Chapter Three
OWLS
" He left it all to me?" Harry replied in disbelief, gazing at the far right corner of the room that held a lot of dusty objects. " But-but we got rid of most of the stuff last summer, didn't we?"
" Yes, most of it anyway. A lot of this is Sirius' Personal belongings while some of it is his families belongings that we didn't get around to discarding last year."
A pained expression came across Remus' face as he spoke of his friend. Stroking Buckbeak one last time, he slowly stood up and glanced once more around the room.
" You are quite welcome to come up here whenever you like and sort through some of it, But right now what do you say we head down to dinner?"
" Why don't you go ahead..I'm-well...I am not really that hungry" Harry admitted, not moving from his position on the floor.
Remus looked down at him with a worried expression on his face. " Are you sure? most of the order is here"
He usually would love to go down and eat dinner with everyone but right now he wasn't in the mood. It wasn't just because he wasn't hungry; part of it was because he wasn't ready to face everyone. He just wanted to be alone at the moment.
" Yea, I think I just want to be alone for a bit" he replied.
" I understand, Harry." he said, placing his hand on Harry's shoulder before exiting the room.
Sighing Harry stroked Buckbeak as he continued to flip through some of Sirius' old photographs. The book was filled front to back with years of memories from his days at Hogwart's to a picture taken of him and Harry last Christmas. Sirius stood behind him, both of his hands on Harry's shoulders. They were grinning broadly at the camera.
He didn't know how long he sat up there just staring at this picture. It was one of the only pictures he now had of himself with his godfather. That guilty feeling once more filled his body as he thought of how little time he had with him.
" I don't want to think about that," he thought to himself as he slammed the book shut and stood up. He was about to leave the room when something caught his eye. Resting on a small table several feet away from Buckbeak was a mirror. This wasn't just an ordinary mirror though; it was the twin of the mirror he gave Harry the previous year to get in contact with him. Harry's mirror, however, rested broken at the bottom of his trunk.
" What's it doing up here?" he wondered to himself. Then it hit him like a ton of galleons. When Harry tried to get a hold of Sirius, Kreacher told him he wasn't there but Harry found out later he was upstairs tending to a hurt Buckbeak. Sirius must of had the mirror up here with him incase he tried to get in contact with him.
Harry continued to stare at mirror as the corners of his eyes began to sting. Maybe if he had remembered the mirror, Sirius would still be here he thought.
" Harry?" came a soft voice.
Harry quickly wiped his eyes before turning around to see Ginny standing in the doorway. She had changed a great deal since last year. She had grown at least an inch in height and her flaming red hair was now half way down her back. She indeed, looked more mature then Harry had remembered.
" When you didn't come down for dinner we got worried about you. I thought I'd come up and see if you were ok.," she stated, standing behind him.
Harry stayed quiet for a minute as he stared at the floor. He knew everyone was concerned about him, especially Ron and Hermione but what was he to say to him or her? " It's all my fault Sirius is dead and, by the way, I am the only one who can defeat Voldemort." Yea, that would go over well. He knew exactly what would happen. Hermione would worry and read through every book she could that contained information about prophecies while Ron would be too shocked to say anything. He came to the conclusion that he wasn't going to tell them, not just yet anyway. He didn't want them worrying even more about him then they already were.
" I am fine...I was just looking through some stuff up here, that's all" he replied, forcing a smile onto his face. He found himself barely smiling anymore and if he did, it was usually a forced one. What was there to be happy about? His godfather died because of him and on top of that, the weight of the wizarding world rested on sixteen-year old boys shoulders.
" Why don't you come join us in the bedroom? I think Hermione and Ron are in there playing a game of chess.
He agreed and he slowly followed Ginny down the stairs. As they drew closer to the room, Hermione and Ron's bickering voices could be heard.
" I won! ha!"
" So..this game is totally barbaric!" Hermione argued back.
" You are just sore because this is something you aren't good at!"
" Oh, Ron, don't be thick! like I care that I am not good at some stupid wizard's chess!"
Ginny turned around and rolled her eyes at Harry." I really wish those two would grow up and just realise they like each other" Ginny commented stopping in front of the door.
" What do you mean?" Harry asked, confused.
" Well, it's obvious they like each other isn't it? They are bickering every twenty minutes! It drives me mad!" she laughed finally opening the door.
The thought never crossed Harry's mind. True, he knew they argued a lot but he never thought it was because they liked each other...well...not like that anyway. This however, would explain Ron's huge jealousy problem with Krum.
The arguing stopped instantly as they noticed Harry had entered the room. Hermione's frown turned into a happy smile at once.
" Harry! Why didn't you come down for dinner, we have been worried about you!"
" Yea, mate, everything OK?" Ron added.
" I am fine" he replied probably more harshly then he intended. He was sick of people asking him if he was ok. Couldn't they just leave him alone?
Hermione and Ron both nodded as they knew that Harry didn't want to pursue the subject any further.
" What are you holding?" Ron asked, pointing to the brown book in Harry's hand. He had totally forgotten he was carrying the photo album still.
" Well-er-it's just a photo album of Sirius' that Remus found upstairs. He told me that, well... Sirius has left everything to me"
All three of their jaws dropped as Harry had said this. They stared at him like he had grown a second head.
" He left everything to you?" Ron gasp " even the house?." He nodded as Ron still continued to look at him with shock.
" There's a whole bunch of Sirius' stuff upstairs in Buckbeaks room that Remus said I am welcome to go through...I just don't think I am ready yet" he admitted honestly.
" Oh, Harry, we are so sorry, this must be so hard for you." Hermione trailed off, looking at him with worry. There was another minute's silence until Harry finally decided to break it.
" So...what has been going on here? Anything interesting happen?"
" Well, the Order has had several meetings over the summer..not that Ginny and I were allowed in of course" Ron stated with a small frown.
" Fred and George even gave us some extendable ears but mum always puts an enchantment on the door...we can't hear anything!" Ginny grumbled, crossing her arms.
" What about the death eaters? Surely the dementors have joined with Voldemort now" Harry asked as Ron shuddered.
" The Daily Prophet reported that many expert aurors are now guarding it" Hermione added. " Kingsley, one them"
" Really? Kingsley is one of the aurors guarding Azkaban?" Harry questioned.
" But don't you see Harry, aurors don't have the same effect on prisoners as the dementors did! Dementors suck the happiness out of a person..they can drive some of the prisoners mad. I think it's just a matter of time before they escape and rejoin with Voldemort."
" Hermione, the top aurors are guarding it, they won't escape." Ron argued.
Harry was well aware of the effects Dementors had on a person, having encountered them in his third year and the previous summer, but he had to agree with Hermione on this one. Without the Dementors gaurding Azkaban it looked like Voldemort's servants would be re-joining him sooner then many would have liked.
Just then loud footsteps could be heard making their way up the rickety stairs putting and end to their conversation.
" Bet that's mum" Ron said looking at Harry. Sure enough Mrs. Weasley appeared in the bedroom a few seconds later telling them it was time for bed.
" It's been a long day and I am sure Harry would like to get some sleep," she bellowed shooing Hermione and Ginny out of the room.
" But mum, it's not even late!" Ginny's voice could be heard down the hallway.
" Now, I want you boys to get some sleep."
Ron sighed as soon as Mrs. Weasley shut the door. " You would think we were still five years old" Ron complained slipping his pyjama's on. Harry laughed at him silently as he put on his own pyjamas and climbed into bed. A peaceful relaxation soon came over him as he closed his heavy eyes.
He was standing in a dark forest heading into an open clearing. In the middle of the clearing several dark shadows could be made out. His heart beat louder as he got closer to the unknown people. Who were they and what were they doing?
An ear-piercing scream suddenly filled the chilly, night air. He then began to run, he needed to help whoever it was that was in trouble.
" Stupid girl! tell me where he is!" a low, grumbly voice growled. The dark figures all stood in a semi-circle, blocking whoever was in trouble from view. As he reached the circle he knew instantly who these people were...they were death eaters.
" I will never tell you!" the girl shrieked, shaking and trembling as she lay on the moist earth.
" Then I guess we aren't getting through to you..you have one more chance. Tell us where Potter is!"
The girl was lying on her stomach shaking as Harry pushed past to get a better view. His heart heart sunk to the pit of his stomach as he realised who the girl was.
" Never!" she shouted, silent tears streaming down her face.
" Hermione!" he shouted running towards her. She struggled to get up but fell back down again due to weakness. Her once lively face was now sunken and pale.
" Well...." growled the voice "as you wish..."
" Hermione! No!" Harry shouted again " Hermione, look at me!." But she never did. For some reason he couldn't go no further, it was like an invisible barrier was stopping him.
" I am right here! Come and get me,!!" he shouted but, they too, acted as if he wasn't there, not even glancing at him.
" Crucio!" the voice boomed.
Her intense screams filled the air once again as she shook violently on the ground.
" No!" he shouted, trying with all his might to reach his friend with no success.
Harry bolted up right in his bed, sweat pouring down his face. He shook as he scanned the dark bedroom and saw that Ron was snoring peacefully in his bed.
Laying back down he decided to try and close his eyes, but he couldn't get the vision of Hermione out of his mind. He wasn't going to let them get involved in this. He didn't want them getting hurt because of him, like they almost did last year. There was no way he was going to loose his best friends too.
When he woke the next morning he noticed Ron was already getting dressed. He looked at Harry and smiled as he saw that he was awake.
" Better hurry up and get down to breakfast before mum has a fit" he informed Harry as he pulled his navy blue sweater over his head. " Are you alright? You look like you barely slept a wink."
This couldn't be further from the truth. He ended up tossing and turning all night long after he had awoken from that dream.
" They are here! they are here!!" Hermione's voice boomed as she burst into the boys' room with a huge smile on her face. She was waving three letters frantically in the air.
" Hermione, what is here?" Ron questioned, rolling his eyes.
Hermione gave him a 'duh' glare as she showed him the letters. " Our O.W.L.S have arrived!" she beamed, passing Ron and Harry theirs. " I thought we should all open them together."
" Great...can't wait to see what I got" Ron said sarcastically, as he slowly opened his letter.
Harry stared at his letter for a few seconds before opening it. This was it...this was going to decide whether or not he had a chance at being an auror. He quickly tore open his letter and began to read through it. He was happy to see that he achieved and "E" on charms an "O" in Defence against the Dark Arts, and an "O" in transfiguration. He wasn't surprised to see that he did rather poorly in divination and history. It wasn't like he cared though; he didn't want to pursue these subjects any further. In Care of Magical Creature he was glad to see that he received an "E".
He took a deep breath as he looked at his potions mark. This was the last subject he needed to do good on. His heart sunk as he noticed he had received an "A" in potions when he needed an "O" to be accepted into Snape's NEWT class. His low spirits, however, didn't last for long as he read a small note beside it.
" Congratulations. You have been accepted into NEWT Potions."
He was accepted? But how? Snape had clearly said he only allowed people who got "O" on their O.W.L.S into his NEWT class, it didn't make any sense.
Harry's thoughts though, were broken by Ron's voice.
" I guess I did alright...."
Harry examined Ron's letter and was happy to see that Ron achieved close marks to himself. Only difference was that he received an "E" in transfiguration and an "A" in divination. He did, however, receive an "A" in potions just like Harry.
" You got an A in potions as well! did Snape accept you into his NEWT class too?" Harry questioned, looking at Ron.
" No...he said he only accepted people with O's, remember?. Not that I am upset about it of course."
Harry was about to comment when Hermiones happy voice cut in. " I can't believe it! I thirteen OWLS
" You got 13 O.W.L.S?" Ron repeated " Wow..Hermione..that must be some kind of record!"
" Congratulations Hermione!" Harry smiled, stepping up and hugging his friend. " Ron is right...that must be some kind of record!"
Hermione blushed and scanned her letter one more time. " Well, I only got an "E" in Defence against the Dark Arts..."
" Still...congratulations Hermione!" Ron added.
" Thank you. How did you guys do?"
" I did fairly well...you know.." Ron trailed off as Hermione stole his letter from him.
" Wow, well done Ron. I am impressed! she smiled scanning over his marks. How about you Harry?" Harry handed her his sheet and she smiled.
" Well done! I knew you could do it!"
" I just don't understand how I got accepted into NEWT potions when I only achieved and "A".
Ron then moved closer to Hermione to scan over Harry's sheet as well. " That is weird. I got the same mark and wasn't accepted.
" I don't understand either..." she said, looking as though she was deep in thought.