Before Harry knew it, it was time to go back to Hogwarts. Sirius was going to stay at Remus' now he was well enough not to need to be in the hospital wing. He promised to come and visit as often as he could.
The new term continued in much the same way as the old one had ended, with the exception of no visits to Sirius. Talitha decided that now they had a bit more spare time they would continue with the Occlumency lessons which seem to have been forgotten about since Sirius' return.
Harry arrived at her office for a lesson one evening to find Draco there. He was just leaving as Harry arrived.
"What was he doing here?" Harry demanded when Draco had gone
"Oh, erm, he was just asking about the homework I had set" Talitha replied.
They spent the next hour practicing and each time Harry managed to block the spell after a few seconds. Talitha was making it harder and harder. Every time he managed to reverse the spell, he would get a brief glimpse of Talitha's memories before she turned it back on him. Harry felt exhausted by the time Talitha suggested stopping.
"I think you've just about got it now" She told him. Harry grinned proudly. Talitha had told him previously how hard Occlumency actually was and that not many people could actually do it.
"We'll keep practicing now and then but I don't think you need anymore actual lessons. Just make sure you clear your mind before you go to sleep" Harry nodded. He hadn't had any dreams about Voldemort since Talitha had been teaching him.
"How's potions going?" She continued
"Fine" Harry said "Snape's not really being horrible to me anymore"
"That's good."
"Well he isn't be nice to me either but I suppose it's a start"
A few weeks later and the Gryffindor Quidditch team were preparing for their next match, Gryffindor versus Hufflepuff. Harry woke up early on the morning of the match with a pain in his scar. He hadn't felt anything in it since Talitha had been teaching him Occlumency, he would mention it to her later. Harry rubbed his head until the pain eased and then got up to find that Ron was already awake They got dressed and went down to Breakfast early and although Ron was feeling nervous, he was more confident than their last match. The team all sat together at the Gryffindor table at breakfast. Ron was encouraging them all to eat but Harry noticed that Ron didn't actually eat anything himself. Talitha came over to wish them luck.
"I just thought I'd let you know that Remus will be coming to watch and he's bringing his dog" she told Harry, Ron and Ginny. Harry smiled.
The team set of for the Quidditch pitch together. They went into the changing rooms and put on their scarlet and gold robes. Ron gave them a pep talk and soon it was time for them to go out onto the pitch. Harry looked up into the crowd and spotted Talitha and Remus standing with Hermione. A large black dog sat at Talitha's feet. Harry nudged Ron and pointed them out to him.
The team all mounted their brooms and took off.
"Good luck Ginny" Harry shouted as he flew past her. It must have worked because within 2 minutes of the match starting Ginny had scored. Ten minutes later Ginny had scored two more and Seamus had scored one. Ron made a spectacular save which even he seemed amazed by. Harry suspected that he hadn't planned it. Four more Gryffindor goals and one to Hufflepuff, then Harry saw something glistening on the other side of the pitch, it was the snitch. Harry glanced around quickly, Mark Hunter, the Hufflepuff seeker hadn't seen it. Harry's broom sped up as he shot toward the snitch, Hunter saw him go and followed but Harry broom was faster and he had set off first. Hunter wasn't even in reaching distance when Harry closed his hand around the snitch. The Gryffindor crowd cheered loudly as Harry flew round the pitch holding the snitch in the air. He looked around as he did and noticed the black dog running up and down the side of the pitch, barking madly. Harry touched down on the ground and Ginny ran over to him and hugged him.
"We won" she was shouting.
"You played brilliantly" Harry told her. Ron came over to join them.
"Nice one Captain" Harry said. Ron was beaming. Suddenly Harry stumbled over him as the black dog jumped up on him and knocked him over. Ron and Ginny laughed.
"Get of me Snuffles" Harry laughed as the dog licked his face. Talitha, Remus and Hermione had come over as well.
"I think you better take your dog to my office for a drink of water Remus" she laughed. She turned to Harry "We'll see you up there" she said. They all turned and walked back up to the castle as Ron, Ginny and Harry went to get change.
When they reached Talitha's office Snuffles had transformed back into Sirius.
"I thought Snuffles wasn't allowed out any more" Ginny said
"We'll everyone thinks I'm dead, so the ministry wouldn't think it's me, neither will the Death Eaters" Sirius said.
"You looked so funny running up and down" Ron said "I almost fell of my broom because I was laughing. Especially when Colin started throwing sticks for you"
During the next week the Gryffindors enjoyed taunting the Slytherin about how they were winning in the house cup. Harry noticed that Malfoy was quieter than usual and hardly commented back when anybody mentioned Quidditch to him. By Friday the novelty was wearing off and the students were looking forward to their Hogsmeade visit the next day.
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A/N: Keep reading the next few chapters are going to be very exciting. I might post one or more tonight. Not sure yet. I will if I get them ready. Please keep reading and reviewing
The new term continued in much the same way as the old one had ended, with the exception of no visits to Sirius. Talitha decided that now they had a bit more spare time they would continue with the Occlumency lessons which seem to have been forgotten about since Sirius' return.
Harry arrived at her office for a lesson one evening to find Draco there. He was just leaving as Harry arrived.
"What was he doing here?" Harry demanded when Draco had gone
"Oh, erm, he was just asking about the homework I had set" Talitha replied.
They spent the next hour practicing and each time Harry managed to block the spell after a few seconds. Talitha was making it harder and harder. Every time he managed to reverse the spell, he would get a brief glimpse of Talitha's memories before she turned it back on him. Harry felt exhausted by the time Talitha suggested stopping.
"I think you've just about got it now" She told him. Harry grinned proudly. Talitha had told him previously how hard Occlumency actually was and that not many people could actually do it.
"We'll keep practicing now and then but I don't think you need anymore actual lessons. Just make sure you clear your mind before you go to sleep" Harry nodded. He hadn't had any dreams about Voldemort since Talitha had been teaching him.
"How's potions going?" She continued
"Fine" Harry said "Snape's not really being horrible to me anymore"
"That's good."
"Well he isn't be nice to me either but I suppose it's a start"
A few weeks later and the Gryffindor Quidditch team were preparing for their next match, Gryffindor versus Hufflepuff. Harry woke up early on the morning of the match with a pain in his scar. He hadn't felt anything in it since Talitha had been teaching him Occlumency, he would mention it to her later. Harry rubbed his head until the pain eased and then got up to find that Ron was already awake They got dressed and went down to Breakfast early and although Ron was feeling nervous, he was more confident than their last match. The team all sat together at the Gryffindor table at breakfast. Ron was encouraging them all to eat but Harry noticed that Ron didn't actually eat anything himself. Talitha came over to wish them luck.
"I just thought I'd let you know that Remus will be coming to watch and he's bringing his dog" she told Harry, Ron and Ginny. Harry smiled.
The team set of for the Quidditch pitch together. They went into the changing rooms and put on their scarlet and gold robes. Ron gave them a pep talk and soon it was time for them to go out onto the pitch. Harry looked up into the crowd and spotted Talitha and Remus standing with Hermione. A large black dog sat at Talitha's feet. Harry nudged Ron and pointed them out to him.
The team all mounted their brooms and took off.
"Good luck Ginny" Harry shouted as he flew past her. It must have worked because within 2 minutes of the match starting Ginny had scored. Ten minutes later Ginny had scored two more and Seamus had scored one. Ron made a spectacular save which even he seemed amazed by. Harry suspected that he hadn't planned it. Four more Gryffindor goals and one to Hufflepuff, then Harry saw something glistening on the other side of the pitch, it was the snitch. Harry glanced around quickly, Mark Hunter, the Hufflepuff seeker hadn't seen it. Harry's broom sped up as he shot toward the snitch, Hunter saw him go and followed but Harry broom was faster and he had set off first. Hunter wasn't even in reaching distance when Harry closed his hand around the snitch. The Gryffindor crowd cheered loudly as Harry flew round the pitch holding the snitch in the air. He looked around as he did and noticed the black dog running up and down the side of the pitch, barking madly. Harry touched down on the ground and Ginny ran over to him and hugged him.
"We won" she was shouting.
"You played brilliantly" Harry told her. Ron came over to join them.
"Nice one Captain" Harry said. Ron was beaming. Suddenly Harry stumbled over him as the black dog jumped up on him and knocked him over. Ron and Ginny laughed.
"Get of me Snuffles" Harry laughed as the dog licked his face. Talitha, Remus and Hermione had come over as well.
"I think you better take your dog to my office for a drink of water Remus" she laughed. She turned to Harry "We'll see you up there" she said. They all turned and walked back up to the castle as Ron, Ginny and Harry went to get change.
When they reached Talitha's office Snuffles had transformed back into Sirius.
"I thought Snuffles wasn't allowed out any more" Ginny said
"We'll everyone thinks I'm dead, so the ministry wouldn't think it's me, neither will the Death Eaters" Sirius said.
"You looked so funny running up and down" Ron said "I almost fell of my broom because I was laughing. Especially when Colin started throwing sticks for you"
During the next week the Gryffindors enjoyed taunting the Slytherin about how they were winning in the house cup. Harry noticed that Malfoy was quieter than usual and hardly commented back when anybody mentioned Quidditch to him. By Friday the novelty was wearing off and the students were looking forward to their Hogsmeade visit the next day.
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A/N: Keep reading the next few chapters are going to be very exciting. I might post one or more tonight. Not sure yet. I will if I get them ready. Please keep reading and reviewing