Chapter 10
It had been two days since Voldemort had attacked and Harry hadn't left his room once. The only person that came to see him was Mrs. Weasley when she brought food up. Everyone else was wisely giving Harry his space.
Harry had started feeling restless. He got up and started pacing his room. All of a sudden he stopped. He had noticed that there was something different about the wall by the dresser. He moved closer to examine it. Harry could easily tell that it was a secret passage but couldn't figure out how to open it. Finally he grabbed his wand, tapped the wall and said.
"I solemnly swear that I'm up to no good." To his amazement the wall moved aside. "That was a real creative password Sirius." Harry thought feeling a little bit apprehensive of entering the room.
The Gryffindor courage finally kicked in so he decided to enter. He walked down a short hall and then appeared in a room that didn't look like it belonged in the house. It was decorated in red and gold and looked extremely inviting.
The room had a couple of squishy armchairs that Harry could have sworn were in the Gryffindor Common Room. There were also two bookcases full of books. When Harry looked around a little more he found lots of pictures of the Marauders and Lily. A closer look at these pictures showed that someone had been ripped out. Harry knew that that someone was Peter Pettigrew and mentally thanked his godfather.
Harry made his way to a small table between the two chairs and found two letters. They were marked with which a number one and a number two. Harry grabbed the letter marked number one and sat down in the chair behind him. He recognized Sirius' handwriting immediately and just stared at the letter. After five minutes Harry finally decided that he should open the letter. The letter read.
Dear Harry,
If you're reading this then you found your way into my secret hideout without me. Let me just say CONGRATULATIONS! I hope that you are the only one in the room at the moment as I would like for it to stay a secret. But as you most likely found your way in here during an Order meeting just tell Ron and Hermione that they aren't to tell another living person about this room and that they are to leave right now. ("I wish I had found my way in here during an Order meeting." Harry thought as he continued to read.) If they have left you may continue reading.
I suppose you're wondering why this room is here? ("Not really." Harry said but knowing his godfather was going to tell him just the same. Sure enough.) Even if you're not wondering I'll tell you anyway. You see I created this room so I could get away from my family over summer break. Since Voldemort's return I've been using this room to get away from Kreacher. I have already torn Wormtail out of all the pictures he was in. Filthy Rat! I would like to rip his head off and feed it to Buckbeak. Buckbeak would probably refuse to eat it though. Sorry I got off subject. Like I was saying I use this room when I need some time to be by myself. I was going to show it to you soon but since you found it that saves me the trouble.
We are going to use this room to give you some private training. ("I'd like nothing better then to train with you but that's not going to happen." Harry told the letter.) Don't worry, the ministry can't discover you're using magic in this room. If you will look under the table you will find your first study material. If you have any questions, even if you don't, come talk to me.
Sirius
"I would love to talk to you, but it's just not possible." Harry growled angrily at the room.
Harry grabbed the books out from under the table and read the titles; Becoming an Animagus is not as Hard as You Think and What Your Animagus form Means. There were already a few pages marked in the second book so Harry decided to look at them. The first page had a Stag on it. It said that if you become a Stag you are very noble. Harry then turned to the second page that was marked. A big dog greeted him. The book said that if you become a dog then you are very loyal and fun loving.
"That was Sirius." Harry thought. "I don't know how noble my dad was though." Harry then turned his attention to the second letter and read.
Dear Harry,
If you're reading this then I am dead. I hope that you aren't taking it to badly. ("You're dead! How do you think I'm taking it?!" Harry roared.) But if I know you half as well as I think I do then you're probably taking it horribly. I just hope that I died in battle and not in this old house. Either way I don't want you to blame yourself. Just try to remember that I'm in a better place now. I get to be with James again and no one will think that I killed Wormtail since he's not here.
I just wanted you to know how much our time together meant to me. And thank you again for rescuing me at the end of your third year. I hope that I meant as much to you as you meant to me. You remind me more and more of James each day and despite what some people say that is not a bad thing.
I know that you don't think so but you are a truly brilliant wizard. Your life has been full of obstacles that you have managed to overcome. I have no doubt that you will be able to overcome Voldemort, too. Hopefully this will be the last major obstacle you have to overcome to be able to have a normal life. I do regret that I won't be able to see what a fine person you turn out to be.
Please try to remember the good times you had with me even though they were few. Remember that your friends are the most important people in your life, don't push them away. I wish you luck. And remember that I will always be with you.
Sirius
"You're only with me in spirit. I need you here. Did you hear me? I NEED YOU HERE! COME BACK! I DEMAND THAT YOU COME BACK RIGHT NOW! Please, please come back." Harry choked out and then broke down and cried.
It was the first time he had actually been able to cry since Sirius' death. It took Harry almost an hour to calm down. As he left the secret room Harry grabbed the letter. He felt closer to Sirius when he was in the room then he did anywhere else almost as if Sirius was standing right beside him. Before he entered the passage to go back to his room Harry paused and said.
"I'll always remember you Padfoot. Don't worry."
Harry laid down with the letter still in his hand and fell asleep. Lupin came in to see how Harry was doing and noticed that his face looked tear stained. Lupin gently pried the letter out of Harrys' hand and quickly glanced over it.
"Trust you to make everything better even after you died Padfoot." Lupin said quietly with a sad smile as he laid the letter next to Harry's glasses.
It had been two days since Voldemort had attacked and Harry hadn't left his room once. The only person that came to see him was Mrs. Weasley when she brought food up. Everyone else was wisely giving Harry his space.
Harry had started feeling restless. He got up and started pacing his room. All of a sudden he stopped. He had noticed that there was something different about the wall by the dresser. He moved closer to examine it. Harry could easily tell that it was a secret passage but couldn't figure out how to open it. Finally he grabbed his wand, tapped the wall and said.
"I solemnly swear that I'm up to no good." To his amazement the wall moved aside. "That was a real creative password Sirius." Harry thought feeling a little bit apprehensive of entering the room.
The Gryffindor courage finally kicked in so he decided to enter. He walked down a short hall and then appeared in a room that didn't look like it belonged in the house. It was decorated in red and gold and looked extremely inviting.
The room had a couple of squishy armchairs that Harry could have sworn were in the Gryffindor Common Room. There were also two bookcases full of books. When Harry looked around a little more he found lots of pictures of the Marauders and Lily. A closer look at these pictures showed that someone had been ripped out. Harry knew that that someone was Peter Pettigrew and mentally thanked his godfather.
Harry made his way to a small table between the two chairs and found two letters. They were marked with which a number one and a number two. Harry grabbed the letter marked number one and sat down in the chair behind him. He recognized Sirius' handwriting immediately and just stared at the letter. After five minutes Harry finally decided that he should open the letter. The letter read.
Dear Harry,
If you're reading this then you found your way into my secret hideout without me. Let me just say CONGRATULATIONS! I hope that you are the only one in the room at the moment as I would like for it to stay a secret. But as you most likely found your way in here during an Order meeting just tell Ron and Hermione that they aren't to tell another living person about this room and that they are to leave right now. ("I wish I had found my way in here during an Order meeting." Harry thought as he continued to read.) If they have left you may continue reading.
I suppose you're wondering why this room is here? ("Not really." Harry said but knowing his godfather was going to tell him just the same. Sure enough.) Even if you're not wondering I'll tell you anyway. You see I created this room so I could get away from my family over summer break. Since Voldemort's return I've been using this room to get away from Kreacher. I have already torn Wormtail out of all the pictures he was in. Filthy Rat! I would like to rip his head off and feed it to Buckbeak. Buckbeak would probably refuse to eat it though. Sorry I got off subject. Like I was saying I use this room when I need some time to be by myself. I was going to show it to you soon but since you found it that saves me the trouble.
We are going to use this room to give you some private training. ("I'd like nothing better then to train with you but that's not going to happen." Harry told the letter.) Don't worry, the ministry can't discover you're using magic in this room. If you will look under the table you will find your first study material. If you have any questions, even if you don't, come talk to me.
Sirius
"I would love to talk to you, but it's just not possible." Harry growled angrily at the room.
Harry grabbed the books out from under the table and read the titles; Becoming an Animagus is not as Hard as You Think and What Your Animagus form Means. There were already a few pages marked in the second book so Harry decided to look at them. The first page had a Stag on it. It said that if you become a Stag you are very noble. Harry then turned to the second page that was marked. A big dog greeted him. The book said that if you become a dog then you are very loyal and fun loving.
"That was Sirius." Harry thought. "I don't know how noble my dad was though." Harry then turned his attention to the second letter and read.
Dear Harry,
If you're reading this then I am dead. I hope that you aren't taking it to badly. ("You're dead! How do you think I'm taking it?!" Harry roared.) But if I know you half as well as I think I do then you're probably taking it horribly. I just hope that I died in battle and not in this old house. Either way I don't want you to blame yourself. Just try to remember that I'm in a better place now. I get to be with James again and no one will think that I killed Wormtail since he's not here.
I just wanted you to know how much our time together meant to me. And thank you again for rescuing me at the end of your third year. I hope that I meant as much to you as you meant to me. You remind me more and more of James each day and despite what some people say that is not a bad thing.
I know that you don't think so but you are a truly brilliant wizard. Your life has been full of obstacles that you have managed to overcome. I have no doubt that you will be able to overcome Voldemort, too. Hopefully this will be the last major obstacle you have to overcome to be able to have a normal life. I do regret that I won't be able to see what a fine person you turn out to be.
Please try to remember the good times you had with me even though they were few. Remember that your friends are the most important people in your life, don't push them away. I wish you luck. And remember that I will always be with you.
Sirius
"You're only with me in spirit. I need you here. Did you hear me? I NEED YOU HERE! COME BACK! I DEMAND THAT YOU COME BACK RIGHT NOW! Please, please come back." Harry choked out and then broke down and cried.
It was the first time he had actually been able to cry since Sirius' death. It took Harry almost an hour to calm down. As he left the secret room Harry grabbed the letter. He felt closer to Sirius when he was in the room then he did anywhere else almost as if Sirius was standing right beside him. Before he entered the passage to go back to his room Harry paused and said.
"I'll always remember you Padfoot. Don't worry."
Harry laid down with the letter still in his hand and fell asleep. Lupin came in to see how Harry was doing and noticed that his face looked tear stained. Lupin gently pried the letter out of Harrys' hand and quickly glanced over it.
"Trust you to make everything better even after you died Padfoot." Lupin said quietly with a sad smile as he laid the letter next to Harry's glasses.