A/N: I own nothing. It is all JKR's creation and I am merely dabbling and presuming it all could have happened otherwise.
A/N: I'd also like to give credit to DrT (Triwizard Redux) for planting the "what if" seed of changing Harry's escape at the end of Gof. Also, my gratitude again to my most excellent beta, Aurabolt.
Remus was having a very nice start to his day.He was having breakfast in the kitchen of 12 Grimmauld Place, or as the two spirited punks in front of him called it - the Barmy Hole.
They were having a good laugh at something Sirius said about his mother's portrait. Remus' eyes quickly ran through the room, amazed at how the two men had managed to turn the Black Manor into a livable house in just a couple of weeks. The kitchen was given a new coat of some light tan paint, immediately lightening up the once dark room. They managed to blast off the grime that had accumulated for the last decade and everything was spanking clean. A part of the wall was blasted off near the corner with a floor to ceiling window put in its place and a small table with six chairs completed the new nook they were having breakfast in. There was a new refrigerator with shiny metallic double doors in one corner. (Harry's contribution, Remus had no doubt.) And all cupboards and shelves were scrubbed and newly polished. In the middle of the kitchen they set up a small rectangular island with a block of what looked like black marble on top.It did look like a real kitchen, he said to himself.
Sirius was also having the time of his life. When he and his godson reached the dark monstrosity he grew up in, they looked at each other with steely determination laced with skepticism at the task before them.The house had fallen in atrocious disrepair for more than a decade and it had a reeking odor inside, not to mention the dark, foreboding quality that the house exuded due to years of its inhabitants being ensconced in the dark arts. But slowly they made progress, blasting and remodeling slowly room by room. They had finished the living room and two bedrooms, halfway through a third one. Harry had taken it upon himself the task of redesigning the library.It was still a lot of hard work and they were usually covered in dust, soot and grime at the end of the day but they were slowly doing it.What he prided himself in was the training room that he and Harry just completed a couple of days ago.He had done an expanding charm on the room and now looked like a gymnasium inside. He had stored weights in it and a couple of treadmills. They enchanted the ceiling much like the Great Hall at Hogwarts to illuminate the whole room. Then he proceeded to create tall windows on two opposing walls to really give the feeling of size and light. He decorated it with mats, cushioning pillows, several medieval weapons he had found while cleaning, and some more training equipment that can be set up to look like an obstacle course. He was mulling over what else he might need to add to the room when Remus' voice cut in his consciousness.
"So what is the agenda for today? Have you decided to raze this atrocity and rebuild from the ground up?" His old friend said with a smirk.
"Hey, we love this atrocity! We think it fits our image of dangerous bachelors perfectly. Well, maybe we'll knock down some walls.I think it's good therapy for Sirius.We could probably start at the one with his mother's screeching portrait," Harry chortled.
"God knows, we have to find a way to get rid of the old hag. I know I owe her my life but if she doesn't shut it anytime soon, my sanity would probably follow her to the grave," Sirius gave a dark scowl.
At that moment, the fire in the fireplace next to the breakfast nook where they were suddenly turned green. In a flash, a slender young witch with bubblegum pink hair tumbled out in a graceless heap and landed on her bum. Sirius burst out laughing, clutching his sides. Remus rose to help the witch to her feet with a grin.
Harry was turning a bit red from trying to keep a straight face. "Hi Tonks, had a bit of trouble with the floo?"
Sirius was still laughing at his cousin and was promptly smacked on the head while the witch in question swiped a strip of bacon from his plate.
"Thanks, Remus. Unlike some people I know, you seem to be concerned about people's welfare," she said scowling at her cousin. "Wotcher, Harry," she said munching on the bacon while getting herself a plate and joining them at the table.
Harry was watching the three adults in silent amusement.It had developed into a habit for all four of them to have breakfast together ever since he went home with Sirius.Remus even helped them with the renovating when he had the time, as did Tonks. He regarded the witch with fondness. Like Sirius, she was also originally banished from the Black family since her mother had unbelievably (according to her family) married a Muggle. Of course, that made her and Sirius the only decent Blacks together with Tonks's mother as the family had deeply rooted themselves in the Dark Arts and Voldemort before. Harry can't stop grinning from the feeling that he had finally found a place where he belonged.
"Why is it that you can change into anything at will but you can't make it in the floo standing up?" Sirius teased.
Tonks stuck her tongue at him which produced a loud laugh from Remus. "Maybe if you family weren't such dark gits, I could've apparated in here. But they were so barmy, connecting your fire to mine took ages and several anti-hexes!"
The table was settling down a little, with only an occasional chuckle from Sirius.
"So Harry, you're looking better everyday. How much have you grown now? I think you're about three inches taller and about 10 pounds heavier.You look a lot healthier."
"Thanks.Sirius has been a real tyrant about my nutrition potions.You'd think Death Eaters have invaded when he realizes I'm late in drinking them." Harry rolled his eyes.
"Well you need them.Did you ever take a good look at yourself when you arrived and how you look now?" Sirius pointed out.
"How so?"
Remus replied, "You look so much better because of the potions, Harry.It's helping your body recover from the negative effects of malnutrition from your younger years.It's a bit slower than, let's say, a regenerative potion. But the effects are always better because you are letting your body adjust on its own rather than recover it all in a night. Right now, you are looking more like you should if you had grown up properly.You're no longer on the short side, though I can't tell if you're going to be tall since James was more or less just a bit of average height."
"Your features are also more refined, you have a touch more color than when I first saw you. And I must say, all the ladies are going to love the musculature you're building," Tonks waggled her eyebrows at Harry who blushed.
"You'll have all the ladies eating out of the palm of your hands like charming ol' me," Sirius gave him a playful wink.
Harry muttered, "I don't really want them to do that, I'll be content with..."
The three adults' ears perked up but Harry refrained from saying anything more and just turned and even deeper shade of red.
Tonks took pity on the young guy, "So Harry, what do you and this scamp have planned for today? Maybe I can help, it's my day off and I don't have anything else to do."
"That will be awesome. I want to finish the library today. And I think Sirius wants to make some additions to the dueling room. If there's time, we'd really like to finish that third bedroom we've started in too," Harry was mentally ticking off each task in his head, extremely grateful for the manual and magical labor that had occupied his two weeks since term ended.He never let on with Sirius but he was still having nightmares about the third task and he often caught himself lapsing into depressed moments of silence when he was alone.
Sirius was looking at him thoughtfully, making him think he may have forgotten to cast a silencing charm on his room last night when he woke up with a scream from his latest nightmare. Then his godfather seemed to shake his head and turned to Tonks, "The help would be extremely appreciated, cuz. I'm sure Remus would happily cook a mouth-watering lunch for you."
Remus narrowed his eyes at his friend, "Oh I will, won't I?"
"C'mon Remus, you know you're the best cook among the three of us. Please? Do you really want Tonks to starve after all the hard work she's going to do later?" Sirius was making ridiculously cheesy puppy dog eyes at Remus which caused a choked laugh from Harry and a small sputtering of eggs and bacon from Tonks.
Suppressing a grin, Remus shook his head and quietly acquiesced with a long-suffering sigh.
They finished their breakfast and went from the room, ready to tackle the difficult chore of making every part of the Barmy Hole habitable.
****************
Harry's brow was intensely furrowed as he concentrated on what he wanted from the Black library. When he first saw the library, he thought it was a lost cause and so did his godfather.Sirius said the amount of dark books and magic in the room would make it especially resistant to his efforts of renovating it. After two days of intermittently working on the stubborn room, Harry could see his efforts pay off in the now halfway decent room.The library still had a chill, though not as pronounced as before. He and Remus had picked out some extremely dark books he wouldn't dream of opening and stocked them in a hidden vault of sorts that Remus conjured behind one wall that he set to be accessed only by Harry or Sirius touching a white pad on the seemingly normal wall panel. It contributed greatly to lessening the gloomy atmosphere of the room.
He had stripped the walls of their dark plasters and decided on some light wood paneling and floors. The room had brightened and warmed considerably as he laid the last tile in place yesterday afternoon. He also had Sirius blast a fireplace at the back wall of the library. He placed a grate over the fire to safeguard the books from the flames and ash. Then they blasted the side wall so they can create a window ledge that doubled as reading lounge.He laid a fluffy down cover over the ledge and had placed several feather throw pillows. He made sure Sirius created the ledge wide enough for two people to snugly lie down side by side.He shook his head as he remembered the amused smirk his godfather had as he followed Harry's very specific request.
With the foundations laid in place, Harry proceeded to rearrange the furniture in the room.With a sweep of his wand, he made everything float into a convoluted mass of books and furniture in the center of the room. He quietly thanked his godfather for the intense instructions Harry had been receiving on spell casting.Sirius had been giving him spell lessons and had assured him that with the wards on the Barmy Hole and the Fidelus charm on it, there was no way the Ministry would be able to track him using magic.
Returning his attention to the task at hand, he placed the soft dark brown leather sofa they had bought at the left
hand wall after banishing the initial bookcase behind it.He positioned the matching armchairs on either side of the
sofa before altering the dark wooden coffee table to be a bit higher than normal. He figured it might be more
comfortable if he had to work in here. He then made bookcases that were up to the ceiling in the wall beside the sofa
extending to the corner and the adjoining wall. Once done, he made the books arrange themselves alphabetically by
subject. He remembered Hermione telling him one time that it was her preferred way of arranging books.There were still
quite a number of books left so he made the wall to his right a floor to ceiling bookcase as well and proceeded to
arrange the books accordingly. He then spelled the two tall bookcases to assemble themselves to stand lengthwise on
either of the library's longer walls. Finally having all the books in the walls and bookshelves, he arranged a
small light wood table into position near the back of the room, right in front of the fire. He levitated six
comfortable chairs with arm rests to surround the table and then installed three electrical study lights in a row in
the middle of the table.
With a satisfied sigh, he looked at the new library, unrecognizable from the dreadful disaster it was before. "Sirius!" He shouted with unmistakable pride and excitement in his voice.
His godfather padded into the room. He looked awe-struck at the now cheery and inviting library. He couldn't believe it was the same room that he used to avoid at all costs when he was younger.
"Wow, Harry, incredible job, pup!" His voice had a touch of pride and awe at his godson's increased magical ability, knowing he somehow had contributed to it with their lessons for the past couple of weeks.
He walked around the room peering at the titles of the books. He saw the fireplace and the study corner at the back and his face lit up. "This is amazing! You know you can work as an interior decorator if nothing works out for you in the magical industries."
Harry chuckled then looked around the room in amazement. He did well. He turned to Sirius and suddenly had a thoughtful look on his face. "Do you think Hermione would like it?"
Sirius bit back the grin that threatened to explode on his face. "I'm dead sure of it. How can she resist this? You'll be lucky if you can get her to see the other rooms in the house." He said with a reassuring smile that did nothing to hide the mirth in his eyes.
Harry smiled back and then smile grew wider as he took in the room one more time. He simply said, "Good."
A loud bang erupted from the room across the hall. The two men ran to where they knew Tonks and Remus had tackled the
half-finished bedroom they left yesterday before dinner.
What greeted them made them double up in laughter.Remus was standing covered from head to toe in mint green paint, there was a patch of un-colored skin across his face. He must have shielded his eyes from the explosion. Tonks who was standing next to him was also drenched in the minty green goo and was grinning sheepishly.
After they had composed themselves, they returned to redecorating the room not telling Remus that they had left a mint green kitten on his back.
****************************************
Sirius woke up with a start. He reached for his wand and looked wildly around his room. Not seeing anything out of
place, he pushed back the covers and made his way to Harry's room.
He placed his ear on his godson's door. Damn, he placed a silencing charm again, he thought. He cautiously opened the door and tried to see Harry in the darkness.He could hear his small whimpers from the direction of the bed.He realized that Harry was having another one of his nightmares. Entering the room as silently as he could, Sirius was still debating whether to wake Harry up or not when the boy quieted down on his own.He was drenched in sweat but he remained still, though his face was drawn with tension.Sirius let out a thankful sigh and crept out of his godson's room toward the kitchen.
He sat at the black island in the middle, nursing a glass with some firewhiskey, completely lost with thoughts of his godson.
He needs to be told. And his training should start soon, I've finished the room already. Sirius told himself as he took a sip from his glass. He could only mourn for the lost childhood of the young man sleeping upstairs.He had tried to give Harry a normal family life as he could the last couple of weeks, often urging Remus and Tonks to drop by so they could spend some time with the boy, the two were only happy to oblige and they had shared breakfasts and many dinners over much laughs and teasing.Remus and him were the only remaining Marauders alive, discounting the traitor Pettigrew, and Harry appreciated the connection that they could provide to the father that he never knew. Tonks' mother Andromeda was the only cousin he got along with and he rather enjoyed reconnecting with them again. Tonks had taken to Harry immediately and was soon dropping by regularly, though he suspected Remus' presence might also have something to do with her constant presence.However, they are all still building their relationship thus he can understand Harry's current reluctance to open up. He could see he was still suffering from depression no matter how hard the youth tried to hide it from him. But he prided himself on seeing his face break out in loud laughs and genuine happiness more times than he's ever seen him do. He seemed to be relaxing a lot more now, and relished the job of renovating Grimmauld Place with an ardor that he could recognize as a wish to have the home he's always wanted.
Sirius gave another sigh. Thinking about his pup always ended up in reminiscing about James and Lily. His felt his heart tighten at the memory of two best people he's ever known.He was as proud and excited as James when Lily told him she was pregnant. He and James were shouting it from every rooftop available to them while Lily was just shaking her head laughingly. He was there when Harry was born and when James put the little tyke in his arms, he cried unashamedly. He loved Harry as he would his own son.He had not been as fortunate as James to find the love of his life so early but he had high hopes for a family whenever he looked at the three of them.Being raised a Black, his parents cared more about lineage and wealth and he only had worth as an heir to the whole Black fortune.He never really had a family up until he went to Hogwarts and got into a fight with one James Potter in the Hogwarts Express over a pack of Exploding Snap.He chuckled to himself as he remembered that after the fight, both of them had been worse for wear.He had a swollen lip and James had a cut above his right cheek but the bond between the boys started from that initial stage of grudging respect and shared love for mischief.
Things only started to get better when they met Remus, and Sirius thought grudgingly, even the rat. But he had to admit that it was only when James and Lily got together that he felt what it was like to have a real family.Lily was such a gentle soul, always unfailingly kind.She did have a horrendous temper too, Sirius laughed as he remembered several occasions when he had been at the receiving end of her wrath, but it took a lot to set her off and she forgave too easily anyway.Lily brought warmth into their hearts and calmed down the swirl of testosterone and hormones that were the Marauders.He had to admit, she always had a soft spot for scarred souls which might be the reason why she took to them so quickly.Each one of the Marauders was thirsty of genuine affection and she had willingly given them what they didn't know their souls needed.Lily was their mother, sister, and confidant in one. No matter how irritated or annoyed she might become with their infantile antics, Lily was always there to help and listen. They were happy in spite of the dark times.And then that stupid prophecy was made and everything went to hell. He lost his family in a flash of green hate all in one night.
The memories of his best friends swirling in his mind, he thought of Harry and the gigantic responsibility he unknowingly carries on his lean shoulders. The two weeks he had not said anything were his gift to both Harry and himself as he knew that nothing would ever be the same when Dumbledore would arrive tomorrow evening. He only hoped Harry would take the information as well as he thinks the boy would.He went over his plans silently.He knew the youth well enough to guess that he would lean towards a more proactive course of action.Which was why he had taken great pains to equip their dueling room as well as he could and had stocked the new library with the additional books they would need.
The mention of books shifted his thoughts on another remarkable teenager.Hermione always brought a soft smile to Sirius's lips.He would never tell those kids but the young woman had always reminded him of Lily. It was nothing physical but both had been lauded as the brightest witches of their age.They fought against the stigma of being muggleborns with grace and dignity that cannot be taught. Both voracious readers, they can very well live in the library if it was possible. But what strikes Sirius the most about the brown haired witch was how she had the special ability of soothing Harry's damaged soul much like how Lily was with them. He remembered what happened to the two at King's Cross station and his lips carved into a mischievous smile that usually spelled trouble for whoever he was plotting against. Hmm, what if, Sirius mused to himself.There were certainly the signs from both youth. But with how their friendship was and how caring he knew the teens were of each other, Sirius figured it's going to take them a decade to figure out their feelings and another decade before they did anything about it. Well, maybe since I'll be training Harry, Hermione would like to join. God knows it's a certainty she will be at the forefront of the war with his godson's side. And maybe some alone time might help push things along, he thought to himself smilingly. I need to talk to Remus, he made a mental note to himself.
He got up and washed his glass, decided to turn in with this decidedly more cheerful thought.
*********************************
Sirius had been acting weird all morning.First, with breakfast.Harry came into the kitchen from his now daily workout
to find Sirius already up and cooking. Cooking! Sirius never cooks if there was any humanly possible way to get out of
it. Then when Remus came in, he quickly dragged the other adult into the library where he could hear their voices
plotting about something.He tried to listen in their conversation but Tonks chose to arrive at that moment and dragged
his behind to another bedroom that needed renovating. He spent the morning alternating between saving Tonks from
herself and doing what he could for the room given a disaster-magnet for a companion. There was no doubt he's never
laughed so much cleaning.
Around lunch, Sirius had told him that Dumbledore would be coming after dinner to talk to him.Harry fell silent and he
searched his godfather's eyes for a hint of what the headmaster wanted to talk to him about but Sirius avoided his
eyes.It's tonight, he realized.
Harry knew there was a reason why things such as the Philosopher's stone, the Chamber of Secrets, and now the
Tri-wizard ordeal kept happening to him.Deep down, he felt that these things were tied together but he didn't know
who to ask.When he first went home with Sirius, he had lain awake in his bed that night after a horrendous nightmare
woke him up.He thought about asking Sirius about these things. He knew his godfather would answer him honestly and
would be offering his full support. But as days passed, he also saw what Sirius did. The past two weeks were a respite
from his life. It was a normality that was out of its time yet, something that he felt would still have to come later
as he sensed something big is waiting to happen before everything can be considered over and done.He had been extremely
reluctant to let it go and had avoided any mention of what happened.Sirius complied with his unspoken request.But with
the headmaster coming tonight, he knew his temporary peace had ended.
***************************************
Harry was clearing the plates when the fire in the kitchen turned green.He shared a grim look with Sirius.
Dumbledore appeared without being the least bit flustered, though the twinkle that was usually in his eyes was decidedly missing tonight.
"Hello Harry, Sirius,"
"Headmaster, how are you?" Harry asked politely. "Would you like anything to drink? We have butterbeer."
"Thank you, Harry, I'd like that"
Sirius had silently taken a seat at the black island in their kitchen.Harry brought over three butterbeers.Dumbledore was still looking around the kitchen with something akin to wonder.
"I must say congratulations to you, boys.If I didn't know where I was, I would never think this was the same house I visited a month ago. How did you manage this?" the headmaster had a small smile as he took another seat at the island.
"We worked hard together.It turns out Harry has a soft spot for Muggle conveniences.It was a nightmare to figure out how to configure the wards to allow the electricity though. We ended up shielding the appliances against magic using runes. I wouldn't have bothered but Harry argued it would make everything easier and nicer if we had combined what we liked best from both worlds.Honestly, I think he was just trying to convince me to buy him that large television along with the DVD player and the game console he liked," Sirius chuckled at the memory when he and Harry had gone appliance hunting as the youth called it.
Dumbledore's twinkle came back in his eyes as he surveyed the quite striking young man sitting across from him. "That is a very wise attitude, Harry.And must I say, even twice as fun."
Harry gave the headmaster a smile, "Wait until you've tried the newest game I bought. I guarantee you wouldn't want to stop."
"I would like to try that very much.I hope I'll find the chance to." Dumbledore paused. He looked over the fourteen year old in front of him. The change in the young man was palpable. He could feel his quiet confidence.He also seemed to be calmer, more mature.Sirius was right, he needs to come into his own.From the snippets they have offered, it seems that Harry was slowly doing that.He decided allowing Sirius to take in the teenager had really been the right choice.The guilt and lost boy issues that he had seemed to have lessened considerably, not to mention the physical transformation that the boy seemed to have gone through. "Harry, my boy, I think you have an inkling of why we are sitting here."
Sirius said nothing.Harry silently nodded, looking straight at Dumbledore's eyes.
"I'm ecstatic to find you looking remarkably healthy and happy. I apologize for being the one to destroy this newfound peace."
"It was never permanent," Harry said softly looking at Sirius. "I knew we were putting things off, though I honestly have no idea what it is. But I knew this would come. It was too painful this time, too cruel."He felt Sirius gave his shoulder a squeeze for support.
Dumbledore took a deep breath and his eyes shone with regret. "Sixteen years ago, I was interviewing a younger Sybil Trelawney for the post of Divination professor for Hogwarts.I never cared for the art itself but it was my duty as headmaster to ensure that every magic was represented well. I had consented to meet with Professor Trelawney because she was the great granddaughter of the famed Seer Cassandra. But after a few minutes into the interview, it was apparent that she did not share the gift of her ancestor. I was trying to figure out a polite way of letting her down and making my escape when she launched into a true trance. I will show you what she said." The other two said nothing. Harry fell silent, his face showing no emotions.Sirius looked at the young man while he watched Dumbledore take something from out of his robes from the corner of his eye.This sullen and withdrawn aspect of Harry was bothering him.He knew the boy to be warm, if a little shy. But somehow, he's always seen that like his father, Harry wore his emotions at his sleeve.This new calm façade was worrying him more and more.
The headmaster had taken a shrunken pensieve from one of his robe pockets.He laid it out on the black marble in front of them and expanded it so both can have a look. He took a bottle out his robes and extracted a silvery strand from it and deposited it in the pensive.
Once the silver substance had settled, Harry and Sirius saw a much younger Sybil Trelawney in what seems to be a tavern booth. Harry saw her lapse into a trance much like how she did last year at the end of one Divination class where she had predicted Pettigrew's return to Voldemort and Voldemort's eventual return.Her voice was deep and throaty like he remembered when she made her prediction.
"The one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord approaches... Born to those who have thrice defied him, born as the seventh month dies... And the Dark Lord will mark him as his equal, but he will have power the Dark Lord knows not... And either must die at the hand of the other for neither can live while the other survives... The one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord will be born as the seventh month dies..."
No one said anything for the longest time.The three seemed to be absorbed in their own worlds.
"I knew there was a reason why, I just can't believe it was this." Harry was the first to break the silence.
"The prophecy was given to Dumbledore and he shared it with the concerned members of the inner circle of the group of people who were fighting Voldemort at the time.We were all called the Order of the Phoenix.At the time, there were members who were pregnant.One was your mother, and the other was Alice Longbottom."
"Neville's mum?"
"Yes, pup. You were both considered to be the child in the prophecy.Both your parents and the Longbottoms were active members of the Order and both had barely escaped three attacks by Voldemort.They went into hiding same time as James and Lily."
"But he came after me," Harry said despondently.
"The prophecy was overheard by a Death Eater who happened to be in the same tavern at the time but he did not hear of the whole prophecy.He was caught by my brother Aberforth before Sibyl finished her trance." Dumbledore said quietly. "Up until the point when Voldemort came after your parents, the prophecy still could have been either you or Neville Longbottom."
"Is there any chance it could still be Neville?"
"I'm sorry Harry but you heard the whole prophecy. Voldemort marked the child his equal." The headmaster indicated his lightning bolt scar. "But honestly, would you have expected anything else?"
Harry looked at his headmaster questioningly.
"Voldemort has taken everything of value from you. He has done nothing but continue to hunt you down. Would you rest knowing he had killed your parents, was indirectly the cause of your godfather's incarceration, and has been behind every attempt at your young life? He has forced you into putting your life on hold in fulfillment of what he believes to be true."
This was met with silence from the two younger men.
"So it boils down to either he kills me or I kill him then," Harry's voice was tinged a sad finality.
"I'm sorry, pup.But this does not make this prophecy final.It is what it is, just a prophecy. It can still be changed. Granted it has cost us everything we've held dear but we still have a choice to believe it to be true or not."
"Listen to your godfather, Harry.Just because it is a prophecy does not mean it is final. As I've told you before, it is our choices that make our destiny. Voldemort chose to believe the prophecy and went after an innocent infant. Thus he met staggering defeat and the prophecy came true for him. But you still have your choices. Knowing this exists gives you a distinct advantage over him.Your actions would never be ruled by this prophecy if you choose to."
'What do you think is the power I have?" Harry asked his two mentors.
Dumbledore was hesitant. 'I have a theory."
Sirius looked at him expectedly. He was desperate for any information to help his godson.
"You are a remarkable young man, Harry.I believe your godfather and I even had an explosive row not too long ago about how remarkable you are." The headmaster gave a small smile to Sirius who looked sheepishly at the headmaster. "If it has escaped your notice, Voldemort went after the child who had a similar background as him.Neville is a pureblood and if we listen to Voldemort's lunatic propaganda, he should've gone after Neville who with his pureblood ancestry is logically thought to be more powerful than you.But he went after your parents and their son, a half-blood like himself." Dumbledore paused. He sent Harry a look that seemed to be begging his forgiveness.
"I hope you would understand an old man's actions in the future and find it in your heart to forgive me.When Sirius was captured and I learned what happened, I decided to send you to your mother's sister.I knew that Voldemort was still alive even though the whole wizarding world was celebrating his demise.I knew that if I invoke ancient blood wards at Privet Drive, your mother's sacrifice would be enough to protect you until you came of age."
"I had no idea how Petunia would treat you.I thought I had stressed the situation plainly enough and I had begged her to raise you as her own.I could not believe the neglect and abuse you suffered at the Dursleys when I saw you arrive at Hogwarts. But you were still alive, that was what mattered then. You were not the little prince you would have been if you were raised in the wizarding world but were as close to a normal boy as I could have hoped. You cannot believe how proud I was when you took the Philosopher's stone in your first year. As an eleven year old, you had faced dangers most adult wizards would have shrugged away from. And even more significant was the fact that you faced these dangers by choice just because you had felt that it was the right thing to do.Your second year, you were faced with even more dangers and was even subject to public ridicule by vicious rumors from your fellow students.And once again, you rose magnificently to the occasion and even more comforting to my old heart was how I saw you flourish with true friendship by your side.Your third year, you found out the truth about Sirius.You paused and gave him a chance to explain, to prove his innocence to you when most would have killed him on the spot.Given the information you knew of him beforehand, even I would say that you were within reason to harm him if you had.And now even with the Tri-wizard events, you are still before me as remarkable as when you first entered the Great Hall when most people would have broken down and would have given up hope. Do you understand what I am getting at, Harry? Have you figured out the power I am referring to?"
Harry had increasingly grown silent as the headmaster was listing the events of his life.He didn't know what to say, and frankly he couldn't figure out where Dumbledore was going with this.
"Harry, like you Voldemort was a half-blood orphan who came to Hogwarts with the baggage of an unpleasant childhood. Unlike you, he chose the path of darkness.He immersed himself in gaining power and reveled in causing pain to others as he had gone through. "Dumbledore paused. "Love, Harry.Love is your power because you know love even with the terrors in your life. You know it and freely give it to anyone who would accept it.You rise above these trials in your life because you were usually powered by love.Memories of love by the parents you never knew, love from loyal friends, love for those who chose to love and care for you too. You have remained the hopeful and amazing person you were when you were eleven despite the hate you have seen and experienced firsthand.You would never turn to the Dark Arts because it is through them that your parents were murdered, you would never intentionally cause harm because you remember clearly how being hurt feels. And you would always extend a hand to the outsiders shunned by others because you know how it is to be shunned because of false impressions. You have learned to look at people for who they are because you crave them to do the same to you. I can go on and on and even then, you would only tell me at the end that you were only doing things you thought was right. And that is truly what makes you so special and loved by anyone who is given the chance to know you." The headmaster's eyes were shining with unshed tears. "Someday, I would ask your forgiveness for inadvertently adding to your more unpleasant experiences. Right now, I only vow to help you survive this war and would do everything in my power to protect you as best as you would choose to allow me too."
Harry looked at his headmaster who had an almost beseeching expression on his face.He heard what he said and though he was warmed by his words and regard for him, he could feel himself distancing from the great wizard.He wanted to lash out at him, to say that if he knew what he was going through, why didn't he do more? He was just a kid, what did they really expect him to do?He wanted the grandfather he fashioned Dumbledore to be in his mind. And then he thought of what he said. He grudgingly saw what he meant. He understood that the headmaster had only thought to do what he thought best. Given everything, their best was only what they can do. And yet he cannot help but feel that stab of betrayal in his heart.
Sirius had stayed silent the whole time, watching the interplay between Harry and Albus.He knew that they had shared a connection deeper than a concerned headmaster and his student.He knew that Dumbledore cared for Harry, but he didn't realize how much until he told of the stories from his point of view. He was studying Harry's reactions to what the headmaster had said.He could see how his shoulders had tensed up, could see the mutinous fire in his eyes as he realized the lost chances of escape from the difficult life he had led. He could actually feel his godson's temper rising. And then he closed his eyes and took a deep breath. He could see the wheels in his head turning as he processed Dumbledore's words. And then the fourteen year old's shoulders stooped slightly and let go of the last hold he had on childhood.Sirius's heart broke when Harry looked at him with the eyes of someone who was forced to grow up too soon.They could never go back.
Harry gave Dumbledore a wry smile. "Thank you for the kind words, Headmaster. But what do we do now? I can't exactly hug it out with Voldemort, now can I?"
The great wizard allowed small chuckle but his eyes held indescribable sorrow.He had also seen what Sirius had seen. He had tried his best to delay this moment as long as possible but he knew as Sirius that everything was building up to this moment. "Sirius and I have decided to start training you this summer.I think you may have figured this out with the manic obsession your guardian has had over your dueling room." Harry's face broke into a small smile. "We've decided to let Sirius instruct you first. I think Remus and Tonks have also offered a helping hand."
"We're going to train you in dueling but I'm planning in including physical training. Too many wizards rely too much on their wands.I actually got the idea from you.The house looks so much better when we chose to combine both Muggle and Magical. I figured your training would work even better if we infused Muggle and Magical fighting.No one would expect it or figure out how to counter it.Also I'm planning to give you Occlumency lessons, I think it will help greatly in blocking those nightmares of yours, pup." Harry shot him a grateful smile. "And of course, it is already a given that you are also going to have Animagus lessons." Sirius said with a sly smile. "It's your birthright as the next generation of marauders."
"Oh dear, Minerva is not going to be happy with that,"
Sirius and Harry both broke into laughter at the headmaster's exclamation, finally breaking the tension of the evening.
"By the way, Sirius, I have revived the Order.We have been meeting at Lupin Manor for some time now, as I assume you've heard from Remus. I have not extended the invitation because I had an inkling you wanted to concentrate on taking care of everything first for Harry. Now, I'm asking you formally if you would like to join?"
"Of course, Albus.You needn't have asked."
"Can I ask to be included as well?"
"I'm sorry, Harry, I can't allow that. If you join, then the other youngsters would surely demand to be in
the Order and I fear that they simply are not ready yet.It is too dangerous for anyone not of age to be inducted.I can,
however, give my consent to Sirius to share with you any information we discuss during the meetings.If you have any
suggestions, you only have to ask your godfather to pass it on to me and I promise I would give it careful
consideration.In this case, you are actually a sort of unofficial member which I think is your right to be privy
too.However, I feel that your complete focus should be on your training.Let the adults do some of the work
eh?"
Harry nodded his assent.He could see Dumbledore's logic.He didn't really want to be involved with the Order at
this stage and had only wanted to be given information regarding the Death Eaters' actions and the Headmaster had
given him exactly what he wanted.
"I would try to limit your duties as much as possible Sirius, as like I said, I would like both your focus on Harry's training.We can work it out so that the other members need not know of what you will be doing this summer.I feel the less people who know you are getting ready, the better."
"I agree. The more the enemy underestimates you, the bigger your advantage Harry. I'm sure Remus and Tonks would consent to be my cover from time to time or take over Harry's training if I am forced to take on assignments.What have you guys been working on?"
"Right now, there is a copy of this prophecy in the Department of Mysteries.We have reason to believe that Voldemort is plotting to retrieve it so he can hear the whole prophecy himself. Our intelligence is still working on it."
"Good, at least that would keep him occupied for a while."
Harry stood up slowly, the two adults looked up at him. He gave them a shy smile. "I'm sorry, I just suddenly felt drained.May I go? I'm sure Sirius would fill me in tomorrow with what you guys have discussed."
"Of course, Harry. Remember, if you need anything, let me know."
"Thank you, Professor. G'night, Sirius."
"G'night, pup."
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a/n thanks to all who reviewed. I didn't expect the warm welcome, I'm very grateful to you all.