A/N: This chapter will have more of Harry than Sirius, because I need time to recover from you-know-what.  Sirius will be back, well and alive, in the next chapter. 

Care Of Magical Creatures

"I'm coming down with a very bad flu," Ron declared. "I'm going to look for Madam Pomfrey."

Harry and Hermione exchanged amused looks.

"Nice try, Ron," Hermione said, shaking her head.

The redhead blushed. "I'm feeling sick! Really! Look, my hands are cold and clammy."

"That's because you're scared, Ronald Weasley. You're scared of a little spider," she taunted.

Ron gritted his teeth. "It's not a LITTLE spider!"

"Got you! That's the real reason behind your sudden illness!" Hermione threw her friend a triumphant look, satisfied to have proven her point yet again.

Ron had been dreading his first Care Of Magical Creatures class ever since Harry told them what he had heard from Justin at Herbology.

Harry himself had been looking forward to April's class.  Not because of the spider of course, but because he wanted a chance to speak to his new teacher.  He had only seen her during meal sessions, since the day they met at Dumbledore's office.   Harry and his friends had tried looking for her in the staffroom several times, but she was never there. 

It had almost been a week since Harry sent Sirius the letter asking for more details on 'the plan'.  He was getting very worried that there had been no reply since.  It was unlike Sirius not to send word, especially after Harry had told him about his frustration for knowing so little.

*

The three friends turned up for the Care Of Magical Creatures class ten minutes early.  Harry and Hermione managed to convince Ron that it was best for him to 'meet' the giant spider before the rest of the class arrived.  Ron agreed reluctantly that this might prevent him from embarrassing himself by freaking out in front of the Slytherins, whom the Gryffindors share the class with.  He would rather die than let Draco Malfoy know about his phobia of spiders.

April caught sight of the trio as they were walking towards Hagrid's hut on the edge of the Forbidden Forest.  She gave them a big friendly wave.

"Hi, Harry! We meet again! You must be Hermione and you must be Ron. Albus told me all about the two of you." April beamed at her three new students.

Harry tried to hide a smile when he saw that Ron was smiling dreamily at April.  It was the same expression Ron wore when he spoke to Fleur Delacour a year ago.

"Harry, I have something for you," April reached inside her robes and handed a note to Harry.

Harry immediately recognised the handwriting to be his godfather's.

Harry,

Glad to know that you are doing all right.  I'm doing well.  Do not worry. 

It is not safe for me to discuss what you wanted to know in this letter. April will give you the details.

Sirius

Although Sirius' letter did not say much, Harry felt comforted to know that Sirius was at least safe.  He looked expectantly at April.

"He must have thought that I'm more reliable than an owl," she laughed, moving closer to Harry and added in a whisper, "Meet me in Hagrid's hut after dinner tomorrow night."  Harry nodded.

It was only when the rest of their fifth year classmates started to arrive that Harry remembered that Ron had yet to meet the spider.  Ron must have realised that at about the same time for blood was draining away from his face and he was looking increasingly pale. Then he heard a familiar drawl behind him.

"So what creature are we meeting today? Maybe rats?" The group of Slytherins was roaring at Draco's remarks.

Harry felt a familiar wave of sympathy toward April.  It seemed that news of her earlier encounter with Bingo was now made known to the rest of the school.

April glared at Draco and said in a cold voice, "I'm afraid you've mistaken, Mr Malfoy.  Your grapevine sources must have been quite faulty.  There will be not rats in this class."

She then led the class to an opening behind Hagrid's hut, where a giant spider was waiting.

*

Ron was grinning idiotically throughout the entire dinner that night.  His appetite was unbelievably good and he was constantly stuffing food into his mouth.

"Ron, eat slowly.  You'll just choke yourself," Hermione tried to sound exasperated but failed to stop the smile that crept into her voice.

"Let him be, Hermione," Harry grinned at his best friend who was reaching for another blueberry muffin.  "He has been to hell and back."

"Did you see that look on Malfoy's face? Wicked! I'll not miss that for a thousand years!  No, make that a million years!" Ron said happily in between bites.

The three friends had good reason to feel happy.  At their Care of Magical Creatures class earlier that day, Draco had been quick to notice Ron's fear of spiders.  Ron tried his best to hide it, but all he failed miserably when it was his turn to stroke the spider.

April had noticed Draco's snigger and asked him to give the class a demonstration of the task they had to perform in their next lesson.  "It'll help your classmates be better prepared of what they have to do next week, Mr Malfoy," April had told him in her sweetest voice.  By the end of the class, almost everyone had forgotten that Ron was rooted to the spot when called upon to stroke the spider.  What everyone did remember, was Draco's shrieks as April placed him onto the back of the spider for a ride.

*

Dumbledore arrived late for breakfast the next day.  As he entered the Great Hall, murmurs amongst the students could be heard.  It was the first time the headmaster had been late.

The students watched Dumbledore curiously, observing his every move.  The headmaster approached April when he reached the staff table.  He then bent down his head and was apparently whispering to her.  Then April rose from her seat too and both of them exited from the Great Hall hurriedly.

"Uh oh. Something's up," Fred Weasley whispered to his identical twin George.

Harry felt uneasy.  He hoped that it was not bad news…maybe something happened to…Sirius and Remus?  No! Please let them be safe! Harry thought furiously.  He longed to run after Dumbledore and April and ask them if the two Marauders were safe.  But he couldn't.

Harry waited uneasily.  After about fifteen minutes, Dumbledore and April returned to the Great Hall.  Harry slowly let out his breath when he noticed that both professors looked noticeably less tensed now.  April was clutching a small package in her hands.  It was wrapped in brown paper. 

"What is she holding?"  Ron asked. 

Before Harry or Hermione could reply, there was a loud fluttering of wings as owls suddenly streamed into the Great Hall. The mail had arrived.  As the owls circled the table seeking their owners, Ron gasped.  He was pointing speechlessly to a shabby-looking brown owl. 

The brown owl was carrying a red envelope in its beak. It was a Howler! Ron and Neville, who had both received howlers from their family in past years, watched the owl with horror and apprehension. 

To everyone's surprise, the owl flew toward the staff table.  It hovered above the teachers for a minute or so, and dropped the Howler onto April's lap.

April stared at the Howler for a few seconds.  Then she opened it and the letter began to smoke.

Everyone covered their ears, but that did not prevent them from hearing the roar that filled the huge hall.

"APRIL FLAMEL!  IT WILL SOON BE PAYBACK TIME!!!"

For a long moment, no one spoke.  Not a sound could be heard in the Great Hall.  Then, the silence was broken by April Flamel.  She laughed aloud, long and hard, till tears were rolling down her eyes.

***

The great gorgeous guy Sirius Black will be back in the next chapter, very much alive and kicking.