serpentinexsin: Yeah, I had this story posted before, but it was taken offGlad you like it.
officialgroupie502: Glad you like it. Until I reach the part I have finished, Iwill be updating regularly.
I-Want-To-Fly: Yes, they did and I am really mad at them for it. Theynever gave me a definite reason. Yeah, I know it took me a while to get there but it should go a lot faster from now on.
goofball: Thanks, I will.
hannahmionemobp: I wasn't up late at all. Like I told officialgroupie, Ihave a lot of this story already finished.
Part Twenty-Five
James- Well, I certainly hope that this chapter is better than the last one.
Others- (nod in agreement)
James- The chapter title sounds encouraging. It's called The Firebolt.
Sirius- I hope that I have got one for Christmas.
Remus- If you did, Sirius, I don't think that they would take it very well.
Sirius- I don't care. Harry deserves something nice for having to put up with the Dursleys. And for just being my godson.
Remus- True.
Harry didn't have a very clear idea how he had managed to get back into Honeydukes cellar, through the tunnel and into the castle once more. All he knew was that the return trip seemed to take no time at all, and that he hardly noticed what he was doing, because his head was still pounding with the conversation he had just heard.
James- Harry, I know from experience that you will be reliving that conversation for quite a while, but you can't let it rule your life.
Why had nobody ever told him? Dumbledore, Hagrid, Mr. Weasley, Cornelius Fudge... why hadn't anyone ever mentioned the fact that Harry's parents had died because their best friend had betrayed them?
Lily- Probably, because they were worried that you would react like this and would want revenge. Then you would do what James would do and go look for him.
James- True, if I believed it in the first place. Which I don't.
Lily- Neither do I, but that is beside the point.
Ron and Hermione watched Harry nervously all through dinner, not daring to talk about what they'd overheard, because Percy was sitting close by them. When they went upstairs to the crowded common room, it was to find Fred and George had set off half a dozen Dungbombs in a fit of end-of-term high spirits.
Sirius- Or that was just the excuse that they came up with for doing so.
Harry, who didn't want Fred and George asking him whether he'd reached Hogsmeade or not, sneaked quietly up to the empty dormitory and headed straight for his bedside cabinet. He pushed his books aside and quickly found what he was looking for- the leather-bound photo album Hagrid had given him two years ago, which was full of wizard pictures of his mother and father.
Lily- (sounding like she was going to cry) He shouldn't need a photo album to remember us by.
James- (puts his arm around her)
He sat down on his bed, drew the hangings around him, and started turning the pages, searching, until...
He stopped on a picture of his parents' wedding day. There was his father waving up at him, beaming, the untidy black hair Harry had inherited standing up in all directions.
Lily- (teasingly) You couldn't make it behave, even on your wedding day.
James- Of course not, you like it the way it is.
There was his mother, alight with happiness, arm in arm with his dad. And there... that must be him. Their best man... Harry had never given him a thought before.
If he hadn't known it was the same person, he would never have guessed it was Black in this old photograph. His face wasn't sunken and waxy, but handsome, full of laughter. Had he already been working for Voldemort when this picture had been taken?
Sirius- I could never have been working for Voldemort. Besides the obvious, I could never keep a secret around James, it's as if we can read each other's thoughts.
James- I know. Sometimes it's scary.
Was he already planning the deaths of the two people next to him? Did he realize he was facing twelve years in Azkaban, twelve years that would make him unrecognizable?
But the dementors don't affect him, Harry thought, staring into the handsome, laughing face. He doesn't have to hear my mum screaming if they get too close-
Sirius- Harry, if what I think happened, happened, I know that the dementors affect me. They may not make me see or hear the same things as you do, but that doesn't mean that I am not being tortured by them.
James- What do you mean? What do you think happened?
Sirius- I don't know.
Harry slammed the albums shut, reached over and stuffed it back into his cabinet, took off his robe and glasses and got into bed, making sure the hangings were hiding him from view.
The dormitory door opened.
"Harry?" said Ron's voice uncertainly.
But Harry lay still, pretending to be asleep. He heard Ron leave again, and rolled over on his back, his eyes wide open.
Lily- Harry, you should have talked to him. It isn't good to keep all of the anger inside you.
A hatred such as he had never known before was coursing through Harry like poison. He could see Black laughing at him through the darkness, as though somebody had pasted the picture from the
album over his eyes. He watched, as though somebody was playing him a piece of film, Sirius Black blasting Peter Pettigrew (who resembled Neville Longbottom) into a thousand pieces.
Remus- That doesn't make sense, if Sirius was working for Voldemort why would he cause that much damage? Why not just use Avada Kedavra?
He could hear (though having no idea what Black's voice might sound like) a low, excited murmur. "It has happened, My Lord... the Potters have made me their Secret Keeper..." And then came another voice, laughing shrilly, the same laugh that Harry heard inside his head whenever the dementors drew near...
Remus- I don't care what they say. Sirius would never do what they say he did. It would please his family too much for one thing. Not to mention that betraying James would be like betraying himself.
"Harry, you- you look terrible."
James- Well, what do you expect? He probably didn't get much if any sleep.
Harry hadn't gotten to sleep until daybreak. He had awoken to find the dormitory deserted, dressed, and gone down the spiral staircase to a common room that was completely empty except for Ron, who was eating a Peppermint Toad and massaging his stomach, and Hermione, who had spread her homework over three tables.
Remus- That's not very surprising, considering the amount of classes she has. She could probably spend the rest of break doing homework and just finish on time.
"Where is everyone?" said Harry.
"Gone! It's the first day of holidays, remember?" said Ron, watching Harry closely. "It's nearly lunchtime; I was going to come and wake you in a minute."
Lily- No, you should leave him to sleep.
James- Lily, he woke on his own anyway, so it doesn't make a difference.
Lily- ...
Harry slumped into a chair next to the fire. Snow was still falling outside the windows. Crookshanks was spread out in front of the fire like a large, ginger rug.
Remus- And I'm sure that Ron and Hermione have already had a fight or three about that this morning.
Others- (laugh)
"You really don't look well, you know," Hermione said, peering anxiously into his face.
"I'm fine," said Harry.
Lily- Harry, I want you to talk to them about it. This is not good for you.
"Harry, listen," said Hermione, exchanging a look with Ron, "you must be really upset about what we heard yesterday. But the thing is, you mustn't go doing anything stupid."
"Like what?" said Harry.
"Like trying to go after Black," said Ron sharply.
James- Man, they must know Harry very well.
Remus- Probably thought about it, before he did.
Harry could tell they had rehearsed this conversation while he had been asleep. He didn't say anything.
"You won't, will you, Harry?" said Hermione.
"Because Black's not worth dying for," said Ron.
Sirius- If I am what they say I am, they're right. I would not be worth the risk to your life.
Harry looked at them. They didn't seem to understand at all.
Lily- They understand, somewhat, Harry, but they know that there is nothing they can do about it.
"D'you know what I see and hear every time a dementor gets too near me?" Ron and Hermione shook their heads, looking
apprehensive. "I can hear my mum screaming and pleading with Voldemort. And if you'd heard your mum screaming like that, just about to be killed, you wouldn't forget that in a hurry. And if you found out someone who was supposed to be a friend of hers betrayed her and sent Voldemort after her-"
Sirius- Okay, Harry has a point. If I had found out all those things and knew who the friend was, I would go after him and kill him.
James/Lily- NOT HELPING, SIRIUS!
Sirius- I know. I was just saying...
"There's nothing you can do!" said Hermione, looking stricken. "The dementors will catch Black and he'll go back to Azkaban and- and serve him right!"
"You heard what Fudge said. Black isn't affected by Azkaban like normal people are. It's not a punishment for him like it is for the others."
Sirius- Now I wouldn't say that. Azkaban is a punishment for anyone. And how would Fudge know if the dementors affected me or not? Just because I seemed normal for one hour or so?
"So what are you saying?" said Ron, looking very tense. "You want to- to kill Black or something?"
"Don't be silly," said Hermione in a panicky voice. "Harry doesn't want to kill anyone, do you, Harry?"
James- (sarcastically) No of course not.
Again, Harry didn't answer. He didn't know what he wanted to do. All he knew was that the idea of doing nothing, while Black was at liberty was almost more than he could stand.
"Malfoy knows," he said abruptly. "Remember what he said to me in Potions? 'If it was me, I'd hunt him down myself... I'd want revenge."
Sirius- I think that Malfoy knows more than he's telling.
James- He would. His father would have told him. Lucius is practically next in line after Marcus to be second-in-command of the Death Eaters.
"You're going to take Malfoy's advice instead of ours?" said Ron furiously. "Listen... you know what Pettigrew's mother got back after Black had finished with him? Dad told me- the Order of Merlin, First Class, and Pettigrew's finger in a box. That was the biggest bit of him they could find.
Sirius- That and his robes.
Remus- Wait, they said that there was a pile of bloodstained robes in front of Sirius, didn't they?
Lily- (looks sick) Yeah, why?
Remus- I just thought it a little odd that they could find his robes in pretty good condition and that the only thing they could find of Peter was a finger.
Black's a madman, Harry, and he's dangerous-"
"Malfoy's dad must've told him," said Harry, ignoring Ron. "He was right in Voldemort's inner circle-"
"Say You-Know-Who, will you?" interjected Ron angrily.
"-so obviously, the Malfoys knew Black was working for Voldemort-"
Sirius- Maybe. If there was another person, though, they wouldn't stop to help me out. They hate me because I'm not like them.
"-and Malfoy'd love to see you blown into about a million pieces, like Pettigrew! Get a grip. Malfoy's just hoping you'll get yourself killed before he has to play you at Quidditch."
James- Yeah, because he's a bloody coward.
Others- (nod)
"Harry, please," said Hermione, her eyes now shining with tears, "please be sensible. Black did a terrible, terrible thing, but d-don't put yourself in danger, it's what Black wants... Oh, Harry, you'd be playing right into Black's hands if you went looking for him. Your
mum and dad wouldn't want you to get hurt, would they? They'd never want you to go looking for Black!"
Lily- That's right, Harry, we would not want you to put yourself in danger for us.
Sirius- Neither would I, Harry.
"I'll never know what they'd have wanted, because thanks to Black, I've never spoken to them," said Harry sharply.
Lily- (remandingly) Harry, drop that tone of voice right now. That is no way to speak to your friends. They're only trying to help.
There was a silence in which Crookshanks stretched luxuriously, flexing his claws. Ron's pocket quivered.
Remus- (writes down: Rat seems to know what the cat is doing at all times, even when the rat can't see him.
"Look," said Ron, obviously casting about for a change of subject. "It's the holidays! It's nearly Christmas! Let's- let's go down and see Hagrid. We haven't visited him for ages!"
Remus- I don't think that is a very good idea at this time, Ron.
"No!" said Hermione quickly. "Harry isn't supposed to leave the castle, Ron-"
James- Since when has that been a rule?
Sirius- Yeah, it's not dark. It's the middle of the day.
"Yeah, let's go," said Harry, sitting up, "and I can ask him how come he never mentioned Black when he told me all about my parents!"
Remus- Now, Harry, Hagrid didn't know about the Secret Keeper thing.
Lily- Yeah, but I think Harry is upset that Sirius wasn't mentioned at all.
Further discussion of Sirius Black plainly wasn't what Ron had in mind.
"Or we could have a game of chess," he said hastily, "or Gobstones. Percy left a set-"
James- (sighs) Harry won't give up on the idea once he's got it into his head.
Lily- Yeah, he's like his father in that.
James- (blushes)
"No, let's visit Hagrid," said Harry firmly.
So they got their cloaks from their dormitories and set off through the portrait hole ("Stand and fight, you yellow-bellied mongrels!"),
Lily- They really need to get someone else for the portrait hole.
down through the empty castle and out through the oak front doors.
They made their way slowly down the lawn, making a shallow trench in the glittering, powdery snow, their socks and the hems of their cloaks soaked and freezing. The Forbidden Forest looked as though it had been enchanted, each tree smattered with silver, and Hagrid's cabin looked like an iced cake.
Lily- I wish I could be there to see that.
Ron knocked, but there was no answer.
James- Maybe he's at lunch.
"He's not out, is he?" said Hermione, who was shivering under her cloak.
Ron had his ear to the door.
"There's a weird noise," he said. "Listen- is that Fang?"
Harry and Hermione put their ears to the door too. From inside the cabin came a series of low, throbbing moans.
Lily- I hope there is nothing terribly wrong.
Remus- Maybe it has something to do with Bucknbeak.
Lily- I hope not.
"Think we'd better go and get someone?" said Ron nervously.
"Hagrid?" called Harry, thumping the door. "Hagrid, are you in there?"
There was a sound of heavy footsteps, then the door creaked open. Hagrid stood there with his eyes red and swollen, tears splashing down the front of his leather vest.
"Yeh've heard?" he bellowed, and he flung himself onto Harry's neck.
Lily- No, they haven't heard yet, Hagrid, but you should tell them. Maybe they can help.
Hagrid being at least twice the size of a normal man, this was no laughing matter. Harry, about to collapse under Hagrid's weight, was rescued by Ron and Hermione, who each seized Hagrid under an arm and heaved him back into the cabin. Hagrid allowed himself to be steered into a chair and slumped over the table, sobbing uncontrollably, his face glazed with tears that dripped down his tangled beard.
James- It must be about Buckbeak. I've never seen him so worked up before.
"Hagrid, what is it?" said Hermione aghast.
Harry spotted an official-looking letter lying open on the table.
Remus- Uh-oh.
Lily- What?
Remus- You'll see.
"What's this, Hagrid?"
Hagrid's sobs redoubled, but he shoved the letter toward Harry, who picked it up and read it aloud:
Dear Mr. Hagrid,
Further to our inquiry into the attack by a hippogriff on a student in your class, we have accepted the assurances of Professor
Dumbledore that you bear no responsibility for the regrettable incident.
Remus- Well, that's a first. They usually don't care if someone is at fault or not.
"Well, that's okay then, Hagrid!" said Ron, clapping Hagrid on the shoulder. But Hagrid continued to sob, and waved one of his gigantic hands, inviting Harry to read on.
However,
Remus- I knew there would be a 'however.' There always is.
we must register our concern about the hippogriff in question. We have decided to uphold the official complaint of Mr. Lucius Malfoy, and this matter will therefore be taken to the Committee for the Disposal of Dangerous Creatures.
Remus- I knew it. Buckbeak is as good as dead.
Lily- Why?
Remus- The 'Committee' does not look kindly on creatures that seem even remotely frightening. I was there once.
Sirius- Yeah, and it was only because I told the Committee that I was entirely to blame for the incident that Remus got away.
Remus- They still wanted to kill me.
The hearing will take place on April 20th, and we ask you to present yourself and your hippogriff at the Committee's offices in London on that date. In the meantime, the hippogriff should be tethered and isolated.
Yours in fellowship...
James- There will be no way that Buckbeak will get off. Lucius will probably already have bribed them into killing the beast already.
There followed a list of the school governors.
"Oh," said Ron. "But you said Buckbeak isn't a bad hippogriff, Hagrid. I bet he'll get off-"
"Yeh don' know the gargoyles at the Committee fer the Disposal o' Dangerous Creatures!" choked Hagrid, wiping his eyes on his sleeve. "They've got it in fer interestin' creatures!"
Remus- (bitterly) He's got that right. If the evidence had a huge sign that said in bold letters that the creature was innocent, they'd still say he was guilty.
A sudden sound from the corner of Hagrid's cabin made Harry, Ron, and Hermione whip around. Buckbeak the hippogriff was lying in the corner, chomping on something that was oozing blood all over the floor.
Lily- Ewww.
Others- (laugh)
"I couldn't leave him tied up out there in the snow!" choked Hagrid. "All on his own! At Christmas."
Harry, Ron, and Hermione looked at one another. They had never seen eye to eye with Hagrid about what he called "interesting creatures" and other people called "terrifying monsters." On the other hand, there didn't seem to be any particular harm in Buckbeak. In fact, by Hagrid's usual standards, he was positively cute.
Lily- I think hippogriffs are really beautiful.
"You'll have to put up a good defense, Hagrid," said Hermione, sitting down and laying a hand on Hagrid's massive forearm. "I'm sure that Buckbeak is safe."
"Won't make no diff'rence!" sobbed Hagrid. "Them Disposal devils, they're all in Lucius Malfoy's pocket! Scared o' him! An' if I lose the case, Buckbeak-"
Hagrid drew his finger swiftly across his throat, then gave a great wail and lurched forward, his face in his hands.
"What about Dumbledore, Hagrid?" said Harry.
Lily- Yeah, he would be a big help!
"He's done more'n enough fer me already," groaned Hagrid. "Got enough on his plate what with keepin' them dementors outta the castle, an' Sirius Black lurkin' around-"
Ron and Hermione looked quickly at Harry, as though expecting him to start berating Hagrid for not telling him the truth about Black. But Harry couldn't bring himself to do it, not now that he saw Hagrid so miserable and scared.
Lily- Good, Harry, let yourself cool down before you ask him about it. Or maybe don't ask him at all.
"Listen, Hagrid," he said, "you can't give up. Hermione's right, you just need a good defense. You can call us as witnesses-"
"I'm sure that I've read about a case of hippogriff-bating," said Hermione thoughtfully, "where the hippogriff got off. I'll look it up for you, Hagrid, and see exactly what happened."
James- If Hermione can't find the information, Hagrid, it doesn't exist.
Hagrid howled still more loudly. Harry and Hermione looked at Ron to help them.
"Er- shall I make a cup of tea?" said Ron.
Lily- That's always a good thing to do when someone is upset. Good thinking, Ron.
Harry stared at him.
"It's what my mum always does whenever someone's upset," Ron muttered, shrugging.
At last, after many more assurances of help, with a steaming mug of tea in front of him, Hagrid blew his nose on a handkkerchief the size of a tablecloth and said, "Yer right. I can' afford to go ter pieces. Gotta pull meself together..."
Sirius- Trust them, Hagrid they will help. If nothing else, it will get Harry's mind off me.
Fang the boarhound came timidly out from under the table and laid his head on Hagrid's knee.
James- That dog isn't much help, sometimes.
"I've not bin meself lately," said Hagrid, stroking Fang with one hand and mopping his face with the other. "Worried abou' Buckbeak, an' no one likin' me classes-"
"We do like them!" lied Hermione at once.
"Yeah, they're great!" said Ron, crossing his fingers under the table. "Er- how are the flobberworms?"
"Dead," said Hagrid gloomily. "Too much lettuce."
All- (snort with laughter)
"Oh no!" said Ron, his lip twitching.
"An' them dementors make me feel ruddy terrible an' all," said Hagrid with a sudden shudder. "Gotta walk past 'em ev'ry time I want a drink in the Three Broomsticks. 'S like bein' back in Azkaban-"
Lily- Why were you in Azkaban in the first place!
He fell silent, gulping his tea. Harry, Ron, and Hermione watched him breathlessly. They had never heard Hagrid talk about his brief spell in Azkaban before. After a pause, Hermione said timidly, "Is it awful there, Hagrid?"
Sirius- (sarcastically) No, it's a bloody holiday!
James- (sharply) Sirius!
Sirius- (meekly) Sorry.
"Yeh've no idea," said Hagrid quietly. "Never bin anywhere like it.
Thought I was goin' mad. Kep' goin' over horrible stuff in me mind... the day I got expelled from Hogwarts... day me dad died... day I had ter let Norbert go..."
Remus- And you managed to stay sane for twelve years, Sirius? Wow!
His eyes filled with tears. Norbert was the baby dragon Hagrid had once won in a game of cards.
James- I would have loved to hear the story behind that one.
"Yeh can' really remember who yeh are after a while. An' yeh can' see the point o' livin' at all. I used ter hope I'd just die in me sleep...
When they let me out, it was like bein' born again, ev'rythin' came floodin' back, it was the bes' feelin' in the world.
Sirius- If that came after only a few months in there. It must have felt wonderful to just be able to walk more than a few feet after twelve years.
Mind, the dementors weren't keen on lettin' me go."
"But you were innocent!" said Hermione.
Remus- They wouldn't care.
Hagrid snorted.
"Think that matters to them? They don' care. Long as they've got a couple o' hundred humans stuck there with 'em so they can leech all the happiness out of 'em, they don' give a damn who's guilty an' who's not."
Lily- So there could be more people in Azkaban that were innocent when they went in. That's a horrible thought. What if it was found out that they were innocent later? What could anyone do? Say, "Oops, my fault!"
Hagrid went quiet for a moment, staring into his tea. Then he said quietly, "Thought o' jus' lettin' Buckbeak go... tryin' ter make him fly away... but how d'yeh explain ter a hippogriff it's gotta go inter hidin'?
Lily- That would be difficult.
James- (thoughtfully) I bet an animagus would be able to tell him.
"An'- an' I'm scared o' breakin' the law..." He looked up at them, tears leaking down his face again. "I don' ever want ter go back ter Azkaban."
Sirius- Neither do I. Maybe I can help you with Buckbeak. I'll try if I can.
The trip to Hagrid's, though far from fun, had nevertheless had the effect Ron and Hermione had hoped. Though Harry had by no means
forgotten about Black, he couldn't brood constantly on revenge if he wanted to help Hagrid win his case against the Committee for the Disposal of Dangerous Creatures.
Lily- Thank goodness.
James- Hopefully, by the time they finish helping Hagrid, Harry will have cooled off enough.
He, Ron and Hermione went to the library next day, and returned to the empty common room laden with books which might help prepare a defense for Buckbeak.
The three of them sat in front of the roaring fire, slowly turning the pages of dusty volumes about famous cases of marauding beasts, speaking occasionally when they ran across something relevant.
"Here's something ... there was a case in 1722 ...but the Hippogriff was convicted - urgh, look what they did to it, that's disgusting -"
Lily- I hate having Harry see things like that. I mean, it will make it all the harder if Buckbeak dies.
"This might help, look - a Manticore savaged someone in 1296, and they let the Manticore off - oh - no, that was only because everyone was too scared to go near it ..."
Sirius- That's understandable.
Remus- You're scared of manticores?
Sirius- You would be, too, if you saw what they can do to people.
Meanwhile, in the rest of the castle, the usual magnificent Christmas decorations had been put up, despite the fact that hardly any of the students remained to enjoy them.
Lily- That just makes more enjoyment for the rest of the people that stay there.
Thick streamers of holly and mistletoe were strung along the corridors, mysterious lights shone from inside every suit of armor and the Great Hall was filled with its usual twelve Christmas trees, glittering with golden stars. A powerful and delicious smell of
cooking pervaded the corridors, and by Christmas Eve, it had grown so strong that even Scabbers poked his nose out of the shelter of Ron's pocket to sniff hopefully at the air.
Remus- Ron probably gives Scabbers a lot of table scraps anyway, from the account of how fat he is.
Others- (laugh)
On Christmas morning, Harry was woken by Ron throwing his pillow at him.
"Oy! Presents!"
Harry reached for his glasses and put them on, squinting through the semi-darkness to the foot of the bed, where a small heap of parcels had appeared.
Lily- I am so glad that Harry gets something. I just wish we were there to give him something, too.
James- (puts his arm around her)
Ron was already ripping the paper off his own presents.
"Another jumper from Mum ... maroon again ... see if you've got one."
Lily- That's nice of Mrs. Weasley.
Harry had. Mrs. Weasley had knitted him a scarlet jumper with the Gryffindor lion knitted on the front, also a dozen home-baked mince pies, some Christmas cake and a box of nut brittle.
All- MMMMM...
As he moved all these things aside, he saw a long, thin package lying underneath.
Sirius- I hope that is what I think it is.
"What's that?" said Ron, looking over, a freshly unwrapped pair of maroon socks in his hand.
"Dunno ..."
Harry ripped the parcel open and gasped as a magnificent gleaming broomstick rolled out onto his bedspread.
Sirius- It is!
James- Wow, thanks, mate.
Lily- That must have been really expensive.
Sirius- Well, what else did I have to spend money on in the last twelve years?
Ron dropped his socks and jumped off his bed for a closer look.
"I don't believe it," he said hoarsely.
It was a Firebolt,
James- We figured that out.
identical to the dream broom Harry had gone to see every day in Diagon Alley. Its handle glittered as he picked it up. He could feel it vibrating, and let go; it hung in mid-air, unsupported, at exactly the right height for him to mount it. His eyes moved from the golden registration number at the top of the handle right down to the perfectly smooth, streamlined birch twigs that made up the tail.
Sirius- In other words, it's beautiful.
James- Yeah.
"Who sent it to you?" said Ron in a hushed voice.
"Look and see if there's a card," said Harry.
Ron ripped apart the Firebolt wrappings.
Remus- I doubt that they will find one.
Sirius- Yeah, I can't come out and say, "Hi, my name is Sirius Black, I'm your godfather, and am also an alleged murderer, and traitor, here's a Christmas present for you.
"Nothing! Blimey, who'd spent that much on you?"
"Well," said Harry, feeling stunned. "I'm betting it wasn't the Dursleys."
Lily- (sarcastically) Gee, whatever gave you that idea!
"I bet it was Dumbledore," said Ron, now walking round and round the Firebolt, taking in every glorious inch. "He sent you the Invisibility Cloak anonymously ..."
James- Wow, I entrusted one of my most prized possessions to Dumbledore.
Lily- I'm surprised that he gave it to Harry.
Sirius- I'm not. He is always very amused by our jokes and pranks.
"That was my Dad's, though," said Harry. "Dumbledore was just passing it on to me. He wouldn't spend hundreds of Galleons on me. he can't just go giving students stuff like this -"
Remus- Yeah, or Malfoy would have a fit.
"That's why he wouldn't say it's from him!" said Ron. "In case some git like Malfoy said it was favoritism. Hey, Harry -" Ron gave a great whoop of laughter, "Malfoy! Wait 'til he sees you on this! He'll be as sick as a pig! This is an international-standard broom, this is!"
James- I can't wait to see his face.
"I can't believe this," Harry muttered, running a hand along the Firebolt, while Ron sank onto Harry's bed, laughing his head off at the thought of Malfoy. "Who -?"
"I know," said Ron, controlling himself. "I know who it could've been - Lupin!"
Remus- I wish I could spend that much money on you, Harry.
"What?" said Harry, now starting to laugh himself. "Lupin? Listen, if he had this much gold, he'd be able to buy himself some new robes."
"Yeah, but he likes you," said Ron. "And he was away when your Nimbus got smashed, and he might've heard about it and decided to visit Diagon Alley and get this for you -"
"What d'you mean he was away?" said Harry. "He was ill when I was playing in that match."
Remus- Yeah, I was.
Sirius- But Ron had a detention from Snape in the hospital wing, remember?
Remus- Oh, yeah.
"Well, he wasn't in the hospital wing," said Ron. "I was there, cleaning out the bedpans on that detention from Snape, remember?"
Remus- If there was a potion that helped with my transformations, I probably spent it in my office.
Harry frowned at Ron.
"I can't see Lupin affording something like this."
"What're you two laughing about?"
Hermione had just come in, wearing her dressing-gown and carrying Crookshanks, who was looking very grumpy, with a string of tinsel tied around his neck.
James- That would look silly.
Lily- I think it looks cute.
Sirius/Remus- (snicker)
"Don't bring him in here!" said Ron, hurriedly snatching Scabbers from the depths of his bed and stowing him in his pajama pocket.
James- (exasperatedly) Can't they stop fighting for one day? It's Christmas, for goodness sake!
But Hermione wasn't listening. She dropped Crookshanks onto the Seamus's empty bed and stared, open-mouthed, at the Firebolt.
"Oh, Harry! Who sent you that?"
Lily- Somehow, I don't get the feeling that she will be as pleased with the gift as Ron and Harry.
"No idea," said Harry. "There wasn't a card or anything with it."
To his great surprise, Hermione did not appear either excited or intrigued by this news. On the contrary, her face fell, and she bit her lip.
Remus- Uh-oh.
Sirius- What?
Remus- She probably thinks it's from you.
Sirius- Oh.
"What's the matter with you?" said Ron.
"I don't know," said Hermione slowly, "but it's a bit odd, isn't it? I mean, that's supposed to be quite a good broom, isn't it?"
James- The best!
Ron sighed exasperatedly.
"It's the best broom there is, Hermione," he said.
"So it must've been really expensive ..."
"Probably cost more than all the Slytherins' brooms put together," said Ron happily.
All- (laugh)
"Well ... who'd send Harry something as expensive as that, and not even tell him they'd sent it?" said Hermione.
James- Darn it, Hermione, you shouldn't be so suspicious.
Lily- She's only trying to help!
"Who cares?" said Ron, impatiently. "Listen, Harry, can I have a go on it? Can I?"
"I don't think anyone should ride that broom just yet!" said Hermione shrilly.
Harry and Ron looked at her.
Remus- (sighs) Here we go.
"What d'you think Harry's going to do with it - sweep the floor?" said Ron.
But before Hermione could answer, Crookshanks sprang from Seamus's bed, right at Ron's chest.
"GET - HIM - OUT - OF - HERE!" Ron bellowed, as Crookshanks's claws ripped his pajamas and Scabbers attempted a wild escape over his shoulder.
Lily- You should have known better than to bring Crookshanks in there, Hermione.
Ron seized Scabbers by the tail and aimed a misjudged kick at Crookshanks which hit the trunk at the end of Harry's bed, knocking it over and causing Ron to hop on the spot, howling with pain.
Lily- Well, it serves you right. You shouldn't try to kick other people's pets.
Crookshanks's fur suddenly stood on end. A shrill, tinny whistling was filling the room. The Pocket Sneakoscope had become dislodged from Uncle Vernon's old socks and was whirling and gleaming on the floor.
"I forgot about that!" Harry said, bending down and picking up the Sneakoscope. "I never wear those socks if I can help it ..."
Lily- Ugh! Why would you want them at all!
The Sneakoscope whirled and whistled in his palm. Crookshanks was hissing and spitting at it.
James- What is up with that Sneakoscope?
"You'd better take that cat out of here, Hermione," said Ron furiously; he was sitting on Harry's bed nursing his toe. "Can't you shut that thing up?" he added to Harry as Hermione strode out of the room, Crookshanks's yellow eyes still fixed maliciously on Ron.
Sirius- Hey, it's not Ron's fault that you can't eat his rat. (thinks about it for a moment) Well, okay, maybe it is, but you shouldn't take your frustration out on him.
Harry stuffed the Sneakoscope back inside the socks and threw it back into his trunk. All that could be heard now was Ron's stifled moans of pain and rage. Scabbers was huddled in Ron's hands. It had been a while since Harry had seen him out of Ron's pocket, and he was unpleasantly surprised to see that Scabbers, once so fat, was now very skinny; patches of fur seemed to have fallen out, too.
Remus- Yeah, that rat is not going to live much longer.
Lily- Poor Ron.
"He's not looking too good, is he?" Harry said.
"It's stress!" said Ron. "He'd be fine if that stupid great furball left him alone!"
Remus- Maybe.
But Harry, remembering what the woman at the Magical Menagerie had said about rats only living three years, couldn't help feeling that unless Scabbers had powers he had never revealed, he was reaching the end of his life.
Sirius- Not to sound uncaring, but it's unusual for it to have lived this long.
And despite Ron's frequent complaints that Scabbers was both boring and useless, he was sure Ron would be very miserable if Scabbers died.
Lily- Anybody would. After all, it is their pet.
Christmas spirit was definitely thin on the ground in the Gryffindor common room that morning. Hermione had shut Crookshanks in her dormitory, but was furious with Ron for trying to kick him; Ron was still fuming about Crookshanks's fresh attempt to eat Scabbers.
Harry gave up trying to make them talk to each other, and devoted himself to examining the Firebolt, which he had brought down to the common room with him. For some reason this seemed to annoy Hermione as well; she didn't say anything, but she kept looking darkly at the broom as though it, too, had been criticizing her cat.
Lily- That is no reason to be mad at Christmas, put it aside for the day.
Others- Yeah.
At lunchtime they went down to the Great Hall, to find that the house tables had been moved against the walls again, and that a single table, set for twelve, stood in the middle of the room. Professors Dumbledore, McGonagall, Snape, Sprout and Flitwick were there, along with Filch, the caretaker, who had taken off his usual brown coat and was wearing a very old and rather moldy-looking tail coat.
Sirius- Someone should get him a new one for Christmas.
James- But who would?
There were only three other students: two extremely nervous-looking first-years and a sullen-faced Slytherin fifth-year.
James- I wonder why he is staying.
"Merry Christmas!" said Dumbledore, as Harry, Ron and Hermione approached the table. "As there are so few of us, it seemed foolish to use the house tables ... sit down, sit down!"
Lily- That makes sense.
Harry, Ron and Hermione sat down side by side at the end of the table.
"Crackers!" said Dumbledore enthusiastically, offering the end of a large silver one to Snape, who took it reluctantly and tugged.
James- I swear I can't believe that Snape cannot be happy on Christmas. What is wrong with him! (after getting looks from his friends) Don't answer that.
With a bang like a gunshot, the cracker flew apart to reveal a large, pointed witch's hat topped with a stuffed vulture.
Sirius- (chuckling) Well, that should improve his mood.
Harry, remembering the boggart, caught Ron's eye and they both grinned; Snape's mouth thinned and he pushed the hat towards Dumbledore, who swapped it for his wizard's hat at once.
Lily- That's interesting. Dumbledore has the strangest sense of humor I have ever seen.
James- Hey, he finds us funny.
Lily- My point exactly.
"Tuck in!" he advised the table, beaming around.
As Harry was helping himself to roast potatoes, the doors of he Great Hall opened again. It was Professor Trelawney, gliding towards them as though on wheels.
Sirius- Oh, no, she's going to spoil everything.
She had put on a green sequined dress in honor of the occasion, making her look more than ever like a glittering, oversize dragonfly.
"Sybill, this is a pleasant surprise!" said Dumbledore, standing up.
Sirius- For some.
"I have been crystal-gazing, headmaster," said Professor Trelawney, in her mistiest, most faraway voice, "and to my astonishment, I saw myself abandoning my solitary luncheon and coming to join you.
Who am I to refuse the promptings of fate? I at once hastened from my tower, and I do beg you to forgive my lateness ..."
All- Oh, please!
"Certainly, certainly," said Dumbledore, his eyes twinkling. "Let me draw you up a chair -"
And he did indeed draw a chair in mid-air with his wand, which revolved for a few seconds before falling with a thud between Professors Snape and McGonagall.
James- Now there's an idea. I have the feeling that he did that so Professors McGonagall and Snape don't kill each other.
Professor Trelawney, however, did not sit down; her enormous eyes had been roving around the table, and she suddenly uttered a kind of soft scream.
Lily- (impatiently) What now?
"I dare not, Headmaster! If I join the table, we shall be thirteen! Nothing could be more unlucky! Never forget that when thirteen dine together, the first to rise will be the first to die!"
James- Give me a break.
"We'll risk it, Sybil," said Professor McGonagall impatiently. "Do sit down, the turkey's getting stone cold."
Sirius- For once I agree with Professor McGonagall on something.
Professor Trelawney hesitated, then lowered herself into the empty chair, eyes shut and mouth clenched tight, as though expecting a thunderbolt to hit the table. Professor McGonagall poked a large spoon into the nearest tureen.
"Tripe, Sybil?"
Lily- Ugh!
Professor Trelawney ignored her. Eyes open again, she looked around once more and said, "But where is dear Professor Lupin?"
"I'm afraid the poor fellow is ill again," said Dumbledore, indicating that everybody should start serving themselves.
Sirius- On Christmas! That's just wrong!
"Most unfortunate that it should happen on Christmas Day.
"But surely you already knew that, Sybil?" said Professor McGonagall, her eyebrows raised.
All- Nope.
Professor Trelawney gave Professor McGonagall a very cold look.
"Certainly I knew, Minerva," she said quietly. "But one does not parade the fact that one is All-knowing. I frequently act as though I
am not possessed of the inner Eye, so as not to make others nervous."
Lily- Sure, and I'm an eight-legged treewee with blue fur. (sorry I had to make a referrence to Elfquest there)
"That explains a great deal," said Professor McGonagall tartly.
Professor Trelawney's voice suddenly became a good deal less misty.
"If you must know, Minerva, I have seen that poor Professor Lupin will not be with us for very long. He seems aware, himself, that his time is short. he positively fled when I offered to crystal gaze for him -"
James- What will happen to him if you do? Will you spread his secret around the school?
"Imagine that," said Professor McGonagall dryly.
"I doubt," said Dumbledore, in a cheerful but slightly raised voice, which put an end to professor McGonagall and Professor Trelawney's conversation, "that Professor Lupin is in any immediate danger. Severus, you've made the Potion for him again?"
"Yes, Headmaster," said Snape.
"Good," said Dumbledore. "Then he should be up and about in no time ...
Lily- Good.
James- Well, at least we now know that Snape isn't out to poison Remus.
Derek, have you had any of these chipolatas? They're excellent."
The first-year boy went furiously red on being addressed directly by Dumbledore, and took the platter of sausages with trembling hands.
Professor Trelawney behaved almost normally until the very end of Christmas dinner, two hours later. Full to bursting with Christmas dinner and still wearing their cracker hats, Harry and Ron got up first from the table and she shrieked loudly.
All- Shut-up, already.
"My dears! Which of you left his seat first? Which?"
"Dunno," said Ron, looking uneasily at Harry.
"I doubt it will make much difference." said Professor McGonagall coldly, "unless a mad axe-man is waiting outside the doors to slaughter the first into the Entrance Hall."
Even Ron laughed. Professor Trelawney looked highly affronted.
Lily- I thought that Professor McGonagall didn't want to speak ill of her colleagues.
James- That's what she says.
"Coming?" Harry said to Hermione.
"No," Hermione muttered. "I want a quick word with Professor McGonagall."
James- Hermione, you better not be doing what I think you are.
"Probably trying to see if she can take any more classes," yawned
Ron as they made their way into the Entrance Hall, which was completely devoid of mad axe-men.
Sirius- (sarcastically) Really! Wow, and here I was extremely worried that there would be.
When they reached the portrait hole they found Sir Cadogen enjoying a Christmas party with a couple on monks, several previous Headmasters of Hogwarts and his fat pony. He pushed up his visor and toasted them with a flagon of mead.
Lily- People drink too much in this story, and there aren't good results when they do.
"Merry - hic - Christmas! Password?"
"Scurvy cur," said Ron.
"And the same to you, sir!" roared Sir Cadogen, as the painting swung forward to admit them.
James- That's the password, you idiot!
Harry went straight up to the dormitory, collected his Firebolt and the Broomstick Servicing Kit Hermione had given him for his birthday, brought them downstairs and tried to find something to do to the Firebolt; however, there was no bent twigs to clip, and the handle was so shiny already it seemed pointless to polish it. He and Ron simply sat admiring it from every angle, until the portrait hole opened, and Hermione came in accompanied by Professor McGonagall.
All- Uh-oh.
Though professor McGonagall was Head of Gryffindor house, Harry had only seen her in the common room once before, and that had been to make a very grave announcement. He and Ron stared at her, both holding the Firebolt. Hermione walked round them, sat down, picked up the nearest book and hid her face behind it.
James- Which means she tattled.
"So that's it, is it?" said Professor McGonagall beadily, walking over to the fireside and staring at the Firebolt. "Miss Granger has just informed me that you have been sent a broomstick, Potter."
Lily- No, they sent him a pincushion.
Harry and Ron looked round at Hermione. They could see her forehead reddening over the top of her book, which was upside-down.
"May I?" said Professor McGonagall, but she didn't wait for an answer before pulling the Firebolt out of their hands.
James- Hey!
She examined it carefully from handle to twig-ends.
"Hmm. And there was no note at all, Potter? No card? No message of any kind?"
"No," said Harry blankly.
"I see ..." said Professor McGonagall. "Well, I'm afraid I will have to take this, Potter."
"W-what?" said Harry, scrambling to his feet. "Why?"
"It will need to be checked for jinxes," said Professor McGonagall.
Sirius- But you won't find any!
"Of course, I'm no expert, but I daresay Madam Hooch and professor Flitwick will strip it down -"
"Strip it down?" repeated Ron, as though Professor McGonagall was mad.
Remus- There's nothing you can do. She's made up her mind.
"It shouldn't take more than a few weeks," said Professor McGonagall. "You will have it back if we are sure it is jinx-free."
"There's nothing wrong with it!" said Harry, his voice shaking slightly. "Honestly, Professor -"
"You can't know that, Potter," said Professor McGonagall, quite kindly.
Lily- Well, we do, and we say he can have it!
Others- Yeah!
"not until you've flown it, at any rate, and I'm afraid that is out of the question until we are certain that it has not been tampered with. I shall keep you informed."
Sirius- (sarcastically) How wonderful!
Professor McGonagall turned on her heel and carried the Firebolt out of the portrait hole, which closed behind her.
Harry stood staring after her, the tin of High-Finish Polish still clutched in his hands.
Ron, however, rounded on Hermione.
Lily- Ron, she's only trying to keep Harry safe.
"What did you go running to McGonagall for?"
Hermione threw her book aside. She was still pink in the face, but stood up and faced Ron defiantly.
"Because I thought - and Professor McGonagall agrees with me - that that broom was probably sent to Harry by Sirius Black!"
James- It's a logical explanation. And I guess I can see why they'd be cautious, but this is not the best thing to do. Well, anyway, that is the end of chapter eleven.
Sirius- What time is it?
Lily- (looking at her watch) Almost midnight.
Remus- Maybe we should get some sleep. Sirius will read the next chapter after breakfast.
Others- Okay. Goodnight.