Faerie Folly and Wizard Wands

Chapter Nine

"I'm a wizard, as I've said. I went for seven years at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, graduated, too, and made friends with three others-James Potter, Peter Petigrew, and Remus Lupin. Of course, I had other friends, but in the end, we were not able to be separated for long, no matter how dire the circumstances." Here he stopped and laughed shortly again.

"You see the shape I have lived in? As a dog?" He gestured to the floor, in resemblance of the nights he had laid there as a dog. "That was all because of Remus. He was-is, excuse me-a werewolf."

She gave an involuntary gasp at that. How was she supposed to believe something so incredibly silly? Of course, she'd heard the fairy tales-Granna had seen to that part of her education as well, but to believe that such a monster existed-and that Sirius Black was well acquainted with him-was something that confused her slightly. Perhaps he wasn't bad at all. He barely paused at her gasp,

"Well, he'd become a wold every month, and in order to keep him company, James, Peter, and I all became Animagi too. We could keep him company as animals. Took us three years. And it saved my life." Here he paused, and frowned. "But we did. I became, as you know, a great black dog, and James became a stag-Peter a rat-ha! The irony in that!" There was heavy bitterness in his voice for a moment, before it was gone in his continuation.

"Things were jolly for a time, and we graduated. Around these years was the shadow of Lord Voldemort's rising. He was coming quickly to power. He's pure evil, Sabine."

Here, now, he looked straight at her. "You've never met the like-pure evil, no remorse, and power-yes, too much power."

She sighed softly, as she watched him uncomfortably, and almost painfully piece his past. Now it was she who took his hand. He was, after all, still her pup. He squeezed gratefully, and released it to return to his story. "Voldemort and his supporters became great, and Voldemort began to kill off his enemies. James, and his wife Lily, well, they were going into hiding and wanted to do this spell-yes, Sabine, a spell, they do exist-we're all wizards; so this spell was going to include me. I would hold the secret of their hiding from Voldemort-entirely foolproof, unless I chose to tell, which of course I wouldn't. I was going into hiding soon as well. Voldemort would never find them...but then I made the mistake that will haunt me always."

Again, he choked and looked at the smoldering embers of the fire before straining on. She got the feeling this history had only been repeated once or twice before, and was honored he had chosen ton confess in her.

"I made James and Lily Potter switch Secret Keepers. I figured Voldemort would know it was me, so I thought to trick the evil bastard and so we made Peter the Keeper, to throw Voldemort off the trail. But it was all in vain. Peter was weak, also hungry for power. And he-he went straight to Voldemort and told where-."

There was silence as morning woke slow and gentle outside. Inside, the shadows stayed, and Sirius Black continued

"Voldemort came and he-killed James and Lily. He blasted them. Lily died trying to save Harry, their baby son. No remorse or pity-Voldemort killed her and moved to Harry, but a miracle even the wizard world cannot explain-while cursing Harry, he lost his power and was turned to nothing but a spirit of what a...well," here he shrugged. "He was banished in all ways but the smallest."

"Harry, on the other hand, got orphaned, and a scar, and...me, his godfather. 'Course, I've been in Azkaban, the wizard prison, ever since the Potter's deaths."

"Prison?" Sabine managed. For, yet again, she was begin drawn into an entirely new world just by this story. Images flashed across her mind, and she let them, enticed completely.

"Yes...see, everyone thought that I was the Secret Keeper, and so they all chased after me. Peter, the traitor, got to me, and staged his own "death" and killed Muggles-er, non-magic folk...and made it look like I had killed him, too. So, they put me in prison, but I kept my wits, and when I found how Peter was hiding out as the real rat he is...I decided to slip past the guards as a dog."

He gave another laugh. "Peter was still waiting for Voldemort, and perfectly placed. He was the pet rat of Ron Weasley, Harry's best friend. Should Voldemort come back to power, Harry would not have known what hit him. I was not going to loose this chance..."

"Mind, no one knew I was an unregistered Animagi, so, since the guards are blind at Azkaban-they go by feel-well, anyway, I escaped."

"They set everyone after me-everyone, even the Muggles-I was considered dangerous, but I wanted to get to Harry and Peter."

"I met with Remus, and we got the story straight between us, and the people that mattered-Dumbledore, mainly, and Harry of course. But just as things were going to be better, Remus accidentally turned into a werewolf. I don't want to go into the details of that night. All you need to know is that I survived, escaped, and have been in hiding ever since."

She frowned. "Why are you here in England? Where is this place you escaped from?

"Ah, all here. In England. I've been all over...but I've come back. Queer things have been happening. My godchild, Harry, has been feeling pains in his scar-a sign of Voldemort's nearness-well, Dumbledore and I both believe that he's getting stronger, somehow-he's returning. So, I came home-or, here, near Hogsmeade, and stay in the cave to be near Hogwarts, so I'm on hand."

He glanced at her. "So, you see, I'm a wanted wizard, no one except my close friends know my innocence."

His expression became sad. "If I were cleared as innocent, harry could come stay with me."

He paused, and then looked at her.

"You felt me watching, didn't you, Sabine? And you could feel I wasn't just an old stray...otherwise you...well, you knew, I believe."

She nodded and he gave another short laugh. "I watched you from the beginning. As far as I knew, you were a regular human. I wondered how you'd gotten so near Hogsmeade-the only all magical town in England-for there's spells to make sure no Muggles come near."

She stood, then, exclaiming-"Then, when Miss Joan says she used to rent to strange people-they were your kind!" She looked out of the window. "And when I was coming to the house...something tried to tell me to go home...but it was faint...and those symbols..." her mind went to the door of the kitchen briefly, and to the other oddities she had found.

"Is Miss Joan a wizard?"

"No-not a witch; females are witches, dear Sabine, but Miss Joan is human, right on the edge of the grounds. I'm surprised she even got as far as your house. Hogsmeade is over the hills, beyond my nearby cave and carefully guarded...maybe because the channel was open while you are here."

He scrutinized her. "I was shocked, in truth, to see you come into the wizard house."

"After a bit, Sabine, you seemed harmless, and so I tried to become a friend, to find how ou had gotten so close to the wizarding world. And then, you began speaking to me of your past, and you discovered powers-powers wizards or witches don't have...and so I grew wary...but fond of you, for you seem a good girl."

He, too, stood then, and approached her. "But you're American, Sabine. Your accent betrays you. How did you get here?"

She smiled-he was the first male she had ever felt akin to, and she enjoyed the feel of his eyes on her. "Well..." Her mind flashed from Granna's house, and then to her wild mother's wilderness. "I was born in the wood, and...when mother tired of me, she sent me to an herbalist-Granna...Mathilda Greyson. That was what Tildie called her once, at least..."

"Tildie? You don't mean Tilderberry Jacsonian?" He straightened, eyes looking past her.

"Why-I haven't an idea of her full name, Mr Bla-Sirius." she said quietly. "Perhaps-she always wore a red cape and-."

"Yes, then indeed it was her!" he exclaimed. "She must have seen your potential, she was a way with finding late bloomers."

"She's a-er, witch, then?"

"Yes, Tildie's a well-known Catcher. She goes out to seek wizards and witches who don't find their full potential of the craft until they're older."

It struck a cord....her mother's words....suddenly she yanked his arms, bringing him to star at her.

"Then-you think I'm a witch?"

He smiled, then became grave.

"Yes-and more than just a witch. Your mother left much inside of you. You've faerie blood-powerful and strong...I think your father's a wizard, Sabine. I don't know who, but he had to have been."

He glanced outside, where it grew lighter. "Quickly, then, tell me the rest."

She swallowed. "Well, Tildie brought me from Granna's when I began to recognize my supernatural senses, and took me to England. She her...partner, a Mr. Parlingten, and left me to find my way to Mead, which I now know is close to Hogsmeade. I believe Mr. Parlingten was also, ah...er...a wizard?"

"Yes," Sirius confirmed. "Another well-known Catcher. Well, then both Dumbledore and I extend the invitation-come, leave this world of Muggles, and join our world of wizardry."

His eyes sought hers, and she shrugged. It did no good to wait here, when she was so odd and different from others. Indeed, it was time she ventured when the fates pointed-toward magic and permanence.

"Of course; just let me gather a few things, and I'll go with you." She would even leave the house behind if she needed.

He laughed. "No, no! Dear Sabine! You may continue to live here for a little time, in fact, that might be best. But come to Hogwarts. Meet Dumbledore. Here-he gave me some Floo Powder. Stoke up the fire."

He bent to do so, and soon had a large blaze, then took a pouch from inside his tattered robes, and turned to her.

"If you've never traveled by fire-dear Sabine, you've so much to learn! Come, catch hold of my hand, and don't let go, I pray!"