Chapter 22

31.10.1991

Sirius Black lighted the little candle with trembling hands and put it on the grave, while the icy coldness caused him to shiver mercilessly. For one moment the tiny flame flickered fiercely; then it went out. Sirius cursed and fetched his wand. This time the candle didn't expire. Sadly he looked at the silver lighter he was still holding in his left hand.

Lily had given it to him a long time ago. Although it was now exactly ten years ago that James, Lily and Harry had been murdered, he still felt the deep pain of his loss and mourning when thinking of them. He had learned to deal with it to some degree but sometimes he missed them so strongly that he choked. His feelings of guilt had also not decreased over the years. That was mainly due to the fact that he just wasn't able to forgive himself for persuading James to take Peter as the Secret Keeper. Lifting his head he looked up into the grey sky. Only now did he realize that it had begun to snow. He blinked, stared again at the grave and sighed. Like every time when he came here, he whispered,

"Forgive me."

As the memories threatened to overpower him, he curtly turned around and went along the narrow pathway. At the small gate he abruptly came to a halt. He knew that Godric's Hollow was only a few kilometres away and all at once he felt the wish to see the place again where he had been so incredibly happy so many years ago and where he had so often spent his time. For an instant he still hesitated but then, before he could change his mind, he apparated.

Harry stared absentmindedly at the slowly falling snowflakes which gradually turned the park and the trees into an enchanting white landscape. How he wished to be outside, to feel the cold icy air and to run through the snow, while the wind could blow against his face. Ever since they had been forced to return one and a half years ago he and his friends hadn't left the castle anymore. Although they were taught magic and everything was almost as before they had run away, there existed a small difference.

They were kept prisoner. They couldn't break the charms on their doors and when they were going to their classrooms they were accompanied by Lucius or Bella. The Dark Lord came often and played chess with him, taught him Dark Magic or just talked with him.

Especially this behaviour worried Harry deeply and made him wonder. It drove him mad not to know what his adoptive father was planning. His behaviour was just strange and totally out of character for him. He hadn't forced him to torture or to kill, in fact he hadn't even mentioned Harry participating in torture sessions or that he should learn to torture and to kill at all. Harry absolutely didn't understand it.

When he remembered how angry his adoptive father had been when he hadn't learned the Imperious Curse fast enough and as he had refused to torture and to kill Nell, it was even more unexplainable. Furthermore he hadn't participated in one single Death Eater assembly since their return. But the Dark Lord wasn't the only one who behaved rather strangely, Bella and Draco's parents did it as well. Draco had got the greatest shock of his life and hadn't been able to calm down for weeks as his father had behaved as if nothing had happened and had neither scolded him nor punished him.

His friends also hadn't any idea what this could mean. It seemed as if they were handled with kid gloves and of course they were guarded the whole day. Furthermore he had quickly realized that the adults had given them only books which didn't contain the more powerful spells and especially those curses which counted as the Darkest Magic. Harry had the strong suspicion that the adults didn't want them finding a spell which would break the curses on their doors and windows.

He assumed that it was one of the not so common curses. What was strange as well was that Caro and Draco weren't going home anymore as they had always done before they had run away but were now staying with him. Shaking his head he asked himself for the thousandth time what the Dark Lord had in mind. Nell took care of them and as Harry had quickly found out the Dark Lord had indeed spoken the truth when he had assured him that he hadn't done anything to the little house-elf.

Harry sighed sadly. He wished so much to be back at Godric's Hollow. That one week full of freedom had been just dreamlike. There they had been able to decide for themselves what to do. But Harry was determined once more to find a way to leave the castle which was currently only a prison for him

He wanted to flee from this insecure future which was causing him sleepless nights. He knew that his adoptive father was planning something; he could feel it every time his adoptive father regarded him with those strange piercing glances.

The thing which was bothering him extremely was how to solve the problem with Nell. He hadn't the slightest intention in leaving Nell behind. And of course he had to find an escape route. He turned around and his glance fell on the wooden box which was standing in one of the shelves. They had managed to hide Peter from the adults. Although it probably hadn't been very comfortable spending most of his time in there the last few months, he was still alive at least and, as long as he wasn't caught, in safety.

While looking at the wooden box he suddenly caught his breath. Had he been out of his mind the entire time that it hadn't occurred to him earlier? There he was trying to become an Animagus for one and a half years and to think that all this time Peter could have shown him and his friends how to turn into an animal. And perhaps this would even help them to escape. Furthermore, Peter could be of use to them in another way as well, Harry realised. His gaze was once again riveted on the monotonous falling snowflakes and his thoughts began to spin around his head as slowly a plan took shape. Although it was still a rather vague thought it was, however, the first time in months that his hopes of finding a way out rose again.

Sirius staggered and fell to his knees. His whole body was aching. Dazed he lifted his head and realised that he was at the graveyard. What on earth had happened? He had been hurled against some barrier. But how was that possible? Shakily he stood up and ran his hand over his forehead. He had had enormous luck that he hadn't splinched himself. He knew that such a thing only happened when the place of destination was equipped with wards but the charms which had once surrounded Godric's Hollow had been destroyed ten years ago, hadn't they?

Something was very wrong and he was determined to discover what it was. He took a deep breath and this time he apparated a way off the house. Standing on the deserted street he stared at the high trees which blocked the house from view. He quickly noticed that the house was indeed surrounded by wards. He lifted his wand and about an hour later he finally managed to get through.

As Sirius Black stepped in the garden he stopped dead in his tracks. Dizziness overcame him and black dots danced in front of his eyes. Unbelievingly he stared at the house which wasn't destroyed in the slightest. No, that couldn't be. Who on earth had done this? He stumbled, while trying to understand what had happened. Tightly clutching his wand he went slowly to the door and opened it. Surrounded by the light of his wand he entered and looked around carefully. On the floor lay a thin layer of dust. It seemed as if no one had been here for a long period of time.

But who had built Godric's Hollow up again? It should have been impossible. On tiptoe he stepped in direction of the living room. Then he leant against the door frame und shuddered while his heart began to pound painfully. He could see it in front of him; James and Lily sat on the soft thick blanket and watched how little Harry made his first attempts at walking; James and Lily who danced in the candle light shortly after their marriage. In this room they had told him that they expected a child and here they had asked him if he wanted to become Harry's godfather. His eyes burned as he went into the room.

He stepped on something and heard a rattling noise. Looking down he saw a photo frame. He bent down, picked it up and regarded it. He gasped and everything began to spin around him. He staggered to the settee and let himself fall while staring spellbound at the photo. That really wasn't possible. That couldn't be. But then he held his breath as he became aware of the fact that it was possible. They had never found Harry's body in the ruins of Godric's Hollow after all. Could it really be true that his godson was alive?

He stared at the photo.

The raven-haired boy with the radiant emerald eyes was standing in the middle and looked so like James that he just couldn't be mistaken. Furthermore he had Lily's emerald eyes.

His gaze fell on the two children who were standing next to Harry. On his right side a black- haired girl was standing. To his left he could see a silver-blond boy who looked almost like a younger version of Lucius Malfoy. Sirius nodded lightly. He remembered Lucius Malfoy well. Malfoy had been a sixth year when he had begun his first year in Hogwarts and from the very beginning he hadn't been able to stand the arrogant boy. But what did Harry have to do with Malfoy's son?

Where was he now? What had happened to Harry ten years ago? As he remembered an Order meeting which had taken place long ago he slapped his hand against his forehead. He was so blind. As he connected the pieces he groaned, appalled. Voldemort had taken Harry. That's why they hadn't been able to find his body. That's why Harry was staring at him from this photo, together with Lucius' son and Bellatrix Lestranges' daughter.

Pained, he closed his eyes. Harry was Voldemort's heir. It couldn't have been more ironical. But when Harry had been here, did he know who he was? Did he know that Voldemort had murdered his parents? So many questions spun around his head, nevertheless he felt as if he could float on a cloud. Harry was alive! His little godson was alive! Grinning from ear to ear he clutched the photo to himself as if it was his greatest treasure. Slowly he stood up.

Could it be that Harry would return here? Somehow he had to send him a message, he had to meet Harry. He had to ensure however that Harry would really get it. Perhaps Snape….As he thought of Snape his eyes widened. Snape had to know it! He had seen Harry, had even tried to abduct him. At that time he had laughed at his old enemy but now he realized with painful intensity that he would have given anything for Severus to have managed to kidnap his godson so many months ago.

Why for god's sake hadn't he told them that the son of the Dark Lord was Harry? Or was he really so unbelievingly blind that he hadn't seen it? Shaking his head he began to search through the other rooms. Perhaps Harry had left something else. As he didn't find anything additional he stepped into the garden and stared at the half moon which had appeared meanwhile in the sky.

"I vow that I'll bring Harry home, James, Lily. I'll bring Harry to safety. I'll take care of him, Lily. Don't worry, I'll never allow Harry to follow Voldemort!"

At the same time Hermione Granger was sitting in the Great Hall of Hogwarts, peering at the teacher's table and wondering where Sirius currently was. The Halloween feast had begun already a half hour ago and he still hadn't appeared. Shrugging her shoulders she turned again to her tasty chocolate cake, while her glance wandered over the artfully decorated hall.

The present head boy and girl had wanted to make a little enjoyment for everyone –despite everything that happened outside of Hogwarts – and had organized within a short time a real Halloween party. As her glance fell on Professor Snape she sighed. Every time he taught Potions she hated the subject, probably due to the fact that he only treated the Slytherins civilly to a degree.

However, since the sorting hat had put her in Gryffindor he was especially mean to her, Ron and Neville who had also landed in the same house. But when Professor Lennox was teaching Hermione loved Potions. It was really a downright shame that Alison wasn't always teaching. How Alison managed to have conversations with Snape was a complete mystery to Hermione. Suddenly she noticed that Remus rose with difficulty. He whispered something to Emily and hobbled towards the doors. The dull sound of his stick echoed through the hall. Hermione looked after him and flinched slightly.

She still hadn't got used to the sight of him. The injury which he had sustained fighting alongside the French resistance against the Dark Lord in one of the battles one and a half years ago would never heal again. Ever since then he taught Defence against the Dark Arts alone and didn't share the position with Sirius, Charlotte and Emily anymore. Sadly she shook her head. That he couldn't fight any longer had hit him hard. The only one who had managed since then to charm a smile on his face had been little Meggie. Where did he only want to go and where was Sirius?

Remus Lupin stared, blinking in bewilderment, at his friend who had almost run him down with shining eyes and completely out of breath and who had told him a moment ago that Harry was alive.

"What?" he asked.

"I was in Godric's Hollow, Remus! And in the house I found a photo. Look at it!"

Sirius held it out to him and Remus, who still didn't understand anything, took it. As he viewed it, his jaw dropped.

„ It is true, Remus. Harry is alive. Voldemort has taken him. We'll have to do something by any means possible!"

Remus leant against the wand, he felt dizzy. A while later he looked at Sirius.

"We'll have to inform, Albus," he said shakily, while he still couldn't believe what he had discovered an instant ago. Again he gazed at the photo. It couldn't just be a coincidence. He looked too much like James. A radiant smile appeared on Remus' face. A moment later the two friends set off to the Great Hall and Sirius began to tell Remus in greater detail what had occurred that evening.

Charlotte Black reached absentmindedly for her glass and worried about Sirius. Hopefully nothing had happened to him. Each time when he was alone she was filled with a dreadful fear that he would fall into the Death Eaters hands. But Sirius hadn't wanted her company. As always when he went to the graveyard he wanted to be alone. Shaking her head she looked to her sister and asked:

"Why couldn't they have gone together? In twos it is at least a bit safer."

Emily shrugged her shoulders.

"They want to be alone with their mourning. Remus still blames himself for the death of his friends. Don't worry, Charlotte, surely nothing will happen to them," she replied tiredly and Charlotte noticed how exhausted her sister looked. Turning her head towards her plate her gaze fell suddenly on two figures who headed straight to the teacher's table and smiling relief rushed through her as she recognized Sirius and Remus. Sirius went to Albus, bent down and, showing him something, he began to speak quietly.

Albus made an abrupt movement of his hand and his glass fell over, whose content soaked the table-cloth and Charlotte became more and more curious. Albus stood up and called the heads to him. After talking shortly with them he looked at those people who were sitting at the table,

"In ten minutes an Order meeting will be taking place," he announced, turned around and left the hall, while Sirius stepped to Charlotte and gave her a kiss.

"Oh, Charlotte, I could embrace the whole world," he murmured.

Smiling she looked up in his eyes.

"Why? What happened?"

„You'll hear it soon," he answered grinning from ear to ear and obviously he refused to satisfy her curiosity.

"Dad!" The three-year old Jamie called out of his highchair and Sirius picked him up and whirled him around laughing. Then he hugged his son to himself and whispered:

"Soon you'll have not only a big sister but also a big brother, Jamie."

Charlotte blinked uncomprehendingly and was just about to ask Sirius what he meant with that strange remark when she noticed out of the corner of her eye her sister stand up from the table and stagger slightly.

"Emily!"

Emily clung to Charlotte for a moment and shook her head.

"It's alright again. I was only a bit dizzy."

"Emily, love, you should rest. Come," Remus said worriedly while taking little Meggie in his arms.

Emily nodded and asked, looking at her sister:

"Shall I take Jamie along?"

As Remus and Emily left with the two children, Charlotte sighed. She could really not say that her life was boring. To all her worries and fears she now had to add her worry over her sister whose pregnancy was bothering her greatly.

As her bracelet gave a soft trill she looked at Sirius.

"We should go."

He nodded in approval and shortly afterwards they left the hall while Charlotte's gaze still searched for Hermione and winked quickly at the girl. Silently they walked along the corridors and a while later they reached Albus' office, in which a variety of members of the Order had already gathered. Charlotte sat next to Alison and quietly asked after Severus,

"He wanted to look after a potion," she replied while turning her eyes skywards. "Do you know what happened? As I delivered Lizzie to Emily I hardly recognised Remus. His eyes were actually shining."

Charlotte shook her head regretfully.

"No, Sirius didn't want to tell me. But if he and Remus are so happy about it, it can't be bad for a change," Charlotte reasoned and gazed to Albus who was regarding a photo with twinkling eyes.

Remus Lupin who had just entered the room waved at them and Charlotte gave him a smile. Charlotte eyed Remus and had to admit that Alison was right.

She hadn't seen her brother-in-law so happy for months. As the door opened and Severus, enveloped in a dark cloak, appeared Sirius jumped up and seized the newcomer at the collar and screamed,

"Why didn't you tell us?"

"Let go of me immediately, Black. I've not the faintest idea…"

"Sirius, let go of Severus and sit down. We want to begin," commanded Albus Dumbledore with a firm voice and Sirius, after casting Severus a not exactly friendly gaze, reluctantly took a seat. Albus smiled at all those present and said,

„I've called the today's meeting as Sirius has made an almost unbelievable discovery a while earlier. Sirius apparated to Godric's Hollow and to his greatest surprise he found this photo there."

Albus handed it Minerva who took it and shortly afterwards she gave a scream.

"Albus! That…" she stared at Albus and as he nodded beaming, she said,

"But how…? Is it really him?"

The photo was handed along and as Charlotte looked at it, she immediately recognized the boy, though she didn't understand why Sirius, Remus, Albus and Minerva seemed to be so very happy about a picture of Voldemort's son.

"That's Harry, Charlotte!" Sirius said and the photos of the Potters came into her mind. Confused she gave the photo to Alison while looking at Sirius' laughing face. As Severus was holding the picture in his hand the leader of the Order of the Phoenix asked with a smile,

"So this is Voldemort's son, Severus?"

He nodded clueless and Sirius banged his fist on the table.

"For god's sake, Snape! Are you blind? That's Harry, James' and Lily's son! Voldemort must have taken him along then!"

Severus eye's widened while Minerva gasped for air.

"But why are you so sure that this is not Voldemort's son?" Alison asked.

Sirius leaned forwards.

"Because now everything makes sense! We've never found Harry and he looks the same as James, only his eyes are Lily's. The age is also right. Such a great similarity just can't be an accident. Apart from this, Harry was in Godric's Hollow and has built it up again and only a Potter could have done this. So I assume he knows who he is, although I can't understand why Voldemort would have told him. Anyway we have to free him from Voldemort's clutches by any means."

"The question is only how." Albus threw in and looked at an ocean of helpless faces. Frowning, the headmaster of Hogwarts continued:

"Apart from this I worry more about the fact that Severus hasn't seen the children for months."

Sirius felt fear rise in him. That he had completely forgotten! Two months after Snape had told them that the raven-haired boy was Voldemort's son; Albus had wanted to know if he had made any progress in drawing the boy to their side. The spy had given the surprising answer that he hadn't seen the boy for weeks, nor the other children. Sirius remembered he had been too worried over Remus to be able to listen attentively in the Order assemblies.

"You haven't seen him since then?" he asked unbelievingly.

Severus shook his head with a sour expression.

"No. The last what I heard from him was when he sent me a letter and demanded me to send him a vial of Veritaserum. That was, however, one and a half years ago."

"But they just can't have disappeared into thin air!" Sirius protested.

"Apparently, they have," Severus replied unmoved.

"And what shall we do now?"

Albus Dumbledore sighed heavily.

"I don't know. I don't know, Sirius."