Harry Potter and the Essence of Pure Magic

Lupin sat down, and ran a hand through his hair for a second. "Well..."

Looking a little uneasy, Lupin reached inside his robes and pulled out a sheaf of parchments. "We'll do this first... it's your OWLs. There was a bit of trouble over most of them, and some... interference from the Ministry in your case, which delayed them even more. Fortunately, they couldn't manage to affect your results at all, so here you go."

Harry took the sheets out of Lupin's hands, and began to scan them. He skipped quickly through the introduction and got down to the meat of it.

Subject Practical Theory Overall

Astronomy A# P A#

Care of Magical Creatures O O O

Charms E E E

Defence Against The Dark Arts O+ O O

Divination P N/A P

Herbology E E E

History of Magic N/A D D

Potions E O O

Transfiguration E E E

Note: # indicates the interrupted Astronomy practical exam, which has been decided will be available for a re-test earlier in the year. Students may choose to keep these results, or actually take the exam in order to increase their standings.

Note: + indicates that the examiner believed you to have performed above and beyond that to be expected in an OWLs student, and if it were possible, your result would have been greater than O.

The note was signed by one of the examiners, and Harry let it fall out of his hands. Lupin looked at him, before he asked "Well, how did you do?"

Harry was staring at the place the parchment had been in shock, and it took a little while for Lupin's voice to break through his haze. He picked up the parchment from where it had landed and handed it wordlessly to him.

Lupin looked over it, before breaking into a grin. "Great job, Harry! Eleven OWLs! Your parents would be proud of you!" he said, reaching over and grabbing Harry by the shoulder. "Sirius would be proud of you too. A splendid effort."

He remained dazed for a few more seconds, just nodding his head, before something Lupin said jarred him slightly. "Eleven OWLs? I thought I only got nine? How did I get eleven?" he asked him, a puzzled frown appearing lightly on his face.

Leaning back in his chair, Lupin went into a very professorial mode of speech. "Yes, you see, young Harry, when you get O's in all your scores, practical, theoretical and overall, it actually counts as two OWLs. After all, there are only twelve subjects, but the maximum possible OWLs you can get is twenty. You can't get the double OWL point for anything with only one exam, like Divination, History of Magic, Arithmancy or Ancient Runes."

Harry leant forward and shoved him. "No need to be like that, Remus. Besides, that's not the only strange thing... Potions! I got an O! How, by Merlin's beard, did I manage that? Does that mean I can take Snape's class? Do I really want to take two more years with that greasy git?"

The corners of Lupin's mouth twitched up before he could stop them. "Professor Snape, Harry. At least until you finish school, you have to call him Professor Snivellus, I mean, Snape" He smirked at the end, before he faded into a more serious expression. "So, what are you going to do, Harry?"

Moving his eyes to the parchments still in his hands, Harry saw they were written in the traditional Hogwarts emerald green ink. It was the course selection form for the NEWTs. He'd managed to qualify for all the ones he needed for Auror selection, but he wasn't quite sure he wanted to be an Auror anymore, especially after a few of the incidences last year and with the fact that new laws, laws such as the new werewolf restrictions which Harry found quite distasteful, were being introduced which he would have to enforce, no matter how little he cared for them.

He weighed up some of the options in his mind. Even if he didn't end up becoming an Auror, many of the NEWTs he'd need for it were commonly asked for in other possible careers, so they'd be a good base to spring from. He could still remember a similar talk from Hermione, one of the many that people had been having before and after the career's counselling.

"I'll take Potions, Charms, Transfiguration and Defence Against The Dark Arts. What else... Care of Magical Creatures as well" Harry said out loud, before moving over to his desk to get a quill and some ink. Quickly he wrote down his choices, and went to walk out the door.

"Ah, Harry? You missed something,"

Harry looked back over his shoulder at Lupin, an eyebrow raised in a questioning manner. "What? What are you talking about?"

"Well, cub," he began, "for your NEWTs you have to choose one extra elective class. Mostly they offer things like Magical First Aid, Wizarding Law, Household Magic, similar things like that. You have to choose one of them as well. Don't worry about them too much, they're just little extra classes, that shouldn't too deeply impact on your workload,"

Harry drifted back to his seat, lowering himself down carefully. "Well, I know which one I'd choose, but which one would you recommend? What do you think I would be best served by focusing my efforts on?"

Leaning forward, Lupin dragged a hand down his face. "Well, knowing the amount of trouble you get into, I'd say Magical First Aid. If you end up deciding to be an Auror, than that would be an advantage, either it or Wizarding Law. Both are within the first year of the Auror training., so it would be just a quick refresher and that bit would be done,"

Nodding his head, Harry opened the parchment back up, and added in Magical First Aid. He neatly folded it up, and again was headed out the door when a tapping on his window stopped him. Turning around, he could see Hedwig sitting on the window ledge, blinking slowly at him. "Hedwig!" he cried, and rushed over to the window. She hadn't been there in the morning when he'd woken up, so he'd assumed she'd gone out hunting earlier and hadn't returned or was going to pick up a letter. "Just in time girl! I've got something for you to take to Hogwarts, after you've rested a bit."

The snowy owl hooted at him, ruffling her feathers slightly and extending out her leg. On it was a letter, which he quickly removed, but instead of drawing her leg back in and flying to her cage, which she normally did, she continued to sit there with leg extended.

"Are you sure your up to it now, girl? It can wait."

She hooted insistently this time, reaching out to nip him with her beak for questioning her.

"Okay, okay. Here you go. Have a safe trip, and don't worry about getting back too quickly!" Harry quickly attached the letter, and moved back as she winged her way out of the window, and slowly disappeared over the horizon. He watched her disappear for a second before turning back to Lupin, who was grinning... eerily, was the only way Harry could describe it, at him. "Ah, what else do we have to talk about, Remus? And can you stop looking at me like that, it's creepy."

Lupin shook himself. "Yes, well. Who's that letter from?" he asked. Harry looked down at the letter. It was addressed to him, and he turned it over. It was sealed with the Gringotts crest, and the return address was Gringotts Bank, Diagon Alley, London, England.

"It's a letter from Gringotts. But why would I be getting a letter from Gringotts?" Harry asked, a puzzled frown etching itself slightly on his forehead. Lupin sucked in a breath quickly like he'd just taken a punch to the stomach. "Remus, what's wrong? Is everything okay?" Harry asked again, this time concernedly.

Lupin nodded his head slowly, his face having leached itself of colour leaving it and odd grey. "Yes, Harry, everything's fine. In fact, that letter... well, it involves what else I want to talk to you about." The older man leant forward, and, propping his elbows on his knees, rested his head in his hands. "Come and sit down over here so we can talk about it."

Harry slowly made his way over to the chairs, and lowered himself down almost grimly. "What is this about Remus? Why would Gringotts be sending me a letter?" he asked quietly. "What's going on?"

Taking a deep breath, Lupin suddenly blurted out "It's about Sirius's will,"

He felt himself fall backwards in the chair, almost sliding off as he fought to maintain consciousness. Sirius's... will? His will? He's really dead...

Eyes beginning to blink away the tears that threatened to course down his cheeks, Harry choked down some air, and lurched back to an upright position. "I don't want any of it," he managed to lurch out, "throw it all away, give it to anyone else, I don't deserve it, not after that, it's all my fault..." he began to babble, throwing his arms around his head, drawing his knees up to his chest.

He could feel Lupin reaching out and putting his arms around him, and begin to slowly rock him. "Haven't I told you before, cub, that you aren't to blame? It isn't your fault, Harry, it isn't your fault. You've got to remember that. He chose to be there, he chose to be so reckless, and it was Lestrange's curse that pushed him in. Not you. You didn't tell him to go, you didn't curse him into the veil."

After awhile, Harry began to calm down, the tears stopped running, and he pulled back from Lupin and began to wipe his eyes with the end of his shirt-sleeve. "Sorry about that, Remus. Sometimes, when I think I'm over it, it just comes back and hits me... so hard... I just can't get used to the fact that he's gone. I know it's not my fault, but still... it doesn't stop the guilt. I could have kept him alive, for a least a little while longer..."

Harry felt Lupin stiffen somewhat, even though he had all but released Harry completely. "Harry, it most likely wouldn't have been for much longer. Sirius was going insane from being cooped up in here. He would have done something stupid just to get out of here. The fact that he died, defending you, is how he wanted to die. You were everything to him Harry. At the time, he was beginning to lose hope of ever being freed, of Wormtail ever being caught, his name being exonerated. At least this way, when he went out, he went out defending you. What he wanted, Harry, what he wanted. To see you live even if it meant his death." Lupin grabbed Harry by the chin, and Harry looked into his tired brown eyes. "Like I said, do not disrespect his memory. Live."

The two remained like that for awhile, before Harry broke the eye contact, dropping his view down to the Gringotts letter still in his hands. "So, what will this say? What's in his will?"

Moving back, Lupin shook his head. "I don't know, Harry. The Black family was one of the oldest pure-blood families in Europe, if not the world, and they had considerable wealth and assets, most of which lay untouched due to the fact that Sirius was in prison. He was the sole heir, after his brother was killed." Harry opened his mouth to ask a question, but Lupin waved him off. "None of the others count, Andromeda, Narcissa or Bellatrix. They weren't in the straight line of inheritance, and they all married out anyway. Andromeda was actually disowned, so she can't claim anything. You've got to understand Harry, this is an incredibly complicated business. The only ones who have any say are the heads of the family, and Gringotts. Not even the Ministry can interfere in most cases, not even with people in Azkaban."

"So... what's going on? What has Sirius done?"

Again Lupin shook his head. "I don't know Harry. You'll have to open that letter to find out. Seeing as how the Ministry has no power over these proceedings, the fact that Sirius was an escaped convict has no bearing on it. The goblins... they don't completely except the wizarding justice system." Lupin smiled at this, except it was almost a grimace. "Therefore, anything could have happened. You'll just have to read the letter to find out."

Harry brought it up to his lap, and gently opened it. A small pile of parchment tumbled out of the letter, surprising him with how much actually fit into it. Harry shot a quick, astonished glance at Lupin, who merely nodded. "Safety precaution. Don't want the letter to look too important, so they keep the envelope small." Harry nodded and took the first piece of parchment, and began to read.

Dear Mr. Potter

Our condolences on the loss of your Godfather, one Sirius T. Black, and our sympathies in what must be a terrible time for you. This letter includes information left by the deceased on the dispersal of personal assets, along with those of the Black Family.

Included are several legal documents which must be read and signed. Most of these are mere formalities, but one is a matter of grave importance, regarding your standing in relation to how the actual realization of the will must come into effect. We advise you read this document next, and decide on your course of action before reading any more of the papers.

Also, along with the document is a personal letter, which should be read first.

Again, our condolences.

Ragnok

Head of Wills, Deeds and Testaments

Gringotts Bank, Diagon Alley, London, England

Harry looked up at Lupin. "It says I've got some papers to sign, along with a personal letter. It also say I should read the letter first, then read one specific document before I move onto the others." He felt his brow crease in puzzlement. "What does that mean, Remus? What the bloody hell is going on!"

"Calm down, Harry, calm down. I don't know what he's done anymore than you do. But maybe he explained it a bit in the letter. Read it, Harry, and tell me."

"Alright, I'll do it." Harry lifted up the next bit of parchment. He quickly scanned it. "This is it."

Harry.

This letter has been attached to my will, so if I die before you turn seventeen, then this all kicks into effect. I certainly hope I don't, Harry. I've already missed so much of your life, I really don't want to miss out on anymore. But, with Voldemort's return, war will soon be on our doorstep, and so as much as I hate to do it, I take these precautionary steps.

If I die, without heir, you will become the last scion of the House of Black, along with the House of Potter. In simpler terms, I'm adopting you. I can't do it at the moment, what with the whole being an escaped convict thing. The only legal way for me to adopt you is to name you as my principal heir, which means upon my death, all of my, and my family's, assets, power and responsibilities fall to you. Don't worry, Harry, most of them aren't all that important.

If the worst comes to happen, you will become Harry Potter-Black, if you agree. I know I'm being unusually serious, but this is not the time for jokes. Please Harry, accept it. If you don't, all of it, all the Black family assets, will devolve to Narcissa and Bellatrix, and even to Draco Malfoy.

I know this must be tearing your heart apart Harry. You have to accept it, just to keep it out of the Dark Lord's hands. Please Harry, please.

All I ask is that you follow the provisions in the will. Hell, you can even add some more if you want. Just make sure you take care of Remus, if he's still there.

I love you.

Snuffles.

Harry sat back, completely in shock. The letter fell out of his hands, the rest quickly joining it on the floor as he began to lose himself in his mind. He could hear faintly Lupin asking him what was wrong, but all he could do was shake his head. What was with his world being continuously turned on its head over the last few months? First, the Department of Mysteries and Sirius's death. Then the revelation of the Prophecy. His depression, and being snapped out of it. The move to, and remodelling of, Grimmauld Place. His OWLs. And now, Sirius's will. It seemed like someone had a grudge against him upstairs.

He didn't notice Lupin pick up the letter, or quickly read it and sink back in his chair. Still lost in his stupor, he was suddenly snapped out of it by the sight of two fingers snapping together in front of him. "Thank goodness you responded Harry, I was just going to get some help if you didn't so soon." He waved the letter. "So, Harry, what are you going to do?"

"I... I... I don't know." Harry shook his head. "What else can I do? Like he said, if I don't accept it, it goes straight to the Malfoys, or to Lestrange. I'll accept it." He stopped, shaking his head. "I just... wish it wasn't necessary. That it didn't have to happen at all." He bent down to the floor, and picked up the parchments. Sorting through them, he found the one that outlined his adoption as the heir to the House of Black. Reading it quickly, he looked up at Lupin. "What the bloody hell does this mean?"

Lupin chuckled, and extended a hand for the parchment. After scanning it himself, he had a thoughtful look on his face. "Well, you see Harry, by signing this piece of parchment you are essentially selling your body for sex on the streets of London, while offering organs to rich Muggles who are suffering rare diseases."

Jaw gaping open, Harry stared at the older man. "That is not funny, Remus! That is not funny at all!"