AN: This chapter was Beta Read by Brawn1984 and Starrmastrr.
AN: I do not own Harry Potter or Red Hood.
Disclaimer: This chapter contains some disturbing content. Viewer discretion advised.
Albus Dumbledore walked into the Leaky Cauldron and looked around. There was a figure hidden in the corner. He looked inside the figures mind. When he entered the mind, he saw a cavern. The cavern had the Hogwarts Bat suit, the Red Hood suit, a sword in a big metal block, a workbench with two plants growing on it, several targets with knives, metal stars, and blast marks from a myriad of spells. In the center of the room stood a 15-year-old boy with black hair that shined red when the light hit it just right.
"What are you doing here Headmaster?" Jason Todd asked.
"I came to check on you, my boy. I know what happened."
"You mean you know what that bitch did?"
"Sadly yes. I'm sorry that I wasn't able to stop her."
"I was too late. Too late to save her."
"Jason. I hate to ask this at this time, but... are you drinking?"
"Yup. I stole a bottle of confiscated Fire Whiskey on my way out."
Dumbledore went quiet.
"Are you here to tell me that I'm expelled from Hogwarts, and to turn me in?"
"Why don't you tell me what happened?"
"From the beginning, or from the time Umbitch chased you away?"
"From the beginning."
"It's not pretty."
"Most deaths aren't."
"Fine, but just remember. You asked for it."
One year earlier.
A scream ripped through the air alerting the fifteen-year-old that someone was in trouble. He apparated through the streets trying to find out where the scream came from. He stopped and looked around a corner and found a Dementor bearing down on a couple.
CRACK-COOM!*
The Dementor fell to the ground dead as the bone bullet tore through his hooded head sending Basilisk venom into its body.
The couple looked up and saw...
"Jason!" Clara Carter said happily.
"Todd!" Draco Malfoy said in an awed tone that he quickly changed to neutral.
"What's up?" The teen in question asked. "And why was a Dementor chasing you?"
"I'm pretty sure my father had something to do with it." Draco said harshly.
"Because of Clara?"
"I think so. He glared at me when I got home and makes life Difficult when mother isn't around. I've been spending more time away from home this summer than time at home."
Jason put two pistols in their holsters and looked at the two. "Want to get breakfast?"
"Sure." Clara perked up.
They made their way to the Leaky Cauldron and sat down.
"Mr. Todd." Tom said. "How are you doing?"
"I'm well Tom. Thank you."
"You're welcome Mr. Todd. Can I get you some breakfast?"
"Yes, and my friends."
Tom looked behind Jason and saw Draco Malfoy and Clara Carter.
"Of course. Of course. Please sit down."
They sat at a table in the corner and began talking.
"What have you two been up to?" Jason asked.
"Oh." Clara began. "One day Blaise Zabini came in while Draco was there and started talking down to me, and Draco stepped in to defend me. He was so amazing."
Draco blushed at the praise, going pink.
"It was nothing." He said rubbing the back of his neck.
"No, it's not." Jason said. "You have changed since first year. You're not the same kid that bullied Ron because of his Families status. Or the bully who called Hermione a Mudblood. Or even the guy who relied on his father's wealth. This past year has changed you... for the better."
Tom came to their table. "What can I get you three?"
They ordered and ate in companionable silence and left afterwards.
"Do you need any robes for this year?" Clara asked Jason as they walked.
"I need some adjustments to my old robes." He spoke. "I bulked up a little in America."
"What were you doing in America?"
Jason flashed back to that day.
Jason walked out of the fireplace and into a study. He disappeared into the shadows and walked throughout the house. He found a person and pulled the trigger.
*CRACK-COOM*
The figure dropped, and Jason heard others coming his way.
"We know you're here!" A voice said.
"I know." Jason said. "That loud explosion tipped you off. Don't bother trying to find me. I used an echoing charm to mask my location."
"Show yourself!" *CRACK* The man dropped to the floor dead.
"No. I don't think I will." Jason killed all but one of the people in the room.
"Where is Guido Bertinelli Jr.?" He demanded."
"Look man. I don't know where he is."
"Don't lie! I know he's here, and if you don't tell me, I'll break you for the information."
"I don't know!"*CRACK!*"AAAHHHH!" The man wailed as the bullet tore through one of his toes.
"That bullet isn't laced with poison, so I can go until I run out. You on the other hand, can't."
"No." The man said defiantly.
"Fine. Accio Guido Bertinelli Jr."
"NNOOO!" The man yelled.
Guido Bertinelli Jr. was in his basement guarded by several magical guards, and even more magical traps. No one was getting in his panic room. He was sitting in his easy chair reading a book when he felt weightless, and he was pulled towards, and hit the door five times before his guards opened the door, and he went flying through the various magical traps that were meant to keep the Aurors out, and were meant to kill anyone who came down here with extreme prejudice the traps were all highly illegal and used dark magic, and now they were being used to kill him.
Jason was waiting two minutes before a mass of what was once Guido Bertinelli Jr. landed in front of him.
"Well. Not what I had in mind, but it got the job done. I hope you suffered for what you did to Mary." He said before lighting the blob on fire and leaving the house and walked towards a coffee house.
"Coffee." He said to the barista.
"How do ya want it hon?" The barista asked.
"Black, no cream, no sugar."
"That'll be 5.00 hon."
Jason put some money on the counter and left. "Keep the change."
"Twenty dollars for a five-dollar coffee?" The Barista asked. "That's the nicest tip anyone has ever given me."
Jason walked towards the docks where he was supposed to apparate back to Mary's house, but someplace caught his eye. MMA. The sign read.
"Might as well see what this is about." He said walking in.
Two months later.
Jason walked to the docks and Apparated back to Mary's house to tell Helena that Mary's Father was dead. They sat in the study while Jason told her what had happened, and when he told her that Guido Bertinelli Jr. was dead. She let out a sigh of relief, but Jason caught something else in her voice, but couldn't place it.
"Thank you, Jason." Helena said. "You don't know how relived I am that my brother can't hurt Mary anymore."
"You're welcome." Jason said before leaving.
Helena sobbed after Jason left. Mary was safe, but at the cost of Jason's soul.
"And that's What happened." Jason said.
"Whoa." Clara said. "You killed a guy with the summoning charm?"
"I guess so."
"That's pretty messed up Todd." Draco said.
"Oh, and putting a cursed object in a first year's cauldron isn't?"
"That was my father."
Jason stayed quiet for a while.
"Have you heard the news yet?" Draco asked.
"News? What news?"
"Potter apparently used magic in front of a muggle."
"What's going to happen to him?"
"He's going to court in a couple of days. At least that's what I heard my father say."
"I need to get back to the burrow."
"Get going." Malfoy said. "I'll take care of breakfast."
Jason looked at Draco. That was very out of character for him. 'I guess Clara is having a better influence on him than I thought.'
Jason ran to Diagon alley, and Apparated to the Burrow. When he got there, he saw that the door was locked. "Alohomora." He cast. The door opened and he walked in. He walked throughout the house and saw that nothing seemed out of place. The beds were made, there was no dust anywhere to be seen. He ran downstairs and looked at the clock. The clock had been stopped. "Damn." He swore. "Where are they?"
The floo came to life and he drew his dagger and one of his guns. A figure stepped out of the fireplace wearing a black cloak. Jason aimed and shot the figure in the leg.
"OW!" An easily recognized voice said. "That hurt you wanker!"
"Fred?" Jason asked.
A second figure appeared behind him and poked him in the back. Jason spun around and slashed at him cutting his arm.
"OW!" George yelled.
"What the hell guys!" He yelled. "You have done some really stupid shit in the past, but this was REALLY stupid!"
"Jason!" They both yelled. "Why the hell are you here?"
"Where else would I go!"
"We didn't know where you were. Neither did your family. We've been worried."
"I've gone on training missions before, and you didn't worry then."
"That's where you're wrong mate." They spoke. "We were worried then too."
"Well then why did you guy's leave?"
"It was safer to move."
"What do you mean?"
"Let's get back to headquarters and we will tell you what we can." Fred said walking outside.
"Why aren't we taking the floo?"
"It can be tracked."
"Can't it be tracked back to headquarters then?"
"No. We took multiple floo networks before coming to the Burrow."
"Then we're going to apparate?"
"You've got it mate." George said.
"Then where are we going?"
"Diagon Alley. We'll tell you the next place when we get there, and so on until we get to headquarters."
"Who came up with all of this?"
"Neville and Ron."
"I'm impressed."
"Let's go then." Fred said apparating.
They apparated to Diagon Alley before Apparating to King's Cross, The Ministry of Magic, and finally to a set off flats.
"What are we doing here?" Jason asked.
"Oh. That's right." Fred said. "Hold on while we go get Harry."
"Why Harry?"
"Just wait." Fred and George said before disappearing into thin air. Jason blinked and rubbed his eye's. Had he just seen that? Had he literally just seen Fred and George disappear into thin air? Did they just pull a him? So that's what that felt like. He waited for two minutes before a familiar figure appeared out of nowhere.
"Harry?" Jason asked.
"Hello Jason." Harry said.
"How are you doing?"
"I've been better."
"I heard that you are going to court soon."
"Unfortunately. I went to the Dursley's to return all of the clothes that they had given me, and my aunt was attacked by a Dementor. I cast a Patronus and next thing I knew I was getting an owl about underage magic use."
Jason looked at Harry to see that rather than wear the clothes that were normally a size or two too big, he was wearing clothes that actually fit his frame. "I'll ask Alfred for a spell that will remove the restrictions from your guy's wands."
"It won't do me much good now, but first I have to tell you where we are."
"Where are we?"
"Number 12 Grimmauld Place." Harry whispered.
Jason jolted backwards when he saw a building appear out of nowhere. "What the Frick was that?" Jason asked.
"Welcome to my home." Harry said raising an eyebrow at Jason's odd language. "Why the change in language?" He asked.
"I'm getting ready for Mrs. Weasley. You know that she doesn't like swearing."
"Ah. Yes. That makes sense. Well. Shall we go?" He asked leading Jason into the house.
The two walked into the house, and Jason was surprised at how decrepit the house looked. The wallpaper was peeling back, and the carpet looked thin and like it needed to be cleaned desperately. They were walking through the hallway when Jason was pulled into a hug by someone with immense physical strength.
"OH! Jason dear where have you been? I've been worried sick, not to mention your family, and friends."
"I'm sorry Mrs. Weasley." Jason replied as his heart threatened to erupt out of his chest, it was beating so fast. "I went and did some training abroad. I didn't mean to worry you."
"We were just so worried since what happened last year." She spoke.
Jason flinched at the memory of the graveyard.
"Go on upstairs Jason. The others are waiting, and I will call you when dinner is ready."
"Okay." Jason said as Harry led him upstairs. When they arrived, Jason was led to a room with the door closed. Harry opened the door, and Jason jumped onto the banister and flipped onto the chandelier as spells, objects, and various liquids were thrown at him.
"Cease fire! Cease fire!" Ron yelled.
The spells, objects, and liquids stopped and harry turned to Jason to reveal that his hair had been turned two different shades of blue, he had bat bogeys coming out of his nose, and flying around him, he was drenched in various liquids including eggs, water, juice, and something that smelled an awful lot like Listerine."
"Hey." Jason said. "Don't blame me. Blame our friends for their friendly fire."
"Friends?" Ron asked. "Is that what you call us after you abandon us for two months?"
"I would have been back sooner, but something came up."
"Oh really. What came up that was so important?"
"Remember the graveyard last year?" Jason asked coldly.
Everyone froze where they were, and Harry shivered as he remembered that night.
"I was training so that didn't happen again."
"Oh." Ron said.
"Yeah. I'll have a lot of stuff to teach you this year, so be read-" Jason jumped over the Banister and onto the stairs as someone poured water where he had been."
"Oh. I thought that would work." Luna said.
"You'll have to do better than that if you want to get the drop on me." Jason said as something landed on his shoulder. He looked over to see a Peregrine Falcon perched on his shoulder. "Hello Parvati."
The bird looked away from him.
"Ah yes. You're mad at me too."
The bird grabbed his shirt and flew in the direction of a room.
Jason followed her, and when they were in the room Parvati changed back before grabbing him and slamming him against the door. "You don't write..." She slammed him into the door. "You don't floo..." She slammed him into the door again. "What's a girl to do?" She slammed him into the door a third time.
"Hey." Jason said. "It rhymes."
"Tell me." Parvati said as she slammed him into the door a fourth time.
"I did tell you that I was leaving."
"Not for two months! And you didn't even contact me to let me know you were okay."
"I'm sorry." Jason said. "But I do have one question?"
"What?"
"How's Mary doing?"
"She's been doing fine. She asks about you every time I see her."
"Well. We will see her at school."
"Yeah. We will."
Parvati gave him a quick peck on the cheek and walked outside only to get doused in water.
"Oh no." Luna said. "I missed again."
Jason cast a spell that pulled the water from Parvati's clothes and threw it to the other side before walking out to see the others on the other side of the door waiting to get them. "You're going to have to try harder than that." He said as he jumped from the room, over the banister, and used his grapple to repel to the floor leaving Luna to get hit with the others arsenal. "Sorry Luna." He called up to her.
"It's all right." Luna said. "Bat Bogeys are an interesting species don't you think?"
"Yeah. They are pretty unusual."
"Why are you so good at dodging?!" Ginny asked.
"I'll show you this year at school."
"Fine."
"Hey." Ron said. "Come on up. We have loads to tell you."
"Cease fire while you guys catch me up on everything, and then you can go back to trying to hit me?"
"Sounds good mate."
Jason walked up the stairs and they gathered in the upstairs tearoom. "So." Jason said. "What happened over the last two months?"
"Well." Luna said. "You missed the Crumple-Horned Snorkack hunt that daddy and I went on this year."
"Oh, I'm sorry. Did you guy's find one?"
"Unfortunately, no, but we feel confident about next year."
"I believe in you." Jason said.
"Thank you." Luna smiled.
"You're welcome. Who's next?"
"My parents opened up a second dental office." Hermione said.
"Congratulations to them." Jason said.
"You know that I got in trouble for underage magic." Harry said.
"Not all of it. I only know that you're going to court. What's the whole story?"
"It happened last month." Harry began.
"Hey Sirius." Harry said walking up to his Godfather.
"What's up, Harry?" Sirius asked.
"I have some old clothes to return to the Dursley's. Will you apparate me there?"
"Sure, but why not just burn them?"
"This is also my way of saying goodbye and to thank them for... well I was going to say, 'taking care of me all these years', but I guess saying 'thanks for not sending me to an orphanage' is probably better."
Sirius blew out a sigh. "Okay. Let's go."
Harry grabbed the box he'd put all of Dudley's clothes in, and Sirius grabbed his shoulder, and they Apparated to Number 4 Privat Drive. He put the box down and straightened himself before picking up the box. He balanced it on his knee and knocked.
The door opened to reveal Aunt Petunia wearing a flowery dress. She stared at her nephew for a minute before she recognized him. "Oh." She spoke. "What do you want?"
"I just came to return these." Harry said placing the box on the step and took the lid off to show several neatly folded outfits and pajamas.
"Why did you bring your dirty clothes here?" Petunia asked. "Do you expect me to clean them?"
"No. Not at all. I washed them, dried them, ironed them, and folded them before I brought them here. I just wanted to return them and thank you for the use of them, but my Godfather will be taking care of me for the foreseeable future and has already bought me replacements for these."
"Oh. So, our clothes weren't good enough?"
"That's not what he said!" Sirius snapped. "He said that he brought them back and thanked you for their use which is more than he already should have done. Good day madam. We'll be leaving now."
Sirius turned and looked into the face of a hooded figure. He changed into a Grim and began barking at the Dementor while backing away but staying in front of Harry.
Harry could feel the cold seeping into his body and looked at Aunt Petunia. She looked sad.
"What are you doing to me?" She demanded.
"It's not us!" Harry tried explaining, but the cold seeped deeper into his body, and he knew what he had to do. He pulled his wand out of his pocket and dug deep inside his memories for the happiest one he could think of. His time at Hogwarts with his friends, and all of the happy times. His new family with the Weasley's, who hadn't even thought twice before taking him into their home. Sirius and Lupin, and all the times they'd shared, the good, the bad, the sad, the happy, the angry, the scared. The twins doing stupid stuff to make everyone laugh and feel better. The parties after winning the Quidditch matches. All of the happiest moment filled him to the brim. "EXPECTO! PATRONUM!"
A brilliant silvery white stag erupted from the tip of his wand and charged the Dementor, goring it in the chest and ramming it into a telephone pole.
The Dementor flew away, albeit shakily.
Harry looked at Aunt Petunia who was shivering and shaking. He ran to her and helped her up before leading her to the couch where he wrapped her in a large, warm blanket from the cupboard under the stairs, and ran to the kitchen where he pulled her baking chocolate from the cupboard where she kept it. He slammed it on the counter breaking it into pieces before taking it to her in the front room. "Eat that and take a nap. You'll feel better." He told her placing a piece of chocolate into her hand.
"Lily." Aunt Petunia said. "I heard Lily. She was screaming. Yelling at me. She was mad at me."
"Time to go Harry." Sirius said grabbing his shoulder and apparating back to 12 Grimmauld place with a crack causing Petunia to jump.
When they arrived back at 12 Grimmauld place there was an owl waiting for them with a letter in its talons. The owl dropped the letter at their feet. The letter flew into the air and a face appeared in the paper.
Dear Mr. Potter,
We have received intelligence that you performed the Patronus Charm at twenty-three minutes past nine this evening in a Muggle-inhabited area and in the presence of a Muggle.
The severity of this breach of the Decree for the Reasonable Restriction of Underage Sorcery has resulted in your expulsion from Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Ministry representatives will be calling at your place of residence shortly to destroy your wand.
As you have already received an official warning for a previous offence under Section 13 of the International Confederation of Warlocks' Statute of Secrecy, we regret to inform you that your presence is required at a disciplinary hearing at the Ministry of Magic at 9 a.m. on the twelfth of August.
Hoping you are well,
Yours sincerely,
Mafalda Hopkirk
Improper Use of Magic Office Ministry of Magic
"What!" Sirius yelled. "No! There was a bloody dementor!"
Mr. Weasley appeared out of thin air as he apparated to them. "Harry." He spoke. "We heard what happened. Don't worry. Dumbledore will take care of it. He's talking to the Ministry as we speak."
"How did he know?" Sirius asked.
"Mundungus Fletcher and Arabella Figg." Mr. Weasley said. "They were in the area and Arabella told Dung to get to Albus and tell him everything."
"Thank Merlin for small miracles." Sirius said.
Another owl appeared and dropped a second letter. The same face appeared in the paper and the speaker said.
Dear Mr. Potter
Further to our letter of approximately twenty-two minutes ago, the Ministry of Magic has revised its decision to destroy your wand forthwith. You may retain your wand until your disciplinary hearing on the twelfth of August, at which time an official decision will be taken.
Following discussions with the Headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, the Ministry has agreed that the question of your expulsion will also be decided at that time. You should therefore consider yourself suspended from school pending further enquiries.
With best wishes,
Yours sincerely,
Mafalda Hopkirk
Improper Use of Magic Office
Ministry of Magic
"Blast that hag!" Sirius yelled. "The Ministry too!"
"Well, they did give him a chance to appeal." Mr. Weasley said.
"And that's what happened." Harry said as he finished his side of the story.
"I call bullshit on the entire lot of them!" Jason said. "I'm going to show up at the trial and help get you cleared of all charges."
"How?"
"Best not to spoil the surprise, but I assure you. It will be enlightening for them."
"I hope so."
"Who's next?" Jason asked.
"Well." Fred said.
"Percy..."George said.
"Is a massive prat." They said in unison.
"How is that different from any other day?"
"He disowned us." Ron and Ginny said in unison before looking at each other. They looked at Fred and George before looking back at each other.
"That was weird." Ron said.
"What do you mean he disowned you?" Jason asked.
"I mean. He turned his back on us. He saw a good job and took it."
"Not to mention the smear campaign the Ministry has been leveling against Harry." Hermione said.
Jason stood up and walked out of the room.
"Jason!" The group yelled. "Jason! Where are you going?"
"I'm going to the Ministry." Jason said. "I have some people to talk to, and by talk, I mean..."
"Immobulus!" Hermione cast freezing Jason in place. "I'm sorry Jason, but with your track record, I can't with good conscious let you go."
Jason blinked at her in irritation.
"Now. Promise me that you won't go to the Ministry of magic."
He looked at her with a: "Really?" look.
"Finité." She cast freeing him of the charm.
"Are you really going to let them drag Harry's name through the mud?" Jason asked.
"It's the Ministry." Hermione defended.
"And I suppose that we should forgive Lockhart because he was a teacher?" Jason snapped.
"N-no."
"Sorry." Jason said. "I didn't mean to snap."
"It's fine. I'm sorry for immobilizing you."
The group looked at each other, and then all hell broke loose.
"Dinner!" Mrs. Weasley called up to them. "Come help me set the table."
The group walked downstairs, and Jason walked into the kitchen with cobalt blue hair on the left side of his head and electric blue hair on the right side of his head. He was completely soaked from head to toe with the water soaking through to his bones and he had bat bogey's flying around his head.
"Jason, what happened, dear!"
"The others were showing their displeasure for me being gone so long."
"Well. That won't do." She spoke. "Not at all." She waved her wand and Jason was dried, his hair was back to the black with natural red highlights, and the bat bogeys were gone. "There you go dear. Did you eat enough while you were training? You look like your skin and bones."
"Thank you, and I had to eat very specific foods while I was training."
"Like what?"
Jason thought back to the food he had to eat while training. "I had to eat a lot of protein."
"Oh. No, no, no. That won't do. You need to eat from all the food groups. Sit down and I'll make you a plate."
Jason went to say something, but Mrs. Weasley looked at him with 'THAT' look, so he sat down and shut up while she readied a plate for him.
They sat down, and Jason noticed Harry sitting in between Remus and Sirius. They ate dinner, and Molly sent them upstairs so she could tend the kitchen. Jason tried to stay, but Molly practically shoved him out the door.
He managed to put a bug on the wall as she ushered him out. He took out a pair of earphones and plugged them into his radio, and turned it onto the bug setting so he could listen in.
"Molly." Remus began. "Will you reconsider on letting us tell Harry what's going on? He deserves to know."
"What he deserves is a childhood!" Molly yelled. "He didn't have much of one while living with his relatives, but I'll make sure that he gets to enjoy what little childhood he has left!"
Jason figured that this was a repetitive argument.
"I'm not saying that he shouldn't have a childhood, but he deserves to know so he isn't constantly looking over his shoulder."
"If you tell him then he will be constantly looking over his shoulder. You saw what happened to him last year."
Jason shuddered at the memory of the graveyard.
"Yes, we did." Sirius said. "Why do you think that we want to tell him?"
"Why can't you just respect your Godson! He's a child! Only fifteen years old or will be in a week. Is it too much to ask that he get to be able to act like a child for one year without having to worry about that blasted prophecy?"
"Molly." Sirius said softly. "You-know-who killed my...our best friends. He killed Harry's parents because of that prophecy. Don't you think that Harry deserves to know about the Prophecy before Voldemort goes looking for it?"
"But you're talking about taking away what's left of Harry's childhood and innocence."
"Molly." Remus said. "Harry hasn't been a child since he was eleven years old."
Mrs. Weasley sighed. "He's still just so young."
"Yes, and of we want him to stay that way, then he needs to be told about what He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named is looking for."
"I'm sorry." Albus Dumbledore said as he walked into the kitchen. "But you are not to tell Harry about him or what Tom seeks. You know Harry and know that he would go out searching for what Tom seeks in the hopes of stopping him. I'm afraid that we can't tell Harry about the prophecy in the fear of what Tom might do if he were to get ahold of him."
"What would he do?" Molly asked with a quiver to her voice.
"It is best not to discuss such subjects. Especially when the walls could have ears."
Jason took the headphones off and shut his radio off before he ran up the stair quietly. Harry was in even more danger this year because of Voldemort. He needed to do something that would level the playing field. He walked to the window in the room he was sleeping in and looked around before stretching out his hand. "Accio..." He cast.
AN: the reason Hermione was able to cast Immobulus, and the other underage witches and wizards were able to cast their various spells is because of the Fidelius Charm. I'm not sure if it can jeep the Ministry from sensing magic, but for all intents and purposes of this fic it can.