The Bonds of Friendship

The next day at breakfast, Hermione received a letter in response to the one she had sent. Even though it was too late, she opened to read it.

Dear Hermione,

It is with great regret that I say we are in no better position with Harry than you are. I can tell by your letter that you deeply regret what happened with Harry and we can commiserate with you in that matter.

When Harry's name came out of the Goblet, Albus forbade us from writing to him or contacting him in any way. Over the course of the next few weeks, we received multiple letters from Harry begging for our help. In our stupidity, we ignored them as Albus had told us to do even though it hurt us to do so. I know you were in the tent after the first task and didn't see our meeting with Harry. It didn't go well and he basically told us he was better off without us in his life.

Since then, we have tried writing him but our letters have been returned unopened and he has cut off all contact with us. The last letter that was returned to Sirius was charmed with an explosive curse that triggered as soon as the owl dropped it. It was the last letter that we sent to him.

I thought I could get through to him and came to the castle. I managed to catch him between classes but it will be the last time I will try to make the first move. It was this point that I truly realized the damage I had done to our relationship when he pulled a silver dagger on me and told me all it would take is a scratch. While that may not be completely true, he did get his point across.

I'm sorry I couldn't be any more help but we are in the same boat. I fear for what we may have done.

Yours truly,

Remus Lupin

Hermione sighed as she folded the letter and put it in her book bag. She pushed away her breakfast and rose from the table only to walk slowly towards her first class.

****

The month leading up to the second task remained pretty quiet for Harry and he continued to meet with Cedric and Megan on a regular basis. He told them all about his trip to Gringotts and then what he had learned from his contact with the Gnomes. While they commiserated with him over his situation, they really didn't have any ideas to help him other than doing what he was already doing.

It was finally Cedric who posed "You know, Susan's aunt his head of the DMLE. You could send her a copy of your mother's letter."

Harry replied with disdain. "Susan Bones?" (Megan winced.) "Hell CED, she and Hannah have been have been leading the charge against me from your house. I wouldn't trust a Bones at this point to do the paperwork correctly to wipe my arse."

Megan said "Not that I'm defending them Harry but they both are hopelessly in love with their hero. No matter what Cedric says, they will always treat your being entered in the tournament as an unforgivable slight against him. It's pretty disgusting actually. I have to listen to them moon over Cedric constantly since I share a dorm with them and geez…I don't want to hear that, he's my brother."

Her comments lightened the mood considerably. Cedric said "Thanks a lot there Mistress Megs."

Harry looked up and saw Megan blushing. "Mistress Megs? That sounds like something Dobby would say." Cedric laughed louder as Megan turned an even deeper red.

When he got himself a little under control, Cedric said "He did! It was when we were looking for you and she thought to call him and ask about you."

Harry's eyes widened at that comment. He knew that with Dobby bonded to him, Dobby would only respond to a summons of someone who Harry trusted or loved. The fact that he answered Megan's summons told Harry that though he was confused over his feelings, Dobby knew exactly what was going on.

Trying desperately to change the subject, Megan said "I know you don't trust Susan but her aunt can be trusted. She could help and it could get your Godfather freed."

Harry thought for a minute before saying "I'll think about it in the future. (He noticed the concerned look on her face.) Look, there's not a lot I can do now anyway. If I start kicking over too many rocks then Dimples will figure out that I know about the stuff he has kept hidden. Right now, it's best if I just keep it all hidden and lie low until I can do something about it. Besides, I'm not really sure that I want to help Sirius at this point."

Megan gasped "But he's your Godfather, he could be free and finally be able to help you."

Harry snapped back at her. "Why should I help him any more than I already have? I saved his life and look how he repaid me. Let's do a rundown on Sirius Black, first he leaves me with Hagrid to go chase down Peter. I hold Voldemort, him and Dimples responsible for the childhood I had in that order. If Sirius had done his duty, I'd never have ended up in the Headmaster's clutches or at least I hope I wouldn't have. He abandons me for twelve years. Yes I know he was in Azkaban but that's beside the point, I was still left to the tender mercies of the Dursleys because of his actions."

Megan had tears in her eyes and said "Harry, don't!"

Harry reached out and grabbed her hand. He said "I'm not mad at you Megan but these are things that need to be said and by talking to you guys about it, it kind of helps me put things in perspective."

She squeezed his hand back. "I…I just don't want to end up like your other friends."

He chuckled "I don't think Mistress Megs has anything to worry about."

Cedric laughed again as Megan blushed. Harry said "Anyway, he comes to Hogwarts being reckless again and gets caught. I end up having to save him and help him escape only to receive a few notes from him over the summer that said mostly nothing but he always said he would be there if I needed him. Once my name came out of the Goblet, I turned to him and another family friend to help. I sent a letter out daily begging them to talk to me. I never got one reply. It was like they didn't care and then they had the nerve to show up after the first task. I was already furious with Dimples and then had to come face to face with them."

She squeezed his hand. "Them? I only saw you yell at Professor Lupin."

Harry looked at her and said "Sirius is a dog animagus."

She gasped "So the big black dog was your Godfather? Damn, we played with that dog last year out on the grounds. After seeing him with Lupin, I just thought he belonged to the Professor."

Harry's eyes darkened a little. "After I confronted them, they were all about trying to get me to talk to them. I got letters every day but it was too little too late. When I needed them, they weren't there and when I didn't need them anymore, they were all over me. To me, it has Dimples hands all over it. He probably told them not to talk to me and then when he lost control over me, he used every resource he had to try and bring me back under."

Cedric looked stunned. He finally said "I know this year hasn't been the best but don't you think that's a little paranoid? I mean, I know the Headmaster is up to something but that would suggest so much more."

Harry nodded and said "Yeah, I know. What happened at the bank and then my mother's letter really helped me see the way things might really be."

Megan pulled Harry into a hug. "We'll be here to help Harry. I promise you that."

...

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