Chapter 21- Welcome to the pack

Severus took another sip of wine and rested his arm on the armchair calmly. “You may rest assured that young Draco is thriving and that I personally see to his safety in this troubled times,” he said deliberately observing the couple’s reactions attentively, “Not that he is in any danger, now is he?”

There, now he had to wait for them to take the bait.

Chapter 22- An overdue apology

Students scrambled as the dark figure stalked the halls. They certainly did not want to be in his way when he was in such a bad mood. Now, one may say he is always in a foul mood but the students of Hogwarts had learned to discern between foul and fouler. And this was definitely fouler.

He barked the password to the gargoyle and ascended the rotating stairs. He entered the office and glared at the assembled men, especially at the twinkly-eyed one. Without a word he sat in the free chair in front of the headmaster’s desk.

“I take it you were not lucky in your endeavor Severus,” Dumbledore said calmly.

Severus glared, “They know nothing. Bellatrix hasn’t contacted them. Not that they said it outright but Lucius is a poor Occlumens and so is Narcissa. If they had any inkling to where Bellatrix is or what she has been planning I would have found out.”

Sirius grimaced, “Great. There goes our best lead.”

Albus sighed and rested his chin on the tips of his entwined hands’ fingers, “I honestly never expected them to. Bellatrix values Voldemort more than her family. I expect she believes Lucius and Narcissa traitors for not going to Azkaban for their master.”

Remus, Sirius and Severus nodded, understanding the underlying message. If Voldemort ever came back and Bellatrix was still at large, she would be one of the first to suspect Severus and promptly try to convince her master that he was a traitor. A lot more than Harry’s safety from a lunatic rested on her capture.

“Can you ask the goblins for information on withdrawals from the Lestrange Vault?” Remus asked Sirius.

Sirius shook his head, “No, the Goblins don’t recognize the Ministry’s position whether someone is a convict or not. If they are dead or incapacitated in some other way I can have access to their vault, but only then. Azkaban counts as incapacitated as would being in a coma. But now that she is out, my access is denied and she can withdraw whenever she feels like it.”

“Good thing we didn’t dawdle with the cup then,” Severus said his lips frowning.

“It was very providential that Sirius acted promptly or else we’d be in a pickle,” Albus said.

Severus rolled his eyes; a pickle, trust Albus to understate the problem.

“But our problem is,” Remus said firmly, bringing them back, “that Bellatrix has a lot of resources, which makes finding her and Pettigrew more difficult.”

“She has access to the vaults but she can’t very well walk through Diagon Alley and into Gringotts,” Sirius said. “And the Mansion and any other property the Lestranges had are being monitored so she’ll have some difficulty with that as well.”

“Thank God for small favors,” Severus grimaced. They were still at the same point they were before and the Aurors weren’t any better off.

XXXXXXXXXX

“You have to see the wolf in all details. Forget about everything else.”

Severus kept his eyes closed. He was seated in the middle of the floor in the Marauder’s Quarter. Legs crossed. Supposedly trying to enter a meditative state.

“Can you picture it? Can you see it the way you saw it in your dream?”

“Yes,” he hissed scowling.

“You have to be the wolf now.”

That he couldn’t take. He opened his eyes and raised an annoyed eyebrow at Sirius who had been pacing around him and was now in front of him.

“Be the wolf?”

“Yes, when you see the wolf in your mind you have to think of it as you and not as a different animal. You are seeing yourself.”

“Wasn’t I supposed to do this with Harry?”

“No, I said Dumbledore wanted you to start the training when I told him about Harry,” another raised eyebrow, “Okay, so maybe in my glee I phrased it wrongly. The point is Harry will only start the training next year at the earliest. I’d rather it be later but I know I won’t be able to stall him longer. And we can’t waste a year when you are already ready for the next step. We don’t know when  Voldemort will be back; could be ten years from now or it could be tomorrow. Now close your eyes.”

Severus did so and Sirius started telling him once again to see the wolf, be the wolf. It only lasted a couple of minutes before Severus opened his eyes again and cried out:

“This is ridiculous.”

Sirius sighed and sat in front of Severus in the same position he was in.

“I am sorry.”

“You should be. This is utterly-“

“I am sorry. I never intended  for you to go. Not only would I not put you in such a danger, but I wouldn’t put Moony in that position. I never thought you’d do what I told you. You hated me. You never did anything I told you before. I have no idea why you decided to take my advice for the first time ever that night. I know I am not guiltless. I should never had taken the chance you would listen, but I honestly did not think you would.”

Severus just stared at him bewildered; why the hell was he bringing this up now?

“It haunts me to this day what could have happened if James hadn’t saved you. It haunts me that I was careless with your life and Moony’s secret. It haunts me that when I saw you crossing the grounds I was paralyzed and couldn’t move, that it took James to act and save your life because of how scared I was. It haunts me that you almost died. That James almost died to save you and that Moony almost died because had he bitten you they would have executed him. I know you think I wasn’t punished because I wasn’t expelled and sent to Azkaban but the only reason I wasn’t was because if Dumbledore had expelled me and called the Aurors they would have taken Moony too. But I was punished. I spent the rest of the year in detention, and not your normal detention either. Half of it was hard manual labor and half was studying all the laws involving werewolf regulation so I could understand how stupid my mistake had been. And I did. I had nightmares of them taking Moony away every night and sometimes I still do. James, Remus and Peter didn’t talk to me for two whole months. I was alone in that Tower, in that dormitory, until the day I came back shaking and sobbing and begged Remus for forgiveness. Told him he could do whatever he wanted to me. That he had the right to kill me if he wanted to, because that’s what I almost did to him.”

That was news Severus.  He never thought about what would have happened to Remus, just that Black had gone free.

 “I have no excuse for what I did and I don’t expect you to forgive me. I never have forgiven myself. But I do expect you not to give up a good weapon because of me.”

Severus had to admit, to himself at least, that he was touched. He hadn’t exactly forgiven Sirius, but he had learned to look past it to be his friend. He surely hadn’t ever expected an apology. And if he thought about it, he had let it pass because he knew he had made a bigger mistake. One that, if Sirius, Remus and Harry ever found out, they would hate him forever. He knew what it was like to act without thinking of the consequences. Just like he had only wanted to please his so called master and never thought that he would go hunting for a child, and that child would end up being Harry, Sirius had thought he wouldn’t take his advice. And he almost hadn’t; after all, Sirius was his enemy, but curiosity won. To hear Sirius say he was sorry for endangering him was, well, he didn’t exactly know how to name it. But it was good. But he was Severus Snape after all and Severus Snape does not get mushy.

“You think too highly of yourself. This has nothing to do with you and everything to do with me not wanting to catch fleas from you and the wolf.”

Sirius rolled his eyes and smiled, “Okay Sev. If you say so. Now close your eyes.”

Severus complied.

“Be the wolf. It’s your fur, your eyes, your muzzle. Feel the fur. Think of how being in four legs must feel like.”

And they kept at that for ours, Severus with his eyes closed, picturing everything as Sirius instructed. Nothing happened that day but according to Sirius that was normal. That as he felt more comfortable with his forms he would start transfiguring parts of his body until he managed to transform his whole body.

XXXXXXXXXXX

The weather was getting worse and the Gryffindor Quidditch team was starting to dread tomorrow’s game. Not as much as they dreaded meeting their Captain in the corridors of Hogwarts between classes though. Harry was contemplating going around with his Invisibility Cloak on.

“He’s a nightmare. Like I don’t know how Cedric plays. I’ve known him since I was eight!” Harry complained to Ron as they waited in the Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom for their teacher. As if on cue the doors burst open and in came a smiling Sirius Black.

“Good morning class!” he said cheerily ignoring the shocked stares he was receiving. He sat on the teacher’s desk and taking the roll started.

“Brown, Lav- Yes Mr. Thomas?”

“I don’t mean any disrespect sir, but, are you sure you entered the right classroom?”

Sirius smiled, “Of course.”

“Brown. L- Ms. Patil?”

“It’s just that this is Defense Against the Dark Arts sir.”

“I know, Br- Mr. Finnigan?”

“Where’s Professor Lupin?”

“Oh, Remus,” Sirius waved his hand dismissively and Harry rolled his eyes, “He’s a little under the weather and I’m filing in. Brown, Lav- Ms. Granger?”

“What are your qualifications sir?”

“Pardon me,” Sirius asked his jaw dropping, “Qualifications?”

“Yes sir,” Hermione said in that no nonsense tone she had, “What makes you qualified to teach this class.”

“Did you ask Professor Lupin for his qualifications?” Sirius asked defensively. Harry thought he’d crack a rib from holding his laughter.

“No, but Professor Lupin tutored most of the students in Defense during the Lockhart fiasco didn’t he? So we already knew he was good. We know you are a good History teacher but that doesn’t necessarily mean you are a good Defense teacher. If telling stories and good looks makes you good at Defense, Professor Lockhart would have been the best,” she rationalized.

Harry quickly shoved his hand on his mouth as a laugh escaped and Sirius glared at him.

Sirius gaped and opened and closed his mouth like a fish. He turned red and said through gritted teeth, “As explained in my last History class during the lecture about the Fall of Voldemort,” and just as it happened many times in said class everyone but Harry flinched, “I along with James Potter, Frank and Alice Longbottom, Hestia Jones, Fabian and Gideon Prewett and Kingsley Shacklebolt, was in the youngest group of Aurors ever. Back then they had condensed the training to one year because they needed us on the field. I am a war veteran and I was Alastor Moody’s protégé.”

The students were once again looking at Sirius in awe and some stole glances at Neville. After the  History class, many students had asked Neville about his parents’ achievements. Sirius had refrained from telling them their fate at the Lestranges’ and Barty Crouch Jr’s hand but, he had made a point of letting everyone know they were war heroes. Harry, knowing what had happened since it had been a Black that was responsible for their fate, rescued Neville from the curious students and ushered Neville to their next class, telling everyone to “sod off”. Used to Harry’s short temper whenever anyone gaped and stared at him, no one took offense and they were able to leave.

“Just checking sir, with our previous experiences we have to be careful,” Hermione finished brightly.

Sirius grunted and taking the roll a little forcibly he started, “Brown, Lav-, yes Mr. Potter Black,” he hissed through gritted teeth.

“Sir, is that the same Alastor Moody that booby traps his dustbins?” Harry asked innocently. That was it; the class, that had been valiantly holding their laughter, let it go.

XXXXXXXX

He wiped tears of laughter, “Oh, I’m going to have to see that in a Pensieve.”

“He did manage to get us under control and we had a great dueling lesson. Nothing like Lockhart’s. When he announced it, Hermione started lecturing him on how we were supposed to start on Hinkypunks.”

“Nah, I knew Sirius isn’t an expert on Dark Creatures. I authorized him to go outside the curriculum or else that would be one embarrassing class. Besides it’s good for them to see an experienced dueler at work. Did you duel him?” Remus asked.

“Yes,” Harry scowled, “And he didn’t go easy either. Made me lose in front of everybody.”

“Never try to make fun of a Marauder,” Remus ruffled Harry’s hair.

Harry stole a piece of apple from the tray on Remus’s bed.

“S’ rotten luck that the full moon was yesterday instead of today. You wouldn’t have had to miss class  then.”

“Don’t talk with your mouth full,” Remus chided, “Missing class isn’t the best. I hope no one puts the date and moon together. But if the moon had been today I’d miss your game tomorrow.”

Harry grinned and then groaned as he looked out the window at the stormy weather.

“We’re going to drown.”

XXXXXXXXX

Harry’s prediction had been right. They were drowning. Remus had a hard time seeing the players and he was nice and dry in the teacher’s box. There was nothing like a roof and water repelling charms. He expected Harry had no idea where the Snitch was. Wood had asked to talk to his team and he had seen Hermione run towards them. Harry seemed to have a better game afterwards but they were still out there and the weather was getting worse by the second. This was getting dangerous. He saw a lightening frighteningly close to Harry, and had his wand out. From the corner of his eye he saw he wasn’t the only teacher to do so.

Suddenly Harry soared up and Remus saw a yellow blur soaring close to him.

“Come on Harry,” he said under his breath. Cedric was getting near and the weather was getting colder. The day was getting darker.

A loud howl.

“Daddy, Mummy, help!”

“They’re dead Remus, James and Lily were killed!”

Remus looked down and was horrified. A hundred Dementors were gliding towards the pitch, towards the children. He concentrated on the feeling he had when his friends told him they wouldn’t desert him and his was one of many shouts next to him of:

“Expectro Patronum!”

As half a dozen Patronuses chased the Dementors away, a familiar bone chilling shiver ran through Remus and he looked up. His heart skipped a beat as he saw Harry plummeting down towards the ground. The loud gasp he let out alerted Sirius and Severus just in time to see Dumbledore raise his wand. Harry’s fall slowed down and the three young teachers ran down to the pitch to meet the boy. As he was touching the last step, he saw Dumbledore stop Severus with just a hand. Severus nodded imperceptivity and stayed behind. Remus knew that must have cost him and awful lot but he kept on going. He had to make sure Harry was fine. They reached Harry and Remus had to restrain both himself and Sirius from touching the unconscious boy. He looked so pale and still. Harry was never still. Sirius conjured a stretcher and put Harry in a body-bind while Remus floated him on the stretcher. As he and Sirius floated an unconscious Harry towards the hospital wing, he distantly heard Dumbledore’s furious orders to the teacher to secure the children and make sure no one was hurt.

XXXXXXXXX

“Thanks Filius,” Sirius took the bundle from the diminutive Professor’s arm grimacing.

“There’s no way of repairing it. I tried, but the Whomping Willow got it good. You know how that tree is,” Flitwick said sadly. Sirius winced. He knew the Whomping Willow very personally. “Poor lad. He loves his broom.”

“He does,” Sirius sighed. “Thanks again.”

Flitwick nodded and left the Hospital Wing as Remus entered.

“The other kids want to see Harry. I told them I’d let them know when he’s up. Is that what I think it is?“

“Yes,” Sirius said grimly opening the bundle and showing the broom splinters to Remus.

“Oh my,” Remus winced, “That’s not going to go overly well.”

A grunt from the bed caught their attention, and Sirius dumped the bundle on another bed and quickly ran to his son’s bedside.

“Come on pup. It’s okay. It’s over,” he coaxed gently running a hand trough Harry’s hair.

“What happened?” Harry croaked as he awakened.

“You fell of your broom,” Remus answered giving Harry a glass of water.

Harry who was propped on his elbows in the process if sitting on the bed raised an eyebrow.

“Really Uncle Moony?”

“Yes,” Remus said positioning a pillow and fluffing it nervously.

“And here I thought I had decided to jump.”

Sirius bit his lips to keep from laughing while helping adjust the pillows.

Remus glared at the two black haired people in the room and drawled, “I see you are feeling better.”

“I am a bit sore,” Harry said taking the glass of water, “Why were the Dementors on the field. Weren’t they supposed to stay out of the grounds?”

Remus sat on the chair as Sirius sat on the bed.

“Yes,” Remus said grimly, “But I guess the crowd watching the match was just too much of a temptation for them to just pass.”

Harry fidgeted with his glass looking at his lap and biting his lips.

“Harry,” Sirius said softly, “It’s okay. Albus dealt with them. He was furious. He said he was going to stop by later on to see you. Sev is going to come too. Poor guy, he was so worried but couldn’t do anything. He is tending to his Slytherins now. A few of the younger ones were quite shaken up.”

Harry nodded and looked up, straight at Remus, “I want to learn how to fight them. When you taught me about them you said that the only defense was the Patronus Charm. I want to learn.”

“Harry,” Remus started tiredly.

“Don’t say I’m too young! I have to know! What if they come again and you’re not there? Then what?”

Remus bit his lip and shared a nervous glance with Sirius. Sirius nodded.

“Fine,” Remus said reluctantly. “But you have to listen to me. And I’m only doing this because the Dementors have a worst effect on you than on others.”

Harry smiled but his smiled faltered, “Is that because-“

“Because you have horrors in your past that you classmates can’t even imagine,” Sirius said looking straight into Harry’s green eyes. “It has nothing to do with how strong you are.” And he held his son’s gaze until he was satisfied Harry understood.

XXXXXXXX

Madam Pomfrey insisted that Harry stay in the Hospital Wing the whole weekend, which Harry thought was an overreaction if he ever saw one. He had visits from his friends and from the Quidditch team.  Wood had been very depressed from losing the match but assured Harry he didn’t blame him. Harry felt horrible nonetheless and vowed to learn the Patronus Charm quickly; he couldn’t afford to lose another match. He also assured Wood that his dad had promised him another broom for Christmas. Harry had been devastated at his broom’s fate. He loved it, it had been his first real broom. Not a child’s broom or a school broom that he used but his. And it had been his eleventh birthday’s present. For a wizard, eleven was almost as important as seventeen.

Cedric Diggory also stopped by to make sure he was  fine and said he tried to return the Snitch.

“I didn’t see you Harry. I’m sorry. I only saw you had fallen when you were almost at the ground and I had the Snitch.”

“It’s okay. You won fair and square,” Harry said.

Cedric bit his lip, “I’m sorry for last year. It’s just, everyone was so scared. But I should have known better. I’ve known you since you were little and you helped me escape Filch that time in first year when  you showed me that secret passage. I should have known better.”

Harry stared at him with a stony expression, “Yes you should,” he wasn’t going to pretend he hadn’t been hurt because he had. “But that’s all over now and my Uncle says it’s no use dwelling on mistakes. We have to learn from them and move on.” He extended a hand to Cedric, “Still friends.”

Cedric smiled and shook Harry’s hand.

“Still friends.”

Harry was also  visited by his Uncle Sev, who came under the pretense of taking Potions to Poppy, and was lectured on the utter uselessness, evils, and dangers of Quidditch. When Harry pointed out that for someone who bet Professor McGonagall every  year and always bragged about the shiny Cup in his office, his Uncle was saying an awful lot against the game, Severus feigned deafness.

Another visit he got was from Dumbledore, who assured Harry that the Dementors would not be coming to the grounds again. Harry and Dumbledore talked a lot about what Harry heard when the Dementors came near. Just like Remus, Dumbledore told Harry he should focus on remembering the woman that loved him.

“And remember Harry, the ones that love us never truly leave us,” he had said and Harry smiled and told him:

“That’s true for you too Grandpa.”

Dumbledore had looked at him bewildered and Harry explained.

“Your parents and sister. They are watching over you too, right? They are always with you.”

Dumbledore smiled, “I hope so.” He said softly kissing Harry’s forehead before he left