1 November 1981-Hogwarts Hospital Wing

Sirius looked down at Harry, who was sleeping peacefully in the cot, unaware of the destiny fate had cruelly sent his way. Dumbledore had left the Hospital Wing to spend a few minutes in his office, leaving Sirius and his godson alone together.

He looked up at the clock. It had been barely ten minutes ago that he had learned just why James and Lily had been murdered and why Voldemort had attempted to kill Harry. He had mixed emotions about this information: it was nice to know why this tragedy had happened, so that he wouldn't have to question it alone forever, but at the same time, knowing that the Dark Wanker would not stop until he had killed Harry Potter, who he had marked as the one to ultimately defeat him, and that there was a chance the rest of the Death Eater scum knew this information and would try to finish what their Master started made him worry more.

'That is, if they're stupid,' he then thought. 'Knowing Voldemort, it seems he would much rather be the one to have the so-called 'honour' of killing my godson and probably eviscerate whoever decides to finish the job on his behalf. That is, if he ever comes back.'

The doors of the Hospital Wing opened, and Madam Pomfrey came in, followed by three wizards, one of whom Sirius was not expecting to see again.

"Hello, Black," 'greeted' the sardonic and contemptuous voice of Severus Snape as he curtly walked over to Harry, wand in hand.

Sirius was about to move to his old enemy and roughly ask him why he was at Hogwarts when he felt Madam Pomfrey grab him by the shoulder and give him a warning look.

Catching the message in her eyes, Sirius reluctantly backed away and watched as Snape and the other wizard (although not fully certain, Sirius wondered if Snape was Slughorn's successor as Potions Master, or just in the unfortunate position of teaching Defence Against the Dark Arts this year) examined Harry for Dark Magic.

Shortly thereafter, Dumbledore strode in.

"I have informed the Ministry that you are in my custody and that you have denied being the Secret-Keeper for Lily and James, Sirius," he announced, "but I expect that Crouch will still want you to provide a statement under Veritaserum."

A sigh could be heard coming from Snape. "When would you like me to administer it, Headmaster"? he asked, not hiding his lack of interest or enthusiasm in the matter.

"In the morning," replied Dumbledore. "It's been a long night, and I imagine that some of us may need to rest for a while."

Sirius shook his head. "I'm not tired," he said sharply. That was a lie-the events of the past few hours had left him feeling drained.

"Nor am I," added Snape. "I am perfectly capable of carrying this examination out nonstop until dawn."

"That is not good for either your body or mind, Severus," admonished Madam Pomfrey.

"It hasn't stopped me before, and it won't stop me now," dismissed Snape as he continued examining the Dark Magic with the Defence Professor.

Sirius walked towards Dumbledore and whispered to the Headmaster, "Could you please, please, please explain to me what the Hell he's doing here?"

"Slughorn and I chose him to become the new Potions Master and Head of Slytherin," replied Dumbledore quietly. "I hope you won't be too hard on him while he's examining Harry."

"Too hard on him-what do you mean by that?" hissed Sirius, still keeping his voice down but somehow also raising it. If Snape could hear them, he was doing a very good job of sticking to his task, like an engraver carving on wood. "You've surely got to remember him as a student? Sneaking after us, hanging with those Death Eaters-in-making, calling Lily that foul word-among many other things!"

"I am very much aware of those events, but is it really so wrong to give a man who lost his way in life a second chance?" asked Dumbledore. "I gave you a second chance after the incident at the Shrieking Shack in Fifth Year."

Sirius could only splutter quietly, realising where Dumbledore was taking this conversation.

"If Severus had died that night, I would have expelled you without much hesitation," continued Dumbledore, coldness entering his voice. "Whatever his crimes were then, it was an unjustifiable move."

"And if he were to betray that trust?" asked Sirius, finally overcoming Dumbledore's earlier comment.

"I am not certain as to whether or not I would be merciful enough to grant one more chance for him, but I think he knows that well enough already, and should be acting accordingly. So please behave yourself around him-you have my word he will not harm Harry."

Sirius exhaled, looked at Dumbledore dead in the eye, and nodded in agreement, albeit reluctantly.

He sat down near the door and held his head in his hands. He was not really sure which stage of grief he was currently at: he was hoping so much that this was all a bad dream, that he was having a vision of some sort, but he was paradoxically aware, deep down, that everything that had happened was real, that this was no nightmare.

'So either Denial or Acceptance, or some combination therein,' he thought cynically, taking out a handkerchief to wipe the now-cold sweat off his forehead.

It was now just after one o'clock in the morning. He felt his eyes blinking a lot faster, as he found himself trying desperately to stay awake and keep himself out of the realm of sleep.

Thankfully, a hand touching his shoulder provided the necessary adrenaline boost to keep him awake for another few minutes.

He looked up quickly. It was Dumbledore.

Silently acknowledging that their previous conversation was in the past, Sirius took a deep breath and asked "So what is it?"

"Worrying," answered the Headmaster. "Intriguing, but worrying nonetheless."

Sirius shot up out of the chair and marched over to the cot. "So, what the Hell is it?" he asked.

"There is an unusually powerful piece of Dark Magic centred on the forehead, within the vicinity of the scar," answered the Defence Professor formally.

"Put there by Voldemort?" asked Sirius, causing everyone else (except Dumbledore) to flinch.

"Possibly," replied Snape, "but seeing as he was at Godric's Hollow to kill your godson, then I highly doubt it was put there intentionally."

"You mean to say this was an accident," deduced Madam Pomfrey. "That whatever magic allowed Harry to survive caused a transferal of some of You-Know-Who's power to Harry."

Snape nodded. "It does not appear to be causing him much pain or discomfort, seeing as he is able to sleep peacefully, but I do not believe that we will know that for certain until he wakes up."

"In addition," added the Defence Professor, "it could also be seeping off his energy, like a parasite, but like Severus said, we will not know for certain until he is awake. Indeed, if we are unable to remove it, we may not know its full extent until he is of Hogwarts age."

Sirius glanced to Dumbledore. 'How come we didn't have any more Defence Professors like him?'

Dumbledore did not give an answer, instead choosing to ask the Professor "Is there anything else that the three of you have all theorised?"

"It is possible that this came from He-Who-Must-Know-Be-Named, when he attempted to kill the boy," answered Snape. "In that scenario, it seems that he may have unintentionally given him some of his powers."

"Good God," muttered Madam Pomfrey.

Sirius didn't know what to really think of this information, given his state of mind, but he did put in some effort. 'A piece of Voldemort inside Harry's head-attached to my godson? Merlin knows what the Dark Tosser could do with that piece of him if he were still alive and killing.'

"So it's harmless?" asked Dumbledore with something of a rhetorical tone.

"For now," answered Snape, "but as we've said before, it will take time before we know for certain what the effects are."

He took out his watch, noting the time was now quarter-past one. "It is late, and I need to grade papers and brew potions tomorrow. If it's alright with you then, Headmaster, I shall retire for the night."

"It is alright with me, Severus," Dumbledore replied. "You look like you need sleep, anyway."

With that, Snape walked out of the Hospital Wing, managing to avoid eye contact with Sirius as he did so.

"Is that all there is, then?" Dumbledore asked Madam Pomfrey.

"It seems so," she replied. "There's really nothing else we can do for now."

"Very well, then," said Dumbledore, sounding a little unhappy. "Professor, you are free to go to bed as well."

The Defence Professor gave a simple nod and exited the Hospital Wing as well.

Dumbledore turned to Sirius. "If you are alright with leaving Harry in Poppy's custody for the night, we shall continue this conversation in my office."

Sirius, though tired as heck, nodded. "I've never not trusted her, so why shouldn't I trust her with Harry? I'll be back for him in the morning, though, mark my words."

"They will be marked in due process," stated Madam Pomfrey dryly as Dumbledore led Sirius through the doors and into the hall on their way to the Headmaster's office.

AN: Sorry for the hiatus, but I got distracted by other stuff (especially working on Coming to America). Luckily I've managed to write about 2/3 of this chapter in the last 2-3 days.

Do not own characters. Do not own setting. Do not own rights.