No Longer Safe

Chapter Two

First thing Harry caught sight of when leaving the train at Hogsmeade station was the huge figure of Hagrid, the Hogwarts gamekeeper. Harry smiled and waved at him, and Hagrid waved back. He was too busy to bring the first-years to the boats, so Harry could not talk to him.

"Come an' see me in my hut, will you Harry?"

"Sure, I'll try to come tomorrow."

Harry climbed into one of the coaches that brought the elder students from Hogsmeade to the castle, not taking care that he sat there with three Hufflepuff second-years that stared at him like they would possibly stare at a Norwegian Ridgeback.

Only now he realized how hungry he was and he was really looking forward to the feast. If only the sorting would not take too long.

Entering the castle was the only thing Harry had ever felt as 'coming home'. It would all turn out to become good, he told himself, it would all become better. He didn't believe himself.

The sorting took longer than Harry had expected it to. The hat seemed to take a lot more time for choosing the student's house than it had done in the year before. Harry felt like starving. He applauded when somebody was chosen to be a Gryffindor, but he really didn't care who was coming to their house and who was not.

Finally, the sorting was over and Albus Dumbledore rose from his seat at the teacher's table.

"Well, now that our first years have found a seat at one of the tables, I welcome all of you to a new year at Hogwarts. I know that all of you will be very hungry, so I'll leave you now with the food. I have some announcements to make, but they can wait until after dinner."

He sat down again, and as Harry looked back onto the table, it had filled with food. Turkey, mashed potatoes, chips, stew, a lot of plates with hot food were standing in front of him and he finally stilled his hunger.

Dinner lasted long, and only as the last students had finished their plates, Dumbledore rose again. The food on the tables vanished and everybody was looking to the teacher's table watching Dumbledore.

"As you are now all well fed as I hope I welcome you to another year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. As I said, there are a few announcements I have to make."

At that moment, the doors of the great hall opened and Filch came in with a girl that seemed to be only slightly older than Harry and his friends. She was quite tall, with brown hair and, as far as Harry could see, dark brown eyes. She somehow seemed known to him, but he could not recall where he knew her from. But when Harry saw the man who was walking behind her, he didn't pay any more attention to the girl.

Professor Lupin was back in Hogwarts again.

"Ah, thank you Filch. Just in time. My dear students, most of you will still remember Remus Lupin, he has already taught most of you in Defence Against the Dark Arts two years ago. I'm glad to announce that he has agreed to come back and teach for another year."

The Great Hall burst into applause. Everyone remembered Lupin, of course, and most of them had considered him the best Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher they ever had.

Lupin had been a werewolf since he was a kid, but if Professor Snape brewed him a certain potion, he was harmless around full moon.

Two years ago, however, he had to leave school exactly because of this fact.

Harry could not do but watch over to the Slytherin table, where Draco Malfoy sat. Malfoy seemed not too pleased at all, and Harry could imagine quite well that he would complain about this. Draco Malfoy and Professor Lupin had not gotten along that well with each other, and Malfoy obviously always thought he could rely on the influence of his father.

But Harry was sure that Dumbledore had taken precaution for the case of such an interference when he had hired Lupin. Maybe Lupin had returned because Dumbledore wanted him around with Voldemort out there making plans. Harry was quite sure about this, he would discuss it with Ron and Hermione later.

"Please, if you give me only a few minutes more. I have some more things to say."

Lupin sat down at the teacher's table, the only empty seat had been left on the side of Snape who obviously didn't share the excitement about the return either.

"Due to the tragic events on last year's Triwizard Tournament and because of the tragic death of Cedric Diggory, the parents of one of our students have decided to take her from school. We have arranged a little exchange. Cho Chang has left the school and now visits Beauxbatons School of Witchcraft. In exchange, one of Beauxbaton's students will be with us for at least one year. Please give her a warm welcome and lend her a helping hand whenever needed. Please welcome Samantha Lewis, who will now be sorted into her house."

The hall applauded, but with hesitation.

Harry felt as if somebody hat hit him very hard on the head. Cho had left? She didn't come to Hogwarts anymore? She had simply left? He couldn't believe it. He had really been looking forward to seeing Cho again, he really liked her. And besides, she was really attractive. How on earth could she leave when he had just come to the decision to invite her for a date?

'Really great, Potter', Harry thought 'once you start thinking about getting yourself a girlfriend and then she leaves your life. Add it to your list of inadequacies.'

Professor McGonagall brought back the sorting hat and Samantha sat down on a chair in front of the entire school. She didn't seem to be nervous. When the hat was placed on her head, it seemed to think for a moment and then called "Slytherin!"

Harry looked over to Snape, who was the head of Slytherin house. Quite to his surprise, Snape appeared to be angry and dissatisfied with this decision.

Once more, Dumbledore rose to his feet.

"One last moment of silence, if you allow me. We all know what happened at the end of last year. We also know that there are evil works going on outside of these grounds and plans are made. Though the ministry doesn't consider it necessary because the don't believe the accounts on the Dark Lord, I have taken some security means.

No walking outside the castle walls after nightfall, no exceptions made. Teachers are guarding the ground at that time. General curfew is at 9.00 p.m., whether it is still light or not, no one is allowed out of their common room after that time without a very good reason.

Everyone who comes to late to classes will be searched after by Mr. Filch and the teachers immediately, so avoid being late for class without telling somebody.

Everything exceptional is to be reported to the heads of the houses, the prefects or directly to me, which way ever you prefer.

We might be able to loosen those restrictions, but that will show. Until then, rule breaking will be punished a lot harder than in the years before, so think about it.

Nevertheless, I wish a successful year to each and every one of you. Now it seems to be time for you to go to your dormitories, your prefects will lead you there. Schedules will be handed out tomorrow morning at breakfast. Good night to you all!"

Everybody stood up and the mass of students streamed towards the doors. Harry didn't try to get out fast, he was still thinking about Cho and why she did not return to Hogwarts. He was one of the last to leave the Hall and just wanted to climb up the staircase towards the Gryffindor tower, when someone called him.

"Harry, wait!"

Professor Lupin walked towards him.

"Harry, please come with me. I want to show you something in my office."

"Can't that wait until tomorrow, Professor? You see, I'm glad you're back, but I'm tired and after all that Professor Dumbledore said about the curfew and breaking the rules, I don't want to be the first one who is thrown out of school."

"Dumbledore knows about this, so there will be no problem. I take you up to my office and later I will guide you to your common room. Professor McGonagall also has been informed, so there won't be any problems for you, believe me."

Harry nodded.

"Well, if it's okay with them, then I will come."

They climbed up a staircase and walked down a corridor, when Harry decided to ask Lupin what was on his mind.

"Professor, did Dumbledore ask you to come back because of Voldemort, and because hardly anybody at the Ministry believed me that he has come back?"

Lupin looked at Harry.

"Something like that. He sent Sirius to me in the summer, and we have developed something like a strategy. No, that's the wrong expression. We talked about possibilities and how we can be prepared for the worst. We called old friends of whom we know that they believe us and fight on our side. And we developed things like emergency plans. But yes, he asked me to come back to Hogwarts in case that against all reason something happens here."

They reached a door, and Lupin unlocked it.

"I'll fetch you in fifteen minutes", he said and gave Harry a soft push inside. Then he locked the door from the outside again.

Harry stared at the door in disbelief. Why had Lupin brought him here, just to lock him up? What did that mean?

"Hello Harry."

Harry spun around.

"Sirius?"

His godfather was sitting on the chair behind Lupin's desk and smiled at him.

He looked better than the last time Harry had seen him, he didn't look as worried as he had been when sitting in the hospital wing beside Harry's bed. His hair was cut, his face clean-shaven and he had gained some weight so he didn't look as gaunt as he had done before. He now resembled the only picture Harry possessed from him, the best man on the day of his parent's wedding.

Sirius got up and walked over to Harry.

"Surprise!" he said and embraced his godson.

Harry remembered how often he had wished Sirius to be with him during the last summer. He had written him a few letters, but the answers had always been short. Now that he was there, Harry wanted to tell him everything that weighed heavily on him. He felt tears coming to his eyes and let out a sob of relief.

Sirius was startled by this and hugged him more tightly.

"Harry, what's wrong? Tell me."

"Nothing, I just had a really hard summer and no one to talk to, I didn't know when I would be seeing you again and now you are here. I had just not expected you to be here."

He freed himself from Sirius' arms and wiped away his tears. Sirius looked worriedly at him.

"Don't look like that. I was just so surprised that you were here. I'm all right, I just need some time for myself and maybe someone to talk to, I will be fine, believe me.

The more important matter is: What are you doing here? You are supposed to be hiding from the Ministry, not making a visit at the place you are expected to come first."

"Answer me one question, Harry. Where is the best place to hide something?"

"What do you mean? Are you talking in riddles from now on? You hide something where you think no one would look after it."

"And where is the best place for that?"

"No, wait. You are not going to tell me that you will hide in Hogwarts because everybody expects you to show up here?"

"Something like that, though not quite exactly.

Remus is not living here in school but rent a house on the edge of Hogsmeade, and that's where I'm staying. No one will suspect a Hogwarts Professor and his dog to be escaped criminals.

I won't show myself at school, but you will be able to visit me from time to time. I wanted to be close to you because I fear that Voldemort will not watch Dumbledore fight him but try to strike back on him. So if something happens at Hogwarts I will be able to be here.

Besides, no one but you, Hermione, Ron, and some teachers know that I'm an animagus and therefore I can hide quite easy with the support of Remus."

"Snape knows that you're an animagus."

"Still don't trust him, do you? Look, I don't like Severus and you know why it is like that. But Dumbledore trusts him and that is enough for me to trust him, too. And, I can guarantee you one thing: especially Professor Snape has no interest that something happens here at school. He surely wants no harm done here this year."

Harry didn't understand.

"What do you mean?"

"I can't tell you what, but I ask you to believe me that there will be no problem with Voldemort that is caused by Snape. And don't you worry too much, we do not know what Voldemort is up to so everything we do here is only precaution. There's no need for panic as there is no actual threat. Okay?"

"Right. I'm glad you're here Sirius."

They heard a knock on the door and then a key was turned around in the lock.

Professor Lupin stood outside of the room, looked at Harry and said "I think I'll better guide you up to your dormitory now, Harry."

"Okay." He looked over to Sirius. "Bye then."

"Bye. If you want to talk, then send an owl or give Remus a message and wait for an answer. I know that I cannot prevent you from telling Ron and Hermione about me, but please, whatever happens, do not sneak out to see me. It would only endanger you and me."

He hugged Harry once again.

"Right. Bye."

"Bye."

Remus turned to Sirius. "I will be back in a couple of minutes, then I'll bring you to the passage for Hogsmeade. I'll lock the door again."

"Okay."

Harry and Lupin walked down the corridor.

"I think I must thank you for this. It feels good to have him around."

"To be honest, I don't like it. Don't get me wrong, of course I like having him around. I'm glad that I know where he is and that he's doing fine, and I really think that he is a big support if the worst we expect becomes truth, but I don't like the fact that he is endangering himself by being so close to Hogwarts.

The Ministry is still looking out for him. Even Dumbledore told him it was still risky, but we could not talk him out of it.

You're lucky, Harry Potter, to have somebody who cares so much for you that he risks his own life for being there in case you need him."

Harry stopped.

"I don't want him to risk his life just for me. I will tell him to leave."

Harry wanted to turn around but Lupin held him back.

"Sorry, Harry. I didn't want to give you pangs of conscience. We do anything so that he is not discovered. Believe me, you don't have to worry about him. As long as nothing unusual happens, it'll be fine. And we have emergency plans, just in case.

But remember what he told you: tell no one but Hermione and Ron and make sure no one finds out. Do not try to meet him without telling me or sending an owl to him. And wait for the answer. Don't go wandering around on your own, understand?"

"Yes, I understand."

They reached the portrait of the fat lady.

"Oh no, I don't know the password, and everybody is already inside."

"Password is 'mashed potatoes'" The portrait swung open and Harry turned around towards Lupin.

"Thanks again. Good night."

"Good night Harry."