Courage

-39-

"Calm down, man!" Fudge barked. "You're talking nonsense!"

"YOU DON'T KNOW THESE CHILDREN!" shrieked Snape. "THEY DID IT, I KNOW THEY DID IT—"

"That will do, Severus," said Dumbledore quietly. "Think about what you are saying. Madam Pomfrey, have these students left their beds?"

"Of course not!" said Madam Pomfrey, bristling. "I would have heard them! Apart from Miss Lupin, who went to see her dad and came straight back."

"Well, there you have it, Severus," said Dumbledore calmly. "Unless you are suggesting that these kids are able to be in two places at once, I'm afraid I don't see any point in troubling them further."

Snape stood there, seething, staring from Fudge, who looked thoroughly shocked at his behavior, to Dumbledore, whose eyes were twinkling behind his glasses. Snape whirled about, robes swishing behind him, and stormed out of the ward.

"Fellow seems quite unbalanced," said Fudge, staring after him. "I'd watch out for him if I were you, Dumbledore."

"Oh, he's not unbalanced," said Dumbledore quietly. "He's just suffered a severe disappointment."

"He's not the only one!" puffed Fudge. "The Daily Prophet's going to have a field day! We had Black cornered and he slipped through our fingers yet again! All it needs now is for the story of that hippogriff's escape to get out, and I'll be a laughingstock! Well... I'd better go and notify the Ministry."

"And the dementors?" said Dumbledore. "They'll be removed from the school, I trust?"

"Oh yes, they'll have to go," said Fudge, running his fingers distractedly through his hair. "Never dreamed they'd attempt to administer the Kiss on an innocent boy. Completely out of control... no, I'll have them packed off back to Azkaban tonight. Perhaps we should think about dragons at the school entrance."

"Hagrid would like that," said Dumbledore, smiling at Harry, Layla, and Hermione. As he and Fudge left, Madam Pomfrey hurried to the door and locked it. Muttering angrily to herself, she headed back to her office.

There was a low moan from the other end of the ward. Ron had woken up. They could see him sitting up, rubbing his head, looking around.

"What — what happened?" he groaned. "Why are we in here? Where's Sirius? Where's Lupin? What's going on?"

"Don't ask me," said Layla with a shrug. "I'm just as confused as you are."

When Harry, Layla, Ron, and Hermione left the hospital wing at noon the next day, it was to find an almost deserted castle. The sweltering heat and the end of the exams meant that everyone was taking full advantage of another Hogsmeade visit. Layla was slightly saddened by that as she wanted to see Cedric. Madam Pomfrey had told her that Cedric had tried to visit her but no visitors were allowed.

The next day, however, Layla was smothered with hugs, a kiss, and multiple 'are you alright?'s from Cedric.

The exam results came out on the last day of term. Harry, Layla, Ron, and Hermione had passed every subject. Percy had got his top-grade N.E.W.T.s; Fred and George had scraped a handful of O.W.L.s each. Gryffindor House, meanwhile, largely thanks to their spectacular performance in the Quidditch Cup, had won the House championship for the third year running. This meant that the end of term feast took place amid decorations of scarlet and gold, and that the Gryffindor table was the noisiest of the lot, as everybody celebrated.

The next day, Remus had said that he had chosen go sit up front near the driver for the train ride home and so Layla joined her friends in a carriage. The four of them ate, drank, talked, and laughed on the way back.

"I went to see Professor McGonagall this morning, just before breakfast," said Hermione. "I've decided to drop both Muggle Studies and Divination. I can't stand another year like this one. Without Muggle Studies and Divination, I'll be able to have a normal schedule again."

"It's the Quidditch World Cup this summer," Ron changed the topic. "Layla, I know you and your dad are visiting Sirius, wherever he's hiding, but you should come see the World Cup with me and my family! You all should!"

The four of them then played several games of Exploding Snap.

"Guys," said Hermione suddenly. "What's that thing outside your window?"

Layla turned to look outside. Something very small and gray was bobbing in and out of sight beyond the glass. It was a tiny owl, carrying a letter that was much too big for it. The owl was so small, in fact, that it kept tumbling over in the air, buffeted this way and that in the train's slipstream. Harry quickly pulled down the window, stretched out his arm, and caught it. It felt like a very fluffy Snitch. He brought it carefully inside. The owl dropped its letter onto Harry's seat and began zooming around their compartment, apparently very pleased with itself for accomplishing its task.

Harry picked up the letter. It was addressed to him and Layla. He ripped open the letter, and shouted, "Lay, it's to us from Sirius!"

Dear Layla and Harry,
Buckbeak and I are in hiding. I won't tell you where, in case this owl falls into the wrong hands. But, Layla, your father is aware and will take you to visit me over the holidays.
I believe the dementors are still searching for me, but they haven't a hope of finding me here. I am planning to allow some Muggles to glimpse me soon, a long way from Hogwarts, so that the security on the castle will be lifted.
There is something I never got around to telling either of you. It was I who sent you two the Firebolts.
Crookshanks took the order to the Owl Office for me. I used your names but told them to take the gold from my own Gringotts vault.
This part is just for you, Harry.
I am enclosing something else for you, which I think will make your next year at Hogwarts more enjoyable.
I'll write again soon, to the pair of you.
Sirius

Harry looked eagerly inside the envelope. There was another piece of parchment in there.

I, Sirius Black, Harry Potter's godfather, hereby give him permission to visit Hogsmeade on weekends.

"That'll be good enough for Dumbledore!" said Harry happily. Layla took Sirius' letter from Harry and read the bottom of it.

"Wait, there's a PS...."
　　
I thought Ron might like to keep this owl, as it's my fault he no longer has a rat.

Ron's eyes widened.

"Keep him?" he said uncertainly. He looked closely at the owl that had delivered the letter for a moment; then he held him out for Crookshanks to sniff.

"What do you reckon?" Ron asked the cat. "Definitely an owl?"

Crookshanks purred.

"That's good enough for me," said Ron happily. "He's mine."

Layla met Cedric on her way off of the train.

"I'll write to you," Layla promised. "Every day."

"You better," smirked Cedric, kissing her forehead softly. "Are you going to the Quidditch World Cup?"

"I'm not sure," said Layla. "I might do. Ron's invited me."

"Well, if you do, I'll be sure to look out for you," said Cedric. He planted a kiss on Layla's lips. "Goodbye, gorgeous."

A loud throat clearing was heard. The two looked over to see Remus, looking amused.

"Oh! Dad," Layla blushed in embarrassment. "Come on, let's go. Bye, Ced!"

"Bye!" Cedric called back as Layla left through the barrier with Remus. Layla glanced at her dad.

"How long were you standing there?"

"Long enough," smirked Remus. "But I'm glad you're happy, Layla. You deserve happiness."

"Thank you, dad. He makes me really happy," said Layla, and with that, the summer holidays began.