Sirius Black

Bill,

That parchment and everything for the Goblins - Draco's coming up to the Great Hall. I said you'd meet him. I hope you don't mind. I'll come down, too, if you like.

He'll sign whatever we need, just please if we can minimise what he has to do, that's for the best. I mentioned the trust. If he can sign the parchments for that at the same time, so much the better.

I didn't tell him you might need a print or a drop of his blood but he'll do whatever we need to do to get this over and done.

To the one who now calls himself Harry Potter:

You belong to me, and always have. This has always been your purpose. This has always been your destiny. Accept it - embrace it.

Come to me and you need never know pain or fear again. Come to me willingly, and you can end this pointless conflict now and forever. Come to me before midnight in two days' time, and no one else need die because of your cowardice. Submit to my will, and understand. It's time, Harry.

Your schoolmates' lives depend on you obeying my command.


MERLIN, that's the most irritating -


Albus. This prophecy. Harry has a ... theory, a conviction, more properly, that it means that to defeat Riddle, he's going to have to give himself up, allow Riddle to perform the ritual that will transfer his soul (what's left of it) into Harry's body.

He's got a host of excuses why we can't stop the bastard any other way, but there's no proof his method will work. If Harry's body were to ... to fail, to decay and die, after Voldemort takes up residence - well. Would that fulfill the prophecy, in your opinion?

What I mean to say is, is self-sacrifice the 'power' Riddle knows not? And is that really what Sybill meant when she said 'Neither can live while the other survives?'

Must Harry die?

We have some news.

I should explain that last summer, Remus and I put out the word to some of our contacts that we wanted to find out what was to be done with Minerva's things. You may remember that her house and all its contents were placed at the disposal of the Ministry, so while those of you at school could go through her quarters, we couldn't retrieve anything from her London home. Apparently it was something of a conundrum for the Ministry as well, as they couldn't decide whether she should be branded traitor and all her assets retained for the state, or whether her will should be executed, or what. According to our informant, there was also a scuffle because her solicitor, Fox-Burton, wanted to rid himself of the responsibility when he thought it might get out that he'd represented a high-level member of the Order of the Phoenix.

Anyway, the sum of all this is that it's taken nine months, but it's finally been determined that her things will be sent to a public auction. It's during the Hogwarts Easter holidays, so students ought to be able to go, if we have to go that route. Our contact suggested breaking in to remove anything we might want. But Harry, I thought perhaps you might try your hand with the auction house and see if you could get yourself a private viewing of the contents of the estate before the public auction, on the excuse that there may be items you want to purchase outright without having to compete. I bet they'd rush to accommodate you.

I mean to say, if we had to, we could all go in disguises and bid on items until we get anything we need but I can think of far better uses for our resources. And if we did have to break in, it would only signal to the Ministry that there were items of note. Also, I wouldn't put it past them to have put tracing charms on the items until they're legally purchased (and even then, I expect we'll want to give everything a thorough once-over, just in case!).

The owl we received said that the auction will be in the Prophet soon, but I doubt very much anyone would question you learning about it before any official announcement, Harry.

With any luck, we'll find everything of hers that we're looking for--including that blasted plate--and we can ask Umbridge directly where she hid the diadem.

Hey, kiddo,

How's it going, with you and Hydra? I know I've been a bit more focused on Justin at present but don't forget I'm here for you, too. No matter what the circumstances it's not easy, breaking up, and just because you're not in this competition, it doesn't mean you're not feeling the pressure as well.

Don't think I didn't notice you were pretty quiet at the meeting. And before it. And after.

If you ever want to talk, you've only to say.

So.

We can talk here now. That's good. But you've got your mirror, don't forget. Anytime you need it.

And anytime you want to come over to Grimmauld. It's your house too, in a way. If you like.

How have you been sleeping? I saw Hermione said that it's even less of a picnic now, at Buckingham. So ... Well, as I say, anytime you want to get away, feel free.

All right?

Lestrange had better have been telling the truth. If any of those bastards have hurt one hair on Harry's head ....

Poppy, I don't suppose the Hospital Wing's empty except for Harry? Would anyone notice if a dog slept under his bed?

I don't guess that's a good idea.

Bugger.

M'all right. By now I know the cave well enough to Apparate without too much trouble, despite the distance.

Slept for a good two hours afterward, and then made some of Poppy's tea.

Off now to see him. Should be able to make the return before Bea's bedtime.

Did Charlie tell Dora why he and Bill left in such a hurry? Hope it wasn't the company.

All right, you two.

I've had another letter from Harry. I want to make sure the bits about women are on-target. You're the two who immediately come to mind to make sure I give him advice that shan't result in a hexing.

So, you should both know he's very concerned about the prophecy and that killing Voldemort (if he even can do) will instantaneously turn him into some soul-sucking Dementor (which is rubbish, of course, and I'm telling him so).

But beyond that, he's quite concerned that any girl he asks will feel as if she has to acquiesce to him because of his powerful connections.

There's one girl he mentions in particular. I can't tell from what he says if he's actually interested in her but I think I recall that she's the one he asked to the Yule Ball last year. She's apparently just broken up with the Head Boy (so right away, not necessarily a great time to catch her, if she's on the rebound) and Harry says, '[Cedric's] been under lots of pressure because of being Head Boy and other things, and he told her so, and she got angry and split up with him because of it. How would I ever know that they liked me because of me, and not because of .... how important I’m supposed to be.'

Right. Here's what I plan to tell him:

There are ways you can tell if a girl likes you for you and not just your family or your reputation or your Gringotts account. But mostly they have to do with getting to know her and letting her get to know you. In this case, if she couldn't handle dating a boy who has the normal sorts of pressures, Head Boy and so on, I don't think she'd necessarily give you the sort of support you need. But perhaps you're not interested in talking to her, just snogging her.

Nothing wrong with that, so long as that's all she's interested in, too.

As far as figuring out if you're taking advantage - well, again, I think it's all in how you read the signals she gives you. If she smiles back or if you get the feeling she'd rather be somewhere else. I can't imagine you'd go on spending time with someone who tells you one thing while her attitude is saying something different. So, watch for the signs that she's bored or unhappy. Try a double-date if you think that would help take the pressure off, or go with her and a group of friends so you'll feel more comfortable. (Don't ask when she's with a group, mind. Get her alone so she can say no if that's what she wants to say - and tell her that it's okay if she does, no hard feelings.) But even if a girl accepts on the basis of who she thinks you are, that's all right. It means she's getting something she's looking for, too, doesn't it? And I think you'll be able to tell, sooner or later, if that's all there is or if there might be something more meaningful in your, er, relationship.

He's not liable to get himself slapped or jinxed, following that, is he?

(Oh, and Alice, he asked about Dudley and whether there's a chance he'll reply. All right if I tell him that Duds is working on a response? I want to warn him to be kind since writing is not something that comes easily to his cousin.)

Found an empty house to kip for a bit. Catch up on the journals.

Merlin, Mordred and Morgana.

Still no word from Albus?

I shouldn't have left.

Frank, Arthur, we're ready to go for another child if we're needed. (I think Remus particularly would like the chance now he's recovered from the full moon.)

Meanwhile, though ... Minerva, you've not replied to my note. I'm guessing it's because you're as stymied about our Hermione's problem as I've been. We don't want her Cruciated; we don't want Harry to have to do it; Harry himself doesn't want to do it and isn't sure he can even if he tries (which I take as a good sign at least); there's no good reason to insist that she stay to be tortured.

Hermione, I know you have your reasons for staying but say the word and you can leave. None of us will think any less of you if you opt out, either.


Oh, and Kingsley: We've had a chat and think a witch would be a better choice, at least for now, for Laszlo to get in the way of help. So, anyone else in the camps, if there are suggestions, or else we'll just put in an application and rely on Arthur to help us screen the candidates.