A/N: I would again like to thank all those that have reviewed and apologise for taking so long in updating.
Disclaimer: Everything in this is owned by its respective owner
Chapter Five: Chatting with Sirius
By the time the ceremony had finished and everyone had given their congratulations to the trio the sun had disappeared to be replaced by a bright crescent moon.
Returning to his room after enjoying a late dinner cooked by Mrs. Weasley Harry said "good night, Ron".
"Good night, Harry" replied Ron, as Harry got changed and climbed into bed. Almost instantly Ron's snores filled the room, while even though Harry's eyes were closed he was still as wide awake as he had been in the morning. Thirty minutes passed, during which Harry restlessly tossed and turned upon his bed, unable to drop into slumber. Continuing in this fashion for a time, Harry resided himself to the fact that he was not going to be falling asleep anytime soon. Rising from his bed Harry quietly removed a warm clock from his trunk and wrapped it around himself and snuck out into the hall.
Tiptoeing up to the top of the stairs Harry silently opened the attic door and upon entering bowed to Buckbeak, receiving the same gesture in return. Crossing the carcass-strewn floor Harry opened the wooden shutters that had been keeping out the cold wind of the night. The cool breeze blew strongly through the now open window, chilling Harry to the bone, causing him to shiver and pull his clock tightly around himself, before climbing out onto the roof just below the window. Moving to the edge of the roof Harry sat thinking with his legs dangling idly over the edge.
Many thoughts went through Harry's head while sitting there on the roof. Thoughts about the year to come at Hogwarts and what he still had to face were the first to cross Harry's mind. Gradually Harry's thoughts turned towards Hermione, mainly wondering about how his feelings towards her had changed and how things seemed to have changed between them since the previous year.
Remembering the dance they had shared on Harry's birthday brought a smile to Harry's face, this however disappeared as Harry's thoughts drifted to the surprise he had received upon seeing Sirius before his eyes again. "How is it possible?" voiced Harry out loud expecting everyone to be inside asleep.
Harry jumped slightly as a voice replied "how is what possible, Harry?" Turning round Harry saw Sirius floating a small distance behind him.
"May I join you?" Sirius questioned.
"Sure" responded Harry.
Floating over to Harry, Sirius asked, "you were wondering how something was possible?"
"Well, yeah, I was wondering how it was possible that you were able to become a ghost, not that I'm not glad. It's just that when I spoke to Nearly Headless Nick, he told me that even though it was possible, you wouldn't become a ghost" replied Harry.
"Harry, there are generally two reasons that witches or wizards become ghosts, the first being that they just do not yet want to die, this way leads to living as a ghost for ever."
"And the second reason?"
"The second reasons is that the witch or wizard has a promise or dream left unfulfilled and isn't willing to leave until they have been able to fulfil the promise or dream. Once they have completed what they stayed behind for they are again able to leave for the afterlife."
"I don't quite understand"
"Well, for example, Nearly Headless Nick wants to join the Headless hunt, right?"
"Right" said Harry giving Sirius a questioning stare.
"His dream for most of his life had been to gain the acceptance of the lords. The problem was he wasn't particularly good at anything and could not gain their respect. Disappointed about not being able to gain the respect of the lords, Nick went off by himself to kill a rebel leader who had been causing trouble. He was however caught and promptly executed."
"So that's why he became a ghost and wants to join the headless hunt so much?"
"That's correct Harry. Do you understand now?"
"I think so. Is that why Moaning Myrtle became a ghost? Because she had something left to do?"
"Yes Harry, that's right. As you know she wasn't the most popular student at Hogwarts and she didn't have any friends. Well she'd always wanted a friend so when she died she stayed behind as a ghost to try and find someone to be her friend. As you can guess it hasn't happened yet."
"How do you know why Nick and Myrtle wanted to become ghosts?"
"Your father told me Harry."
At the mention of his father, Harry's eyes began to fill with tears, but he managed to get out, "But how did he know?"
"When your father became head boy Dumbledore told him about all the ghosts, just like all other head boys and girls have been told about them."
"So, what's your reason for becoming a ghost?"
"I became a ghost Harry, because I had a promise to your parents before their deaths and I have yet to fulfil that promise."
"What's the promise?" At this point Harry's tears were on the brink of spilling out down his cheeks.
"I promised them that I would do what ever it takes to protect you from Voldemort."
With this Harry's tears flowed freely from his eyes and forgetting momentarily that Sirius was a ghost, Harry turned to Sirius and tried to throw his arms around him. When Harry's arms passed straight through Sirius, Harry again remembered that Sirius was now a ghost and that it wasn't possible to hug him ever again.
Remembering this caused Harry's tears to fall even more rapidly, causing a sorrowful look to appear on Sirius's ghostly face at his inability to comfort the boy. "Now, Harry I need to ask you something" said Sirius with a cheeky grin on his face. "Do you think I've become smarter since being becoming a ghost?"
"No, your still safe from that Sirius" replied Harry with a snort and a laugh. Seeing this brought a smile back to Sirius's face.
"There is actually something I wanted to talk to you about"
"What's that?"
"What's going on between you and Hermione?"
"Nothing" answered Harry defensively.
"Really?"
"Really"
"Ok then, but how do you feel about her?"
"I.. I.. I don't know" replied Harry hanging his head.
"Well when you do you should tell her."
"I will, I promise. Why the questions though?"
"I'm your godfather Harry, I'm supposed to take care of you."
"Thank you Sirius."
"It's extremely late, sorry, early. Harry, you really should be getting some sleep, after all you do have to go to Diagon Alley today."
"Ok Siruis, good night" said Harry as he rose from the edge of the roof and carefully made his way back to the open window. Climbing through the window and shutting the shutters behind him Harry quietly snuck out of Buckbeak's room without waking the sleeping Hippogriff. Sneaking back down the stairs Harry re-entered his room, placed his cloak carefully back into his trunk and climbed back into bed. As soon as Harry's head hit the pillow he fell fast asleep.
The next thing Harry knew he was being shaken awake by Ron, who was mumbling excitedly something about get up, breakfast and alley. Sitting up Harry groggily said, "calm down Ron." Ron visibly relaxed and Harry continued "now what were you saying?"
"I said, you have to get up and have breakfast because we are leaving for Diagon Alley in an hour" answered Ron. Springing out of bed Harry grabbed some clothes and dashed for the bathroom. Glancing over his shoulder Harry told Ron "thanks" before shutting the door and quickly getting ready.
Running into the kitchen Harry quickly ate what had been left on a plate that he assumed was for him. Upon hearing someone say, "you look more like Ron eating like that" Harry turned to the door to see Hermione standing there smiling.
"Well I'm in a rush" responded Harry with a slight laugh.
"Yes you are and Mrs. Weasley wants us at the fireplace now, everyone else has already left."
Hurriedly throwing his dishes in the sink Harry followed Hermione out of the room and to the fireplace in the entrance hall. "Good morning Mrs. Weasley" Harry said as he took some the floo powder offered to him by Mrs. Weasley.
"Good morning Harry" replied Mrs. Weasley. After Hermione had set off on her way to Diagon Alley Harry climbed into the fireplace, threw the powder at his feet and yelled "Diagon Alley" then felt the now familiar feeling of travelling by floo.