Lucy Riddle and the Boy Who Lived

Sleep Time... Or not

Chapter Thirty-Seven

It had been a long day for Lucy, Harry, Ron, and Hermione. They — actually, just Hermione and Lucy — had to defeat Umbridge and save the day. Now they had to walk all the way back to Grimmauld Place because Hermione was too tired to Apparate. No one has seen Crookshanks anywhere but were all too tired to search for him. They'd all decided he was probably back at Grimmauld Place. Even Hermione didn't probe any further.

Lucy hoped to have a nice slumber for the night.

By the time they snuck back inside the Black house, everyone was exhausted. The four hours was too long for everyone, so when there was an unanimous vote to sleep, the lot crashed onto the couches.

Ron went to lay on the reclining chair. Lucy and Hermione were sharing a couch while Harry slept soundlessly on the single chair. A yelp woke everyone up and Ron screamed, "Bloody hell!"

A voice called out into the night, "Get off me boy! . . . But anyway, what are you lot doing in my house during this time? Everyone has been looking for you, and I would've killed you all if I didn't like you enough. Especially you, Harry, I'm really disappointed and proud at the same time."

Harry was still sleeping with his mouth agape. He was dead to the world as he dreamed about sleeping in Ginny's bedroom with her kissing his lips. Oh, those sweet, sweet lips . . . I miss them . . . I miss Ginny . . .

Instead a hand smacked him right on the face. Not what he was expecting.

Harry jumped off his makeshift bed, landing hard on the floor. He saw a pair of familiar eyes looking down on him. "Harry, you're so much like your father — a heavy sleeper. Never could wake him up during our Hogwarts years."

Sirius helped his godson up. When Harry was fully awake, Sirius asked, "Are you going to tell me why you're here?"

Harry shifted uncomfortably in his seat. "Er, we can't tell you. I'm sorry, Sirius, but Dumbledore only wanted us four to know. I made a promise to him — and I refuse to break it."

His godfather couldn't help the disheartened look from forming on his face. Sirius Black's main reason of living was avenge his best friend and look after Harry Potter. Harry was his best friend now — and him not being able to tell something so important made Sirius realize that just because James was his best friend, doesn't mean Harry will tell his godfather everything like his father did. Sirius wasn't like Hermione and Ron to him; he was only that to James.

Sirius sighed, running a hand through his tousled black hair. His eyes were bloodshot and had bruises beneath them. Harry could tell he hadn't had enough hours of sleep, and he wondered if it was because of the war or because of his disappearance.

". . . Look, Harry. I-I really care for you, okay? You're my godson, and you always will be, but I want to make sure you are safe. I care for you as much as your parents do. Don't get hurt. Come back safely to me, and I will be happy." Sirius added, "Oh, and by the way, Tonks and Lupin got married after your birthday. I forgot to tell you guys about it because of everything happening, but they're expecting a child!"

Hermione gasped. "What are they going to name the baby?"

"Teddy."

"Teddy . . . that's such a cute name!" Hermione squealed. "Do you know the gender? When can we meet him or her? Oh my gosh, I need to —"

"Hermione, chill out."

Sirius laughed. "Yeah, they found out not too long ago that Teddy will be a boy. You can meet him when he's . . . er, out of the . . . when Tonks is in labor."

Lucy couldn't stop the laugh from erupting from her throat. It was funny to her how men couldn't talk about birth and such. That's a norm for women, so she never thought it would frighten Sirius to talk about it.

The house suddenly shook. Everyone tried to get a hold of something to keep their balance. Harry grabbed a couch, Sirius his chair, Ron held onto Hermione, who held onto Lucy, who held onto nothing.

The three tumbled onto the ground. Ron hit his head on a table. He cursed under his breath. Sirius slowly made his way to the window and took a look outside. A few words that Lucy wouldn't want to repeat left his lips.

He turned back to the teenagers with a stony face.

"Snape's trying to destroy my house."

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"Why doesn't he just come inside? Dumbledore already told him about Grimmauld Place."

"You know he can't, Harry, without it being a four on one. He wants to cave us all in here because he knows we can't leave the house without running into his pack of Death-Eaters."

"Actually . . ."

They evacuated. They decided to let Snape think the lot was still inside the house meanwhile they escaped through the way they came in. Sirius was holding onto a grim-faced Kreacher. He didn't want to take him, but there wasn't another option. The four couldn't take him with them as much as they wanted to.

Lucy could see the Death-Eaters' backs as they watched the invisible house crumble. They couldn't see the house, but they most definitely heard the crash. It sounded like a bomb had been planted. It was surprising the neighbors didn't come out and investigated.

Probably placed a Muffling charm on the houses, Lucy thought. Smart.

The lot quietly scrambled out of the neighborhood. Sirius was panting by the time they stopped. Kreacher was heavier than he looked. He had to put the house elf down and took as a few minutes to catch his breath before glaring back at his former home.

"Guess we can't go back there."

"Sirius, I want to talk to you about something," Harry muttered. He motioned his godfather over to an empty area. "Why didn't you tell me about my mum writing to you? What are you hiding from me?"

Sirius's face drooped. "I'm sorry, Harry, it's just — gah, I really miss James and Lily. I was being selfish not to showing you that letter. I never wanted you to find out like this. There was even a photo. Did you bring it with you?"

"What picture? I never saw it on your desk."

Sirius gritted his teeth. "Someone stole it. It was a photo of you and your father fifteen years ago. It was attached to the letter."

"Oh."

The two headed back to the group. The six people exchanged looks. Lucy was the first one who spoke.

"I guess we need to split up now."

Sirius sighed. "I guess we do." He picked up the house elf. "I'll catch you guys later. And if I don't see any of you when I come back, I will hunt you all down and lock the doors so none of you can leave. I don't care if I sound crazy — I will be in the potential future."