"Who?", Harry asked praying it was not some one he knew.
"Emmeline Vance! She used to be at Grimauld place all the time" Hermione sobbed and buried her face into Ron's chest, a look of panic struck his face.
"How'd it happen?" Harry asked as he put on his glasses.
"She-they-the death-killing-torture," is all Hermione could say in between sobs.
"She was on duty at a post for the Order and 5 death eaters stormed in hoping to find more then one guard, they tortured her with the crutaicous curse for an hour, finally, they just killed her" Ron sad softly praying not to upset Hermione any more than already.
"Um, can you all get out for a second, I need to erm, change." Harry asked. Hermione nodded with her tear glistening face and Ron escorted her out. As Harry got dressed, the idea of those animals torturing from what Harry saw a kind woman. He quickly vanished the thought from his mind and head down stairs. When he arrived at the table with Ron, Hermione, and Ginny, Hermione and Ginny were jabbering about the advance N.E.W.T. class.
"She seems quite happier" Harry thought aloud.
"I cast a cheering charm on her, I feel awful about Mrs. Vance, but Hermione, whew..." Ron exclaimed.
"Mr. Weasley, where's Professor Lupin? I didn't hear him come in last night." Harry asked.
"Last night was a full moon; Remus will not be here for a few days so he can take care of himself." Harry nodded understandably.
"Everyone ready to go to your class?," Mr. Weasley asked enthusiastically. With a strong yes from everyone they were off. There was not much talking on the way there; it seemed Ron's cheering charm had begun to wear off because Hermione was returning to a lesser form of her previous state.
"Well kid's, I'll be back in 2 and a half hours." Mr. Weasley said as he headed in the direction of the twins store.
"Hey guys!" Brianna said happily.
"Shall we begin?" She more instructed than asked. For the next half an hour they repeated what they did the day before. By the end of that half hour Ginny could go with out using any words, only it was a bit of a struggle.
"Okay, today, we will be working on apparating in an area far away, which you can not see." She explained.
"Your target will be to your rooms at the Leaky Cauldron. When you apparate to farther distances, it takes longer for you to get there, so you need to keep in mind your destination longer" she told them.
"I suggest you use both your wands and the spell aloud the first time, who would like to go first, ahh, yes Ron come on forward. Ron did so and breathed in deeply, and out again. "Binkinus aparatus" Ron shouted, he lingered for a slight movement and once again, Crack! He was gone. 10 minutes later Ron reappeared smelling of Fire-whiskey.
"Ron what happened!" Brianna inquired.
"Heh, I apparated onto the pub counter in Leaky Cauldron." Ron chuckled.
"That's very impressive Ron, on your first try you came very close, very good!" she announced.
"Next? Okay Ginny step right up and give it a go!" Brianna said enthusiastically. Ginny repeated the same steps as Ron, except after she disappeared, she returned only 3 minutes after.
"So, Ginny, where did you land?" Brianna asked.
"On my bed," Ginny informed her.
"I'm not surprised you're a natural at this Ginny very good, very good indeed. Hermione went next, she returned about 5 minutes after she disappeared looking disgusted.
"Where did you land?" Brianna asked once again.
"In the hag's room next to mine's closet" Hermione said with a pained expression.
"That is some bad luck" Ron snorted. Hermione glared at him and his smile quickly disappeared. Finally, Harry went, less then 2 minutes after he left he returned with almost the same expression as Hermione.
"Well Harry, where did your little adventure take you?" Brianna asked politely.
"To the house elves showering quarters" Harry choked. Ron all most died laughing, and Brianna also had a hard time stifling her laughs.
"That's quite unfor-." She couldn't finish her sentence she too burst out laughing soon, Harry joined them once he got past himself. Hermione looked appalled.
"That's terrible Harry you must have frightened them!" Hermione squealed this made them all laugh harder even Ginny began laughing and by the end, Hermione was the only one in the room not almost crying from laughter. For the next hour they continued this, after a few more embarrassing appearances they eventually all got it down fine.
"Relay time, this time we'll do teams" Brianna announced cheerfully.
"Shall we make it battle of the sexes or Weasley's against Harry and Hermione?" Brianna surveyed.
"Battle of the sexes it is so Ron, Harry, you line up here, Ginny, Hermione you line up here." She pointed out to columns of boxes, 5 ft in between each box, these boxes were about 2 by 2 ft small than they ones from the other day and there were 8 boxes in each column.
"Today, the rules will be pretty much the same; the first racers from each team will go box to box to box etc until they reach the end, then you go in reverse, it will be different because I'm sure you've noticed the boxes are a bit smaller, so instead of envisioning the box, u need to see the middle of the box, if u land out side the box, u must go back one and continue, does everyone understand?" they all nodded. To start it off, Harry and Ginny would be going head to head.
"Go on 3! 1...2...3" and with the pronunciation of 3, they were off. For the first few squares, they were neck, but on the 5th square Ginny landed out side of her box and went back 1 box.
1 HOUR LATER
"What the hell?" Harry said dead in his tracks in front of the Leaky Cauldron.
"How did I get here, a few seconds ago we were relaying and Ginny just got sent back a square!" Harry said worriedly.
"Harry...that was like an hour ago, you completely smoked her, you were going wicked fast man, faster then anyone I've ever seen someone apparate, we beat them buy literally about a minute. Brianna said you were the fastest student she'd ever had, the look on her face was priceless." Ron explained.
"You don't remember that Harry? I mean you did seem a bit...I guess you would call it distant, but it wasn't that noticeable" Hermione said nervously.
"You should tell Dumbledore right away, Harry, in my first year, when You-know-who possessed me, I would not remember large portions of time." Ginny piped in gloomily. That thought hadn't occurred to Harry. 'It's him. I know it is. What else could it be?' Harry thought. That thought haunted his dreams that night, he dreamt of horrible reasons why Voldemort would possess, horrible uses he could put Harry up to while un aware of his actions.
That morning, the first thing he did was wake Hedwig and give her a letter addressed to Dumbledore.
'Dear Dumbledore,
I need to speak with you, it is extremely important, I will say why
In the letter incase of interception, please, hurry.
Sincerely,
Harry James Potter.
"Hedwig, take this to Dumbledore quickly, ok girl?" he instructed his bird as he fed her an owl treat.
As he began walking down the stairs he toppled over Ron and Hermione in full sprint going up the stairs, when the three arose from their fall at the bottom of the staircase, neither Ron nor Hermione seemed to be affected.
"Harry! It's magnificent! Splendid! Unbelievable! Miraculous! Fan-."
"What is she talking about Ron?" Harry interrupted before Hermione could finish.
"It's Sirius!" Ron said as excitedly as Hermione.
"He's alive! He's in St. Mungo's right now! Dad is going to take us to see him at noon! Can you believe it Harry?? Can you believe it??" Ron said running short of breath near the end. 'Can it be? Is it possible? Can he be alive? Is this a cruel dream, because if it is I swear...?' Harry thought.
"It's true Harry, it's true!" a teary eyed Remus joined in. Harry embraced Remus in a hug.
"Why can't we go now?" Harry pleaded.
"The medi-witches are running tests on him trying to learn more about the veil, also making sure he's not carrying any diseases back from the veil, we'll be able to see him soon enough though, for now, just concentrate on your apparation lessons, your test is in three days, pay attention and work hard" Remus choked, his face glistening with tears of joy.
"Good morning Harry! That is excellent news about Sirius, really superb!" Brianna greeted him. After their routine half an hour of warm up, they were all able to apparate with out words, Ron especially ecstatic about it. Today's lesson was doing what they had already done, only they weren't aloud to use words or wand movements.
Harry felt like this lesson would never end, but after 2 hours dragged by, Harry almost sprinted out of the shop to meet Remus half way on his way to pick them up.
"Ready to go are we, Harry?" Remus asked trying to mask his anticipation, but Harry could tell, he was just as anxious as Harry. Harry had forgotten the others remained at the shop so the ventured back to McGonagall's to get Ron, Hermione and Ginny.
"Mr. Lupin, I presume you will be going to St. Mungo's immediately?" Brianna asked in a very stiff and rigid tone Harry had never heard her use.
"Yes that is in fact true" Remus retorted in an equally stiff and rigid tone.
"Well then, I believe it would be good practice for the children to apparate there" she explained her tone unwavering.
"Thank you for the suggestion Miss McGonagall." Lupin said in an empty tone. As they were walking away, Harry saw a pained expression on Remus' face.
"What was that all about professor?" Hermione asked most curiusoly.
"Old girlfriend" he muttered.
"Everyone ready? Ok then wands out, yes I know Ron, very unfashionable, but far less unfashionable then having only your leg to greet Sirius with and the rest of you rolling down Diagon Alley" Ron's ears turned magenta and his facial expression quickly changed.
"I'll go last, Harry, you go first." Remus instructed, and with that, one by one they all disappeared and reappeared right in fornt of St. Mungo's. They all seemed out of breath due to that was the longest apparation they'd ever done, though it was flawless, they were extremely tired. They approached an automated box Harry recalled seeing when they came to visit Mr. Weasley when he was bitten by Voldemorts snake. This reminded Harry,
"Remus, where's everyone else, surely we're not the only ones from the order that wan to visit Sirius?" Harry inquired, almost angry the entire wizarding world wasn't trying to break down the door to see Sirius.
"Order business Harry, that all I can say, but I'm sure they will come and see him, we're not the only ones who love him Harry" Remus smiled.
"Who are you here to visit?" the box asked in an unfaltering tone.
"Sirius Black" Remus said almost doubling over in joy and excitement, he looked down at Harry, who had the most joyous face seen on this earth.
"That will be the third floor, have a nice day!" the box said unenthusiastically. With that the door opened and they strode into the lobby in search of the stairs, after about 3 minutes of intense search, they found them, Harry immediately went into a full sprint up the stairs, and to his surprise, Remus was right next to him, which was really unlike Remus but Harry supposed he made an exception for the resurrection of his supposed dead friends.
By the time they reached their destination on the hellishly long stair case they were panting but didn't care as they continued through the doors, but as they noticed they strange looks they were receiving they slowed down to a walking pace. All of a sudden Remus remembered, he hadn't an idea in hell which room was Sirius' and if his memory was correct, there were about 2 hundred rooms on the floor, so he stopped to ask a doctor.
"Excuse me sir, but can you please direct me to Mr. Sirius Black's room?" Remus asked courteously but Harry knew that tone and he knew it couldn't be farther from sincere but he didn't really care. As the man pointed in the direction and said the room number they were off once again in a light jog so not to run over any little old witches or feeble old wizards. Then the reached it, Sirius, room.
"Finally!" Harry said exasperatedly. With a deep breath, Harry looked up at Remus who had the expression that if Harry didn't open the door that instant, Remus might break it down. Harry sensed this and opened the door quickly
"Sirius!" Harry said as he rushed over and gave his godfather a hug.
"What's your problem Harry, you too Remus, I've been gone for what, 4 days?" Sirius said confused.
"4 days? 4 days? You must be kidding me Padfoot, it's been over 4 weeks old friend!" Remus snorted embracing his old friend when he rose from his cot.
"Oh, those damn medi-witches just did all these tests, pokes and prods, they have confirmed my suspicions" he said gloomily.
"What is it Sirius?" Harry gasped.
"They have no idea in hell what they're talking about" he laughed.
"So what's been happening since I've been umm, absent?" Sirius asked tiredly as he plopped back down on to his cot. Harry began to explain about his apparation lessons, his O.W.L. marks, Emmeline Vance, and when he started saying something about Fudge, Sirius interjected.
"What a prick that Fudge is! Do you believe he was here today and tried to take me to Azkaban! I guess he's trying to do anything he can to prove himself worthy and I guess though my names been cleared, thanks to Dumbledore's persuasion, he still feels me to be a threat." Sirius snorted with disdain.
"Are you serious?? Next time I transform I'll be sure to try it around that bastard Fudge!!" Remus said fumingly.
"Ahh, old Moony, always on the up and up, eh Harry?" Sirius laughed.
"So when can you leave Sirius?" Harry asked inquisitively.
"They say I'm free to go, but mind if we stop at Ollivander's first? My wand didn't seem to make it back from where ever I came from. "Sirius asked thoughtfully.
"Of course Sirius, but first, there are some others who'd like to say hello, come on in guys," with that cue, Hermione, Ron, and Ginny all walked in single fil, Harry had completely forgot they were here, they all shared some sort of kind sentiment with Sirius, especially Hermione, who sobbed into an extremely uncomfortable Sirius Black's chest, which caused the rest of his visitors to laugh.
"Well, if we want to get you a wand, we better hurry up, the shop closes in 15 minutes, shall we apparate?" Remus asked.
"Sounds good, I'd like to see how these guys do anyway" Sirius winked at Harry, and with that, Harry and Ron apparated, and Ginny and Hermione followed in suit.
"They grow up fast don't they Moony?" and before Remus could respond, Sirius was gone with a loud crack.
"Where's Ron Harry?" They all asked.
"I don't" Harry was suddenly interrupted by loud crashes and bangs across the street.
"Sorry! So sorry it was an accident" They could hear Ron's voice tremble during his apologies and they all laughed as Ron came out smelling distinctly like once again, Fire-whiskey.
"Damn, mum flipped out last time when I came home smelling like this, she wouldn't even let me or Ginny explain, she's going to murder me" Ron said dreadfully, causing them to laugh even harder.
"Wait a minute, Remus isn't here either, what's taking him so long?" Sirius said suddenly aware of his friends absence. Before they could ponder more there was another loud crack.
"Thanks guys, I've just been, as the muggles say, torn a new one, the St. Mungo's director just gave me the loudest, angriest, lecture I've seen or heard of about the dangers of apparating around the frail and feeble." Remus said, obviously mad but calming down quickly. Everyone stifled their laughs because they knew that would result in a severe tong lashing.
"Anyway, too the wand shop we go!" Remus said, trying to forget that ordeal and move on.
"Ah, Mr. Black, I wondered whether I'd be seeing you again, well, shall we get started?" Mr. Ollivander said, all of this with his back turned to the door.
"Good to see you Mr. Ollivander, it brings back memories of my first time here" Sirius said reminiscing.
"How many times do you think you've said that to me in this store in pursuit of a replacement wand Mr. Black?" Mr. Ollivander said some what agitated.
"This will be lucky number 8" Sirius said cheerily, taking note of the wands sales men's agitation.
"Well, please try and take better care, will you?" Ollivander said coolly. Sirius gave a nod to Mr. Ollivander and a wink to the rest of them.
"Well then, shall we pick you a winner as they say?" Mr. Ollivander said. When they found a wand that suited Sirius Mr. Ollivander gave an eerie smirk.
"Mr. Black, this wand contains the fang of a werewolf. That exact werewolf is in the room with us." He said dryly.
"Moony, I never knew you were giving your teeth to the werewolf tooth fairy!" Sirius said, pretending to be astonished. Remus gave a sarcastic laugh and said:
"I bet you also didn't know that the tooth of a werewolf and the tooth of a vampire in wands is a very powerful combination" Remus smiled to himself approvingly.
"Actually professor, for the two to be potent with one another, the plant of wolfs bane must be added to the mix" Hermione added. Lupin pretended not to hear a word of it.
"Anyway, we better head back to Grimauld place, it's getting dark, and I'm damn well tired" Remus said with a yawn. Harry agreed, anxious to get back to the old musty house.
"We'll have to cook ourselves, Molly and Arthur are out on order business" Remus said gloomily.
"That's ok, mom has been teaching me how to cook lately" Ginny said happy to offer her assistance.
"Well that is that than" Sirius laughed patting her on the head softly. With a bit more light conversation they all agreed apparating would be easiest. They all apparated, this time with out flaw, at the end of the street the house laid upon. They all walked down the street, Harry and Sirius enchanting a bush to sing "Blow the Man Down" Which was almost immediately put a stop to by Hermione. After this, Sirius enchanted a pine cone to hit Harry in the back, this started an all out pine cone war, after 10 minutes of pine cones flying across the street they continued to 12 Grimauld place. When they reached the house they saw the most vile thing many of them had see, there, from the large oak tree in the yard, hung the body of 5 people, in the middle, Emmeline Vance, on both side wha they assumed were muggles.
"Oh my god!" Hermione cried.
"Glad to have you back cousin black." A woman smirked as she stepped from behind the tree accompanied by Lucius Malfoy and another death eater.
"The dog has risen from the grave" Lucius Malfoy sneered.
"Emmeline Vance! She used to be at Grimauld place all the time" Hermione sobbed and buried her face into Ron's chest, a look of panic struck his face.
"How'd it happen?" Harry asked as he put on his glasses.
"She-they-the death-killing-torture," is all Hermione could say in between sobs.
"She was on duty at a post for the Order and 5 death eaters stormed in hoping to find more then one guard, they tortured her with the crutaicous curse for an hour, finally, they just killed her" Ron sad softly praying not to upset Hermione any more than already.
"Um, can you all get out for a second, I need to erm, change." Harry asked. Hermione nodded with her tear glistening face and Ron escorted her out. As Harry got dressed, the idea of those animals torturing from what Harry saw a kind woman. He quickly vanished the thought from his mind and head down stairs. When he arrived at the table with Ron, Hermione, and Ginny, Hermione and Ginny were jabbering about the advance N.E.W.T. class.
"She seems quite happier" Harry thought aloud.
"I cast a cheering charm on her, I feel awful about Mrs. Vance, but Hermione, whew..." Ron exclaimed.
"Mr. Weasley, where's Professor Lupin? I didn't hear him come in last night." Harry asked.
"Last night was a full moon; Remus will not be here for a few days so he can take care of himself." Harry nodded understandably.
"Everyone ready to go to your class?," Mr. Weasley asked enthusiastically. With a strong yes from everyone they were off. There was not much talking on the way there; it seemed Ron's cheering charm had begun to wear off because Hermione was returning to a lesser form of her previous state.
"Well kid's, I'll be back in 2 and a half hours." Mr. Weasley said as he headed in the direction of the twins store.
"Hey guys!" Brianna said happily.
"Shall we begin?" She more instructed than asked. For the next half an hour they repeated what they did the day before. By the end of that half hour Ginny could go with out using any words, only it was a bit of a struggle.
"Okay, today, we will be working on apparating in an area far away, which you can not see." She explained.
"Your target will be to your rooms at the Leaky Cauldron. When you apparate to farther distances, it takes longer for you to get there, so you need to keep in mind your destination longer" she told them.
"I suggest you use both your wands and the spell aloud the first time, who would like to go first, ahh, yes Ron come on forward. Ron did so and breathed in deeply, and out again. "Binkinus aparatus" Ron shouted, he lingered for a slight movement and once again, Crack! He was gone. 10 minutes later Ron reappeared smelling of Fire-whiskey.
"Ron what happened!" Brianna inquired.
"Heh, I apparated onto the pub counter in Leaky Cauldron." Ron chuckled.
"That's very impressive Ron, on your first try you came very close, very good!" she announced.
"Next? Okay Ginny step right up and give it a go!" Brianna said enthusiastically. Ginny repeated the same steps as Ron, except after she disappeared, she returned only 3 minutes after.
"So, Ginny, where did you land?" Brianna asked.
"On my bed," Ginny informed her.
"I'm not surprised you're a natural at this Ginny very good, very good indeed. Hermione went next, she returned about 5 minutes after she disappeared looking disgusted.
"Where did you land?" Brianna asked once again.
"In the hag's room next to mine's closet" Hermione said with a pained expression.
"That is some bad luck" Ron snorted. Hermione glared at him and his smile quickly disappeared. Finally, Harry went, less then 2 minutes after he left he returned with almost the same expression as Hermione.
"Well Harry, where did your little adventure take you?" Brianna asked politely.
"To the house elves showering quarters" Harry choked. Ron all most died laughing, and Brianna also had a hard time stifling her laughs.
"That's quite unfor-." She couldn't finish her sentence she too burst out laughing soon, Harry joined them once he got past himself. Hermione looked appalled.
"That's terrible Harry you must have frightened them!" Hermione squealed this made them all laugh harder even Ginny began laughing and by the end, Hermione was the only one in the room not almost crying from laughter. For the next hour they continued this, after a few more embarrassing appearances they eventually all got it down fine.
"Relay time, this time we'll do teams" Brianna announced cheerfully.
"Shall we make it battle of the sexes or Weasley's against Harry and Hermione?" Brianna surveyed.
"Battle of the sexes it is so Ron, Harry, you line up here, Ginny, Hermione you line up here." She pointed out to columns of boxes, 5 ft in between each box, these boxes were about 2 by 2 ft small than they ones from the other day and there were 8 boxes in each column.
"Today, the rules will be pretty much the same; the first racers from each team will go box to box to box etc until they reach the end, then you go in reverse, it will be different because I'm sure you've noticed the boxes are a bit smaller, so instead of envisioning the box, u need to see the middle of the box, if u land out side the box, u must go back one and continue, does everyone understand?" they all nodded. To start it off, Harry and Ginny would be going head to head.
"Go on 3! 1...2...3" and with the pronunciation of 3, they were off. For the first few squares, they were neck, but on the 5th square Ginny landed out side of her box and went back 1 box.
1 HOUR LATER
"What the hell?" Harry said dead in his tracks in front of the Leaky Cauldron.
"How did I get here, a few seconds ago we were relaying and Ginny just got sent back a square!" Harry said worriedly.
"Harry...that was like an hour ago, you completely smoked her, you were going wicked fast man, faster then anyone I've ever seen someone apparate, we beat them buy literally about a minute. Brianna said you were the fastest student she'd ever had, the look on her face was priceless." Ron explained.
"You don't remember that Harry? I mean you did seem a bit...I guess you would call it distant, but it wasn't that noticeable" Hermione said nervously.
"You should tell Dumbledore right away, Harry, in my first year, when You-know-who possessed me, I would not remember large portions of time." Ginny piped in gloomily. That thought hadn't occurred to Harry. 'It's him. I know it is. What else could it be?' Harry thought. That thought haunted his dreams that night, he dreamt of horrible reasons why Voldemort would possess, horrible uses he could put Harry up to while un aware of his actions.
That morning, the first thing he did was wake Hedwig and give her a letter addressed to Dumbledore.
'Dear Dumbledore,
I need to speak with you, it is extremely important, I will say why
In the letter incase of interception, please, hurry.
Sincerely,
Harry James Potter.
"Hedwig, take this to Dumbledore quickly, ok girl?" he instructed his bird as he fed her an owl treat.
As he began walking down the stairs he toppled over Ron and Hermione in full sprint going up the stairs, when the three arose from their fall at the bottom of the staircase, neither Ron nor Hermione seemed to be affected.
"Harry! It's magnificent! Splendid! Unbelievable! Miraculous! Fan-."
"What is she talking about Ron?" Harry interrupted before Hermione could finish.
"It's Sirius!" Ron said as excitedly as Hermione.
"He's alive! He's in St. Mungo's right now! Dad is going to take us to see him at noon! Can you believe it Harry?? Can you believe it??" Ron said running short of breath near the end. 'Can it be? Is it possible? Can he be alive? Is this a cruel dream, because if it is I swear...?' Harry thought.
"It's true Harry, it's true!" a teary eyed Remus joined in. Harry embraced Remus in a hug.
"Why can't we go now?" Harry pleaded.
"The medi-witches are running tests on him trying to learn more about the veil, also making sure he's not carrying any diseases back from the veil, we'll be able to see him soon enough though, for now, just concentrate on your apparation lessons, your test is in three days, pay attention and work hard" Remus choked, his face glistening with tears of joy.
"Good morning Harry! That is excellent news about Sirius, really superb!" Brianna greeted him. After their routine half an hour of warm up, they were all able to apparate with out words, Ron especially ecstatic about it. Today's lesson was doing what they had already done, only they weren't aloud to use words or wand movements.
Harry felt like this lesson would never end, but after 2 hours dragged by, Harry almost sprinted out of the shop to meet Remus half way on his way to pick them up.
"Ready to go are we, Harry?" Remus asked trying to mask his anticipation, but Harry could tell, he was just as anxious as Harry. Harry had forgotten the others remained at the shop so the ventured back to McGonagall's to get Ron, Hermione and Ginny.
"Mr. Lupin, I presume you will be going to St. Mungo's immediately?" Brianna asked in a very stiff and rigid tone Harry had never heard her use.
"Yes that is in fact true" Remus retorted in an equally stiff and rigid tone.
"Well then, I believe it would be good practice for the children to apparate there" she explained her tone unwavering.
"Thank you for the suggestion Miss McGonagall." Lupin said in an empty tone. As they were walking away, Harry saw a pained expression on Remus' face.
"What was that all about professor?" Hermione asked most curiusoly.
"Old girlfriend" he muttered.
"Everyone ready? Ok then wands out, yes I know Ron, very unfashionable, but far less unfashionable then having only your leg to greet Sirius with and the rest of you rolling down Diagon Alley" Ron's ears turned magenta and his facial expression quickly changed.
"I'll go last, Harry, you go first." Remus instructed, and with that, one by one they all disappeared and reappeared right in fornt of St. Mungo's. They all seemed out of breath due to that was the longest apparation they'd ever done, though it was flawless, they were extremely tired. They approached an automated box Harry recalled seeing when they came to visit Mr. Weasley when he was bitten by Voldemorts snake. This reminded Harry,
"Remus, where's everyone else, surely we're not the only ones from the order that wan to visit Sirius?" Harry inquired, almost angry the entire wizarding world wasn't trying to break down the door to see Sirius.
"Order business Harry, that all I can say, but I'm sure they will come and see him, we're not the only ones who love him Harry" Remus smiled.
"Who are you here to visit?" the box asked in an unfaltering tone.
"Sirius Black" Remus said almost doubling over in joy and excitement, he looked down at Harry, who had the most joyous face seen on this earth.
"That will be the third floor, have a nice day!" the box said unenthusiastically. With that the door opened and they strode into the lobby in search of the stairs, after about 3 minutes of intense search, they found them, Harry immediately went into a full sprint up the stairs, and to his surprise, Remus was right next to him, which was really unlike Remus but Harry supposed he made an exception for the resurrection of his supposed dead friends.
By the time they reached their destination on the hellishly long stair case they were panting but didn't care as they continued through the doors, but as they noticed they strange looks they were receiving they slowed down to a walking pace. All of a sudden Remus remembered, he hadn't an idea in hell which room was Sirius' and if his memory was correct, there were about 2 hundred rooms on the floor, so he stopped to ask a doctor.
"Excuse me sir, but can you please direct me to Mr. Sirius Black's room?" Remus asked courteously but Harry knew that tone and he knew it couldn't be farther from sincere but he didn't really care. As the man pointed in the direction and said the room number they were off once again in a light jog so not to run over any little old witches or feeble old wizards. Then the reached it, Sirius, room.
"Finally!" Harry said exasperatedly. With a deep breath, Harry looked up at Remus who had the expression that if Harry didn't open the door that instant, Remus might break it down. Harry sensed this and opened the door quickly
"Sirius!" Harry said as he rushed over and gave his godfather a hug.
"What's your problem Harry, you too Remus, I've been gone for what, 4 days?" Sirius said confused.
"4 days? 4 days? You must be kidding me Padfoot, it's been over 4 weeks old friend!" Remus snorted embracing his old friend when he rose from his cot.
"Oh, those damn medi-witches just did all these tests, pokes and prods, they have confirmed my suspicions" he said gloomily.
"What is it Sirius?" Harry gasped.
"They have no idea in hell what they're talking about" he laughed.
"So what's been happening since I've been umm, absent?" Sirius asked tiredly as he plopped back down on to his cot. Harry began to explain about his apparation lessons, his O.W.L. marks, Emmeline Vance, and when he started saying something about Fudge, Sirius interjected.
"What a prick that Fudge is! Do you believe he was here today and tried to take me to Azkaban! I guess he's trying to do anything he can to prove himself worthy and I guess though my names been cleared, thanks to Dumbledore's persuasion, he still feels me to be a threat." Sirius snorted with disdain.
"Are you serious?? Next time I transform I'll be sure to try it around that bastard Fudge!!" Remus said fumingly.
"Ahh, old Moony, always on the up and up, eh Harry?" Sirius laughed.
"So when can you leave Sirius?" Harry asked inquisitively.
"They say I'm free to go, but mind if we stop at Ollivander's first? My wand didn't seem to make it back from where ever I came from. "Sirius asked thoughtfully.
"Of course Sirius, but first, there are some others who'd like to say hello, come on in guys," with that cue, Hermione, Ron, and Ginny all walked in single fil, Harry had completely forgot they were here, they all shared some sort of kind sentiment with Sirius, especially Hermione, who sobbed into an extremely uncomfortable Sirius Black's chest, which caused the rest of his visitors to laugh.
"Well, if we want to get you a wand, we better hurry up, the shop closes in 15 minutes, shall we apparate?" Remus asked.
"Sounds good, I'd like to see how these guys do anyway" Sirius winked at Harry, and with that, Harry and Ron apparated, and Ginny and Hermione followed in suit.
"They grow up fast don't they Moony?" and before Remus could respond, Sirius was gone with a loud crack.
"Where's Ron Harry?" They all asked.
"I don't" Harry was suddenly interrupted by loud crashes and bangs across the street.
"Sorry! So sorry it was an accident" They could hear Ron's voice tremble during his apologies and they all laughed as Ron came out smelling distinctly like once again, Fire-whiskey.
"Damn, mum flipped out last time when I came home smelling like this, she wouldn't even let me or Ginny explain, she's going to murder me" Ron said dreadfully, causing them to laugh even harder.
"Wait a minute, Remus isn't here either, what's taking him so long?" Sirius said suddenly aware of his friends absence. Before they could ponder more there was another loud crack.
"Thanks guys, I've just been, as the muggles say, torn a new one, the St. Mungo's director just gave me the loudest, angriest, lecture I've seen or heard of about the dangers of apparating around the frail and feeble." Remus said, obviously mad but calming down quickly. Everyone stifled their laughs because they knew that would result in a severe tong lashing.
"Anyway, too the wand shop we go!" Remus said, trying to forget that ordeal and move on.
"Ah, Mr. Black, I wondered whether I'd be seeing you again, well, shall we get started?" Mr. Ollivander said, all of this with his back turned to the door.
"Good to see you Mr. Ollivander, it brings back memories of my first time here" Sirius said reminiscing.
"How many times do you think you've said that to me in this store in pursuit of a replacement wand Mr. Black?" Mr. Ollivander said some what agitated.
"This will be lucky number 8" Sirius said cheerily, taking note of the wands sales men's agitation.
"Well, please try and take better care, will you?" Ollivander said coolly. Sirius gave a nod to Mr. Ollivander and a wink to the rest of them.
"Well then, shall we pick you a winner as they say?" Mr. Ollivander said. When they found a wand that suited Sirius Mr. Ollivander gave an eerie smirk.
"Mr. Black, this wand contains the fang of a werewolf. That exact werewolf is in the room with us." He said dryly.
"Moony, I never knew you were giving your teeth to the werewolf tooth fairy!" Sirius said, pretending to be astonished. Remus gave a sarcastic laugh and said:
"I bet you also didn't know that the tooth of a werewolf and the tooth of a vampire in wands is a very powerful combination" Remus smiled to himself approvingly.
"Actually professor, for the two to be potent with one another, the plant of wolfs bane must be added to the mix" Hermione added. Lupin pretended not to hear a word of it.
"Anyway, we better head back to Grimauld place, it's getting dark, and I'm damn well tired" Remus said with a yawn. Harry agreed, anxious to get back to the old musty house.
"We'll have to cook ourselves, Molly and Arthur are out on order business" Remus said gloomily.
"That's ok, mom has been teaching me how to cook lately" Ginny said happy to offer her assistance.
"Well that is that than" Sirius laughed patting her on the head softly. With a bit more light conversation they all agreed apparating would be easiest. They all apparated, this time with out flaw, at the end of the street the house laid upon. They all walked down the street, Harry and Sirius enchanting a bush to sing "Blow the Man Down" Which was almost immediately put a stop to by Hermione. After this, Sirius enchanted a pine cone to hit Harry in the back, this started an all out pine cone war, after 10 minutes of pine cones flying across the street they continued to 12 Grimauld place. When they reached the house they saw the most vile thing many of them had see, there, from the large oak tree in the yard, hung the body of 5 people, in the middle, Emmeline Vance, on both side wha they assumed were muggles.
"Oh my god!" Hermione cried.
"Glad to have you back cousin black." A woman smirked as she stepped from behind the tree accompanied by Lucius Malfoy and another death eater.
"The dog has risen from the grave" Lucius Malfoy sneered.