Chapter 12: Number 12 Grimmauld Place

At two o' clock on the dot Sophie knocked on Professor Dumbledore's door. The morning had passed slowly for her, and she had paced the castle worrying that she'd mess it all up– but she was also tremendously excited. Excited that she could be free and just fly again. Soar through the skies for hours, to have a purpose again, a mission.

She smiled wistfully to herself as she thought back to the 'old days'. Gods, she missed them; the days before her capture, before everything went wrong. And if she was honest, Sophie missed her old friends too.

"But I love, Sev." She reminded herself sternly "And I wouldn't exchange what I have now for anything; not even my old life." But she couldn't help but think of the fun she used to have; running with the gang. The danger she used to put herself in... The danger she had grown to love.

"Still" she thought to herself as she waited to be given permission to enter "Life is about to get a bit more dangerous again. And this time it's for a good cause."

"Enter! Ah, Sophie. Right on time, excellent."

"Afternoon, Headmaster."

"Had an interesting day?"

"It's been a slow one." She admitted sheepishly

"Not to worry. I have full confidence in your abilities and on your safe return."

Sophie simply nodded her head in thanks for his faith.

"I have a pouch here with all the letters in it. It is designed to be attached around your leg and will resize itself according to your form. It also appears invisible to anyone not in the Order."

"That's clever… Could I add a letter to it? Or is it already sealed?"

"Of course, you can."

Sophie smiled and pulled out Harry's letter and slid it into the leather pouch. Just as she was attaching the pouch to her left leg, Severus came through the door.

"I thought you said you couldn't be here?" asked Sophie

"My class had to end early. The first years rely far too much on your assistance."

"Ah - Were there tears?"

"Yes; which then reacted with the already spilt 'potion'" (He sneered at the thought of calling that abysmal concoction a potion) "and it created a disgusting green gas; which refuses to be spelled away. So I sent them off early."

"With a tonne of homework too I bet."

"Those brats don't know the meaning of 'homework' yet."

Sophie laughed at this but sobered up quickly at Dumbledore's subtle cough; it was time for her to get going. Sophie walked over and opened a window overlooking the Forbidden Forest.

"So I just fly south east all the way to London… right. I can do this." She muttered to herself "See you in a few, headmaster. Bye, Sev." And she turned and quickly hugged the stunned Potion's master before hurriedly transforming into her hawk form and flying straight out the window and out over the grounds – into the distance.

Dumbledore chuckled quietly to himself at the stunned look on Severus's face but he also caught the look of concern which filled the Potion Master's eyes; as he watched the tiny form disappear from view. "I shouldn't worry, my boy. Sophie will be fine; she's got a good head on her shoulders."

Severus scoffed at the Headmaster and swiftly composed his face. "Of course she'll fine. Now if you'll excuse me, headmaster, I have a room to cleanse." and he turned on his heel and stalked out of the office.

"She has to be fine."

Sophie flew swift and fast, swooping low over the tops of the Forbidden Forest and then fanning her tail out to go rocketing up into the sky. If she could have, she would have laughed for joy. The exhilaration was…stupendous.

She knew it was going to take her the whole day to reach London, and she had scheduled in a short break for herself in a few hours' time. "Pace yourself" she reminded herself sternly and stopped the 'swooping' capers; she needed to conserve her energy for the long journey ahead.

Soon the wilds of Scotland morphed into tamer fields and farms, and Sophie rose higher still into the sky; to glide on the gentle, afternoon thermals. She watched as the animals roamed on the pastures beneath her, and as the green leaves of parsnips and turnips swayed in the breeze and gleamed in the last few rays of the afternoon sun.
Four hours later Sophie could start to see lights of villages and small towns shining out through the darkness. And she knew she would soon be going over 'Leeds' and could then allow herself a break. An hour after that found Sophie gliding over the city itself and she softly landed on the roof of a tall building and transformed back into a human (Once she had checked that she could not be seen of course).

The city buzzed around her and Sophie watched it, taking in the sights, sounds and smells of life. She had not thought to put food in the pouch and decided that she would have to remember to do so for future trips; she was starving. And tired. And sore… She sat on that roof for about half an hour before the cold night air began to be seep into her bones and she decided it was time to carry on.

Three hours later Sophie knew she was in London, mainly because she could see and hear Big Ben sounding out the tenth hour. She had then gone straight past Big Ben, over Kings Cross Station and flown along the quieter streets towards Number 12, Grimmauld Place. She was exhausted by the time she walked/ stumbled up the steps and rang the doorbell. And all she really wanted was to have something to eat and then to sleep.

Sophie heard the screeching and raving of Mrs Black and the door was pulled open by a sour looking Sirius.

"Sorry. Forgot about the bell waking her up."

"Wish I could forget about her altogether." Muttered Sirius as he held the door open for her and lead the way down to the kitchen.

Around the table in kitchen sat a man with a newspaper, and Sophie vaguely remembered him as, Remus Lupin, from her one time visit to the house before.

"I've got the letters and Harry wrote this one for you, Sirius." Informed Sophie as she unstrapped the pouch awkwardly from her leg.

"Do you want anything to eat?" Offered Remus as Sophie sat down

"Yes please, I forgot to take food with me – I'm starving."

While Remus busied himself with some left over stew and rolls, Sirius had taken up Harry's letter and was reading it intently. His brow furrowed the further down the letter he went and when he was done he immediately started writing a reply.

"Is Harry alright, Sirius?" asked Remus as he handed Sophie a bowl of steaming lamb and potato.

"His scar keeps hurting, but that's to be expected with Voldemort back…" Sophie could tell he wanted to say more but refrained because she was there. Clearly he still didn't completely trust her. "Going to have to think of a better way to communicate with him…"

"Can I have a look?" asked Remus, indicating the letter

"Sure."

Sophie finished eating whilst Remus was still reading and rested her head on her arms and tried to stay awake.

"C'mon, I've got a bed you can sleep in." offered Sirius and Sophie followed him back up the stairs. "Any trouble on the trip?"

"No, I just haven't flown so long before. These trips are definitely going to get me fit. I was really worried I was going to get lost too." She yawned and rubbed her eyes

"Thanks for delivering Harry's letter." Sirius said awkwardly as he opened a bedroom door for her

"No problems. But if you can find another way, it might be more beneficial. I don't know how often I will be making these trips and Harry really seems to need someone to talk too."

"I'll see what I can do. Night… Kiddo"

"Night"

And Sophie was asleep on top of the covers before Sirius had even shut the door.

"She settle in alright?" asked Remus when Sirius returned

"Fell asleep even before I closed the door. Said she didn't have any trouble though."

"That's good."

"You trust her then?" asked Sirius

"Yes. She smells… honest. I find it hard to believe that she would support Voldemort."

"She is Snivellous's familiar though."

"I wouldn't call him that around her, if I were you. And Severus is on our side now, Sirius. Besides, he hasn't been as bad tempered since Sophie's been with him. Maybe he was just lonely?"

Sirius merely grunted but made no committal or non-committal sounds to what Remus had said. Personally he didn't think the kid would side with Voldemort but then she liked Snape and Sirius wasn't convinced of Snape's motives.

Should Dumbledore trust the kid with such an important task? It was just so dangerous, what if Voldemort found out what she was doing? Sirius shuddered to think of what that bastard could do to tiny thing like her… However he knew that there wasn't much he could do about it and so put the sleeping Lunio out of his mind and concentrated on Harry.

"There's not much we can do about his scar, is there?" asked Sirius to Remus

"No, but perhaps we should send him some books on Occlumency? That might help him sleep better…" Mused Remus

"Should have one around here somewhere. My dad was really into that kind of stuff. And what about that Defence Club idea of Hermione's?"

"It's a good idea, I get the impression that she's been toying with the idea since she learnt that the Ministry would be teaching the subject. But I have no idea where they could meet, do you?"

"Shrieking Shack? No… too hard to get to. That hidden tunnel on the fourth floor?"

"Maybe. Just tell Harry that we'll think about it."

Sirius nodded and turned back to his reply letter, he had just penned about how Occlumency could help when he was struck by a brainwave. "Remus, the mirrors!"

"What?"

"The two-way mirrors that James and I used to use"

"Whilst in separate detention?"

"The very same."

"You still have them?"

"Of course I do. Sophie can give one to Harry, along with the book, and then we can talk to him!"

"That would definitely help." Agreed Remus but before he was finished speaking Sirius was already off and dashing through the house to searching for the mirrors and the book on occlumency. Remus just sighed to himself and started writing his own letter to Harry.

The next morning Sophie woke with a start and for a moment she couldn't remember where she was. Slowly however the events of the previous day dawned on her and she got up rather stiffly and wandered down to the kitchen – unsure as to the time.

"Morning." Chirped Sirius as she appeared in the doorway.

"Ungh"

"Ah, the sounds of teenagers." He smiled as if reminiscing "Music to my ears. You want food?"

"Yes please. Uh, what time is it?"

"10:30."

"wow."

"Yes so brunch I think would be more appropriate. How does bacon and eggs sound? And toast?"

"Sounds good."

Sirius rose and began moving about the kitchen, seeming quite happy to have some company (for Remus had had to leave earlier that morning and would not be back for a fortnight) Sophie hovered unsure if she should help.

"You can do the eggs, if you like." Said Sirius

Together they worked side by side and chatted about social nothings until two plates full of crisp bacon, scrambled eggs and buttered toast was on the table (Sirius decided he might as well have a second breakfast – just to be polite of course…)

"Why don't you just use a silencing charm" asked Sophie abruptly

"Huh?"

"On your mum's portrait; why don't you just use a silencing charm, so that even if she does wake up, you won't be able to hear her?"

"Didn't think of that, actually."

"Well, would it work?"

"I suppose, so. I could definitely try it next time she starts screaming – the look on her face would be priceless." Gloated Sirius, getting more excited at the prospect.

"You know, with all your magic – you wizards don't tend to think outside the box do you?"

But Sirius was too busy fantasying about using the spell on his mother and hear her. After they had finished eating Sophie went and cleaned herself up before returning to the kitchen; where Sirius was waiting with his and Remus's letters, and the book and mirror. He then cast a 'feather-light charm' and shrunk the two packages and put them in the pouch alongside the letters before giving it back to Sophie.

"Could I have some food to take with me as well?" asked Sophie tentatively

"No probs, kiddo" And Sirius sorted out some biscuits, sandwiches and nuts for her to take

"Could you make sure that Harry receives all this stuff?"

"Of course, what kind of delivery person would I be if I didn't?" replied Sophie indignity

"Right. Well look, that mirror is really special to me, please make sure Harry gets it."

"Yes, Sirius. Don't worry, I will make sure he gets it. Well, I'd better get going if want to get back before 10. See you in a couple of weeks!" And Sophie left the house and started making the long return journey back to Hogwarts.