Harry Potter and the Forgotten Friends
CHAPTER SIXTEEN: Our wonderful sitter…
After the long game of tag which eventually resulted in the three of them eventually ran out of energy and collapsed on the grass. The sky was starting to turn a shade of orange and yellow as the sun started to set on the top of a houses' roof.
"Isn't it pretty?" Alexis said, looking up at the sky.
"Pretty? No. Awesome, yeah!" Riley said, smiling at the brunette.
Alexis sighed and Harry rolled his eyes. Those two were up to their regular antics. "So what do you guys want to do tomorrow?" Harry asked, breaking up the staring contest between the two.
"I'd love to do something, but I can't. My mum wants to have a family day, you doing the normal family stuff. Go to the movies, have a picnic, yadda yadda yadda." Riley rattled off, rolling her eyes.
Alexis and Riley started to laugh, while Harry stayed silent. Even though Riley was making a joke out of hanging around with family, they had no idea how much it hit home. Well, they probably did know how much it hit home, but they weren't thinking of that. Harry wished he had a family, but a stupid drunk driver had killed them both. Alexis looked down at her watch and sighed.
"Augh! It's already 7 o'clock. I have got to go. I told my mum I'd be back home at 7:15, and I have about six blocks to go. Harry, Riley, I'll see you guys later. Bye!" With that Alexis jumped up off the ground, her energy re-found.
Riley and Harry muttered a goodbye, still out of energy from the game. Alexis laughed at the two and started to jog out of Rileys' property and disappeared behind a clump of trees.
"Where are you going to go now Harry? I mean, you left the Dursley's house, so where will you go?" Riley asked, propping her head up on the grass, looking over at Harry.
Harry shrugged his shoulders. "The park maybe. The tunnel inside the playground is usually warm from the sun that played on it all day." Harry grinned, lopsided.
Riley just looked at Harry, and scowled crossing her arms. "No way Harry. You're staying here at my place. Come on," Riley grabbed Harry's arm and dragged him up. "We'll go ask my parents now. They love you as much as me for some reason." Riley laughed and dragged Harry up to the house.
Riley stormed in the house, Harry right behind her. She looked around, listening for a sound for her parents whereabouts. She heard a noise coming from the backdoor, and went tearing for the backyard. Harry sighed and followed behind Riley. By the time, he had reached the backdoor, Riley was already saying that Harry was staying with her, case closed. Her parents laughed and nodded, saying that Harry could stay here if we wanted too.
"You hear that, Harry? You're staying here!" Riley replied, turning around, and latched onto Harry.
"Er, thanks Riley. Thanks Mr and Mrs. Black!" Harry said, looking over Riley's black hair.
He still couldn't seem to really trust them, even though he had made friends again with Riley. What if Riley's dad tried to murder him in his sleep this time, and succeed? The Dursley's would be happy, Harry would be happy, but what about Alexis? He couldn't leave her with Riley's madman dad, and Riley too! What id her dad went after her too! He might kill her as well. The two parents nodded, and waved the two kids off. Riley let go of Harry and started walking off, muttering different things. Harry watched her go, and chased after her. Riley turned around, and saw Harry running at her, she shrieked and ran off, tearing up the stairs. Harry sighed; flipping his bangs out of his eyes and tore off after Riley. Harry got up the stairs, and looked around the orange halls. Where would Riley be?
"Riley? Come on out, I give up!" Harry called, walking down the hall.
"Awe, that's no fun, Harry!" Riley called.
Harry looked around; Riley was either in one of two rooms. Her bedroom or the closet? The bedroom. Harry sprinted to the far cornered bedroom, and walked inside. No one was in there. Weird, he had sworn that Riley was I here. There was no way she could fit in a closet, it wasn't even a walk-in one! He shrugged, and walked back out of the room, and was soon lying on the ground, groaning. Someone had just tackled him. He heard the sound of laughing, and opened his eyes. Riley was leaning up against the wall for support, her black hair totally covering her face.
"Ha-ha. Very funny, Riley. You're such a riot." Harry said, sarcastically.
Riley stopped laughing by now, and was just shaking with laughter, and a superior look on her face to boot. "You think so too, huh? Everyone says I'm a riot, and they are so right!"
Harry rolled his eyes, and stood up. "I was being sarcastic."
"I know," Riley shrugged, and then winked. "But I wasn't."
Harry sighed. What had he gotten into this time? He couldn't answer himself, because Riley was now dragging him into her room.
"As you know, you can sleep in here, since we don't have a spare room, like the last time you were over here. As you can see, there isn't a bed here yet, but there will be one, soon." Riley nodded, reassuring herself.
Harry nodded slowly. "How are you going to get another bed in here?"
Riley sweatdropped, and smiled forcefully. "Um… well… it's a…a…fold up! Yeah, a fold up bed." Riley replied, hoping Harry would buy it.
Harry nodded, and Riley sighed.
'That was a close one! I almost said, that it was magicked in here. Good thinking, brain.' Riley said to herself, and slapped her hands together in a high-five manner.
Harry raised an eyebrow at her sudden movements.
'Think! Think of something quick, you dumb brain!' She thought.
'I'm thinking, girl!'
'What's that? Whose voice is inside my head? Get out!!' She thought back.
'This would be your conscience. We haven't talked for a while, not since a couple months ago. How are you?'
"I can't complain, bu—'
"RILEY? You in there? You zoned out for a moment." Harry said, waving a hand in front of her face.
Riley snapped back to reality, being brought out of her talk with her conscience. "I'm fine, Harry. It was a bug, yeah it landed on my hand, and I needed to slap it! Anywho, let's go outside!" Riley said, changing the subject.
Harry sighed, and followed her down the stairs. Something was up with her, and he was going to find out what it was.
* * * * *
"'Bella? Weren't we going over to Viola and Remus's house tonight? I mean, we can't take Riley there, if we have Harry here." Sirius said, looking over his copy of the Daily Prophet.
"I know. I guess, I'll see if I can call in a sitter with the two of them. We can't send him back to the Dursley's. We still have some things to iron out." Arabella replied, looking down from the sky.
"When can we tell him that were his godparents? I can't keep this act up for long!" He said, throwing the Prophet onto the ground.
"Calm down. He'll find out soon enough, when the time is right; just like Dumbledore told us. No sooner. We're only here to do our job for the Order. You know that; us, Viola and Remus are only here to make sure that Harry is all right, and alive. Make sure the prophecy will still work. You know that!" Arabella snapped, tired of his whining. "And we're doing fine! I'm going to go and find a sitter for those two, someone that can keep up with them." Arabella put her book down and walked off into the house.
"Awe come on, Bella. Don't get all fussy! There nine, they can look after each other!" Sirius called.
"Take care of each other, yes. Can they take care of people like Voldemort, and his supporters, who know where we are like Snape! Fat chance! And don't tell me not to be fussy, you haven't seen anything 'fussy' yet!" She slammed the screen door shut, and stormed off into the house.
Sirius laughed from where he was sitting. Getting under 'Bella's skin was so easy. "Awe come on, 'Bella! I was just joking with you!" He called, but no reply came back out.
* * * * *
"Riley! Can you come here for a second," Arabella called up the stairs. "I have something to tell you."
Two figures stopped behind her. "What is it, mom?" Riley asked, pushing her hair out of her eyes.
"Your father and I have to go to Alexis parents' house, tonight. I re-arranged a babysitter for you two, so be good. I don't think, he'll take any pranks from you. I'll try to lock you up for that." Arabella laughed.
Riley nodded. "OK, so who is it?"
"I was going to get you Mundungus Fletcher from your school, he's one of our old friends," Arabella added, to their confused looks. "But, he's out of town doing business for the Orde— the school. So, I got the only other person that lives near us, that would be glad to sit for you two." Arabella smiled,
'I had to threaten him to do it, but he agreed.'
"OK, so who is it?" Riley asked again, sitting down on the step on the stairs, Harry standing against a wall.
"Mr. Snape. He's an old… friend… of your father." Arabella said, trying not to laugh at the memories.
Riley's face twisted up in horror and looked over at Harry, who was the exact same way. Snape? Their teacher's brother? The same one that had taught their class, and had thrown 'Miss. B' out of the class? Anyone but him! Riley slowly turned and looked back up at her mother.
"Just tell me that his sister… our… teacher… is coming with him!" Riley pleaded.
Arabella nodded. "She won't be here. Why would she come to see you when she doesn't want to," Arabella said. "He should be here within ten minutes. I understand if you want to go and hide." She said, as an afterthought.
Riley grinned, and stood up suddenly. "Harry Potter! Come on! We have got to go, and hide. Now!" Riley said, and ran full tilt up the stairs. Harry sighed, and followed her up there.
"Harry dear, tell Riley something for me," Arabella said. Harry stopped and turned around. "Tell her, you'll both have to come down sometime. He's cooking dinner." Harry stood there, mouth hanging open, Arabella grinned and walked back outside.
Harry came back to reality, when no one was standing there, and walked back upstairs a little quickly to tell Riley.
* * * * *
"You invited him, here? To our house? Why, 'Bella, why!" Sirius moaned, walking up to the door, where the doorbell was ringing none stop. "Ugh, doesn't that git know how to use a doorbell?" He swung the door open, and glowered at Snape. "Don't you know how to use a doorbell? You ring it once, not a million!"
Snape just glared back at him. "I'm not one to fancy the works of muggle's, unlike you and your… muggle born wife!" He sneered back, realizing that Sirius was now groping for his wand.
"Severus, hello. Come on in. Sirius—put your wand away." Arabella said, shaking her head.
Sirius slowly put his wand away, but kept glaring daggers at Snape, who returned it. Then he hissed something loud enough, so on only Sirius could hear him.
"If I were you Black, I'd keep that wand away. I'm the one in charge of your child and godson tonight."
Sirius was about to reply, when a yell from upstairs cut him off.
"WE GOTTA DO WHAT?!"
The three adults looked up the stairs, curious. The sound of a door opening, and slamming shut, then pounding feet coming across the landing, and voices could be heard, one was a girls' and the other was a boys'. The two figures came into view at the top of the stairs, and they all looked away, well, only Arabella did, Snape and Sirius went back to glaring daggers at each other.
"… going to poison us, mark my words. If he's making us supper I'm not eating it! I'd rather starve, he's going to poison us, I swe— Oh hi!" Riley said suddenly, as Snape came into view.
"What happened Rile—oh!"
"Riley, Harry, this is Mr. Snape, your sitter for the night!" Arabella said, and Sirius forced a smile.
Riley looked over Snape, she really wanted to mutter something to him, something about greasy hair, and that maybe he should use Head & Shoulders, that was supposed to get rid of the most grease, she wasn't going to say anything but she opened her mouth anyways.
"Are you going to poison us, you look evil!"
Harry gaped at what Riley said, Sirius started to crack up, Arabella tried to look serious, but failed, and Snape, well was beyond mad. He didn't realize what he was doing, when he started to reach was his wand. Arabella saw this, and grabbed his arm.
In a low voice she hissed; "You remember what Dumbledore told you, no magic in front of Harry, and Riley is just getting on to it."
Snape's lip curled, and stuffed his wand into his pocket.
"Well, we're off. Bye!" Arabella said, ushering Sirius towards the door.
"Dad! Wait!" Sirius stopped and turned around. "You can't leave me here! Harry and I, we want to go and see Alexis! We haven't seen her for three hours!" Riley said, grabbing his leather coat. "We want to go! Don't leave us!"
"Riley, I—"
"That's enough. Riley you're staying here, and Sirius! You can't just give into her like that! We'll be back soon Riley. We'll tell Alexis you both say hi!" Arabella said, pulling Riley's hands off the leather coat.
"Thanks, Mrs. Black!" Harry said, leaning on the banister.
"You're welcome, Harry dear. Now, Riley, go." Arabella said.
Riley grumbled something, and stalked off after Harry.
"Good luck, Snivellus." Sirius laughed, and ducked, avoiding Arabella's attempt to knock some sense into him.
* * * * *
"What now?" Riley muttered, as she walked into the living room.
"Well, as you said earlier. I might start with not eating the food, and we'll go from there." Harry said, sitting down in a chair opposite her.
"Your to smart to hang around with me, Harry. But, anywho, we have bigger plans to deal with then Snapey-poo. We need to think of our next prank of Dudley and his gang. Don't forget we need to add Alexis in here somewhere. Have you got any idea's Harry? We need more plans, we're using them all up!"
* * * * *
Arabella and Sirius appeared in front of the house they were looking for. They walked up the path leading the front door and stood on the doorstep. They rang the doorbell and waited.
"See even I know you only ring a doorbell once!" Sirius said, proudly.
"You just had to bring that up, didn't you?" Arabella replied, crossing her arms.
"Bring what up?" Viola said, as her and Remus stood there amused with another one of these two's fights.
"The doorbell. Snape rang it a million times in a row. I rang it once!"
"That's what he's proud of." Arabella muttered, shaking her head.
"Awe come on, you were ready to attack that person with your wand!" He replied, triumphantly.
Arabella just glared at him, and pushed him inside the house, the door closing behind them. The four walked into the kitchen and sat down in some of the chairs in the living room. All was silent for a while, as the four looked at each other. Viola soon spoke up, a piece of parchment in her hand.
"We have another letter from Dumbledore. He wants to know how Harry is doing? Since, he's at your house the most, we figured it should be you to reply," Viola handed the letter over to Sirius and Arabella, who started looking at it. "He also, wants us to come back to headquarters… we have to say goodbye to Harry."
"We have to say goodbye?" Arabella whispered, looking up from the note.
Sirius didn't say anything, but stared at Viola as if she had just sprouted tentacles. Viola looked sadly at them, and was about to say something, when Remus cut her off.
"Don't worry about it, Padfoot. You'll see Harry when he goes to Hogwarts in two years. You know that, we all do. We don't want to say goodbye either, but we have no choice. We have to go. You knew what we were supposed to do when we came here, and that you would have to say goodbye."
Sirius nodded, numbly. "I guess so."
"You mean, I have to say goodbye to Harry, too!" A new voice said from the hallway.
The four adults looked up at the new voice. Alexis stood in the doorframe, drink and cookie in hand, looking shocked.
"Alexis! You're not supposed to be here. You know you're not supposed to hear things about the Order!" Viola said, looking over the couch.
"I just heard Harry's name when I was in the kitchen, so I came out to see what was going on. I have to go and say goodbye, well, can I go over to wherever Harry is, and hang out? For old times?" Alexis asked.
"Well…" Remus started.
"Please! Let me go, I just want to say goodbye!"
"He's at our house with Riley. Watch out for the babysitter though, he might not enjoy another one of you." Sirius grinned.
"Alright! Bye mom, dad!" And with that, Alexis ran out of the house, leaving the cookie and drink of the table, shoeless.
Viola and Remus looked over at Sirius, who was grinning like a madman. "Sirius! What did you do that for! We have to teach these kids discipline." Viola muttered, her head in her hand.
"Discipline? They'll learn that later. They're kids for a little while, just let them have their fun." Sirius said, still grinning like a madman.
The three others in the room shook their heads.
* * * * *
Alexis ran the way to the Black's house and rang the doorbell. Wondering who the babysitter was, and why she was supposed to be warned about the sitter? Her thoughts were interrupted when the door opened, and the sitter opened the door. Alexis looked up, and gasped, surprised at who was there. It was their supply teacher… Mr. Snape.
"What do you want?" He snapped.
Alexis was taken aback. "Er… Is Riley or Harry here?"
Snape was about to reply, when he was pushed out of the way, when a kid jumped on him, knocking him over.
"Alexis, hi! Come on in, Harry's upstairs. Let's go!" Riley grabbed Alexis' hand and started dragging her up the stairs.
Snape stood up, brushing his robes. He closed the door, muttering about how Potter, Black and Lupin were all under the same roof as him.
* * * * *
"I have got to tell you something, Riley, it's about Harry," Alexis whispered. Riley stopped, and looked at Alexis. "At my house, my parents and your parents have to go back to the Order. That means that you and I have to go with them. We have to say goodbye to Harry."
Riley looked at Alexis, horror struck, again.
"We have to say goodbye? But Harry completes the 'three musketeers' we were going for! This is so un-cool! We should have a goodbye party for him. I'm asking my parents when home. I can't just say goodbye to Harry like this, without him knowing that you and I are leaving. We'll need to play one big prank on Dudley and his gang so that they'll know not to mess with Harry while we are gone!" Riley said, pounding one fist into her palm.
Alexis laughed. "Don't get to far ahead of yourself, Riley. You have to act like you know nothing about this, not even I was supposed to know. Act normal."
Riley nodded, and swung the door open disappearing into the room behind her. Alexis sighed, and followed her, closing the door behind her.
"Hey Alexis!"
"Hi Harry! What are you guys hiding up here for?" Alexis asked, as she sunk into
a beanbag chair.
"Snape is downstairs, cooking us supper." Riley said, scrunching her nose up.
Alexis laughed. "I see, and how is all this going to deal with Snape attempting to cook supper?"
"He might burn the house down, the food might smell, and he might put his greasy hair in the food." Riley said, nodding as she said it.
Alexis laughed. "You're just like your father," Riley beamed at this, and
Alexis rolled her eyes. "Anyways, what are you guys doing while hiding?"
"Thinking of a prank for Dudley; A real big one! We need to kick November off with a bang." Harry said, falling back onto the bed.
"I have an idea. It's very simple, and we'll be able to do it in no time. A couple days, at the max." Alexis said, peering over her knees at the others.
"I like it. Quick and simple!" Riley said, snapping her fingers.
"I'm in. Lets do it!" Harry said, jumping up.
Alexis beamed, but was saddened inside, knowing this would be their last pranks together for two and half years. "OK, here's the plan…"
Q&A:
SilentPheonix: Thanks for thinking that this story is fantastic to read. :D
Kiki San: Uh… what the hell are you talking about? Whoever Hells Fury is, you can have them? So you're looking for a boyfriend, well, by all means he's yours? I don't care, nor, do I know what you're talking about. I'm the worst writer, huh? That's nice.
Aarie Granger: I'm so sorry that I missed you last time! I'd actually love someone to explain Two Towers! I'm all lost and confuzzled (don't ask, long story). The movie helped a little, but I forget most of it. Too long ago! Lol. I'm e-mail ya? And, I get it, with the Sytherins turning bad. Thank ya.
KrazyReader: Where am I going to end it? I think that I have an idea, maybe in 3-4 chapters, but I can't tell. It'll ruin the ending. Oh! The third book? I'm actually working on a third year story to take place for that one, as you said, Sirius won't be escaping from Azkaban.
AllAboutMe: Well, hopefully your happy, because I updated again after… two and half months! Geez, time flies and writers block sucks. Thank the new Harry Potter book, it got me inspired, again!
Prongs: Lol, I can tell you like updates… it's all in caps and repeated a couple times. :D lol.
**Note: By the way, thanks to KrazyReader, I'm working out some ideas for a fic of everyone in the third year of Hogwarts, considering that Sirius won't be escaping from Azkaban but I was wondering if you guys would want me to write a sequel to this, or just leave it? Because, I don't really want to write it if no one will read it.**
Ack, I've just finished the OotP, I can't believe that they killed him! He was my favourite one! (I won't say who it was, because some of you might not have finished the book yet.) They better have a good reason for killing him off when book #6 comes out, or else, my neighbour and me are going to England, to find her. Lol!