CHAPTER TWO: INFIRMARIES AND INFIRMITIES

Harry spent the rest of his summer in a good mood, which the Dursleys were dumbfounded by. Depressed to happy in a night? What was going on here? Figuring that they'd best leave him alone lest he go insane and kill them, they dropped the issue.

None too soon for Harry, it was time to go to the Burrow to buy school supplies with the Weasleys. That morning Remus Lupin showed up to escort Harry to the Burrow.

"Harry!" was all Harry heard as Hermione slammed him against the wall in a tight hug, which Harry returned quite willingly. Ron and Ginny Weasley looked on with amusement- and frustrated confusement.

"I don't get it. He's interested, she's interested- what's the bloody problem?" Ron asked his sister. "Simply put: you. They don't want to break up the trio, I'd guess." Ron's look darked slightly, then took on a malicious look. He had plans for those two.

"Oi! Harry, 'Mione, how long you two going to play Devil's Snare?" Ginny called out, causing the embarrased teens to part quickly. Mumbling apoligies to each other, Hermione helped Harry carry his bags up to his room.

Going to lock them in a broom closet this year. Not going to let them out until I hear kissing, or 'I love you's, or anything! Anything will do! Ron thought.

The Trio walked through Diagon Alley, buying school supplies, and stopping in at the Leaky Cauldron for butterbeers. It was then that they were approached by a young man wearing Gryffindor robes.

"Which one of you is Harry Potter?" the boy asked in an American accent.

"That'd be me. Who are you?"

The boy replied, "I am Gaius Maxwell, a transfer student from America. Dumbledore sent me here to fetch you, seeing as how all the Order members were busy and all."

"Sirius! Uh, Gaius, was it? Can I bring them along as well?" Harry asked, indicating Ron and Hermione. Gaius shrugged. "Sure. I don't see anything wrong with it." The Trio got up and followed Gaius to the Cauldron's fireplace, where they Flooed to Hogwarts. Specifically, Dumbledore's office.

"Mr.- I'm sorry, Professor Dumbledore, the guests you requested have arrived. If you have no further need of me..?" Gaius said."Of course, you may leave." Gaius grabbed his broom -leaning against the wall- and left Dumbledore's office.

"Hello Harry, Mr. Weasley, Miss Granger. Shall we?"

Draco Malfoy was seething. Father- in prison. Mother- a hopeless wreck. And Lord Voldemort breathing down his neck about the Dark Mark. He didn't want to recieve it- with his father gone, he'd become less of the miniture Death Eater, and more of a normal young man. His pride, however, wouldn't allow him to ask for help. So what am I going to do? Malfoy asked himself. What am I going to do...

Harry was overjoyed to see his godfather alive and semi-well again. Ron, unnoticed to everyone but Sirius, slipped an envelope under Sirius's pillow while Harry talked to him. "What happened? How are you alive?"

Sirius gave a chuckle. "All I remember is Bellatrix hexing me, falling down, then falling again through a bright tunnel. That's when that Maxwell fellow found me-" "Gaius?" Harry asked. "No, no this one's name was Sextus. An Auror- American if i got the accent right- so I told him to take me to Dumbledore. Thank God he listened, or I would've gotten a kiss from a lovely Dementor." The four of them shuddered at the thought of the ghastly creatures.

"I'm just glad you're ok" Harry said. Dumbledore coughed, and said "I hate to break up your reunion, but you really must be going, Harry. Sirius needs his rest. "Ok, Professor Dumbledore. Bye, Sirius."

Once the three of them left, Sirius read Ron's note, chuckling to himself as he read it.

Sirius,

I need your help with Harry and Hermione. They love each other, yet refuse to give even a hint of it to each other! I'm thinking of locking them in a broom closet! Any advice welcome!

Ron Weasley

Sirius thought time for Padfoot the Marauder to make a comeback. The broomcloset! Hah! Took that for Lily and James to get together. Time for a second use, methinks... Sirius began his reply to Ron.

Ginny Weasley was the last person Draco Malfoy expected to bump into in Knockturn Alley. "What're you doing here, little weasel?" Draco snarled. "Oh, just wandering around, looking for Slytherins in need of severe hexing. What about you, Draco? Headed to a Death Eater convention or something?" Ginny responded in kind.

"No, as a matter of fact I was not, Virginia- err, Weasel!" Draco said, stuttering at the end. "You used my name. Why?" "I did no such thing, Weasel!" Draco practically yelled. "Yes, you called me Virginia. Why? Why did you do that, Draco?"

Draco wondered that same thing as he lay in bed that night. He hadn't been able to answer her- in fact, he'd just walked away without another word. He immersed himself in his father's library of Dark Arts textbooks, rather than ponder his verbal blunder. It was much easier to think of his father's imprisonment. A most pleasant thought, indeed.

I hate this part of the job Sextus Maxwell thought as he looked at the crime scene. "What do we have here, Sextus? Standard Death Eater practice, of worse?" Alastor Moody asked him. "Classic Death Eater scene: dead muggle, a female of about 21 years of age, tortured and raped before death, Dark Mark in the sky, and residual effects of all three Unforgiveables. Reminds me of the first war." Sextus reported. "Alright, get this scene cleaned up before thr Prophet arrives! Call in the Obliviation squads, and have PR ready something we can feed into the muggle law enforcement. Move!" Alastor barked to the Aurors on-scene. No one noticed a rat with a silver paw run past the scene and into the sewer.

Hopfully, you've enjoyed this second chapter. R&R, s'il vous plait.