Chapter 2
Harry woke with a start, Cedric's lifeless eyes still staring through the dark, remnants of a nightmare born from reality. He scrambled to switch on a light. Disoriented, he knocked Hedwig's cage, sending the grumpy owl into an outraged screech. The Dursleys refused to let him release her to hunt at night afraid of the attention she might bring.
He froze at the sound, terrified his pet would wake the house. His ears strained pricking at each creak and ruffled feather. One, two, three, four, five, nothing stirred. He let out a breath and clicked on the light.
"Sorry, girl," he said sticking a finger through the bars to stroke her feathers. She stared puffing her chest. For a moment, he mistook her eyes for Cedric's. Then she leaned into his fingers and all was forgiven. Hope sparked through him for the first time since the tournament. Strange how the smallest of actions could sometimes soothe the greatest of pains.
He glanced at the clock, 2:00 am. Groaning, his head fall back on his pillow.
"Nothing good ever happens after two in the morning, little Harrykins," the twin's voice rang in his head, Fred or George he couldn't remember which. "Best be off to bed." He'd interrupted a prank they were planning for the fourth year dorms and woke up with red and gold skin for his trouble. Their next quidditch game was a day away and he passed it off as extra team spirit. Luckily, he didn't have potions.
The clock ticked to 2:01. He closed his eyes. Maybe the light would help keep the nightmares at bay.
Click.
His eyes flew open. The doorknob rattled. None of his relatives were quiet enough to reach his door unnoticed. When they moved the house shook, with the exception of Aunt Petunia. Still, she trod through the halls like a mare housed with donkeys.
He reached for his wand resting below his pillow. The door creaked open. Figures poured in.
"Expelli- … Sirius?" He asked cutting his spell off.
"Hello, Harry." His godfather smiled down at him while the others started charming his things into a trunk. He flinched with every clunk of Madeye Moody's peg leg, flashing back to a scene where his face morphed into Barty Crouch Jr. Charlie and who he assumed was Bill Weasley were making silent work of the rest.
"What's, er," he stuttered through the absurdity of the scene, his belongings drifting through the air to be packed by a borderline sane ex-auror and his best friend's older brothers, "what's going on?"
Sirius's smile wavered. "There's been an incident... We need to get you somewhere safe."
Harry hopped out of bed, the last of his things landing in the trunk as its lid snapped shut. "What kind of incident? Will I have to come back?" The spark of hope from earlier flashed brighter.
"No, Harry, not until next summer." The flash choked. Why couldn't he stay where they were taking him? It would obviously be safer.
"What happened? Where are we going?" He asked instead watching Hedwig's cage float over to the trunk. Sirius waved his wand at Harry's pajama bottoms charming them to denim.
"My house," he said producing a folded piece of parchment from his pocket, "here read this."
Number 12 Grimauld Place.
"Did you read it?" Harry nodded. "Can you remember it?" He nodded again. "Good." Sirius grabbed the parchment and lit it on fire the ashes falling to the bedroom floor.
"Take my hand," he said holding it out for Harry.
"Nothing good ever happens after two in the morning," the twin's voice echoed through his mind.
"Sirius," he said staring at the hand, "Why won't you tell me what happened?"
"Harry, I'll explain everything later, but right now, we need to leave."
He crossed his arms giving his godfather the hardest look he could gather. Sirius sighed, his hand dropping a little under an unseen weight.
"Why do you have to look so much like James," he muttered under his breath. "Harry, it's Hermione."
Harry's mouth dropped open. He grabbed Sirius's hand. "Take me to her." They were gone with a pop.
A/N: Thank you, everyone! Your reviews are like marshmallows over a fire, sweet, warm, and every one is a happy treat. You're all wonderful.