[1] PARADIGM ↳ Harry Potter

-THREE: DEMENTOR

BACK IN THE Leaky Cauldron, Harry, Hermione, Ron, and Raven greet Ron's dad, who is sitting at one of the tables with his head buried in a newspaper. Raven recognizes the familiar picture of the wild-eyed Sirius Black on the front page before Mr. Weasley looks up, a wide smile spreading across his face at the sight of the children.

"Harry!" He exclaims, and Raven smiles as the two shake hands.

"They still haven't caught him?" Raven questions, interrupting the boys' greeting and gestures towards the paper.

"No, they've pulled us all off our regular jobs at the Ministry to try and find him, but no luck so far," Arthur Weasley says. Raven plants herself in one of the nearby wooden bar chairs and rests her head in her hands, listening intently.

"Would we get a reward if we caught him?" Ron asks, voice high in excitement. "It'd be good to get some more money---"

"There's no way, Ron," Raven scolds, sounding more like an adult than most, gesturing with her hands. "If Sirius Black is going to be caught, it isn't going to be by a thirteen-year-old wizard."

Mr. Weasley nods in agreement. "Raven's right. It's the Azkaban guards who'll catch him, you mark my words."

A moment later, Molly Weasley and the remaining red-headed children come through the front entrance, all of their arms overflowing with school supplies. Raven grins at the sight of her favorite twins, Fred and George, who are about to start their fifth year at Hogwarts.

Ginny, the youngest Weasley, mumbles a hello to Harry and flashes a smile at Raven. The brunette has been friends with the whole Weasley family for many years, and she is now very close with all of them.

Except Percy, that is. He was okay, Raven supposes, but he's a bit too uptight most of the time.

The red-head sticks his hand out for Harry to shake. "Harry. How nice to see you." His voice was monotone and Raven could tell Harry was trying not to laugh.

"Hello, Percy," he answers.

"I hope you're well," Percy says in a solemn tone.

"Very well, thanks---" Just then, Fred and George elbow their brother and stand in front of Harry.

"Harry!" Fred says, mocking Percy's tone and bowing. "Simply splendid to see you, old boy---"

"Marvelous!" George agrees in the same mocking tone and takes Harry's hand, giving it a good shake. "Absolutely spiffing!" Raven hides her face in her hands to stop from laughing.

***

The next day, it's time to go to King's Cross. A few Ministry cars escorted the Weasley family, Harry, Hermione, and Raven there. The brunette found it extremely dull. She found the idea of striking up a conversation with somebody extremely tempting, but not with uptight Ministry workers sitting in the driver's seat, able to hear everything.

They make it to the station and exit the car. Mr. Weasley suggests that they go through the wall between platform nine and ten in pairs

"Harry, why don't you and Raven go first?" says Mr. Weasley. In the next few seconds, Harry and Raven have their things ready to go, and are subtly moving through the wall. Once on the other side, Raven shrugs.

"I don't know what the fuss is about," she comments. "It was just as easy as the first two times."

"I need to talk to you," Harry says suddenly, seriously, ignoring Raven's comment. "And Ron and Hermione. On the train." She only nods before the rest of the group comes through the wall.