Harry Potter and the Forest of Shadows

Harry Potter and

the Forest of Shadows

Chapter 13: The Blacks

A dead silence filled the whole train as it moved through the icy sheets of rain. Hermione sat in a corner, wrapped up in her own grief while Harry stared blankly ahead, dreading to go to the back where Ginny would be waiting.

Looking around, no one was harmed except for maybe a scratch or two. Malfoy though had a huge gash running down the middle of his chest. To hold it for the rest of the ride, Sirius handed him some bandages to dress it in.

"Harry?" Sirius asked quietly, sitting down next to him. "It'll be okay," he muttered, wrapping an arm around his godson and pulling him closer into a comforting embrace.

"How can you say that?" Harry asked angrily, jerking away. "He's gone!"

"We'll find him. I promise."

"Don't make promises that you can't keep," Harry said under his breath.

After a moment or two, Sirius got up and walked down towards the end of the train, slamming the door behind him. Harry jumped a little, but sat there, staring ahead angrily.

He knew quite well that Sirius was only trying to make him feel better. But he didn't want assuring words and comfort. He wanted to do something about and try and find his friend. Besides, how could Sirius know how to comfort him...it wasn't like he had ever lost a friend.

*Oh, but you know* that's *not true*, said a nasty voice in the back of his head.

Ignoring all thoughts running through his head, he got up and went to sit by Hermione who still had tears streaming down her face. He hesitantly put his arm around his shoulder, but relaxed once she leaned into him.

"I couldn't do anything," she said tearfully, as though she were supposed to apologize.

"I know," he said, giving her a tight squeeze. "They'll find him."

*What if it's too late then?* asked the same little voice, which he once again forced away.

"Harry," Hermione whispered, touching his arm lightly. "I-I recognized one of the Death Eaters."

"Who?"

"Pettigrew was here. H-he told me that they weren't going to kill Ron. J-just use him."

"What?" Harry asked as the train made a slow stop into the Hogsmeade station.

"Th-that's what he told me."

"Wormtail's lying. I'm sure the Order will find him in a couple of days," he added in an under tone.

The students filed off the train to meet three or four professors. "Any students that are hurt please come over here," Professor McGonagall called, her voice mingled in with Hagrid's loud shouts of, "Firs' years over here. Firs' years!"

"Harry!"

He turned around to see Ginny running towards him. She was still pale and had unshed tears in her eyes.

"Hi Gin," he said, grabbing her hand as they walked to the nearest coach.

"Please, tell me it's not true," she whispered as they got into the cart.

Neither of them answered; neither of them had to. Harry's blank face and Hermione's swollen, red eyes answered for them.

"No," she muttered. "No, no, no."

Not one tear was shed on the way up but she didn't speak to anyone as Harry held her close while thoughts streamed through his own head.

They arrived at the school within a matter of minutes. The thundering storm had changed to a light drizzle. The three friends walked up to the school together in a dead silence as others passed by them.

Just as Harry wondered what had happened to Sirius he caught Malfoy in the corner of his eye and just then noticed that something was missing from his whole identity. His usual body guards were missing and he stood alone, looking still quite shaken from the attack.

Harry was surprised. He would have thought that Death Eater daddy would have found some way to tell his son that they were going to attack the train so that Malfoy could have helped.

His head started to throb with all the thoughts and how his scar was still dully aching. Just as he was thinking about this, his head started pounding even harder.

"What just happened?" he asked, shaking the pain off.

"You ran into a door, stupid," Ginny said as she pulled him into the Great Hall.

Nervous chatter filled the hall as people discussed what could have caused it. However, whispers and eyes followed Harry as he walked to take a seat.

Most of the professors were seated, save McGonagall and three empty chairs.

"Wonder who the empty are for. Other than defense against the dark arts, there aren't any vacant teaching spaces," Hermione said matter-of-factly, trying to get their minds off of Ron.

"Maybe they added a new course or something," said Harry dully.

The doors slammed open and, for what seemed like the hundredth time that night, a blanket of silence covered them.

Harry watched as Sirius made his way down the aisles between the tables, stopping in front of him. "Can I talk to you for a second?" he asked as a few people whispered around them.

"Yea, sure," Harry said, getting up and following his godfather out of the buzzing Great Hall. "Did you find anything on the train?"

"No, I just wanted to tell you tonight they're holding a meeting for the Order." Harry heard the sorting on the other side of the doors begin. "At about nine O'clock there will be a portkey waiting just outside the statue of the one-eyed witch. The one that takes you into Hogsmeade, you know."

"Yea, okay."

"There will be one other person there tonight. Her name's Melany and she's Kammy's daughter. She's one of the Holders."

"I know, Rosy told me a little bit about her."

"Then you might want to know if some things had turned out differently you and her would have been brought up knowing each other."

Harry gave a downcast look at the ground at this remark. "When's the Order going to do something about Ron?" he asked quickly.

"We're going to work on that tonight. I don't know if you've been catching the papers lately but disappearances have started again. However, tonight was the first major attack. Just, keep your eyes open. I'll see you in a little while, okay?"

"Are you staying here?" he questioned.

Sirius chuckled a little. "Yea, I guess you could say that. Now get inside before you're any later. I think you already missed the sorting."

"Okay," he said dully.

"Harry," Sirius said, tipping his godson's face up with two fingers so that they're eyes met. "I swear to you, we will find him."

"Thanks," he muttered.

"No problem, kid. That's what I'm here for," Sirius sighed, giving Harry a quick, one-armed hug, and watching his back until he went through the Great Hall doors.

Harry entered the hall quietly so as not to draw any unwanted attention to himself. However, he highly doubted if a gunshot would have disrupted the chatter of new first years getting acquainted with their houses and old friends swapping summer with each other.

The first thing he noticed made his heart skip a beat. Filling two of the empty seats were Remus and Rosy.

"Welcome to yet another at Hogwarts," Professor Dumbledore greeted the hall, holding up a silencing hand just as Harry took a seat. "First, I would like to welcome back a professor whom some of our older students might remember. Professor Lupin will be teaching Defense Against the Dark Arts again.

Cheers rang throughout the hall (with the exception of the Slytherin table) as Remus smiled around at all the students.

Harry, Hermione, and Ginny sat stunned. "How come he didn't tell us?"

"Wanted to surprise us I guess," Ginny muttered, shrugging. Remus winked at them as the excitement decreased.

"However, I must warn you. Any discrimination against your professor for conditions he cannot help, the consequences will be most severe." You could have heard a pin drop after these words were spoken as Remus stared down, suddenly interested In a loose thread on his robes.

"Next," Dumbledore continued on a lighter tone, "I want to introduce a new professor who will be co-teaching with Professor Lupin; Professor Potter.

A light ripple of applause rippled through the Great Hall as people looked over towards Harry.

"And you'd think they would get tired of the staring," Ginny said angrily.

Harry's lips twitched at the thought of how Malfoy would act now that there were two Potters in Hogwarts. However, when Harry looked to scan the table for Malfoy, he was surprised to see him secluded with four others at the end of the table, away from all the other Slytherins.

His eyebrows furrowed in confusion; Malfoy practically ran the Slytherin house. It seemed, though, the only ones that would even come close to him were Pansy Parkinson, Blaise Zabini, Goyle, and a student he recognized as a fifth year.

Pulling himself from these thoughts, he turned his attention back to the headmaster.

"Finally," Dumbledore said, "we are all happy to welcome back one of our most prominent students. Professor Binns decided it was time to see if anyone else showed to the enthusiasm all his students did as he told about goblin rebellions. So, filling the role of the History of Magic professor will be Sirius Black."

The great hall doors were slammed open and Sirius entered, giving a low graceful bow as he walked smoothly to the head table; Remus and Rosy were not the only professors to roll their eyes.

"It's okay, Headmaster," Sirius said, holding up a hand as if to quiet the silent man. "You don't have to mention how I am so brave, and honest, and noble, and funny, and handsome, and-"

"Let the feast begin!" cried Rosy, throwing her hands in the air.

Sirius threw a mock glare at her, making his way to sit between her and Remus.

Harry's lips twitched as he said, "Well this year should be interesting," and began to pick his way through the feast.

Supper was a quiet affair for Harry, Ginny, and Hermione. Hardly any of them ate; Hermione didn't seem to be able to stomach anything while Ginny and Harry moved food around their plates, occasionally taking a bite.

"Hey, Harry!" Seamus called as everyone filed out of the hall.

Harry turned around, already halfway up the grand staircase.

Before Seamus was able to catch up, Ginny said in a shaky voice, "I-I need to go- you know- write a note t-to my family," before walking off quickly threw the crowd.

"I think I'm going to... try and get some sleep," Hermione choked out and squeezing Harry's hand momentarily before following the crowd up to the Gryffindor tower.

"Harry," Seamus said, finally catching up to him. "Do you know where Ron is? No one's seen him since the train attack."

Harry paused slightly, pushing back distant screams from his conscience. "Sorry, I-I haven't seen him. He's probably just... around."

With that he walked back down the stairs and away from Seamus' aggravated noises at Harry's hesitance of response.

He headed straight for the one-eyed witch statue. It was eight O'clock, but Harry would much rather wait around for thirty or so minutes for Melany Waller alone in his own thoughts than face the Gryffindors with the news about Ron.

Much to his surprise, ten minutes into his musings, a faint sound filled his ears. He climbed up from where he had been sitting on the floor. Turning the corner was a young girl his age.

Supposing it was Melany Waller, he found her very beautiful. Her hair was a light golden color with the soft curls reaching just below her shoulders. Framed by the tresses was a pale face with rosy cheeks and rose-colored lips turned into a soft grin. Blue eyes sparkled with silver flecks. She stopped short, clearly just as surprised to see him as he was to see her.

"Oh, hi Harry (you look just like I thought you would)! You're here early and... oh dear. I'm sorry. I talk kind of fast when I'm nervous and don't necessarily listen to what I'm saying. Oh, whoops... there I go again. Okay, sorry. My name's Melany Waller."

Harry found her accent very interesting. It wasn't exactly American, nor was it British; more of a cross between the two.

He shook her hand. "Harry Potter. Though you probably knew that."

She rose an unimpressed eyebrow as Harry flattened his hair over his scar.

"That's not how I recognized you. You look just like the pictures of your father."

His eyes brightened. "You have pictures of my parents?" he asked.

"I'll show them to you later. Right now I'm rather worried about what my mum might do if we're late. Here."

She pulled a small glass orb from her pocket and held it out for him to grab hold of.

"I haven't jinxed it or anything," she said, another eyebrow raised at his hesitance to even come near the portkey.

"Sorry," he muttered, placing a hand on the sphere.

Immediately they were thrown headfirst into a whirl of colors. Landing on a marble floor was not something Harry had been expecting, nor something that was completely enjoyable.

"Ok, ow," Melany said, pushing herself to her feet. "This will without a doubt, hurt in the morning." She rubbed a sore spot on her elbow as Harry surveyed the immense room they had landed in.

Beneath their feet, the marble made a tapping noise that echoed of the four walls, three of which happened to be nothing but giant mirrors. The last wall however was made from a fine mahogany with intricate patterns strewn across it and at the very top the Black coat of arms. Harry's attention was particularly drawn to the family portrait of the Blacks.

The most obvious person on there was Sirius at the age of fourteen or fifteen. Sitting next to him was who could only be his sister, Kaylie with long black hair and shining blue eyes as she rested her head on her brother's shoulder.

In front of them were three young women. The first one was none other than Bellatrix Lestrange at an age of Hogwarts graduation. Her blank, black eyes betrayed the cold, fake smile on her face, her hair tied up in a knot.

Sitting in the middle was undoubtedly Narcissa Malfoy at the same age as Sirius. Her face was smooth and youthful with blue eyes like sapphires. Her lips were curved into a soft smile, correlating perfectly with the sadness shown in her eyes. Blonde tresses framed her face and reached slightly past her shoulders. Harry wondered how a young teenage girl with what looked like so much innocence ended up as the bride of Lucius Malfoy.

And the last was a slightly older woman that looked like she was bordering twenty. According to the other photographed people, Harry figured it was Sirius' last cousin, Andromeda. She had elbow-length, deep scarlet, almost brown, hair. She looked as though she would rather be having pins stuck in her than sitting with them. Her eyes glared ahead and her lips were curved into a grimace that could not be mistaken for a smile.

Shadowing over all five of them were Mr. and Mrs. Black with absolutely no sign of emotion on their faces.

"Those are Sirius' cousins," Melany confirmed for herself out loud. "Ever met them?"

"Two of them," he said glancing at Narcissa and then giving a look of loathing to Bellatrix.

"I sense a bad past run-in," Melany muttered to herself as she walked back to the middle of the ballroom floor. "So... any idea where we are?"

"We're at the headquarters for the Order of the Phoenix. It's the Black's house."

"Ah, lovely," she said, looking around as if something was going to jump out from behind a wall. The door was pushed open and Harry was amazed at how high Melany jumped at the noise. Though there wasn't much space for him to talk about; immediately he tensed and grabbed his wand.

Both relaxed when Rosy walked in.

"A little paranoid are we?" she said amusedly as she stepped further into the room.

They grinned sheepishly at each other.

"Anyways, we're going to have an order meeting in a couple of minutes. First, we have to settle some, family business. Harry, you'll remember where the kitchen is, right?" she said, giving a nod at him. "And, Mel, your mum wants to talk to you for a few minutes. I'll take you upstairs."

Harry waited until they had filtered from the room to take one last glance at the portrait, and made his way down to the kitchen.

Approaching the door he heard solemn voices coming from behind. They belonged to Remus, Sirius, and Tonks.

"And Aunt tried to call us the traitors," he heard Tonks mutter.

"Well, she always did have something to say," Sirius said sarcastically.

Harry pushed open the door and found them all staring at it, obviously waiting for him to get there.

"Wotcher, Harry," Tonks said, winking at him. Today it looked as though she was darning her original looks. Her hair was long and the traditional black of the Black's. The eyes were steely blue sapphires placed in a naturally tanned face. Her features were delicate and soft. She was clad in a simple set of navy robes.

"So, what's going on?" Harry asked, walking to stand with them.

"We're going to take care of some family business before the meeting. We though you might want to help us condemn a little friend of ours; we just need to wait for a couple other people."

Harry was confused at what Sirius was being so puzzling about.

After a matter of seconds footsteps descended down to the door which swung open. A middle-aged woman stood there with flowing red hair. Her eyes were deep blue and complexion fair.

"Hi everyone," she said giving a small wave.

Tonks moved forward to hug her. "Hi mother," she said, her voice muffled.

It hit Harry immediately who this was standing in front of him; the oldest girl from the Black's family portrait, Tonks' mother, and Sirius' oldest cousin: Andromeda Tonks.

"Hello, dear," she said in an affectionate tone that greatly resembled when Mrs. Weasley was talking to one of her children. "Your father sends his love."

"Thanks mum."

Andromeda moved on towards Sirius and Remus. First she turned to Sirius and stared teary-eyed at him before the cousins embraced. When they released each other Sirius was grinning and Andromeda was brushing tears away as she sniffled, "You look horrible."

They both laughed a little before she turned her head to Remus who seemed to have been expecting this and smiled at her before they hugged briefly. "Hello Andromeda."

"Oh for god's sake, Remus. How many times is it that I've told you to not call me that?"

"Fifty three and counting," he said smartly.

She rolled her eyes and kissed him on the cheek. "Always the same Remus."

Finally, she rounded her attention on Harry. "And you must be Harry. My god I could have mistaken you for James any day. It's very nice to meet you."

Once again proud at hearing how much he and his father were alike, he grinned and uttered a quiet, polite, "Thank you. It's nice to meet you too."

She gave a knowledgeable smile and whispered into his ear, "Telling by that glint in your eye I see you've been holding up your father's knack for troublemaking."

Giving his arm a small pat she turned to face the room with a comfortable smile and said to anyone in general, "So where are the others?"

Sirius piped up. "Bella's in father's old study. I'm not sure where the other one is."

He spoke these words with utmost disgust as though he were speaking of some foul creature. Andromeda rolled her eyes. "Sirius would you please act mature for once? You know she didn't want to."

Harry hadn't the faintest clue what they were talking about, but his questions were immediately answered. There was a loud BANG! as the front doors were thrown open and screeches rang throughout the hall as Sirius' mother was awoken.

"Rage like a dragon," Andromeda said smirking.

A feeling of nervousness crept up inside Harry as the raging stomps drew nearer to the door and furious mutterings could be heard. Finally the door slammed open and in stepped a woman that was so mad her face was a violent shade of red that contrasted horribly with the rest of her pale skin. Her blonde hair was unkempt and looked like it hadn't been given a second thought in many days.

"Hello Narcissa," Sirius drawled.

Harry was stunned. This was Malfoy's mother, Lucius Malfoy's wife and here she was, looking neither murderous nor particularly cruel... just angry.

"Oh, you don't even start with me Sirius Black. I am not in the mood," she growled. "Now, where is this dear sister of mine?"

"Lead the way Andromeda," Sirius said beckoning her forth. They followed her out of the kitchen and into the entry hall where Mrs. Black was still screaming her lungs out about them all being 'traitors' and 'filth of her family'.

Sirius had Harry hang at the end of the group as they trouped up the stairs. "I'll introduce you to her in after we're through with this. She really is a pleasant lady once you get to know her."

Harry did not overlook the sarcasm in his voice. "But isn't she related to the Malfoys?"

"I'll explain later," he muttered as the reached a door at the end of the corridor they had been walking down.

Sirius went forward and opened the door. Harry waited for all of them to file inside before making his own way in.

Narcissa and Andromeda gasped as they caught sight of what was in the middle of the emptied room. Harry didn't blame them... seeing your sister bound and gagged was not something you generally viewed every day.

Bellatrix lifted her head so that the greasy black hair fell from her pale, thinned face. A defiant grin spread over her face as Sirius carefully walked forward and lowered the gag so that it hung loosely around her neck.

A slight mad glint in her eyes she stared at each of them in turn through her heavily lidded eyes and finally spoke with a raspy voice, her tone slight maniacal.

"Hello everybody."