Chapter 28: The trouble with Hogwarts

The joy of Hogwarts was that Sirius was very familiar with it, even after all these years. He still knew where to hit the Womping Willow, when the squid liked to nap, and which area of the forest no one visited, not even Hagrid. The trouble with Hogwarts was that Moony was a professor.

Sirius was happy for his friend's success and he knew the students would love Moony, but it meant that Sirius had to stay out of sight at all times, even as a dog. If Remus heard reports of a large black dog walking about Hogsmeade he would know right away it was Sirius. Sirius knew he couldn't risk such a thing- he had a job to do and the faster he did it, the faster he could be on his way. Ideally he could get Wormtail, kill him, and move out of the country. He had, when he first escaped, hoped to be able to see Harry, but now he knew it wasn't possible. At least he had seen him in the muggle neighborhood.

Even in his dog form Sirius felt a slight pang of guilt- the poor boy had looked as if he'd seen the grim. In another life, Harry would have known it was his Godfather Padfoot.

Sirius' thoughts were interrupted as some voices approached the edge of the forest. He moved hurriedly into a bush, crouching down out of sight and slowing his breathing. It was a pair of students- two girls, one with long blonde wavy hair and the other with tight braids across her dark head like a crown. The blonde carried a picnic basket and Sirius could smell delicious pastries and tarts, even a pastrami sandwich. His stomach gave a quiet growl. The two girls spread a blanket and sat down, laughing at some joke Sirius hadn't heard. They were pretty close to his bush. He edged slowly towards the blanket. The Blonde laughed again and shoved her friend playfully.

"Mattie, stop! Let me get out the goodies," she said.

Mattie assisted, taking out a plate of croissants and two pastrami sandwiches cut into pieces. Sirius felt his mouth salivating. He watched as the girls loosened their ties, ready to have a relaxing lunch. If he just edged his paw out he could snag a sandwich. Perhaps if he knocked one over they would throw it into the forest?

"Have you had Defense Against the Dark Arts, yet," asked Mattie. "I heard the 3rd years got to fight a real Boggart!"

"Better than us with Lockhart," said the blonde annoyed. "We didn't learn anything. I wish we had Professor Lupin when we were 3rd years."

Sirius brought his paw hurried back into the bush as the blonde reached for a sandwich.

"I thought you loved Lockhart," snickered Mattie. The blonde made a look of disgust.

"No! What was worse was that I had to put up with all the other girls cooing over his good looks."

"I had the same problem! It felt like half the females in Hufflepuff lost their mind!"

"Course, not you," the blonde teased nudging Mattie lightly.

"Well, I was distracted," Mattie agreed. She handed a pastry to the blonde, who now had a blush rushing across her cheeks.

"I heard the Gryffindors' had a right time," Mattie said as if to make up for embarrassing the blonde. "Apparently, one of the kids is scared of Professor Snape."

Sirius had been slowly inching his paw towards the sandwiches again, but froze in shock. Severus Snape was a professor? Bloody Hell, Dumbledore must be mad or desperate!

"What happened?"

"The Boggart turned into him, of course! It gets better though! Apparently, Professor Lupin told the kid to imagine Professor Snape in his grandmother's clothing and the Boggart turned into Professor Snape in a vulture hate and dress."

The two girls burst into laughter and Sirius was able to bat a sandwich into the bush without their noticing. He ate it hurriedly only half listening to the girls as they moved their discussion to homework and the girl who snored in Mattie's dorm.

Sirius lay down, suddenly sleepy from his unplanned meal.

"Are you going to Hogsmeade next week?"

Sirius' eyes flew open. Was it October already?

"If I can manage. I'm behind in transfiguration and I can't get anything lower than an Acceptable on my OWLs next year."

"Oh come on," whined Mattie. "A trip to the Three Broomsticks is just what you need then!"

Sirius moved from the bush quietly and trotted into the forest. Hogsmeade would be a perfect time to try and get into the tower. Most of the students would be gone and he could easily sneak through unnoticed. If the boy was Harry's age, which he was pretty sure he was based off of Crookshank's information, then he need only go to the room to destroy the traitor.

Thinking of the devil, he saw the orange cat slinking his way. Animals were mysterious in their communications and even as an animagus Sirius had never understood how they communicated, but he knew they did and he knew now that Crookshank was greeting him warmly.

The rat is in the room, but I can't get near him. I've tried every time I see him.

I know keep up the good work. I plan on entering the castle.

How?

Just make sure no one is in the common room on the day of Hogsmeade.

You plan to use the passage?

I do, but I will need to be fast. I'll enter, kill the rat, and leave.

I'll make sure the common room is clear.

When the day of the Hogsmeade trip Sirius had been sitting in the tunnel under Honeydukes for hours. He had had to sneak in in the middle of the night without detection, something that was much more difficult to do without Prongs & the invisibility cloak. Sirius checked the watch he had stolen from the Honeydukes counter. Without a wand it was hard to see, but Sirius estimated that the students must be clear of the castle and anyone left in the common room would be taken care of by Crookshanks. Sirius put the knife on the floor then changed into a dog. With the knife in his mouth he could double his speed. He missed the map, but, he'd just have to rely on his usual senses.

When he reached the stairs he changed back and slowly pushed the statue's hump up. The castle was clear. Silently he got out, leaving the hump slightly ajar. He moved swiftly down the hall, sliding from shadow to shadow and once or twice leaping into classrooms as a student hurried by. No one expected any place in Hogwarts to be susceptible to Sirius Black, so no one kept an extra eye out. Finally, Sirius made it to the Portrait Hole.

The Fat Lady looked as she always did, but Sirius felt like he could kiss her. He was so close to being done.

"Password" she said.

"Let me in," Sirius muttered.

"Can't unless you have the password, dear," the Fat Lady looked him over. "You look an awful mess."

"Let me in," Sirius said. He glanced around hurriedly. A few portraits near them were taking notice. He was losing precious seconds. The students could come at any moment. Or Snape! He'd love to hand Sirius over to the dementors.

"Password or no entry," The Fat Lady declared again. Why did she have to be so loud?

Sirius felt blood pumping in his ears. He had to get in, he had to kill Wormtail. The traitor was going to live because this portrait!

He didn't realize he had slashed the portrait until he heard her scream pierce through his thoughts. He could hear her moving through the hall and out of sight, her scream disappearing and appearing from one portrait to the next as she ran. He turned tail and ran, dodging peeves who cackled overhead and using a suit of armor to skid around the corner. He leapt back into the tunnel, burying the knife under the dirt, then rushed down the tunnel back to Honeydukes.

He'd have to try again another time.

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