Chapter 9 Get The Party Started

Sirius stared openmouthed at the writing on the carpet. "Dobby," He said slowly, "This is a flying carpet."

"Mr. Sirius Black is very on the ball." Dobby commented.

"Where did it come from?" Sirius pressed.

"Where it comes from is not important." Said Dobby urgently. "Where it can take you is."

"Dobby," said Sirius, "Do you know these things are illegal?"

"Mr. Sirius Black is in Azkaban for murder and he is worried about possession of a flying carpet?" Dobby asked.

"Well it still doesn't help me unless it can phase through walls." Sirius said ruefully, "Can I do that with the wand, I mean chopstick?"

"Sorry, nope." Said Dobby.

"But the wand just worked on the carpet." Sirius pointed out.

"Big deal." Said Dobby, "Azkaban don't care if you can read Arabic, Russian or Chinese newspaper. They just make sure you read it here."

"Someone is going to a lot of trouble to help me get out of here." Sirius murmured.

"Doesn't look that way to Dobby." Said the Elf. "Looks to me like you need to figure out how to get out by yourself. They just helping you once you are out."

"Then I guess we need to figure out how to get out of here and we need to do it pretty soon." Said Sirius, "Otherwise this stuff might be found in the next cell search and spending a few weeks in the dungeon is not going to aid any escape plans."

"You are Animagus?" Dobby asked.

"Yes. Why?" Sirius asked back.

"So why do you not turn into a small animal and go through bars?"

"Because," Sirius explained, "My form is a dog that is too big to fit and even if it could, the window is too high for me to jump up to."

"So why you don't turn into something smaller?" Asked Dobby innocently.

"Because..smaller? Oh no! I almost forgot." Exclaimed Sirius as he got up and went to the window. He pulled himself up and looked out. The tiny owl was still patiently waiting on the window ledge with the parchment notes still in his beak. Sirius beckoned him inside the cell. The small owl squeezed between the bars, ruffled his feathers and gave a disdaining hoot to Sirius. Then he noticed Dobby and hooted again.

"He's okay." Sirius said to the owl. "This is Dobby and he's a friend."

The owl flew around the cell and around Dobby before alighting on the bed and hooting happily.

"Well," Said Sirius, "I'm glad you approve. Hey, wait a minute. Aren't you the owl I sent to Harry about his Firebolt? I said for him to give you to Ron because he lost his rat. What did Harry say your name was? Was it Pig?"

Pig hooted enthusiastically and did another flip on Sirius' bed.

"Hey." Dobby brightened. "Why could you not turn into him? Owl is an animal."

"Dobby." Said Sirius, "It took me the better part of three years just to get to the point where I could turn into the dog. If I could study this owl, I might, and I stress MIGHT, be able, eventually, to assume his form. The problem is that no Animagus has ever been able to do more than one form. In any event, I sure would not be able to do it in just a few days."

"You mean just because no one else has done it means it can't be done?" Dobby inquired.

"Yes, I mean no, I mean I don't know." Sirius groaned, "All I'm saying is that multiple forms has been a goal of several Animagi and no one has done it yet."

"Maybe Mr. Sirius Black be the first." Dobby said.

"Someone supposedly already has." Said Sirius, "And I'd sure like to find out if it's true. If HE can do it, there's no reason why I can't."

"Dobby like Mr. Sirius Black's spirit." Dobby said enthusiastically.

"Yeah, well. Don't get your hopes up." Sirius told him.

"Not my hopes that need getting up." Dobby pointed out. "You the one wants out."

They turned their attention to the carpet. "How does this thing work?" Sirius said aloud."

"Mr. Sirius Black might try reading the instructions." Dobby offered.

"What Instructions?" Asked Sirius as he picked up the end of the carpet. Sure enough, the writing that was Arabic continued with the words:

Instructions for Use of Model Arab Knight 1000

1.This carpet is a precision magical object and not a

toy. It should be treated as such.

Operation:

When you are seated on the carpet you and it form a magical bond. While in operation you cannot fall off the carpet, even when upside down, anymore than you could fall off the floor.

There are nine basic commands and they are:

Ali-Hoopla-This activates the carpet, making it hover.

Up-Makes the carpet ascend. The carpet can sense the rate at which you desire this to be done and respond accordingly. This also applies to c, d, e, f, g and h.

Faster-Accelerates. Max speed of this model is about 500 kilometers per hour or a little better than 300 miles per hour. You will notice the front edge of the carpet will curl up slightly as you go faster to act as a windbreak.

Slower-Decelerates the carpet.

Wad-Gozen-Turns the carpet left.

Abba-Dabba-Turns the carpet right. In addition to e and f, the carpet is capable of accepting body input and minor corrections can be made by leaning in the desired direction. Sharper turns are made with the above commands.

Down---Causes the carpet to descend.

Back-Carpet flies in reverse.

Dasa-Nuff-Deactivates the carpet so it may be rolled up for storage.

Thank you for your patronage. We are sure your Arab Knight 1000 will bring you many years of flying pleasure. See owner's manual for further information.

Not to be operated by minors, always remain seated, Don't Drink and Fly.

"All right." Said Sirius, "That takes care of that. Looks like the carpet will roll up small enough to fit through the bars. Now all we have to do is figure out a way out of this hole."

"Dobby still doesn't understand why Mr. Sirius Black can't be the owl." Said Dobby.

"Dobby," said Sirius, "I just went through all this with Warden Cromwell, Minister Fudge and Professor Dumbledore. I'm an Animagus not a shape shifter. I can't just assume any shape I want to."

"Has Mr. Sirius Black ever tried?" Dobby asked.

"Well, no." said Sirius slowly, "But now that you mention it, I never had a reason to want to assume something else. Maybe you have hit on something, Dobby. After all, necessity is the mother of invention. After you finally get to where you can transform, maybe you sort of forget how you got to that point in the first place. But I shouldn't have to relearn the process all over again. I can do one form, so it should be no big deal to do another. Concentration has to be the key."

"Can you show me the dog form?" Dobby asked.

"Sure." Said Sirius and transformed into his black dog form.

"Not bad." Said Dobby. "Can you be owl now?"

Sirius paced the cell. Suddenly the thought came to him like a thunderbolt. He became human again, grabbed Dobby and hugged him. "Dobby, that's it!!" Sirius whooped, "That's the solution. It's been staring us in the face the whole time and no one ever saw it. You are a genius."

"Dobby am?" said Dobby, "People call Dobby lots of things but genius not usually one of them."

"Don't you see?" Sirius went on, "The key is not to try to do multiple forms from your human form. It hit me when I was a dog. I could go from being human to the dog. Since I am already in the dog form, I can go from it to the owl. I already have the dog characteristics so they are no longer interfering in the transformation process. Since changing back to human is just neutralizing the spell, that should be no problem. I can't go from human to owl, I have to go from human to dog to owl."

"Mr. Sirius Black makes Dobby's brain hurt." Dobby said.

"Let's try it." Said Sirius excitedly.

Sirius knew that even if his theory proved correct, it was still going to take some time to learn the owl's form. Undeterred, he assumed his dog and set about going from it to the shape of the tiny owl. Several times he felt like he was making progress but the final goal kept eluding him. They kept at it all afternoon. As evening began to fall Sirius sat on his bed physically and mentally exhausted.

"Dobby got to go before he is missed." Dobby said, "Must be ready to serve next meal. I be back when I can."

"Okay," Sirius said wearily, "I don't know Dobby. This is going to be tougher than I thought."

"Dobby thinks Mr. Sirius Black give up too easy." Dobby replied."

"Why do you say that?"

"Mr. Sirius Black have feathers in your hair." Said Dobby as he disapparated.