Author's Note

Here's the requisite disclaimer

Although I wish otherwise, Harry Potter isn't mine. All the characters in this story belong to J.K. Rowling.

June 13, 1997 at 4 Privet Drive (Friday the Thirteenth)

It had occurred just two weeks ago. Sirius Black had died. Since then, the residents of 4 Privet Drive, Surrey, England had been subject to a walking dead man. Oh, sure, he would weed the garden, cook, clean, and anything else that they told him to do, but his eyes were dead, he walked as if he were a zombie raised from the dead, and he looked worse than he had after countless beatings from when he was a little boy. Something had taken away his resolve. Not, of course, as if they cared. He worked relentlessly, stayed out of public view, and acted exactly like a criminally insane boy from St. Brutus' would after he had been trained into conformity. No, the Dursleys were quite happy with this development.

However, about three weeks into summer vacation, something happened. The dead man was revived. It seemed as if someone had taken a small match and put it in a vat of petrol. If he seemed dead earlier, now he was far to lively. But still, the freak worked with reckless abandon, was unobtrusive, and was no longer seen for more than twenty minutes a day. Somehow he still got all the chores done. Food would be waiting in the kitchen every morning, the garden no longer had any weeds, and the house was cleaner than it ever had been before. The Dursleys, though confused, didn't truly care what was happening. Maybe the freak would go off and get himself killed for all they knew. At least he wasn't their problem at the moment.

Sirius was dead. Sirius. Was. Dead. SIRIUS WAS DEAD! The only family I had had since October 31, 1981. Dead. And with him, I went too. It was an empty life. I would eat, sleep, and work. But no more. Nothing mattered. I was to die anyways. Damn prophecy. How was a 15 year old boy, going on 16, supposed to defeat the most powerful Dark Lord in modern history? And so, I went on purposelessly. I awaited death, but all I got was an owl from Gringotts. The letter it carried only said one thing. "Map password". So I said, with pain gripping me from the memories it brought up, "I solemnly swear I am up to no good."

Dear Harry,

Well, looks like I've off and died. DON'T BLAME YOURSELF. I'd like to imagine that I died in some sort of blaze of glory, bringing Death Munchers down with me. Or maybe I just got sick of my hiding spot and was caught by Voldy and his merry band. But beyond all that, I want to have died protecting the only thing that matters in my life anymore: you. If that is how I died, know that I died happy. Right now, I hope I'm with James and Lily, pranking the hell out of heaven. To you, I will leave my legacy. With this letter, you'll also be getting a vial of my blood. I want you to go to Gringotts as soon as possible and ask for a blood adoption ritual. I ask this because I want to leave you the Black estate, not the Malfoys. You see, they have the best claim on it as of right now, but if you had my blood you would have a better claim. You are a black through your grandmother, Dorea Potter nee Black. A combination of that and my blood in your veins will make you the superior candidate. Anyways, I have no doubt you've been sulking, so get off your arse, release your inner snake, and use your cunning to get rid of Voldy.

Well, that was to be expected. Sirius wouldn't want me sulking like I have been. But what did he mean "release your inner snake"? Ah, right, I told him about my sorting.

December 25, 1996 at 12 Grimmauld Place

I approach Sirius, who has a half empty bottle of fire whiskey in his hand. I have an idea of where that went. But right now, I need to vent and talk to someone about all the problems in my life. Most of them start with Delores "the toad" Unbridge or Tom "the snake" Riddle. I hate all these slimy creatures. Then again, I was supposed to be a snake too. Maybe I should start the talking there.

"Sirius, I have a question"

"Yes, pup?"

"If I had been in Slytherin, would you treat me like you do now?"

"Ha," he laughed, "a Potter in Slytherin! Goodun!"

"Yes, almost as funny as a Black in Gryffindor." I state sarcastically, "But answer the question."

"Wait, yer not serious are you?" He asks, shocked.

"Well, no, that's you" I state blandly, "but no, I'm not kidding."

"Dear Merlin, you got much too much James in you. He always responded just like that when I asked him that."

"Well, answer the question"

"Pup, I would love as much as I do no matter what you were. Raven, badger, lion, or snake, it doesn't matter. Hell, you could've been a soddin' hippogriff for all I care. No, I wouldn't care what house you were sorted into. Why does it matter anyways, you're a Lion, through and through, all Potters are." He laughed heartily.

"Well..."

"Lemme guess. The hat wanted to sort you into Slytherin or sumthin' along those lines."

"That would be the one. Told me Slytherin would lead me to greatness or something." I state nervously.

"I don't see how it would matter. I mean, I've been through that sort of life. The first Black not sorted into Slytherin and all. I would never hate you because of your house. Your my family. I've half a mind to blood adopt you right now and rename you... Hydrus Black. Too bad that being adopted by an infamous criminal and the man who killed your parents would be bad for your PR. Albus sodding Dumbledore told me I can't do that."

"Why Hydrus? Why not Leo? I am a Lion through and through." I ask.

"Hydrus means Water Snake. Have no illusions, I hate everything that Slytherins do. The bigots. But Salazar Slytherin did have some nice ideas. I admire cunning and ambition. I can see it in you. Sometimes, the most powerful lion is a snake with a mane." He states in a drunken slur.

Well, anyways, I should stop thinking about the past. It'll get me depressed and all. Might as well continue with reading this letter.

No one has actually opposed Voldy on equal terms. So far, it's just been Dumbledore and the Order of the Glorified Chicken using stunners or the bribed Ministry aurors being paid to do nothing. You're probably thinking along the lines of 'But I'm just a 15 (at least when I wrote this, and I update it every month) year old boy. What could I possibly do? Well, let me remind you. You're the Boy-Who-Lived, the Chosen One, and have the Potter and Black fortunes (both of which dwarf the Malfoy fortune) behind you. So far, you haven't been able to use all that money because you're a minor. But I've filed paperwork so that in the event of my death, you will be immediately emancipated. So yeah, you're rich. Oh, and past that, you have life debts owed to you by Ginny Weasley, Peter "the Rat" Pettigrew, Gabrielle Delacour, Fleur Delacour (saving her in the maze after Krum got her counts), and Hermione Granger. Also, you've inherited a life debt from your dad. Snivellus owes you. So, you've got a death eater, both daughters of the Minister for Magic in France, the only source of information for both sides, a human library, a walking bat-bogey machine, and a shite load of money. Also, as you are going to be Lord Black, Cissy and Draco Malfoy have to follow your orders (fealty oaths all Blacks take at age 11). There's two Lestranges got Bella out of her oath because their a lot richer than the Malfoys, but two is better than none. Oh, and Nymphie and Dromeda too. Well, now that I've proved that you've got resources, off to Gringotts with you. Here's some info to help you get away from your minders. Nymphie watches you from the front yard of 3 Privet Drive under an invisibility cloak from noon to midnight on Thursdays. Plot and scheme your way to victory.

Mischief Managed,

Padfoot.

Ok, so maybe Sirius wouldn't want me laying around, doing nothing to get rid of the real problem, and moping about him. Well, I guess in honor of him I should do what he says. It's Friday so I've got six days till I have to put this into action. Until then, I have to think of a way to use the resources I have.

Well, not much I can do. I'm in a pretty bad situation right now. Let's see what I've got going for me. Stuff I've gained since first year.

In first year, I got an invisibility cloak, a life debt from Hermione, and I think that I might have gotten a part of the Sorcerer's Stone embedded in my hand. That would explain why I started healing a lot faster after that. It would also explain why I was able to live with Basilisk venom in my body for any amount of time. Something to ask the Goblins when I get to Gringotts. They'll do anything for the rich.

In second year, I got the Sword of Gryffindor, a life debt from ginny, my blood has Basilisk Venom and Phoenix Tears in it, that's got to do something at least. I've also got a fiercely loyal yet misguided house elf. But if he does magic around here, I'll get in trouble. Wait... there was no trouble from the ministry when he apparated into my room... so I can use him to send letter in secret. Oh, and maybe the spiders might help me a bit because I got rid of the Basilisk.

In third year, I got a life debt from Pettigrew, the Marauder's Map, and a lot of Dementors scared of me.

In fourth year, I got life debts from two part-veela, who are daughters of the French Minister of Magic, and one from Alastor "Mad-Eye" Moody. I also got Viktor Krum indebted to me by stopping him from becoming a murderer.

Last year, I got a life debt from Arthur Weasley, saved him from Nagini and stuff, and I got the public opinion in my favor when everyone saw Voldemort in the atrium. Wonder if Fudge is gone yet. Well, if there is another Minister for Magic, no doubt he's hoping to get my support as the Boy-Who-Won't-Die-Right, the Chosen One, and fate's favorite chew toy. Maybe I can blackmail Skeeter with the illegal animagus thing again. I might have made an oath not to tell anyone, but what if a legimens "accidentally" found the memory while training me in occulumency? Well, Snape is a legimens. And would it be my fault if he were to use the information?

Well, now let's look at the negatives. I'm stuck in the middle of nowhere, I'm being spied on by the order, a psychopath is out to kill me, the psychopath's minions are also out to get me, and the two most powerful wizards in England are both intent on keeping me as far in the dark as they can.

Is there anything that I had before first year I could use? Well, birthright I guess. Stuff I've read about Potters... we are Most noble and ancient house, not that I know what that entails yet, have had a history of being reckless fighters, are masters in warding, have had metamorpmagi in the line, and are generally masters in transfiguration. Supposedly some Potter found a way to change the Fidelius charm (also invented by a Potter) so that it could be used in place of occulumency (your thoughts being the secret) which is why all Potter are pants occulumens. Also, there was a few seers in the Potter ancestry, but Merlin knows I'm no seer, so does Trelawney actually.

Do any of those apply to me though? I'm pretty good at transfiguration, but I can't use wand magic during the summer. I might be a metamorphmagus. It would make sense really, how else could I have grown my hair back the day after dear auntie cut it off? What was it Tonks said about how she changed what she looks like?

July 31, 1996 at 12 Grimmauld Place

Tonks came up to me, hair neon green, and said happy birthday. I wonder how it feels to be able to change what you look like. So I ask her.

"Tonks, how do you change how you look like? It's bloody brilliant!"

"I've told you already, I'm a metamorphmagus. And don't try flattering me, it's more a curse than a blessing. God, I hate boys!" she seems angry and storms off.

I wonder what she was talking about. Oh, wait... maybe boys have told her that her changing is brilliant because they want her to change for them... better go set that straight.

"Wait, Tonks!" I shout close behind her.

"What do you want, probably just a shag. Prat. Well guess what, I'm no trollop. I won't get in a broom closet or change just 'cause you want me too!" She slaps me.

"Ouch, that hurt. Well, anyways, I didn't say that because I want you to change for me on my birthday. If anyone knows what it's like, always being asked to be someone you're not, it's me. No one wants Harry, they all want the Boy-Who-Can't-Die-Right, fate's bitch, defeater of the most powerful modern dark lord but not Harry, know what I mean."

"Then why'd you ask about my shifting? And sorry about that scene, it's a habit."

"Well, when I asked that, I meant that I want to know how it feels when you do it. What do you have to think about and so on. How do you control your powers? I wanted to know because other than Blacks, Potters are the only other notable family with metamorphmagi. Might help me feel closer to my family."

"Oh, sorry about that then. Well, I just concentrate on what I want to look like. It helps to have seen someone who looks like that before. All I could do was imitate others at the beginning. But you can't learn it, you're just born with it. Well, it's your birthday, I'm sure there's people waiting for you at the surprise party I'm not supposed to tell you about. Let's hurry up." And then she tripped on nothing. again.

Ok, so I've got to concentrate on what I want to look like. Let's start off by trying to look like Malfoy. I look into the mirror Sirius gave me, if only I had remembered this when I went off to the Department... Anyways, I close my eyes and concentrate on looking like the sodding ferret. I open my eyes, my eyes are now Malfoy color, but that's it. Well, that proves I am a metamorphmagus, but I guess I need to concentrate more. The next twenty minutes continue like this, me getting one part right at a time, until I've finally got it right. After that, I'm able to change back easily, probably because I've been in my form so long. The second time I make myself look like Malfoy it only took 5 minutes, probably 'cause I've already done it once before.

June 19, 1997 at 4 Privet Drive

Here goes nothing. Time to act. I step out of my dear family's house under my invisibility coat (retrieved courtesy of Dobby, the no-longer-free elf). I've been practicing my metamorphmagus transforming all week. Wonder if it will work. I wander around the front yard of 3 Privet Drive till I crash into something that isn't there. Then the thing that isn't there shouts.

"Oi, what just happened, I know I can't stand straight walking, but I was standing still!" She screams.
"Shhhhh, the muggles might hear us." I whisper, imitating her voice as well as I can. "Are you... me?" She asks.
"Yeah, now meet me over in the park near here in 30 minutes, I'll look like Hermione." I order her.

Well, at least that went well. Being a metamorphmagus is fun! Better hurry, I've only got 10 minutes until I have to meet Tonks.

At the park, a 5"4' girl with purple hair, grey eyes wearing slightly ripped jeans and a Green Day shirt walks up to me as I sit on the rusted swings in the middle of a playground where I was attacked by Dementors about a year ago.

"How do I know you're me? How do I know you aren't someone polyjuicing as Hermione?" She asks.

"Well, we could wait here for an hour so that you know I'm not using polyjuice," I shift to look like her (perfectly if I may say so myself), "but do you know any othert metamorphmagi?"

"Ok, so why are you here? How did you go back in time?" She asks, not as tense as she was seconds ago. Obviously, she trusts herself.

"At exactly 2:30, Harry's going to come out of his house under his invisibility cloak, it's important that you get him. But don't get the order. That didn't work last time I came back. He just lashed out at us, ended up stunning all of us, and then was arrested and put in Azkaban. No, you've got to do this yourself. He's going to say he needs to go to Gringotts, go with him. Tell no one. The entire future hinges on this. Oh, and you will use a time turner at 3:00 AM tomorrow morning. Well, I've got to hide till 3:00 AM. I'd suggest waiting right outside the door to privet drive. When I said 2:30, I meant exactly 2:30. Take off your cloak and just say 'I know you're here Harry'." I tell her, laughing on the inside at the absurdity of the situation.

Then I put on my cloak and get away as quickly as I can, purposely tripping on a few things on my way out to keep up the act. Then, I call Dobby and have him apparate me to my bedroom again. Being sneaky is such fun.

June 19, 1997, 2:30 PM at 4 Privet Drive

A blonde girl with red pupils appears out of nowhere and says "I know you're here Harry."

I can't believe she's actually going along with it! Well, I've got my part to play.

"Who are you and how do you know I'm here?" I ask and then jab her with my wand.

"I'm Tonks"

"Prove it"

She transforms into me. "Do you know any other metamorphmagi?" Ha, she's using my own words against me. She doesn't even realize it either.

"Ok, well, I guess you've caught me. What will I do now? Ah, right, I have a firebolt in my hand and you've got nothingto chase me on."

"Wait, don't go. I won't stop you from going anywhere, I'm on your side. I just want to go with you, to protect you and stuff."

"Good, I don't really have my firebolt in my hand, not that you'd know. Me being invisible and all."

"Oh, take off that sodding cloak."

"Yes, because two Harry Potters on a muggle yard definitely won't be noticed. I'm surprised they haven't seen you transform yet. I don't really make a habit of talking to myself, especially not when there's another me walking around. I'd just aim to kill. You haven't met yourself recently, have you?" The look on her face is hilarious when I say that. Wonder if she has any inkling of my little prank. "Well, anyways, I'm on my way to Gringotts, feel free to follow along. Just go hide for a second and transform into someone else. I'll follow you."

She hides in a bush, still looking like me. I can see Aunt Petunia's next slander of me now: the insane boy who talks to air and jumps in bushes. Tonks changes into the girl she looked like at the playground.

I take off my invisibility cloak and say, "Hey, Tonks, you know, you're not the only Metamorphmagus with an invisibility cloak." Then, I transform into Hermione, walk to the closest curb, stick out my wand to call the Knight Bus, and yell "Well, come along won't ya!"

I hear her mutter, "Well, that was positively Slytherin." and smile to myself.