"Brumous"

"Chapter Six: The Escape from Hogwarts"

Out of nowhere, sirens wailed so loud that Remus jumped. His hands automatically covered his ears. Alastor whipped out his wand from underneath his overcoat with an excessive number of pockets, his wand pointing directly at the door that led to the Department of Mysteries. Remus jerked into action, wincing as he too pointed his wand at the door and waited for Death Eaters to burst through at any moment. Except, nobody came, even if the sirens didn't cease.

"Get out of here, Lupin," Alastor barked. "Anyone on duty in the DMLE is going to be storming the place in a matter of minutes. You don't want to be caught here."

Remus shot a glance at Alastor. Leave? Just like that? His heart pounded in his chest as he hesitated for a split second, his mind wandering to Nymphadora and wondering if she was all right. Swallowing, unable to just leave in case Lord Voldemort himself decided to show when he failed to draw Harry to the Ministry, he tapped the tip of his wand on top of his head to cast a Disillusionment Charm. Remus shivered as the feeling of a cold egg slithered down his body.

"What a pillock," Alastor grumbled, but Remus ignored him.

A split second later, footfalls sounded. Pressing his back against the wall, Remus turned to see a mass of wizards with their wands drawn, storming forward. Remus recognized Rufus Scrimgeour in the back of the group. His eyes locked with Alastor, a frown working its way on his face. The Aurors gave Alastor odd looks, but nobody stopped or said anything. They stormed into the Department of Mysteries, their scarlet robes flowing behind them.

"Alastor, what are you doing here?" Scrimgeour asked once everyone had filed through the door.

"Fancied a stroll," Alastor replied. "Heard the sirens and came to be of any assistance."

Scrimgeour frowned. "There's only so long I can protect you and Dumbledore from Fudge's wrath. Let the Aurors do their job."

Alastor snorted. "Did your Aurors know that there are Death Eaters in the Department of Mysteries? Oh, that's right, they wouldn't since we're not working together."

"There is a warrant out for Dumbledore's arrest," Scrimgeour hissed. "Old friend or not, if one gets issued for you, it is out of my control. You will go to Azkaban if you keep up this vigilante shit, Alastor!"

Alastor looked bored, his magical eye focused on the door to the Department of Mysteries while his good eye surveyed Scrimgeour. "When we ran the Auror Department together, we valued integrity and truth."

It took everything Remus had in him not to scoff out loud at that comment, his mind thinking very clearly of how Sirius had rotted in Azkaban without a trial. Sirius would definitely have a good laugh when he told him.

"I have the Minister of Magic breathing down my neck in one ear while you and Dumbledore whisper about He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named being back in the other," Scrimgeour hissed, his finger pointing at Alastor's chest. "You asked me to play both sides, to believe yet placate Fudge. That's what I've been fucking doing."

"Yet, you seem to be fit spewing Fudge's lies and not adding Auror details where I tell you they are needed," Alastor replied in a gruff voice.

"Go home, Alastor, before I have to arrest you for trespassing," Scrimgeour snapped before he turned on his heels to make his way inside the Department of Mysteries.

Remus watched the door slam shut behind him, yet he stayed under the Disillusionment Charm. He did not need Scrimgeour seeing him and arresting him for trespassing. There wasn't a doubt in his mind that he would be thrown into Azkaban without a second thought as soon as they pulled his record up.

"Not that you'd believe it, but Rufus used to be a decent bloke," Alastor commented, his eyes fixated on the spot where Remus hid. "Head Auror went to his fucking head."

Remus didn't say anything, choosing not to draw any attention to himself in case anyone lurked about due to the distress signal that had gone off. No matter what Alastor thought about Scrimgeour, Remus knew that he was at least listening to Dumbledore. In fact, it was no miracle that Kingsley and Sutton were assigned as the Ministry liaisons to the Hit Wizards for Sirius' wizardhunt. It was even announced a couple of months prior that Sirius was not to be kissed upon capture anymore. He was to be captured alive to be interrogated for information. It was a small victory, one that Sirius didn't seem too impressed by.

"Leave now," Alastor instructed, leaving no room for argument. "Fudge will be here shortly, no doubt. The last thing we need is more Dumbledore associates here than needed. You'll be interrogated for hours and I don't think Scrimgeour will go easy with Fudge standing behind him."

Despite not wanting to leave without knowing what exactly happened, Remus started down the corridor to leave the Ministry and nearly knocked into Fudge. Not wanting to go back empty-handed to Sirius nor wanting to be alone, Remus decided to stop at Nymphadora's flat and wait there for news on what happened. She had given him the unlocking charm months ago, when they had first started shagging. He had never even thought about using it until now, which would give Sirius a field day if he ever found out.

Once he arrived at her flat in Muswell Hill, Remus flicked his wand to light up the parlor. Carding a hand through his graying hair, he flopped down onto the sofa. He thought about calling Sirius on the mirror, knowing he'd be going spare for information, but Remus didn't know much himself. The less he told Sirius, the less that Sirius would tell Harry.

Remus could see the brooms flying around Sirius' head the past few weeks. While he had seemingly no interest in seeing or even talking about Marlene, Sirius seemed adamant about Harry coming to stay at Grimmauld Place as soon as that train pulled in to King's Cross. Sirius had just told him last week that either he was going to pick Harry up and bring him straight to Grimmauld or Sirius would grab him at the station as Padfoot. Remus hadn't the energy to argue with him at the time.

His dismay about Harry's living situation didn't just consist of him complaining to Remus. At the last Order meeting, Sirius had asked Dumbledore what the plan would be with Harry and the summer. Sensing a battle, Dumbledore had deflected and said they would discuss it at a later date.

Running a hand over his face, Remus could only imagine what was going through Sirius' mind after the Department of Mysteries false image had been planted in Harry's mind. Sirius would want Harry with him even more now, and Remus had no doubt that in Sirius' current state of mind that he would do something incredibly stupid to ensure it happens.

At some point of contemplating Sirius' mental state and waiting for Nymphadora, Remus fell asleep on the sofa. It wasn't until a soft and warm hand touched his cheek did he stir awake. Nymphadora stood in front of him with a purple bruise around her eye and a split lip, but otherwise seemed fine. She smiled at him.

"I'm off battling Death Eaters and you're here sleeping," she teased, sliding onto the sofa next to him.

Remus blinked the sleep out of his eyes, sitting up and turning to face her. "Is everyone all right? The sirens went off and Alastor told me to leave before I was arrested for trespassing."

Nymphadora nodded. "Mostly, yeah. Axel is at St. Mungo's for some broken ribs. Kingsley's arm was sliced open, so he's getting patched up as well. Rookwood could very well lose a leg. A shelf of prophecies fell on him. It looked pretty nasty. It was Sutton's doing. He seemed rather smug about it, so don't give him any pleasure by congratulating him. Then Macnair is in critical condition. He tried to grab the prophecy like a bloody fool. Jugson and Mulciber were arrested."

Remus reached out, brushing his thumb across her busted lip. "What happened to you?"

Nymphadora winced, her shoulders shrugging. "Got in a tiff with my lovely aunt. Sirius wasn't joking when he said she was a barmy manky slag."

Remus raised his eyebrows, happy that nothing worse was done if she was dueling with Bellatrix Lestrange. The woman was unhinged and unmeasured in power. "She was there?"

"Yeah, she fled with my uncle – or should I say uncles," Nymphadora emphasized. "Lucius and Rodolphus were both there as well. Gawain almost got Rodolphus but Rabastan sent a hex from the side, made Gawain duck and then, well, they got away."

"You're all right?"

"I'm fine, Mr Worrywart," Nymphadora confirmed, pushing him slightly. "The way you're acting would imply you are my boyfriend, which you've made perfectly clear that you are not."

Remus swallowed. "I'd be just as worried if it was Sirius."

It technically wasn't a lie.

Nymphadora snorted before she stood up. "I'm glad I'm on the same level as my cousin."

"I care for you, Dora," Remus reasoned. "I just can't be with you."

Nymphadora arched her eyebrow. "Fine. Then why don't you just leave? Why did you even come here in the first place?"

"Dora…" Remus trailed off, a sigh escaping his lips.

"It's Tonks," Nymphadora emphasized. "Only people close to me are allowed to call me Dora."

A knife shoved deep into Remus' chest at the comment. He tried not to show it, but he knew he failed miserably. Staring up at her, their eyes met. She challenged him, urging him to declare they were closer and he had earned that spot in her life. Except, he couldn't do it. No matter how badly he wanted to. She was an esteemed Auror, young and witty and beautiful. He had nothing to offer her.

Remus stood up, his palms rubbing down his trousers. "Goodnight, Tonks."

Her face fell, a scoff escaping her lips. Her head shook, her lips twisting. Remus only turned before she could say anything else. It would be easier to leave with his back already facing her if she decided to say anything. Opening the front door to her flat, he didn't pause or acknowledge her. He couldn't if he wanted to actually leave.

Stepping out into the muggy June air, Remus sighed as he debated whether he should just go home or if he should head to Grimmauld Place. Sirius would no doubt be up and drinking, as he did nightly until the unreasonably early hours of the morning. He turned to look up at Nymphadora's flat, his eyes flickering to the window he knew belonged to her. The curtains were drawn but the light was still on.

A vibration in his pocket drew his attention, a pleasant distraction in Sirius' rantings. He glanced around the dead street as he drew back into an empty alleyway. Glancing at the mirror, he saw Sirius' face shining back at him. His brow furrowed with deep worry lines carved into his forehead.

Sighing, Remus prepared himself for whatever grand idea his friend had. "Sirius Black."

"About damn fucking time!" Sirius hissed. "I need you to go to Hogsmeade and grab Harry. He'll meet you in the basement of Honeydukes."

Remus blinked. "I'm not going to grab Harry at…" Remus trailed off as he glanced at his watch to see it was a quarter past one in the morning. "One in the morning. Merlin, Sirius, are you drunk?"

"I'm not fucking around, Remus!" Sirius hissed. "Voldemort possessed him! He would have walked right out of that bloody castle if Ginny hadn't stopped him! He can't stay there!"

Remus wasn't expecting that.

"You're serious?" Remus pressed.

"Dumbledore is on his way here to talk about what to do with Harry," Sirius explained. "I contacted him straight away. He agreed that Harry should not be at Hogwarts without him or McGonagall there. You need to grab him. I'll let him know you're on your way."

"Wait! Sirius! Is he all right?" Remus asked, his voice shaking.

"He couldn't even tell me, Remus," Sirius replied, his hand carding through his hair. "Ginny called me and told me. When I asked to talk to him, fuck, Remus, you should have seen him. He was shaking and looked so fucking scared."

Remus nodded, already deciding that he needed an Auror to go with him to gain access to the basement of Honeydukes so late. There was no way he would ask Nymphadora to go with him, not after their little spat. Perhaps, he could grab Tegan Robins. Her daughter was Ginny Weasley's best friend and had been a member of the D.A. Demelza had been brilliant, smart and calculated in class. Asking Tegan to go with him was a smart idea. She would understand how imperative it was to collect Harry at school.

"Give me five minutes to grab Tegan," Remus replied.

Sirius narrowed his eyes at him. "What about Dora?"

Remus didn't offer any explanations. "Call Harry in five and tell him to head over. I'll be there."

Shoving the mirror back into his pocket, Remus retreated further into the alleyway. His eyes darted around, his ears straining for any sign of life. When he found none, he Disapparated on the spot. There was no time to waste if Voldemort was experimenting with his connection with Harry. It had been something that they had all feared and dreaded, knowing it would only be a matter of time.

Sirius sat on the stairs in the foyer of Grimmauld Place. He should have gone to Hogwarts himself to ensure Harry's safety to London, especially now that Harry could be possessed at any moment Voldemort deemed fit. Sirius clenched the strands of his too-long hair between his fingers, his elbows resting on his knees.

The entire Department of Mysteries debacle had been Sirius' fault. That much was clear when Dumbledore stopped by earlier and asked to speak with Kreacher. Sirius commanded the damn elf to answer all of Dumbledore's questions truthfully, leaving out nothing. The longer Kreacher talked, the angrier Sirius had become.

Kreacher had plotted with Narcissa and Bellatrix. Kreacher had set him on fire in hopes of destroying the mirror. Kreacher attacked Buckbeak in hopes that Sirius would be too distracted to answer his mirror when Harry called. While Narcissa and Bellatrix had already known about Sirius' love for Harry, they had no idea how Harry had felt about him. Now, they knew. Kreacher had told them everything.

"Kreacher told Mistresses Bellatrix and Narcissa how the Potter boy calls my ungrateful master nightly on the mirror and they talk for hours," Kreacher had said several hours prior, his lips working into a sneer. "The Potter boy clearly loves my master, though Kreacher does not understand why. Master is a bête noir, just like Mistress always said."

Sirius had nearly killed Kreacher right then and there. He had his hands wrapped around Kreacher's neck, ready to wring him to death, when Dumbledore had stopped him. Kreacher could be useful due to his knowledge about Voldemort that he had undoubtably overheard during the first war, was all Dumbledore would say. Sirius confined the elf to his cupboard, his chest heaving, with very clear instructions to speak about Harry to no one.

"Sirius."

Looking up, Sirius caught sight of Dumbledore standing in front of him once more. He looked exhausted, his hands folding neatly in front of him. Sirius dropped his hands from his hair and sat up straighter.

"We made two arrests," Dumbledore started, his face gray and tired looking. "Two more Death Eaters are in St. Mungo's being treated before they too will be in Ministry custody."

Sirius nodded. "I see."

"Remus is on his way to collect Harry, I presume?" Dumbledore asked.

Sirius nodded. "Yes, Tegan Robins is going with him."

Dumbledore nodded, his moon-shaped glasses sliding down his nose. "You know that Harry must go back to his aunt and uncle's, don't you, Sirius?"

Sirius let out a bitter laugh. "No."

Dumbledore's eyes softened. "I know you care for Harry-"

"I'm his godfather," Sirius emphasized. "You know how important of a role that is, don't you? Or did you forget?"

"I did not forget," Dumbledore said in a soft, yet sad voice. "Harry may remain here until the end of the week. Then, he must go back to his aunt's house to renew the blood protection. Order members will be outside the house around the clock. We must make it clear to Harry that he is not allowed to leave the house," Dumbledore continued, pulling out a solid silver bracelet. "Harry is to wear this at all times. If he leaves the house, we will be alerted immediately so that we can stop him."

Sirius stood up and shoved his hands in his trouser pockets, eyeing the bracelet. "No."

"Sirius, this is not a request," Dumbledore commented in a stern voice.

"Harry will stay here with me," Sirius continued, ignoring Dumbledore. "He will not leave Grimmauld Place. He can wear the bloody bracelet here."

Dumbledore sighed. "Sirius-"

"HARRY WAS POSSESSED!" Sirius shouted, his jaw clenching. "You think sending him to his Muggle relative's house with a fucking bracelet is enough to keep him safe? He was attacked last year by Dementors! Now, he's being possessed! He needs to stay here and learn Occlumency! He needs to be here with me so I can protect him!"

Dumbledore's eyes softened. "I understand you care for Harry a great deal, Sirius, but you need to do what is right by him."

"I am," Sirius hissed. "I am tired of you telling me how to raise my godson. Mine, Dumbledore! Not yours!"

Dumbledore sighed. "You are a wanted man, Sirius. You have no legal rights over Harry. Petunia is Harry's legal guardian. He needn't come here at all."

"Is that a threat?" Sirius challenged. "You're going to keep him from me now?"

"I do not want to keep Harry from you, Sirius," Dumbledore assured him, but Sirius didn't feel any comfort from the words. "But you must stop thinking about what you want and start thinking about what is best for Harry."

Sirius scoffed, his head shaking. "All I think about is what is best for that kid. Being with his abusive aunt and uncle is not what is best for him. This house is under the Fidelius with you as Secret Keeper. If you think you can't keep him safe in a house hidden by you, then what makes you think his Muggle aunt and uncle, who would gladly shove him out the door at Voldemort's feet, can keep him safe?"

Dumbledore surveyed Sirius over his moon-shaped glasses. "Did James ever tell you what Fleamont requested of me on his death bed?"

Sirius licked his bottom lip. This should be good. "No."

"He asked me to keep Lily, James, and Harry safe, no matter the cost," Dumbledore explained. "And I failed Lily and James. I am determined not to fail Harry as well. I must admit to you, Sirius, that after Halloween all those years ago, I needed someone to blame besides myself. I blamed you. I refused to speak with you, voted against you having a trial, and advocated fiercely against you, all because of my grief. I have attended the funerals of five generations of Potters, each one more terrible than the last. The deaths so sudden and unfortunate. When Henry died, I lost my brother. Henry was there for me at a time that no one else was. I know, you above all others, know how precious a friendship with a Potter is. Loyal and true until the very end."

Sirius chewed on the inside of his cheek, remembering clear as day as he stood next to James while they laid Henry Potter to rest. Sirius hadn't known him that well, but James had been devasted to bury his grandfather. When Fleamont died, Sirius remembered attempting to be strong for James even though he felt like crumbling to the ground at losing the man who had claimed him as a son.

"Then you must understand that it's been hard for me to not fulfill my promise to James to not only keep Harry safe, but to raise him as though he were my own if anything should happen," Sirius said in a thick voice. "You helped doom me to twelve years in Azkaban for something I didn't do. I am trying my fucking hardest to be there for Harry, but you have micromanaged his life to the point that I have zero say or control."

"Sirius, I have only kept him safe," Dumbledore insisted.

"At the cost of his happiness," Sirius snapped. "Did you not check on him for ten years at the Dursleys? Did you not read the will where Lily explicitly stated that Petunia was in no way, shape, or form supposed to have anything to do with Harry in the event of their deaths?"

"You and Marlene were listed as legal guardians of Harry," Dumbledore explained. "Neither one of you were able to care for him. Petunia was the only blood relative Harry had left. Lily's sacrifice helped me solidify a blood protection between them. Lord Voldemort was not able to touch Harry without great harm to himself."

"Until he used Harry's blood to bring himself back to his full body," Sirius added, standing up to his full height. "We talked about this last summer, you remember?"

"I will allow Harry to stay with you once the blood protection is renewed," Dumbledore said in a soft voice. "I promise you that, Sirius."

"No," Sirius replied, his arms crossing over his chest. "Harry will be staying with me the entire summer. That's final."

"Sirius, I know you want to protect Harry-"

Sirius laughed, because he couldn't bloody well help himself. "I want what's best for that kid! The past year has been complete shit for him! He's not the same kid that I met a few years ago. He's depressed, he's tired, and he's just plain fucking done. Everything he cares about has been taken from him. He's been attacked both physically and mentally, he's had his broom confiscated, the D.A. disbanded, and now he can't even sleep without false images and possession happening to him," Sirius explained, the blood rushing through his ears as he tried to calm himself down. "If you send Harry back to the Dursleys, I'm not sure he'll survive the summer. He doesn't want to be there and if you take away his ability to breathe by leaving that house, it will drive him mad. Enough is enough, Dumbledore. You are not his godfather. You are not his father or his grandfather or anyone to him. You may have been Henry Potter's best friend and you may have been Fleamont's godfather, but Harry doesn't know any of that. He has no idea what your connection to the Potters is, because you think it's too dangerous for him to know. That's fine. I don't care. But James and Lily wanted me to be his legal guardian. So, he is coming here for the summer. We will stay at Grimmauld Place and I will make sure he doesn't leave the house. But he is staying with me so I can help him with Occlumency because Snape is too busy holding grudges against the kid's dead father. I will keep him safe and happy and I will train him in the way that I see fit. End of fucking discussion."

"Sirius-"

"No!" Sirius snapped. "Harry is my responsibility! Not yours! I will decide what is best for Harry from now on. I will take your opinion under consideration, but I make the final decisions. Tonight, when he arrives, we both will talk to him about the prophecy. You will see to his Occlumency lessons personally. He will stay with me the entire summer."

Dumbledore blinked. "We cannot tell him the full contents of the prophecy without him mastering Occlumency."

Sirius let out a breath. Had Dumbledore conceded?

Sirius jerked his head to acknowledge that he agreed that Harry couldn't know the full contents of the prophecy until he mastered Occlumency. "Then we tell him what Voldemort knows for now."

Dumbledore sighed. "He's only fifteen, Sirius. Far too young to burden with such a thing."

"Yes, he's fifteen and being hunted, possessed, and manipulated," Sirius argued. "James would have told him a year ago, the moment Voldemort rose from that cauldron."

"The less he knows, the better for now," Dumbledore replied.

Sirius swallowed down his anger. "I'm trying to work with you because I know how much you care about the Potters and how close you've been to that family," Sirius explained. "I have a lot of issues with you after the way you treated me during the first war because my last name was Black. But I'm trying to put that past us for Harry's sake. My best mate was a Potter too. My godson is a Potter too. We're not so different in the way we care for that family."

Dumbledore stared at him, and Sirius stared right back. He was not backing down. Harry would stay with him for the summer. That was nonnegotiable. They needed to tell Harry something, to let him know a bit more about what was happening to him. If they didn't, Sirius feared Harry would retreat and push them all away.

"If you keep Harry here this summer, the blood protection will cease to exist," Dumbledore pointed out. "I cannot reactivate it once he calls Grimmauld Place his home."

"He already considers it his home," Sirius argued, hoping that was true.

"It's not what he thinks, Sirius, but rather the act of him going back to Privet Drive," Dumbledore explained.

Sirius nodded. "Look, I understand, but he will not step one foot outside of Grimmauld Place this summer. Next summer, well, there's only a little more than month of summer before he's of age and the protection drops anyway. It's what James would want."

Dumbledore nodded and held the silver bracelet out to Sirius. "I want him to wear this still. I can have it tied into the wards of Grimmauld Place. I worry about him dreaming and leaving while the house is at rest. I know eyes cannot be kept on him at all hours of the day."

"He'll feel like a prisoner," Sirius reasoned. "Can't we just activate it at night? Tie it into his bedroom. That way, if he leaves the bedroom in the middle of the night, I can be alerted personally and not the entire Order. It would be a lot less embarrassing for him."

Dumbledore nodded, pressing his wand against the bracelet and duplicated it. "You will both need to wear one then. It will burn hot if Harry leaves his bedroom to alert you. You'll need to activate it nightly before he goes to bed. I will show you how once Harry gets here."

Sirius nodded, accepting both bracelets. He snapped one on his right wrist and it automatically adjusted to fit tight against his skin. It was weightless and Sirius' didn't even feel it, as though it had melted into his skin. He wondered if it was designed that way to be forgettable. That would be a good thing for Harry. Out of sight, out of mind. He needn't worry about the tabs that would be kept on him via a magical tracking bracelet.

"Are you sure about this, Sirius?" Dumbledore pressed.

"I can take care of my godson," Sirius replied, snapping his attention up. "There's no one in this entire world that I love or care about more than him."

Dumbledore nodded. "Of that, I have no doubt."

"He needs you to teach him Occlumency," Sirius added. "Snape isn't a good teacher for him."

"Severus is more than capable of teaching Harry Occlumency," Dumbledore insisted. "I will talk to him tonight to make arrangements for him to come here."

Sirius laughed. "No, you need to teach him. He hasn't learned anything from Snape. Remus was attempting to help him with strategies, but nothing is working. He's becoming discouraged to the point where I don't even know if he's trying anymore because he doesn't see the point."

Dumbledore sighed. "It would not do either one of us any good if Lord Voldemort finds out that I am personally teaching him."

"Yet, you let your spy teach him," Sirius challenged. "I'm not a moron. I know the true reason you don't want to teach Harry Occlumency. It has everything to do with your fear that once he gets a handle of it, then he'll force himself into your mind and find out about your connections to his family. A connection that you're hiding for reasons I don't even understand."

Dumbledore smiled tightly. "Severus will come twice a week to teach Harry Occlumency. I will come every fortnight to help. I daresay, Sirius, you were always very good at masking your thoughts. Perhaps, you should try your hand at teaching him."

Sirius scoffed, his head shaking. "I don't know how I do it. I just do."

Dumbledore tugged his wand out of his robe pocket. "Would you like to try to figure it out?"

Sirius froze, his gaze focusing on the wand. Dumbledore wanted to see inside his head, and Sirius suspected it wasn't just for him to help Harry with Occlumency. Sirius' heart beat harshly in his chest, remembering the last time that Dumbledore had bypassed his defenses and seen things that only made Dumbledore even more convinced he was the spy.

"I'd rather not," Sirius whispered.

Dumbledore arched an eyebrow, pocketing his wand. "Ah, I see. It's not so easy when one wants to conceal secrets."

"If you still think I'm the spy-"

"I do not, Sirius," Dumbledore interrupted, holding up a hand. "If you were, Harry would be dead by now. Is your reluctance because there are things you don't want me to know or that you wish Harry not to know?"

Sirius swallowed. His past was something he wanted nobody to know. He didn't need the pitied looks from Dumbledore or for Harry to know just how royally fucked up he was. If Harry saw the complete shitshow his life had been, the kid wouldn't want anything to do with him. Harry didn't need to know he had almost been forced into a betrothal to his own cousin, that his own family had attempted to torture him into submission, that he himself had tortured and killed Death Eaters with little to no mercy.

"Your experiences make you human, Sirius," Dumbledore said in a gentle tone. "I know your family has not been kind to you. Your well-being was a constant worry of Fleamont's. In fact, in his dying wish, he asked me to look after you as well. I daresay, I failed you as much as I failed James and Lily."

Sirius looked up at the bit of information, his chest swelling for Fleamont and Euphemia.

"You have a tendency to close yourself off," Dumbledore continued. "I've noticed Harry shares that same trait. The both of you bottle everything up inside, waiting until you both explode from the pent-up emotions. If you opened yourself up to him, he may just do the same with you. It may help him clear his mind and master Occlumency."

Sirius knew it was a guilt-trip, because he would do absolutely anything for Harry. The thing that Sirius didn't understand is why Dumbledore cared so much. Did he think Sirius was that much of a liability that he would crack after the news of Marlene broke? While he could admit he had a rough few weeks grappling with the news and implications, the very thought of Harry being home was enough to help him suppress his demons. Or at least he thought it would. He could focus all of his energy on his godson and put Marlene to the back of his mind.

"I'll think about it," Sirius conceded.

Dumbledore nodded. "Excellent! I'll wait down in the kitchens. I need to write some urgent letters after what happened at the Ministry and with Harry. Please, bring Harry down when he arrives so we may talk."

Sirius nodded, his body sagging against the wall as he watched Dumbledore disappear through the door towards the kitchen. Resting his head against the wall, Sirius let out a long breath. His eyes flickered to the front door, wishing that Remus would hurry the fuck up.

Harry tried to regulate his breathing, to no avail. His entire body trembled uncontrollably, adrenaline and fear pumping through his veins. Voldemort had possessed him… and he couldn't remember it. Harry swallowed at the lump in his throat, but it remained lodged. His eyes snapped up to see Ron pacing in the abandoned classroom not far from Gryffindor Tower. They couldn't very well wait in the tower, not when Sirius was going to call him again. It was Ginny's idea to board themselves into a nearby classroom and she had cast a bunch of spells on the door.

His eyes roamed to where Ginny stood with the mirror in her hand. She only stared down at it as though willing for Sirius' face to appear. Harry wanted nothing more than for her to sit next to him and talk about anything. She was an excellent distraction but she was keeping her distance for reasons Harry didn't understand.

Harry chewed on his bottom lip, tugging off pieces of skin with his teeth. He was fairly certain he had full control over his mind, but he couldn't help but be fully on guard. It unnerved him that he couldn't remember the possession. With the Imperius, he knew something was off and was able to shake it off. The possession was different, far scarier than he could even admit. There was no way to stop it if he didn't know it was happening.

Ginny jerked, the mirror snapping up to her face. "Sirius Black."

"Where's Harry?" Sirius asked, his voice tired.

"Here," Ginny commented as she walked across the room to where Harry was sitting on one of the tables. She perched herself next to him, her body close enough that Sirius could see them both in the mirror.

"All right, Harry?" Sirius asked.

Harry nodded, not trusting his voice. He was anything but all right at the moment.

"Remus is on his way," Sirius continued, a hand carding through his hair. "He's bringing an Auror with him. Her name is Tegan Robins. She has a daughter in Ginny's year."

"Demelza?" Ginny asked. "Demelza's mum is in the Order?"

Sirius nodded. "Yes, but I don't know if she knows anything about the Order so keep your mouth shut unless she brings it up," Sirius explained. "Anyway, they are meeting you in the basement of Honeydukes. Stay in the basement under the Invisibility Cloak until they arrive."

"We will," Ginny assured him. "Should we head out now?"

Sirius nodded. "You and Ron will stay at Hogwarts and come home at the end of the week like normal. If Umbridge asks any questions, you are to say nothing. You haven't the foggiest idea that Harry even left. If you want to play up some panic, that'd be great. Keep her on her toes."

"We will," Ginny promised.

"I'll see you soon, Harry, all right?" Sirius directed his attention to Harry.

Harry swallowed. "See you."

Sirius disconnected the mirrors. Ginny held it out to Harry but he shook his head.

"Keep it in case I need to talk to you lot," Harry said with a wave of his hand. The mirror was useless to him at Grimmauld Place if he was with Sirius. It may be nice to see Ron's, Hermione's, and Ginny's faces the next couple of days.

Ginny jumped off the table and pocketed the mirror. Ron flourished the Invisibility Cloak and the three of them huddled together underneath. Harry pulled the map out from his back pocket and looked at the dots before they exited the classroom.

The three of them walked in comfortable silence, nobody seemingly feeling like talking after everything that had happened. For the first time ever, Harry was glad that Hermione was fast asleep in her bed and none the wiser of what was going on. He didn't need to hear her fretting, telling him he should have tried harder at Occlumency. Nobody felt worse than he did about his inability to close his mind. He knew he had to learn and learn fast. The thought made him nauseous. Would Dumbledore up his lessons with Snape? Would Snape push him harder and for longer to get the job done? Harry wasn't sure how much more he could take of his mind being invaded, especially knowing that Voldemort could be lingering in the deepest crevices, watching and waiting for him to fall asleep again so he could control him.

It took a good twenty minutes to make their way to the one-eyed witch statue. They crept along slowly and stayed underneath the cloak as an extra precaution. Once they arrived, Harry stepped out from underneath the cloak and pointed his wand at the statue and whispered, "Dissendium."

The three of them stepped inside the passageway, Ron and Ginny on either side of him. The passageway was a tad narrow, so their shoulders pressed uncomfortably together. Ron lit his wand for them to see, the silence still stretching out between them.

Once they reached Honeydukes, Remus and Demelza's mum were already waiting for them. Professor Lupin offered him a tight smile. Harry couldn't return it as he turned towards Ginny and Ron. He cleared his throat, handing the map to Ron.

"Take it," Harry offered. "You'll need it more than me."

Ron accepted the map with a nod. "Yeah, mate."

Harry's heart thumped in his chest, not knowing what else to say. It seemed odd to be leaving Hogwarts in the dead of night without his best mates. He didn't even know when he would see them again, didn't know if he would be sent back to the Dursleys or if he'd be allowed to stay with Sirius the entire summer. It didn't matter. Harry would run away from Privet Drive on the first night. He wasn't going to stay there. He was tired of following orders and not having a say in his life. There was no doubt in his mind that he wanted to stay with Sirius.

Ron clapped a hand on his arm. "See you soon, mate."

"Yeah, hopefully," Harry replied before turning towards Ginny.

She dove at him. Her arms circled around his neck, tugging him down to her height. Harry closed his eyes as he melted in her embrace, his arms wrapping around her waist.

"We'll call you every night until we see you again," Ginny whispered in his ear. "Keep Sirius' mirror on you, all right?"

Harry nodded. "I will," he confirmed in a thick voice.

Professor Lupin instructed Ron and Ginny to head back to Gryffindor Tower. Once they were gone, Professor Lupin wrapped an arm around Harry's shoulders and pulled him close to his side.

"Harry, this is Auror Robins," Professor Lupin introduced them. "You may know her daughter Demelza. She's a friend of Ginny's."

Harry nodded. "I do. It's nice to meet you."

Auror Robins nodded in Harry's direction. "Likewise. Let's get you home to Sirius, all right?"

Home.

The single syllable sent a shockwave through his entire body.

"Sirius is extremely worried about you," Professor Lupin whispered as he steered him towards the stairs.

"Am I staying there for the entire summer?" Harry asked, not helping himself.

"If Sirius gets his way, I daresay you will," Professor Lupin replied.

Harry had never hoped for anything more. It would take away a lot of stress off his shoulders since he wouldn't have to think about an escape plan from Privet Drive.

They made their way up to the main store, but they did not leave through the front door. Instead, he was led through the back door and stepped out into an alleyway. Professor Lupin tightened his grip on Harry's shoulder.

"We will Apparate," Professor Lupin explained. "We'll appear right on the stoop so keep your balance. Auror Robins will meet us there."

Without any more warning, Harry was sucked into a vacuum. His stomach rolled at the unfamiliar sensation and he wondered how he would ever get used to it. When they landed, Harry nearly fell backwards. Professor Lupin somehow saved him from stumbling back off the top step of Grimmauld Place as the door opened and Harry stumbled inside.

Harry caught sight of Sirius straight away. He stood next to the staircase, casually leaning his body against the wall. Upon seeing Harry, he straightened up. All the fear and anxiety that had been rattling around Harry's body slowly escaped his pores the moment he caught sight of his godfather in the flesh.

Without waiting another second, Harry made a beeline towards Sirius, so glad that Sirius had arranged for him to leave school a few days earlier than he was supposed to. He couldn't help but wonder if coming to Grimmauld Place indicated that he would be allowed to spend the entire summer with Sirius. Harry needed to believe that would be the case, because the very thought of becoming possessed again at the Dursleys seemed daunting and dangerous. Harry refused to do it.

Sirius met Harry halfway down the hall, his arms opening to pull Harry into an embrace. There was no hesitation on Harry's part as he easily returned his godfather's embrace, his face burying itself into Sirius' shoulder. Sirius held him close to his chest, one arm wrapped around his shoulders while the other hand held his head steady. It was very much like the embrace that Sirius had given him after the Triwizard Tournament, a hug that was rooted in protectiveness and so astoundingly parental that it made Harry a tad bit misty-eyed. It had been an embrace that Harry had craved his entire life. Now, he had Sirius.

The image of Sirius being tortured flashed in front of his eyelids, making him shudder in his godfather's warm embrace. He couldn't lose Sirius. Not now. Not ever. Sirius had been a constant in his life for the past two years, and Harry couldn't go back to the way it was before… lonely with no one to call his family.

"Are you all right?" Sirius murmured as he tightened his grip on him.

Harry nodded against Sirius' shoulder. "I'm fine."

Sirius pulled back just slightly, and Harry tried to keep his disappointment at bay. He glanced up at his godfather while Sirius placed both of his hands on Harry's shoulders.

"You grew," Sirius observed, a tight smile crossing his face. "You're taller since Christmas."

Harry didn't really want to make small talk. He wanted – no, he needed answers. Sirius had promised he would tell him everything once they saw each other in person again. Now, Harry needed him to finally tell him everything. He was more than ready to hear it.

"Can we talk?" Harry pressed, ignoring the comment about his height which he was well aware was happening since Hermione had charmed his school trousers longer so they covered his ankles.

Sirius nodded. "Dumbledore's waiting in the kitchen."

Harry stiffened. "I'm not going to the Dursleys," he said in a stern voice. "You may as well hand me over to Voldemort yourself if you think sending me back there is a good idea."

Sirius squeezed his shoulders. "Nobody is sending you anywhere. I said my peace and I was heard."

It was too good to believe. He didn't actually expect Sirius to change Dumbledore's mind. But he had and Harry couldn't remember the last time he had been so happy.

"Really?" Harry needed the verbal confirmation.

Sirius smiled once more. "Really. There are rules we need to go over, but you will remain here with me the entire summer. Petunia will be informed and Remus can grab anything you left there."

Harry snorted. "Like I would leave anything there."

Sirius sighed knowingly, his head nodding, before he led Harry down towards the kitchen without another word. Harry looked back briefly to see that Professor Lupin and Auror Robins were not following them.

When they entered the kitchen, Dumbledore sat at the table with three cups of steaming tea and a neatly stacked pile of parchment. Sirius gave Harry's shoulder a squeeze before he went to sit down opposite Dumbledore. Harry followed suit, sitting down next to his godfather. While Sirius leaned back with his fingers laced around his cup, Harry sat stiff as a board on the edge of his seat.

"Sirius told me about what happened, Harry," Dumbledore started, his brows furrowing as his glasses slid down his nose. "I am sorry to hear that the Occlumency lessons have not been easy for you."

A snapping retort about hiring professors with poor teaching skills hung on the tip of his tongue, but Harry knew better than to make his bitterness clear. He finally had a seat at the table, and he was not about to lose it just as he received it.

"I feared that once Lord Voldemort discovered the connection between you that he would attempt to plant false images in your mind. Or worse, overtake it," Dumbledore explained. "Occlumency can be a finicky thing, I fear. Either wizards have a knack for it or they have to work amazingly hard to accomplish it. Professor Snape, as well as Sirius and the rest of his family, are very gifted natural Occlumens. They needn't even try to block their mind, it just happens. For others, it is a constant battle and a very real struggle. I had a dear friend who radiated his emotions where I simply felt them for just being near him. You, Harry, are much like my dear friend. Your emotions pour out of you, vibrating off you for all to see."

"So, you're saying I'll never be able to close my mind?" Harry asked, his shoulders sagging.

Dumbledore observed him for a few moments. "It will be difficult given your disposition, but I think you will be able to achieve it with great discipline. Sirius has asked me to teach you personally from now on. I agreed to help Professor Snape, supplementing lessons. I think, Harry, it may be time for me to explain to you why I have been distant from you for the past year."

Harry glanced quickly over at Sirius to see him taking a sip of tea and his eyes staring unblinkingly at Dumbledore, a glint of what looked almost like disappointment flashing across his face. But Harry, for the life of him, couldn't understand why. Harry glanced back at Dumbledore, giving him his full attention.

"You see, many years ago, I was looking for a Divination professor," Dumbledore explained, looking far older than he had a few moments before. "I met with Professor Trelawney, whose great-great grandmother was a famed seer. I wondered if she possessed the talent as well, as often natural gifts like clairvoyancy are passed down generation to generation, much like Sirius' natural Occlumens ability was passed down to him. As you know, Harry, while Professor Trelawney might play up her clairvoyancy in a flamboyant way, she also possesses the power of prophecy."

Harry blinked. "The power of prophecy?"

"You once told me that Professor Trelawney made a very real prediction to you," Dumbledore elaborated. "The day I met with her for an interview, she made another very real prediction in my presence. A prophecy that automatically bloomed into existence in the Department of Mysteries in the Hall of Prophecies at the very end of row ninety-seven."

Harry's heart pounded in his chest. After months upon months of dreaming about the Department of Mysteries and the misty glass balls, he finally knew what Voldemort was after. A prophecy, something that up until this moment Harry would have scoffed at as being silly and not real.

"The Unspeakables in the Department of Mysteries note when a prophecy appears, but they cannot know the contents of the prophecy as only the person who the prophecy is about can touch it," Dumbledore explained. "Over the years, Unspeakables have sought out witches and wizards, invited them to the Hall of Prophecies to claim their prophecies so the department could record them officially. Except that the prophecy that Lord Voldemort is after, the one that I was a witness to first hand, was never revealed to the parties that it even existed."

"Why not?" Harry whispered.

"Because the prophecy was about Lord Voldemort himself… and a child born at the end of July," Dumbledore continued. "A child whose parents had thrice defied Lord Voldemort."

Harry stilled at the words, remembering how Sirius had told him about how his parents had defied Voldemort three times. He slowly turned towards his godfather to see him pale and staring at the table. Sirius knew. Sirius knew about the prophecy, knew that it was about Harry, and Sirius had kept it from him.

"I believe Lord Voldemort attempted to lure you to the Hall of Prophecies to retrieve the prophecy for him," Dumbledore continued. "For once a prophecy has been claimed by the rightful owner, anyone can touch it. He only needed you to claim the prophecy and then one of his Death Eaters could take it from you."

Harry struggled to find his voice as he turned his attention back to Dumbledore. "You're sure the prophecy is about me?"

"When I first heard it, there were only two that the prophecy could be about," Dumbledore explained with a heavy sigh. "For when the prophecy appeared in the Department of Mysteries, it had read the Dark Lord and Child once it was first recorded. The day you received your scar, the label on the prophecy changed to read the Dark Lord and Harry Potter."

Harry's heart beat in his chest, the blood rushing in his ears. Sirius reached out, a hand curling around his neck, but Harry felt zero comfort from the touch.

"The prophecy foretold that Lord Voldemort would mark the child as his equal," Dumbledore continued to speak, not even giving Harry a moment to breathe and process. "The night you received that scar was the night that Lord Voldemort marked you as his equal."

"Harry, are you all right?" Sirius' voice went in one ear and out the other.

Harry only jerked his head up and down, his entire body feeling like it was floating.

"Lord Voldemort knew of the prophecy because a Death Eater had been spying on me," Dumbledore explained. "But the Death Eater only heard half of the prophecy. He knew there was a child born at the end of July, to parents who had defied Lord Voldemort thrice, who would possess the power that the Dark Lord knows not. He did not hear the end of the prophecy, as he ran back to Lord Voldemort to tell him about the child."

"You said there was two it could be about…" Harry croaked.

"You and Neville Longbottom," Dumbledore supplied. "Although, Lord Voldemort had made up his mind fairly early on that you were the child that had been foretold. A half-blood, like himself. Your parents went into hiding the day after you were born, to protect you."

Harry trembled, a light clicking on in the very back of his mind. "They died because of me then?"

It was like a balloon had burst inside of his chest. He had sentenced his parents to an early death, he had put them in danger, he was the reason they were dead. Harry didn't know how to even process that information. They should have gotten rid of him, tossed him aside to save themselves as soon as they found out about the prophecy. They would be alive and happy if he had never existed. Harry felt a splash of wetness on his cheeks and he could only wipe it away with the back of his hand as quick as it had appeared.

"No," Sirius' voice boomed, confident and stern. "They did not die because of you."

Harry pushed his chair back, jerking away from Sirius' hand that had not left the back of his neck. He was a parasite, death attached itself to him. People seemed to always die around him. Last night, Sirius could have paid the price as well. There was no doubt in his mind that if he hadn't picked up that mirror, if he had rushed to the Ministry without first trying to contact his godfather, Sirius would have gone after him as soon as he had learned. Sirius and others could have died in a battle. It would have been Harry's fault.

Harry screwed his eyes shut. A chair scraped across the floor before footsteps sounded. A moment later, calloused hands cupped his face and forced him to look up. Harry opened his eyes to see Sirius looming in front of him.

"James and Lily loved you more than anything in the entire world," Sirius whispered, his voice so fierce that Harry couldn't look away even if he wanted to. "They went into hiding to protect you, because they loved you. That's what people do for their family, for the people they love. Prophecy or no prophecy, they would have died to protect you, because that's what good parents do. They love their children more than anything or anyone else."

"They died because of me though," Harry whispered in a miserable tone.

"They died to protect you because they loved you," Sirius corrected. "Nobody died because of you. I know this because I love you, Harry. I would gladly step in front of a Killing Curse for you without hesitation, without thought. Because you are my godson, because you are my family, because I love you."

Harry blinked, trying to stop the tears from falling but failing miserably. "My dad…" Harry croaked. "He told my mum to take me and run. He wanted to fight Voldemort, buy us time to escape."

Sirius nodded, what little color he had in his face vanishing with those last two sentences.

"I'll never forget the day you were born. You were early and so full of surprises. Your dad contacted me early in the morning on the thirty-first of July, his excitement just so palpable. Mar…" Sirius licked his lips. "Marlene and I went straight to the hospital and sat in that waiting room all day with your grandparents. We had tea and played cards and chatted. We took turns going back to check on how Lily was doing. We were so excited. And the later it got, the more we debated if you would be a July baby or an August baby. We even took bets. I was the only one who guessed right, something that I bragged about often with your grandfather, because at fifteen past eleven in the evening, you were born."

Harry sniffed, his eyes glancing down at his shoes. He had just barely fit the parameters of the prophecy then. Forty-five minutes later and he would have been born in August. Somehow, that made everything worse.

"I remember walking into the hospital room and James was holding you," Sirius continued. "He looked at you like you were the most precious thing in the entire world. Did you know, I got to hold you first after your parents? Your grandparents insisted on it, because they knew how shit my family had treated me and how badly I wished I had been born a Potter and not a Black."

Harry looked up at Sirius, their eyes meeting.

"Your grandfather told me that godfathers always got to hold the child first, a rite of passage. I knew that was a bunch of bollocks, but I was happy to hold you first none the less," Sirius said with a soft smile, some of the color coming back to his cheeks. "I had been so scared I'd hurt you or drop you, because I had never held a baby before. But as soon as James put you in my arms, it felt like the most natural thing in the world. I knew, in that moment, I loved you. There hasn't been a day that goes by that I haven't loved you. I know that love I feel towards you is the same love that James and Lily felt towards you. I can guarantee you, without a shadow of a doubt in my mind that James would die a thousand deaths, each one more painful than the next, if that meant you were able to grow up and live your life," Sirius assured him. "Because I know with absolute certainty that I would gladly die a thousand deaths, each one more painful than the last, to see you become the man you're meant to be and be able to have the life that you want. Because you, above everyone else, deserves that, Harry."

Harry nodded, though he didn't know how much better he felt. There was still a nagging in his heart, especially at the admission that Sirius would gladly give his life up for him. Sirius gave his shoulders a squeeze, refusing to break contact. For that, Harry was grateful since the prophecy seemed to come out of left field. Never would he have thought that his connection with Lord Voldemort was because of a prophecy that Professor Trelawney foretold.

"The reason James and Lily are dead is because of Voldemort. The blame lies with him and him alone," Sirius pressed.

Harry swallowed, knowing Sirius was right but the guilt still swarmed around in his gut. "What's…" Harry cleared his throat. "What's the rest of the prophecy?"

Sirius forced a smile on his lips. "We'll tell you when you master Occlumency, all right?"

Harry didn't like that answer, but he knew neither Sirius nor Dumbledore would budge. It was probably for the best if Voldemort was settling into his mind.

"How long have you known?" Harry asked, his attention focused solely on his godfather.

"James found out the morning after you were born," Sirius explained. "By nightfall, you and your mum were released from the hospital. Marlene and I stopped by with some dinner for them and to lend our assistance. The moment I walked into that house, I knew something was wrong. James had been upset, angry… worried. I could just tell by looking at him. He was shit at masking his emotions, just like you are."

Harry let a soft smile grace his features before it fell.

"Harry, we must discuss some safety precautions for the summer," Dumbledore interrupted.

Snapping his attention back to the table, Dumbledore rose and made his way over towards them. A grim look settled on his features as he launched into the rules for staying at Grimmauld Place while a solid silver bracelet snapped onto his left wrist, melting perfectly against his skin. Harry felt like an experiment as Dumbledore went over the charms with Sirius, whom Harry noticed sported a matching bracelet. He couldn't help but feel like he was being held prisoner, but he knew spending a summer holed up in Grimmauld Place with Sirius was a million times better than in Little Whinging with the Dursleys.

Ginny didn't sleep the rest of the night, the mirror underneath her pillow burning a hole beneath her head as she tossed and turned until the sun rose. She could hear her dormmates bustling around and getting ready for the day. Ginny's only exam was in the afternoon for Defense Against the Dark Arts, and she wasn't worried one bit about that one. She could afford a lie-in.

Letting out a long breath, she stared up at the canopy above her bed. She didn't dare close her eyes, because she couldn't stomach seeing Harry's green eyes an ugly and menacing blood red. That's all she saw, his eyes.

"Ginny!" Niamh called. "Can you plait my hair? It looks wonky!"

"Here, let me," Gemma called.

"No! Gemma! You'll make it even more wonky than it is!" Niamh called.

"Merlin, Niamh, you just have to learn the bloody charm so it does it itself," snapped Demelza. "Look, it's a bit of a crisscross flicky swish."

Ginny blinked, listening to Gemma and Demelza bicker over the wand movement for the plait. She knew she should put Niamh out of her misery and help her, but she didn't feel like getting out of bed. Her hand snaked underneath her pillow, her fingers brushing against the handle of the mirror. She wanted to call on Harry, to make sure he was all right. She assumed he was going to be sent to Grimmauld Place with Sirius, but she didn't know if that was wishful thinking or not. Then, a more selfish part of herself needed to make sure his eyes were still green so that maybe it could stop haunting her.

"Just stop, Demelza, it looks wonky! Ginny's the best at it," Niamh said with a sigh. "Is she sick?"

"Our exam isn't until three," Gemma pointed out. "Probably just sleeping in. I heard she was in the fifth-year boys' dorm last night. I wonder whose bed she was in."

Ginny screwed her eyes shut at the words. They weren't meant in malice as Ginny picked up on the playful tone, no doubt excited for her. But she hadn't been in Harry's bed for anything fun or exciting. A noise sounded in the back of her throat, Harry's face swimming across her eyelids. He cocked his head to the side, his eyes flashing an angry red. Snapping her eyes open, she held her breath and wished to stop seeing Harry in that way.

"Fuck off," Demelza hissed. "Don't spread rumors."

"Merlin, Demelza, we're happy for her," Gemma scoffed. "Besides, it's just between us."

"I don't like it!" snapped Demelza. "Just, go. I'll wait for Ginny."

"She didn't mean anything by it, Demelza," Niamh assured, her voice soft. "We love Ginny and we would definitely be celebrating if she and Harry started dating. It's a long time coming."

Demelza mumbled something. Footfalls sounded. The door closed. Ginny let out a breath. The curtains to her bed pulled open and Demelza stood there with her eyebrows low on her face.

"Did he hurt you?" Demelza asked, her jaw tight. "I don't care if he's Harry Potter or not. I will fucking end him if he hurt you."

Ginny blinked, the corners of her lips twitching up. "No, he didn't hurt me."

Demelza let out a sigh before she climbed onto Ginny's bed and pulled the curtains closed behind her. She laid down next to Ginny, their noses nearly touching.

"What happened?" Demelza asked in a soft voice. "He's still not being dense, is he? He likes you. I know it. The way he looks at you."

Ginny swallowed. "It's not that. It's just…"

Ginny hated the secrecy around Harry and the Order of the Phoenix that she had to maintain. It wasn't fair. She had no one to talk to about, well, any of it. She didn't need to talk to many. All she wanted was to talk to Demelza, her best friend. If Demelza's mum was in the Order, then obviously Dumbledore trusted the Robins family.

"Gins," Demelza whispered.

A lump formed in Ginny's throat. "Dems."

"What happened?"

Ginny blinked, tears burning her eyes. "This is between us, right? You'll talk to nobody about it?"

Demelza held out her pinky finger and Ginny encircled hers around it. "We are best friends. You're my person. If I had a dead body to bury, I'd be calling you. I'd want you to call me too."

Ginny smiled, their hands resting between them with their pinkies still connected. "You remember in first year how I…" Ginny held her breath, not wanting to even talk about the year-long possession.

But she didn't have to. Of course, she didn't. Demelza had been the only one of their friend group who even knew about it. She had kept that confidence, helped Ginny through the ordeal.

"Did it happen again?" Demelza whispered.

"Not to me," Ginny whispered back. "It was Harry. His eyes were red."

Demelza blinked. "Is he all right?"

"He left the castle," Ginny replied. "He seemed shaken up but physically all right. He went home. We're supposed to act like we don't know where he went. Be really dramatic around Umbridge about it."

Demelza nodded, a low breath escaping her lips. "Are you all right?"

Tears welled in Ginny's eyes and she instantly hated it. She blinked furiously to try to get them to go away instead of falling down her cheeks.

"I can't stop seeing him with red eyes," Ginny added. "I don't want to think of that when I think of him. He doesn't deserve that and I, I…"

"You love him," Demelza replied. "You've been hung up on that boy since we were eleven. I think it's safe to say your feelings have only grown."

Ginny let out a bitter laugh, wiping away a damn stray tear with the back of her hand. "You can't love someone like that when you haven't even been on a date with them."

Demelza reached out and tucked a strand of hair behind Ginny's ear. "Eh, traditional dating is a bore. When you know, you know. You've been friends for years and the more you learn about him, the more you like him. That's a way better indicator than some date where you're both nervous and afraid of stepping on toes."

Ginny sniffed. "I felt like it took me ages to be myself around Michael. Which is so bloody silly. But I was nervous and I didn't know how to date."

"Michael is a twat," Demelza interrupted. "Now his body is one I wouldn't mind helping you bury."

Ginny laughed, rolling onto her back. "He is a fucking twat. What did I ever see in him?"

"It was the curse of traditional dating!" Demelza pointed out. "Nobody acts like their true selves in the beginning! But you and Harry would be different. You've seen him at his worst and his best and hovering above you like a knight in shining armor with a bloody sword."

Ginny grinned, picturing a fifteen-year-old Harry covered in blood, sweat, and dirt while holding the sword of Godric Gryffindor. She squirmed at the mental image. Now that was how she wanted to picture him, and not with the creepy red eyes.

Before Ginny could reply, she felt a vibrating underneath her head. She jumped up, her hand sliding under her pillow to pull out the mirror. Demelza arched an eyebrow, giving Ginny a pointed look when Harry's face shone in the mirror.

"Scram," Ginny hissed, her free hand waving her off her bed. "Save me some breakfast. I'll be down after."

Demelza laughed as she scooted off the bed. "He's bloody well calling you on a mirror! He so fancies you. It's so pathetic. He needs to muck up the courage and just bloody well ask you out by now."

"Demelza, go!" Ginny pleaded.

Demelza grinned as she held the curtains. "I'll cast some privacy charms for you, because I'm such an amazing best friend."

The curtains closed and Ginny heard Demelza mumbling under her breath. Ginny wiped her face once more to make sure there were no stray tears left before she looked at the mirror.

"Harry Potter," she answered as she adjusted to lean against her headboard.

A look of relief crossed Harry's face. "I was worried you and Ron were caught."

"Sorry, I had to get some privacy first," Ginny replied, crossing her legs at the ankles to get comfortable. "How are you?"

Harry nodded. "I'm fine."

Ginny knew that was a bold-faced lie because he looked exhausted with dark smudges shining on his pale face. His hair was tussled worse than normal and he still wore his clothes from yesterday.

"Did you get any sleep?" Ginny asked.

Harry shrugged. "Not really. I haven't had the opportunity, not that I'm terribly upset about it. I don't fancy falling asleep right now and risking…"

Harry didn't need to finish his sentence for Ginny to understand him completely. She wished she could hold his hand, show him that she was there for him and understood everything he was going through. She too had been scared to fall asleep as Tom seemed to control her the most at night, at least at first. By the time he had his claws dug in deep, she had no say over when he would take her. She couldn't stomach telling Harry that bit of information.

"There must be something that Sirius can do to help you sleep," Ginny reasoned. "A potion or something to put you in a deep sleep, maybe?"

Harry looked up at the ceiling before he glanced up at something that Ginny couldn't see. "I have to wear this bracelet," he explained as he held his arm up for Ginny to see a solid silver bracelet tight against his wrist. "If I leave my bedroom at night, it alerts Sirius somehow. It seems a bit… I don't know. What if I have to go to the bathroom in the middle of the night and it goes off? It's like I have zero privacy."

Ginny pursed her lips to the right. "What if it only activates if you go down the stairs? It will give you more of a free reign at night, but Sirius could grab you before you leave the house?"

Harry winced. "I mean, that's better, I suppose. I just hate the thought of it at all, but it's a condition I have to abide by if I want to spend the entire summer with Sirius."

Ginny raised her eyebrows. "You don't have to go to the Dursleys? Harry, that's fantastic news!"

"It is," Harry agreed. "There's just a lot of conditions. I can't leave the house, I have to be tracked at night, and I barely get any privacy. Sirius is in the other room right now talking to your mum, so he told me to stay put at the table and not to move. He activated the bracelet so if I leave the kitchen, he knows."

Harry looked annoyed, and Ginny couldn't blame him. But at the same time, she had been so afraid for him that she was glad that Sirius and the Order were keeping a close eye on him.

"They're just trying to protect you," Ginny reasoned. "They need to know when you're not in control of your body."

Harry's face pulled. "No, I know, it's just… I hate this. Not being in control, not knowing when I won't be in control. With the Imperius, I could feel it, you know? I knew when I was being forced to do something I didn't want to do. But with this? Gin, I didn't even know what was happening. I have no memory."

"You never do," Ginny whispered. "You just wake up and you're confused. It took me ages to figure out what was going on."

Harry chewed on the inside of his cheek. "Did you, err, was it only when you were sleeping?"

Ginny couldn't lie to him, not when he asked her so plainly. Tucking a strand of hair behind her ear, she gave him a soft smile.

"At first, yeah," Ginny admitted. "Then, I remember talking to Demelza and then the next second I was lying on the floor in a random corridor. It started happening when I was awake sometime after Christmas."

Harry scowled. "That's bloody brilliant. It's only a matter of time then."

"No, it's not, Harry," Ginny said in a sure voice. "You'll master Occlumency and you'll be fine. It won't get to that point."

Harry let out a small chuckle. "Your optimism is nice, but I don't think I'll ever master Occlumency."

"You can," Ginny insisted. "I believe you can. Snape is just an awful teacher."

Harry only shrugged, looking more than a little defeated. She opened her mouth to encourage him some more but his head snapped up.

"Molly's coming over in a bit," Sirius' voice announced, having just arrived in the kitchen. "She's going to make us some lunch and spend the day. I'm going to try to sleep a bit when she's here, I suggest you do the same."

Harry frowned. "I'm not tired. I can help Mrs Weasley with lunch."

"Harry, you have to try to sleep," Sirius reasoned.

He only sighed, his attention turning back to the mirror. "I'll call you later. Tell Ron and Hermione that I'm fine, please?"

Ginny nodded. "Of course. Call anytime, Harry. I'll have the mirror on me."

Harry offered her a tight smile before he disconnected the mirrors. Ginny sighed, setting the mirror on her lap. While she felt a little better to know Harry was still himself and hadn't been possessed again, she couldn't help the nagging that tugged at her heart. It was only a matter of time before another possession occurred. Ginny only hoped that Sirius or someone would be able to knock him out of it before it was too late.

I hope you enjoyed the chapter! Your reviews have been motivating me and keeping me on track to continue posting every week! Don't forget to drop a review! This chapter is really where the AU is going to take shape as he divert even further from canon.

Special thanks to Bell for editing!