Smoke and Mirrors: Chapter 1
19/10/2009
He saw him fall.
The only person who had ever felt like family was pushed and she was standing with an evil gleam in her eye.
Sirius had a truly panicked expression in his eyes as he fell.
Forgetting about everything, he tried to reach his godfather. Harry rushed through the crossfire of curses and hexes hoping to get there in time. Sirius met his eyes as he screamed.
“Sirius!”
He didn’t even notice that he had yelled. The black haired man fell so slowly that Harry was sure that he could get there in time. And then, Sirius fell behind a curtain.
“SIRIUS!”
Harry was about to follow him, but strong arms fastened themselves around Harry’s waist and Harry fought against them, wondering why his godfather didn’t just pick himself up. Could he really be that hurt? Did that bitch do something else to him?
“Harry, he’s gone.”
Harry kept fighting. He needed to see why Sirius wasn’t getting back up. He needed to see if his godfather was all right.
“Harry, there’s nothing you can do.”
And that was that. Harry had seen her kill his godfather. He had seen her face when she did it.
Harry swore that he would get his revenge.
Five years at Hogwarts, and finally, he had lost a family member. Cedric’s death had been hard, but it was nothing like this. Harry could remember every single thing he did and thought of every single thing he didn’t do, could have done better, or didn’t do at all. Still, no matter how many times Harry went over it in his hind, Sirius was gone.
Harry had been called to Dumbledore’s office for a post-combat meeting. The headmaster had talked about pride, respect, honor – all things that Harry had no interest in hearing about. He wanted to know how she would pay for taking his godfather away. A slight kick to his shin brought Harry out of his thoughts. The boy glared across the table at Tonks who smiled a little too innocently.
“And as we all know, Mr. Potter will be returning to his relatives’ for the summer,” Dumbledore said in a matter-of-fact tone.
“What?” Harry voiced what everyone else in the room was thinking.
“It is the best way to keep you safe over the holiday. Recent events have proven how dangerous Voldemort is. We cannot take any risks with your safety.”
And with that, the headmaster went on to other orders of business, leaving Harry a little more than annoyed.
The following day was hard for everyone. No one paid attention during classes and no one seemed to want to talk. Harry had to assure Hermione and Ron many times that he would be okay. They didn’t seem to believe him, but they didn’t press the matter. Harry spent his spare time brooding in the Gryffindor tower. The green eyed boy refused to talk to anyone who didn’t accompany him the night before. Even when he did talk, he didn’t say much. Hermione and Ron thought it was best that Harry had time alone to sort his thoughts out.
Instead of following his fellow housemates to dinner, Harry decided to sit by the lake. He packed a bag with some stolen food from the kitchens, a blanket, and his invisibility cloak and headed down to watch the sun set.
Finding a nice secluded spot in the edge of the lake, Harry settled down. The chill in the air became more noticeable as the sky turned into a vibrant show of red, orange and yellow. The lake was perfectly still and reflected the colours beautifully. Harry wrapped the blanket around his shoulders and watched the stars slowly appear. The deep blue sky turned to black and the stars shined as if they were diamonds trying to break free of a midnight cage.
“Where are you, Sirius?” Harry asked the stars. “I need you here, I’m not strong enough to lose you.”
The stars sparkled but did not answer.
“D’you hear that?” Harry yelled at the sky. “You can’t leave! I can’t fucking do this alone!”
The stars smirked at him and kept sparkling.
“What’s all the yelling for? And what can’t you do alone, Potter? Kill yourself? I’d be glad to help,” Malfoy appeared from behind a tree, smirking.
“Sod off, ferret boy. If I really wanted to kill myself, I wouldn’t let you help.”
Malfoy snorted. “Fine, don’t play nice. What are you doing out hear?”
Harry didn’t answer. The raven haired boy pulled his bag closer to him and pulled out a rather large sandwich. Malfoy sat down and looked at the sky.
“Why are you still here, Malfoy? Go back to your dungeons, I’m sure your two minions don’t know what to do when you’re not around,” Harry said, a slight sneer in his voice.
“You’re probably right, but annoying you is so much more fun, wouldn’t you agree? Besides, they’re probably in the Great Hall, eating themselves stupid. I have no desire to be part of that.”
Harry sighed, he’d rather sit in silence with Malfoy than spend the next half an hour arguing with him. Harry took a bite of his sandwich and took out a bottle of butterbeer.
“Did you eat?” Harry asked, not bothering to look at the blonde.
“Yes,” Malfoy lied as his stomach growled.
Harry rolled his eyes and muttered, “Thorn in my bloody side.”
Harry ripped his sandwich in two and shoved the untouched half under Malfoy’s nose.
“Here.”
Malfoy took the half a sandwich and was surprised when Harry produced an unopened butterbeer as well.
“Feeding me? I must say, you know how to treat an enemy well, Potter,” Malfoy said before he took a bite.
“I’ll take that as a thank you. And it’s nothing. Dying of starvation at Hogwarts is a pansy ass way to go, if I do say so myself. I’m just saving myself from humiliation when I’d have to admit that I wasn’t the one who killed you.”
The two boys ate their dinner and Harry produced a small cake from his bag. Malfoy briefly wondered how much the golden boy could eat before digging into his share of the food. After many hours of star gazing, the two decided that it must by hours after curfew. Harry packed up his belongings and walked back up to the castle with Malfoy right behind him. As they went their separate ways, the boys gave each other a nod and stealthily started their way to their respective dorms.
Harry woke early the next morning to finish whatever packing had to be done. After packing, he quickly showered and dressed himself in dark jeans and a white button down shirt. Harry rolled up his sleeves as he walked out of the bathroom. Ron was up and dressed and waiting for him. Harry nodded ‘good morning’, slipped on his shoes, and went down to the common room to meet Hermione. Once assembled, the trio made their way down to the Great Hall for breakfast.
Harry walked silently behind his two friends. Hermione and Ron didn’t ask about where he was last night, and Harry was glad. It would be hard to explain that he spent the majority of the night star gazing with his ‘arch-nemesis’.
The three entered the Great Hall, and Harry had still not said a word. Ron and Hermione turned around just in time to see Harry nod ‘good morning’ to a blonde at the Slytherin table. Harry ignored the questioning looks from both his friends and Slytherin table and made his way to his usual seat.
“Harry,” Hermione said, cautiously. “Are you all right?”
“Yeah, fine,” Harry said between bites of eggs.
“You got in late last night, mate,” Ron said.
“Yeah.”
“Harry, you do know you can talk to us about anything. We’ll always be here for you. You know that right?” Hermione said.
Harry put down his fork and smiled. “Yes, I know. It’s just… hard at the moment. Don’t worry, I’ll be fine.”
This answer appeared to satisfy Hermione because she started talking about summer plans and the Burrow. Harry ate quickly and excused himself, saying that he had packing to finish.
Harry spent most of the train ride by himself for Ron and Hermione had prefect duties. Harry enjoyed the ride and it felt somewhat shorter this time. As the train pulled into the station, Harry’s mind briefly went back to the previous night. The emerald-eyed boy shook the thought out of his mind. He would only have to put up with his relatives for a few months, then he would be back with the people that he knew. Harry said quick good-byes to his friends, and dragged his trunk out of the station and into his uncle’s car.
