Sirius Black and the Drapery of Doom

A dull thud-clunk on the stairs outside soon signaled the imminent arrival of Mad-Eye Moody.

Moody pushed open the door a moment later, his creepy electric blue eye whirling in every direction, sweeping the kitchen for signs of anyone or anything that shouldn't have been there. Remus was waiting patiently just behind him, arms laden with grocery bags.

"Lupin here told me what happened to Minerva," Moody muttered once he'd satisfied himself and stumped over to the table to take a seat. "I understand there was a hearing?"

"I suppose you could call it that," said Kingsley gloomily. Remus, who had removed a delectable-looking trifle from one of the bags, went to empty the rest in the pantry, planting a kiss on the top of Tonks's head along the way.

"Am I to take it from your tone that the interests of justice were not served at this hearing?" Sirius asked, pointing his wand at the cupboard. Drawers flew open and dishes and silverware shot out, sailing over to the table and arranging themselves in five neat place settings.

"Well," said Kingsley with a sigh, "Dolores wrote to Fudge last night and told him Minerva was obstructing Ministry officials in their attempt to apprehend a violent half-breed. She said the Stunners were a regrettable but necessary use of force."

"I'll bet Fudge lapped that right up," muttered Remus, emerging from the pantry to help Sirius carry the food over to the table.

"He certainly did," said Kingsley. "He went so far as to tell us he was being generous, not pressing charges against Minerva."

An angry murmur went around the table; Sirius and Remus sat down and everyone began to serve themselves.

"Oh, and the search for Hagrid got bumped up -- it's top priority now too," Kingsley added.

Tonks groaned. "You can't be serious. Who've we got left who's not already on a top priority case?"

"Proudfoot and Williamson got reassigned," Kingsley told her. "I'd have volunteered myself, but there are only so many cases I can throw without Scrimgeour getting too suspicious." He glanced at Sirius, adding, "He's impatient enough these days -- keeps reminding me how much it would help with all that bad press we've been getting if we could finally capture Black."

As the discussion of Auror Office politics continued, Sirius began to tune out, his mind drifting back to Minerva McGonagall. If his memory was serving him correctly, he'd heard the news about her that morning -- she'd been hit with Stunners, she was in the hospital -- and then got very angry for some reason. It took him a few minutes to remember why --

"Yes, Sirius, I did talk to Snape," said Tonks, anticipating his question just as he'd opened his mouth to ask it. Everyone turned to look at them.

"You did?" Remus asked, looking puzzled. "Why?"

"Sirius here was worried about Harry, since Snape's now the only member of the Order left up at the school," Tonks replied.

"Don't blame him," Mad-Eye grunted. "I never trusted that guy, and I never got why Dumbledore does either.... Once a Death Eater, always a Death Eater, if you ask me."

"Exactly," said Sirius, nodding solemnly before turning back to Tonks. "So what'd he say, Nym?"

Tonks shrugged. "That he'd keep an eye on Harry, what else? Oh, and he wanted to know when Harry'd used a Floo to talk to you." She raised an eyebrow inquisitively.

"You told him that?" said Sirius, frowning. "Well it's none of his bleeding business --"

"Snape stopped giving Harry Occlumency lessons," Remus cut in, changing the subject. Sirius, who had been thinking again of the memory Harry'd seen of him and James roughing up old Snivelly at school, was only too happy to join in the expressions of mistrust and annoyance that this news had prompted from the rest of the table.

******

When dinner was over and the table had been cleared, Remus pulled out a pack of cards. All heads turned as one to Mad-Eye.

"Alright, alright," Moody grumbled, limping over to the cupboard to get a goblet. He filled it with water and dropped his magical eye in.

"Five galleon buy-in?" Sirius suggested, as Tonks conjured up a set of chips for wizard's poker. There was a general murmur of agreement; coins were produced, cards were dealt, and a lazy feeling of contentment stole over the kitchen as they all settled in to play.

"You know what I was thinking?" Sirius said after a few hands. "Minerva McGonagall mentioned to me a couple weeks ago she'd had her career consultation with Harry. She said he wants to be an Auror."

Remus smiled. "Why am I not surprised?"

"From what I've heard, he wouldn't be half bad," said Kingsley, pushing forward a small stack of chips. "I raise."

"He'd be brilliant at it," said Sirius, glancing again at his cards. The Queen of Diamonds was peering disdainfully down her nose at the Three of Clubs; she looked up at him and shook her head. He tossed the cards on the table. "Kid could fight off a hundred dementors all by himself in third year."

"Yes, he was especially gifted at fighting dementors," Remus agreed, a slight hint of pride in his voice.

"Well, what I was thinking," Sirius continued, "was that we could all help him out a bit over the summer, help him build up skills that would be useful to an Auror. I don't think he's had much dueling practice -- we could clear out space for that --" Anywhere but the attic, he added to himself. That was tainted with memories of Bella. "And I'm sure the current Aurors here can think of plenty of other useful areas of training," he finished, looking hopefully around the table. "What do you guys think?"

"I don't know, Black," said Kingsley slowly, with a faint grin. "Does this involve spending more of my off-time in your company? Because you have no idea just how sick I get of seeing your ugly mug, plastered all over my walls, day in and day out...." Sirius threw a chip at him, hard. He caught it and laughed, adding it to one of his piles.

"Maybe Sirius can wear a bag over his head whenever you come round, Kingsley," Tonks suggested. "Either way, Sirius, it sounds like fun. Count me in, I guess."

"Sounds like something Ron and Hermione and rest of the kids would enjoy too," said Remus. "Of course I'll help," he added. "It'll be nice to teach that lot again. They were a pleasure to have in class."

"You know what else I was thinking," Sirius went on. "Harry's never even been out of Britain. I thought it might be fun if we went on a trip, maybe for a couple of days around his birthday. It won't be too hard for me to slip out of the country, I did it last year...."

Tonks exchanged a look with Remus, who was dealing out another hand of cards. Sirius had a feeling they might object to this latest plan, and was suddenly wondering if he should have kept it to himself a bit longer.

"Sirius," said Tonks, with a rueful smile. "As cute as you are when you're being all eager and godfatherly like this, don't you think it would be a better idea to wait till your name's cleared? Your still the focus of an international manhunt, you'll be putting Harry in danger too --"

Sirius frowned; before he could reply, however, bright green flames suddenly shot up in the fireplace, and a silvery, fox-shaped Patronus came darting into the room.