Chapter Twenty-Two: Discoveries.

The next month was even busier than the previous had been. The seventh years were all trying to get their homework done before the holidays so that they could enjoy themselves. Harry had Quidditch practice to contend with too, the Gryffindor team was undefeated that year, Harry was proud of his team.

He still hadn't figured out how to destroy the cup, he'd thrown it, cursed it and tried numerous spells on it but it was still in one piece. One night, at the start of March Harry and Ginny were sitting in the common room doing homework, Harry had a goblet full of pumpkin juice next to him and he was absorbed in his work.

When Ginny accidentally dropped her heavy potions book with a loud bang Harry jumped, knocking the goblet in to the fire.

'Accio goblet' Harry said pointing his wand towards the fire.

'Harry, that's going to be…' Ginny started.

'OUCH!' Harry yelled dropping the hot goblet he'd just caught on to the table.

'I tried to tell you' Ginny said with a sly smile pointing her wand at Harry's hand with a stream of water coming out of the tip.

'I've just had an idea!' Harry exclaimed, 'Gold melts down at high temperatures doesn't it?' he said.

'Yes, at very high temperatures' Ginny replied.

'I wonder if we could melt the cup. I'm sure we could make the fire hot enough' Harry said.

'You know, that might just work' Ginny replied.

'I'll be right back,' He said, sprinting up the boys' staircase.

When he got to his room he crossed to his chest of draws and extracted the cup from the top one. He sprinted back downstairs, tripping on the last step but steadying himself before he fell, Ginny laughed, 'What's so funny huh?' Harry said kissing her 'ok we need to get the fire hot enough.' He said.

'What're you guys doing?' Ron said as he and Hermione walked in through the portrait hole.

'We think we've figured out how to destroy the cup' Harry replied.

'Really?' Hermione said 'how?' she asked.

'We're going to melt it' Ginny said, pointing her wand at the fire and making it burn red hot 'well, hopefully' she added.

'Well, let's see' Ron said, 'Go on Harry, chuck it in' he added.

'Is it hot enough?' Harry asked.

'Yes Harry, go on' Ginny replied.

Harry dropped the cup in to the fire, the flames turned electric blue as the cup started melting, and within two minuets they heard a loud CRACK! Something flew up the chimney in a bright light, the cup disintegrated. It was gone, Harry thought, four down, two to go.

The next day at breakfast, as she was reading the paper Hermione let out a loud gasp.

'Are you alright? Is it the baby?' Ron said panicking.

'No, look' Hermione answered smoothing out the paper so that Harry and Ron could see.

SIRIUS BLACK: BACK FROM THE DEAD!

It's a first, even in the wizarding world. A person returned from the dead? But it has happened, two years ago, during a break in at the Ministry of Magic in London it was reported that Mr Black, the first person to ever escape from Azkaban prison, had perished at the hands of known death eater Bellatrix Lestrange. Mr Black has been proven innocent of the charge of which he was sent to prison for but this leads us back to the question, how did this man return from the dead? The answer it seems is that he was not actually dead. In an exclusive interview with a Daily Prophet reporter last night Mr Black stated that he faked his own death to escape from the death eaters but had no choice but to reveal himself after an accident that landed him in St Mungo's Hospital for Magical Maladies and Injuries for almost a week 'I had no choice' he said 'I needed help, there was no one else around that could treat my injuries, St Mungo's was the only place that I could go.' The Daily Prophet believes that Mr Black's come back has something to do with Harry Potter as Mr Black was contained in St Mungo's at the same time as Mr Potter with similar injuries. Anyhow the wizarding community is glad to have one of the good guys back.

'Well at least he doesn't have to go back in to hiding now' Harry said.

'Yes Harry but think, now the death eaters might come after him' Hermione said.

'Why? They really don't know much about him,' Harry said.

'They know he's connected to you, they know he knew your parents' Hermione retorted.

'So is Lupin and they haven't gone after him,' Harry said.

'They're scared of him Harry, because he's a werewolf' Hermione answered.

'He can look after himself Hermione' Harry said.

'I suppose, there's really no need to worry,' she answered.

'Exactly' he said, 'I'm going to go and write a letter,' he added leaving the great hall. Half way upstairs Ginny caught up with him.

'You're going to write to Sirius aren't you?' she asked.

'Yes, why?' Harry replied.

'You are worried about him aren't you?' Ginny said.

'No, why should I be?' Harry said.

'C'mon Harry, I know you and you are worried about him, you can't lie to me' Ginny replied.

'So what if I am worried about him, he's my Godfather, I'm sure Hermione and Ron's kid will worry about us from time to time' Harry said.

'It's ok to worry Harry but you said yourself he can look after himself, he won't go after them because that would be stupid and he knows that' Ginny said.

'I know, I'm still going to write to him though,' He said.

'Ok, but when you're done d'you want to go outside and do homework it's not a bad day and Ron and Hermione are going to come out too.' Ginny replied.

'Ok then, see you later'

''K Harry' she said leaving him.

It took Harry half an hour to write his letter but when he was satisfied he got up.

Dear Sirius,

It is ok to write your name now isn't it? Ron, Hermione, Ginny and I saw the paper this morning. Are you sure it was ok to give an interview? I know you've been cleared of all charges but do you think the death eaters might come after you now? I don't want you to get in to trouble don't go after them either. Oh yeah, guess what? Well Hermione and Ron want Ginny and I to be the baby's Godparents. What do you do as a Godparent? What did you do when I was a baby? I really can't believe they'll have a baby in two months time. Well I had better go and do some homework. We should catch up at Easter, if Mrs Weasley doesn't mind. Bye for now.

Harry.

He grabbed his bag and went to the owlery to send the letter before heading outside to join Ron, Hermione and Ginny. When they'd all finished their work they decided to go and visit Hagrid, he was cutting cucumbers from his garden when they arrived. They walked around the back.

'Hello Hagrid' Hermione said, sitting somewhat clumsily on the ground.

''Lo you four. How've you bin?' He replied.

'Great thanks, what about you?' Ginny asked, sitting beside Hermione.

'Can' complain. Grawpy's comin' along well' Hagrid said 'speaks English almost fluent.'

'That's great Hagrid' Ron said joining everyone on the ground, Harry sat down as well.

'Saw tha' article in the paper this mornin' Harry. Sirius sure had us all fooled didn' he? But why'd they mention you, why were you in St Mungo's? Come to think of it, Ron you were in at the same time. What happen'd? Musta bin pretty hurt to be in St Mungo's' Hagrid said.

Harry, Ron, Hermione and Ginny exchanged glances.

''S summin to do with you-know-who innit? Hagrid stated.

'Well yes, it is Hagrid, you see…' Harry started.

'Say no more Harry I understand' Hagrid cut him off.

Harry fell silent.

'So how long you got ta go Hermione?' Hagrid asked.

'Only two and a bit months, thank goodness,' She replied rubbing her big belly.

'Sick of it hey?' Hagrid said.

'Only, a lot, I'd like to ware normal clothes again and be more comfortable, plus I can't wait to see her' Hermione said.

'So ya know what it is then?' Hagrid asked.

'No, we don't. I just have a feeling it's going to be a girl' Hermione replied shrugging.

'Yer not just talkin' yerself inta it 'cause ya want a girl?' Hagrid said.

'No Hagrid, we don't care what it is as long as it's healthy' she replied.

'Good then, 'cause my money's on it bein' a boy' Hagrid said.