Sirius was shaken out of his reverie by Remus, who was smiling knowingly at
Sirius's dreamy expression.
"Why don't you just tell her?" he asked. Sirius was about to truthfully answer but he caught himself in time.
"Ask who what?" he asked innocently, not quite looking in Remus's eyes. He quickly walked away and grabbed everyone's coats. Ron was still supporting Hermione and Anya was leaning on Harry while she fiddled with her shoe heel.
"Well, I think these shoes have had it!" she told a straight-faced Sirius when he came over. He just nodded curtly, and Anya couldn't help but feel disappointed. Sirius's emotions were very volatile, always chopping and changing. Apparently, he was known for ignoring Anya, or maybe he was just apprehensive about what tomorrow would bring. Anya couldn't make up her mind.
Walking out the door of the bar, Anya was the first to volunteer to take Ron and Hermione home.
"I'll just drop them off, so I know they got there safely!" she said. Remus nodded his head in agreement. They walked the rest of the way to Lupin's in silence. When they reached the fireplace, Anya reached into a pot and pulled out a handful of sparkling, emerald powder. She gathered Ron and Hermione into the hearth with her.
"Goodnight!" everyone called out, almost united. Ron raised his hand in a sleepy wave, before they whirled out of sight.
"Well, it's been....." Sirius didn't finish his sentence. It still hadn't really sunk in that he was deemed innocent now. The court appeal didn't seem real to anyone, it seemed like a faint memory, that no one wanted to remember. Harry wandered off the bed, after saying goodnight to Sirius and Remus. He absent-mindedly brushed his teeth, while wondering what the next day would bring. Harry walked into a room with two very tired, and heady men. Remus and Sirius looked tired, as if they hadn't slept. Harry walked over to the fridge, accidentally stubbing his toe on the table as he went.
"OUCH!" he yelled, after swearing heavily. Remus raised his eyebrows, instantly regretting doing this, as it hurt his head too much.
"Harry, could you please, keep it down," Sirius spoke in a quiet voice, wincing as he talked. Harry turned and smiled, he could tell Remus and Sirius were a little hung-over. He quietly got his breakfast cereal and headed to sit down at the table. He dropped his bowl on the table, and 'accidentally' clinked his spoon against the china bowl every time he took a bite. Sirius continued to give him dirty looks, but Remus appeared to have fallen asleep at the table.
"I'm going out for a walk, I'll be back in time for lunch," Harry whispered to Sirius, who grunted in return. Taking one last look at the sorry scene behind him, Harry slipped out the door.
Godric's Hollow was a small area outside London. Harry knew that his parents had once lived here, and wanted to find the house. He knew it had been destroyed by Voldemort's followers, but he would've liked to find the site. Wandering around the streets, Harry felt very secure. People smiled at him, while they mowed the lawns, or read the paper. He could see his parents doing the same thing, and he smiled a wry grin. Walking past what looked like an empty block, Harry was surprised to suddenly see a house spring up, only to fall down again. The house then lay in ruins. Harry looked around curiously, was this the act of dark magic? He couldn't see anyone around, and the house still lay in tatters. Noticing something shiny lying on the ground, he walked over. On reaching the shiny object, he could see it was a plaque. Bending over, he could barely make out the words 'White Lily Place' that were etched into the metal. Harry jumped back stunned, was this where his parents had lived? He shook his head, muttering to himself. Jumping to conclusions, he thought. Suddenly a shrill bell sounded, and Harry turned to see a little girl ride by on her bike, ringing the bell. She seemed oblivious to the fact that Harry was standing knee deep in house rubble.
"Hey!" he called out. She stopped, cautiously.
"Do you know who used to live here?" he asked. She gave him a strange look.
"No-one, there isn't a house," stating it as if it was plain as day. She jumped back onto her bike, and continued on her bike, ringing her bell in song form.
Of course, this further confused Harry. He sat down rather suddenly, overwhelmed by his discovery. He sat for almost an hour, just looking, hoping that maybe, just maybe he had found his parent's house. Reaching up to push his hair out of his eyes, he noticed the time. He swore, and quickly jumped up, running to get back to the house. He was going to be late for lunch. Harry burst through the door to Lupins, Sirius was sitting at the kitchen table, drumming his fingers on it. He saw Harry, and Harry saw him. (Dr Seuss much???!) Sirius raised his eyebrows, and Harry gave him an 'I'll be there soon' expression. He quickly ran upstairs, throwing on one of the shirts that Anya had picked out for him. He hurriedly combed his hair, but it was useless. Panting slightly, he ran downstairs again, to a waiting Sirius. Upon seeing Harry, Sirius strode over to the fireplace and grabbed a handful of Floo powder. Both men climbed into the small fireplace, and were transported to Anya Williamson's place in a whirlwind of green smoke.
Coughing and spluttering, Harry and Sirius jumped out onto Anya's carpeted floor, shaking soot everywhere. She appeared in the room, smiling.
"I'm sorry, I forgot to tell you that I actually use the fireplace sometimes, for a real fire!" she handed them both towels, and they wiped their faces, and hands. Harry pulled off his glasses, and viciously wiped them.
"Thanks," Sirius muttered, looking miffed that he had gotten dirty. He brushed a speck of soot of his shirt. Anya saw this little gesture.
"He was like this in school, didn't want anyone to dirty him!" Anya whispered to Harry. Harry grinned, and Sirius sensed she had told Harry something about Sirius. Anya led them to a couch in her living room. Harry looked around, the house appeared quite large.
"Professor, do you normally live in this house? I mean, you live at Hogwarts during most of the year, why keep a house this big?" Harry asked.
She gave a dismissive wave of her hand.
"It's been in the family for many years. The house has now been passed on to me, and I couldn't bear selling it. So I live here during Summer break," she explained setting out a plate of sandwiches, and conjuring up some Pumpkin juice. Sirius winced when the glass chinked against the table. "How're you feeling today Sirius," Anya asked playfully, knowing full well that he was hungover. Surely enough, he gave her a surly look, and poured himself a glass of juice. They sat in silence, the juice going down Sirius's throat was the only sound heard. He became aware of this shortly, and then put down the glass.
"Harry, dear, what exactly is it that you want to know?" Anya finally asked.
Harry didn't know where to start, but the house was the freshest in his mind so he started with that.
"What was the name of the place where my parents lived?" he asked. Sirius looked relieved at the innocence of the question.
"The house, here in Godric's Hollow was named White Lily Place, after your mother," Anya answered softly.
"How long did they live there?" Harry asked, staring at his hands.
"We lived there from the time we graduated Hogwarts till the day..." Anya trailed off, but Harry picked up her mistake.
"What do you mean 'we'?" he asked. Sirius's ears pricked up. He looked over a stuttering Anya.
"Arrr, well, Sirius and I boarded with your parents!" Anya finally regained her composure.
"Why?"
"Well.....Sirius?" Anya passed the question over.
"Well, we didn't want to be separated from our best friends!" Sirius answered after careful consideration. Harry was still suspicious, but dropped the questions in order to ask more about his parent's life at Hogwarts. Upon asking about his father's prankster behaviour, Sirius and Anya had lit up, filling him in on all the jokes James had pulled while at Hogwarts. They explained them so well, Harry felt as if he was almost there.
"Why don't you just tell her?" he asked. Sirius was about to truthfully answer but he caught himself in time.
"Ask who what?" he asked innocently, not quite looking in Remus's eyes. He quickly walked away and grabbed everyone's coats. Ron was still supporting Hermione and Anya was leaning on Harry while she fiddled with her shoe heel.
"Well, I think these shoes have had it!" she told a straight-faced Sirius when he came over. He just nodded curtly, and Anya couldn't help but feel disappointed. Sirius's emotions were very volatile, always chopping and changing. Apparently, he was known for ignoring Anya, or maybe he was just apprehensive about what tomorrow would bring. Anya couldn't make up her mind.
Walking out the door of the bar, Anya was the first to volunteer to take Ron and Hermione home.
"I'll just drop them off, so I know they got there safely!" she said. Remus nodded his head in agreement. They walked the rest of the way to Lupin's in silence. When they reached the fireplace, Anya reached into a pot and pulled out a handful of sparkling, emerald powder. She gathered Ron and Hermione into the hearth with her.
"Goodnight!" everyone called out, almost united. Ron raised his hand in a sleepy wave, before they whirled out of sight.
"Well, it's been....." Sirius didn't finish his sentence. It still hadn't really sunk in that he was deemed innocent now. The court appeal didn't seem real to anyone, it seemed like a faint memory, that no one wanted to remember. Harry wandered off the bed, after saying goodnight to Sirius and Remus. He absent-mindedly brushed his teeth, while wondering what the next day would bring. Harry walked into a room with two very tired, and heady men. Remus and Sirius looked tired, as if they hadn't slept. Harry walked over to the fridge, accidentally stubbing his toe on the table as he went.
"OUCH!" he yelled, after swearing heavily. Remus raised his eyebrows, instantly regretting doing this, as it hurt his head too much.
"Harry, could you please, keep it down," Sirius spoke in a quiet voice, wincing as he talked. Harry turned and smiled, he could tell Remus and Sirius were a little hung-over. He quietly got his breakfast cereal and headed to sit down at the table. He dropped his bowl on the table, and 'accidentally' clinked his spoon against the china bowl every time he took a bite. Sirius continued to give him dirty looks, but Remus appeared to have fallen asleep at the table.
"I'm going out for a walk, I'll be back in time for lunch," Harry whispered to Sirius, who grunted in return. Taking one last look at the sorry scene behind him, Harry slipped out the door.
Godric's Hollow was a small area outside London. Harry knew that his parents had once lived here, and wanted to find the house. He knew it had been destroyed by Voldemort's followers, but he would've liked to find the site. Wandering around the streets, Harry felt very secure. People smiled at him, while they mowed the lawns, or read the paper. He could see his parents doing the same thing, and he smiled a wry grin. Walking past what looked like an empty block, Harry was surprised to suddenly see a house spring up, only to fall down again. The house then lay in ruins. Harry looked around curiously, was this the act of dark magic? He couldn't see anyone around, and the house still lay in tatters. Noticing something shiny lying on the ground, he walked over. On reaching the shiny object, he could see it was a plaque. Bending over, he could barely make out the words 'White Lily Place' that were etched into the metal. Harry jumped back stunned, was this where his parents had lived? He shook his head, muttering to himself. Jumping to conclusions, he thought. Suddenly a shrill bell sounded, and Harry turned to see a little girl ride by on her bike, ringing the bell. She seemed oblivious to the fact that Harry was standing knee deep in house rubble.
"Hey!" he called out. She stopped, cautiously.
"Do you know who used to live here?" he asked. She gave him a strange look.
"No-one, there isn't a house," stating it as if it was plain as day. She jumped back onto her bike, and continued on her bike, ringing her bell in song form.
Of course, this further confused Harry. He sat down rather suddenly, overwhelmed by his discovery. He sat for almost an hour, just looking, hoping that maybe, just maybe he had found his parent's house. Reaching up to push his hair out of his eyes, he noticed the time. He swore, and quickly jumped up, running to get back to the house. He was going to be late for lunch. Harry burst through the door to Lupins, Sirius was sitting at the kitchen table, drumming his fingers on it. He saw Harry, and Harry saw him. (Dr Seuss much???!) Sirius raised his eyebrows, and Harry gave him an 'I'll be there soon' expression. He quickly ran upstairs, throwing on one of the shirts that Anya had picked out for him. He hurriedly combed his hair, but it was useless. Panting slightly, he ran downstairs again, to a waiting Sirius. Upon seeing Harry, Sirius strode over to the fireplace and grabbed a handful of Floo powder. Both men climbed into the small fireplace, and were transported to Anya Williamson's place in a whirlwind of green smoke.
Coughing and spluttering, Harry and Sirius jumped out onto Anya's carpeted floor, shaking soot everywhere. She appeared in the room, smiling.
"I'm sorry, I forgot to tell you that I actually use the fireplace sometimes, for a real fire!" she handed them both towels, and they wiped their faces, and hands. Harry pulled off his glasses, and viciously wiped them.
"Thanks," Sirius muttered, looking miffed that he had gotten dirty. He brushed a speck of soot of his shirt. Anya saw this little gesture.
"He was like this in school, didn't want anyone to dirty him!" Anya whispered to Harry. Harry grinned, and Sirius sensed she had told Harry something about Sirius. Anya led them to a couch in her living room. Harry looked around, the house appeared quite large.
"Professor, do you normally live in this house? I mean, you live at Hogwarts during most of the year, why keep a house this big?" Harry asked.
She gave a dismissive wave of her hand.
"It's been in the family for many years. The house has now been passed on to me, and I couldn't bear selling it. So I live here during Summer break," she explained setting out a plate of sandwiches, and conjuring up some Pumpkin juice. Sirius winced when the glass chinked against the table. "How're you feeling today Sirius," Anya asked playfully, knowing full well that he was hungover. Surely enough, he gave her a surly look, and poured himself a glass of juice. They sat in silence, the juice going down Sirius's throat was the only sound heard. He became aware of this shortly, and then put down the glass.
"Harry, dear, what exactly is it that you want to know?" Anya finally asked.
Harry didn't know where to start, but the house was the freshest in his mind so he started with that.
"What was the name of the place where my parents lived?" he asked. Sirius looked relieved at the innocence of the question.
"The house, here in Godric's Hollow was named White Lily Place, after your mother," Anya answered softly.
"How long did they live there?" Harry asked, staring at his hands.
"We lived there from the time we graduated Hogwarts till the day..." Anya trailed off, but Harry picked up her mistake.
"What do you mean 'we'?" he asked. Sirius's ears pricked up. He looked over a stuttering Anya.
"Arrr, well, Sirius and I boarded with your parents!" Anya finally regained her composure.
"Why?"
"Well.....Sirius?" Anya passed the question over.
"Well, we didn't want to be separated from our best friends!" Sirius answered after careful consideration. Harry was still suspicious, but dropped the questions in order to ask more about his parent's life at Hogwarts. Upon asking about his father's prankster behaviour, Sirius and Anya had lit up, filling him in on all the jokes James had pulled while at Hogwarts. They explained them so well, Harry felt as if he was almost there.