A raging roar woke Vesper Potter with a jolt, she was disoriented and everything sounded like it was underwater. She heard what sounded like Snape outside, shouting that Black could not have Disapparated because it is impossible inside the castle; someone must have freed him. Slamming the infirmary doors open, he proclaims that Potter must somehow be involved.
Dumbledore, arriving shortly after Snape and Fudge, states that Harry has been locked in the infirmary, and Madam Pomfrey verifies that no one has left. Snape, snarled a colourful curse then leaves. Fudge suggested quietly that Snape may be unbalanced, but Dumbledore muttered that he has simply suffered a great disappointment. When Dumbledore suggests removing the Dementors from Hogwarts, Fudge complies—if they tried to administer the Kiss to an innocent boy, then they are certainly unsafe.
Vesper felt a pull in her stomach, "boy?"
What boy?
Her mind ran to Harry.
Ron had been injured and Harry ?
Harry always seems to find danger.
Tried.
That means they didn't succeed, Harry was ok.
Her head hurt.
She wanted to fall back into the numbing darkness but consciousness clung loosely around her, just keeping her awake.
Dumbledore and Fudge left and Madam Pomfrey relocked the door, returning to her office.
Ron wakes up, shortly after and he asks what happened; Harry asks Hermione to explain. Vesper opened her eyes and waited while the objects in to room swam in to focus. She groaned as she rolled her head to the side.
"Vesper?!" yelled three concerned voices she scrunched up her face as the sounds assaulted her head. Did they have to be so loud?
"I'll get Madam Pomfrey." Hissed Hermione as her foot steps echoed in the silenced room. Vesper struggled to sit up as Harry sat by her bed.
"How you feeling sis?" he asked tenderly, remembering the slither of blood down the side of her face when he had checked on her before running after Black to the lake. He had blamed her pale colour on the moon light as she looked a healthier shade now.
"Like I was hit by the Hogwarts express at full speed." She joked quietly "you?"
"Good, you know." He said slowly, not wanting to reveal everything right now.
"We thought you were a gonna. You just didn't wake up!" Ron said quickly from the other side of the room, his leg bandaged up.
"Jeez Thanks," she replied sarcastically rolling her eyes but that hurt "what happened, Harry?" she had to know.
"Well Lupin, -the werewolf- pushed you down we all heard the crack and thought he'd killed you." He said quietly, taking hold of her hand. He was sure he'd have nightmares about that. "Sirius dragged him off to the forbidden forest so we could escape, but I went after Sirius and we ended up with dementor's coming down on us, Sirius was about to die, and then there just went away, and I woke up here." He said in a rush, Vesper had to concentrate to hear what he said, he wasn't telling her everything they both knew that but for now it was enough.
"Oh. So to some it all up. Everyone's ok."
"Yeah, Sirius and Buckbeak escaped and Lupin is somewhere in the forest. But Wormtail got away." he whispered.
-LB-
The castle is nearly deserted when Vesper, Harry, Ron, and Hermione are released from the Hospital Wing the next day. It is another Hogsmeade weekend, but Ron and Hermione decide to stay at Hogwarts with Harry.
Vesper had managed to convince the Weasley twins to go to the village with out her as her head still hurt. She also wanted to check on her godfather, knowing that he would feel awful if he knew what happened last night.
The four parted as the trio went to relax by the lake, where they were met by Hagrid, who reported that Buckbeak had escaped. The Trio pretend to be surprise. Hagrid also says that Snape told the Slytherins that Professor Lupin is a Werewolf, and Lupin has resigned.
-LB-
" Remus?" Vesper asked softly standing at the door way to his office, seeing everything in the early stages of packing. By now everyone who had a child at Hogwarts would know he was a werewolf, Snape had been very forthcoming with that information.
Vesper, once she had finished cursing his family line, had seriously considered some nasty hexes or putting never ending bubble soap in his caldron.
"In here, Ves'." Came a quiet voice, she looked around to see him, looking scarred and beaten, she notices that he was using his walking stick again today. She smiled sadly,
"You're leaving." It wasn't a question, she knew that and so did he. He just nodded the same smile on his face. She walked across the room to him, and hugged him. Her head buried in his chest and he wrapped his arms around her, placing his chin on her hair. They held each other tightly, both shutting their eyes.
The familiar sent of books, chocolate and the wild conformed her.
"Can you ever forgive me?" he asked quietly as she looked up at him.
"There is nothing to forgive, you did nothing."
"but I could have, I'm dangerous, I could have..."
"Remmy, if you keep with the what ifs and I could haves, you'll never see what's right in front of you. You didn't attack me, you didn't even try to, and you simply by passed me. So if you're going to become all miserable over what ifs then I'll... I'll steal all of your chocolate." She could feel the tears in her eyes but her jaw was set in determination.
Remus wiped the once that flowed down her cheeks away, and held her close.
"Your so like your mother, always putting others first." He hugged his only solid hold on the world and kissed her forehead. She was defiantly more than just a Goddaughter to him, more like a daughter that he really shouldn't have, shouldn't deserve, he was constantly putting her in danger just by being near her. He loved her.
There was a knock at the door, both Vesper and Remus turned to see Cedric looking a bit nervous. He must have come back from Hogsmeade early. The family broke apart.
"Yes Mr Diggory?" ask Remus in teacher mode. Vesper stifle a smile.
"Erm, sorry, I just wanted to talk to Vesper." He said his eyes flickering from Remus to Vesper and her watery eyes. Remus looked at her and she nodded.
"Sure, see you later Remus," she said as she walk back out the door, a sad smile on her face guessing what Cedric would want. Who would want to date someone who grew up under the care of a werewolf?
-LB-
Harry found Lupin in his office, where nearly everything is packed. Lupin said he was unable to stay—too many parents would object to a Werewolf teaching their children. He then asks about the previous night's events, especially Harry's Patronus. He says that Harry is correct, that James transformed into a stag, hence his nickname "Prongs." Lupin returns the Invisibility Cloak and the Marauder's Map to Harry, saying James would have been disappointed if Harry had not found any of the secret passages. He asked who gave him the map. Harry reluctantly admits that it was Vesper and the Twins. Lupin suppressed a grin, he was going to have a long talk to his goddaughter when he sees her again.
-LB-
Once they were far enough away from the office, Cedric stopped, and turned to Vesper, seeing the unshed tears in her eyes.
"Why were you crying?" he asked his voice was soft.
"You're breaking up with me aren't you," her voice was softer then usual as she looked at the floor so he wouldn't see the silent tears as there made there way down her face.
"Why would you say that?" he asked with the same soft voice as before.
"my God father's is a werewolf." She was having difficulty controlling her voice, she pressed her lips together.
"Yeah," He took hold of her chin and brings her face up to look at him, not being able to see it was difficult for him. "But I –I love you, and I don't care what your families like." He let go of her chin. He may not have notice it but it was the first time he said he love her, to her. "Are you a werewolf?" He looked away a bit ashamed that he asked.
"Would it make any difference, too you?" he looked back at her and saw fiery anger flicker in her sweet voice and her eyes.
"No! I-I just wondered if I had to tie you up once a month or not." He smile was small and sheepish but grew when her eyes soften and the corner of her mouth twitched upwards.
"So I still, if you still?" She asked she looked down again unsure of his answer. Her heart was beating so hard she was sure her whole chest was moving in time with it.
"Oh I still, I very still." He smiled as she did and he wrapped his arms around her and hugged her tightly and kissed her wet cheek.
-LB-
Marks came out at the end of the term, and Harry was amazed: he had passed everything, even Potions. Ron and Hermione also passes everything. Percy has his top-grade NEWTs, while the Twins have each managed to scrape a handful of OWLs, whereas Vesper had passed everything getting either Os or Es. Gryffindor wins the House Cup for the third straight year, largely from winning the Quidditch Cup.
-LB-
On the Hogwarts Express, Hermione told Ron and Harry that she has dropped Muggle Studies. With that and Divination off her schedule, she no longer needs the Time-turner and has returned it to Professor McGonagall. Ron suggested Harry might like to come to the Quidditch World Cup. His dad is usually able to get tickets.
Hermione spotted something small flying outside of the window. Harry reached out and grabs a tiny Scops owl carrying a message far too big for it. It was from Black, who writes that he is safe, and it was he who sent Harry the Firebolt for Christmas. Crookshanks carried the message to the Owl Office for him. Enclosed is a signed Hogsmeade permission form for Harry and because Black was part of the reason in losing Ron's rat, the little owl is his to keep. Ron held the owl up to Crookshanks and asks if it is real. Crookshanks purred, so Ron claims him.
Vesper and the twins sat with Lee Jordon were in their own cabin discuss the up coming summer and Vesper carefully lets slip that they had been tort by a Marauder for a year. The boys were beside themselves. Ganging up on her for information. She had never been so happy to see Kings Cross Station appearing out of the mist.
She had stopped a few moments when she found Harry and hugged him tightly, informing him that they must write and that he was getting too tall. She ruffled his messy hair and disappeared into the crowd. Harry wonders where she will go and why she appeared to have a handful of owl nuts in her jacket pocket. He had long believed she didn't own an owl.
As he meets his uncle at King's Cross Station, Harry tells him that he has met his godfather, Sirius Black, who is a wizard and a convicted murderer. Since Sirius is at large, and very interested in Harry's well-being, Harry expects that the Dursleys will be treating him with a little more respect this summer.
