Chapter 36
The kitchen was a busy place when Harry and Sirius came down. Not only were the normal there, but a few others. Of course, Harry knew all of them. With a nod then saying hi to everyone, he settled down by Sirius and tucked into his food. He knew he had to eat so he could take his potions. While sure something big had or was happening, he wouldn’t ask, assuming it would come out.
After his first bracing cup of tea, Sirius looked around as he pushed his food around on his plate then asked, “Anything we need to know about?”
“Nothing to worry about,” Moody gruffed, glancing through all the papers spread out in front of him. “Just sorting through what happened yesterday at the Ministry and other bits. We’re working on some areas for protection.”
Arthur, who sipped at his own tea, said, “Rufus wants me to stay protected. Once Molly finishes with the standard at home, she’s going to come over as well.” Looking around, not sure who knew what about the day before, he gave a quick explanation. Shaking his head after finishing, he said, “It’s a big mess. I’m off for a week, nothing I’ll grouse about, until Rufus can put something in place for more protection, not to mention help those under the spell. From what I heard, he’s trying to ensure he finds everyone, so is checking for so much when they come into work not. It can only help.”
“Good way to go about it,” Sirius nodded. After another bite of food, he asked, “No sign of the evil arse around there or his biggest minions?”
“Not that I saw,” Arthur told him with a shake of his head. “However, I was hurried out of there very quickly by some Hitwizards. All I know is this was a serious threat of some sort. He had a tip from somewhere and did what was needed, thankfully.”
“Thankfully,” Lucius nodded, though this wasn’t new information. “He’ll come up with something to help. Though the checks going in is a good start.”
“From what I was told there is more coming from him since he supposedly locked everything down after me and some others were escorted out.” Arthur imparted looking around. “Not sure what he did overnight, but I heard this morning from Moody it’s open for business as usual.”
“It is,” Moody confirmed with a nod. “Not sure what’s going on yet. Give it time and I’ll hear. Either way, Rufus is doing what’s needed from my perspective.”
“Good,” Sirius nodded. At least there was some new information. Now, though, they had to stay wary because of others in the house if Harry ended up with another prediction.
Changing topics, he asked, looking around, “How close are we on hours?” He wanted to know so they could take a day off if they could since it sounded like they’d probably have plenty in the house.
“We’re far ahead,” Lucius nodded after taking another sip of his tea. “We thought it best to take the day off. Let Harry and Draco have a break. They can muck around with whatever while we tend to matters.”
Harry couldn’t help but grin, looking over at Draco who was doing the same. They had a few projects in the works they could easily busy themselves with what the adults dealt with whatever.
With a soft chuckle, see the looks passed between the two teens, she shook her head, “It appears they already have something in mind. Doubt we’ll see them most of the day.”
After giving Harry a pat on the back, laughing, Sirius said, “No problem there. They’ll have fun at least. The rest of us probably won’t.”
“Very true,” Lucius agreed, smirking slightly. Then sobering up, he asked, “Is there anything we need to tend to, does anyone know?”
“Not so far,” Moody gruffed, shaking his head. “It might change, though, if Albus comes up with something. We don’t know yet. Since this is the Ministry, it’s Rufus’ bailiwick and his to tend to.”
Since there really wasn’t anything to tend to, the normal small talk started along with asking Arthur about what happened, nothing too stressful.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
That night, after everyone cleared out, the house just felt less stressful, probably due to the fact they didn’t have to watch what was said.
Alastor was still there, working on information which had come in, correlating it with everything else he had so he could send it not only to Albus, but Rufus.
“Anything from this mess we need to worry about or know?” Lucius asked now since the house was empty of those who didn’t stay here.
“Not really,” Moody told him, tone distracted as he finished off something. Then looking up, he put his quill down. With a groan, he leaned back in his chair. “It’s mostly him dealing with the Ministry, nothing more. Everything is on the back burner until it’s sorted and safe. For now, he’s not even working there, the same with most heads of departments. They’re working out of a safehouse Rufus set up somewhere. It should take care of keeping them safe at least. The rest—as Arthur said, they are checking people as they come in. It’s not foolproof, but it will help. He’s working with some in the DMLE for something else. Give him time, he’ll come up with something.”
“Good,” Sirius nodded. “The folks just working there don’t need in the middle of this mess since most of them have no sort of connection to what’s going on, just doing their jobs.”
“Exactly,” Moody nodded. “He wants those sort kept out of this if at all possible.”
With a snort, he then gave a dry chuckle before adding, “It does appear he’s finally come up with a way to deal with Umbridge.”
“Do tell,” Sirius encouraged, grinning. He could also see Harry and Draco pay closer attention than before. With Rufus, he figured it would be something very creative.
“She’s going into the Muggle system once her trial is over,” Moody snorted, one side of his mouth lifting up in a grin. “As much as she hates Muggles, something she tried to hide all these years, she’ll serve her time there. There are some Magical folk who work for it and they’ll take over keeping an eye on her once they assign her somewhere. Not sure what change they’ll show when it comes to the Muggles, but it’ll work out.”
Unable to help himself, Harry began to chuckle, shaking his head. “Too bad they couldn’t have those with mixed creature blood guard her. It would make her completely mental.”
“I agree,” Sirius laughed, putting a hand on Harry’s shoulder, giving it a squeeze.
“Lad, that’s normally who work in the Muggle system because they have issues getting job in our world,” Moody told him, the half grin still there. “It’s a double whammy for her. While the accommodations are posh compared to Azkaban, it’s an apt punishment. He just needs to settle plenty else before that trial can come to pass, nothing more.”
“Oh, this is perfect,” Lucius tossed in, smirking.
“It is,” Moody nodded. Then he changed tracks. “He has a lot going on, so is pulled plenty of directions. Prosecutions are coming for so many, including that animal Fenrir. He wants to talk to Remus about him once he clears some more off his plate. Since he’s the animal that attacked Remus, it’s a charge he can level at him and Remus would be the sort to testify against him if it goes that far.”
“He would,” Sirius agreed quietly. “Fenrir caused him so much pain and trouble, he wouldn’t have an issue. Until some of the werewolf laws are repealed, he’ll still have a hard time, despite what he’s like.”
After jotting down a note about the werewolf laws, Moody nodded, “I assumed. Let me see what I can get him to manage about the laws. Won’t be right away, but some he can probably do something about quietly so there’s no uproar over them.”
“It’ll help plenty,” Sirius nodded, pleased. “Any clue what they’ll do about Fenrir?”
“The deepest darkest hole in Azkaban Rufus can find,” Moody told him. “My understanding is he’s pushing for him to end up magically locked in. He’ll never walk out of the cell again. Everything which needs done for will happen via spell.”
“Perfect,” Narcissa said softly. “He’ll always be dangerous.”
“Something Rufus knows,” Moody agreed.
“If he has time, he might want to check over what Umbridge put in place. We know some, but I’d bet Padfoot’s fur she sneaked others in place to help the evil idiot. Fudge didn’t seem like he oversaw her much, letting her have at it.” Sirius tossed out there.
“More I’ll mention. He can have others check for him so he doesn’t have to,” Moody agreed, jotting it down as well. “And I think this needs done fast. With everything converging and drawing to a head, he needs nothing wonky in place which might give You-Know-Who any sort of help.”
“After the battle, I gave Rufus everyone I knew who were in the Ministry, but also made it clear there were more. I just don’t know where they might be. He had them in odd places, this I know,” Lucius added in.
“It’s something he’s still working on,” Moody assured him with a nod. Tossing the quill on the table, he groaned then added, “He knows there are more, but can’t ferret them out. It’s just the hope they aren’t in high placed positions which can give over parts.”
“I was the highest placed, I think,” Lucius admitted. “Not sure where else they may be to give him some help.”
“He has the DMLE on it,” Moody assured him. “Let them see what they can find.”
Changing topics, he said, “We’re just waiting on what he’s doing at the moment, nothing more. Unless something else big kicks off, and it may well since You-Know-Who will press on since this didn’t work, he’s going to work on what’s most pressing before the minor areas.”
“As he should,” Sirius nodded, taking a drink of his tea.
Switching to more neutral topics, he began asking about some minor areas which didn’t affect much. With the stress of the last few days, they all just needed to unwind for a time and let everything settle. He thought, maybe, to let Harry and Draco take the rest of the week off since they were going good. It would help both of them. Something like a mini-break before winter break came. He would see and judge by what everyone else had to say on the topic.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Since Remus had the night off, they all decided to adjourn to the room Cissy had set up as a game room and play some cards. And, honestly, they were having a right riot. Of course, they weren’t playing anything complicated, but it was fun.
With all the stressors going on, it helped they were blowing off steam in a fun way.
As they played, they just talked. It wasn’t about anything serious, of course, or about the mess going on, just some joking around and funny stories. Sirius and Remus had plenty about school and after. Harry and Draco also had some. Cissy talked about family stories, some of which were a riot. All and all, it was a fun time.
It wasn’t until the time chimed 11 they realized how late it was. Though reluctant to stop, it had to come. After all, they tended to end up woken early. However, they vowed this would now be at least a weekly activity.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Harry wasn’t really sure what yanked him into the waking world about 2 AM, but it happened. After casting a Tempus and seeing the time, he groaned loudly. With a shake of his head, he grumbled quietly, trying not to wake Sirius. However, he then felt the cold. Eyes widening as his breath started to show and the normal was set off in his head, he snagged his wand and shook Sirius until the man woke, grumbling. Panting heavily, the temp still dropping, he was wide eyed.
Though grumbling, Sirius woke up when Harry shook him. He quickly sat up, though, assuming something had happened with Harry, thus some panic taking over. However, he then felt the Dementors. Fuck!
Bailing out of bed, he sent off the signal to Remus and told Harry, “Cast your Patronus!” When he saw Harry nod, he did the same then sent off the spell to wake the others. Not sure what the fuck was going on, he wanted everyone on alert. Dementors—yeah, not good since they were no longer under Ministry control.
Harry quickly cast his Patronus, sending it out to deal with the vile creatures. However, as he did he noticed it changed. Instead of the stag he’d had since he learned the spell, it was a big shaggy dog. Not sure why, he shook his head, but since it seemed to do the same thing, he discounted it then planned to ask Sirius about it later.
Remus came barreling into the room still tugging on his robe, eyes wide. “Why are they here?” He asked no one in particular. “Already sent the Patronus, of course.”
“No fucking clue, but it can’t be good,” Sirius told him, thankful the Patroni were working. The Dementors were being driven back, something which pleased him. Then he noticed the polecat Patronus joining theirs. Nodding, it meant Draco helped. Good.
Within a minute of Draco’s Patronus joining the other three, the Malfoys were in his room, looking wide eyed. With a shake of his head, Sirius said, “Not sure why they’re here.”
Lifting the mirror he had the forethought to grab before coming up, Lucius said, “Moody is getting in touch with Rufus to see what they can do.”
When Sirius saw the ex-Auror in the mirror, he nodded. “Good. We know You-Know-Who has them now, which means nothing good.”
After hearing everyone agree, Harry told Narcissa and Lucius, “Give yours a try. Might not work, but you were close the last time we worked on them, just needing the right memory. It’ll help if you can.”
Lucius lifted his wand and focused on the memory of Draco’s birth with all he had. Though he wasn’t sure it would happen since all he saw was the same wisp of silver as before, however a bright silver peacock soon burst out and went to join the others. Pleased, a smirk on his face, he just nodded. He managed.
Narcissa put a hand on Draco’s head then lifted her wand with a determined look on her face and cast the spell, focusing on the memory of Draco saying mama the first time. Like with Lucius, it happened, a swan flying out to join the others. Pleased, she shared a look with Lucius and lowered her wand. She found the right memory!
“Brilliant, you two,” Harry grinned, leaning a little heavily on his cane. Since he was still groggy from waking up, despite the circumstances, it was best he hold it tightly.
Though smug and nodding, Lucius looked at the door when he heard a familiar thunking coming up the stairs. When Moody stepped in, he felt a bit better.
After coming over to stand next to all of them, peering out over to the park and the Patroni, including his own, patrolling and moving the vile creatures back, he said, “Rufus is sending some to deal with them. He’s sure there are plenty Death Eaters around with them.”
“Good,” Sirius said with a relieve sigh. Scrubbing a hand over his face, he grumbled, “This isn’t the way to wake up, that’s for damned sure.”
“It wasn’t,” Remus agreed, tucking his robe tighter around him.
“Just keep in mind none of them can get in,” Moody schooled, looking around. “They picked this time of night to do so since it’s one where no one would end up alert about keeping watch. Just done to aggravate and remind us they’re around.”
“True,” Sirius nodded, sighing softly.
“We’ll see what we can set up in the next couple of days for an alert,” the ex-Auror soothed, knowing being jarred out of sleep like this wouldn’t have been pleasant.
“Not the way to wake up, that’s for sure,” Harry grumbled, feeling wonky from the effects of his nighttime meds still, though fairly alert.
“We’ll handle it. Nothing to worry about,” Moody assured. “We just have to wait for the Aurors to turn up and it’ll stop.” Then for the sake of soothing the ruffled feathers all had to have, he imparted what Rufus told him they were going to do. It would give them something to focus on rather than the situation.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
It wasn’t until about 3:30 AM the DMLE had the arses in the park and Dementors cleared out and those in the house were finally settling back down for bed.
Flopping down on the bed, Sirius groaned, telling Harry, “We’re all sleeping in tomorrow and no one better say a damned word about it. Either that or drop something big on us.”
“I agree,” Harry chuckled, shaking his head. “Didn’t need to wake up that way.” However, he remembered the Patronus and asked, “I have a question. I noticed my Patronus changed and am not sure why?”
“Really?” Sirius asked, sitting up, wondering about it.
“It did,” Harry nodded then cast it to show Sirius. The big shaggy dog burst out and sat there, panting.
It didn’t take Sirius but a second to recognize Padfoot and he concealed a grin. Yeah, James was right. Putting a hand on Harry’s back, he rubbed it, “Nothing to worry about. They change. Yours just changed to Padfoot.”
After a glance at Sirius, Harry looked at the Patronus then nodded when he realized he was right. “Right, that’s rather brilliant, isn’t it?”
“It is,” Sirius agreed, still grinning. “We’re pretty attached, so this would be considered normal.” Then, though he wasn’t sure about the timing, just knowing James told him he would find the right time for it, Sirius leaned over and whispered in Harry’s ear, holding him close, “It’s because I feel the same way about you as you do me.” This wasn’t how he intended to tell Harry, but it worked.
It took Harry a full minute to take in what Sirius said and for it to fully process, but when it did, he looked at the man, smiling, though trembling a bit harder than normal. “You knew?” He asked softly.
“Your dad had a hand in it,” Sirius told him, smiling, reaching over to cup one of Harry’s cheeks. “I knew it the same time you did, if what your dad said is right.”
Before Harry could say anything else, Sirius leaned forward and kissed him softly. Nothing passionate or needy, just a soft kiss to start out with.
Harry leaned into the kiss, wrapping one arm around Sirius. It was what he dreamed of for so long and worried over. Now it came true and he would go with it.
When Sirius broke off the kiss, he stroked the side of Harry’s face, smiling again. “Nothing to worry about,” he said softly, though Harry didn’t look the least bit stressed over it.
Harry nodded, smiling a little himself. Though he wanted to say something, his brain didn’t seem as though it was functioning as it should and wasn’t making his mouth work. However, he leaned forward and rested his head on Sirius’ shoulder, wrapping an arm around the man. He thought this would convey what he felt without words.
Wrapping both arms around Harry, Sirius held him close. He then rested his cheek on top of Harry’s head, unable to stop smiling. This was perfect and felt amazing. It was happening, what he wanted. One hand sliding up, he ran his fingers ran through Harry’s thick hair and gave a contented sigh. It was perfect. The first step was taken. While he doubted the rest would end up easy pushing on, he would make damned sure it happened and grew.