Author's Note:

DISCLAIMER: I do not own Dobby's warning — but as always, I changed it a bit. Thank you, JKR. And I know it is out of order as Dobby does not appear at the end of the summer but the beginning, but I have my reasons for making it the end as you will soon see.

And maybe I have a few other surprises up my sleeve as well.

Reviews and Comments: To alix33: Haha, Zee doesn't know McGonagall so she has no idea what she's in for outside of knowing she is important to Sirius and that there is no one he respects more. I think if Luna was put in Slytherin, it would certainly turn some heads! But she is definitely not a Slytherin. To Sleepyhawk502: Thank you! To Guest: Thank you! I think it makes sense for him to befriend Seamus and Dean as well. Yes, McGonagall liked Zee. To Saz: Closer, but not yet!

Thank you very much for reading and please, please review!

Your reviews give me life! They give me inspiration! And they make me want to keep writing for more than just myself! Thank you!

CHAPTER SEVENTY-EIGHT:

The One With the Proud Enough To Cry Letter

When Sirius arrived in front of Zee's front door the next afternoon, he had a bouquet of purple hyacinths in his hand. The manager of The Potterer Herbological Centre had told him that they represented the perfect sincere apology flower. While Sirius knew that he and Zee were all right, he also was well aware of the fact that over the last few days she hadn't said anything to him about their so called break-up due to Harry's birthday celebrations. They still needed to talk and he was incredibly grateful to her for giving him the chance to talk to her.

He knocked on the door, smiling at her when she tugged it open. She was wearing a purple floor length strap-less dress and her hair was tugged back in a long braid.

"These are for you," he said, passing her the flowers.

Zee smiled back, accepting the flowers. "Is this the only way you know how to properly grovel? By giving me flowers?"

"Hyacinths," he corrected. "I was told they represent a sincere apology. I am really very sorry, Zee."

Zee nodded and stepped back to let him into her home. "I'm going to put these in water, but we do have to talk, Sirius."

He swallowed audibly and took a seat on the couch as Lady Godiva eyed him from her spot on the hearth. Zee came back a few minutes later with the flowers in a glass vase and she placed them on the coffee table.

"The hyacinths are beautiful, thank you."

"You're welcome."

Zee stood in front of him for a moment and then she sighed. "Let's go in the back." He nodded and followed her out on the patio, sitting next to her on the bench swing. Zee crossed her legs, turning to look at him. "Just let me talk for a moment, okay?"

"Okay," Sirius said carefully, leaning back against the swing and turning himself to face her.

"I've been as bad as you at not being willing to define this relationship. I love my life, Sirius. I love my job. I love this house. I love spending time with you. You make me smile and you make me laugh. We can talk about anything and everything and it's so wonderful and refreshing to have someone to share that with. I travel a lot and realistically even though we started whatever this is before Halloween, we've only truly spent about three months together. But, I think we can both agree that they've been pretty wonderful. I know how important Harry is to you and I would never do anything to jeopardize that relationship."

"Zee —"

"— No," she interrupted. "Please let me finish." When he nodded she took a deep breath. "I can't imagine what you felt in June when you sped out of here to see your son in the hospital wing… to learn that he had come face to face with You Know Who again… the world thinks You Know Who is gone and Merlin knows that I hope he never regains his powers, but he was still a danger to Harry in June and I know how terrified you were. I know that Harry wasn't always with you and you told me that his Muggle relatives mistreated him and you have the biggest heart of anyone that I've ever known. I understand why the thought of him being unhappy was enough for you to push me away. I get it. I really, truly understand your motives completely."

"But you don't agree with them."

"No! You are foolish and stupid man," she said, suddenly angry. "You deserve to be happy and the way that you came over here and made up those bullshit lies about only being in it for the sex, about only shagging me because I live next door and it's convenient — that was hurtful, Sirius! Not just for the lies, but because I know that while we haven't labelled this thing between us, it is more than just simply convenient."

"Zee—"

"— It is more than that, Sirius," she exclaimed. "We spend time together. We've gone on long motorbikes rides together. I spend hours watching you work on the bikes. I've spent time working on the bikes with you. We cook together, we spend hours just talking, and yes we shag a lot, and that is just as wonderful but… Remus was right a while back, we're more than just friends with benefits. This is… this is the start of something…"

Sirius swallowed slowly. "Can I talk now?"

She nodded and he sighed.

"I care about you, Zee. I care about you more than I've ever cared about anyone before. I like doing all of those things with you but… I don't know if I'm honestly ready to be in a serious relationship with anyone. Harry is… he's the first and last priority in my life."

"As he should be," Zee told him. "I expect him to be and I don't want that to change."

He nodded, his eyes on her big brown ones. "I like it the way that we are right now, this friends with benefits thing. I like having you to myself. I like being with you and introducing you to my friends: To Minnie, to Rem, to Tonks, to Andy, to Ted… you're the only woman I've ever invited into Harry's life. I like spending time with you as this friends with benefits thing, but… if you need something more … I'm willing to try," he told her, his eyes on hers.

Zee smiled at him. "Sirius, to be honest, I don't know if I'm ready for a serious relationship either, but what I do know is that I really love spending time with you, having really spectacular sex with you, and I know that if I really let myself go, if I took a moment to think about it — I could fall head over heels in love with you like that," she said, snapping her fingers, "and that scares me because I don't think that I'm ready for that."

Sirius reached forward and took her hand in his, bringing the left one to his lips. "I care about you too, Zee."

She smiled at him. "I know that because you introduced me to Minerva yesterday. I know that you love her like a mother."

He grinned. "She thinks you're good for me."

She leaned in and kissed him softly. "I think that if we give this a chance, we're both rather good for each other."

Sirius leaned in and nipped gently at her bottom lip. "I agree with that. Zahira, I know I messed up by hurting you the way that I did, but I want you to know that you're important to me, that I don't want to lose you from my life. You've completely bewitched me, woman," he said, nipping at her mouth. "And I plan to spend as long as it takes making it up to you until you've forgiven me for the awful things that I said to you."

Zee wrapped her arms around his neck. "That could take a while," she said. "I'm leaving first thing in the morning and you do have a lot to make up for."

Sirius' planted hot open-mouthed kisses down her throat. "I'm willing to try if you are." When his tongue slid under her dress and between her breasts, her head fell back.

"I suppose I could let you try to make it up to me a little before I leave."

He smirked against her skin, tugging the dress down over her full naked breasts, his tongue teasing her nipple. "Let me make it up to you."

Her hands slid into his hair as his mouth worked her breast. "Go on then."

Sirius grinned at her and lowered his head to her breasts again. As long as it took, he was willing to grovel to her because he happened to agree with McGonagall, he did think Zee was good for him, and he knew one thing — he didn't want to lose her.

And he damn well knew exactly how lucky he was to be here with her right now and he was going to show her.

No matter how many hours it took, he thought with a grin as he knelt before her. No matter how long he would be forced to spend on his knees. He lifted her dress, his head slipping beneath it. He kissed her through her knickers, she trembled. Yes, he would definitely grovel as long as they both needed him to.

And then his mouth was showing her just how much he was willing to make it up to her.

~ ASC ~

It was mid August before they finally coordinated a Diagon Alley day, Harry begging Sirius to meet up with Ron and Hermione to get their back to school supplies. Sirius had agreed as they headed to Madam Malkin's first to get Harry his new robes. His shirts were okay for another year, but his pants were all too short as were his robes. Harry stood patiently on the stool as the seamstress measured him.

They got his new potion supplies and more snacks for Hedwig before Harry tugged out his Hogwarts envelope. He hadn't even opened it yet and he did so now, staring at the book list in surprise.

"There's a lot of new books here, Uncle Siri!"

Sirius glanced at the parchment, eyes widening. "Of course, how else is the prat going to sell any copies?"

"What prat?" Harry asked, but he was distracted by Hermione waving at him from outside of Flourish and Blotts. She was standing with her dad and who he assumed must be her mother. "Hey, Hermione. Hi, Mr Granger, Mrs Granger."

"Harry, look!" Hermione squealed in excitement. "They're doing a book signing for Lockhart! He wrote our entire set list and we actually get to meet him! That's so exciting!"

Harry stared down at the list again. "Yeah, I just noticed that. Have you seen Ron?"

"Harry!" Ron called out, making him turn as he saw his friend coming towards them with most of the Weasley family.

Ginny was holding Mrs Weasley's hand tightly and grinning widely. "Hi, Harry! I just got my wand! It was my birthday present from Bill! It's yew and has a unicorn tail hair!"

Harry grinned back at her. "That's great, Gin."

Sirius put his hand on Harry's shoulder. "There's a huge line of witches here, let's try to get inside and get your school books, yeah?"

They carefully maneuvered their way forward. Sirius took the book list from Harry. "This is going to take hours. Harry, you wait here in line with your friends for the Lockhart books, I'm going to grab the rest of your list and meet you back here?"

Harry nodded gratefully as he watched his godfather hurry off. Someone bumped him and he fell forwards, grateful to whomever grabbed his arm and prevented him from toppling over into a crowd full of eager witches.

"Thanks," he said before he was shoved again.

This time he caught himself before he fell and was almost hit with the man taking photos of the book signing.

"Get out of the way, kid," the man said angrily.

"IT CAN'T BE HARRY POTTER?" A loud voice rang out.

Harry winced a second before an arm grabbed him and tugged him forward. He found himself standing next to a handsome man with wavy blond hair, blue eyes, and the whitest teeth that he had ever seen.

"Smile, Harry, the two of us definitely make the front page," the man whispered with a bright smile as he draped an arm across Harry's shoulders. "Ladies and gentlemen!" he bellowed as Harry's eyes desperately sought out someone to take him away from this mad man. "When young Harry Potter came into Flourish and Blotts today he was only interested in getting my autobiography Magical Me personally signed by me, but he had no idea that come September, he would be getting the Real Magical Me. I have agreed to take up the post for the Defence Against the Dark Arts professor at Hogwarts this year."

The crowd cheered and the man waved, smiling widely.

"Yes, yes, I know, it will be a challenging task, but I daresay that I am the man for the job." He finally let go of Harry, walking over to the desk and grabbing a stack of books. "For helping me share my news, I am giving Harry my entire collected works, autographed by yours truly, and completely — free — of — charge."

The crowd cheered again, clapping as Harry held the large stack of books in his arms.

He could feel his face flushing bright red as he quickly moved over to the Weasleys.

"Oh my God, he's going to be our teacher!" Hermione gushed, her eyes wide in excitement.

Harry rolled his eyes. "I guess." He passed the books off into Mrs Weasley's basket and smiled at Ginny. "Gin, you can have these. I'll buy my own."

"Harry —" Mrs Weasley began, but Harry waved her off.

"No, that bloke dragged me up there. I don't want his free books," he insisted stubbornly. "I want Ginny to have them."

"Bet you loved that, didn't you, Potter?" A familiar drawl said from behind him. "Can't even go into a bookshop without being on the front page?"

"He didn't want all that!" Ginny said, angrily, glaring at Malfoy.

Malfoy sneered at her. "Got yourself a girlfriend, Potter?"

Harry rolled his eyes as Ginny blushed from behind him. "What do you want, Malfoy?"

Malfoy simply grinned at him. "To remind you that you still owe me a favour."

"I know it. What do you want?"

A hand landed on Malfoy's shoulder and Harry found himself looking up at Lucius Malfoy. His silver blond hair lighter than his son's, but he wore it long and plaited with a ribbon.

"Draco, do introduce me to your friends."

"Father, you remember Harry Potter," Draco said dryly.

Lucius nodded. "I do."

"Lucy!" Sirius exclaimed from behind them and Harry smiled gratefully. "It's been forever."

Lucius rolled his eyes. "I see some things haven't changed, Sirius."

Sirius put a hand on Harry's shoulder. "You okay, Prongslet? I was too far away when I heard Lockhart yell out your name."

Harry nodded. "I'm fine. I gave Ginny my books."

"Good. We'll get you new copies," he said, glaring at Lucius. "I see you've been grooming your son to be as much of an arse as you are, how sad."

Lucius' eyes flared angrily as Mr Weasley pushed over towards them. "Harry, Sirius, thank Merlin — it's a madhouse in here." He realized Lucius was there and his expression sobered. "Lucius."

"Arthur," Lucius said. "So many raids lately, I do hope they're paying you overtime." He shifted and bumped into Ginny, grabbing her cauldron and her arm to prevent knocking her over. He lifted one of the worn books from her cauldron when he looked down into it. "Obviously not."

Harry wasn't sure what happened next, but the next thing he knew, Mr Malfoy had handed Ginny back her books and Mr Weasley and Mr Malfoy were fighting; shelves were toppling over, cameras were flashing, and Mrs Weasley was screaming 'Arthur no!'

Hagrid came out of nowhere and moved in to help break up the fight as Sirius picked up Ginny, grabbed Harry's hand, and tugged them from the bookstore with Ron and Hermione close behind them. By the time they were all outside in Diagon Alley, Ginny was still in Sirius' arms. He carefully placed her on the ground and grinned at them.

"Well, that was rather exciting."

Ginny pointed to the alley behind the bookstore as Sirius turned to look back for Mr and Mrs Weasley, her eyes wide.

"It looks like Scabbers," she'd said in surprise, pointing the rat out to Ron.

Ron squinted at the rat in the distance. "Kind of, Gin, but Scabbers ran away eons ago. He's probably dead by now."

"Who is Scabbers?" Sirius asked curiously.

Ron grinned at him. "Percy's old rat. He lived with us forever and then just after we first met you and Harry, he disappeared. Fred always thought that he'd crawled away somewhere to die."

Harry scratched his nose. "Oh yeah, I remember you telling me that he'd run away. Are you sure it's him, Gin?" he asked, craning to get a look down the alley. "That was a long time ago and rats don't live that long."

"I think so," Ginny said.

Sirius' hands gripped Harry's shoulders tightly as his own eyes raked the alley. He had felt like someone was watching him in the bookshop and the thought of a missing rat made his blood run cold. But as he looked into the alley, he couldn't see anything. He was being paranoid he thought, relaxing slightly, but he still kept his hand on his son's shoulder as Mr and Mrs Weasley came out of the bookshop.

Mrs Weasley did not agree with Sirius' sentiment about the fight being rather exciting as she instead yelled at her husband for causing such a scene and for setting a fine example for their children. Fred attempted to cheer her up by letting her know that Lockhart had thought it was brilliant and wanted the reporter to fit the fight into the story about him somehow. Sirius had only grinned at Mr Weasley and when Mrs Weasley was out of earshot, congratulated him on a great right hook making Mr Weasley grin.

Mrs Weasley went back inside to wait in line for the three sets of Lockhart books she still needed and everyone else headed to The Leaky Cauldron for lunch.

Overall, Harry thought the day had turned out to be quite an adventure.

~ ASC ~

Harry woke up the next morning to the sound of Marauder growling. He sat up, reaching blindly for his glasses. He put a reassuring hand on Marauder's head before he jolted at the sight of the dirty little elf sitting on the end of his bed. At first he thought that it was Kreacher until he realized that this elf was a lot younger and he had never seen him before.

"Er, hello," he said calmly, his fingers gripping Marauder's collar a little tighter.

The elf bowed so low that his nose touched the quilt. "I am so honoured to meet you, Harry Potter Sir," the elf said in a high pitched voice.

Harry nodded, offering a small smile. "Um, thanks. And you are?"

"I am Dobby, Sir, the elf!"

Harry nodded as if this made sense to him. "Er… I don't want to be rude or anything but er… what are you doing in my bedroom? Not that I'm not pleased to meet you, that is but, er, is there any particular reason that you're here?"

"Oh, yes, Sir!" Dobby squealed earnestly. "Dobby has come to tell you, Sir… it is difficult, Sir… Dobby wonders where to begin…"

"Sit down," Harry said politely, pointing to the bed in curiosity. To his horror, the elf burst into tears — very noisy tears.

"S-s-sit down!" he wailed. "Never… never ever!"

"I'm sorry!" Harry said quickly, his eyes moving to his bedroom doorway to see if the sound had awoken Sirius from across the hall. "I didn't mean to offend you or anything —"

"Offend Dobby!" the elf choked. "Dobby has never been asked to sit down by a wizard — like an equal —"

Harry, who was trying to say 'shh' and look comforting at the same time, ushered Dobby back onto the bed where he sat hiccoughing, looking like a large and very ugly doll. At last he managed to control himself and sat with his great eyes fixed on Harry in an expression of watery adoration.

"You can't have met many decent wizards then," Harry told him, trying to cheer him up. He wasn't sure how he was going to explain the house elf appearing in his bedroom if he woke Sirius up.

Dobby shook his head. Then without warning, he leapt up and started banging his head furiously on the balcony door window, shouting, "Bad Dobby! Bad Dobby!"

"Don't — what are you doing?" Harry hissed, springing up and pulling Dobby back onto the bed.

Hedwig, who had been sleeping peacefully in her cage, woke up with a loud screech and flew out of the open balcony doors angrily.

"Dobby had to punish himself, Sir," the elf said. "Dobby almost spoke ill of his family, Sir…"

"Your family?"

"The wizard family that Dobby serves, Sir… Dobby is a house elf — bound to serve one house and one family forever…"

"Do they know that you're here?" Harry asked curiously.

Dobby shuddered. "Oh, no, Sir, oh no… Dobby will have to punish himself most grievously for coming to see you, Sir. Dobby will have to shut his ears in the oven door for this. If they ever knew, Sir —"

"But won't they notice if you shut your ears in the oven door?"

"Dobby doubts it, Sir. Dobby is always having to punish himself for something, Sir. They lets Dobby get on with it, Sir. Sometimes they reminds me to do extra punishments…"

Harry was bewildered by this. "But why don't you leave? Escape?"

"A house elf must be set free, Sir. And the family will never set Dobby free… Dobby will serve the family until he dies, Sir…"

"Can't anyone help you?" Harry asked. He couldn't imagine anyone holding the elf hostage in such a way. But to be honest, he didn't really know that much about house elves. He knew Kreacher served them and worked at the different Black properties. He appeared every once in a while, to check in, and insisted that he was here to serve Master Sirius and Master Harry, but that was it. "Can't I?"

Almost at once, Harry wished he hadn't spoken. Dobby dissolved again into wails of gratitude.

"Please," Harry whispered desperately, but it was too late as Sirius appeared in the doorway, his hair tousled and his hands in the pockets of his pyjama pants. Harry pointed at the wailing elf in confusion.

"Harry Potter asks if he can help Dobby… Dobby has heard of your greatness, Sir, but of your goodness, Dobby never knew…"

Harry blushed and Sirius grinned at him in amusement, leaning against the doorjamb and crossing his arms in front of his bare chest. He didn't say anything and the elf had yet to notice him.

"Whatever you've heard about my greatness is a load of rubbish. I'm not even top of my year at Hogwarts, that's Hermione."

"Harry Potter is humble and modest," Dobby said reverently, his orb-like-eyes aglow. "Harry Potter speaks not of his triumph over He Who Must Not Be Named —"

"Voldemort?" Harry said, his eyes moving to Sirius whose expression had sobered.

Dobby clapped his hands over his bat ears and moaned. "Ah, speak not the name, Sir! Speak not the name!"

"Sorry," Harry said quickly. "I know lots of people don't like it."

Dobby leaned towards Harry, his eyes as wide as headlights. "Dobby heard tell that Harry Potter met the Dark Lord for a second time, just weeks ago… that Harry Potter escaped yet again." Harry nodded and Dobby's eyes suddenly shone with tears. "Ah, Sir," he gasped, dabbing his face with a corner of the grubby pillowcase he was wearing. "Harry Potter is so valiant and bold! He has braved so many dangers already! But Dobby has come to protect Harry Potter, to warn him, even if he does have to shut his ears in the oven door later… Harry Potter must not go back to Hogwarts."

"Dobby," Sirius said from the doorway making Dobby jump. "Why would you come here and tell Harry that?"

Dobby stared at Sirius in surprise, his eyes as wide as headlights. "Master Sirius, Sir!"

"I am not your master, Dobby."

"You are part of the Most Ancient and Noble House of Black, Sir, I must address you with respect, Sir!"

Sirius only stared at him. "Dobby, why are you telling my son that he cannot go back to Hogwarts."

Dobby pulled on his ears as he spoke. "Harry Potter must stay where he is safe. He is too great, too good to lose. If Harry Potter goes back to Hogwarts, he will be in mortal danger."

"Why?" Harry asked in surprise, staring at the elf in only more confusion.

"There is a plot, Harry Potter. A plot to make most terrible things happen at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry this year," Dobby whispered, suddenly trembling all over. "Dobby has known it for months, Sir. Harry Potter must not put himself in peril. He is too important, Sir!"

"What terrible things?" Harry demanded. "Who's plotting them?"

Sirius had moved into Harry's bedroom now and placed a hand on his son's shoulder as Dobby made a funny choking noise and then banged his head frantically against the wall.

"All right!" Harry cried out, grabbing the elf's arm to stop him. "You can't tell me. I understand. But why are you warning me?" A sudden unpleasant thought struck him. "Hang on — this hasn't got anything to do with Vol — sorry — with You Know Who, has it? You could just shake or nod," he added, worried that Dobby would start hurting himself again.

Slowly, Dobby shook his head. "Not — not He Who Must Not Be Named, Sir," but Dobby's eyes were wide and he seemed to be trying to give Harry a hint, but Harry was completely lost.

"Well, then, I can't think who else would have a chance of making horrible things happen at Hogwarts, I mean, there's Dumbledore, for one thing — you know who Dumbledore is, don't you?"

Dobby bowed his head. "Albus Dumbledore is the greatest headmaster Hogwarts has ever had. Dobby knows it, Sir. Dobby has heard Dumbledore's powers rival those of He Who Must Not Be Named at the height of his strength. But, Sir —" Dobby's voice dropped to an urgent whisper, his eyes flicking up to Sirius' briefly. "There are powers Dumbledore doesn't… powers no decent wizard…"

And before Harry could stop him, Dobby bounded off the bed, seized Harry's desk lamp and started beating himself around the head with earsplitting yelps.

Sirius picked the elf up by the scruff his neck. "Stop it!"

Dobby stared at Sirius, his eyes wide.

"You've given your warning, elf, now leave."

Dobby shook his head. "Harry Potter must promise he won't go back!"

"No way!" Harry said, angrily.

Sirius put Dobby back on the ground. "You've given your warning, elf, now leave," he repeated.

Dobby stared at him for a moment before he sent a pleading look to Harry, snapped his fingers and vanished before them.

Sirius dragged his fingers through his hair. "Merlin, that was not how I expected my morning to go."

Harry simply stared at his father. "Do you think that he was telling the truth?"

Sirius rubbed a hand down his face. "House elves have a lot of magic, Harry. They are very powerful beings who essentially live to serve witches and wizards. Some are unfortunately mistreated. They are bound to the family and their magic is tied to the family they serve and they must do as the family tells them… to have taken a chance and to come here to try to warn you… Yeah, I think he's telling the truth."

"So, something terrible is going to be at Hogwarts this year?"

Sirius nodded, moving to sit on Harry's bed. "Not Voldemort though… I mean, I guess that's good news… maybe it would be safer to keep you home…"

"No way!" Harry exclaimed, glaring at his godfather. "How is that fair? You don't even know what's going to be happening?"

Sirius nodded, draping an arm over Harry's shoulders. "No, I won't make you stay home, Prongslet, calm down. But I am going to look into this." He kissed Harry's forehead. "Promise me that you won't go looking for trouble this year? If something mortally dangerous is happening the last thing that I need is for you to end up in the hospital wing. Again."

Harry smiled at him. "I won't go looking for trouble."

Sirius smiled. "All right. Let's go make some breakfast. I'm going to Floo call Minnie. Maybe we can get to the bottom of this before anything suspicious starts going on."

Harry only nodded. But he couldn't help but wonder what the elf feared so much and that it couldn't be as bad as Voldemort, so there wasn't really anything to worry about. Was there?

~ ASC ~

Sirius spoke to McGonagall about the mysterious elf and Minerva agreed that it was very strange. She promised to speak to Dumbledore and that they would keep their eyes open for a sign of anything strange happening at the school. And she promised to keep an extra close eye on Harry.

By the time the first of September arrived, Harry was anxious to go back to school. Sirius had accepted the position on the Hogwarts Board of Governors and grimaced when he realized that the first meeting was at ten in the morning on the first of September. When he said as much to Harry, Harry had grinned at him.

"It's okay, Uncle Sirius."

Mrs Weasley promised to take Harry with them to King's Cross the next morning as Remus had to work (having finally found a job at a Muggle book shop once again at the beginning of August). Harry was too excited to go back to school to care how he got there. He hugged Sirius goodbye, promising to write and took the Floo with his trunk to The Burrow.

He was intrigued to discover that Mr Weasley had a Ford Anglia and that he had enchanted it (without the knowledge of Mrs Weasley) in a similar fashion to the way that Sirius had done his bike, making it roomy enough to hold Harry, Ron, Fred, George, and Percy all comfortable in the back seat. Ginny sat up front between her parents.

They barely made it to King's Cross Station in time after Fred forgot something, Ginny claimed that she had forgotten her diary, and Percy forgot his hat. Mr and Mrs Weasley rushed through the barrier first with Ginny's hands clasped tightly between them. Fred and George went next, followed by Percy, who told them not to dawdle or they'd miss the train.

But when Harry and Ron made a beeline for the wall at 10:59, the wall was solid — and they crashed, flipping over their trunks and falling over in disbelief.

Panicking and worried that they would miss the train, Harry suggested that they wait by Mr Weasley's car. The next thing that had ensued, Ron was in the driver's seat (having apparently watched Fred drive without the knowledge of Mr and Mrs Weasley obviously, but had seen him enough that he thought he could figure it out) and they were rising above the ground and flying off into the sky.

Needless to say, arriving at Hogwarts in a flying invisible car wasn't exactly the grand entrance that Harry and Ron had imagined it would be. First of all, it was hot and sticky up in the clouds. Second, the invisibility booster kept faltering. And thirdly, the car ran out of gas and spluttered, deciding to plummet to the earth at an alarming speed — and to Harry's horror — crashed them right into the Whomping Willow tree, cracking Ron's wand in half so that it was only hanging together by a thread. The tree, angry at them for crashing into it, then decided to knock them back and forth and crashed their car to the ground.

Mr Weasley's enchanted car, angry at their mistreatment, threw them and their trunks out, and took off towards the enchanted forest looking rather put out.

After being lectured by Snape, McGonagall, and Dumbledore on breaking the law of magical secrecy and on the severity of their actions, they were lucky enough to scrape by with only earning detention. They couldn't believe their luck when they climbed into their beds that night.

But Harry couldn't help but wonder once again: Why had the barrier sealed itself in the first place?

The next morning, when the Howler arrived for Ron, Harry grimaced sympathetically. He lowered himself in his own seat when Mrs Weasley mentioned his name and he flushed in embarrassment. But then this his eyes had widened when Persephone landed in front of him with a Howler as well.

Hermione smirked smugly at them. She had lectured them on how stupid it had been to steal the car in the first place and obviously thought that both of them receiving Howlers from their parents was just.

Harry carefully opened the envelope, flushing red. Sirius had never sent him a Howler before.

HARRY JAMES POTTER!

HOW DARE YOU STEAL A CAR AND FLY IT TO HOGWARTS!

I AM SHOCKED AND FRANKLY SO DAMN PROUD OF YOU THAT I COULD CRY! ABSOLUTELY BRILLIANT, PRONGSLET!

The Howler disintegrated in front of him and Harry burst into laughter. Hermione crossed her arms in a huff of annoyance and Ron and Neville grinned widely at him.

"Figures that he would be proud and my mum threatens to take me out of school," Ron said with a laugh.

Harry grinned back. "The thing with Uncle Siri is that I never know what to expect."

Hermione merely frowned at him. "I don't think he realizes that you could have been killed."

Harry smiled at her. "He will. Give him time."

Ginny simply chuckled as she drank her orange juice and Harry grinned at her.

It definitely wasn't what he had been expecting.