Is anyone there? If there is still someone determined enough to stick with this story then I would just like to apologise. I'm so terribly sorry. I know how this looks, like I've abandoned this story or something. A week ago that might have been the case. I was in a dark place (I'm not going to go into it) and had lost a lot of motivation. On a whim, I decided to look at the reviews for this story. I was bracing myself for criticism, thinking you would all hate me for the hiatus, and instead just about cried. I'm overcome with the support from all of my amazing reviewers, it meant so much. Not only that, but I discovered that the Kurinoone had reviewed, saying that little old me had inspired her to continue writing. OMG.
Reading all those messages was exactly what I needed. Thankyou all so much. I'm ashamed to admit that it still took me a while to get my act together and start writing again, but I did, and its all thanks to you. I will never abandon this story, because to do so would be to abandon you, and that's something none of you did to me.
So, sorry to bore you all with my emotions, and on with the story I guess?
Chapter Ten
Despite being overcome with relief at the news that the plan to catch Harry was successful, trepidation filled the room. They were hopeful that Harry would instantly be overcome with joy at being liberated from the monsters grasp and reunited with his family, but everyone remembered his previous reactions to things regarding James and Lily in the book. His hatred towards his appearance, rejection of his family, I'm not a Potter, I never was,' didn't exactly inspire confidence.
Draco worried over the safety of his best friend. To him, it appeared that Harry was in extreme danger, surrounded by enemies and those who had done despicable things to him as a child, how could he not worry for his friend. Glancing around the room and taking note of the distracted faces - everyone appeared to be distracted with celebrating the news of Harry's capture - Draco took the parchment out of his pocket. He noted with a sneer that the only thing Moody seemed to be celebrating was the chance to hurt Harry, but pushed that thought away in order to take advantage of the situation. He slowly unfolded the parchment, silently summoning a quill from the table in the corner. He held his breath as it whizzed past Sirius' nose, and sighed in relief as the man did nothing but absently scratch his nose. 'Stupid mutt,' he thought, catching the quill and scribbling a quick message onto the parchment, the words fading as fast as they appeared. He knew Harry would get his message, placing the quill and parchment beside him on the couch he had commandeered, grateful that no one was sitting near him. Absently noting that the book had been passed to the Weasley's mother, he considered how Harry might react to his message. It was short, he couldn't afford to write a long message to his friend considering the other occupants in the room. Although, perhaps Harry would require elaboration on his part. After all, 'The order made a plan to capture you. It worked.' wasn't something that would please his friend.
Molly called for silence, waiting for everyone to settle before beginning to read.
Harry?
Lily smiled at the chapter title, knowing that it meant someone had recognised her son for who he was.
Sirius appeared in the hallway of Number 12, Grimmauld Place. He looked around quickly. There was no one around and he quickly made his way upstairs to one of the bedrooms. Upon entering he laid the boy down on the floor and rushed to the fireplace.
"I hope Harry's okay..." Hermione whispered to Ginny, who nodded worried about the condition of the boy who appeared to be lying listlessly on the floor. Draco, too, frowned. He knew that Harry would be up and fighting if he could, and the lack of motion worried him.
He threw in some floo powder and shouted.
"DUMBLEDORE'S OFFICE, HOGWARTS!" he stuck in his head and waited for the swirling to stop. Soon enough he was staring out into Professor Dumbledore's office.
"Albus! Albus are you there?" Sirius asked urgently. He didn't want the boy to wake up soon.
"Oh, Merlin he's unconscious." Lily's hands flew to cover her mouth as she gasped, breathless with worry.
"Well, duh. Your husband threw him down two floors!" Draco snarled, mask breaking so everyone could see the worry he held for his friend. Realising the reason for all the looks of pity he was receiving, he snapped his mask back into place, angry when this did nothing to deter the looks.
"Sirius, my boy, what is the matter?" came Dumbledore's reply as he kneeled down to see Sirius's head sitting in the flames.
"Albus, we got him! We captured the Dark Prince." Sirius realised how excited his voice sounded.
"Yeah we did!" Fred and George high-fived.
"You two did nothing." Ginny stated, "there's no 'we' here."
"Well done my boy! Where is he now?"
"Here at the headquarters, I need you to come quickly, along with the nurse, if possible." Sirius cowered slightly at the look in Dumbledore's eyes.
'Displeased that his 'weapon' is damaged. no doubt,' Draco thought snidely. Unintentionally, he broadcasted his thoughts loudly enough that even with his mental shields, Snape was able to hear. He shot the boy a dark look in warning, and Draco reinforced his shields. He feared that Dumbledore too had heard, but a quick glance proved the man much too occupied with the book to have heard anything.
"How badly hurt is he?" Dumbledore asked now without even a hint of twinkle in his eyes.
"Um…I…I don't know. He's going to need medical attention that's all I know." Sirius finished feeling really guilty now.
"Please don't hit me!" Sirius yelped as Lily turned towards him, a strange gleam in her eye. He jumped in surprise as the woman he regarded as his sister enveloped him in a hug instead, bringing his hand - previously raised is an 'I surrender' position - to rest on her head.
"Lily?" James was concerned, his wife looked unsettled, seeming to be proud and sad at the same time. "What's wrong love?"
"Sirius feels guilty," Lily explained. "He doesn't even know it's Harry who's hurt, but he still feels guilty. I'm so proud of you Sirius," She turned to look at the man she was hugging.
"But?" Sirius inquired, knowing there was more.
"How badly hurt is Harry?" Lily looked anguished now, and Sirius pulled her back into the hug to comfort her. James sighed.
"I suppose we're about to find out." He said desolately.
"I will be there with Madame Pomfrey as soon as possible."
"Madame Promfrey? Is that wise Albus, she isn't a member of the order?" McGonagall inquired.
"I trust Poppy with my life, no doubt I also trust her with something as, delicate, as this."
Sirius pulled his head out of the fire and waited until the spinning had stopped. He looked over to the boy and was surprised to see Moody and Kingsley in the room as well.
"Hey guys I didn't even hear you come in. Where is James and the rest?"
"Yeah!" James cried. "He's my son, I should be there!"
"Perhaps, at first it would be wise if you weren't in the room-" Dumbledore was interrupted by the outraged Potters.
"Excuse me?" Lily began, "That's our son! Out of everyone, we have the most right-"
"I want to meet my brother. That's not fair-"
"I would like to see you try and stop me, Dumbledore," James' determined voiced cut across the room like a knife.
"James," Arthur began hesitantly, "what Dumbledore means is that you are Harry's father, and therefore you will be biased. Despite what we all want to think, Harry's dangerous," he ignored the flinches from James and Lily, amoung others, and gestured to the book, "this book has provided us all with proof of that. Dumbledore just doesn't want your emotions getting in the way of you doing your job, and containing a possible threat." His face softened, pity colouring his next words, "I know its hard, believe me, but you have to let other people deal with Harry, at first. You will be with him, just not right away."
It was clear that James didn't like it, but he nodded despite himself. "If anything happens to Harry, I'll never forgive myself for not being there to prevent it," he warned.
"That's the curse of parents," Molly smiled before continuing.
Draco was confused, barely paying attention as the woman continued to read. 'The Potters are really good actors,' he thought, 'probably just eager to get their punching bag back.'
"At the Ministry, they had to accompany the fallen Death Eaters" came Moody's reply but he was not taking his eyes off the still unconscious boy on the floor.
'At least someone's vigilant,' Charlie thought, spiteful towards the injured boy.
"Dumbledore will be here soon." Sirius said as Moody approached the boy. Sirius watched as Moody bent low over the boy and checked his pulse.
"Oh God, he's not dead is he?" Hermione gasped, tears filling Damien's eyes at the thought.
"No." Lily strode across the room to her son, grasping his shoulders and pulling him into a hug, looking at Hermione over his shoulder. "No he's not dead. My Harry's strong. He's not dead." Damien smiled weakly at her reassurance, pulling away from her shoulder and blushing in embarrassment. Lily, understanding that her son wanted to appear strong in front of his friends, let him go and went back to her husband's side.
"It's weak but he's still breathing." he informed the room.
Despite her earlier reassurances to her worried son, Lily let out a quiet sigh of relief. James loped an arm around her shoulders and drew her into his side, smiling with relief.
He then moved behind the boy and suddenly wrenched the boy's arms around his back and began magically binding them. A pain filled cry was heard from the boy in his still semi-conscious state.
Sirius leapt to his feet, outraged. Remus and James quickly joined him, Lily trying desperately to tug them back onto the couch.
'Here comes some more quality acting,' Draco sneered, leaning back in his seat with a bored expression to watch the 'show'.
"How dare you! He's injured! There's no need to tie him up!" Remus cried.
"There's every reason to," Moody snarled in return. "He's a monster! Who gives a shit if he gets hurt. Little snakes faking it anyway!" Despite his harsh words Moody felt a flash of guilt, looking into Lily's eyes as she too leapt up from the couch. He didn't care for the 'Dark Prince', but he was shouting at people he had called friends for years, people who Frank and Alice had loved.
"Why you-" Lily started, eyes flashing with rage. Draco shivered, her expression was so similar to Harry's when he was mad. Dumbledore cut her off,
"Lily, please sit down. Alastor, do try to keep your comments to yourself." His normally twinkling eyes had a dangerous gleam to them as he voiced his warning to the man, who scoffed but remained silent (for now). Dumbledore looked at Molly, who nodded and continued. James, Remus and Sirius joined Lily on the couch, fuming silently.
Sirius was suddenly on his feet.
"Wait! Alastor what are you doing?" he asked as he rounded on Moody who was still busy checking the tightness of the bonds, oblivious to the boy's cry and harsh breathing.
Lily's nostrils flared, but she remained seated.
"Making sure that the brat can't run away or wandlessly blast us."
Moody was now reaching into the boy's robes and began taking out the weapons hidden within them. Sirius watched in awe as the multiple ninja stars and weapons were piled away by Moody.
'Paranoid,' Draco smirked to himself.
Sirius noticed that the boy had now come around and was watching his weapons being taken from him. He instinctively tried to stop Moody but then realised that he was quite unable to move.
"Harry, don't-" James cut himself off as Lily shook her head. Talking to a book wouldn't stop Harry, no matter how much they wished it would. The parents braced themselves, knowing that Harry would be in a lot of pain until the healer came, especially if he continued to resist.
He tried wrenching his arms out of the bonds but instead let out another cry as his broken arm and wrists objected strongly to being tied up. Sirius watched with a heavy heart as the boy began to panic and his green eyes, still behind the silver mask, darted around trying to focus on where he was. Then his eyes met his own and Sirius felt his heart break as he saw the pain in them.
"Merlin," Sirius breathed, feeling sick. 'It hasn't happened yet,' he thought. 'And it never will.'
"We'll do things differently," Bill said, Tonks nodding firmly across the room.
"He won't get hurt this time!" She looked to James and Lily, who smiled weakly at her conviction.
Moody however was not showing an ounce of sympathy. He walked around and picked up the small pile of weapons and without warning viciously kicked the boy in his ribs.
Moody saw the hex coming, but let it hit him anyway. Lily saw this, knew it was the mans way of trying to gain forgiveness, but it did nothing to calm her temper. She readied her wand for another blow, viciously beginning to hiss the words of another hex, but James grabbed her wand arm. She looked at him, aghast, but he just shook his head as Moody waved his wand and cancelled the affect of the previous hex. Unhappy, Lily shot Moody another glare, wrenching her arm from James' grasp.
The boy gasped in pain. He curled up in order to relieve the pain in his already broken ribs.
Growls resounded within the room.
"Moody! That's enough! There is no need for that." Sirius grabbed Moody as he prepared to deliver another kick to the fallen boy, and pulled him away.
"Thank you, Sirius." James smiled at his long-time best friend.
"No need, Eh! Oh I think there is. This…this little piece of shit is the reason Alice and Frank aren't here…! This is the monster that burnt them to a cinder! He is the reason for our injured comrades…I am going to kill him!"
Sirius winced. "I wouldn't be so quick to thank me mate."
"What?" James faced his mate, confused. "Why not?"
"I don't know its Harry," Sirius' voice was laced with pain, "I'm worried that the me in that," he gestured towards the book clutched in Molly's tight grip, "is going to treat Harry badly for what he... did to Frank and Alice." James looked away.
"It's not your fault." The timid voice came from, to the surprise of many, Ron. "I mean," he looked around, voice fading as his courage left him under the many focused gazes resting upon him. He took a deep breath and focused on the guilty looking Sirius, "you don't know its your Godson. If you did, you would never hurt him! No matter what he's done!"
"Don't be so sure," Draco sighed. "He's done more than enough damage to Harry."
"What's that supposed to mean?" Remus snarled.
"You really don't know?" Draco raised a quizzical eyebrow. "I suppose they didn't trust the wolf to keep a secret."
"Who didn't trust Remus?" Lily's voice was raised, snapping the question at Draco.
"The ones Harry hates the most." Draco's reply was more venomous than anything Lily could spit his way, and she was momentarily taken back.
"I don't know what you're talking about, kid, but it better stop. You're getting a grace period because you happen to be my son's best friend, but that period is now over." James put an arm around Lily, voice strong. Damien shivered, his dad sounded really mad and he was just glad he wasn't on the receiving end of that anger.
"They'll find out soon enough," Draco glared defiantly. "You sure you don't want to tell them? This is your one chance to twist the story in your defence."
"I don't know what you're talking about!" James sounded desperate now. Draco scoffed and looked away, and Molly hesitantly began to read again.
Moody was struggling against Sirius's hold and managed to get away from him. He swept over to the boy and grabbed him by his hair and roughly pulled him to his feet. Sirius saw the boy's eyes flicker with pain. Moody tugged hard and brought his face close to the boy's.
"I am going to make you pay boy, if it's the last thing I do." he growled.
Moody smirked, agreeing with the words from his future self.
Sirius looked over to Kingsley to see if he was sharing Moody's pleasure of torturing the boy.
"I'm not." Kingsley's deep voiced resonated within the room. "Or at least, it's affecting me that it's little Harry getting hurt." He didn't look away from where his gaze was fixed on the photo of Harry in the middle of the room, knowing with a heavy heart that his future self wouldn't share his opinions.
Kingsley was standing with an expressionless look on his face. The dried blood from his broken nose was crusted on his face and robes, it was not bothering him in the slightest that Moody was hurting a child that was already in so much pain.
Sirius prayed silently that Dumbledore would come quickly.
"He's on his way, and with a healer too!" Tonks tried to remain bubbly for the sake of them all, but the reality of Harry in so much pain because of the actions of the light side was affecting everyone deeply.
He was the only one who could control Moody. Sirius took another step towards him.
"Moody, really! Do you think this is right? I mean, we've got him. He will pay for all of his crimes. You don't have to do this." He tried talking calmly to Moody since shouting at him didn't work.
Moody rounded on Sirius, letting go of the boy's hair causing the boy to fall to the floor in a crumpled heap.
Lily inhaled sharply, sadness flickering across her face.
"Right? Nothing about this is right! Was it right for the Longbottoms to be killed in there own home? Was it right for Neville Longbottom to be orphaned at such an early age? Was it right for James to nearly lose his life? Huh answer me!"
The list of Harry's crimes made many occupants feel the desire for vengeance, however momentarily. For many, it faded as they looked at the photo of Harry at his most innocent, but Moody and Charlies rage was only fuelled by the words.
At the mention of James, Sirius felt rage and anger suddenly erupt inside him. He remembered how he had felt when he arrived at the fallen body of his best friend. He remembered fearing for James's life when he saw the deep gash in his neck and all that blood around him. James had lost so much blood. He could have died.
James grabbed Sirius' arm, smiling at him reassuringly to remind him he wasn't dead. Damien gripped Hermione's sleeve tightly, gaze focused on his father like he might disappear if he looked away.
Sirius suddenly, blinded by rage walked over to the boy who was now being held up by Kingsley, as it was apparent that he could not stay on his feet on his own. Sirius ran his fingers into the boys raven coloured hair and wrenched his head back, ignoring the pained gasp that escaped the boy's lips.
Sirius winced, looking down. "Sorry Harry," he whispered to himself.
"I think it's time we saw your pretty face, don't you?" he said in a low voice.
"YES!" Tonks cried, along with the underage witches and wizards.
The boy's eyes widened with horror and he tried to wriggle out of Sirius's grasp.
"N-no!" he managed to choke out.
"Don't worry Harry, you have nothing to fear from us. We won't hurt you once we know who you are, not like the Death Eaters." Tonks smiled at the book reassuringly, Remus staring at her adoringly, looking away quickly at Sirius' nudge.
Sirius laughed and released him. The boy tried to get as far away from Sirius as he could but Kingsley pushed him back.
Sirius put a hand over the boy's silver mask and ripped it off in one go. The reaction that followed was one that Sirius would never forget.
Sirius gasped and stepped away from the boy. Kingsley managed to keep a firm grip on him but felt himself go weak at the sight of the Dark Prince. Moody just stood there with his mouth open in shock.
Sirius looked up into the face that reminded him of someone that was closer to him than his own brother.
"Nawwwww."
"Shut up."
He looked into the emerald green eyes that he could now tell, without that horrid mask, were identical to Lily's. He looked at the boy who stood glaring at him, his hair, his face. He was an exact carbon copy of James with the exception of Lily's eyes.
"I knew he'd look like you!" Lily jumped up and down in her seat, gripping James' arm tightly and shaking him.
Sirius didn't need anything else to prove who this boy was, standing before him. It was James and Lily's son, his own godson.
"Harry?" he choked out.
Harry didn't respond. He continued glaring at Sirius, while trying not to give in to the pain that was racking his body.
"Harry? You…you are…Harry Potter!" Sirius said while taking a step toward his godson.
"Damn straight he is!"
"James! Language!"
At hearing his full name being spoken Harry reared his head up and managed to say in a low voice.
"My name…is Harry Marvolo!"
"No. No it's not. You're my son, my Harry. Harry James Potter!" James glared defiantly at the book, as if he could will Harry to accept the truth.
"He is Harry Marvolo!" Draco said. "The Dark Lords son, the Dark Prince himself. He's not yours anymore. He never was."
"He is our son. Damien's brother. Our Harry! Now that we have him back, he will learn the truth! We will never lose him again!" Lily was crying, but her voice didn't falter, didn't shake. Draco was once again taken back by the resolve in her voice, wondering why the Potters kept acting.
'They lost him?' He thought. 'But Harry said he ran away.' He figured it must just be apart of the act.
Sirius looked as if the sky had fallen on him. He quickly stepped up to the boy and grabbed him by the shoulders. Harry winced painfully but didn't let another gasp leave his lips.
"No! You are Harry Potter! You are James and Lily's son. Harry Potter!" Sirius informed him, naively thinking that the truth must have been kept from him.
"He knows who gave birth to him, and he knows who raised him. That is who he calls Father, not you." James glared but didn't reply. He held out hope that despite Draco's words he was wrong, that Harry wanted to return to his real family. Why wouldn't he, after being kept from them for so long?
Harry shrugged Sirius away from himself, ignoring the shooting pain in his arm and glared back at him.
"No! I am Harry Marvolo, Son of Lord Voldemort."
"Harry please…" Sirius was cut off as a burst of green flames announced the arrival of someone. 'Oh Merlin, please don't let it be James, please not just yet!' wished Sirius. He spun around to see a very baffled and shocked looking Dumbledore and Madame Pomfrey standing at the fireplace.
Sirius spun around to look at Harry and was shocked to see the anger and hate in his eyes as he glared at Dumbledore.
"Oh yeah, he really doesn't like you." Draco smiled at the Headmaster, expecting him to be upset by the news. Instead, Dumbledore smiled back.
"I had no expectations that Harry would hold affection for me, given who raised him. Tom always held resentment towards me, no doubt he has passed that on."
Harry was still breathing heavily and Sirius was sure that if Kingsley let go Harry would not be able to stand. Nevertheless it didn't stop Harry giving a murderous glare at Albus Dumbledore.
Dumbledore on the other hand was looking at Harry with an incredulous look in his blue eyes. Sirius could see that Dumbledore had been shocked to his core and was finding it difficult to speak.
The twins shifted uncomfortably, sharing the same discomfort as the younger kids. The thought of Albus Dumbledore being rendered speechless by something was uncomprehend able, and didn't sit well with them.
Sirius didn't know what to do. He looked on helplessly as Harry continued to glare at Dumbledore. Moody spoke up.
"Albus, I don't think that this is possible. It must be a trap." he was looking at Harry with a cautious look as if expecting him to jump out of his skin as someone else. Sirius however stepped closer to Dumbledore and Moody.
"He is Harry Potter, my instincts can't be wrong about this!" Sirius argued.
"He is definitely my Godson, I'd recognise him anywhere."
"Except when he's wearing a mask?" Remus questioned.
"Well, nobody's perfect Moony."
"Release him." said Dumbledore quietly, tearing his eyes away from Harry to look at Moody.
"What?" Moody was confused. It even took Sirius a moment to realise that Dumbledore was referring to the bonds that were placed on Harry.
"Oh…Right." Moody grumbled and flicked his wand and mumbled the counter curse releasing Harry.
"Thank Merlin you have some sense, Albus."
"My dear Minerva, I would never allow Harry to be hurt by anyone in the Order."
'But you already have,' Draco thought. 'How could you not have known?'
Harry instantly brought his injured arm to his chest protectively and groaned at the pain that was shooting through him. At hearing the groan of pain Kingsley let go of him and Harry fell to the ground, unable to stand by himself. At once Sirius and Dumbledore rushed to Harry and tried to help him up. Harry however looked at them furiously and backed away from them as much as his injured body allowed him.
"Oh, Harry, let them help you!" Fleur was distraught, unable to believe that Harry wouldn't seek aid from the Order members.
Dumbledore looked at the child he had believed was the 'chosen one'. He still couldn't believe it. Harry Potter was alive! It was nothing short of a miracle.
"Didn't expect him to survive, then?"
"Well of course not." Dumbledore peered over his glasses at the young Slytherin who knew Harry so well. "Voldemort is know to destroy his enemies, not care for them."
'Not what I meant!' Draco scowled to himself, not meeting the old mans gaze lest he read his thoughts.
Harry was taking short rapid breaths, as if he was having trouble breathing. He brought his good hand to his side gingerly as his broken ribs were actually sticking out of his skin.
"Ewwwww!" Damien cried. "I'm going to be sick!"
He felt very faint. His head was pounding and he felt very sick.
"Looks like your brother is too, hey?!" Fred laughed. Ginny elbowed him sharply, shaking her head to make it clear that it wasn't funny.
He tried to fight the blackness that was slowly engulfing him. Sirius and Dumbledore were still trying to approach Harry and convince him that they were trying to help.
"Harry, its okay. We want to help you." Dumbledore tried.
"I'm so sorry Harry, I didn't know…please Harry, let me help you." Sirius tried once more to help Harry up and stopped short when he violently backed away from him. At once Harry gasped and bit his lip to stop himself screaming in pain as his movements jolted his broken and bruised body.
"You don't have to act strong, baby. Let it out." Lily whispered, distraught.
Sirius and Dumbledore backed away from Harry, not wanting to inflict any more pain. Sirius turned to Kingsley who was looking very pale and was compassionately staring at the injured boy sprawled on the floor.
"Kingsley, go to the office, stop James from coming here. Just tell him anything! Make sure he just doesn't come here!" Sirius instructed Kingsley who seemed glad to get away from the awkward situation.
James looked at Sirius, smiling weakly and nodding his understanding. He knew that his presence would only make healing Harry harder to do, no matter how much he wished he could be there. He was thankful that his friend was delaying his arrival, hopefully until after his son was healed. He hated to think about how he might react to seeing Harry in pain, considering that he could barely contain himself merely reading about it.
"Alastor, keep the Ministry away from here. We need to sort out a couple of things before they interfere and want to take over." Dumbledore told Moody, who began complaining how impossible it was going to be to keep the Ministry away.
No one noticed a very pale Madame Pomfrey approaching Harry and gently supporting the boy, who surprisingly allowed the nurse to help him, to the bed nearby and gently lay him down. She brushed away his bangs from his eyes and smiled embarrassingly at him.
"It's going to be okay Harry. I'll take care of you" she whispered softly as Harry gave in to the blackness that finally engulfed him.
"Does Poppy know Harry?" Arthur turned to look at Albus who shrugged, confused. As one, the room turned to look at Draco, who tried his hardest not to shift uncomfortably under the weight of their stares.
"What?" He demanded.
"Well?" Charlie questioned.
"Well...?" Draco drawled, raising one eyebrow.
"Does Harry know Madame Pomfrey?" Bill finished his brothers question. Draco rolled his eyes, looking at the ceiling like he couldn't believe that someone could ask a question so stupid.
"How would I know?"
"Aren't you his best friend or something, Malfoy?" Ron sneered.
"Oh, I'm sorry. You must tell your friends everything, Weasley." Ron blushed,
"Well, no, but-"
"Exactly."
xxx
Madame Pomfrey ushered Dumbledore and Moody out of the room and told Sirius to block the fireplace in that room so that she could not be interrupted. Sirius did so and left immediately to join Dumbledore and Moody in the main dining room.
Sirius watched numbly as Dumbledore repeated his instruction to Moody to go to the Ministry and buy them some time. Moody grumbled under his breath, how futile this would be and stumped frustratingly out the door.
Tonks snorted at her old mentors behaviour. "Good luck."
They both sat with their heads hung down, deep in thought. Sirius desperately asked.
"Albus, what are we going to do now?"
"What do you mean?"
Sirius tried not to reach over and shake the old fool.
"Haha, sorry Professor."
"Quite alright, my boy."
"What do I mean? I mean what are we going to do now? We can't just hand Harry over to the Ministry. They will order the Dementors Kiss without trial! We can't hide him forever! Not that he would willingly stay with us, and we sure as hell can't send him back to that monster Voldemort!"
"That's a good point. How-?"
"We could try to hide him, Sirius' house would be ideal-"
"-headquarters-"
"Could be dangerous-"
"-Give away our position-"
"What if he's uncooperative-"
"-Is most likely-"
The murmur of conversation continued - the twins loudly suggesting to Damien that the Whomping Willow would be the best place to hide him - until Dumbledore cleared his throat. Draco and Snape, the only two to remain silent throughout the debate, as even Moody and Charlie decided to loudly protest, had been studying the Headmasters face throughout, and knew he had a plan.
"I already know where Harry is to go." The old man smiled serenely.
"Where?" James questioned.
"In time, the answer will be revealed."
"How? How do you know that the future you isn't going to send him somewhere else?"
"I rarely change my mind, James. My actions are quite predictable to those who know me, and no one knows me better than myself."
Dumbledore gave Sirius a stunned look, that was the first time Sirius had said Voldemort's name without stuttering. He gave the smallest of sighs and tried to smile at his ex-student.
"Sirius, my boy. Please calm down. We just need to speak to Harry. The poor boy has been misled by Voldemort. Once he learns the truth about who he is I am sure that he will help us in sorting out this whole mess."
"Mislead?" Draco said in disbelief.
"Why else wouldn't he come back?" Bill questioned. "If he knew his family was alive, why stay away."
"I guess you'll find out." Draco muttered. 'One way or another.'
If Dumbledore thought that this would have calmed Sirius down then he was greatly mistaken. Sirius erupted and leapt up so fast his chair went flying behind him.
"Help us! Harry willing to help us! Merlin, Albus. Did you not see the way he was reacting to us? Especially towards you! He was not misled by Voldemort, he knows who he is, he knew that James was his real father, but he still attacked him. He attacked James and left him to die! Albus, Harry is not going to help us or himself for that matter. He hates us and will try to escape back to Voldemort regardless of what truths we tell him."
Draco looked surprised. "That's the most intelligent thing I've ever heard you say."
"Oh, be quiet."
Sirius was breathing very hard and his hands were shaking with fury. Why couldn't Dumbledore understand that they were screwed? This meant that James and Lily were going to lose their son all over again.
"Like hell am I going to let my son go." Lily snarled.
Sirius couldn't keep the tears of frustration and heartbreak at bay any longer. He sunk to the floor and covered his face in his hands. Dumbledore came over to him and placed a hand on his shoulder and tried to comfort him.
"My dear boy, I understand your dilemma. James and Lily are going to find this very difficult to deal with, but I promise you that I will not allow them to lose Harry again."
Sirius looked up at Dumbledore with tearstained eyes.
"How?" he croaked out.
Dumbledore gave him another small smile.
"You probably didn't notice, but when Poppy laid Harry down on the bed she pushed his hair away from his forehead and I saw something that will probably save Harry."
"You did?" Damien questioned hopefully.
"What…what did you see?" Sirius almost whispered to him, still sitting on the ground.
"He has been marked by Voldemort."
Draco burst out laughing. "You stupid old man!" He crowed, "You really think that Harry's scar is the answer? That he's going to turn against the Dark Lord because of it?" Dumbledore looked taken back.
"Well, yes. You see, Mister Malfoy, the scar relates to the prophecy-"
"You don't even know what it is!"
"Any you do?" Tonks questioned her youngest relative.
"Duh, Harry told me. He's very proud of it, and what it represents."
"What's that then?" Hermione asked.
Draco smirked but didn't reply, at least not to directly answer Hermione's question. "Not what the Headmaster thinks."
Sirius gasped and looked positively horror stricken.
"He…he…he marked Harry with the…Dark Mark?" he asked with a shaky breath.
"No. He has marked him in another way." Dumbledore looked straight into Sirius's eyes and recited part of the prophesy that the entire Order had learned by heart.
"The Dark Lord will mark him as his equal" he said slowly and let the understanding sink in. Sirius looked at Dumbledore with a confused expression.
"Of course you didn't get it," Remus groaned.
"You see Sirius, Harry is the chosen one, not Neville Longbottom. After all, that is why he was taken fifteen years ago.
'What?' Draco thought, terribly confused. 'Is that the lie they're going with? But Harry will never believe that!' Looking around the room, he noted that no one else seemed surprised by this news, almost as if Harry was taken fifteen years ago, instead of running away when he was four. Either they were all in on the abuse Harry suffered, had all been lied to by the Potters, or... it was the truth.
Voldemort did not kill him like we all thought. He was smarter than that. He instead decided to use the chosen one. He has brought Harry up like a son and in return got Harry to love him like a father. Harry does not realise that the love Voldemort shows him is in fact a survival technique, since Harry now can not even think of hurting Voldemort. He has corrupted the innocence that Harry had, turned him into a ruthless killer so that we would not give him a chance of redemption. You see, Voldemort had made a good plan, Harry is a very powerful Wizard and Voldemort has been using that power to finish off his enemies, but he also was making sure that if Harry was ever caught, then the Light side would annihilate their saviour by their very own hands.
'What a bunch of bullshit!' Draco was fuming, 'I'm not sure how much more of these lies I can take!' He jumped as he felt the parchment on the couch beside him buzzing, picking it up and unfolding it to reveal a message had been scribbled on.
I've been captured? We have to meet, face to face. You have to tell me everything, I don't trust you not to forget something when writing. Meet me at the Shrieking Shack. I can get there through the entrance in Hogsmead, I trust you know the way from Hogwarts. Be there in half an hour, or I'll be gone.
The message faded before his eyes, but his mind was already whirring. How could he excuse himself from the room without raising suspicion. He needed to leave, and quickly, if he wanted to make it to the shack in time. His eyes jumped to his Head of House, and he quickly began probing his mental shields as Molly continued to read.
Tell me Sirius, if this boy was anyone other than Harry, what fate would he have suffered by now? You would not have given him a second thought as you tossed him in front of the Dementors. It just so happens that he is the son of your best friend, your own godson that has kept Harry alive until now." Dumbledore paused to let his explanation sink in.
Sirius was looking a little sick but had managed to keep up with Dumbledore.
"Its true." Sirius looked miserable as James and Lily attempted to comfort him.
Snape's head snapped around sharply as he detected Draco's presence in his mind. Meeting his Godson's gaze, he sent a query towards him.
'What?'
'I need help. I have to leave.'
'Why?'
'None of your concern!'
'We both know that's not true. Tell me why Draco! Haven't I already proved you can trust me?'
Draco considered this. The book had revealed that Snape's loyalties didn't lie with Voldemort, but then again, neither did Draco's. He was loyal to Harry, perhaps Snape was loyal to the Malfoy's. His own Godfather wouldn't betray him.
'I am going to see Harry.'
'Are you kidding me!?'
'No. There are some things I must explain.'
'I can't let you do this!'
'You can't stop me.'
'I can easily tell them, Draco, don't test me.'
'You won't. Please Severus.'
Snape sighed. Ignoring the pleading looks Draco was sending his way, he turned towards Dumbledore and opened his mouth. He knew what he was going to do.
"Headmaster, I'm afraid I must leave momentarily. Please do not hold the reading. It's not necessary." Dumbledore considered the man for a moment, noting how Snape gripped his left arm as though it pained him. He nodded, and Snape immediately rose and strode towards the door.
"Draco, I require your presence." He snapped, and the boy hurriedly stood. He joined Snape at the door, and before anyone could question them they were gone. Molly paused, looking to the Headmaster, silently asking if she should wait for their return. He shook his head, and she continued.
"Sirius, I believe it was fate that brought Harry directly into your hands. He could have been captured by any other Auror and it would have been too late for anyone to save him. If Harry has fallen into our hands, it must be because we can help him. I know that this is not going to be easy, Harry is going to be very difficult to get through to, but I truly believe that it can be done."
Lily smiled at James, who looked at her with hope in his eyes.
"What about the Ministry, Fudge doesn't believe the prophesy, he never has." Sirius said in a defeated voice.
"Leave Fudge to me. I am sure that the Minister and I will come to some sort of agreement."
"You always do, don't you Headmaster." Kingsley smiled at their leader.
Sirius looked a little doubtful. He knew that the Minister would probably use the capture of the Dark Prince to boost his popularity as the recent attacks were dragging him down lately. Before he could open his mouth to argue this point the door to the dining room opened and a very pale and exhausted looking Madame Pomfrey came in.
"Oh, I hope Harry's okay!" Damien looked worried.
Sirius and Dumbledore quickly rose to their feet and helped Madame Pomfrey into a chair. She gave them a thankful look and collapsed onto the chair.
"How is he Poppy?" asked Dumbledore gently.
"Well, he will survive.
"Thank Merlin." Lily breathed a sigh of relief along with the majority of the room.
He had some very nasty injuries. His right arm and wrist were broken and so was his left ankle. His back was very badly bruised. He's lucky he didn't break his spine. He also had two broken ribs and a cracked one. That was why he had difficulty breathing properly.
Hisses and moans were heard as everyone took in this news.
I have mended all his broken bones and administered some pain relief potion. I have left some more potions in the room that he has to take, they are to help bring the bruising down and for the pain."
Sirius looked positively horrified now. What would have happened if Harry had not survived that awful fall? Sirius tried not to shudder at the thought of removing that silver mask from a dead body in the rumble.
"Oh God. That would be awful!" Hermione shuddered, thinking about how that would affect James, seeing as he was one of the people responsible for the accident.
"Honestly though, what were you thinking, attacking him like that! He fell from two floors down! You are so lucky he didn't die!" she said rounding on Sirius. She was looking livid and reminded Sirius of Professor McGonagall.
"It wasn't on purpose…wait…how did you know that?"
They gazed suspiciously at the book. How could Poppy know, unless Harry had told her?
Poppy looked at him for a moment, apprehension, evident on her face, before answering.
"He told me."
"WHAT!"
Sirius was speechless for a moment.
"What! He told you? Why would he do that? Why did he speak to you and no one else?"
Poppy looked a little uncomfortable and then decided to just tell the truth.
"Because…because I know him."
"HOW IS THAT POSSIBLE?"
"WHAT!" exploded Sirius.
"You…You know him! How do you know him?" Sirius was instinctively reaching for his wand when Dumbledore stopped him.
"Are we sure she's not... a traitor?"
"It's Poppy, Sirius-"
"And I trust her with my life." Dumbledore cut everyone off.
"Poppy, please explain this." he looked really tired and wary now.
"Well, Professor Dumbledore. Do you remember approximately six months ago there was an attack on my home? My husband Paul and I had been in the garden at the time and were helplessly left to watch our two children die in our burning house. The Death Eaters had put us in full body binds and had set our house on fire, screaming at me that I deserved this since I was a nurse who helped muggle born children at Hogwarts.
Hermione gasped, hands flying to her mouth as tears filled her eyes. "I'm so sorry. They attacked her because, because of me."
"That's not true." Lily looked fiercely at the girl. "I'm muggle-born just like you, and sweetheart, we are not to blame for their actions. They are despicable creatures who thrive off the pain of others, they would've attacked Poppy, regardless of who she helps."
Hermione nodded helplessly, still feeling guilty for something she held no blame for. Ron wrapped his arm around her shoulders awkwardly, attempting to provide comfort.
When the Death Eaters left there was no one around to help us. Even our godforsaken neighbours had been terrified of helping us for fear of the Death Eaters. Then out of nowhere, this young boy arrived and just rushed into our burning home.
"Harry?" George queried.
He saved Jenna and David from burning to death and also released Paul and me from the spell binding us. He asked me what had happened and I told him about the Death Eaters. I still remember the rage in his green eyes.
"Harry." Fred nodded.
He told me not to worry and that the Death Eaters would never harm us again. Before he left I asked him who he was and he just smiled at me and told me that he was called Harry.
"HAAAARRRRRYYYY!" They screeched together.
I never saw him again, until today." she finished with tears in her eyes.
Sirius was speechless. Harry had saved two little children from dying. But why? Harry had saved them from people on his own side. Harry risked his life at the age of fifteen for two small children of his enemies.
"That's my boy!"
"Our boy."
"Yes, yes."
"Poppy, did you see his face clearly, I mean it was definitely Harry, he wasn't wearing any mask to cover his face was he?" Sirius asked cautiously.
"No. He was not wearing any sort of mask. He was wearing wizard robes but no mask. His face was clear for all to see."
"But then why didn't you tell anyone that you had seen someone who looked exactly like James!" Sirius nearly shouted at her.
"Well, she's never seen me before, so..."
"Oh..."
Poppy looked at Sirius and then replied calmly.
"Because Mr Black, I have never to this day seen Mr Potter, so that would have been quite a connection for me to make."
Sirius looked at her blankly, and then it hit him. Of course, she had never met James. Poppy was a school nurse at Hogwarts and had yet to be initiated into the Order. James had paid enough visits to Hogwarts but had yet to meet all the new staff there. Sirius felt like a complete idiot and mumbled his apology to her. She dismissed it with her hand saying it was fine.
Dumbledore was however smiling and turned to Sirius:
"Well, it seems our Harry has a little saving people thing"
"Oh, I'm so proud." Lily gushed. Ginny blushed, remembering how Harry had saved her. He was so strong, and handsome, and his arms... she sighed. She couldn't wait to meet her saviour, but she was worried he wouldn't even remember her. How many girls had he heroically saved? Maybe she wasn't anything special.
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So. If anyone still thinks this story is worth reading, let me know? I really appreciate your reviews, they were the inspiration for this chapter.
Thanks guys, until next time,
Mythology-Is-My-Religion