Harry and Merope to the Rescue - Chapter 27

Disclaimer:

I don't own the HP universe, unfortunately.

Grimmauld Place, Christmas Eve 1981:

Walburga was excited to be able to spend Christmas with her only living son and his friends for Christmas. The last few years she had experienced Christmas had been dreadful and lonely, and this was the first year in at least three that she had bothered to have Kreacher bring down the Christmas decorations from the attic and more years than that since that last time Sirius was present with her to help decorate.

Sirius had come home the night before, after having spent time with his friends, to make plans for Christmas and she was most delighted that he and his friends wanted to include her in their celebrations. Sirius had then gone out this morning and came back with a gorgeous Christmas tree, which he set up for her in the drawing room.

They were just putting up the finishing touches on the Christmas tree, but still needed to decorate the rest of the room and perhaps other areas of the house, when Kreacher came into the sitting room to notify them about an unexpected visitor. "Who is it, Kreacher?" Walburga asked.

Kreacher said, "It is being the headmaster, Mistress."

Sirius made an irritated noise and wondered aloud, "What in the world does he want on Christmas Eve? He should realize by now that we don't want anything to do with him and leave us be."

"That may very well be," said Walburga, "but you know just as well as I do that he will not go away quietly and will only attempt to return another day, and yet another day, if we turn him away now. Just make sure that your occlumency shields are intact, I don't trust him to be able to resist trying to take a peek if given half a chance."

"Of course, Mother," Sirius agreed, taking the time to inspect his mental shields and making sure they were shored up, then nodding to Walburga when he was ready.

After shoring up her own mental shields, Walburga turned to Kreacher and said, "Please escort him to us, Kreacher, and don't allow him to linger."

"Yes, Mistress," Kreacher said before he popped out. A few moments later, Kreacher returned with a slightly disgruntled Dumbledore, who had quickly cleared his expression to that of a friendly grandfather, if Walburga and Sirius had not been paying attention, they would not have seen the rather obvious change in his demeanor.

"What an unexpected surprise, Headmaster Dumbledore," said Walburga, "as you can see, we are rather in the middle of last minute decorating for Christmas."

Dumbledore cleared his throat and responded, "Yes, madam. Please call me Albus, as I am no longer your headmaster."

Walburga gave him a sharp smile and said, "I would much rather keep things more formal, if it's all the same to you."

Dumbledore bowed his head in acknowledgment and then with a twinkle in his eye, he said, "Of course. I do apologize for intruding unannounced, but I found I needed to speak with young Sirius here about a matter of the utmost importance, which must remain confidential, so if you wouldn't mind excusing us, so that we may speak in private, and then I'll quickly be on my way to allow you both to return to your decorating."

"Well, if it's just the same to you, Headmaster," Sirius said, "I would rather my mother remained here in the room with us, though I can place a privacy charm if that would make you feel more secure. Just know this, sir, I will not swear an oath, I do not consent to a secrecy charm, and if I deem it important enough to share with my mother, then I reserve the right to do so."

Dumbledore sighed in an overexaggerated way in order to convey his disappointment, as if Sirius were still one of his wayward students, and said, "I would prefer it if what I say just remained between us, Sirius. If word gets out, it could be disastrous."

While Sirius led Dumbledore over to the furthest corner from Walburga, Walburga had called Kreacher over to her and very quietly directed him to inform Harry of their visitor and she would feel much safer if he were to please come over as quickly as he could, and then asked him a bit louder to please deliver some tea for them. Kreacher understood which was the most important order and which one was meant to cover his absence and immediately left to go to Harry, before returning with tea.

Harry automatically engaged his stealth mode and immediately apparated to the drawing room of Grimmauld place to observe the proceedings, not having to explain his abrupt absence because he was present with his family who all heard the quick request from Kreacher before he immediately departed again. This all had taken less than a minute and Harry was actually in place in the drawing room before Kreacher returned with the tea tray, and he had already situated himself next to Sirius and was within the silencing charm that Sirius had erected.

After catching Walburga's eye, Kreacher confirmed with a slight nod that he had informed Harry, and a note appeared on the tray from Harry to indicate he was present and invisible, to which she relaxed her shoulders slightly in relief. It wasn't that Walburga was afraid of the headmaster exactly, but she certainly didn't trust him and knew after having spent time with Harry in preparation for Sirius' trial that he was powerful enough to keep them safe, should the situation call for it. She herself knew some pretty nasty hexes, but she knew she was no match for Dumbledore in skill at all.

Sirius sighed in exasperation and said, "Headmaster, what you deem important enough to remain confidential and what I deem to be important enough to be confidential is a matter of difference of opinion. After you tell me what it is that you want is when I'll decide if I find it important enough to swear a vow of secrecy or not."

At this point, Harry noticed that Dumbledore had drawn his wand surreptitiously (which was no longer the Elder Wand, Harry noticed), so Harry simultaneously put up a shield around both Sirius and Walburga, just in case Dumbledore should actually attempt to use it. Harry also then made a mental note to check for listening charms and other spying charms after Dumbledore was gone.

"Very well, Sirius," Dumbledore said in a disappointing tone. "I found your magical signature recently at the Potter's cottage at Godric's Hollow, and I wanted to find out why you were there?"

"Really? That is your matter of utmost importance?" Sirius asked. When Dumbledore just continued to stare at him expectantly, Sirius said, "I am Harry Potter's godfather and the Potters were my best friends, and you want to know why I was at the Potter's cottage? I will admit to being there briefly, but left immediately after I saw that it had been turned into a war memorial, an illegally placed war memorial I might add, and I'll be taking that up with the Ministry as soon as the holidays are over." When Dumbledore appeared as if he might protest, Sirius said, "They had no right to confiscate my orphaned godson's property, assuming he is still alive since you have lost him. If he is not alive, that property still doesn't belong to the Ministry, it would then fall to Hadrian Potter, who defended me at my trial."

Dumbledore visibly grimaced at the mention of that name, but soon said, "Now, Sirius, there is no need to be rash. I'm sure that young Harry will have no wish to keep the property where his family died, and if that's the case, then I see no problem allowing the memorial to remain, as it gives the citizens of wizarding Britain a sense of peace and closure to be able to see the location of the fall of Lord Voldemort memorialized."

"I don't care how you think Harry would feel, it's not up to you. I was named as Harry's guardian by right of being his godfather," said Sirius passionately, "He would be in my custody and not missing, if you had not ordered Hagrid to take him from the cottage, which he took to mean away from me as well, as I'm sure you were only too happy about. If the man were not a half-giant, I would certainly have put up more of a fight to take Harry with me, but I didn't want Harry hurt by being in the middle of a fight with a half-giant." Sirius became louder and louder with his accusations.

"Well, Sirius," Dumbledore responded sadly, "we're going to have to agree to disagree in the matter. I only did what I thought to be what was best for the greater good at the time, and believed you to have been the secret keeper, and therefore, having betrayed the Potters."

"Were you sitting in the same trial proceedings that I was?!" exclaimed Sirius. "The Potters' Will plainly stated that you were notified by the Potters about the change in secret keeper, so I do not believe your excuse. You wanted control over Harry for yourself and did everything in your power to make sure I could not access him. I'm appalled the Ministry kept your role in that debacle hushed up, but then I'm sure many of them were your co-conspirators."

"Now, now, Sirius," Dumbledore started to say with a twinkle in his eye, attempting passive legilimency without much luck and was interrupted when Sirius said, "And now that you've lost Harry, you don't know what to do, but I guarantee that if I can manage to find him, you will never have him within your clutches again."

After having taken a breath, Sirius said, "Now, I must ask you to leave my home and not darken my door again. You are no longer welcome here."

Dumbledore was frustrated and lost control enough to openly attempt to cast a confundus charm towards Walburga, who didn't notice it because she had decided to ignore what was happening in the corner and was distracted by decorating, then he cast a compulsion charm towards Sirius. What he wasn't expecting was for both charms to bounce off the invisible shields that had surrounded them and head straight back at him. He was unable to cancel them or raise up a shield charm in time to block them, when he attempted to dodge as a last resort, he found his feet were stuck to the floor and he was unable to move.

It was at this point that Harry had had enough and decided to show himself, just in time for Dumbledore's eyes to widen in shock and then glaze over in a mild imitation of the imperius curse.

Sirius jerked in surprise at Harry's sudden appearance, but realized he really shouldn't have been surprised, since he saw Dumbledore's spells backfire. He made eye contact with Harry and by some sort of unspoken agreement, Sirius turned to Dumbledore and said, "Sir, I don't know what kind of game you're playing at, but I insist that you stop playing games with people's lives and do nothing to hinder the return of the Potter Cottage back to the Potter family, which would be Hadrian Potter, until young Harry Potter can be found."

Dumbledore nodded his head, with eyes still glazed over and mumbled, "No more games with people's lives and return Potter Cottage to Potter family."

After a moment, Dumbledore's eyes cleared up and he blinked in surprise when he saw Harry now standing next to Sirius. "I apologize," said Dumbledore, "I seem to have been lost in thought and didn't see you arrive, Mr. Potter." Outwardly, he appeared calm and collected, which came to him naturally after years of playing the part of the calm, benevolent grandfather figure; inwardly, he was angry that Potter had somehow snuck in and over without himself noticing it. Additionally, he was confused about why he suddenly felt like his meddling was not a good idea, and, also, that if Sirius wanted the Potter Cottage returned to the Potters that he shouldn't try to stand in the way.

"There is no apology necessary, Mr. Dumbledore, I arrived only a few short moments ago." Harry looked over at Walburga, who as it seemed was still distracted by decorating and never a spell had been cast at her, then said, "Walburga sent word with Kreacher for me to come help with the Christmas decorating, as she wasn't sure how long he would be indisposed in conversations with you, and as tomorrow is Christmas, I only thought it prudent to come post-haste to make sure that everything was ready on time. I truly had only been in the room a few moments when you appeared to have spaced out, much like a seer I once knew," Dumbledore perked up in interest at the mention of a seer, "but without the prophecy mumbo jumbo of course. Though, you were staring in space for quite long enough for me to grow concerned and come over here to check on you. Are you sure you're quite well?"

Dumbledore frowned in thought, maybe his immediate dislike for Potter was unfounded, although he still felt that there was something he was missing. Quickly, he shook the thought away and returned his attention back to Potter and Black, before they believed him to be spaced out again. Perhaps he would get Poppy to give him an examination when she comes back from her Christmas holidays.

"I do apologize for interrupting your plans," said Dumbledore. I will let myself out, so that you may return to your festivities."

Walburga shook her head and said, "That won't be necessary, Headmaster. I can adjust the wards for a one-time use and you may exit by way of the floo, or I will have Kreacher escort you back to the front door to prevent you from getting lost on the way out."

"Thank you, Madam Black, I was rather hoping I could leave with the use of your floo connection," said Dumbledore with a smile. Reaching for the floo powder indicated by Walburga, Dumbledore took out a pinch and threw it in the fireplace and then after stepping into the flames he stated clearly, "Diagon Alley," then he was seen disappearing into the flames.

After his exit, there was silence for a moment before Sirius said, "Well, he almost seemed to do a complete turnaround, that compulsion charm must have had quick the kick."

"Indeed," agreed Harry. "I still wouldn't turn my back to him, if I were you, he's a very good actor." Sirius nodded in agreement. Turning to Walburga, Harry said, "Well, I'm going to return home now, so I can see if Mary needs help getting everything all packed up so that we have everything we'll need to stay over tonight." With a smile he added, "Little Harry is excited to be coming to Kreacher's home."

Walburga smiled at that and said, "I'm glad. Just be sure you arrive early enough to have supper, Kreacher was surprisingly most insistent to be allowed to prepare us all a traditional Christmas Eve meal, and I know you don't want to disappoint him by being late.

Harry smiled and said, "We will definitely be on time. Kreacher is a wonderful cook, and I look forward to tasting his food once again." Harry started to say his goodbyes, but remembered something and turned to say, "Oh, I almost forgot." Putting up a muffliato, he said, "I should do a quick walkthrough of the house, just to make sure Dumbledore didn't leave any surprises, such as listening charms or anything else, on his way in."

First, he tested the room they were presently occupying, and found a listening charm had been placed in the far corner of the room, which he quickly removed. Second, he tested the hallway leading out and didn't find anything else out of the ordinary, until he found a curse once more on Walburga's portrait frame. It was interestingly the same type of curse that he had previously removed, but it was not the same magical signature, whether that was because it was placed by a different person or the same person using a different wand wasn't clear.

Then Harry returned to the drawing room, made Sirius and Walburga aware of what he found and that he had removed then, and said his goodbyes again, after which he apparated directly back to the island and Sirius and Walburga returned to decorating for Christmas.

Note:

I have no idea what the actual effects of being hit with one's own confundus and compulsion charms would be and I did attempt to Google theories without finding any, so I have only written the effects as seemed the most logical to me, hopefully, I made a good guess.