CHAPTER 13

The Knights of Walpurgis

A month had passed. No mail from Peter. Remus had sent a lovely postcard from his home. It was a very nice Muggle village --- more like a city. James had sent a letter almost every week, depicting everything that happened in his house. Sirius guessed that his friend thought it would make him feel better, knowing what fun he was having.

James' last letter had read:

Sirius,

How are you and your wonderful family? Sprite says hi. She's taken a liking to Kreacher for some reason. They've never met, but she finds it fascinating to hear about other house-elves, seeing as she doesn't know any. My mum and dad said that it would be fine for you to come for a stay this summer, if it's all right with your ever loving parents. Anyway, Wendy finally wrote us back and told us that she's getting married. She needs all of her stuff moved out of her room as soon as possible, which means that when you come back (with a little luck), your room will be white instead of pink. I know it bugged you. It would bug anyone. Except Wendy. I wrote to Remus, and he sent me back a postcard. Did you get one, too? He says that Florinda Fawnsdale used to live in the woods behind his house, and he's going to send us a picture of the forest soon. Haven't heard from Peter yet. Or anyone else. I wish that you could write back, but I guess your caring and always loving parents won't let you write back. So fine, I'll just keep writing and sending Dag (my owl) along with these long and extensive notes. Hope you haven't died, and don't send me back a dungbomb again.

James

Sirius hadn't been able to respond to anyone's letters. Actually, he had spent most of his vacation scrubbing the floors by hand and sitting on his bed, staring at the wall. Narcissa and her two sisters had visited for a week, and that had been hell. She and Bellatrix were constantly shooting glares at him. He heard Narcissa tell her little sister one night, "Everyone in Slytherin thinks he cheated his way into Gryffindor. He belongs with us. Everyone knows it."

Oh, do they? Sirius thought.

Andromeda was the only comfort that he had. They played hours and hours of wizard's chess with his new chess set that the Potters had given him for Christmas. He told her about all of the adventures that he and the others had taken, including the one into Klein's office.

"He was talking about a business opportunity," Sirius said. "With a colleague of his."

"Klein's a friend of my father," Andromeda said, moving her queen over two spaces. "He was giving the same speech to him a few nights ago. It seems as if he's talked to everyone. The Malfoys, the Weasleys, the Crabbes, the Goyles, the Notts, you know --- all the old pureblood wizarding families. It seems as if some man called --- what did they call him --- well, I can't remember the name now --- but they were all agreeing to band together in some sort of rally. I have no idea why ---"

"And all of them agreed?" Sirius asked, moving a pawn.

"Most of them, but not the Potters. Or the Weasleys. They just had a baby, you know. Arthur and Molly?"

"Good for them," Sirius grumbled, having no idea who they were. He didn't care, either. And it didn't come to him as a surprise that Mr. and Mrs. Potter would say no to something the rest of the purebloods would agree to.

"It doesn't sound good, though," Andromeda added. "My father said that he would think about it. But you know him. He'll never turn over to --- well, you know --- the Dark Side of magic."

"The Dark Side?" Sirius said, perking up. "What do you mean? It's a rally for Dark Wizards?"

"Oh, yeah," Andromeda continued, "Klein called them the Knights of Walpurgis. I have no idea what Walpurgis is, though. Sounds like our motto, though? Toujours Pur?"

"Our motto?" Sirius huffed. "You mean their motto."

"I'm sort of unnerved about it, though," she said, moving her king. "I mean, it doesn't sound like a family picnic, does it? Rallies of Dark Magic? Knights of Walpurgis? Secret meetings with all the purebloods? If only I could remember the name of the man that's doing all of it --- he goes by some weird foreign nickname. Lord Voldemort, I think they said ---"

Sirius wasn't sad to see his cousins go. But the conversation he had shared with Andromeda that day had been enough to make him think. Something was going on. And it didn't sound like a reunion --- that was for sure. Andromeda was right, it wasn't a family picnic.

He searched his brain, trying to think of where exactly it had been that he had read that last name. It was no use. It was hopeless. He doubted if he would ever remember.

It was the end of July when his father finally called him into the sitting room. He sat down in the chair, and his father took the couch with a bottle of butterbeer. He didn't offer one to his son. He clicked the glass container with his fingernails, and stared at his prisoner. He had something else in his hands as well. It was a letter.

"Sirius, I have received a letter from the Potters," he said. "Their son wants to invite you back for the remainder of the holidays."

"Can I go?" he said at once.

"That is what I wanted to speak with you about." His father wasn't making eye contact. He was still smarting inside from the sorting. Sirius smiled to himself. "There is a rally that has begun between our pure families. We have given our full support to their cause. Which means that we will be watched a bit more carefully. Your cousin tells us that you are befriending half bloods, mudbloods-"

"They're people, they're all people. And some of the best in the class are Muggle-born," Sirius defended them.

"Muggle-born? Did my son just say 'muggle-born?' My, my, Sirius, you have changed." Mr. Black tutted, and he looked back at the letter and ripped it in half. "The Potters have declined to answer their calling into the rally. Unlike us, they do not support the cause. Therefore, I forbid you to ever talk to this child again. Or anymore of your little friends."

"So you want me to be an outcast?" Sirius spat.

"No, I want you to make friends with the right sort. Follow Narcissa around for a few days. She has many good acquaintances that would love to meet you." Mr. Black then paused to throw the letter into the fire. "If you know what's good for you, you'll go begging to Dumbledore to put you in Slytherin next September. We have a name to uphold, and I am not letting any snot-nosed son of mine ruin our entire proud lineage."

Sirius glared at him. He hated them even more than he had before. He gritted his teeth and managed a "Yes, sir" before running upstairs and grabbing the family owl. He skidded to a stop to throw Kreacher out of his room ("Mother's disappointment. Black sheep!") and then went straight to the desk to write. He grabbed a piece of parchment and a quill and jotted down a letter.

James,

Dad just got your letter. He's forbidden me to ever talk to you again. So, naturally, we need to talk.

I have some important news to give you. My cousin said that there's a rally of Dark Wizards and that they're plotting something. My parents are furious with me! Help me! Come kidnap me! They won't mind.

Sirius

He tied the letter to his owl's leg and threw him out of the window. And then he waited patiently for a reply. There had to be a faster way to communicate that his parents wouldn't notice.

He finally gave up, announcing that it was stupid to think that James would write back that quickly, and lay on his bed, wondering about the Knights of Walpurgis. He knew that hardly anyone knew about it. Were these the same colleagues that Klein had been talking to Snape about? It must have been. Klein had been going around to all of the families, it sounded like --- it sounded like his family had already been cleared. But Mr. and Mrs. Potter wouldn't budge. They never would. What would happen to them?

Oh, if only he had listened in History of Magic. Nothing like this had ever happened before, had it? Walpurgis. What in God's name was a Walpurgis?

There was a fire starting in his heart. He knew he had to do something. Oh, yes, he would be going to Dumbledore in the fall all right. But not to ask him to switch to Slytherin.

It was three days later that James's reply came in the mail. It was along with a letter from Remus.

Sirius:

Greetings from the woods! Here are the pictures I -
Sirius threw Remus's letter aside, and tore James's open. It read:

Sirius:

This isn't good news. You think it has anything to do with Klein and Snivelly? Klein was over at our house with a man named Dolohov. They were talking about a rally, too. Same one? Probably. And I don't really care what your parents say. You're sticking with us. My parents want to come get you at once, but we can't. You know that. I'll see you in a month. Don't write again. It'd be best if you didn't get caught sneaking letters to me.

James