Author's Note: Hey guys! Sorry it's been so long! But exams are now over so I can get back to uploading as regularly as possible. I guess I could say this is the beginning of Prisoner of Azkaban, so please let me know what you think and leave me a review- they honestly do make my day! See you guys soon!
The weeks passed and soon the sun was blazing down on Hogwarts once more. The chamber, Riddle and the diary all seemed like a lifetime ago to Harry, who had found that healing worked better when surrounded by the people that he loved most. At night, he was still haunted by nightmares of long, dark chambers and basilisks, but he was getting better… they all were.
Harry had kept his promise to Dumbledore, and had not told Sirius anything about what he knew. He hated lying to him, but Dumbledore was right. They couldn't tell him- it would hurt too much. And after everything they had all been through the last few months… they deserved a break and the opportunity to be happy.
The summer term had arrived, and exams were again fast approaching. Harry and Mara spent most evenings in their room surrounded by books and notes, hoping that all the information would be absorbed into their brain. After everything that had happened that year, they had missed out on so much work that they were sure they would fail everything. Harry was most definitely looking forward to getting back to Grimmauld Place again, where exams would be far behind him.
The mandrake roots were due to be ready in a few days, causing life to spring up and down the hallways. The idea of having Hermione back with them again put ease in Harry's stomach as the very last of Riddle's influence would soon be gone.
"I wish they would've just cancelled exams this year." Mara moaned that evening. They were sitting in Sirius's quarters. Sirius was reading the daily prophet on the couch while Harry and Mara sat scribbling away at the table.
"Do you think we can use the fact Lockhart can't teach as an excuse to fail?" Harry said.
Sirius chuckled from behind the paper. "Sadly not."
"Professor Black?" Mara asked in a joking tone.
Sirius put down the paper, a wide grin on his mouth. "Miss Lestrange?"
"Would you be so kind as to suggest to the headmaster that exams should be cancelled this year?" Mara said.
"Nice try." Sirius said, putting back up the paper.
But the exams came and went, with Harry sure that he scraped a pass in at least all of them. Ron, however, was less confident.
"That was bloody awful… she swore that wasn't going to be on the exam. It was half the freaking paper!" Ron shrieked as they walked out of their transfiguration exam.
Mara laughed. "No, Ron, she said it was going to be on there for sure."
"Seriously!?" Ron's face crumbled. "What was I doing when she said that?"
"Probably sleeping." A familiar voice said from behind them.
The three of them spun round.
"Hermione!" Harry cried, running into her arms.
Hermione hugged him back, Ron and Mara running over to join in.
"Welcome back, Hermione!" Mara said.
"I can't believe you solved it!" Hermione said, beaming.
"Oh you know… piece of cake." Harry laughed.
The four of them walked off towards the grounds, their laughter ringing out down the corridor.
That night, Sirius called Harry and Mara into the sitting room in his quarters.
"What have we done now?" Harry asked.
"Nothing I hope." Sirius said, signalling for them to sit down.
"What's going on?" Mara asked, sitting down next to Harry.
Sirius sat down on the coffee table opposite them, his face calm.
"Don't worry. It's nothing bad. I've had an idea."
Harry and Mara exchanged a look.
"Instead of spending the summer cooped away in Grimmauld Place, I thought we could go to France."
"France?" Mara said, sending Sirius a questioning look.
"Why France?" Harry asked.
"Well if you'd both let me finish." Sirius rolled his eyes. "Your father's parents had a cottage out there. They used to visit it every summer with James. I went myself a few times, when being at home got too much. They left it to James when they died, and he gave it to me. I haven't been there since before you were born, Harry, but I thought after everything that has happened this year that maybe we could all use a break."
Sirius watched them both, clearly waiting for a reaction or for some indication that they agreed with him.
"It's in the country by a lake." Sirius continued. "No muggles around so you can play quidditch outside all you want. What do you think?"
Harry and Mara exchanged a look once more, both smiling at each other.
"It sounds amazing." Harry said, allowing Sirius to leave.
"I'm in." Mara said.
Sirius practically beamed. "Great!"
From then on, the idea of spending the summer in France with Sirius and Mara drove Harry to finish his school year. They spoke of nothing else when they were all together, planning almost every day so they would waste no time when they were there. Harry also found comfort with the idea that he would be somewhere where his father had been; somewhere he loved very much. And now Harry would get to experience it also.
The weeks flew by, and before they knew it they were in their last week of term. The school was buzzing, the hallways full of lively discussion about the holidays. Sirius had already begun to pack up his office, deciding on what could be left there for next year and what needed to be taken with them. Harry and Mara had also started packing, making the decision to leave most of their books at Hogwarts.
"What?" Harry said jokingly one evening while they were packing. "Don't fancy reading some more Lockhart over the summer?"
Mara scoffed as Sirius laughed. "I'd be burning them if we didn't need them for next year." Mara said, looking down at her copy of one of Lockhart's many books.
"Oh you won't be needing them next year." Sirius said, putting a pile of papers into his trunk.
Harry and Mara stopped, turning to look at him.
"Why?" Harry asked.
Sirius looked back at them, a look of triumph on his face. It wasn't a secret that Sirius had little to no tolerance for Lockhart, especially when it came to his 'teaching'.
"He's a fraud. Dumbledore told us all yesterday. All that stuff in his books, he never done any of it. Took credit for what other wizards had done and wiped their memory." Sirius said.
"So… he won't be back next year?" Mara asked, placing her spare robes in her trunk.
"Nope." Sirius said happily. "Dumbledore's pretty mad about it."
"But didn't he know?" Mara questioned. "Dumbledore? He knows everything. So how come he didn't know about Lockhart?"
Sirius shrugged. "He might have. Dumbledore can keep a secret when he wants to."
Harry felt a pang in his stomach as the guilt attacked his gut. He couldn't stand lying to Sirius about Snape… but he had promised. He knew Dumbledore was right; the truth would only upset his godfather more… but he still felt terrible keeping it from him.
Harry walked into his room, sitting down on his bed and pretending to sort through his clothes. Mara followed him a few moments later, taking a seat on her bed with her clothes piled next to her. Harry could feel her gaze on him, but he pretended not to notice.
"What's wrong?" she asked.
Harry snapped his head up, her dark eyes staring straight through him. He smiled as casually as he could, trying to convince even himself that his guilt was not there.
"Nothing." He said, a smile on his face. For a moment, he thought he had her convinced, but as soon as he saw her expression he knew she did not believe him for a second.
"Harry." She said. "We don't lie to each other."
"Since when has that been a thing?" Harry asked.
"It's always been a thing." Mara said, crossing her arms. "But now more than before. So, tell me the truth."
Harry didn't answer, keeping his gaze locked on his clothes. He could feel her stare burning through him, but he willed himself not to give in.
"This is about Snape… about what he said in the hospital wing after the chamber." She said.
Harry nearly fell off the bed.
"How… how did you know about that? You were asleep!"
Mara snorted. "Oh please, don't pretend you haven't ever pretended to sleep to eavesdrop."
"But… you've known all this time… and said nothing." Harry said, his voice full of disbelief.
Mara simply nodded. "You haven't told him." She said, jerking her head towards the door that was hiding Sirius.
"No… I want to, but…" Harry's voice trailed off.
"But what?"
"Dumbledore made me promise. And he's right. It would kill Sirius to know that he could have had you with him from the start." Harry insisted.
"I know. That's why I haven't said anything either." Mara said.
"Doesn't it bother you? Snape is the reason you only met us last year." Harry said, the anger beginning to grow inside him again.
"Not really. I think I always knew." Mara stood up, walking over to the windowsill of their bedroom. "The way Snape watched me… there has always been something more there… more than just hate. I could always see that he recognised me. I guess I just never fully believed it."
"I'd kill him if he'd kept me from Sirius." Harry pointed out.
"And what would that achieve? If I went barging into Snape's classroom screaming and yelling? It would just cause more hurt. And we've had enough of that this year already." Mara said, her voice unexpectedly calm.
Harry sighed, but nodded. He could see where she was coming from… but that didn't mean he agreed with it. If he was in Mara's shoes, he would be down there stating a war right now.
They were interrupted by a knock on the door.
"Hey kids, Dumbledore's just flooed. He wants to see me. Finish up packing I won't be long." Sirius said, poking his head in through the small gap in the door. He smiled at them both before leaving, the only sound the distant bang of his classroom door.
Sirius opened the door of the Headmaster's office, wondering what on earth it could possibly be about. His stomach was slightly in knots, praying it was no more unwelcome news and hoping it was about some sort of protection curse he could lock on his kids. That would definitely put his mind at ease.
Dumbledore's office came into view, and it was soon clear that it was about neither of those things.
Dumbledore was sitting behind his desk, looking older and wearier than Sirius had ever seen him. Beside him stood a man that Sirius recognised from the daily prophet- Cornelius Fudge… the minster for magic himself. There were three other wizards in the room, standing near Fudge but at the other side of the desk.
"Ah, Professor Sirius Black. Here you are at last."
"Evening, minster. What do I owe the pleasure?" Sirius said, trying his best not to sound too mocking.
"Sirius, why don't you sit down." Dumbledore said.
Immediately, Sirius knew something was wrong. As he watched the headmaster, he noticed the usual sparkle had disappeared from his eye and was instead replaced by what appeared to be sadness.
"I think I'll stand." Sirius said. "What's this about?"
"Well, let's get on with things, shall we." Fudge said.
Fudge reached his hand inside his robes, pulling out a long piece of parchment. Sirius watched him, feeling more lost with every passing second. Fudge cleared his throat.
"Mr Sirius Black, of number twelve Grimmauld Place, you are under arrest for the murder of Peter Pettigrew on 1st November 1981, and for the conspiracy of the murder of James Potter and his wife, Lily Potter, on 31st October 1981."
Sirius felt his world crash and burn around him. He couldn't believe… no… there had to be a mistake… he couldn't have just been accused of James and Lily's murder… no. He felt sick, as though he was about to faint. He could feel every eye in the room on him… the eyes that believed him to be a murderer… that believed him to have betrayed his best friends.
"I… there has to be a mistake…" Sirius choked out, taking a step backwards. "I would never… how could you even say that?!"
"Mr Black, new evidence has come to light placing you in the correct place at the correct time for the murder of Peter Pettigrew. The same source also describes having heard you make arrangements regarding the Potter's with you-know-who himself!" Fudge said.
"THEN THEY'RE A LIAR!" Sirius screamed, his whole body shaking. "James was my best friend! I would never have betrayed him! It was Pettigrew! The night they died, I went after him! But Remus stopped me, brought me back to get Harry! I didn't kill him! He was alive!"
"You are going to have to come with me, Mr Black." Fudge said, as if he hadn't listened to a single word that Sirius had just said.
"Albus! You believe me!" Sirius shouted at Dumbledore who had stood up behind his desk.
"I do. But this is not helping matters." Dumbledore said.
"Because I'm bloody innocent!"
One of the auror's walked towards Sirius, grabbing his arm. Sirius pulled away from him roughly.
"I'm not going anywhere… least of all Azkaban." He snarled.
"Black you can either come with us willingly or we'll take you forcefully." Fudge said, his voice getting louder.
"Sirius, please." Dumbledore said.
But there was a loud bang. Sirius felt himself being lifted off his feet, landing on the hard floor of Dumbledore's office. He managed to pull himself up, Dumbledore already standing by his side. The room looked empty on a first glance, but Sirius soon saw the three auror's on the floor, Fudge by their side.
"Severus… what are you doing?" Dumbledore said.
Sirius spun round. Snape was standing in the doorway, his wand raised. His face was filled with hatred, but this time it didn't seem to be towards Sirius. He ignored Dumbledore, turning instead to Sirius.
"Go." He growled.
Sirius stared, not moving.
"The spell will only give you a certain amount of time, dog. Go- explain everything to Potter and the girl." Snape said.
Sirius turned to Dumbledore, who was already watching him.
"Go, Sirius. Explain to Harry and Mara… they have a right. Fudge has all the Floo's being watched and Auror's are every exit of the castle. You can't run away from this, my boy… but you have time to explain to the children." Dumbledore said, resting his hand on Sirius's shoulder.
Sirius wasted no time. He sprinted from the room, down the spiral staircase, and through the hallways of Hogwarts faster than he thought even possible. His head was spinning, his limbs felt weak, but he pushed through, his thoughts clouded with the image of a green-eyed boy and a black-eyed girl.
He threw his classroom door open so hard that it nearly came straight off the hinges. He crossed the classroom in five long strides and flew through the door of his quarter's. He wished he could have ran as Padfoot, but didn't want to risk any of the auror's seeing him.
"Harry! Mara!" He bellowed.
Their bedroom door opened, Harry appearing first followed by Mara.
"Sirius?" Harry asked. "What's going on?"
Sirius walked over and grabbed them both by the arm, pulling them into a tight hug.
"We don't have much time." He said, breaking apart from them both. "I have to go away for a while."
Harry's face whitened, his eyes dulling.
"What? Why? Where to?" He demanded.
Sirius felt his gut twist. "Azkaban…" he whispered.
Mara gasped as Harry began to shake violently.
"The minister for magic… he thinks I did something I didn't." Sirius explained. "He's here now, and he'll be coming for me so we don't have long."
"Sirius-" Harry began, his eyes filling with tears. Sirius felt his heart crumble. He had never been apart from Harry, not since the moment he came into his care. He couldn't bear the thought. And Mara… she had been through so much this year. He needed to be there for her, not behind bars. Sirius wiped the tear from Harry's cheek, his heart officially breaking.
"Listen to me, both of you. You have to be strong, ok? I don't know how long I'll be gone for… but you must stay strong like I know you both are. You have to be there for each other no matter what. Remus will take care of you until I come back. Just please… please promise me you'll stick together. I will not let this family be ripped apart. You have to fight, that's what's important now. Be there for each other… promise me you'll be ok." Sirius said, the tears blurring his eyes as they streamed down his cheek.
And then he heard it. In the distance, the sound of footsteps and shouting. But he kept his eyes on the kids… his kids… and smiled weakly.
"Promise me." He said again.
"I promise…" Mara whispered, her voice hoarse from holding back her tears. Sirius reached out and stroked her hair before laying a kiss on her forehead, smiling at her as he pulled away.
"Harry?" Sirius said.
The footsteps were getting louder. The voices got clearer as they got closer, cries of 'Black' and 'Arrest' echoing throughout the castle.
"Promise me you'll be ok." Sirius said again.
"I can't." Harry whispered. Sirius pulled him into a tight embrace just as the footsteps echoed out from behind him.
"Sirius…" Mara gasped, but he grabbed her hand to give her reassurance.
"Black!" Fudge shouted.
Sirius quickly let go of Harry and spun around. Fudge was charging up the classroom, the three auror's behind him. Dumbledore and Snape were following close behind. Sirius walked out into the classroom to meet Fudge, his head held high. He heard the footsteps of Harry and Mara follow him out, their panicked breathing quickening.
"If it's not too much to ask, could we take this elsewhere. You're scaring my kids." Sirius said.
Fudge laughed. "You aren't in the position to be giving out demands, Black. Arrest him!"
Two of the auror's moved forward and placed a hand binding curse on Sirius. They grabbed his arms roughly. Fudge began to walk out of the room, the auror's dragging Sirius out behind him. Dumbledore and Snape had moved to stand next to Harry and Mara, who did not want to watch but couldn't look away. Soon, Sirius had disappeared from the room.
Harry suddenly knew he had to tell him. He had to tell him he would be ok… even if it was a lie. Sirius needed to hear it. He took off up the classroom, ignoring Dumbledore's calls for him to come back, and sprinted out of the classroom. Sirius was at the end of the corridor, the third auror walking in front of him.
"Sirius!" Harry shouted.
The auror's all stopped, including Fudge, and Harry could see Sirius craning his neck to look back at Harry. Harry ran up the corridor, desperate to tell Sirius, when he felt an arm grab him around his middle, lifting him straight off the floor. Harry looked up to see Snape towering above him, his grip tight.
"Let me go! I need to tell him!" Harry cried, kicking and punching with every bit of strength he had.
"Snape! Let him go!" Sirius's voice came from up the corridor.
"Please! I need to tell him!" Harry screamed.
But Snape didn't answer him. He instead began to cart Harry down the corridor back towards the classroom, and the ministry escorts had begun to move once more.
"No! He's going! Please! I have to! Sirius! SIRIUS!" Harry screamed.
"HARRY!" Sirius's distant voice called back.
Harry kicked and fussed so much that he fell out of Snape's arms, hitting the floor with a loud thud. But by then, he didn't have enough fight left in him. He looked up the corridor to see nothing but emptiness where Sirius had stood.
He cried.
And he couldn't stop.
He lay on the corridor floor, feeling more isolated and helpless than he had ever felt in his life.