It was raining, not a soft light rain, but a really stormy rain. If the sky hadn't been covered in black, dark blue clouds that once in a wile were lightened up by lightning; it would have shown the full moon and many stars shining gently down at the earth. But it was cover up in clouds and now one could really have told if it was night or day. The wind was hammering on a little house that stood all alone in the mountains. It was house made of stone. The roof was made of solid wood, but on top of the wood grew thick grass. Smoke came from the chimney, and light shined from the windows.
A few meters away from the small house stood Sirius Black. He was wet from top to toe, dark rings circled his eyes and he was breathing heavily. He was also very hungry. More hungry than he had been for ages. He couldn't remember when he had last a meal. It must have been months since. He had eaten since then of course. A piece of bread here, a small bit of meat there, but not enough to fill his stomach. The ministry had gone even further to capture him. He hadn't slept fore days and every bone in his body aced.
"It can't possible be any one who would look for me hear," he thought. "It is miles away from people."
But then he saw the little house. It was as if it wasn't a little house, but many dementors the way he reacted. He ran to behind a big boulder so no one could see him. His first thought was that he could go up and ask for some food and maybe for some shelter for the night. No he couldn't do that. That was like begging to be taken. But his body protested, it wanted to sleep, eat, get out of the bloody rain and get warm. But no, he couldn't. It wasn't a big chance of somebody recognize him, but it was a risk he didn't want to take. No, he could just sit down hear for a minute to catch his breath, then he would keep going till he found a place where there where no one. Just a little while. He was out cold, almost before he sat down.
Mary was sitting in her favorite chair reading a book; the fire in the fireplace was crackling and warming her home, when she thought she has heard something. She put the book down and stood up to look out side. And to her surprise somebody was standing there. It looked like a man. His hair was long and looked like wires more than hair. Suddenly he ran, not long just to the big boulder about 5 meters from her house, but he ran like he had the devil after him.
"That's strange," she thought. "What could have possibly scared him like that? And what on earth is he up here fore in the middle of the night when it is raining like this? I better go outside to see if he is ok."
She put on a cloak over her dress and went out. It was even worse than she had imagined. It was as the wind was trying to blow her away and the rain had soaked her almost at once. She walked over to the boulder only to find the stranger lying on the ground not moving.
"Oh my, what am I supposed to do now?" she wasn't sure if she was talking to the man or herself. He looked so tired and thin.
"I have to see if I can get you inside then, won't I?"
It was harder than she expected, but after a couple of minutes she had mange to get him inside. She laid him on the sofa looked more closely at him. He had dark rings around his eyes and his face was white and sunken in. "Who are you and where do you come from?" She said "Well you better stay here for now."
***
A few days later …
***
Sirius awoke with the feeling that something was wrong. Something was terribly wrong. He opened his eyes to see a ceiling, a wooden ceiling. That was strange, he didn't remember that it had been a wooden ceiling when he fell asleep. When had he fallen asleep? Then he remembered it all. He had been on the run and had decided to go hiding in the mountains. That's when he had gotten across the little stone house. But what had happened after that? Had he been captured after all? He sat up the rain was still poring down, but the thunder had stopped. He looked around to see where he was. Sirius was sitting on a sofa in a rather large room. There was a comfortable looking chair by he window to the left of the sofa. On the wall to his right were many shelves filled with jars of all sizes, a fireplace and from the ceiling hung many plants for drying. In the middle of the room stood a wooden table with two chairs. On the floor was a large carpet that went almost from wall to wall. On the wall opposite him stood an old fashioned-cooking stove. Between the cooking stove and the fireplace was a large pile of wood that almost went up to the ceiling. On the other side of the stove was a stairway, which almost could be called a latter, that went up, probably to the attic. On the wall to the left of him was the door that lead outside. He was just wondering what to do now when he heard somebody coming and before he could react the door opened and in came a woman. She was wearing a cloak and Sirius first though was that she had to be a witch and that she had turned him in to the ministry. He had to get out of here. Where was his wand? But that's when he realized that all he was warning was his pants. His robe, sweeter and shirt was nowhere in sight, nor were his boots. He didn't have a cloak any more. He had thrown it away, not because he didn't want a cloak, but because it could not been called any thing but a big bunch of strings hanging together in the top.
"So you're are finally awake" the women's voice brought him back. He must have seamed starlet because she put up bought of her hands and said, "Hey I'm not going to do you any thing ok?" He didn't answer; it was so long since he had heard a friendly voice that he almost had forgotten how to respond to it. It was a trap! He had to get out of there now. Or was it a trap? He didn't now. Even if she was a muggle, she had to seen him picture in the papers. All the muggels in Europe had been warned that he was a dangerous man armed with a muggle weapon. She looked at him.
"Do. You. Understand. What. I. Am. Saying?"
He still couldn't make himself answering her question. He couldn't get himself to speak at all.
"I'll take that as a no. Well the you have bad luck because I can't speak any thing but English and Norwegian." She stopped up and then spoke in a different languish
"Snakker du norsk?" that was a language he hadn't heard before. It sounded a bit musical and the r was pronounced totally differently than the r he was used to. It was as if it rolled of her tongue
"Well, so you can't talk, hm? But I bet that you are hungry. Do you want any thing to eat?"
She was pointing at him and then miming that she ate. But by then Sirius had mange to pull himself together.
"Do you now how I am?" he asked before he could stop himself.
"So you do talk and English to. So am I supposed to know who you are?"
"Um eh I really don't now."
"You don't know what? Who you are or if I am suppose to now who you are?"
"The last one."
"Now I don't know who you are, or anything about you. Maybe except that you are very strange person and…."
"Do you believe in magic?"
"Excuse me?"
"Magic, you now wand waving, spells, all that. Do you believe that it exist?"
"Of all the questions I have been asked in my life that has to be the strangest. If I believe in magic? And from a stranger I brought in from a storm." She was laughing, not a cruel laugh, but a sweet laugh. Still laughing she looked at him and he noticed that for the first time in so many years somebody looked at him without any fear or hate, just kindness.
"Do you?"
"And I asked you a question" she said, acting like she hadn't heard him. "Are you hungry?"
"Um, yes."
"Now that wasn't so hard now was it?" She had removed her cloak and he saw that under it she wore an old-fashioned dress. The skirt of the dress was a light green and went down to her ankles and the top of the dress was white. It had loose arms that went to her elbow and on her feat she wore soft looking shoes. Her eyes were clear blue, like the sky on a summer day but her hair was a deep black and thick.
"So what could I make for dinner today? Some soup will be good, don't you think?"
"Anything eatable would be fine by me."
"Well the soup it is." She noticed that he was about to stand up when she went over to him and pushed him back on the sofa.
"You can stay in bed."
"I don't need to."
"It wasn't a argument, it was an order. You stay there, under the covers. I think you need to stay in bed for a few more days."
"How many days is 'a few'?"
"It is until you are not sick any more."
"I am really surprised the generosity, but I can't stay that long. I would really like to have something to eat but after that I have to go."
"What are you in such a rush for? Is somebody chasing you or something?"
He filched at that.
"I eh how…?"
"It figured that out from the way you look. God you look like you haven't had a meal for ages and you're hair, well you're hair needed a date with a pair of scissors, a comb and some soap. But don't worry nobody will find you here."
"Where is here anyway?"
"About two or three days walk from the nearest village. One day from the nearest house. About in the middle of nowhere. So you lay down again and get some rest. I'll wake you when you're bath is ready."
"Oh, you don't have to do that."
"Yes I do. You smell worse than ten sweaty drunk men that have just rolled around in some horse droppings. If you want to smell that way, fine that is you're problem, but as long as you are staying hear you clean yourself. Understand?"
"Yes."
He laid back on the sofa watching the woman work. She picked up a iron pot that was hanging from the wall. With the pot in her hands she went over to the front door and opened it and stuck the pot outside. Half a minute later she close the door still with the pot in her hands, but now it was filed with water. She went over to the stove putting the pot down. Turing to the pile of wood she picked a few and threw them in the oven then light them with a match. Then after stirring in the pot for a while she turned to the shelves, picking out a bit of that and a bit of this. Then she went over to the pot, putting all that she had taken from the jars in the pot. After that she opened a trapdoor in the floor and went down. After a little wile she came up with her arms full of different things. Potatoes, carrots, bread, some cheese and some dried meat. She put all this on the table in the middle of the room. She took a large knife from the wall and stared coping up the vegetables and the meat and throwing it in the pot. Then she went over to the shelves again this time she took out plats and two cups. She put the bread and the cheese on a plate and the started to set the table. Sirius noticed how her dress swayed with every move she made. Like when she was walking over the floor it swayed slightly from side to side.
"Do you have a name?" he asked
She turned around at and looked at him smiling
"Yes I do. My name is Mary. Do you have a name?"
He wasn't sure what to say, was he going to tell her the truth? No even so far out she could have heard of something about him.
"My name is James," he said saying the first name that flew in his head.
"Well James upstairs is a bath waiting for you and some clean clothes. After you have washed up and put on some clean clothed, call and I will come up to cut you're hair."
He stood up and went up the stairs. When he came up the first thing he saw was a big bed. Bides the big bed was a wooden tub filed with steaming water, beside the tub was a chair. And on the chair was a bar of soap and a towel. On the bed was the clothes she had been talking about, neatly folded. He took off his old pair of pants and went in the tub. It was heavenly, being able to wash himself in warm water with clean soap that didn't smell like it had been lying there for a couple of days. After he had washed and dried himself he sat down on the bed putting on the pair of pants and thick woolen socks. He picked up the shirt when he stopped. He looked at his left arm. Inside of the arm, from the wrist to the elbow was a scar. It was still red. He traced a finger along it remembering when he had gotten it. He had been so close to clearing his name, but Voldemort had appeared. Sirius had tried to stun Pettigrew, but had gotten the scar instead and he had to flee when the ministry stared to appear. It was a war going on, and all he could do was hide. He didn't want to hide, he didn't want to run but he had to. Even if he didn't like it, he had to run. Run from every thing that meant anything. He put his head in his hands. It was so unfair why couldn't he just get some truth potion and then they could question him. Then the whole world would now where his loyalty was.
"James?"
He looked up and saw Mary standing in front of him.
"Is there something bothering you?" but then she answered her own question. "Of course there is. If it wasn't, then you wouldn't sit here shaking. Now I am not going to ask what it is but I am going to ask you another question. Can you sit on that chair so I can cut you're hair."
He silently obeyed sitting down on the chair. What he didn't see was the Mary was looking at his scars and her eyes got a bit watery. Mary went over to the back of him and stared to untangle his hair. When that was done she stated cutting his hair.
"Now put on your shirt and we can go down and eat."
Again he obeyed and following her down. She went over to the stove and took the pot of it and took it over to the table.
"Help yourself."
On the table there was bread cut up, some cheese, the soup and a mug filled whit water, two bowls, two spoons and two cups. Mary had already stared to eat when she looked at him.
"Is there a problem?"
"No" but he noticed that his voice was horse again. His throat was swelling up. He could remember the last time he had sat at a table eating just like a normal person. It had been the last time he had seen James and Lily. They had had supper together. His throat was even thicker now, releasing it had been 15 years since he had a real dinner, sitting down at a table, clean and with somebody that was friendly towards him.
"James, there is something wrong. What is it?"
"I think I'm just tired. I think I will go to bed." He stood up went over to the sofa, laid down and pulled the covers over him to sleep.
Mary watched James as he went over to the sofa and pulled the covers over him self his back to her. She was sure that something about him rang a bell somewhere, but she couldn't remember it clearly. If it was important then she would remember, eventually. She looked at the bowl that he hadn't used. She put the bread and cheese away. Then she put the pot with the soup on the now cold stove with a plate over the top. She new he would get hungry and the she could just warm it later.
"Well I'm going to bed. Good Night."
She wasn't sure if he had heard her, but it could all be the same. She went up stairs and to bed. The water was dirty and she would take it out tomorrow. She fell asleep almost at once.
The days came and went and before any of them had noticed it had gone a week. For Sirius that week was one of the best weeks in many years. He could have a nice conversation with some body more his one age that wasn't about the war. They wouldn't talk about anything that had happened the first day. Mary carefully avoided it and anything about his past. So she learned nothing about his past and he learned many things about her. The reason she lived all alone up hear in the mountains though, was one of the few questions that she wouldn't answer.
"So where are you going?" she asked one morning.
"What?"
"Remember that you where in such a hurry. Where are you headed?"
"No where in particular. Just as far away as I can get."
"You have no where to go?!"
"I can take care of my self."
"It is in the beginning of the winter. Going up in the mountains when you aren't headed to shelter is like asking to die. It gets freezing up here. Maybe it is best that you stay here for the winter."
"No! I can't stay that long in one place. They'll get me if I stay that long."
"I can't force you to do any thing. But can you do me a favor"
"Maybe. What is it?"
"Before it starts to snow I need to get down to the village. Can you stay here until I'll get back?"
"Okay I guess. But if somebody comes I'm out of here, understand?"
"Sure. I have to go and saddle up Shadow."
Shadow was the horse that lived the stable. Mary used him to get to the village, it was much faster than if you walked.
"Well then I'm going. Se you in about two weeks."
"Bye."
"Bye."
She turned Shadow and stared on the little road just visible towards the village.
***
Mary arrived the village 5 days later. It was a village where every one lived like in the old days, except for a few changes. The women weren't only to be home and watch the kids and make food. They had the same rights as men had and they sold newspapers from London, New York and other big cities. First she went to the groceries store to by a sack of potatoes and a sack of flour. As she was leaving, her eyes saw a newspaper from London.
The headline was: Sirius Black, still on the loose. And under the headline was a picture of a man. A man she knew. The man who had called himself James. She nearly dropped the to sacks that she was baring. She went out to where Shadow was waiting. Mary tied up the two sacks at the back of the horse and was about to go inside again when she felt cold. Cold to the bone. It was like the sun warms didn't reach her. Just then someone priced her on the shoulder. She turned around to se a man standing there.
"Yes?"
"Have you seen this man?" he was holding up the same picture of Sirius Black that had been in the newspaper.
"Wasn't that picture in the newspaper?"
"Yes, have you seen him?"
What was she going to answer, was she going to tell this stranger that she knew that man or what was she going to do.
"What was his name again?" She said to stall some time. No she had to hear James, Sirius side to this.
"Sirius Black. Have you seen him?"
"No."
The man went away not noticing that something had fallen out of his jacket pocket. Mary quickly picked it up and poked it, not even looking at it. She had to hear Sirius side of this.
Oh I hope I have done the right thing.
She went in the store and bought a newspaper. Then she went back to Shadow and headed back home.
***
Sirius had a bad feeling. He couldn't stay here, he had to go, but something held him back. For a moment he though it might be Mary, but he shoved that thought aside. No it couldn't be Mary. It was a warm bed and regular meals that held him back. But he had to go. As he changed into a big dog he heard something. The ministry! He ran from the house not stopping to think not stopping to leave room for hesitation. He just ran.
***
Mary was galloping towards her house. It had been 3 days since she had seen Sirius's picture in the village. She could see her house now. She had driven Shadow harder than ever before, but this was urgent. Jam... Sirius was in danger. After the danger had past she was going to get the whole story from him. But that could wait. Now she had to get him somewhere safe. The secret hiding place where she kept all the vegetables. Only she could open it. It would be perfect. She was finally there. Not bothering looking after Shadow she leapt down and ran in the house. It was a mess. Every thing was turned up side down and Sirius was nowhere in sight. They had beaten her to it. Oh well it wasn't her problem any more. How they had come her before her? Mary turned and went out again. Shadow stood still there. He was a black horse with black mane and tail. It wasn't a part of him that wasn't black. His fur was thick now that it was colder and if he wanted to he could be quite a handful, but most of the time he was gentle and quiet.
"Come here Shadow and I'll get you in."
She grabbed his rains and led him in the small stable. There she unloaded him of the bags full of the things she had bought in the village. She took of his saddle and bridle. She took out a brush and brushed him all over his fur.
"There now you are clean again."
Then she led him in to his box, filed the water tray and put an armful of hay into his crib.
She closed the door to the stable and went into the house again. She looked at the mess as she sat down in the chair. It was really horrible, everything everywhere. And as she sat there, not knowing what had happened to Sirius, not knowing anything she stared to cry. She curled up I a ball and cried herself to sleep.
Mary awoke the next day stiff and sore from the awkward sleeping position. She made herself some breakfast and then started to clean up. When the sun stood in the middle of the sky she was finished and her home looked just like when she had left it, except for one thing. Sirius wasn't there. She realized that she missed him even though she had lived alone almost all her adult life, she missed him.
By the evening it had started to snow and Mary was now very worried. Had the guys down in the village got him or had he managed to escape? That's when she remembered the piece of paper that had fallen out of that mans pocket. She found it and looked at it for the first time. It looked like paper and the she looked at the pictures. They where moving. On the front page was a picture of Sirius. She started to read and almost couldn't believe it. Had the man she had in her home killed thirteen people? But what was the weirdest thing was that this paper was talking about wizards and magic like it really existed. Then Mary remembered the questions Sirius had asked when he woke up. "Do you now who I am?" "Do you believe in magic?" He had asked her those two questions then avoided them completely. Did that wand thing really exist? Did spells and that kind of magic really exist? Mary was brought back by something knocking at the door. She opened it and in flew a snowy owl. She steered at it as it dropped a letter on the table then settled on a beam under the ceiling. She looked at the envelope. It said To Sirius Black in a handwriting that looked like it belonged to a teenage boy. She opened it and read the letter inside.
Dear Sirius
I hope you are well and safe. Dumbledore is working hard to clear you're name. But I have some sad news; Wormtail is dead. This time it is for real. I saw his dead body. The ministry is working harder that ever to capture you. They think you hold a stone that, if brought to Voldemort, will give him unlimited power. They are going to use every means to get you. Stay in hiding. DO NOT COME HERE. You hear me? Hogwarts is the last place you must be. Go somewhere far away from it.
Hermione and Ron have 'found' each other. Finally if you ask me. I was getting tired of them trying to pretend that they didn't feel anything for each other than friendship. It wasn't like they where fooling any one. Lavender has got this crazy idea that I should start wearing cologne. Have you ever heard something so stupid? School is ok but we are getting a lot of homework. We are graduating you know in two years and I think the teachers are trying to take away all spare time 'till then. Well that is all for now. Answer as quickly as possible, please.
Your godson
Harry
She stared at the letter.
That it she had to find Sirius, but first she had to answer this Harry boy.
To Mr. Harry.
I don't know who you are, and you don't know me. But your letter to Sirius Black got in my hands and not his. I don't now if he has been captured and I have no possible way to find out. But I think you would hear it if he has been captured. If he hasn't then he is in trouble. I do not mean to worry you but I have to tell you the truth. He is out alone in the mountain and if I don't find him in a short period of time I will fear for his life. I will go as soon as I have sent this with the white owl that delivered your letter. If you are wondering how I know him here's the story. He collapsed almost on my doorstep. It was raining like hell so I brought him into my house. At the moment I was unaware of who he was. I cared for him until he was healthy enough to travel again. But I had to go to a village far from my home and asked him to stay until I came back. But when I did he was gone and my home looked like there had been a fight in it. Every thing was a mess. I will go now to search for him. If you send me an answer I can tell you if I found him or not. If I don't find him you have my deepest consoles.
Mary Jansen.
She put the letter in an envelope and turned to the owl.
"You, what was you're name, Hedwig? Can you take this letter back to whoever sent the one that you delivered?"
The owl flew down and stretched out a leg. Mary tied the letter to the leg and then as she opened the door to go the owl flew away in the night.
"I must be crazy." She muttered as she once again tock Shadow out of the stable. As she mounted him, she wondered where James, no Sirius would go. She thought about it for a second the she thought north. The village was south and the nearest house was southeast from her home. Most likely he would get away from civilization as possible. She drew Shadow in gallop and headed north.
A/N: Well what do you think? Let me know, but remember there is a differences between constructive critism and flames. So go and review. Please, please, please, please, please, please.