A/N: Hey, look what I found roaming around my computer, another chapter. Decided to put the wayward Potterhead to work and entertain all you awesome readers. I hope its performance is pleasing or me and this chapter is going to have a serious talk, lol.

I don't own Harry Potter

Chapter Twenty-One: Hogsmeade Accreditations Pt. Two…

It was only by luck's good grace that we got Harry a sandwich before Madam Rosemerta descended upon our table. We'd chose one in the corner near a large Christmas tree that had shrunken heads as ornaments. Hermione refused to sit next to the tree and so that's where Harry got to sit. Honestly, this was the first time Harry or I'd had been in here because Gran told us to save it for school visits…and that worked out so well for us.

The pub girl had looked at me funny when I ordered an extra sandwich. I just shrugged and patted my stomach; I'm a growing girl, the scale said so. Wait…did that scale call me fat? Stupid scale. On second thought, I was happy that Harry got that second sandwich and I wasn't looking at it longingly at all when it arrived.

I'd watched Harry sneak the sandwich under his cloak with bottle of butterbeer and struggle to eat and hold the cloak shut when someone bump our table. I yelp and jumped, snapping my attention towards the tall, curvy blonde woman; everyone's attention as on me. Ever have the feeling you've missed something?

"Shrunken head stuck its tongue out at me." I said trying to cover whatever it was that just happened, pointing at a random one.

The woman frowned "they do that, tried putting vinegar on their lips but they just licked it off and asked for more," her gaze lingered through Harry's head before she looked away from the tree "now, what are you lot doing here?"

"Umm…" Neville frowned and held up the sandwich he was about to take a bite out of "a sandwich, Madam Rosemerta?"

Laughing, the pub owner lady shook her head "well, you're in the wrong spot, Ro and Min are waiting for you lot over at a private alcove. Come along then, bring your plates and drinks…why is there an extra plate?"

I shrugged and lied…sort of "I'm hungry. Being a bird is tiring work, ya know. There's the flapping and the hopping and…and…well, dang it," I looked down at my stomach when it grumbled loudly "try having some patients ya greedy thing."

Madam Rosemerta had a merry laugh at that before waving us on to get moving. We followed like good puppies, with our plates and bottles in hand. Madam Rosemerta led us to the other side of the room where there were several alcoves that were cordoned off by a knee high railings.

At the largest of the three alcoves, seated at the table with drinks in front of them, was a group I wasn't really excepting to see. Gran sat with Hooch (that wasn't the shock) but there was Professor Flitwick, Hagrid and Minister Fudge. The last of which was talking rather loudly about my man-child of a cousin.

"…friends with the Potters! How could a person who was that close and been named godfather to their first born turn on them like that?" he demanded, either not realizing we were getting closer or wasn't caring. Gran's face was hard set and Hooch looked upset "and what he did to Pettigrew, another close friend. All we found was a finger! I was a Junior Minister in the Department of Magical Catastrophes at the time…first on the scene and let me tell you it was horrible! Bits everywhere, poor muggles…" I frowned and looked down at the plate in my hand, not so much hungry anymore "and Black was laughing like it was the funniest thing he'd ever seen."

I stepped in then, Harry looked like he wanted to hit something "anybody ever think that he'd just lost a man he'd considered his brother and a woman he'd considered his sister in a very gruesome manner and was hysterical in the sense that he was out of his mind with grief?" I asked making the Minister jump, he's head snapping around to look at me "I mean, I'd love to see the transcript of his trail."

"Uh…Miss Black, how long have you been standing there?" the Minster asked worriedly "you shouldn't have heard that."

I quirked my head at him "what? That Sirius was best mates with Potter Sr. and supposedly was their secret keeper and allegedly gave that secret to BIG BAD and allegedly got them killed? Or the bit about where Sirius allegedly blew up a street, was it? Allegedly blew up a street killing a dozen or so muggles and one overly plump wizard?" I could see Gran gaping at me and Hooch was caught in a repressed smirk, Hagrid looked angry and confused and Flitwick was just shocked while Fudge didn't know quite what to do "because, and this is as far as I understand legal matters in both the mundane and wizarding worlds, it's innocent until proven guilty. I'm also a big fan of things like proof. You can ask my friends. They'll confirm that."

"Miss Black," Fudge admonished, his tone wavering with stunned disapproval "I can assure you that the correct steps were taken…" I set him with the gaze that Gran has when she knows I'm lying and wants me to keep digging myself a hole, Fudge faltered. He was a weak willed man "…now, Miss Black…I-I know this must be hard for you to accept but Sirius Black is not a good man."

"Who the hell ever said he was?" I demanded, managing not to roll my eyes at the man "he's an inconsiderate man-child who has been described with some not so words by my aunts, most of them relating to the male reproductive organs," I heard Gran groan at that, Hooch choked on her drink and both Fudge and Flitwick blushed "I'm not saying he's a good man, Mr. Minister, I'm just saying that Sirius Black never had his day in court. He did not go before a jury to prove either way, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that he was guilty of the crimes he was leveled with. He was not defended by legal consul. Therefore, a person cannot say that he was, in fact, the perpetrator of that which you are…"

"ATHENA, SIT DOWN AND SHUT UP!" Gran made everyone in the pub jump at the tone and volume of her command.

I frowned at her, she made me spill my sandwich "not cool, Gran, that promised to be a tasty…ow! Ow! OW! Hermione, let go, that hurts! BAD PENGUIN! BAD PENGUIN!" I was crying as Hermione caught my ear and dragged me around to the empty spot beside my grandmother. The angry bookworm practically shoved me into the chair, so much for my butterbeer. I glared at Hermione "that was mean…ow!" I gritted my teeth when Gran slapped me upside the head.

"Athena Cassiopeia, be quiet!" Gran snarled lowly, her nostrils flaring dangerously.

I matched the glare she was giving me before shifting to my animagus form. Standing in the chair wasn't the most comfortable for my hawk but it was the best way to stay quiet. Downside, I couldn't aggressively fold my wings across my chest. Another downside, the transformation hurt because my muscles were still sore.

"You leave marks in my chair, young lady, and you'll regret it," Madam Rosemerta said softly as she took seat next to me, placing herself next to a scowling Hooch "now," Rosemerta spoke louder as she slipped her arm through Hooch's and intertwined their hands. Hooch was married to Madam Rosemerta? Huh…"I do believe that Miss Black had a point. As horrible as his alleged crimes were, he never did stand trial for them. Also, because the children's lunches were interrupted, I've ordered them fresh plates and drinks. Perhaps a better topic of discussion is in order as well."

Wow…I blinked up at the woman next to me who winked down at me. It was a quick wink before she turned towards a very lovesick Hooch who had a look of pure adoration stuck on her face, her graze fully on Madam Rosemerta. I didn't even know that Hooch's face muscles could bend like that. Though, I did look quickly away because it felt like I was intruding on a moment because Rosemerta was returning the look.

Flitwick broke the silence after a worried Neville and upset Hermione found empty seats at the table. Harry was in the corner, on a stool, glaring at Fudge "I must say Miss Black, that that was a very impressive transformation. I hope that at the start of next term when we pick up our animagus lessons again, that you'll demonstrate to the older students," he bounced happily in his seat "I'm sure they'll be inspired to accomplish their transformations if they see one of their peers doing it as marvelous as yourself."

I shrugged my shoulders "caw," it was soft and I hoped it sounded like I wasn't agreeing to anything.

"Tha' is fantastic!" Hagrid boomed happily, his anger seeming to have passed "was that you and Madam Hooch I seen flyin' this morning 'round the castle?"

I nodded as Hooch finally looked way from Rosemerta "why, yes, Hagrid, that was us. The kid was a natural, needs to work on her landings and needs to work on muscle strength but soon she'll be flying like she was born to be there."

"You know," Fudge cut in "Dolores says that those animagus classes are just way too advanced for any student under year six."

"Umm…but," Hooch frowned and pointed to me "Athena is a bird, Minster, she's even fully registered now that we've finished filling out the paperwork that your aid was awesome enough to fetch for us. Saying it's too advanced because of age isn't very supportive to the student. Besides, the first step to the process is casting a patronus."

Fudge shook his head, very adamant "but Miss Black had extenuating circumstances. I still think that it's still too advanced. How many of the students have even been able to cast a corporeal patronus?"

'Extenuating circumstances' he says? Yea, I fell over a hundred or so feet. I glared at the man with all the furiousness that my hawk could.

Flitwick was quick to respond "oh, we've had several of the under six years accomplish a fully realized patronus. The Weasley twins are raccoons, Miss Johnson has a lynx and I believe that there several from my house who've accomplished this task put to them."

"Mine's a caracal," Neville sat straight up in his chair, chiming in when Flitwick paused to take a drink "that's a cat…sir," he added hastily when Fudge looked his way.

Hermione sighed, adding in "mine's a red fox, Mr. Minister."

"And Harry's is a rather large stag," I pointed out after shifting back, food had arrived and my stomach broached no argument "just takes practice. Yum, you look so tasty," I said with absolute delight looking down at the hamburger and chips on my plate "come to momma!"

Hooch chuckled "would you like a moment alone with your food, kid?" she asked

"If you wouldn't mind," I nodded not looking over at her "me and this tasty morsel are going to have a serious conversation about human digestive systems. The process of mastication and how every delicious and greasy bite is a gift from the Great Divines themselves."

"That is quite the conversation, Miss Black," Flitwick grinned and raised his glass "may it be a full filling one at that."

***A***

Lunch was cut short for a second time when Seamus and Terry Boot came rushing over to the alcove with concerned looks upon their faces. Apparently there'd been an 'altercation' at the Shrieking Shack and there were a few Gryffindors who hadn't come out the on the better end. Gran muttered something under her breath about Weasleys being involved and asked Madam Hooch to escort Neville, Hermione and myself back to the castle.

I couldn't figure out why Hermione was upset with me, she'd been glaring at me since she'd shoved me into my seat. If it was about the conversation with Fudge about Sirius, well, in all honesty I was just wanted to shut Fudge up. It wasn't fair to Harry to have to hear that, to have it drudged up like school yard gossip. Getting to iterate my point about Sirius not having a trial was a bonus.

Our conversation about what we'd seen in the shop, just mine and Neville's (Harry couldn't talk, Hermione wasn't talking and Hooch looked contemplative), puttered out about the time we reached the school gates. We were all by ourselves as we moved down the wood enclosed road. It was calm and quiet, which is why we alljumped when Hooch pounced on Harry. Oh, shit…

"You are in SO much trouble, Potter," Hooch had him by the front of his coat, there was shimmering around his shoulders but I'm not sure if the cloak had fallen off his head or not because I couldn't tell the difference "what the hell where you thinking sneaking out off of the castle grounds?" Hooch demanded, I wasn't the one being growled at but I felt extremely scared of the woman "do you realize what could have happened to you if you'd been hurt and nobody realized you were in the village?"

"I…I-I…I…" Harry was wide eyed and pale (like the rest of us were) as he held onto Hooch's wrists, he ended his stutter with a whimper.

Hooch was almost nose to nose with the boy "do you know what would have happened if that cloak of yours would have slipped while you were in the Broomsticks? With freaking Fudge right freaking there!" she cried, yellow eyes flashing dangerously "you would have been expelled, your wand snapped and you would have been kicked out on your ass and there would have been nothing that Minerva, Albus or I could have done to protect you!" Hooch sneered, her voice returned to a calm, even quality "and your three idiot friends would have gone with you for being accomplices! I am so disappointed in you, Potter, all of you."

Oh, that hurt like a sucker punch to the gut. I felt tears prickling at my eyes. The last thing I'd ever wanted to do was to disappoint Hooch or Gran. My shoulders slumped and I couldn't look at the woman whose very posture was beyond livid.

"Now," that calm and even tone quality stayed with Hooch "we're finish this walk back. Potter's going to lock that cloak in his truck and if I see it again, it'll be mine. He's also not going to sneak off of school grounds again. If I see you off school grounds without permission again, Potter, if the rest of you step even a pinky toe out of line I will make you believe with every fiber of your beings that the end of the worlds has arrived. AM I UNDERSTOOD?"

That last bit made us all jump "yes," was the meek reply that only came after she'd repeated her question of being understood. Satisfied that we seemed properly chastised, Hooch marched us back to the castle in silence. Now Hermione was really going to be upset with me, I'd been the one to talk her into letting Harry to stay. Hooch took us all the way to Gryffindor Tower.

***A***

Gran knew. She knew and I know she knew because of the look of total disappointment that shone in her eyes that evening at dinner. None of us four had spoken a word since we'd made our reply to Hooch on the road. It hurt too much, at least for me, and what was there to say, honestly. Each of us would try to take the blame solely on ourselves and try to excuse the others. Except Hermione because by the direction of her glares, she knew exactly where to place the blame and that was with me and Harry.

Not even Ronald's dyed blue skin and snow white hair (oh, my god he looked like a smurf!) nor Percy's squeaky clean, bald head with no eyebrows and the teasing incurred by Ginny, Malcom, Colin and the Weasley twins was enough to cheer us up (Dean was in the infirmary still). Angie and Katie noticed our down trodden expressions but left it be over the noise of Ron firing back at the teasing. For once, the boy's antagonistic nature was a boon.

After the barely touched meal was over, the four of us had drawn together in the corner of the common room. I sat on the floor next to the little love seat that'd been a recent addition to the room. Hermione and Neville were seated on the plush sofa and Harry had found a stool to sit on. It was Hermione who broke the silence, gently letting her leg lean over against my shoulder.

"I think that we should learn from today," Hermione said carefully "we should be very thankful that Hooch didn't bury us alive in Hagrid's pumpkin patch, a reoccurring nightmare from first year's flying lessons," I felt Hermione shiver at the thought "I'm not sure I even want to visit Hogsmeade for the rest of the year."

"Seconded," Neville sounded utterly miserable "I'm not going unless we can all go. It's not as fun without all of us there, no offense Mione."

A glace up showed that Hermione was shaking her head "no offense taken because I agree," with a sigh, Hermione looked down at me and smiled wearily as she rested her hand on my head "are you okay, Athena?"

I nodded "yea, Hermione, I'm good even if my stomach is threatening rebellion," I rubbed at my abdomen trying to get that 'just punched' feeling to go away "I have absolutely no will or desire to face Hooch or Gran at all any time soon."

"Seconded," Harry muttered laying his head on the arm rest of the couch, his arms wrapped around his middle "I think I'm going to go find a dark hole and hide there. I'd hide in a closet but I lived in one of those and I don't want to do it again."

I liked that idea "the castle has plenty of sections that's only seen by elves," I pointed out as I hugged Hermione's leg and leaned my head against her knee "however, I think they'd scour the place to find us."

"I wish was staying," Neville pouted, arms folded across his chest "I don't want to go to Fiji."

***A***

We'd managed to avoid Gran and Hooch all of the next day until the End of Term feast. Well, maybe they were just leaving us alone, it's hard to say. However, the feast found the four of us sitting with Seamus and Terry Boot, he'd jumped tables to sit with his friend. His presence was like a blush of fresh air. It felt foreign and weird to have a Ravenclaw at our table. I liked it!

"So, Harry and Athena," Terry said suddenly halfway through dinner "I've got to know, plus there's sort of a bet going on, when are you lot getting back on brooms and taking to the Quidditch pitch again?"

I shrugged "well, as my broom is being used for some unknown purpose at the bottom of the lake, I have no idea. Madam Hooch," I tried not to wince at her name "wants to get me to being a master of the skies, so those lessons take up a lot of time and are physically exhausting. I'm hoping we can get back before term starts again."

"That's if we get new brooms," Harry added stabbing at the pork chop he had on his plate "Uncle Ted said and I quote 'I got this!' end quote. I really hope they're better than the splintered and cracked ones that the school has. I honestly wear extra layers for personal safety when I know I'm flying one of them."

Seamus, poor boy, I thought he was going to hurt himself laughing "oh, oh, Harry, that's almost too much information but horribly hilarious at the same time! I'm sorry, mate."

"I'm glad that you find that funny," Harry scowled at the Irish boy and his chuckling friend "I honestly worry."

Terry seemed to take pity on Harry then "so, what type of brooms are you getting? Luna has a gallon that you lot getting a Nimbus brand."

I started to grin at…nope, still too soon…go away inappropriate image!

"Why would you want a Nimbus when there the Firebolt?" Ron asked butting into the conversation, the white topped blueberry was sitting just the other side of Seamus "honestly, Harry, you have to get the Firebolt and then we can take turns on it."

"Yea, but the Firebolt is grossly unfair to the rest of the playing field," Neville interjected shaking his head "it's reported to do up to…what?"

"150 miles up hour," Malcom offered "supposed to be the fastest broom to date."

Neville nodded his head to the younger boy "right and the new Nimbus…Atmos right? Right, it's almost there. However, only a handful of professional teams can afford the broom let alone Hogwarts students," I grinned at Neville's rant and thought of the broom that was tucked in my closet at home "it'd be an unfair advantage."

"So?" Ron sneered "if Harry has the better broom then he deserves to win."

I gritted my teeth at that so I would speaking but Hermione did it for me "that is such a horrible thought, Ronald Weasley! Sports should be test of skill and hard work, not who has the better equipment!"

Ron's eyes snapped to Hermione and I could see the nasty comment he was preparing to send her way. I slapped the table and pointed a finger at him "you say that revolting comment you got waiting on that blueberry tongue of yours, St. Weasley, and what happened to you in Hogsmeade is gonna seem like a pleasant dream compared to what I'll do to you!" I snapped "you haven't the right to disparage against Hermione simply because she pointed out what should be the fundamental truth of sports."

Terry looked on with rapt fascination while Ron's jaw flexed as he worked his jaw. Dean stepped in then "why don't you shut your mouth, Black, no…"

"Shut it, Dean," Harry growled, eyes locked on Dean "you and Ron weren't even part of our conversation. We'd appreciated if you'd keep your dyed selves out of it," Dean had returned from the infirmary with wild green hair and orange skin "thank you."

"Whut?!" Ron gaped at Harry "you takin' their side? What the bleeding hell, Harry?"

It was then at Harry looked over at Terry "I apologize for rudeness that you've been subjected to, Terry, normally, we Gryffindors are much more pleasant and have better manners. Now, I think, would be a good time to visit Jubilee in the kitchens," he glanced around to Neville, Hermione and me, garnering nods before he stood and turned his attention back to Ron "I'm not sure that I want to be friends with a foul-mouth git whose only aspiration in life is to start fights over petty things. Therefore, Mr. Weasley, I'm afraid I'm going to have to distance myself from the friendship that we once had. I've already experienced extreme negativity in my life and refuse to continue to do so by choice. Good day!"

With that, Harry freed himself of the bench seat and headed for the doors. I was rather impressed by Harry declaration and hurried to follow him once Hermione and Neville were up and moving as well. I was honestly surprised when Malcom, Ginny and Colin stood up as well, I'd caught the movement out of the corner of my eye. Ginny tossed her brother a two fingered sault before running and jumping up onto my back.

"Away to the kitchens, trusty steed," she smirked pointing towards the doors "the annoying blueberry has been defeated! Giddy up, Athena!"

I just chuckled, I winked at Hermione as I said "well, I guess I have been called worse things."