Immortal Magic (Book 1)

Chapter Twenty-Six

Allison's Point of View.

The tunnel was silent except for the sound of footsteps echoing against the damp stone walls.

Remus led the way, his wand trained carefully on Pettigrew, who stumbled ahead with his wrists bound tightly. Ron limped after him, still chained to Peter despite his injured leg. Sirius followed close behind, using magic to levitate Snape's unconscious body through the narrow passage.

Every now and then, Snape's head smacked against the tunnel wall. Judging by Sirius' expression, he wasn't trying very hard to stop it.

Harry, Hermione, and I walked at the back of the group. Since leaving the Shrieking Shack, Harry had barely said a word. His face was pale, his thoughts clearly elsewhere.

I slowed my pace until I was walking beside him. "Harry?" I asked softly. "Are you okay?" He looked over at me before glancing ahead toward Sirius and Pettigrew. "Just, overwhelmed," he admitted quietly. "But I'll be alright."

Then his lips twitched upward slightly. "Especially with you here." Warmth spread through my chest. I smiled and linked my arm through his, lacing our fingers together as we continued walking.

Neither of us noticed Sirius glancing back at us with the faintest knowing smile. Soon enough, we neared the end of the tunnel. Harry kept stealing glances toward Sirius like he wanted to say something, but didn't know how.

"Go talk to him," I whispered. Harry looked at me immediately. "No. I don't want to leave you alone." I couldn't help smiling at that. "You won't be," I reassured him. "I'll walk with Hermione."

He still hesitated. I nudged him lightly and pointed toward Sirius. "Go." Harry sighed but finally nodded before moving ahead to walk beside his godfather. I slowed until I was beside Hermione instead.

Harry's Point of View

For a while, Sirius and I walked in silence. Then, finally, he spoke. "You know what this means, don't you? Turning Pettigrew in." I looked at him. "It means you're free." Sirius nodded slowly.

"I don't know if anyone's told you this, Harry, but Lily and James made me your godfather."

"I know," I told him quietly. "Ron, Hermione, Allison and I overheard Professor McGonagall talking about it." Sirius looked surprised for a moment before continuing.

"If anything ever happened to your parents, I was supposed to take you." I stared at him. "You mean,"

"If my name's cleared," Sirius said carefully, "and if you'd want to, you wouldn't have to stay with your aunt and uncle anymore." I stopped walking for half a second. "I could live with you?"

Sirius smiled properly then. "You could." The idea hit me so hard it almost didn't feel real. "I'd leave the Dursleys in a heartbeat," I admitted. "Allison's been trying to convince the Weasleys to take me in for ages."

Sirius barked out a laugh. "She sounds like Lily already." Then his eyes flickered toward Allison, walking ahead with Hermione. "So," he drawled, a smirk tugging at his lips, "what's going on between you and my niece?"

I immediately tripped over a rock. Sirius laughed while I stumbled to regain my balance, my face burning. "I don't know what you're talking about."

"Oh, you absolutely do." I glanced ahead despite myself. Allison was laughing softly at something Hermione had said, moonlight catching in her blonde hair. Without meaning to, I smiled.

Sirius noticed instantly. "The way you look at her," he said quietly, "is exactly how James looked at Lily." I went scarlet.

"And the hand-holding," Sirius continued smugly. "The protective hovering. Trust me, Harry, it's not subtle."