Chapter 17 Telling Fortunes

"Brother is it cold out" Sirius said out loud, jumping up and down "When are these guy going to make their move." He was deep in the old forest of Northern Spain, waiting for a small group of deatheaters to strike. He knew he could never stop them while they were together, but he figured if he could wait until they started the attack, he could pick them off one by one. After all it was only nine against one, he had faced worse odds than that and came out on top, if only it weren't so cold.

He could always change back into a dog, he would probably be warmer that way, but he was tired of living like an animal, literally. His mind wandered aimlessly stopping as always on his godson, Harry. He wondered what he was up to right now, trouble probably, seemed to be the Potter curse, Sirius couldn't help but smile when he thought of Harry and his friends. Right now they and Remus were the closest thing to a family he had, it broke his heart every day knowing he couldn't stay with them, not until Voldemort was stopped and his own name had been cleared. He longed for that day, maybe then he could regain everything that had been stolen from him, twelve years of his life were gone, years that he should have been able to share with the people he loved. It practically drove him insane when he actually stopped to think about it, he had no family, his parents had passed away, and he never had the opportunity to start his own family, as for his friends.....Remus Lupin was the only true friend he had left, everyone else was either convinced he had betrayed his friends, or simply didn't care enough to know the truth. Sirius idly kick at the ground, he was tired of running, he wanted a home and a family. Granted two bachelors and a teenager wasn't exactly your typical family, but he needed it, he needed to feel that his entire life hadn't been one very long ,very bad dream.

Sirius was snapped out of his daydreaming by the sound of the deatheaters approaching. "Finally, maybe I can finally get this over with and get back to Harry." He silently transformed into his dog form, and began tracking the deatheaters. He stopped the first one quickly, very slow and clumsy this one, and none of the others seemed to even notice, eight to go.

The next two were almost as easy, one had actually walked into him. Sometimes Sirius wondered how these idiots got to be such a threat, at this rate he would be back at Hogwarts in time for Quidditch season. Six left, odds were getting better all the time he thought happily...

Harry and Ron sat on their beds, wondering out loud if Remus had talked MacLeod into helping him.

"I'm telling you Ron, she'll do it, you should have seen the two of them. I thought Sirius and Remus played rough, poor Remus had a tail with matching ears, and this huge stomach by the time she was done. And that wasn't even counting the ice rink and snowballs" Harry was laughing all over again.

Ron just rolled his eyes "Harry, so she knows some cool pranks, I'll give her that, but what does she know about DADA, she's just the divination teacher. And how did she do the snowballs, don't think I've heard that one yet." Ron was beginning to chuckle himself just watching Harry's face.

"I have no idea, but it was great, I wish you would have been there with me." he was nearly hysterical now.

"Harry, you've finally gone mental. No really, look at yourself, I think the stress has done you in." Ron was holding his sides now, "Harry, I think someone charmed us, this really isn't that funny, we shouldn't be laughing like this."

"I know your right. But who would do it, and why?" in answer to Harry's question, two cheerful faces appeared at the door.

"Oy, Harry, Ron. What's so funny then" George asked knowingly.

"What have you two done this time" Ron asked, his eye narrowing angrily as he kept laughing.

"Just another fine product brought to you by yours truly." beamed Fred "we had to try it out on someone."

"But why us?" Harry gasped

"Well we did try to test it on some others in the tower." George began "but it ended rather badly."

"Should have seen Nadine and Angelina, ......never pull that one again," Fred said, rubbing his jaw "Just better hope this wears off in time for Quidditch practice tomorrow. Eh Harry" the boys walked away grinning broadly and slapping each other on the back….

The next morning at breakfast Harry received an owl from Sirius.

"What does it say? Is everything alright, is he on his way?" questioned Ron impatiently waiting for Harry to finish reading.

"Calm down Ron." Harry sounded annoyed "Yes, he's on his way." he practically jumped out of his seat.

"Snuffles, will he be here soon?" Hermione asked "By Floo maybe."

"He doesn't say how, just with luck he'll be here in time to see me play this weekend." Harry was smiling broadly, he couldn't put into words how much he missed his godfather. It would be wonderful to see him again.

"Harry," Hermione spoke up "Hagrid was wondering if we'd come to see him later today, I think he needs a hand with the drakes."

"He needs help with the drakes, and he asked you" Ron said in disbelief, "I thought you were scared stiff of them."

"I am not scared" she responded indignantly "they just take some getting used to is all. Miss MacLeod showed me how to make them fall asleep. Actually they're kind of cute, ...when their asleep."

"Ok, how about after Quidditch practice tonight, we can meet at the pitch and go together."

They all agreed and began to head out to their classes.

"Ya know Hermione," began Ron "maybe you should think about switching back to divination, now that Trelawney's gone, its actually pretty good."

"Thank you. NO" she said as she walked away shaking her head at the thought of it.

Harry was glad to see Miss MacLeod looking so well, he had been very worried about her and Remus, even after their little "battle" neither of them really seemed to be feeling like their old selves. Besides Harry still had a lot of questions for MacLeod, he was hoping she would be able to talk to him after class today.

"Good morning class, I hope you enjoyed your little unscheduled holiday" MacLeod began "because now, we unfortunately have a great deal to catch up on." the class groaned loudly.

"Now none of that. I want you to break up into groups of two to three. Please take a bag from my desk, one bag per group, we will be studying geomancy today, with any luck we can skim through this quickly and move on to runes by Friday."

As the class worked on tossing the stones and gems onto the reading tableu, Harry got Miss MacLeod's attention.

"Yes Harry, it there a problem?" she asked kindly.

"I was wondering if I could talk to you for a little, after class?" Harry asked hesitantly, "I still have a few questions."

MacLeod pulled up a chair and sat with Harry and Ron. "I don't think that will be a problem, as long as you're not too late for Professor Lupin's class."

"About Professor Lupin, are you going to help with DADA like he asked?" Harry could barely contain his excitement "He said you may even bring some of them along with you. Did you say yes, did Dumbledore?"

"Harry, take a breath sweetie." she laughed "Yes, I agreed to give a few seminars. And Yes, some of my friends will be showing up to help with the "practical" demonstrations. Is there anything in particular you wanted to know Harry, you seem to have something on your mind." MacLeod asked gently.

"Yes actually, I do. But I think after class would be better." Harry shot a glance towards Ron and the other students.

"I understand. Well while I'm here, lets see how you two are doing." Looking over at their boards "Ron, dear, I think you may want to turn that the right way round before you try reading anything."

Ron looked like he had just swallowed a fly. His face began to turn pink as he quickly put his head down and turned the tableu the right way. Harry couldn't help but laugh at his friend.

"Now Harry, don't laugh," she chided "let's see how you're doing, shall we?" Pulling her chair closer to his she started pointing at the quartz and topaz "So, can you tell me what these mean?"

"The quartz represents the heart and the topaz true feelings" sighed Harry.

"Ok, sweetie, now with a little feeling, or at least some drama" she laughed, "Tell me what you have, then use what's inside you to string it together." she touched her finger to Harry's chest as she finished.

"Yeah, right. Quartz is heart, topaz feelings, aquamarine hope, and coral change, and...I forgot this one." he said embarrassed.

"Turquoise is family or health." she hinted "Now string them together and tell me what you have."

Taking a deep breath Harry gave it his best shot "My hearts true feelings are .....umm...a deep hope that I can change my health??"

"That doesn't make to much sense Harry. I think you're reading these two backwards" she was biting her lip a little "Mind if I try?"

"Please, be my guest." he was actually quite relieved, he was afraid she might be disappointed in his lack of talent.

"Your heart is yearning for a change, a change that will bring you new hope and possibly a change in family" she looked at Harry for a moment "Planning on getting married young are you?"

Harry's eyes nearly popped out of his head "Married, me. Not in this lifetime."

When Miss MacLeod began to giggle, Harry knew he had just be set up. "Oh Harry, you're even easier to trick than Remus. I'll see you after class." she tousled his hair affectionately as she went to help another student.