Sirius's Letter
That night while Harry Potter was still in the hospital wing Draco Malfoy snuck into the Gryffindor common room. Somehow he knew the password and the fat lady had not questioned him. It had been a month and Draco was still feeling very strange. It was a good feeling like he had no troubles but he was always light headed and feeling very airy. He wasn't aware of his actions, either. He crept up into the boy's dormitory and looked inside each of the hangings.
Longbottom, Finnegan, Thomas, Weasley, this had to be it. He opened the hangings to the last bed and without knowing it let out a yell of anger. He clapped his had over his mouth to stifle the sound. What was he thinking? He was going to wake someone up. Unfortunately he did.
"Was' goin' on?" someone said as though still half asleep. Ron Weasley pulled the hangings around his bed back and stared straight at him horrified. Malfoy groaned. Now he'd have to modify his memory. His master would not be very happy.
He decided against it and said, "Stupefy," instead. That would hold him for a little while. When he woke back up, hopefully, he wouldn't remember anything. He ran from the room, out of the castle, and into the Forbidden Forest.
* * *
Harry woke up to find himself in a dark and strange place. But then he realized that he had been here many times before when it was dark outside. He was laying on a bed in the hospital wing with moonlight streaming in. What was he doing there though? He felt sore all over. The Quidditch match! Harry sat up quickly and looked around.
Madam Pomfrey came in and when she saw he was awake said, "Oh, your awake. Well, your be a little sore but you should be okay by morning so I suggest you get back to sleep.
"Wormtail," Harry whispered very softly. "I must see Professor Dumbledore!" he almost shouted.
"Shhh!" she said trying to force him down again. "You may see the Headmaster in the morning, but right now your my patient and you must stay here." Harry did feel very tired so he agreed reluctantly but couldn't sleep for at least half and hour. His mind was on the match. Wormtail had definitely written the messages and tried to knock him off his broom. There was no doubt. He still really wanted to talk to Dumbledore, but what good would it do right now? There was nothing that could be done until morning anyway. He drifted peacefully to sleep after that.
* * *
Harry awoke with a start the next morning by the door being thrown open and footsteps hurrying in. Madam Pomfrey was coming to see what all of the commotion was about.
Ron ran in panting and holding something in his hand. "Harry! A...... letter from......." but he cut off seeing that Madam Pomfrey was looking at him disgusted. He handed it to him and Harry ripped it open quickly. He knew that it was from Sirius. He just hoped that it was good news.
Dear Harry,
Your friend Hermione informed me of what happened at the match yesterday. This is very serious. Remember what I told you last year keep an eye out for anything unusual. We know that Voldemort is still out there and that he still wants you dead. But unfortunately that's not why I sent you this letter.
My trial is getting closer everyday and I have nothing to back up that I'm innocent except for three 15 year olds and Dumbledore. I know what I need and I have a pretty good idea how to get it but I'm kind of stuck in Azkaban at the moment. So that's where the three of you come in. Make sure whenever your doing this to wear the Invisibility Cloak because it's very dangerous. I know that Voldemort's top five ranking supporters have their hide out right outside of the Forbidden Forest. That's all I know, though. I know nothing of their plan.
Peter is no doubt there, and I know that he's been sneaking into Hogwarts at night. Since no one but us know that he's an Animagus then no one knows how they're doing it. Any day now another message will appear. When it does I'm trusting you three to figure out the pattern. Please send me an owl when you have it figured out.
Sirius
P.S. Don't mention anything to Dumbledore because your going to have to break a fair few school rules in order to get me out of here.
Harry looked up at Ron who had been reading it over his shoulder. He looked very pale and frightened.
"Where's Hermione?" Harry asked at once. Ron seemed lost for words.
"She's...er...at...in...." he said.
"The library?" Harry asked and Ron nodded. "C'mon. We gotta go get her," Harry said and he got out of bed. Of course Madam Pomfrey took that time to come back into the room where he and Ron were now standing.
"What are you doing? Back into bed. The visit's over," she said trying to get Ron out of the door.
"But this is urgent!" he said waving the letter. She looked at it and tried to get it. Harry snatched it away and put it behind his back so she couldn't see it, though.
"Who's the letter from? If it's urgent I need to see why," she said starting to get very angry.
"Please, look I'm fine," said Harry holding his arms out so that she could look at him. But when he saw her eyes drift toward the letter that was being held in his hand he put it behind his back again.
"You will go to the Great Hall for lunch. But you're staying here the rest of the morning since there are no classes." They sighed but he would get out that afternoon. Harry nodded and started back for his bed. Ron started to leave but Harry heaved a fake cough and Ron got the picture.
"Go to the library and warn Hermione," Harry hissed as soon as Madam Pomfrey headed for her office. Ron nodded and headed off for the library.
* * *
Two and a half hours later Harry finally convinced Madam Pomfrey that he was fine and very hungry. This was a lie but he needed to go to Professor Dumbledore's office right away. As he was headed for his office he stopped dead in his tracks. Sirius's voice floated into his head.
"Don't tell Dumbledore....." Harry had to tell him about the Quidditch match but if he told him that something was bound to lead to Sirius, and Harry found it wasn't as easy to lie to Dumbledore as it was to the other teachers. Of course he had done it but there was some guilt. He decided that he would wait until it was absolutely necessary for Harry to see him and headed of to the Great Hall.
He sat down at the Gryffindor table next to Ron and Hermione. Suddenly something hit him. "Ron, what happened at the match? Was it rescheduled?" Ron couldn't bring himself to look Harry in the eye.
"Er...." he said uneasily. This was definitely not good.
"What is it?!" Harry said very anxious now.
"Oh, Harry!" Hermione cried. "They're canceling Quidditch this year. They say it's just too dangerous. It's not final but most of the teachers have agreed to it." Harry felt like he had just eaten his own lunch and everybody else's in Gryffindor. Ron looked down at his plate and pushed his sandwich around in circles.
"They can't do that!" said Harry. A few people looked at him but most of them already knew what he was yelling about. "It's just not fair!"
None of them said anything. It was a very gloomy lunch. Afterwards they decided to go down and see Hagrid. Hermione, after hearing how Harry had debated with himself about going to see Dumbledore, argued. "Harry, this is really important. You're life, once again, is in danger. Now, we know who wrote the messages and we know that Pettigrew got you off your broom! He needs to know."
But after Harry told her about Sirius she agreed. They marched down the grass but when they knocked on Hagrid's huge front door nobody answered. They all looked at each other and shrugged.
"Where could he be?" Ron asked. They all shrugged and were about to turn back to the castle when they heard a great booming voice.
"There yeh are! I was wonderin' if yeh were goin' to come down." They turned and saw the huge Hagrid. He was half giant but was nothing like a giant at all. He was very kind and very fond of strange creatures. He had already had a huge spider while he was in school, a dragon in their first year, Buckbeak the hippogriff in their third year, and had a large amount of Blast Ended Skrewts last year. They were for classes, though. "Come in, come in, have some tea," he said and they followed him into his tall hut.
While Hermione made some tea Hagrid said, "I heard wha' happened at the Quidditch match. Yeh shouldn't play, Harry. It's too dangerous. Remember wha' happened las' year when yeh weren't careful enough? Yeh almost got yerself killed!"
"Hagrid, Dumbledore told me that I could, and had to, compete. My name came out of the Goblet of Fire so I had to be in the Tournament. It doesn't matter anyway because they might be canceling the Quidditch season anyway. Angelina said that she might go and talk to McGonagall but it's already a done deal. It's all my fault!" said Harry gloomily.
"No, it's not......" Ron began but Harry cut in.
"If I wasn't on the team then there would still be a season. Wood could have done something about this. He could always make McGonagall see his point. I'm not so sure if Angelina could do anything about it."
"Harry," said Hermione, "Wood wouldn't have been able to do anything about this. It's way to serious, and besides Professor McGonagall doesn't have to power to make Professor Dumbledore change his mind." Everyone just sat stirring their tea until Ron broke the silence.
"Hey! Remember the time when Wood tried to make McGonagall get Harry's broom back after Sirius sent it......." but he trailed off and his smile vanished. There was silence once again. It was a very tense silence.
"Who sent Harry tha' broom?" said Hagrid his eyes very wide. Nobody spoke.
"Oh," said Ron laughing uneasily, "what did I say? Harry's... er...." but he broke off. There was nothing they could do to cover this up. There was no one who might have sent Harry that broom. He remembered when he first got it who Ron had suggested. He just hoped that he wouldn't say that now. "Lupin!"
Harry groaned silently. He looked at Hermione who was standing behind Hagrid with her face in her hands shaking her head. Ron gave Harry a sheepish look. But what had been said had been said. There was no hope that Hagrid was going to believe it, though.
Just then there was a knock on the door and Dumbledore himself came inside the cabin. "Excuse me, Hagrid, but I need to speak with Harry, Ron, and Hermione." Hagrid didn't say anything. Dumbldore motioned for them to follow.
"What happened?" he said calmly as they walked back up to the castle.
"I.....er...." stammered Ron. Nobody wanted to tell him what just happened. "I accidentally told Hagrid that Sirius sent Harry the Firebolt," he blurted out. "But I was trying to make Harry feel better!" he added quickly. Dumbledore said nothing until they were outside his office door. He said the password quietly and they went down into his office.
"He would have found out anyway. Right now I have more important things to tell you. I have been hearing many rumors about the whereabouts of Voldemort. He seems to be gaining power again, but I'm not sure how fast. I'm going to tell your Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher to start showing you some ways to block curses and defend yourselves.
"Now, we know that his main target will be Harry, so once again we will have tight safety measures. I will ask Professor McGonagall to make sure Harry has an escort wherever he goes," said Professor Dumbledore.
Harry groaned quietly. I was very annoying when people kept making excuses to walk him to classes which he had experienced a lot of in his lifetime.
".....Mr. Weasley, I would like you to be with Harry at all times. I know you are anyway, so there should be no problem." Dumbledore's sparkling blue eyes had some sadness in them. Harry knew he was thinking about how his father and Sirius were inseparable at his age. Ron how ever nodded importantly, not noticing.
"Miss Granger, I know from experience that Dark wizards like to get young intelligent ones." Harry knew exactly what this was leading to, but he didn't want to hear it. "I would like you to stay with Harry and Ron, as well. Just a safety measure. But, as I said, I do know that the Dark wizards like to pick out students that can use their talents for evil." Harry looked over to Hermione reluctantly who was very white and almost shaking. Since she couldn't talk she just nodded. "You may go," he said rather sadly.
They all got up and left silently not speaking. When they entered the common room everyone looked up at them, only to look away very quickly again. Harry knew that McGonagall must have told them while they were in Dumbledore's office. He really didn't care. He just wanted to get on with the day so that it could be over. Voldemort was after Hermione, Ron let the slip on Sirius, Sirius was in Azkaban with no proof to keep him out.... He didn't think it could get any worse. He decided that after afternoon classes took place he was going to talk to McGonagall about the Quiddtich season.
After yet another boring History of Magic with the only ghost teacher, Professor Binns and then a pretty good lesson of Charms with tiny Professor Flitwick, he had Transfiguration. After struggling greatly with turning his bunny slippers into a real rabbit he went up took McGonagall's desk and prayed that everything would go okay.
"Yes, Potter? Is there something I can do for you?" she asked without looking up.
"Yes, Professor. I wanted to talk to you about the Quidditch match. Has it been officially canceled yet?" Now she looked at him. It looked like she had some pity in her eyes. She really did want Gryffindor to win. She always did.
"I'm sorry, Potter, but Dumbledore's mind is made up. I don't like it either but it's for the safety of you and the team."
"But, don't you think he'd give us one more chance? Whoever tried to do something to me in the match wouldn't try to do it again now that we're on the look for them!" She was silent for a few seconds.
"I will see what I can do. I can't make any guarantees, but I will try to show Dumbledore that it's safe. Just don't get your hopes up." And with that she left and Harry followed behind.
"What did she say?!" asked Ron excitedly.
"She's going to try." They walked silently back to the common room where Hermione was just getting back from the library.
"How'd it go?" she asked behind the large pile of books. Harry who was too tired to explain went right into the common room and left Ron to do the explaining. Harry climbed into an armchair by the fire and before he knew it he was asleep.
A/N: Once again I'm very sorry that this took so long. I really didn't like this chapter at all but the next one is going to be better! I promise!!
~*hermione*~