Chapter 10

The school got together in the Great Hall after the 'attack' of the dementors.

The students were encouraged to drink chocolate or to have as many chocolate frogs as they wanted.

Harry had been the only one that fainted but there were a lot of students that had panic attacks and had to be given calming potions.

It was deemed that it had not been a 'real' attack, the dementors had been sent back to Hogwarts as protection. The Ministry had yet to send an announcement about it. The dementors had never been so close to 'happy' people and for them it was like a lighthouse and that is why they got closer. The boundaries were going to be reviewed and chocolate was going to be the main ingredient in the day's meals.

The students should stay inside the castle for the weekend and the quidditch game was going to be rescheduled

Snape first intention had been to take Harry to the Infirmary, but as the child seemed all right once they entered the castle, they also went to the Great Hall.

Ron and Hermione stood near Harry. Ron looked a little green and was quieter than usual. After the announcements and lunch. Harry asked Severus if it was all right for him and his friends to spend the afternoon in the dungeons. Severus herded them in front of him and then left them there to go and check how his Slytherins had fared the dementors.

"Harry, I am so glad you are alright." Hermione was holding the late helmet, it was cracked in the middle. "Imagine if that had been your head…"

"I guess I wouldn't be here having chocolate with you, guys."

"Mate, I'm sorry… I shouldn't have… I guess Snape was right to ask you to wear it…"

"It's ok, Ron, I shouldn't have asked you about it."

"I thought you hadn't and when I saw you had… I thought that you were a fool… and that Snape had… I'm glad you obeyed him, mate."

"I'm glad too. We're ok, mate."

"Why did you Harry?" Asked Hermione "I mean… it was great you did use it, but when we left the dressing rooms… I thought you were not going to…"

"I was not sure Hermione, dad said that I should and… I thought he was not going to be able to see the game, but… he said that if I really appreciated his care, I shouldn't only obey when he was near or if I was going to be caught… that he would never ask me to do something that would harm me… so I just put them on. I guess it was the correct call."

Severus heard the conversation as he entered his quarters, the teenagers didn't notice when he walk silently to his study.

A couple of hours later Professor Lupin knocked at the door.

Harry opened. He and his friends were playing exploding snap in the living room.

"Hello Professor."

"How are you feeling, Harry?"

"Full of chocolate."

"I'm glad you are fine. I came to see if you wanted me to take Paddy out?"

"Paddy? Paddy is not here professor… I thought he… he came with us to the Great Hall but… I thought he was with you."

"He was no longer with us when we arrived at the dungeons." Said Hermione.

"I saw him walking toward the kitchens… I thought we was going for a snack." Completed Ron.

"In that case we just have to wait for him." Lupin knew that his friend liked to go out and run with Fang sometimes…

"Do you think he is all right, Professor?" Harry saw the hesitation…

"You know Paddy, Harry, surely he is already back in my quarters."

"Shouldn't we look for him?"

"Harry" Professor Snape called from his office.

Harry left his friends in the living room.

Harry entered the office and knew that Snape was going to oppose about him going looking for Paddy, but it was Saturday and he was not going to leave the castle…

He was just entering the study when someone knocked at the door.

"Are we expecting someone?" Asked Severus. Harry only shook his head and shrugged. They went out together, Lupin opened the door and allowed Fred and George Weasley in. They brought with him a big green bag.

All present looked at the bag and were curious about it.

"Professors" started George. "It's good to find you all here."

"It's always good to find the Potions professor and the Defense professor." Continued Fred.

"That way we will only explain it once, don't you think?"

"Should we do it in front of the kids?"

"It's Harry's pet after all…"

"Paddy! You found Paddy? Is he hurt?"

"Well Harrykins… We bring bad news…"

"We are sorry to tell you, though…"

"It was interesting Fred…"

"Please explain." Snape always got dizzy trying to read the twins at the same time.

"Where is Paddy?" Asked Harry.

George let go the side of the bag that he was holding and it opened to show Paddy asleep inside.

Harry knelt immediately at his side and checked for his heartbeat.

George and Fred looked at each other and knowing that the dog was going to wakeup soon, continued with their explanation.

"This morning, Harry, when you decided to end the game with your diving freestyle to the ground."

"After we had such an attentive audience like the dementors…"

"We were trying to help you, but you were just falling like a piece of lead."

"I looked around knowing that Professor Snape was near, saw that he was already helping you with some charm."

"I also saw that professor Lupin was helping, and found our distinguished Head Mistress and Professor Dumbledore fending the dementors."

"But there was some one else… and adult also helping you, one that we had never seen before… He was not dressed as a teacher…"

"We had never seen him in person before…"

"You are right about that, bro. When we arrived to the ground and saw that you were alright…"

"We forgot about him…"

"I did look around and only saw Paddy."

"We have experience with wizards posing as pets so…"

"George remembered where he had seen that face before…"

"It was only in like a thousand places after he escaped Azkaban, after all."

"I'm sorry to tell you Harry… but… your pet is Sirius Black!"

Harry was relieved. He embraced Paddy and said. "I know… He is my godfather."

All present, but Snape changed places. Ron and Hermione stood beside the twins. Lupin kneeled beside Harry and helped him hold the big black dog.

"How long have you known, mate?" Accused Ron.

Harry looked up to his friend. He could read disappointment in his face. "Since Halloween… he helped me after I hit my head… That is when I learned about it."

"He helped you-know-who to kill your parents…" Said his freckled friend.

"No. It was not him, it was Pettigrew."

"You knew that Scabbers was Pettigrew, Harry?"

"No, I didn't… not until the day after Halloween… but yes, I knew…"

"Why didn't you tell me?"

"Ron, I was in the hospital, I barely knew my name then… It was confusing."

Severus said. "I think that you all have to sit. Mr. Weasley put your wand away. What did you feed the mutt with, gentlemen?"

"Dreamless sleep… he'll be around soon, it was a couple of hours ago."

"And where did you get it?"

"Mmm… professor…"

"You won't believe us if we say that we just happened to have some of it stored, would you?"

"I will ask Madam Pomfrey to go through her stock to see if anything else is missing…"

"Nothing else, Sir."

"We promise."

"Now…"Severus sighed, he was not used to find his quarters so crowded. He conjured some trays with cookies and lemonade. "Harry your friends need an explanation. It will be good if you begin with what you know about your… Pest."

Harry explained to his friends what happened during Halloween, he said that he hit his head hiding from Professor Lupin, he did not explain about his furry little problem as Sirius liked to refer to Lupin's lycanthropy.

"All the staff knows about it… they were the ones who called the Aurors and checked on the familiars… I'm sorry I couldn't tell you Ron. When I learn about your pet I was drifting from wakefulness to sleep all the time…"

"So that is why Pettigrew's hiding?"

"Yes. His memories had been sent to the wizengamot and… Sirius name will be cleaned soon."

"So that is why he is staying with professor Lupin… I thought he was because you were still recovering Harry…"

'Mr. Black and I do not have a good history… so he was better staying with his… friend."

"I guess you were friends with Pettigew also, professor?"

"Yes, Miss Granger… Peter was my friend… also James and Sirius…"

The dog started stirring… and woke up… Severus moved his wand and

Sirius Black appeared on the floor in his place. He looked at Harry and Remus that were holding him.

"Moony… Prongs? Where am I?"

"It's Harry, Padfoot… You are in Snape's quarters. How do you feel?"

"I'm not sure. I ate a delicious bone… Those twins gave it to me and everything went black…"

"Sorry, Mr. Black… Fred and I… we thought we were capturing an escaped convict and…"

"We gave you something to make you sleep…"

"You said Padfoot?" Fred asked Lupin.

"Fred and George saw you in the quidditch field…" explained Harry.

"I told you to be careful and stay in your dog form, Black, but you did not listen." Severus sneered at him.

"My godson was falling…"

"I had it under control."

"You needed help. Didn't he Moony?"

"Moony?"

"Yes, Remus is Moony."

"And, did you call Harry here, Prongs?

"Yes, that was his fathers nick-name. He looks so much like James that… I get confused sometimes… Usually after waking from a potion induced stupor…"

"So… Prongs, Padfoot, Moony and…"

"Wormtail was Pettigrew…? Completed the other twin.

Sirius stood from the floor, stretched and went to sit in between the twins.

"Gents…" He said conspiratorially. "I have the impression that it's not the first time that you have heard those names, am I wrong?"

"As in messieurs Padfoot, Prongs, Moony and Wormtail?" Said one of the twins.

"No," denied the other one with glowing eyes. "we have never heard about them."

"We've had interesting reading, though…"

"And they had been very educational…"

"Imagine Gred, we have met the very creators of…!"

"This is a day to remember, Forge."

Hermione and Ron were seated on another sofa. Remus sat beside the other twin. He felt the excitement of his friend at meeting with twin souls.

Harry stood from the floor at the same time as Sirius and he went with Snape to the kitchen.

They returned holding a couple of trays with warm drinks and cheese and ham sandwiches.

Harry sat beside Ron.

"Dad said I could invite you to stay for the night, do you want to sleep here?"

Ron was still sulking eating a sandwich. He looked at Harry and at his brothers that seemed like they had just won the lottery. And nodded. Harry was his friend, pets or not.

"Severus… be a love and gave a thirsty man a drink, would you?"

"I seem to have run out of cyanide, Black."

"Warm chocolate would do fine." Black smiled to Severus and took a cup of chocolate. "Thank you."

Sirius drank the complete cup in one gulp.

"What was in that bone you gave me boys? I had never felt so thirsty in my life…"

The twins looked at each other and at the potions master… It was no good to explain your trade secrets to the connoisseurs…

"A little something and dreamless sleep potion, Mr. Padfoot."

"Just call me Padfoot. I like that name."

"But sir… You are… You are our inspiration… we could never just call you Padfoot."

"Suit yourselves then, pals. Harry please regal a thirsty man a glass of water…"

"Yes, Sirius."

Harry brought back a pitcher with ice-cold water for Sirius.

After a while Snape cleared his throat and said.

"I wish I could be a better host, but you must leave now. Curfew is ten minutes away. Snape looked at the students in his living room. "Mr. Weasley," He said to Ron. "I already informed your head of house that you are staying with Harry to night."

"Yes, Sir. Thank you."

"Miss Granger, I am sure that these gentlemen would gladly accompany you back to your tower."

"Yes, sir. Thank you for having me." Hermione stood up and looked at the twins.

"We could stay longer if you were to give us a pass, professor."

"And what makes you think that I may do that, Mr. Weasley?"

"Nothing Sir. Good night."

"Good night and… I expect to see you both tomorrow at 6 in the evening in the potions classroom for detention. You will have time to explain the little something that you mix with my potions…"

"Yes, sir."

"Good night, Sir."

"Moony. I'm tired, I know that we are not held to the curfew, but we should go. Paddy and you could accompany these fine gents to their tower."

"Yes. Padfoot. Good night, Harry, Severus…"

"Lupin, Black."

Severus stood by the door while the twins, the girl, the dog and Lupin walked the corridors. He felt some prickle in his neck when he heard Black's words to the twins before transforming into Paddy.

"Gents… we were meant to meet. This is just the start of a long friendship."

Severus could only think that the Weasley twins and what was left of the Marauders were birds of a feather, and it made him shudder.

Two hours later, twin dark figures scurried through the corridors, they stopped and checked a parchment once in a while. They arrived at the Defense classroom and knocked silently. The door opened almost immediately and they were ushered inside.

George and Fred presented the Marauders map to Messieurs Padfoot and Moony.

TBC

Thanks a lot for your reviews, please let me know what do you think about Sirius meeting with the Weasley twins, and what do you think would happen.

Thanks a lot to Celeste.

: )