Chapter 184: Padfoot (1/2)
It was past midnight when Chris, Ginny, Colin, Harry, Ron and Hermione decided to go to bed. The common room was completely deserted. But as they started to walk away Hermione came to an abrupt halt.
”What happened?” Ginny asked Hermione.
”I saw something,” Hermione answered. She was gazing towards the fireplace.
”Like what?” Chris asked.
”Sirius?” Harry said suddenly crouching on the singed and threadbare hearthrug.
”What?” Chris repeated, as all of them crouched down in front of the fireplace.
There in the middle of the dancing flames sat Sirius's head, long dark hair falling around his grinning face.
”I was starting to think you'd go to bed before everyone else had disappeared,” he said. ”I've been checking every hour.”
”You've been popping into the fire every hour?” Harry said, half laughing.
”Just for a few seconds to check if the coast was clear yet,” Sirius said but then noticed Colin. ”I didn't expect all of you to be here.”
”It's alright Sirius. That's Colin, our friend.” Harry replied and Colin beamed.
”Alright then,” Sirius said. ”Harry, I saw your letter.”
”Letter?” Chris and Hermione said together looking at Harry.
”Harry, I thought you knew our letters are being checked,” Chris said seriously.
”Don't look at me like that, there was no way anyone would have got secret information out of it, was there, Sirius?” Harry protested.
”No, it was very good,” said Sirius, smiling. ”Anyway, we'd better be quick, just in case we're disturbed — Umbridge. I know her by reputation and I'm sure she's no Death Eater —”
”She's foul enough to be one,” said Harry darkly.
”Yes, but the world isn't split into good people and Death Eaters,” said Sirius with a wry smile. ”I know she's a nasty piece of work, though — you should hear Remus talk about her.”
”Does Lupin know her?” asked Harry quickly.
”No,” said Sirius, ”but she drafted a bit of anti-werewolf legislation two years ago that makes it almost impossible for him to get a job.”
”Sirius,” Chris spoke suddenly. ”Are you sure she's not working for Malgino?”
”Do you doubt she is?” Sirius said raising his eyebrows.
”Yes, I do,” Chris answered. ”I mean I think she is.”
”Well, I will talk to Aurelia then. I hate to admit but she has a better chance of finding out about it.” Sirius looked thoughtful then said, ”So what are Umbridge's lessons like? Is she training you all to kill half-breeds?”
”No, she's not letting us use magic at all!” said Harry.
”All we do is read the stupid textbook,” said Ron.
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”Ah, well, that figures,” said Sirius. ”Our information from inside the Ministry is that Fudge doesn't want you trained in combat.”
”Trained in combat?” repeated Harry incredulously. ”What does he think we're doing here, forming some sort of wizard army?”
”That's exactly what he thinks you're doing,” said Sirius, ”or rather, that's exactly what he's afraid Dumbledore's doing — forming his own private army, with which he will be able to take on the Ministry of Magic.”