Harry and Remus were walking through the forest together the next day. "I'm sorry to hear about your broomstick. Is there no chance of fixing it?" Remus asked.
"No." Harry paused. "Professor, why do the Dementors affect us so? I mean more than everyone else?"
"Us?" Remus asked quite surprised. "Oh, you and Erin. Listen, Harry. Dementors are the foulest creatures to walk this earth. They feed on every good thought, every happy memory…until a person is left with absolutely nothing but his own worst experiences. You are not weak, Harry and should know by now that Erin definitely isn't. Dementors affect you most of all because there are true horrors in your pasts. Horrors your classmates can scarcely imagine. Neither of you have anything to be ashamed of."
"I'm scared, Professor."
"I'd consider you a fool if you weren't."
"I need to know how to fight them. You could teach me. You made that Dementor on the train go away."
"There was only one that night." Remus argued.
"But you made it go away." Harry said.
"I don't pretend to be an expert, Harry. But as the Dementors seem to have developed a particular interest in you perhaps I should teach you, but after the holidays. For now I need to rest."
Harry stood staring out of the clock face at all the students below heading toward Hogsmeade. He saw Erin with Hermione and Ron. She seemed to sense him watching her because she turned and waved at him. He waved back. Filch called out, "Last call for Hogsmeade! Come, now!
Harry put on the cloak and made his way down. Fred and George were building a snowman and saw the footprints. Then before Harry knew what was going on they grabbed him by the arms. "Guys, let me go."
"Clever, Harry." George said.
"But not clever enough." Fred elaborated.
"Besides," George laughed. "We've got a better way."
"I'm trying to get to Hogsmeade." Harry argued.
"To see your lady love? We know." The twins said together.
"Don't worry." Fred said.
"We'll get you there." George laughed.
"We'll show you a quicker way."
"If you pipe down."
Harry said something derogatory. "Oh, bless him." Fred said.
"Let me go! Come on, guys. Don't-" Harry got out.
They set him on the stairs. "Now, Harry…" George said.
"Come and join the big boys." They both said as they took the cloak off of him.
"What are you doing?" Harry demanded. "If this is about Erin-"
"Shh!" Fred said. "It isn't about the fairest of all, you need not worry."
George brought out a map and gave it to Harry. "What's this rubbish?"
"'What's this rubbish?' he says." Fred sighed. "That, there is the secret to our success."
"It's a wrench giving it to you, believe me." George smiled.
"But," Fred said. "We've decided that your needs are greater than ours. And it will score us some points with Erin, isn't all that bad, either. George, if you will."
George grinned taking out his wand and tapping the parchment. "I solemnly swear that I am up to no good."
The parchment came alive with words. Harry read, "'Messrs. Moony, Wormtail, Padfoot and Prongs are proud to present the Marauder's Map.'"
"We owe them so much." George grinned even broader.
Harry was still staring at the map. "Hang on. This is Hogwarts. And that-No, is that really-?"
"Dumbledore." Fred said.
"In his study."
"Pacing."
"Does that a lot." George elaborated.
"So," Harry continued. "This map shows-"
"Everyone." Fred said.
"Everyone?"
"Everyone." George nodded.
"Where they are." Fred.
"What they're doing." George.
"Every minute."
"Of everyday."
"Brilliant." Harry said. "Where did you get it?"
"Nicked it from Filch's office, of course." Fred grinned. "First year…when we were young and innocent…"
Harry snorted. George rolled his eyes. "Well, more innocent that we are now." He looked around. "Now listen, there are seven secret passageways out of the castle. We'd recommend-"
"This one." They both said pointing to the map.
"The One-Eyed Witch passageway." Fred said.
"It will lead you strait to Honeydukes Cellar." George smiled.
"Hurry," Fred said, "Filch is heading this way."
"Oh," George said almost as an after thought. "And Harry, don't forget. When you're done just give it a tap and say-"
"Mischief Managed." They said in unison again. "Otherwise anyone could read it."
"Oh, and Harry." Fred said. "No hard feelings."
George nodded. "You won fair and square."
Harry was a little suspicious but the twins were already gone and he hurried to the One-Eyed Witch Passageway.
"It's supposed to be the most haunted place in Britain, did I mention that?" Hermione asked Ron softly as they gazed out to where the Shrieking Shack sat on the snow-covered hills.
"Twice." Ron said grinning a little nervously.
Erin was sitting in the snow a little ways away ignoring them as best she could. She knew she didn't want to be here and watch them flirt.
"Do you want to move a bit closer?" Hermione asked, still studying the Shack from the distance they were away from it.
"What?" Ron asked surprised thinking she meant closer to her.
"To the Shrieking Shack." Hermione said, looking at him, suddenly. Looking a little surprised herself.
"Oh, no, I'm fine here." Ron said trying to regain his composure.
"Wuss..." Erin said under her breath and was surprised to hear footsteps approaching. She stood up.
"Well, well, well," Malfoy said as he came into sight. "What do we have here? You two shopping for your new dream home? Bit grand for you, isn't it, Wheezlebee? Doesn't all of your family sleep in one room?"
"Shut up, Malfoy." Ron said.
"Yeah, and while you're at it," Erin said scathingly. "Go away before we make you."
"Well now looks like Wheezlebee needs to be taught to respect his betters." Malfoy said ignoring Erin.
Hermione got in front of Ron. "I hope you don't mean yourselves."
"How dare you speak to me, you filthy little mudblood." Malfoy sneered.
Erin was about to attack him for that but something got there before her...A snowball smashed into the side of Malfoy's face. "What the... Who's there?" He called. Another snowball was hurled at them from a distance and smashed into Draco and then a couple for his friends. Then it looked like Draco tripped. And his friends disposed of just as quickly, Crabbe being pantsed and pushed over, the other, Morag MacDougal being spun around by his scarf seconds later and then the invisible attacking force dragged Malfoy by the ankles of his boots past the warning fence and towards the Shrieking Shack in the distance. Seconds later Draco was running for the hills, his friends close on his heals.
Hermione giggled along with Ron. Something tugged on the ties to Ron's hat and then playfully on a lock of Hermione's brown hair. "Harry!" She giggled.
Harry finally revealed himself with a grin from beneath the invisibility cloak.
"That wasn't funny, Harry!" Ron said looking like he was about to wet his pants.
Erin laughed. "The bloody hell it wasn't! I have never seen Malfoy that scared! It was brilliant, Harry!"
"I try." Harry said mock-humbly before he gave a little over-dramatic bow. Very pleased with himself for once. Hermione could only giggle even more.
"How did you get here?" Erin asked. "You couldn't have gotten past the Dementors...they would have seen you!"
"Not if you know other ways of getting around them." Harry said producing a fold of parchment from his pocket.
"What is it?" Hermione asked curiously.
"A map, compliments of Fred and George. They caught me trying to sneak off to Hogsmeade today and gave it to me." Harry explained with a slight smile on his face.
"Wait a minute!" Erin said. "Fred and George?" She asked. "The same Fred and George that threatened to kill you the other day? Why on earth would they do that? I mean they are more jealous of you than anyone else at Hogwarts." Erin grinned. "I'm not saying they didn't, I just want to know why...especially after...well after that episode."
"They said my need was greater." Harry had to shrug. "I'm as surprised as you are. It's brilliant really, you can see where anyone is at anytime." He unfolded the map to show them, taking out his wand. "I solemnly swear that I am up to no good." He recited giving the paper a tap, all of a sudden the paper revealed red ink and words to the four friends.
Hermione stared at it curiously and read it "...Messrs. Moony, Wormtail, Padfoot, and Prongs... proudly present the Marauder's Map..." She murmured. Harry opened it to reveal the layout of the map to them and the people moving about Hogwarts and all places near to it and a witch or wizard might want to know.
"Amazing." Erin breathed as she looked at it. "Brilliant, really. Did they say where they nicked it from?"
Ron snorted. "Knowing them? Could be anywhere."
"McGonagall's I think... but I scarcely remember now." He said, smiling at the map.
"Hmm…" Erin said. "I think I am going to have to have a little chat with those two...Oh, Harry, what have you seen in Hogsmeade so far?"
"Not much yet..." He admitted. "I was looking for you." He said, refolding the map. "Mischief Managed." Another tap from his wand, the writing disappeared and he redeposited both items into his pockets. "Since you all seem to be the experts I thought maybe you'd show me around a bit." He said.
Ron snorted. "You call them experts? All they want to do is drag me around to the sights; they barely let me have any time at Zonko's or Honeydukes! They bore me to death looking in old bookshops and little out of the way places! And they want me to talk, Harry! Do you know how annoying it is to sit; trying to drink a butterbeer and all they want to talk about are 'feelings' and girl stuff? It's a nightmare, Harry, honestly; maybe you can talk some sense into them. I'm a guy after all, I need to do something that doesn't involve girls..."
Erin raised an eyebrow and couldn't help laughing. "You're still upset about when I accused you of flirting with Hermione aren't you?"
Ron blushed a deep red. "Harry, talk some sense into your girlfriend, please!"
"I'm not getting into the middle of this." Harry said, holding up his hands in surrender with a laugh.
"Oh, come on, Harry." Erin grabbed his arm. "Ignore, Ron..." And then she said in an undertone. "He was flirting with Hermione, though."
"Really?" Harry asked with a surprised laugh.
Hermione was starting to get nervous because Erin had that look. "What are you two saying?" She asked anxiously. "No secrets!"
Erin looked back. "We were saying we're going to run off and get married and leave you two alone together."
Ron sighed and gave them a disgruntled look. "Erin..." Ron shook his head. "You said that last year, you know."
Harry went from shock to curiosity. "Did you really?" He asked Erin playfully teasing.
Hermione giggled. "Would all of you stop it already!"
"You remember, Harry when we were going down into the Chamber of Secrets and Ron said not to leave him alone in the dark..." Erin laughed. "Ok, let's get going then."
"Honestly!" Hermione pretended to huff as they started off through the snow together. "You're all impossible!"
They went through the snow and got onto the main street of Hogsmeade. "Ok, Harry there's Zonko's and Honeydukes...and…Harry...what on earth is that on your invisibility cloak?" Erin was looking at the cloak curiously.
Harry looked at his cloak. "What do you mean? How can you even tell there's anything on it?" It did look a bit like he was holding thin air.
Erin pried something loose and held up a large red lollipop. "Where on earth did you pick this up?"
"I had to come out through Honeydukes." He admitted sheepishly, "That's where the short cut takes you."
"Harry, I can't believe you nicked a lollie!" Hermione said with a giggle.
Erin laughed. "Unless someone was licking it at the time." Erin could barely contain her laughter. "They must have thought it strange to see their lollie floating through the air." Erin leaned against Harry's shoulder her whole body shaking with laughter.
Ron rolled his eyes. "Something is very wrong with you three."
Hermione was still giggling at the mental image of a floating lollie and all Harry could do was grin like a fool.
Erin suddenly looked up..."Harry, under your cloak, quick!"
Harry saw McGonagall and quickly threw the cloak over himself to hide. In the conversation between McGonagall and the two people she was with, Fudge and another woman, he thought he'd heard his name and it peaked his curiosities, he quickly followed the group of adults into the tavern to hear more of their conversation.
Erin looked around. "Hermione...where did he go?" She suddenly saw the door to the Three Broomsticks open. "He didn't..."
"I think he did." Hermione said pointing out the footprints that had led from between them straight to the door that was about to close
"Come on!" Erin said hurrying after him.
"Erin, stop!" Ron said.
Hermione followed, actually not being the voice of reason for once, her and Erin went to enter the tavern together, with Ron trailing behind.
Suddenly a few very ugly shrunken heads in front of them said, "No underage wizards in today. Close the door!"
Another said. "You heard him! Close the damn door!"
Hermione rolled her eyes with a huff. "So rude!" She exclaimed.
"Thick heads." Ron said.
"Thick heads!" The shrunken heads said insulted.
"Come on." Erin said sitting on a bench outside. "We can't very well go after him...well I guess I could but he wouldn't like it..."
"What do you mean you 'guess you could'?" Hermione asked, somehow getting stuck in the middle between Erin and Ron. "What is that supposed to mean anyway?" She asked.
"You remember...I can turn myself invisible...that nice spell we found first year." Erin couldn't believe Hermione had forgotten how they had all been able to do things since they couldn't all fit under Harry's cloak.
"Yeah, you were annoying as anything." Ron snorted. "Always popping up where we'd least expect you and talking to us while you were invisible. Bloody annoying you were."
"I thought you gave that up?" Hermione said. "It nearly got you into trouble a few times and beside Ron's right, it was annoying." Especially when Erin did it to her.
"I did give it up, after Harry caught on that I was dropping things on purpose. At least he didn't know why I was." Erin grinned.
Hermione just shook her head before she gave a slight shiver and rubbed her arms with her mittened hands. It was cold, she wonder what was so interesting inside the tavern.
"What do you think McGonagall is saying in there?" Erin asked.
"Your guess is as good as ours." Ron said miserably cold.