Disclaimer: All characters, with exception of Setha Stuart, are not my
invention but J.K. Rowling's. I'm not writing to make any profit but for
writing's sake, and because I love the HP books.
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A Love Lost and Refound?
Chapter 13 - A New Move
When the picture of the Fat Lady swung shut behind Harry, the young Gryffindor found himself unable to move. A crowd had immediately formed around him, all eyes turned into his direction. Soon the air was filled with questions like, "Are you alright Harry?" or, "What in Merlin's name happened?" But those standing closest to him, all members of the Quidditch team in fact, almost screamed, "What of the game?" Harry chuckled. No matter what terrible things might happen, Quidditch was still most important.
"It'll be rescheduled and played anew. Professor Stuart has assured me of that." The screams and cries of the team were interrupted by Hermione's grave voice, "How can Dumbledore allow this? Harry, you were in great danger today, what makes you think that such a thing won't happen again?" The heads of all players snapped in her directions. And Harry was sure if looks could kill, his friend would no longer be standing there.
"Oh come off it, Hermione. Professor Stuart saved the day, hasn't she? She'll do so again if the need should arise. Don't forget she's an Auror for crying out loud." Hermione glared at her friend and replied with an icy voice, "She barely managed today. Maybe next time she won't be around. What then? Are you prepared to take the risk that You-Know-Who lays hands on Harry again?"
Harry rolled his eyes. "Hermione, really. Ron's right. No one would be so stupid to try to attack me again during a Quidditch play. Besides, it wouldn't be the first time I'd have to defend myself against Voldemort." Ron winced as always when someone mentioned the Dark Lord's name. "And now would you please excuse me. I have a potions homework to finish..." And Snape wouldn't take excuses like, 'Sorry, couldn't do my homework because I was a bit shocked that Voldemort tried to get a hold of me again.'
So he forced his way through the assembled Gryffindors and finally found himself in his dormitory. He couldn't believe what had happened. And even more confusing was what Professor Stuart had told him. His parents had wanted her to be his godmother. And she had declined because of Sirius. Somehow he felt that he couldn't take any more revelations of that kind. It still made him feel sick when he thought of Professor Stuart preferring to be with Snape than with Sirius.
With a sigh he started on his Potions assignment. Snape was out of his bloody mind it seemed. If this was normal homework, than what would he cook up for the O.W.L.S?
---
The shock about the Quidditch match soon gave way to anticipation as the Christmas holidays were drawing near. The match between Gryffindor and Slytherin had been replayed, Gryffindor had won narrowly, and nothing had happened. Maybe the Death Eater had come to terms with his defeat, or, as Hermione kept pointing out every time they were talking about the topic, he was just biding his time to try again.
Potions had turned from nightmare into hell. Just yesterday Snape had asked his students to write a five-scroll-essay on some stupid potion, which wasn't even worth the bother of two scrolls. It was clear that he would help the students of his own house, but the Gryffindors were at total loss. But then, maybe it was only fair, as Professor Stuart was not too kind to the Slytherins either. Hermione was always muttering about it being unworthy of teachers to do such things, but she never objected when Setha granted Gryffindor another ten points for one of her answers.
In general, things were more or less down to normal again. Until the day Harry received that owl from Sirius. His note had been short, but then, why should he write scrolls if he just wanted to see him. The only thing that worried him, was the fact that Sirius asked him to come after nightfall and alone. But the fact that he was due in the dungeons for another double Potions kept him from pondering on that.
And so Harry faked to be tired after dinner and retired to his dormitory. He quickly retrieved his father's invisibility cloak and managed to get out of the common room after just a few minutes when Colin Creevey went out to go to the library.
Slowly he went down to the entrance hall and left the castle in the direction of the Whomping Willow. When he was in the tunnel that led to the Shrieking Shack he disposed of the cloak and got his wand out to illuminate his way.
Still, he nearly bumped into something, no someone. A huge black dog had almost run him over, and now he looked into the surprised face of his Godfather. "Harry, what are you doing here?" Harry was no less astonished than Sirius. "Ehm, I'm on my way to see you as you asked me to in your message..." The animagus interrupted, "What message?"
Harry was startled, "Well, the message you sent me this morning." Sirius shook his head, "I didn't sent you any message. Do you have it with you?" The young Gryffindor nodded and handed the small piece of parchment over. "Looks like my hand ... I think we better show it to Setha." Sirius grabbed his Godson's hand and dragged him back towards Hogwarts.
---
"Setha, this is no longer something you can just brush aside." Sirius stood in the centre of Setha's office, Harry sitting in a chair in front of her desk. "I didn't send that note, yet even I could not tell that it's not my handwriting." Setha stared at the note, unable to believe what she had just heard. Maybe she had underestimated that Death Eater after all.
"Harry, next time you receive such a message... Never leave the castle after nightfall again, and least of all alone." Her voice was unsteady, and her gaze fixed on Sirius. "If it hadn't been for you... And it would all be my fault." She sighed deeply. "Would you mind excusing us for a second, you can wait for Sirius in the classroom." Harry nodded and stood. "Sorry," he whispered, "I think I just didn't want to see that it was kind of strange of you to ask me to come alone and all..."
When the door had closed behind Harry, Sirius let out the anger he had felt ever since he had ran into Harry. "It's your duty to secure that such a thing doesn't happen around here. And what are you doing instead? Keeping up a running battle with your beloved Slytherin sneak." Setha tried to interrupt but was stopped by Sirius raised hand. "If something should happen to Harry, and you could have prevented it, I swear I'll..." The look on Setha's face defeated him. She seemed like a child, lost in the woods.
"I wish I would have seen this. But I'm not in a position to ask Harry to let me read all of his letters, am I? Still, after this I don't think you'll have to worry anymore. Dumbledore will most likely sack me and lock up Harry somewhere safe." She looked straight into her friend's eyes, "That is, if you tell him. I swear by everything I treasure that I will never let anything like this happen again."
"And how can you do that if you don't know who the one behind this is..." Comprehension dawned upon him, "Wait a second, you have a suspicion don't you? Who? Malfoy? Or no, it's Snape isn't it? I'll kill him if he ever tries..."
"We can't be sure yet. Sirius, don't do anything you might regret later on." As she said that, her eyes once again dropped to the note before her. Yes, it seemed to be Sirius writing, if it wasn't for those prominent curves of the letters. She had only seen these in the writing of one other. And her heart cramped as she thought of it...
-----------------------------------------------
A Love Lost and Refound?
Chapter 13 - A New Move
When the picture of the Fat Lady swung shut behind Harry, the young Gryffindor found himself unable to move. A crowd had immediately formed around him, all eyes turned into his direction. Soon the air was filled with questions like, "Are you alright Harry?" or, "What in Merlin's name happened?" But those standing closest to him, all members of the Quidditch team in fact, almost screamed, "What of the game?" Harry chuckled. No matter what terrible things might happen, Quidditch was still most important.
"It'll be rescheduled and played anew. Professor Stuart has assured me of that." The screams and cries of the team were interrupted by Hermione's grave voice, "How can Dumbledore allow this? Harry, you were in great danger today, what makes you think that such a thing won't happen again?" The heads of all players snapped in her directions. And Harry was sure if looks could kill, his friend would no longer be standing there.
"Oh come off it, Hermione. Professor Stuart saved the day, hasn't she? She'll do so again if the need should arise. Don't forget she's an Auror for crying out loud." Hermione glared at her friend and replied with an icy voice, "She barely managed today. Maybe next time she won't be around. What then? Are you prepared to take the risk that You-Know-Who lays hands on Harry again?"
Harry rolled his eyes. "Hermione, really. Ron's right. No one would be so stupid to try to attack me again during a Quidditch play. Besides, it wouldn't be the first time I'd have to defend myself against Voldemort." Ron winced as always when someone mentioned the Dark Lord's name. "And now would you please excuse me. I have a potions homework to finish..." And Snape wouldn't take excuses like, 'Sorry, couldn't do my homework because I was a bit shocked that Voldemort tried to get a hold of me again.'
So he forced his way through the assembled Gryffindors and finally found himself in his dormitory. He couldn't believe what had happened. And even more confusing was what Professor Stuart had told him. His parents had wanted her to be his godmother. And she had declined because of Sirius. Somehow he felt that he couldn't take any more revelations of that kind. It still made him feel sick when he thought of Professor Stuart preferring to be with Snape than with Sirius.
With a sigh he started on his Potions assignment. Snape was out of his bloody mind it seemed. If this was normal homework, than what would he cook up for the O.W.L.S?
---
The shock about the Quidditch match soon gave way to anticipation as the Christmas holidays were drawing near. The match between Gryffindor and Slytherin had been replayed, Gryffindor had won narrowly, and nothing had happened. Maybe the Death Eater had come to terms with his defeat, or, as Hermione kept pointing out every time they were talking about the topic, he was just biding his time to try again.
Potions had turned from nightmare into hell. Just yesterday Snape had asked his students to write a five-scroll-essay on some stupid potion, which wasn't even worth the bother of two scrolls. It was clear that he would help the students of his own house, but the Gryffindors were at total loss. But then, maybe it was only fair, as Professor Stuart was not too kind to the Slytherins either. Hermione was always muttering about it being unworthy of teachers to do such things, but she never objected when Setha granted Gryffindor another ten points for one of her answers.
In general, things were more or less down to normal again. Until the day Harry received that owl from Sirius. His note had been short, but then, why should he write scrolls if he just wanted to see him. The only thing that worried him, was the fact that Sirius asked him to come after nightfall and alone. But the fact that he was due in the dungeons for another double Potions kept him from pondering on that.
And so Harry faked to be tired after dinner and retired to his dormitory. He quickly retrieved his father's invisibility cloak and managed to get out of the common room after just a few minutes when Colin Creevey went out to go to the library.
Slowly he went down to the entrance hall and left the castle in the direction of the Whomping Willow. When he was in the tunnel that led to the Shrieking Shack he disposed of the cloak and got his wand out to illuminate his way.
Still, he nearly bumped into something, no someone. A huge black dog had almost run him over, and now he looked into the surprised face of his Godfather. "Harry, what are you doing here?" Harry was no less astonished than Sirius. "Ehm, I'm on my way to see you as you asked me to in your message..." The animagus interrupted, "What message?"
Harry was startled, "Well, the message you sent me this morning." Sirius shook his head, "I didn't sent you any message. Do you have it with you?" The young Gryffindor nodded and handed the small piece of parchment over. "Looks like my hand ... I think we better show it to Setha." Sirius grabbed his Godson's hand and dragged him back towards Hogwarts.
---
"Setha, this is no longer something you can just brush aside." Sirius stood in the centre of Setha's office, Harry sitting in a chair in front of her desk. "I didn't send that note, yet even I could not tell that it's not my handwriting." Setha stared at the note, unable to believe what she had just heard. Maybe she had underestimated that Death Eater after all.
"Harry, next time you receive such a message... Never leave the castle after nightfall again, and least of all alone." Her voice was unsteady, and her gaze fixed on Sirius. "If it hadn't been for you... And it would all be my fault." She sighed deeply. "Would you mind excusing us for a second, you can wait for Sirius in the classroom." Harry nodded and stood. "Sorry," he whispered, "I think I just didn't want to see that it was kind of strange of you to ask me to come alone and all..."
When the door had closed behind Harry, Sirius let out the anger he had felt ever since he had ran into Harry. "It's your duty to secure that such a thing doesn't happen around here. And what are you doing instead? Keeping up a running battle with your beloved Slytherin sneak." Setha tried to interrupt but was stopped by Sirius raised hand. "If something should happen to Harry, and you could have prevented it, I swear I'll..." The look on Setha's face defeated him. She seemed like a child, lost in the woods.
"I wish I would have seen this. But I'm not in a position to ask Harry to let me read all of his letters, am I? Still, after this I don't think you'll have to worry anymore. Dumbledore will most likely sack me and lock up Harry somewhere safe." She looked straight into her friend's eyes, "That is, if you tell him. I swear by everything I treasure that I will never let anything like this happen again."
"And how can you do that if you don't know who the one behind this is..." Comprehension dawned upon him, "Wait a second, you have a suspicion don't you? Who? Malfoy? Or no, it's Snape isn't it? I'll kill him if he ever tries..."
"We can't be sure yet. Sirius, don't do anything you might regret later on." As she said that, her eyes once again dropped to the note before her. Yes, it seemed to be Sirius writing, if it wasn't for those prominent curves of the letters. She had only seen these in the writing of one other. And her heart cramped as she thought of it...
