James was on his way back to the Tower of Gryffindor. He was surprised by how calm he was and how clear his mind was. He was still worried about his dad, but somehow it was clear as a day that he would see his dad, one way or another. James arrived at the portrait and made his way through. He expected the Common Room to be empty due to the fact that everybody had class, but he found Sirius in one of the armchairs near the fire. Sirius turned around when he heard James come in and smiled mild at him. "Hey mate." He said while James took a seat next to him. "Hi. Why aren't you in class?" James asked him. Sirius shrugged. "Not feeling like it. You know what I think of Herbology. It is boring and stupid. Remus and Peter also wanted to skip, but we discussed that it is best to limit us to one person." Sirius would never skip class on his own to just sit around in the Common Room. He was to exposed to be caught just sitting there on his own. He also knew that Sirius was worried about James' father as well. Even though he never said it, he deeply cared for the Potters. James knew that Sirius knew that James knew this, so it was clear that neither one of them had to say anything to know what their true feelings were.
James appreciated the gesture a lot. Sirius was like a brother to him and both of them needed each other right now, even though James needed Sirius a little bit more right now than the other way around. For the next hour the two of them just sat there in silence. But at one point Sirius broke the silence. "So, you want to go tonight?" James looks at him. "You mean to go see my father?" Sirius nodded. "That is exactly what I mean. You didn't expect me to just sit here and wait for another letter to find out how he is doing." James couldn't help but smile. "I think great minds do think alike. The whole time I was in McGonagall her office I was trying to find out what the best way is to get to Sint Mungo's. Especially after she told me that there is a chance they won't let me go." Sirius made a sound with his tongue in disapproval. "Of course they won't let you go. Power-hungry teachers." This comment made James laugh. Sirius was so used hate someone right away who would use their power to say what someone can and cannot do. "Easy there, mate. McGonagall and Dumbledore would have let me go if they knew there was no way I would get in trouble with the Ministry." Sirius rolled his eyes. "That is what they want you to believe. They just blame the Ministry for this." James shook his head. "You think there is way more behind all of this then there really is. McGonagall is talking to Dumbledore about this. She is coming to soon to tell me weather Hogwarts will let me visit or not. And I already decided for myself that if they say no, I will find a way to see my father." Sirius said nothing for a few moments. "Okay, I was hoping you would say that. You wouldn't be the James I know without even considering going there behinds someone's back."
Just when James wanted to reply the portrait swung open and Professor McGonagall stepped into the Common Room. "Hello Mr. Potter." She nodded to James before she shifted her attention towards Sirius. "Mr. Black, I see you are not in class. But I am not surprised by this." She sat down and turned towards James. She probably decided that it was okay for now that Sirius was skipping class. "Well, Mr. Potter. I discussed it with the principal and he contacted the Ministry. Unfortunately they declined this request, due to the fact that your father isn't a life threatening situation." James felt his stomach drop. He nodded slowly while his mind was working at a fast pace to see how he could leave Hogwarts. It was better that he didn't maintain eye contact right now. He had the feeling McGonagall would be able to read his mind otherwise. "James, can you look me in the eyes right now." Professor McGonagall asked in a softer voice. Clearing his mind and hoping his gaze was neutral he looked up to her. "I am sorry this happened. Professor Dumbledore is also very sorry this happened and I want you to know that we don't agree with this decision. But there is nothing much we can do. We can't go against Ministry orders and they order that all students should always remain in the castle, unless noticed otherwise. This rule exists because of skipping on classes otherwise. Which the two of you are doing this very moment.
And there is only one thing I can do right now." She looked at them fondly, which James found weird. The things she was saying were usually told as stern and strict. She hasn't said it yet, but they could be in trouble for not being in class. Which would be weird, especially for James, since he had permission to gather his mind. James was waiting with a vague feeling to see where McGonagall was going with this. "And by that I mean, Mr. Potter and Mr. Black, that there is nothing left for me to do right now except to give the two of you detention." James saw how Sirius' his mouth fell down. He frowned while looking at her. "Detention?" Sirius said in disbelieve. "Why? What is this for kind of punishment?" McGonagall turned her head to him, but again she spoke in such a weird tone of voice.
"For skipping class today, of course. Wouldn't you like to know where your detention is and for how long this is?" James was so confused right now. First she gave him and Sirius detention and now she wanted them to guess what kind of detention. Had she gone mad? This was not like McGonagall, there had to be something. "Okayyy…" James said slowly. "Where do we need to go and at what hour?" McGonagall smiled. "I will see the both of you only tonight, in my office at seven o'clock. Right after dinner." Sirius was now shaking his head confused. This made no sense at all. McGonagall never did the detention herself, she always send them to Pringle or another teacher who needed help. And her office? What could possibly be done in her office for only night and starting at seven? Maybe they would need to clean it manually. That would take up a whole evening for sure!
James almost groaned out loud by this idea. Why did they get detention? He literally had permission to skip the lessons right now. Was she mad at the Ministry? Or maybe Dumbledore for not trying harder? Maybe she is taking her anger out on them. But letting them clean her office? Where nobody ever had detention. James couldn't imagine McGonagall being a mess. She always seemed so, so, well hold together. But who knew! Maybe even professor McGonagall is a messy person. Leaving ink everywhere. Eating in her office, without cleaning it. Owls flying in and out with letters and stuff. She probably had a fireplace too, where people would visit and leave dust and ashes everywhere.
And that was the moment when it hit James. A fireplace. In her office. That is why she was talking in such a weird way. If she wanted to give them detention, she was usually very uptight and stern. James could know, because he received many detentions from her already. But this time it she was almost fondly about this and nice. And James knew why now. She and Dumbledore would let him and Sirius visit St. Mungo's through the Floo Network, without the Ministry knowing it. It was very important that she didn't say it oud loud, for safety of course. What if somebody overheard them? james met McGonagall's eyes and he knew by her look he was right. So he nodded. "We will be there at seven, professor. Thank you." Sirius his head shot in James' direction, looking at him as if he was mentally ill right now. But seeing the look on James face he knew his friend had a plan, so he only squinted his eyes. "Well, I guess I will see you tonight then professor." McGonagall stood up. "I am happy to see that we all agree that this detention is indeed necessary and that it cannot wait until another evening. It has to be done tonight." James and Sirius nodded. "I will see you two at seven then." She turned around and walked to the portrait, but turned around before climbing the hole. "Could you two maybe do me a favor? Please go to class after lunch." She smiled at them while exiting the Common Room.
"Mate! What in Merlin's name was that? Why did you agree with her about this unfair punishment?" James rolled his eyes. "Because we don't have detention, you moron. Didn't you notice how she wasn't being her usual self when giving us this punishment? She wants us to come to her office, at seven, for only one night. Who has ever had a detention at her office? When is a detention at seven and not at eight or later? And since when is being punished for skipping class only one night?" James tried to make Sirius understand on his own. If James could make the connection, Sirius could do it too. He saw how several ideas were shooting through Sirius brain by the look on his face. James gave his friend one more hint. "I can tell you right now we don't have detention." But by the look on Sirius his face James didn't make it any clearer what would be going on tonight. He couldn't help but laugh at the puzzled look on his best friends face. "And now you're laughing at me, mate?" Sirius said semi-agitated. "You have apparently this weird, deeper connection with McGonagall. You can read her mind. When she says we have detention in this tone of voice it actually means no detention. Tell me what is going on. Why don't we have detention?" James smiled, feeling happy with the fact that he was seeing his father tonight. But he remembered that if it was safe to speak, McGonagall would have probably done that. James might have already said too much. "Let me write it down. I don't feel like saying this out loud." He grabbed his bag. Taking out his parchment, ink and quill he wrote down:
We are going to visit my father through the Floo Network. McGonagall is letting us use her fireplace. But it is against the Ministry decision, so nobody can know about this. We have to pretend to be in detention.
Sirius read along while James was writing. Once finished he nodded. "Understood!" He grinned. "Who knew McGonagall was such a bad ass, huh?" He looked impressed by this thought of her. And honestly, James felt the same way. She and Dumbledore went out of their way to make sure he could see him. He appreciated this. "Hey mate, I am sorry this happened. I am sure he is all right." Sirius comforting. James nodded. "Yeah, that is probably true. I am just happy I can see him." They looked each other in the eyes and the both understood. James knew that his father was starting to feel like Sirius' father as well. The situation back home became worse every time he was there. He knew that Sirius had a lot of support from Regulus, but still. It couldn't be easy feeling less loved by your parents because of the way you are and how you think.
Whenever Sirius arrived at the Potter Mansion after spending time first at home before leaving he was depressed. Not angry, or mad or violent. Just sad. He had a shallow look in his eyes. But after the first dinner, next to James and in front of Euphemia and Fleamont, he would already get some sparks back in his eyes. Sirius could be himself at their house. People were listening to him and even agreeing with him on stuff. But mostly he was treated as a part of the family. Helping with dinner, setting the table, cleaning up, playing games, getting presents. Just the idea of being accepted somewhere and having a place where could be himself was making him happier. Usually at the third day Sirius was out of his funk and enjoying his time. He was just trying to forget that he had another place that he was supposed to call home, but that didn't feel like one. And James knew that Sirius was able to forget this other place sometimes.
But why would Sirius call something like that a home? When he could also call James his house his home. His parents wouldn't probably mind if Sirius would come along for the whole summer. If having him over was too much, Sirius wouldn't mind staying at Hogwarts for the other holidays. James made a mental note of asking his parents about this whenever the moment was right. Probably not tonight, but maybe the next time he would see them.
XXX
That evening James and Sirius left straight after dinner to McGonagall's office. Sirius knocked on the door. "Come in!" They heard and they opened the door. "Right on time, the two of you. If you could please sit down in these chairs now." She pointed at two chairs in front of her desk. "You will see a quill and some parchment on my desk, one for each. Please write the following line five times: I shall not skip class for just relaxing in the Gryffindor Common Room."
James was confused. He was 100% sure this afternoon that McGonagall just said detention as a cover. Sirius looked between him and McGonagall, just as confused. Maybe James didn't get it right at all. Maybe McGonagall did give them actual detention. He looked at Sirius, shrugged his shoulders and sat down. Sirius followed him, but James could see that he was getting pissed off. He grabbed his quill and started writing. Dang it! He felt so stupid! He wasn't going to see his father at all tonight. If he only knew that he misinterpreted McGonagall. He would have already gone to his father this afternoon. Another five nights of writing lines about not skipping class would have been worth it.
James finished his fifth and last line. Sirius was already done, but his handwriting was done so fast it was hardly readable. Sirius sat in his chair, arms folded, ignoring McGonagall. James could tell he was really mad. McGonagall sat on the other side of the desk. She took the parchment, looked at it and nodded. "This look adequate. Now let's do this another couple of times." But instead of giving back the lines, she placed them in front of them. She winked at James and smiled. Pointing her wand at the door, she shot a nonverbal spell at the door. "Now that this is out the way, we can talk freely. But first things first. Let me copy this a couple of times." She took her wand, pointed it at the parchments and James saw that their lines were being added. She grabbed some new parchment and copied the other ones onto it. "Great! I think six each would do the trick. Now, leave your stuff here please and follow me. I know you know why you are here. The two of you will indeed go see your father at St. Mungo's tonight, Mr. Potter. But you are not leaving from here. I will take you to Professor Dumbledore's office, you will use his fireplace for this. It is safer than using mine. If the Ministry asks why my fireplace was used to visit St. Mungo's it would raise suspicion. But the headmaster himself wouldn't. He is very busy man with a lot of appointments, also outside of Hogwarts. So again, leave your bags here. And now, follow me please."
This was a lot of information for James. He quickly jumped to his feet and followed McGonagall out of her office. He looked at Sirius and both shrugged their shoulders. Going to the headmasters office, that was something unique. McGonagall walked in a fast pace through the corridors. "I asked both of you to come see me at seven. Most students will still be eating at this moment, so that gives us the opportunity to get you up to the headmasters office without anyone noticing you two. I locked my office for now and once you are on your way I will sit in there, waiting until it is time to pick you up." Soon they arrived at a big Gargoyle Corridor. "Pumpkin Pasty." McGonagall said and the Gargoyle stepped aside, showing them a staircase. "Come on, you two." Quickly they ascended the stairwell, reaching a big wooden door. McGonagall knocked, waited a few seconds and pushed it open. The three of them stepped inside and James his mouth dropped. The room was beautiful! It was large and round, a lot of windows, looking over the lake and the Forbidden Forest. The walls were filled with either books, instruments or paintings that were moving and looking at them. James assumed that they were the previous Headmasters of Hogwarts.
At that moment Dumbledore appeared out of nowhere. "Good evening, Mr. Potter. Mr. Black! I am sorry to see you under these kind of circumstances, but at least the two of you are in good health." Dumbledore looked straight at James, who became nervous by looking into his eyes. They were very blue. "I am sorry about your father. Luckily we arranged for the two of you to see him. Now, if you will follow me." James and Sirius quickly obeyed. They followed him to his fireplace. "I assume you both know how to use the Floo Network?" James and Sirius nodded. "Good. Once you arrive at St. Mungo's a Healer will wait for you. He will bring you to Mr. Potter his room. Mrs. Potter his there as well. Now listen carefully. You will have 1.5 hour to visit him. The Healer will pick you up, bring you back to the fireplace and you must return here. To come back to this fireplace you must address it as the following: Headmasters Office Hogwarts. Say it in this order as well. If you say Hogwarts first you might end up in another fireplace within this castle. But I am fully convinced that the two of you will make it work. After all, you have gotten yourself in quite some situations already throughout the past two years." James and Sirius both flushed red. They never realized that Dumbledore would also know about their punishments and shenanigans. "I see I am not wrong. But for now, please go. Go see your father and mother. I will see you back in 90 minutes."
Sirius grabbed some Floo Powder, stepped into the green flames and transported himself to the hospital. James took some Floo Powder from McGonagall, threw it into the flames, turning them green. Before stepping in he turned around. "Thank you for all of this!" He said. Dumbledore smiled and McGonagall nodded and that was good enough for him. James stepped into the green flames. "St. Mungo's!" James said clearly. And he felt the familiar feeling almost flying among fireplaces before stepping out into the of St. Mungo's. Sirius was already there, dusted off and all. Next to him stood a Healer with a dust brush, ready to use it on James. While the Healer was dusting him off, he felt a jolt in his stomach. He was about to see his father and mother!
