You Chose to Stay

"All right, aren't you going to bed yet?"

"It's fine, it's fine. Let me draw up a blueprint first." Muya picked up a pen and quickly sketched out a simple diagram.

Tom leaned over to look at it. "What's this supposed to be?"

Muya mysteriously tucked the sketch away. "Classified!"

Tomorrow was the last day of Christmas break. As usual, Muya went to Snape to practice the Patronus Charm and brew a new potion.

"Stir clockwise for five minutes, then counterclockwise for another five," Snape said.

"Okay, okay." Muya used her wand to stir the potion as Snape had instructed.

Knock, knock. Someone knocked on the door but did not open it. Snape said, "Come in."

Muya craned her neck and saw Theodore standing at the doorway.

"Focus." Snape turned toward Theodore, his robes unconsciously blocking most of Muya from view.

Theodore shifted his gaze away from Muya.

"Mr. Nott, what do you want with me?"

Blocked by Snape's robes, Muya could not see what Theodore had taken out. "Professor, this is what Father promised to give you."

"Mm. Give this to him."

Oh my, so this was a transaction.

One day after New Year's Day, students from every house returned to school.

"A godfather? Harry, you actually have a godfather!" Ron was so shocked that he forgot about the chicken leg still stuffed in his mouth.

Hermione rubbed her forehead and looked away. "Oh, Ron, could you finish what's in your mouth before talking?"

Then she looked at the black dog wagging its tail beside Harry and Muya. "So Bruce is Sirius Black."

Harry nodded and said with a smile, "I want to hold a small gathering at Hagrid's hut tomorrow night."

"Oh, that's a wonderful idea." Hermione nodded in approval, and Ron approved even more enthusiastically.

"Hey, has