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.

Chapter 6: The Animagus Caught

October 27th, 1994

Hogwarts, Godric's Training room.

Sweat rolled down his face as he held the spell, controlling the heavy stone he had conjured as he slowly rotated it in different directions. Some would wonder why he would waste his time maneuvering a stone pointlessly, but there was good reason for it, control.

Godric's book was clear on this aspect. Control over the magic takes willpower, which then affects the difficulty of spells. His logic behind this exercise was that holding the stone takes both strength and willpower, but changing the rotation of the object furthers that. It took not just sheer power to hold the stone up, which likely weighed over a hundred pounds, but also the mental focus and strength to manipulate its movement simultaneously.

This was actually only one of three exercises that Godric insisted was valuable. Godric's second exercise was to levitate several objects of varying sizes and shapes in a circle around the caster, changing which way they spun around the person, and once they could do that, while walking, with their eyes closed, and for the final step, doing it while casting other spells.

The third exercise was actually the hardest though. It was to control several animations at once, and coordinate them to attack an object or person simultaneously yet in sync. This was different from command spells on animations, where in this case, the caster controlled them with constantly provided intent instead of single given commands. Harry remembered the duel between Dumbledore and Tom at the end of his fifth year, where the old headmaster controlled both a spell he was casting and an animation with what seemed to be relative ease, and that was what he was striving to achieve or exceed.

He stopped the stones movement, sighing when it hit the floor with a dull thud, and vanished the magical construct. He collapsed into the chair he had provided himself, taking several moments to slow his heart and let the tension seep from his body. His progress with the first exercise was significant. At first, he could only hold the stone in place, or move it forward and backwards. It had taken him several days to master moving the stone while keeping it in place, and now, it was down to moving the stone both in a physical direction and in rotation, which Harry had come up with to combine the second exercise's task with the first.

It wasn't easy though, and despite feeling that his reserves were more than when he died, he still felt drained after training, but it seemed to be paying off. Already, in just weeks, he had doubled the time that he could hold the large stone in the air, but he wasn't sure if that was an accurate test of magical strength, endurance, or if it was that his willpower had increased over the spell, making it less draining and more efficient for him to cast.

Wiping the sweat off, he headed for a shower, washing his body off in the private quarters as he thought. His main focus was dueling. The dummies were great practice, and he spent roughly an hour with them at any point that he could get in dodging practice or true dueling practice in. Yet he wanted an actual person who was adaptable and capable of teaching him.

He had originally thought of talking with an upper year, or perhaps Remus, who he had begun connecting with over the patronus spell again, but he was unsure if Remus would be willing, and an older student might not be good enough considering he was already capable of dueling in the first place. It left him only so many options. Namely Snape, McGonagall, and Dumbledore.

Snape, of course, was known to be quite capable with a wand, surpassing Lucius Malfoy and sitting not too far below Dolohov and Bellatrix in abilities, but the man would scoff at any sort of idea at teaching Harry. Likewise, McGonagall was far too busy with three separate positions in the school to take on an extra and unnecessary duty, and the Headmaster was far too concerned with him having a childhood to want to teach him anything, much less how to survive.

Harry stopped, his hands falling from scrubbing his shoulders as he thumped his head on the glass siding of the shower. 'Flitwick! The man is literally a dueling master and has the second most number of trophies for solo wins.'

How he had forgotten about the charms professor's prior job, Harry couldn't imagine. The man was a world renown dueler, scoring six championship titles alone, with three back-to-back championships, along with five more dueling championships in specialty circuits or in partner and team based dueling tournaments.

Rinsing himself off, he stepped out and dried his skin with a warming wind charm, and quickly got dressed. He knew it was close to time for him to get to sleep, which had become vital with the use of the time turner. Sure, he only went back four to six hours every day, minus two for breaks, with two or three in the morning and roughly the same at night, but sleep was critical to maintaining his sanity, allowing his natural clock to not become skewed too much and to allow his body and magic rest.

Really, it meant that he would sleep for a solid eight hours every day, and eat an extra meal.

Quickly rolling back time, he knew he had fifteen minutes before his past self would enter the room. He ate quickly, calling a house elf to bring him some food, before returning to the common room to relax and read one of the books on warding.

It was a sore point that he had two more cages fail, and yet, he hadn't figured out why. He was determined though, and certain he could have it done by Christmas.

Break…

October 31st, 1993

Hogwarts Gate

Filch glared as the four left the castle, and after a moment, Harry put it as it was due to his father causing problems for the caretaker. He shrugged the thought off regardless, excited about once again visiting the local village with his friends. Of course, Professor McGonagall had tried to stop him, but she had no grounds to stand on as he had a signed note, and it was unlikely for Sirius to attack him.

'As if my godfather would do such a thing.' Harry had thought.

Hermione was rattling off fact after fact about the village and its origins, something Harry had known from her rant the first time around, only Neville was adding in his own facts as they made their way towards the small town, the wind chilling them slightly as they walked.

"I say we go to Dervish and Bangs, then-" Harry ignored the conversation as he caught a glimpse of Sirius sulking near the woods, watching the students stream towards the village in his animagus form. Harry stared at the dog for a moment before returning to the conversation.

"We have to get some butterbeer!" Ron said excitedly. "I hear that Madam Rosemerta has the best butterbeer at the Three Broomsticks."

"From the way the twins talk, she has other things too." Harry added unhelpfully, causing the redhead to glow and stutter.

"Harry!" Hermione exclaimed in shock.

"What? It is what the twins say." Harry retorted, chuckling at Ron's embarrassment. Harry noticed Neville was a bit pink too, but said nothing. The shy boy was slowly coming out of his shell sooner than he had before, and it was something Harry wanted to continue.

"Whatever." She huffed, shaking her head, "Boys. Fine, we will make sure to get butterbeers from the Three Broomsticks at some point before returning to the castle.

Truthfully, the visit was just as amazing as the first time he went, and he attributed it to the fact there wasn't a war and for the first time in three years, to him at least, everyone seemed to be living a normal life. But he also had to concede that sometimes he became like a normal thirteen year old, excited and awed by things even if he had seen them before.

He wondered, if briefly, that he had become thirteen, and only had his memories, skills, and power to account from being older.

He bought stuff in just about every shop, and a couple of things for his friends as well, including a book for Hermione, candy for Ron, and a rather helpful Potions book for Neville, which was one he had found at Flourish and Blotts. They enjoyed a trip to look at the shrieking shack from a distance and butterbeers where the quidditch team joined them, talking for almost an hour before they finally headed back up to the castle.

They had about a half hour break between getting back to the castle and the Samhein feast, as he learned it was supposed to be called. They just sat in chairs around the common room, talking between each other until it was time for dinner. As always, the food was good, even if Harry felt a lingering pain at missing his parents.

As he was heading up to the tower though, he got a sudden idea, one that he didn't know if it would be possible, and yet, it was somewhat risky to do. He quickly knew he could pull it off though when he saw that the Fat Lady was unharmed and unmaimed, and after about two hours in the common room, he made his excuses to get alone, before turning himself back three hours.

Acting quickly, and unfortunately, acting without the map, he called for an elf, who he quickly asked to look for a black dog that would be heading towards the Gryffindor common rooms. It was fifteen minutes later that they said the dog was walking into the castle and taking the east wing steps, so Harry headed in that direction. He found a spot with only a single portrait, and being invisible, he waited.

It took four minutes for the dog to appear, and Harry saw him stop feet away from where he was standing, sniffing the air carefully. Acting quickly, he stuck his Ash wand out from the cloak and hit him with a nonverbal stunner, and he watched the dog hit the floor unconscious with a small thud.

Harry smiled as he effortlessly disillusioned the unconscious animagus, before lifting him and carrying him to Godric's quarters. He instantly came up with the idea that the man could stay there, at least for the short term, and would be safe from anyone finding him, while he was also able to get food, rest, and human contact, which he likely needed.

Break…

Sirius felt his awareness slowly return. He truly had no idea what had happened. Things had gone so smoothly, with him finding the smell of the rat lingering and heading towards the Gryffindor common room, leaving him alone from the rest of the castle's population and making him easy prey. Yet, someone had stunned him, and judging by the ropes he could feel and the blindfold around his eyes, they had captured him once more.

"Not go-going to ki-kill me? Wait-ing on the dementors?" His voice was raspy, harsh from the lack of substance and use. There was an unfamiliar chuckle from behind him.

"Not yet, Black. I want to know why you're here." The voice was young, perhaps a newer teacher or older student, more likely an auror recruit being hazed.

"To kill Pettigrew! You have *cough* to believe me. I'm innocent!" He hoped they would listen to him before the dementors showed up.

"Are you? Everyone believes that you betrayed m- Harry Potter's parents? That you gave Voldemort the secret willingly and happily, and Hagrid barely arrived in time to protect Harry from you?" The unknown person asked.

"Never. James was the brother I had always wanted!" He refuted. He felt the tears appear once more, "I convinced them Pettigrew would be the better secret keeper. I was already a target and they could surely get me easy enough, but Pettigrew was never known to be special, and hence, he had been left alone! He is a rat animagus that belongs to the Weasley boy!"

"Ah." The voice said. "Interesting. Shouldn't he be dead from the blasting curse you sent at him and the muggles?"

"I never casted it!" Sirius felt the fear coming. The person didn't believe him. "Pettigrew did before cutting his finger off, and then vanishing into the sewer!"

The voice chuckled, and Sirius felt his heart sink, until the blindfold suddenly vanished, revealing a room with warm reds and browns, not unlike the Gryffindor common room. He felt the person step closer to him. "As it is, Sirius, I happened to have already known the truth, I just needed to hear you say it."

The person that walked around from behind him looked scarily like James, but it was all wrong. He lacked the glasses, and while having a more slender build, he was still muscular and far younger. His step was wrong too, and he held his shoulders and face differently. It took a moment for Sirius to recognize that the person was Harry, and it was only thanks to the eyes that he knew.

"Harry?" Sirius asked, the ropes vanishing with a flick of the boy's wand. He rubbed his wrists, before glancing back at the teen. He had no idea what was going on, and the confusion was showing on his face.

"Sirius Black. Lord of House Black and current escapee of Azkaban." Harry said sarcastically. "Sorry for the scare and interrogation, but I knew you were coming today and I needed plausible deniability for how I knew you were innocent."

Sirius stared at him for a moment in confusion before his mind caught up, "How did-"

"I can't tell you yet." Harry cut in. "After you're free, I will tell you, on an oath for you to not tell Dumbledore, or anyone really."

Harry cursed himself internally, knowing that now he would have to come up with some reasonable explanation for how he knew so much. It wouldn't be easy, but maybe he could find a way… or he might very well end up explaining the future to Sirius. He pondered the thought, but had to abandon it as Sirius spoke.

"But…" Sirius took a deep breath, "Right. Well, why did you have to stun me? I was going to get the rat. He deserves to die."

"He does." Harry agreed. "Yet, I care more about your freedom. So the rat needs to be captured first. I have a plan to capture him, but it's a work in progress."

"Capture? If you can grab him, just stun him and give him to Amelia Bones." Sirius said seriously, "Why such complicated shite?"

Harry just laughed once it dawned on him that it was indeed possible. "I feel stupid."

"Acting like your father trying to win your mother by overthinking a dramatic plan… where are we?" Sirius asked, turning and looking around the room. It had books that looked old and new, a nice desk, and a hallway that went down towards unknown rooms.

"Godric Gryffindor's personal quarters." Harry replied, falling into a chair. "I had, quite spontaneously, thought that you should stay here for some time, get some food and selfcare."

"I… I need that. Yes." Sirius seemed to stare off into space for a moment. "Yeah. Will I see you much?"

"Every night for an hour or two. I am training, of course, but once you start getting better, you can join too." Harry answered, observing the man as he wandered the edge of the room.

Sirius nodded as an elf appeared with a full plate of food and a pitcher of water and a cup. He quickly sat at the desk, picking up the spoon and devouring the hearty soup, stopping only long enough to get drinks on occasion.

"How can I stay here and not get caught?" Sirius asked, taking a moment break from his food.

"No one but me can get in or out." Harry replied. "Sorry it's like another prison, but at least it's warm, with clothes and good food, and me of course."

"Loads better than Azkaban." Sirius muttered, taking a bite from the loaf of bread. "Do you have stuff for me to brew some potions?"

"Which ones do you need brewed?"

"Nutritional Elixir… maybe like Bavens Brew? Something for scars and all too." Sirius replied, sitting the last bite of bread down.

"Hm. I'll find the recipe, and brew it for you. Your hands are shaking too much to safely brew on your own." Harry replied thoughtfully. "As for the general scar paste, I'll order it instead."

"Thank you." He replied quietly. "How have you been? Who raised you after…"

"Petunia Dursley." Harry said quietly. Sirius' last reaction had been quite negative, and the slightly less mentally stable Sirius' reaction turned to him cursing for five solid minutes.

"And the Old White Bastard didn't even bother to send you to Amelia or Augusta? Or what about the Greengrasses?" Sirius snarled. "What happened to their will?"

"Whoa! I don't know." Harry's hands were up, placating the now glowering man. "He was insistent the blood wards were the best protection for me, so he likely kept me there regardless of what my parents wanted." Harry said, though the new realization that he should have been raised elsewhere hurt… significantly.

"Blood wards? He tied blood wards to an infant?" Sirius' eyes darkened as his anger returned, "Take me to the bastard."

"No." Harry said calmly, hiding his confusion about the anger over the blood wards. "You will end up in Azkaban again doing that. I need you in my life, so we aren't going to do that, alright?"

That stopped him in his tracks instantly, though it took a minute for him to stop pacing and breathing heavily, where he sat at the desk once more. "I'm… I'm sorry. I'm overwhelmed…"

"Why don't you get some sleep? A shower first, and then you can sleep in the bedroom here? I can come back in the morning after my workout to spend some time with you." Harry offered.

The man agreed, and he quickly headed to shower. Harry waited patiently, and it was nearly forty minutes later that the animagus was showered and dry, though his beard and hair were still damp. Harry dried both with his wand, before making sure he was set for the night and to call the elves if he needed something. Once he was sure of the man's comfort, he left him alone, heading to the Room of Requirement to think.

'Sirius has a point… Instead, I could simply write to Madam Bones and bring her here, getting Pettigrew captured at the same time and have Sirius present himself when she confirms Pettigrew's guilt…' Harry thought deeply on this.

He also needed to make sure Sirius got some human interaction… perhaps by having him walk with him in his Animagus form? He would have to think about it more. He knew, at least until Sirius was free and in better health mentally, that he could tell him nothing of what had originally happened. It would be a good thing to have the man on his side fully, and knowing what happened could give him another perspective.

'My parents' will… I wonder if Gringotts has a copy? And I guess I will need to do some research on Blood Wards too.' Harry thought, mentally requesting a potions book. "Can I get an elf?"

An elf, Tilly, appeared, and Harry wrote out a list of ingredients and items he would need. "Can you get these for me? There is gold in my trunk to pay for them?"

"Tilly can. But it bes tomorrow. Shops be closed already." The elf replied, its ears drooping slightly.

"Thats fine." Harry replied, placating the despondent elf, "Also, there is a man, Sirius Black, in Godric's quarters. Tell no one, not even the headmaster, that he is there, and please make sure he is fed and that you get him clothes when you go shopping for me tomorrow."

"Tilly will make it so. Anything else young Lord?" Tilly asked politely, not batting an eye over the fact a supposed mass murderer was being housed in the castle.

"No. Thank you. And call me Harry, or Master Harry if you must. And tell no one that you take orders from me, including the ghosts or portraits."

"Yes sirsy. Theys be not talkings about yous sir." Tilly said, disappearing after another moment.

Harry sighed. His headache came back from the elf's speech. 'Why can they not speak proper English?'

He shrugged off the thought and checked his watch. He had twenty minutes, so he practiced having three small stones spinning around him… and failed miserably in the five tries he gave. Not defeated, he headed up and to bed, hoping he made a good choice in protecting Sirius.

Chapter Length: 3476