Obligatory Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or any character, story element or plot item originally published in the Harry Potter books or movies that I may refer to in this story. I'm merely playing in the sandbox.

Chapter 3

Harry sat in the classroom, using one of the chairs to one side. Winky had found him a camp cot from somewhere, so he had slept in that last night. Now, he was going over his books and frowning at the material that was only just making sense to him. Referencing back to the books from prior years and finding areas of theory that he'd ignored, he sighed at his laziness. "Can't goof off now."

"Master, you has a letter."

"Winky, please call me Harry."

"Sorry, Ma… Harry Potter, sir."

"That's a bit better, I guess." He took the letter and thanked the elf. Normally, he'd be wondering at Hermione's reaction to her bonding to him, but after the last few days, he only had the passing thought about it. When he opened the letter, he found essentially two notes. One from Professor Lupin, the other from Sirius, but in the professor's handwriting.

Harry

Your letter concerned me. I gave it some thought and then called Sirius. I have a message from him at the bottom. I can't say I understand the reaction of those still at Hogwarts, but I believe you. If you say you didn't put your name in, I trust you. Even if I didn't trust you to tell the truth most of the time, especially considering your sneaking into Hogsmeade last year, I would trust this because you have no reason to lie to me. I'm not there to be part of things. This may change.

Harry, Sirius made you his heir, essentially making you his son in the eyes of the Ministry and the magical world at large. He also made me his steward, so I can act on your behalf on the Black side of things. That being the case, I intended to approach Hogwarts with the intent to tutor you on the weekends. Sirius, when we discussed this further this morning, came up with an even crazier idea that I think is brilliant and you have provided both keys to this. We now want to take over the Chamber of Secrets as a base and we can train every day. You will go to class, do your homework, but we will work to figure out everything we can about the tasks and give you every edge to make it through.

Can you meet me tomorrow? I will be at the Three Broomsticks. I've taken a look at the Tournament rules, and you can leave the castle if you need to for research. Take advantage of this and just leave. Sneak out through the tunnel if you want or just walk out the front door. No one can stop you. Lunch is on Sirius.

There was a line through the parchment, then more text.

Pup, Moony's writing this for me, so I'll keep it brief for his old bones. You should see the look on his face as he writes this. Harry, I need you to remember that you are not alone. We're here for you. Moony has his Defense Mastery, I was an Auror until the ministry turned on me. I even did a few other things with the Ministry that one day I may talk to you about.

Remember that no matter what, we will help take care of you.

Love,

Padfoot

Harry stared at the words for a long moment, then folded the letter carefully and added it to his trunk. He had no idea what the whole plan was, but clearly, they had one. The idea of setting the remaining Marauders against the judges and creators of the Tournament amused him. Just the rumors that the twins had related to him were a great laugh.

"Winky, I'm going to the village tomorrow for lunch. Do you need anything from the village?"

The elf popped into view, then thought for a moment. "Castle still feeding you as you are student."

"I may be leaving the castle, depending on how this plan my godfather has works. Think about what you may need if we were to setup a temporary housing somewhere. I don't know what this is going to entail, but better to have some kind of plan, right?"

"Yes, Mas…Harry Potter, sir."

Harry shook his head at her and thanked her, the pop of her exit nearly silent. She seemed happier than when Dobby had shown how she'd been before. She now was sticking to fruit juice and seemed to accept wearing a uniform. Thinking of the tea towel made him shiver.

The next morning, Harry rose and stretched, glad for the cushioning charm on the camp cot. He'd had one at the Dursleys, but it was miserable. This one was almost as good as the bed in the tower.

Harry ate a quick breakfast, then packed a bag. Winky renewed the charm on the door that made it only visible to him and herself, then she followed him out the door. Once in the corridor, both were invisible, him with his cloak and her with whatever magic she used. As he walked through the door, Snape paused and began casting something as he walked past, but never seemed to detect him. Good cloak, he thought, heading toward the gate. Once past the gate, Harry looked back to make sure that Snape hadn't followed. "So, what are you going to do in town, Winky?"

For reasons known only to the elf, she decided not to give him a list, but instead to go to the village. "Look around. You asked me to think of things that are needed to make a house. If Winky sees what town has, Winky can make list."

Harry nodded. "Makes sense. Let me know how much we may be looking at. I don't know what kind of resources we're going to need, so we may have to budget this project." He shook his head as he considered the sentence he'd just said. I'm budgeting a new home as a project at fourteen years old. That's just brilliant. Yet another thing he was having to do that he wasn't prepared in any way to do.

Winky nodded, then popped away. Harry flipped his hood back up and walked toward the town. On the outskirts, he shrugged off the cloak and concealed it in his bag. The town was quiet for a Saturday. Harry was fairly glad of it. He managed to make it to the Three Broomsticks without being seen. Rosmerta gave him a dirty look, but he just sighed. Guess the rumors made it out here, too.

"Over here, Harry."

Remus waved him over, a large black dog standing by him. Harry fought back a smile, simply nodding and walking over to the pair. "Maybe we should meet somewhere else."

Remus looked over his shoulder and sighed. "Yes, Madame Rosmerta clearly has read the newspaper. Today's issue has the news of you learning the Unforgiveables for the Tournament." Remus allowed Harry to walk ahead of him. Once inside, they sat in a private room. Food appeared and Harry noted that the butter beer was warm and the portions skimpier than usual. He shook his head and decided that Sirius should leave no tip.

"Ron was quoted, and it was noted that Hermione said nothing to defend you." Sirius spoke as he shifted back.

"Don't go after them."

"I won't, Harry. Believe it or not, my last few months were spent recovering and thinking about my mistakes. I have learned."

Harry eyed the man. "Definitely looking better."

"Next summer, we're going to find a way for you to get out to that island. It was magical."

Harry rolled his eyes at the pun. "So, you guys have a plan, and it involves the Chamber?"

"We're taking it over. Setting up camp down there and going to work from there. We'll train you during the evenings and weekends, you go to classes except for Astronomy. We'll help you make that up over the summer."

"I'd rather just not go to class."

"I think you'll like this, though." Remus laid out his plan and Harry was chuckling by the end. "Okay, nice. They want me gone; I'll basically be gone." He gestured to his robes. "I want to get different robes, though. I don't want to be a Gryffindor anymore. Some family they were."

He watched as Sirius and Remus glanced at each other, then Sirius exhaled, tone sobering from his more jovial one. "That's easy. As the heir of House Black, Remus can arrange that. Your elf, can she measure for clothing?"

"I think so. I asked her to wear a uniform. The towel was creepy to me. Made me think of something that Petunia would have done if she'd had the chance."

Remus and Sirius shared another look, but Sirius shook his head. "Later." Sirius looked back at him. "Good job getting her to wear a uniform. Most elves are very set in their ways."

"I just talked to her. It wasn't hard."

Sirius nodded. "So, why don't we check out the site and see what we're going to need to do." He looked down at the meager fare and gestured. "After we eat."

"Winky was planning for some things, but if we're in the Chamber, we'll need more than just clothes and stuff."

"Wizarding tents are pretty nice, Harry. You'd never believe it until you see it."

Harry shrugged. He guessed sleeping in a tent was the same as sleeping in a classroom. Remembering his experience at the Cup this summer, he reconsidered the idea. Those had been pretty spectacular. He picked up his fork and started on the small sausages on his plate. "Works for me, I guess."

Sirius laughed, misreading him. "Doubt not, young one. You'll like it. I'll even let you have your own place. We'll have three. One for the two adults, one for you and one setup as a classroom. Some of the spellwork may be moved into the Chamber itself. Sometimes it's better to cast at stone than fabric."

Harry shook his head. "Guess I have to see this." Sirius seemed so excited that he didn't want to take it away from him.

Sirius had clearly had the same idea as Harry and told Remus to not only skip the tip, but to complain about the poor portions and advise that they would not return. He knew the threat was meaningless, basically it was here or Puddifoots. He wasn't even sure that the Hog's Head had food. Then again, with the castle's kitchens and Winky, maybe it would be an easier threat to carry out. Remus had just muttered something about finding places in the Muggle world, something about how he often preferred them.

Winky met them, popping them to the chamber in three trips. Harry had gone first and then Sirius, who whistled at the size of the basilisk. "Troll, basilisk, dementors. I think all you need are dragons and a big cat of some kind, and you'll have hit the major threats in England."

"Beast of Bodmin Moor, hunh?"

Sirius looked at him. "Those are real, you know, or at least were. Some pureblood kept some big cats as pets. One slipped the safety charms and ripped his face off. The others escaped when he died."

"Oh."

Remus popped in and plopped on his behind as he stared at the giant snake "You said it was big, but this?"

"Hey, Granger and I faced you down, didn't we?"

"Not a cat, but still big and furry, should it count?" Sirius asked wryly.

Harry laughed. "All right, so you've seen the place. We have to get rid of that. I'm surprised it's not stinking."

"Basilisks take a long time to decay. Not much will eat them without special preparation…" Remus rubbed his chin. "The goblins might buy this, though. Some of their potions might use these parts. They don't share much of their secrets."

Harry shrugged. "Make them an offer. Pretty sure it's mine since I killed it."

Remus nodded. "The money will have to go to the Black vaults, but I'll keep track of it."

"Fair. Take a cut for yourself, too. Handling fee."

Remus glared at the boy, but Sirius laughed for some reason. "He fought me on salary, too."

Harry laughed. He hadn't done that for a while, not since Halloween. It felt good. "So, I guess we move on to the next part of your plan?"

"Let's set up some tents. We'll need to clear an area for them."

As Sirius said the words, the ground cleared, drying and cleaning of dried blood and grime. Only the immediate area around the snake was left alone. "Cannot work around snake, Harry Potter sir."

"Nice work, though, Winky. I appreciate it."

Winky bobbed a curtsy, then vanished again. Soon, there were three tents up. Harry poked his head in one and froze. It was a house, with wooden walls more than tent walls in most places. "This one's yours, Harry. It's the one-bedroom model."

Harry stepped in and walked through the living room. It had a full fireplace, already lit and the chimney stretching to the ceiling, the smoke seeming to go into nothingness, considering he hadn't seen a chimney outside. He'd ask about that later.

The mantle was empty, but he didn't have anything to put on it. The sofa looked comfortable. There was a chair to the side. Just enough seating for the three of them if they wanted to have a laid-back evening. The kitchen area had a full kitchen, a small table in it that was round and was setup for four. He slipped to one side and poked his head into the bedroom. A queen-sized bed was in there, the room decorated in a deep blue with a gray duvet.

"This is amazing."

"It's magic, kid. Wizards and witches don't usually fair well without their comforts. We're taking advantage of this…I think all three of us have lived harder lives than most magicals."

Harry nodded. "I might keep this as mine. "

"My house isn't much and they need to set fire to Sirius's. I think something growled at me when I check out Grimmauld Place."

"Probably that elf."

Staring at the man in a moment of confusion, Harry decided he could ask later. "Winky?"

The elf popped into the room. "Yes, sir?"

"Can you move my stuff from the classroom? Leave the charms on it and keep them renewed. I want that as a fallback room in case of need when I'm moving around the school" He paused, then looked at the bed. "Please leave the cot, too, unless you need it for yourself here. I won't need it."

"Winky can stay in elf quarters. Winky will hear you there."

"Perfect then. Get to know this place. I plan on staying here this year."

"Here and the island, Harry. We will spend some weekends there."

Harry looked at the elf who nodded in understanding. "Sounds brilliant."

AN: So, I looked again at that review that noted a possible source for the scene that I referenced and tried something different. I Googled it. There was a typo in the review, which is why I couldn't find the author listed. I did look, but I don't' think I read this writer's work. I definitely don't remember seeing something where the Potter parents were Death Eaters.

Anyway, all of you stay safe out there and thanks for reading.