Chapter 10
"Third year sure will be tense, again." Harry mumbled while reading the paper.
Sirius Black, escaped from Azkaban!
He shoved ice cream into his mouth, a slow smile making its way onto his face. "Sirius Black is desperate to take revenge on Pettigrew, is he not? We'll let him. More room for us to get those horcruxes if Dumbledore is too busy keeping Black away." 'You do know he's your godfather?' "So? Black is only a convenient distraction." 'Well said.' Lelita said. Harry stood up and headed to the floo. He had some Weasleys to meet in a few hours.
He appeared in Diagon Alley in record time and went to wait inside the Leaky Cauldron. On his way in he bumped into a man. "Oh sorry, I didn't see…you there." The man's face dawned with recognition. "Harry, is that you?" Harry nodded. "Yes. Do I know you?" Harry asked, subtly sniffing the air. 'Werewolf.' Lelita said, recognizing the scent. The werewolf smiled. "Of course not. My name is Remus Lupin. I'm the new DADA professor." Harry smiled happily. "Well, good luck teaching at Hogwarts. The oddest things happen to the DADA professors." This did not seem to deter the man. "Hopefully that won't happen to little old me." The man chuckled. Harry laughed along. He then outstretched his hand for a shake. "You might know me but I'll introduce myself anyway. Harry James Potter." Lupin shook it. "It's good to meet you Harry."
Lupin's face saddened as nostalgia settled in. "The last time I was you, you were a little baby." "You knew my parents?" Harry asked hopefully. Lupin nodded. "We were good friends, me and your parents. You look just like James but your eyes… they are a spitting replica of your mother's." Harry nodded, smiling widely. He gestured to a chair. "You can join me. I am waiting for fore some people so you can sit down a bit. Maybe you can tell me more about my parents. That is if you want?" Lupin waved off his awkward question. "I'd like that."
The two sat down to talk for the next couple of hours, reminiscing on the Potters and their memory. For some reason, Lupin talked nothing of Pettigrew even though he mentioned the Marauders. Harry guessed Lupin did not want to burden him with the knowledge, or he did not want to face his guilt. "Mr. Lupin, can you tell me what happened that night my parents were murdered. Everything I've heard so far is speculation at best."
Lupin paled a bit, but he was saved from answering by the arrival of the Weasleys. "Harry, there you are!" Molly Weasley shouted, getting both of their attention along with that of the whole building. Lupin sighed in relief. Harry stood up to meet them. "Mr. and Mrs. Weasley. You have arrived." Mrs. Weasley gave him a big hug, making Harry wince in repulsion. "I'm sorry to have kept you, dear. I hope you didn't get too lonely." Harry smiled when she pulled back, subtly applying a freshening charm on himself. "Don't worry mam, you didn't keep me waiting that long."
He drew away from Mrs. Weasley to greet the rest of the brood to be polite. For some reason the children were wary of him, Ginny went as far as avoiding any contact with him, preferring to hide behind the twins who were glaring at him. He turned back to the adults to find Arthur staring at him intensely and Molly frowning. They pasted on hasty smiles as soon as they noticed he was looking. Molly quickly ushered the children outside to do their shopping while Arthur stayed back to talk to Lupin. 'Odd. What is going on here?' 'I don't know, but stay on your guard.' Lelita cautioned.
The shopping was uneventful and boring, but Harry bore with it. When they were done they went back to the Leaky Cauldron for lunch. The children stayed far away from Harry but the boy ignored them, silently eating his meal. "Harry we booked some rooms for you and Ron to share tonight, then when we wake up tomorrow morning we would go to catch the Hogwarts express. "Thank you Mrs. Wealsey but there was no need for that. I have already prepared a room for myself. "Good riddance." Ron mumbled. Molly just smiled at him. Harry excused himself and climbed the stairs to his room.
Molly turned to scold Ron. "Ron there was no need to be so rude!" Ron glared at her. "But mom we told you what he did." "Harry did not do anything. He is an angel, he would never do something like that." George and Fred cut in, alternating. "He's an angel…" "…Which is why it is more…" "…likely that he would…" "…do it." "He's right mom. Harry can't be perfect in everything. There is probably something he is hiding." Ron said. "Like skeletons in his closet." Fred added. Molly scowled. "Harry does not have skeletons in his closet! Harry did not try to kill anyone." Ginny said "But mom I saw it with my own eyes! Harry is the one who left me in that bathroom!" "Quiet Ginny or everyone will hear you!" Molly hissed. "Now put this nonsense to rest."
"Molly dear, perhaps the children are not lying." Molly's eyes widened in disbelief while the children smiled in hope. "Not you too Arthur!" Arthur raised his palm for her to calm down. "Harry might not have done it but he also might have. We don't know. Let us not jump to conclusions until we find proof." "And how do you suppose we do that?" Percy asked. Arthur replied. "We will tell Dumbledore. He will know what to do."
~Scene Change~
Late that night when all the Weasleys were asleep an owl flew into Harry's window carrying a package. He took the package gently from the owl and fed it some owl treats along with something to drink. The owl cooed thankfully and fed before it left. Once alone Harry checked the package for unusual spells. He deemed it safe to open the package. Inside the box settled within a cushion, there was a palm-sized sapphire-colored crystal. With a smirk, Harry picked up the round crystal carefully. "He did it." 'So when are you going to do it?' Lelita inquired. Harry replied. "At the night of a full moon on Hallow's Eve in the Chamber." He conjured an unbreakable glass ball and placed the crystal in it then put it inside a special compartment in his trunk.