The next month before school flew by. Harry had never had such an
enjoyable month. Arabella, Lupin, and Harry worked non stop finding people
who would believe Sirius' innocence, while Sirius himself was gone most
days off on some mission for Dumbledore. Penelope stopped by every so
often to check on her cousin and Aunt, Mrs. Figg, who spend a great deal of
time treating her cats and watching over Peter.
Harry had gotten the chance to learn the cats names, and he admitted that they were useful. He especially liked Jasper, who seemed the most friendly. Trouble was fun, but a little too crazy, Scorn was very dignified and serious, Tipsy was prissy and Mirth was friendly, but didn't spend a lot of time with the others.
Right before the start of term Harry met Ron and Hermione in Diagon Alley to buy their school things. After an exhausting trip they settled down for some ice cream. They were chatting pleasantly when three unwanted people showed up. Malfoy strutted over, Crabe and Goyle, as usual, not far behind.
"What do you want Malfoy."
Ron was standing before Draco had a chance to get close. He looked like he was ready to hit Draco right there, and Hermione, seeing this, put a restraining hand on Ron's arm. Harry had never seen Ron so worked up, and then looking at Draco he realized that Draco was just as worked up. They both stood glaring at each other, Malfoy so angry he couldn't even speak.
"Well, speak up or get the #*$$ out of here Malfoy!"
Malfoy couldn't even manage a fake smile, he spoke with animosity dripping from every word.
"You better watch out Weasley. Don't turn your back on me this year- or I'll kill you."
Hermione gasped, Draco had spoken with such calm and clarity. Harry looked at Ron, he was seconds away from lunging at Draco, and Hermione wouldn't be able to stop him. Quickly stepping between Ron and Malfoy he looked Malfoy straight in the eye.
"Clear off Malfoy."
To Harry's surprise he did clear off, but not before giving Ron a nasty look.
Hermione was shaking now.
"Ron, what was that all about, Malfoy. he wasn't. he wasn't serious was he?"
"Oh, I'm sure he was." Ron said darkly.
"Alright Ron, what's going on? Why did Malfoy say he wanted to kill you?" Harry watched as his best friends faces faltered slightly. When he spoke his voice was steady.
"My dad led another raid on the Malfoy Mansion a week ago. He got an anonymous tip from someone, and he ended up finding a whole bunch of illegal dark magic items. Malfoy denied he knew anything about it, but after Voldemort's first attack the Ministry has been keen to set an example. They fired Lucius, and he's facing an inquiry. Rumor has it that he's been using most of the family fortune to bribe high ranking officials and blackmailing those he doesn't bribe, but everyone is too scared of Voldemort to be frightened of Lucius. Draco is mad at me because my dad is the cause of his father's downfall, the git. If he wasn't such a lousy-"
"But Ron," Hermione interrupted. "Why are you so mad at him? I thought you were going to explode the second you saw him."
Ron looked down, stammered and turned red. It was all too obvious that he was trying to hide something.
"Just tell us Ron." Harry pleaded.
Ron took a deep breath and looked up again.
"Lucius tried to kill my dad," he said evenly. "He came to our house one night, he was so mad, and he was about to curse my dad when a man in a dark cloak with a hood appeared out of nowhere and stopped him. I thought for a second he would kill Lucius, but he just told him to get out. And then the dark man left. Not a word to anyone."
Harry and Hermione didn't know what to say. It was all very strange, who was the man who had saved Mr. Weasley?
***
Lucius Malfoy burst into the room. Usually calm and cool, no one had ever seen him so angry. A few death eaters stepped back from him as he entered the small room.
"Something wrong Lucius," said Voldemort in a very cruel voice.
Lucius' eyes went from Voldemort to a dark figure beside him. His eyes narrowed and he restrained his temper slightly. When he spoke it was with his usual chilly voice.
"You. You are the one who interfered tonight."
"He is Lucius. And it is very lucky for you that he did. If it wasn't for Theavolos I would have killed you by now."
Lucius steamed at Voldemort's words.
"Theavolos is it. Why exactly would you kill me? It was a personal matter."
"You no longer act as an individual Lucius, you are my servant. Or have you forgotten"
It was barely a whisper, but Lucius went pale.
"You have denied me for the last time, the next time not even Theavolos will be able to stop me from killing you."
Lucius bowed very low and shuffled out the door very quickly. He could hear Voldemort's hellish laugh as he left.
***
Harry and Hermione did all they could to comfort Ron, but it wasn't much. There was no way to reassure him about anything except that they would not let the bloody &@%%*& git Malfoy so much as look nasty at Ron.
At home Sirius listened to Harry's story about Ron.
"hmmm," he said thoughtfully. "I suppose it's good that someone was there. Looks like Arthur has a guardian angel."
"But Sirius, we don't know why that man saved Arthur, and if Lucius did what he said don't you think that he could be a dark wizard."
"umm," said Sirius noncommittally. "Seems like we don't have enough information."
Sirius caught Harry's worried look.
"Tell you what, I will see Dumbledore tomorrow, I'll ask him about it. Will that make you feel better?"
Harry's face lit up with a smile.
"Yes! Thanks Sirius!"
Sirius hugged Harry and tucked him into bed. Harry fell asleep instantly.
***
It seemed that Harry had hardly shut his eyes when Mrs. Figg was shaking him gently.
"Harry dear, time to wake up! The Hogwarts express leaves at eleven!"
Harry sat up. It was September the first. Although Harry enjoyed staying in his new house he missed Hogwarts. After dressing Harry went into the kitchen, the smell of bacon and eggs greeting him as he opened the door. Jasper meowed at Harry as he came in, and rubbed against his leg.
"Morning Jasper. Morning Arabella."
Arabella smiled at Harry as she set a plate on the table and dished him some eggs, bacon and toast.
"Good morning Harry, excited for school? Sirius had to leave early this morning, but there is a note from him on the table."
Harry frowned and picked up the note as he sat down at the table.
Dear Harry, I'm sorry I can't see you off to school today, but I had to leave early. With any luck next year I will be able to wave goodbye to you from Platform 9 ¾ IN PUBIC. Behave yourself on the train, and at school. I will be checking up on you frequently, but don't be afraid to send Mrs. Figg and Arabella owls. I'll ask Dumbledore about the mysterious man. Love, Sirius
Harry put down the note.
"Everything okay Harry?" Arabella asked.
"Yeah, fine," said Harry.
He pushed the uneasy feeling from his head and concentrated on eating his breakfast. Arabella asked him a question about the Gryffindor quidditch team, and soon they were in a debate about keeper tactics. Mrs. Figg came in the kitchen 45 minutes later.
"Harry! Arabella! You need to leave now, or Harry will be late!"
Arabella jumped up.
"Oh my gosh, Harry are you packed! If you are late I'll never forgive myself."
Harry laughed at her. "I'm ready, don't worry, I'll grab my trunk and we can go."
The car ride to Kings Cross was uneventful. Harry and Arabella talked more quidditch, and by the end Harry decided that if she and Oliver ever got together there would be no stopping them.
Harry had gotten the chance to learn the cats names, and he admitted that they were useful. He especially liked Jasper, who seemed the most friendly. Trouble was fun, but a little too crazy, Scorn was very dignified and serious, Tipsy was prissy and Mirth was friendly, but didn't spend a lot of time with the others.
Right before the start of term Harry met Ron and Hermione in Diagon Alley to buy their school things. After an exhausting trip they settled down for some ice cream. They were chatting pleasantly when three unwanted people showed up. Malfoy strutted over, Crabe and Goyle, as usual, not far behind.
"What do you want Malfoy."
Ron was standing before Draco had a chance to get close. He looked like he was ready to hit Draco right there, and Hermione, seeing this, put a restraining hand on Ron's arm. Harry had never seen Ron so worked up, and then looking at Draco he realized that Draco was just as worked up. They both stood glaring at each other, Malfoy so angry he couldn't even speak.
"Well, speak up or get the #*$$ out of here Malfoy!"
Malfoy couldn't even manage a fake smile, he spoke with animosity dripping from every word.
"You better watch out Weasley. Don't turn your back on me this year- or I'll kill you."
Hermione gasped, Draco had spoken with such calm and clarity. Harry looked at Ron, he was seconds away from lunging at Draco, and Hermione wouldn't be able to stop him. Quickly stepping between Ron and Malfoy he looked Malfoy straight in the eye.
"Clear off Malfoy."
To Harry's surprise he did clear off, but not before giving Ron a nasty look.
Hermione was shaking now.
"Ron, what was that all about, Malfoy. he wasn't. he wasn't serious was he?"
"Oh, I'm sure he was." Ron said darkly.
"Alright Ron, what's going on? Why did Malfoy say he wanted to kill you?" Harry watched as his best friends faces faltered slightly. When he spoke his voice was steady.
"My dad led another raid on the Malfoy Mansion a week ago. He got an anonymous tip from someone, and he ended up finding a whole bunch of illegal dark magic items. Malfoy denied he knew anything about it, but after Voldemort's first attack the Ministry has been keen to set an example. They fired Lucius, and he's facing an inquiry. Rumor has it that he's been using most of the family fortune to bribe high ranking officials and blackmailing those he doesn't bribe, but everyone is too scared of Voldemort to be frightened of Lucius. Draco is mad at me because my dad is the cause of his father's downfall, the git. If he wasn't such a lousy-"
"But Ron," Hermione interrupted. "Why are you so mad at him? I thought you were going to explode the second you saw him."
Ron looked down, stammered and turned red. It was all too obvious that he was trying to hide something.
"Just tell us Ron." Harry pleaded.
Ron took a deep breath and looked up again.
"Lucius tried to kill my dad," he said evenly. "He came to our house one night, he was so mad, and he was about to curse my dad when a man in a dark cloak with a hood appeared out of nowhere and stopped him. I thought for a second he would kill Lucius, but he just told him to get out. And then the dark man left. Not a word to anyone."
Harry and Hermione didn't know what to say. It was all very strange, who was the man who had saved Mr. Weasley?
***
Lucius Malfoy burst into the room. Usually calm and cool, no one had ever seen him so angry. A few death eaters stepped back from him as he entered the small room.
"Something wrong Lucius," said Voldemort in a very cruel voice.
Lucius' eyes went from Voldemort to a dark figure beside him. His eyes narrowed and he restrained his temper slightly. When he spoke it was with his usual chilly voice.
"You. You are the one who interfered tonight."
"He is Lucius. And it is very lucky for you that he did. If it wasn't for Theavolos I would have killed you by now."
Lucius steamed at Voldemort's words.
"Theavolos is it. Why exactly would you kill me? It was a personal matter."
"You no longer act as an individual Lucius, you are my servant. Or have you forgotten"
It was barely a whisper, but Lucius went pale.
"You have denied me for the last time, the next time not even Theavolos will be able to stop me from killing you."
Lucius bowed very low and shuffled out the door very quickly. He could hear Voldemort's hellish laugh as he left.
***
Harry and Hermione did all they could to comfort Ron, but it wasn't much. There was no way to reassure him about anything except that they would not let the bloody &@%%*& git Malfoy so much as look nasty at Ron.
At home Sirius listened to Harry's story about Ron.
"hmmm," he said thoughtfully. "I suppose it's good that someone was there. Looks like Arthur has a guardian angel."
"But Sirius, we don't know why that man saved Arthur, and if Lucius did what he said don't you think that he could be a dark wizard."
"umm," said Sirius noncommittally. "Seems like we don't have enough information."
Sirius caught Harry's worried look.
"Tell you what, I will see Dumbledore tomorrow, I'll ask him about it. Will that make you feel better?"
Harry's face lit up with a smile.
"Yes! Thanks Sirius!"
Sirius hugged Harry and tucked him into bed. Harry fell asleep instantly.
***
It seemed that Harry had hardly shut his eyes when Mrs. Figg was shaking him gently.
"Harry dear, time to wake up! The Hogwarts express leaves at eleven!"
Harry sat up. It was September the first. Although Harry enjoyed staying in his new house he missed Hogwarts. After dressing Harry went into the kitchen, the smell of bacon and eggs greeting him as he opened the door. Jasper meowed at Harry as he came in, and rubbed against his leg.
"Morning Jasper. Morning Arabella."
Arabella smiled at Harry as she set a plate on the table and dished him some eggs, bacon and toast.
"Good morning Harry, excited for school? Sirius had to leave early this morning, but there is a note from him on the table."
Harry frowned and picked up the note as he sat down at the table.
Dear Harry, I'm sorry I can't see you off to school today, but I had to leave early. With any luck next year I will be able to wave goodbye to you from Platform 9 ¾ IN PUBIC. Behave yourself on the train, and at school. I will be checking up on you frequently, but don't be afraid to send Mrs. Figg and Arabella owls. I'll ask Dumbledore about the mysterious man. Love, Sirius
Harry put down the note.
"Everything okay Harry?" Arabella asked.
"Yeah, fine," said Harry.
He pushed the uneasy feeling from his head and concentrated on eating his breakfast. Arabella asked him a question about the Gryffindor quidditch team, and soon they were in a debate about keeper tactics. Mrs. Figg came in the kitchen 45 minutes later.
"Harry! Arabella! You need to leave now, or Harry will be late!"
Arabella jumped up.
"Oh my gosh, Harry are you packed! If you are late I'll never forgive myself."
Harry laughed at her. "I'm ready, don't worry, I'll grab my trunk and we can go."
The car ride to Kings Cross was uneventful. Harry and Arabella talked more quidditch, and by the end Harry decided that if she and Oliver ever got together there would be no stopping them.