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Chapter Six: Of Heroes and Heroines

"Let us hope that we are all preceded in this world by a love story."

- Don Snyder

Sirius Black, Alive!

Patrons of the Leaky Cauldron were astounded yesterday morning when recently deceased Sirius Black walked through the door. Nine months ago, the wrongly accused Black fell through The Veil that resides in the Ministry of Magic, during a battle defending Harry Potter from numerous Death Eaters. He was presumed dead.

But all this changed yesterday as Sirius Black, accompanied by his godson Harry Potter, best friend Remus Lupin and a mysterious woman known only as 'Jennifer' took a stroll down Diagon Alley.

"We was right scared when he came in," says Fredrick Greengrass, who was at the Leaky Cauldron at the time. "I mean, we knew he was innocent, but it's easy to forget sometimes, ain't it? That was 'til Harry Potter stood up and said his bit."

The Boy-Who-Lived apparently stood protectively before his godfather as wands were drawn in the famous pub. Potter defended Black, calling him a hero and admonishing the crowd for thinking him otherwise.

The party then spent the morning shopping in Diagon Alley, purchasing clothes and Quidditch supplies for young Harry, who is currently absent from Hogwarts, presumably to spend time with his godfather. Adoring fans and reporters swamped the shoppers throughout their trip, many begging for photos and autographs with the devilishly handsome Black.

But admirers will be disappointed, as the roguish "Marauder," as he was known in his school days, was seen embracing intimately with Jennifer, a woman that no one can identify, and whom Black later went on to describe as "the love of my life."

From Diagon Alley, Black and Lupin went on to the Ministry of Magic, where Black confronted Minister Cornelius Fudge and demanded the custody of Harry Potter. "He was very civil about it," says Percy Weasley, Junior Assistant to the Minister, who was present during the meeting. "Sirius went about it very calmly, for one who has endured what he has."

Fudge offered Black an Order of Merlin, first class, and five thousand galleons, but Black refused both. "He asked the Minister to donate the money, and told him he didn't want the Order. He said it wouldn't make up for what he lost, understandably."

It is unknown where the hero who survived twelve years of exposure to Dementors is living, and it is only hoped that Sirius Black can forgive all those who wronged him.

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"Well, that was insightful," Remus teased playfully, folding the paper, his eyes twinkling at Sirius. "Never thought I'd hear you described as "devilishly handsome" ever again."

Anna laughed and ruffled Sirius's hair. "Oh, he's not to bad, for an old dog."

Sirius scoffed. "'Old dog'? It says right here, I'm a hero. What's more, I'm a roguish hero."

Harry snorted. "Oh, yeah, you better watch out Anna. Any day now, he'll leave you for some blonde twenty-five year old."

The group laughed appreciatively.

"Speaking of which," Harry mused slowly, "when are you two going to make it official?"

Sirius paused in doing his crossword.

"Uh... actually, now that you mention it, we were thinking of getting married during the holidays."

Harry and Remus both grinned brilliantly and offered congratulations.

"That's fantastic, it really is," Harry smiled, giving Sirius a hug.

"Indubitably," Remus agreed as he bestowed Anna with a one-armed embrace. "James owes me 10 galleons."

Sirius looked up sharply.

"What are you talking about?"

Remus laughed. "We made a bet when we were eighteen that you would never get married."

Sirius guffawed. "Well, at least you'll never get the pay-off. That consoles me at least... sort of."

"Indeed," Remus said, chuckling heartily.

"And you two will be my best men?" Sirius questioned hopefully.

"Of course," both Harry and Remus answered simultaneously.

"Fantastic," Sirius clapped.

They stood around grinning foolishly for a moment before Anna broke the prolonged silence.

"Well, Harry, I think it's time for our Occlumency lesson. Come on upstairs."

As Anna and Harry disappeared out the door, Sirius threw Remus a questioning look.

"Harry asked Anna if she would teach him Occlumency last summer," the werewolf explained. "She agreed. Harry's gotten quite good at it. I think they're starting on Legilimency now. Anna Portkeys into Dumbledore's office and then uses Harry's Cloak to get to the Room of Requirement once a week."

Sirius nodded.

"And has he been trained for the war yet?"

Remus shook his head no. "We haven't started training anyone yet. I think the world is still in denial."

Sirius nodded mutely.

They sat in silence for a while, Sirius busy with his crossword and Remus with the Daily Prophet.

"How is he going to do this, Remus?"

The other man jumped, startled by Sirius's sudden question.

"Who?"

Sirius let out a gloomy sigh. "Harry, of course. That boy... he has the world on his shoulders. How on Earth is he going to overcome this, Moony?"

Smiling wearily, Remus placed a hand over his friends. "With a lot of help, a lot of hope and a lot of luck. He'll get through this, Padfoot, and he's not alone."

Sirius nodded and turned back to his crossword.

Five minutes later, he once again interrupted the silence.

"Moony, what's a four letter word for a 'rara avis'?"

A bittersweet smile. "A hero."

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Harry's fingers clenched tighter around his wand, his emerald eyes boring into Anna.

She was completely smooth. Not a chink in her armour, so to speak.

For the last five weeks, once Anna had been satisfied his Occlumency skills were improving, she had sat him down in the Room of Requirement. She had then begun to explain that, in order to become a real Occlumens, one often needed to experience the Magic from the other end.

Besides, it'd be a nice to know when someone was lying to him.

So it was now that Harry stood, wand in hand, attempting to break into Anna Fair's mind.

It wasn't easy.

Already, tiny beads of sweat were crawling their way down his forehead, over his scar, and into his eyes.

"Come on, Harry, concentrate."

He gasped, dropping his wand arm in exhaustion.

"It's impossible!"

"Nothing's impossible, Harry, you just need to visualise," she stressed. "Are you visualising?"

Harry stared at the floor glumly. "Yes."

"Don't try to lie to me, Harry, it doesn't work."

He cursed under his breath.

Anna laughed.

"Okay, try again. And visualise."

Harry nodded, and raised his wand.

Visualising a strong, solid wall, he imagined a tiny droplet of water finding a crack and cried, "Legilimens!"

Nothing happened.

"Try again. You need more power."

Harry decided to forego Anna's visual.

Clear in his mind, a tidal wave of blue water crashed upon the wall. "Legilimens!"

And the stronghold was breached.

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A young girl cowered in fear in a dark corner, while shadows rippled in a horrificly intimate dance on the wall, grunts, groans and gasps of air punctuating the unearthly silence.

She was older now, grasping tightly to the hand of a slender, black-cloaked man, her head darting back every now and again, flashes of light blinding her pretty eyes. Suddenly, the woman in front faltered, a deep scarlet light enveloping her frail body.

The frayed, trodden hat covered her eyes, shielding the world from view. "Hmmm," said a tiny voice in her ear. "A tough choice. You belong in Slytherin, that is where your blood is. And your mind, a Ravenclaw for sure. But your heart... Your heart belongs in... GRYFFINDOR! Yes, the heart always speaks true, my dear. Remember that..."

She was standing in the centre of a large, lavender-filled field, her Hogwarts robes flying around her body wildly, her arms spread wide. A young woman with short, lime-green hair landed on a broom beside her. They both sprawled happily in the grass. "It's over!" the other girl cried joyously. "What are we going to do now?"

"I dunno Nymph," she said, turning to her friend. "We can do anything we want... we're free."

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Harry hastily pulled out of Anna's mind, startled at how the memories and thoughts swam around him, caressing his mind like smooth, soft feathers.

His eyes snapped open to reveal Anna, crumpled on the floor, panting for air. He rushed to her side.

"Shit, Anna! I'm so sorry, I didn't mean too!"

But she shook her head and smiled.

"That was good, Harry, very good. Excellent."

She stood up, brushing down her skirt.

"Now, once more, with feeling!"


A/N: La di da di da... you like? Please review. I borrowed the idea of the "visualisation" from a fic I read by Insper A.Shen. I take no credit for it. Review!