Harry stared into the Marauder's Map. It was a fascinating object and it helped him to get to Hogsmeade in secrecy. But because he went there he found out the reason why Sirius Black went to Azkaban. If it wasn't because Gwynn's advice to him that day during summer, he would have charged to look for the convict.
He listened as Ron squabbled with Hermione about her cat Crookshank, who he believed ate Scabber. He has met the cat and although part of him thought the cat was purely an ugly brute; another part seemed to like the cat. When Salazar was still a part of him, he recognised the cat as an intelligent feline. Hermione screamed, "I told you for the last time, Crookshank did NOT eat you RAT!" She grabbed said cat and stormed off to the girl's dormitory.
Harry tapped the map, "Mischief Manage,"
At once, the map disappeared leaving him an empty piece of parchment. He sighed as he looked at Ron who fumed as he paced in front of Harry, "Do you have ANY proof that Crookshank did it?" Ron glared at him and Harry shrugged, "Okay, okay. You find spots of blood on your sheets,"
Harry no longer dream after he separated Salazar from himself. But he was sure that he heard someone screaming and since he didn't dream anything, he woke up in shock. He blinked blearily as he looked to where Ron was and asked, "What happened?"
Ron scrambled to his bed, "Sirius Black! He was asking me 'where is he'!"
Harry shot out of bed and reached for him, "What did you do?"
Ron shook his head, "Since he didn't see you sleeping there, I didn't tell him anything. I told him I don't know and then I screamed. That's all," He shivered and Harry quickly threw his own blanket over the poor boy. He looked around and realised that some of the boys had left to call for a professor. That week, the whole school camped in the Great Hall once more as the professors helped comb the castle and Hogsmeade for Sirius Black.
Harry sat in his bed the week after looking into the map to help search for Sirius Black when he saw a name that wasn't suppose to exist anymore. He had heard about the demise of Peter Pettigrew and was unsettled to see the man's name walking around in the castle. He went to look for him to find out the truth.
Unfortunately, not only was he evaded by Peter Pettigrew that somehow walked pass him without being seen, he was caught by Snape who was patrolling the school. Luckily, Lupin helped him. Harry followed the man back into his office.
Lupin asked Harry, "Where did you get this map?"
By Harry's shocked face, he admitted, "Yes, Harry. I knew that this is a map because I helped make it," He had a faraway look in his eyes, "We were the Marauders, your father, me, Peter and…Sirius," He looked at Harry, "I have no idea how this get into your possession but I'm holding onto this for a while,"
Harry nodded before admitting, "Just so you know why I'm walking around outside the dorm this late was because there's a name that I thought should be long dead," Lupin looked at him, "Who?"
"Peter Pettigrew,"
Lupin's face grew pale and he nodded, "Thank you, Harry, for your information; just don't walk around without a company this late again. Especially with Sirius Black still on the loose," He turned away, "Goodnight, Harry,"
Harry nodded, "Goodnight, Professor,"
The day after, he searched for the good professor. After a while, he found the man in his office. He knocked on the open door, "Professor?"
Lupin looked up and was delighted to see Harry, "Hello, Harry. Care for some hot cocoa?" He offered. Harry beamed and joined him. After a few minutes, he gathered enough courage and asked, "Can you teach me that spell that chases away Dementors?"
Lupin looked at him with surprise but then he realised that Harry had experienced way too many unprotected contact with the horrid creature. He nodded in agreement, "But for the moment I needed my rest," Harry nodded in understanding, seeing how pale and shaken the man was as though he had gone through a harsh night.
Lupin uses a Boggart as a training ground for Harry since he couldn't possibly let Harry face an original one even if he can actually get his hand on one. He could tell that Harry was adamant in not fainting before the creature anymore and was determined to fight away his fear. Although he find the Dementor that the Boggart turned into was odd since instead of the familiar Grim Reaper look alike that the actual creature resembled, the Boggart somehow gained a face for the Dementor in Harry's mind. It wasn't the face of Voldemort but the man's face was just as evil and murderous.
After a couple of wisp and a few bars of chocolate been consumed, Harry finally capable of making a Patronus strong enough to hold back the Boggart-Dementor. Once the thing was locked inside the chest where it was kept, he fell to his knees in pure relief and numbed with elated feeling of victory.
Lupin clapped his hand, "Congratulation, Harry! Although it's not a corporeal Patronus, its strong enough to chase off a Dementor," He pulled the boy to his feet and handed him another chocolate, "A true Patronus will choose a form that represent the person's personality or deepest self," He smiled at the boy and continue on congratulating him. But his words made Harry think; what would his Patronus look like now that he knew he was Salazar Slytherin?
A few days later, he and the others received a note from Hagrid to join him for tea at his cottage. Although it was later than the curfew, they will find a way. It turned out that Draco's father has decided to rob the gentle giant his friend Buckbeak. Hagrid sobbed, "He was going to be executed this evening!"
Hermione patted his back in gentle concern, her cheeks wet with sympathy. Hagrid then looked at Ron, "Oh, I found something of yours this morning," He handed Ron a mug with lid. The boy peeked in and squealed in delight, "Scabber!"
Hermione huffed, "I told you Crookshank didn't eat him!"
Ron mumbled his admittance as he busily pat his rat when something broke the glass of Hagrid's cottage window. Harry looked out and hissed, "They are here!" He looked at Hagrid, "Sorry, Hagrid, but we really need to go!" Hagrid nodded and ushered them through the back door.
Once they were far enough, the sound of an axe slicing through the air can be heard and the crows flew off into the blood red sky. Hermione hid her face at the crook of Ron's neck and he awkwardly comforted her. Then he hissed in pain. Harry looked at him, "What's wrong?"
Ron started to search, "Scabber! He bit me!" He called out, "Scabber!"
Hermione chased after him, "Ron! Wait!"
She chased after him and Harry followed after. But once they reached him, Ron was screaming for help as a gigantic black dog that was rumoured to be the Grimm dragged him by the leg into a hole under the roots of the Whomping Willow. Hermione tried to get to him and Harry cried out, "Watch out for the branch!"
The two spent some time jumping and avoiding branches, even rode on one before they finally get to sneak beneath the root where they saw Ron and the Grimm slipped through. Hermione looked around, "This tunnel lead to somewhere,"
Harry nodded, "And that somewhere should lead us to Ron,"
Gathering their nerves, the two followed the tunnel and emerged into a much damaged house. Hermione gasped, "We are in the Shrieking Shack," She looked up, "I heard something," Harry took the lead and they two walked up the stairs.
They opened a door and found Ron bound to a chair and gagged. Hermione gasped, "Ron!" She plucked the gag out of his mouth and he immediately sought for Harry, "Harry! He's the Grimm! He's an Animagus! The dog IS Sirius Black!"
Harry frowned when the door closed behind him. He looked over his shoulder and came face to face with the man rumoured to be his parent's murderer; Sirius Black.
