What if Sirius Black didn't die?

Chapter 26: Back for the Holidays

PROLOGUE- John Williams

HARRY POV:

"So you said that Snape made the unbreakable vow?" Ron asked curiously from our compartment.

"Yes, why?" I asked, putting my feet on the empty seats next to me.

"It's just, well, you can't break an Unbreakable Vow," Ron said in thought.

"I'd worked that much out for myself, funnily enough," I smirked.

"No, you don't understand -- Oh, bloody hell," Ron exclaimed, looking at the window.

A girl that I knew by the name of Lavender Brown was standing outside of our door staring at Ron.

"She's obsessed with me and I'm not even really THAT interested!" Ron exclaimed looking away from the door.

"Hermione- and everyone else for that matter- still think that I'm in love with Lavender, but I don't even know her bloody last name!" Ron exclaimed as Lavender drew a heart on the door with her finger after fogging the glass with her breath, and giggled.

"Brown," I stated.

"What?" Ron asked, confused.

"Lavender Brown. That's her name." I said.

"I helped her in defense," I stated.

"Huh." Ron breathed.

"Anyway, I don't even know how to prove it to anyone because she's going around telling everyone!" Ron exclaimed.

"I honestly couldn't care less about Lavender," I said, being disgusted after she blew Ron a kiss and then giggled.

"So what happens? If you break an Unbreakable Vow?" I asked, changing the subject.

Ron stared at me in fear before he answered.

"You die," he said darkly.

We didn't speak much during the rest of the ride, excluding random conversations about the Order, school, and the ministry occasionally. We both didn't know what to assume anymore, as we were yet again at a point where everyone needed to wait. The trolley witch came by and I got a few things for Ron and me to share, but we didn't both exchange thoughts. I thought about the horror of making an Unbreakable Vow.

Why would Snape make such a vow? What was Malfoy assigned to do, and why was Snape put to protect him? His smart mum knew he wouldn't be able to go through with whatever it was he needed to do, and that he might even die or hurt himself in the process (not that I wouldn't mind that). I wish I could rub it in his face. Who needs the protector now, Malfoy? His own mother didn't trust him to finish the stupid unknown task. It was honestly sad!

Suddenly, the train started to come to a stop and I snapped out of my daydreaming. Only, it wasn't a dream. I had to tell Sirius about this. Malfoy was up to no good, and I had to find out why. I saw Ron starting to get up and I decided I should do the same. I almost forgot what I was supposed to do, when I heard Hedwig hoot from where I had stored her cage. I got her down and went for the larger luggage that was tucked next to her.

I lifted my trunk off of the shelves of the compartment and made my way out with Ron. I couldn't wait to get somewhere. Out. Anywhere. Wherever. I woke up way too early for the time that I went to sleep, and I was NOT happy about it. I practically stayed up all night thinking about the conversation I had overheard between Malfoy and Snape. I knew Malfoy was up to something. Voldemort gave him a job. I knew it.

"Ron! Harry!" Mrs. Weasley cried from the platform.

I whipped around and found Mr. and Mrs. Weasley walking towards us with Tonks and Remus following closely behind them.

"Ginny!" Mrs. Weasley exclaimed as I saw a red-headed figure running towards her from the left of me.

She hugged Mrs. Weasley and Ron and I went to greet Remus and Mr. Weasley. Tonks seemed distant and Remus didn't say much.

"Padfoot didn't come as to not gain attention," Remus started.

Tonks looked away from him and watched around us as she was here to escort me safely back. Remus didn't say anything and soon Molly came to hug me.

"Harry! I hope you had a safe trip," Mrs. Weasley started.

I noticed Mr. Weasley step to the side and mutter something to our trunks and pets behind Mrs. Weasley and they soon all disappeared.

"As safe as it can get!" I chuckled as she let me go.

We were all led a bit to the side of the Platform where there weren't as many students. I realized this should be some sort of part of the Platform we could apparate to.

"Well, Ron's first with me," Mr. Weasley started, wanting to get off of the platform as fast as possible.

"Ginny, you're with me," Tonks said quietly as she approached Ginny.

"I'm after them, and then Harry's the last with Remus," Mrs. Weasley said, trying to avoid staring between Tonks and Remus.

"Safer this way," Mrs. Weasley added.

Ron and Mr. Weasley disappeared with a pop and soon Ginny walked towards Tonks. Tonks looked up with her eyes closed and opened them at the last second to connect them with Remus's for a millisecond before they disapparated. Whatever he did must've not been good, because the cold treatment was the worst.

"Well," Mrs. Weasley sighed trying to not notice the obvious tension.

"That leaves you both." She stated.

I looked around to make sure I didn't have anything left, but Mr. Weasley had taken care of both Hedwig and my trunk.

"See you in a bit." She said confidently before she disappeared with a crack.

I stood there watching the spot where she had just disapparated and thought deeply. Everyone's moods were so out of sorts! What happened while we were gone? Remus, I could understand because of everything, but it seemed worse this time. Tonks was the opposite of her bubbly, clumsy personality, and Mrs. Weasley looked defeated. I could tell Mr. Weasley was trying to stay calm and just follow orders, but times were getting darker, and everything was changing.

I hoped Sirius wouldn't react in the same way. He could always cheer me up. He surely wouldn't be too badly affected by everything, right? UH- how could I be so stupid? It affected everyone. Sirius could just deal with it better. I remembered how he told me about him and dad. He had a horrible childhood, yet, with the help of my dad, his smiles and jokes never faded. No matter what he was going through.

Suddenly, Remus approached me and held his arm out. It seemed he lingered in thought for a few moments as well before he snapped out of it. I couldn't think about anything else any longer, because it was now time to disapparate. I just hoped that everything and everyone was going to be okay. That was the last thing I thought before I reached for Remus's arm and instantly felt the horrendous feeling of apparating.

It seemed like it was going to go on forever, but I seemed to get a bit more familiar with it now that I had done side-along apparition more often. It was much easier than actual transportation, even though I did prefer a broom. I felt the air return into my lungs and my feet hit the ground. Everyone I had just seen was in the burrow along with some new additions, I saw Tonks's head just near Sirius's before she let go of him and disapparated instantly.

"Harry!" I heard my godfather call as he turned around from the place where Tonks had just disappeared.

I looked at his eyes, and I knew that he was, like everyone, affected by everything, but he was able to channel it into love and laughter. I then realized that this feeling, no matter the world's dark condition (or the tension between Tonks and Remus), was the feeling of Home.