The Other Black Book 5

Chapter 13 - Percy and Padfoot

Aurora was the first to awake in her dormitory next morning, this time awoken by another dream. It was once more of some disaster befalling Bekker Street.

She lay for a moment watching dust swirl in the chink of sunlight falling through the gap in her four-poster's hangings and savored the thought that it was Saturday. The first week of term seemed to have dragged on forever, like one gigantic History of Magic lesson.

Judging by the sleepy silence and the freshly minted look of that beam of sunlight, it was just after daybreak. She pulled open the curtains around her bed, got up, and started to dress. The only sound apart from the distant twittering of birds was the slow, deep breathing of her fellow Gryffindors.

Aurora stepped down into the common room, surprised to see Harry sitting in his favorite squashy old armchair beside the now extinct fire, a roll of parchment in front of him. Aurora sat down across from him and looked around.The detritus of crumpled-up bits of parchment, old Gobstones, empty ingredient jars, and candy wrappers that usually covered the common room at the end of each day was gone, as were all Hermione's elf hats. Wondering vaguely how many elves had now been set free whether they wanted to be or not, Aurora silently watched Harry uncork his ink bottle, dip his quill into it, and then hold it suspended an inch above the smooth yellowish surface of his parchment.

Neither of them spoke, both still tired -- Aurora was leaning back in her armchair, not wanting to be the one to break the silence.

He sat quite motionless for a while, gazing into the fireplace, then, seemingly finally coming to a decision, he dipped his quill into the ink bottle once more and set it resolutely upon the parchment. After he was finished writing, he slid it over to Aurora to read.

Dear Snuffles,

Hope you're okay, the first week back here's been terrible, I'm really glad it's the weekend.

We've got a new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher, Professor Umbridge. She's nearly as nice as your mum. I'm writing because that thing I wrote to you about last summer happened again last night when I was doing a detention with Umbridge.

We're all missing our biggest friend, we hope he'll be back soon. Please write back quickly.

Best,

Harry

Aurora reread this letter several times, trying to see it from the point of view of an outsider. She could not see how they would know what he was talking about — or more importantly who he was talking to — just from reading this letter.

"It's good," Aurora said, her voice hardly above a whisper, and slid it back to Harry. She did hope Sirius would pick up the hint about Hagrid and tell them when he might be back: Harry did not want to ask directly in case it drew too much attention to what Hagrid might be up to while he was not at Hogwarts.

Considering it was a very short letter it had taken a long time to write; sunlight had crept halfway across the room while he had been working on it, and he could now hear distant sounds of movement from the dormitories above. Sealing the parchment carefully he climbed through the portrait hole and headed off for the Owlery. Aurora stayed in her armchair, resting without closing her eyes.

She waited for Ron and Hermione to trickle down so they could go to breakfast together. She told them that Harry was sending them a letter and would meet them in the Great Hall, and together they left.

"Morning," Harry said brightly to Ron and Hermione, joining them at the Gryffindor table in the Great Hall. He was much more awake and happy than Aurora had left him.

"What are you looking so pleased about?" said Ron, eyeing Harry in surprise.

"Erm . . . Quidditch later," said Harry happily, pulling a large platter of bacon and eggs toward him.