Chapter 8: Old Friends
A woman with shoulder length brown hair, chocolate eyes, and a kind face stood in the doorway. But she wasn't looking at Daniel, Remus, or even Sirius. She was staring at Harry. A flash of sadness flew across her face but it quickly faded. She turned to Remus who had now stood up. She ran over to him and hugged him tightly, Remus smiled
"Hello Laura"
He whispered, the girl grinned
"Hey Remmy"
She said, releasing him. Remus frowned slightly and 'Laura' giggled. She leaned up and kissed him sweetly. Ginny was laughing silently beside Harry. He couldn't see what was so funny. Laura then turned to Daniel who was smiling brightly at her.
"Laurie"
He grunted. She grinned
"Danny"
Neither of them said anything else. Daniel hugged her tightly
"Good of you to return, I was sick of baby sitting Remus"
He mumbled. Laura swatted him and turned to Sirius, who as leaning against the wall on the other side of the room, his dark eyes fixed on the door. Laura sighed and Sirius grinned, still not looking at her
"Can't believe you thought I was guilty Laurie, I'm hurt."
He said. Laura smiled
"Yes, well, my beliefs were always shattered by your ever loyal girlfriend, Siri"
A loud snort came from somewhere outside the office. Sirius' eyes finally moved from the door to Laura. His smile softened
"Hey Laura"
He said. Laura's smile went genuine and she ran over to him. Sirius caught her and swung her around. Harry cocked an eyebrow at Remus who was now sitting on the desk as well. Remus grinned
"He was like her big brother."
He whispered
"And you were like her husband"
Ginny whispered back. Remus chuckled
"You could say that"
Their silent conversation was interrupted by Laura who ran over and leapt onto Remus' lap. She giggled to herself and looked at Harry
"Harry."
She said slowly. Harry smiled slightly
"I'm Laura Noble"
The girl said
"I haven't seen you for 17 years, god you look just like James."
Harry smiled again and so did Laura
"Yeah, I know. I've been known to act like him too"
Harry said. Remus grinned and shook his head. Laura turned to the door
"For goodness sakes, Cassi! This is ridiculous! You haven't seen Daniel for almost 19 years and Sirius for a good 17! Get in here!"
She roared. Immediately another girl stepped in. She was absolutely beautiful. Harry's eyes grew to the size of plates when he looked at her. She had long silver/blonde hair, large sparkling blue eyes, and the perfect figure. Her face was kind, but she looked extremely nervous. She looked like the kind of girl Sirius would date. Daniel was he first to speak
"Cassi"
He whispered, her eyes drifted from the floor to Daniel. He smiled and so did she. Neither of them said anything else. Cassi still hadn't moved. Finally Remus got annoyed
"Hold this"
He grunted, lifting up Laura and dropping her on Harry. Harry let out a small 'ouch' as Laura landed hard on his lap. Ginny snorted and began to laugh into Harry's shoulder. Laura chuckled and made herself comfortable, much to Harry's annoyance. Remus walked straight up to Cassi and looked her in the eyes. She smiled and seemed to relax
"Moony!"
She cried, throwing her arms around him. Remus grinned
"Hey Cass, welcome back"
"Thank you, I'm glad to be back"
Harry noticed a faded French twist in her speech. Remus nodded and backed up. He picked Laura up of Harry and placed her back on his lap. Cassi was all the while busy saying hello to Daniel. Once she was done the room was silent. Sirius was still leaning up against the wall. The fireplace was casting a shadow over half of him. His eyes were on Cassi. She turned and looked straight at him. No one moved for a few minutes then
"I went after you"
Cassi whispered
"The ministry didn't believe me. I went looking for Peter too, but the rat got away from me time after time. I'm sorry Sirius."
Again everyone was silent. Sirius stared at her for a few minutes then stepped out of the shadows.
"Cass, don't ever tell me your sorry for something you have no reason to be sorry for. You did nothing wrong, I deserved to get in trouble, not as much as I got in, but some. I was stupid. You told me not to go after him and I did. It was my fault I got blamed. And if the ministry was stupid enough not to believe you, that's their loss"
He smiled at her and stepped forward
"I'm just glad I get to see you"
They leaned closer and kissed. It was one of those tearjerker kisses that could make even the strongest person melt. A kiss so full of love it seemed to make the room glow. Harry leaned over to Remus
"You only see those in muggle movies"
He whispered. Remus laughed, along with Laura, Daniel and Ginny who were all listening. A loud noise form behind them all made everyone jump. Dumbledore was standing there, grinning broadly.
"I'm glad to see you arrived. I trust you got by my barrier and Voldemort easily?"
Both the girls nodded. Dumbledore nodded and sat down at his desk. Harry, Ginny, and Remus immediately jumped off. Remus sent Laura to the floor. But with a good kick from her Remus was lying beside her. Dumbledore rolled his eyes and motioned for everyone to sit.
"I know you all have just been reacquainted, but this is very serious. I have just received news that Voldemort has figured out how to brake my barrier. He should be inside the school with in the next few hours. We have no way to evacuate, we must fight. As soon as he arrives we can owl the ministry and tell them to send all the Aurors and anyone else that can help, but they wouldn't arrive for a good few hours. I had to block all the floo networks when Voldemort first arrived and Hogsmead has its floo network blocked as well. Voldemort did that as soon as he took over the town. The next closest place is miles away and would take much to long. They would all have to apparate. But of course Voldemort thought of that first. He put up spells so that no one could apparate. I don't know how far the spell travels, but I am willing to bet a good distance. I have just informed Minerva, she is taking all of the younger students to the hidden room now. The Order, the teachers and the older students are already in the great hall, waiting. He will enter there, I know that much. I don't know where he might head. This fight could carry on for days; it depends on what he is willing to do to gain control and what the students and teachers are willing to do to save the school."
Dumbledore looked straight at Harry
"I don't want to put any extra weight on you Harry, but you must remember the prophecy."
"I know Professor"
Harry whispered, staring at the floor. After a moment of silence he felt a hand on his shoulder. Harry raised his head. Dumbledore was standing before him.
"I know it is hard Harry, to have everyone counting on you like this. You must be scared, I know deep down you are. You have fought Voldemort many a time, but it'll be different this time. Your older, he's not waiting for you. He won't play with you now Harry, he knows your strong. I just want you to be careful, don't do anything you'll regret later"
Dumbledore looked at Sirius, then Daniel. Nodded his head then left the office. Remus, Laura, Cassi, and Ginny followed him out. Harry stood up to go too but Daniel stopped him. Harry looked at him and Daniel sighed
"I know I'm your uncle, your family, and I'm supposed to be the one to give you the family chats, but, Sirius knows you better. I'll see you downstairs."
He mumbled, then left. Harry turned to Sirius. He was pale
"Listen, Harry."
Sirius whispered
"I know I'm not responsible, I'm not your father, I'm not even blood related to you. But you must know I try. I try to be responsible, I try to be your father, and I wish I was blood related to you. But I'm not. I've watched you grow up, watched you change and I feel like I'm with your mother in father, just mixed into one. It makes me happy Harry, happier then anything else in the world. But you know the worst thing that could ever happen to me? If I lost you. I lost your parents 17 years ago and I don't want you to leave me. I know I have Laura, Cassi, Remus and Daniel, but there not you. Nothing will ever match up to how much I love you. So please, please be careful, and don't leave me"
Harry nodded
"Only if you don't leave me"
He mumbled. Sirius nodded and smiled slightly
"Alright"
They both stood up and walked out of the room. At the bottom of the staircase stood Ginny and Daniel. They both smiled at Sirius and Harry then began to walk. Harry pulled up his hood before they reached the hall. When they reached the great hall everyone looked extremely nervous. Harry met up with Sirius, Cassi, Remus, Laura and Daniel up in the front.
"Sirius"
Harry said. Sirius looked at him
"Yes Harry?"
Harry swallowed
"You know how you told me you weren't my father?"
Sirius nodded
"Well, I just wanted to thank you. Thank you for being the only father I ever knew"
Sirius looked as though he had just been told the one thing that he had always wanted to hear. He grinned at Harry
"Your welcome"
He whispered.
"I've heard this before"
Remus said
"James told you that, the day of his wedding, except he said thank you for being the brother he never knew"
Sirius nodded
"Yeah, I remember Moony, then he told you thank you for being just like the dog he never had"
Everyone laughed. Harry shook his head and he walked to the back of the room. Ron, Hermionie, and Ginny were standing there. Hermionie smiled at Harry and waved, Harry waved back.
"You're going to be careful, right Harry?"
She asked. Harry chuckled
"Just as careful as I've always been. You two be careful too. Please, be careful"
Hermionie and Ron nodded. They both hugged him then he headed back towards the front. When he was in the middle he felt someone grab his arm. He spun around, it was Ginny.
"Hey Gin"
He said, she smiled
"Do you think we'll win?"
She asked, Harry sighed
"Yes Ginny, I think we'll win"
He hugged her tightly
"You be careful too, alright?"
Ginny nodded then bolted back through the crowd. Harry made it to the front. Dumbledore was standing alone in front of everyone, staring at the door. Harry stopped beside him
"What do you think sir?"
Harry asked. Dumbledore sighed
"I don't know Harry, I really don't know. I think that we're not as ready as some people think we are. I think there is an insider, but I don't know who. It could be anyone, I guess we'll find out soon won-"
Suddenly the doors banged open. In the doorframe stood Voldemort and behind him a large mass of death eaters.
(And the next chapter will be the war! Thank you to everyone who read and reviewed! I owe ya! Next chapter coming soon!)
A woman with shoulder length brown hair, chocolate eyes, and a kind face stood in the doorway. But she wasn't looking at Daniel, Remus, or even Sirius. She was staring at Harry. A flash of sadness flew across her face but it quickly faded. She turned to Remus who had now stood up. She ran over to him and hugged him tightly, Remus smiled
"Hello Laura"
He whispered, the girl grinned
"Hey Remmy"
She said, releasing him. Remus frowned slightly and 'Laura' giggled. She leaned up and kissed him sweetly. Ginny was laughing silently beside Harry. He couldn't see what was so funny. Laura then turned to Daniel who was smiling brightly at her.
"Laurie"
He grunted. She grinned
"Danny"
Neither of them said anything else. Daniel hugged her tightly
"Good of you to return, I was sick of baby sitting Remus"
He mumbled. Laura swatted him and turned to Sirius, who as leaning against the wall on the other side of the room, his dark eyes fixed on the door. Laura sighed and Sirius grinned, still not looking at her
"Can't believe you thought I was guilty Laurie, I'm hurt."
He said. Laura smiled
"Yes, well, my beliefs were always shattered by your ever loyal girlfriend, Siri"
A loud snort came from somewhere outside the office. Sirius' eyes finally moved from the door to Laura. His smile softened
"Hey Laura"
He said. Laura's smile went genuine and she ran over to him. Sirius caught her and swung her around. Harry cocked an eyebrow at Remus who was now sitting on the desk as well. Remus grinned
"He was like her big brother."
He whispered
"And you were like her husband"
Ginny whispered back. Remus chuckled
"You could say that"
Their silent conversation was interrupted by Laura who ran over and leapt onto Remus' lap. She giggled to herself and looked at Harry
"Harry."
She said slowly. Harry smiled slightly
"I'm Laura Noble"
The girl said
"I haven't seen you for 17 years, god you look just like James."
Harry smiled again and so did Laura
"Yeah, I know. I've been known to act like him too"
Harry said. Remus grinned and shook his head. Laura turned to the door
"For goodness sakes, Cassi! This is ridiculous! You haven't seen Daniel for almost 19 years and Sirius for a good 17! Get in here!"
She roared. Immediately another girl stepped in. She was absolutely beautiful. Harry's eyes grew to the size of plates when he looked at her. She had long silver/blonde hair, large sparkling blue eyes, and the perfect figure. Her face was kind, but she looked extremely nervous. She looked like the kind of girl Sirius would date. Daniel was he first to speak
"Cassi"
He whispered, her eyes drifted from the floor to Daniel. He smiled and so did she. Neither of them said anything else. Cassi still hadn't moved. Finally Remus got annoyed
"Hold this"
He grunted, lifting up Laura and dropping her on Harry. Harry let out a small 'ouch' as Laura landed hard on his lap. Ginny snorted and began to laugh into Harry's shoulder. Laura chuckled and made herself comfortable, much to Harry's annoyance. Remus walked straight up to Cassi and looked her in the eyes. She smiled and seemed to relax
"Moony!"
She cried, throwing her arms around him. Remus grinned
"Hey Cass, welcome back"
"Thank you, I'm glad to be back"
Harry noticed a faded French twist in her speech. Remus nodded and backed up. He picked Laura up of Harry and placed her back on his lap. Cassi was all the while busy saying hello to Daniel. Once she was done the room was silent. Sirius was still leaning up against the wall. The fireplace was casting a shadow over half of him. His eyes were on Cassi. She turned and looked straight at him. No one moved for a few minutes then
"I went after you"
Cassi whispered
"The ministry didn't believe me. I went looking for Peter too, but the rat got away from me time after time. I'm sorry Sirius."
Again everyone was silent. Sirius stared at her for a few minutes then stepped out of the shadows.
"Cass, don't ever tell me your sorry for something you have no reason to be sorry for. You did nothing wrong, I deserved to get in trouble, not as much as I got in, but some. I was stupid. You told me not to go after him and I did. It was my fault I got blamed. And if the ministry was stupid enough not to believe you, that's their loss"
He smiled at her and stepped forward
"I'm just glad I get to see you"
They leaned closer and kissed. It was one of those tearjerker kisses that could make even the strongest person melt. A kiss so full of love it seemed to make the room glow. Harry leaned over to Remus
"You only see those in muggle movies"
He whispered. Remus laughed, along with Laura, Daniel and Ginny who were all listening. A loud noise form behind them all made everyone jump. Dumbledore was standing there, grinning broadly.
"I'm glad to see you arrived. I trust you got by my barrier and Voldemort easily?"
Both the girls nodded. Dumbledore nodded and sat down at his desk. Harry, Ginny, and Remus immediately jumped off. Remus sent Laura to the floor. But with a good kick from her Remus was lying beside her. Dumbledore rolled his eyes and motioned for everyone to sit.
"I know you all have just been reacquainted, but this is very serious. I have just received news that Voldemort has figured out how to brake my barrier. He should be inside the school with in the next few hours. We have no way to evacuate, we must fight. As soon as he arrives we can owl the ministry and tell them to send all the Aurors and anyone else that can help, but they wouldn't arrive for a good few hours. I had to block all the floo networks when Voldemort first arrived and Hogsmead has its floo network blocked as well. Voldemort did that as soon as he took over the town. The next closest place is miles away and would take much to long. They would all have to apparate. But of course Voldemort thought of that first. He put up spells so that no one could apparate. I don't know how far the spell travels, but I am willing to bet a good distance. I have just informed Minerva, she is taking all of the younger students to the hidden room now. The Order, the teachers and the older students are already in the great hall, waiting. He will enter there, I know that much. I don't know where he might head. This fight could carry on for days; it depends on what he is willing to do to gain control and what the students and teachers are willing to do to save the school."
Dumbledore looked straight at Harry
"I don't want to put any extra weight on you Harry, but you must remember the prophecy."
"I know Professor"
Harry whispered, staring at the floor. After a moment of silence he felt a hand on his shoulder. Harry raised his head. Dumbledore was standing before him.
"I know it is hard Harry, to have everyone counting on you like this. You must be scared, I know deep down you are. You have fought Voldemort many a time, but it'll be different this time. Your older, he's not waiting for you. He won't play with you now Harry, he knows your strong. I just want you to be careful, don't do anything you'll regret later"
Dumbledore looked at Sirius, then Daniel. Nodded his head then left the office. Remus, Laura, Cassi, and Ginny followed him out. Harry stood up to go too but Daniel stopped him. Harry looked at him and Daniel sighed
"I know I'm your uncle, your family, and I'm supposed to be the one to give you the family chats, but, Sirius knows you better. I'll see you downstairs."
He mumbled, then left. Harry turned to Sirius. He was pale
"Listen, Harry."
Sirius whispered
"I know I'm not responsible, I'm not your father, I'm not even blood related to you. But you must know I try. I try to be responsible, I try to be your father, and I wish I was blood related to you. But I'm not. I've watched you grow up, watched you change and I feel like I'm with your mother in father, just mixed into one. It makes me happy Harry, happier then anything else in the world. But you know the worst thing that could ever happen to me? If I lost you. I lost your parents 17 years ago and I don't want you to leave me. I know I have Laura, Cassi, Remus and Daniel, but there not you. Nothing will ever match up to how much I love you. So please, please be careful, and don't leave me"
Harry nodded
"Only if you don't leave me"
He mumbled. Sirius nodded and smiled slightly
"Alright"
They both stood up and walked out of the room. At the bottom of the staircase stood Ginny and Daniel. They both smiled at Sirius and Harry then began to walk. Harry pulled up his hood before they reached the hall. When they reached the great hall everyone looked extremely nervous. Harry met up with Sirius, Cassi, Remus, Laura and Daniel up in the front.
"Sirius"
Harry said. Sirius looked at him
"Yes Harry?"
Harry swallowed
"You know how you told me you weren't my father?"
Sirius nodded
"Well, I just wanted to thank you. Thank you for being the only father I ever knew"
Sirius looked as though he had just been told the one thing that he had always wanted to hear. He grinned at Harry
"Your welcome"
He whispered.
"I've heard this before"
Remus said
"James told you that, the day of his wedding, except he said thank you for being the brother he never knew"
Sirius nodded
"Yeah, I remember Moony, then he told you thank you for being just like the dog he never had"
Everyone laughed. Harry shook his head and he walked to the back of the room. Ron, Hermionie, and Ginny were standing there. Hermionie smiled at Harry and waved, Harry waved back.
"You're going to be careful, right Harry?"
She asked. Harry chuckled
"Just as careful as I've always been. You two be careful too. Please, be careful"
Hermionie and Ron nodded. They both hugged him then he headed back towards the front. When he was in the middle he felt someone grab his arm. He spun around, it was Ginny.
"Hey Gin"
He said, she smiled
"Do you think we'll win?"
She asked, Harry sighed
"Yes Ginny, I think we'll win"
He hugged her tightly
"You be careful too, alright?"
Ginny nodded then bolted back through the crowd. Harry made it to the front. Dumbledore was standing alone in front of everyone, staring at the door. Harry stopped beside him
"What do you think sir?"
Harry asked. Dumbledore sighed
"I don't know Harry, I really don't know. I think that we're not as ready as some people think we are. I think there is an insider, but I don't know who. It could be anyone, I guess we'll find out soon won-"
Suddenly the doors banged open. In the doorframe stood Voldemort and behind him a large mass of death eaters.
(And the next chapter will be the war! Thank you to everyone who read and reviewed! I owe ya! Next chapter coming soon!)