Saturday, 9th September
Harry was the first to awake in their dormitory the next morning.
He lay still for a moment watching dust swirl in the chink of sunlight falling through the gap in his four-poster's hangings and savoured the thought that it was Saturday. The first week of term seemed to have dragged on forever, like one gigantic History of Magic lesson.
He'd been appalled with himself to realise that he'd actually been nervous yesterday evening when he'd met up with the others for dinner, hesitant to see how Malfoy and potentially the rest of the Slytherin Quidditch team would react. Thankfully, his fears had been in vain, as Draco had strode straight over to him, glanced him up and down, and then declared, "I want to be a seeker… but I want to win even more. If Montague says you're good, then you're good - and besides, I was always better as a chaser anyway".
If his hair had been any longer, Harry could have easily envisioned him flouncing it over his shoulder right then.
The good weather held throughout breakfast as well as his walk down to the training grounds. Much to his embarrassment - and slight relief - the others insisted on accompanying him, both to offer some moral support as well as to "see what all the fuss is about" according to Blaise.
"We practice three nights a week" Draco said, somewhat pompously, "Regardless of the weather. I trust that you already know the rules?"
"Seven players per team; three chasers, two beaters, one keeper, and one seeker" Harry replied dutifully, "The chasers try to throw the quaffle through one of the hoops that the keeper guards, the beaters hit the bludgers to try and knock players off their brooms, and the seeker does their best to catch the snitch before the other team does".
"... Good enough". He sniffed, and Harry barely bit back a laugh as Blaise rolled his eyes and made a face at the blond's back. "Do you know the scoring system?"
"He doesn't need to know the scoring system, Malfoy!" Blaise said exasperated, "This is just the tryouts! It isn't an actual game!"
Thankfully, they reached the training ground before the pair could start bickering again. There were a handful of other Slytherins trying out for a spot, but there were far more people just watching than Harry had expected. Theo nudged his arm and nodded at a pretty dark-skinned girl sitting on the grassy bank opposite them.
"That's Angelina Johnson" he murmured, "She's captain of the Gryffindor team this year. And that's Roger Davies to her right - he's leading Ravenclaw. I don't know who's captain of the Hufflepuffs, though. It used to be Cedric Diggory, but he graduated at the end of last year".
"I thought you didn't like Quidditch?" Harry teased, and the boy rolled his eyes in response. "I don't, but my father's obsessed with the bloody game! He's always asking me how the Hogwarts Quidditch teams are doing".
"What about you?" Harry asked Blaise, "Quidditch fan?"
The boy smirked. "I'm not the biggest fan out there, but I like seeing a good game every now and then. I might even try out for the team myself next year - it'll be my last chance to play since we'll have our N.E.W.T.s the year after, but if I don't focus on my O.W.L.s this year then my mother will kill me!"
"And we all know just how good she is at that…" Millicent sang, getting a scowl for her troubles.
"Alright you lot, listen up!" Montague called, "Whoever plans on trying out, line up over here. The rest of you can piss off! I'm looking at you, Johnson!"
"That's not very sportsmanlike of you, Graham!" she called back with a mischievous grin, "I'm just here to suss out the competition".
"Did I come to watch your team last night?" he shot back, "No, I didn't, so go! Now!"
With a dramatic sigh, she heaved herself up off the grassy bank and started trudging back towards the castle, grabbing a loudly protesting Davies on her way there, declaring "If I can't watch, then neither can you!"
A minute later, only Slytherin students remained.
"Right, here's how this is going to go" Montague said briskly, "Whoever wants to join will go up against each other until only one person remains. That person will then compete against the existing members of the team and whoever wins, gets in. Got it?"
He didn't wait for a response before continuing.
"Good. The chasers will go first - you'll be up against myself, Warrington, and Malfoy. Keepers next, you'll be against Bletchley. Then beaters, which is currently an empty role, so I'll pick the best two of whoever competes. And finally, the seeker, which is also unfilled".
Pucey wasn't anywhere in sight. Nobody mentioned him.
"Whoever wants to be a chaser, step forward!"
Harry and the others sat down on the damp grass as they watched the first tryouts take place. From what little he knew of Quidditch, Montague and Warrington were both pretty good and Malfoy, although not up to the same standards, still did incredibly well considering he'd never formally played as a chaser before.
All three boys kept their positions; as did Miles Bletchley, a blond-haired seventh-year and the current keeper. As they watched, Theo quietly told him what had happened with Pucey - although he failed to mention just how, exactly, he knew what had happened with Pucey.
Apparently, the older boy had already been kicked off the team once before, two years previous, both for bad behaviour and the fact he was likely going to fail his O.W.L.s. Snape had dealt with it all quickly and quietly, in true Slytherin fashion, and according to Theo, their Head of House had done the same thing last night at Montague's request.
Officially, the rest of the school would be told that Pucey was willingly stepping down as a chaser to focus more on his N.E.W.T.s. Unofficially, the older years were still pissed off with him for not only disarming Harry while his back was turned, launching straight into an attack on a fifteen-year-old kid like a Gryffindor, and subsequently trying to back out of an unjust duel that he had started out of pure cowardice - but then, as if all of that wasn't bad enough, he'd had the idiocy to lose.
Also, his use of two basic and entirely legal first-year spells was apparently very lame of him.
There were far fewer students trying out for the beater positions, which did not surprise Harry in the least. What did surprise him was the fact Crabbe and Goyle won.
"I didn't even know they could fly" Blaise said, a hint of awe in his voice.
"I didn't even know they could function without Malfoy telling them what to do" Millicent muttered.
Tracey shot her girlfriend an admonishing look. "They've been watching Draco play for years and they took flying lessons with us too, remember? They were better on a broom than a good third of our year!"
"Plus, being a beater doesn't require a whole lot of brainpower" Blaise quipped. Tracey pulled up a tuft of grass and threw it at him.
"And finally" Montague called out with a long-suffering sigh, "Seekers, step up!"
Taking a deep breath, Harry stood and walked over to the group, his cheeks flushing against his will at the calls of "good luck!" and "knock 'em dead!" that followed him. Falling into line, he adjusted his grip on his Firebolt, casting a quick glance at the other students trying out against him. Their expressions reflected exactly how he felt - nervous, determined, and a little bit sick.
"Alright" Montague said, "You lot will be competing against each other first in groups of two. I'll release the snitch, and the first one to catch it moves on to the next round. If you're not that person, better luck next year. Got it?"
The group muttered their agreement.
"Good. On your brooms, then!"
Harry mounted his Firebolt, his fingers flexing instinctively on the handle. One of the other chasers, Warrington, split them up into twos and gave each pair a section of the pitch to fly in. When Montague let the golden snitches loose, they shot up into the sky like bolts of lightning, disappearing into the bright morning light.
"Three… two… one… Go!"
The other students kicked off with varying degrees of skill, but Harry surged into the air with ease. The Firebolt responded to his every touch, as though it were an extension of himself. The wind whipped against his face as he ascended, his sharp eyes scanning the field for the snitch and-
There!
Harry leaned forward, urging his broom faster. His opponent noticed and tried to follow, but her slower reflexes were no match. Within moments, his outstretched hand closed around the fluttering snitch.
"Round two!" Montague called, "Go!"
Harry won every round.
Grinning, he landed gracefully back on the ground twenty minutes later, opening his palm to reveal the final tiny golden ball. The other student that remained landed awkwardly, looking disheartened.
Montague gave a slow nod, a pleased smirk spreading across his face. "Impressive, Potter. Very impressive… But there's no point in putting you on the team if you can't beat our current seeker".
Harry barely had time to register his words before the captain turned and yelled, "Malfoy! Get over there. Let's see if Potter can handle you".
Draco stepped forward with a look of cool confidence, but there was a flicker of doubt in his silver-grey eyes that Harry didn't miss.
"You ready for this, Potter?" he drawled, mounting his broom.
Harry smirked, doing the same. "Are you?"
Montague released the snitch again, and as soon as it disappeared, he shouted, "Go!"
Both boys shot into the air like arrows. The crowd of Slytherins on the ground erupted into cheers and shouts, most of them rooting for Malfoy, but a few had already started betting on Harry.
The snitch was harder to spot this time, but he kept his focus, scanning the sky. Draco was circling opposite him, his gaze just as sharp. They moved in near synchronization, weaving through the air like predators hunting the same prey.
Then Harry saw it - a glint of gold near the stands. He didn't hesitate. Flattening himself against his broom, he dove.
Malfoy was fast, reacting almost instantly and veering toward the same target. The two of them streaked through the sky, neck and neck, the wind howling in their ears.
The snitch darted upward at the last second, and Harry yanked his Firebolt into a steep climb. Draco followed, but he was a second too late - and that second cost him everything.
With a burst of acceleration, Harry surged ahead, his hand stretching out once more. He felt the snitch's cool wings fluttering against his palm just as Malfoy closed the gap, reaching out and-
Harry caught it.
They circled back, slowing both their brooms and their heart rates, and he landed to a round of applause. Montague's smirk had managed to stretch into a grin, and he clapped him heavily on the back, almost buckling Harry's knees.
"Welcome to the team, Potter".
Draco landed beside him, his face pink from exertion but otherwise calm.
"You were… not bad" he admitted grudgingly, "Looks like Montague wasn't exaggerating after all".
"Thanks, Malfoy" he replied, showing admirable restraint in not rolling his eyes at the blond.
"Our first practice is this Tuesday night" Montague told him, "And you better not let us down!"
And with those kind parting words, he dismissed the team from the training grounds, and Harry walked back up the hill with the others for a much-needed shower.
Sunday, 10th September
Harry's good mood didn't last long.
He'd written a letter to Sirius and Remus yesterday evening, telling them about joining the Slytherin Quidditch team. He'd have preferred to have called them through the mirror, but it had been a full moon last night and he didn't want to bother them.
And besides, this way, they would both have something to look forward to when Hedwig delivered his letter to them this morning and- wasn't that just insane to think about? The fact that Harry had someone, two someones, in fact, that would actually look forward to hearing from him? He'd spent the rest of the night marvelling over the fact he actually wanted to write to someone, to begin with! Let alone the fact that they cared enough about him to write back!
Too bad it wasn't meant to last.
With Hedwig out on her errand, he didn't expect to receive any unusual news, but the owl delivering his Sunday copy of the Daily Prophet had barely cleared the top of the milk jug when he caught sight of the headline and swore. Loudly.
"What's put a bee in your bonnet?" Blaise asked, taking a sip of coffee. Harry wordlessly turned the newspaper around for the rest of the table to see.
MINISTRY SEEKS EDUCATIONAL REFORM
DOLORES UMBRIDGE APPOINTED FIRST-EVER "HIGH INQUISITOR"
They all stared at it.
"Fuck me" Blaise breathed.
"No thanks" Draco replied automatically, grey eyes wide.
"'High Inquisitor'?" Theo asked, frowning, "What does that mean?"
"You know, Potter" Milli started, somewhat ironically, "When you said you wanted Hogwarts to be evaluated, I didn't think you had her in mind".
"Well, what's it say?" Tracey demanded, "Read it, already!"
Harry rolled his eyes at the lot of them and then unfolded the newspaper and started to read out loud.
"In a surprise move last night the Ministry of Magic passed new legislation giving itself an unprecedented level of control at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. 'The Minister has been growing uneasy about goings-on at Hogwarts for some time,' said Junior Assistant to the Minister, Percy Weasley. 'He is now responding to concerns voiced by anxious parents, who feel the school may be moving in a direction they do not approve.'"
"Bloody Weasleys" Draco grumbled, and Harry kicked him none-too-gently underneath the table before continuing.
"This is not the first time in recent weeks Fudge has used new laws to effect improvements at the Wizarding school. As recently as August 30th Educational Decree Twenty-Two was passed, to ensure that, in the event of the current headmaster being unable to provide a candidate for a teaching post, the Ministry should select an appropriate person. 'That's how Dolores Umbridge came to be appointed to the teaching staff at Hogwarts,' said Weasley last night. 'Dumbledore couldn't find anyone, so the Minister put in Umbridge and of course, she's been an immediate success-"
"She's been a what?!" Blaise exclaimed.
"-an immediate success" Harry repeated, "totally revolutionizing the teaching of Defense Against the Dark Arts and providing the Minister with on-the-ground feedback about what's really happening at Hogwarts.' It is this last function that the Ministry has now formalized with the passing of Educational Decree Twenty-Three, which creates the new position of 'Hogwarts High Inquisitor.' 'This is an exciting new phase in the Minister's plan to get to grips with what some are calling the "falling standards" at Hogwarts,' said Weasley. 'The Inquisitor will have powers to inspect her fellow educators and make sure that they are coming up to scratch. Professor Umbridge has been offered this position in addition to her own teaching post, and we are delighted to say that she has accepted.'"
"Yeah, well, they're the only ones who are bloody delighted!" Tracey snapped.
"The Ministry's new moves have received enthusiastic support from parents of students at Hogwarts. 'I feel much easier in my mind now that I know that Dumbledore is being subjected to fair and objective evaluation,' said Lord-"
Harry stopped. Blinked. And then, pinning Draco in place with a thoroughly unimpressed look, continued.
"-said Lord Malfoy, the Duke of Wilshire. 'Many of us with our children's best interests at heart have been concerned about some of Dumbledore's eccentric decisions in the last few years and will be glad to know that the Ministry is keeping an eye on the situation.'"
"Your dad said what?!" Blaise burst out, "Did he know about this?! Did you know about this?!"
The others echoed the sentiment, and Harry saw more than one subtle glance further down the table sent in the blond's direction. Malfoy flushed pink in what appeared to be equal parts embarrassment and indignation.
"Of course I didn't know about this!" he said hotly, crossing his arms, "My father's been saying for years that Dumbledore needs to be held accountable for our education system, but not even he would have chosen Umbridge to do so!"
Before the others could reply, Harry continued to read.
"Among those 'eccentric decisions' are undoubtedly the controversial staff appointments previously described in this newspaper, which have included the hiring of werewolf-"
He stopped again. Briefly closed his eyes. Took a deep breath. And then turned to Draco, because if anyone was going to know the answer to a legislative question, then it would undoubtedly be the future duke.
"How many years does one get for murder in the wizarding world?"
To his credit, the boy didn't so much as blink.
"Depends on who you murder and why you murder them" he replied immediately, "Killing someone like Rita Skeeter because of what she wrote would likely get you twenty to twenty-five years, but less if you're still a minor when you kill her".
"Good to know" Harry said succinctly, before turning back to the newspaper, "-werewolf Remus Lupin, half giant Rubeus Hagrid, and delusional ex-Auror 'Mad-Eye' Moody. Rumors abound, of course, that Albus Dumbledore, the Viscount Warwick, Supreme Mugwump of the International Confederation of Wizards and Chief Warlock of Wizengamot, is no longer up to the task of managing the prestigious school of Hogwarts-"
"It's hardly prestigious anymore, is it?" Tracey snarked.
"-'I think the appointment of the Inquisitor is a first step toward ensuring that Hogwarts has a headmaster in whom we can all repose confidence,' said a Ministry insider last night. Wizengamot elder Griselda Marchbanks has resigned in protest at the introduction of the post of Inquisitor to Hogwarts. 'Hogwarts is a school, not an outpost of Cornelius Fudge's office,' said Madam Marchbanks. 'This is a further disgusting attempt to discredit Albus Dumbledore.' For a full account of Madam Marchbanks' alleged links to subversive goblin groups, turn to page 17".
He finished reading, folding the newspaper in two and only just barely managing to stop himself from setting it on fire there and then.
"I can't believe this" Theo muttered, and Blaise nodded emphatically. "It's outrageous!"
Harry felt the back of his right hand burn and he resisted the urge to clench his fist. Millicent, on the other hand, was grinning.
"What?" Tracey asked, as they all stared at her, "What are you smiling at?"
"Oh nothing" she replied airily, "I just can't wait to see Professor Snape's class get inspected - Umbridge won't know what's hit her".
After spending the day in the library catching up on homework, Harry was more than ready to go to bed early and call it a night.
His joy at being called through the two-way mirror as he got ready to fall asleep was therefore tinged with a hint of irritation - a feeling that immediately vanished as he saw just how exhausted Remus looked and caught sight of a new scar peeking out from underneath the man's collar.
Sirius, who looked almost just as tired, flashed him a grin. "How's our favourite Quidditch star?"
"I haven't even had a practice session yet, Pads, let alone played in an actual game!" he protested, although he was smiling as he did so, "And what're you two calling for anyway? Shouldn't you still be in bed?"
"And not give you our extremely delighted response in person?"
"It was either this, or a Howler" Remus said with a sigh, "And I only just barely managed to talk him out of sending a Howler".
"We have to tell you how proud we are, pup!" Sirius exclaimed, his grey eyes alight, "Not only did you manage to get detention on your very first day - which, again, let me tell you, I am still in awe about - but you got accepted to the Quidditch team! All on your very first week! It's incredible!"
Harry thought that the man might find it less incredible if he told him that he'd been injured in a wandless duel, was writing letters to Narcissa Malfoy, and that his multiple detentions consisted of using a highly illegal Dark artefact until he bled.
"It is quite impressive of you, pup" Remus said with a smile, "And we haven't spoken to you in a few days, letters notwithstanding, so we just wanted to check in on you, too".
"And also make sure that Snape isn't giving you a hard time" Sirius added, before giving a loud "oof!" as his partner dug an elbow into his ribs out of the frame of the mirror.
"Snape's been great, Pads" Harry said, before wincing as he received not just one, but two incredibly disbelieving looks, "Alright, well, maybe not great but-"
"I knew it!" his godfather exclaimed, "He's been terrorizing you, hasn't he?! Why, when I get my paws on him-"
"He hasn't been terrorizing me! He's just been… Snape! But he's been good to me, Pads" he insisted, "Really. Even held me back after class yesterday just to make sure my Housemates weren't causing any trouble".
And also to make sure that his scar-reducing potion was doing its job on the wound that Harry had received from illegally duelling a seventeen-year-old and his younger cousin - but he felt that maybe Sirius didn't need to find out about that.
"And are they?" Remus asked, his eyes still just a touch too gold to be considered natural, "Giving you any trouble?"
"No, they're not" Harry answered, only half-lying, "Sure, there were a few unhappy faces when I was first sorted, but they all seem to have accepted it now. In fact, it's the Gryffindors that are giving me the most grief over being in Slytherin!"
"Not the Weasleys, surely?"
"What? No. No, no, they're- uh, they're fine. And Hermione - one of Ron's friends - is nice and Neville Longbottom is too, but the rest of them are just…" Harry sighed, searching for the right words. "They think I'm a- a bloody traitor or whatever because I'm in Lord Slytherin's House. They're all waiting for me to become the next Dark Lord!"
Sirius's face darkened immediately, his usual playful grin replaced with a scowl. "Next Dark Lord? That's absolute rubbish, pup! They've no right to say that about you!"
Remus, ever the calm counterbalance, placed a steadying hand on Sirius's shoulder from offscreen.
"It's ignorance, Harry" he said gently, "Gryffindors are used to thinking of Slytherin as the enemy. It's going to take time for them to see that you're breaking those patterns".
"Time, my ass!" Sirius muttered, but his partner shushed him with a pointed look.
Harry sighed, shifting his position on the bed. "It's just… frustrating, you know? I didn't choose Slytherin to make a statement or anything! It's just… where the Hat said I belong".
His godfather's expression softened. "Then that's all that matters, pup. Not everyone is going to understand that, but… You've got friends in Slytherin now, don't you?"
"Yeah" he admitted, with a small smile, "Blaise and Theo are decent, and Tracey and Milli are pretty great too. Malfoy's a bit… Malfoy, and the others keep their distance but whenever we do have to interact, at least they're civil about it".
Remus nodded approvingly. "Good. I'm glad you've made a few friends - at least you're not alone going up against those Gryffindors".
"But if you ever do find yourself alone against them, then please do feel free to hex the living daylights out of them" Sirius finished, "I mean, preferably not where any teacher can see, but other than that…"
Harry snorted. "Yeah, that'll go over well. 'Harry Potter, Boy Who Lived, expelled for cursing half of Gryffindor'".
"You'd make us old marauders proud".
"You are not helping" Remus interjected, "Pup, have you spoken to Albus about these kids?"
"No, not at all. I mean, what's the point? They haven't actually done anything to me yet; it's all just whispers and rumours and nasty looks when they think my back is turned". He rolled his eyes in annoyance. "And besides, Umbridge already hates me for simply existing - imagine what she'd do if word got out that I hexed someone, or, even worse, that I'd gone to Dumbledore and snitched on them! No. This isn't his battle to fight".
He could still remember vividly the state of the boy he'd come across in St Brutus during his second year there. Apparently, he'd gone to Principal Hayward about how the older years had been treating him, and when Greg and his gang had found out…
Well.
It wasn't exactly a pretty sight, and the poor boy had been transferred to the nearest hospital. Nothing had happened to Greg or the others either, despite everyone knowing they were responsible, because they'd made sure that boy had learned his lesson for being a snitch and what could you do to punish a group of teenagers who were already one step away from prison anyway?
Now, Harry thought somewhat darkly, take all of that same rage and violence and add a little magic to the mix.
Sirius and Remus were… staring at him again. It was a look that he'd unfortunately become familiar with - one that only ever appeared when he said something that no fifteen-year-old was ever apparently supposed to say. He quickly continued speaking before they could ask him anything.
"Did you see the Daily Prophet this morning?" Harry asked, "About Umbridge being appointed High Inquisitor of Hogwarts?"
"Yeah. We saw it" Sirius bit out, glowering, "Another one of the Minister's brilliant bloody plans! And don't even get me started on what they wrote about Remus-"
"Padfoot".
"No, Moony! The nerve of that Skeeter woman! Dragging you into this- this bloody mess! Just because the Minister's lost the plot and has found a way of keeping his grubby little hands on Hogwarts doesn't mean she had any bloody right to drag your name through the mud! I mean, let's face it, you were the best bloody DADA professor that school has had in decades! And yet there she goes, saying that you're-"
"I appreciate the indignation, Pads" Remus interrupted, running a tired hand over his face, "But Skeeter didn't say anything about me that wasn't true, so don't go turning this into a personal vendetta because you will lose!"
Sirius growled low in his throat, his grey eyes flashing.
"It isn't fair! Werewolves have always been treated as the bloody scapegoat for public fear! I mean, where does she get off calling you out like that? And Umbridge?! Appointing that- that- that bloody old toad as the overseer of Hogwarts education?!" He turned wild, furious eyes to Harry. "I swear to you, pup, if she puts one fucking foot out of line-"
"Sirius!" Remus snapped, "I think we get it!"
The man grumbled something under his breath, his anger fading to petulance instead.
"I mean it, Moony! I don't care if I do lose the case, if Skeeter ever, ever, mentions you or our kid ever again then-"
"Wait" Harry interrupted, his heartbeat suddenly roaring in his ears, "Your kid? You mean- You mean-"
"Aw fuck". Sirius gave him a somewhat sheepish look. "We weren't planning on telling you yet - we wanted to wait another few days to give you more time to settle in and get used to Hogwarts and not have to deal with all of this drama but obviously we can't do that now because I forgot just how bloody observant you are and-"
"Pads".
He sighed, shared a look with Remus, and then turned back to him. "Yeah, so, uh, remember when I said I'd make an appointment at Gringotts to change my will and all that? And then, once that was done, I'd make an appointment with MCPS to get the ball rolling on the adoption process?"
Harry barely dared to breathe.
"Well, I might have possibly misused my power as the Duke of London to get those appointments as soon as possible and, well, it turns out that 'as soon as possible' for someone such as myself is only a few days and since I requested it the same day you left for Hogwarts, I was given a time and place to meet the MCPS last week, which I did, and after explaining the entire situation which, let me tell you pup, that took some time, like, an incredibly long stretch of time, so long that I thought I was going to-"
"Pads!"
"Our request was approved" Sirius blurted, "With the MCPS. I made a formal request to adopt you, and that request was granted, so they've started the, uh, the whole adoption… process… thing".
His godfather's eyes were suspiciously damp, and a quick glance at Remus revealed him to be much the same.
"It was… approved?" Harry asked carefully, almost cautiously.
"It was approved, pup" Sirius replied, just as quietly, "You're not ours yet, not officially at least, but… but you will be. They approved my request almost immediately".
Harry wasn't surprised. His godfather was one of the most influential men in the wizarding world, after all, and he himself was Harry freaking Potter. His breath still caught in his throat. He didn't know what to say, how to react. The words didn't feel real. Not yet. But sometime in the future, sometime soon, he was going to be… theirs.
"So… So the Ministry just, uh… just agreed to let me stay with you? Just like that? I don't have to- to go… back? Over the summer? To- To anywhere… else?"
"No, pup, you don't have to go back". There was something knowing in Sirius's gaze, as well as something more than a little bit sad. "They sent someone out to the Dursleys to inform them about what was happening, and they were, uh… Well, the Ministry official was more than willing to grant me temporary guardianship over you, regardless of the final adoption application outcome".
Harry slowly nodded, feeling more than a little bit on edge since he could only imagine that whatever the Ministry guy found out about the Dursleys, he had discussed it with Sirius, and clearly, whatever he'd found out hadn't been good. Thankfully, however, his godfather seemed willing not to press the subject further. Remus was glancing between them with a frown, seeming confused, but Harry had no intention of explaining why his relatives had been so keen to get rid of him.
Although, he would have quite liked to have seen the look on Petunia's and Vernon's faces once they realised that he had found his way to the wizarding world after all, despite them doing everything they could to keep him away from it.
"So, uh, what happens now?" he asked, quickly moving on, "With the whole adoption thing?"
Sirius let out a breath, the tension easing slightly from his shoulders.
"The application process is already underway. Everything started from the moment the Ministry official approved our temporary guardianship. The rest is mostly paperwork, interviews, and waiting for all the lawyers and officials to do their thing. You'll probably get a letter from someone at the MCPS soon, just to let you know what to expect. It might even come sometime next week".
Harry blinked. "That fast?"
Sirius grinned, more genuinely this time.
"Being the Duke of London comes with its perks, pup. I've already made sure there's nothing that can stop this from going through. And don't worry" he added, his voice softening, "No one is sending you back there. To the Dursleys or- or to St Brutus. Ever. You're… You're safe now. Here. With us".
Harry swallowed hard. Safe. The word felt foreign, strange. But sitting here, watching Sirius's stubborn determination and the quiet fierceness in Remus's gaze, Harry thought maybe… maybe, it could start to feel real.
"I…" He hesitated, then cleared his throat and looked away. "Thanks. For… For doing all this. I didn't think- I mean, I didn't expect-"
"You don't have to thank us, pup" Remus interrupted gently, "We're family, no matter what. Even if, for some insane, stupid reason the MCPS rejects Sirius's adoption request for you, we'll find a way around it. I promise".
Harry nodded, biting the inside of his cheek to keep his emotions in check.
"Right, enough of the soppy stuff!" Sirius declared, clapping his hands together and shattering the moment before it could become too overwhelming, "We've got adoption paperwork underway, a High Inquisitor to keep an eye on, and a Gryffindor Quidditch team to crush! You've got a busy year ahead of you, pup!"
He laughed, grateful for the shift in tone. "Yeah, no pressure or anything".
"Well, you'll never get any pressure from me!" Sirius replied cheerfully, "Moony, on the other hand, will have you revising your DADA notes in no time!"
Remus rolled his eyes, though his lips twitched into a faint smile. "Someone has to make sure he passes his O.W.L.s this year, Padfoot".
Harry snorted, his earlier tension fading into something lighter, something warmer. All of his worries, anger, and frustrations about Umbridge, Pucey, everything, started to fade away, and he found himself impossibly grateful that his godfather had called him after all.
He wasn't sure what the future held, but for now, this was enough.