A/N: Thank you all who reviewed! Your comments just make me feel all warm and fuzzy. Anywho, I hope you all will continue reading and reviewing. Enjoy!
Saya-Sato: Yeah, I know Harry wasn't surprised when Lupin's head appeared in the fire, but after all the times Sirius did it and the couple times he did it, I just made it one of those normal wizarding things. You can't really expect Harry to be too surprised. He had to figure someone from the Order was going to check up on him in some way. And about the transition to the Burrow. You're definitely right about that one. My transition was fast, but that was mainly because I couldn't think of anything else to happen to Harry while he stayed with the Durselys'. I hope you enjoy the rest of my story and thanks for the pointers!
Chapter 4The celebration went on late into the evening. They all stayed up drinking butterbeer and chattering happily. Fred and George brought home some of those fireworks that had caused mayhem in the hallways at Hogwarts last year. There were shapes of all sizes. There was a dragon breathing fire, a wizard that kept trying to hex them but kept having the spells bounce back unto himself, and a beautiful butterfly that would shower down rose shaped sparks over them.
In the way of gifts, Harry had received the newest book on professional Quidditch players and some chocolate frogs from Ron, some of Fred and George's trick candy free of charge, a sweater from Mr. and Mrs. Weasley, and a box of Every Flavor beans from Ginny. It wasn't till about this time that he realized that Hermione wasn't with them enjoying the fireworks. Harry pondered this question aloud.
"She's not feeling well," Mrs. Weasley answered sadly. "Poor dear." Harry nodded blankly as he felt a little disappointed that Hermione wasn't with them in the celebration, but the minute that George passed him another butterbeer Harry temporarily forgot about Hermione's absence.
Harry watched as one of Fred's Fashion Faux Pas's resulted in the changing of Ron's hair from a blazing red, to a sickening color of puce. When Ron finally saw what everyone was laughing at, his face almost became the color of his hair. Harry laughed as Ron began demanding the antidote from the twins. A second later, Harry felt a tap on his shoulder. Harry turned around and was surprised to find a serious looking Lupin.
"Harry, can I talk to you for a minute?" Lupin asked. Harry instantly became somber, he knew that this could only be about one thing and Harry really didn't want to think about it at the moment when he was having so much fun, but Harry nodded his yes anyway, and he and Lupin stepped outside.
"Harry, I wanted to give you your present alone so that it would be just for you," Lupin said as he reached into the pocket of his robes and pulled out a small square box that looked like it could hold a necklace. Harry looked at Lupin in surprise as he unwrapped it. "It's not much really, but I thought you'd—I hoped you'd like it." Lupin watched Harry somewhat nervously.
Inside lay a card that looked exactly like a card you'd find in one of the Chocolate Frogs boxes, and at first, Harry thought it was, but when he looked at it more closely he realized what infamous wizard was smiling back at him, and Harry gave Lupin the first real smile he'd given anyone in a long time.
"Do you like it?" Lupin asked. "Because like I said, it wasn't much, but I thought—"
"It's great, Professor, thank you," Harry said taking Lupin in a hug and then turned back to look at the card. For on the card was a picture of his Godfather. Except in this picture his hair was tidy and his eyes were not hollow from years in Azkaban. He resembled the handsome man that Harry remembered from the pictures of his parents wedding when Sirius had been the best man.
"Professor—" Harry started but stopped when he heard the back door to the Burrow being thrown open.
"Remus," Mr. Weasley said running towards Lupin. "We've got to go. We just got word from Tonks about dementors attacking mug—" Arthur Weasley stopped when he noticed Harry.
Lupin just nodded and he turned back to face Harry. "You stay here, Harry, and stay out of trouble. I'm sorry we couldn't stay longer, but I do hope you enjoy your party. I'll come to visit again before you return to Hogwarts," and with that, Lupin and Mr. Weasley disappeared from sight.
Harry stood there reeling from the latest news. Harry knew that the last word Mr. Weasley meant to say was "muggles." Dementors are attacking muggles, Harry repeated in his head. Voldemort is making his move. Harry shuddered remembering the prophecy. …And either must die at the hand of the other for neither can live while the other survives… Harry would admit to anyone who asked him that Voldemort was not his biggest fear. He had even admitted that to Lupin in his third year, but the idea that you and you alone had the power to destroy the greatest dark wizard ever known was, to say it bluntly, scary. And when it finally came to a head-to-head battle, only one of them would survive.
"Harry?" Harry turned surprised to see Ron standing there looking at him with his hair back to its natural color. "What are you doing out here?"
"Nothing," Harry said, shoving the card that Lupin had given him in his pocket.
"Did you hear? Dementors have started attacking muggles!" Ron said worriedly, not noticing Harry's motion to hide the card.
"Yeah, I heard. Voldemort (Ron you really need to get used to hearing his name. After all, it's only a name) has some new plans."
"You think V-v-v—He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named gave up on whatever the Prophecy is?" Ron asked failing miserably at his attempt to say Voldemort's name. Harry swallowed. He had yet to tell Ron or Hermione what Dumbledore had told him at the end of last year. All in all, neither of them needed to know. To tell them about the Prophecy would only worry them.
"It's possible, Ron, but for some reason I doubt it," Harry said. They stood in silence for a few minutes before Mrs. Weasley nervously called them back inside. The news of the dementors had put a damper on the party. Mrs. Weasley became worried at the obvious threat Voldemort was bringing with the new activity of the dementors. Fred, George, Ginny, and Ron could easily sense their mother's mood change and decided to calm down. After lounging around downstairs finishing off the rest of the butterbeer, and reading passages from Harry's new Quidditch book aloud, Harry and Ron headed upstairs to check on Hermione, whom they had yet to see all evening.
Hermione was staying in Ginny's bedroom, which was across the hall from Ron's. Harry knocked softly on the door and called out Hermione's name. When there was no answer, Harry opened the door slowly. He and Ron walked in only to find Hermione sitting by the window, looking up at the falling darkness of the sky.
"Hermione?" Ron asked hesitantly, unsure of how to react by Hermione's strange behavior.
Hermione turned around abruptly to face them. "Hey, Ron, Harry." She eyed both of them carefully. "How long have you two been standing there?"
"N-not long," Ron stuttered. "Are you feeling better?"
Hermione shrugged. "A little. I still have a little bit of a headache." She turned towards Harry. Her eyes previously seeming cold and empty seemed to fill up with sorrow.
"I'm sorry I couldn't celebrate your birthday with you, Harry," she said.
Harry lifted an eyebrow. "That's okay Hermione—"
"But I do have a present for you," Hermione said stepping away from the window and heading to her trunk. She rummaged around for a few minutes and then lifted a medium sized package and set it on the bed. Harry hesitantly stepped over to the bed, but then more assuredly began to unwrap it with the help of Hermione's normal happy smile.
Harry looked at the gift carefully, recognizing it from past experiences with both Dumbledore and Snape.
"You got Harry a Pensieve?" Ron asked confused. "Why?"
Hermione looked offended. "Harry has a lot on his mind Ron, and it is sometimes easier just to put your memories some where so that you have time to think."
"He has as much on his mind as we do!" Ron retorted. "After all, he's only sixteen."
"Since when do you ever think of anything, Ron? Quidditch seems to be the only thing on your mind—"
"That's not true!" Ron shouted, but before he could say anything more, Harry interrupted.
"Enough! I am tired of your bickering! Hermione, your present is great, thank you," Harry said shooting a look at Ron. Ron grudgingly turned to Hermione and apologized for his comments, while Hermione apologized for saying he thought nothing but Quidditch. The three of them sat in silence until Hermione proclaimed that her head still hurt and that she was going to go to bed. Ron and Harry said goodnight and left.
Harry and Ron retreated to Ron's room where Ron pulled out an old ratty issue of Quality Quidditch's monthly magazine and Harry pulled out his new Quidditch book once again. However, the Quidditch book was just a cover. Harry inconspicuously removed the card that Lupin had given him from his pocket and set it inside the book. The setup of the card was exactly like those of the wizarding cards found in Chocolate Frogs. A picture of Sirius with his name was on the front, and on the back was a short bio.
Sirius Black, A.K.A. Padfoot and Snuffles was a wizard of amazing talents.
A long time friend to James Potter since attending Hogwarts School of Witch Craft
and Wizardry, Black accompanied his friend to his wedding of Lily Evans as the best man. Later he became the Godfather to their son, Harry Potter. He made the pages of the Daily Prophet with false accusations of being in league with Voldemort and was sentenced to life in Azkaban prison. Sirius Black became the first to escape from the infamous prison and later found himself reacquainted with his werewolf friend, Moony, his Godson, Harry, and a newfound friendship with his loyal Hippograff, Buckbeak. Black died honorably for the Order and to those who knew him best, he will be remembered forever for his love for his Godson and his unmistakable loyalty to his friends.
Harry smiled at the words he knew Lupin must have written. Especially when he wrote out Voldemorts name and mentioned the Order. Harry's smile became wider when he remembered how Sirius would laugh at the latest news in the Daily Prophet about his whereabouts. Harry figured that's why Lupin had mentioned the accusations against Sirius and his escape from Azkaban.
"What's so funny, Harry?" Ron's voice said interrupting his thoughts.
"What?" Harry asked startled.
"You've been smiling at that page for the last fifteen minutes. What's so funny?" Ron asked.
Harry looked down at the card, and decided to show it to Ron. He'd think it was pretty cool too. When Ron had finished reading he smiled too. "Bloody hell! That's an awesome present! That was really nice of Lupin. It looks exactly like the real cards too!"
"Yeah, I couldn't have asked for a better present to remember Sirius by," Harry said, but then became quiet. They both knew what Harry was thinking. He wanted more than a card to remember Sirius by. He wanted Sirius. Harry stuffed the card into the book and set it on top of his trunk. Ten minutes later, Harry was lying on a cot on the floor, and Ron was fast asleep in his bed.
Harry lay on his back, looking up at the stars. They were actually more of blurry white lights, because Harry's glasses were lying on the floor next to him. A few minutes later he saw one less light then there had been a minute ago. It disappeared only to reappear again leaving only seconds for the next one to follow suite. Before Harry could even put on his glasses, it stopped. Harry looked up at the sky, his glasses now in place, and watched carefully. Still, nothing happened. He could have sworn that he'd seen the stars blinking, but for all he knew, they could have been fireflies.
Harry lay back down for a few more minutes with his glasses on, waiting for something to happen. After a while, when the sky remained unchanging, Harry removed his glasses and fell into a restful sleep. It felt like he'd only been asleep for a few moments when he heard sounds coming from downstairs. Harry instantly reached for his glasses. Slowly he got up and crept to the door. The voices were defiantly coming from downstairs but he still couldn't make them out.
Harry glanced back at Ron and then opened the door slowly enough as to not make it squeak. He continued till he was at the top of the flight of stairs. As soon as he arrived there, he could make out the conversation between Mr. and Mrs. Weasley clearly.
"Two Muggles died tonight, Molly. Two! This is how it all started last time, too. It's so aggravating, because if Cornelius had just believed Harry's story to begin with, we could have made peace with the dementors and we wouldn't be in this mess!" Mr. Weasley's angry voice filtered up the stairs.
"What does the Ministry think of all this?" Mrs. Weasley asked anxiously.
"They're worried. Really worried. Now that they're sure that He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named is a possible threat Cornelius is attempting to assemble an army, similar to the Order, against him, but everyone seems worried that the He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named will be coming back with more power than ever. Especially now that people are starting to believe that article Harry submitted last year," Mr. Weasley said.
"And the Death Eaters at Azkaban?" Mrs. Weasley asked.
"Still there, thankfully. We've got some Aurors there, but we all know they're not as effective as the dementors. I hate to say it, but if You-Know-Who has his way, they won't be in there long."
Harry heard the sound of a chair being pulled out and then Molly continued, the tiredness in her voice evident. "Do you think it wise to take Harry away from the Durselys'? He's more protected there than he is here."
"Albus was worried about it too, but he'll only be here for a little less than half the summer. Besides, it's very unlikely that You-Know-Who will try anything here or at the Durselys'."
"But once Harry gets to Hogwarts, You-Know-Who can't—" Mrs. Weasley was cut off when a loud scratching noise, followed by a bark echoed from up the stairs.
