Chapter 7 Sirius' Will

(Number Twelve, Grimmauld place)

The days that followed were rainy, grey and sulky. The clouds still lay like a thick blanket above them and it surely reflected the mood everyone were in. The members of the Order went in and out, occasionally they came to report something, but the Dark Lord was currently in the North of Scandinavia, at a small Wizarding School named Rosengard, which had turned to become one of the darkest places in Europe.

For Harry, Hermione and Draco, time passed as rain rumbled against the broken windows. The house looked gloomier than ever. The corridor was more often filled with Mrs Black's shrieks about Filthy Scums and Mudbloods invading the Noble House of Black, and it did not help with the nearing dates, as everyone new, it was soon time to read Sirius Will.

On the 14th august Harry had enough. This old place, Sirius' old place, seemed to echo with the dead man's voice. Sometimes the voice sounded so clear or so near that Harry soon started to think that Sirius wasn't dead. That he was still alive, just somewhere else doing business. (Whatever that should be)

"What's the matter with Potter? " Draco asked Hermione one day while both were stucj doing laundry for Tonks. "He seems weirder than usual. What did you lay in his food Mud... uhm... Granger? "

"He's hallucinating. He seems to think Sirius is still alive. "

" We better do something before he totally flips out. Yet it would be something, seeing him facing Voldemort and reacting as if they were best friends. Ha ha ha... "

"That's not funny Draco! Honestly, we should help him. " Hermione said, throwing a dirty towel at him.

"There's no we in this, Mudblood. There's only you and those other rats who live here."

"Fine! As you want it Malfoy."

She went upstairs were Harry was sitting looking in the old photo-album he had received from Hagrid during his first year at Hogwarts. She went over looking over his shoulder to have a better view over the photos he was staring at. Most of them held pictures (mainly school pictures) of his parents, but he seemed to take extra long time, looking at the pictures of his Godfather. Indeed, he did miss him.

"Hi Hermione, I didn't see you. When did you come in?" Harry asked suddenly.

"Sneaked in when you didn't notice. "

"Well that's pretty obvious. What's up?"

"Harry, I just wanted to make sure you were OK. I mean, Dra.. uhm... Malfoy just told me that you didn't seem right. "

"I'm okay, there's nothing you need to worry about. I'm all right. Stop worrying."

"You know, we've heard you, mumbling blaming yourself about his death. You know he wouldn't want you like this, he wouldn't want you to blame yourself for his passing... "

"I know, yet I think I'm going crazy. Every day, every minute I can hear him, hear his voice. It's spooky and it's driving me mad. I don't know what to do anymore. "

"Why don't you write to Dumbledore? "

"I think Dumbledore has enough to worry about. I don't want to be the one troubling him. " Harry said closing the album. Slowly he walked out from the room, not stopping to look back.

(Later, that very same day)

Everybody were assembled at a long table, originally the kitchen table yet it was charmed to be longer in order for all the Order members and family. The testament was read by a skinny, bald wizard with big round reading- glasses.

"We are assembled here today in order to read the last will of Sirius Rodolphus Black, son of Henry and Agatha Black. "

The wizard cleared his throat and opened a sealed letter.

"Dear friends and Order members. My godson Harry. If you are listening to this, then I have tragically died. Hopefully in a forceful battle, at least risking my life...

...I don't have much to say in this will. For this house, it and its belongings will go directly to Harry. There also follows 10 000 galleons from the Black's family vault at Gringotts...

...For Nymphadora Tonks, who because of her mothers wish to marry a muggle, has been blasted from our family tree I give back 2000 galleons and the summer-cottage of the Black's in Scotland...

...For my best friend Lupin, for a long shared friendship, I'll give you the key to my vault. I only wish you well and since the Werewolf restrictions I believe this would be enough money for you to live on. Fight back, my dear friend. I'm sure that one day you and the rest of the Wolves will be free...

... As for the Order, it's my will that this house will remain as Headquarters as long as it is needed. You'll fight them, you'll win...

... Thanks for a wonderful friendship. I'm so sorry I cannot be with you. But do not grieve, do not complain, do not bear lies in your hearts. This is my last will. You only live once, and remember that life. Enjoy it while you can. Don't hide from it, dismiss it, and throw it away. Do what you can do with it, even if the dark clouds rumbles outside your door. Remember who you are, remember what you are and what you stand for. We may live in a dark world. We may fear things that we don't need to fear. Still life goes on. For you years will pass, the early spring will soon turn to summer. Apples will grow before you. Enjoy these brief moments in your life. Remember that the brighter days await you.

Sirius"

Heads bowed down at the long table, in the kitchen of Number Twelve, Grimmauld place. Tears trickled down their faces. Many of them cried silently. Yet none of them were aware of the dark shadow at the doorstep.

(Rosengard)

The room was a complete mess. Chairs had been thrown (probably by magic) to the walls, the books were torn and the bed had been smashed into two pieces. Standing in the Middle of this was Lord Voldemort, overwieving the evidence of a nasty battle.

"Wormtail! "

"Yes my lord"

"She's not here. I thought you said this was the place. "

"But isn't she? "

"No, now get out! Go find her! Or else I will feed you to Nagini. "

"As you wish my lord" Wormtail said and fled. Voldemort turned to an old book (probably the only whole item in the room) placed in a ruined bookcase. It was so old that the words inside near all had disappeared. Yet there was one page that shined like new, this page was his page of interest.

"Just wait, soon Voldemort will rise more powerful than ever before. In his hands he will hold the world, the magic and immortality. "

(Hogwarts)

Cassandra stood outside, by a giant lake training her eagle to dive down and kill small bunnies (which seemed quite common on these grounds), for meal. In Rosengard there had been small deliverances of meat as the weather wasn't always in control for flying, but now here at Hogwarts new winds blew.

Eagles had always been the pets and guardians in her family. They were fast, intelligent and (in their opinion) cuddly. She wondered what the rest of the school would suspect. She didn't want to say anything, she wanted to see how bright the students were at this school. After all, she still doubted this was where she belonged.

TBC