Chapter Twelve: On the Hogwarts Express!

Monday 1st September

"George, Fred, hurry up!" Mrs Weasley shouted over her shoulder at her twin sons who were falling behind the rest of the crowd. Harry sniggered as he pushed the trolley containing his trunk and Hedwig's Owl cage through the station. Sirius had dropped him off at the Weasley's house around seven that morning before Apparating to Hogwarts School gates on his own.

Harry had diligently kept Sirius' appointment as Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher from Ron and Hermione. They had given him some odd looks as to why Sirius wasn't taking Harry to the station but he had a feeling that Hermione had guessed the main reason why he was not available. But he was not going to tell them even if they begged him to.

Walking through the crowded station at King's Cross, Harry hummed to himself, his mind roaming back to the past where he recalled - however distantly and long ago it was - his mother's voice. It was soft and sweet and he smiled lightly. Other then the nightmare where Voldemort had been plotting Sirius' murder, Harry had been having a few strange dreams of late. His dreams seemed to be focused on his parents, James and Lily before their deaths. When he had explained to Sirius that he had been hearing his mother's singing in his dreams Sirius had merely said that Lily did use to sing to him every night before he went to sleep.

But the thing that Harry could not understand was why he had not remembered that before. Having asked his Godfather why, the only reason that seemed sensible enough was the fact that Sirius' continued presence in Harry's life was causing old and buried fragments of memory to emerge in his dreams.

It was nice to hear his mother's voice. Even if he couldn't remember her, he still had some, if vague memories off her, even if it was just her voice.

"Harry?"

He jumped softly as Hermione laid a gentle hand on his shoulder.

"Are you okay?"

Shaking his head, Harry nodded. "Sure, I was just remembering something."

"You were humming," she noted. "I've never heard you hum before."

Harry felt himself go red. He shrugged his shoulders trying to dismiss it. "I know. It's nothing. I won't make a habit of it." He turned his gaze away from Hermione. Why did he suddenly feel so uncomfortable talking about his parents in front of her? He never had before….until Sirius had come along. Sirius had opened new ways for him to remember his parents and get to know them. Maybe it was because it was something personal. He shook his head trying to forget the conversation. Perhaps he was too protective of his memories now? Sirius had told him that no matter how little he remembered of James and Lily Potter, he should treasure the memories he did have of them inside him.

Yes, that had to be it.

He had so little memories of his parents that he wanted to keep them to himself. I wish I could've known them.

Harry sat gazing out of the window as the Hogwarts Express sped along the track towards their destination. It was now midday and he, Ron and Hermione had already indulged in two games of cards, which Harry had both lost spectacularly, though he put that down to being distracted by the imminent arrival at Hogwarts that evening. Heavy rain splattered against the windows causing a sense of gloom to linger in the compartment, though Harry couldn't help by not feeling cheerful. He was going back to school and his Godfather was going to be there. What more could he want?

A peaceful year is what I need, Harry thought.

As they sat together on the train, familiar voices reached his ears and he traded a glance with Ron and Hermione as Draco Malfoy's voice seeped into their compartment as he walked past them, not even giving them a side-long glance.

"…Father actually considered sending me to Durmstrang rather than Hogwarts, you know. He knows the Headmaster, you see. Well, you know his opinion of Dumbledore - the man's such a Mudblood-lover - and Durmstrang doesn't admit that sort of riff-raff. But mother didn't like the idea of me going to school so far away. Father says Durmstrang takes a far more sensible line then Hogwarts about the Dark Arts. Durmstrang students actually learn them, not just the defence rubbish we do. Though, I'm certain there will be tons of owls coming to the Mudblood lover's office when the precious parents of those less pure then I learn that it is Sirius Black taking the position of Dark Arts teacher. Father says he won't last a week. I'm willing to bet he won't last a day."

Harry felt his blood boil and walking over to the slightly open compartment door slammed it shut. Growling profusely he turned back to Ron and Hermione.

"I wish Malfoy had gone to Durmstrang. At least then he wouldn't have to see me every day," said Harry before either of them could get a word in.

"Why didn't you tell us that Sirius was Dark Arts Professor?" Ron asked, leaning forward in his seat to gaze at Harry.

Harry shrugged, trying to ignore the anger that had possessed him a moment ago. Malfoy's words were cruel, but he knew that the Slytherin was just trying to provoke him into doing something that would get him expelled, but he wouldn't give Malfoy that satisfaction of seeing him sent home. "I wanted it to be a surprise."

"If Malfoy keeps going on about it the whole train will know before we even get there," pointed out Hermione.

"And that's the best way to ruin Sirius' teaching career which is probably what Malfoy wants," accused Harry.

"Dumbledore is on his side. He'd stick up for him. He wouldn't have hired him if he wasn't right for the job," reassured Ron.

Harry nodded. "I know. I was looking forward to this year because of Sirius being there…but…" he ran a hand through his hair, "I don't know…maybe I'm just slightly peeved that Malfoy will do anything to make me unhappy and discredit someone who doesn't deserve it."

Hermione smiled sadly. "That's just it Harry. That's what that Prophet reporter has been doing. No matter whether Sirius is innocent the world will always remember him as a convicted murderer regardless of the fact that he did not commit those crimes at all. It will take a lot more on Sirius' part to truly become a part of Wizarding society."

"And how long will that take?" questioned Harry, crossing his arms and leaning back in his seat.

Hermione shrugged. "It won't happen in a few months…but maybe in a few years."

Smiling sadly, Harry replied, "I just wish people could accept him now."

As the Hogwarts Express travelled further north, the rain became heavier and occasionally a flash of lighting occurred followed by a crack of thunder rumbling across the landscape. After lunch Harry was visited by Neville, Dean and Seamus.

"How was your summer Harry?" Neville asked.

Harry grinned. "Quite fun considering whom I've been living with."

"What's it like living with Sirius Black? "Seamus says there have been lots of protests about your placement with him…" Dean trailed off.

Nodding, Harry replied, "Yeah, that's true. But the thing is Sirius is innocent and we've had fun together. He's treated me like his own son and because he was my dad's best friend I'm learning more about my parents then I have ever known. The whole world won't give him a chance, and he's not evil either, despite what the papers may print."

"But how can you be so sure?" pressed Seamus. "My own mother doesn't want me to be in the same dormitory with you because of your living arrangements."

Harry scowled. "Well, she's just going to have to accept that. The authorities have pronounced him sane and innocent. Would she rather me live with my Muggle relatives who hate me?"

Seamus shrugged timidly. "I don't know…she wants me to stay away from you. She threatened to take me out of Hogwarts."

Harry shared a glance with Hermione. He would have to tell them. "You may as well not get off the train then Seamus."

"What do you mean by that?" the other demanded, his face going red. "I want to go to school!"

"Do you really think your mother would allow you to be taught by Sirius Black?" Harry asked, raising his eyebrows. "He's the new Defence Against the Dark Arts Professor."

"You have to be joking," choked Neville.

Shaking his head Harry replied, "No, I'm not. Dumbledore offered it to him and he accepted. Besides, the headmaster does have a viable reason for offering it to Sirius in the first place."

"And what's that?" Dean questioned.

"Before he was unjustly imprisoned Sirius was an Auror. He fought Death Eaters every day…and during the World Cup this year he was attacked by a Death Eater. He was nearly killed. If he was a dark wizard Sirius would have participated in that attack, but he didn't."

"You can't prove that though," Seamus countered quietly.

"Yes I can. I was there. I helped him. Plus my godfather gave the Auror's his memories. If that isn't enough proof then what is?"

Harry knew he shouldn't have said about the investigation using Sirius' memories but how the hell was he meant to convince Seamus that his godfather was a nice person and not some dark wizard?

Shaking his head Harry fell back against the seat, closing his eyes as Seamus, Dean and Neville left their compartment. Things were not looking up at all.

"So, Potter, had a good summer with that irresponsible soon-to-be-fired Godfather of yours?" Draco Malfoy said as he wrenched open the carriage door into Harry's compartment.

Great, he thought solemnly, just what I need: Malfoy to provoke me.

"At least he's not stupid as your father," retorted Harry, "running amok at the Quidditch Cup was he and then he got frightened off because of Voldemort's sign?"

Malfoy turned red and he drew out his wand, pointing it straight at Harry. "Shut up. You know nothing Potter."

"If I knew nothing then wouldn't I be classed as dumb?"

"You're so thick Potter. I bet your godfather is just waiting for the right time to get rid of you."

Harry raised an eyebrow. First, Malfoy had said that Sirius would be fired and now he was claiming that Sirius was a Death Eater, just biding his time to get rid of him. "Are you sure you weren't hit by a Memory-Loss charm during the summer, Malfoy, cause' you've basically said that my godfather doesn't want me?" smirked Harry, knowing that the next thing he said would mean he had won the battle. "If he didn't want me why has he officially adopted me and I've taken on his last name?"

It seemed that Malfoy had no retort, but instead of trying to fight them he turned on his heel and dragged his henchmen, Crabbe and Goyle, out of the carriage, leaving Harry, Ron and Hermione alone to talk.

The first staff meeting was over and Sirius was feeling quite pleased that the teachers had all accepted him, apart from Snape of course, but he had expected that of course. Snape, according to Minerva McGonagall, had been equally peeved that Sirius had been innocent and was very annoyed that his old nemesis had sabotaged his attempts at becoming the Defence Professor.

As he rounded the corner on the third floor, he stopped short as he saw Severus Snape leaning against the wall, sneering at him, with a look of utter loathing reflecting in his eyes.

"Well, what do we have here," began Sirius before Snape could speak a word. "Snivellus."

Snape glared at him, his beetle black eyes boring into him, as he stood outside Sirius' office. "I would've thought any childish insults would be behind you now, Black, but it seems that you have failed to grasp the necessary aspects of adulthood. I wonder if the headmaster knows he's hired an idiot."

Clenching his fists, Sirius ignored the urge to curse Snape into oblivion but instead stood his ground trying to respond in a more adult manner. Snape was right - Sirius had acted like a little child then, and he couldn't afford to have Snape taunt him throughout the year. Now that would definitely ruin his time at Hogwarts.

"And I would have thought you would have learned your lesson about angering me," responded Sirius. He stepped forward keeping his gaze on Snape. "And, by the way, if I hear you're giving Harry a hard time because of your hatred for James and me then you may find yourself out of a job."

Snape scoffed. "I doubt you have the ability to have me fired, Black."

"I don't but Dumbledore does," threatened Sirius. "Treat Harry normally and then you won't have to see me as often as you might if you continue your behaviour towards him."

"Why don't you tell that brat to stop thinking he owns the place then! He's just like his pathetic father. Strutting about the school like he owns the place!" snapped Snape. "He thinks he can get away with anything because he's the boy-who-lived!"

"So you'd rather Harry had died that night and our world not given the freedom it deserves?" Sirius asked calmly, struggling to not let his temper rise, though he knew his eyes were flashing dangerously.

Snape did not answer - could not say what he wanted to say - instead he made his meaning clear when he turned on his heel and walked away, leaving Sirius standing alone outside his office, wondering if Snape would ever forgive Harry for being the son of James Potter.

To be continued...