4. Goshawk and dog

(October 11th, 1995)

The day was sunny and warm. Harry woke up in high spirits. He couldn't dream of the better weather for an inaugural Quidditch match. The match that promised to be a hit of the year: Gryffindor versus Slytherin. Draco Malfoy, a new captain of the Slytherin team, has been threatening for weeks that October the 11th would be a day of shame for the Gryffindor. And soon it turned out what made him so self-confident. As in the previous years, his father supplied all the team with the latest models of Nimbus brooms. Harry, however, took it easy. He knew that the equipment itself would not win the match. In Quidditch a good team was more important and Slytherin didn't have it.

If something worried Harry an hour before the match it was how a new Gryffindor Keeper, Scott Brick, cope with his task. During the training he had been playing pretty well and the captain, Angelina Johnson, was quite pleased with him. But now she looked uneasy and kept giving to Scott last instructions and advice.

As usually before the match, Harry ate only a thin slice of bread and was about to leave when Hedwig flew into the Hall through the opened window. It espied him in the crowd of the students and dropped a small roll of paper on his knees. Harry unrolled it with curiosity.

'It's from Sirius' he whispered.

Ron and Hermione moved closer.

'He says he will come to see the match !' read Harry.

He sounds both glad and surprised.

'What ? He will come to Hogwart ?!' cried Hermione.

Ron gave her a warning nudge.

'But it's dangerous' she proceeded in a low voice 'Now, when the defence system works...'

'He says not to worry about that' read Harry 'so he had to get a permission from Dumbledore.'

He lifted his eyes up to the stuff table. The Headmaster was deep in conversation with professor Flitwick but Vega Starlight smiled to him slightly.

'I'm glad to see Sirius' said Harry, putting the letter into his pocket.

'Harry, what are you still doing there ?!'

Angelina stood in the door of the Great Hall, waving at him urgently. She looked very nervous, kept looking at her watch and casting an anxious glance at the team gathered around.

'I'm coming !' called Harry, seizing his Firebolt.

They left the castle and went towards the great Qudditch pitch. Six high goalposts rose proudly into the sky, the stands showed the colours of two competing houses. Students have already started to gather, expecting an exciting match.

Near the entrance to the changing room seven Slyherins stood, smiling broadly, with new Nimbus 2003 in their hands. But that was not because of them that Harry felt an icy shiver and impulsively raised his hand to the scar on the forehead.

Near Slytherins, with a hand on his son's arm, Lucius Malfoy stood. The memory of last June immediately revived in Harry's mind. Once more he heard a cruel, ruthless voice of Lord Voldemort and the name he called one of his Death Eaters: Lucius.

Malfoy noticed Harry, too. His cold, bright eyes flared up. For a moment he was staring at the boy with a gaze full of hatred and contempt, then he whispered something to a man standing by. The man looked at Harry with a keen interest.

Harry had no idea who the strange wizard was. He has never met him before. Tall, with fair, slightly wavy hair and grey-blue, dreamy eyes, he was full of a gentle charm and if Harry wouldn't be so suspicious about any person he saw accompanied by Lucius Malfoy, he would found the wizard quite nice.

'So that is Harry Potter...' said the wizard in a soft, mellow voice, smiling slightly.

'Yes, our celebrity himself' somebody assented ironically.

Slytherins chuckled and in a moment Harry felt even more uncomfortable than before. Severus Snape stopped near Malfoy and looked at Harry with antipathy. The fair-haired wizard glanced at the Potion Master and the smile vanished from his face.

'Ah, Severus !' Malfoy stretch his hand 'A splendid day for a splendid victory, isn't it ?'

Snape smiled slightly, fixing his eyes on the tall wizard.

'Magnus Devilson' he drawled out, with a nasty expression on his face 'At Hogwart again...?'

Devilson looked more and more livid.

'Yes' he said dryly, staring at Snape with rage 'I've been invited by Dumbledore.'

'No doubt...' an ironical smile was playing on Snape's lips.

'Harry !' George Weasley put his head out through the window 'If you don't come at once, Angelina is going to have a heart attack.'

Harry went hurriedly to the changing room, relieved that George saved him from an unpleasant situation. But on the other hand he was dying to know who Magnus Devilson was and why Snape was looking at him with such antipathy.

For the present, however, the match was the most important task. When all the players were dressed in their traditional robes of red and gold, Angelina made a brief speech.

'We have to win' she said in an unnaturally hoarse voice 'Slytherins have better brooms, but we have better team...'

Further words stuck in her throat. She clasped her hands nervously.

'Calm down, Angelina' Fred gave her a friendly pat on the shoulder 'We'll show them, what does it mean to play Quidditch. Harry will catch the Snitch in five minutes.'

Angelina nodded but she still looked nervous.

'It's time!' said Katie, looking out through the half-open door 'Madam Hooch is calling.'

And one by one, with Angelina at the head, they went out at the pitch basking in the sun.

. . .

Nobody has expected something like this. Harry Potter caught the golden Snitch in the third minute of the match, right from under the nose of completely astonished Malfoy. For several seconds there was a silence and then the stands exploded with a yell. Gryffindors were frantic with joy. From their part of the stands the red-golden sparks shot into the sky and the rain of purple rosettes fell on the grass. Enthusiastic crowd was pressing to the exit and swarming over the pitch, looking for the heroes of the day.

Vega congratulated beaming Minerva McGonagall and left the teacher stand. She went down and, passing a group of silent and gloomy Slytherins, she moved towards three men who have just appeared at the foot of the white-green stand.

They saw her and stopped. Snape and Devilson bowed. In Malfoy's eyes flashed the purest hatred.

'So, what do you think, Lucius ?' Vega smiled with a vindictive satisfaction, looking icily at Malfoy 'Spectacular match, isn't it ?'

Malfoy's pale face twisted in fury, he impulsively reached for his wand, but cooled down immediately. Vega, however, noticed his movement and murderous sparkles gleamed in her grey eyes.

'Try it...' she hissed sinisterly.

'Ah, there you are !'

Dumbledore appeared from behind a stone pier, looking at the small meeting from over his glasses.

'We were discussing about the match' said Vega, keeping her eyes at Malfoy.

Dumbledore beamed.

'What a splendid game !' he exclaimed enthusiastically 'Though a short one, I must say. That Potter...an incredible boy !' he said, pretending not to see deep disgust on the Snape and Malfoy faces.

'You're absolutely right, Headmaster' added Devilson in a mellow voice 'Of course, even in the far north everybody heard about famous Harry Potter, but today I could see with my own eyes that there was really something in that boy.'

Dumbledore smiled at him kindly.

'I see you found the time to visit Hogwart, Magnus ?' he said.

'I couldn't deny myself this pleasure' assured Devilson 'You know how much I love that old castle. I wish my parents had sent me here instead of Durmstrang.'

Snape was looking at Devilson with both antipathy and disgust.

'What brought you to England, Magnus?' asked Vega with an innocent curiosity.

'Work' sighed Devilson 'In the Norwegian Ministry of Magic I'm the head of the Department of Teleportation. Recently we entered into co-operation with your ministry in order to reduce the number of illegal Apparitions in the Scandinavian Dragons Reserve. Poachers...' he sadly shook his head 'During last five years we lost more than a half of the Ridgebacks population and the species is in danger. We had to take prompt action against the poachers. That's why we decided to meet every several weeks in the English ministry to co-ordinate our work.'

'A noble activity...' sneered Snape.

Devilson gave him an ominous look but didn't comment. Dumbledore clapped his hands.

'We are chatting and chatting but you wanted to talk with me, Lucius. Let's go to my office. Magnus, will you keep us company?'

'If you don't mind, Headmaster, I will take a walk around old Hogwart' said Devilson.

'Of course I don't mind' smiled Dumbledore, he looked fleetingly at Vega and went with Malfoy towards the castle.

Snape was watching withdrawing Magnus suspiciously.

'I wouldn't trust him' he said silently.

Vega gave him a searching look.

'Why do you dislike him so much?' she asked.

'I have my reasons' Snape dodged a question.

Vega shrugged her shoulders, looked around, transformed into the black goshawk and followed Devilson.

. . .

Harry jumped down from his broom and next second he almost fell to the ground when the whole Gruffindor team sprang at him with a joyful scream. Fred and George seized his hands and legs and started to throw him up while the girls performed an off-hand victory dance. Harry had hardly stood on his feet when they were surrounded by the cheering Gryffindors.

'Harry, you were great!' called Ron, elbowing his way towards the friend.

'Really, Harry ! You set up a new school record.' gasped out Hermione 'No match has ever ended so quickly.'

'If you could see old Malfoy's face !' laughed Ron 'He looked as if he had wanted to kill you with his gaze. And Snape !' he smiled viciously 'He was simply ill with rage.'

'Well, he pays me back at Potions.' said Harry lightly.

He was so happy that even a prospect of the lesson with furious Snape couldn't mar his joy.

'And that handsome wizard who came with Malfoy was completely shocked.' said Hermione 'He even didn't notice you had caught the Snitch.'

When she mentioned the wizard Harry immediately remembered an incident from before the match. He drew his friends aside and quickly told them everything. Ron and Hermione were surprised but they had no more time to think about that, since an enormous figure with a shaggy, dark beard loomed from the crowd of the students.

'Harry, just great!' thundered Hagrid over the heads of the Gryffindors, pushing his way through the crowd.

He stopped near Harry.

'Same like yer dad' he smiled ' Great Seeke' he was. He would be proud o' yeh...' he snivelled and shook his head sadly 'But I have a s'prise fo' yeh' he added more cheerfully, looked quickly around and lowered his voice 'Somebody wan'to congratulate you.'

Harry's eyes flared up.

'So he really has come!' he exclaimed.

Hagrid nodded.

'O'course, he didn' wan'to miss yer match. Now, follow me. Must lose yer fans, Harry.'

Grffindors, however, didn't want to let their hero go so easily. Harry had to tell them once more how he had caught the Snitch before they released him. Following Hagrid, Harry, Ron and Hermione left the pitch and went towards the Keeper's hut. Hagrid, however, didn't stop there and led them into the Forbidden Forest.

After several minutes they reached a small clearing. A large, black dog was sitting in the middle. When it saw Harry it wagged its tail and in a split second transformed itself into a man.

'Sirius!' called Harry.

Sirius Black smiled heartily. How much he resembled now that young, merry man from Harry's parents wedding photograph. His glossy dark hair was falling on his shoulders, eyes finally got back their lustre. That wasn't the same wizard who had escaped from Azkaban two years ago.

'Sirius' repeated Harry 'You look great.'

Black laughed.

'I'm the one who should tell compliments' he said 'You played a great match today.'

'Will be in my hut' said Hagrid, winking at Ron and Hermione and all three left the clearing.

Harry smiled gratefully. Hagrid rightly guessed that he would like to speak with Sirius in private.

'Tell me, how are your things going on.' asked Black, sitting on the grass.

And Harry told him everything that happened from the beginning of the school year. Sirius smiled mysteriously when he noticed that Harry was talking with a great enthusiasm about the Defence Against the Dark Arts lessons.

'So you like your new Defence teacher?' he asked, looking attentively at his godson.

'Sure!' said Harry 'Everybody likes her, even Slytherins. Though, I must say, she is very demanding. And strict.'

'Certainly' he said, still smiling 'That's Vega. She is the first-rate Auror. The best one.'

Harry pricked up his ears.

'You wrote you knew her from Hogwart...?' he asked innocently.

'That's right' assented Sirius 'We were in Gryffindor together.'

Harry was waiting silently but Sirius didn't say anything more. Therefore Harry tried from the other side.

'One day, by accident, we heard professor Starlight quarrelling with Snape. She was really furious. They were talking about Remus...'

Suddenly Sirius became very serious.

'Harry' he said trenchantly, putting his hand on the boy's shoulder 'There are things you should not ask me about. What happened then...' he sighed and for a moment was sitting silently, as if he was watching some distant past 'That is not your business, Harry' he said gently and a grief flickered in his dark eyes 'You must understand, it can still hurt...'

A silence fell. Sirius was looking thoughtfully at the waving branches of the trees, surrounding the small clearing. Finally he sighed and smiled to Harry.

'Well, enough those sad memories. You didn't tell me how Ron and Hermione were.'

They were chatting for another half an hour. At last Sirius controlled his watch and stretched himself.

'It's time for me, Harry' he said, standing up 'I think we won't meet before the Christmas, but we stay in touch.'

To Harry's much delight Sirius informed him that this year's winter holidays they would spend together at Remus Lupin.

'Good-bye' said Black and a great, shaggy dog appeared again.

'Good-bye' Harry patted it on the head.

Suddenly the dog cocked its ears and growled grimly. Harry turned around and jumped up. Among the trees a figured loomed, making its way confidently towards the clearing. Harry was watching anxiously as the stranger was moving closer and closer. The dog was growling, baring its fangs.

A tall man stopped abruptly at the edge of the glade, as if surprised to find somebody there. Harry carefully put hand into his pocket and clasped fingers on the wand. But in the same second the man laughed and went out from the shadow of the trees. In the full sun his wavy hair glistened as a bright gold.

'Harry!' he called with a smile 'Here you are! I was walking round the like and when I was passing by the Forest I heard voices. I thought I would check, who was it. And I found you.'

'Mr Devilson...'

Harry was so astonished that he couldn't say anything more. Devilson moved towards him with a merry glint in his eyes. In the same moment Sirius sprang forward with its hackles up and blocked his way. The wizard quivered and took a step back.

'Is it your dog?' he asked, looking at the beast 'It looks as if it wanted to devour me.'

'It will not hurt you.' assured Harry, seizing the dog by the fur and trying to pulled it away from Devilson.

But again he was seized with fear. Sirius wouldn't behave like this without any reason. Magnus didn't take his eyes off it.

'That's not a normal dog' he said slowly 'These are not animal eyes.'

Harry felt an unpleasant cramp in his stomach. If Devilson discover that the dog is indeed a wizard wanted by the whole ministry...

'What is going on here?' a cold voice sounded.

Vega Starlight stood at the edge of the clearing, casting a sweeping glance at them. For a moment her eyes rested at Sirius, who suddenly ceased growling. The witch fixed her eyes on Devilson.

'Did you lose your way, Magnus?' she asked with a faint smile 'You disappeared for so long that we have already started to worry...'

Harry couldn't help feeling that a veiled warning is hidden behind those kind words. Devilson, however, smiled lightly.

'Oh, you didn't have to. I was walking and I met Harry.'

Vega looked at the boy.

'It's time to go back to the castle, Potter' she said mildly but categorically 'Say good-bye to Padfoot.'

Harry stood dumbfounded. Professor Starlight knew a school nickname of Sirius! And she hadn't doubt that the great, black dog is Sirius himself. Harry looked astonished at Vega but he couldn't read anything from her face.

Meanwhile, the dog approached Vega wagging its tail and licked her hand. The witch smiled and gently pulled a shaggy ear.

'Nip off' she said softly.

Sirius barked, stroke Harry with its nose and faded among the trees.