Chapter XXIII: Twelve Grimmauld Place

Over the following day, Madame Pomfrey and her collection of centaur nurses treated a good one hundred witches and wizards. Only six giants stayed to help rebuild Hogwarts while the rest took Grawp's body home with them for the proper burial. Hogwarts still looked like a war zone, but most importantly, without the war. Harry was released from the hospital. Unfortunately, Ron was not as well. His coma had not improved at all. His parents were called in but only under one condition. The state in which Hogwarts was in could not be revealed to anyone. That's what the teachers were up to. They were attempting to keep things under wraps with the press and Ministry of Magic. If word got out that He was able to take control of students and the Head Master, Hogwarts would surely be shut down for good.

The main cover up devised was being spread at a vicious speed; the rumor was not detailed, so that it could not be fouled up too much. During an experiment in one of Mister Snape's classes, a student accidentally spilled some vial potions and a glass jar full of chortling gas (much like laughing gas but it lasts for several weeks on those who breath it in). Thus, several dozens of students had to be hospitalized until the gas wore off. However, under all the magical potions can be cleaned up, Hogwarts will have to be shut down until the following year.

Dumbledore was making sure that Theodore McGonagall got his new home. Not Azkaban Prison. He would go to St.Mungo's, yet not as a patient; he would be a resident nurse. There, he could be watched and do some good to the magical society.

Back at Hogwarts, students well enough to walk had to leave for home at once. They were informed by Madame Pomfrey and the centaurs what to say to their parents and family when the questions should arise about their early return. Harry was not going back to the Dursleys however. He remembered what Sirius had told him, that he could live with him. Even with Sirius's unfortunate passing, Harry wanted to take him up on that offer. The Order of the Phoenix made special arrangements for Harry. He received a letter, or a note rather, shortly after leaving the hospital wing.

—It's all yours— it said. The envelope was unmarked except for a small seal with silver lettering barely reading the address 12 Grimmauld Place, and the letters, do you remember the way?

Harry stood in the Gryffindor tower collecting his things. Ron's side of the room was a mess. He left a small envelope on the bed telling Ron to come to Sirius's home if was well enough. Inside the envelope, he also shoved in some Bertie Botts Beans and chocolate frogs (only two, so they wouldn't fight).

"Harry!" Neville shouted.

"I'm almost ready," Harry said back and then shoved the remaining pieces of clothing into his suitcase.

"Harry!"

"What? I said 'I'm almost ready'!"

"Someone's here to see you, Harry."

Harry grabbed his things and slide down the stair's railing. When he tumbled to the bottom, he saw two enormous feet covered by dark brown boots. Hagrid stood in them, draped in a black robe to match the beaten circles under his puffy eyes.

"Hermione said you went to the Mountains!"

"I did," he said. "When I was almost there, I said to myself, 'What in blazes are yeh doin', Hagrid? The boy needs yeh now. And so do yeh.' So I turned back. I hope your godfather's home is big enough for me."

Harry's mouth opened wide, eyes glistened and he panted for air. He didn't care how Hagrid knew about the letter or if he really even left for Grawp's funeral. That didn't matter to Harry at all.

"You're telling me you're going to live with me?"

"If I'm welcome," he said.

Harry jumped into Hagrid's arms. "Always."

"Very good. Now, erm, we better be off. The train can't wait for all of us."

And so, a hoard of wizards solemnly left Hogwarts with the early Spring sun shining on their backs. The Hogwarts Express was not as cheery as they wanted it to be. But, they made the best of it. Calming music played in the background of each cart. Harry sat with his owl, Hermione across from him with Crookshanks and Neville Longbottom sitting where Ron should have been. It was all too awkward, too different. They sat in silence the whole way home.

They made a special stop for Harry and Hagrid (at Hagrid's request of course) at the Kings Cross Station. A few blocks away, about a twenty-minute walk for them, was Sirius's home. Or, what should have been his old home.

When they arrived, there was nothing. In between two Muggle homes, there was an empty lot where a house should have been. That building that Harry remembered so clearly, where he had to be hidden to be safe from Him, his safe-haven was gone. How could it just disappear? It was impossible.

"Forgive me, Harry. It's that Fidelius Charm. Dumbledore said it should be visible once he unlocks the spell for us. Don't worry about them. The Order of the Phoenix relocated. Or that's what I was told. Anyways, where is the old wizard? He was supposed have to done this for us already."

"I'm sorry, Hagrid, I was held up in some traffic."

A tall wizard with a long white beard and a dark blue robe walked out from the invisible shadows. It was as if he teleported but at the same time, he didn't. Then, he floated down steps. Steps that neither Harry nor Hagrid could see, but clearly, Dumbledore was walking down them. As he approached Harry, a smile creased his face.

"I am the most fortunate wizard to still have you alive and well, my dear Mister Potter. I am proud to tell you that Sirius left you this in his will… After some last minute corrections." Dumbledore winked his eye, as if he was telling Harry that the house originally was not going to be his. Harry shrugged.

Dumbledore then turned around and whispered something. He lifted his wand and mumbled more words barely even made out to be whispers. When he was finished, he walked away toward Kings Cross Station. There was still nothing there.

"Hagrid, isn't it supposed to be visible now?"

"Patience, Harry, any minute now."

As they waited, Harry could not help it but think whom the house was supposed to go to and who could have changed the will. The only other family he could think of was the Malfoys, but they would never give it up so easily. Perhaps it was always remain a mystery to him.

Suddenly, a black door gleamed. A silver serpent for a handle emerged from the shadows. It glistened and beckoned to be touched. Hagrid rushed forward and opened the door before the rest of the house was even visible. He quickly threw down his suitcase into the doorway and unbuckled it.

"Hagrid, what are you doing? We have plenty of time to unpack."

"He begged to come, and I didn't want Dumbledore to know I took him. I didn't really ask permission yeh know." After opening the hatches, a small creature flew forward gasping for air.

"You want to kill Dobby! Not rescue!"

"Dobby!" Harry shouted. He hadn't seen him all year long.

"I found him stealing my socks a while back. I told him he could stay with me at Hogwarts and I'd give him lots of socks. But since we can't be living there now, I brought him here. I hope yeh don't mind."

"Of course not. So, it's the three of us. No one else I should know about?"

"That's it. Hey, lookie here." Hagrid pointed at a plague on the door as Dobby rushed into the house and began turning it upside down for socks. Hagrid dusted a part of the wood and continued, "We better change it."

"Change what?" Harry leaned forward and read an engraved plague. "House of the Black." Harry smirked a bit. "No, leave it."

Hagrid nodded and pushed aside his suitcase blocking the door. He walked in, bending his head to fit inside. Slowly, Harry followed him, trying not to remember the bad memories of Sirius, his horrible death. Being in his home was a constant reminder of that. But also, a reminder of the family he had and the family he still has, as Hermione told him. Harry turned slightly and looked at the blue sky. It was so clear, so calm, and so beautiful. He was home.

THE END

Please comment. If you liked this, there is a completed sequel called the Emerald Leaf!