Chapter 20

Black Unvieled

The next Hogsmeade weekend, I spent it with She-Cat and Sheila. Ivy decided to spend the day with Draco alone.

I went into the Three Broomsticks for some ice cream with Sheila and She-Cat when just my luck, Draco and Ivy were in the corner booth, whispering to each other.

I took one look at them sadly and sat down. I wasn't really ready to apologize out of pure fear I might have said something else I would regret.

I kept my face low and focused on my ice cream.

"What's wrong?" Sheila asked after five minutes of silence from me.

"Nothing…" I said, glancing over at Ivy apologetically "just…best friend problems."

"I know!" She-Cat said beaming "What you need is to talk to Ivy again!" she added, grabbing me by the upper arm.

"She-Cat, no. The last time I talked to her, I was PMSing like nobody's business, and I screwed it up. I don't want to talk to her again at the moment."

"Oh, come on!" She-Cat said, tugging me along.

"Ramona, no!" I shouted, starting to get annoyed.

"Please!" Ramona pleaded, standing me up.

"Ramona, no!" I shouted, swinging my hand out of hers, slapping her as I did so.

Ramona looked at me and blinked as two tears of pain fell down her cheeks "I can't believe you just did that!" she shouted before running out.

I groaned as Scar and Blaise walked in.

"Hey, guys!" Scar said, smiling at me.

Blaise said nothing, but he nodded.

I nodded back and returned to my ice cream.

Scar walked up to me and sat down in the empty stool, Blaise following, holding her hand. Scar started acting all lovey-dovey and stole a glance at Ivy and Draco's table.

I ignored the whole Public Display of Affection. I really didn't want to handle crap like that at the moment.

I barely noticed Ivy get up and leave as I spooned another scoop of ice cream into my mouth.

Blaise stood up and looked at Scar "I'm going to go get some joke supplies." he said walking out.

Scar slumped down in the booth in apparent relief as Sheila turned to me.

"You really should apologize to She-Cat." Sheila said glancing at Scar before looking at me.

"Sheila," I said, rolling my eyes "I won't be able to find her. She probably went somewhere in her cat form to cool off." I added, looking in the corner.

There sat She-Cat in her cat form, glaring daggers at me.

I took a deep breath and started "Ok, She-Cat I'm sorry I slapped you." I apologized as I finished off my ice cream.

She-Cat jumped onto the booth and head butted me "I forgive you." she said turning back to normal.

I smiled and turned to the waitress and ordered an ice cream sundae for She-Cat as she sat down next to Sheila.

She-Cat ate her sundae happily as Ron and Hermione walked into the shop.

I looked up and lit up as I waved them over "Ron! Mione!" I shouted "There's room over here!"

Ron and Mione shook their heads and found another table. Ron ordered three Butterbeers, causing me to cock my head to the side.

"That's odd." I said. "They ordered three Butterbeers." I observed.

Sheila and Ramona were busy and ignored me. And I turned to my left to ask Scar, she had disappeared.

"Where'd Scar go?" I asked Sheila and She-Cat.

"She said she was going back to her common room." Sheila said as Mione moved a tree in front of hers and Ron's table with her wand, blocking the view.

I narrowed my eyes suspiciously "Why's Mione redecorating?" I asked myself.

"I don't know, ask her." She-Cat said, still talking to Sheila.

"Yeah." I said, standing up "I'll be back." I added as I walked to Ron and Hermione's table.

When I got to the table, Ron and Hermione were talking quietly among themselves, with what sounded like someone else.

I tried to look over the tree and I saw nothing. Frustrated, I walked over in behind an empty seat in their booth.

"Hi, Hannah." Hermione said quietly.

"Hi, Hermione. Hi, Ron." I respond cheerfully. "I was just curious…why did you guys order three Butterbeers when there are only two of you?"

"Shh!" Ron hissed pulling me into the booth. He nodded to Hermione and there was a rustle of movement.

The next thing I knew, Harry was sitting where I originally thought was just empty space.

I gasped "HARRY WHAT IN THE NAME OF JEFF SKINNER ARE YOU DOING-!" I screamed.

Harry covered my mouth quickly "Be quiet, Hannah! If anyone knows I'm down here, I could be expelled." Harry whispered.

I pulled Harry's hand off my mouth and looked at him "How'd you get down here without McGonagall seeing you!" I asked.

"There are entrances in and out of the school that nobody but the Weasley twins know about." Harry replied.

I rolled my eyes as the teachers came into the pub. Harry covered my mouth again.

"Harry let me go!" I cried, but my sound was muffled as he ducked down under the table. "Harry, this isn't funny! Let-"

"Shh!" Harry said as the teachers, accompanied by Cornelius Fudge, the Minister for Magic sat down near the booth I was stuck under.

I overheard the teachers, Fudge and Madam Rosemerta, the owner of the pub talking about Sirius Black.

Turns out, Black was my dad's best friend. Both of them were inseparable, the ringleaders of a gang of troublemakers! Dad trusted Black more than anyone, and Black was the best man at Mum and Dad's wedding.

They knew that Voldemort was after them, Mum and Dad. They performed some Charm that kept the whole family hidden, even during Harry's and mine's birth. Black was their Secret Keeper.

But, not even a week after the Charm (known as a Fidelius Charm) had been performed…Black betrayed them…sold out my parents to Voldemort.

And, you can pretty well guess what happened next.

Then there was this one wizard after Mum and Dad died that went after Black. Peter Pettigrew. He was maddened by grief for my parents and confronted Black. Then, Black did what he was sent to Azkaban for.

He…he killed Pettigrew and twelve Muggles with a single curse.

Then the rumours started circulating. Black broke out to rejoin Voldemort. Black broke out to get at Harry and I. Black broke out for this, that, blah, blah, blah.

Once the teachers all left, I yanked out of Harry's grip as though I was ripping through paper.

"I could have kept myself quiet you know!" I snapped at Harry.

Harry didn't react. He was stunned along with Ron and Hermione.

"Ok, I know it's odd what was just said, but seriously. On to more important matters. Like you freaking constricting my air flow by gagging me!"

Truth is…I was keeping that façade to show Harry I could be a big girl and not be emotional over what I heard.

But really…I was scared Black was coming after Harry and I.