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Harry\'s Shadow	By : SpeedyTomato Category: Harry Potter > Slash - Male/Male > Harry/Sirius Views: 41818 -:- Recommendations : 5 -:- Currently Reading : 16
Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter and make not a knut off this strange work of fanfiction.

Chapter List
- 14
- 15
A reminder of what's on my profile; reviews whinging or complaining about the 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, laying out this complicated mess to make it work and other issues.
Also, to Tash who spent several long hours working with me to make sure this would come across right.

Chapter 15

October had calmed down for Harry and he felt better for it. Though he didn’t like that Wormtail had taken the easy way out, nor had Sirius honestly, it did make things easier for him. Mostly because he didn’t have to see his aunt again until winter break if something major didn’t happen. That he liked. He had also settled into life at the castle, finding his routine. Other than that, everything else needed found its completion. His Brief settled his case with the Ministry. ‘Sirius’ body’ had been moved to his family plot. While he heard about the small ceremony they had with several of his old friends and teachers attending, even Dumbledore from what he heard, he hadn’t gone. His aunt and Brief had offered, but he declined at Sirius’ suggestion. After all he didn’t supposedly know him, so there would end up no point in him going. He had fixed the wrong and that was that, at least it’s what he told his aunt. She agreed, so the topic ended up closed.

Since then, the worst to deal with came from his aunt, through letters of course, and classes. He’d learned how to handle his aunt by now, so it didn’t end up too bad. Since the beginning of school he had mastered the art of cutting her off before things went wonky and she flew off the handle. While he kept the letters short, they satisfied her, as long as he sent his graded homework. He did just that and went from there.

School itself didn’t end up bad at all and, as he thought, it was something he adored far more than he had the Muggle system. He found he picked up on concepts very easily and quickly. In fact, he was at the top of the Gryffindor class with Hermione a very close second, breathing down his neck. She didn’t like it, of course, but he ignored her. And it wasn’t that he learned any of what they were now beforehand with Sirius’ help. No, he just had a good enough of a base from studying beforehand and now to cope with what they were doing. The lessons were hard and he had to study like everyone else, but he managed. Sirius told him, from listening in while in the staff lounge, sounding smug as he did that he was at the top of all the classes. Harry grinned sheepishly when told, but it felt good. He worked hard for this, but didn’t go overboard like Hermione to achieve it. Of course, he didn’t tell that to his aunt. She was bad enough as is, he didn’t want to make it worse!

As he thought it over after Sirius told him, he quietly told Sirius he thought Hermione ended up behind him, not because of grades but how she went about things in class. Even he could tell she annoyed the teachers after the first week. It had to factor into it somehow. Sirius sighed, nodded then agreed with him. Classroom performance is something calculated into final grades and he felt for certain her being a swot had to hurt her. However, he also told Harry he felt certain she would double her efforts in a chance to beat him. Harry just grinned and told him to let her try. They both then chuckled to wait and see what she would bring.

Other than classes, Harry had his routine for the rest of the time. Most of it ended up spent with the twins, Lee Jordan, Dean, and Seamus. They did all kinds of things together. Since the start of term, they had been to visit Hagrid several times, explored the grounds and school, hung out together, and all manner of other activities. It ended up more fun than Harry thought it would. Before Hogwarts, Sirius ended up it for those he had let close. While he still didn’t think he needed anyone else, it felt nice to have others his own age to talk to who understood what so much felt like. Sirius said he didn’t mind a bit, for him to enjoy his friends. Oh, he did, but he still had Sirius as well. They spent plenty of time talking and doing what they used to. The relationship with Sirius—he wouldn’t give it up or change it for the world. They would always be close, Sirius said and he agreed. No one, he didn’t care who, could replace Sirius in his life.

There were also areas he didn’t end up directly involved with that he came into in an indirect way. Mostly it had to do with Neville and Ron because of his relationship with the twins. They were still working on ‘what was going on’ as they called it, being curious. No matter what anyone said or did, they wouldn’t let off, just making certain to do it quieter than before. Harry overheard plenty because he sat next to them in several classes. What he did made him shake his head.

Some of the more outlandish stuff, like trying to sneak onto the forbidden floor to work out what the huge dog guarded he ended up telling the twins about. Sirius told him the two could get seriously hurt doing it, so he thought it best the twins do what they could. A few times they involved Percy, but it didn’t work. The last couple of times the twins told him they did something they felt was morally wrong because of their stance on causing mayhem; going to McGonagall. She had apparently talked to them, but it did no good. From here on out, he would stay as far away as possible as they had tried to get him, Dean, and Seamus involved, but let the twins handle it how they thought best.

Besides those issues, Harry found he had a great time in the castle. Sure, there were down points, like Malfoy, but it ended up great, better than Muggle schools. He even picked up the Magical lingo and loved it. However, he knew there would be plenty coming which would end up bad. All he had to do was rely on Sirius. If he did, they would end up getting along fine.

With a soft grunt, Harry shifted around on the bed as he pulled his pants on. Like normal, Sirius held him while he did so, making this a rather aerobic exercise to manage. With a grin at how Harry managed to go about dressing, Sirius asked, amused as he watched, “All your homework is done?” The Halloween feast was tonight, so Harry needed to get everything done before tea so he could spend extra time at the feast, like most did.

“All caught up,” Harry nodded as he continued dressing. “Ahead in most classes, when it comes to the reading anyways, honestly.”

“Good,” Sirius said. “That way you can just enjoy tonight. Well, as much as you can anyway.” With that comment, Sirius tried not to sigh. Harry knew tonight was the anniversary of his parent’s death and, as anyone would expect, felt a tad sad over it. While he didn’t remember his parents, it still affected him.

“I will, don’t worry,” Harry told him with a smile as he leaned back against Sirius’ chest, buttoning his shirt. Head down as he made sure he didn’t miss any of the button holes, he told the older man, “Wrote to Aunt Petunia to see if she can take me to their graves over break. She said she would in the letter today. She’ll make a big deal over it, of course, but at least I can go and pay my respects.”

“She will,” Sirius agreed with a nod, though felt pleased she would take him. “Don’t worry, though. I don’t think even she will go too overboard with that one because she knows all too well what grief feels like. It’s one she will do the right thing with.”

“I hope,” Harry sighed as he leaned back fully against Sirius. All he had left was his robe. He wouldn’t put it on until just before he left the dorms. Changing topics, he asked, “You haven’t heard anything I need to keep an eye out for tonight?” He knew, from what Sirius told him, plenty went on in the castle and more was in the planning for what he knew by now was a stone. While Sirius hadn’t said anything about tonight, he wanted to make sure. Best to know ahead of time than end up caught in the middle of a mess.

“Not that I’ve heard,” Sirius told him with a shake of his head. “We’ll just keep an ear and eye out for whatever so you stay safe.”

“We will,” Harry nodded, relaxing with a contented smile. It had been a rather rushed night, what with having to finish his homework early, something he normally did after tea. He then added, grumbling slightly, “Hermione is in another snit. She heard someone else talking about how bad she is, so she’s been hiding and sulking.”

“While no one likes to see someone hurt like that, in her case she’s not listening to much else. From all I’ve heard, people have tried to talk to her gently and she just argues with them. This might end up the only thing which works with her.”

“Doubtful,” Harry groused, shaking his head. “Others have before and she is hurt for a few days then goes right back to the way she was with nothing changing.”

“It might take time,” Sirius told him, though didn’t hold out hope it would work no matter how long it took.

“She’s talking to me, Dean, and Seamus, but not many others. We’re trying to stay nice with her so she doesn’t feel completely alienated.” Harry explained. Then he lowered his voice and added, “I know how that feels and don’t want anyone else to feel like they have no one.”

“That’s good,” Sirius nodded. “Doubt she’ll grow close to you three, but she’ll at least have some she can talk to.”

“We agree,” Harry said. “She doesn’t act like she wants to end up buddy-buddy with us anyway, just talk a tad. We can handle that.”

“Shouldn’t end up bad as long as she doesn’t become bossy with you lot,” Sirius told him then asked about some other areas. This was more to kill time before feast than anything else. The two of them liked spending time alone together, something they didn’t have much of anymore other than bedtime, so they both tried for all they could at times like this when it wouldn’t look odd to the others in the dorm.

Despite a little sadness over the anniversary of his parents’ death, Harry found the Halloween feast brilliant! Not only were the decorations awe-inspiring, but the food and treats went beyond anything else he ever had on the holiday before. Sirius told him before coming down, as they were meeting up in the Common Room to walk down together, he thought celebrating the end of the war was partially behind the celebrations being so impressive now. While they had them in school as well, he couldn’t remember them being so grand. Harry could understand the reasoning, honestly, from what he heard about the war being as bad as it was. Either way, he found himself enjoying everything.

As he leaned over to listen to something Fred and George said, Harry couldn’t help but scan the table again. Hermione wasn’t there. He thought at first she would come in late, but hadn’t shown at all. While he just listened to some of the talk around him, he relayed the tidbit to Sirius.

After what Harry told him, Sirius scanned the table as well. “You enjoy yourself for a few. While you are, let me go look for her. If it’s a case of her off somewhere for a reason, I’ll leave it be. If not and something’s wrong, I’ll tell you then you can pass along to Percy she’s missing.”

“I will,” Harry told him. Once Sirius left, he once more joined in the conversation around him, hoping Sirius wouldn’t be gone long. While he would do fine by himself for now, he just felt better if Sirius were around. Just his mental thing, nothing more. After all he would be in no danger from anything in the hall with everyone and all the teachers present.

Sirius quickly found the witch and checked on her then headed back to the Great Hall. As he listened to Harry and the others joking around, he smiled, unable to help himself. He still found it great Harry finally found some people he wanted to associate and had fun with it. While not sure how long Harry would let it last or the end came when Harry would leave then have to cut them out of his life. The two of them already were discussing that topic, but hadn’t come up with a date yet, though he thought Harry’s 16^th birthday would be the mark. However, until the date came he would encourage this all he could so Harry had normal interactions with so many and wouldn’t end up disappointed he missed something typical in his life in favor of just spending time with him.

After waiting for a lull where Harry just listened to what others said, he leaned in and told his godson, “Hermione is fine. She’s just hiding in a bathroom in the dungeons so no one sees her cry. Give her time and she’ll be fine then get over it. My understanding of the situation is she overheard Ron and Neville say something about her again then ended up with hurt feelings.”

“Understood,” Harry replied, relieved she was fine, though didn’t like the crying bit. “Since she’s done this before, I’m sure she’ll join us before feast ends.”

“As am I,” Sirius agreed. “Give her some time to get herself together and control of her emotions. If it looks like feast is about to end and she doesn’t show, ask where she is. I’m sure Neville and Ron know about this and her location.”

“Will do,” Harry told him then went back to eating and talking with those around him, a ghost of a smile on his face when he felt Sirius’ hand on his shoulder.

Knowing Sirius stayed and was with him during the fun time made it even better for him. Though Sirius didn’t eat like they did nor could he be seen, he still liked the idea Sirius could enjoy it in his own way. Well, and he knew Sirius was there to keep an eye on him. Nothing was better than that.

Just as things were wrapping up and the food vanished, all but the desserts, with most just talking, the doors to the Great Hall slammed open with a startling bang. Harry jumped and looked that way with everyone else. Seeing Quirrell run up the aisle then stammer out something about a troll before fainting, the whole hall erupted into shouting and chaos. Plenty stood to see if they could get a glimpse of the troll while loud twitters raced up and down the house tables. Harry wasn’t standing, but he was not only talking to those around him to find out if they could see anything, but Sirius as well.

However, as Dumbledore stood, quieted everyone down and told them to go to the dorms, he overheard something which made his eyes widen. A panicked Ron and Neville were talking about where Hermione was then about how she didn’t know before agreeing to go get her because they felt like it was their fault if she ended up with hurt feelings. Oh, that was not good!

As he felt like he was pushed along with the crowd, following Percy’s voice, Harry relayed the conversation to Sirius, who seemed like he was watching something.

While they moved, Sirius’ eyes narrowed as Snape slipped out of the hall, presumably to go somewhere. He needed to follow the man to see what he would end up doing. When Harry explained what he heard, Sirius looked around then saw Flitwick, who stood on a tall chair guiding the students. Giving a nod, he told Harry, “Go to Flitwick and tell him what you heard then get to the dorms as fast as you lot can go. Trolls are nasty business and you do not want to tangle with one. I’ll be there as soon as I figure out what Snape is up to.”

“I will,” Harry assured him then watched as Sirius went off to trail Snape, curious what might be up.

When the wave of students pushing him along led him to Flitwick, he stopped, having Dean and Seamus do the same.

“Mr. Potter, you and your friends need to hurry to your dorm,” the diminutive professor told them as he guided the other students along.

“We will, my word,” Harry told him. “There is something I overheard you might need to know.” He then said before relaying the conversation he overheard, including which bathroom she was in.

Face grave, the tiny professor nodded then set off several gold jets from his wand. They went through the door and curved, heading in different directions. “We’ll handle it, Mr. Potter, and thank you. Now, on to the dorms. Stick close to the Prefects and run if you see the troll. They are dangerous!”

“We will, Professor,” Dean assured him, now understanding why Harry wanted to stop. Tugging Harry and Seamus along, he said, “We need to catch up to Percy and the twins in case there is trouble.”

Harry nodded, following along, but glanced in the direction Sirius headed, wondering what he would find. Of course, Sirius would tell him, but he felt curious now, figuring it had nothing to do with Hermione.

Letting the sea of students move them along until they caught up with the twins and shouting Percy, the trio then stuck to them like there was a sticking spell on them so they made it safe to the dorms.

The Common Room devolved into chaos quickly after everyone, but Ron, Hermione, and Neville he noticed, though most didn’t, were finally in. People were speculating about the troll, others swore they saw a glimpse of it, then tall tales were told about what they knew. While Harry, Dean, Seamus, and the twins didn’t join in the conversations, they did listen with their eyes glued to the door. Their little group waited to see when the three would show. Naturally the twins were worried about their brother. With what little they knew about trolls from History, Harry, Dean, and Seamus thought this might end badly, though said nothing to the twins.

After what seemed like an eternity, the trio finally came in. Ron and Neville were red faced from the telling off they ended up getting and Hermione looked relieved. Most didn’t notice they came in, but those who mattered did. Immediately the twins and Percy called them over to find out what happened.

It wasn’t really exciting from what they said. A couple of the Professors found them before the troll did, docked points then sent them to the dorm. They did say they saw a few of the Professors and Dumbledore going after something, but they didn’t know what. All in all, it was just them getting in trouble. Even Hermione ended up with detention over it, though not as long as Neville and Ron, just one day. They were also supposed to have a talk with Professor McGonagall over it as well. From the way Ron and Neville talked, they feared that worse than the detention. Harry snickered quietly at that part and agreed it might end up worse because of what she was like.

Once they got the all clear and the dorm was opened once more, the chaos died down. Though plenty went out, professing homework to finish, to see if they could catch a glimpse of the troll. Harry and his little bunch decided to stay put, figuring the troll was long gone if they were allowed to leave again. Instead, they just sat and relaxed, gorging themselves on the Halloween cakes and candy his aunt sent, talking quietly.

Since Sirius didn’t come back until much later than when they got the all clear, Harry didn’t have much of a chance to talk to him. When he asked what happened, Sirius just told him it would wait until bedtime. Normally, if it wasn’t a big deal, Sirius would say so. This time he didn’t, so Harry grew quite curious. Once they were ready for bed and the privacy ward was in place, he began peppering Sirius with all kinds of questions, asking if it had to do with the troll.

“In a roundabout way it does,” Sirius told him, holding him close. After giving him a kiss on his bare shoulder, he explained, “The troll was a diversion by Quirrell. He hightailed it out of there and up to the forbidden floor during the chaos. Snape trailed him. Since I followed Snape, I ended up hearing a very interesting conversation.”

Before Harry could ask, he relayed the conversation. He then looked down at Harry, a grave look on his face. “This tells me there is something big going on and it has to do with that stone. What it is—I don’t know yet. Give me time. It has to do with Quirrell, though. I don’t think Snape is the bad guy in this, though, as much as it pains me to say that. He seems like he’s keeping an eye on what Quirrell is doing. And whatever it is the man is trying smells like dung.”

“He’s creepy, Sirius,” Harry tossed out there softly. “There is just something about him I don’t like.”

“Same here,” Sirius agreed with a nod. “You need to steer clear of him. Though he’s tried nothing with you, I’ll bet before the year is over he will. Not sure what it might be, but he’s going to. Don’t worry about it, though. I’m more than a match for him. It just means I’m going to have to keep a closer watch on him, nothing more. Well, and figure out what the hell his game is. That’s not going to end up easy. Let me see what I can manage. All I do know is he spends a lot of time talking to himself. And I don’t mean normally. The times I’ve slipped into either his office or the classroom when no one else is there it sounds like he’s having a conversation with someone though he’s alone.”

“Sounds nutters to me,” Harry said, brow furrowed, wondering if the Professor needed some serious help.

“It does, I admit it,” Sirius nodded. Then he added, “I don’t think he’s gone off his trolley though. It’s something else. Give me time and I’ll figure it out.”

“We have the whole rest of the year,” Harry shrugged with a grin. “You will eventually.”

“I will,” Sirius smiled. Then he began to ask Harry about what happened when the three came back to the dorm.

With a chuckle Harry filled them in, grinning a tad as he did. Well, it was certainly a memorable Halloween and he was thankful he didn’t end up drawn in. However, he had a sneaking feeling that someone, somewhere would try before the year was over.

A.N.- I don’t usually say too much about my updates, or lack thereof, but I will this time. Let’s say that though the muse is recovering from the hit it took last year, my life is not settling much. I’m trying, but I’ve ended up with several very large curve balls tossed my way over the last couple months. There is also a looming surgery coming up that I’m preparing for and dancing through hoops to have done. I have a minor one coming in a couple weeks, though it’s out-patient. After the big one, I am looking at several more lined up. Don’t ask! It’s been hard and the muse doesn’t react well to the stress that comes with so much. I’m trying. All I can tell you.

No, I’ve not abandoned anything, but it’s been slow going. I’m trying and will update when I can.

--Speedy
- 14
- 15
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Harry\'s Shadow