Candles in the Dark

Chapter 2

Peeves and Padfoot

Ten minutes later, Harry, Ron and Hermione were striding across the lawns towards with Hagrid. Hagrid hadn't said much yet but Harry knew he would tell them most of what they wanted to know.

When they reached Hagrid's hut, however, they found another man in there, if you could call him a man. He was smaller than Hagrid, though not by much and Harry could tell immediately that he was a half-giant just like Hagrid.

'Oh, yeah, er, this is Siegfried,' Hagrid announced, indicating the figure who was standing awkwardly in the corner of the room. 'Make us a cuppa will yer Fry?'

The man nodded and grabbed the teapot then promptly dropped it. He hastily cleared up the broken pieces and produced another one from the cupboard.

'He's er - not very bright', Hagrid murmured, nodding in the direction of Siegfried. 'Very helpful though, just a tad on the clumsy side. He's foreign. German I reckon. Likes to be called Fry.'

'What's he doing here?' Ron asked, looking curiously at Fry.

'Well, that job Dumbledore had fer me over the summer. Olympe - Madame Maxime to you - and me had a little trip overseas.' Hagrid lowered his voice slightly. 'We er, went to see the giants.'

Fry put the pot of tea down on the table, plonked four cups down, then retreated to his corner again.

'You actually spoke to them. Saw them in their communities?' Hermione asked in astonishment.

'On Dumbledore's orders o' course,' Hagrid said defensively. 'Dumbledore don't want what's left o' em going back to You-Know-Who, see.'

There was a silence. Then Hermione asked in a very small, gentle voice, 'Did you see your mother?'

'No,' Hagrid said gruffly. 'I looked o' course but no one's seen hide nor 'air of her for years.' He poured the tea.

'It's all right,' Hagrid said hurriedly, seeing the looks on their faces. It's not as if she was the maternal sort anyway.' He gave a muffled sob.

'So, so these giants, there on our side right?' Ron asked quickly, in an effort to change the subject.

'Yeah, yeah that's right.' Hagrid said, recovering slightly. 'I brought Fry here home 'cause his father begged me to learn him something useful so he's my apprentice.'

All four of them looked doubtfully at Fry who was attempting to darn Hagrid's patchwork quilt.

'So what else has been happening Hagrid. Tell us everything,' Harry said, burning to know what had been going on since their departure.

'Let's see,' Hagrid said thoughtfully, taking a big gulp of tea. 'Dumbledore went to that confederation of Wizards thing and told em all he knew 'bout Voldemort's whereabouts. Not sure if they believed him or not. Then Sirius had to get in contact with Lupin -'

'What?' Harry blurted out, astonished. 'You know about him?'

'O' course. Dumbledore told me straight after the he'd seen yer Mum,' Hagrid said in surprise, indicating Ron. 'Bit of a shock mind you, with all I've said 'bout him.

'What about Snape,' Hermione said eagerly. 'What's he been up to?'

Harry and Ron moved closer. This was the really interesting bit.

'Can't tell yer. Top secret.' Hagrid said, very finally.

'What?' moaned Ron. 'You've told us everything else! Why not this?'

''Cause you might tell someone and then the bloomin' world'll know what we've been doing all summer.' Harry heard Hagrid's tone and knew it was useless to argue. Ron didn't seem to share Harry's thoughts however.

'Oh come on Hagrid. We might as well know. We know loads more than everyone else in the school as it is. One more bit of information won't hurt.'

'Oh no. Are you that sure Ron? How would you like it if that top secret bit of information you so desperately want me to give yer ends up in the 'ands of the likes o' Draco Malfoy and he goes home and tells that scum of a father of his. Then someone ends up dying 'cause I gave you that piece of ruddy information!'

Hagrid bellowed the last bit, took a deep, calming breath and leaned back in his chair surveying the three of them from underneath his bushy eyebrows. Harry could see Fry cowering behind his sewing over Hagrid's shoulder.

'Look, it's late, yer should all go back up to the castle. Get some sleep. Got yer first lessons tomorrow. They gathered up their cloaks obediently, bid goodnight to Fry who was unsuccessfully trying to stem the flow of blood from one of his plate sized hands where he'd jabbed the needle and set off up the sloping lawns.

'I've never seen Hagrid lose it like that,' Ron said uneasily when they were a good distance away from the cabin.

'I have once, when Karkaroff insulted Dumbledore,' Harry admitted. He had been wondering a while what Snape's secret job was but he'd begun to think it was a lot more sinister than Harry had originally thought.

They said goodnight to Hermione on the dormitory staircase and Harry and Ron proceeded to their own dormitory.

Once they were inside, they found, Seamus, Neville and Dean Thomas scrambling around on the floor, surrounded by -

'Frogs!' Seamus shouted disgustedly, his hands clamped around a struggling green blur. 'And where have you two been?'

'Just went for a walk round school,' Harry said hastily. They weren't supposed to be in the grounds after dark after all. 'What happened here?'

'Ask Neville,' Dean said, throwing a handful of frogs into his trunk and locking it with his wand.

Neville appeared from behind his bed, clutching one very fat frog and looking worried.

'My uncle,' he squeaked. Audrey's got Trevor now so he decided to get me a magical frog but - well there must have been a mistake with the order.

'And what's so magical about them?' Ron asked curiously, watching a frog leap lightly onto his foot.

'That's just it. I haven't worked it out yet,' Neville said, eyeing one frog nervously as though it might attack him at any moment.

It took them at least half an hour to round up the remaining frogs and lock them in Dean's trunk. They then had to put a silencing charm on it to halt the constant ribbeting.

At last, Harry climbed gratefully into bed and felt tired after the long journey. But even though so many things were happening in the world now, some things hadn't changed: Neville Longbottom's bad luck for one thing!

*

Harry woke just after Ron next morning and quickly got dressed. Even if his lessons weren't that interesting, Defence Against the Dark Arts was the third lesson and Harry was eager to know what they were studying this year. Apart from that, there was a question he was burning to ask Lupin.

Ron, and Harry met Hermione in the Common Room and they left through the portrait hall. Harry had just started down the corridor when he heard, in a very high-pitched squeak 'Harry Potter, sir!' He spun around and saw Dobby and Winky, their house-elf friends from the school kitchens standing guard outside the portrait hole.

'Dobby!' Harry said in amazement. Ron and Hermione were staring at Dobby and Winky too.

'What are you doing here?' Harry asked, looking at their smart blue uniforms.

'We is guarding Harry Potter sir.' Dobby said importantly. 'When Dobby hears about the - the Dark Lord he is wanting to protect Harry potter sir and so Winky and Dobby is promoted sir and we is now the official guards of Gryffindor house sir,' Dobby squeaked quickly, his small chest swelling proudly. Winky said nothing through this but beamed the whole time. They said good bye and continued down the stairs.

'As if Dobby and Winky are gonna be able to stand up to You-Know-Who,' Ron scoffed as they descended the marble staircase.

'Winky looked a lot happier though, didn't she?' Hermione said thoughtfully. Harry remembered when Winky would cry hysterically every time her old master, Mr Crouch was mentioned.

Breakfast in the Great Hall that morning was a very noisy affair. Students were eagerly swapping news about their summer holidays or anticipating their first lessons. The post owls swooped in, dropping forgotten items onto people's laps and Malfoy's usual assortment of sweets from his parents.

Ron was sent two supposedly lost spellbooks and a pair of socks from his mother while Hermione received a copy of the Daily Prophet.

Harry turned gloomily back to his porridge. However, a large grey owl suddenly swooped down and dropped a package right into his bowl, splattering everyone in a three-foot radius with grey porridge.

Hermione, who had got a considerable amount in her hair, waved her wand, muttered 'laundira' and the porridge instantly vanished, as though a invisible window wiper had zoomed over their table.

There was nothing written on the front of the parcel so Harry eagerly tore it open. He saw immediately a letter written in Sirius' handwriting. He quickly shoved the package under the table; if anyone were to see Sirius Black was writing to him, there would be uproar.

The first lesson was Transfiguration and, as being late for one of McGonagall's classes was unpleasant to say the least, they finished their breakfast quickly and set off.

Professor McGonagall was the strictest teacher in the school, excluding Snape, who took points away from someone if they caught him on a bad day, and she made it very clear to them in the first minute of the lesson that this year would be their hardest yet. 'I need not remind any of you that your O.W.Ls are at the end of this year and that they are important for your future career.' Harry pulled Sirius' letter out of his pocket and scanned it:

Dear Harry,

I know you haven't heard from me for a while and that I haven't been replying to your letters. The truth is, I thought it would be too dangerous to send it out into the Muggle World where Voldemort or one of his spies could easily intercept it.

I have been at Lupin's most of the summer and he's teaching again at Hogwarts. I know you've heard this from me about a hundred times last year but be careful and watch your back. Voldemort's supporters come in many forms.

I will try to arrange a meeting so we can talk properly soon but it's too risky in a letter.

Sirius

P.S. Watch out for the Green Dragon. I can't say more.

'Potter! Bring me that!' Professor McGonagall's voice clanged in his brain and he looked up, startled. He saw that the whole class was watching him and got up, moved to the teacher's desk and gave the letter to McGonagall.

He watched her read the first line, then put it in a drawer. You may collect this at the end of class Potter. And I expect full marks for your homework now you have nothing else to distract you.

The lesson ended and the class trooped miserably out. They had received so much homework, Harry thought it would take him the rest of the week just to finish it.

He was grateful McGonagall gave him back the letter though as he wanted to show it to Ron and Hermione. She had given him a very odd look, a sort of 'be more careful Potter' look.

He was just about to show Ron and Hermione the letter when someone crashed into him from behind. Harry turned and saw that it was Cho. Harry's face burned as he tried to help her up.

'Sorry' he muttered, his face on fire.

'No, it was me, wasn't looking, thanks,' she muttered as he handed her her bag. She wasn't smiling. She walked off quickly, her long hair blowing out behind her.

Harry turned to find Ron and Hermione looking at him with sly grins on their faces.

'What?' he said, as innocently as he could.

'Nothing, not a thing,' Ron mocked, faking a look of deep hurt.

'Oh come on, we'll be late for Binn's class' Hermione said irritably, grabbing Ron by the wrist.

Professor Binns was the only ghost teacher, and therefore should have caused a great deal of interest among the students. He was however, the most boring ghost Harry had ever encountered at Hogwarts.

While Hermione scribbled down notes and looked raptly at Binns, Harry and Ron were practically asleep, like the rest of the class. Harry couldn't see how he managed to pass his History of Magic Exam each year, when the goblin rebellions and famous sorcerers they were supposed to remember never reached Harry's ears.

This didn't trouble him much though and he contented himself for the duration of the lesson by thinking about Sirius' letter. He had no idea what the green dragon bit meant but it was good to know that Sirius was safe.

It was lunch-time but Harry wanted to see what was in Sirius' package so he and Ron went to Gryffindor Tower while Hermione went to lunch.

Once inside the dormitory, they tore open the package to find a handsome gold pocket watch and a little glass bottle. There was a note too.

The watch doesn't actually tell the time. As soon as you pick it up, the gold hand shows all your moods and attitudes.

'I think you can tell your own mood for yourself' Ron grinned, turning the watch over and admiring it.

The silver hand tells you if there is danger near. It is a useful device and I found it when on business for Dumbledore this summer. They are very rare so be careful.

The potion in the bottle is called 'sonoro'. One drop will make you feather light and inaudible for about ten minutes. This is also extremely rare and valuable and you must only use it in the most extreme of cases and not for sneaking out of the castle. Harry, there are bad things happening and these are two of the most useful aids I can give you.

Call them a fifteenth birthday present.

'It's not the sort of thing you usually get for you birthday, is it?' Ron said doubtfully. Harry looked at these two objects and frowned. Did Sirius really think he was in that much danger? If he was, why didn't he feel more scared?

Harry was going to ask Lupin about Sirius but after he received the letter, there seemed no point. And if he was safe, there was no point asking so Harry and Ron joined Hermione in The Great Hall and helped themselves to dinner. Hermione was reading the Daily Prophet and suddenly choked on a boiled potato. After several gulps of pumpkin juice, she coughed 'Look at the paper!'

Harry and Ron both made a grab for it. Harry was quicker. He looked at the headline and almost fell off his chair:

SIRIUS BLACK - DANGEROUS AND DEADLY!

Sirius Black, the infamous escapee of Azkaban has allegedly rejoined You-Know-Who and murdered his first victim since his escape over a year ago.

Black, who was never caught despite a huge public awareness, muggle and magical and Dementors of Azkaban stationed throughout Britain, this morning murdered Osbert Parkinson.

'Osbert was a kind, honest man' Lucius Malfoy informed special correspondent Cyril Chuzwuzzle, today. 'We can't believe this would happen'.

Black allegedly sneaked into Parkinson's house just before dawn and performed the Avada Kedavra curse, killing him instantly.

This curse is of course the worst of the Three Unforgivable Curses and, if Black is caught, would serve life imprisonment on top of

Cornelius Fudge is now under heavy fire from other ministry members for the appalling security a year ago, when Black managed to escape.

A special alert is again being set up for any sightings of Black who is very dangerous. The Minister is giving the public no confidence or consolation and we all grow more worried about the capabilities of You-Know-Who.

'What are they talking about!' Ron shouted, who had been reading over Harry's shoulder. 'Sirius - ouch! What was that-' Ron suddenly became aware the whole of the Great Hall was watching him.

'Come on,' Hermione muttered, and they left quickly, much to the stares of everyone else, half of whom were still staring at him.

'I can't believe you could be so stupid Ron!' Hermione burst out angrily as soon as they'd reached the second floor. 'You almost gave away the fact we've been in contact with Snuffles for the past year! You could have ruined everything!'

'I know,' Ron yelled back. 'I'm sorry I didn't think'. Harry, who'd been poring over the paper, looked up in the astonishment. Hermione shouting at Ron would usually have provoked a much angrier response.

'We know he didn't really do that murder,' Hermione said, climbing a secret stairway through a tapestry.

'Osbert Parkinson,' Harry said thoughtfully. 'You don't suppose that's Pansy Parkinson's father.' Ron and Hermione were both silent. After a few seconds, Hermione said 'I suppose it could be. But you don't think he really killed him do you Harry?' she added quickly.

'I don't know,' Harry said, exasperated. If he had, Sirius would have told him. But maybe he was afraid of the letter being intercepted. He was so confused.

Later that evening, the three of them were immersed in transfiguration homework in the Common Room when there was a scrambling outside, a loud clunk and Dobby came toppling into the Common Room.

He appeared to have fallen head first and seemed unconscious. Half the people in the Common Room rushed towards him. Ginny Weasley arrived first, lifted Dobby's small head and said 'enervate'.

A loud cackling sounded outside. Katie Bell pushed open the Portrait Hole to find Peeves zooming around outside. A small figure with a large vase on its head seemed to be Winky who was squeaking madly and banging into the walls. Katie pulled Winky in and slammed the Portrait Hole shut on Peeves' delighted face.

Dobby was squeaking angrily and jabbing his finger at the exit.

'He is mad, Harry Potter. He is wanting to come in sir but Dobby is not letting him and so he comes up invisible and pulls my nose sir and pushes Dobby!' Harry smiled at Ron. Peeves 'grabbing the conk' joke was his specialty.

'But Dobby is not letting him sir'

'Or Winky,' the female elf piped up, after someone had got the vase off her head.

'You did really well Dobby,' Dean said, almost bursting with laughter.

The rest of the evening was very enjoyable, in Harry's opinion. Most people had abandoned their homework in the aid to help the house-elves and Dobby now had a crowd of first years surrounding him, listening to his tales of travelling, when he was out of work for a year.

When most people had gone up to bed though, Ron asked Harry in an undertone 'So, what are you going to do about Snuffles?'

'What can I do?' Harry replied, his stomach twisting horribly at the thought of Sirius surrounded by Dementors. 'I don't even know where he is'. He was only one day into the school term and already, Harry had so much to think about. He knew he had to trust Sirius but he had a nagging feeling in the back of his mind: Had Sirius really killed that wizard?

Ron, who seemed to have read Harry's thoughts said very firmly 'Harry, he didn't do it. It's got to be self-defence or something. Snuffles wouldn't - not on Dumbledore's orders.'

This sort of reassured Harry. He would see if Dumbledore did anything. If Sirius was innocent, he would hear from him. If he was acting of his own free will though, he would no longer be Harry's godfather. It sounded clear enough in Harry's mind but he really wanted to see Sirius again. He was the closest thing he had to a father and Harry wasn't willing to let that go without a fight.