Chương 14: The Dogfather

*Sunday 22 May 1988 07:00*

I was to meet Sirius Black in St. Mungo's at 11:30. I had a few hours to get there. I did my morning ablutions and saw to the egg that was absorbing magic like an endless pit. I injected my magic into the egg until I felt slightly tired. Then went downstairs to go get breakfast.

The commotion in the hall was a bit subdued from previous days. The fall out from revelations of the the darker side of the Ministry still fresh on the minds of the populous. The sacking and demotions of several Ministry employees was made public record. In the coming months, all dealing of the Ministry in the last 100 years would be available for anyone to view. Older records will be made public progressively.

The influx of half-blood and muggleborn employees, and promotions of the already existing employees made sure the people I contacted to run interference in the Ministry would be in better positions to help me. By the time I am in Hogwarts, I will have considerable backing, from House Black, possibly House Longbottom, Gringotts, and the Ministry. I can't count on Dumbledore's support, he is too reliant on the prophecy, and his own regret addled brain isn't doing anyone any favours.

My meeting with Sirius has several objectives:

1. Establish a working relationship with Heir Black. I need him to take up the mantle from Lord Arcturus Black III. The man needs to get his shit in in order.

2. Gain access to the Black libraries. Oh, I know for a fact that there are more than the usual two. Most families have a house library, and a vault library. The blacks have spread out the knowledge all over Europe. This secures that any knowledge learned, is fragmented. A dark family will obviously want to keep their advantage. The dark arts are easily learned, the counters to them, good luck.

3. Wean Sirius off of Dumbledore's teat. The man is a loyal dog. Too loyal in fact. Who in their right minds trusts someone explicitly? The Potters being a light family had enough tomes on Dark Arts to give Voldemort a boner. He needs to be his own man. He is an adult still thinking he is in Hogwarts.

4. Improve his deplorable love life. I have a feeling Amelia Bones wants to jump his bones, but she's holding herself back until he heals. Why did the woman have a 24 hour rotating guard on the man? There is something there, let's see if it can turn into something more. For better or for worse, he is my godfather.

5. Find a way to help the Longbottoms. Alice Longbottom is my godmother. It would be remiss of me to ignore her in her time of need. Also the young Neville needs a proper instructor in magic. Maybe old relationships can be rekindled and mended.

*10:45*

I am in the lobby at St. Mungo's. The receptionist called an intern to guide me to Heir Black's room. A short walk later, we were in front of the room in question. Made readily apparent by the guards in the hallway and inside the room. The intern decided he didn't get paid enough for dealing with such situations and quickly left the area.

I walked over to one of the guards and stated my purpose. He checked the itinerary, upon confirmation of the meeting, he cast several spells on me to confirm I wasn't a danger to their charge. His task complete the man broke out into a huge smile, "Harry Potter as I live and breath! Can I have an autograph?"

A grown man giving you puppy eyes is not a pleasant experience. I quickly signed 4 autographs 'Kind Regards Harry Potter' with a slightly different signature on all of them. The adults would wave it off as a young lad's nervousness, but the true reason was that I did not want my willingly given name out in the magical world. The consequences would be dire if the knowledge of that fell into the hands of my enemies.

The guard opened the door and I entered the hospital room. I saw Sirius sitting on one of the chairs in the room, the other was occupied by an Unspeakable. Upon my entry, the Unspeakable concluded the conversation an exited the room.

"How are you Harry?" Sirius asked reservedly.

"I am doing well, how are you coming along?" I answered and inquired in response.

"Don't be shy Harry, have a seat." Sirius politely and reservedly asked me to join him. "How do you like your tea?"

"Oh don't go through the trouble."

"I, insist."

"A bit of cream no sugar."

Sirius poured the tea and added a bit of cream. He got it surprisingly close to how I like it. Handing me the cup and saucer he spoke with a forlorn smile, "your mother had similar tastes." Sitting back I could see his hands tremble, the past still haunting him. Whether it was from the dementors or the memories, I don't know, and I won't ask.

In my musing I forgot that Sirius was an Auror, he noticed me looking at his trembling hand, "still not completely better, the dementors really do a number on you."

I was embarrassed at being caught, so I quickly asked, "how long will you remain here?"

Smiling he responded, "a few more weeks, I think it is to make sure, I don't add to the Ministry's misfortune." As he finished he had the look of a predator. 'He knows. Makes things so much easier.'

"Well they are finally getting their just desserts. About time as well, eight years is a long time." I responded cordially. This was the first meeting between the heirs of two houses. The godfather-godson relationship would develop over time.

Sirius took out his wand and cast a few spells. "Now that we can speak freely, it's nice to see you my boy. I last held you when you were just a few days old." A genuine smile on his face. 'How can someone change so fast? And why is he so trusting?'

"Well it's not like I can remember that day, but it's nice to finally meet my godfather." I replied.

"So how did you manage it?"

"Manage what?"

"The perfect storm. Getting me out of Azkaban, destroying any credibility the Ministry has, retrials for alleged Death Eaters. How did you manage it?" He asked passionately.

I checked the MAP. There was no one inside the room. No insect animagi eavesdropping. The guards and unspeakables were outside. "Recast the privacy, silencing, anti-intrusion, and disillusionment wards." I stated flatly, surprising Sirius.

After doing so, he asked "how do you know what I cast?"

"I've had nothing to do but read in my room at the Leaky Cauldron. The standard wards placed in The Crown and Castle on Vertic Alley are such. The more private dining areas have more suitable wards for such discerning clientele." I answered back.

He smirked, it was standard knowledge in the ancient houses. The best privacy wards cast in meetings were only surpassed by the wards in the Gringotts meeting rooms. The basic collection of wards was second nature to most purebloods, or scions of The Sacred 28. "Good lad, now tell me what you have been up to and how you managed all this mischief." Sirius asked eagerly.

'Still a prankster at heart, the old dog.'

"Well it all started when I turned the Dursleys into pâté. Constant abuse since I was a baby and the realisation that my name was not 'Freak' made me realize I was not in a normal household. One day I'd had enough, a bout of accidental magic turned the three abominations into a smear of blood and guts on the walls and floor. I then had to setup a gas leak and a timer. I robbed the place first. A few hours later the house was rubble." I stated the 'accidental' murder of there people with the same exasperation reserved for a particularly annoying day at work.

Sirius was in shock. Eyes bulging out, mouth hanging open. He recomposed himself, but during the process, I could see anger, fear, and most of all relief. "The explosion due to a gas leak, a nice touch." He finally said with a smirk. 'Ah the muggle incident report.'

"What goes around comes around."

"So how did you find the magical world?"

"By complete accident." I then spun a tale of half truths and omissions. Sirius nodded along, laughed and quipped during my story of finding myself in Magical Britain. Upon my telling him of my dealings in Gringotts and all the knowledge learned once I was there. He laughed like a madman. Me extorting the supposed 'vassals' of House Potter for every knut they had was hilarious to the man. I briefly outlined the plan I had for the reemergence of House Potter.

Sirius was very reluctant to become Lord Black. The childhood trauma still scarring him. I told him, that as far I knew his only living relative was Arcturus Black III. It would be best if The Most Ancient and Noble House Black was reborn as force to be reckoned with. The only reason Voldemort had gotten a foothold was due to the support of House Black. Otherwise the half-blood upstart would've been killed off a long time ago.

So began a most wonderful and lasting relationship between House Potter and House Black. The current heirs and future lords of both houses agreeing to sort their affairs and mend past relationships between themselves, their allies and friends.

Sirius agreed to teach me the basics of magic. I could only read, being careful as to not cause unwanted damage to my recently revitalized and improving health. We would be staying at our respective residences. Me learning of my heritage and resetting the wards was very important. Sirius also had quite a lot of work to do. Reestablishing House Black, rekindling his relationship with Amelia, being a menace to society. All that took a lot out of a man.

Over the coming weeks I visited regularly, often bringing news and entertainment. The Godfather being Sirius' personal favourite. He remembered seeing it in his youth, he snuck out to go see it in a muggle theatre. The guards, Sirius and I looked forward to movie nights. I was clearly asked to change the day every week so the other rotations could also watch. I wisely decided against war films based on recent wars. WW2 was fine, but once the wizards learn of fighter jets and high-altitude bombers I don't know how they would react. I asked Sirius the question, he said the Department of Defence although small kept up to date on the latest on goings of the muggle world.

They all loved A Bridge too Far and The Great Escape. Rambo was a wake up call for the aurors. Rocky was very motivational. Platoon and Full Metal Jacket showed the horrors of modern warfare. The indiscriminate slaughter depicted reminded them of the Wizarding War.

The requests by aurors and hit-wizards to study muggle war tactics in the field or in training were beginning to pile up. At least some magi had a modicum of foresight.

We celebrated my birthday in Sirius' hospital room. We were the only one's celebrating. A majority of business owners in wizarding Britain was cursing my name. Silently.

The storm that tore through wizarding Britain was calming down. Sirius Black was released from St. Mungo's on Sunday 3 July 1988. Monday 4 July 1988 would be Black Monday for the Magical world. This was the day when House Potter and House Black decided to collect on, with interest, loans new, old and ancient.

*Hell*

Hahahahahahaha...

Uproarious laughter could be heard from a large gathering of lesser demons. The Elites of Hell were more reserved.

"I love that guy. A few months in and he's already made power moves most wouldn't think to make in their entire lives."

"I agree, why do all reincarnates keep trying to make harems? Harems are for hoes. The hoe making it and the hoes agreeing to it."

such discussion on the life of the transmigrated Damien/Harry took place in several halls and pubs across hell. Without him knowing, Damien had become what he hated most. A reality tv star.