Cost of Secrets

Snape snorted at that. "He's just like his father, arrogant and pig-headed. It seems his head has grown even bigger ever since he started dating Miss Granger. He even had the nerve to cheek me in class," He nodded toward the Headmaster. "If you'll excuse me, I'm sure the Dark Lord will call for me soon."

Upon the departure of his Potions Master, Dumbledore sat back and again reviewed the threats made by Harry Potter about leaving the country. Finally he realized what he had to do. "I must eliminate the threat of Harry leaving and the only way to do that is..." He immediately stood up from his desk and once again made his way to the fireplace. This time he found the Ministry Floos open. A few minutes later he strolled into the records office.

"I'm sorry sir," The record's clerk said a few minutes later. "Sirius Black was in here not more than thirty minutes ago with the Minister himself completing the necessary forms for full guardianship of Mr. Potter."

"But there must be some mistake," Albus pleaded. "Harry Potter's aunt and uncle are his guardians. I'm the one who did the original forms."

"Yes sir, they were sir," The clerk replied nervously. "But you also...as head of the Wizengamot transferred the guardianship to Sirius Black two years ago. What Mr. Black did earlier was just confirm his acceptance."

"It was an unintentional mistake," Dumbledore explained. "Give me the appropriate forms to correct it please."

"I'm sorry sir, but surely you know only the Chief Warlock can overrule any previous Chief Warlock's decisions and since Minister Fudge currently holds that position and he himself accompanied Mr. Black, well you can see your previous decision is now irreversible unless Minister Fudge were to agree to it."

A very frustrated Dumbledore's next stop was the Minister's office. He didn't even stop for the assistant to announce him. He burst into the office fully expecting to be able to bully the Minister into acceding to his demands. He found himself disturbing a meeting with Madam Bones and several other department heads.

"...we must develop a plan of... Yes Albus?" Minister Fudge asked. "You're interrupting a very important meeting."

"We must discuss Potter's guardianship sir," Dumbledore said. "I understand that Sirius Black has been given full guardianship? Surely you must see that is a mistake. Sirius still has issues from his time spent at Azkaban."

Minister Fudge gaze seemed frozen on Dumbledore for a few seconds before he looked over at Amelia and then down at his desk. "That's very interesting, very interesting indeed," He said as he pulled out a sheet of parchment. "It seems that Mr. Potter anticipated this very conversation," He handed the parchment over to Dumbledore who quickly saw it was a signed petition by Potter requesting his guardianship be placed fully with Sirius Black.

"But surely sir..."

Fudge them pulled out two silvery vials. "Mr. Potter also gave me these earlier. I do not know what exactly are in these memories, but he told me that if you challenged the guardianship, these would not only assure Mr. Potter stayed with Mr. Black but would probably have his previous guardians arrested and sent to either Azkaban or a muggle prison for many years."

Dumbledore rubbed his forehead with his hand as again he'd been outmaneuvered by the teens. He could guess that the vial contained memories of the dark years Harry had suffered at the Dursleys. Frustration grew in the Headmaster as he thought "Doesn't he understand I know what's best," Finally though he nodded in defeat of that issue only to bring up another. "Speaking of memories, I would like my Pensieve returned. It is my personal property and the Ministry has no right to it."

"I'm sorry Albus," Amelia Bones spoke up, "but currently it is quite necessary in processing evidence from last evening. It will then be necessary for prosecuting those Death Eaters that were captured. I'm sure you understand the necessity, I mean..." She paused for a second and right before Dumbledore spoke she continued, "it is for the Greater Good," With a firm gaze she finished with. "See me in three months and I'm sure we'll be able to return it at that time."

It was an even more frustrated but determined Dumbledore who left the Ministry and proceeded to Grimmauld place. He knew his last chance was to convince Sirius that Harry needed the protection that the Blood Wards provided.

"Are you suggesting that this place, the Headquarters of the Order of the Phoenix, under Fidelius and with various order members coming and going is less safe than a muggle home?" Sirius asked once Dumbledore had explained the importance of the Blood wards.

"The blood war..." Dumbledore tried to explain again only to be cut short.

"Might protect the boy from Voldemort, but no one else," Sirius said. "And those damn Dursleys will never see Harry again if I can help it. Harry is my responsibility now and I will protect him. That means from you as well. If I have to take him out of Hogwarts to do that I will."

A thoroughly discouraged Albus Dumbledore returned to his office a short time later. As he sat down wearily at his desk the Headmaster noticed that a special edition Daily Prophet had been delivered. On the front page was a single photo. The large picture in motion was a snapshot of the memory being displayed above the Pensive showing Voldemort dueling Harry Potter in the Ministry Atrium. Underneath that photo was:

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