Chapter Six
Despite having to take Veritaserum and relay his experiences to the order, Sirius was in a fairly good mood that night. Remus attributed it mostly to the fact that he had been reunited with Polaris, and that Polaris had agreed to break the news gently to their parents so Sirius would be able to see them again soon.
“Cute blush, Moony,” Sirius said, bouncing back into the room and poking Remus in the ribs.
“Thanks,” Remus said. He was sitting on his bed with both of his hands in his lap, in an extremely foul mood.
Sirius plopped onto the bed next to him and gave him a considering look. “What’s wrong?”
“Oh, other than the fact that I made an absolute idiot out of myself earlier, absolutely nothing,” Remus said irritably.
“I don’t see how,” Sirius said mildly.
Remus gave him an incredulous look.
“Really. I don’t.”
“I made you feel bad,” Remus said, feeling pathetic.
“Indignant isn’t the same as feeling bad,” Sirius reminded him, giving him a considering look. “Though I must admit that I am a bit confused.” Remus didn’t answer, keeping his gaze fixed on his hands and mumbling something beneath his breath. “What?”
“Nothing. Never mind.”
“Obviously not,” Sirius said, his tone implying that the concept of him ‘never minding’ when Remus was upset about something to be absolutely ridiculous.
“I . . . I’m just worried about you, that’s all,” Remus said.
Sirius blinked at him. “Is this over that pet or lover crack you made earlier?”
Remus wanted to hit him both for not realizing that from the beginning, and for even mentioning it now. “I guess maybe,” he said, still staring at his lap.
“You were serious?” There was a pause. “No pun intended,” Sirius added hastily. From the tone of his voice, he was a little shocked that Remus had actually meant the comment.
“Sirius . . .” Remus’ voice was quiet and strained. His hands clenched in the folds of his robes. “Half the time when you come in here, you don’t even think to change back to being human. That’s not healthy.”
Sirius blinked at him, and thought about it. “I guess it just doesn’t occur to me,” he replied.
“That’s just my point,” Remus said, his voice rising slightly. “I’ve started to see it when you’re in human form, too. You do doglike things. You sniff your food before eating it, you tilt your head to one side the way a dog would, you sit on the floor instead of in chairs.”
Sirius tilted his head. “Really?”
“You’re doing it right now!” Remus pointed out, exasperated.
Sirius looked startled, then a bit sheepish. “Sorry!”
“This . . . it has me really worried, Sirius,” Remus said quietly. “After everything we’ve been through, I don’t want to lose you to something as preventable as this.”
“I hadn’t realized,” Sirius said. “It never even occurred to me that habits like that would transfer over.”
“I know,” Remus said, and wilted slightly. “And I know there’s nothing we can do about it, because you have to stay in dog form in order to stay with Harry, and it’s stupid of me to worry.”
“No, it isn’t,” Sirius said. “I’m glad that someone is paying attention.”
“But I shouldn’t have said what I did,” Remus added.
“Why not?” Sirius asked. “You should usually say what you’re thinking.”
Remus wanted to point out that for dogs, and people who had hardly any sense of future repercussions like Sirius, that worked out fine. But for everyone else, it got a bit sketchy. “But not in front of other people,” he wound up protesting. “And not so . . . crudely.”
“Being crude in front of Dumbledore is a bit off,” Sirius admitted. “But in front of Polaris and I, please.”
“I shouldn’t have said it,” Remus insisted.
“You’re concerned,” Sirius told him. “I like being human. I’d feel stupid if I stopped. And I’d miss you and Harry.” Remus didn’t reply. He just leaned against him, putting his head on Sirius’ shoulder. Sirius waited to see if he was going to say anything, and when he didn’t, added, “You’re doing that silent brooding thing. That isn’t good.” He remembered Remus’ tendency to brood silently all too well.
“Ah, but I’m very good at the silent brooding thing,” Remus said, his tone light.
“And I’m very good at being a dog, or so you tell me,” Sirius pointed out. “Neither of these things can be good.”
“No.” Remus sighed and nestled closer. “We’re both very sad.”
“I don’t want to be,” Sirius said, and smiled slightly. “I’ve had enough sadness to last forty or fifty lifetimes.”
“Well, soon enough you’ll be a dog and I’ll be a ball of wallowing angst,” Remus said, in a light, joking tone.
“Can’t have that, now can we,” Sirius said, tipping Remus’ face up and kissing him.
Remus kissed back briefly, then pulled away and snuggled up to him again. He was more in the mood to be held than to be doing anything else. “I used to think that if I could have you back, the way we were, everything would be okay,” he said softly.
“Well, you’ve got one,” Sirius said, hugging him. “And we’re working on everything being okay.” Though he knew it would never be the way things were.
“I’m not sure it ever will be,” Remus said. “I’m not sure it ever can be.”
“Oh, yes, it can,” Sirius said stubbornly. “We will get rid of Voldemort, we will clear my name, and we will be a family. I refuse to settle for anything less.”
Remus laughed. “You make it sound so easy.”
“I wish,” Sirius said, also laughing. “But I’m a stubborn bastard, and you know I usually get my way.”
“Yes,” Remus said with a fond smile, remembering Sirius citing that very reason when he had tried to object that they shouldn’t become a couple because of the problems it could cause. “I do remember that much.”
“And what I want right now is for you to stop worrying,” Sirius said, giving him a tighter hug. “We’ll work on me behaving human and go from there, okay?”
“And work on me not moping myself into oblivion?” Remus asked, slightly amused. “I’ll never stop worrying, you know that. Not about you.”
“You wouldn’t be you if you didn’t worry,” Sirius agreed. “But that doesn’t mean you should make yourself miserable.”
“Guess I’m stuck in a misery rut,” Remus said, managing a smile.
“Time to crawl out,” Sirius declared. “Let me help,” he added, giving a quick tickle to Remus’ ribs. Remus let out a muffled squawk and tried to push him away, but to no avail. “I think you’re still stuck,” Sirius said, and tickled him more.
“Stop, stop!” Remus protested, squirming around in an effort to get free and not doing a very good job.
“Make me!” Sirius said, and realized that he was laughing. It seemed like something he never did anymore, and made a wonderful warm feeling spread throughout his entire body. Remus apparently decided that fighting back wasn’t going to work, and solved the problem by pulling Sirius into a kiss. That would make him stop if anything would.
It did. Sirius stopped tickling and wrapped his arms around Remus and they went sprawling out on the bed, still kissing. “Nothing like a good snog with someone you love to make a body feel better,” he said, after pulling away for air.
“And that was definitely a good snog,” Remus said, sounding slightly out of breath. He pulled Sirius down for another kiss, and Sirius went along willingly.
Neither of them heard the knock on the door, which was followed up quickly by Harry walking in. “Remus, have you seen -- oh! You obviously have.” His eyes had gone very wide behind his glasses, and he began to stammer slightly. “Ah -- I’m interrupting. Bye!” He backed quickly out of the room and shut the door behind him.
“Oh, dear,” Remus murmured, looking chagrined.
“Er,” Sirius said, alarmed. “Should I go after him, do you think?”
“The speed he was going?” Remus smiled slightly. “By now he’s reached the main corridor, and in dog form, there’s not much you can tell him.” He sat up, pushing his hand through his hair and straightening his robes. “He was bound to find out sooner or later.”
Sirius wilted. “What do you say when your kid finds you someone snogging someone rather properly?”
“You say, sorry that you had to walk in on us,” Remus said, amused. “He’s fifteen, Sirius. He knows about kissing.”
“Did I just call him my kid?” Sirius asked suddenly, frowning.
“Yes, you did,” Remus replied.
“Am I allowed to do that?” Sirius asked anxiously. “Think he would mind?”
“I sincerely doubt that he would mind,” Remus said firmly, trying to put Sirius’ silly fears to rest. “It’s not like he has any other parents.”
“But still,” Sirius said. “I should ask him.”
“I suppose if you feel it necessary.”
Sirius shrugged, looking slightly uncomfortable. “He should have some choices in his life.”
Remus laughed. “As if he could get you to go away.”
“Well, no,” Sirius admitted, smiling. “I used to love the idea of Harry. Now I just love Harry.”
“Then you shouldn’t worry about him wanting you for a father,” Remus said, poking Sirius in the ribs. At Sirius’ small squeak, Remus grinned and immediately began retaliating for the tickling earlier.
****
Harry wandered back to the Gryffindor tower feeling a little confused. Though he didn’t at all mind Sirius and Remus kissing, he was a bit startled, and also (though he never would have admitted it) somewhat hurt that they hadn’t found it all right to tell him before. He flopped in a chair in the common room and proceeded to frown at the fire.
“Harry?” Hermione sat down next to him. “Are you all right?”
“I’m just thinking,” Harry said. It was late, and the common room was nearly deserted. A few other people were over in one of the other corners, but that was all.
“You don’t seem happy about it,” Hermione stated.
“Well, I’m not unhappy,” Harry replied.
“Harry, honestly. What’s the problem?”
“I went to go see if Sirius had gotten settled in all right, and he certainly had.”
“Straight answer, please.”
“He and Remus were kissing. Very kissing. And I walked in on them. Bit of a shock, that.”
“Oh,” Hermione said. “Oh, I was right!” She looked immensely pleased with herself for a few moments before returning to the matter at hand. “Well, if you’re not happy but you’re not unhappy, what do you think?”
“I don’t know,” Harry said. “I mean, I don’t mind. I wish I hadn’t walked in on them, though. That was embarrassing. For everyone concerned.”
“So your problem is that you caught them kissing, not that you caught them kissing each other.”
“Why didn’t they tell me?” Harry asked, frowning into the flames.
“I would think they’re in the habit of keeping it a secret from everyone,” Hermione said.
“But I’m not everyone,” Harry said. “I’m Harry. I’m Sirius’ godson. He should have trusted me.”
“Well, did they try to cover it up?”
“No, I suppose not. Given that you noticed.”
“Then they weren’t particularly trying to hide it from you,” Hermione said. “They probably just hadn’t come right out and said ‘by the way, Harry, we’re dating’. It might not have even occurred to them if they’ve been dating for a long time. It’s not as if my parents announce to new acquaintances that they’re married.”
Harry smiled slightly, amused. “I suppose not.”
“If it upsets you, talk to them about it.”
“I’m not upset.”
“You obviously were a moment ago.”
“But your stunning intellect has made it all better. Think I’m going to bed.”
“You’re impossible.”
****
“Ah, Potions,” Harry said with a sigh. “My absolute least favorite class ever.” Sirius, padding along beside him, wrinkled his nose at the smell of the room. Harry took his seat next to Ron, and Sirius settled at his feet.
“Oh, Potter, you need to have your pet with you?” Draco asked from behind them. “Don’t feel safe without him?”
Sirius turned and snarled at Draco.
Harry didn’t deign to reply.
“Now you’re letting the dog do the talking for you?” Draco asked, though he was pulling his feet out of Sirius’ range.
“It’s more intelligent than you,” Harry replied, bending studiously over his cauldron.
“He’s also probably a damn sight smarter than Weasley, too,” Draco replied. Ron turned and gave Draco a disdainful look, wishing that he had some handy spell components to throw at him. That one time with the alligator heart had been a classic.
“And you would know because you spend your time with such intellectually stimulating company,” Harry replied, flipping open his potions book while they waited for Snape to come in.
“I can take care of myself,” Draco replied. “I don’t need a bloody huge mutt to be my baby-sitter.”
Sirius looked indignant at this.
“I know all about how you take care of yourself, Malfoy,” Harry said, and his voice was perfectly friendly, though there was an undertone of anger. “Gone to be Voldemort’s lap dog now, have we?”
“Certainly not,” Draco said. That was his father’s job.
“Oh, no?” Harry asked innocently. “That’s funny, because I think the image of you kneeling in front of him is rather becoming, actually. Seems to be just the right place for you.”
“Just shows how little you know about me, Potter, since you’re so high and mighty,” Draco snapped, but was actually seriously unnerved. He didn’t like the way that Harry seemed to know he had the Dark Mark. That just couldn’t bode well.
Before Harry could reply and a fist fight could break out, Snape swept into the room. He strode up to the front of the class and scanned it quickly. “Potter,” he barked. “What’s that dog doing in here?”
Draco snickered behind his hand.
“Professor Dumbledore said I was allowed to have him with me at all times,” Harry said, though Sirius was already starting to snarl at Snape.
“Oh, I see,” Snape said, with a slight smirk. Most of the Slytherins were now echoing Draco’s snickers. Sirius’ growls grew louder. “Well, if you can’t control him or shut him up, he’ll have to go.”
All things considered, Harry thought that it might be a good idea for Sirius to go in any case. He didn’t want to risk him losing his temper and attacking Snape. “Go on, Padfoot,” he said. “Go visit Professor Lupin.” He added under his breath, “as he’s much better company.”
Sirius heaved a doglike sigh and stood up. He licked Harry’s hand and headed for the door.
Snape waited until he was out of the room, then said, “If I see that dog in my classroom again, Potter, there’ll be points taken. You have this one warning.” With that, he flipped open his book and began the lesson.
****
Although Sirius couldn’t just sit down next to Harry and talk to him at any opportunity, he managed to get Harry to follow him to the teacher’s wing. Remus was sitting in his room, drafting notes for his next lessons. “Hello, Harry,” he said, as he walked into the room with Sirius padding along at his side.
“Hello,” Harry said. “Sorry about interrupting last night.”
“Quite all right,” Remus replied, barely even looking up from what he was doing.
Sirius transformed and shuffled his feet nervously. “So . . . you’re okay with it?” he asked nervously.
“Well, I was going to be annoyed that you hadn’t told me on your own, but Hermione talked me out of that,” Harry said, nodding complacently and sitting down in the second chair in the room.
“I just . . . didn’t precisely know how to bring it up,” Sirius said.
“I’m sure that I eventually would have figured it out without the walking in on you part,” Harry said. “After all, Hermione knew.”
Sirius and Remus both blinked at him. “What?” Sirius asked.
“Hermione. Knew about you two.”
Remus laughed. “I’d nearly forgotten how perceptive and how intelligent she is. Good thing I was reminded this early on, I think.”
“She is sort of scary that way sometimes,” Sirius mused.
“Yes, she very much is,” Harry said. “In any case, I don’t care.” He paused, then added shyly, “I think it’s good for you. Both of you.”
Sirius blinked at him. “You do?”
“Well, yeah,” Harry said. “It’s good that you don’t have to be alone all the time. Everyone should have someone to love. Which is why it’s my personal crusade this year to get Ron and Hermione to hook up.”
Sirius laughed.
“Ah, the one thing Hermione isn’t perceptive about,” Remus remarked.
“I don’t think Ron is either,” Sirius added.
Harry snorted. “Ron wouldn’t know romance if it snuck up behind him and stole his wand,” he said. “But right now he’s just happy that Viktor never wrote her over the summer and now she’s too steaming mad to even speak his name.”
“That was a stroke of luck,” Sirius said with a nod.
“Anyway, were you two . . . in school?” Harry blushed. “Can I ask? Or is that rude?”
“You can ask,” Sirius said. He glanced at Remus. “We started going out . . . sixth year? Seventh?”
“Sixth,” Remus said. “Right after your stunt with Snape.”
“Ah, yeah.” Sirius lifted one hand and rubbed nervously at the back of his neck. “Sorry about that. I still feel awful, if that helps.”
“It does,” Remus said, smiling slightly.
“You never said anything,” Harry accused him. “We talked about how you and Dad and Sirius had all been friends.”
“Well, no,” Remus said. “What was I supposed to say? You didn’t want to hear about Sirius; you were content hating him. And I was busy trying to do that myself, so talking about how we used to be together seemed a bit counterproductive.”
“I suppose so,” Harry said thoughtfully.
“Somehow I feel guilty,” Sirius said.
“That’s because you’re silly,” Remus replied, moving his stack of notes aside.
“I don’t know, I should have been here for you . . . for both of you. Or something.” Sirius noted that Remus and Harry were both giving him identical skeptical looks. “And now you’re looking at me funny.”
“Because you’re still being silly,” Remus told him. “You didn’t have any choice in any of this, so stop moping about it. We agreed that I was the one who mopes, remember?”
“Yes, but I thought we agreed that I wasn’t going to turn into a dog permanently,” Sirius said, then turned to Harry. “In theory, Remus is going to turn into a ball of wallowing angst, and I’m going to turn into his pet dog. Naturally, I don’t like this plan.”
“I can see why not,” Harry said. “Why would you turn into a dog permanently?”
“It’s one of the dangers of being an Animagus,” Remus said, seeing that Sirius wasn’t going to reply. “But don’t worry about it. We’ve got it all under control.”
Harry frowned slightly, but decided not to question further. “All right, I think.”
“Oh, it is,” Sirius said quickly.
“That’s not reassuring when you say it,” Harry teased him.
“Remus, tell him it’s all right.”
Remus looked up and smiled. “It’s all right. And you should go to dinner. And so should I.”
****
Draco was lying awake in the room that had been designated as his own. He was incredibly pleased to have his own room. Though Crabbe and Goyle were definitely loyal, they weren’t the most intelligent people in the world, and after a while they always started to get on his nerves. It was wonderful to simply have a place to escape to.
It was nearly midnight when the Dark Mark started to burn and itch. Lucius had told him that this was how it would feel when Voldemort required his presence. Draco found this rather funny. Voldemort summoned his followers by making them feel uncomfortable.
He climbed out of bed and changed back into his robes. He wasn’t about to face Voldemort in his pajamas. He hoped that Voldemort would be forgiving of how long it took him to come. As it was impossible to Apparate or Disapparate from the castle, he was forced to sneak through the castle, out a secret passage that Lucius had told him about, and off school grounds before he could do so.
He found himself in a rickety old house that looked like it had been abandoned for years. Voldemort was standing by the fire. His snake was curled in a chair that was sitting a few feet away. Draco swallowed hard. “You called, my Lord?” he asked, kneeling.
Voldemort turned and smiled at him, which was quite possibly the creepiest thing he had seen all year. “Yes. I believe the new term has started, and I would like a few words with you.”
Draco nodded and waited.
“I believe there are new teachers at the school this year?” Voldemort said, his voice implying that he wished a full report on any and all new teachers.
“Yes, my Lord,” Draco said. “Professor Figg, Professor Fletcher, Professor Lupin has returned, and Madame Pomfrey is teaching a class.”
“Interesting . . . I assume Professor Lupin is teaching Defense Against the Dark Arts again?”
“Yes, my Lord.”
“Good,” Voldemort said, with a satisfied smile. “I doubt they’ll learn anything useful with a werewolf as a teacher.” He glanced at Draco. “Or is it different?”
“Lessons are difficult with him disappearing every month,” Draco said, nodding his head a little. He rather grudgingly like Remus, given that he was one of the two competent Dark Arts teachers they’d had (and in retrospect, it didn’t seem like Moody really counter).
“Good,” Voldemort repeated. “How is my dear Severus Snape?”
“Unchanged as far as I can see,” Draco said uncertainly, not knowing what sort of answer Voldemort was looking for.
“I see. What are the new classes?”
“A class in magical dueling, hand to hand combat, and magical first aid.”
“Hand to hand combat?” Voldemort raised an eyebrow.
“It was pointed out to us that we might want to know what to do, should we lose our wands.”
Voldemort laughed. “As if hand to hand combat could possibly help you in those circumstances. All right. Have you seen any other new people wandering the castle?”
“No, my Lord, but it’s only the first week.”
“True.” Voldemort considered. “Seen much of our dear Harry Potter?” His lip curled as he said his name.
Draco sneered slightly. “Oh, he’s just as irritating as ever.”
Voldemort laughed. “One other question, then you can go back and get some sleep. Have you seen a large black dog, most likely with either Potter or Lupin?”
Draco blinked in surprise. “Yes.”
“Interesting,” Voldemort said. “All right. In the future, I would like you to keep a closer eye on Potter, but also . . . it appears that Severus Snape may be a traitor to my cause. Given that you are his favorite student, I would like you to ascertain whether or not this is true.” He glanced at Draco, waiting to see any sign of a reaction.
“I’ll do my best, my Lord,” Draco said, fortunately not giving any signs of his displeasure at this task.
****
“So,” Remus said, glancing around the room after taking role, “I’m sure that you probably don’t all remember where we left off last time I saw you, seeing as it was over a year ago, but we’re going to do our best to pick up there. This year we’ll be dealing with more dangerous Dark Creatures, such as vampires, banshees,” he paused slightly, “werewolves, et cetera.”
He looked around at the rapt faces of the fifth-year Gryffindors and looked slightly uncomfortable. Harry grinned at him from his seat. Hermione was already taking notes. “I figured we may as well start with werewolves,” he said. “Get rid of any ideas you might have at the beginning of class.”
Everyone blinked at him, having not expected this.
“I’m sure you all know the basics,” Remus continued. “Turns into a wolf the three days of the full moon, doesn’t like silver, fangs, fur, the whole bit. But it’s important to understand that werewolves, like most Dark Creatures, are not always wholly dark. As with vampires and hags, there is a human aspect to them as well as the dark aspect. And of course I’m sure you’re all thinking that I have to say that, being one myself. But that doesn’t make it any less true. And frankly, I’m much more worried about trying to convince the Slytherins of this than you.”
There was a general laugh from the class. Remus flipped open his textbook and frowned at it. He glanced over at Sirius, who was sitting at Harry’s feet, giving him a large dog smile. “We’ll start at the beginning,” he said. “With how one becomes a werewolf. Naturally, only humans can become werewolves. Their bite does not have the same effect on animals,” Remus smiled slightly, “or even on humans in animal form, such as Animagi. If you could all please turn to page one hundred seventeen . . . I know this isn’t as exciting as a practical lesson, but I’ll do the best I can to keep it interesting.”
****
“How was Magical Dueling?” Hermion asked, looking up from the huge Arithmancy textbook she was already studying. She had wanted to add it, but with all her other classes and the new class in Magical First Aid, she hadn’t had room.
“It was interesting,” Ron said, plopping onto the couch next to Hermione. “But Harry’s poor brain has been broken.”
“What’s wrong with your brain?” Hermione asked Harry, who was standing by the back of the sofa with a slightly bewildered look on his face.
“Mrs. Figg,” Harry said, sounding dumbfounded.
“What about Professor Figg?” Hermione asked.
Harry just blinked at her. Ron took over. “’Parently she used to live down the street from him when he was a kid,” he said. “And babysit him. He’s in all kinds of shock. It’s pretty funny. Watch this.” He reached out and poked Harry in the arm, with no reaction. “See? Think I can steal that chocolate frog out of his pocket?”
Sirius, who had been sitting at Harry’s feet, looked up at this. Apparently he was hoping that Ron would indeed steal the chocolate frog, and then let it go for him to chase. He looked up at Ron imploringly.
Hermione looked on in interest as Ron reached for Harry’s pocket. Harry smacked Ron’s hand away. “Ow!” Ron protested. Hermione smiled slightly.
Sirius switched to looking at Harry.
“Well, it makes sense that a competent witch or wizard would have been near you when you were growing up,” Hermione mentioned to Harry. “You can’t just trust those protections to do everything.”
“I know, but . . . she had tons of cats and her house smelled like cabbage and every year on Dudley’s birthday I had to sit there and look through hundreds of her photos. Of her cats! And nothing else!” Harry looked like he might pass out.
“Well, she probably had to be careful,” Hermione said. “Didn’t want to let on about wizard society and all. And she has tons of cats.”
Harry managed a small whimper. “Those cats are here?”
“Yes,” Hermione said. “I’ve met several of them. Crookshanks is quite find of them.”
“Great, ‘cause that’s all we need,” Ron said broodingly. “That monster breeding.”
Hermione gave him an offended look. “Just because all you have is a deranged owl, that’s no reason to make fun of my cat.”
“Anyway,” Ron said brightly, “Professor Figg knows tons of stuff. She’s already taught us a bunch of ways to block spells. And she doesn’t make us do those stupid poses that Lockhart did, either. She says there’s no reason to make ourselves targets.”
“Sensible of her,” Hermione said.
“It’s going to be a lot of fun,” Ron said enthusiastically. “And we can teach you what we learn, so don’t worry about not being able to fit it in.”
“That’s what I was figuring when I made my choice,” Hermione said.
Harry glanced between the two of them and started to snicker.
“What’s wrong with you now?” Hermione asked.
Sirius pawed at Harry’s leg. Harry gave him a strange look, which was met with much whimpering and puppy dog eyes. “What?” Harry asked. “You want to go see Remus?”
Sirius shook his head and started trying to get his paw into the pocket that had the chocolate frog. Harry backed away a step and took the candy out of his pocket. “Oh, you want this?” he asked. Sirius nodded vigorously, which looked rather silly on a waist-high black dog. “I see,” Harry said, and continued to hold it in one hand. “Anyway,” Harry said, turning back to Hermione and ignoring Sirius’ indignant look, “nothing’s wrong, I just think it would be funny for us to be tutoring you for once.”
“Well, I can’t be on top in everything,” Hermione said.
Harry started to snicker again.
Hermione winced. “That didn’t come out right.”
Ron looked blank. “Why not?”
Hermione put her hands over her face. “I meant that I could not have top marks in everything all the time,” she said.
“Suuuure you did, Hermione,” Harry said cheerfully.
“Whether I did or didn’t is none of your business!” Hermione protested.
“Mm hmm,” Harry said.
Ron looked between the two of them.
“You’re lewd,” Hermione said primly.
“You said it, I didn’t.”
“Oh, I get it,” Ron said suddenly.
“Shut up!” Hermione told him.
Harry just started to laugh. He turned to Sirius. “All right, you can have the frog. But only because you’re making that pathetic face. Well, and I ate a whole box of them before lunch.” He opened the carton and let the frog hop away. Sirius bounded after it, skidding around a corner.
“Sometimes he seems more dog than human,” Ron said thoughtfully.
Harry sighed. “Don’t remind me.”
****
The first weekend of school, Remus and Sirius made a special outing to Diagon Alley. They had to take Floo Powder, specially connecting the fireplace in Dumbledore’s office, which could be taken on or off at the network at his command. Sirius had a bit of trouble with this, as he could not speak in dog form, but couldn’t pop out into Diagon Alley in human form, either. He wound up having to change halfway through, and came out decidedly queasy.
Remus popped out behind him, and Sirius flopped down, leaning his head on Remus’ foot, feeling ill. Remus considerately gave him a minute to recover before they headed to Ollivander’s.
“Ah, excellent to see you,” Ollivander said. He shut the door behind him and put up a sign that said, ‘please come back later.’ “I expected you any day now,” he added, drawing the shades at the front. “Let me see . . . Sirius, you once had maple and dragon heartstring, nine and a half inches, correct?”
Sirius transformed back into his human form and nodded.
Ollivander gave him a long glance. “I’m afraid that I doubt that will be appropriate any longer,” he said. “Maple is such a cheerful wood. Let me see . . .” He disappeared into the stacks. “Here, try this one, ash wood and phoenix feather, ten and a quarter inches.”
Sirius took it and gave it a swish, but Ollivander was taking it out of his hand before he had even realized that nothing was happening.
“No, that won’t do . . .” There was another long pause. “Here, oak and dragon heartstring, nine inches long . . .”
It took nearly a half hour to find a wand that liked Sirius. Ollivander was getting more and more pleased all the time as he rooted through his collection of boxes, trying different combinations. “Here we are, unusual . . . though I suppose I should have thought of it earlier!” He handed the wand to Sirius, and smiled as Sirius grinned. “Dogwood, Mr. Black.”
Sirius wilted. Remus sighed slightly.
“Dogwood and dragon heartstring . . . very rare, very rare indeed. Ten and a half inches.”
They paid for the wand and bid Ollivander farewell. Sirius changed back into his dog form before they left the store, and they went back to Dumbledore’s office without further mishap.
“Do I look depressed to you?” Sirius asked, once they were safely back in Remus’ room, shooting sparkles into the air with his new wand.
“Not really,” Remus said.
“Then what was his comment about not having a cheerful wand anymore?” Sirius asked.
“He’s Ollivander,” Remus said, as if this should explain everything. “All right, maybe you don’t look depressed, but that doesn’t change the fact that you are. Maple wouldn’t be appropriate anymore.”
Sirius pouted, levitated a pillow, and smacked Remus in the face with it.
Remus gave him a look. “You just got that. Don’t make me take it away from you.”
Sirius hugged his wand to his chest. “I missed my magic. Fourteen years! Okay, maybe I am kind of depressed.”
Remus kept giving him the same look.
****
Chapter Seven
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