Snips and Scars In Which Rules are Slightly Bent, a harry potter fanfic

Chapter 39, everybody! In which the twins are impressed….

So for the record, when I write for Dumbledore I always picture the guy who played him in the first two movies. The guy who took over for that one when he died really sells the chicanery, but honestly I miss the old grandpa Dumbledore.

Also Snips is not dealing with another summer at the Dursleys. He just isn't.

Thanks for the review, Missy96! Yes it was very Sirius. XD

Everyone followed Hagrid down to the infirmary except for of course Dumbledore and Lupin—and Fitzherbert, who practically vibrated apart before refusing to leave.

"And I quote, 'my time has come,'" Mauve explained.

Which was fair, because it took all of them to explain everything to Madame Pomfrey and Hagrid, the latter of which had carried Sirius to the infirmary by the scruff of the neck and the former of which looked set to hex Sirius first.

"How," she said finally, when all had been explained. "How do you kids get into this mess and you," she added, rounding on Sirius. "After all this time you still can't stay out of trouble?"

"Apparently I can't stay out of the infirmary either," Sirius said—which earned him a thwack on the head, which also went on the list of injuries and ailments compiling itself next to him.

"And all this time yeh've been a dog!" Hagrid exclaimed. "Why I oughta—"

"To be fair, no one would have given me a chance to explain."

"That keeps coming up," Ron said, sitting on one of the beds and eyeing Sirius like he expected him to turn into something else soon. Harry could guess, had to agree, the idea that your pet wasn't really a pet wasn't exactly a calming concept.

It was almost a relief when Dumbledore and Lupin came in, Fawkes and Fitzherbert following.

"We have good news," Dumbledore announced, excusing Hagrid after informing him that he had seen a Hippogriff heading for the dungeons. "The rat is indeed Peter Pettigrew, and after a dose of Veritruserum thanks to Professor Slughorn, confessed in front of several witnesses including many Aurors. I am pleased to inform you, Mr. Black, that your case is being reviewed."

"That's…probably not as good as I'd like it to be," Sirius said, noting Lupin's expression.

"They want you back in Azkaban while this gets processed," Lupin said.

"Which undoubtedly would slow the process," Dumbledore said. "But as I understand it, thanks to several complications you would have to be in hospital in order to be recovered enough for your retrial—am I correct, Poppy?"

"You are," she said, looking up from the list she had been reading like this was news to her.

"And therefore it would be very irresponsible of me to allow you to be taken to Azkaban," Dumbledore told Sirius. "Most certainly would be risking a healer's wrath if I were to do so. Better to keep you here, with a few Aurors keeping an eye on you—Dementors would just be exacerbating the problem, and seeing as how you are now in custody I do believe it's time we sent them back to Azkaban. I'm sure Fudge will agree."

Dead silence as everyone processed this.

"How do you do that?" George demanded finally.

"It comes from many years of dealing with pranksters," Dumbledore said sagely. "You become very acquainted with how far you can bend a rule to suit the situation when it's called for."

"We're such a grand influence, Georgie," Fred said, exchanging a fist-bump with George.

"Which reminds me, there seems to be several Weasleys we failed to account for."

"Now don't go telling us you forgot about Rupert."

"And Isaac."

"And Jake."

"And Kathy."

"I knew there was a reason I liked you," Sirius told them. Winced when he looked at Lupin. "So you're still mad."

"I am," Lupin confirmed. "And I'd like at least another day of it."

"Well from the sounds of it I'm not going anywhere."

"No you're not," Madame Pomfrey confirmed. "Although I'm glad to see you for once without any scrapes to speak of," she told Harry.

"I could run out real quick and get some," Harry offered.

"I'd rather you didn't."

"We do have to excuse ourselves, though," Luna said, indicating Fitzherbert zooming around her head. "Fitzherbert is anxious to tell Dad about everything—I agree with him, it'll really make his career."

"You're excused, Miss Lovegood," Dumbledore told her, nodding as she took off, Neville running after her. "But speaking of familiars…."

"There's certain parts I'm not allowed to share," Sirius said. "The club charter prohibits it."

"Fawkes, we're really going to have to discuss this later," Dumbledore told the Phoenix now perching on the end of the bed. "But on a specific note, I am interested in your little friend, Harry—would you mind terribly introducing us?"

"You mean Snips?" Harry asked blankly, right before he felt Snips maneuver around to hide on his back. It took him about five minutes of turning around and trying to coax Snips onto his hand before finally having to concede defeat, lest more of his fingers be hurt. "I guess not, Professor—Snips is…kind of picky about who he meets, and it always has to be on his terms."

"I see," Dumbledore said. "Well, it's generally a good idea not to force the issue. I must confess, however, that I have never seen such a thing as Snips. Where did you two meet?"

Harry's heart sank at Dumbledore's declaration—if a man who had to be as smart and as well-traveled as Dumbledore didn't know what Snips was, then Harry had no hope. "Well…technically we met at Hagrid's, but I'm pretty sure he climbed onto me in the Potions classroom."

"At Potions, Harry?"

"Well…yeah, because it was the last place I was before going to Hagrid's and we didn't stop anywhere else—and Fang started chewing on my robe, I guess he could smell Snips, and Hagrid's already looked him over and he's perfectly fine and…please, Professor, don't…."

"Take him away?" Dumbledore guessed, peering over his half-moon glasses at Harry. "Certainly not—I would no more take him away from you than I would permit someone to part me from Fawkes," he said, indicating the Phoenix sitting on his perch. "No, Harry, I just find that your friend Snips has presented me with a conundrum, a very interesting one. I don't suppose you would mind me doing some research into the fine fellow?"

Harry perked up at that. "Not at all sir—we've been looking for years, and we've never found anything."

"I feel as though Snips may be unique, Harry, and thus would require exploring avenues that would not be available to a thirteen-year-old—not even one as dedicated to her studies as Miss Granger."

Harry ducked his head, acknowledging this; Hermione became very interested in the tops of her shoes.

"This may take me some time, though, so I ask you to be patient."

"I mean we've been wondering since first year, I think we can manage," Harry pointed out.

"Excellent," Dumbledore said, nodding. "That feels like most of the loose ends tied up—I'm sure I'll remember the ones I missed sometime tonight when I'm almost asleep."

"That's always how it goes," Fred agreed.

"But that's a murderer caught, a dog that wasn't really a dog out of the pound, and a quill making a name for itself, so it feels like a full day," George said.

"I'm pained to say I've had fuller," Dumbledore sighed.

Sirius brightened considerably, hesitated before turning to face Harry.

"Harry, you know, once I'm cleared—I am your godfather."

"I know," Harry said.

"Well, I'm sure you'd rather stay with your relatives, but once I've got my own place, you can stay with me—"

"YES!" Harry blurted, when it registered what he was saying. "Leave the Dursleys—are you kidding me? I'd love to!"

Dumbledore looked between them before settling on Harry. "Harry, I seem to recall you not wishing to return to them last year as well."

"With all due respect, sir, if I never saw them again, it would be too soon."

Snips crred in agreement.

Dumbledore folded his hands. "May I ask why?"

Harry hesitated; what were the chances that someone would believe him about this?

"Ow!" he yelped, glanced down at Snips to see him pointing at Dumbledore and then Sirius—Harry almost swore he was saying anything's better than the Dursleys, you idiot!

"Well, uh," Harry hedged. "Uh…my first Hogwarts letter…who fills out the addresses?"

Sirius seemed bemused by the change in topic, but Dumbledore answered easily enough. "They are automatically filled out via a locator spell. Why?"

"Well, my first letter was addressed to my bedroom…the cupboard under the stairs."

Dumbledore's expression remained impassive, but Sirius looked like he thought Harry might be joking.

"Please tell me it was an extremely spacious cupboard," Sirius said finally.

"About half the size of this bed, actually," Harry said, neck muscles tightening; he could see Ron and Hermione's expressions out of the corner of his eye, and they were beginning to look horrified.

Sirius, meanwhile, looked like he was about to go back to Azkaban for murdering Muggles for real this time—Snips quickly flew over and bit him. "OW!"

"Continue, Harry," Dumbledore said.

"Uh…I was made to do all the chores—like cooking and cleaning and gardening—they uh, told everyone I was…not right in the head. And that my uh, my magic was…not good…but, you know, they're uh, Muggles, so…."

Snips seemed to have lost patience, flew over to the plate where a sandwich was sitting, shredded it and flung everything but a crust away before holding up the plate with the crust and pointing at Harry.

Sirius got it first. "They were starving you? That's about as much as I got at Azkaban!"

"That's right!" Ron jumped in. "And the summer of our second year—Harry showed up on our doorstep after not answering our mail all summer—he had a huge shiner—"

"Technically two," Fred said.

"Looked like a troll had socked him," George agreed.

"Well," Harry hedged. "The letters were because of Dobby, and Uncle Vernon really didn't know how to deal with a house elf—OW!"

Snips had bitten him and was now glaring at him, like don't downplay this.

Lupin looked like he was going to be in a cell next to Sirius, who was now glaring at Dumbledore, who had his head bowed in deep retrospection.

"I have made a grievous error," Dumbledore said finally, gravely. "I had left you with the Dursleys because your Aunt Petunia was your mother's sister, and the blood wards would have kept you safe—she had expressed interest in going to Hogwarts, once upon a time, and I had hoped she had gotten over her negative feelings towards her sister and behaved differently. I see I was mistaken. I should have listened to Professor McGonagall, but at the time there was no other option that would have kept you as safe."

Harry stared; Aunt Petunia had wanted to go to Hogwarts? Next the sky would turn lime green and start raining frogs.

"However, Sirius' acquittal will take quite some time," Dumbledore continued. "At the very least, a month would pass before the process is complete and he can obtain proper lodgings—and then the wards, of course."

Harry's heart had barely begun to sink at that news when Ron cut in loudly.

"Harry can stay with us! Come on, Harry," Ron said to him. "You're practically an honorary Weasley anyway! I'll tell Mum and she'll have someplace for you set up in no time—you can bunk with me again like you did over the summer! You don't have to go back to those lousy Muggles!"

Hermione was nodding, and Harry felt a burst of warmth for his friends.

"You're sure this wouldn't be an imposition?" Dumbledore asked.

"Not hardly!" Ron insisted.

"Very well then," Dumbledore said, nodding. "Harry, if this isn't an issue with you…."

"No, sir, it isn't," Harry said, hope swelling.

"Very well. Unfortunately, you will have to go back to Privet Drive—temporarily," he added loudly, when several people, one cat, and an odd thing started protesting. "To inform the Dursleys of the change and gather the rest of your things. I will be along myself in a week to escort you to the Weasleys'—I assume Molly would have everything set up by then?"

It took Ron a second to process Molly as Mom. "She'd probably have an addition, ten pounds of fudge and thirty sweaters made up by then."

"I will try to hasten my progress then. Is this amenable, Harry?"

"I guess so," Harry said.

"Good. No doubt, your relatives will have heard of Sirius on the Muggle telly," Dumbledore said, standing. "And no doubt it will slip your mind to mention that he is an innocent man until we are ready to leave."

Harry started grinning as Dumbledore winked and headed for the door, Fawkes following. "Now if you'll excuse me," the headmaster added. "I have quite a bit of paperwork ahead of me."

They waited until he was gone to break down cheering, Hermione alternating between hugging Harry and Ron—and once a startled Sirius—Ron pumping the air as vigorously as he could and Harry just sitting there trying to digest this information.

"Oh, it's a good thing Dumbledore is the one going and picking you up," Sirius said, running his fingers through his hair. "Under the stairs, honestly."

"I have the feeling we were both about to be heading for Azkaban," Lupin told him.

"Oh, Harry, why didn't you say anything?" Hermione asked him, exasperation leaking through her relief. "I'm sure he would have done something sooner if that were the case."

"It's…not exactly the sort of thing you talk about," Harry said demurely, scratching Snips on the head as he nipped Harry's nose semi-affectionately.

"Who cares?" Ron asked. "Those Muggles are in your dust now, Harry! We can spend the summer like our second year—Quidditch, gnome-chucking, exploding snap—OW! Homework," Ron added, rubbing his nose from where Snips flew over and bit it. "And Mum loved having you help with the potions—"

"She really won't mind," Harry said quickly, wanting to be sure. "I won't be a bother, honest, and I'll do any chores—"

"Come on, Harry—if Mum knew half of what we just heard, she'd be sitting in a cell next to Sirius. Mind you, the Dementors would never bother her—she'd keep them away through sheer indignation, I bet."

Hermione was eyeing Harry like she knew that what he had told them wasn't even a fraction of what went on—a hand on his shoulder made him look at Sirius.

"Harry," Sirius said softly. "I know that took a lot of courage to say even that much—you're very brave, and you've been through so much, but you don't have to take any more of it. Ready to make your childhood happy like it ought to be?"

Harry realized the pain in his face was from grinning so much. "Yeah!"