-:+:- Chapter Six: The Tale of Padfoot -:+:-

All everyone could talk about the next morning was Sirius Black; how he'd gotten past the dementors, into the class and just a few feet away from Harry Potter. Things between Charlotte and Harry had gotten worse. He was avoiding her; not that she minded with the mood he was always in.

There were no classes scheduled for the day so when Charlotte was asked by Professor Remus to join him for a walk, she was more than happy to accompany him. The grounds were so quiet and peaceful as they stood watching from the snow covered bridge.

"Harry has been attending extra lessons with me Charlotte to learn the Patronus charm," said Lupin, staring out at the grounds before them.

"Er, sorry professor I'm not sure what that charm is or what that means to me," said Charlotte.

"A patronus is sort of like an anti-dementor – a guardian if you will that wards off dementors," explained Lupin. "It's very advance magic; well above ordinary wizarding level."

"How does one conjure a patronus, professor," asked Charlotte.

"Ah, now this is what makes it so difficult. To conjure a fully corporeal patronus one must pull forth the happiest memory they have ever experienced, focus on that happiness and use the incantation Expecto Patronum."

"That does seem difficult; focusing on happy memory with a dementor around," agreed Charlotte.

"Charlie, I'm telling you this because I want you to join Harry's lessons," Remus said softly. "I noticed how the dementors affected you as well as Harry. You were only slightly better off than him."

"Professor, I'm not sure that's such a good idea. Harry and I aren't on the best of terms right now," she explained.

"None the less, I feel you'd be safer if you learned the Patronus charm. Please join us in my office tonight," Remus said sternly.

"Alright Professor," Charlotte grudgingly agreed.

"Who knows, you two may just help each other face your fears," Remus smiled before turning around.

"Professor," Charlotte called as just as he reached the end of the bridge. "I know – I know why you miss classes so often."

"Really now," Remus smiled, "I guess I should have known you or Ms. Granger would figure it out what with Professor Snape assigning that essay. It was the whole reason he assigned it in the first place."

"Does it hurt," Charlotte asked, walking towards him.

"Not if I take my Wolfsbane," he told her. "But the dreaded potion makes me ill, even if it does allow it to keep my mind."

"Well if Professor Dumbledore trusts you then so do I," said Charlotte.

"Thank you Charlie for keeping my secret," said Remus. "Now you should be getting back up to the castle."

Remus walked along with Charlotte back up to the castle. Hermione and Ron were fighting once again about their pets when Charlotte returned to the Gryffindor common room and Harry was nowhere to be found. She tried to keep her mind off her lessons with Professor Lupin and Harry by playing a game of wizard's chess with Ron. Soon enough, it was time for her to leave for Professor Lupin's classroom.

She lightly knocked on the door and stepped in. "Ah, thank you for joining us Charlotte," Remus greeted. Now I'd like you and Harry to both stand in front of this chest."

"Professor, what is that," Charlotte asked nervously.

"It's a boggart," answered Harry, speaking for the first time.

"I had a tricky finding another one but I thought this safer than actually bringing a real dementor into the room," Professor Lupin explained. "When I release the locks on the chest the boggart should come out and take the form of what you two fear most; a dementor."

"Alright, wands out you two," ordered Professor Lupin. "Now, think back to the happiest memory you have, let it fill your mind, focus on it, and then say Expecto Patronum."

Charlotte's thought went back to the first time Harry had kissed her. She remembered how light and happy she felt. Letting the moment fill her thoughts, she nodded to Professor Lupin, letting him know she was ready.

"Expecto Patronum," she shouted with Harry. Shimmering silver light appeared from both their wands, creating a luminous shield.

Their focus waivered and dark thoughts took over. Harry heard his mother. She was begging for his life. Charlotte was bombarded with the memories of her grandparents home; all of the neglect, the insults against her and her parents. And then Harry; letting her he didn't love her and that she would never been good enough for him.

"Charlotte, are you alright," asked Remus.

"Yeah, I'm fine," she said, allowing him to help her up.

"That was really good progress," he assured her.

"Let's have another go at it," said Harry.

"No, that's enough for one day. We'll resume lessons after the holidays," said Remus. "Now why don't you two each take a bit of chocolate and head back up to the common room."

"Alright, happy holidays professor," Harry said before leaving.

Charlotte quickly grabbed her bag and pulled out a nearly wrapped present with red wrapping and a large gold wrapping around it in a bow. "Happy holidays professor," said Charlotte, handing him the gift.

"Charlie, there was no need for this," Remus said softly, surprised by the gesture.

"I'll see you at the start of the term professor," Charlotte said, smiling as she left.

Charlotte returned to the common room to find it mostly cleared out. Ron's sister Ginny and a couple of the players of from the quidditch team, Angela and Katie, were the only ones there. Ron and Hermione had mostly likely finished their argument for the day and gone up to bed. Harry was gone as well.

The next night was Christmas eve and Charlotte was debating on what to do. She had spent a week thinking of what to Harry when she finally found a set books on Defense Against the Dark Arts. They were full of charms and counter hexes to defend oneself. She had hoped they would make up before Christmas; which unfortunately didn't occur.

"Hey Ron, could you put this with your present for Harry," asked Charlotte as everyone headed off for bed.

"Sure," he said, taking hold of the neatly wrapped present. "Don't worry. He'll come around soon."

"Thanks," Charlotte said, trying to smile. It didn't feel like Christmas when she went to bed. She felt alone and depressed.

The next morning Charlotte woke up to a rather large pile of presents at the foot of her bed. Ron had given her a rather large box of assorted sweets from Honeydukes, a new quill and ink set from Hermione with assorted ink colors, cakes from Hagrid, and surprisingly a hand knitted red sweater from Weasley and hone made pies. The last gift also came as a surprise. It was from Professor Lupin; a handy little penknife with attachments to unlock any lock and undo any knot. There was a note with at the message

Hope this keeps you out of trouble or at least
helps you get out of it.

Merry Christmas,

Professor Lupin.

There was no gift from Harry.

Most of the girls in the dorm were still unwrapping their presents when Charlotte grabbed her coat and decided to visit Hagrid. The half-giant was still stressed with worry over Buckbeak's appeal. Maybe she could cheer him and the hippogriff up.

"Merry Christmas Hagrid," Charlotte smiled when he opened the door.

"Merry Christmas Charlie," Hagrid boomed, letting her in. "How 'bout a cup of tea?"

"That would be nice," she agreed, sitting down. Fang came up and rested his head on her lap.

Charlotte help Hagrid write notes for Buckbeak's appeal. There were going to try everything possible to save Buckbeak. Hopefully Buckbeak wouldn't be executed after all the research Hermione had done and the notes Charlotte wrote out for Hagrid. She wished she could come with him but there was no way she or any of the others would be allowed off school grounds.

It was well past lunch when Charlotte left Hagrid's. The grounds were deserted since all of the students were either eating the Great Hall or sleeping off the large Christmas feast. She was walking along the edge of the forbidden forest when Charlotte noticed a large black dog running into the forest; strangely chasing a rat.

"Scabbers," Charlotte exclaimed, realizing it was Ron's pet.

She chased after the two animals, heading into the forest after them. "Lumos," Charlotte shouted pulling out her. Light erupted from her wand; lighting her way. She found Scabbers curled up under a fallen tree. "There you are," she sighed. "Come on Scabbers; let's get you back to Ron."

Suddenly, Charlotte heard a growl behind her. Slowly turning around, she came face to face with the large black hound. The hound pounced up at her. Charlotte let out a scream. She went for her wand but the dog pushed her down to the hard, cold forest ground.

"G-good dog," stuttered Charlotte, trying to calm the beast down.

The dog picked up her wand with his teeth. It backed away a few feet and then Charlotte watched in horror as the dog began to shift. The dog transformed into a man standing in front of her with ragged hair, robes that were shredded and torn. It was Sirius Black.

Charlotte bit back a scream. He was now holding her wand in his hand. "Don't scream," he urged. "I'm not going to hurt you."

"Y-you S-Sirius Black," Charlotte stuttered; her voice filled with panic.

"Please listen to me, Harry Potter's life is in danger," pleaded Black.

"Of course his life is in danger," exclaimed Charlotte, evidently finding her voice. "You're the one who's out to kill him!"

"No," Black denied. "I would never touch a hair on Harry's head. He's my best friend's son. I'm his godfather."

"Why should I believe anything you're telling me," snapped Charlotte. "How do I know this isn't all a trick to get me to lead Harry to you? Give me one good reason I should believe anything you tell me."

Sirius stared her for awhile and then finally down at the wand in her hand. Making a decision, Sirius offered her wand back to her. "There's no reason to believe but I hope you do. I've spent twelve years in Azkaban with the dementors for a crime I could dream of committing."

"Tell me everything," Charlotte ordered, taking a chance on the man standing in front of her.

"I guess the easiest way to start is to admit I as good as killed James and Lily," Sirius said with a disheartened sign. "I was supposed to be their secret keeper but convinced them to change at the last minute. I never thought Peter would sell them out."

"Peter Pettigrew," asked Charlotte.

"Yes, he was the fourth in our lot. Biggest piece of filth I ever met," Sirius growled. "He used to follow me and James around all the time. Idolized us, the little bugger."

"So he was the one that sold Harry's parents out to Voldemort," asked Charlotte.

"Yes, and then when I corned the traitor and called him out on it he went and blew up the alley; shouted my name for the world to hear saying I was the one that sold out my best mates and killed fourteen muggles while he was at it. Everyone thought it was me in the end."

"Wait, something doesn't make sense," said Charlotte, suspicious of Sirius's story. "Everyone said you killed Peter when he cornered you and that all that was left of him was his thumb."

"He transformed," Sirius exclaimed. "He was an unregistered Animagus. We all were both me and James. He cut off this own thumb to fake his death, transformed into a rat, and escaped through the sewers."

"Then why were you talking about Hogwarts in your sleep while in Azkaban," asked Charlotte. "Everyone knew you were trying to get to the castle."

"Because he's here," Sirius exclaimed, a mad look about his face. "Peter is here at Hogwarts."

"You expect anyone to believe Peter Pettigrew, the man you supposedly killed, has been at Hogwarts disguised as a ra….Scabbers," Charlotte exclaimed.

"Pardon me," said Sirius, a confused look about his face.

"My friends rat, Scabbers. I think he's Pettigrew," Charlotte told him anxiously. "He's missing a toe."

"Does your friend have red hair," asked Sirius.

"Yes, how did you know," asked Charlotte surprised.

"I saw a picture of Pettigrew in the Prophet. He was with a family of red heads and the paper said the children where to return to Hogwarts."

"It's got to be him," agreed Charlotte. "That rodent has been alive nearly twelve years. There is no way a normal rat could possibly live that long."

"I've got to get a hold of him. That's the only way I can clear my name," said Sirius.

"You were following me. You could have caught him if it weren't for me," Charlotte groaned. "I'm so sorry Mr. Black."

Sirius looked at her in bewilderment. She guessed it was from being spoken to with actually civility. "We'll find him," he assured her. "You better head back to the castle before someone notices you missing."

"I'll come back here tomorrow night," she told him earnestly. "I'll bring some food."

Before Sirius could protest and stop her from risking being caught off grounds for him, she was already walking out of the woods and to the castle.