The Black Brothers’ Legacy
Harry paced anxiously in the farthest corner of the Hog’s Head, a quiet pub often avoided by students and visitors. The atmosphere was musty, and the few patrons who were there kept to themselves. It was perfect for the secret meeting he had arranged.
Hogsmeade weekends were rare opportunities for Harry to escape the confines of Hogwarts, but this time, he had a more serious purpose. After discovering the truth about his parentage, he knew he couldn’t continue without talking to Sirius. This secret was too big to carry alone.
The door creaked open, and Sirius Black, disguised under a heavy cloak, slipped inside. He moved quickly toward Harry, his face hidden by the hood. When he reached the corner, Sirius threw back the hood and gave Harry a grim smile.
“Sorry I’m late, Harry. Had to be careful not to be followed.”
Harry nodded, his nerves tightening with every passing second. “It’s okay. We need to talk. I found something, Sirius. Something important.”
Sirius gestured for Harry to sit down, lowering himself into the chair across from him. “What’s going on? You sounded urgent in your message.”
Harry hesitated for a moment, unsure how to even begin, but there was no turning back now. “It’s about my parents. I found out that James wasn’t just my father—he was my carrier. And my biological father... it’s Regulus.”
For a brief moment, Sirius’s expression was unreadable. Then his face twisted in disbelief, and he leaned forward. “Harry, that’s not funny. What are you talking about?”
“I’m serious.” Harry met his godfather’s eyes, his voice steady. “I found letters. Letters between James and Regulus. They were together, Sirius—lovers. Lily wasn’t my mother. It was all hidden from me. Dumbledore knew and kept it from me.”
Sirius froze, his gaze flickering between Harry’s eyes and the table, trying to process the weight of the revelation. “James... and Regulus?” His voice was a low whisper, filled with disbelief. “No. That can’t be. James never told me... Regulus? And Dumbledore...?”
Harry nodded. “Dumbledore’s been controlling my life from the start. He made sure I grew up believing everything he wanted me to think. He used Lily’s memory to keep me on a certain path, but the truth is, I’m the son of James and Regulus. I’ve seen the proof, Sirius.”
Sirius sat back in his chair, running a hand through his hair in agitation. “That manipulative old bastard...” he muttered under his breath. “I always knew Dumbledore was playing some kind of long game, but I didn’t realize it went this deep.”
Harry’s chest tightened as he watched Sirius process the information. He had feared this moment—the possibility that Sirius might not believe him, or worse, that it would break their bond. But Sirius’s anger wasn’t directed at Harry. It was directed at Dumbledore.
“So, Regulus—he turned against Voldemort because of you?” Sirius asked, his voice thick with emotion.
“I think so,” Harry replied quietly. “He found out about Voldemort’s Horcruxes and tried to destroy one. He died for it. But it wasn’t just because of Voldemort. It was because of me—because I was his son.”
Sirius’s hands clenched into fists. “Regulus... I’ve hated him for so long, thinking he was just another cowardly Death Eater. But now...” His voice trailed off, his eyes darkening with fury. “And Dumbledore. That man—he's kept this from you, from all of us.”
“We can’t trust him,” Harry said, the anger rising in his own voice. “He’s been manipulating everything. I’ve been doing research, looking into Voldemort’s past, and there’s more going on than we were told. Dumbledore isn’t just trying to defeat Voldemort—he’s trying to control everything. And we’re pawns in his game.”
Sirius leaned forward, his voice deadly serious. “What do you want to do, Harry?”
Harry swallowed, the enormity of what he was about to say hitting him. “I want to take him down. I want to destroy every Horcrux, stop Voldemort—but on our terms. Without Dumbledore pulling the strings. We need to expose his manipulation and end his control over the wizarding world.”
Sirius’s face hardened, his expression shifting from disbelief to determination. “If what you’re saying is true—and I believe you—then Dumbledore is more dangerous than any of us thought. We can’t take him head-on, not yet. But I’ll be damned if I let him control you any longer.”
Harry’s heart lifted slightly at Sirius’s words. His godfather was with him—fully. “I’ve already started working with Draco Malfoy. We’re keeping it quiet for now, gathering information. But we’re going after the Horcruxes. We’ve already found one.”
Sirius blinked, looking both shocked and impressed. “Malfoy? You’re working with a Malfoy?”
Harry gave a small, bitter smile. “It’s not like I had much choice. He’s in the same boat. Dumbledore’s been manipulating him, too—his whole family. But I trust him, as much as I can trust anyone right now.”
Sirius chuckled darkly. “Well, stranger things have happened. If you say he’s on our side, then I’ll follow your lead.”
“We’ll have to be careful,” Harry warned. “Dumbledore has eyes everywhere, and I don’t know how much of the Order is really loyal to him, but we can’t take any chances.”
Sirius nodded, his expression resolute. “I’ll start looking into what I can from my side. You keep doing what you’re doing, and we’ll find a way to bring Dumbledore down. But Harry—promise me you’ll stay safe. Don’t rush into anything before you’re ready.”
Harry smiled faintly. “I promise.”
Sirius rose from his seat, placing a hand on Harry’s shoulder. “We’ll take down Dumbledore, and we’ll do it together. For James. For Regulus. For your real family.”
Harry nodded, his determination only growing stronger. “For the Black brothers.”