Harry Potter eyed The Knight Bus warily as it took off around the corner.
It was a bus that was supposed to rescue any stranded witch or wizard but
honestly, he didn't know if it was the safest thing to take. His stomach
was still trying to catch up to him. Then again, he'd learned a lot riding
the Knight Bus. But then again, he wasn't too sure he wanted to trust the
guy on the bus, but Stan had insisted he'd read all about Sirius Black in
the Daily Prophet and how he'd escaped from Azkaban. Whatever that was.
Supposedly this Black person was a huge supporter of Voldemort. Which would
explain the worries everyone was having, Harry had even heard about Black
on the Muggle television. A lump caught in Harry's throat. He really hoped
that he wouldn't get in trouble. Looking up, he saw the sign for The Leaky
Cauldron. Pulling his trunk behind him he kept his eyes down as he walked
in. Part of him was worried he'd be suspended. All he'd done was blow Uncle
Vernon's sister up like a balloon. Didn't seem so bad to him.
"Serves her right." He muttered, "Nobody is goin' to insult my Mum and Dad. Especially that cow." When he openeed the door, the smell of fresh stew and rolls enveloped his senses and caused his mouth to water. He hadn't eaten because he'd been busy serving the Dursley's their dinners when everything happened. Harry didn't know why they'd have fresh stew at this time of night but he was glad. Cautiously he looked around and finding a table in the corner, he sat down, putting his trunk under the table.
"What'll ye have?" An older looking woman with wirey white hair asked. Harry licked his lips.
"The stew, uh, and a few rolls please." The older woman nodded and rolled her eyes. Mumbling she walked away, nodding. Harry was afraid her bones were going to give out at any moment and he could've sworn she'd made creaking noises. Idly, he began tracing the design on the table with his finger. He had no other choice earlier that night but to run away. He silently hoped, in the deepest part of his heart, that he'd be able to stay at Hogwarts despite what happened. Could anyone really blame him anyway? All he'd done was inflate her a bit. A mischievous smile crossed his face for the briefest moment as he remembered what had happened. Uncle Vernon screaming as he was lifted off the ground, trying to hold onto his sister Marge. He laughed softly, but the happiness soon left him as the thoughts of being suspended continued to plague him.
With a sigh, Harry waited. He didn't want to think about what was going to happen once word got around about what he'd done. After all, he got the notice about the rules against magic only minutes after Dobby the house elf had dumped the cake all over Uncle Vernon's boss and his wife. Hermione would scold him of course, Ron would've laughed and would've wanted to be there himself. Course, Ron's brothers, the twins would want to know every detail. He only assumed he'd still be allowed around them of course, after all Hagrid had been allowed to stay around. But that was all thanks to Dumbledore. He could only hope he had the same luck. Turning his head he looked out the window towards the alley. There was a pair of eyes staring back at him. Harry frowned and leaned closer, wiping the window, thinking it was dirty. There, in the shadows was something staring back at him. It wasn't until it moved a bit and a light shown on it from the street that Harry realized that it was a huge black dog with shaggy hair. It looked like it had been in a few fights, and it looked hungry.
"Harry! We've been looking all over for you dear! You gave us quiet the fright!" Mrs. Weasley's voice boomed through the pub, Harry jumped, then grinned as he turned and saw the plump warm-hearted woman walked towards him. Her red hair was sticking out under her knitted multi-colored cap and her smiled showed the same love for him that she showered on her own children. She took him into a tight hug as he stood up. "You mustn't do that to us deary, but you're alright from what I can see. No broken bones then?" Harry shook his head. "Good, have you anything to eat then?"
"I ordered soup and rolls." Harry replied. Mrs. Weasley smiled cupping his cheeks affectionately.
"Good. We'll be having the same thing as soon as I find that waitress, and then it's off to bed with the lot of you. Ron and the rest of the family should be here any moment." As Mrs. Weasley went in search of the creaking waitress, Harry's stomach growled as his food was placed in front of him by a completely different worker. But he didn't care. He licked his lips and went to dig in just as the Weasley twins walked in.
"Harry! Is it true? Please tell us it's true!" Fred exclaimed.
"And if it is, don't leave a single detail out! We want to hear all of it mate. It must've been grand. How big did she get?" George finished. Before he could respond, Ron walked in, holding Scabbers in his hands. Scabbers had looked better in Harry's opinion but he wouldn't mention it.
"Leave him alone would you? It's hard enough not to rejoice that he got away from that God awful place." Ron grinned as he sat next to Harry, "So how big did she get?" Harry smiled.
"Wel-"
"Honestly, don't you think he should be more worried about being expelled?" Hermione Granger cut in. Ron frowned and looked towards her.
"No! A tad insane are we Hermione? Honestly, the Ministry won't expel him for making his Aunt into a balloon. Bloody brillant if you ask me." Hermione rolled her eyes.
"Seriously Ronald, maybe you should worry about your rat then about how brillant Harry's actions were. Either way, blowing your Aunt up like a blimp is wrong no matter which way you look at it."
"I wouldn't have to worry about Scabbers if you didn't have that pig with hair around!" It wasn't until Ron mentioned anything that Harry noticed that Hermione held a furry thing in her arms.
"He's called a cat Ronald and his name is Crookshanks! Besides, what would he want with that rat anyway? He looks half starved." Hermione spat back.
"Only because that thing keeps chasing him around! Tie him up won't you!" Deciding to stop the argument, though it was a bit amusing, Harry cut in.
"Hey Ron, I'd say she got as big as Malfoy's head, maybe a bit bigger." Ron's eyes and grin widened.
"Brillant."
Remus Lupin sat down cautiously in the darkened corner of the Leaky Cauldron. The last thing he wanted to do was call attention to himself, though he suspected he'd get a lot of that once word got out he was going to be on the Hogwarts teaching staff. He'd cleaned up a bit since he'd gotten the word but despite his efforts he was still pale, and a bit shaky. Always was at this time. Right now, he wanted to check up on the famous Harry Potter. He seemed fair enough Remus observed as he pushed his light brown hair from his grey eyes. A single scar ran down the side of his face, an unfortunate accident to blame. He could tell which of the young boys was the one he'd come to watch. His unruly black hair was the first give away, so much like his father's especially when the boy ran his hand through it, making it even more untidy then it had been. But it was the eyes that had Remus wishing that he could go back and change the past. Harry had his mother's eyes. Lily's eyes. Remus felt his chest tighten as her remembered Lily and James Potter. They had both been taken away. Violently taken away. As Remus went to stand up, he was suddenly pushed back down by the tip of a wand, his mouth covered.
"Don't move...please." A soft voice whispered in his ear. His eyes widened and brow furrowed as he watched his attacker remove their hand and walk to the front of him, facing him as they pulled their cloak black. Her dark hair and startling light blue, that seemed clear, eyes staring back in to his. Though her hand had been removed from his mouth for several seconds, he was still speechless. It wasn't until she sat down that he even took a breath in.
"Mia?" She nodded, looking away from him. "Good God, it's been...too long. What, ten years?"
"Twelve." She replied. "I left twelve years ago." Remus quickly lost the smile he'd worn for that brief reunion.
"Not since."
"Since the day Sirius was put into Azkaban." Mia shut her eyes holding back the tears. "I disappeared from the world but kept my contacts of course, but it's been twelve long, lonely years." When she looked back up to him, her blue eyes had darkened a bit, looking like the ocean, which was fitting because her eyes were pooled with tears. "He'll blame me you know. For his capture." Remus shook his head.
"No, he won't. I'll see to that. And he won't hurt you. If you ask me he should be the one hurting. He's the one who ruined all our lives. Harry's life." Mia sighed and shook her head.
"Remus, he is your friend." Remus laughed, mocking her remarks.
"Is my friend? No." His eyes darkened. "No, he was my friend. Till he did the one thing that was completely unimaginable of him. But I guess that suits his personality. No. He was a friend, until he betrayed us." Mia sighed.
"Remus, that wasn't, it couldn't have been Siri-"
"No! It was him! He knew everything he did and everything that was going to happen when he went to Voldemort! Everything that's happened is on his head." Remus growled. "I swear, two of us live but only one will remain." He let his glare move up Mia's face, and it immediately softened. He took ahold of her hand and gave it a comforting squeeze. "I'm sorry, this probably isn't what you need to hear. He probably hurt you the most of all of us..." Mia shook her head.
"It doesn't matter what I feel right now. The point is, Remus you can't think that, you can't mean it." Remus slammed his hand on the table.
"No. I do Mia. You didn't see it. You didn't see what I did. I got there too late. Their house. Everything was destroyed. It's a wonder Harry survived the crash of the house at all. Then, he went after Peter." Remus winced. "H-he was just too weak. And Sirius murdered him and others without a blink of an e-"He took a sharp intake of breath. Mia looked up towards the darkening sky.
"It's close to it isn't it? C'mon, we should get you out of here." She went to stand but Remus shook his head, forcing her to stay where she was, his hair fell back in his face.
"No. I didn't..." he looked up towards her, "You mustn't come near me or follow me." His voice lowered, if it were possible. "Just, give me time and make sure that I stay away from here. And listen carefully. You know what to do."
"Remus, I can help."
"No, I've dealt with this alone for twelve years, I can handle it for another few hours." He winced again, pain filling his face. "I'll go now." Mia nodded, and watched as Remus was quick to his feet and made his way through the crowd, leaving in a matter of minutes. She waited a bit, and then gathering her things she went to leave.
"Well, isn't this a night of surprises." Lucius Malfoy sneered.
"Aren't you the least bit worried?" Hermione asked. She was now sitting across from Harry at the table Harry had chosen earlier. Harry raised an eyebrow as he looked towards her, then to Ron who was too busy finishing his dinner to comment, "Well Harry?"
"Worried about what Hermione?"
"About being suspended? Or more importantly, Sirius Black?" Harry shrugged as he took a bit of the apple tart that had been placed in front of him. "Honestly Harry, I don't understand you. Here is a man who's a big supporter of You-Know-Who and you just blow it off."
"I'm not blowing it off." She sighed.
"Sure you aren't. Besides that you're not even listening to me."
"I am too, how else could I respond?" Hermione took a moment and bit her lip.
"Alright, I'm sorry, I'm just, I worry about you," She paused, "And Ron of course but this is something that has to be taken seriously Harry. What if Sirius Black comes after you?"
"I'm sure I'll be fine. Professor Dumbledore and Professor McGonagall are there. I've nothing to worry about." He smiled towards her and gave her hand an affectionate tap. "Don't worry Hermione, everything will be fine."
"Sure, like last year, or the year before that." She mumbled.
"Isn't this sweet, Potter and his mudblood. Planning your wedding already?" Draco Malfoy smirked as he walked up towards their table. He sneered towards Hermione and glared towards Potter, "Tell me Potter, are you scared?"
"Serves her right." He muttered, "Nobody is goin' to insult my Mum and Dad. Especially that cow." When he openeed the door, the smell of fresh stew and rolls enveloped his senses and caused his mouth to water. He hadn't eaten because he'd been busy serving the Dursley's their dinners when everything happened. Harry didn't know why they'd have fresh stew at this time of night but he was glad. Cautiously he looked around and finding a table in the corner, he sat down, putting his trunk under the table.
"What'll ye have?" An older looking woman with wirey white hair asked. Harry licked his lips.
"The stew, uh, and a few rolls please." The older woman nodded and rolled her eyes. Mumbling she walked away, nodding. Harry was afraid her bones were going to give out at any moment and he could've sworn she'd made creaking noises. Idly, he began tracing the design on the table with his finger. He had no other choice earlier that night but to run away. He silently hoped, in the deepest part of his heart, that he'd be able to stay at Hogwarts despite what happened. Could anyone really blame him anyway? All he'd done was inflate her a bit. A mischievous smile crossed his face for the briefest moment as he remembered what had happened. Uncle Vernon screaming as he was lifted off the ground, trying to hold onto his sister Marge. He laughed softly, but the happiness soon left him as the thoughts of being suspended continued to plague him.
With a sigh, Harry waited. He didn't want to think about what was going to happen once word got around about what he'd done. After all, he got the notice about the rules against magic only minutes after Dobby the house elf had dumped the cake all over Uncle Vernon's boss and his wife. Hermione would scold him of course, Ron would've laughed and would've wanted to be there himself. Course, Ron's brothers, the twins would want to know every detail. He only assumed he'd still be allowed around them of course, after all Hagrid had been allowed to stay around. But that was all thanks to Dumbledore. He could only hope he had the same luck. Turning his head he looked out the window towards the alley. There was a pair of eyes staring back at him. Harry frowned and leaned closer, wiping the window, thinking it was dirty. There, in the shadows was something staring back at him. It wasn't until it moved a bit and a light shown on it from the street that Harry realized that it was a huge black dog with shaggy hair. It looked like it had been in a few fights, and it looked hungry.
"Harry! We've been looking all over for you dear! You gave us quiet the fright!" Mrs. Weasley's voice boomed through the pub, Harry jumped, then grinned as he turned and saw the plump warm-hearted woman walked towards him. Her red hair was sticking out under her knitted multi-colored cap and her smiled showed the same love for him that she showered on her own children. She took him into a tight hug as he stood up. "You mustn't do that to us deary, but you're alright from what I can see. No broken bones then?" Harry shook his head. "Good, have you anything to eat then?"
"I ordered soup and rolls." Harry replied. Mrs. Weasley smiled cupping his cheeks affectionately.
"Good. We'll be having the same thing as soon as I find that waitress, and then it's off to bed with the lot of you. Ron and the rest of the family should be here any moment." As Mrs. Weasley went in search of the creaking waitress, Harry's stomach growled as his food was placed in front of him by a completely different worker. But he didn't care. He licked his lips and went to dig in just as the Weasley twins walked in.
"Harry! Is it true? Please tell us it's true!" Fred exclaimed.
"And if it is, don't leave a single detail out! We want to hear all of it mate. It must've been grand. How big did she get?" George finished. Before he could respond, Ron walked in, holding Scabbers in his hands. Scabbers had looked better in Harry's opinion but he wouldn't mention it.
"Leave him alone would you? It's hard enough not to rejoice that he got away from that God awful place." Ron grinned as he sat next to Harry, "So how big did she get?" Harry smiled.
"Wel-"
"Honestly, don't you think he should be more worried about being expelled?" Hermione Granger cut in. Ron frowned and looked towards her.
"No! A tad insane are we Hermione? Honestly, the Ministry won't expel him for making his Aunt into a balloon. Bloody brillant if you ask me." Hermione rolled her eyes.
"Seriously Ronald, maybe you should worry about your rat then about how brillant Harry's actions were. Either way, blowing your Aunt up like a blimp is wrong no matter which way you look at it."
"I wouldn't have to worry about Scabbers if you didn't have that pig with hair around!" It wasn't until Ron mentioned anything that Harry noticed that Hermione held a furry thing in her arms.
"He's called a cat Ronald and his name is Crookshanks! Besides, what would he want with that rat anyway? He looks half starved." Hermione spat back.
"Only because that thing keeps chasing him around! Tie him up won't you!" Deciding to stop the argument, though it was a bit amusing, Harry cut in.
"Hey Ron, I'd say she got as big as Malfoy's head, maybe a bit bigger." Ron's eyes and grin widened.
"Brillant."
Remus Lupin sat down cautiously in the darkened corner of the Leaky Cauldron. The last thing he wanted to do was call attention to himself, though he suspected he'd get a lot of that once word got out he was going to be on the Hogwarts teaching staff. He'd cleaned up a bit since he'd gotten the word but despite his efforts he was still pale, and a bit shaky. Always was at this time. Right now, he wanted to check up on the famous Harry Potter. He seemed fair enough Remus observed as he pushed his light brown hair from his grey eyes. A single scar ran down the side of his face, an unfortunate accident to blame. He could tell which of the young boys was the one he'd come to watch. His unruly black hair was the first give away, so much like his father's especially when the boy ran his hand through it, making it even more untidy then it had been. But it was the eyes that had Remus wishing that he could go back and change the past. Harry had his mother's eyes. Lily's eyes. Remus felt his chest tighten as her remembered Lily and James Potter. They had both been taken away. Violently taken away. As Remus went to stand up, he was suddenly pushed back down by the tip of a wand, his mouth covered.
"Don't move...please." A soft voice whispered in his ear. His eyes widened and brow furrowed as he watched his attacker remove their hand and walk to the front of him, facing him as they pulled their cloak black. Her dark hair and startling light blue, that seemed clear, eyes staring back in to his. Though her hand had been removed from his mouth for several seconds, he was still speechless. It wasn't until she sat down that he even took a breath in.
"Mia?" She nodded, looking away from him. "Good God, it's been...too long. What, ten years?"
"Twelve." She replied. "I left twelve years ago." Remus quickly lost the smile he'd worn for that brief reunion.
"Not since."
"Since the day Sirius was put into Azkaban." Mia shut her eyes holding back the tears. "I disappeared from the world but kept my contacts of course, but it's been twelve long, lonely years." When she looked back up to him, her blue eyes had darkened a bit, looking like the ocean, which was fitting because her eyes were pooled with tears. "He'll blame me you know. For his capture." Remus shook his head.
"No, he won't. I'll see to that. And he won't hurt you. If you ask me he should be the one hurting. He's the one who ruined all our lives. Harry's life." Mia sighed and shook her head.
"Remus, he is your friend." Remus laughed, mocking her remarks.
"Is my friend? No." His eyes darkened. "No, he was my friend. Till he did the one thing that was completely unimaginable of him. But I guess that suits his personality. No. He was a friend, until he betrayed us." Mia sighed.
"Remus, that wasn't, it couldn't have been Siri-"
"No! It was him! He knew everything he did and everything that was going to happen when he went to Voldemort! Everything that's happened is on his head." Remus growled. "I swear, two of us live but only one will remain." He let his glare move up Mia's face, and it immediately softened. He took ahold of her hand and gave it a comforting squeeze. "I'm sorry, this probably isn't what you need to hear. He probably hurt you the most of all of us..." Mia shook her head.
"It doesn't matter what I feel right now. The point is, Remus you can't think that, you can't mean it." Remus slammed his hand on the table.
"No. I do Mia. You didn't see it. You didn't see what I did. I got there too late. Their house. Everything was destroyed. It's a wonder Harry survived the crash of the house at all. Then, he went after Peter." Remus winced. "H-he was just too weak. And Sirius murdered him and others without a blink of an e-"He took a sharp intake of breath. Mia looked up towards the darkening sky.
"It's close to it isn't it? C'mon, we should get you out of here." She went to stand but Remus shook his head, forcing her to stay where she was, his hair fell back in his face.
"No. I didn't..." he looked up towards her, "You mustn't come near me or follow me." His voice lowered, if it were possible. "Just, give me time and make sure that I stay away from here. And listen carefully. You know what to do."
"Remus, I can help."
"No, I've dealt with this alone for twelve years, I can handle it for another few hours." He winced again, pain filling his face. "I'll go now." Mia nodded, and watched as Remus was quick to his feet and made his way through the crowd, leaving in a matter of minutes. She waited a bit, and then gathering her things she went to leave.
"Well, isn't this a night of surprises." Lucius Malfoy sneered.
"Aren't you the least bit worried?" Hermione asked. She was now sitting across from Harry at the table Harry had chosen earlier. Harry raised an eyebrow as he looked towards her, then to Ron who was too busy finishing his dinner to comment, "Well Harry?"
"Worried about what Hermione?"
"About being suspended? Or more importantly, Sirius Black?" Harry shrugged as he took a bit of the apple tart that had been placed in front of him. "Honestly Harry, I don't understand you. Here is a man who's a big supporter of You-Know-Who and you just blow it off."
"I'm not blowing it off." She sighed.
"Sure you aren't. Besides that you're not even listening to me."
"I am too, how else could I respond?" Hermione took a moment and bit her lip.
"Alright, I'm sorry, I'm just, I worry about you," She paused, "And Ron of course but this is something that has to be taken seriously Harry. What if Sirius Black comes after you?"
"I'm sure I'll be fine. Professor Dumbledore and Professor McGonagall are there. I've nothing to worry about." He smiled towards her and gave her hand an affectionate tap. "Don't worry Hermione, everything will be fine."
"Sure, like last year, or the year before that." She mumbled.
"Isn't this sweet, Potter and his mudblood. Planning your wedding already?" Draco Malfoy smirked as he walked up towards their table. He sneered towards Hermione and glared towards Potter, "Tell me Potter, are you scared?"