The Unwelcome Return

When I was contacted about the possibility of rejoining the Wizarding World, I initially threw the letter (un-opened) in the bin as it has caused no end of trouble and heartache. Would you happily skip back into that situation? Didn't think so. However curiosity got the better of me and I eventually read it. It goes as follows.

Dear Miss Blayton,

I am writing to you in request for your help. Please do contact me.

All my best Albus Dumbledore

Yes, wasn't it informative? There were several things that struck me about this letter, how did it get here (seeming there was no owl), how I am to reply (if I were to) and the distinct lack of anything. Just Dumbledore's usual self, I am interested in what help he needs. Surely he has the majority of the Wizarding World to draw help from. Whatever it is I can't do anything about it, I have no way of replying, though I have a sneaking suspicion as to where he could be and no it's not Hogwarts. Forget that though, the weirdest thing has yet to happen, I then had another letter.

Olympiya,

I am glad you have decided to join with us, there will be someone to collect you within the next few hours. I suggest you pack anything you shall need as it will be doubtful that you will return here.

See what I mean? That's how people get paranoid around here. So that's exactly what I did, pack, not get paranoid (been there, done that). I wrestled my old Hogwarts trunk out of the bottom of the wardrobe and began filling it. I had few Wizarding clothes now, most of it was Muggle and I had got used to that. I took most of my clothes off the hangers and out of drawers ready to be folded and packed, however I decided to put more valuable items in first. I opted for a few of my old school things, an album that I haven't looked at since I left, my house scarf, some old Quidditch stuff and a wooden box. Then a few pairs of shoes went in, followed by my clothes and then the one set of smart robes I still had.

The knock came at my door in the next few hours, I wanted it to be someone I recognised so I could ask the questions that have been plaguing me for years, unfortunately it was a bright haired girl who looked no older than eighteen.

"Hi, you're Olympiya aren't you?"

"Last time I checked. I guess you are the one appointed to drag my back to the...uh..."

"Wizarding World?"

"That's the one."

"Let's go then!"

I wanted her to then change her mind and let me go back, I was literally vanishing off the planet, leaving my friends, job and life behind. I was slowly regretting somehow agreeing to this massive life change.

"Where's your luggage?"

"In my pocket."

"Oh. Right."

"What's wrong with that?"

"Nothing."

Strange girl, I wonder if they told her who I was and what I've done.

"I know where we're going, is it still the same?"

"What are you on about?"

"12 Grimmauld Place, that's where were going isn't it?"

"How do you know about that?"

"I know Sirius Black, or have I got this completely wrong?"

"No, you're right, guess I don't need to you to memorise this then." She produced a slip of parchment with Sirius's address on it then burnt it. "Just so no Muggles see it."

My stomach was doing somersaults while having the attack of the butterflies, I was so nervous about seeing Sirius again. I knew he had escaped Azkaban, well who else could? As I haven't seen him for a good ten years or more so I tried to imagine what he would look like now. If he looked anything like he did while back at school, then I, well I'll just see how I react when I see him. However there is just one other person that I would like to see again.

I walked in, past the threshold I have crossed so many times before, nothing had changed except it had suffered a great deal of neglect. The hall was very dark once the door was closed, only the candles provided a dim light, flickering as if the walls were breathing. I took my trunk out of my pocket and returned it to it's normal size, I was panicking the entire way here that it would explode out of my pocket, it's been a long time.

I could hear the gentle murmur of voices in the front room so I followed the girl in, what is her name? All that was visible was the backs of several people, most were hunched over and in deep conversation.

"What happened?"

"I think Albus should explain."

A few eyes began to turn and stare at me as my presence was slowly being registered, I couldn't see faces clearly as the curtains were drawn, everyone was in black. My first reaction was a funeral, which is never a good omen in either world. I stayed by the door waiting until Albus would grace me with his being. Well I guess I was stood there for an hour until I decided to explore the rest of the house, but it didn't go as planned. I just wanted to sneak off quietly, but no, that girl who brought me here (what is her goddam name?) crashed into the umbrella stand and caused an almighty racket.

I clamped my hands over my ears as a couple of men rushed out and recovered the wailing painting.

"Is that Mrs Black?"

"The one and only."

"Wow."

"You knew her."

"Not well, but I knew her son better."

"Which one?"

I was slowly coming to the conclusion that a law had passed that forbid anyone for revealing their name, though I could ask. "Sirius. What's your name?"

"Um, well - "

"Come here Ron, quickly now."

What was going on, it became obvious that everyone was told about my past. Not the ideal introduction, but it did save me doing the explaining. I guess it would have been nice to have a clean start and all that, but we can't all be blessed. I followed Ron into the front room and was finally greeted by Dumbledore.

"Glad to see you here." Albus guided me to a shadowed corner and proceeded to give me some of the worst news I've ever been given.

"Well, I had no choice, so what has happened?"

"We've lost someone from the Order."

"The Order of the Phoenix has been resurrected?"

"We believed it was time."

"I haven't seen Sirius around, has he gone out?"

"Olympiya, I have some bad news. Sirius died saving another Order member."

"What. I don't get it, this is his funeral? Why wasn't I told that?"

"I'm so sorry. We couldn't risk anyone else finding out."

I began crying, I didn't want to, but I couldn't help it. I had arrived here with all the anticipation of seeing Sirius again, but then to be told I wasn't ever going to see his again was crushing.

"You mean to tell me that I am never going to see Sirius ever again. Never ever?"

"That's exactly what I mean."

"Who did he save?"

"Him over there." Dumbledore pointed to a boy with scruffy hair. "He saved someone very close to him, Olympiya, he saved Harry."

This did nothing to help my sobbing state, even more tears fell to leave me in as a sodden wreck.

"I'll give you some time."