Chapter 46 - End of Third Year
Nobody at Hogwarts now knew the truth of what had happened the night that Sirius, Buckbeak, and Pettigrew had vanished except the four of us and Professor Dumbledore. The exam results came out on the last day of term. We had passed every subject. Harry was amazed that he had got through Potions, Snape's behaviour toward Harry over the past week had been quite alarming. Harry wouldn't have thought it possible that Snape's dislike for him could increase, but it certainly had. A muscle twitched unpleasantly at the corner of Snape's thin mouth every time he looked at Harry, and he was constantly flexing his fingers, as though itching to place them around Harry's throat. On the other hand Snape was treating me completely indifferently, blanking me out all through every class and ignoring me every time I put my hand up to answer a question, I just hoped he'd get over the whole thing by next year. It was on the train back home when Hermione gave us some news. "I went to see Professor McGonagall this morning, just before breakfast. I've decided to drop Muggle Studies."
"But you passed your exam with three hundred and twenty percent!" said Ron.
"I know," sighed Hermione, "but I can't stand another year like this one. That Time-Turner, it was driving me mad. I've handed it in. Without Muggle Studies and Divination, I'll be able to have a normal schedule again."
"I still can't believe you didn't tell us about it," said Ron grumpily. "We're supposed to be your friends."
"I promised I wouldn't tell anyone," said Hermione severely.
"You did tell Ash." Harry pointed out while he was gazing out of the window looking back towards Hogwarts, I know he never liked to return home but he seemed worse this year.
"Oh, cheer up, Harry!" said Hermione sadly.
"I'm okay," said Harry quickly. "Just thinking about the holidays."
"Yeah, I've been thinking about them too," said Ron. "Harry, you've got to come and stay with us. I'll fix it up with Mum and Dad, then I'll call you. I know how to use a fellytone now -"
"A telephone, Ron," I corrected.
"Honestly, you should take Muggle Studies next year..." Hermione added exasperatedly, Ron ignored her.
"It's the Quidditch World Cup this summer! How about it, Harry? Come and stay, and we'll go and see it! Dad can usually get tickets from work." Ron finished, Harry cheered up dramatically at that.
"Yeah... I bet the Dursleys'd be pleased to let me come... especially after what I did to Aunt Marge..." Harry trailed off, I snorted.
"Blown up bitch." I sang merrily. "I can't wait for the cup, I'm going to use all the money I earned from Vander's and get me and Moony some really good seats."
"What if he doesn't want to?" Hermione enquired.
"Tough shit." I cackled.
"Are you excited to meet the triplets?" Hermione gushed, I knew she was.
"Yes, they will be Gryffindors by the time I finished." I smirked.
"Don't you think maybe your brother thought that about you and Slytherin?" Harry asked me.
"Well they didn't do it well enough." I replied dryly. "I just hope I'm in the house for more than two minutes before someone has a go."
"It might be different this year, because of the babies." Hermione said hopefully.
"And it might be worse." Ron chimed in. "Have you ever seen babies, all they do is cry and shit everywhere? I don't know why anyone would want them, parents don't get sleep so they're grumpier. You think your dad was bad last year, just you wait."
"Thanks for the vote of confidence, Ronald." I sighed, I wanted to get to know my new little family, I'll probably never have any more siblings, and I got quite broody for the rest of the journey thinking about my Father. I had no idea why he insisted in treating me different to the others just because I'm a Gryffindor. He married a Gryffindor for Merlin's sake. I always thought it was perhaps I'm too much like Mum and not enough like Dad compared to the others which is a bit egotistical.
"Harry, what's that thing outside your window?" said Hermione suddenly, peering over his shoulder, bringing me out of my thoughts, saw that it was a tiny owl, carrying a letter that was much too big for it. The owl was so small, in fact, that it kept tumbling over in the air, buffeted this way and that in the train's slipstream. Harry quickly pulled down the window, stretched out his arm, and caught it and brought it carefully inside. The owl dropped its letter onto Harry's seat and began zooming around their compartment, apparently very pleased with itself for accomplishing its task. Hedwig, Dion and Griffin clicked their beaks with a sort of dignified disapproval. Crookshanks sat up in his seat, following the owl with his great yellow eyes. Ron, noticing this, snatched the owl safely out of harm's way.
"Ginny would love that little thing." I snorted. Harry picked up the letter then smiled brilliantly.
"It's from Sirius." He shouted as he ripped it open, I squeezed in next to him to read it.
Dear Harry and Ash,
I hope this finds you before you reach your get to your guardians. I don't know if Harry's Aunt and Uncle are used to owl post. Buckbeak and I are in hiding. I won't tell you where, in case this owl falls into the wrong hands. I have some doubt about his reliability, but he is the best I could find, and he did seem eager for the job. I believe the dementors are still searching for me, but they haven't a hope of finding me here. I am planning to allow some Muggles to glimpse me soon, a long way from Hogwarts, so that the security on the castle will be lifted.
I would also like to apologize to the both of you and once again to Ron for the various frights I have inadvertently given over the past year. And yes Harry, the dog you saw when you left your uncle's house was me. I had only hoped to get a glimpse of you before starting my journey north, but I think the sight of me alarmed you. I don't believe I would have had a hope at a glimpse of you while you were with Remus as he would have known who it was immediately, though I'm not sure I would have seen you had you been at home with your family.
As for the owl, I'm sure you can find someone who wants the little thing.
If ever you need me, send word. Your owls will find me.
I'll write again soon but I hope to see you soon.
Sirius Orion Black.
"I'm glad he's alright." I grinned and leaned against Harry as he re-read it before passing it to Hermione and Ron to read. When we finally got off the train both Harry and I were cheered up, I dragged Harry and Ron to meet my new baby siblings. I saw mum, dad and Abe standing at the wall near the exit back to Kings Cross. Abe was holding a baby while Mum held the other two. "Mum!" I cried as soon as I saw her.
"Rory-bug." Mum grinned at me calling me my toddler nickname.
"Rory-bug?" Harry asked.
"Shut up." I replied.
"Meet your baby sister." Mum said as she handed over a little baby girl with pale pink skin and a tuft of light brown her with bright blue eyes that matched mine and mums, she was beautiful. I carefully cradled her as Hermione cooed next to me.
"Hello, Princess." I cooed as she gurgled at me.
"She is so cute." Hermione whispered as she tickled little Arianna's chin.
"You can hold her if you want Hermione." Mum said smiling, 'Mione's eyes widened and she nodded so I passed her into Hermione's arms carefully.
"Now I haven't got a baby to hold." I whined playfully making mum chuckle.
"I've missed you darling girl, here have Aston Lee." Mum replied before handing me the other little boy in her arms. Aston also had the same eyes as me, Mum and Ari but they looked very mischievous, especially for a baby that Arianna didn't have and instead for light hair like Ari, Aston had very dark hair. "He has the exact same naughty eyes you had as a baby.
"He is definitely a Gryffindor baby." I declared. "He has the eyes, don't you my little lion?" I cooed as I saw Allie ran over. I looked at Harry and Ron who were still stood behind me silently and grinned.
"Do you hear that baby, not even out of diapers and you're being housed by big sis." Harry chuckled. "You're lucky to have such a big sis, I know I am."
"Damn right you are." I replied.
"Language, Ash. Do you want your siblings first words to be a swear word?" Hermione scolded me.
"See Mum, it doesn't matter if I'm away from you, I still have a Mum." I grinned at my mum as they both rolled their eyes.
"Hi Mum, Hi Daddy, can I hold him, Abe?" Allie ordered.
"Of course dear sister." Abe replied dramatically before giving over baby Alec to Allie.
"I'd better go to my Mum and Dad, I'll see you soon, Ash. Thank you, Mrs. Hyde." Hermione said as she handed Arianna back to her Mummy.
"You're welcome, Hermione and please call me Shawna." Mum replied and smiled at my bestie. I hugged her too and promised to owl before she left. Ron left next with the rest of the Weasley's before Ginny and Molly cooed over the triplets and Arthur congratulated them on having an official brood. I walked Harry to his aunt and uncle while still carrying Aston.
"What's that?" Vernon snarled, staring at the envelope Harry was still clutching in his hand. "If it's another form for me to sign, you've got another..."
"It's not," said Harry cheerfully. "It's a letter from my godfather."
"Our godfather." I corrected grinning.
"Godfather?" sputtered Uncle Vernon. "You haven't got a godfather!"
"Yes, I have," said Harry brightly. "He was my mum and dad's best friend. He's a convicted murderer, but he's broken out of wizard prison and he's on the run. He likes to keep in touch with me, though... keep up with my news... check if I'm happy..."
"And who is this?" Petunia asked suspiciously who had stayed silent.
"Mine and Harry's love-child. We named him Lion, he has to stay with you as my parents won't allow it." I replied sweetly, there jaws did drop then.
"What have you done?" Vernon said in a deathly whisper. I grinned at him.
"I'm kidding you naive twats, I'm thirteen. Things aren't that different in the wizarding world, in fact it's stricter. You must marry before you have children and divorce is not allowed. You lot have sixteen year olds having bastard babies in your culture." I finished my tirade glaring at them.
"This is Aston Hyde, Ash's new baby brother. Her mum just had triplets." Harry corrected me grinning like an idiot.
"He's still my little Lion. A future Gryffindor, just like Lily was. I'd better get back, I've told you three before he had better not be mistreated. Don't forget anyone can do accidental magic and he can't get into trouble for it just like he did to your sister, Vernon. You hurt him, you have my werewolf Uncle, our escaped convict godfather and me. And I recently dabbled in the dark magic this year, magic that has known to drive people mad and I would have great pleasure in doing the same to you." I smirked evilly at them. "Luckily for you, Harry will be at yours only until the world cup. I'll see you soon, Harry."
"See you later, Rory-bug." He replied making me roll my eyes before I returned to my family with my gurgling baby brother.