As it turned out, Harry fell asleep before he could sneak out to see Hagrid. He woke up the next morning starving after missing dinner.

Harry had only just made it to the Great Hall when he was ambushed by Oliver Wood.

'You were injured?' Oliver demanded.

'I'm fine Oliver, it was only a scratch.'

'Show me.'

Harry held out his arm obediently. 'Really Oliver, it's nothing. It still hurts a little but Madame Pomfrey healed me.'

'So, you'll be right to start training?'

Harry only just restrained himself from rolling his eyes. 'Yes Oliver.'

Oliver nodded. 'That's good,' he shuffled awkwardly. 'I'm glad you're okay Harry,' he left to continue his breakfast.

Harry sighed as he sat down next to Ron and Hermione.

'Hey mate,' Ron said.

'Harry! Are you sure you're ready to be back?'

'Yes, Hermione.'

Harry had just reached for a piece of toast when the mail arrived. Owls came sweeping into the hall, delivering letters to students, Harry included.

Ron and Hermione looked at Harry curiously.

'Who's that from?' Hermione asked.

Harry unfolded the small scrap of parchment. His heart leapt as he recognised the writing. It was the same elegant writing that had been on the piece of paper Malfoy had handed him outside Grimmauld Place. Sirius's writing.

Whomping Willow. Now.

Harry's hands trembled. Was Sirius already here? He'd said he was going to wait because of the Dementors. The only reason he'd be here now was if he'd somehow heard that Harry was hurt, but how…

Harry glanced towards the Slytherin table just in time to see Malfoy look away. Well that explained it. Still, Harry couldn't find it in himself to be upset, not if it meant seeing Sirius.

'Umm … no one,' Harry said. 'I should go to the dormitory and get my stuff.'

Ignoring Ron and Hermione's protests, Harry took his toast and hurried from the hall. He sprinted down the steps and across the grounds to the Whomping Willow.

The tree's branches were swaying dangerously. Harry checked over his shoulder to make sure no one could see him. 'Sirius,' he called, when he saw the coast was clear. 'Sirius?'

Suddenly the tree froze. Harry turned and saw a large black dog standing by its truck. 'Sirius!' Harry grinned.

The dog barked happily and the turned and disappeared down a tunnel that Harry had never spotted before. Harry frowned, surely Sirius didn't expect him to follow. He glanced up at the tree, it was still frozen. Harry took a deep breath and sprinted towards the tunnel. He was expecting to be hit by the tree at any moment and was surprised when he made it into to the small opening.

No sooner had he done so, he felt strong arms embrace him. Harry grinned and returned the hug. It had only been two days since he'd seen Sirius but it felt like much longer.

'Harry,' Sirius sighed.

'Hi Sirius.'

Harry was pushed away suddenly. Sirius held him at arm's length while he looked him up and down, searching for injuries.

'Draco said you were attacked by a Hippogriff.'

Harry sighed. 'I wasn't attacked, it was barely a scratch. Did Malfoy tell you it only happened because he insulted Buckbeak and I had to save him?'

'You had to …' Sirius cut himself off and rubbed his hand against his forehead. 'You're too much like your dad.'

Sirius pulled his hand away and smiled, then he pulled Harry back in.

'I really missed you Harry.'

Harry smiled into Sirius's shirt. 'I missed you too.' This time it was Harry who pulled back. 'But you said you weren't going to come here yet? Isn't it dangerous? The Dementors?'

'I'll be fine. The Dementors ignore me as a dog.'

Harry nodded. 'OK, but how did you even get here?'

'Kreacher. I was going to wait, before I started travelling, but then I got Draco's letter and well … I had to come,' Sirius said. 'House elves can apparate inside Hogwarts so I ordered him to bring me here.'

'Oh.'

'About your letter, what happened with the Dementors?'

'It was nothing,' Harry lied. 'Professor Lupin …'

Sirius snorted. 'Sorry,' he said in response to Harry's curious look, 'just professor …' he grinned. 'So, what did Professor Lupin do?'

'He gave me some chocolate,' Harry said.

'Good, he always knew his remedies.'

'I was thinking,' Harry said. 'I know you two were friends, do you think …?'

'No.'

'Sirius …'

'No Harry,' Sirius said. 'We were friends but he thinks I'm the reason your parents are dead. I'm sure he hates me more than anyone now.'

Sirius looked so tired suddenly.

'Sorry,' Harry said.

'It's fine.'

'What is this place anyway?' Harry asked, trying to change the subject.

'Secret tunnel.' Sirius said, he was smiling again. 'We use to use it for … well I'll show you one day.'

'Right, well I should go,' Harry said. 'I have potions first, Snape will kill me if I'm late.'

Sirius huffed. 'I can't believe that git's allowed to work with children,' he said. 'Tell him you were late because you were washing your hair and you understand why that would be confusing for him.'

Harry laughed. 'I think he really would kill me if I said that. Bye Sirius.'

'Bye Harry.'


Potions was always terrible but their lesson that day was worse than usual. Snape was in a particularly bad mood. Harry didn't know if it was Sirius's escape, Lupin's appointment to Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher, Harry's presence, or something else altogether. By the time the lesson was over poor Neville was shaking. Snape had forced Neville to test his potion on his toad, Trevor. Thankfully Trevor was okay.

Malfoy had avoided Harry's eyes for the entire lesson.

After Potions, the Gryffindors had their first Defence Against the Dark Arts lesson. Harry had been looking forward to Professor Lupin's lesson since their first meeting on the train and he hadn't been disappointed. Harry had been impressed right from the start when Lupin had jinxed a piece of chewing gum to fly up Peeves's nose but the lesson had only gotten better, and by the end Harry was grinning from ear to ear. The image of Snape strutting around the classroom in a dress was one he'd never get out of his mind, he couldn't wait to tell Sirius. He only wished he'd had a chance to face the Boggart too.


After his classes, Draco skipped dinner and ditched Crabbe and Goyle. He knew he didn't have much time as he climbed, what seemed like a thousand steps, up to the Gryffindor Common room. He was starting to think he'd forgotten one of Sirius's directions and taken a wrong turn when finally he found the portrait of the Fat Lady who apparently guarded the Lion's den.

'What do you want snake?' the Fat Lady sneered.

Draco narrowed his eyes in response and tried to think of what kind of password the Gryffindors would set.

'Lion.'

The Fat Lady raised her eyebrows. 'Wrong.'

'Courage.'

'Wrong.'

'Bravery.'

'Wrong.'

'… Self righteousness.'

The Fat Lady glared. 'You can guess all you want, I'm not letting you in.'

Draco let out a frustrated grown and stamped his foot. 'Listen here you …'

'Malfoy?'

Draco spun around to see his Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher. He only just kept from cursing. Lupin seemed to keep popping up at all the wrong times, like on the train with Potter. The state of his robes, Draco thought, he dresses like Dobby.

Draco put on what he hoped was a convincing innocent smile.

'Yes, Professor?'

'What are you doing?' Lupin looked between Draco and the Fat Lady suspiciously. 'Why aren't you at dinner.'

'I was just …' Draco tried to think of a reasonable explanation. 'I wanted to thank Potter. I don't know if you heard about what happened in Care of Magical Creatures …'

'I heard.'

'Oh, well anyway, I just wanted a quick word with Potter but she wouldn't let me in.'

Draco glared at the Fat Lady who glared right back.

'Harry's at dinner, where you should be,' Lupin said.

'Oh, of course,' Draco said, feigning innocence. 'I'll come back latter.'

'I won't let you in,' the Fat Lady said. 'I only open for Gryffindors.'

'You might regret that,' Draco snapped.

He turned and fled. It looked like Sirius would have to fetch the rat himself.