The Great Alliance

February 13th, 1977

"Where the hell is the bloody git?"

"I don't know." Harry shrugged as he leaned back in his huge canopy bed, high in the sixth-year boy's dormitory of Gryffindor tower: "You're the one that usually spends all his time with him."

"Yeah, because you've ditched us, your mates and brothers, in favor of staring at McKinnon's ass all day." Sirius huffed as he jumped up from his bed, checking his wristwatch once more: "And don't even try to deny it!"

"I won't, there's no point." Harry grinned, placing both hands behind his head: "Still, I can't help but catch the faint traces of jealousy in your accusation, Padfoot. I hope you've not secretly been checking out my girlfriend?"

"Git!" Sirius rolled his eyes and huffed something under his breath that sounded suspiciously like: 'As if I'm the only one.'

Walking up and down the floorboards from the entrance to his bed, the boy groaned in frustration: "I don't care what bloody mess James probably got caught up in this time. We're not ditching another session. You've made some good progress, but it's time to take it to the next level."

"Besides, if we wait five more minutes, you'll probably start showing withdrawal syndromes due to separation from your frequent 'workout partner'..." Sirius snickered.

"I'm game." Harry nodded: "What shall I try this time then?"

The other boy pondered over the question for a few seconds: "You've managed a few partial transformations already, the biggest one being on your entire arm, from your fingers to your shoulder, correct?"

Harry nodded: "External limbs are the easiest since it's less complicated to imagine the change and one can even actively watch the transformation, micromanaging any smaller mistakes."

"Now you sound almost like Evans." Sirius chuckled. Holding out his right arm, the skin underneath the sleeve of his school uniform turned black and furry. His finger twisted into pawns and nails into sharp crawls: "But in essence you're correct."

He reversed his transfiguration with a smirk: "Try to transform a single leg. It's still an external limb, however, due to the larger difference in size and anatomy, it's still a bit more difficult than a wing."

"Okay." Harry nodded and took a deep breath, propelling himself up on the edge of his bed: "Let's give it a try."

He shrugged off his shoe and socks, pulling the sleeve of his trousers above the knee. Then he let both his legs dangle over the edge and focused on his left leg, imagining the changes he desires in as much detail as possible.

Ever so slowly the pigments of his skin shifted from pale to black. The entire shin shrunk in length until it hardly poked out underneath the trousers. Instead of a human foot with five toes, black scalps split into four granular or pebbly-textured segments that ended in sharp, sparkling claws.

"Nice one, Harry!" Sirius cheered when the changes remained even after Harry moved the leg, eying it from different angles: "That's huge progress already!"

"The pressure on finding a name for me inc-"

Suddenly the door to their dormitory was thrown open: "What did I miss?"

Harry looked up to see James standing in the swell of the entrance, crimson red blush on his cheeks, hair undoubtedly even more unruly than usual. His father looked like he had just run a marathon, forehead gleaming with a thin layer of sweat that he wiped away with one hand.

"Where the hell have you been, mate?" Sirius went off on him: "You know how difficult it is to steal Harry away from McKinnon and when we finally manage to do so you don't show up?"

"I'm sorry..." James murmured. The corner of his lips tugged into a grin: "I just had... stuff to do."

'Could it be?'

"Well, spill already. What did she say?" Harry inquired curiously.

"What do you mean?" James tried to act confused, yet failed horribly.

Harry grinned widely: "You look like you just ran a mile. It's 5 o'clock on a Saturday, the time Lily usually spends in the library studying. Tomorrow is Valentine's Day and a Hogsmeade weekend..." Harry trailed off glances to Sirius who had finally caught on.

"You asked her?" Sirius cheered and dashed over to pull his best friend in a bear hug, lifting him off the ground: "You're telling me you finally grew some balls and asked her?"

"Let me down!" James struggled to free himself, leading to Sirius tightening his hold even further.

"Well, what did she say?!"

Harry watched in amusement as a dreamy expression spread over his father's face: "She said yes, guys!"

'Finally!' Harry's cheer was a bit more internal compared to Sirius, who started jigging around in some strange victory dance.

"How did it go?" Harry asked curiously: "Start from the beginning."

James dodged another attempt at a hug and sat down on his bed: "Well, you know that Lily and I have been studying charms and Transfigurations together for a few weeks, we just help each other a bit for the NEWTS..."

Harry nodded urging him to continue.

"I was planning to ask her for a while but almost didn't go through with it after I saw how annoyed she got at all the other boys that asked her over the last week. Still, I knew she hadn't said yes to anyone yet and I just thought that perhaps the time was right to take the step."

'It definitely was!'

"Well, at some point she was laughing and you guys know how her eyes start sparkling whenever she laughs- " Again his expression turned dreamy and one could see his thoughts wandering until Sirius slapped him over his head: " -Ouch!"

"Merlin, keep going, Prongs!"

"Anyway, I just pulled out the rose I prepared with Sprout, the one that will stay blossoming for weeks, and asked her if she'd like to be my date for Valentine's Day in Hogsmeade tomorrow."

"And she said yes, just like that?" Sirius asked in disbelief, almost sounding disappointed: "After all the trouble you went through when asking her out during the last few years?"

"Lily might be big on romance but she never wanted any extravagant spectacles, grand fireworks, or suits of armor that follow her around through the castle and read out love poems." James grinned sheepishly: "She just wanted it to be genuine."

'He finally understood it.'

"I'm very proud of you, James." Harry couldn't help but beam in pride that his plan to make his parents notice each other earlier had worked. Marlene would congratulate him for playing Cupid so well.

"Thanks, Harry." His father grinned: "I guess your grand plan did work in the end."

"Work?!" Sirius asked with a groan: "This is a terrible development for the Marauders and a most tragic day! Now two of my best friends have been whipped by a girl and will probably lose focus on everything else!"

He clutched the hem of James' robes and shook him frantically: "Please promise me that you won't end up as bad as Peverell, Prongs? I can lose you too! What if Moony also gets a girlfriend and I have to spend the rest of my days with Wormtail?"

"Where is Peter, by the way?" Harry asked curiously.

"No idea." Sirius shrugged: "He asked for the Map and the Cloak earlier, saying he was going to check if we missed some hidden areas in the castle, which only he might ever find."

'So soon?'

A dark foreboding swirled through Harry's mind, yet he stiffened it for now. Nevertheless, he would probably have to keep a closer eye on Peter soon. Who knew how early the rat had started making connections to the Death Eater? It might have been during his Hogwarts days already.

"Alright, let's show James what he missed out on and keep practicing some more!" Sirius spoke up with his usual cheerful self: "If we continue at this rate, you might make a full transformation by the end of the school year already!"

"I bet I'll be done before you guys find a name for me," Harry smirked, watching as dark feathers spread from within the skin on his arm.

March 1st, 1977

"Are you ready, Charlus?" His wife's voice sounded over to him from the fireplace in the next room: "I'd rather arrive a little bit earlier and have a chat with my brother. It's been too long since I've seen him."

"Give me one more second, dear." With a heavy sigh, he tapped the ward stone with his wand and activated a few additional protective enchantments over the grounds and the manor.

They were measurements that had been added by his own father, William Potter, during the last war. So far, they had never been necessary. Nowadays, however, Charlus always made use of them whenever he or Dorea left the manor.

"Here I am." He joined his waiting wife in front of the fireplace.

Dorea was wearing her normal attire for when she accompanied him to business meetings or the Wizengamot, a set of simple, yet high-quality robes in darker colors.

She held out a small bowl with a green powder to him and stepped into the fireplace, her warm gray eyes beaming in excitement: "Come, I'm so happy to see Harry again."

He took a handful himself, grinning at his wife: "You just can't wait to tease him and Marlene, can you?"

"I almost forgot!" Dorea cheered: "She will be there too. How thrilling!"

"12 Grimmauld Place!" Charlus chuckled as he watched his wife throw down a handful of the powder and vanish in a bright green flame.

'Let's hope the boy finally has some answers for us.' Charlus stepped into the fireplace himself and mirrored his wife's action, reappearing in the familiar drawing-room at the ancestral townhouse of the Blacks.

"Charlus!" His brother-in-law's sharp eyes found him over the shoulder of Dorea, who he had taken in a hug in greeting.

It was a rather intimate and rare side to the man, one the Lord Black usually never showed in public. Only his closest relatives ever saw the man as the loving head of a family and not the ruthless politician: "It's good to see you back at Grimmauld Place."

"Indeed, it's been a few years." Charlus waited until his wife allowed her brother to break the hug before approaching the other man and accepting the offered limb, shaking his hand firmly while keeping eye contact.

He had known Arcturus Black since his Hogwarts days, when they had been sorted into different Houses. Nevertheless, they had always treated each other with respect and avoided being dragged down into childish House rivalries and the like.

The relationship grew more confrontational when Charlus decided to ask out the man's sister in his seventh year. From there on, it had been a real struggle to convince the man that he was the best possible candidate to ask for Dorea's hand in marriage, despite the obvious conflict between their views on many matters. Centuries had passed since the last union between a Potter and a Black; their political and partly moral beliefs were simply too different.

In the end, fortune had favored him and Dorea became the next Lady Potter since even Arcturus had to admit that the idea of having her marry into any lesser House was laughable. The relationship with his now brother-in-law had not changed much, apart from seeing him a bit more often during social gatherings and family holidays.

Their beliefs were still too different and only very recently did both Lords had shown small efforts to collaborate more closely together. Yet Charlus had the feeling that by the end of the meeting the new political alliance would be stronger than ever before.

'The reason for that stepped out of a bright green flame in the fireplace next to him.'

"Harry is there!" Dorea darted past him and engulfed the slightly startled young man in an affectionate motherly hug, pecking each of his cheeks.

"Hello, Dorea." Charlus watched as the boy took a deep breath and held the embrace for a few more seconds before letting go: "It's good to see you again."

"You too, my child." His wife patted the young man's cheek, her eyes roaming over his form critically: "You even look a bit healthier and happier than before. Could the reason be a certain blonde lady?" She bounced on her heels and peeked over Harry's shoulders, expecting the McKinnon daughter to appear right behind him.

"Don't worry, Marlene will join us shortly, you can tease us all you want then." Harry laughed and stepped over to him.

"Thank you for following my call, Charlus." The young man nodded sincerely and held out his hand.

"But of course, son." the Potter Lord patted his shoulder firmly: "I think we both know that you still owe us some answers."

"You will have them by the end of the meeting," Harry promised and turned to Arcturus to politely greet the last member.

Charlus' attention, however, was pulled to the fireplace which roared in green flames again, before a tall, beautiful young woman elegantly stepped out of it. Marlene McKinnon tossed a golden braid over one shoulder and brushed some ash from her robes, her chin held high and proudly. There was an air of confidence around her that reminded him very much of his own wife when Dorea was around the same age.

"Marlene, my dear, I was so delighted when I learned that you will be joining us tonight." Dorea rushed to the newest arrival, arms spread wide.

The young McKinnon reciprocated his wife's hug just as her boyfriend had and smiled pleasantly: "I gave Harry the option to either take me with him or not go at all."

"That's exactly how it's done, my dear!" His wife nodded enthusiastically and broke the hug: "Sometimes us witches just have to force these foolish wizards to their luck. Or threaten them with certain consequences." Dorea added with a teasing wink, making the young woman blush the faintest pink.

"Indeed, that usually works very well with Harry..." Marlene whispered so her boyfriend wouldn't hear her and returned the knowing smirk.

Laughing, his wife gestured to the other people in the room: "Your father will likely join us shortly, my dear. You've met my husband and brother already, of course."

"Good evening, Charlus." A small smile tucked on her red lips when she gave a polite curtsey to the Potter Lord: "I hope you are well?"

"I'm in fine health, Marlene, and I hope you are too. I'm also glad you remembered our discussion about names, my dear." Smiling, he brought the blonde's hand to his lips in greeting: "And it's good to hear that young Harry at least listens to one of us, even if pressured into it..."

While Marlene joined her boyfriend in greeting Lord Black, the fireplace roared one final time and spit out the last guest for the night.

The pain from the loss of his second son was still visible on Alfred McKinnon's face, making it seem like he aged a few years during the last two months. Nevertheless, the man still had the same imposing aura to him, his eyes were sharper than ever as they took in the other occupants of the room.

"I suggest we head upstairs to my office," Arcturus spoke after waiting a minute until McKinnon had greeted everyone else, including his own daughter.

They followed the man through the ancestral townhall of the Blacks until they stepped into the same room Charlus had asked for Dorea's hand in marriage so many years ago.

Arcturus had ordered an elf to bring a few extra chairs for the occasion and took a seat behind his large desk. Soon, the chatter died and everyone looked expectantly at Harry, who stood up confidently.

"First of all, I thank you all for following my call and especially Lord Black for allowing us to have this meeting at Grimmauld Place." Harry began and looked into the round: "The reason I have called you here is to discuss and consult how our Houses can collaborate with one shared goal in mind and to fight against our common enemy."

He paused briefly: "Naturally, I am talking about the threat of Voldemort and his Death Eaters."

Charlus glanced around quickly, noticing how the facial expressions of each member hardened upon hearing the man. Jaws were clenched, teeth grit against each other, and knuckles flexed, especially those of the two McKinnons.

"However, before I can begin, I will need a Vow of Secrecy from each of you with the exception of you of course," Harry added to the blonde at his side.

"Why is my daughter even here, Mr. Peverell?" Alfred McKinnon asked challengingly: "And why would you exempt her from that vow?"

"Marlene is here because she's more than just my courting partner." Harry shot her a brief smile that had Dorea sigh dramatically.

'Great, she will probably talk about young romance for the next few weeks.'

Harry continued, his eyes fixed on the blonde: "She is more than a friend, who provides an open ear in support. More than a school romance between two teenagers, which allows me to get my mind off things. Your daughter, Lord McKinnon, is my partner in everything and there is nothing on tonight's agenda that I haven't shared with her already."

'I knew they were serious, but I didn't know it was that serious already...'

"Fine." Alfred McKinnon hummed, his eyes darting between his daughter and the young man speaking, though one could easily tell he was not fully convinced yet: "What does this Vow of Secrecy contain?"

"Just that anything I show and reveal with you during this meeting shall never be shared or discussed with anyone outside this group," Harry explained, regarding each person in the room one by one to see if they had any questions or doubts.

"That sounds agreeable." His wife stood up and flicked her wand from her waist: "I, Dorea Elladora Potter, promise not to share anything Harry Ignotus Peverell reveals to me tonight, so mote it be!"

A bright white light flashed from her wand and illuminated the room. Harry shot her a brief smile and looked at the other occupants expectantly. One by one they each stood up and made the same vow until everyone had sworn to secrecy.

"Thank you." Harry nodded and addressed Arcturus first: "First of all I should tell you what truly happened the night of the attack on Bones Manor."

'About time.' Charlus huffed under his breath but did not interrupt the younger wizard.

"As you all know, I decided to remain outside on the balcony and guard the entrance to allow the rest of the defenders to retreat inside."

"Stupid boy!" Dorea whispered to Marlene, making sure to be just loud enough for anyone else to hear. The young McKinnon grimaced, seemingly equally as unhappy about her boyfriend's decision-making that night.

"With the wards activating and the doors closed, I was unable to flee and forced to face the attackers head-on."

"How did you survive, Harry?" Charlus asked incredulously: "I have pondered over that question dozens of nights and still found no scenario in which Voldemort would have allowed you to survive a duel with him."

"You're right, of course. I would not have survived a duel with the Dark Lord at this point in time." Harry stated, a flicker of irritation passing behind his green eyes: "However, it was not the Dark Lord I dueled that night. Voldemort wanted to test me and had me cross wands with one of his followers, Antonin Dolohov. Who is now dead as a result."

'He killed a Dueling Master?'

The three Lords and Dorea stared at the young wizard in disbelief for a few seconds, before laughter sounded from the corner. Charlus turned to see Alfred McKinnon shaking his head, holding his belly.

"Harry is not lying, father!" Marlene spoke up heatedly in defense of her boyfriend: "He's telling you the truth!"

"You want me to believe that a sixteen-year-old managed to defeat a world-class Dueling Champion, who is renowned for showing no mercy to his opponents, having killed a few of them in recent years?" McKinnon's blue eyes hardened: "I watched your duel against the Malfoy heir and no one will deny that you have some talent, Peverell. However, compared to Antonin Dolohov, that's like predicting a group of muggle-born first years win against the Chudley Cannons!"

"I shall give you no reason to doubt me, sir." Peverell remained surprisingly calm, shooting a glance to Arcturus: "I assume your elf managed to pick up what I asked?"

"He did." Arcturus nodded slowly: "And afterward Kreacher and I had a very interesting conversation about your magic." By now, Lord Black was watching Harry like a hawk: "I suggest we find a way to discuss this soon, for there's much more that you have to explain."

"And why is that, Archie?" Dorea looked at her brother with a frown: "What's going on Harry?"

"Later, please." The boy dismissed her with her sigh: "If you would be so kind Lord Black?"

Charlus' brother-in-law nodded and flicked his wand. A hidden set of doors opened and one after the other two stone basins were levitated out of it, floating over to Arcturus' desk.

Charlus had known that the Blacks were one of the few families in all of Britain to own a Pensieve, yet he was more curious what that implied about the second device, this one looking significantly younger. Harry's request to Arcturus echoed through his mind.

"You bought a Pensieve?" Charlus addressed Harry with a raised eyebrow.

"Undoubtedly one of my best investments so far." The young wizard exchanged a knowing smile with the girl next to him and brought the tip of his long, thin wand to his temple: "I will share the memory with you. If you need a vow that has not been tampered with you, you shall receive one after watching."

This was what Charlus had been hoping for the last two months. A memory of the event. 'Finally some answers.'

A silvery substance clung to the wood when Harry pulled away from his temple. He let it hover in the air in front of him before drawing his wand in a complicated pattern, giving it a slight flick towards the end. The substance split in half, each part drifting to a different Pensieve.

"Marlene has watched it multiple times with me already." Harry remained standing in front of his chair: "There is no need for us to watch it again. We will wait until you return."

Charlus wordlessly took his wife's hand and headed for Harry's Pensieve, watching the silvery memory swirl around on the surface. Next to the Potters, Lord Black and Lord McKinnon had gotten up as well and were now leaning over the other Pensieve.

He exchanged one last glance with his wife, who had an anxious yet curious expression on her face, before taking a deep breath and dipping his head below the shimmering surface.

Half an hour later Charlus emerged back in Arcturus' office, panting heavily. He stumbled over to his chair, feeling the strong urge to calm at least some of his senses after the incredible events he had just witnessed.

'It was unbelievable.'

Dorea's fingers were curled in his robes, clinging to him like a lifeline while she rubbed the corner of her eyes and cleaned her nose on a handkerchief. Neither of them said a word, simply staring at the boy who had grown as close as a son to them.

A few seconds later, Arcturus and Lord McKinnon emerged from their Pensieve, locking equally as shocked, yet in Lord Black's case, there was also anger and a grim commitment sparkling in his gray eyes.

"Well then, does anyone need a vow?" Harry challenged, unable to keep the smallest chuckle from escaping his lips, which earned him a sharp elbow from his girlfriend.

Each of them shook their heads. They did not doubt what they saw, yet they all had the same question. It was Dorea who spoke it out first:

"How, Harry?"

Dark shadows, speaking of loss, hurt and sorrow no sixteen-year-old should ever experience flicked in the depths of emerald green. He took a deep breath: "Hours, days, and months of training. Getting stronger has almost become an obsession..."

"You can conjure and even control the cursed flames..." Charlus spoke up in awe: "I myself never dared to mess with them out of fear for the consequences should it go wrong. It's a spell that can have heavy ramifications for your personality as well..."

The warning lingered in the room, caught by everyone else.

"It took many months until I established some control while casting them." Harry explained cautiously: "Even nowadays it remains a battle of will and intention; it always will be."

"You did very well, Peverell..." Arcturus chimed in: "You killed that Russian bastard and a few of those cowards as well if I'm not mistaken. It certainly explains the miserable faces I've seen during the Wizengamot meetings the weeks following the attack."

They all looked at Lord McKinnon, him being the only one who has not said anything yet. His sharp blue eyes found Harry: "I should have known better than underestimating and doubting you again, Mr. Peverell. You have my apology. I believe I have learned my lesson this time and I shan't everrepeat it."

"Thank you, sir." Harry nodded sincerely while the blonde next to him shifted excitingly on her seat, obviously delighted that her father and boyfriend had reached an agreement.

"Though I do have a question." Lord McKinnon spoke up once more: "How come he doesn't recognize you? I will assume that you shared your late parents' fate with everyone in this room."

"I have..." Harry nodded carefully, allowing the man to continue.

"Well, in the wizarding world, sons usually resemble their fathers, especially among purebloods. I would have expected the Dark Lord to recognize your face, your name, or at the very least use your parents' death as psychological warfare."

'So Lord McKinnon doesn't know that he is a half-blood yet.'

Harry remained silent for a few seconds before answering, though there was caution in his voice: "Tom Riddle has killed many people in the years during his rise to power. My parents were two of hundreds of wizards and witches. Perhaps he has forgotten their memory, though I shall never."

McKinnon seemed satisfied with the answer, but Charlus had the feeling there was something Harry did not tell them. 'Surely a name like the Peverells is not one to forget lightly.'

"You have now all witnessed that Voldemort is personally interested in me." Harry glanced around again: "You have also heard his threat of taking away everything from me, for only then shall I ever achieve my full potential."

He felt Dorea's fingers tightening around his own, digging into his skin almost painfully.

"That will never happen." The boy's green eyes hardened like steel and flashed threateningly: "I'd therefore like to discuss the option of additional protection with you."

"The wards at Grimmauld Place have never been breached in a dozen decades!" Arcturus flared his nostrils: "And they won't be breached by some cowardness half-blood now!"

"I'm well aware that the wards around here are formidable-" Harry sighed patiently: "- but I bet Lord Bones assumed the same for the protections around his manor. We mustn't take any risks! Voldemort is perhaps the strongest wizard on the planet at this point. If he wants to find a way into a wizarding home, he will find one, especially now that there is someone serving in his ranks that can tell him all about it."

'Bellatrix Lestrange.' Charlus too had recognized her in the memory.

"Bellatrix is no daughter of my House! She will be banished from the tapestry the moment this meeting ends!" Arcturus fumed as he slammed his fist on the table: "How dare she turn her back on us, take part in this cowardness aggression and even attack her own family!"

"Anyways-" Harry interrupted Lord Black's tirade: "There is one piece of magic even Voldemort won't be able to circumvent, at least not directly.

When they all looked at him with curiosity he continued. "With your permission, I would like to cast the Fidelius Charm on your homes and make each of you the secret keeper. Thereby only those you have shared the knowledge with will ever be able to find your Manors."

"Ironic..." McKinnon chuckled dryly after everyone else recovered from the shock that a sixteen-year-old offered to cast one of the most advanced charms in wizarding history: "An hour ago I would have challenged your statement and made a fool out of myself, but I have learned since then."

"After my son's death, I have played with the idea to break off any and all relations between our Houses, Peverell. Watching this memory and now knowing that my daughter will be one of the prime targets of this lunatic, provides even further support for that decision."

He held up a hand when his daughter's eyes flashed dangerously and she opened her mouth in protest, clutching to Harry's hand: "However, by now, my family is too involved in this mess already. My remaining son has sworn himself to vengeance. You all know that he is an Auror and he made it more than clear that he'd rather die than take up a different profession now that attacks like the one on the Bones might be more frequent. My only daughter is far too invested in you to be convinced otherwise it also seems. If I can't convince my family to remain neutral, then I will at least do everything in my power to make sure they're as safe as possible."

He finished by turning to Harry. "I will gladly accept your offer, Harry."

"Thank you, sir." The boy seemed deeply moved, squeezing the blonde's hand affectionately as Marlene leaned closer and beamed up at him: "Let us then discuss what else we can do to combat this threat together, especially politically..."