Chapter 12: Shock on the Hogwarts Express
The days after Harry's birthday passed quickly, and before they knew it, it was September first and time to go back to school. With only the four of them going back to Hogwarts, it wasn't quite as crazy as it had been on Harry's previous visits to the burrow. Hermione and Ginny had insisted that Harry and Ron pack their trunks the night before, and cars from the Ministry were taking them to Kings Cross. The ride to the station was uneventful, and all too soon, they were directing their carts toward the barrier of platform 9 ¾.
"Ronald, I want you to watch out for your sister," Mrs.Weasley said, watching Harry assist her daughter with her trunk. "I know that Harry will watch out for her, but it's better to have both of you. And you watch out for Hermione also, and stay out of trouble," she said, hugging her youngest son. She quickly hugged Ginny and Hermione, and then she walked over to Harry. "Harry, I want you to be extra careful this year. I don't want anything happening to you," she said, then pulled him into a hug.
After the attack on Diagon Alley, Professor Dumbledore didn't feel that it was safe for Harry, Hermione or the Weasley's that were returning to Hogwarts to venture back there, so he had someone from Madam Malkin's to come to the burrow and fit the four students. Fred and George Weasley had collected the rest of the items on their lists, and had visited Gringotts for Harry. At his request, they had also gotten a nice carrier for Greta.
The four climbed onto the Hogwarts Express and waved goodbye to Mr. and Mrs.Weasley until they were out of sight, they found an empty compartment and made themselves comfortable for the long journey. Ron and Harry were playing a game of Wizard's Chess, with the girls watching, when the door to their compartment opened. Remus Lupin came into the compartment, followed by a large black dog.
Hermione was the first to react, throwing a stupefy sticky at the dog and activating it.
Professor Lupin looked at the dog and sighed, "I told him to wait in the corridor until you had read the letter from Dumbledore," he said.
Harry was staring at the dog, he looked up at Remus, "It's not him, it can't be!"
"Harry, all I can say is read this letter from Dumbledore," he said, handing the boy the piece of parchment.
Harry opened the parchment and began reading, tears streaming down his face. "He says that it's Sirius, and that you would explain how."
Ginny scooted over toward Harry so that Remus could sit down, "It begins with the faked death of a Death Eater," he paused. "Nothing that I say here can go any further than here. Ron, Ginny, your parents will be told by Albus this afternoon, before the train arrives in Hogsmead."
The four teens agreed.
"Remember last year when Sirius told you about his younger brother, Regulus?" he asked. Harry nodded. "Well, Regulus tried to back out when he found out what he was expected to do, he went to Dumbledore. Albus sent him into hiding, announcing his death, and putting charms on him to change his appearance. When Voldemort came back at the end of your fourth year, Dumbledore contacted him, and never told Sirius that his brother was alive." He paused and took a deep breath, "Last year, when Sirius was confined to the manor, Regulus was brought back to England. Dumbledore had Professor Snape prepare the polyjuice potion, and at each meeting, Regulus would attend as someone that wasn't able. The night that you went to the Department of Mysteries, Regulus took the potion with the addition of one of Sirius' hairs. Dumbledore went right to Black Manor and took Sirius to Hogwarts, where he has been in hiding ever since."
Harry looked down at the dog lying on the floor of the compartment, "But why would his brother pretend to be him?" Harry asked.
Regulus knew that Sirius was innocent, he had seen Peter. He didn't want Sirius to risk his life, so when we went to Black Manor to get him, we found Regulus, disguised as Sirius. He had locked Sirius in the bedroom with Buckbeak, hoping that Peter would be caught and his brother would finally be free. He didn't count on falling through the veil," Remus answered. "So now, Harry, should I wake up your Godfather, so that he can tell you himself?"
Harry nodded his head, letting Remus know that he was ready. He didn't remove his eyes from the still form on the ground.
"Enervate!" Remus said, pointing his wand at the large black dog.
The dog blinked and with a small pop, changed into a man. "Harry," he said, in a strangled voice.
Harry jumped up from the seat and threw himself at his Godfather. "Sirius, I thought that you were dead, that I had killed you," he sobbed.
"I'm sorry Harry, Dumbledore didn't want you to know that I was alive. Remus and I didn't agree for a second," he explained. "He wouldn't allow me to contact you, and he wouldn't let Remus tell you."
Harry looked over at his favorite DADA Professor, "That's what you were talking about on my birthday," he said. "But while you were talking to Dumbledore, Greta and I caught Pettigrew."
"Correct, I was fighting with him to allow me to tell you, there was no reason to let you suffer. But after your incredible capture of Peter, we waited. Sirius was so excited, he couldn't wait until today. Dumbledore agreed that today would be perfect, considering that you would have seen him tonight at the feast anyway."
"What do you mean, I would have seen him tonight?" Harry asked.
Sirius smiled, "Well, Remus and I are the new DADA teachers, meet Professors Lupin and Black," he told them. The four teens let out a whoop of joy, and crowded around their new Professors.
A/N: I got the idea for Sirius' return from
under the link, it wasn't Sirius it was Regulus. So I would like to thank Jackson Clan for the wonderful idea. I hope that you all enjoyed this Chapter. Please keep up the wonderful reviews, they keep me writing.
The days after Harry's birthday passed quickly, and before they knew it, it was September first and time to go back to school. With only the four of them going back to Hogwarts, it wasn't quite as crazy as it had been on Harry's previous visits to the burrow. Hermione and Ginny had insisted that Harry and Ron pack their trunks the night before, and cars from the Ministry were taking them to Kings Cross. The ride to the station was uneventful, and all too soon, they were directing their carts toward the barrier of platform 9 ¾.
"Ronald, I want you to watch out for your sister," Mrs.Weasley said, watching Harry assist her daughter with her trunk. "I know that Harry will watch out for her, but it's better to have both of you. And you watch out for Hermione also, and stay out of trouble," she said, hugging her youngest son. She quickly hugged Ginny and Hermione, and then she walked over to Harry. "Harry, I want you to be extra careful this year. I don't want anything happening to you," she said, then pulled him into a hug.
After the attack on Diagon Alley, Professor Dumbledore didn't feel that it was safe for Harry, Hermione or the Weasley's that were returning to Hogwarts to venture back there, so he had someone from Madam Malkin's to come to the burrow and fit the four students. Fred and George Weasley had collected the rest of the items on their lists, and had visited Gringotts for Harry. At his request, they had also gotten a nice carrier for Greta.
The four climbed onto the Hogwarts Express and waved goodbye to Mr. and Mrs.Weasley until they were out of sight, they found an empty compartment and made themselves comfortable for the long journey. Ron and Harry were playing a game of Wizard's Chess, with the girls watching, when the door to their compartment opened. Remus Lupin came into the compartment, followed by a large black dog.
Hermione was the first to react, throwing a stupefy sticky at the dog and activating it.
Professor Lupin looked at the dog and sighed, "I told him to wait in the corridor until you had read the letter from Dumbledore," he said.
Harry was staring at the dog, he looked up at Remus, "It's not him, it can't be!"
"Harry, all I can say is read this letter from Dumbledore," he said, handing the boy the piece of parchment.
Harry opened the parchment and began reading, tears streaming down his face. "He says that it's Sirius, and that you would explain how."
Ginny scooted over toward Harry so that Remus could sit down, "It begins with the faked death of a Death Eater," he paused. "Nothing that I say here can go any further than here. Ron, Ginny, your parents will be told by Albus this afternoon, before the train arrives in Hogsmead."
The four teens agreed.
"Remember last year when Sirius told you about his younger brother, Regulus?" he asked. Harry nodded. "Well, Regulus tried to back out when he found out what he was expected to do, he went to Dumbledore. Albus sent him into hiding, announcing his death, and putting charms on him to change his appearance. When Voldemort came back at the end of your fourth year, Dumbledore contacted him, and never told Sirius that his brother was alive." He paused and took a deep breath, "Last year, when Sirius was confined to the manor, Regulus was brought back to England. Dumbledore had Professor Snape prepare the polyjuice potion, and at each meeting, Regulus would attend as someone that wasn't able. The night that you went to the Department of Mysteries, Regulus took the potion with the addition of one of Sirius' hairs. Dumbledore went right to Black Manor and took Sirius to Hogwarts, where he has been in hiding ever since."
Harry looked down at the dog lying on the floor of the compartment, "But why would his brother pretend to be him?" Harry asked.
Regulus knew that Sirius was innocent, he had seen Peter. He didn't want Sirius to risk his life, so when we went to Black Manor to get him, we found Regulus, disguised as Sirius. He had locked Sirius in the bedroom with Buckbeak, hoping that Peter would be caught and his brother would finally be free. He didn't count on falling through the veil," Remus answered. "So now, Harry, should I wake up your Godfather, so that he can tell you himself?"
Harry nodded his head, letting Remus know that he was ready. He didn't remove his eyes from the still form on the ground.
"Enervate!" Remus said, pointing his wand at the large black dog.
The dog blinked and with a small pop, changed into a man. "Harry," he said, in a strangled voice.
Harry jumped up from the seat and threw himself at his Godfather. "Sirius, I thought that you were dead, that I had killed you," he sobbed.
"I'm sorry Harry, Dumbledore didn't want you to know that I was alive. Remus and I didn't agree for a second," he explained. "He wouldn't allow me to contact you, and he wouldn't let Remus tell you."
Harry looked over at his favorite DADA Professor, "That's what you were talking about on my birthday," he said. "But while you were talking to Dumbledore, Greta and I caught Pettigrew."
"Correct, I was fighting with him to allow me to tell you, there was no reason to let you suffer. But after your incredible capture of Peter, we waited. Sirius was so excited, he couldn't wait until today. Dumbledore agreed that today would be perfect, considering that you would have seen him tonight at the feast anyway."
"What do you mean, I would have seen him tonight?" Harry asked.
Sirius smiled, "Well, Remus and I are the new DADA teachers, meet Professors Lupin and Black," he told them. The four teens let out a whoop of joy, and crowded around their new Professors.
A/N: I got the idea for Sirius' return from
under the link, it wasn't Sirius it was Regulus. So I would like to thank Jackson Clan for the wonderful idea. I hope that you all enjoyed this Chapter. Please keep up the wonderful reviews, they keep me writing.