"What?" Anthony said. "Missing?"
"He's not in his bed," Harry said. "We couldn't find him anywhere. Madam Pomfrey keeps saying he's not in great shape yet. Did something happen to him?"
"Hogwarts is generally quite safe," Anthony said, striding over to the main doors. He pushed the oak door open and peered outside. "Maybe he just wanted to go for a walk. Madam Pomfrey checks the ward every evening, so he can't have been gone long. Go back to bed. I'll search the castle, Hagrid will check the Forbidden Forest— what?"
He pulled his hand back from the door and turned, stopping mid-sentence because of the look on the three students' faces.
"When Madam Pomfrey checked at dusk," Harry said, "Sirius was already gone."
Anthony looked down at the three Gryffindors standing before him and motioned for them to explain.
Hermione took a deep breath. "Sirius has been complaining about being trapped in the hospital wing. No freedom. He figured out a way to bypass Madam Pomfrey's alarm line and climb out the window. He said he was fine now, and he has a legal identity, so we thought it wouldn't be a problem…"
"Still so full of himself… I'm not at all surprised." Snape's voice was soft, like silk. Hermione jumped, whirling toward the sound.
"Bloody hell!" "Snape!" Ron and Harry exclaimed in overlapping shouts.
Snape cancelled his Disillusionment Charm. He stood there in his sharply tailored black robes, a sneer twisting his lips. Ron looked horrified. Harry, after his initial shock, snapped his gaze toward Anthony.
"Please continue, Miss Granger," Anthony said. "And then?"
"Then…" Hermione flicked a glance at Snape. "Then, we made a point to visit the hospital wing in the afternoon and stayed until evening. When Madam Pomfrey did her rounds, we pretended we were talking to Sirius."
Snape commented leisurely, "Reckless. Habitual liars…"
"Professor Snape," Anthony said, sounding tired.
Hermione plowed on bravely. "He takes his potion every other day. Today was an off day, so Madam Pomfrey didn't pull the bed curtains back, just like Sirius planned. He told us he was going to visit Hogsmeade or Diagon Alley, maybe buy some things, and to come see him again later. But…"
But Sirius hadn't come back.
"Hogsmeade or Diagon Alley?" Anthony said. "Alright. We'll inform… Professor McGonagall or Professor Dumbledore, I suppose. Then we'll all look for him, okay? Don't worry too much. After all, Sirius Black is an adult."
Under his steady gaze, Harry nodded hesitantly.
Snape let out a cold laugh, his voice dripping with contempt. "Perhaps Black is currently enjoying the 'free wind' under some bridge. Or getting spectacularly drunk in some lively pub. Naturally, he's forgotten all about our dreary little castle. Let me tell you, Professor Anthony, I see no point in searching for such an irresponsible waste of space. It's a pure waste of time—"
"Sirius wouldn't do that!" Harry said, furious. "He promised me he'd come back! He'd never break a promise!"
Snape's eyes narrowed.
"Oh, never?" Snape said smoothly, softly. "Sounds as if you know him so well, Potter. Though I must say, he— much like yourself— is exceedingly prone to letting foolish impulse override sense. Arrogant. Ungrateful…"
"Thank you for the insight, Professor Snape. Shall we all head to the Headmaster's office?" Anthony cut in. "I imagine Professor Dumbledore will be very keen to know Sirius Black is missing and to make suitable arrangements."
From observing Professors Trelawney and McGonagall, Anthony had learned that professors, out of habit, usually maintained basic collegial courtesy. They didn't show overt conflict— especially not in front of students.
Snape stopped. He finally said, with the expression of someone who'd swallowed a fly, "Ten points from Gryffindor. For the nighttime wandering. Each."
…
This seemed to be the first time the three students had visited the Headmaster's office. Perhaps because Anthony kept giving them reassuring smiles, when the stone gargoyle leapt aside at Snape's sullen "Lemon Drop," revealing the split wall and the spiraling staircase, the three of them let out a collective gasp of awe.
They stepped onto the stairs— Snape first, then Harry. Anthony gestured for Ron and Hermione to go, then brought up the rear. The wall sealed behind them, and the staircase carried them slowly upward to the office door. Snape gave a sharp rap. The door swung open immediately, and they walked in.
The office was lit by a single small lamp, its warm yellow glow weak but steady. Dumbledore stood before his desk in a dressing gown, his silver hair and beard edged with gold by the light. He was murmuring to something on the desk.
"…better early than late," Dumbledore was saying as he turned. "Severus? Ah, Harry, come in— come in, all of you. How curious. Every time I have toffee in the evening, things become rather lively. What has happened?" He smiled kindly at Harry, Ron, and Hermione.
"At Professor Anthony's insistence…" Snape said gloomily.
"Sirius Black is missing," Anthony said. "Mr. Potter, Mr. Weasley, and Miss Granger discovered this and notified Professor Snape and myself."
"Oh." Dumbledore sounded surprised. "Missing?"
At Anthony's encouraging nod, Harry said, "Yes, Professor Dumbledore. This afternoon—"
He started to repeat the story Hermione had told Anthony, but a burst of flame behind Dumbledore cut him off. Everyone watched as the fire grew, brilliant gold and red. It shone right through Dumbledore's lemon-yellow dressing gown, making both Dumbledore and Harry, who stood before him, glow.
Dumbledore turned calmly, a smile on his face. Everyone in the office heard a terrible cry— Anthony thought it sounded a bit like Hagrid strangling a rooster. Snape's face remained stony, as if something was about to be burned alive at any moment. Harry, Ron, and Hermione looked equally bewildered.
The fire went out.
"Finally made up its mind," Dumbledore said. He bent, gently brushing ash from the desk, and picked up an ugly, gray, shriveled little bird. Under the watchful eyes of everyone in the office, he carried it over and placed it on Fawkes's perch. The bird flapped weakly, failed to get a grip, and tumbled onto the platform below. It gave Dumbledore's offered finger a gentle peck, then turned its tiny round eyes on Harry, who had stepped closer without thinking.
Dumbledore chuckled softly. "A pity. It's rather beautiful most of the time."
"Blimey, is that— is that a phoenix?" Ron said, his voice full of awe.
Harry stared at the bird. "This is a phoenix?"
"Indeed," Dumbledore nodded approvingly, still stroking the bald little creature with a long finger.
Anthony asked, surprised, "Is that Fawkes?"
The ugly little bird turned its head, seeming to notice him for the first time. It gave an indignant squawk, shook its wings, and buried itself in the ashes and wood shavings on the platform. Dumbledore laughed softly, tilting his head. "Please continue, Harry. What happened this afternoon?"
…
"Diagon Alley or Hogsmeade?" Dumbledore pondered for a moment. "Thank you for coming to tell me. I understand."
Ron seemed to relax immediately. Hermione also looked relieved.
"You can find him, right?" Harry pressed. "He won't— won't just vanish, will he?"
"Yes, we will find him," Dumbledore assured him. "Sirius will be back in the hospital wing before nightfall tomorrow. Otherwise, Poppy will be most upset, and none of us want that, do we?"
Harry finally smiled.
Dumbledore smiled back. "Excellent. Now, let's all do what we must." He addressed the three students. "I need you to do something for me."
"Us?" Ron said.
"Yes," Dumbledore said gently. "I need you to return to the Gryffindor common room as quickly as you can. It's been a long night, and I don't wish to deprive you of any more sleep than necessary. When you can sleep, dream. Off you go."
"But— yes, Professor Dumbledore." Under the steady gaze of Dumbledore's blue eyes, Harry changed what he'd been about to say. He, Ron, and Hermione opened the office door and left.
The moment the door closed, Dumbledore's expression grew serious.
"I must confess, I did not anticipate Sirius going missing," Dumbledore said. "I knew he had bypassed Poppy's alarms to walk on the lawn with Harry. I even knew he wished to visit the broom shops and pet stores in Diagon Alley. But I thought he would at least wait until he was a bit stronger before actually leaving."
"You are ever prescient, Dumbledore," Snape said sarcastically.
"But I am quite certain he would not break a promise to Harry without cause," Dumbledore continued, unperturbed. "Therefore, I am concerned something has happened to him. Henry, I would ask you to alert Minerva. Have her search the castle to ensure Sirius has not collapsed in some forgotten corner."
"Of course, sir," Anthony said.
"I shall visit Hogsmeade and Diagon Alley immediately to see if I can find any trace of him," Dumbledore said. "Severus—"
"I wasn't aware you intended to include me in the search for Black, Headmaster," Snape said, a strange light flickering in his eyes.
"If you are willing, Severus," Dumbledore said. "I would hope—and I would be most grateful if you agreed—that you might make some discreet inquiries. See if anyone might have heard anything about where Sirius went. You know, if anyone has inadvertently acquired a recently departed Azkaban inmate who also happens to be a member of the Order of the Phoenix."
Snape asked, his voice inscrutable, "You suspect this, Dumbledore?"
"It is difficult not to," Dumbledore said. "Cornelius has been acting rather uncharacteristically assertive lately. I can't help but find it odd. Call it an old man's intuition and paranoia, Severus. But if you still maintain certain channels of information, perhaps you could make some inquiries for me…"
"Inquiries about what?" Anthony asked.
"I fear Sirius may be on a hunting list… one kept by the followers of Lord Voldemort," Dumbledore explained. "I often have the feeling our old friend is very close, lying in wait, ready to return. I would not be surprised if someone held a grudge against Sirius. After all, his testimony, given in sound mind, helped us locate their master's wand."
"Very well, Dumbledore," Snape said darkly. "If that is what you require."
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