Sirius Escapes

"I quite agree: going to see Mr Malfoy was the right thing to do", Tom was here for one of Harry's debriefings. "Paying him back for Dobby was a nice gesture. As for Draco, you can't expect him to warm up to you right away. Not after the history up till now".

"I'm still surprised he agreed to see me at all".

"You will discover that Mr Malfoy – indeed the entire family – isn't what you were led to believe. He's no saint, and made some very bad decisions as a youth, but he's now a family man, and that changes everything".

"I also have an invite to visit the Burrow, I was thinking of asking Hermione to come along".

"Keep your eyes and ears open".

"What will I be looking for?"

"You'll know when you see it. Keep an eye on Ginny. Now, show me how the Occlumancy is coming along".

After the latest lesson and progress report, there was one final item on the agenda:

"If you need to contact me from Hogwarts, use these", as Tom handed him a small pad of stapled together sheets. All that was on it were rows of five digit numbers.

"It's a one time pad", Tom answered the unasked question. "All the numbers are completely random, so there is no means to crack it. What you do is write out your message and number the letters. A is one, B is two, C three, and so forth. Then you add the number of the letters to the numbers on the pad. Start from the left hand column, and work your way down, then over to the next column. Send it off as an owl post, and I'll know what you sent as I have the duplicates. Then tear off the page you used and get rid of it. So long as you don't send essays, your pad should last the term. If anyone questions it, tell them it has something to do with Arithmancy. Any questions?"

"No, that seems pretty easy. What if Dumbledore…"

"It makes no difference: nothing can crack a one time pad. It's low tech, but effective".

"There are spells…"

"As with everything else about magical Britain, they stopped during the Middle Ages. What you're referring to are cyphers, which are easily broken. No spell can derandomize random numbers like the ones on your pad".

The week before the first brought some unwelcome news. Amelia Bones and two aurors appeared at the front door.

"I have just been informed that Sirius Black escaped from Azkaban…"

"He did what?!", Harry called out.

"You heard me, he escaped. It would seem that your godfather wasn't willing to wait for a fair trial. I have to ask: have you been in contact with Black?"

"Not since Azkaban", Harry replied.

"I haven't seen or heard from him", Vernon agreed.

"He hasn't tried to contact any of us", Petunia reinforced.

"Would you tell me truthfully if he had?"

"I can assure you…". Vernon was losing his temper, and again, Harry wasn't the cause.

"I'm sure Madam Bones didn't mean it like that", Petunia said to head off the storm.

"This is a highly embarrassing incident for the DMLE, and Mr Malfoy, and myself. We went to the Wizengamot on Sirius' behalf only to have our trust betrayed".

"He betrayed my trust too", Harry said. "So he wasn't as innocent as he proclaimed?"

"I have even more disturbing news. While he was in Azkaban, the guards overheard him talking in his sleep. He was saying over and over: 'He's at Hogwarts'".

"What's that supposed to mean?", Vernon asked.

"Isn't it obvious?", Amelia asked. "He's out to get Mr Potter here, to finish what his lord and master started. That's how we interpret it".

"But why now?", Harry asked. "It's been twelve years, hasn't it?"

"Consider that Sirius Black has had those twelve years in Azkaban to stew over it, ever since that night you banished Voldemort. Revenge is a powerful motive, is it not? He's likely quite insane, so who can figure out his insane motives".

"What does this mean for Harry?", Vernon and Petunia asked, concerned.

"I'm not saying there is no danger here, but it's highly unlikely that Black will try anything here, or at Hogwarts. The Minister is working with muggle law enforcement to capture the fugitive as soon as possible. The Azkaban guards are also on the case, so we figure it won't be too much longer until we have him.

"If you see or hear from Black, you will contact us immediately".

"Of course, Madam Bones", Harry, Vernon and Petunia agreed.

Harry got off an owl to Tom.

That evening, there was a report about an escaped serial killer, one Sirius Black. There was a mug shot, and a warning to contact the police upon any sightings of the suspect, with a warning not to approach as he was likely armed and dangerous. There was a recounting of the gas main explosion, an act of terrorism. The mug shot showed the toll of the years in Azkaban had taken.

0xFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFF

"Harry is in no danger from Sirius", Tom was explaining.

"How can you be so sure?", Vernon asked.

"I don't know what's going on", he confessed. "In the original timeline, Sirius broke out because he saw a photograph", he explained as he pulled out a copy of the Prophet.

"This photo, to be exact", he showed the issue with the human interest story about Arthur Weasley's winning a contest. The one they'd seen last July, showing all the Weasleys in Egypt, with Ron's pet rat, Scabbers, perched on a shoulder.

"Sirius recognized his old comrade and fellow Marauder, Peter Pettigrew, who was thought to have died in that explosion that killed all those muggles.

"He and his fellow Marauders were all unregistered, and therefore illegal, animagi. Peter Pettigrew, or Wormtail as he was known among the Marauders, is a rat animagus. This rat".

"You mean Ron's pet is really this Pettigrew?", Harry asked.

"The very same, and the true betrayer of your parents. Sirius escaped then for revenge when he realized what had happened. This time, there was no reason why he would escape as before, he wasn't up for a trial".

"Maybe he didn't believe, or maybe he couldn't wait?"

"I don't know what he could have been thinking", Tom confessed. "We can be certain of one thing: Sirius isn't coming after Harry here. Harry, to Sirius, is almost the same as having his best friend, James, back. We will just have to wait until Sirius reveals himself before we can ask".

"How can you be so sure?", Vernon asked.

"Harry said so himself", as he produced more of the letter Harry had written.

"What do we do about Pettigrew?"

"For now, nothing. Do nothing that might tip him off that you're onto him, otherwise, he will disappear once again. We can do nothing until the Christmas break, until we can get Wormtail outside Hogwarts".

0xFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFF

"Ottery St Catchpole?", Vernon asked Harry.

"That's where the Weasley homestead – the Burrow – is located. Mrs Weasley invited me to stay over three days before the start of the term".

"Why would she do that?", Vernon asked.

"She believes that it would be in my best interest, to hang out with Ron and his sibs, to do our start of the term shopping together. Hermione also has an invite. We were planning to meet up, and take the Knight Bus".

"You will do no such thing. We'll take the SUV: we want to meet these folks".

"There will be,,, ummmm… misconceptions", Harry said.

"Then all the better to clear them up".

While enroute, Harry was explaining: "The Burrow is outside the town itself. Like all magickal residences, you won't be able to see it until you're almost on top of it. There are muggle repelling charms that won't feel exactly comfortable until the Weasleys drop them to let you in".

"So what are your plans for the new year?", Petunia asked.

"This year, we'll be starting Care of Magickal Creatures, Divination, Ancient Runes, and Arithmancy", Hermione explained.

"Divination?", Dudley asked, "as in fortune telling?"

"Basically, yes", Hermione agreed, "but this is for real. Not like the palm readers or crystal ball gazers like you see at carnivals. Those fake fortune tellers make predictions so vague that anything can be taken as the fulfillment of any prophecies they make. It's all for show".

"You mean that shit's…"

"Dudley!", Petunia reprimanded, "language"

"… for real?"

"In the magickal world, yes".

"I still dunnow", Harry objected, "never heard of anyone's getting rich from predicting the winners of Quiddich matches, or picking stocks and bonds".

"It doesn't work that way. Divination is all about reading the signs of the times. I'm sure Professor Trelawney can explain in more detail".

"So what are magickal creatures?", Vernon asked.

"Kneasels, porlocks, knifflers... Animals you can't see, or at least don't recognize for what they are". Hermione had enough sense to name only the most harmless ones. No sense upsetting them by mentioning gryphons, basilisks, or dragons.

"And why is this important?"

"It helps if you're planning on a career as a veterinarian", Harry explained. "That's what my plans are when I leave Hogwarts. I'd also like to attend university for a degree. That way, I can take care of both kinds of animals: magickal and mundane alike".

"Sounds like a fine plan", Vernon congratulated.

Harry was explaining: "When we get there, you'll see some strange things, so don't let that freak you out".

"Such as?", Dudley asked.

"Things you often see in wizarding homes, like cutlery that automatically cuts bread, pots, pans, and dishes that self-wash, tables that set themselves".

After about an hour out of London, Harry announced: "This is as far as we go. From here on, it's cross country".

Vernon pulled off the side of the road, and engaged the four wheel drive. He, Petunia, and Dudley felt the beginnings of the muggle repelling charm.

"There's nothing to fear", Harry reassured, "keep going until I tell you to stop".

They stopped in what looked like the middle of nowhere, as Harry and Hermione got out to approach the gate in the wood post fence surrounding the Burrow.

As at Malfoy Manor, a face appeared in the gate, though a good deal friendlier.

"Who is it that approaches?", it asked.

"Harry Potter"

"Hermione Granger"

"We have an invitation. My step parents also came along, if that's OK"

"Enter and be welcome".

It was then that the house, and the rest of the homestead seemed to appear out of thin air. There was a wooden sign beside the now open gate that read: The Burrow. Vernon drove up to the house which looked like it had once been a stone stable. Wood floors had been added, and Vernon wondered why, as it looked like there was more than enough land to expand horizontally.

Instead, this house looked like a sloppy job a toddler might do with a set of Leggos or blocks. Indeed, it looked as though a stiff breeze could blow the wooden floors above the stone base right off. Harry led the way up the creaky front steps, and onto the front porch. He knocked, and Molly Weasley answered promptly.

Harry took care of the introductions: "Mom, Dad, Mrs Weasley. My step parents, Vernon and Petunia Dursley; my step brother Dudley, and you've met Hermione".

"Come in and make yourselves home", Molly invited, uncertain. She had heard stories about "the muggles" from Ron and his brothers.

"Mr Dursley, Arthur", Arthur greeted as they entered the sitting room. Have you met the rest of the family? Ron, Fred, George, Percy, and Ginny?"

"Ginerva", Molly reprimanded, "it's polite to greet our guests".

Ginny was standing back, looking like she would like nothing better than to melt into the background. It was like the last time Harry visited: the shy, star-struck girl who was so flustered that she put her elbow into the butter tray. This time, she looked almost as red as her Weasley hair. Perhaps it had to do with Harry's having rescued her from Tom Riddle's cursed diary last term.

"Hello", she offered shyly, "Harry, Mr and Mrs Dursley… Hermione", she said the last name with a hint of disapproval.

"Greetings, Mr and Mrs Dursley", Percy said. He held out a hand to Harry: "Harry, how nice to see you".

"Hello, Percy", he said, doing his best to not laugh.

"I hope you're well", Percy continued in that pompous manner he'd been practicing lately.

"Very well, thanks for asking", as they shook hands.

Fred elbowed Percy aside and bowed deeply: "Simply splendid to see you, Old Boy…"

George shoved Fred out of the way: "Marvelous! Absolutely spiffing!"

"That's enough", Molly reprimanded.

Fred, acting as though he hadn't noticed until now: "Mum! How corking to see you!", as he pumped her hand.

"I said, that's enough! Don't you two have a table to set?"

You've heard our exciting news already?", she pointed to the silver badge Percy wore: "Second Head Boy in the family".

"And the last", Fred said under his breathe, but not quietly enough.

"I don't doubt that for an instant", she said. "I noticed that neither of you two were made Prefects".

"Why would we want to be Prefects…", George started.

"… It would take all the fun out of life", Fred finished that thought.

Ginny was giggling.

"I would think you'd want to set a better example for your sister", Molly reprimanded.

"Ginny has other brothers to set an example", Percy announced in that annoying, pompous manner. "I'm going up to change for dinner".

The dinner was a pleasant affair. Fred and George set up three tables with a table cloth, in the garden out back, under purple lanterns. Hermione added an artistic touch by sending forth multicolored streamers to grace the trees. Good country cooking: ham and turkey, mashed potatoes, with gravy. Home baked biscuits and bread. Beans straight from the garden.

As always, Molly insisted that everyone, especially Harry, take second and third helpings. That was all Dudley needed to hear, and he even outdid Ron in the multi-helpings department.

Arthur was especially interested in seeing Vernon's SUV, and Vernon loved showing it off.

"Everything you need", he explained. "Climate control for both winter and summer. And listen to this sound system…", as he turned the key to "Accs", and played the stereo.

"Good as any in-home stereo".

"Marvelous, simply marvelous", Arthur exclaimed.

The only things the SUV needed, according to Arthur, was a space warping spell to increase the space inside to accommodate all the Weasleys, the same flight enchantments he'd added to the old Anglia he'd restored, and which Ron, Fred, and George wrecked. Also, a sound system could get the Wizard Wireless Network.

There was that crash landing into the Whomping Willow. Then there was the flight through the Forbidden Forest to escape Aragog's lair, and his numerous offspring. Aragog was the acromantula Hagrid raised from an egg. Harry and Ron got the story from Aragog that filled in all the details surrounding the death of Myrtle Warren (now known as Moanin' Myrtle who haunted a second floor girls' loo) the blame for unleashing the beast of Slytherin that saw Hargid expelled, his wand snapped, and the life-long restriction on performing magick.

Arthur's Anglia had rescued Ron and Harry from Aragog's children, then disappeared into the Forbidden Forest, and that was the last anyone saw of it.

The former Headmaster, Armando Dippet, kept the then 13 year old Hagrid on to learn the craft of gamekeeper. The circumstances surrounding Myrtle's death neatly swept under the rug that allowed Hogwarts to remain open. Even if it meant life ruining an innocent child.

"What are your plans?", Vernon asked.

"Tomorrow, visit Diagon Alley for this year's school supplies, then spend the night at the Leaky Cauldron. The Ministry will be sending a driver to take all of us to King's Cross for the Express", Arthur explained.

"Why would they do that?"

"It's for Harry. The Minister thinks it best, with that Sirius Black on the loose. The Prophet runs a story nearly every day claiming that Black will be caught any day now. What they won't admit is that we're no closer to catching him now than the day he escaped".

Vernon was able to catch Arthur alone for a conversation.

"What did you want to ask?", Arthur said. "Why so mysterious?"

"You don't have any reservations about sending your kids to Hogwarts?"

"Certainly not! All our kids have been through Hogwarts. Why would you even ask?"

"It's that Harry hasn't exactly had an easy go of it. He told us about that possessed professor, about how he and his friends were left alone to fight Vol..."

"Don't say that name!", Arthur reprimanded.

"OK, Hewhomustnotbenamed then. It strikes me that this was highly irresponsible of Dumbledore. Bringing a Philosopher's Stone into a castle filled with children, then letting Harry and his friends alone to fight him".

"Harry was never in any danger. You don't really think the Professor would allow that? After all, all students and staff were warned not to enter that corridor. How is it the Professor's fault if they disobeyed?"

"The way Harry explained it, he got no help from the Deputy Headmistress, who blew off all his concerns. She did absolutely nothing to secure the Stone. Harry and his friends were left to believe that nothing would be done to stop the theft, and that it was up to them. That doesn't seem responsible. You know, I almost pulled Harry out of there. I'm still considering it..."

"Hogwarts is the finest school of magick in Great Britain. Why wouldn't you want him to learn from the best?"

"Putting his life at risk..."

"That wasn't the Professor's doing! It was all Hewhomustnotbenamed; it was all his fault. The Professor knows that, and he isn't going to allow Harry - or any other student - come to harm".

"Then you're not concerned? Even for your youngest?"

"Ginny? Certainly not! She, Ron, Fred, and George are in the best of hands. Harry is safest at Hogwarts".

"Despite the fact that your daughter was possessed by Riddle's cursed diary? How does such a thing find its way into a school filled with kids? How is a basilisk allowed to roam the halls to petrify students? It seems to me that the security is very much in doubt".

"You need to remember that Hewhomustnotbenamed is one of the most powerful wizards in several centuries. Part of the diary's curse was undoubtedly a Notice Me Not charm that disguised its true nature, even from the Professor. As for the basilisk, everyone thought that the Chamber of Secrets and Slytherin's beast was just a legend. You know how tall tales grow over time? No one had ever laid eyes on it since the days of Slytherin himself. Salazar Slytherin himself said that only his true heir would know about it, how to open it, and that one was Hewhomustnotbenamed".

Vernon knew he wasn't getting any closer to the truth. He could only hope that his kids, all the kids, would come through the upcoming term in one piece.

"Come see my room", Ginny finally got up the nerve to talk to Harry. He followed her up the stairs; her bedroom was small, and on the second floor. It looked like every bit of wall was covered with articles snipped from the Prophet - as dozens of Harrys looked on. It gave Harry the creeps, seeing this. He already knew that Ginny was signing the inside covers of her books, "Ginerva Potter". He didn't need any fangurlz.

She brought him one of her books from her Harry Potter collection. He shuddered at what she had: The Boy Who Lived, A True Story by Gilderoy Lockhart.

"Ginny", Harry began, trying to be as gentle as possible. "That book... to put it as plain as I can, and forgive the language, is total bullshit. I never met the man until he started teaching DADA last year. I'm not Dumbledore's secret apprentice. I've never been to Albania at all, let alone to study ancient magick from the elves and fae he claimed lived in the forests. I'm not a unicorn tamer or a dragon slayer. So far as I know, I'm not Merlin's descendant. You should know me well enough by now to know there is no truth in that book".

"I... know…", she conceded out of politeness. "Sign it anyway?", she insisted.

"Only if you promise not to take anything Lockhart says seriously".

"I promise"

"OK, I'll need a quill".

Ginny inked one at her desk.

"To Ginny, your friend Harry", he wrote on the inside flyleaf.

"Would you add, 'with love'?", she implored with those doe eyes she'd been flashing at him ever since he arrived.

"With love", he added.

"Thanks! I'll cherish it forever!"

"Ginny..."

"Yes?"

"Nothing", he gave her a weak smile.

The rest of the evening was spent playing Exploding Snaps and Wizard Chess. They didn't allow Fred and George to play as a team to make it harder, if not impossible, for the Twins to cheat.

"We really need to go", Vernon was explaining. It was getting past midnight.

"Please stay the night", Molly insisted.

"I'm afraid it's out of the question. Normie business, and I have to go in tomorrow morning".

"He's right", Arthur agreed. "We'll take good care of Harry".

"I'll owl you when I arrive", Harry promised.

0xFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFF

"I don't understand", Molly was saying to Arthur. "The Dursleys seemed to be nice enough. Not anything like we've been hearing ever since Harry started Hogwarts".

"You know how kids exaggerate. I'm sure they treat their kids as well as any other family".

"Then why haven't we met them sooner?"

"The chance never came up until now. I'm sure there's nothing to worry about: Harry's in good hands. Wasn't his step father concerned over Harry's well being at Hogwarts?"

"I… suppose?"

Diagon Alley

They flooed to the Leaky Cauldron: entrance into the upscale shopping district. First stop for Harry was Madam Malkins, as his robes were too short in the sleeves and hem. Ron, on the other hand, was at Ollivander's getting a replacement wand. Hermione, of course, was at Flourish and Blotts.

The scene inside was chaotic, and the proprietor much distressed. There was a large cage filled with a hundred copies of the Monster Book of Monsters. Torn pages were flying everywhere. when Harry arrived, saying he was getting this year's books, the counter man gave him a withering look as he pulled on heavy gloves, and picked up a heavy walking stick.

"I already have a copy", Harry explained.

"Thank Merlin! You have no idea of the bedlam these things have already caused, and this is the last time we're carrying these books. Haven't had this much trouble since that order of 200 copies of the Invisible Book of Invisibility was delivered. Cost a bloody fortune, and we still haven't located them yet...

"Excuse me...",

"You there! Stop that!", as he poked his stick through the bars. Two of the books had a third between them, trying to tear it apart.

"What would you be needing?", Harry finally got to get in his order.

"The Standard Book of Spells, Vol Three", he said as he consulted his book list. "Unfogging the Future..."

"You're starting Divination this year?"

"Obviously".

"Right this way".

Harry also noticed an unassigned volume in the Divination section: Death Omens and How to Deal with Them. There was a picture of a large, black dog decorating the cover.

"I'd advise against getting that one. You'll start seeing death omens everywhere. Enough to scare anyone into a premature death".

"Just curious, but not interested, thank you so very much".

Once the school shopping was done, everyone gathered at Florean Fortescu's Ice Cream Parlour.

"See what I got?", Ron said as he took out a thin box to show off. "Brand new wand: willow, fourteen inches with a unicorn tail hair core". It was one of the few things that wasn't a hand me down.

"Yannow, my birthday is in September", Hermione announced, "and the 'rents gave me some extra cash for an early B-day present, seeing how I won't be there".

"How about a nice book?", Ron asked with sarcasm.

"I was thinking about an owl. It would be very convenient, sending letters home, Harry and you have owls", Hermione ignored Ron's sarcasm.

She was well aware that Ron considered her an insufferable know-it-all and one who'd rather spend time with a book than playing Wizard Chess, Exploding Snaps, or Gobstones. Ron considered it a sacrilege, her disinterest in Quiddich.

"Actually, I don't", Ron confessed. "Errol is the family owl. All I have is this rat, and I got him from Percy", Ron said with a trace of resentment.

"Good idea", Harry agreed, "Hedwig isn't just a good messenger, he's also a real friend. The Magical Menagerie is just across the street".

"That reminds me, I need to have Scabbers looked over. I don't think Egypt agreed with him", he announced.

"OK, then, let's get Hermione's owl and Scabbers looked over".

There wasn't much room to maneuver inside, so crowded the place was with cages filled with all sorts of strange animals. A pair of very large purple toads were feasting on dead blowflies. A large tortoise whose shell was decorated with jewels was a window display. Poisonous, bright yellow, snails were oozing up the side of their aquarium. A white rabbit kept turning itself into a silk top hat and back again. There was an aviary full of ravens. A basket contained custard-coloured furballs who were humming loudly.

The counter woman was occupied with a customer, someone getting instruction on the care of double-ended newts. Finally, this customer left.

"What can I help you with?", she asked.

"It's my rat", Ron explained. "We just got back from Egypt, and I don't think it agreed with him".

"Just bang him on the counter, and we'll have a look".

Ron fetched the rat from an inside pocket. She took out a pair of heavy spectacles from a pocket to examine Scabbers.

"Hmmmmm…", she started. "How old is he?"

"Dunnow, I got him from my brother. He's quite old".

"What powers does he have?"

"None that I know of"

"This one's been through the ringer", she observed the missing toe and the tattered ears.

"He was like that for as long as I know", Ron added with a hint of defensiveness.

"I hate to have to tell you this, but a common variety rat won't last for more than five years, eight at the most. Now, if you're interested in a more durable pet, can I interest you in these?", she said as she pointed out a cage of sleek, black rats.

"No thanks", Ron said, "I'll stick with Scabbers".

"The best I can do for you is to recommend rat tonic. It may help, but at his age…", she left that thought unfinished.

"DA FUCK!", Ron called out as something large and ginger landed on his head, hissing loudly at Scabbers. It hadn't been recently that Ron saw Scabbers move so fast. He flew off the counter top, hit the floor running.

"Crookshanks, no!", the counter woman called out.

"SCABBERS! COME BACK!", Ron followed his pet out the door and into the street.

"Fuck was that?!", Ron asked as Harry followed.

"Either a very large cat, or a very small tiger"

Ten minutes later, they found Scabbers hiding under a trash bin. Too bad Crookshanks didn't get him, Harry thought.

Hermione was coming down the street.

"I thought you said you were getting an owl", Harry said as she was carrying a large, ginger cat-like critter.

"I just had to have him", she explained. "The counter lady said no one wanted him…"

"No wonder", Ron said.

"Isn't he gorgeous?"

Harry thought that was a matter of interpretation. The cat was somewhat bow legged, and his face looked like it had been smashed in with a cricket bat.

"He is half cat-half kneazel", Hermione explained his looks.

"You saw what that monster tried to do? He damn near scalped me! He's scared Scabbers half to death! You need to take it back…"

"Ron, I'm sure there aren't going to be any problems. Crookshanks will be living in the girls' dorm, and Scabbers in yours. They'll never see each other... You forgot your rat tonic", she said as she handed over a small red bottle.

"Better off with an owl", Ron said. "All he'll do is turn perfectly good cat food into cat shit".

"Right back atcha: what makes Scabbers so special?"

"I'm sure they'll learn to live with each other", Harry headed off the argument.

0xFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFF

Back at the Leaky Cauldron, Arthur was waiting at a table, reading the latest Prophet.

"Harry, how are you?", he greeted.

"So far, so good", Harry noticed the article with Sirius looking up at him.

"So he's still on the run?", Harry asked.

"They pulled all of us from our jobs at the Ministry to locate him, but no luck so far. We're no closer to catching him".

Harry didn't know if that was a good thing or not.

"Is there a reward?", Ron asked. "Be nice to get some more money coming in…"

"Don't be ridiculous", Arthur reprimanded. "There will be no reward for those of us in the Ministry for doing our jobs. If anyone catches Black, it won't be a thirteen year old wizard in training. It'll most likely be the Azkaban guards who catch him, mark my words".

The rest of the Weasleys trailed in with Molly.

"Those foul creatures…", Molly began.

"I'm not fond of them myself", Arthur explained. "However, sometimes it's necessary to join forces with those you don't like, especially when it comes to a dangerous wizard like Black.

"They will be patrolling the perimeter at Hogwarts this year. The Professor doesn't like it either, but he reluctantly agreed to allow them".

"If they save Harry…", Molly started.

"Then I will never say another word against them".

Old Tom put together three tables in the private salon. Everyone ate their way through five delicious courses, courtesy of the Ministry. Afterwards, everyone went up to their rooms to get packed for the Express the next morning. Everything was going smoothly until there were two incidents.

Loud, angry voices from across the hall, from #12. The door was ajar.

"What did you do with my badge?!", Percy accused Ron.

"I haven't seen your stinkin' badge!"

"It was right here, on the night table. I took it off to polish it, and now it's gone! It didn't just walk off by itself!"

"I'm missing my rat tonic, maybe left it downstairs…"

"You're not going anywhere until you find my badge!"

"I'll look for the tonic", Harry volunteered.

He found the red bottle under the dining room table. As he headed back to his room, Fred and George caught him at the landing.

"We have Percy's badge. We've been improving it", they confessed. Fred showed off their handiwork. The badge now read: Bighead Boy.

"You won't rat on us?", George asked.

"All right, you two, fix it and return it so's we can get some rest", Harry advised.

"Found your tonic", Harry handed Ron the red bottle. "If you two keep it to a dull roar so the rest of us can get some shuteye, it would be greatly appreciated".

Turing to Percy: "I'm sure your badge will show up by the morning".

"What…", Percy began.

"Good night", Harry headed for his room.

There was another altercation:

"Back off, Bitch!", it was Ginny who burst into Harry's room, with Hermione following.

"Tell her", Ginny demanded, "you're mine!"

"Ginny, I'm not yours; I'm not anyone's. It's way too soon to be thinking about such things at our age. Where did you get that idea?"

He never got an answer, as Arthur and Molly also heard.

"Young Lady!", Molly reprimanded. "Is that any way to talk to a guest of the family?!"

"Go to your room, Ginerva", Arthur told her. Ginny sulked back to the room she and Hermione shared.

"We apologize for our daughter's behaviour".

"Mr, Mrs Weasley", Harry began. "Before you punish her, I think she needs to see a mind healer. She never did after being possessed by Riddle's diary?"

"The Professor didn't think she needed to", Molly explained. "Madam Pomphery…"

"Madam Pomphrey doesn't specialize in mind healing, and neither does the Professor", Harry pointed out. "Can you be so certain there were no side effects?"

"Ginny'll be on the Express".

"I'm sure she can miss a day or two", Harry said. "Write her an excuse slip".

"I hardly think…"

"Harry's right…"

"Arthur!"

"Harry's right: Ginny never saw a mind healer. It's too late now, but there's the Christmas holiday".

"I really do think it's for the best", Harry encouraged.

"I still don't…", Molly started.

"If there's nothing there, then isn't that worth knowing? If there's something there, isn't that worth knowing, and getting it treated?", Harry said.

"Not until Christmas", Molly said. "Ginny wouldn't want to miss the Welcome Feast and the sorting ceremony".

"I still think it would be for the best to take care of it now, but promise me: next Christmas".

"Of course, Harry".