Strange Places (Discontinued)

Chapter Three

Sirius grimaced. He was not happy to see Snape. Even less was he happy to have the man brought into his house, and into the select few who have been allowed inside the Fidelius charm parameters. Dumbledore should at least have asked him, but then, he would probably have said no, so it made sense that he did not ask. But that did not mean he had to like it.

Dumbledore made polite enquiries about whether Harry had already arrived, though he did not ask to see him. Then, he turned his sharp gaze on Sirius' face, and said. "Sirius, can you explain anything about the warning you gave me?"

Sirius frowned. He was not expecting that. "I don't know if I can explain. It just came to me while I was talking to you that day. Why? Did anything happen?"

"You could say that," Dumbledore spoke slowly, but his piercing blue eyes never left Sirius' face. "I did come across something that- I have greatly desired. But I remembered your warning in time. Otherwise..."

"Otherwise, you might be dying right now, if not already dead." Snape spoke harshly.

A faint smile appeared on Dumbledore's face, amused and yet affectionate as he looked at Snape. "I'm sure you would have found a way to keep me alive, Severus," his gaze shifted back to Sirius. "You can understand why I'm asking, Sirius. Somehow, you knew what was going to happen, and if not for your warning, I might well be dead now. While I'm not concerned for me personally, I can't but help feel that my death might have been a disaster for the Order."

Sirius frowned again. "I cannot explain it, Albus. I really cannot. I would like to help you, but I don't know why I said it. The thought just came to me, and I had to say it."

"Perhaps your brush with death has made you a Seer," Snape said, not sneering for once, "gave you prophetic powers."

"This is not prophecy," Dumbledore said. "Prophecy is not a prediction of the future. It is just a prediction of a possible future. And generally, Seers remain unaware when they have made a prediction. But here, Sirius was fully aware of what he said, and what he said was very clearly a prediction of the future. He knew what was going to happen before it happened."

"Wish I had this ability last year," Sirius muttered.

"But then, you might not have been able to clear your name," Dumbledore said gently. "Or to become Harry's guardian,"

Sirius nodded. "I guess it all turned out for the best."

"Yes," Dumbledore seemed to be steeling himself for something. "Sirius, will you allow me to look into your mind? Perhaps the key to what you did may be buried deep in your psyche, and legilimency can bring it forth. If your mind contains information that can turn this war around..."

Sirius was stunned. That was the last thing he expected. But at least, Dumbledore has offered to do it himself and not let Snape do it, as he did with Harry's Occlumency lessons. Perhaps it was the thought of Harry's lessons that did it, but he shook his head. "Sorry, Albus. I'm not comfortable having my mind invaded."

"And what when the Dark Lord invades your mind?" Snape asked harshly. "Your return from beyond has not gone unnoticed by him. He is eager to get his hands on you. And if he succeeds, he shall not ask your permission! He shall tear into your mind, and bring forth every little secret that you've ever harboured. Believe me Black, you would not relish that experience."

"Why should Voldemort be interested in me?" Sirius demanded.

"The Dark Lord is as obsessed with immortality as he is with establishing his ascendancy. To him, the two are the same. As such, he will not pass up the opportunity to find out how you came back."

"So, what are you suggesting? That I hide away again?" He stood up, agitated. "That I stay locked up again? No! I did not go to all this trouble to get my name cleared so that I can hide somewhere!"

"No," Dumbledore agreed. "None of us expect you to do it. But I want you to understand the risks, Sirius. Voldemort already knows what you mean to Harry. Now, you are his legal guardian. And you have somehow succeeded in coming back from the dead. All this makes you a target. Last year, he used a vision to lure Harry out. This year, he may attempt to make that vision true."

"And how is invading my mind going to help with any of this?" Sirius asked furiously.

"If there is knowledge of future locked inside your mind, perhaps we'll find a way to thwart Voldemort's plans for you."

"So he has plans," Sirius glanced at Snape as he spoke.

Snape gave a curt nod.

Sirius sat down again. "All right, Albus. I don't think you'll find anything, but I guess it's worth a try."

Dumbledore said. "Thank you. I promise I will not invade any of your memories other than the ones we require."

Dumbledore's presence in his head was invasive, and yet subtle. It was also gentle, and Sirius tried not to close his eyes. After a few moments, the presence was gone.

"I could not find anything." Dumbledore said softly. He sighed. "I think it is time for Plan B as the muggles say."

"There is a Plan B." Sirius said. And he was not surprised. It was to be expected that Dumbledore would be having a plan B. "A plan B for what?"

"Your safety," Dumbledore said. "I've convinced Minerva that due to the accident that befell her at the end of last year, perhaps she should take it a bit easy this year. Focus only on the OWL and NEWT students. She agreed on the condition that I find someone competent to teach the classes up to fourth year."

"You're asking me to come to Hogwarts as a teacher," Sirius couldn't believe it.

Dumbledore nodded. "I believe that you'll be safe enough in Hogwarts. It'll also give both you and Harry an opportunity to be near each other. You did register your Animagus form, did you not?"

Sirius nodded. "I had to. Fortunately, they considered the time I already served in Azkaban as punishment enough, though I still had to pay a fine. Albus, are you certain about this? I've never taught anyone anything."

"There's always a first time," Dumbledore smiled benignly at him. "You were the best in your year in Transfiguration. Even Minerva acknowledges your competence to teach her classes. You'll do well."

Sirius grinned. "Thank you, Albus. It'll be a real pleasure."

Dumbledore rose. "I think we're done here, Severus."

"Snape," Sirius said. "Don't go and make any Unbreakable Vows now,"

"Is that something that came to you?" Dumbledore asked before Snape could open his mouth.

Sirius nodded. He did not know what was happening, but it was important. That he knew. "This is important," he said.

Snape gave a terse nod, looking furious. Somehow, it gave Sirius no satisfaction.