Harry came back to awareness gradually, the crispness of the sheets beneath him and the faint aroma of potions informing him he was currently lying in the hospital wing. Even in his half awake state he grimaced, he had spent far too much time in the hospital wing, usually after one of his adventures at the end of the year, or after a Quiddich match.
With that thought he wondered what injury had landed him here this time. He could remember the task, his frantic search for his father and the struggle to get to the surface, and he was sure those memories would stay with him for the rest of his life, but after that, nothing. There were a few fuzzy images, but nothing clear, being pulled from the water, being fed some sort of potion, being held against a warm chest, overwhelming tiredness and someone telling him to stay awake but they were so indistinct and isolated that he wondered if they weren't memories at all, but rather a dream. Certainly there was nothing that pertained to any sort of injury that would be severe enough to land him here, although it wouldn't be the first time he had lost consciousness and woken up in the infirmary.
Discover moreBooksApp store marketingcookiesRegular storiesCrossover storiesSuddenly another thought struck him, what had happened to his father? He thought he remembered pushing him up to the surface, but his memories by that point were already becoming blurred. He could clearly remember the desperation with which he had thrust Sirius up, but had his father ever reached the surface? He didn't know and that thought sent panic flashing through him. It couldn't all have been in vain, he couldn't have got that far, and done so much only to fail to save the one person who mattered more to him than any other. But no matter how much he tried to convince himself that his father was alive, that he had managed to save him, Harry couldn't prevent the dread that rose up inside him, nor silence the small voice that whispered 'He's dead, you've lost another parent, you failed'.
He was tired, and his limbs felt wooden but the worry that rose in him dominated his mind, waking him and forcing him to alertness, he would not be able to relax again until he knew what had happened to his father. Harry sucked in a shuddering breath, suppressing a wince as the single movement caused the lingering soreness in all his muscles to flair and forced his unnaturally heavy eyelids up.
It was dark, and from the dim flickers of moonlight that slipped in through the arched windows he could tell it was night. The light elongated the shadows, creating eerie shapes on the floor of the infirmary. Harry squinted, trying to see if he could make out any details but he gave up almost the instant he started; his bad vision had no cure but his glasses. With that thought he started to reach out in the vague direction of the bedside table where Madam Pomfrey usually put his glasses, but he abandoned the movement a second later as his arm protested viciously, sending a flare of pain shooting up the limb and causing it to drop straight back onto the covers as a hiss of pain escaped.
Discover moreMoviesBook recommendationsCookiesMobile user analyticsApp download campaignsHe gritted his teeth, this time braced for the pain and reached out again; he had to be able to see if he was ever going to find out whether he had managed to save Sirius. He froze in the next second when a hand captured his wrist, picked it up and gently laid it back on the bed. "The bites had more venom in them then Poppy realised," A familiar voice told him softly, "She hasn't been able to start healing them yet."
But Harry was far less focussed on the words than the voice that was speaking them. He squinted up in the direction it came from, his eyes making out a blurry outline he was sure he would recognise anywhere, but he had to make sure. "Dad?" he croaked out.
"I'm here pup," Sirius answered, a mixture of worry and relief colouring his voice.
Harry didn't stop to think, or to consider the soreness and injuries that riddled his body, he flung himself at the blurry figure of his father, arms latching around Sirius in a desperate embrace as he sought the final proof that his father was here, alive. The older man rocked back slightly, unprepared for the teen who had launched himself at him and held him in a death grip, but he recovered a second later, moving carefully to sit on the edge of the bed and wrap the boy in an embrace as he felt his son's frame shake with the force of his sobs.
Harry's injuries protested loudly but he didn't care as he buried himself in his father's arms, his face nestled against Sirius's shoulder, tears flooding down his face. All his fear, worry and panic he had felt ever since Bagman told him who they had taken as his hostage was being released in the tears of relief that cascaded down his face. Sirius held him, threading his fingers comfortingly through his hair, not saying anything, seemingly realising that Harry needed the release.
Discover moreWriting forum accessCreative writing coursesAuthor toolsFictionPress integrationAuthor resourcesEventually the tears slowed and finally stopped falling and Harry drew back a little, awake enough to be embarrassed at falling to pieces but as his eyes met his father's gaze he saw a deep understanding there, even as Sirius reached out and wiped away the last of his tears. Then he picked up Harry's glasses and gently slid them onto his face. Harry smiled his thanks as his father's face slid into focus, although the sight of his father's face staring at him brought back the memories of his fear and seeing Sirius under the lake, unmoving and still.
"I thought I'd lost you," Harry rasped out, "I didn't know if I'd made it in time." Sirius smiled sadly at him, and Harry could see the pain and anger in the depths of his eyes.
"I'm sorry you had to go through that pup," Sirius carefully pulled Harry closer, mindful of his injuries which were beginning to make themselves known once more now his storm of weeping had subsided, but as Harry watched his smile transformed into a tender one, "But you did extremely well down there, and I am so proud of you."
Harry couldn't help the smile that sprang to his face, his father's approval was something that mattered more to him than anyone else's opinion and to hear that Sirius thought he had done well, and was proud of him caused a warm feeling to well up inside him. However, now his fear surrounding his father had receded, the worries that surrounded the other hostages returned full force. He hadn't been able to save them all and whilst he had seen one champion approach, he didn't know what had happened to the other two.
"Are they all alright?" He asked urgently and his father's forehead furrowed for a moment before his expression cleared and he hurried to reassure him.
"All the hostages and champions are fine," Sirius told him, and then sensing his want for more information continued, "Cedric returned with Cho about fifteen minutes after we reached the surface, and Krum followed with Hermione five minutes later. Fleur only just managed to reach her hostage, she was attacked by Grindylows but she managed to beat them off and retrieve her sister after two hours." He sighed then carried on,
"You were the only person hurt, and you were injured quite badly. You have over a hundred puncture wounds and bites, and there was venom deep in them that prevents them from closing. The first salve didn't remove all of it so Poppy applied a second dose. That should finish its work in half an hour or so, then she will try to heal the wounds and they should be fixed by morning." His hand brushed over Harry's messy hair, "The main concern was how exhausted you were and when you didn't wake up a few hours ago she became quite concerned."
Harry felt guilt rise inside him, he had managed to worry his father and that was something he never wanted to do. "I'm sorry," he murmured, avoiding his father's eyes. Instantly Sirius's hand came up and caught his chin, forcing him to look at him, "It wasn't your fault pup," he said fiercely, "You don't have to be sorry for anything." Harry didn't quite know what to say but that didn't matter to his father who lightly kissed his forehead before he pulled back.
"I expect you're hungry," Sirius said, surprising Harry with the sudden change in subject, "Poppy gave me express instructions to feed you once you woke and I have no intention of disobeying her. I will do everything I can to make you better, not to mention she has the power to kick me out and as I have no intention of leaving your side until you are better, I'm not willing to annoy her." Harry couldn't do more than stare at Sirius, even after everything the man had done from him, somehow he was still surprised when Sirius did something that clearly showed how much he cared.
Discover moreCartoonsMobile app subscriptionMobile fanfiction appAnime & MangaWriting workshopsSirius saw the shock on his son's face and while he didn't let any hint of his anger at his child's confounded relatives show on his face, inwardly he swore that he would repair the damage and that Harry would get used to having a parent to support and care for him. Supporting Harry's weight with one arm, he pulled the pillows up against the headboard with the other, and then he carefully helped Harry sit back, flicking his wand at the lights as soon as Harry was settled.
Harry let out a hiss of pain as he moved. He had managed to ignore the pain in his relief at finding his father alive and well, but now the numerous cuts and wounds peppering his limbs were protesting viciously at his disregard for his injuries. He glanced down at the bandages covering his arms and he saw the crimson of fresh blood seeping through them and he winced, he had no illusions that in the last ten minutes he had managed to make them worse.
His attention was distracted in the next few seconds as a house-elf popped in with a covered tray which Sirius took from them and balanced carefully on Harry's lap, revealing a bowl of soup, several pieces of bread, a goblet filled with what he presumed was pumpkin juice and two long straws. Sirius caught his puzzled glance and answered the unspoken question,
"Once glance at your arms is enough to tell me you would be unable to hold a spoon steadily pup, let alone a goblet, and whilst I am perfectly happy to feed you I thought you would prefer to use a straw when it came to the juice and soup." Harry nodded immediately, his face flaming. Whilst he knew Sirius had only suggested it as a solution because he cared about him, it didn't stop his embarrassment at the thought of being fed like a small child, he was fourteen after all.
Sirius chuckled slightly at the mortified look on his son's face as he handed Harry a straw and watched as the boy took it gratefully, although he refused to meet his eyes. He frowned, a little worried that he had overdone it, he had only meant to lighten the mood slightly and show Harry how much he cared for him, not embarrass the teen completely.
He watched Harry for a few more moments, but when his son still didn't meet his gaze he knew he had to say something. "I didn't mean to embarrass you pup," He said quietly and Harry's gaze snapped to his, "But I meant it, you are my child and that means I take care of you, so if you ever need my help in any way I promise I will help you." Harry smiled a little shyly at him, and a hint of red still staining his cheeks but he returned to eating his meal, this time talking quietly with Sirius.
Soon the meal was finished, and with most of his worries removed and a hot meal in his stomach Harry was beginning to feel increasingly drowsy. Gently Sirius urged him to lie back down and Harry was too tired to protest as his father drew the covers up and tucked him in with a kiss to his forehead. Part of him tried to protest but it was overridden by the rest. Down in the lake he had feared that he would never have such a moment again, would never experience his father's affection and love, and even if he would never admit it, he enjoyed the affection he had never before had the chance to have and that Sirius gave him so willingly.
Sirius watched as his son slipped back into sleep however a vast proportion of his worry had evaporated. Harry had woken and been perfectly lucid, and hopefully in a few hours his wounds would be healed and he would be able to leave the infirmary in the morning. However the release from his worry had done nothing to abate the anger simmering in his gut, if anything his fury had strengthened.
Hearing the pain and fear in his son's voice as he spoke of losing him, and holding Harry as he sobbed his heart out had kindled a burning rage in his heart. Harry had been hurt because Dumbledore had decided it would be a good idea to test Harry by taking him as his hostage. Sirius knew full well whose fault it was, Dumbledore had asked to speak to him, he had gone to the man's office and the last thing he remembered was an instinct making him turn and seeing a flash of red before he was enveloped in blackness.
It infuriated him for more than one reason; firstly the man had meddled with his son once more, by manipulating his emotions and in the process hurting him. He was sure that the actions had been taken in response to some sort of misguided plan that the Headmaster had in regard to Harry, probably something to do with Voldemort as that bastard didn't have the decency to stay dead but it was not Albus's place to meddle with Harry's life. He thought he had made it as clear as he could, and he was sure that the old man had received his warnings but the blatant disregard he was showing when it came to Harry and the fact that as Harry's father he had jurisdiction over the child was worrying.
Sirius knew that Dumbledore was well acquainted with the pureblood laws governing children of the Noble Houses, as the Headmaster and Chief Warlock he had to be, and yet he was disregarding them. As his father Sirius had to give his permission for any unusual activities pertaining to Harry, and as the Black Lord his permission had to be sought before he could be forced to participate in any event that fell out of his duties, and what had occurred in the second task was definitely both. And yet Dumbledore had authorised him to be stunned, before he could refuse, which showed he knew what he was doing was illegal.
It had gone too far, Dumbledore was operating outside the law when it came to both him and Harry and he was not going to let the man get away with it any more. Harry was his son now and he would not be Dumbledore's pawn, to be trained, tested and sacrificed as necessary, Sirius would protect Harry with everything he had and Dumbledore had made himself an enemy. The day's events had shown him clearly that the man could no longer be trusted when it came to his son, so he had to act. The Headmaster was ignoring the law and there was no way of knowing which laws he would put aside next in his pursuit of the Greater Good. For both Harry and himself to be safe Dumbledore had to be dealt with. It would not be easy, and it would probably take the rest of the school year but he would make sure Harry was safe.
The way Sirius saw it there were two options, number one he could attempt to remove Dumbledore as the headmaster of Hogwarts, but he was realistic enough to know that unless he could bring great pressure to bear, and have the power of the media and Ministry behind him, it was unlikely to happen, and even then it was likely to take several months at the least, months where both he and Harry would be at increased risk. It would be doable, but it would be difficult and the main problem was the increased risk it would bring to Harry and the possibility it could backfire spectacularly.
The second option would be to try and get some sort of legal magical contract with the man which would prevent him from harming or manipulating Harry again, something that was similar to the binding he had placed on Snape. This too had problems. Firstly he suspected Dumbledore was too clever to get himself into a situation where the family magic was applicable, although if he did Sirius wouldn't hesitate to take advantage of it. The stunning might have counted as an attack, but the fact the Dumbledore had not fired the curse himself would make applying the magic chancy.
He could wait and try to catch the man when one of his schemes fell to pieces, but the potential danger it could put Harry in made that an unviable option, for the ancient magic to be applied Harry would have had to be attacked first, and he wasn't willing to put his son in any situation where he might be hurt. Therefore he had to stick to doing things legally, through the Wizengamot. He was a pureblood and Harry was his heir and son, and as much as he despised the pureblood agenda and legalities he had been taught how to use them to his advantage, so perhaps it was time to do so.
It would mean announcing the adoption, and making it clear to the world that Harry was his son and heir and that would make him a target for those seeking to gain the Black Lordship, however the ability it would give him to ensure his son was safe legally outweighed the risks. Once the truth was known he would be able to cite the instances where Dumbledore had gone against the laws and then he could try to obtain a magical oath to protect Harry, making Dumbledore swear not to interfere with his son unless given Sirius's permission to do so.
It wouldn't be more than a quick solution, keeping Dumbledore away from Harry until something more permanent such as his removal from his Headmaster position could be arranged, but it would give Harry some safety, and Sirius would do everything possible to ensure that nobody hurt his son again.
He mulled the idea's over in his head for a little longer before coming to a final decision. He would prepare for the announcement and proof of Harry's position for the next meeting of the Wizengamot they could both attend in a month's time, and at the same time he would begin to lay the groundwork for reducing Dumbledore's influence and power, so when it became necessary he could be removed with minimum of fuss, but firstly he would confront the old meddler once more, and obtain the answers he needed.
Poppy's entry was enough to pull him out of his thoughts as she bustled over, fresh salves and bandages levitating along behind her. She glanced down at the sleeping teen, eyes narrowing as she noticed the fresh blood stains before her gaze rose to Sirius, who regarded her a little warily, expecting a lecture. A faint flicker of amusement skated over her features before her gaze snapped back to the teen,
"When did he go back to sleep?" She asked crisply.
"About ten minutes ago," Sirius answered, "He was awake for about twenty minutes, maybe half an hour and he ate before he went back to sleep."
"That's a good sign," She said, her wand flying through the standard diagnostic charms, "The blood on the bandages however isn't," but as the results appeared in the air she continued, "Although the venom seems to be clear of his system, so the wounds can be healed." Sirius just nodded and moved out of the way as the medi-witch bustled forward, her hands already busy removing bandages, wiping away blood and smearing on salve before replacing the dressing.
Soon she was finished and Sirius moved forward, stroking his fingers through his son's hair. "Will he need anything more?" He asked quietly, tearing his eyes away from Harry for one moment to look at the nurse. Madam Pomfrey pursed her lips as she considered the situation for a few moments before shaking her head, "That dose will heal the wounds and he should be free to leave the Wing tomorrow morning, although if he is still exhausted I would prefer it if he stayed here for another day."
Sirius considered it for a moment before he spoke, "If it is only tiredness still affecting him tomorrow, would he be free to leave the Wing if he spent the rest of the day in bed in his room?" He glanced at her before hurriedly explaining his reasoning, "I don't doubt your expertise when it comes to these matters, however the Wing is rather exposed, as Ministry Officials and the press are able to gain access and I would rather have him in a place where they would be unable to disturb him."
Her expression which had been fierce when he had first spoken smoothed out into a slight frown. "This tournament has been nothing but problems and those blasted journalists think nothing is sacred. As long as you ensure he does rest I have no issues with Harry spending tomorrow on bed rest in your quarters." She surveyed him for a moment, "I presume you intend to stay the night here?" Sirius nodded immediately and for the first time that evening he saw a smile grace her face.
"You will find spare blankets in the cupboard under the bedside table," she told him then her eyes drifted to the sleeping boy, "He's been in this wing so many times," she said softly, "Often for up to a week at a time and nobody has ever stayed with him. His friends have visited of course, and often quite persistently too but I remember at the end of his first year, we sent notification to his muggle relatives that he had been gravely injured and but we never received any response." She looked at Sirius then and smiled, "You are the first person to do so, and I'm glad to see it. He's always been too lonely." With one last glance at the child who was sleeping peacefully she turned and headed back to her quarters and Sirius settled himself in the chair next to his son, to watch over him for the night.
Up in his office Albus Dumbledore was pacing, he had to admit that the events of the task had both surprised and shocked him, but his plan had also come to fruition and it had been enlightening to say the least to observe how Harry had handled the task. He was forced to admit that in the Champions Tent he had been caught off guard by the display of ambient magic he had witnessed. Whilst it had proved his theory about the blood adoption it had unsettled him at the same time.
The power that boy wielded was astounding and he had even felt a faint flicker of fear as he felt the magic build up in the tent, and what was even more unsettling was that he was certain the boy had not been aware of the magic that was pouring out of him. He thought he had experienced what ambient magic felt like when he had confronted Sirius but he was only now beginning to realise that he had only experienced the magic when it had been tightly controlled, the magic whipping around Harry had been raw, unfocused and wild and it frightened him. There was no knowing what damage it could inflict if Harry lost control of his temper.
He pushed that thought aside for a moment, Sirius had to know how to control it and would almost certainly teach him the skill, and as much as it pained him to admit it, he had no expertise when it came to ambient magic, for the moment it was more important to concentrate on his plan. His idea of testing Harry had certainly been inspired. He could have taken Mr Weasely or perhaps Miss Bones as his hostage but in the end taking Black had proved to be far more profitable, in terms of both information and testing.
His aim had been to see how Harry performed under pressure, when the threat was directed at someone he loved and although he wished it was not so – Black had far too much power and influence – he knew that the person the child loved most was his godfather. Harry had performed past his wildest expectations, not only had he completed the task in the shortest time, the only person to arrive before the time limit which for a fourteen year old was no mean feat, the injuries that he had sustained and ignored, and his exhaustion upon completion indicated that he was willing to sacrifice everything if it meant it would protect his family. He was pleased to see that mindset already in place as it meant, even with Black's interventions, that the boy would still be willing to sacrifice himself for the Wizarding World.
Albus Dumbledore smiled to himself as he sipped at his tea, despite the complication Black presented it was still possible to save the Wizarding World through Harry's sacrifice. Little did he know that the plans he was concocting would never see the light of day, particularly if Sirius Black had anything to say about it.
A faint light intruded into Harry's sleep and he stirred, moving his head slightly and letting out a small discontented sound when the light didn't go away. He heard the sound of a quiet chuckle above him and a hand buried itself in his hair. Sleepily he pushed up heavy eyelids to meet the kind face of his father, vaguely aware that he wasn't really in any pain.
"I'm getting you out of here before you're swarmed with reporters," Sirius murmured, threading his fingers through Harry's hair, a gesture that was both soothing and comforting. "Madam Pomfrey says you are to stay in bed today but you will be doing it in your own bed and not the hospital wing, you'll be safer there." Harry nodded clumsily, not really awake enough to fully comprehend what his father was telling him.
It was a testament to his tiredness that he didn't utter a single word of complaint when his father picked him up, cradling him protectively against his chest. Harry rested his head on Sirius's shoulder as the man carried him through the corridors which were mercifully devoid of people and back to his quarters. Reaching them, they entered and Sirius gently settled him in his own bed. "The house elves will bring us some breakfast and then you can go back to sleep pup." He told him as Harry pulled on his glasses, gradually trying to wake himself up.
He was glad to have escaped from the hospital wing as he had never really enjoyed spending time there. It was irritating to be forced to remain in bed for another day but when he actually focussed on how he was actually feeling he was forced to concede it was probably necessary. He had pushed himself to the utter limit, and that combined with his injuries meant that he needed the rest, and he was honest enough to admit that he didn't really feel like doing anything, and a bit more sleep was certainly an attractive prospect but still,
"Do I have to sleep all day?" He asked plaintively.
Sirius chuckled and reached out to ruffle his hair, "You've got to stay in bed pup but I'm sure she wouldn't mind if you read some books, and perhaps later we could play a few rounds of chess, but I think after breakfast you should sleep a little more." There was no disguising the concern he heard in his father's voice.
Harry smiled slightly and leaned against his father's side. Sirius had sat on the edge of the bed and to Harry's mind it was a lot more comforting to snuggle up against his father, than rest against the pillows. Sirius smiled tenderly down at him and wrapped him in a one armed embrace as they waited for their breakfast.
Once they had eaten Sirius carefully removed the tray from the bed, making sure to brush away any stray crumbs before coaxing Harry back under the blankets and tucking him in. "Will you stay?" The boy asked drowsily.
Sirius sat down beside the bed, and carded his fingers through his child's messy black mop. "I'll stay until you go to sleep," he told Harry softly, "I've got to speak with a few people which might take a couple of hours but after that I promise I'll be here." He paused for a moment, and seeing the hints of fear and sadness in Harry's expression he continued, "I'll cast a charm over the room which will tell me when you wake up and if I'm not already here, I'll come back, okay pup?"
Harry considered the offer for a fraction of a second before nodding. He had already been surprised when his father had stayed the night with him, and even more surprised now when, even though he had other things he needed to do, he was still putting Harry first and nobody had ever done that for him before. He smiled tiredly up at his father and Sirius pressed a kiss to his forehead in response. "Sleep pup," he murmured tenderly, "Get better and I promise I'll be back when you wake."
As he had promised Sirius waited until he saw his son's breathing even out as the child slipped easily back into sleep. Once he was sure Harry was fast asleep he stood slowly, being careful not to make any noise that might wake the slumbering teen. With a wave of his wand and a muttered incantation he set up the charm that would alert him if Harry woke. Normally such a charm would be used on babies or very small children, but he didn't see any need to inform his son of that fact. Running his hand through the child's hair once more he turned and headed for Dumbledore's office, it was time and past to deal with a meddling Headmaster.
Dumbledore felt the wards surrounding his office vibrate, warning him of the coming staff member. He just caught a hint of magic leaking into the room before someone knocked sharply on his door. A quick glance at the spells revealed who his visitor was and he had to suppress a sigh, he did not want to have to deal with an irate Sirius Black now, but it seemed he had no choice. Schooling his voice so it betrayed no hint of his irritation he spoke. "Come in Sirius."
The Black Lord strode into the room, his eyes black and flashing with rage, and magic swirling round him like a cloak. It was an impressive show of power designed to intimidate and reluctantly Dumbledore had to admit it did intimidate him slightly. Ebony eyes fastened on him and when Black spoke his voice was cutting, "Nobody waiting to stun me in the back today Headmaster?" He asked sardonically but there was no mistaking the bite in his voice.
Dumbledore kept his calm mask up, although inside the faint flickers of fear and regret arched along his ribcage. He hadn't intended for Sirius to realise how he had been taken capture but he remembered, too late now, that Black had been an auror and was easily able to spot how he had been taken capture, but now that Sirius knew, and he hadn't denied it, he had given Black more leverage to use against him. "My hands were tied," he said in his most reasonable voice, "It had already been decided that you were to be Harry's hostage."
"You decided the hostages," Sirius shot back without missing a beat, "It would have been easy enough to choose another. However," his eyes darkened further and the magic rose, wrapping Sirius's form and licking at his desk, leaving black marks where it touched the wood, "The issue is not the choice of hostages, although I abhor your choice due to the effect it had on Harry, but rather the fact you have ignored any and all legal requirements in regards to Harry."
The Black Lord paused to allow that to sink in and Dumbledore felt the first hints of fear race through his body as the magic grew thick in the air. Just as the silence and magic had grown oppressive Sirius reigned the magic in, in a superb display of control and mastery of his own power. Dumbledore sucked in a breath with the sudden relief, but instantly his attention was focussed on Black as the man began to speak once more.
"I'm sure have already guessed but in case you are still awaiting confirmation, I have adopted Harry Potter by blood adoption. He is now my son and my heir, with all the legal protection and rights that confers on him as the son of the Lord of the House of Black." Sirius smiled, but the smile was flinty.
"As Headmaster of Hogwarts you should know precisely what this entails, but as you have made a practice of ignoring these laws I will remind you." Dumbledore ignored the clear jab as dismay filled him. He could suddenly see how he had erred and he realised precisely what Sirius could do under the old laws. But Sirius pretended not to notice the sudden flash of comprehension, instead continuing in a hard unrelenting voice.
"Harry is my child and as such my permission must be sought and granted before any activities which fall outside school discipline, OWL, NEWT and similar scores and legal prosecution can occur. You know this, he is not the only Lord's son to receive his education here but you seem to be disregarding the law when it comes to Harry and that ends now." The Black Lord wasn't shouting, instead he was talking with a quiet intensity that was somehow worse.
Albus pulled himself together, rallying his defences. "I am sorry that you seem to think I have overstepped my authority, however as you did not provide me with notification of your son's new status, I cannot be held accountable for the decisions I made and the actions I took..."
He trailed off when Sirius slammed his hand down on the desk, black fire burning in his eyes. "Ignorance of the law does not excuse you," he hissed, "And Albus, I warned you, warned you about what would happen if you hurt my son again, if you overstepped your authority and I am not one to break my promises."
Dumbledore could hear the threat in the man's voice and unobtrusively he reached for his wand, he needed to contain this situation before it got out of hand. He knew that Sirius would not back down from his threat, would carry out whatever he felt was necessary to protect his son. Part of him marvelled at the love that must prompt Sirius into this action, love so vast for the child in his care that he would do anything to ensure his protection from anything he regarded as a threat, and as this conversation had revealed to him, what Sirius now viewed him as.
His wand wasn't even halfway out its sheath, when a powerful surge of magic pounded into him, sending him flying backwards and pinning him against the wall, as the wand was torn from his grip. Dumbledore made the mistake of looking down and realised with a flash of fear that there was nothing but pure magic suspending him in midair, and he met the enraged eyes of the Black Lord.
"Is it not enough," he hissed, pure venom in his voice, "That you hurt my child by forcing him to compete in this farce, and deliberately choosing in such a way as to hurt him the most? Must you now attempt to draw your wand on the only parent he has left?"
"Everything I have done has been in the best interests of Harry," Dumbledore tried to protest but lesser men would have quailed at the look Sirius Black sent him then.
"Best interests," he said, his voice icy and his visage every bit as black as his name, "No Albus, your actions are not in the best interest of my son. They have not been for a long time now and that is why I have started legal proceedings. You will stay away from my child, or you will risk your magic. It is your choice."
Dumbledore felt like something had collided at him at high speed, knocking all semblance of rational thought from his mind at that statement. If he had been thinking he would never have said what he did then, "But you can't," he gasped out, "Harry must be trained or he will be unable to sacrifice himself." The instant the words left his mouth he froze. He had never meant to reveal that much, that Harry would have to die in order for Voldemort to be defeated.
Sirius stood still, eyes blazing as he glared at the man pined to the wall, trying desperately to understand what Dumbledore had just said, what he had implied but when the words and their implications settled in his gut cold fury swept through him, and his magic responded. Flaring up and becoming almost tangible as it fed of his anger. "Tell me," he grated out through clenched teeth, "Why I should let you live when you have just revealed you are training my child to kill himself?"
Dumbledore flinched at the harsh tone and blunt words. As much as he abhorred killing, once he had discovered the horcrux that resided in Harry's scar, and received confirmation that Tom had indeed made these items when Harry brought him the diary, he had come to the realisation that in order for Voldemort to be defeated Harry would have to die and he was preparing the boy for that eventuality. However the growing pressure in the room as the ambient magic grew, pressing down on him as it fed on the Black Lord's rage gallivanted him into speaking once more. He had kept these secrets for years but he was under no illusions that if he didn't reveal the horcrux, he would never leave the room alive.
Drawing a deep breath he gazed down at the child's father with sad, regretful eyes. "Harry is a horcrux," he said softly. The sudden flash of understanding in Sirius's eyes prompted him to continue, "His scar contains a piece of Voldemorts soul, so in order for Voldemort to die Harry must die. It is regrettable but it is necessary." He looked into steady grey eyes, noting the lack of shock or fear at the news and came to an uncomfortable realisation. "You already knew?" He phrased it as a question and was unsurprised to see the Black Lord nod, although his ire was still simmering below the surface.
"The horcrux was discovered by the goblins," Sirius told the old man briskly, no hint of his inner turmoil showing on his face. His rage at the old man had in no way abated, he was still furious at the man for even contemplating killing his child, although with his information it was a little more understandable. Part of him was disgusted that the Headmaster had known about the horcrux and yet had done nothing to see it if could be removed, or even attempted to find a way. The man had had years to research and plan and yet he had done nothing, content to sit by and train Harry into sacrificing his life for the Wizarding World, or Dumbledore's much vaunted Greater Good.
He was snapped out of his thoughts by the old man's sigh of relief, "You understand then why Harry must die."
"I understand nothing of the bloody sort," he shot back instantly, not missing the alarm that skittered across Dumbledore's features,
"If Harry does not die Voldemort will never be vanquished," Dumbledore said urgently, "We cannot sacrifice millions to save one boy. For the good of the Wizarding World Harry must die, and must die at Voldemort's hand." The pure magic the surged out of Sirius at that statement pounded into Albus, leaving him gasping for breath and lightheaded. By the time his vision cleared he was staring into eyes so dark they had turned jet black.
"Harry will not be sacrificed like some pawn," Sirius shouted, "Even if the bloody horcrux was still in his head, he would not be dying by Voldemort's hand." Those words brought Dumbledore up short,
"If it were still in his head?" He repeated numbly and Sirius sent him a look filled with scorn.
"The goblins were able both to recognise and remove it," he told him scathingly, "Something you would have known if you had ever taken the time to see if there were any alternatives but no you insisted that my child had to die and didn't even bother to look!" By the end Black was shouting, his anger a palpable thing as he reprimanded the older wizard. And Dumbledore let him. He had never considered that there might be another option beside the child's death and he was ashamed. He had condemned Harry to death without even bothering to look at the alternatives and he deserved everything the Black Lord could throw at him.
Suddenly he realised that Black was still speaking and that he hadn't been paying any attention to the words. "Harry will not be sacrificed for any reason," he was saying, his voice hard, "It is not the job of the child to do an adult's work, Voldemort is our problem, and should never have been Harry's responsibility. A responsibility you seem all too keen on giving him." Dumbledore said nothing, refusing to rise to the bait and reveal more information, too much had been revealed already, he had only been fortunate that Black already knew about the horcruxes.
Sirius regarded him for several long moments, the silence stretching until it became uncomfortable. Dumbledore was about to draw on his reserves of Gryffindor courage when the man spoke.
"I used to trust you Albus," He said quietly, no hint of anger in his voice but rather an icy control which was somehow more dangerous, "We all did, James, Remus, Frank, Alice, everyone in the Order, we looked up to the wise Albus Dumbledore, Leader of the Light to solve the problem that was Voldemort." He paused, but his eyes that still shone black with the anger that boiled just below the surface bored into him, "How many died because you did not listen to others or share information? How many more did you sacrifice for your Greater Good? How many did you train to sacrifice themselves like you were doing with Harry?" He let the questions hang in the air for several moments, watching impassively as flickers of shame, grief and determination passed over the old wizard's features.
"You have made many mistakes," Sirius said softly, but there was an air of malice in his tone. "But your last mistake was threatening my child, and that is something I will not let go unpunished." He paused to let that sentence sink in, and watched as Dumbledore's face pale as he realised he was held in the air by ambient magic, wandless and completely at Sirius's mercy.
Sirius knew he had to act now. Dumbledore had managed to put him completely at his mercy, he was wandless and suspended by the ambient magic the pulsed with his anger, acting under his control. It was the kind of opportunity he thought he would not receive but the man had blundered and it was up to Sirius to capitalise on that mistakes and make sure Harry was protected before he left the room.
"There are three options," the Black Lord said slowly and Albus's eyes snapped up at the possibility of hope, "I could pursue this legally through the courts, between what the Ministry owes me, the pureblood laws and Harry's position as the Boy-Who-Lived it would be an open and shut case, or I could oust you from this castle and prevent you from ever having contact with Harry again, or finally I could make you swear an unbreakable vow never to harm Harry or manipulate him in any way. It is your choice."
The Headmaster pondered the decision for a minute. He wasn't stupid and he knew he had to take one of these options, and he knew that Black would not have made any of the threats if he was not certain he could carry them out. He knew he couldn't leave the castle, it would leave the school and students vulnerable when Tom regained his body, and a prolonged struggle with the Wizengamot - especially as it would force him to leave his position as Chief Warlock which would lose him the ability to influence the ministry, something that would be key in the next war - would hinder him greatly. Not to mention, if he lost the case, he would also be making some form of binding magical contract or unbreakable vow.
Yes, he thought to himself. He would take the unbreakable vow, such things always had ways of working around them. It was a complication although not a huge one. Now he knew that the horcrux had been removed he no longer needed to prepare the child to sacrifice himself, but rather train him to defend himself, and he would have to revise his plans anyway. An unbreakable vow would not be a huge handicap, and it would get Black off his case although the man would merit watching from now on.
He pulled together what remained of his shattered dignity and drew himself up. "I am willing to take an unbreakable vow Sirius," he said commandingly, as if it had been his intention all along. Sirius made a slight noise of derision which Dumbledore chose to ignore. "I presume your floo is open," Black said suddenly and Albus nodded, caught off guard by the sudden subject change. However his intentions became clear a second later when the man threw a handful of powder in a spoke to Remus Lupin, briefly outlining the situation.
As soon as he had finished Sirius strode over to the desk and grabbed a piece of parchment, hurriedly scrawling something down. "Remus will act as bonder," he said without looking away from his work. "He will look over the vow and then you will take it." Albus didn't allow any of his surprise to show on his face, he hadn't expected to have to take the vow that instant but he wasn't given an option as Remus Lupin stepped through the floo, glanced over the piece of paper, making an amendment here and there.
A glance from Black released the ambient magic holding him pinned and he slumped gracelessly to the floor. It gave him a little satisfaction to see Black reach out to steady himself as he released the magic, evidently it wasn't as effortless to wield as it had seemed, but the moment of weakness passed quickly and before Albus could attempt to regain control of the situation, a werewolf was hauling him to his feet, handing him a piece of parchment, and Sirius had taken his hand, Remus's wand poised ready to cast.
Dumbledore barely had time to register what was on the parchment before the Black Lord started to speak, evidently he didn't want to leave anything to chance.
"Do you Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore swear never to harm or conspire to harm Harry James Potter, son of Lily Potter, James Potter and Sirius Black, Heir to the Houses of Black and Potter, and never to command others to harm him?"
"I do." The first flame twined round their clasped hands.
"And do you swear never to interact with Harry James Potter outside of the duties of Headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry without the express permission of Sirius Orion Black, Lord of the House of Black?"
"I do." The second flame reached out to join the first, and Sirius though he detected the first hint of alarm in the old wizard's eyes as he realised just how restrictive the vows were.
"And do you swear never to force Harry James Potter to commit any action against his will, and to never use others to influence or manipulate him?"
Sirius saw the Headmaster hesitate slightly before finishing the oath and he knew he had been right in his actions. The man would not let the vow stop him, it would curtail his activities to be sure, and it would provide Harry with a measure of safety, but it would not ensure Harry's safety in the long run. He would have to continue with his plans to remove the old wizard, but the vow had bought him precious time and ensured Harry had a measure of protection until he was able to remove the old bastard.
With a promise to Remus that he'd speak later the werewolf departed and Sirius surveyed the man before him. For the moment Albus Dumbledore was neutralised but he was a fool to think it would stay that way, and there were still answers he needed. However a glance at the time and the first faint stirrings from the alarm he had placed on his son's room indicated that his child was beginning to wake.
"This issue is not finished," he warned the man, "There are still answers I require, and answers that you will give me." His voice was soft and it contained a promise that his words were not merely idle threats, "But my son is waking, and I promised I would be there, and you are not going to make me break that promise." He nodded shortly at the Headmaster, before spinning on his heel and striding out of his office, leaving one contemplative Headmaster behind him.
Sirius used the walk back to his quarters to clear his head and remove the last vestiges of his anger. He knew better than anyone else the influence the Dursleys had had on his child and he was not going to risk the trust his son had in him by seeing his anger. He slipped quietly into the room, removing the spell with a flick of his wand, just as his son stirred, eyelids fluttering open.
"Hey there pup," he murmured and instantly Harry's eyes snapped to him, disbelief and affection warring in their gaze. Gently he slipped the teen's glasses onto his face, and he saw the happiness and delight in his son's expression as he realised that Sirius had kept his promise, had come back and stayed with him. "Thanks Dad," Harry whispered and Sirius smiled tenderly at his child, "Anything for you Harry,"
The child ducked his head, embarrassed, but also pleasure shining in his eyes at the obvious love and affection Sirius held for him. Sirius couldn't help but smile at his son, but as he watched him the impact of Dumbledore's words hit him. He had been planning to sacrifice his son, his precious child. He had heard the words, and he had responded in anger, fear and protectiveness but looking at his child now the full impact of what would happen if the Headmaster had succeeded struck him.
Instinctively he reached out, gathering his child into an embrace and holding him close, protectively. He felt Harry tense slightly at the unexpected contact before he relaxed, burrowing into his embrace. "Dad?" Harry asked a little anxiously. He didn't mind being pulled into the embrace, in fact he enjoyed the security and warmth of being wrapped in his father's arms but the gesture had been unexpected, and as much as his father was trying to hide it, he could tell that Sirius was upset.
"Dad?" he asked again when Sirius didn't answer. The animgus sighed, stroking his fingers through Harry's hair.
"Just some things Dumbledore revealed upset me pup," he murmured eventually, keeping Harry securely tucked in his embrace, "He knew about the horcruxes and," Sirius paused, he didn't want to frighten his son but he knew that he needed to be aware of Dumbledore's scheming if he was to be on his guard and protect himself from it. Eventually deciding there was no way of saying this gently he ploughed on, "He knew you were one and was training you to sacrifice yourself for the 'Greater Good'."
Blank shock flashed across Harry's face before Sirius felt him slump in his arms. He tightened his grip, pulling his child closer and giving as much comfort and support as he could to the child in his arms. "I trusted him," Harry's voice was barely above a whisper and it was thick with revulsion, "But all this time he's been planning my death." Emerald eyes turned to regard Sirius, pleading with him to tell him it was false but that was something Sirius could not do.
"I'm sorry Harry," he murmured, his voice filled with tenderness and sympathy, "But he admitted that he intended to have Voldemort kill you in order to save the Wizarding World." Harry regarded him for several more moments before suddenly he collapsed in Sirius's arms, snuggling as close to his father as possible and burying his face in his shoulder as his whole body shook. Gently Sirius rubbed his back, murmuring soothing reassurances and comfort. Eventually the shaking stopped and Harry raised his head to look Sirius in the eye.
"I know it hurts," his father said softly, capturing his attention, "You trusted him to take care of you and he betrayed you in the worst way possible, but I swear Harry that I will never let him hurt you, and I will always love and protect you."
Harry looked up at the man who had cared for him, loved him, adopted him as his own and he knew that every word was the complete truth. Despite Dumbledore's betrayal he would always have his father and that was something that nobody would take from him again.