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The Following 6 Chapters are already available for Patrons.
Chapter 17 (Sirius and Lupin's Reunion), Chapter 18 (Confrontation), Chapter 19 (Challenging Snape), Chapter 20 (A Girlfriend), Chapter 21 (A Dinner with Tonks), and Chapter 22 (Harry and Sirius) are already available for Patrons.
Harry Potter
After the incident during the match between Gryffindor and Slytherin, Dumbledore sends him to the Hospital Wing to be checked and see if he was injured in any way and told him that after he leaves the hospital wing to go to his office because he wants to talk.
Harry figured Dumbledore wanted to talk about his use of Holy Magic. That's what everyone was talking about anyway, and the entire school had seen him killing several dementors, some saying that must have been the magic that "killed" Voldemort many years ago.
Harry didn't really care if the school knew. It is not like anyone could do anything about it. Holy Magic was his heritage and a part of his House. Who cares what others think? And it is not like he yelled it out loud. Harry knew he could just lie about the spell, saying it was just an advanced form of Patronus Charm that Professor Lupin had taught him.
His thoughts went to the power he had shown when the dementors had cornered him. For a moment, Harry had been scared that he would fall from his broomstick and straight to his death.
But, he had felt strength flowing through him like a violent river. He felt as if he could do anything. When the dementors had screamed, Harry had felt no pity for them. When he had killed Professor Quirell, he had felt as if he was somehow guilty of his fate, despite knowing it was self-defense, and against the one person who took everything from him, Harry had felt guilty.
When he had stabbed the diary last year, hearing Voldemort scream, Harry felt a sense of victory but no joy, but when he heard the dementors cry, their forms slowly turning to dust in the wind, Harry felt joy and power.
He had felt joy. He had conquered his fear; Harry would be a liar if he said that he hadn't been afraid of Dementors. Even after the incident on the Train, Harry had felt fear from them, but seeing them crumble like that, Harry had felt joy that he held the power to kill his own fear, the power not to allow others to step on him as if he was nothing.
Harry knew soon enough he would hold enough power to rival Voldemort, and one day, with even more training, Harry could hold power even beyond that of Dumbledore. Despite not being the biggest fan of the old professor, Harry had to admit that Dumbledore was a powerful wizard. There's a reason why even someone like Voldemort feared him.
Harry thought about how he should proceed further. He didn't want everyone to know about Holy Magic yet. He wanted that power to be kept secret and maybe never revealed; Harry didn't know what would happen, but he knew he was ready for the future. He knew he could just lie, not like that many people even knew that Holy Magic was even a thing. Hell, he doubted that even someone like Voldemort knew about its existence.
His ears suddenly picked up faint noises of footsteps, he looked towards the door expecting someone to walk inside, but he was surprised that it took almost ten seconds for someone to open the door.
Harry's gloomy face changed to one of happiness, like flipping a switch when he recognized the pink hair of Tonks, her eyes scanning the large room before finding him. Her face brightened up just like his, Harry barely registered it, but his body was pushed back against the soft pillow of his bed by her jumping on him, hugging him. Harry felt her unique aroma conquer his nose. He took deep breaths to feel the fresh smell of mint, his hands caressing her long pink hair that he liked to see.
"Harry, thank Merlin, you're alright," Tonks said, her voice muffled by his clothes.
"What?" Harry asked humorously; Tonks pulled away, ready to ask the question again, when the door opened yet again, revealing Hermione and Ron.
"Harry." Both said, happy to see him alright. Just like Tonks, Hermione threw herself at the boy, kissing both his cheeks, much to the amusement of Tonks and Ron and the embarrassment of Harry, who flushed.
"It's good to see you, mate," Ron said, walking up to his left side of the bed and shaking Harry's hand.
After seeing that he was alright, Hermione, of course, was the first to break the ice and ask the question.
"Harry, what spell did you use?" She asked, excitement seeping into her voice. Harry could tell she wasn't the only one who wanted to know. Even Tonks looked quite interested.
"I'm afraid. I can't say anything, my father entrusted me with it, and I'm not going to betray his trust." Harry answered, looking at his friends. Tonks didn't really care much, Hermione looked a little dejected, and the smile splattered on her face was clearly forced.
"We understand, mate. If this is your secret, we have no business knowing it." Ron said with a little shrug. Harry smiled in return, happy to have Ron's support.
They talked a little more about what happened with the match. Ron informed him that Slytherin was chosen as the winner because they had scored points during the whole mess with Dementors.
Harry felt like he should be angrier that he had lost a Quidditch Match, but he found himself not caring as much as he used to for losing the match. While Quidditch was fun and a way to escape from his troubles for some time, Harry knew his Runes classes would start soon. Yesterday, Professor McGonagall informed him that he would start Runes tomorrow, and with Quidditch on top of it, Harry didn't want to overwhelm himself. It was a fun game, but he found himself much more looking forward to studying and getting better at Holy Magic rather than chasing and hitting balls.
Perhaps I should drop it for now. I could still fly with a broomstick whenever I have time, Harry thought before mentally nodding. For now, he didn't want to play Quidditch.
"Tonks, has there been anything from the Ministry?" Harry asked, his voice becoming more serious; Tonks blinked before answering.
"No. Why?"
"Because this is the second time I'm almost killed by the dementors they decided to send here. Everyone knows how dangerous those creatures are if I had been less prepared. Those creatures could have killed me." Harry said, anger seeping into his voice.
Tonks felt a shudder in her body from his voice, but she forced herself to think about what Harry was implying here. She herself disagreed with the idiotic decision to put dementors around a scholar with children.
"Harry, do you want to sue the Ministry or something?" Hermione asked, a little dumbfounded. She was no fan of the Ministry. She barely knew anything about them. The only thing she knew was that they were all, at least the majority were, Pure Blood supremacists. Ginny had warned her before the third year started.
"No, but what kind of Ministry does something so reckless? Two attacks, both could have easily ended with me in a body bag. The moment the first attack happened, they should have removed the dementors." Harry ranted with clear anger in his voice.
Tonks wanted to point out that Sirius also never received a trial, but Harry still thought of him as someone who was responsible for his parent's death, and suddenly, she got an idea.
"Well, Harry, if you need help, you should ask Amelia Bones for help?" Tonks said with a little sly smirk. She never liked the Minister. They were too self-centered for her liking.
"Amelia Bones? Is she related to Susan Bones?" Harry asked with a furrowed brow, recognizing the last name right away.
"Yeh, she's from Hufflepuff, isn't she?" Ron pointed out with Hermione nodding, she barely remembered the girl, but she recognized the name.
"Yes. I believe it's her aunt, but I'm saying that Amelia Bones could help you. She's one of the most powerful witches of our time." Tonks said with a wide grin, speaking with a hint of admiration.
"Is she your boss?" Ron asked, tilting his head at the side, noticing the way Tonks was talking about the lady as if she was some kind of Merlin reborn or something.
"Yes. She is." Tonks answered right away, her voice like steel, as if not wanting to be reminded of that.
"Anyway, can I meet this Amelia Bones, Tonks?" Harry asked, not sure what kind of witch she was, but if Tonks spoke of her in such high regard, then she must be one capable of helping him.
"Of course, Harry, she's coming over to my house to talk about s-something with my mother. You'll stay with us during Christmas so that you can talk to her." Tonks answered.
Harry felt a little relieved. If this woman was as good as Tonks was making her out to be, she could be a potential ally. "Thank you, Tonks. I'm in your debt." Harry said. The moment those words left his mouth, Tonks's mouth twitched up in amusement.
Oh No, Harry thought with dread creeping into his body, knowing that smirk was no good news.
"This is the second time you're in my debt. How can you ever repay me?" She asked with a little dramatic expression.
"I'll think of something," Harry answered with an innocent smile, much to Tonks's amusement, who hummed, leaning a bit closer to Harry's face.
Since the incident happened, she had felt herself drawn to him more than usual. From the very beginning, she had found him handsome and charming, but now she felt as if she herself was more powerful near him, and her whole body felt like she was engulfed in flames. A part of her just wanted to wipe that grin off his face with a kiss, a big one. A kiss to completely take his breathing away, making him forget where he even was, but the presence of Hermione and Ron was stopping her, and perhaps self-control.
Instead of doing something scandalous, she kissed his cheek before leaning closer to his ear, her breath tickling his skin. "You will repay me once you get into my home. My parents leave the house quite often during holidays. I will have you for myself." She spoke with a low husky tone. Harry took a deep breath, trying to calm himself. He was about to say something either smart or too stupid...
"Can you two continue this after I disappear from this room?" Ron asked, looking at them with a look of boredom.
Tonks laughed at his expression after talking some more about the upcoming holiday. Soon it came Harry's time to go to Dumbledore's office, Tonks and Hermione offered to come with him, but Harry said he needed to do this alone.
Entering his office, Harry was a little relieved that none of the other professors were there with him. The old professor was mixing something with a little spoon in a cup, and Fawkes was in a birdcage lying on his desk. The Phoenix chirped happily to see Harry again.
"Hello, my little friend." Harry greeted him, touching the top of his head. The Phoenix let out a pleasant sound, much to Dumbledore's amusement.
"Professor?" Harry asked with no hint of fear or insecurity in his voice as his green eyes met with Dumbledore's Blue eyes.
"Good to see you, my boy. We have a lot to talk about."
Remus Lupin
When Dumbledore found him, Remus was in a dilapidated cottage in Yorkshire, living a life more similar to the one of an animal than a man. Embarrassed, he had been ready to run, but the old Headmaster's proposition had been the light he had never known he was craving.
"I want you to come to teach at Hogwarts, Remus."
"Wha... no, I don't..."
"I cannot think of anyone better than you for this position."
"But I am a werewolf!"
"But it's not the only thing you are."
Accepting the spot for Defence against the Dark Arts at Hogwarts, the only place where he had been really happy, had been the best decision of his life but also the hardest. When he had seen Harry on the train, his heart had been caught in a grip so painful that it had taken his breath away. Even after his encounter with the Dementor, he had been so similar to his father that for Remus staying close to him had been almost unbearable.
Remus had seen the way Harry had turned the Dementor to dust. While happy that Harry had a way of protecting himself, he had reported to Dumbledore about the encounter on the train. The old wizard had simply told him not to worry about it and just focus on teaching them.
"I know you met Harry on the train, Remus."
"Yes."
"And how was it?"
Wonderful. Terrifying. Painful.
"He looks so much like James. Except for the eyes. He has his mother's eyes."
When Harry had started learning more about Patronus Charm, he had said something that had sent chills down his spine.
"When it got near me, I heard Voldemort murdering my mum."
That words had the same effect as a Cruciatus. The idea that that boy, who had suffered more in thirteen years than many adults, could be forced to relieve the night which was hunting his own dreams had been unbearable to him.
"Are you going to tell Harry that you knew his parents?"
"I don't think it would be a good idea. Nothing of what I'd tell him would bring them back to life."
"You don't need to bring them back to life. You just need to bring them back to him."
Then watching the boy's determination to learn as much as possible after every fall had been a window to the past, to that determination – stubbornness – that had been so typical of his best friends.
"We are going to become Animagi."
"What?! Why?!"
"It's obvious, Moony. Or were you thinking we were going to leave you on your own to face your furry little problem?"
He still remembered the moments of freedom they had spent in the Room of Requirement between the third and fifth year, with James and Sirius challenging each other, betting on who, between them, would have been able to become an Animagus first. Many years had passed, and of that three boys, nothing was left anymore.
James was dead, and Peter too.
Sirius had betrayed them, and once he would be back in Azkaban, a fate even worse than Death.
And he... he was alone. Again.
The happiness he had known during his years at Hogwarts had been ripped from him within one night. He had left to complete a mission for the Order that, he had three best friends, Lily and James– the only thing close to a family he had ever allowed himself to have – and he had come back that he had nothing. Everything had been ripped away from him in the blink of an eye without him even knowing about it.
The miserable life he had lived from that day on had been the punishment he had inflicted on himself for not being there. For not realizing that Sirius was the spy before it was too late.
"Hey, Moony! I bet five Galleons that tonight I'll run faster than you!"
"A werewolf will always be faster than a dog, Padfoot, don't forget that!"
"Look at you two. Furry animals really understand each other on a deeper level, mhm?"
"Shut up, Prongs!"
Sirius, with his laugh similar to a bark and a mischievous light in his dark eyes that had run alongside him every full moon for years. Sirius, when James and Lily had asked him to be Harry's godfather, had cried.
Where had gone that Sirius? Had he existed at all?
And Peter? Peter, who had never been strong, but he had tried to take on his friend anyway, losing his life because of it?
"I don't think I can do it... b...become an Animagus it's... it's a s... serious business ..."
"C'mon Peter, stop whining and grow some balls!"
"B...but... what i...if..."
"Everything is gonna be fine. We are doing it for Remus, remember?"
And James...
"I heard my dad. That's the first time I've ever heard him – he tried to take on Voldemort himself to give my mum time to run for it..."
When Harry had said those words, an imaginable pain had threatened to engulf him.
Remus hadn't been surprised to discover that his best friend had tried to slow down Voldemort to save Lily and their child. He had been like that, willing to die to protect the people he loved. It was another one of the qualities that, during their lessons, he could see in Harry: bravery and dedication.
"Dumbledore suggested that we hide from Voldemort. I don't want to do it, but..."
"James, Dumbledore is right, and you know it."
"Remus, I don't want to leave you working for the Order alone. You could die!"
"I know. But he doesn't want us. He wants Harry."
"Moony is right, Prongs."
"Sirius..."
"Everything is gonna be okay."
But it hadn't been okay. James and Lily had died, betrayed by one of the few people they trusted. That Remus trusted. But their sacrifice hadn't been in vain. Harry was alive, and so long as he was going to be alive, a piece of them would keep existing in him.
And Remus was going to do anything to protect what was left of his family.
Entering his house, he felt like just jumping into his bed and sleeping like there was no tomorrow when he heard a voice behind him. A voice he had waited to hear for a very long time.
"Long time no see, Moony!"