Chapter 11

Magic Maps, Animagi and the Truth

For once Harry didn't argue about being kept in the hospital wing which must have been a record. Normally he wanted to get out of there as soon as possible. He kept the remnants of his broken broom on his bedside table. It was still there when I visited him a few days later to see how he was. He still couldn't understand why the Dementors were affecting him so badly. I sat on the end of his bed and listened to him but then he asked me something I didn't know how to answer.

'How come you're able to hold up against them?' Harry asked, staring at me. 'You get affected as badly as I do. Why is it I always faint when they're around me?'

'I don't know, Harry,' I said. 'I don't know why they affect some people more than others. All I know about Dementors is that they feed on your happy memories until you're nothing left. That's why they guard Azkaban. Maybe you should ask Lupin about them. He knows more about them than I do.'

Harry sat back in his pillows.

'Jenna,' he said next, 'd'you believe all that stuff Trelawney said about the Grim?'

'Why d'you ask?'

'It's just – don't tell Ron or Hermione I said this – but I saw something in the stands during the Quidditch match. It looked like a giant black dog. I think it was the Grim.'

I blinked. 'And?'

'You're not worried?' asked Harry.

'I have no reason to be,' I shrugged. 'These death omens and things, they're only as true as people make them to be. If you believe you saw the Grim, so be it. Start surrounding yourself with safety spells. If not, then you don't need to be constantly watching your shadow.'

I wasn't entirely sure if Harry had taken my advice. He returned to class on Monday morning only to once again have to endure Malfoy's, now bandage free, impressions of him falling off his broom. I watched him unimpressed across the Hall at breakfast wondering if I could fire a Trip Jinx at him without anyone noticing. That would make his "act" much more believable. His imitations continued into our Potions lesson later that day, this time doing Dementors. Ron finally lost it and flung a crocodile heart at him across the classroom. Snape took fifty points from Gryffindor because of it. We left to go to Defence Against the Dark Arts with Ron in a bad mood.

'If Snape's taking Defence Against the Dark Arts again, I'm going off sick,' he said. We turned the corner to Lupin's classroom. 'Check who's in there, Hermione.'

Hermione and I both went ahead and peered round the classroom door. I knew full well Lupin would be back in class today and so wasn't surprised to see him. I walked inside while Hermione gave the all clear to Ron. Lupin's eyes met mine as I took my seat. His robes were hanging off him more than usual and he had dark shadows beneath his eyes. Hadn't he gotten any sleep in the last few days? As he looked at me, I saw his eyes focus on the faint scratches on my cheek. I looked away so my hair covered them. By now the rest of the class had arrived and they instantly started complaining about Snape. Like always, Professor Lupin merely smiled.

'Don't worry, I'll speak to Professor Snape,' he told us. 'You don't have to do the essay.'

'Oh no,' said Hermione, looking disappointed. I glanced at her. 'I've already finished it!'

Oh, brother.

The class soon cheered up when Lupin showed us today's creature. He brought out a Hinkypunk, a creature made entirely of smoke holding a lantern which causes people to follow it because of the light into marshes and bogs. When the bell rang, I gathered up my stuff to leave when Lupin appeared at my desk side. I looked up at him.

'When did you get those cuts?' he asked quietly.

I didn't say anything. Lupin never remembered what happened during a full moon, even if he drank the Wolfsbane Potion which allowed him to keep his mind. A part of me believed he repressed the memories as they were too painful to remember. I never contributed to it by telling him what he did to me during them. I picked up my bag and turned away. Lupin didn't stop me, instead calling Harry back. I glanced back at them then walked out of the classroom.

Things finally began to pick up as the term came to an end. Gryffindor received good news when Ravenclaw flattened Hufflepuff in their Quidditch match at the end of November which meant we weren't out of the running yet for the Quidditch Cup. Meanwhile, the weather finally began to improve and the sky lightened suddenly to a dazzling, opaline white and the grounds got covered in a glittering frost. Wherever you went you could tell the students were preparing for Christmas. Professor Flitwick had already decorated his classroom with lights which were in reality a bunch of fairies he'd caught. I signed up with Harry and the others to stay at Hogwarts over Christmas as Lupin had decided to stay here as he could get the Wolfsbane Potion from Snape again if he was here.

Just before the end of term we found out there was to be a second Hogsmeade trip before it ended. On Saturday morning, I watched as the rest of the school departed before heading back inside the castle. As I headed in from the courtyard I noticed Harry standing at the window of the clock tower. Intrigued, I changed direction and walked up the stairs. Harry was staring at the window, watching everyone else leave.

'How come you're up here?' I asked him, standing beside him.

'I'm going to Hogsmeade,' said Harry defiantly. 'I don't care what McGonagall says, I'm going. And you can't stop me either, Jen.'

By now, out of habit, Harry had started to call me Jen occasionally. I didn't object to it.

'I wasn't going to,' I said. 'But if you do, can I come?' Harry looked at me.

'What about Lupin?'

I shrugged, 'He'll give me a detention if he found out. But what's one detention if it means I can go to Hogsmeade?' Harry rolled his eyes. 'So how are we going to do this?'

Harry reached into his pocket and pulled out a long, silvery piece of material: his Invisibility Cloak. Harry looked back out the window. The courtyard was virtually empty now.

'Right, let's go,' he said. 'The courtyard's clear enough to sneak though.'

Harry threw the Cloak round the both of us and we hurried down the stairs from the clock tower and towards the courtyard. We didn't pass anyone. There was one thing we hadn't counted on though. As soon as we stepped outside our footprints showed up in the show. Instantly I pulled us back into the shelter of the courtyard and pulled the Cloak off us. There was no way for us to get into Hogsmeade without someone spotting two pairs of footprints appearing with no one there.

'Psst – Harry!'

Harry and I looked round to see Fred and George peering at us from behind a door leading to a stairway. They waved us over to them. No one else was in the corridor so we quickly walked over to them.

'What are you doing?' asked Harry. 'How come you're not going to Hogsmeade?'

'We've come to give you a bit of festive cheer before we go,' said Fred, with a mysterious wink. 'Come in here ...'

We walked through the door into the stairwell. George closed it behind us. The twins turned to us, both with broad grins on their faces. I didn't like the look of this; if I'd learnt anything about those two, a shared grin was never a good thing.

'Early Christmas present for you, Harry,' said Fred. He put his hand in his pocket and pulled out a large square of folded parchment. He handed it to Harry. He stared at it.

'What's this rubbish?'

'"What's this rubbish" he says,' laughed Fred.

'That there's the secret to our success,' said George. He patted the parchment.

'It's a wrench, giving it to you,' said Fred, 'but we decided last night, your need's greater than ours.'

'Anyway, we know it off by heart,' said George. 'We bequeath it to you. We really don't need it any more.'

'And what do I need with a bit of old parchment?' said Harry.

'A bit of old parchment!' said Fred, mortally offended. 'Explain, George.'

'Well … when we were in our first year, Harry – young, carefree and innocent –'

'Since when were you two innocent?' I asked sceptically.

'– well, more innocent than we are now – we got into a spot of bother with Filch.'

'We let off a Dungbomb in the corridor and it upset him for some reason –'

'So he hauled us off to his office and started threatening us with the usual –'

'– detention –'

'– disembowelment –'

'– and we couldn't help noticing a drawer in one of his filing cabinets marked Confiscated and Highly Dangerous.'

Harry and I looked at each other before he said, grinning, 'Don't tell me –'

'Well, what would you've done?' asked Fred. 'George caused a diversion by dropping another Dungbomb, I whipped the drawer open and grabbed – this.'

'It's not as bad as it sounds, you know,' said George. 'We don't reckon Filch ever found out how to work it. He probably suspected what it was, though, or he wouldn't have confiscated it.'

'And you know how to work it?' I asked.

'Oh yes,' said Fred, smirking. 'This little beauty's taught us more than all the teachers in this school. George, if you will.'

George took out his wand and tapped the parchment, 'I solemnly swear that I am up to no good.'

At once, thin ink lines began to spread like a spider's web from the point George's wand had touched the parchment. They joined each other, they criss-crossed, they fanned into every corner of the parchment; then words began to blossom across the top, great, curly black words. Harry opened the parchment. The parchment was showing every little detail of the Hogwarts castle and the grounds. Tiny footprints with labels at each of them traced the parchment in different places showing the students walking around in that exact area. My eyes flicked to where Harry, Fred, George and I would be and sure enough, four pairs of feet stood still in a small stairwell just off the courtyard, exactly where we were. This was incredible. Harry folded the parchment over again to look at the front.

'"Messrs Moony, Wormtail, Padfoot, Prongs and Hooves, Purveyors of Aids to Magical Mischief-Makers, are proud to present the Marauder's Map",' I read aloud.

The Marauder's Map? No way.

'Hang on,' said Harry, looking more closely at the map. 'This is Hogwarts. And that – no, is that really –?'

'Dumbledore,' said Fred.

'In his office,' said George.

'Pacing. Does that a lot.'

'So you mean this map shows –' I started.

'Everyone.'

'Everyone?' Harry couldn't believe it.

'Everyone.'

'Where they are –' continued Fred.

'– what they're doing –'

'– every minute –'

'– of everyday.'

'Brilliant!' said Harry.

'Moony, Wormtail, Padfoot, Prongs and Hooves,' said George reminiscently. 'We owe them so much.'

'Noble men, working tirelessly to help a new generation of lawbreakers,' added Fred solemnly.

Men? I thought. Not all of them …

'I've heard of them,' I said slowly. 'They were the greatest mischief-makers of their time.' Or at least they were according to Moony, or as I knew him – Professor Lupin. I had to hold in my laughs.

'Now listen,' said Fred. 'There are seven secret passageways out of the castle. Now, Filch knows about these four –' he pointed them out, '– but we're sure we're the only ones who know about these. Don't bother with the one behind the mirror on the fourth floor. We used it until last winter, but it's caved in – completely blocked. And we don't reckon anyone's ever used this one, because the Whomping Willow's planted right over the entrance. We'd recommend –'

Both of them pointed at the map and said, '– this one.'

'The One-Eyed Witch passageway,' explained Fred. 'It'll lead you straight to Honeydukes cellar. We've used it loads of times. And as you might've noticed, the entrance is through that one-eyed old crone's hump. You best hurry. Filch is heading this way.' He showed Filch's footprints.

'Right,' said George briskly, 'and don't forget. When you're done, just give it a tap and say –'

'Mischief Managed,' they both said, George placing his wand tip on it again. 'Or else anyone can read it.'

'So young Harry, Jenna,' said Fred, in a very good impersonation of Percy, 'mind you behave yourselves.'

Fred and George left us in the stairwell. After a few minutes thought, Harry stuffed the Map into his pocket and we hurried out of the stairwell and towards the statue of the One-Eyed Witch on the third floor. We ran to the Entrance Hall and up the marble staircase. We ran all the way up to the third floor on the changing staircases and turned into the corridor with the statue of the One-Eyed Witch. We hid behind the statue where Harry pulled the Map out again. Our footprints were now right next to the statue on the map. Beside it there was a word written. Harry took out his wand.

'Dissendium!' he whispered, tapping the statue with his wand.

At once the statue's hump opened wide enough for someone to slip through it. Checking the coast was clear, Harry folded up the Map and then helped me climb into the hole. I slid a considerable way down and landed with a dull thump on solid earth. Harry followed quickly after me. We lit our wands to see we were in a long, narrow passageway. Harry quickly cleared the Map and we started off down the passageway. After about ten minutes we found some worn stairs and begun to climb them, stopping eventually when Harry's head hit a trapdoor and we climbed out in Honeydukes' cellar. With the Invisibility Cloak on, we snuck into the shop where we found Ron and Hermione. We gave them a little surprise when we snuck up behind them and Harry answered Ron's question if he wanted some Cockroach Cluster.

The four of us left the shop and we told them about the Map Fred and George had given Harry. Ron was annoyed they hadn't given it to him but Hermione was more concerned that we should hand it in. If we did that, we'd have to say where we got it which would mean Fred and George would also get in trouble.

'But what about Sirius Black?' Hermione hissed. 'He could be using one of the passages on that map to get into the castle! The teachers have got to know!'

'He can't be getting in through a passage,' said Harry. 'There are seven secret tunnels on the map, right? Fred and George reckon Filch already knows about four of them. And the other three – one of them's caved in, so no one can get through it. One of them's got the Whomping Willow planted over the entrance, so you can't get out of it. And the one I just came through – well – it's really hard to see the entrance to it down in the cellar – so unless he knew it was there –'

'Can't we for once not bring up Sirius Black?' I asked. It'd be nice to just go one day without him being mentioned.

That was not likely to happen as moments later Ron pointed out a notice up on a doorway warning the village about Sirius Black. Dementors were patrolling the village after dark too. Hermione still wasn't convinced though. Pulling off the Cloak, Harry and I wandered around Hogsmeade with Ron and Hermione, them showing us the different shops while we had the hoods up on our jackets to remain inconspicuous. As nice as the village looked in all the snow, I was soon getting very cold. When Ron suggested we went to The Three Broomsticks, I more than jumped at the chance. It was incredibly warm in there and we took a table at the back of the room while Ron got the drinks. He came back with four mugs of foaming Butterbeers. One sip and I was instantly warmed. It was gorgeous. However, a few minutes after we entered, so did Professors McGonagall and Flitwick, Hagrid and the Minister for Magic, Cornelius Fudge. Instantly Harry and I were forced under the table to hide by Ron and Hermione (we weren't meant to be there, were we?) and Hermione moved a tree in front of our table as we listened in.

'So, what brings you to this neck of the woods, Minister?' asked Madam Rosmerta, the pub's owner.

'What else, m'dear, but Sirius Black? I daresay you heard what happened up at the school at Halloween?'

I instantly looked up when I heard Black's name, banging my head on the table above me. I was then kicked in the back by Hermione's foot so I had both a sore back and head.

'Do you think Black's still in the area, Minister?'

'I'm sure of it,' replied Fudge shortly.

Cautiously I glanced at Harry. He was listening avidly to their conversation. Their footsteps walked past us and sat at another table. Madam Rosmerta's feet then joined them when she brought them their drinks.

'Do you know, I still have trouble believing it,' she said. 'Of all people to go over to the Dark side, Sirius Black was the last I'd have thought … I mean, I remember him when he was a boy at Hogwarts. If you'd told me then what he was going to become, I'd have said you'd had too much mead.'

'You don't know the half of it, Rosmerta,' said Fudge. 'The worst he did isn't widely known.'

'The worst? Worse than murdering all those poor people, you mean?'

'I certainly do.'

'I can't believe that. What could possibly be worse?'

'You say you remember him at Hogwarts, Rosmerta,' murmured McGonagall. 'Do you remember who his best friend was?'

'Naturally,' chuckled Madam Rosmerta. 'Never saw one without the other, did you? The number of times I had them in here – ooh, they used to make me laugh. Quite the double act, Sirius Black and James Potter.'

I tensed. Beside me, Harry dropped his tankard.

'Precisely,' said McGonagall. 'Black and Potter. Ringleaders of their little gang. Both very bright, of course – exceptionally bright, in fact – but I don't think we've ever had such a pair of troublemakers –'

'I dunno,' chuckled Hagrid. 'Fred and George Weasley could give 'em a run fer their money.'

'You'd have thought Black and Potter were brothers!' said Flitwick. 'Inseparable! Must run in the family!'

I swallowed. I had a horrible feeling I knew what that meant, even if Harry and the others didn't.

'Of course they were,' said Fudge. 'Potter trusted Black beyond all his other friends. Nothing changed when they left school. Black was best man when James married Lily. Then they named him godfather to Harry. Harry has no idea, of course. You can imagine how the idea would torment him.'

'Because Black turned out to be in league with You-Know-Who?' whispered Madam Rosmerta.

'Worse even than that, m'dear ...' Fudge dropped his voice. 'Not many people are aware that the Potters knew You-Know-Who was after them. Dumbledore, who was of course working tirelessly against You-Know-Who, had a number of useful spies. One of them tipped him off, and he alerted James and Lily at once. He advised them to go into hiding. Well, of course, You-Know-Who wasn't an easy person to hide from. Dumbledore told them that their best chance was the Fidelius Charm.'

Flitwick explained how the Fidelius Charm worked to the group. It involved the knowledge of where the hiding place was being kept by a single person or a Secret-Keeper and the only way for someone to find out where the people were hiding was if the Secret-Keeper told them. I closed my eyes, praying that what I thought that meant hadn't been what happened. But Black had indeed been their Secret-Keeper. I was finding it increasingly hard to breathe as they went on to mention James had insisted that they used Black as their Secret-Keeper despite Dumbledore having reservations about it because someone had been leaking information to You-Know-Who. I could feel my heart pounding in my chest while my head was saying "It's not true! It's not true!" And what was worse was that they had mentioned he had a daughter. I could only pray no more was mentioned about it.

'Filthy, stinkin' turncoat!' Hagrid said loudly, causing me to jump slightly. McGonagall ssh-ed him. 'I met him!' growled Hagrid. 'I musta bin the last ter see him before he killed all them people! It was me what rescued Harry from Lily an' James's house after they was killed! Jus' got him outta the ruins, poor little thing, with a great slash across his forehead, an' his parents dead … an' Sirius Black turns up, on that flyin' motorbike he used ter ride. Never occurred ter me what he was doin' there. I didn' know he'd bin Lily an' James's Secret-Keeper. Thought he'd jus' heard the news o' You-Know-Who's attack an' come ter see what he could do. White an' shakin', he was. An' yeh know what I did? I COMFORTED THE MURDERIN' TRAITOR!'

I jumped again. I was still saying to myself, "It's not true!"

'How was I ter know he wasn' upset abou' Lily an' James? It was You-Know-Who he cared abou'! An' then he says, "Give Harry ter me, Hagrid, I'm his godfather, I'll look after him with me daughter –" Ha! But I'd had me orders from Dumbledore, an' I told Black no, Dumbledore said Harry was ter go ter his aunt an' uncle's. Black argued, but in the end he gave in. Told me ter take his motorbike ter get Harry there. "I won't need it anymore," he says.'

I really wished they'd stopped mentioning Black having a daughter or at least hoped that the others would think she died from neglect, not that she was sitting right beside them.

'But what if I'd given Harry to him, eh? I bet he'd've pitched him off the bike halfway out ter sea. Even dumped his own daughter the same night! She wasn' with him when he tried ter get Harry off me. His bes' friend's son! But when a wizard goes over ter the dark side, there's nothin' and no one that matters to 'em any more ...'

There was a long silence before Rosmerta asked, 'But he didn't manage to disappear did he? The Ministry of Magic caught up with him next day!'

'Alas, if only we had,' said Fudge. 'It was not we who found him. it was little Peter Pettigrew –' I looked up, '– another of the Potters' friends. Maddened by grief, no doubt, and knowing that Black had been the Potters' Secret-Keeper, he went after Black himself.'

I listened carefully, regardless of how hard it was to do so, trying to pick out anything which wasn't right. Pettigrew apparently had never been as talented as Black and James and had followed them around when they were at school. He'd gone after Black and cornered him, crying about their death. Wands were drawn and Black blew up the street. Hagrid once again voiced his hatred for Black, saying he'd have ripped him to pieces. But it wasn't that that got to me most.

'Do you know who I also feel sorry for?' said Professor McGonagall, diverting the conversation away from Pettigrew's "tragic" death. 'One of Harry's best friends, Jenna. I'm surprised no one's caught on yet. The similarities between her and her father are beyond belief. Real luck favoured her when she was found by those Muggles and they got her to that orphanage, saving her the pain of knowing her father's past. All I can say is I pity her when she learns the truth.'

I froze. I barely heard any of what was said after that. I just sat there, completely frozen. It was only when I heard the scraping of chairs and four pairs of feet walked past our table that I snapped out of it. I looked to my right to see Harry staring at me. I swallowed. I opened my mouth to say something but Harry got out from under the table and stormed out of the pub. Hermione and Ron immediately followed. Slowly I got out from under the table and followed, pulling my hood up so my face was hidden. I got outside to see Harry walk off in the direction of the Shrieking Shack. Hesitantly I followed. I walked through the trees and climbed up a small hill to see him, Ron and Hermione in an opening in the woods. I remained on the hill as Hermione tried to comfort him.

'He was their friend,' said Harry, 'and he betrayed them. HE WAS THEIR FRIEND!' Harry's voice echoed around the empty forest. 'I hope he finds me,' said Harry darkly. 'Because when he does, I'm going to be ready! When he does, I'm going to kill him!'

That was it. I had to say something even if it risked everything I had. I ran down the hill towards him and said desperately, 'Harry, it's not true! He didn't do it!' The three of them looked at me having not realised I was there.

'You knew!' said Harry, getting up and walking over to me. 'How could you not tell me? I thought you were my friend!'

'I am your friend,' I said. 'I didn't tell you because I only found a few months ago myself. Harry, please, I've never lied to you once since I met you. You have to believe me. He didn't do it.'

What Harry did next, I didn't expect. I thought he would shout, accuse me of things, but no, what he did was worse. Everyone knows you should never hit a girl and that's what he did. He slapped me … clean across the face. I recoiled backwards, placing my hand on my reddening cheek, looking away. I heard Hermione gasp. I knew Harry thought I deserved it but I couldn't say anything to defend myself.

'Get out of here, Jenna,' growled Harry, 'before I do something I might regret!'

I didn't need any more telling. With one last look at them, knowing that I'd ruined the friendships I had made with them, I thought of the phoenix's escape tactic and disappeared into a ring of fire back to a secluded place of Hogsmeade. I needed to get back to the castle. Once there, I transformed into a wolf and ran off up the street. I ran all the way back up the snowy footpath towards the castle. I hesitated though when I got to the main gains. Two Dementors I hadn't realised were patrolling there swooped down when I approached them. I felt the chill they created as they stared at me but for some reason, they didn't attack. They seemed to examine me but that was all. Carefully I snuck round them then ran off back to castle. I made it back safely, transforming in the grounds so it seemed I'd been there all along. I walked through the courtyard and all the way back to the Gryffindor Tower. When I got there, I headed straight for the girls' dormitory and slumped down on my bed.

I blinked, a tear falling down my cheek. Harry knew Black was my dad now and he thought I'd lied to him about knowing. He'd never asked me who my father was, how could I have lied? You can't lie about something you've never mentioned and I've never lied to him for as long as I've known him. I sighed. Harry knew who my dad was. What was I going to do now?

I finally braved leaving the dormitory for dinner. The common room was pretty much empty when I came down the stairs. Everyone was already in the Great Hall eating when I got there. My eyes scanned the Gryffindor table. I spotted Harry, Ron and Hermione about halfway down. I made to go sit with them but then hesitated when they looked up at me so instead I took the seat nearest to me. They left the Hall before me. I noticed them get up to leave and made to say something when they walked past me but Harry didn't even stop. Ron, Hermione and I shared a look but neither looked happy either; Ron followed quickly after Harry while Hermione just shook her head before catching up with them. I turned back round and looked down at my soggy desert. It was going to be a long Christmas.

I'd originally thought Christmas this year was going to be great: my three best friends and my Uncle all under one roof allowing me to spend time with both of them during the winter vacation. I turned out to be very wrong. The holiday was hell for me. I spent virtually all my time either hiding in my dormitory as almost everyone had gone home; wandering about the castle and ending up in places I'd never been before; or spending time with Lupin in his office. The only time I saw the others was on the first day of the holidays; I'd been in my dormitory all morning and was on my way down to lunch when I heard Harry, Ron and Hermione talking in the common room. I hesitated, not wanting to look like I'd been eavesdropping on their conversation when I appeared but I couldn't help listen in to what they were saying.

'You won't, will you?' said Hermione's voice, making me stop on the stairs.

'Because Black's not worth dying over,' said Ron.

'D'you know what I see and hear every time a Dementor gets too near me?' Harry then asked. 'I can hear my mum screaming and pleading with Voldemort. And if you'd heard your mum screaming like that, just about to be killed, you wouldn't forget it in a hurry. And if you found out someone who was supposed to be a friend of hers betrayed her and sent Voldemort after her –'

'There's nothing you can do!' said Hermione. 'The Dementors will catch Black and he'll go back to Azkaban and – and serve him right!'

I started at what Hermione said; it sounded so mean coming from her. Unfortunately I'd blown my cover. I'd stepped back at the same time causing me to lose my footing and I fell down the remaining three stairs into the common room. I looked up to see Harry, Ron and Hermione staring at me. I swallowed. I got up but didn't approach them.

'Been eavesdropping, have you?' asked Harry. I tensed at the tone in his voice.

'I didn't mean to hear,' I muttered, looking down. 'Couldn't really help it when the common room's empty.'

'No, you could,' Harry said, 'you're just nosy. It's none of your business what we're talking about.' He turned back to the others.

'You know, you're not the only one who Black hurt,' I said, gaining their attention again. They looked at me. 'What about me? And Lupin? He lost his sister; I lost my Mum and my childhood. You know better than anyone what that orphanage was like, Harry.'

Harry got up. He walked across the common room to where I stood at the foot of the stairs. I stood my ground though inside I was worried what Harry would do now.

'So you lost out on your childhood, big deal,' said Harry spitefully. 'Black wasn't the reason you lost your parents!' he shouted.

'I lost my parents too, Harry!' I said. 'My Mum died before I even got to know her! At least you had a year with your parents!'

'That doesn't mean I can remember them! Thanks to your father, my parents died and he was meant to be their friend! Just like you were meant to be mine and you didn't even tell me you were related to him!'

'Because I knew you'd react like this! I didn't lie to you –'

'You know, I bet it wasn't even just my parents he betrayed,' Harry then said. 'How did your Mum die again, Jenna? You never did say. Perhaps she knew he was the traitor and he killed her to stop her from telling Dumbledore. And what was it you said yesterday? Oh yeah, that he didn't do it!'

'Black didn't kill my Mum, he was the one who found her!' I said. 'And if he was your dad's best friend, he wouldn't have betrayed them either, I know it. If I'm anything like Black like McGonagall said I was –'

'– then it would be a matter of time before you stab me in the back too,' said Harry.

'He wouldn't have done anything to hurt his best friend,' I finished, 'just like I wouldn't. Harry, you know me better than anyone. You were my first friend –'

'Yeah, I was,' said Harry. 'I can't believe I'm saying this but Malfoy was right; you are a liar, Jenna. You're just saying all this.'

'No, I'm not –'

'I don't understand why Lupin bothered to find you,' Harry stopped me again. 'If you're anything like Black is, you don't deserve my friendship, not after what he did.' Harry turned away. 'Just get lost.'

After that confrontation made it clear Harry wasn't going to forgive me, I kept well out of his way. It wasn't my fault who my parents were. I didn't ask for them and I wasn't responsible for whatever Black did. That didn't stop Harry blaming me though. I did anything I could to keep away from him not that that became a problem as he, Ron and Hermione spent most of the holidays in the library. Hermione, the only one of the three of them who was still speaking to me, told me they went down to Hagrid's after mine and Harry's argument to find Buckbeak was being put on trial. I offered to help but Hermione said it was best if I didn't. I knew she was right.

My sombre mood didn't even lift when Christmas arrived. The castle had been decorated beautifully as always but I couldn't get in the Christmas spirit. On Christmas morning I had a small pile of presents waiting for me at the end of my bed but nothing from Harry and Ron. The only thing that made me feel slightly better was seeing Hermione's present. At least I still had one friend. That morning I heard the usual row about Crookshanks and Scabbers when I went to breakfast. Something about that rat bothered Crookshanks; he wouldn't keep going after him if it didn't. I spent the rest of the day out of the Tower and with Lupin in his office. It was the full moon again so we had Christmas dinner brought up there. But there was something on his mind of which put me in an awkward position.

'Jenna, not that I don't enjoy your company,' he said, 'but why have you been spending so much time here when Harry, Ron and Hermione have all stayed over as well?'

I hesitated before answering him.

'I just needed a break from my friends. I would have gone home for Christmas even if you hadn't been teaching.' I glanced up to see Lupin looking at me suspiciously.

'Now you can tell I don't believe that,' he said resignedly. 'Jenna, you can tell me if something's happened. You don't have to keep things bottled up.'

I sighed and gave in. 'Harry knows Black's my dad.'

'And this is bad because …?'

'Because I believe he's innocent,' I muttered, looking away. I knew this would stir up more trouble.

'You believe he's innocent?' repeated Lupin almost in disbelief. 'Jenna, how can you think he's innocent after all that happened? All the evidence that pointed towards him.'

'I have to,' I said. 'He's my father, no one else is loyal to him so I have to be until he's proven guilty to me.'

Lupin had stood up and was now kneeling in front of me in my chair. I glanced up at him from behind my fringe.

'He abandoned you,' said Lupin slowly. 'Black left you for dead a year after your mother was murdered, betrayed his best friends and handed them over to Voldemort, killed twelve people the very next day. You said yourself you saw a man with black hair in your memory, confirming it was him at your mother's death.'

Bells started ringing in my mind.

'Hold on,' I said suddenly. 'He wasn't at Mum's death or at least not until later. A man with black hair was but it wasn't Black. It didn't even look like him, his hair was too short. The other man though, I recognised. It's the man from that photo you showed me, the one who looked like a mouse.' I took a deep breath and said it. 'Peter Pettigrew was there and he jeered Mum, laughing at the mention of the Marauders, your old gang.'

'Peter's dead,' said Lupin bluntly. He stood up and stared down on me. 'Black killed him, all the evidence shows it. Black was even James and Lily's Secret-Keeper. Only he would have been able to tell Voldemort where they were. He was a Death Eater.'

'He was not a Death Eater!' I said angrily. 'You said yourself that you were all suspicious that one of you was giving information to Voldemort. What if you were wrong? What if he and Pettigrew switched or something but never told anyone? What if Pettigrew never died –?'

'Jenna, that is enough!' said Lupin sharply. 'Peter was killed by Black and I will not hear any more of this. I will, however, have a word with Harry about your situation and see what I can do. I suggest you return to the Tower.'

'But tonight's the full moon,' I said.

'No, you're to stay in the Tower,' said Lupin. 'This time, you're staying out of this.'

I had to do as he said so I returned to the Tower only to come across an argument which had just happened; Harry had apparently got a Firebolt for Christmas from an anonymous sender and Hermione had got it confiscated because she thought it was sent by Black. I just went straight to bed.

The rest of the holidays and beginning of the spring term I spent alone. I didn't visit Lupin anymore because I knew his views on me believing Black was innocent and I was never near Harry, Ron or Hermione. I didn't even hear about Buckbeak's hearing until I overheard Malfoy jeering about it. I did find something out though; Hermione had gotten suspicious as to why Lupin kept falling ill every month without fail and, to my horror, managed to work out what was wrong with him. She'd said ages ago she'd already finished Snape's essay on werewolves and so when I entered the dormitory after dinner on Christmas Day, I saw she had it sprawled out on her bed as she checked what she'd written.

'The lunar chart, his symptoms, his Boggart, it all fits!' I overheard her say. 'Professor Lupin's a werewolf!'

Instantly I ran to her bed and begged her, 'Hermione, please, promise me you won't tell anyone.' She just looked at me suspiciously. I sighed. 'Lupin hasn't had a job in over three years. If you tell anyone that he's a werewolf it will ruin his career. I beg you, please don't tell anyone.'

'Why should I?' she asked me. 'Werewolves are some of the most untrustworthy wizards in the wizarding world. You had Harry's trust and you betrayed it. So has Lupin and what's to say he's not betraying Harry too?'

'Because I know Lupin,' I said. 'And he would never do anything to his best friend's son. Please, Hermione. Please don't tell anyone.'

Hermione gave me her word but whether it would last, I didn't know. To my relief though, it appeared the secret was still safe as I saw Harry speak to Lupin after our Defence Against the Dark Arts class on the first day back. If he or Ron had known, then they wouldn't have gone anywhere near him on their own, I'd bet my wand on it.

By the second week of term I'd already managed to enrage Harry even more than intended but it completely wasn't my fault. The day before the Slytherin vs. Ravenclaw match, I'd been out on the Quidditch pitch by myself practicing flying on a broomstick to see if it was anything like flying like a bird. Anyway, Wood saw me flying on my broomstick (a Meteor two-thirty that Lupin had got me second hand for Christmas) and he asked me to come to practice the next day. Needless to say Harry wasn't pleased to see me there even though Wood said it was a temporary thing.

A few days before the match against Ravenclaw, however, Harry had got his Firebolt back. He and Ron returned to the common room with the broom to an excited crowd when they saw it. Only Hermione in the opposite corner didn't go over to them. Another thing that happened that night was Scabbers had vanished. After taking Harry's broom upstairs to their dormitory, Ron had come charging down to the common room shouting at Hermione that he'd gone and blood was found on the bed sheet he had in his hand along with several ginger cat hairs. This wasn't good. I'd never seen them argue so badly and it resulted in Hermione storming up to our dormitory. I didn't follow, knowing it wasn't my place to say anything.

The next day was the Gryffindor vs. Ravenclaw match. Because Harry had his Firebolt and I wasn't needed, I went to sit in the stands, making sure I was away from Ron and Hermione who, because of their argument the other night, now weren't speaking to each other. The match was great and Lee Jordan's commentary was as entertaining as always. Several times Harry shot off on his Firebolt after the Snitch but the Ravenclaw Seeker, a Chinese-girl Wood said was called Cho Chang at the last practice, kept on his tail. The third time he went after it, I saw three hooded figures had appeared on the pitch. All of a sudden a bright white light I recognised to be a Patronus appeared and charged at the things. I didn't know Harry could do the Patronus Charm. The Dementors turned out to be Malfoy, Crabbe, Goyle and Flint and it was very entertaining seeing Professor McGonagall berate them about it. When the Gryffindors engulfed him in celebration, I remained in the stands, just watching, knowing until I'd proven Black was innocent I'd never have my friendship back with him.

I was sure there was only one piece of the puzzle missing. I just couldn't find it. All I had was Black had been one of Lupin's friends at school, where he and James Potter had been best friends; they had become Animagi to help him with his werewolf problem; Peter Pettigrew, another of Lupin's friends, had been at my Mum's death and had laughed at the Marauders; there had been suspicion between the friends when the Potters had been marked for death; Black had been Secret-Keeper for the Potters; and Pettigrew had been killed, only his finger left, the next day along with several Muggles. Something just didn't fit. Why would Black do that if James Potter had been his best friend?

But that night something made me think about my sanity of believing him innocent. There had been a shout from the third year boys' dormitory, waking up everyone in the Tower. Hermione, Parvati and Lavender were the first downstairs. I followed at a distance. When I got down there everyone was gathered in the common room. Professor McGonagall was also there. I remained on the stairs and took a seat to listen.

'IT WASN'T A NIGHTMARE!' Ron yelled. 'PROFESSOR, I WOKE UP, AND SIRIUS BLACK WAS STANDING OVER ME, HOLDING A KNIFE!'

'Don't be ridiculous, Weasley, how could he possibly have got through the portrait hole?' said Professor McGonagall.

'Ask him!' said Ron, pointing at the portraits. 'Ask him if he saw –'

'Percy, have you seen Sir Cadogan?'

Sir Cadogan was in a portrait in the common room, trying to woo a lady with some flowers. He looked up when Professor McGonagall called him.

'How may I serve you, Madam?' he asked.

'Excuse me, Sir Cadogan,' she said, 'did you just let a man enter Gryffindor Tower tonight?'

Sir Cadogan walked through three portraits and into another with a group of wizard around a chess table, thinking.

'Certainly, good lady,' he cried.

'You– you did?' said Professor McGonagall. She hadn't expected that. 'But – but the password!'

'He had 'em!' said Sir Cadogan proudly. 'He had the password. Checkmate!' He ran is arms over a chess game, ruining it. 'He had the whole week's, in fact, my lady! Read 'em off a little piece of paper.'

As Sir Cadogan said this, he flung his arms out causing a wizard to fall out the window. McGonagall was not impressed.

'Which person,' said Professor McGonagall slowly, 'which abysmally foolish person wrote down this week's passwords and then proceeded to lose them?' She turned round to Neville and sighed. 'Is it always going to be you, Longbottom?'

Neville nodded.

'Well, Sirius Black is gone tonight. But I think you can all safely assume that he will, at some future time attempt to return. Now, I speak for the entire staff when I say while we take every precaution to ensure your safety it is incumbent upon yourselves to act responsibly. Understood?'

There was a group "yes" and she left the common room. I remained sat on the stairs while people filed past me to go back to bed. Harry, Ron and Hermione, however, were still down there. I glanced round the edge of the staircase to see Harry sat on the sofa.

'I could have killed him,' he said. 'He was right there. He was close enough to touch. I could have killed him.'

I sighed and got up to go back up to bed.

The next week passed and security had been tightened around Gryffindor Tower. The Fat Lady was back with security trolls guarding her because Sir Cadogan had been sacked for allowing Black into the Tower. That weekend was another Hogsmeade trip and again, Harry snuck off to go with Ron (I'd overheard them at breakfast) but I didn't do anything about it. I was still thinking about the attack; why would Black attack Ron's bed but scarper before he could get Harry? If he was able to wipe out a street of Muggles, four other teenage wizards weren't going to stop him. Again that day I spent wandering about the castle. I was still debating about telling a teacher that Harry had gone to Hogsmeade but I decided the less I was on the wrong side of him, the better. Still, Harry got into trouble with Snape so he sort of had it coming to him.

That night was also the full moon so I was with Lupin in his office again. The moon waned much quicker this time and so I was able to get back to the Tower before two in the morning while Lupin recovered. But as I was on my way back I noticed someone walking down a corridor with a lit wand. It was Harry. Knowing he'd just shout at me, I followed. He seemed to be following something or someone because he had the Marauder's Map in his hand. When he stopped I walked up to him. He jumped when he saw me. Both of us were in our pyjamas.

'What are you doing here?' he asked me rather angrily.

'I could ask you the same question,' I said calmly. 'If you're not careful, you're going to get caught.'

He just ignored me and continued a little further down the corridor. Behind me I could hear footsteps coming closer. I froze. I was meant to have gone straight back to the Tower and here I was arguing with Harry. Quickly, I changed into a mouse and climbed up Harry's trouser leg to hide in the pocket of his hoody. Harry seemed to have noticed too as a second later his wand light went out to be replaced by another.

'Potter,' said Snape slowly. 'Seems to be your day for being in places you shouldn't be. What are you doing wandering the corridors at night?'

'I was sleepwalking,' Harry said.

'How extraordinary like your father you are, Potter. He, too, was exceedingly arrogant. A small amount of talent on the Quidditch pitch made him think he was a cut above the rest of us, too. Strutting around the place with his friends and admirers ... the resemblance between you is uncanny.'

'My Dad didn't strut. And nor do I. Now if you don't mind, I would appreciate it if you could lower your wand.'

'Your father didn't set much store by the rules, either. Rules were for lesser mortals, not Quidditch Cup-winners. His head was so swollen –'

'SHUT UP!' Harry jumped when he shouted that, making it seem like an earthquake had happened to me in his pocket.

'What did you say to me, Potter?' asked Snape, his voice dangerously quiet.

'I told you to shut up about my dad!' Harry yelled. 'I know the truth, all right? He saved your life! Dumbledore told me! You wouldn't even be here if it weren't for my dad!'

'And did the Headmaster tell you the circumstances in which your father saved my life? Or did he consider the details too unpleasant for precious Potter's delicate ears?' Harry didn't reply. 'I would hate you to run away with a false idea of your father, Potter. Have you been imagining some act of glorious heroism? Then let me correct you – your saintly father and his friends played a highly amusing joke on me that would have resulted in my death if your father hadn't got cold feet at the last moment. There was nothing brave about what he did. He was saving his own skin as much as mine. Had the joke succeeded, he would have been expelled from Hogwarts.'

Geeze, what had they done? I thought. I jumped though when I heard Snape say, 'Turn out your pockets.' I froze. If Harry put his hands in his pocket I'd be found for sure. 'Turn out your pockets, or we go straight to the Headmaster! Pull them out, Potter!'

I felt Harry's hand go into his pocket and pull out the Map; I just managed to avoid it.

'What's this?' asked Snape suspiciously.

'Spare bit of parchment,' shrugged Harry.

I listened as best I could with mouse ears to what Snape and Harry were saying. I always hated listening as an animal as the voices were never as clear as they would be if I was human.

'Reveal your secrets.' Silence. 'Show yourself!' More silence. I swallowed in fear that Snape would be able to read the Map. 'Professor Severus Snape, master of this school, commands you to yield the information you conceal!' Something must have happened as seconds later, he said, 'Read it.'

'"Mr Moony presents his compliments to Professor Snape and" …' Harry paused.

'Go on.'

'"… and begs him to keep his abnormally large nose out of other people's business".' But it didn't stop there. 'Mr Prongs agrees with Mr Moony, and would like to add that Professor Snape is an ugly git. Mr Padfoot would like to register his astonishment that an idiot like that ever became a Professor".'

I was gobsmacked at what Lupin and his friends had written.

'"Miss Hooves also adds she'd be surprised if he ever got a girlfriend".'

My Mum wrote that?!

'"Mr Wormtail bids Professor Snape good day, and advises him to wash his hair, the slimeball".'

Snape was not pleased. 'Why you insolent little –'

'Professor!' I froze again. That was Lupin's voice.

'Well, well. Lupin. Out for a little walk in the moonlight, are we?'

'Harry, are you all right?' he asked Harry.

'That remains to be seen,' said Snape. 'I have now just confiscated a rather curious artefact from Mr Potter. Take a look, Lupin. This parchment is plainly full of Dark Magic. This is supposed to be your area of expertise, Lupin. Where do you imagine Potter got such a thing?'

I knew Lupin would instantly recognise that Map if he'd written it. He had been a Marauder and it was the Marauder's Map.

'Full of ark Magic?' he repeated mildly. 'Do you really think so, Severus? It looks to me as though it is merely a piece of parchment that insults anybody who tries to read it. Childish, but surely not dangerous? I imagine Harry got it from a joke-shop –' He laughed briefly. 'I suspect it's a Zonko's product. Nevertheless, I shall investigate any hidden qualities it may possess. It is, after all, as you say, my area of expertise. Harry, would you come with me, please? Goodnight, Professor.'

I felt Harry start to walk away. If I could do so, I'd remain there until he got back to the Tower. However, Lupin knows me and he knew I was there.

'Come in,' he said, letting Harry into his classroom I found out. 'Firstly, Jenna, you can come out now.'

I sighed and jumped out of his pocket, transforming back to my normal self. Lupin wasn't pleased. I'd never seen him so angry.

'I don't want to hear explanations,' said Lupin before Harry could say anything. 'I happen to know that this map was confiscated by Mr Filch many years ago. Yes, I know it's a map. Now,' said Lupin calmly, 'I haven't the faintest idea, Harry, how this map came to be in your possession but quite frankly I am astounded that you didn't hand it in. Particularly after what happened the last time a student left information about the castle lying around. And I can't let you have it back. Did it never occur to you that this, in the hands of Sirius Black is a map to you?' Harry didn't say anything but shook his head. 'No.'

'No, sir,' Harry muttered.

'Your father never paid much attention to the rules either. But he and your mother gave their lives to save yours and gambling their sacrifice by wandering around the castle unprotected with a killer on the loose seems to me as a pretty poor way to repay them!' That's when he turned to me. 'And you, Jenna, you know perfectly well that you cannot flaunt your abilities like that and if Black knows you're alive he will try to take you back and he will hurt you. I am not losing you again.

'Don't expect me to cover up for you again, Harry, either of you. I cannot make you take Sirius Black seriously. But I would have thought that what you have heard when the Dementors draw near you would have had more of an effect on you. I will not cover up for you two again. Do you hear me?'

'Yes, sir,' repeated Harry.

'Yes, Lupin,' I said. If he hadn't noticed, he'd just blown it for me in front of Harry, not that I hadn't already.

'Now, I want you to return to your dormitories and stay there.' Harry nodded and turned away. 'And don't take any detours. If you do, I shall know.'

Lupin tapped the Map and turned to his office. I waited a few seconds before following after Harry only to find he'd stopped.

'Professor,' he said quietly, 'just so you know, I don't think that Map always works. Earlier on, it showed someone in the castle. Someone I know to be dead.'

'Oh, really? And who might that be?' asked Lupin.

'Peter Pettigrew.' Lupin seemed to freeze and his eyes widened. I just looked between the pair of them. I'd found my final piece of the puzzle though now I'd just have to convince Lupin I was right.

'That's not possible,' said Lupin.

'It's just what I saw,' said Harry. 'Goodnight, Professor.'

As soon as he was gone, I turned to Lupin and said, 'I told you. I said what if he never died?' Lupin didn't say anything. He was still thinking. 'You said your best friends became Animagi for you and your werewolf thing. What did they change into?' I asked.

'James, a stag, Black, a dog and Peter, a rat,' said Lupin. 'The nicknames we had on this Map are enough of a clue: Prongs, Padfoot and Wormtail. I was Moony and your Mum was Hooves. But it's not possible, Peter died, there were witnesses.' Lupin turned away. 'Go back to the Tower, Jenna.'

He didn't say anything more. I remained there for another minute, thinking, before saying loud enough, 'What if they didn't see what they thought they saw?' and leaving the classroom only to find Harry waiting outside for me but not for any pleasant remark.

'What are you?' I stopped walking and looked at him, then continued past him. 'What's this ability Lupin keeps talking about?

'How long do you have?' I stopped again and looked at him; I wasn't going to lie to him. 'I'm an Animagus. Not the usual kind like McGonagall. A rare type I was born as which can change into anything. It's up to you if you want to tell everyone my secrets not that I'm not an outcast already.'

Before Harry could say anything, I disappeared into fire again and back to the Tower.

Now, I had all the evidence I needed and I knew that Dad was innocent. It was just a matter of proving it to everyone else.