The Photo Album
"Harry are you alright?"
Harry felt someone gently shake his shoulder. "He doesn't look too good, does he?"
"Oh, Ron he nearly fell a hundred feet"
"Shh," someone said impatiently, "Be quiet you two or you'll wake him."
Harry turned over in his bed and slowly opened his eyes. He was laying in a room with an ornate design. In the corner of the room was a large fireplace with intricate markings and flames that nearly went three feet high. Mrs. Weasley was plopped in a leather armchair, and was knitting furiously, like there was no tomorrow. In front on the fire, Ron and Hermione sat on a Persian rug and were bickering at each other as usual.
"Harry!" Hermione said happily as he rose from the bed, "How are you?"
Instead of answering, Harry blurted, "Where are we?"
"Twelve Grimmauld Place of course, mate," Ron said, "and guess what, we're in Sirius's bedroom – ow!" Hermione had kicked Ron in the shins and whispered, "Ron – you – are – so – tactless!"
"That hurt," Ron said, hopping around on one leg and holding the other in pain.
"Good"
The bedroom door opened and Mr. Weasley walked in, beaming at Harry. "Oh Harry, you gave us quite a scare! Tonks really has to work on her charming abilities. Oh and Molly we really have to get a start on dinner."
Mrs. Wealsey looked displeased with the socks she had tried to knit without magic, and muttered, "Wasting my bloody time," before she left with her husband.
"Well, we better go and help downstairs too," said Hermione, as the three of them left to the kitchen.
When they reached the bottom of the stairs, Harry saw Tonks sprinting towards him.
"Harry! Harry wait – oh –"Tonks cried as she tripped over her untied shoelace and dropped the dishes she was carrying.
Harry covered his ears, as he waited to hear the blood-curdling screeches of Mrs. Black to fill the house.
That's funny, he thought, She'd have started screaming by now...
Harry looked over to where the moth eaten, velvet curtains were last year, when he noticed that they remained shut and not a sound could be heard from behind them.
Before Harry had opened his mouth to ask why she wasn't screaming, he saw Fred and George strolling towards him with identical mischievous grins.
"You owe everything to us," George said simply
"What did you do to her?" Harry asked
"Well you see she can really be quite annoying sometimes," Fred smirked, "so one day, George and I agreed that we had had enough and put a piece of Weasley's Super Stick Tape over her mouth."
"Our latest invention," said George
"Guaranteed a life-time stick, and George and I are the only ones who know how to get it off," said Fred
"And if it can shut her up, it'll work on anyone," George sniggered.
"That's just what we need for Malfoy," Ron said, as everyone hooted with laughter
"Everyone thinks its brilliant," said George, "except for Mum of course. She said that it was disrespectful."
"But when we threatened to take off the tape, she insisted that we shouldn't touch the painting incase we ruin it," Fred said grinning, "Some excuse."
"Hey, you two," shouted Lupin from across the hall, "Get into the kitchen, your mother would like a word with you."
"Oh rotten luck," Fred said sulkily, "Mum probably found the dung beetles we tried to slip into Snape's soup."
Harry watched the twins sadly walk towards the kitchen before he asked, "Snape is eating here?"
"Yep," Ron said miserably
"Oh – Harry – I'm glad you're alright," said Tonks from behind him, "I'm really sorry about what happened with the broomstick, I was sure that I used the right charm. Hmm, well you three better go get seats at the table."
Harry, Hermione, and Ron walked into the dinner room and saw that there were only three seats left at the table, and they were right next to Snape.
"Great," Ron grunted as he quickly grabbed the farthest seat away from him.
Unfortunately for Harry, he was left with the seat next to Snape.
"Well, Potter I see your going to be staying here for the rest of the holidays," Snape said with a sneer, "Pity."
Harry ignored Snape and pretended that he didn't hear what he said. "Pass the salt, Ron," Harry said politely
"Here Harry, why don't you have some of these," said Fred, winking at him.
"No thanks," Harry said looking at the potatoes Fred had offered him
"Give them here, Potter," Snape said coldly, as he grabbed the bowl right out of Harry's hands. Harry saw Fred give George the 'thumbs up' sign, as Snape put a spoon full of potatoes in his mouth.
"What was that all about?" Hermione asked
"I dunno"
"Oh, Harry dear, a letter with your O.W.L.S just arrived," said Mrs. Weasley as she handed it to him.
"What did you get?" Ron asked anxiously
Student: Mr. H. Potter
Exam: Ordinary Wizarding Level (OWLs)
Transfiguration – Exceeds Expectations (teacher, Prof. McGonagall)
Charms – Acceptable (teacher, Prof. Flitwick)
Potions – Dreadful (teacher, Prof. Snape)
Defense Against the Dark Arts – Outstanding (teacher, Prof. Umbridge)
Herbology – Acceptable (teacher, Prof. Sprout)
Care of Magical Creatures – Acceptable (teacher, Prof. Hagrid)
History of Magic – Poor (teacher, Prof. Binns)
Divination – Poor (teacher, Prof. Trelawny)
Astronomy – Acceptable (teacher, Prof. Sinistra)
(name)
"Well, mate you did better than me in almost everything," said Ron as he patted Harry on the back
Harry was overall pleased with his exam results, except for his Potions. He knew that he didn't deserve an 'E', but he certainly didn't deserve a 'D'. He saw Snape look sideways at his letter, as his lip curled into a horrible smile.
Suddenly, Snape got up from his chair and ran towards the washroom. Fred and George exploded with laughter as Mrs. Weasley gave them a furious look.
"He's going to be in there for a long time," George said rubbing his stomach, which was sore from laughter. "A really long time."
"What did you put in those potatoes?" Ron asked laughing
"One of the Skiving Snackboxes that didn't quite – ahem – work out," Fred said giving Harry a sly smile.
"Which one is it?" Hermione asked
"Diarrhea Delight," George said proudly
By the time everyone had left, the three of them slowly walked up the stairs. "I've got to tell you something," Harry muttered, "Just not here." Hermione and Ron nodded as they followed him into Sirius's bedroom.
Ron and Hermione sat on the bed, as Harry sunk into the armchair and gazed into the fire.
"I saw him," Harry said quietly
"Saw who?" Ron asked
"Sirius. He saved me," Harry said as he felt a lump in his throat begin to develop.
"But Harry he's –"
"Dead. I know you think that, but he saved me when I was about to die." Ron opened his mouth in awe. "He was flying on a broomstick and I was nearly about to hit the ground when he caught me."
"But Harry, how would Sirius get a broomstick when he's—"
"He's not dead, I saw him!" Harry shouted
"He's dead," someone said quietly from the corner of the room. Harry turned to see Lupin coming threw the door. "Sorry," Lupin said, "I came to give you this, and I over heard what you were saying."
Harry took the envelop that he had left on the table and said, "Well I suppose you could tell me who did save me then?"
"I did"
"No, that's not possible, sir," Harry said, "Sirius grabbed my-"
"Wrist," Lupin finished for him, "No Harry, I grabbed your wrist."
"He spoke to me," Harry continued, "he said-"
"Everything alright Harry?" Lupin said, without looking at Harry
The room was plunged into a strange silence, as Lupin finally said, "I know you miss him Harry, but you have to clear your head and realize that he's gone."
It was almost one o'clock in the morning, and Harry was unable to sleep due to the fact that he was right above the washroom. It seemed that Snape was unable to leave because Harry constantly heard him flush the toilet, leave the washroom, and quickly run back in again.
Harry also felt uncomfortable sleeping in Sirius's bed and decided to go sit by the fireplace. He gazed into the fire when he noticed a dark, mahogany bookshelf that was left open. He decided to see what was inside, and saw that the entire shelves were full of photo albums.
He pulled out an album that was maroon with a gold trim and flipped to the front page. Harry felt his stomach turn inside. The picture was of Sirius, Lily, James, Remus, and Peter, Harry thought with a large amount of hatred.
For the next hour, Harry looked at the various pictures in many albums. When he decided that his eyes were too tired he closed the albums and slowly rose to his feet, when he stopped in midair.
At the very back on the shelf, was a thin, black album that looked like someone had tried to throw into the fire because of all the burn marks. He carefully picked it up and looked at the first page. It was a picture of a woman, who was sleeping.
Sirius's mother, Harry thought, But why are her eyes closed?
There was a tiny print at the bottom on the photo that was penciled in.
Eloise Black 1899-1980
Harry couldn't believe what he was seeing. It's a book of the dead, Harry thought grimly.
Suddenly someone knocked on Harry's door. He quickly threw the album into his trunk and shakily said, "Come in."
