"Harry, are you feeling all right?"
"Why do you ask Hermione?"
"You like you're getting sick. Please tell me that you're not getting sick."
"I'm not getting sick."
"What's wrong?"
"Nothing. Just thinking about the match tomorrow."
"You should be celebrating! We're only playing against Ravenclaw. Not to worry. We'll slaughter Ravenclaw."
"It's not that simple Ron."
"What do you mean? Of course it's that simple."
"No it's not simple. I don't dare catch the snitch until we at least have sixty points."
"Why?"
"Ron do you pay attention to the other teams standings? What Harry means is that if we have less than sixty points when he catches the snitch we either tie Hufflepuff or come in second place and Hufflepuff is in first place."
"Are you serious?"
"Yes Ron!" Harry and Hermione exclaimed.
"Still, we'll win the match no matter what."
"I don't think I could handle another match. Especially if it were against Hufflepuff."
"Harry, why so glum? Tomorrow is the last match of the season." Said Fred
"Oh, Oliver wants to practice tonight. We do not know why?" Said George.
"Fred, George tell Oliver I said no practice tonight and that all we need is a good nights sleep. And tell him to remember what happened in the past when we practiced the night before a match. And the last match when he called for a meeting the night before."
"We will pass the message along." The twins said as the walked off to find Oliver.
"Harry are you sure you should be telling Oliver what the team does and doesn't need? Oliver is the captain."
"Not to worry Hermione. Just before our last match I suggested to Oliver that we shouldn't practice or have a meeting the night before we have a match. He told me to feel free to remind him about it the next time he tries to have us practice or calls a meeting the night before a match. See nothing to worry about."
"As long as you're sure."
"I am."
"You're sure about what?"
"Ginny. Hermione was concerned that I told Fred and George to tell Oliver no we won't be practicing tonight before tomorrow match. He's the one that told me to feel free to remind him the next time he tries to call for a practice or meeting the night before a match."
"Oh. Even if he didn't, some one needed to remind Oliver about all of that. Oh, I just heard that Ravenclaw is practicing tonight."
"Too bad for them. Better for us."
"Ron, that's not very nice. I could understand you saying that if we were facing Slytherin, but it's Ravenclaw."
"Come on Ginny."
"No. If you keep that up Ravenclaw just might whip our asses. If they do, I'll laugh."
"Ginny! What would mum say about your language?"
"Nothing."
"How can you be so sure?"
"Because she'll never know. If she does find out well I'll just make up something horrible about you and tell mum. And don't think she won't believe me because she will. On second thought, if you were to tell mum about me saying 'asses' she'll just think that I picked up the language from you and you'll be in trouble not me. It's all up to you."
Ron said no more to Ginny about anything.
"Harry there's Oliver and he's heading in our direction." Hermione said.
Harry picked up his pace and met Oliver part way.
"Harry thanks for the reminder."
"Anytime."
Harry woke up early the next morning panting and sitting straight up in bed. He felt around for his glasses and put them on. As he looked around the dorm he realized that he had been dreaming that he missed the match. As Harry's breathing went back to normal he shook the dream out of his mind. He got up, got dressed and went down to the common room.
Once down in the common room Harry paced for a while as he played things over in his mind. He was concentrating on not just a match win but the Quidditch cup as well. After a while he sat down on the couch, leaned back and closed his eyes.
"Harry. Harry. Are you awake?" Hermione asked quietly.
"No. Is it time?"
"Not for the match but it is time for breakfast. You really should eat."
Harry nodded and got up off the couch. Though exhausted he followed Hermione out of the common room. Half way to the dinning hall Hermione stopped walking. Harry not noticing as he was watching his feet walked into the back of her.
"Harry. Look, Sirius is here."
Harry looked up to see Sirius standing in front of the doors to the dinning hall. He stepped around Hermione and ran over to Sirius.
"Are you here to watch the match?"
"Match. You have a match?"
"Yeah. A tie breaker match."
"Oh. Um. Sure. I just have to get Dumbledore to sign some custody papers."
"Custody papers?"
"So that I get custody of you. So that you can live with me forever, unless you'd rather stay with the Dursley's."
"No, no, no. Go, go. I hate the Dursley's."
"You hate the Dursley's? Why?'
"They're horrible people."
"Horrible? I'm sure they're not horrible. They're just Muggles."
"Yes, but they are Muggles who hate magic. For the first eleven years of my life they kept me in a broom cupboard under their stairs. They feed me less than one would feed a dog when they would decide to feed me. They let their son, Dudley, beat the crap out of me on a daily basis. Anything and everything that did not go as they hoped or wanted was my fault. The summer before last I accidentally set a python on Dudley and they locked me in the cupboard without any meals or water of access to a bathroom for several days."
"What?"
"Sirius you were treated better in Azkaban than I have been at the Dursley's."
Sirius not able to say how he felt as he was frozen in place, shocked, horrified and pissed.
"Sirius. Snap out of it. Go see Dumbledore. Now. Unless you'd rather I stay with the Dursley's."
"Merlin's pants, hell no."
"Sirius, Dumbledore just walked around the corner. If you hurry I'm sure you'll be able to catch him. The sooner you do the better for you and Harry." Hermione said.
Without another word Sirius quickly walked around the corner. He saw Dumbledore quite a ways a head of him. Sirius began to run down the hallway.
"Professor Dumbledore." Yelled Sirius.
Dumbledore stopped and turned around.
"Sirius. Good to see you. Is there something I can help you with?'
"Yes. I need you to sing these forms."
"Lets go to my office."
Once inside Dumbledore gestured to Sirius to take a seat as he walked around his desk and sat in his chair. Dumbledore looked over the forms and set them down on the desk.
"I'm sorry Sirius, but I can't sign these."
"Why not? What's the problem? I was told by the Ministry that is was up to you."
"Harry has to go back to the Dursley's."
"No. Why?"
"For his protection."
"I can protect Harry."
"Sirius, when Lily sacrificed herself it created protective wards. The kind that only work if he lives with a blood relative of Lily's, he'll be fine just like always."
"You have got to be joking! I can protect Harry form harm. I won't neglect or abuse him."
"Sirius, my answer is no." Dumbledore said as he tossed the custody papers into the fire.
"Fine. But I'm going with him."
"Sirius, you can't go with him."
"Who's going to protect him from the Dursley's?'
"He doesn't need protection from the Dursley's."
"Yes he does! They starve him. His cousin beats the crap out of him all the time."
"Sirius, boys play rough, Harry is a picky eater. He is fine with the Dursley's. I am sure Harry has exaggerated a bit."
"Lily and James made me Godfather for a reason. They wanted me to care for Harry for should anything happen to them. I understand why Harry was placed in the Dursley's care. I have been released from Azkaban and cleared. I can take care of Harry now."
"Sirius not all of Voldemort's followers have been discovered. It is widely known that you are Harry's Godfather. They're probably watching you. You can't go with. If you do it could endanger Harry. I have arranged fro the Dursley's to be watched."
"What good is that? Who ever you have placed to watch them won't know what goes on inside the house."
"Sirius, he will be fine. Go watch the match. I have things to do. Good day Sirius."
Sirius got up and stomped out of the Dumbledore's office all the way back to the dinning hall. He looked up to see students returning from the match.
As Harry, Hermione, Ron, Ginny and the rest of the Gryffindor team entered the castle they were talking about the match smiling and laughing followed by a pleased and radiantly glowing Professor McGonagall carrying the Quidditch cup.
"There's Sirius and he does not look happy." Ron said as he elbowed Harry.
Harry looked up and saw Sirius standing in front of the doors to the dinning hall looking extremely pissed and about to cry. Harry quickly, nearly running went over to Sirius.
"What's wrong?"
"You have to go back to the Dursley's this summer."
"WHAT? WHY?"
Hermione, Ron and Ginny quickly walked over to Sirius and Harry as hey heard Harry yelling.
"Dumbledore say's you have to go back for your protection."
"Protection? What? I'm not protected there."
"He said something about blood, wards, your mum and Death Eaters watching."
Before Harry could respond to Sirius he spotted Dumbledore approaching.
"How can you insist that I go back to the Dursley's? My parents wanted me to be in Sirius's care. You know his it is at the Dursley's. I told you. Sirius is innocent and free. He can care for me now."
"Dumbledore sighed and then said, "Harry it's for your own good."
"My own good. You think sending me to the people that abuse me and starve me not to mentions wishing I was dead, is for my own good."
"Harry stop exaggerating, it can't be that bad."
"How can you say that? How can you force me to like with the Dursley's a…After everything I told you…. You can't…. You have to let me live with Sirius."
"Harry calm down."
"No! Just because you've got your head in the clouds…."
"Harry, please calm down."
"You're crazy. You've been eating too many sweets. Go back to the Dursley's you can't be serious…"
"Of course he can't be, he's Dumbledore."
"Shut up Ron." Growled Harry.
"Ron that's a good one." Fred and George said together.
"Fred, George stay out of it. Harry calm down. Think happy thoughts."
"Piss off Percy." Snapped Harry.
"How dare you…I'm a prefect."
Harry turned around and shouted, "Zip it!" Harry then turned back around to face Dumbledore.
Several people gasped as Fred and George roared with laughter. Suddenly Percy had a zipper that was zipped shut where his mouth had been.
"Harry, please calm down." Begged Hermione.
"Harry you will go back to the Dursley's every summer. End of discussion."
"But…..How….You…..Jackass."
"Potter….what…." Snape began but stopped
"What is going on here? Why….is that…..is that a donkey?" Asked McGonagall
"That's no donkey Professor. That is Professor Dumbledore." Stated Hagrid.
"How? Who…" McGonagall said confused.
Harry looked where Dumbledore had been standing to Percy and back again.
"How….I didn't mean…..I don't…"
"Mr. Potter what are you saying?" Asked McGonagall
Everything was explained to McGonagall.
"Oh dear. Hagrid would you please take the donk…Professor Dumbledore to my office and escort Percy to the hospital wing."
"Sure Professor."
"Mr. Potter I suggest you go to your dormitory to rest and calm down"
Harry nodded to McGonagall, turned and walked off.
