Categories > Books > Harry Potter > Harry Potter and the east wing of Hogwarts
Chapter 1
1995 – July 1st
The lush green environment flew by as the Hogwarts Express thundered towards London. In one of the compartments sat Harry and his girlfriend Susan as well as his other friends Ron and Hermione. Since leaving Hogsmeade Station Hermione was itching to say something and Harry was nearly sure what it was.
He grinned, 'O.k., Hermione, spit it out before you choke on it.'
'Harry, you just can't go on with this vendetta against Professor Dumbledore. He is the Headmaster and only has your best interests at heart. And you must stop defying Professor Snape'
'sure, because he's also just got Harry's best interests at heart…' murmured Ron.
'DON'T interrupt me, Ron. Harry, Professor Snape is a Hogwarts Professor and must be respected at all times.'
Harry stared stupidly at Hermione for a long time. Then he started to laugh. A full belly-laugh. In which Susan and Ron joined in. When they got their breaths under control they looked at Hermione, expecting to see a smile on her face too. What really confused them was the sourpuss expression on Hermione's face.
Nonetheless Harry smiled at Hermione 'O.k., who are you and what have you done to the Hermione I know?'
Now she looked furious. 'I'm still the Hermione you know, but I won't tolerate this attitude any longer. It is unbecoming for a Hogwarts student.'
Ron grew suspicious 'And how'd you know that? Did Dumbledore put you up to this?'
'Ron, Professor Dumbledore gave me a book on etiquette, saying it would advance my station among wizards further.'
'There is only one student at Hogwarts who's using the word unbecoming' Harry grumbled 'and that is Malfoy. Get back from that trip, Hermione, cause the only popularity this etiquette brings is among the Diggorys and Malfoys . It cuts only back on real friends.'
Hermione gasped, 'Are you threatening me, Harry? Are you showing your true face now? Let's get this bookworm back under control? Is that what this is about?'
Harry got alarmed. 'No I'm not threatening you, Hermione. I'm willing to fight about you. For you. Not against you. And not because of a single book, given by the Headbastard.'
Her voice got hysterical 'HE'S THE HEADMASTER AND NOT THE HEADBASTARD! I FORBID YOU TO TALK ABOUT PROFESSOR DUMBLEDORE LIKE THAT!'
'You're forbidding me? You've never forbidden me anything. Hermione, what is going on with you?'
Now she got really furious 'Nothing is going on with me; I just can't stand the slights and the dis-respect and the defying and the rebelling and… and… and…' she stomped with her foot on the floor just before storming out of the compartment.
Harry looked at Ron, confounded just as Ron looked back. The only question everyone in the com-partment thought was "What just happened here?" Harry's eyebrows rose a bit more, Ron shrugged and Susan was deep in thought. 'Maybe she'll come around.' said Ron.
'Yeah, maybe' Harry replied.
But Hermione only returned to their compartment to get her luggage. She didn't talk to them, but Harry could see her eyes for a moment. They had the look of excessive crying…
1995 – King's Cross station
As Harry got off the train, he kept his eyes everywhere. Something from the conversation on the train made him think it was forced and he wanted to speak one last time about it with Hermione. Luckily he saw her on the way to the exit but – stupid kids be thanked – he couldn't reach her before she exited from Platform 9¾. As he made it through the barrier his gaze darted around and sure enough she was on the bridge towards the exit. But then he spotted the Dursleys – and nearly stumbled. What was that Dog sitting next to them?
1995 – Summer holiday – the ride to Little Whinging
When Harry looked at Vernon, he could see the vein going visible. He knew, this was not a good sign – especially once he was left alone by the wizard sitting next to him. And that wizard was his second problem; the only thing securing Sirius from arrest was an animagus form – and Harry wasn't sure if it was so unknown as Sirius pretended it to be right now. There were people out to get him, goddammit, and it weren't just Aurors but Death Eaters too. And they had the fearsome interrogation techniques. Not to mention the most visible (and not-believed) Imperius victim ever. One word – lightly spoken, with perfect countenance of course – could destroy Sirius' only hiding technique – and maybe his life. But even despite all of that Harry managed to sit still during the ride.
1995 – Summer holiday – Dursley residence
'Sirius…'
'Shh!' He waved his wand around the room, muttering under his speech. And Harry waited…
Then he was finished. 'Harry, I'm sorry for shushing you, but I had to modify the wards so that infor-mation that's said in this room stays in this room. How are you, Harry?'
Harry started to pace around the small bedroom 'Sirius, that might've been the single most reckless stunt you ever pulled. Why risk something like that? For what? Don't you know that one word of a Malfoy and you'll…'
Sirius sat down on Harrys bed and smirked, 'For a story, Harry. Do you know Dumbledore?'
Harry turned around, 'Are you kidding me, Sirius? Of course I do. Headmaster extraordinaire, Supreme Mugwump of the Wizengamot, Chief Warlock of the ICW – did I forget anything? Oh wait, yes: Liar, Non-answerer, Slave Driver and Separator of friends.'
'That's quite good, Harry, but I've got one more. Persistent offender.'
Harry stopped pacing.
'You see, Harry, there once was a boy, born to two loving parents. After a time the two parents died under mysterious circumstances and Albus rushed in to help the boy. The poor kid was left with relatives of a less-than-forgiving nature. After that kid came to Hogwarts he soon made some friends. Quite beautiful friends too – I'm sure you know one of them at least.'
Harry was baffled; that sounded just like his life – but what did he mean with the last sentence? Nonetheless Sirius continued.
'When the Boy finished Hogwarts – after some mysterious happenings during the years – he married the girl of his dreams and took ownership of a bar and was prepared to live happily ever after. But Dumbledore kept coming back, and not just to visit the bar, so that one day we were pretty baffled to see the latest owners of the "Three broomsticks" inducted into a secret society called the Order of the Phoenix.
'O.k., so far it made sense. A bar could be a useful place for meeting and Hogwarts was nearby in case of an emergency. But something didn't end up. Sometimes – when the former boy thought himself unwatched, his mask slipped and a mixture of fear, anger and scorn made its way onto his face. And in the end the former boy looked so lost and started crying. But this wasn't seen very often – and not by anyone…' Sirius grew sombre, 'poor Alexander Rye. May he rest in peace…' Neither talked for a while.
Then Harry looked up, 'Sirius, that bit at the beginning sounded just like my life. Do you think some-thing like this will happen to me too?'
Sirius grinned, 'I always knew you were smart, Harry. Yes, I think his end is scheduled for you too.
'Harry, that Boy was from a rich family like you. Like you, he was orphaned. Like you, he was isolated when not at Hogwarts. And like with you there was a daughter of a not-so-rich female Order member just dying to get her claws into that family fortune.'
'WHAT? Did the Weasleys have a second daughter?'
'No at that time Molly wasn't married to Arthur…'
Slowly dawning horror spread on Harrys face, 'You're not talking about…'
'Yes I do, Harry. I'm talking of Molly Prewett, now Weasley. She doesn't talk about it often, but when she does, seldom though it happens, it's always under tears. Just once she'd shown her frightening face to Moody. It was he who told me the unedited Story of Molly Prewett.
'A few days before Gideon and Fabian were killed, there was an altercation involving their sister Molly. Nobody knows – apart from Molly obviously – what it was about, but everyone thinks it was about Mollys advances on Alexander. The Prewetts held themselves to a high moral standard and everyone doubts that the brothers consented to the – at that time – ridiculous and dangerous way in which Molly pursued Alexander. Talk was about rituals and some mean Love Potions and also of flying curses. On that evening it went so far that Molly was evicted from the Prewett family. She was Molly No-name when she married Arthur. Of course she tried to contact her brothers on the days after the row but a few days later Fabian and Gideon Prewett died during their fight with the Death Eaters. They obviously managed to update their will because Molly No-Name never inherited.'
Harry lay on the floor, looking resigned. 'So History repeats itself with me and everyone around me, Sirius?'
Sirius bore the same look, 'Yes, Harry.'
Harrys expression changed to thoughtful. 'The thing I don't get is: Why let go of Alexander then? If she was Molly No-Name and didn't inherit, Alexander must've been the Prize to catch.'
Sirius smirked, 'Well, she was caught in a compromising situation involving Arthur Weasley. The older members of the order were not to be dissuaded, Molly had to marry Arthur Weasley under any circumstances. Boy, was Dumbledore miffed. Do you know what they say about Weasleys, Harry?'
Harry shrugged, 'No, I don't.'
'They say that any Wizard can satisfy a Witch, but if you want some real fun' Sirius leered, 'you should grab a Weasley.' And then he had the gall to laugh at Harrys dumbfounded face.
After finishing his playful attack on Sirius, Harry took seat on the rickety chair. 'O.k., but we were talking Dumbledore. What does he get out of it?'
Sirius thought for a second, 'I'm not so sure, but what I've heard is that Molly started her advances on Alexander after a talk to Dumbledore.'
Harrys head jerked upwards, 'How old was Molly then?'
Sirius looked puzzled. 'She must've been 15 or 16. Why do you ask, Harry?'
Harrys Face activated Sirius' alarm. 'Because today I've lost my second female friend to Dumbledore too. He gave her a book to – what did she call it – "advance her station further" among wizards. He might have promised something like that to Molly too.'
'Hm, it might make sense. The bit which Rose told me about Molly included that she felt Mollys growing frustration over the years.'
'Who is Rose, Sirius?'
Sirius smiled a sad little smile, 'I believe you know her as Madam Rosmerta. Formerly married to Alexander Rye. A sad witch, impressively she managed to stay on the good side of things. What she told me… Harry, you have no idea what Dumbledore is able to mess up.'
'As being in every single head chair aside from the Minister? Pretty much everything.
'Sirius, this is important. We have nowhere to run to, nowhere to hide. He'll find us wherever. This is a big fight coming down ahead of us. I wonder if this was the fight that many pureblood wizards mistook Voldemort of fighting.'
Sirius shook his head. 'No Harry, if that ever existed, it was a short period of time before he went really crazy.'
Harry nodded, 'Hm, o.k., I believe you. Still, the direction of Voldemort makes me a bit leery. When he talked to me in my first year, he constantly wailed and screamed against Dumbledore. O.k., when I finished with him I got the Top Spot. And before you mention it, I take everything Voldemort says with a ton of salt.'
Sirius exhaled, 'That's good to hear, Harry. I don't want to lose you to the pureblood supremacists.'
Harry looked at Sirius, 'Are you crazy? I wouldn't survive a single day among the death nibblers. But aside from that, we've entered the political realm. Sure Voldemort pursues a bloody path but we have to account even his movements. For all we know, Voldemort could have been created after a talk to Dumbledore…'
Sirius was absolutely shocked. 'Please, Harry, don't joke about this. The war against Voldemort was the most horrifying war in the history of wizards. And I mean the whole history of wizards. No war was worse, ever! In every other war there were clear sides. Yes there were battles but never between family members. Never before did Wizardry show its ugly side as much as in the war against Voldemort.'
When Sirius looked at Harry he saw compassion, sadness but understanding too. 'No, Sirius, I don't joke around. It's the only thing I learned from Binns, wars were mostly started by a single man saying "It's enough!" or such. Whether that be man or goblin, the reasons were mostly the baser emotions like greed, hate or something similar. Believe me, Sirius, I'm not joking around. Not me. Not with my outlook…' and a single tear led to an opened floodgate and a godfather had to hold his godson for quite some time…
'Sirius, he does it again. He gets away with it. With everything, with bloody murder' Harry cried against Sirius shoulder. 'I've been selected in a tournament against my will. I had to discover the man who entered me. I've got no one but you to look out for me. I have to defend myself against a man who can't distinguish between me and my father. Against Death Eaters. Against Politicians. Against some of my Professors. And against the whole public opinion. I'm just an attention seeking brat to them right now. And today my second female friend leaves me because she got a book from Dumbledore about Wizarding etiquette. I can't even contact my girlfriend about it. And my other so called friend doesn't even catch up with it. And I feel so bad about that. Sirius, what have I done?'
Sirius continued to rock Harry. 'Nothing, Harry. Absolutely nothing.'
'It's always me who has to endure the suffering, I'm the one that's constantly maligned. Malfoy struts around the school like he owns it and no one puts him in his place. McGonagall is just a stern looking doormat for Dumbledores plans and never corrects his faulty decisions. Hagrid is nice but helpless in the end. And I'm sure, the other teachers think I'm just exaggerating. It's all so unfair, Sirius.'
'Yes it is, Harry. But it will get better. You'll see.' When he released Harry, Sirius saw in Harrys eyes confusion on top but a resolve hard as steel beneath. The last teardrops fell down onto the floor.
'What do you mean, Sirius?'
'For starters, you've got me on your side. I can tell you things. From the order. And now you know the whole scope of it. That's important, because now you can prepare for beating your path into the rocks of the Wizarding World. Yes, you can't see your girlfriend right now, but that's something that can be rectified. I'll be seeing you in a few days, Harry, I promise.' And he made to leave.
'Wait, Sirius!'
Sirius turned around.
'I need to know things. What everyone knows, you know. What you said about the Weasleys for example. No one tells me about that and on this end I'll always lose. Please send me books. You know books like "Stuff, the Wizengamot doesn't want you to know" and so on. And if it's possible the little known things about magic. I've got to prepare for a huge war and I'm woefully underprepared.'
Sirius nodded, 'I'll talk to the Dursleys too. See, if I can get them to lay off of you.'
Harry smiled, 'Thank you, Sirius. I'll be seeing you then?' He sounded just like a small child then.
Sirius' heart broke. 'Yes, Harry, I'll be there for you.' And left before his Godson could see his tears.
__°°__
Normally I hate these Author notes when I read the Stories, but I think I have to clear something up:
1. papaskan and Dragen: In the Prologue I only wrote about the most notable changes I made from canon. I didn't want to write about the whole Triwizard Tournament, because for the sake of the story it went just like we read in GOF. The only changes I wanted to have from canon are documented in the prologue – including Harrys attitude.
2. Arkenstone: Oh, I definitely bollixed that one up. Susan was sorted into Gryffindor and Hannah is a Hufflepuff, but Friends can visit each other if they know where the common room is.
3. Cateagle: Hannah was just strictly protective. No other reason. Voldemort? Just you wait and see... ;-)
1995 – July 1st
The lush green environment flew by as the Hogwarts Express thundered towards London. In one of the compartments sat Harry and his girlfriend Susan as well as his other friends Ron and Hermione. Since leaving Hogsmeade Station Hermione was itching to say something and Harry was nearly sure what it was.
He grinned, 'O.k., Hermione, spit it out before you choke on it.'
'Harry, you just can't go on with this vendetta against Professor Dumbledore. He is the Headmaster and only has your best interests at heart. And you must stop defying Professor Snape'
'sure, because he's also just got Harry's best interests at heart…' murmured Ron.
'DON'T interrupt me, Ron. Harry, Professor Snape is a Hogwarts Professor and must be respected at all times.'
Harry stared stupidly at Hermione for a long time. Then he started to laugh. A full belly-laugh. In which Susan and Ron joined in. When they got their breaths under control they looked at Hermione, expecting to see a smile on her face too. What really confused them was the sourpuss expression on Hermione's face.
Nonetheless Harry smiled at Hermione 'O.k., who are you and what have you done to the Hermione I know?'
Now she looked furious. 'I'm still the Hermione you know, but I won't tolerate this attitude any longer. It is unbecoming for a Hogwarts student.'
Ron grew suspicious 'And how'd you know that? Did Dumbledore put you up to this?'
'Ron, Professor Dumbledore gave me a book on etiquette, saying it would advance my station among wizards further.'
'There is only one student at Hogwarts who's using the word unbecoming' Harry grumbled 'and that is Malfoy. Get back from that trip, Hermione, cause the only popularity this etiquette brings is among the Diggorys and Malfoys . It cuts only back on real friends.'
Hermione gasped, 'Are you threatening me, Harry? Are you showing your true face now? Let's get this bookworm back under control? Is that what this is about?'
Harry got alarmed. 'No I'm not threatening you, Hermione. I'm willing to fight about you. For you. Not against you. And not because of a single book, given by the Headbastard.'
Her voice got hysterical 'HE'S THE HEADMASTER AND NOT THE HEADBASTARD! I FORBID YOU TO TALK ABOUT PROFESSOR DUMBLEDORE LIKE THAT!'
'You're forbidding me? You've never forbidden me anything. Hermione, what is going on with you?'
Now she got really furious 'Nothing is going on with me; I just can't stand the slights and the dis-respect and the defying and the rebelling and… and… and…' she stomped with her foot on the floor just before storming out of the compartment.
Harry looked at Ron, confounded just as Ron looked back. The only question everyone in the com-partment thought was "What just happened here?" Harry's eyebrows rose a bit more, Ron shrugged and Susan was deep in thought. 'Maybe she'll come around.' said Ron.
'Yeah, maybe' Harry replied.
But Hermione only returned to their compartment to get her luggage. She didn't talk to them, but Harry could see her eyes for a moment. They had the look of excessive crying…
1995 – King's Cross station
As Harry got off the train, he kept his eyes everywhere. Something from the conversation on the train made him think it was forced and he wanted to speak one last time about it with Hermione. Luckily he saw her on the way to the exit but – stupid kids be thanked – he couldn't reach her before she exited from Platform 9¾. As he made it through the barrier his gaze darted around and sure enough she was on the bridge towards the exit. But then he spotted the Dursleys – and nearly stumbled. What was that Dog sitting next to them?
1995 – Summer holiday – the ride to Little Whinging
When Harry looked at Vernon, he could see the vein going visible. He knew, this was not a good sign – especially once he was left alone by the wizard sitting next to him. And that wizard was his second problem; the only thing securing Sirius from arrest was an animagus form – and Harry wasn't sure if it was so unknown as Sirius pretended it to be right now. There were people out to get him, goddammit, and it weren't just Aurors but Death Eaters too. And they had the fearsome interrogation techniques. Not to mention the most visible (and not-believed) Imperius victim ever. One word – lightly spoken, with perfect countenance of course – could destroy Sirius' only hiding technique – and maybe his life. But even despite all of that Harry managed to sit still during the ride.
1995 – Summer holiday – Dursley residence
'Sirius…'
'Shh!' He waved his wand around the room, muttering under his speech. And Harry waited…
Then he was finished. 'Harry, I'm sorry for shushing you, but I had to modify the wards so that infor-mation that's said in this room stays in this room. How are you, Harry?'
Harry started to pace around the small bedroom 'Sirius, that might've been the single most reckless stunt you ever pulled. Why risk something like that? For what? Don't you know that one word of a Malfoy and you'll…'
Sirius sat down on Harrys bed and smirked, 'For a story, Harry. Do you know Dumbledore?'
Harry turned around, 'Are you kidding me, Sirius? Of course I do. Headmaster extraordinaire, Supreme Mugwump of the Wizengamot, Chief Warlock of the ICW – did I forget anything? Oh wait, yes: Liar, Non-answerer, Slave Driver and Separator of friends.'
'That's quite good, Harry, but I've got one more. Persistent offender.'
Harry stopped pacing.
'You see, Harry, there once was a boy, born to two loving parents. After a time the two parents died under mysterious circumstances and Albus rushed in to help the boy. The poor kid was left with relatives of a less-than-forgiving nature. After that kid came to Hogwarts he soon made some friends. Quite beautiful friends too – I'm sure you know one of them at least.'
Harry was baffled; that sounded just like his life – but what did he mean with the last sentence? Nonetheless Sirius continued.
'When the Boy finished Hogwarts – after some mysterious happenings during the years – he married the girl of his dreams and took ownership of a bar and was prepared to live happily ever after. But Dumbledore kept coming back, and not just to visit the bar, so that one day we were pretty baffled to see the latest owners of the "Three broomsticks" inducted into a secret society called the Order of the Phoenix.
'O.k., so far it made sense. A bar could be a useful place for meeting and Hogwarts was nearby in case of an emergency. But something didn't end up. Sometimes – when the former boy thought himself unwatched, his mask slipped and a mixture of fear, anger and scorn made its way onto his face. And in the end the former boy looked so lost and started crying. But this wasn't seen very often – and not by anyone…' Sirius grew sombre, 'poor Alexander Rye. May he rest in peace…' Neither talked for a while.
Then Harry looked up, 'Sirius, that bit at the beginning sounded just like my life. Do you think some-thing like this will happen to me too?'
Sirius grinned, 'I always knew you were smart, Harry. Yes, I think his end is scheduled for you too.
'Harry, that Boy was from a rich family like you. Like you, he was orphaned. Like you, he was isolated when not at Hogwarts. And like with you there was a daughter of a not-so-rich female Order member just dying to get her claws into that family fortune.'
'WHAT? Did the Weasleys have a second daughter?'
'No at that time Molly wasn't married to Arthur…'
Slowly dawning horror spread on Harrys face, 'You're not talking about…'
'Yes I do, Harry. I'm talking of Molly Prewett, now Weasley. She doesn't talk about it often, but when she does, seldom though it happens, it's always under tears. Just once she'd shown her frightening face to Moody. It was he who told me the unedited Story of Molly Prewett.
'A few days before Gideon and Fabian were killed, there was an altercation involving their sister Molly. Nobody knows – apart from Molly obviously – what it was about, but everyone thinks it was about Mollys advances on Alexander. The Prewetts held themselves to a high moral standard and everyone doubts that the brothers consented to the – at that time – ridiculous and dangerous way in which Molly pursued Alexander. Talk was about rituals and some mean Love Potions and also of flying curses. On that evening it went so far that Molly was evicted from the Prewett family. She was Molly No-name when she married Arthur. Of course she tried to contact her brothers on the days after the row but a few days later Fabian and Gideon Prewett died during their fight with the Death Eaters. They obviously managed to update their will because Molly No-Name never inherited.'
Harry lay on the floor, looking resigned. 'So History repeats itself with me and everyone around me, Sirius?'
Sirius bore the same look, 'Yes, Harry.'
Harrys expression changed to thoughtful. 'The thing I don't get is: Why let go of Alexander then? If she was Molly No-Name and didn't inherit, Alexander must've been the Prize to catch.'
Sirius smirked, 'Well, she was caught in a compromising situation involving Arthur Weasley. The older members of the order were not to be dissuaded, Molly had to marry Arthur Weasley under any circumstances. Boy, was Dumbledore miffed. Do you know what they say about Weasleys, Harry?'
Harry shrugged, 'No, I don't.'
'They say that any Wizard can satisfy a Witch, but if you want some real fun' Sirius leered, 'you should grab a Weasley.' And then he had the gall to laugh at Harrys dumbfounded face.
After finishing his playful attack on Sirius, Harry took seat on the rickety chair. 'O.k., but we were talking Dumbledore. What does he get out of it?'
Sirius thought for a second, 'I'm not so sure, but what I've heard is that Molly started her advances on Alexander after a talk to Dumbledore.'
Harrys head jerked upwards, 'How old was Molly then?'
Sirius looked puzzled. 'She must've been 15 or 16. Why do you ask, Harry?'
Harrys Face activated Sirius' alarm. 'Because today I've lost my second female friend to Dumbledore too. He gave her a book to – what did she call it – "advance her station further" among wizards. He might have promised something like that to Molly too.'
'Hm, it might make sense. The bit which Rose told me about Molly included that she felt Mollys growing frustration over the years.'
'Who is Rose, Sirius?'
Sirius smiled a sad little smile, 'I believe you know her as Madam Rosmerta. Formerly married to Alexander Rye. A sad witch, impressively she managed to stay on the good side of things. What she told me… Harry, you have no idea what Dumbledore is able to mess up.'
'As being in every single head chair aside from the Minister? Pretty much everything.
'Sirius, this is important. We have nowhere to run to, nowhere to hide. He'll find us wherever. This is a big fight coming down ahead of us. I wonder if this was the fight that many pureblood wizards mistook Voldemort of fighting.'
Sirius shook his head. 'No Harry, if that ever existed, it was a short period of time before he went really crazy.'
Harry nodded, 'Hm, o.k., I believe you. Still, the direction of Voldemort makes me a bit leery. When he talked to me in my first year, he constantly wailed and screamed against Dumbledore. O.k., when I finished with him I got the Top Spot. And before you mention it, I take everything Voldemort says with a ton of salt.'
Sirius exhaled, 'That's good to hear, Harry. I don't want to lose you to the pureblood supremacists.'
Harry looked at Sirius, 'Are you crazy? I wouldn't survive a single day among the death nibblers. But aside from that, we've entered the political realm. Sure Voldemort pursues a bloody path but we have to account even his movements. For all we know, Voldemort could have been created after a talk to Dumbledore…'
Sirius was absolutely shocked. 'Please, Harry, don't joke about this. The war against Voldemort was the most horrifying war in the history of wizards. And I mean the whole history of wizards. No war was worse, ever! In every other war there were clear sides. Yes there were battles but never between family members. Never before did Wizardry show its ugly side as much as in the war against Voldemort.'
When Sirius looked at Harry he saw compassion, sadness but understanding too. 'No, Sirius, I don't joke around. It's the only thing I learned from Binns, wars were mostly started by a single man saying "It's enough!" or such. Whether that be man or goblin, the reasons were mostly the baser emotions like greed, hate or something similar. Believe me, Sirius, I'm not joking around. Not me. Not with my outlook…' and a single tear led to an opened floodgate and a godfather had to hold his godson for quite some time…
'Sirius, he does it again. He gets away with it. With everything, with bloody murder' Harry cried against Sirius shoulder. 'I've been selected in a tournament against my will. I had to discover the man who entered me. I've got no one but you to look out for me. I have to defend myself against a man who can't distinguish between me and my father. Against Death Eaters. Against Politicians. Against some of my Professors. And against the whole public opinion. I'm just an attention seeking brat to them right now. And today my second female friend leaves me because she got a book from Dumbledore about Wizarding etiquette. I can't even contact my girlfriend about it. And my other so called friend doesn't even catch up with it. And I feel so bad about that. Sirius, what have I done?'
Sirius continued to rock Harry. 'Nothing, Harry. Absolutely nothing.'
'It's always me who has to endure the suffering, I'm the one that's constantly maligned. Malfoy struts around the school like he owns it and no one puts him in his place. McGonagall is just a stern looking doormat for Dumbledores plans and never corrects his faulty decisions. Hagrid is nice but helpless in the end. And I'm sure, the other teachers think I'm just exaggerating. It's all so unfair, Sirius.'
'Yes it is, Harry. But it will get better. You'll see.' When he released Harry, Sirius saw in Harrys eyes confusion on top but a resolve hard as steel beneath. The last teardrops fell down onto the floor.
'What do you mean, Sirius?'
'For starters, you've got me on your side. I can tell you things. From the order. And now you know the whole scope of it. That's important, because now you can prepare for beating your path into the rocks of the Wizarding World. Yes, you can't see your girlfriend right now, but that's something that can be rectified. I'll be seeing you in a few days, Harry, I promise.' And he made to leave.
'Wait, Sirius!'
Sirius turned around.
'I need to know things. What everyone knows, you know. What you said about the Weasleys for example. No one tells me about that and on this end I'll always lose. Please send me books. You know books like "Stuff, the Wizengamot doesn't want you to know" and so on. And if it's possible the little known things about magic. I've got to prepare for a huge war and I'm woefully underprepared.'
Sirius nodded, 'I'll talk to the Dursleys too. See, if I can get them to lay off of you.'
Harry smiled, 'Thank you, Sirius. I'll be seeing you then?' He sounded just like a small child then.
Sirius' heart broke. 'Yes, Harry, I'll be there for you.' And left before his Godson could see his tears.
__°°__
Normally I hate these Author notes when I read the Stories, but I think I have to clear something up:
1. papaskan and Dragen: In the Prologue I only wrote about the most notable changes I made from canon. I didn't want to write about the whole Triwizard Tournament, because for the sake of the story it went just like we read in GOF. The only changes I wanted to have from canon are documented in the prologue – including Harrys attitude.
2. Arkenstone: Oh, I definitely bollixed that one up. Susan was sorted into Gryffindor and Hannah is a Hufflepuff, but Friends can visit each other if they know where the common room is.
3. Cateagle: Hannah was just strictly protective. No other reason. Voldemort? Just you wait and see... ;-)
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