Disclaimer: I don't own these characters.
AN: This chapter is dedicated to Jessi, Becki, GryffindorRulez, and HarrySirius Fan! YAY, my reviewers! I love you!
As Harry walked through the hallways, people still stared. And now it wasn't just because of the newspaper article, but also because of the large black dog trotting at his side.
Harry looked at his temporary shadow. It was nice to have Sirius around, but this was just too much.
Some first year girls ran up to him and his dog, and Sirius emitted a low growl.
"It's ok," Harry whispered. "They're just curious."
"He's so cute!" A tiny girl held Sirius in a strangle-hold. "What's his name?"
"Uh…Snuffles," Harry winked at the dog, who glared back at him.
"Awwww…" the girl and her friends crowded around the poor animal, petting and smothering him with kisses. "So adorable…"
"Stop crowding the hallways, please," Professor McGonagall came to the rescue. She shooed the students off. "Get to your classes!"
Snuffles followed after Harry, ruffling his fur indignantly.
There seemed to be a huge commotion in the Great Hall. A crowd had gathered around the Gryffindor table.
Harry shot Sirius a look, and then ran to see what had happened.
Parvati Patil was holding a letter shakily in her heads, an expression of utter disbelief on her face.A small sobbed escaped her, and her sister Padma was running towards her. They held each other tightly, crying and whimpering.
The group around them were murmuring sympathetically, and whispering quietly.
"What happened? What happened?" Harry pushed into the crowd. "Is everyone all right?" Sirius followed him, tail wagging anxiously.
A rough hand grabbed Harry and turned him around.
"What is it, Malfoy?" Harry spat, and Sirius growled at the Slytherin.
"Don't try to act like the hero, Potter," Malfoy drawled. "You know it's your fault."
"What is?" Harry asked, confused.
Malfoy chuckled. "Spare me the theatrics, Potter."
Angry now, Harry came nose to nose with his rival. "Tell me!"
Malfoy shrugged. "Well, if you insist…" he gestured toward the crying sisters. "Their parents died last night in an attack." He circled around Harry. "Many people did, mostly mudbloods. Why must you cause all this pain, Potter? Are you turning sadistic? They whould really put you in Slytherin."
"I don't cause the pain! I don't want this!" Harry clenched his fists.
"Temper, Potter…temper," Malfoy smiled maliciously. "You could control this, you could end this…but you're just too cowardly. Why don't you just kill yourself-"
Malfoy was abruptly cut off as the large dog leaped upon him, snarling viciously, tearing his sweaters into shreds.
"Stop! Stop it!" Dumbledore marched into the scene. With strength that others would never guess he had, the headmaster yanked Sirius off the boy.
Malfoy got up, shaking angrily. "I'll have that dog killed! Wait until I tell my father!"
Harry pulled out his wand. "You-"
He felt arms restraining him. "Let me go!" he yelled. "He's going to get him killed-"
"Please stop creating a scene, Potter," the dangerously low voice said. Snape gripped Harry until he stopped fighting. Looking over, he saw that Dumbledore had Malfoy in a similar hold. The two boys glared at each other.
Dumbledore was forcefully leading Malfoy away. "Just do it, Potter," the boy whispered sadistically. "You know you want to…"
"Get off of me," Harry shook off the potions master.
Sirius whimpered, nudging the boy. Harry knew he wanted them to go somewhere alone so he could give him a talk. Well, he wasn't in the mood for a talk.
"Just leave me alone," Harry muttered, stalking away from his godfather, towards the grounds.
The dog followed him persistantly, growling warningly, and nudging him.
"Go away!" Harry yelled, running outside.
Sirius jumped onto his back, tackling him, and pinned him down.
"Please Sirius," Harry groaned. He wanted to be alone. The dog let him get up, but then grabbed onto his sleeve, pulling him towards the shelter of the trees.
Then, after glancing around to make sure nobody was out, he transformed back into a man. "Harry! Don't listen to that bloody Malfoy! You hear me?"
Harry refused to meet his gaze.
He grabbed his godson's chin and forced him to look up. "Do you hear me?"
Harry looked into the intense dark eyes. "Yes, I hear you," he said finally. "But what he said was true, and you know it!"
Sirius grabbed Harry into a hug. "Don't do it Harry, just don't…" Harry felt wetness on his shoulders and realized with shock that his godfather was crying. He patted him on his back awkwardly, not sure what to do.
"Dumbledore will figure it out! You've got to trust him! He'll make everything all right…" Sirius whispered. Harry knew he was trying to convince himself.
"It's ok, Sirius," Harry said. "You don't have to kid yourself. We both know hundreds of people are dying. In the time Dumbledore needs, hundreds more will die."
"But…" Sirius wiped his tears away with his ragged sleeve. "You mean more to me than any number of other people. I know I'm sounding selfish, but we need you, Harry…"
Harry sighed. "Think of all the people dying! They have relatives, families, friends…and each one of those people feel exactly the same way you do, Sirius. I have to do something!"
Sirius sat down, hands covering his face. "Why do you always have to be such a hero? Why do you always want to do the right thing?" He suddenly chuckled. "I guess I forgot for a second that you are James' son. Duh."
Harry bit his lip. "My father- he would want me to do this…"
"James and Lily," Sirius mused. "I am glad for once that they aren't alive. They don't have to experience this, like I do."
Harry took deep breaths. He could end all this pain, all this sorrow for everyone! People could be dying right this instance. He pictured Voldemort laughing…Malfoy sneering, you're just too cowardly…
"Here Sirius…" he placed his wand in his hand. Then Harry backed up, holding out his arms. "You do it."
Sirius looked at him disbelivingly. "What?"
"Malfoy's right. I am too cowardly. That's why you have to do it for me." He spread his arms out wider. "Just do it." He closed his eyes, waiting.
He heard a loud, strangled noise. Sirius was backing up, dropping the wand. "I won't," he declared firmly. "First of all, you're not going to die. Secondly," he voice dropped to a whisper. "You aren't cowardly. If in the end, you have to die…you'll do it honorably. You'll do it by yourself."
Harry knew he was right.
"I think we need another talk with Dumbledore, Harry," Sirius urged.
Harry snorted. "It's always Dumbledore isn't it? Dumbledore this, Dumbledore that! Sirius, Dumbledore doesn't know everything! He doesn't have all the answers!"
Sirius' mouth dropped open.
"Right now, I just need a little time by myself," Harry explained.
Sirius started to interrupt, but Harry cut him off. "Don't worry, I won't kill myself. Not now."
AN: Please review!
