Circle's Close

Chapter Eighteen: Bulgarian Devil's Bane

***

Harry sped across the muddy Hogwarts grounds, followed closely by Hermione and a suddenly very reluctant Ron.

It took a moment for Harry and Hermione to realize that Ron was no longer with them. They both turned around to find their red-headed friend staring open-mouthed and silent at the Forbidden Forest, which now stood mere feet in front of them.

"Ron, come on," Harry insisted.

"You are not going to convince me to go in there," Ron said with wide, angry-looking eyes.

"We're not going in that far," Harry told him. "What I have to show you, it's...it's not that bad," he said hesitantly, knowing deep down that it was pretty bad. It didn't matter, though. Hermione and Ron just had to see what he had seen.

Ron shook his head forcefully. "I'm perfectly content standing here, thanks. In fact, I just remembered I have to meet Leah--" He made to turn back to the castle, but Hermione grabbed his arm, stopping him.

"Ron, you have to come with us," she said in a gentle tone. Ron looked back at her. "Because we're a team--and what Harry wants to show us...it just wouldn't be the same without you."

"Hermione's right," Harry agreed. "And I promise—this is the last time I’ll ever drag you in here."

Ron looked at Harry and then Hermione again, thinking deeply. He nodded and they took long strides, closing the distance between them and the dark trees.

“And don’t expect me to hold you to that promise,” Ron said bitterly.

Harry looked over his shoulder. “Why not?”

“Because I know you’ll break it,” Ron answered dryly just as they entered the woods. They each closed a hand on their wands and shortened their steps, staying close to each other.

"I think...it was just over here," Harry whispered, turning off the path and turning diagonally. "Follow me, and keep your eyes peeled."

Hermione and Ron obeyed without further complaints or questions. A moment later, Harry found the exact spot where he had seen Hagrid disappear, and where Harry, himself, had vanished only moments before. He reached out his hand, which automatically dematerialized. He heard Hermione gasp behind him.

"This is it. Follow me directly afterwards, alright?" Harry instructed. He turned his head in time to see Hermione and Ron nodding, their eyes trained on Harry's invisible hand.

Harry stepped through the barrier, his whole body vanishing. His eyes landed on Hagrid, who still had yet to notice his visitor. A moment later, Hermione appeared at his side, followed closely by Ron.

"Harry--what?" Hermione whispered, but Harry pressed a finger to her lips, silencing her.

He turned to see Ron's face, which seemed to be frozen in a silent scream. His face was pale and shiny with sweat. His eyes had landed on the cage.

Harry turned back to the half-giant. "Hagrid?"

Hagrid jumped and turned at the same time, his large hand covering the spot where his heart was.

"Blimey, Harry! I ain't as young as I once was, yeh know! Give a bloke a great 'eart attack!"

Harry stepped forward, the creatures in the cage coming into his view. Hermione was busy trying to shake Ron out of his stupor.

"Hagrid--what are you doing?" Harry asked.

Hagrid shifted from one foot to the other, looking uneasy and slightly put-off. "Oh, so yeh found out what I've bin up ter, have yeh?"

"I only just found out...I saw you walking into the woods and then I watched you vanish into thin air," Harry explained quickly. "Are you shielded by some sort of Invisibility barrier?"

"That's righ'," Hagrid replied gruffly. "It was all I could do ter take care of these little fellers." His giant-sized hand pointed to the cage.

Four small creatures were sleeping peacefully in the large cage. They were black, with small horns coming out of their spines, scaly wings, and long, pointed faces. Even as hideous as they appeared to be, it was still easy for Harry to recognize them as dragons. Four very well fed and exhausted dragons.

"Hagrid," Hermione said softly, taking a brave step forward until she was standing next to Harry. "You're not allowed to use magic. How have you been able to use an Invisibility Charm to shield these ... dragons?"

Hagrid, still looking apprehensive, looked back at the cage of sleeping dragons as he spoke. "Ter tell yeh the truth, I've bin practisin' magic with Professor Dumbledore. He...he said tha' since I was proven innocen', my magical privileges shoulda bin restored."

"Hagrid! That's wonderful!" Hermione exclaimed.

Hagrid looked back at Harry and Hermione, his cheeks slightly flushing at such praise.

"I'm hopin' I can stop usin' this ole' thin'," he said, narrowing slightly at the pink umbrella laying on the ground at his feet. "If the Ministry will allow me ter buy a new wan'."

"I'm sure they will," Harry said encouragingly.

"But I have to say, Hagrid," Hermione continued, "Bringing a nest full of dragons to Hogwarts is extremely dangerous. Not to mention careless."

Behind them, Ron gave a strangled sound. Harry ignored him.

"I had ter, Hermione!" Hagrid exclaimed, his voice booming. He cleared his throat and continued to talk more softly. "These poor babies were left fer dead. Someone had ter look after 'em."

"Yes," Hermione agreed. "But not you, Hagrid. This is a school."

"Well, Hermione, this is the Ferbidden Fores'," Hagrid corrected her. "And any studen' who feels the need ter come in 'ere migh' deserve wha' they get."

"Hagrid!" Hermione gasped. "You don't mean that!"

Hagrid looked slightly abashed. "Yer righ', I don'. But on the brigh' side, these fellers are in a cage."

"You're right, Hagrid," Harry suddenly realized. "They are still babies. Where is their mother?"

"Gone, ain't she?" said Hagrid, as though this was the most obvious answer in the world. When Harry and Hermione didn't say anything, Hagrid gave a weary sigh. He clearly did not want to discuss these dragons with them. "I gotta friend who...breeds dragons illegally."

Hermione opened her mouth to say something against this, but Harry grasped her hand and squeezed it gently--a silent plea, telling her not to speak.

Hagrid continued as though he hadn't noticed any of this. "A while ago, me mate was found nearly dead an’ the mother-dragon gone. These poor babies were lef' ter die. I got an owl from Mikey--me mate--beggin' me fer 'elp. So...I gotta hold of ole' Mundungus Fletcher...yeh know he'd do anythin' illegal fer gold," he added with a smirk. "And 'e brought 'em over. I bin takin' care of 'em e'er since."

Ron gave another choked sound.

"There were more dragon eggs," Hagrid continued in a quiet tone. "Most o' them were crushed, an' th' others tha' hatched died, bein' the smallest o' the nest. These four were th' on'y ones who survived, bein' the stronges'. If Mikey hadn' owled me in time, these babies also would've died."

"But who would take the mother-dragon and leave the babies to die?" Hermione asked a moment later. "Are you sure she was taken at all? Is it possible that she simply left?"

Hagrid looked furious at the question, making Hermione take a step backwards. "O' course not! Mother dragons...leave their babies!? Tha's the most ludicrous thin' I e'er 'eard!"

"It's not in their nature," Ron finally said, his voice raspy. "It's the mothers' first instinct to care for their children. Leaving of their free will is never an option."

"But maybe...maybe with this breed it is," Hermione suggested timidly, not looking at Hagrid, but trying to appeal to Ron.

Ron shook his head just as Hagrid gently thrust a book into Hermione's arms, knocking her over. Harry caught her in time and put her back on her feet.

"Ye'll learn all yeh need to know about this breed in tha' book," Hagrid told Hermione.

Hermione looked down at the book. "Is this the same book we saw you with in the library, Hagrid?"

Hagrid nodded as Hermione began to flip through the book.

"I can tell you all you'll need to know about this breed," Ron said, his face still pale. "The Bulgarian Devil's Bane. The most dangerous breed that exists--that ever existed."

"Tha's righ'," Hagrid agreed.

"They become very large when they reach adult-size. They're extremely mean, with a terrible temper. And they have the hottest fire in the wizarding world," Ron continued, as though in a trance. "Dark wizards favored them...because only Dark magic could control the Devil's Bane. Do you remember learning that dragon breeding was outlawed by the Warlock's Convention of 1709?"

"Yes," Hermione whispered, as she flipped absent-mindedly through the book Hagrid had given her.

"Now you know why," Ron told them. "Because of this breed. And now Hagrid has brought them here." He said the last part weakly, as though this was nothing more than a bad dream and he was expecting to wake up at any moment.

Harry looked at the dragons again, a sense of familiarity overwhelming him. It only took him a moment to realize that he had seen these dragons before. Or at least one of them -- in his vision at the end of February in Trelawney's class. 'Black wings blocking out the sun.' At the time, he had been convinced that he had seen nothing more than a thestral. But now...

"Here's something interesting," said Hermione, drawing Harry's attention away from his vision. Unable to stay put, she walked around as she read from the book. "It says here that dragons have a homing-sense linking them to their mother, enabling them to fly straight to her when they're old enough to fly." She stopped walking as she looked at Hagrid. "There you go! You can let them go soon enough, and they'll be able to find their mother."

Hagrid looked away, his beetle-black eyes flashing with disappointment.

"Hagrid..." Hermione said pleadingly. "You know you can't keep them. They belong with their mother. And besides, if someone else discovered you were keeping such a dangerous breed of dragons, you could get into a lot of trouble."

Hagrid shook his great, shaggy head. "I know tha'," he said gruffly.

Hermione looked at the half-giant apologetically. "Will you promise us you'll let them go when they're old enough? That still gives you a couple of months."

Hagrid didn't say anything. He merely shrugged and gave a short nod.

"I think that's the most you'll get out of him," Harry told Hermione, turning to her.

He realized she was standing alarmingly close to the dragon cage, and it seemed that one of the baby dragons had just come to the same conclusion. The dragon closest to Hermione reared its pointed face at her, its eyes flashing menacingly. It quickly pounced at Hermione as a long breath of fire came out of its flaring nostrils.

"Get away from her!" Harry shouted, lunging forward, grasping Hermione and pulling her out of harm's way. To everyone's surprise, the dragon stared at Harry as though seriously considering his words. And without another thought, it obeyed as it settled back down and closed its eyes.

Harry checked Hermione over, making sure she hadn't been scorched by the dragon's fire.

"I'm OK, Harry," she breathed, her eyes wide.

Harry looked up to see Ron and Hagrid regarding him with the same look.

"What is it?" he asked, turning back to the dragons, who were all sleeping peacefully. His eyes returned to his three friends who continued to look at him in shock.

"OK..." Ron finally said, seemingly unsure of what to say or do.

"Harry?" said Hermione, scrutinizing Harry. "Did you deliberately speak in Parseltongue to that dragon?"

Harry stared at Hermione, her words sinking in very slowly. "I...just spoke...in Parseltongue?"

Hermione nodded, her worst thoughts confirmed. "What did you tell it to do?"

Harry felt numb all over. Suddenly, flashes of his Second year were spinning through his head--none of them good memories.

"I...told it to get away from you," Harry whispered, his arms falling to his side as feelings of helplessness washed over him. It was difficult to remind himself that he was nearly an adult and far from helpless.

Hermione's arms went around him instinctively. She squeezed him, trying to wash away all the bad memories. Her touch seemed to warm his very heart, driving his past far away where it couldn’t haunt him anymore.

"But how?" Harry asked weakly as Hermione stepped back. "How did I speak to the dragon...in Parseltongue?"

"Well--yer a Parselmouth, ain't yeh?" Hagrid spoke up.

"Yes..." Harry replied slowly. "But these are not snakes, Hagrid."

"Dragons are kin ter snakes, Harry. They're both reptiles," Hagrid replied knowledgeably. "And because they're so young and ain't as violen'... they'll listen ter yeh."

"Wait a second," Ron said, suddenly skeptical. "If that's the case--then why didn't we discover that Harry was a Parselmouth in First year, when you had Norbert?"

"Because Harry never addressed Norbert," Hermione said softly. "There would be no reason for the dragon to respond."

"Tha's righ'," Hagrid agreed, his eyes going soft at the mention of his beloved pet dragon, Norbert.

"Do you think I could borrow this book, Hagrid?" Hermione asked the older wizard, holding the large book up. "Can I take it home with me and return it after Easter break?"

"O' course yeh can, Hermione," Hagrid replied cheerily. "I've read it from co'er to co'er. It's all up 'ere," he told them, tapping the side of his head and winking at the trio.

Harry, Hermione and Ron left then, saying good-bye and glancing one last time at the sleeping dragons.

"Unbelievable," Ron gasped, once they were out of the forest.

"Which part?" asked Harry wryly. "The fact that Hagrid is keeping the most dangerous breed of dragons that ever existed locked up in the Forbidden Forest, or the fact that I can talk to them?"

Ron laughed. "Both."

"This will make a good read for when we go home for Easter, Harry," said Hermione, nodding to the book clutched in her arms.

Harry felt a sudden rush of emotion as Hermione referred to his home as her home. Suddenly the fact that Hagrid was caring for a clutch of dragons no longer seemed to matter.

"Speaking of Easter," said Ron. "Will you two continue your Apparation training there?"

Hermione and Harry both shrugged. "That depends... Remus will be too tired to train us, as that weekend is a full moon," Hermione reminded them both. "I suppose if Sirius wanted to, he could continue training us in Remus's place."

"Lucky kids," Ron muttered enviously. "I won't be able to get my Apparation license until this summer."

"Why is that?" Hermione asked him, as though she had thought of this question before but had never bothered to ask it. "You could have earned your license last summer, easily."

"Didn't have the money, did I?" Ron told her. "But it's alright. Ginny will be old enough this summer to get her Apparation license. We're going to get it together. And we'll both be able to afford it."

"Good," Hermione said. Sensing Ron's moodiness, she added, "Apparation isn't that great, Ron. It's really difficult to learn. Right, Harry?"

Harry nodded.

"Is that how you found out about the dragons?" Ron asked Harry, suddenly inspired by a thought.

"Yeah--how'd you know?" Harry asked.

"You just got back from your first Apparation lesson," Ron pointed out logically. "And I know at least this much: According to my brothers, in order to Apparate, you need to 'see' ahead before you actually Apparate. I simply guessed that that’s what you were doing when you discovered Hagrid and the dragons."

Harry and Hermione stared at Ron as they continued to make their way to the castle. It was extremely rare and out-of-character for Ron to sound so... insightful.

"But I never understood why you needed to ‘see’ ahead. Never made much sense to me," Ron added. Harry laughed through his nose.

"Think about it this way," Hermione said, getting ready to recite her knowledge as though she was reading the text straight from a book. "If we didn't see where we were going before Apparating, we could appear in a very dangerous situation! Do you remember the Quidditch World Cup? When Barty Crouch Apparated straight into our campsite? If he hadn't 'seen' where he was going, he could have landed in our fire!"

"That's right," Ron agreed. "But if that's the case--couldn't you simply spy on others as you're ‘seeing’ ahead?"

Hermione shook her head. "Your father Apparates to and from work every day, right? Haven't you considered why perfect strangers can't Apparate into your home?"

"No," said Ron.

Hermione sighed, her tone roughened by exasperation. "Because there are blocking spells around the Burrow," she explained. "Protective spells. Only certain people can enter or exit your home via Apparation. I believe it's limited to your family and close friends. In that case, others who can't Apparate into your home can't 'see' into it, either."

"This applies to...every wizarding building and house?" Ron asked uncertainly.

"Of course it does," said Hermione with a logical air about her. "Otherwise, thieves could just as easily 'see' into any wizarding building and break in. Or worse--they could break into wizarding homes and kidnap children, or act out in violence." Hermione shuddered. "How could you sleep at night, knowing you aren't protected?"

Harry rubbed Hermione’s back reassuringly.

"In actuality," Hermione continued, shooting a grateful look at Harry, "We wizards have about as much privacy as Muggles. We can spy on each other outside, by means of telescopes or binoculars--Omnioculars. But we cannot see through walls."

"Well that makes a load of sense," said Ron. "Don't know why I never thought of it."

"Because your mind is on a certain 5th year Gryffindor," Harry quickly replied.

Ron laughed. "Oh, that's right. Which brings me back to the topic of Easter weekend. I take it you two are going back?"

"Of course," said Hermione. "You're coming, too, right?"

Ron didn't say anything at first.

"Ron?" Harry prompted, peering at the red-head.

"Well--I was thinking of staying back," Ron finally told them. "To keep Leah company."

"You could just as easily keep her company at the Burrow," suggested Harry.

"I could, if Mum and Dad were staying there for the holidays," Ron told them.

"Where are they going?" Hermione asked.

They continued talking as they walked into the castle, through the Entrance Hall and up the marble staircase.

"They've just sent me an owl telling me and Ginny that they're going to visit Charlie and his girlfriend for Easter. So we're going to stay here."

"But you could stay with us," Harry insisted. "With me, Sirius, Hermione and Remus. You, Ginny and Leah are more than welcome--"

"We know that," said Ron. "But Leah and I have decided...well..." Ron's ears went slightly pink. "We'd like to have the weekend alone..." He didn't look at Harry or Hermione as he spoke.

"Oh, Ron!" Hermione exclaimed, laughing. "If that's how you feel, then of course we're OK with it! There's nothing to be worried about."

Ron glanced at her hopefully. "Really? You two aren't angry?"

Harry laughed with Hermione. "We'll manage to survive without you this Easter," he said.

"We'll find some way!" Hermione exclaimed, sighing dramatically. Ron smiled, looking very relieved.

They reached the portrait of the fat lady. "Not a word to anyone about what we just saw, alright?" Harry reminded them.

They both nodded and Harry gave the password before entering their common room. They ran into Leah, who was just about to step through the portrait hole from the opposite side.

"Ron, I was looking for you! Hey, guys!" she added to Harry and Hermione.

Ron's ears went slightly pink again. "Everything's set," he told her.

Leah smiled brightly. "Wonderful!"

"Did you want to go to Hogsmeade on Easter weekend?" Ron asked her.

"I'd love to!" Leah gushed. Ron led Leah out of the portrait hole as they discussed their Easter plans.

"I am so grateful that they found each other," said Hermione once the portrait hole was closed off once again.

Harry pulled her into his embrace, holding her lovingly.

"And I'm so glad we found each other," he told her. "Thank Merlin for that Mountain troll all those years ago."

Hermione giggled. "That's easy for you to say, Harry." She looked up at him with a happy grin on her face.

"Actually, a couple of years ago...it was the most difficult thing for me to say," he admitted. "But now I can say it all the time! I love you, Hermione."

Hermione smiled coyly up at him. "What did you just say? I didn't quite hear you."

"I love you," Harry said, raising his voice an octave.

"Pardon me?" said Hermione, inclining her head.

"I, Harry James Potter, am in love--Oh, bugger hell!" He smothered her lips with his own, kissing her with all the passion he possessed.

"Bugger hell, indeed," came Seamus Finnigan's voice from the boys' stairs. "A hundred points from Gryffindor for indecent exposure!"

"We can't take points from our own Head Boy and Girl, mate," Dean Thomas said lightly.

Seamus shrugged. "It's just as well. We never had the power to take away points from anyone, let alone our Head Boy and Girl."

"And if we wanted to see that," Dean added to Harry and a flustered Hermione, "We'd pay a visit to that dance club in Knockturn Alley."

Hermione gave a horrified gasp. "That's not a dancing bar! It's the most distasteful, disgusting--"

"Exactly," said Seamus with a wink.

Hermione goggled at the two of them as they exited the common room, laughing at their own cleverness.

*

Rain pounded down from the dark skies above. It was raining so badly that it became difficult to see out of the car windows as Remus drove Harry, Hermione and Ginny to Sirius and Harry's home.

"I'm just glad Mum and Dad didn't mind me coming here with you," Ginny told her companions as she stared pointlessly out the window through the passenger's seat window.

"Which reminds me, Ginny. There's something I've been meaning to talk to you about," Harry told her, leaning forward so he she could hear him more clearly.

"Yes?" Ginny wondered, tilting her head back.

Harry paused a moment, then took an imaginary brave step forward. "You need to tell your family about Draco."

Ginny didn't say anything. She returned her gaze to the outside world, where the rain pounded even harder than before.

"Ron is getting dangerously close to the truth," Harry continued. "And if he finds out the wrong way--"

"I'm well aware of what will happen," Ginny replied coolly.

"I'm not trying to tell you what to do," Harry reminded her, his tone soft. "I'm trying to warn you."

Ginny didn't say anything for the rest of the ride, and Harry was smart enough to know not to push it.

"Sirius is already inside," Remus told them as they approached the house. "He said he'd be upstairs. Would it be better to leave your trunks in the car until the rain slows down?"

They all agreed to Remus's suggestion and they all ran from the car to the veranda, while Harry fumbled in his pocket for the house key. Once he managed to insert the silver key into the key hole, he pushed the door open, grabbed Hermione and pulled her over the threshold.

"We're safe, my love," he whispered in her ear, bringing her into his arms as he and Hermione blocked the doorway. Hermione giggled as Harry kissed her softly on the lips.

"Oh--don't worry about us!" Ginny exclaimed sarcastically. "I don't mind spending my Easter weekend with pneumonia."

Harry and Hermione moved out of the way, allowing a soaked Ginny and Remus to enter the house. Remus closed the door behind him as he shook his head forcefully, reminding Harry of a wet dog just in from the rain. Ginny grabbed her strands by the fistful and squeezed the rain from her fiery hair.

"Sorry for making you angry, Ginny," Harry said, referring to their short conversation in the car and shooting her a cautious glance.

The younger girl sighed. "Don't worry about it," she said, waving her hand dismissively. "I guess I just don't like thinking about it. And this is the first weekend I get to spend without...fear."

"I understand," Harry told her, smiling. "And to show my sincerity, I promise not to mention it the rest of the weekend!"

Ginny laughed. "Thanks..."

After taking off their coats and shoes, the four of them made their way upstairs to the attic, where Sirius supposedly was hanging out. Sure enough, the attic door had been left open. Harry climbed the steps first, his head entering the floor of a spacious room which had been lit with numerous lamps. Up here, the rain sounded much louder to his ears.

"Wow," he whispered. He had never been in the attic before. In fact, this didn't seem like an attic at all. It looked more like a loft. And it appeared to Harry that it had been used as a flat before. To his left, there was another room which—to Harry’s best guess-- had been used as a bedroom. The rest of the attic was filled with sheet-covered furniture and boxes. The hardwood floor Harry and the others were now standing on was covered in a sheet of dust. Only Sirius's footprints were visible, leading to the far end of the attic.

"Glad you made it here alive," Sirius's voice echoed back at them. He appeared amongst the many boxes piled in a far corner. His handsome face split into a grin as his eyes landed on Harry and his guests.

"What is this, Sirius?" said Harry, glancing around.

Ginny and Hermione made their way around the room, examining small details and interesting objects they came across.

"This--" Sirius said, spreading his arms out wide, "--Is my new hobby. I'm planning to clean this place out and turn it into a flat--which won't be so difficult, as it was clearly used as an apartment years before we bought this place."

"Why?" Harry wondered. "Are you planning to turn this place into a motel after I move out?" he suggested, laughing.

Sirius scratched his head in a thoughtful manner just as Hermione exclaimed, "This place is amazing!"

"Well...I've been thinking," said Sirius, dropping his arm to his side.

"Uh oh," Remus said softly, grinning.

Sirius glared at his old friend. "This time it's a good idea," he replied indignantly. His eyes went to Harry again. "Since you and Hermione are graduating in a few months, it's my best guess that you two will want to find your own flat to rent?"

At the mention of her name, Hermione immediately returned to Harry's side with a curious frown on her face.

"That seems to be the plan," said Harry, glancing at Hermione for confirmation. She nodded.

"Well...what if you stayed here?" Sirius suggested lightly. "You'll have all the privacy you need."

Harry felt his heart catch in his throat. The idea seemed too perfect to be true. But how would Hermione feel about it? He looked at her glowing face. It looked as though she wanted to accept the proposal on the spot.

"I know it doesn't look like much now," Sirius continued. "But there's a fireplace! And look--all the furniture you'll need! And of course I won't be charging you for rent."

"We want it," Harry said quickly.

"Well, of course I didn't really expect you two to--what?" Sirius said, his mouth dropping.

"We'll take it," Hermione replied, practically bursting with excitement.

Sirius looked from Harry's face to Hermione's, the smile on his face widening. "Really? You--you want it?"

"We want it," Harry and Hermione said together, returning the smile.

"You just made Sirius's year," said Remus, jumping in. "He thought this idea up ages ago."

"I never actually thought you'd...want to..." Sirius admitted.

"We couldn't ask for better," Hermione assured him. "It's a great area, just outside of town. We can remain in close contact with the Weasleys, you, and Remus."

"But we insist on paying rent. It's not like we won't be able to afford it," Harry said. "I've still got some money saved up, and I intend to find a job as soon as I graduate."

"I knew you'd say that," said Sirius, grinning. "And I've already got a plan."

Harry stared at Sirius suspiciously. "What's your plan?"

"To turn a deaf ear to you whenever you mention paying rent," Sirius replied shortly, before turning his back on them.

Hermione laughed just as Ginny gave a great shout. "Look at this, guys!" She removed a large, dusty sheet from what appeared to be a beautiful, mahogany piano.

Harry and Hermione made their way to the large instrument, awe painted on their faces. "Who would leave this here?" Hermione wondered, her fingers trailing across the black and white keys.

Harry looked back at Sirius, who had suddenly lost the smile on his face. Harry glanced at Remus and noticed the same expression on his face as well. They both looked so...sad.

"What's wrong?" he asked them.

It took a moment for Sirius to snap out of his very depressing mood, and he flashed everyone a brilliant, but fake, smile. "I need to go into town and get some groceries. Would you girls like to join me?"

Ginny and Hermione agreed enthusiastically.
"But I'm driving," Hermione insisted while holding out her hand, where Remus promptly dropped the car keys into her palm.

"Fine by me," said Sirius with a nonchalant shrug. "I hate driving in this weather."

They all made their way downstairs, Sirius closing the attic door with a wave of his wand after everyone was out.

"We'll greet and entertain Draco until you get back," Harry told Ginny at the front door, as Hermione, Ginny and Sirius slipped on their coats and shoes.

"Which should be any moment now," Ginny said, casually flipping her still-wet hair behind her.

"Good luck shopping with Sirius," Remus said to Ginny and Hermione. "He's an impossible shopper sometimes."

"Hey!" Sirius shot Remus another indignant look.

"Why do you think he wants you two to go with him?" Remus told the girls. "It's because he knows he'll only come back with junk food. He needs you two to keep him in line."

"Ha-ha," Ginny laughed, rolling her eyes.

Hermione opened the door and they all watched the rain continue to pound down into the earth. Ginny and Hermione instinctively lifted the hoods to their coats over their heads.

"Have fun!" Harry said brightly.

Hermione grumbled something about the rain making her hair frizz up into a rat's nest before she led the way outside, followed by Sirius and Ginny. Harry waited until all three of them were in the car before he closed the door and turned to Remus.

"I don't think this rain is going to let up anytime soon," said the werewolf, leading the way into the living room.

The room looked exactly the same as they had left it the previous Christmas. The only difference was that the tree was gone and the decorations were put away into storage. Harry felt privately relieved that he wouldn't have to leave this house anytime soon after graduation. He still had a place to live, and he could live with Hermione as planned. But mostly...he wasn't exactly ready to leave Sirius. And knowing he didn't have to, and thinking of his new situation, made him feel like he had just entered a room full of Eternals.

Harry glanced at the mantle, looking at each framed photo as he did by habit every time he was in this room. Something caught his eye then, something he had never noticed before. He frowned, completely puzzled, as he approached the fireplace to get a closer look at the photo which had left him feeling bewildered.

It was the one of Lily, James, Sirius and Remus, all smiling and giggling in the photo. Harry had always assumed that it was Peter who had taken the photo. But now there was a new face in the picture. A pretty face, framed by long, black hair. Her deep sapphire eyes twinkled at the camera, topped with a very radiant smile. Her creamy skin was slightly flushed as her body was pressed into Sirius, his arm thrown around her as he pulled her even closer.

Harry had seen this face once before, in the black and white photo he had found in Sirius's top dresser drawer. He knew the girl in the photo as Claire White, his godmother. But why hadn't he noticed her in this photograph before? Had she always been there? And if not, then why was she there now? He was about to ask Remus these questions just as the fireplace burst with green flames and the shape of Draco Malfoy appeared. The blond Slytherin stumbled out of the fireplace and Harry instinctively grabbed his trunk before Draco could trip over it.

"Safe trip?" Harry asked, managing to stifle a laugh at Draco's sooty appearance.

"It could have been better," Draco replied, smoothing down his cloak and wiping the soot from his grey eyes.

"It could have been worse, too," Harry reminded him, having traveled by Floo powder before. The first time he had ever tried it, he had ended up in Knockturn Alley, where he had seen Lucius Malfoy for the first time.

Ridding himself of dark thoughts of the past, Harry busied himself by enlisting Draco’s help with the trunk on the floor. They both carried it upstairs to the spare bedroom, and when they returned to the main floor, they entered the kitchen to find Remus starting a fresh pot of coffee. The two young wizards sat at the kitchen table after re-discovering Harry’s game of Wizards Chess which had been collecting dust in the pantry on the top shelf.

"Tsk, tsk," Draco murmured, moments later into the game. Remus set a mug of coffee in front of him and Harry, placing the sugar and cream next to them, along with two spoons. "You really are the best chess player I've ever seen, Harry," Draco said, his voice laced with sarcasm, his grey eyes never leaving the board.

"Yeah..." Harry replied slowly as he moved his castle into the line of fire. "But in all honesty, I'm not nearly as good at playing chess as you are at playing Quidditch," he said with just as much acrimony, a smile on his face.

Remus laughed as Draco said, "That's below the belt, Potter."

A knock suddenly interrupted their game. Harry sighed, pretending to be disappointed that he had to delay the game. "I'll get it," he volunteered, as Remus finally sat down at the table. "I'm about to lose anyway."

"Dammit!" Draco cursed as Harry stood up and stepped out of the kitchen. He could still hear Draco's voice carry as he added, "He does that all the time!"

Harry made his way to the front door as the knocking became louder and more urgent.

"I'm coming!" Harry called, secretly pondering who could be knocking at the door and in this type of weather. It couldn't be any of the Weasleys, because none of them were even at the Burrow. He yanked open the door.

A young-looking woman stood on the veranda, her long, elbow-length black hair clinging to her face as the rain soaked her from head to toe. Her sapphire eyes shone at Harry, her pretty face glowing as she smiled apprehensively at Harry.

"Merlin!" Harry gasped. He felt the blood drain from his face. He instinctively clutched the door handle for support.

The woman giggled. "Well, I didn't actually believe introductions would be necessary. But I can see that you are clearly confused." Harry noticed the strength in her voice, and how it carried over the pounding of the rain. He vaguely noted that her unfamiliar accent was smooth and warm.

"My name is not Merlin," the young woman continued in a sweet tone, her shy grin turning into a brilliant smile. She thrust out her hand to shake Harry's. "You are more than welcome to call me by my name. I'm Claire."