Harry Potter and the Power the Dark Lord Knows Not

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CHAPTER FIVE

THE DREAM

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Due to a strange confluence of events, Harry had still not heard anything about who the new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher was going to be. Ron and Hermione had told Harry that Dumbledore did not announce who it would be at the welcoming feast, only that that person would arrive later on in the week. It was now Wednesday night and as Harry, Ron, and Hermione ate their dinner, Harry found himself wondering who was going to greet them the next morning in their first Defense Against the Dark Arts lesson of the year. Harry hoped whoever was supposed to be taking the position for Dumbledore wasn't going to back out at the last moment.

Suddenly the large doors to the Great Hall opened and someone came in. Harry wasn't able at first to see who it was as a group of giggling third year Ravenclaw girls were walking in front of him, obstructing his view. There was also the general commotion of various students walking over to see friends in other Houses, and many didn't initially pay any attention to who was entering the room. As the person entered and began making his way to the front, however, silence slowly crept across the dining hall. A wizard was entering through the huge double doors. He had grizzled gray hair, a wooden leg that ended in a clawed foot, a severely scarred face, and a magical electric blue eye that was looking in all directions, including out of the back of his own head.

Harry, Ron, and Hermione had seen who it was at the same time. "Mad-Eye Moody," they exclaimed in surprised unison. Moody made his way between the Gryffindor and Hufflepuff tables carefully looking around him as he went. As Harry, Ron, and Hermione watched, Moody slowly limped towards them. As Moody came nearer, Harry noticed that his normal beady eye was on him while the magical eye still swiveled wildly about the Hall.

"All right, Potter?" Moody asked Harry in his gravelly voice, as he leaned slightly on his heavy wooden cane.

"All right, sir," Harry responded, a bit dumbfounded.

"Sir," Hermione spoke up, finding her voice again, "what are you doing here?"

"Teaching," Moody said simply. "Thought I really would make good on my old offer after all. Besides, you can never have too many eyes out."

Moody's magical eye had revolved around madly as he had said this. Harry forced himself to look away from it; it was rather nauseating to watch. As Moody moved away to go sit with Dumbledore at the staff table, he kept glancing back toward Harry. Moody always seemed rather paranoid, he was even known for it, but Harry found himself wondering if Moody had actually come to Hogwarts to keep an eye on him, personally. Harry had been continually followed last year by the Order, without his prior knowledge or consent. Harry tried to push away the bitter feelings that that memory had just inspired in him as he focused once more on the staff table. Dumbledore had begun to stand, tapping a wineglass at the front. Any whispering that had remained throughout the Hall immediately died away.

"I would like to introduce everyone to our new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher for this term, Professor Alastor Moody," Dumbledore announced.

Almost all of the older students clapped their hands enthusiastically. Even though Moody had developed a well-known reputation as an eccentric recluse throughout the Wizarding community, he was still rather idolized by many - especially by those who knew of his past successes as an Auror for the Ministry of Magic. Two years before, Moody had also been scheduled to teach at Hogwarts, and although the wizard that had come in his stead had been an imposter, his lessons had made quite an impression nevertheless. The younger students, however, were looking at Moody with mingled expressions of fear and revulsion. The missing chunk out of his nose, his wooden leg, and his deeply scarred face did look rather threatening, but Harry knew that Moody, while a bit odd, had everyone's best interests at heart.

The vivid image of a bouncing white ferret that had just a moment before been Draco Malfoy suddenly sprung into Harry's mind. The imposter Moody had transfigured Malfoy into that ferret during their fourth year as a punishment for trying to hex Harry when his back had been turned. Harry remembered the complete look of delight that had filled Ron's face after that incident, and he smiled to himself at the memory. Harry then turned to look over at the Slytherin table where Malfoy normally held court. Malfoy was now staring at Moody with his mouth slightly open, a faint greenish tinge crawling up his pointed face. Harry elbowed Ron who then nudged Hermione as he nodded at Malfoy, all three of them grinning in a satisfied way. Malfoy seemed to be sinking lower into his seat as Moody carefully surveyed the students in the Great Hall. A few minutes later as most of the students were finishing dinner and heading back to their common rooms, Moody and Dumbledore continued to sit with their heads together conversing intently in the middle of the staff table. Snape was down at one end of the table; his face twisted into an ugly sneer. Apparently Moody's return to Hogwarts wasn't something that Snape relished any more than Malfoy did. Snape left very shortly thereafter.

As the enchanted ceiling changed from a deep blue to a velvety black, Dumbledore and Moody ambled slowly out of the Great Hall, still in deep discussion. Hermione watched them as they left the Hall, and then she leaned towards Harry and Ron. "Why do you suppose Moody really took this job? Doesn't he have enough to do with everything that's going on with the Order?" Hermione asked in low tones.

"Maybe he's the only one brave enough to take on the position. 'Course he could just be helping Dumbledore out, too. He may have wanted to make sure that the Ministry doesn't get the chance to muck everything up like they did last year," Ron replied. As Harry, Ron, and Hermione got up and began to make their way to the library, Ron went on. "I just hope he isn't boring," Ron said. "I've had enough boring teachers to last me a lifetime."

"Boring?" Hermione repeated skeptically. "When we were in the fake Moody's class, he used Unforgivable Curses on us. How could that possibly be boring - it wasn't even legal." The fake Moody who had taught them two years ago had actually been Barty Crouch, Jr., a Death Eater under Voldemort's orders. Crouch had insisted on teaching the class about the three Unforgivable Curses and had then placed the Imperious Curse on each of the students in turn.

"I'm just saying, Hermione," Ron continued, "if we don't learn anything interesting this year it'll be a complete waste of time."

"School is never a complete waste of time," Hermione stated heatedly, looking scandalized.

"What about Fred and George, then? They didn't even try to get their N.E.W.T.s and they're bringing in gold hand over fist," Ron interjected.

"Even so, I think Fred and George really are exceptions to the rule. Besides, they'd never have been able to open that joke shop if Harry hadn't helped them get started," Hermione said, as she glanced at Harry.

"I dunno, knowing them they would've just helped Mundungus unload his dodgy cauldrons or something and got their galleons that way."

"Oh Ron, just because they were willing to break a few rules in school doesn't mean they'd actually deal in illegal goods out in the real world," Hermione snapped at him, but Harry looked away and remained silent. He knew for a fact that Fred and George had already traded in Class C Non-Tradeable Substances last year, and he reckoned that they were probably continuing to do it this year as well.

"Oh c'mon, Hermione, you just don't want to admit that you don't always have to have loads of schooling to get through life. I mean, honestly, some of the classes we've taken have been nothing but rubbish. I bet Binns' has accidentally left entire classes unconscious before - his voice works better than a sleeping potion. And what about Trelawney? You walked out on her yourself as I remember," Ron reminded her.

"Well, that's no reason to think that the rest of our classes are a joke. We have to get prepared for the future," Hermione said.

"But that's my whole point, Hermione. We need to be trained in defense - not sitting taking notes about stupid old giant wars."

"History can be very important, Ron. 'Those who don't remember history are doomed to repeat it,' after all. I think History is one of the most important subjects that there is," Hermione insisted.

"But you dropped History of Magic just like we did!" Ron interjected.

"Well... that doesn't mean that it's not worthwhile. Besides, just because we're not terrified during a class doesn't mean that a teacher isn't doing their job. We're all doing much better in Care of Magical Creatures since Hagrid gave up on those horrible blast-ended screwts."

"At least Hagrid's classes keep us awake," Ron put in. "I'd take those screwts over Umbridge any day of the week. Besides, I want to be an Auror, not some bloody desk clerk like Percy is."

"There's nothing wrong with being a clerk, Ron," Hermione argued.

"Yeah, well, there is when it's for Fudge. Percy's shown that he's willing to throw his whole family away just so he can be a lackey for that puffed-up windbag. Both Fudge and Percy should be sacked anyway, especially after what they did to Harry last year," Ron replied rather hotly, sending a significant glance in Harry's direction. Ron and Hermione finally fell silent as they approached the door to the library. Harry had given up trying to interrupt them every time they wanted to have a go at each other - he was quite used to the two of them bickering about everything, whether it was about anything of real importance or not. As they all entered the library together, however, Harry considered what Ron had just said about Cornelius Fudge. Fudge had gone out of his way to destroy both his and Dumbledore's credibility last year, even going so far as to remove Dumbledore not only as Headmaster here at Hogwarts, but also from the head of the Wizengamot and the International Confederation of Wizards as well. Harry shook his head in disgust. It was dishearteningly to know that Fudge was still in charge at the Ministry, no matter how short-sighted and incompetent he had already proven himself to be.

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That night as Harry climbed up the many steps to Gryffindor tower with Ron and Hermione, he continued to ponder the real reason why Alastor Moody had returned to the school. After everything that had happened in Harry's fourth year, he was surprised that Moody would be inclined to come back here at all. Of course, Harry still couldn't help thinking that maybe Moody just wanted to keep a watch on him. Last year Harry knew that it had been Moody who had suspected that Voldemort was possessing him, and that Moody had believed that to be the actual cause of Harry's flashes of insight about what Voldemort was up to. As Harry lay in bed, however, he tried to push those thoughts out of his mind. Occlumency had enabled him to close his mind to such things now, and Harry hoped that he would never have to experience that kind of pain and terror ever again. Harry focused on clearing his mind, and then slipped off into a light doze.

Harry found himself walking along the large lake that surrounded Hogwart's Castle in the bright sunshine. The water was shimmering a brilliant crystal blue and the sky was turquoise with several puffy cotton-like clouds. As he strolled along the emerald green lawn, Harry saw something on the ground. He bent down to pick it up and discovered that it was Sirius' mirror. The mirror was no longer broken, but complete and whole as Harry glanced at his own reflection.

As Harry wiped it off, he felt strangely excited. On a wild impulse he looked into the mirror and said the name, "Sirius Black." Suddenly, Sirius' face actually appeared in the its smooth silver surface. "Sirius!" Harry exclaimed, shocked to see his godfather again. Sirius looked much like Harry imagined he had when he'd been hiding in various tropical locations on the run from the Ministry during Harry's fourth year at Hogwarts. Sirius' hair was short and glossy, his face had a slight tan, and his eyes were vivacious and alive again; not even remotely haggard or haunted like they'd been before he died.

"How are you, Harry?" Sirius asked, a wide smile brightening his still youthful features. But Harry had just realized that the voice had not come from the mirror. Harry then wheeled around with lightning speed and found himself face to face with his godfather once again.

"SIRIUS!" Harry cried, as he pulled Sirius into a tight hug. Harry found that he was smiling so widely that his cheeks hurt. "Where have you been, Sirius? I've been so desperate to see you... to talk to you... to tell you..." Harry stammered, talking so fast that he was tripping over the words, as he held Sirius at arms-length unwilling to let go of him.

"You know where I've been, Harry," Sirius answered somewhat enigmatically, looking piercingly into Harry's face. Then Sirius said, "I just wanted to check on you. I wanted to make sure that you're handling this okay."

"I..." Harry looked into Sirius' handsome face and felt something painful give way in his chest. "Sirius..." Harry tried to say how much he had missed him, tried to tell Sirius how much he needed him here, but instead he found himself staring into his godfather's face at a complete loss for words. Harry then felt tears begin to bud in the corners of his eyes as a huge lump began to form in his throat, cutting off his ability to say anything more.

Sirius seemed to understand without Harry uttering another sound, however, as he embraced him once again. "It really is going to be all right, Harry. This pain will lessen over time. I know that it's overwhelming right now, but you will be able to get past this," Sirius told him quietly, as he led Harry to a nearby tree stump and carefully sat him down upon it.

After a moment, Sirius spoke again. "Harry, I wanted you to know that we will be together again someday. I wanted to give you some comfort because I know how truly difficult this must be for you. Just remember that I will never be where your heart can't find me," Sirius said, as he placed his hand on Harry's chest. Sirius' gray eyes looked into Harry's intently, as if trying to ease his sorrow. "I just wanted to reassure you that you're stronger than you think you are right now. Eventually, you will be able get over this, you'll be able to move on."

Sirius was speaking softly and Harry focused solely on the sound of his godfather's voice. "I didn't want to leave you, Harry, but this was never your fault. You have to stop blaming yourself for this." At these words Harry shook his head despondently and looked down. Harry couldn't stop the tears from flowing down his face freely now. Sirius didn't understand; Harry knew it was his fault. Harry tried to tell Sirius how sorry he was, but his throat was constricted so tightly that he still couldn't speak.

"No, Harry," Sirius said, as though reading Harry's thoughts. "This is not your fault, it just happened....." Sirius paused then, staring into Harry's bright grief-stricken eyes. "Listen, I want you to promise me something. I want you to go on with your life, Harry. You have to." As Harry slowly met his godfather's gaze again, Sirius told him quietly, "You can do it - I know you can."

"Okay," Harry whispered after a moment, his voice cracking. Sirius grasped Harry's shoulder warmly and then slowly began to stand.

"Take care of yourself, Harry. Don't forget what I've told you," Sirius smiled at Harry gently again, and then like a wisp of smoke was gone.

"Wait," Harry called out, desperately. Harry awoke suddenly to find himself back in his very dark dormitory again. The weather had grown turbulent and cloudy, and rain was lashing at the windows. Harry heard the soft rhythmic breathing coming from his fellow Gryffindors and knew that they were sound asleep. Sirius was gone, now. Harry had felt his presence so strongly. It had honestly felt like Sirius had come back for those few fleeting moments, and Harry's heart now ached even more painfully at the loss of him. Harry sat up beneath the canopy of his four-poster bed for a long time after that, his grief welling up like a tide all over again. And at the same time, Harry listened to the rain as it continued to pour over the thick castle walls and the darkened grounds outside - its steady beat fading every other sound into silence.

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Harry awakened the next morning to the sounds of Ron, Neville, Dean, and Seamus discussing their first Defense Against the Dark Arts class with Mad-Eye Moody.

"So, do you think he'll teach us any new stuff?" Dean was asking.

"I hope so," said Seamus. "I only got to be in that one D.A. meeting last year with Harry, and I wanted another go at Patronuses."

"I hope we get to practice dueling," Neville put in.

"Yeah," Ron responded, frowning rather glumly. "With things the way they are, we need all the defense lessons we can get."

"You know, if it hadn't been for the D.A., I don't think there's any way I would've been able to pass my Defense Against the Dark Arts O.W.L.," said Dean, sounding grateful.

"I know I wouldn't have," Neville agreed. Neville was the first to notice that Harry was awake as he discreetly pushed his glasses back on his face. "What do you think Professor Moody will teach us, Harry? Do you suppose it will be anything like what you taught us last year?" Neville asked him.

"Maybe," Harry said noncommittally, since he hadn't really been listening to the first part of their conversation.

"I wonder what old Mad-Eye's really like," Seamus pondered out loud, as both Neville and Dean shrugged.

Harry then glanced rather pointedly at Ron. While the other boys knew that Moody had once been an Auror, none of them knew the whole story behind what Moody was doing now. Harry and Ron couldn't openly disclose what they knew about their professor - Neville, Dean, and Seamus had no specific knowledge about the Order or Moody's involvement in it as one of its members.

"I guess we're getting ready to find out, aren't we," Ron said, quickly. "Hey, I don't know about you lot, but I'm hungry. Let's get going," he continued, deftly changing the topic of the conversation. Ron seemed to notice that Harry was being a bit too quiet; he also noticed the fact that Harry's face was looking rather troubled and somber again. "Hungry, Harry?" Ron asked, cautiously.

"I'll be down in a bit," Harry said, trying to appear normal but failing rather miserably. Ron hesitated, but apparently thought Harry might want to be alone, and followed Neville, Dean, and Seamus out the door.

Once everyone had left to go downstairs, Harry had continued to sit on his bed in his pajamas, his mind back down on the grounds with his godfather. His dream had felt so completely real that Harry almost felt as though Sirius had actually come to see him. It was still gray and rainy outside as Harry slowly got up and padded barefoot over to one of the thick tower windows that overlooked the vast Hogwarts grounds - he could see the very place that he had been with Sirius in his dream.

As Harry stared numbly out the dormitory window, his godfather's consoling words began to float back into his mind, but Harry didn't really know if he would ever be able to move past this intense sadness. As Harry changed into his robes, however, he remembered the way that Sirius had looked - he had seemed more peaceful last night than Harry could ever remember seeing him. Harry glanced out at that same place on the grounds one more time and then took a deep breath as he gradually made his way to the door. Sirius had promised that he would never be where Harry's heart couldn't find him. Harry carried that comforting thought inside himself like a powerful beacon as he finally headed down the stairs.

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As Harry found himself sitting in the second row together with Ron and Hermione later - after their last experience in Moody's classroom they felt it safer not to sit right up front - he looked up at Mad-Eye Moody and felt a distinct sense of deja-vu. Two years before, he, Ron, and Hermione had sat in this very same classroom believing that they were being taught by the real Mad-Eye Moody, a retired Auror and trusted confidant of Albus Dumbledore. As the events of that year had played out, however, the real Moody had been discovered kidnapped, cursed, and locked in his own trunk by an imposter.

The rain continued to pour down outside now as Moody checked attendance. Harry found himself becoming more and more curious about what Moody would actually be teaching them. At last, Moody looked up at the class, his magical eye inspecting each student carefully.

"My name is Alastor Moody," he began in his rough voice. "A few of you may know who I am, but most of you have only met that imposter." Moody's mangled face twisted rather sinisterly as he said the word "imposter." "Just know that that wasn't me! I know you've been taught by many different teachers - some that were worth their stuff and some that weren't, but I plan to bring that all together this term and take you to the next step. This is an advanced class, so those of you who are here should know to take this very seriously. He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named is back, along with loads of his followers, so unceasing vigilance is the key. Today I want to see what you already know, so pair up on that side of the room, now."

As the students paired up and began practicing, Harry felt a surge of pride as everyone in the room executed each of their defense spells flawlessly. Even Moody looked impressed.

"Well, obviously at least one of your teachers knew what he was doing," Moody said, as he pointedly reached over and placed a gnarled hand on Harry's shoulder. Harry looked up and saw that everyone there, all former members of the D.A., was looking meaningfully in his direction - each face (especially Ron and Hermione's) lit with a brightly appreciative smile. Harry was taken by surprise for a moment as he realized what Moody meant, and he then felt himself blush as he slowly gave a small grin of his own.

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Afterwards at lunch a very wet and bedraggled-looking brown owl came swooping into the Great Hall, homing in on Hermione with a plastic-covered rolled up parcel. As Hermione put knuts into the small pouch attached to its other leg, Ron asked her what she had received.

"Oh, it's just the Daily Prophet. I guess it's late due to the nasty weather," she said, unfurling it and shaking off excess water. Harry had been so preoccupied by his feelings over Sirius that he still hadn't thought to re-subscribe. Harry was just getting ready to ask her if she had found anything interesting, when Hermione suddenly gasped. "Look!" she said, as she pushed the paper towards Harry and Ron.

DEATH EATERS BREAK OUT OF AZKABAN PRISON AND RETURN TO HE-WHO-MUST-NOT-BE-NAMED

A spokeswizard speaking for Azkaban Prison has finally confirmed that the rumors of a breakout occurring last July are indeed true. Witnesses have now come forward with new information about the mass escape from Azkaban of these prisoners pictured below. Ministry insiders from the Department of Magical Law Enforcement provided the identities of these fugitives, all of whom have been determined to be confirmed followers of He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named, known as Death Eaters. Madam Amelia Bones, Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement, disclosed that security has now been tripled at Azkaban Prison and steps are being taken to recapture these highly dangerous criminals.

CORNELIUS FUDGE AND AIDE LEAVE IN DISGRACE

After numerous allegations of corruption at the Ministry of Magic, Cornelius Fudge was forced to step down as Minister of Magic this morning. A very harassed-looking Fudge was seen vacating the Ministry of Magic headquarters today, followed by his former Senior Undersecretary to the Minister, Dolores Umbridge. Fudge and Umbridge angrily refused to comment when the press attempted to question them about various subjects after their dismissal, including the now confirmed escape of Death Eaters from Azkaban at the end of July. A new Minister of Magic is to be appointed next week according to Ministry insiders.

"Well, that confirms it, Harry," Hermione said, as Harry and Ron finished reading the front page. "You were right. Those Death Eaters did escape last summer."

Harry nodded, grimly. Just like last year, the pictures of the escaped prisoners were now illustrating the front page, Lucius Malfoy among them. Ron looked down agitatedly at the sneering photographs and said, "Blimey, Harry, you're never wrong, are you?"

Harry, Ron, and Hermione looked anxiously at each other for a moment before glancing up at the staff table. Dumbledore, Moody, and McGonagall were talking together in a tight knot off to the side as the other teachers read the Daily Prophet in small groups. As Harry glanced up to the front, he thought that Snape had been looking at him, but once his eyes had actually fallen upon the Potions master, Snape was conveniently looking in another direction. Harry then glimpsed over at the Slytherin table. Malfoy was sitting there with a look of haughty superiority on his face as he, Crabbe, Goyle, and Pansy Parkinson all smirked arrogantly at everyone else in the room. Harry's insides went cold as they continued to gloat unpleasantly, and Harry looked away from them again, feeling sickened.

That afternoon as he, Ron, and Hermione were coming back tired and dirty from the Herbology greenhouses, Harry again noticed the spot on the grounds where Sirius had come to him in his dream the night before. Absorbed in the memory of the dream, Harry changed direction abruptly and strode directly to the spot. Ron and Hermione had been talking together a few steps ahead and were caught unawares by Harry's sudden departure.

"That fanged geranium really did have pretty blooms, though," Hermione was saying.

"Fanged geranium? Hermione, are you mad?" Ron asked, incredulously.

"What? I thought it was lovely," Hermione insisted.

"Hermione, why would you want a flower that can bite, even if it is pretty?" Ron argued, "What bloke in his right mind would get his girl a plant that could hurt her? He'd have to be either a real prat or completely mental," Ron turned towards her, expecting her to continue arguing with him as usual.

But Hermione, instead of arguing back, stopped rather quickly and glanced up at Ron with a look of sudden understanding on her face. After a moment, her expression softened and she began to smile. "You know, Ron, you can be so thoughtful when you want to be," she said sincerely, her brown eyes focusing up on his face warmly.

Apparently Hermione's tone of voice caught Ron a bit off-guard, and as she continued to smile up at him affectionately, Ron blushed and looked shyly away from her. When he did, Ron noticed that Harry was no longer with them.

"Hey, where'd Harry go?" Ron asked.

"Oh," said Hermione, looking around. Evidently she had not noticed, either.

They then turned back and saw Harry inspecting a patch of ground by the edge of the lake. Harry seemed to be totally preoccupied, and when Hermione reached out and touched his shoulder, Harry actually jumped.

"Sorry, I didn't mean to startle you, Harry," she said.

"Yeah, mate, we were just wondering where you'd gone," Ron said. Harry was looking at them somewhat blankly, almost as though he wasn't sure of who they were for a moment.

"Did you lose something?" Hermione asked.

"No, why?" Harry responded, much too quickly.

"Well, you were looking in the grass like you had dropped something," Hermione answered, surprised at Harry's sudden jumpiness and anxious reaction to her.

"No. No, I was just... let's go back inside," Harry said hastily. Harry hadn't told Ron and Hermione about his dream and he wasn't sure that he ever would. He felt that some things were just better kept to himself and that this was one of them. Ron and Hermione quickened their pace to catch up to Harry, giving him an especially searching look as they followed him through the huge double doors and into the castle.

Later Harry still remained quiet and circumspect as they sat down to dinner. Ron and Hermione noticed as they sat across from Harry that he was playing idly with his food instead of really eating any of it. As the students slowly cleared out of the dining hall, Hermione began to speak up tentatively.

"Harry... Are you quite all right? You seem to be a million miles away," Hermione asked, finally getting Harry's attention.

"Huh?" Harry mumbled at first. "Yeah, I'm okay."

Harry had been completely distracted and distant ever since they had come back from the lake a short while before. As Harry pulled himself rather sluggishly out of his reverie, he looked over at Ron and Hermione. They were sitting very close together on the bench, their shoulders touching. It was as if their close proximity to each other was providing comfort on some unknown level, they didn't seem to be aware of it outwardly. Harry noticed that Ron and Hermione's faces were each mirroring looks of nervous concern as they stared back at him from across the table, and Harry realized that he was doing it again; he was shutting them out. Harry looked down at his uneaten dinner and then around at the almost empty dining hall.

"Look, guys," Harry said quietly, even though no one was nearby, "I just need some space sometimes... you know?" Ron and Hermione seemed to relax ever so slightly.

"You do know we'll do anything we can to help you, Harry," Hermione told him, speaking carefully. She and Ron were both looking at Harry cautiously; it was almost as if they knew that something had happened and that he was purposely holding it back from them. After Hermione had spoken, Ron nodded in full agreement, but didn't speak. Harry nodded and then sighed heavily, feeling rather bleak. He knew that they didn't truly understand just how horrible he was feeling right now, no one did. Harry wondered whether this dark cloud of sorrow would ever lift from him entirely as the three of them left and slowly headed up the stairs to Gryffindor tower.

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The following Monday as Harry, Ron, and Hermione were eating breakfast, an owl once again dispatched a new copy of the Daily Prophet onto Hermione's plate, almost spilling Ron's orange juice onto her eggs and toast in the process.

"Bloody hell!" Ron cursed angrily, as the owl flew towards the enchanted ceiling once more.

Hermione was quite used to Ron's bad morning temper, so she just ignored him as she opened the paper. Ginny was sitting on the other side of Harry with Dean Thomas. They had begun going out at the end of last term.

"Oh my," Hermione said, reading the front page aloud so that Harry, Ron, Ginny, and Dean could hear. "Listen to this. New Minister of Magic Confirmed. Auror Kingsley Shacklebolt was today appointed as the new Minister of Magic by the Wizengamot after the former Minister, Cornelius Fudge, left last week. Kingsley Shacklebolt has been an Auror for nearly thirty years and has been involved in the capture of many fugitives, including Death Eaters," Hermione continued reading. "Kingsley's first act of office was to repeal any and all Educational Decrees made by the former Minister of Magic or his Senior Undersecretary during the last school year at Hogwarts. 'The current headmaster is the only one who has the authority or knowledge necessary to dictate what happens at his school,' Shacklebolt stated. 'Albus Dumbledore is quite capable of managing Hogwarts, as he has proven time and again over his many years there as headmaster.'"

"Shacklebolt also released publicly information vital to current escaped Death Eaters and the tracking and possible whereabouts of He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named. 'Investigations are ongoing in relation to current Death Eater activity,' Shacklebolt continued. 'The identities of these particular Death Eaters have been well established and documented. However, it is important to note that one fugitive previously wanted by the Ministry has now been cleared of all charges. Sirius Black, who escaped from Azkaban Prison three years ago, has been personally vouched for by Albus Dumbledore as being in no way a supporter of He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named or his associates at any time. I regret to say that Black must be cleared posthumously, as he died while fighting against Death Eaters this past June. I announce this information primarily to put his name once again in good stead and also as a comfort for the family and friends that Sirius has left behind,'" Hermione finished, rather breathlessly.

Dean had been busy buttering a muffin and had not really listened as Hermione had been reading. Hermione, Ron, and Ginny, however, had their eyes glued to Harry. Harry immediately felt himself go white. He had only spoken very intermittently to anyone about Sirius since this summer, and hearing Sirius' death brought up in this very public forum had caught him entirely off-guard. Harry sat there numbly for a moment as he tried to take it all in.

Unexpectedly, Ginny suddenly leaned over to Harry and placed her hand upon his arm as she repeated softly, "As a comfort for the family Sirius has left behind, Harry." Ginny then squeezed Harry's arm gently and gazed at him for a moment, a kind and consoling smile playing across her delicate features. For some reason, Harry felt incredibly strengthened by this simple gesture of Ginny's. He smiled back at her as she released his arm and turned her attention back to Dean, who had begun trading Chocolate Frog cards with Seamus, completely oblivious.

Ron and Hermione were still staring at Harry. Ron had a slightly surprised look of dawning comprehension at what had just transpired between his best friend and his sister. Hermione, however, didn't seemed surprised at all. She simply smiled almost knowingly and turned again to Ron.

"Are you finished then, Ron?" she asked, abruptly taking Ron's attention away from Harry, who had turned to look at Ginny again.

"What? Oh, I suppose," Ron said, as he asked Harry the same question.

Harry nodded and began to get up from the table distractedly. As the three of them walked to the door of the dining hall, Harry turned back on an impulse and looked over at the Gryffindor table again. Ginny was still seated by Dean and Seamus, but her face was turned towards the door watching Harry. When he caught her eye, she gave him another encouraging smile before turning back to the card game once more.