After many, many jumps Harry found himself in Hogsmeade Village for the first time. The night was dark and the distant dementors presence made Harry feel as if he was in a horror film.
He approached the Shrieking Shack, the most haunted building in all of Europe. The shack was two stories and contained two bedrooms, a living room, kitchen, dining and bathroom. The master bedroom on the top floor once had multiple wards to contain something within it.
Harry walked up the stairs as shouting echoed through the house. A small trail of blood led through the house and Harry followed the trail to the second bedroom. Inside were three voices, Harry recognised Sirius' voice easily but couldn't place the other two. One was very coarse and sounded tired, the other was very squeaky and was pleading with the others.
Harry peaked around the door and found four people. The first was Sirius who stood in an offensive stance facing a second, short fat man with balding hair. The third man belonging to the coarse voice was slim and tall, he wore torn and patched robes, was heavily scarred and also had grey and slightly balding hair. The fourth was a young boy of fourteen with flaming red hair and a bleeding leg. Harry recognised his best friend Ron Weasley.
"Remus, you must get Sirius. He betrayed James and Lily." The fat man pleaded with the scarred man known as Remus.
"Then why are you still alive Peter." Remus snarled. So the fat man was Peter Pettigrew.
"You must understand, I was scared beyond scared. I was not brave like you or James. Sirius was the secret keeper, he betrayed us all. You need to believe me" Peter begged.
"Then swear an oath, on your life and magic that you were not the secret keeper of James, Lily and Harry Potter." Remus stated firmly.
"Surely you would not think that necessary, I am your friend, James wouldn't do this. He would believe me." Peter tried to reason.
"I Sirius Orion Black the third, do swear on my life and magic that I was not the secret keeper for the fidelius charm protecting James, Lily and Harrison Potter. So I swear, so mote it be." Sirius chanted easily. There was a small flash of magic as his oath was judged. "Lumos." Sirius cast to prove he still had his magic.
"Pl-please, he m-must of used dark magic, h-he is a Bl-Black after all. He m-must of faked th-the oath." Peter stuttered.
"Then give your oath Peter." Remus said.
"I Peter Elizabeth Pettigrew, do swe-" Before he could finish he morphed into a rat and darted for the door. Two stunners were sent after him but he slipped through. Sirius screamed in rage as he ran after the rat.
Harry saw Peter coming and plucked him off the ground as the rat scurried past. A quick stunner later and he was back in there control.
"Come on Sirius, you must be getting slack in your old age. Any idiot would no to lock the door so he can't get out." Harry said.
"Harry, what are you doing here." Sirius asked in surprise.
"Well it is well past dinner and I was hungry for a Three Broomsticks special. That as well as I couldn't let my favourite godfather get caught again and kissed by dementors. Thought I might lend a hand, looks like you needed it too."
"I am your only godfather Harry." Sirius pointed out.
"The details are not important, now what are we going to do with this." Harry said dangling the rat from its tail.
"Reverse the stunner so we can force him back. I'll stun him again and we can levitate him back to the castle."
Harry placed the rat on the ground, his foot on its neck and reversed his stunner. Remus cast the animagus reversal spell and the rat grew into the short, fat and balding traiter known as Peter Pettigrew. Remus stunned him again and levitated him out the door.
"Do you want to take him or will I." Harry asked, indicating to the now unconscious form of Ronald Weasley.
"I'll do it." Sirius offered.
"Brilliant, lets go." Harry said and walked down the stairs. Remus helped him through the trap door and Harry took charge of the Lumos charm to light the way for the group as they walked down the dark tunnel back to Hogwarts.
They came back out the Whomping Willow and held the knot in the trunk to freeze it. Sirius and Ron went through first, then Remus and Peter. Harry waited for them to be out of range before sprinting to them. The tree awoke and slammed a branch down that only just missed Harry as he escaped.
Remus suddenly dropped to his knees and groaned in pain. For the first time Harry noticed the very bright, full moon. Now bathed in its light Remus was struggling as his body shifted to that of a wolf.
"Harry, take those two and run." Sirius yelled as he shifted into Padfoot. But it was too late.
"Remus had fully shifted into a werewolf and lost control of his magic. The levitation and stunning charm faded and Pettigrew disappeared into the night as a rat.
Harry needed to make a quick decision, catch Peter and leave Ron or take Ron and leave Peter. He couldn't just leave his best friend to be eaten by a werewolf so his choice was made.
A feather light charm left his wand as he flicked Ron over his shoulder and ran. They ran straight towards the castle through the forest. Harry's legs burned from the strain but he ran on. A growl caught his attention and he twisted his head to see Moony launching at him.
Harry dropped to the ground and the wolf sailed over him, quickly followed by Padfoot. Harry grabbed Ron again and ran in the opposite direction to the wolf and grim as they also chased after. Padfoot trying his best to stop the wolf and divert its attention.
Harry ran on, changing direction constantly to evade the vicious beast that was hot on his tail. He ran onwards until he found himself at the edge of the black lake. He was stuck.
He could try going back the way he came but he would likely run straight into the wolf. On his left was a steep bank that he could try to climb but again the wolf would catch him. To his right and up ahead was the black lake. Cold and full of magical creatures, there was no way he could cross with Ron as well.
Certain death, Drowning himself and his friend, maybe save his friend and himself. The bank was his best option.
Harry levitated Ron to the top of the bank and began to climb after him. He was three metres up the bank and almost halfway to the top when he heard a growl and the thud of something heavy hitting the ground.
He looked back to see that Sirius had been knocked unconscious and had reverted back to himself. Moony was closing in on Harry by the second. The wolf climbed the bank in two bounds, grabbing Harry with his front claws and dragging him back down to the ground.
Harry cast a stunner but only served to enrage the wolf more. A banishing hex forced it backwards but it only came back even angrier. Harry was bleeding from his side where the wolf had clawed him and was struggling to stay standing.
He cast the bludgeoning hex and this time he heard a moan of pain from the wolf. He cast it again and again but the wolf was determined to satisfy his blood lust and Harry's bleeding side was all the more encouraging.
Suddenly a deathly cold feel over the place and the lake froze over. The wolf cowered back in fear before darting back into the woods. Harry's relief at the wolfs departure was short lived as almost one hundred dementors swarmed the area.
Harry was never good at the patronus charm and could only produce a feeble shield. Sirius insisted he get it right as it would be dementors that would come after him. No Harry wished he had practiced more.
"Expecto Patronum." Harry yelled into the night, a wisp of light flowed from his wand and formed a weak shield. The dementors pushed against the shield and shattered it easily.
"Expecto Patronum." Harry called again, the same wisp of light formed an even weaker shield. It dissipate after only three seconds. Harry collapsed to the ground from a mixture of exhaustion and pain.
"Please not Harry." He heard a woman scream.
"Step aside you foolish little mudblood." A man's voice called this time.
"No, kill me but leave Harry. Please don't hurt him." The woman pleaded again.
"As you wish mudblood." The man spat with utter hatred in his voice. "Avada Kedavra." Screaming, a flash of green, THUD. The woman with flaming red hair dropped to the ground, dead.
"Noo!" Harry screamed. His mind was flooded with memories. His parents reading him stories. His mother sacrificing herself for him. Sirius finding him in the forest that night. All the stories Sirius had shared over the past ten months. All the photos in his photo album from Sirius. Ron, Hermione, the Weasley's, Sirius, his parents. His family.
"EXPECTO PATRONUM'" He screamed at the top of his lungs. A great white stag made of magic burst from his wand, forcing Harry back onto the ground. The stag chased the dementors away from Harry and Sirius, Keeping them at bay. The staggs light grew to encompass the dementors in a shield that stood in front of the great stagg. Slowly the stagg pushed forward, driving the abominations away. Slowly, the dementors fled.
The stagg returned to Harry's side and nudged him with its nose. Harry reached out to pet its fur coat of magic. Happiness. Love. Peace. Harry had felt nothing like it wash over him, It felt amazing. The stagg faded as Harry faded into the depths of a deep sleep.
~•~
Harry's eyes fluttered open before quickly snapping shut again from the blinding white. His eyes slowly opened again as he sat up.
"Good morning Mr Potter, first day back and you are already in here. What will I ever do with you." The voice of Poppy Pomfrey, the school Medi-Witch said.
"Hopefully heal me up when I see you next. I think this sets a new record and though. What is it, ten months since I have been here last. This calls for a toast." Harry said.
"Yes, a toast to Mr Potter's god health for ten months. Now drink up." she replied as she gave him a handful of vials. Each one tasting worse than the last.
"Ah, good to see you awake my boy." Dumbledore said from the doorway.
"Professor, Sirius is innocent." Harry said quickly.
"I know Harry, Professor Lupin has already spoken to me."
"So he is free."
"Unfortunately without proof, all we have is the word of a werewolf and two teenagers." Dumbledore said sadly.
"And they sent him to prison on the assumptions of the public and his being in a compromising position. There is very little difference."
"True, however the minister has ordered his kiss. There is nothing I can do."
"So because the minister is an idiotic and self centred arsehole who thinks of nothing but his public opinion, Sirius will die."
"It is the ministers belief that Black has used memory charms to change your opinion of him."
"And when did the minister become a trained medical wizard. Madam Pomfrey seems to have found nothing of memory charms over the past ten months."
"I have done all I can, there is nothing more that can be done. Sirius will be kissed in an hour, I am truly sorry Harry." Dumbledore said before leaving the room and locking the door.
"Mr Potter, what are you doing." Madam Pomfrey yelled as he jumped out of bed.
"Just because the headmaster is incompetent does not mean that Sirius must die." Harry said. "Reducto, Accio, Accio." Harry shattered the window to the infernary and summoned two school brooms.
"Mr Potter, Harry." Madam Pomfrey yelled after him as he jumped out the window and flew away.
"Point me Sirius Orion Black." Harry said. His wand spun to point at the east tower on the seventh floor. Harry pushed the old school broom to its limits as he raved to the tower.
"Reducto." Harry smashed the window to the room sirius was kept in.
"Harry, what are you doing." Sirius asked.
"Saving your arse, now fly out here." Harry said handing Sirius the second broom. Sirius jumped out the window and flew to be level with Harry.
"Reparo." Harry cast and fixed the window. "Go Sirius, get out of here. I will be fine." Harry yelled at his godfather who justed hovered in place.
"Thank you Harry." Sirius said before turning his broom to face the gates and racing to get out of the schools wards.
Harry turned back to face the fourth floor where the still broken window of the hospital wing was. He flew back at a more sedated pace and climbed through the window. The broom was banished away and the window repaired within ten seconds and Harry was back in bed.
Ten minutes later shouting could be heard down the corridor. It steadily grew louder before the doors slammed open. In walked Dumbledore, Cornelius Fudge, Amelia Bones and Severus Snape.
"I am telling you, it was Potter. Arrest him." Snape snarled.
"Did you free Sirius Black from our holding Mr Potter." Fudge asked.
"No" Harry lied.
"He's lying." Snape shouted in reply.
"It does not matter if I am, you have no proof. Only the hearsay of an overgrown bat and a
idiotic man child. For all we know Black may have charmed you all to think I am involved. From what I hear, that is simply not enough for legal actions to take place. Besides, I have been in the hospital wing the entire time. Right Poppy." Harry said, all heads turned to look at the flustered witch.
"Um, yes, of course. I would never allow a patient to leave when they are under my care." She said.
"Well there we have it, case dismissed. Now I am very tired, could you keep the noise down." Harry said. He rolled over to face away from them and faked sleep.
"You little brat, Bones, arrest him." Fudge yelled.
"You want me to arrest Harry Potter, The-Boy-Who-Lived, who has an ironclad alibi, on the belief of an ex death eater who is only guessing. No thank you Minister" Amelia Bones replied.
"My patients need rest and this noise is not needed in a hospital. Headmaster, surely there is a better place you can argue amongst each other." Madam Pomfrey said.
"Right, we are done here Minister, let us adjourn to my office where we can discuss further." Dumbledore said.
"I don't want to speak with you Dumbledore. We are done here, Amelia let's go." Fudge yelled, storming out of the room. Dumbledore smiled and followed after along with Snape who scowled all the way.
~•~
Harry actually did fall asleep and did not wake again until lunch. He was again fed awful tasting potions and scanned with every scan possible.
"Madam Pomfrey, I would appreciate it if you could keep the scars on my chest just between us for now." Harry said quietly.
"Of course my healer's oath prevents me from doing otherwise. But you already knew that didn't you." She said with concern.
"Harry, your back. where have you been." Hermione squealed as she entered the room.
"Hello Hermione, have a good summer." Harry responded.
"Luckily you are back in time for exams. We have so much studying to do." She said. Harry groaned inwardly and sighed. Sirius couldn't wait until after exams to chase Peter. Nope, it needed to be two weeks before they start.
"Well the papers got it partly right, I was with Sirius Black but I was not kidnapped. Well I suppose I kind of was but not in a bad way. He saved me." Harry began to explain what he had been doing all year, conveniently leaving out details like why he needed saving and where they actually were.
Ron had awoken a few minutes in and Harry needed to start again but the two most important people knew. Now he could rest easily that they were not pointlessly worrying.
"Of course you cannot tell anybody about this." Harry said.
"Of course, we would never betray you." they both said.
"I know that, I guess with this whole Pettigrew thing I am a bit paranoid." Harry responded.
"If you would like, we can both take an oath to keep your secrets. We could all do it, that way we are absolutely certain. I read all about them last summer and they are rather interesting." Hermione suggested.
"You guys don't need to do that. I trust that you wouldn't do anything like that." Harry said.
"We won't to, to show that even if something happens. Your secrets are safe with us until the day we die. I Hermione Jean Granger, do hereby swear to keep the secrets of Harry James Potter and Ronald Bilius Weasley my own until death do us part. So I swear, so mote it be." Hermione chanted, a brief flash of magic and the oath was set.
"Alright then, I Ronald Bilius Weasley, do hereby swear to keep the secrets of Harry James Potter and Hermione Jean Granger my own until death do us part. So I swear, so mote it be." Ron chanted, a flash signified the acceptance of his oath.
"I Harry James Potter, do hereby swear to keep the secrets of Hermione Jean Granger and Ronald Bilius Weasley my own until death do us part. So I swear, so mote it be." A third flash of magic and the oaths were complete.
"So when are the two of you released." Hermione asked.
"I don't know, I don't think there is anything wrong with me. Ron looks capable of walking just fine. Poppy." Harry called it.
"What is it Mr Potter." the mediwitch asked as she fussed with the bed sheets.
"When can we leave." Harry asked.
"When I say so." She replied.
"And when do you say we can leave." Harry retorted.
She scanned them both with her wand before replying "The both of you may leave for dinner tonight."
"Brilliant." Harry said as the Hogwarts healer returned to her office.
"Your on first name basis with Madam Pomfrey." Hermione questioned.
"No but she hasn't said anything yet. She still only calls my Mr Potter though." Harry laughed.
"So will you be taking the exams." Hermione asked.
"If I want to get into all my classes next year and not repeat third year I have to. I am confident that I can at least pass them all with EE. Sirius was a big help in tutoring me for potions along with reading over some of my mum's old school books." Harry said.
"Were they different text books. Which ones."
"No she had written notes in the margins of each potion. Little tips and shortcuts, It helped me understand how the potion works I guess. There were notes for almost every potion from alterations to improve it just to reminders to double check things are done properly."
"She wrote on her school books, why would anyone damage a book like that." Hermione said in shock.
"It wasn't damaging it, the book was hers to do with as she pleased. If anything she improved it. I don't remember it word for word but I can remember things like powdered fairy wings work faster for brewing time but crushed give a longer shelf life. Just some small practical things." Harry assured her. If he had said more Hermione would hound him for every last bit of information.
"Oh right, I read about that in another potions book. Handy tip I suppose." she said.
~•~
Harry and Hermione still revised and studied hard for the exams. They only had two weeks of classes before exam leave started and Harry felt he wasn't behind. His exams started on the seventh of June and consisted of one subject a day, for four days. Friday to Sunday was left off to study some more before starting again.
Monday was History so that meant an early exam from nine in the morning to lunch. This left the afternoon off for Harry to play a pickup game of quidditch on his fire bolt that dobby had retrieved for him. Dobby hadn't stayed with them much at Castle Black but stopped in once a week to check that he was okay.
It felt great for Harry to fly again and the Gryffindor team beat Hufflepuff with ease. It had been difficult for Oliver Wood to accept Harry back after he 'Abandoned the quidditch cup.' as he had put it. Cormac Mclaggen had played Seeker and was rather awful. He did not have any tactics beyond tailing the other seeker. Apparently the Gryffindor Ravenclaw game took seven hours because both seekers used the same tactic. Follow the other. Eventually the snitch just about presented itself on a silver platter to Mclaggen and Gryffindor won.
Tuesday brought Transfiguration and Harry was positive he aced both theory and practical. Wednesday morning was free with the Astronomy theory in the afternoon and practical at midnight. Thursday came with Herbology and Harry felt he did well. Likely an O or EE. Definitely not better than Neville but he didn't fail.
The extended weekend was a blessing in disguise. Harry had so much fun relaxing in the sun by the black lake. As far away from the area that had the dementors as possible. The dementors at least had been removed and taken back to Azkaban after Dumbledore threatened to tell the press that they almost killed Harry. Fudge of course used the press to tell the world that the aurors were now well equipped to defend the school with the increase of graduates from the academy. Only seven aurors graduated that year so the DMLE was really in no better position than the rest of the year.
The new week brought Runes along with it and Harry was positive that he got an O. He, like Remus seemed to really click with runes and it made a lot of sense to him. Tuesday was his second elective and Care for Magical Creatures was passed with ease. Wednesday came with the defense exam and Harry smashed the practical with flying colours and was beyond confident in his theory. Last exam for the week was potions and Harry determined that he did not muss Snape breathing down his neck whilst he brewed. He knew he did well but how Snape would mark remained to be seen.
Finally exams were over and Harry had another week to relax and enjoy his last few days in the castle before returning home for the summer. The summer, the thought had yet to cross Harry's mind but he still had no idea where he would be staying.
He approached the headmasters office entrance but found he did not know the password. After trying several different magical sweets he gave up guessing.
"I seek the headmasters help in a matter of importance." Harry spoke clearly to the gargoyle.
Ten seconds later the large stone structure moved aside to give Harry entrance. He climbed the winding staircase and was welcomed in before he could knock.
"What brings you to my office today Harry." Dumbledore asked.
"I finally worked out what you meant last year." Harry replied.
"I am not sure I understand the meaning of your question my boy." Dumbledore said.
"I was always confused by your statement, and you have repeated it many times to many people. Help will always be given at Hogwarts to those who seek it. I never understood because your office is guarded by a stone gargoyle with a forever changing password. Really, all we had to do was ask for help and it would be given."
"Well done, Usually people just wait for help to find them. Not everything in life will be presented on a silver platter and not everything is easy. It is important to actively seek help when it is needed. I however, assume you did not come here to discuss riddles and hints with an old man. What is it you seek help with."
"Where will I be spending the summer. I understand that my relatives are no longer in England so I cannot stay with them. Where is it I will be going." Harry asked.
"Well that is up to you, Where do you wish to stay Harry." Dumbledore asked.
"I would really like to stay with Sirius but I don't know if I can at the moment. I think it best to let things cool off and for him to cover his tracks before seeing him again. I would say the Weasley's but I don't think it would be practical for me to stay there for two months. Not without paying some form of rent that they would not accept. I suppose I could stay at the Leaky Cauldron but I don't know if I really want to spend two months there. Maybe I could go to a high end muggle hotel for a month, then stay at the Weasley's." Harry said aloud to himself.
"I am sure the Weasley's would love to have you all summer but you are of course correct. They would not accept any payment and they are already pressed for money. The prize money they won helped immensely but I believe it has been all but spent by now. Sirius will be occupied and the Leaky Cauldron has far to many visitors and is not ideal for long term stay. A muggle hotel would not be seen by many wizards if any at all and security is rather fabulous within the more expensive varieties. My only concern is that they are in fact expensive, are you sure that is what you want to do." Dumbledore said.
"I know that Sirius has given me a vault at Gringotts with five thousand galleons in it. When I turn seventeen I gain access to my family vault which has much more and several properties that I cannot access yet. A months stay at a high end hotel will cost no more than fifteen hundred galleons and I can stay at the Weasley's from my birthday onwards." Harry said.
"And what hotel would you stay at." Dumbledore inquired.
"I haven't gotten there yet, maybe a small stay at the Leaky Cauldron to book a room and then off on my grand luxury summer." Harry suggested.
"I will permit this only if you inform me of exactly where you are staying and when you will be there." Dumbledore said.
"I agree to those terms, it will be great to just relax for a bit. It has been a very stressful month headmaster. I chased my godfather across the continent to stop him doing something stupid. Mind you he did it anyway but still. And exams, what a nightmare. I think I will really enjoy spending the summer having anything I need at the ring of a bell. Quite the opposite from past summers." Harry said.
"Yes, yes. You best be off now, dinner is in fifteen minutes and I believe you have a letter to send to the Weasley family."
"Right you are Albus, pleasure catching up with you. Do stay well." Harry said, bubbling with excitement at what his summer may hold.
Hermione had pressured him into doing half the holiday homework already so he was safe there. He could do the rest at the Weasley's. To believe that he would have an entire month without training, cooking, school, cleaning. It was just so foreign and exciting for him. This summer was going to be great, he just knew it. Nothing could make it not so.