Chapter 26
They went back to the castle and climbed up the marble staircase to their common room. Kayla had to finish her homework for Advanced Potions, so she went upstairs to get her schoolbag.
On her way downstairs she tripped over Crookshanks and managed to grab the railing just in time before she was about to fall on her behind. "Stupid cat" she hissed and pushed the cat down the steps. Just when she reached the common room, Crookshanks turned around and looked at her.
Kayla was shocked. For a brief moment she had seen a mischievous glimmer in his eyes, before the cat turned around once more and walked off with his bushy tail up in the air.
Kelsey watched Crookshanks very carefully, trying to see a sign that James was possessing the cat again. Odin placed himself on the seat next to Kayla, while she was finishing her homework. Harry and Ron were busy with making up what they had seen in the Tarot cards, while Hermione was busy with revising her Herbology notes.
Shortly before midnight Kayla closed her book and said good night to her friends and her brother. In the dorm she changed into her nightgown and crawled in bed. Tomorrow would be the first class with the Slytherins after the incident with Malfoy and Kelsey's first potion lesson after more than a month. She just hoped that Malfoy would be smart enough not to do anything stupid this time.
His days as Snape's favourite student seemed to be over. She didn't particularly like the potion master but for some reason she started to worry about him. If Lucius Malfoy was really so close to Voldemort, what would he do if Snape continued to punish his son, no matter if he deserved it or not. Somehow she had to convince Harry, Ron and Kelsey not to tease Malfoy during potions, although she had no idea how.
Sirius climbed out of the hole at the Whomping Willow, changed into Snuffles and ran across the ground and over to the Forbidden Forest. It was past sunset already and the grounds were deserted.
He hid in a bed with magically enlarged pumpkins next to Hagrid's cabin and glanced over to the camp of the dragon trainers, which was enlightened by a fire. The dragons were highly alert and restless, so the trainers were busy to keep them under control.
Sirius knew he wouldn't get a better chance. He pressed himself to the ground as low as possible and moved slowly towards the forest. As soon as he had passed the camp and reached the cover of the first trees he started running in full speed.
Who do they think they can fool, Sirius thought, while he was dodging low branches and jumped over roots. I knew full well that you don't need all that stuff for a simple gender change potion.
He knew they were hiding something from him, Hermione in particular, but he wasn't sure if all of them were aware of it. The wizard was sure that Hermione wouldn't do anything to harm his godson or put him in danger. She had always been the reasonable and responsible one and he doubted that this had changed. Hermione had to have a good reason to set up a potion with these dangerous ingredients and although he had no idea what it was for he was determined to do everything in his power to help.
Sirius ran through the forest, trying to make as little noise as possible. He and James had spent a lot of nights out here on the grounds and in the forest while they accompanied Remus during his transformations. His thoughts trailed off to his best friend, who was now resting next to his wife for so many years already.
Sirius still felt guilty that he had persuaded his friend to choose Peter as secret-keeper and not him. If he would have known then, what a true rat their friend has been, he would have killed him with his own hands before he had the chance to give out more information.
Thankful for his dog senses, he moved deeper and deeper into the forest. He heard the bats flying between the trees and the owls, which were out for hunting, his muzzle on the ground, sniffling for what he was looking for. Then he heard the thundering of hooves coming closer.
Centaurs, he thought and squeezed the large and brawny dog body under a heap of dead boughs. Praying they wouldn't recognize him, he remained there until they had past and were hopefully out of earshot. His excellent sense of smell recognized the scent of anger coming from the centaurs and he wondered what or whom they were chasing.
Sirius got up again and started running again, thankful that he wasn't following the four-legged warriors. After a few minutes he smelled moonbell root and it was close. When he reached a small glade deep in the forest, he recognized the little flower he was looking for next to the trunk of an immemorial tree. With his huge paws he dug out about 5 roots, picked them up with his muzzle and made his way out of the forest.
The black fur was filthy now, full of little twigs and burs, and he had quite a few bleeding cuts. However, in the two years he had been on the run already he had endured a lot more than that. The wizard could already see the fire shining through the trees when a noise made him stop short. Listening and not daring to move any further, he waited when the noise came closer.
The whispering of voices and the rustling of robes reached his sensible ears. A strong feeling of danger made him cautiously move forward. The men came nearer and now he could hear parts of the whispered conversation.
"... need to know how many dragons... the master wants to strike"
Sirius didn't need to hear more. Already close to the end of the forest, he moved so fast he could. When he past the camp he barked loudly to warn the dragon trainers. Relieved to see that the dragons were irritated by the barking and the trainers were watching the forest closely, he ran over to Hagrid's cabin. He scratched on the door with his claws and whimpered until Hagrid opened the door and let him in.
As soon as the gamekeeper had closed the door behind him, Sirius transformed into his human form and said sternly "Hagrid you must go up to the castle and wake up Dumbledore"
"Wait, wait Sirius... Dunno what happen ter ye and why ye in sucha state. Sit down an then ye can tell me." Hagrid interjected.
"There's no time for this. There are deatheaters in the forbidden forest. We need to take them out immediately."
"What? Deatheaters? What the.... Wait 'ere 'til I'm back" Hagrid called and rushed out of the door. Sirius walked over to the sink, cleaned the roots he had brought out of the forest and then put it in the pocket of his ragged robes.
Hagrid crossed the lawn with enormous steps and stormed through the oak front doors. It was long after curfew and the entrance hall was deserted. He ran up the steps and reached the gargoyles in front of the headmaster's office just minutes after Sirius arrival. He shouted the password "Pumpernickel", jumped up the moving staircase and burst into the office without knocking. Fortunately Dumbledore was still awake.
He was chatting animatedly with the former headmasters when Hagrid stormed in and yelled "DEATHEATERS! In the fores...Sirius seen 'em...gotta take 'em out now" The headmaster had listened very carefully and took action immediately. He rushed out of his office while Hagrid collapsed on the nearest chair.
Dumbledore summoned McGonagall and Snape instantly and then they hurried across the lawn towards Hagrid's cabin. The headmaster was leading the little group that followed him with pulled wands.
Snape was deeply concerned. He had no idea that the Dark Lord had send out some of his followers to explore the situation. The potion master had the strong feeling, that the man, he had once sworn loyalty, didn't trust him anymore.
Maybe the deatheater were working on their own account to impress the Dark Lord and he wasn't even aware of the fact they had snuck on the grounds. Clinging to this last hope he ran after Dumbledore, his cloak billowing behind him. When they reached the camp, a group of dragon trainers was trying desperately to free a corpse from the deadly fangs of a enormous Bluetail.
Dumbledore walked up to Charlie and asked "Is this the only one you could catch?"
"No headmaster, we caught another one alive. He's shackled and gagged inside the tent. We were almost sleeping when we heard a dog bark. Then the dragons got restless and we had to tend to them. David here" he pointed at a brown-haired wizard, who was busy with the Bluetail, "spotted one turning up next to the gate over there, but the dragon was faster. Broke him right in half."
Snape stared at the shattered corpse, which Charlie's colleagues had managed to carry out of the dragon's reach. "But Eddy could catch one alive, who seemed to be rooted to the spot when he saw what happened to his fellowman. He tried to warn the third one but we gagged him before he got a word out. The Indian Shiva slashed him a little before we could get to him. He's not well but still alive."
Dumbledore listened carefully, while McGonagall and Snape couldn't stop glaring at the dead body. "Where is the other deatheater?" Snape asked hoarsely.
Charlie's face darkened and then McGonagall's high-pitched voice could be heard "You didn't let him escape, did you?"
"My friends are already searching the grounds" Charlie sad apologetically, not looking up.
"Minerva, please go back to the castle and inform the staff, the head boy and the head girl. Make sure all the students stay in their common rooms immediately. Charlie, I ask you to set up a guard at the front doors and in front of every common room. And Severus, I want you to question the deatheater. Take him to the hospital and make sure he stays alive as long as possible. We need informations; so do what is necessary. After I have talked to Hagrid, I will convene a staff meeting." Dumbledore ordered and walked over to the gamekeepers' cabin immediately.
Sirius glared out of the window trying to see what was going on at the camp, for about the 100th time since he had sent Hagrid to get the headmaster. He recognized that 3 figures approached, but he couldn't say who they were. Please let it be Dumbledore he thought, pacing back and forth in front of the little window, while the figures went out of sight. He opened the door a little, trying to hear anything, but the roaring of the dragons was so loud, it was drowning every other sound.
Sirius decided to get a cup of tea to calm his nerves when he heard footsteps approaching. Quickly he transformed into Snuffles and crawled under Hagrid's bed. A short knock before the door opened and somebody entered. Sirius came out of his hiding-place as soon as he heard the headmasters' familiar voice calling him. He crossed the room in two large steps, changing back into his human form as he did so.
"Did you get them?" he called, staring anxiously at Dumbledore.
"Three deatheaters penetrated into the school grounds. One was killed by a dragon and another one is severely injured; Severus is questioning right now." Albus said seriously.
"And the last?" Sirius gasped. Dumbledore's voice sounded terribly anxious when he replied "Unfortunately he escaped"
Sirius whole body tensed. Harry was in the school and he was sure the deatheater wouldn't miss the chance to capture Voldemort's enemy number one. "I need to protect Harry" he shouted.
"Hold on Sirius. The dragon trainers are going to guard the entrance and the common rooms, the teachers are alert and patrolling the school. I will return to the castle immediately to ensure the students are safe. I need you to search the grounds. As a dog, your senses are better and you're fast and strong enough to be a match for any deatheater. This is the best you can do for Harry right now."
Sirius' eyes were flashing angrily when he shouted "These idiots couldn't handle the deatheater with their dragons, how good do you think they are without!"
Dumbledore looked firmly into the furious wizards' eyes and stated "I will be there to keep Harry safe, if necessary shield him with my own body. Or do you not trust me either?" Sirius head dropped.
"Can I see if he is ok when I caught that filthy swine?" "Of course my friend" Dumbledore chuckled "I know that Harry will be just as worried about you as you are about him. Now hurry before he can get off the grounds"
Sirius transformed and ran out of the hut. Dumbledore watch the dog disappear in the night and then walked quickly back to the castle.