Rescued

Home Again: Harry

"Harry, mate, get up!" I was shaken awake by Ron, who was grinning. "We're going to Rose Cottage. Dumbledore told us to come get you and eat quick; we're leaving in a few." I sat up and rubbed my eyes.

"Who's us?" I said, groping around to find my glasses. To my surprise, they were soon placed into my waiting fingers.

"Hermione," Ron said, smirking.

"Ron! I'm in my knickers!" I yelled, feeling my face turn red. Hermione blushed and walked out of the dorm.

"I'll wait in the common room," she called.

"Thanks, mate," I said sarcastically at Ron as I looked for my robes.

"How was I supposed to know?"

I grumbled at him, but Ron ignored it. He seemed to think the whole situation was just hilarious. We snuck into the Great Hall for some toast and eggs, and took the fastest route to Dumbledore's office. Hermione lead the way, she was the only one out of all of us to remember where sir Cadogan had led us.

"Here we are," she said triumphantly. "Lemon drops."

The gargoyle didn't move. Hermione's look of surprise made Ron snort.

"Of course he's going to change the password, 'Mione," he said. "Fizzing wizbees?" The gargoyle remained as stoic as ever.

"Cockroach clusters?" I tried. The gargoyle sprang to life and jumped out of the way. Ron slapped my back.

"Well done, mate!"

I smiled as Hermione knocked on the door. A gentle "Come in," was heard.

We all stepped into the office. It was just like I had remembered. Faux the Phoenix in the corner, preening, all the headmasters and headmistress's portraits hanging. Some were sleeping, others chatting. I recognized Sirius's relation immediately, Phineas Nigellus, eyeing me warily from his dark portrait. The silver instruments were placed delicately on Dumbledore's desk.

"Sit down; sit down. There is much to tell you and little time." We all to our seats in plush armchairs that suddenly appeared behind us.

"Is this about uncle Remus?" I asked.

"Yes. As Remus has notified me, Sirius is very hurt and needs someone to help him. But what I am confused on is that why he would need you if he is already an excellent healer and helper himself." Dumbledore's periwinkle eye flashed expectantly at me. I pulled Remus's letter and Sirius's letter out of my robes and handed them to him.

"Perhaps because he will not be there himself," I suggested, my face flushing with anger again.

"Oho, he has decided to leave you? That is not good. Not expected at all. In fact, I am slightly disappointed in him. Now, because of this, I'm afraid I will have to send all of you to help Mr. Black. I expect you back by the end of this month." He tossed a teapot at us. It was glowing blue. Ron immediately told Hermione to touch it, and I felt the strange hook behind my stomach pull us along towards home. Rose cottage.

Sirius was in the kitchen, drinking a cup of tea. He nearly dropped the cup when all three of us arrived.

"Bloody--" he said, but I cut him off in a hug. He gripped me tightly, and then let me go to inspect the others. "Ron? Ron Weasley? It's been a while." Sirius smiled at him, and Ron shook his hand. "Now who's this lovely lady?" Sirius said, winking at Hermione. Hermione flushed.

"Hermione Granger, sir," she squeaked.

"Sirius, stop it. She's our friend." That only made Sirius's grin widen.

"Oh, is she now?"

"Padfoot," I said.

"Fine. You all in for a cup of tea?" Sirius let go of Hermione's hand, and summoned three cups with a flick of his wand.

"Actually, Mr. Black, Professor Dumbledore expects us within the end of this month." Hermione said, looking determined.

"Pooh. Old man can do his own thing. Now, tell me, why are all of you here?"

"Dumbledore didn't say, exactly. He just summoned all of us to his office."

"Huh. " Sirius slurped from his cup.

"Where's Lily?" I said, looking around. Surely she heard our arrival. Speak of the devil, and in she walked, her feathery fur dancing in the air as she trotted towards me. She had grown quite a bit, and was up to my waist already. Her piercing blue eyes looked at me happily, while I jumped out of my chair and hugged her.

"Wow, mate, she's grown a few feet," Ron said, patting her head.

"Harry, that's a beautiful dog," Hermione exclaimed, stroking Lily's back.

"So..." Sirius said. We all looked up at him. "Lily and I talked, and found that Remus is in Switzerland," he proclaimed.

"But Mr. Black, that's impossible!" Hermione exclaimed.

"Call me Sirius," Sirius said. "No one calls me 'Mr. Black'. As for that being impossible, are you quite so sure?"