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Chapter Text

         As the bulk of the Unspeakables on duty focused on the prophecy which showed up the night before by the descendant of a known seer, Trelawney, one they were sure had to do with the war going on, Unspeakable Skullnick wasn’t.  He focused on two others that came in the same night.  As he worked with them, he documented everything he could on his ever-present clipboard so they could try to sort out the meaning behind them and who they might relate to.

         After finishing the first one, sure he already knew the meaning behind it and it wasn't earth shattering the way some were, he moved on to the second.  This one intrigued him more.  It only had one name on it, Pythia, rather than a full name like most did when it came to listing who made it.  While many of the names of the seers on the jars were unknown to most of them, this one wasn’t.  However, it also wasn’t the name of a person, but the name of any priestess that manned the oracle of Delphi.  Unlike what Muggles thought, the oracle was still manned, though no longer located where it was in the past.  Instead, it was a collective of seers who lived close by.  And their accuracy rate was astonishing.  Dissimilar from the past, their prophecies no longer just referred to Greece and the Greeks, but spanned the world.  So, if this one showed up in their Hall of Prophecy, that meant it was about an event or person in the UK.  Interesting!

         He wrote down all he could on the jar, what it said and the time then tapped the shelf in front of it the required number of times with his wand then waited, heart beating just a tad faster.  Almost instantly, a small misty figure appeared before the jar, a manifestation of the person who made the prophecy.  The small woman, with long dark hair and minimal flowing clothing, somewhat like a toga, began to speak with a heavy Greek accent.  As she did, the hair on the back of his neck stood up. 

“Tisiphone’s child once more comes.

The ancient line once more reactivates with full power.

From Death’s cold embrace, he returns.

Brings back with ‘his three’.

The darkness within allows the tie.

Though a boy’s face, sweet and mild, the darkness permeates.

Evil verses Dark will battle.

Marked as what he is, our world trembles at his power.

The land of Merlin has a choice.

Fight or capitulate unless Eros can overcome what is within.”

         As Skullnick stood there, he shivered.  While he was the newest of those that worked in the Hall of Prophecy and didn’t have the experience the others had yet, he knew real when he heard it.  And this one was real, he could feel it.  What it said chilled him to the bone.  He wasn’t sure how it related to what was going on and the war, but he was certain it did.  Which meant they needed to study it.

         After replaying it once more, making sure the wording was recorded correctly on his clipboard, he then rushed off to find his superior.  Yes, everyone needed to know about this prophecy!

         Unfortunately for Skullnick, everyone else was too caught up in the Trelawney prophecy to listen to him.  By then, they were sure who it pertained to and that it meant the end of the war.  Because it was so bad at the time, it was where the focus stayed, the newest prediction from Pythia forgotten in not only the war, but the aftermath.  Well, all but by Skullnick. 

         As he would tell everyone until his dying day, he would never forget the words to it and how it made him feel.  And he knew it was real.  That was later self-proving.

Chapter Text

         Remus clutched Harry tightly as the younger wizard screamed for Sirius after they watched him fall through the Veil.  As he did, his eyes burned and his heart broke.  Once more he was alone in the world, the last of his true friends dead.  And he wasn’t sure if he could go on.  Honestly?  He didn’t want to go on anymore.  It had been so hard all these years that, despite the budding romance with Tonks, he couldn’t do it anymore.  He just couldn’t.  It was too much.

         Still holding Harry, who had stopped screaming but was now struggling to get loose, Remus decided enough was too much.  He couldn’t go on.  Listening to Harry mutter, he realized James and Lily’s son felt the same way.  Tears burning his eyes, he looked at the Veil as it fluttered and the plan formed.

         While the battle raged on, Remus watched as Albus finally made an appearance. It was now or never as the whole mess was about to end up even worse. So, if he wanted to do this, now was the time. As he held Harry close, he muttered what he wanted to do in his ear. While Harry stiffened up at what he said, he soothed him and promised the pain would be over, forever. It was that part which seemed to convince Harry. When he heard Harry agree, he loosened his hold and the two of them made it look like they were coming to join the battle. Instead, though, they made their way to the daïs the Veil was on. The two of them made sure it looked like they were joining in defending against the Death Eaters that were there, but they were purposeful in their intent to get to the Veil.

         Just as they reached the top of the dais, Remus turned his focus away from the battle now raging then looked at Harry.  “Are you ready?”  He asked, voice thick with emotion and a lump in his throat.  While his heart was hammering quickly and he felt some guilt over what they were about to do, it was the right choice.  Well, the only choice he felt he had anymore.  It was time.  He didn’t want to outlive anyone else.  It was something he could no longer bear.  Then he felt the peace that came from his decision.

         “I’m ready,” Harry said in a quivering voice, wand out and scanning around for anyone close. While part of him was screaming this was wrong, the hurt was so bad he wanted it. No, no more crap and no more pain would be worth it. Let everyone judge him after he was gone.

         “Let’s go meet Sirius and see your parents then,” Remus said, voice breaking. This was wrong, his mind kept screaming it at him, but he shunted it aside. It was time for the pain to end.  And he was at peace again.

         As Voldemort made his appearance and all hell was breaking loose, Remus looped his arm around Harry then pulled him close.  Lifting his chin as several, including Albus looked their way, he then turned and leaped through the Veil holding Harry.

         And, as they passed through the tattered curtain which covered the archway, they were gone.

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         Of all the events Albus had prepared for in his life, Remus taking Harry through the Veil wasn’t one he ever considered.  From what he saw, Harry hadn’t fought Remus either. He had stood there, stunned, after the two were gone. While the battle still raged, plenty saw what happened. 

         As he stood there, knowing what he did about the Horcrux in Harry’s scar, he waited.  Harry should be able to come back.  He didn’t, though. The Veil fluttered harder and the voices from behind it grew louder, but Harry remained gone. Seconds ticked into minutes and still no Harry. 

         When the full force of the Ministry showed up to help, even Fudge turning up and seeing Voldemort, Albus dealt with what he had to, but kept watching the Veil. Harry needed to come back.  He should be able to, so why wasn’t he? There was no sign of him, though.

         Hours after the battle, as the Ministry was mopping up, statements taken, everything tended to, Albus finally realized with a sinking feeling that Harry had made his choice; he had moved on.  Their one way to end this nightmare was gone. While the Horcrux in Harry’s scar was gone, one less to worry about, there was no way to fulfill the prophecy now. 

         They were in trouble.

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         As the Hall of Prophecy was demolished in the battle, a lone jar from one of the shelves that had been overturned lay in a deep, dark corner, the inside of it glowing, unharmed. It was the Pythia Prophecy. 

         As Harry passed through the Veil with Remus, the label on it flashed a bright green then the names Sirius Black, Remus Lupin, James and Harry Potter wrote themselves out on the front of it in bright red letters.  It was being fulfilled.

         Despite the cleaning that took place in the aftermath of the battle, the Prophecy would stay in that corner, unnoticed, for years.  No one would get the warning it was meant to impart until it was too late to stop it.

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         Though it was night, the time she was normally out hunting, Hedwig remained in the owlery at Hogwarts with a few other owls.  She was waiting for the signal she knew was coming. Her master was going to fulfill his destiny, but not yet.

         At the moment Harry passed through the Veil, she took flight.  No, she wasn’t going out hunting, but to the place she would meet her master when he returned. It would be a while, but that was fine.

         As the snowy owl flew, summoning Harry’s belongings as she did, she waited for them to shrink and attach to her legs, then she homed in on the place she knew he would come to once he returned. With his trunk and broom attached firmly, she changed.  Her beak grew longer and more pointed, becoming golden in color.  Then her eyes turned red, the color of blood. The black spots on her snowy body became tinged with red and her feet and claws turned black as the darkest night. Her job was now coming.

         All those years ago, Hagrid had thought she came to him because she was soothing, a creature who would attach to the orphaned boy. He was wrong. She knew who his charge was and he was the one she was to help. All she needed to do was bide her time. It was now that time. 

         As she soared along, she grew bigger, her now larger wings flapping. While she still had a long wait for her master to come back to her, it felt good to show what she was; a Strix. She could be herself once more. No more hiding.

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         In the aftermath of Harry and Remus’ suicides, the nightmare began.

        While there was good, like the Ministry stepping up to fight the battle once more and Fudge being ousted, the fact was they were all already in trouble. Fudge’s denial gave Voldemort all the leverage he needed to get many into power, something that made the fight harder than before. And he was taking it to them with everything he had. He, too, seemed to have realized with Harry being gone, he had no one to stop him. And he took advantage of it.

         Albus tried with everything he had, mobilizing the Order to do what they could. While it did take pressure off them to not have to guard Harry, it was worse in that they had so much to do now.  More than they could handle. He also had to worry about a school full of children and protecting them. Some of those children were already making the wrong choices. While he wanted to protect those taking the wrong path and make them see the error of their ways, it was too late for some.

         As the nightmare pressed on, he tried to do what he knew was necessary, hoping taking out the rest of the Horcruxes would give them a shot at ending the nightmare. He wasn’t sure it would, but he was going to try. And he pressed forward to do all he could, protecting himself and everyone else the best he could.

         Though focused on the war, as anyone would expect, he also paid attention to other happenings that made him wonder what was going on.

         The first clue was something they all wondered about; Grimmauld Place locked down solid. No one, not even him as the Secret Keeper, could get in. Though Buckbeak left the house when he realized no one was coming back, nothing anyone did could get them inside. 

         For Albus, it was a curiosity since he knew Harry was Sirius’ heir. If Harry died, his property would end up magically transferred to his next of kin; the Dursleys. It hadn’t transferred. 

         While that was something he kept looking into, though not finding answers to it, he pressed on to the next one that showed up through his sources.  It was the area he held out hope for.

         Since the battle, Unspeakables who kept in touch with him made it clear activity at the Veil was higher than ever recorded.  Not only was it blowing harder, with more sightings of body parts showing in it, like they were trying to escape, but the noise level was now loud and more frequent. They could now tell what was being said. From what he was told, the Unspeakables were recording the voices and capturing the activity on camera as definitive proof.

         He had seen the pictures and heard the recordings when someone sneaked them to him. As he did, he felt the first bloom of hope since Harry went through the Veil. While there was no official explanation for it from those who worked in the department, the consensus was someone was trying to return and the deaths in the battle triggered a huge event of some sort.  Albus was sure it was Harry and he would come back. In fact, researching it himself, he began to pin his hopes on Harry’s return.  If Harry came back, they would all be in better shape.

         As the anniversary of the battle drew closer, Albus was sent reports that the activity was increasing. The bloom of hope that caused had him distracted. He pressed on the best he could, but it was there.

         Finally, the night of the anniversary, right at the time Harry and Remus passed through the Veil, Albus was in the chamber, waiting and hoping. He could easily see the activity from the Veil and that it was unlike what was there during the battle. In the end, though, Harry didn’t return. He waited as long as he could, but there was nothing. So, he finally left, dejected. Later he learned the activity didn’t die down, though. Instead, it kept increasing.

         On Harry’s birthday, he showed up again, waiting. And, again, it was for naught, but he did get to see the increased activity personally.

         The following year, the war was in full swing. Rufus was in charge and trying, but he wasn’t getting anywhere. Albus was helping all he could, getting his hands on then destroying the only Horcrux he could find and get at; the Gaunt ring. He had been tempted to put it on, but was distracted by some activity near the shack it was hidden in, something he later learned probably saved his life. While he was trying to find the others, he couldn’t locate them. The one he thought he found was a fake. He had no idea where the real one was or what the message Regulus left meant.

         While he held out hope that Harry would return, he wasn’t focusing on it anymore. No, there was too much to do and protect for him to hold out too much hope. So, he pressed on. Though, once again, he was there on the anniversary of the battle and was once more disappointed. It was time for him to move on and take the fight to Tom. They needed to win this war and they wouldn’t manage if he focused on Harry. Though he kept up with reports from his contacts, he focused where he was the most needed.  While he wasn’t sure they could do this without Harry, he was going to try. Too much was at stake and too many lives rode on ending the war for him to not step up.  So, he did.

Chapter Text

         Morris Dorfman loved his job as an Unspeakable.  It was the second choice for him when it came to careers, Auror being his first, something he was unable to attain due to a physical limitation, so he had taken a job as an Unspeakable. At first he had been disappointed, but he quickly learned it was something he adored, probably more than he ever would have being an Auror.  The mysteries he was able to explore and learn about he found fascinating, fueling his desire to explore more. There was one duty he loathed, though, more than anything in his life; taking his turn to watch the Veil in the Death Chamber and record what happened with it. 

         Every time it was his turn for the duty, he was left shaken, nightmares plaguing him for weeks after his shift.  From what he heard, it was the same with the others that drew these shifts.  As the activity was so high, it seemed like it was worse anymore.  He dreaded his turn at this shift.  The late-night ones were even worse.  Thankfully, those happened only once every three months or so.  Those nightmares seemed worse after the overnight shift, leaving him feeling tired and fearful for days afterward.  Like others reported, they didn’t seem like real nightmares, but images of something terrifying.  Either way, he hated it.  He didn’t shirk in his duty, though, and pressed on.

         Tonight it was his turn to watch the Veil overnight again and he was already feeling the effects.  There was a creeping dread that seemed to chill him to his bones as he checked the equipment and monitored what was going on.  In his times watching the Veil, he had never seen it this active nor were they able to get the clear readings they were now.  While it was good for them and the study they were doing on it, it left him feeling worse than normal, sure nightmares would plague him for at least a month over what he was feeling and hearing.  The only bright spot was he wasn’t alone tonight like he was for most of his shifts watching the dreaded Veil. 

         There were two other Unspeakables still in the offices.  They would be coming in to help from time to time.  When he came on shift, his boss told him Albus Dumbledore may visit tonight, though they weren’t sure.  Albus coming on July 31^st had been a pattern since Harry Potter vanished through the Veil, so he wasn’t bothered.  Though from what he heard, it wasn’t a certainty this year because of an attack by Death Eaters on a small village in Scotland.  Either way, he felt better knowing there were others around.

         While he did his routine check of the equipment as the soft chiming from his watch that heralded midnight faded away, Morris jotted down notes, as he was supposed to do.  However, as it clicked over to 12:01 AM, the hair on the back of his neck stood up.  Though reluctant to, figuring something was off, he lifted his head and looked at the Veil.  Then his eyes widened and his heart hammered so fast his chest ached from it.  Listening to the rapid-fire clicking from the cameras as all of them in the chamber went off, a sound which echoed eerily off the walls in the silence, he lifted his wand in a shaking hand, sending a signal for the other two Unspeakables to join him.  Oh, dear sweet Merlin!  What was this?

         As he trembled madly, he watched as the Veil was pushed aside and someone stepped back through.  Morris straightened up, clutching the clipboard to his chest like it was a shield of some kind, horrified as he watched Harry Potter step back onto this side of the Veil.  Though there was a ghost-like haze of some kind around him, there was no mistaking the looks, glasses and scar on his forehead.  After lifting his wand and sending the signal off again, his eyes were glued to what he was seeing.  However, he felt his blood turn to ice as Potter looked at him.  There was something in that gaze, though he didn’t know what, that chilled him straight to the marrow of his bones.

         Backing away, though eyes locked on the scene, he didn’t know what to do. 

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         Harry glanced around after passing back through, eyes watering slightly.  Though he spied the middle-aged man in the chamber, he ignored him.  He had something to do before it was too late. 

         After focusing back on the Veil, he stuck his arms through it and waited for the other two to grab hold.  No, he would not go it alone on this side again.  The four of them had a mission to tend to.  And, honestly, with how he felt, it was a very bad idea for humanity to have him go it alone. 

         He focused and willed them to grab hold then grinned when he felt the strong grasp of the two.  Sirius’ arm was wrapped around his to the elbow and holding him tightly.  Remus’ hand was over his, holding strong, but he could feel Sirius’ hand touch his from where it was over Remus’.  Good!  He waited for the signal, though, not pulling yet.  When he felt the squeeze and tug, he knew his dad had grabbed hold of Remus and it was time.

         Sweat starting to bead on his brow, he concentrated and pulled.  There was only once chance to get this right.  If he couldn’t pull them through, they would be lost to him until it was his time to once more move on.  No, he wasn’t going to let that happen.  As he felt them start to return to this world, he stepped backwards, straining with all his might, a grimace on his face at the effort.  Though the clicks and flashes from the cameras going off was slightly distracting, it wasn’t enough to break his concentration and they kept coming.  Green eyes locked on the Veil, he kept pulling, stepping backwards, pleased when he could see the outline of the three pressing against the other side.  They were almost there.  It would just take a little more and they would come through.

         His teeth gritted, muscles straining, Harry kept stepping backwards, feeling them move closer. Eyes still locked on the Veil, he could see them pressing on it, the distinct outline of them becoming more defined, he hissed as Death didn’t seem to want to let them loose.  Too bad.  Death was no match for him and his determination.  The irises of his green eyes glowing red, he snarled then pulled harder, dragging them closer.  Though Death put up the best fight it could, it lost, the Veil finally parting and the three coming through the opening.  As they appeared, black marks, which looked almost tribal in nature formed around his arms where he was touched, a blood red and gold coloring outlining them, then formed around the arms of those holding him.  It was working!  Not only were they coming, the binding was attaching, just as they planned.

         As he could see his dad following behind Remus and Sirius, Harry let out a guttural cry and pulled with all his might.  That last herculean effort pulled the three through and all four of them collapsed in a heap on the dais where he, Sirius and Remus had met their deaths.  They were back.

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         While Morris stood there and watched the resurrection from what they all knew was a one-way trip, he heard the other two join him.  Like him, it seemed they were terrified of what was going on and what it could mean.  Unlike him, they kept their heads and were able to send out the proper messages.  Morris, though, was transfixed by what he saw. 

         When the other three were pulled through, he immediately recognized Remus Lupin, Sirius Black and James Potter.  Staring at them as they collapsed, he began to silently chant a long-forgotten prayer his Muggle father taught him ages ago.  Despite all his training in the mysteries they studied, his mind went to the long-ago religious teachings, wondering if this was the first sign of a darkness that would encompass their world, one that was just as deadly as the one that currently walked.

         As the four stood up and began making their way out of the chamber, Morris stared, feeling that cold seem to permeate every cell in his body when they looked his way.  While they appeared normal, other than that ghost-like sheen around them, like the one he noticed on Harry, something was wrong, very wrong.  The four had been dead for far too long, especially James, for them to come back unaffected like those that were gone for only a short time from some cause or another.  No, this wasn’t good.  What was dead should stay beyond that Veil.  Anything coming back was a sign of something very bad.

         Morris’ colleagues stood by him as the four left, muttering to each other.  Of course, Morris listened in.  There would be questions of him after this settled down, so he needed to pay attention.  However, as he focused on their voices while watching the resurrected men leave, he was heartened to hear the other two seemed to feel the same way he did on the topic; thinking this meant nothing good.  At least he wasn’t alone in what he felt.

         When the four were out of the chamber, Morris finally snapped out of the almost hypnotic state he was in.  As he focused, knowing there was much to tend to and people to contact over what happened, his eyes lifted to the Veil.  For the first time since Potter and Lupin went through, it was back to ‘normal’, fluttering slightly with very soft murmurs being heard, not the intense activity that they had seen for the last two years.  Oh, that was not a good sign.

         After conferring with the other two, he began collecting the evidence recorded by all the equipment with the help of one while the other went to alert everyone they would need.  Yes, this was huge and they needed to decipher what it meant so they could prepare for what might come.  He had a feeling they needed to do it as fast as they could before the situation in their world grew worse.

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         It was James who led the way once they navigated out of the confusing maze that was the Department of Mysteries, wand out, ready for anything.  Remus was right behind him, of course, with Sirius sticking to Harry as close as he could get.  While it was late, something they knew because of the time they needed to come back, it didn’t mean the Ministry would necessarily be empty.  After all, the four of them knew what was going on in their world.  So, they needed to get out with no one detaining them.

         Until they reached the atrium, they encountered no one, hearing nothing but their own footsteps echoing in the seemingly empty halls and corridors. When they were midway across, heading for the exit that led to the phone box that would take them into Muggle London, James stopped, holding up his hand for the others to do so as well.  Then he clutched his wand tightly and glared at the two men who stepped out from one of the hallways. One he didn’t know.  From the uniform, it looked like he was a security guard.  The other he did recognize, though.  It was Rufus, the current Minister of Magic.  Standing there, he lifted his chin and glared at the man, saying nothing.

         When he saw who emerged and crossed the atrium, Rufus stopped cold, staring, his mouth dropping open.  Over his time as an Auror, he saw many things he couldn’t always explain.  While they were puzzling, he pushed on and did his job.  This time, as he was confronted with what appeared to be a very living James Potter, Sirius Black, Remus Lupin and Harry Potter, he was stunned speechless.  While they had some kind of ghostly aura around them, they were obviously alive.  And that made no sense. 

         After a good minute of stunned silence, Rufus clutched his wand then stepped closer, though making sure the security guard sent off the signal for help and stuck close to his back.  When he was within a few feet of the quartet, he muttered a soft, uneven, “James?  Is that you?”

         “Rather obvious, isn’t it, Rufus,” James snorted dryly.  He knew they needed to get out of there as they hadn’t been back long enough to handle any kind of confrontation with anyone, so he pressed on.  Glaring at his old boss, he snapped, “Sirius didn’t betray me and Lily.  That was Peter.  He was the Secret Keeper, Rufus. I expect pardon papers sent to him via owl by tomorrow night.  If not, there will be hell to pay.  Mark my words!”

         Rufus glanced at Black, who was standing in front of Potter like he was guarding him, with Lupin right by them, and shivered at the malevolent look he was getting from his old Auror.  Giving a slow nod, he said, “Understood, James.  If you could send me a written statement, I’ll have them drawn up.”

         “You’ll get it,” James snapped, glowering at him.  That was enough.  His blood was already boiling over so much, so they needed to get out.  If his was, the others were dealing with the same thing.  No, they needed to go ‘home’, now.  Stepping back, chin lifted as he glared at Rufus, he snarled, “We’re leaving.”  Then he motioned for the others to follow before continuing the trek to the exit.

         As he watched the four go, shivering at the looks shot his way from them, Rufus shook his head, swallowing thickly.  Oh, he needed to find out what was going on and if it was them, fast.  Waiting until the four vanished out the exit, he set out to summon those he thought might have an answer so he knew what in Merlin’s name was going on!  Already he didn’t like the situation and had a bad feeling about this.  Answers were needed to deal with it.  And to cope with what he saw.  There was no chance those four should be alive and it sure appeared they were as he didn’t think anyone could pull that off in any way.  No, someone needed to have answers and he wanted them.  Now!

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         After exiting the Ministry, James was relieved when they were on the almost deserted Muggle street.  While there was some activity, it didn’t appear as though any of their kind were around.  Perfect.  “Right,” he started, after double checking, “let’s get the hell out of here.  We’ll find an alley and I’ll side-along you three to the house.”

         “You’re sure it’s ready?”  Sirius asked, holding Harry close while he kept watch.

         “I’m sure,” James assured him with a grin and nod.  “The elves would know the signs and will be prepared for us.  We just need to get there.”

         “Good,” Remus sighed, smiling a tad as the cool night breeze ruffled his hair.  Oh, this was wonderful.  “There is a small alley right down the block.  We can use it.  It’s something protected as those coming to the Ministry use it as an Apparation point.”

         “We’ll use it,” James said, having Remus lead the way.  Walking beside Harry and Sirius, wand concealed but out, he put a hand on his son’s head and rubbed it.  They were back and they had a plan.  It was time the foolishness ended when it came to their world and they would ensure it.

         Sirius brought up the end of the line as they stepped into the alley that Remus led them to.  After a quick check around over his shoulder, he said, “We’re fine.  No one is about.  We need to get the hell out of here, though.  I’m damned sure Rufus sounded all kinds of alarms and people will be out hunting for us.”

         “No problem,” James said.  “All of you grab on and we’re out of here.  While people might find out we're back, no one is going to see us until we settle in then find out the details of what went on since the three of you crossed over.  Then we’ll set our plans in motion.” 

         After pulling Harry to him, holding his son close and smiling down at him, James waited until Sirius and Remus grabbed on.  Once he made sure the three were holding on tight, he Apparated them away to the place he knew was safest.  They needed time, something this place would give them as no one knew where it was.  Then, once they settled and adjusted, plenty would know of their return.

         When the soft crack of the Apparation died away in the alley the four left, a quiet descended that was almost unearthly.  Even the rats and insects that permeated the alleys for the food that was there had hidden from the four, sensing something was wrong with them.  It took quite some time for the aura they left behind to dissipate and normal activity to resume.  Even then the scavengers that lived among the garbage avoided the place the four had stood for the rest of the night.

Chapter Text

         “Are you sure the pictures are authentic?”  A very tired, drawn looking Severus asked after taking a look at the photos Albus passed him which showed Black, Lupin, Harry and James Potter returning through the Veil.  It was after three in the morning, but Albus had roused him, Minerva and Moody when Kingsley came in with the pictures and news of the return.  Most of the Order had spent the night dealing with the aftermath of the attack earlier then desperately attempted to come up with anything that might help, so it was long night for all of them anyway without being roused once more.  Once he passed the pictures to Minerva, he tugged his dressing gown around him and waited, arms folded over his chest.  Albus had told all of them it was urgent enough to get there as fast as they could, so he hadn’t dressed.  One look at those pictures was enough to understand what he meant.

         “They’re real,” Kingsley told them all, looking around from where he was seated in the small parlor of Albus’ home.  “These are just a few of the pictures, ones that wouldn’t be missed that I could get from a contact I have in the Department of Mysteries.  They have well over a hundred of them documenting the whole return and the four leaving the chamber.  If that isn’t enough proof, Rufus himself encountered them as they were leaving the Ministry.  That’s how I ended up called in.  He summoned several of his higher-ranking members of the DMLE to see what we can find out.” 

        As Minerva, who was also in her tartan dressing gown, looked over the pictures with wide eyes, he added, “Rufus even talked to them.  Well, James anyway.  He said James made it clear he wants Sirius cleared, that it was Peter who betrayed him and Lily.  Rufus said he’s waiting on a signed statement from James to that effect then will sign the pardon papers he already has drawn up.  And, trust me, he was right unnerved by the whole encounter.  He said it made his skin crawl.”

         Foot tapping and thumbs twiddling, Albus looked down at the floor as Alastor glanced through the snapshots, trying to formulate what to ask.  After a few moments, he inquired, “Were there witnesses or just the pictures?  I know they’ve been monitoring the Veil activity since the three went through, of course.  Normally, they do have people watching all the time anymore.”

         “There were Unspeakables there,” Kingsley nodded.  “Three of them, from what I was told.  They all saw them return.”

         “Let me see who I can get in touch with.  I have a few contacts in the department, so I might be able to get my hands on all the pictures and talk to those that saw them return.  Let me see.”  Albus said in a distracted tone, already trying to figure out how to go about this venture.

         “I don’t understand this, Albus,” Minerva said, eyes overly wide, hands clasped tightly in front of her.  “James didn’t go through the Veil with them.  How could he return that way?  He was buried all those years ago.”

         “The Veil is the doorway to death,” Albus started with a sigh.  “I assume when the three crossed over, they met up in some way.  It—I’m not sure. The only ones that can probably answer such questions are the four of them.  If they remember, of course.”  However, the fact James returned had him concerned.  As long as James had been dead, he was certain there would be issues with him returning, big ones that might mean nothing good, for any of them. 

         “Look,” Kingsley said, looking around.  “No one is sure what’s going on with this and decided it’s best to keep it quiet.  Even Rufus plans to make certain it’s kept out of the papers until someone can figure out what in Merlin’s name is going on.  And my contact told me this is not good.  James alone—he said he was dead far too long for him to come back untainted.  He also added the other three probably are as well because of how long they were on the other side.  Something else he told me quietly was everyone needs to tread very lightly if you see them because he has no idea what could come of it.” 

         He then explained some of what he knew and had managed to get out of a few people, “From what everyone knows, Harry pulled them back.  He came through alone, but reached into the Veil and pulled the other three through.  It left marks of some kind as well, on his arms.  They don’t have good pictures of those, but are going to try to enlarge what they have and see if they can make out what the marks are.  And he says it has to mean something, probably big, though they don’t know what it could be.  It’s doubtful anyone will figure out what it means unless the four tell someone. Either way, he says this is bad news.”  Kingsley then glanced around, still slightly pale himself.

         “With how our world is, it’s going to leak out,” Severus sneered, though his mind was working over the implications of them returning.  In the long run, all of them back could aid what was going on immeasurably.

         “Not this time,” Kingsley shook his head.  “Trust me.  Those that were called in and the guard with him were sworn to secrecy, with spells.  I wasn’t.  From what I saw, I’m the only one that managed to not take the oath he wanted.  It was just an oversight, I think, as I arrived last since I’ve been guarding the Muggle Prime Minister.  Either that or Rufus thought I might need to pass it along for some reason.  I don’t know.  He’s serious in it not leaking out until he wants it to.  And he is badly shaken over it, trust me.”

         “Which is probably good for all of us involved, the ensuring it’s not leaked that is,” Alastor nodded, sitting down with a grunt.  “I think we need to keep it confined to just us here as well.  At least until we know what in Merlin’s name is going on and if it’s really them.  You never know what might have managed to pass through that Veil.  We don’t want a mass panic or it leaking out then wild rumors spreading.”

         “We will,” Albus nodded.  “It stays between us for now.  We’ll see what we can find out and do some research to judge if there are issues we need to stay wary of.”  Then he gave a tired sigh and added, “Tomorrow.  I’ll get in contact with a few people I know to get what information I can then we’ll meet up once more.  If you could—those of you with contacts in areas related to this, please see what you can find out.  Any help we can get will be for the best.  We just need to stay cautious of giving up why we want it.” 

         After hearing agreements from everyone, he dismissed them, mind all over the place about what this could mean for so much.  While it would help, he had a deep sense of foreboding.  Harry he expected to return at some point, but he did not anticipate him bringing anyone back with him.  The fact he did left him feeling unnerved.  There was a purpose for it, of that he was certain, but he didn’t know what.  Until he did, he would tread very lightly, though he wanted to put out feelers to get in contact with them as soon as he could.  If nothing else, the four needed to know what was going on in order to protect themselves.

         With a tired groan, he then shuffled off to bed, sure sleep wouldn’t come, but he would try.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

         After Apparating everyone through the wards, James pulled out his wand then stepped up to the door of what his ancestors had named Fury Manor many centuries ago.  Though the elves should have seen the signs over the last few years that he was returning, the house had set empty for so long that it was best to stay cautious.  When he was sure everyone was safely behind him, with Harry clinging to his back so he was damned sure his son stayed safe, he opened the door then stepped inside cautiously.  A quick glance around told him everything was cleaned and appeared harmless.  Still, one never knew, so it was best to stay alert.  Then there was the multitude of pops that signaled the house elves showing up.  Even better.  If all the house elves in residence turned up to greet them, it meant they were ready and the house safe.

         Since he had only been here twice when he had been alive, both times when he was very young, he thought the head elf’s name was Binky, but couldn’t be sure.  Calling the elf forward by name, he was pleased he was right.  Straightening up, he said, “I’ve come home to claim the inheritance.  My son Harry is the one who holds the Fury gene.  Are you ready for us?”

         After bowing repeatedly, Binky told his master, “We's ready, Master Potter.  We's saw the signs the last two years and prepared for you.  Fury Manor is cleaned and safe for its masters.”  Then glancing at Tisiphone’s child peering out from behind his father, he added, “Master Harry’s familiar arrived and has been waiting on him since he passed through the Veil.  We's made sure she was well treated.”

         “Good,” James said, pleased, relaxing.  “We need grocery delivery set up.  Also, the two master bedrooms need readied.  I’ll be in one with Remus.  Sirius will stay in the other with Harry.  Make sure they are comfortable with the best furniture you can find for them.”

         “They will be ready,” Binky told him, bowing rapidly several times.

         “We also want something to eat and drink, though not in the dining room.  Set up one of the comfortable parlors for us.  Once we settle in, we need you to send your most trusted elves to fetch Remus and Sirius’ belongings.  Harry’s—not sure if you can get them.”

         “Master Harry’s familiar brought his belongings,” Binky said, already sending a couple happily twittering elves off to comply with their Master’s orders. 

         “Good.”  James said, pleased.  “When we get done with the wards, we need you to add all you can so we stay hidden.  And any mail we get, you need to screen.”  Though there were probably many issues he didn’t cover yet, as he was still adjusting after being gone for so long, it was the basics.  The rest would end up being handled as they presented themselves.

         James dismissed the elf to start on his orders and turned around then said, “Right, Remus, get the Fidelius up.  I know this place is about as protected as we can get and the fog spell around it has always hidden it from view, but we want to make damned sure no one can find us.  Once it’s applied, we’re going to relax.”

         The werewolf smiled and nodded, then drew his wand and went to work.  Yellow eyes almost glowing, he quickly applied the spell, making James the Secret Keeper. Come tomorrow, they would check the wards for anything they could add, but this would keep them safe for the night.  They were all too tired and disoriented to attempt working with ancient warding tonight.

         James was pleased when Remus finished in short order.  Setting the elves to working on their end, he led everyone to the parlor to relax and eat.  They needed to shake the disorientation that came with their return as fast as they could manage.  There was much to do and, for two of them, plenty to learn to control before they set about their plans.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

         After taking a sip of his beer, Sirius passed the bottle to Harry and smiled when he took one as well.  At the moment, they were both sprawled on the huge, soft feather bed in what was their bedroom.  James and Remus were in the other master suite, their room, probably relaxing as well.  The elves had retrieved his and Remus’ clothes then made sure their properties were locked down solid.  Let people speculate they were there.  It would keep them hidden and safe.

         When he took the bottle back from Harry, he slipped an arm around him then pulled him close, taking another drink.  “Your dad is probably having fits right about now.  He doesn’t have any clothes, at least that we know of, so he has to probably wear some of Remus’ or mine, including the undies.  Which tells me we’re probably going out somewhere Muggle to get some new clothes tomorrow.  None of our clothes are in the best of shape and old, after all.  He’ll go mad then go on a huge rant, something I’m damned sure he’ll come in here and do part of, so we get to hear it as well.”

         Harry chuckled and took the bottle back, taking another sip before once more holding it out to Sirius.  “Probably!  At least we have our own knickers, even if they aren’t in the best of shape.”

         “One of those bits we didn’t think of or could do anything about even if we did,” Sirius grinned, taking the bottle back then draining it and vanishing the empty.  After pulling Harry closer, Sirius reached up then fingered the feathers at his temples.  They were there instead of hair, the same with some sprinkled over the rest of his head in the places where it had stuck up before they went through the Veil. 

         It was just one of the changes Harry manifested thanks to the Horcrux and the trip.  Because they were all in Limbo, not really dead, the Horcrux exploded when they started the tie together, making him manifest the latent Fury gene he carried due to his lineage.  Another part that now showed were bat wings that folded back and vanished into his body, something which weren’t revealed right now.  There were also retractable snake-like fangs.  And, indeed, he was venomous.  He could shoot his venom like a spitting cobra, in fact.  His pupils were red instead of black and there was a slight red sheen around his irises as well.  From what they saw, the more stressed he was, the redder they would glow.  The last of the really noticeable changes were the black claws in place of his fingernails.  Those were plenty sharp and pointed. 

         With a smile, running his fingers through Harry’s hair, he asked, “You’re still a Parselmouth, aren’t you?  We assumed it would carry over when we came back since you were on the other side.”

         “Oh yes,” Harry told him in Parseltongue, grinning as he did.  Then he switched back to English and said, “I can hear some snakes outside, so I knew.” Glancing over at where Hedwig was perched, he smiled a little.  Though she was changed, he didn’t care.  She was still his best friend.  At the moment, she was eating a concoction the elves made for her; liver and gizzards swimming in a blood sauce.  Apparently, she didn’t want to go out and hunt tonight, preferring to stay in here with him.  In fact, she had met them in the parlor, landing on his shoulder almost before he was fully in the door, clicking her beak in the way she always had done to show she was happy.

         “We’re still not sure what all is coming for you, aside from the physical,” Sirius sighed, shaking his head. “All we have are the legends when it comes to the Furies.  There was a bit about controlling snakes.  I’m sure that is part and parcel to the Parselmouth.  Then there was a bit about snakes living in your hair.  Not sure there as I certainly don’t see any snakes.* Since your dad says the Potter line is descended from Tisiphone, vengeance will come into play.  Just not sure how.  We’ll see.  All it means is we have a shitload to work on you with when it comes to controlling it.  I’ll be the one doing most of it since we’re the two tied closest.  Your dad will have his hands full with Remus and what’s coming from him.  We’ll manage in the end.”

         “Oh, vengeance is coming, for plenty,” Harry said with an evil grin, fangs descending and gleaming.  “I have a long list of people, too!”

         “And you’ll hear none of us argue with you over it,” Sirius told him with an evil grin himself.  Seeing the fangs, he smiled a tad.  “The glamour you used, the one which was in place when we came back through the Veil, is that automatic or do you have to concentrate to keep it in place?  Just want to know what we’re dealing with, nothing more.”

         “It was automatic,” Harry told him.  “I can put it in place, obviously, easily as well.  Just no point around you lot.”

         “Just so you can, we’re good,” Sirius told him with a smile.  “We don’t want to go out for a while as we have a lot to plan for and deal with, but we need to make sure you can hide what’s there.”

         “I can, don’t worry,” Harry assured him.  When he glanced over, he could see another bonding mark on Sirius’ upper arm.  “Is that where Dad grabbed you to hold on as I was pulling you back?”  He asked, reaching over to finger the mark. 

         Like the ones that graced his forearms, it was black with a deep red piping around it.  Both of the colors had gold flecks in them that seemed to glow.  The one on his arm where Sirius grabbed, the way they planned to make him the dominant tie, looked black, but it was actually runes so close together they looked like a solid color.  Remus’ was on his other wrist with the same kind of runes, indicating it was his tie, though Sirius’, because he placed his hand over and covered his arm partially, intertwined with and lay over Remus so Harry wasn’t tied so closely.  Remus and his dad had the same kind of markings on their arms as well.

         “Yeah,” Sirius nodded, reaching up to finger the mark, smiling when it reacted to his touch, glittering more than normal.  “We’re all tied together this way.  It just made sure your dad wasn’t tied directly to you.”

         “It wouldn’t have mattered if he was,” Harry shrugged, relaxing against Sirius.

         “We knew you didn’t care, but wanted to make sure,” Sirius told him with a smile.  “Either way, we were certain it was right so we’re tied together and can share the powers if we have to for whatever reason.  It gives us the other bits we talked about as well.  In the end, it’ll be a huge help.”

         “It will,” Harry agreed with a nod.  “Mum—wish she had come back with us.”

         “She didn’t want to,” Sirius sighed. 

         Lily knew what would come from them returning, especially James, and tried to talk them out of it before she moved completely on to the other side.  He understood why she felt that way, but they had made their choice.  There was too much they wanted to do to just move on.  The fact that Remus and Harry committed suicide aided in the whole endeavor and gave them more power, though it changed them. 

         Harry manifested his latent traits and Remus became what James called a loup garou, a true werewolf, not suffering from lycanthropy.  He could now change at will and not just on the full moon.  One plus was he wasn’t infectious if he bit you.  It also stopped the pain he had to suffer with for so many years, the transformation no harder on him than the Animagus one they managed.  From what they knew, though most they would have to wait and see on, he would be more animalistic, wanting almost raw meat most of the time with honed animal instincts.  James was far better equipped to deal with Remus than he was.  The way the two bonded made it to where he could easily do so.  It’s why he took on the tight tie with Harry.  He would do the same for Harry when it came to help to control what was coming.  Lily hadn’t wanted any part of it.

         “I know and understand why.  Doesn’t mean I didn’t want to spend time with her,” Harry sighed, shaking his head.  “We didn’t get much before she moved on to the other side.” 

         After lifting his head and looking around the room, he grinned a little.  “Still seems strange that we were here the whole time, though not like normal or a ghost. I guess that’s why the elves knew we were coming.”

         “It is,” Sirius nodded, looking around himself.  Since going through the Veil and making their choice, they had stayed in this house as something like a lost spirit.  Most couldn’t see them, but the elves had, at least in some way.  Because the house was passed down through his family as a secure haven for the ones that manifested the Fury gene, it had been safe for them here.  “At least we know where everything is, though!  No surprises that way.”

         “Yup,” Harry agreed with a nod.  “And it’s safe, thankfully.  Dad said no one but family knew about it, something that helps.  It being on its own island in the North Sea is even better.  No one can bug us this way.”

         “Or find us,” Sirius added.  “I’m sure word is being passed around to many we’re back by now, including Albus.  So, people will be looking for us.”

         “They need to stay away,” Harry snarled, eyes flashing red.  “Especially that old man.  Well, until we want to talk to him, that is.”

         “Oh yes,” Sirius chuckled, that evil grin returning.  “They will, don’t worry.  Once we get some rest, we’ll do what we can to ensure it.”

         Harry leaned more heavily against Sirius and glanced at the door.  “They going to stay in their room all night or come join us like we talked about?  Do you know?”

         “I’m sure they’ll come join us at some point.  Plenty needs to be under control and issues dealt with before then, though.  The tie between us is too new for it to be comfortable without each other yet.”  Then he grinned and laughed, “Besides, this way Remus has to put up with your dad’s fits over so much and we’ll just get a mild rant over it.  It’s better that way, trust me.”

         Harry laughed and shook his head, agreeing.  Then he shut his eyes and gave a contented sigh.  So much was new it was hard to get a handle on it and it was tiring.  Just time to relax was good by him.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

         “Oh, we are going out to get clothes tomorrow,” James snarled pacing at the foot of the bed, arms folded over his chest.  “I get I shared about everything with you two in school, but I am drawing the line at wearing Remus’ boxers!  That’s it!  There are some things you shouldn’t share and undies are one of them.  No chance!”  He then stopped the pacing and looked at the three on the bed.  Seeing the grins there, his eyes narrowed then he hissed, “Stop grinning!  This isn’t funny!”

         “Yeah, it is,” Harry snickered, shoulders shaking.  “Not that you have to wear them, but your reaction.  It isn’t like they’re dirty or have skid marks in them.  The elves made sure they were clean.”  As he continued to snicker, he petted Remus. 

         At the moment, Remus was in his wolf form flopped by him on the bed.  From what he and Sirius understood, he was still trying to get the hang of the shifting as he kept changing spontaneously.  If they had to tend to matters the following day, he needed some kind of control over it.

         With a huff and glare at his son, James then snorted, “It’s still the idea, Harry!”  Then he said, tone having a heavy sigh to it, “We need to get you lot plenty of clothes as well.  None of yours are in great shape.  No way I’m forcing you to wear them.  We’ll get measurements before we go then hit up some Muggle stores.  Harry knows what he’s doing when it comes to picking out sizes and he hasn’t been gone long enough that they would change the way they size something.”

         “We’ll manage, James,” Sirius told him, reaching over to rub Moony’s ears.  “Just so we don’t take too long doing it.  I get we probably want to spend time out of the house after being confined to it for the last couple years, but we need to make this quick.  None of us have anything under enough control to spend too much time around people.  They’re liable to set us off if we do.”

         “Clothes and other necessities,” James assured him.  “The elves can handle whatever else.  I’ll have them go to our shops tomorrow to get catalogs for everything we might need.”  Then he came over and flopped on the bed, petting Remus, who was panting happily, and added, “However, we’re getting lunch while we’re out.  I fancy some restaurant food.”

         Moony gave an amused dog-like snort then shifted back.  With a shake of his head and sigh, he said, “We need to be fast, James.  I mean it.  I’m not going to have the shifting under control by tomorrow.  While I know when it’s coming, we don’t want in the middle of somewhere crowded with no place to hide when it does as I won’t have enough time to get out of there.  We won’t even go into the panic it would cause seeing a wolf roaming around, even if it’s on a leash.”

         “Understood,” James nodded, relaxing.  “Harry’s not in any better shape.  He has the glamour, but we have nothing under control with him either.  Hell, we don’t know what all might manifest beyond what already has.  I don’t mean somewhere to sit and have a meal, just grab something and go.”  He explained.

         “It’s probably a good idea to get out to see what we’re dealing with,” Sirius added, stretching out on his side and draping an arm over Harry.  “Better to have at least some hints to work off of rather than end up blindsided.”

         “Very true,” James agreed.  “We’ll just stick to each other the best we can and work from there.”  Groaning, he ran both hands through his hair, making it stick up plenty then added, “We’ll manage.  Not to worry.”

         “We also have plenty else to do.  I wrote out the statement Rufus wanted and it’s sent off.  We then have to deal with the Ministry, Albus and everyone else that will feel the need to stick their noses in where they don’t belong.  That’s not even factoring in Voldemort.”  While, in life, he hadn’t said the name, now he would.  The maniac held no sway over any of them anymore, so there was no need to flinch at a mere name.  “Though the bank accounts are fine, we need to make sure we can get into them without braving the Alley.  It wouldn’t be good for the four of us to show up there.  I plan to make sure we stay hidden as long as we can.  Then we need to figure out what’s going on.  We picked up some, but not near enough.”

         “Don’t start piling too much on, James.”  Remus soothed, hoping he didn’t work himself into some kind of state.  “We’ve been back less than twelve hours.  While we all know there is plenty to tend to, we can’t get it all down in just a few hours.”

         “I know, I know,” James sighed, slouching down.  “Just a tad overwhelming at the moment.  We’ll manage.”

         “For all of us in more ways than one,” Sirius groaned, curling up to Harry.

         “True,” James sighed, feeling tired.  Then giving a shake of his head, he told them, “Let’s get some sleep.  Might not be for long, but we need to rest.  When we wake up, we’ll see about methodically laying out what we have to tend to and what can wait until we’re all in better shape.”

         James then lifted his wand and killed the lights.  Turning on his side, he curled up to Remus, draping an arm over him.  Oh yes, he was tired and overwhelmed.  He and Sirius had it ‘easiest’ with this as they didn’t have to deal with physical changes.  Harry and Remus had to deal with not only the physical part, but the mental aspect which came with the changes.  And it probably wouldn’t be easy to help them. 

         After shutting his eyes, he said goodnight to everyone.  When he heard them tell him the same, he smiled and relaxed. 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

         About an hour later, as the four on the bed were finally slipping into the deepest sleep, the feathers on top of Harry’s head began to stir like they were being blown about in a gentle breeze.  As they did, Harry pressed tighter to Sirius, muttering in his sleep, holding him close.  As the feathers seemed to ruffle, one slowly elongated then turned into a massive black snake with red eyes.  Though it looked real, it had a sheen surrounding it that was rather ghost-like.  Slithering down Harry’s body, not waking him with its gentle touch, the snake then curled up at the foot of the bed.  Red eyes locked on Hedwig, it hissed at her, getting a return answer in the form of her clicking her gold beak at him. 

         The two conversed for a couple minutes before the snake slithered off the bed onto the floor.  Bat-like wings, like those Harry had, then sprouted out of its back.  Rather than go through the door, it went straight through the wall to the outside, vanishing to the first place it was to visit that night.

         Watching the Hydra go, Hedwig clicked her beak again, pleased.  Yes, her Master was coming into his full inheritance and people would pay.  The Hydra, not the same as the mythical beast with a multitude of heads, but the snake that only responded to one of the Furies, was off to start tending to matters.  Karma, the snake, hadn’t been seen in many centuries, since the last of Tisiphone’s children walked the earth.  He was back, though, and would live up to his name for those that had wronged her Master over the years.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

         There were three people Karma had to visit that night, so he decided to go in the order of the easiest to the hardest.  One—well, tonight would just be the start of vengeance for her.  The other two would be a job he finished tonight. 

         It didn’t take him long to arrive at the small, beautiful house just on the outskirts of London.  There were two people in residence, but Karma only wanted one of them.  He was pleased to note, as he slithered around the house, the one he was here to visit was awake.  His wife slept peacefully on the uppermost floor with the help of a sleeping potion.  After all, her life had taken a downward turn since her husband had lost the last election.  Cornelius was still employed by the Ministry, but everyone now knew what a failure he was at protecting the public.

         After finding the parlor Cornelius was in, Karma took in everything so there were no surprises.  From what the snake could tell, the ex-Minister was drunk, having ingested a whole bottle of Firewhisky while sitting and contemplating what all he had done wrong.  Good.  His drunken state would only help.

         When he slithered in through the wall, Karma made sure to stay out of sight.  Then he curled up to gauge the situation so he could figure out how best to deal with the man.  Cornelius Fudge had many sins to pay for.  He had not only wronged his Master, but others as well because he grew to love his job and would have done almost anything to hold onto it.  So many could have been spared plenty of misery if Minister Fudge had done what was right.  Instead, he chose to do what was easy to hold onto a position for the power and prestige it gave him.

         As he lay there, tongue flicking, Karma was pleased to sense the overweight ex-Minister had a multitude of health problems.  While some would eventually kill him, the one the snake was concerned with was his heart.  He had an undiagnosed heart condition which was growing worse with each passing day.  The flutters and pains he felt were attributed to heartburn or the ulcer the man knew he had.  For the snake, it was perfect.

         Plan in place, the snake finally slithered into the middle of the room and curled up, staring at the Minister.  It took the drunken man a few seconds to notice him, but once he did he began to sputter and reach for his wand.  Of course, Karma couldn’t let him try to defend himself.  While a Wizard’s wand would have no effect on him, he wanted this done quickly, rather than cause a fight that might raise enough of a commotion the man’s wife woke.  Instead, he fixed him with his red glaze, tongue flicking rhythmically. While the old wives’ tale of a snake being able to hypnotize you with its gaze wasn’t true for normal snakes, it was for Karma.  Red eyes glowing, he locked his eyes with Fudge’s and held him there, making it to where he felt like he couldn’t move.  Then he began to hiss.  If he wanted, he could make the blundering idiot understand him, but it wasn’t worth the effort.  Instead, he fed the now pale and shaking man the memories of how he had wronged Harry over the years.  Of course, seeing his actions play out, so much of which led to his downfall, he poked around to find his greatest fear. Once he knew what it was, he planned to use it against him.

         As Fudge sat there, pinned to the chair by the force of his own mind, Karma began to feed him visions of being locked in Azkaban with the Dementors.  The man’s heart began to speed up, skipping beats, as the creatures seemed to hone in on him in his cell, guided by Dolores Umbridge.  Just as one of the slimy hands was reaching for his throat and starting to lower its hood, the heart attack that had been coming seized Cornelius.  Karma then released him from the hypnotic state and sat there as Fudge went pale, clutching his chest then toppling to the floor.  He was dead before he hit it.

         Karma sat there, tongue flicking, making sure the man was dead.  When there were no signs of life as the body cooled, he slithered off through the wall again.  One person had paid.  Now it was time for the next creature on the list.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

         Kreacher had been alone in Grimmauld Place since Master Sirius died.  He knew Master Sirius died, of course, because of him going out to give Miss Cissy and Master Lucius information.  While he had punished himself for the betrayal, he was now happy.  The biggest disappointment his Mistress raised was gone, the blood traitors were no longer coming to the house and he was left alone.  While he didn’t like being alone with only the paintings to talk to, it was better than a house full of foul traitors.

        As his days were always like now, the old elf spent his time wandering the house and muttering to himself, taking orders from his Mistress.  It was an old familiar routine he followed.  Unlike the time the foul abominations were in the house, the elf slept odd hours and tended to roam at night, making sure everything was just so.  He didn’t expect tonight to be any different.  Well, until he stepped out of the kitchen to talk to his Mistress’ painting and found the black snake with wings at the foot of the stairs.  The elf stopped cold, pulling at his droopy ears, not sure what to make of the serpent.  After several minutes of debate whether the snake was real or not, he decided it was and tried to shoo it away though he didn’t know where it came from..

         House elves were far easier for Karma to deal with than humans.  Their minds weren’t as strong and he could force them to do his bidding quite simply, no matter how it went against their rigid code of conduct.  He employed it with Kreacher.  Immediately taking over the elf’s mind, something like the Imperious, he made him hold still then hissed, “You, Kreacher, are a disgrace to all house elves who serve their masters well.  It’s a house elf’s duty to serve their master, no matter who they are, not betray them.  While you punished yourself, it’s not enough.  It’s time for you to pay for what you did.”

         Unable to move or speak, Kreacher was terrified.  He wasn’t sure what this snake was, but he knew it wasn’t a normal one.  And he didn’t understand what it meant by pay.  He had punished himself, so it should be enough to satisfy anyone.

         The elf’s mind firmly locked in his control, Karma began to guide the creature to all the treasures and belongings the elf spared in the purge of the house by the Weasleys.  As the elf found them, he forced the creature to destroy them.  There was one the elf couldn’t, a locket.  Sensing what it was, Karma hissed it open then destroyed the Horcrux with his venom.  While it was thought only basilisk venom could destroy a Horcrux, the venom of the Hydra was far more powerful.  It only took but a moment for the small piece of Tom Riddle’s soul to die.  When that task was finished, he guided the now sobbing elf through the house to destroy all the objects and paintings the elf held so dear.  He would, however, save the one of Wallburga for last.  He wanted the elf to hear her shriek just before the creature died.

         Two hours later, Kreacher lay a broken sobbing mess on the stair below where his Mistress’ painting had been.  He had been forced to destroy it not moments ago by the snake.  Now he was broken, not sure what to do.  Everything he held dear, all the treasures and paintings his Mistress held dear were gone.  Master Regulus’ room was gutted and destroyed.  Everything was gone.  The snake had finally released its hold on his mind, but he didn’t have the wherewithal to move from this spot.

         Karma curled up on the stair below the hysterically sobbing elf, watching, savoring the pain that rolled off the creature.  “Now you know how your Master felt when he realized he had been betrayed and the pain Harry Potter felt before he died.”

         “Kreacher...” the elf panted, not sure what to say, eyes blurry from the tears rolling down his face.  Raising one trembling hand to defend himself in some way, he didn’t know what to do.

         “Now you will die,” the snake hissed then spit venom on the elf.  Not moving as the elf shrieked in pain as his body dissolved, the snake waited. 

         When the shrieking stopped and the elf was nothing but an unidentifiable mass, Karma was done.  It was time to move on to the next person that owed his Master a debt.  As their evil was still ongoing, he would enjoy this to the utmost.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

         Dolores Umbridge was sleeping in her neat little house, surrounded by her kittens and pink, happy with her life.  Since the year before, everything had gone her way.  She not only had gained power at Hogwarts, until that boy foiled her and revealed what Minster Fudge wanted no one to know, but she was now back at the Ministry working for the person trying to take over.  Oh, she still had a ‘normal’ job, but she was making certain the Dark Lord received all the help he could ever want.  Once he did, she was sure to have a job she would love with the power she craved.

         As she dreamed of the position she wanted, taking out her hatred on Muggle-borns, her brow furrowed.  It seemed like something was trying to invade her dreams.  While she knew she was still sleeping, what was there of her consciousness realized something was wrong.  She just wasn’t sure what it was.

         Karma curled up on the vile toad-like woman’s chest and watched her, red eyes almost glowing.  Unlike the last two, the magnitude of this one’s crimes against his Master needed something more—dramatic and longer lasting than a quick death.  And he had just the punishment.  Over the next few weeks, she would feel like she was slowing going mad while feeling the sting of what she had done to others for so long.  While she thought she was getting away with all she had done because no one would dare touch her, she was wrong.  And she would find out just how much in the coming weeks.

         Eyes locked on her sleeping face, the snake concentrated until a ghost-like image of itself appeared by him on her chest.  Hissing to the doppelganger of itself, he gave the instructions and made sure their minds were connected.  Once he was certain, the other snake stretched across her body then melted into it, attaching to her black and rotten soul.  She would sleep well tonight though troubled by nightmares, not understanding their origin.  It would be the last good night’s sleep she would get until she died. 

         His work finished, the snake slithered off her then headed home.  After all, it was now daybreak, so he needed to get back to his Master before he woke.  Tomorrow night he would get to continue making those who thought they managed to slither away from paying for their deeds.  As he had a long list of those that needed to meet karma, he would be busy for some time.

Chapter Text

         “Right,” James started, putting the Prophet down, looking pleased, “no mention of us returning in it.  If they didn’t, I’m sure others won’t either.  Which means Rufus hasn’t said a word to anyone about it.  Well, at least to ones who will leak it.  Good.  I’m sure several know, but as long as the masses don’t, we’re good.”

         “For now anyway,” Sirius said after shoveling some porridge in his mouth.  “It’s coming. Holding off is good though.  Gives us the time we need to tend to some bits.”

         “True,” James sighed.  “Just so we have some time.  All that matters.  It gives us a chance to get some of what we’re dealing with under control.  And we need plenty.”

         Then he grabbed the one letter that came and opened it after giving a wary look at the Ministry seal on the envelope flap.  He quickly read what it was and gave a pleased nod, looking at the parchment which came with it.  “You’re cleared,” he told Sirius with a satisfied grin, passing over the official pardon document.

         “About damned time,” Sirius said between bites, reading what it said.  As he held it out for Harry to read, he added, “We must have scared the shit out of Rufus for him to get this done so fast.”

         “More than likely,” Remus chuckled, looking amused.  Since getting some rest, he had the shifting a bit more under control, though not completely, which made him feel better.

         “As long as it’s done, doesn’t matter the why,” Harry added gruffly, nibbling at his bacon.  He was still plenty tired, so a bit grouchy.

         “Exactly,” James nodded.  After tossing the letter aside as there wasn’t much more in it than Rufus wanting to talk, something he would ignore for now, he then took a sip of his tea.  When he finished, he pressed on.  “While we eat, make up a list of food and drinks you can’t live without so the elves can get them.  They’ll tend to it while we’re out.  Once we are done, we’ll go get clothes, after getting measurements that is.  I want to do this as fast as we can manage.”

         “Sirius,” he said then pressed on when his old friend looked at him, “you stick to Harry like there’s a charm on both of you.  I’ll do the same for Remus.  We think the shifting is under control enough that he can hold it off to get somewhere safe then change back quickly.  If it happens, you need to handle whatever with Harry.”

         “Understood,” Sirius nodded as he conjured paper for him and Harry to work on their list.  Beer was at the top of it, for more reasons than just the fact that he liked it. 

         “Harry, try to keep it under control the best you can and listen to Sirius.  It’s not easy, I know, especially since we don’t know much of what’s coming with you, but try.”  James told his son gently. 

         “I’ll try,” Harry assured him.  With a sigh, he then added, shaking his head, “Just so people don’t get foolish with me.  My temper isn’t the best this morning.”

         “We get that,” Sirius told him as he gave him a pat on the shoulder.  “Just stick close to me and we’ll do fine.”

         “And, considering your personality, Sirius, I think we need to keep an eye on both of you,” Remus chuckled, shaking his head.

         “I might, maybe, resemble that,” Sirius grinned at him then chuckled softly.

         “In this case, you need to keep it together, Sirius,” James told him pointedly, though grinning as he did.  “Harry needs your help, remember that.”

         “I will,” Sirius assured him, sobering up.  James was right; keeping a leash on Harry and his temper would be a full-time job, at least until Harry could adjust to the changes.

         “Right, let’s finish eating and go tend to this.  I want it done as fast as we can manage,” James said, getting to work on his own list.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

         Sirius looked over his shoulder to where Remus and James had vanished to.  They were getting clothes and other needed bits, but Remus could feel a shift coming on, so they were going to hide in the loo until he could shift back, which left him alone with Harry.  And helping to keep people from setting them off wasn’t as easy as it sounded, especially with Harry, so he didn’t like going this alone.

         This should have been relatively easy, an in and out thing since they all wanted to hurry because of the problems.  It wasn’t turning out that way.  While they chose a busy department store because they were more likely to blend in, the people were driving them all mad, especially Harry.  You could easily tell he wasn’t at all pleased with some they dealt with.  Not only were there plenty of rude customers, some staff had him grinding his teeth.  James had taken on dealing with them.  Now, though, he had to deal with this one and Harry.

         At the moment, they were getting the knickers and pajamas, something which should be easy.  It wasn’t.  Rather than let them just grab what they needed, as they had the sizes and weren’t getting anything fancy, the dumb bint clerk was trying to help.  He understood why, of course, as it had to do with the commission, but she had a serious attitude problem which was making his teeth grind.  Harry—he wasn’t handling it well and you could tell.  They already had problems with some since starting who had set Harry off.  What they had worked out was for him to take Harry elsewhere.  He couldn’t do it this time, though.  No shot in hell he was letting Harry mingle with the idiot Muggles as that was a recipe for disaster if there ever was one.  Not only were they foolish and rude, but there were comments regarding the 'bad' feeling the Muggles were getting from them, something they were whispering to each other about and staring.  He knew where it came from, of course, and was ignoring it as it would fade, but he sure as hell didn't want more attention drawn to them.  Odd bits were remembered and they didn’t need people remembering they had been here.

         With a shake of his head and a silent ‘hurry up' to James and Remus, he focused back on the situation.  They had the knickers, t-shirts and socks, so they were going for grabbing pajamas.  The clerk, though, wanted to make this a long, drawn-out process by showing them everything, especially the expensive shit.  Hell, he was just going to grab the expensive crap to shut her up, honestly.  The sooner they managed to get away from this one, the better off they would be as she had a real attitude problem.  She was as snarky and sarcastic as Snape, not listening to anything.  Harry had already told him he didn’t like her one little bit and she was setting him off.  Yeah, not good there.

         After grabbing tons of the pajamas in all kinds of styles and colors, making sure to get the right sizes, Sirius planned to pay for the blasted things then high tail it to meet James and Remus before moving on to the last few bits they needed to purchase.  Then they’d get something to eat and head home.  They really needed to get away from people before all hell broke loose and someone set one of them off.   He was sure it would be Harry, honestly.  They didn’t need someone trying as none of them, including Harry, knew what could come of it.

         As he was at the register to pay, making damned sure Harry was glued to him, he ground his teeth more and fought not to snarl as the little twit, still doing a good imitation of Snape, tried pushing more off on them that they had already turned down and sure didn’t want.  With a huff, hearing Harry start to mutter darkly, he said, trying desperately to keep from snapping at her, “This is all we need, thanks.”

         “We have a good deal on so much,” she told him, ringing up what they had there, not looking at the two.  “You would do better adding some extras, you know.  It would make you look far better.”  Then she looked at the two and gave a disdainful sniff at how they were dressed and the state of the younger one’s clothes.  “You have to admit, not only are your clothes old fashioned, but in bad shape.  It can help.”

         “No thanks,” Sirius ground out, glaring at her, making damned sure Harry was right by him.

         As the two seemed to have money since they weren’t complaining about the prices, she kept pushing, not really looking at them and just going by her training in what to say, “We can find you plenty to go along with what you need.  It won’t take much time to find them as we have your sizes.”

         The fool was really starting to get on Harry’s nerves by now and he’d had all he could take.  “No,” he growled, fists clenching.  “Just ring up the purchases so we can finish shopping.”  There was now a throbbing in his temples and he could feel his temper rising.  He hated pushy clerks to start with and this one reminded him too much of Snape because of her attitude, something aiding it.  Eyes narrowed, he clenched his teeth and balled his fists, glaring at her.

         Sirius didn’t like the tone of Harry’s voice and glanced at him.  Seeing the look on his face and how he thought he saw his eyes flash slightly red, he realized they needed to get away so Harry could calm down.  “We’re fine,” he told the bint.  “Nothing else.”  He then put a hand on Harry’s back and patted it

         “Calm down,” he whispered to Harry, leaning closer to him.  “We’ll be out of here in a minute.”

         “She’s irritating me,” Harry whispered back, voice an angry hiss.  “And she needs to stop pushing.”

        “Take deep breaths and focus on something besides her,” Sirius schooled, looking at the irritating woman, willing her to hurry up and finish before something happened he couldn’t stop when it came to Harry.

         Not really paying attention to the two as she worked, Brandy continued with the standard pitch they were all taught to use for the store credit card.  As it was, they were giving her check a big boost with the commission for this sale.  If they decided to go with the other offer, it would add even more money, so she would do the hard sell.  She was just thankful the other two associates, both her seniors, were on break and she lucked into this sale.  So, she was going to milk it for every drop she could since they didn’t come around much for her. 

         As she continued to ring everything up, she started the standard pitch, “While you’re here, apply for our credit card.  You get ten percent off all sales and can use it at any of our stores in the UK.  It’s quick and easy to fill out the application.”  Without waiting to hear what they had to say, she pushed the application over with one hand and pressed on ringing up their purchases, though slowing down to give them time to fill it out and her to give them the whole hard sell for it. From experience, she knew if she irritated the customers enough, they would fill it out just to shut her up.  She didn’t care, of course, as long as they filled it out and she received the bonus for it.

         “No thanks,” Sirius snapped, glaring at the woman who wasn’t even paying attention to them by now. While he understood she received money for all this, he was getting plenty irked by the whole hard sell on everything and just wanted out of there.  He was sure it wouldn’t take much more to set Harry off completely.  Hell, he was about to really snarl at her by now.

         Brandy ignored what he said and pressed on, slowing down further so the two would just give in and fill the blasted thing out.  Once they did, she would finish and they could go.  “It’s a good deal with plenty of perks you don’t get paying any other way.”  Then she began enumerating them while stopping and pretending to look for the price tag on something, drawing it out more so she could press harder.

         When she stopped, something Harry knew was just a ploy, he’d had enough.  Temples throbbing madly and a pulsing between his eyes kicking in, he hissed, “Enough!  Get us someone else that isn’t going to do their best to irritate us so we can get out of here.  If you don’t want to, hurry up!  We have plenty to do today.”  Then he glared, hard at her, feeling something in the pit of his stomach clench and swirl.  He wasn’t sure what it was, honestly, just that it was being driven by his temper and focused on her. 

         “Everyone else is on break,” Brandy told him smugly, slowing down even more because of what he said.  Then she finally looked up, not bothering to look like she was doing anything and continued on with the pitch for the credit card until her eyes locked with the younger ones.

         She wasn’t sure what held her gaze there, truthfully, just that she couldn’t seem to draw it away.  While her first thought was his eyes were a wonderful shade of green she would kill for, the next was there was a building fear that she didn’t know where it was coming from.  As their eyes stayed locked, she started to shake and her knees felt weak.  All she knew was she was reliving the terror and fear from when she was a kid and ended up trapped in the pond they used to swim in by plants wrapped around her legs.  To her, it felt like they were dragging her under and she couldn’t breathe right because her head couldn’t stay above water for long enough to get a deep breath of air or scream for help.  At the time, she was sure she was going to die from it.  The terror of that feeling never left her, even after all these years, and she didn’t want anything more to do with swimming. 

         Standing there, staring into those eyes, she could feel it all over again, including the rising terror and feeling like her lungs were burning from lack of air.  Now trembling madly, sweat pouring down off of her, she let out a gasping whimper, clutching onto the sleep pants she had been ringing up, desperately trying to will herself to pull her eyes away from those green ones so the feeling stopped.  Once it did, she was running and sending someone else out to deal with the two, commission be damned.

         Brow furrowed, Sirius looked at the stupid woman, not understanding what he was seeing.  The expression on her face was one of pure terror and she was shaking madly.  You could even see sweat stains forming under her arms and dotting elsewhere on her blouse.  Then he glanced where she seemed like her eyes were locked and saw it was Harry.  From what he could deduce, Harry seemed like he was doing something, though he didn’t know what, as his eyes were flashing slightly red and the glamour was shimmering slightly.  No, this wasn’t good and he needed it to stop.

         Not sure what to do as he didn’t have a clue what Harry was doing, he slipped his arm around Harry and pulled him close.  Then he lowered his voice and whispered, “You need to stop.  Not sure what’s going on, but all it’ll do is end up with attention drawn to us.”

         Teeth tightly clenched, eyes locked with the dumb woman’s, Harry hissed, “You will ring up the purchases as fast as you can so we can get out of here.  No more trying to sell us anything or get us to fill something out.  Understand?”  All he knew was he wanted to get even for the woman doing what she had as he was now sure she was pulling this crap on purpose. 

         “Yes,” Brandy whimpered, trembling harder as the mental agony seemed like it wouldn’t stop.  She was sure if it didn’t, she would die from it, though she didn’t know how.  All she knew was she wanted to finish this sale and run outside.  Her boyfriend always slipped a joint in the glove box of her car for when the stress was too much.  She was going to smoke it and have a good cry when this was over.

         “Right, get to it,” Harry told her in a low, deadly tone then blinked, leaning against Sirius and continuing to glare at her, though not locking eyes again.

         Though she wasn’t sure when the feelings stopped, Brandy was relieved they had.  With an almost sob of relief, she shook her head then grabbed the remaining articles and rang them up with shaking hands.  All she wanted was to get these two out of here so she could find her joint, nothing more.  While the incident was over, she was damned sure she’d have nightmares about it for months to come.  And these two?  She wasn’t sure what it was, but they were making her skin crawl.  At first, she noticed something off about them, the kind of bit that gave you the willies, but now it was almost a terrifying feeling she couldn’t stand much more of.  Oh, she was going to finish this fast.

         Sirius held Harry close as the woman now was working at almost Magical speed completing the sale.  Yeah, they needed to finish quick so they could sort out what happened.  As she worked, being almost done finally, he muttered, making sure she couldn’t hear, “When we get home, you need to explain what happened so we can figure out what to do in the future.”

         “No problem,” Harry muttered back, still glaring at the woman.  Right, she better keep going because he was done and angry.  If she reverted back, he wasn’t sure what would come of it.

         Thankfully, the stupid bint finished fast and hurried away after handing them their bags.  Sirius was relieved she was gone then started to guide Harry towards the loos so they could meet up with the other two.  While they didn’t have much more to pick up, he decided they needed to stick together to grab it.  If Harry managed to pull something like this and was still irked, he was going to need help handling it next time.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

         Dolores was having a bad day.  It was made even worse by the fact she didn’t know why she was doing some of what she was.  It was a complete mystery to her and frightening.

         Her day started out like normal with her rising then having breakfast.  Of course, she fed her cats and tended to the mundane.  However, it quickly turned strange when a compulsion came over her and she destroyed then vanished some of her most prized and loved trinkets.  When she finished, she was horrified by what she had done.  Everything she had vanished was irreplaceable.  Some of them were prizes she spent years hunting and attaining, not always by legal means.  They were objects she adored and just liked to look at.  Though upset and wondering what came over her, she pressed on and readied herself for work.  After all, her job was something she enjoyed, now more than ever, and would make her feel better.

         Once at work, her day grew worse.  Nothing seemed like it was going as it should.  She was letting people get away with saying bits she hadn’t before and had strange impulses she didn’t understand.  While she did tend to some of her duties, most of the day she had done odd bits, like use the Blood Quill on herself.  For an hour, she sat and carved the words I’m a filthy nasty toad into her right hand, unable to stop.  While she knew how to make it stop bleeding and heal it, the fact she had done it disturbed her greatly. 

         If the self-mutilation wasn’t enough, she was growing forgetful.  She had lost several key pieces of parchment, including letters to the Dark Lord and bits she needed to pass along.  Even tearing her office apart didn’t turn them up.  If anyone saw some of what she was missing, she would be in real trouble, something which panicked her slightly.  Then there was some missing time.  While it wasn’t a lot, just five or ten minutes, she was highly concerned.  Maybe it was just stress, but with all that was going on, she needed to stay on top of her game to deal with the delicate dance she was orchestrating.  No, missing time bothered her.

         By noon another disturbing bit had cropped up.  About an hour before her normal lunch, her stomach began to hurt.  She just assumed she was hungry and took her lunch early.  When she sat down to eat, she found the food, some of her favorite dishes, didn’t taste right.  In fact, they tasted rather foul.    Foul enough that she felt sick to her stomach after only a few bites.  She thought it might be the stress from not finding what she needed and the bit with the Blood Quill.  Whatever it was, she pressed on, assuming she’d be better in a couple days.  However, by afternoon, her stomach was still hurting.  It felt like there was something in her gut slithering around and squeezing vital organs.  While it wasn’t overly painful, it was uncomfortable and troubling.  Not to mention distracting.  As the day wore on, she found herself in a snappish mood, one aggravated by nothing seeming to go right. 

         Finally, she gave it over as a bad job and decided to go home.  Some rest would do her good, she thought.  It was just a bad day, nothing more.  Some rest and relaxing would reset whatever and she would go on from there.

         Unfortunately, it didn’t work out that way.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

         Once home from shopping and grabbing something to eat, the four were relaxing on the settee in the main parlor.  They had everything they needed in the way of clothes, thankfully.  So it was one chore out of the way.  As they relaxed, Sirius walked Remus and James through what happened with the clerk.

         When he finished, he shook his head and added, “She was terrified, you could tell that from the expression on her face.  Not sure what was going on or what Harry did, but she felt it.  Only thing I know was she was setting both of us off.”

         “Any idea what you did?” James asked his son after pondering what was said.  It was probably related to the changes in Harry, but he wasn’t sure if even his son would know.

         “Not really,” Harry admitted, taking a bottle of beer from an elf when it popped in with drinks for them.  This was Sirius’ suggestion after they came back as the booze seemed to calm him down.  He didn’t want to get drunk or catch a buzz, but liked how it seemed to mellow him out.  “All I know is she was getting on our last nerve with her stupidity.  I was plenty upset by it as we just wanted to get done and out of there but she wanted to string it along.  Not to mention she had an attitude like Snape, which rubbed me wrong from the start.” Then he described the feeling just before the bit that seemed to terrify her.  When he finished, he added, “Not sure what I did, but not upset it got her moving finally.”

         James took in what his son said then looked at Remus, whose brow was furrowed before sighing.  “We just need to work on keeping you calm for now, I think.  Today wasn’t the best time to try interacting with anyone as it was setting all of us off, not to mention the feeling we were giving everyone.  We all heard plenty of talk about the creepy, eerie feeling we were giving them.  Let’s see what settles down before we attempt this again.  While I don’t like the idea of confining ourselves to the house, we might have to until we get it under control.”

         “It’s a good idea, honestly,” Remus chimed in.  “What I’m dealing with alone is plenty bad.  I need time to come to grips with the changes, not only physically, and the shifting, but the mental ones as well.  Because I was bitten as a child, I can adjust easier as I’ve dealt with them for so long at times around the full moon.  While it’s different as I’ll be doing so all the time, I at least have a foundation for it.  Harry has none and will have to work with it from scratch.  It’ll take time for him to adjust.”

         “True,” Sirius sighed after taking a sip of his own beer.  “We’ll manage.  Not to worry.  There is plenty we need to tend to anyway before the world realizes we’re back.”

         “Yes,” James said with a bit of an evil grin.  “Most can be handled through owl order if we have to.”

         “Good by me as everyone and everything was setting me off except you lot,” Harry snorted, shaking his head.  “Not sure if I can handle a trip like that again anytime soon.”

         “Yeah, we’ll hole up here for a time,” James said, reaching out to ruffle his son’s hair.  “Nothing to worry about.  We have tons to keep us busy.”

         After everyone agreed, James pressed on, “Right, let’s just relax for a while.  While we do, we’ll make a list of what we have to take care of, fast.  Gringotts comes to mind there.  Then see what we can do to figure out how to get some information we need.  Just a day of relaxing and planning will help, I think.”

         When everyone agreed, James sent for an elf and had the creature bring parchment and quills, not to mention records from Gringotts.  The bank needed tended to fast and for them to arrange what they required so they didn't have to brave the Alley to do most of it.  Then they would plan out what steps to take to accomplish what they wanted.  It would just be a start, but they needed a jumping off point. This would manage and cement the bond between them as they’d be working together.  The more settled it was, the better off they would be when they set their plans in motion.

Chapter Text

         “I’ve not heard back from James since I sent the pardon papers for Sirius,” Rufus told everyone in the room, looking around.  They were having a top-secret meeting about the four returning. It was well after business hours as he didn’t want most to know what they were doing.  In fact, there were only a handful of those he trusted most attending.  So far, the news the four were back was being kept quiet, something he wanted until they could figure out what was going on.  He just wanted those here kept up to speed on what he was doing.  “If I don’t hear from him by tomorrow, I’ll send letter and see what I can manage to find out.  What I want is a meeting with the four of them, but I don’t think it's possible.  He seemed plenty irked with me when we encountered each other.  Not sure if it was a consequence of them returning or something else.”

         Having listened intently to all that was said, Kingsley honed in on the last bit Rufus uttered.  Thankfully, he’d not been sworn to secrecy yet, probably an oversight on Rufus’ end, but he wasn’t going to complain either.  After taking it in, he suggested, “Maybe put out feelers to someone the four trusts then see if they can manage to set up a meeting.  It might be better, Rufus.  Not sure what’s going on with them, but keeping the peace and calm might be for the best.”  They already had an Unspeakable who worked in this area talk to them and what he imparted told them all it was best to tread very lightly in this area as there was plenty which might come from the resurrection that wasn’t good. 

         “Maybe,” Rufus agreed, brow furrowed as he thought over the suggestion.  “Not sure who we would be able to get, honestly.  All of them, save Harry, no longer have family.  And Harry’s family won’t be ones we want involved for more reasons than just the fact that they are Muggles.”

         “Minerva comes to mind,” Kingsley suggested after thinking quickly.  Albus was heavily in disfavor with Rufus, so he wasn’t about to suggest him.  This one would sound most reasonable, so he would go with it.  “She was their head of house and, from what I know, all of them held her in high esteem.”

         “Maybe,” Rufus grunted, arms folded over his chest as he thought it over.  “Let me ponder it a while and see if they answer.  If not, I’ll consider the suggestion.” 

         Then he shook his head and added, “Honestly?  We need to know what’s going on there.  The nightmare happening needs no help with others causing issues of another kind.  If they just plan to keep to themselves and not do anything, we’ll leave them alone then focus on the war.  Whatever may come from it won’t be dealt with until we end what is happening now.  It’ll depend on them and what they’re doing.”

         “How sure are we they’ll end up plenty dark and cause problems?”  An Auror named Meres asked, glancing around.  “We know what was said, of course, but even the Unspeakables aren’t sure as they’ve not personally documented someone returning this way.  The only incidents they have to base the theory on deals with Necromancy.  No one tried to bring them back.  From what we know, they did it on their own.”

         “We don’t have any idea,” Rufus grunted, shaking his head.  “Which is why I’m not going to worry too much if they show no signs of causing problems.  We have our hands full as it is, so we’ll leave them alone.”

         “Lupin murdered Potter, from all accounts.  He grabbed and took Potter through the Veil with him,” Auror Stillman said, looking around.  “Are we going to charge him?”

         “No,” Rufus said firmly with a shake of his head.  “He was dead.  The two died the second they went through the Veil.  It was punishment enough as it was the ultimate penalty.  And the murdered part is iffy anyway.  While everyone said it looked like he grabbed Harry Potter, they also made it clear Harry didn’t fight him in any way and seemed to leap through the Veil on his own.  To prosecute in any way, we’d need Potter’s statement Lupin caused his death.  I doubt we’d manage to get such a statement.  Potter brought him back by pulling him through.  It’s not something I think we should pursue, frankly.  If there are problems, poking like this would aggravate the hell out of them.  Hell, I’m not sure any prosecution would even succeed if we filed it.”

         “Just wanted to make sure, the reason I brought it up,” Stillman said with a nod.

         “Understandable as plenty will be asking the same damned thing once it comes out they’re back,” Rufus groaned, brushing his hair out of his face.  “The news accounts all made it sound like Lupin murdered Harry Potter.  He’s going to have a tough time when it’s revealed he’s back when it comes to people taking after him.”

         “It’s one we might want to get a statement from Harry Potter about,” Auror Titus mentioned.  “If he says it wasn’t the case, we won’t worry about it and press on.  Then, when it’s revealed they’re back, we can put it out there for the world to see.  And it’ll give you a good line when it comes to opening dialog with them.”

         “A suggestion I’ll take,” Rufus told him, pleased with the idea, planning to use it.  Then he pressed on, “While we haven’t accomplished much, all of you are up to speed on what we know.  When it comes to this nightmare, I’ll be using you to help deal with it.  At this point, there isn’t anything to take on, but if it comes to where there is, I’ll call you back in.”

         After hearing the agreement to what he said, Rufus pressed on to the worse matter; the war.  There was plenty there and he needed to hear what these men said to calculate what else to do.

         As Kingsley listened in, he made plans to meet with Albus as soon as he could to pass the information along.  The bit with Remus and the murder part probably needed mentioned to the four so they could plan for it.  Plus, honestly, it was a good way to start working on talking to them.  The more they could find out, the better they would all be, especially if something was wonky.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

         After tending to the bit with Gringotts, sending off the forms they needed so the elves could do whatever and make damned sure their vaults weren’t locked down, the four were relaxing once more.  Harry and Sirius were on one settee, both seated sideways, legs up on the comfortable cushions with Sirius leaning back against the arm rest and Harry leaning back against Sirius’s chest, seated between his legs, sipping beers.  James and Remus were on the other settee, seated normally but leaning against each other. 

         “We should be fine, at least for a time,” James said, sipping his own beer, completely relaxed and feeling good.  “The bank is tended to.  While we’ll have some forms to sign, the worst is taken care of.  Which means we can just hole up here, plan and adjust until we can’t hide anymore or we decide to reveal ourselves.”

         “While we have a lot to figure out, I say we give it a couple of days when it comes to our plans,” Remus said, also sipping a beer.  “We worked out some on the other side, but most can’t be figured out without knowing just what’s going on where.  Some we can get from the papers, of course, but most we can’t.  To really know, it’s going to involve talking to a few people we used to know to have them bring us up to speed.  And none of us, not even James and Sirius, are in the shape it would take to deal with some of them.  Albus comes to mind right off the top of my head.  All of us need in a better place to tend to those tasks.”

         “True,” Sirius nodded, rubbing Harry’s head. 

         By now, Harry had drank a couple of beers and was far calmer.  No, he wasn’t drunk or buzzed, but it mellowed him out.  Until they were all in a better place, with some of what they were dealing with under control and they could brew up some calming draughts, the beer would suffice in helping.  Well, as long as they didn’t let him go overboard with it and slide into the realm of drunk.  Though they hadn’t seen it, Sirius suspected Harry wasn’t the nice mellow kind of drunk, but one who could unleash all kinds of hell.

         “I agree,” James groaned, leaning back.  “We all need time before we can deal with the arses.  While we’ll work a bit with what is presented, like in the papers and planning, I say we give it a week to see what comes.”

         “Rufus isn’t going to leave this alone, James,” Sirius told him, shaking his head.  “You remember what he was like.  If anything, he’s worse now than when he was our boss.  As we’ve not seen anything in the papers, he’s probably keeping it to himself and a few he trusts most.  It doesn’t mean he’s going to leave us alone.  I bet we’ll wake up to another letter from him in the morning.  He’s someone we will have to deal with at some point.”

         “Oh yes,” James admitted, a sour look on his face.  “Let’s see what comes before we plan anything his direction.  We have plenty else to work out anyway.  Well, and we need to wait to see how much he pushes.  Before then, Remus and Harry need plenty of help to deal with their end, especially Harry.  We can’t count on anything we planned until they have their end under some form of control.”

         “Focus on Harry,” Remus said quietly, smiling at the youngest of them.  “I’ll manage, it’ll just take me some time to adjust.  It’s something I’ve dealt with, so I have the foundation.  With all Harry’s dealing with when it comes to the changes, he needs your help, not me.” 

         He then glanced at Sirius and added, gently, “Especially you, Sirius.  The tie to you is the strongest, so you’ll be the one who helps the most.  And you need to keep your temper in check while you do when it comes to getting angry with others.  We know you won’t with Harry, but plenty will set you off.  You can’t let it.”

         “True,” Sirius admitted with a sheepish grin.  “I’ll manage, don’t worry.”

         “And we’ll help all we can,” James assured him.  “Like we agreed to when we decided to come back; we’re in this together for the duration.  It means we help each other all we can.  Harry isn’t the only one which will need an assist with some of this.  All of us will in some way or another.”

         After hearing agreements and seeing smiles at it, James sighed and rubbed his eyes in a tired way then yawned.  “I say we find the bed.  I’m beat after the stress earlier.”  When everyone agreed and stood, he added, standing himself, “We’ll stay in mine and Remus’ room tonight.”  He then led the way when everyone agreed again. 

         Yes, it was at least going smoothly so far with no major glitches.  Those were coming, they all realized that, but this was giving them time to get a handle on the worst before the other smacked them.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

         “I’ll write them a letter,” Minerva said firmly, nodding.  Hands clasped in front of her, she added, “Give me until tomorrow to compose it then I’ll send it off.  Of course, I won’t ask for a meeting right off, but will put out feelers as to how they’re doing then we’ll go from there.”

         “It’s for the best, yes,” Albus said, pleased with all Kingsley was reporting.  While it wasn't much, there was enough there to give them a bit of an assist. 

         “None who talked to us, including Rufus, like this, Albus,” Kingsley said, looking between the four faces in the office.  The ones initially there were here once again, so he didn’t have to go over the whole mess.  “While nothing’s happened yet, everyone thinks plenty is coming as this isn’t normal.  And they have no idea what it might be as they’ve not heard of this before.  Necromancy is the only bit they know which could manage to bring someone back from the dead.  Until the four tell someone what they did, if they ever will, everyone is flying blind and unnerved by it.”

         “I’m sure they will eventually give us hints,” Albus told him, trying to keep a soothing tone though he was uptight as well.  He had an idea how they managed, because of Harry and the Horcrux, but wasn’t sure beyond the inkling as he didn’t think it was possible for a person to bring someone back with them.  And as he had no way to judge what it might have caused, he was leaning towards some dark aspects, especially with James because of the amount of time he was gone.

         “The bit with Lupin,” Severus started, arms folded over his chest, “there won’t be charges you said?  And are we even sure he took Potter against his will?  From what I heard, it was so chaotic, no one is sure.”

         “No charges,” Kingsley said.  “And we aren’t either, honestly.  One of the bits Rufus wants is a statement about the incident.  When he receives it, we’ll know more of what happened.”

         “If Potter tells the truth,” Severus tossed back, though there was no venom to his voice like normal.  He then glanced around and asked, “Did anyone actually see Lupin take Potter through?  Does anyone know?”

         “I did,” Albus said with a sigh.  “So did others.  Remus grabbed Harry and took him through the Veil.  However, Harry didn’t fight him at all, nor was there any kind of surprise on his face.  Looking back with the help of the Pensieve, it was obvious Harry moved up towards the Veil with Remus of his own volition.  Neither made any kind of move to join the battle.  While I doubt we’ll ever know for sure just what happened, my leanings now are Harry was willing.  You need to understand the battle was so chaotic by then that no one had a full view of what happened from the time Sirius went through the Veil until the other two followed.  We have to piece it together from many eyewitness accounts and Pensieve memories.  At first I thought it was Remus taking Harry through against his will or not knowing, but I’ve changed my stance after talking with others who were there and viewing what I have.”

         “Look, these areas aren’t what I’m good at,” Kingsley put out there, looking around.  “I leave this mystical stuff to those in the Department of Mysteries.  However, from dealing with some damned dark people over my time, I know when you have the energy from dark acts, it fuels plenty.  I’m sure if it was suicide, it helped something here and means nothing good.”

         “I do tend to agree,” Minerva said quietly, a tight look on her face.  “How?  I don’t know.  All of us know dark acts produce some powerful energy.  The energy this—act produced had to factor in to what they did in some way.  Oh, it won’t be all of it, of course, but some.  And what it could produce—I don’t know, but whatever comes will be tainted by darkness.”

         “I’ll start looking into the situation and talk to a few in the Department of Mysteries to see what I can find.”  Albus told everyone, looking around.  “Those of you with contacts who know of such matters might want to talk to them as well.  I would like to remind all of us, though, that just because dark whatever was used doesn’t mean they are affected heavily by it.  Their personalities and value system comes into play as well.  So, we don’t need to focus only on the worst.  Until we know for sure, we just take it as they’ll be mostly normal.”

         While Severus didn’t agree with what was just said, because he spent too much time in the presence of a creature who had been human until his dabbling in the Dark Arts, he nodded.  And, well, he hoped.  While the Dark Lord pulled out plenty evil because of what he had done over the years, he wondered if the four who returned might not end up worse.  He just prayed Albus was right and the personalities could override whatever dark they used to pull this off.  If it didn’t, they might make the Dark Lord look mildly naughty.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

         As the four men slept, Karma waited until he was sure they were in the deepest sleep so he didn’t disturb them when he left.  While the Hydra knew Harry was aware on some level, though maybe not consciously, revenge was coming for some and had taken place for others, the snake didn’t want to bother him while he dealt with all the changes.  The other three—well, they were here to help his Master, so they wouldn’t be troubled either.  Karma just wanted them to remain unstressed in the first few trying weeks after their return.  Once they adjusted to so much, it wouldn’t matter.

         When he felt the four slip into the deepest realms, he slithered out of Harry’s hair and made his way through the wall once more to tend to business. 

         As he made his way to the first place to visit that night, Karma thought over all he had to do.  It would take time to set plenty in motion.  Tonight he would tend to one person completely, visit the other which was playing out then take the first steps of revenge for one of the most troublesome.  Yes, it would be a full and busy night for him.

         It took Karma a bit to find where the first person he would tend to was tonight.  She wasn’t at home or her normal drinking spot.  It turned out she was still in the newspaper offices, going over her notes.  She was onto a big story and was working late.  Karma knew the story she was working on was about his Master and the three who came back with him.  No, he couldn’t allow this to continue.  Though he would take care of Miss Rita Skeeter, he would also ensure every note and whatever else she had managed to get her hands on was destroyed in the process.  This was one story which wouldn’t find its way into the press until his Master wanted it there.

         After slithering into the office Rita was ensconced in, Karma made sure to stay invisible to scope out what was going on.  When he had a feel for what was going on, he was ready.  This would be tricky as he wasn’t going to kill her, but make her suffer for as long as she lived.

         He stayed invisible until he slithered up onto her desk.  Thankfully, she was busy enough, humming to herself, with all the various notes, pictures, books and other bits that she didn’t notice anything off.  After making himself visible, he locked eyes with her then made her freeze in place when she turned and saw him.  As she looked like she was about to scream with her mouth open in preparation, thus probably rousing the few others who were in the offices, he then began to hiss to her, making sure she could understand him.  “You take way too much enjoyment in other’s suffering, Rita.  It goes beyond just doing your job.  While you couch it as that’s all you’re doing, you’re the sort who relishes in the pain of others.  It gives you a thrill when you write something scathing which hurts your subjects or reporting on how others suffer for some reason.  The time has come for it to stop.”

         After slithering closer, the snake, making sure she was paralyzed, hissed, “Now you are going to feel the pain you have caused others.”  Feeding her images of what he was going to do, he enjoyed her panic and agony, even the acrid stench as she wet herself from fear.  Eyes locked with hers, he opened his mouth and spit venom at her, coating her face.  While the venom of the Hydra was more potent and deadly than that of the Basilisk, he diluted it enough it wouldn’t cause her death.  Oh, there would be pain and plenty of it, but she would live, though the life she once had would be over.

         As the venom touched her skin, it blistered up and burned, eating the skin away down to the muscle and bone in places.  There was no cure for the damage done by the venom of the Hydra because they were thought extinct.  St. Mungos would fumble to relieve her pain, even a little, but couldn’t undo the damage to her face.  Since her mouth and eyes were open, it also entered them, despite her glasses.  She immediately went blind, her eyes burning, the nerves damaged.  The acid tongue she was known for, the one which helped her Quick Quotes Quill do its damage, was eaten off at the root, vocal cords damaged and the inside of her mouth scarred beyond repair.  Yes, Rita would never again talk to spew her own brand of venom for anyone ever again.

         While she sat there and suffered in almost unimaginable agony, Karma relished in the feelings pouring off her.  He had to press on, though.  It wouldn’t due to have her be able to tell anyone what happened.  Though he was sure everyone would blame Voldemort for this, he wanted to up the torture slightly so only she would know, but could never pass it along.

         The snake then focused on her arms.  As this was a magical version of a snake, he could do more than what he had already shown her.  Yes, the Hydra could wield a powerful magic of their own.  As he eyed her arms, he focused on the elbows.  His magic gathering, he waited until it was at its peak then cursed her arms off right above the elbow.  While Wizards could do much with their medicine, nothing they knew could restore a body part cursed off.  Rita was now blind, mute and couldn’t wield a wand.  There was no Magic wizards knew which could give her back what she had just lost.  She would remain like this for the rest of her life, dependent on people to care for her in every way while her mind was still intact, unable to communicate in any way.  Yes, Rita was about to learn the true meaning of suffering.

         Slithering off the desk, the snake paused in the doorway and looked back.  Eyes seeming to catch fire, he used his magic to burn up all the evidence of the story Rita was working on.  While she would know how big what she stumbled across was, no one else would and it would end up lost until his Master wanted it revealed.  This mission was complete.

         Without looking back, Karma exited the offices of the Prophet, pleased with his work. It would be some time before anyone found Rita and she would suffer plenty until then.  Good.  Now he had to check on Dolores before he moved on to the next creature to tend to.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

         After checking on Dolores, noting she was unnerved and upset, even as she slept, he was pleased with how the revenge was playing out.  She had a few more weeks before she would die and he would ensure she suffered plenty before she did.  Now he was moving on to the one being he would tend to tonight.  This was a tricky bit of work as he held no malice towards the creature he would kill.  She was but a pawn of the great evil she was attached to.  In some way, he thought ending her suffering might be a blessing for her.  It didn’t matter, she would die.  It would be the first step of the revenge for the being he would end.  Because this evil beast who called himself human caused so much suffering for not only his Master but those with him, this suffering would end up drawn out.

         Karma found Nagini hunting not far from the home Tom Riddle was using as a base.  The evil one knew a Horcrux was almost impossible to destroy, even if it was in a living being of some sort, so he felt it was safe to let her roam how she wanted.  After all, the huge snake wasn’t in any danger from the sort of beasts who roamed these parts.  And humans, be they Wizard or Muggle, wouldn’t try to take on a snake of her size.  Karma was another matter entirely.

         Though he found Nagini fairly quickly, he didn’t strike right off.  Instead, he stalked her and waited until she was done hunting and headed back to Tom.  Karma waited until she was right at the door when he struck, sinking his fangs into her where the Horcrux was embedded.  A small dose of his venom was all it took for the Horcrux and snake to both die.  Step one was complete.  He was sure it would only be a matter of time before Tom found her then would go slightly mad knowing what he had lost.  Good.

         Content that his mission was complete, Karma headed home.  Tomorrow night he would press on as the trickiest people were still waiting for him to deal with.  He would manage, of course, it would just take time.  They would get theirs.  Karma was a bitch, after all.

Chapter Text

         Dolores was having a horrific day and it was only a half an hour after waking.  In fact, she was not only horrified, but in a right panic over things which happened in the house while she was asleep.

         First was her cats, all of them, were gone.  She didn’t know where either.  The last thing she remembered was going to bed early because she still didn’t feel right.  When she woke, she waited for the normal of the cats to be on the bed, cuddling up to her, purring up a storm and wanting fed.  It didn’t happen.  Not one cat on the bed.  Because it was so odd, she was up immediately, hunting and calling for them.  They were gone, all of them, and she didn’t know where to.  The food she put out before going to bed was partially gone, but the bowls weren’t empty like normal in the morning.  She spent a frantic several minutes looking and calling for them, but there was no sign any of them were around.  Oh Merlin, she didn’t know what to do or how to react.

         Still shaking, she began to prepare for her day in spite of how badly it had started and how she felt.  Despite sleeping, something troubled and fraught with nightmares, she actually felt worse.  The pain in her gut was even more intense than the day before.  The mere act of summoning food to start cooking sent her running for the loo.  There wasn’t anything in her stomach, but she had spent fifteen minutes retching in the toilet, leaving her pale, shaking and feeling worse.  By the time she was done, she decided she wasn’t going into work.  Her thought was to rest this morning and try the standard, sure she was just coming down with a bug of some sort, then see how she felt.  If she wasn’t any better after lunch, a trip to St. Mungos was in order.  This couldn’t go on.  She had too much to tend to and plans to put in place for her to be laid up for any length of time.

         After a firecall to work to let them know, huffing when her superior seemed pleased, telling her to take all the time she needed, she planned to go back to bed.  On the way there, she noticed even more of her trinkets and gimcrack were gone.  The fact it was not there left her shaking more, almost panicked.  She remembered what she had done the day before and the thought she had sleepwalked and repeated the previous acts left her feeling worse.  Yes, she needed rest and to feel better. 

         As she made her way to the bedroom, highly disturbed by this turn of events, she thought she might need to go to St. Mungos even if she did feel better.  There was something very wrong with her actions and the losing time.  With the delicate ballet she was performing, not to mention the Dark Lord wouldn’t like her being out of action, she needed this tended to as swiftly as she could manage.  As good as St. Mungos was, they’d have her fixed up in a jiffy then she could resume her life just how it had been and press on.

         Once in the bedroom, she curled back up in her soft bed, sliding the nice pink comforter over her body with a sigh.  Though her stomach still hurt, she was tired from the restless night before.  Yes, more sleep was needed.  Once she managed, she’d feel a trifle better then could think more clearly.  Though upset over bits like the cats and her things missing, she would press on.  Like so many others in this word had to, there were obligations to tend to and people relying on her.  She couldn’t shirk in her duty.  If she did, the Dark Lord taking over would end up delayed and she’d have to put up with so much of what she had to now.  No, she needed to get back on her feet and functioning right so her dream job wouldn’t end up delayed.

         Eyes going shut, she let out a sigh and quickly drifted off.  However, it wasn’t a restful sleep.  Instead, the nightmares returned, even worse than before.  Restless and unable to hold still, she whimpered in her disturbed sleep over what she saw and how her gut hurt, something which was also spreading to the rest of her body.  Unable to wake from the nightmare theater, she curled up in a ball, moaning pitifully.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

         “Bollocks,” Harry snarled, reading the letter that came for him.  Because it was addressed to him and the elves could detect nothing dangerous on it, they had given it to him directly.  Though wary when he saw the official Ministry seal on it, he opened it and began to read as the others went through other bits which had come in, like from Gringotts, while Remus scanned the paper for anything in it that could help.  Eyes flashing red, he huffed and growled as he read more.

         “What is it?”  Sirius asked, concerned because of the tone of Harry’s voice and the look on his face.  Putting the letter from Gringotts down, he leaned over to read what was there over Harry’s shoulder.  If it was setting Harry off, it wouldn’t be anything good and the rest of them wouldn’t like it either.

         “Harry?”  James asked, brow furrowed after he lowered what he was reading, looking at his son.  One glance at Harry’s face, and the anger easily readable there, he was now quite concerned.

         Arm slipping around Harry, holding him close, Sirius read through what was there, groaning.  Now he could understand why it set Harry off.  It probably would enrage James and Remus as well since his own temper was spiking over it.  “It’s from Rufus.  He wants a statement from Harry about what happened when he went through the Veil,” he started to explain, growling slightly as he did, eyes still on the letter.  Then, distractedly, he added, “The consensus is Remus murdered Harry.  Though they say no charges will end up leveled, even if it was, they want him to write up his version and send it to them so they can deal accordingly.”

         “Murdered him?!?”  James snapped, face hardening.  “Bullshit!  Wankers!”

         “This isn’t good,” Remus muttered, looking irate himself.  “We don’t need anyone thinking about charging me or the speculation out there I forced this on Harry.  If those in the Ministry feel that way, it’ll spread.  Once it spreads, plenty of others will hear.  The paper may then pick up on it.  If they do, since this is bound to be a huge story anyway, what with our return and all, we’re in for hell from the populace, especially me.”

         “No, we don’t need that,” Sirius agreed, stroking his whiskers as he read the letter again, making sure to hold Harry close while he did since he was still fuming over this bit.  “Right, this needs handled.” He then sighed, shaking his head.  Taking the letter from Harry, who was trembling from anger, he passed it to James.  “Between the two of us, we’ll figure out some way to handle this and deal with what he wants.  Just a short whatever from Harry will be all that’s needed.  We can come up with something there.”

         “We can and will,” James huffed, teeth grinding as he read through the letter after taking it.  “And we’re opening your mail from now on, Harry.  No offense, but until you’re in a better place, you don’t need to have something blindside you like this again.”

         “Nothing I have a problem with,” Harry huffed, folding his arms tightly over his chest, glaring at the letter, eyes flashing blood red, fangs descending involuntarily.  Yeah, he was plenty pissed and wanted to let people know he was.

         “Calm down,” Sirius told Harry gently, pulling him closer.  “No sense getting all irate over this.  We’ll come up with a way to word it then you can send it off.  Trust me, we’ll make it as clear as we can it was your choice.”

         “Tosser,” Harry ground out, claws starting to show.  “Yeah, come up with something and I’ll sign it.  You lot better write it all up as I’m liable to say something which will anger him plenty.”

         “Which we don’t need either,” an upset and angry Remus added with a sigh.  Gently, he added, “Harry, calm down.  Anger won’t help anything.  It’ll just make a bad situation all the worse in the end.”

         “Can’t help it,” Harry huffed, trying to get himself under control.  He needed to think, not end up set off.  It wouldn’t help anything if he was and might complicate plenty.  With a shake of his head, he sighed, “I’m trying, all right?”

         “Deep breaths,” Sirius encouraged, the only thing he could think of right off the top of his head.  Despite it being brekky, he was about to suggest a beer, knowing it would help.

         Though plenty upset himself that anyone would dare think he would kill Harry or do something such as this against his will, Remus changed the topic.  Still trembling a little, he told everyone, attempting to keep his voice light, “There are a couple interesting articles in the paper we’ll all enjoy.”

         “What about?”  Sirius asked, hoping to distract Harry and stay off the subject until they all had time to calm down.

         “It seems Fudge is dead,” Remus pressed on, looking at the paper again and trying to focus there instead of the tetchy topic they had been on.  “Heart attack from what this says.  He had an undiagnosed heart condition, so coupled with other health issues it brought on the big one.”

         “Couldn’t have happened to a nicer person,” James grunted, though grinned as he did. 

         “Serves him right,” Sirius nodded, pleased he was gone.  Though they knew he was out of office, they hadn’t heard if he had any sort of job which was important.

         “Good,” Harry grumbled.  However, something was starting to try to click somewhere, but he wasn’t sure what.  It was just one of those vague feelings you had once in a while.  Though it didn’t bother him, he was curious.

         “Rita Skeeter is out of action too,” Remus told them, looking more pleased as he found the article about her.  It was on the front page, of course, with the reporter who wrote the article howling and grandstanding about it.

         “Even better,” Sirius grinned, chuckling.

         “Perfect,” Harry added, grinning evilly himself.  However, at the mention of her name, whatever was there was trying to connect more.  And the snaky sounding voice, the one he started hearing on the other side, was there again, assuring him it wasn’t anything to worry about.

         “From what this says, it sounds like it was an attack by Voldemort,” Remus pressed on after giving James a better description of who she was and what she was like.  He knew the basics, but that was all.  “It was venom.  St. Mungos says it’s not like any kind they’ve seen before, so they think it’s Nagini’s.  She’s in bad shape, though.”

         “As in going to die?”  Sirius asked, though he wasn’t the least bit bothered if that was the case.

         “No, but her life as she knew it is over,” Remus told him then went on to enumerate the injuries.  When he finished, hearing some chuckles, he added, “They can’t use a prosthetic, from what this says, because the magic can’t overcome the curse and attach like they should.  There is no chance of regrowing them either.  The only thing she can do is point to whatever, like a yes or no written out, to communicate.  Maybe in the future, as they get the injuries under control, they can find a way to do more, but she’s going to suffer for the rest of her life because of the venom and what it did.”

         “And that is justice, especially the tongue part,” Sirius added, a pleased look on his face. 

         “I do tend to agree,” Remus chuckled, smiling a little.

         Though Harry agreed and was grinning, that feeling was there still, growing.  Somehow he thought he had something to do with what happened to her and Fudge, though he wasn’t sure how.

         “Harry?”  James asked, looking at his son.  “Is something up?”  There was an odd look on his son’s face, though he appeared a bit sadistically happy like the other two were.

         “Just that snake voice again,” Harry told him.  “The one I heard on the other side.  I told you about it, remember?”  When everyone said they did, he pressed on, “Something is trying to click here with the Fudge and Skeeter bit, though not sure what.  All the snake is saying are reassuring bits, like nothing to worry about.  I just have a feeling I had something to do with this, though not sure how as I was obviously here and with you lot.”

         “Might have to do with the Fury bit,” Sirius said, giving him a squeeze.  “Not sure there.  Until we get more, I think you should take the voice’s advice and not worry about it.  If it is something to do with vengeance, they can’t lay anything on us.  Most don’t know we’re back and we’ve not left to do anything.”

         “Sirius is right,” James nodded.  “Don’t worry about it.  You’ll figure it out in time.  Unless it's presenting a real problem for you and causing issues, we’ll just press on.  There is lots of settling to do and figuring out plenty as it is, worrying about something which a voice is telling you not to isn’t one of them.”  He finished, smiling at his son.

         “True,” Harry agreed, smiling back.  “Just want to figure it out, nothing more.  You know the sort of bit.”

         “We do,” Remus nodded.  “I think this is one, from what you describe, which will sort itself out.  If it’s something you need to know, it’ll come in the fullness of time.  Until then, we press on.”

         “Yup,” Sirius said, ruffling his hair.  “We focus on bits we need to work on, like you adjusting and Remus getting his end under control.  Those are more pressing.  The rest?  We’ll handle it when we start venturing out again.”

         “So far, it’s just the two people.  While they irked you in the past, it’s doubtful anyone will look your way, even if you are responsible.  Both had plenty of enemies who would think nothing of doing them in or getting revenge.”  Remus told him with a smile.  “Especially Skeeter.  They are laying the blame for the attack on her on Voldemort.  Let them.  With everything going on, it’s not unlikely he would have gone after her.  Later on, if it looks like people will end up suspicious, we’ll worry about it then.”

         “Will try,” Harry agreed.  “Best I can do.”

         “All we’re asking,” James told him with a smile.  Then he said, “Right, we need to press on.  The paperwork for Gringotts needs done.  It’s something vital.  We’ll tend to it before we take on the letter to Rufus.  Since funds are required, we need it to take precedence.”

         “You have to as well, Harry,” Sirius told him with a nudge, pointing to the unopened letter with his name on it.  “Nothing complicated and your dad will explain it to you, but your signature is needed on it.”  Eyes flitting to Remus, he said, “I think Remus should write up the letter to Rufus, despite the topic.  He’s apt to explain what we need better without a tone that might set him off or cause problems.”

         “I’ll write up a rough draft,” Remus nodded with a deep sigh.  The topic wasn’t one he liked and it irked him to no end, but he would.  Then with a shiver, feeling the shift coming on, he let it happen, Moony quickly taking his place.  However, unlike at first, he could shift right back.  When he did, he observed, “It’s getting easier.  Another couple of days and I should have it down to where I can control it better.”

         “Take all the time you need,” James said, patting him on the back.  “We have all the time in the world before we have to show ourselves.”

         “True,” Remus smiled, feeling more in control since the shifting was improving. 

         “I vote, once we finish this bit, we go check out the island,” Sirius said, looking around.  “It’ll not only get us out of the house, but we can check the wards and anything else we need to do.”

         “We will,” James nodded, liking the idea.  “Good plan.  I need to take a look anyway to see if there’s anything else the elves need to tend to, like repairs and whatnot.”

         “What’s it like outside?”  Harry asked, curious, trying not to focus on the bits which bothered or upset him.  If he shoved them aside, he’d calm down and be able to deal with them more rationally than before.

         “Foggy,” James chuckled, shaking his head.  “It’s a big island,” he then added honestly.  “Plenty to do.”  After that, he went on to describe what he remembered of it.  Yeah, going out a bit each day would do all of them a world of good.  He was sure they would all end up going mental if they were forced to stay in the house until it was all under control.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

         “Severus?  Are you all right?” A concerned Albus asked when the man, looking plenty disheveled and shaking, took a seat across from him.  As he knew what the signs he was seeing meant, he sent for the standard potion he kept to alleviate the symptoms of the Crucio.

         “I’ll live,” Severus told him grimly, thankful when the potion came and he downed it.

         “You should have rested and tended to yourself instead of coming over.  A Floo-call would have sufficed,” Albus told him, sending for the usual niceties, knowing Severus probably needed something to help.

         “I thought this best to take on in person and not chance the Floo,” Severus told him, relaxing somewhat as the potion took effect.  Before Albus could ask, he explained, “It’s about Skeeter.”

         “Nasty business from what Kingsley told me,” Albus sighed with a sad shake of his head.  “Tom must not have liked some of what she wrote.”

         “It wasn’t the Dark Lord,” Severus told him bluntly.  Before Albus could ask, he explained, “It was part of the reason we were summoned.  Nagini is dead.  Something killed her last night.”

         “What?”  Albus asked, somewhat astonished, eyes wide.  “How?  She’s a Horcrux, so the standard can’t kill her.”

         “I know,” Severus grumbled, slouching down in his chair, feeling better.  “He found her last night, or early this morning, probably about four.  I don’t have details, but she was dead. And he’s furious.  Since it was right outside the place he’s using as headquarters, he’s blaming one of his Death Eaters.  All we know is she had been out hunting and was returning when whatever did her in found her.”

         “Four in the morning?”  Albus asked to make sure since he knew the time Rita was attacked, at least close to it.

         “Yes,” Severus told him with a nod.  “The paper gave the approximate time she was attacked.  There’s no chance Nagini did the deed.  She was hunting, that was clear, while the Dark Lord was tending to other business.  I garnered this bit from not only some of his questions to plenty, but what he said.  He mentioned her, something along the lines of he’s happy she’s gone, but he had no part of what happened.”

         “Which means someone else is involved,” Albus observed, fingers drumming on his desk, brow furrowed. 

         “Exactly,” Severus nodded.  “What I wanted to impart to you.  While whatever happened helped us this time, if there is something out there so powerful it took out a Horcrux, we need to worry.”

         “We do,” Albus agreed with a nod.  After thinking it over, he said, “Let me pass the information to Kingsley and see what he can do with it.  Not sure as they were all thinking Nagini.”

         “St. Mungos should have the sample of venom from when Arthur was bitten.  If you can get them to examine the two, they’ll quickly realize they aren’t the same,” Severus suggested.  “It can only help Skeeter as well, since it’ll rule some parts out.”

         “Yes, good idea,” Albus told him, straightening up and making note of what Severus said.  “I’ll pass this along tonight.”

         After a nod, Severus asked, “What else could take out a Horcrux?  We know the ones you’ve said, but it wasn’t any of them, Albus.  Which means there’s something else.  Maybe something historical we’ve not found or is thought not true?”

         “This—yes, I need to see what I can find.  If there’s another way, we need to find it.  It might end up simpler on us as well.”  Albus told him, jotting down a note about that also.  “I’ll recruit a couple Order members to give me a hand.  Let’s see what I can find.”  Leaning back with a tired groan, he tossed his quill on the desk then asked, “Anything else I need to know?”

         “Just that the Dark Lord is irate,” Severus grumbled, shaking his head.  “Beyond what we’ve seen before.  Losing her—it’s unhinged him more.  We all need to stay wary, Albus.  When he gets like this, he tends to take out his ire in plenty of directions.  Though his Death Eaters are part of the targets, he’ll lash out at others.  In this case, he’ll probably do all he can to find out who killed her and go after Muggles to take out his temper on.  We all need to stay wary until he calms down.”

         “Another bit I’ll pass along so it makes it to the right places,” Albus assured him with a nod and weary sigh.  “We don’t need him growing worse.  It’s bad enough as it is.”

         “I know,” Severus grumbled, shaking his head.  “Nothing we can do, though.  While the snake being gone is very good for us, what it’ll unleash won’t be.  It’s a tradeoff and I’m not sure the cost is worth it.”

         “We’ll pay it, because we have no choice,” Albus told him, a tired bent to his voice.  “All we can do is what we are.”

         “Very true,” Severus agreed, sounding weary himself.  Then he launched in and began to ask about what Albus may have learned since they last talked so he could stay on top of what was going on.  Information was all he had to manage anymore, so he wanted all he could get.  This was plenty bad, he didn’t need it made worse by being blindsided by something he didn’t know.

Chapter Text

         As he thumbed through yet another book on mythical and extinct creatures which Binns had recommended to them, Albus sighed wearily.  The stress was getting to him, like it had been so often lately.  Minerva was helping him, but that was all when it came to assistance.  Since he didn’t want to explain why he was looking for such creatures to anyone else, there weren’t any others he could ask.  Moody was tending to other matters more important, Kingsley was working after they talked and Severus was resting after the torture he had suffered.  Between the two of them, they’d find some clues, or so he hoped.

         After jotting down a couple of names of creatures, he asked Minerva, “Are you finding anything useful?”

         “Some are a maybe,” she nodded.  Then added, a heavy sigh in her voice, “Most are mythical and never existed as far as I know.  Others—there is no chance they are in the UK.  They wouldn’t survive the climate on their own and someone would know if one of our kind possessed one by the sheer size of them.  They would take a huge habitat to contain.   The Mongolian Death Worm comes to mind there.  Not sure about the venom on that one, but it sounds like it could.  Some of the dragon-type species are another.  They may manage.”

         “Same on this end,” Albus admitted with a soft grumble.  “The Typhon might for mythical.  Same with the blood of Medusa or Gorgons.  The Furies are a maybe.  Some of the snake creatures out of India are a possibility, but they fall into the category you’re discussing.  India is very careful about their indigenous creatures not leaving the country as other ecosystems, like our own, have no predators which could handle them.  While it’s possible, I’m discounting them.  We’ll keep going, of course, to see what we can find, but I’ll put out a few feelers to people I know overseas to see what they say.”

         Minerva leaned back then took her glasses off before rubbing her gritty eyes in a tired way.  “Even if we find something possible, if they are mythical and are thought to have never existed, we won’t get anywhere, Albus.  The others—it’s a maybe.  That will depend if they can get a blood sample.  As Nagini is dead, we have no chance at procuring her body to test any of these, even if they are real.  Is this just to see what it might be and what we are possibly facing?”

         “Yes, it is,” Albus confirmed with a nod.  “Well, and it might come as an assist at some point.  Anything powerful enough to take out a Horcrux can only aid us.”  Some knew about the Horcruxes by now, but not many.  It was a topic he didn’t want to discuss with anyone until he had to.

         “If we rule out the ones we know exist, something I’m sure we’ll manage quickly, we have no way of proving what might have done this if it’s a mythical one which does exist.  Mythology—it’s not known for hard facts and truthfulness, especially the ancient sort.”  She pointed out.  “I see the reason for looking, but not sure how we can manage.”

         “I think, maybe, if we find the right one we’ll know it then it may slide pieces into place,” Albus told her.  “If there are other forces at work in this situation, we need to know ahead of time so we know what we’re dealing with.  It won’t help to end up blindsided.  Kingsley planned to go to St. Mungo’s after our talk to find out about the venom in the guise of helping poor Rita.  We’ll see what he brings from there.  If they still have the sample from Arthur that is.  There is no guarantee there as it’s been so long and Tom probably had people in place there then had them dispose of it.  He had to know someone getting their hands on it wouldn’t be useful for him.”

         “Let’s see what comes,” Minerva nodded, understanding the why behind this now.  “Do you think it’s another faction of some kind stepping in to help rid us of him or something else?”

         “I don’t know,” Albus admitted honestly, shaking his head.  “As bad as it sounds, we have to wait for another attack of some sort to find out the leaning of whatever or whoever this is.  It will give clues we can use.  Waiting to see and if another comes is the issue.  If it was just a rogue attack by some creature which managed to get loose, it does need found by the Ministry.  We’ll see what comes of it.  With all we have happening, we don’t need a dangerous creature running loose.  Let’s see what happens in the future before we plan too much.”

         “One this deadly?  No, we don’t,” she agreed with a firm shake of her head.  “Have you talked to Hagrid?  He’s not the strongest when it comes to book learning, but knows plenty or where to check.”

         “The first thing I did,” Albus assured her with a nod.  “He couldn’t think of anything off the top of his head either, but will talk to some, like the centaurs and contacts he has.  We just have to wait.”

         “He may find something,” Minerva nodded then put her glasses back on and picked up the book to continue on. 

         With a heavy sigh, mind working on what this could end up being, Albus, too, went back to work.  He just hoped some more clues turned up to narrow down the search so they had somewhere else to look.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

         “They no longer have the venom sample from Arthur,” Kingsley groused, tossing a sheet of readings on Albus’ desk then taking a seat with a weary groan.  “The readings you see there are all they have and it matches what they have for Skeeter, at least those readings.  It’s not the full panel of them, obviously.  Whatever they had has done a runner.  My thoughts?  Someone from that side stole them so they don’t have the sample or full panel of readings.  Until proven otherwise, they are going with it’s the same snake which bit Arthur.  Can’t stay I blame them there as it’s all they have.  We now have no way of knowing if the venom differs.  There is no other way to check it.  Everything from Arthur which might have helped is gone.”

         “As I feared,” Albus sighed, stroking his beard as he started glancing through the readings on the parchment.  “I do agree it was probably an agent of Tom’s.  If we didn’t have what Severus brought to us, we would all think it was Nagini as well.” 

         After perusing what was there, he put it down then leaned back with a tired groan.  “Anything you can tell us about Rita which might give us some clues as to what kind of creature did this?”

         “Nothing other than the readings I picked up,” Kingsley admitted, pulling out another set and passing them over.  “There isn’t much there, Albus, but it seems the venom is very similar.  I can see why they are leaning towards it’s the same creature.  She’s no help as they put her in a healing coma to deal with the pain she is in.” 

         “From what I was told, what she’s dealing with is excruciating.  Even if awake, she won’t be any help.  There is no means to communicate with her yet.  They are certain she’s probably going to lose the rest of her arms and her legs as they’ve become infected with something, probably from the venom not only spit on her, but she ended up swallowing some of it.  Even when she comes out, it’s going to take years to find some way to communicate with her.  The standard won’t work for her because of so much.  Later on—they’ll find a way.  If she makes it.  That’s not a guarantee either.”

         He then added, tone hushed, “They told me death will probably be a mercy since there is little they can do for her when it comes to the pain.”

         With a sad shake of his head, Albus sighed and slumped, dejected.  “I can understand that thought and they are probably right.  This kind of pain—it will drive you mad.  I’m sure if she does survive, madness will take hold as a way to deal with it.”

         “While I didn’t like the woman, or what she did, I feel sorry for her,” Minerva added, tone quiet. 

        “I’ll gather what I can as we’re investigating, but I don’t think it’ll be much help to you,” Kingsley shrugged, looking between the two.  “If it was a real creature they have recorded, even in other countries, they would have found it by now.  It matches nothing they can find.  They are saying serpent of some sort as it matches the structure of snake venom.  All they have.  That’s it.  Which is no help in your searching.  Sorry.”

         “That helps us exclude plenty,” Albus assured him.  “We’ll keep looking then.  Mythological is where we’ll gander for whatever.  However, unless we can find a trace of something real, it won’t be much help.  Just—as horrible as this sounds—if there is another attack, let us know.”

         “Will do,” Kingsley nodded.  “Not sure if we should expect one or not, honestly.  Rita wasn’t in the open outdoors.  Whatever this creature is, it came into the Prophet and found her among the offices.  That tells me it’s intelligent.  Either that or it had help of some sort.  We know Nagini was smart.  It was obvious from so much.  This one sounds the same way.”

         “About Cornelius—was his death natural or were there other forces at work?”  Albus inquired.  He assumed it was natural, but wanted to make certain so questions didn’t arise later then they had to go hunting.

         “Straight up heart attack,” Kingsley assured him.  “From what we were told, the coroner was surprised it didn’t come sooner.  Very advanced case of heart disease that was untreated.  Nothing at all suspicious there.”

         “I assumed, but wanted to make sure,” Albus nodded, pleased there were no more areas they had to look into.

         Before Albus could ask, he then added, “Rufus hasn’t heard from the four yet either.  He sent out something he wants a statement on, but they haven’t returned anything yet.”  He then explained what the Minister wanted.

         “Not sure if that was wise as it might anger them,” Albus observed, brow furrowed.  “In the shape they are in, it might have been best to wait.”

         “While that’s true, he wants it now for good reasons and to help later on.  What he also wants is to use it as a way to open communications,” Kingsley explained, looking between the two.  “Let’s see what he can manage.  Well, and Minerva.  If it doesn’t work, he may approach you, Minerva.”

         “I’ll be ready,” she assured him with a tip of her head.  “I have a first draft of a letter to them started.  I want to review it again then have Albus look it over to see if there is anything I need to add.  We’ll then go from there.”

         After a nod to her, Kingsley then began to cover other minor areas that had come up so they stayed abreast.   Then he wanted filled in on anything they knew.  He doubted there was much, but he wanted to stay on top of anything. 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

         Harry shifted around with a soft groan then leaned back against Sirius and shut his eyes with a sigh.  A smile crossed his face when Sirius wrapped an arm around him, he felt good.  They were sprawled on the settee with him between Sirius’ spread legs just relaxing after their foray outside.  While they didn’t partake in some of the entertainments out there, they had walked around the big island to see what was where.  Since they hadn’t exercised much since coming back, it took a bit out of them.  It sure felt good to get out of the house for a time, though. 

         “We’re going to have to go outside for a bit each day,” Sirius told Harry, holding him close as he sipped his beer.  “The outer edges are too foggy to do much, but the center of the island is good with plenty of light and no fog.”  Then, with a snort, he added, “And you’re sticking as close to us as you can with all the snakes around.  Your dad says they won’t bother us because of who we are and how we occupy the house, but this island is teeming with them.  Since you can talk to them, we need you close.”

         “There are a lot of them,” Harry chuckled, not opening his eyes.  “Dad says it’s like a safe haven for them and they find their way here in some manner.  With me holding the Fury gene, he thinks it might mean more will join us, of the magical sort.”

         “Rather unnerving it is,” Sirius admitted with a shake of his head.  “It will just take some getting used to, I suppose.  Until then, you’re with us.  One or two would be fine, but the sheer amount is—yeah, can’t handle that.  They were all over and we had to stay careful where we stepped.  The elves will handle setting up burrows and whatever for them so they aren’t in the way, it’s just the idea.”

         “It is,” Harry agreed with a snort and grin.  “We’ll manage.  They knew who we were and it was passed around not to bother us, from what I heard.  The ones I talked to said they would ensure they stay out of our way when we’re around.  We’ll see.  Shouldn’t be a problem.”

         “Just the idea,” Sirius stated again with a shake of his head.  From what he observed, he thought there were plenty of venomous ones mixed in with the standard snakes out there.  Yeah, that was unnerving.

         “Dad and Remus are looking at the potions lab then?”  Harry asked, thinking that was what they said, but he had been distracted talking to an asp at the time.  Since that was a deadly sort of snake, he paid attention, though he knew none of them could truly hurt him because of the Fury part now.

         “They are,” Sirius nodded.  “Shouldn’t take long.  The elves have it cleaned up and everything, they just want to make sure nothing else is needed.  Then they’re sending off for the ingredients we need for various whatever.”  He then added, gently, “Like calming draughts of the stronger sort.  All of us are going to need those at some point when it comes to dealing with so much, though you and Remus probably more than us.”

         “Not a problem,” Harry shrugged, expecting that.  Him—he needed parts under control if they had to start dealing with people.  With Remus it had to do with the werewolf part and him not being certain how much the instinct would take over when riled. 

         “Just want it out there,” Sirius added, giving him a squeeze.  Then with a chuckle and grin he added, “Will probably have to take my share as well, what with my personality and all.  Can’t have the fools setting me off.  Won’t help anything when I’m the one in charge of helping you stay calm.”

         “Considering some who we’ll have to deal with can get on your last nerve quickly.  No surprise there,” Harry laughed, snuggling up closer to him with a contented sigh.

         “Oh yes,” Sirius agreed, still grinning a tad.  “We’ll manage.  It won’t be forever, just until we can all get a handle on so much.  There’s too much to do for us to let our tempers and whatever else get the better of us.  Once things are moving how we want, it won’t matter.”

         “Nope,” Harry agreed with a bit of an evil grin. 

         “Any more from that hissy voice thing you mentioned?”  Sirius asked, curious.  It was a part they had to sort out at some point as they weren’t sure what it was or where it came from.

         “All’s quiet on that end,” Harry told him.  “Not sure what it is, but it’s there.”

         “Let us know when you hear it again so we can put it together with what else we know so we can figure it out.”

         “Will do, no worries,” Harry assured him.  Then he opened his eyes when Remus and his dad were coming their way. 

         Though not wanting to move as he was nice and relaxed, he did so they could be filled in and work from there.  This week wouldn’t be bad as they would just handle once more getting used to things and planning.  They had work to do, but it couldn’t start until they were in better shape.  It couldn’t happen fast enough for him, that’s for certain.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

         As Sirius and Harry were off spending time alone before bed, James was sprawled across the settee in their bedroom, legs propped up on Remus’, who was seated close to him.  After a sip of his cocktail, he let out a soft contented sigh.  “We’re doing fairly well,” he observed.  “Thought there might be worse coming with me because of how long I was gone.”

         “We’re just settling, James,” Remus told him, sipping his Gillywater.  “I wouldn’t say we’re through the time we can stop worrying about side effects.  In fact, they might not manifest yet.  Let’s wait and see before we declare we’re in the clear.”

         “True,” James grumbled, hoping he was.  “Been more worried about Harry as he’s showing the signs we expected and planning for the trouble coming from it.  The time away did help since it gave us some space to work on what to put in place, but he’s in the same stage of adolescence and the temper as before he went through the Veil, which means it’ll feed into it.”

         “Something we’ll just ride out like we will with the changes he’ll manifest,” Remus assured him with a smile. 

         Then he sobered up and added, “We do need to start going through the books in the house so we have at least a little foreshadowing of what is coming with him.  You said there are family books on it.  All you know is what was passed down to you from your parents.  As that was just oral history, we don’t know how much is true.”

         “Agreed,” James sighed, shaking his head.  “Some I’m going to bet is, like the legend of the Fury always has one or more with them, having handpicked them and brought them back from the dead.  Others—not sure, like the whole bit with Karma and the Hydra.  It wasn’t really clear what was meant by it anyway.  We do need to sort it out then see what comes.”

         “You and I can take it on,” Remus told him, putting a hand on one of his ankles and giving it a squeeze.  “Let Sirius focus on Harry.  While Sirius isn’t really calm about some areas and has issues of his own, he’ll be fine focusing there.  As long as he has Harry to look out for, he’ll suppress some of the less desirable traits.”  Then with a soft sigh, he added, “Until we have to deal with people again.  Then you and I need to help keep a leash on him as well.  With him being the one tied closest, people will set him off.  It’ll be up to us to step in and calm the situation.”

         “True,” James chuckled as he sipped his drink.  While Sirius could end up exasperating in some ways, it was something he adored from his friend most times.  “He’s perfect for protecting Harry, though.  You have to admit this.  No one would get the better of him if Harry’s in danger.”

         “Oh yes,” Remus said with a smile.  “We just need to help give him the tools to make it easier on him.”

         “I’ll have the elves start sorting through the books in the library tomorrow, then we’ll jump into seeing what we can find on the topic.  As we are not planning on going anywhere for a while to give us time to control whatever and adjust, we’ll have what we need to take it on.”

         “We might not plan on going anywhere, but you can bet your antlers we won’t end up left alone,” Remus told him dryly, looking sour.  “Rufus is one.  He won’t let up and you know it.  I’d also bet Sirius’ fur Albus knows we’re back and is already plotting as well.  While Albus might not be the one who will contact us, I’m sure he’s already set someone to the task if I know him half as well as I think I do.”

         “Probably,” James grunted, looking dour himself.  “We’ll wait to see what comes from it then go from there.  No sense planning whatever when we don’t know what those two are up to.  Let’s see what happens then we’ll decide.”

         After downing the last of his drink, he signaled for an elf to bring a refill then leaned his head back and shut his eyes.  There was plenty to tackle and take on, but he wanted time to just relax with Remus before they joined the other two for bed.  This would be a habit they would all slide into as it would help them cope, so he wanted to start now.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

         About midnight, long after the four had fallen asleep, Karma once more emerged from Harry’s hair then slithered through the wall.  Unlike most nights, he didn’t leave the island to tend to people who he needed to visit.  No, tonight he needed to tackle another issue.  Dolores—he could miss a night checking on her.  What he had to take care of was plenty important as well.

         Once outside, he made his way to the center of the island where the biggest den of snakes was.  When the Strix joined him, he called out the leaders of the snakes.  Normally, serpents were solitary creatures, but the ones on the island tended to stick in groups according to species.  This fact made his mission easier.

         When the leaders of the various groups joined him, he settled down to talk with them.  Not only was the safety of the four humans paramount, there were other plans to make and prepare for.  The serpents couldn’t do their part if they weren’t aware of what was needed.  As these were the normal sort of snakes, it would take Karma most of the night, and several more meetings in the future, to put it all in place.  However, by the time the first light of day shone through the fog, the basics would be in place, all he hoped for.  The rest would come later as it was needed.

Chapter Text

         Despite how horrific and sick she still felt, Dolores came to work.  She had too much to tend to for her to stay home.  As she vowed, she had gone to St. Mungos.  They realized there was something wrong, but couldn’t figure out what.  After a battery of tests of all sorts, they couldn’t find anything.  They had sent her home with some stomach soother and nutrient potions plus a few more potions to help as a substitution for food.  For the rest of the week, after work each night, she would return to St. Mungos for more tests.  They vowed they would find out what was wrong, it just might take time.

         In pain and shivering, she tried to do her job.  Already she had gathered what the Dark Lord needed and sent it off to him.  While slightly behind in that task, she caught herself up first thing so he didn’t grow angry.  Of course, she attached a letter mentioning she was ill enough that she was visiting a Healer over the matter, but assured him she would keep the information coming.  Once she tended to that task, she moved on to matters which came with her job, trying to catch up since she was fairly far behind.

         Despite having so much work to do, she couldn’t focus to the best of her ability.  Her mind kept skipping to the illness and other odd happenings.  This morning she had woken to all her beloved trinkets gone.  There were no signs of them, so she assumed she had done some sleepwalking then vanished them.  This time, though, she had redecorated as well.  Her beautiful home in shades of pink which soothed her and she adored had a color scheme change.  Now it was dull dirty looking greys and browns, drab colors she couldn’t stand.  It wasn’t just the walls, though, but the furniture, bedding, curtains, all of it.  This disturbed her more than her illness did.

         Once at work, despite all she had to tend to, the strangeness kept up. While she finished some tasks, like the missive to the Dark Lord, other oddball incidents kept happening.  Once more she used the Blood Quill on herself.  This time she spent a half an hour carving the words I am a nasty, evil traitor toad into her flesh.  While this disturbed her greatly, as she couldn’t stop it no matter what she tried, what came after was worse. 

         First, her essence of dittany was missing.  Though she knew how to vanish the markings without it, the liquid was the fastest way.  After a huff at not finding it, she went to use the spell she created to get rid of the words.  It was then she realized something was affecting her magic, probably the illness.  It took her several tries, but she finally managed to vanish the words.  She added the part about her magic to her list of what she needed to bring up to her Healer.

         Though shaken and disturbed by the part with her magic, she pressed on.  Not able to face the smells in the cafeteria, she ‘ate’ her lunch as her desk, trying to catch up on her work.  It was during this time she wrote out, unable to stop herself or pull out of the hypnotic state she was in, a full confession of everything she had done, including her father’s disappearance.  When done, she found herself horrified and vanished it.  However, she didn’t realize there were two copies of it.  One was now waiting on Kingsley’s desk.

         Unnerved, she shook as she went back to work, pale, not sure what to do.  What she now planned was to get caught up then leave for St. Mungos.  This was growing worse and something needed done to stop it.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

         Remus looked up from the book in front of him when James came back into the parlor they were using for research.  “Both asleep?”  He asked, though assumed so.  Harry and Sirius had spent the morning outside mucking about on brooms, looking plenty tired at lunch then mentioned a nap after they were done. This was fine with them, of course.  What Harry was dealing with tired him out plenty.  When tired, he wasn’t in a good mood.  In a couple more weeks, it wouldn’t bother him much.

         “Out cold,” James nodded as he took a seat.  “Nothing to worry about.  We’ll let them sleep as much as they want.  Sirius needs to focus on Harry anyway and find a way for him to get some form of control over what he’s dealing with.  Besides, it did them good to go outside for a time and have some fun.”

         “They can go outside all they like, just don’t expect me to join them, James,” Remus told him with an amused snort, shaking his head.  “There are far too many snakes out there for my liking.  I do understand what you said about them not harming us and Harry added his assurances that they wouldn’t, but I know what some of those species are.  The golden lancehead and black mamba are just two I recognized.  As highly venomous as they are, I want no part of them.”

         With a grin, James chuckled then grabbed the book he had been looking through.  “Understood, Remus.  The elves are hard at work creating dens for them, so they won’t cause issues.  They’re also making us a snake-free area with repellents on it so we don’t have to see them.”  Then he added softly, “As long as Harry’s along, we can assure you you’ll never see one.  He can make it clear.”

         “If I don’t have to see them, I’ll be fine.  Being startled by one will end my forays outside, I can assure you,” Remus told him with a soft chuckle, tossing the book he finished and picking up the next.

         “Finding anything useful?”  James asked as he flipped through his book, skimming the text.  They were looking into the fury part, of course.

         “Nothing but small tidbits,” Remus shook his head.  “I think we’ll have better luck with your family’s books, James.  These—they are just mythology, no hard facts.”

         “We don’t have many left, so we’ll finish, but I think you’re right,” James agreed with a heavy sigh.

         As Remus began to skim through the new book, he asked, “Anything we need to worry about when it comes to the mail?  Some came at lunch is why I’m asking.”  James had tended to it, but hadn’t said what it was other than the ones from various areas they were dealing with, such as the bank.

         “All but one was dealing with the bank, properties and whatever, nothing to worry about.  The other was from Rufus,” James told him, tossing the book he had been looking through aside.  With a groan, he leaned back and explained, “Rufus said no charges will end up filed against you as Harry confirmed it was suicide.   It contained an official statement about that.  The rest was him putting out feelers again.  Those we’re ignoring.”

         “Good,” Remus said with a pleased nod.  “At least their hand is out of it, the suicide part.  As for the feelers?  Let him.  We can keep ignoring it for now or a brief statement we need left alone for a bit.  Might buy us some time.”

         “Let’s see how overt he grows before I write back,” James told him, snagging another book, but not making a move to open it.

         “We do need to come up with something when it comes to those wanting to talk to us.  Not right now, of course, but I don’t see you wanting to bring them here.  We don’t want them to know about this place either.  This means we need something.  The longer we hide out, the worse the speculation will end up.” Remus told him, leaning back himself, ignoring the open book.

         “Didn’t think of that,” James admitted, brow furrowed.  After a couple of moments, he said, “I say we send some elves to clean both your cottage and Grimmauld Place.  I’m sure those who know we’re back already suspect we’re in one of those places.  We can easily use them for whatever meetings if we need to.”

         “Sounds like a good plan,” Remus nodded.  “They can tend to whatever.  Well, Sirius might need to go to Grimmauld Place to deal with Kreacher.”

         “Kreacher wouldn’t survive whatever Sirius does,” James told him with a short chuckle and evil grin.  “If Sirius doesn’t get him, Harry will.  Either way, I’m sure the elf is on borrowed time.”

         “Most appropriate,” Remus agreed with a small smile himself.

         Then Remus asked, gazing at James, “You doing fine?  Of all of us, you were gone the longest, staying in limbo.  We know it affects plenty.  It seems like you’re more worried about Harry and me, so I want to check.”

         “Doing fine,” James chuckled, smiling a tad.  Then the smile turned slightly evil and he added, “Keeping the darker urges under control, trust me.  They are there and probably more pronounced than with the rest of you.  At some point, I’m acting on a few of them.”

         When he saw Remus about to ask, looking troubled, James clarified, “The Dursleys are mine.  I mean it!  There is no chance I’m letting them get away with how they treated Harry, Remus.  It’s me who will deal with them.  Rest assured, I’ll make sure it doesn’t look like we’re involved.  Others come to mind as well, like Albus.  We’re all right irate at him.  Until the time comes and I’m sure I’m under control, we stay put.  The same with the rest of you.”

         “Understood,” Remus told him with a relieved nod.  These weren’t areas he had an issue with and they all knew about coming back, so he wasn’t disturbed.  “We just need some time.  You’re ‘tainted’ a little more than we are.”

         “More than a little,” James snorted, still grinning.  “Nothing to worry about.  The rational part is there and in control.  With us bound together, you can help control problems if they arise just like Sirius and Harry will each other.”

         “Yes,” Remus agreed.  “We’ll manage.  It’ll just take time for all of us to assimilate again.  Then, well, we need to plan what we want to do.  Harry has to rid the world of Voldemort before we can do anything else we planned.”

         “Until he’s in a better place with plenty under control, we won’t even discuss those topics,” James told him.  “He’s not even close.  There is plenty we need to understand before we can look that direction.”

         “Just want it out there we need to plan for it at some point,” Remus told him with a nod, going back to flipping through the book.  As he did, he had James send an elf to his place to start working on it.  Better to have this done now than wait until they needed it.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

         Unlike night time, Karma took special care to not disturb Harry or Sirius when he slithered out of Harry’s hair.  They were just taking a nap, not the full deep sleep of nights, so he didn’t want to bother them.  Usually, he tended to his business at night for many reasons, including the deep sleep of his Master.  This time was different.  He needed to tend to one Wizard and it required being done during the day.  As it was a tricky venture anyway, he had to take plenty of care.

         Disappearing through the wall like normal, he honed in on where the person he had business with was, then vanished.  Taking care not to end up seen or detected when he appeared in front of a ramshackle abandoned house, he slithered inside, honing in on the rat within.  Yes, it was time for Peter Pettigrew to meet justice.  While he wouldn’t tend to most of it, he would start the wheels turning.

         Once he slithered inside, ensuring he was cloaked against detection, he found the rat foraging for food in the long-abandoned kitchen.  Curling up, tongue flicking, he waited for the rat to turn around then locked his gaze with Peter.  Like with Fudge, the rat immediately froze, unable to move.  While humans could fight off hypnosis, his wasn’t the sort like humans did.  No, there was no fighting it off.  Instead, Peter was completely in his control.

         As his gaze remained locked with Peter’s, he rifled through his memories of so much to see if there was anything he could use.  When he recovered a few tidbits, his gazed remained locked, feeding the terror already there.  He wanted Peter to suffer while he tended to the next order of business.

        A continuous loop of the tortures he would endure from Voldemort running through the Animagus’ head, Karma then wrapped around him, holding him tight within his coils.  No, this wasn’t to suffocate or kill him, just to hold on.  The rat squeaking in panic and terror, Karma then fed into the visions, making them worse by running a slow litany of not only tortures he might endure at the hands of Voldemort, but his betrayal and the suffering of his friends.  As the rat’s squeaks grew more panicked, Karma popped away with him still wrapped in his coils.  As this was the trickiest part of the whole venture, he took special care to ensure the rat was fed new memories of how he would be discovered where he was.

         Within seconds, the two appeared on the Minister of Magic’s desk.  Slithering off the rat, Karma invoked a spell to not only freeze the vermin where he was, unable to move, but reveal him.  As Peter Pettigrew resumed his human form, the alarms went off, something Karma planned for.  Hissing, knowing only the rat could understand him, though would forget as soon as he popped away, he said, “Now you will meet the fate you deserve, Peter.  It’s time for you to pay for your crimes.  A Dementor’s Kiss is in your future.  Not before you suffer plenty, though.”  After a moan of agony from the man, though he was still unable to move and was only semi-conscious, Karma flicked his tongue, relishing in the agony, then vanished.  Yes, this job was done.  He would check on Dolores then scout a couple other areas before returning home.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

         Rufus was in a meeting with the top Aurors about a document Kingsley found on his desk earlier when the alarm sounded throughout the Ministry telling them someone had breached the security of his office.  Knowing this probably wasn’t good, he headed that direction at top speed with every Auror and member of the DMLE right behind him.  Clearing out the room in front of his office of the panicked workers, he then leveled his wand at the door to his office.  Once he was certain he had plenty of backup, he blasted the door open, hoping to stun whoever it was and throw them off, ducking aside in case there was a volley of spells cast from within.  

         After a couple of minutes of nothing, he poked his head around the jamb with Kingsley covering him.  Then his mouth dropped open.  Seeing Peter Pettigrew writhing on his desk, moaning in what sounded like agony, he didn’t know what to think.  However, his training took over.  Having the Hitwizards who joined them secure the man, he then took stock of what was in his office, having the Aurors scour it for whatever might be there.  While it was stunning to see Peter, despite what James had sworn, he had no clue how the man just appeared in his office.  He knew something was off since all the office workers and his secretary would have seen the man show up. 

         Once everything was secure and Peter was taken to the most secure interrogation room they had, Rufus looked around then said to the pale Kingsley, “Something is off with this.”

         “There is,” Kingsley agreed with a nod.  “Not sure what, though.  Us having Pettigrew can only help as we’ve heard people swear he helps You-Know-Who even now.”

         “True,” Rufus nodded though he still wanted to know how Pettigrew ended up in his office.  With a sigh, he shook his head.  “I want to know how this happened.”

         “We’ll look into it,” Kingsley assured him.  “We need to handle him first, though.  Well, and deal with the ‘confession’ we were looking at.  If even a small part of it is true, Dolores needs taken into custody before she can do worse.”

         “We do,” Rufus agreed, a grave look on his face.  “Let’s...” he started, trying to order his thoughts.  After a few moments, he said, “We’ll secure Pettigrew and get him a Solicitor.  While we tend to that, we’ll have a meeting about Dolores.  We need to tend to both, and keep it as quiet as we can.  You go gather the evidence and meet me down in the secure room by interrogation.  I’ll gather who we need.”

         “Will do,” Kingsley nodded, trying to figure out the best way to go about this and help while formulating just how to get the information to Albus.  While he didn’t know anything for sure, the man needed to know.  He could only help them.

         Once Rufus headed off, Kingsley did the same, a plan in mind on how to deal with some of it.  Yes, this would take a lot of work and he needed to stay around for all of it.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

         Once Arthur sat down in front of his desk, Albus activated the wards the man’s message talked about.  A glance around showed Minerva, Alastor and Severus all looking concerned.  As this was the middle of the day and Arthur would be working, for him to send a message he was coming to the castle meant something big.  “What do you have for us?”  He asked, tone grave.

         “Two major developments,” Arthur told him, pulling out the parchment Kingsley handed him on the sly.  “I can’t stay long and don’t have much more information than what is in the letter, but I do have some.”  Then he handed it over for Albus to read.  As the man did, looking grave, he explained the situation to the rest in the briefest way possible.  When he finished, seeing the disturbed looks, he added, “And all I know is they are working on both issues, nothing more.  Kingsley said to impart both are being handled at the moment and he doesn’t know what will come of them.

         “Is it Peter?”  Minerva asked, eyes wide, hands clasped tightly in front of her.

         “From what Kingsley said, it is,” Arthur nodded.

         “He can only help plenty,” Severus chimed in, looking pleased.  “He knows much of what went on with the Dark Lord both in the past and now.  What he can give will help some.  I doubt he knows big plots or plans, but there’ll be enough.”

         “My thoughts,” Arthur nodded.

         “Are they taking this whole—whatever from Umbridge seriously?”  Moody asked, looking plenty grave as he processed all the man said.

         “Very,” Arthur told him, glancing around.  “Kingsley said to pass along it’s her handwriting, spells proved it.  Not to mention it’s unmistakable.  What they’ll do—I don’t know.  You’ll have to wait for him to talk to you from here.”

         “We will,” Albus said, passing the letter to the stunned Minerva when he finished reading it.  Once everyone left he would go over it again to ensure he missed nothing and could start dissecting it.  “Thank you, Arthur.  This was most helpful.”

         “No problem,” Arthur said, standing.  “I’m sorry, I have to go.  As busy as I am, it took some shuffling for me to get out of the Ministry anyway.  I can’t be gone long.”

         “Much appreciated,” Albus told him honestly.  Then he waited for the man to leave and the door to shut.  Leaning back, he looked around to see what the others had to say.

         “I would bet my wand this is related to so much else, Albus,” Alastor said after reading the letter and passing it to Snape.  “I don’t see it as bad, either.  It can only help us and the war.”

         “Oh, I do agree,” Minerva nodded, looking hopeful.  “Those two out of the mix will give us some help.  Especially if Dolores was helping You-Know-Who.”

         “My thoughts,” Albus nodded.  “Let me see what else Kingsley can bring to us when he knows more.  We’ll then go from there.  

         However, he had a foreboding feeling about this.  There was something off and he wasn’t sure if it was done to help the war effort or not.  Now he would just have to wait to see what else came and if there was a pattern to it.  He would also continue his research on so much, like the creature that attacked Rita.  This had to tie in somehow.  He just didn’t have a clue where it fit yet, nothing more.  Given time, he would figure it out.  Well, while working on the rest of the mess.

Chapter Text

         After scrubbing his hand over his face then downing a vial of Pepper-Up, Rufus shifted around in his chair.  He was tired, all there was to it.  It had been a long day and it was only six in the evening.  Even worse?  It wasn’t over yet.  There was still a ton to deal with.

         “Right,” he then started, looking around.  “Any clue where we should start?  We have two major issues to deal with.”  This was a meeting of his top ranked Aurors and Hitwizards, the only ones who knew what they were dealing with so far.

         “I say we focus on Pettigrew,” Kingsley suggested, looking around.  “Let’s deal with him foremost.  While he’s talking some, we need more.  As we focus there, we tear Umbridge’s office apart to see what we can find.  She’s gone for the day and our sources tell us she’s at St. Mungo’s.  We can deal with her in person tomorrow.”

         “We’ll do that,” Rufus nodded, pleased with the suggestion. “I’ll send for the lead Prosecutor and have him bring the two most trusted people he has.  We want this kept quiet, after all.”

         “We have the statement from James about what happened during the last war, so it’s no issue getting a conviction on Pettigrew,” Kingsley tossed out there.  “And you cleared Black over it.”

         “Not something I want out there though,” Rufus told him with a shake of his head.  “It would reveal too much and might cause a real panic.”

         “True,” Kingsley admitted, not having thought of it.

         “Let’s not only tear Umbridge’s office apart, but find out why she’s at St. Mungo’s and keep watch on her,” Hitwizard Ruiz suggested, looking around.  “Her boss says she’s even called in sick this week, something very odd.  While it might not relate, we need to know.”

         “I’ll assign a couple of you to find out what you can,” Rufus nodded, pleased once more with the suggestions.

         “I have to ask; do you think the four returning has anything to do with Pettigrew?”  Hitwizard Uzza asked, looking around.

         “No clue,” Rufus admitted with a shake of his head.  “If they do, I don’t have clue one how.  Let’s see what we can get out of Pettigrew.  Then we’ll raise the question if he gives us something.”

         “Are we going to cut a deal with Pettigrew if he gives up what he can on You-Know-Who?”  Kingsley inquired, curious.

         “No chance,” Rufus snarled.  “Whatever he knows, if we can get him to talk, won’t help much. We have all we need, like Potter’s and Albus’ statements after that tournament, to convict him.”

         “Understood,” Kingsley nodded, hoping to find a way to get word to Albus soon.

         As Rufus began to assign jobs, Kingsley pondered a way to get the word out.  What was going on was something Albus needed to know.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

         “Good thing you two thought of this part. Not something I contemplated,” Sirius told them after the elves popped away to tend to the cleaning of the two houses.

         “It’s a good way to handle it,” James nodded.  “After all, we don’t want to bring anyone here.”

         “No, we don’t,” Sirius chuckled with a bit of an evil grin.

         “If you do have to go deal with Kreacher, its best we all go with you, Sirius,” Remus suggested, knowing turning Harry and Sirius loose alone with the elf would not end well.

         “There won’t be any ‘dealing’,” Harry snorted, an evil look on his face.  “He’ll be dead, quickly.  The elf is on borrowed time for that stunt anyway.”

         “Don’t blame you, either of you, a bit for it either,” James assured them.  “Just best we go together for now.”

         “It is,” Sirius conceded, though planned to let Harry have at the elf.

         “You said they’re going to seal up the room with Phineas’ painting in it?” Sirius asked to make sure.

         “They are,” James assured him.  “While I’m sure one of Albus’ good little toadies told him we’re back, we want him staying in the dark as much as possible.  Not giving him access to anything is a must.  Let him think what he wants on the topic.”

         “Good,” Sirius nodded with a sigh of relief.  It wasn’t time to deal with that old goat yet.

         James was about to press on with some suggestions about the houses when the elf in charge of dealing with Grimmauld Place popped in.

         As he listened to what the elf whispered in his ear, his eyes widened and he glanced around the table.  Oh yes, they needed to take a trip to Grimmauld place to see this for themselves!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

         Wands out as the four Apparated into the front hall of Grimmauld Place, they were understandably wary.  When the elf in charge of cleaning the house popped in, James had Sirius lead them as they followed the elf.  After all, it was his house and he knew it better.  Though they had been told what the elves found, it was hard to envision, so they wanted to see for themselves.

         Though he didn’t think there was any danger here since they were the only ones who, supposedly, could enter the house, Sirius moved cautiously until they reached the foot of the stairs.  Then he stood still, taking in the damage to the paintings, elf heads and what remained of Kreacher.  Though curious and wary because they had no idea what could have done this, he couldn’t help but give a malevolent grin.  “Well, he got his, didn’t he?  And I doubt it was painless.”

         “He sure did,” Remus agreed, stepping forward to examine the remains.

         “Any idea what could have done this?”  James asked, glancing around.  “And the damage?  I doubt Kreacher did the destruction we see, what with how he was about this house.”

         “I agree,” Sirius nodded, glancing at the destroyed paintings, grinning as he did.

         “Let’s take a look around at the other damage and get some readings.  Then we might be able to figure it out,” Remus suggested, straightening up and glancing around as well.

         Harry stepped over by everyone and looked around, brow furrowed.  Though disappointed he wasn’t the one to handle the elf, he was pleased something did and it wasn’t a painless death.  As he glanced around, once more something was trying to click.  As it wasn’t, he shook his head then paid attention to what everyone else was saying.

         “Let’s go take a look around to see what else was done.  While we do, we’ll set the elves to making this look better and that it appears like we live here,” James said, motioning everyone to follow, having an elf tend to what remained of Kreacher.

         After motioning for Harry to join him and slipping an arm around him, Sirius said, “I want everything gone except what is in my rooms.  That I’ll sort through.  We’ll have the elves make Mother’s old room look like it’s for you and Remus.  Harry’s and mine will be the one I stayed in.”

         “They’ll tend to it,” James assured him, motioning for Sirius to lead the way since he knew what was where better than the rest of them.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

         Sirius, James and Remus were running tests on the remains of the locket they found suspended over the kitchen table, while Harry watched.  They had, of course, tested the paintings and such to see if the damage or magical signature matched, but it didn’t.

         When they finished, Remus lowered his wand then said, “It’s the venom of some kind of serpent, but not one I know.”

         Harry listened in, looking at the locket, then said, “Any idea how the locket was destroyed?”

         “No clue, there,” Sirius shook his head.  “I don’t remember seeing it before either.”

         “It has a very dark, evil taint to it,” James said, casting a couple more spells on it to determine what it might have been.

         “The paintings, Regulus’ room and the tapestry is a pattern,” Remus nodded.  “Those were items which would have drove Kreacher mad.  It does appear he’s the one who destroyed them as there are traces of elf magic on them.  Even the elves say it was done by their kind of magic. The locket doesn’t fit the pattern, though.”

         Though Harry nodded, his brow furrowed.  The hissy voice was back, assuring him once more it was nothing to worry about, just part of vengeance for many.  When it finished, he imparted, “The voice is back.”  Looking around at the others, he told them what it said.

         “Nothing to worry about then,” James nodded, smiling at his son.  “Right—we’ll take the locket with to figure out what it is, then let the elves have at the house.  Before going home, we’ll hop over to Remus’ house to check, though I doubt we’ll find anything.”

         “When the others agreed, he stood and motioned for them to follow.  While still curious about what happened, he wasn’t overly concerned.  Besides, with the painting of Phineas gone, there was less of a need to worry about it and it couldn’t be used by Albus either.  Perfect!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

         While he waited for the brief note from Kingsley to make the rounds between the other three in his office, Albus leaned back in his chair, trying to think how it could relate to so much else going on.

         “Pettigrew has to relate to the four who returned,” Severus speculated after reading the note, arms crossed, looking down, brow furrowed.  “How is the question.”

         “If it does, it can only help all of us,” Moody grunted, shifting in his chair.  “While the rat might not know too much, what he does can help.  We all know he’ll start singing to save his own worthless hide.”

         “True,” Albus agreed with a slow nod, brow furrowed as he thought it over.

         “Dolores doesn’t though, not that I can see,” Minerva added, passing the note back to Albus.  “Honestly, it doesn’t surprise me in the least she’s a traitor.  Her not helping the other side is good, though.”

         “Me either,” Severus sneered.  “Anything to gain power.  Honestly, a written confession does seem odd.”

         “Unless she was getting a head start on her memoirs,” Moody snorted, a disgusted look on his face.  “I wouldn’t put it past her to do so.”

         “Nor I,” Albus admitted with a sigh.  Straightening up, he said, “Let me contact a few people I have at St. Mungo’s to see about finding out what’s wrong with her.  Kingsley sounds like he’ll be tied up most of the night at the Ministry.  If I hear more, I’ll contact all of you then we’ll sort through it.”

         After everyone agreed, Moody said, “You might want to see about bringing a couple more people into this secret, Albus.  We need help.  Tonks and Bill come to mind.  We all know they can keep a secret.  They might see something we don’t.”

         Once he heard the other two agree, Albus told them, “A wise idea.  Let me contact them tomorrow.  I just want to step cautiously for now.  This isn’t a secret we want out.”

         After assuring them he would fill them in if he heard more, they left.  Once alone, he stared at the note on his desk, knowing there was plenty at work here he wanted to figure out but didn’t have enough pieces to put it together yet.  He also had a feeling it was very important.  It would come, he just needed time.

         With a shake of his head, he began to summon books and papers, planning to work for some time on this.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

         As his dad and Remus were going through books, looking for information, and Sirius was reading through paperwork from the bank, having him sign where needed, Harry was nursing a beer while doodling on a spare piece of parchment. Since it was just them around, he had his glamour down and wings exposed.  It actually felt pretty good to ‘be himself’ and not hide what he was for a time.  He would remember this and do it more often from now on.

         While he listened to everyone talk, he honed in on something they were discussing “We’re going to try to spend nights apart next week then?” He asked, thinking that’s what they meant since it wasn’t said overtly.

         “We’re going to try,” James told him, smiling at his son.  “It’s best we have time apart or we’ll end up at each other’s throats.  Besides, the bond will start pulling at us.  We need to work on those.  We’ll start slow and just do one night a week at first to see how it goes.”

         “Good by me,” Harry nodded, going back to doodling.

         “We’re doing good spending time apart during the day, something which helps all of us,” Remus added.

         “Each of us has areas to work on, both with our bondmate and ourselves, so this should help,” Sirius tossed out there as he pushed another form over for Harry to sign.

         “I also thought, as we progress, that once a week, we stay a night out of the house apart, like us at Remus’ house and you both at Grimmauld Place,” James told them.  “Not until they are ready, of course, but it would keep us all from going mental by being cooped up here.”

         “I like that idea,” Harry conceded.

         “I do as well,” Sirius told them, giving Harry’s back a scratch between his wings, grinning as they quivered.

         “It’s just a goal, keep that in mind,” Remus added, chuckling as Harry’s wings stretched all the way out and fluttered.

         “A good one to work towards, though,” James nodded.  “We’ll also keep working on spending time apart as well.  I also want to spend time with you, Harry.  We have years to make up for.”

         “I want to as well,” Harry told his dad, chuckling at what Sirius was doing.

         After bookmarking his place, James shut the book he had been looking through then said, “Let’s go outside for a bit and relax.  The elves have the safe zone set up for us, so the snakes won’t be around.”

         When he heard everyone agree, he summoned an elf to set up everything he wanted then motioned for everyone to follow.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

         Double checking to make sure he had everything packed, Dobby nodded, looking determined.  It was time for him to help Harry Potter.  While he wasn’t exactly sure what he would do to help, he knew it was part of his job after Harry Potter freed him.

         When he was sure he had all his possessions and Winky’s packed, he sent off their resignations to Professor Dumbledore.  It was time to go.

         After grabbing their bags, he held onto the drunk Winky then popped out.  He would get her sobered up tonight then they would go to Harry Potter’s in the morning.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

         About two in the morning, an exhausted Kingsley sat at his desk at home composing a note to Albus.  He was trying to include everything he could remember for him.  While he couldn’t add some because of spells, he would manage to dance around enough to get what he needed across.  Since he would have to go in early the following day to tend to plenty, he needed this done tonight despite being bone tired.  There was much here Albus needed to know.

         Peter was locked down as tight as they could get him.  The rat was talking, some, but not enough for them so Rufus would push more tomorrow.  He thought the more it looked like Peter would face being Kissed, the more he might give up.  From what he knew, Kissed was coming no matter what, but Rufus wanted as much information as he could get.  The rat’s Solicitor was trying to cut a deal, but no one was budging.

         Dolores was a tad easier to deal with.  She was admitted to St. Mungo’s earlier for treatment.  Well, treatment wasn’t exactly right, more like them trying to find out what was wrong with her.  From what he heard, she wasn’t in good shape and has something serious wrong with her.  That was fine.  It would buy them more time to investigate as she wasn’t going anywhere.

         With a tired sigh, he finished what he could then sent it off with his owl.  It would reach Albus by the morning.  Now he could get some sleep and see what else he could manage tomorrow.  While not sure how this could help Albus and what they were doing, he would keep going with it.  One never knew when it would end up needed.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

         It was later than normal when Karma slithered out of Harry’s hair to set to work that night.  Since he only had two people to visit, it wouldn’t take long.  Both were tricky, though, so he had to take care.

         Exiting through the wall like normal, he then appeared at Malfoy Manor.  While everyone in the home would get a visit from him at some point, there was only one he honed in on tonight.  She would serve a dual purpose for him.   Not only was there revenge on her for what she had done, but it would help the vengeance on another.

         Despite the size of the manor and how he had to stay wary because of so much, Karma found Bellatrix soundly sleeping alone in her suite of rooms, an evil smile on her face.  Slithering up on her, the snake flicked his tongue focusing on her to ensure she was deeply asleep.  While there was much for her to pay for, he wouldn’t go for a direct attack like he had with some.  No, he needed this to play out a different way.  For it to happen, it meant he had to implant suggestions and make her appear to do what he wanted on her own.  Because of her mental instability and ‘issues’, this would end up tricky.  Her mind was so chaotic that it was hard to work with.  Karma would manage, though.  It might take more than one trip to visit her to do so, but he would bend her mind to his will eventually.  As the plan was one which was complex, he needed to go about this just so.  That took time. 

         Since it would take him hours to implant what he wanted, he settled in.  Eyes locked on her face, he began to implant what he needed.  While he hoped it would only take one visit, he prepared for it to take more.  Come tomorrow, he’d know if it worked.  If not, he’d return each night until it did.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

         Once he finished with Bella, Karma popped into St. Mungo’s.  Yes, he would visit Dolores to check on her.  This was playing right into what he wanted.  She would be here until the DMLE stepped in then she would suffer more once they had their hands on her.

         Curled up on her chest, he was pleased with what he saw.  Not only was she suffering physically, having lost weight and her magic starting to fade, but mentally as well.  She was now at the stage where she thought she was going mad.  Just perfect.

         After checking on the progress and having his doppelganger step up what it was doing, he felt he was done.  It was too risky for him to stay here, what with everyone in and out, checking on patients.  However, since he was here, he thought he would take the chance and visit Rita.  Yes, he would savor her suffering as well!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

         Once finished at the hospital, Karma didn’t return to his master.  Instead, he planned to spend the hour until the sun started to rise hunting Horcruxes.  Like he had done with the locket, he planned to destroy them.  While he had a vague idea and a sense to find them, it would take time.  He wouldn’t manage to take all of them out tonight, but he could give it a start.  At the very least, he could find many of them then return.

         As he made his way along, he thought about his Master.  It was almost time to reveal himself.  Master Harry had plenty he needed to get under control and Karma could help.  As he accepted the voice and his reassurances that way, he could push it along.  Master Harry was in a good enough place to deal with it now.  Yes, he was needed.  There was much to talk over with Master Harry and those who returned with him.  Plans needed made and them getting ready for what was coming was a must.

         Letting his senses guide him, Karma made his way to one of the evil objects, planning to remember the spot.  As he did, he thought over how to go about so much.  There was much for him to do to not only finish with plenty of people, but other areas to start.  While his Master and the others had plans, he could, and would, help them.  After all, it was his job.

         Finding the one, though not destroying it, Karma then began to hunt the others.  He wouldn’t have long, so he wanted to find at least one more before he had to go home.  The following night, after he dealt with one person and started on another, he would hunt more.

Chapter Text

         After hearing what Albus had to say, Bill ended up wide-eyed.  A glance at Tonks showed a stunned look on her face as well.  Of all the things Albus could have told them, this had to be the most startling. 

         Once he took it all in, he let out a shaky breath then asked to make sure he heard everything right, “Harry, Sirius, Remus, and James are back?  Are you positive?  If you are sure, how are they back?”

         “We’re sure,” Albus nodded, passing over not only the pictures of their return, but what Kingsley had documented so far.

         “Blimey!”  Tonks exclaimed, shaking her head as she looked through what Albus passed to them.  “I—How—Wow!”  Unable to get out what she wanted as she wasn’t sure what to say, she just passed everything over to the equally stunned Bill.  “What do you need us for?”

         “We need help,” Albus told her then glanced at Bill as well.  “This has to stay between all of us for now, but will eventually come out.  There are a few of us working on the area and some others, but we need more people.  You both will help immeasurably and aid with all we’re trying.”

         “Count me in,” Tonks told him, bright pink hair bouncing as she nodded.  “Whatever you need.”

         “Same here,” Bill said as he put the papers and pictures he was passed back on the desk.  “Just tell us what you need and we’ll pitch in.”

         “Good,” Albus told him, pleased.  “First and foremost, remember to keep what you see and hear to yourself.  For now, we do not want this out until we’re sure what we’re dealing with.”  He said, looking between the two, happy with the nods and determined looks.  Then he began to explain everything they knew so far, having only given the basics up to this point.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

         “Oh Merlin,” Bill muttered, pale, when Albus finished.  With a shake of his head, he added, “This is—beyond complicated.”

         “It is,” Albus admitted with a nod.  “And you now know why we need help.  Research alone is beyond what those of us in the know can handle.  We’re doing what we can, but several of us don’t have the time to devote to just researching.  Dividing it up is helping, but we need more hands.  One of the other things we need is help figuring out so much.  And information.”  With that, he looked at Tonks.

         “I’ll help all I can,” Tonks nodded, a determined look on her face.  “So far I’ve heard nothing at work about this, but will keep my ears peeled for anything mentioned.”

         “Most appreciated,” Albus told her with a smile.  Then he sobered up and told both of them, looking between the two, “We’ll set up times for you to come help us.  Right now, it’s research on snakes of some sort, either real or mythical.  I’m hoping both of you have experience you can bring to us to aid in finding something.  We have some readings on the venom, but it’s not enough to help us.”

         “I actually know quite a lot about snakes,” Bill told him, straightening up.  “We had to have a crash course in different kinds when I went to Egypt the first time since there are plenty there.  How much help it’ll be is beyond me, but it might end up some.”

         “Something we need,” Albus said, relieved.  Bill might end up being able to see something in this they couldn’t because of his extra training.  “I’ll give you what we have for research so you can look it over to see if you can find a clue we can’t.”

         “Glad to help,” Bill said honestly.

         “Other than that, we need help in other areas, especially the Horcruxes,” he then said, sobering up and looking tired.

         “I know a fair bit about those from work,” Tonks admitted, tone hushed, shuddering at the thought.  “Finding them, though—not sure how much help I’ll be.”

         “I have plenty of clues, but not sure how it relates to so much.  We’re trying to find what we can then go from there.”

         After a nod to let Albus know she listened, Tonks then asked, “About this attack and the rest—if it’s not Nagini, do you think it’s You-Know-Who in any way?  I mean, though not Wormtail. Some of the rest.  Do you think it’s a set up?”

         “I don’t think so,” Albus told her with a shake of his shaggy head.  “Not sure who would do this, though.  Keep in mind, we aren’t the only ones covertly fighting Voldemort.  There are other factions, some plenty hidden well.  And I don’t know if there are any more traitors in his camp besides Severus.  It would make sense if there are.  One of them or one of the other factions might be behind this.  If that’s the case, we need to find out who they are and see if we can help each other.”

         “Not something I thought of,” Bill admitted, eyes slightly wider than normal.  If there was another faction fighting Voldemort, they needed their help.

         “I have a place to start here so you don’t feel so overwhelmed,” Albus said then launched in explaining the most logical place to begin.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

         Bella woke up with a vigor and purpose she hadn’t felt in a long time.  Though not sure where it came from, she felt for certain it would only help her Lord.  Since Nagini had died, he was a tad out of sorts and probably needed something to boost his spirits.  What she had in mind would help.

         Determined, mind filled with all she thought she could do, she headed down to brekky.  While seated at the table, she focused on plenty else, not paying much attention to what anyone said.  Once she finished with brekky, she had something to do.

         As she honed and polished her plan, she made a list of where she wanted to visit that day.  It would take time, but she’d manage.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

         With a grunt, Harry flopped over onto his stomach and pulled the pillow over his head.  “Want to sleep more,” he grumbled when Sirius shook him.  “I’ll have brekky later.”

         “That’s fine,” Sirius grinned, shaking his head.  “Sleep as long as you like.  When you feel like getting up, come join us.  I’m sure you can find us easily enough.”

         “Will do,” Harry slurred as he slid back towards sleep.  Shifting around to find the sweet spot, he sighed then relaxed more, drifting off. 

         Still grinning, Sirius gave him a pat on the back then readied himself for brekky.  As they really had nothing to do, letting Harry sleep was no hardship.  With all he had to be dealing with, tired was understandable.  Besides, he was curious how long they could stay apart without the bond drawing them together.  He assumed it wouldn’t end up an issue as he was close, but wanted to see.  They hadn’t tried yet, so this was as good of a time as any to do so.

         Once he finished dressing, he slipped out of the room quietly, already hearing Harry’s deep breathing.  After shutting the door and telling an elf to fetch him if there was an issue, he headed down to the dining room to join Remus and James, who he assumed were already awake.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

         “You feeling any kind of pull or discomfort from Harry not being around?”  James asked as he pushed some papers from Gringotts over to Sirius.  Harry had been asleep since they gathered to eat over an hour ago.  As this was the longest period of time they had been apart, he was curious.  He knew he wasn’t feeling anything, but the pull for Sirius would end up the worst.

         “Nothing,” Sirius grinned.  “No bad feelings at all.  I can tell he’s fine and that’s as far as it goes.”

        “Which means we should be good, all of us, having time alone when we need it,” Remus nodded, pleased. 

         “It does,” James agreed.  “If something gets uncomfortable, let us know before you go tend to Harry,” he then added.

         “Will do,” Sirius assured him.  Then he asked, “Is this all that came today?  Doesn’t seem like much compared to what we’ve been dealing with.”

         “This is all,” James told him with a tiny grin.  “It should also be about the last of the paperwork.  If we get anything else, it shouldn’t end up much.”

         “Even better,” Sirius chuckled.

         “We’ll just have to deal with Rufus and anyone else who thinks they should write,” Remus sighed, shaking his head.

         “And we know plenty will,” Sirius groused, looking sour.  “No one will be able to leave it, and us, alone.”

         “We were expecting that,” James told them, looking between the two.  “For now, we ignore it.  When it gets to the point we can’t hide anymore, we’ll deal then.  Not to worry.  As long as it stays with just letters, we’ll do fine for a time.  It’s in person that will cause us plenty of issues.  Well, not us, but them,” he then added, a malevolent grin on his face.

         “Some won’t survive us in person,” Sirius chuckled evilly.  “And I have a list of a few of them.”

         “I think we all do,” Remus agreed, a somewhat malevolent smile on his face.  “However,” he then added, sobering up, “for now we need to play nice if we have to engage.  No sense in drawing more attention to ourselves.”

         “We’re staying hidden until it comes down to we can’t anymore then we’ll try to act like we always did.  Not to worry,” James said, patting Remus on the back.

         “Yeah, we’re going to have to work on our acting jobs, especially Harry,” Sirius tossed out there, grinning a little as he said it.  “At least for short spans of time.  I doubt any of us could pull it off for long, honestly, especially Harry.  And, no matter what, we need to keep some people away,” he then said, sobering up.  “No matter what we do, there are some which will bring out the worst in us no matter how hard we try.”

         “I think we all know most of those names,” James sneered, eyes darkening, a hateful look on his handsome face.  Rather than let it go any further, he shook his head and his features went back to normal, then he said, “Those we’re avoiding until we can get plenty under control.”  Then he grinned evilly once more, “Or until we want to meet them.  I can think of a few like that.”

         “We all can,” Remus said with a deceptively angelic look on his face as he sipped his tea.

         “Yeah, we’ll make sure of it until the time is right,” James nodded.  Then he pressed on to relaying what little they found on the furies up to this point so Sirius stayed caught up.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

         With a disgruntled mumble, Harry lifted his head and reluctantly opened his eyes.  All he knew was someone called his name.  As it wasn’t a ‘human’ voice, he assumed it was an elf needing him for something at the behest of the others.  Head turning in the direction of the voice, he muttered a tired, “Yeah?”  Then his eyes widened.

         Fully sitting up, he rubbed his eyes then looked again to make sure what he saw wasn’t just a holdover from still being tired.  It wasn’t.  “Dobby?”  He asked, stunned.

         With a smile, Dobby bowed repeatedly, having Winky do the same.  “Now that Mister Harry Potter Sir is back, wes have come to help you.”

         “How did you know I was back?”  Harry asked, stomach clenching slightly.  Merlin, he hoped Dumbledore didn’t send the elf.  The mere thought of Dumbledore sent his temper soaring, making his fangs descend and wings show.  While he wanted to snarl, he didn’t, waiting to see what Dobby had to say before he completely lost his temper.

         When he saw Mister Harry Potter Sir’s eyes starting to turn red, Dobby bowed repeatedly then told him, “No ones told Dobby, Dobby just knew.  It’s Dobby’s mission to serve Mister Harry Potter Sir in what is coming.  Dobby has known this since he met Mister Harry Potter Sir.  The time has come.  Dobby brought Winky because Winky can help.”

         Though not understanding why Dobby would be here or what his ‘mission’ was, Harry gave a nod.  One hand scrubbing over his face then rubbing his eyes, he tried to focus.  The first question that came to mind he asked.  “Does anyone else know you’re here?  Like Dumbledore?”  That was the biggie right there as they didn’t want anyone knowing if they could at all help it.

         “No one knows,” Dobby assured him, shaking his head so hard his ears flapped.  “Dobby just resigned and didn’t say were Dobby and Winky were going.  Nothing more.  No one but Winky knows our mission.”  Then he waited, hands clasped in front of him, tears of happiness sparkling in his big tennis ball eyes.

         “Right, we can handle it then,” Harry told him after sitting up with a tired groan.  “Let me get the others so you can explain this to them and we can decide what to do.”  Then he summoned the elf in charge of taking care of him and Sirius to fetch them and him some strong tea.  He wasn’t awake enough to be functional yet and he had a feeling he needed to be to understand all of this.

         With a heavy sigh, he stood then slipped into a robe and his slippers before flopping down on the bed and waiting.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

         With a still tired Harry leaning against him as the younger man ate, Sirius shrugged.  “No clue when it comes to Dobby and why he’s here.  Don’t think it’s anything off as he knew where to come, but it’s strange.  He’s vowed his allegiance to Harry and Winky is now bound to him at her request, so it seems like it’s good to me.”

         “Same here,” James nodded, tossing aside a book he had been looking through.  “He’ll be Harry’s personal elf and take care of him among other things.  It’s good.  We’ll keep an eye on him, of course, but I don’t think he would betray Harry to anyone.”

         “He wouldn’t,” Harry mumbled as he finished his food, shoving the bowl away.  “He’ll stay loyal.  Just not sure what he means by his mission there.  From the way he explained it, I don’t think he knows and will just go with the flow then do what his instincts tell him.  Either way, he’s good.  Winky seems better already since she’s bound to me.  We just need to worry about her drinking.”

         “I’ll have the elves keep an eye on her,” James assured him.  Then he chuckled as he looked at his son and asked, “Still tired?”

         “Very,” Harry muttered, reaching up to rub his gritty, watery eyes.  “Not sure why, I just am.”

         “Don’t worry about it,” Remus told him, reaching over and putting a hand on Harry’s shoulder, giving it a squeeze.  “If you want to sleep all day, you can.  This took more energy from you than it did us and is probably catching up with you, nothing more.  Plenty piled on since we came back to help it.”

         Harry nodded then leaned more heavily against Sirius, eyes going shut.  “Going back to bed, I think,” he muttered. 

         “Go ahead,” Sirius told him, patting him on the back.  “I’ll probably join your shortly, to be honest.”

         “I am,” Harry told him, standing.  With a yawn, he stretched then headed towards the bedroom, the only thought in his head finding the bed and curling under the covers.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

         Despite it being before noon, Bella had been busy.  She had popped around here and there keeping an eye on people, listening in to conversations, checking out areas, things like that.  Mostly, despite her love for her sister, she kept an eye on Lucius.  As in disfavor as he was, her Lord would like everything she could come up with.  Though she loved her sister dearly, she still hated Lucius and thought him a traitor.  Her thought was, and she didn’t know where it came from, he was going to go to the Ministry and help them to gain protection for his family.  That wasn’t acceptable for her.  She thought she just needed to catch him at it then it would stop.

         When Lucius went home, she began to spy on others, like those in power or members of the Order. While she didn’t get very far there and learned nothing new, she had information.  Her Lord always loved that, even if it was small tidbits.

         When she felt she had done enough, she Apparated back to the Manor.  While still not sure the ultimate goal of this, just the immediate, she went with it, knowing it would come to something for her.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

         By noon, Rufus was plenty tired but couldn’t leave to go get some much-needed rest.  Instead, he had plenty to do still. 

         Pettigrew—they were still working on him.  The man might not have a ton of information on the other side, but he had enough they needed to know.  However, on advice of his Brief, he wasn’t talking until being Kissed was taken off the table.  His Brief made it clear he would take what he knew to the grave if Kissed wasn’t put aside.  While Rufus wasn’t going to give, he wanted what Pettigrew knew.  It now just came down to figuring out how to go about it.  That he didn’t know and others weren’t any help.

         The only suggestion he heard that might help was one he was reluctant to take; the Imperious.  He could use it to force Pettigrew to give up everything.  In the last war, they had pulled out a little know provision of their government to allow Unforgivables being used.  He hadn’t done that yet, though thought it was coming.  If it came down to it, he would take that step.  This was a war and distasteful steps sometimes need taken.  In this case, it would be the perfect reason.  He just planned to keep it quiet.

         Next came Umbridge.  Thankfully there he had some leeway.  She was still in St. Mungos with no chance of getting out anytime soon.  While the Healers didn’t know what was wrong with her, they knew it was fatal if they couldn’t figure out what it was.  Though it gave him time to look into so much she wrote, he felt a sense of urgency when it came to talking to her to confirm it or see what else she knew.  As she worked in the Ministry and knew plenty, whatever she passed would hurt them badly and give the other side an edge they didn’t need.

         With a tired sigh, he shook his head then leaned back in his chair, staring at all the papers scattered everywhere.  There was so much to tend to and not just those two areas.  Sliding open one desk drawer, he pulled out a vial of Pepper-Up and downed it.  While it didn’t work fully, as he had been taking it since the day before, it perked him up enough he thought he could focus again.

         Just as he delved into the mass of papers on his desk to sort them into what he needed to handle right away and what he could put off, there was a sharp rap on the door.  With a groan, he looked up to see Kingsley’s name there then barked, “Enter.”  Leaning back, he waited to see what the head of his Aurors had to say.

         Once coming in, Kingsley took a seat in front of Rufus’ desk then started right in, “I just came from St. Mungos.”

         “Anything new there?”  Rufus asked, wondering which situation this involved.  Rita was one, of course, so he wasn’t sure.

         “For now, they have Umbridge stabilized.  She’s almost a squib as her magic is fading for no reason her Healers can find.  They’re sure she’s dying, but don’t know why.  And she seems like she’s losing touch with reality, ranting and raving about plenty, talking to people who aren’t there.  I heard some of what she said and took it upon myself to set up a recorder to transcribe everything she says.  When I was there, it was something about her father.”

         “Good idea,” Rufus nodded, pleased with the initiative.

         “This comes from a private talk with a few in the hospital, not on the record,” Kingsley then said.

         Focusing on that, Rufus leaned forward, elbows on his desk, looking intent, then asked, “What did they have to say?”  He was sure it was important if Kingsley said it that way.

         “They told me they doubt there is anything they can do for her since she’s fading so fast and they can’t find the cause.  From what they said, if you want to get anything out of her, you need to do it in the next 24 hours.  They can give her something to make her slightly more lucid and she’ll do better if not many are around.  Overnight is suggested.  They just said to make sure you get an Interrogation Order.”

         “A suggestion I’ll take,” Rufus told him, making a note of it and planning to get with the head prosecutor once Kingsley left.  “Do they know if we’ll get the truth or is just fantasy she’s muttering?”

         Blowing out a breath, Kingsley told him, “From what I heard and they’ve passed to me, it’s real.  What they overheard and passed to me was her talking about when she was at Hogwarts and some of what she did at the behest of Fudge.  It’s areas I can easily verify as reality.  If everything she comes across with is like that, you have plenty you can use.  Not only to make it public what she did and is a part of, but other people it might relate to.  However, with the shape she’s in, I’m not sure if fantasy won’t mingle in.”

         “I’ll take your suggestion.  We’ll do it tonight.  You’ll be there, of course, and an official transcriber with a couple others we can trust.  If she’s dying, I want it out there on the front page of every paper we have just what she did.  While I’ll consult with the prosecutor, I’m going to say we’ll have her arrested tonight, though she’ll stay at St. Mungos.  It at least will show we’re doing something.”

         “I agree,” Kingsley nodded.  He did agree that it could help.  Besides, knowing what she had done could help everyone.  It would also give them information on how badly she hurt them when it came to so much.

         “Anything else?”  Rufus asked, wanting to get on this as soon as he could.

         “Nothing that will help,” Kingsley shrugged.  “Rita Skeeter died an hour ago.  Heart attack, from what they think.  Not unexpected.  They’re doing an autopsy to see just what happened and what else they can determine when it came to the venom.”

         “Probably a mercy there,” Rufus grunted, shaking his head.  “I’ll send over word to the Prophet.  They’ll make a big deal out of it, of course, but better than them hearing another way.  We don’t need them throwing a wobbler with us over not telling them.”

         “True,” Kingsley groaned, not even wanting to contemplate how bad that could end up and how they would ignore the important stories in favor of taking after the Ministry. 

         “Let me get on what you brought me then I’ll contact you about how we want to do this and who to get in touch with.  Just make sure you stick around the office unless there’s an emergency.”  Rufus told him firmly.

         “Will do,” Kingsley said, standing.  After a nod, he then headed out, planning to try to get word to Albus.  The old man might have some hints of what they could ask.  Anything would help to get everything out of the woman before she died.

Chapter Text

         Albus stroked his beard absently, bushy eyebrows drawn down, as he read the resignation letter from Dobby.  While he had Winky’s as well, he assumed she had resigned to stay with Dobby.  The why is what he wondered about.  As far as he knew, the elves had given no indication they were going to leave Hogwarts.  In fact, he assumed they would stay until they died, as was normal for their kind.

         Once he finished the letter, he tossed it onto the desk then began rocking in his chair as he stared at it.  He couldn’t help but think this had to do with Harry returning.  While he had no proof, he was certain it did as he didn’t see the two events as coincidence.  Especially with what he knew of Dobby’s obsession with Harry.  Now he had to figure out just how it related with no clue where to start looking.

         A tired groan escaping him, he shut his eyes then rubbed his temples.  Honestly? For once he didn’t know where to start with so much and had to prioritize. While almost positive the part with Dobby was related and a big clue, something which could help figure out some of this riddle, he had to relegate it to the back cauldron then let it simmer for a time.  At the moment they had plenty else they had to handle which was far more important.

         As Severus had warned; Tom was angry.  Since he was livid he couldn’t find out who killed Nagini, he was taking it out on everyone else, including innocent Muggles and Wizards alike.  Last night there had been a horrific attack on a small village in the south of England which had several Wizarding families living there.   It ended up completely destroyed.  This meant more, and worse, would come.  Events such as these took precedence over anything with Harry. 

         The Ministry had put out a call for help from those who knew protective spells well and they would work on shielding what they could.  Of course, most of the Order would help, him included.  With the state Tom was in, one never knew what he would do next so it would be for the best to ensure he was around in case they ended up needing his help.

         Though he wanted to sit and ponder so much, trying to work out at least a hint of what all this meant, he couldn’t.  Instead, he stood with a tired groan then looked at Fawkes.  The phoenix would come with as he could only help.  Once the bird landed on his shoulder, he shuffled out, feeling older than his years and like he had the weight of the world on his shoulders.  His first stop would be the Ministry to see what Rufus had planned then go from there.  Hopefully tonight would be a quiet night, though he wouldn’t count on it.

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         After rubbing the morning grit out of his eyes, with a resigned groan Sirius tried to sit up but didn’t get far.  Looking down, he grinned a little.  It seemed Harry wanted to use him for a body pillow or something because the younger wizard was wrapped around him, legs entwined with his, clinging tightly.  His wings lay draped behind him on the bed.  With a soft chuckle, shaking his head, Sirius tried to gently extract himself so he could use the loo, but it didn’t work.  All that happened was Harry ended up clinging tighter and grumbling in his sleep.

         After a soft chuckle escaped him, Sirius finally managed to unwind Harry from around him then put a body pillow in his place.  Immediately, the Fury hybrid wrapped around it, tossing one leg over it and settled back down, starting to snore softly soon after.  Giving a shake of his head, Sirius then shrugged and headed to tend to his usual morning routine, scratching his bare stomach as he padded that direction.

         As he came out, Sirius stretched, feeling much better.  The hot shower seemed to do him a world of good.  However, he was startled to see a smiling Dobby standing there with a breakfast tray.  With a nod to the elf, he slipped back into bed with Harry and moved closer to him.  He then asked, quietly, “What’s up, Dobby?  Something wrong?”

         “Nothing Mr. Sirius, Sir.  Dobby just brings your brekky.  Nothing more.  This way yous can stay with Mr. Harry Potter Sir.”  Dobby squeaked, looking overjoyed to just be there. 

         From Sirius’ point of view, the elf looked like he wanted to bow but didn’t risk it with the tray in his hands.  Trying not to chuckle, Sirius said, “Brekky is good.”  Then motioned the elf over.

         Once Dobby was by the bedside, he conjured a tray and pulled the lid off the plate.  He took another plate off and put it on the bedside table.  “That is for Mr. Harry Potter Sir when he wakes up.  It’ll stay warm for him.”  He then produced the mail for Sirius, explaining that James sent it along.

         “I could get used to this,” Sirius grinned as he looked at the letters.  “Haven’t had brekky in bed before.”

         Looking completely pleased with himself, tears sparkling in his round tennis ball eyes, Dobby bowed repeated.  “Dobby is pleased Mr. Sirius Sir is happy.”

         “Just Sirius, all right?”  Sirius told the elf, grinning a tad.

         “I is supposed to tell Mr.—Sirius Sir that Mr. James Sir said to let Mr. Harry Potter Sir sleep all he liked and for yous to rest all you want.  Not to worry.”

         “Tell him I will,” Sirius nodded, still grinning a tad.  He then held up the letters and asked, “What are these?”

         “Just yous mail.  Mr. James Sir said it’s nothing to worry about, but yous need to read it.  Then he said that Mr. Harry Potter Sir didn’t have any mail.”

         “Good,” Sirius told him distractedly while he read through what was there.  After a glance up, he saw Dobby standing there as if he were waiting for something.  “Anything else?”

         “Dobby wishes to know if Sirius Sir will let him clean the room and bathroom.  Not now, of course, but when yous not here.  Dobby and Winky will take care of all chores for yous.”

         “That’s fine,” Sirius nodded.  “You can clean when we’re gone or Harry’s sleeping, just so you don’t wake him.  He’s very tired right now.”

         “Dobby will take care of it,” the elf told him, bowing repeatedly.

         Though Sirius liked the elf and thought him a riot, he dismissed him so he could eat.  After taking a bite of his toast, he opened the first letter and started to read.  He doubted it was anything huge as James would hold such items back so they could talk it over, so he didn’t think it would end up something which would set him off.  As he read, he munched his toast, distracted.

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         As Dobby headed down the hall towards the kitchen, he stopped when he heard a loud flapping noise behind him.  Not worried what it might be, he turned his head then smiled at Mr. Harry Potter Sir’s Strix.  With a smile, he waited for her to land on his shoulder.   When she did, he didn’t wince at the weight as he had become used to her at Hogwarts.  “Does Hedwig want something to eat before she sleeps?”  He asked, once more starting towards the kitchen.

         After she hissed and clicked her beak at him, Dobby nodded and smiled.  He could understand her, of course.  Most of their kind could understand multiple languages, humans just didn’t bother to try.  “I’ll make sure the food is extra fresh,” he assured her with a nod.

         “Didn’t you hunt last night?”  He asked as he continued the long trek towards the kitchen.

         Once she ruffled her feathers, Hedwig explained, “No.  Karma had a task for me to tend to.  While I did partake in a snack here and there, I didn’t have the time for a full meal.”  Then she ruffled her feathers a little more and settled down comfortably on the little elf’s boney shoulder.

         Dobby nodded, saying nothing though curious about who or what Karma was, besides the meaning of the word.  Since it wasn’t his place to ask, he didn’t.  He didn’t know what Mr. Harry Potter Sir had to do, but knew he was on a mission of some kind.  Beyond that, he just knew it was him who had to help.

         “Don’t worry, Dobby, when the time comes for you to know what’s going on, you will,” Hedwig assured him.  “Now isn’t the time.  We have much to do and work on so he can face the Dark Lord to end that part of his mission.  He will need you calm and patient to help him through some very trying times when it starts.”

         “What does Dobby have to do?” The elf inquired.  While he knew he wouldn’t hear a complete overview, he wanted some hints so he had some warning before it happened.

         “When Master Harry receives his new wand, it will take him time to channel the power it contains and the spells which come with it.  You will be better to help him than some others because of his temper.  Even Sirius won’t be much help.”  Hedwig explained.  “That time is coming soon.  He is growing into his powers now, hence the reason he is so tired.”

         “Is there anything Dobby can do to help him now?”  The elf asked, wanting to do all he could.

         “It’s better for Harry to start having his meat almost raw and other things such as that.  Just ask him what he wants as he’ll know,” Hedwig told him, clicking her beak happily at the elf.  He wanted to help, good.

         “I will,” Dobby assured him firmly with a nod of his bald head.  Determined, he vowed to do what he could.

         “You are doing quite well, Dobby.  You’ve not been here long enough to fully settle in, but you’re going about it the right way and Harry trusts you.  Just keep going about it this way and it will all work out fine,” Hedwig encouraged.

         The little elf beamed at the compliment then began to ask the Strix what she wanted to eat as they were close to the kitchen.  There was much to do, he knew, but Mr. Harry Potter Sir needed time before so much of it came.

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         As Harry lay sleeping, well after Sirius slid out of bed then went to find out if there was anything he needed to know, Karma slid out of his hair.  Perching on the end of the bed, he had a conversation with Hedwig about what she accomplished.  Pleased she had managed plenty, he then slithered out through the wall and headed off to tend to matters.  No, he couldn’t do too much today as Harry would wake in a few hours, but he could accomplish several tasks.

         Today he would destroy two of the Horcruxes; the cup and the ring.  Thanks to Hedwig, he knew where the last one was, but he would have to tend to it at night because of how tricky it would be to get to.

         As he moved and tend to his deed, he thought about Hedwig.  He needed to have her talk with Dobby again so he could find out how to get into the room where the diadem resided. Once he knew, he could handle it easily, though he would have to take great care because of so many around.

         Once the ring was a smoking, half melted artifact, he then vanished to Gringotts, deep in the bowels of the bank to tend to the cup.  While this place would be trickier, he would manage. 

         Ignoring the dragon as it roared, he slipped through the supposedly impenetrable doors to Bella’s vault.  Once in there, he found the cup and melted it.  However, rather than go check on some areas, he stopped and looked around at all the wealth contained in the vault, mostly ill gotten.  Though he needed Bella for something, he also needed her to go even more unhinged.  Karma decided he would nudge that along to a good degree.

         Slithering over to the door, he looked at the pile of money and items then reared up.  Growing bigger, to the size of a basilisk, he spit his venom all over everything.  Sitting there after shrinking down to his normal size, he watched as everything was destroyed and made useless.  Because Wizarding coins were like others from around the world and made of many metals, the money dissolved into a melted pile of various metals that oozed all over the floor.  It was now worthless.

         Very pleased with what he had done, he was about to go when an idea struck him.  Yes, he would visit a few more vaults and render their contents worthless as well.  While this wasn’t planned, it would work out ever so well!

         With a renewed purpose and evil chuckle, the Hydra went to tend to the task with great relish.  Before the day was out, several very wealthy people would end up as poor as those they looked down upon.

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         Though Rufus had managed to get some sleep last night, he was still tired when he began to look through what waited for him on his desk.  The piles devoted to Umbridge and Pettigrew he shoved aside. While he would glance through them, he didn’t think they contained anything he needed to know since he was so involved personally in both.

         After sorting through everything, seeing nothing he had to deal with right away, he leaned back in his chair with a tired groan and sipped his coffee, trying to not only wake up more, but figure out where to start.  This was so complex he wasn’t sure where to begin.

         As he sipped, he glanced at the huge file on Umbridge and decided to start there.  Let Pettigrew sweat it out a little.  Might put pressure on him to give up part of what he knew.  Umbridge—as bad as it was, he wanted to at least start the prosecution on her before she died.  With what he witnessed the night before, she wouldn’t make it to any trial as she appeared as though death was coming at any time.

         Last night, he and Kingsley went in and questioned her the best they could.  While he didn’t hope to get much, it actually turned out far better than he expected.  With approval from not only her Healer but the head prosecutor, they used Veritaserum on her.  Once it took hold, plenty spewed forth.  Not only was there now enough to charge her with high treason, but a multitude of other things as well.  And he wanted it all in the papers before she died.  That meant he needed the head of the Prophet in here today to hand it over. Of course, he would work with the head of the prosecutor’s office to word it just right, but it would be out there.  Kingsley, too, since he stood by his side the night before, would be here as well to help.

         Finally having an objective in mind and a good way to go about this, he began summoning people.  He wanted this started as fast as they could manage.

         After that—he would take on protection for plenty.  He knew the volunteers were coming in, including Albus, so he wanted them on what he thought they needed to do quickly. While he couldn’t predict where or when the evil maniac would strike next, he at least wanted to give this a shot and shore up plenty.

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         Griphook handled the cart with a practiced ease though it was going at high speed.  He was taking his turn riding the tracks to check over all the vaults.  This was a newer job they all took turns at several times a day since all-out war started.  The thought of those in charge was since they had been broken into once, it could happen again, so they needed to check.  Besides, they all knew the Dark Lord wanted to take control of Gringotts.  They were taking extreme measures to ensure that couldn’t happen.

         Gliding along and slowing down as he reached the lower depths, he kept his eyes peeled for anything out of the ordinary as he cruised along the tracks surrounded by the vaults of some of the oldest and richest people in their world.  Going level by level, he was pleased to see nothing was wrong.  That was until he reached the level just above the lowest.

         Brow furrowed, he looked at the molten glittering ooze which seeped out under the vault door.  Something wasn’t right.  Glancing at the number on the vault, he shivered.  Bellatrix.  Oh, this was very not good!

         After sending off an urgent message to his boss to join him, he opened the door trepidatiously, not sure what he would find.  Quickly, he jumped back as the ooze flowed out faster.  After casting a spell to contain it so it didn’t go any further, he peered inside then went pale.  Everything from the money to art to family heirlooms was either destroyed or melted.  As this was Bella’s vault, he knew none of that side had anything to do with it.  However, that left the question of who did then?

         While pondering that, he looked up as another cart rattled to a stop behind his.  Seeing Ironjaw, his boss, step out of the cart and walk his way, he said, voice grave, “We have a huge problem.”

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         Face grave, Ironjaw looked around at his staff.  No, not all of them were here, but the majority were, including some of the humans.  “We have an issue, a big one,” he told everyone.  Straightening up, he explained the problem.

         Once done, he could see the startled, concerned looks by many.  Holding up a hand, he said, “We will tend to this methodically.  First, I am sending plenty of you to go down and document everything you can.  It will be one goblin with one human.  While you start, I will call in the Ministry. While we deal with most issues in house, this time we can’t because of the names attached to those vaults.  Once they are here, we’ll know better how to proceed.”

         “Are we going to contact those affected?”  Bill asked, very worried about what could come of it if they did.

         “That I will leave for the Ministry to decide,” Ironjaw told him honestly.  “I’m sure we will have to, but I want them involved because of what could come of it.”

         “Understandable,” Bill nodded.  While he’d be plenty busy for a time, he needed to let Albus know about this development.  Nothing good could come of it so they needed to prepare.

         “Right, we will get on it,” Ironjaw said, producing a list of names.  He then began to assign everyone where he wanted them to go.

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         After tossing the mail to the elf by the kitchen table so the creature could put it where it belonged, Sirius slid into a chair with a soft groan.  Taking a cup of coffee, he looked at what James and Remus were tending to.  As they were going through books, he assumed it was more research into the Fury part.  Rather than ask if they found anything, he inquired, “Anything in the mail I need to know about?”

         “We received the same thing you did, so nothing to worry about.  And I think we’re done with the paperwork on it,” James said, putting the book he held aside and taking a sip of his tea. 

         “Thank fucking Merlin,” Sirius grinned.

         “I do agree there,” James chuckled.  “Harry still sleeping?”

         “Yeah, he’s tired.  Dobby brought him in brekky, so it’s waiting for him.”  Sirius explained.  “Figured let him sleep.  We don’t have anything pressing to tend to, so might as well let him.”

         “I agree,” Remus tossed in with a smile.  Then he changed tracks, “James wants to spend some time alone with Harry this afternoon as they haven’t had much.  I thought it is a good idea so we can judge if there are problems on our end from it.  I doubt it, but you never know.  If there are, we can find a way to work with them.”

         “Good plan,” Sirius nodded.  He knew Harry wanted to spend time with his dad and get to know him better.  James wanted to do the same thing with his son.  Since they didn’t have all those missed years before they all went through the Veil, it would do both of them good to spend time together, even if they were doing nothing but talking.

         “I don’t think there’ll be issues honestly,” James shrugged.  “That would be more because of my relationship with Harry than anything else.  While there is a shirttail bond there because of how we went about this, it’s not as strong as the one with you or Remus.  Plus, I’m not any kind of danger to anything.”

         “From what we’ve been reading, we think that if there is an ‘alpha’ or ‘dominant’ partner in this, it’s Harry,” Remus explained to Sirius.  “He’s the crux of all the bonds, no matter who it is.  That should calm any problems if they arise.

         Chuckling at that, Sirius shook his head, “That makes sense.  Just odd to think of Harry as the alpha over all of us because of the relationships and ages.”

         “Rather strange, that I admit,” James agreed with a grin.  “We don’t think, from what we’ve found so far, it’s a true status, more like it can calm things and other minor areas. Nothing huge, thankfully.  With the shape Harry’s in, if it were a big part, we might have huge problems because of it.”

         “Yeah, that could end really badly,” Sirius said softly after pondering it.  “He’s doing fine, though there are problems, but tossing something like that in the mix might end in a disaster for plenty, though I don’t think it would bother us.”

         “Doubtful,” Remus assured him.  “I think we’re exempt from plenty because of the bond.”

         “You two feeling any kind of pulling or anything odd from the bond?”  James asked.

         “No, nothing,” Sirius told him with a shake of the head.  “With the shape Harry’s in, it might be a while before we do.  He’s still adjusting to plenty.”  Then he looked between them and asked, “Is it for you two?”

         “Just a tad, or so we think,” Remus said honestly.  Before Sirius could ask, he explained, “It’s just the wanting to be close all the time.  Nothing horrid or causing pain, nothing like that, but we both feel better when we’re close.”

         Giving a slow nod, Sirius then said, “Might be coming for us after Harry settles a bit.  Now it’s just too chaotic.  Let’s see what comes.”

         “Might work better this way, honestly,” James shrugged.  “If we experience it first, you two will have an idea of what is coming and can prepare.”

         “That’s an upside,” Sirius grinned.  “You two get to deal with the worst first and figure out solutions.  We can then use those instead of fumbling to deal.  For once, we won’t get hit with the worst first!”

         “True,” Remus chuckled, smile a tad.  “We just expect you both to get it worse because of Harry.”

         “It’ll still give us a bit of an advantage,” Sirius said after thinking that over.

         After a nod, James changed topics, telling Sirius, “Sometime today, you and I need to try our Animagus forms to see if they changed.  I’m betting they did a tad because this was a huge life changing event that could affect them.”

         “Didn’t think about that either,” Sirius admitted, brow furrowed.  “We can do that.  Then we deal from there.”  After that, he began to ask about what they found, if anything on the Fury part.  He didn’t expect that to come easily as it was thought a myth.  They all wanted a heads up to help Harry so it didn’t grow too bad.  As this was bad enough as it is, they certainly didn’t need worse!

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