Flame of the Dead, Black Magic

Chapter One: Dear Sarah

"Get OFF me!" The scream echoed throughout the Hogwarts corridors. A few students poked their heads out of their classrooms to see what was causing all of the noise. Harry and Ron were some of these students. Hermione was still trying to listen to Professor Binns over all of the commotion.

Dumbledore was in the hallway with two other teachers - Professors Snape and McGonagall - and a girl who looked as if she was a fifth year. She had long, sandy-blonde hair and sharp grey eyes, and it looked as if she had just hit Snape in the jaw.

Harry and Ron looked at one another, mouths hanging open, too shocked to be ecstatic. It couldn't be, yet there they stood; Snape in shock and holding his jaw, where a small amount of blood was trickling from, and the girl, furious and raising her fist to see if someone else was going to mess with her.

"That is quite *enough,* young lady!" said Professor McGonagall in as much shock as everyone watching. She waved her wand and ropes coiled themselves around the girl's wrists, then began to use the ropes to move the girl, kicking and screaming threats and curses, away down another hallway.

"I'm not sure that was the appropriate action to take," Dumbledore said quietly as he and McGonagall disappeared as well. Harry could hear Professor McGonagall answer, "she attacked Severus! What would you have me do?" as they walked off.

Harry and Ron gaped at each other, then rushed back into the classroom to tell Hermione, who was madly taking notes.

"A new student, Hermione! She's crazy, I tell you!"

"More so than Loony Lovegood! This one's mad!"

"She HIT Snape in the face!"

"And not just slapped him, it was an uppercut!"

"A good one, too, by the way he was bleeding . . ."

"They had to tie her up to get her out of the hallway!"

Hermione had dropped her quill and was looking at Harry and Ron. Finally she choked out one word, "What!?"

"It's true," said Parvati Patil from behind them, who had apparently been listening in, "Lavender and I saw it all. I can't believe that she *hit* Snape. She's going to be in so much trouble!"

"Yeah," said Ron, "I'll bet Snape's gonna take a *ton* of points from her house."

That was when it hit all of them. Hermione said it first, "What house is she going to be in?"

Sarah,

It's me, Sirius. Writing to you is so different from writing to anyone else. I want to tell you about my life since we got pulled apart. First is first: I am innocent. Pettigrew cast the curse, cut off his finger, and then ran away as a rat. You knew that he was an animagus, though. What's important, Sarah, is that I didn't do it. I was innocent! I'm sure you heard of my escape, and I'm sure you saw me when I woke you up that night. I didn't try to, Sarah, but I couldn't resist. I remembered your house, and had to see if you were there. I sat and I watched you for at least an hour before you sat up and screamed. Why did you scream, Sarah? All I wanted was to watch you, for what I knew would be the last time I'd ever see you again. Back to the present. Bellatrix killed me about six months ago. This is not a joke, Sarah. I'm dead, but I can somehow still communicate with people! I don't know how, but it's great. And now I will do everything in my power, I swear, Sarah, to find a way back to you, back into your arms. I will do it, if nothing else. Whatever you do, remember me.

Sirius