Harry Potter and the Battle of Hogwarts

Harry Potter and the Battle of Hogwarts

Disclaimer-I don't own Harry Potter and never will.

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Chapter Three

The Story of Sirius

Harry immediately grabbed his wand from his desk and pointed it at Sirius, hoping against everything that he wouldn't need it. “Calm down there, Prongs Junior or you might poke my eye out!” Sirius said humorously, holding his hands up in mock surrender.

“How do I know you're the real Sirius?” Harry said, sounding braver than he felt. His godfather chuckled, placed a hand to his chin, and seemed to be in deep thought. “Oh, how about that to open the Marauder's map you have to say I solemnly swear I am up to no good?” Sirius said, eyes flashing.

Harry shook his head, “Wormtail knows that as well, he could have told you.” Harry answered, heart beating now. “Okay, what form is my Patronus and what did you give me last Christmas just as I was leaving for Hogwarts?” Harry asked sternly, wand still pointed at Sirius's head.

“A stag and a Communication's Mirror,” Sirius said smugly, grinning. Harry lowered his wand and let it drop to the floor. “Sirius, you're alive!” He said, stepping forward shakily. Sirius's face fell slightly but he soon recovered and smiled broadly.

“Yes and good as new apart from my broken arm, and a few cuts and bruises. What? Did you think I would leave you here all by yourself?” Sirius said joking. Harry didn't answer but walked forward a few steps and raised a hand. His godfather looked at it before grabbing it with his good hand and pulling him into a tight embrace.

Harry held on tightly, afraid if he let go, Sirius would disappear. There was something in his chest that was expanding; a feeling so intense that it threatened to take over his entire body. His eyes began stinging and a lump rose in his throat; Sirius was alive. Harry savored the familiar feel of his godfathers tight hug and breathed in the unique smell that was strictly Sirius.

When he pulled away, both Harry and Sirius had tears in their eyes and smiles on their faces. Harry felt so happy that he feared floating away; Sirius looked the same.

“Geeze, kid, have you had anything to eat since I snuffed it?” Sirius said, looking appraisingly at Harry's thin form. Harry looked down guiltily and mumbled, “Not really,”

“Well, you should have known I would be back, if I hadn't James would've killed me - again!” They both laughed, Harry enjoying the happiness he felt. But suddenly he stopped and looked at his godfather, eyebrow's drawn. “How did you come back? I watched you fall through the Veil and Remus said you were gone. Dumbledore said you were gone. I thought you were dead!” Harry said.

Sirius's face fell and a shadow crept into his eyes, one Harry remembered was once present after his Azkaban escape. He didn't answer straight away, but just stared at Harry's face, his black hair framing his own like a thick hood. Finally he spoke, softly and like each word was causing him pain.

“I did die, in a sense. When I fell, the only thing I could see was your face swimming before my eyes, and the look of fear it showed. I so much wanted to climb back out and just hold you and tell you everything would be fine. But I couldn't. It was so cold behind the Veil. And there were so many things behind there that made my skin crawl. I kept falling in complete darkness, the cold eating into my bones and making my entire body numb. I was falling for a while, with no sounds, only silence and dark. Then they came.

“Faces started to appear in the darkness. Faces of people I once knew who had died. They were trying to talk to me but I couldn't hear them. I tried to speak to them but my voice wouldn't work so I could only watch them move their mouths and they followed me down as I kept falling. I saw my mother and the hate in her eyes. I just wanted to kill her again, but I couldn't so I had to fall with her. I saw my brother and father, all looking at me with revulsion and moving their mouths in silence.

“Then I saw them.” Here Sirius stopped and Harry spotted a glistening tear catch at the corner of his eye. “Who?” He asked in a whisper, his own heart thumping painfully. Sirius looked at him sadly. “Your parents.” Harry fumbled with a chair and pulled it under him, eyes wide and mouth open. “What happened?”

“They appeared like the others, but they were clearer somehow and I could hear them whispering. James looked so good. Just like he did when he died and he still had that laughter in his eyes. I will never forget that. And Lily, Lily was as beautiful as ever. And she looked at me with your eyes and smiled sadly.

“I felt as though my heart was being pulled out of my chest and I just wanted to reach out and touch them but I couldn't. So they fell with me, along with everyone else I ever knew who died. It was an eternity before I hit the bottom and that was what caused all this,” Sirius motioned to his injuries. Harry was on the edge of his seat, tears running down his cheeks but he didn't bother to wipe them away. Sirius continued.

“And it hurt like hell but I still got up. It was all dark but I could see all my friends and family standing in a kind of anti-light, all watching me. Then they started whispering but I couldn't understand them. I could see Lily and James with the others but they weren't speaking just watching me sadly. I tried to run from them but they just followed me. I gave up after a while and just sat on the ground in the darkness, while they all watched me and whispered.

“I felt so alone and broken. Lily and James always stayed in sight which only caused me more pain. I just wished I could talk to them or them me, it was torture knowing they were there but untouchable. The whispers got so loud after a while that I could understand some.” Harry was now sitting at Sirius's feet, listening with anticipation and hunger. “What were they saying?” He asked quickly.

Sirius smiled grimly, a feral look lighting up in his eyes. “Oh, just that I was a failure and murderer. That I deserved to die or rot in Azkaban. My mother said I was a mistake and Regulus was the best son she ever had and I should've been killed in her womb. But, luckily, Lily and James didn't speak to me, only smiled those sad smiles. I wished they did speak to me, even only to insult me, and then I would've known they were real and not some figment of my imagination. I was going to give up and just go to sleep on the black floor. But before I could do that, all the whispers faded into a soft hum and the faces darkened, all except two.

“Lily and James were still smiling at me but they spoke to me. `What about Harry?' Lily said to me. `I thought you said you would protect him if I died?' James said, his eyes flashing in pain. `Why did you lie to us, Padfoot?' They both said together. And I said I didn't lie and I tried to protect you, but they just shook their heads. `Harry is in pain now and you are not there to protect him!' Lily said. And I said I couldn't help you because I was dead but they only frowned. `You have given up,' they said together. And I said I hadn't. `Then protect him.' They said before they faded away to be replaced by the whispering faces again.

“But I stood and didn't listen to them. I only saw your face and knew I had to get out and help you. But I couldn't find a way out and had nothing to use to help me out. I only thought of doing one thing and changed into Padfoot.” Sirius said and a new light sparked in his eyes and Harry thought it looked like triumph. “What happened then?” He asked loudly. Sirius looked down at him and gave off a feral smile.

“The In-Between place I was in wasn't meant for animals. The whispering turned into screams and they all tried to attack me. I stayed in my Animagus form as they scratched me and such and soon the process reversed. I was pulled upwards and all the faces swooped around me, all screaming. But I stuck to the picture of you in my head and ignored the pain. I was pushed back through the Veil, my arm caught on the arch, and that's when it broke. So I landed back in the Death Room in the Ministry of Magic and escaped after being chased by some Guards.

“And that happened about a week ago and from then I have stolen food from dumpsters and came here. Some kids saw me when I entered the street and I think I scared them pretty bad, but that's about all.” Sirius said, lounging on his side, the haunted look replaced with a happy one.

“That's it?” He said. “That's it?” Harry repeated. “That's bloody brilliant!” Both of them started laughing loudly, causing the two remaining owls to hoot in annoyance.

A few hours later when all the Dursley's were in bed, Harry let Sirius place a Silencing Charm around their rooms so they wouldn't wake them. As Sirius was extremely hungry, Harry cooked them both a large dinner, full of potatoes, toast, baked beans and pasta. Sirius gulped his down in minutes and drank around five litres of water. Harry watched on in awe as his godfather ate another two plates of food and at the end let out a loud belch that shook the house.

“That - was - delicious!” Sirius said, laughing at Harry's shocked face. “Hey, I haven't eaten anything but potato-peelings in over a week, so I was a little hungry!” Harry didn't think that as a little hungry, but didn't say it aloud. Instead he asked, “I wonder how everyone will react at you being alive?” Harry said humorously, still not believing it himself.

“I think Moony will cry, Dumbledore, well I don't care what he does, Ron will swear, Molly will hit him for swearing before saying I was a bad influence and Hermione -”

“- Hermione will scream then run to the library.” Harry finished, both of them laughing loudly. “Yeah, that's what good old Hermione will do. When in doubt, seek the Library!” Harry laughed.

“Yeah, but you've got to love her,” Sirius said, looking at Harry expectantly. “Yes, you do.” He answered without thinking. After they cleaned their mess up, Sirius decided to have a shower while Harry wrote a letter to the others telling them the good news.

To the Bird Watchers

An old friend turned up here this morning, a friend who goes by the name Snuffles. Apart from a few scratches and a broken paw, he's fine. So it would be very handy if you could come fetch us as I'm pretty sure my uncle will take him to the pound soon, if you get my drift.

From Harry

Deciding it was well coded; he called Hedwig towards him and told her where to go. “Be quick, girl!” He said as he watched her fly through the window. Pig must have taken off earlier as there was no sign of the small owl anywhere. Sirius returned a little while later, looking much better than before now that all the blood and mud had been washed from his hair and skin. With a quick wave of Harry's wand, his clothes were repaired and he pulled them on giddily.

“It's so good to be clean again!” He said, grinning and sighing in joy. “Oh, yeah, Happy Birthday!” Sirius shouted loudly, clapping him on the shoulder. “Thanks, this has been my best so far!” Harry answered happily.

“How so?” Sirius asked, grinning. “Well, you've come back, I got ten OWLs and passed Potions, and I was made Quidditch Captain and received the best presents!” Harry said grinning.

“You got Quidditch Captain?” Sirius asked excitedly. Harry nodded quickly, unable to stop smiling. “And you got ten OWLs?” Harry laughed at his godfather's shining face and nodded. “That's excellent! Both me and James got ten while Moony got the full twelve!” Sirius said. Harry couldn't believe he had received the same amount of OWLs as his father and godfather, and wondered his father would be happy.

“Hermione got twelve as well,” Harry said, remembering her letter. “Of course, that was expected!” Sirius said still chuckling. They talked for a few more hours, with still no word from the Order. At around six o'clock, an owl flew through his window and landed at his desk. Harry walked over to it and pulled the Daily Prophet from its talons, placing a Knut in its pouch before it flew back out the window.

“Are you still taking the subscription?” Sirius asked lightly, watching Harry as he opened it. “Yes, I have since last year after Hermione said I have to read between the lines to learn anything.” Harry said, straightening the paper out to read the front cover. And what he saw almost caused him to scream in happiness.

“Sirius,” He said quickly, the joy leaking from each word, “Listen to this.”

Sirius Black: Victim or Villain?

Late last night, in the middle of London, an old muggle woman discovered the body of a portly man dressed in a cloak. She reported the death to the muggle Police Department, who searched the scene to find an item much like a stick which had a `funny feel'. Luckily, Arnold Stein, who was working under-cover in the same muggle Law Force, was able to contact our Magical Law Enforcement, who soon took control of the scene.

After blood samples, body scans and a wand scan, we have been able to identify the man as none other than Peter Pettigrew. Pettigrew was suspected of being killed fifteen years ago, when Sirius Black was thought to have betrayed Lily and James Potter, and went after Pettigrew in a savage rage. But after serious consideration we have concluded that it was the other way around. That it was Peter Pettigrew who betrayed the Potter's and him who framed Sirius Black. This same story was told three years ago by Albus Dumbledore and Harry Potter, when Sirius Black escaped from the clutches of the Dementors a second time after the legendary breakout from Azkaban that still stands a mystery.

Pettigrew, who died by the fatal Killing Curse, was found with a Dark Mark on his forearm, the symbol of He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named. Black has now been fully pardoned by the Minister who sincerely apologizes for the false imprisonment, and has offered a compensation of 100 000 Galleons.

For the full story, turn to page Five

For the life of Harry Potter, turn to page Nine

Amanda Wishhart, Prophet Reporter

Both Harry and Sirius let the news sink in in a stunned silence. After that, they both began shouting in a frenzied whirl of disbelief and joy. “I can't believe it!” Harry said loudly, out of breath from shouting so much. “Me either!” Sirius said a mad twinkle in his eyes.

“Just when you could have died, they pardoned you!” Harry said in humor as Sirius laughed. “Yeh I know ... sneaky buggers!” They both laughed at that and Harry was still chuckling when he noticed the absence of Sirius's bark-like laughter. He turned to his godfather who was wearing a serious expression.

“What's wrong?” Harry asked anxiously.

“Do you remember what I told you in your third year just after we left the Shrieking Shack?” Sirius said softly and seriously. Harry thought for a moment before letting his jaw drop.

“That - that - you and I - that we could -” Harry mumbled. It was all too much. First Sirius coming back, then him being freed and now this.

“Its only if you want to -” Sirius said before Harry cut him off. “Are you insane, of course I want to! When can I move in?” He asked loudly, happiness seeping from every word. “You mean it?” his godfather said, his own joy showing clearly.

“Of course!” After that they both started singing again, loudly and incoherently, so much so that they didn't hear the rock hit their window. But they did see it smash through the glass and hit Sirius in the head. Both he and Harry ran to the window and looked out to the Dursley's front lawn, lit by the rising sun. Upon it was a group of oddly dressed people, all looking up at the window with nervous faces. Harry climbed from his window and slid down the drain pipe with Sirius at his back, holding onto the pipe with one arm.

When he reached the grass, he was immediately embraced by Remus Lupin and Nymphadora Tonks. “Hey,” Harry greeted, grinning madly. “We received your letter Harry, and came as fast as we could!” Remus said quickly, glancing behind Harry when they heard a loud oof. Remus's face went completely pale and he stepped back suddenly.

Sirius walked up beside Harry and placed an arm around his shoulders. “Hi, Moony, it looks like you've seen a ghoul!”

“What - how - this is - Sirius?” Remus finally spluttered, moving forward a few steps, his eyes wide and mouth open. “Merlin, Remus, you sounded just like Harry when you did that!” Sirius laughed. Remus suddenly moved quickly forward and drew Sirius into a tight, brotherly embrace. When they pulled apart, Remus had tears in his eyes.

“How do you know it's really him?” A gruff voice asked from the small group of people. Harry looked to see Mad-Eye Moody, scanning Sirius with both his eyes while pointing his wand at him sharply.

“Like this,” Sirius said, changing into Padfoot and back again. “You know no one can copy and Animagus form,” he said lightly, laughing as everyone's faces lit up. And in one big rush, they all tried to ask the same thing at once.

“How about we ask these things later at a better place and a better time?” Sirius said creating silence. “Right, we should. We came to collect Harry anyway. How about you get your stuff and we can go back to Headquarters?” Remus said, leading the way back into the house, unlocking the door with a silent Alohomora. In a few minutes, Harry had all his stuff packed back away and Hedwig's cage, and was lugging them back down to the kitchen. The group of people was all talking to Sirius who looked like he was enjoying the attention.

“Are you ready then, Harry?” Tonks asked happily. Harry nodded, “We can go just as soon as Sirius takes that Silencing Charm off of my relative's rooms. They should be up in any minute.” He said, as Sirius nodded and took his wand, taking away the charms.

“Portus!” Hestia Jones said to a blank sheet of parchment. “Everyone touch this, quickly!” She said, as Harry reached out a hand, clutching his trunk tightly while Tonks held Hedwig's cage. The owl was currently on her way to Grimmauld Place. “Okay, one - two - three!” She counted down. Harry felt the familiar tug behind his navel and felt the floor fall away.

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Hey everyone. Here's the third, re-written chapter. Much longer and better than the previous copy. Enjoy it and please review!

Bye

DW