Sirius Black and the Golden Lion

Of Whispers and Willows

"So, Sirius, where'd you get to?" Remus asked as they left the castle. Sirius turned around to answer, and as he did so, the other boys gasped in shock.

"What?" Sirius asked

"What in Merlin's name happened to your face?" James said.

"Oh yeah." Sirius had forgotten about his face in the relief of seeing his new friends. "I had a bit of a run in with a couple of Slytherins."

"Your cousin?" James asked.

"Bella, yeah," Sirius replied. "And some greasy-haired little first year."

"You're a first year too," Remus reminded him.

"But at least I wash my hair occasionally," Sirius retorted.

"That was Severus Snape," Peter piped up. The others turned to look at him.

"How do you know?" Sirius asked bluntly.

"Aren't his parents really dark wizards?" James interrupted

"His parents are friends with mine...oh!"

The other three looked at him in puzzlement as Peter realised what he had said.

"So, aren't they really dark wizards?" James repeated.

"Yes," Sirius replied simply. "And I wasn't aware that they associated with anyone who didn't agree with their views." This last was accompanied by an intimidating glare at Peter, who flushed but said nothing.

"Anyway," Remus said, trying to move the conversation onto safer ground. "Can you do anything about that cut?"

"It's a bit awkward on yourself," Sirius started.

"I'll do it then," Remus interrupted. "Medirivulnus."

"Thanks!" Sirius said in surprise. "How did you know that one?"

Remus blushed and looked away quickly. Sirius decided not to push the point too much, and stepped firmly on James' foot when it looked like he was about to speak.

"So, anyone got any idea what we're going to learn in Herbology?" James asked brightly, once Sirius removed his foot.

"Nope!" Peter grinned. "But it can't be that hard, I mean, how difficult can plants be?"

At this point, a small, grinning man appeared.

"Good morning, Gryffindor and Hufflepuff," he smiled. Sirius looked around, and realised that half of the student's were wearing yellow trimmed robes. He couldn't remember ever meeting a Hufflepuff student before, and he wondered what they'd be like.

"I'm your teacher, Professor Topiare, and I have a big treat for you today." His grin widened further. "Follow me."

Bemused, the students followed him past the greenhouses, and out into the grounds.

"Where on earth are we going?" James muttered to Sirius out of the corner of his mouth.

"No idea," Sirius whispered back.

"Shall we ask Remus?"

"How would he know?"

"He seems to know everything else..."

"Er, why are we whispering?" Sirius asked, speaking normally.

"No idea," James whispered back again. The two boys dissolved into helpless fits of giggles.

"Shut up, you two," Remus said, glaring disapprovingly at them.

They rounded a corner, and stopped at a part of the grounds that Sirius had not seen before. They appeared to be by the very edge of the Forbidden Forest, and there were several adults huddled together by the trees.

Although the sun was shining, and the day promising to be a fine one, Sirius felt oddly chilled by the forest. He had heard many rumours about different creatures that it held, and had no wish to meet any of them. He looked around him. They appeared to be on top of a hill, and down in the distance he could see the lake shimmering in the sunlight. He felt reassured by this sight, which was oddly calming.

Suddenly, one of the adults detached themselves from the main group and walked towards the class. As she neared, Sirius recognised her as Madam Pomfrey, the Hogwarts matron who had been sitting at the end of the top table at the feast the night before.

"Ah, you brought them, Herbert. Good good."

"Now I'm really confused," James muttered. "What does she have to do with Herbology?"

Sirius had no chance to answer, as the two adults ushered them towards a patch of newly turned earth. Sirius was still bemused, and a quick glance at James told him that the other boy was just as much in the dark. However, when he turned to look at Remus, he was surprised to see, not bewilderment, but apprehension and, Sirius thought, fear. He was about to ask James about Remus' expression when they all came to a halt.

"OK, class!" Professor Topiare said, rocking happily on the balls of his feet. "You're very fortunate, because today we have a very special lesson." He turned to the other teachers. "When's the wh- I mean, the you-know what coming?"

"Hagrid is bringing it down," Professor McGonagall said, surveying the class sternly. They shuffled uncomfortably under her gaze. The only one who seemed able to meet her keen stare was Remus, who nonetheless seemed to be breaking out in a light sweat. Sirius noticed Madam Pomfrey looking at the other boy with a worried expression on her face. Remus caught her eye and smiled weakly.

"Here he comes!" James exclaimed loudly. Sirius looked around, unable to see anything in the direction of his friends gaze. He looked at James questioningly, but James' eyes seemed fixed on a speck in the distance

About ten seconds later, Peter's finger joined James' in pointing down the hill.

"I can see him!" he squeaked.

Sirius suddenly recognised the huge man of the night before making his way steadily up the hill from the lake.

"What's that?" a Hufflepuff student gasped. Sirius looked closer and saw that the game keeper was carrying a tree with him. It's branches were swaying as if in a great wind, but the air was still. As Hagrid neared them, Sirius saw that he had a couple of open, bleeding cuts on his face, and more on his hands. He opened his mouth to ask what the strange tree was, but the professor

beat him to it.

"So who can tell me what this is?"

There were a lot of blank looks.

"Surely someone knows..." The professor looked around at them all. "Let's see...Mr. Lupin?"

It seemed to Sirius that Remus paled even further as the class looked at him. How did the professor know Remus' name, Sirius wondered. They hadn't had a chance to introduce themselves.

"Whomping willow," Remus muttered, so only those stood near him could hear what he said. Sirius could have kicked himself. Although he had never seen a whomping willow before, and therefore could not be expected to recognise it, he had known that one would be planted, and it's name seemed to suggest that it would be dangerous. Hagrid's face and hands were enough evidence of the temperament of this particular plant.

"Excellent! Five points to Gryffindor!"

Remus seemed to brighten up as points were mentioned. All the Gryffindors looked at each other with pleased expressions.

"Mr. Lupin is indeed right, this is a Whomping Willow. It's very rare, and we're lucky to have it."

Next to Sirius, James tentatively raised his hand.

"Yes, Mr...." The teacher raised an eyebrow.

"Potter, professor," James said. "Er, why exactly is the Whomping Willow being planted here?"

"A good question," Professor McGonagall stepped forward. " As Professor Topiare said, they are very rare, and are in fact in danger of extinction. The Ministry of magic needed somewhere safe for this particular specimen because obviously, it cannot be grown anywhere near muggles."

"So they chose Hogwarts," the Herbology teacher finished Professor McGonagall's sentence, but Sirius did not miss the unmistakable glance that passed between the two. Professor McGonagall was now glaring around at them in a way that said the subject was now definitely closed, so Sirius decided not to ask for the real reason.

The rest of the class passed fairly uneventfully, apart from Hagrid picking up even more injuries as he helped Professor Topiare to plant it. Once the class had finished, the students traipsed back up to the castle for charms class.

"So," Sirius muttered to James, not wanting to be heard. "Why won't they tell us the real reason?"

"You thought they were lying too?" James asked. "I don't know, but I'm quite interested in how Topiare knows who Remus is."

"Just because he didn't know your name..." Sirius teased him. James threw a gentle punch.

"Nah. Where is Remus anyway?"

Sirius turned around. He couldn't see the teachers anymore, but the top of the Whomping Willow's waving branches could just be seen.

"Ah, there he is." James answered his own question, pointing up to the doors of the castle. Sirius could see a figure there, but couldn't tell it was Remus at that distance. James must have really good eyesight, he figured, which was odd because the other boy was wearing glasses.

"There's something about Remus..."