CHAPTER 1
WHAT HARRY FOUND OUT

Harry sat on the bank of the lake, slowly tossing in pebbles and watching the droplets of water splash back into the mossy green lake. He looked across to the other bank, remembering the first patronus that he had ever conjured... it was to save Sirius' life, if only he hadn't been stupid enough to take Voldemort's bait, Sirius would still be alive. No, if it hadn't been for Ron Sirius would still be alive, Harry thought savagely as he through a particularly large rock into the lake particularly hard.

"Harry?" Harry saw Hermione's face swim into view as the water ceased to ripple, she looked concerned. "Harry, you've been sitting here all weekend," Hermione started (they had only arrived at Hogwarts the previous Sunday). "Ron told me that you haven't said a word to him since he told you..." Hermione's voice trailed off. She noticed that Harry had balled his hands into fists at the sound of Ron's name. "It's not his fault, Harry, he was... Harry, he feels horrible, please talk to him, let him explain," she pleaded. "Harry, he's so lonely he's even being civil to me! Just go talk to him, please?" Harry noticed that she looked truly concerned. Harry nodded and traipsed back up to the castle in the dim light of the setting sun.

Harry and Hermione arrived in the common room to find nearly all of the occupants working on homework, except for Ron who was staring out of a window. Hermione gave Harry a push in Ron's direction and they started to walk over. Ron turned around and saw Harry who looked upset to see him.

"Well, I need my rest before tomorrow, I'll be in bed," Hermione said quickly before running off towards the girls dormitories.

"Harry, I just wanted to tell you it wasn't on purpose... You remember how I was that night," Ron started.

Harry sighed and said, "I know Ron, I'm sorry, it's just... when you told me that you had told the Deatheaters where Sirius was headed, I felt like it was your fault that Sirius had died." He felt a burning sensation in his throat and his eyes began to water. "This may sound horrible, but it felt good to blame someone other than myself for Sirius' death."

"I understand, Harry," Ron said. "I would have told you about it sooner, but it wasn't until this summer that I remembered and I wasn't sure how you'd react," Ron said smirking.

"Yeah, I guess I have been acting a bit-"

"Childish?" came Hermione's voice from behind Harry and Ron.

"I thought you were going to bed," Harry told a teary Hermione.

"I just had to watch! Oh this is so touching!" she said throwing her arms around both of them. "Now you two had better do your charms homework, it's two and a half rolls of parchment and you haven't even started!" She turned on her heel and ran to the dormitories wiping her eyes.

"Barking mad," Ron said frowning slightly.

"Completely," Harry replied, smirking back. "But she's right, we better start our homework."