Chapter 46 - Home visit
My third year started normally. Most days were filled with studies, and the workload became a little hectic very quickly. But I had already spoken with the professors about my tight schedule. Because I had taken all the elective subjects, I received permission to attend alternate classes whenever two subjects clashed. If Charms and Care of Magical Creatures overlapped, I attended elective first, then joined the Charms class of another house if the timetable allowed it. With this system, I could manage almost every subject without missing too much.
Soon, something else happened. Because of my performance and my growing knowledge, I was exempted from many of the normal Charms and Transfiguration lessons. Professor McGonagall and Professor Flitwick agreed that if I could show consistent skill, I could skip ahead or simply revise on my own. I had no problem with this. Charms and Transfiguration came easily to me, so skipping classes only opened more space for the subjects that needed extra time.
I never skipped Herbology or Potions, not even once, because those subjects needed real practical work and proper supervision. There was no way for me to practise planting magical herbs or brewing any draught outside Hogwarts, so missing classes would have been foolish. I attended them diligently, and the professors seemed pleased. Professor Sprout, especially, smiled every time I got something right, saying her "little badger" was turning into an expert faster than she expected. Professor Snape, of course, never said anything openly. But I know him well enough now to understand that if I ever asked for an exemption or made an excuse, he would not simply deduct points the way he did with other students. He would deliver a hex-sharp sarcastic remark and make sure I regretted the question for weeks. It is not unkindness; it is because he knows me, truly knows me. As for Defence Against the Dark Arts, I always attended those lessons too. Every professor taught differently, and each left behind small, valuable hints and some new stories. It was a great way to know the wizarding world through their experiences.
The only class I regularly missed was History of Magic. Professor Binns's droning recitation felt like memorising dust, and even Professor McGonagall agreed my time was better spent elsewhere. So she gave me permission to skip the History classes
But not all students liked this arrangement. A few were jealous, or at least worried that I was taking too many classes and still staying ahead of them. It confused them and probably scared them a little. But the happiest people in this whole timetable adjustment were the three girls.
Missy almost jumped with excitement whenever I walked into a class she was in, though her enthusiasm usually settled the moment she realised it was a mixed-house lesson and Natasha or Wanda were also present. The same thing happened with the other two. Still, they were all delighted that my strange schedule meant extra time with them.
They always sat beside me, one on each side whenever there were two girls, and the others would find a seat in front of me or behind me. The other students accepted this arrangement very quickly. They always left both seats beside me empty, as if it were a rule of nature. No one wanted to sit between hunters and their prey, or in this case, huntresses, protecting whatever they believed was theirs.
The ones who suffered the most were the other girls who thought they might have had some small chance before. I could see some of them ready to start a war over it, but they never managed. I heard from others that Wanda, Missy, and Natasha had held a private meeting. They reached an agreement that they would not share me with anybody outside their trio, even if it meant sharing among themselves. After that, they formed a united front that discouraged almost everyone else. And honestly, the three of them could be quite ferocious when they wanted. What I found most unacceptable was that nobody asked my thoughts before dividing me up.
But enough of these extracurricular activities.
I stayed focused on my studies, and on weekends I began visiting Hagrid's hut. At first, it was a short conversation or two, but slowly the talks grew longer and the comfort grew deeper. Before long, we were simply friends. Strong friends. He truly had a lot of knowledge about magical creatures. He could tell their habits and moods just from the sounds they made or the marks they left. He understood them better than many trained magizoologists. Maybe it was his giant blood or maybe just his nature, but he felt close to animals, and they trusted him.
Magical creatures were also comfortable around me. Not as deeply as they were with Newt Scamander, of course, but they stayed calm when I approached. Hagrid noticed this before others did. When he showed me some of the tamer creatures around the castle grounds, they came forward with curiosity instead of fear. That made Hagrid beam with pride, as if he had discovered a secret talent of mine.
I decided that after the Christmas holiday, I would ask him to take me into the Forbidden Forest, not the deep areas, only the outer shallower parts. That would be enough for now.
Soon Christmas arrived, and with it, the holiday. Once again, I packed my trunk and travelled back to London.
When we reached home from King's Cross, dragging our trunks behind us, it was already quite late. The winter night felt heavier in Little Whinging than in Scotland. We were all tired so we prepared to retire early. I had just finished dinner when I heard a sharp tapping at the kitchen windowfast. I knew that sound. An owl.
I was surprised. Hardly anyone sent owl post at this hour unless it was something important. I quickly opened the kitchen window and let the owl inside. The poor creature looked exhausted, so I gave it a handful of feed before untying the letter from its leg. When I saw the seal, I recognised Madame Tong's handwriting immediately.
The letter inside was short but full of meaning. She wrote that Sirius Black would visit Harry before Christmas, possibly in a day or two. He wished to celebrate Yule with his godson. After a year and a half of intense healing and treatment, he was almost back to himself. Lord Black had decided it was time for Sirius to return to society, and Sirius's first request had been to see Harry. Not politics, not responsibilities, not the ancient duties of the House of Black. Just Harry.
Madame Tong added that Lord Black had been mildly disappointed. He had expected Sirius to show more interest in power and politics after all that had transpored, perhaps even in reclaiming some lost political ground, but Sirius had waved all of that aside. Seeing Harry mattered more to him. Lord Black, despite his sighing and muttering, agreed somewhat quickly. House Potter, she reminded, was an old house, also related to the Blacks through his sister who married into the Potter family. They had many marriages in the past but this was the most recent one. Harry was the last of that line. In the end, Lord Black approved the visit.
The final part of the letter said that Sirius wished to surprise Harry, - "like a Marauder," Madame Tong wrote, sounding completely helpless. She admitted it was childish for a man nearly thirty to plan a prank on children, but she also said it was a good sign. Life's struggle had not erased the old Sirius.
That thought warmed me. It meant his spirit had survived, even after everything Azkaban did to him. Padfoot was still Padfoot.
I did not tell anyone that night. Sirius wanted a surprise, so the next morning I simply informed everyone that a magical guest might visit within the next day or two. Dad nodded, assuming it was one of my school friends. Harry and Dudley also assumed the same, though they looked a little excited at the idea.
Mum, however, was different. She watched me quitely. Something didn't sit right with her. After breakfast she cornered me in the kitchen, arms folded, voice low and serious.
"Arthur Dursley," she said, "what's going on? Who is coming? Explain now."
I hesitated, then told her only that it was someone connected to Harry.
Her face tightened instantly. "Is it someone dangerous? Arthur, tell me right now.."
"Mum," I said quickly, "if someone wanted to harm him, would they send me a letter first? Or would I even allow it?"
That calmed her slightly, but she still looked worried. I added, "He's someone very dear to Harry. And he was very dear to Harry's parents."
She stared at me for a long moment. Then, slowly, she nodded. After so many years, Mum and Dad trusted my judgement more than anything. She finally exhaled, set her worry aside, and said she would be ready.
And so would I. Because Sirius Black was coming to meet his godson.
End of Chapter 46 - Home visit