A/N: Thanks, Pepperjack, for your very kind review!  It's great to know that someone liked the story and was glad to see it return.  Unfortunately, I doubt that many people knew about it because the update never showed up on the main Harry Potter page… I have a lot of problems with that.  I hope that this update makes it.

Every time I feel that my story has been influenced by Order of the Phoenix I'm going to make mention of it, and this is one of those times.  In this chapter Harry discusses his career aspirations with Sirius.  I've thought for a long time that Harry would end up an Auror, as would Ron, but not Hermione (assuming that Harry survives, of course).  It seems by far the most appealing career for Harry and Ron who by now have developed a certain taste for danger and adventure.  Hermione, on the other hand, is a scholar, and enjoys accumulating knowledge.  But I digress.  Harry's choice of a career is my own notion that happens to agree with J.K. Rowling.  Harry's discussion with Sirius about the importance of the standardized wizarding tests in achieving his goal is straight from Order of the Phoenix.  I have included it because it fits in well with the story plan and serves a definite purpose.

That being said, here is yet another chapter (in less than a week!  Excellent.)

Chapter 11: A Parting Gift

Harry, Ron, and Hermione tried to squeeze as much fun as possible out of their last few days of freedom, though their ideas of what constituted "fun" varied.  Harry and Ron preferred Quidditch when they weren't practicing their dueling skills.  Hermione forsook her new schoolbooks in favor of one that she would have to leave behind in Alverbrooke's library - Magical Music by Carmen Churchill.  Being all about Singers and their talents, she could not risk bringing it to Hogwarts where the seemingly odd choice of subject would raise questions.

Sirius had grown moody and dejected.  Harry knew how he felt; it had been wonderful to spend a whole month's vacation with his godfather, and he was sorry for their impending separation.  Sirius took every opportunity to interact with Harry.  He participated in every Quidditch game and went on every walk through the woods.  He was more than competent at dueling, so the professors let him take over the lessons and merely watched from the sidelines.

After supper on the eve of the return to Hogwarts, Sirius asked Harry if they could have a chat by themselves.  Harry acquiesced, and he soon found himself sitting comfortably on the floor of the observatory, watching the sun sink slowly behind the trees at the edge of the estate.

Sirius seemed to be in a pensive mood, which was fine with Harry as anything was better than seeing his godfather so depressed all the time.

"Well, you're fifteen now, Harry," said Sirius.  "Getting close to coming of age.  How does it feel?"

"So far, a lot like being fourteen," said Harry truthfully.

Sirius smiled.  "A fair answer."  His expression became thoughtful.  "You're growing up so fast.  I remember the day you were born."  Harry could tell that Sirius wasn't seeing the treeline he was staring at; he was looking back through time and memory.  "When Lily knew you were coming they called the Healers, and Remus and I came too.  We spent hours trying to get James to stop pacing.  If it had taken you any longer to come out, he might have worn a hole through the floor."  He smiled fondly into the gathering twilight.  "Lily was perfectly calm the whole time, and your father was a nervous wreck.  But then you finally came and you had this little tuft of black hair right in the middle of your head and he was so proud.  You were all he ever talked about for two months afterwards… the apple of his eye.  Of all of our eyes, really…  You had a mother, father, and two uncles that couldn't have loved you more.  Three uncles, I suppose… I think that at first Peter really did care for you as the rest of us did, the treacherous scumbag.  But he made his choice and left all our friendships behind," he finished in a cold voice.

Harry didn't know what to say, so he remained silent and let his godfather ruminate.

"You can't know how sorry I am that I didn't get to bring you up myself," said Sirius.

Harry looked at his godfather's stony face.  "Actually, I think I do," he said.  "I'm stuck with the Dursleys and it's horrid.  I used to dream that some long-lost relative would come and take me away.  But even the Dursleys can't be as terrible as Azkaban."

Sirius grimaced.  "Few things are," he said.  "Still… I'd turn myself in right now if it would bring your parents back.  James was a true friend to me and a good father to you."  He paused for a moment, sniffed loudly, and cleared his throat.  "Enough about the past," he said gruffly.  "Anything you want to talk about before you head on back to Hogwarts?  Need any manly advice?"

"Er," said Harry.

"You're turned out to be rather good-looking for a Potter, I think."  Sirius grinned mischievously.  "How are things on the romance front?"

"Um…"

Sirius' grin broadened.  "Aha!  Who is she?"  Harry didn't answer but was unable to stop a fiery blush from suffusing his cheeks.  Sirius looked very hard at him and said, "It's not Hermione, is it?"

Harry laughed.  "No!"  Sirius continued to look expectantly at him.  "Well, there is someone, sort of, but not really…"

"Is there or isn't there?" chuckled Sirius.

Harry decided that he might as well give it up.  Sirius was on to him and wouldn't let up until he knew.  "Cho Chang.  She's a year ahead of me and plays Seeker on the Ravenclaw team," Harry said.  "I even asked her to the Yule Ball last year, but I waited too long and Cedric got to her first…" he trailed off.  Thinking of Cedric was painful.

The grin slid off Sirius' face.  "I see."

"She really liked him," said Harry.  "It was pretty obvious.  And she'll never want anything to do with me, if I hadn't suggested we take the Triwizard Cup together, Cedric would still be alive."

"Hold on there," said Sirius.  "Cedric got there first, but he thought you should take the cup because you helped him, right?"

"Right."

"But you wanted Cedric to take it because he got to it first fair and square."

"Yeah, but I'm the one who suggested…"

"Harry, Cedric sounds like the kind of straight-up person who would have done the same thing, only you said it first," said Sirius.  "You didn't know the cup was a Portkey, it was the perfect solution."

"Moody – I mean Crouch – said that he manipulated us – me and Cedric – so that I would get to the cup first.  He said that 'decent people are easy to manipulate'," Harry finished bitterly.

"Listen to me, Harry," Sirius said firmly.  "Cedric is not dead because you are a good person.  He's dead because You-Know-Who is evil and decided to kill him on a whim.  It's not just your past that sets you apart from other people – it's your decency.  Don't you ever let go of it!  It may be the greatest weapon you have against the Death Eaters.  They don't understand kindness, self-sacrifice, or love.  Not in the least."

"I guess.  But I'm not going to be fooled by them again," said Harry fiercely.

"Of course not," said Sirius.  "And you're not alone in making sure."  Harry looked questioningly at his godfather.  "You think that it's just this small circle of people fighting against You-Know-Who?  Dumbledore has many devoted friends and allies.  There are more people involved in this business than you know, especially since You-Know-Who has returned."

Harry was intrigued.  "Who do you mean?  What are they doing?  Do you know where he's hiding?"

"Sorry, but I'm not supposed to tell," said Sirius.  "I've already said as much as I'm allowed to.  Dumbledore wants you to know that action is being taken, but it's not for you to get involved.  Your job is to get Outstandings in all of your O.W.L.s this year."

Harry groaned, and Sirius laughed.  "I felt the same way my fifth year.  But it is important to do well, no matter how much of a pain it seems like now.  Your O.W.L.s affect your future career."

Harry frowned.  "No one's ever mentioned that before."

"Well, now you know.  What are you thinking about doing after graduation?"

"I dunno… it would be pretty cool to be an Auror."

"Harry Potter, Auror," said Sirius, spreading his hands out in front of him as if the words were on a marquee.  "It's a good choice, and a natural one for you at that.  You've been doing Auror work for years, after a fashion.  But if you want it to become a reality you have to do very, very well this year.  The Ministry won't accept anyone with slipshod O.W.L.s or N.E.W.T.s, as I found out to my pain.  Dumbledore warned me, but I skived off anyway, and in the end my grades weren't good enough."

"You wanted to be an Auror?" said Harry, interested.  "I didn't know that."

"Well, I settled for curse-breaking," said Sirius.  "I was happy doing it, too, but it was only a few years before everything fell apart."  He stared off into the distance again for a moment before shaking his head and turning back to Harry.  "You look more like your father every day.  I'll bet it drives Snape mad."

Harry shrugged.  "He's always hated me."

"And me," said Sirius.  "He's a right smarmy git, but Potions is one of the subjects you need to excel at this year if you want to be an Auror.  So don't antagonize him, all right?"

"What?" exclaimed Harry.  "I never do anything in his class, he always singles me out –"

"I know, I believe you," said Sirius.  "Just keep your head down.  Don't give him any excuses to give you bad marks."

"I don't think that's possible…"  Harry trailed off, remembering his first night at Alverbrooke when Snape had had to help him walk across the room.  He'd been different then.  True, his face had been as unreadable to Harry as Ancient Runes, but he hadn't been nearly as hostile as Harry had expected.  And there was Sirius, looking proud and hopeful, wanting Harry to succeed where he had failed years before.

He didn't want let his godfather down.  "I'll try," said Harry, and Sirius smiled broadly.

"You'll be an Auror in no time," he said confidently.  Harry sighed; just thinking of the year ahead made him feel as tired as if he were already bending over his books.

There was a knock on the door across the room.  "Come in," called Sirius, and a crack of light suddenly appeared against the darkened forest.  It widened to admit Lupin, who closed the door behind him and walked toward Harry and Sirius with seemingly nothing beneath his feet.

"Have you got it, Padfoot?" asked Lupin as he sat down, cross-legged, on the floor beside them.

"Of course I have, Moony."  Sirius thrust his hand into a pocket of his robes and dug out a small box wrapped in golden paper with a scarlet ribbon.  "Here – happy birthday, Harry."

"Thanks!" Harry said in surprise, taking the box.

"You may have slept through it, but you still need a present," said Lupin.

Harry removed the ribbon and paper to reveal a dark wooden box.

"Wait," said Sirius.  "It's too dark, you won't be able to see it."  He pulled out his wand.  "Lumos.  All right, go ahead."

Harry opened the lid.  Inside on black velvet lining lay a small green jewel the size and shape of a teardrop.  A short silver chain connected the setting to a pin.

"You got me an earring?" said Harry in confusion.  "Oh, you shouldn't have, really."

Everyone laughed.

"I don't know, you might look good with an earring," chuckled Sirius.

"You pin it to your clothing, not your ear," said Lupin.  "It's an emerald.  They protect against poison."

"They're an essential part of the antidote-making process," said Sirius.  "Snape would have needed one for the potion he made for you."

"Actually, we meant it for a talisman, not a potion-making ingredient, though you could use it for that if you wanted to," said Lupin.

"Malfoy would have a field day if he saw me wearing jewelry," said Harry.  "Especially if it's in Slytherin colors."

"It doesn't have to be visible," said Sirius.  "As long as it's on your person, it'll protect you."

"We know that it's not likely that You-Know-Who will try to poison you again," said Lupin.  "But after last month… well, we just wanted to do something to help."

Harry picked up the pin and let the stone dangle from the chain.  The light from Sirius' wand caused green fire to flash inside.  Emeralds were very expensive – everyone knew that.  Harry wondered how Sirius and Lupin had been able to afford it.  He tried to find a polite way of finding out.  "Where did it come from?" he asked.

"There's a neat little bit of history behind that stone," said Sirius.  "It belonged to Moony's mother."

"My grandmother was poisoned during the war with Grindelwald," Lupin explained.  "She barely survived and was terrified of being poisoned again until the day she died.  My grandfather bought her this stone to ease her mind, only then it hung on a chain like a pendant.  It was passed down to my mother, and subsequently to me."

"But if this is a family heirloom, don't you want to keep it?" asked Harry.

"If I wanted to wear it I'd have to melt the setting off and remount it in gold," said Lupin.  "Werewolves don't take well to silver.  I remember one time not long after I was bitten – I ate some chicken soup with a silver spoon."  He shuddered.  "I was deathly ill for days afterwards.  Besides, you're family just as much as children of my own would be, and I doubt I'll ever have any to give it to.  Your mother and father would have wanted Padfoot and me to look after you, but unfortunately, we've both turned out to be fugitives.  It's not much, but it's all we can do for you while you're away at school."

Harry looked at the jewel swinging back and forth on its short chain and then at the two adults.  They were watching him expectantly.  You're family just as much as children of my own…  Harry didn't need Sirius to tell him that he shared Lupin's sentiment.  He turned over the collar of his T-shirt and pinned the talisman to the other side.  It felt cool against his skin.

"Can you see it?" he asked them.

"Just a tiny flash of silver," said Lupin.

"When you get back to Hogwarts you'll have your school robes," said Sirius.  "They should hide even the smallest clues pretty well."

"It's a great present," Harry said.  "Thank you."

"You're welcome," said Lupin, and Harry could see that they were both very pleased that he had put it on.

**********

The next day dawned bright and sunny.  When Harry stumbled down to breakfast he found that Hermione was already there and had in fact been awake for some time.  He wasn't surprised to see an open book next to her broiled grapefruit.

"Good morning, Harry!" she chirped, looking up from her page.

"Mmm," Harry responded groggily.

Hermione spooned out a section of grapefruit.  "Professor Bellaton's already gone," she said.  "The house-elves say he left last night."

Harry sat down and began to butter a piece of toast.  "Let me guess: Professor Thornby is going to be taking the train from King's Cross to Hogwarts."

"Yes," said Hermione.

Harry grimaced at his toast.

"It could be a lot worse," said Hermione, sounding more than a little bit bossy.  "She's just doing her job, you know.  At least she's not going to be holding your hand the whole way."

"Well, I like her and all, but I don't like being watched all the time," said Harry crossly.

"You agreed to it," said Hermione.

Harry opened his mouth but was forestalled by the appearance of a very rumpled-looking Ron at the table.  He was a sharp contrast to Hermione who appeared ready to leave at that very moment.

"Morning," yawned Ron.  He caught sight of Harry's face.  "What's wrong with you, mate?"

"Professor Thornby is going to Hogwarts on the train," said Hermione.

"So?" said Ron, helping himself to a fried egg.  "She went to Diagon Alley while we were there and we never saw her.  She'll steer clear of us on the train, no one's supposed to know that she's connected to you at all."

Harry felt a bit foolish.  "I guess so," he said.

"Can't blame you, though," said Ron around a mouthful of toast.  "I mean, she's brilliant and all, but I wouldn't want her in my head."

Harry tilted his head to one side as if listening for something.  "You know, I don't really notice it that much anymore."

"Well, that's good, isn't it?" said Hermione.  "You wouldn't want to be distracted during class all year, we have a lot to do to get ready for O.W.L.s."

"No, we wouldn't want to think about anything other than exams this year," snickered Ron.

Harry was saved from having to listen to yet another argument by Professor Thornby.  "There you are!" she exclaimed as she entered the breakfast room.  "Harry, Ron, you'd better get moving.  Arthur's going to be here soon."

Harry and Ron wolfed down the rest of their eggs and toast while Hermione serenely worked on her grapefruit one section at a time.  They dashed back to their rooms to wash and dress.  Harry had done most of his packing the night before, but Ron had apparently barely begun.  Harry could hear him banging around next door while he carefully folded up his own school robes.

Finally Harry had packed nearly everything.  He looked around his green room for odds and ends and spotted the mahogany box that held his talisman on the bedside table.  He was in the act of pinning the stone to the inside of his shirt when Sirius appeared in the doorway.

Sirius smiled when he saw what Harry was doing, but made no direct mention of the talisman.  "Almost ready, then?" he said in a voice that was just a bit too light and carefree to be convincing.

"Yeah, nearly," said Harry.

There was a crash next door followed by a muffled curse.

"Does he always leave things to the last minute?" said Sirius, craning his neck to look into Ron's room.

"Pretty much," Harry answered.

Sirius looked down at his hands.  "Listen, Harry, I want you to be careful this year at school, all right?  I wish I could go myself but I'm going to have to rely on Celeste to watch out for you."

Harry's hand tightened on the box.  "I'm not a baby, Sirius, I can take care of myself."

"I know that, but –"

"You took all kinds of risks while you were at school, running around with a werewolf and your Animagus friends after dark –"

"We didn't have a Dark Lord hard on our heels!" said Sirius.

"Look," said Harry, now thoroughly exasperated, "I'm not going to do anything stupid.  I know Voldemort's out to kill me.  I know everyone's concerned but you can't keep me under lock and key!"  There was a bite to his words that he had not meant to put in them.

Sirius' jaw tightened.  "I'm sorry if my concern bothers you, but you're not the one watching your godson heading off to face God knows what, not being able to do anything because you have to hide your face from the world."  He crossed his arms and looked away from Harry.

Harry sighed and sat down on his bed.  "Look, I didn't mean it like that –"

Sirius held up a hand.  "Until you stand in my shoes, there is no way you can understand how it feels to let you go so soon after…"  His voice trembled slightly and he trailed off.  "I'll stop getting on your case."

Harry couldn't help feeling a little bit guilty; he knew that Sirius hadn't intended to annoy him.  "I'll be careful," he said.  "It's just that I already got the point, you know?"  He ventured a hopeful smile, and was relieved when Sirius smiled back.

"You're fifteen now, I have to remember that," said Sirius.  They heard another not-so-muffled oath from next door.  "Come on, I'll help you carry your stuff downstairs."

By the time Ron finished packing, Mr. Weasley was already waiting downstairs.  "Sorry," puffed Ron as he came hurrying up, dragging his trunk behind him as fast as he could.

"He's here, we'd better get going," Mr. Weasley said brusquely, looking at his watch.

There was little time to say goodbye, but Harry, Ron, and Hermione all hugged Sirius and Lupin before stepping into the fireplace with their trunks.  Sirius' eyes were bright as he gave Harry a quick embrace, but all he said was "See you at Christmas."

The Burrow was in utter chaos when they arrived.  Mrs. Weasley could be heard shouting shrilly from a floor somewhere above; other voices were shouting back and heavy thuds shook dust from the rafters onto their heads.  The breakfast dishes had apparently been washing themselves in the sink but were now completely out of control.  Hermione shrieked and ducked as a heavy frying pan flew straight at her head.

"Finite!" commanded Mr. Weasley as the forks began to twitch and clack ominously.  The frying pan fell to the floor with a loud clang.  "You three get your trunks in the car out front," said Mr. Weasley distractedly while a large bundle of socks soared into the room and up the stairs, grazing his ear on the way.

Harry, Ron, and Hermione left the kitchen as quickly as they could.  Just like Mr. Weasley had said, there was one automobile sitting in front of the house.  "Another Ministry car," said Ron.  "I wonder how he got one, I had the idea he was rather unpopular with upper management right now."

They stuffed their trunks into the boot, which had been magically expanded.  "It looks like we're not going to be the ones to make us miss the train," said Hermione.  "Fred, George, and Ginny are even later than we were."

"I wasn't late," said Ginny.  She was staggering out of the house with her luggage.  Harry and Ron went to help her.  "Fred and George put a Disgorging Charm on my trunk.  It spewed all my clothes around the room when I tried to close the lid."

"Looks like you beat them outside anyway," said Ron.

Ginny laughed.  "Mum went crackers.  She's been in their way too much for them to get ready, still going on about their N.E.W.T.s and all…"

She brushed a few long strands of crimson hair out of her face.  Harry only glanced at her at first but then looked back again.  Ginny had changed over the summer.  She seemed taller and more evenly proportioned, no longer gangly.  Her brown eyes caught Harry watching her; she quickly blushed and looked away.  "Um.  Where was I?  Oh yes, so if Mum doesn't ease up on them I don't think we'll ever get to King's Cross on time."

Fred and George strode out of the house, each dragging his trunk in one hand and holding his broomstick in the other.  Both looked distinctly disgruntled.  They were heaving their trunks into the car when Mr. and Mrs. Weasley appeared.

"Hurry now, boys, hurry," said Mr. Weasley.  "Goodness, look at the time, why do we have to cut it so close every year…"

They all clambered into the car, which stretched to include everybody, and Mr. Weasley put his foot down hard on the gas.

Mr. Weasley raced down the roads fast enough to make Harry and Hermione worry about both the police and their own safety.  Luck was on their side, however, and they arrived at King's Cross safe and sound.

"Ten minutes to spare!" said Mr. Weasley, who was flushed with excitement.  "That's the best we've done since Charlie was at school…"

"Come on then, let's go," said Mrs. Weasley, who didn't look like she'd enjoyed the breakneck drive quite as much as her husband.

They loaded their things onto trolleys as fast as they could and were halfway to the station when Ron realized he'd forgotten Pigwidgeon in the car and ran back to retrieve him.  Pig twittered madly the whole way into the station, waking up Hedwig in the process, who eyed the smaller owl disdainfully from her own cage.  "Shut up, Pig!" said Ron as Muggles turned to see what all the racket was.

They reached the barrier and began to dash through one at a time.  Harry followed Fred and George, getting himself and his trolley out of the way as fast as he could.  There before him was the Hogwarts Express, apple-red and shiny, white puffs of smoke coming from its stack.  Students and their parents were swarming around the cars, loading their trunks, and saying their farewells.

Harry didn't have much time to stand and admire.  The large clock on the wall gave three minutes until the train left the station.  "Hurry now, it'll be leaving any moment," said Mr. Weasley as he ran through the barrier, the last of the group to do so.  "Come on, let's get you on board…"

There was a flurry of goodbye hugs.  Mrs. Weasley was brimming with last minute advice.  "Oh, Fred, George, do behave yourselves this year, please –"

"Mum, it's our last chance to make some real mischief –"

"Ginny, my beautiful girl, have a good term… Ron, study hard now, it's a big year for you, oh, there's a smudge on your cheek –"

"Mum, don't, people are watching!"

"- and Harry, Hermione, good luck," she said, rather breathless by now.  She gave them each a hug, and whispered in Harry's ear as she did so: "Take care of yourself, dear."

Harry shook hands with Mr. Weasley and scrambled into a passenger car with his luggage.  The train gave two long, piercing whistles and began to roll forward.  Students were leaning out of every compartment window, waving to the multitudes of parents who were waving back from the platform.

The train picked up speed.  Harry, Hermione, Ron, and his siblings hurried down the hall into the first empty compartment.  The Weasleys threw open the window and all tried to squeeze their heads and shoulders out.

Mr. and Mrs. Weasley were waving farewell.  "Goodbye, Ginny, goodbye, boys!" called Mr. Weasley.

"Hermione, you're a prefect, keep Fred and George in line!" said Mrs. Weasley.

"Goodbye, Mum, we'll send you a toilet seat express!" Fred shouted back.

The train pulled out of the station and the platform disappeared from view.