63

An unexpected news…

00000

"It still feels unreal, every time I see it," Neville said looking at the aurors as he, Hermione and Harry got off the carriage near the Hogsmead station.

"We should be grateful that they are actually doing something," said Hermione. "I don't think Fudge would've sent aurors anywhere if he was still minister."

"If he was still the minister of magic, Fudge would find some stupid reason to not believe in Voldemort's return," Harry said.

As they boarded Hogwarts Express they realized that the aurors were inside the train as well. The three found an empty cabin and settled in when someone knocked on their door.

"Don't tell me that we aren't allowed to close the doors," Neville said. Harry got up to see who it was and found it to be a rather young woman in auror uniform. Despite not having met before he immediately recognized her."

"Dora?" Harry said.

"Oh! Thought you wouldn't recognize me," Nymphadora said sounding a little surprised.

"Of course I would," Harry said giving her a hug."Sirius told me a lot about you and even showed me your pictures."

"Oh," she responded, not expecting to hear that. "I saw you from far and thought I would surprise you before saying who I was but it looks like my plan got foiled by my dear cousin. They your friends?" she said without pausing and looked at Hermione and Neville with a bit of excitement.

"This is Neville and that's Hermione," he said before looking at them. "Guys, she's N…Dora Tonks – Sirius' cousin and an auror." Nymphadora smiled at him for not saying her full name as she shook hands with Hermione and Neville.

"It's a pleasure to meet you," Neville said.

"Same here," she said.

"So they stationed you on the train?" asked Harry.

"They did," Nymphadora said when they heard her auror partner call her from another cabin. "Well, got to go. We aren't really supposed to talk to students."

Harry nodded. "Goodbye then," he said. "Oh wait, I'm planning to host a Christmas dinner at my home so if you can, please come."

"I will," she said before turning around but then stopped. "Oops! Totally forgot. You guys don't have any weird things with you, right? I'm sorry for asking but it's just protocol."

"I don't think we do?" Harry said looking at Hermione and Neville who both shook their heads. "No."

"Alright then," said Dora as she smiled wide. "See you later." Harry nodded. "Bye, you two," she said waving at Hermione and Neville who both waved back a bit awkwardly. Once she had left Harry closed the door.

"Isn't she a bit young to be an auror?" Hermione couldn't help but ask.

"She applied for auror academy as soon as she graduated from Hogwarts," Harry said. "And yes, she is one of the youngest in her batch."

"That's impressive," Hermione said. Harry nodded in agreement. He then reached into his pocket and took out a communication mirror before handing it to her. Hermione looked a little surprised but she knew what it was.

"I had Sirius send me a few," Harry said. "With this we can talk without having to wait for each other's letters."

"I've always wondered why the magical world never makes this a standard form of communication device over owl posts," Hermione said. "It's like muggles ditching the telephones."

"Trust me, there are moments where you wish the magical world learned something the muggles," Neville said.

00000

Narcissa opened the door before slowly walking into the room. She had a plate of food in her hands as she looked at Draco sitting by the window, staring outside with an expressionless face.

"Henry said you wouldn't eat," she said slowly. Draco slowly turned to look at her and her breath hitched when she saw his teary, red eyes. She put the plate on the table and hugged him immediately. Draco didn't move, not even to return the hug. "It's not your fault," Narcissa said in a broken, whispering tone.

"That's where you are wrong, mother," he said slowly. "It is entirely my fault. I don't know why I thought I had a chance of taking him down. And now he has father under his mercy. We don't even know if he's still…" he couldn't finish the sentence as his throat filled up. He began to silently cry. Narcissa hugged him a little tighter in a desperate attempt to console him but she knew it wouldn't work. She herself was barely holding on.

It was then that Henry knocked on the door slightly and the two looked at him. "I'm sorry to interrupt, but may I come in?" asked the death eater. Narcissa nodded. Henry walked in and then took out a letter from his pocket before giving it to her. It was addressed to her and she immediately recognized Lucius' handwriting. Quickly opening the letter she began to read as her eyes became wet.

"Who is it from?" Draco asked.

"Your father," Narcissa said. "It says he's alright."

"There is something else that Lord Malfoy told me to tell you," Henry said once Narcissa was done reading the letter. "Well, it's actually meant for young Master Draco."

"What is it?" Draco asked.

"He told me to tell you not to blame yourself for what happened," Henry said. "And that instead of feeling guilty, you should look after your mother because you are all she's left now."

"Father wouldn't say anything like that," Draco said in a firm but low tone. "You should know better than to lie to us, Henry."

"He isn't," Narcissa said. "Your father cares about you and me, which is why he had us sent here where no one will be able to find us."

Draco seemed to have trouble believing that but he didn't argue. He then looked at Henry. "Where is Finley and his son?" he asked in a low tone. Narcissa looked at him.

"They are still at the manor," Henry said. "Why do you ask?"

"I want you to tell me if they every leave the place, especially Theo," Draco said.

Henry pressed his lips before nodding once. Narcissa looked like she didn't agree to what Draco had just said but she said nothing. The pure rage hidden behind his low tone had scared her to the core.

00000

Harry looked outside as the train came to a stop at platform 9¾ and he saw more aurors than parents at the station. He spotted Sirius in the crowd and the man waved at him. Getting off the train Harry said bye to Neville before he and Sirius escorted Hermione through the barrier where her parents were waiting on the other side. The Grangers were surprised why their daughter was with an adult. They recognized Harry though who introduced them to Sirius.

As it had turned out, Hermione hadn't told her parents about Voldemort or the danger the magical world was in at the moment because she knew her parents wouldn't let her go back to Hogwarts if they knew about it. It made Harry wonder how much Hermione was hiding from her parents because she – along with him – had been in danger almost all of their Hogwarts years.

After the Grangers left Harry and Sirius apparated over to Potter Manor. As he put his things in his room he realized how empty the place felt. He even missed Daphne who he hadn't met in weeks. He came down to the dining hall where Dobby had already set the table for dinner.

After Voldemort had returned and Harry had brought Daphne and Astoria to Potter Manor with Dobby's help, he had asked the house elf if he would like to live there. Dobby was sobbing happy tears as he accepted the offer immediately and starting the very next day the house elf had taken it upon him to organize and clean the entire place.

"Where is Remus?"Harry asked as he came and stood by the dining table.

"He got called away on Order business," Sirius said. "What about you? I noticed you're looking a little stressed since you got off the train."

Harry then told him everything about how the diadem was stolen by Theo. The look of shock was evident on Sirius' face who understood how serious the matter was. They ate the dinner in silence as there wasn't anything else to talk about that could distract them from the whole ongoing situation. The sound of their cutlery echoed throughout the dining hall as Harry once again realized how empty the whole place felt without people.

"I want to host a Christmas dinner," he said breaking the silence. His godfather looked at him. "I have already invited Daphne, Neville and Hermione along with their families. Will it be alright?"

"Don't ask me," Sirius said breaking a little smile. "This is your home. You get to decide who you want to invite here or not. On second note, I guess it's a good idea to host a dinner. I think we can all use a little distraction."

Harry smiled as he nodded in agreement. Since Voldemort's very public return, their lives had turned a bit hectic. Not to mention, they didn't know what would happen once Hogwarts re-opens after winter holidays. Harry had overheard rumors that a lot of students didn't want to return. Their fear was valid. He couldn't blame them. But he also couldn't deny that they would be much safer at Hogwarts where they would be under Dumbledore's protection. And while he didn't trust the old wizard anymore, he had to accept the hard truth that Dumbledore was powerful and someone who Voldemort didn't want to face head-on, if the dark wizard could help it.

"Oh, I almost forgot," Sirius said as he raised his left hand above the table and wiggled his fingers.

Harry looked confused for a moment before he finally saw it. "You have your family ring!" he said sounding excited.

"Yup," said Sirius. "I am officially the head of House Black. Merlin, I can't wait to show this to my mother's portrait." Harry sniggered.

"Well, congratulations," he said.

"Thanks," Sirius said. "But that's not the best part. Guess what I did today?"

"What?"

"I disowned Bella from the Black family," he said grinning.

"I'm sure it made you happy," Harry said.

"Very," Sirius replied when Harry felt the wards and a second later the fireplace flared in green flames. The two in the dining hall came out into the main hall to see Remus walk out of the fireplace as he looked at Harry and Sirius. "What is it?" Sirius asked.

"Horace Slughorn was murdered," Remus said.

00000

Thanks for reading…