Chapter 25: secrets and unknown powers
I awoke to a bright light. I didn't open my eyes but I heard voices.
"Go on James."
" But Professor what if he wakes up? I have to be there."
" You haven't left him since you found him. By the way I never got around to asking you. How did you find him?"
" Well, I uh, I don't remember." James stammered.
" Alright. Now go. Go to class, get some sleep, cause some trouble, I don't care. Just go."
" You'll come get me, right? If he wakes up?" I hadn't heard James talk like that since we were in our first year. He sounded lost and scared.
" I will come and get you and Remus and Lily and Peter the moment his eyes flutter."
" Thank you Professor." I heard the sound on feet leaving and a door slam. I heard a chair scraping across the floor. There was silence. I tried to open my eyes but I just couldn't. I was too tired.
" Oh Sirius. I am so sorry." Professor Dumbledore whispered. " All the time he was right under my nose. I was too trusting. I put you in danger by not telling you. My own flesh and blood. My own grandson." His voice broke in a sob.
Even in my dazed state my mind processed his words. Grandson? That meant Dumbledore was my Grandfather!
" Just wake up Sirius. Please. Your sister will hardly eat. Your friends haven't pulled one prank since Christmas. They wander through the day like zombies. I can hardly make James leave your side to eat or sleep. The whole school has lost its feeling of safety. You bring a certain light to this school that has dimmed greatly. You need to come back to us Sirius. For your friends sake. I will never get a chance to tell you this again. I swore I would never tell you. It was safer that way. If you never knew the power you possessed. I know what you will grow up to be. And with parents like Orion and my daughter how could you be anything else? I should have told you, you were a warrior. It would have given you time. To learn. If your powers remain untrained… Just wake up Sirius. Please." I tried again to open my eyes, to let him know I was listening but the darkness swept over me again.
I pried my eyes open later to find myself surrounded by people. James was sleeping, his head resting in his arms at the end of my bed. Lily had found his shoulders to be a very good pillow. Remus and Addi were curled up in another set of chairs. And Peter was lying on the floor. There were a few more people, Hagrid had tried to fit in one of the chairs and had obviously failed because he was sleeping curled up on the shattered remains.
I lifted my head up and winced. I let out a soft groan and reached up to touch my head. Every part of me ached. Unknown to me my movements had awoken James. He lifted his head and rubbed his eyes. Then he saw that my eyes were open.
" SIRIUS!" he yelled jumping up. In his haste he forgot that Lily was using him for a pillow and she fell off him right on to Remus and Addi. They awoke and began yelling at her and she at them. James had also unfortunately stepped on Peters head when he jumped so now Peter began yelling at him. We always found Peter was the bravest when he had just woke up and wasn't really awake yet. Hagrid was a wakened by the yelling and began to try to quiet them down. Madam Pomfrey heard the noise and began yelling at Hagrid for letting them all get so noisy. I sat back and watched.
Soon thing s finally clamed down a bit and everyone realized I was awake. There was some more confusion in which everyone got hugged, and then yelling at James for not telling them I was awake.
After a while Hagrid and Madam Pomfrey left leaving the marauders to themselves.
" Sirius, gosh I can't believe you're awake. I thought you might never wake up." Remus told me.
" How long have I been out?"
" A month. Give or take a few days." Lily said.
" Jeez I musta been tired."
Addi hugged me for the tenth time " When they came to get me at school I thought for sure you were dead. You should have seen it. We were in class and Hagrid squeezed in and asked if a Miss Black was here? I was like Hagrid what are you doing here? And he said there's been an attack and I just burst out crying right there in the middle of class." They all laughed.
" Any way, I can't believe you survived an attack form Voldemort.
"James found you." Lily said.
" You did Prongs? How?"
" Actually Moony helped. It was the full moon that night. We looked all over the forbidden forest. It wasn't that hard. There were no birds, no sounds at all even though Voldemort was gone and we saw you lying there. And Moony " He grinned " You tell him Moony."
" I didn't even try to bite you. The wolf mind disappeared completely. All the wolf cared about was that Padfoot was okay."
" Hey Moony that's great." I knew Remus was always worried about the wolf part of his mind.
" Snape owes me ten galleons." Peter piped up. We started at him. " He bet me ten gallons that you wouldn't make it. I told him nothing could kill you."
" Wow, you got brave Peter." He wouldn't meet my eyes. Which I thought was strange. I thought maybe he felt guilty about getting lost in the woods after he got away and about not being able to get help. But I didn't pay it any mind. Maybe I should have. If I had… Oh well, just add it to the long list of Sirius Blacks mistakes that could have saved lives.
We laughed but memories had begun to surface. Things I didn't want to remember. Hearing my mum's death was one of them. But some where deep inside I did want to hear it again. It was the only time I could every remember hearing her voice and I didn't want to forget it. I felt guilty. I remembered Voldemort cursing Remus and Beaker and Erin. Erin. It hit me. She was missing.
" Where's Erin?" They were silent. I saw James and Remus exchange looks. Remus pulled James off to the side and they spoke in hushed tones with an occasional glance in my direction. They returned with worried looks on their faces.
" Padfoot don't you remember?' Remus asked softly
" Remember what?" James looked at Lily for help
" Sirius, Do you remember what happened when Voldmeort sent that curse at you?" I racked my mind and came up with some scattered pictures. Erin shouting, pushing me to the side. The way I had drove him off and lying down with her in my arms. I blinked and realized my face was soaked.
" She pushed me aside. The curse was meant for me, not her." No one said anything. I didn't sob or anything. I just lay there and let the tears stream down my face. I soon realized my friends were crying too. All expect Peter. He looked extremely uncomfortable.
The moment was ruined by Madam Pomfrey bursting in and yelling at them for " upsetting her patients." Dumbledore arrived a moment later, his blue shining. I couldn't look him in the eyes. I knew what he had said. I knew what he had kept from me. And I felt guilty. You know how I feel about my friends. I felt I had allowed my self to be lured out of the castle and my foolishness had led to Erin's death. He sent the others to bed and told me to get some rest. They had a match in two weeks and if I was up to it, I was welcome to play. He turned to go. Then paused.
" Sirius, It wasn't you're fault."
" She was killed by the curse meant for me."
" But you cannot blame yourself. No more than for your parents deaths. She died because she loved you. She and they knew you must live. And they can't die in vain. If you go on blaming yourself as you have since you found out about your mother, Then all they lived and died for was a waste. You must remember that they loved you. You are a very loved person here, Sirius." He smiled that smile like he knew something I didn't. Then he left. As much as I had slept before I fell asleep instantly.
Madam Pomfrey forced me to stay in bed for another week and wouldn't let me leave the infirmary for another three days. The only reason she let me leave then was because she said she couldn't stand all my friends hanging out there all the time. By the time I left most of the school had found out. I learned they had been told at first that I had had some sort of accident on my broom. And Erin had died in the same accident. But somehow the story leaked out that I had faced Voldemort. And though I never gave them a straight answer, as I walked down the halls, whispered and stares followed me. The fact that I was surrounded at all times by James; Remus, Peter and the other Gryffindor boys only helped the rumors along. Actually Michael Finnigan, had heard the Slytherins planning their strategies for the upcoming game. They planned to go after me as they thought my recovery would make me slower and easier to beat. Therefore James as captain ordered me never to be alone. I gave him a box of dungbombs as a thank you.
To most people it looked like there was nothing wrong with me. I resumed my rein of terror and on my first day back got a detection from Filch for setting doungbombs off in the hall. I pulled my grades up with only a little help from my friends. Outwardly I was the perfect teenager. But inside I was dying. Erin's death had left a hole in my heart. And as much as I loved to see the others happy sometimes it hurt so bad to see James hug Lily or Remus write a love letter to Addi. I hid it well, but not from my friends. They knew of course that I was in pain, they all were. Erin was a marauder and as far as we were concerned marauders never died. She was our friend, but she was more than that to me. I loved her. I was planning to ask her to marry me once we got out of Hogwarts. To lose her was like losing a part of my soul.
The night before the game was unfortunately a full moon. So of course we went out. Remus told us to stay in, get our sleep. But we couldn't sleep anyway and this way at least we would be having fun.
The next morning we came down for breakfast. I couldn't eat. I never could before a match. Remus came in at breakfast, looking extremely pale and tired.
" I thought you were supposed to stay in bed."
" I couldn't miss Sirius's big comeback. It'll be the topic of conversation for the rest of term and I'll be the only one who didn't go? I don't think so. "
" How'd you get by Madam Pompfrey?" I asked " I must've tried it a billion times and she caught me every single time."
" You guys left the cloak in the shack last night. I just made use of it." He patted his front, which was rounder than usual. We grinned.
In the changing rooms James gathered us together to give us his routine pep talk " Listen you guys, I know that last game was rough. We were short a beater" He glanced at me " But we still managed to win. Now I think this is the best darn team we've had in a long time. How about you Padfoot?"
" Definitely." The rest of the team grinned. They knew I was just as good as James and half the plays we came up with were mine. That's what comes form being assistant captain.
" Anyway we have one great keeper." Tom Weasly blushed. His older brother Arthur had come to school almost 10 years before and he was determined to out shine Arthur who had excelled at almost everything except Quiddich. and it was Tom's great wish to be a professional Quiddich player. And he was good. They all were. James only picked the best. I of course, threatened to tell the whole school what James said about Lily in his sleep if he didn't pick me, so the whole team begged me to spare them and grab a bat.
" We have three superb and beautiful chasers." Tiffany Patil, Stephanie Moran, and Natalie Mullet all giggled.
"James!" I gasped. " What will Lily say?" Many towels thrown by the team then hit me.
" We have two unbeatable beaters." I grinned at my fellow beater. A nervous third year named Michael Finnigan.
" And the best seeker who has yet to lose a match." I said throwing the towels back at him.
" I think that's everyone." James counted. The girls laughed
" No we're missing Peter."
"What's he do?" Tom asked. They all knew what was coming. James and I had some kind of weird conversation before every game.
" He's the best towel boy I've ever seen. That boy has real talent. If only I could be that lucky." I said bursting into fake very unconvincing sobs and throwing my self on James.
" There, there Padfoot." The teamed laughed and we heard the whistle blow.
" You all go. I don't think I could bare to let anyone see me this emotional." The team each seized some part of my robe and dragged me outside. We laughed. This was going to be a great game. Little did I know that this game would bring out something I me, I never knew was there.
As I stepped on to the pitch I was overcome by a wave of dizziness. I felt shivers run down my spine and a feeling of cold dread rose in my stomach. I must have looked like I felt because James punched me lightly in the shoulder.
" You okay Padfoot?" He asked.
"Yeah I'm fine. Now let's play."
We took off. Almost immediately Natalie had gotten the quaffle and scored. The Slytherins had decided to play a dirty match. They fouled left and right. Snape who was a beater too was pelting the bludgers at every member of the team. Michael and I had a heck of a time getting rid of them all. Of course we won. James caught the snitch after about an hour. I was ecstatic. But when he caught it I was on the other end of the pitch. I saw the crowds rush out to meet him and the rest of the team fly down James was still high in the air. He zoomed by me laughing.
Just then I saw out of the corner of my eyes Snape hitting something. I saw it was a bludger and it was headed right for James. And he didn't see it. I raced toward him encouraging speed out of my good old cleansweep. But I just wasn't getting enough speed. The bludger raced toward James 's head, and he didn't know it. Then out of desperation I thought. Stop, please just stop. Don't hurt James. "Stop!" I shouted.
To my shock and the amazement of the others the bludger stopped midair and waited patiently for me to catch it. James stared at the ball that had almost made a permanent imprint on his head.
After the game he was still looking at me weird. I had almost forgotten about it by the next day, what with the parties and everything. We had much to celebrate. Dumbledore had informed us that because of Beakers " early retirement" (to a cell in Azakaban) potions would be cancelled. Snape had gotten a detention. We had won the game. For a little while all my pain was forgotten and I basked in the glory of winning. But the next day after lunch he pulled us all up to our dorm. We were alone.
" Sirius, I've been trying to talk to you for like two days now."
" About what Prongs?"
" The match."
"Wha bout the matsh?" Remus asked. He had a mouth full of chocolate frogs.
" Don't you remember the bludger?"
" The one Snape hit at you?" Lily asked.
" Yes. Didn't you guys see what happened?"
" No." They all looked confused. I tried to remember what James was talking about but that whole day had been such a blur.
" Sirius, you have to remember."
" You caught the snitch. " I said going through the game step by step. " Then you flew by me and Snape hit that bludger at you. I was to far away to stop it and I told to stop and it did."
" You told it to stop?" Remus asked not believing.
" Yeah. I just pictured it stopping and it did."
" You're kidding!" Lily gasped. Remus narrowed his eyes.
" And you didn't use your wand?"
" Nope."
" No charm?"
" Maybe. I don't know. As far as I know I didn't do anything."
" Maybe the balls have charms to stop them if something like that happens."
" Maybe. I doubt it though. Remember when Sirius got knocked out by that one that broke out during practice?"
" How could I forget?' I said absentmindedly rubbing the spot where the rouge ball had impacted with my head.
"It's not that weird is it?"
" Seriously Sirius."
" Don't do that."
"No. It's really weird. Telepathic ability is not very common in any human even a wizard." James told me.
"Or witch." Lily reminded him.
" Or witch."
" Do you think you could do it again?"
I shrugged. " Dunno."
James glanced around the room Spotting a sheet of parchment he seized it. " Here. See if you can use this. "
" And do what?" I asked.
" Make it move."
I rolled my eyes. I closed my eyes and tried to remember what I had done the last time. I pictured it floating and whizzing around the room. I felt a soft breeze drift by my face. Then my friends gasped and I heard them running. I pictured James's alarm clock start to chase Peter for the heck of it.
Then some one grabbed me and shook me. I opened my eyes to James's face.
" You really did it."
" I did?"
" Yeah." Breathed Remus.
"Wow." Gasped James.
"Amazing." whispered Lily.
"woah." I whispered.
" Help!" yelled Peter. as the buzzing clock chased him under the bed. We ignored him.
" I wonder…" Remus looked thoughtful.
"What?" Lily asked.
" Well, I wonder where you got this power? Or if you have any others?"
"Like what?"
" Oh, I don't know. Anything different like sensing things or just any new powers."
I thought. For a few years now I'd been getting feelings. I have no other way to explain them. I told you about them. Every time I'd had one something big would happen. I'm not saying I could predict the future or anything. But it was weird, don't you think?
"No."
But my mine wandered off to other times. The strangest would probably be the writing. Once in my fifth year I was doing my homework and I started writing. The words poured from my head. I didn't even know what I was writing. When I was done it looked something like this.
Dear Harry,
I don't know how old you are or if you even know about me. But I just want you to know about your dad. He was my best friend. I never betrayed him. Never. He was my brother and my partner in crime. Just please believe me Harry. Please.
Your godfather
Sirius Black.
I hid the letter in our room in a crack in the wall. and forgot about it.
Here it is. The next part. I was planning on making you suffer for longer. But Sirius insisted I wake him up. One of these days I am going to hurt him. Any way, what did you think about Dumbledore being Sirius's grandfather? I figured his daughter would be a good mother,. I might write a story about Fiona and Orion, if I have time and you guys want. Right now I'm finished with this one, I just have to get the last parts out. There are maybe four or five. Depends on how much I put in each part. And I'm working on Cassi's story now. You'll find out who she is soon, if you don't already know. I think I mentioned her once of twice. But anyway. Tell what you think. And tell me if you would like a story about his parents. No flames please but reviews are welcome.
Yes I borrowed wood's pre game speech.