Chapter 10: Sirius Black

A middle aged man had just walked into the Ministry of magic with his wand drawn. He had light brown hair with several grey hairs sticking out and few wrinkles upon his face.

He walked through the lobby, past the fountain, and to the lift. The man had waited until the lift stopped in the Department of Mysteries, and stepped out. He ran down the corridor and entered the room at the end of the hallway.

There were several doors in the room and the wall spun as he entered, but he knew exactly where he was going. The brown and gray haired man went straight for the room in front of him.

He walked in and in the middle of the room stood a veil, covered by a curtain. The man slowly walk toward it and drew back the curtain, where he heard voices, and one of those voices were rather familiar.

He, still clutching his wand, hesitated, and stuck his head in. He looked around the pitch black abyss and saw the outline of many figures.

"Lumos," He mumbled as the area lit up. Just in front of him he saw the person he was looking for. He could see him perfectly well, but it seemed as though, it seemed as if the other could not see him. He put his other hand through the veil, and over the man's wrist. The brown haired man pulled himself and the other back through the veil and back into the Department of Mysteries.

Just as they came out of the veil, the other man seemed to snap out of his daze. This man had long, dark brown hair, and small, brown eyes.

He turned to the man with brown and grey hair, and spoke,

"Moony?"

"Yes, Padfoot, it's me." Moony said.

"H-how long have I been gone, Moony?" Padfoot asked.

Moony thought for a second, "About, five, maybe six months."

Padfoot didn't speak so Moony went on.

"Listen, we need to get to Hogwarts-" Padfoot cut him off.

"Am I still wanted by the Ministry?"

"No, your name was cleared just after you fell into the veil."

Padfoot nodded, "What was that about Hogwarts?"

"We need to go and help Harry with something," Moony said, "I'll explain the rest on the way there. We can't Apperate onto Hogwarts grounds or here, so, we'll have to walk to the Leaky Cauldron and then we can take a portkey to Hogsmeade, and continue to walk to Hogwarts."

Harry and Draco had practiced Defense Against the Dark Arts all week after classes and during free periods. Narcissa had often accompanied them when they did so. They had heard that Lucius Malfoy had last been spotted somewhere near Godric's Hollow and was still on his way to Hogwarts.

Harry and Draco had woken up that morning and walked down to breakfast, completely unaware or the surprise they were about to get.

They were walking down the corridor and Harry noticed Dumbledore talking to a man with a familiar face.

Harry walked over to them and Draco trailed behind him.

Dumbledore and Lupin stopped talking when they noticed him. Harry smiled at Lupin. Then Harry noticed someone standing just behind him. He could have sworn it was…. But it couldn't be, he had died.

Lupin noticed who Harry was looking at and moved out of the way, and went back to his conversation with Dumbledore.

Harry moved closer to the man.

"S-Sirius?" He said in a mixture of shock and hope.

"It's okay, Harry," Sirius said.

Harry moved closer and hugged his godfather. He didn't want to let go, in case he disappeared, in case it had all been a dream. He wanted to be with his godfather as long as possible. He didn't want to lose him again.

Harry did, however, pull back from his godfather. He was there, with him, as real as ever.

"Harry, I know what you must be thinking," Sirius said, "I'm back, Remus got me from the veil."

It wasn't a dream, Sirius was back. He wasn't dead.

"Do you remember any of it?" Harry asked the first thing that came to his mind.

"No," Said Sirius, "When Bellatrix fired the killing curse at me, but missed, so it stunned me and I fell backward into the veil. Everything was dark. I couldn't hear, see, or move. All I had were my thoughts. I thought of Remus, you," He paused and smiled, "James and Lily."

Harry smiled too. He still couldn't believe his godfather was back.

They heard a cough coming from behind Harry. Harry and Sirius turned around and looked at Draco.

"Are you okay, Draco?" Harry asked. Draco nodded.

"Is there something you haven't told me, Harry?" Sirius asked with a smirk and a mischievous glint in his eyes.

Draco walked up and stood beside Harry, taking his hand in his own.

"Um, Sirius," Harry was unsure of how to say it, "Draco and I are, uh,-"

"Dating," Draco interrupted him, "Lovers, you know."

Sirius snorted as he tried to hold back a laugh, "Merlin's beard, Harry!"

"What's funny about that?" Harry asked.

"Well, it's ironic, really. Harry Potter, dating the son of a death eater!" Sirius continued to laugh.

Harry felt his face grow hot.

"Blushing, Potter?" Draco teased. There was a long pause.

Lupin and Dumbledore must have noticed the silence because they had stopped talking and turned to them.

"Well," Lupin said, "The Prophet has been saying Lucius Malfoy escaped from Azkaban. And Dumbledore has informed me that he has escaped to murder Draco and you. What I want to know is what you boys have been doing to protect yourselves."

"Actually, he's only after me," Draco said, "If You-Know-Who can't bring kill Harry, there is no possible way my Father could without using muggle weapons,"

"And we have been practicing everyday, during our free time." Harry added.

"Do you know where your mother is, Draco?" Lupin asked him.

"She's here," spoke Draco, "Here she comes now."

Narcissa was, in fact, walking down the hall way. She stopped beside Dumbledore when she saw the her son and Harry.

"Hello, Mrs. Malfoy," Lupin stuck out his hand, and she shook it, "I don't know if you remember me from school, I'm Remus Lupin."

"Yes," She said, "You were a year ahead of me, one of the boys who used to pick on Severus, if I'm right?"

"Yes, except it was usually James and Sirius who bothered him." Lupin said.

Narcissa looked at the man just behind him.

"Sirius," She said, "It's been a while, I thought that Bella …" She trailed off.

"She did, Narcissa," Sirius said, "But I didn't die, I just went into a state of shock, when I fell through."

"Well," Lupin said, "We are here for the same reason you are, Narcissa; to protect Draco, Harry and the rest of the school the best we can."

Narcissa nodded.

"I should go back to my office," Dumbledore's eyes twinkled as he spoke, "I have some work to do."

As he rounded the corner, Narcissa left to the great hall, leaving just Harry, Draco, Sirius, and Lupin.

"When did you two get here?" Harry asked them.

"Just this morning," Lupin said.

"How long was the travel?"

"A week."

There was another silence.

"I need to go and see Dumbledore, again," Lupin said, "Are you coming Sirius?"

Sirius looked at Harry, "No, Remus, I've got some catching up to do."

Lupin nodded and left.

"Lucius Malfoy's son," Sirius said, "Dating James Potter's son, my godson!" he laughed again.

"Yes, its hilarious isn't it?" Draco said sarcastically.

"Let's just go," Harry said pulling Draco and motioning for Sirius to follow.

Harry and Sirius, (Draco was there too) walked around Hogwarts all morning, completely forgetting about breakfast.

Harry was so thrilled to have Sirius back that he had almost forgot about Lucius Malfoy's escape. They had been walking to the kitchens when Sirius brought it up again.

"How have you been practicing?" he asked,

"Draco and I have been dueling," Harry answered, "Like in the D.A, last year."

"Is that the illegal club you formed last year?"

"Yes, the one that Mrs. Weasley didn't approve of."

"Then again, Molly doesn't approve of much," Sirius grinned.

They had made it to the portrait of the bowl of fruit where the kitchens were, and entered through it.

"Mr. Harry Potter sir," Dobby the house elf said, "Dobby is pleased to see you. Has you brought a friend, sir?"

"Dobby, this is my godfather, Sirius Black," Harry said.

"Hello, Mr. Sirius Black sir. Oh my," The house elf jumped, "Young Master Malfoy, you is here too?" He said as Draco walked in.

The blond boy stayed silent. Another house elf walked up and stood beside Dobby.

"Master Harry Potter," it said, "Kreacher has been working in the Hogwarts kitchens as you has said." He looked at Sirius, "Master Black has returned."

"Hello, Kreacher," Sirius said unenthusiastically.

"What my mistress would say if she knew I was listening to these Half-bloods, Mudbloods, and Blood Traitors," he mumbled, "how I wish she was still alive."

"Kreacher is to respect Mr. Harry Potter and Mr. Sirius Black," Dobby said, "They is your masters."

Kreacher grunted and walked away, mumbling under his breath.

"How's Winky?" Harry asked.

"Oh, Winky is not good; she is still drinking lots of butterbeer," He pointed at the intoxicated house elf sitting on the stool by the fireplace ay the other side of room, "She is there."

The house elf on the stool swayed. She was surrounded by several empty bottles that once contained butterbeer.

Harry looked around and saw that Sirius had been over at a nearby counter, sipping on a cup of tea that he had gotten from one of the house elves.

"Sorry Mr. Harry Potter but Dobby must tend to Winky, now," He bowed and left.

He looked back over at Sirius and smiled; He had his godfather back.