Chapter 12: Choices

"Well," Harry said. "We can always use Sirius' method."

"I'm afraid to ask." Ginny said to herself.

"Ennie Meenie Miny Moe." Harry said pointing to the different doors.

"I was afraid of that." Ginny sighed.

"Door Number Four." Harry announced when he finished the rhyme.

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That turned out wrong as they walked into Hufflepuff's common room.

Luckily nobody saw them.

"I'm choosing the next door." Ginny told him. "Door Number One."

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That door led them to a house.

"Well," Ginny admitted looking out a window. "There is a nice view of Hogsmeade and the castle."

"I'm choosing the next door." Harry told her. "When we get back, we're going through Door Number Six."

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Door Number Six led them to the Head Boy and Girl's dorm. Ginny choose Door Number Two.

They found themselves in Ravenclaw's common room.

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"Okay." Harry said looking at the four labeled doors and the two unmarked. "We have Doors Three and Five left."

"I bet Ron and Hermione are worried sick." Ginny said. "We've been gone three hours."

"What we'll do," Harry told her. "Is the next location, we'll just leave the tunnels and walk the halls."

"Good idea." Ginny agreed as they went into Door Number Five.

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"Here's the door." Harry announced after fifteen minutes.

"Great. My feet are KILLING me." She complained.

"Shh." Harry said leaning against the door. "There's a conversation."

The two leaned into the door.

"Why didn't you tell us?" Dumbledore said.

"I didn't want to upset you or the others." Sirius' voice came. "Things like that happen."

"Does anyone else know?" Dumbledore asked.

"Only you, Spica, a muggle doctor, and Pomfrey. We wanted a second opinion after the doctor, so we came to Poppy."

"James doesn't know?" Dumbledore asked.

"No. I don't want pity. And that's the LAST thing Spica needs right now."

"It's no surprise now that you've been so protective of Spica."

"Right. If we lost another…"

"Sounds like Hermione was right." Harry whispered.

"Are you surprised?" Ginny asked him.

"No."

Suddenly, there was a sound like a vibration of a cell phone (or two-way mirror).

"Yes Pron…Lily?" Sirius said. "How'd you…"

"Please go find and tell John to get his arse over here. His wife had just gone into labor and Pomfrey just transferred her here."

"I have to go." Sirius said.

The two students heard the door close.

"Do you think they're all gone?" Harry asked.

They heard the sound of a phoenix.

"I know Fawkes." Dumbledore's voice came. "Sirius has been through so much. We can only hope for the best with this child."

"My guess is no." Ginny whispered.

"Well, we can either turn back, or wait here."

"Wait here. Give my feet time to rest." She said sitting down on the ground.

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An hour later,

They heard a door in the office close.

"Finally." They said as they quietly opened the door to find themselves in Dumbledore's office.

Harry started to open the door and found his father getting ready to knock.

"What did you do now?" James asked with a grin.

"We…I…we were saying hello to Fawkes. After all, he did save both of our lives in the Chamber of Secrets." Harry lied.

"We best be going now." Ginny added.

The two made a break for it.

"I didn't hear them come in." Dumbledore said as he left the side office. "What can I do for you, James?"

"Just wanted to know if you've seen Sirius."

"He was just here an hour ago." Dumbledore informed him. "He left when your wife called to get Mr. Newton. Apparently, Mrs. Newton had just gone into labor."

"Ah." James said in understanding. "I best go find them."

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"That was close." Harry said as he and Ginny walked up to the Fat Lady.

"I didn't see you two leave." The Fat Lady told them.

"We snuck out." Harry told her. "Phoenix."

"That was quite an excuse." Ginny told him as they walked in.

Ron and Hermione were now snogging on the couch.

"This is what happens when we leave them for four hours." Harry said.

"I knew we should have snogged in the passage." Ginny said.

TBC

"Why are you so edgy?" Ginny asked her boyfriend at breakfast.

"It's June." Harry told her. "I'm waiting for something to go wrong."

"Like?" Ron asked.

"I don't want to say. It might jinx it." Harry said

"Probably an Azkaban…" Hermione started.

"Shhh." Harry told her while covering her mouth.