Chapter 17:

A Rouge Knight

The hysterics caused by the snakes were far above the noise that was made the year before, when Cedric was named the first Hogwarts Champion. It was louder then the celebration in Harry's first when Gryffindor won the house cup for the first time in seven years. It rattled Harry's eyes more then the piercing screams that he heard when he saw his mother's death in his dreams. Above all, there was nothing he could do to stop it.

Blaise Zabini screamed again, her voice even louder this time. Everyone was starting to scream, chairs were scraping as students scrambled to stand on them, nothing could be heard over this powerful din. Ginny was frozen next to Harry, unusually silent. Quietly, she sat back down in her chair; Hermione mimicked her, pulling Ron back down to the seat.

Harry looked at Dumbledore, who was currently sitting at the head table. The Headmaster rose to his feet, sending an array of sparks into the air, over the heads of the students. With a flick of his wrist, loud snaps sounded, shocking everyone into silence.

"It is unfortunate that we have unwelcome company," he started, his voice calming, yet powerful. "But as Headmaster of this school, I see no reason for anyone to be alarmed. We will all continue our breakfast and enjoy that it is a lovely Christmas morning." He nodded once, gazing around the Great hall. "Now please, sit." He did so himself, as if setting an example.

Harry continued to look at him, waiting for some sort of sign. Surely Dumbledore wanted to know what the snakes were all about, also, Harry had a nagging suspicion in the back of his head about someone. Seeing Dumbledore look at him, Harry paused. Dumbledore nodded faintly, and leaned his head in the general direction of the antechamber, the very same chamber that Harry was lead into last year for the Tri-wizard tournament.

Harry nodded back, excused himself from Ginny, Ron and Hermione and walked slowly towards the room. He stopped many times on the way, talking to friends at the Gryffindor table, trying to look in the ordinary. As he made his was into the chamber, he saw that the fire was lit. Deciding to warm his toes and hands, for even in a magical castle, the corridors could be chilly in December, her placed himself on a footstool nestled in front of the flames. Harry reached out with his hands and looked up.

He jumped backwards in surprise, landing on his backside as he gazed up at his godfather.

"Sirius!"

"Good morning Harry, have a good Christmas?" Sirius's face was pleasant as he looked at his godson.

"Well, this morning I had a good time, as well as last night, but just a few moments ago…" He drifted off.

Sirius either didn't notice his change of voice, or he chose to ignore it because he continued on. "Check on that table over there."

Looking confused, Harry did as he was asked. Finding a lumpy package, he brought it back to the front of the fire.

"It's from Lupin and me, also Ivan had a chance to give his imput as well." Sirius said, nodding towards the present. "Surely you noticed that you didn't receive a present from me this morning."

"I didn't really think about that, I did have other things on my mind." He began to open then package, his eyes still on Sirius.

"Like the ball last night?" The tone that must have won over many ladies when Sirius was young began to show. He chuckled. "Who's the lucky girl?"

"Ginny Weasley." Harry had finished unwrapping the gift, finding a velvet bag he reached inside it. It was empty. Puzzled, he turned the bag upside-down and shook it experimentally. Nothing fell out onto his lap. He looked at the bag in confusion. "Umm… Sirius?"

"Put your hand inside and think about something you want." He grinned cheekily, his voice impish. "Something materialistic, not human."

Harry grinned, but obeyed as he slipped his hand inside the bag. Sighing, he thought about something that he might want. A chocolate frog could surely suffice after his Christmas breakfast. Thinking of the item, he felt as if a hand had grasped his, feeling something being pressed against his palm, he withdrew his hand. Sitting there, in the crook of his fingers was a chocolate frog, looking like any of the other ones might. Startled he looked at Sirius.

"You remember how Lupin and I gave you those glasses which fixed your eyesight for your birthday?" Sirius started.

Harry nodded.

"We magicked those for you, since we both know what a bother glasses can be." Sirius grinned. "That was an idea of your father's. So is this. He wanted something that could make an object appear right away. But don't get greedy, since you already owned chocolate frogs, this is one of yours, and there will be one missing when you go back to your room. It's quicker then the accio charm, and it takes almost no thought or concentration. Put the frog aside then put your hand in again."

Harry did as he was told and slipped his hand in again.

"Think of your father, me, Lupin and Ivan, and since you must Pettigrew." Sirius said this name with disgust.

Again, Harry thought of what his godfather suggested. Suddenly, something very heavy was pressed against his palm. It was square, and oddly book shaped. Retrieving it, he pulled out an old looking book with pages messily held in by rings.

"This," Sirius paused, looking at the book with thoughtful eyes. "Is the book that me, your father, Lupin and Ivan mostly made, but since Pettigrew was in the group at the time, you also had to think of him. It contains unfinished projects, ideas and useful inventions that your father eventually wanted to make. Now, it's yours."

"Thanks…" Harry flipped through the book, staring at sketches and scrawled script. This book was his father's; it had ideas made by him, something that he cherished. He looked up at Sirius. "It's means more then you think."

Sirius smiled, nodding. "I know." He grinned mischievously now. "So who is this miss Ginny? Is she Ron's sister since the last name is the same."

"Ron's only sister." Harry said, placing the book down on a table with extra caution. Sitting back down on the floor he began to unwrap his chocolate frog. "The only sister in the whole family on boys." Harry grinned, thinking of her.

"Ah… does this situation give you trouble? How did Ron take the news."

"You know, I doubt Ron has any idea of what is actually going on right now. He's going to wake up and realize that I love his sister and be in shock. I mean, he has Hermione to keep him busy at the moment, but until he comes to realize the situation between Ginny and I…." He stopped talking, realizing what he said. Sirius caught on in an instant.

"You love her?" He looked serious. "Those are pretty powerful words to be throwing around Harry, are you sure it isn't just some teenage lust?"

Harry chewed his chocolate frog with some thought. Did he love Ginny? Pausing he argued with himself, he knew it. He did. Swallowing he said; "I do love her, its more then lust."

"Lust can sometimes feel so good to be mistaken for love." Sirius went on, deciding that a fifteen year old could not be in love; he was just a child.

"I know what I feel, even though you think I don't." Harry sighed, looking at his chocolate frog card. On it was Saint Patrick. He held up the card for Sirius to see. "Is he a wizard? I just thought he was some myth."

"Oh, he was a wizard alright. Didn't you hear about the time he drove all the snakes out of Ireland? That takes some powerful spells."

"Hmm." Harry said, absorbing the fact that he just learned some useless information. "Anyways, I do love Ginny, more then I though possible." He smiled. "When are you coming to Hogwarts?"

"Not till after the winter," Sirius sighed, moving his head as if he was cracking his neck. "But it is getting late, I must be leaving Harry."

Harry sighed nodding. "Ginny, Ron and Hermione could be wondering where I ran off to."

Sirius smiled, looking as if he must have fifteen years ago. "I'm going to have to talk to you about Ginny some more later, but until then Harry, Goodbye."

"'Bye Sirius." Harry said, "Thank you."

Sirius's face faded from the flames. Harry stood up grabbing his new book, bag and card; he left the room.

~*~

Weeks passed, as December rolled into January, and January stormed into February. Drifts still decorated the grounds of Hogwarts, but they were not as deep as they were in December. Harry soon forgot about the incident with the snakes, as did everyone else. Since they were back into the grind of schoolwork and teenage angst, nobody had time to recall an incident that happened nearly two months ago.

Ginny, Ron and Hermione were amazed the first time that Harry had shown them how Sirius's gift worked, and of course Hermione wouldn't rest until she had figured out it's source of magic. She was still buried under that pile of books researching. When the weather was calm, despite the snowy drifts, Harry took the reserves and regular Quidditch players out to practice. And by the time that the snow melted, Harry was sure that they would have an unbeatable team.

Ciaran began practicing with them again, since his probation had only limited him temporarily. Even though Harry disliked him, he had to admit he was a praise-worthy seeker. He lost to him one out of four times, and he was still getting better. But, even though Harry was captain, Ciaran would never listen to him, no matter what it was about.

It was like trying to play wizards chess with a rouge knight. It wasn't fun.

To Be Continued….

Author's Note: Due to the sad lack of reviews… I'm not going to be addressing everyone personally this time, but thank you to those who did review. Also (I know, I know) I did a bad thing in the chapter… I skipped two months. I normally am against that, but I needed to. Until next time, keep writing and reading (did I mention reviewing???).