Chapter 22 Owl Post Again

encrustHermi ace was tugging at his sleeve, double-dyed(a) at her watch. Weve got exactly go transactions to get back down to the hospital wing with f totally out anybody seeing us before Dumbledore locks the door Okay, verbalise kick up, wrenching his gaze from the sky, lets go.They slipped with the doorway behind them and down a tightly spiraling stone staircase. As they reached the bottom of it, they heard voices. They flattened themselves against the wall and listened. It sounded akin rig and Snape. They were walk quickly along the corridor at the foot of the staircase. only hope Dumbledores not going to strike difficulties, Snape was saying. The Kiss will be performed immediately?As soon as Macnair returns with the Dementors. This whole Black affair has been highly embarrassing. I cant tell you how much Im seeming forward to informing the Daily Prophet that weve got him at goal. I daresay theyll want to interview you, Snape and once young elicits back in his ri ght mind, I expect hell want to tell the Prophet exactly how you relieve him.Harry clenched his teeth. He caught a glimpse of Snapes smirk as he and Fudge passed Harry and Hermiones hiding topographic point. Their footsteps died away. Harry and Hermione waited a few winks to make sure theyd really gone, whence started to run in the opposite direction. Down one staircase, then some other, along a new corridor then they heard a cackling ahead.Peeves Harry muttered, grabbing Hermiones wrist. In hereThey tore into a deserted classroom to their left just in clipping. Peeves seemed to be bouncing along the corridor in unsmooth good spirits, laughing his head moody.Oh, hes horrible, whispered Hermione, her ear to the door. I bet hes all excited because the Dementors are going to finish off Sirius. She checked her watch. terce minutes, HarryThey waited until Peevess gloating voice had faded into the distance, then slid back out of the room and broke into a run again.Hermione what ll happen if we dont get back internal before Dumbledore locks the door? Harry panted.I dont want to think of almost it Hermione moaned, checking her watch again. One minuteThey had reached the end of the corridor with the hospital wing entrance. Okay I can hear Dumbledore, give tongue to Hermione tensely. Come on, HarryThey crept along the corridor. The door opened. Dumbledores back appeared.I am going to lock you in, they heard him saying. it is five minutes to midnight. Miss Granger, three turns should do it. Good luck.Dumbledore backed out of the room, closed the door, and took out his wand to sorcerousally lock it. Panicking, Harry and Hermione ran forward. Dumbledore looked up, and a wide smile appeared nether the long silver mustache. Well? he verbalise quietly.We did it tell Harry breathlessly. Sirius has gone, on Buckbeak.Dumbledore beamed at them.Well done. I think He listened intently for any sound within the hospital wing. Yes, I think youve gone too get at b ottom Ill lock you in Harry and Hermione slipped back inside the dormitory. It was empty except for Ron, who was tranquilize lying motionless in the end bed. As the lock clicked behind them, Harry and Hermione crept back to their own beds, Hermione tucking the Time-Turner back under her robes. A moment later, Madam Pomfrey came striding back out of her office.Did I hear the headmaster leaving? Am I allowed to look after my patients now?She was in a really bad mood. Harry and Hermione thought it dress hat to accept their chocolate quietly. Madam Pomfrey stood over them, making sure they ate it. But Harry could hardly swallow. He and Hermione were waiting, listening, their nerves jangling. And then, as they both took a fourth prepare of chocolate from Madam Pomfrey, they heard a distant ejaculate of fury echoing from somewhere above them.What was that? utter Madam Pomfrey in alarm.Now they could hear angry voices, growing louder and louder. Madam Pomfrey was staring at the doo r. authentically theyll wake everybody up What do they think theyre doing?Harry was trying to hear what the voices were saying. They were drawing nearer He must feature Disapparated, Severus. We should have left individual in the room with him. When this gets out HE DIDNT DISAPPARATE Snape roared, now very close at hand. YOU CANT APPARATE OR DISAPPARATE INSIDE THIS CASTLE THIS HAS SOMETHING TO DO WITH POTTERSeverus be commonsensible Harry has been locked up BAM.The door of the hospital wing burst open.Fudge, Snape, and Dumbledore came striding into the ward. Dumbledore alone looked calm. Indeed, he looked as though he was quite enjoying himself. Fudge appeared angry. But Snape was beside himself. turn up WITH IT, POTTER he bellowed. WHAT DID YOU DO?Professor Snape shrieked Madam Pomfrey. Control yourselfSee here, Snape, be reason commensurate, verbalize Fudge. This doors been locked, we just saw THEY HELPED HIM ESCAPE, I KNOW IT Snape howled, pointing at Harry and Hermi one. His face was twisted spit was flying from his mouth.Calm down, man Fudge barked. Youre talking nonsenseYOU DONT KNOW POTTER shrieked Snape. HE DID IT, I KNOW HE DID IT That will do, Severus, tell Dumbledore quietly. Think about what you are saying. This door has been locked since I left the ward ten minutes ago. Madam Pomfrey, have these students left their beds?Of course not said Madam Pomfrey, bristling. I would have heard themWell, thither you have it, Severus, said Dumbledore calmly. Unless you are suggesting that Harry and Hermione are able to be in two places at once, Im afraid I dont see any point in troubling them further.Snape stood there, see occasion, staring from Fudge, who looked thoroughly shocked at his behavior, to Dumbledore, whose eyes were twinkling behind his glasses. Snape whirled about, robes swishing behind him, and stormed out of the ward.Fellow seems quite unbalanced, said Fudge, staring after him. Id watch out for him if I were you, Dumbledore.Oh, hes not unbalanced, said Dumbledore quietly. Hes just suffered a severe disappointment.Hes not the only one puffed Fudge. The Daily Prophets going to have a field day We had Black control and he slipped through our fingers yet again All it needs now is for the story of that Hippogriffs escape to get out, and Ill be a laughingstock Well Id separate go and notify the Ministry..And the Dementors? said Dumbledore. Theyll be removed from the school, I trust?Oh yes, theyll have to go, said Fudge, running his fingers distractedly through his hair. Never dreamed theyd tone-beginning to administer the Kiss on an free boy Completely out of control no, Ill have them packed off back to Azkaban tonight Perhaps we should think about dragons at the school entrance.Hagrid would like that, said Dumbledore, smiling at Harry and Hermione. As he and Fudge left the dormitory, Madam Pomfrey move to the door and locked it again. Muttering angrily to herself, she headed back to her office.There was a lo w moan from the other end of the ward. Ron had woken up. They could see him sitting up, rubbing his head, looking around.What what happened? he groaned. Harry? Why are we in here? Wheres Sirius? Wheres lupine? Whats going on?Harry and Hermione looked at each other.You explain, said Harry, helping himself to some much chocolate.When Harry, Ron, and Hermione left the hospital wing at noon the next day, it was to find an al virtually deserted castle. The sweltering, heat and the end of the testings meant that everyone was taking full advantage of another Hogsmeade visit. Neither Ron nor Hermione felt like going, however, so they and Harry wandered onto the grounds, still talking about the extraordinary events of the previous night and wondering where Sirius and Buckbeak were now. Sitting near the lake, reflection the giant squid waving its tentacles lazily above the water, Harry lost the thread of the conversition as he looked across to the opposite bank. The stag had galloped tow ard him from there just refinement night.A shadow fell across them and they looked up to see a very bleary-eyed Hagrid, mopping his sweaty face with one of his tablec big moneyh-sized handkerchiefs and beaming down at them.Know I shouldn feel happy, after wha happened las night, he said. I mean, Black escapin again, an, everythin notwithstanding guess what?What? they said, pretending to look curious.Beaky He escaped Hes free Bin celebratin all nightThats wonderful said Hermione, giving Ron a reproving look because he looked as though he was close to laughing.Yeah cantve tied him up properly, said Hagrid, gazing happily out over the grounds. I was worried this mornin, mind thought he mighta met Professor lupine on the grounds, but lupin says he never ate anythin las night.What? said Harry quickly.Blimey, haven yeh heard? said Hagrid, his smile fading a little. He lowered his voice, even though there was nobody in sight. Er Snape t ageing all the Slytherins this mornin. Thought e veryoned know by now Professor Lupins a werewolf, see. An he was loose on the grounds las night. Hes packin now, o course.Hes packing? said Harry, alarmed. Why?Leavin, isn he? said Hagrid, looking surprised that Harry had to ask. Resigned firs thing this mornin. Says he cant attempt it happenin again.Harry scrambled to his feet.Im going to see him, he said to Ron and Hermione.But if hes resigned ?C doesnt sound like theres anything we can do I dont care. I still want to see him. Ill meet you back here.Lupins office door was open. He had already packed most of his things. The Grindylows empty tank stood next to his battered old suitcase, which was open and nearly full. Lupin was bending over something on his desk and looked up only when Harry knocked on the door.I saw you coming, said Lupin, smiling. He pointed to the sheepskin he had been poring over. It was the Marauders part.I just saw Hagrid, said Harry. And he said youd resigned. Its not true, is it?Im afraid it is, said Lupi n. He started opening his desk drawers and taking out the contents.Why? said Harry. The Ministry of Magic dont think you were helping Sirius, do they?Lupin crossed to the door and closed it behind Harry.No. Professor Dumbledore practiced to convince Fudge that I was trying to save your lives. He sighed. That was the final straw for Severus. I think the loss of the Order of Merlin hit him hard. So he er accidentally let slip that I am a werewolf this morning at breakfast.Youre not leaving just because of that said Harry.Lupin smiled wryly.This time tomorrow, the owls will start arriving from parents. They will not want a werewolf teaching their children, Harry. And after last night, I see their point. I could have bitten any of you. That must never happen again.Youre the best Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher weve ever had said Harry. Dont goLupin shook his head and didnt speak. He carried on emptying his drawers. Then, while Harry was trying to think of a good argument to mak e him stay, Lupin said, From what the headmaster told me this morning, you saved a lot of lives last night, Harry. If Im proud of anything Ive done this year, its how much youve learned. Tell me about your Patronus.How dyou know about that? said Harry, distracted.What else could have driven the Dementors back?Harry told Lupin what had happened. When hed finished, Lupin was smiling again.Yes, your father was always a stag when he transformed, he said. You guessed right thats why we called him Prongs.Lupin threw his last few books into his case, closed the desk drawers, and dour to look at Harry.Here I brought this from the Shrieking Shack last night, he said, handing Harry back the Invisibility Cloak. And He hesitated, then held out the Marauders Map too. I am no longer your teacher, so I dont feel guilty about giving you back this as well. Its no use to me, and I daresay you, Ron, and Hermione will find uses for it.Harry took the map and grinned.You told me Moony, Wormtail, Padfoo t, and Prongs wouldve wanted to lure me out of school you said theyd have thought it was funny.And so we would have, said Lupin, now ambit down to close his case. I have no hesitation in saying that James would have been highly disappointed if his son had never ground any of the secret passages out of the castle.There was a knock on the door. Harry hastily stuffed the Marauders Map and the Invisibility Cloak into his pocket.It was Professor Dumbledore. He didnt look surprised to see Harry there.Your carriage is at the gates, Remus, he said.Thank You, Headmaster.Lupin picked up his old suitcase and the empty Grindylow tank.Well good-bye, Harry, he said, smiling. It has been a real pleasure teaching you. I feel sure well meet again sometime. Headmaster, there is no need to see me to the gates, I can manage.Harry had the impression that Lupin wanted to leave as quickly as possible.Good-bye, then, Remus, said Dumbledore soberly. Lupin shifted the Grindylow tank slightly so that he an d Dumbledore could move hands. Then, with a final nod to Harry and a swift smile, Lupin left the office.Harry sat down in his vacated chair, staring glumly at the floor. He heard the door close and looked up. Dumbledore was still there.Why so miserable, Harry? he said quietly. You should be very proud of yourself after last night.It didnt make any difference, said Harry bitterly. Pettigrew got away.Didnt make any difference? said Dumbledore quietly, It made all the difference in the world, Harry. You helped uncover the truth. You saved an innocent man from a terrible fate.Terrible. Something stirred in Harrys memory. Greater and more terrible than ever before Professor Trelawneys predictionProfessor Dumbledore yesterday, when I was having my prediction exam, Professor Trelawney went very very strange.Indeed? said Dumbledore. Er stranger than usual, you mean?Yes her voice went all deep and her eyes rolled and she said she said Voldemorts servant was going to set out to return t o him before midnight. She said the servant would help him come back to power. Harry stared up at Dumbledore. And then she sort of became normal again, and she couldnt remember anything shed said. Was it was she making a real prediction?Dumbledore looked mildly impressed.Do you know, Harry, I think she might have been. he said thoughtfully. Whod have thought it? That brings her total of real predictions up to two. I should offer her a pay raise.But Harry looked at him, aghast. How could Dumbledore take this so calmly?But I stopped Sirius and Professor Lupin from killing Pettigrew That makes it my fault if Voldemort comes backIt does not, said Dumbledore quietly. Hasnt your experience with the Time-Turner taught you anything, Harry? The consequences of our actions are always so complicated, so diverse, that predicting the future is a very difficult business indeed. Professor Trelawney, bless her, is living proof of that. You did a very noble thing, in saving Pettigrews life.But if he helps Voldemort back to powerPettigrew owes his life to you. You have sent Voldemort a deputy who is in your debt. When one wizard saves another wizards life, it creates a certain bond between them and Im much mistaken if Voldemort wants his servant in the debt of Harry Potter.I dont want a connection with Pettigrew said Harry. He betrayed my parentsThis is magic at its deepest, its most impenetrable, Harry. But trust me the time may come when you will be very glad you saved Pettigrews life.Harry couldnt imagine when that would be. Dumbledore looked as though he knew what Harry was thinking.I knew your father very well, both at Hogwarts and later, Harry, he said gently. He would have saved Pettigrew too, I am sure of it.Harry looked up at him. Dumbledore wouldnt laugh he could tell DumbledoreI thought it was my dad whod conjured my Patronus. I mean, when I saw myself across the lake I thought I was seeing him.An easy mistake to make, said Dumbledore softly. I expect youll tire of hearing it, but you do look extraordinarily like James. Except for the eyes you have your mothers eyes.Harry shook his head.It was stupid, thinking it was him, he muttered. I mean, I knew he was dead.You think the dead we loved ever genuinely leave us? You think that we dont recall them more clearly than ever in times of great trouble? Your father is alive in you, Harry, and shows himself most plainly when you have need of him. How else could you produce that particular Patronus? Prongs rode again last night.It took a moment for Harry to realize what Dumblefore had said.Last night Sirius told me all about how they became Animagi, said Dumbledore, smiling. An extraordinary achievement not least, keeping it quiet from me. And then I remembered the most unusual form your Patronus took, when it charged Mr. Malfoy down at your Quidditch stone against Ravenclaw. You know, Harry, in a way, you did see your father last night. You found him inside yourself.And Dumbledore left the offi ce, leaving Harry to his very conf employ thoughts.Nobody at Hogwarts now knew the truth of what had happened the night that Sirius, Buckbeak, and Pettigrew had vanished except Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Professor Dumbledore. As the end of term approached, Harry heard many different theories about what had really happened, but none of them came close to the truth.Malfoy was furious about Buckbeak. He was convinced that Hagrid had found a way of smuggling the Hippogriff to safety, and seemed outraged that he and his father had been outwitted by a gamekeeper. Percy Weasley, meanwhile, had much to say on the subject of Siriuss escape.If I manage to get into the Ministry, Ill have a lot of proposals to make about Magical Law Enforcement he told the only person who would listen his girlfriend, Penelope.Though the weather was perfect, though the atmosphere was so cheerful, though he knew they had achieved the near impossible in helping Sirius to freedom, Harry had never approached the end of a school year in worse spirits.He certainly wasnt the only one who was sorry to see Professor Lupin go. The whole of Harrys Defense Against the Dark Arts class was miserable about his resignation.Wonder what theyll give us next year? said Seamus Finnigan gloomily.Maybe a vampire, suggested Dean Thomas hopefully.It wasnt only Professor Lupins departure that was weighing on Harrys mind. He couldnt help thinking a lot about Professor Trelawneys prediction. He kept wondering where Pettigrew was now, whether he had sought sanctuary with Voldemort yet. But the thing that was lowering Harrys spirits most of all was the prospect of returning to the Dursleys. For maybe one-half an hour, a glorious half hour, he had believed he would be living with Sirius from now onhis parents best friendIt would have been the next best thing to having his own father back. And while no news of Sirius was definitely good news, because it meant he had successfully gone into hiding, Harry couldnt help feeli ng miserable when he thought of the home he might have had, and the fact that it was now impossible.The exam results came out on the last day of term. Harry, Ron, and Hermione had passed every subject. Harry was astonied that he had got through Potions. He had a shrewd suspicion that Dumbledore might have stepped in to stop Snape failing him on purpose. Snapes behavior toward Harry over the past week had been quite alarming. Harry wouldnt have thought it possible that Snapes dislike for him could increase, but it certainly had. A muscle twitched unpleasantly at the inlet of Snapes thin mouth every time he looked at Harry, and he was constantly flexing his fingers, as though itching to place them around Harrys throat.Percy had got his top-grade N.E.W.T.s Fred and George had scraped a handful of O.W.L.s each. Gryffindor House, meanwhile, largely thanks to their spectacular performance in the Quidditch Cup, had won the House championship for the third year running. This meant that th e end of term feast took place amid decorations of scarlet and gold, and that the Gryffindor table was the noisiest of the lot, as everybody celebrated. Even Harry managed to forget about the trip back to the Dursleys the next day as he ate, drank, talked, and laughed with the rest.As the Hogwarts persuade pulled out of the station the next morning, Hermione gave Harry and Ron some surprising news.I went to see Professor McGonagall this morning, just before breakfast. Ive decided to drop Muggle Studies.But you passed your exam with three hundred and twenty percent said Ron.I know, sighed Hermione, but I cant stand another year like this one. That Time-Turner, it was driving me mad. Ive handed it in. Without Muggle Studies and Divination, Ill be able to have a normal schedule again.I still cant believe you didnt tell us about it, said Ron grumpily. Were supposed to be your friends.I promised I wouldnt tell anyone, said Hermione severely. She looked around at Harry, who was watching Hogwarts disappear from view behind a mountain. Two whole months before hed see it again.Oh, cheer up, Harry said Hermione sadly.Im okay, said Harry quickly. Just thinking about the holidays.Yeah, Ive been thinking about them too, said Ron. Harry, youve got to come and stay with us. Ill fix it up with Mum and Dad, then Ill call you. I know how to use a fellytone now A telephone, Ron, said Hermione. Honestly, you should take Muggle Studies next year.Ron ignored her.Its the Quidditch domain of a function Cup this summer How about it, Harry? Come and stay, and well go and see it Dad can usually get tickets from work.This proposal had the effect of cheering Harry up a great deal.Yeah I bet the Dursleysd be pleased to let me come especially after what I did to Aunt margarine.Feeling considerably more cheerful, Harry joined Ron and Hermione in several games of Exploding Snap, and when the witch with the tea cart arrived, he bought himself a very large lunch, though nothing with chocola te in it.But it was late in the afternoon before the thing that made him truly happy turned up.Harry, said Hermione suddenly, peering over his shoulder. Whats that thing outside your window?Harry turned to look outside. Something very small and gray was bobbing in and out of sight beyond the glass. He stood up for a better look and saw that it was a tiny owl, carrying a letter that was much too big for it. The owl was so small, in fact, that it kept tumbling over in the air, buffeted this way and that in the trains slipstream. Harry quickly pulled down the window, stretched out his arm, and caught it. It felt like a very fluffy Snitch. He brought it carefully inside.The owl dropped its letter onto Harrys seat and began zooming around their compartment, apparently very pleased with itself for accomplishing its task. Hedwig clicked her beak with a sort of dignified disapproval. Crookshanks sat up in his seat, following the owl with his great yellow eyes. Ron, noticing this, snatched t he owl safely out of harms way.Harry picked up the letter. It was addressed to him. He ripped open the letter, and shouted, Its from SiriusWhat? said Ron and Hermione excitedly. Read it aloudDear Harry, I hope this finds you before you reach your aunt and uncle. I dont know whether theyre used to owl post. Buckbeak and I are in hiding. I wont tell you where, in case this owl falls into the wrong hands. I have some doubt about his reliability, but he is the best I could find, and he did seem eager for the job. I believe the Dementors are still searching for me, but they havent a hope of finding me here. I am planning to allow some Muggles to glimpse me soon, a long way from Hogwarts, so that the security on the castle will be lifted. There is something I never got around to telling you during our brief meeting. It was I who sent you the Firebolt Ha said Hermione triumphantly. See I told you it was from himYes, but he hadnt jinxed it, had he? said Ron. Ouch The tiny owl now hooting h appily in his hand, had nibbled one of his fingers in what it seemed to think was an affectionate way.?C Crookshanks took the order to the Owl Office for me. I used your name but told them to take the gold from my own Gringotts vault. Please consider it as thirteen birthdays worth of presents from your godfather. I would also like to apologize for the panic I think I gave you that night last year when you left your uncles house. I had only hoped to get a glimpse of you before starting my journey north, but I think the sight of me alarmed you. I am enclosing something else for you, which I think will make your next year at Hogwarts more enjoyable. If ever you need me, send word. Your owl will find me. Ill write again soon. Sirius Harry looked eagerly inside the envelope. There was another piece of parchment in there. He read it through quickly and felt suddenly as warm and contented as though hed swallowed a bottleful of hot butterbeer in one gulp.I, Sirius Black, Harry Potters godf ather, hereby give him permission to visit Hogsmeade on weekends. Thatll be good enough for Dumbledore said Harry happily. He looked back at Siriuss letter. Hang on, theres a PS. I thought your friend Ron might like to keep this owl, as its my fault he no longer has a rat. Rons eyes widened. The minute owl was still hooting excitedly. Keep him? he said uncertainly. He looked closely at the owl for a moment then, to Harrys and Hermiones great surprise, he held him out for Crookshanks to sniff.What do you reckon? Ron asked the cat. Definitely an owl?Crookshanks purred.Thats good enough for me, said Ron happily. Hes mine.Harry read and reread the letter from Sirius all the way back into Kings Cross station. It was still clutched tightly in his hand as he, Ron, and Hermione stepped back through the barrier of platform nine and three-quarters. Harry patched Uncle Vernon at once. He was standing a good distance from Mr. and Mrs. Weasley, eyeing them suspiciously, and when Mrs. Weasley hug ged Harry in greeting, his worst suspicions about them seemed confirmed.Ill call about the World Cup Ron utter after Harry as Harry bid him and Hermione good-bye, then wheeled the trolley bearing his trunk and Hedwigs cage toward Uncle Vernon, who greeted him in his usual fashion.Whats that? he snarled, staring at the envelope Harry was still clutching in his hand. If its another form for me to sign, youve got another Its not, said Harry cheerfully. Its a letter from my godfather.Godfather? sputtered Uncle Vernon. You havent got a godfatherYes, I have, said Harry brightly. He was my mum and dads best friend. Hes a convicted murderer, but hes broken out of wizard prison and hes on the run. He likes to keep in march with me, though keep up with my news check if Im happy And, grinning broadly at the look of horror on Uncle Vernons face, Harry set off toward the station exit, Hedwig rattling along in front of him, for what looked like a much better summer than the last.