Courage

-39-

"I know. I can't believe he got away, either," said Remus with relief. "But I'm glad. He's invited us to spend the summer with him at his old home which is very well hidden so he can stay in hiding. And since I can no longer teach here as Snape has already told the whole of Slytherin about what I am, Sirius has invited us to move in with him so you can see him every single holidays."

"What?" Layla's eyes widened. "But I thought Sirius was getting the Dementor's Kiss."

"He was supposed to, but he managed to get away," said Remus. "Oh! Sirius did leave a letter for you here," he handed a letter to Layla. "Now, I am so glad that you are alright, honey, but Dumbledore agreed to excuse you from the hospital wing as long as you spent the night there to recover. Off you go. Goodnight, I love you."

"I love you, too, dad," smiled Layla. "Night."

She then headed back to the hospital wing, opening the letter as she walked.

Layla,
You are so much like your mother. From your eyes to your smile to your stubbornness. You got your dad's protectiveness and anger issues, though.
I remember when I first saw you. I indeed was the first person to hold you after your parents. It was like a game of pass the parcel. From Eliana, to Remus, to me, to James, to Lily, and onwards. But I wish I could have kept holding you in my arms.
Without your mother in your life, Layla, I sincerely hope that I can be there for you and your father as much as I can over the years. If you will have me, that is.
I hope to see you this summer holidays, and many more to come.
Love from,
Padfoot

Layla smiled at Sirius' letter. She pocketed it and entered the hospital wing. She saw Harry and Hermione stood there, and Ron was still laying motionless in his bed.

"Guys!" Layla frowned. "What did Dumbledore talk to you about? Did you hear that Sirius escaped? How did he do it? What—"

"Layla, calm down," chuckled Harry. "We rescued Sirius."

"How?" asked Layla, her eyes widening in confusion. "You were in here the whole time."

"Oh, you know," Hermione tucked a gold necklace under her shirt. "Just a little bit of time-travel. The usual."

Harry and Hermione exchanged subtly grins and laughs, only increasing Layla's confusion, but before she could question them, the three of them all heard angry voices, growing louder and louder. Madam Pomfrey was staring at the door.

"Really — they'll wake everybody up! What do they think they're doing?"

Layla was trying to hear what the voices were saying. They were drawing nearer.

"He must have Disapparated, Severus. We should have left somebody in the room with him. When this gets out—"

"HE DIDN'T DISAPPARATE!" Snape roared, now very close at hand. "YOU CAN'T APPARATE OR DISAPPARATE INSIDE THIS CASTLE!"

"Severus — be reasonable—"

BAM.

The door of the hospital wing burst open. Fudge, Snape, and Dumbledore came striding into the ward. Dumbledore alone looked calm. Indeed, he looked as though he was quite enjoying himself. Fudge appeared angry. But Snape was beside himself.

"OUT WITH IT!" he bellowed. "WHAT DID YOU DO?"

"Professor Snape!" shrieked Madam Pomfrey. "Control yourself!"

"See here, Snape, be reasonable," said Fudge. "We just saw—"

"THEY HELPED HIM ESCAPE, I KNOW IT!" Snape howled, pointing at the children.