Harry Potter and the Return to Youth

Interlude: Revelations in Grief

o ------ o ------ o

Vernon Dursley, formerly of number four, Privet Drive stirred and snorted softly as he began to wake from his troubled sleep. He opened his eyes to find himself spread-eagled on a cold stone floor in a dark, stonewalled cell with no windows and a door made of thick bars. He slowly sat up and, after a quick perusal, found Petunia to his left on a thin prison bed and his son dozing with his back up in the corner behind him to his right. He gratefully noted the slow rise and fall of their chests; at least they were all still alive.

He scrambled clumsily to his wife and whispered, "Hsst. Petunia, wake up!"

Petunia kept her eyes closed and groaned, "Vernon, dear, tell the boy to go make breakfast and let me sleep in."

Vernon scowled. If it wasn't for that dratted boy, they wouldn't be in this fix. "Petunia, wake up! Those no good filthy freaks caught us! Bloody hell; where the devil are we?"

His ranting and raving seemed to shake his wife out of her daze, because she stilled for a brief moment before letting out one of the loudest and sharpest shrieks he'd ever heard from her. She sat up and took in the cell with wild eyes, then put her elbows on her knees and covered her eyes with her hands as she started to sob. "We're doomed, Vernon! Doomed! If only you hadn't shot the boy... It's all your fault, I told you they would come! I told you..."

Vernon sneered. "Well excuse me, Petunia, but he looked like he was going to blow up the whole house and us with it! I didn't have a bloody choice! When I see them I will demand justice!"

Petunia laughed bitterly through her tears. "Freak justice is no justice, Vernon; they won't care. They'll be angry that we killed their precious savior and they'll lock us away for our entire lives or worse. We'll be lucky if they kill us, Vernon! Lucky!"

"So how do we get out of this then? Do we get a phone call? I'll call the police and they'll..." Vernon began.

Petunia cut him off. "We can't get out, we can't call anyone, and even if we did they would make them forget. By this time tomorrow, our obituaries will be in the Little Whinging Gazette, killed by 'some freak viruses' or 'a gas leak'. The freaks will make anyone who cares about us forget, and that'll be it! No more Dursleys," she babbled.

"Mummy! Make them let us out! I want to go home!" Dudley had woken by that time and his six chins were rippling and bouncing along with his chattering jaw. He stood up and stepped quickly to the bars and began pulling at them. "Let us out!"

"Shut up, Dudley! Do you want to get the freaks' attention?" Vernon snapped.

"It doesn't matter, we're doomed! They're going to kill us," Petunia moaned.

Vernon spared her a venomous glance before he snarled, "Both of you shut up! Keep pulling on those bars, Dudley. I'll help you."

Vernon stood up beside his son and grabbed the bar Dudley was pulling on. "On three, son...one...two...three...pull!" He dug his feet in and leaned back and pulled with all his might while Dudley grunted beside him. The bar didn't give at all. A few seconds later he let go and panted, "Alright let's rest a minute before we try again." He favored his teary-eyed wife with a glance. "Petunia, while we're at this, try and find another way out."

Twenty minutes later things were much the same. Petunia had a lost look on her face while Dudley and Vernon continued to wrestle with the bars. Suddenly the sound of footsteps could be heard coming down the corridor - lots of footsteps.

"Dudley, get away from the bars and be quiet!" Vernon hissed. He backed off from the door just as a cadre of five dress-wearing freaks marched into view and stopped before their cell.

The leader among the freaks suddenly turned to a black haired young woman and told her, "Shackle them up, Tonks, and we'll be on our way."

The woman nodded grimly and a freak stick appeared in her hand. She turned to Vernon and started waving the stick around and saying her unnaturalness. She was angry and a flash of light blasted from the end of the stick and caught Vernon in the chest. His arms were forced behind his back and a pair of metal cuffs clamped painfully on his wrists.

"Now see here!" he blustered. "We have rights, you know. I want my phone call!"

The freaks paid no attention to him and the girl freak went on to secure both Dudley and Petunia before herding them out of the cell. An implacable force seemed to grip his shoulders from behind and pushed him staggering out into the hall. Petunia and Dudley followed and the freaks started to lead them down the stone corridor with two in front, the freak lady pushing them along right behind them, and another two freaks keeping up the rear.

The freaks led them down a series of torch-lined corridors until they stopped before a large wooden door secured with a massive iron lock. One of the freaks addressed the others: "We're to wait here till we're summoned." They nodded and formed a circle.

"Where are you taking us?" Petunia's voice hitched hysterically.

"Courtroom three," one of the younger freak men replied and pointed at the door.

"Courtroom what? If I'm to be tried for some crime, I demand it be in a proper court of law!" Vernon blustered. The freaks continued to ignore him and finally his temper completely snapped. Vernon stomped importantly over to the Tonks freak and toppled her with a quick charge. "Listen to me, you freak! I am a citizen of the U.K. and I demand that you release me at once!"

Something struck him in the back; Vernon was suddenly frozen stiff. He couldn't feel a thing, couldn't move a thing... what had they done to him?

"Feisty bastard, that one," one of the freaks commented before extending a hand to help the Tonks freak to her feet.

"Sure is," Tonks replied as she surreptitiously rubbed her bum. "You'd think with all the galleons the higher ups throw around we could at least get the Ministry carpeted."

Petunia and Dudley just stood there, both pasty faced and shivering in fright during the whole exchange. They waited in silence for another twenty minutes with the freaks exchanging a few words to each other from time to time before the large doors were flung open and a pinch nosed woman in the chamber beyond motioned them in.

The woman freak, Tonks, waved her stick at Vernon and suddenly he was floating above the ground while two of the other freaks, young men, waved their sticks at Petunia and Dudley and forced them to walk alongside him as he was floated into the center of a large stone chamber.

The light din in the chamber fell silent at their entrance. Raised booths filled with benches lined the walls of the chamber, at least ten rows deep, and they were packed with stone-faced freaks of all ages. Vernon was parked in the cleared center of the chamber in front of the second of three manacle clad chairs. Dudley and Petunia were seated unclamped on either side of him.

On the benches before him sat a group of uniformed freaks clad in purple colored robes. A severe looking woman in the center of the front row stood up and cleared her throat before announcing, "Order, order everyone. The accused have been brought forth and we shall begin in a moment. Are you ready to begin?" She looked at the freaks down the bench on either side of her before settling on one at the end.

"Ready ma'am," called a middle-aged woman who sat at the end of the bench. If it wasn't for her robes, she almost could have looked like a normal secretary. Regardless, she sat at her sole desk (with a quill and parchment of all things) and looked ready to record.

"Very well then. Investigative Hearing of the seventh of July into the murder of Harry Potter yesterday morning at the Dursley residence, number four, Privet Drive, Little Whinging, Surrey. Interrogators: Cornelius Oswald Fudge, Minister of Magic; Amelia Susan Bones, Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement; Pontus Brenen Clearwater, representing the International Confederation of Wizards; Arthur Weasley, Misuse of Muggle Artifacts Office. Court Scribe, Paula Louise Mansi."

A fat freak who sat to the left of the severe woman asked the guard freaks, "Did they give you any trouble, Aurors?" He pointed rudely at Vernon with a derisive smirk.

"Not so much; the old fat one tried to cause a scene, but we shut him up sir, no problem," one of the guard freaks said.

During this exchange the woman-freak in the front row put an odd looking monocle to her eye and briefly skimmed a piece of parchment. She cleared her throat to put an end to the side conversation before she put down her monocle and announced, "Mr. Dursley, you are being charged with the murder of Harry James Potter; how do you plead? Oh yes, free him from the body bind, Nymphadora."

Again something struck his back and Vernon could feel all his parts once again. He hastily ran his hands over his legs, stomach, and arms before he shuddered in relief.

The monocle freak asked again, "Mr. Dursley, I repeat, how do you plead?"

Vernon froze in his examination and he knew he had to think of something fast to get out of this. Maybe if he played dumb, they'd let him go. "What am I being charged with?"

"The murder of Harry James Potter, Mr. Dursley," the woman answered with annoyance.

"That brat? If he's dead I didn't kill him. Nothing to do with it, no sir," Vernon announced with as much indignation as he could muster.

An angry looking red-haired freak made to stand up but was motioned down by the monocle freak. She looked to someone behind Vernon and boomed, "Bring forth the murder weapon."

A freak in white robes passed Vernon with Vernon's shotgun floating in front of the freak's stick. Sweat beaded on Vernon's brow.

"Have you ever seen this weapon before, Mr. Dursley?" the monocle freak asked.

"No, never seen that one in my life," Vernon blustered. They didn't have some sort of freak forensics that would prove it was him, did they?

"How can that be when it was found in your bedroom, Mr. Dursley? We have verified that it was the weapon that killed Mr. Potter and that you were the last one to use it," the monocle freak asked.

Grumbles rose from the on looking freaks and Vernon desperately tried to think of some explanation. He opened his mouth, but before he could say something Petunia stood up. "Vernon was scared and frightened, your honor. The boy was going to do something unnatural. He was having a nightmare and glowing green! We were afraid he might blow up! We didn't have any choice but to kill him!" Vernon covered his eyes in dismay. So much for playing dumb. How could Petunia do that to them?

"Petunia! This is no time to come unhinged and spout all kinds of filthy lies!"

Petunia snarled, "They'll find out who killed him no matter what we say, Vernon! Be honest and be civil and maybe they will be more understanding."

While this was going on the purple freaks on the bench were whispering to each other. The monocle lady cleared her throat after the red-haired freak finished whispering angrily in her ear. "Are there any other crimes you would care to admit before we resume questioning? Our sentencing may be more lenient if you confess now rather than later."

Well damn them all to hell. If Vernon was going down he certainly was going to take Petunia with him. "If the boy was normal there is no doubt we'd go to jail for child abuse. If the boy wasn't up early enough to make our breakfast Petunia would crack his head with a frying pan; if he broke a dish we broke his fingers; if he did any of his freak magic Petunia would lock him in his cupboard for a week without meals. We did all sorts of cruel things to him; we'd be here for a year if you wanted us to name them all. The boy was our slave; if he didn't do his work fast enough or good enough, he got crunched. We ridiculed him and his freak parents at every opportunity, we spread tales of what a pathetic lowlife he really is, we made sure he knew his proper place in the world... a nasty piece of slime in the bottom of the foulest sewer in all of Surrey!" Word by word Petunia's face grew paler and paler.

"Your honor! We may not have given the boy the best childhood, but Vernon is making us out to be vicious monsters!" she shrieked.

"Really," the red-haired freak shouted, "how many times did you crack his head with a frying pan, then?" The freak glared at them.

Petunia appeared flustered. "I didn't keep count of things like that!"

Another purple-robed freak declared, "I think we've heard quite enough! I am quite ready to deliver a ruling and begin sentencing." He looked to the other freaks in the front row and they exchanged glances and nodded at each other.

The monocle freak stood and cleared her throat. "There will be a short recess while the Wizengamot convenes to decide the Dursleys' respective fates."

The plum robed freaks stood and exited the chamber through a door behind their benches. A growing rumble of conversation came from the surrounding audience at their exit with a few freaks shouting at Vernon, decrying his acts and calling him a monster and Muggle. Well, he couldn't be bothered with them. He awkwardly lowered himself into his chair with his arms still trapped behind him. He looked over to his wife and found Petunia glaring at him.

In a scathing voice that was barely audible over the din, she snapped, "Vernon! You just had to bring that up, didn't you? Now that we're both going to jail, who is going to watch over our Dudley now? You just had to point a finger at me, didn't you? You were doomed from the start; the least you could have done was try to keep me free!"

Bloody hell, he never even thought of that! He wished he had kept his mouth shut. At least Dudley had the sense to sit down and sta+0y quiet, though as he looked at his son's pale face and trembling knees he thought Dudley's silence may be more from fear than good sense.

Vernon sighed and shook his head before telling his wife, "You're right Petunia, I was a fool." He couldn't look at his wife anymore and instead directed his gaze to the floor. Self blame and a terrible sense of foreboding coursed through him as the jeers of the audience passed over him all but unheard.

No more than ten minutes later the purple-robed freaks returned. They all remained standing as the monocle freak called for order. "The Wizengamot has reached a decision in this case, the Dursley Family vs. the Wizards and Witches of Britain. Vernon Dursley, you are found guilty of the charges of murder and child abuse of the late Harry James Potter. Petunia Evans Dursley, you also are found guilty of child abuse. The Wizengamot has also reached a decision for both of your sentences. Vernon Dursley is hereby condemned to spend the rest of his life in Azkaban Prison. As Harry Potter spent thirteen years in your abusive care, Petunia Evans Dursley, so shall you spend thirteen years in Azkaban Prison as well. Dudley Dursley shall be sent to a Muggle orphanage, which he shall make his home until he reaches his majority. The entirety of the Dursley estate shall be held in trust by the Ministry until such time that Dudley Dursley reaches his majority and the Head of the Child Services Office sees fit to authorize its release. This session of the court is adjourned. Aurors! Escort the condemned to the transition cells. Mr. Weasley, please see to Dudley Dursley's placement in the orphanage of your choice. Ms. Mansi, please copy and file the transcripts of these proceedings appropriately. In addition to that, please prepare an extra copy for my personal records. Thank you, everyone."

The crowd cheered and the purple-robed freaks sat and chattered amongst themselves while an Auror-freak stood behind him and physically pulled him upright. "Time to go, scumbag," the young Auror-freak told him. He gave Vernon a shove which made him stumble. As Vernon was led from the chamber in front of his shrieking wife, a sense of doom overwhelmed him. A week ago everything was well and fine in his life and now... now, who knew what nightmares were in store for him?

o ------ o ------ o

The pleasant morning weather did nothing to brighten Remus Lupin's dismal mood. It had been two hellish days since he and Sirius woke to the news of Harry's death and the thought of attending his Sending and seeing his body was like a dagger to Remus's heart.

The ceremony itself was to begin in thirty minutes. The backyard lawn of the ancestral Potter Manor, which was set up to host the event, was already filled with black-clad mourners. Despite having been a Hogwarts professor the previous year, Remus thought he knew perhaps a third of the attendants.

A very loud yet sincere sounding sob drew Remus's attention to a dark clad group that could only be the Weasleys. Their grief showed starkly in their demeanor, their faces looked dejected and thoroughly miserable even from the hundred feet or so that separated Remus from them. Oddly enough, it appeared that Molly had taken the death particularly hard. They would be sitting in the front row. The werewolf and his scraggy dog would be standing in the back.

He stood there and watched, feeling numb to the world, contemplating trivial matters about the other guests in an attempt to keep from thinking about the late young boy that brought him here.

A soft cough behind him drew him from his meaningless pondering and he turned to face Albus Dumbledore, the man who had placed Harry with the murdering bastards in the first place. Remus felt Sirius' hackles raise as the dog growled menacingly at the old man.

Dumbledore favored Sirius with a sad smile and reached down to scratch him behind the ears for all the world like he was a normal dog. Sirius positively quivered with rage before he suddenly stilled. If Dumbledore had not raised his eyes to look at Remus, he would have seen the dog's jaw drop and his eyes pop in shock.

"Professor Dumbledore," Remus said frostily.

The old man sighed at Remus's tone. "Hello Remus. I cannot say how sorry I am for you... for both of you. I am aware that you both have many things to ask as well as tell me, but perhaps it can wait until after the Sending?"

While Dumbledore was talking, a quiet whimper sounded at Remus's side and he looked down just in time to see Sirius collapse. The dog's sudden flop to the ground caught Dumbledore's attention and, to Remus's surprise, he eyed the dog suspiciously.

After a pause Dumbledore cleared his throat, "Well then, there are things I am expected to do and I must see to them. I will find you after the Sending." With that, the ancient wizard walked off to mingle with the crowd.

Remus watched him for a moment, and then looked down at Sirius, who still had his nose in the dirt. "Mr. Moony has always wondered how Mr. Padfoot eats the things he does, but never before has Mr. Moony seen Mr. Padfoot eating dirt." Remus commented as he tugged on the leash.

This seemed to drag Sirius out of his stupor for the dog immediately snorted and shook his head before jumping to his feet and grabbing Remus's cloak with his teeth. With wild eyes, the dog pulled and tugged Remus away from the crowd. "You better have something important to say, Padfoot, or I'll hex you bald."

Sirius let go of Remus's cloak and hurriedly clawed letters in the dirt with his paw, H-O-M-E. "Alright already, let's just walk off a bit so nobody notices us leaving." Sirius was excitable by nature, but what in the world could rouse him so at a time like this? He took up the leash and led an obviously anxious Sirius well away from the crowd before Apparating both of them to his small flat.

Sirius immediately transformed and grabbed Remus's robe below his neck and shook him. "He's alive! I smelled him on Dumbledore's hands! He touched Harry less than an hour ago and he was alive! Ha-ha!" Sirius let go of Remus's robe and started to dance around the parlor.

Remus gathered his scattered wits and quickly cast silencing charms around the room. He turned to his friend and asked in a trembling voice, "What? Padfoot, take this from the beginning. Harry is alive?"

"Yes!" Sirius crowed. "When Dumbledore petted my head I could smell Harry on him! He'd obviously washed his hands but I could smell him through the soap! Never thought to spell his hands scentless! Ha!"

The wave of relief that passed through Remus nearly rendered him as giddy as his Animagus friend. "Wow... This is wonderful, Padfoot!" He collapsed in a nearby chair and smiled so hard his cheeks ached.

"Wonderful! Ha! Take that Dumbledore! We've got to find him, Moony! And give Dumbledore what for, letting us think he's dead. That was damned cruel."

Remus paused to think. Dumbledore had to have a good reason to do what he did. He very likely staged Harry's death in the first place. It made perfect sense: what better way to shake Voldemort off his trail then making him think Harry was dead? "Sirius calm down and listen to me; we can't tell anyone - and I mean anyone - that Harry is still alive."

"What!"

"Think about it Sirius: Why would Dumbledore stage Harry's death if not to get Voldemort off his trail? You remember, Harry has nearly been killed at least once every year since he got to Hogwarts, and now with Voldemort back the danger will be even worse! Dumbledore would probably Obliviate us if he knew that we know."

"Spot on, Professor Moony, I think you're right! I refuse to forget, though! We've got to confront Dumbledore about this and convince him we're trustworthy enough to know. I want to see Harry, too." Sirius paused a moment. "Oh, and we better leave reminders around here just in case he does try to erase our memories." Sirius rushed for Remus's desk for parchment, ink, and quill.

"Right, you hide some where you think I'll find them and I'll hide some for you," Remus said as followed suit.

The next few minutes consisted of many notes being written and hidden around the flat. After hiding five notes in less than obvious places where Remus knew Sirius was likely to find them, Remus went to the parlor once again and waited for Sirius.

A minute later Sirius emerged from the kitchen. "Okay, Mr. Moony, now we need a plan. How are we going to approach Dumbledore?" he asked, scratching his head.

Remus broke the silence hesitantly. "I'll go back to the Sending alone. I'll confront Dumbledore there and let him know we won't be left out. You stay here till I get back and don't let anyone else in. Put up a few anti-Apparation wards around the flat while I'm gone, and if we're going to play Mad-Eye's constant vigilance, we'll need a password. Hmm... 'Hagrid eats turkeys for dinner'. Got it?"

At Sirius' nod, Remus added, "I'll be back as soon as I can."

Remus Apparated back to the Sending to find everyone seated and the minister's service complete. Evidently the individual speaker presentations had begun, for Hermione Granger was walking shakily from the raised podium by the casket and passed a downcast Ginny Weasley as she made her way to take Hermione's spot at the podium.

Ginny spoke in a loud and broken voice. "Like everyone else my age, I grew up hearing stories about Harry Potter. I got this picture in my head of who he was. And then I met him, and he wasn't what was in my head...he was better. He was brave and kind and he came and got me when I was lost in a dark place." The redhead rubbed her eyes. "I wish...I wish I could have gotten him from his...but I guess he'll never have to worry about dark places again." She finished haltingly and quickly rushed off the stage with her head down and a hand shading her eyes.

Speaker after speaker went up to talk about Harry. Several of the speakers obviously only knew Harry from hearsay and second hand accounts until finally Dumbledore approached the podium. He rubbed his face as if he were wiping tears from his eyes and cleared his throat. "We lost a very fine person in Harry Potter. His bravery and compassion, as well as his steadfast resolve to right wrongs, will be missed by us all, regardless of whether you knew him or not. Those of us who did know Harry knew that he was a boy with many burdens, who, despite everything that was piled upon him, remained conscious of the well-being of his friends and often put their welfare above his own. He was compassionate and generous, brave and true. His passing is worthy of great notice for many wizards and witches and it truly will affect us all.

The burdens that Harry Potter shouldered have now fallen on us. Lord Voldemort himself had burdened young Harry's shoulders since before the hour of his birth. Now that Voldemort is returned, his influence has spread so that he is now a weight upon all of our shoulders. I have no doubt that it would be Harry's wish that we fight as he did, to free ourselves from this dark burden and realize what Harry unfortunately could not. I speak of course of a society free of any Dark wizard's grip, a society of peace and freedom where a person is judged for who they are rather than what they are. In tribute to Harry Potter, I swear I shall do what I am able to see that society come to pass and I urge you all to join me. Remember Harry and may he rest in peace."

A moment of silence passed before Dumbledore stepped down and the minister of the church replaced him. He raised his hands and solemnly announced, "May our words lend strength to his memory and may our faith give credence to the light of Harry Potter as he sits before the Lord of Judgment." The minister lowered his hands and produced his wand. He levitated the cover off the raised coffin and laid it down on the grass behind it.

"It is time for the making of the wands of memory and the filling of the Legacy Orb. Would everyone who wishes to participate please line up before the podium," the Minister said.

Thankfully most of those in attendance stayed seated and Remus found himself at the end of a relatively short line. Dumbledore headed the line, followed closely by Hermione and the Weasleys. There were only about twenty teenagers and a few Ministry employees between Remus and the red-headed brood.

He watched as Dumbledore went first. The Headmaster was given a hollow holly wand before he went before the coffin and went through the process of filling and sealing the wand before adding his memories to the Orb.

It was some minutes before Remus found himself at the head of the line. He took his coreless wand and stopped before the casket. He carefully looked over the corpse. It certainly looked authentic and it certainly smelled as a dolled up corpse should. Still, he followed procedure and plucked a hair from the body's head for the wand. The minister sealed it and Remus moved on to the Orb of Legacy. He selectively focused on a few safe memories he could afford to deposit and using the newly crafted wand drew them from his temple and placed the grey wispy strands upon the orb, which immediately sucked them in. He drew a long breath and made his way back to his seat.

"With his soul and magic already departed, we will speed his body to the great adventure beyond in the hope that he will find it and be complete once more. May the Lord Sylus, in his mercy, favor him and may his fires illumine him forever more," the minister intoned before brandishing his ceremonial ash wand and incanted the Sending.

As the minister finished the incantation a brilliant light blazed in the casket and large white flame flashed through its open top. Slowly a fount of glowing sparks floated from the open casket and a light breeze blew them from the casket in an ever expanding radius. Where the sparks landed they imparted a soft and temporary glow to their surroundings before fading away to nothing. A few landed on Remus and warmed him. A small part of the cloud of depression seemed to lift among the assembled wizards and witches and as the last of the sparks faded their faces looked a little less dour.

"Today we said farewell to the wizard named Harry Potter. The friends of Harry Potter and the Church of the Divine Three thank you all for attending and hope you all can attend the celebration of Harry Potter's life and magic on these grounds, one month from this day, on the 8^th of August," the minister announced in closing.

The crowd stood and began to break up. Remus pocketed his newly crafted wand and quickly tried to track down Dumbledore. He found him speaking with the Weasleys and Hermione.

Several faces turned at his approach and Hermione murmured, "Hello, Professor Lupin."

"How could you leave him with those terrible Muggles when you knew how badly he was treated there, Dumbledore?" Molly Weasley asked.

It seemed Remus had arrived in the middle of an argument and one that Dumbledore was eager to be away from. "Molly," he said in his best reasonable voice, "while he was there he was safe from anyone who wanted to attack him with dark magic. If I had placed him elsewhere it is very likely he would have died many years ago at the hands of one of Voldemort's many followers that evaded Azkaban."

Dumbledore moved closer to Remus as Molly ranted on. "Even so, how could you let them treat him like that? You should have done something!"

"Yes, I should have, Molly. I admit I erred in Harry's case. I did not know the full scope of his relatives' actions until after he arrived at Hogwarts, and by then it was too late." Dumbledore abruptly turned his attention from Molly to Remus as he advanced. "Ah, Remus, you have a few matters you wish to discuss?"

"Yes, I do, Dumbledore," Remus affirmed frostily.

"Go on then, and speak to Remus, Dumbledore. I can have words with you later," Molly snapped. "Come along, Weasleys, and you too, Hermione. We're going home."

Dumbledore watched the retreating Weasleys with sympathetic eyes. Remus walked behind him and whispered harshly in his ear, "It's very cruel of you to let them believe such a horrible lie."

The old man stiffened and turned slowly, while carefully surveying his surroundings. "Perhaps you would explain what you mean by that if we were to speak privately?"

"I would," Remus affirmed.

"Very well, let us take this to my office. I see Padfoot has run off somewhere; would it be appropriate to fetch him for this as well?" Dumbledore asked with raised brows.

"Only on the condition that you do not try to modify any of our memories," Remus responded.

The Headmaster's lips pursed and he looked at Remus thoughtfully for a long moment before countering, "Very well, I will swear not to modify your memory on this matter without your express permission."

Remus didn't hesitate. "Agreed, swear now and I'll go fetch him and meet you back here as soon as I can lock up my flat."

Dumbledore produced his wand and swore on his magic, "On the matter that I believe we are to discuss I, Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore, swear that I shall not modify your memory without your expressed approval."

Remus nodded in agreement before Apparating to the front door of his flat. He knocked loudly on the door before Sirius asked, "Who's there?"

"Hagrid eats turkeys for dinner," Remus replied.

"Remus!" Sirius threw open the door.

"Get back in, you convict!" Remus said and closed the door behind him. "We're to meet Dumbledore to talk about him. Change into Padfoot while I lock up."

Sirius blinked before the onslaught but did not argue. He changed into Padfoot and waited by the door as Remus went through the flat casting locking and monitoring charms on all the windows and doors.

Remus came back to the front door with Padfoot's leash and collar in hand. "We're going back to Potter Manor to meet him," he said while he knelt to collar and leash his friend.

Once they were outside Remus closed and locked the door, "Ready?" At Padfoot's nod Remus Apparated them both back to the lawn.

Sirius immediately spotted Dumbledore and tugged Remus towards him.

Sirius sat before Dumbledore's impassive gaze and growled up at the man. Remus coughed and asked, "So where will we take this?"

"My office, I think. I've prepared a portkey for our use." Dumbledore pulled a long sock from one of his cavernous sleeves. He moved it so the end rested on Padfoot's nose and looked expectantly to Remus. "When you're ready Remus,"

Remus grasped it around the middle, and after reaffirming that the sock was touching Padfoot, Dumbledore tapped the sock with his wand, 'Portus.'

Remus's feet lifted from the ground and the usual hooking sensation gripped his gut. He was pulled through the familiar storm of howling winds and flashing color until he jerked to a stop and his feet landed firmly on the floor of Dumbledore's office.

"Welcome to my office, please make yourselves comfortable," the Headmaster stated mildly as he walked around his claw-footed desk to sit in his great chair. He regarded them shrewdly as Remus sat in one of the two chairs that just happened to be right behind them when they appeared in the office. "I expect you have a few things to ask me," Dumbledore offered.

Sirius had no qualms about speaking his mind. Shaking, he leaned towards the aged man to bellow, "What have you done with Harry? I know he's not dead and you better have a good reason doing what you did because it nearly killed me when I heard! Where is he?!"

Dumbledore sighed regretfully. "You both know of the many times that Harry has faced death at Hogwarts and elsewhere. With Harry's perilous history I thought it unlikely for Harry to have any chance of living to see the end of his seventh year here or even if he did manage to live that long that his years would be happy. I am arranging a new life for him which I feel holds the promises of both happiness and, hopefully, longevity."

There really wasn't anything Remus had to say to refute that, but he did have other issues to take up with the man. "But was it necessary to conceal this from everyone who cares about Harry? Sirius and I would die to protect that secret, and you should know that," Remus pressed.

Sirius crossed his arms and grunted in approval to Remus's question. Dumbledore merely leaned back and shook his head resignedly. "The more people who believe that Harry is dead, the more secure this secret remains. The show of your sincere sorrow gives credence to that belief; also keep in mind that one cannot give away what one does not know. If either of you were to be captured by Lord Voldemort, then Harry's chance to live his new life may be jeopardized."

Remus and Sirius exchanged looks. What Dumbledore said was heart-wrenchingly true. Remus was resigned to having to forget. Sirius spoke up again. "Can you tell us what you have planned for him?" His expression was miserable and it was obvious that he held little hope for a good answer.

"He will assume a new identity and continue his magical education so that he may live his new life and be prepared for any hazards that may come his way," Dumbledore answered patiently.

"Is there anyway I could go with him? ... Can we at least see him before he's gone?" Sirius pressed.

Dumbledore nodded his agreement and stood. "I suppose since you both know about him that it would be alright for you to see him one last time. Follow me."

He walked up a stairwell that lead to a blank wall, which he tapped twice with his wand. The wall glowed softly before swirling and forming into an open doorway beyond which lay a brightly lit bedroom. Sirius was through the doorway in a flash, pushing Dumbledore aside as he raced towards his godson.

"Harry! I thought I'd never see you again," Sirius cried as he enveloped the stunned form of the Boy who Still Lived in a tight and desperate hug. "Oh gods, you're alive. You can't believe how much it hurt to think you were dead. Merlin, it is so good to see you." Sirius gave Harry a tight squeeze that made him gasp.

Remus smiled at the sight and added, "It really is great to see you, Harry. This old dog has been unbearable since we heard the news."

Sirius snorted, "You were hardly better and you know it, Remus,"

Harry struggled in Sirius' grasp. "Ugh... Sirius... I can't breathe!"

Sirius quickly loosened his hug and sat back and apologized, "I'm sorry, Harry, but I couldn't help it!" He smiled at Harry and favored him with a look of unfettered joy.

Harry bit his lip and asked in a cautious voice, "I thought Professor Dumbledore said you couldn't know that I was alive. I asked him if I could tell you, you know. What are you doing here?" He flashed a questioning glance at the Headmaster who was lurking in the doorway.

Dumbledore gave Harry a quaint smirk and lightly replied, "I have yet to discover quite how they found out. Once they knew, there appeared to be little reason to keep them from seeing you before you go."

Remus answered for Sirius, whose attention was still rapt on his godson. "Sirius smelled Harry on your hand earlier today. You should spell yourself scentless whenever you leave these rooms.

"Ah, I should have thought of that. I spelled my robes but only washed my hands. Quite thoroughly, I might add." Dumbledore shook his head and sighed, "It was a mistake I will not make again."

"Sir..." Harry began, "Umm... you remember how you said you could make me younger... Do you think you could do that for Sirius too? I could use a friend where I'm going... Only if he wants to come, of course," Harry finished hopefully.

"What!" Sirius exclaimed.

Remus looked at Dumbledore curiously. "I've never heard of any magic that can actually make someone younger before."

Dumbledore held up his hand for silence, "I will consider it, Harry. You do not know the risk that comes with using such magic. I will give you an answer soon... That is, if the idea of going back to school is at all appealing to you, Sirius?"

Sirius didn't even hesitate. "Was the best time of my life! I'd love to go to school again with Harry. It'd be me and Jamesie all over again. You want to come too, Remus?" Sirius's eyes were bright.

"I think one time is more than enough for me Sirius," Remus replied with forced humor. He could already sense Dumbledore's opposition to the idea.

"Unlike you, Sirius, Remus would be missed," Dumbledore solemnly said, "I'm afraid I cannot agree under any conditions for him to join Harry. He could do far more good where he is and I can perform this magic only for so many."

Remus gazed at Sirius thoughtfully. "I'll agree to a memory charm if you let Sirius go," he offered resignedly.

Dumbledore nodded gravely. "Very well. There is little Sirius can do but hide for now. I see no reason to deny him this hiding scheme where he can also serve as a bodyguard for Harry. There will, however, be conditions that you must agree to uphold if this is to happen, and I am quite adamant that you uphold them, Sirius. If you do not, I will turn you into a eunuch... and the condition will be quite permanent."

Sirius gasped at the threat and Harry cheered, "Yes! We'll have so much fun! Say, Sirius, can you speak French?" Harry inquired cheerfully.

Sirius looked flummoxed and Dumbledore laughed softly at the convict and his godson before he turned to Remus. "I believe you have a few cursory pieces of evidence to destroy before undergoing the charm."

At Remus's nod the Headmaster continued, "I have a scenario to propose for your post charm condition... So far as you will know, Sirius will be on a long undercover mission for the Order. I will tell you that I will reveal the nature of the mission to you only in the instance that you should learn Occlumency. Once your competency at Occlumency is sufficient to allow your inclusion in this secret, I will brief you on the truth of what happened here tonight. Does that sound well to you?"

It sounded great to Remus. It was agreed that Sirius would stay the night, and an hour later Remus made bittersweet good-byes to Harry and Sirius before returning to his flat. He proceeded to destroy all the folded bits of paper proclaiming Harry as being alive that he could find before fixing himself an early dinner and then wrestling with himself as he tried to fall asleep. He twisted and turned in his bed, his mind filled with thoughts of the loneliness he would face with Sirius gone again as well as unease for something he could not place. All the while, buried and forgotten, one lone bit of paper remained. It was buried in a can of ground coffee and written boldly on it were the words, 'Harry is Alive!'

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AN: Next Chapter: A Busy Morning in the Ministry

This chapter was beta'd by Lisa and Fuzzbutt. Please make sure to thank them in your reviews. Without their efforts my work wouldn't be as great as it is.