Out of the Shadow – Year 3

I awoke with a start, my eyes flying open and a cold sweat running down my back. I took a couple of deep breaths trying to pull myself together. I was tucked warmly in a bed, but my body ached. I turned my head to the sound of someone snoring next to me and found Ron in the bed beside me, his leg wrapped in bandages. I was in the hospital wing, but for the life of me I couldn't remember what happened. I rolled over and got comfortable under the blankets as I let my mind wonder back to the previous evenings events until I fell back asleep.

When I woke up the next morning, Ron was awake. We looked at each other for an awkward moment. Ron and I never spent a lot of alone time together, Harry was normally always around. I rubbed at the back of my neck. "Do you remember what happened?" I asked him. "Lupin transformed into a werewolf and tossed you into a tree." I winced. "He isn't going to forgive himself for that. What happened to the others?"

Ron proceeded to tell me about Pettigrew's escape, and how Harry and Hermione helped Sirius escape into the night with Buckbeak. I laid back on my pillows with a heavy sigh. "Well, that's good at least." I turned to see Ron watching me carefully. "What?" I said turning again to face him, propping myself up on my elbow. "Why didn't you guys tell us?" He asked. I shrugged. "Our parents asked us not too. There had been a lot going on, and with the unknown status of Sirius state of mind it was just safer to assume he was a bad guy. To protect us in case the worst happened."

Ron have me a small nod. We sat there not saying anything more. Ron staring at the celling, and me tracing a finger along the bed sheets. We both turned as we heard the doors to the hospital wing open. Harry and Hermione walked in smiling at us both. "Oh! You're awake!" Hermione said happily. I nodded and Harry sat himself down on the edge of my bed, facing Ron. "How are you feeling?" He asked me. I shrugged. "A little sore, but I'll live." He nodded. "I want to see if Madame Pumpfrey will let you out so we can go see Lupin."

"Is he beating himself up badly?"

Harry nodded. I sat back against my pillows again and sighed heavily. "I wish he wouldn't." Harry patted my leg before turning back to Ron. The doors opened again, and Fred and George waltzed through with smiles on their faces. "Hey, you're awake!" I gave them my best smile, despite the pain. "How are you feeling?" George asked sitting on the end of my bed. I gave them a small shrug. "Alright, despite being thrown into a tree."

"We couldn't believe it when we heard about Lupin." Fred said. "You are one brave kid." I gave him a light laugh. "I've known my whole life. He's my godfather, after all." The twins looked at me shocked. "Really?" George asked. I nodded. "Yeah, I just never had to deal with that before. I thought I could help him, but you really can't get through to them once they transform. It's sad." George reached over an grabbed my hand, rubbing his thumb across the back of my knuckles.

Just them Madame Pumpfrey arrived at my bedside and George released my hand. "You are free to go Miss. Potter." She said briskly before moving over to Ron. Everyone moved out of the room as I prepared to change behind a screen, since Ron couldn't move from the bed yet. Once I was out of the hospital, Harry and I walked slowly to Lupin's office. Before we could knock on the door, it swung open. Harry and I exchanged a glance before looking into the office.

Lupin was standing behind his desk packing up some books, with an old map laid out on the table. "I saw you two coming." He said pointing to the map before either one of us could ask what he meant. I raised an eyebrow but didn't question it. "You're leaving?" Harry asked him. Lupin sighed. "Yes, I've resigned." I gasped. "What? Why? You are the best defense against the dark arts teacher we've ever had."

"Once parents start finding out that a werewolf is teaching their children they will demand for my immediate removal. I just thought I'd be a step ahead."

Harry and I exchanged another look. "Does the Ministry think you are working with Sirius?" Harry asked. Lupin shook his head. "No, no." I took a seat on one of lupins suitcases and put my head in my hands and Harry stared at the floor. "Why do you two look so miserable?" He asked. "None of it made any difference. Pettigrew escaped."

"Didn't make any difference? Harry it made all the difference in the world. You saved an innocent man from a terrible fate. You helped uncover the truth!"

Lupin picked up his bag from his desk and walked around to face Harry and I. "I am proud of what you two have learned this year. Now that I am no longer your teacher Harry, I have no problem giving this back to you." Lupin said looking down at the map. I stood up and leaned over it. "How do you get a map of the entire school? Who gave it to you?"

"Fred and George."

I gasped. "Oh, I'm going to have a word with those two." I said crossing my arms. Lupin laughed at us, but it was weak, and tired sounding. "Mischief Managed." He tapped the map and the ink disappeared before it folded itself back up. He handed it to Harry before shaking his hand. He walked over to me. "I am glad you are alright. I would have never forgiven myself for hurting you." I gave him a weak smile. "It was my fault really. I should have known better."

Lupin put an arm around my shoulder and gave me a small squeeze. I wrapped my arms around him and hugged him back. "We are going to miss seeing you around every day." I said to him. "I'll miss you, as well." With that he was off. Out the door and across the classroom. Harry and I remained in the doorway watching him go. I inhaled deeply and laid my head on my brothers' shoulder. "What a year." I breathed out. "I'm just glad Sirius wasn't under anyone's control." He said. I nodded. "Me too, but poor Remus."

"He'll be alright Holly, he always is."

I nodded before we headed back to the great hall for dinner. I was met at the Ravenclaw table by Rhea and Ashley who looked beyond thrilled to see me. Apparently, I had missed almost a full day, which was less then last year when I was nearly dead. "Can you believe we are getting out exams back tomorrow?" Rhea said halfway through dinner. "I've been a nervous wreck!" I smiled at her. "I'm sure you passed with flying colors. I bet we all did."

After dinner I decided it was time to show the girls what I had been working on, so we took a walk outside. It was a beautiful day, with a nice breeze to break up the warm weather from the setting sun. "What is this all about?" Rhea asked as we settled down next to the lake. Without giving them a warning, I transformed into a fox. They both gasped and jumped almost a full step backwards, causing Ashley to trip over her own feet.

When I changed again, I was laughing. "How did you learn that? I've heard it could take years, and it's pretty dangerous!" Rhea said adjusting her glasses. "I got lucky really." I said with a half shrug. "I just couldn't wait to tell you, especially when I got it right." They were both smiling at me. "What trouble are you going to get into with that new handy trick?" Ashley asked.

"None. I made a promise to only use it if I have too. Emergencies involving Harry, I guess. As you know my brother seems to be a target for bad things happening to him."

I wasn't sure how much the girls knew of what happened this year, but I knew they remembered the last two years when Harry was attacked by Voldemort, and how we almost lost Ginny. Both of them looked at me with sad, worried eyes. "It'll be alright." I said. "I mean, no one almost died this year!" I said trying to sound more positive then I was. Ashley laughed, but I knew Rhea could see right though me. I was going to be surprised if she didn't ask me more questions later.

The next morning, we dragged ourselves out of bed and down to breakfast. All I wanted to do was sleep, and all Rhea wanted to do was hide from her pending exam results. "You are getting them either way. It's best you do it quickly. Get it over with." Ashley said seeming to be far too excited for her own good. Rhea and I exchanged a glance before dropping into our seats that the Ravenclaw table.

"I can't look." Rhea said handing me her exam results. "Just tell me. Is it terrible? I bet its terrible. I'm going to be expelled, aren't I?" I looked down at the paper. Perfect grades across the board. I set the paper down in front of her. "Look at it yourself, Randall." She opened her eyes but kept them fixed on me. I raised an eyebrow at her before motioning downwards with my own eyes. Slowly Rhea looked at her paper and sighed. "Oh, good. That's good."

"Good? Just good? Rhea, you can't do better then that. That is fantastic. I don't get what you are so worried about."

Rhea sighed but at least now she had a smile on her face. Ashley and I also got passing scores, not as perfect as Rhea though. Harry leaned over from the Gryffindor table. "Alright on the exams?" he asked me. I nodded. "Yeah, looks like I'll be coming back next year." He smiled at me. "Who do you think they'll get to fill the Defense class next year? Seamus reckons a vampire." I laughed. "Whoever it is, I doubt they'll teach as well as Lupin did." Harry nodded in agreement.

The great hall had been decorated that evening in the Gryffindor colors, since they won not only the Quidditch cup, but also the house cup. "How have they won it the last three years?" Rhea asked shocked. "I am constantly winning points for Ravenclaw." I shrugged. "It must be a bravery thing." Ashley laughed. "I think it's because Dumbledore was a Gryffindor. He favors them."

"No, he wasn't, was he?" I asked. They both shrugged. I had to agree sometimes I did seem like Dumbledore favored Gryffindor house, but then I couldn't be jealous. This was the same man that was allowing me to train in advanced magic and let me become an Animagus. I kept my mouth shut on all accounts. After the feast I joined the twins in the Ravenclaw courtyard as they discussed a new product they want to create.

I sat on the ground at George's feet as he and Fred reviewed papers that Fred and written ideas on. I was reading an old book from Lupin, and only paid attention enough to notice that George allowed his hand to drop to my shoulder. I smiled to myself as a wave of warmth coursed through my body just from a single touch. I couldn't fight it anymore, there was something growing between George and I weather either of us realized it or not. It was scary, but I was excited to see where it was going to lead us.

The following morning, we headed out to the Hogwarts express. Harry, Ron and Hermione lead our little group, with Rhea, Ashley and I behind them and Fred, George and Ginny bring up the rear of the pack. It was an awkward group, the nine of us but I had to admit that these nine people were my favorite people in the entire world. I knew Ron and Hermione were Harry's friends, as Harry knew that Rhea and Ashley were mine, but we accepted them, and I appreciated everything Ron and Hermione did for Harry, especially the times I couldn't be there.

I stopped at the compartment that Harry had grabbed for him, Ron and Hermione. "I'll catch up." I said to Rhea as she continued on with Ashley, Fred and George. "Hermione." I said sticking my head in. "Can I talk to you?" she nodded and joined me in the hall. "Look, I just wanted to say thank you, for helping Harry help Sirius. Especially when I couldn't." Hermione gave me a small smile. "Harry is my best friend, and I would do anything to help either one of you." I smiled at her before turning and walking back to my own compartment.

Once inside I dropped into the seat beside George. Lee Jordan had joined us and was sitting between Ashley and Rhea. "Who is ready for summer break!" He said cheerfully and well all let out a little WOO that didn't sound too convincing. I laid my head on George's shoulder and was asleep before the train had even reached full speed.

George was shaking me lightly. "Hey, come on, we are here." I opened my eyes to see people filing down the hallway with their bags, platform 9 and ¾ in the background. I pulled myself off of George and pulled my bag down from the compartment overhead. Once on the platform I said my goodbyes to Ashley and Rhea before looking for Harry. "Do you know who we are supposed to go home with?" He asked coming up from behind me. I shook my head. "I don't see Petunia. Maybe we should go wait by the Weasleys?"

As we approached Mrs. Weasley and the rest of them, I noticed Mum and Dad coming up the way. They smiled brightly when they saw Harry and I and we rushed to them. Mum reached us first throwing her arms around our necks and squeezing. "Ouch. Mum. It's only been a school year." I said trying to get her to detach from us. "When I heard about Remus and Sirius, I just couldn't help but worry." She said looking at us sadly. "I'd rather face them then, well you know." I said not trying to draw attention to myself in the large crowd.

When she finally released us, our father stepped over and wrapped me in a warm hug. "So glad you are okay, kiddo." He said smiling down at me. "I'm sorry I couldn't remain in the hospital with you." I shrugged. "It's okay, I was out the next day, basically." We walked beside our parents as we headed out of the station. "I hope you guys are ready for another painfully normal summer." Our mum said with a smile. "Trust us, we always are." Harry added

As we stepped out into the bright summer sun, I smiled to myself thinking about having a normal summer with nothing to worry about. Voldemort hadn't made an appearance all year, therefore was no longer hanging over Harry's head, Sirius, though in hiding, was safe, so was Lupin. Harry and I were back in Godric's Hollow with our parents, in our newly renovated house since the last one had taken some hits from whoever attacked our parents that night we fled.

"What do you think next year will be like?" Harry asked me after we settled back into the house. I shrugged. "If it's anything like this year, I'll take it. This year was frustrating, but at least no one was almost killed."

"I mean, Pettigrew was almost."

I thought about meeting Pettigrew, and how he seemed beyond curious to see me standing there. What was it he had said to me again? "it's true." I had almost forgot he said anything to me, and no having time to reflect on the events I could help but wonder what he meant by that, what was so true about me? Was I not supposed to be there? Had there been a rumor about me among the death eaters? I shook the thought out of my head, not wanting it to ruin the rest of the summer.