A/N: The mention of Lily Potter being pregnant will be a continuing thread later on. Also, this is a short chapter because I'm having the next one be all about Harry's Christmas holiday.
Ch. 3 An Interesting Turn of Events
That night as Harry went down to Slughorn's office, Harry felt helpless for the first time since losing his sight. The reason he'd been resisting Neville's idea of a seeing-eye dog—a suggestion Ginny, Hermione, and Luna had also made—was because some small part of Harry had hoped that this was all temporary… that one morning he'd wake up and be able to see again.
Not focusing on where he was going, Harry bumped into one of the suits of armor and fell to the floor. After a moment of being sprawled on the stone floor, Harry felt tears sting his eyes. Sitting with his back against the wall, he pulled his glasses off and started softly sobbing.
After a few minutes, though, Harry heard footsteps and groaned. The last thing he needed was to be seen by Malfoy or Snape. "Potter? What's wrong, m'boy?" Slughorn bent down and placed a kind hand on the teen's shoulder.
"I can't do this, sir," Harry muttered. "Classes, trying to do the spell work, navigating the castle and I Can't. Bloody. See!"
"Slughorn stood and gently pulled Harry to his feet. "Harry, Harry…. You can't expect to put all the pieces back together so quickly. How about we forgo lessons tonight and have a drink in my office instead?" Harry nodded and allowed Slughorn to guide him into the office where he sat down listening to the Potions teacher make coffee. "Now, Harry," Slughorn said, adding cream and sugar to both cups. "You remember that other student of mine that I mentioned?"
"Jennifer Waldenmeyer?" Harry asked, taking the mug Slughorn pressed into his hand.
"That's the one," Slughorn replied, jovially. "She started doing magic without being able to see a lick. Stressed herself badly the first two years and her marks suffered for it. She expected so much of herself and everyone else expected so little."
"What happened to her, Professor?" Harry asked, sipping his coffee.
Slughorn's voice filled with pride as he spoke. "Graduated third in her year and left for the United States. Now she works with disabled wizarding youths. Harry, you have chosen to undertake a very difficult job, trying to finish school blind. But if you're anything like your mother, you won't give up. Lily would be proud of you, Harry. And so am I," Slughorn added, smiling.
"But I keep getting lost, Professor. I thought I knew the castle, but I don't." Harry protested. "Then after the incident on the way to Herbology this morning, Neville said I should get a seeing-eye dog."
"So take Longbottom's advice," Slughorn insisted, taking a drink of coffee. "Your godfather is a canine animagus, am I right?"
Harry set his cup down as the words sank in. "I never even thought… I-it's… It's a brilliant idea, sir."
Slughorn chuckled as he and Harry finished their drinks. "After Pomona Sprout told me about you being late this morning, I owled Sirius Black and told him of the situation. Tomorrow, you, Sirius, Professor McGonagall, and I will make arrangements. We'll talk tomorrow morning before lessons, alright, lad?"
"Yes, sir," Harry said, and was surprised at the eager tone in his voice which he quickly attributed to the idea of Sirius hanging around. Slughorn, though just smiled.
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The next morning, Harry came down from the dormitories to the Gryffindor common room to the sounds of McGonagall, Slughorn, Sirius, and James Potter. "Morning, Harry," James said, hugging his son. "I was just about to come and get you up. Everything's prepared, so…"
"How… is this going to work?" Harry asked, making his way to one of the couches and sitting down.
"I'm going to change into my animagus form," Sirius said, sitting next to Harry. "I'll be harnessed and everything, so…. Basically, I'll lead you around the school and everything," Sirius finished, lamely. "You okay, Harry?"
"I guess… I guess it's finally starting to sink in…. That this is permanent. I'm never going to see again," Harry said, sighing.
"Potter, if you don't want to do this…" McGonagall said, watching her favorite student.
"I have to do this," Harry said, nodding. "I can't… do this by myself anymore." Looking in his father's direction, Harry added. "I need help, Dad."
James nodded, wordlessly. Harry's pride usually prevented him from asking for help and the fact that Harry was openly admitting his faults… Well, that was something indeed. "Okay, Harry. Well, Sirius, why don't you change, and we'll all go down to the Great Hall?"
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Holding on to Sirius's harness, Harry headed into the Great Hall, Sirius leading the way. The whispered conversations increased in volume, but once Harry sat down at the Gryffindor table and felt Ginny's hand take his, he felt better. His world had been turned upside down, but at least his friends were sticking by him.
"Harry, why do you have a Grim?" asked Luna Lovegood as she came over to the table giving Neville a kiss as she sat down next to him.
"He's my… my guide dog," Harry said, scratching Sirius's head. "Padfoot. So… are we going to Hogsmeade today or what?"
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Entering the Three Broomsticks, Harry, Tobias, Mallory, Ginny, Hermione, Ron, Neville, and Luna gathered round a table in the front of the pub and ordered a round of butterbeer. "You know," Mallory said as she sipped her hot drink. "Hogsmeade is cooler when you're coming in here underage."
Tobias laughed and said to Harry, "We may have another Marauder on our hands yet, little brother."
"Tell Dad," Harry said, nodding. "He'll burst with pride."
"Yeah, but Mum might burst with something else," Mallory added under her breath. Seeing the looks on everyone's faces, she sighed. "Mum… told me before we left that… she was pregnant."
"What!" shouted the two Potter brothers in unison. "How did we not notice that?" Tobias asked, looking at Harry.
"Don't know about you, Toby," Harry replied, grinning. "But I have a rock-solid excuse."
"Yeah, the one time being blind comes in handy."
"That and I never have to see Malfoy's ugly face again," Harry added, taking a gulp of his own drink. "So is this the plan for the day? Hang around here all day?"
Hermione sighed. "I guess it is a bit too cold to be here. Shall we just finish our drinks and head back to school, then?"
"Yeah, I guess," Tobias agreed, gulping the last of his drink. A bark from the floor made Tobias grin. "Oh, sure, Sirius. Rub in the fact that you have a thick fur coat on."
Ten minutes later, the group headed out of the Three Broomsticks and down the lane when they saw Katie Bell and her friend Leanne ahead of them. After a moment or two, Tobias grabbed Harry's shoulder roughly and Sirius barked in alarm. "Toby?" Harry asked, as Sirius tried to jerk his harness out of Harry's hand. "What is it? What's going on?"
But Tobias didn't answer as Katie had started screaming in pain. Harry stood back with Sirius and Mallory as everyone else hurried forth. After what felt like hours, Harry felt Tobias steer him towards Hogwarts castle.
"Tobias, what is going on?" Harry asked as they entered the castle.
Tobias knelt down and unhooked Sirius's harness so the older wizard could change back. "Sirius, what the HELL was that?"
Sirius shook his head as Harry pulled his cane out of his pocket and unfolded it. "Toby, I don't know. But what ever it is, it's definitely Dark. That necklace, though…"
"What necklace?" Harry asked, curious.
"Remember when you hid in that cabinet in Borgin and Burkes before second year, Harry?"
"Yeah, so?"
Sirius nodded as he remembered the day in question. "I remember that necklace. It's the same one. Tobias, tell McGonagall and Pomphrey. The others should be here with Katie any moment. Harry, come on. Let's talk." They went to the kitchens and after Dobby brought over a tea tray, Sirius studied his godson. "What are you thinking about, Harry?"
Harry shrugged. "I don't know. It just seems weird. That necklace… Who would want to hurt Katie Bell?"
"No idea, Harry," Sirius said, sipping his tea. "No idea."