Chapter 11

Warm apple-pie

A cold wind from the north disturbed the leaves. The sun set them on fire as they changes colour from green to brown. The trees of the Forbidden Forest were moving silently, waking the many creatures of the forest. The Giant Squid arose to the surface of the Lake and greeted the sun.

A smell of warm apple-pie filled the air in the Great Hall. Unable to resist Sirius Black showed up at the Head Table. Many whispers followed his tracks, but the teachers greeted him cheerfully. He took a seat next to Remus and noted that Snape, Vector, Hagrid and Trelawney were absent that morning.

"Followed your nose, didn't you?" Remus said amused, while Sirius loaded his plate with at least one piece of apple-pie. "You do realise that it's still breakfast time."

Sirius rolled his eyes. "I've been longing for this piece of apple-pie before you even took up the post of teaching. But I don't think that you would understand." He took a bite and instantly silenced.

Next to him professor McGonagall was talking with professor Dumbledore. "I'm just glad he's okay for now. And it seems that he has found a little bit of happiness himself. Look, they look just like James and Lily."

Sirius looked in the direction of the Gryffindor Table. There his godson was conversing with his friends. Ron and Hermione were sitting across from him and Jack was sitting on one side and Ginny on the other.

The youngest Weasley was looking a bit irritated. He could only see half her face, but Sirius guessed that she looked like her mother right now. Harry had a look of amusement and defence on his face and the rest was snickering and laughing.

Ginny placed a full plate before Harry, who took his fork and knife. "Alright, alright I'll eat." Harry started on his scrambled eggs and toast. Ginny softened her stare and started on her toast again, when she felled something pressed against her cheek.

She turned and a smiling Harry faced her. His lips were smeared with chocolate. Ron roared with laughter and Hermione giggled into her hand. Jack just stared at them with an amused look upon his face and Neville was holding his side, one hand firmly pressed against his side.

Ginny tried to rub the chocolate of her cheek, but seemed to only make it worse. "Very funny Mr. Potter," she said, half amused, half irritated.

"I know," Harry said. "I am a son of a Marauder, so get used to it." And he kissed her lightly on the lips. She looked at him with amusement and a spark of lust.

"You know that chocolate is a girl's sweet, don't you Harry?" Jack said. Harry turned towards him, but that was a grave mistake. Before he could do anything something sticky was dropped on the top of his head.

He turned towards Ginny again. She was just placing the syrup pot back on the table and smiled innocently at him. "Oh, now you'll have it. This, Ginny Weasley, means war." But just as he reached for the cheesecake, Albus Dumbledore spoke.

"As much as we enjoy food it is not prepared for war purposes," Albus Dumbledore said in an amused voice and a twinkle in his eye. Harry and Ginny faced him with each an innocent look upon their faces. "Mr. Potter, Miss Weasley will you please clean up mess you have created and return to your Dormitories or finish breakfast. I know it's Saturday, but you are still in our care."

Harry smiled widely. "We're very sorry headmaster. It won't happen again." He waved at Remus and Sirius. Remus returned his wave, but Sirius just stared at him before he turned his attention to his plate again. Harry frowned, but shook his head and drew his wand.

"Let me fair lady," and he waved his wand. "Evanesco." Chocolate vanished from Ginny's lips and cheek. And with another "Evanesco" chocolate vanished from Harry's lips and syrup from his hair.

…………………………………

Sirius had been acting weird ever since Harry had gotten out of the Hospital that Saturday morning. It seemed as if he was avoiding Harry and that was odd, because when he had returned to Hogwarts Sirius had been al over him. It just didn't seem like Sirius to be so quiet and withdrawn. When noon approached he couldn't take it anymore and asked his friends if they knew something.

"Sorry mate," Ron said. "But I know even less then you do. I haven't talked to Sirius since last Wednesday when we visited you in the Hospital."

Hermione looked up from where she was writing her essay. "If it bothers you so much Harry then why don't you go to him and ask?"

Harry sighted. "I did that already, but it seems like he is avoiding me. I don't mind the peace a little. I mean he's been visiting me ever since he came to Hogwarts. But I'm just worried about the way he's acting. This morning he looked away when I greeted him. He didn't even smile and that's just not like him."

Ginny took one of his hands and squeezed it. "Maybe he's just distracted. If he doesn't want to talk to you, then go to Lupin. I'm sure he knows what's going on."

Harry smiled at her. "You're right. Watch Jack for me, will you? I've for a dog to track down."

"Hey, what do you mean 'watch Jack'? I'm… oh, never mind," Jack said, for Harry had already left Gryffindor Tower.

…………………………………………

Harry came at a halt in frond of Lupin's office. Sometimes he still wondered why Lupin had come back, but he shook his head and knocked. He would ask another time. Harry heard movement inside the room and the door opened.

"Ah Harry! To what do I own this pleasure?" Remus said with a smile on his face. He had still a few wrinkles under his eyes and he was favouring his left leg, but the scars had healed nicely.

"Hey Moony, can I come in for a sec? I want to ask you something."

"Sure, some in." And Remus made room for him. "You know you're always welcome at my rooms." Remus closed the door behind Harry and took a seat on one of the armchairs by the fire. The fire was warm and whispering friendly.

Harry ignored its call and took a seat in the other armchair. "I know Remus and I thank you for it. I just wanted to ask you something."

"Anything," Remus said and he swished him wand. Two cups of tea landed before them and Harry smiled his thanks.

"I was wondering if you knew if anything was wrong with Sirius? He seemed distracted this morning and I haven't seen him since yesterday when he left for the night. Seeming as he sleeps next to you and sits next to you and all, I thought that maybe you knew what was wrong."

Remus smiled and took his cup. "Sirius seems to think that you have done something wrong. I haven't asked him yet, because he's usually very sensitive about the subject. I remember that James once used his clock for an experiment without asking and broke it. Sirius said it didn't matter and we dropped it, but he wouldn't talk to James for weeks. Then one night James became so frustrated that he asked Sirius what was wrong. So with a lot of persuasion Sirius told us that the clock had meant a lot to him."

Harry nodded. "I see. Sirius likes to keep things for himself. But how do I get out of him what is wrong?"

Silence fell over both of them. Harry stared into the flames silently stirring in tea. Remus was staring at the table, absently blowing his tea. The clock ticked silently and a group of students passed by.

"What if we trick him into going outside? But what to trick him with? We could ask the house-elves to make some apple-pie. I could lure Sirius to the lake where you would be waiting with it and he won't get any till he's told us everything."

Harry looked at Lupin with amusement clearly shown on his face. "He would fall for that?"

Lupin nodded. "Sirius would do anything for school made apple-pie."

"Then we have a plan."

……………………………………………

Harry was looking over the lake. The apple-pie that was placed next to him was still warm and the smell was making him hungry. He just hoped that the plan would work. He watched as the sun reached its highest point. Big waves arose from the middle of the lake and reached the shore.

When he heard voices he looked up. Remus and Sirius were walking to where he was sitting. Clearly they were arguing about something, but Remus laughed and so Harry relaxed. When they reached the tree Sirius saw Harry and he halted.

Harry saw how the last Black started to turn around and he swished with his wand. "Petrificus Totalus." Sirius stiffened and fell to the ground.

"Harry," Remus said, but Harry cut him off. He walked towards Sirius and turned him around.

"You are going to listen to me Sirius Black. I have the feeling that you're avoiding me and I want to know why. To make you talk I have here some freshly baked apple-pie. You may think 'why should I care for I could just do to the kitchens and ask for another one', but we told the house elves to not give you any before you told us what's bothering you."

He lifted the curse. Sirius sat up and turned his back to Harry. "I don't talk to a traitor," was all he said.

"What? What are you talking about?" Harry asked looking surprised. He had expected anything but not this.

"You trusted Snape to make your potions. How could you Harry? How could you trust that two-faced snake to make your potions?"

"He makes mine," Lupin said, half amused and half shocked.

Sirius started to sputter. "Its… that's… that is different."

"How is it different? Snape makes a potion for Remus to fight the wolf inside of him and he makes a potion for me against the Phoenix inside of me. Tell me Sirius, how is that different?"

Sirius turned towards Harry, shock clearly written on his face. "I didn't… I mean… I'm…"

Harry shook his head. "You shouldn't judge people by their appearance and stop using their past against them."

A blush of shame appeared on Sirius' face. "I'm sorry Harry, it's just that I thought that you trusted Snape more then me. I should have trusted you more.

Now that that's settled, where is that apple-pie?"

Harry laughed. "You can be very strange sometimes Sirius!"

A/N: How fast was that eh?