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Well, Ain't That Strange?	By : SpeedyTomato Category: Harry Potter > Slash - Male/Male Views: 56074 -:- Recommendations : 2 -:- Currently Reading : 12
Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter and make no money off this story

Chapter List
- 13
- 14
- 15
Just a reminder of what's on my profile; reviews complaining or whinging about the lack 'o sex in stories will get deleted. If you want a smut-filled romp, you need to find another story to read.

Beta'd by the most amazing Tenchi, who I can't thank enough for all the hard work she does for me!

And thanks to Lynn who works with me when it comes to flow, continuity and other issues

Chapter 13

Planted between Arthur and Remus on the bench at the kitchen table, Sirius was basically tuning out what Albus was talking about. As expected, they were having an Order meeting about Peter and him being cleared. It had been a couple of days since they talked about revealing the bonding. He had been to the solicitor that Lucius had set him up with. So, he was not only prepared for being cleared, but had also started the paperwork for pulling Harry out of Hogwarts. Lucius told him he thought that since he started that, if the bonding didn't trigger something, this would. That meant they had to reveal it. Honestly, though, it was for the best. One never knew what Albus would pull out of his bag of tricks when it came to Harry, so they had to derail whatever he might be plotting.
It was his understanding, from what Lucius told them after returning from doing whatever he did when he left, that the following day a huge article was going to hit a paper called the UK Clairvoyant about the whole Wormtail mess. It was the hope of the other end of this mess that it would set the Fiendfyre burning and the bonding, if someone did turn it up, might end up not noticed as much. From what Lucius told him, the reporter was given everything to set it on fire and make it burn hot, including that the Ministry had Peter and could confirm all of it. That was good. Even without that, from what everyone was saying, he would be cleared in a couple of weeks. Tonks and Kingsley, even Moody, said that though everyone was scrambling to work with this, they realized that Peter did what he had been sent to prison for. Good. That's what the meeting was about. To plan for it.
Sighing deeply, through trying to pay attention to what was said, Sirius looked around. He was apprehensive about this. Almost more than about anything else up to this point. Hell was coming and he knew it. He wasn't sure about the reactions from some, but he knew Molly would blow and Minerva probably wouldn't be much better. Though she put on a stoic front and looked calm, trying to be analytical, she was very protective of her lions. Harry in particular. Unlike what she showed or most thought, Minerva had her favorite students. And Harry was the current one. Much of what she did when it came to him were things most never saw, but they were there. And she was going to end up angrier than most had ever seen over this. After all, almost all were going to realize the ramifications and what was done to seal that bond. No, it wasn't going to end up pretty. That's why Arthur and Remus were flanking him and they all made sure to sit at the far end of the table, as far away from everyone as they could get.
Though this was something that should interest him and he should be excited about, Sirius couldn't focus. All he hoped was that it looked like he was. He was just waiting for the hellfire headed in his direction. Of course, they had a plan for this. The day before, the five of them had gotten together and made damned sure that they worded what he and Lucius would say to cover anything Albus might try to pull with Harry. If they got around him, they had to go through Lucius. Remus had made certain that it was worded in a way that nothing could be done and there were no loopholes. So, that front was covered. It was also decided that Arthur was going to bring up the bonding topic. He was calm enough that people might not completely blow before it was over. None of them were counting on that, though. They also had every bit of paperwork they needed on the topic ready to prove it. That wouldn't hold it all off, though, and Sirius knew it. That's what had him on edge.
Focusing when he felt Remus nudge him, Sirius tried not to look apprehensive as Albus wrapped up what he had to say. It was time finally and he was tense.
Looking around, Albus said, “I think that covers everything. We can count on a mass of problems, of course, but it can only help us in many ways. The foremost being not having to worry about Sirius and protecting him. I'm also sure that this is going to set off a chain of events that might cause huge problems with the other side of this mess. Peter is a big fish for the Ministry to have their hands on. There are problems, of course, as there's some kind of impairment, but I'm sure that part of what we need's going to come out. I'm also sure that Tom can't be happy with this turn of events. For now, we just need to wait.” Seeing nods, he leaned back and popped a lemon sherbert in his mouth before asking, “Is there anything else that needs covered? Or are we good?”
Trying not to tremble, uptight, Arthur folded his hands on the table then looked around before saying, hoping his voice wasn't shaky, “I have something we need to discuss, Albus. It's going to affect many things for us.”
Not sure what Arthur might have, as he wasn't really in a place at the Ministry to get information they needed on so much, Albus was now curious. “What do you have for us, Arthur?”
Glancing between the other two, hoping Remus was on alert enough that he could put up a shield as he promised if spells started flying in their direction, he then said, “Remus and I have been made privy to a secret that's been kept since before James and Lily died. I think, because of what's coming, it has to come out now so we can prepare if it manages to hit the papers or someone uncovers it.”
Now really lost as to what this may be about, Albus' brow furrowed then he asked, “What does this pertain to?”
“I think it's best to show you than try to explain,” Arthur told him, stiffening up. Looking around, he added, trying to keep a firm tone, “Before I copy this and pass it around, I want everyone's assurances that they will stay calm and not resort to violence. We need to talk this out calmly, not shout or let this degenerate into an argument. Understood?”
Hearing affirmations around the table, seeing plenty of confused looks as well, Albus then nodded and said, “Of course, Arthur. Now, what do you have for us?”
Making enough copies to go around to everyone of the bonding certificate and the readings, he held them and said, “I'll pass these around then we'll wait for everyone to read it before we discuss it.” Seeing nods, he began to pass them around with a trembling hand. When done, he waited for what he knew was coming, hoping against hope that it wouldn't get too out of hand.
Reading the parchments, Albus' eyes widened and he began to tremble slightly. Hearing stunned sounds and outrage, voices raised, he held up his hand, hoping to stop it. This time, though, he figured it wouldn't work. What was contained on these two parchments were enough to send most off the deep end. And would continue to do so, something he doubted he could stop. Looking up then glancing down at the other end of the table, he saw an obviously nervous Arthur and Remus. Sirius was just looking at him, tense and waiting. Honestly? He didn't know what to do or think. Quietly, after clearing his throat, not sure if he would be heard above the din, he asked, “How long have you known?”
Looking Albus in the eye, Remus said, “I've known since they found out so long ago. James and Lily filled me in. It's also the reason Sirius was made his godfather. Arthur wasn't told until not long ago. We didn't have a choice in the matter because of so much.”
Looking more than slightly uncomfortable, hearing people start to shout, Albus said, firmly, “We need silence! Shouting and getting angry isn't going to help anything!” Though it lowered the noise level some, it didn't stop it, not that he thought it would anyway. This was—he didn't know what to do.
“You're bonded with Harry?” Molly almost screeched, clutching the papers tightly, hands shaking, face flushed a bright red. Oh, she knew just what this meant and was furious! Poor Harry!
“He is and I'm the one that did the bonding, Molly,” Arthur told her firmly, hands clasped on the table in front of him. “I took the readings myself. Sirius and Remus came to me because of problems they were having with the mess.”
“He isn't even 16,” Molly shrieked, temper through the roof.
“And there wasn't anything Sirius or Harry could do to stop it,” Remus told her softly, though with a firm tone. “It wasn't anything that either of them did to cause it and it wasn’t done for nefarious purposes. It was there before Lily and James died. I saw the readings then and knew. It just came down to the time was right for the bond to push. They had no choice. You need to remember that.”
Lips pursed so firmly they were a thin line, Minerva read over the parchments again, gripping them so tightly her knuckles were white. She was flat out furious over this. Face a mask of pure anger, she lifted her head and glared at Sirius. “When did you consummate it?” She bit out.
Leveling a hard look at Minerva, Sirius said, “None of your business. All you need to know is he was legal. The rest is private.” Stopping, he knew better than to say more and waited.
Hearing another uproar over that, Albus raised his voice and said, “Silence!” Though, like with the students at Hogwarts, he didn't get it completely, it lowered the level. Shaking his head, he asked, “Why weren't we told before now?”
“What did you want me to say, Albus? Tell you when Harry was in his third year? After I escaped? Or after that? When I was on the run? I knew the hell that would come if I said anything. I was trying to give him as normal of a life as I could until this pressed for completion. Harry knew. Remus and I explained it to him when it started to manifest and showed him the readings. We all thought it best to keep it a secret until we just couldn't anymore. With all that was going on, and still is, we didn't need it out there,” Sirius told him, looking around, glaring at those shooting him angry looks. “What did any of you want me to do? We couldn't stop it and it was causing pain! Real, physical pain, for both of us. All of us that knew did all we could to hold off. It just came down to we couldn't anymore. Finally, we decided to do the bonding to stop what was going on and protect ourselves the best we could.”
“He is a child,” Molly shouted, starting to stand.
“Sit down, Molly,” Arthur told her firmly, though his voice was soft. Seeing his wife look at him, he raised his voice slightly and said, “I mean it! You need to stop.”
Though still flushed red and angry, Molly took a seat. “You knew, Arthur! And said nothing!”
“I did,” he told her raising his chin and looking at her. “They came to me to get help. Ginny's crush on Harry was causing a huge problem. I'm glad they did as well! I would rather know the truth than be caught in the middle of a problem that I don't understand where it's coming from. They couldn't help it! Any more than others can help so much. And I understand completely why they said nothing. We all knew what would come if we said anything.”
Stopping and looking around, he then said, firmly, voice slightly raised, “This—all of you need to stop! Harry isn't being abused. He's not being mistreated or used for a deviant purpose. He is being loved and cared for by someone that will protect him against everything! I've seen them together. This isn't a tawdry affair of some kind. It's a bond that no one can break. Even before I did the official bonding, it couldn't be broken and was pushing for completion. They were suffering, badly, because they were forced to stay apart. I'm glad I could help.” Straightening up, he glared around at the angry faces and said, tone firmer than before, “It's done and over. We need to press on, not accuse Sirius of all kinds of horrible things that didn't happen. He did the best he could in a situation where neither he nor Harry had any control over it. Shouting isn't going to solve this!”
“Arthur is right,” Remus said quietly, though his tone was level and clear, containing some bite to it. “You can't change it, none of you. It's there and was before the end of the first war. We've worked with the situation the best we could since then. Now we need to press on because there are major issues coming, from many fronts.” Stopping, he looked around and waited.
“I don't believe this,” Snape snarled, throwing the parchments on the table. Looking thunderous, he said, “We should have been told!”
“You had no right to know,” Sirius bit out, glaring at him. “No more than you have any right to know about anyone else in a similar situation. Knowing would have helped nothing. All it would have done is cause more of a nightmare if we had said something. People would have made this all the worse, and then I can bet that it would have slipped out. We didn't need that! And how would any of you have acted if we had told you when Harry was younger? What would you have done? Kept him away from me for fear of what I would do to him? That would have just caused both of us all the more pain. We've suffered plenty since it pushed to complete it. Both of us. We did all we could to help that. What we didn't need was people 'helping' us by trying to protect Harry from me!”
Snarling, he shot deadly glances at those looking so furious, “It's done and we're bonded. You can't change that. Yelling at me won't. Accusing me of all kinds of vile things won't. It's there and done. We did the best we could, people! We were tired of suffering! Now we aren't and can't be separated by people that might think they have the best of intentions but will only cause us more pain! You need to deal with it.”
“He's right,” Arthur said, shooting a 'look' at his wife who appeared like she was going to go on a tirade. “We need to move on. It can't be changed. We have plenty we have to work with now, more than before in so many areas. And we need calm to suss it out! Not shouting and outrage.” Stiffening his spine, he looked at his furious wife, an equally angry Minerva and the others that weren't much better, then said, tone hard and clear, “Why not go get Harry and ask him if he is miserable? Ask him if Sirius has hurt him or done anything he hasn't wanted? I guarantee he'll tell you just the opposite. In fact, I can assure you he's happy. He has someone with him that loves him for just who he is and protects him. He's not an abused child!”
“He would say anything to protect Black,” Severus sneered, glaring at the aforementioned man.
“No, he wouldn't,” Remus told him bluntly. “Harry wouldn't protect someone that is hurting him. Arthur and I have seen them together. He's not miserable or being harmed. He’s happy, probably for the first time in his life. He's told us that and that he finally feels complete. That's something clearly mentioned with the bond. Since being able to be with Sirius all the time, he feels wonderful. Ask him yourself if you don't believe me! That's easy enough. All of you have seen what he acts like since being brought here. Does he act differently or like he's being abused? No, he doesn't. He's the same as he's always been other than being happier.” Stopping, he waited, wondering what else they had to deal with.
Hands folded on the table, knuckles hurting by that point from clenching them so tightly, Minerva looked between the three men. At the moment, she wasn't sure just what to say about this mess. A glance at the parchments didn't change what was written there. She might not know what Albus did on so many topics, but she knew enough to understand those readings. There was no denying them. Clearing her throat, she asked, voice tight, “Is the bond registered?”
“Yes,” Arthur told her with a firm nod. “We've 'lost' the paperwork the best we can. It's our hope that it'll hold off the wrong people finding it for a time.”
Looking over the readings again, hearing Molly huff, Albus put the parchment on the table and gave a weary sigh. This wasn't good and he knew it. It didn't help anything in the least. “Let me ask this; did Peter ever know about the bond? You said you knew before James and Lily died.”
“No,” Sirius told him firmly. “He was never told. Remus is the only one aside from the rest of us that knew. Until we told Arthur. With what was going on at the time, we were desperate to protect all of us.”
Nodding at that, Albus asked, “Did you do a form of a bond at the time? That's often done with these.”
“No,” Sirius shook his head. “With all that was going on, then what came from the other side, we didn't want to chance it. If something happened to me, Harry would have a chance at a normal life. We just—it was going to wait until it pressed for completion.”
“Understood,” Albus said with a sigh. Glancing around, still seeing furious looks and glares shot in Sirius' direction, he cleared his throat then said, “There is nothing we can do but press on. Yelling, screaming and accusations do no good. These bonds are uncommon, but do happen. We need to move forward.”
“Yes, so we can shield a child molester,” Severus sneered.
“That's enough,” Arthur finally exploded, face going beet red. “Stop it!” Glaring around, he snarled, voice raised, “I have a son the same age as Harry. I understand probably better than any of you what goes through someone's mind when they hear about this. I also know something else; what I've seen and heard. I know there were two people tearing themselves apart and suffering, greatly, as they tried to hold off from completing the bond. Then they had to hide it, instead of going to those that call themselves their friends, because this debacle would happen!” Turning and glaring at his wife, he said, “You call yourself the next best thing to his mother, yet neither of them could go to you because they knew this is how you would react!”
Leveling a dark look at Minerva, he snapped, “And you're Harry's head of house. He's supposed to go to you if he has problems. He couldn't there either because we all knew this was the reaction.”
Glaring around the table, he snarled, “And all of you are doing the same thing! They have the readings to back it up. They knew. I can back it up as I'm the one that took the readings you see, yet you're calling Sirius names and blaming him! Enough! Stop it!”
Rising slightly, putting his hands on the table, he snarled, “All of you stop!”
Whipping his head in Severus' direction, he snapped, “Especially you, Severus! Do we want to go into your past mistakes or discuss your 'issues', as Muggles call them? Many vile names can be lobbed in your direction as well. And you earned them. Sirius didn't. He. Had. No. Choice!” Stopping, he waited, glaring at everyone.
Sirius was honestly impressed. Arthur could stand his ground, he knew that, but he had never seen him explode like this. And it was good! It would only help! Now he just had to wait to see what else came. Quietly, though, he said, hoping no one else overheard, “Thank you, Arthur.”
“You're welcome,” the furious man said as he sat back down, still looking irate, glaring at his wife, who was now looking down at the table.
“Arthur is correct,” Albus said softly, looking around. “All of you need to stop. Now. It helps nothing. Sirius wasn't even around Harry enough when he was younger to do anything. When the consummation happened isn't our business. A biological event would have brought it on, nothing that could be stopped unless they wanted to feel like they were being tortured. While I agree that I wish something had been said before now, I can understand why it wasn't. This reaction alone proves why.” Stopping, he looked around, seeing many look down at the table or anywhere but in his or Sirius' direction. “Now we press on.” Looking at the three men at the end of the table, he asked, “Is there anything we need to prepare for? Beyond this being found out.”
“Yes,” Sirius said, crossing his arms over his chest and looking around. Seeing Albus motioning him to continue, he said, “I have a solicitor. Mostly, I'm going to need it for the chunk with Peter. This factors in as well. He has the same paperwork you do. He's also started the official process to withdraw Harry from Hogwarts.” Stopping as the uproar started all over again, he snarled, “What do you want? Me to go to school and attend classes right alongside him? That's what will happen if I don't! I have to be with him. You can only imagine the problems that will come if you press for him to go back! I don't want to chance this. If someone goes after either of us, the other is affected. Then there is the other side of this mess. The first day it's going to come out and they will know. What do you think will happen then?” Stopping, he waited.
“We can't chance that,” Moody said gruffly, shaking his head. “No. Sirius can't be in that castle. Even as Padfoot people are going to know who he is. Then the fact he's all but glued to Harry will raise all kinds of questions none of us want to answer and give the other side information we don't want them to have.”
“We would have to get a waiver from the Board of Governors to allow that,” Minerva added, tone quiet after the chiding. Shaking her head, she added, “With who's on the board and what we would have to give up as to why, it's not something we can chance.”
“No, we can't,” Albus said firmly. “I'll get the forms for homeschooling and have Sirius sign them. We can then set it in motion with no one the wiser as to the reason we're doing this. After all, Harry will be of age to drop out in almost a month.” Sighing, he then said, “We have other issues, big ones, and we need to sort them out. To do that, we need cooler heads and calmer tempers. Enough foolishness. We need to press on.” Seeing nods and plenty staring at the table, he moved on to other problems he saw with the bond and how to protect all of them.

Up in their room, waiting for Sirius to come back, Harry was curled up in bed with his head resting on a pillow that was on Lucius' thigh. The waiting was killing both of them. They knew it had to be bad for Sirius, but didn't want to chance trying to use the telepathy to get through to him. With what he had to be dealing with, them pestering him to know what was going on wasn't something he needed, so they would have to wait.
Eyes sliding shut as Lucius began to run his fingers through his hair, Harry sighed. That felt good. It was just strange was all. When things were stressful, it was Sirius that was always with him. This was the first time Lucius was around. He was comfortable with it, of course, but it was—well, he was used to Sirius. They had their ways of dealing with junk and it helped. Lucius was someone he was just growing accustomed to.
Lowering the book he was reading, Lucius looked down at Harry then said, gently, “Don't worry. Sirius, Arthur and Remus are very capable of handling the situation. There will be some clamor over it, of course, but they'll get everyone to listen. And if something happened to Sirius, we would both know.”
“I know,” Harry said softly, sighing. “It's just the idea he's going to have to put up with so much when none of it is his fault.”
“I understand that,” Lucius nodded. “It was coming. It'll blow over then we'll move on.” He was about to continue when the door opened and a tired looking Sirius came in. Seeing Harry sit up, he waited.
Sitting down on the edge of the bed with a groan, Sirius put a hand on Harry's head and ruffled his hair. Quietly, he said, looking between the two, “It's handled. I'll guarantee it wasn't nice and at some point I'm getting even with Snape and hexing him for calling me a child molester, but it's been taken care of.” Grinning just a little, he added, “And Arthur lost his temper. Including on Molly.”
Smirking just a little, Lucius asked, “Really?”
“Oh yes,” Sirius grinned. “He actually yelled at everyone, including Molly, Minerva and Snape. With all the rottenness, that was wonderful to see!”
“I didn't think the man had it in him,” Lucius admitted, shoulders shaking, completely amused by the images that his brain was chucking up about that.
“I didn't either, but he did it,” Sirius told him. Sighing, shoulders slumping, he said, “Let me get something to drink then I'll fill you both in. After that—we're relaxing because I'm about at the end of what I can take.”
“Completely understandable,” Lucius said, sending an elf to fetch Sirius a beer. Setting his book aside, he waited to find out what happened and to hear anything they needed to know.
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Well, Ain't That Strange?