One shots pt 2

Gifts for doing a great job:

It took Harry Potter a few weeks into the beginning of his fifth year at Hogwarts to know that he had to do something or he could end up badly hurt or dead. He also knew that a lot of innocent kids would end up dead as well. No one else seemed to be doing anything so he figured he had nothing to lose by trying. He began to use his invisibility cloak and map to watch and listen. He needed idea’s on how to deal with some people without anyone suspecting him. With the way the people at the ministry are acting, Harry believed they would try to get him to Azkaban. Harry knew that between people like Fudge and Voldemort, he could end up dead or surrounded by dementors. It was time to find a way to deal with people like them.

Harry always planned to deal with the Dursley’s and he had an idea on how. He had worked on those plans for when he left the Dursley’s during the holidays. Harry had bought some items that he knew the Dursley’s would like, which meant the moment they drank or ate what he sent, the Dursley’s would die. He couldn’t give it to them while he was there and he would have to be away for a few days at least before they received their gifts.

Harry knew exactly what type of Brandy Vernon and Marge liked. He knew that Petunia loved expensive wine and Dudley always ended up allowed to have a glass during Christmas dinner. But Harry also knew that Dudley’ often snuck some of his father’s alcohol when his parents were busy. But Harry was going to make sure that Dudley had some very good chocolate, something he would not be able to resist eating. Harry just had to find the perfect time to send them. Harry had packed them so they would look like gifts then hidden those items in his trunk after sneaking back into the house. He just had to work on sending them.

It was when Dumbledore sent him a letter telling him that the order would pick Harry up and take him to the headquarters of the order of the phoenix, that he finally worked it out.

Harry had snuck out of the house that morning, again using his cloak but this time he had his gift wrapped packages. Harry had hidden many things in his trunk, one was a blond wig, a bit of makeup and some sunglasses. Even though it wouldn’t really hide his facial features, it was the most he could do to hopefully keep anyone from finding out who sent the Dursley’s the packages. The makeup was to hide his scar, the glasses to keep his green eyes hidden and the wig so no one would see his dark messy hair. He went to the post office in oxford and posted his packages. He didn’t want to use the Little Whinging post office as it was too close to the Dursley’s. He might have used a fair bit of money on the gifts but to get rid of the Dursley’s, Harry knew it was worth it. By the time the Dursley’s died, Harry would be at headquarters with the Weasley’s and the order or at Hogwarts. It would take a couple of days for the packages to arrive, then it would depend on when the Dursley’s would drink the alcohol and Dudley to eat his chocolates. Either way Harry knew they would and he would not be anywhere near Little Whinging at the time they died so he could not be blamed.

Now Harry was thinking of using the same idea to deal with some others. Harry could use magic now he was at Hogwarts, so he had found a few spells that could help change his look, just a bit. A hair colouring spell, so Harry had red hair instead of black. It wasn’t Weasley red, it was darker, just not as dark as his mothers. It was sort of between the two. He had snuck some of Lavender’s makeup that she left in the common room, so his scar was covered. He found a spell that would last an hour. This spell was cast on his glasses so it would change the colour of his eyes but his eyes didn’t really change, it was just the glasses made everyone think he had brown eyes. He used a transfiguration spell to change the size and shape of his glasses as well as everyone knew what he looked like and what his glasses looked like. He would change them back after.

Once Harry thought he was ready and no one would see Harry Potter, he snuck out of the castle using the tunnel to Honeydukes. He was able to take the items he needed without anyone seeing him. Harry felt a little guilty for steeling, but since he was only fifteen, he knew no one would allow him to buy alcohol even if it was for a gift. There were a couple of items that weren’t alcoholic but again, he had to be careful that no one got suspicious of him. He might look a little different but that was just a back up. He used his cloak to steel what he needed.

Harry took his time, he made sure to wrap the gifts perfectly, then the writing on the cards. He had to make sure it didn’t look like his writing.

The first gift was to Dolores Umbridge, from Cornelius Fudge. It was a box of expensive chocolates. A note was written saying he was pleased with the job she was doing. Then there was a gift to Cornelius from Dolores, a bottle of his favourite wine. His note said how much she appreciated hearing from him. There was another gift, one to Lucius Malfoy from Cornelius, again, a bottle of alcohol but this time it was brandy. His note was saying thanks for all his advice. Narcissa Malfoy got an expensive bottle of wine. Harry didn’t know if she drank wine and had no way of finding out, he just figured it just might get drank by her or some death eater. He only wrote that it was from Cornelius. Harry also sent Draco Malfoy, Pansy Parkinson and a few other Slytherin’s some expensive chocolate, from Dolores. Her note was thanking them for helping her keep the mudbloods in line. Those chocolate’s might be poisoned like he had done with the Dursley’s but he had used poison from the muggle world, which hopefully meant no one would detect it if they did spells over the items. Finding out what Parkinson, Malfoy and the other Slytherin’s liked was easy. He used his cloak, map and the imperius curse on Vincent Crabbe to get as much information about them as he could. After he got the information, he obliviated that from Crabbe’s memory.

Harry had hidden all those items in his trunk, just until he got a chance to send them off using the Hogwarts owls. Again, he would use his cloak to hopefully stop anyone seeing him. He had thought of just going to the Hogsmeade post office to send them off, but he really didn’t want anyone to get suspicious of a teenager sending gifts to people who ended up dying. He figured everyone knew he had his own owl, Hedwig and had never used a Hogwarts owl before. He had worked it for Hedwig to send a letter to Sirius, which gave him an excuse for being in the owlery if anyone saw him. His invisibility cloak was hiding all the gifts in case anyone turned up.

Harry sent the gifts off first, then gave Hedwig some attention before giving his faithful owl the letter. Harry watched her until she was out of sight before he slipping his invisibility cloak back on. He watched the map as he snuck back into the castle and up to the library. He had told Ron he needed to get a couple of books for his homework, then he would have a game of chess. He knew Umbridge, Malfoy and Parkinson would eat their chocolates, he just hoped they did straight away so they would be gone and no danger to anyone, especially the younger children inside Hogwarts.

As Harry was looking for the books he needed, he had one thought that keep coming to him. The Dursley’s and Mrs Figg. So far Dumbledore hasn’t mentioned the Dursley’s to Harry, so he wasn’t sure if he knew, yet. It had been nearly two months since he sent those gifts to the Dursley’s. He had one worry, they hadn’t drunk the poisoned alcohol. Harry didn’t believe that, not when it was expensive. But he knew Dudley would not resist eating the chocolate’s straight away. Maybe he died which is the reason Vernon and Petunia hadn’t had their gifts yet, they were too distraught.

Mrs Figg always told Dumbledore everything about the family Harry lived with. It made Harry curious as to why Dumbledore hadn’t spoken to him about where he would live now if the Dursley’s were dead. He kept thinking that it had to be Dudley that died yet Petunia and Vernon were still alive. He would just have to hope they weren’t soon and he would hear something about them.

Harry wanted to stay with Sirius. If Dumbledore didn’t come to him by the time he got on the Hogwarts express, Harry would use his invisibility cloak and sneak way. It wasn’t a long walk from Kings Cross to Grimmauld place.

What Harry didn’t know, nor will Dumbledore for a long time, but Arabella Figg was hit by a car and killed instantly.

Harry got back to Gryffindor tower, then sat at one of the desk to begin his homework.

‘It took you long enough,’ Ron said sitting down opposite.

‘Some of the books I need are hard to find. Now I just have to get this assignment done.’

‘Can’t you do it later.’

‘No, I told you, homework first or ask someone else. I mean I don’t really like chess, I only play because you like it.’

‘Fine, I’ll see if one of the others want to play until you’re done.’

Harry shook his head. Ron should be doing his own work, yet he was skiving off his work, again. Ron didn’t know it but Harry had found a spell that would prevent anyone reading his work. Harry would only remove it once he was ready to hand it to his teachers. He had caught Ron a few times reading his work and knew he was copying. Now he couldn’t and if Ron didn’t do the work, it would be his own fault if he didn’t pass his owls. It would mean that Ron would have to repeat his fifth year.

As Harry was sitting at the desk doing his homework, his thoughts again drifted to the ones he killed or were about to die. He realised there was another person that deserved one of his gifts. The trouble is, Harry didn’t think Snape would drink or eat something sent to him by someone, even someone he knew.

Harry thought there was one way he might be able to work it for Snape to get poisoned, without having to send him a gift that he may not drink. Harry thought of sneaking into the chamber of secrets. He could stick some small pins into the venom sacks and leave a few of them on his chair behind his desk in his classroom, another on his seat at the staff table and maybe he could find a way to make one stick to the inside door handle of his classroom. That could be dangerous to others. He would leave that and just do his seats and maybe someone on his desk, or his quills. Even if Snape checked things, Harry was sure that Snape would get stuck by one of the items. Without Fawkes, Snape would die. Fawkes couldn’t be ordered to heal someone with his tears, he would have to feel that the person was worthy. Fawkes might be Dumbledore’s phoenix, but if the phoenix was such a pure good bird, then he wouldn’t help someone like Snape. If it didn’t work or Fawkes did help Snape, Harry would have to find something else to get rid of Severus Snape.

Even though he really should be concentrating on his school work, Harry was working on plans in his head. He knew he would be sneaking down to the chamber, he might do that after dinner, if he could sneak away from Ron and Hermione. If he couldn’t, he would sneak out once everyone was asleep. He would work on breaking into Snape’s classroom sometime early in the morning. Being a weekend meant he could sleep in. That would allow Harry to get enough sleep without anyone getting suspicious. Almost all students slept in on the weekends.

Harry woke late on Saturday morning. He knew he would but he was surprised that even Ron had woken before him. When he saw the time, he realised breakfast would be over so he decided to head straight to the kitchens to get something to eat.

Harry spoke with Dobby and some of the other house elves while he was eating. He had one very old elf ask him if he would stop the nasty dark witch to stop trying to free house elves. It took Harry a few minutes to realise they were talking about Hermione. He would have to talk to her, again and explain that all the house elves now considered her to be a dark witch. Hermione wouldn’t like that but Harry still wasn’t sure if that would stop her trying to free house elves. Harry did have an idea, to speak with Dumbledore so he could explain to Hermione. The only trouble was, Harry had begun to dislike the headmaster so he really didn’t want to deal with the man. He would decide on that after he tells Hermione about her new reputation.

Harry left the kitchens and headed outside. He figured until he found his friends, or they found him, he would visit with Hagrid.

Harry had only just said hello to Hagrid when Ron and Hermione hurried over to him. Hermione instantly asked where he was and why he slept in.

‘I stayed up to finish my work last night. I wanted a free weekend without having to worry about work. I have something to tell you Hermione, that you won’t like but it might make you realise that you’re going about this the wrong way.’

‘What are you on about mate?’ Ron asked.

‘I figured since breakfast was over, I’d go to the kitchens and see Dobby and get some toast while I was there. Well, I had the very old elf come over to me. Dobby said he is the head house elf and had been at Hogwarts for more than one hundred years. He asked me to tell the dark witch to stop trying to free them,’ Hermione spluttered and Ron’s eyes went wide, ‘They now believe you are like those dark witches that support you-know-who. You have a reputation Hermione and not a good one.’

‘Hermione can’t free the house elves since she is not the owner of Hogwarts. Even Dumbledore can’t free them, only one of the heirs can do that. Dumbledore makes sure they all have time off and he makes sure they have everything they want since none of them want to be free,’ Hagrid said, ‘Only the owner of any house elf can free them, or how Harry tricked the owner to free Dobby.’

‘Yeah, I couldn’t free Dobby, but tricking Malfoy worked so he actually freed Dobby. This is what I tried to explain. We all leave clothes lying around and the house elves pick them up, but it doesn’t set them free since we aren’t the owners. It was different with Dobby, I tricked the owner, not the house elf.’

‘Blimey, Hermione Granger, the dark witch of Hogwarts,’ Ron said but he had glance at Harry who shrugged.

Hermione ended up in tears and running back to the castle, ‘We did try to tell her, she refused to listen. She didn’t even speak with the elves to ask them if they wanted to be free,’ Harry said.

‘It’s happened before, by muggleborns. They try to make things like the muggle world. It’s why they find it difficult to get jobs here because they want to change so much,’ Hagrid said.

‘Even though there’s a lot about this world I don’t like, I know it’s not the muggle world. You either follow with how it is, or leave. I already know I’m going to work and live in the muggle world. I’m definitely going to have a muggle home.’

‘Why would you do that,’ Ron blurted out.

‘I would like things like a phone, computer, game consoles and a good stereo system. All that needs electricity. When I leave here I’m going to do night classes to get my muggle education up so I can get a job in the muggle world. I want to go to university so I can become a doctor.’

‘A doctor, but I thought you wanted to be an auror,’ Ron said.

‘I never said that. I said that Moody said I would make a great auror. That is not the life I want. Anyway, we should go see if Hermione is alright. See you later Hagrid.’

‘I’ll be here Harry.’

Just as Harry and Ron made it to Gryffindor tower, the headmaster’s voice was heard all over Hogwarts.

‘All students are to return to their house rooms immediately.’

‘I wonder what that’s about?’ Ron asked as he gave the fat lady the password.

‘Your guess is as good as mine,’ Harry said and followed Ron through the portrait but he had a feeling that it was to do with his gifts.

‘What happened to Hermione?’ Ginny asked the moment she saw Ron and Harry.

‘We told her something that made her realise how she’s thought of now,’ Ron said.

‘It shocked her but I did try to tell her before. Now she finds out the truth and she couldn’t handle it. Oi, Fred, George, the announcement by the old man. Any idea’s?’

‘Not yet,’ Fred said.

‘But we’ll find out,’ George said.

Harry and Ron watched the twins leave the common room as many began to enter. Harry knew what was going on, he just wasn’t sure which one had eaten their gift. He was sure sooner or later everyone would hear.

It was only twenty minutes later that Fred and George walked into the common room with Tonks in her auror uniform behind them.

‘Tonks, what’s going on?’ Harry asked.

‘Do you know this auror Harry?’ Katie asked.

‘Um, yeah, I do,’ Harry turned back to Tonks.

‘There’s been some deaths so the aurors are here investigating. There is an auror stationed at every house room to make sure no one leaves. The headmaster assigned me here since I am close to a few of you.’

‘Can you tell us who died?’ Lee asked.

‘No, not until Madam Bones is finished with the investigation.’

‘You said deaths, plural, so are you saying there was more than one death?’ Angelina asked.

Tonks rolled her eyes, ‘I’m not supposed to say so stop asking. I figured it would be the Ravenclaw’s would be the one asked. What is surprising is that none of you asked if it was...him.’

‘Death eaters have gotten into Hogwarts before, so it’s not unreasonable to believe they could have again. If it was Voldemort,’ Harry waited until the screams stopped, ‘he would let us know he was here.’

‘Yes, he would but right now he is still building up his numbers.’

‘Are you saying that he really is back?’ Seamus blurted out loudly.

‘Yes, he is. The minister might be burying his head in the sand but us aurors know the truth. We also found a few newly marked death eaters. I would say our dear minister will be out of a job very soon. Now, no more questions.’

Everyone decided to just wait but Harry and Ron moved over to Tonks.

‘We know you can’t say anything but please, tell us if it’s someone we are close too,’ Harry said in a whisper.

‘No, but you do know them. That’s all I’m saying.’

‘Okay,’ Harry blew out a big breathe, ‘Is...um, Snuffles okay?’

‘Bored silly but he has been sneaking out with Remus to see if they hear anything. Don’t worry though, he’s being careful. Between both their heightened senses, they can smell people before they see them.’

‘Alright, so you just have to stay in here to make sure none of us leave?’

‘Yes, the headmaster knows what you own Harry and he knows the twins. He wanted to make sure you were all safe.’

‘So the cloak, he’s worried Harry would go out investigating,’ Ron said.

‘Yes, which right now, it’s dangerous.’

‘Don’t worry, I’m not going to leave the tower. I’ve had enough danger, I really don’t want anymore. Well Ron, we might as well do what you like to do since I’ve finished all my homework.’

‘Great, and about time mate,’ Ron hurried over to the small table to set up his chess set.

‘I really hate chess but I promise to give him a game once I’ve done my work.’

‘I’m not really one for chess either. Where’s Hermione? I haven’t seen her.’

‘Well, I was told something and was ask to tell her. She was shocked. She ran back to the castle in tears. Ron and me were just entering the common room so we could talk to her when Dumbledore’s message was heard. She must be still up in her dorm room.’

‘I should check. I got a list from McGonagall.’

Harry nodded then went over to the table with Ron while Tonks began marking off the students who were in the common room.

‘Before we start, I want to quickly check the map,’ Harry whispered.

‘Yeah, it might tell us who died.’

‘I’ll see what it shows up.’

Harry hurried up to his dorm. He sat on his bed with the map but pulled the curtains around his bed. He went over the map carefully.

‘Hm, strange. Umbitch’s name is there but broken, so is Snape’s and Malfoy,’ Harry wondered if that meant the poison only made them sick or if it meant the poison did kill them. He knew that magic could help witches and wizards so he wasn’t sure if it was magic that kept them alive or the breaks in their name meant they were dead but still in the castle. He put the map away then hurried back down the stairs to join Ron. Harry saw the twins talking to Tonks at the base of the girls stairs.

‘Did you find anything?’ Ron asked in a whisper.

‘I didn’t go right over it but I saw Umbitch, Snape and Malfoy’s names that had breaks in the name and they weren’t moving like the names always do.’

‘Unless they were in their beds.’

‘Their names weren’t in their dorm room or private chambers. Snape and Umbitch was in their classrooms. Malfoy was in the corridor near Snape’s office.’

‘So they weren’t in bed. It has to mean they are the ones that died,’ Ron said.

‘Yeah, that’s what I believe.’

Harry and Ron began their game when Tonks stepped over to them.

‘What did you say to Hermione? She is here by the way and still crying.’

‘I woke late since I stayed up to finish my homework. I went to the kitchens to get something to eat. I was talking with Dobby when a very old elf come up to me. Dobby explained he was the head house elf.’

‘They would only approach a student if it was serious,’ Tonks said.

‘Yeah, well, the old elf asked me to speak with the dark witch that keeps trying to free them.’

‘Oh,’ Tonks sighed, ‘so many muggleborns had done that. Hermione decided to free them. Doesn’t she know that only the owners can free an elf?’

‘Yeah, she does but she also knows Harry was able to trick Malfoy into freeing Dobby. She’s been leaving knitted clothes all over the common room then covering them with rubbish.’

‘That would not work. Harry tricked the owner, not the house elves, which is what Hermione tried to do. She is not their owner.’

‘Yeah, Hagrid explained that even Dumbledore can’t. I tried to tell her once but she refuse to listen to me. We were coming to see how she was when we heard Dumbledore’s message,’ Harry said.

‘We’re not sure she would still listen to us if we explain more about Dobby and Malfoy. She might just get more determined to prove she’s right,’ Ron said.

‘Yeah, one of Hermione’s faults, when she believes she’s right, nothing will change her mind.’ Harry said.

‘Since I’m here for a while, I might go speak with her. My father did a lot of research into house elves when he found out about them. He did find out everything he could and that only owners can free them. What you did Harry is the only way that would work but most owners are careful what they hand a house elf. Do me a favour, make sure no one leaves while I speak with her.’

‘We will,’ Harry said.

Tonks returned only twenty minutes later. She explained that she finally got through to Hermione. She also explained that if she wanted to help, she would have to stop thinking of this world as part of the muggle world. Then if she could, work on a way to help the house elves have better lives. They don’t want to be free so it’s best to help them instead of trying to free them.

When it was close to lunch time, Dumbledore’s voice was heard. All students were to report to the great hall. They would have lunch before they would get an explanation.

‘Alright everyone, you heard the headmaster, time to get to the great hall. Could some of you girls and boys go make sure the students in their dorm rooms come down,’ Tonks called.

Ron was a prefect so he went up to check all the boys dorm room, but Harry helped. Hermione was already up there so the girls from the quidditch team went up to the girls dorms.

Tonks lead all the Gryffindor’s down to the great hall. Once they were seated, she joined her work colleagues.

Harry glanced around like many other students were doing. He had to act like the others so no one would get suspicious.

‘I can’t see Snape, Umbridge, Malfoy, Parkinson and some of the other Slytherin’s,’ Harry whispered.

‘If the map is right then it means Snape, Umbridge and Malfoy are the ones that died. You said you didn’t look properly.’

‘No, I didn’t, so it could mean the others. I don’t want to risk bringing the map out here.’

‘No, so we wait to hear,’ Ron said.

Harry began eating but he did turn to Hermione who seemed to be playing with her food instead of eating. He decided to just let her be and hopefully she would give up and maybe do what Tonks said. Help make sure the house elves had better lives and not be abused by their owners.

Right as everyone finished eating, Madam Bones stood in front of the staff table. She explained that Severus Snape, Dolores Umbridge, Draco Malfoy, Pansy Parkinson, Theodore Nott, Millicent Bulstrode, Blaize Zabini, Vincent Crabbe and Gregory Goyle had all died. They found poisoned chocolates in their rooms, except for Severus Snape. They still did not know how he died, yet. She explained that the aurors would stay at Hogwarts for the next week, at least. She then went on to explain that the minister for magic also died due to poison but so far, they had not found out why.

Dumbledore got up and explained that two aurors would be taking defence against the dark arts until he could find another full time teacher. A healer from St Mungo’s will be taking over potions. But he also announced that all classes were cancelled for the next few days so the aurors could continue to investigate. He told the students that they should use their time to study their books.

Even though many of the students and staff were wary that they could end up dead, nothing else happened. The rest of the year was danger free. But the students all felt that Hogwarts was a better place, they just never said that to one of the teachers or the Slytherin’s.

Harry and his friends sat their owls and even though they were hard and stressful, most of them believed they would pass. They just wouldn’t know their results until the summer holidays. Harry had watched Ron while taking their tests and he seemed to be staring at the page, yet Harry never saw Ron write anything. He wasn’t sure if Ron didn’t know the answers or he just didn’t want to do it. Harry knew Ron hated tests and made excuses before to get out of taking them. Harry had a feeling that Ron will not pass the required three owls which would mean he will have to repeat his fifth year. If he did fail his owls, he would lose the prefect badge. Also, he could not have wand rights until you did your owls. If he left or got expelled before his owls, he would not be allowed a wand. Harry knew he would just have to wait to hear from Ron after he received his owl results.

Harry was able to sneak past everyone on the platform and walk to Grimmauld place. He opened the door and heard voices coming from the back of the house.

Harry saw Sirius, Remus and Tonks, ‘Um, the Dursley’s didn’t turn up, I figured I would come here.’

‘Harry,’ Sirius jumped up and hugged his godson.

‘Why didn’t you send them your owl?’ Remus asked.

‘They would kill Hedwig if I did that, but they also won’t touch one. They might have gone away. When they do they usually leave me with old lady Figg. I didn’t have any muggle money so I couldn’t catch the train. I wasn’t going to take the night bus again, that thing is dangerous.’

‘Remus, can you go see why they didn’t turn up? I don’t want Harry to go there in case someone see’s him and it gets back to...him.’

‘I won’t be long. Tonks, maybe you can inform Albus.’

‘I’ll wait until you get back. They might just be late.’

‘Good idea.’

‘Is there anything to eat that hasn’t got a lot of sugar?’ Harry asked as he sat down.

‘The food on the Hogwarts express hasn’t changed I see,’ Sirius got Harry a sandwich and a butterbeer. ‘So if they go out, they don’t take you?’

‘Never. Oh, they did once, when Figg broke her leg. They had no choice but to take me. This was not long before I went to Hogwarts the first time. Dudley pushed me, I made the glass disappear in the zoo and release a boa constrictor. It was funny. Everyone screamed and ran but the snake didn’t do anything apart from thanking me then it said Brazil, here I come. That’s when I found out I can speak to snakes.’

‘That was dangerous. I don’t mean releasing the snake Harry, all kids will do accidental magic. But there would have been a lot of muggles there that could have seen it along with camera’s,’ Tonks said.

‘There were hundred’s at the zoo. There were about thirty close by at the time and I did get a few suspicious looks. But I also saw a few camera’s as I walked around.’

‘That is dangerous,’ Tonks said.

‘Did things like that happen a lot when you were out in the muggle world?’ Sirius asked.

‘All the time. Petunia slapped me once while we were in the supermarket, everything on the shelves flew off. She knew I did it, I didn’t. She just hurried me out and back to the house. A few times strangers bowed to me but nothing else happened.’

‘Strangers saw you and knew who you were,’ Sirius said urgently.

‘That was more that dangerous. Any one of them could have been a death eater. We were told you would be safe. The trouble is, you can’t ward everywhere, just the house and grounds,’ Tonks said.

‘It happened again when Petunia sent me to the shops and again when I was walking back to the house from school. One time when the Dursley’s made me stay out while they had visitors, this weird man bowed and said hello, he knew my name. I didn’t know it then but he was wearing robes.’

‘Damn,’ Sirius said, ‘You were never safe.’

‘No, he wasn’t. But Harry, you said house, twice, not home, why?’ Tonks asked.

‘I don’t think of that place as home or them family. They even told me it’s not my home and they weren’t my family. I think I was about five or six when I realise it wasn’t my home, I just had to stay there until I was older. I know they’re scared of what I will do to them once I turn seventeen, only because I did threaten to curse them once I was allowed to use magic out of Hogwarts. I said I would turn them into pigs. Anyway, I need the bathroom.’

‘For now, take your things up to the room you used before. I have a feeling you’ll be staying here for now,’ Sirius said.

Harry nodded but he did let Hedwig out of her cage before he began to drag his trunk out of the kitchen. Sirius quickly cast a feather light charm on the trunk making Harry smile.

‘Albus said that as long as Harry called that place home, he would be safe. Going on what he said and when, he hasn’t been safe for years. Now he’s in more danger since he’s back,’ Tonks said.

‘Which is why I’m going to make sure Harry stays here. It’s under the fidelius charm so no one can get in without permission from Albus.’

‘We all said that before, now we have proof Harry wasn’t safe there.’

‘It’s not good,’ Remus said as he walked into the kitchen.

‘What’s going on?’ Tonks asked.

‘The Dursley’s died during the last summer holidays. I went to check on Arabella, she also died, but was hit by a car. The Dursley’s are dead but I couldn’t find out why they died.’

‘Please tell me Harry didn’t do it?’ Sirius asked.

‘From what I found out, no, he didn’t. It happened after he left to come here. If Harry had done it, they would have died straight away. This happened two weeks after he left.’

‘Oh thank merlin. After what Harry told us, we know he hated them.’ Sirius said.

‘From the few neighbours I was able to speak with, some said they suffocated, while another said they were shot. I’ll try to find out how but it’s not like it involves any of us since we know when they died. No one magical was involved. Where is Harry?’

‘I told him to take his stuff up to the room he used before.’

‘I better let Albus know,’ Tonks said then hurried from the house.

‘Did you tell Harry about who else died?’

‘No, I will later. Tonks did say they were still investigating. There were twenty at the house that all died but they haven’t found out how. What about him, did he die or was he somewhere else?’

‘We haven’t heard anything, so far. Tonks will keep us updated.’

Remus and Sirius heard footsteps, Harry walked into the kitchen a minute later.

‘Did you find out why they didn’t turn up?’ Harry asked as he sat down.

‘Two weeks after you arrived here, they died. I wasn’t able to find out how, I just heard a few different rumours.’

Remus and Sirius noticed instantly that Harry didn’t seem to care that the Dursley’s died.

‘There’s more though Harry,’ Sirius said, ‘It wasn’t only Snape, Umbridge and the others that died. The aurors found out that the wards surrounding Malfoy manor were gone, so they stormed the place. Every death eater there was dead, which included Lucius and Narcissa. The aurors found out that many of the ones there had recently been in Azkaban. No one found out that he broke them out.’

‘Was he there?’

‘There was no person that looked like him, but they are still investigating,’ Remus said.

‘Well, he was remade using those ingredients and one ingredient was bone of the father but dust rose from the ground where his grave was. Maybe he turned back into dust, if he died. He probably ran and he’s hiding somewhere.’

‘Hopefully we will hear something soon. Now, Tonks explained about Hermione and the house elves.’

‘We tried to tell her she was wrong, mainly about tricking them. But I also told her she wasn’t the owner so that wouldn’t work. She didn’t believe us. When Hermione thinks she’s right about something, no one can change her mind. Anyway, Tonks was able to get through to her. The house elves called her a dark witch. I know Ron wanted to laugh when he heard that but he knew it was serious. Anyway, I never saw Kreacher?’

‘I had Mad-eye deal with him. That elf was dark, he was just too dangerous to be left alive. Once he was gone, I got rid of the elf heads and the troll leg umbrella stand. Now I just have to work out how to get mother’s portrait off the wall.’

‘Well, you’ve all tried magic, why not try a muggle method?’

‘How could a muggle thing work?’ Sirius asked.

‘Well, you could take the wall down without using magic. If she still doesn’t come off the wall, it won’t matter because she’s still stuck to the wall but the wall is gone from the house.’

‘Damn pup, that’s a good idea. I might try that tomorrow.’

‘Um, it’s the holidays, I hope I don’t have to stay inside for the entire time.’

‘We might be able to work something out Harry. Maybe me and Tonks can take you places in the muggle world.’ Remus said.

‘Sirius could if we changed his looks using muggle methods. If an auror or someone tried to use magic to change him back, it wouldn’t work.’

‘Explain these methods,’ Sirius said.

‘Well, dying your hair with muggle hair dye. You can’t cancel it, it has to grow out. You can also get hair dye in a rinse that washes out after a few times. Then you can get rid of the goatee. Also, contact lenses, that’s something I want but you can get them in different colours. You have silver grey eyes Sirius, these could give you green, blue or brown. You can even get lenses to make you have red eyes or cats eyes. You could also just wear glasses which would help as well. Also, your hair is passed your shoulders, get a hair cut but something more stylish that would look normal in the muggle world. Same with clothes, jeans and a t-shirt with muggle things on the shirt.’

Harry actually laughed at the surprised looks on Sirius and Remus’ faces.

‘What did you say to them to make them look like that?’ Tonks asked.

‘I just explained how Sirius could easily hide using muggle things, like hair dye and contact lenses or even glasses.’

‘Why didn’t I think of that. Dad wears contacts. I think glasses would be better. It would hide his face a bit and it’s known he doesn’t wear them,’ Tonks said, ‘Anyway, Dumbledore said you can stay here since it is safe.’

‘Great, but they explained about the deaths at Malfoy manor. I said he might have turned to dust if he was there. He used bone of the father which was basically dust that rose out of the ground.’

‘I’ll mention that to my boss when I go in later to work and see if any type of dust was found, a pile not normal dust. Do you remember what his wand looked like?’

‘It was white and the handle looked like it was made from bone. Ollivander told me it was thirteen inches, yew with a phoenix feather core.’

‘Why would Ollivander tell you about another person’s wand?’ Tonks asked.

‘Because I have the brother to his wand,’ Harry pulled out the wand, ‘Fawkes only ever gave two feathers, they went into ours.’

‘When Harry fought him in the graveyard, their spells met. Harry was able to make his wand show the last spells, in reverse order.’ Sirius explained.

‘Damn, that’s rare. No one ever see’s that because it like a thousand to one chance of it happening.’

‘Mum and dad saved me that night because of our wands,’ Harry stared down at his wand before he put it back in his pocket. He didn’t notice that Remus and Tonks were standing in shock. Sirius began to explain what Harry meant. Remus realised that another miracle happened and Tonks just stood there in shock. She had heard about wands connecting but again, it was rare since animals give hundreds of feathers or other items to use in wands. Now she just heard how this rare connection created another miracle and helped save Harry again.

The following morning, Sirius transfigured his clothes into muggle jeans and a t-shirt. Harry suggested having something like star wars on the t-shirt since they was really popular in the muggle world. He had shaved off his goatee as well. He found an old pair of glasses that had belonged to his father. He removed the lenses, conjured some clear ones then transfigured them to make them more modern. Once Sirius was dressed like a muggle, Harry and Sirius did sneak out.

Harry had shown Sirius some muggle reading glasses that would help hide his face. He also got some sunglasses. Even though he found his fathers old glasses, he got some of the readers that he liked the look of. Once that was done, Sirius had his hair cut and styled. Sirius helped Harry get an appointment by confunding the people at the optometrist. Harry wanted to get contact lenses but also some nice new modern glasses. Sirius made sure that they knew Harry would be coming in alone. He might be with his godson or Remus might be but in case they were busy, at least Harry could sneak out and get his eyes checked.

Sirius helped Harry shop for clothes. He wanted to finally get rid of Dudley’s old clothes. But he figured since he could afford it, he would get a lot, including shoes and boots. Sirius bought a lot of muggle clothes as well.

When they returned to the house after having lunch, Sirius kept the glasses on. He figured if anyone was there, they would see how different he really looked.

It was Tonks who stood with her mouth hanging open as she stared at Sirius.

‘I would not have recognised you but I know only order members can get in. Also, you spoke about disguises,’ Remus said.

‘We even did a quick trip into the Leaky Cauldron, no one glanced at me.’

‘Now that Fudge and Malfoy are gone, whoever becomes minister might listen about you,’ Tonks said.

‘You could talk to your boss, let her know the story,’ Harry shrugged, ‘I’d show my memory of Peter in the shrieking shack and graveyard if she wanted to see it.’

‘I’ll talk to her with Kingsley. He’s a senior auror. I might get Mad-eye to come with us. Amelia respects Mad-eye,’ Tonks said, ‘Anyway, good news, they believe he was there and died. They found the wand along with some robes and a pile of dust. They had a muggleborn healer who knows a lot of muggle chemistry and biology. Anyway, the dust was human bone dust. It seems whatever killed them, killed him as well.’

Harry, Sirius and Remus all hugged Tonks making her laugh. The four of them ended up shouting and dancing around the kitchen. The war was basically over before it started. Harry knew he would never tell anyone what he did but he couldn’t help feeling happy. He wanted to get rid of some bad people and ended up killing Voldemort at the same time, something he didn’t expect.

Tonks spoke with her boss, Amelia explained who the interim minister was, but everyone was hoping he would become the minister for magic. Amelia spoke with the minister about Sirius, so they set up a meeting so they could see some memories, which would prove Sirius was innocent.

It was a formality. Once Harry, Remus, Hermione and Ron showed their memories of what happened in the shrieking shack, the new minister for magic, Gawain Robards instantly declared Sirius cleared of all charges. He said he would also make sure Sirius was compensated from ministry vaults.

Sirius with Harry went house hunting. Sirius said the order can use Grimmauld place but they would have their own home, along with Remus who would be there except on the wolf nights. He doubted the order would be needed anymore, not now that Voldemort and his death eaters were dead.

The first day in their home, Harry got his owl results, ‘I did better than I thought. Only failed history of magic and divination. Got O in every other subject, even potions. I did study it alone even if Snape made it impossible to actually make them. I didn’t have him testing me so he couldn’t give me a T.’

‘Did he always do that or just occasionally?’

‘Always, even when my potion was okay. Hermione always made perfect potions yet he always gave her an A. Some of the Slytherin’s made sludge but he gave them an E or O. I hope the old man gets better teachers even if he hasn’t got a good track record.’

‘Binns needs to go, divination should only be taught if someone is tested for the sight. You can’t learn that type of skill, you’re born with it. As for potions, there are a lot of good potion makers and masters out there. I’m sure one will want the job. Well, at least now you can drop things like divination and potions if you want.’ Sirius said.

‘If I knew who was teaching and they wouldn’t be bias, I might continue potions but drop history of magic. It’s better to learn yourself from books. So I’ll have to send off my selection before I know what books to buy.’

‘Think about it over the next day or so. But you said you would like to be a doctor, why not change to healing and take the healing class that Poppy does for all sixth and seventh years? Even if you end up still preferring muggle healing, this could help.’

‘I never knew Hogwarts offered healing.’

‘There are about a dozen more subjects you can do after your owls. If you want to do curse breaking, you can do the course which will get you started. There’s also wand making, it’s basic to start, mainly to see if it’s something a student likes doing but also to see if they have any talent for the subject,’ Remus said.

‘Will those extra subjects be on my list when I get it?’

‘Yes, then you just tick the ones you want but you do have to have the right owl grade to make it into those classes. McGonagall will be getting the owl results today as well so she will start sending out the letters from tomorrow. She will need time for you to respond then work on the schedules.’

‘Then I’ll wait until I get my letter before deciding if I’ll take healing or work on my muggle education. That’s one good thing about the muggle world, you could be sixty and still learn and become a doctor.’

‘Many muggleborns have asked why we don’t have universities. They finally understand that there just isn’t enough of us that would warrant having one. You learn the first parts at Hogwarts, then if you have the right newt scores, you will get work where you learn as you earn,’ Sirius said.

‘It works. So I just have to wait until my list comes out. Um, I’m not sure Ron passed his owls but I haven’t heard from him.’

‘Why would you think he didn’t pass?’

‘He never finished any homework he was given, some he just didn’t do. He’s used excuses to get out of tests twice before. But during our owls, I glanced over at him a few times and he was just sitting there, staring at the exam papers. He was ahead of me and a few seats over and I couldn’t see anything written on the parchment and I didn’t see him he writing anything. I did ask him how his practical went, he just said he made a few mistakes but didn’t seem all that concerned. I don’t know, I just have a feeling he won’t pass.’

‘You will find out once your back at Hogwarts. Let’s forget it now. We have another month, how about we go away for a while?’

Harry couldn’t stop grinning. This would be his first real holiday and he was going to enjoy it, no matter where it was.

Harry did get his letter from Hogwarts the following day, before they were due to go away. He made his selection and made sure he didn’t mark things like divination or history of magic. He also didn’t mark care of magical creatures. He figured the classes would be more difficult so he would need the extra time for studying. Sirius said they could buy everything they needed as soon as they returned, which would be a week before Harry was due to go back to Hogwarts.

When Sirius, Remus and Harry arrived home from their holiday, they were exhausted but extremely happy and relaxed. They had a few days before Harry returned to Hogwarts.

Sirius decided to check the mail before he would work on dinner. He placed any letters for Harry and Remus in two separate piles. They came back down just as Sirius began to work on dinner. Both grabbed their pile of letters and began to read.

‘Sirius, I won’t be returning to Hogwarts. I will need to see about enrolling in muggle school to get my education up to scratch.’

‘What, but why? You said you would try the healing class.’

Harry held out the letter to his godfather who read it along with Remus.

‘I would bet my vault this is Albus’ work. Let me write to Minerva. Once she tells Albus you will not be returning as I have given you permission to return to your muggle education since you wish to be a doctor, this,’ Sirius held up the letter, ‘will change.’

‘I still don’t know if I want to put up with him since he’s interfering in my life again.’

‘Let me write to Minerva, I’ll work something out with her. But you will have an emergency portkey on you so all you will need to do is get to the cellar at Honeydukes to activate it or deep inside the forbidden forest. If he begins anything, you sneak out that night using the cloak and map.’

‘Alright, but I will be quitting the quidditch team. I am the longest serving member, the captaincy should be mine. All the others told me I will be captain.’

‘I don’t blame you. It doesn’t mean you can’t fly when you want to.’

‘Yeah, that’s why it doesn’t worry me if I play or not. Okay, write but I’m not sure it will help.’

‘I’ll do it after we eat.’

It only took Minerva showing Albus the letter from Sirius for him to change his mind. Minerva was to work on the schedule Harry wanted and give him the captains badge. Albus had only offered it to Ron as it might keep the two boys close since Ron will be doing his fifth year again and Harry doing his sixth. Minerva then told Albus he would have to inform Molly and Ron that you made a mistake.’

‘You see pup, there is no way they would let you leave but they also know they can’t stop you, not now you have your owls. I just can’t figure out the quidditch captain bit though.’

‘I think I know what that is about,’ Remus said, ‘Ron is repeating so he will not be sharing classes or a dorm with Harry anymore. The one thing they could share is quidditch. With the way Ron played last year, he may not have made the team. Harry might have found someone a lot better to play keeper. If Ron was captain, then it would mean Ron and Harry would spend games, training and the after game parties together.’

‘Actually, I don’t usually join in with the parties. I’m usually tired after the game and I was usually stressed wondering what was going to happen this time.’

‘So you would only get to spend time with Ron during training and the game. He would want to spend time in the common room, but Harry will have a lot harder classes than Ron so they won’t be able to just play chess every evening.’

‘I wasn’t planning on playing any evening. I know what I want to do and I know I’ll have to study. Besides, I don’t really like chess,’ Harry turned to Remus, ‘I think you’re right. I will pick the best player even if that means Ron ends up pissed. If he was captain, then he automatically becomes keeper. If he can save some of the early ones, it does help but towards the end of the game, he seems to lose focus and misses everything, then blames everyone else. He hates anything physical so by the time we’re halfway through a game, he’s already tired. I never wanted to say it, but he would suit being a reserve. The trouble is, there was only McGlaggen who could play keeper and he ended up giving me a cracked skull. He’s gone now, thank merlin but I’m sure one of the younger ones will have some talent in keeper.’

‘You’ll find out. So let’s go shopping.’

On the first of September Harry met Neville and Hermione on the Hogwarts express. After some talk about their holidays, Hermione explained that Ron lost his prefect badge since he failed his owls. Colin Creevey was now the fifth year prefect and Dean took Ron’s place.

‘How could he fail his owls?’ Hermione asked in a huff.

‘You remember how he made it seem like he was sick during our second year and fourth year tests. Well, I watched him a few times during our owls, he never wrote a thing and just seemed to stare at the sheet. I don’t think he was reading it, just staring at it.’

‘He will have to return or he will lose his wand rights,’ Neville said, ‘at least until he’s seventeen.’

‘True but he also won’t get to do the apparition classes until he is seventeen if he decides not to return.’ Hermione said.

‘I’m not sure what he will do but I want to explain something which could mean he doesn’t return,’ Harry said then explained about his first letter, about his classes, then about the Gryffindor captain. After Sirius wrote to McGonagall, he explained he got the classes he wanted and ended up as the captain.

‘So you think he might have been offered the badge over you and you’ve been on the team the longest?’ Neville asked.

‘Yes, Remus believes it was offered to him so it will keep us spending time together. When I said I would not be returning but if I did I wouldn’t play, everything changed very quickly. Now we have two minutes before the train leaves. Even for the Weasley’s, that’s cutting it too close.’ Harry said.

‘I have to do the first patrol so I’ll see if Ginny is here.’

‘Didn’t she get prefect?’ Neville asked.

‘No, it was Miranda. She’s the quiet one but she’s very smart and everyone seems to like her.’

Neville and Harry continued to talk when Hermione went to patrol the train with dean. When Hermione returned she explained that Ginny was there but she couldn’t get a chance to speak with her about Ron, who wasn’t on the train.

‘He won’t be allowed a wand if he doesn’t return,’ Neville said.

‘Hang on,’ Harry said, ‘He used Charlie’s wand or Bill’s wand, I can’t remember which, that was our first year. He didn’t get his own until his wand was broken when we flew to Hogwarts before our second year, so before third year, he got a new wand. A lot of families kept their wands. I remember Ginny had to use one that belonged to her great aunt. She got one new one in the middle of the year because the wand she used kept setting things on fire.’

‘So if Ron doesn’t turn up, he could still be using magic because of a families wand. That’s not right,’ Hermione huffed.

Harry wasn’t going to say anything but he was going to write to Madam Bones and let her know Ron might have an old family wand as he had used one before.

Hermione, Harry and Neville sat in their usual seats at the Gryffindor table. Within minutes, many of the younger years asked when Harry might call tryouts. He couldn’t help laughing, then said probably in two weeks. He wanted to settle in with his classes before thinking of quidditch.

Harry did hear Dennis telling Colin that he hoped he was good enough to get picked. Harry kept listening to the two boys until he finally heard that Dennis was hoping to be keeper. He didn’t try the year before because he believed Ron would have gotten on the team being best friend of Harry’s. He hoped that many of the Gryffindor’s tried out. He knew Ginny would try out and she was good, she was also a Weasley. He just hoped she really was over her crush.

Harry sent Hedwig off with his letter to Madam Bones before he had a shower. Then he climbed into bed, ready for a big year of studying.

Over the first week, everyone apart from a few Slytherin’s, smiled when they finished their potions class. Their new teacher, Andromeda Tonks had taken over as the potions teacher. She went into details, she explained everything and walked around always offering help. Harry got an O in his first potion, which told everyone in that classroom that it was always Snape.

It was during this week that Amelia Bones and Mafalda Hopkirk did some investigating. They discovered Ron Weasley was using a wand when his mother gave him lessons. Amelia had two aurors arrive to arrest both Ron and Molly. She knew the law, Ron was underage and didn’t pass his owls. She was not allowed to teach him or let him use magic. She would end up being released but she would get a big fine. Ron would be given the choice, do thirty days in a holding cell with one meal a day and he would have to work off his fine, which could mean at St Mungo’s. His other choice was that he returns to Hogwarts to get his owls. If he fails again, that will be the only chance he will have to ever be allowed to own a wand.

Ron ended up returning to Hogwarts. The first night, he tried to stay in the dorm room with Harry, Neville, Dean and Seamus. All of them told him to leave as they were doing their school work. Finally, Dean had to use his prefect status to force Ron back to his dorm room. Harry ended up sealing the door but he left a note saying everyone will have to knock.

When Harry called tryouts, Ron didn’t make the team. Dennis ended up keeper. Ginny did get a spot as chaser. Ron threatened his sister until Seamus, who was now Ginny’s boyfriend pushed Ron aside. Dean had seen it all and went to McGonagall.

‘So he was here for a week and already might get expelled.’ Hermione said.

‘Yeah, also, he hasn’t done any of his work, again. The Weasley family had to pay a big fine when they found out Mrs Weasley was teaching Ron at home, with a wand that belonged to her aunt. If he gets expelled and they do it again, it could be really bad for them,’ Harry said.

‘From what Colin said, he doesn’t do anything in class,’ Neville said.

‘I can’t see him lasting. If he can’t use a wand and the Weasley’s make sure he can’t, what will he do?’ Hermione asked.

‘He will end up having to get a job cleaning, it could be in places like the Leaky Cauldron, cleaning rooms, or St Mungo’s. It’s happened before and they usually end up in jobs like that, unless they know the muggle world.’ Neville said.

‘Or like with Hagrid, Dumbledore gave him a job as game’s keeper,’ Harry said.

‘Ron is hopeless when it comes to anything from the muggle world and he refuse to learn,’ Hermione said.

‘Let’s forget about him. We have our own work to do,’ Harry said.

Ron lasted only a month before he ended up expelled. His wand was snapped so that was more money the Weasley’s had wasted. Harry never said anything but he felt relieved when Ron left. He kept trying to go into Harry’s dorm room, he always sat with him and talked even when Harry was doing work. Harry begun to cast silencing charms around him so he couldn’t hear anything. He kept turning up to quidditch practice to give Dennis a hard time. Harry spoke to Dennis and told him he was good and a bit more training, he would be as good as Oliver Wood who was one of the best keepers Hogwarts ever had. He might have been obsessed but Oliver was a brilliant keeper and Harry told Dennis he could be as well.

Only once after Ron was expelled did the headmaster send for Harry. He had his head of house go with him, which Albus did not like. He tried to talk Harry into switching classes and go back to divination.

Harry turned to his head of house, ‘Professor, if this occurs again, I will be leaving Hogwarts and probably the country. Sirius has already given me permission since he knows what I want to do when I finish.’

‘Very well Mr Potter, but I will guarantee that this will not happen again. You may return to Gryffindor tower.’

Harry glared at the headmaster before leaving the office. He told his friends and Hermione why the headmaster wanted to see him.

‘That class would do you know good and take time away from the studies you need,’ Hermione said, ‘That does not make sense.’

‘No, so I informed McGonagall that if this happens again, I will be leaving Hogwarts and the country. I realised I would like to try to be a healer, which means learning at a magical school. If I have to leave Hogwarts, it means going to another school overseas. Being a doctor was the one thing I always wanted, so healer would suit me but I won’t put up with him interfering in my education or life. Anyway, let’s just get our work done.’

The twins sent Harry a letter explaining that Ron and their mother wanted Ron to work for them. The twins said no because Ron was hopeless at potions and he won’t bother learning. Their products were all potion based. When their mother went off, the twins also explained that they would have to get approval from Harry since he was a partner in the shop. Harry also knew how hopeless Ron was at potions. Harry said himself that he would never be able to work there since he was only adequate at potions. Ron and Molly stormed out of the shop. Harry knew that Ron would see now that finding work was going to be difficult. He wasn’t allowed a wand and he really had no skills. He could not count on any of his family because they all used magic in their jobs.

Harry loved his classes on healing so much so that he volunteered in the hospital when he had some free time. He made sure to always do his work but after that and after quidditch, he was always in the hospital.

Harry also continued to get good marks in potions, where many of the Slytherin’s were failing. Everyone knew that the only reason the Slytherin’s passed before was because of Snape. Now they had a fair teacher who did not allow them to get away with anything, especially not earning marks they did not deserve.

The Gryffindor team went on to win the quidditch cup, with Dennis saving every goal. Ravenclaw went down as the team that did not score one point during a game, where Gryffindor ended up with over three hundred points. Harry accepted the quidditch cup, shared it around with his team before handing it to his head of house so she could display it in her office.

Harry, Hermione, Dean, Seamus, Neville, Lavender and Parvati all smiled at the end of their tests. They had all passed, some better than others. Harry and Hermione received O’s in every subject they took. They had one more year at Hogwarts before they would begin working.

It became known that Harry wanted to be a healer and when people found out his scores, they realised just how good he was. There was more to the-boy-who-lived than they knew and they were now seeing it.

Albus didn’t know what to do, when he sent for Harry, Minerva was always with him. Harry refused to see him without his head of house or Sirius. Albus wanted Harry to understand that since he didn’t kill Voldemort, he would return. The prophecy stated that only Harry could kill Voldemort. He decided to write a letter and send it to Harry during the holidays and hoped the young man contacted him. He would be using his time to try to find out where the spirit of Voldemort was hiding.

Right after Harry left Hogwarts with his friends for the summer holidays, he received many letters from healers, asking if what they heard was true, that he wanted to be a healer. Harry wrote and said yes, but he had not decided if he would learn and work in this country or go overseas. He still had some research to do before he decided.

Harry did read the headmaster’s letter, showed it to Sirius and both were of the same opinion. Albus Dumbledore seems to be the type of person that could only live with some type of conflict and was determined Harry would be joining him.

Harry took the letter and threw it in the fireplace. Sirius set the letter on fire.

‘He’ll realise you don’t believe him when he doesn’t get a response from you. You only have one more year at Hogwarts so make sure you do what you did before, have McGonagall with you and keep your portkey on you at all times.’

‘I will but if he is going to try anything, it would have to be this year since I’ll be leaving. Let’s hope he doesn’t try anything.’

‘I doubt he would go to far. If he does try to take you somewhere, I just worry that it would be warded where you can’t get out.’

‘Doesn’t portkeys allow you to leave a warded place, just not enter using a portkey? That’s how I was taken from the third task. I was on the Hogwarts grounds yet the portkey worked.’

‘You’re probably right. I haven’t studied a lot about portkeys. I’m trying to study again, when I can but it’s been mainly spells that I will need. I might read a couple of the books on portkeys and wards. If you are right, then even if you were kidnapped, the portkey should bring you here.’

‘I think we should both research this, just to make sure. I don’t trust the man but I doubt he would go as far as kidnapping me. He would end up spending the rest of his life in Azkaban.’

‘Yes, he would and I would make sure he did.’

Harry, Sirius and Remus went away again for these holidays. They knew after Harry finished Hogwarts, he wouldn’t get as much time to do that. Learning to be a healer would take years. Most students took a month off after finishing Hogwarts, if Harry did that, then they could go away again, before he began to learn everything he needed to become a healer.

It was during these holidays, which they spent in the Caribbean that Harry lost his virginity. Since he had been living with Sirius, eating properly and no one was trying to kill him, Harry had begun to gain a bit of weight and looked healthy. He had an all over tan so that along with his brilliant green eyes, seems to attract woman. Sirius only found out after they returned home. He had tried to tease Harry about it but all Harry did was grin. He never once let his godfather get to him.

The first morning after their holiday in the Caribbean, the three men sat down to breakfast. They just began eating when the Daily Prophet arrived. Remus always read it first. He would tell the other two anything that was important, otherwise they would read it after him.

‘Holy mother of merlin,’ Remus said staring down at the front page.

‘What is it?’ Sirius asked instantly moving so he could see what Remus had read, ‘Holy shit.’

‘Sirius,’ Harry growled, ‘What is going on?’

‘Dumbledore found dead in a graveyard in Little Hangleton,’ Remus said.

‘That’s the graveyard I was taken to at the end of the tournament. We know it’s not Voldemort, so who killed him?’

‘No one, it seems his heart gave out. Healers believe it was just old age along with all the stress he had that caused it,’ Sirius said still reading the front page of the paper.

‘He was old and he was more stressed when Voldy returned. I suppose all that could easily kill someone, especially someone his age,’ Harry said.

‘Even though he will be missed, he was a great man. He just made too many mistakes, especially in regards to you,’ Sirius said.

‘And you Sirius. He spoke up for Snape who was a death eater yet he didn’t even try to get you a trial,’ Remus said, ‘I think he wanted to make sure Harry didn’t have anyone that would put that person first and not him. It was that damn prophecy and he was determined that he could lead Harry to fulfill it.’

‘But I didn’t, somehow he died but I wasn’t involved. Also, think of this. Maybe the prophecy was fulfilled that night in Godric’s hollow, yet since he came back, the old man believed it was still active. I mean I did vanquish him and I got the scar, so I did what the prophecy said.’

‘I believe Harry is right. He fulfilled it which allowed others to kill him. Someone did, by poisoning him,’ Sirius said.

‘Let’s forget about him and the prophecy, both are done and no longer part of my life. Oh, I’ve decided to take Healer Cuthbert up on his offer to be his apprentice.’

‘We always said it would be your choice,’ Sirius said.

‘Why him over the others?’

‘His experience was the main one. He studied all aspects of healing so he can go from healing simple accidents, to helping woman give birth, to helping people like the Longbottom’s. That’s what I want to do, to learn it all so I can help a wider rang of people.’

Sirius and Remus couldn’t help smiling at Harry. Even with his hard and sad life, not to mention the danger, he still had a good heart. He wanted to help so he was going to learn all he could so he could continue to help. Sirius and Remus knew James and Lily would be very proud of the man their son was becoming.

Harry knew he might have killed but he only killed those that was going to destroy the wizarding world but also people that would kill innocent people. Even though he knew in his heart that he did the right thing, he did hope his parents weren’t disappointed in him.

Harry wouldn’t find out that his parents were very proud of him, not until he died, of very old age.

The end: