Albus Dumbledore was in a foul mood. His protégé had messed up again. Not just with the poisoning of the prefects, in some ways it had been lucky that Susan Bones had been alerted to the problem, he could only imagine how it would have turned out otherwise! Oh, the complaints he would have received had one of the children died! Then there was the paperwork. Besides that kerfuffle, he was aware of her latest mess up with Harry Potter. Casting the spell twice! The portraits had reported back to him immediately the boy started haring off down the corridors. He had left it alone thinking her lack of experience and control would mean that the effects would not last. Then he was notified when the boy had left the kitchens in the company of Severus Snape while Hermione was escorted to the tower by an elf of all things. He'd had to rush to the infirmary to ensure that Poppy was none the wiser on the cause of the boy's injuries. Fortunately, by the time the boy had arrived in the Hospital wing, Severus had sorted the problem out, and Poppy had only kept the boy for observation, meaning he had not had to obliviate the pesky woman.
Still the girl had learnt something from the situation. Well she had by the third dose of the Cruciatus he had inflicted as part of her punishment. She had arrived at their lesson already subdued and compliant showing that she at least had some clue as to where she had erred. Perhaps being forcibly frogmarched back to the common room by a lessor being had resulted in a much-needed knock to her ego. Time would tell if the results were long lasting. She was still the least problematic of his minions.
Administering Hermione's punishment had only decreased his anger by the smallest of margins. He wondered why he had to be surrounded by imbeciles. Nothing was going his way. His ire grew as he continued to fume. He needed to find some leverage to get his errant pawns back under his control, namely Sirius and the boy. He had thought that the death of Remus Lupin would have done it, but if anything, the two had only grown closer in the intervening period not to mention more obstinate.
He also needed to figure out who knew about the Horcruxes, who had robbed the Gaunt shack? The only other person that knew about them was Regulus. Could it be Sirius? No, surely, he would have bought the knowledge of them straight to Dumbledore, if not the Order. Not only was Albus sure that he had intercepted all post between the two but back then Sirius Black was a devotee and did as he was told, barely thinking for himself. As the two thoughts connected in his mind he came up with a marvellously devilish idea. With any luck it might bring Sirius back into the fold and if not, the man's distraction should leave an opening for steps to be taken with regards to Harry. Finally feeling better, he disapparated from his office with a loud crack.
-o0o-
On the morning of November first Harry rolled out of bed with a sigh of relief. For the first time since he had started at Hogwarts, Halloween had not been an unmitigated disaster. It had not been the happiest day by any means but he had managed to spend some quiet time in the study with Percival, contemplating the 'what ifs' that often seemed to taunt him at such a time. When Sirius had called him after the feast he had seemed content and had happily shared school tales of Lily and James. They had only ended the call when Remus had come home after running some errand and they had realised it was approaching midnight.
Not that any of the boys had gone to sleep early, being too hyped up on sugary treats from the feast and filled with the desire to wait up for Neville. When Harry's godbrother came back from St Mungo's he was practically floating with happiness. The joy spread through the dorm igniting the sugar in their veins and preventing sleep. They spent several hours telling scary stories, while roasting marshmallows, thoughtfully provided by Dobby, over the dying embers of the common room fire. Sometime after four am they fell into bed and it was only Percival's presence that had allowed Harry to calm down enough to drift off to sleep.
When Harry woke Percival was still lying next to him, taking up the largest portion of the bed, blanket thief that he was. They slept together so often now that it no longer raised even half a look from any of the other boys in the dorm.
Bleary brown eyes blinked slowly as he woke under such intense scrutiny.
"Time's it?"
"Seven, we need to get moving if we want to make it to breakfast."
"Hmmmm," Percival groaned and seemed to rise up and emerge from the bed. Linen sliding over his smooth skin, like a marble statue being unveiled. Eyes still half closed he reached out for his boyfriend and snagged his hands in the younger boy's night shirt, allowing himself to be pulled along to the bathroom.
They emerged fresh and bright fifteen minutes later to find gentle snores still being emitted from three out of four of the other beds. Neville was sitting on the edge of his bed, still sporting a happily stunned look despite the dark circles under his eyes.
"Morning Nev," Harry greeted throwing open his trunk and fishing out a freshly pressed uniform.
"Mornin' Harry, Percival," Neville stretched, and finally ambled his way dozily into the empty bathroom.
"He looks happy," Percival commented,
"Yeah, I'm really pleased for him. Sev said it took a lot of work to try and sort things out. Looks like mum's spell isn't a magical cure for it, it just opens up a pathway. He has to write up the process so they have a guideline for how it might work on any others. Though it'll depend on what shields they had in place and how long they were stuck and a heap of other things no doubt. They want to try it on some people who haven't been stuck as long and see if that makes any difference. It's actually really interesting."
"It'll make for a good Yule for Neville."
"Yeah."
It took a little while to rouse the other boys given the late hour they had staggered to their beds, but in the end they all managed to troop into the Great Hall with enough time to scarf a quick breakfast before classes. As they entered a group of fifth year girls giggled loudly and flicked their hair as they sashayed away.
Seamus, turned a little to watch them go, "I wonder what that's about?"
"It could be anything," Ron snorted, sliding onto the bench and immediately reaching for stack of toast.
"Slughorn's having a Christmas party next Friday," Ginny, who had overheard, advised them. "I think they are hoping to be invited. And you won't be able to get away from this one Harry, Slughorn asked McGonagall for a copy of your roster."
"I still have Quidditch and detentions though," Harry stated confidently.
Ron, coughed, "I saw him talking to Madame Hooch yesterday. What is the bet that he was checking when we have the pitch booked?"
"Don't you dare suggest such a thing! There's still Snape, Snape won't let me down!" Harry said a little desperately.
Percival laughed. There was a faint, 'Professor Snape!' from further up the table, which they ignored. None of them had seen Hermione arrive, though a brief glance showed that she was pale and shaking a little.
"She alright?" Harry asked Ginny, nodding his head towards the girl, but not wanting to draw the attention of the girl herself.
Ginny shrugged, "She was out late last night, and McLaggen was in, bragging she was having private lessons with the headmaster, because she's 'the brightest witch of the age'," Ginny scoffed. "She could barely walk when she came back, but said she was fine and went straight to her dorm."
"Huh," Harry frowned, trying to remember if he had forgotten a lesson with Dumbledore. In the end, he decided not to worry about it or Hermione. Both things would look after themselves. More importantly they had transfiguration first this morning and under the pretence of running some spot tests and practicing non-verbal spell casting, those in the advanced class were going to be consuming their re-brewed Animagus potions. A storm last week had revealed that the arduous process was successfully complete, and they were ready for consumption. It was a far more exciting prospect than wondering what their ex-friend or the headmaster had been up to.
When they arrived the room had been divided into four. Each person was assigned to a quadrant upon entry, seemingly at random. Ron joined Dean heading to the left, while Percival and Harry ended up in the forward most quadrant on the right. They nodded to Susan and Blaise who were already there standing silently, each seemingly content to wait in quiet for Terry and Padma to arrive. As the last pair stepped into the space, the door of the classroom closed with a bang, and they could hear Professor McGonagall giving instruction to the rest of the class.
"Well, here we are," the Professor joined them. "Did you each bring your potion?"
Small bottles were pulled from hidden places in their bags and clothes, each containing but one mouthful of a blood red liquid.
"This will not be easy, who can describe what they expect the experience may feel like?"
The students glanced amongst themselves awkwardly, all knowing the answer but none wanting to answer.
"Well then Mr Graves, as you have already completed your transformation, please tell us about your experience."
"It was strange. Hot and painful but not excruciatingly so. I could feel the heart of my form beating alongside mine, until with a sudden sharp snap, I transformed. It was disorienting, everything about me was different, I was uncoordinated and almost panicked. I think I would have fled if my mentor had not been with me. When I changed back, I still felt an odd separation."
"Very good Mr Graves. My experience was similar, though I felt a sense of completeness when I was human again. When we consider it, the form of a cat and a woman are not at all similar in height, shape and method of ambulation. During the initial transformation, the animal mind will be very close to the fore as the human mind will be going through some adjustment. As most are unable to tell what animal they might be in advance it is difficult to prepare. After practicing the meditation, does anyone have an inkling of what they might be?" She looked around the still silent group and shook her head, "Mr Potter what did you feel?"
Scrubbing a hand through his hair, "Nothing that could help me pinpoint an animal I don't think, but freedom, I got a sense of freedom."
"Interesting," McGonagall nodded. "I always returned to the sense of the hairs on my body standing on end. Mr Graves?"
"I felt protective,"
"And does that fit with your form?"
"Yes, very much so."
"Ms Patil? Mr Zabini? Ms Bones? Mr Boot?"
The four remaining students just shook their head, having not felt anything in particular.
"That is not unexpected, indeed I would have been surprised if you had all felt something. Now I trust that I do not need to tell you that a modicum of secrecy should be kept with regards to everyone's forms. Registration will be required either at the time that I judge you fluent in your transition or no later than the date you graduate from Hogwarts. I will have forms for both the ICW and the British Ministry available for you and you are only required to register with one of them. Now."
She waved her wand, and the space around them increased, large cushions were scattered in piles on the floor.
"I suggest that you all take a seat prior to ingesting the potion. Mr Graves and I will monitor you and assist as required."
They each separated, Harry moving a pile of the pillows into the corner at the front of the room, closest to Percival. He grinned nervously at his boyfriend.
"It doesn't hurt too much right?"
"Nah, about the same a breaking a bone."
"Right," Harry nodded, legs folding so that he slowly sank onto the nest he had created. He uncorked the bottle and tipped it straight back down. For something that had manky leaf bits and dew in it and looked like congealed blood, it was not the worst potion he had tasted. "Argh!" he gasped hand over his heart as the second beat started nearly twice the speed of his own. Hot, Percival had said, and truly his body burned with it, then with a sudden, almost an elastic like snap.
"Caw!"
There was a flap of wings, an uncoordinated flutter.
"Caw!" Green beady eyes, turned to consider Percival. Then a disgruntled snap of sharp beak. Another flutter of satin black feathers.
Percival looked around to see McGonagall, carefully ensuring that Blaise in wolf form and an obviously disorientated Terry Boot who was now a rabbit, remained separate. Padma was calmly hooting giving her wings an experimental flap similar to Harry and Susan as an English Spaniel was tripping over her own feet.
"You've done so well," Percival praised Harry, who had settled, and was properly trying to flap his wings now, and doing that little running bob that ravens and crows do. He was clearly trying to take off. "I think that you might need to wait until we've more space," Percival smiled, "You don't want to be flying into a wall."
There was a soft thump as Susan fell off her cushions, she gave out a sad yip.
-o0o-
"That was amazing!" Susan gushed as they walked out of the room. By the end of the lesson both she and Blaise were running around the room, able to override their animal instincts to chase Terry who was hopping cautiously on and off his cushions. McGonagall had transfigured some tall back chairs for Harry and Padma to practice gliding between, and they planned to have a few lessons in the forbidden forest to practice flying properly. "Aunt Amelia will be ever so pleased. She was pants at potions and it's the sort of thing you really have to make yourself, so she never did it." The girl then blushed red to the roots of her hair, "I am sorry though, Percival I never meant to …"
"It's fine," Percival said, hiding the bite mark on his hand. "I knew you were still a bit off. Skins not even broken," he lied, a quick spell and he was healed. "Now we had better hurry. It took you all a bit longer to come back then expected, the others left for potions ten minutes ago."
They hurried down the halls and stairways, making it into the classroom last.
Snape glared at them from his position by the board, "As it appears that you six cannot make it to class on time. You will have detention …"
"Next Friday, next Friday," Harry muttered trying to get Severus to look him in the eye and use Legilimency.
"Next Friday. Ah but no, I have been advised that next Friday must be left available, and if I must suffer through such … frivolity," he said it as if it were a curse, then he looked Harry directly in the eye and the corner of his lip twisted sardonically, "then so must you. As such, we will make it next Wednesday and Thursday evenings."
Harry sighed, it seemed Severus still got some joy out of making Harry suffer.
-o0o-
The invitations for Slughorn's party arrived the next day, pale cream rolls of parchment held together with white ribbon and green sealing wax. Harry groaned when it was delivered to the breakfast table, Percival and Ginny both received one as well.
"I don't suppose you want to invite Ron?" Harry asked Ginny while the boy in question was distracted rehashing that mornings quidditch practice with Jimmy Peakes.
"No! I thought I might ask Neville or maybe Dean," she said quietly. "What about you?"
"I don't know. I thought Luna, you know she's brilliant and it's just I think maybe Ron might like her a bit."
"What if one of us asks Ron and the other asks Luna, and then we swap partners when we get there?" Percival suggested.
"Can we do that? I mean is that allowed?"
"What swapping guests?"
"No, taking I mean taking … like could we just go … together?"
Percival looked at him blankly, "Of course. And while the swapping thing is not usual, it's the same number of guests so it should not be a problem either."
"Huh."
"What's up with Harry?" Ron said looking at his friend's thoughtful face.
"Magic, muggle difference," Ginny shrugged and turned away from them back to her friends.
"Do you want to come to Slughorn's party with me?" Harry asked.
Ron spat his tea across the table.
"'Fanks Ron!" Neville who had just taken a forkful of eggs said before moping his face.
"Not like that, you git!" Harry pushed his friend sharply. "We thought one of us might ask Luna, and the other ask you, so …"
"Luna could go to Slughorn's party with me…" the tip of Ron's ears went red.
"Of course I'd really like that, Ronald. It will be lovely," Luna interjected dreamily from the table behind the red-haired boy. His cheeks flamed red and the colour spread across his face. She stood, leaned over and kissed him on the cheek then skipped off to class.
In slow motion, Ron, lifted his hand to hover over the place her lips had touched him, and he let out a high-pitched squeak.
Suddenly he was hit by a realisation and gasped "But I've got nothing to wear!"
Ron spent the rest of the day in tumultuous calamity over his lack of suitable dress robes and could be heard muttering 'I am not looking like great aunt Tessie again!'. They had stopped on their way between classes in a corridor to allow Dean to recover from the stitch he now had from laughing so hard at Ron, when an ethereal voice drifted over to them as Luna floated by.
"You know Ron tomorrow is a Hogsmeade weekend and I think a set of Navy robes would complement the Dirgible Plum earrings I will be wearing."
This caused Seamus to join Dean in leaning against the wall to withstand another bout of laughter.
"It's really not that funny," Ron pouted.
-o0o-
Due to the Quidditch match scheduled for the afternoon, the group left for Hogsmeade as soon as allowable, merely making bacon butties to take for breakfast rather than wasting the time to sit and eat. Harry had drawn up a list of the things that he needed and would rely on Percival to get anything that he ran out of time for, as the older boy would not have quite the same hurry. Both Harry and Ron had already placed their quidditch robes in the locker rooms so that there would be no need to return to the castle before the match.
"So that leaves dress robes," Ron mumbled, then took a swig of his butterbeer.
"Whatever, would our Ronnikins,"
"Be needing dress robes for?"
"He's going to Slughorn's Christmas party," Harry supplied to Fred and George who had suddenly appeared over their brother's shoulder.
"Our Ron?" Twin blue eyes widened, they pinched chairs from the table behind the group, slid them up to the table backrest leading and sat down to join those gathered around the table.
"At a party by the esteemed Horace Slughorn?"
"The collector of all things famous?"
"Who invited you then?"
"What girl in their right mind,"
"Obviously not in their right mind Fred," said George.
"Right you are, George" said Fred. "What girl in her left mind …"
"Would invite you to go to a Professor's party?"
"That would be me," Harry said flatly.
Two heads whipped around so fast a matching set of cracks could be heard.
"But …?"
They flipped around to look at Ron again.
"?"
"I was not expecting that, George."
"Neither was I Fred."
"So Ronald when did you discover that you …"
"You're a right pair of gits, you know that," Ron huffed.
"Ron's coming with me and Luna's going with Perce. They wouldn't get to go otherwise," Harry said matter-of-factly.
"Oh, now that makes a lot more sense," the twins hummed.
"What are you two doing over here anyway?" Ron asked. "Don't you have a shop to run?"
"Came looking for Harry."
"We thought he ought to know,"
Heads bent forward they whispered low, "We've had a large number …"
"Of enquiries about love potions …"
"You know the ones we stopped selling …"
"Lots of people asking us …"
"Not just to buy …"
"but how to brew …"
"What ingredients are used …"
"All the ins and outs …"
"We refer them to the DMLE …"
"Just don't eat anything if you don't know who made it."
"That's a bit rich coming from you!" Ron exclaimed remembering all the times the twins had tricked him into trying something only for it to be an experiment they were working on.
"We know, we speak from experience," they nodded. "Time to go."
"I want to get some chocolate fudge bars before we leave Freddie."
"Right, you are then, Georgie."
Quick as the wind the pair were gone.
"Well okay then," Ron said before chugging down the rest of his butterbeer. "Robes!"
It did not take long to find Ron a decent set of robes, in fact there was only one set of navy robes in the shop, and they happened to be in his size. When he tried them on the others all told him they looked fine, which perhaps was not as enthusiastic a response as he would have liked, but given the group, was probably the best he could hope for and certainly better than what Fred and George would have said. Ron was grateful the twins had not hung around.
Harry had been looking in the counter at a small range of jewellery while Ron paid and found a lapel pin in the shape of a panther that reminded him of Percival's Patronus, he asked to see it. Flipping it over the back was smooth.
"What's it made of?"
"Silver, the black colouring is enamel, and the eyes are jet."
"Do you think it would hold runes?"
"Well, sure the silver would but they'd have to be small, I can't think of anyone who could do them that small."
"Hmm, I'll take it. I like it as it is anyway."
"Right you are."
Ron joined him at the counter. "Do you think I should get Luna anything?"
Harry shrugged.
"I'd normally just get her some sugar quills or something for Christmas, but …"
He glanced down, on the other side of the glass, under where he was tapping his fingers there was a bracelet that held a tiny butterfly made of seed pearls. The filigree work on the wings was so fine, it looked like it was flying.
"… I think she'd like that better than a corsage."
Harry snorted watching Ron move back towards the attendant, mildly impressed that Ron knew what a corsage was. Harry himself had looked it up in primary once when Aunt Petunia had been bragging to Mrs Number Ten about the one that Vernon had bought for her graduation. Purchases complete they made their way back to the school. Percival relieved them of their shopping and left them in the locker rooms. They were soon joined by the rest of the team.
"Okay, what's going on?" Ron snapped at the group who were obviously out of sorts.
"Gryffindor just lost one hundred and fifty points," Jimmy complained.
"What? In one afternoon?" Harry blinked, that had not happened since their first year.
"What happened?"
"Romilda Vane and two of her mates got caught brewing love potions in the girl's bathroom on the second floor. Apparently, the ghost who lives told Professor Snape. They're being grounded until the spring holidays as well," Demelza explained.
"Ouch."
"It doesn't even matter if we win now," Jimmy grumbled. "We won't make enough back to take out the House Cup."
"Oy! Who says it doesn't matter? Quidditch always matters. Besides we don't play just to get points for the house cup, the Quidditch cup comes first. And we have been training so hard. We are not going to let one little thing like a loss of points get us down. Besides there is someone else who you all seem to have forgotten about, who will be waiting for word on how this match goes, and do you know what she would say?"
Harry grinned, and in a reasonable impression of Katie barked out, "Get your arses on that pitch or so help me …"
"Exactly right, we've been practicing for this. We have the most innovative training schedule and I say that the other teams out there are not going to know what hit them. Get your brooms and get moving. We've got this!"
It might not have been the most eloquent pep talk of all time, but it worked and Ron was right. Gryffindor was miles fitter then Slytherin, though perhaps that was because both Malfoy and Vaisey were off the team due to illness. It was over two hours before Harry managed to spot the snitch. Two long hours of flying and by the end of it the Slytherins were visibly lagging.
While keeping a lookout for that little, winged, golden ball Harry had been zipping randomly through the flyers disrupting Slytherins plays as he went. He rolled between the beaters causing them to miss hit and send the bludger wildly towards one of their own chasers, who dropped the quaffle into Demelza's waiting arms. As she zipped off towards the goals he saw it by the foot of the substitute Slytherin chaser. She was hovering about twenty feet below him trying to catch her breath. Harry allowed himself to drift on the breeze until he had a better angle and then he pointed his broom handle at the ground and dropped like a Peregrine Falcon on its prey. His action drew the attention of the crowd and there was an audible gasp, the chaser looked up and screeched. She raised her arms to protect herself and let go of the broom, Harry rolled underneath her and plucked the snitch from the air, bobbing up in front of her with a cheeky grin. Turning quickly, he flew to the rest of the team so they could descend in the traditional huddle.
"Katie would be so proud," Fred and George said in unison as they slammed open the door of the locker room, startling the celebrating team. "We'll tell her all about it when we have permission to visit her."
"Did you guys watch?"
"How'd you sneak onto the grounds?"
"That is for us to know," George tapped his nose, "and you not to find out."
"But as congratulations from us," Fred reached into his bag and began passing out chilled bottles of butterbeer.
"Thanks!" Ron said.
"We couldn't not come when we heard that our little brother was the captain, just don't tell McGonagall, alright."
"Your secret's safe with us," the team promised.
"Want us to sneak into the kitchens for you?"
"Nah, we'll ask Dobby, he even takes requests if he thinks it's a special occasion."
"Well, lah-de-da, how far you've come but you'll always be little Ronnikins to us."
"Go on guys, head back to the commons for the party, Harry and I will meet you up there," Ron waved off the rest, seeing that his brothers obviously had more to say. "Alright, what is it?"
"Not much, Ron. Just we had a little word with our bank manager as we were looking to get a loan to open up in Hogsmeade, even on a part time basis for Hogwarts weekends and do you know what he told us?"
"I couldn't possibly imagine," Ron said straight faced.
"What about you Harry?"
"Nope, drawing a blank."
"Really well it seems that the entrepreneurial bug did not just bite us, but our two younger brothers as well. Striknott told us that a couple of lads, that we know, had decided to buy into our business if we should need it, so that a loan was unnecessary."
"Really," murmured Harry.
"Interesting," said Ron.
"Yes, we thought so. And then we wondered how they could afford it. Well we know that Harry has the fortunes of the Potter's behind him, but Ron?"
They looked him dead in the eye, "How did you get the money Ron?"
"Was it illegal?"
"Not that we are judging, just so that we can take steps to protect you if we need to."
"Seriously guys, I'm insulted."
"Ron came by his money legally, gentlemen," Harry smirked
"And that is all you need to know," Ron crossed his arm in front of his chest and starred down at his brothers. Sometimes it was a pleasure being the tallest.
"Legal?"
"Definitely?"
"You didn't just give it to him?" they aimed at Harry.
"Definitely not, he earned it."
The twins shared a glance then a nod, "Alright,"
"We'll have Striknott, draw up a contract."
"It should be done in a week or so."
"Silent partners?"
"We might occasionally put forward ideas," Harry mused.
"Every item patented in the name of the creator. We'll call it creator's rights, and you'll get a bonus for each one. We will retain majority ownership."
"Of course. I'll trust Striknott's judgement," Harry agreed.
"Same," Ron nodded.
"Pleasure doing business gentlemen."
They all shook hands and Fred and George took their leave.
"You seem a bit quiet?" Ron noted as they walked towards the castle.
"Was just thinking. You know those memory orbs of mum's. Some of them were quite long, I was wondering if we could put the memory of the match into one and send it to Katie."
"It'd make a great Christmas gift."
"Yeah. I might talk to Flitwick about it."
After they reached the common room, there was no time for further discussion as the party was in full swing.
-o0o-
It had taken some planning, but Albus had once again returned to the cave. He stood facing the body of water, the eerie green glow just visible in the distance.
"Accio Regulus Black," he intoned. The water did not so much as ripple. The man was dead so surely, he could be summoned, maybe the limitations of the spell were on all things human rather than just the living.
"Accio Regulus Black's shirt." With a wet suctioning noise, a rag of indeterminate colour, flew from the lake and struck the most esteemed Headmaster of Hogwarts in the face. "For Merlin's sake! Accio Regulus Black's trousers!"
Shlurp fwot. This time Albus managed to swipe the clothing, if it could be called that away before it struck him.
With a growl, he summoned, "Hogwarts house elf!"
Back in the castle there was a debate. None of the house elves wanted to answer to the call. The more questionable the orders became the less the elves felt required to answer. As this call was from far outside the castle and could not possibly be related to Hogwarts in any way, the compulsion to follow it was limited. Finally, the elf assigned to the headmaster's rooms, with a last look to his mate, squared his shoulders and answered.
Even before the little creature was cognisant of his surroundings, he was issued an order.
"Fetch Regulus Black's body from the lake!"
The elf looked at the water, raised his hand and clicked.
An echo of the click repeated off the far wall of the cave. Reeb tipped his head to the side, concentrated and clicked again.
Nothing.
"Mr Regulus Black's body cannot be summoned from the lake Master Headmaster Sir," his voice was steady though he watched the wizard beside him with caution.
"I know that! Find another way to retrieve it!" the old man snapped.
Reeb walked several steps around the lakes edge, peering into the water. Withdrawing when he saw the figures contained within.
"There bes people in the lake."
"Yes, of course there are, including Regulus Black. And I want him out now!"
"Hnnnn." The little elf carefully considered the problem and walked back past the Headmaster and further around the edge of the water. "Boy is in the middle, yes?"
"What?"
"Boy is in the middle."
Albus paused and considered, Regulus had probably been dragged in from the island so …
"Probably."
"If I gets for you, you gives me clothes," he stood up bravely and looked square at the Headmaster.
Albus raised his wand, "How dare you make demands of me! I will squash you like a bug and call another."
"None will come. Not Hoggywarty business, not for school."
"Then why are you here," the Headmaster snarled, even the lowest of his slaves were questioning him and he would not stand for it.
The elf was loath to answer in case the man used it to trap him.
"Answer me elf!" came the order.
"I assigned to the Headmaster's office," the words were forced out.
"Get Regulus Blacks body now!"
"Not headmaster's duties," squeaked the elf, against the strain of the command, "not have to."
The headmaster suppressed his rage, "You will get the body, for clothes?"
The elf nodded.
"Alright then," even his lengthy beard did not hide his wicked smirk. "If you get Regulus Black's body from the lake, I will give you clothes as requested."
Albus was not expecting the small ball of light that burst between them sealing the deal, the house elf however nodded in satisfaction. He turned away and summoned the little boat out of the water, stepped into it and with a click of his fingers drifted towards the centre of the lake and out of the view of the old man.
Five minutes passed in silence. The surface of the lake was still and as solid looking as ice.
After ten minutes, just at the edge of hearing came a bubble, then a boiling rumble. Then in the distance the little boat, hardly more than a raft as it was, could just be made out as it was propelled back towards the shore on a roiling wave of water, the edges of which was made of the various limbs of the Inferi as they stretched and strained to reach the craft and its occupant. The elf was standing on the prow. Balanced horizontally as if on an unseen tray, lay the near naked body of Sirius Black's brother.
Albus grinned as he watched the oncoming tide, until he calculated that he was standing right where the boat would beech and he had to hastily move out of the way throwing up a shield to keep the beast out of the way as the body slide on its invisible bed and came to a rest beside him. The creature was now engrossed in warding off the Inferi.
"Elf you wanted clothes!" with a flick of his wand he removed the last scrap of clothing from the cadaver in front of him and threw it at the elf. Then he hastily made his way to the opening of the cave. Turning back one last time. "Fiendfyre."
There was a vicious smile on his lips as the fissure snapped shut behind him.
Reeb looked up, prayed to Magic and leapt above the grasping hands, the gnashing teeth, the flickers and shapes made of fire. His hand closed around the soaked material, and he smiled.
-o0o-
"What time are we meeting Luna again?" Ron asked a bit nervously, tugging at the sleeve of his robes.
"Eight in the entrance hall."
"Do I … Do I look alright?" Ron looked down at himself.
Harry stepped forward, placed a hand on his best mate's shoulder ready to reassure. Before he could do so Neville who had just emerged from the bathroom said in his snootiest voice, "To be honest I'm a bit jealous of Harry. You are looking rather fetching tonight Ronald. I wish I had asked you myself."
To which Ron made a rather immature hand gesture.
"Come on," Percival held his hand out to Harry, who grabbed it automatically. "If we are going to make the Entrance Hall by eight, we need to go."
They trooped down the stairs, passing a disgruntled Hermione sitting on one of the couches waiting for McLaggen. Her head turned as Ron walked by and she watched him with narrowed eyes.
"Where are you going, dressed like that Ronald?" she demanded. They ignored her and disappeared through the portrait hole.
"Where are they going?" Hermione moved over to harass Parvati and Lavender. Both girls just looked at her blankly and returned to the Witch Weekly they were gossiping over.
"Tell me where they are going!" she then demanded of Elise Gudgeon.
The prefect sighed looking up from her book, "Guessing by the way they are dressed they are headed to Slughorn's Christmas party."
"Professor Slughorn is having a party? Why wasn't I invited?"
The gimlet-eyed stare of the seventh year would have cowed most of the other students but not Hermione, "Why?"
"You have been grounded," Elise said flatly. "You are not to leave the common room, unless it is to attend lessons or go to meals. A party is not considered a meal, even though there will be food provided, hence you were not invited, and your boyfriend was told in no uncertain terms that he was not to take you, therefore he probably did not mention it."
"Who is he going with?"
"Who? McLaggen, I would not know."
"Not him. Ronald! who is he going with?" Hermione snapped at the imbecile in front of her.
"Harry I believe," Elise smirked.
"What?"
"I believe Mr Potter invited Mr Weasley to the party Miss Granger. Now if you do not mind, I have work to do!" she forcibly re-opened her book and began taking notes, ignoring further attempts at interrogation by the bushy-haired girl.
-o0o-
When the group arrived in the Entrance Hall there was an unusually large number of girls lurking there, their eyes devouring each of the boys, including Neville who had found Ginny in the common room so they could walk down together.
Percival approached Luna who was stood by the banister swaying gently in her silver spangled robes to the giggles of some of the onlookers.
"Ms Lovegood, you are looking rather lovely tonight," Percival said, releasing Harry's hand so that he could offer her his arm. It was true. She had swapped her usual raddish earrings for dirigible plums, as she had said she would, but left the butterbeer-cork necklace and the Spectrespecs off altogether, with silver shoes and her long hair loose she looked like a human sized fairy. Delicate and ethereal.
"Shall we be going, then?"
"Oh, yes," she said happily. "Where's Ronald?"
"Here," Ron popped his head around Harry, she smiled and gave him a little wave. "Where are we going then?"
"Slughorn's office," replied Harry. "Did you hear, there's supposed to be a vampire coming?"
"Rufus Scrimgeour?" asked Luna.
"I – what?" said Harry, disconcerted. "You mean the Minister for Magic?"
"Yes, he's a vampire," said Luna matter-of-factly. "Father wrote a very long article about it when Scrimgeour first took over, but he was forced not to publish by someone at the Ministry. Obviously, they didn't want the truth getting out."
"Either way," Percival said conversationally, "I don't think it is him. As I have it on good authority that the Minister for Magic is currently in Denmark meeting with the royal family."
The sounds of laughter, music and robust conversation were growing louder as they approached Slughorn's office.
Whether it had been built that way, or because he had used magical trickery to make it so, Slughorn's office was much larger than the usual teacher's study. Harry wondered if it was further bribery on Dumbledore's part, remembering Slughorn requesting to be allowed to continue his experiments. The ceilings and walls had been draped in emerald, crimson and gold hangings, so that it looked as though they were all inside a vast tent. The room was crowded, stuffy and bathed in the red light cast by an ornate golden lamp dangling from the centre of the ceiling in which real fairies were fluttering, each a brilliant speck of light. Loud singing accompanied by what sounded like mandolins issued from a distant corner; a haze of pipe smoke hung over several elderly warlocks deep in conversation adding to the stuffy atmosphere, and a number of house-elves were negotiating their way squeakily through the forest of knees, obscured by the heavy platters of food they were bearing, so that they looked like little roving tables.
"Harry, m'boy!" boomed Slughorn, almost as soon as the group squeezed in through the door. "Come in, come in, so many people I'd like you to meet!" The large man, balked slightly as the group rearranged their pairs. Ginny and Neville having ducked sideways and disappeared surreptitiously as soon as the door had closed behind them.
Slughorn was wearing a tasselled velvet hat to match his smoking jacket. Gripping Harry's arm so tightly he might have hoped to disapparated with him, Slughorn led him purposefully into the Party; Harry seized tight to Percival's hand and Luna dragged Ron along in their wake.
"Harry … Percival," Slughorn started as he realised just who it was standing next to Harry, "Ah yes, I'd like you to meet Eldred Worple, an old student of mine, author of Blood Brothers: My Life Amongst the Vampires – and, of course, his friend Sanguini."
Worple, who was a small bespectacled man, grabbed Harry's hand and shook it enthusiastically; the vampire Sanguini, who was tall and emaciated with dark shadows under his eyes, merely nodded at Harry, before staring at Percival for a long moment, that aside he looked rather bored. A gaggle of girls was standing close to him looking curious and excited.
"Harry Potter, I am simply delighted!" said Worple, peering short-sightedly up into Harry's face. "I was just saying to Professor Slughorn, where is the biography of Harry Potter for which we have all been waiting?"
"Er," said Harry, Percival elbowed him in the ribs, "Were you really? It would be rather short and dull don't you think. After all I am only sixteen."
"Just as modest as Horace described!" gushed Worple. "But seriously –" his manner changed; it became suddenly business-like as he began a sales pitch to be the writer of such a book. He interrupted himself with a sharp- "Sanguini, stay here!" when he noticed the vampire edging towards the nearby group of girls, a rather hungry look in his eye. "Have a pastry instead," Worple said, seizing one off the tray that had just moved passed he pushed it into Sanguini's mouth, before turning his attention back to Harry.
"My dear boy, the gold you could make, you have no idea-"
"Definitely not interested," said Harry, "and I really think you need to keep a closer eye on your friend." He pointed to where Sanguini who must have moved very fast indeed, had separated one of the girls from the group and was backing her towards a gently undulating wall of material.
Harry and Percival used the distraction to move in the opposite direction and made a bee-line for where they could see Ron's red-hair over the crowd. The other pair having drifted away at some point.
"Ron! Luna Thank goodness!"
"Ere' 'Arry," Ron swallowed the pastry he had been eating, whole. "Did you see McClaggen's here, by himself too. Reckon Hermione's miffed."
"Probably less upset then she would be if he had bought someone," Harry said drily.
They made their way over to the other side of the room, scooping up goblets of mead on the way, realising too late that Professor Trelawney was standing there alone.
"Hello," said Luna politely.
"Good evening, my dear," said the dotty professor, focussing upon Luna with some difficulty. Harry could smell cooking sherry again. "I haven't seen you in my classes lately …"
"No, I've got Firenze this year," said Luna.
"Oh, of course," said the Professor with an angry drunken titter. She then devolved into a furiously tipsy critique of her fellow professor, as they all stood around awkwardly until they were interrupted by McLaggen walking through the group like a bludger. He glared at Ron as if he wanted to say something to the younger boy, but then realised that he was surrounded so he stopped and stomped off forcing his way through the throng.
Harry turned back around, forgetting for a moment who else was there.
"Harry Potter!" said Professor Trelawney in deep, vibrant tones, noticing him for the first time.
"Oh, hello," he replied unenthusiastically.
"My dear boy!" she said in a very carrying whisper. "The rumours, the stories! The omens were never good, Harry … but why have you not returned to Divination? For you of all people, the subject is of the utmost importance."
Harry opened his mouth to tell her his exact thoughts on her subject when a judiciously placed foot of Percival's had him inhaling and closing his mouth again.
Fortunately, Professor Slughorn chose that moment to reappear, "Ah Sybill, we all think our subject's the most important." His face was now very red, and his velvet hat a little askew. He held a glass of mead in one hand and an enormous mince pie in the other. "But I don't think I've ever known such a natural at Potions!" said Slughorn, regarding Harry with a fond, if bloodshot eye. "Oh and Percival too, though I dare say you had some advanced tutoring," he tapped his nose with the side of his glass and winked at Percival. "But Harry, instinctive, you know -like his mother! Why, even, Severus–"
And to Harry's extreme, suppressed amusement, Slughorn threw out an arm and seemed to scoop Severus out of thin air to join them. His face was a picture of restrained violence.
"Stop skulking and come and join us, Severus!" hiccoughed Slughorn happily. "I was just talking about Harry's exceptional potion-making! Some credit must go to you, of course, you taught him for five years!"
Trapped, with Slughorn's arm around his shoulders, Snape looked down his hooked nose at Harry, his black eyes narrowing as he caught the twist of Harry's lips.
"Funny, I never had the impression that I managed to teach Potter much of anything."
"Well then, it's natural ability!" shouted Slughorn, "You should have seen what he gave me first lesson, the Draught of Living Death – never had a student produce finer on a first attempt –"
"Really?" said Snape raising an eyebrow, Harry ducked his head, unable to suppress the smile any longer. It took him a second to regain his composure.
"Remind me what other subjects you're taking, Harry?"
"Defence Against the Dark Arts, Charms Transfiguration, Herbology, Anc …"
"In short all the subjects required to be an Auror," Slughorn boomed, "and a great one you'll make too!"
"I don't think you should be an Auror, Harry," Luna chirped unexpectedly from where she stood beside Ron. Everybody looked at her. "The Aurors are part of the Rotfang Conspiracy, I thought everyone knew that. They are working from within to bring down the Ministry of Magic using a combination of Black magic and gum disease."
Ron inhaled half his mead up his nose as he started to laugh, causing Harry to snort. While Percival shook his head. It had been worth bringing Luna just for this. They were interrupted moments later by the sight of Argus Filch dragging Draco Malfoy towards them by his ear. Harry noticed Severus frown and subtly stepped back, slowly edging away.
"Professor Slughorn," wheezed Filch, his jowls aquiver and the maniacal light of mischief-detection in his bulging eyes. "I discovered this boy lurking in an upstairs corridor. He claims to have been invited to your party and to have delayed in setting out. Did you issue him with an invitation?"
Malfoy pulled himself free of Filch's grip looking furious.
"All right I wasn't invited!" he said angrily. "I was trying to gate-crash, and I would have succeeded if that stupid mudb …"
"You are in trouble, you are! Didn't the headmaster say night-time prowlings out, unless you've got permission, didn't he, eh?" he looked gleeful at the prospect of punishing the boy.
"That's alright Argus, that's all right," said Slughorn, waving a hand. "It's Christmas, and it's not a crime to want to come to a party. Just this once, we'll forget any punishment; you may stay Draco."
Filch's expression of outraged disappointment was perfectly predictable and matched to the equally, though unexpectedly, unhappy Draco. Filch shuffled away and Severus flicked his fingers at Harry, encouraging the group to move further away. Harry dipped his head and turned around as Severus said, "I would like a word with you Draco."
"Oh, now Severus," said Slughorn, hiccoughing again, "it's Christmas, don't be too hard –"
"I'm his Head of House and I shall decide how hard, or otherwise to be. Follow me Draco."
They left Snape leading the way.
Harry watched them go as he listened with half an ear as Luna resumed her dissertation on the subject of the Rotfang Conspiracy to a sincerely interested Professor Trelawney.
-o0o-
"Severus please," Narcissa begged. After a hastily scribed message, the pair had met in the frosty morning air, at the end of the path near Hogsmead. If it had been any other couple meeting the misty air and sunrise may have been considered romantic, instead of frigid.
"I know he has been given a task by the Dark Lord, and though he will not tell me I suspect I know what it is. You know I cannot help him with this Narcissa. I cannot protect him if he places himself directly in the Dark Lord's path. Your son is a fool if he thinks he has done anything else."
"If he succeeds, he thinks he will regain the position that his father lost."
"Ha, the Dark Lord's favour does not work like that. How long would he maintain his position for? Minutes! And what about you Narcissa?"
"I just want to save my son. I will spy for you, anything," she begged.
"There is nothing you can tell me that is worth the risks I would have to take to protect the boy as things stand."
"The Dark Lord has a form once more."
"We know," Severus intoned flatly.
"They have been holding people, women, pregnant muggle woman, in the dungeons, and experimenting on them."
That caught Severus' attention, "Are they so truly depraved. They are developing a ritual," he whispered. "To rebirth the Dark Lord."
"Yes," Narcissa whispered. "I will find out every detail I can, if you will keep Draco alive."
Severus nodded sharply, "I will try."
He was already assessing and discarding plans and ideas. Somehow he would find a way through this.
-o0o-
"Do you know what Malfoy was trying to do at the party?" Harry asked Sirius via the mirror the next day.
"Yes, though it is nothing for you to worry about. Severus is keeping an eye on the situation, despite the little sh …" there was an indignant cry of 'Sirius!' from Remus who was just out of view of the mirror. Sirius rolled his eyes, "Look he's up to no good. You can be guaranteed of that, but it is nothing to do with you and we will deal with it. Severus spoke to my cousin yesterday, and while she gave us some idea as to what Riddle is up to, we mainly have guesses. I want you to concentrate more on the fact that tomorrow morning you are coming home for Yule."
Harry starred hard at his father, "Alright." Then his face broke into a grin, "Can we bake, and decorate the tree again and …"
Sirius smiled gently at the boy, "Son, we will do all that and more. Now go and finish as much of your holiday assignments as you can, so we have more time to spend doing all the things you want to do. Oh and pack your trunk tonight!"
"Night Sirius, night Remus!" Harry smiled as he tucked the mirror away. He reached down and flipped open his trunk, carefully packing away all the things he might need for the holidays, sliding Sirius' and Remus' presents into the locked container, so that the two would not find them when they searched through his trunk for them, like the children they were. Then he slung his book bag over his shoulder and headed down to the common room, passing a laughing Dean and Seamus, on the landing just outside the dorm.
"Night gentlemen," he nodded.
"Good night, good sir," Dean gave a half bow.
"Don't spend all night in the common room," Seamus attempted to waggle his eyebrows, causing Dean to laugh.
"I'll make sure I get some sleep before tomorrow," Harry promised.
Neville and Ginny were sat together on a couch, talking quietly, While Ron, had stretched out from one armchair, both feet resting on the nearby table, he was breathing very slowly eyes nearly shut.
"Why don't you go to bed." Harry tapped his mate with his foot.
"Oh, you done then," Ron groaned as he sat upright and rubbed his eyes.
"Have you even packed yet?"
"Nah, have you?"
"Yup," Harry grinned, "just now. I just want to finish Slughorn's essay before I come up, it's nearly done."
"Yeah alright. I'm gonna leave that till later, I haven't the energy now. Fire's warm," he slurred a little and flopped backwards.
Harry reached out to shake him a little more awake, "Go on, go to bed. Just set an alarm so you can pack in the morning."
"Yeah, yeah! Oi! Neville, you coming?"
Neville looked up from his quiet conversation and grinned, "Yeah alright." The two left.
"Did you have a good night at Slughorn's?" Harry asked Ginny as she began carefully rolling up the herbology assignment she had been working on.
"Yeah Neville was really sweet, the food was good and I got to meet Gwenog Jones from the HolyHead Harpies. Talking to her made me realise that I want to try and play Quidditch professionally after school. Not to mention Slughorn was so busy focussing on the novelty of you coming, that he mostly left the rest of us alone."
"You're welcome," Harry grinned.
"I take it you aren't coming to the Burrow?"
"Nah. I … it was always kind of nice that your family looked out for me, but I never really felt like I truly fit, and now … well I've got one of my own, so," he shrugged.
Ginny smiled and picked up her bag, "I'm happy for you Harry. Goodnight."
"Night," he watched her go, the firelight, causing the red of her hair to glow.
Quickly Harry took out his parchment, and texts, spreading the notes he had already written out for easy access.
"Need a hand?" Percival asked, finally looking up from his book.
"Nah, I've done the research and have a rough outline planned already, so I just need to write it. I wasn't sure you knew I was here."
Percival just hummed, already drawn back into his reading, with a soft chuckle Harry picked up his quill and began to write. An hour later the fire had burned to embers and Harry had completed two of his assigned tasks. He was now drowsily leaning heavily against Percival, who was still engrossed in his book.
Turning Harry pressed his nose into the junction between Percival's neck and shoulder, inhaling deeply and releasing a long sigh. Experimentally he extended his tongue between his lips and gently licked at a spot just above Percival's collar bone, where in better light Harry knew he would just be able to make out the thin blue line of a vein. Percival drew in a quick breath. Deciding he liked the reaction, Harry repeated the movement, following it with a gentle kiss to the same spot. He noted that Percival seemed to have stopped breathing so he gently slid his uppermost hand over the other boy's abdomen, narrowly missing sliding it underneath the other boy's shirt where it had come loose of his belt.
"Harry?" Percival asked in a tight voice.
"You've been ignoring me," he accused with a huff. This time Harry sucked the skin under his lips more firmly, though not with enough pressure to cause a bruise.
"It was not deliberate," Percival protested.
"Doesn't matter," Harry nuzzled further up and under Percival's jaw, and began pressing kisses and licks there. The heart lying under his fingertips beat a rapid tattoo.
It was too much and in one swift movement Percival twisted, lent towards Harry and rolled. Suddenly, Harry was lying with one leg off the couch and Percival, leaning over him, positioned between his thighs.
"Oh!"
"Yes indeed. Oh." Percival's voice held a delicious raspy amusement as he leant down to press against Harry's lips firmly.
With a loud thud a book fell from a table on the other side of the room, both boys froze. There was an embarrassed squeak and then the sound of footsteps hurrying away up to the dorms before silence resumed. Harry giggled; Percival's disapproving frown only made him laugh harder.
"Come on, you are obviously sleep deprived and delirious. Time for bed," Percival extricated himself from his position and helped Harry to repack his study materials.
When they had cleared the stairs, the final occupant of the room, stirred, and made their way up the opposite staircase.
-o0o-
The ride on the Hogwarts express was quiet, and to avoid trouble, Ron, simply moved to join his sister before they arrived at platform nine and three-quarters, so that Harry and Percival could use the crush of students to avoid the red-head's maternal figure. They quickly made their way to where Sirius was standing in the lee of one of the pillars, watching the crowd carefully.
"Dad," Harry greeted, stepping into the man's arms.
"Sirius." Percival nodded, over Harry's shoulder.
"Come on boys," Sirius reached out and took both of them by the shoulder apparating out of sight.
They reappeared moments later in the entryway of Grimmauld place.
"Leave your trunks for Kreacher. No doubt the pair of you are starving," Sirius chivvied them quickly to the kitchen. Both boys groaned as they saw the fully laden table, already set for their meal. Marlene and Remus were sat together on one side. To famished to do anything else, they sat down and set about their meal.
"Now tell us everything that has been going on," Sirius demanded.
The stories lasted longer than the meal, as, at least initially, the teens were more interested in eating then talking.
"Alright to bed with the pair of you. We have a lot to get done tomorrow."
"What are we doing tomorrow?" Harry stifled a yawn.
"Did you forget we need to get the Yule tree?"
"Is it that time already?"
A hand reached out and ruffled Harry's mess of hair, "Yes now up to bed." He continued to annoy them until they went. "Good," he stood and stretched, "I thought they'd never go."
"You were just waiting for them so that you can go to bed yourself," Remus accused.
Sirius gave him a wink and ran up the stairs.
In the cold darkness of the night, the only sound to be heard was the ticking of the grandfather clock as the pendulum swung back and forth. A red light began to glow and with an angry trill of birdsong a box was deposited in the middle of the kitchen table.
Hours passed before the house awoke, the first to stir was the newly diligent house-elf, he stepped into the kitchen and stared. He could feel the coldness emanating from the box, though it had a familiar counter point that he could nearly identify. Unable to move he stayed there, waiting, thinking.
The next to enter were the two boys, they tumbled down the stairs in a gangly mess of limbs.
"Kreacher?" the smaller of the pair called for the attention of the elf.
"Master Harry."
"What is it?" Harry reached for the box curiously.
"Don't touch it!" Percival said. "It feels wrong."
"Cold!" nodded Kreacher.
"I was just going to look at the note," Harry pointed to a white tag on the top of the box.
Percival gently grabbed Harry by the arms and pulled him backwards. With a quick sidestep he placed himself to the fore and raised his wand. Each spell he cast seemed to be absorbed by the box, and he frowned in dissatisfaction.
"It isn't right," he muttered.
"What isn't right?" Sirius asked, as he entered the room.
"The box isn't right?"
"What box?"
"The one on the table."
Sirius thought it looked innocuous enough, pristine white, bound with an even whiter ribbon. Only about a foot square. "What's wrong with it?"
"It doesn't respond to detection spells."
"Well, that's good, isn't it?" Harry asked confused.
"No," Sirius supplied, "there should always be some response, even if just to tell you the scan was successful and there is nothing wrong. That there is no reading at all, says that whatever is in there has been concealed, or perhaps something has been done to the box itself so that it is absorbing the magic. Either way we won't be able to check whether there is anything wrong until the box is opened."
"Which is suspicious in itself," Percival was still frowning.
"Well just set it on fire or get rid of it, then," Harry said.
"No!" Kreacher shouted, causing the boys and man to turn to him.
"Kreacher?" Sirius knelt near the now quivering elf. "Why not?"
"Because I can feel it," Kreacher whispered, eyes moist. "It feels like Master Regulus."
"Boys out into the hall, no arguments!" Sirius ordered. "Kreacher you can stay with me if you wish, or you may go and wake Remus …"
"I'm already here Padfoot," Remus said, looking around at the scene.
"Boys, move now," snapped Sirius once more.
"Come on Harry," Percival grabbed him by the arm and pulled him out of the room. "We'll go to the study."
"Good idea," Sirius nodded. A swish and a wave had the card pulling free of the ribbon.
It simply read: To Lord Sirius Black.
The writing was not in a hand he recognised and there was no magic to be detected.
"Do you really think?"
"Yeah."
"So who?"
"There are only two options. The question is whether or not either would have done something to him."
"Right," Remus closed and warded the kitchen door, then cast bubble head charms on the three of them, causing Sirius to look at him. "Yours were always rubbish, besides, if he's been made into a … into something else, you are going to need to cast the fire spell, you are better at those."
"Right, okay. You ready Kreacher?" Kreacher nodded.
With shaky hands Sirius slowly lifted the lid.