See chapter one for disclaimers and warnings.

I am so sorry. I certainly have no intention of taking a month or more in between chapters. I suffer from depression and something happened that set off a bad spell. Those of you who have depression can understand when I say I came out of a fog and the whole month of June had passed.

Anyway here is the long awaited chapter. It's not beta'd as I needed to post it tonight. I won't have internet for the next week and didn't want to wait that long so apologies.

Happy chapter 50!


Once everyone had finished their meal and settled back into their seats Arthur picked up the book and turned tot he correct page. A confused look crossed his face as he read out the title. "It's capitalized as if it's talking about an actual Grim."

Bill immediately sat up in concern. "Nothing happens to you right?" He asked as everyone turned to stare at Sirius.

The dog animagus was looking equally confused. "I"m not sure what this is referring to. I didn't really interact with anyone until the end of the year," he explained. He turned to look at his godson.

Harry shrugged. "I have no idea what's its talking about. It's not like I cut up my school year into chapters and game them names," he pointed out cheekily causing his friends to groan.

"Maybe the Quidditch game," Fred offered. "Though I don't know where the Grim comes into play."

A look of comprehension crossed Harry's face. "Maybe because Sirius caused us to lose the match."

"What?" The man squawked. "I did not." He shrugged at the pointed look the teen was going him. "They didn't follow me in." He mumbled quietly.

Across the room George was frowning. "I don't remember Sirius being there but there were a whole bunch of..." HE paused as Harry shook his head. "You're right, must have been Sirius."

Emmeline gave a loud sigh at the poor attempt at superfudge. "You might as well read Arthur. It's the only way we'll get answers."

He complied, telling the group how Dumbledore gathered the entire school in the great hall.

Ron snorted. "Most of the other houses had already changed for bed. It was the second year we got to see everyone in their pajamas."

Neville chuckled. "Some of them I could do without seeing like that."

"But some..." Fred waggled his eyebrows. "Thanks Sirius."

"Glad something good came out of it," the man responded, still somewhat quieter than he normally would have been.

Emmeline gave him a worried look before being distracted as Arthur continued to read. "So you put a bunch of children together..."

"Children full of sugar," Molly interrupted to point out.

"Didn't tell them anything and left there without a supervising professor." Emmeline finished up.

"The head boy and girl were there as well as the prefects," Dumbledore supplied.

Kingsley snorted. "Yes well your choices for those positions in the past have been questionable," he said remembering the head boy his seventh year, a shy kid that hadn't spoken a single word the entire year.

"And in this instance Percy's head boy. He might be my brother but he's a horrible abuser of power. Nobody is going to listen to him," Bill reminded them.

"But still you could have told them more than you were searching the castle," Emmeline persisted turning back to her original topic. "You probably sent them into a panic and then shut the doors on them."

"Oi what are we, bumbling wankers?" Fred asked indignantly. "Of course we Gryffindors told everyone else what had happened."

"Children spreading rumors about an event they didn't completely understand was sure to calm the situation," Snape pointed out sarcastically.

Arthur took the opportunity in the ensuing silence to lift the book, indicating he was going to continue reading.

Some of the boys grimaced as Dumbledore conjured the purple sleeping bags but the color had Kingsley nodding in approval. "It's really the only color you could have chosen and remained impartial to the houses."

He could have made a rainbow one with all the house colors. I would have enjoyed that," Luna spoke up happily. "Or pink ones with the moving heart's like the robes the professor has." Sirius snorted as he imagined a bunch of Hogwarts students in pink bags.

"Purple was good," Ron said quickly causing his friends to laugh.

Tons scoffed a moment later as Percy ordered everyone to stop talking and lay down. "He's not talking to three year olds. Does he honestly think they're going to follow suit?" She asked before giving a chuckle of nostalgia as the trio convened in a quiet corner to discuss the situation.

Bill quirked an eyebrow at Sirius when it was brought up that he might still be in the castle. "Were you?"

"Definitely not," he replied with a snort. "My attempt was at the beginning of the feast and as soon as the Fat Lady fled so did I. Couldn't get in if there was no one there to open the portal."

He looked over when in the book Hermione pointed out how lucky it was that he had picked the Halloween feast when no one would be in the tower.

"Actually it was carefully planned," Sirius corrected her. "The last thing I wanted to do was have a possible fight where students could get hurt."

"It must have been hard waiting until Halloween," Harry pointed out glaring at all the adults who had criticized the man earlier. "If you weren't being so careful you could have gone in on the first day and grabbed him," he added missing the confused looks the four older Weasley boys shared.

"If I was being rash and impulsive, yes." Sirius responded raising an eyebrow at Emmeline.

"Sirius I was just shocked. I know you've changed. I've seen it," she insisted looking distressed that he had taken her words to heart.

"And yet you were so ready to believe the worst in me," he pointed out. He couldn't help his eyes turning toward Remus who appeared to be avoiding eye contact.

"It was kind of hard not to, after all I knew you in school," she responded dryly smiling as the man chuckled in agreement.

Arthur was happy to continue, reading as the rest of the students theorized on how the escaped criminal could have gotten into the castle.

Moody gave a snort of disgust when a Ravenclaw wondered if Black could apparate. "Please tell me that was a first year muggleborn? All adult wizards can apparate."

"Some not well but it is taught in sixth year at Hogwarts," Arthur added as he turned back tot he book.

Tonks cheered when a Hufflepuff fifth year came close to the actual answer. "Brains are nothing if you don't add some simple common sense," she taunted the Ravenclaws in the room.

Emmeline merely smiled back. "We can do without ambition and bravery but the world would fall apart without knowledge and the sense to use it." Her smile widened. "Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff are the two houses that really matter."

"But without bravery the world would be a very hostile place and you probably wouldn't last long," Sirius taunted.

"And without ambition the world would still be in the dark ages," Remus added. He grinned at his friend, noticing the hurt look for the first time.

"Indeed all the houses have their own merit but its the whole that makes the wizarding world run." Dumbledore beamed. "Shall we continue?"

"Actually I need a minute," Remus spoke up. "Just to need clarify a matter." He said before pulling a reluctant Sirius out of the room.

"You don't think I blamed you for the incident with the Fat lady do you?" The werewolf asked as soon as he was assured of privacy.

Sirius took a moment to straighten his shirt. "I don't actually know what to think," he retorted finally. "You were certainly acting like you disapproved."

Remus quickly shook his head. "No. I remember how she treated you. I just got caught up in my own guilt over the incident. As far as anyone knew you were a treat to the students and I was withholding important information," he explained. He fidgeted when the dog animagus merely stared at him.

Sirius turned so that he wasn't looking at his friend. "I can understand your conflicting feeling back then but this afternoon, in that room, I could have used the support."

Remus took a step forward in protest. "I didn't like what everyone was insinuating but I didn't think I needed to speak up. You've always been good at deflecting things people toss at you."

"I didn't need you to be my knight in shinning armor Remus," Sirius answered, the lack of his friend's nickname showing just how hurt he was. "I just needed to know that you still had my back.

"Of course I do. How could you think I don't?" The werewolf protested, his complexion pale.

"Twelve years in Azkaban." He tossed back, his voice hard. "I don't hold that against you Remus but it's times like this that make me think you still believe I'm guilty."

The door opened before Remus could respond. "Everything okay out here?" Harry asked his eyes carefully checking over his godfather before glaring at the werewolf.

Sirius pasted a smile on his face. "Moony was just having a chick moment but he's got his hormones under control. Did you miss me?"

Harry was pretending to think about it. "No but the way Snape was starting at the door he might have hidden feelings."

Sirius shuddered as he led the two back to their couch. "Not something I want to think about."

"Everything okay?" Tonks asked as she stared worriedly at Remus.

He gave a wan smile in response. "Just correcting a mistake I had made. But I believe we have held up the reading for long enough." He gestured for Arthur to continue.

Bill shook his head a moment later as Hermione reminded the boys about the castle's protections. "Ah but we've already established that some of the wards had to have been taken down to allow the dementors near," he pointed out. "Dumbledore's probably the only one who knows exactly what can and can't happen in the school.

The old man merely shrugged. "The apparition wards are still active," he said. The others waited for mention of more information before sighing and turning back to Arthur.

The twins smirked when their father mentioned Filch knowing the secret passages. "Nope he only knows the ones that aren't useful anymore."

Arthur frowned at his sons but it was Kingsley that spoke up. "I know you two wouldn't have wanted to give up the knowledge and the freedom that came along with it but considering the risk and danger to everyone, especially your young friend, shouldn't you have told someone?"

The twins looked down before shrugging. "Probably," George admitted. "But our fifteen year old selves weren't mature enough to have considered that."

"Besides," Fred added. "We weren't the only ones that knew. The Marauders did." He looked straight at Remus who had the grace to look ashamed. "And surely the Headmaster knew."

Bill nodded. " Not to harp on the wards but I would think they would inform him anytime anyone passed trough them, even if it was through a secret passage."

The old man pasted on his best grandfatherly smile. "So many beings pass through on a daily basis, the elves, the owls, Hagrid into the forest. And Hogsmeade weekends are even worse with students and professors back and forth all day. It's quite distracting so I keep it as low powered as possible."

Charlie would have laughed at the expression on Moody's face if the situation hadn't been so gave.

"Foolish," the grizzled man finally grunted. "Asking for trouble."

Arthur agreed as he turned back to the book, reciting how the night wore on with professors coming every hour to check on their students. Finally at three am Dumbledore entered, seeking out Percy who happened to be near enough that the trio was able to hear the conversation.

"That's awful convenient," Tonks observed. "Did you perchance want Harry to hear what you were saying?"

He frowned back at her. "It was dark and the students were all ensconced in their sleeping bags. It would have taken quite a bit of searching to have located Mr. Potter in that sea of bodies."

"Not if one of the ghosts told you the information before hand," Bill muttered quietly to his brother.

"Percy made a habit of walking by us every few minutes," Ron explained. "He had a circuit, he'd go by us then to where Ginny was before going over to yell at the twins and then starting over again."

"That's actually kind of sweet," Tonks observed.

Arthur felt twin spikes of pride and grief that he buried before turning back tot he book, reciting the conversation his son had with the headmaster.

Sirius grumbled when the Fat Lady's version of the story was told. "It wasn't as simple as that."

"We know that Sirius," Emmeline consoled before he could go any further. "Though I don't understand how she could be that distressed. It's not like she could be killed."

"Portraits mimic the personalities of those they are pointed of," McGonagall explained. "I would imagine the original subject was just as dramatic as her portrait is." She settled back as the reading continued, with Snape joining Percy and the headmaster to report the search was complete.

Bill looked thoughtful when the conversation turned to how Black might have entered the castle with Snape insinuating that it couldn't have happened without inside help. "If you didn't know about Sirius's animagus abilities it does seem improbable that he could have gotten in without being let in."

"And I think we can all guess who Snape believes is helping him," Charlie pointed out.

"To be fair to Severus I would probably be suspicious too if I had know the new profess or had once been best friends with the escaped prisoner," Kingsley remarked.

Emmeline frowned. "No offense Remus but I'm wondering exactly why Dumbledore choose that year to hire you. Was it because you might be the best one to catch Sirius based on your knowledge of him or was it to keep an eye on you to prevent you from helping him?"

The werewolf shrugged. "A bit of both I suppose," he admitted sending a look at the oblivious headmaster.

Arthur too was gazing at Dumbledore who appeared lost in his own thoughts. He shook his head and turned back tot he book where the conversation turned to the subject of the dementors.

Many in the group shivered at the thought of the foul creatures searching the castle and were thankful that Dumbledore had been able to keep them out. As if sensing that they were once again in favor of him Dumbledore straightened in his seat, his eyes twinkling brightly.

"Of course you had the power to keep them away from the castle completely," Tonks pointed out snidely. "You choose to play politics and let Fudge think he won something over you than protect the children from their effects."

She didn't mind the glare she received from the headmaster as her partner and her former mentor nodded approvingly while Charlie gave her a thumbs up.

Hermione frowned when in the book Dumbledore announced that a dementor would never cross the threshold while he was headmaster. "That is another area where you failed," She muttered causing those closest to her to give her concerned looks.

Oblivious Arthur continued reading, grinning as the next few days were full of rumors concerning Sirius, each crazier than the last , including one where the man could turn into a flowering shrub.

Sirius looked intrigued and amused. "I can actually. I'm excellent at transfiguration. Though I'm not sure how that would have helped me into the castle. Good show though and pretty close considering I used my animagus form." He winked down at Luna who was staring at him without blinking.

When Sir Cadogan was announced as the Fat Lady's replacement Harry turned to glare at his godfather who began laughing. "It's not funny. He was mental."

Ron nodded looking aggravated. "I'll have you know er spent large amounts of time in the library just to avoid trying to get back into the tower."

"I had forgotten he became you gatekeeper when you mentioned him earlier," The man said smirking. "He was nice enough to me when I came by."

"You went back to the tower?" Bill asked in surprise. "And you actually got in? Did you get what you wanted?"

Sirius snorted. "Of course not. That would have been too easy," He shrugged. "I'm sure we'll get to hear all about it and the professors can take the time to yell at me again."

"I'll be sure to do that," McGonagall answered dryly, motioning the Weasley patriarch to continue.

Emmeline protested at hearing how the knight made up ridiculous passwords and changed them twice a day. "That's horrible. Aren't there guidelines for the common room passwords?"

McGonagall nodded. "Unfortunately he was the only one who was willing to sub for the Fat Lady. If he didn't have his way he would have refused and then there wouldn't have been a guardian."

Tonks snorted. "Personally I think leaving the portrait hole unlocked for a couple of weeks would have been better than putting up with him."

"And have it open anytime Black felt the need to come back?" The stern woman asked. "What was supposed to stop him then?" She eyed the man who had an outraged look on his face. "Do calm down, at the time I considered you an escaped prisoner intent on murdering one of my students."

"That doesn't make me feel any better," He mumbled.

"Surely you could have charmed or transfigured something that could have worked as a temporary guardian," Molly asked steering the conversation back to its original topic.

"And you can't tell me that not one portrait was brave enough? Aren't there any other Gryffindor portraits around?" Bill protested.

"Or how about using magic to fix the Fat Lady? Give her a couple of compliments and she'll be happy to take back the job," Charlie added.

"Magic does not fix everything Mr. Weasley. Good craftsmanship often comes from working with your hands. Mr. Filch actually enjoys the time he spends repairing and caring for our portraits," Dumbledore pointed out. "There was no need to rush. Sir Cadogan was perfectly willing to stand guard."

"But we just got through talking about how unsuitable he was for the job," Tonks protested, wondering not for the first time if the old man was losing his mental capabilities.

Arthur decided it was time to resume reading. In the book Harry had noticed how the professors and Percy had taken to shadowing his every move. McGonagall noticed the displeased expression on Harry's face. "You should be grateful young man, that people are willing to look out for you."

Sirius growled angrily. "He might be if he had known why you were doing it. At this point none of you had yet to talk to him to explain the situation. If Arthur hadn't manned up Harry would think you were stalking him for no reason or two get him into trouble."

"And it's not that I"m ungrateful but when does it end?" Harry asked, some of his frustration leaking into his voice. "I have to stay at the Dursleys for my safety. I couldn't go to Hogsmeade for my safety. I had people watching my every move this summer for my safety. I can't owl my friends for my safety. What's the point of being safe all the time if I'm miserable?" He ignored the pitying looks from the adults as he waved Arthur to continue reading.

The Weasley patriarch complied, his voice quiet as he told of McGonagall pulling the teen into her office to explain the situation to him.

Charlie, already upset over his young friend's words, took exception to the way she started off. "You really blatantly said you were hiding the information from him? I wouldn't have blamed him if he'd exploded."

Fred nodded, a disappointed look on his face. "Really what's so hard to understand that we would much prefer to be told things up front? We'd probably behave a lot better if you respect us enough to do that."

"Well not us," George tacked on with a grin. "But teenagers in general would respond in kind if they were taken seriously. You think with as long as you've been a professor you would know that." He couldn't resist adding earning grins from his two older brothers.

She huffed. "It wasn't my call to make. The headmaster and the minister were combined on the subject of Mr. Potter not knowing."

Arthur had been glancing ahead and now he looked up sharply. "In light of the previous discussion I don't thin this is going to be received well." He called out, reading how the Gryffindor head of house proposed the restriction of Quidditch practice int he evenings.

As predicted there were numerous loud complaints. Emmeline held up a hand to be head. "Why are you presenting ti to Harry like its his fault? Why didn't you talk to Wood about alternatives first? As a seeker Harry didn't necessarily need to practice with the team. Or not all the team. Depending on schedules he could have practiced before dinner with who ever was available. If you had worked this out before you could have explained to Harry that it was too dangerous for him to be out after dark but this was what was going to happen instead. Then he wouldn't have felt like he was being punished."

"That probably would had helped a lot," Harry agreed. "But to be fair she did come up with a solution that meant I still got to train with the full team." He gestured to the book where Arthur read about her plan to have Madam Hooch to oversee practices.

Tonk crinkled her nose. "I agree with Emmeline. She should have found the solution, even this solution, before talking to you. You shouldn't have to protest in order to get her to do her job. Just makes me glad I'm a puff."

"I'm surprised the other teams didn't cry foul for having the Quidditch referee sit in on the Gryffindor practices. For all they knew she could have been giving tips and instruction which would have given them an unfair advantage," Charlie pointed out.

"Slytherin would have been the only one to object and they had something much more underhanded going on," Ron answered, the tips of his ears turning red as his father read about the sudden switch in Gryffindor's opponent for the upcoming game.

"Really?" Tonks snorted. "Malfoy's still playing up his injury? It's been over two months."

Ginny was frowning. "I still don't understand why Wood didn't complain. Madam Pomfrey could have provided proof that the blond prat was capable of playing."

"He did," Fred explained. "Madam Hood declared as long as the two teams who were switching were agreeable then she didn't have a problem with it. And well Hufflepuff is too nice not to agree."

Emmeline frowned. "That doesn't seem fair. Wood has a good argument. You were prepared for Slytherin and now the day before the game you have to quickly change tactics."

"I don't think tactics really mattered given the weather they played in." Hermione told her, grimacing as she remembered the conditions. She darted a look at her best friend when Arthur read about Hufflepuff's captan Cedric Diggory.

"How can he be a new captain and a new seeker in the same year?" Kingsley asked. "Shouldn't he have had some experience?"

"He was on the team the year before but as a chaser," Fred explained. "Most of the Puff's team had graduated including their seeker leaving Cedric free to move over." He continued quietly. He had seen the way Harry had paled at the mention of the other boy.

"Their seventh year keeper declined the position of captain. He wanted to play but didn't want the responsibility during his NEWT year. Cedric was next in line," George continued. He watched as Sirius began rubbing his godson's back. HIs eyes shot to his brother when their father read out the insult he had made about their apposing captain.

Fred winced. "That was just competitive talking. He was a good guy, a good player," he hurried to say.

"Are you sure it wasn't because the girls were mooning over him?" Charlie teased before looked exasperated at the disapproving looks. "I heard what happened but he's probably going to be mentioned a lot, if not in this book then the next. I think he would appreciate it more if we acted normally rather than treating every mention of him as if were were eulogizing him." He watched as the younger generation turned to look at Harry.

The dark haired teen finally nodded. "That does't mean we take the opportunity to say a lot of bad things about him," He warned.

George snored. Harry he was a Hufflepuff. There's nothing bad to say about him," he teased.

With one last look around the the room Arthur continued reading In the book the week flew by , with the playing conditions worsening while the Slytherins' grins became increasingly smug.

"They're actually hurting themselves," Charlie pointed out. "Scouts look at how you play in all types of weather. Oliver's going to get a lot of points if he can play successfully in this storm."

"Yeah well he needs to calm down," Bill muttered as he listened to how the Quidditch captain would stop his position players in between classes to discuss plays. He shook his head when the seventh year caused Harry to be late for Defense class.

The twins grimaced when it was revealed Snape was teaching the class that day instead of Remus. "Bad luck. Of all the days to be late." They made faces when he took points.

"To be fair I probably would have taken points from you for being late," Remus pointed out. "Just because my class is fun doesn't mean that I will put up with lax behavior."

"But why Snape?" Harry asked, a pout crossing her face. Across the room the potions professor sneered at the juvenile behavior.

"He wasn't the only one that covered my classes," Remus explained. "It was whoever had a free period during that time and as we discovered earlier Severus is free during your time period." He pointed out.

George nodded. "We had Sinstra. It was pretty neat. She taught us some spells that are affected by the solstice."

"How did we get so unlucky?" Ron muttered to his friends as his father continued reading.

Sirius tugged on his godson's hair at hearing the boy demanding answers. "That was disrespectful even if it was Snape," he pointed out quietly.

"I did think that he had been poisoning Remus and that he had finally succeeded," Harry pointed out causing the man to chuckle.

"Ill give you that one," Sirius agreed. He looked surprised when in the book Snape answered, even if it was accompanied by a twisted smile.

"And that didn't make me feel an better," Harry murmured noticing the curious looks his godfather's chuckles were getting. Thankfully Remus was able to explain.

"You have to admit that does look awfully suspicious," Bill was grinning. He shot a look at the dark dressed man seated next to him. "Why were you smiling?"

"Oh that's easy," Tonks said, her expression fierce. "He's happy that Remus is in bed suffering while he gets to torment the students."

"I wasn't suffering as much thanks to his potion," Remus reminded her. She shrugged knowing she was right.

Kingsley couldn't help chuckling when Harry openly defied the professor again. "Brave lad but in this instance Severus was right. I"m surprised he's being so calm about it."

Bill nodded reluctantly. "He didn't even threaten detention." His eyes crinkled in confusion when Snape informed the class that Remus had not left any record of what they had covered in class so far.

"Somehow I doubt that," Kingsley said. "He seems too efficient not to have planned out his classes or have a note on what the class was to focus on, especially knowing he was going to be absent."

Sirius nodded in agreement. "Moony tends to be anal about things like that."

"But now we know why Snape bothered bing nice," Tonks muttered. He was having too much fun critiquing Remus to the students."

Arthur hurried to continue reading before a fight could breakout only to have Emmeline hiss a moment later when Snape verbally slapped Hermione for trying to update him about their studies. "She was only trying to be helpful since you seemed so dissatisfied with the information you had."

"She spoke out of turn," He pointed out with a cold smile.

"And you weren't?" Charlie challenged. "From the sound of it you were being a right bastard."

Arthur gave his son a warning look for his langue before continuing, telling how the rest of the class spoke up in defense of their favorite professor.

"They're right," Neville spoke up bravely. "You didn't just teach the subject but you actually cared about your students," He blushed as he noticed everyone looking at him. "Just don't pay any attention to what Professor Snape is saying."

"Thank you Neville," Remus told him appreciatively him. "I'll be sure sure to take it all with a grain of salt."

Nobody else seemed inclined to follow that principle, becoming irritated when Snape commented tat first years should be able to cover the material they had been studying.

"Purebloods maybe," Bill agreed. "But even if they did know third year is the year they learn about dark creatures." He pointed out unnecessarily.

Snape sneered. "There are a lot more dangerous creatures than red caps. They should be learning about those."

"I'm sure you would have preferred it if Remus was teaching them things like the unforgivables," Moody spat out. "Those are more your speed."

Neville gave him a confused look before looking at Ron. "But didn't he..." He murmured softly.

Ron shook his head. "You understand when we finish the next book." He muttered back.

The tension in the room ratcheted up a couple notches when Snape's chosen subject was revealed.

"Bastard," Sirius hissed, glaring dagger at his one time enemy.

Arthur was looking resigned. "I does seem very petty."

"On the other side of the room Snape was looking very triumph. "Is it not a subject that they would be covering at some point that year?"

"You only choose that subject because you wanted to out Remus," Tonks accused angrily.

The potion master's gaze sharpened. "it is hardly my fault if the students discovered his dirty little secret in the course of their studies."

"It's not a dirty little secret," Emmeline tried to remain calm. "And I hardly think you remained impartial in your teaching, poisoning a whole class against werewolves."

"I think that will be enough." Dumbledore broke in. "Remus had graciously allowed each substitute to choose the subject they wanted to teach about. Severus's subject, while unfortunate, was acceptable and caused no harm."

Sirius rolled his eyes. "Of course you would defend him," He muttered angrily.

Bill was looking at their resident werewolf. "You've been awfully quiet. What do you think about this?"

Remus shrugged. "I expected it so when my class came to me complaining I wasn't surprised." He did frown when Snape questioned the class on the differences between a werewolf and a real wolf.

"Why do you insist on starting a class by questioning them about things you haven't begun instructing him on yet?" Emmeline asked in frustration.

"I am merely trying to ascertain what they know," he drawled back. "So I know where to start."

"But then you insult them when they don't know the answer and in this case they didn't even have the benefit of being able to prepare because you skipped so far ahead," she pointed out in frustration.

"At least half the class grew up in wizarding households and should have known the difference since infantry." He spared a look at the older Weasleys. "Poor parenting," he smirked as they flushed.

"So then why did you ignore Hermione?" The blond persisted.

"I wanted to know what the class knew. It was given that she would have the answer," Snape answered with a sneer.

"Well maybe you should have told her that instead of ignoring her. She shouldn't be made to feel inadequate just because she reads ahead," Tonks snarked.

Her glare intensified when in the book the bitter man took another potshot at Remus. Sirius shifted angrily in his seat causing the werewolf to give him a warning look. Across the room Bill and Charlie were muttering angrily to each other.

Tonks smiled grimily at hearing that Snape planned to inform Dumbledore how behind the class was. "I'm sure he already knows given he's responsible for the poor teaching they've had."

"Nymphadora," McGonagall reprimanded causing the younger girl to snarl. "There is no reason to be so disrespectful."

The auror adopted a confused look. "I merely thought that it was the standard way of doing things now."

The transfiguration teacher was frowning fiercely. "And how did you come to that conclusion?" Her gave narrowed in on the smug grins of the marauders and the bowed head of Hermione.

Tonks shrugged. "Well we're listening to Snape disrespect and verbally abuse a whole class and a colleague while you and the headmaster are sitting here like its a perfectly normal thing." She smiled coldly when the older woman appeared speechless.

"What do you think of this professor, now that you're heading it first hand?" Bill asked curiously.

"She hates it," Moody answered for his long time friend. "But Dumbledore protects the little fiend from any repercussions."

Kingsley frowned adding the incident tot he mental list he was keeping. He only hoped the books offered information he could use to fix the situation.

Arthur had a resigned expression on his face as he picked up the book to continue, clearly wishing the subject matter would delve into a more pleasant area. HIs wish was not granted as Snape called Hermione an insufferable know it all.

Molly puffed up dangerously. "Don't pay him any mind Hermione. He's just mad that you're proving him wrong.

The bushy haired girl shrugged. "It's okay. It's not nearly as bad as what he said to me in fourth year."

Tonks opened her mouth to ask what that was but was cut off as Sirius sat forward to stare at the girl critically. "You're a know it all but you're hardly insufferable. Or at least only during a certain time of the month," he added with a grin.

"Sirius," Emmeline called in exasperation as laughter filled the room.

Hermione was blushing as she spoke up. "I'm not that bad. I have two boys who keep me well supplied in chocolate."

It only took a moment for the mood to slip once more as Ron received detention for defending his friend. The redhead glowed at the praise he received from all four brothers.

Arthur continued reading as Snape snooped through the class' completed work making snide comments. Other than Molly's "how childish" the occupants of the room remained silent, figuring everything had already been said.

In his corner of the room Snape sat perfectly still, his posture tense and a blank expression on his face. He knew it was probably unfair to have taken his anger out on the students but it was partly their fault, being too dense to realize they were being taught by a werewolf.

Reading this book had brought up all his resentment at the time. Not only had Dumbledore ignored his warnings and advice and hired one of his childhood tormentors, a werewolf that had been involved in a near fatal prank, but then the old man had insisted that Severus make the wolfsbane for him, taking precious time and ingredients away from his own work. Obviously twelve years of loyalty and servitude didn't count for much with the old man. So yes he had been petty and taken his anger out on the headmaster's precious Gryffindors as it was the only outlet he had.

He was brought out of his thoughts at the outcry his handing out homework caused.

"You were a substitute, you had no right to assign homework," Charlie protested.

"I am still a professor of the school. I had every right to give an assignment," He responded.

"But you weren't going to be back to the class for another month," Bill countered. "Who were they supposed to hand it in to? I doubt Remus wanted to grade them?"

Snape smirked. "They could have handed it into me during my class, in the halls, or approached me in my office. Those that didn't saw a decrease in their potions grade."

"Severus that's hardly fair," Remus protested. "I told them they didn't have to do the assignment."

"It was not your place to do so." Snape observed coldly. "It was not not your assignment."

"But it was during my class time," the werewolf countered.

"Enough," Moody broke in. "This happened two years ago and can't be changed so lets move on."

Arthur gave him a grateful look as he continued reading, telling how Snape held Ron back to detail his detention and his son's reaction when he rejoined his friends, calling Snape something obviously foul though it wasn't repeated in the book.

Molly sighed somewhat embarrassed of her son's behavior in front of the order members. Honestly as much as Fred and George misbehaved they at least knew what manners were.

"Would you care to repeat what you said Mr. Weasley?" Snape asked silkily.

Sirius spoke up as Ron slid down in his seat. "I'm sure it was nothing you haven't heard before," he pointed out. "And considering the way you were talking about Remus in front of them you can't say it wasn't deserved."

"You're just mad that I dared criticized your pet," the other man snarled back.

Remus quickly held up his hand stopping Tonks and Sirius from jumping down the potions professor's throat. "It's pointless to continue old arguments. Lets see what he did to make Ron so angry shall we."

Emmeline scrunched up her nose a moment later at the thought of cleaning bedpans. "I doubt it's going to be as disgusting as you're making it sound. The bedpans are hardly ever used, patients are mostly fixed up enough to at least make it to the bathroom."

"And the one's who aren't?" Kingsley asked with a grin.

She rolled her eyes at him. "Don't you think Madam Pomfrey would scourify them as soon as they were used?"

"The way he was smirking when he told me I was expecting the worst," Ron offered.

Fred and George began chuckling. "I wouldn't be surprised if he had gone in before the detention and made use of as many as he could," the first twin offered causing his sister to make a face and Snape to glare.

Arthur had a smile on his face as he turned back to the book, reciting how Harry had been woken very early the next morning by peeves, causing some amused and some not so amused reactions.

"I didn't think he was allowed in the dormitories," Hermione pointed out looking distressed. "What if he went through our things?"

"Or took some of the more personal items and put them were others could see them?" Ginny added going a brilliant red.

"There are preventions in place to keep Peeves out of the dormitories," McGonagall informed them. "Though sometimes they need to be renewed, especially after a particularly obnoxious prank."

Arthur quickly began reading before his twin sons could start giving out examples. In the book Harry was anticipating having to play the Quidditch game in the high winds.

"Surely they would cancel the game due to weather," Emmeline pointed out looking worried.

"Why? It's just a little storm," Charlie scoffed.

"That little storm is bending over trees in the forbidden forest and you've got a seeker that weighs next to nothing," Bill reminded his brother.

Charlie shot a horrified look at Harry before turning to glare at the professors. "The match should have been canceled," He stated firmly. Across the room the dark haired teen shook his head in amusement.

Neville looked up when he head how Harry had to move fast to prevent Crookshanks from sneaking into their dorm. "That was one determined cat. I caught him sneaking in several times." He shrugged at Hermione's surprised look. "I didn't want to make things worse between you and Ron or get you mad at myself."

She sighed. "I was particularly prickly that year wasn't I?"

"It's no wonder with all the classes you were taking." Harry bumped shoulders with her. "Besides we all have our years for it. You were third year, Ron was fourth year and this year its me. I figure Neville will turn into a terror sixth or seventh year."

"Thanks Harry," the round faced boy said dryly.

Arthur continued reading with the storm being brought up as Harry compared his changes against the heavier Hufflepuff seeker.

"Ced was a pretty good seeker despite his size and he certainly had the advantage in that weather," George offered.

Hermione looked over at Charlie. "You'e pretty bulked up but you played seeker."

The dragon handler shrugged. "I definitely noticed the difference in my last year when I started working out. but my superior skills on a broom overcame the disadvantage," he bragged flashing a cocky grin.

"Well Ced wasn't that good," Fred told him. "Harry would have beat him out for the snitch if it hadn't been for the special circumstances."

"What special circumstances?" Bill and Charlie asked together, growling when the twins refused to answer.

"Calm down boys. I'm sure we'll know soon enough," Arthur stated as he turned back to the chapter.

Molly pursed her lips when a more detailed description of the storm was given as the team took the field. "That's not safe for anyone."

Kingsley nodded. "It certainly won't be enjoyable for the rest of the school to watch which kind of defeats the purpose of having a Quidditch match."

Ginny nodded. "It was wet and cold. I had to clamp my hands on the seat just to keep from getting blown off," she announced causing both her parents to look concerned.

"Were you able to see the players through the rain?" Bill asked.

"No," answered everyone that had been at the game that day.

Sirius shuddered a moment later as Arthur read out Harry's perceptive of the beginning of the game. "That's an erie feeling. I can handle the cold and darkness but not being able to hear anything but the wind gets to you quickly."

"Azkaban gets some nasty storms," Moody commented idly.

Luna gripped Sirius's hand tighter as he shuddered again. "I think it has to do with the dementors which is probably why its stormed so much at Hogwarts that year."

Kingsley nodded, "That does make sense," he agreed quietly before motioning Arthur to continue.

He did telling how Wood called for a time out, which led to Harry asking for the score.

"How exactly is the quaffle getting in the hoops?" Emmeline asked amazed. "Wouldn't the wind blow it off course when they threw it?"

Fred started laughing. "It did the first few times the girls tried so they started keeping ahold of it and just flying through the hoops."

"Well that's one way to do it," Charlie smirked. "I'm surprised it was allowed."

"Well the first time they did it the score didn't count so Cedric argued with Madame Hooch to allow it or else no one would score. She saw reason," George admitted.

A moment later Charlie took exception to finding out Harry couldn't see through his rain soaked glasses. "Wood should have spelled them before the game."

Fred snorted. "You head him Char, Wood was so intense he was practically paralyzed with fear."

"Why didn't you do it then?" His older brother shot back. The twins glanced at each other and shrugged.

"Don't worry about it," Harry called out, thankful that their bickering had distracted his godfather. The man had swiped his glasses and was examining them closely.

"You know magical frames come with all types charms on them, including repelling water," he said handing the spectacles back.

Harry shrugged. "Well until I get new ones I have Hermione for that."

Tonks grinned as Arthur read how Hermione spelled her friends glasses. "Way to go.

The bushy haired girl blushed as her two best friends patted her on the back. "I was just doing what was needed."

"You're a good girl Hermione. Don't down play it," Molly told her before urging her husband to continue.

Emmeline hissed at the report of forked lightening. "Honestly this is getting ridiculous. I know Madam Pomfrey can heal most things but getting hit by lightening at such close range might be a little much even for her," She said sarcastically.

Bill nodded. "Not even professionals will play in an electrical storm. At least not since lightening hit a goal post and arched out hitting three different Puddlemere players."

"Hey the Chudley Cannons won that game," Ron broke in excitedly.

Fred snorted. "It's the only game they've won."

"Don't worry," Hermione called the the fretting blond. "The game doesn't last much longer and no one is hit by the lightening."

Charlie frowned. "That just makes me wonder what did happen to cause us to lose. I don't think Harry would have missed the snitch unless something made him." he looked expectantly at his father.

In turn he told them how Harry had been distracted by a large shaggy dog.

"Padfoot," the twins yelled out excitedly before frowning. "What were you doing distracting our seeker?"

"I heard his name called out as one of the players," Sirius explained with a proud smile at the teen. "I had to go see him play."

"To see if I was as good as my father," Harry supplied automatically earning a gentle cuff to his head.

"No you numbskull. To see if you were just as crazy as when you flew on that toy broomstick of yours," Sirius corrected, his face softening at the expression of joy on Harry's face.

"Goodness Sirius. You wee up there in that storm?" Molly fretted. "Fur might be a bit thicker than your robe but it was still hardly adequate for those conditions."

He shrugged. "I would have had to endure it whether I was in the forest or the stands. At least this way I got a few minutes of pure happiness."

"I'm assuming you're not the reason the lions lost," Kingsley brought up though it was clear he was reluctant to end the bonding Sirius and Harry were sharing.

"Nope." Harry answered. 'It was the friends that Sirius invited along for the ride."

"I didn't invite them," the dog animagus retorted. "And I'll have you know what happens next scared the life out of me."

At the anxious looks Arthur quickly continued reading, telling them how when Harry turned to look a second time the dog had disappeared.

"Well at least you noticed you were distracting him," Charlie grumbled as playfully as he could though his heart was still skipping a few beats from the previous statement.

Sirius shook his head. "That's not why I left. I was able to feel what was coming." His words caused Moody to look up sharply before the magical eye zoomed in on Dumbledore.

At Wood's anguished yell for Harry to look behind him Emmeline gripped at Kingsley bracing for the worst. She let out a frustrated breath at hearing that it was only the Hufflepuff seeker zeroing in on the snitch.

"Think you could have still caught it?" Charlie asked.

"Definitely," Harry replied feeling a tinge of guilt at thinking badly of the other boy if only slightly. "Cedric was going in at an awkward angle and well I'm really good at dives." He shrugged before looking back at Arthur and the book.

The arm around Harry tightened as in the book the boy experienced the first feelings from the dementors. Being perceptive Luna causally reached over and grabbed two chocolate frogs from the dwindling pile and handed them over.

"You're a lifesaver moon child," Sirius told her gruffly. Biting the had off the frog he took a moment to look around. Moody was having words with the headmaster while Mcgonagall tried to play referee. Kingsley was trying to calm down Emmeline, honestly when had that girl turned into such a big chicken. Arthur looked to be silently reading ahead while rubbing a hand down his wife's back. Molly for her part had tears in her eyes but was remaining remarkably calm.

Tonks and Moony were both looking at him worriedly prompting him to give them a small smile. Remus merely raised an eyebrow knowing his friend's masks well. Sirius rolled his eyes and stuck out his tongue causing the werewolf to shake his head fondly even as he relaxed.

Hermione had Harry's free hand in a death grip but both teens had small smiles on their faces as they listened to Ron give a quick recap of the famous Cannon win.

Charlie interrupted the contemplative silence as he spoke up tentatively. "The dementor on the train made you mass out. What's this one going to do to you?"

Arthur cleared his throat as his wife gave a low groan. "It wasn't just one," He cautioned reading out the description of what Harry had seen when he looked down.

Tonks blinked in shock. "That had to be every dementor that was surrounding the school and patrolling Hogsmeade," she exclaimed.

"And why is it that they seem to be targeting Harry?" Bill questioned looking perturbed. "If they lost it enough to come into the Quidditch game why aren't they feeding instead of pointing up toward our boy?"

"Maybe because they had been told he's Black's target, um no offense Mr. Black," Neville blushed. "But maybe they felt he needed protection and that was their way of showing it?"

Emmeline managed to give him a smile despite her worries. 'That is a very plausible explanation. We really don' know how smart dementors are. We know they can be given different tasks and can know who the wanted person is."

Bill shrugged not having any other answer. He turned to look at his father who muttered a "brace yourself" before reading the dialogue of the voice Harry heard.

Besides him Emmeline sucked in a breath. "That's Lily," she whispered. Snape winced and ducked his head as a wave of grief washed over him.

"Not just Lily," Remus pointed out quietly his voice hoarse.

'Why is You Know Who telling her to move aside?" Tonks asked as she reached out to grip her hand. "Why give her the choice?"

"It's not the time for us to know yet," Dumbledore answered earning a few quiet hisses. 'But we must be grateful for in doing so he brought about his own downfall." He said mysteriously before clamming up.

George dropped his head back against the couch at the answer. 'Remind me to prank the old coot when we get back to school," he muttered to his brother.

Arthur continued reading, speeding through the moment Harry fell and came to in the hospital wing.

Harry snorted as one of the voices talking over him mentioned he hadn't even broken his glasses. "I'm pretty sure I landed flat on my back," he mentioned causing several people to wince as they imagined the impact.

"How in Merlin's name were you even awake so soon after that," Tonks asked in amazement.

The teen shrugged. "I don't know but it hurt a lot." He smiled at his fellow gryffindors at hearing they were waiting anxiously at his bed side.

"Longest half hour of my life," Fred admitted. "Even with Madam Pomfrey telling us you'd be alright I could still here the thump you mad as you hit the ground."

"Which I"m pretty sure was just in our imaginations," George hurried to say as his mother turned stark white. "With the storm we couldn't really hear anything."

"it was still a horrible sight," Ron muttered. "When you add in the effects of the dementors, that hopeless feeling, well we were sure he was dead."

"Dinner was a long silent affair," Neville added. "Everyone seemed really depressed. Even after Dumbledore made the announcement that he was alright there was barely a sound until Fred and George arrived to tell us he'd woken up."

"You guys had it easy," Sirius told the group of teens in a hoarse voice. "I had to wait two whole days to find out if he was okay and able to see for myself that he was walking to class. I was almost to the point of sneaking into the castle just to check on him." Harry leaned a little harder into his side, grateful he had someone that cared so much for him.

At their urging Arthur continue reading telling how the memory of what happened came back to Harry prompting to ask what happened after he fell.

Charlie slumped forward in his seat giving off a shaky laugh as the tension left him. "Brilliant. You plummet to your death but all you care about is who won. And they say I'm Quidditch mad."

Harry shrugged. "I wasn't ready to deal with the subject of the dementors and what they made me hear so I focused on something that would distract them."

"There's not going to be a replay is there?" Tonks guessed.

George shook his head. "No apparently there are no exceptions for dementors in the rules. Even if Ced hadn't caught the snitch we would have had to continue the game with a reserve only we didn't have any so we would have lost anyway."

"Cedric was really nice about it, argued that the win wasn't fair and that he wanted a rematch but Hooch wasn't having it," Fred continued.

"Unlike Wood who couldn't even be there for an injured player," Tonks grumped having noticed the captain's absence.

Charlie nodded. "That is bad leadership on his part. He could feel horrible after he made sure Harry was okay."

"To be fair to him he was at Harry's side as they levitated him back to the castle. He was gone from the hospital wing by the time we arrived but I'm sure he heard Madam Pomfrey say it wasn't serious," Hermione informed them.

"Still should have been there when Harry woke up," Tonks murmured knowing the boy would blame himself for the loss. She was proven right when Harry agonized over losing his first Quidditch match.

"You've played all of what, six games?" Sirius snorted out a laugh. He looked over at his friend. "I"m having flashbacks here."

Remus chuckled. "The Gryffindors lost the first game that James was on the team. he spent the whole weekend crying in the dorm convinced that he'd never be a good player."

"My favorite was the game they lost in sixth year." Emmeline added with a grin. "Lily got so tired of him moping that she lit into him in the middle of the great hall. "

Remus nodded. "I think my favorite line was that games required competition and that he should be grateful he was able to play against a team that could give him a run for his money as that would only make him a better player."

"That's brilliant," Harry breathed, impressed.

Sirius nodded. "James thought so too, course he thought everything Lily said was brilliant."

"Well it sounds like very good advice," Molly approved raising as eyebrow in the book Madam Pomfrey showed the mud splattered Quidditch players out of the hospital wing.

"I'm surprised she let them in at all," Kingsley commented. "Between the mud and the no visitor rule she has."

"I think she felt sorry for us," Fred answered. "We probably looked pretty pitiful."

Arthur gave him a sympathetic look as he continued reading. In the book Ron and Hermione were telling Harry how Dumbledore had slowed down his fall before dispensing of the dementors.

"It's a very good thing you were there but I"m surprised you were at the game given the weather," Bill pointed out.

"The weather was the reason I was there. I was not ignorant of the safety concerns. Or of the restlessness of our resident protectors."

"Yet they still managed to get in." Tonks muttered lowly.

"Well no matter the reason I am thankful you were there." Molly told him gratefully.

A moment later charlie winced as Harry asked for his broom. "In that storm it could have gotten blown halfway away across the continent."

"No just into a certain tree," Ron informed them as his father described the state of the flying instrument.

Tonks closed her eyes. "Suddenly I"m glad that you fell off."

Arthur closed the book and looked around at the gathered group. "Should we continue or call it a night? The next chapter seems a bit short."

As the debate wore on Hermione looked over at her silent friend. "What's the matter Harry. You look worried about something."

He shrugged. "Snape's become more angry and moody with each chapter. Which just sets Sirius off. I have a feeling they're going to really get into it by the end of the book."

She nodded. "It might be good for them. Clear the air between them. I'm far more worried about how everyone's attacking the headmaster."

"Hermione you can't possibly be defending him and his 'its for the best' reply to every little thing," he asked incredulously.

"Well no," she replied slowly. "But I don't think its a good idea to break apart from him either. Whether we like him or not we need him."

"Why?" Harry retorted. "Other than being the face of the light what has he actually done?"

Their attention was called back to the group before she could answer. "Hey you two, we're voting about reading the next chapter or not," Bill told them. "What do you think?"

"What's the chapter called?" Hermione asked. She paled as Arthur told her the name. "We should definitely read it tonight. Harry and Sirius are going to need some time together afterward."