Harry woke the next morning to a soft tapping on the window of his new bedroom. His room! Harry could hardly believe that he was here living with Sirius. After their conversation, the other night he was feeling a lot better about where things were between them. As he opened up the window the beautiful Eagle Owl swooped in and landed on the desk sticking out her leg for Harry to remove a letter and parcel. Harry quickly removed the package and letter and began to read the letter.
Potter,
I do have a couple of books that might be helpful. I can't believe that no one took the time to go over the basics with you. That would totally explain your performance in class. The books in the parcel go over what the different preparation methods are, and how to proceed. They also go into how to properly care for your Potions equipment. Trust me I noticed that you don't take care of yours. You also frankly bought the cheapest of everything, which can have an impact on your potion. The better the quality of ingredients and tools, the more likely that the potion will be of higher quality. The technique is also key. Make sure that you grind, dice and chop properly and don't do the opposite of what is called for. You should make sure that you prepare the ingredients in a manner that makes them fine.
I also included a couple of treacle tarts for snacking as you study. I have noticed that they are your favorite.
-Shadow
Harry opened the package and as the letter explained inside the package were a couple of books on potions and two treacle tarts. His day was off to a great start. He took out his parchment, ink and quill and began his reply.
Shadow,
Thank you for sending the books and the treacle tarts. You are correct that those are my favorite. I would gladly find a way to return the favor if I knew how. For now, all I can really do is say thank you. I am not sure if you know that I was raised in the muggle world and so I didn't know any other wizards or witches until I got my letter on my eleventh birthday.
What is your favorite subject at Hogwarts? My godfather says that I should have taken Runes and Arithmancy? Yet no one said anything to me about it until now. I can't really blame him because we only got in touch after my third year. Do you take either of those at Hogwarts?
-H.J.P.
Just as Harry tied the letter onto the beautiful bird's leg to take in reply to shadow, Harry heard a knock at his door, "You up Prongslet? Breakfast should be ready in the kitchen shortly."
After breakfast Harry and Sirius went through the Black library and Sirus marked all the books that he didn't want Harry to touch. They spent some time talking about what had happened so far over the summer with Sirius, which turned out to be not much. Sirus just shook his head, "I feel useless pup. All that I really have been allowed to do is host meetings for the order and the more I hear of how much Albus has been controlling your life I am liking it less and less. We can't even seem to come to full agreement on things among the order." They spent what remained of the day reading with Harry asking the occasional question.
Later that night there was an order meeting. Mrs. Weasley insisted, "Harry Dear, we need to get started so be a dear and head up to your room." Harry opened his mouth to reply, but before he could Sirius cut him off, "Molly, you're not his mother. Harry is my godson, and this is his home. He can stay if he wants." Only to be cut off by Dumbledore, "Sirius, Molly is right in this instance. He needs to go upstairs he can come down afterwards, Harry isn't James no matter how much he may look like him." Harry left and went stomping up to the room that was now his.
Needing a distraction Harry turned his attention to working on his new room. He decided to practice the color switching charm. He changed the color of the walls to blue a tone that he found soothing, Then, he changed the color of the comforter on the top of his bed and did a soft silver tone and decided that the sheets should be a matching blue to the walls. He then moved on to the bathroom and changed the walls in there to a soft muted gray with the counter and shower tiles matching. He then changed the towels to a soft blue. Deciding that he needed the mirror to be a little larger he practiced the expansion charm until it was the size that he thought would be helpful for him.
Leaving the bathroom, Harry began taking stock of his clothes and supplies towards the school year. He was pleasantly surprised by the tapping of the beautiful golden Eagle Owl returning. He opened the window and allowed her in. He took the letter from her and began to read.
Potter,
I overheard talk last night between my father and a few of his associates. The ministry is doing all of their work for them. So, for a while they will be laying low and plotting, this gives them plenty of time to recruit and plan. With the ministry sticking their heads in the sand people are completely unaware of what is coming. You'll have to watch out at Hogwarts though apparently the teacher for DADA this year is some Ministry lackey the Minister of Magic himself is appointing to track the goings on in the school.
My favorite subject in school is runes and arithmancy, but I am good at potions and the other core subjects. Your godfather is right someone should have directed you to those classes rather than Divination. Would you like to borrow the text from third year? I'm revising the fourth year one myself or I would offer that you could borrow both?
-Shadow
Harry considered his response for a moment and began to think over the letter and consider once more who Shadow might actually be. He now knew that Shadow was in Slytherin house for sure, and their father was a death eater. Shadow was also smart, and academically inclined. That narrowed some of the candidates, but still left a few. Harry pulled out parchment, ink and quill and took the time to write more neatly.
Shadow,
I now have more time to write, read and revise. I am grateful for that as I am now in a location that is safer than where I was at previously. I think at this point you can feel free to call me Harry. You're the only one who seems to want to reach out to me right now. So, you can have that privilege. I would like to borrow the third-year textbook and once you're finished the fourth-year textbook as well, please.
-HJP
Soon Sirius was calling him downstairs. The members of the order were slowly making their way home, all but Remus, McGonagall and Dumbledore were now out of the kitchen. "Professor McGonagall, I understand if the answer is no, but I have asked to borrow a third and fourth year set of runes and arithmancy texts and would like to drop divination and take those instead. I am willing to take my OWL privately later on those and sit if needed with the third years."
The stern professor looked at him and smiled, "Very well, Mr. Potter I will see what Professors Babbling and Vector say about that. They might ask you to take a placement test to see how well you self-study." Harry wasn't sure but he thought Professor McGonagall actually smiled as she turned to floo back to the school. As Kreacher brought them dinner, they ate quietly with Sirius muttering, "She should have told you not to take that droughted subject in the first place."
Once dinner was done Harry excused himself to get ready for bed as it was getting late.
Returning to his room Harry allowed himself to luxuriate in another pleasant shower with the products that he found that he really liked; after drying off and getting into pajamas he returned to his previous project of evaluating what he needed. He also began to create a list of extra things that it was time to invest in like new clothes. He also wanted to ask Sirius about getting a haircut.
Before allowing himself to glory in his new bed that was even more comfortable than the one, he had at Hogwarts he took the time to write his only correspondent at current.
Shadow,
I was considering now that I am in a little different living situation I want to get some clothes that actually fit well. Where would be an advisable to place to order clothes from every day?
-HJP
The remainder of the summer passed in a flurry of dueling practice and lessons with Sirius as well as reading and studying to prepare himself to take on his new classes, as well as perform better in his core subjects. Once he had worked his way through the third-year books for runes and arithmancy he returned them to Shadow and was allowed to borrow the fourth-year texts to revise from and found he took more naturally to the subjects than he did many.
Professor McGonagall had brought the exams that the professor needed him to take to be placed in his new classes and watched as Harry took both exams and completed them in the specified one hour each. She had explained, "You will receive notice of placement when you get ready to return and I will bring all of your books including those needed for the runes and arithmancy class you will be in.
Sirius, who had taken the subjects in school, would look over his notes and work and nod at his approval of Harry's work, offering tips and suggestions to make things easier and flow better as he worked through the books.
Sirius also began teaching Harry Oclemancy. A new skill that Harry had not even known existed. It started one evening after Harry had a particularly bad nightmare having forgotten to take his dreamless sleeping potion. Sirius had come in to check on him and said, "I can't let you suffer like that, but we can't be too reliant on dreamless sleep, it can become addictive." So, the following evening Sirius started Harry out easy with some breathing exercises. Sirius raised as the heir of the Black family had been trained from the time, he was about six years of age, so it was time for Harry to learn especially under the current circumstances. He started out, "I may have hated my family for what they thought and what they did to me and others. This is one thing though that they passed on to me that was useful. Regulating your mind and your breathing can help keep your temper in check and help you think more clearly when under pressure."
The lessons progressed slowly from there until Harry not only could control his body and breathing but had built a mindscape to compartmentalize information and memories as well as basic defenses. Sirus smiled proudly at how quickly Harry progressed, "You might not be able to keep a stronger legimens out for long, but at least you now have a foundation for building defenses for your mind. Don't look Dumbledore or Voldemort directly in the eye and keep practicing these exercises before bed every night. We'll work more over the holidays too."
When Harry had asked Shadow for suggestions for getting new clothes, his correspondent replied by sending Harry an owl order form and order book from Twilfit & Tattings. Harry assumed was a nicer clothing store in the wizarding world. This was verified by Sirius who nodded his approval saying, "It will be quite spendy, but worth it in order to get you a full wardrobe of clothes that will last you a while. You need to have respectable clothes if you want to get taken seriously anyhow." This led to a discussion on what all Harry needed. In the end they ordered seven buttons up shirts and trousers. Harry chose to get the trousers in grey and black and two black and two grey shirts, blue, green, and silver. They also selected to get black and grey everyday robes and update his school uniform which was starting to have seen better days. Finally, at Sirius's insistence Harry got new boots made of dragon hide in black and grey. They also paid the extra to have the antiwear, antiwrinkle and size adjustment charms put on them so that as Harry became healthier, they would still fit.
Between three meals a day and the nutrition supplement potions that Remus and Sirius had him taking, he was becoming taller and healthier. Sirius also fixed Harry's glasses which allowed him to read faster because it wasn't as much of a struggle, and he wasn't squinting as much. He had also continued to get the occasional treacle tart or chocolate frog from Shadow with their letters. In spite of what Harry had said with each letter Shadow had maintained calling him Potter. It was like they were willing themselves to try and maintain some kind of distance even though they were reaching out to Harry.
After each letter Harry would review what he knew about Shadow, and he couldn't seem to eliminate too many people. Then again, he didn't pay too much attention to Slytherins. The only real attention that he paid them was to know if they were among Malfoy's cronies. Although he couldn't rule out the blonde. If he had something occurring that caused him concern enough to want to aid the other side in the war effort perhaps some kind of threat to himself or his family, then Harry could see the other boy responding like this. There were others that he knew little to nothing about.
Remus had been by on several occasions to bring different potions and other things that he thought might be helpful. When Harry asked, "I thought that there were anti-owl wards on the house?" Remus just smirked, "You can thank Kingsly for that. We reworked the wards once he brought your things from Privet Drive. We wanted you to not feel so trapped. While I worked to update the other security wards. Have Sirius show you how to add and take off names that are allowed access to the house too."
Harry and Sirius went into the living room where the book was kept allowing and disallowing entry to the old home. It turned out that all that would be needed was to simply scratch out the name to deny someone entry and write their name if you want to provide them entry. Harry immediately chose to strike Ron and Hermione from the list. That gave Sirius pause causing the older man to ask, "what's going on pup? What would cause you to refuse them access? They're your friends last I checked." That lead to a long conversation. Harry looking at Sirius explained, "They can't really be true friends. They don't really bother to communicate with me. I also am beginning to feel like there are too many coincidences that have been apart in the last couple of years. I don't like it. It feels like I have been made a piece on a chess board with no real choices in where I move and what happens." Sirius nodded having had similar thoughts, though he had never considered that the two teens might have played a role in the old man's schemes.
The order continued to meet although Harry didn't know much about what went on in the meetings, because Dumbledore was for some reason convinced that Harry had to be left in the dark and Mrs. Weasley though, that he was too young.
As they got closer and closer to September first Harry began to dread facing his now former friends. Harry had concluded that he was being intentionally isolated and having restored his relationship with Sirius and to an extent Remus made him feel a lot better and realize that he needed real friends. Writing back and forth with Shadow had also helped him realize just how much he did not know about the magical world. This was readily apparent the more that he learned about it.
One such moment occurred when Sirius had balked upon finding how basic Harry's trunk was so and the older man had gone up to the attic where his old one was stored. Between the two of them they had cleaned and repolished it, switch the crest at the top from the Black family crest to the Potter family crest. Then Sirus told him, "Cut your hand with this knife." He handed Harry a blade. Once Harry followed the direction Sirius continued,
"Put a drop on the lock." While Harry wiped the blade on the lock letting a bit of the blood lie on the lock. Sirius healed the small cut nonverbally. Sirius smirked, "now only you can get into your trunk." Harry blinked, once again showing that he hadn't even been aware that such a thing was possible,
The day before Harry was set to return to Hogwarts the owl carrying his new clothes and shoes arrived, and with it a rare soft smile from Harry was seen. He had never had nice things for himself. The Dursley's always said that a freak like him didn't deserve them, or similar when it came to Harry's needs. The green-eyed boy made quick work of packing his notebooks with all of his revised notes and what had become his journal after reviewing in it all the events and happenings of the last few years. He also put his new schoolbooks in the compartment opposite the notebooks. Harry was pleased to learn that he had done well enough to go into the fifth-year class with his peers. He then put on his new clothes and boots. Leaving a pair of black trousers and a silver button-up shirt and black dragon hide boots to wear on the train. Finally, Harry put his potions ingredients and supplies in their compartment. Which had also been upgraded courtesy of Sirius, who helped owl order from the apothecary and potions shops.
That night as Harry sat in his room after having prepared for bed he received an unexpected tap on his window. The gorgeous Eagle Owl quickly perched on Harry's desk and stuck out her leg. The letter attached was unexpected. After all everyone would be returning to Hogwarts tomorrow.
Harry,
Yes, you read that correctly. I know that this letter is unexpected, but I wanted to reach out and let you know, even though you're now aware of what surrounds you this year will be difficult. If you need anything you can reach out, but it needs to be in private. Meet me in the back compartment of the train. I'll reveal myself then and I have something for you that will let us keep in touch without drawing much attention. You'll know it's me because I will be carrying books in my hand one blue on the cover and the other green.
-Shadow
Harry pulled a piece of parchment and quill and quickly replied to the sender.
Shadow,
Thank you for the letter. I imagine that we have plenty to discuss, not the least of which is what is prompting you to choose to reveal yourself now. I will see you then and hope that this is a good development not a bad one.
-HJP
With that the raven-haired boy went and put away the quill and tied the response on the gorgeous owl to be delivered hopefully before, they were to be on the train. He laid back on his soft bed and began to dream about what the next year may have in store, and it is that will be meeting him on the train. The letters had revealed some about their author, but not a lot. Harry had too many potential people on his list that Shadow could be.
Little did Harry know that sitting in the heirs suit of an old family manor someone else was just as nervous about the upcoming day and finally facing Harry and revealing their identity. The risk had been calculated of course, but the circumstances were beginning to necessitate drastic action. Their own thoughts of what the consequences could be led the mysterious author to shudder, but the future was on the line and eventually everyone would have to pick a side. He was just picking one sooner rather than later.