Chapter Five

The Daily Prophet

"Harry, you can't let anyone know that I've told you," Lupin said urgently. "This cannot get in the way of your education. Professor Snape is still your teacher, and Dumbledore trusts him now. For now, just act like I never said anything—"

Harry snorted. "That will be hard, won't it? I'll have to look at his great ugly face everyday."

"Harry, please. I—I can't say anymore, but I promise that things will be easier soon."

"Why?"

"I can't say, it's not any of my business."

"Well, you're not fond of telling me much lately, are you?" Harry snapped.

"What's that supposed to mean?" Lupin said sharply.

"Nothing," Harry muttered. He didn't want Lupin to know how long he'd spied on him. "G'night."

"Harry!" Lupin called, but Harry slammed the door shut. He and Ron walked silently up to their room.

"Why didn't you ask him, Harry?" Ron asked once they were in bed. "Why didn't you just tell him what you heard?"

"Why bother? He'd just lie, or talk his way out of it. He obviously doesn't want me to know anything."

"But Harry, he just told you—"

"G'night, Ron." Harry turned out the light and turned towards the wall. He didn't want to talk or listen to reason. He just wanted to be mad. He deserved as much, didn't he?

He had a dream that he was at his parents' wedding. Lively music played as he danced with Ginny Weasley. He watched the photographer take a picture of Lupin and Sirius smearing the Potters with cake. A pretty woman with short, untidy black hair turned away from talking to Peter Pettigrew. The black-haired little girl resting on her hip stared at Harry with her dark eyes. She smiled at him shyly before pulling out a wand and flicking it deftly. The Dark Mark appeared and swallowed up the Potters, Sirius, and her own mother. "No!" Harry screamed. He ran forward to save them, but they all disappeared. Then everyone else in the room vanished, leaving him alone with the little girl. She opened her mouth to speak.

"Harry, Harry, what's wrong?"

"Wha—?"

Ron was shaking him furiously. "Harry, you were screaming! Were you having a nightmare?"

A moment later, the door burst open. As the lights came on, Mr. and Mrs. Weasley, Bill, Charlie, Tonks, Lupin, and Tabitha came into view, all brandishing their wands. Hermione, Ginny, and the twins were behind them, trying to peek into the room. "What is it? What's happening?" Mr. Weasley asked anxiously.

Harry felt horrible at once. He'd woken up the entire house, and for what? A stupid little nightmare. "J—just a dream," he said weakly. There was a joint sigh of relief as wands were lowered. "Sorry I woke everyone," he added. Lupin gave him an almost knowing look as he walked out behind the others. Ginny and Hermione squeezed into the room and perched themselves on Ron and Harry's beds.

"Well?" Hermione said. "What did you see?"

Harry told the girls what Lupin had told them. Their mouths dropped open, and Harry could have sworn he saw tears in their eyes.

"Your whole family? Just like that? Oh, Harry, I'd always wondered why you only had the Dursleys," Hermione said. "But I agree with Lupin that you shouldn't let this get in the way of your, er, relationship with Snape. He said himself they had no proof, and you've got an O on your Potions O.W.L. You wouldn't want this to get in the way of your becoming an Auror."

"Honestly, Hermione!" Ron yelled.

"Hermione's right, Ron," Ginny interrupted. "Lupin said there's no proof, and Harry needs an N.E.W.T. in Potions to be an Auror. You're better off pretending that you never heard anything." She sighed. "So that's what they were arguing about tonight? Why do you think Tabitha and Charlie got in on it?"

"They probably just hate Snape as much as we do and wanted to back up Lupin," Ron said. "I am not looking forward to class with him. Harry," he said suddenly. "If you're in Snape's N.E.W.T. class, then we won't have Potions together!"

Harry hadn't thought of that. Snape only accepted O-level O.W.L. students into his N.E.W.T. Potions class, which meant that he and Ron would be separated for the first time at Hogwarts.

"At least you have Quidditch," Ginny said brightly.

The next few weeks passed quickly and without incident. The Order held several more meetings, and Tabitha continued to ignore Harry and spend more time with Tonks and the other girls. When they left Grimmauld Place, Ron was angry with Hermione and his sister for spending so much time with Tabitha. "She hates Harry for no reason! Doesn't that bother you?"

Tabitha drove them all to Kings Cross Station in her enchanted car. They drove right through the station without disturbing any of the Muggles going about their normal business. She drove into the barrier between Platforms Nine and Ten, landing on the other side of Platform Nine-and-Three-Quarters. The scarlet steam engine emblazoned with the words "Hogwarts Express" was being loaded with students and their luggage. Mrs. Weasley kissed her children goodbye, giving Harry a lingering hug. "Be careful, all of you," she admonished. "Don't get into too much trouble."

Ron, Hermione, and Ginny left for the prefects' car to get their instructions, and Harry looked around for an empty compartment. He didn't find any empty ones, but he did find one inhabited by Neville Longbottom, a fellow Gryffindor sixth-year. He was immersed in The Daily Prophet but looked up when Harry entered.

"Harry! Have you seen The Daily Prophet today?" he cried.

"There can't be anything good in it," Harry said. "Not after last year."

"It's gotten loads better since then. Look, this one's about Sirius Black!" Neville shoved the paper into Harry's hands. Sirius' face stared up at him from the front page. Harry began to read.

The Ministry of Magic announced today that the case

against Sirius Black, the escaped Azkaban prisoner

accused of killing thirteen people with a single curse,

will be reopened for investigation. Albus Dumbledore,

Hogwarts' Headmaster, whose story about the return

of He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named never once wavered

even among the most severe criticism,—

Criticism from The Prophet, Harry thought.

—has been saying for over two years now that Black

is innocent. According to Dumbledore, Peter Pettigrew

—whose wand and one finger were the only pieces

ever recovered of him—is alive and well, living as a

servant of He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named. Dumbledore

alleges that Pettigrew is an illegal Animagus who can

transform into a rat and that he used this disguise to

frame Black for the thirteen murders. According to

Dumbledore, Black is a loyal ally and should be trusted

by the wizarding community.

"An investigation, see? They might clear him," Neville asked.

"A bit late, don't you think?" Harry said angrily.

"Better late than never," Neville said. "At least he'll be cleared."

"Won't bring him back, though, will it?" Harry shoved the paper back at Neville. He ignored Ron, Hermione, and Ginny when they joined him and Neville a little while later. Neville showed them the newspaper silently. For the rest of the ride, Harry sat staring out the window, blinking back angry tears.