Chapter 16: The Return of Padfoot

Just a little bit after the second task, there was a Hogsmede trip. The thing that really worried me, though, about this Hogsmede trip? Sirius was coming to visit me, Hermione, Ron and Harry. So, of course, I have every right to be worried.

Is Sirius an idiot? He could be caught! Well, I probably shouldn't answer that question, because he practically is one. I mean, come on! He's still wanted! Not as much anymore, but he's still wanted!

Anyway, we were going to bring the wanted man some food from the kitchens (Hermione still refused to go down there.) for Snuffles, or, Sirius. We were going to meet him at the Shrieking Shacks Basement.

"Wait- can we meet up there after an hour in Hogsmede?" I asked the trio this morning.

"Why?" My brother asked back, raising an eyebrow at me.

"Because," I began sheepishly. "George and I are going to go on a date."

"Okay... Uhm, no kissing, no hand holding, no hugging, no-" Harry began, making a list.

"Oh god, Harry..." I said as I went to meet up with George at the front gate.

He smiled, and intertwined my hand with his. We walked close together, and we sat in our own carriage.

"After our date, I'll have to go with Ron, Mione, and Harry to visit Snuffles. You know, Sirius."

"Okay." He said. "Are you guys bringing him food?"

"Yea, Ron and Harry are going to the kitchen. Hermione still won't go there."

"Wow.... She needs to get over that..." He said, shaking his head.

"Yea, but it's kind of cute that she's doing that, though." I smiled.

He nodded his head, as if he didn't agree.

Anyway, he took me to the Hogs Head.

"So we can... Well, have time to eat alone, and not be interupted by Fred or Lee or your brother."

"Alright, I'd like that." I smiled.

We sat at a table, and ate our food, and drank our butterbeer.

"You have a butterbeer mustache, George." I giggled.

"Oh, do I now?"

"Yes, you do."

I lent in to clean it off, since, knowing him, head use his sleeve, and I'd use a napkin. After I wiped it off, we looked into eachothers eyes.

I got lost in his green-hazel eyes, and I could tell that he git lost in my green ones. The two of us lent inwards, and our lips met.

Sparks flew, and I smiled into the kiss. His arms wrapped around my waist, and mine wrapped around his neck.

We broke away, and smiled.

"That was nice." I said.

"Yes, it was."

"My brother gave me a whole list, no kissing, no hand holding, no hugging, blah blah blah."

"He's being protective, huh?" George asked me as we exited the pub.

"Yea."

Harry was nearby with Ron and Hermione. In fact, I saw him look for me. He met my eyes, and I acted as if I didn't see that.

With our hands intertwined, it pecked George on the cheek. George gave me a huge hug, and we lent in. With a quick kiss on the lips (with sparks flying, of course), and another hug, I waved goodbye as I ran over to the trio.

"You two are so cute!" Hermione said as we walked to the Shrieking Shack.

I giggled. "You think so?"

"I know so! I just wish that he would realise..." Hemrione sighed.

I nodded, and patted her back. "He will."

We're talking about Ron right here. The boys so thick headed...

Anyway...

"Hello?" Harry called.

A shaggy black furred dog came into view. Next thing I know, the dog turns into...

Sirius Black.

"Sirius!" Ron exclaimed, happily.

Hermione and I give him some food, and he suddenly starts eating a chicken wing, and gives one of the bones to Buckbeak once he finishes the chicken part if the chicken wing.

I sat by Buckbeak, and Buckbeak let me pet him.

We began talking about Barty Crouch.

"Well, that is certainly weird..."

"But he is a Ministry offical!" Hermione said. That girl, trying to defend the Ministry...

"Well, think about it, Hermione. Last time, when Voldemort-" Ron and Hermione winced at the name.

Wimps.

"Was in power... Just imagine it. You didn't know who was your friend, and who was your enemy." He scowled, obviously thinking of Wormtail.

The reason that I have no parents.

"And... Everyday, you'd want to know who was alive, who was dead. There were so many dead- muggles, muggleborns, and wizards and witches a like. Just imagine it! Voldemort had the mountain giants- trolls, and such- on his side. And that wasn't the best thing- mountain giants, they're nasty- never trust them. But, Barty Crouch- you know, his son was a supposed Death Eater."

"No...." I gasped.

"Yes, and... And... I reckon that Barty should of stayed home more often, and gotten to know his son. Not spend so much time at the Ministry, and maybe come home early once in a while. Barty Crouch Jr, his son, began to hang out with the wrong crowd... Became a Death Eater, I believe. And.. It was after was after your parents death, Madison, Harry-"

Sirius wiped away some tears that he didn't let fall out of his eyes at the mention of my deceased parents.

"Barty Crouch Jr had a trial, and his own father was there. And... Barty Crouch voted his own son guilty. I remember Barty Crouch Jr being in the cell next to mine." Sirius frowned.

Padfoot never did talk about Azkaban, and I can see why. His grey eyes held a quick coldness as he mentioned the place he spent the past twelve years.

Snuffles continued. "Most people go mad in there. He was for a bit, and his mother came to visit. I suppose, that after his mother left, he... I'm not exactly sure, because he went silent after a few days time. I guess that he finally died."

"That's nice." I sarcasticly muttered. Sirius turned to me, and gave me a small smile.

"Yea, it is huh?" He sarcasticly said back.

"Anyway, though, how does Winky have to deal with this?" Harry asked.

"Harry," I face palmed. "Haven't you been listening?"

"Nope." Harry said sheepishly.

"I haven't either." Ron said with a sheepish smile.

Those boys....

"Well, Sirius said in his letter that Dumbledore is what was it, Mione?"

"I think it was that he was reading the signs, right Sirius?" Hermione asked the innocent man, just to confirm her answer.

"Yes." He said, through a mouthful of mashed potatoes.

"Yea, that Dumbledore is reading the signs... And I know what Dumbledore seems to be doing. In fact, since Sirius latest letter, I began to read the signs as well."

"You have?" Asked Sirius, shocked.

"Yes, I'm not an idiot." I sharply stated at my brothers godfather.

"Well then... What are the signs?" Asked Hermione.

"You haven't noticed them, Mione?" Ron asked, shocked.

Heck, even I was shocked.

"No, I haven't... Well, what are they, then, Madison?" She asked me, deadly curious.

I took a deep breath. Should I tell them? I don't think so... But then, I do think so...

Hell with that, I'll just tell them!

"Okay... So remember when me and Harry's scars were hurting before the World Cup?" I stated.

"Yea.... And?" Asked Ron and Harry in sync. Hermione looked at me, as if she was still trying to figure out what I was getting at.

"Well, last time our scars hurt, Voldemort-" they winced again.

Wimps.

I continued. "Was near us. And at the World Cup, Death Eaters are torturing muggles. They'd do that back before... My parents died... And... Then the Dark Mark appeared in the sky. And the last time that that was seen was thirteen years ago. The Dark Mark was cast whenever a Death Eater had killed somebody. They'd put it over their house-"

"Sorry to interupt, but how do you know this?" Asked Ron.

"It's called reading, Ronald." Hermione rolled her eyes.

They fight light a married couple, like, all the time....

I continued, acting as if nobody had interupted me.

"To symbolize that they have been there, and killed somebody. The Dark Mark is then cast in the wood- maybe to create fear. But, only Death Eaters know the spell- which does mean that there was a Death Eater there."

"Malfoy's father!" Harry suggested.

I shrugged. "Not nessicarily."

"And why's that?" Harry asked me, cocking his right eyebrow at me.

Smugly, I retorted with, "Because a lot of people are Death Eaters- not all of them were caught, now, were they?"

"Oh, yea... Heh... Heh..." Harry sheepishly said, not liking be proved wrong by his younger twin sister.

"Exactly." I continued. "And then... Then there's Professor Moody. Alastor 'Mad-Eye' Moody. Mad-Eye Moody was the best Auror of all time- most of the cells in Azkaban are filled up due to him. So, if Dumbledore hired him to be the Defense Against the Dark Arts professor... And with the job being cursed ever since us four have been here..."

"Oh my god, Madison. You're brilliant!" Hermione exclaimed, finally getting where I was going.

Sirius smiled. He spoke after he chugged down all bottle of pumpkin juice.

He said, "I think... Dumbledore believes that Voldemort is coming back."

I clapped. "You see, that's my opinion. And it is rather suspicious, don't you think?"

"What's suspicious?" Ron asked me.

"The Triwizard Tournament! It's here. And... And books, they say that the Ministry has not held it for a long time, because a lot of people have died. And now they are trying to make it safer? Please. These tasks so far- they're freaking dangerous. And it is even worse that the Boy-Who-Lived, so to say, is in the tournament- and worse- he didn't even enter his name in the Goblet."

"She does have a point, you know." Ron shrugged, looking at Harry.

"Yes, and... The signs are sort of clear.... You just have to look at them- really desphire them. Then you'll see through them." I said, like it was no big deal that I could make sense of the signs.

I sighed, and remembered what Firenze the centaur had said just about four years ago. I said it aloud for some reason.

"Mars is bright tonight."

"Oh my god. You are seriously quoting Firenze, Madison?" Ron and Harry asked in sync.

Hermione and Sirius looked a bit lost.

I nodded. "I understand what he was saying now.... Mars is bright tonight."

"Huh?"

"In all great time, Harry, in all great time."

Unfourtanetly we didn't know that that time wasn't going to be in great time, meaning in a long time. Years or so, maybe, is a long time- great time.

We didn't have great time.

We had short time.

******

Hello, all! Wow, two chapters in two days! And a short little... Uh... Authors note too...

So three things in this story in two days! Weird, huh?

I tried to make this chapter a bit longer, but I don't know how long it will be...

I hope like two pages or so.

I hope you really love this chapter!

Love from,

Madison