decision he knew, but he could not help feeling that something was going to go wrong.
There was no point dwelling on it now. He returned to his self-appointed task, having only arrived at Spinner's End minutes before Narcissa had knocked on his door. The tome he wanted was quickly located and he found the spell he wanted. The spell was practiced until he was sure that he had it correct then he returned the book to its place with a sigh, locked up the house and apparated away.
-o0o-
Harry could not help but giggle at the expression on Percival's face as he waved his hand sending the parchment plane he had folded drifting in front of his boyfriend's vision for a third time. He was studying, really, he was, at least he was practicing his silent casting and charms. That it was getting Percival to pay him attention was an added bonus. The plane speared Percival in the nose.
"Harry," the older boy growled.
"Getting your homework out of the way boys?" Remus asked interrupting the scolding as he joined them in the parlour. Harry was sitting on the floor, books and parchment spread about him in a veritable mess, while Percival had taken residence in one of the chairs leaning his work on a small table.
"Yeah, if we get it out of the way now, we can enjoy the rest of the summer," Harry nodded trying not to laugh.
"What did it take for Percival to convince you of that?" Remus grinned, drawing a snort from the aforementioned boy.
"Not all that much," Harry said with a blush.
"Well now I really do want to know," Remus grinned. Harry ducked his head, hiding a shy smile.
"Hey Remus?" Harry looked up suddenly his head tilted slightly to the left, deciding to ask the question that had been bothering him a little.
"Yes, Harry."
"Have you seen Winky about? Just, Sirius said he was going to hire her, and I haven't seen her."
"Ahhh, well. I do know what has happened with her. He did ask her to join the family," Remus admitted, before adding mysteriously, "However, I think I will leave it to Sirius to update you on the rest."
"Why?"
"Oh, I just think it's something he wants to tell you himself. A little side project he has been working on if you will."
"I could just call her myself," Harry wheedled, intrigued now.
"You could but as she is sworn to Sirius she won't have to reply," Remus replied somewhat smugly, not realising he had given part of the answer away.
"So, how is um … Janey?" Harry asked, changing the topic seeing he was not going to get more information out of Remus.
It was another question he had been meaning to ask. He wanted to know how much longer she was going to be staying with them. It was not that he did not want the woman in the house, it was just that her presence made everything a bit awkward. Sirius was quiet and solemn when she was about, which was plain weird. Severus had not visited for any length of time, disappearing as soon as she showed her face. If it continued for too much longer, he thought he might have to beg leave to go and visit his Aunt Petunia.
"She appears fine and seems to be getting more memories back all the time. Why do you ask?"
"It's just, you know, strange with her here. I mean, she was Sirius' fiancé," Harry screwed up his face, even the thought of it felt wrong.
"Yes well, that's something for them to discuss. Now, how about you stop worrying and get back to your homework."
Harry groaned and turned back to his books. The paper plane drifted sadly to the floor.
-o0o-
"Augamenti," Sirius poured water into the kettle.
"I remember you know," a soft voice sounded behind him, causing him to turn suddenly and slop water onto the bench. He dried it with a negligent wave of his hand.
"What do you remember, Janey?" he asked turning back to the bench and picking out his favourite cup.
"I think I would prefer it if you called me Marlene," she said, moving close enough that he could feel her warmth against his back. "I remember us, Sirius. What we were to each other." As she spoke, she leaned in and rested her head against his shoulder blade, arms encircling his waist.
"Ah," he stilled.
"Yes, ah," she smiled gently. "I know it has been a while, but I…" he could feel her mouth moving against the cloth of his shirt, "I would like to see if we can't …"
"No!" Sirius said, moving out of her arms and away from her abruptly, neither noticed the sound of the floo. He had known this moment was coming, there had been vague comments hinting at the return of those particular memories, but he had hoped that she would realise on her own that everything was different now. "What I felt is long gone." He said it softly voice full of sorrow. "I thought you had died! I grieved for you! During my years in Azkaban, the dementors consumed what good memories I had left of our time together. You may be able to remember it happily, but I do not." Sadly, it was the truth, when he tried to imagine the life that they could have had, all he saw was black stone walls that felt oh so, cold.
"Sirius, they said you went mad when you thought I had died! Surely that means something," Marlene raised her hands imploringly. "Don't you think you should at least give us another try?"
"No!" it came out more harshly than he had intended.
Her face twisted in anger at the rejection, "Already moved on, have you? Like the good old days!"
"It's not like that," he did not raise his voice, instead dropping into a near whisper. "I... there has not been anyone since Azkaban, further back even, not since I thought you were gone, and I doubt that there ever will be. Harry is my focus at the moment."
"Uhuh!" she scoffed; arms folded across her chest.
"It's true. I had thought that you would realise how different I am now. There is so much darkness…"
"It was part of who I was," she snapped.
"And moving on from it will become part of who you are. I am a broken old man." His chin fell towards his chest.
"You're not broken," she said anger displaced by sadness, finally seeing the consequences the long years in Azakaban had inflicted upon him. Reaching out a hand she made to cup his cheek, but he tilted his head away. "You were always impetuous. It's not dark at all."
"I have killed Marlene! And then relieved those moments over and over again. I find that I do not regret those deaths. Can you live with someone like that? The Marlene I used to know, could not."
"I…" she hesitated. "Perhaps…"
"Try not to focus on it, Marlene. Just let it be. Concentrate on finding other memories."
"This is why you've been getting Remus to help me, isn't it?"
"I was trying to let you know without saying anything, so it didn't become awkward," he shrugged. "That and both of you need to stay hidden from Dumbledore. I don't suppose you've rem…."
"Nothing yet. A few of the fights from early in the war."
"I'm sure that you will get them back in time."
"Hmm," Marlene nodded thoughtfully and backed out of the kitchen. Sirius bent forwards and resting his elbows on the countertop, burying his face in his hands.
"So, you've no desire to return to chasing McKinnon's skirts?"
Sirius stood upright and spun so quickly that the room rushed around him in a blur. Severus was leaning against the table, watching.
"Severus!" Sirius gasped. "How long have you been standing there?"
"Long enough," came the droll reply. "You did not answer the question."
Sirius looked confused for a moment, "No. I believe what we had was wonderful at the time not that I can really recall it, but I am a different person now. Even if I thought that such an avenue was open to me, I don't think I could go back there. As it is, I have Harry to worry about now, he is far more important than any sort of relationship that might be had."
"Hmm," Severus frowned.
"Was there a reason for your visit?"
"Narcissa came to see me."
"Narcissa? My cousin? Married to that ponce of a Malfoy? That Cissa?"
"Indeed. It seems that she thinks that when Riddle returns to a body that Draco will be at risk because of Lucius' failure at the ministry. She made me promise to keep an eye on the boy."
Silver eyes, stared, "In return for what?" he asked slowly.
"The rescue of a muggle child from the manor dungeon."
"They have the missing woman and child! She would not barter for both?"
"No, she felt that she would be able to slip the child away, however an adult would be much more difficult. She will make the attempt before the weekend."
"And Draco, how will you manage that?"
"It depends on the boy himself, not to mention how Riddle intends to harm him. Obviously, I cannot make any guarantees while they share a residency."
"I will ask Kreacher to prepare a room for the boy. Unless you have somewhere for him to stay."
"No, I must return to Hogwarts. In fact, if you could advise Harry that his attendance will be required on Thursday. It would be appreciated." Sirius nodded. "Then I will take my leave."
"You know," Sirius said as Severus turned towards the floo. "You… ah, you don't have to wait to have a reason before visiting," but the Potions Master had already disappeared.
-o0o-
Forewarned by some preternatural intuition Severus stopped before he poured the contents of the phial into his Pensieve, tucking it away into a pocket in his robes just as the door to his office swung open.
"Ah, preparing for your lesson with Harry?" the headmaster asked, noticing the Penseive on the table.
"Reviewing some of my own memories," Severus lied. "I wanted to view the events at the Ministry from another angle."
"Good," the smile that bloomed on that wrinkled face was far from pleasant and showed an inordinate number of teeth. "Perhaps you will learn that your loyalties were not revealed after all."
"Hardly likely Dumbledore," Severus was inordinately proud that he refrained from snorting. "Is there something I can help you with?"
"Yes. Do you still have access to the house where Harry is staying?" The old man asked, his eyes glittering, annoyed that he could not even say the name.
"I do. Black has not seen fit to remove me from the wards as of yet, I think he hopes to convince me to hold some of the Occlumency lessons there."
"Hnn, perhaps you should indulge him," Albus hummed in pleased surprise, "How is the boy going? I was very concerned that he did not return to his aunt's."
"I do not know. Apart from one brief visit to make arrangements, I have not been there since part of the way through term. I had the boy come here for his last lesson. No need to expose myself to the dog unnecessarily."
"Perhaps you could visit, just to check that all is well. It would put an old man's mind at ease," Dumbledore suggested.
"If I must."
Severus felt a twinge of concern as the facing grin grew wider.
"I have brewed a restorative potion for Harry." A phial stoppered with an oddly coloured cork was held out. "I will need you to administer it for me. Sometime at the weekend should do."
"This weekend? Do you not think they will find it suspicious? Could it not be left until his next lesson?"
"Did I ask for your opinion? Trust that I have my reasons, dear boy." As it stood, Sirius was not going to let Albus anywhere near the boy, so he could not do it himself. Certainly, if it came out that Harry had been potioned then it was best if it occurred elsewhere and throwing the blame onto Severus, or even Sirius, was just the cherry on the cake. If accusations were made against Sirius, then that could possibly be used to wrest the boy's guardianship back from the animagus.
"If that is all Dumbledore, I have work to return to."
"You should take some time off Severus; it doesn't do to work all the time you know. I rather enjoyed my recent trip away. It was quite insightful."
"I'll take it under advisement," Severus said to the man's back as he left the room. Great now he had another headache to untangle.
A thin hand removed the phial from the internal pocket of his robes and deposited the contents into the bowl sitting on his desk. A quick cast syphoned the black threads away from the rest where it could be collected and leaving the pure memories behind. "Hmm," Severus examined the liquid he had just collected, transferring it to a clear glass cauldron. In the light of a lantern, he learned many things about the substance, not least of which was that it was designed to decrease a person's ability to think logically, making them more impulsive and rash. With that out of the way, he turned his attention back to the Pensieve.
-o0o-
"That's it! I'm done," Harry crowed triumphantly. Percival looked across from his place on the couch with an indulgent smile. At some point they had moved from the parlour into the library.
"What are you going to do now?"
"Ah … translate some of that potions book for Severus or maybe the diary," the younger boy admitted sheepishly, drawing a laugh from his companion.
"Well before you get started," an amused voice sounded from the doorway and they turned to see Sirius leaning against the doorframe, "We have some business to attend to."
Dutifully Harry, closed the book in his hand and placed to the side.
"First, I have been in contact with Sam, and he has managed to employ someone to figure out where your mail has gone. He has also received an agreement in principle from both the Daily Prophet and the Ministry that they will leave you alone. Any further news reports on you, will need to go through Sam and I first. They have paid a not insignificant sum as retribution for their past offences, which will be transferred into your vault. He is starting cases against anyone else who has used your name over the last fifteen years, the goblins have been assisting them."
"And what about Winky? Remus wouldn't tell me anything?" Harry grumbled.
A smirk slowly slid across Sirius' face, reflecting how handsome the man had been before his long years in Azkaban. "Well, at first, she needed a couple of weeks to get used to the family magic and recover from her Butterbeer addiction, but since then I have had her working on something for me. She gets along with Kreacher surprisingly well."
"But is she okay?"
"Yes, she's fine now," Sirius agreed the smirk softening into a fond smile. "Didn't you want to know what she has been doing?"
"She was really sick Sirius, I wanted to know how she was."
"So, you don't want me to tell you what she has been doing?" he stepped back as if to exit the doorway.
"I didn't say that!" Harry protested, causing Sirius to halt and the smirk to return full force. Sirius stepped fully into the room, closing the door preventing anyone from overhearing their conversation.
"Winky," he paused dramatically.
"Come on Sirius!"
"Has been restoring Potter Manor."
"Potter Manor?"
"Remember how your account manager told you it had not been lived in since your grandparents passed away? Well, she has been going through, ensuring the place is clean and tidy. She has updated a few things and I think with Remus' and my ingenuity we may be able to have it wired for electricity, or at least some of it."
"Really?" Percival asked drawn into the conversation by his interest.
Sirius nodded, "I have made enquiries with a local Muggle company. They are going to renovate one of the outbuildings first. I am hoping that once the elves see how it is done, they will be able to replicate it in the Manor."
"Do you think Kreacher would willingly learn how?" Harry frowned.
"Not Kreacher no. He is too set in his ways. But there were two elves still at the manor, they were very young when mum and dad passed away. They have been maintaining the place structurally, so at least it is not in complete disrepair. In fact, the orchard and gardens are doing rather well."
"There are elves there? Wow. How did they survive?"
"Your family has lived there for generations Harry, and the magic has built up over time. They have been living off that, though they will need to renew their connection to you."
"When can I go?"
"We will definitely visit before the summer is over. I am hoping that the work will be finished and perhaps we can move in by Christmas," Sirius suppressed his desire to tell Harry everything that he had discovered at the Manor all at once, concealing perhaps the greatest gift he had uncovered. It would do his son good to wait.
"Wicked!"
"Master," Kreacher croaked.
"Yes Kreacher?"
"There was an owl," Kreacher held a silver tray out towards Sirius, on it rested a single envelope.
"Thank you Kreacher," Sirius plucked it from the tray and broke the wax seal. "Odd that Seraphina should write to me and not you Percival."
Wrapped in the envelope were several pieces of parchment, all folded in thirds with names written on them.
"Ah, that explains it," Sirius smiled wryly passing Percival the correct sheet, and folding his own.
Seraphina had spoken with Law Wizards at the ICW, and logged Percival's memories of both his abduction and attack. It would take a while for them to go through the process, especially as no-one had witnessed either event, but she was hopeful that at least the girl would be issued with a Magical Order to prevent her approaching Percival.
"Who is the last one for?" Harry asked curiously.
"Never you mind," teased Sirius, "Just kidding, it's for Severus, I'll floo him now."
"But what if Dumbledore is with him?"
"We have a system for that," Sirius smirked, and taking a pinch of powder from a bowl that sat on the mantle next to the jar of floo powder, he released it into the floo said "Potion Masters office, Hogwarts."
The floo flashed red.
"But …"
"It was a sign we worked out as Marauders, that I'e told him about. If he's there, he will know it's me calling so if Dumbledore is around, he can ignore it. Or if he's not in his office, the next time he goes in he will see red ash on the hearth and know that I wanted him."
"But surely Dumbledore knew!"
"It was a marauder thing, we never used it with him. Ah…" the fireplace flashed green forestalling further discussion.
"What is it mutt? I was about to head into my lab," Severus groused as he stepped out of the fireplace.
"A letter from Seraphina." Sirius passed over the parchment.
"Why would she," Severus paused, eyebrows elevating in surprise, before his lips settled in a lopsided twist.
"And …" Sirius coaxed, quite taken with the expression on the other man's face.
"She has done it!" Severus raised eyes that were burning with emotion.
"Cleared?"
"Cleared, and they have issued me with an international passport, and given me a nominal position on the ICW, as consultant Potions Master."
"What does that mean?" Harry asked.
"It means he has the same sort of diplomatic immunity as Ambassadors. He could be asked to go and consult in any magical country; it is granted to ensure that he will have the freedom to travel as is necessary. Though he may have to brew or review potions for them when they ask."
"Will you leave Hogwarts now?" Harry asked a bit tremulously.
"And leave you with only the mutt to protect you? Ha! Besides I believe we have an Occlumency lesson tomorrow. It does give me an out however, and if I send a copy to Madame Bones…"
"The Aurors will know that they can't arrest you, regardless of what Albus Dumbledore threatens," Sirius stepped over to the floo again, kneeling this time to have a hurried conversation, before making grabbing hands at Severus, taking the parchment and passing it through the flames. Moments later a hand appeared returning the parchment. "Amelia has taken a copy of it; had it certified and lodged it in your file." He groaned as he stood.
"Even I don't groan when rising from the floo," jeered Severus.
"Yes well," Sirius' cheeks tinged pink. "Perhaps I need to do some more training," he conceded.
Severus withdrew a phial from his pocket, "Albus has given me this. It is no potion I know, being more alchemical in composition. However, I have determined that it will place the drinker under the brewer's will. Essentially it is a liquid form of the Imperius. He wants me to ensure that Harry drinks it."
"Can I fight it, like I do the Imperius?"
"I do not know."
"It doesn't matter, if you can fight it or not, you won't be taking it!" Sirius made to snatch the phial, but Severus used his longer reach to good effect, holding it out of the way.
"Do you trust Harry's acting skills then?"
"What? Why?"
"Because if I am not obviously affected then Dumbledore will know that Severus did not give it to me," Harry explained. "And who knows what he'll do then."
"Ah…"
"He had also placed compulsions on the memories he has gave me to share. I have removed these. Given they increase impulsivity, I felt that Harry would have no problem in acting in a suitable fashion, but with the addition of this … potion," he sighed in exasperation, running a long-fingered hand over his face.
"Ask Addision," Percival suggested.
"Addison?" Severus asked.
"Harry's healer, he said that most potions would have little to no effect on Harry due to the basilisk venom. Or Harry could just act like he has taken it for a while, and then slowly stop. At which point, Severus you will have the excuse of the Basilisk Venom to explain why it is no longer working."
"Alright," Sirius nodded.
"I believe he was wanting you to spend some time at the Burrow."
"Well, that should be alright, shouldn't it?" Harry tipped his head to the side trying to figure out what Albus Dumbledore was up to.
"Don't strain yourself thinking too hard," Percival pushed Harry roughly against the shoulder. Harry maturely poked out his tongue in response.
"I can't figure it out either," Sirius said. "Severus, you've been around him longer?"
"I am afraid I do not know. He has stopped confiding in me. Certainly, there is something he wants Harry for, but what it is I could not say."
"Right so we let Albus take Harry to the Burrow for a while and take the rest as it comes. You will need to be extra cautious Harry."
"I will." Harry promised.
-o0o-
It really was most vexing that his minions were so reliant on him. It was his own fault he supposed that he had not trained them to be autonomous, but Albus just did not want to give up that level of control. However, there were times, such as this when they wanted him to fix every little problem for them that it was more than a little annoying.
He had received Hermione's letter the previous evening. Apparently, Mr and Mrs Granger had not be pleased with the reports they had received of their child's behaviour (lies of course, but he would deal with that later) and had imposed utterly unnecessary restrictions on the girl. In addition, they had told her she would not be allowed to visit her friends over the summer, which just did not fit in with his plans at all. She needed to be in position to control the boy, once he had been given his medicine.
Raising his hand, he knocked firmly on the door.
"Oh Professor," Hermione gushed as she opened the door.
"Who is it Hermione?" a feminine voice called from deeper in the house.
"Professor Dumbledore," Hermione replied with a grin. Finally!
"Oh good, perhaps we can talk to him about the things that have been happening at that school," you could practically hear the frown in her father's voice.
Dumbledore pushed passed the girl, crossing the threshold into the house. Everything was neat and tidy, though obviously well loved, and the house had a warm feeling about it. Internally Dumbledore sighed. It seemed a shame but his actions, as always were for the Greater Good.
"You have two choices Miss Granger," he glanced at her seriously. "Either I can take their memories of the events of this summer, or I can cast a spell to make them allow you to head over to the Burrow for the rest of the summer." These were the kinds of tough decisions she was going to have to learn to make.
"Oh," Hermione frowned in thought. "If you just force them to allow me to go, they'll still remember the other things and will just punish me for it again next holidays. If you just take their memories, then they might still insist that I go with them to France. I think you should do both."
"Very well," Dumbledore twinkled at her happily. "Go and pack your things, I will take you to the Burrow."
"I must have I misheard you, did you say the Burrow? Aren't I going to …" she stumbled, unable to say the word, "to be with Harry?"
"Unfortunately, as you have just noticed, the previous location is no-longer available to us. I will be ensuring that Harry also visits the Burrow."
"And …"
"Hermione? Are you showing the headmaster in?"
"Yes mother!" Hermione called out and with a roll of her eyes lead the way into the sitting room. "Mum, Dad, this is Professor Dumbledore. Professor these are my parents."
Hermione watched on as her mentor, petrified the two adults sitting on the couch. He then searched through their memories. His lips pursed as he watched a concerned Minerva explaining in fine detail the issues that had occurred during the year and their concerns for Hermione's health. The meddling old cat! He added her name to the list of minions he had to get back under control. With a sharp twist of his wand he removed the memory, another wave and the Grangers were happily sending their daughter off, for the unique experience of staying in a 'magical' home for the rest of the summer.
-o0o-
"Sirius?" the Headmaster called as he was allowed through the floo.
"Yes Albus?" Sirius raised a querying eyebrow, but otherwise did not rise from his place at the table.
"I need to ask young Harry a favour," Albus said breezily.
"Well you can ask; I can't guarantee that he will agree to do whatever it is that you ask. I believe he will be down any…"
"Professor?" Harry asked stumbling into the room.
"My dear boy," Albus grinned. "How have your holidays been?"
"Very good sir. I can honestly say that I have never enjoyed my time away from school so much," the boy gushed enthusiastically.
"Hmm, I know that it can be frustrating for an active boy such as yourself to be confined as you have been for weeks on end."
"I would never complain," Harry smiled, "but now that you mention it, I have been feeling a little restricted I guess."
"Well, the Weasley's have made the very generous offer of having you stay with them for the rest of the holidays."
"Oh, but what about my birthday?"
"I am sure that Molly would love to have a party for you."
"Oh no I don't mean that, only that I would like to see Sirius!"
"I am sure Sirius and Percival can visit you for your birthday, my dear boy."
"But wouldn't Percival already be there?" Harry asked in vague confusion. Sirius almost groaned in frustration, hopefully Harry was not hamming it up too much.
"I wouldn't think so," Dumbledore frowned. The potion was clearly working though it appeared to have made the boy a little daft. "The Weasley's have a large family, Harry. Bill has returned home with his girlfriend. There won't be room for any extras."
"Oh!" Harry said sadly. "I suppose as long as I can see him on my birthday it'll be alright."
"Good, now how about you go upstairs and pack. We need to perform a little task on our way over."
"Now?" Harry bounced excitedly on his toes and Albus wondered if he had added perhaps a touch too much alihotsy to the mixture. "Alright." He turned on his heel and ran out of the room.
"I won't stop him going," Sirius conceded with a frown, "but should any harm come to him Dumbledore I will hold you responsible."
"Harm? Well, I am sure that I do not know what you are referring to?" Albus replied benignly.
-o0o-
"Quick throw some of my clothes into my trunk," Harry gasped, out of breath from running up the stairs. "Dumbledore is taking me tonight."
"Dobby," Percival called, randomly throwing clothes into the open section of Harry's trunk.
"Yes, Master Percy, sir."
"We'll need you to pack up all the things Harry needs…"
"Until school," Harry interjected.
"Until school," Percival acknowledged with a disappointed sigh. "Put them in his trunk, as soon as you can."
"Apparently there is also something he wants me to do with him tonight on the way to the Weasley's."
"Really, that's ridiculous, it's got to be after eleven."
Harry shrugged.
"Dobby, keep an eye on Harry tonight as well, let us know if anything happens to him."
Dobby threw his arm to his forehead in a sloppy salute, before popping out of the room.
"Right," Percival took a deep breath and stepped over to take a hold of Harry's shoulders. "You be careful, we can always use Dobby as an excuse if Dumbledore tells you to do something that is blatantly unsafe." He slid his arms around Harry's back and drew the smaller boy in close. Harry, tucked his head into the side of Percival's neck, inhaling deeply, allowing himself a moment to truly relax, before he leaned back slightly, tilted his head and pressed his lips to Percival's gently.
"I'll be careful," Harry promised as he moved to grab his trunk, figuring it was best not to be caught flouting the law by the headmaster.
-o0o-
Dumbledore twinkled at Harry as he emerged from the stairwell once more, gravity causing his trunk to thump on each step.
"We do not want to be encumbered by that now," Dumbledore said pulling out his wand. "I will send it to the Burrow to await us." Dumbledore waved his wand and the trunk vanished. He led the way to the front door annoyed that he could not just apparate out from the kitchen, "And now Harry, let us step out into the night and pursue that flighty temptress, adventure."
It was just as well the man in his technicolour robes did not turn around or he would have seen the boy following him rolling his eyes.
"Now you did keep your wand on you, didn't you Harry? I suggest you keep it at the ready."
"But I thought I wasn't allowed to use magic outside of school, sir?" Harry asked innocently.
"If there is an attack," said Dumbledore, "I give you permission to use any counter-jinx or curse that might occur to you. However, I do not think that you need worry about being attacked tonight."
"Why not, sir?" Harry asked, schooling his face, against the answer he was sure would come.
"You are with me," Dumbledore said simply, as if that explained everything. "This will do, Harry."
He came to an abrupt stop in halfway up the street.
"You have not, of course, passed your Apparition test?" The headmaster asked as if he did not know the answer.
"No," said Harry. "I thought you had to be seventeen?"
"You do," said Dumbledore, Harry wondered why the man had even bothered to ask. "So, you will need to hold on to my arm very tightly. My left, if you don't mind, I hold my wand in the right."
Harry gripped Dumbledore's proffered forearm.
"Very good," said Dumbledore. "Well, here we go."
Harry felt Dumbledore's arm twist away from him and redoubled his grip: the next thing he knew everything went black; he was being pressed very hard from all directions; he could not breathe, there were iron bands tightening around his chest; his eyeballs were being forced back into his head; his eardrums were being pushed deeper into his skull, and then -
He gulped a great lungful of cold air and opened his streaming eyes as the pressure was released all at once. He felt as though he had been forced through a very tight rubber tube. It was a few seconds before he realised that Grimmauld Place had vanished. He and Dumbledore were now standing in what appeared to be a deserted village square, in the centre of which stood an old war memorial and a few benches.
"Are you alright?" asked Dumbledore, looking down at him solicitously. "The sensation does take some getting used to."
Harry stopped himself from sarcastically saying that a warning would have been nice. Substituting a breathless, "I'm fine." As he rubbed his ears, which felt as if they might have been left behind. "But I think I might prefer brooms."
Dumbledore smiled indulgently, drew his travelling cloak a little more tightly around his neck and said, "This way."
-o0o-
"Do you think it's wise to do this tonight?" Amelia asked in some concern, having been hastily summoned by Sirius.
"It might be the only opportunity we have when we can guarantee that Dumbledore is out of the way. He has currently taken Harry in an effort to persuade whoever he wants to be the next Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher. Then they are going to the Burrow. So, you should have a good couple of hours."
"That and while Moody is busy both Stonerune and Bill are available."
"And they would be?"
"The curse breaking team recommended by the Goblins. I am employing them to help with the wards."
"So just the four of us then?"
"Yes. We discussed sending more but thought it might be easier to pass unnoticed with the smaller number in case the Death Eaters have returned to Riddle Manor."
"And you are sure the item is not there instead?"
"Definitely," Remus said coming into the room, and casting a spell to change the colour of his cloak to dark grey. "You could feel the stench of it from the road. Anybody with the slightest magical ability would be able to tell that there was something wrong at the hut."
"Are we waiting for the others to join us here?"
"No, I don't want to let too many people through the wards," Sirius shook his head.
"We'll floo to the Leaky and take the apparation point from Diagon. So many people use it that it would be impossible for anyone to trace us."
Amelia nodded and followed Remus to the floo.
-o0o-
Harry followed Dumbledore as he set off up the road, past an empty inn and a few houses. According to the clock on a nearby church it was almost midnight.
"So, tell me, Harry," said Dumbledore slyly. "Your scar, has it been hurting at all?"
Harry raised a hand unconsciously to his forehead and rubbed the lightning-shaped mark.
"No," he said, "though I had been expecting that given that V…Voldemort's gone again. I suppose we can use that of an indicator of his state as it were." He did not mention that he had done extensive work rebuilding his mental defences.
He glanced up at Dumbledore and saw that he was wearing a satisfied expression.
"Indeed," said Dumbledore. "Though perhaps not, he was a rather ingenous wizard after all, who knows what state he is currently in. I believe that following his attempt at possessing you Lord Voldemort finally realised the dangerous access to his thoughts and feelings that you had been enjoying." There was something odd in the salacious way Dumbledore said it that made Harry sure he was being tempted to look the next time he had access to Tom Riddle's mind. "He might start employing Occlumency against you." The man chuckled.
"Well, if that's the case I won't complain," said Harry.
They turned a corner, passing a telephone box and a bus shelter. Harry looked sideways at Dumbledore again.
"Professor?"
"Harry?"
"Er- where exactly are we?"
"This, Harry, is the charming village of Budleigh Babberton," Dumbledore answered magnanimously.
"And what are we doing here so late?"
"Ah, yes, of course, I haven't told you," the elder replied thoughtfully. "Well, I have lost count of the times I have said this in recent years, but we are, once again, one member of staff short. We are here to persuade an old colleague of mine to come out of retirement and return to Hogwarts."
"How can I help with that, sir?" Harry asked quickly, in an attempt to appear eager.
"Oh, I think we'll find a use for you," said Dumbledore vaguely. "Left here, Harry."
They proceeded up a steep, narrow street lined with houses. All the windows were dark. There was an odd chill in the air. Thinking of dementors, Harry cast a look over his shoulder and grasped his holster, reassuringly rubbing his thumb along the hard edge he could feel, but not removing his wand from it yet.
"Professor, why couldn't we just Apparate directly into your old colleague's house?"
"Because it would be quite as rude as kicking down the front door," said Dumbledore. "Courtesy dictates that we offer fellow wizards the opportunity of denying us entry. In any case most wizarding dwellings are magically protected from unwanted Apparators. At Hogwarts, for instance-"
"- you can't Apparate anywhere inside the buildings or grounds," said Harry quickly. "Hermione Granger told me once."
"And she was quite right," Dumbledore was inordinately pleased at the comment, and allowed a small smile to form, bestowing his pleasure on the boy. More than anything the sentence demonstrated that his protégée had not completely destroyed any chance of a friendship reforming with the boy yet. He still listened to her. "We turn left again."
The church clock chimed midnight behind them, Harry wondered why Dumbledore did not consider it rude to call on his old colleague so late, but now that conversation had been established, he had a more important task, convincing the man beside him that he had taken a potion which would bend him to the headmaster's will.
"Sir, I thought I read in the Prophet that Fudge was sacked?"
"Correct," said Dumbledore, now turning up a steep side-street. "He has been replaced, as I am sure that you saw by Rufus Scrimgeour, who used to be the head of the Auror Office."
"Yes. I was wondering, just if as you say V…Voldemort comes back again…is he, well do you think Mr Scrimgeour is good?" asked Harry.
"An interesting question," said Dumbledore. "He is able, certainly. A more decisive and forceful personality than Cornelius."
"Yes, but I meant-"
"I know what you meant. Rufus is a man of action and, having fought Dark wizards most of his working life, does not underestimate Lord Voldemort. Whether that makes him good or not is another matter entirely."
Harry waited, but Dumbledore did not say anything further.
"Well, I guess that it is just as well that he was made Minister then. What about the lady who took his job? Amelia Bones?"
"Yes," said Dumbledore. "A most formidable woman. It would be a terrible loss should something happen to her," his voice seemed to deepen and emphasise the last.
Harry made a note to tell Sirius to warn Madame Bones.
They were nearing a small, neat stone house set in its own garden, Harry failed to notice being busy digesting the horrible idea of the venerated Headmaster planning the death of Seraphina's friend. He had long since adjusted to the idea that the man was not the bastion of light that he proclaimed to be and had indeed been manipulating Harry towards his death, but he had rather hoped that it was some form of delusional plan where his death was balanced against the survival of the rest of the wizarding world. If it had been Harry might have felt that it was worth the price, but to kill off the woman who was now responsible for the defence of the British Wizarding world seemed not just pointless but actually detrimental. As they reached the front gate Dumbledore stopped dead and Harry walked into him.
"Oh dear. Oh dear, dear, dear."
Harry followed his gaze up the carefully tended front path and felt his heart sink. The front door was hanging off its hinges, sitting crookedly in the doorway. There was an over-turned pot to one side it's contents spilt into the middle of the path.
Dumbledore glanced up and down the street. It seemed quite deserted.
"Wand out and follow me, Harry," he said quietly.
He opened the gate and walked swiftly and silently up the garden path, Harry at his heels, then pushed the front door very slowly, his wand raised at the ready.
-o0o-
The four had gather in the lee of a copse of trees at the side of the road. Taller trees could be seen over the hedge that dominated the other side of the road.
"It's just through the hedge," Remus said in an under tone, leading the small group across the cobblestones.
"Where…how?" Amelia asked starring at the interwoven branches.
"Here," Remus, lead them a short way, to where each could now feel an illusion spreading over a narrow gap in the hedge.
"Oh," Bill muttered as he heard Stonerune hiss from beside him. "That's not good."
"Not good," agreed Amelia with a nod.
"And that's before we get to the 'you know what'," Remus said, without a smile.
"Right then," Bill dropped the bag he had been carrying onto the ground and began to unpack various instruments, while Amelia and Stonerune, began investigating the perimeter of the small clearing that housed the shack.
"Don't get too close to the trees or the house," the werewolf warned.
"Why?" Amelia asked.
"You'll be inundated with a swarm of snakes. The same for the front door."
"And," Bill said observing the moss-covered walls through a three inch prism, "There is an enchantment cast on the walls, I believe a swarm of Inferi would be unleashed if they are breeched."
"What about burnt?" mused Remus.
"Hmmm, it's a possibility," said Bill putting the prism down and replacing it with an orb lensed scope. "Yes, fire is our best option, though… Stonerune, perhaps Parseltongue? We've already crossed one ward line, but there is another against the house. I believe that at some point both will activate, trapping us between them and then… given who set the wards something horrible will happen."
"Yes. Plague I think, simply dealt with though," the wizened old Goblin said. "I will remove it shortly; I just need to check if it's interwoven with the one on the walls."
"Take your time," Remus said placidly. "If we don't unravel it tonight, we can come back another time."
Half an hour later the goblin felt reasonably confident that he could remove the outer wards without a problem. In preparation Amelia raised a new one around the perimeter to keep out the muggles.
"Ready?" the goblin asked, looking at the other three who stood to his sides, wands at the ready. When all had agreed he raised his arms towards the shack and hissed.
Suddenly the world burned with darkness and a chill pervaded the air.
-o0o-
Cut-
It was time Sirius decided, it could not put it off any longer. In James' absence it fell to him. He had turned around or backed away avoiding the discussion on no less than five occasions so far. But the boys were getting too close, and something was bound to happen sooner rather than later. Initially he had assumed that Percival would take matters into his own hands, however, that had never eventuated. He swallowed, still standing frozen with his hand raised to knock on the door. It fell with a dull thud. It sounded like his doom.
"Come in," Harry's cheery voice responded. His boy was sitting on the floor, a text lay between his feet and Hedwig was perched on his shoulder, peering at the book as if she was reading it to. "What's up?" Harry asked his face falling.
"Oh, nothing," Sirius tried for nonchalance, but his grimace had Harry bolting upright. Hedwig flapped her wings in order to maintain her balance at the sudden shift. "I just thought, that seeing as," this was so hard! Why didn't they warn him this would be so difficult? He had tried to discuss it with Remus and even Marlene and they had both laughed in his face. Sirius realised Harry was staring at him, "…seeing as Percival …"
"What about Percival?" Harry asked, quickly.
"He's gone to visit Seraphina. Seeing as Percival is away, you and I should have a little chat," there he had got through the first bit at least.
"Oh Okay," Harry frowned.
"Alright, let's … let's just sit, yes, sit down," Sirius indicated to Harry's bed.
Harry moved over, leaving the textbook lying on the floor and took up position, leaning against the headboard, legs crossed. Hedwig, chirruped in a disgruntled fashion and fluttered over to roost behind her wizard.
"What's wrong Dad? You seem really out of it," Harry asked in concern.
"It's just … I never thought I …" Sirius groaned, scrubbing a hand through his hair, until it looked nearly as messy as Harry's own. "James or even better, Lily was supposed to talk to you about this. I don't suppose that the Dursley's ever did?" Green eyes showed nothing but confusion. "No, I don't suppose they would have. Right well, I brought props. Jamie said that when Mumma P talked to him she used props, not that he ever showed the memories, he was too embarrassed. I wish he had now," Sirius mumbled the last. He took a deep breath and straightened his back, placing a basket of fruit and vegetables on the bed.
Harry blinked, "Is this breakfast? Only I thought you were about to give me the sex talk."
"You what?"
"I thought you were going to talk to me about sex and consent and stuff, but I don't understand the food?"
"What's wrong with fruit?" Sirius asked looking at the bowl.
"Well, what were you going to use a cucumber? Perhaps a banana or courgette?" Harry laughed.
"Well, yes, it would be easier to transfigure one of those? Didn't you want to know the mechanics of the …"
"Mechanics?" Harry laughed. "I share a dorm with five other guys, and spent the holidays with the Weasley twins, I'm sure that whatever got missed in sex-ed at school has been covered."
"But what about diseases and pregnancy and,"
"You know I'm dating Percival, right?"
"For now, sure, but who knows … I mean I was engaged to Marlene and now …"
"I really think this thing with Percival is forever, Dad," Harry said softly, plucking at sheets. Hedwig coo'ed softly and leaned over to nibble at Harry's hair. Her wizard's hand raised unconsciously to pet her.
"We all think that of our first love, I know I certainly did," Sirius admitted, finally moving to sit next to his son. "I thought I had found my Lily. Looking back now I know that even before Marlene went missing cracks had started to show. I wasn't happy letting the Death Eaters go perpetually, and she insisted that everyone deserved a second chance. Recently I think … I think I have been looking at people differently. I never took anything seriously, not really. So I didn't think that the things I did might have hurt someone, or that they might not have found it as funny as I did."
"Maybe you were doing those things to get a reaction," Harry suggested.
"Maybe," Sirius agreed, "if it was it was not the right way to go about it. I learnt that at home. The only way to get any attention was to muck up. The memories have come back a bit. I might not have fought with Mother before going to school, but that was because after Regulus was born she ignored me. Father was rarely home. Half of my behaviour after I started Hogwarts, was just trying to get them to notice me. I think Mother figured it out, because she started to get Kreacher to punish me. That's why … I wasn't so nice to him. I realise now that he never had a choice."
Harry leaned sideways, head falling onto Sirius' shoulder.
"We're pretty messed up," Harry muttered
"Addison says we're getting better though." There was a long silence before Sirius said, "You'll let me know if you have any questions about … things, won't you?"
With a giggle, Harry said, "Sure, I'll ask you if I have any questions about …things." He tried to waggle his eyebrows.
"Alright, I can tell when I'm not wanted. I guess I'll just take this basket and go."
Sirius went to stand but was stopped by Harry.
"Hang on," he pinched a banana off the top with a grin. "Thanks."