Chapter 9
I winced as Ron shouted down the phone as loud as he could. I had specifically told him not to shout. Sweet Merlin. I knew I should have been the one to call.
"HELLO? HELLO? CAN YOU HEAR ME? I - WANT - TO - TALK - TO - HARRY - POTTER!"
"Ron don't shout-" I tried to say but he cut me off with more yelling.
"RON - WEASLEY! I'M - A - FRIEND - OF - HARRY'S - FROM – SCHOOL!"
"Ron, for Merlin sake!" I snapped, pinching the bridge of my nose, when he'd put the phone down. "Do you not listen to anything I say?"
He pretended to think about that for a second: "Nope." and went into the kitchen to eat. I was so frustrated. I couldn't wait to see Hermione or Harry again; this whole house was driving me mad. Thankfully we were leaving for Egypt on the 25th of June after Arthur had won some prize draw with the Ministry. It had brought some welcome money into the family and the Weasleys were able to splash out on the trip to see Bill.
I couldn't wait. I sent Hermione a letter, she'd gone to France, and since we'd be in Egypt for my birthday she sent my present early. I laughed when I realised what it was; a huge tub of 'Wonder Witches Hair Potion for Frizzy Curls and Locks'. It was fantastic, turning my bushy, unmanageable hair to pretty waves. I'd been moaning to her for the last couple of weeks of the school term. This potion had left the thickness of my hair and just taken the frizz away. I grinned into the mirror after washing my hair pulling a curl and letting it go, watching it spring back into place. Much better.
We returned from Egypt a month later. My birthday had been and gone and we were all nicely bronzed- well I was anyway, the Weasleys either burnt or just stayed pasty white underneath their freckles. Strix was waiting for me in my room, when we arrived back. I'd sent her with Errol to make sure he didn't die flying over the ocean and also to deliver my birthday card and present to Harry.
I hadn't heard from him all summer and after the fiasco on the phone we decided that it was best not to call him again. I went over to Strix and found she had brought my Hogwarts letter. It was slightly thicker than usual and when I opened it, two letters dropped out. The first was my book list, the other a permission slip to visit the village of Hogsmeade on certain weekends.
I ran straight down to get Molly to sign it and found all the other Weasleys with their own forms.
"Allie, I'm sorry dear, but Remus is your godfather, he has to sign it." I frowned, reluctantly folding the letter away. He was coming round the next day so I would get him to sign it then.
The morning after we got back, I stepped into the kitchen, with my permission slip to find all the Weasleys, plus Moony, huddled around the table staring at the most recent edition of the Daily Prophet. I hadn't read any news since before we went to Egypt. I glanced over Ron's shoulder and said:
"Anything interesting?" Immediately they all jumped and someone whipped the newspaper under the table. They all looked very shifty and began moving pretending to be busy. I frowned as Arthur took the newspaper and went outside.
"What's up?" I asked Ginny who just avoided my eyes and followed Arthur outside. Fred and George grinned uneasily and went into the living room. Molly began to do some washing up and Ron and Percy went up to their rooms. Moony grabbed my shoulder, hugging me.
"Allie! I haven't seen you in ages!" he said too loudly and too jovially.
"Moony you saw me yesterday morning," I said raising my eyebrows. "What's going on?"
He ignored my question and began to talk to Molly. Huffily, I poked his back and crossed my arms, scowling. He turned seemingly reluctantly and I held my permission slip out. I've never seen him go so pale.
"Allie, to be honest I don't think that's such a good idea," he said, looking anywhere but me. "You know how much trouble you can get into."
He laughed loudly before hurriedly saying his goodbyes, Flooing back to his house, casting what he thought was an inconspicuous worried look at me. I glanced at Molly to find she had disappeared. I was completely perplexed but there was definitely something going on, something on that newspaper they didn't want me to see and they didn't do a very good job of hiding it. I ran up to my room and sent Strix off with a few Knuts to fetch a copy of the Daily Prophet.
In less than an hour she returned. Hesitantly I opened up the paper. My heart stopped. I picked the paper up with shaking hands. It wasn't the huge picture dominating the page that had caught my eye, it was the title; BLACK STILL AT LARGE. I seemed to choke on the very air I was breathing in. My brain refused to understand what was written on the page. I read the article as fast as I could. There was no way it could really be him. Single phrases and words leapt out at me, Black is mad…danger to anyone who crosses him…murderer.
I looked into the face off my father. Shadowed, heavy lidded eyes, stormy gray: just like my own, the waxy white skin, black matted hair that fell just above his shoulders. I could see myself in him so clearly. We were so alike yet so different it was scary. Clutching it to my chest I blinked rapidly trying not to let any tears spill.
I ran downstairs and back into the kitchen. Everyone was back in there eating lunch, talking and laughing but as I stormed in and slapped the newspaper down they all fell silent.
"No one thought this was important enough to tell me?" I spat, trying to control the anger raging inside of me. I glared round as them all. No one said a word, just looked guiltily from the paper to me and back. Molly rose and extended her arm towards me but I just slapped it away and grabbed the paper again, running to the fire.
"The Nook!" I cried grabbing a fist full of Floo powder. I disappeared shooting through the Floo network and in less than a second I stepped out of the fireplace and into Moony's cottage. It was in the middle of the countryside, completely rural, in the middle of nowhere.
"MOONY!" I screamed. I waited in the small cosy living room, pacing angrily, as he came clattering down the stairs.
"Allie? What-" I just raised the newspaper. Shock was written into every line in his face. I had never felt so betrayed.
"How could you keep this from me?" I whispered, my voice breaking at the end. Hot, burning tears welled up under my lids but I kept them at bay, my cold eyes piercing Moony's sympathetic ones. "Did you really think I wouldn't find out?"
He stayed silent watching me. No one had ever really told me anything about his crimes, just he was a murderer. I had no idea what he'd done.
"Tell me this is all lies," I pleaded. "Please."
He stood for a moment watching me then came at me pulling me into a hug. But I couldn't bear it and pulled away, pushing him as hard as I could. The tears threatened to spill, but I swallowed them back. I was so angry, shocked and most of all ashamed.
Moony was gazing at me sadly. He offered me no comfort- perhaps he'd known I would react like this. It felt like I was falling, faster and faster. I fell onto the sofa and fixed my eyes on the threadbare carpet. If I looked around I would see the photographs. Moony's house was full off them. One's of me mainly but there was a fair amount of my dad when they were at Hogwarts.
I had to go. I just needed to be alone. I came here looking for answers and I should have known I wasn't going to get any. I had only reached the fireplace when Moony caught my arm and spun me to face him. Silently he handed me a photo. It was very much like the one I'd been looking at the summer before. With the Harry look-a-like.
"That's me and your dad when we were younger," he said heavily. "Your father was in league with You-Know-Who. And when that-" Moony took a deep breath his eyes misting over "-when he killed the Potters and tried to kill Harry, Black lost everything, but he still remains a faithful servant."
"So he's escaped to… get revenge?" I guessed, my voice shaky.
"Yes," sighed Moony "On Harry. And also-" he paused. I looked at him sharply "He loved you no matter what he was. I have a feeling he may want to get back in touch with you."
I didn't want to hear anymore. Sirius Black was no longer my father. I dropped the picture and Flooed back to the Burrow. Everyone swamped me as I got back, but I just shoved them out of the way and ran up to my room. Ginny was in there and watched me pitifully.
"Allie, are you okay?" she asked, concerned.
"Do I look okay Ginny?" I spat, thoughtlessly "Why ask such a stupid question."
I missed the tears in her eyes as I flung open the window and crawled out onto the roof. I slammed the window shut and shifted as far as I could from the window, leaning against the corner where the chimney joined with the wall.
I don't know how long I sat there. I missed dinner and stayed hunched in a ball for most of the night. I could hear the others shouting me but neither Ginny nor Fred and George must have revealed where I was as they were the only one's who knew I came here. But it was none of them who came to me. It was Ron. He fell out of the window swearing loudly and edged precariously along the roof towards me.
"So," he said insensitive as ever, "Your dad's broken out of Azkaban."
"Really Ron I hadn't noticed," I said tonelessly.
"No one knows he's your dad do they?" he asked, picking at his nails. I glanced at Ron. As much as I hated his bluntness, he knew this was the way to get me to talk.
"No. No one but you lot and Moony. I suppose the Minister must know. And Dumbledore." I muttered dully. "I told Harry and Hermione that he was dead. Well he was for all I knew."
"You gonna tell them?"
"No!" I almost shouted "Are you crazy? They'd hate me. Ron please don't say anything. And tell the others not to say. I don't want this getting out. Why do you think I don't use the name 'Black' anymore?"
Ron nodded, before catching my hand and giving it a squeeze. He understood despite the pressure this could put on him. This was my secret to tell for when I was ready to face the truth. Like that was ever going to happen. He left me alone and I continued to think- I wouldn't tell people: I couldn't.
The sky had completely darkened and tiny stars were twinkling down at me when I first saw it. Down in the bushes, in the Weasleys yard was the hulking outline of something very big, with wide gleaming eyes. I jumped up and pulled out my wand but it retreated into the night.
Everyone gave me a wide berth over the next week, even the twins. Moony didn't visit again but I suspected he came to see Molly and Arthur when everyone else had gone to bed. Ron was the only one who tried to act normal around me and I was thankful of that. It was refreshing to be outside when we arrived in Diagon Alley and went about our shopping. I left the others and wandered around trying to ignore the wanted posters that lined the street.
I went to Gringotts first then to Madam Malkin's and got some new robes. Next I went to Flourish and Blotts for my new school books and I hardly noticed the store assistant grumbling as he fetched me the 'Monster Book of Monsters'. Then I stocked up on Potions supplies before heading out into the street.
Ron was sitting outside Florean Fortescue's Ice Cream Parlour, beside a familiar head of bushy brown hair. Hermione spotted me first and I ran, grabbing her in a hug. I was impressed with her tan: I was pale white compared to her.
"Harry! HARRY!" Ron was frantically waving in his directionas he came walking down Diagon Alley. I smiled properly for the first time in a week. He had grown another few inches, just like Ron and his hair had got even messier if that were possible, still stubbornly untidy. One thing that hadn't changed was his bright emerald green eyes that sparkled happily.
"Finally!" said Ron, grinning at Harry as he sat down. He hugged both me and Hermione in turn and slapped Ron brotherly on the back.
"Did you really blow up your aunt, Harry?" said Hermione, rounding on him with a very serious tone.
"I didn't mean to," said Harry, while Ron roared with laughter. I smiled half-heartedly, picking at the corner of the tablecloth, as Harry winked at me. "I just - lost control."
"It's not funny, Ron," said Hermione sharply. "Honestly, I'm amazed Harry wasn't expelled."
"So am I," admitted Harry, trying to keep a straight face. "I think I was luckier not to be arrested actually. So how were your summers?"
I made a non-committal sound and Harry gave me a questioning look. I knew I probably didn't look too happy so tried to put on a smile as Ron told him all about Egypt. I had to stop thinking about Black. Hermione was chatting excitedly about France, pulling all her new books out for all of the fifty classes she was taking this term. Well not exactly fifty.
"Are you planning to eat or sleep at all this year, Hermione?" asked Harry, while Ron sniggered. I let out a small laugh at her expression as Hermione ignored us all. She wanted to get a present for herself with some left over birthday money so we headed over to the magical creature shop, just across the street.
It was a small shop, smelly and very noisy because the occupants of these cages were all squeaking, squawking, jabbering, or hissing. There were animals of all shapes and sizes everywhere; cats of every colour, a noisy cage of ravens, a basket of funny custard-coloured furballs that were humming loudly, and on the counter, a vast cage of sleek black rats that were playing some sort of skipping game using their long, bald tails.
Ron got Scabbers checked out as he hadn't been looking too good since we got back from Egypt and was given a rat tonic. As they sorted out Scabbers my mind trailed off. Daughter of a murderer. Oh joy. And it was only now was I beginning to get the full grasp of what that meant. He had killed. People; 12 innocent lives. I looked up when Ron yelled in pain.
Something whizzed past my foot and it shot out of the door and I was almost bowled over as Ron pushed past me.
"Scabbers!" Ron shouted, racing out of the shop after him: Harry following. Rolling my eyes and sighing heavily I walked out after them. It took us nearly ten minutes to catch Scabbers, who was hiding behind a bin. Ron stuffed the trembling rat back into his pocket and straightened up.
"What was that?"
"It was either a very big cat or quite a small tiger," said Harry.
"Where's Hermione?" I asked, looking round.
We made our way back up the crowded street to the Magical Menagerie. As we reached it, Hermione came out; her arms were clamped tightly around an enormous ginger cat.
"You bought that monster?" said Ron, his mouth hanging open.
"He's gorgeous, isn't he?" said Hermione, glowing.
I thought he was quite cute. The cat's ginger fur was thick and fluffy, but it was definitely a bit bowlegged and its face looked grumpy and oddly squashed, as though it had run headlong into a brick wall. Now that Scabbers was out of sight, however, the cat was purring contentedly in Hermione's arms.
"Hermione, that thing nearly scalped me!" shouted Ron. I groaned. I knew things were not going to be good between them this year.
"He didn't mean to, did you, Crookshanks?" cooed Hermione. I sped off down the street trying to get away from Ron and Hermione's arguing. I could feel a headache coming on and just couldn't get my brain to settle down. I was instantly comforted when I felt the familiar warmth of the back of Harry's hand briefly touching my own. We entered the pub first and found Arthur sitting in the bar, reading the Daily Prophet.
He smiled as he looked up but glanced at me in concern as I turned away from the wanted poster next to me, looking pained.
"They still haven't caught him, then?" Harry asked, looking at the poster too. Arthur tried to catch my eye but I moved away from them both, moving round the table to grab a goblet of juice. At that moment Molly entered the bar, laden with shopping bags and followed by the rest of the Weasleys. Percy was greeting Harry when I felt two different hands on my shoulders. Two different, but the same voices whispered in my ear.
"Buck up, Alli-cat, can't have you looking gloomy." Smiling despite myself, I leaned back into Fred and George's bodies. At least they weren't avoiding me now. "Watch this." they whispered again.
"Harry!" said Fred, elbowing Percy out of the way and bowing deeply.
"Simply splendid to see you, old boy—"
"Marvellous," said George, pushing Fred aside and seizing Harry's hand in turn.
"Absolutely spiffing."
Percy scowled both at the twins and anyone laughing, including me.
"That's enough, now," said Mrs. Weasley.
"Mum!" said Fred as though he'd only just spotted her and seizing her hand too.
"How really corking to see you-"
"I said, that's enough," said Molly, depositing her shopping in an empty chair, immediately prattling on about Percy being made Head boy while the twins scoffed.
"I notice they haven't made you two prefects."
"What do we want to be prefects for?" said George, looking revolted at the very idea.
"It'd take all the fun out of life."
Ginny giggled next to me. I turned to look at her and immediately felt guilty when she recoiled. I threw my arm around her whispering 'sorry' into her ear. She was smiling again as I pulled away content to watch my family arguing again.
"You want to set a better example for your sister!" snapped Molly.
"Ginny's got other brothers to set her an example, Mother," said Percy loftily. "I'm going up to change for dinner..."
He disappeared and George heaved a sigh.
"We tried to shut him in a pyramid," he told Harry. "But Mum spotted us."
We stayed at the Leaky Cauldron that night. Dinner was great as we all ate together in the parlour, eating our way through five delicious courses. Despite the laughter and joking, I didn't really feel a part of it. I sat silently, only participating when spoken too and simply playing with my food. The twins sat either side of me, trying to keep me entertained but they couldn't give their attention all the time and it was then that I unintentionally drew back into myself. I noticed Harry watching me every now and then and I would plaster on a smile and joke with the others until he looked away.
"How're we getting to King's Cross tomorrow, Dad?" asked Fred as he dug into a sumptuous chocolate pudding.
"The Ministry's providing a couple of cars," said Mr. Weasley. Everyone looked up at him.
"Why?" said Percy curiously.
"It's because of you, Perce," said George seriously.
"And there'll be little flags on the hoods, with HB on them"
"-for Humongous Bighead," said Fred.
Everyone except Percy and Molly snorted into their pudding.
"Why are the Ministry providing cars, Father?" Percy asked again, in a dignified voice. I froze, spoon half-way up to my mouth.
"Well, as we haven't got one anymore," said Arthur, "-and as I work there, they're doing me a favour-" His voice was casual, but I couldn't help noticing that Arthur's ears had gone red, just like Ron's did when he was under pressure.
After dinner everyone felt very full and sleepy. One by one we made our way upstairs to our rooms to check our things for the next day. I retreated into my room and dropped onto my bed. Luckily I had already packed my trunk and was ready to leave as soon as the morning came which was a first. I shrugged off my clothes and pulled on my pajamas. I hadn't been sleeping to well these past few nights and was determined I was going to get some much needed sleep for tomorrow. I was just drifting off when I heard angry voices through the wall. I groaned as they got louder and louder. Crying out in frustration and tiredness I went to see what was going on.
Ron and Percy were in the room a couple down from mine and the door of number twelve was ajar and Percy was shouting "My Head Boy badge is gone," at Harry who just looked bewildered.
"So is Scabbers's rat tonic," said Ron, throwing things out of his trunk to look. "I think I might've left it in the bar-"
"You're not going anywhere till you've found my badge!" yelled Percy.
"What the hell is going on?" I shouted angrily. "I am knackered and trying to sleep!"
"I've lost Scabber's rat tonic… and where is Scabbers?"
"Oh, no need to worry, he's probably right next to your brain… oh wait, then you'll never find him." I said jadedly.
"I'll get Scabbers's stuff, I'm packed," Harry said, grabbing my arm and dragging me downstairs. I stopped when we got to the bottom of the stairs and wished I had brought my dressing gown, but it was already packed in my trunk. I shivered involuntarily and Harry looked me up and down before shrugging off his jacket and putting it round me.
"Thanks." I muttered.
"Percy's lost his Head Boy badge and Ron has lost Scabbers' tonic." he whispered wearily. "I wouldn't try going to sleep if I were you, they'll be arguing for hours if we don't find it."
We were halfway along the passage to the bar, which was now very dark, when we heard another pair of angry voices coming from the parlour. A second later, I recognized them as Arthur and Molly's. I glanced at Harry and he hesitated, not wanting them to know we'd heard them arguing, when the sound of his own name made him stop, then move closer to the parlour door.
"—makes no sense not to tell him," Arthur was saying heatedly. "Harry's got a right to know. I've tried to tell Fudge, but he insists on treating Harry like a child. He's thirteen years old and—"
"Arthur, the truth would terrify him!" said Molly shrilly. "Do you really want to send Harry back to school with that hanging over him? For heaven's sake, he's happy not knowing! Look at Allie, bless that girl if I could take it all away I would, just to make her happy again."
"I don't want to make him miserable, I want to put him on his guard!" retorted Arthur. "You know what Harry, Ron and Allie are like, wandering off by themselves- they've ended up in the Forbidden Forest twice! Allie will have worked out the risks and hopefully will think before acting but Harry mustn't do that this year! When I think what could have happened to him that night he ran away from home! If the Knight Bus hadn't picked him up, I'm prepared to bet he would have been dead before the Ministry found him."
"But he's not dead, he's fine, so what's the point-"
"Molly, they say Sirius Black's mad, and maybe he is, but he was clever enough to escape from Azkaban, and that's supposed to be impossible. It's been three weeks, and no one's seen hide nor hair of him, and I don't care what Fudge keeps telling the Daily Prophet, we're no nearer catching Black than inventing self-spelling wands. The only thing we know for sure is what Black's after-"
"But Harry and Allie will be perfectly safe at Hogwarts."
"We thought Azkaban was perfectly safe. If Black can break out of Azkaban, he can break into Hogwarts."
"But no one's really sure that Black's after Harry or whether he even remembers Allie-"
There was a thud on wood, and I was sure Arthur had banged his fist on the table.
"Molly, how many times do I have to tell you? They didn't report it in the press because Fudge wanted it kept quiet, but Fudge went out to Azkaban the night Black escaped. The guards told Fudge that Blacks been talking in his sleep for a while now. Always the same words: 'He's at Hogwarts... he's at Hogwarts.' Black is deranged, Molly, and he wants Harry dead. Trust me and Allie will go the same way. If you ask me, he thinks murdering Harry will bring You-Know-Who back to power and Allie… I don't know. Black lost everything the night Harry stopped You- Know-Who, and he's had twelve years alone in Azkaban to brood on that-"
"But Remus has told Allie, she won't let anything happen to Harry, not while they're as close as they are-"
"Yes but if Black finds Allie, he'll find Harry. Fudge was there when she was born, he was apprenticed to Millicent Bagnold, and he saw how much love Black poured into that little girl. Of course he remembers her and mark my words, he will come for her. For both of them and when he does, it's not going to be pleasant for either. "
There was silence. Harry leaned still closer to the door, desperate to hear more and I was pale white and shaking despite Harry's jacket. I didn't want to listen anymore. Gently I tugged at Harry's sleeve and he turned to face me, eyes wide with confusement.
"Well, Arthur, you must do what you think is right. But you're forgetting Albus Dumbledore. I don't think anything could hurt either of them at Hogwarts while Dumbledore's headmaster. I suppose he knows about all this?"
"Of course he knows. We had to ask him if he minds the Azkaban guards stationing themselves around the entrances to the school grounds. He wasn't happy about it, but he agreed."
"Not happy? Why shouldn't he be happy, if they're there to catch Black?"
"Dumbledore isn't fond of the Azkaban guards," said Arthur heavily. "Nor am I, if it comes to that... but when you're dealing with a wizard like Black, you sometimes have to join forces with those you'd rather avoid."
"If they save Harry and protect Allie then I will never say another word against them," said Molly wearily.
"It's late, Molly, we'd better go up..." I heard chairs move and backed into a shadowy alcove so I was out of sight. Harry hurried into the bar quickly. Harry returned a minute later and just offered his hand. I clutched it like a lifeline.
We climbed the stairs and stumbled upon Fred and George who were crouching in the shadows on the landing, heaving with laughter as they listened to Percy dismantling his and Ron's room in search of his badge.
"We've got it," Fred whispered to them both. "We've been improving it." The badge now read Bighead Boy.
Harry forced a laugh, went to give Ron the rat tonic while I went to his room. What was I going to say? How could I explain it? He came in a minute later, shutting him and me in his room and he went and lay down on his bed, arms tucked behind his head. I hesitated before sitting on the other side next to him, tucking my knees up to my chest.
"So, Sirius Black is after me. And it seems you too." he whispered. I nodded feeling the chill around my bare legs. Gently I lay back next to him, arms wrapped around myself. "This explains everything- well for me"
"Sirius Black is a relation of mine." I said carefully. I felt him stiffen and looked up at his face. "All purebloods are related somehow, Harry, we just happen to be rather closely related. Its like Malfoy's my second cousin or something like that."
"How close a relation is he?" Harry asked apprehensively, after a slight pause.
"I don't know" I lied "But he and my mum knew each other quite well. Very well in fact. He loved me like a daughter." I laughed hollowly and without humour.
"And that's why he is coming for you now?" he asked. I didn't say anything but Harry seemed to take that as a yes.
We lay listening to the muffled shouting next door and I could practically hear the cogs whirring in Harry's head. I was shivering still and Harry pulled the covers around us. It never crossed my mind that I was in bed with a boy, Harry no less- my best friend, but as we huddled together in the dark for comfort, barely touching, not knowing what the next year would hold, I probably wouldn't have cared. Without realising it we were drifting off into sleep.
"Are you scared?" I mumbled.
"No," said Harry sleepily. "I'm not going to be murdered," he said aloud, reassuring himself.
"That's the spirit, dear," said his mirror sleepily.