Chapter 25: News from Hogwarts

'Dad! Mum! We've got a letter!'

It was just past seven on a Wednesday morning when Ben bounded up the stairs enthusiastically and pounded on his parent's door.

His mother, who was typically an early riser, instantly opened it and smiled at him. 'Morning, Ben. Come in here and do some more shouting. I can't get your lazy father up.'

Ben smirked as he saw Sirius lying on his stomach with his head under a pillow, arms and legs akimbo. He leaned down and, right beside his ear, yelled, 'DAD! WE'VE GOT A LETTER FROM LISS AND HARRY!'

With a muffled yelp, Sirius started and toppled off the bed. Untangling himself from the sheets that had fallen with him, he looked up into the laughing faces of his wife and son.

'I did warn you,' Emily said sweetly as she tugged a comb through her long tresses.

Now fully awake, Sirius groaned and sat up. 'Give your old man a hand, Ben.'

Still grinning, Ben extended his hand to his father – who promptly tugged him tumbling down beside him.

'Whoops! You're terribly clumsy today.' Sirius put his son in a playful headlock, only letting go when Ben poked him in the side. Within the space of a few minutes, both were weak with laughter.

Emily smiled as she watched them wrestling on the ground. 'Alright, boys. Why don't we read the letter already?'

'Letter?' Sirius froze while pinning Ben facedown on the floor. 'So that's what you were yelling about. Here I was thinking you were saying I'd better listen and hurry up.' He propped his forearm on Ben's back and leaned casually against it, preventing him from rising. 'Well, you'd better get it, Ben. Off you trot,' he teased. 'Come on you lazy child, we'd like to read it this week.'

When Ben tried and failed to get up, he dissolved into a fit of giggles.

Sirius pretended to give a resigned sigh, 'Em, I think we've been too soft on the lad. He's gotten disobedient. I think a two foot essay on minding your parents is in order.'

'Da-ad!' Ben grumbled good-naturedly as he continued his futile struggle.

Laughing, Emily walked over to the door that adjoined to Laura's room and put her ear against it, listening for the sounds of an impatient toddler. 'I think Laura's still asleep. We can read it now if you'd like.'

Scooping up the fallen letter, Ben plunked down on the bed beside his mother and tore it open and glanced at the signature. His brow furrowed and he said, 'It's only from Lissa.' While the boy loved each of his siblings, as the older brother Harry was the one both he and Lissa looked up to.

'She probably wanted to send her own letter,' Emily suggested. 'Don't worry, Harry will write to us soon. It's only been three days.'

That seemed to satisfy Ben, for he turned back to the neatly folded piece of parchment and began to read.

Tuesday 5th September 1995

Dear Sirius, Emily, Ben and Laura,

Hello from the Happy Halls of Hogwarts!

I'm in Gryffindor! I'm so excited and, admittedly, quite relieved because it means I'll be close to Harry. One of my dorm mates, Annie O'Malley, loves pranks as much as I do so we've gotten along brilliantly. We've been tagging alone with the twins to learn more mischief. Ben – watch out! The Christmas holidays promise to be interesting.

'Yeah, they will,' agreed Ben, 'but not for the reasons she thinks. What d'you think will freak her out more? The lifelike toy snakes or the huge beetles? The twins showed me how to get them to move so they look real.'

At the stern expression on his mother's face, he quickly resumed reading.

The first few days here have been hectic, not least because I spent the second night in the hospital wing. Before you all get frazzled: I'm fine. I was helping Fred and George test sweets for their jokeshop and I accidently ate the wrong one (one of their earlier versions got into the bag by mistake). It gave me a massive nosebleed that wouldn't stop.

Emily scrambled off the bed and began rummaging in a drawer. 'Where'd I put those Howlers?' she muttered to herself.

'You bought Howlers? What for?' Sirius asked in surprise.

'Oh, I overheard Harry and Lissa discussing how wonderful it would be to have us to write to this year. They started listing the joys of having parents: strict bedtimes, grounding and Howlers came up, and I didn't want to disappoint them – Aha! Here they are!' She pulled out a packet of large red envelopes and tossed them on top of the cupboard. 'Keep reading, Ben. I'll get one ready to send to the twins later.'

Exchanging an amused glance with his father, Ben complied.

Harry took me to the Hospital Wing and Madam Pomfrey fixed it in about a second. He stayed with me the entire night even though the matron forbade him (a certain cloak came in handy). The whole time she was examining me she kept muttering about how Harry's frequent visits to the Hospital Wing better not have rubbed off on me. Hopefully that isn't true; there's only so much of her fussing one person can handle!

Hermione later told me that Harry hexed the twins for, and I quote, 'risking the life of an innocent and vulnerable first year'. From that description I assume Harry hasn't yet discovered that his timetable is covered in flashing pink heart sequins and his Charms textbook sings that annoying song 'It's a Small World' whenever it's opened. I convinced one of his dorm mates to nick them for me. Innocent indeed! My brother has much to learn.

'For an older brother, he isn't very good at keeping his siblings in line,' Sirius commented. 'He's just not bossy enough.'

Emily nodded blithely. 'You could give him lessons in bossiness,' she teased. Turning serious she added, 'Give them a few more months and the four of them will be constantly at each others throats. My sister and I bickered so much our parents invested in earplugs. Trust me, you'll be dreaming about the good old days when they all got along.'

Fred and George came to apologise the next day; both bore evidence of the Bat Boogey Curse – among others. I'm going to have to tell Harry to tone down his protective instincts a bit! It's kind of funny; all the boys in Gryffindor tower became extremely polite overnight. I guess word has spread!

Sirius smirked. 'That's our Harry. I fear for Hogwarts when we unleash Ben on those poor souls.'

Ben didn't even bother denying that statement.

Speaking of Harry, I'm worried about him. There are so many people who suspect Harry had more to do with Diggory's death than Dumbledore let on. Last night I felt his hurt and loneliness; it's much harder when we're surrounded by so many people so I think those emotions must have been pretty strong. I found him sitting in the common room by the fire. After I'd been sitting with him for a while he told me about the Third Task. It really bothers him that everyone suspects him of killing Cedric – he said they were beginning to become friends when Cedric was murdered, that it was like having an older brother to watch out for him. I'm certain that is one of the reasons he's so protective of me, Ben and Laura. He's lost so much that he'll do anything to prevent losing anyone else.

Emily and Sirius exchanged a worried look.

'I'll talk to him when we get to Hogwarts on Friday,' Sirius decided. His eyes turned warm, 'She's a perceptive girl, isn't she? Always looking out for everyone else.'

Nodding in agreement, Emily added, 'Harry is the same. To the extent of disregarding his own feelings and safety in the process, but he certainly has a good heart.'

If that wasn't enough, Draco Malfoy spread the word that Harry's relatives abandoned him at an orphanage this summer. Wherever I can, I tell people the truth – that he was abandoned because of his stance as a wizard. Malfoy makes it sound as though Harry's delinquent behaviour got him kicked out, which, unfortunately, fits in with the rumours surrounding him and Cedric Diggory.

Harry pretends not to care about the Dursleys but I know it still hurts that the people who were supposed to care could so easily dump him for what he is. I think I managed to cheer him up a bit after our talk. Malfoy's crazy behaviour during dinner might've helped as well. Apparently, someone put Talarium Powder in his pudding. Odd bloke has been sporadically dancing to Swan Lake ever since; he's surprisingly light on his feet. Sadly, ProfessorSnape didn't agree; he gave him detention every night this week for shaming his house. It's funny how Malfoy randomly starts acting strangely – almost as if someone has it in for him.

'Ha!' said Ben brightly, 'three guesses who that is!'

Sirius was sniggering at Lissa's prank. 'That,' he said proudly, 'was ingenious! We should increase her allowance – or not.' he finished as his wife sent him an exasperated look.

Sirius – I've included an article from the Quibbler that Ginny found. I thought you, Emily and Ben would find it amusing.

Can't wait until I see you all again,

With love,

Lissa

Curious, Emily picked up the envelope that the letter had come in and pulled out a sheet of paper that had been torn out of a magazine. She glanced at the title and suddenly burst out laughing. Turning the page so the others could read it she gasped out between giggles, 'Singing sensation?'

Taking the paper from her, Sirius skimmed through the article, a slow smirk appearing on his face. 'You've caught me,' he said, throwing his hands in the air, 'I've been hiding it from you all these years. I'm actually an amazing singer.'

Ben pointed to the bad cartoon of Sirius standing on a pile of human bones with his wand out. 'Is that supposed to be you? His head is larger than the rest of his body.'

'Good likeness, then,' Emily said with a straight face. The look of disbelief and incredulity on her husband's face as he finished the article sent her into another fit of giggles. When she had calmed down somewhat she read the rest of the article over his shoulder.

'So, Black,' she said in a mock-outraged voice, 'what's this about a Mrs. Purkiss and a 'romantic candlelit dinner?' Personally, I can't see anything exciting about a guy who turns chicken and refuses to perform after 'being struck on the ear by a turnip.' '

Sirius put his arm around her and grinned. 'I like the part about getting the full pardon any day. What do you think the chances of that are?'

'Pretty high,' said Ben, 'if you're Stubby Boardman.'

A high-pitched cry from the next room made them jump. 'Your daughter's awake,' said Sirius to Emily.

'My daughter? She was your daughter when she threw up on Snape the other day.'

'One of my favourite memories,' sighed Sirius. Smiling reminiscently, he stood up to retrieve Laura from her cot.