/I don't own anything you recognize in this story. /

Chapter Six

Several hours later, the Hogwarts Express finally reached the Hogwarts station. Standing and stretching, Harry, Ron, and Hermione stepped out onto the platform. Not for the first time did Harry realized how much he missed being here.

"Firs' years, this way! Firs' years, c'mon now, dun be shy, now!" a voice bellowed out after the noisy crowd.

Harry grinned. Good old Hagrid, one could always trust that the big, kind-hearted man would be there to greet the first years, as well as the rest of the student body every year. Except for last year, of course, when Hagrid had a mission for Dumbledore.

Saying goodbye to Ron and Hermione temporarily, Harry trotted up to Hagrid. He had to say hello to his old friend, the one who had introduced Harry to his world, the one that Harry knew was his own world and not the world of Muggles.

"Hi, Hagrid," Harry exclaimed brightly.

Hagrid merely grunted, his usual bright and cheery face grim. "Hello, there, Harry. I can' talk to you now, I have to get these firs' years up to the castle for the Sorting, if you follow me."

"Of course, I was just seeing if you were alright, is all," Harry said bewildered.

"You move along, now, Harry, I'll see you up at the castle," Hagrid said sternly.

Harry nodded and allowed the crowd to sweep him to the carriages that would carry them all up to the castle. Finally finding Ron and Hermione again sitting in a carriage already, Harry climbed up to join them.

"Hagrid was acting a bit odd, tonight, as if he was worried about something—" Harry told them.

"I would be, too, if Voldemort was on the run again," Hermione said sharply.

Harry looked at Hermione closely. "Are you alright? What could possibly make you angry in the short time I was away?" Harry turned to Ron, who was glancing down at his lap fixedly. "What's going on, here?" Harry demanded.

Ron finally looked up. "Harry, we don't see the horses—those thestles or whatever they were called."

"Now why in hell would you two be so worried about that? It isn't something to be proud about," Harry said harshly.

"We weren't, not at all, but, Harry, we should've seen these horses because, well, you know, because of Sirius," Hermione said nervously.

"She's got a point, you know," Ron said, "if Sirius had really died last year, we would've of seen these horses, here."

"This can't be possible," Harry muttered to himself. They did have a point, and yet he never really thought about it until just now. It was true that if they saw death, they'd be able to see the horses, but they didn't. Did that mean that Sirius was still alive somewhere, hiding out? Maybe that's why he didn't answer that little two-way mirror thing that he gave Harry, because he couldn't risk saying anything just yet.

Harry looked up at Hermione and Ron. "So that means that—"

"He might be alive," Ron finished. "He might be camping out somewhere, too afraid to scare anyone because they all think he's dead. He's just waiting for the time that's right."

Harry felt his hopes beginning to rise. At least something good's going to happen to him. Digging through his pocket, Harry pulled out his two-way mirror. Turning it every which way, he watched as the light glinted off the surface.

"Harry, what exactly is that?" Hermione asked.

"It's a two-way mirror. Sirius gave it to me the day we left for Hogwarts at Christmas, do you remember?" Harry said.

"I remember him giving a small package, but I didn't think too much about it, after all, it was something between you two," Ron exclaimed.

Harry looked at both Hermione and Ron seriously, trying to analyze what to do. "I tried using it near the end of school last year, but I didn't get an answer."

"Maybe he wasn't in a position to talk to you right then," Ron suggested.

"That's what I was thinking. Maybe I should try it now, he might be in a safer location now," Harry said.

"No," Hermione said suddenly and firmly.

"What?" Ron and Harry asked at the same time, both in surprise.

"I don't think you should use it, Harry. What if the enemy for some reason captured Sirius and the other mirror is in the wrong hands? They'll know how to communicate with you and get to you easily," Hermione pleaded with him.

"Don't be daft, Hermione, this might be the only way Harry can communicate with Sirius," Ron said, looking as if he got chased by an angry, wet hen.

"Maybe so, but Harry can't be taking any chances," Hermione argued.

Just then, the carriage stopped in front of Hogwarts' doors and Harry jumped out of the carriage quickly. Behind him, Ron and Hermione continued to argue back and forth between them, but Harry didn't notice or care. All he cared about right now was getting through the Sorting and the feast so he could go up to his dormitory and have a go at the mirror.

Finally reaching the Great Hall, Harry hurried over to the Griffyndor table and sat down. Glancing up at the main table, Harry smiled when he saw Hagrid. Seeing him, Hagrid waved slightly before engaging a conversation with Professor McGonagall. Sighing, Harry turned foreword again. He'd have to talk to Hagrid later.

Finally, after a few quick words, Dumbledore sat down and the food appeared. Harry quickly scarfed down his food. Beside him, Ron and Hermione were giving each other the cold shoulder and trying not to look at each other. Harry shook his head. Sometimes he didn't know about his friends.

Finally, about an hour later, Dumbledore stood up and the whole room fell silent. With a sweeping glance around the room, he finally spoke.

"I have some grave news to tell you before you head off to your dormitories," Dumbledore boomed out.

Harry glanced at Ron. "I wonder what this grave news is about?"

Ron shrugged. "I don't know."

"We have a new Defense Against the Darks Arts teacher, as you've probably fathomed last year, but I am afraid that some of you will be in for a surprise at who it is, after all, he had been in the news several years ago. I ask of you all to give him the utmost respect as any other teacher in this building as well as any other teacher that has gone before him," Dumbledore continued on. Turning to Argus Filch, who was standing beside the Entrance Doors, motioned Filch to open them. "I now present your new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher—"

As Filch pulled the doors open, Harry noticed a tall, broad shouldered man with long, tangled black hair. As his features became more distinct as he stepped into the room, Harry gaped in shock. This couldn't be—

"Professor Sirius Black," Dumbledore finished.

The Hall suddenly erupted in loud whisperings and several people pointed to Sirius, who was standing tall and proud before the whole school. Harry glanced at Hermione and Ron.

"How did he manage that?" he asked in a whisper.

"I don't know, but he sure is going to have a hard time getting the respect that Dumbledore advised of everybody," Hermione whispered back.

"I would like to say that Professor Black has been cleared of all charges and found not guilty of his charge of murder. You all will treat him like any other teacher, as I have emphasized before. He will be teaching immediately," Dumbledore said. "Now, it's getting quite late and you all need to head off to bed. Prefects, lead your houses to your dormitories."

Everybody stood and began hurrying out the Great Hall doors as Sirius went up to talk to Dumbledore. Harry started to go towards him, but Ron grabbed him by the shoulder.

"Not now," Ron said in a low tone, "people will find it odd and suspicious if you go up there now."

Harry nodded, seeing his friend's point. As he followed the rest of the Gryffindors up the stairs to the dormitories, Harry made a resolution to go see Sirius as soon as he possibly could, no matter what.