A/N: Found this chapter harder to write than all the earlier three chapters combined…because I had to introduce my favourite HP character Sirius Black (putting this off any further will incur the wrath of my dear readers, I think. LOL) Sirius Black is the reason why I'm reading and now writing fan fic! I can only pray that I did him a little justice and did not tarnish his wonderful image.
Ms Padfoot: Hope this chapter is better. It's longer and it has our dear Sirius Black :)
padfoot1979: Please don't hate me after I uncover April Flamel's plan in the next chapter. Because it's so simple that it may seem primitive and unimaginative. I beg for your pardon in advance and please continue reading this fic so that I can redeem myself!
Ainsley Sloan: You're my most faithful reviewer to date! Thanks…I'm so happy… **shedding buckets of tears**
Fire'N'Ice: I know what you mean and I agree that anything with Sirius Black is a fic worth reading! Hint, hint: please continue to R&R this fic :)
Here's Chapter Four. **drum roll**…..presenting Mr. Sirius Black!!!
Meeting Padfoot and Moony
Sirius Black paced up and down the small room, hands behind his back.
"Padfoot, you're giving me a headache walking up and down. Can you please stop wearing out my carpet and sit down?" Remus Lupin said with a tinge of exasperation.
"Sure, Moony." Sirius stopping pacing and took a seat beside his friend on the living room couch that was fraying around the edges. He unfolded two pieces of parchments that had been clenched in his fist a moment ago, smoothed them out, and started reading for the umpteenth time.
He had received the first parchment two days ago.
Dear Sirius,
There is someone I wish you to meet. Hopefully she will be of help to you. I will bring her to Remus' house on Saturday morning.
Albus
Sirius folded up Dumbledore's letter and began reading aloud the contents on the second parchment. It was from his godson, Harry. Although Sirius only received it less than an hour ago, he had already read it more than a dozen times. It would not be surprising if he could already memorise every word.
Dear Sirius,
As you know, I'm back at Hogwarts. Everything is fine.
We've got the real Moody as our Defence Against Dark Arts teacher this year. He behaves exactly like the one we had last year. We can hardly tell the difference!
We have a new teacher for Care of Magical Creatures to cover Hagrid's classes for a few weeks. Dumbledore said she may be able to help clear your name. It's terribly frustrating that all I know is that it has something to do with the Sorcerer's Stone. Dumbledore is not telling me more. I'm (Ron and Hermione too) hoping that you can fill me in with more details. Do write soon.
ps: Ron and Hermione sent their regards to you. Please say "hi" to Professor Lupin for us too.
Harry
Sirius squashed both parchments into his pocket and started walking around the room again. Remus gave a little sigh, but did not bother to protest this time. He knew that this was a habit his good friend picked up from his days at Azkaban, when there were few things to do other than thinking dark thoughts and pacing about the confines of his small prison cell.
Sirius was mumbling, "Dumbledore said he'll bring someone who may help me. Harry said a woman may be able to clear my –"
"Yes, Padfoot. I do think Dumbledore and Harry are both referring to the same person. Now would you please stop asking the same question over and over again?"
Sirius threw Remus an unconcerned glance. He knew that despite what his friend said, Remus was every bit as excited as he was upon reading Harry's letter. And like him, Remus could hardly wait till Saturday, when they would be able to find out more from Dumbledore and this visitor he would be bringing along with him.
*
"I wonder if Snuffles has received my letter," Harry wondered aloud as he took his seat beside Ron and Hermione at Herbology, a class the sixth year Gryffindors share with their counterparts from Hufflepuff. Before his friends could comment, Professor Sprout had marched into the greenhouse.
Professor Sprout began to split out everyone into pairs. Ron was partnering Hermione, and Harry soon found himself working with Justin Finch-Fletchley, a Hufflepuff boy.
Each pair was given a small plant, shaped like a rose bud. It was barely the size of Harry's fist. Their task was relatively simple, though it required some patience. They had to keep tickling the plant with a feather. Every now and then, its bud would open briefly and the students had to quickly collect some yellow powder inside.
After several minutes, Harry and Justin both got the hang of handling the plant. They began to let their concentration lapse a little and made small talk while Justin continued to tickle the plant and Harry held the narrow spoon waiting for the bud to open up again.
At first, they talked about their Potions classes. It seemed to Harry that while the Hufflepuffs were not having an easy time with Professor Snape, the potions master was obviously harsher to the Gryffindors.
Then Justin shifted the topic to his Care of Magical Creatures class, and Harry's interest shot even higher.
"Professor Flamel showed us a huge spider. It's not an ordinary spider! It's massive!" Justin stretched his arms as wide as they would go, to show Harry the size of the spider. Harry stole a glance at Professor Sprout from the corner of his eyes, and was relieved to note that she was not looking in their direction.
"It was so tall that its legs reached my waist," Justin added. He continued telling Harry about his encounter with the spider but Harry's mind soon drifted to Aragog and the other gigantic spiders in the Forbidden Forest that he had encountered in his second year at Hogwarts.
Ron is not going to like these Care of Magical Creatures classes, Harry thought, remembering his friend's phobia of even the smallest spider. But he took comfort and was glad for both himself and Ron that April's spider seemed at most half the size of what they had encountered that year.
Harry's thoughts drifted back to Justin's ceaseless chatter and some words caught his attention.
"Hang on, Justin. What was it you said that made Professor Flamel scream?"
"It was a rat," replied Justin, looking a bit crossed as he began to suspect that Harry had not been listening all this while.
When he was assured that he had Harry's full attention, Justin carried on, "It was Kelvin Orson's pet rat, Bingo. Bingo must have slipped into the pockets of his robes by accident. When it was Kelvin's turn to touch the spider, Bingo jumped out of his pocket. You should have seen Professor Flamel's reaction! She actually went pale and started screaming! All of us were scared stiff for a while until we realised that she was only screaming at Bingo."
Justin paused and shook his head for dramatic effect. "Fancy a Care of Magical Creatures teacher who make friends with a huge spider being terrified of a tiny rat!"
Harry was more concerned than amused when he heard Justin's account. He felt sorry for April, knowing that her 'nasty' encounter would not have taken place if she was not at Hogwarts trying to help his godfather.
*
Sirius was even more restless on Saturday morning. He did not sleep much the night before and was in one of his irritable moods.
Sirius tried to distract himself by flipping through some old books on Remus' shelves, but that did not work. None of the books were able to hold his interest.
"Moony, I can't believe this. You must have a hundred books here and none of them is faintly engaging. You really ought to have your head examined," Sirius snapped.
Remus knew better than to argue with Sirius, not when the latter was in one of these moods. Instead, he chose to concentrate on making the pot of tea in front of him.
As Remus was laying the tea and a plate of pancakes onto the table, there was a soft but unmistakable knock on the front door.
Sirius started rushing to the door, only to halt abruptly midway when he remembered that he was supposed to remain hidden. "Moony, can you get the door please?"
Remus gave an understanding nod and made towards the door.
"Hello, headmaster," Sirius heard Remus' greeting. "Please come in."
"You have to stop calling me headmaster, Remus. I'd like to be known as just Albus or if you prefer, Dumbledore."
Sirius' eyes took in the young woman standing behind Dumbledore. She was looking right back at him with an expression that he could not pin down. It seemed to register surprise, hesitance and…there was something else in that expression…was it pain?
"This is April Flamel. April, meet Remus Lupin and Sirius Black." Dumbledore's words made Sirius suddenly conscious that he had been staring. As April was shaking Remus' outstretched hand, Sirius remembered his manners and quickly stepped forward and extended his hand to April.
"Hi, Sirius," April smiled warmly in greeting as she gave him a firm handshake.
*
"NO!" Sirius' chair crashed to the floor when he leaped up. "I will not allow this," he bellowed.
Remus was looking concerned too. The lines now etched across his forehead made him look older than his years.
"I will have none of this!" Sirius almost shouted at his guests.
Moments ago, Dumbledore had told the two Marauders about the plan they had been anxious to know about. The headmaster was not surprised by their reactions. Afterall, he himself had objected to the same plan countless times, before he was finally convinced otherwise by April. The desperation in their present situation made it clear to him that he had to give it a try. They needed Sirius in the coming battle against the dark side. Not just Sirius, but also Remus and Harry. Dumbledore knew that the only way to ensure that the three were able to give their all in the battle without distractions was to allay their concerns about Sirius' safety – about Sirius being found and sent back to Azkaban…or worst, being administered the dementor's kiss.
"I've decided to do it. You can choose to support me or otherwise. It's too late to turn back now anyway." This was the first time April had spoken since the initial introductions at the door. She could be just as stubborn as Sirius Black and there was no way she would budge this time.
***
Please review! In the next chapter, you will learn more about the plan Sirius was objecting to.
