Introductions

I wake up too early for breakfast the next morning, and slip back up to the castle, destination clear. About halfway there, an important-looking, well-dressed man brushes past me, looking sorely vexed. He doesn't stop to apologize, so I continue on a little peeved myself.

"Is Harry here?" I ask Madame Pomfrey, just outside of the hospital wing. Judging by the deep circles under her eyes, she's heading for a rest now.

"Yes, he is," she says wearily. "I'd tell you to come back in a couple of hours, but…well, everyone's there already, so go on ahead."

"Thank you," I say, and she nods. Opening up the big door, I can definitely see what she means. Mr. and Mrs. Weasley, Ron, Hermione, Dumbledore – even Snape, for some reason is present. A raggedy great black dog is sitting quietly by Harry's bed. Odd. I've never seen any dogs around the castle, and especially not one so rough-looking.

"How are you today, Harry," I say first.

"Alright," he replies, not looking it. "We've just had Fudge in."

"What, and you didn't leave me any?" I say, looking around for leftovers.

"Cornelius Fudge, that is," Dumbledore corrects, looking amused. "We tried to warn him that Voldemort is back, but he's refusing to see reason."

But if the Minister won't do anything," I start, troubled.

"Then we will just have to do it ourselves," Dumbledore completes. "Though it's a disappointment, sure. If we're to join up against Voldemort," he continues, speaking to the room, "then we're going to have to agree to work together."

He looks pointedly at the dog, who morphs into a tall, gaunt man with matted hair and threadbare robes. Snape hisses at the man, obviously angered by his presence.

I for one, since my falling-out with Malfoy resulted in Snape's disdainful judgment, have taken on the view that anyone Snape hates has a good first impression with me. I step over to the man, who is watching Snape with the same sort of look he's getting in return.

"I'm Ari," I say, "nice to meet you."

He shifts his gaze from Snape to me, and the look turns to a sort of bewildered horror for half a second, and then he gives himself a shake and it's gone. A friendly smile takes its place and the man grasps my offered hand in a friendly shake.

"I'm Sirius," he says, and while I don't gasp, I feel my eyebrows raise in recognition. He grins at that, sensing I'm only surprised and not about to start accusing him of being a murderer. Good thing Harry filled me in on all that, since otherwise, I might've. "It's nice to meet you, Ari. I've heard lots of good things about you."

"You, too," I say truthfully. "How long did it take you to learn how to do that – become an Animagus, that is?"

Sirius looks like he's going to tell me, but Dumbledore interrupts. "Another time, Miss Mavros. Sirius, Severus, if you're going to be working together, I expect you to get along."

The two stare stonily at each other at that.

"Why don't we start with a handshake, for now?" Dumbledore compromises with a sigh. Reluctantly, the two engage in the least friendly handshake I've ever seen, and drop the other's hand as soon as possible."

"It'll do for now," he says, obviously unsatisfied. "You'd better get back to the dining room, Miss Mavros. Breakfast is almost over, and you'll want a full belly this morning, I think."

I look at him quizzically, wondering what he means by that. Suddenly there's a strange banging sound across the room, and my attentions turns to Hermione, who is standing at the window alone. She gives me a quick, triumphant grin.

"Don't you have an OWL this morning?"

"Oh," I say, remembering I still have my History of Magic exam today, the first of my finals. "Right. Well, you rest, Harry. I'll come by tonight if you're still here. It was nice meeting you, Sirius."

"You, too, Ari," he says with a smile. "Take care."

"Oh, and Miss Mavros, I almost forgot," Dumbledore says as I reach the door. "I'd like a word with you this afternoon, if you wouldn't mind. I'll find you when I've got the time."