Sirius Black

Well?

You wanted to see it.

Let's have it. I mean, I see I've been a right git, as she says (well, from her side) but what now?

Is it good or bad that no matter what she quotes (and Dora, that's Uriah Heap, that last bit), all I can hear whenever she starts on lyrics is 'Go Ask Alice' - and no, not just because Allie's usually my first line of defence when it comes to girls. Because I wish it had been on one of the albums she'd nicked. Perhaps I'll send her a copy of Lewis Carroll, as well.

Allie.

I'd ask Frank this but I fear he might take it to mean that the three of us aren't fit to go off on a rescue mission.

Er.

Well, has either of you ever forgotten the other's birthday? And if so, how did you make it up to the other? Or how does one.

I've got a chance to see Harry but

And I think the kid probably needs a visit. On the other hand, it's the first time Moony and I would be celebrating his birthday as - well, as whatever we are. A couple, I suppose, though that word sounds completely inadequate. Doesn't account for Dora and Bea very well. A family, then.

I mean, obviously he'll forgive me but I'd like to do something he'd appreciate. Nothing too soppy, though. It's hard to figure out what's proportionate to the offence.

What do you think?

Allie,

We've hit upon a solution to our little problem of becoming cramped over on Doughty Conduit. (Er, Frank. We're getting a bit too cramped at Doughty Conduit and so far the things we've tried have attracted the wrong sort of attention. Nothing to worry about but it's caused us to be a little more creative in our thinking. Just in case Allie hasn't caught you up.)

But you know how it is. One solution leads to another problem.

So. I'm trying to remember the steps of the Fidelius. I know there's the perimetre walk and the hearth ash bit and I remember the runes to obscure north and west, but I can't visualise the rune for east, at present. And I've drawn the one for south a few times but it doesn't look right. And there's the spell itself, of course.

And we also wondered - Well, I mean to say, we thought. You see, it needs to be done quickly and without anyone noticing. But we wanted to ask if one of you would be Secret Keeper for us. Either of you. And if so, could you pop down to London tomorrow, and we can have a go at it tomorrow night?

Right, I know you and Allie want me to play nice with that git, but what in Mordred's name is he on about, 'some people weren't as privileged as you'? If he wants to call being practically locked in my room for that whole summer with nothing to do except work on the transformation privileged, then I suppose I was.

I'll tell you one thing: I don't half like him underestimating our Terry like that.

Allie, I saw your note of yesterday. Time to let you two in on a little secret: I've become a tutor again. At this rate I shall be as qualified as anyone at Moddey at teaching muggleborns.

You've no idea how the proximity of the Dementors is affecting everyone up the castle - for myself, I find I'm in no mood to have an argument with Poppy or Minerva or any of them, so except for Pomona I'm simply steering clear.

Well, that's ... problematic when the N.E.W.T. exams are ongoing (And O.W.L.s next week, as we've just been reminded). I had to break cover and get myself up to that extra-large storage cupboard up on the 6th floor (Moony, you know the one we used to lock up the Slytherin team's brooms that year they were being absolutely murderous about the Final?). I made it inside no problem - as Padfoot, just in case. I mean to say, not that a large dog wouldn't raise just as much alarm, if he were seen, but at least it wouldn't be another sighting of Sirius Black's ghost, eh?

As I say, I made it to the cupboard but I wanted to put a locking charm on and another to alert me should anyone come too close. That meant wands, of course, which meant I needed my thumbs.

I swear I looked about before I changed. I promise you both I was sure I was completely alone, not a whiff of Peeves or any teachers patrolling. Not even to Padfoot's nose. But no sooner did I change than I heard a tiny gasp from the corridor to the left, just where it turns. I don't know which of us was more startled or more frightened.

No, I do know - I was more startled, but he was more frightened. Our Terry.

Allie, if you could see him. You'd want to catch him up and hold him tight until he just about breaks. Skin and bones, practically, and stunted despite the regular meals he's been getting with Minerva (and I gather he can cadge the house-elves with the best of them). And so scared of what I'd do. I ought to have Obliviated him on the spot - if he'd been a student I certainly would have done - but the moment I realised it had to be Terry, I just couldn't do it.

The moment he realised who I was, he practically fell to the ground and wanted to know what he could do to help. It was more than a little embarrassing, to tell truth - worse than Turner that first time, and that includes him falling overboard trying to hop from Frank's boat to mine. It was just ... Merlin, the boy looked at me with such ... trust. Absolute faith, like my being at Hogwarts meant liberation on the spot.

Once we both recovered our wits, he asked about the transformation. 'Could you teach me to do that? I've been trying on my own but I can't seem to get anywhere.'

Well. In for a Sickle, in for a Galleon, right? 'Only if you promise not to tell anyone,' I heard myself saying. 'Not just that I'm alive and here at Hogwarts, either. The Ministry don't know I'm an Animagus - no one can know that, do you understand?'

He fell to his knees again, swearing all sorts of loyalty and repeating that he'd do anything to help the fabled Sirius Black.

Merlin. I hope I never get used to people treating me like a messiah.

Anyway, we met again last night and after that exchange he had with Carrow I decided just helping him with a transformation isn't enough. I mean to say, I think he could do it eventually, he's got a good deal of innate talent, but it'll take him a while yet. He needs better defences and more quickly than that. I ... I told him to bring his wand next time.

I know, I shouldn't have let on that I know he has a wand. He put it together immediately, much more quickly than I would have guessed, that I must have had a hand in getting the wands for him and others like him. (MORE grovelling, which I could only get him to stop by putting him back on to showing me what he can do with the blessed thing.) He and Hermione have been working - and I think, Allie, with your Neville. At least, he seems quite friendly with your boy, from some of the questions he was asking. He's got some strong instincts for shielding and blocking spells. I think he'll need significant work at offence, as he's really rather timid about taking the initiative. And no wonder, with monsters like Carrow kicking him about his whole life.

We plan to meet about every other night. More than that and I fear he'll drop from exhaustion. But meanwhile, I wanted you two, especially, to know that I'm in contact with him, and looking out for him along with Harry and Hermione.

Better get myself hidden before the students start tromping about.

Oh - Hermione knows and I've confirmed with him that he can talk to her about it, though I haven't said that she has anything to do with us. He'll probably work that out on his own, as well. Fiendish clever, he is, did I mention?