17
The Great Escape
The next couple of weeks flew by, and summer was nearing an end. Doe was itching to get back to Hogwarts. She missed seeing her friends and the magic of the castle.
They only had about two weeks left when a large tawny Hogwarts owl flew to the window of the Meadowes' house.
" Is that a Hogwarts owl?" Her father asked from the dinner table, pointing to the large feathered bird.
" My O.W.L scores" Doe shouted, realizing why the owl was there and running to the window to let it in.
The owl had a thick envelope attached to his leg. She untied it and flipped it over. It was addressed to her.
Ms. Dorcas Meadowes,
We look forward to seeing you at Hogwarts for the upcoming school-year. Please find enclosed your required supplies list for next year and your O.W.L. scores. We will see you September 1st, at 11;00 in on Platform 9 ¾.
Sincerely,
Professor Minerva McGonagall
Doe was anxious. She flipped the piece of parchment over and looked at the next one.
Your Required supplies for next year:
Advanced Potion Making - Year six
Standard Book of Spells- Grade Six
Advanced Guide to Defense Against the Dark Arts- The Darkest Chapter
A Guide to Transfiguration- Year six
Slightly more annoyed, she flipped over the last page.
Dorcas Meadowes,
The following are your O.W.L.'s scores presented to you by Hogwarts School of the Arts and the Ministry of Magic's department of Magical Education.
Transfiguration- O
Charms - O
Potions- O
Defense Against the Dark Arts- O
Herbology- O
Care of Magical Creatures - O
Divination - E
History of Magic - E
Doe took a deep breath. All O's, and two E's. She could live with that. The History of Magic E, she had been expecting. There were too many names and dates to be able to memorize them all correctly. And as for Divination, she hadn't expected anything less. She had practically made things up during the practical.
" So?" her father asked, " how'd you do?"
She handed him her results. He took a minute to ponder them and then smiled widely, " Doe these are fantastic"
" Thanks, dad" she said smiling.
" Truly fantastic" her father said rereading them, "looks like you got all of the Ravenclaw brains"
Doe wrinkled her nose.
Her father rolled his eyes, " I'm sorry. How dare I compare you to my house, you courageous little Gryffindor"
She smiled, " Now that's more like it".
She helped them both clean up the dinner table and then read the prophet until she became too tired to stay up any later.
She went upstairs and got into bed, turning off the lights and falling asleep.
It was a few hours later when she was disturbed.
" Doe, wake up"
" Five more minutes, Mum"
" Doe, it's me, Sirius, wake up"
Her eyes shot open and she jumped up. Standing in front of her bed was Sirius. Or the outlined shape of him that she could see in the darkness. She looked over at the clock by her bed, it said it was one in the morning.
" Sirius, what are you doing here? How did you even get in?" she asked through groggy irritation.
" I ran away from home" Sirius said quickly, " I couldn't take it anymore and your window was unlocked".
" You didn't run very far" she said irritably, wiping the sleep from her eyes. She reached over and turned on the light.
She almost screamed when she saw Sirius. He had been beaten, badly.
On his shoulder was one bag. His had a black eye and it was almost completely swollen. His lip was split and still bleeding slightly. He had a gash on his right cheek, and more deep violet bruising across his cheekbone. And from his harrowed posture, and hand on his right side, it looked as if he had been hit in the side as well.
" Oh my god, Sirius. What happened?" she asked.
Sirius' face contorted in anger, " Apparently my O.W.L. scores weren't where the should be"
" So they hit you?" she asked angrily.
Sirius shrugged, " They're loving parents, mine are".
His eyes began to well up slightly with tears, but he stopped himself.
She wanted to kill them. She couldn't fathom anyone wanting to hurt Sirius like that.
" Listen, I'm going to go to James tomorrow, I just need somewhere to stay tonight."
" Yeah, of course, you can stay in the guest room" she told him, " sit down i'm going to get a first aid kit"
She walked out of the room and into the bathroom grabbing the small first aid kit that her mom had put in there, silently thanking muggles for some of their innovations.
When she came back into her room, Sirius was sitting there solemnly. She crouched in front of him and began cleaning some his wounds.
He didn't even flinch when she put peroxide on his cuts.
" Nice pajamas, Meadowes" Sirius said looking at the t-shirt and patterned shorts she was wearing.
" I'm going to ignore that comment, because you're hurt" she told him, putting cream over his bruises.
He chuckled lightly and then stopped abruptly.
" Come on," she told him leading him to the guest room that was next to her room.
He walked in and turned back to her.
" Doe?"
" Yeah?"
He took a deep breath, "Thank you".
Doe threw her arms around his neck and pulled him into a tight hug letting his head fall on her shoulder.
" You don't need to thank me".
The next morning, Doe got up early. Her parents had both already gone to work, so she didn't have time to tell them that Sirius was here. So instead, she made pancakes. She was just finishing when Sirius came downstairs. His face still was badly bruised, but it looked as if some the swelling had gone down.
" How do you feel?" she asked him.
He looked up at her, " like hell, my entire face hurts"
Doe raised an eyebrow.
" That's not what I meant" she told him.
" Honestly, it wasn't anything I wasn't expecting" he said.
" I left my trunk and things on your front steps" he told me, " I couldn't exactly carry them through the window"
" Remind me to start locking that from now on" she told him.
" I'm going to get them" he said and went through the front door.
He came back in a minute later pushing his large trunk.
" If I'm going to be able to floo this to James', I might need you to come with me, I think it's too big for one person" Sirius said.
" No sorry, I don't think I will" Doe said sarcastically.
Sirius rolled his eyes, " Just come help me, Meadowes"
She helped Sirius push the base of his trunk into the fireplace and stood on the other side of it.
They both grabbed a little bit of the floo powder and said " Potter House" at the same time.
The fireplace shivered and they fell hard onto the stone floor of the Potter's fireplace.
She had only been to James' house once before, to work on a summer project the summer before third year. It hadn't changed at all.
Mr. Potter was seated in the drawing room when they appeared.
" James, Eleanor," he called, " you might want to come here"
" Hi, Mr. Potter" Sirius coming out of the fireplace, pulling his trunk. Doe slipped out behind him.
" Sirius, what happened to you?" Mrs. Potter demanded coming into the room and grabbing his face, a look of maternal concern apparent on her features.
" I'm fine, Mrs. Potter honest" Sirius said.
Frowning she pulled him into a tight hug.
" I could kill your family" she said.
" Please do, " Sirius said, " But I do need a place to stay".
" You'll stay here of course" Mr. Potter demanded.
Sirius smiled, " I was kind of hoping you'd say that" gesturing to his luggage.
" I made Doe here help me move everything in" Sirius said with a smile.
" Hello Doe, dear" Mrs. Potter said coming over to hug her.
" Padfoot?" James asked coming into the room, " what are you doing here? I thought you were grounded?"
Sirius smiled, " I'm moving in, Prongs".
" Finally," James said pulling him into a quick hug.
" Hey there Doe," James said when they broke apart, " I hear you've been keeping Sirius here company this summer"
" Keeping me from insanity" Sirius added.
"Someone had too" she said with a smile.
" I should actually go, I didn't leave a note or anything for my parents" she told them.
" Oh of course sweetie" Mrs. Potter said handing her a handful of floo powder.
Sirius came over and hugged her again.
" Seriously, thank you for everything, Doe" he said.
" Could you do my favor" he said quietly, " could you not mention all of this" he said gesturing to his face " to anyone"
" I would never" she told him.
He nodded, " I know".
" I mean I do have a reputation as sex god to maintain and I wouldn't want the girls of Hogwarts to see me like this" he said with a smile.
" You're an idiot" she said stepping into the fireplace. After saying a quick goodbye to the Potters, she disappeared in the flames.