Chapter 7 - Harry's Ticket
Time seemed to pass fast after that. Every opportunity Avalon and Harry practiced the Patronus Charm. Lupin had permission from Dumbledore to catch another boggart for them to use. They practiced in an old dungeon. First time Avalon opened the box the boggart was when Harry nearly passed out. They also had to be careful not to kill the creature.
A few days after their first anit-dementor lesson Slytherin defeated Ravenclaw by the skin of their teeth. Professor McGonagall took down names of those staying at Hogwarts over Christmas. All four of them put their names down.
Then came the second trip to Hogsmede.
Harry was looking for his broom. It wasn't in his dorm or the broom closet. He had planned on polishing it because his friends were going to the village.
"You don't know where my Nimbus is do you?" he asked his friends as he came into the common room.
"No," said Ron. "Sorry Harry."
Avalon shook her head. "Don't know."
Hermione kept quiet and bit her lip. Then she ran up to her dorm and came back down with a bag. "I was hoping you wouldn't notice," she said as she opened the bag.
Harry looked inside the bag. There was a dozen pieces of wood. One had the word Nimbus on it. He felt like crying. His Nimbus Two-Thousand had been smashed to smithereens. "How?" choked Harry.
"B-by the Whomping Willow. It got blown right into it," explained Hermione.
"Sorry, mate," said Ron.
"Harry, I'm so sorry," said Avalon in a small voice.
His precious broom. It was like a pet had just died. Gently he took the bag and sat down. He pulled out a piece and began to stroke it.
"Are you alright Harry?" asked Hermione. He nodded without thinking. She turned to the others. "We better stay with him."
Slowly he lifted his head. "No, you go to Hogsmede. Don't stay because of me."
A brief argument ensued after that. Reluctantly they agreed to go.
He sat there after they left turning the splinters of his broom in his hands. It was gone. How was he expected to fly, to play Quidditch? He felt depressed. Gryffindor would probably have to find a new Seeker. This was beyond belief.
"Oh, stop moping Harry. It's a broom. You can always get a new one."
Harry jumped from his seat. He hadn't heard anyone come in. Slowly he turned around to find Avalon standing behind him. There was a big black dog sitting at her feet. She was smiling brightly. His stomach dropped; and it wasn't because of surprise. "What are you doing here?" he asked.
"I'm here to cheer you up. Now. Grab your invisibility cloak," said Avalon.
He nodded after a moment and ran to his trunk. He pulled out his father's cloak. As he was coming down the stairs when he realized that he, or the others, had never told her about it. That didn't matter because when he was close enough she grabbed his arm and pulled him out through the portrait hole.
"By the way Harry," she said as she rushed them. "This is Paddy, a good friend of my uncle Remmy's." Harry looked at the dog, which gave him a lick on the hand.
He didn't notice where she was taking him till they arrived at a humpback witch with one eye. Avalon let go of his arm and pulled out a blank piece of parchment and her wand. Harry watched as she put her wand to the old parchment. "I solemnly swear that I am up to no good." Lines began to be drawn by an invisible hand. He didn't get enough time to fully read the map, for that was what it appeared to be. The only words he saw were Messrs. Moony, Wormtail, Padfoot and Prongs, and The Marauder's Map. Almost as quickly as she took it out she tapped her wand to it again and said, "Mischief managed." Then she told him to put it in his robes as she put her wand back in her robes.
"What kind of map is this?" asked Harry as he put it away.
"Its your ticket out of Hogwarts. I got it from Fred and George, who took it from Filch's office their first year. It's a present from them to you," said Avalon with a glint of mischief in her eyes. "Don't worry. It's not bad or anything. It was created for good reasons."
He watched as she went up to the witch and taped her wand saying, "Dissendium." The one-eyed witch slid aside to revile a tunnel. She went in, Paddy following her, and then Harry. The witch slid back. Both pulled out their wands. "Lumos!" they said together. The light from their wands showed a passage with twists and turns. As they walked they stumbled a couple of time.
"This leads to the cellar of Honeydukes," said Avalon. "I think we'll find almost everyone there. Including Ron and Hermione."
"Does the map say that?" asked Harry.
"No. It will tell where all the teachers and staff are at school though. So you can avoid Mrs. Norris and Filch when you wander at night." She explained. He raised an eyebrow. She knew much more then she was letting on, he decided. He wondered *how* she knew though.
It seemed like forever after that till they came to stairs. "Now this is the hard part," muttered Avalon. Paddy seemed to groan; Harry agreed.
Climbing the stairs seemed to take longer than walking in the tunnel. At last Avalon stuck her hands up and hit something hard.
"This it?" he asked. "Nox!" he said, and she did the same. She nodded and lifted what appeared to be a trapped door. They were in Honeydukes' cellar just as Avalon said. They had to help the black dog up. Harry noticed that he was very thin. He thought the dog must have lost weight walking all the way from wherever Avalon lived to get to Hogwarts.
Paddy was the first to hear someone coming. Quickly, Harry threw the invisibility cloak over all three of them. Avalon motioned for them to move. Swiftly they moved up the stairs to a door and they found themselves behind the Honeydukes counter. More dodging and creeping brought them into the midst of Hogwarts students. Avalon slipped out from the cloak and Harry, with Paddy, did too. She stood on her tiptoes and looked around. Then quite suddenly she put her hand out and took Harry's own, leading him through the maze of students. The dog followed closely at his heels.
They found Ron and Hermione under a sign that read Unusual Tastes.
"Blood-flavor lollipops," Ron was saying to Hermione, "or Cockroach Clusters for both of them?"
"The blood-flavor lollipops are for vampires probably, Ron," said Hermione. "I don't think either Harry or Avalon would like them."
"Oh, don't even think about the Cockroach Clusters. Neither of us would like those. Wouldn't you agree?" She looked to Harry. He nodded with a smile.
Ron and Hermione jumped, nearly knocking over a jar.
"What are you doing here?" asked a very surprised Hermione.
Avalon let go of Harry's hand and flipped her hands in the air with a smile. "Isn't it clear that we learn how to Apparate, right Ron?"
Ron stood there opened mouthed. "I was just going to say that."
She then patted Ron's shoulder. "Actually, not to disappoint you, we didn't. We have other ways."
Harry nodded. "Yes. Though that would be nice." Harry and Avalon told them about how Avalon had come back to get Harry and about the Marauder's Map that was given to Harry through Avalon. Ron was very upset that Fred and George hadn't given it to him.
"And Harry's keeping it, Hermione," said Avalon. "Besides, Harry could tell if Sirius Black would be using one of the passage was." Hermione opened her mouth then closed it. It was obviously something she was thinking about.
"That's right," said Ron. "Look at the notice over there."
"It says that dementors will be patrolling after sundown for Sirius Black," said Harry. "See. I'm safe."
"You're not going to report him are you?" asked Avalon.
"No, of course not."
"Then it's settled!" Avalon declared.
Ron then guided Harry all over Honeydukes showing him all the sweets. The girls followed picking candies they liked. Avalon suggested the sugar quills to Hermione saying they were excellent. The girls both bought some. After all the purchases they left for butterbeer at the Three Broomsticks.
"Avalon and I will get the drinks from Madam Rosmerta," said Ron.
Hermione and Harry, followed by Paddy, found an empty table by a big Christmas tree. A few minutes later Ron and Avalon came back holding two foaming tankards each.
"Happy Christmas!" Harry said and held up his drink.
They all drank deeply. Someone, Harry wasn't sure whom, but someone said that it was the best thing yet. He was to busy liking the drink.
The door opened and the wind from the outside ruffled Avalon's dark hair. Professor McGonagall, Professor Flitwick, with the Minister of Magic; Cornelius Fudge entered Three Broomsticks. Hagrid came in last shutting the door.
"Quick!" said Hermione and pushed him under the table. She handed him his cloak and tankard. Swiftly Harry put on his invisibility cloak. Paddy seemed to understand what was going on and moved himself in front of Harry.
He watched as a woman's pair of feet walked by. He heard as she took their orders and complained about he dementors.
"I would never have thought," said Madam Rosmerta, "that Sirius Black to have turn to the Dark Arts."
"I don't think any of us did," said McGonagall.
"Ar," said Hagrid, "then what he did ta his bes' friend."
"Oh yes in deed," said Fudge. "A very horrible thing."
"Worse than what he did to those Muggles and Peter?" asked Rosmerta.
Harry figured they were talking about Peter Pettigrew and the thirteen Muggles that Black killed. He already heard about that.
"Yes," said McGonagall. "Remember who was his best friend?"
"How could I forget? They were more like brothers those two. Sirius Black and James Potter. Couldn't have one without the other."
Harry nearly dropped his tankard. Paddy seemed very alert and was looking at the group of adults.
"Yes, Potter and Black," said Flitwick. "Exceptionally bright students and leaders of their little gang. Two peas in a pod they were."
"Aye," said Hagrid. "Bes' man at James and Lily's wedding. Godfather to Harry."
"Does he know?" asked Rosmerta.
"No," said Fudge. "Imagine if he did. His father's best friend, and his own godfather, in league with You-Know-Who. No one knew he was evil like that. Never suspected it."
Paddy began to growl slightly.
Harry listened as they continued to talk about Sirius Black's betrayal of his parents. How his father persuaded Dumbledore to make him his parents Secret-Keeper in the Fidelius Charm and then told Voldemort.
Paddy's growling increasing grew louder. The dog only stopped when Harry put a hand on the dog.
Sirius Black was truly a mad, evil wizard who was after him. To finish what Voldemort couldn't. And Black was his godfather!
Shortly afterwards the group dispersed and Madam Rosmerta walked away.
Three heads appeared under the table.
"Oh, Harry ..." Whoever started to speak trailed off and didn't finish.
"C'mon Harry," said Ron after a while. He pulled him from under the table. Harry let his cloak fall off. He nearly let his tankard drop but Hermione took it. "Let's get you home," said Ron and Avalon took his hand.
She guided him to the door. "Meet you back at the castle," she said and waved good-bye to Ron and Hermione. They nodded solemnly.
Harry didn't know how he got back into the tunnel but he did. He only knew this was because his foot his the uneven ground. Avalon was still guiding him by his hand. She seemed to be holding his cloak because one of her arms had vanished. Paddy had his hand underneath Harry's other hand and was whimpering.
It didn't seem that long from that moment until they were back in the castle. Being back seemed to have woken him up.
"You think Sirius Black really betrayed my parents?" he asked Avalon as he patted the black dog's head.
Avalon shrugged and let go of his hand. "Personally, I have my own theories about Sirius Black. What I think most people won't like."
Time seemed to pass fast after that. Every opportunity Avalon and Harry practiced the Patronus Charm. Lupin had permission from Dumbledore to catch another boggart for them to use. They practiced in an old dungeon. First time Avalon opened the box the boggart was when Harry nearly passed out. They also had to be careful not to kill the creature.
A few days after their first anit-dementor lesson Slytherin defeated Ravenclaw by the skin of their teeth. Professor McGonagall took down names of those staying at Hogwarts over Christmas. All four of them put their names down.
Then came the second trip to Hogsmede.
Harry was looking for his broom. It wasn't in his dorm or the broom closet. He had planned on polishing it because his friends were going to the village.
"You don't know where my Nimbus is do you?" he asked his friends as he came into the common room.
"No," said Ron. "Sorry Harry."
Avalon shook her head. "Don't know."
Hermione kept quiet and bit her lip. Then she ran up to her dorm and came back down with a bag. "I was hoping you wouldn't notice," she said as she opened the bag.
Harry looked inside the bag. There was a dozen pieces of wood. One had the word Nimbus on it. He felt like crying. His Nimbus Two-Thousand had been smashed to smithereens. "How?" choked Harry.
"B-by the Whomping Willow. It got blown right into it," explained Hermione.
"Sorry, mate," said Ron.
"Harry, I'm so sorry," said Avalon in a small voice.
His precious broom. It was like a pet had just died. Gently he took the bag and sat down. He pulled out a piece and began to stroke it.
"Are you alright Harry?" asked Hermione. He nodded without thinking. She turned to the others. "We better stay with him."
Slowly he lifted his head. "No, you go to Hogsmede. Don't stay because of me."
A brief argument ensued after that. Reluctantly they agreed to go.
He sat there after they left turning the splinters of his broom in his hands. It was gone. How was he expected to fly, to play Quidditch? He felt depressed. Gryffindor would probably have to find a new Seeker. This was beyond belief.
"Oh, stop moping Harry. It's a broom. You can always get a new one."
Harry jumped from his seat. He hadn't heard anyone come in. Slowly he turned around to find Avalon standing behind him. There was a big black dog sitting at her feet. She was smiling brightly. His stomach dropped; and it wasn't because of surprise. "What are you doing here?" he asked.
"I'm here to cheer you up. Now. Grab your invisibility cloak," said Avalon.
He nodded after a moment and ran to his trunk. He pulled out his father's cloak. As he was coming down the stairs when he realized that he, or the others, had never told her about it. That didn't matter because when he was close enough she grabbed his arm and pulled him out through the portrait hole.
"By the way Harry," she said as she rushed them. "This is Paddy, a good friend of my uncle Remmy's." Harry looked at the dog, which gave him a lick on the hand.
He didn't notice where she was taking him till they arrived at a humpback witch with one eye. Avalon let go of his arm and pulled out a blank piece of parchment and her wand. Harry watched as she put her wand to the old parchment. "I solemnly swear that I am up to no good." Lines began to be drawn by an invisible hand. He didn't get enough time to fully read the map, for that was what it appeared to be. The only words he saw were Messrs. Moony, Wormtail, Padfoot and Prongs, and The Marauder's Map. Almost as quickly as she took it out she tapped her wand to it again and said, "Mischief managed." Then she told him to put it in his robes as she put her wand back in her robes.
"What kind of map is this?" asked Harry as he put it away.
"Its your ticket out of Hogwarts. I got it from Fred and George, who took it from Filch's office their first year. It's a present from them to you," said Avalon with a glint of mischief in her eyes. "Don't worry. It's not bad or anything. It was created for good reasons."
He watched as she went up to the witch and taped her wand saying, "Dissendium." The one-eyed witch slid aside to revile a tunnel. She went in, Paddy following her, and then Harry. The witch slid back. Both pulled out their wands. "Lumos!" they said together. The light from their wands showed a passage with twists and turns. As they walked they stumbled a couple of time.
"This leads to the cellar of Honeydukes," said Avalon. "I think we'll find almost everyone there. Including Ron and Hermione."
"Does the map say that?" asked Harry.
"No. It will tell where all the teachers and staff are at school though. So you can avoid Mrs. Norris and Filch when you wander at night." She explained. He raised an eyebrow. She knew much more then she was letting on, he decided. He wondered *how* she knew though.
It seemed like forever after that till they came to stairs. "Now this is the hard part," muttered Avalon. Paddy seemed to groan; Harry agreed.
Climbing the stairs seemed to take longer than walking in the tunnel. At last Avalon stuck her hands up and hit something hard.
"This it?" he asked. "Nox!" he said, and she did the same. She nodded and lifted what appeared to be a trapped door. They were in Honeydukes' cellar just as Avalon said. They had to help the black dog up. Harry noticed that he was very thin. He thought the dog must have lost weight walking all the way from wherever Avalon lived to get to Hogwarts.
Paddy was the first to hear someone coming. Quickly, Harry threw the invisibility cloak over all three of them. Avalon motioned for them to move. Swiftly they moved up the stairs to a door and they found themselves behind the Honeydukes counter. More dodging and creeping brought them into the midst of Hogwarts students. Avalon slipped out from the cloak and Harry, with Paddy, did too. She stood on her tiptoes and looked around. Then quite suddenly she put her hand out and took Harry's own, leading him through the maze of students. The dog followed closely at his heels.
They found Ron and Hermione under a sign that read Unusual Tastes.
"Blood-flavor lollipops," Ron was saying to Hermione, "or Cockroach Clusters for both of them?"
"The blood-flavor lollipops are for vampires probably, Ron," said Hermione. "I don't think either Harry or Avalon would like them."
"Oh, don't even think about the Cockroach Clusters. Neither of us would like those. Wouldn't you agree?" She looked to Harry. He nodded with a smile.
Ron and Hermione jumped, nearly knocking over a jar.
"What are you doing here?" asked a very surprised Hermione.
Avalon let go of Harry's hand and flipped her hands in the air with a smile. "Isn't it clear that we learn how to Apparate, right Ron?"
Ron stood there opened mouthed. "I was just going to say that."
She then patted Ron's shoulder. "Actually, not to disappoint you, we didn't. We have other ways."
Harry nodded. "Yes. Though that would be nice." Harry and Avalon told them about how Avalon had come back to get Harry and about the Marauder's Map that was given to Harry through Avalon. Ron was very upset that Fred and George hadn't given it to him.
"And Harry's keeping it, Hermione," said Avalon. "Besides, Harry could tell if Sirius Black would be using one of the passage was." Hermione opened her mouth then closed it. It was obviously something she was thinking about.
"That's right," said Ron. "Look at the notice over there."
"It says that dementors will be patrolling after sundown for Sirius Black," said Harry. "See. I'm safe."
"You're not going to report him are you?" asked Avalon.
"No, of course not."
"Then it's settled!" Avalon declared.
Ron then guided Harry all over Honeydukes showing him all the sweets. The girls followed picking candies they liked. Avalon suggested the sugar quills to Hermione saying they were excellent. The girls both bought some. After all the purchases they left for butterbeer at the Three Broomsticks.
"Avalon and I will get the drinks from Madam Rosmerta," said Ron.
Hermione and Harry, followed by Paddy, found an empty table by a big Christmas tree. A few minutes later Ron and Avalon came back holding two foaming tankards each.
"Happy Christmas!" Harry said and held up his drink.
They all drank deeply. Someone, Harry wasn't sure whom, but someone said that it was the best thing yet. He was to busy liking the drink.
The door opened and the wind from the outside ruffled Avalon's dark hair. Professor McGonagall, Professor Flitwick, with the Minister of Magic; Cornelius Fudge entered Three Broomsticks. Hagrid came in last shutting the door.
"Quick!" said Hermione and pushed him under the table. She handed him his cloak and tankard. Swiftly Harry put on his invisibility cloak. Paddy seemed to understand what was going on and moved himself in front of Harry.
He watched as a woman's pair of feet walked by. He heard as she took their orders and complained about he dementors.
"I would never have thought," said Madam Rosmerta, "that Sirius Black to have turn to the Dark Arts."
"I don't think any of us did," said McGonagall.
"Ar," said Hagrid, "then what he did ta his bes' friend."
"Oh yes in deed," said Fudge. "A very horrible thing."
"Worse than what he did to those Muggles and Peter?" asked Rosmerta.
Harry figured they were talking about Peter Pettigrew and the thirteen Muggles that Black killed. He already heard about that.
"Yes," said McGonagall. "Remember who was his best friend?"
"How could I forget? They were more like brothers those two. Sirius Black and James Potter. Couldn't have one without the other."
Harry nearly dropped his tankard. Paddy seemed very alert and was looking at the group of adults.
"Yes, Potter and Black," said Flitwick. "Exceptionally bright students and leaders of their little gang. Two peas in a pod they were."
"Aye," said Hagrid. "Bes' man at James and Lily's wedding. Godfather to Harry."
"Does he know?" asked Rosmerta.
"No," said Fudge. "Imagine if he did. His father's best friend, and his own godfather, in league with You-Know-Who. No one knew he was evil like that. Never suspected it."
Paddy began to growl slightly.
Harry listened as they continued to talk about Sirius Black's betrayal of his parents. How his father persuaded Dumbledore to make him his parents Secret-Keeper in the Fidelius Charm and then told Voldemort.
Paddy's growling increasing grew louder. The dog only stopped when Harry put a hand on the dog.
Sirius Black was truly a mad, evil wizard who was after him. To finish what Voldemort couldn't. And Black was his godfather!
Shortly afterwards the group dispersed and Madam Rosmerta walked away.
Three heads appeared under the table.
"Oh, Harry ..." Whoever started to speak trailed off and didn't finish.
"C'mon Harry," said Ron after a while. He pulled him from under the table. Harry let his cloak fall off. He nearly let his tankard drop but Hermione took it. "Let's get you home," said Ron and Avalon took his hand.
She guided him to the door. "Meet you back at the castle," she said and waved good-bye to Ron and Hermione. They nodded solemnly.
Harry didn't know how he got back into the tunnel but he did. He only knew this was because his foot his the uneven ground. Avalon was still guiding him by his hand. She seemed to be holding his cloak because one of her arms had vanished. Paddy had his hand underneath Harry's other hand and was whimpering.
It didn't seem that long from that moment until they were back in the castle. Being back seemed to have woken him up.
"You think Sirius Black really betrayed my parents?" he asked Avalon as he patted the black dog's head.
Avalon shrugged and let go of his hand. "Personally, I have my own theories about Sirius Black. What I think most people won't like."