Disclaimer: I own the plot and Saerry Snape! Everything else is JKR's!
Harry Potter and the Dark Defenses
Chapter 12 ***Bad News and Fights***
Harry set off from the Great Hall to Dumbledore's office at a lope. He had told Hermione and Draco to go back inside while he went to tell Dumbledore.
As he reached the gargoyle statue he mumbled, "Chocolate Frog" then charged up the moving staircase and burst into the headmaster's office.
"Professor…"
His voice died in his throat as he saw Sirius standing in front of Dumbledore's desk. There was a moment of stunned silence and then the older man had enveloped Harry in a hug.
"Where've you been? Seven years and no word had me worried Voldemort had killed you."
"Y'know Sirius, if you let go of me I could tell you but squeezing me to death won't to any good."
"Oh. Sorry Harry."
Sirius stepped back and Harry straightened his robes. Behind Sirius, Dumbledore watched them, his blue eyes twinkling.
"Was there something you wanted Harry?"
"Er, yes."
Harry paused and said, "Voldemort's back."
Sirius turned pale and Dumbledore leaned back in his chair.
"Are you sure Harry?"
"Yes. I had a vision of a cemetery while I was going to the Great Hall. Most of the Death Eaters bodies were there. Voldemort's wasn't in the spot I remembered it lying it. Then I heard his voice. He said he would kill those that I love and then me."
Harry looked at Sirius, who had gone even paler.
Dumbledore closed his eyes and said, "Then we must be extra careful now." He opened his eyes and smiled at the two of them. "Perhaps you two would like to catch up. I will leave you here if you wish."
Harry shook his head.
"Thank you Professor but we'll just go to my office. We can get something from the kitchens on the way."
Dumbledore nodded and Harry turned to leave, a great black dog plodding after him.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
After a short detour to the kitchens, Harry and Sirius were seated in Harry's office. Harry had barely touched the food he had gotten, as he was worried about Ron and the rest of the Weasely's.
"Harry."
Sirius' voice broke through Harry's thoughts and he looked up.
"Hmm?"
"Are you alright?"
"Yes, Sirius, I'm fine."
Sirius sighed.
"Harry, please."
"I'm just worried about Ron."
"From what I've seen he can take care of himself."
Harry gave his godfather a skeptical look. "Against Voldemort?"
Sirius put down the chicken leg he had been eating and looked him in the eyes. "I'm sure he can."
"I wish I had as much confidence as you."
Sirius sighed and decided to change the subject to something that had stuck out in the conversation upstairs with Dumbledore.
"Harry, what were you talking about earlier?"
"When?"
"Upstairs with Dumbledore."
"What part?"
"Where you were describing the cemetery and when you said Voldemort's body wasn't where you remembered it to be."
Harry sighed and looked at the floor. He had known this was coming.
"Sirius, you have to promise you won't do anything drastic if I tell you."
"Why would I.."
"Just promise Sirius."
Sirius was silent for a moment then he said, "Alright, I promise."
"Thank you."
Harry leaned back in his chair and sighed. After a moment he said, "You remember after I graduated I disappeared without a trace…"
"Yes."
"That wasn't a question."
"Oh. Sorry."
"S'alright. Anyway, day after graduation I received a letter. From Voldemort. He said that if I didn't join him in two days time he'd kill everyone that I loved. Starting with you." Harry paused to look at his godfather, who had turned pale again.
"I thought long and hard on it. And trust me in this, it was the hardest decision I've ever made in my life."
Sirius paled even more. "You didn't. Harry, I know you didn't. Your parents.."
"Saved me from Voldemort, I know. But what other choice did I have Sirius? He threatened you and everyone else. I couldn't take him on then so I waited until I had a chance. That chance was around seven months ago."
Sirius gaped at him, his eyes reflecting disbelief.
"Sirius you look like a fish."
"I just don't believe it."
"Your beginning to sound like Ron."
"Ron knows?"
"So do Hermione and Draco."
"You told Lucius Malfoy's son?"
Harry smirked slightly and replied, "I didn't have much choice as he and Hermione are married now, now did I?"
"I still can't believe you told him. I can't believe you actually went against everything your parents stood for! By Merlin, Harry, you betrayed your parents!"
"Sirius…"
"NO! You did the very thing your parents died to keep from happening to you! I can't believe you!"
"SIRIUS!"
Harry scowled at his godfather, who had paled even more.
"Please, listen to me."
"I think I've heard enough."
Sirius rose from his chair and started for the door.
Harry got up and said, "Sirius, don't leave. If Voldemort kills you I won't forgive myself."
"He'll have to find me first."
"SIRIUS PLEASE!"
"No Harry."
With that he was gone.
Harry slumped into his chair, his head in his hands. His left sleeve fell down, revealing the black skull and snake on his forearm. He glared at it and silently cursed it. It stood for everything he hated and now he was being judged by it by the one person he thought would understand why he had let it be put on him.
Tears brimmed in his eyes and he let them fall.
If Sirius died it would be his fault.
And he would never forgive himself.
A/N: *sniff* Sad chapter. *watches her muse scowl at the chapter and shake her head sadly*
Sâerwy: This chapter is extremely stupid.
IVW: You're just angry that it doesn't involve any fighting.
Sâerwy: Exactly.
IVW: *looks at the sky* Someone up there doesn't like me.
Anyway, what do you guys think? Think I went too far with Sirius' response? Should I have had him act like Ron? Flames, comments, suggestions are all welcome (Okay, flames are actually not but anyway…)!