Harry Potter and The Mirror's Gift

Chapter 7

November had arrived, and the Quidditch season had started. The first match would see Slytherin playing against Hufflepuff. Harry, who had been held up because Professor Binns had wanted to see him about an essay, found himself running as fast as he could to get to the match on time.

He was passing the Charms classroom when he heard the words.

" – Sirius Black – "

Harry screeched to a stop. Had he heard wrongly? He tiptoed quietly back to the door of the Charms classroom.

"– wants to see us in Hogsmeade, I don't know why there's all this secrecy."

"But we'll miss the Quidditch match!"

Professors Flitwick and McGonagall were inside the classroom, talking. Harry looked quickly down the corridor, but there was no one to see him eavesdropping. He moved closer to listen.

"Fudge says there's something important about Black that he wants to discuss with us," Professor McGonagall was saying. "It has something to do with capturing him, I believe. He purposely chose today because everyone else will be at the match."

"Who else is going?" asked Flitwick.

"Only Albus," replied Professor McGonagall. "He didn't want too many teachers absent from the match, or people will notice.

"Where are we meeting?" asked Flitwick.

"The Three Broomsticks, at one o'clock," she replied.

Harry could hear them walking toward the door, and hastily tiptoed to the next classroom, which fortunately was empty. He waited until their footsteps had died away, then slowly started walking back toward the Gryffindor common room, thinking.

They were having a meeting to discuss Sirius Black! What could it be about? Was Sirius in danger of being captured? Should Harry not try to find out, and warn him?

Harry made up his mind. Much as he hated to, he'd have to miss the Quidditch. There was no knowing how long the match would take, and it would look very odd if he left halfway.

The common room was deserted – everyone had gone to the match. Harry went up to the bedroom and took the Invisibility Cloak out of his trunk. Feeling inside his robes for his wand, he went to the level where the hump-backed witch was.

"Dissendium," he muttered, tapping with his wand. Then he slipped inside the secret passageway, and made his way toward Hogsmeade.

He put on the Cloak when he reached Honeydukes, and then wandered around aimlessly for a while. It was too early to go to the Three Broomsticks – there was at least another hour to go. He found himself wandering near the Shrieking Shack, and sat down under a tree.

Harry found himself waking up with a start. It was starting to rain. Cursing himself for falling asleep, he saw to his horror, that it was almost four. How could he have slept so long?

The rain was becoming heavier. Still under his Invisibility Cloak, Harry ran to the first shop with an open door that he could find – a jewellery and antique shop – but he had hardly entered it when he stopped short in surprise.

Professor Lupin was at the counter, talking to the shopkeeper.

" – haven't seen you for a long time, Remus, how about a cup of tea, she'll be taking some time to look around anyway, the ladies always do," the shopkeeper was saying.