Deceiving Magic's Child

Harry's mind had gone blank with shock... Then, behind them, they heard a wild howling.

"That can't be good," Blaise Zabini said.

"Werewolf?" Young Neville asked.

Remus rolled his eyes. It was ridiculous how everyone’s minds automatically rushed to werewolves when they heard something spooky.

"Hagrid," Harry muttered... they know we've been to see him. . . . "

"Why would Hagrid be blamed for you three breaking curfew?" Minerva asked, feeling slightly blindsided. "No one had to know that you'd already been down there."

Everyone looked at the Gryffindor head of house in shock. Was she teaching her lions how to be sneaky?

Hermione's breathing was shallow and uneven... The light was fading fast now.

Sirius was on edge, tapping his foot against the hard stone floor. He knew an exploding potion when he saw one. And this situation was about to become very volatile. 

By the time they reached open ground... OUCH! He bit me!"

Mrs Weasley grimaced. They should all be safely tucked up in bed instead of out in the grounds after dark.

"Ron, be quiet!" ... "What's the matter with him?"

"Probably knows his time is almost up," Sirius muttered.

But Harry had just seen... "No, go away, Crookshanks! Go away!"

Everyone peered eagerly at the book, clearly anticipating whatever came next.

But the cat was getting nearer ... pelted away into the darkness.

Mrs Weasley tutted. How could he be so reckless?

"Ron!"... they hurtled after Ron;

"Don't just leave the cloak!" Sirius almost yelled.

they could hear his feet... Scabbers, come here -"

"You'd think someone would hear all the noise you're making," Remus said. So much for extra security.

There was a loud thud... they'll be coming back out in a minute -"

Several people sighed in relief.

But before they could cover themselves... an enormous, pale-eyed, jet-black dog.

Sirius sat bolt up right. He was finally going to get to see how his older self met Harry.

Harry reached for his wand... he felt its hot breath, saw inch-long teeth -

Sirius was confused. Why did he jump on Harry? It wasn’t Harry he was after. 

But the force of its leap... his ribs were broken,

"They were," Madam Pomfrey said tartly and Sirius looked shamefaced. He wouldn't ever want to hurt Harry.

Harry tried to stand up... Ron's outstretched arm.

Mrs Weasley whimpered. Why was Black attacking them if he wasn't after Harry?

Harry lunged forward... as though he were a rag doll -

Mrs Weasley was crying loudly now, her head buried in her husband's shoulder. How did they not know about this?

Then, out of nowhere... He heard Hermione shriek with pain and fall too.

"Huh?" Everyone looked about in confusion. What had just happened?

Harry groped for his wand... the trunk of a thick tree;

"Oh no," Remus said morosely.

they had chased Scabbers... stop them going nearer.

"I don't think the tree likes me," Harry muttered.

"That tree doesn't like anyone," Remus countered.

And there, at the base of the trunk... but his head and torso were slipping out of sight -

Sirius felt like he should probably apologise. But no one else felt like apologising for what their older selves had done.

"Ron!" Harry shouted... he was forced backward again.

Flitwick groaned. They'd be lucky if they made it out of this with half their limbs intact.

All they could see now... his foot vanished from sight.

Mrs Weasley let out a wail.

"Mum, I'm fine," Ron said, rolling his eyes. He'd had worse than a broken leg since then.

"Harry - we've got to go for help -" Hermione gasped;... we haven't got time -"

Minerva frowned. She could see it from both sides. They certainly didn't have time to waste but this was ridiculously reckless.

They were underage, practically defenceless and worst of all, alone. They needed to find an adult and fast.

"Harry - we're never going to get through... without being in range of the tree's blows.

"You're wasting time," Moody growled.

"Oh, help, help,"... "Please. . . "

Sirius almost felt bad for the girl. She was clearly not at her best in a crisis.

Crookshanks darted forward... "How did he know -?"

"I imagine Sirius told him," Remus answered for the book.

"He's friends with that dog,".. breathlessly from behind him.

"You talk to much," Moody said. "The dog will hear you."

"I don't know... but it looked like it was heading for Hogsmeade. . . "

Fred and the two Georges sat forward, eager to know where this tunnel led.

They moved as fast as they could... painful gasps, running at a crouch. . . .

Poppy rolled his eyes. That boy was far too good at ignoring his pain. He'd been in a bad way when he'd come into the hospital wing that night. Nothing she couldn't patch up in seconds but that didn't mean much.

And then the tunnel began to rise... there were stains all over the floor;

"Oh, dear," Tonks said.

every piece of furniture... "I think we're in the Shrieking Shack. "

"NO WAY?" Fred gaped at the book. "That's the coolest thing ever!"

The twins glanced at each other. Yes, they'd be checking this out when they returned to school. Their mother eyed them suspiciously. She knew that look.

Harry looked around... "Ghosts didn't do that," he said slowly.

Remus chuckled drying. He was certainly no ghost.

At that moment, there was a creak overhead... something being dragged upstairs.

Mrs Weasley sniffed as Arthur murmured reassurances that Ron was indeed alive and well.

They reached the dark landing... "Ron - are you okay?"

Everyone was sitting on the edge of their seats.

"Where's the dog?"...  "Harry, it's a trap -"

Sirius sighed. He didn't imagine this was going to make pleasant reading. Just how crazed would he be after a few more years in Azkaban?

"What -"... It was Sirius Black.

Sirius didn't like the sound of that. He'd looked bad when he arrived in the chamber, but that sounded truly awful.

"Expelliarmus!"... "I thought you'd come and help your friend," he said hoarsely.

Sirius frowned. Had he been watching Harry or was he making assumptions based on what James would do?

His voice sounded as though... it will make everything much easier. . . . "

Sirius tightened his arms around the two Harrys. He must have terrified his godson that night.

The taunt about his father... "No, Harry!" Hermione gasped in a petrified whisper;

"If he was going to kill Potter," Kingsley said, "Harry would already be dead."

Ron, however, spoke to Black... and he swayed slightly as he spoke.

Sirius smiled at the boy. Clearly he was a better friend that Sirius had first thought. Remus seemed to be having a similar thought process if the nod he gave the young man was anything to go by.

Something flickered in Black's shadowed eyes... "You will damage that leg even more. "

Mrs Weasley gaped at Sirius. "You're the one that did it!"

"Well," Sirius sighed. "I don't imagine I actually wanted to hurt your son, Molly. I might have been bat shit crazy from my stint in Azkaban but I imagine even my older self drew the line at hurting children."

"Did you hear me?"... and his grin widened.

Sirius almost laughed. He wasn't helping himself. His older self had relocated to the whacky tree and didn't seem to realise that he'd basically just informed three kids that he planned to kill one of them.

"Why's that?"... What's the matter, gone soft in Azkaban?"

Sirius did laugh this time. "Harry, if I actually was a mass-murderer, that would have been a terrible idea. Word of warning, don't taunt the murderers."

Harry shrugged. He sort of made a habit of taunting Voldemort and his death eaters. It tended to work too. Distract them and inevitably he'd find a way to escape.

"Harry!"... lunged forward -

Sirius's laughter had died and he nearly let out a whimper.

He had forgotten about magic... he didn't care how much he got hurt in return -

"I care," Sirius murmured.

Perhaps it was the shock... they fell, backward, into the wall -

Theo was sitting, slack jawed, taking every word in. This was better than any book he'd ever read and he'd read a lot.

Hermione was screaming... punching every part of Black it could find.

Harry muttered a sorry to Sirius who merely shook it off.

"No harm done," he said gently.

But Black's free hand had found Harry's throat... Harry choked, his glasses askew.

Sirius looked horrified. He wouldn't. Never.

Then he saw Hermione's foot swing out of nowhere... "Argh!"

Moody grimaced. The boy needed that wand.

Ginny couldn't believe what she was hearing. How did she never hear about this? Ron had never told her this story and he'd told her a lot about his adventures with Harry.

Crookshanks had joined the fray... Crookshanks now darted toward Harry's wand -

"That cat is ridiculously clever!" Susan Bones said to her aunt.

"You're telling me," Amelia agreed. She was beginning to wonder if the auror force could use kneezles undercover.

"NO YOU DON'T!"... Harry snatched up his wand and turned -

Hermione glared at Harry. She couldn't believe he'd kicked her cat!

"Get out of the way!"... both hands clutching his broken leg.

"You have the upper hand," Krum said. "Now iz the time to leave."

Fleur nodded her agreement. Even though they knew Sirius was innocent, she couldn't help worry that he clearly wasn't in his right mind.

Black was sprawled at the bottom of the wall... "Going to kill me, Harry?" he whispered.

Remus sighed. This was a mess. He really couldn't imagine what could make the situation worse.

Harry stopped right above him... "But if you knew the whole story. "

People were gaping at Black now.

"You said you didn't kill them!" Astoria said pointedly.

"I didn't. Not exactly. But I still felt responsible." Sirius sighed. "It was my fault."

"The whole story?" ... You don't understand. . . . "

Sirius frowned. He thanked Mother Magic for this chamber for the millionth time. This wouldn't happen again.

"I understand a lot better... you did it. . . . "

Hermione gaped at Harry. His words made so much more sense now.

Before either of them could say another word... trying to push Crookshanks off him.

Severus rolled his eyes. Trust Black to try and save the cat. He always was better with animals than people. Just like he himself was better with potions.

But Crookshanks sank his claws... It was in league with Black. . .

Hermione looked torn. That was her cat!

The mind healers eyed Harry speculatively. Did Harry even know how to kill a person?

If it was prepared to die... Crookshanks than for Harry's parents. . . .

Sirius sighed. "There's only two people I ever loved more than your parents."

Harry blinked up at him.

"My fiancee Marlene and you," Sirius said. "I loved you from the first moment I saw you but even that was nothing to how I felt about you after I blood adopted you. Your my son. Your James and Lily's too. But your my son."

Harry had tears in his eyes that he dried away in a hurry. He wished he'd heard those words from his Sirius.

Harry raised the wand... This was his chance. . . .

Albus grimaced. Knowing what he knew of the boy from these books, he knew he wouldn't do it. But he hated hearing this. Hearing him contemplate murder. Where was he? He should have known what was happening and come and rescued them. They were his students - his to protect - and he'd failed them yet again.

The seconds lengthened... someone was moving downstairs.

A sigh of relief echoes through the chamber.

"Thank goodness," Sprout said, her voice trembling slightly.

"WE'RE UP HERE!"... Do it now! said a voice in his head -

"You're not going to do it," Claudius said. "You're not a murderer, Harry."

Harry nodded. He knew that. Sort of. "Feels like it sometimes. I feel like people around me are constantly dying and its all my fault."

Tom grimaced. "If you need to blame someone, I'm that person. I'm the reason they died."

but the footsteps were thundering... "Expelliarmus!" Lupin shouted.

"WHAT?" Molly screeched. "Why would you take their wands?"

Remus wasn't sure what to tell her.

Harry's wand flew... lying protectively across his chest.

Moody groaned. Did these kids not know how to protect their wands? Then again, he knew they didn't. Not then at least. 

Harry stood there... Black was going to be handed back to the Dementors.

"I'd have preferred that," Sirius said. "As much as I hate them and I definitely don't want to be kissed. I wouldn't want my death on your hands."

Then Lupin spoke... "Where is he, Sirius?"

"You knew!" Severus shot the wolf a glare. He almost smirked seeing his older self vindicated.

"Were you working together all along, Mr Lupin?" Rita asked, the headlines were writing themselves. This was brilliant.

Harry looked quickly at Lupin... who looked bewildered.

"The rat," young Daphne said eagerly.

"But then. . . "... without telling me?"

Everyone glanced at Remus in confusion.

Very slowly, his sunken gaze never leaving Lupin's face, Black nodded.

"Professor,"... embraced Black like a brother.

"And if that's not suspicious..." Florean muttered. It bothered him that even in moments like this Harry wasn't the adults first concern.

Harry felt as though... "You - you -"

Hermione grimaced. This was the first time she felt truly disappointed in a teacher. Lupin had been the best teacher she'd ever had, and to think even for a few moments that he was in league with Black had been soul destroying.

"Hermione -"... "I've been covering up for you -"

Remus grimaced. This wasn't how he would have wanted Harry to learn he was a werewolf.

"Hermione, listen to me, please... "and all the time you've been his friend!"

Harry glared at the book. He remembered how much that hurt. Harry wasn't quick to trust, a fact he'd long accepted about himself.

"You're wrong," ... he's a werewolf!"

Even though they all already knew, they all let out a gasp of shock.

There was a ringing silence... "Only one out of three, I'm afraid.

Remus actually chuckled.

I have not been helping Sirius... "Get away from me, werewolf!"

Sirius glared at Ron. He hated the way people's opinion of Remus immediately changed as soon as they knew what he was. It wasn't right.

Lupin stopped dead... Or did you realize that the Boggart changed into the moon when it saw me?"

"You're wasting time!" Moody growled. "The rat might escape while you're discussing this."

"Both,"... witch of your age I've ever met, Hermione. "

Severus struggled not to roll his eyes. Sure. She was smart. But she had nothing on Lily Evans. But he might be biased.

"I'm not,"... "Is he mad?"

A couple of people glared at Ron. This was the sort of bias they were supposed to be avoiding. Still more seemed to think he was right.

"Some of the staff thought so,"... "YOU'VE BEEN HELPING HIM ALL THE TIME!"

Harry glared at the book. He didn't like it when he lost his temper.

He was pointing at Black... Harry caught his, stunned.

"Shouldn't have taken them in the first place," Tonks muttered.

"There," said Lupin... "how did you know he was here?"

"Good question," Amelia said approvingly.

"The map,"... that was my friends' nickname for me at school. "

"You should have told me that sooner," Harry said, trying to sound gentle but failing terribly.

Remus nodded. The young man wasn't wrong.

"You wrote... "How d'you know about the cloak?"

"Getting side tracked," Moody groaned.

"The number of times I saw James disappearing under it. . . " said Lupin, waving an impatient hand again.

"And hid under it yourself," Sirius said, rolling his eyes.

"The point is, even if you're wearing an Invisibility Cloak... "No, we weren't!"

"PETER PETTIGREW!" the children all cried out in excitement.

I couldn't believe my eyes,'... "One of us!" Ron said angrily.

Several people rolled their eyes. It wasn't so much fun when they were more informed than the characters in the book.

"No, Ron,"...  "What's Scabbers got to do with it?"

"Just give him the damn rat," Lee said in frustration.

"Everything,"... "That's not a rat," croaked Sirius Black suddenly.

Everyone grimaced. It was horrible to think that a grown man had been playing the role of pet to children.

"What d'you mean... "by the name of Peter Pettigrew. "

Finally they were getting somewhere Sirius thought to himself. This was like getting blood out of stone.