Chapter 18

Reunited

Everyone was standing at the platform at Hogsmeade with their suitcases packed full and awaiting the train. Sue to security checks, the train was going to be several minutes late. Everyone was chatting and discussing their plans for the summer. Harry on the other hand was curious who this person was.

"Maybe it's someone from the ministry that Dumbledore trusts," Harry suggested.

"Probably," Hermione reassured him. She could feel how tense he was by how tightly he was holding onto her hand.

"Maybe it's Lupin," Ron suggested.

"Now that would be good," Harry said.

"Can't imagine where he live though," Cho added.

"Probably some rural little town tucked away in the English countryside," Hermione guessed. They all stared at her. "What? I'm reading Thomas Hardy at the moment," she defended herself.

"You would learn some really cool spells from him. Imagine how fun that would be!" Ron said.

"But for one week a month it wouldn't be so fun," Cho reminded them.

"Yeah, but if he remembers to have Wolfsbane Potion he should be fine," Harry remembered. Staying with Lupin would be amazing, he was always so, much fun, and he would always welcome Sirius into his house.

Dumbledore had not joined the students down on the platform, but most of the other teachers did, most grateful to escape the confines of Hogwarts Castle. Evi was flitting between groups of students, exchanging numbers with several of the year 7 lads, while McGonagall ensured the first years had not forgotten anything.

Not only was the Hogwarts Express being checked but a full escort of teachers were taking them back to platform 9 ¾ . Several parents had also arrived at Hogsmeade to travel with their children back to London.

Ron had quite calmed down about Harry and Hermione, much to the persuasion of Cho. He was just hurt that they felt they could not tell him, but he was happy that they were happy.

Harry wrapped his arms round her Hermione who nuzzled into him. She could tell how much he needed her there, and how nervous he was. Hermione looked up at him, and they kissed.

"Get a room," they heard a voice say. Harry broke off the kiss to see had said it and standing in front of him, smartly dressed was none other than Sirius Black.

"Sirius!" Harry said excitedly. He was just about to hug his godfather when a horrid thought came over him. "What if someone sees you?"

"My name has been cleared. They can see me all they like," Sirius told him. They hugged. Harry couldn't be happier.

"You're the one he's been waiting for," Hermione said realising what had happened.

"I don't get it, I thought Snape would..." Harry started to say.

"Never clear my name? Neither did I. I'm more confused than you."

"It's so good to see you," Harry said elated.

"Sirius," Snape coolly said behind him. Sirius turned round to see his old childhood foe standing behind.

"Severus," Sirius said mimicking his tone. "I believe I owe you one," and he held out his hand for Snape. Snape looked like he was contemplating taking it, but then he took it.

"Let's call it evens," Snape said to Sirius. Sirius just smiled and they part not friends, but no longer enemies.

"What was all that about?" Harry asked.

"Nothing," Sirius said. Harry truly hoped that he would explain it later, when they were in private.

"Hey Harry!" Evi said coming over to talk to them, not really noticing Sirius there. "All set?"

"Oh yes! Evi I would like you to meet my Godfather, Sirius Black," Harry introduced.

"Sirius Black? I have heard so much about you, admittedly not all good, but you shouldn't believe everything you hear," Evi said surprised. "Evi Dementia," she said holding her hand out.

"Evi is the Muggle Studies teacher here and Snape's daughter," Harry added casually. Sirius raised his eyebrows and stared at the young woman in front of him in shock.

"No," he said turning to Harry.

"Oh yes," Evi answered.

"How..." he started.

"Long story," Harry answered.

"It was nice to meet you Sirius, but I've got to check on some other students. See you on the train guys" and she left them alone.

"It was nice to meet you too Evi." he said as she left. He watched her as she mingled with the other students, clearing looking for the family resemblance. There wasn't one.

"I can't get my head round that. Snape has a daughter!" he exclaimed.

"Wait till you hear who her mother is," Ron added.

"Who?"

"I'll explain later," Harry said.

"So what happened to you Hermione?" Sirius said noticing her bruises.

"Again long story," Harry answered. He really didn't want to go into that at the moment, not with Hermione there. She had been through enough and he knew she just wanted to forget it.

"So Harry's going to live with you?" Hermione said changing the subject.

"Yeah, the Ministry set me up. I've got this great flat 30 miles out of London. Harry you should see it, it's huge! And they gave me a job at the Ministry too. Meet the new Head of the Magical Law Enforcement Squad," he said proudly.

"Congratulations Sirius. It looks like you've landed on your feet," Hermione said.

"Yeah, and I get to have Harry live with me. That's the best bit of all," Sirius said honestly. He wanted Harry to come with him for years, but with him being a wanted man, he just couldn't. Now he was free, he was able to offer Harry the home he wanted and needed. Hermione wandered over to talk to Ginny and Lavender, which gave Sirius chance to talk to Harry, privately.

"So how long have you been dating then?" he asked.

"Since Christmas," Harry said watching his beautiful girlfriend laughing with the girls.

"I knew it!" Sirius said bragging. "I knew it since July for certain, though you have always liked her."

"Yeah, I suppose I always have. But I never thought she would like me back," Harry admitted.

"Why not? You're a strapping young lad," Sirius said thoroughly embarrassing Harry. Hermione finally returned to Harry's side and they all stood talking, catching up on what Sirius had been up to, when they disrupted by the voice of Evi.

"Draco! What are you doing?" she said. Draco was leading her to the other end of the platform and she had a blindfold on.

"You'll see," he maintained.

"At the moment I can't see anything. Can I take this off?" Evi complained.

"It's a surprise Evi, keep it on," Draco told her. Evi swung for him, but since she couldn't see she completely missed.

"Where are you, you little runt?" she said annoyed that she missed. Draco stood her in front of a older lad who was a bit taller than Draco, and had white hair just like his, apart from his was longer and not so neatly combed, but gave him a rugged look. He was wearing a white shirt with a splattered black design on it, and some designer jeans. Draco stood her there and quietly backed off.

"Draco, I swear I'm going to kill you!" Evi threatened him.

"Now that wouldn't be nice, would it Evi?" the lad said. Evi instantly whipped the blindfold off her eyes and stared at the lad in front of her. She was so in shock that she couldn't say a word. She looked at the face that she knew so well, and tears came to her eyes. She cautiously fiddled with his hair, as if to check that he was actually standing there.

"I... I thought you dead?" she said teary eyed.

"Can't get rid of me that easily," he quipped. She started to laugh and then cry harder. "Oh you big softy," he said and he took her in his arms. She wrapped her arms round him tightly, like she never wanted to let him go. It was a beautiful sight, and she was so overjoyed at seeing him there that she could hardly contain herself. Hermione caught Draco's arm as he past her.

"You knew all along?" said to him.

"Yeah well. Not all secrets are meant to be revealed," he said.

"But sometimes they are needed for one to survive," Hermione quipped back. Draco pulled out of her grip and walked back to his gang with a backward glance at Hermione who was still watching him.

"What was all that about?" Ron said referring to Hermione and Draco.

"Do you know who that is?" Hermione said indicating the lad with Evi. They shook their heads. "That's Crispin Malfoy."

"He's dead!" Harry argued.

"Apparently not," Sirius quipped.

"How do you know it's Crispin?" Cho asked.

"Just look at him. He has the same family resemblance as Draco and by Evi's reaction. She thought he was dead, and just discovered that he isn't. I have no doubt that that is Crispin Malfoy," Hermione explained.

"And Draco knew?" Harry said confused.

"Doesn't that explain a lot?" Hermione argued. "Draco can play the guitar, so can Crispin. Draco knows how to apparate, because of Crispin. Evi was right, they are close." As always, Hermione was right and they watched as Evi held her childhood lover in her arms, still crying.

Finally the train arrived and everyone was piled inside. Sirius sat with the four and told them all stories about his past, James and Lily and his summer.

It was hard for Harry to say goodbye to friends, especially Hermione who he had grown use to being constantly around, but it had to be done. Ron was off to see Charlie in Romania, and Hermione was off to Florida with her parents. Harry was on his way to Leighton Buzzard to Sirius' new flat. Dumbledore had sent someone from the ministry to go to Privet Drive to pick up the rest of Harry's things, and they had already been delivered to the flat. Sirius had told him that he had not decorated Harry's room, so he could do with it what he pleased. On the train, he and Hermione had been discussing colour schemes, and Harry rested on red for the walls, quite fitting for the Gryffindor.

As Sirius drove to their new home Harry was quiet. He was looking out of the window at all the new sights in front of him, the fields, the trees, the 'caution – Badgers' signs. Harry did think those strange, but then thought that a badger could do a lot of damage to a car if you ran on over. He smiled as he thought how Hermione would have reacted to that comment. She would have hit him several times for that! He did miss her.

Finally the pulled up to the quaint little town and outside a row of houses. Sirius got his key out of his pocket and opened the door. Harry climbed the stairs to the flat and as he entered, he was amazed at its size. It was huge! It was relatively bare at the moment, but Sirius was still trying to collect furniture at the moment.

"This is the living room, kitchen is through there," Sirius guided Harry and pointed at the various rooms. "That is the bathroom, very nice if I may say so." Harry poked his head inside. It was nice, greenish tiles with a while suite. Simple but nice. "This is my room, it's a bit of a mess at the moment," Sirius apologised. Harry at a look in. Sirius seemed to be sorting his stuff out still and had it all piled in his room. There were dusty boxes and bags of stuff filling up his room. "And this, is your room."

Harry walked in and smiled. It had plain white smooth walls, a largish window, overlooking some fields at the back of the house. Further on from the fields was a wooded area, it was quite picturesque. Some of Harry's other clothes had been brought from Privet Drive and there was all the basic furniture that he would need. His bed covers were in the pattern of his favourite Quidditch team, the Chudley Cannons. It was perfect. Some may think it wasn't a lot, but to Harry it was perfect.

"Oh, I have some things for you," Sirius said and he left Harry for a moment. When he came back he had a bundle in his hands. "I was finally able to get into Gringrotts and got these out." He held the package out for Harry to take.

Harry carefully took the package and laid it down in his new bed. He sat down beside it and unwrapped it. Sirius sat down on the other end of the bed and watched him. Inside was a tatty old book, a chain, and a box. Harry carefully opened the sun-bleached box to reveal photographs. Photographs of Lily, James and their friends. Harry flicked through the quickly and smiled as he saw the smiling happy faces of his parents. Some of the photos were very old indeed, some from their time at Hogwarts. Harry lingered on this one. It was James, Lupin and Sirius. The three best mates all together laughing over some probably obscene joke. Sirius leaned over to see what Harry was looking at.

"Ah yes. That was always my favourite picture. In the early days when we didn't have a care in the world," Sirius said reminiscing.

"I have one of Hermione, Ron and I like that from our first year. We didn't have the troubles on us then as we do now," Harry said sadly.

"It'll get better," Sirius said trying to cheer him up.

"I know," Harry smiled. He put the box of photos down and picked up the silver chain. He looked at Sirius for the explanation.

"It was your father's. It's similar to Lily's necklace, but made specifically for James. It won't work on anyone but a Potter." Harry unclasped it and put it round his neck. He instantly felt a surge of power or protection he couldn't tell which. Anyways, what ever it was, it was strong. Harry thought how his father must have worn it. Harry lifted up the other item, the tatty book.

"That was also James'. It was his journal. He kept one throughout his time at Hogwarts. I thought you might find it an interesting read. You'd be surprised how similar you are to him, in so many ways," Sirius said. He got up and left Harry alone.

Harry sat on his bed, stroking the one lavish leather of this journal thinking about everything that had happened. Hedwig was once again with him, happily sitting on a homemade perch, carefully preening her snowy white feathers. Then it occurred to Harry. This was the happiest moment in his life.

The End

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