Disclaimer: Harry Potter and his world belong to J. K. Rowling.

Chapter 29: Hogsmeade and Lectures

December came quickly, bringing mounds of fresh snow. As the second Saturday of December approached, Ron and Hermione, along with the rest of the school, started talking about the upcoming Hogsmeade weekend.

"I can't wait!" said Ron. "We're going to get butterbeer, candy..."

"Oh yes," said Hermione brightly. "Oh I hope there's a bookstore in Hogsmeade."

"Doubt it," Ron muttered.

Harry sat, listening to their conversation, trying not to be upset about missing all the fun.

"Harry, aren't you excited?" Ron asked

"I can't go," Harry said sadly. "Albus refused to sign the form until Sirius Black is captured."

"But what if they never catch him?" Ron asked.

"Then I'll never get to go with you guys," Harry said. "I can't disobey Albus."

"Come on mate, you can go!" Ron said. "Just ask Fred and George. I'm sure they'll have an idea on how to get you there."

Harry didn't want to disobey Albus, but he also wanted to go to Hogsmeade. He found Fred and George laughing about a prank they played on the Slytherins.

"Fred? George? I want to go to Hogsmeade, but Professor Dumbledore won't sign the form," Harry said.

"No problem!" said Fred. "We'll give you the Marauder's Map!"

"The what?" Harry asked.

"The Marauder's Map!" George exclaimed. "You can see where everyone is at Hogwarts and Hogsmeade, and find more passageways that you don't even know!"

"Thanks," Harry said. "Where did you get it?"

"Filch's office," Fred and George said together.

They pulled out the map, and showed him how to use it. They showed him a passageway to the cellar of Honeydukes.

"See you in Hogsmeade!" shouted the twins in union.

Harry went back to Ron and Hermione, and knowing that Hermione wouldn't approve, didn't say anything about the map.

On Saturday after lunch, Harry whispered to Ron that he would be in Hogsmeade, and slipped through the passage to Honeydukes. When he got there, he found Ron and Hermione looking at different candies.

"Hi guys," he said.

They spun around, and Hermione at once looked enraged.

"Harry James Potter! You shouldn't be here!" she yelled. "You didn't get the form signed!"

Harry shrugged and turned to Ron. "So, should we go to The Three Broomsticks?" he asked.

Ron nodded and the three of them went. But the moment they opened the door to go in, they were met with an outraged Professor McGonagall.

She raised her eyebrows, and said, "I'd hoped Mr. Thomas was mistaken when he mentioned seeing Mr. Potter in Honeydukes."

She looked at Harry, anger clear in her features. "Follow me Mr. Potter."

Ron and Hermione looked worried as Harry followed Professor McGonagall back to the castle. She led him to her office, and gestured towards a chair for him to sit.

"Mr. Potter, I'm disappointed in you," she said. "You disobeyed the headmaster and went to Hogsmeade. Did he tell you why he forbade you to go?"

"Yes," Harry said. "He said it was because of Sirius Black."

"And still, you disobeyed him," said Professor McGonagall angrily. "This is very unacceptable Mr. Potter. I cannot believe you would risk your life like this."

"I have before," Harry said

"And it has to stop," she snapped. "You must obey your own guardian! He loves you and wants to protect you! Yet none of that seems to matter to you. Do you value your life and safety?"

By now, she was yelling, and Harry was a bit scared. He had never seen her this angry before. He sat there silent, until the door opened and Professor Dumbledore came in. He sat down next to Harry, and gazed at him with a guarded expression.

"Mr. Potter, do you understand me?" she asked sternly.

"Yes Professor," Harry said meekly.

"Good," she said, turning to Professor Dumbledore. "Headmaster, is there anything you would like to add?"

"Harry, I understand you don't like the rules and restrictions but you have to get used to them. You know I only set rules to protect you, because I care about you. Your life is quite valuable and to continue ignoring me makes me quite angry. Why do you think that is?"

"Because you're just trying to help me, and by ignoring the rules, my actions are saying that I don't care about you or what you think. I guess I'm a bad person," Harry said quietly.

"No Harry, you are not a bad person, you merely make poor choices. In that way, you are very much like your father, always acting selfishly before considering all of the possible consequences," said Professor Dumbledore. "You are a teenager now, no more childish tantrums."

"I know," Harry said, trying not to cry. "I'll try to be better."

Albus seemed to know Harry was on the verge of tears, and put an arm around him.

"Take deep breaths Harry, it will be ok. Let your professors and I help you. Let your friends help you, and start obeying rules. If Black had found you in Hogsmeade, you could be dead."

Harry sighed and apologized. Professor McGonagall took 30 points and assigned him a detention with Professor Snape. He went back to Gryffindor Tower and found Ron and Hermione there. He told them what happened, and Hermione agreed with both professors and lectured him for a further ten minutes.

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