Chapter Ten
"Great," Harry gulped, "not only can my dog talk, it can transform into a human as well."
"Harry," the man repeated, inching forward. Harry's eyes widened, and he shrunk back as far as he could into the wall.
"Nuh-uh! Don't come any closer," Harry warned. The relieved look soon changed to hurt, but the man obeyed and stayed back. "Good dog," Harry continued. "Just stay there, don't come any closer."
The man, who Harry had a deep suspicion was Sirius Black, unsteadily stood up. "Sit, dog!" Harry yelled out, panicking. "Sit, sit, sit!"
Sirius Black let out a raw yelp of laughter, which almost resembled a dog barking. "I'm not a dog, Harry. Well…you know what I mean."
"Sit down," Harry repeated, still looking panicked. "Just…stay away."
Are you okay, human? Slyther's voice demanded anxiously. You're not answering me…
I'm fine, Harry thought, never so glad to hear the annoying snake's voice, so far. I-I'm scared, though, he admitted.
It's natural, Slyther said.
Did you find Remus? Harry asked, never taking his eyes off of the man in front of him. And show him where I am?
Not yet, Slyther replied. I'm still searching. I'm nearer, though. I can sense it.
-
"This isn't funny," Remus said into the thin air. "Harry?" So far, there was no sign of the nine year old. Where could he have gone to? He promised that he wouldn't go too far, or anywhere too dangerous. If Sirius Black ever captured him, there'd be no telling what sick thing the man might do.
He shouldn't have agreed to play that game. Regretting the choice he made, Remus continued to call out to Harry, though he knew it wouldn't do any good.
Down here, human! Slyther cried, down on the grass by Remus's feet. If only you could understand me…oh how I'm going to have to wash my mouth out with fish after this… Grimacing, Slyther sunk his teeth into Remus's flesh, causing the man to yell out in pain.
"You're Harry's snake, aren't you?" Remus demanded as he looked down at the thing that bit him. "If only he could teach you manners."
I do have manners, Slyther informed him, though Remus couldn't understand a word. You just can't understand me. Anyway, I'm worried about the Harry human. A dog has attacked him, so I think. Just, follow me!
Slyther slithered away in the grass, hoping that Remus might take the hint and follow him. No such luck.
Are you deaf? Slyther demanded, turning around and staring up at Remus. Even though I don't trust you one bit, I trust that you'll find Harry. So FOLLOW ME!
"If only you could talk," Remus mused. "To me," he corrected himself. "I bet you know where Harry's hiding. I shouldn't have ever agreed to play that game."
Harry, can you hear me? Slyther said.
Yeah? Harry's voice said, and Slyther felt helpless as he heard vulnerable fear in Harry's voice.
I don't know how to tell the new human that I don't trust where you are. He still thinks you're 'hiding' somewhere.
You're going to have to find a way, Harry said, because I feel so…I dunno! He just keeps staring at me…I don't like it…
Well of course he'll stare at you, Slyther said sarcastically, it's a mutt, what do you expect?
Yeah, well this 'mutt' can turn into a human, Harry said. A very creepy human.
You don't think it's—
—Definitely him, Harry interrupted. How else can he know my name? And he's just staring at me…
-
"I'm sorry if I scared you," Sirius spoke up. "I didn't know how else to get your attention so I could bring you down here…and talk to you."
"I'm glad that's all you want to do," Harry said through a strained voice. "I'm only nine. I can't bear to die yet."
Sirius frowned. "I don't want to kill you. No, no—Never kill, Harry."
"Yeah right!" Harry exclaimed, anger bubbling up inside of him. He was still sitting on the floor of the abandoned shack helplessly, and the man sat not too far in front of Harry. "That's what you probably tell all your victims. Like my mum and dad!"
"James and Lily?" Sirius repeated, his brow furrowing in confusion, which quickly changed to that of realization. "No, Harry—"
"Don't talk to me," Harry said suddenly. "Just let me go. Let me go back!" Please, please, please…
"I just want to talk to you, that's all, that's all!" Sirius said, frowning with hurt. "I haven't seen you in eight years, Harry. I just want to talk," he insisted.
"No," said Harry, "Remus or Snape will find me. Then they'll lock you back up in prison."
"I just want to talk," Sirius repeated over and over.
I'm sorry, Slyther, Harry said in his mind, trying to fight back the lump that in his throat. I don't want to replace you, or abandon you.
And I'd rather listen to you complain than hanging out with the Slytherins, Slyther replied. I hope we'll get there in time, Harry. This human…is so stubborn…he won't come! I've already bitten his leg, which he took as nothing except bad manners!
This was bad news, Harry realized. In a few seconds, Harry guessed, he'd be a goner.
-
"Severus?" Remus asked as he stood in the entryway of the Potions classroom. Snape sneered, looking up from the cauldron. With his robes billowing out behind him, Snape walked up to Remus, chafe evident in his voice as he spoke.
"What is it, Lupin?" He demanded.
"I can't find Harry," Remus confessed. "We were playing a simple muggle game of Hide and Seek, and now he's missing. I just found his snake."
"And you're worried that Potter took off somewhere, in hopes of getting kidnapped by Black?"
"No—"
"Well," Snape interrupted, "let Black kidnap him. Potter's better off with Black, anyway."
"We don't know what he'll do to Harry, Severus!" Remus exclaimed. "You can't just say that."
"I can," Snape sneered, "and I did. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have to get back to my potion. Wherever Potter is really isn't any of my concern."
"He's the one living with you," Remus pointed out. "His safety should be your concern."
"Well, it's not," Snape replied. "Besides Lupin, he's only living with me because the Headmaster insisted so, and until his relatives come back from their vacation. Then, everything will be back to normal."
"I'd appreciate it if you come and help me look for Harry," Remus said calmly. "Two heads are better than one."
Snape scowled. "I have to finish the potion, Lupin."
"It's only a potion," Remus pointed out. "You can finish it any time." Snape just turned around, dismissing their conversation.
"Please," Remus finally said. Snape stopped in his tracks, turning around slowly and glaring at Remus.
"Oh, fine."
"Thank you," Remus breathed as Snape came towards him.
Yes, Slyther agreed, who was trailing behind Remus, thank you, greasy human. Harry would thank you, too, if you weren't so rude to him.
Snape glared down at the snake, hissing a, "Don't think I can't understand you, snake," and leaving a certain snake completely—for once—speechless.
-
"They'll be here any minute," Harry warned, his voice trembling as he spoke. "They will. So you better let me go!"
"I'm not holding you," Sirius pointed out rather calmly, which annoyed Harry. "And as I've said before: I just want to talk to you."
"What do you think we're doing?" Harry snapped, pulling his knees up to his chest for protection. "We are talking. Now can I please go?"
"Not the way I want to," Sirius said. "I want to have a real conversation."
"We could," Harry said slowly, "if I wasn't too scared that you're going to kill me." Sirius sighed, his voice getting hoarse.
"You're my godson, Harry. I'd never ever kill you."
"Godson?" Harry repeated, looking at Sirius suspiciously. "What?"
"When you were born," Sirius explained slowly, "Lily and James named me your godfather, your guardian if anything happened to them."
"You're lying!" Harry exclaimed, scowling. "My parents would never make a murderer my guardian if 'something happened to them'."
Sirius's eyes flashed with hurt. "I didn't betray your parents or kill any of those muggles, Harry, I swear. I'm not a murderer. They put me in Azkaban without a trial! If only they had a trial and used the Veritaserum, I wouldn't be in that prison, and I'd have custody of you…and, and—"
Curiosity getting overwhelming him, Harry forgot all about his suspicions and fears. "Muggles? What are those?"
Sirius frowned. "Did somebody explain all of…this to you, Harry?" Suspicion momentarily flashed through Harry's features.
"Yes."
"And they didn't explain to you what muggles were?"
"No."
Sirius nodded, keeping quiet. Harry could've pinched himself for what he asked next. "Can you tell me?"
Sirius looked absolutely surprised, but soon relaxed. "Muggles are non-magic folk," he explained briefly, though he looked pleased.
"What's Azkaban?" Harry blurted out. "Is it a prison that Albus was talking about?"
"Yes," Sirius said, hiding a pleased smile.
Harry bit his lip from asking more questions. He couldn't possibly start warming up to Sirius Black. He was a murderer, a no good murderer. This man killed his parents. Betrayed them. Sirius Black didn't deserve to go to prison, he should've been killed on the spot.
Harry swallowed, trying to release the anger that was building up inside of him again. "Let me go," he said warningly.
Sirius sighed, his pleased expression leaving his face. "Not this again," he muttered.
"You wouldn't have to listen to me," Harry said, his voice getting louder, "if you just let me go!"
"Fine!" Sirius exclaimed, throwing his hands up in the air. "Fine. Just go. All I wanted to do was to see my godson just once more, just talk to him. And when I finally get the chance, he thinks I'm a killer. A murderer. And what's worse, he won't even believe me when I try to tell him that I'm innocent!"
"That was you, wasn't it?" Harry asked softly, his face lit with realization. "When I thought I was being watched, I wasn't just being paranoid, I was being watched. By you."
Sirius didn't move, but just looked at Harry. "Yes. It was."
"You were the one watching me," Harry said. "I knew I wasn't just being silly... or whatever that word was..."
"I'm sorry if I scared you, Harry," Sirius said softly, "but—"
"Let me go," Harry interrupted quietly. The fear had left by now, and was just replaced by the eager feeling to leave the abandoned shack, and get back to Remus—even Snape.
"Didn't you just hear me?" Sirius snapped. "Didn't you? I just told you to go!"
"I heard you," said Harry, "I just didn't believe you."
"Well, you ought to," Sirius said. "Because I'm serious. Go, if that's what you want." But Harry made no move to leave. "Well?" He snapped, looking indignant. "I thought you wanted to go. That's what you've been ranting about."
"You're letting me go?" Harry asked softly. "Just like that?"
"Just like that," Sirius confirmed. Harry stuffed his hands in the pockets of his jeans. This man…Sirius Black…was just going to let him go? Like that?
"My picture," Harry said suddenly. The picture of his mother, Lily, that he had always carried around in his pocket was gone. He glared up at Sirius. "It probably fell out of my pocket when you dragged me down here."
"Sorry," Sirius said, and Harry was surprised when he actually looked genuinely sorry.
He shrugged it off. "It's all right. Remus probably has another one, or Albus, or someone."
"Well," Sirius said, clearing his voice, "you wanted to go. So…go." Harry bit his lip, and hoped he wouldn't regret what he was about to say.
"Actually, I think I'll stay and…talk. If... if that's okay with you."
For the first time, Harry saw Sirius actually smile. A real smile.
"That's perfectly fine with me, Harry."
-
A/N: Well, I was in such a generous mood today that I decided to give you guys ANOTHER chapter! So... whilst still being in a generous mood... what do you guys think? Do you deserve another chapter ?? ;-)