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Manipulations to War | ||||||
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Category: Pre-OotP Characters:Sirius Black Genres: Drama Warnings: Death Story is Complete Rating: R Reviews: 19 Summary: Sequel to Harry's second Christmas. James and Lily are dead, and Sirius, Remus and Anwen are living in the Potter keep with Harry. They want him to have a well balanced childhood, but the need to keep him safe is greater. Sirius is working to unravel where the Potter money went while Anwen wants to discover why they were in Godric's Hollow and not safely in the Potter's home. Hitcount: Story Total: 18919; Chapter Total: 485 Author's Notes: Still reposting. MNF |
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Chapter 25: Pictures and Parties July 31, 1985 Harry was sitting between his parents on the long sofa in the sitting room. The chintz-covered ones, initially purchased by Fee, had been destroyed by a round of a stomach virus that made its way through the household. The children were all sick for at least a day, little Lizzy having it for three. The upholstery did not survive. Fleamont couldn’t think of a potion that could be given to small children for the ailment. The Blacks now had a leather sofa and matching chair in the sitting room. This made Sirius much happier, as he'd always felt the room was far too feminine. Anwen had changed much of the other décor to match the new furniture. “So, I’m going to be able to talk to my birth parents?” Harry asked. “They’re like alive in these paintings?” "They aren't really 'alive,' Harry," Sirius explained. "They are, however, memories which can act like the people they were." “My Grammy and Pappy Potter are there too?” “Yes, they are. Those are the only portraits hanging up right now, as to not overwhelm you with relatives who know about you, but you don’t know anything about them,” Anwen gently explained. The rest of the Potter family had been moved to the third floor, which was completely uninhabited, shortly after Harry and his caregiver’s arrival on that horrible Halloween, as Anwen and Sirius couldn't take their incessant questionings. The portrait hall now held Muggle-style paintings of non-magical portraits or other suitable canvases. Anwen preferred landscapes and florals, Sirius liked ships, so there were equal numbers of each. “Do they know about me because of this?” Harry asked, lifting his hand to his scar. “Some, but most knew your mum and dad and us from when we all lived here after your grandparents’ deaths. This was the safest house,” Sirius said. Harry nodded. “Because of the war?” Harry asked. "Yes," Sirius said, frankly. "Remus was in danger because it was illegal to be a werewolf and living with witches and wizards. Your mummy was hunted because she was Muggle-born, like your birth mum, Lily. Your dad and I were considered blood traitors. So it was safer for us all to live somewhere no one could get near us." After the events in April, Anwen and Sirius decided to answer Harry's questions; in short, honest answers were best. Harry looked between his parents and then quietly spoke. “Why now? Why not on my third or fourth birthday?” “We didn’t think you were old enough to understand,” Sirius answered delicately. "It was only in the last year that you came to understand the pictures in your books weren't alive like we are, but instead just drawings someone used magic on to make them move. So since you can make that distinction, we believe you can converse with the portraits now." “Okay,” Harry said while nodding. Anwen looked at him and had to stifle her pained sigh. Harry had become more serious since the Horcrux incident on her birthday. Harry still laughed and had fun with his friends, but he was quieter and more introspective when it was just the family. “Do they know about my scar?” Harry asked his mummy. “Do they know I can hear HIM in my head?” “Harry, anything that we have ever known or even thought about why you were given that scar, why Voldemort wanted you, we have talked it over with your birth parents. Sometimes it takes all seven of us talking to make any sense of the situation. We still aren’t sure why you and your parents were in Godric’s Hollow. If you’d been here, well…” Anwen stopped speaking because she was too upset. Harry slipped his little hand into hers and leaned his head on her arm. “Good,” he said with determination. “I won’t need to explain it all. I don’t really like talking about it. Just you and Ginny since she heard it all too.” “They won’t ask strange questions, I promise. They have viewed our memories through my special Pensive I have from work. So if they ask you something you don't want to answer, you can just tell them you don't want to say. However, they're probably going to shower you with love and praise,” Anwen gently told her son. “Like you and Daddy do?” “Who do you think we learned it from, Sport? Your first mum and dad thought you were the best.” "Okay," Harry said, nodding his head. "I'm ready. I can leave when I want to?" “Absolutely,” Sirius answered before standing up and offering a hand to Harry and one to his wife. “You just tell us you’ve had enough, and you can go to wherever you need to.” “And if I need Mummy with me?” “Then we can leave together. This isn’t supposed to be frightening,” she said, seeing the emotion in her son’s eyes. “They really would like to meet you again.” Harry nodded sharply, and the trio went to the portrait room; Harry flanked by his earthly parents. Upon entering the room, Lily gasped at the sight of her son, now a little boy. Anwen caught her friend’s eye and saw the pain and hardship this was causing, and she felt like weeping. She and Sirius had discussed their residual guilt and had decided it would probably always be there. Harry dropped his parents’ hands and went to stand before the two large portraits, one of his parents and the other of his paternal grandparents. “Hello,” he said, “it’s very nice to meet you, again, sort of.” “It’s our pleasure to see you again, Sport,” James said. “That’s what Dad calls me,” Harry said with a new lilt to his voice. He smiled widely at his parents. “It’s better than what he called you when you were a baby. He called you his puppy,” James quipped back. Harry turned around to look at Sirius. “You called me a puppy?” “Well, you were my little puppy,” Sirius said in defence. “You liked to curl up in my fur and take your naps.” “Only when I wasn’t around,” Lily said with a roll of her eyes. “Didn’t need to know that, Paddy.” "Oh, come on, Petal, you must have known when you found fleas in his cot." It was at that point he saw James shaking his head wildly. "Oh, guess you didn't know about that one, huh?" "Neither did I, you fool," Anwen said while putting her hand to her head. She knelt so she could look at Harry's face. "We did our best to keep you safe from these two, but well, once a Marauder “” “Always a Marauder!” Harry, Sirius, and James chimed in together. Everyone else, portrait or alive, laughed. Finally, the ice was broken, and they all were feeling more comfortable. James introduced Harry to his thrilled parents. After about thirty minutes, Harry sat down on the floor and heard stories about his biological parents and second parents. While Harry did resemble his first dad in the physical looks department and in his flying skills, he realized he had more in common with his mother when it came to books and learning. He was happy about that. Anwen and Sirius sat on the chairs they had in the portrait room for conversations such as this. However, for James and Lily, they realized Harry phrased his sentences like Sirius, often more formal and very precise than either of them spoke. They also discovered many of his mannerisms weren't theirs but Anwen's, Sirius', or Remus's. Harry had to say goodbye when the clock chimed four, as his birthday party was beginning soon. Only Sirius stayed behind for an extra minute or two. “You’re doing brilliantly, Padfoot,” James said sadly. “It isn’t what I would have chosen, but you are the only person I would have trusted to raise my boy.” "He's right," Lily said with tears clinging to her cheeks. "You and Winnie love him so much, and it shows. You've given him a brother and sister, and …" Lily stopped to get control of her crying. "Tell Anwen to stop feeling guilty. I saw it in her face. You didn't take him from us; we were taken from him. You’re doing brilliantly. He’s a remarkable child.” “Thank you,” Sirius said before tipping his head and leaving. The quartet had a chuckle, as Harry had done the same thing only minutes before. A half an hour later, the Longbottom’s arrived. As had been their tradition since their second birthday, the boys were sharing a party. After some serious discussions about what the theme should be, the boys decided on Muggle zoo animals. They had a pinata shaped like an elephant, and the cake looked like a tiger. Both boys were wearing matching shirts from the London Zoo. Uncle Remus had taken the two boys for a special outing with him and Emme only a few days before their joint theme was decided. The members of their little class were invited “Susan, Ron, and Ginny (and any of the other Weasley children who wanted to attend) as well as both the boys’ little siblings. Draco Malfoy was also invited, as he was now living with Grandmother Black. He and his mum and grandmother had all moved into Sirius' childhood home, and Sirius said it made his mother content. Harry and Neville waited to see if Draco would show or not. Harry knew that Draco's mummy didn't like his mummy at all. It had something to do with her work. “So, Harry, what do we do if Ron is rude again?” Neville asked. "I think we need to tell him we don't want him to act like that," Harry said. "That's what my mummy and daddy tell me when I'm misbehaving." “Yeah, but he doesn’t listen. Sometimes I don’t like being his friend.” “Maybe we tell him that too,” Harry suggested. “Or maybe we tell his daddy. Mr Weasley seems to listen when we talk with him.” “That’s true,” Neville said. “Maybe my daddy can talk with his daddy. I don’t like making anybody feel sad.” “My Daddy and Uncle Remus have talked with Mr Weasley. I think it needs to be us now,” Harry said firmly. “Ron can’t ruin our party today.” "Yeah, not like our trip to the ice cream shop," Neville said, remembering when they'd gone into the village as a reward with their mummies and Emme to celebrate the end of their classes. Ron was upset there wasn't any pistachio ice cream, and he'd laid down on the floor and whinged. "That was horrible. Even Lizzy was looking at him like he was odd." "Agreed," Harry said with a curt nod. He then stuck out his hand. "We're five, and we handle this like big boys." Neville took his hand and shook it. It turned out the twins came to the party, which was fun but also a bit crazy. Harry liked them, but they were too much sometimes. Their big brother Bill came to the party too, just to watch the twins. Mr Weasley came with Ron and Ginny. Harry thought it was odd that they didn’t see Mrs Weasley often. Susan and her auntie came, as did Grammy Claire and Pappy Jeffrey and Mrs Longbottom, the elder. Her hat had some ostrich plumes and a small squirrel on it. The boys both thought she had the ugliest hats. Grandmother Black came, bringing Mrs Louise and Draco. Draco’s mummy chose not to come, but Mrs Louise told Harry’s mum not to feel bad about it. Draco clung to his grandmother’s skirts and didn’t want to play at first. It wasn’t until Padfoot showed up that Draco felt happier. Grammy Mimi came too, and she gave both the birthday boys a big hug. “Well, look at the two of you, so grown up. You know in six years your letters for Hogwarts will be arriving. What house do you want to be in?” she asked. “Gryffindor!” the pair cheered. "There are other houses, Minerva," Louise reminded her with a bit of laugh. "Not for my honorary grandchildren, there isn't," she quipped back. “We’re both going to be in Gryffindor, Mrs. Louise,” Harry said, “and we’re both going to play Quidditch.” "Harry, you can play Quidditch; I'll cheer from the stands," Neville answered back. He didn't like flying much. “Do you like to fly?” Draco asked hesitantly. He was on the ground, still playing with Padfoot. He’d already met the dog at his new house. Mrs Black said that Padfoot sometimes came over to visit her. He wasn’t sure how the dog came over, but it always seemed to be when her son called. Draco's mum didn't like Sirius much; then again, his mum didn't like much of anything anymore. "I love to fly," Harry said. "I even have my own broom. Dad set the height restriction at eight feet, but I'm hoping that now that I'm five, he'll let me go higher. Do you want to fly with me?" “Do you have another broom?” Draco asked. “I have the one my friend, Ginny, uses when we fly during recess from classes,” Harry explained. “I’m sure she won’t mind if you use it.” “You go to class?” “Uncle Remus teaches us. Me, Neville, Ron, Ginny, and Susan. In the autumn a girl named Luna that’s friends with Ginny is going to join us too. Maybe you can come over for class?” “Mother says I’m to have a tutor when I’m older, like a proper pureblood.” “Uncle Remus is our tutor. I don’t know what it means to be a pureblood." Harry explained as the two boys reached the broom shed. "That's the broom Ginny uses," he said, pointing at the other smaller broom. "They're outside now since it's warm. In the winter, we fly in the old ballroom." “You’re allowed to fly inside?” Draco asked incredulously. "Only in the ballroom. Once, we flew in the halls, and I couldn't fly for a week." “What about that broom?” Draco asked, pointing at the very shiny and chic broom hanging on the wall. "That's my mum's broom, and nobody touches it except mum and dad. She uses it for work. She was the best Seeker Gryffindor has ever had, according to Grammy Mimi. Dad bought that for her birthday this year." Harry became quiet when he thought about what had happened. While he was lost in his thoughts, Draco tried to take the broom down from its pegs, and it fell to the floor. “What did you do? I told you, no one touches it but mum and dad!” Harry saw the broken twigs from the end and the dent in the footrest. “It’s broken! I need to go get my dad.” “Don’t do that,” Draco pleaded. “I’ll get in trouble.” “Well, you should get a punishment,” Harry said back, sharply. “You went against a rule I just told you about. I have to tell Dad.” “He’s not your dad. Your dad is dead,” Draco said with spite. “My birth mum and dad were murdered by Voldemort. Anwen and Sirius adopted me, and I am as much their child as Lizzy or Caelum. Get out of the broom shed.” A few minutes after Draco had fled the broom shed, Harry returned with Sirius in tow. "Dad, I told him he couldn't touch Mum's broom. We were just supposed to be getting the brooms Ginny, and I use," Harry explained. “I understand,” Sirius responded. He picked Anwen’s broom up off the floor and surveyed it. “There’s nothing here that I can’t fix.” “But that dent on the footrest “” "Your mum made the dent a few weeks ago when she and I were flying after you'd gone to bed. Sometimes your mum needs to fly just to relieve stress. She landed hard, and it dinged the broom. Nothing serious, just like there's nothing here that I can't repair quickly. Coming to tell me the truth was a brave thing, Harry. I'm proud of you." “Thanks, Dad.” "Now, how about we get all the kid-sized brooms out so you can do some flying, which I know is your favourite thing in the world." “It is,” Harry said with a wide grin. When the pair exited the shed, Ginny was waiting for Harry. “I heard you thinking about flying,” she said with a grin. “Race you.” “You bet!” Harry handed her the broom she usually used and then mounted his. Sirius had the other four smaller brooms in his arms and shook his head at the way his son and his red-headed best friend just knew what was going on with the other. “Keep the speed down, Harry, I don’t want either of you crashing into a tree or the house,” Sirius said, inwardly his Marauding self cringed at his edict. “I’m getting old,” he whispered to himself. The twins had brought their brooms from home, as had Bill, and soon they were flying with their sister and one of the birthday boys. Ron complained that the larger broom was taken by Ginny, and he was relegated to one of the brooms which only flew six feet off the ground. The other children shied away from him when his whinging started since they knew what would come next. Julie, Susan, and Lizzy went into the shade near the babies. They’d rather entertain the little ones than put up with Ron. At least Caelum and Emma had a reason to be crying. Neville took a deep breath and waved Harry down. So, naturally, Ginny landed next to him. "It's started," Neville said. "We're five; we need to act like it." “I agree,” Harry said. He looked at Ginny, silently asking her to get her father. When she’d walked away, the two boys went to their friend. “Oh, is Ginny done flying?” Ron asked. "No, we landed because you were beginning to have another fit, and it's our party, and we didn't want you to do it," Harry explained. "Ginny and I are going to fly some more, and then you can use my broom. We always make sure that you have a turn." “Yeah, but I want to fly now.” Ron punctuated the sentence with a foot stamp. “You don’t get to behave like that,” Neville said as forcefully as he’d ever said anything in his life. “My little sister doesn’t whing as much as you do, and she’s only three. Ron, we like you, but you can’t act like you did when we were little kids.” “But Ginny always gets to go first,” Ron continued to complain. “Plus, she speaks to Harry without saying anything. It isn’t fair.” "Ronald, life isn't always fair," Mr Weasley said. "I've been listening to what your friends have been saying, and they are telling you what your mother and I have been saying; it's time to act your age." “I don’t want to,” Ron yelled. “I never get to do anything.” He sulked off and went to hide inside Harry’s portable climbing castle. “I’m sorry that Ronnie acted that way,” Mr Weasley said. “I hope he hasn’t made your day less happy.” “We’re used to it, Mr Weasley,” Neville said. “He always acts like this.” “Neville and I had already discussed what we’d do if he behaved poorly at our party. We don’t know what to do, sir,” Harry said quietly. “It’s hard to be his friend sometimes.” “I appreciate that you both try very hard to be his friend. I hope someday he learns that he has two fine friends in you.” The boys quietly thanked him. Harry looked at his climbing castle fondly. Sirius had been adding onto it every year for his birthday, and the little boy couldn’t wait to see what he would get this year. Then Harry went to find Ginny. They walked to the shady area, under the big tree at the back of the garden. “I’m sorry my brother is such a pain,” Ginny thought. "He's like this at home too. It's part of the reason why I like having Susan, Julie, and Lizzy to play with." “I get it,” Harry thought back. “I think it would make me tired to deal with it all the time.” “It does,” Ginny inwardly sighed. “How is your head?” “Still noisy,” Harry admitted. “He doesn’t always yell, but I can hear him muttering sometimes. Strange things, like needing snakes and stuff.” “That’s gross. I don’t like snakes.” "I'm not too fond of them either. I have dreams about a huge snake in some cavern somewhere. He likes the big snake a lot. It frightens me." “Does he still talk in that weird language with all the “s” sounds?” “Yes,” Harry very timidly replied. “You haven’t told your mum and dad about it, have you?” “Mummy is so sad when I talk about what happened on her birthday, and dad sometimes growls when they talk about it, so I just stay quiet. I don’t think there is anything I can do about it anyway.” “You should tell them, Harry. Your mum and dad love you so much. After your party, we can tell them together. It will just be you and me and your mummy and dad. They will understand, I promise.” Harry looked into Ginny’s pretty brown eyes and nodded just once. Ginny leaned over and gave him a quick kiss and then laid her head on his shoulder. They would need to go back with the others, even as she saw Ron had gotten his way and was flying. She'd wait her turn because the only person she really wanted to fly with was Harry. |
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