In which our boys finally talk (kind of) face to face
Harry turned the small item he was holding over in his hands. This morning he had been visited by an unfamiliar owl, which had dropped off a small package and another brief note from Sirius. After taking a few sips of water and glancing at Hedwig inquisitively - which she had pointedly ignored - the black owl had flown off without waiting for any response. When Harry had unrolled the small scrap of parchment, it had been completely blank, but with a quick tap and the now-expected passphrase, a short message had become visible in Sirius' handwriting.
2:00 pm, hold the larger item and say my full name.
There was no additional explanation for the mirror and jewelry box that accompanied the note, both carefully wrapped in brown paper. All these hidden messages and secret instructions from Sirius were starting to make Harry feel a bit like a spy. Although he supposed it was the most excitement he was likely to get while still stuck at the Dursleys. If what Sirius said in his last letter was true, and his friends would be limiting their communication until they returned to school, then he wasn't likely to get much relief from the monotony of Privet Drive and the muggles that inhabited it. His aunt and uncle had been their usual selves this summer - meaning they were perfectly horrid people who glared at Harry whenever he dared to breathe near them. It was only a few days into summer break, but Harry was already too exhausted from sleeping poorly to deal with Vernon in a temper and Petunia in one of her snits. Harry was doing his absolute most to avoid the pair of them and his cousin. Harry thought of Sirius' promises to get him away from the Dursely's almost constantly but was also desperately trying to keep himself from getting his hopes up.
Sirius had made that promise before, after all.
And although Harry didn't blame his godfather for the debacle that was that night at the end of his third year, he did remind himself that Sirius getting his name cleared wasn't a sure thing, just like getting Pettigrew up to the castle wasn't a sure thing a little over a year ago.
Still, at least Sirius was trying. And was keeping in frequent contact with him, apparently. The last letter from Sirius was only two days ago, and Harry hadn't even had a chance to respond yet before this new one was delivered. Harry had wanted to give Hedwig a break from the back-and-forth flying, and then yesterday, Petunia had given Harry a mile-long to-do list.
While Harry certainly appreciated the frequent notes and understood the need for secrecy, today's letter was particularly confusing. He's not sure what the handheld mirror and a delicate necklace he found within the jewelry box were meant for or what would happen in a few minutes, but he wished Sirius had included just a bit more of an explanation. He supposed it didn't matter now. The time was steadily inching closer to 2:00 in the afternoon. Hopefully, Sirius' motives would become more apparent then.
Settling back on this bed, Harry held the mirror in his right hand, with his left wrist twisted so he could keep an eye on his watch. As soon as he saw the second hand pass the 12, making it 2:00 on the dot, Harry turned to the mirror and stated - "Sirius Black." And then very nearly dropped the mirror when his reflection (awkwardly angled up from where his hand was near his waist) shimmered briefly and was replaced with the image of his grinning godfather.
"Harry," Sirius said cheerfully, "it's so good to see you!" Sirius looked a bit different than he remembered from the last time he had seen him. His hair was neat and shiny (nothing like the crazed photos from when he was still imprisoned), and although he couldn't see much below his shoulders, it looked like Sirius was wearing clean and expensive-looking robes.
"Sirius? Is it really you? This isn't like a recording...or a pensieve memory?" Harry questioned.
"No, it's really me! Your father and I purchased these mirrors back when we were in school. They weren't cheap to buy, but by our fifth year, the professors had wised up and would always split us for detentions. This way, we could still talk even when we so unjustly separated." Sirius explained while laughing, "All you have to do is say my name, and it'll connect to my mirror. If I want to talk to you, I'll do the same, and on your end, the mirror will vibrate a bit, and you'll just say my name back for the charm to take effect. I found them in my old things when I went into Gringotts yesterday, and I thought they'd be perfect for keeping in touch this summer. It'll give Hades and Hedwig a break anyway and be much faster."
"Hades?" Harry asked, "Is that the black owl that dropped off your letter earlier? I didn't know you had an owl of your own."
"He was a recent purchase," Sirius clarified, "I've got a feeling I'll be sending a lot of letters this summer and didn't want to deal with the hassle of always having to go out to use the public post-owls."
"Now, I've got a lot to explain and catch you up on! First, you probably noticed the necklace that was delivered along with the mirror."
At Sirius's words, Harry leaned over and grabbed the jewelry box to open it. "Your dad bought it for your mum. It was meant to be a gift after you were born, but things had gotten so hectic that he forgot all about it. Luckily he had asked me to hold on to it so she wouldn't find it accidentally, and I thought you'd like to have it." As Sirius continued, Harry looked down at the beautiful necklace within the box.
When he first received it this morning, Harry could guess where the item had come from; the symbolism was quite evident. In delicate silver, a small lily bloomed. At its center was a red stone that Harry guessed was a ruby. Golden antlers were curled around the lily, sheltering the flower and gem. The necklace had clearly been charmed as the lily floated within its protection, seemingly not attached to either the antlers or the chain. Harry knew he was getting a bit fanciful but now that he knew his father had purchased this after the war had truly picked up steam, and his muggle-born mother would have been in immense danger, he thought his father had meant to convey both the protection he wanted to offer his mum, while also signifying that although he wanted her safe, she was still free. The silver lily wasn't locked within the antlers, after all. It hovered there as if by choice, shielded within the antlers. Harry ruefully thought that he shouldn't give so much meaning to a gesture from someone he didn't know. Still, he rather liked the idea of his father being the type to offer protection but not to the point of the domineering concern that Harry himself knew he'd find suffocating in his mother's place.
Glancing back up at the mirror to meet Sirius's eyes, he realized the older man had been waiting patiently for a few minutes as Harry looked over the necklace. "Thank you, Sirius," Harry said softly, "I love it." Harry gently removed the chain from the box and carefully clasped it around his neck before tucking the pendant under his oversized t-shirt. Harry noticed absently that the symbol of his parents seemed to rest almost exactly over the spot where that bit of magic Sirius had called the Black family magic also resided.
"Bit of a dual-purpose gift, if I'm honest." Now that Harry was focused back on his godfather, Sirius continued speaking. "I've had the necklace turned into a portkey. If you need to make a quick exit from a dangerous situation, you only need to say the passphrase, and it'll take you somewhere safe. Somewhere only I know about - it's a secret Black family property that apparently knowledge about was restricted to only the Lords and Heirs. I checked out the house this morning, and it's in surprisingly good shape for having been abandoned for years. I placed a few wards that will alert me if you go there, so if you ever have to use the portkey, I'll be notified and get there as soon as possible to help. I've got my own portkey to the same location, so I can be there within minutes."
Harry was a bit nervous about the prospect of using a portkey. His last time using one hadn't exactly gone well, and even back at the Quidditch World Cup, he had hated traveling via portkey. Still, he wouldn't turn his nose up at a safe hiding spot, even if the getting there wouldn't be enjoyable.
"Harry, I want you to use this if you even think you'll be in danger. Don't wait until curses start flying or until you're when being outright threatened. You've got incredible instincts, kid. Just get out when they go off, and something doesn't feel right. If your friends are with you, you can take them along too - just have them touch the necklace - but you're my priority, and I want you safe more than anything."
"You don't think I can fight if someone comes after me?" Harry asked, a bit indignantly, "I'm not going to just run away the second I think something might go wrong!"
"Harry, I know you can fight. I know you can hold your own in situations where plenty of fully trained adults would struggle. But the thing is, kiddo, you shouldn't have to. You shouldn't be putting your life at risk constantly, just in an effort to survive." As if he noticed that Harry wasn't entirely convinced, he gave a second reasoning, "Besides, if you must, think of it as surviving a battle to win a war. I doubt Voldemort himself is going to come after you right away, Harry. It's not how he operates. He'll send his followers for you, or you'll get caught up in the crossfire of other plans and attacks he's trying to enact. Get out when you can, so you can make it to the end and finally see that bastard get taken down for good."
At this, Harry paused and considered. That was true; if things progressed the way he was guessing they would, Harry would probably be in danger plenty of times that didn't directly involve Voldemort cursing Harry himself. It would really suck to be taken out by Lucius Malfoy or some other scummy Death Eater and not be able to ensure Tom Riddle paid for everything he's done. And...maybe it'd be nice to have an easy solution next time Harry found himself in trouble. Rather than fighting his way out because there was literally no other choice, Harry could just - leave. Just remove himself and his friends from danger and probably take the wind right out of the sails of whoever was trying to kill him that day.
"Alright," Harry answered slowly, "I'll use it when I'm in danger. But only if you do the same. If it looks like you're in danger or going to be caught again, you leave immediately. And I want those same wards to notify me when you have to go there too, so I can check in with you."
Sirius chuckled and said, "Alright, deal. We both run at the first sign of danger and stay safe to fight another day. I'll have to modify the wards a bit for your notification; I plan to visit Aquarius House rather frequently this summer, not just when I'm in danger. But we can work something out. The activation word for the portkey is "water-bearer," so you'll probably never accidentally say it. Just keep the necklace on and touching your skin at all times." Sirius paused here and waited until Harry made eye contact again through the mirror, before continuing solemnly, "Never take it off, Harry. In the shower, at night, during Quidditch. That's your emergency exit route, and you should never go without it."
"I promise, Sirius. I won't take it off. Not for anything" Harry tried to infuse his voice with as much sincerity as he could to reassure his godfather. Although he still didn't love the idea of running at the first sign of trouble, he couldn't deny the benefits of having something like this, and he wouldn't give it up for anything. "Could we maybe use the portkeys to visit the house soon? Not right away, I'm sure you're busy with things, but it'd be nice to see you in person." Harry tentatively suggested. If they had a super-secret safehouse, why not use it to actually spend some time together?
Sirius gave a soft smile and said, "I'd really love that Harry. I'll never turn down the chance to spend quality time with my favorite godson."
Laughing, Harry responded, "I'm your only godson. Or have you got a few more stashed away that I don't know about?"
"Yes, and that makes you my favorite. But also my least favorite by default. What I call you just depends on the day, so watch the sass."
Harry rolled his eyes but continued to smile. He already felt better after just a few minutes of talking with Sirius. The weight that always seemed to settle over him when in Privet Drive lifted just a bit
"And on that note, that brings me to something else I needed to talk to you about - getting my name cleared so I can finally get custody of my favorite godson ." This is what Harry had been anxiously waiting to hear news about, and he listened closely as Sirius continued, "I sent a letter to my lawyer and have already heard back. He's proposing a... slightly different strategy than I had thought to pursue, but what he said makes sense, and he's the expert, after all. Things should be moving within the next couple of days, so I'm still hopeful that everything will get cleared up before the end of the summer and you can come live with me."
That sounded like heaven to Harry, but he couldn't help but ask, "Do you trust this lawyer? If he's suggesting a different plan than what you asked for, how do you know he's not trying to get you sent back to Azkaban?"
"That's a good question, kiddo, but in this case, I'm going to trust him. The Berks have been solicitors to the Black Family for generations. We pay them an obscene amount of money to be on retainer, and they're traditionally a pureblood conservative family, so they're no friend to the Ministry. Plus, I knew Nathaniel Berks in school. He was a few years ahead, so we weren't close, but I remember him being pretty reliable. I've looked into him in the years since I escaped Azkaban; I was curious who was currently representing the family interests, and he's a bit of a shark. Seems unassuming in the various Daily Prophet articles he's quoted and photographed in, but he wins most of his cases and just buries his opponents in documents and evidence until it's a straightforward victory."
"What's the strategy he wants to pursue?" Harry questioned.
"Hmm. I think I'll leave that as a surprise, actually. I think you'll find it hilarious, and I'm sure it'll make the news, even with the Ministry's chokehold on the Prophet. Do you have a subscription, by the way? I was wondering if you had seen the article the other day?"
"No," Harry said, "Normally at school, I just borrow someone else's if there's something I want to read. Especially over the summers, I didn't think Uncle Vernon would appreciate an owl visiting daily. What was in the article?"
There was a slight pause before Sirius answered, "The Ministry issued a pretty strong denial on Voldemort's return. Fudge is sticking his head in the sand like usual and has been ignoring Dumbledore's attempts to convince him to actually do his job as Minister. But good thinking on skipping on a subscription," Sirius praised, "Best to leave it like that to avoid angering your uncle. I'll forward on the paper when they eventually write an article about everything so you can read it."
Harry wanted to question Sirius more about the article denying Voldemort's rebirth. Something in Sirius's expression told Harry there was more to the article than he was saying, but before he could ask for more details, Sirius quickly continued.
"Now, we've gone over the portkey and the latest on the legal efforts. Let's talk about the Family Magic you felt the other day. I mentioned in my letter that this was because I performed the ritual to claim the Black Lordship. Part of that process is naming an heir. At the ritual's completion, the magic greets and joins with the magic of the new heir. Family magics have a vibrant and long history. I'll have to track down some of the books I read on it when I was younger -"
Harry let out a loud groan at this, "Ugh, more books? Hermione was already setting us an additional summer reading list to prepare for our OWL year on the train back from Hogsmead. She's convinced we're going to be absolutely buried under revision when we go back."
"Well, she's not wrong," Sirius offered, "If it hasn't changed since I was in school, fifth-year definitely sees a significant increase in workload from the Professors. But I think you'll find these books interesting. They go over the history of Family Magic but also how it can be used. To summarize what the books will explain in more detail, I'm sure you've noticed how Hogwarts seems almost sentient? The stairs move randomly, but if you're having a particularly bad day, they'll take you right to where you want to go? Or if you trip in a hallway, a curtain or suit of armor might reach out and catch you? Some whole rooms and corridors will only become accessible when certain conditions are met. For the most part, these aren't existing spells and wards making the castle behave this way. With centuries of Wixen children inhabiting the castle, the magic of each generation has... I suppose you could say "seeped" into the castle. Some individuals who are extremely sensitive to magic have said that when they visit Hogwarts or other places like it around the world, they can feel the magic the same way they feel the magical core of living Wixen."
"Family magic is similar to this. Generation after generation, the magic of each family member begins to merge in the family homes. Once a family magic is established enough, it's not bound to the properties, but instead, it becomes attached to each family member and can move as freely as you or I can. For the noble families, especially the older ones, we've been established for so long that our family magics have had centuries to develop and grow."
"Now, magic comes from many different sources in places like Hogwarts. Each person has their own worries and interests, so the magic has no clear directive. For the most part, Hogwart's magic is protective of its students and inhabitants, as rarely do the students who have contributed to the magic have any real malicious wills. Most view Hogwarts and their fellow students positively and have good intentions towards each other. But Hogwarts can also be playful, aggravating, or neutral because of the variety of magics contributed to it. Family magic is different. Because it's tied to one family, it will take on the characteristics of that family. As is usually the case with old families, its number one priority will always be to protect the family and ensure the continuation of the line."
Here Sirius paused to check in with Harry, "Does this make sense, or have I lost you?"
He had definitely given Harry a lot to think about. He had noticed odd things at Hogwarts. A stair rising to catch a tripping Neville Longbottom after a particularly brutal Potions class just a few days before the same stair tripped an older Ravenclaw student that had been mocking and refusing to help a lost first-year. A door near the astronomy tower that only showed up when there was snow on the ground, and when Harry had explored it during his second year had found it contained a cozy room with a constantly lit fireplace and comfortable but ancient couch. Hogwarts was full of little oddities and quirks, but he had never questioned them or where they came from.
"I think I'm understanding. So the family magic just kind of...floats along and will protect members of the family?"
"In a way, yes. It's not sentient. It cannot think for itself. The magic can read you and those around you. Your emotions, your general health, and any magic you're using. It will react based on this. So if you think you're entirely safe and aren't worried, and there is no one aiming a curse at you, the magic won't react. It won't sense a physical trap you're about to walk into. It can't tell if someone is lying to your face or if they've poisoned the food you're about to be served. So you still have to be vigilant. In the case of most families, the magic is just an extra boost, and it's most powerful when used for protection. It'll strengthen your wards and add power and longevity to any shields you cast."
"You said in the cast of most families. Are some different?" Harry interrupted.
"Ah. Good catch there, Prongslet." Sirius said smugly and with a grin that was just a bit vicious, "As I mentioned, the family magic takes on characteristics of the family to which it belongs. And the Black family...well, we've always believed the best defense is a strong offense. In other words, the Black Family Magic will curse first. It's still not sentient, but if it senses that you are in danger, it will attack those threatening your safety. It will act in your defense on its own, or it will fortify any spells you cast. Since the Blacks are an ancient family, we've had centuries to build up the family magic. It's considered the most potent and active family magic in the nation, not just because of the age of our family, but due to the...questionable marriage practices of some of my ancestors, many Black family members remained part of the family from their birth to death, unlike other families that would see members marry out of their family and begin contributing to their new family's magic."
"So, it's both aggressive and powerful?" Harry was a bit aghast that the family magic would just attack before he had even decided to cast a spell.
Sirius just seemed amused at his question, "That's one way of putting it. Personally, I'm not opposed to you having a little something extra watching over you and ready to fight at all times, but if you're concerned about it, remember that your emotions and intent guide the magic. If you remain calm and unstressed, so will the magic."
"Sirius, I don't know if you know this, but staying calm and unstressed isn't really my strength." Harry sarcastically expressed, as if it was a secret.
Sirius let out a bark of laughter before replying, "This probably isn't what you want to hear, but I think I've got some books that could help with that." Ignoring Harry's eye roll, he continued, "I'll have to check the library, but there should be some on meditation and centering yourself. I can send them along with the books on Family Magic and the Wixen Nobility structure."
"And are you going to set me essays on all these books I'm to read?" Harry asked sarcastically.
Raising one eyebrow, Sirius said imperiously in a tone and accent scarily similar to Professor McGonagall, "Don't test me, Mr. Potter. Or I'll have to set a detention." Both Harry and Sirius only lasted a moment before they both cracked up laughing.
"I hope she never hears you mimic her. She may not be able to give you lines anymore, but I think she'd make me to them in your place." Harry said, still laughing.
"Don't be ridiculous, Harry. Dear old Minnie could absolutely make me complete lines." This statement made both of them break into laughter again, Harry imagining a stern Professor McGonagall hovering over a Sirius crammed into a small child-sized desk and making him write lines.
Harry finally calmed down enough to meet Sirius's eyes in the mirror again, to find him already watching Harry with a fond look in his eyes. "I'm sorry I couldn't take you right away this summer, Harry. I don't like to think of you alone in Surrey after everything you went through." Harry looked away to break eye contact. Even with Sirius, he wasn't quite ready to discuss what happened in the graveyard or the frequent nightmares since. Not yet, at least.
Forcing himself to look back at his godfather with a smile he was sure Sirius could tell was false, Harry said, "It's alright, Padfoot. You'll get your name cleared, be a free man, and then I'll never have to come back here again." Harry smiled to himself, this time much more genuine, imagining a life where he spent every day surrounded by magic and in the care of someone who seemed to genuinely care about him. A life where the Dursleys were just an unfortunate part of his past he could avoid thinking about.
Speaking of the Dursleys, Harry thought one of them would come knocking soon to make Harry start on dinner or some other chore. "I should probably go. Was there anything else you needed to tell me?"
"No, not really. Keep your head down as much as possible, and stay close to home. Dumbledore has people stationed nearby in case of emergencies, but as long as you're within the wards, you shouldn't need them. Call me on the mirror whenever you want to talk, Harry, even if it's for things you don't consider important. I'll always be happy to chat, and I'll pass along updates whenever I can, either about the fight against Voldemort or anything new with my case."
"Alright. I'll talk to you soon then, Sirius. Thank you again for the portkey and for explaining the Family Magic. Stay safe." Harry gently set the enchanted mirror down on his bed, the image of Sirius watching him fading until his own green eyes stared back at him.
As much as he joked about not wanting any additional reading, he was actually looking forward to the books Sirius was sending. Harry had felt like he was on shaky ground ever since Hagrid first came knocking on his eleventh birthday. Although Harry had tried his best to acclimate to this new world he was now a part of, it seemed like every time he turned around, there were new things to learn and hidden facets to this community and Wizarding culture he hadn't noticed before. Harry thought he could spend a lifetime learning things that his peers with magical parents knew from birth.
It was unfair. How muggle-born and muggle-raised children had to find their own way and experienced a culture shock that came with learning an entire subculture existed to which they now belonged. Kids like Harry and Hermione were always just a few steps behind, ignorant of the history, the traditions, and even things like how the magical government worked. Harry wondered why there was no class on magical society for muggle-borns. There was a class on Muggle Studies at Hogwarts, after all, why not something comparable for those who didn't grow up with magic? Deciding he might as well go down and find something to work on before Petunia came looking for him, Harry continued to ponder the injustice of Hogwarts students coming to school for their first year, completely unaware of just how unaware they were.