"Dumbledore will have your head if you leave this house, Sirius," I said the next morning.
"I'll go as Snuffles. It's fool proof," Sirius said.
"It is not and you know it," Molly said. Sirius rolled his eyes.
"If you get caught they won't hesitate to send you off to the dementors," I said.
"This is why I should avoid getting caught," Sirius said.
"It's not a joke," Remus said. "If you get caught everything those kids went through to get you out of trouble two years ago is wasted."
"Not to mention they'd be absolutely distraught with you gone," Molly said.
Sirius still looked like he was mulling over these facts. I sighed.
"Fine, you know what, I'm not going to waste my time trying to explain to you why this is such a bad idea. Come if you like," I said.
"Well if you stir it a third time it's going to end up black and possibly poisonous. I suggest you keep it at two and let it simmer for a while. When it's near a boil stir it again and it should turn purple at which point adding ipecac should induce vomiting but the rest of the potion will make it ware off eventually and also leaves room for it to have an antidote," Hannah said as she and the rest of the children entered the kitchen with their luggage.
"You're not encouraging that joke shop of theirs are you Hannah?" Molly asked.
"Of course not. I would never intentionally disobey your orders directly by telling your sons how to create a vomit inducing candy," Hannah said, which was so obviously a lie.
"You're on thin ice, Hannah," Molly said. Hannah rolled her eyes.
"So, what do you think of me coming along with you to the platform as Snuffles?" Sirius asked.
"Hmm. . . Don't you think that's kind of. . . I don't know. . . Reckless?" she asked.
"I mean, what if you get caught? You'll get sent straight to the dementors," Hermione said.
"But he'll be Snuffles. He won't get caught," Harry said.
Sirius nodded at his godson's approval.
"News flash, Harry, there are some people within the ministry who are looking for Sirius that know he's an unregistered animagus who have children that go to our school," Hermione said.
"Draco Malfoy, Gregory Goyle, Vincent Crabbe, Pansy Parkinson and pretty much any other kid in Slytherin who's mummy or daddy is a death eater which, on top of working for the ministry is a very, very, very bad thing," Hannah said.
"You worry too much," Harry said.
"She's being perfectly logical," Ginny said.
"But none of the kids know Sirius is an animagus," Ron said.
"But their parents who drop them off do," I said.
"Well the discussion is over anyway. I'm going," Sirius said.
"Cool," Harry said.
"Whatever, but you remember I was completely against this," I said.
"I will," Sirius said. "And when I don't get caught I'll be saying I told you so."
"I never said you'd get caught I was just telling you your risk factor," I said.
"Stop bickering you two. Tonks you know he's not going to change his mind," Molly said.
Moody walked in through the kitchen door.
"We've got to get going," Moody said.
"Grab your things and lets get going," Moody said.
One by one we all piled out Grimmauld Place.
Sirius, who was Snuffles at the point, was walking happily between Harry and Hannah.
We arrived at Kings Cross with a few minutes to spare so we were all able to say goodbye.
"God, when was the last time I was here?" I asked aloud.
"Does bring back some memories," Remus said.
"Harry!" a voice called out. Harry's face immediately went pink as a girl, clad in Slytherin robes dashed over. I recognized her as Kristen.
"Hey you," Harry said.
"You stopped writing to me," Kristen said sadly. "I thought maybe you'd forgotten about me. . ."
"Me forget you? Course not. You see, Hedwig got really sick so I couldn't have her out there flying around," Harry said. "That's all. Sorry about that."
"Oh, is she alright now?" Kristen asked turning to Hedwig's cage.
"Yep, right as rain," Harry said. "And as spunky as ever."
"I'm sure you'll want to sit with your friends during the ride but how's about coming to find me during lunch?" Kristen asked, twirling her fingers through her hair nervously.
"Actually, Ron and Hermione will be on Prefect duty and Hannah and Ginny already made arrangements for lunch, so you can just come to my cabin instead," Harry said.
Kristen smiled excitedly. "Sounds like a plan, then. Oh! And that reminds me, Hannah, Draco wanted me to tell you he made prefect. He's around here somewhere. He said you didn't write to him at all after you left his house."
"Yeah, well I was with Harry and Hedwig was sick so. . . That didn't happen," Hannah said quickly.
"Yeah, well, obviously he's looking for you," Kristen said. "Anyway, Harry, it sounds like a plan."
"So, I'll see you at lunch time then," he said.
"Yep," she replied.
Then, Harry, to seal the deal, kissed her on the cheek. Kristen immediately flushed bright pink and giggled stupidly.
"Bye, Harry," she said in a high squeaky voice. She cleared her throat. "I mean, bye, Harry." Kristen turned and started to walk away, accidently knocking a few in the way Hufflepuff second years who she threatened. They dashed away and she made her way on to the train.
"Oh. My. God," Hannah said, almost laughing.
"What?" Harry asked.
"You couldn't even form a coherent sentence about Kristen when you talked about her a few weeks ago, and now look at her, she's pudding," Hannah said.
"It is a very vast improvement in your 'game' Harry. I remember when you couldn't even look at Cho Chang without drooling or getting orange juice all over yourself," Hermione said.
Harry rolled his eyes at her.
"And where do you get off throwing us out like that? We're on break during lunch," Ron said.
"You'll find something to do, I know Hannah will," Harry said smirking at Hannah. She leered at him.
What's that about, I wonder.
"Oh, look, Hannah, it's your best friend, Draco, coming this way," Harry said.
Hannah turned away from us and motioned something the blonde boy I assumed was Draco. A moment later he boarded the train.
"Well, it's about that time, we'd better get going," Hannah said.
But just as she was about to step away a little blonde girl popped up.
"Hi, Fred!" she said.
"Emily. . . Hey," he said, trying to be cool, but that tell-tale red face all Weasley's got when they were embarrassed was apparent on his face.
"What's up you guys?" she asked.
"Oh, you know, the sky," Hermione said.
"Always funny, Hermione," the girl said with a mock laugh.
"So. . . What brings you here?" Fred asked. Clearly this was his girlfriend, Emily.
"Well, I saw Professor Lupin and I couldn't miss an opportunity to say hello. He is my favorite teacher after all," she said. "Haven't forgotten me, have you sir?"
"Of course not, Emily. How are you?" he asked.
"Swell," she said. "You look a lot healthier than the last time I saw you. You're doing well aren't you?"
"Yes I am. Thank you for noticing," he said.
"No problem," she said. Then she turned to Mr. and Mrs. Weasley. "And these are your parents, Fred?"
"Oh, yeah. Mum, Dad, this is Emily, my girlfriend. Emily, these are my parents," Fred said.
"Oh, it's so nice to meet you at last!" Mrs. Weasley said.
"Yes, Fred talks on you all the time," Mr. Weasley said.
"Does he really?" she asked turning to Fred. "Oddly enough, my own mother keeps begging me to pick a new subject of conversation as well."
"Well, it looks like it's really about that time. I'll see you guys later," Fred said.
He grabbed Emily's hand and his trunk and pulled them away.
"Whipped," George said.
"Indeed," Hannah said. "Anyway, we had all better get going."
Hannah hugged everyone and then knelt down to Sirius. "You stay out of trouble, Snuffles, and I'll try my best to."
The group walked away and boarded the train.
Moments later the train pulled away.
"Was Hannah acting weird?" Remus asked.
"I noticed too! She was very anxious about something," I said.
"Ah, if it isn't Auror Tonks who doesn't know the Potters," a voice hissed. I turned to see Lucius Malfoy. We'd rehearsed this routine.
"Yes. I just met them today. I was visiting my good friends the Weasley and elected to go with them to drop their children off. The Potters were staying with them," I said.
"Ah yes, they are very good friends with your son and daughter aren't they, Weasley?" Lucius said. Arthur ignored him. "I'm not sure I want Draco associating with a girl who associates with blood traitors."
Sirius growled at Lucius as he turned away. Remus stepped in front of Sirius.
Lucius looked back as he noticed that. "You'll want to put hat mutt on a leash, Nymphadora."
Ignore him. . . He's not worth it. . .
". . . And your dog is cute as well," Lucius said.
Moody almost couldn't grab Remus fast enough before he lunged at Lucius.
"This isn't Hogwarts boy. You can't pick fights on the playground," Moody said as Lucius walked away.
Remus brought his arm down.
"Let's just go before anyone else decides they want to pick a fight," I suggested.
And with that we returned to Grimmauld.