A/N: Here we go everbody! Chapter Eight! And, just to let you readers know, I will not be updating again unless I get two (2) reviews on this chapter!

Fred

Chapter Eight—The Return

As Harry, Ron, and Hermione entered the Great Hall for lunch, they were surprised to find that Professor Dumbledore was conspicuously absent from the staff table. And they weren't the only ones who noticed, Harry could hear several other people coming up with wild rumors about where Professor Dumbledore could be.

Harry assumed he was just busy dealing with matters pertaining to The Order of the Phoenix and couldn't be bothered. Harry, who was famished, sat down to enjoy the lamb chops which had magically appeared before him.

While he was eating, he overheard Seamus saying to Dean, "I bet Dumbledore's off fighting a thousand dementors!" What an imagination, Harry thought to himself.

About fifteen minutes later, as Harry was finishing off his lunch, he saw Professor Dumbledore come in to the Great Hall. He passed Harry and dropped a note on his lap on his way to the staff table.

It read:

Come to my office right before dinner,

I'll meet you outside.

Harry pocketed the note, and stood up, as it was time for Transfiguration. On the way there, he told Hermione and Ron what Dumbledore's note had said.

"I wonder if something has happened? Could someone have been hurt?" said Hermione.

"Well, I reckon it's got to do with those Death Eaters they locked up in Azkaban. Maybe they escaped," added Ron.

"No, I doubt it," replied Hermione. "Your dad's Minister of Magic now, and he would have made sure that was front page news in the Daily Prophet."

"Oh, yeah, probably," said Ron as they entered the class.

They took seats in the front of the class, and just as the bell rang, Professor McGonagall entered the classroom.

She began class by telling everyone about how important it was to do well for the next two years, as these would determine their entire future. "I know all of you have great potential, and could go far. And Transfiguration is an essential part of magic, and it cannot be ignored. Good luck to all of you," she said. She then explained that they would begin human transfiguration today. She asked for a volunteer, and, of course, Hermione's hand shot up.

"Very well, Ms. Granger, please come to the front of the room," said Professor McGonagall. She did as Professor McGonagall instructed and then, right before Harry's eyes, Professor McGonagall had turned her into otter.

"That was bloody brilliant Professor," said Ron.

"Too bad she can't stay that way," added Malfoy, who was sitting in the back of the class. "She looks better." Pansy Parkinson laughed as loud as Harry had ever heard her.

"I will not tolerate that sort of behavior in my class Mr. Malfoy," Professor McGonagall said sharply. "Ten points from Slytherin."

After Professor McGonagall turned Hermione back into a human, she instructed the class to pair up and attempt to do it to each other. As usual, Hermione was the only one who was able to turn her partner (Neville) into an otter. Professor McGonagall assigned everyone in the class (with the exception of Hermione) extra homework, so they would be able to master the charm.

As Transfiguration was a double class, it was almost time for dinner, so Harry walked down toward Professor Dumbledore's office wondering what could be so important.

As he neared the statue of the stone gargoyle, he saw Professor Dumbledore waiting for him.

"Ah, Harry, good, you're here," Professor Dumbledore began, "let's go on up." He turned to face the stair gargoyle and said, plainly and clearly "Sugar Quill." And with that Harry and Professor Dumbledore headed up the spiraling staircase.

As they got closer to the top, Harry heard a voice, a voice he recognized. No, no it's impossible, he thought to himself.

No, he recognized the voice all right. It was the voice of Sirius Black.