CHAPTER THREE
THE DARKEST DAY
A/n: Firstly thanks so much everyone for reading, reviewing and being soooo nice!! PLEASE KEEP IT UP!!! I luv ya for it!! Special thank you to ~*Ginny*~ whoever you are for being so great!! So ~*Ginny*~ this chapters for you…. Hope you like!!
Disclaimer: Nothing belongs to me except the plot but you all know that anyway so enjoy!!
A noticeable chill swept through the Great Hall as Dumbledore continued his impassioned speech.
"Professor Lupin was considered by many – myself included – to be the greatest defence against the dark arts teacher ever to grace Hogwarts. More importantly to most of his students he was more than a professor – he was a friend."
Harry was rooted to his seat unable to move, speak or even think clearly. Lupin was dead. LUPIN WAS DEAD. The phrase repeated itself, over and over, more unwelcome each time, with a quiet persistence. Beside him he heard Hermione sobbing softly and he felt a rush of sympathy for her. Harry slipped an arm around her shoulders as Dumbledore went on.
"A few of my colleagues feel that it is unnecessary for me to tell you how Lupin died..(Harry noticed Professor McGonagall shooting a particularly frosty glare at Dumbledore) But it is my belief that you should be allowed a chance to understand." He inhaled deeply, acutely aware that every pair of eyes in the hall was fixed on him.
"Remus Lupin was killed en route to Hogwarts earlier today by one of the unforgiveable curses."
A gasp was audible all around the hall.
"As you will be aware, the unforgivable curses are so named because it is unforgivable to use them on another wizard."
Harry felt the lump in his throat grow, until it was impossible to control it any longer. Angrily he gave in and allowed a solitary tear to slip down his cheek. Horror stricken Ron looked at his friend with deep empathy. He had never seen Harry cry. Biting his lip, Ron pulled the shuddering Hermione towards him. Harry became aware of Ginny, trembling visibly by his side. He tightened his grip on her hand, until he felt his fingers would snap.
"The best we can do is attempt to carry on as before, and allow the guards of Azkaban to take care of the hunt for Lupin's murderer. As I am confident they are very capable of doing. A slight grimace crossed the headmaster's face. It was common knowledge that Dumbledore despised the Dementors. "I would ask you to raise your glasses in a toast to Remus Lupins memory."
There was a great scuffing of chairs as the students got to their feet, raising their goblets and muttering Lupins name. The Slytherins remained defiantly in their seats, as did Snape. Dumbledore looked disappointed but said nothing.
Everyone sat down after what seemed like an eternity – a very awkward eternity with no one knowing quite how to behave. The hall, usually bubbling with the swapping of holiday stories while everyone tucked into the sumptuous welcome feast remained quiet. With the exception of the Slytherins of course. Malfoy was entertaining the gloating table with a colourful re-enactment of Harry tripping up at the station. It was well known that Malfoy, and indeed most Slytherins had disliked Lupin. Draco sat down to rapturous applause, a self-satisfied grin on his skinny face.
"Bastard." Ron murmured under his breath, his voice full of hatred.
Harry knew Ron was trying to help, but he had never felt less like talking in his life, even if the conversation involved slating Malfoy. Hermione sat up, wiping her eyes.
"I'm sorry." She said, her voice barely above a whisper. "I just can't believe it, it's so awful…." She was overcome with a fresh wave of tears and buried her face in Ron's chest. Before he had time to stop himself, Harry found himself wishing whole-heartedly that he could trade places with Ron. He wanted to punch himself. How could he think of himself given the situation? Next to him Ginny looked pale and somehow very young.
"It's alright Gin." Harry said in what he hoped was a comforting tone, desperately trying to control the tremor in his voice. With an anguished cry she flung her arms around him.
"Oh Harry, you're being so, so brave and you were closest to him and I feel so stupid and……" Her voice trailed off as she gulped and hiccuped through her tears.
"Sssshhh, it's alright…" He soothed. Her outburst caused him to succumb to a wave of…almost guilt. Why wasn't he overcome with emotion? In his heart he knew however, that his grief ran deeper than theirs. He was still in shock and would have to face his upset later.
After a very uncomfortable fifteen minutes during which no one had been able to eat much (except the Slytherins, who had put away enough food to keep Dudley busy for a month) the Great Hall began go empty, students trickling away to common rooms and dormitories. When Hermione, Harry, Ginny and Ron had mustered the energy to get up and leave, the place was all but deserted. As they trudged along the corridor they had the extreme misfortune to run into Draco, Crabbe, Goyle and Pansy.
"D'you know what I think Crabbe?" Malfoy said in a sing-song voice.
"Not NOW Malfoy." Hermione hissed, almost pleadingly.
Draco continued regardless.
"Lupin had it coming to him and I think I know who killed him……I bet it was that Sirius Black."
"You've gone one step too far this time Malfoy!" Ron bellowed, tearing his hand from Hermiones vice like grip and lunging at Draco.
"Seperiatumus." Came the cool, self-assured voice of Snape from somewhere behind the group.
The impact was astounding. Ron flew through the air and landed in a crumpled heap of arms and legs at the opposite end of the corridor. Malfoy stumbled backward, unnerved and nursing a bloody nose.
"The hospital wing Mr Malfoy." Snape said amiably. "As for Mr Weasley I think a weeks detention scrubbing the floor of my dungeon should teach you not to let your fists do the talking so readily in future." He sneered glaring at Harry, as if daring him to stick up for Ron. Harry knew better. Snape was undoubtedly itching for an excuse to give him detention too.
"Severus…surely under the circumstances you have been somewhat heavy-handed?" Came the reassuring voice of Minerva McGonagall. Harry was surprised to hear a quaver in her normally steady voice and a glance at her face confirmed that her eyes were distinctly glassy.
"Harsh but fair." Snape replied tartly before turning and sweeping away, his cloak billowing behind, lending him a likeness to Dracula. McGonagall clamped a hand to her mouth and hurried off in the other direction. The remaining Slytherins grinned cockily. Harry shook his head in disgust at this latest display of Snapes biased attitudes and the four of them (including a miserable Ron, who was nursing a bruised arm as well as a bruised ego) trailed up the stairs to the Gryffindor common room.
The fire was crackling brightly despite the sombre mood of the students gathered around it. Harry did not stop however, heading straight up the stairs to the circular tower dormitory he loved so much. His friends recognised his need to be alone and remained in the common room with Fred, George and Lee. On entering the dormitory Harry found Seamus, Dean and Neville admiring Dean's holiday photos from his trip to California. Taking one look at Harry's stricken face Dean stood up awkwardly.
"C'mon guys lets go……somewhere else."
Neville evidently did not catch on, subtlety not being one of his strong points.
"Eh? Why? Show Harry the photo of that gorgeous cousin of yours too."
Seamus and Dean dragged the confused Neville from the room. Harry flashed them a grateful smile.
"No problem mate." Seamus muttered.
Alone at last, Harry flopped down on his vast four poster bed letting his sorrow envelop him. It was a relief to let the hot tears flow and he sobbed unrestrainedly. Wiping his eyes with his hand, he allowed it to trail carelessly on the floor. Harry sat up as if he had been shot, his heart beating wildly as he felt a warm, rough tongue lick the salty tear drops from his fingertips.
Sirius Black had returned.
A/n: That's all for now!! Please REVIEW!! More soon if you like this!! Bye Bye! ;-)
