Chapter 11: Return of Messrs

Chapter 11: Return of Messrs. Jump T. Conclusions and Didnot G. Thefacts-Wright

Harry's heart gave a leap and he ran with a newfound energy.

"Potter! Potter, slow down!" Draco yelled, struggling to catch up.

Harry ignored him. 'He's be captured,' he kept thinking, 'Sirius was captured and now…'

He could hardly bare to think about it. Relieved to find the password unchanged, Harry raced into Dumbledore's office far ahead of Draco. Dumbledore was sitting behind his desk, the pensieve before him.

"What is it, Professor?!" Harry burst out, "Is it Sirius? Is he all right? Where is he?!"

"Whoa, Harry. Calm down; Sirius is fine."

Harry felt lost. "Then why the urgency? In the middle of the night, no less."

"I'm afraid something is about to happen that we've been expecting all year…"

Draco suddenly burst into the room, panting. "You're faster than you look, Potter," he managed to say as he slumped into a chair.

Harry glared at him, but quickly turned back to Dumbledore. "What is it, Professor?"

"I'll tell you when I return," he said, placing the pensieve back in its cupboard, "Right now, I must send an owl, before it's too late."

Harry gave him a quizzical look, but Dumbledore just smiled, motioning for Harry to follow him to the door.

"In the few moments I'm gone, Harry, don't sit in silence. Try talking to him. You never know what gems you might find in slate."

With that, Dumbledore left. Harry walked wearily to a chair and sat, looking cautiously at the boy next to him. Draco sulked lazily in his chair, a deep scowl etched on his face. Harry remembered, with a bit of guilt, the comment he had made to Draco just that morning. He had gotten a very unexpected reaction, but now realized why.

"Hey Malfoy," he said cautiously.

"What?" Draco answered, his voice full of loathing.

Harry took a deep breath.

"Malfoy, I want to apologize."

Apparently, this wasn't what the boy had expected.

"Apologize? You? To me?"

"Yes. For letting it slip that you had turned on Voldemort. I swear I didn't mean to. No one deserves to be uprooted like that, to have his life turned upside-down. I've never liked you, Malfoy, and probably never will, but I've never wanted you dead."

"You're-you're apologizing for that?" Draco murmured, looking suddenly perplexed, "For taking me from a family that I'm never sure loved me? For snatching me from the servitude of a heart-less murderer? You're apologizing for that?"

Harry stared at his shoes. "Well, yeah. I mean-"

"Out of all the people in this school, I should be the one apologizing."

Harry looked up sharply. Was he hearing things right?

"I'm sorry, Potter. I'm sorry for all the rude remarks I've made over the years. I'm sorry for all the times I tried to get you expelled. I'm sorry for all I put your friends through, especially Weasley. I-I could have killed him… I destroyed his whole lifestyle…his family…"

The two boys just sat there a moment, the silence thicker than Harry had ever known. It wasn't long before Dumbledore came back in, his face grim.

"Draco, you may go to your room now."

Draco nodded, walking over to the fireplace. He muttered something at it and it opened, revealing a stone staircase beyond it. Dumbledore waited until the fireplace took its normal position before turning back to Harry.

"I won't mince words, Harry. The Ministry is out to arrest you."

Whatever Harry had expected him to say, it wasn't this. "What? Why?"

"The Dursley's home caught on fire yesterday night. Above their house was left the Dark Mark and another symbol. A lightning bolt."

Harry's eyes widened.

"The Ministry has a muggle witness that testifies she saw a black-haired boy running from the scene after the fire started."

"But it wasn't me. Surely the Minister knows that."

Dumbledore sighed heavily. "I have told him that you couldn't possibly have been there, but Fudge won't listen. He wants people to think you are a boy capable of horrible lies and deeds. It's his last-ditched attempt at convincing everyone that Voldemort hasn't returned."

Harry just stared. "He's mad. He's utterly and completely mad…"

A ghost of a smiled flitted across Dumbledore's face. "For now, Harry, you'll stay at Hogwarts, living as Draco does. But, when everything is ready, we'll have to send you to a safer location. Somewhere Fudge won't be able to find you."

"Can you tell me where?"

"Not yet. When the time comes, you'll know. Now, let's find you a room, shall we?"

He walked to the fireplace, telling it, "lightning bug". It opened and he led Harry down the narrow, torch-lit stairway. They reached the hall and Dumbledore opened the second door to the left.

"Good night, Harry. I should probably say good morning, though. The house elves will bring your meals to you, so don't worry about that. Well, I must go. Good bye, Harry."

"Bye, Professor."

He walked in the room, looking around. The bed was a four-poster, like his own, but Harry didn't feel like sleep right then. With a sigh, he headed for the bathroom.

"Aaaaaaahhhh!"

"Aaaaaaahhhh!"

"What are you doing in my bathroom, Potter?!" Draco yelled, clutching a towel around his waist as water dripped from his hair.

"No, what are you doing in my bathroom?!"

"Taking a shower! Don't tell me we have adjoining rooms," Draco groaned.

"Looks that way," Harry sighed, "This has been a great day."

"Just stay out of my room," Draco grumbled, stomping out of the bathroom and slamming the door.

Harry leaned over the sink, looking glumly at his reflection. "Just great."

****

The day passed uneventfully and Harry found it extremely dull. He explored the hall a bit, but most of the doors were locked. He even contemplated barging into Draco's room just to get a reaction, but decided that if he had to live a wall away from the boy for a long while, they may as well be on good terms. Well, better terms than they were normally on. He went to bed early, having nothing better to do. However, he didn't sleep for long.

"Harry? Harry, wake up!" a voice hissed at him, giving him a shake.

Harry's eyes snapped open and he found himself staring into the wizened face of Mrs. Figg. He gave a yell of surprise, but Mrs. Figg quickly clapped her hand over his mouth.

"I know I'm old, but I'm not that frightening, am I?" she smiled, removing her hand.

"Mrs. Figg! What are you doing here?"

She gave him a perplexed look. "Don't you know? I'd swear Sirius told me he had told you about me…"

"Oh! Yes, he had. But what are you doing here?"

"There's been a slight change of plans. Get dressed and then hurry out with your cloak and wand. I'll explain to you on the way."

She went out of the room and Harry hastily dressed, wondering what it was all about. When he joined her in the hall, cloak and wand in hand, she started down it with the firmness not expected of one so old.

"The Ministry decided to pay a visit tonight, Harry."

"What?!"

"Yes. Apparently they decided to arrest you over Christmas Holidays. Heartless little halfwits… So, this means you'd better get out of the school right now, before they find the entrance to this hall. Dumbledore's out there, stalling them no doubt, but we must be quick lest they catch up with us."

She stopped abruptly at a door and rapped it with a very familiar beat. It swung open and she pulled Harry in, closing the door behind them. They found themselves in a very cramped room. Well, it could hardly be called a room. It only had three walls. The fourth led to one of Hogwarts' many corridors. Harry looked up at Mrs. Figg, wondering why they didn't just keep going.

"Uh, why don't we-"

She quieted him, holding one finger to her lips. She stared intently at the hall, as if listening. Harry soon heard it, too. Voices in the hall. Harry recognized one as Dumbledore's, and the other two sounded familiar as well.

"Where is he, Dumbledore?" a nasal voice came sharply.

"I assure you, gentlemen, I don't know where he could be at this moment."

"I'm sure," a snooty voice answered.

"The Minister gave us permission to use any means to get the boy. We request to search your office."

"Be my guests. I'll lead the way."

Suddenly, the three figures appeared in front of them. Harry recognized the two men in black, one tall and the other with a mustache. He made for the door, but Mrs. Figg stopped him and gave him a knowing smile. To Harry's surprise, the men just passed, as if they didn't even see the two hiding in the small recess.

Mrs. Figg watched them disappear around a corner, then led Harry out into the corridor. He looked at where they'd just come out, only to see a simple rug hanging on the wall.

"A Top-Secret Tapestry," Mrs. Figg explained, "Very useful illusion."

They went down the hall a little ways more before disappearing behind another Top-Secret Tapestry. Mrs. Figg led Harry through a labyrinth of turns and passageways before they came to a seemingly dead-end.

"Okay, now to tell you the rest. Harry you are going to Ireland to live with a muggle family called the Rileys. There's Mr. and Mrs. Riley, Edward and Margaret, and then their two children, Eric, fourteen, and Janie, eleven. They are friends of mine and have agreed to house you, though, for a different reason than the truth. They don't know that you're a wizard, and I want you to keep it that way. Now, I'm going to let you into the Hogwarts grounds from here. In your cloak, go straight to the patch of Forbidden Forest near the Whomping Willow. There you'll find Sirius. Any questions?"

Harry stared dazed for a moment. "Um…yes. Mrs. Figg-"

"Call me Arabella, Harry. I'm sure that soon enough you'll be calling us all by our first names."

Harry raised an eyebrow at this, but went on.

"Uh…okay, Arabella. Ron and Hermione and Azar, will they know where I am?"

Harry could see the answer in her eyes.

"I'm sorry, Harry, but no. We can't take any chances. Only Sirius and I will know where you are; no one else."

"But, what will they think happened to me?"

"The same thing the rest of the school will think; the ministry was out to arrest you and you ran. It's best that Dumbledore not know where you are so he can honestly speak with the Ministry. An honorable man, that Dumbledore."

She pulled out her wand, tapping a brick. The wall opened, reminding Harry of Diagon Alley. He put on his cloak and stepped out, heading for the Whomping Willow.

Arabella stared after him, a weary expression on her face.

"Good luck, Harry," she whispered.

Harry rushed across the grounds as silently as he could. It was a dark night, for the moon wasn't out and the stars were poor lamps. He reached the Forbidden Forest and looked around cautiously, removing his cloak.

"Sirius!" he called in a whisper, "Where are you, Sirius?"

A rustling came at Harry's right and Sirius suddenly appeared from behind a tree, taking Harry into a strong embrace.

"Good to see you, Harry," he smiled, "It's been a while."

"Good to see you, too. So, what do we do now?"

"You put on your cloak, I transform into a dog, and we go to Hogsmeade via the Whomping Willow. After that, you take a train ride to London, where you get a taxi and go to the airport. There you have a six o'clock flight to Dublin's airport. Here's the ticket. The Rileys ought to meet you there."

"Meet me? How do they know I'm coming?"

"Er…" Sirius looked a little uncomfortable; "Let's just say Arabella had some time on her hands. Come on, then. We have to hurry."

Sirius quickly transformed and headed for the Willow. Smiling, Harry slipped on his cloak and hurried after him. It was interesting to see adults break the rules for a change.

They hurried through the Willow entrance and into the Shrieking Shack, where Sirius showed Harry a window with loose boards that the Marauders had always used. They rushed to the station, where Harry took off his glasses and bought a ticket, hoping he wouldn't be recognized. Then he and Sirius found a shadowy corner of the station so they could talk.

"A few more things, Harry. The Rileys know you as 'Gary Trotter.' Remember that name."

" 'Gary Trotter'?" Harry asked, raising an eyebrow, "What, were all the original names taken?"

"Well, that's what you get on such short notice," Sirius smiled, "Besides, you'll be able to remember it better. Ron is 'John' and Hermoine is 'Harmony', if you ever need to refer to them. Keep referring to me as 'Snuffles'. I'll keep in touch, but by muggle mail only. And, so the Rileys don't suspect anything, I'll always write as though I'm one of your parents, Jamie or Daisy Trotter."

Harry stared at him. "Wait…they think my parents are alive?"

Sirius slapped his forehead. "Oh my gosh, I almost forgot to tell you. Er…well, we needed a really good excuse for you to need to go live in a stranger's home so… Harry, don't get mad. We told them your parents are going through a nasty divorce and that we felt it would be better if you were away from home."

Harry felt as though his heart had dropped to his feet. "A divorce…?"

"Oh, Harry, believe me, that is the last thing James and Lily would have ever done. They loved each other more than life itself. You just must pretend, okay?"

Harry nodded, bringing himself out of his shock. "…okay…"

"We sent some muggle clothes for you to their house, so don't worry about that. Oh, and here's some muggle money. It'll probably be useful," Sirius said, handing Harry a wallet, "Well, your train should be coming soon and I can't have people seeing me. Goodbye, Harry. Hopefully I'll see you soon."

"Wait, Sirius. Why can't you come with me? We could tell the Rileys that you're my dog."

Sirius smiled. "I'd love nothing more, Harry. But I have, as you could say, a bone to pick with Wormtail."

Harry gave an involuntary shudder at the thought of Sirius digging up Wormtail's bones. "My dad forgave him, you know," he said softly, "I said the words, but I know my dad made them come out."

"Your dad was always a very forgiving man, Harry. That's one of the traits I've never had," Sirius smiled wanly, putting his hand on Harry's shoulder, "But he did save your life. There must have been a little 'Peter' left in him after all."

Sirius transformed and, with one last look at Harry, disappeared. The train pulled up a few minutes later. Harry took a deep breath and then walked aboard. He spent the trip reminding himself that he was a muggle named Gary Trotter with divorcing parents, friends named John and Harmony, and a dog named Snuffles. Harry Potter was no more.

~*~*~

A/N: I finally got this up!!! *cheers* I hope you like it, and that it was a bit unexpected.

Thanks to all my reviews!!!

Jess: Teehee…thanks.

Abbey: If you think I'm evil now…*grins menacingly*

Sweets: I promise we'll find out more about Sirius before the end of this fic. (lol)

Lady Grizabella: "yummy"… *rolls eyes* But you will get more.

Jona: Yep, I'm full of it. lol, sorry. Thanks!

Vmr: I will! Thanks!

Daydreamer: *g* Oh wow, Franny. Thanks… Wow.

Allison: Alicia…may or may not be more significant. Unlike J.K., I tend to change my story thanks to reviewer ideas or suggestions. ^-^

Princess: Yeah, quite a few people thought Azar would be evil. Who says she isn't…? Mwa-ha-ha…

Phobiac0: Thanks!

Rachy: Now that's overreacting. Besides, you can't die! I need to read your stuff!

Julia: Er…you may have to wait a bit…^-^

Thank you all!!! I love reviews to pieces!!!

Be excellent to each other!

-Ady