The Great Hall filled with noise as Sirius, with an arm around Harry, aproached the staff table.
"Welcome back Sirius," Professor Dumbledore greeted.
"Thank you, Headmaster, Do you still think that I shouldn't tell H-"
"Yes I do."
"Alright then," Sirius turn to his godson, "You best go sit down. See you in class."
As Sirius took his seat at the staff table, Harry returned to his fellow Gryffindors. Before he had a chance to sit, Professor Dumbledore said, "Go to class now."
Ron and Hermione joined Harry as they left the Great Hall.
"Perfect!" ron exclaimed, "We have Defense first!"
Hermione looked at Harry, "Do you know why he isn't, well, dead anymore?"
"Not a clue, maybe he'll tell us."
When the three reached the classroom, a large crowd was already gathered there.
"Great," Harry stated eagerly, "We have this with Slytherins this year."
Ron grinned, "Revenge for Potions!"
"I can't believe Dumbledore hired a murderer!" Lavender Brown squealed, "Especially one that's after Harry!"
"Sirius isn't a murderer." The whole class turned to see Maria, "I suspect we will be hearing the true story right off." No one had a chance to respond to this because at that moment Sirius rounded the corner.
He opened the door and said, "Come on in everyone," He gave Harry a pat on the back as the class filed into the room. "Now, I trust you brought a copy of The Rise and Fall Of The Dark Arts." After a faint murmur consent Sirius spoke again, "Come now, when I ask a question I expect to hear 'Yes, Professor Black' or 'No, Professor Black' Let's try again."
Harry looked up at his godfather amazed; he couldn't be like that foul Umbridge!
Sirius laughed, "Don't worry I'm not serious, well I am, but not about that!" No one laughed at this bad pun.
Looking slightly discouraged Sirius continued, "Right, lets start of with a vote. Would you rather her about when I killed Pettigrew or how I escaped Askaban?" After getting no reply Sirius looked worriedly at Harry, "Is it alright with you if I tell the full story about Peter? I mean with your parents and all?"
Harry nodded, hoping people would give his godfather a chance.
"Right, not many people know this, but the Potters knew Voldemort (the class gasped) yes I said his name settle, the Potters knew he was after them."
As Sirius continued the story, Harry looked around the room; no one seemed to care what he was saying except himself, Ron, Hermione, Neville and Maria. Feeling immensely sorry for Sirius, Harry raised his hand.
"Yes, Harry?" Sirius had just finished telling about how Peter escaped into the sewers as a rat.
"Professor Black (Sirius laughed) I was wonder if you could tell us how you're here."
"Well, it is quite simple actually; after I received my pardon from Fudge Professor Dumbledore asked me if I wanted to come be your teacher. I, as you can-"
"WHAT?" Dean yelled from the back of the class, "Fudge pardoned a DEATH EATER!"
At this Harry, already annoyed at the people who refused to give Sirius a chance, spun around, knocking his desk over in the process, "YOU TAKE THAT BACK!"
"What?" Dean repeated.
"YOU TAKE THAT BACK! HE IS NOT A DEATH EATER! YOU APOLOGIZE NOW!"
"Harry," Sirius spoke, "Please sit."
Maria raised her hand as Harry returned to his seat. "Yes, er, Maria?"
"Professor, I was wondering if that's not what Harry meant."
"Oh, um Harry well what did you mean."
"I mean how you can not be, well, I saw you die." A roar reverberated through the class, none of them knew Sirius had died.
"Oh, yes, well I was dead, but I'm not anymore. I would love to tell you how that works really Harry I would, but Professor Dumbledore said not to."
"So," Sirius continued with his lesson, "Now as to how I escaped from Askaban,"
As the familiar story started Harry sank into deep thought. His godfather, the most important person to him, had died, but here he was, and he wasn't a ghost. The new girl, from a school that taught Dark Arts, seemed to know this when no one else did. Dumbledore wouldn't tell them what was going on, and there were going to be four Defense teachers, including his once dead godfather. This was going to be an interesting year.
