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In His Place	By : SpeedyTomato Category: Harry Potter > Slash - Male/Male > Harry/Sirius Views: 72865 -:- Recommendations : 16 -:- Currently Reading : 16
Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter, so sad for me, and make no money off this story, even sadder for me.

Chapter List
- 24
- 25
- 26
Beta'd by the amazing Tenchi. Love you, woman, you're the best!

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

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.

Chapter 25

After looking at the chuckling Sirius, then to Harry and Draco, Narcissa's eyes drifted back to Sirius. “Pardon me if I'm wary, Sirius, but considering you're involved in this, I'm not sure if the term 'harmless prank' is accurate. And explain to me why I should end up the test subject! I'm not at all sure I want pulled into a prank, especially with what I saw of the last few.” She then waited for the answer, eyebrow up, as she glanced between the three.
“Because you're the only one in the house so far that hasn't been on the receiving end,” Sirius told her with a winning grin, shoulders still shaking.
“You have my word that it's not like the other pranks,” Lucius told his wife, looking amused himself. “I know what it is. All we need to do is see if it works,” he assured her, reaching out and giving her hand a squeeze.
“The last couple pranks involved bird heads and hair changing colors,” Narcissa told him sounding slightly exasperated, fighting the urge to roll her eyes. “And why do you want it tested?”
“Because you don't know what's coming. I swear, its nothing like the last two and nothing harmful. You have my word, Cissy,” Sirius assured her. “Besides, we know better. None of us want to be on the wrong end of your wand for a standard prank. We just need to see if the timing works, nothing more.”
With a long suffering sigh, Narcissa held her hand out for the hat Draco was clutching. “Just so you're all aware, any of the normal kind of pranks or my hair ends up changed then everyone sitting around this table is going to feel my wrath,” she told them, shooting them all a glare.
“Rest assured, its nothing like that,” Lucius assured her with an amused snort.
Narcissa plunked the hat on her head, something that looked like one of the gaudy horrors Albus wore, then gave a resigned sigh, waiting. “What's supposed to happen,” she asked warily as nothing had occurred yet.
“We won't tell you,” Draco told her, looking smug. Then he hastily added, “Nothing horrible, I swear.”
“It better not be,” Narcissa groaned, as she folded her arms over her chest and waited.
As he kept an eye on the timer Sirius had, Harry assured her, “My word as well.” Then, as the timer hit zero, he grinned when he heard a multitude of plinking sounds. Head coming up, he watched the hat rain lemon sherberts all over Narcissa then looked at Draco, grinning.
“It worked,” Draco said, grinning back at Harry.
Eyes wide, Narcissa picked up one of the candies that had rained down on her and looked it over. “They are—lemon sherberts? That's all it did?” She asked, stunned it wasn't more—well, like they had done before.
“That's it,” Sirius said, grinning, as he summoned the candies. “We just have to make sure they taste right now, nothing else.” Then he motioned for all of them but Cissy to take one.
“Do I want to know who this prank is designed for?” Narcissa asked, smiling a tad. No, this she hadn't minded at all. Of course, she had a good inkling who would be on the receiving end, but wanted to make sure.
“Albus,” Sirius grinned after popping one of the sherberts in his mouth and nodding. “Harry and Draco came up with the idea. He should enjoy it as it's an open ended spell that will work until the charms wear off.” Sucking on the candy, he said, “And perfect taste.”
“Indeed,” Lucius nodded, sucking on his own. “No more squirting at us either. We managed to get over that hurdle.” After clapping Draco on the shoulder, he said, “Good job, both of you.”
Though wary, Narcissa picked up one of the candies and put it in her mouth. “Tastes just like the real thing,” she admitted with a smile. “Yes, this will end up funny and he'll enjoy it.”
“This is perfect. Good job, both of you,” Sirius said, patting Harry on the back. “Just remember what you did to get the mistake candies. Fred and George will love those.” Chuckling when Narcissa gave him 'the look', he grinned, “Nothing harmful, I promise.”
“They just squirted some kind of liquid candy flavored juice on you before you popped them in your mouth,” Lucius explained, hand on Draco's shoulder. “Even it was rather tasty, honestly.”
“Nothing harmful then, good,” Narcissa smiled, reaching out to give her son's hand a pat. “This should work well for both of you, if you ask me. Not only are you getting some much needed laughs during a very stressful time, but you can make money off it! I say we set up a vault for both of you for the proceeds to go into. While you both have plenty of money to do what you wish with, we'll use this for you to buy what you want and we won't say a word.”
“I was thinking, and Harry agreed with me, that we use the funds to invest in Fred and George's business,” Draco told her with a grin. “Of course, we'd have father look over whatever forms or propositions for that so it's legal, clear and no tricks, not that we expect any. Then we can chuck what we get from that in a vault to use.”
“Most excellent idea,” Lucius nodded, seeing the other two at the table do the same. Then, lips quirking, he added, “And you should get a fortune in returns considering how well those two are doing. Zonko's is getting a rather sound thrashing by them.”
“We thought so too,” Harry grinned. “I was in the dorms with them and know what they can do. Trust me, they have plenty still in the works and probably more ideas we couldn't imagine.”
“We'll put out feelers to them for you,” Sirius told him with a nudge and grin. “It's actually a good idea,” he told them, sobering up. “For many reasons. I think Lucius would agree with me.”
“I do, wholeheartedly,” Lucius nodded.
“This is rather ingenious,” Narcissa told the two, turning the hat around in her hands, looking it over. “Perhaps, once the prank is over, you can continue to perfect it. Maybe making the candies invisible or something? That way one could wear it to work or class and trigger it when you get the sweets so no one knows.”
“That's a good idea,” Draco grinned, looking at Harry, who was nodding as well. “We'll duplicate it a few times then see what we can manage. After all, sugar quills are quite popular for that reason. This would be better and no one would think anything off when it comes to wearing a traditional hat.”
“We'll work on it,” Harry grinned back, liking the idea.
“And we've now recruited Narcissa into our plotting,” Lucius said, looking smug. “People should stay wary.”
“Well, I can see the merits in some of this,” Narcissa told him, smiling just a little. “Not only for the humor, but this took rather complex charms work. That's always an assist in plenty.”
“Yeah, people are in trouble,” Sirius said with a snicker, shaking his head.

“Right,” Sirius started, looking at the papers he was holding. He and Harry had retired to their room so Harry could rest a bit, something he did most days because of the potions. “What's going on is this—tonight we have that meeting with Rufus. It'll be late, like the last one we had. That's so Snape can join us without fear of getting caught. Rufus says he's not sure how long this will take either. I know you'll be tired, but you need to stay up for this.”
“I'll manage,” Harry told him, looking over Sirius' shoulder at what his godfather was holding. “You might just have to keep poking me to make sure I stay awake is all.”
“We'll all manage, don't worry,” Sirius assured him, slipping an arm around him and pulling him close. “Rufus gets you have issues late at night because of the potions, don't worry, so he'll understand if you do. We've got everything sent off to him and wrote down everything we could remember, so that should help.”
“Hopefully,” Harry nodded.
“The day after tomorrow Poppy and Snape are coming over for those scans we talked about. Nothing to worry about there, you have my word,” Sirius assured him. “You'll be awake for the first couple then they'll give you something to knock you out for the others. It'll take a couple of hours, but it's nothing to worry about. We just need prepared for them to be over, nothing more than that. Snape doesn't think there is anything off or that much has changed, other than some improvement. All it's considered is like a bit of a checkup, nothing more.”
“Not overly stressed by it,” Harry admitted. “You lot have all said if something was wrong, you would have noticed by now.”
“We would have then snagged Snape to come over and check like we've done before,” Sirius told him, ruffling his hair. Though he sobered up after that and said, “Just be careful around Poppy. We'll work out a signal if you're getting anything then Snape will come up with something to get her out of the room if it happens. I doubt it, but you never know. Once you're out, it shouldn't be a problem.”
Harry hadn't thought about that, honestly. Madam Pomfrey wasn't one that was around a lot, so he hadn't had to worry about her with this mess. There were others he had to focus on when it came to the mess. “Not sure what I can manage there. The kicking you actually took some real focus.”
“Shite,” Sirius mumbled. As he smoothed down his goatee, he tried to think. The kicking was out, of course, as Harry would be lying down. So, he wasn't sure what else they could use. After pondering it, he said, “Let Snape and I worry about it. I've seen the look on your face when you're about to get something. That's what I'll go by. If I see something close, I'll ask you a question. As I know you can't answer when you're about to get something, we'll go from there. Tonight I'll make sure Snape knows that's the signal we're going to use so he can stay alert for it too.”
“That should work,” Harry nodded, hoping it did. While Madam Pomfrey was good about staying quiet when it came to plenty, he didn't want to take the chance of her finding out and it getting back to Dumbledore. If it did, that would only lead to a mess.
“We'll manage, don't worry,” Sirius told him, patting his back. Then, pressing on, he said, “Tomorrow is the funeral. So, Remus will be gone most of the day. We're sending one of the elves over to help and making sure they have plenty of food. While it doesn't affect us for the most part, I wanted you to know its coming.”
Seeing a nod, he then added, “We are also being told to expect a meeting in the next couple of days to start to sort through what's going on and the mess it's causing. You've not had a problem up until now, but we're going to make sure that I'm on one side of you and Remus is on the other. Anything at all feels off, you kick one of us and we'll get you out of there. If it wasn't so important and we weren't worried about what Albus might try, we'd just have you and Draco stay away.”
“I'd rather be around you lot. Draco's good, but for him to get help would mean leaving me alone with Dumbledore. That I don't want,” Harry sighed, shaking his head.
“We don't either,” Sirius agreed. “Draco is damned good when it comes to making sure that no one will get anywhere, but we'd feel better if he wasn't the only one around. Nothing to worry about, we'll manage and it won't look off as we do. We'd really rather Albus didn't find out that something is in place that prevents you from going back to the castle if we can at all help it.”
“Same here,” Harry agreed with a nod.
“We'll manage, nothing to worry about,” Sirius reassured him again, tossing the papers aside. “What do you say we find something to do for a bit? I'm sure you'll end up taking your normal nap soon.”
“I will,” Harry groaned as he shifted around then slid over to sit on the edge of his bed. “I can feel it coming.”
“That's fine, you know,” Sirius said, moving around and summoning a table. He figured that they would play cards or something like they normally did. “This is still a huge draw on not only your magic, but physically. Most times we don't think about the toll it takes on us to heal, but it does. Especially when you're dealing with injuries like yours.”
“Yeah, not something I thought of,” Harry admitted with a sigh. “The potions that make you tired don't help either. They just egg it on all the more.”
“Very true as well,” Sirius groaned. “And some of yours are very powerful. There is no potion out there that is completely without side effects. Some of yours have plenty. The ones to prevent migraines alone is bad when it comes to that. Even though you're used to it, it's still going to affect you slightly. It's something that makes no never mind to us, so don't worry about it. Naps are fine.”
“I just wish it would let up some,” Harry admitted, shaking his head. “So, what are we going to do?” He asked, settling in.
“How about I go back to teaching you poker. We were having fun with that,” Sirius grinned.
“We were and I like it,” Harry laughed. Good, nothing too stressful. That he could handle.
Summoning the cards, Sirius began talking about other things they were planning for to give Harry bits to look forward to rather than the struggle it was taking him to heal as much as he could.

About midnight, everyone was once more settled in Sirius' room with the mirror enlarged. And, like the last time they had done this, they were all tired, but Harry was the only one dozing off and on. While they waited for Rufus and Alastor to join them, Sirius was going over with Snape how he wanted to handle the bit with Poppy coming over.
After taking in what Black said, Severus nodded, “I'll let you take the lead. If it looks to go that direction, give me a kick in the shins then we'll go from there. No matter what, we'll deal accordingly if something comes up.”
“Anything on your end when it comes to the old man, Severus?” Lucius asked. As they had sent along everything Sirius and Harry had written down to him, Severus was up to speed with the rest of them when it came to the mess. They had also included what Rufus had done to protect Harry.
“Nothing so far beyond what we know,” Severus admitted. “I'm sure Rufus has something he wants us to do, of course, but I'm getting nothing from Albus other than mutterings about wanting Harry back in the castle 'to protect him'. That's complete bunk as we well know. There aren't any specific plans, at least that he's told me. I'll keep an ear cocked and see what I can manage.”
“Anything from the other side?” Remus asked. As that was standard, he wanted to check.
“Nothing. I've not been summoned, so I've not heard anything,” Severus admitted. “I do expect something soon with all that's going on and what Rufus is putting in place. Let's see what happens.”
“Yeah, he's going to go off his nut,” Sirius sighed, shaking his head. As he was about to press on, the signal came from the mirror that told them Rufus was joining. Settling back, arm around the wonky, tired Harry, he waited.
After looking around and seeing that everyone he wanted there was present, Rufus launched right in. “First, the locket was destroyed after the Unspeakables confirmed it was, indeed, a Horcrux. They couldn’t get it open, but the Basilisk venom got rid of it. That's one out of the way, aside from the ones Harry came across with that are already gone. Which means we go after the others.”
“How are we going to do that?” Severus asked, intrigued. It was good that they were gone and Rufus had something in place to find them then do the same with the others.
“First, the ones Harry came across with that are stored elsewhere we're looking into. We found the shack and are working on getting in it and finding the one there. Give us time. We're trying to do this in a way that's not only safe for us as it's the one there are curses on, but so we don't alert others that's what we're doing.” Rufus started, looking around.
Once he saw everyone nod, he looked at Severus then said, “We need you to let us know if Albus makes any move towards that shack before we can manage. I'm not sure what he knows about these nasty things, but the hint is he does. I want to get my hands on it before he can.”
“Consider it done,” Severus assured him firmly. “I think he's rather distracted at the moment with all that's going on, but I'll keep my ears open for any hints.”
“Please do,” Rufus said. “Get in touch any way you can and I'll do something to throw him off.” After Severus nodded, he pressed on, “I want all of you to know that hell is about to come. That's the main reason I called for this meeting. Come tomorrow, I'm seizing Bella's vaults as she's an escaped convict. While hers are the main ones I want, to find the Horcrux stored in one of them, I'm going to go after the vaults of the rest that escaped to hide the reason I want her vaults. That's going to cut off the funding in that direction. While I'm sure He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named has plenty of funding from other areas, it's going to make a dent and upset him. As he's being plenty overt, I'm sure it'll end up more so now.”
“We'll prepare,” Lucius told him, looking determined, mind working over what more they could put into place to help with what might come.
“Severus, if you get summoned, I'm asking you to report in to me if you hear anything that might be coming. I don't care if you tell Albus, but I want to be able to prepare for anything. As it is, I've got enough in place that I can move quickly. I just can't if I don't know its coming.”
“I will,” Severus told him. “We just need to set up something as I can't take the mirror with me, for obvious reasons.”
“I'll send a message along tomorrow about how I want to do this. If it involves meeting somewhere before you get to the castle, I'll do it. Whatever you're most comfortable with,” Rufus told him. “If you have anything you think will work, let me know.” Hearing an assurance he would, the Minister of Magic pressed on. “Is everyone up to speed with what Harry came across with?” He assumed but wanted to know. After seeing nods, he then told them, “I'm taking this seriously. Andromeda and Ted are protected. What I did was have our wardmasters go over late one night and put up everything they could think of. The same with the others mentioned. Once the funeral is over tomorrow, I'm having them do the same with the Burrow. You lot are fine as that house is as protected as anything we could manage. However, if any of you go out, and I know that's not often, don't go it alone. Alastor says whenever Remus goes out, as he's generally the only one, he's going with him. Don't go alone Remus, I don't care.”
“I won't, you have my word,” Remus assured him. Between him and Alastor, they would be fine, that he knew.
“And anything with Harry going anywhere, you contact me, understood? He will have Hitwizard protection and everything else I can pull in,” Rufus told them firmly.
“No problem with that, trust me,” Sirius told him with a sigh.
“Make sure of it,” Rufus told him. “Because the fool is going to end up bad when I do some of what I am planning. One of the orders I signed tonight was the same that was in effect the last war; known Death Eaters that engage are ones the DMLE can use the Killing Curse on. It's distasteful, I do understand, but this can't go on. We do not want more people dying than we've already had.” Though there were some sour looks at that, he shrugged, “I know, trust me. It's only the DMLE. It's to the point we have little choice. That side is taking after ones not in the middle of this, with a few exceptions, just to get even. It needs to stop. If it takes drastic measures, I'm willing to go that route.”
“That's understandable,” Sirius sighed, shaking his head. “It's just the idea is all.”
“Trust me, I know,” Rufus groaned, leaning back in his chair. “Lucius and Severus, I need everything you two can tell me about that damned snake. And I mean everything. Harry gave up what he knew of what she was like before the mutation. The Unspeakables tell me that's due to the Horcrux, by the way. I'm working with a few of those to formulate the best plan of attack we can find when it comes to getting rid of the snake. Give us a few days and I'll get with the DMLE about how we want to go about this. If it even comes down to capturing her and then me letting the Unspeakables take it, I'm willing to do that.”
“I don't know about Severus, but I honestly don't know much about her. She wasn't with him during last war and the first time I saw her was in that cemetery. We know she's venomous, but he is more apt to let her eat you alive than bite you.”
Though he mentioned everything he knew about the snake, Severus shook his head, “And that's all I have. There just isn't much other than she does seem very attached to him. I'm sure the Horcrux is factoring in with him keeping her so close.”
“If you remember anything at all, pass it along. We'll meld it with what we do know and the venom samples we managed to get from St. Mungos after Arthur was bitten.” Looking around, he said, changing topics, “I need all of you to help with this one. We need to find a way to prove to Albus that the one in Harry is gone. This whole nightmare is complicated enough as it is that I do not need to keep fending off hare-brained schemes from his end so I can focus on this one. And I don't know how, as we can't come out and say we know it is, as none of us are supposed to know about it to begin with!”
“That's not easy, Rufus,” Remus sighed, shaking his head. “I don't know anything we can do to get it across. Poppy told him plainly, more than once, as did Alastor, that Harry died. That alone should have gotten it across. It didn't.”
“Let us talk it over and see what we can come up with,” Narcissa added with a soft sigh herself. “Alastor can help.”
“That's the biggest task I want all of you to take on,” Rufus told them, looking around. “I can't fight this war on two fronts and don't need Albus coming in then throwing a spanner into what I'm trying by thinking he's helping by fulfilling that damned Prophecy.”
“Let me see what I can try to wiggle out of him about that end of this mess then pass it along while the rest of you try to come up with something.” Severus told everyone, looking around. “We need him focused on the other side. If some of what Mr. Potter has come across with holds true, if we can prove it, he'll do the right thing and focus where we need him to. We desperately need that, not him chasing the other direction.”
“And we'll work on our end the best we can. Until we come up with something, we're going for keeping Harry away from him,” Sirius told Rufus.
“This I need from you,” Rufus told him once more. “That's mainly what I wanted to get with you about. Alastor is going to spend time over there with you lot to see what you can manage. I don't know. If the most obvious one didn't get it across, we need something else. What that might be I don't know either.” With a sigh, he leaned back then said, “Fill me in on any other bits you might have heard.” Though he didn't think there was much, they always knew something. The more information he had, the better he could deal with the nightmare going on.
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In His Place