13

FanFiction

Just In

Community

Forum

V

More

Growing Up Black by Elvendork Nigellus

Books » Harry Potter Rated: T, English, Family, Harry P., Sirius B., Draco M., Marius B., Words: 235k+, Favs: 9k+, Follows: 8k+, Published: Nov 30, 2010 Updated: Aug 20, 2019

4,988Chapter 13: Part I: Chapter 13

Growing Up Black

Disclaimer - Harry Potter belongs to J. K. Rowling, not to myself. I have written this story for sheer pleasure, not out of any pecuniary interest.

Summary: What if Harry had been taken from the Dursleys to live with a different aunt and uncle? AU.

A/N: Thanks to all my marvellous readers and reviewers. Now for the next installment...

Chapter 13

Sirius and Harry Flooed over to Malfoy Manor the next day promptly at eleven-thirty. Pollux had woken up and spoken to them briefly that morning, though he had called Sirius 'Alphard' and Harry 'Sirius.' Sirius wondered briefly whether it was right for them to leave, with the situation so critical, but Irma urged them to do so.

'If there are any changes, I shall send Kreacher to fetch you at once,' she assured them.

Abraxas greeted his son-in-law and grandson warmly as they arrived.

'Welcome home, Aries,' he said. 'I've heard from Draco about your wonderful time in France. I daresay he was sorry to come back to England!' He clapped Sirius on the back. 'As for you, my boy, we never got to our little rematch. We shall have to play a bit of Quidditch after dinner, I think.'

Sirius bowed slightly. 'As you wish, Dad.'

'It was good of Regina to go off and marry a boy who knows his way around a broomstick,' Abraxas went on. 'I could never get Lucius really interested in the game. He would enjoy a match now and then, but he never even tried out for the team at Hogwarts. He was always messing about with politics. Even when he was a child it was like pulling teeth to tear him away from The Daily Prophet.'

'I, on the other hand, have never shown the slightest inclination for politics,' Sirius replied. 'My own father had a difficult time getting me out of the garden.'

'That's the way a boy should be. There's plenty of time for politics later. Did you play for your House team?'

Sirius nodded. 'I did, sir. I was a Beater.'

'Yes, I can see that,' Abraxas replied, looking at him appraisingly. 'You're awfully thin now, but I suspect before you had just the right build for it.'

'My best friend, Aries' godfather, played Chaser,' Sirius said. 'James Potter. He was the real Quidditch star.'

Harry looked up at Sirius and grinned. Sirius winked at him.

'Yes, I remember,' Abraxas said. 'I used to attend school games from time to time when I sat on the Board of Governors. He was quite good. I heard he turned down the Wimbourne Wasps. A rather undignified profession, of course, but a pity all the same. He displayed real talent.'

'Aries!' Draco exclaimed, and walked quickly into the room. 'I didn't know you were here.'

'We only just got here,' Harry replied.

'Mum told me what happened,' Draco said. 'How's Great-Granddad?'

Harry shook his head. 'Not good.'

'We're staying at Grimmauld Place for the time being,' Sirius explained to Abraxas. 'Grandmamma needs our help. She's taking it rather hard.'

Abraxas nodded. 'It's no easy thing, losing a spouse,' he said. 'I remember when Iphigenia died. Nasty bout of spattergroit. Regina was just out of Hogwarts.' His face fell. 'Little could any of us have guessed that Regina would die of the same thing only eight years later.' He patted Harry on the shoulder. 'Your mother was a fine woman, Aries.'

'I know, sir,' Harry replied. 'Thank you.'

'And it can't be easy for you, either,' the old man said to Sirius, 'being stuck in Azkaban all those years and getting out only to learn that your wife was dead.'

'There's been a lot of adjustment,' Sirius said truthfully. 'Aunt Cassie helped a lot at first, and Aries and Draco have made all the difference in the world these past few weeks.'

Abraxas smiled fondly at his grandchildren. 'They're fine boys, both of them. It's hard to believe they'll be off to Hogwarts in only a year.'

Sirius smirked. 'I hope Hogwarts survives the encounter.'

His father-in-law laughed heartily. 'Now, don't tell me you didn't engage in a bit of mischief yourself at school.'

'If he were to tell you such a thing, it would be a monstrous lie,' Lucius said smoothly as he strode into the room. 'As I recall, I had to deduct countless points from him and Potter. Based on what Severus has told me, his behaviour only grew worse after I left.'

'Oh, so you're still in touch with Snape?' Sirius said brightly. 'Figures. How is old Snivelly?'

'Severus Snape is currently Potions master and Head of Slytherin at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry,' Lucius said drily. 'I should say he's done rather well for himself.'

'Snape? Severus Snape?' Abraxas scratched his head. 'The name sounds vaguely familiar, but I can't quite place it.'

'Nasty fellow,' Sirius said, scrunching up his nose. 'Mortal fear of soap.'

Harry and Draco sniggered. Lucius scowled at them.

'Severus Snape is an excellent potioneer and your future Head of House,' he said to the boys. 'You would do well to show him some respect.'

'Come now, Lucius, they've never met the man,' Abraxas scolded his son. 'How can they show him respect when all they know of him is that he has poor hygiene?' He frowned. 'Who was his father? Surely I knew him.'

'I doubt it,' Sirius said with a mischievous grin. 'I believe he was a Muggle.'

'WHAT?' Abraxas shouted. 'A Muggle? You mean this Snape fellow is a Mudblood?'

'Half-blood, Father,' Lucius said evenly. 'He's a half-blood.'

'As I recall,' Sirius said with his tongue firmly in cheek, 'Cissy once commented that Severus Snape gave the phrase "filthy half-blood" a whole new meaning.'

Draco and Harry doubled over in laughter, Abraxas joined in, and even Lucius struggled to suppress a smile.

When Abraxas had calmed down, he shook his head sadly. 'Since when can a half-blood be Head of Slytherin House? In my day, we had a few half-blood students, but still...Head? It boggles the mind. When my father was at school there was not a single student in Slytherin who could not document pure blood for at least three generations.'

'Is Minerva McGonagall still Head of Gryffindor?' Sirius asked Lucius.

'I believe so,' the blond man replied.

'I always liked her,' Sirius said nostalgically. 'Tough as nails, to be sure, but a fine woman and a skilled witch.'

'I remember Minerva,' Abraxas said. 'We went to school together. I even escorted her to Hogsmeade a few times. I quite agree with your assessment, Sirius, a fine woman from a decent family, though a bit puritanical for my tastes. A Scot, you know. It's the Presbyterian strain.'

A little bell rang, and they moved into the dining room. After a delicious dinner, Abraxas, Sirius, Harry and Draco went out into the garden for their game of Quidditch, which Sirius and Draco won by a single goal. Abraxas and Harry were good sports, however, and willingly agreed to fetch the drinks for the others: butterbeer for the boys, firewhisky for the men. They sat in the garden and sipped from their bottles, enjoying the soft breeze. It was truly a perfect day.

At three-thirty Sirius took his leave.

'Thank you for a wonderful time, Dad,' he told Abraxas. 'I trust it's all right if I leave Aries here until this evening?'

'Why don't you let the boy stay the night?' his father-in-law suggested. 'We'll send Dobby over to Windermere Court for his things. He and Draco can come over to Grimmauld Place tomorrow after their lessons. Draco ought to pay his respects to his great-grandfather.'

Sirius checked with Harry to make sure that arrangement was fine with him, and then thanked Abraxas for his generosity. He said good-bye to the three wizards and Flooed back to Grimmauld Place to check on Pollux. There was no change, so Sirius told Irma where he would be before changing into Muggle clothes and Apparating to Remus's parents' old home. The Squibs and Cassiopeia were visiting Grimmauld Place that evening, so she wouldn't be alone.

The house was on the moors, not in good condition at all, but it was shelter, and Sirius understood what a precious commodity that could be. He walked up to the front door and knocked in the elaborate pattern they had always used on the door of their dormitory. Remus opened the door and let him in. The inside was a good bit shabbier than Sirius remembered, but everything was clean. Remus's trousers and jumper were visibly patched and mended, but they looked like they still kept the cold out.

'You came,' Remus observed, motioning for Sirius to sit down. 'Would you care for some tea?'

'Yes, thank you,' Sirius said, finding a place on the sofa. Remus poured their tea and pointedly sat in a chair on the other side of the table, as far away as possible from where Sirius was sitting. Sirius took a sip of tea. 'How have you been?'

'This isn't a social call,' Remus replied sharply. 'I have invited you here to explain to me the circumstances you so greatly regret which persuaded you to betray your best friend and his family to the Dark wizard who wanted to kill them. So what's the excuse? Imperius?'

Sirius chewed his lower lip. 'I didn't do it.'

Remus raised an eyebrow. 'That's it? You came all this way just to tell me...'

'Shut up, Moony,' Sirius cut him off. 'Let me explain. I was never James and Lily's Secret Keeper.'

'Dumbledore said...,' Remus began, but stopped when Sirius held up a hand.

'Dumbledore didn't know,' Sirius said simply. 'I was originally going to be the Secret Keeper, but I thought that would be too obvious. Surely Voldemort would figure out it was me, and focus all his efforts on making me crack.' Sirius shivered. 'I didn't trust myself not to tell under torture, or perhaps Veritaserum. I suggested that we switch. I would be the decoy, and draw off all Voldemort's attention, but Wormtail would be the real Secret Keeper. We would place him in hiding, and everything would be fine.'

Remus frowned. 'I have to admit. It does sound like the sort of plan you'd come up with. But if that's the case, why didn't you tell me?'

Sirius's face fell. 'I thought you were the traitor. Peter kept pointing out all the times you were missing, all sorts of suspicious little details. Of course, it turned out he was the traitor. I discovered he was missing that night and realised the truth. I arrived at Godric's Hollow too late. It was like a nightmare, Moony. I found James and Lily's bodies. Harry, though, was still alive. Hagrid had him. He said Dumbledore was going to send Harry to live with his aunt and uncle. I argued with him, but he wouldn't listen. So, being me, I did something foolish. I ran after Wormtail.'

'And that's when you killed him?' Remus's voice was hard.

'I didn't kill him,' Sirius said, shaking his head. 'He shouted that I was the traitor, for the Muggles to hear, and then he cut off his own finger and blew up the street. He transformed and vanished, leaving me to take the blame.' He sighed. 'I would have explained all this at the trial, only...'

'You never got a trial,' Remus finished in a low voice.

Sirius jumped up and grabbed Remus by the shoulders. 'Moony, I would never betray Prongs. If I could, I would gladly die in order to bring him back. Surely you must believe that.'

Remus forced Sirius's hands off of him. 'I did believe that. Then it turned out I was wrong. James and Lily believed it too, and it killed them. Harry had to go live with those horrible Muggles, and then he was kidnapped, and no one knows what happened to him. He may well be dead!'

Sirius sat back down. 'He's not dead,' he whispered.

'What?' Remus responded sharply. 'What have you done with him? Where is he?'

'You already know, Moony,' Sirius said. 'Or rather, you did.'

'What do you mean?'

'I'm afraid you're the victim of a Memory Charm cast by my Aunt Cassiopeia,' Sirius replied. 'I only found out about it myself after our meeting yesterday. I did some research. I think I can fix the damage, if you'll let me.'

'You want me to let you point a wand at my head?' Remus scoffed. 'Are you mad?'

'Probably,' Sirius shrugged. 'I'd hoped you'd believe me.' He chuckled. 'I don't suppose you have any spare Veritaserum?'

Remus gave a small smile. 'Unfortunately not.'

'Then we're stuck,' Sirius said. 'Unless...' He trailed off.

'What do you have in mind?' Remus asked.

'I think I know someone whom you might find a bit more convincing,' Sirius said. 'He's also been around for much more of Harry's childhood than I have. But if you want to talk with him, we have to go to the house where I'm staying. Will you come?'

Remus took a deep breath and rose to his feet. 'Let's go.'

'You'll really do it?' Sirius was impressed.

'All my friends are dead or as good as,' Remus said bitterly. 'Harry's gone. I don't have any reasons to live anymore. If you're telling the truth, I could have a friend again, and Harry would be back. That's two reasons. The way I see it, I have nothing to lose, and everything to gain.'

The two wizards Apparated to Windermere Court, and Sirius let them inside. The house, of course, was empty, and Sirius led Remus directly upstairs to Harry's bedroom. Remus stared at the impressive furniture and large wardrobe.

'Whose room is this?' he asked.

'This is Harry's room,' Sirius replied.

'Why did you bring me here?'

The answer came from a large portrait on the wall.

'Moony!' James exclaimed. 'You came back. It's been awhile.'

Remus turned pale. 'Prongs?'

'The one and only,' James said cheerfully. 'How have you been? You look rather peaky.'

Remus brushed the question aside. 'So Harry's been here all this time?'

'Of course,' James replied. 'Ever since he left the Muggles.'

'I wish I were alive so I could strangle Vernon and Petunia,' Lily said, stepping into the portrait. 'Hello, Remus.'

'Lily,' Remus choked.

'James told me you came by earlier,' she said. 'Why haven't you been back sooner?'

Remus looked at Sirius with confusion in his face.

'I told you, Moony,' Sirius explained. 'Aunt Cassie put you under a Memory Charm.'

Remus furrowed his brow. 'Tell me, Prongs. What happened? How did Harry come here?'

James and Lily related the entire story, with a bit of help from Regina's portrait, who had just come in from a party on the third floor.

'Aries is Harry?' Remus shook his head. 'That can't be! I remember Sirius going to France for the birth. Merlin, Prongs, I was there for the christening! You were godfather.'

James smiled. 'As Padfoot said, Moony, you were put under a Memory Charm.'

Silence hung in the air as Remus processed everything he had learnt. Finally he looked up at James and Lily's portrait.

'Tell me, Prongs,' he said hesitantly. 'Is Harry happy with Sirius? Is Sirius treating him well?'

'Well, I haven't seen Harry much since he met Padfoot,' James replied honestly. 'They've been in France for the past month, and apparently they had no need to take us with them.'

'We were outside most of the time, Prongs,' Sirius said. 'You would have missed all the fun anyway, and most of the portraits in the chateau only speak French.'

James wrinkled his nose. 'Good point. Where was I?'

'I was asking whether Harry was happy with Sirius,' Remus reminded him, amused at the familiar banter between James and Sirius.

'Right. As I said, I haven't seen much of Harry since he met Padfoot, and when I saw him yesterday morning he seemed positively despondent.'

Remus frowned. 'Why was that?'

James smiled. 'He said it was because he had enjoyed his month with Sirius so much that he didn't want it to end.'

Remus sighed in relief. 'Well, it sounds as though Harry's happy with him, then.'

'What can I say?' Sirius shrugged. 'I'm the world's greatest godfather.'

'How can I possibly trust you, Sirius?' Remus said quietly. 'After everything that's happened...if you only had some proof.'

'But we can't prove anything unless we find Wormtail,' Sirius protested. 'And for all we know he was hiding at Hogwarts and McGonagall got peckish.'

'Come on, Moony,' James urged. 'Don't be such an arse.'

'Shut up, Prongs,' Sirius snapped. 'You're not helping.'

'Do you think you can just give him your puppy-dog eyes and he'll believe you?' James shot back. 'He's being stupid. If I am the one you supposedly betrayed and yet I trust you to raise my son – my son, Padfoot – then who is he to keep holding a grudge?'

Remus laughed. For a second, he could imagine that nothing had ever happened, that they were all back in Gryffindor Tower. He took a deep breath and turned to Sirius. 'Go ahead.'

'Pardon?' Sirius gave his friend a quizzical look.

'Undo the Memory Charm. Quickly, before I change my mind. I want to remember what I figured out.'

Sirius gave him a broad grin. 'So you believe me after all?'

Remus sighed and nodded slightly. 'I believe you, Padfoot. I don't know why exactly, and I'm not sure what it means yet, but, God help me, I believe you.'

« First « Prev Ch 13 of 70 Next »

Review

Jump:

Share: Email . Facebook . Twitter

Story: Follow Favorite

Author: Follow Favorite

Contrast: Dark . Light

Font: Small . Medium . Large . XL

Twitter . Help . Sign Up . Cookies . Privacy . Terms of Service