Chapter 2

Disclaimer: The main characters belong to JK Rowling (at least, their names do), but the setting, plot and some other characters are mine.

A/N: Oopsy, forgot the disclaimer last time, shame on me (looks downcast). Anyways, thank you for the reviews, they made me happy. And for future reference, I have decided that any future flames will be used to roast my English teacher, who I don't like all that much.

Paddycake Padfoot: So LA smells too? I was thinking more San Francisco, I think it's all the seafood that does it. Your name is cool too; it reminds me of my friend, who's slightly mad but very fun to be around.

lampshadesrgreat: Where did you think of that name? Everyone seems to like AU these days (I include myself in that).

shadow-seraph: Out of interest, do you know why your review got posted five times? And thanks for telling me about the anonymous reviews, I didn't realise and I've fixed it now.

Cherry0214: Harry's life will suck slightly later on. I think. I find making my characters too happy in a story ultimately makes me hate them, after which I usually find a quick and thorough way of wrecking their life!

Anegativegrl: Maybe that's Draco's secret. Maybe it isn't. Wait and see! Your confidence is most reassuring, and I'll do my best to keep updating. I have another fic going (Harry Potter and the Stars of Silver) at the same time, but I'm way ahead of myself on that, so I can just keep posting all the chapters I've already written and focus on this.

madam-malicia: Thanks for the reassurance. Please tell me when I do make a mistake as I'm kind of clueless on America!

Thank you all, cookies! (::)(::)(::)(::)(::)(::) That's one each.

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By the end of the week, it felt to Harry as if he and Draco had been friends for years. Draco had fitted right in and seemed quite at ease at Minster, and everyone had happily accepted him.

So it was that, last thing on Friday, Draco, Harry, Ron and 'Mione were all walking together down the lengthy flight of stairs that led them towards their first lesson of the year with the delightful Mr Snape.

"And don't speak unless you're spoken to," Harry said in a low voice, continuing the stream of advice they had been giving Draco on how to cope with Snape.

"Always do the homework," Ron added, "or he'll kill you."

'Mione gave him a withering look. "Some of us do homework anyway, Ron. Generally speaking it is the shrewd thing to do."

Ron shuffled uncomfortably. "I just mean that if you haven't done your homework for Snape's lesson, it's best to go to the sick bay for the rest of the day rather than trying to come up with an excuse."

'Mione sighed exasperatedly and muttered something reproachful about skiving. Ron was starting to look a little annoyed at her constant reprimands, but fortunately they reached the lab at this point, and entered.

They sat at the back, glad they were early. The back row was the most coveted place to sit in Snape's lessons, on the grounds that the further you sat away from him, the less likely he was to pick on you. As the class filtered in, they were joined by Melfin and, after a scuffle over the last two seats, Dean Thomas and Seamus Finnigan from their homeroom class.

Five minutes later, Snape swept in. He placed a pile of books on his desk and began taking attendance.

"Marisa Andrews."

"Yes sir."

"Susan Bones."

"Yes sir."

And so it went on, through the Cs and Ds, until...

"Melanie Findorran."

"Yes sir, but please may I be called Melfin?" The class fell still and silent as the grave. Only Melfin would dare to ask a question. She sat defiantly on the end of the back row, looking straight at Snape.

His face betrayed no anger, simply a look of boredom and mild contempt. He ignored her question, ticked her name on the list and carried on as before.

Roll call was followed by his customary 'welcome to the year and if you blow up the lab your lives will not be worth a prayer' speech. After that, textbooks and paper were handed out, and the class were forced to copy out a long and boring explanation of the useful and non-useful properties of acids.

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Despite it only being their first lesson, Snape gave them a pile of homework, which Harry was contemplating that evening when the phone rang shrilly. He ignored it completely and didn't move from his comfortable position (sprawled on his back on his bed) either to get his books or do anything else. A minute later though, his bored dozing was interrupted when his mother entered his room. Harry sat up; Lily never came into his room without knocking.

"What's up mom?"

Lily ran a hand through her dark red hair, looking concerned. "It's Sirius."

"What?" Harry sat up straighter at the mention of his godfather's name by his flustered looking mother, who was usually so calm. "What is it?"

"He... oh, God, well you know he was doing a jump today?"

Harry nodded. Sirius had a legendary love of parachuting, never listening to anyone trying to tell him how dangerous it was.

Lily bit her lip. "Well, he had an accident. That was the hospital..." She trailed off, looking like she was about to cry. She sat down on the edge of Harry's bed and he put his arm round her shoulders. Sirius was his parents' closest friend; he was the one who had set them up in the first place. He could understand why she was so upset.

"How- how is he?"

"He's not too good, but he's conscious – he asked them to call us. They say he can have visitors tomorrow, and I can't even go! I can't let Debbie down, she's got that girls' basketball match tomorrow morning and your dad and I have to go..."

"Yeah, but you can make it to the hospital in the afternoon, right?" Harry asked gently. "And you can take Debbie with you then. I'll go in the morning if you want. I can get a bus over there."

"Would you, honey?" Lily looked at him gratefully. "That'd be great, he'd be really glad to see you."

"No problem," Harry answered, smiling reassuringly. "Now go tell dad and Deb."

As soon as Lily left the room, closing the door behind her, he glanced at his watch and stood up. He walked across his room and took his cell phone out of his school bag, before sitting back down and quickly dialling Draco's number.

After about four rings, Draco picked up. "Harry? Why are you ringing my cell? Is everything OK?"

"Yeah, kind of. It's just... my godfather had an accident today-"

"Oh my God! Is he OK?"

"Well, that's the thing. He's in hospital, and I promised my mom I'd go tomorrow morning, but I really hate hospitals..."

"Want me to come with you?"

"Would you?"

"Yeah sure, if you want the company. Do you?"

"Yeah, that'd be great, thanks Draco."

"No prob. You getting a bus over?"

"Yeah, though I would."

"OK. There's a stop like right near my house. If you can get over here then we can catch one to the hospital?"

"Mm-hm. Is it OK if I get a lift over to yours about ten? Just that my mom and dad're taking Debbie to this basketball match she's playing in tomorrow morning."

"Yeah, that's fine. See you about ten then. You know the way here, don't you?"

"Yep, it's 52 Maple Avenue, right?"

"Yep. See you tomorrow morning."

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Harry arrived at Draco's house at five to ten on Saturday, and was let in by Draco's mother. She was blonde like her son, and had the same intelligent look. She introduced herself as Izzy, and told Harry to go straight up as Draco was nearly ready.

Harry climbed the stairs and followed Izzy's directions to the last room on the landing. He knocked twice and waited.

"Come in!" Draco's voice floated through from the room. Harry opened the door and stepped in.

Draco's room was shockingly tidy. Everything looked organised and neat. Draco himself was standing in the middle of the room, and he turned as Harry went in. "Hi." His hair was damp and was flopping into his eyes. He was wearing black cords and a Green Day T-shirt, and as he spoke he stepped into a pair of sneakers, then grabbed a grey hoodie off the back of a chair and tied it round his waist. "So you've met my mom, then."

Harry nodded. "She seemed nice."

Draco smiled, clearly pleased with this comment. "Yeah, she's great. So, let's go shall we?"

They arrived at the hospital at half past ten, and found Reception. Harry spoke to the receptionist.

"Um, hi. I'm here to see Sirius Black. He was brought in yesterday, parachuting incident."

She tapped a few words into the computer. "Oh, yes. Are you family?"

"No, I'm his godson. My name's Harry. You called my parents last night, he asked for us."

She nodded. "OK. Ward 6C, along that corridor there, take the second left and follow the signs."

Harry thanked her and he and Draco set off.

Ward 6C was quite easy to find, and it wasn't long before Harry found himself face-to-face with one of the nurses. He introduced himself again. The nurse smiled.

"Oh yes, he's been asking for you. He already has a visitor-" she lowered her voice "-his sweetheart in fact. He's been talking about it all morning. Just go straight in, he's in the fourth bed on the right."

Harry thanked her and stepped into the ward, closely followed by Draco. He found the bed, and saw with relief that Sirius didn't look too badly hurt. He couldn't see the visitor's face, as their back was to him. Then the visitor turned around and nearly fell off their chair at the sight of the two boys. For their part, Harry and Draco both stared, amazed, at the familiar face of Sirius's 'sweetheart'.

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A/N: Mwahaha! I hope this counts as a cliffie and it's not majorly obvious what – or rather who – is going on here. Remember, cookies are on offer! I beg of you, if you read this please review! And I've just realised I have a source of Americanisms – my English teacher happens to be from Iowa.