CHAPTER 13
"It looks like they're true." Remus told him the first day of break in the study hall room.
Harry stared, "How do you know?"
"Severus' arm has burned each time you've had a dream," Lupin began, "And Arthur said the ministry had been broken into—the room with the veil to be precise."
Harry sat down, hard. "So, Sirius is really…back?" he looked at Moony, "We've got to get him out of there!"
Lupin stopped pacing. "I know Tallon. I'm already working on it." Remus sat across from him. "You might not agree, but it's the only way I could get Dumbledore to agree. Severus knows where Sirius is probably being held. In a few days, probably two, Severus, Selena and I will go there and bring Sirius out then take him to Headquarters. You have to wait there."
"Why can't I go?" Harry demanded, "I know as much about that place as Snape does!"
Remus sighed. "I know you do Tallon, but Dumbledore won't let it happen unless you agree to wait at Headquarters."
Either Sirius gets rescued or he doesn't, Harry thought, I have to stay. "Alright, I'll wait there."
Lupin clapped him on the shoulder. "Thank you for understanding Tallon," he said quietly, "I'll go tell the headmaster."
Harry stayed at Hogwarts for two days, preparing ideas for his Christmas, doing homework and working on his shield spell. Finally, the day arrived. "Good luck Moony," Harry said quietly, "And be careful, I want you both back." If Harry hadn't chosen that moment to give Remus a hug, he would have seen the happiness in Lupin's eyes at those last words.
"Don't worry Tallon, I wont ever leave you. We'll come home and have a wonderful Christmas, I promise." He then left with Snape and Splikvin, to go and get Padfoot.
Once they were gone from sight, Dumbledore came over. "You may get your things Harry, then please return to the Great Hall."
"Yes Sir," Harry replied, and did as he was told like a 'good-little-boy'. He's in for a shock, Harry thought as Dumbledore portkeyed them both to Headquarters.
Harry's stay at Grimmauld Place began on December 13th, and he spent it up in the room he was staying in. Harry had no desire to wander through the gloomy house, or run into Kreatcher, as it only made him worry more about the rescue team. What if it was a trap? What if they were caught? If Snape didn't lead them to the right place, would they give up? Harry kept troubling thoughts such as those at bay by planning the minor details of his Christmas celebration, like the ornaments he wanted to put on his Christmas tree, the decorations he intended to put up, what gifts to get and for who, and what to serve for meals.
He busied himself with these for three days and seven hours—he counted—and rarely slept. On the fourth day, Harry fell asleep while working on his potions homework into a dreamless, but fitful sleep.
"Don't wake him just yet, Minerva, he needs his rest."
"Very well Albus. Merlin, it's so hard to believe he's truly back."
"Yes, it is. But I doubt he will react happily to the news that Severus was the main…" the voices faded, but Harry had heard enough to make him struggle to wake up—they'd come back. He groaned softly and pushed himself up from his now-ruined essay. He cleaned the ink off his face and looked around. Dumbledore and McGonagall had just left, he could hear them murmuring.
Heart thudding in his chest, Harry rushed over to the door and opened it as the two professors walked down the stairs. Harry waited until they were down, then slid down the banister. He ran past them into the living room, then froze. Sirius Black, his godfather, was lying on the couch, eyes open…and alive.
"Sirius?" Harry whispered, voice barely audible. There were cuts on Sirius' gaunt face, and his robes were ripped in places and spotted with what looked uncomfortably like blood.
The innocent convict looked at him. "Harry!" Harry rushed over and hugged his godfather, tears of joy fell from both wizards' eyes.
"It is you Sirius!"
Sirius chuckled, embracing Harry tighter. "The one and only. Merlin, I'm glad to see you."
Harry was barely able to speak, his throat had tightened. "How long did…did they hurt you for?"
"Not long enough to keep me away." Sirius replied. "Nice hair, by the way."
Harry smiled weakly, his face still pressed into Sirius' think shoulder. "Thanks. What about the others though?" he asked, "Are they okay?"
" 'Others'?" Sirius repeated, "You mean Remus and the other two people?" Harry nodded. "I'm not sure, I blacked out."
"I'm glad you're back," Harry said.
"Me too Harry, me too." Sirius sad up with a slight wince, so that Harry could join him on the couch, he kept one arm around his godson.
Snape entered the room. "Did you drink any potions?" he asked.
Sirius stiffened, but kept his voice bland. "None."
"Good, then normal healing methods will work on your leg and ribs."
Harry looked at the mentioned places and noticed some bloodstains. He quickly got out his wand and began to repair them. "Quite the healer," Sirius remarked Harry gave him a quick smile and continued his work.
"Have you seen the other two?" Snape asked.
Harry shook his head. "No Sir." Snape nodded and left immediately.
"Where's he going?" Sirius asked quietly.
"Probably to look for Moony and Professor Splikvin," Harry answered. "They were the other two people that helped save you. Professor Snape was the third."
"Hmm. Well, Healer Harry, why don't you tell me what's been going on around here?" Harry smiled, he couldn't of been happier to answer. He didn't mention his summer, but told Sirius how the school year had gone so for, from classes to quidditch practices and also about his new nickname. "I'll tell you where I got it later." Harry said, just before the doors burst open.
Molly, Arthur, Ginny, Ron, Bill, Charlie, the twins, Hermione and Snape all entered, filling the room up quickly. When the older Weasleys saw Sirius, they froze. Hermione and Ginny bombarded him with hugs. The male Weasleys all smiled and shook Sirius' hands, and even Mrs.Weasely gave him a hug.
"Lupin is at St.Mungos," Snape told them curtly, "He should be out by tomorrow at the earliest." He then left before anyone could ask him a question.
The crowd in the room thinned when the adults went into the dining room half an hour later for an Order meeting, though Fred and George stayed to tell Sirius about their joke shop. Harry talked to his friends quietly and eventually fell into a deep, peaceful sleep next to his godfather.
Harry slept late, past noon, and would have slept longer if the living room door hadn't opened. Harry opened his eyes, as Sirius woke as well. Coming into the room was a tired looking Remus, and an equally weary Splikvin.
"Moony!" Harry and Sirius exclaimed at the same time. Harry jumped up and gave his guardian a hug. "Hello Tallon," he said, ruffling his hair, and then looked at Sirius. "I'm glad you got back safe Padfoot."
Sirius grinned and hugged his fellow Marauder once Harry'd let go. "Same to you Moony." He then looked at Remus' companion, who was standing off to the side carefully observing the window. "You're Splikvin?"
She nodded. "Yes Sirius." She said, and shifted on her feet slightly.
Sirius looked at her closely, his own face brightened with reorganization. "Well, well, well! The friendly Slytherin Selena has returned!" She grinned and Sirius gave her a hug. "Why'd you disappear on us?" he asked, stepping back.
A shadow entered her already dark eyes, "Personal reasons. Glad you're back."
Sirius nodded, "It's good to see you again. You're teaching at Hogwarts?"
Splikvin grinned ruefully, "Yes, Dumbledore dragged me into it; after Remus and Harry dragged me out of Durmstrang of course." Sirius looked at the other two wizards and laughed; they grinned back in response.
Harry remained with the Order as they ate lunch, he sat between Remus and Sirius. When he finished eating, Harry talked to Sirius in the parlor room, "Well, I can't give any advice about the 'great beyond'," he joked, "Because I can't remember a thing."
"Didn't have the decency to leave us in peace, did you?" Snape sneered from the doorway.
Sirius' eyes flashed and he stood up. "Watch it Snivellus, you're still in my home!"
"I believe it's Lupin's now, isn't it? Besides, you said yourself you hated your family."
Sirius raised a fist to punch the other wizard, but Snape just pointed his wand at Sirius, who froze. "Not so brave after all, are you Black?"
"SHUT UP SNIVELLUS!" he shouted.
"Make me Black," Snape hissed and jabbed his wand into Sirius' chest. Harry stood frozen, he couldn't make his voice work, couldn't tell them to…
"STOP IT ALREADY!" someone shouted. They looked at the person who stood in the room—it wasn't Harry who'd shouted, but Ron.
The young Weasley's eyes were blazing as he glared at them and his hands were clenched.
"You are forgetting yourself, Mr.Weasley," Snape began.
"It's you who's bloody forgetting yourself!": Ron snapped. "Now SHUT UP and listen!" He continued to glare at Snape. "What is it with you?" he demanded, "Sirius just comes back, and he hasn't even said anything to you! But then you decide to just start taunting him like a stupid git!" Ron turned his menacing gaze on Sirius. "And you! He saved-your-LIFE! And you start calling him 'Snivellus'! Well you know what? He saved HARRY'S life too!" Ron now glared at both of them and they took an automatic step back. "It was like this last year too! And because of it," he pointed at Sirius, "you died! Harry was already angry because he wasn't being told ANYTHING," he jabbed a finger in Snape's direction,"and he was miserable with your stupid Occlumency 'lessons' and that idiotic woman Umbdrige! I'm not going to let that happen again just because you two can't get the hell along! So either you shut up and leave each other the bloody hell alone, or I'll make your lives a bloody living hell! GOT IT?" The room was dead silent, even though everyone else had appeared in the room. Ron continued to glare until Sirius lowered his fist and took a step back from Snape, then Ron looked at Snape who flinched slightly, then lowered his wand. "Good." Ron said, face flushed. "Now promise to leave each other the hell alone."
Reluctantly, the two much-older and much more experienced wizards obeyed and shook hands and quickly let go. "I suppose I do have to thank you for helping me and Harry." Sirius grumbled.
Snape's reply was just as unhappy. "You're welcome. My apologies for aggravating you so quickly." Sirius nodded and Snape left the room to go upstairs. Selena put a hand on his shoulder and smiled slightly as he passed.
Sirius also left, but headed towards the basement. The Weasley twins applauded, Ginny, Bill and Charlie grinned, Dumbledore's eyes were twinkling ferociously and Mrs. Weasley had a look of shock on her face, then left the room.
"Thanks Ron," Harry said as the adults left as well.
His friend sat down on the couch and put his head in his hands. "No problem mate, but I don't think I'll be doing it again anytime soon."
Harry laughed lightly as Hermione came over, eyes wide. "Ronald! Do you know what you just did?"
His ears went red. "Yeah, I yelled at two guys twice my age, called a professor a git, and cursed four times in front of my mum."
The twins continued to clap, "Congratulations Ickle Ronniekins!" He scowled at them and they left.
Hermione sat down beside him. "And you were a true Gryffindor." She told him. As Ron looked up in surprise, Harry slipped out of the room and after Sirius. He found his godfather sitting next to Buckbeak, who'd moved to the basement to accommodate the new arrivals.
"Hey," Harry called softly.
Sirius looked up. "Hey Harry, quite a show up there, eh?"
Harry smiled weakly and sat down beside him. "Sort of."
He sighed. "But Ron's right, I was being and idiot. I shouldn't of let Snape get to me."
"Professor Snape shouldn't of started it either," Harry told him.
"True but—ack, it doesn't matter anymore." He sighed with a shake of his head. "Did Snape really save your life?"
Harry nodded. "During November. The Dursleys were being attacked by Voldemort and I went to get them to Hogwarts. Dumbledore tried to force me to not go, but I went. Somehow, Voldemort got passed the wards on the Dursleys' home, and he took me somewhere…I was there for three weeks. Professors Snape, Splikvin and Remus got me out. Snape was the one who found out where I was, and came to help even though he's one of the people Voldemort wants dead the most. It was after that, that my hair changed."
Sirius frowned, "Is that why you look so, well, small?"
Harry nodded, "I don't want to talk about it…"
"Alright," he put an arm around Harry's shoulders, "Do you have anything planned for Christmas?" he asked after a few minutes.
Harry grinned mischievously, "Can't tell you here. But that reminds me, go get Moony would you? I'll meet you in the living room." With that, he dashed upstairs to find Ron and Hermione, they were still sitting on the couch. "Hey guys, listen. I'm going home now, if I pick you up at your homes Christmas morning, after ten or so, will that be okay?"
They nodded. "I'll be there." Hermione said.
"And I'll be waiting," Ron told him with a grin, "I'm going to tell my mum when we get home."
Harry nodded, "Alright, see you then." He went upstairs and packed his things, shrank his trunk and then went back downstairs were Remus and Sirius were waiting. Harry left a letter addressed to Dumbledore on an armchair, it explained that he'd gone home for the holidays and wasn't breaking his word. After all, he'd promised to wait at Headquarters for Sirius and Remus to return, not to stay there for the entire break. With a smile at his guardian and godfather, Harry teleported all three of them to The Hideaway.
Coming Up:
Home Again
The Christmas Rush
One Angry Teenager
Then:
Planned, yet Surprise, Visit
The End of the Break Brings Many Things
(A/N: The moral of the story: DON'T UNDERESTIMATE A WEASLEY! Heheheheheh, they ARE all in Gryffindor for a reason you know. Hope you enjoyed the chapter, I definitely did.)
