Adult-FanFiction.org : Harry Potter

Leaving With the Devil	By : SpeedyTomato Category: Harry Potter > Slash - Male/Male > Harry/Sirius Views: 38945 -:- Recommendations : 6 -:- Currently Reading : 14
Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter and make no money off this work that throws most of canon out the window

Chapter List
- 10
- 11
- 12
A reminder of what's on my profile; reviews whinging or complaining about lack 'o smut in stories get deleted. If you want something that is one long, smut-filled story, find something else to read as my work isn't for you.

Beta'd by the most wonderful, amazing and stupendous Tenchi. Woman, you are the best and love you for all you do for me!

With help from Lynn who works with me when it comes to flow, continuity and other issues.

Chapter 11

As Harry went through the mail and papers they received that morning, he was groaning. It seemed like everyone he had ever known, and it was probably the same with Sirius, had written to them. Then there were the papers. Every single one they had a subscription for out of the UK covered what happened in the Alley.
While the Prophet didn't go into the whole thing, just some of what was said, others covered it all almost completely verbatim. All of them, especially the Prophet, made a huge deal of him saying he wasn't helping. Not good, very not good, as he was sure it would cause real issues. On the upside, all the papers, especially the Prophet, was laying most of the blame at Dumbledore's feet, howling about manipulations and plotting. Remus also received a good spanking over it as well, calling him weak for not taking on the responsibility for what he had promised. Sirius would like both, quite a bit, as he did. There was also a statement from Rufus which made it clear he's done playing.
What he said is if those in the Ministry, as part of their jobs, decide to help someone else and give evidence to them which could aid the war effort, not only are they fired, but might be facing jail time as well. He then went on to say he was done playing, though in more legal speak, and would be going after those that are trying to undermine what the Ministry is doing or have evidence they're using the Ministry needed. Even without being in the UK for so long, Harry could easily tell he meant Dumbledore and the Order. Good. It would keep the old man and others busy. And he hoped long enough for them to finish what they needed to and could get the hell out. All they needed was time and this might have given it to them.
After tossing the paper he was looking at aside, he took a sip of his coffee, eying the stack of letters that were addressed to him and made it through the elves checking them. At some point, he'd at least look through them to see what was there and if he wanted to reply. He assumed Ron had written and wasn't sure if he wanted to read anything from him after the bit in the Alley. Hermione might have. Hers he wanted to read if she had written. The rest—not sure and he certainly didn't know if he wanted to read them or not.
Along with those kinds of letters, there was one from their Solicitor. It was one he had already opened. The man sent along the warding stickers he talked about. Those were something they'd get up today if they could manage as they would protect the properties. He also met with their realtor and gave him the key-in magic and to let him know to watch himself, something else needed. There was also a copy of the paperwork he filed with the Ministry so that not only did the Ministry leave them alone, but others did as well. He was highly pleased he managed. Then he detailed how he had met with the head of the London branch of Gringotts and managed to get them Portkeys to tend to business rather than having to brave the Alley. More good there. He had also started the papers for Russian citizenship. As it would take time, he wanted as much done as he could. Then he detailed how he was looking into bodyguards. While Harry groaned at the idea, he realized it needed done. The more protection they had, the better. It would just take time to get used to having them. He then added, and Harry could almost hear the evil chuckle he used when he wrote it, they would be getting the reward for those they caught. From what he said, he made it clear to the Ministry that if they didn't, he'd be howling to anyone who would listen. Yeah, Harry liked the idea and it made him grin evilly.
Issues he enumerated were good and helped. However, he included a couple other bits they had to talk out. One was the press wanted statements from them about what was said. He was asking how to handle it. As it was something he and Sirius would have to hash out, he would make a point to come up with something that basically told everyone to bugger off and leave them alone. Then he wanted to know if they wanted to slap an injunction on those they wanted to stay away to force them to. He mentioned Remus and Dumbledore specifically there. Harry thought one for the old man was a damned good idea, but would wait to see what Sirius had to say about Remus. As mad as he still was with Remus, he might not want to as he would like to have at him again. It was something they'd discuss this morning so they could figure out what they wanted to do. From his end, he wanted it done. The less that people could get to them, the better off they'd be, but he'd wait to see what Sirius said.
With a sigh, he tossed the letter into the pile for Sirius and shook his head. Yeah, they needed to finish this bit as fast as they could and get the hell out. The longer they tarried in the country, the more likely they'd be drawn in. No chance there if they could at all help it. He just hoped something wouldn't happen which would make it inevitable. With how this nightmare was going, he wasn't sure it wouldn't happen, something which had him on edge.
Once more gazing at the letters addressed to him, trying to decide if he was ready to tackle them yet, he then looked up when he heard a noise. As expected, it was Sirius coming in. His husband was dressed in just boxers and an open robe, still looking tired. No matter how many times he saw this, it still made Harry grin. The only way to describe it was funny. Sirius was usually half asleep and not with it until he sucked down his first cup of coffee. Over the years, it had given him endless hours of amusement.
As Sirius stumbled his way to the table, Harry summoned an elf to have the required cup of coffee waiting for him then said good morning. And, as usual, he received a grunt in reply, something that made him grin.
Sirius flopped in his chair and sucked down half the cup of coffee in one swallow then looked around the table at the mass of letters and newspapers. With a groan, he asked, “Junk we have to tend to?”
“Oh yes,” Harry chuckled.
“Bloody wonderful,” Sirius groused and downed the rest of his coffee then refilled his cup. “I'm not awake enough to deal with this yet,” he muttered, gazing around at the letters. “How much is crap we have to tend to quickly?”
“So far, only the letter from our Solicitor,” Harry said, pointing to it. “I've not sorted through the rest other than to put them in piles for each of us. I think most of it is just—bunk we don't need to worry about. I'm not sure who all of them are from, but they made it through the elves, so it's apparently from some we know. All I did was read the papers, at least a skim of the articles, and what came from our Solicitor.”
“At least it isn't all of it,” Sirius said with a pleased sigh, sipping at his second cup. “The papers,” he started, looking at them. “How bad is it? Or don't I want to know?”
“Bad enough,” Harry admitted. “I've not thoroughly read them, but there's enough in there which painted a target on us as all of them made it clear I told the UK to piss off and fight their own war. The rest—depends on the paper.” Hearing a moan and watching Sirius' head drop forward, he added, to make it not seem so bad, “Most are blaming Dumbledore. He and Remus, both, ended up getting smacked, hard.”
“That's good at least,” Sirius admitted with a grin, taking a bite of his crumpet.
“And Rufus is on the warpath over plenty. In this case, he's looking in the right direction and made it clear. I'm sure the old goat is in his sights.”
“Even better,” Sirius admitted, taking his plate of eggs from an elf.
“Will help keep him distracted at least,” Harry chuckled, eyes once more sliding to the letters addressed to him. He then sighed and added, “When you're with it, we'll take on the Solicitor bit. Not much we have to handle, but one part we do for sure then we have to get to all the houses and put up the warding stickers. He sent those along.”
“Gotcha,” Sirius nodded between bites. “We'll do it this morning and see what we can do with the elves to make sure no one hangs around. I'm sure most don't know about them, but if that shit hit the papers, we need to worry about some doing whatever, especially with them being listed soon.”
“True,” Harry admitted with a sigh. After another sip of coffee as Sirius continued to eat and eye the mass of mail, he sighed then pulled over the pile of letters addressed to him. He then steeled himself for what it might contain and began sorting through them.
Brow furrowed as he read the names, Harry tossed them into a pile, rolling his eyes at some of them, like from his dorm mates and some of the girls in his house. He might read them, but he doubted he would respond. However, there were a few in there he would have to think about responding to. As expected, Ron wrote. So did his parents and the twins. Then there was one from Hermione.
After pushing everything he would wait on into a pile and dumping the Weasleys into their own, he opened Hermione's then began to read. With a sigh and smile, he leaned back in his chair and pulled out the letter. Right off, he thought it felt heavier than what it was, but read what was there. Mostly, it wasn't much, just the kind of bits someone writes when they're trying to reconnect with someone. However, towards the bottom, there was an odd line that made his brow furrow. It didn't sound anything like the rest of the letter and seemed odd. Reading it again a few times, he then lifted his wand and touched the sentence, something it seemed to indicate he should do. It was then the second piece of parchment separated from the letter.
He quickly finished the first letter then moved to the one attached. As he started to read, he straightened up and put his feet flat on the floor, paying close attention to what she said. While it was plenty important and contained bits they needed to know, he couldn't help but grin. This was the Hermione he knew, the one that insisted Sirius take him and then kept their secret all those years.
Eyes sliding to the pile waiting on him, Sirius sighed then glanced at his husband. Seeing the look on his face, he asked, curious, “Who's that from and what's going on?”
“Hermione and you'll love it,” Harry chuckled at her rant over all she heard. Then, distractedly, he added as he read to the end, “She wants to set up a meeting with us to fill us in on all that's going on so we can stay safe.”
“You sure there? I mean, she's attached to the Order and all,” Sirius asked warily. Anyone tied to the Order they needed to stay wary of.
“Oh, trust me, she's safe,” Harry chuckled, starting to read the letter again to make sure he didn't miss anything. “She's right furious over some of this and went to Rufus. The way she worded this sounds like she's spying on Dumbledore for Rufus now.”
“Really?” Sirius asked, starting to grin himself.
After finishing the second read through, he passed the letter to Sirius so he could take a gander then leaned back. While amused by what she said, he did admit, sobering up, “We need to know, Sirius. She's kept our secret all these years, from all we know, so I doubt she'd turn traitor now and set us up.”
“True,” Sirius admitted distractedly as he read what was there, chuckling a tad himself as he could just envision how hot Hermione was over what she heard. When he finished, he continued, “Let's see what we can manage. No shot at going among our kind and we need to stay wary so she doesn't get caught either.”
As Sirius read, Harry thought about how they could manage then suggested, tone distracted, “Grimmauld Place. It's not only in London, somewhere it wouldn't look odd for her to visit, but as protected as we can get. With those stickers up, we can get her in and no one will be the wiser. It's nasty, though the elves are working on it, but it might be the way to go as we won't be in danger either.”
After thinking it over, Sirius looked at his husband and nodded. “We'll go that way. As we're putting the stickers on, we can check the house to make sure it's at least safe, then have the elves make damned certain at least the kitchen is cleaned so we have somewhere to sit. Once we do, you can get back to her about the meeting and set up something. She's swift enough that she can get there without anyone the wiser.”
“We'll go that way,” Harry nodded, curious what she had to say to them and looking forward to spending time with her.
“We need to get on some of this,” Sirius told his husband after finishing the letter and putting it aside then going back to eating. He was feeling more alert now that he had eaten something and had some coffee. “The Solicitor comes first then we'll tackle the stickers. After we're done—we'll see what else comes up.” Then he glanced at the letters waiting on him to look at before sighing, “And see what else is here we have to tackle. I'm sure there's something.”
When Harry agreed, he snagged the letter from their Solicitor and read it as he finished his food. There was so much to tend to, not to mention the stress of what was coming, he was feeling a tad overwhelmed, but they'd press on.

“I'm out of Auror training,” Ginny managed to stammer out as she tried to keep herself from crying. She had just come home to the Burrow. Albus was there with her mum and Remus. As it was mid-morning, most everyone was at work or had been called in for whatever reason. Hearing her mother gasp, she shook her head then explained, “I was told because of my attachment to the Order and how so much is being hidden, they can't trust me to do right by my duties as has been proven by others in the Auror department who are also in the Order.” She then added, quietly, voice uneven, “I was also told it's doubtful I can get any kind of job in the Ministry, which means I have to come up with something.”
“Oh Merlin, no!” Molly gasped, sliding over to put an arm around her child. Though upset, she soothed, “We'll find something, don't worry. There are plenty of jobs you can do with the classes you've taken.”
“Your mother is correct,” Albus soothed, reaching over to pat her hand.
“This is bad,” Ginny whispered, shaking her head. “I read the paper before I left and it's not pretty, for any of us.”
“We'll press on, don't fret,” Remus told her softly, giving a strained smile. He did tend to agree, especially after seeing what was written about himself and Albus. Then there was what Rufus put out there. No, it wasn't good and he wasn't sure how much worse it would get.
Arm still around Ginny, Molly gave her a squeeze then said, looking between the other two, “We wrote Harry a letter. It wasn't much, but let's see his leanings on some bits. Ron and the twins did as well. Not sure what to do about Sirius or if we should try. We aren't going to try to persuade him to change his mind, but we can try to get the why behind so much and what else he has to say.”
“Sirius—I think we need to leave him alone,” Remus tossed out there softly. He then shook his head and added, “With what I know of Sirius, he won't calm down anytime soon. If Harry's been with him for some time, his views on us will have bled off. Whatever you do, tread lightly.”
“Oh, we will,” Molly assured him with a nod. “We will make it clear we won't press for anything when it comes to the Order and Albus.”
“I think we need to give them some distance for now,” Albus schooled, looking between the faces around the table. “Don't press for anything at the moment. We need to give them space. Let them see what's going on in the UK and they might change their mind. Both are honorable men and it's doubtful they can stand by and watch what's going on without helping in some way.”
After seeing nods, he looked at Remus then told him, “I think, after giving them time to cool down, you need to talk to Sirius.” Seeing the werewolf's eyes widen, he explained, making a placating gesture, “Not alone, I assure you. I think Minerva would do well to go with you. She could always make him see sense, even at his most irate.”
“I don't fancy even her chances when Sirius gets like this, Albus,” Remus said, shaking his head and giving a sad chuckle. “Sirius isn't likely to calm down at all.”
“What's the point of even trying?” Ginny asked, brow furrowed as she looked around. “They made it clear they don't trust anyone and won't help. Information I understand, but they both made all of what we need quite clear yesterday.”
“With what's going on, I think they're needed, even if they don't help the Order,” Albus explained with a soft sigh. “Harry—we need him, quite frankly. If everyone hears he's abandoned us after the prophecy was revealed, it may lead to so many just giving up. When they give up, it gives Voldemort all the more power and less resistance.” What he didn't add was he was sure the Prophecy still held firm and Harry had to end the fight.
“I don't know, Albus,” Remus told him softly. “My thought is poking either of them or even trying to get information isn't a good idea. They're both bound to stay wary for anyone who will try to push any kind of agenda or get help. We won't even get into them thinking we're trying to push for anything.”
“We'll stay wary, you have my word,” Albus assured him. “We'll also see who we might be able to get to talk to Sirius.”
“I think we might need to leave it alone for a time,” Remus told him. “You remember what Sirius was like. I highly doubt he's changed too much.”
“Let's see what we can find out before we give up hope,” Molly told him, trying to sound reassuring. She was plenty upset over all that happened since the day before, not the least of which was how it affected her children. However, she realized how important the war effort was and what could come if they didn't get help. It was already quite bad and affecting everyone, they didn't need it to grow worse.
“We'll find a way, I assure you,” Albus told her with a smile. “It just means we have to step up some areas, nothing more, and protect ourselves. The two already helped. The Death Eaters they took out of the equation were high ranking enough it'll assist what we're doing. Even small bits like those will have a bigger impact than we realize.”
“I didn't think of it that way,” Ginny admitted, focusing on the conversation rather than how badly her life had just been upended. The war was a topic they needed to help all they could in any way.
“There is much to consider,” Albus told her. “For all aspects. Give it time. I'm not sure how long they've been back or their plans for leaving, so we need to stay alert. And we have to press on with so much else we're planning. I'm sure Voldemort will use this to his advantage in some way.”
“Which we don't need,” Remus said softly, shaking his head. “It's bad enough as it is.”
“Very true, but we know to stay alert. It'll just take some shifting of plans.” Albus told him. Then he went on to explain what he wanted done and how he thought they should handle some areas.
As he listened in to Albus' plans, Remus' mind began to drift. Though he wasn’t comfortable with the thought, he began to wonder about some of what Sirius and Harry had said and if they were right when it came to some of what was said about Albus. He didn't like thinking this way as he had always trusted Albus implicitly. To think he might have another agenda in mind, one which involved Harry dying and delaying doing what was needed in waiting for them to find Harry made him mildly ill. Then his mind began to wander to what happened after James and Lily died.
Did Albus really know so much all those years ago and start making plans then or were the two on the wrong track? He didn't know, but wondered now. As he did, he was curious as to what he could find out to either debunk or prove Sirius was right. Some would involve talking to people in Little Whinging, something he wasn't sure he should do. He wanted to, though, even if it just meant putting those nagging doubts to rest. Maybe, just maybe, it was something he should do. If he had enough proof Sirius was wrong, his old friend might listen to him and change his stance.
Though he was trying to convince himself he was going to take on this mission to prove Sirius wrong, somewhere in him Remus realized it was more to soothe himself that the right choices were made. While it might help with Harry and Sirius, at the moment, he needed to prove Sirius was wrong more than anything else.
While it was all just a thought, the more Albus talked, the more Remus realized he was going to take it on. In the end, it would do wonders for him in so many ways when he proved Sirius wrong. Nagging doubts would end and he could rest easily. Yes, it was something he needed to do for himself.
- 10
- 11
- 12
You need to be logged in to leave a review for this story.You need to be logged in to leave a review for this story.
Report Story

Leaving With the Devil