The Hidden Painting
Thddendden Painting
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style=\'mso-ansi-language:EN-GB\'>A/Nstyle=\'mso-ansi-language:EN-GB\'>: Spoiler’s OoP OoP. This crossed my mind after
I read my messages from the HP for adults Mailing list. This is my answer to
one of the questions, my POV.
style=\'mso-ansi-language:EN-GB\'>Reviews would be appreciated. So are flames if
constructive.
style=\'mso-ansi-language:EN-GB\'>Rated R for later chapters…
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style=\'mso-ansi-language:EN-GB\'>&nb>
The Hidden Painting
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A few more steps and they stood right in
front of Number 12, Grimmauld Place. They didn’t ring the doorbell. Remus just
took a key out of his pocket and opened the door, stepping aside to let Harry
pass.
style=\'mso-ansi-language:EN-GB\'>An icy shiver ran down Harry’s spine when the
deadly silence welcomed him home.
style=\'mso-ansi-language:EN-GB\'>Home. That’st het he’d liked to call this house
if he had ever been able to move in with his Godfather. Now it was just an
empty house, which gave him memories he wished he could forget.
style=\'mso-ansi-language:EN-GB\'>Remus left him alone with his thoughts. He
stood at his side and waited patiently for him to go on. Harry did not know if
he had the strength for it, though.
style=\'mso-ansi-language:EN-GB\'>With a small sigh he walked further into the
house, his feet leading the way into the kitchen without him realising it. He
sat down at the table, finding himself staring at the now dark fireplace.
style=o-ano-ansi-language:EN-GB\'>Here he had talked for the last time to Sirius.
The thought about his father being just as arrogant as Snape had ever told him
was the reason for it. His Godfather’s words had calmed him slightly without
convincing him totally.
style=\'mso-ansi-language:EN-GB\'>Harry’s throat and eyes burned but he didn’t
want to cry. Not now when Remus was around. He would have understood but still…
style=\'mso-ansi-language:EN-GB\'>The sound of Lupin clearing his throat startled
him and he looked up.
style=\'mso-ansi-language:EN-GB\'>“We have to be at the Burrow in three hours.
Molly and Arthur are awaiting us. Maybe, we should start?”
style=\'mso-ansi-language:EN-GB\'>He waited for Harry’s answer before he left the
kitchen again.
style=\'mso-ansi-language:EN-GB\'>Stopping briefly in the almost dark hall, he
looked at Harry. Remus could see the sadness and pain in his eyes, caused
simply by the fact that they had to come back.
style=\'mso-ansi-language:EN-GB\'>Remus smiled only half-hearted. He wouldn’t
tell Harry that he felt exactly the same way, being in this house.
style=\'mso-ansi-language:EN-GB\'>They ‘d come for Sirius’ personal remains.
style=\'mso-ansi-language:EN-GB\'>“Should we go up to his room first?”
style=\'mso-ansi-language:EN-GB\'>Harry was still unable to say anything, fearing
his voice would crack and his well-kept control was lost. So he nodded instead.
style=\'mso-ansi-language:EN-GB\'>The dim Oil lamp could hardly lighten up the
whole room. Remus turned it up a little until they were able to see more. But
there was nothing to see at all.
style=\'mso-ansi-language:EN-GB\'>It seemed that there was nothing personal
except for a few clothes thrown carelessly in two of the drawers.
style=\'mso-ansi-language:EN-GB\'>Harry found one of Hermione’s S.P.E.W. batches
on the table by the bed. She must have given it to Sirius at Christmas. He
remembered them deeply in conversation at one time. He couldn’t even smile
about it.
style=\'mso-ansi-language:EN-GB\'>“Here is nothing. I go and check the library
and the drawing room. Maybe, I can find something.”
style=\'mso-ansi-language:EN-GB\'>Remus sent another worried look over at Harry
but since he didn’t answer or move, he walked out of the room leaving him
alone.
style=\'mso-ansi-language:EN-GB\'>For an endless time as it seemed, Harry stood
deeply lost in his thoughts before he slowly walked out of the room. Unsure
which way to go, he stopped and listened into the silence. Some lonely creaking
noises from the old wooden floor reached his ears but that was the only sound
he could hear. He wished he would hear the shrill, angry voice of Mrs. Black
yelling at the top of her lounges at Sirius but nothing.
style=\'mso-ansi-language:E\'>S\'>Sirius would never disturb the painting of his
mother again, giving her a reason to scream. Harry wasn’t even sure if the
picture was still at the wall. He vaguely remembered Remus telling him about
finding a way to reverse the permanent sticking charm.
style=\'mso-ansi-language:EN-GB\'>Harry wandered along the dark hallway when he
reached an even darker stair, leading up what must be the way to the attic. The
black hole in the wall with its steep steps seemed to call him and carefully,
he took each step up into nowhere. His outstretched hands knocked hard against
a wooden door, forcing him finally to take out his wand.
style=\'mso-ansi-language:EN-GB\'>“Lumos!”
style=\'mso-ansi-language:EN-GB\'>The head of a House-elf sat instead of a normal
doorknob and stared at Harry with hollow eyes. He turned the head and the door
opened without the expected squeak.
style=\'mso-ansi-language:EN-GB\'>The air smelled dusty and spider-webs covered
the ceiling and were spread all over the windows. A rocking horse with a broken
nose stood beside a worn leather armchair, too dirty to even be touched. Old
tattered Robes hung from the ceiling like forgotten signs of another time.
style=\'mso-ansi-language:EN-GB\'>Small footprints were all over the dirty floor
and Harry suspected them to be Kreacher’s. Sirius had told him that he came up
here from time to time to look for more treasures of his beloved Mistress.
style=\'mso-ansi-language:EN-GB\'>An old cupboard stood nearby, its doors wide
open and Harry looked inside. Nothing.
style=\'mso-ansi-language:EN-GB\'>The same with an enormous trunk, wearing the
emblem of the Black family. A few more or less small boxes bore some broken
cups and plates. One fil filled with pictures of the noble Black family that
had been thrown away by Sirius, Harry remembered. Kreacher had probably taken
them out of the bin, hiding them up here.
style=\'mso-ansi-language:EN-GB\'>Harry looked around. There was nothilse lse up
here and he was almost ready to leave when his eyes fell on something in the
darkest corner, reflecting dimly the light coming from his wand. He moved
closer, his heart beatiapidapidly. It was a mirror, covered completely by dust
and spider-webs.
style=\'mso-ansi-language:EN-GB\'>‘The mirror of Erised’ Harry thought for a
short moment. His hand shot forward and wiped the dirt of the blinded glass,
sending waves of dust into the air. He coughed hard before he had a look into
the mirror.
style=\'mso-ansi-language:EN-GB\'>Hope left as fast as it had come. His face was
the only staring back at him, looking disappointed and at the verge of tears.
style=\'mso-ansi-language:EN-GB\'>Harry kicked out for the useless piece of
furniture, his view clouded with now freely streaming tears brought up by his
anger. How stupid he was to hope and find a sign of Sirius.
style=\'mso-ansi-language:EN-GB\'>Breathing harshly and almost choking on the
water running from his eyes, he watched the mi fal fall to the side, loosing
its balance and hitting the floor hard before the glass shattered into a
thousand pieces, sending up more clouds of dust.
style=\'mso-ansi-language:EN-GB\'>Harry cried for some long minutes, his eyes
never leaving the slightly shining remains of the broken mirror. Still upset,
he wiped his eyes with anger shaken hands, clearing the blur away caused from
all of his tears.
style=\'mso-ansi-language:EN-GB\'>A silent ‘Oh’ escaped his mouth when he saw
something leaning against the wall, hidden before by the large mirror. It had
almost the same height as Harry; square in shape and very thin. It looked like
a large picture orme tme to Harry. Rough blankets were tied with ropes around
it, hiding its heart from curious views.
style=\'mso-ansi-language:EN-GB\'>He opened the knots with a lot of difficulties
but finally they fell. His fingers hurt from the effort but he didn’t care.
Pushing the blankets aside, he revealed a slightly faded painting as he could
see by the colour of it.
style=\'mso-ansi-language:EN-GB\'>First, he saw only a pair of long legs in
tight, black trousers. A hand was pushed at his side, fingers hooked in the
once shiny leather belt. The other arm was lifted and the y man man leaned with
his hand against the wall of a room, lit up by some torches besides his head.
His hair fell in large black, waves down his shoulders. The almost black eyes
looked straight ahead, gleaming with a fire of its own. A mocking smile was
spread over his handsome face, showing a lot of confidence.
style=\'mso-ansi-language:EN-GB\'>Harry saw the young man and shadows caused by
even more tears clouded his view. He couldn’t stop the sobs escaping his chest
when he recognised him for who he was.
style=\'mso-ansi-language:EN-GB\'>He thought his eyes had played him a trick when
the man’s eyes moved and grew large, wiping with it the mockery out of his
smile. Now, he looked sad and Harry ought to see a single tear dwelling in the
man’s right eye.
style=\'mso-ansi-language:EN-GB\'>Blinded by the silvery drops pouring from his
own eyes, he reached out with one hand coming slowly closer to the parchment.
The hand hooked inside the belt moved and when Harry put his shaking hand flat
against the painting, the young man had done the same from inside of it, their
palms meeting at the same place.
style=\'mso-ansi-language:EN-GB\'>A tickling ran across Harry’s hand and his skin
felt pleasantly warm.
style=\'mso-ansi-language:EN-GB\'>“Hello Harry!”
style=\'mso-ansi-language:EN-GB\'>His sobbing increased and he couldn’t stop his
tears from falling even harder.
y\'>style=\'mso-ansi-language:EN-GB\'>“Si…Sirius?”
style=\'mso-ansi-language:EN-GB\'>He knew that it was Padfoot. He looked exactly
the same he had in Snape’s memories but he simply couldn’t believe his eyes.
style=\'mso-ansi-language:EN-GB\'>“Yes.”
style=\'mso-ansi-language:EN-GB\'>The smile looked very sad now and the tear
rolled slowly down his cheek, leaving a silvery path on his skin.
style=\'mso-ansi-language:EN-GB\'>“Don’t cry. There’s no need for it.”
style=\'mso-ansi-language:EN-GB\'>An angry laughter escaped Harry, so filled with
pain it made Sirius’ skin crawl by the sound.
dead and it’s all my fault.”
style=\'mso-ansi-language:EN-GB\'>Sirius didn’t answer. Just his thumb moved a
bit like he would try and caress his hand to calm him down.
style=\'mso-ansi-language:EN-GB\'>“Don’t be silly, Lad, it wasn’t your fault.”
style=\'mso-ansi-language:EN-GB\'>Harry pulled his hand back quickly, sending a
hurt look on Sirius face. Guilt rushed through his veins but no word of excuse
came from his mouth.
style=\'mso-ansi-language:EN-GB\'>Sirius folded his arms briskly in front of his
chest, leaning with his shoulder against the wall, watching Harry with big eyes.
style=\'mso-ansi-language:EN-GB\'>“You know, I didn’t choose to go, I did not
want to. But you didn’t shoot me, remember? ”
style=\'mso-ansi-language:EN-GB\'>He pushed his hair back behind his ears with a
quick move.
style=\'mso-ansi-language:EN-GB\'>“I know, that I didn’t treat you the way you
deserved it. I always saw James in you whenever I looked at you.”
style=\'mso-ansi-language:EN-GB\'>He paused for a moment. Harry just stared at
his stricken face with water-filled eyes.
style=\'mso-ansi-language:EN-GB\'>“But you are not James although I tried hard to
bring him back. Through you. I was scared that I would forget him. And Lily.
But I wanted to remember.”
style=\'mso-ansi-language:EN-GB\'>He looked deep in Harry’s eyes.
style=\'mso-ansi-language:EN-GB\'>“You are uch uch more than I admitted. You are
brave like your Dut yut you are full of cleverness like your Mum was.”
style=\'mso-ansi-language:EN-GB\'>“Harry’s chest heaved from his heart wrenching
sobs.
style=\'mso-ansi-language:EN-GB\'>Sirius smiled again, his eyes full of pride.
style=\'mso-ansi-language:EN-GB\'>“Yes you are. You …”
style=\'mso-ansi-language:EN-GB\'>Harry interrupted him, almost yelling into his
face.
style=\'mso-ansi-language:EN-GB\'>“I AM NOT. If I would have been as clever as
you said, Voldemort had never fooled me. I’d never come to the Ministry and
made you come after me. I… I would have not allowed for you to... Being
killed!”
style=\'mso-ansi-language:EN-GB\'>His soft little cries stopped his raging words.
style=\'mso-ansi-language:EN-GB\'>“Oh Harry, older and wiser Wizards have been
fooled by the dark Lord.”
style=\'mso-ansi-language:EN-GB\'>Sirius let out a small sigh.
style=\'mso-ansi-language:EN-GB\'>“James would have done something reckless like
always.”
style=\'mso-ansi-language:EN-GB\'>Harry looked at him with a startled look on his
red face.
style=\'mso-ansi-language:EN-GB\'>“Oh, I don’t believe he’d put us in danger on
purpose. But sometimes he tended to act first and think afterwards. That’s
another gift of you Mum, given to you.
style=\'mso-ansi-language:EN-GB\'>You were clever enough to find a way all by
yourself to London. You had the guts to face Voldemort and his Death-Ea
al
always carfor for your friends when you were in danger, not loosing your head.
That is very brave! And clever.”
style=\'mso-ansi-language:EN-GB\'>Sirius put his hand flat against the inside of
the painting again, smiling at him full of love.
style=\'mso-ansi-language:EN-GB\'>“You know, what you are, Harry? You are your
Mum and Dad’s heart. The better of them both. They would be really proud of
you, Harry. Like I am proud of you.”
style=\'mso-ansi-language:EN-GB\'>Harry sobbed even harder. All the pain he had
kept inside since the day Sirius went through the veil seemed to fall off of
him. All the tears he couldn’t cry before flowed freely now.
“I love you. I couldn’t love you more if
you were my own son, Harry. Always.
Remember that.”
dirty floor, pulling his knees high up to his chest, embracing them with his
arms in which he hid his wet face. After a little while he looked at the
painting again only to find Sirius on the floor, too, leaning with his back
against the stonewalls. His hand still reached out for Harry.
style=\'mso-ansi-language:EN-GB\'>Wiping his wet face, he reached slowly for the
painting and Sirius’ hand. Their palms seemedmeetmeet once more, the same warm
sensation spreading through H’s s’s skin.
style=\'mso-ansk-language:EN-GB\'>They looked at each other, eyes never leaving
the other person. None of them smiled.
style=\'mso-ansi-language:EN-GB\'>Harry could read in his Godfather’s face almost
like in a book.
style=\'mso-ansi-language:EN-GB\'>He saw the worried expression on it. Like so
many times before, always concerned about his feelings.
style=\'mso-ansi-language:EN-GB\'>He saw something like guilt on it. Because he
had left him all by himself behind sooner that he’d planned? He’d probably
never tell.
style=\'mso-ansi-language:EN-GB\'>But mostly he saw love. He saw the same love on
Sirius face he felt deep inside his heart for the man that was his Uncle and
Godfather and Father in one person.
right s.
style=\'mso-ansi-language:EN-GB\'>There was no need for it. They understood each
other.
style=\'mso-ansi-language:EN-GB\'>Even when they couldn’t be together anymore,
they would never be apart.
sty'mso'mso-ansi-language:EN-GB\'>A smile found its way through Harry’s tears and
when he looked at Sirius face in the painting, he found it returned.
style=\'mso-ansi-language:EN-GB\'>They sat the same way when Remus came into the
attic, looking for Harry.