The Bond of the Links

Chapter 2

In the following week, Harry got closer to Shalimar than he ever had to anyone, except Sirius. He sensed a bond between them that he couldn't quite explain. Shalimar was open to him too, and never hid anything from him. She, like him wore Muggle clothes during the holidays, and he noticed that she had a good dress sense. She seemed to prefer jeans and t-shirts and wore clothes that went well with her dark brown hair and eyes. Her skin was brown, but neither too dark nor too pale. She loved Quidditch too, and because of their hours on their broomsticks, Harry had a wonderful tan, and was almost as dark as her. Soon, the time came for them to go to the Burrow and their trunks were packed again. They Flooed to the Burrow a week before school was due to start. As soon as Harry tumbled out of the fireplace in the Weasleys' kitchen, he found Ron and the twins thumping him on the back.

'Hi Harry! Good to see you mate!' Ron and the twins exclaimed, grinning from ear to ear. 'You too!' was all he could reply before there was a squeal from behind them and Hermione was running towards him.

'Hi Harry! Did you get out presents? Did you like them? How was your holiday?' Hermione asked, hugging him tightly.

'Yeah they were really good. Thanks you guys. Hermione? Lemme breathe!' Harry replied in a muffled voice.

She let go off him, embarrassed. Meanwhile, Sirius and Shalimar had come too. Harry introduced her to his friends and was once again impressed by how confident she was. Soon, all the Weasleys (except Bill and Charlie) Hermione, Shalimar, Sirius and Harry were seated together, chatting. Mrs. Weasley was fussing over Harry and the girls were talking animatedly. The day passed quickly and the Trio and Shalimar went upstairs to do their homework. At least, Ron had homework; the others helped him finish it up quickly. Suddenly, Harry noticed that Shalimar was wearing a ring identical to his.

'Hey, Shalimar, your ring is identical to mine. Where did you get it?' he questioned her.

'My mother gave it to me,' she replied softly, and Harry didn't push the subject. Ron and Hermione were looking at them curiously, but looked away when Harry changed the subject. Soon, it was time for bed.

Everyone was up at cockcrow the next day, and they were ready on time. When it was time to leave, Mrs. Weasley said, 'Come on now, hurry up. I have to get you six to the station on time.' Harry looked at Sirius. He smiled and answered his unvoiced question, 'I'm coming with Shalimar later. She needs to do something first.' Harry shrugged and joined Ron at the entrance, looking slightly puzzled. They reached the station with 15 minutes to spare. 'Wonder when Shal and Sirius will come,' Harry thought aloud. 'You'll see them at Hogwarts dear,' Mrs. Weasley said, obviously hiding something.

'Mum, what're you hiding something!' Fred said immediately. Mrs. Weasley simply smiled as they barged her with questions. Harry was strongly reminded of the beginning of fourth year as Fred bellowed, 'Mum! Tell us what you're hiding. I'm sure it's not another Triwizard Tournament!' Realizing what he had said, he glanced at Harry, who was too busy being amused to get upset.

Before they could ask her anything else, however, it was time for them to leave. 'Have a good year!' Mrs. Weasley called, before Apparating home.

The train journey was pleasant as many of their classmates joined them and had fun with Exploding Snap, wizard's chess and the many sweets they bought during lunch. Surprisingly, Malfoy and his two sidekicks did not even pass their compartment. This, of course, was an added bonus.

'Shame,' said Ron, as the Card pack blew up in his face, 'wouldn't have minded a bit of excitement if Malfoy had passed. Fred taught me a spell to make blonde hair pink, purple and a lot longer.'

The group burst into hysterical laughter as they imagined Malfoy with long, pink hair. The carriage slowed down soon and they heard Hagrid outside.

'Firs'-years! Firs'-years over here! Mind yer step now and follow me!' Hagrid's booming voice found is way along the platform.

Harry supposed that he had finished whatever work he was supposed to have done for Dumbledore. Harry, Ron and Hermione sat talking in the horseless carriages as they trundled up to the castle. They were soon on the grounds and a while later, they entered the castle. As everyone sat down, Harry looked around for any sign of Sirius and Shalimar, but could not see them. Disappointed, he looked at the terrified first-years now entering with Professor McGonagall.

After the Sorting, Harry still saw no sign of his godfather. Dumbledore stood up, and Harry looked at him.

'May I have your attention please. I'm pleased to announce the addition of two members to our school. One is your new DADA teacher,' at this point Harry realized that the chair was empty, 'and a new student. Sirius enter please,' he said now looking at the doors of the Great Hall. They opened and Sirius and Shalimar stepped in. Jaws dropped. Shalimar was looking completely confident in jeans and a sleeveless t-shirt. Harry noticed that her arms looked pretty strong and her muscles were well defined. Harry pitied anyone who got on her wrong side.

She had a different look on her face- something that masked all her inner emotions and showed only a tough exterior. Harry snickered at the students' expressions. Shock and admiration- depending on who they were looking at.

'Sirius Black will be teaching you DADA this year and our new student- Shalimar- will be in the fifth year,' Dumbledore announced glancing around, before his gaze landed on an ecstatic looking Harry. People all around were staring and whispering about Sirius being their teacher. His eyes twinkled in amusement.

Shalimar walked quietly forward to the Sorting Hat and sat on the stool. McGonagall placed the hat over her head. 'Ah! A Link, I see. You have connections with the second Parselmouth to enter Hogwarts. However, you are too noble to belong in Slytherin, just like him. I see a hatred for the Dark Side in your mind. You are clever and hardworking, that's for sure, but your true virtue is bravery. Better be GRYFFINDOR!' the Sorting Hat finally shouted. Harry cheered along with the rest. However, most of the school was too busy staring at Sirius.

'Oh for God's sake! What are you staring at? He is just Sirius Black, for crying out loud!' Hermione snapped at the Gryffindor table while eating. They turned around to look at her like she had just announced that she was in Voldemort's inner circle. Many of them had incredulous looks on their faces. Harry burst out laughing.

'As a matter of f-fact, he, he's my god-godfath-er, Harry managed to choke out. He received the honour of receiving similar looks. Shalimar, who was sitting beside Harry, started giggling.

'Yeah! We knew him long ago!' Ron piped up. The other Gryffindors' looks were priceless. The trio and Shalimar started laughing uncontrollably and didn't realize that Sirius was behind them. The rest of the table went quiet. Harry looked in the direction they were staring.

'Hi Sirius! Why didn't you tell me that you were going to teach?' he asked trying to look angry, but failing miserably. 'Probably to see the looks on your friends' faces?' he replied with a glint in his eyes.

'Honestly, Dumbledore is going to have to look out for you, more than other pranksters,' Harry retorted, as Ron snorted with laughter. Sirius's grin widened. 'You can bet on that.' He walked off. By now most of the school was looking at them.

Harry and his friends looked around at their stunned faces and burst out laughing again. Sirius was grinning up at the staff table and Dumbledore was looking on in amusement. McGonagall looked like she didn't know how to react. Perhaps she was lamenting about the fact that she was going to have to deal with one of the Marauders again. Snape, on the other hand, was looking like he had just eaten something sour. It was going to be a very interesting year.

***

Lessons began the next day. Harry was pleased to see that they had Transfiguration and Charms before lunch. Then they had Double Potions with the Slytherins and Divination. Harry made a face. However, they ended the day with DADA. Harry was pleased.

Transfiguration was more interesting as they were studying Animagi more thoroughly now. At the end of the lesson, McGonagall beckoned to Harry and Shalimar and told them to meet her during lunch in her office.

'Shalimar you know what this is about,' she added, making Harry more curious. Shalimar nodded once, looking like she was bursting to say something. In Charms, they were learning a Disguising Charm, but Harry's mind kept wandering. Pushing the thoughts away, he started trying to disguise his chair as a table.

Finally, it was lunch. Harry hurried to McGonagall's office with Shalimar. Harry was nervous. He hadn't done anything wrong had he? Shalimar, noticing his nervousness, said, 'Hey! Don't worry. It's nothing. Not that unusual, but not exactly everyday stuff.' Harry raised an eyebrow. 'Well, considering "usual" is trying to figure out how to protect myself from a psycho killer, I don't know what to expect at all,' he commented dryly. Shalimar snorted.

'If that's usual, this is a piece of cake,' she replied.

They reached the professor's office and entered. To Harry's surprise, he found Sirius and Dumbledore there as well. 'Sirius? What are you doing here?' he questioned his godfather. It was Dumbledore who answered. 'Harry, we want you to become an Animagus.'