Harry lay awake in his four-post bed in the Gryffindor tower. He listened to the rain pounding against the window as a storm raged on relentlessly outside of the castle. Soaking in the comforts of a warm bed and blankets, he felt uneasy for he about to leave those consolations to do something very reckless. Guilt shifted inside of him as he heard Ron's snores coming from the bed over from him. He thought of Hermione in the girl's dormitory probably fast asleep or deep in a book.
He hadn't been honest with his friends earlier in the evening. Hermione had told Ron about what had happened with Malfoy and when he'd returned from his talk with Lupin and Embry in the fire they'd been waiting anxiously for them. He played it off as though he was okay, that Lupin had vowed to set off after Sirius with help from other Order members. This was only half true, as Lupin did indeed promise Harry that but what Ron and Hermione didn't know was that he would hopefully be playing a role in the operation to save his godfather.
Embry had confirmed that Sirius was being held in the Malfoy Manor, which was being used for a place to store prisoners of Voldemort and the Death Eaters. They'd had little time to formulate much of a plan for Harry's time using Slughorn's fire during lunch period was running short by the time Embry had finished telling him her story. He'd managed to convince Lupin to meet him in Hogsmeade where he would give him the invisibility cloak to aid him in getting to Sirius.
Harry looked at the watch on his wrist and saw that it was a quarter to five. It was Saturday and with no lessons to rush to he knew he'd have time to sneak away unnoticed while everyone slept in unknowing of him sneaking off to Hogsmeade to meet with Remus and Embry. He sat up slowly and threw his legs over the side of his bed, his invisibility cloak and the marauders map tucked safely under his arm. He crept slowly across the stone floor listening to the snores and deep breathing of his friends, holding his breath until he reached the door way. He let out a breath of relief as no one stirred in the slightest. He quickly walked down the spiral staircase down into the common room, where a fire was still lit. In the arm chair, closest to the fire sat Hermione, awake but tired looking with a book propped open in her lap. He swore as she looked up at him accusatively.
"I knew you were up to something!" She cried out standing up, and tossing her book aside in the chair nearest to her. She really had to be mad to throw a book aside so carelessly.
"Shh Hermione! I can explain, really.." He started to say but Hermione shot him a dirty look and raged on.
"Ron thought you'd learned your lesson after last year, that you were fine. I knew better though, I mean honestly Harry, like it wasn't totally obvious that you wouldn't just be calm when you knew Sirius was in danger! You'll rush off to save anyone, especially Sirius!" She hissed at him, her eyes flashing.
"I know! Look though, Embry confirmed Sirius is at Malfoy Manor okay? I'm not doing anything but meeting Lupin in Hogsmeade to drop off the cloak with him so he can have an easier time reaching Sirius. It's not as bad as it looks." Harry whispered showing her the neatly folded invisibility cloak under his arm. She still eyed him suspiciously though.
"Then you won't mind if I come with you?" She asked finally, eying him closely. Harry shifted uncomfortably, if he was being honest he had intentions of trying to tag along if possible.
"Well now that you know, I was kind of hoping you'd cover for me in case I don't get back in time and McGonagall, or any of the teachers, start asking questions. You could just say I wasn't feeling well or something." He said trying to sound casual and not totally guilty, for Hermione was watching him like a hawk.
"Harry, you know I care about Sirius very much too, but you can't keep chasing off after him every time he's reckless." She said almost sympathetically.
"Look Hermione, there's more I didn't tell you. Embry and Sirius had a past and he loved her, he wasn't being reckless just to be reckless, he was trying to help someone he loves." Harry explained, looking over he saw that light was starting to poke in through the windows. He needed to get moving to meet Lupin in Hogsmeade while the hallways were still clear and he could sneak into the passageway to Honey Dukes.
"Please Hermione. I promise I won't do anything stupid, I just want to help Sirius before it's too late." Harry begged, trying to give Hermione a sincere look. Her face softened and she bit her lip, looking torn on what she should do.
"Oh Harry, please just promise me you'll be safe. There's nothing you can do that the Order members can't. Just get the cloak to Remus." She said finally, sitting down and grabbing her book. He wanted to hug her and say thank you but instead he turned on his heel and rushed out the painting before she could change her mind and hold him back longer.
He threw the invisibility cloak over himself. Then reaching for his wand in his pocket he tapped the map and uttered the magic words to get it to reveal its secrets. He saw his path was clear to the statue and quickly took off as fast as he could while still assuring that his feet where covered by the cloak. He needed to make up time to get through the passageway and into Hogsmeade to meet Lupin.
Once he arrived at the statue he tapped the hump and climbed in clumsily. He pulled the cloak off and rushed down the passage quickly now that he didn't have to worry about being seen. The passage seemed to wind on as it always did when he was on a time limit. He had broken out into a sweat by the time he reached the end of the path. He wiped the sweat from his forehead with the sleeve of his robes before throwing the cloak back on and climbing through the floor and into Honeydukes cellar.
He walked slowly and carefully, his ears strained for any noise as he climbed the stairs slowly to reach the actual shop above. Sun was peeking through the large windows and basking the displays of candy within them with light. He was pleased to see that the rain had stopped for the moment in comparison to the storm that raged on earlier when he had been back in Gryffindor tower. It was still early in the morning for not even the shop workers could been seen in the building. It was eerie to be in Honeydukes when it was dead quiet, instead of bursting with noise and people as it always had been when he visited it.
He unlocked the front door before pushing it open and stepping outside. The chilly air hit him in the face and sent a shiver down his back. He pulled the door shut before walking off into the village to search for Lupin. Shielded from anyone's gaze beneath the cloak, he watched as a few people immerged from their doorways. Yawning as they grabbed the paper from the porch, they then retreated into the warmth of their homes and shops. Ahead Harry saw two cloaked figures standing by the three broomsticks talking to each other casually. He picked up pace recognizing them as Embry and Lupin.
"Don't panic, it's me I'm under the cloak" Harry whispered as he finally reached them. Embry jumped at his voice but Lupin gave a short nod before strolling off in a different direction.
"Follow us while we talk, it'll just look like Embry and I are talking to each other. Leave the cloak on, you're too recognizable, especially this close to Hogwarts." Lupin said and Harry quickly began to follow the two as they strolled down the street.
"Sorry it took a bit. Hermione caught me heading out of the portrait but in the end, I think it paid off. I got her to agree to helping cover for me if need be." Harry said quietly and Lupin gave a short nod while Embry smiled in his direction in response.
"There is an alley over here where you can give us the cloak, people are waking up but you should still be able to sneak back into Hogwarts unnoticed if we hurry." Embry explained looking at Lupin while she talked though.
"Listen... about that." Harry started to say nervously but Lupin shook his head and cut him off.
"No way, the last thing we are going to do is bring Harry Potter into Voldemort's safehouse. Even you, worried as I know you are for Sirius, have to understand that." Lupin said firmly as they rounded the corner in a discreet alley.
"This is Honeydukes back door." Embry said pointing to an old door behind them. "The owner does not live here and the shop won't be open for another few hours, I'll unlock the door in a moment and you just hurry into the passage. Watch that handy map Remus told you to bring before you immerge back at Hogwarts and you should be fine."
Harry pulled the cloak off himself and Embry and Remus both shifted so they were facing him now that they could see him. They looked tired but determined, he figured they must have stayed up all night, as he had himself, going over their plan of action. Lupin clasped a hand on his shoulder and squeezed it gently.
"You have to trust me this time Harry. You know why you must stay behind right? The more people breaking in, the less safe it will be for everyone involved. Especially you." Lupin said fixing his eyes on Harry with a sincere look.
"I really do understand… Just please be careful..." Harry said quietly, staring down at the wet ground on which he stood. "Just as soon as you're back…"
"The minute there is anything to tell you, I will get ahold of you. I've already talked to Dumbledore and it's been cleared with Minerva as well that the minute there is word about Sirius you're cleared for a day or two to visit home." Lupin said and Harry felt a rush of affection toward him. Just thinking of sitting around at Hogwarts with no answers made his stomach churn. He had to admit there was some relief in the form of knowing the moment there was word he'd know from Professor McGonagall.
"I'll bring him back to you. I feel a weight of responsibility for why he's been taken from you in the first place." Embry said, her eyes on his and Harry nodded at her.
"I trust you both, please be safe. I'll talk to you soon?" Harry asked stepping back and admitting defeat on this one. He would be staying behind this time and trusting the pair in front of him instead.
"Very soon." Lupin said with determination etched into this voice and face. He turned to the door that led to Honeydukes and pointed his wand at it.
"Alohomora!" He cried and the door burst open magically.
"Get back to school while you still can unnoticed." Embry urged, and gently pushed him forward into the door. Harry obeyed and made to head for the cellar, with one last turn he saw the pair grab hands and disappear with a loud crack. He rushed forward and down the stairs into the cellar where he had come in from. Once he reached the bottom of the stairs he crouched down and felt around the dusty stone floor, clumsily trying to find the trap door. Finally finding it, he pulled it open and slid back down it, before pulling the stone square back over the entrance to the tunnel. He'd made it safely onto the path back to Hogwarts.
"Lumos" He muttered as he pulled his wand from his pocket and pointed it out in front of him. Walking slowly back towards school now that the tunnel was bathed in light, he thought of Sirius. How he'd see him very soon if all went well. He tried not to think of the If's and only of being reunited with his godfather.