Chapter 53-
Sucks that he is once again forced front and center for the worlds attention and has to deal with so many peope and their questions. From other students to invasive reporters with their borderline offensive questions the peace and quite he wants is a long way off. So sad that Cedric's open and honest kindness is met with suspicion. Understandable though as Harry has had to reevaluate his opinion on quite a few people and their motives already.
"Even though he doesn't think Diggory would stand a chance against Voldemort"
Oh you have no idea Harry.
Damn Remus for a second their was showing a bit of spine before Albus turned the conversation around on him. Sirius staying the way he is would only make him more susceptible to Dumbledores influence and if his head got on straight he might start to ask questions and not be a decent pawn for Albus. That was a low but once again not purposely cruel tactic by Albus. Just falls into his 'greater good' category and how he is perfectly willing to use and sacrifice people and offer them the things they desire but it comes with a catch.
Cute little moments between Harry and Snape and it will be interesting how Sirius fits into it and how whether nor not he and Severus will be able to be civil and not play anymore tug of war with Harry.
Enter Rita Skeeter and right off the bat gets Harry to dislike her lol. Harry plays his cards right then he could have this little revelation in his back pocket in case Albus interferes too much and just reveal how it was him who left him with abusive muggle relatives.
*Edit*
Madame Macmillan still remains one of the few people to really look at Harry and tell it like it is and treat him on an equal footing instead of putting her own ego or desires first like all the other adult's have been doing. That kid is just so tired and she's the only one to really get that. Snape cares too but he is also motivated by ego and pettiness. Sirius also cares but his head is still too muddled with the trauma from prison and his own personal bias's.
Ouch you really pull no punches with Remus here lol. His own fault i suppose with his inability to resist people he feels indebted to. Even in canon he had a bad habit of disregarding the harm the marauders did in their school boy years. It's almost understandable considering his condition that he would be so loyal to the man who helped hide it and give him an education. Kind of want to know more of the history between him and Gwendolyn from the old days.
Ooh Harry starting to ask questions about the sender of the letters. Wonder how long it will take him to discover Daphne's hand in things. It resulted in Harry finally getting an adult solely in his corner BUT it was also a massive breach of trust and privacy. Ouch at Harry telling it like it is to Remus. The kid is just so tired. Although, and not too shoot on Harry's heroics and how he seems to always be the one who has to act, he very much chose to do those things along with Ron and Hermione without getting pushed into it. He could have ignored the issue of the stone and he also could have hung back and hoped a teacher got lucky in saving Ginny. Granted Albus didn't try to persuade him not to do reckless things and even praised him for doing things no child had any business doing so blame falls on the headmaster as well.
Sad that this is what is pushing him into accepting the role of leader but at least he is deciding what type of leader he wants to be if he must be one. All this just because people can't let him live normally.
Severus seems to be counting his chickens a little early. It ain't a set deal until Harry is legally and fully with him and Sirius and their are still other parties just waiting to pounce. His past as a death eater could mess things up now that Albus might not vouch for his character any longer and Sirius's mental instability and recent actions could also throw a wrench into the plans.
Yeah Albus definitely has a severe lack of self introspection in that he really thinks he knows best on all things and can never be wrong. He has no ill intentions and honestly is a kind man but he also sees nothing wrong with sacrificing others for what HE perceives as the greater good. That's a scary thing, someone who can be kind too and even love someone and be perfectly okay with sacrificing that same person. At least with Voldemort, you know where you stand in his eyes and all his faux affable characteristics don't take away from the fact that you know he is evil and that he can and will hurt you. Albus's affability is all genuine too the point where you would never expect the dagger in the back.
I do pity Albus to an extent since his current standing with both Harry and Snape is due to his own making and had he just allowed Harry to stay with the Weasley's or even just stay at school for the summers none of this would be happening, even the Dursley's(not that anyone misses them) would be alive and Harry wouldn't be in anyone's debt or in his current condition. It's also sad since Severus was once a close confident and trusted right hand to Albus before all this.
"And Albus thinks me invested in the hatreds between Houses."
Too be fair, he kind of was not too long ago and still is to an extent lol. Severus can be a bit hypocritical and petty at times but he is getting better for Harry's sake. Will be interesting to see how he and Sirius manage being dual guardians. Both do have valid reasons to hate the other but putting Harry in the middle and trying to one-up the other is childish and unfar to Harry. I'm honestly surprised that Sirius only used the truth about the prophecy as a weapon totry and turn Harry from Snape and not go after the man personally like he tried with Peter given their already bad history and his current mental status.
Yeah for a confounded Dumbledore... he deserves it for all his meddling. He is so confused by a Harry that finally asserts his wants and needs before the need for everyones approval. Course I hope he will stop doing dangerous things for Sirius' approval too. It was a really harsh lesson with getting burned.
I'm really glad that Harry is going to live with Severus but I'm glad that he is buying his own place too. I think it's important that Harry feel a bit separate from Snape and Sirius. He is forced to make mature decisions and he feels hurt because of both of them. I don't think he wants to feel indebted either.
Damn it is painful seeing Harry break apart piece by piece with each new disappointment sent his way via people he thought cared more about him than there own petty grudges and outside loyalties. Harry continues to make excuses for Sirius and while not completely unfounded perhaps being a little harder on the man will light a fire under his ass to get his head right. Sirius was handling it well up until the reveal that Snape was a candidate as a second guardian and then went and spill the big secret, but only to use as a weapon against Severus. Burned, tired and weak and now he has to deal with this revelation.
"I suppose some people don’t get someone who loves them like that, Harry thinks wearily to himself. Sirius wants to hurt Snape, and Snape wants to hurt Sirius. I suppose—I’m just in the middle. That’s all."
Tear my heart out why don't ya. The two present adult figures in his life who he has been growing closer too and he has to deal with being the prize in there eternal pissing contest and feeling he just "has to live with it". Honestly i know the Weasley's are off the table but at least Molly would shower him with love even if he had to share it with others and if he put his foot down she would possibly even go against Albus and still let him see both Sirius and Severus.
Smart of Harry to use what love Sirius does have form, even if he shouldn't have too, to get him to accept finding another mind healer and then using Sirius's hatred of snape to maneuver him to play polite for a time. Harry really needs a good solid hug and a long crying session. Side note but ya know who gives good hugs? Molly Weasley!....ahem.
Okay that talk went much smoother than i thought it would go, if only because Harry is just to emotionally drained to stay mad and no longer expecting people who claim to care to be honest.He just seems so done with this shit and being lied too and jerked around. I do like the moments though when he brings up that Snape didn't care before he was a Slytherin. That's a pretty big thing since before that his treatment of Harry was beyond unfair and abysmal. The prophecy deal is a bit more mixed since he didn't know who it was referring too and acted when he did find out. Doesn't take away that he was still endangering someone but he at least tried to make amends for his colossal fuck up and went to Albus.
“You cannot be surprised that I did not tell you of this before,” Severus snaps before he can stop himself"
Wow right back to shooting yourself in the foot! After that display in the last chapter way to set yourself back a few steps. Although combined him and Sirius might make an effective pair. He is all responsibility and safety but with a severe lack of emotional expression while Sirius is all about the emotions, fun and open affection but with near none of the responsibility.
“Black does not deserve the chance!”
These are mighty bold words considering it was a 'second chance' that allowed Sev to avoid prison time and be where he is now. Hope that Sirius gets the help he needs and can be the Guardian Harry deserves and that he and Snape can get over themselves long enough to see what there feud is doing to Harry on an emotional level.
Sucks that Harry feels he has to play the role of responsible adult since almost everyone else around him fitting that description can't seem to pull there heads out of their asses to do it themselves. One has to wonder how he's gonna react if one of his little study buddies schemes further complicate issues. Then there's still Mr. Nott and his contacts but at least Harry has Madam Macmillan in his corner, if she can be trusted.
I so liked this chapter!!! I still think Sirius is totally a danger to Harry but I really like how Severus sort of accidentally opened himself up in front of everyone lol. And if Harry chooses him (I hope he does... Severus and Sirius are always amusing) then Harry deserves someone that people won't think he's crazy for picking and who does care about him... which Severus just proved to everyone!
Injured and weak but still worried about Sirius more than his own condition. I love this kid. I like how he is more and more acknowledging that Sirius screwed up bad and is opening up to the idea of a second guardian to help keep him in check. Both heartwarming and heart rending that he was honestly considering Severus as a potential guardian before all this mess. He could always ask Ron for a bit of info on Cedrella Weasley before fully committing to the idea.
Oh that is petty at how Snape is slightly smug when seeing the Aurors arrive to arrest Sirius. At least he owns that they probably view him in a similar light that they do Sirius due to his time in Azkaban for more actual reasons than Black. Speaking of his debt, would Albus be able to revoke his pardon if he made enough noise about it to the right people? Assuming he ever finds out that Snape is no longer on his side.
Hermione fucking Granger ladies and gentlemen. She didn't waste any time and rounded up her posse of people loyal to Harry and just worked the system, it's thought that muggleborns are naive and got snape to question every interaction he's ever had with her after seeing pulling this stunt. God help them had she been sorted into Slytherin lol. Mess with Harry in any capacity, you get mama bear Hermione. Severus was both pissed and impressed but had to stay mellow in front of the authorities even when the Auror throws a bard at Slytherin house.Those kids are already making small waves and even seasoned Aurors had to back down when the law was used against them.
Harry putting his foot down and starting to think a little more politically and make all the right kinds of threats that he can back up. Props to Blaise and Theo for following Hermione's lead and having Harry's back and being willing to defy Snape and use their names to make sure Harry's demand is followed, even if it means he might stay with Sirius.
“I don’t want that because I wish to be your first guardian!”
And finally the Dam breaks and Severus lets the truth he couldn't fully say before rush out. To say it is one thing, to admit it in front of so many people is another. It would be quite interesting and entertaining as hell if Snape became Harry's first/second guardian and was forced to bury the hatchet with Sirius and be in close proximity to the other man. Harry would make them try to get along during visits and imagine the awkward meals lol. I doubt they will ever be chums but here's hoping that they can at least set there grudge aside for there mutual love of Harry.
Now they need to find a proper mind healer and one that's not in Dumbledore's pocket.
On a side note i noticed that neither Daphne or Draco were present when the group pulled off their plan and am curious just what happened when Hermione assembled there little band to tell them what was going on.
Oh my heart. The first thing Harry's asks after waking up from a serious injury caused by sirius is whether Sirius is alright....... bless this poor child. It feels like equal parts Snape has genuine concern and wants to keep Harry safe while at the same time get one over on Sirius.Like he hates the man so much that his patience threshold goes from 0-100 at the drop of a dime when Sirius is involved. Granted this is as serious matter but i wonder how he would have handled it had it been literally anyone else involved.
Yeah once you stop and think, the room of requirement could house quite a few dangerous items depending on the persons desires. Ooh another trial for Sirius is going to put Severus in even worse standing with Harry, if that's even possible at this point. Lol Hermione letting some of that inner rebel out and deciding anyway to contact the study group despite being told not to. Wonder if some of the reactions she gets will tip her off that some people are getting up to some meddling in her best friends affairs.
I am liking this Madam Macmillan already. That's a good compromise that Snape didn't think of because he has too much hatred for sirius to budge even a little at the thought of Harry being around him. Good on Harry for at least admitting to himself that Sirius DID get him hurt. Smart of her to go about it this way. Harry gets what he wants in a way and there is someone of HIS choosing that can ensure that Sirius doesn't go to far and is getting the help he needs. The big take away from this is that someone is finally giving Harry the freedom of choice he has been being denied. Still wary on fully trusting her though even if she has offered Harry the best options as of now.
I love how she almost talked to him like an equal. She listened to him, offered alternatives and didn't immediately shoot him down but instead listened to him.I wonder if this was the intended effect that Daphne hoped for with her letters or if she has something else planned. I doubt she wants Sirius anywhere near Harry. Perhaps she over-reached and over estimated her talents of maneuvering things. Trained or not she is still only a child.
Harry, meanwhile, is staring at Snape and feeling as though someone’s snagged a fishhook in the back of his throat. “You told someone?” he whispers.
Ouch and there comes what may be the final straw, the perceived betrayal and wow at the lady insulting Snape's mother like that. Rude but she has some massive stones. Severus did push too hard though and handled the whole situation badly. He doesn't have to do things like how a Gryffindor would but he really can't keep doing things like a Slytherin would.
“Maybe you hate him more than you want to help me."
This right here is a big thing that even i have thought about at times. Severus really kicked things into high gear the more Sirius got involved and while i fully believe he cares about Harry and wants whats best for him i also can't help but think he is also being motivated by his sheer hate and a bit of jealousy towards Black. Even if he doesn't realize it himself. He is so focused on Sirius that he has gotten tunnel vision and has no idea of the multitude of other schemes going on around him.
Man I so dislike how irresponsible Sirius was with endangering Harry and how he does not take responsibility for what he did. He will be a horrible guardian but Harry is just too young to realize that Sirius just isn't a good guardian. I wish he could see things from Severus' point of view and realize that Snape is putting Harry's safety first even if Harry hates him for it and not just because he dislikes Sirius.
I think Harry wouldn't be clinging so hard to the idea of living with Sirius if he were a bit older. Sirius really does need some serious consequences but in the wizarding world that just isn't dependable.
This a real story; so unique! Can’t wait to read more!