Chapter 65 - Chapter 62: The Reason Why I Hate You

Hermione was hurrying through the train, her eyes searching every compartment she was passing by.

"He's not here, Hermione," Ron said, hurrying after her.

"He has to be!" Hermione immediately corrected. "It's the Hogwarts Express! We all had to take it! There's no way that he's not here!"

"But he isn't," a dreamy voice interrupted them before Ron could even think about replying. "The eternal Prince left long before us."

Hermione turned and frowned at the young girl who had just in that moment stepped out of the compartment they had just passed.

"Luna," she said. "What exactly are you talking about?"

Luna crooked her head.

"I'm talking about my Prince," she said, her silvery eyes looking basically through Hermione. "Who else should I talk about?"

For a moment, Hermione wanted to ask who that Prince was Luna was talking about, but then she remembered that Luna had called Harry 'my Prince' before.

"Harry hasn't come on board," Hermione repeated Luna's words in a way that she could actually make sense of them. "What do you mean, Harry isn't on board?!"

Luna looked at her with a frown.

"He has other obligations, I think," she pointed out but when Hermione wanted to open her mouth and speak up further, Luna stepped backwards and gestured towards the compartment she had just left.

"How about we're talking inside?" she asked.

Hermione hesitated for a moment, then she nodded and followed Luna into the compartment where the younger girl took a seat next to Neville.

Neville looked up when Luna re-entered with Hermione and Ron in tow.

He hesitated for a second, before he stood up.

Luna waved him off.

"You don't have to leave, Neville," she said. "Hermione and Ronald just need a place to sit since the Prince has left from Hogwarts in a different way already."

Neville looked just taken aback for a moment.

"Harry already left from Hogwarts?" he asked interestedly. "Any reason why?"

Luna shrugged.

"He's the eternal Prince," she pointed out. "He has different kind of obligations that might have mixed with his return with the Hogwarts Express."

She crooked her head thoughtfully.

"Might have something to do with the Madam Umbridge," she guessed. "She was a wicked witch. Chances are that her behaviour and her subsequent judgement needed his attendance."

Hermione stared at the odd, blond girl in front of her.

Luna returned the gaze more or less - her silvery eyes still looking more as if they were looking through the other girl than at her.

"Umbridge?" Ron asked interestedly and threw himself into one of the seats, making himself comfortable. "I thought she's still at Hogwarts. I mean, didn't she feel ill this morning?"

Hermione turned and actually stared at Ron in disbelief.

"She didn't just feel ill, Ron!"

The boy shrugged uncaring.

"Yeah, yeah… it was a vampire bite or some such," he said, rolling his eyes. "Doesn't really matter, does it? She felt ill, that's all!"

"Umbridge collapsed from blood-loss, Ron!" Hermione corrected her friend. "I heard Madam Pomphrey say that she must have been anemic for weeks! Weeks ! How can somebody not notice they're anemic for weeks?!"

"Vampires-"

"No, Ron! This was NOT a vampire's bite! I told you already after it happened that if it had been, she would have noticed that she was lightheaded a long time ago! Even a vampire can't hide the loss of so much blood with their natural ways to hide a normal bite! No, there's only one way for something like that to go unnoticed…"

"… a curse," Neville ended her sentence softly, not looking at her at all. Luna on the other hand, looked at Hermione with shining eyes full of amusement, regret and an odd kind of motherly pride.

"Exactly!" Hermione agreed, while pointing at Neville.

Then her finger shook, her eyes widened and her gaze wandered out of the window.

Her mind had clearly kicked into overdrive, connecting facts and beliefs and theories.

"Yes… ," she said, her voice trailing off. "A curse. There's no other way for it to make sense… the curse… a curse can fool someone into feeling good… into feeling normal… but a curse like that… it wouldn't… a curse like that is complex… one of the teachers could have done it… another grown wizard or witch for sure… but she had been in school for far too long… I… I doubt that a curse like that could be active over so many months without being noticed-"

"If it's done right, curses like that could be active over years," Luna corrected her with a shrug and a dreamy looking into nothingness. "Of course, most people aren't well versed enough in curses to do it right."

That stopped Hermione in her tracks.

"Do it right?" she repeated in disbelief. "What do you mean: do it right?!"

Luna blinked at her innocently.

"Of course: do it right!" she agreed with her words. "Curses are complex. Most people can't do them at all… especially not a curse like the one that has to be active on the Madam Umbridge. Most people simply don't have the patience to activate a curse that would control a human body like that - and it does control them! Curses that ensure that they aren't felt or heard aren't that easy to apply… or to maintain. There aren't a lot of people in this day and age capable of it."

Hermione opened her mouth, clearly to object to Luna's explanation when Neville intercepted.

"Curses like that haven't been activated for at least a hundred years," Neville agreed with Luna before Hermione could say anything against her words. "Gran always told me that curses like that are the worst thing that could happen to a person. You can't find them until they reach their final stage and if they do, you can't stop them anymore."

Hermione stared at Neville then at Luna and then at Neville again.

"This… this…" she stuttered, but it was clear that she didn't really believe them, still.

Ron on the other hand suddenly had an understanding look on his face.

"Harry," he said, stopping Hermione from saying anything else.

Hermione frowned, turning her gaze towards Ron.

"What are you talking about, Ron?" she asked confused.

Ron looked at Hermione as if he couldn't understand why she hadn't combined the facts that he had already.

"Harry," he repeated. "He has been manipulating us."

Hermione blinked.

"Harry wouldn't… why should he manipulate us, Ron?!" she asked confused.

Ron blinked, before frowning at Hermione.

"Why wouldn't he?" he countered.

Hermione opened her mouth and then gawked.

"What… Ronald! That… you can't think that Harry…"

"That Harry was the one to curse Umbridge?" Ron asked and raised an eyebrow. "It's the only explanation that fits."

"How should Harry-?"

Obviously, as good as Hermione's brain was when it came to connecting facts, it had left out the whole chess-aspect that Ron had understood the moment he understood the last of Harry's chess-moves.

"Because he has been different since the beginning of the year," Ron pointed out. "And that time… when he ran out of Gryffindor tower… the rumours about the Hufflepuff girl… he was furious afterwards. I doubt that he wouldn't have taken revenge if he had the chance."

"Ron…" Hermione said, sighing and ready to object.

"Actually, he's very observant," Luna said before Hermione could even think about her further objection. "My Prince has been enraged because of what happened with that girl. I doubt this was the actual catalyst, but it definitely counted towards the end."

Hermione stared at Luna.

"Are you telling me that Harry is the reason why Umbridge collapsed?!"

Luna blinked.

"Of course," she replied. "Who else should have done it?"

Hermione opened her mouth, then closed it again without saying anything.

Neville meanwhile looked at Luna with interest in the eyes.

It was clear that he had figured something out that Hermione and Ron hadn't yet even considered about Luna Lovegood.

"You're what? Part centaur?" he asked her, his eyes attentive.

"Actually more part elf," Luna corrected with a shrug. "But then, I'm Grim-touched, so I'm not surprised you went with centaur instead. My line… has always struggled with the Grim's gift we got for the favour he owned us."

"A grim owned you a favour?" Hermione asked sceptically.

"Not a grim," Luna corrected and her silvery eyes met Hermione's. " The Grim . The First Grim, Death's right hand man, Death's adversary, Death's counterpart."

Hermione frowned.

"I… I'm not sure what you're talking about, Luna," she said and then shook her head. "I've never heard that there's a specific grim out there…"

"There are legends," Neville spoke up nearly silently. "About the First Grim. It's nothing but legends… mostly tied to the Potter family."

Luna nodded.

"The Potters have always been tightly tied with the First Grim," she agreed. "And my family has always been tightly tied with the Potters."

Hermione frowned at Luna.

"The Lovegoods and the Potters?" Ron asked, crooking his head and looking at the odd girl in front of him.

Luna's silvery eyes met Ron's.

"The Lovegoods as well," she agreed. "But I am my mother's daughter - and like her and all her ancestors, I have inherited the gift of the First Grim."

Ron frowned at her.

"Gift?" he asked. "What gift?"

"A small one," Luna answered dreamly. "It's family history and it happened thousands of years ago. We remember anyway, because my family has been nothing but thorough - especially in relation to our gift."

"Gift," Neville repeated this time and crooked his head. He remembered his Gran talking about Luna's mother and the rumours that had gone through the magical world about her shortly before she had married Xenophilius Lovegood. There had been rumours about her knowledge of sacrificial magic. There had been rumours of her opposing Voldemort without her ever being seen. There had been rumours about her father and the family she had come from even if she had officially never told anybody her last name until the day she had married Xenophilius - even in Hogwarts she had always been called by her first name.

Nevertheless, there had been rumours and if those were true, then Neville knew Luna's family line - but even with all that, he didn't know what Luna's family would consider their 'gift'.

Luna looked into Neville's eyes. Her dreamy gaze turning sharp and silver from one moment to the other.

"Cherry wood and unicorn hair - what a curious combination," she said. "I wonder why you never went and got it and instead insisted on using your father's…"

At that, she smiled at Neville and then turned her eyes at Hermione and Ron.

"Of course," she added. "I'd go and try some similar combinations for your wand first because chances are that I might be wrong, but truthfully, the last time anybody in my family was wrong was long before 382 B.C."

When the train finally reached King's Cross, the one waiting at the platform was Harry.

The moment, Hermione and the others stepped out of the train, Harry came up to them, looking them over with calculating eyes.

"I guess you're going to want an explanation?" he asked them calmly, the moment Hermione, Ron, Neville and Luna reached him through the crowd.

"I don't need an explanation, my Prince," Luna immediately replied and then hugged Harry. "I've already guessed that there's no chance that you would actually come and ride with us the Hogwarts express."

Neville on the other hand shrugged.

"I don't think that I have any right to ask where you have been or what you have been doing," he said. "So I won't need any explanation."

Hermione and Ron looked at each other.

But while Hermione looked sceptical and ready to question, Ron on the other hand looked resigned.

It was clear that he at least didn't expect Harry to explain anything and while Hermione was still determined to demand answers, Ron had accepted that he wouldn't gain them as long as Harry didn't want to give them.

"Harry," Hermione started and stepped forward to frown at Harry. "You can't expect us to lie to Dumbledore and whoever comes to bring us to Grimmauld Place. I mean… that's what you want us to do, don't you?"

She narrowed her eyes and Harry shrugged.

"I don't expect you to lie," he answered, sounding surprisingly uncaring. "It doesn't matter anymore."

Ron frowned at that, his mind combining even more facts.

"We're already in checkmate, aren't we?"

Hermione turned towards Ron at that.

"What are you talking about, Ron?" she asked with a frown. "This isn't chess!"

"But it is, isn't it? Ron objected. "Whatever Harry did… he basically played chess… and I bet he would have been with us on the train if he didn't have his opponent already in checkmate."

Harry smiled a bit amused at that.

"Something like that," he agreed and Hermione's frown deepened when she suddenly remembered the day with the Death Eater and the Room of Requirement.

"Black," she said. "Is he manipulating you?"

At that, Harry's mouth twitched.

"I hope you won't go around at Grimmauld Place and accuse Sirius's heir of manipulating his godson… things like that… well, they aren't well-seen in the magical world. The ties of blood and magic are far deeper rooted in society than in the non-magical world," he told her calmly.

Hermione frowned.

"What are you talking about, Harry?" she asked confused.

"Family," Neville replied. "Family in the magical world is far closer tied than in the non-magical world. We don't generally go against family. Going against family without standing with another part of it… it's simply not done. Accusing an heir to act against his Lord's godson… it would be quite a great insult."

Ron and Harry nodded while Luna hummed and looked into the air.

Hermione on the other hand frowned deeper.

"It's… why do I only hear about all this now?" she finally asked. "I mean… if the wizarding world is different like that compared to the muggle world… why don't people talk about it? Why doesn't Hogwarts teach about it? And why aren't there books about it?"

"There are some books on that topic out there," Harry corrected. "But while they exist, they haven't been on the reading list for non-magical-borns in Hogwarts for about a century."

Hermione opened her mouth, just to close it again slowly.

"Why?" she finally ask. "I mean… things like that should be important, shouldn't they?"

"They should," Harry agreed. "But that doesn't change the fact that they aren't taught anymore."

"The traditions have been neglected," Neville agreed. "Gran isn't happy about it, but a lot of others think that knowing about blood magic and line theft and all such… it's outdated."

Harry scoffed.

"It's not outdated," he countered. "Magic is based on it. Losing the knowledge about it won't do us any good, in the long run. We might even lose control of magic over time if the loss of knowledge continues… or we might start drowning in a dark lord problem."

Hermione stared at Harry.

"Dark lord problem?" She asked. "Why?"

"Because most dark lords wander down the path of insanity after they use spells and rituals without the needed protections in place that stop the negative effects of magic," Harry countered. "And most people aren't taught those protections anymore."

Hermione frowned and Ron crooked his head.

"Are you talking about that blood magic Dad and Aunt Muriel insists on us learning that Mum doesn't like?" he asked Harry interestedly.

"Blood magic?!" Hermione screeched before anybody else could say anything else. "What do you mean, blood magic?!"

Ron, Luna and Neville looked at her as if they were confused.

"So?" Luna asked. "It's rituals. Most heirs of the dark and grey families do at least the basics. Only the most part of the light has stopped using those rituals in the last twenty years."

Hermione looked at Ron and Neville in question.

Both boys shrugged.

"It's nothing official," Neville said. "But the most basic rituals - also used in St. Mungo's for their healers - are part of growing up in the older families. Younger ones… like Malfoy, or Parkinson… don't usually follow those traditions, no matter how much they speak about traditions and their decline."

Then Neville shrugged.

"Not that all older families think those rituals are necessary," he added.

Harry sighed.

"The current dark lord and his views also played into a decline when it came to actually using those protections," he said and waved it off. "Anyway-"

But before he could say anything else, he was interrupted by a called "Harry, Ron, Hermione!" by Mrs Weasley.

"Seems like our talk is over for now," Harry said instead and looked back towards the nearing Weasleys who had Alastor Moody and Kingsley Shacklebolt in tow.

Hermione frowned.

"But-"

"Anything else, we can talk about when we're back to Grimmauld Place," Harry said, stopping her in her tracks.

For a moment, Hermione frowned at him, but then she reluctantly nodded.

"Alright," she agreed. "And I won't say anything about you not being on the train for now - but I want some more answers!"

Harry just threw her a short look at that.

"I won't promise anything," he replied. "But we'll see."

Albus Dumbledore couldn't help but stare at the newspaper in his hands.

He had been focussed on finding out of his hint about the Horcruxes had been right, but while he had found evidence to their whereabouts, he hadn't yet found an actual Horcrux - with the exception of the one Harry had brought him nearly three years ago.

But now, when he had just taken a short break to take a look at the news in the hope of a change towards their beliefs about Voldemort's return, he had found something different, yet even more horrifying.

Hogwarts had been closed.

That couldn't be.

Albus was headmaster - no matter what the Ministry decided, there was no way that they could close Hogwarts without him agreeing to it!

Albus shook his head.

No.

Hogwarts couldn't be closed!

No!

With that thought, Albus abandoned his quest for possible Horcruxes - a quest he had been on since the day he had been forced to leave Hogwarts - and apparated to Grimmauld Place.

He needed to talk to the Order of the Phoenix.

He needed to know what they knew.

When he stepped into the hallway, he saw Harry, Hermione and Ronald hurrying up the stairs.

While Ronald and Hermione didn't stop when Albus entered, Harry did. He turned and his eyes found those of Albus.

Something flashed in the boy's eyes.

Then his eyes flickered towards the kitchen, as if to assure himself of something before shaking his head and then hurrying after the other children.

Albus frowned.

Something had been different with the boy right now - and no matter what Alastor had suspected and what Albus had thought… after that gaze, Albus couldn't deny any longer that something had changed.

But before Albus could think about it further, Sirius stepped out of the kitchen door and stopped when seeing the Headmaster.

"Dumbledore," he said, greeting him.

Albus frowned.

Something had changed with Sirius as well.

Normally, the other man had called him 'Headmaster' in the past - being called 'Dumbledore' was basically a warning sign.

"What do you want, here?" Sirius continued, his eyes narrowing at the headmaster in anything but welcome.

"I heard some news," Albus replied and frowned at the other man. "Hogwarts-"

"Closed," Sirius replied, his eyes hard and a distance in his voice that Albus had never heard before in the other man's voice. He seemed even more distanced than he had been the last times Albus had seen Sirius - and even more Black than ever before.

Albus felt quite a bit of unease at that revelation.

"Sirius-" he started to say but was stopped when a stranger stepped out of the kitchen behind Sirius.

"Black," the stranger stopped speaking and then crooked his head to look at Dumbledore. "Huh… the former Headmaster of Hogwarts… what are you doing here?"

Albus frowned.

"Who are you?" he countered, looking at the stranger.

Said man flashed him some teeth that seemed to be far too long to be normal.

"And who are you that you ask that question?" The stranger countered.

Albus stared at the stranger.

"I am Albus Dumbledore," he said, but before he could add something more, the stranger interrupted him.

"I… actually can't remember your name on the family tree," the stranger said, crooking his head. "So I can't understand how you can go and claim a right to know my name in another Lord's house?"

The stranger's eyes narrowed.

"Of course, you might only be like that because your parents didn't teach you otherwise - but considering your age, you should have longs since learned to act with conduct," he said, his eyes scrutinizing Albus like he was the worst kind of offender.

Albus returned the scrutinizing gaze of the stranger.

He clearly had been taught the old ways - which basically meant that he had to be pureblooded.

Albus frowned.

"Isn't it rude as well not to name your name when asked as well?" Albus countered.

The stranger bared his teeth at that, showing of teeth that looked more like fangs than teeth.

"Sure," he agreed, not sounding bothered at all by Albus's reprimand. "If we were anywhere else then it would be quite rude, but considering that we're at a Lord's house and said Lord is standing in front of me… no, I don't think taking away his right to introduce us is rude."

That argument actually stopped Albus from arguing further.

As much as he hated it, the stranger was right.

The old rules stated that in his mansion the Lord had absolute power - and as long as Sirius didn't introduce the stranger, the stranger - following the the old rules - wouldn't say a word or answer any of Albus's questions.

Sirius meanwhile had watched their discussion with amused and interested eyes. Now, when Albus turned his gaze to him, he shrugged, his face suddenly unreadable.

"He's an ally of the family, I guess you can say," he said and Albus turned his disappointed stare at the Black Lord at that.

"Sirius," he said, his voice a dire warning. "You better than anybody know what kind of family you come from. Inviting someone connected to a family like that into your house when your godson is here… do you think that's wise?"

Albus expected the other man to immediately feel concerned about Harry, he didn't expect a raised eyebrow from the stranger.

"Did he just imply I would bite Pater?" he asked, half-incredulous, half-amused.

"Are you telling me, you wouldn't?" Another voice answered before Sirius or Albus could answer to that statement.

Albus turned, just to see Harry walking down the stairs.

The boy was looking at the happenings with a thoughtful look, his eyes oddly wise compared to what Albus expected.

Something had changed - and it wasn't just Sirius and Harry. It was as if the world had suddenly stopped turning and was holding its breath.

Albus didn't like that feeling at all.

"Harry," he said, turning towards the boy who was influenced by Voldemort so heavily right now.

The boy turned his eyes on Albus.

"Not Harry," he said, his voice strong and sure in a way he had never sounded before.

No wonder Alastor had been so concerned for the boy.

"You're not allowed to call me 'Harry', Mr. Dumbledore," the boy continued, his eyes meeting Albus's coolly.

"That's Headmaster, young man," Dodge who had stepped in just a second ago, corrected the boy. Albus was happy that he finally had somebody with him who was definitely on his side.

The boy crooked his head, looking eerily like the stranger next to Sirius who did the same.

"No," the stranger spoke up, crooking his head further as if he was attempting to look at Albus upside-down. "I think not."

The boy send the stranger a sharp glance, but inclined his head nevertheless.

"What… what are you talking about?" Dodge spluttered and Albus frowned.

"I am the holder of Hogwarts's wards," he told the stranger and the boy. "As long as I hold the wards, I am Headmaster."

"But you don't hold the wards anymore," Harry replied softly and there was a slight emotion that looked kind of like pity in his eyes. "Can't you feel it?"

A shudder ran down Albus's spine at that, and Sirius turned to look at the boy with interest.

"He doesn't?" he asked, and there was no concern when he asked, solely interest in the facts presented.

His godson shook his head.

"No," he said. "They broke. The wards that have been on Hogwarts for the last century are gone."

Albus eyes widened when he heard that information.

"The wards!" he exclaimed. "You must be joking, Harry! The wards can't be broken! They were integrated into Hogwarts since the founding… there's no way-!"

"Oh," the stranger said and waved it off as if it was nothing. "Those wards are still standing, I guess. Pater wouldn't break them. They are tied to him, after all."

Then the stranger bared his teeth again.

"The wards that you and your predecessor added on top of them to have better control of the school on the other hand… well, they're gone."

Albus frowned and opened his mouth to speak up, but was stopped by Harry.

"Ana," he said with a sigh and it took a second for Albus to understand that 'Ana' was most likely the stranger's name. "Don't."

The stranger narrowed his eyes.

"He's been careless with the students," the stranger pointed out. "A bit more of a strain on the old wards and they would have broken and left Hogwarts defenceless. In a year or two, everybody with enough power would have been able to destroy Hogwarts's wards!"

"I know," Harry said as if it was a fact and Albus couldn't help but turn and stare at the boy he had seen grow up for the last four years.

"Harry," he said. "You can't actually believe this man!"

Harry frowned.

"And why shouldn't I, Mr Dumbledore?" he countered. "It's not as if you ever gave me a reason for me to trust you, didn't you?"

Albus stared at the boy who looked at him with a cool challenge in his eyes.

"Harry… I… what are you talking about, my boy?" he asked, thrown by the hidden fury in the boy's eyes.

What had happened that the boy was turning against him?

Was it the Horcrux?

Or was it something else?

No matter what, Albus was sure that Voldemort had something to do with Harry's fury.

"I would like to know that as well," Sirius said and leaned back against the wall, his eyes suddenly sharp and cool in a way not even Arcturus Black had ever managed to be. If Albus Dumbledore had to point out the ultimate Black, Sirius would look like him right now. There was a regal bearing that seemed to surpass his forefathers and a darkness that seemed to come out of the depth of his soul. A man like that was easily a man who belonged into Slytherin - or who could have been Slytherin himself.

Albus shuddered at that revelation and wondered if Sirius had started to fall like his family had fallen into the darkness over time.

"Your actions have always been questionable in regard to me, don't you think so, too, Albus Dumbledore?" Harry pointed out with steel in his voice.

Albus frowned.

"Whatever I've done," he said. "It was always for the Greater Good, Harry."

It was the truth.

Albus had always looked out for the Greater Good.

Whatever the boy was actually accusing him off - and Albus bet that the stranger who was looking at Albus with gleaming eyes, had something to do with it - Albus knew he had done the right thing. He had always looked out for the Greater Good, after all.

Always.

"The Greater Good for whom?" the boy snarled, pulling Albus out of his mind and making him shudder.

Harry's voice was so full of resentment and grief, so much grief.

And Albus wondered if he would ever be able to fix what he had done, fix what the stranger had most likely destroyed by careless actions and empty words.

"I'm not evil, Harry," he told the boy, trying to reassure him and start to regain the trust that had been lost so suddenly. "I'm not your enemy."

But the boy just looked at him with dead eyes at that.

"Aren't you?" he asked, his eyes gliding over Albus's face as if he expected to see the answers there.

And Albus?

Albus immediately tried to assure the boy, to make him see reason.

"I'm not, Harry," he said. "I was forced to decide some horrible things - but I always tried to do my best. I always tried to do right by you and anybody else."

Albus wanted to tell the boy that whatever the stranger had told him, it wasn't true, but Sirius was watching him with sharp eyes and something in his face told Albus that he had believed what he had been told as well - and that meant that whatever it was, it must have been something that wasn't that easily to dismiss.

Whatever the stranger must have said, it hadn't just lost Albus Harry's trust, but Sirius's as well.

"Right by me?" Harry repeated in that moment, his voice still dead. "Right by me! Tell me - have you ever thought about me after abandoning me on my relatives' doorstep ?!"

"Harry -"

The answer was a furious, wordless snarl from the boy in front of him.

"I was a fifteen-month-old baby and you abandoned me on a doorstep in November!" the boy snarled, his eyes suddenly burning with green flames.

"Pater," the stranger intercepted and Harry stopped and took a deep breath.

Albus frowned, filled away that the stranger had obviously addressed Harry with the word 'Pater' and the odd thought that the stranger had something else about 'Pater' previously - something that Albus couldn't think about right now with Harry furious in front of him and everyone of his plans breaking down around him.

"There was a warming charm on your blanket and you were sleeping," he countered Harry's fury calmly. "I wouldn't have been careless with a baby."

Sirius snorted.

"He could walk," he pointed out in a deceptively calm voice. "He could have woken up and walked away."

"Or he could have been taken," the stranger added, his head crooking left and watching Albus. "But you obviously weren't concerned with that."

"He had his mother's protection," Albus countered. "He was safe."

"Yes," Harry said with disbelieve in his voice. "Safe and undereducated, ready for your games the moment I was brought to Hogwarts. It's not as if I needed to know the standing of my family in the wizarding world - as if I didn't need to know that my actions could destroy alliances and ensure me enemies for life. As if I didn't need to know there was a prophecy about me - and a role in the upcoming war I had to fill."

At least, Albus now knew what Harry had been told.

Obviously, the stranger had educated Harry on the fact that he was heir to the House of Potter.

And not only that.

The other man had obviously also found out about the prophecy and Harry's role therein in the war against Voldemort - or had that been Sirius who had told the boy about his future path?!

Albus sighed, his gaze sliding over the stranger and Sirius before he looked at the boy in front of him.

Harry returned his gaze with eyes as cold as ice. No, colder. The old man returned the gaze evenly, but his eyes weren't twinkling and hidden grief marred his features.

"Harry," he said softly. "My boy…"

"No," Harry interrupted him, his voice as icy as his eyes. "I am not your boy, Mr. Dumbledore. And I will never ever be it again."

"Harry," Albus said again. "You must understand… everything I ever did - I did it for you! I know it was unfair to never tell you about your heritage, but you are… were a child. You were far too young to understand and I wanted you to enjoy the childhood you had."

"And later on?" Harry asked softly. "What excuse do you have for not telling me about the prophecy and my role in the war when I came to Hogwarts?"

"You were a child, Harry. When you asked me at the end of your first year, I saw a boy. A child whose childhood would be over if I told him. I know you asked, but you weren't ready to know the truth. You were still very much a child and I wanted… I wanted you to have what was left of your childhood.

When you were marked that Hallowe'en I promised myself that I wouldn't get attached. But then you came to Hogwarts, with huge eyes and still believing in the wonders of magic. You weren't as happy as I wished and not as well cared for as I hoped, but you were a loveable child - and I did what I had sworn not to do. I got attached.

Then you fought of Voldemort at the end of the year and showed me that you were a brave child, a passionate child who would do anything to protect things you thought important. Do you know how little you were back then, lying there in the hospital wing, in this way to huge bed? You were but a child, and even after I promised myself not to treat you as one, in the end I still did. And so I didn't tell you that day why Voldemort was after you - even if that day would have been perfect, after all you all but asked me.

Then your second year happened. And again you were confronted with things a child should not see and you pulled through. Should I have told you after you had faced and won against the basilisk? I couldn't and you didn't ask.

And I told myself that twelve was still too young. Then you turned thirteen. I would have been cruel telling you of the prophecy after you just had met and lost your godfather. Then the tournament happened and maybe I should have told you. But you had just faced of Voldemort and lost a classmate. Do you see the trap, Harry? I cared for you. I cared too much. I did exactly what I had sworn myself not to do. And now we are here and I understand that you are angry with me - but believe me that everything I did was in your best interest."

The only answer to that speech was a snort. Then those green, green eyes of the child in front of him met the brilliant blue ones of the former Headmaster and he could finally see the resentment that still rested there.

"Bull-shit," the child intoned.

Albus stared at the child gawking. He had told the truth! The child should have understood, should have forgiven him!

"You might have not told me anything because you wanted me to enjoy the 'rest of my childhood'," the boy said, sneering now. "But you can't tell me you didn't plan the destruction of said innocence and childhood long before I was out of my nappies."

"Harry."

"No, Mr Dumbledore," the boy said and his cool green eyes shone as bright and as unforgiving as the killing curse. "Did you even listen to yourself talking? You told me I was 'too young' to know about the prophecy when I was eleven. It's odd you considered me too young for that after testing me with the Philosopher's Stone."

"I did not test you with… !"

"So you are telling me that it was just coincidence that Hagrid went to Gringotts the same day he took me to get my school supplies to receive the Philosopher's Stone?"

"It was simply convenient for him to fetch you and the stone," Albus defended himself.

"And the risk?"

"There was no risk, Harry."

"Sure," Harry snorted. "So a snot-nosed eleven year old brat without any grounding in Occlumency is no security risk - especially when no one should know about the Philosopher's Stone being brought to Hogwarts. There is after all no possible way to get information like that out of an unguarded mind - and Legilimency was just invented three days ago." The sarcasm was heavy on Harry's tongue, and while Albus just sighed, Sirius scoffed and the stranger leaned back with knowing eyes.

"I think he didn't mind you knowing, Pater," he pointed out, and showed his teeth in a terrifying smile. "I mean, a secret is best kept when it's in the hands of impressionable, young and curious children."

Harry raised his eyebrow at that.

"Mind your sarcasm, Ana," he countered dryly. "Or people might come up with the idea I raised you."

Albus shot a short look towards the stranger and then turned back to Harry to see that the boy was still looking at him, obviously waiting for an explanation.

"The whole staff knew that something would be guarded at Hogwarts so you knowing was not that much of a risk," Albus justified himself.

Harry leaned back against the staircase railing at that.

"Sure - it was just as much of a risk as letting a possessed teacher teach at your school," he countered as sarcastic as the stranger and clearly disbelieving Albus.

Albus frowned.

"I didn't know that Quirrell was possessed, Harry," he pointed out, trying to make the boy see reason.

"Naturally. After all, Hogwarts is just the most secure place in whole Great Britain," Harry replied, snorting. "Wasn't that the reason that I was told when I asked why the Philosopher's stone was brought to Hogwarts?! And if the original wards would have been active - I wouldn't even think about denying it, but like it is, you've basically been telling me that Gringotts with its thief-fall is less secure than an ancient castle where unregistered Death Eater animagi, possessed and poly-juiced Defence teachers and monster-snakes all cheerfully romp around the halls."

To his alarm, Albus couldn't even counter that argument - but at least he could point out the obvious to get Harry to understand his view-point in the whole story.

"Harry - you were still a child when you were eleven. I couldn't have told you anything about your future part in the war!"

The answer was another snort.

"Down there, in the chamber, with Quirrell, I killed a man, Dumbledore," Harry said and when his green eyes met Albus's that time around, they were old, so very old.

"He did what?!" Sirius snarled and pushed himself away from the wall, fury in his eyes. It was the stranger who grabbed his shoulder and shook his head that stopped the Black Lord from drawing his wand.

Albus wasn't sure if he should feel thankful or afraid of the power the stranger held over the Black Lord - and then Harry's words actually registered.

The former Headmaster opened his mouth and closed it again. His eyes were wide with uncomprehending disbelieve. He opened his mouth again, and this time uttered. "You defended yourself from your foe," he said.

"I might have," Harry answered but his eyes were still so old, so old. "But all I knew when I woke up for the first time, was that I had just killed a man. All I knew was that I was a murderer. That on my hands was the blood of another human being." Harry's hands had moved forward, showing Albus his palms while Harry himself looked at them as if they were marred with blood.

"He was possessed by evil," Albus pointed out a bit desperate, but Harry just shook his head bitterly. Sirius closed his eyes in grief and the stranger - Ana? - shook his head as if he couldn't believe what Albus had just said.

"That doesn't matter to an eleven year old child," Sirius whispered. "Heck, it didn't matter to me when I was seventeen and killed a Death Eater in self-defence - so why should it have mattered to Harryjames when he was a boy?!"

Albus threw a confused look towards the Black Lord.

Harry James?

Why did Sirius insist on using both of Harry's names instead of calling him just by his first name?

Before he could ponder that question, Harry spoke up.

"It didn't matter," he agreed. "All that mattered was the blood on my hands. The blood of another human being. All that mattered was that no one ever thought about me after it happened." He looked up and addressed the former Headmaster. "Yes, you came to my bed after I woke up. Yes, you talked to me. You talked - but you didn't listen. You never listened. I was a child, a mere boy, and you simply expected me to forget about what happened. You simply expected me to be able to bear the burden of being a murderer."

"You showed no sign…"

"No, Mr Dumbledore," Harry said and his eyes flashed with death. "You just did not look . I woke up and you were there, talking. I woke up and for you, all was well. But it never was. Do you really think I never broke down afterwards? Have you ever bothered to watch out for me after the death of Quirrell? No, you haven't, because in your world, all was well!"

"Harry…"

"NO! You will listen ! Once in your life you will stay quiet and LISTEN ! You send me back to the Dursleys with the feeling that I just had murdered a man! You send me back to a place where I had no one to talk to! To a place where no one watched out for me! YOU. Send. A. Grieving. CHILD to those humans and expected him to get better! I got better, yes! Because I finally locked it away inside me in the hope that I would never have to see that monster again that I had become that day I murdered Quirrell!"

"You never murdered Quirrell, my boy," Albus said with grief in his eyes.

"Oh, I didn't?" Harry asked sarcastically. "Nice to know that - after all it was just yesterday, that the man died and it was just hours away when I threw up in the bathroom and scrubbed my hands bloody."

"Harry…" this time the grief could also heard in Albus Dumbledore's voice.

"NO," Harry said his eyes blasting. "I don't need your reassurance that I didn't commit murder now! I needed it when I was eleven and all alone in Privet Drive! I needed it when my friends didn't write me because I was a murderer and they knew it and wanted nothing to do with me!"

"Your friends never saw you as a murderer - and they definitely didn't stop writing you because they thought you were!"

"Oh, did they?" Harry asked coolly. "Good to know now - years after I needed the reassurance!"

"Harry…"

"No! You don't understand! My letters might have been intercepted by a house-elf and my friends might have never thought of me as a murderer - but that doesn't matter! All that matters was that I thought that! I. Thought. That!"

"Harry, it was unreasonable to think that of your friends," Albus Dumbledore said sighing. The answer was a furious hiss.

"I was a child, Dumbledore! A neglected, helpless child who hoped just for one thing: acceptance - something that was never provided to me before! My friends gave me some of it, but friends weren't enough! I searched for a parent, for someone who accepted me for me," Harry looked at him with bitterness in his eyes. "What I got in the end was a manipulator who groomed me to his liking."

"I never groomed you…"

"… to kill Tom Riddle?" Harry finished his sentence. "So you're telling me and I was wrong with my assumption that the hidden Philosopher's Stone in the castle was a way to train me? So I was wrong and there is no way to keep children out of the room with the Cerberus - like an age-line in front of the door? So I was wrong and there is no way to find some better protections than a simple locked door, a Cerberus, a Devil's Snare, some flying keys, a chess set and a potion's riddle? And I thought that Alohomora was a first year spell and there are better ways to keep a door locked. Maybe you should have talked to Professor Flitwick? He seems to know better ways that can resist a simple Alohomora!"

"Hagrid needed…"

"Hagrid is not allowed to do any magic and as Professor Flitwick proved - a key can open a door that is closed to an Alohomora," Harry interrupted the former Headmaster rudely.

"Harry…" Albus sighed, but Harry wasn't done yet.

"And why did you take a plant like the Devil's Snare? A plant you cover in first year! Why were there brooms and flying keys in the room with the absolutely closed door? Why was the riddle in the room with the potions - why not simply the bottles - or nothing at all?"

"We needed a way to get it back, Harry," the former Headmaster sighed.

"So why did you not simply use a Fidelius on the room with the stone with you as the secret keeper? I am sure that a phrasing like 'the Philosopher's Stone is hidden in the old dueling room of Hogwarts' would have done it nicely. Maybe you even could have added your damn mirror - without showing and explaining it to an eleven year old child beforehand!"

"Harry I know you don't care for my reasoning but you have to believe me! I always wanted what was best for you!"

The answer was another snort.

"Do you know that in the mundane world there are child abusers that use your tactics to gain the trust of the children that they then will abuse?" Harry asked him casually. The former Headmaster paled.

"Harry…"

"Those people often use gifts and special attention to draw a child into their trap," Harry's gaze turned thoughtful. "I wonder if Hedwig and the photographs of my parents count - after all Hagrid was always singing your praise while gifting them to me. I don't even have to think about the cloak after all. There is no way it wouldn't count."

"Harry, no!"

"And then that visit in the hospital wing. That definitely was special attention. After all, why should the Headmaster come and visit one student in the hospital wing when he doesn't visit the rest that go in and out there. Why was I special?"

"You just faced of against Voldemort, Harry! I had to look out for you!"

"You mean I just did something you wanted me to do so you upped your game by first giving me your solely attention, offering me some advice and understanding and then using your position to reward me for what I had done for you by giving me the House Cup," Harry said softly. "Interestingly 'offering advice and understanding' as well as 'using your position of power for the benefit of the child' is part of the grooming process."

There was a growl from Sirius and the stranger grabbed him harder, but Albus couldn't concentrate on the furious Black Lord. He couldn't believe the words Harry threw at him, the accusations!

Didn't the child understand that this had never been Albus intention?!

How could the child insinuate that Albus could have gone and harm the child in front of him?!

"Harry! I would never hurt you! There is no way that I…"

"So it was not intentionally that you send Hagrid who sang your praise to rescue me from the Dursleys? You are telling me that even after spying for you for ten years Mrs Figg still couldn't spot the treatment I received by the Dursleys and you were utterly unknowing about my situation?"

Albus slumped.

Harry knew about Arabella Figg.

Of course, the dear boy would question her involvement and the way it sounded, Harry thought that the Dursleys had been worse than the occasional harsh word and rough treatment…

"Harry," the former Headmaster sighed, sounding defeated. "Whatever theories you have about me - believe me you are wrong. I never planned to 'groom' you. And I never knew you hurt after Quirrell or I would have done something."

The answer was a disbelieving look.

"So you are telling me you were blind to all of it? Like you were blind to the basilisk that graced the halls of Hogwarts in second year?"

Albus grimaced.

That question definitely wasn't one he wanted to answer - but from the way the boy looked at him, Albus was pretty sure that if he didn't, Harry would make up his own version of the happenings.

"I was not blind to the basilisk, Harry! I did everything I could to stop it!" Albus countered sincerely, hoping to make Harry understand. Instead, the boy's eyes narrowed and the stranger snorted.

"And yet Hermione was the one who found out what creature exactly hounded the halls of Hogwarts," Harry countered, his eyes roving over the former Headmaster's face. "It's definitely normal that a twelve year old girl finds out something like that when an adult wizard who had fifty years to find the answer to said riddle, was still clueless!"

Albus cursed himself and the boy's arguments at that moment. It definitely sounded incompetent when pointed out like that…

"It was a difficult year, Harry," he replied finally. "And sometimes you cannot see the wood for the trees."

Harry stared at the man in front of him with disbelieving eyes.

"So you're telling me you never suspected where the entrance of the Chamber of Secrets was? By wind and fire! It must be truly difficult for a teacher to ask a teenage girl-ghost how she died!"

Albus winced.

Another very well placed argument.

"Harry, Myrtle saw absolutely-"

"She showed me the entrance to the Chamber in second year! Don't tell me she saw nothing! Even if you wouldn't have been able to enter the Chamber, there are other Parselmouths out there - why, by water, ice and fire, haven't you asked one of them?" Harry countered, stopping Albus before he could reason anything. Nevertheless, at least this time around, Albus had an answer to one of Harry's questions.

"Harry, there aren't a lot of trustworthy Parselmouths-" he started to say, but was interrupted by Sirius of all people.

"So, wait," the Black Lord said. "Harry said you had fifty years to solve the puzzle - and now you're telling me that you had fifty years and were still unable to get to know even one Parselmouth well enough so that you could trust him with opening the Chamber?"

Albus took a calming breath, decided that it was best to ignore Sirius and instead turned his attention back on Harry.

"Everyone makes mistakes, Harry," he told him a bit pleadingly. "You can't go around and damn people for their mistakes!"

Harry just stared at him with cool, deathly green eyes.

"Like when you hired Lockhart?" he countered, and while there was no judgement in his voice, his eyes said it all.

Albus sighed.

Another difficult question - but at least one easier to answer than the other ones before them.

"I wanted to expose him as a-" he started to say but was interrupted by the stranger.

"So exposing a man as a fraud is more important than the education of your students?" he asked and the way Harry looked, Albus wouldn't be able to ignore that question this time around.

He sighed.

"No! But he was the only one that applied for the job, after all there is a curse on-"

"And yet you never thought to contact a curse-breaker to get rid of it? Or to at least confirm that it is there? That's a poor performance for a headmaster, isn't it?" the stranger asked with bared teeth.

Harry shrugged.

"It is," he agreed. "But then, he also let the ministry walk all over him when they wanted to have the Dementors on the grounds in my third year."

Sirius stared at Albus as if the other man had told him he was Voldemort in disguise.

"I thought the Dementors weren't on the grounds, but surrounding it," he whispered.

Harry shrugged.

"Only after that fateful Quidditch game," he replied. "And even then - theoretically, that they could enter the wards of Hogwarts means that they weren't ever really of-ground or they wouldn't have been able to come back at all as long as the Headmaster didn't allow it."

Albus frowned, but couldn't object, so instead he pointed out the obvious.

"No one could know that Sirius Black was innocent and you were in danger-"

"Congratulations," the stranger replied coolly, interrupting him before he could finish. "Thanks to the ministry not only Pater was in danger but the whole school. That's definitely far better."

Harry snorted.

"The school doesn't count as long as I am 'safe'," he countered and his eyes challenged Albus to deny his words.

Albus grimaced inwardly but knew that the only way he could counter that argument was if he lied. There had been too many instances over the years that Harry could use as a counter argument otherwise - the Dementors the prime-example.

"Harry…" he sighed, but Harry ignored him.

"And sending two thirteen-year-olds back in time was definitely the only way to rescue Sirius Black from the Dementors," Harry added, the challenge still in his voice. "Especially sending back a boy who fell unconsciousness time after time before when he met a Dementor!"

"There was no one who would have believed in Sirius' innocence and rescued that man," Albus Dumbledore argued immediately. "And you had learned to overcome your weakness towards them. It was natural for you because of your memories to fall unconsciousness while you were in near proximity to them! But learning the Patronus-"

That was the wrong thing to say.

"Neville Longbottom, Dumbledore!" the teen in front of him interrupted him and Albus faltered in his speech and blinked.

"Excuse me?"

"Neville Longbottom," the boy repeated. "He saw his parents getting tortured to insanity in front of him."

"Yes, but…"

"Luna Lovegood, Mr. Dumbledore," the boy added, not interested in listening. "She saw her mother blowing herself up in front of her when she was nine."

"But…"

"Theodore Nott," the boy continued mercilessly. "His father decided to kill his mother while his five year old son watched."

"But…"

"Ginevra Weasley," cold eyes met the former Headmaster's brilliant blue ones. "She saw herself trying to murder her friends, family and classmates while she was possessed by Tom Riddle in her first year."

"But, Harry…"

"No buts, Mr. Dumbledore," Harry sneered. "There are people out there that saw far more horrible things than I, whose mother was killed in front of me with an Avada Kedavra. I bet I wasn't even old enough to understand that she wouldn't wake up anymore at that point of time - so don't tell me 'my memories are worst'! Because if you do, you simply disregard fates far more gruesome than that of my parents. And not one of those students fainted when the Dementors were near them!"

Albus Dumbledore sighed and rubbed his temple.

"Harry," he started again, but Harry just shook his head.

"You disregarded my health. Instead of trying to find out why I reacted to them like I did, you did nothing! Believe me - even if I was blind to it when I was younger, I'm no longer blind to it, now. You don't care about me. The only thing that always counted was your pawn - ready to destroy your enemy, the 'Dark Lord' Tom Marvolo Riddle. If he wouldn't have committed inexcusable crimes against my family, I would have been tempted to join him just to see you fall."

This time Albus looked at Harry with hidden fear in his eyes.

"You wouldn't!"

"Of course I wouldn't," Harry answered sneering and Albus shoulders relaxed again. "Line-theft is nothing you can forgive, after all."

Albus Dumbledore stared at the boy in front of him when he heard that reply.

Line-theft?

Only purebloods still held onto the old believes of being able to steal Family Magick by stealing blood of another wizard in a ritual like the one Lord Voldemort had used. A Muggleborn or Muggle-raised like Harry shouldn't even know about the power of blood!

"Harry, wherever you heard that word…" Albus started to say, but Harry interrupted him instantly.

"Don't you dare to downplay what he did! You, after all should know what unforgivable crime he committed against me that night!" Harry hissed and the knowledge shone in his eyes, showing Albus Dumbledore that he was far too late to hold back the truth. "But then, you also accepted the Triwizard Tournament in Hogwarts - even after it was stopped because of the death rate of the participants. That definitely doesn't sound as if you are still as sane as you once were. Maybe you have forgotten the importance of blood over the years pretending that it doesn't exist?"

"Do you even hear yourself, Harry?" Albus asked with sorrow in his voice. "You sound like a Death Eater."

The answer was a sneer from the boy and a growl from Sirius and the stranger. It was a sharp gesture by Harry that stopped the stranger from doing anything else - even if that 'else' only would have meant to let go of a furious Sirius.

"It doesn't matter if you are mundane-born or pureblood," Harry countered as if he hadn't been called a Death Eater just now. "Stealing your blood is stealing your lineage and your right as a magical being. My words have nothing in common with the views of the blood purists!"

"Harry, whoever told you about the line-theft, surly didn't tell you the whole picture! There are differences- "

"Tom Marvolo Riddle stole my blood, Headmaster! And I will bring him down to his knees for it, don't worry. Like I will bring you down to yours for aiding him in his theft!"

"I never aided Lord Voldemort!" Albus argued, now getting angry as well, but before he could continue, the boy spoke up again.

"So you didn't tell me that I had to participate in the Tournament - even after it was a proven fact that no one under seventeen could enter their name in the Goblet of Fire?! Even after I openly stated that I didn't add or asked for my name to be added?! Even after you could see the truth in my head?!" he countered, laying the blame of his kidnapping to the former Headmaster's feet.

Albus definitely didn't want to take it.

"There was no way to get you out of the contract, Harry!"

The boy just shook his head while the stranger laughed without any humour as if Albus Dumbledore had just told a joke.

"Well, if there wasn't a way - and don't even think I believe you that there wasn't - why didn't you change the challenges to something that doesn't kill children?" the stranger asked, his voice oddly calm compared to the fury in his eyes. He reminded Albus of Harry in that regard and that thought actually made the former Headmaster shudder.

"There could have been easier challenges, academical challenges," Harry pointed out, continuing the stranger's thought process. "No risk for the participants and still something that wouldn't have made you lose your face! If you simply had changed the challenges to a contest in potions, transfigurations and charms, Tom Riddle would have had a hard time to kidnap one of the participants - especially me !"

"No one could have guessed that Voldemort would use the Tournament to return!" Albus interrupted Harry heatedly.

Harry just snorted.

"Yes, sure. Like the basilisk, my godfather and the Tournament didn't fit with your child grooming."

"I didn't groom you, Harry Potter!"

The answer was a smirk.

"So you're telling me you never planned for me to confront Tom Riddle in the end?"

"Of course you have to confront him, the prophecy…"

"It's odd that you didn't train me if you were so certain about my confrontation with Riddle."

"You were a child! I didn't want you to grow up too quickly!"

Harry stared at the former Headmaster in disbelieve.

"I killed a man in first year - and was left alone with the guilt. I was confronted with my own mortality in second year when I was dying because of the basilisk venom in my veins - and there was no one who truly listened to my fear afterward-"

"I listened when you told me about what happened in the Chamber of Secrets!" the former Headmaster interrupted heatedly.

"No," Harry said softly. "You listened because you wanted to know - but you just listened to the story and not to my fear of death. You weren't interested in my feelings, just in the happenings. Exactly like you listened to me telling you that Sirius Black was guiltless but then went and send Hermione and me - two thirteen year old children - in the past to rescue him! It should have been you who did it! It should have been any other adult - not US ! We were children! Children don't belong in a war! It doesn't matter if the war is solely done in politics or on the battlefield! We just came out of hell - and you simply send us back there without a second thought. What a Headmaster you were!"

"Harry, I couldn't tell anyone else. No one would have believed me if…"

"So there was no way that as a Chief Warlock you could order some Aurors with you in the past so that they could see Pettigrew themselves? There was also no way that you could extract a memory out of another one's head or use Veritasserum on my godfather?! What a good politician you are!" the sneer send the former Headmaster's way just strengthened the heavy sarcasm of Harry's words.

It was then that Albus understood that he had lost Harry and that no matter what he said, he wouldn't regain the boy's trust. He didn't know if it had been the stranger's words, Sirius or something else that broke the boy's trust, but it was clear that no matter how much Albus would argue, he wouldn't get it back.

"I'm sorry, Harry," Albus said instead. "I'm sorry that you feel abandoned by me."

Harry scoffed.

"I don't feel abandoned," he countered and his furious eyes returned Albus's sad gaze. "I feel betrayed - and I've felt that way for a long time now. I doubt that any of your words could ever fix what you destroyed with previous deeds."

Albus sighed and wondered if part of his 'deeds' were the things that happened to the boy at Umbridge's hands.

"If you're also talking about Madam Umbridge this year," he started, but was interrupted by Harry before he could go further.

"No," the boy said. "Don't start there. If you do, I might forget myself."

Albus frowned.

"I couldn't do anything against-"

"Those were children!" Harry interrupted Albus. "Children, tortured with a device that should have never entered the school - and no matter what you say, as a Headmaster, you were responsible."

Then Harry pressed his lips together.

"But for this, you already earned your consequences. You aren't the Headmaster any longer," Harry said, his eyes on Albus. "And you are banned from Hogwarts. There is nothing that will give you back your power there."

Albus frowned at that, before turning to the stranger.

"What exactly did you tell Harry, Ana - I presume?" he asked.

The stranger scoffed.

"I didn't tell Pater anything. I came here to bring him a Christmas present," he said, showing off his sharp, long teeth. "And it's not Ana, I'm sorry."

Then his smile sharpened even more.

"At least not for you, Albus Dumbledore," he added.

Sirius snorted.

"Albus Dumbledore," he said lazily, but his eyes were dark with contained fury. "Anastasius Sanguini. Ana - Albus Dumbledore."

Sanguini.

Albus had heard that name before.

Eldred Worple who had written the newest book ' Blood Brothers: My Life Amongst the Vampires ' had only been able to write said book thanks to his vampiric contact and friend Sanguini.

Albus hadn't been able to verify the book, but seeing the stranger in front of him, he suddenly couldn't deny that the other man was a vampire any longer - no matter if the vampire in front of him was the one that Eldred Worple had befriended or not.

Albus had never heard that the vampire in question had a first name - or any other name but Sanguini.

"You… you're a vampire," it was out before Albus could stop it and turn it into something more dignified.

The other man - the vampire - bared his teeth in amusement and thread.

His fangs gleamed in the dark hallway.

"You only noticed that now, Albus Dumbledore?" he asked, half-amused, and yet with a gleam in his eyes that made Albus shudder.

Albus immediately reached for his wand.

He was stopped by Harry who turned his wand on him before Albus could even draw his own.

"I wouldn't do that," Harry told him, his eyes dark and furious. "I'm already furious beyond words with you - if you draw your wand on Ana, I will forget myself, oath or no oath."

The vampire winced.

"Pater…"

"No, he's right," another voice spoke up from the shadows of the kitchen and then another man stepped out of it. "I think I am more than furious with him after all what I heard and saw right now and over the last fifteen years - and I'm barely affected by his deeds."

Albus turned towards the new stranger, and his breathing seemed to stop for a second.

"Regulus Black," he whispered.

The boy, now man, looked at him with eyes so much like Sirius's that Albus actually looked back towards the Black Lord to assure himself that the other man hadn't transformed himself into a likeness of his dead younger brother.

The Black Lord was still next to the vampire, looking at Albus with hooded eyes.

Dodge on the other hand, who had stayed silent all over the argument between Albus and Harry, frowned at the appearance of the Black Heir.

"You're a Death Eater," he said.

Regulus shrugged, but then Sirius piped up.

"Former," he corrected, his eyes wandering towards Dodge. "He is reformed - so you shouldn't have anything against him."

Albus opened his mouth to counter that there was no evidence that the young man was reformed, when Sirius added "And if you doubt it, then don't forget that you're saying the same about Snape - and he still goes to Death Eater meetings."

"Sirius…" Albus sighed at that, but was interrupted by the Black Lord immediately.

"Are you doubting my word?" he asked and there was a challenge that made Albus cautious.

Dodge scoffed.

"Of course we are," he agreed. "Regulus Black is a known Death Eater, after all!"

"And he's my brother and Heir and I said he's not," Sirius countered. "So - are you doubting my words ?!"

"Sirius-"

But before Albus could say anything else, Sirius's looked at him in challenge.

"I asked you a question - I expect an answer, Albus Dumbledore," he said and for a moment Albus saw Phineas Nigellus Black instead of Sirius standing in front of him.

"Dodge is right, Sirius," he said in the end. "There is no evidence that shows we could trust him. I don't understand why you invited him in, but he has to leave and we have to reset the wards - just in case, you know?"

Sirius stared at Albus for a moment, then he slowly inclined his head.

"Yes… ," he said, drawing the word out. "We should reset the wards."

Albus nodded and was about to gesture for Sanguini and Regulus Black to leave, when Sirius continued.

"It would be best if you left, Albus Dumbledore," he said, sounding oddly formal. "And never return. Don't worry, I will keep Harryjames safe, but I think it would be best for you and Dodge to leave and me to reset the wards to keep you out."

Albus stared at Sirius, and the Black Lord stared back.

There was no trace of the boy that was once Sirius Black left. It was as if the man had shred the mask that had been Sirius and stepped out to show that he was a true Black - and as bothersome as any other Black that Albus ever encountered.

It was then that Albus finally connected the dots in his head and he finally understood what had changed in Sirius.

"You commanded your family magic," he said, feeling horrified. "You actually went and commanded your family magic! Don't you know that doing something like that will ensure that you lose your sanity over time?!"

Sirius scoffed.

"My grandfather and my great-grandfather both commanded it and never went insane," he countered. "So why should I?"

"They didn't go insane because rumours said they learned forbidden magics done by Salazar Slytherin to protect themselves from it!" Albus countered. "You never did something like that, Sirius!"

Sirius snorted.

"It seems you know me less than you thought, Dumbledore," Sirius countered, and there was a dark amusement in his eyes. "I learned the rituals as a child - just like them."

And yet, the boy had still gone to Gryffindor, had still been a friend to James Potter, had still fought against Death Eaters and Voldemort, had still renounced his legacy as the heir of Black…

Albus couldn't even comprehend how that had been possible when Sirius hadn't been different from the other Blacks all along.

"Sirius, please, don't give in to the darkness now!" he finally pleaded. "Think about your godson, think about-"

"I am," Sirius assured him. "And that's the reason why you have to leave now and why I don't want you to ever come back, Albus."

For a moment, Albus wanted to protest, then he finally closed his eyes and sighed before stopping Dodge with a single glance from interfering.

"As you wish," he said. "Just remember that Harry grew up as a muggle. He doesn't know anything about our world."

Sirius frowned at him, but in the end slowly inclined his head.

"I won't throw him to the wolves by dragging him into politics," he said and rolled his eyes. "I'm not heartless. He will go when he's ready."

Which he wouldn't be until January, Albus knew.

At least, the boy wouldn't be forced to attend the Wizengamot right now - and Albus was sure that in time he would be able to show Sirius and Harry that he had only their best interest in heart.

All would be well - even if it didn't look like that right now.

With that thought, Albus and Dodge left Grimmauld Place.

At least the Weasleys were still allowed into the house. They would keep Sirius in line.

Little did Albus know that all of his hopes were useless already.

Harry watched the former Headmaster leave with unreadable eyes.

"Wow," Ana said the moment the former Headmaster was gone. "Did you actually throw him out right now? I thought he was something great for your or whatever?!"

"No Black works with Albus Dumbledore," Harry answered before Sirius could actually sort out his feelings. "Sirius followed my father James in the first war - with my father dead and me going against Dumbledore, he isn't about to follow him any longer."

Sirius blinked, then shrugged.

"That's one way to explain it," he agreed before he frowned. "But now I'll have to explain the Weasleys why the former Headmaster won't come by over the holidays."

"They won't ask," Harry assured him. "The only one who might, might be Hermione, but the Weasleys won't. They're not loyal to Albus Dumbledore any longer."

Sirius blinked at that.

"Er… alright?" he offered confused.

Harry smiled a bit amused.

"You will see," he said. "It's politics. It will come out in the January meeting of the Wizengamot."

Sirius raised an eyebrow.

"The one that Dumbledore doesn't want you to attend?" he asked, obviously having caught the meaning behind the former Headmaster's words.

"Exactly," Harry replied before looking at Sirius in amusement. "You're not going to stop me from attending, are you?"

Sirius scoffed.

"I guess you can handle yourself," he countered. "So I definitely don't see a reason to keep you away from politics."

Harry smirked.

"Good," he said and then gestured towards the kitchen. "And now let's get rid of Ana's Christmas present - before the children notice I'm not sleeping in my room."

The seventh of January was a cool and stormy day.

Rain clouds had threatened all night and in the early morning hours, they finally brought down the thunderstorm they had promised.

Nevertheless, a lot of people were outside and walking up and down Diagon Alley.

It was the day of the first annual meeting of the Wizengamot - and like every first annual meeting, this one was a live broadcast in the Wizarding Wireless.

So, like always, a lot of people were coming to Diagon Alley to listen to the broadcast and then discuss it with their fellow witch and wizards.

The Leaky Cauldron was already crammed - even if the Wizengamot Broadcast wouldn't start for another few hours. Fortunescues was about to be crammed as well, soon - and soon. every other shop that had a radio would end up crammed as well - and a lot of shops had one because no matter what everybody else said, having people in their shops often ended with quite a few people buying things that they wouldn't have bought if they hadn't entered the shop that day.

Because of that, the seventh of January was one of the busiest days in the year for Diagon Alley.

But not just for Diagon Alley.

The Ministry was about to be crowded as well.

Journalists, Wizengamot-members and their families, ministry employees - some of them working, some of them acting as if they were working and some of them blatantly gathering in the public parts of the Wizengamot chamber to listen - and a lot of people who were never seen in the Wizengamot outside of this day, were all also gathered in the hallways and the Wizengamot chamber.

Nobody actually expected a lot of work being done today by those who weren't active in the Wizengamot.

The Chamber itself would soon be filled with more members of the Wizengamot on that day than normally attended in three separate sessions over the rest of the year.

Nevertheless, the last thing was still off for a few hours.

Right now, the Chamber was still empty, most Wizengamot members still at home, getting ready for the day.

Of course, not all people were about to get ready already.

Some were standing in the middle of a kitchen, having arguments instead.

"No, Ana, no chance!"

"But, Pater!"

"No chance!"

Of course, that wasn't the start of the argument. Instead, the argument had started quite simple.

"Can I come with you, Pater?"

Harry eyed his son sceptically.

"I'm… somehow thinking this might not be a good idea," he countered slowly.

Ana pouted.

"Why?" he asked, as if he was a seven-year-old.

Harry raised an eyebrow at his son.

"Are you really asking me that right now, Anastasius?" he countered.

His son frowned, making doe eyes at him.

"I'll be on my best behaviour, Pater!" he promised with big eyes.

Harry looked at him sceptically.

"Like you where with Godric?" he asked with a raised eyebrow. "Or Rowena? With the Blacks in the last war against Riddle? Or with Riddle just weeks ago?"

The vampire pouted.

"I know how to behave, Pater! I always followed your demands!"

Harry raised a sceptical eyebrow, so Anastasius decided to elaborate.

"I took Peverell with me and Godric to rescue you so that I was not just accompanied by Gryffindors," Ana argued. "And I just told Rena that I wouldn't force her children to live with the names she had chosen originially!"

Harry just looked at his son with raised eyebrows.

"And I didn't confront old Voldie last war - just like you told me to!" the vampire added hurriedly.

"So you went behind my back and played with him this time around," Harry pointed out.

Ana pouted.

"Archie said something like that to me in the last war when you weren't in the room," he argued. "I mean, he was right - if you don't know it until it's done, you can't prohibit it!"

Harry sighed and then pinched his nose.

"Arcturus," he said, startling Sirius by using that familiar name. "You decided to go and listen to Arcturus…"

"He's a Black!" Ana argued immediately. "We're related!"

"The last time you had something to do with a Black, you tried to convince Perdita to go dragon hunting," Harry pointed out calmly.

Ana pouted.

"It was a joke!"

"She was your sister! She looked up to you!"

"I… I said I was sorry back then!"

"And yet, you weren't better when it came to the Blacks in the last war!" Harry pointed out with a pointed look. "No, I stand by my decision. You're not coming with me to the Wizengamot!"

Ana looked at him with puppy dog eyes.

"But, Pater!" he protested before his father interrupted him again.

"No buts, Anastasius," Harry countered. "There's no argument in the whole world that would make me take you with me to the Wizengamot!"

Sirius, who had been following the discussion with interest frowned at that.

"That… sounds quite finite," he said surprised.

Harry snorted.

"That's because it is," he countered. "Ana… well, let's say there is a reason why he's not allowed to come… which may or may not have anything to do with him and more than one Black in the room usually ends in absolute chaos."

Ana pouted.

"That's not true!"

Harry looked at him pointedly.

"Perdita," he pointed out.

Ana frowned at him.

"She doesn't count, she was my sister!" he countered stubbornly.

Harry just raised his eyebrow in challenge.

"Arcturus and Pollux."

Ana opened his mouth to protest, but was stopped when Harry continued.

"Alphard and Marius," he said. "Dorea-"

"Alright! Alright! You made your point!" Ana said, pouting, before he suddenly turned hopeful. "But we could solve it differently!"

Harry raised his eyebrow at that suggestion.

"And how do you think we could do that?" he asked, a bit amused about his son.

"You could keep your dogfather home," Anastasius pointed out. "Or your Black-follower."

Of course that would be Ana's try to resolve it…

"Not an option," Harry countered. "You're staying him, childe of mine! I don't want absolute mayhem in the Wizengamot, after all!"

And Harry knew that his child would be responsible for mayhem if he was allowed to come. Harry couldn't remember even one incidence like that in the past that didn't end in mayhem when Ana was involved.

"So I should stay here and twiddle my thumbs?" Ana asked, sniffing and pouting.

Harry shrugged, unimpressed.

For a moment he was tempted to tell his child that this was actually what he should do… but Harry knew his son. If he told his son that yes, he should twiddle his thumbs, Ana would certainly manage to get into trouble somehow.

So, Harry guessed that there was just one answer he could give. He wasn't about to let his child run into danger, so the only way he could do something about it, was to curb it by giving Ana something to do.

"Or you could go to Diagon Alley," Harry pointed out, in the hope to ensure that his boy would be occupied and out of danger. "You shouldn't end up bored there."

Sirius in the background laughed amused, while watching his godson trying to curb his own child's tendencies to end up in danger.

Harry threw him a half-annoyed, half-amused look.

"It's the best, believe me," he assured his godfather. "A bored Ana is the worst thing that can happen. Having him go to Diagon Alley is the better idea."

Harry would end up regretting his suggestion, nevertheless.

Just minutes after Sirius Black, new Lord of Black, finally left to the Wizengamot meeting.

He knew, he was early, but he was also nervous and had decided to watch the other Wizengamot members while they entered.

So, Sirius had decided to find a dark corner to watch.

There, he was standing in the dark, watching the other people all around him. His grey eyes were sharp in a way they hadn't been for a long time.

This was it.

It had been a long time coming.

This was the day everything would finally change.

"Are you ready?" the man next to Sirius spoke up and leaned against the wall so that he was hidden even further in the shadows than Sirius already was.

Sirius sighed.

"Do I have a choice?" he countered. "It's now or never."

"Not for you, brother," the other man pointed out. "You're not that involved that you couldn't back out if you wanted to."

Sirius sighed and closed his eyes.

"I might be able to back out if I wanted to," he agreed finally. "But…"

He sighed again and shook his head.

"This is the end. Salvazsahar might not need me - but I need to show him that I'm still there for him," Sirius told his younger brother calmly. "I'm a Black. We stand by the side of our allies. We can't leave him to fight this last battle alone."

Regulus smiled at that.

"He wouldn't fight alone," he said. "We're not his only allies."

Sirius guessed that his brother war right, but there was more to it.

Harry - Salvazsahar - was a friend, had been a friend since they had met in the last war. Sirius couldn't just ignore that friendship. He couldn't ignore what Sal had done for him in the past and couldn't ignore what Sal had done for Lily and James. But most of all, Sirius couldn't ignore that Sal was born his godson and therefore was part of his family.

"We're his family," Sirius pointed out calmly. "If we don't stand by him, who else?"

Regulus looked at his brother with warmth in his eyes.

"The rest of his family," he pointed out.

Sirius waved it off.

"They're not we," he said. "It doesn't matter how many people stand behind him. We're his family, we won't stop to stand by him just because he has someone else as family or counts them as family, it doesn't mean that we should ignore our relation."

Regulus nodded slowly.

"Then don't," he told his brother softly.

Sirius returned the smile faintly.

"I won't," he agreed, took a deep breath and then closed his eyes. "I won't. This will be my choice. This will be out chance to change."

Regulus smiled.

"You're right," he agreed. "This will be our chance to change everything."

He squeezed his brother's shoulder.

"Let's go in and ensure some chaos," Regulus told Sirius.

Sirius smiled.

"Just like the rest of the Blacks always did," he said amused.

Regulus smirked.

"I guess, let's be Blacks!" he agreed and then gestured towards the doors of the Wizengamot. "I hope the magical world is prepared for our return."

Sirius snorted and stepped forward towards the doors.

"You and I know that there's no way they could ever be prepared for us," he countered before finally stepping out of the shadows.

His brother followed him with amusement gleaming in his eyes.

This was the Wizengamot.

This was their chance to change everything - and that's what they would do.

Meanwhile Anastasius Arthur Lucidarius Sanguini was walking through the streets of Diagon Alley, watching the people entering the shops in the hope of finding a space to listen to the Wizarding Wireless.

"They're odd, aren't they," a voice spoke up next to him.

Anastasius turned his head and looked down at the speaker next to him.

"Hello there, Little Moon," he greeted the girl.

Dreamy, silver eyes looked up to him.

Blond hair, nearly silvery-white gleamed in the morning sun.

"Good morning, my Immortal," she greeted him back with a smile. "Why are you here today?"

Anastasius smiled at the girl.

"I'm just here to be out of the way," he said. "Why are you here, Little Moon?"

"Helping Opapa," she said with a smile.

Ana crooked his head.

"An odd way to describe your grandfather," he remarked and the girl shrugged.

"I could have called him Grandpapa, but truthfully? Opapa doesn't look like a Grandpapa. He's definitely an Opapa."

Ana rubbed his mouth at that exclamation, so the girl elaborated further.

"That's like you calling your father 'Father' or 'Daddy'," she told him.

Ana shuddered.

"Ah, yes," he said. "I fully understand. Pater is Pater - calling him anything else would just be wrong!"

The girl - one Luna Lovegood - nodded wisely.

"Exactly," she said. "Just like Opapa is Opapa."

The she crooked her head to look at Ana thoughtfully.

"How did the Immortal Prince like your Yule present?" she asked the vampire next to her.

Ana smiled.

"He loved it," he told her happily. "Not that he liked particularly how I got it - but nevertheless, he loved it."

"Good," Luna said and then reached out to take Ana's hand.

The vampire looked down to their joined hands, but didn't even try to free his hand from her grip.

"Does Pater know you know me?" Ana asked interestedly.

Luna shrugged.

"I think so," she countered. "Mummy knew you and liked you and he knew that you kept in contact with her even after the war - so why shouldn't he know we know each other."

Ana thought that over, and finally nodded slowly.

"I guess," he agreed and then shrugged. "I also like your Opapa. He's a very nice guy."

Luna threw the vampire an amused look.

"Of course he is," she agreed. "He's Opapa."

Ana nodded wisely.

"And you're here to help him?" he asked interestedly.

Luna looked at Ana in amusement.

"Opapa will be occupied today," she said. "Somebody has to be here."

Ana nodded in understanding.

"Of course, Little Moon," he agreed.

Luna smiled at him.

"Do you want to walk with me?" she asked.

Ana smiled at her.

"Are you telling me, something interesting might happen here today?" he asked.

Luna's smile sharpened.

"It's the first meeting of the Wizengamot in January," she said. "Of course there might be something happen today, my Immortal."

Ana returned her sharp smile with a baring of teeth of his own.

"Double, double, toil and trouble, fire burn and cauldron bubble," Luna hummed amused.

Double, double, toil and trouble, something wicked this way comes !"