Hello! I'm back again with an update to sooth your souls. I've only just been able to see the reviews for the last chapter so apologises for not answering them before now.
Pheonixx Rising – So do I! It bugged me that there wasn't more of Oliver in the books or films, he was such an interesting character. Expect a lot more protective Oliver.
Girl-luvs-manga – Yes. Harry discovers the Mirror whilst he is testing out the invisibility cloak for the first time. Not being at Hogwarts means that he won't discover this until later.
Disclaimer: I don't own anything!
Chapter Twenty Three
By Rosa241
Percy POV:
"I hate packing." Oliver mumbled as he folded, well stuffed was probably more accurate, more clothes into his bag. Smiling I focused on packing my own things. It's the third time he's said it since we decided to start packing an hour ago. Well I decided that we needed to start. It was the usual routine. Oliver would happily leave all of his packing until the last minute before rushing round but I wasn't going to let him do that. I never did.
"I really hate packing." I can remember this Christmas the first time round. Most of the time had been spent on my own studying, wasting time that should have been spent with family. Well that's one of the many benefits of this whole thing. I can rectify that.
Thinking back over my plan I stop for a moment. There's very little I can do to help Harry, Ron and Hermione with everything they're doing and more importantly they don't need my help with that. My interfering might end up changing things and that's not what I want, not really. They fought him off perfectly well the first time, there's no need for me to jump right in with both feet. Besides there's a lot more I could be doing.
The most important part is to get the kids to come to me about everything. It's going to be tough to help them no matter what but if they don't come to me then it'll be even harder. Having them talk to me, having them tell me what is going on will only help.
Secondly I really need to do something about Neville. It was obvious really back them that he was being bullied yet no one did a thing about it. That was where Oliver came in. Oliver was good at protecting people, good at supporting them and helping them. He'd been doing it for me for years now. That was exactly what he was going to do for Neville. I didn't like the thought of simply handing over responsibility to someone else but as Oliver had pointed out there was no way I could be everywhere at once. There's just no way I can take care of it all so Oliver's going to take care of Neville.
Thirdly, and arguably the most important part, is to get Harry out of that house. I don't know exactly what happened there but I know enough. Getting him out of there and into a safe, secure and most importantly loving environment is going to do a lot more good for him than anything else. Living with Sirius, with someone who genuinely loves him and cares for him, will help him so much over the coming years. Sirius is family and that's really something Harry didn't have before.
I knew my letter to mum would prod her maternal instincts. That was the best part about my mum. She cared about anyone and everything no matter what. One simple letter is all it took to get her maternal instincts on high alert. I hadn't expected her to go to Professor McGonagall like she had. That conversation had taken me by complete surprise and thankfully I'd been able to tell the truth. Everything I'd said to her was the complete truth which was a good thing since that woman could spot a liar a mile away.
A knock on the door was enough to break through my thoughts.
"Come in." Oliver yelled whilst wrestling to get his bag closed over the mountain of stuff he'd rammed into it. Ron's head popped round the door with a small smile attached.
"Hi um…thanks for talking to mum about Harry." I couldn't help but cringe slightly. Ron was far more intelligent than he gave himself credit for.
"How did you know it was me?" I said as I sat down on the bed.
"Well Fred and George wouldn't have gone to mum if they knew that Harry would be alone over Christmas and if they knew what his family were like they'd be teaching him all sorts of pranks. You're the only other person that knew." Smiling I merely nod.
"Now that you put it like that I think it would be a really good thing if Fred and George didn't know the particulars of Harry's home life. It actually terrifies me to think of the things those two could teach him." He gives me a smile at that, apparently it wouldn't be terrifying to him.
"Why did you do it?" The question is asked with such innocence that it almost breaks my heart.
"Because Harry deserves to be treated better, he deserves to have a decent Christmas…" I trail off noticing the brief look of disappointment crossing his eyes. "And because it meant a lot to you."
"Me?" The look of surprise he gives me almost shocks me. How can none of us seen how he needed us?
"Well yeah. Ron if it wasn't for you then I might have left it. Harry would have been safe here over Christmas, safely away from that family of his. I could see how much it means to you having Harry around so I sent a letter to mum." The hug takes me by complete surprise and for a moment I'm not sure what to do. Wrapping my arms round him I simply squeeze back.
How long has it been since he hugged me?
Harry POV:
What if this sounds weird?
What if he doesn't want to?
What if he isn't ready?
What if he stops writing?
That last one stops me in my tracks. What is Sirius stops writing to me? I don't want that. It's been amazing having someone to talk to that knew my parents. The things he's told me, the stories he's written about and there's the photos. The handful of photographs that Sirius sent me have been sat on my bedside table for the last few weeks. Those photographs meant more to me than I'm sure he could possibly know. I don't want him to stop writing. Reading through the letter so far I can't help but sigh.
Hi Sirius,
I know I only wrote to you a few days ago but I just wanted to let you know that I'll be staying with my friend Ron over Christmas. I'll send you a letter when I get there so you know where I am, I'm not sure of the address.
I was thinking-
And that's where it stopped. How do I write to him and ask him whether he wants to see me? It's not the kind of question you ask someone on a daily basis. From what I know about Azkaban, curtesy of Hermione and Ron, it isn't a nice place. In fact it sounds down right awful in my opinion. If he's spent ten years in that awful, horrible place then what's he like now?
"You still trying to figure out that letter?" Ron queries as he re-enters the room. "I don't know why you're so worried. What's the worst that could happen? He says no."
"What if he doesn't want to write to me anymore?" I can't explain how great it's been to have him in my life, I don't want to lose him now.
"Mate that's not going to happen. If he didn't want to know you then he wouldn't be responding to your letters would he? Just ask him." Taking Rons advice I put my quill on the paper before I can panic again. Scratching out my words I quickly end the letter and hand it Hedwig, whose been waiting patiently for the last half an hour. As she flies off into the distance I can feel the fear building in my stomach. Fear…and a little bit of hope too.
Oliver POV:
"All packed boys?" I question as I enter the first year rooms. A series of excited nods meet my question and a smile crosses my face. It's hard being a first year. You've got this whole new school to get used to, you're away from your families for quite a length of time and not everyone finds it easy to get used to.
"I can't wait to go home." Dean groans as he clicks closed the lock on his trunk.
"Me neither. I wish I could show them the spells I've learnt." Seamus remarks with a grin.
"Just make sure you don't. The last thing you want is a visit from the ministry." Seamus' face pales and he quickly shakes his head. My eyes drift to the boy on the end of the row whose staring at his trunk with a defeated look. "You okay Neville?"
He jumps as I speak. "Yeah I-" He cuts himself off as he stops and thinks for a moment.
"Well I can't get my trunk closed. I'm not very good at packing." The small voice he speaks in makes my heart break. How can one kid have such little confidence?
"I'm no good at packing either." I say as I hop onto the bed and sit on top of the trunk. "Percy's a lot better than me, makes me do it every year. I think it was my third year that he made me unpack everything because, and I quote, my trunk unspeakable. There were literally no words to describe how messy it was. I'm oddly proud of that."
He manages a smile at the last sentence as he manages to click his trunk closed at last.
"Really?" It's as if he can't quite believe that someone other than him could struggle.
"Yep. Now if it was up to me then I wouldn't be packing until tomorrow morning but Percy forces me to pack tonight. I suppose it's a good thing really."
"Because you're all sorted for the morning?" Dean queries as checks underneath his bed.
"Nope. Because now my potions essay is nicely tucked away in the trunk and I don't have to look at it anymore. I can't stand potions." The boys chuckle at my words but it's Neville who gives me a curious look. "Never been very good at it."
"Really?" Harry questions as he throws his things into his trunk. Another wonderful packer there.
"Terrible. I think I'd have blown the school up by now if it weren't for the fact that Percy sits next to me every year. He always tells me the instructions so I don't singe my eyebrows off." As he laughs the worry on his face disappears.
Score one for me!
Sirius POV:
If Twenty years ago someone would have told me that I'd be happy to be washing up then I'd have thought they were barking. I spent most of my youth happily avoiding any and all chores until someone either did them for me or I couldn't wait any longer. Now it just doesn't seem so bad. It's something simple that means I'm not in Azkaban any more, something that means I'm back in the real world once again.
"Well I never thought I'd see the day that Sirius Black voluntarily did the washing up." Remus' voice brings me out of my thoughts. Turning to answer him back I stop as I look at him. I'd been so happy to be out of that damn prison I'd never really thought of how difficult his transformations had been. I know how horrible they can be when he's on his own and he's been alone for ten years now.
1 transformation every month.
12 transformations every year.
120 transformations over the last ten years.
It's no wonder it's taken its toll on him. Having to go through that much alone. It kills me that I wasn't able to help him this time but as he'd wisely pointed out I wasn't strong enough to face a werewolf. There was no guarantee that after all this time his werewolf side would know me like it did before. If it decided to attack then I wouldn't be able to defend myself like I once could.
"I'm going with you next time Moony. No arguments." He merely nods his head, knowing when to stay quiet and sits at the table. A tapping on the window interrupts me as I make to speak once more. The sight of the familiar white owl raises my heart.
"Hello Hedwig." I great the creature as she drops the letter into my hands. Scratching under her beak for a moment she gives a coo of appreciation.
Hi Sirius,
I know I only wrote to you a few days ago but I just wanted to let you know that I'll be staying with my friend Ron over Christmas. I'll send you a letter when I get there so you know where I am, I'm not sure of the address.
"Ron. Ron. Moony, which one's Ron again?" Searching my mind I can't place the name, despite knowing I've heard it before.
"Ron Weasly. He's Molly and Arthurs Son." Molly and Arthur, now there was a pair of good wizarding parents. "Why?"
"Seems Harry's going to stay with them over Christmas." It stills the worry in my heart that he's going there and from the relieved look Moony sends my way I'm not the only one. Both of us had been worried that he'd stay at Hogwarts alone or end up back with his aunt and uncle. We had no reason to be worried about his aunt and uncle, not really, it was just a feeling. I'd contemplated asking him to visit but it was too soon for that. He wouldn't want to not yet. Shaking my head I turn my attention to the rest of the letter.
I was thinking that maybe, if you're not too busy, then you might like to meet up sometime? I can understand if you don't want to or if you're too busy, it was just a thought. Don't worry if you don't want to.
Speak to you soon,
Harry.
My heart stops at this and I can't help the smile that grows across my face. He wants to see me. Harry wants to meet me.
And that's your lot folks. I hope you enjoyed the fluffy chapter here. We don't get enough fluff in Harry Potter so I'll give you some to tide you over.
So Harry's off to the Weaslys for what will be a magical Christmas for him, but will that include meeting Sirius? Well we'll have to see what happens there.
Olivers taken poor Neville under his wing. How will that change things?
And what about the Dursleys? How will Sirius react when he discovers just what his precious Godson has been subject to?
Until next time,
Bye Bye x