Hey! I am SO sorry for the delay. I have a few excuses, one being my parents have pissed me off so much in the last week that anything I wrote was a tiny bit hateful, and I couldn't sit down and write this chapter. I was in a very pissy mood thanks to my parents who are so kind and caring. Sorry guys. Um so here is the next chapter, I hope you enjoy it. Thank you for all the kind reviews. I have to go baby-sit so I'll reply to some reviews next chapter! Please R/R! I don't own Harry Potter! J.K. Rowling does!!

***

"The Headmaster wishes your presence in his office."

Sirius groaned and slowly opened his eyes. He buried his face into the pillows, he had such a nice dream and the bed was so comfortable.

"The Headmaster wishes your presence in his office right now," came the annoying voice of Phineas Nigilus.

"Why can't you go away?" Sirius muttered and sat up. He looked up at the portrait of his great, great, grandfather. "What did no one like you and stick you here?"

"I have come on the Headmaster's orders to watch over you," Phineas replied not bothering with the insult. "My duty is to the Headmaster Dumbledore. Now for some reason he wishes to speak to you."

"I'm not going, I don't want to talk to any of them," Sirius turned his back to Phineas.

"It was my impression that he wished to conceal you for prying eyes," Phineas informed him.

Sirius turned around, "He wouldn't tell Andromeda where I was?"

"The Headmaster just wishes to talk to you, there is no one else in his office. He told me to tell you that he will have breakfast waiting, unless you would prefer to meet him in the kitchens."

Sirius smiled. Dumbledore had been the only one who had stuck up for him. He quickly showered and changed into his robes. "Lead the way Phineas."

"I only take orders from the Headmaster," Phineas straightened himself up.

"Well then on his orders, bring me to his office," Sirius told the portrait. Sirius followed Phineas through the halls. He had no idea where they were going. Phineas seemed to be taking him in halls he had never been before. Phineas kept looking back to make sure his young charge was there. He did not run like he had done last time.


"There you go," Phineas stopped walking. He turned and faced a gargoyle on the other side of the hall.

Sirius stepped up to the gargoyle and he looked up at it. "Open up?"

"Chocolate frogs," Phineas spoke from behind him. The gargoyle stepped aside.

Sirius went up the moving spiraling staircase. He looked all around him. He had been wondering where the Headmaster lived. At the top of the stairs, there was a door. Sirius knocked.

"Come in young Sirius. Come in," Sirius heard Dumbledore's voice welcoming him.

Sirius opened the door. He looked around; he had not imagined Dumbledore's office like this. The walls were filled with books. Portraits lined the walls above the bookshelves, and most of the portraits were asleep. He saw Phineas come into his portrait and he realized that they were probably the portraits of the old Headmasters and Headmistress.

"Good morning Sirius," Dumbledore had his head resting on his hands. Before him on the desk was enough food to feed the whole of Gryffindor. "Breakfast?" Dumbledore smiled seeing Sirius look at the food.

Sirius nodded and took a seat opposite Dumbledore.

"I am indeed sorry for yesterday. My colleague is indeed young and as do many have their prejudices."

"I don't expect much from anyone in Gryffindor," Sirius shrugged.

"Ah alas, that might be part of the problem," Dumbledore took some food. "The Gryffindors are usually open minded, I have been disappointed by their behavior. Did you know I use to be a Gryffindor?"

"You sir? Wow." Sirius smiled. He thought for a moment, "Well sir, if you were a Gryffindor, why are you being nice to me?"

"I have lived in this world for some time. With age, some get knowledge. I have come to realize that one should not be judged by their family, but their own actions. Some people believe my brother is a genius, for they consider me one, which seems absurd to me, but my brother, is different than myself. My brother is who my brother is, and no one else. Everyone is different."


Sirius nodded in understanding.

"Have you received answers to your questions?" asked Dumbledore.

"Yes, I wrote to my Uncle Alphard."

"Ah a delightful man. I have had the pleasure of meeting him," Dumbledore nodded. "Did he tell you what you wished to know?"

"I think so. I've thought about it a lot and I don't think I agree with my family. Everything they do seems so… dark and evil. I don't think I'm like that," Sirius could have sworn that as he spoke, Dumbledore grinned and his eyes twinkled a little more than they usually did. But he looked up at him and he could see no trace of the grin.

"There is a difference between thinking and acting," Dumbledore told him quietly.

Sirius nodded. He didn't really understand what Dumbledore said but he had a feeling it was important.

"Ah I see the day is beginning and I think it is breakfast time," Dumbledore stood up. "Will you join me down to the Great Hall?"

"I don't really want to see Andromeda right now," Sirius shook his head. "I don't want to see anyone really."

"Well as it is early, I'm sure most of your classmates are still asleep," Dumbledore told him and motioned Sirius to follow him. "Do you feel comforted?"

"A little."

"Then you are just about ready to face them," Dumbledore opened the door for Sirius. "You can't avoid everyone forever."

Sirius nodded and left with the Headmaster.

**

A week later Sirius did it. Every time he looked out the window or went to Herbology, he saw it. The Forbidden Forest. It was calling to him. The word "Forbidden" was calling to him, Sirius had to go in. And so he did.

Sirius looked around, it was very dark. The trees around him were shaking. The wind was whistling all around him. He looked around him, maybe he should have picked a better time to come and explore. He looked up at the full moon.

"HHOOOWWWLLLLLLL"

Sirius stood rooted to the spot. He knew that sound. But where was it coming from? Was it in the forest? Was this why the forest was forbidden?

He whipped his head around and looked around him. Where was the beast that had made that noise?

"HOOOOWWWLLLLLLLL!"

He ran. He wasn't sure where the noise had come from. Maybe it was his imagination but it sounded closer. He had been standing near the edge of the forest, but with no thought about what he was doing, he ran deep into the heart of the Forest. He tripped over a few roots, and dodged a few bushes. It was so dark he could barely see in front of him.

He looked back to see if he was being followed and "OUCH!"

He fell back hard on the ground. He had slammed into something big and hard. He looked up to see what it was.

"Who are you to be wandering in this forest?"

Sirius could only stare. He had seen pictures, heard tales and had them described to him but to see one up close… Sirius looked at the creature, to the waist, it was a man, a muscular man with brown hair, but it had legs and a tail or a horse.

"Wow." Sirius whispered to himself. The centaur was huge. Sirius had not thought they were so big.

"I'm…. Sirius… Sirius Black," he said still on the ground. "Who are you?"

"My, it is interesting to meet you, Dog Star." The centaur looked up; "Mars is bright tonight."

"What does that mean?"

"I have no time to tell centaur knowledge to a foolish young human."

"I'm not foolish," Sirius got up off the ground.

The centaur was observing the sky though and he didn't seem to heard Sirius. "You might have a purpose in here tonight. Th skies have been speaking of you recently, Dog Star. It shines bright, very bright these days."

Sirius didn't know what to say.

"Have you a brother Dog Star?"

"I do, but I'm not sure he thinks of me as a brother anymore though," Sirius told him.

"A good friend?"

"No."

"Ah it speaks of the future then. The Dog Star has a line of stars near it. The Dog Star usually stands alone."

Again, Sirius stood quiet.

"Mars is bright tonight."

"Is that a bad thing?" Sirius couldn't help but ask.

The centaur turned sharply to him. "War. It speaks of war. It could be tomorrow, 5 years from now, a 100. The stars do not speak of time."

Sirius nodded.

"I expect you are lost young Dog Star. This time only I will escort you to the edge, though I will see you often."

Back in Hogwarts, Sirius quietly went up to Gryffindor Tower. In an hour or two the sun would be rising. Sirius was glad it was Saturday. As he entered his dorm, and looked at the beds, he noticed his wasn't the only one empty. Remus Lupin's bed was neatly made and showed no sign of anyone being in it that night. Sirius changed into his pajamas and got into his own bed. He looked at the other beds, and his eyes settled on James Potter's bed with its closed curtains. What had Dumbledore said to him a few days ago? Something about thinking and acting. And the centaur said he had a friend who was like a brother. Was something going to happen? Would he be tested soon? Would he pass? Sirius put his head down on the pillow, he didn't know why but he had a feeling the two conversations he had in the last few days were very important and would somehow effect him greatly.