Chapter Twenty-Three

The Apology

"What aren't you telling me, Kingsley?" Sirius asked half scared and half annoyed.

Kingsley was enjoying the animagus's discomfort. At least he was until he looked behind him and saw how pale Sirius had gotten. "Sirius, are you alright?" Kingsley asked.

"Yeah, yeah. I'm fine. Now, what are you not telling me?"

"Fine I didn't tell you that the woman you got pregnant and Tabitha are one and the same." Right as Kingsley finished speaking Sirius Black fainted for a second time that day. Kingsley sighed loudly before levitating the ex-con to his office where Madame Pomfrey was waiting.

"What did I tell you?" She demanded of Kingsley. "Did I not tell you both that he had to take it easy? Does this look like taking it easy? What did you do to him" She finished her tirade glaring at him. The glare made him feel like he was a schoolboy who was involved in some kind of mischief. This felling is what drove the Minister of Magic to spill what had happened since leaving her a half-hour before. "I see. So it was the shock of relief that the woman he got pregnant and his supposedly dead fiancée are one and the same. Well let's wake him up so that he can walk in the doors a free man. Now Minister we have two ways we can do this: the boring but polite way or the fun but evil way."

"Being that he is a marauder he would feel insulted if we woke him up in any other way but the fun way." Kingsley said gleefully before ruining the effect by asking, "What is the fun way?"

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Harry had decided to return to the Hospital Wing after five minutes of waiting in the Entrance Hall. So Harry was spending time with his Aunt when he looked out of the window to see Sirius Black storming up the land towards the castle. "Aunt Tabby I'll be back shortly." Harry said placing a kiss on Tabitha's cheek before rushing out of the Hospital Wing without waiting for a response and almost running directly into Ginny.

"Harry, what is the big hurry?" she asked.

"Padfoot is coming towards the castle at very high speed."

"Well, let's go get him." Ginny said grabbing his hand. They got to the entrance hall just as Sirius made it to the door.

"Padfoot!" Harry screamed and ran at his Godfather only to be wrapped up in a bear hug from the man.

"Harry as happy as I am to see you and I am. I need to find your Aunt." Sirius said trying to get around his godson.

"Well then you're in luck. " Ginny said with a smug smile. "Since we know where she is."

"Really?" He asked astonished.

Ginny nodded before saying. "We will take you to her but you need to calm down. What happened anyway? You're soaking wet." Ginny told the ex-con finally taking in his appearance.

"Kingsley and Poppy thought the best way to wake me from my fainting spell was to dump ice cold water with ice cubes included on me." Sirius replied in a huff.

"Alright, we can plot revenge later Pads." Harry said trying not to laugh. "Let's get you upstairs to see your love. Although maybe you can get the revenge now."

"Why?" Sirius and Ginny asked.

"Kingsley is coming up the lawn." Harry spoke with suppressed glee.

"You two stay and talk with Kingsley." Ginny spoke resignedly. "I'll go prepare Tabitha." She gave Sirius a hug and kissed Harry before ascending the grand staircase.

"Let's talk with him and force him to dry both of us." Harry told Sirius before adding. "After all the only reason you are wet is him and the only reason I'm wet is because I didn't realize that you were wet first because of Kingsley's brilliant idea."

"Perfect idea Harry." Sirius said taking a seat on the stone steps into the castle.

The men talked for about twenty minutes. In which both Sirius and Harry were dried off by Kingsley and Kingsley apologized for the way that they woke up Sirius. Harry and Sirius had gotten up and entered the castle with Kingsley. As they ascended the Grand Staircase Harry heard his name being called from the top of the stairs. The voice was young and it took a minute for Harry to realize why she sounded familiar.

"Miss Collette, to what do I owe the pleasure of your presence this evening? I thought you had said and done everything earlier." Harry said coming up to Collette. After reaching her he kept walking with Padfoot behind him with his mouth a gape. This was a totally new side to his godson.

"Mr. Potter. Please wait." Collette said rushing to catch up to Harry and Sirius. "Please just wait and allow me to apologize please." Collette begged the Savior.

Harry was being slightly sadistic but that broom hitting the back of his head hurt.

"Why are you apologizing to me Collette?"

Collette took a step back not expecting Harry to suddenly stop.

Collette's Point of View

Collette saw Harry on the Grand Staircase with the minister and a man she did not know. She was at the top and they were still at the bottom. She figured now was probably the best time to apologize to him even though she would rather it not be in front of the Minister.

After taking a deep breath Collette called out to Harry.

"Miss Collette, to what do I owe the pleasure of your presence this evening? I thought you had said and done everything earlier." Harry replied walking up to Collette. He kept walking with the minister and the unknown man, who had his mouth hanging open.

'Why does that man seem shocked? Oh wait he probably does not know why Mr. Potter would be mad at me. Well I am not some helpless little girl and he will probably end up angry as well but he probably hasn't seen an angry part French part Scottish girl. He will find out soon.' Collette thought.

Seeing that the trio had continued on their way she ran to catch up and said, "Mr. Potter, please wait. Please just wait and allow me to apologize please." Collette asked in a desperate manner that she was not accustomed to at all. She could tell he was angry and was going to make her work for his forgiveness. 'Did Professor Wood talk to him and suggest he make me work for his forgiveness? I hope not I was really beginning to like him.' Collette wondered briefly.

"Why are you apologizing to me Collette?" Harry asked as he suddenly stopped.

This caused Collette to step back a step. 'That was not what I was expecting. I am going to have to show that I am truly sorry and not just doing this because of some stupid punishment. '

"Monsieur Potter. Je suis tres désolée por jetai mon manche à balai a votre tête."

"You do know I don't understand French?" Harry responded.

"You threw a broom at his head and you say you're sorry for it. You could have done serious damage. Do you know that you could get in serious trouble for doing such a thing?" Sirius yelled at Collette.

"I do not know who ya are but all ya've done is repeat what Professor Wood said. Ah don' appreciate the fact tha' ya yelled it at meh in front of e'eryone. Professor Wood at least took meh away from the others and calmly tol' meh all o' that. He did not make meh feel like runnin' away and cryin' like ya did. He did not bully meh like ya did. Tha's jus' as wrong as my throwin' the broom." Collette said to Sirius. Then she turned to Harry and said, "I am truly sorry Mr. Potter. I just got angry when you spoke to us like five year olds. My friend told me that her brother said you were nice and I did not think that talking to us as if we were much younger fit with that. I am sorry and hope I did not hurt you.

Normal Point of View

No one saw Oliver Wood step out of the alcove where he was watching the confrontation between Collette and Harry. Oliver wanted to watch to make sure that Collette apologized to Harry. Having made sure he stepped out with a grin on his face.

AN: I am so so so so so sorry. I will not make excuses to why it has been a year since my last post but now that I am done with college there should be less time between post from now on. Between my beta and co-author for part of this chapter iscarascaresyou (who had this chapter for two months) and myself our college class were kicking are behinds this last year.