Chapter 26: Work to be Done

"Voldemort's back!"

Harry shot up like a rocket. His eyes were wide, unseeing for a moment. When he blinked, he seemed to remember where he was. He grabbed his covers and pulled them off, trying to get out of bed. Snuffles, who was still at the foot of the bed, almost fell off. Molly had to hold Harry back.

It was the next morning and a somber attitude had fallen over the castle. The death of Cedric had hit pretty much the whole school really hard. Hufflepuff House was in complete mourning. Even the Fat Friar wasn't his usual lively self. The news of the death of Barty Crouch also spread like wildfire. No one knew how it had happened yet, but everyone knew Harry had found him in the Forbidden Forest. There was also the fact that Fudge was denying everything. He said Crouch's death was untimely, a heart attack due to stress (something magical medicine would have prevented). He said Cedric's death was a tragic accident occurring because of something in the maze. He was blaming Cedric for getting himself killed! Not only that, but worse, he was denying Harry's claims that Voldemort had really come back.

Sick of all the whispers and tension in the Great Hall, Ron, Hermione, and I had come up the hospital wing to sit with Harry. We had no idea that Dumbledore, McGonagall, Snape, Fudge, and Molly were having a conversation around Harry's bed. The three of us decided to hang back far enough away where they wouldn't notice us, but close enough to hear everything.

"I saw the Death Eaters," Harry shouted. "Lucius Malfoy –"

"– was cleared," Fudge cut Harry off.

"Macnair, then! Avery – Nott – Crabbe – Goyle –"

The Minister burst angrily. All of those men were tried thirteen years ago, he said. He called Harry a crackpot and untrustworthy because he could talk to snakes. Ron's face went red. Hermione and I had to hold him back from saying or doing something regrettable. We wanted to defend Harry too, but with the Minister of Magic present, we could do more harm than good.

"Cedric Diggory," McGonagall cried. "Barty Crouch! These deaths were not random!"

"There is no evidence other than the word of an underage boy!"

I couldn't hear my ears. Wasn't it just last year that Fudge was singing Harry's praises. It was Fudge himself who cleared Harry of charges against the underage magic he used to accidentally blow up his aunt. I had thought Fudge was a kind man, although a little noisy, but nice enough. We were seeing the true Fudge now. This man was angry. He was someone who could not see what was right in front of him. I had no doubt Fudge would stick to his opinions and dismiss anyone who did not think as he thought.

"Voldemort has returned," Dumbledore stated calmly. Molly winced at the name. "We must take the necessary measures of precaution, namely removing the dementors from Azkaban."

"No! Absolutely not," Fudge shouted. Harry slid back down into his bed.

"They will not remain loyal to you, Cornelius," Dumbledore raised his voice. Ron gulped. "Voldemort can offer them a better scope for their powers and pleasures. With them and his old supporters behind him, you will have trouble, no doubt, in stopping him from regaining the power he once held."

There was silence. Fudge was outraged. What Dumbledore said hit me pretty hard. I thought back to last year when I was forced to face the dementors to save my dad. I wasn't able to procure a Patronus. To use a Patronus you had to use a happy thought. And every time those things got near me, I just got super sad. If what Harry said was true (and I had no doubt that it was at this point) Voldemort could gain power stronger than he had years ago. It was terrifying, knowing that I was not prepared for what could come.

Fudge had composed himself and pulled a rather large bag from out of his pocket. He tossed it on the table next to Harry. "You're winnings," he said curtly. "One thousand Galleons. Not like you need it, I'd say. There was to be a presentation ceremony, but you'll understand why I – we – chose to forgo that part of the tournament."

He placed his hat on his head and left. As the door slammed behind him, Dumbledore turned to my two friends and me. He motioned for us to join the adults as we three rushed to Harry's bedside. Harry smiled at us as Hermione bombarded him with questions. Molly placed a hand on her shoulder.

"Molly," Dumbledore began, "I can count on you and Arthur?"

"Oh, of course you can," my godmother looked rather white in the face. "We know what that man is, truly."

"All those who can be persuaded of the truth must know immediately. Arthur has many contacts in the Ministry, if I am not mistaken."

Dumbledore turned to our Transfiguration professor. He asked her to bring Hagrid and Madam Maxine to his office. She nodded stiffly and left. Madam Pomfrey was sent to find Barty Crouch's house-elf to take her to the kitchens. Satisfied, Dumbledore's eyes twinkled. He addressed Snuffles next, asking him to resume his usual, manly form.

As the dog jumped off the bed, he became a man. Molly screamed. Her hands were on my shoulders, almost pulling me off of Harry's bed. "Molly," I grunted, trying not to fall backwards.

"Sirius Black!"

Molly's grip tightened as she wrapped her arms around me, getting me off the bed. She pulled me behind her protectively. "Molly," I shrieked. "We had this conversation last summer."

"Yeah, mum, shut up," Ron yelled at her. "It's okay."

I noticed Snape hadn't said anything. He hadn't even moved but his face was full of fury, no doubt remembering the events of last year. The Potions Master and my father were eyeing each other with contempt.

"I will settle this," Dumbledore sounded annoyed with the two men. "You will shake hands, seeing that you are on the same side. If we do not stand united, we have no hope."

They shook hands.

"Now, Sirius, please alert Remus Lupin, Arabella Figg, Mundungus Fletcher, any of the old Order who will return. Stay with Lupin for the time being. I will contact you later."

My dad looked back at Harry. My friend fidgeted. I could tell he didn't want him to leave. I know I didn't. There were so many things I wanted to say to him. He took Harry's hand and gave it a firm squeeze. As he transformed back into a dog, he took off for the door. As his paw pushed the handle down, I ran out from around Molly, chasing Snuffles.

"Wait," I cried out desperately. "Da – Snuffles!" He paused, staring at me with his large black eyes. His head was tilted to one side, questioning why I had stopped him from doing Dumbledore's important mission. I felt like I was going to cry again, but all of my tears were gone. "I – I guess this isn't the right time. But you – I know Harry's situation was – worth worrying about. But – you didn't even look at me. Not once. Did you even know I was in the room last night?" Snuffles looked at the floor. "You didn't…"

Snuffles whined. He bumped his cold nose against my hand. Dumbledore slipped out of the hospital wing doors at that moment. He looked at us with sad eyes. "Miss Maguire," he said softly. "There is work to be done."

He turned and disappeared down the hall. I continued to look the other way as Snuffles placed a paw on my knee. He bobbed his head as if to ask "will you be okay" and I had no idea how to respond. "You should go," I whispered. "I'll be fine and, it's like Dumbledore said, there's work to be done. I'm sure it's very important."

Snuffles nuzzled my arm in a loving way. I stood up as he ran off and disappeared around a corner. No, I wouldn't be fine. I understood that Harry was the priority at the moment. But Sirius Black was my dad. I grew up in the No-Maj world thinking that I didn't have a family. Then I suddenly have a godmother and her large family take me in. I knew what it was like to have a family – to have a home. When I thought I had to go back to America, I was told I had cousins who took custody of me and I was showered with their love. I find out I had a godfather who genuinely believed in me. I find out that my dad, who I thought was dead, was actually alive and was framed for murder! I knew I couldn't spend much time with him (because of the whole on-the-run thing) but I still had a living parent! But to find out that he's possibly more interested in being a family with my best friend, his godson, then he is with me…? It feels like not being wanted. It doesn't feel good.