The Loyal and Just

Chapter Seven

A month past and September turned into October. Lupin's classes were awesome. Divination was plain out weird, despite the fact that I totally aced it. I enjoyed Ancient Runes a lot since it was super interesting. I continued being awesome at Potions and Transfiguration. Charms became my knock-off class. History of Magic was as boring as usual. And Herbology made me want to puke.

I think Kitty was doing better, we hung out a lot. She liked to head down to Hagrid's hut and talk. I believe she befriended Ginny Weasley and another, nicer, second-year Gryffindor. She also met a Ravenclaw named Luna Lovegood, someone I've never met but I know that she's crazy.

It was a typical Sunday afternoon, me and Tracey were finishing an essay for Potions by the lake. I feel like water's always relaxed me, which is why I love the lake.

I moved my hair out of my face and caught something black in the Forbidden Forest.

"Hey did you see that?" I asked Tracey, not looking away from the glance I saw.

"What?" Tracey asked half-heartedly.

"Nevermind."

But I didn't give up on the idea. I told Tracey that I needed to grab some more ink and got up. I didn't head for the dungeons though, instead, I turned into a fox and headed over for the forest. Soon I was plunged into darkness, with towering wood rising above my head. I ran through towards where I spotted the black.

I started to think that maybe I just imagined it. Then I finally spotted what caught my eye. A large black dog stood in front of me, reminding me of the death omen the class has talked about many times in Divination. I bark at it, as I'm still a fox. The dog barks back, a deep loud bark. And then growls. It's terrifying. I begin to run away but decide otherwise. Instead, I get behind a tree and hide, waiting to see what it does. It seems like the dog looks around and then heads further into the forest. I follow.

I begin to suspect that the dog knows I'm following it because I think it tries to shake me off his trail, but I'm stubborn and I continue following the dog. I don't know why I just find it odd how there's a gigantic black dog wandering the forest. Before long the dog gives up. We're deep in the forest and I have no idea how to get back to the school.

And then something happens that shocks me. The dog is an Animagus, like me. The large body of the dog turns into a grown man with messy black hair. I recognized him immediately, after all, I've been seeing the same man on posters everywhere I look. The dog I've been following is Sirius Black.

I tread lightly, moving closer to him. I could always be wrong and the man is a crazy psychopath. Then again he doesn't know I'm human too. He chuckles a bit and gets on his knees.

"Hey," he says to me, "Why have you been following me?"

I sit down, gazing at Sirius Black, the mass murderer, who's talking to a fox.

Sirius mutters something, I can't catch what he says.

Then, all of the sudden, as if I were doing it myself, I turn back into a person, staring at Sirius.

"What's your name?" Sirius asks, pointing his wand at me, threateningly.

I start freaking out, he could probably kill me right now.

I clear my throat and say "Araminta Hall."

I can tell he recognizes the last name.

"Um," I'm nervous, "You probably know my mum, Denebola Hall"

He lowers the wand.

"You're Dene's daughter?" He asks.

I translate Dene to Denebola.

"Yeah," I tell him.

He starts grinning,

"So you're from the school right?" He asks, and I nod in return, "What house?"

I forgot that I'm not actually wearing my uniform and instead wearing the green sweater mum got me last Christmas.

"Slytherin." I say, "My little sister, Felicity, is in Gryffindor." I add when I see him recoil. "So why are you here?" I ask, "This is probably the worst place you could possibly be."

He sighs.

"You probably think I'm a serial killer, right?"

"Actually, my mum has a different theory, that you were framed by Peter Pettigrew."

Sirius grins again, "Well, your mum's right."

I make a mental note to tell mum about this

"I'm here because Peter Pettigrew is here." Sirius states.

"What? I think I would've known if he was here."

"Peter is an Animagi," Sirius groans, "Like me and like yourself. He's hiding as a rat. One of the Weasley kids has him as a pet."

Scabbers...

"I know him," I tell Sirius, "Ron, he's had Scabbers since, like, forever."

"Scabbers?" Sirius asks blankly.

"Pettigrew, it's what Ron's named him." I explain, "So you're staying here until you've killed Scabbers?"

"Yeah, and hopefully meet Harry Potter." Sirius says, "I was best friends with his dad and I'm Harry's godfather. I want to meet him."

"I could help." I volunteer "We've been friends since my first year here. Maybe you guys could meet at Hogsmeade. Our first weekend there is on Halloween."

Sirius grins again, "Alright."

"So do you know how to get out of here?" I ask him, "I have no idea where we are."

"Sure," he shrugs, "Just follow me."

He turns back into a dog and I follow as a fox. Sirius leads me back through the forest and before I know it I'm at Hagrid's Hut. I return to my normal state.

"Nice to meet you," I tell Sirius before returning to Tracey by the lake.

Sirius barks back. I grin slightly.