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batsutousaiTitle: What It Means...
Author:![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
batsutousai
Beta:magickmaker17
Rating: PG-13/T
Pairings: None
Warnings: Harry-in-Azkaban, betrayal, angst, Dark-but-not-Evil!Harry, Slightly-Too-Powerful-To-Be-Realistic!Harry, character death
Summary: At the end of Fifth Year, things go as planned for some and not for others. When Harry is sent to Azkaban for killing his best friends, who will stand at his side and who will turn their back?
-~/\~-
Chapter Five ~ ...To Touch Freedom
Written: 18/03/08
-~\/~-
Cottage Freedom, as Sirius had named the place after his own trial, was a small, one-story, wooden building that had as many enchantments and wards as the Ministry building. The house wasn't up to Azkaban's standards, but Harry hardly cared. After all, it wasn't a bare cell with dementors floating just out of reach. Better, it had a shower, which Harry gladly took advantage of.
Sirius lent him a slightly too big set of robes and pants, so he tossed his old rags out and returned to the kitchen feeling a hundred times better about the world. Remus was cooking up a quick meal of pasta with sauce and some bread while Sirius and Peeves connected at the table. Luna added to the fun by making faces behind Sirius, which sent both Peeves and Ginny into gales of laughter for no clear reason. The Baron floated near the wall, eyeing the proceedings with a part amused, part irritated expression on his face.
The Baron turned to Harry as the Necromancer stepped up next to him. "Sir Nicholas went back to Hogwarts."
Harry nodded, smiling as Luna put her head through Sirius' chest and stuck her tongue out at Peeves. "I'd expected as much. You're staying with me?"
"I intend to, yes. The other ghosts are keeping an eye on the Slytherins and I'd feel better keeping an eye on Peeves myself, even though he listens to you."
"Thank you," Harry replied. He'd come to enjoy the Slytherin's company during his time in Azkaban, and wasn't sure how he'd feel if the ghost had chosen to return to Hogwarts. "Will you and Peeves get my trunk tonight?"
"We will. Will you be telling the men about your recent activities?"
Harry sighed and tugged on a lock of hair that brushed his shoulders. "I'll tell them about my being a Necromancer, if only to explain why so many ghosts are attracted to me, and about being an animagus. I'll probably mention my Marauder name and let them figure that out themselves."
The Baron nodded. "Very good. Make sure you also warn them about your blood, though."
Harry winced. "Good point. We should probably purchase a few bezoars, just in case."
"Rather."
Luna made motions towards Harry and both Ginny and Peeves turned to look at him with smiles. Sirius turned also and grinned. "Hey. You look better. Why don't you leave Mr Stoic to his glaring contest with the table and join us?"
Harry gave the Baron a curious look. "Who's winning?"
The Baron sneered. "It was a draw. Sit."
Harry grinned and sat amongst the laughter of his friends. "How much longer, Remus?"
Remus smiled over his shoulder. "About another minute. Sirius, why don't you set the table."
Sirius grumbled good-naturedly and got up to do as he'd been told. Peeves looked about ready to 'help', but glares from both Harry and the Baron had him slinking down in his chair.
Harry turned to Ginny and quietly said, "Do you want me to release you now?"
Ginny shook her head firmly. "I'm staying with you, Harry."
Harry blinked. "But, your family..."
"Can wait. And we can communicate through Luna, anyway. I'm staying and helping you – you're family too." Ginny replied as Luna came over to float next to her friend.
Harry smiled in understanding. "Of course. Do you want to stay bound to me, or free to cause mayhem elsewhere?"
Ginny shrugged. "I'm safer if I stay bound to you. If there's a way to lengthen the reach of the bond, go for it. If not, I'm fine staying near you."
Harry glanced curiously at Luna. "The longer the bond is in effect, the farther apart you two should be able to go, I'm pretty sure. Will you tell them?" she finished, nodding her head at where Sirius was pestering Remus for some bread.
Harry nodded. "A few things. I'll have to mention being a Necromancer, if only to explain why ghosts keep following me around," he said. "And about my blood, so they're prepared just in case. And I'll mention my panther form and my Marauder name and see what they get from that."
"But not about being a metamorph?" Ginny asked, frowning.
"Let them figure that one out themselves," the Baron suggested as he joined their huddle. Peeves had also floated over. "Peeves and I will go get your trunk now and leave it in your room. If you need us, summon us."
Harry nodded. "Right. Safe trip."
Peeves saluted Harry, then zoomed from the house after the Baron, cackling. Remus and Sirius stepped over to the table and Remus served dinner while Sirius retook his seat next to Harry. "What was that all about?"
"They're getting something for me," Harry offered with a shrug. "This looks wonderful, Remus."
"Thank you, cub," Remus replied as he settled into his own seat. "I'm surprised by how well Peeves is behaving himself," he added as Sirius attacked his dinner.
Harry rolled his eyes at his godfather and traded amused looks with Remus. "Peeves tends to do his own thing most of the time, but the Baron is good about keeping him in line."
"Just the Baron?" Remus inquired.
"Stop fishing, Moony," Sirius muttered around some bread. "Harry'll tell us what he wants to tell us when he wants to tell us."
Harry blinked while Remus sighed and Ginny and Luna both laughed. "Sorry, Harry," the werewolf offered.
Harry shook his head. "No, it's okay, Remus. Peeves listens to me too because I'm a Necromancer."
Sirius' fork hit the edge of his plate and clattered to the floor. He quickly bent to retrieve it while Remus nodded. "That makes sense. It also explains why the ghosts like to spend time around you."
"Does that mean you're going to create an army of inferi?" Sirius asked with a blank expression, placing his retrieved fork down on his plate carefully.
Harry shuddered. "Merlin, no! I'm not sure I could, anyway."
"But Necromancers–"
"Harry's not your average Necromancer," Ginny interrupted. "According to Luna – who's here, by the way, but only Harry and other ghosts can see her – Harry's talents in Necromancy lay solely in the realm of the calling, manipulating and sending on of ghosts. He'd have the same problems non-Necromancers have with summoning demons and creating inferi, and he can no more speak to the dementors than you can, though he does have an immunity to them."
Sirius rubbed at his face angrily and Remus offered Harry a sad smile. "It's okay, cub. Andromeda and Ted Tonks, Nymphadora's parents, got killed by inferi right before Hallowe'en."
Harry felt like someone had punched him. "But, I saw Tonks today..."
"She's trying to keep it from affecting her," Sirius offered, then offered Harry an apologetic look. "I'm sorry, Harry. I know you'd never do something like that."
"Not against friends, but it's tempting to see if I could set a horde on Voldemort and his people," Harry replied, wondering who had created those inferi and if he should kill them. According to Hermione, Tonks had believed Sirius and Remus when they claimed that Harry would never kill his friends willingly, though she wasn't as public about it as Remus was, since she needed her job.
"Don't," Remus said. "Let the dead rest in peace."
"Your mother says that if you create any inferi, she'll find her own way back to this world to smack some sense into you," Luna offered matter-of-factly.
"Tell Mum she doesn't have to go to those lengths. I won't try it," Harry told Luna, then smiled at the startled looks on Remus and Sirius' faces. "Luna's what we like to call a ghost of a ghost – someone who's passed on, but was brought back down as a spirit by a Necromancer – but because she was a Necromancer when she was alive, she's able to stay here with me and communicate with everyone on the other side. Mum, Dad, Hermione and all the other Weasleys can communicate with me through her. Sometimes, others who have died send their hellos through Luna, but only my family – and I include the Weasleys and Hermione in that – stays in constant contact."
Ginny offered him a watery smile. "I'm glad."
Sirius, on the other hand, smiled evilly. "Oiy, Prongs, you bloody prat! What were you thinking, leaving me with this crazy kid of yours and a bloody werewolf?" Everyone laughed while Remus kicked Sirius under the table.
Once the laughter had subsided, Remus gave Harry a curious look. "So, I know dementors had affected you pretty badly before. When did this all change?"
Harry rubbed at his chin. "I came into my inheritance on my eighteenth birthday. It was rather effective in knocking me back to the world of the sane and living. Before that, I was mostly catatonic."
"Oh, Harry..." Sirius whispered, eyes haunted. Godfather and godson shared a moment of shared understanding. Sirius had been in Azkaban twice as long, but Harry had suffered more without the knowledge of his innocence or an animagus form.
Harry glanced over at Remus, who looked worn. "After I woke up, you two came. And you told me you believed in me. I had honestly believed that I was at fault for my friends' deaths. I mean, I can throw off the Imperius, why couldn't I get my body's control back from Voldemort? But you two believed in me, and that made me want to live again. It wasn't until I accidentally ended up in the realm of the dead that I found out that Umbridge had cursed me to make me more susceptible to Voldemort's possession."
Remus had stood and walked around the table to hug Harry awkwardly while the young man spoke. "I'm glad, then, that Sirius and I pushed Dumbledore enough that he finally allowed us to visit you."
"Me too," Sirius agreed, placing a hand on Harry's shoulder and squeezing it. "More that it was the same day you woke."
Harry smiled at the two and leaned his head against Remus. "The connection between Voldemort and me was open still, so I borrowed some of his knowledge and found out what I got. I'm a Parselmouth – which we knew – an animagus – my form is a panther – a Necromancer and my blood is highly poisonous."
"How did that happen?" Sirius asked, eyes wide.
"When Harry came to save me in the Chamber of Secrets," Ginny offered, "he had to fight a basilisk. It bit him, but Fawkes healed the wound. We think that's why."
Harry nodded. "The tooth hit bone, so I think the poison mixed in with my bone marrow, which meant that newer blood cells contained some of the basilisk poison." Harry grimaced. "Or, well, that's Hermione's theory. Once Luna explained it to me a little more, it made sense."
"If you say so," Sirius replied, then smiled through the laughter at his expense. "So, I suppose I can't really call you Prongslet, anymore. Did you decide on a Marauder name for yourself while you were stuck in Azkaban?" he asked as Remus returned to his seat.
Harry's eyes fairly twinkled. "Yeah. We all decided on Dorcha."
Sirius' fork hit the floor again while he and Remus gaped at the amused Harry. Peeves chose that moment to bounce into the room and offer Harry his custom-made waterberry wood and runespoor tongue wand. "Potty's wand!"
Harry took the wand and the accompanying holster, which he attached to his right forearm. After briefly checking the wand over for any damage, he put it away and offered Peeves a smile. "Thank you."
Peeves bowed, then tumbled himself in the air a few times. The Baron, who came in behind the poltergeist, sneered at the spinning form, but didn't say anything.
Sirius coughed. "Dorcha, huh? Well that's....interesting..."
Remus shook his head. "Where'd you get that wand? It doesn't look like it's from Ollivander's."
Harry's smile was a touch mischievous. "No. I got it from a wandmaker in Africa."
Sirius leaned over and picked his spoon up again. "Well, at least that's one thing we no longer need to get you."
Harry shrugged. "I have a trunk, too."
Remus ran a hand over his face. "You know the Ministry wants your alter-ego dead, right?"
"I might have heard that somewhere, yes," Harry agreed. "A large portion of the public also seems to think that Dorcha's dead."
"What happened, by the way?" Sirius asked, curiosity written all over his face. "If the Ministry knows, they're not saying."
Harry sighed. "Carrow had a silent alarm intended to trip as soon as someone stepped onto his property that I missed. He was waiting for me when I got inside. We dueled and I just barely won. Honestly, if I hadn't been teaching myself things from Voldemort's mind, I probably would have been killed. That and Luna playing spotter for me. It took me a while to get back on my feet, and by then I didn't really care if Voldemort and his people took the Ministry by storm or whatever."
"Are you going to start being Dorcha again?" Sirius asked.
Harry shrugged. "Dunno. In some respects, if I send them in one or two at a time now, then when I have to face Voldemort on the battlefield he won't have as much back-up. On the other hand, if I start sending them in again, there may just be a manhunt for my head."
"I highly doubt they will ever catch you unless you want them to," the Baron huffed. "All they know about Dorcha is that he's African, doesn't like Death Eaters, somehow has inside information on all the Death Eaters and isn't afraid to use some Dark spells when needed."
"Yeah," Sirius agreed. "The whole being an African wizard with a wand that's not registered in Britain thing is throwing them off. They questioned Kingsley at one point, but he's almost always had an alibi, and he never expects the Death Eaters to be coming."
"The voice is too different for it to be Kingsley, anyway. Voice-based spells can only change so much," Remus added. "We should probably get you a wand that's registered in Britain, anyway, just so you have one that you can use in public."
Harry glanced over at the Baron. "You said one of my other wands was registered here?"
The Baron nodded. "The oak one."
"Peevesy get it!" Peeves shouted, then zoomed from the room.
"Alright, how many wands have you got?" Sirius said, half exasperated, half amused.
"Three. This one," Harry said, holding up his right arm, "is made of waterberry wood and runespoor tongue and is a custom wand. The oak wand has the heartstring of a hebridean black. My last wand is white poplar with an augurey feather. Peeves and the Baron got me the other two wands."
"And the other two work for you?" Remus asked as Peeves came back with the requested wand.
Harry switched his waterberry wand to his left arm and strapped the oak one to his right arm after checking it over. "This one," he said, holding up the oak wand, which shot off some black sparks, "works, but is the worst of the four wands I've had. The white poplar is about as effective as my old holly wand was. Neither of them have anything on the custom wand, though."
Remus nodded. "Okay. So you don't need a wand, and you have a trunk. We need to get you some clothes – Sirius' are just too big for you, and mine likely are as well. Anything else?"
"Bezoars," Harry said seriously. "I want both of you to carry at least one, and I'll have some as well. While my blood isn't dangerous to touch, if someone accidentally swallows some or it gets into an open wound on them, it'll poison them. I may not like the general public, but I refuse to go around accidentally killing people because they tried to help me when I was wounded."
Remus nodded and summoned a scroll and a quill. "Okay. Robes and underclothes. Also, bezoars, at least one for each of us."
Harry tapped his chin. "What happened to my old stuff?"
Sirius' face turned grim. "Most of it was destroyed, and your wand was snapped. Remus and I managed to save your broom and cloak, and Dumbledore kept the Map after we showed him how to work it."
"My family took care of Hedwig – I think she got killed in the attack, though. Your old books, I'm pretty sure, were sent to the used bookstore in Diagon while your potions stuff was added to the school's supplies," Ginny offered. "And I know for a fact that your photo album wasn't in the pile of stuff that was destroyed, but I don't know where it went."
Harry glanced questioningly at Luna, but the ghost shook her head. "None of us were paying much attention to what they did with your stuff, sorry. Do you know who might have kept it? One of the others could try and check."
"Uhm.... Hagrid, maybe? He's the one who gave it to me. But, wait. He was killed last year, wasn't he?"
"Yeah, he was," Sirius answered glumly.
Harry nodded. "Have someone ask him. At the very least, he might know who does have it."
"Ron and Hermione are going to check," Luna replied.
Harry turned back to Remus and Sirius. "Ron an Hermione are going to check with Hagrid. Dumbledore can keep the Map – it's more useful at Hogwarts. Thanks for saving my broom and cloak, though." He smiled.
"We knew what the cloak meant to you," Remus offered. "And Sirius refused to let them destroy such a great broom. Since he gave it to you to begin with, he demanded it be returned to him and not destroyed. The broom is in the closet down the hall with Sirius and my brooms. Your cloak should be in your room somewhere."
"Hagrid says he claimed the photo album," Luna reported. "But he doesn't know what happened to it after he died, beyond that he asked that Dumbledore make sure you got it back. It might still be in his cabin, or the Headmaster could have it."
"Peeves and I can return to the school and try to find it for you," the Baron offered evenly. "If it's not in the cabin, we can ask the Headmaster."
"That would be great. Thanks," Harry replied. The Baron inclined his head while Peeves literally bounced off the walls with a cackle.
"Does he eventually get quiet?" Sirius inquired with a grin as Remus got up an collected their empty dishes.
"Rarely," Harry said dryly. "Usually, I send him off to pester the other prisoners or the dementors so I can sleep."
"This should be fun," Sirius decided, earning him an exasperated look from Remus and an 'are you insane' look from Harry. Ginny and Luna laughed while the Baron rolled his eyes.
-~/^\~-
The next day found the three Marauders – Sirius and Remus had agreed that Harry had earned the title – and the two female ghosts in Diagon Alley, taking care of Harry's vault and getting the things on Remus' list. Even after three months, Sirius earned a few nervous looks from the few people out and about. Harry, himself, earned his fair share of startled looks, despite his freedom being rather publicly announced. The public was fickle indeed.
After getting everything on their list, the group apparated to the edge of the Hogwarts wards, then started on their way up to the castle. Dumbledore had, in fact, kept possession of Harry's photo album after Hagrid died. However, when the Bloody Baron had asked if he and Peeves could have it so it could be returned to Harry, the Headmaster had said that Harry would have to come get it himself. So Harry decided they would make a side trip to the castle at about lunchtime.
As they approached the castle, various castle ghosts came out to greet them, including the Baron, Sir Nick and Peeves. Peeves was overjoyed when Harry agreed that he could follow them into the Great Hall – he wasn't allowed in the Great Hall unless invited by one of the professors, who made a habit to never do so. Harry was no professor, but his Necromancy gift nullified the spells that kept Peeves out.
So it was that mid-way through lunch, the main doors of the Hall burst open and Harry led the way in, with Remus, Sirius, Ginny, Luna and Peeves filing in behind him. Most of the ghosts he'd met on the way had dispersed back into the castle, but a few slipped into the Hall behind the unusual party.
Harry calmly made his way up to the Head table, where Dumbledore had risen to his feet with a welcoming smile. Everyone else in the Hall had varying degrees of shock on their faces and no one made a sound, except Peeves, who cackled madly as he bounced along after Harry.
McGonagall spoke just before Harry got to the Head table. "What is Peeves doing in here?"
"Peevesy was invited," Peeves informed her, then blew her a raspberry.
"Peeves, behave," Harry ordered, meeting Dumbledore's twinkling eyes coldly. "I would like my photo album, Headmaster."
Dumbledore inclined his head. "Of course, my dear boy. But wouldn't you like to join us for lunch first?"
"I'd sooner return to Azkaban," Harry snapped back. "And I'm not a boy, let alone your dear one. I'm only here for my photo album."
"It appears not even Azkaban could teach you to respect your betters, could it, Potter?" Snape sneered.
"On the contrary, Snivellus, it taught me who my betters were," Harry shot back with his own sneer.
Snape's eyes narrowed and he looked about ready to return with an insult, but Dumbledore cut in with, "Now, boys..." which earned him two sneers.
"My photo album, Headmaster," Harry said tightly, trying to get a grip on his temper. Snape always seemed to rub him the wrong way.
Dumbledore sighed, looking decades older. "Of course, Harry. It's up in my office." Harry nodded and motioned for the Headmaster to lead the way. Dumbledore walked around the table and led Harry and his group from the Hall, which broke into loud chatter as soon as they were out of sight.
Once in his office, Dumbledore pulled Harry's photo album out of his desk and handed it over. "Hagrid insisted we not destroy it, so you had something to remember the good times with when you got out of Azkaban. He never came out and said it, but I do believe he, too, always thought you were innocent. In his will, he asked that I keep this for you and that I make sure you know that he always remembered his best student."
Harry bit his lip hard and took his album. "Thank you, sir," he whispered. Next to him, Sirius settled a hand on his shoulder and squeezed it.
Dumbledore settled into his chair with a groan and folded his hands in front of his mouth. "Harry, for what it's worth, I'm sorry. I should have known better than to believe that you would turn on your friends."
Harry tightened his grip on his photo album. "Perhaps, sir, if you'd cared to spend time with me that year, instead of pushing me away, none of this would have ever happened."
"Perhaps," Dumbledore agreed. "I had hoped that if I distanced myself from you, that Tom would be unable to use you against me, or me against you."
"It worked masterfully," Harry replied sarcastically.
Dumbledore bowed his head silently.
Harry sighed and glanced down at his album, unsure how to act towards this side of the great wizard. "If that's all, Headmaster?"
Dumbledore nodded and glanced back up. "You are welcome to attend Order meetings. We hold them every Friday at six in the old headquarters. Sirius and Remus are often there."
"We shall see," Harry replied, then turned and led the way from the office and out of the school. He paused at the sight of Hagrid's empty hut and said, "Whatever happened to Fang? And Grawp?"
"Fang died a few weeks after Hagrid for no clear reason beyond missing him," Remus reported gently. "Grawp was killed in the same battle as Hagrid."
Harry clenched his eyes shut against tears. Slowly but surely, Voldemort destroyed everything good in the world. And Harry was the only one who could kill him. He opened his eyes, feeling determined. "I think it's time Dorcha proved that no Death Eater can do him in," he said firmly.
Remus, Ginny and Luna smiled while Sirius whooped and Peeves cackled madly, earning the group odd looks from the students who were stepping from the school to go play quidditch or avoid homework.
-
-
A/N: Not quite sure what to do with Dumbledore, in all honesty. I don't like him, and Harry has no particular reason to like him – in this fic, anyway – but I can't quite bring myself to completely get rid of him yet. Meh.
Review?
~Bats
Chapters:
Pro - To Watch / 1 - To Hope
2 - To Learn ||| 3 - To Have Friends ||| 4 - To Know Death
5 - To Touch Freedom ||| 6 - To Have Morals ||| 7 - To Taste Victory
Epilogue - To Live
Author:
batsutousaiBeta:
magickmaker17Rating: PG-13/T
Pairings: None
Warnings: Harry-in-Azkaban, betrayal, angst, Dark-but-not-Evil!Harry, Slightly-Too-Powerful-To-Be-Realistic!Harry, character death
Summary: At the end of Fifth Year, things go as planned for some and not for others. When Harry is sent to Azkaban for killing his best friends, who will stand at his side and who will turn their back?
Chapter Five ~ ...To Touch Freedom
Written: 18/03/08
-~\/~-
Cottage Freedom, as Sirius had named the place after his own trial, was a small, one-story, wooden building that had as many enchantments and wards as the Ministry building. The house wasn't up to Azkaban's standards, but Harry hardly cared. After all, it wasn't a bare cell with dementors floating just out of reach. Better, it had a shower, which Harry gladly took advantage of.
Sirius lent him a slightly too big set of robes and pants, so he tossed his old rags out and returned to the kitchen feeling a hundred times better about the world. Remus was cooking up a quick meal of pasta with sauce and some bread while Sirius and Peeves connected at the table. Luna added to the fun by making faces behind Sirius, which sent both Peeves and Ginny into gales of laughter for no clear reason. The Baron floated near the wall, eyeing the proceedings with a part amused, part irritated expression on his face.
The Baron turned to Harry as the Necromancer stepped up next to him. "Sir Nicholas went back to Hogwarts."
Harry nodded, smiling as Luna put her head through Sirius' chest and stuck her tongue out at Peeves. "I'd expected as much. You're staying with me?"
"I intend to, yes. The other ghosts are keeping an eye on the Slytherins and I'd feel better keeping an eye on Peeves myself, even though he listens to you."
"Thank you," Harry replied. He'd come to enjoy the Slytherin's company during his time in Azkaban, and wasn't sure how he'd feel if the ghost had chosen to return to Hogwarts. "Will you and Peeves get my trunk tonight?"
"We will. Will you be telling the men about your recent activities?"
Harry sighed and tugged on a lock of hair that brushed his shoulders. "I'll tell them about my being a Necromancer, if only to explain why so many ghosts are attracted to me, and about being an animagus. I'll probably mention my Marauder name and let them figure that out themselves."
The Baron nodded. "Very good. Make sure you also warn them about your blood, though."
Harry winced. "Good point. We should probably purchase a few bezoars, just in case."
"Rather."
Luna made motions towards Harry and both Ginny and Peeves turned to look at him with smiles. Sirius turned also and grinned. "Hey. You look better. Why don't you leave Mr Stoic to his glaring contest with the table and join us?"
Harry gave the Baron a curious look. "Who's winning?"
The Baron sneered. "It was a draw. Sit."
Harry grinned and sat amongst the laughter of his friends. "How much longer, Remus?"
Remus smiled over his shoulder. "About another minute. Sirius, why don't you set the table."
Sirius grumbled good-naturedly and got up to do as he'd been told. Peeves looked about ready to 'help', but glares from both Harry and the Baron had him slinking down in his chair.
Harry turned to Ginny and quietly said, "Do you want me to release you now?"
Ginny shook her head firmly. "I'm staying with you, Harry."
Harry blinked. "But, your family..."
"Can wait. And we can communicate through Luna, anyway. I'm staying and helping you – you're family too." Ginny replied as Luna came over to float next to her friend.
Harry smiled in understanding. "Of course. Do you want to stay bound to me, or free to cause mayhem elsewhere?"
Ginny shrugged. "I'm safer if I stay bound to you. If there's a way to lengthen the reach of the bond, go for it. If not, I'm fine staying near you."
Harry glanced curiously at Luna. "The longer the bond is in effect, the farther apart you two should be able to go, I'm pretty sure. Will you tell them?" she finished, nodding her head at where Sirius was pestering Remus for some bread.
Harry nodded. "A few things. I'll have to mention being a Necromancer, if only to explain why ghosts keep following me around," he said. "And about my blood, so they're prepared just in case. And I'll mention my panther form and my Marauder name and see what they get from that."
"But not about being a metamorph?" Ginny asked, frowning.
"Let them figure that one out themselves," the Baron suggested as he joined their huddle. Peeves had also floated over. "Peeves and I will go get your trunk now and leave it in your room. If you need us, summon us."
Harry nodded. "Right. Safe trip."
Peeves saluted Harry, then zoomed from the house after the Baron, cackling. Remus and Sirius stepped over to the table and Remus served dinner while Sirius retook his seat next to Harry. "What was that all about?"
"They're getting something for me," Harry offered with a shrug. "This looks wonderful, Remus."
"Thank you, cub," Remus replied as he settled into his own seat. "I'm surprised by how well Peeves is behaving himself," he added as Sirius attacked his dinner.
Harry rolled his eyes at his godfather and traded amused looks with Remus. "Peeves tends to do his own thing most of the time, but the Baron is good about keeping him in line."
"Just the Baron?" Remus inquired.
"Stop fishing, Moony," Sirius muttered around some bread. "Harry'll tell us what he wants to tell us when he wants to tell us."
Harry blinked while Remus sighed and Ginny and Luna both laughed. "Sorry, Harry," the werewolf offered.
Harry shook his head. "No, it's okay, Remus. Peeves listens to me too because I'm a Necromancer."
Sirius' fork hit the edge of his plate and clattered to the floor. He quickly bent to retrieve it while Remus nodded. "That makes sense. It also explains why the ghosts like to spend time around you."
"Does that mean you're going to create an army of inferi?" Sirius asked with a blank expression, placing his retrieved fork down on his plate carefully.
Harry shuddered. "Merlin, no! I'm not sure I could, anyway."
"But Necromancers–"
"Harry's not your average Necromancer," Ginny interrupted. "According to Luna – who's here, by the way, but only Harry and other ghosts can see her – Harry's talents in Necromancy lay solely in the realm of the calling, manipulating and sending on of ghosts. He'd have the same problems non-Necromancers have with summoning demons and creating inferi, and he can no more speak to the dementors than you can, though he does have an immunity to them."
Sirius rubbed at his face angrily and Remus offered Harry a sad smile. "It's okay, cub. Andromeda and Ted Tonks, Nymphadora's parents, got killed by inferi right before Hallowe'en."
Harry felt like someone had punched him. "But, I saw Tonks today..."
"She's trying to keep it from affecting her," Sirius offered, then offered Harry an apologetic look. "I'm sorry, Harry. I know you'd never do something like that."
"Not against friends, but it's tempting to see if I could set a horde on Voldemort and his people," Harry replied, wondering who had created those inferi and if he should kill them. According to Hermione, Tonks had believed Sirius and Remus when they claimed that Harry would never kill his friends willingly, though she wasn't as public about it as Remus was, since she needed her job.
"Don't," Remus said. "Let the dead rest in peace."
"Your mother says that if you create any inferi, she'll find her own way back to this world to smack some sense into you," Luna offered matter-of-factly.
"Tell Mum she doesn't have to go to those lengths. I won't try it," Harry told Luna, then smiled at the startled looks on Remus and Sirius' faces. "Luna's what we like to call a ghost of a ghost – someone who's passed on, but was brought back down as a spirit by a Necromancer – but because she was a Necromancer when she was alive, she's able to stay here with me and communicate with everyone on the other side. Mum, Dad, Hermione and all the other Weasleys can communicate with me through her. Sometimes, others who have died send their hellos through Luna, but only my family – and I include the Weasleys and Hermione in that – stays in constant contact."
Ginny offered him a watery smile. "I'm glad."
Sirius, on the other hand, smiled evilly. "Oiy, Prongs, you bloody prat! What were you thinking, leaving me with this crazy kid of yours and a bloody werewolf?" Everyone laughed while Remus kicked Sirius under the table.
Once the laughter had subsided, Remus gave Harry a curious look. "So, I know dementors had affected you pretty badly before. When did this all change?"
Harry rubbed at his chin. "I came into my inheritance on my eighteenth birthday. It was rather effective in knocking me back to the world of the sane and living. Before that, I was mostly catatonic."
"Oh, Harry..." Sirius whispered, eyes haunted. Godfather and godson shared a moment of shared understanding. Sirius had been in Azkaban twice as long, but Harry had suffered more without the knowledge of his innocence or an animagus form.
Harry glanced over at Remus, who looked worn. "After I woke up, you two came. And you told me you believed in me. I had honestly believed that I was at fault for my friends' deaths. I mean, I can throw off the Imperius, why couldn't I get my body's control back from Voldemort? But you two believed in me, and that made me want to live again. It wasn't until I accidentally ended up in the realm of the dead that I found out that Umbridge had cursed me to make me more susceptible to Voldemort's possession."
Remus had stood and walked around the table to hug Harry awkwardly while the young man spoke. "I'm glad, then, that Sirius and I pushed Dumbledore enough that he finally allowed us to visit you."
"Me too," Sirius agreed, placing a hand on Harry's shoulder and squeezing it. "More that it was the same day you woke."
Harry smiled at the two and leaned his head against Remus. "The connection between Voldemort and me was open still, so I borrowed some of his knowledge and found out what I got. I'm a Parselmouth – which we knew – an animagus – my form is a panther – a Necromancer and my blood is highly poisonous."
"How did that happen?" Sirius asked, eyes wide.
"When Harry came to save me in the Chamber of Secrets," Ginny offered, "he had to fight a basilisk. It bit him, but Fawkes healed the wound. We think that's why."
Harry nodded. "The tooth hit bone, so I think the poison mixed in with my bone marrow, which meant that newer blood cells contained some of the basilisk poison." Harry grimaced. "Or, well, that's Hermione's theory. Once Luna explained it to me a little more, it made sense."
"If you say so," Sirius replied, then smiled through the laughter at his expense. "So, I suppose I can't really call you Prongslet, anymore. Did you decide on a Marauder name for yourself while you were stuck in Azkaban?" he asked as Remus returned to his seat.
Harry's eyes fairly twinkled. "Yeah. We all decided on Dorcha."
Sirius' fork hit the floor again while he and Remus gaped at the amused Harry. Peeves chose that moment to bounce into the room and offer Harry his custom-made waterberry wood and runespoor tongue wand. "Potty's wand!"
Harry took the wand and the accompanying holster, which he attached to his right forearm. After briefly checking the wand over for any damage, he put it away and offered Peeves a smile. "Thank you."
Peeves bowed, then tumbled himself in the air a few times. The Baron, who came in behind the poltergeist, sneered at the spinning form, but didn't say anything.
Sirius coughed. "Dorcha, huh? Well that's....interesting..."
Remus shook his head. "Where'd you get that wand? It doesn't look like it's from Ollivander's."
Harry's smile was a touch mischievous. "No. I got it from a wandmaker in Africa."
Sirius leaned over and picked his spoon up again. "Well, at least that's one thing we no longer need to get you."
Harry shrugged. "I have a trunk, too."
Remus ran a hand over his face. "You know the Ministry wants your alter-ego dead, right?"
"I might have heard that somewhere, yes," Harry agreed. "A large portion of the public also seems to think that Dorcha's dead."
"What happened, by the way?" Sirius asked, curiosity written all over his face. "If the Ministry knows, they're not saying."
Harry sighed. "Carrow had a silent alarm intended to trip as soon as someone stepped onto his property that I missed. He was waiting for me when I got inside. We dueled and I just barely won. Honestly, if I hadn't been teaching myself things from Voldemort's mind, I probably would have been killed. That and Luna playing spotter for me. It took me a while to get back on my feet, and by then I didn't really care if Voldemort and his people took the Ministry by storm or whatever."
"Are you going to start being Dorcha again?" Sirius asked.
Harry shrugged. "Dunno. In some respects, if I send them in one or two at a time now, then when I have to face Voldemort on the battlefield he won't have as much back-up. On the other hand, if I start sending them in again, there may just be a manhunt for my head."
"I highly doubt they will ever catch you unless you want them to," the Baron huffed. "All they know about Dorcha is that he's African, doesn't like Death Eaters, somehow has inside information on all the Death Eaters and isn't afraid to use some Dark spells when needed."
"Yeah," Sirius agreed. "The whole being an African wizard with a wand that's not registered in Britain thing is throwing them off. They questioned Kingsley at one point, but he's almost always had an alibi, and he never expects the Death Eaters to be coming."
"The voice is too different for it to be Kingsley, anyway. Voice-based spells can only change so much," Remus added. "We should probably get you a wand that's registered in Britain, anyway, just so you have one that you can use in public."
Harry glanced over at the Baron. "You said one of my other wands was registered here?"
The Baron nodded. "The oak one."
"Peevesy get it!" Peeves shouted, then zoomed from the room.
"Alright, how many wands have you got?" Sirius said, half exasperated, half amused.
"Three. This one," Harry said, holding up his right arm, "is made of waterberry wood and runespoor tongue and is a custom wand. The oak wand has the heartstring of a hebridean black. My last wand is white poplar with an augurey feather. Peeves and the Baron got me the other two wands."
"And the other two work for you?" Remus asked as Peeves came back with the requested wand.
Harry switched his waterberry wand to his left arm and strapped the oak one to his right arm after checking it over. "This one," he said, holding up the oak wand, which shot off some black sparks, "works, but is the worst of the four wands I've had. The white poplar is about as effective as my old holly wand was. Neither of them have anything on the custom wand, though."
Remus nodded. "Okay. So you don't need a wand, and you have a trunk. We need to get you some clothes – Sirius' are just too big for you, and mine likely are as well. Anything else?"
"Bezoars," Harry said seriously. "I want both of you to carry at least one, and I'll have some as well. While my blood isn't dangerous to touch, if someone accidentally swallows some or it gets into an open wound on them, it'll poison them. I may not like the general public, but I refuse to go around accidentally killing people because they tried to help me when I was wounded."
Remus nodded and summoned a scroll and a quill. "Okay. Robes and underclothes. Also, bezoars, at least one for each of us."
Harry tapped his chin. "What happened to my old stuff?"
Sirius' face turned grim. "Most of it was destroyed, and your wand was snapped. Remus and I managed to save your broom and cloak, and Dumbledore kept the Map after we showed him how to work it."
"My family took care of Hedwig – I think she got killed in the attack, though. Your old books, I'm pretty sure, were sent to the used bookstore in Diagon while your potions stuff was added to the school's supplies," Ginny offered. "And I know for a fact that your photo album wasn't in the pile of stuff that was destroyed, but I don't know where it went."
Harry glanced questioningly at Luna, but the ghost shook her head. "None of us were paying much attention to what they did with your stuff, sorry. Do you know who might have kept it? One of the others could try and check."
"Uhm.... Hagrid, maybe? He's the one who gave it to me. But, wait. He was killed last year, wasn't he?"
"Yeah, he was," Sirius answered glumly.
Harry nodded. "Have someone ask him. At the very least, he might know who does have it."
"Ron and Hermione are going to check," Luna replied.
Harry turned back to Remus and Sirius. "Ron an Hermione are going to check with Hagrid. Dumbledore can keep the Map – it's more useful at Hogwarts. Thanks for saving my broom and cloak, though." He smiled.
"We knew what the cloak meant to you," Remus offered. "And Sirius refused to let them destroy such a great broom. Since he gave it to you to begin with, he demanded it be returned to him and not destroyed. The broom is in the closet down the hall with Sirius and my brooms. Your cloak should be in your room somewhere."
"Hagrid says he claimed the photo album," Luna reported. "But he doesn't know what happened to it after he died, beyond that he asked that Dumbledore make sure you got it back. It might still be in his cabin, or the Headmaster could have it."
"Peeves and I can return to the school and try to find it for you," the Baron offered evenly. "If it's not in the cabin, we can ask the Headmaster."
"That would be great. Thanks," Harry replied. The Baron inclined his head while Peeves literally bounced off the walls with a cackle.
"Does he eventually get quiet?" Sirius inquired with a grin as Remus got up an collected their empty dishes.
"Rarely," Harry said dryly. "Usually, I send him off to pester the other prisoners or the dementors so I can sleep."
"This should be fun," Sirius decided, earning him an exasperated look from Remus and an 'are you insane' look from Harry. Ginny and Luna laughed while the Baron rolled his eyes.
The next day found the three Marauders – Sirius and Remus had agreed that Harry had earned the title – and the two female ghosts in Diagon Alley, taking care of Harry's vault and getting the things on Remus' list. Even after three months, Sirius earned a few nervous looks from the few people out and about. Harry, himself, earned his fair share of startled looks, despite his freedom being rather publicly announced. The public was fickle indeed.
After getting everything on their list, the group apparated to the edge of the Hogwarts wards, then started on their way up to the castle. Dumbledore had, in fact, kept possession of Harry's photo album after Hagrid died. However, when the Bloody Baron had asked if he and Peeves could have it so it could be returned to Harry, the Headmaster had said that Harry would have to come get it himself. So Harry decided they would make a side trip to the castle at about lunchtime.
As they approached the castle, various castle ghosts came out to greet them, including the Baron, Sir Nick and Peeves. Peeves was overjoyed when Harry agreed that he could follow them into the Great Hall – he wasn't allowed in the Great Hall unless invited by one of the professors, who made a habit to never do so. Harry was no professor, but his Necromancy gift nullified the spells that kept Peeves out.
So it was that mid-way through lunch, the main doors of the Hall burst open and Harry led the way in, with Remus, Sirius, Ginny, Luna and Peeves filing in behind him. Most of the ghosts he'd met on the way had dispersed back into the castle, but a few slipped into the Hall behind the unusual party.
Harry calmly made his way up to the Head table, where Dumbledore had risen to his feet with a welcoming smile. Everyone else in the Hall had varying degrees of shock on their faces and no one made a sound, except Peeves, who cackled madly as he bounced along after Harry.
McGonagall spoke just before Harry got to the Head table. "What is Peeves doing in here?"
"Peevesy was invited," Peeves informed her, then blew her a raspberry.
"Peeves, behave," Harry ordered, meeting Dumbledore's twinkling eyes coldly. "I would like my photo album, Headmaster."
Dumbledore inclined his head. "Of course, my dear boy. But wouldn't you like to join us for lunch first?"
"I'd sooner return to Azkaban," Harry snapped back. "And I'm not a boy, let alone your dear one. I'm only here for my photo album."
"It appears not even Azkaban could teach you to respect your betters, could it, Potter?" Snape sneered.
"On the contrary, Snivellus, it taught me who my betters were," Harry shot back with his own sneer.
Snape's eyes narrowed and he looked about ready to return with an insult, but Dumbledore cut in with, "Now, boys..." which earned him two sneers.
"My photo album, Headmaster," Harry said tightly, trying to get a grip on his temper. Snape always seemed to rub him the wrong way.
Dumbledore sighed, looking decades older. "Of course, Harry. It's up in my office." Harry nodded and motioned for the Headmaster to lead the way. Dumbledore walked around the table and led Harry and his group from the Hall, which broke into loud chatter as soon as they were out of sight.
Once in his office, Dumbledore pulled Harry's photo album out of his desk and handed it over. "Hagrid insisted we not destroy it, so you had something to remember the good times with when you got out of Azkaban. He never came out and said it, but I do believe he, too, always thought you were innocent. In his will, he asked that I keep this for you and that I make sure you know that he always remembered his best student."
Harry bit his lip hard and took his album. "Thank you, sir," he whispered. Next to him, Sirius settled a hand on his shoulder and squeezed it.
Dumbledore settled into his chair with a groan and folded his hands in front of his mouth. "Harry, for what it's worth, I'm sorry. I should have known better than to believe that you would turn on your friends."
Harry tightened his grip on his photo album. "Perhaps, sir, if you'd cared to spend time with me that year, instead of pushing me away, none of this would have ever happened."
"Perhaps," Dumbledore agreed. "I had hoped that if I distanced myself from you, that Tom would be unable to use you against me, or me against you."
"It worked masterfully," Harry replied sarcastically.
Dumbledore bowed his head silently.
Harry sighed and glanced down at his album, unsure how to act towards this side of the great wizard. "If that's all, Headmaster?"
Dumbledore nodded and glanced back up. "You are welcome to attend Order meetings. We hold them every Friday at six in the old headquarters. Sirius and Remus are often there."
"We shall see," Harry replied, then turned and led the way from the office and out of the school. He paused at the sight of Hagrid's empty hut and said, "Whatever happened to Fang? And Grawp?"
"Fang died a few weeks after Hagrid for no clear reason beyond missing him," Remus reported gently. "Grawp was killed in the same battle as Hagrid."
Harry clenched his eyes shut against tears. Slowly but surely, Voldemort destroyed everything good in the world. And Harry was the only one who could kill him. He opened his eyes, feeling determined. "I think it's time Dorcha proved that no Death Eater can do him in," he said firmly.
Remus, Ginny and Luna smiled while Sirius whooped and Peeves cackled madly, earning the group odd looks from the students who were stepping from the school to go play quidditch or avoid homework.
-
A/N: Not quite sure what to do with Dumbledore, in all honesty. I don't like him, and Harry has no particular reason to like him – in this fic, anyway – but I can't quite bring myself to completely get rid of him yet. Meh.
Review?
~Bats
Pro - To Watch / 1 - To Hope
2 - To Learn ||| 3 - To Have Friends ||| 4 - To Know Death
Epilogue - To Live
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