It's not easy to explain, but . . .

Chapter 8

"What?  What does Harry have to do, face him alone . . .well, we'll train him and  . . . "

Dan held up his hand.  "Sirius, it's a lot more complicated than that . . . but I want Harry to hear it first, then we'll all discuss what's imperative to get rid of Voldemort."

"I don't like the sound of that,"  Sirius replied quietly. 

"It is his destiny, Sirius, and there is NO way to change that.  We have to give him a better chance by working against Voldemort beforehand, that's the important bit."  Tom told the Wizard.  "It was basically 'sheer dumb luck', that got Harry through the last war.  As Harry, well Dan, says at one point in the last film, ' When have any of our plans ever actually worked?  We plan . . . we get there  . . .  all hell breaks loose!' "

"Okay,  but how about Sniv . .  .Severus?  Is he going to be called on the carpet and told to change his ways, as you just did to me or am I special?"  Sirius smirked.

"His sense of humor is back, so I think we're getting through, Dan," remarked Emma, smiling at Sirius.

Dan smiled, too and nodded. "Oh, yes, I intend to be just as hard on him, and Albus, as I was on you just now, Sirius.  It's called 'tough love' in the Muggle world, and I hope you don't hold it against me; only way to get through to you."

"I deserved a wakeup call, I admit.  Anything else, while you're on a roll?"  Sirius grinned.

"Yes, actually."

"Bugger!" Sirius' face fell and he sighed, waving his hand to tell Dan to continue.

"Stop thinking Harry is a copy of James.  He is not . . . he's Harry, totally his own person, and not your old mate.  As a matter of fact, he's not really pleased about some of the things he's learning his father did at Hogwarts . . . the real James wasn't a saint and Harry is questioning what else people haven't told him . . . he's a smart kid, but is reticent to ask too much - again, learned behavior; don't draw attention, it leads to punishment."

"Punishment? What did his relatives do to him," asked Sirius, visibly upset.

"Nothing that needs any attention now; he's a tough kid and his reflexes and survival instincts are better than most because of his life with the Dursleys," Rupert answered.  "Don't worry about that part of his past, he learned from it; leave it alone until after this is over."

"I think that's enough for Sirius to have shoved into his brain for right now," said Tom as he stood and started looking through the pile of DVDs.  "Let's dazzle him with our Muggle magic."

"Start with the one about Magical creatures. You'll love the bit about Buckbeak," she said to Sirius.  "Then the one on creating Hogwarts, maybe, if we have time," Emma suggested.

"Oh, one more thing, which we can rectify fairly easily," Rupert interrupted, grimacing at the exasperated look Sirius was sending his way. "Remember when you told Kreacher to 'get out' the night all the Weasley kids and Harry arrived from Hogwarts when Mr. Weasley was attacked?"

"Yes?" Sirius got the feeling he wasn't going to like the rest of Rupert's statement.

"The bad news: he left . . . the building . . . went straight to Narcissa and Bella.  Been spilling his guts, except he can't give them the password to get in here because of the 'Fidelious  Charm'."

"Bloody hell!"  Sirius hung his head.

"Here's the good news: Harry gets on Kreacher's good side and  he actually comes to Hogwarts and rallies the House Elves and they all fought in the final Battle!"  Dan informed him, nodding at the look of disbelief on Sirius' face.

"Well bugger me!  How in the world?"

"We'll get to that later, there's time and Kreacher will be all for helping us with our plans when we explain it to him," Emma reassured Sirius, patting him arm.

 * * * *

Would  anyone like a drink? asked Ginny, standing up and looking around.

"Nothing for me, Ginny," answered Hermione.

"Me, either, Gin, thanks.'  Ron squeezed his sister's hand as she passed him.

"I'll have a Fire Whiskey and make it a double, please."  Draco stood, walked over to the window and looked out.

"I'll take some tea, Ginny," replied Harry. "Need any help?"

"Not really, just using this as an excuse to stretch my legs. . . be right back."

* * * *

"Okay, the next landing is the fourth floor and we're going to find Professor Lockheart, if this is going to happen as it did in the book,"  Harry said over his shoulder to Ginny, Ron and Hermione.

"Emma was right about us having an excuse to leave your Dad's ward, Ron," added Hermione. "I don't ever think I've seen Mrs. Weasley that mad! No wonder everyone took off!"

"Getting out was the only safe option, 'mione. Oh, look! There he is!"

Sure enough, they spotted their former Defense Against the Dark Arts professor peeking through the window on the double doors for the SPELL DAMAGE corridor.

Gilderoy Lockheart opened the doors as they approached.

"Hello there!" said the smiling, blond haired man. "Come for some autographs, have you?"

"Yes, we would really appreciate having your autograph to show our friends at school!" replied Hermione, enthusiastically.

"I do joined-up writing now, you know!"

"That's great Professor," said Harry.

Gilderoy had pulled a rather battered peacock-feathered quill out of his pocket.  "So, how many autographs do you want?"

"Oh, I don't know, let's see; there's us four and then there's the twins, Fred and George . . . how about an half dozen for starts, Professor?" Ginny answered, barely suppressing a giggle.

"You all are calling me Professor. . . have we met?"

"You were our teacher at Hogwarts, remember?"  Harry replied.

"Me, teach? Did I?"   Lockheart looked startled for a moment, then smiled.  "I must have been your favorite professor, then, for all of you to seek me out like this, what?  How about I give you an even dozen, so you can give them to your little friends, too."

Just then, the ward Medi-witch poked her head out of a door at the far end of the corridor.

"Gilderoy, you're being naughty again, wandering off."

"These are some of my former students.  They've come for autographs, don't you know." Gilderoy told her proudly.

"Well, isn't this exciting!  Hello, dears.  Gilderoy was quite famous. Why don't you all come in and you can have a nice visit."

Taking Professor Lockheart by the hand, she led him back down the hall to the far door.  The kids looked at each other and started to follow.

"Well, here comes our first test.  Remember . . . act surprised to see Neville."  Harry whispered.