CHAPTER 6

"Hm…" Ginny said while studying the note, "I can't make it out…" She turned the note on it's side in attempts to try to find a hidden meaning or way to read it. "Linda, can you read this? I have no idea what it says…"

"Ginny…you really are a bright one aren't you?" Linda replied. "Read the words backwards…" Linda waited as Ginny let the words sink in…'Meet me by the lake at lunch. Don't bring anyone.' "I wonder who wrote it?" Ginny pondered this before Linda nudged her hard in the ribs as professor Snape burst into the dungeon.

"Welcome again…you pathetic worms to potions…open your books to page 54 and read…" Professor Snape had finished this statement, but Ginny was too interested in worrying from where the note came from to care. She only took notice when she realized that her book was lying shut as he started waltzing through the rows. She snapped it open to page 54 and started reading in her head: "Encoded messages have been written around the world from the beginning of time. Ancient Egyptians may be the most famous of the ancient civilizations with their hieroglyphics, pictures used to tell stories. When first discovered…"

By the end of the class half of the class was on the verge of falling asleep. Ginny took a chance at glancing around and found Michael, sitting in the corner, bruised to Hell. She looked quickly away as his angered eyes stared intently on her. In the other corner was Colin Creevy, his camera by his side as always. He was reading intently as his fingers drummed on the hard surface of the desk.

In front of Michael sat a girl that Ginny had never once talked to. She had been rumored to be a dementor for the longest of times, but the claim was quickly dismissed when she about fainted when one day seeing a spider. Ginny smirked at the memory and quickly returned to her reading. She read the words…but in her in mind she kept going through the many faces of Hogwarts…trying to find one that suited the letter.

"Malfoy!" Pansy bellowed as he turned around to face her. "What are you doing? Associating with that…little red-headed bitch!" Pansy's face was pulled back in a sneer of rage. How could Malfoy even think of talking…as far as writing to her? He was hers!

"Pansy, it's nothing of your concern. Now…go find something to do," he waved his hand as she stalked off. He looked out at the lake, at the giant squid surfacing in the water, and thought of Ginny Weasley, and what he would tell her IF she came to the lake at lunch.

The day passed normally until lunch. The students crowded out of the rooms and to the dining hall. Neville, after finally growing a little, wasn't pushed around anymore. Many of the young girls had actually taken to him, who would have thought?! At lunch the mail came, along with a few howlers and the newspapers.

Harry ate lunch as Hedwig came flying through an open window with a yellowed scroll. As it dropped on the table, Harry's eyes filled with tears as he recognized the sealing symbol as his godfathers: Sirius Black.

"It can't be…" Harry looked at the envelope, untouched. "He died…I've accepted it. He died…I saw him. Oh god…" Harry, in running to the bathroom, barely made it there without throwing up on himself. "He can't be…" he threw up breakfast, "he's dead. I saw him…" he threw up vial. When he started to do some drive heaves he slowly calmed himself down.

"You alright mate?" Ron asked from behind the stall door, "I saw the envelope…I don't blame you. I'd have thrown up…or worse!" Harry didn't answer. He didn't want to answer. What was in the envelope? She he be scared or happy? Was it really of Sirius? It had to be, his gut instinct told him it was. "I'll slip it under the door. Here it comes." The letter shot out from under the door and stopped short of Harry's foot. On it, in Sirius's handwriting, was Harry.

Harry picked up the envelope, and with hands shaking he carefully broke the seal, a cursive S, and opened the letter. He didn't know what to expect, only that he had nothing left to throw up, but plenty of tears.