Chapter SevenA Prediction and a Reappearance
Harry and Ron were in Divination, staring into the foggy crystal ball that they were sharing and trying to come up with interesting ways to die. They were just about to tell Professor Trelawney about the giants that were going to attack the 6th year Gryffindor boy's dormitory later that week, when the lesson ended.
"Harry, dear, a moment please," Professor Trelawney said dreamily, and beckoned Harry. Harry motioned for Ron to go on without him, but Ron shook his head and watched the old bat expectantly.
Professor Trelawney scrutinised Harry for a moment before saying, "Harry, dear, I'm rather worried about you. I've just inspected your homework and when I read that you were going to die in a freak gasoline fight accident I thought I should check it myself. I'm very sorry to inform you that it's true. Just try not to drag anyone else into it, won't you, dear?"
Ron gave a loud snort and said, "Don't worry, Professor, it'll just be me and Harry. We're off to have a gasoline fight right now, in fact."
Professor Trelawney frowned at him, and said rather coldly, "well, you may go." Harry and Ron turned to leave when they heard Professor Trelawney shriek from behind them. They whirled back around to see her standing rather limply. Her eyes were rolling back in her sockets. Harry recognised the signs of a true prediction coming on and his stomach plummeted. This could not be good. Sure enough, Professor Trelawney began to speak in a hoarse and deep voice.
"The end draws near…The fight approaches…The return of a loved one will mark the disappearance of another…the end of the world as we know it is coming." Professor Trelawney then fell backwards into a chair in a dead faint.
Harry could not move. He was staring at Professor Trelawney with a look of pure terror on his face.
"Harry!" Ron said, waving his hand in front of Harry's face. Nothing. "HARRY!" Ron shouted, slapping Harry on the cheek lightly. Quick as lightning, Harry's hand snaked up and grabbed Ron's wrist, tightly. Harry's gaze snapped to Ron's face.
"Do you know what that means?" Harry whispered, before collapsing. Ron managed to stop his head hitting the ground just in time. He conjured a stretcher to float just outside the trapdoor and carefully lowered Harry onto it. He floated Harry all the way to the hospital wing and when Madam Pomfrey assured him he'd be alright after a few hours' sleep, he continued to lunch. Only when the practicalities of getting Harry to the hospital wing and finding his way to the Great Hall were over did he have time to think. He sat down, not noticing what was on the table in front of him and stared off into space.
That was a True prediction, if Trelawney's ever made one before. Harry's going to fight Voldemort soon. I don't want him to die! What can I do? Ron was interrupted by Hermione waving her hand in front of his face.
"Ron? What's wrong? You're not eating! And where's Harry?" Hermione asked. Ron was not listening. Suddenly he looked at Hermione.
"I've gotta go see Dumbledore!" Ron said, standing up forcefully and startling some of the first years. And with that, he left the Hall. Hermione looked longingly at her food for a moment, before hurrying after Ron.
To their surprise, when they arrived at the staircase to Dumbledore's office, Draco was getting off. When he saw their faces, however, he stopped.
"What happened? Where's Harry?" He asked, looking as if he was going to faint.
"He's fine. For now," Ron said, jumping onto the staircase before it could close after Draco left. "He just fainted. But you better come up too."
Draco blanched and staggered. Hermione slung his arm over her shoulder and attempted to get him back onto the staircase.
Dumbledore was waiting for them at the top of the stairs. He looked at them gravely before opening the door and allowing them inside his office.
They sat down and looked at him expectantly. He remained silent for a few minutes, then looked at Ron and said, "perhaps you should begin by telling us what happened when Harry fainted, Mr Weasley."
Ron nodded. "We were in Divination, and when the lesson ended, Professor Trelawney wanted to talk to Harry, so I waited for him. She told him that the death he predicted for himself for homework was going to come true-"
Hermione snorted, "oh please." Ron glared at her before continuing.
"-but then she went into a true prediction. She said – she said that the end of the world as we know it is approaching and something about a loved one returning. And…the fight is coming." Hermione paled. Draco fainted in his seat.
"I see," Dumbledore said gravely. Hermione shook herself out of her state and tended to Draco. When he came to, Dumbledore spoke.
"Well, that is very interesting. You see, I have just received word from Armando Dippet, who has a portrait in St Mungo's. It appears that they have just admitted a new patient who seems to apply to this prediction…"
Harry dreamed. He was in the Department of Mysteries. He knew where he was heading, but he didn't want to go there. He tried to stop his feet, but they kept moving. All the way to the room with the veil. Harry sank to the floor, and just sat, watching the veil. Hours later, when he felt he was just about to drift off to sleep (even though he knew that he was dreaming), the veil fluttered more wildly, and someone stumbled out of it.
"SIRIUS!" Harry shouted as he sat up in bed. Madam Pomfrey rushed in, shushing him and trying to force him back into bed. Harry looked around wildly, half expecting to see Sirius somewhere, but when he realised he wasn't coming, he sank back into the pillows. All thoughts left him except those of the dream. He replayed it and over in his mind. Sirius had stumbled out of the veil, looking half dead, and had looked at Harry, grinned at him madly, and fallen to the floor. Then Harry had shouted, waking himself up.
Harry's thoughts were interrupted by an insistent tapping at the window. Looking around, he saw that Madam Pomfrey was occupied in her office. Harry crept to the window and let the owl in. It didn't however fly over him and land on someone else's bed, as he had expected, but simply stuck its leg out at him. Harry saw that the letter was addressed to him and he took it off the owl before making his way back to the bed.
He tore it open and read:
Dear Mr Potter,
We have recently received intelligence that you are the Godson of the recently deceased Sirius Black.
Although we do not fully understand how it came about, we are pleased to inform you that Mr Black is currently in our care at St Mungo's Hospital.
We would appreciate it if you would come to see us as soon as is practicable for you.
Yours sincerely,
Malfrida Ollfonge,
Closed Ward
St Mungo's Hospital
London
Harry's heart was beating three times faster than usual. Was it possible? He wouldn't have believed it, but combined with his dream he thought it was possible. He made to get up, but Madam Pomfrey had turned around.
"Oh, no you don't!" she said crossly.
"I need to see Professor Dumbledore RIGHT NOW!" Harry shouted.
"Relax, Harry, I'm right here," came a voice from the door. Dumbledore walked in, followed by Ron, Hermione and Draco. They all looked extremely worried about something, but they looked a bit excited too.
"Professor Dumbledore, I just got this letter!" Harry shouted, waving the letter madly. "It says Sirius is at St Mungo's! Alive!"
Hermione snatched the letter from Harry, and read it while Ron and Draco looked over her shoulder.
Dumbledore looked at Harry and smiled faintly. He guessed that the letter, after five hours of sleep, was enough to drive all thoughts of the prediction from Harry's mind. It was quite possible that he had completely forgotten about it.
"Harry, I have just been informed that Sirius is indeed at St. Mungo's. Armando Dippet's portrait saw him arrive. I think we should go there now."
Madam Pomfrey scowled. "He's not quite ready to leave, Albus-" she began.
"I assure you, Poppy, this is of the utmost importance. Harry has had five hours of sleep to get over fainting. I daresay he'll be up for a short walk." Dumbledore said, looking at Madam Pomfrey over his half-moon glasses. When she didn't respond, he smiled, and pulled a small book out of his pocket. "Portus." He tapped it with his wand. "Gather round," he said. They all touched a part of the book.
"three…two…one…" Harry felt the familiar jerk at his navel and they were off.
They landed just outside St. Mungo's a few minutes later. Dumbledore led them up to the window display, where the mannequins were still wearing the same awful clothes as the last time Harry had visited, and said to them, "We're here to visit Sirius Black." The mannequin closest to them beckoned with its finger, and they stepped through the window.
Harry ran all the way to the closed ward, closely followed by Ron, Hermione and Draco. Dumbledore walked calmly, but his facial expression betrayed his excitement. When they reached the door, Harry burst through, looking around.
In the far corner, Sirius was just pulling out of a hug with Remus Lupin. He looked to the door, and broke into a grin when he saw Harry. Harry ran to him and briefly noted that he had been crying before throwing his arms around Sirius and bursting into tears himself.
"Harry," Sirius choked, "I thought I'd never see you again." Harry merely sobbed into Sirius' shoulder and hugged him tighter. Finally they pulled away and Sirius looked around to see Ron and Hermione standing near Lupin, waiting for their turn. He pulled them both into a hug, saying, "It's good to see you both again!" His eyes wandered to the door, where a pale boy stood looking shy and nervous. Harry, noticing the direction of his gaze, walked over to Draco, grabbed his hand and towed him over to where the others were standing.
"Sirius, this is Draco Malfoy-" Harry began, indicating the boy standing next to him.
"Malfoy?" Sirius' eyes narrowed. Harry ignored this.
"My boyfriend," He said, firmly; Sirius raised an eyebrow. Lupin looked mildly surprised. Harry continued, "Draco, my Godfather, Sirius Black." Draco extended his hand. "I'm glad to be able to meet you, Sirius, I've heard great things about you." He said genuinely. Sirius looked taken aback, but he recovered and smiled, accepting Draco's hand. "I believe you are the son of my cousin, Narcissa," he said.
"I wonder if I might have a word with you outside, Mr Malfoy," Dumbledore interrupted.
"Of course, Professor," Draco responded, smiling at Harry and Sirius, before exiting after Dumbledore.
Harry and Sirius stood looking at each other for a while. Suddenly Harry lunged forward and hugged Sirius tightly again. Sirius laughed, and hugged Harry back.
"I missed you," they both whispered at the same time.
"So," said Sirius, once they'd recovered from their second lot of tears, "do you want to come over for Christmas?"
"I'd love to," Harry said.
"Draco, you're welcome too, of course," Sirius said. Draco smiled brightly and said, "Thanks!"
At that moment, Dumbledore re-entered the room and said gravely, "Sirius, I'm sorry, but I'm going to have to ask you what happened."
"Can't you give him a couple of days?" Harry protested, looking at Sirius worriedly. Sirius smiled slightly, remembering when he'd said words to that effect about Harry after the Triwizard Tournament.
"I'm sorry, but this really cannot wait."
Sirius sighed, sat on his bed and began his story.
"When I was falling through the veil, I became very cold inside, it was a similar feeling to the one you get with a dementor-" Harry grabbed Draco's hand "-except without the sorrow part. I found myself at Hogwarts, by the lake. I was watching the time when Harry and I almost got kissed by the dementors…" he faltered.
Harry let go of Draco's hand to reach forward and squeeze Sirius' hand in reassurance. Sirius looked up, smiled, and continued.
"The scene kept replaying, over and over, until I managed to stop paying attention to it…Then it dissolved, and I was watching another memory. I don't need to tell you everything I went through. Suffice to say that I watched myself almost die many, many times over for each near-death experience I've had…" Sirius shuddered.
"But eventually, I found that I could sort of control the memories, by what I was thinking at the time. You see, when I fell through the veil, it was cold, and it reminded me of dementors and so the first memory I watched was the one about the dementors." He paused, waiting for everyone to understand, before continuing.
"So I thought of happy memories, like…roaming Hogsmeade with the Marauders-" he grinned at Lupin fondly "-and… I ended up watching lots of memories of the time before James and Lily died. It was really distracting, all these memories – they made me forget where I was or what I was meant to be doing. I had totally forgotten about the present, I was just wrapped up in memories of the past. But then in one of the memories I saw James ruffle up his hair, and… I realised that it reminded me of someone else I knew. Everything came back to me, because I had seen Harry in James. As soon as I remembered everything, I was back in the Department of Mysteries, and I walked through the veil from the other side. I don't fully understand how I managed to control it, but I don't find it hard to understand that no one has ever come back before. If I didn't have Harry as a reminder of the present, I would still be in those memories."
Sirius pulled Harry into a hug and whispered, "Thank you for being a part of my life."