Chapter 10
Sirius looked up from his drink as an owl hooted lowly.
"Mistress' disappointment has a letter" Kreacher said, holding out his arm with the owl. Sirius grunted, taking the bird from his elf. "Mutt would do well to follow his heir's example. Ohhh yes, the little stag knows how to respect us. Remembers his manners unlike the disappointment. Wish he and his right hands were here, they made sure Kreacher was treated like the proud elf he is. Yes, mutt master should have listened better"
"Get out of here Kreacher. No one wants to hear your mutterings" Sirius growled, shooing the elf away as he opened the letter. There was a pop and the animagus was alone. He opened the letter, scanning it greedily. It took a full minute for him to realize the horrible things he was reading.
Dear Sirius,
I was encouraged by James upon hearing of my adventures to tell you about them as well. Since you are my godfather and were meant to take care of me. So, I have decided to break it down by year so I don't jump around too much.
First year, I encountered Voldemort again, though I didn't realize it until the end of the year. He had been on the back of my Defense teachers head since just after my birthday. I know the rough time he possessed my teacher because he monologued at me about it. Anyways, the first danger I encountered was a Cerberus behind a locked door that I could unlock easily. Luckily I left quickly and didn't return until the end of the year. Which I will get to later on. Next in time, was Halloween when I encountered and knocked out a Mountain Troll. Where were the teachers? Not there until afterwards. Ron and I had gone to tell Hermione of the danger and ran straight into the beast when it entered where she was hiding. With no choice, we levitated its club and knocked it out. A few seconds later, the teachers appeared. No one noticed my twisted ankle from landing wrong, or the cuts on Mione from the smashed toilets. We cleaned and healed them ourselves. Then, during my first quidditch game, Quirrell (my defense teacher) tried to get my broom to buck me off when I was high over the pitch. No one could approach so it was up to me to hold on. Snape was chanting the countercharm, and Hermione stopped Quirrell. Over the winter break, I ran into a mirror that showed my hearts deepest desire. Had Ron and later Dumbledore not interfered, I would have wasted away there without noticing. For a while it was quiet, until Hagrid acquired a Norwegian Ridgeback egg and hatched it in his hut. It was Ron, Hermione, and I that convinced him to part with it and delivered the dragon to the people who'd take it to a reserve. In the process, Ron got bitten and his hand swelled to twice its size, Hermione and I got detention, alongside Neville and Malfoy who overheard our plans. For the detention we had to enter the Forbidden Forest at 11pm at night to discover who was killing unicorns. Our only protection was Hagrid who split us up so only half of us were safe. I was alone when I found the dead unicorn and its killer. Spoiler alert, it was Voldemort and I found him drinking the blood of it. Finally, to stop Voldemort from returning to life, I went past the Cerberus, some Devil's Snare, another troll, a deadly chess game (which Ron had to sacrifice himself to win, he got a concussion), and separate poison from useful potions. All because no teacher listened when we told them Quirrell would be trying that night. When I reached the final room, I faced the man and his passenger alone. I barely escaped with my life, and only because Mum's protection burnt the pair to a crisp.
Now, second year. The summer before I was starved so I was already struggling. I had some grace prior to my birthday due to not informing my relatives that magic was forbidden. Then Dobby, the devious little shit, mimicked my magic in order to get me in trouble. He also locked the barrier to Platform 9 and 3/4s. Ron and I ended up taking a flying car to school. We crashed into the Whomping Willow. It hit back. Dobby also tried a third time to send me back to my relative's by making a bludger follow me and only me. And then a basilisk was being released in the school, which is why Dobby was trying to get me to leave, to protect me. In order to discover what the snake was, Ron and I went into the forest to meet the acromantula, only narrowly escaping due to the wild car. I found out afterwards that it was a 1,000 year old Queen basilisk. Now, let me tell you that she wasn't an ordinary basilisk. When I say Queen, I mean Queen basilisk. Easily 18 meters, and venom potent enough to be a fast death. It also could dissolve flesh. Everyone was lucky the victims were only petrified (and once it was due to Sir Nick's actions at the very last second). I slayed the snake alone, when the adult who we thought was going to deal with it turned out to be useless. We brought him as far as we could, but he decided to try and wipe our memories. It back fired, so he remembers nothing of himself. And, once again, it was Voldemort. This time a 16-year old version, but it was him. He himself showed me how he got his name. His old name was Tom Marvolo Riddle, which became I am Lord Voldemort.
Third year you know the dangers I was in. I will remind you that I drove off 100 dementors by myself though, because Dumbledore told Hermione and I to use a time turner to rescue you. Now, I will jump to fourth year. Once again I was in danger before the year even started. Ron's dad was lucky enough to get tickets for his family plus me and Hermione to the Quidditch World Cup. After the game, there was a demonstration held. A death eater one, where the muggle family was being levitated and played with. They would have hurt any one of us. Due to that, Crouch Jr. made it back to his master. I thought it would be a quiet year for me. Instead, on Halloween my name came out of the goblet. The first task was nesting dragon mothers. I'm lucky I had advance warning and made sure Cedric did too. As it was, both of us were injured. The second task I had no plan for breathing underwater until 15 minutes beforehand when Dobby gave me gillyweed. Then I found both of my best friends at the bottom of the lake, alongside a 9 year old. I took the song seriously because there was no indication to say I shouldn't, and brought the last two hostages up. I nearly drowned because of it. Then, I was nearly attacked by both Crouch Senior and Junior all because Krum was curious about my relationship with Hermione. The elder died that night while I was off fetching help. Then, the third task and grave yard. The obstacles were no joke, I sustained a fractured leg after tangling with an acromantula. Krum was imperiused to use the Cruciatus on Cedric. I saved Cedric only to watch him die less than an hour later. I myself went through two bouts of the torture curse when Voldemort came back. Did Dumbledore care to get me the necessary potions to heal? No. He insisted I tell him everything of the graveyard first. After Crouch had dragged me up the stairs on a bad leg, and after I narrowly escaped with my life again. It was Fawkes who gave me medical attention. Fawkes who stopped to care about me first. Not you, not Dumbledore, not McGonagall, or Snape. A bird. Don't get me wrong, I love that bird, he's saved my life before. But the fact is, I needed you to put your foot down and prioritize my health. And you didn't.
Then the summer happened. The only letter I got from you was to scold me. I'm not a zoo animal Sirius. I need to walk around and do things. Other than mocking my cousin outside the 'safety' of the house, I did nothing wrong. I behaved. And it didn't matter. I was still attacked by dementors, and nearly kissed. And even now you wanted to see the copy of my father rather than me. You wanted your best friend back, and who cares that your godson was there. Who cares that he had been forced to carve his hand open for detention not even a week before. I can't keep giving you chances Sirius. Either you're going to be my godfather or you're going to be just another adult that lets me down.
Harry
"What.." Sirius mumbled to himself numbly, frantically trying to find some joke hidden in the letter. "No, no. No no nononono. He was supposed to be safe. Dumbledore is there. Albus can keep him safe, Albus is the only one Voldemort feared. Pup is safe there. I'll just get the quills out and he'll be fine! I can.. I can..." Sirius stumbled to his feet, swaying dangerously.
"Remmmi! We're gonna hic- get the bitch!" He called out in a singsong voice.
"Sirius? Are you drunk again? Whatever harebrained scheme you're thinking of can wait until after the alcohol's out of your system" Remus popped his head around the doorframe, wrinkling his nose at the overwhelming smell.
"But pup needs us! See!" Sirius shoved the letter in the werewolf's face. Who took it with an eyeroll and glanced over it. Then he paled and read over it in depth.
"I think we need you sober for this. Because it's going to be an intense conversation Siri" He whispered, face still deathly white. When the drunk man just swayed in place unseeing, his friend reached out to gently guide him to a resting surface to sleep off the alcohol.
"Master Harry, Kreacher has news" Kreacher appeared next to Harry.
"Kreacher! You surprised me. What news do you have for me?" Harry made sure his feet were solidly on the ground as he dismounted his broom.
"The mutt has received your letter. He gave me the order to leave so I could come report to you what I've learned since you left for school" Kreacher's appearance and speech improved as his magic was cleansed of the black magic.
"Speak freely and take what you need from my core" Harry allowed, offering some of the magic that was buzzing through him.
"I am fine for now, little heir. Just taking what little I already did helped. Now, I was able to get some updates from the meetings. They're nervous about the prophecy they're guarding after Podmore was caught attempting to enter a locked door in the department the day you left on the train. I'm assuming you saw the newspaper?"
"I did. We figured it had something to do with the mysterious guard duty. It helps to have your confirmation. Anything else you think is important?" Harry gave a closed lip smile.
"Hm. There was a compulsion to go to another Black when told to get out placed upon me. Luckily the caster forgot that you are Heir Black and thus I was able to shake it" Kreacher hummed nonchalantly.
"Do you know who would do such a thing to you?" Harry could feel his magic boiling as he realized someone tried to harm a member of his household.
"I do. I will not be telling you who as I can handle my own revenge. I examined it first, do not worry Lord of my Ancestor. They intended the Black sisters to be the only options. The arrival of the now-named Leo Black and your own status within my family ruined that. No secrets that were entrusted to me will be spilled to the ones who are deemed untrusted. I have served this family with honor since I was born, I do not intend to change that due to some upstart's magic" Kreacher gave a toothy grin. Harry returned one at the promise of retribution.
"Anything I can get for you?"
"Just an alibi. And to tell the mutt to get his head on straight. He drinks more liquor than water these days. It's not healthy" Kreacher's ears twitched downwards briefly in the only indication of his anxiety. Harry offered a pat on the shoulder in comfort. Kreacher huffed softly, snapping to rid the boy of dirt before fussing slightly "You need more food. Go see Dobby in the kitchens, get some protein. You are still too thin."
"I will Kreacher. Just as soon as I finish speaking with you. I even ate before practice, which you'd be proud of!"
"Hm. I am, but I still worry. Tell your friends to carry snacks or I'll speak with Tiffy in order to make sure snacks appear on you regularly" Kreacher hummed neutrally.
"I will, I will! I'm just trying to be polite Kreach" Harry spluttered.
"Niceties have been observed, time for self-care" The house elf shooed his master up the hill towards the castle.
"Alright! Alright! I'm going. Thanks for the information Kreacher!" Harry called over his shoulder, jogging to meet up with Ron. He heard the pop of apparition behind him. "Kreacher has decreed that we're to go get something from Dobby, and you have to carry snacks for me or I'll randomly get them from an elf."
"Alright mate. Still surprised how much that elf loves you though. He hates Sirius with a passion and barely tolerates the rest of us. You come in and he's suddenly perfectly willing to help" Ron bumped his shoulder against his smaller friend's.
"Not my fault I'm lovable!" Harry protested.
"Of course not Har. We're just all happy to have you."
"Ew! Feelings! Too mushy too close to a big conversation!" Harry tried to run away. He was easily caught up with, since Ron had several inches on him. But the redhead benevolently allowed a subject change.