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Manipulations to War
By Mutt N Feathers

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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: 18814; Chapter Total: 714





Author's Notes:
Thank you to my beta, Arnel.




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Chapter 33:
Baby of Mine

October 5, 1986
Grimmauld Place


Anwen stood next to Arthur Weasley, watching their two children sitting on a bed and chatting. Harry was having his Horcrux removed today, but before they used the Dreamless Sleep potion on him, he wanted to talk with Ginny. The conversation was half-spoken, half unspoken.

"Thank you for letting her come by today. I know it's helping Harry to have her here," Anwen said softly.

“What’s going to happen here today, it’s a dangerous thing. I’m not sure how I’d feel having my child undergoing it,” Arthur said honestly. “I’ve heard what you’re doing and why. It’s terrifying.”

"Well, Harry didn't ask to have this thing in his head," Anwen responded. "Sirius and I just want it out so that he can have a normal life. Tom has caused so many people pain; it will be good to know he is gone forever from this world. Removing that thing from my boy is the beginning of the end."

Arthur was indeed in awe of the younger woman. He'd heard from Remus about what she'd done in service to all of them with Grindelwald, and he was impressed. Yet for all the magical power she had, she was standing next to him in a simple set of robes, hair pulled into a ponytail, smiling at the children. She had a strength he knew he did not.

"You're going to be fine, Harry," Ginny said out loud. She was wearing her favourite yellow trousers and a rainbow-striped shirt that she really loved since Julie had picked it out for her. Her hair was in two long plaits with yellow bows on them. “I wore my brightest and cheeriest outfit just to prove it to you.”

“I’m just a little scared, Ginny,” Harry said. “I know Grandmother and Mr Dumbledore and Auntie Louise and Mummy will take care of me, but it’s still scary.”

“My daddy says we are going to stay so I can be here when you wake up,” Ginny told him.

“That will be nice. My daddy was getting Lizzy and Caelum over to Neville’s house. Auntie Alice is taking them on a surprise trip today.”

"That will be fun," Ginny said. "Ronnie was unhappy that he had to stay home, but since Daddy was with me, Mummy said he couldn't go on the surprise. He's been better since Mummy told him he has to be nice to people, but he needed a grown-up to go today, and Daddy needed to be with me, and I had to be with you.”

“Ron has been nicer, but I’d rather fly with you and Draco. We all go fast.”

“We do,” Ginny agreed. “I think Ronnie should be a Keeper.”

“Yeah, then he doesn’t need to fly fast.”

"But he can hit and kick all the Quaffles he wants." The pair laughed, and Sirius came in to stand behind Anwen and Arthur.

“Everyone is off on their adventure with Auntie Alice, Mrs Amelia, and Mr Remus and Miss Emme. Hindsa is staying with them to watch over Caelum, although Remus wisely has him in the stroller, so he’s contained. So we can work on making Harry all better. But, Arthur, Miss Ginny," he said, making her giggle. She always giggled when Sirius called her Miss Ginny, "why don't you head down to the kitchens, or you can go home, and I'll Floo when it's over?"

“Daddy, we are staying,” Ginny said firmly as she slid from the bed. “I will be the first person Harry sees when he wakes up.”

“You might need to be second, Miss Ginny,” Sirius said. “His Mummy will probably want to check him over first.”

“That’s okay, I’ll be second to Mrs Anwen,” Ginny said sweetly. “Mummies are special people and have to do things like check on their children.” She said this very seriously, which made the adults smile.

"Thank you, Ginny. Why don't you say your goodbyes for now to Harry and then his Daddy and I can say ours before I give him his potion," Anwen suggested.

"Okay." She went over and whispered something in his ear, which made Harry smile, and then she skipped to her daddy and took his hand. "See you in a little while." Arthur took her out of the room and down the stairs to the kitchen deep underground. There he closed the thick door and locked it both with the key and with a spell. The door had runes drawn on it in chalky white paint, too, to protect the pair.

Upstairs, on the third floor in Sirius' old bedroom, there were runes painted on the walls and floor in the same paint. They were to help make sure the Horcrux didn't latch onto anyone else. Candles and runes covered the stairwells, and Kreacher was heard muttering about the clean-up as Louise passed him after lighting the last candle. Regulus’ old bedroom was the staging area for all the items needed for the spell. They didn’t want Harry seeing them, as some could be quite frightening. Narcissa and Draco had chosen to go on a short sojourn to Paris rather than be in the house with the day’s activities or participating in the surprise with the other children.

Inside the bedroom, Anwen and Sirius were sitting on either side of Harry, each holding a hand.

“I believe you’re going to be up and faffing about tonight," Sirius said. "And Kreacher is making your favourite dinner “ steak-and-kidney pie, mushy peas, fresh cottage loaf with honey butter, and treacle tart."

“Mum, you’re okay with the only veg being mush peas?”

“On this occasion, yes,” Anwen said. “But we aren’t making a habit of it. Mushy peas have all the fibre and vitamins cooked out of them. You do, however, eat better than either of your dads did when I met them at school. Juice, crisps, meat, and pudding. No fruits or veg ever. Then came the Butterbeer and Mead," she sighed and shook her head, making both of the blokes laugh. “I often wondered how they stayed so thin.” Harry still loved to hear stories about all his parents when they were younger. Anwen brushed his fringe away from his face.

"Sweetheart, there is nothing for you to worry about, I promise. Everyone has worked on this magic spell and knows the role they're going to play. Your Uncle Frank is here, as is Mr Kingsley, and they're going to make sure no one hurts us. But, of course, I'll be with you the whole time, so you should hear me talking to you in your head, but it will be like a dream.”

“I know, just like we practiced.”

"Exactly, now drink up your potion, and then I'll meet you in your mind in a minute or two, okay?” Harry nodded and swallowed the potion down. It was better tasting since grandmother added some raspberries to it. Harry closed his eyes and drifted into a semi-conscious dream state.

"He's asleep," Sirius spoke in a firm, louder voice, and people drifted in from their places either across the hall or on the landing. Sirius, Frank, and Kingsley would be taking up strategic spots around the room “ the foot of the bed, in front of the door, and in front of the windows, respectively. Anwen would be sitting behind Harry's head on the bed, talking with him and keeping him calm. She was also holding a defensive position, should the Horcrux break free. Walburga would perform the spell, Louise assisting her and Dumbledore providing the protection charms around Harry.

Carts with trays of supplies were rolled in and situated at the left and right sides of Harry, and he was moved down, so his feet were at the foot of the bed. Anwen climbed onto the bed and took up a lotus position near his head, her hands only inches from his forehead.

"It'll all be fine, Luv," Sirius said to her quietly. "We will take him home tonight, and that voice will be gone from his head. We're getting Tom closer to his death."

"I know; I just don't like to see my children in pain," Anwen said quietly.

"Of course not," Sirius said, caressing her face. "What kind of mummy would you be if you did?" He kissed her temple and let her settle into her magic. Unlike when she went searching through Gellert's head, where there was depravity and darkness, slipping into her son's mind was like being engulfed in a warm pool. Harry was a truly exceptional child, and she loved him as completely as she did either of the children she’d born herself.

“Harry, I’m here, sweetheart,” Anwen said, and she heard her little boy respond.

“Good, I was worried you weren’t coming,” he said softly.

"Never, Harry, you're never going to need me, and I'm not going to be there," she whispered. "What can I do to make this easier on you?"

“Can you sing to me, Mum?”

“Of course, dear heart. Any requests?” Harry thought her voice felt like silk as she spoke to him, and he felt himself relaxing.

"Can you sing my favourite one from when I was a baby? I know it's silly, but”"

"No buts, it was your favourite then, and one day when you're a daddy, you can sing it to your baby. Did you know your first mummy made sure I added it to your lullaby box? She said she liked the song so much and had wanted to sing it to her baby. Your first mummy couldn't carry a tune in a bucket, though, so instead, she had me sing it for you."

“I didn’t know that,” Harry said. Sometimes he couldn’t believe he had two mummies who loved him this much.

"Now, you just relax, and if you want me to change songs, just tell me, okay?"

“Uh-huh.”

“Baby mine, don’t you cry,
Baby mine, dry your eyes,
Rest your head close to my heart,
Never to part, baby of mine.”


Sirius listened in as his wife sang to their son, loving the closeness they were sharing. “He’s good. Win is singing to him,” he announced.

“Excellent,” Walburga said. She’d brought in the same style of cauldron she’d used when they’d destroyed the necklace. The same tapers, same sprigs of ivy, same chalk. Everyone had goggles this time, and she and Louise had powerful enchantments protecting their hands. “The hardest part of this spell will be the containment of the Horcrux once it is out of Harry,” Walburga continued. "However, I believe with Anwen working from the inside, and the rest of us prepared in the outer world, we can safely banish this soul fragment from existence. Gentlemen, your positions, please. Wands at the ready." The door was closed and sealed, and the inside of it was covered in protective runes. The windows were likewise attended to, and Kingsley took up guard in front of them. The three men cast their widest Protective Spells “ all DMLE grade “ and overlapped for maximum depth of protection.

Louise Malfoy would be performing the actual removal of the Horcrux from Harry's body. She'd served as a Matron's assistant before Lucius was born and had kept up with the latest Healer advances over the years. Unfortunately, her husband had never allowed her to have a career, even once their son was grown and gone. It made for a lonely life. She was happier now, living with her daughter-in-law, grandson, and dearest friend than she had been since she was young. She was also quite glad to have her skills being used again.

“Everyone ready?” she asked before making the cut with her wand. It was a small incision, as the Horcrux was only the size of a large pebble, but it had a powerful magical punch. She carefully disentangled the dark mass from Harry's tissues and quickly had the mass removed. Albus immediately put a Containing Spell around the object while it was deposited into the cauldron. The spell then surrounded the cauldron, although Walburga could drop items through the spell as needed. This was one thing that took the longest to work out, as they didn't want the "evil pebble" getting free.

Louise saw to closing Harry’s wound. They were fortunate that it simply lived in the tissues between the skin and his skull, and it had not impeded upon his brain. A few quick closing spells and Harry would be right as rain. She also had learned some new spells so his skin would no longer carry a scar.

“Sirius, can you check on Anwen and Harry?” Louise asked. Sirius nodded and quickly slid into his wife’s consciousness.

"It's out, and Harry's closed up. How are you doing sport?"

“It’s really all done?” Harry said in a surprised voice.

“Yup. But you stay safely asleep. You and your mum are safest this way.”

“Okay,”
Harry said drowsily, and Anwen continued to sing. On the outside, Anwen erected her strongest shield around herself and her son. Although she trusted the men to protect themselves, each other, and the women, that didn’t mean she wasn’t about taking all the precautions she could.


"They're good, Aunt Louise," Sirius said. It was then that the Horcrux began to howl, and a ghostly visage of Tom Riddle arose. This was the Tom who had attacked the Potters in Godric's Hollow. Certainly more human-looking than the creature Sirius had brought back from Albania, but not quite human. His nose was flatter, and his eyes were elongated. Most disturbing were his red eyes.

He rose, so the phantom stood nearly six feet tall, and he was dressed in a long, black robe. Sirius felt his gut clench as he realized this is what James and Lily had faced all those years ago. But, while Sirius had long ago let go of his need for vengeance in favour of justice, he would rejoice when Tom Riddle was gone from the earth.

“I s-s-should have known it would be you, Albus-s-s-s,” his elongated s sound disconcerting the rest in the room.

“Tom, you had to know that we’d come after you,” Albus said softly. “The end is coming.” The visage looked around.

“You think this-s-s rag-tag group of blood-traitors-s-s and a half-blood are any match for me?”

“Tom, this needs to end,” Albus said in a strangely gentle voice. “Your body has been captured. Your demise is nearly here.” The spectre version of Tom flew, so it was mere inches from Albus's face.

“I am immortal!”

“No, you’re not. Your Horcruxes are going to be destroyed. Then you with die.”

“None of you are s-s-strong enough to des-s-stroy them,” Tom said. Walburga was chanting even as Albus debated the apparition arising from the Horcrux.

"You'd be surprised the friends that Anwen has made," Sirius said. "She knows some mighty women who'd like to see you gone."

“My followers-s-s will s-s-save me.”

“They’re nearly all in jail, Tom,” Albus said gently, adding more force to his containment spell. Walburga was chanting louder now, joined by Louise. They were nearly done with the spell. Sirius was carefully eyeing the version of Tom in the room. He would not let his wife or child be hurt in any way.

"I will do what I mus-s-st," Tom said before ploughing into Albus. Tom attempted to invade his mind, but Albus was a powerful wizard with extraordinary Occlumency shields for all his faults. Much to Sirius's chagrin, a discussion was had about what would happen if Tom somehow took control of Albus. If that were to happen, the three men were charged with killing the old man as fast as possible. None wanted it to come to that.

Inside Albus, there was no struggle; Tom was too weak. "I'm sorry I failed you, Tom," Albus whispered, and with a final push of magic, Tom flew out of the former Headmaster. Walburga finished the spell, and the spectre simply vanished with a blood-curdling scream.

"Anwen, it's safe; he's gone," Sirius said to his wife through their inner speech. Then, a moment later, Anwen and Harry opened their eyes.

“How do you feel, darling?” Anwen asked her son.

"Great, but I have a little headache, and my forehead itches," he answered. "It's quiet in my head,” he said, sounding excited.

“I’ll put an Anti-Itch spell on your head and give you a Pain Potion in a minute,” Louise said. “I think Wally needs a chair first.” Sirius quickly went to his mother and directed her into the hallway, where his leather desk chair was sitting. Next, Sirius began the DMLE standard medical spells to diagnose what might be ailing his mother.

“Kreacher,” Sirius called, and the elf popped in. “Please take Mother to her room and give her a magical replenishment potion. Louise will be down to look at her in a minute.” Kreacher nodded and popped away with his mistress.

“Thank you, everyone,” Sirius said as he came back into the room and saw his son smiling and sitting up. His lightning bolt scar was gone. Sirius sent a Patronus to Arthur and then pulled the chair in for Albus to sit on. “Aunt Louise, I think Albus could use a once over as well.”

Arthur and Ginny arrived quickly, and the little girl joined her friend on the bed, their heads pressed together in a silent conversation.

“Arthur, the danger is gone. If you’d like to go get Ron and meet the rest at the Dragon Preserve, you’re more than welcome to. We can return Ginny home,” Sirius said.

“I know he was sad to be missing it,” Arthur said. “I would love to reward him for at least trying to be a better friend.”

“Come on,” Frank said, “we can go over together. I want to see those dragons up close as well.” Kingsley too said goodbye, and after plying Albus with a potion from her cart, Louise went to see to Walburga. That left Anwen, Sirius, Ginny, Harry, and Albus alone in the room.

“This is not how I anticipated the removal from Harry would go,” the old man confessed.

“Oh, I know that,” Anwen said, moving closer to her husband, who sat at the foot of the bed. He wrapped an arm around her, and she laid her head on his shoulder. “You thought we’d need to kill my son. Neither of his mothers would have allowed that.”

“I know,” he answered slowly. “I fear Lily would have haunted me.”

“And Fee,” Sirius added. “Never mess with a mother, especially one like my Anwen. From freeing a Fury to singing a lullaby to destroying Tom Riddle and Gellert Grindelwald; she is one badass witch.” Anwen smiled at him and then looked over her shoulder to smile at her son.

"Tomorrow, we destroy the rest," she said, thinking of activities she, Alice, King, and Frank had planned. "And Tom will be no more."

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