THANKS SO MUCH TO SENTINEL-WITCH!!!
June came so suddenly that no one had expected it. The finals were over and their trunks packed. So many of the students yelling and screaming "Freedom!" as they ran around the dormitories or the halls.
The teachers weren't happy, but that was to be expected. Even though they loosened up a little, there were still some rules that applied to everyone. Like for example the 'no running in the halls' thing. That had to be enforced even more as the students ran through the halls bumping into anyone that came around the corner. In other weird words, school had become chaos.
Everyone was excited, that is, everyone that had not the name Harry Potter.
Harry was afraid to go back to the Dursleys. He was afraid because all that had happened last summer, he was thinking that it had been a dream. That his aunt and his uncle were just waiting for him at home with a three feet long list of chores. That all that his aunt had said in that shop was an illusion, created by his own mind because he wanted a family that cared.
Even if it wasn't an illusion, he was afraid to go back and put his family in danger. He knew he could take care of himself, but his aunt and uncle were muggles and they had no way to fight, (maybe except the muggle shot gun), but that could be easily detected.
"Cheer up, mate!" Harry turned around in his bed and looked up at Dean's head on the other bed. "School's almost over and we'll have nothing to worry about until next year."
Harry smiled at him. "Yeah, Harry. Gran said that you might come to our house for a little while in the summer. She says that she wants to meet the man who taught me how to finally defend myself." Neville said blushing hard.
"I didn't do all the work, others taught you too. You did everything by yourself, Neville. All you had to do was believe in yourself. After that, everything became easy. I even noticed that you ignored Snape's nasty comments when he shouts them out to you in class. You've come a long way."
Neville beamed at him and swished his feet in embarrassment. "Thanks Harry. I did try since we all have a war to fight."
"Ron just wait a minute!"
The three in the room stood up and stared at the door. Ron Weasley's tomato red face strutted into the room before slamming the door into a person's face. He whipped out his wand and cast the locking charm. When he turned to the others, his face contorted.
"What are you guys doing here?
The three stared at him before Seamus pointed out. "We all live here ya know."
Ron flushed again, "Yes, sorry bad question."
"Girl trouble Ron?" Dean asked leaning on his elbow.
Ron sighed plopping on his bed and stared at Harry. "How do you put up with them? They're so bloody annoying! You know she's still sending letters to that creep Krum? I can't believe her! I thought she got over the guy and now she's sending letters to him and worse, she's been doing it since fourth year!"
Harry stared at his best friend. "Ron, did it ever occur to you that maybe Hermione and Krum are friends. She's with you and I know she wouldn't betray you like that, that wouldn't be Hermione. You have to let her have her space.
Ron glared at him. "Would you believe me if I told you she was writing love letters to him behind my back?"
"Have you read one of the letters?"
Ron pretended to think about it then shook his head. "Ah no."
"Than maybe it would be better if you go and read one of the letters, before you jump to conclusions." Harry said.
Ron stared at him, he stood up and went out the door. Harry and the others stared after him. "Should we follow?" Dean asked.
"Dean! You should learn not to meddle in other people's love lives. Hadn't that got you in trouble for the last, I donno, four years?" Seamus said. He laughed as Dean made a face at him.
"I'll go see what's up with them. I understand those two better then any of you." Harry said getting up.
When he went downstairs he found them by the fireplace. The common room was deserted. Ron stood by the fireplace a piece of parchment in his hand while Hermione sat on the sofa glaring at him.
"Harry, there you are. Did you knock some sense into him finally?" Hermione asked as he came over to them.
Harry smiled at her gently and sat down next to her. He looked up to see Ron's expression, but it shocked him when he found nothing but a blank face. "Ron?"
Ron looked away from the letter and blushed. Harry turned to Hermione again. "What did you write?"
Hermione scowled. "For god's sake, its just a letter."
Ron gave the letter to her and sat down on the other sofa. He stared at Harry and then back to Hermione. "She wrote about me. The whole letter was about me." He said in awe.
Hermione rolled her eyes and Harry tried not to burst out laughing.
"Ron did you absolutely think that I was cheating on you? That I was sending him love letters when I am so madly in love with you?"
Ron gaped at her and Harry felt strange. Maybe I shouldn't be here. He tried creeping away from them, but Hermione's voice stopped him in his tracks.
"Get back here Harry! I need to make you both understand this. You two are not the only figures in my life. I decided last year that I would send Victor letters and stuff, I didn't have to tell you. And the reason I'm writing to him all about you Ron, is because I am deep in love with you, I have been since the moment I met you." Harry again felt that he shouldn't be there.
"Uh Hermione, I'm going to go head down to the End of year feast. You two can come when you solve this."
"Harry no, I need you to make him understand that I love him. You were the one that brought us together, you were the one that knew about us before we even knew. I need you to get it through his head that there is no one else!" Hermione yelled.
Harry stared at her and then turned to Ron. Ron was all red in the face and his mouth was opened in a slight o. " 'Mione, he looks like he gets it. Now if you don't mind I'm going to get out of here and go down. When you two are done, show up please." Harry scrambled out of the common room before Hermione could even open her mouth.
-------------------Harry sat at the Gryffindor table watching everyone enjoy their last night. Conversation was a jumbled mess all around him as he tried to keep up with it. On one side Angelina and Ginny talked about Quidditch with the other players nonstop. On the other side, there were conversations involving girls and boys and other teenage problems. Harry had half listened to both, but his eyes were drawn to the Head Table where Dumbledore smiled down at him and Snape scowled, but if Harry was closer he would have seen it in his eyes that the scowl was not meant as hatred, but rather curiosity.
Harry turned away from the table and got lost in the conversation.
"Hey Harry, guys." Ron said as he and Hermione finally came in and settled down seconds before Dumbledore stood up to give his speech.
"This is it. Another year passed and another coming soon. Much hardships await many here and hopefully there will be help. Some of you, after this year, will go your own way, all I can say is, good luck. Some I will see next year." He broke off to glance across the hall. "I cannot pretend that you are safe, I cannot pretend that we are not at war, but I can say learn, learn all that you can so when you get out alone into the world you know how to protect yourself. Do not let yourself off guard, our world had fallen asleep and we slacked off when Voldemort (cringes across the hall) first fell. We went into a false sense of security, but this time all will be prepared. Good luck to everyone no matter which path they choose. No matter where they go, no matter the dangers they face. I hope you will be safe."
His voice was soft, as if it was painful for him to speak. But he didn't have to speak loudly as the hall had silenced. They were gazing at him from every side of the room.
"Now enough with the sad parts, I'd like for us to have a big end of year feast with big happy smiles as you all descend down to the train station." Everyone cheered at that and put on their silliest smiles ever. The green and silver banners raised high above their heads.
Harry laughed silently at how the room had suddenly changed from sad to happy in a blink of an eye. He laughed as the students talked and laughed at jokes, how easily they forgot everything. He smiled at Ron and Hermione's faces. They had made up and sat snuggly against each other and ate like two little love birds. Ron looked like an imitation of a red beach ball.
"Hey Potter." Harry turned around in his seat as Draco Malfoy stood above him grinning. Harry shook his head and motioned for him to sit down next to him. Draco sat gratefully and looked to each face at the Gryffindor table. They were stricken and staring at Harry with horror. Harry smiled at them and waved.
"Harry, mate, you do know that he's a Slytherin and your arch nemesis right?" Seamus said from the seat over.
Harry looked at him and the others. They were waiting for his answer, half hoping that he'll suddenly jump up and start cursing the living daylights out of Draco. To their surprise Harry did no such thing except ignore them and turn to Draco. "So, what are your summer plans?" Everyone's mouths dropped into their plates.
"Severus and I are going to leave England for a while. Go on a little trip to Italy and Greece. Did you know that the tower of Pisa is held by magic, it would have been destroyed had it not been held like that for centuries. I did not know that. Severus explained everything when I saw the pictures. Then we're going to come back and go to Snape Manor and relax I guess. I'll probably help him with some of his potions, if he lets me.
"So what are you going to do?"
Harry opened his mouth then shut it again. He didn't know how to say that he wasn't going anywhere anytime. That he would have to go back to his relatives' house that probably now hate him. "I'm not going to do anything. Probably do some work around the house during the summer. I---"
They were interrupted as the great hall doors burst open and a huge black dog ran across the length of the room to stand in front of the Head table. The teachers had stood up and pointed their wands at him, but when they didn't sense danger they put them away. Dumbledore was the only one standing and watched in amusement as the dog swiveled around and ran straight at a shocked Harry.
It licked his face, the slobber getting all over him. Harry tried to get him off with all his might, but he wasn't strong enough as it kept smothering him.
"Snuffles, get the hell off!" Harry yelled into the fur of the dog. Sirius cocked his head, mirth in his eyes and he got off him. Harry stood up and with a wave of his hand the slobber disappeared.
Sirius moved his head to the side and motioned for Harry to follow him. Draco stood watching the whole thing wondering who the hell the dog was. Ron and Hermione had stood up with half of Gryffindor. They were amazed at the dog, all for different reasons. Those of the D.A. stared at the dog in horror. Harry had told him a while ago that his godfather was dead and he showed them his animagus form and now they stood as if in a trance staring at the dog.
"Harry, is, is he a ghost?" Parvati whispered. Sirius growled at her shaking his mane. Harry laughed.
"Nope. He's real so you can relax guys, he's been real for some time now." The D.A. members gave him a looks and sat down. The younger students still stood staring. Sirius snapped his jaw as one of the boys brought his hand down to pet him. He backed away immediately as Harry scolded him with a look.
As Sirius began pulling on his sleeve, Harry rolled his eyes and followed. Ron, Hermione and Ginny after them. Dumbledore got away from the table and motioned them into the room that was used during the fourth year. Before entering, Harry glanced back and beckoned Draco to follow, the blond was immediately by his side. Harry blinked and laughed.
When they came into the room, all of the others were seated and waiting until Sirius transformed. But as Harry entered with Draco, he stopped his transformation and stared at the blond. His questioning eyes met Harry's and Harry nodded that it was okay.
With a pop Sirius appeared in person, he picked Harry up into a hug and spun him around. Almost crushing his body. "Sirius, can't breathe, let go."
Sirius let go and smiled broadly at them all. Even Draco was included, by the way the blond had showed no shock as Sirius had transformed. He knew the dog had been the man, or if he hadn't, he kept it well hidden.
"Harry, have you heard?" Sirius asked jumping to his toes. Harry stared at him. Sirius dropped back down and glared at all of them. "Don't you guys know?"
"Know what Sirius?" Harry asked, but before Sirius could answer the door was opened and Remus stalked inside. He didn't even pause before he enveloped the animagus into a hug similar to the one Sirius gave Harry.
CONGRATULATIONS SIRIUS!"
The others were still clueless and were beginning to lose patience with the two. Remus turned to them and pulled out a paper. He gave it to Harry. Harry opened it with caution. The black bold letters stunned him.
PETER PETTIGREW STILL ALIVE! BLACK INNOCENT?
Peter Pettigrew was a known as a brave hero to the wizarding world who died protecting his best friends. But as truth be known now, Pettigrew is no hero, he betrayed his best friends, Lily and James Potter to You Know Who on Oct. 31. In fact, the evidence by Verriteserum shows that Pettigrew was a servant of You Know Who. The evidence shows that Sirius Black was not the Secret Keeper of the two Potters and their son, the Boy Who Lived. In fact, Black insisted that the Potters claim Pettigrew to be their Keeper. Unknown to them that Pettigrew was a Death Eater.
After the death of the Potters and the fall of the dark lord. Sirius Black was found on the street with muggle bodies all around him laughing maniacally. Pettigrew escaped Black by blasting the street and cutting off his finger so that they could have a DNA match. Black was sentenced to life imprisonment for a crime he did not commit.
Pettigrew is now in custody and is scheduled to receive a Dementor's kiss two week prior from now. The Ministry is freeing Sirius Black of all charges.
"We at the ministry feel that we have dealt with Black roughly and the least we could do is show him how sorry we are. Mr. Black will be receiving L300,000 for our mistakes." Said Minister Fudge.
Harry dropped the paper and stared at Sirius. His mouth was open to say something, but no words came out.He didn't have to say anything. Sirius said it for him. "The offer still stands Harry."
Harry jumped into his godfather's arms and held tight. "And I accept."
-----------Sad how nobody figured out the person. PPL ITS OBVIOUS!
THATS IT! THE END! Well not the END end just the End. I am going to begin a SEQUEL to this one and it will be called A Place in the World. Strange title I know, but it will work. I hope you guys liked this story and I appreciate you who stayed through out the end! THANK YOU!!