Disclaimer: I own nothing other than the plot. The original concepts belong to JKR and Warner Brothers. Any concepts brought from other fictions are either coincidental or will be used in their own way, and no plagiarism is meant.
A/n: So, though sometimes it sucks, this chapter is a bit of an info dump, though it is necessary. It's the downside to third year, there is a lack of fighting and action. Even in the original book, most of the fighting was when Sirius unveiled Pettigrew.
Chapter 11: Lord of House Black
November 1st, 1993
Great Hall, Hogwarts
Harry awoke early the next morning, and after rolling onto his back, closed his eyes and entered his mindscape. It took some effort, but he overlooked everything he knew about Sirius Black. Something was missing, something important. Questions came across his mind.
Why did Sirius go after Peter Pettigrew?
Why had he gone to Hogwarts, and attacked the Gryffindor Tower while everyone was at the feast?
If he isn't after me, who was he after?
Harry looked over everything, again and again. Something important was missing, a piece, possibly even the smallest detail, yet for the life of him, he couldn't think of what it might be. As people slowly awoke, they focused on getting everyone else up. After breakfast, it was announced that classes had been canceled for the day, and that everyone should enjoy the day to calm down and perhaps get some rest in their own beds. After a trip to the dorms, the group met back in the common room.
"Personally, it sounds like the teachers just want us minding our own business so they can go to sleep." Hermione said, voicing the thought. Neville nodded.
"Probably. I woke up midway through the night, they were still walking around the room." The boy replied.
"Anyone care to do some extra studying, or spend some time in the library?" Hermione asked.
"Sorry Hermione, I am going for a run around the lake, maybe a few laps actually. I want to clear my head, and burn off some energy." Harry replied. Ron opted out as well, saying he had homework to do. The others often finished their homework right after it was assigned, or in Harry's case, during History of Magic, meaning they were free from the same burden. The three headed out of the common room, making their way to the Grand Staircases.
"I am going to read that book you gave me, Harry, I popped it open for a minute before coming down last night, and it looks helpful." Neville said. Hermione heard him, but chose not to say anything. She wanted more details before she asked questions.
"Focus on the parts teaching nonverbal casting, and that help instruct you on controlling your intent. Those help the most in class, and are a priority for dueling." Harry replied.
"Dueling? Just what are you two doing?" Hermione asked.
"Practicing magic, Hermione. What does it sound like?" Harry replied, a small grin tugging at his lips.
"It sounds like it is horribly advanced, and probably not safe. Even I can't do nonverbal casting." Hermione looked flummoxed, and not pleased about others learning stuff that she wasn't.
"Hermione, if you want to learn what we are, that's fine, I can teach you." Harry replied.
"You can't even do nonverbal casting."
Harry pulled out his wand, and before Hermione could react, was hit with several completely harmless but noticeable jinxes. Quickly enough, she had been hit with color changing charms, one that covered the person in glitter, and another that made them walk backwards. "I can't cast nonverbally, huh? Simply because I don't show it off in class, doesn't mean I cannot do it, Hermione."
Flicking his wand, he canceled out, or vanished, what he had done to the poor girl. She bit her lip for a second, before speaking. "Will you help me, teach me what you just did?"
"Yea, how about every Saturday and Sunday, we take two hours away from any class related work, and I work with you on nonverbal casting? I promised Neville one-on-one assistance, but I'd be happy to help teach you as well." Harry said, watching her closely.
She nodded, looking less upset than before, "Thank you."
"Harry" Neville said, getting Harry's attention, "Is it me, or has Ron been running off more and more often?"
Harry frowned, thinking, "He has been. I've noticed him spending more time with Seamus and Dean, but I have thought it is just because we spend so much time working hard, and not lazing about. Why do you ask?"
"It was just something I noticed. I wanted to make sure there hadn't been any fights or anything." Neville replied. Harry shook his head.
"He only really picks fights with Hermione, mostly over Crookshanks." Harry said, earning a glare from the girl.
"Stupid red-headed fool. Crookshanks isn't intentionally targeting his rat. He is just being a cat." Hermione said, muttering a bit more. "Well, see you later Harry, enjoy your run."
They split off, Neville was probably going to sit with Hermione in the Library and read the book, where Hermione would be attempting to read all of the books. Harry made his way down three more flights of stairs, and out of the Main Hall into the courtyard. From there, it was only a short journey to the Black Lake.
While a lot of magicals didn't stress much about physical exercise, there was a path well worn around the lake from the quidditch teams and those that did run, as the lake was the best place outside to run. As Harry started running, he cleared his mind. Focusing only on what was happening right then. The wind against his skin, the smell of the water, the birds chirping, the trees slowly losing their leaves. It was therapeutic, only worrying about taking the next step.
After his first lap, he sat down on a rock near the edge of the lake, thinking about things that needed done. Higher most on his priorities was ordering a new broom. They only had three practices since his broom had been destroyed, and the school brooms were nearly worthless. Sure, they flew, but they were slow and the maneuverability was nothing compared to what he had been used to. He had looked, and the Nimbus 2002 had just come out, along with the Cleansweep 8 and the Comet 350, a new broom series from the company. Nothing though, held his attention like the Firebolt did. He was just hesitant on spending the over nine hundred galleons on the broom, even if he could afford it. The next most expensive one was only a hundred and fifty.
Something caught his awareness, stopping all thoughts of a new Firebolt. Something was close by, he could feel it. Looking, he saw nothing, not even further down the path, yet he couldn't shake the feeling. Deciding to keep running, he stood, and took off at jogging pace. The feeling diminished after a few minutes, but it didn't last. He felt it returned halfway around the lake, almost perfectly opposite to the school, yet the feeling wasn't what scared the shit out of him.
It was the massive dog that leapt from the bushes, and landed only feet in front of him!
Harry's wand fell into his hand, and aimed at the black dog sitting in front of him, but the dog didn't seem even slightly unnerved by it. It just tilted its head, and let out a small growl. Harry absently noticed the dog looked fuller, less skinny.
"Padfoot? Sirius?" Harry said, barely more than a whisper. The dog stilled, staring at him in both fear and something else Harry couldn't identify. Harry realized this was his chance to speak to the man, or else he might not have another. "Don't run, please. I want to talk, and no, I won't attempt to kill you. Right now, I think you are innocent, but if you run, I will tell the Aurors about you, and that you are here."
The dog stood, entirely unmoving, before bowing its head. Letting out a small bark, it lept off the path and back towards the forest, Harry followed when the dog turned back, and after a few minutes walking, he entered a clearing. Harry locked eyes with the dog, neither moving, before suddenly the dog began to shift.
The front legs lengthened, the body losing its hair and growing larger, the head rounding out and expanding. Every change, from a dog to a man, took but a few seconds. The man standing there had shaggy black hair that stretched to his shoulders, an angular and aristocratic face, bright gray eyes, trimmed facial hair. He was roughly six foot tall, wearing nicer robes, and seemingly in good shape. If it weren't for the more hallowed look throughout his face, Harry wouldn't believe that the man had been in Azkaban.
"Hadrian? Harry?" Sirius asked, the voice, though deeper and regal, cracked a little. Harry's wand was still in his hand, though not aimed at the supposed criminal only a few feet away.
"Sirius Black, notorious murderer and betrayer of my family… supposedly?" Harry asked in reply. He watched the man flinch, and look down.
"I'm sorry… so sorry Harry. I made many mistakes back then, the least of which was refusing to be your family's secret keeper." the man replied. A tear fell onto his cheek as he explained further, fixing Harry's confusion.
"James asked me first. I was supposed to be the one that protected your home, your family. I refused, because it was well known that your father and I were best friends. I thought Peter would've been the better choice, as no one would suspect him. I was wrong. Your family hadn't even been under the charm for three weeks when everything happened. I'm sorry."
His voice broke more and more the further he got into the speech, and at the end, there were tears streaming down his face. Harry watched, warring with his own emotions on what to do.
"Why do they believe you are guilty? Why did you kill all of the muggles too?" He asked.
"I-I never did. I only casted a shield charm and a stunner that night. I wanted him hauled before the Wizengamot, and sentenced to death. Peter, the bastard outsmarted me, played me. He faked his death, cut off a finger and ran, using the explosion as a distraction. They believed me guilty because I said I was the keeper before that night, in a bar. I did it as a decoy distraction. We even kept the ruse up with Dumbledore. He never knew the change, and I guess never stopped them from just shipping me to Azkaban. I never even got a trial, or a visit. I was just stunned in my cell and woke up in the prison."
He looked at Harry, before speaking, "A kid in this school has him as a pet, the youngest Weasley boy. I saw him in the photo, missing a toe and everything. If I had to guess right, the rat is probably far older than it should be. I keep trying to capture him, prove my innocence, but I can't do it alone. I need help." Sirius said.
Harry sat, processing everything. That was the missing piece, Scabbers. Ron even said on the train that he was his brother's rat first, and the shopkeeper was even astounded by his age. "Pettigrew has been with the Weasleys for thirteen years. Apparently, he had belonged to Percy before he was given to Ron."
The news didn't seem to surprise the supposed criminal standing across from him. Harry stared at him intently, having even more questions for him. "You blood adopted me, why?"
"I was supposed to take care of you, if your parents died, be an uncle of sorts, but with a claim none could refute. Technically, Frank and Alice would have had the first claim, but they had agreed to share time between us, co-parenting I believe Lily called it. If something had happened to them, then everything became my responsibility. There were other reasons it was necessary, but we don't have time to discuss them right now." Sirius explained.
"That night, Dumbledore showed up not long after I did. I had healed the cut on your head the best I could, but it was only so much. He offered to take you to Hogwarts, and keep you safe until I returned. To be honest, I have no idea why he hadn't given you to the Longbottoms when I hadn't shown, nor why the will wasn't read to see who was to care for you." Sirius replied, staring at Harry.
Harry stared at the man, warring with his emotions. Everything the man had said, Harry could feel was true. He hadn't meant to abandon Harry, nor had he betrayed Harry's family. His wand vanished into his sleeve as he approached the man, and Sirius was quick to envelope Harry in a hug. It seemed to be the breaking point for Sirius, he seemed to latch onto Harry with a surprising force. After a few minutes of trying to calm the man down, Harry was finally let go. Sirius took a few deep breaths before speaking.
"You can't be missing for long or it will be suspicious, even now it is a risk. I am safe for the most part. I can't tell you where I am yet, but I will once I am free." Sirius reached into his pocket and pulled out a pouch, "In here are two items. The first is a communications mirror. To use it, say 'Padfoot', and it will connect to mine. Your father and I made them, and that one is his. As for the second, I've spent the past weeks building a warded cage. Stun the rat and stuff him in there. During Yule Break, we need to sneak from the castle and go to Gringotts. I need a copy of your parent's will, and I need to ensure you have claimed your rings, both the Potter and Black rings."
Harry nodded, "I've already claimed the rings, and visited one of their healers too, it was charged to the Black family vault I believe." Harry responded, watching carefully for any anger. He sighed slightly when the man looked relieved.
"I am sorry you needed a healer, but it is worth using theirs, after all, I did too. I hadn't noticed the charge in the paperwork yet though. I am still cleaning up the finances, and must not have gotten that far. They haven't been touched since my grandfather died six years ago. We can set up me to take the Regency of House Potter, and I can start helping you with yours come summer. While the goblins do a lot, there are still decisions that need to be made." Sirius said. "We can talk more later, on the mirrors, just… before using it, cast the spell Muffliato, while swirling your wand around you. It is a privacy charm, and will allow us to talk freely."
"What about Dumbledore? I don't trust him right now, he has been keeping a lot from me, and has too much control over me." Harry asked carefully. Sirius scowled, which for a second seemed like bad news.
"I lost a lot of faith in Dumbledore before I was imprisoned, so had most of the Order, Dumbledore's anti-fighting group. After not receiving anything from the man, I won't simply volunteer any information to him, certainly not about you, nor do I want his help in this. He tries to control everything far too much." Sirius replied, "Now go, we can talk later, if I don't answer, I might be busy. Capture the rat as soon as you can, with any means necessary."
Before Harry could say anymore, Sirius grabbed him in another hug, released him, and transformed before vanishing. Harry stood stunned, overwhelmed by what he had just learned. After almost five minutes, rewatching and memorizing everything that was said, he sighed. His parents had been right, Sirius wasn't guilty, and now there was work to do. If he wanted out of the Dursleys, and a relationship with his adoptive godfather, he had to help, something he would happily do.
He lost himself in his thoughts as he tucked the bag into his pocket and started walking back towards the school. The man seemed to be in good health and sanity, and seemed to be far more stable than anyone thought he could be. It was a complete mystery, but something Harry would figure out.
"HARRY!" Two voices sounded. Harry shook himself from his thoughts as he saw the twins, Fred and George, running towards him with an older piece of parchment in their hands.
"Are you ok?" Fred, Harry thought, asked.
"I am fine… why did you guys come find me in such a panic… and how did you find me?" Harry asked. Is it possible they knew who he met with? But then… that means they have it!
They looked between each other, before they held the parchment out. "We have a secret, and it stays between us, it's called the Marauders Map- '' George started, Harry cut him off.
"You found my father's map?" Harry was ecstatic that his suspicions were right. His father had written in his journal that the map had been confiscated by Filch in their seventh year, though the caretaker had no idea what it was.
"YOUR WHAT!" Both yelled. Harry laughed.
"My father was called Prongs, he and his friends made the map when they were in school to help them escape detection. I've been trying to find it since I learned of it a few weeks ago."
Both looked between each other before speaking, "Prove it!"
Harry took the map, and flipped it open, before speaking, "The son of Prongs, solemnly swears he is up to no good."
The map started covering itself in writing, greeting him from each of the Marauders, in different silly methods. Each one telling him to cause some mayhem, or to chase the prettiest girls. Harry laughed before turning the map towards them.
"We are not worthy of your presence, your greatness!" They spoke, bowing to him. Harry laughed.
"Knock it off you two." He said, still smiling.
The twins sobered up, remembering why they came, and George, confirmed by the map, asked, "We came running because the map showed you with Sirius Black. Are you ok? Did he hurt you?" Both looked concerned, and Harry knew this wasn't something he could just avoid answering.
Using the spell Sirius taught him, he spoke, "Sirius is my…family, and he came to explain things to me. I believe him, and had suspected he was innocent before he came to me. Peter Pettigrew framed him, and he gave me the stuff we needed to capture him. You can't tell anyone about this though. I mean it. Not even Dumbledore."
"But surely Dumbledore-" "-Would help you both!" They spoke. Harry shook his head.
"There is a lot going on. I can't tell you why, but Dumbledore might hinder us or stop us entirely. It has to be done without him. Now I want your word that you won't tell anyone." Harry slid his wand into his hand. While he didn't want to, he would force it. They weren't oblivious to the action, and quickly agreed.
"I'm sorry for being forceful, but I have to be." Harry said quietly.
"We understand Harrykins, we-" "Just worry about you, you're like family to us."
"Thank you both, and I promise some more answers another time. And if you ever need to borrow the map, just ask. I'm not against sharing it with you both."
The matching grins would have scared Harry had he not known he would be safe from the craziest of their mayhem. After quick one armed hugs, and after Harry dispelled the silencing charms, they made their own ways. Harry made it to his dorm before opening the map again, quickly finding the Pettigrew was laying in Ron's sheets. No one was in the dorm, so Harry made the move.
Quietly making his way over, he drew his wand, and flipped the sheets. Before the rat could react, a stunner hit him in his back, leaving the man-rat unconscious. Harry withdrew the cage from the bag, which was expanded like his trunk, and shoved the rat into it. Thinking for a moment, he opened his spare compartment in his trunk, and buried the rat in it, hidden below some random junk so no one would accidentally see him. Later, Harry thought, he would ask Sirius if the rat would need to be fed.
Not that I am really that concerned about his well being. He just needs to live long enough to free Sirius.
Making his way back out, relieved he had the rat, he made his way down to the Library, and found Neville and Hermione discussing the dueling book. He joined in the conversation, oblivious to any problems that would occur later.
Evening…
Upon returning to the common room after dinner, a fight broke out between Ron and Hermione, something that was Harry's fault.
"YOUR BLOODY MONSTER ATE MY PET!" Ron yelled.
Hermione had tears running down her cheeks as she yelled back, "HE IS JUST A CAT, AND CERTAINLY NOT THE ONLY ONE IN THE TOWER! QUIT ALWAYS BLAMING ME FOR THINGS I CAN'T CONTROL!" Hermione yelled, before turning and storming the room.
Harry and Neville looked between each other, before nodding. Neville left for Hermione as Harry stepped forward, "Ron, enough. Hermione isn't at fault, so don't go yelling at her. Besides, Scabbers was sick, and it couldn't have been long before he passed anyway."
"Take her side, Harry. You always do." Ron spit out, turning and storming away. Harry just shook his head, and went in search of Hermione. He felt guilty that Ron blamed her, but knew he couldn't say anything.
It was only a few minutes later when he found the two in an abandoned classroom down from the common room. Neville clearly was terrified of the crying girl, and though Harry had no idea what to do, he held his arms out, almost falling when she leaped at him. After nearly ten minutes, she calmed herself enough to speak.
"I'm sorry, to both of you. And sorry for making a mess of your clothes Harry." She said, pulling herself away to wipe her eyes. Harry just smiled, and with a flick of his wand, his robes were clean and unaffected. Hermione just stared, before sighing.
"What did you mean when you said 'Quit blaming me for things I can't control'?" Neville asked. Hermione glanced at Harry before her gaze fell to the floor.
"He blamed me for Harry becoming more studious, and wanting to be better in class. He tried to say that it would be my fault for driving a wedge between the two because I had to have forced Harry into the harder class. 'Harry never would have done that if you didn't force him to'."
Neville was smart enough to keep Harry from leaving the room, as the look on Harry's face was near murderous. Well, between that and Hermione grabbing him, he might well have gone and put the boy in the hospital wing.
"No Harry. I have come to terms that he doesn't want anyone to be friends with you besides him, including me. You won't let him stop you, nor will it me, so let me deal with him. Just let it go, at least when it is over me. If he is stopping someone else, then let it be a problem, but don't fight with him over me." Hermione was nearly begging, and after a moment, Harry let her win this one.
"Fine, but if he causes any more problems with you, come to me, and I'll fix it." Harry replied firmly. The glow in his eyes enforced his seriousness, and Hermione nodded.
"Alright. I will." She said, "Thank you for coming to help me, both of you."
Neville shook his head, "I didn't do much, I'm not really sure how to deal with crying girls."
Harry laughed, "Neither do I mate, just hug 'em and wing it, either it helps or you get slapped."
"Both of you, knock it off. Neville, you did great, just don't be afraid to hold a girl when she is crying. At least, when the tears aren't because of you." Hermione said, slapping Harry on his chest when he stuck his tongue out at her. "Now come on, I want to relax in the common room and Ron isn't going to stop me."
That night, Harry laid in his bed, wondering when he should contact Sirius. After a minute, he decided before his run in the morning, and if he didn't answer, then in the afternoon after his private practice.
November 3rd, 1993
Abandoned Classroom, Hogwarts
Sirius hadn't answered his mirror the day before, and after checking the cage this morning, he saw the rat was still asleep. Though he was mildly confused about it, he didn't necessarily care. Pettigrew wouldn't die after all.
Deciding to try again, Harry casted the charm across the room, before looking at the mirror, "Padfoot".
Nothing happened for a minute, before the image rippled and shifted, showing Sirius on the other end sitting in a room, "Hey pup! How is it going? Did you get him?"
"Yea, but he hasn't woken up since I stunned him and put him in the cage."
"A feature I added so he couldn't escape. Besides the cage being rune engraved with unbreaking runes, and blocking him transforming, it also has a localized stasis spell on it. He won't wake until he is removed and ennervated." Sirius replied, laughing at the stunned look on his face. "I didn't explain much did I?"
Harry shook his head, "You just said to capture him, and that we would get the will. It would get you freed so I could come live with you."
"Yes, in a sense, though there is a lot more bureaucracy behind it. I have a solicitor who has already gotten everything from me, other than the rat and the will. Once we have both, a meeting with the head of the DMLE will be made, and I will testify under a near-perfect truth serum, along with providing everything to prove my innocence. On the same day, things will be sent to the Daily Prophet to ensure that this can't be buried."
"Buried?" Harry asked.
"So they can't ignore it and have me kissed anyway. The meeting will be scheduled to happen at the same time the Prophet is sent out." The man replied unfazed.
"Alright… well. What else should we discuss?" Harry asked, wanting to talk to the man.
"Your quidditch match. I know your broom was broken. On Christmas, you're getting a special gift from me, so don't buy a broom, and don't tell anyone you have ordered one either." Sirius said. "I am only telling you so it doesn't get confiscated, as I am sure everyone is keeping an eye on you."
"You saw my match?" Harry hadn't seen the dog there, but really, he couldn't have seen much of anything.
"Yes. And have you spoken to Professor Flitwick about learning the Patronus charm? I know you are powerful enough to do it, I could feel it in the clearing."
"No. Remus taught it to me. Moony. My Corporeal is a Basilisk." Harry replied casually. Sirius' jaw dropped.
"Moony? He is at Hogwarts?" Sirius asked bewildered. Remus got away with more than any of the Marauders. That he would become a teacher… Well, Sirius supposed it wasn't actually too unlikely, the wolf liked to read far too much, and the sole reason any of them passed their history OWLs.
"Yea, he is teaching Defense for the year. You didn't know?" Harry asked, surprised.
"No. He wasn't at the quidditch match, which I suppose isn't surprising considering the full moon had been shortly before, and even the wolfsbane would have left him easily tired." Sirius spoke, thinking out loud.
"Well, don't tell him anything, not yet anyways. Right now, focus on training. I will send a few books from my Hitwizard days. They have tips and secrets only they know. It's part of how I have evaded capture so much, besides cleaning myself up and glamours in muggle stores." Sirius said.
They ended up talking for nearly an hour, before Sirius demanded Harry end the chat, telling Harry to train for a short bit before returning to the normal world. Harry did, and no one asked questions of where he had been. That evening, Harry prepared the last things he needed for his plan.
Headmasters Office, Hogwarts
Albus Dumbledore sat at his desk, several papers scattered in front of him. He had finally discovered what might have happened. Through years of study on the creatures, it was discovered that the venom of the Basilisk was destructive to unnatural magic. If the magic was originally a part of the object, it didn't phase it, like a magically enriched stone or a person's own magic, but applied magic was broken, like an enchantment. The only known exception to this was goblin forged silver.
Harry had been bitten, and if the venom had been in him long enough, it would have destroyed the Horcrux. If nothing else, then perhaps with the core binding broken, Harry's magic was strong enough to have evicted the shard. Either way, Harry was free of the shard, meaning new plans had to be made.
Well, this wasn't what I wanted, but perhaps it is best. To train him to take my place, and eventually retire to somewhere nice sooner than planned. Maybe the Bahamas? Now, plans need to be made so he can defeat Tom. Not yet though. Not until after next year. He needs a childhood. Dumbledore thought.
Fawkes trilled in the background, hopeful that his bonded wouldn't make the same mistakes that he had made before once more.