"They have your old map ."
"What?"
"They swiped the old Marauder's map from Filch's office last year. I found out because they snuck up on me just after I finished testing mine; which works marvelously by the way."
"Good job, kiddo. Did you get the protected password thing you talked about to work?"
"Yes. Catherine gave me bonus points . I used it to annoy the goat, sailed into his office when he summoned me instead of letting him make me wait."
"I wish I could have seen his face. "
"Yes, well I wouldn't have minded seeing it better, but I didn't want to give him an opportunity to attempt to legilimens me. According to Snape he's quite strong and skilled. I'd rather keep our secrets if you please. His phoenix is wrong."
"What?"
"Remember the story Mai Reynolds' grandfather told about a dark phoenix?"
"Not really, most of us don't have encyclopedia's for memories."
"Thanks," Harry said sarcastically. "Anyway, I don't think the old man's phoenix is a 'light' one any longer."
"I should say I'm surprised but I'm not. Now what is this about Snivellous?"
"Sirius, no wonder the guy hates you, I thought you were more mature than that."
On the other end of the phone Sirius flushed with shame. "Yes, well, sorry about that, old habits."
"I suppose I forgive you. You guys really were cruel to him though, showing his underwear to the whole school. You setting him up to meet a werewolf. what were you thinking?"
"True. As far as thinking I wasn't, but how did you know? I never really told you."
"He tried to legiliemens me. I put him in the oubliette, his power and behavior has effectively been leashed. I found out a fair amount too."
"Oh." Sirius turned over the information in his mind. He wasn't happy that Snape had attempted to legilimens Harry. But he also knew enough about Harry's ability to occulude and the oubliette to know why Harry said Snape had been leashed. "Does he know what Albus brought into the school?"
"A philosopher stone."
"Crap. I have to think the old man has to be senile, nothing else fits. Be careful something like that could bring out all sorts of lunatics."
"I could kill Dumbledore for the way he's run this place into the ground. I really want to stir up the Foundation's board and ask them what the hell they were doing."
"Heard and understood, I'll see what I can do to start addressing these issues. Andie knows who's who among the Board of Governors. Lucius might as well."
"I've been thinking about the basilisk, I know Tom didn't bring food in for it. It was one reason that he was able to set it on his fellow students. I'm thinking of setting twenty five or so sheep loose in the chamber and leaving them as food let the creature eat, then see of it can be reasoned with rather than automatically killing it. I mean, if Slytherin brought it to the school, I very much doubt he wanted it there to kill students probably more to defend them from non-magicals."
"Don't know about that kiddo, in any event it sounds rather dangerous."
"Yes, but think about it. Think about what even a dram of venom is worth. Or shed skin. Or even its poop. Heck, I bet we could fund half the improvements right there alone. It could become a renewable funding source."
Sirius didn't have to think too hard. Harry was right. If they could control the basilisk it would be a fabulous way to fund the improvements at Hogwarts and renew the depleted scholarship fund. "All right I'll get you some sheep I'll have to spell them into some sort of stasis and shrink them."
"Fabulous."
"Well enjoy Halloween as much as you can, kiddo."
"I plan to. I'll be thinking of you."
"Call me if you need to."
"Will do."
Halloween wound up being a lot less fun than Harry imagined. In addition to missing the evening of remembrance that he and Sirius usually had, it seemed like half the school was running mad. In Charms Ron Weasley insulted Hermione Granger and she ran off in tears. Harry wasn't very fond of Hermione. She was smart but she did tend to lord the fact she knew a lot over others, and since she was so smart she tended to act like she should be in charge. She resented him, his laid back surfer boy attitude as she called it, and the fact he outdid her on the practical portion of every class.
But her faults didn't justify what Weasley said. "Mr. Weasley, you are a disgrace to the house of lions." Harry snarled. "Whatever else Miss Granger is, first and foremost she is our housemate, our family here at school. As such, criticism should be delivered with thought and concern not the malice you just displayed. I can't help but wonder what your mother would have done if you said to your sister what you said to Hermione."
Harry was pleased to see the other boy blush beet red, at least the boy had sense enough to be ashamed. Harry debated briefly trying to follow Hermione but suspected the girl would be more receptive to interaction after she had a chance to cry things out. As they were leaving the next class he cornered Susan. "Susie, any idea where Granger is? Weasley was an arse after charms. I think she went off to cry."
"I don't know. If she doesn't show for the feast, I'll tell McGonagall."