Hermione screamed as the wind whipped around her. This wasn't supposed to be happening. Sirius was supposed to come to them. They weren't supposed to go anywhere. And then came the falling sensation and she landed on something. Hermione lay there for a moment as her world came into focus. She was at Hogwarts.
"Hey, you plan on sitting on me forever?" asked an unknown voice.
Hermione looked down and realized she had knocked over a boy. He had sleek black hair and looked to be around 16, her own age. She jumped up, feeling flustered. "Oh, sorry, I didn't see you."
The boy looked up at her strangely.
"I mean-." For once, Hermione was at loss for words. She extended a hand to help him up. "What I meant was, I'm really sorry. I'm-I'm Hermione Granger."
The boy shrugged, and smiled, flashing white teeth. "No problem, I'm Sirius Black."
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Ron wandered down the hallway. Where in the world were Harry and Hermione? And why was he at Hogwarts? Ron shook his head wryly. Who knew he'd be back in school after only a few days of summer vacation. This would all be Hermione's fault for finding that book. He was busy composing what he would say to her when he found her, when a loud voice said "And what are you doing wandering the halls at this hour?"
Apparently teachers had to work at school during the summer. Sucks for them. Expecting to see Snape's ugly face, Ron turned reluctantly around, and stared. He was facing a short, fat man with watery blue eyes and an enormous ginger colored mustache.
"Who are you?"
The man seemed extremely upset at this. "Who am I? Who am I? I am your potions master, Professor Slughorn-" He grasped Ron's arm in a surprisingly strong grip."-and I don't quite seem to remember who you are,"
Ron backed away. He had never seen this man before. "I-I-what are you doing-who are?" He spluttered.
Slughorn eyed him suspiciously. "No, I don't know you are. Hey! What are you doing here?" He advanced towards Ron. Ron wrenched his arm away, turned, and dashed headlong down the hall, concentrating on getting as much distance as he could from the crazy person who claimed to be the potions master.
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Harry rubbed his aching left arm as he sat up. He was in Hogwarts, only a slightly different Hogwarts. Some of the paintings were different, they looked older. Judging from the lack of noise, it appeared to be night.
"Ron? Hermione?" Harry whispered, not wanting to attract too much attention. No one answered. Sighing, he dug into the pockets of his robes and pulled out the Marauder's Map. Lucky he had taken to keeping it in his pocket where ever he went.
Looking to make sure no one was there, Harry tapped it with his wand." I solemnly swear I am up to no good."
Sliding down to the base of a wall, he studied the map. "Ronald Weasley" was on the 3rd floor, moving steadily away from a dot marked "Horace Slughorn". Probably new DADA teacher, Harry thought. Searching downstairs, he found "Hermione Granger" with-
"Sirius Black." Harry whispered, not daring to believe his eyes. "Sirius! We got him back!" But why were they brought to Hogwards to do so?
"Excuse me." Harry turned to see a boy about his own age coming up next to him. He looked slightly…familiar. "Have you seen Sirius B-" The boy stopped abruptly and bent to examine the map.
Harry quickly snatched it away and stuffed it in his pocket. "Just some spare parchment. I got some ink on it and-."
The boy was looking at him strangely. "What was that?"
Harry clenched his fist around his wand nervously. Why was he so interested? And who was he? "Nothing! What are you talking about?"
"Hey, Moony!"
The 2 turned as a boy with messy black hair run up to them. Harry stared. Moony?
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Hermione gulped. "S-S-Sirius B Black?"
The boy nodded as he stood up. "That's my name."
Hermione took a deep breath and smiled wanly. "Oh! That's wonderful!" Feeling dizzy, she grabbed onto the surprised Sirius' arm. "Where are we? I'm a little confused." That was hard to say. Hermione Granger was never confused. But here she was, facing a 16 year old Sirius Black. Sirius was supposed to be dead!
Sirius looked at her oddly. "We're at Hogwarts. Are you sure you're alright?"
Hermione shook her head, thinking fast. "I'm new here. Professor Dumbledore said I was in Gryffindor, but I don't know where Gryffindor Tower is!" Lame. Who on earth would believe that?
But Sirius just shrugged nonchalantly, not seeming to care. "Come on then. It's orgoff. Strange password, I know." He motioned for Hermione to follow him up the stairs.
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Ron stumbled away, dashing as fast as he could away from the maniac potion's master, instinctively heading towards Gryffindor Tower. As he leaned against the wall, panting, he saw a girl and a boy come into view.
"Hermione! Harry! Did you see that potion's master, Slughorn? The guy's a complete lunatic!"
Hermione stared at him. The boy, who up close was evidently not Harry, laughed. "Yeah, Slughorn? The guy's been around for like, 50 years. Has a crush on Lily or something."
Ron stared. "Who are you?"
Hermione glared at him. "Don't be rude Ron, this is Sirius."
Ron's eyes bulged. "Sirius! We got him back!"
Sirius looked at him strangely. "Uh, yeah, I came back. You didn't think I'd decided not to come back to Hogwarts after the summer with my folks, did you?"
"But I mean-"
Hermione kicked Ron in the shins. "Quit it." She whispered meaningfully, and walked up to a newer looking portrait of the fat lady. "Orgoff." The portrait swung open, and she and Sirius clambered in. Ron stared at them for a few second before hurrying after.
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Harry felt his heart thumping loudly in his chest as he stared at the boy who could've passed as his own twin. "Dad?"
James Potter stared as Remus half laughed, half coughed in embarrassment for his friend.
Harry felt his face flush. "I-I mean, James!"
James eyed him. "Do I know you?"
Harry thought wildly. "Uh no, you don't. But I do. Know you, I mean Dumbledore said… You were my partner." What the heck was a partner?
"Your partner?" James repeated, obviously confused.
Harry thought fast. "Um yeah. I'm an exchange student from …America."
"Cool." Remus said, holding out his hand. "I'm Remus Lupin."
Harry shook it, a little shaky from nearly giving himself away. "I'm Harry Potter."
James stared. "Did Dumbledore make us partners because we had the same last names?"
'Potter?" Harry said nervously. "I mean, Palter. I'm Harry Palter."
The other two looked at him liked he'd just escaped from an Asylum. Harry didn't blame them. Then James grinned at him. "So what do I do, as your partner?"
Harry shrugged." Uh, show me around? I'm in Gryffindor by the way."
"C'mon then." James said, tugging on Harry's arm. "I'll show you Gryffindor Tower."