Disclaimer: --;; I don't own anything... Why would you think I do?
A/N: *throws herself at the mercy of the readers* Please forgive me!! I didn't mean for it to tkae this long!!! *sobs* I'm so horrible...
I really am sorry, I had writter's block, then I stared losing intrest in HP... Blame Yugi!!
Yugi: *blinks* Nani...?
Yami: T_T *glares* Do not blame my aibou for your mistakes!
Miss Sera: ^^;; Moving right along, and onto the story...
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The Return of the Pheonix
Chapter 5
by: Miss Sera
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Two things happened upon the Potter's entrance into the room.
First a bundle of red and black fur- ahem- attached itself to Harry's face till the youth somehow managed to pull her off. Karma looked very happy her master was back after his few day's absence and planned to stay right were she was. Calm and content in Harry's arms.
The second was that the room's occupants' mouths almost hit the floor as they stared at the older Potter, who was greeting the ball of fluff that was Karma. "I see it, I hear it, but I still don't believe it." Ron murmured in awe. Fred, George, and Hermione all nodded very slowly, each of their eyes wide.
"Hallo everyone," greeted Harry, grinning at them happily. They all just stared at him blankly. The youth's grin widened. "I think introductions is needed, this is my dad; I should hope you remember who he is..." There was almost a touch of warning to his voice. Every eye turned to James who had an identical grin on this lips as he waved at the staring group.
The staring would have continued for quite sometime had Fred and George not gained enough sense to get up and greet the Potter. Said Potter gave them a knowing look as he said; "Ah, so you two are the Weasley Twins the headmaster has told me about. Said you two are such pranksters that you might have given the marauders a run for their money." The twins looked intreged.
"Oh?" Fred asked.
"You knew them?" George continued.
James blinked, before turning on Harry with a pretend shocked look. "You mean they found our map and they don't know we made it?"
Fred looked at George, "Our?"
George looked at Fred, "We?"
"Allow me to introduce myself," the dark haired man did a silly bow, "Mr. Prongs at your services."
The two boys looked like they had gotten an early Christmas present.
"You're a Marauder?"
"Then you must know who the others are!"
James pondered whether to tell them or not, then said, "I believe you met my good friend Remus Lupin..."
Fred and Georges mouths fell open as they stared at him in disbelief. "You mean-" One began.
"-A teacher-" The second continued.
"-One of OUR old teachers-" The other added.
"Was a marauder???" They finished together.
James nodded. The red heads looked at each other in awe.
"And the others?"
"You'll have to find out on your own;" the older Potter winked at them.
A look crossed the twins' face, and surprisingly, they turned on Harry, who thought for a moment they would ask him the identity of the other two pranksters. The twins however had other plans.
"Harry, chap." One appeared to his left.
"You wouldn't mind, terribly," The other was on his right.
"If we borrow your father for a little while?" They chimed together.
Though Harry showed a face that made him look like he was amused, a pain went though his chest. He felt for a moment that the twins were trying to take his father away, but he squashed that immediately. "Nope."
Fred smiled happily, "Thank you, mate."
"We'll bring him back soon." George finished.
James, who had been watching all this suspiciously, yelped as the two twins latched onto an arm and dragged him out of the room. Whatever the two were saying was lost to Harry as he was to busy hiding his laughter.
There was a silence that followed their exit. Harry had his back to the others as he tried to compose himself. Finally, he knew he couldn't stand the silence anymore; he turned to his friends- and was instantly hugged by Hermione. Karma gave a squeak of protest from between them, having to squeeze out of her master's arms before she was squished.
"Oh Harry! I wish you wouldn't worry us so!" Hermione said into his shoulder. Harry awkwardly put returned the hug, glancing at Ron. The look Ron was giving him made him wince. The youngest of the male Weasleys was giving him a look of anger and jealously mixed together and magnified ten times, and he was focusing on it on his 'best friend'. He was still angry over Harry not telling him about his father.
Hermione pulled away, having felt him wince. "Harry, are you alright?" She asked, her voice full of concern. The boy in question blinked, then looked down at her with a smile that was becoming increasingly difficult to hold. "Nothing Hermione, don't worry about." The bushy-haired girl frowned and looked like she wanted to say more, but never got the chance. Ginny had entered the room, and she looked no less happy to see him then Hermione.
Harry gave off a cheerful facade as they talked, but every time he glanced at Ron, who avoided looking at him, his eyes turned a little sadder.
***
The 'little while' the twins had said they'd 'borrow' James, turned out to be almost two hours. At exactly three o'clock the twins came in, all grins, followed shortly by a tousled looked James, who wore an expression of someone who had been beaten at here own game. Hermione was the first to notice them, frowning as she said, "What have you done?" The two red heads gave her twin innocent looks so fake you could have smelt them all the way in America.
"Whatever do you mean, Miss Hermione?" The twin on the left chimed.
"We're just happy that Harry's father volunteered to take us to Hogsmeade!" The other added cheerfully.
Hermione didn't miss James' sulk at the word 'volunteered'. Somehow she doubted he 'volunteered'. But that wasn't what came out of her mouth. Instead she said; "Do you think that's wise? I mean wouldn't someone recognize him?" The twins just grinned all the more, which Hermione personally thought scared her.
"Oh no, no problem." Fred explained.
"He'll be in disguise. Dumbledore even provided a potion to turn him into a blond!" added the ever-cheerful George. Hermione raised an eyebrow.
"A blond?" It wasn't her however that asked the question. Harry had finally come down after disappearing up to his room shortly after the clock chimed one thirty. "Don't you think that's a tad drastic?" His father glared at him with a 'you're-not-helping...' look. "So? When do we go?"
Hermione watched him soundlessly. Whatever had been bothering him seemed to have left him; either that or he was hiding it well.
Fred pointed at James, "As soon as his hair changes, which should happen about... Now."
Sure enough, James' messy black hair, lightened to a golden blond, and seemed to flop, for lack of better words. James would later state to a very amused headmaster, that he hadn't been happy about it in the least. "Great," Harry happily said, "All we need is Ginny, I doubt she'll want to be left behind." James shook his head, "We passed her in the hallway on the way back. Apparently she was on the was to see Professor Sprout over her homework..."
After soon quick clean ups, the group was off to Hogsmeade. The group had all anonymously agreed to stick relatively close, while the others secretly agreed that Harry was never to out of sight of one of the group for any reason what so ever.
James may have had the body of a man in his late thirties, but he still had his twenty-one year old mind, and had yet to grow completely out of his youth, which was why he he was easily enthralled by what he saw in Hogsmeade. Apparently it had changed little, yet at the same time entirely, since last he had seen it. He was curious of the newest riding broom, and little impressed by the subtle changes the Three Broomsticks, where the group now sat patiently- well as patiently as the twins could get while they're excited- waiting for James and Harry to return with the drinks.
"Here you go, six butterbeers." Madam Rosemerta smiled at them cheerfully. Supposedly, business had been going up as the days till school began. James peered at the six drinks through his blue colored contacs. "Madam, would it be any extra charge if you add some wiped crème and a bit of chocolate on top?"
The hostess froze, her smile faltering, and her eyes flickered. "What...?" James mentally kicked himself. Before Voldemort had targeted the newly married Potters would come to the Three Broomsticks and enjoy what little they could, before having to face the newest murders of a madman. Every time he had ordered a butterbeer with wiped-crème and some chocolate on top. It was easy to forget he couldn't do anything that would startle people.
"Oh, I'm sorry ma'am, I didn't mean to startle you," James smoothly covered up his mistake, "A friend suggested it should I ever pay Hogsmeade a visit. First time and all..."
Madam Rosemerta laughed slightly, "So sorry dear, don't know what came over me; just let me get you some..." She bustled about for a moment, carefully picking one of the glasses up. Harry looked at his father sideways and whispered, "What was that about?" James didn't even look at him as he said, "Ask me later," from the corner of his mouth.
The others had watched the exchange, even though they hadn't heard anything, and were ready with questions about it. "Just a small slip," James said as he took a spoonful off butterbeer and wiped-crème. He 'hmm'ed in delight.
Harry shook his head and glanced out the window... And caught sight of something that made him choke. A huge dog, to large, yet terribly thin, to be natural, was sitting watching him from across the street. The dog seemed to smile, his eyes at least lighting up when Harry noticed him. The chocolate orbs held silent laughter as Harry regain his breath.
"You ok, Harry?" asked Ron, concerned. Harry nodded, still a little choked, and coughed out an 'excuse me,' before disappearing to the loo. His father looked out the window curiously, looking for anything out ordinary, and then frowning when he saw nothing. What did Harry see...? He thought.
*
Harry had discovered a back door out of the restaurant, meeting Sirius the moment he had shut the door. "Sirius! What are you doing here?" Harry exclaimed. He hugged the man he had only known was his godfather for three years tightly, enjoying his presence.
Sirius sighed slightly. He didn't need to tell Harry about the attack, it would worry him unnecessarily, but at the same time he didn't want to lie. "I was on my to see Dumbledore, I was passing by when I saw you in the window. It looked you were having fun." There was something to Sirius' tone that the youth didn't understand. "By the way who were you talking to? The blond?"
Harry's eyes widened in shock. Sirius didn't know! No one had told him! "Sirius you wouldn't believe it," Harry exclaimed. "That was my-" Harry stopped. A sharp pain had gone through his scar and it wasn't going away. "Oh god..." Harry's hand went to his head, and he slid to the floor. No, not now! Not while Sirius was here!
Sirius' eyes had widened almost to their limit. His scar was hurting him, then meant that... Could be that Voldemort was near? If so he had to get Harry out of Hogsmeade, and fast!
"So, this is were you got off to when Avery and his group went after you."
Sirius winced. A voice that grating, yet somehow smooth as a baby's skin, could only belong to one person. "Malfoy! What do you want?" The animagus growled, holding Harry as protectively as he could.
Sirius couldn't see Malfoy's face, but he could here the taunt in his voice. "What else? The boy, of course." The wand pointed at the youth in Sirius' arms. "No, you can't have him!"
"I wasn't asking."
"Harry," Sirius whispered. "Where's your wand?"
Harry didn't respond.
"Harry!"
"My left pocket, inside." Harry panted; the pain was becoming worse.
Malfoy laughed, "Don't tell me you're planning on escaping!"
"As a matter fact, we are!" Sirius dug into Harry's robe finding the desired wand instantly.
"Stupify!" Lucius Malfoy collapsed to the ground, stunned.
Sirius reacted immediately. In an instant, he had transformed in to his canine from and was dragging Harry, who could barley run, out of the alley. I have to do this, Sirius swore.
***
A few minutes after Harry left Ron and Hermione had started bickering with each other. James was still deep in thought. Sipping on his drink, his eyes kept slipping to the window. He had seen Harry looking out the window when he choked, but he looked there had been nothing, what had...
Someone screamed. Everyone jumped and whipped around to look at the person who screamed. A light haired woman was pointing out the window. "The Death Eaters!!" Everyone gasped, James spun around to the window. A huge group of Death Eaters were heading up the streets, randomly cursing and killing people.
"Fred, George, take Hermione and Ron to Honeydukes, from there to Hogwarts." James ordered, pulling out his wand.
"But what about Harry?"
"I'll look for him now go!" They were up, and dashing for the doors along with everyone else. The resurrected man was silently thankful their destination was so close.
It was tough to get to the back; everyone was trying to get out making it a near impossible task. When he finally got to the bathrooms, he was met with two wide open doors. "Harry?" He called. No response. "Harry! Come out!" He noticed the back door was slightly a jar. James' heart skipped a beat. Without even thinking, he rushed to the door pushing it open and running into alley. He gasped when he saw the body of the stunned Death Eater.
Looking at the ground he could only come up with two answers to why the Death Eater was stunned and Harry was missing. A) A Death Eater had taken his son and attempted to kidnap him only to be over taken by another one; or b) Harry had stunned the man and fled. He frowned at the message he received from the footsteps. There was only the small footsteps- Harry's, a larger man's and a dog's. A dog's? According to the way Harry's footsteps were, the dog had been dragging him, and Harry himself had been very off balance. Did that mean Harry was injured? And the dog, could it be... Sirius?
The screams were getting closer. He would have to return to Hogwarts and make sure the others were there. Hopefully Harry would be to. James raised his wand and apperated to the gates of Hogwarts, just as the Death Eater's swarmed the Three Broomsticks.
***
Ron and the other's stumbled into a deserted Honeydukes. Ron was thankful; he didn't feel like messing with the owner. They made their way to the basement.
As they descended they heard someone speaking, someone that sounded a lot like Sirius Black and he sounded distressed. Hermione looked at Ron, who looked at her. Both took off down the stairs. "Wait!" Fred shouted after them, "You don't know who's down there!" But they had already hit the bottom of the stairs.
It was indeed Sirius, and he was leaning over Harry who had collapsed. "Harry!"
"It's Black!!" Oh no, not good. Fred and George had no clue Sirius was innocent.
"What did you do to Harry, you, you, murderer!" George shouted, pulling out his wand.
Hermione, however, was quicker. "Expelliarmus!" The two redheads gaped. "I'll explain later, but you can wait!"
With that said she turned to the matter of her concern. "Sirius, what happened?" The distressed godfather never took his eyes off his half-conscious charge as he said, "His scar started hurting him. We managed to get here, but he collapsed before we could get onto the tunnel.
Ron turned pale at hearing of his best-friend's pain. He knew the implications of Harry's scar hurting as much as Hermione, who was also pale, was. "Why are we just sitting here? Who knows when... when... he might show up!" Sirius nodded, realizing this as well. "Help me move him, even with him half awake I can't move him." Ron didn't bother to answer, but instead went straight to helping Sirius hold up Harry. The before mentioned boy groaned lightly and tried to stand on unsteady legs. "Let's move."
After the three had left, Hermione began to follow. When she didn't see Fred and George coming she asked in what could be passed for a casual voice if they would rather stay and risk being found by the Death Eaters, or follow to Hogwarts. They, though very reluctantly and would later claim was just for Harry, Ron and Hermione's protection, followed.
The tunnel seemed to go on forever, and they would have gone through it in complete darkness had Hermione not lit her wand. The twins were trailing cautiously behind them, tense and ready to spring at anything. They didn't trust Black as fair as they could throw him.
Hermione took the opportunity to give an abridged version of the story of Sirius, Pettigrew, and the Potters switching their secret keeper. By the time they had reached the exit into Hogwarts, the two twins trusted the man enough to go a get Professor Dumbledore.
Sirius took Harry straight to the hospital wing despite the latter's protests; even him not being able to enter in human form stopped him from dragging his godson in. Madam Pomfrey met them at the door, seeming to have known they were coming and hurriedly bustled the protesting boy to a seat.
"What have you done to yourself this time, Mr. Potter?" The nurse didn't wait for an answer; she was already pouring some foul tasting drink down his throat. Harry choked and tried to say he was fine. The nurse glared at him, and was about to lecture him, when the door opened. She noticed immediately, throwing her arms up and leaving the room, swearing she would be back to tend for Harry.
The headmaster watched her go in amusement. Said amusement vanished when he turned to Harry. "Mr. Potter, Misters Weasley have informed me something is taking place in Hogsmeade. I need you to tell me what happened, try not to leave anything out." Harry sighed. Hurriedly, he explained about what happened, from spotting Sirius, to when he and the said animagus had fled to Honeydukes.
Ron and Hermione also told of what happened to them. Dumbledore nodded when they finished, and near raced from the room. Harry sat on the bed pale. James had stayed behind? But, what if something happened to him? No...
***
James raced through the halls, praying that his guess was right and that Harry would be in Hogwarts. He near knocked the doors of the Hospital wing down while trying to get in. Brown eyes swepted the room searching for- there he was! "Harry!"
Harry's head shot up just in time to see his father throw his arms around him. "Oh God, what happened, Harry??" James demanded. "I tried to look for you, but you were gone and then the body of the Death Eater. I thought you have been..." He buried his face in his son's hair again.
Harry may have been shocked by his father's reaction, but he wouldn't understand for sometime, why James reacted the way he did sometimes. James thought he had lost his family, thinking he may have lost Harry all over again...
The moment didn't last. A low dangerous bark came from the foot of the bed. Both looked down to see the large form of Padfoot, baring his teeth, and growling warningly... at James. "Sirius?" Harry asked confused, then cried out as Padfoot lunged onto James, knocking him off the bed. James found himself with a face full of dog, the animal was sniffing him and barking alternately.
"Sirius, get off!!" Sirius, despite his near starvation for the last fourteen, was still a heavy dog. James couldn't budge him. Just as quickly the dog was gone, retreating to the end of the bed. Sirius appeared in his place, looking confused, shocked, and deeply not believing what he was seeing.
"Why are you here?" The voice was weak and dull, almost as if Sirius couldn't feel anything.
James heaved himself up. "What am I doing here?" He said incredulously. "What did you go and jump on me for??"
"Because you can't possibly be James Potter. James is dead and you can only be some sick minded fool trying to trick us," spat Sirius.
James' temper flared. "Sirius! What's gotten int-"
"Shut up!" Sirius interrupted. "Just shut up!" He transformed into Padfoot and ran from the room. His mind couldn't handle this! Not right now!
Sirius didn't care where he ran, just as long as he got away from that hospital wing.
*
Back in the hospital wing, Harry stared at the door confused at his godfather's actions, and his sorrow going to him at the same time. The dark haired boy sighed then looked to his father. He blinked. Half of James face was hidden by his bangs, a reflective glare of light helping to hid it as well. If Harry had seen James' face he might have seen the pain in his father's eyes.
To be contiuned...
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Miss Sera: Oh for the love of god, it's about time!
Sirius: gaps
Miss Sera: What?
Sirius: opens and closes mouth. Angrily I would not have reacted like that!!
Miss Sera: raises eyebrows Oh? How would you have then?
Sirius: glares Humph!
Miss Sera: ^_^ That's what I thought. Well once again Sorry for the delay, Promise to work on the next chappie this week. (I have sping break. ^-^) Tata, and review!
Thnx to everyone who responded, here's some of the people:
polaris, Shei, Skye-chan, you-know-who, Semmel, Taracollowen, Saman, Neo, *Ice*, Jackie,
Anie, Tsuki tatsu, TeeDee, Maab, Aalilyah, Lady SallyRose (The house of Yami-Yugi kitties rule! ^-^),
Embyr Black, Carla #1,2,&3 (^^; J/K), Nicky, *~DarkAngelButterfly~*, Anie, ..., Britz, Lily Evans,
Anubys, Jeva, Jayde, Abby, Ice, Luna339, Celeste, Maggie_DB, Jessica- Canada, LuvMandi14,
Bigfoot and the Yeti, Nicolletta, Keara Jordan.
^^; Ok so it was everyone who reviewed, but who's counting...
