Not mine
Chapter 25- Friends
The next day Harry was rudely awakened by Peeves blowing in his ear. It was only four thirty, but now that he was awake the sound of the storm outside kept him up. He got out of bed and headed to the common room where he kept warm by the fire until breakfast, getting up every little bit to grab Crookshanks to keep the cat away from Scabbers. Soon the Gryffindor team was all in the Great Hall, reassuring Oliver that they didn't mind playing in a bit of rain. Five minuets into the game that 'bit of rain' had them all completely soaked through. It was pouring so hard Harry couldn't see the crowd or his team mates. And it was only getting worse.
When the lightning started, Oliver called for a time out. Gryffindor was up by fifty points, but with the rain clinging to his glasses it looked like he'd never catch the snitch before dark. And Quidditch games didn't end until the snitch was caught. Thankfully Hermione was able to charm his glasses so they repelled water. At least he could see now as he circled the pitch. Then he heard Oliver shout.
"Harry! Harry, behind you!"
Cedric had spotted the snitch and was racing towards it. Harry followed, but something was wrong. Somehow he couldn't hear anything, not even the wind. And it had turned so cold-. Looking away from the snitch and down to the pitch below, he saw no less than a hundred Dementors. The cold became worse, and the screaming started again.
"Not Harry, not Harry, please not Harry!"
"Stand aside, you silly girl... stand aside, now..."
"Not Harry, please no, take me, kill me instead-"
Harry no longer knew where he was or what he was doing. All he knew was that the woman needed his help.
"Not Harry, not Harry, please not Harry!"
The last thing Harry was aware of was a cruel laugh and the woman's scream.
Needless to say everyone was relieved when Harry woke up more or less unhurt. He actually seemed more concerned about loosing the game than the fact that he could have been killed. Worst of all as far as Harry was concerned was the loss of his broom. It was completely shattered by the Whomping Willow.
"I'll buy you another broom, Cub. It probably won't be by Christmas-." His voice trailed off. Harry knew brooms were expensive. Remus' pay as a teacher was enough to keep them living decently and pay for Harry's tuition. (He had been firm that Harry would never have to touch the money Lily and James had left for him for anything he needed until he came of age.) But it would be hard to pay for a new broom.
"It's all right. I wouldn't want to replace it just yet." He'd kept the broken fragments. His first dad's broom had felt like an old friend.
"Why do they affect me so much?" Harry almost shouted, angry at himself. "Nobody else passes out from them. Why am I so weak?""
"Harry you are not weak. Dementors make us relive our worst memories. And the worst that's happened to you would make anyone pass out."
Harry was thoughtful a moment before he asked "Could you teach me the Patronus Charm?"
Remus hesitated.
"That's extremely advanced magic. It's well beyond the Ordinary Wizarding Levels. There are some fully trained wizards who can't successfully cast one. And it would be terribly draining on you."
"But what if the Dementors show up at our next match? We can't loose again or we won't win the Quidditch Cup."
Remus sighed, but gave a smile as he said "Believe it or not there are things more important than Quidditch. But since the Dementors have such a terrible effect on you, maybe I should teach you. But you have to promise that if a lesson takes too much out of you you'll stop until you're rested again. Promise?"
Harry nodded. "All right. I promise."
It felt good to get back to class and out of the hospital wing, even with Malfoy doing reenactments of Harry's fall. Harry focused on the thought that he'd be going to Defense next. His dad smiled pleasantly at the class and although he looked like he'd been ill, he still looked much better than he normally did this soon after the full moon. Harry felt a little guilty knowing he hadn't helped his dad any by falling like he did, even though he knew he couldn't help it. Remus had barely left the side of his son's hospital bed.
The class all thanked Remus for canceling the werewolf essay except for Hermione, who kept giving him worried looks all through class. When class was over she waved for Harry to follow her into an empty hallway.
"What's this about?" he asked, afraid he already knew.
"Harry I- I did the essay Snape assigned just for a bit of extra study and there are certain signs- Oh Harry I hope I'm wrong but your dad showed the symptoms and that day he was sick was after the full moon. If I'm wrong I'm really, really sorry for asking such a thing but I'm almost positive he's-" she looked and saw nobody else was around and then mouthed the words "a werewolf."
For the first time Harry felt his blood boil at his friend. Would she be one more person prejudice against his dad?
"Got something against people who are ill once a month?"
"Oh of course not. Your dad's the best teacher we ever had and it's obvious he loves you. But Harry when they're transformed they're really dangerous and I just wanted to be sure you're safe."
"Hermione, he's been my dad since he adopted me when I was two. He went through a struggle you wouldn't believe to keep me from having to live with relatives who hate me. He's one of the kindest people I know. Do you really think he's going to take a chance on hurting me? You saw what form his boggart takes."
Hermione looked honestly hurt.
"I was just worried about you. I know he'd never hurt you on purpose but accidents happen. I haven't said anything to Ron yet and I won't but I'm sure if he knew he'd be worried about you too."
"He already knows," Harry said quietly. He was sorry for yelling at her, but he'd been sure she'd think of his dad the way everyone else did. "I've stayed with the Weasleys every month since I was adopted."
"He knows?" Harry could tell she was a little hurt she'd never been told.
"Well, I had to stay somewhere every month so somebody had to know. And we didn't want too many people in on it."
Nodding in understanding she said "I won't say a word to anyone. I just wanted to be sure you're safe."
"My dad wants the same thing Hermione. Don't worry."
Things were looking up for Harry. He was looking forward to the Patronus lessons and in the next Quidditch match Hufflepuff was flattened by Ravenclaw. That meant Gryffindor was still in the running for the Quidditch Cup. By the time they were well into December Harry had yet to see a Dementor on the school grounds again. With Christmas coming up the rest of the school was in as high spirits as Harry, although the rest of his friends had the added bonus of another Hogsmeade weekend.
That Saturday morning Harry was on his way up to the Gryffindor common room when he heard Fred and George call to him from behind a statue.
""How come you two aren't at Hogsmeade?"
"We wanted to give you something before we go. Early Christmas present."
Fred pulled what looked like an old and ordinary piece of parchment from his cloak. Knowing Fred and George Harry knew it probably wasn't what it looked like.
"You see Harry, when we were in our first year- young, carefree, and innocent- 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 suddenly remembered the story his dad had told him about a very unique map of Hogwarts that had been confiscated years ago.
"Shall we show him how to work it Fred?"
Fred grinned and tapped that paper, but Harry whispered the words with him.
"I solemnly swear that I am up to no good."
Luckily neither of the twins had heard Harry, who was now entranced watching the thin lines of green ink spread and form the words
Messrs Moony, Wormtail, Padfoot and Prongs
Padfoot? That must be Black's animagus nickname. Harry had never heard his dad say the name before, like the nicknames were a badge of friendship Black was no longer worthy of.
Purveyors of Aids to Magical Mischief-Makers
are proud to present
THE MARAUDER'S MAP
Below those words they watched the dots that represented the students and faculty. His dad and Dumbledore were both in their offices. Mrs. Norris was patrolling on the second floor, and Peeves was causing mayhem in the trophy room. Harry also couldn't help noticing the tunnel that led strait into Honeydukes' cellar.
"How did you figure out the password?" Harry asked, amazed.
"Trial and error to some extent," George said. "But we think the Marauders may have seen us as kindred spirits."
"We got little hints from the map here and there," Fred explained. "Like when we were trying passwords and words appeared asking 'are you up to no good?'"
"So, young Harry. Make good use of it. And when you're finished don't forget to tap and say 'Mischief Managed.' Otherwise anyone could read it."
The twins headed for Hogsmeade, and Harry was very tempted to use the map to follow them. But then he thought of his dad. He would be worrying him just to get some sweets and joke items his friends already brought him. He shook his head. It wasn't worth it. He pocketed the map, planning to give it to his dad later. Maybe it would even help them catch Black and his dad would give it back to him later.
AN: Thank you to everyone for all the reviews. I think last chapter had the most reviews of any chapter so far. Sorry it took so long to write this. I got a bit sidetracked but I already have the next chapter written so hopefully they'll come faster now. Thanks for bearing with me. Also thanks to PadyandMoony for her help, inspiration, and advice in the last chapter and the one coming up.