Chapter 21
"Harry. Why did you tell me you were staying here?" I said.
Well, the thing is…" then Harry told the story about how he blew up his aunt. I burst laughing in the middle of the tale. I couldn't help it, it was so absurd. "It isn't funny, I could have been expelled." he said.
"Of course it's funny." I laughed. Harry gave up and laughed too. "What were you doing here?" I ask, peaking into his room, it has little pieces of paper everywhere.
"Well, I got my Monster Book of Monsters for Care of Magical Creatures class. I wanted to take a look at it, but it turns out that book has teeth and tried to eat me, so I had to put the lock back on. It's harder than it sounds." He told me.
"That reminds me that I have to but my school stuff. Want to come with me?" I say.
"Sure thing"
We went back to the Leaky Cauldron where was Shadow waiting for me, I pulled out my wand and tapped the bricks. Once they moved we went to Flourish and Blotts. Making sure Shadow didn't followed us inside the store. "What books do you need?" said the manager.
"Monster Book, Intermediate Transfiguration, The Standard Book of Spells, Grade Three, Ancient Runes Made Easy and Rune Dictionary."
Harry and I emerged from Flourish and Blotts ten minutes later, with my new books. Once I bought everything we decided to look around. Shadow got bored while she was waiting, so she left to explore the alley on her own. Harry dragged me to Quality Quidditch Supplies store to take a look at the new broom, Firebolt. I suggested Harry that he should buy it but he said it was probably too expensive and that he had never lost a game in his Nimbus 2000. I drop the subject even when I know that Harry could buy one for him and the rest of the Quidditch team of Gryffindor. Uncle Remus once told me the Potters were a wealthy family. Heck, I could buy one with the Black fortune in Gringotts. Hermione and the Weasleys appeared the week on the last day of holidays.
"Harry, Tony!" yelled Ron. They were there, both of them, sitting outside Florean Fortescue's Ice Cream Parlor. We sat down with them.
"Did you really blow up your aunt, Harry?" said Hermione in a very serious voice.
"I didn't mean to," said Harry, while Ron and I roared with laughter. "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. "Forget expelled, I thought I was going to be arrested." He looked at Ron. "Your dad doesn't know why Fudge let me off, does he?"
"Probably 'cause it's you, isn't it?" shrugged Ron, still chuckling. "Famous Harry Potter and all that. I'd hate to see what the Ministry'd do to me if I blew up an aunt. Mind you, they'd have to dig me up first, because Mum would've killed me. Anyway, you can ask Dad yourself this evening. We're staying at the Leaky Cauldron tonight too! So you can come to King's Cross with us tomorrow! Hermione's there as well!"
Hermione nodded, beaming. "Mum and Dad dropped me off this morning with all my Hogwarts things."
"I've still got ten Galleons," she said, checking her purse. "It's my birthday in September, and Mum and Dad gave me some money to get myself an early birthday present."
"How about a nice book? said Ron innocently.
"No, I don't think so," said Hermione composedly. "I really want an owl. I mean, Harry's got Hedwig and you've got Errol -"
"I haven't," said Ron. "Errol's a family owl. All I've got is Scabbers."
He pulled his pet rat out of his pocket. I went stiff when I saw it. "And I want to get him checked over," he added, placing Scabbers on the table in front of them. "I don't think Egypt agreed with him."
Scabbers was looking thinner than usual, and there was a definite droop to his whiskers. It was Egypt or maybe the news that my father escaped.
"There's a magical creature shop just over there," said Harry. "You could see if they've got anything for Scabbers, and Hermione can get her owl,"
So they paid for their ice cream and crossed the street to the Magical Menagerie. There wasn't much room inside. Every inch of wall was hidden by cages. It was smelly and very noisy because the occupants. Of these cages were all squeaking, squawking, jabbering, or hissing. The witch behind the counter was already advising a wizard on the care of double-ended newts, so Harry, Ron, and Hermione waited, examining the cages. I waited outside, not wanting to be near that "rat". Ron and Harry came out so we made our way back up the crowded street to the Magical Menagerie.
As they reached it, Hermione came out, but she wasn't carrying an owl. Her arms were clamped tightly around the enormous ginger cat.
"You bought that monster?" said Ron, his mouth hanging open.
"He's gorgeous, isn't he?" said Hermione, glowing.
"Herinione, that thing nearly scalped me!" said Ron.
"He didn't mean to, did you, Crookshanks?" said Hermione.
"And what about Scabbers?" said Ron, pointing at the lump in his chest pocket. "He needs rest and relaxation! How's he going to get it with that thing around?"
"Forget about Scabbers, cats and dogs hate each other. I wouldn't be surprised if Shadow killed Crookshanks. She is here with me." I interrupt.
"You forgot your rat tonic," said Hermione, slapping the small red bottle into Ron's hand, completely ignoring me. "And stop worrying, Crookshanks will be sleeping in my dormitory, Scabbers in Ron's, and Shadow in yours what's the problem? Poor Crookshanks, that witch said he'd been in there for ages; no one wanted him."
"Wonder why," said Ron sarcastically as we set off toward the Leaky found Mr. Weasley sitting in the bar, reading the Daily prophet.
"Harry! Tony!" he said, smiling as he looked up. "How are you?"
Fine, thanks," said Harry for both of us. Mr. Weasley put down his paper, and I saw the familiar picture of my father staring up at him.
"They still haven't caught him, then?" Harry asked.
"No," said Mr. Weasley, looking extremely grave. "They've pulled us all off our regular jobs at the Ministry to try and find him, but no luck so far."
"Would we get a reward if we caught him?" asked Ron. "It'd be good to get some more money -"
"Don't be ridiculous, Ron," said Mr. Weasley, who on closer inspection looked very strained. "Black's not going to be caught by a thirteen-year-old wizard. It's the Azkaban guards who'll get him back, You mark my words."
I gulped. I don't want my father to go back to Azkaban. I was getting pretty uncomfortable with this conversation. Sirius Black is my father after all, they probably know that, they just have to look at picture carefully and find our similarities. The eyes, the hair, I look just like him. My surname says it all, they have to think we are related or way or another. Maybe, and probably they know, its just that no one is brave enough to say it out loud.
At that moment Mrs. Weasley entered the bar, laden with shopping bags and followed by the twins, Fred and George, who were about to start their fifth year at Hogwarts; the newly elected Head Boy, Percy; and the Weasleys' youngest child and only girl, Ginny.
Fred and George greeted me as usual, Percy shake my hand, it was very weird. It was rather like being introduced to the mayor. I gave Ginny a hug and asked how she was and she said "good" while staring over at Harry. Ginny, who had always been very taken with Harry, seemed even more heartily embarrassed than usual when she saw him, perhaps because he had saved her life during our previous year at Hogwarts
"Harry. How nice to see you." Said Percy.
"Hello, Percy," said Harry, trying not to laugh.
I hope you're well?" said Percy pompously, shaking hands.
"Very well, thanks -"
"Harry!" said Fred, elbowing Percy out of the way and bowing deeply.
"Simply splendid to see you, old boy -"
"Marvelous," said George, pushing Fred aside and seizing Harry's hand in turn. "Absolutely spiffing."
Percy scowled.
"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 Mrs. Weasley. I couldn't help but laugh at the twins.
"I'm going up to change for dinner..." Percy said. He disappeared and George heaved a sigh.
"We tried to shut him in a pyramid," he told Harry and I. "But Mum spotted us."
Dinner that night was a very enjoyable affair. Tom the innkeeper put three tables together in the parlor, and the seven Weasleys, Harry, Hermione and I ate our way through five delicious courses. After dinner everyone felt very full and sleepy. One by one they made their way upstairs to their rooms to check their things for the next day. I noticed Mr. and Mrs. Weasley were discussing something important, so I was about to leave when I heard Harry´s name.
"Shhh", Tony. Come over here." It was Harry. Together we listened.
"-makes no sense not to tell him," Mr. Weasley 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 Mrs. Weasley 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!"
"I don't want to make him miserable, I want to put him on his guard!" retorted Mr. Weasley. "You know what Harry, Ron and Anthony are like, wandering off by themselves - they've ended up in the Forbidden Forest twice! But Harry and Tony 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 Anthony will be perfectly safe at Hogwarts." Mrs. Weasley said.
"We thought Azkaban was perfectly safe. If Black can break out of Azkaban, he can break into Hogwarts."
You are right Mr. Weasley, especially when someone is helping him to get into the castle. His own son is going to help him. I thought. They went on and on about how my father was angry that Harry defeated Voldemort and that is why he is after him. I don't buy anything of this, it sound like something the Ministry would say.
"It's late, Molly, we'd better go up..." Mr. Weasley said. Harry and I moved quickly so we weren't in sight of them when they climbed the stairs.
"I wonder what Sirius Black wants with you. I understand why he wants me, but why you?"
I just stare at him. Don't you see? I want to tell him. I sighed and went to my bedroom not daring to give him an answer.
So here it is another chapter, as promised. Almost nothing interesting happens in this chapter, but I am 100% confident that the later chapter will be better. School, is not that bad (thankfully), at least for now. Well, hope you have enjoyed the chapter, and dont forget to leave a review. Love,
-Lobo Sombra