Clearing The Mind

Harry felt like he was in a constant state of falling. The world around him was a blur as he fell through darkness. Flashes of red eyes that were eerily familiar appeared all around him, followed by laughing. It wasn't joyous laughter either, more deranged and maniacal.

He couldn't move or scream or do anything to get away from the evil laughter that began to deafen everything. It felt like he was drowning. In fact, he wasn't even sure if he was still breathing or why he was in this endless state of falling, being watched by a pair of menacing red eyes and laughed at by some unknown psychopath.

Then the blackness all around him flashed green. That dull green color was so familiar to him. It was the same green light he remembered seeing his mother get hit by in his nightmares. The dull green of the killing curse.

Just as soon as the green had replaced the darkness, it was gone. Replacing everything was a clear blue sky and Harry felt beneath him a plain grass field. A warm breeze kissed his bare skin. The fact that he was nude didn't bother him for some reason. Nothing seemed to surprise him, not the falling into blackness or now suddenly standing in a field. It just felt right. He knew he had died, but he didn't care, his pain was over.

Gone was the blackness, laughter, and those red eyes. Now, he only felt calm and peace. His mind felt more clear than ever before. He looked over his body, starting with his hands, which were slightly bigger than he remembered. In fact, he felt a little taller and he definitely didn't remember ever having as much muscle as he did now. He still wasn't big by any means, but he was way more muscled and taller than he had been previously.

His body felt strong, like a great sickness had been cured. He felt like he could run for miles without ever growing tired. His mind felt just as clear, free, and stable as his body. Whatever sickness that had plagued him had been destroyed.

Only a short distance away was a door, standing tall above the grass. It was made of a fine brown wood that resembled the same Holly his wand was made out of. Seeing a door just standing in a field didn't strike him as odd. He slowly approached it, enjoying the warm breeze that soothed his skin. The grass was soft beneath his feet and a bright sun shone down on his face.

As he moved closer to the door, he began to hear voices echo through it. They were familiar voices; people he knew in another life. The closer he got, the more he hesitated to actually open the door. He wasn't sure if he wanted to know what was on the other side. In his life he had only known pain, but here, he felt safe.

"Go my dear. You are still needed." A sweet young woman's voice whispered through the wind. It sounded so familiar but he couldn't place where he had heard that voice before.

"Who's there?" Harry called out, looking all around him, but only seeing rolling green fields.

"I think you know." The soft voice was again carried to him by the wind.

That's when he recognized whose voice it was. Sadly, he remembered this voice through one of his most painful memories, her death.

"Mum? Is that you?" Harry called out, unsure if she could actually hear him. He desperately looked around for any sign of her.

"It is not yet your time Harry. You still have much to do. Go Harry. Live your life for me. Be happy!"

"But what if I want to stay here? What if I don't want to go back?" He asked, taking a step away from the door.

"You are your father's son and you know you could never abandon your friends." Harry knew she was right. He couldn't just leave his friends, even if they didn't like him right now. He would never forgive himself if he didn't take the chance to return to them.

"Why can't I see you?"

"It is not yet your time to see me Harry." He knew in his gut that she was right. Wherever he was, this wasn't his final resting place.

Harry steeled his emotions and took a deep breath. He took the last few steps and placed his hand on the doorknob. "When will I see you?"

"Not until you are much older and have lived a happy life. Experience it to the fullest, find love, and always believe in yourself and your abilities. Now go, my son. Live!" Harry turned the knob and stepped into the bright white light on the other side of the door.

–

Harry slowly opened his eyes and looked around. He was in a hospital bed and the lights were off. A window showed that it was nighttime. He scanned the room and the first thing he noticed was that he was seeing everything much more clearly.

He blinked a few times trying to figure out if what he was seeing was real or if his vision would become blurry again. Looking on the bed stand next to him, he noticed his glasses lying there, yet he could see perfectly without them.

Groaning from spending too much time in a bed, he swung his legs over the side and stepped onto the floor. He hissed when his bare feet connected with the cool, tiled floor. He walked towards a door labeled bathroom and relieved himself. Looking in the mirror he was shocked at what he saw. He looked slightly older, his features more mature and his face looked healthier than ever before. His skin was more tan and he no longer had bags under his eyes.

The odd dream he had been having came back to him. He remembered walking nude through a field. The darkness and red eyes which he now remembered to be Voldemort's. He saw those eyes just before the bright green flash that had killed his mother.

His mother. Her words came flooding back into his mind. "Always believe in yourself." He mouthed the words to himself. Her words brought a new sense of calm and determination to his life. He had almost been killed, and frankly he still wasn't even sure how he was still alive.

The memory of blinding pain, three iron stakes striking him. Harry lifted the white night shirt up and felt his newest scars. He had two round scars, one on his side and the other on his shoulder. They looked similar to the scar left behind by the basilisk fang. If he checked his thigh he was sure he would find a similar scar there as well.

Harry also took a moment to admire the six pack he was now suddenly sporting. Quidditch practice had kept him in fine shape, but because of his eating habits, or lack thereof, he never showed any real muscle. But now, for some reason, he had filled out nicely.

After splashing some water on his face, Harry noticed something that really shocked him. His famous lightning bolt scar had faded to where it almost wasn't even visible. It looked like any other scar besides the odd shape. Whatever had happened to him after he had passed out at the World Cup had done a whole world of good for him.

Harry walked back into his hospital room and found the lights back on. "Hey pup! It's good to see you walking!" He whipped his head around to find the familiar voice.

"Sirius!" He exclaimed once he found him standing by the window. Sirius looked better than Harry had remembered. He still had long, messy black hair, but his clothes were much better fitting and made of good materials. His grey eyes, though still having a haunted look, were happier. His face still showed some signs of his stay in Azkaban but he definitely looked on the mend.

"What are you doing here? What if someone sees you!" Harry asked in a worried tone, glancing at the door.

"I've been pardoned!" He responded with glee.

"Pardoned?"

"Yeah, just had the trial that freed me yesterday! Heard you had somethin' to do with that."

Harry thought for a moment back to the World Cup. His deal with the Minister. Either the Minister works quickly or he had been asleep for a very long time. "How long have I been out?"

"Only a week. Had us all in a fright. The Weasleys have been here every day. I've been here since being freed yesterday. A lot has happened since you've been out. You look different without your glasses you know." Sirius remarked.

"I feel different. It's strange, I feel like some disease has been cured inside me. I swear I've grown taller and I feel stronger than I ever have before. I've never felt more rested or healthy in my life." Harry shrugged. "Now tell me everything. What have I missed?"

"You do look a lot better. Last time I saw you, you were a bit too skinny for my liking." Harry nodded in agreement. "Now, I know you aren't one for press or fame, but after the events of the World Cup, your exploits, mainly your fight with the basilisk in second year was leaked."

"What did happen at the World Cup? I just remember trying to protect a couple of girls. I killed one of their attackers I think but then I was hit by three iron stakes from someone and went down. Are they okay? How am I still alive?"

"The girls are okay. You did save them just so you know." Harry blew out a breath of relief. "The people that attacked the World Cup were Death Eaters." Harry cocked his head to the side, not recognizing the name. "Death Eaters are Voldemort's followers from the last war."

"Voldemort? He was there?" Harry asked with wide eyes.

"No, he wasn't." Harry nodded again. "The Death Eater attack was supposed to just scare people. Minister Fudge proclaimed it a terrorist attack and that it was just some old followers of Voldemort out to have fun. But it all went wrong when those Death Eaters chased the two girls into the forest and you followed them."

"Do you know who those girls were Harry?" He shook his head, no. "They were the Delacour girls. Their father is the Director of Magical Law Enforcement for France and a very powerful man in the country. Some think he is next in line to become minister."

"Holy shit." Harry muttered, his eyes widened in understanding at what he did. Saving a couple of witches from being raped and possibly killed was one thing, but when they are the daughters of a powerful man that's a whole other manner.

"Holy shit is right. Let's just say that you have made some very powerful friends."

"So what did happen after I passed out. How exactly did I save them?"

"Do you remember what you did just before passing out?" Harry thought back to that night. He remembered becoming desperate as he fought to stay conscious.

"I raised my hand and channeled all the magic I could through it."

Sirius nodded. "Yes, you did some very impressive wandless magic. The two Delacour girls gave their memories of that night and seeing it firsthand was quite impressive. The story is all of the papers now. Fudge then went and showed the memories of your fight with the basilisk and used your memories of third year to help free me."

"So I used wandless magic? And what, killed them?" Sirius shook his head.

"No, the only one you killed was with that powerful reductor curse." Harry winced, not sure how to take killing someone. It was odd, he felt sorry that he had to end a life, but he knew it was the correct thing to do. A man that would rape and kill a girl was not someone that should live. Still, he wished he didn't have to kill him.

Sirius noticed the frown Harry had at being reminded he killed someone. He got up from his chair and sat at the edge of the bed and put his hand on Harry's knee. "Listen, I know you didn't want to take a life. That's what makes you good. But in your position, it was necessary and no one faults you for it." Harry nodded, knowing his godfather was right.

"There's another thing that happened, Harry."

"What?" Harry asked in confusion.

"After you passed out, you were hit by the killing curse." Harry thought back to his dream. The darkness all around him until that pale green light cleared everything. "Afterwards, some kind of dark spirit left your body. This information of course is closely guarded. Only the Delacours, Dumbledore and myself have seen that part of the memory. Albus is apparently good friends with Sebastien Delacour and was able to keep this under wraps."

"Is that why I feel healthier? I had some kind of dark magic in me that was making me sick?" Sirius could only shrug.

"Possibly. Personally I think Dumbledore knows exactly what happened, but he, as always is keeping his cards close." Sirius said through gritted teeth. It was clear to Harry that he and Dumbledore had had words over the matter.

"What's happening with the papers and the leaks about me fighting a basilisk?" Harry asked, changing the subject.

"Minister Fudge leaked the information about your involvement in ridding a very large basilisk with the sword of Gryffindor in second year. Of course, most people thought it was ridiculous at first. That was until Rita Skeeter printed an article, showing the Sword of Gryffindor hanging in Dumbledore's office and your award for Special Services to the School in second year. After that, everyone demanded to know more on what happened in second year and your involvement. Let me just say the Headmaster is not having a good time with the backlash he is receiving right now."

"And me? How is this all affecting me?" Sirius grinned.

"Well you're being praised as a hero. Minister Fudge wanted to award you the Order of Merlin First Class for your heroics second year. For your actions at the World Cup, the French Ministry wants to award you the Order des Templiers."

"Also, three of the men you knocked unconscious with your wandless magic were wanted by the Bulgarian ministry. They had bounties on their head which resulted in you getting a total of 100 thousand galleons."

Harry's jaw dropped at the amount. Sirius chuckled, "Also, potioneers have been clamoring to get their hands on the basilisk remains. Basilisk materials are extremely rare and as such they are also very expensive. Since you killed the snake, you can claim it as your prize and sell it."

"How much is something like that worth?"

Sirius shrugged. "Depending on the size it can run up to a million galleons." Harry suddenly felt a little light headed and was thankful he was already sitting down on the bed. "I can take care of the arrangements to have people break down the basilisk into usable materials to sell."

Harry nodded, "That would be good. But how would they get into the Chamber of Secrets. Only I can open it."

"Hmm, that's a good point. We can wait until school starts I guess." Sirius crossed his arms and shifted back into his chair. "The most important thing though is that I was allowed to claim guardianship over you!"

"Really?" Harry asked, his eyes widening in excitement.

Sirius nodded excitedly. He had an amusing childish look on his face that made him appear younger. "Yeah, now you never have to go back to the rotten Dursleys." Suddenly however, Sirius looked nervous. "That is if you want to?"

Harry laughed, "Of course I do Sirius. We talked about this just a few months ago. I can't wait to live with you!" Sirius' grin returned.

"Good. Remus is getting your room ready right now back at my house. It's not much of a house but we're working on fixing it up."

"I'm sure it's better than where I have lived the past thirteen years."

"You have a couple things to do before you start school."

"Let me guess. Something involving an interview or two?"

Sirius nodded. "Sorry, I know you don't really like attention, but it would be good to do it I think."

Harry waved him off, "I promised Minister Fudge I would. Plus, this kind of attention, though I don't like it, it's at least for something I actually did. Maybe it will make the moniker Boy-Who-Lived disappear."

"That's a very good way of looking at it." Sirius said impressed.

"It's weird, it's not just my body that has changed since that dark curse or whatever left my body. I feel a lot calmer and less stressed out about everything. My old self would be freaking out at this moment and trying to hide under a rock."

"It's good that you have changed. Even with all of the new fame you have acquired, you would still be famous. Trying to hide from the public is futile. It's better to embrace it and use it to whatever advantage you can get."

"Speaking of public, you are wanted in France on the 31st of August to attend a ball in your honor where you will be awarded the Ordre des Templiers."

Harry let out a groan. He could handle talking to a reporter. Balls though presented a whole load of other problems. A ball meant dancing and finding a date. That was something his fourteen-year-old self had trouble computing.

"Come on it won't be so bad. You don't even have to speak! Just show up, dance and mingle a little."

"I have to find a date though don't I?"

Sirius' grin turned feral making Harry very scared about what he would say next. "You already have a date."

"I-wait. What?" Harry definitely didn't remember asking someone to the ball he just heard about a few seconds ago.

"They have already paired you with a date. The eldest Delacour daughter. Fleur I think was her name."

"Okay, the way you were grinning I thought it was going to be something bad. This just makes my life easier."

"Oh you say that now. Just you wait."

"What does that mean?" Harry asked with a confused expression. Sirius' grin just widened.

"Just wait. Trust me." Harry's eyes narrowed before slowly nodding his head, foolishly trusting his godfather.

"I'll go talk to the Healer now that you're awake and see when you can get out of here." Harry nodded and watched Sirius leave the room.

"Why can I never have a year of peace..." Harry groaned as he laid back onto the bed.

–

"Here we are pup!" Sirius said, opening the door to Number 12 Grimmauld Place, the Ancestral Home of the Blacks.

"Harry!" Remus shouted from the hallway, rushing up to embrace him. "It's good to see you walking around." They took a step back from each other. "It has only been a couple months, how have you grown so much?" He said, looking over Harry.

He shrugged in response, "Something to do with dark magic inside me being destroyed. I think that's what caused this at least."

"Err, right." He glanced at Sirius who just nodded, "Well come in and you can explain that further!" He ushered them both into the large house. It was dark and musty. The floorboards creaked with every step and the paint on the walls was decaying. Cobwebs lined the ceiling and there was a line of house elf heads spiked on the wall.

"Sorry 'bout that. We will be doing a lot of renovating over the year." Sirius said following his gaze to the heads. "Let me show you to your room."

The three of them headed up stairs. There were three floors in total, with several bedrooms on each floor. Sirius explained, his, Remus', and Harry's rooms were on the third floor while the guest rooms were on the second. The Black family library was also on the third floor and off limits to anyone besides him and Harry. Not even Remus could get in.

The reason Harry could enter it was because by Sirius taking guardianship over him, he also had named him Heir Black since Sirius had no kids of his own. He was allowed to use the library as long as he was careful. Many of the books were very dark in nature and some might be dangerous to the touch.

Harry was anxious to read through a few books. The Blacks he knew were a very old family and he could only imagine the wealth of knowledge their library held. They continued walking to his room and when he stepped inside, he was blown away.

It was as big, if not bigger, than the room he shared in Gryffindor tower. Opposite the door was a large, four poster bed with a red spread. The whole room was colored in a dark red and brown. A fireplace was currently roaring on the side. There were also several book stands completely filled. A study table with several chairs and a desk sat off to the side. A perch where Hedwig was currently sleeping was near the window, showing the bright blue sky.

"Wow! It's perfect!" Sirius let out a breath in relief in response to Harry's words.

"I told you Padfoot." Remus chuckled.

"Did you think I wouldn't like it?" Harry asked, turning to look at Sirius.

"No, no. I just wanted to make sure you did. I know the house isn't much right now, but I'll fix it." Sirius said quickly.

"Sirius. Thank you. It's perfect." Harry responded, pulling him into a hug.

"I would invite your friends over but I noticed that things were a little cold between you three." Harry let out a sigh and sat down on the couch in front of the fire.

After his talk with Sirius, the healers had made him stay for a remaining day to monitor him. The Weasleys and Hermione had come to check on him. It was true, at least regarding Ron that they were getting along. Hermione seemed her normal self but she was caught in between Ron and him which made it awkward between the three.

Harry wasn't sure how to deal with Ron. He was jealous, that much was clear. That jealousy definitely wasn't something he was going to have any time to deal with this year.

"He's my first friend I ever made. I want to stay friends but right now it's just difficult." Harry said after a few minutes.

"Listen pup. You can take my advice or leave it, but Remus and I know a good deal about being friends with someone that is jealous of you."

"Your comparing Pettigrew to Ron?" Harry asked in a dangerous tone.

Sirius held his hands up, "I'm not comparing the two or saying that Ron would ever betray you. It's just that-"

"Harry you are growing up." Remus cut in, glancing at Sirius to shut him up. "I don't think Ron is quite ready to grow up. Friends grow apart and that's okay. You don't think that Sirius and James were my only friends do you?"

Harry shook his head, "It's just that, I feel like I owe him or something."

"You don't owe him anything Harry. You have done enough for him and if you stop being friends with him, that's fine. You will always make new friends. I think if you start looking towards other people for friendship, you will find much better friends."

Harry ran a hand through his hair in frustration. "I know you're right. Ron isn't a very good friend. I can see that. It's just...difficult to let go I guess."

"Hermione though seems just as good a friend as ever." Sirius remarked, trying to bring the mood back up.

"She is. But even she was a little cold towards me yesterday."

"It may have just been difficult for her to be stuck in between you two." Harry nodded in agreement.

"Well!" Sirius said, clapping his hands together and forcing a grin on his face. "I think a trip to Diagon Alley is in order. Can't have you walking around in those rags your relatives give you!"