Disclaimer:
As always the characters all belong to JK Rowling, all that's mine is the plot.
I'm just a poor high school student with no job.
Authors Note: I tried to get this chapter out in a decent amount of time so
that you could really get into the story and see if you want to continue
reading it or not. Also it's a little different from the first chapter in the
fact that it has many more points of view. I find that it creates a better
story this way and leaves my options open for where I go with this story.
Without further ado:
Expectations
Chapter 2
Sirius awoke to find himself in the same crisp, white, room he had seen every
morning for the past two weeks. It was one within Arabellas'
home, where he and the rest of the old crowd were staying, kind of like a
headquarters for the light side.
'Mmmm' he said to himself indulging in the cozy sent
of pancakes and sausage cooking. Walking down the dimly lit hall, toward the
bustling kitchen he glanced once again at the many pictures on the wall. There
were wooden frames housing images of Remus, Albus, Minerva, Lily, James, and even him. There were also
many people he had never actually met, though he knew exactly who they
were through stories he had been told by his elders. Then a particular picture
that he hadn't noticed before caught his eye. He immediately recognized the
smiling, young, student in the photo as none other than Peter Pettigrew.
His mouth fell open as hatred overtook him once again. Why would Arabella have this traitor's
picture on her wall?
Suddenly Sirius felt a familiar hand placed firmly on his shoulder. It belonged
to the last person he wanted to see at that moment, Arabella
herself.
He gave her a puzzled, questioning look. She apparently understood, and was
quick to give an explanation. "Ah, yes you're probably wondering why I
held onto this photo after everything that has happened. I thought about taking
it down many times but I couldn't bring myself to do it. You see I still have
faith that somewhere deep down within the confused being that we see before us,
there is still the same old, innocent schoolboy that I knew long ago. Do you
understand?"
There was a brief pause as Sirius absorbed what she had just told him and then
replied, "As much as I hate who he has become, I still find myself
searching for him as well. Trying to convince myself, as horrible as it had been, that it has all been some kind of a huge
misunderstanding. I harbored a lot of hate and guilt over it, over what I did
in trusting him, but I have gotten over it as best I can. I hope that the old
Peter is still there somewhere… just waiting to be released," he replied,
and with that he made his way into the already filled kitchen
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
"Good morning Sirius," Albus said as he
shoveled another bite of syrupy, pancake into his jovially talking mouth.
"Hello everyone," said Sirius as he began filling his plate.
Breakfast was quite an interesting event, especially when Albus
began pilling second helpings onto Severus' plate
saying that he was far too thin. As breakfast ended, and everyone started to
leave, continuing on their parts, Dumbledore called Black aside.
"I have become aware that the Dursleys will be
going to London today," he said in a mischievous tone.
"That's...umm...nice," said Sirius obviously not understanding what
the significance of this comment was.
"They have asked Arabella to look after Harry
for the day," replied Albus.
"Ohhh!" Sirius
said coming to a realization.
"Yes, I'm quite sure Harry would love to see you and I'm also assuming
he's worried about how everything is going. He of course knows nothing of Arabella being all that she is, and the great protection
she's contributed to him over the years he's spent at Privet Drive. I'm sure he will be most intrigued
to find out," he said with a wink, and with that he Apparated
from the spot.
Sirius immediately set out through the house to find a piece of parchment in
which to write to Harry. Wait! He
thought to himself. Why don't I leave it
as a surprise?! Yes, that's what I'll do, he thought to himself. Besides, that gives me time to gather his
birthday present. He then dashed through the house trying to catch Remus before he left. After all it would be quite odd for a
shaggy, black, dog to enter Gringotts unaccompanied.
"Why are you so cheery all of a sudden?" questioned Remus.
"Harry's coming today!" said Sirius in an all together excited tone.
"I haven't seen him since I went on the run last year."
"Oh that's great. I can't wait to see him either. It's been a long
time."
"I must ask you for a favor, Remus."
"Oh no, I do hope this isn't like the last time you asked me for a favor
and persuaded me to help you sneak into Hogsmead with
. . . what was her name again?" Remus asked
knowing that Sirius' relationship with this particular dame ended in a very
awkward manner.
"Lily…Ah, the memories." Sirius said with a love struck distance on
his face.
"Lover boy snap out of it. Harry's coming! Remember?" he said with a
chuckle.
"You've got to admit she was one hot little number."
"Yes, she was quite adventurous, but do remember the way this little tale
ends."
"Well, yes but that wasn't entirely my fault. If you will remember the Polyjuice Potion that you concocted for James, and the note
that Peter forged to her telling to meet me by the Forbidden Forest. But it wasn't me she met that
night was it? No it was James disguised as me. She could tell immediately after
she kissed him that it wasn't me. She was shocked and angry at first, but after
she got to know him better she fell in love with him," said Sirius in an
all together unsure tone.
"Yes, I do agree that it was a great loss for you but you have to admit
that they were much more compatible. You could always tell by how happy they
looked together," Remus said as he was busying
himself with the clasp on his cloak.
Staring blankly off into a picture of Lily and James, hung neatly on the wall,
he mumbled, "At least they were happy, for a while."
"What did you say?" he said looking up.
"Nothing, back to this favor, I need to go to Gringotts
and then out to get Harry something for his birthday. Would you mind
accompanying me?" he said wiping what appeared to be a tear from the
corner of his eye.
"No. Not at all. I have to get him something
too."
"Great then it's settled. Give me a second to get my vault key and we can
be off." And with that he went into his room and started rummaging through
a small trunk placed at the foot of the bed. Sirius took out a small bag that
appeared to be made of dragon-hide and peered inside. He then held up a tiny
key with and intricate design on the handle. This was apparently what he was
looking for because he placed the bag back into the trunk and walked quickly,
out of the room to meet Remus at the front door.
"Here," he said handing him the key, and with that they disappeared
with a tiny pop.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Meanwhile, Harry was lounging in a lawn chair out in the back yard after an
early morning of weeding Aunt Petunias' prized rose garden.
"Get up you lazy thing!" shouted Vernon.
"Yes, Uncle Vernon," Harry said with a slight
stress in his voice. He was sick of working but could tell his uncle was in no
mood to be crossed.
"We will be going to London today," he announced.
"Great. I still have to pick up my school supplies!" replied Harry
thinking that this day might not be so bad after all.
"Hah! You'll not be going, little bruit! Why would we take you? No, you'll
be spending your day with Mrs. Figg," he said
with a chuckle. "You'll be leaving at about two so make sure to be done
with the list of chores your aunt gave you."
"Oh," was all he said in a low depressed voice, as he set off to
work.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Sirius, now in dog form, barked at a store window, his way of saying "Ooh....look
at that."
"I don't know if a motorcycle is quite appropriate for Harry. I know it's
just what you would have wanted at his age but I don't think Harry would enjoy
it as much," he hesitantly replied.
He barked again what Remus was sure meant "Yeah
I guess you're right. It's just so hard to find a gift that's worthy of such a
great lad."
"I'm sure we will find something perfect, lets keep looking." And
with that they began walking window to window again.
The next shop that Sirius barked at was Quality Quidditch
Supply. There in the window stood a fine looking broom. Written neatly on the
smooth handle; Firebolt II.
"I'm sure he'd love it," said Remus with assurance.
"Do you want me to go in and get it?"
The great, black, dog barked again and Remus took
that as a yes.
"Excuse me sir, I'd like to purchase the broom in the window please,"
Remus said to the timid little shopkeeper who removed
himself towards the back of the shop.
"A...a...are you sure you want that one? It's quite expensive that one is,"
said the man.
"Yes I'm sure. Could you wrap it up for me? It's a present."
"Alright sir I'll be back in a jiff," he said as he took the broom
off its stand and went into the back to wrap it up.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
"What
do you think we're going to find?" asked Minerva getting frustrated at the
lack of evidence they had found from watching the Malfoy
Manor.
"I'm not really sure but if I know Lucius like I
think I do, he will take his time in acting. He will do it just when we start
thinking he's changed his ways." replied Arabella
trying to sound hopeful.
"How do we know we aren't too late? What if they have already acted?"
"That's a chance we'll just have to take. This is the only thing we can do
for now."
"I suppose you're right as usual. It's just that I have a very bad feeling
about this place, and would really like a good reason to go back with some
news. I hate looking into Albus's eyes and telling
him that we are no closer than we were two weeks ago," she said with a
sigh.
"How can you say that we haven't accomplished something? Why, just two
days ago we found out that—what was that?!" She said pointing towards the
side entrance into the Manor.
A short stubby rat of a man knocked on the door and was soon admitted within.
The appearance of this man was quite ironic if you knew him for what he was, in
fact an unregistered Animagus rat.
His name was Peter Pettigrew.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
"Master requests your presents at once. He would like you to bring young Draco along as well," said Peter.
"Yes, I know. I received his letter this morning. But why does he request
that my son accompany me?" replied Lucius with a
curious glint in his eyes. Draco isn't ready to
face Lord Voldemort yet. He's only a boy, thought
Lucious.
"I don't know, but you had better do as he requests. You mustn't anger
him," Peter said remembering all too well what happens when his master is angered.
Lucius was about to tell Peter off for presuming to
order him about but thought the better of it when his eyes met with his own. He
knew he was just as bad off as Peter when it came to Voldemort.
"Very well, let I'll have my wife fetch Draco
and I'm on my way."
Peter nodded his head in acknowledgment to his reply and Apparated
from the spot.
*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^
Well what did you think? I know I promised you some Draco
action and I did write a chapter where he had a more active roll but I felt it
was too rushed and rewrote it to this. Please Read, review and tell me any suggestions
you have or you can email me at hopeless86@aol.com
