A Potter Secret

Sirius' Health and Soulmates Reunited

          Isabella wakes early and sits by Sirius. She tries to heal his injuries as he sleeps, spelling potions into his stomach and wrapping up what she can't heal immediately.

Sirius wakes up half way through. He jolts up immediately before relaxing as he sees Isabella. "Good morning, Uncle Sirius," Isabella smiles. She lies down beside him, just letting him feel her warmth as she shivers from the effects of Azkaban.

"Izzy," Sirius smiles, wrapping her arms around her. "How are you?"

"I'm alright," Isabella assures. "You're the one who needs help. You're hurt."

Sirius sighs and nods. "Where am I, anyway?" Sirius asks.

"You're at Hogwarts, Uncle Sirius," Isabella assures. "In Papa's rooms."

Sirius' eyes widen and tries to sit up but Isabella holds him down. "Padfoot, you shouldn't be getting up."

"Isabella, it's not safe for me here," Sirius insists. "I have to go."

Isabella pulls out her wand and binds him to the bed. "You're not going anywhere for a couple days. You're safe here for a couple days."

Sirius lays back against the bed. "I'm sorry, just a bit jumpy I guess," Sirius assures. After a moment, a smile grows across his face. "Did you call me Padfoot?" Isabella nods. "I haven't heard that name in so long."

"Papa may have had his differences with you and Dad but he thought that I deserved to know about you and your antics," Isabella explains. "He's in classes right now but he'll be back later. I hear Uncle Moony was on the train last night. He's here as the defense against the dark arts professor."

Padfoot smiles, his hand stretching up to rest over his heart. "I miss him."

"He misses you, too," Isabella replies. "We did tell him that you were innocent. He believes in you."

Padfoot's smile grows. "I know," Sirius says. "I felt it through our bond. As soon as he accepted me again, I felt it."

Isabella nods. "Well then, let's get you feeling better. Then we'll talk about what to do with you."

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Isabella stays trapped in the rooms, trying to help Sirius. After two weeks, he's finally well enough to leave. Late that night, Isabella, in her cat form, and Sirius, as Padfoot, traipse through the castle. They make a quick stop by Remus' classroom. Isabella locks the door before running up to Remus' rooms. "Uncle Moony?" Isabella calls. She makes it to his bedroom where he's completely asleep. That doesn't last long.

"Izzy?" Remus asks, half asleep. "Izzy, what's wrong? What are you doing here this late at night?"

"Come on! There isn't much time." Isabella pulls him up and out, barely allowing him time to grab his dressing gown.

They make it to the balcony and Remus freezes at what he sees. "Pa-Padfoot?" Remus asks.

Sirius smiles and nods. "It's good to see you again, Moony."

Remus rushes down the stairs like a kid on Christmas morning and pulls Sirius into a hug. "Padfoot," Remus breaths.

Sirius grimaces but wraps his arms around Remus. They kiss briefly before holding each other at arm's length. "I missed you so much Remus," Sirius starts. "I don't have long before I have to go but I had to see you, at least once."

Remus smiles and squeezes his arms. "If you ever need anything, let us know. We'll find a way to get it to you. I understand you might not be able to stay nearby but if you can, I'll come and see you on Hogsmeade weekends when I can."

Sirius nods before kissing Remus again and giving him a final hug before pulling away. "You remember the way out?" Isabella asks.

Sirius nods and hugs her, kissing her forehead. "You be careful now. Cause a little mischief for me, eh?"

Isabella laughs and nods. "I love you, Uncle Padfoot."

"Take care of each other," Sirius says before transforming and running out of the room.

A tear slides down Remus' cheek and he wipes it away quickly. "Izzy, you should probably get to bed now," Remus mentions. "Thank you for- for bringing him here and taking care of him."

Isabella smiles sadly and nods, hugging him. "He might be your soulmate but he's my uncle."

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

As bridge and castle glimmer in the distance, Hagrid emerges from the Forbidden Forest, dragging a fistful of dead ferrets by the tail. A bird appears, circles his head playfully, chirp-chirp-chirping merrily before it flutters off, pin-wheeling past flowers, into a birdbath, finally coming to rest upon an ancient tree. It twitters cheerfully, singing its lovely song, when, Thwock!, a branch punts the bird into the air. As feathers fly, the whomping willow resumes its shape.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Harry, Ron and Hermione sit on fat little poufs in a murky, incense-laden room, along with Neville, Dean, Seamus, Lavender Brown, Parvati Patil and others. "Welcome, my children. In this room, you shall explore the mysterious art of Divination. In this room, you shall discover if you possess-" Trelawney starts. A crimson scrim flutters and Sybil Trelawney, Divination Professor, glides dramatically into view, eyes huge and bug-like behind enormous glasses. "The Sight. Hello. I am Professor Trelawney. Together, we shall cast ourselves into the future. But know this. One either has the Gift or not. It cannot be divined from the pages of a book. Books only cloud one's Inner Eye."

"What rubbish," Hermione mutters.

Ron spins. Frowns at Hermione. "Where'd you come from?" Ron asks.

"Me? I've been here all along," Hermione assures.

"You, boy! Is your grandmother well?" Trelawney asks.

"I- I think so," Neville replies.

"I wouldn't be so sure of that," Trelawney mutters. "The first term will be devoted to the reading of tea leaves. If all goes well, we will proceed to palmistry, fire omens, and finally the crystal ball. By the way, dear, beware a red- haired man." Parvati eyes Ron dubiously. Edges her pouf away. "Unfortunately, classes will be disrupted in February by a nasty bout of flu. I myself will lose my voice. And in late spring, one of our number will leave us forever." As the class exchanges uneasy glances, Trelawney smiles brightly. "Well then. Shall we?" Inside, a cloud of tea leaves mutates oddly. Harry, sitting opposite Ron now, frowns at the leaves, consults the symbols in the textbook, "Unfogging the Future", at his elbow. Trelawney walks amongst them, robes flowing. "Broaden your minds, my dears. And allow your eyes to see beyond." Trelawney takes Lavender Brown's cup, peers inside. "A five-leaf clover You can expect to wake with a horrible rash tomorrow morning, dear. Mr. Longbottom, after you've broken your first cup." Ca-chink! Neville fumbles the cup in his hands and the brittle crash of china is heard. "Would you be so kind as to select one of the blue ones? I'm rather partial to the pink." She pauses by Ron. "What do you see in Mr. Potter's cup, Mr. Weasley?"

"Well. He's got a wonky sort of cross. That's trials and suffering. But this lot here could be the sun, that's great happiness. So he's going to suffer but be very happy about it," Ron replies.

Professor Trelawney takes the cup, peers inside, and gasps. "Ahhh!"

"What is it, Professor?" Parvati asks.

Trelawney regards Harry with a mixture of pity and fear. "My dear boy You have the Grim," Trelawney mumbles.

"The Grin? What's the Grin?" Seamus asks.

"The Grim," Parvati corrects. "Not the grin, you idiot."

"But what does it mean, Professor?" Dean asks.

"'The Grim'," Lavender starts. All turn, see Lavender bent over her textbook. "'Taking the form of a giant spectral dog, it is among the darkest omens in our world. It is an omen of death.'" Harry peers into his cup. The tea leaves shift. The dog disappears. And a new image emerges slowly, Sirius Black.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~