Chapter 4
Spies Among Us
Then his mind snapped, he remembered the stay at the Shrieking shack. How happy he was with them in hiding. 'I want to live with Sirius and Remus!'
"EXPECTO PATRONUM!" yelled Harry, conjuring the stag, and now he could see dementors clearly on the lift. There were six of them, standing in front of him, one gripping his right shoulder, nearly bending down to kiss him. But Harry steered the stag to the one in front of him. "Get it Prongs! This way!" He guided them and driving the rest of the dementors away and collapsed to the ground. "Augh…" He felt so cold on the inside, he felt like passing out but felt hands shaking him.
"Harry, stay awake, I'm sorry that we were of no use, I-I couldn't conjure it," Remus said sadly, but Harry shook his head.
"You tried Remus, it's okay, it's - It's thanks to you two that I could finally conjure the patronus to drive them away."
"But Harry, you're underage!"
"Screw that," said Harry. "I was nearly kissed!"
"W-what?" gaped Sirius.
"Oh Harry," said Remus, wrapping Harry into a hug. Then the torches came back on, and the lift started moving again.
"YES! We're moving!" exclaimed Sirius, Remus only smiled. Harry saw that Mark was shivering badly and he crawled over to him.
"Mark? You okay mate?"
"N-no… do I l-l-look ok-okay?"
"No you don't, I guess I shouldn't need to explain what dementors do?" asked Harry.
"N-not really, what are they exactly?"
"They suck happiness out of you, just like you felt you'd never feel happy again right?" Mark nodded. "And if they get a chance, they kiss you. Which is just another saying of taking your soul, through the mouth," explained Harry after looking at the face of horror on Mark's face. Then the door finally opened to see Mr. Weasley, Madam Bones, reporters, and many other people standing there.
"Oh hell, not now," groaned Harry. "I want some chocolate, we all do."
"Chocolate? Why?" frowned Mr. Weasley.
"Dementors," said Remus, looking at Mark, who was still shivering, Harry looking really pale. Both Remus and Sirius were in cold sweat.
"Dementors? On the lift? How?" asked Madam Bones, alarmed, examining each person.
"Don't we all want to know?" said Harry, rubbing his own arms with hands, shivering slightly. "Can we have some chocolate please?"
"Oh, oh! Yes, accio chocolate!" Mr. Weasley summoned really big chunk of chocolate, and breaking them into equal pieces for each of the affected persons. "Well, follow me, I'm sure you heard that there are spies in the Ministry earlier did you not?" Harry nodded, eating the warm brown candy. "Yes, well, we received the intelligence from an auror w-who didn't look so well. Came to us in a bad shape mind you."
"Who?" asked Remus, fully recovered.
"Auror Tonks."
"You're kidding!" exclaimed Sirius, but Mr. Weasley shook his head sadly.
"She came here not thirty minutes ago, saying that there are spies among us. Perhaps in the Ministry itself. We just have to be cautious," he said, closing the door behind him. "But I'm glad you're all fine, albeit the run-in with the dementors.," he sighed. "Harry, you keep doing magic, I suppose I'll have to talk to Madam Bones about it. Perhaps we'll just do the formal trial for this as well as the magic you did in Surrey in three months. Don't worry Harry, I'm sure we can clear you."
"Yeah, right, well, I'm hungry, can we go home?" asked Harry, staring out of the magical window. Which showed a bad storm going on. Harry thought that it was ironic that the storm in the magical window is exactly how he felt on the inside. Though no one had to know that he felt like a raging storm. Still, he had been feeling that way ever since he had come to Grimmauld place. He now remembered the rest of his fifth year, nevertheless, he didn't voice that he did. He did realize that his fifth year was his worst year at Hogwarts yet.
However, Harry didn't want to hope that it would be a better year this year and realized with a sudden jolt. "Wait a minute, where's Dumbledore?"
Everyone fell silence, and Harry felt the tension in the air, and realized something must have had happened to the old man. "What? Tell me, you better not be keeping me in the dark! Why is professor McGonagall the Headmistress?" Still, no one said anything. "Tell me damnit!"
"Harry, we'll talk about this when we get back home, now here's the portkey," said Remus calmly.
"Wha - I don't - I want - What's the bloody hell going on!?" demanded Harry.
"Just touch the portkey!" ordered Sirius, and Harry reluctantly touched the old napkin, and everyone in the room had whisked away into the kitchen at Grimmauld place.
"Well? I want some answers now!"
"Dumbledore's missing," Remus said simply, causing Harry's eyes to widen in shock.
"What? He's missing? How? When? Who? It's not Voldemort is it?"
"According to one of our spies, Voldemort has nothing to do with it. At least, to his knowledge. He's been missing since the night of attack in Surrey," Remus explained. "So, we don't know how he had disappeared." Harry sat there, feeling really numbed, and suddenly furrowed his eyebrows together.
"I just realized something, whatever happened to-err" he wasn't sure if he should ask about Sirius's mom and Kreacher, then they would know that his memory is back completely. But then again, his fifth year wasn't THAT horrendous. "To Kreacher and Sirius' mum painting?"
"Sirius found him in the drying air duct awhile ago, and we found a way to get rid of the painting," Remus grinned.
"Yeah, by insulting back to her and she simply blew herself up," said Sirius, laughing.
"Oh, ha, ha," Harry mocked laugh, but no one else noticed it. "Well, that's good I guess," Harry said. "Well, I'll be up in my rooms," he stood up to leave.
"But Harry, what about some food? Didn't you say you were hungry?"
"I was, but not anymore, I lost my appetite thanks to Dumbledore and Sirius," he said with more sarcasm in his voice.
"What? What'd I do?"
"Nothing Sirius, nothing, well I'll see you all at dinner then," with that, he left the kitchen into the dining room and found Ron and Hermione sitting by the fire. Hermione slammed shut a book titled 'Wizards in Feudal Japan and Modern Times.' They both looked over to Harry and jumped to their feet.
"Harry!" exclaimed Hermione. "You're back, well?"
"It's been postponed for another three months," said Harry without any enthusiasm.
"What?! Why?"
"Yeah mate, why?" Ron asked.
"The stupid legal guardian part, and here's another thing, wait I think you should come with me. Hang on, go ahead, I'll meet you in my room, I'll get Mark," Harry said, and they went in their separate directions. Harry went back into the kitchen and found Mark.
"Hey Mark, c'mon upstairs?"
"Sure I guess," he replied, taking his sandwich with him and both boys went up the stairs, and entered the rooms, the boys found Ron and Hermione sitting on the couch. With Ginny in one of the chairs.
"Ah.. well, I suppose they could hear it too," Harry mumbled.
"Well, what's up?" pressed Hermione.
"There's spies among us, and dementors were on our lift. On our way out as well," said Harry, getting to the point. "So I"m being tried for that in trial in three months."
"What!? Spies? Dementors? Oh bloody hell, you're being tried for that too?" cursed Ron, Hermione and Ginny's mouth were open in surprise.
"Yeah, and to think with everything's that happened to me, you would think it would happen again. Well, it did, I was nearly kissed," the reaction was immediate. Ron's face paled deathly white, Ginny, and Hermione yelped.
"No way!" Ron exclaimed. "Who do you think the spies are?" he asked on a serious note.
"No idea, otherwise we would've caught them by now. It's thanks to Tonks that we know that bit now," Harry explained.
"It's all my fault that we were stuck in the lift!" Mark said suddenly.
"No Mark, it wasn't, dementors would've gotten us anyways."
"What do you mean Mark?" Ginny asked.
"I sort of stopped the lift by kicking it. We were. . . just talking about my guardianship, since I don't have one. I'm a ward of the Ministry. I rather just live on my own."
"Well, you can't, you're only eleven years old," Hermione said.
"Hermione, remember what stuff we did in our first year at Hogwarts? I'm sure he's capable on his own, or he could even live with me and Sirius as well as Remus."
"Remus? I thought he lived on his own?" Hermione asked.
"Oh er-well, you know how close they are and all," Harry said. 'Shit, I had forgotten that 'they' don't know about them two together!'
"Oh, true I suppose," remarked Hermione. Harry lied down on the bed, stretching and staring at the ceiling. He then started thinking about his fifth year at Hogwarts. How Umbridge had treated him, stripping every single happiness he had at Hogwarts. How he couldn't play Quidditch anymore, unable to see Hagrid, their horrible lessons, the attitude she had about the Unforgivables and towards Harry in general.
"Wait, whatever happened to Umbridge?" Harry spoke up, wondering.
"Harry? D-do you remember your fifth year now?"
"You could say that," Harry replied.
"Well, she's in Azkaban because of her using an Unforgivable, the Cruciatus Curse on you when you were locked up in Azkaban, and using the Blood quills for detentions. Apparently that was banned two hundred years ago."
"You're saying you didn't know everything?" Ron asked, amazed.
"Oh Ron, there's so much to learn you know!" said Hermione, annoyed. "But yes, she's in Azkaban," she said with a satisfied smile.
"Good, otherwise I would get revenge and kill her," he said, sounding serious, but then added. "Joking of course."
"I hope you are Harry," Hermione said sternly.
"Yeah, we don't want you back there. It was the worst two weeks of our lives. And of course, best two weeks of Malfoy's life. It was awful," Ginny remarked.
"What happened?"
"The way he was boasting around the school. How he was saying that Harry had always belonged at Azkaban. He treated us worse than shit," Ginny replied.
"Ginny!" exclaimed Hermione. "But she's right, awful that Malfoy."
Harry didn't realize that he was clutching his fists so tightly that it had started bleeding and only until Ron pointed out that his hand was red.
"Harry, what's-- Mate! Your hands' bleeding!"
"Wha-oh so I am, well, I'll be back," with that Harry was glad to have an excuse to leave the room and went to the bathroom across the hall. He closed the door with a loud bang and winced slightly but then shrugged. 'Why do I even care? That Malfoy, how dare he,' Harry thought, washing his hands and saw that his nail cuts were really deep. "Ah bloody hell, that's just great." He put some balm that he found next to the sink on his cuts to make it better.
He then found some napkin and wrapped it around his hands and taped it together with some spell-o-tape in one of the cupboard in the bathroom. He then sat down on the cool floor, glad that there are some good locking charms on the door. One even had an anti-Alohomora charm on one of the locks. Harry sat there, thinking about his past. From his first memory, his mum dying and his father's last words.
To abuse at the Dursleys, of times when Dudley had bullied Harry. He remembered not having a single friend from kindergarten to the time he got the letter to Hogwarts. Hogwarts. There were so many memories of the good and bad. He hated how he was famous in the wizarding world, and that he was despised in the muggle world. How every year at Hogwarts, that having either directly or indirectly to do with Voldemort and his slaves.
Harry soon fell into a light doze, with those thoughts buzzing in his mind. Then the words of the prophecy fell into his mind and Harry felt even angrier. 'How dare that there had to be some prophecy about me!? Neville, why couldn't it be him and let me be normal for once?' Harry thought bitterly. 'Fine, only if Hogwarts is as bad as last year, I'm leaving.'
'What then? Where would I go? I could prepare to live as a muggle. To get away from Voldemort and everyone here. I'm sick of this.' Harry sighed. 'What about Ron and Hermione? Ginny even? Aren't they my friends? Well, of course they are, no one else except for the Weasleys, Remus, Sirius and some of my teachers see me not as a 'The-Boy-Who-Lived'. Still, would that outweigh the need to live as a normal person?'
Harry cursed himself, berating for those thoughts. 'Okay, fine, I'll start living normally after I finish Voldemort off. He won't stop killing people if I go into hiding. Ah bloody hell,' he banged the back of his head against the wall, frustrated. 'How I wish I can stay here until we can go to Hogwarts.' Then he remembered something else. His O.W.L.s, how did he do on them? Harry stood up against his will, and unlocked the door which took thirty seconds and found that everyone was shouting.
"GUYS! STOP SCREAMING!" Harry had to yell.
"Oh Harry, why did you lock yourself in there? It's nearly midnight!" Hermione said, nearly on the verge of tears.
"Did you use all of the lock on the door?" Remus asked, and Harry nodded. "Why'd you do that?"
"Would you bother my privacy otherwise?" Harry asked, walking past everyone. "Does anyone know where my O.W.L. results are? I had forgotten what they were."
"Oh, it's in your trunk-" Hermione began.
"Thank you, good night," Harry left into his room and searched his trunk for a certain parchment and found what he was looking for. He read the paper and it read:
Dear Mr. Potter,
Due to the Ordinary Wizarding Level examinations taken at Hogwarts of the year 1995. We are pleased to inform you of your O.W.L.s Please read the following grades you have received.
Charms - Exceeds Expectations
Transfiguration - Exceeds Expectations
Herbology - Outstanding
Defense Against the Dark Arts - Outstanding
Potions - Exceeds Expectations
Care of Magical Creatures - Outstanding
Astronomy - Acceptable
Divination - Poor
History of Magic - Dreadful
Highest score for Ordinary Wizarding Levels for past fifteen years.
Thank you for taking the examination.
Sincerely,
Teminsa Broake
Harry felt really please about his results. However he didn't do well as he had hoped on Potions. He dearly hoped that Professor Snape would let him continue potions. Though he seriously doubted it, then again, their relationship between themselves had improved dramatically. He hoped that Severus Snape would come by Grimmauld place soon. He stood up and left the room down the stairs to the kitchen.
Harry couldn't believe his luck, he found Professor Snape at one of the seats at the table. Harry nervously swallowed the building lump in his throat and approached Snape. "Er - Professor, Sir?" Snape looked up from his parchment to Harry, arching an eyebrow.
"Yes Potter?"
"I would understand if you refuse, but can you erm, take me into your Potions class? I - "
"I appreciate your boldness to ask me, did you receive an Exceeds Expectation did you not? I also would hate to have you in my class. However, according to how well you have been in my class recently as well as a certain Headmaster pleading me to take you in. So, yes, you may be in my class. I only hope you will be as good as you were at the end of the year," he paused. "And I also hope that Mr. Malfoy won't be in your Potions class. However it is not entirely my decision."
"Thank you sir, and what about Occulemency?"
"I believe that you have mastered the art of Occulemency. However, if you are interested, the offer to teach you Legillmency is available," Harry blanched at him.
"Sir?" Harry asked, wondering if he heard correctly.
"Me teaching you Legillmency," Snape repeated, sounding as though he was speaking to a two-year old.
"Of course Sir!" said Harry, hardly daring to believe that he would be receiving lessons in Legillmency. "Sir, can I ask a question?"
"You may."
"Why are you offering this? Clearly you seem to be the type that doesn't want me to nose around."
"That, would be the exact reason. I only hope this lesson will teach you not to nose in other people's privacy. As well as your… gift in learning things yourself."
"I see, well thank you sir," Harry said.
"Nevermind that, however, I heard that you had snuck into Knockturn Alley, is this true?"
"Er - Yes sir," Harry replied uncomfortably.
"What for? I also heard you bought a book."
"That's correct Professor," said Harry, looking away from his Potions Professor.
"May I see it?" The question seemed so simple and easy, yet Harry hesitated, looking back at his teacher. Debating whether or not to let him look at the book. He had been reading a few chapters already and the information about them was really rich.
"Ah, well, er - of course Professor, I - let me go get it," Harry ran out of the room, and went up the stairs and into his room. Pulling out a book from a hidden space in his bedside cupboard and ran back downstairs into the kitchen. He set the book on the table carefully.
"Ah, it's 'Dark Magical Signatures and their curses'," Snape said, tracing the title on the book.
"Do you know it Professor?"
"Yes, a rare book, how you managed to have a hand on this, I don't know," said Snape, flipping every few pages and scanning.
"Remus said it was rare too, but… it was cheap," Snape snapped up at Harry.
"How much?"
"A-a Galleon and two knuts," Harry replied, hesitating. Snape's eyes narrowed, and looked back at the book.
"What store?"
"It was Cardiac & Yivagical store."
"You have got to be lying Potter," growled Snape.
"N-no sir," Snape studied Harry for short while and sighed.
"I guess you aren't, if that is true, then that is very foolish. Buying a book from that store!"
"What is so special about that store?" asked Harry.
"Besides me, and Dumbledore, the owners of the store are very adept at Legillmency. There is a chance that they performed that on you."
"Or maybe on Mark," Harry added.
"He was with you?" he arched an eyebrow. "Nevermind that, has anything happened to you from reading the book? Like hexes or curses or any sort?" Harry shook his head, and Snape seem to have frowned or perhaps looked really frustrated. "Mmm, perhaps, how did you find this book?"
"They erm.. asked me only two questions and they found the book for me, offering to sell it for a galleon and two Knuts."
"Strange, well, may I borrow this book? I won't destroy the book without your permission. I'll return this before you come back to Hogwarts, fair?" Harry nodded.
"Yes sir," said Harry, sighing and annoyed. Snape seem to catch the annoy part of Harry.
"Potter, I am only curious, not concerned for your welfare. I know how well you can escape. . . death."
Harry nodded, feeling a bit better. 'At least someone on the light side didn't worry about him!' Harry thought happily. "Thank you sir, you have no idea how much that means to me Professor."
Severus Snape waved him off with his hand, standing up and picking the book up. "Don't thank me, however I hate to admit, I am a selfish man."
"But sir, no one on our side has ever thought the same way as you do. I hate when everyone has to worry about me, and how I had gone through more than most wizards do. Professor, I don't know how you would take this, but on some levels, we both could be relate," Snape stared hard at Harry, seemingly to contemplate something. "Plus sir, I have told you how I felt about being famous. I never wanted to be, and never will. Why would someone like to be famous when your parents have sacrificed for your life?"
Snape stared hard at Harry still, but apparently speechless and opened his mouth to speak.
"Well, Potter, you never cease to. . . amuse me," then he winced and cursed, as well as Harry's forehead feeling like it was splitting into two.
"Augh," Harry pressed his scar with his hand. "You too professor?"
"Yes, he's calling us. I must go," then with that, he disapparated. Harry realized that he had taken his book with him as well. He hoped that Snape would return okay. Feeling too restless, he sat down in one of the chairs next to Snape's emptied one. He rested his head on his hand with his elbow on the table.
Examining the seat that Professor Snape had left only moments ago. He remembered the relationship between himself and Snape from year one to near end of year five. Ending when he, himself accidentally found Snape's memory of his father at Hogwarts twenty years previously. Since then, their relationship had been mutual. He didn't know how Snape would act with other students around. Only when he was alone with him, he had treated him much better than he had done in the past.
Harry sat there, watching the empty seat and hadn't noticed someone entering the room until the person was in front of Harry. He snapped up and found Sirius standing there and arched an eyebrow in curiosity.
"Evening Harry," he said, sitting down in the seat that Harry had been staring at.
"Hullo Sirius," he returned the greeting.
"Why aren't you sleeping in your bed? Or in the kitchen? You hungry?" Sirius asked.
"I was - I was talking to Professor Snape," replied Harry.
"What did the git do this time?" demanded Sirius.
"Sirius, we had an intelligent conversation, stop worrying, bloody hell, does anyone else not worried about me?"
"You, erm, you had an intelligent conversation with Snape?"
"That would be right Sirius, anyways, he was summoned, and I'm just worried about him. Seeing that my scar hurts as well when it comes to summons. Happens like once a week or so."
"Oh, that must have to suck," remarked Sirius, patting Harry on the shoulder. "Well, don't stay up all night."
"Well, I might at this rate," said Harry, crossing his arms. Sirius sighed, and stood up.
"Alright Harry, just because I will be your legal guardian and as a godfather, I won't bug you for not sleeping. I just would like to know what's going on."
"Oh, well, I suppose, well, Snape and I were just talking about my O.W.Ls results, and well, I received a Potions grade the one I didn't want and asked him if he could put me in his class."
"What!? Are you crazy, that's. . . suicide!"
"Look at me, I survived five years in potions, I should be fine in the next two years. Anyways, we talked about doing some. . . Legillmency lessons. Also of other various of things that are of no concern to anyone else but me and Snape. I .. I hope you can understand that.." He wasn't ready to reveal that Snape had looked over the book, talking about it and his feelings and view on being famous in the wizarding world.
"I hate to admit it, and it's against my moral code, but for this once, I won't persuade you to tell me what else you two had been talking about. Well, it's late, I'm going to sleep. Night Harry," with that, he left the room. Harry sat there, now have to stare at the seat that Professor Snape sat in, then his godfather, Sirius sat in there as well.
His mind drifted off to the spies that were mentioned earlier. Snape was the spy for the light, and now there's someone as a spy for the dark. He hoped that Snape was on their side. Voldemort had known that Snape is spying for them i'against'/i the light. He hoped that the spy wasn't someone in the order. If it was, then Snape's cover would be blown. He didn't want that at all, and he looked at his watch and realized that it was close to five. He knew that the sunrise would come up soon. Harry stood up and filled a cup of water and heating it for himself. He then poured some tea into his cup and let it sift for awhile.
After the tea was cooled down a bit, he drank some himself, drawing apart the curtains, and he watched the sunrise as he drank the tea. 'Sunrise represents new day, perhaps new life as well?' Harry wondered as he watched the sun creeping over the horizon. He watched as the sun was well above the edge of the earth that Harry could see. Then he heard a voice behind him and turned around.
"So, have you slept at all?" Harry knew the voice, and belonged to Professor Snape. Harry slowly shook his head. "Gryffindor pride," Snape scoffed.
Harry only glared at him but only softly, and turned his eyes back to the sunrise. "Sir, how'd. . . the meeting go?"
"It went fine, as everyone here already knows, there are indeed spies among us. I still haven't been able to find out whom it is. I fear I would be too late if I find out who is spying."
Harry nodded, sipping a bit of his tea, which was rapidly getting cold. He stared at the cup and looked back at his professor. He watched him, his cold stare looking straight back at him.
"I know you will find out soon Professor. You just have to talk to the right people. Like the Malfoys for example."
"Oh sure, I can go up to them and ask who is spying against the dark,' he said with sarcasm evident in his voice.
"I don't mean that, just talk to them about something else, and then work your way to that question, directly or even indirectly Professor." Severus looked at him again, more intently than a glare. His face fell into a thoughtful look, or so Harry thought it was. He then stroked his chin with his left hand, his right hand holding the left arm. The two didn't speak for a moment or two until Snape spoke again.
"I suppose that would work, no wonder why everyone keeps saying how . . . intelligent you are," said Professor Snape, turning to the window to watch the sun's progress through the sky.
"T-thank you sir," he also watched the sun. " . . . You know, earlier, I was thinking that sunrise can represent a new life . . ." Snape arched an eyebrow, looking at Harry.
"What are you saying?"
"I just want a new life, where no one knows about me or my scar. You said yourself that you're a se-selfish person. I suppose this is being selfish isn't it? I would be away from Ron and Hermione . . . and everyone else here."
Snape nodded, looking a bit tensed. "I suppose," he said stiffly. "I guess your reason is better than anyone else I've known who wanted to hide. Though, all of them, including yours, are cowards. You don't see me hiding away from the life I had lived do you?" Harry shook his head no. "Exactly, I suggest you to think, I daresay you do have two years to decide."
'Or sooner than that,' thought Harry. "Well sir, I think I'll take a short nap. I'm sure Mrs. Weasley and Ron will wake me up in about half an hour. I'm assuming you'll be gone by then?" Snape nodded, turning to the door out of the kitchen. "Alright, bye Professor."
"Good bye Potter," he said.
"Sir?" Harry asked after a moment thinking, and Snape stopped walking. "Can you call me by my first name? I can still call you Professor and Sir. Unless with your permission?"
"Of course, Harry, you may call me by Severus. But only in private. Also, that book you let me borrow, it looks very interesting. Well, good night,"
"Oh, er, right Si-Severus, good bye," he smiled, but Severus didn't return it, instead, he left the kitchen and heard a soft pop of apparation. Harry then went into the living room to take a nap on the couch. Then only thirty minutes later, did he hear his name being called.
"Harry, morning dear," Mrs. Weasley said.
"M-morning," yawned Harry, having only slept for good twenty minutes. Then Ron came down the stairs, looking a bit worried but found Harry on the couch. "Morning Ron."
"Mate, don't scare me like that," Ron said breathlessly, and Harry rolled his eyes. Remembering the conversation about the people that are constantly worrying about Harry.
"So sorry Ron, but I was up before you were," Harry said with satire evident in his voice.
"Sorry, it's just that -"
"I know Ron, I tend to get myself into trouble. No wait, they find me," Harry gibed.
"Harry, stop biting my head off!" he stormed out of the living room into the kitchen. Not at all hungry, he went up to the room where Buckbeak is. Granted that Sirius was pardoned, Buckbeak wasn't and Hagrid had known that Buckbeak was here hiding at the Grimmauld place. Needless to say, he was very happy to see his Hippogriff again. He bowed and looked at Buckbeak, doing a ritual of the animal. He bowed back and Harry walked over to him and petted him on the beak. Harry stared at him, the beauty was just amazing. The sleek coats of feathers and furs, the beak a very shiny yellow and smooth. The eyes were brown and with sharpness to them.
"Hey Buckbeak, how are you?" he got a flap of wing for an answer. "I know you would love to fly, but until we get you to be pardoned. I know it would be soon, seeing that Mr. Weasley's the new Minister of Magic. Hmm, I wonder how he got to be a Minister though. Whatever happened to Fudge? Not that I care about him anyways. He doesn't care about creatures like you, I hope you can fly again Buckbeak." He flapped his wings again, though more sadly.
Harry sat next to Buckbeak, leaning against the feather-y body. He soon fell into another light sleep, dreaming about flying on Buckbeak and slaying dragons with a long broadsword. He felt more peaceful than he ever had since before the night at the Department of Mysteries.
Spies Among Us
Then his mind snapped, he remembered the stay at the Shrieking shack. How happy he was with them in hiding. 'I want to live with Sirius and Remus!'
"EXPECTO PATRONUM!" yelled Harry, conjuring the stag, and now he could see dementors clearly on the lift. There were six of them, standing in front of him, one gripping his right shoulder, nearly bending down to kiss him. But Harry steered the stag to the one in front of him. "Get it Prongs! This way!" He guided them and driving the rest of the dementors away and collapsed to the ground. "Augh…" He felt so cold on the inside, he felt like passing out but felt hands shaking him.
"Harry, stay awake, I'm sorry that we were of no use, I-I couldn't conjure it," Remus said sadly, but Harry shook his head.
"You tried Remus, it's okay, it's - It's thanks to you two that I could finally conjure the patronus to drive them away."
"But Harry, you're underage!"
"Screw that," said Harry. "I was nearly kissed!"
"W-what?" gaped Sirius.
"Oh Harry," said Remus, wrapping Harry into a hug. Then the torches came back on, and the lift started moving again.
"YES! We're moving!" exclaimed Sirius, Remus only smiled. Harry saw that Mark was shivering badly and he crawled over to him.
"Mark? You okay mate?"
"N-no… do I l-l-look ok-okay?"
"No you don't, I guess I shouldn't need to explain what dementors do?" asked Harry.
"N-not really, what are they exactly?"
"They suck happiness out of you, just like you felt you'd never feel happy again right?" Mark nodded. "And if they get a chance, they kiss you. Which is just another saying of taking your soul, through the mouth," explained Harry after looking at the face of horror on Mark's face. Then the door finally opened to see Mr. Weasley, Madam Bones, reporters, and many other people standing there.
"Oh hell, not now," groaned Harry. "I want some chocolate, we all do."
"Chocolate? Why?" frowned Mr. Weasley.
"Dementors," said Remus, looking at Mark, who was still shivering, Harry looking really pale. Both Remus and Sirius were in cold sweat.
"Dementors? On the lift? How?" asked Madam Bones, alarmed, examining each person.
"Don't we all want to know?" said Harry, rubbing his own arms with hands, shivering slightly. "Can we have some chocolate please?"
"Oh, oh! Yes, accio chocolate!" Mr. Weasley summoned really big chunk of chocolate, and breaking them into equal pieces for each of the affected persons. "Well, follow me, I'm sure you heard that there are spies in the Ministry earlier did you not?" Harry nodded, eating the warm brown candy. "Yes, well, we received the intelligence from an auror w-who didn't look so well. Came to us in a bad shape mind you."
"Who?" asked Remus, fully recovered.
"Auror Tonks."
"You're kidding!" exclaimed Sirius, but Mr. Weasley shook his head sadly.
"She came here not thirty minutes ago, saying that there are spies among us. Perhaps in the Ministry itself. We just have to be cautious," he said, closing the door behind him. "But I'm glad you're all fine, albeit the run-in with the dementors.," he sighed. "Harry, you keep doing magic, I suppose I'll have to talk to Madam Bones about it. Perhaps we'll just do the formal trial for this as well as the magic you did in Surrey in three months. Don't worry Harry, I'm sure we can clear you."
"Yeah, right, well, I'm hungry, can we go home?" asked Harry, staring out of the magical window. Which showed a bad storm going on. Harry thought that it was ironic that the storm in the magical window is exactly how he felt on the inside. Though no one had to know that he felt like a raging storm. Still, he had been feeling that way ever since he had come to Grimmauld place. He now remembered the rest of his fifth year, nevertheless, he didn't voice that he did. He did realize that his fifth year was his worst year at Hogwarts yet.
However, Harry didn't want to hope that it would be a better year this year and realized with a sudden jolt. "Wait a minute, where's Dumbledore?"
Everyone fell silence, and Harry felt the tension in the air, and realized something must have had happened to the old man. "What? Tell me, you better not be keeping me in the dark! Why is professor McGonagall the Headmistress?" Still, no one said anything. "Tell me damnit!"
"Harry, we'll talk about this when we get back home, now here's the portkey," said Remus calmly.
"Wha - I don't - I want - What's the bloody hell going on!?" demanded Harry.
"Just touch the portkey!" ordered Sirius, and Harry reluctantly touched the old napkin, and everyone in the room had whisked away into the kitchen at Grimmauld place.
"Well? I want some answers now!"
"Dumbledore's missing," Remus said simply, causing Harry's eyes to widen in shock.
"What? He's missing? How? When? Who? It's not Voldemort is it?"
"According to one of our spies, Voldemort has nothing to do with it. At least, to his knowledge. He's been missing since the night of attack in Surrey," Remus explained. "So, we don't know how he had disappeared." Harry sat there, feeling really numbed, and suddenly furrowed his eyebrows together.
"I just realized something, whatever happened to-err" he wasn't sure if he should ask about Sirius's mom and Kreacher, then they would know that his memory is back completely. But then again, his fifth year wasn't THAT horrendous. "To Kreacher and Sirius' mum painting?"
"Sirius found him in the drying air duct awhile ago, and we found a way to get rid of the painting," Remus grinned.
"Yeah, by insulting back to her and she simply blew herself up," said Sirius, laughing.
"Oh, ha, ha," Harry mocked laugh, but no one else noticed it. "Well, that's good I guess," Harry said. "Well, I'll be up in my rooms," he stood up to leave.
"But Harry, what about some food? Didn't you say you were hungry?"
"I was, but not anymore, I lost my appetite thanks to Dumbledore and Sirius," he said with more sarcasm in his voice.
"What? What'd I do?"
"Nothing Sirius, nothing, well I'll see you all at dinner then," with that, he left the kitchen into the dining room and found Ron and Hermione sitting by the fire. Hermione slammed shut a book titled 'Wizards in Feudal Japan and Modern Times.' They both looked over to Harry and jumped to their feet.
"Harry!" exclaimed Hermione. "You're back, well?"
"It's been postponed for another three months," said Harry without any enthusiasm.
"What?! Why?"
"Yeah mate, why?" Ron asked.
"The stupid legal guardian part, and here's another thing, wait I think you should come with me. Hang on, go ahead, I'll meet you in my room, I'll get Mark," Harry said, and they went in their separate directions. Harry went back into the kitchen and found Mark.
"Hey Mark, c'mon upstairs?"
"Sure I guess," he replied, taking his sandwich with him and both boys went up the stairs, and entered the rooms, the boys found Ron and Hermione sitting on the couch. With Ginny in one of the chairs.
"Ah.. well, I suppose they could hear it too," Harry mumbled.
"Well, what's up?" pressed Hermione.
"There's spies among us, and dementors were on our lift. On our way out as well," said Harry, getting to the point. "So I"m being tried for that in trial in three months."
"What!? Spies? Dementors? Oh bloody hell, you're being tried for that too?" cursed Ron, Hermione and Ginny's mouth were open in surprise.
"Yeah, and to think with everything's that happened to me, you would think it would happen again. Well, it did, I was nearly kissed," the reaction was immediate. Ron's face paled deathly white, Ginny, and Hermione yelped.
"No way!" Ron exclaimed. "Who do you think the spies are?" he asked on a serious note.
"No idea, otherwise we would've caught them by now. It's thanks to Tonks that we know that bit now," Harry explained.
"It's all my fault that we were stuck in the lift!" Mark said suddenly.
"No Mark, it wasn't, dementors would've gotten us anyways."
"What do you mean Mark?" Ginny asked.
"I sort of stopped the lift by kicking it. We were. . . just talking about my guardianship, since I don't have one. I'm a ward of the Ministry. I rather just live on my own."
"Well, you can't, you're only eleven years old," Hermione said.
"Hermione, remember what stuff we did in our first year at Hogwarts? I'm sure he's capable on his own, or he could even live with me and Sirius as well as Remus."
"Remus? I thought he lived on his own?" Hermione asked.
"Oh er-well, you know how close they are and all," Harry said. 'Shit, I had forgotten that 'they' don't know about them two together!'
"Oh, true I suppose," remarked Hermione. Harry lied down on the bed, stretching and staring at the ceiling. He then started thinking about his fifth year at Hogwarts. How Umbridge had treated him, stripping every single happiness he had at Hogwarts. How he couldn't play Quidditch anymore, unable to see Hagrid, their horrible lessons, the attitude she had about the Unforgivables and towards Harry in general.
"Wait, whatever happened to Umbridge?" Harry spoke up, wondering.
"Harry? D-do you remember your fifth year now?"
"You could say that," Harry replied.
"Well, she's in Azkaban because of her using an Unforgivable, the Cruciatus Curse on you when you were locked up in Azkaban, and using the Blood quills for detentions. Apparently that was banned two hundred years ago."
"You're saying you didn't know everything?" Ron asked, amazed.
"Oh Ron, there's so much to learn you know!" said Hermione, annoyed. "But yes, she's in Azkaban," she said with a satisfied smile.
"Good, otherwise I would get revenge and kill her," he said, sounding serious, but then added. "Joking of course."
"I hope you are Harry," Hermione said sternly.
"Yeah, we don't want you back there. It was the worst two weeks of our lives. And of course, best two weeks of Malfoy's life. It was awful," Ginny remarked.
"What happened?"
"The way he was boasting around the school. How he was saying that Harry had always belonged at Azkaban. He treated us worse than shit," Ginny replied.
"Ginny!" exclaimed Hermione. "But she's right, awful that Malfoy."
Harry didn't realize that he was clutching his fists so tightly that it had started bleeding and only until Ron pointed out that his hand was red.
"Harry, what's-- Mate! Your hands' bleeding!"
"Wha-oh so I am, well, I'll be back," with that Harry was glad to have an excuse to leave the room and went to the bathroom across the hall. He closed the door with a loud bang and winced slightly but then shrugged. 'Why do I even care? That Malfoy, how dare he,' Harry thought, washing his hands and saw that his nail cuts were really deep. "Ah bloody hell, that's just great." He put some balm that he found next to the sink on his cuts to make it better.
He then found some napkin and wrapped it around his hands and taped it together with some spell-o-tape in one of the cupboard in the bathroom. He then sat down on the cool floor, glad that there are some good locking charms on the door. One even had an anti-Alohomora charm on one of the locks. Harry sat there, thinking about his past. From his first memory, his mum dying and his father's last words.
To abuse at the Dursleys, of times when Dudley had bullied Harry. He remembered not having a single friend from kindergarten to the time he got the letter to Hogwarts. Hogwarts. There were so many memories of the good and bad. He hated how he was famous in the wizarding world, and that he was despised in the muggle world. How every year at Hogwarts, that having either directly or indirectly to do with Voldemort and his slaves.
Harry soon fell into a light doze, with those thoughts buzzing in his mind. Then the words of the prophecy fell into his mind and Harry felt even angrier. 'How dare that there had to be some prophecy about me!? Neville, why couldn't it be him and let me be normal for once?' Harry thought bitterly. 'Fine, only if Hogwarts is as bad as last year, I'm leaving.'
'What then? Where would I go? I could prepare to live as a muggle. To get away from Voldemort and everyone here. I'm sick of this.' Harry sighed. 'What about Ron and Hermione? Ginny even? Aren't they my friends? Well, of course they are, no one else except for the Weasleys, Remus, Sirius and some of my teachers see me not as a 'The-Boy-Who-Lived'. Still, would that outweigh the need to live as a normal person?'
Harry cursed himself, berating for those thoughts. 'Okay, fine, I'll start living normally after I finish Voldemort off. He won't stop killing people if I go into hiding. Ah bloody hell,' he banged the back of his head against the wall, frustrated. 'How I wish I can stay here until we can go to Hogwarts.' Then he remembered something else. His O.W.L.s, how did he do on them? Harry stood up against his will, and unlocked the door which took thirty seconds and found that everyone was shouting.
"GUYS! STOP SCREAMING!" Harry had to yell.
"Oh Harry, why did you lock yourself in there? It's nearly midnight!" Hermione said, nearly on the verge of tears.
"Did you use all of the lock on the door?" Remus asked, and Harry nodded. "Why'd you do that?"
"Would you bother my privacy otherwise?" Harry asked, walking past everyone. "Does anyone know where my O.W.L. results are? I had forgotten what they were."
"Oh, it's in your trunk-" Hermione began.
"Thank you, good night," Harry left into his room and searched his trunk for a certain parchment and found what he was looking for. He read the paper and it read:
Dear Mr. Potter,
Due to the Ordinary Wizarding Level examinations taken at Hogwarts of the year 1995. We are pleased to inform you of your O.W.L.s Please read the following grades you have received.
Charms - Exceeds Expectations
Transfiguration - Exceeds Expectations
Herbology - Outstanding
Defense Against the Dark Arts - Outstanding
Potions - Exceeds Expectations
Care of Magical Creatures - Outstanding
Astronomy - Acceptable
Divination - Poor
History of Magic - Dreadful
Highest score for Ordinary Wizarding Levels for past fifteen years.
Thank you for taking the examination.
Sincerely,
Teminsa Broake
Harry felt really please about his results. However he didn't do well as he had hoped on Potions. He dearly hoped that Professor Snape would let him continue potions. Though he seriously doubted it, then again, their relationship between themselves had improved dramatically. He hoped that Severus Snape would come by Grimmauld place soon. He stood up and left the room down the stairs to the kitchen.
Harry couldn't believe his luck, he found Professor Snape at one of the seats at the table. Harry nervously swallowed the building lump in his throat and approached Snape. "Er - Professor, Sir?" Snape looked up from his parchment to Harry, arching an eyebrow.
"Yes Potter?"
"I would understand if you refuse, but can you erm, take me into your Potions class? I - "
"I appreciate your boldness to ask me, did you receive an Exceeds Expectation did you not? I also would hate to have you in my class. However, according to how well you have been in my class recently as well as a certain Headmaster pleading me to take you in. So, yes, you may be in my class. I only hope you will be as good as you were at the end of the year," he paused. "And I also hope that Mr. Malfoy won't be in your Potions class. However it is not entirely my decision."
"Thank you sir, and what about Occulemency?"
"I believe that you have mastered the art of Occulemency. However, if you are interested, the offer to teach you Legillmency is available," Harry blanched at him.
"Sir?" Harry asked, wondering if he heard correctly.
"Me teaching you Legillmency," Snape repeated, sounding as though he was speaking to a two-year old.
"Of course Sir!" said Harry, hardly daring to believe that he would be receiving lessons in Legillmency. "Sir, can I ask a question?"
"You may."
"Why are you offering this? Clearly you seem to be the type that doesn't want me to nose around."
"That, would be the exact reason. I only hope this lesson will teach you not to nose in other people's privacy. As well as your… gift in learning things yourself."
"I see, well thank you sir," Harry said.
"Nevermind that, however, I heard that you had snuck into Knockturn Alley, is this true?"
"Er - Yes sir," Harry replied uncomfortably.
"What for? I also heard you bought a book."
"That's correct Professor," said Harry, looking away from his Potions Professor.
"May I see it?" The question seemed so simple and easy, yet Harry hesitated, looking back at his teacher. Debating whether or not to let him look at the book. He had been reading a few chapters already and the information about them was really rich.
"Ah, well, er - of course Professor, I - let me go get it," Harry ran out of the room, and went up the stairs and into his room. Pulling out a book from a hidden space in his bedside cupboard and ran back downstairs into the kitchen. He set the book on the table carefully.
"Ah, it's 'Dark Magical Signatures and their curses'," Snape said, tracing the title on the book.
"Do you know it Professor?"
"Yes, a rare book, how you managed to have a hand on this, I don't know," said Snape, flipping every few pages and scanning.
"Remus said it was rare too, but… it was cheap," Snape snapped up at Harry.
"How much?"
"A-a Galleon and two knuts," Harry replied, hesitating. Snape's eyes narrowed, and looked back at the book.
"What store?"
"It was Cardiac & Yivagical store."
"You have got to be lying Potter," growled Snape.
"N-no sir," Snape studied Harry for short while and sighed.
"I guess you aren't, if that is true, then that is very foolish. Buying a book from that store!"
"What is so special about that store?" asked Harry.
"Besides me, and Dumbledore, the owners of the store are very adept at Legillmency. There is a chance that they performed that on you."
"Or maybe on Mark," Harry added.
"He was with you?" he arched an eyebrow. "Nevermind that, has anything happened to you from reading the book? Like hexes or curses or any sort?" Harry shook his head, and Snape seem to have frowned or perhaps looked really frustrated. "Mmm, perhaps, how did you find this book?"
"They erm.. asked me only two questions and they found the book for me, offering to sell it for a galleon and two Knuts."
"Strange, well, may I borrow this book? I won't destroy the book without your permission. I'll return this before you come back to Hogwarts, fair?" Harry nodded.
"Yes sir," said Harry, sighing and annoyed. Snape seem to catch the annoy part of Harry.
"Potter, I am only curious, not concerned for your welfare. I know how well you can escape. . . death."
Harry nodded, feeling a bit better. 'At least someone on the light side didn't worry about him!' Harry thought happily. "Thank you sir, you have no idea how much that means to me Professor."
Severus Snape waved him off with his hand, standing up and picking the book up. "Don't thank me, however I hate to admit, I am a selfish man."
"But sir, no one on our side has ever thought the same way as you do. I hate when everyone has to worry about me, and how I had gone through more than most wizards do. Professor, I don't know how you would take this, but on some levels, we both could be relate," Snape stared hard at Harry, seemingly to contemplate something. "Plus sir, I have told you how I felt about being famous. I never wanted to be, and never will. Why would someone like to be famous when your parents have sacrificed for your life?"
Snape stared hard at Harry still, but apparently speechless and opened his mouth to speak.
"Well, Potter, you never cease to. . . amuse me," then he winced and cursed, as well as Harry's forehead feeling like it was splitting into two.
"Augh," Harry pressed his scar with his hand. "You too professor?"
"Yes, he's calling us. I must go," then with that, he disapparated. Harry realized that he had taken his book with him as well. He hoped that Snape would return okay. Feeling too restless, he sat down in one of the chairs next to Snape's emptied one. He rested his head on his hand with his elbow on the table.
Examining the seat that Professor Snape had left only moments ago. He remembered the relationship between himself and Snape from year one to near end of year five. Ending when he, himself accidentally found Snape's memory of his father at Hogwarts twenty years previously. Since then, their relationship had been mutual. He didn't know how Snape would act with other students around. Only when he was alone with him, he had treated him much better than he had done in the past.
Harry sat there, watching the empty seat and hadn't noticed someone entering the room until the person was in front of Harry. He snapped up and found Sirius standing there and arched an eyebrow in curiosity.
"Evening Harry," he said, sitting down in the seat that Harry had been staring at.
"Hullo Sirius," he returned the greeting.
"Why aren't you sleeping in your bed? Or in the kitchen? You hungry?" Sirius asked.
"I was - I was talking to Professor Snape," replied Harry.
"What did the git do this time?" demanded Sirius.
"Sirius, we had an intelligent conversation, stop worrying, bloody hell, does anyone else not worried about me?"
"You, erm, you had an intelligent conversation with Snape?"
"That would be right Sirius, anyways, he was summoned, and I'm just worried about him. Seeing that my scar hurts as well when it comes to summons. Happens like once a week or so."
"Oh, that must have to suck," remarked Sirius, patting Harry on the shoulder. "Well, don't stay up all night."
"Well, I might at this rate," said Harry, crossing his arms. Sirius sighed, and stood up.
"Alright Harry, just because I will be your legal guardian and as a godfather, I won't bug you for not sleeping. I just would like to know what's going on."
"Oh, well, I suppose, well, Snape and I were just talking about my O.W.Ls results, and well, I received a Potions grade the one I didn't want and asked him if he could put me in his class."
"What!? Are you crazy, that's. . . suicide!"
"Look at me, I survived five years in potions, I should be fine in the next two years. Anyways, we talked about doing some. . . Legillmency lessons. Also of other various of things that are of no concern to anyone else but me and Snape. I .. I hope you can understand that.." He wasn't ready to reveal that Snape had looked over the book, talking about it and his feelings and view on being famous in the wizarding world.
"I hate to admit it, and it's against my moral code, but for this once, I won't persuade you to tell me what else you two had been talking about. Well, it's late, I'm going to sleep. Night Harry," with that, he left the room. Harry sat there, now have to stare at the seat that Professor Snape sat in, then his godfather, Sirius sat in there as well.
His mind drifted off to the spies that were mentioned earlier. Snape was the spy for the light, and now there's someone as a spy for the dark. He hoped that Snape was on their side. Voldemort had known that Snape is spying for them i'against'/i the light. He hoped that the spy wasn't someone in the order. If it was, then Snape's cover would be blown. He didn't want that at all, and he looked at his watch and realized that it was close to five. He knew that the sunrise would come up soon. Harry stood up and filled a cup of water and heating it for himself. He then poured some tea into his cup and let it sift for awhile.
After the tea was cooled down a bit, he drank some himself, drawing apart the curtains, and he watched the sunrise as he drank the tea. 'Sunrise represents new day, perhaps new life as well?' Harry wondered as he watched the sun creeping over the horizon. He watched as the sun was well above the edge of the earth that Harry could see. Then he heard a voice behind him and turned around.
"So, have you slept at all?" Harry knew the voice, and belonged to Professor Snape. Harry slowly shook his head. "Gryffindor pride," Snape scoffed.
Harry only glared at him but only softly, and turned his eyes back to the sunrise. "Sir, how'd. . . the meeting go?"
"It went fine, as everyone here already knows, there are indeed spies among us. I still haven't been able to find out whom it is. I fear I would be too late if I find out who is spying."
Harry nodded, sipping a bit of his tea, which was rapidly getting cold. He stared at the cup and looked back at his professor. He watched him, his cold stare looking straight back at him.
"I know you will find out soon Professor. You just have to talk to the right people. Like the Malfoys for example."
"Oh sure, I can go up to them and ask who is spying against the dark,' he said with sarcasm evident in his voice.
"I don't mean that, just talk to them about something else, and then work your way to that question, directly or even indirectly Professor." Severus looked at him again, more intently than a glare. His face fell into a thoughtful look, or so Harry thought it was. He then stroked his chin with his left hand, his right hand holding the left arm. The two didn't speak for a moment or two until Snape spoke again.
"I suppose that would work, no wonder why everyone keeps saying how . . . intelligent you are," said Professor Snape, turning to the window to watch the sun's progress through the sky.
"T-thank you sir," he also watched the sun. " . . . You know, earlier, I was thinking that sunrise can represent a new life . . ." Snape arched an eyebrow, looking at Harry.
"What are you saying?"
"I just want a new life, where no one knows about me or my scar. You said yourself that you're a se-selfish person. I suppose this is being selfish isn't it? I would be away from Ron and Hermione . . . and everyone else here."
Snape nodded, looking a bit tensed. "I suppose," he said stiffly. "I guess your reason is better than anyone else I've known who wanted to hide. Though, all of them, including yours, are cowards. You don't see me hiding away from the life I had lived do you?" Harry shook his head no. "Exactly, I suggest you to think, I daresay you do have two years to decide."
'Or sooner than that,' thought Harry. "Well sir, I think I'll take a short nap. I'm sure Mrs. Weasley and Ron will wake me up in about half an hour. I'm assuming you'll be gone by then?" Snape nodded, turning to the door out of the kitchen. "Alright, bye Professor."
"Good bye Potter," he said.
"Sir?" Harry asked after a moment thinking, and Snape stopped walking. "Can you call me by my first name? I can still call you Professor and Sir. Unless with your permission?"
"Of course, Harry, you may call me by Severus. But only in private. Also, that book you let me borrow, it looks very interesting. Well, good night,"
"Oh, er, right Si-Severus, good bye," he smiled, but Severus didn't return it, instead, he left the kitchen and heard a soft pop of apparation. Harry then went into the living room to take a nap on the couch. Then only thirty minutes later, did he hear his name being called.
"Harry, morning dear," Mrs. Weasley said.
"M-morning," yawned Harry, having only slept for good twenty minutes. Then Ron came down the stairs, looking a bit worried but found Harry on the couch. "Morning Ron."
"Mate, don't scare me like that," Ron said breathlessly, and Harry rolled his eyes. Remembering the conversation about the people that are constantly worrying about Harry.
"So sorry Ron, but I was up before you were," Harry said with satire evident in his voice.
"Sorry, it's just that -"
"I know Ron, I tend to get myself into trouble. No wait, they find me," Harry gibed.
"Harry, stop biting my head off!" he stormed out of the living room into the kitchen. Not at all hungry, he went up to the room where Buckbeak is. Granted that Sirius was pardoned, Buckbeak wasn't and Hagrid had known that Buckbeak was here hiding at the Grimmauld place. Needless to say, he was very happy to see his Hippogriff again. He bowed and looked at Buckbeak, doing a ritual of the animal. He bowed back and Harry walked over to him and petted him on the beak. Harry stared at him, the beauty was just amazing. The sleek coats of feathers and furs, the beak a very shiny yellow and smooth. The eyes were brown and with sharpness to them.
"Hey Buckbeak, how are you?" he got a flap of wing for an answer. "I know you would love to fly, but until we get you to be pardoned. I know it would be soon, seeing that Mr. Weasley's the new Minister of Magic. Hmm, I wonder how he got to be a Minister though. Whatever happened to Fudge? Not that I care about him anyways. He doesn't care about creatures like you, I hope you can fly again Buckbeak." He flapped his wings again, though more sadly.
Harry sat next to Buckbeak, leaning against the feather-y body. He soon fell into another light sleep, dreaming about flying on Buckbeak and slaying dragons with a long broadsword. He felt more peaceful than he ever had since before the night at the Department of Mysteries.