*It's back to Harry's perspective for this chapter. I've been rereading my story and I must apologize for all my spelling errors. I tend to write these late at night after my son's gone to bed. I am trying to be a bit more mindful to take time to proofread from here on out. Thanks to everyone reading my story, and especially to those who leave reviews, I really enjoy reading them. I hope you enjoy this chapter.*
Tomorrow was the day Harry had been dreading for the first time in his five years of being thrown into the wizarding world. Tomorrow was September first and as usual he would be off to Hogwarts aboard the train with Hermione, Ron, and the rest of the students. Usually Harry counted down the days until he would be back at platform nine and three quarters for Hogwarts was the closest thing Harry had known to a home these past few years. This still rang true of course, Hogwarts would always be there to welcome him home with the familiar castle, feasts, visits with Hagrid, and his four-post bed. Things were different now because he would be leaving behind a new home he'd began to build with Sirius.
Sirius seemed wary of his return to Hogwarts as well. Especially when Harry had returned from his trip to Diagon Alley to do some shopping. He'd even momentarily forgotten about the conversation he'd overheard between Malfoy in Knockturn alley. Sirius had told Harry he'd met with Dumbledore but there wasn't much said that hadn't already been relayed to Harry in the past. He made Harry swear to send him an owl immediately after each lesson with Dumbledore, so he could keep up with what was going on. Harry assured him he would, which he already had planned on doing anyways. Sirius was doing a good job playing it off like nothing was bothering him, but Harry could tell he was stressed beneath the surface.
They were all at the Burrow tonight though where Mrs. Weasley was cooking one of her amazing meals to send everyone off on the right foot. Harry was looking forward to it, a chance to forget about what lay ahead one more time and just celebrate with his friends.
Harry, Ron, Charlie, Bill, the twins, and Ginny were all playing a round of quidditch up in the field. Hermione even hopped on a broom momentarily with Charlie's assistance but she quickly had found her book much more interesting again. Hermione was a genius but something about flying never went over so well with her. Hours into their match Mrs. Weasley could be heard calling them back down to start cleaning up for dinner. They all trudged down the hill into the garden where the long tables had been set up once more.
"Harry dear, will you go ask Sirius where he put all that butterbeer earlier? He's in the kitchen with Remus." Mrs. Weasley asked, busy with fixing the table up as everyone plopped down into chairs around them.
"Sure thing Mrs. Weasley." Harry said with a laugh as Fred flicked his wand and Bill's chair slid out from under him as he was beginning to take a seat in it. Harry walked into the kitchen and caught Sirius and Lupin in a conversation with their backs turned to him unaware of his presence yet.
"You're going to set off then?" Lupin asked Sirius curiously.
"Yeah, Dumbledore mentioned it at the Order meeting the other night and I think I'm going to go through with it. I don't believe she acted on her own accord, I think the rumors are true that she's been put under the imperius curse." Sirius replied casually as he was digging around in the cupboard in front of him pulling out several glasses.
"She'd be with the Death Eaters though, I hope you don't get too crazy and pursue this with caution my old friend." Lupin said a note of true seriousness to his voice as he looked over at Sirius standing next to him.
"Of course, but I'm a free man and I've got to do my part for the Order again. That means getting back out there. You're one to talk, I know you've been doing spy work underground with the werewolves." Sirius said elbowing his friend playfully in the ribs.
"Yes well, I suppose that's what we have signed up for in the order." Lupin said with a long sigh.
"You've got the last few dishes ready to bring out to Molly?" Sirius asked.
"Yeah hold on one second."
"I've done my waiting! Twelve years of it! In Azkaban!" Sirius cried out with convincing melodramatic acting and lupin roared with laughter. Harry backed out of kitchen slowly, not wishing to be caught eavesdropping. He walked back over to the table and took a seat next to Ron and Hermione.
"Did you ask Sirius about that, dear?" Mrs. Weasley asked promptly as she saw him arrive back in the garden.
"Oh no, I'm sorry Mrs. Weasley, I got distracted." Harry answered truthfully making to stand up and head back in.
"I've got to grab something now anyhow, no worries Harry dear." Mrs. Weasley said with a kind smile before bustling off back into the kitchen. Harry lowered himself back into his chair.
"Are you okay?" Hermione asked quietly, leaning in closer to him, Ron followed suit leaning in closer. Everyone was busy in different conversations so Harry leaned in as well and told them what he heard in the kitchen.
"Sirius and Lupin didn't know you heard them?" Hermione asked, her expression thoughtful, Harry shook his head. Ron however had a look of incredulous disbelief on his face.
"She betrayed us! Like there isn't enough going on and now he's going to chase after her. He's a prat for it." Ron said shaking his head.
"Well she could be under the imperious curse, I just don't know what to think because we don't know her very well." Hermione said biting her lip, her eyes far away as she still sat in thought.
"Yeah, I don't know what to think either, but Lupin said she'd probably be surrounded by Death Eaters. I don't want Sirius to end up in trouble again." Harry said miserably, to which Hermione snapped back to reality and gave him a sympathetic look.
"He'll be alright Harry." She said with confidence.
"It's just the reality of the wizarding war going on right now, everyone is in danger in the Order." Ron said with a look down the table at his family laughing and talking.
"I know that." Harry said quickly, because he really did know where Ron was coming from, he cared about his family very much as well. "It's just that after everything that happened this summer, I worry about him."
"I know mate, we care about him too." Ron replied with a genuine look at Harry and a small smile.
Sirius, Lupin, and Mrs. Weasley came out of the house carrying the last few items between them. Sirius sat down next to Harry and Lupin beside him, while Mrs. Weasley sat next to Mr. Weasley at the end of the table. The twins quickly sat across the table from Sirius who grinned at them with welcome. They had had taken even more of liking to each other over the summer, and Sirius helped them out with product ideas as of late. Harry joined everyone in suggesting idea's for Weasley Wizard Wheezes, trying to forget his troubles. Sirius put an arm around his shoulder affectionately, grinning down at him in pride as they talked about Sirius's favorite subject – pranks, joke products, and general mischievousness. Harry smiled back up at him, he'd already begun to look so much healthier. Much more like the picture's Harry had of him before Azkaban and before his experience being trapped in the veil.
The next day Sirius and Harry were rushing through the train stations towards the barrier to platform nine and three quarters. They were running late, having stayed up much too late last night celebrating at the Burrow. While enjoying their last night together before term started, they regretfully had to spend their morning doing last minuet packing in a flurry of robes and quills flying around the house into Harry's Trunk.
Sirius being able to accompany him to the platform worry free made a trip he'd been dreading much more enjoyable. Sirius told a couple of stories of meeting here with his dad here every year that he really enjoyed hearing as they briskly walked towards the barrier. Once they arrived Harry pushed his trolley through in a sprint as Sirius held Hedwig's cage and ran through next to him.
They emerged through the other side to see a packed platform nine and three quarters. People were rushing around saying goodbye and getting their belongings onto the train. Several people waved at Harry while others stared at Sirius and him with their mouths hanging open. Malfoy passed by and gave Harry the deepest look of loathing, for as far as Harry knew, Lucius was still in Azkaban.
"Who knew a kid who survived a killing curse and defeated Lord Voldemort accompanied by his once thought to be murderer godfather would attract so much attention?" Sirius asked playfully and Harry laughed as they continued to attract more and more stares and whispers.
They paused a few feet from a cabin where Ron and Hermione were waving down to Harry from, beckoning him to come sit with them. Harry turned to Sirius who was smiling down at him.
"I'll see you at Christmas?" He asked and Harry nodded quickly, he was quite looking forward to that. He had other things on his mind right now though.
"You'll be careful, right?" Harry burst out the question nervously. Sirius raised his eyebrows at him with a questioning look.
"I heard you talking with Lupin in the kitchen at the Burrow last night. How you're going to do work for the Order about Embry." Harry admitted guiltily but once he said it he was glad to have gotten it out. He'd been dwelling on it in his mind since he heard them, at least now he and Sirius could be honest with each other about their busy months ahead. Sirius doing work for the Order, and Harry studying with Dumbledore.
"Ah you heard that?" He asked nervously and Harry nodded.
"She betrayed us in the Veil Sirius! She handed us over to the Death Eaters and now you're going to put yourself in danger looking for her!" Harry cried out and Sirius looked down at him sympathetically.
"I didn't want you to know details, so you could be focused on your work with Dumbledore. You don't have to worry about me, I'll be fine." Sirius said placing both his hands on Harry's shoulders and giving him a look of sincerity as he told him this.
"I've already lost you once to the Death Eaters though." Harry said miserably, looking down at his trunk and fiddling with the handle absentmindedly.
"Embry's not a Death Eater, I just know she's not." Sirius said and Harry looked back up at him incredulously.
"How can you say you know that for sure?" Harry demanded as the train blew it's warning whistle.
"I just knew her before all this stuff happened, I don't believe she's a Death Eater." He said looking like he really didn't want to be talking about this anymore.
"You didn't think Peter was either! Even if she's not she'll be surrounded by them!" Harry said and regretted it immediately. Sirius looked like he'd been slapped in the face by him bringing up Wormtail.
"I'm sorry, I'm just scared something will happen to you again." Harry said hurriedly and honestly, Sirius composed himself and pulled Harry into a hug.
"It'll be okay, we're at war and there will always be risks. I will be careful because I meant what I said about doing a better job at being your godfather. I still have to do work for the Order though and you're going to have to trust me." He explained soothingly.
"It's not you that I don't trust!" Harry said offended and Sirius nodded pulling back and looking Harry up and down. The train was whistling again and Mr. and Mrs. Weasley appeared beside them telling Harry to hurry as Mr. Weasley put Harry's trunk into the compartment.
"I'll talk to you very soon! Keep me informed by owl!" Sirius called as Mrs. Weasley pushed him onto the train and handed him Hedwig's cage.
"I will!" Harry cried wishing he'd talked with Sirius last night when there had been more time. He waved at them all as the train started to move away from the platform. Sirius smiled and waved back until the train carrying Harry rounded the corner and he could see him no more.