Harry and Elizabeth Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban

by Wishmaster 17

Harry and Elizabeth have so far had difficult time at school. Not because people hated them, far from it. It was just that for the past two years Harry and Elizabeth have had to deal with one of the worst Wizards of all time. Can the two survive a third year at Hogwarts? (Sequel Harry and Elizabeth and The Chamber of Secrets) full summery inside.

4. The Leaky Cauldron

The Leaky Cauldron:

I woke up in the dead of night the next day with a jolt of fear. My body went ridged looking all around in this unfamiliar area.

I was in a bed. Godric was awake next to me happy. What is going on?

'Where the bloody hell am I?!'

"You okay Lizzy?" I jumped staring across the room at the other bed. Harry. His wand was out and there was a light at the tip. He used the Lumos spell.

"Harry?"

He gave me one of his comforting smiles. "It's okay, we're at the Leaky Cauldron."

Taking a moment to figure out what indeed had happened. Memories came flooding back to me. I felt the bed dip beside me and an arm wrap around my shoulder pulling me to a warm body.

"You had a nightmare." I frown nodding my head to his question.

"Want to talk about it?" he pried.

Taking a deep breath to calm myself down thinking back to my dream. It was all so fuzzy and confusing. One minute I'm falling asleep just as dawn breaks through and then next I'm running for my life through the woods as spells were shot my way. It was getting clearer the more I thought of it.

"We're is the forest running as spells are cast our way to kill us. The more I ran the father you, Hermione, and Ron got away. I couldn't keep up and ended up getting hit. It was all so green, then black. I couldn't move, I couldn't do anything…"

The pressure on my shoulder pulled me closer, his wand laid aside as he held me tightly. "Listen to me," he said softly. His lips next to my ear, I did my best to not let my tears fall. I remember my dream self-calling out to his retreating form. Willing him to live for us both.

"I would never let that happen. I wouldn't let anything happen to you because you're my little sister. It's my job to protect you and I will die trying." I smile snuggling into his chest.

"Thanks Harry, you're the best." He pressed a kiss to my temple as I wrapped my arms around his waist.

"And you know Hermione and Ron would never leave you behind."

I nodded snuggling into his chest. He was the best big brother in the world. I was lucky to have him.

"Feel better?" I nodded just relaxing in his hold.

"Yes,"

We sat for who knows how long. Cuddling in each other's hold. We needed each other. Who am I kidding? I needed him. He's my best friend for crying out loud.

I felt my body drift back to sleep feeling the warmth of my brother holding me safely in his arms.

It wasn't till the next morning till we woke up again. This time from Godric's screeching in my ear wanting food.

Harry stretched sitting up holding his stomach as a large growl escaped his stomach. "Want to get some breakfast?"

I nodded "Oh yes."

Jumping out of bed we rushed down stairs to get some food.

It took us a few days to get used to being on our own. It was very strange. I've never been able to get up when I'd like to, eat what I want, let alone how much I'd want to. I could go wherever I wanted if it's in Diagon Alley.

Diagon Alley was packed with the most fascinating wizarding shops in the world, so it wasn't a problem for me to disobey Fudges orders.

Every day, Harry and I would wake up and head down stairs for breakfast in the Leaky Cauldron. We liked watching the other guests. Funny little witches from the country, up for a days shopping; venerable looking wizards arguing over the latest article in Transfiguration Today; wild looking warlocks; raucous dwarfs; and once, what looked like a suspicious hag, who ordered a plate of raw liver from behind a thick woolen balaclava.

After breakfast, we would go out into the backyard, one of us would take our wands, tap the third brick from the left above the trash bin, and stand back as the archway into Diagon Alley opened in the wall.

We spent long sunny days exploring the shops and eating under the brightly colored umbrella's outside cafes, where fellow diners were showing one another their purchases. ("It's a lunascope, old boy, no more messing around with moon charts see?") or else discussing the case of Sirius Black ("Personally, I won't let any of the children out alone until he's back in Azkaban.")

We didn't have to do our homework under blankets by flashlight anymore; now I could sit out in sunshine outside Florean Fortescue's Ice Cream Parlor (Harry loved going there for homework), we even were able to finish all our essays with the occasional help from Florean Fortescue himself, who, apart from knowing a great deal about medieval with burnings, gave us Potter twins free Sundays every half hour.

As soon as we refilled our money bags with gold Galleons, silver Sickles, and bronze Knuts from our vault at Gringotts, it took all his self-control not to spend the whole lot at once.

Harry had dragged me into Quality Quidditch Supplies for the past week after we arrived at the Leaky Cauldron.

There was a crowd among the shop and Harry was rather curious. Getting closer there was a new broom out.

"Just come out…prototype…" a square jawed wizard was telling his companion.

"It's the fastest broom in the world, isn't it, Dad?" squeaked a boy younger than Harry and myself. He was swinging off his father's arm.

"Irish International Side's just put in an order for seven of these beauties!" the proprietor of the shop told the crowd. "And they're favorites for the World Cup!"

A large witch in front of us and Harry was able to push us up closer and read a sign next to the broom.

THE FIREBOLT

THIS STATE OF THE ART RACING BROOM SPORTS A STREAM LINED, SUPERFINE HANDLE OF ASH, TREATED WITH A DIAMOND-HARD POLISH AND HAND NUMBERED WITH ITS OWN REGISTRATION NUMBER. EACH INDIVIDUALLY SELECTED BIRCH TWIG IN THE BROOMTAIL HAS BEEN HONED TO AERODYNAMIC PERFECTION, GIVING THE FIREBOLT UNSURPASSABLE BALANCE AND PINPOINT PRECISION. THE FIREBOLT HAS AN ACCELERATION OF 150 MILES AN OUR IN TEN SECONDS AND INCORPORATES AN UNBREAKABLE CHARM. PRICE ON REQUEST.

I had no idea how much gold it would be for the Firebolt but the way Harry was looking at it made me think he was going to need a moment or two alone with it. Walking around the store I noticed the Slytherin section.

I still had Draco's cape…I can still remember what had happened.

"We need your help," George started Annie was shivering beside me as we walked toward the Quidditch field. "You see we're supposed to be spying on the Slytherin team and if we need to run we need you to stall."

I giggle and shake my head "I got it. Don't worry." The twins smile "We knew we could count on you!" I felt Fred place a kiss on my cheek. I let out a small eep. He really kissed me.

Okay it's not the first time but it always surprised me when he had. Glancing beside me I saw Annie pouting she wanted to get a kiss from George or Fred I giggle yet again. Man this would be fun. I marched my way toward the field and stare shocked as they zoom around it was just a blur of green. Fred and George looked worried for a bit.

"Crap get down!" The twins yelled but it was too late for me. "What are you doing here Potter?" Flint snapped glaring down at me. "Oh look the dungeon crawlers are here." Annie snapped crossing her arms over her chest glaring up at the sixth year. "Whats it to you Flint?" I snapped glaring at him, Annie and I were giving the two a good time to escape.

"She's with me. I asked her if she wanted to watch us practice…" Draco said landing rushing over to us. Flint sneered down at me. "You should really try finding new friends Draco." He grunted "Ignore him, what are you doing here?" The rain poured down on us as he spoke.

"I wanted to…I wanted to talk to you." He smiled softly and reached out holding my hand in his. "Who do you think you touching her!" Annie snapped glaring at Draco. Draco glared at Annie before facing me again. The pads of his thumb rubbed over my hand "You'll catch your death out here." He pulled off his cape that was slightly damp and wrapped it around my shoulders. Must have been a spell to keep it dry?

"Draco…" He smiled down at me "I'll be okay, we can talk later after practice." I blush slightly staring into those gray eyes. "But I…" he shook his head "Go back inside before you get sick. I'll be okay. Plus if I get sick you could take care of me." I let out a small snort. Annie looked just disgusted at the thought. "You wish she could take care of you!" I roll my eyes and look back at Draco.

"I don't think I would be welcome in the Slytherin dormitory, I'm what you would call an 'outsider' in your land." He scuffed and leaned over placing a small kiss on my cheek like Fred had done. "Never when around me. Meet me in the library in about an hour." I nodded my head slowly staring at him as he ran to catch up with his team.

"Gross! How can you just let him do that?!" I smile down at myself holding the Slytherin cape to myself. "It doesn't matter, if I do certain things to keep him from bothering my brother and friends then it's cool." she just made a look of disgust "I still hate those stupid Slytherin jerks!" I shrug my shoulders unconsciously touching my friendship bracelet with him.

We rush back inside clutching the cape around my body and sighed finally able to be inside again. I stare down at the cape around my shoulders. I don't know why but it felt...nice. Draco Malfoy didn't just give me his cape did he? He had to of why else would I be wearing this?

Heck I even tried to return it to him but he told me to keep it, because I looked good in it. It made me smile thinking of him. I wonder if we'll be study partners again.

After we left Quality Quidditch Supplies we headed to Apothecary. I needed more ingredients for my potions. After that we headed to Madam Malkin's Robes for All Occasions, my robes were now way to short so I needed to get new ones. And finally, I needed to get my remainder books.

I was surprised when we arrived at the bookshop window. Instead of the usual display of gold embossed spellbooks the size of paving slabs, there was a large iron cage behind the glass that held about a hundred copies of The Monster Book of Monsters. Torn pages were flying everywhere as the books grappled with each other, locked together in furious wrestling matches and snapping aggressively.

Pulling out our book lists out of our pocket and consulted it for the first time. The Monster Book of Monsters were listed as the required book for Care of Magical Creatures. "So that's what Hagrid sent those to us." Harry whispered a small smile on his lips.

The manager of Flourish and Blotts hurried toward us.

"Hogwarts?" he said abruptly. "Come to get your new books?"

"Yes," said Harry, "I need…"

"Get out of the way," said the manager impatiently, brushing Harry and myself aside. He drew on a pair of very thick gloves, picked up a large, knobbly walking stick, and proceeded toward the door of the Monster Books' cage.

"Hang on," Harry said quickly, "We've already got one of those."

"Have you?" A look of enormous relief spread over the managers face. "Thank heavens for that. I've been bitten five times already this morning…"

"A loud ripping noise rent the air; two of the Monster Books had seized a third and were pulling it apart.

"Stop it! Stop it!" cried the manager, poking the walking stick through the bars and knocking the books apart. "I'm never stocking them again, never! It's been bedlam! I thought we'd seen the worst when we bought two hundred copies of the Invisible Book of Invisibility, cost a fortune, and we never found them…well…is there anything else I can help you with?"

"Yes, we need Unfogging the Future by Cassandra Vablatsk." Harry said looking down at our booklist.

"Ah, starting Divination, are you?" said the manager, stripping off his gloves and leading us to the back of the shop, where there was a corner devoted to fortune telling. A small table was stacked with volumes such as Predicting the Unpredictable: Insulate Yourself Against Shocks and Broken Balls: When Fortune Telling Turn Foul.

"Here you are," the manager said. Climbing down the steps to take down two thick, black bound books. "Unfogging the Future. Very good guide to all your basic fortune telling methods, palmistry, crystal balls, bird entrails."

"Do you like Divination?" I asked smiling up at the stressed manager.

"Well yes actually, I've always liked…" he stopped midsentence staring at my twin brother who was staring at a specific book.

"Oh I wouldn't read that if I were you," the manager said lightly, looking over I stared at what Harry was staring at. Death Omens: What to Do When You Know the Worst is Coming. "You'll start seeing death omens everywhere. It's enough to frighten anyone to death."

On the cover of the book it showed a black dog large as a bear, with gleaming eyes. It looked almost like the dog we saw before the Knight Bus got us.

The manager pressed Unfogging the Future into Harry's hands.

"Anything else?"

"Yes," I heard Harry speak up. Tearing his eyes away from the book and the look in his eyes said he was in a daze of sorts. "Er, I need Intermediate Transfiguration and the Standard Book of Spells, Grade Three." I nodded with him "Same here."

Ten minutes later Harry and I emerged with new books and made our way back to the Leaky Cauldron, Harry wasn't paying much attention and ended up bumping into several people on the way back.

He tramped up the stairs to his room, went inside and tipped his books onto his bed. I followed at a much slower rate and by the time I got in the room I saw Harry looking in a mirror talking to himself. "It can't have been a death omen," he told his reflection defiantly. "I was panicking when I saw that thing in Magnolia Crescent…it was probably just a stray dog…"

He raised his hand automatically and tried to make his hair lie flat.

As the days slipped by, Harry and I were looking wherever we went for a sign of Ron, Hermione, Fred, George, and Draco. Plenty of Hogwarts students were arriving in Diagon Alley now, with the start of term so near. We ran into Seamus Finnigan and Dean Thomas in Quality Quidditch supplies. They were drooling over the Firebolt.

I ran into Neville outside of Flourish and Blotts, Harry ran off nervous when Neville's formidable looking grandmother was being told off. "Hey Neville!" I called out smiling brightly skipping to a stop in front of him.

"H-Hi Lizzy," he blushed furiously still looking for his list.

"Lizzy this is my Gran, Gran this is Elizabeth Potter." Turning slightly, I smile up at his Gran. She was tall, thin and bony. She wore a hat with a stuffed vulture on it and carried a bright red handbag.

"Pleasure to meet you ma'am," Sticking out my hand to shake hers. I watched as her eyes widen in surprise. She reached out and clutched my hand shaking it vigorously.

"It's wonderful to meet you Miss Potter," Neville shot to the ground and shot back up with his list. "Found it!" he smiled brightly.

"Are you and my grandson in the same house?" I nodded my head.

I was about to answer when Harry called my name worried like. "Oh yes I'm in Gryffindor, I'm sorry to cut this short. Harry gets worried way too easily. It was nice meeting you, see you in school Neville!" Reaching over I gave the slightly pudgy boy a kiss on the cheek and a hug before running off.

"Calm down I'm coming!" I yelled running toward Harry left off.

On the last day of holidays, I got out of bed well rested. We didn't get to see Ron or Hermione. Heck! I couldn't even find Draco! I guess I'd see them on the Hogwarts Express tomorrow. We got up, dressed, and took another walk around Diagon Alley. Right now we were wondering where we'd have lunch when a familiar voice called out.

"HARRY! LIZZY!"

Ron and Hermione were sitting outside Florean Fortescue's Ice Cream Parlor. Ron looked incredibly freckly, Hermione very brown. They were both waving frantically at us.

"Finally!" Ron said as we sat down. He was grinning from ear to ear. "We went to the Leaky Cauldron, but they said you'd left, and we went to Flourish and Blotts, and Madam Malkin's, and…"

"We got all our school stuff last week," I explained a smile on my face as I latched onto Hermione holding her excitedly.

"Gosh I missed you!" I exclaimed. She was equally as happy as I was.

"How did you know we were staying at the Leaky Cauldron?" Harry asked confused.

"Dad," Ron said simply.

That's right. Mr. Weasley worked at the Ministry of Magic, so of course he would have heard the whole story of what happened to Aunt Marge.

"Did you really blow up your aunt?" Hermione asked in a very serious voice.

"I didn't mean to," Harry and I said simultaneously. Ron just lost control of his laughter. I glance at Harry to avoid Hermione's furious stare.

"I just…" Harry started

"Lost control." I muttered after him.

"It's not funny, Ron," Hermione snapped sharply. "Honestly, I'm amazed they weren't expelled."

"So am I," Harry admitted. "Forget expelled, I thought we were going to be arrested." Harry explained as he looked at Ron. "Your dad doesn't know why Fudge let us off, does he?"

"Probably 'casue its you two, isn't it?" Ron shrugged still chuckling. "Famous Harry and Elizabeth Potter and all that. I'd hate to see what the Ministry'd do to me if I blew up my aunt. Mind you, they'd have to dig me up first, because Mum would've killed me. Anyway, you can ask Dad yourself this evening. We're staying at the Leaky Cauldron tonight too! So, you can come to King's Cross with us tomorrow! Hermione's there as well!"

Hermione nodded, beaming. "Mum and Dad dropped me off this morning with all my Hogwarts things."

"Excellent!" Harry said happily.

"Yay girls night!" Hermione and I giggled as the boys gave us weird looks.

"Won't you have those once we get back to the castle?" Ron asked stupidly.

Hermione and I glance at each other. "Well it's kind of hard some times. I'm busy with studying and tutoring Draco sometimes, though he doesn't need tutoring since he's already book smart enough. Then I have to at least see the twins and hang out with them and Hermione is usually always with you two. So sometimes it's great to have some girl time." I explained as best as I could.

"But don't you share a room?"

"Yes Ronald, but by the time we get to bed we're exhausted." Hermione explained for me. "And we can't talk about girl things like which boy is cuter." I said shrugging my shoulders thinking of the first thing a girl would do with her best friend.

Harry shrugged his shoulders and changed the subject. "So, have you got all your new books and stuff?"

Ron snapped out of his confused gaze "Look at this," he cheerfully said while pulling out a long thin box out of a bag and opening it excitedly. "Brand new wand. Fourteen inches, willow, containing one unicorn tail hair. And we've got all our books." He pointed at the large bag under his chair.

"What about those Monster books, eh? The assistant nearly cried when we said we wanted two." I giggled knowing the look he was talking about.

"What's all that Hermione?" Harry asked pointing at not one but three bulging bags in the chair next to her.

"Well, I'm taking more new subjects than you, aren't I," Hermione stated smiling. "Those are my books for Arithmancy, Care of Magical Creatures, Divination, the Study of Ancient Runes, Muggle Studies…"

"What are you doing Muggle Studies for?" Ron said rolling his eyes at Harry. "You're Muggle-born! Your mum and dad are Muggles! You already know all about Muggles!"

I had to agree that Ron had a point. "Hermione what's your reason for doing Muggle Studies? Ron is right. You do live in the Muggle world and probably know more than the Professor when it comes to the Muggle world."

"But it's still fascinating to study them from the wizarding point of view," Hermione said earnestly.

I giggled at her, that made more sense. Glancing over I saw Ron staring at me wide eyed. His mouth dropped slightly. That was weird why would Ron stare at me like that?

"Ron, you okay?" I asked shaking his shoulder snapping him out of his trance.

"Oh, yeah sorry."

"Hermione, are you planning to eat or sleep at all?" Harry asked smirking at his friend. Ron sniggered. Hermione ignored Harry and Ron, rolling her eyes as she spoke.

"Ignore them, their idiots. I'm actually pretty interested in Study of Ancient Runes; can I borrow your notes and learn with you?" her eyes lit up excitedly as she nodded her head. "Yes!"

"You two are insane." Ron muttered under his breath. But if you looked close enough in his blue eyes you could see that he was happy.

"I've still have ten Galleons," Hermione said checking her purse. "It's my birthday in September, and Mum and Dad gave me some money to get myself an early birthday present."

"How about a nice book?" Ron said innocently.

"No, I don't think so," Hermione said composedly. "I really want an owl. I mean Harry's got Hedwig, Lizzy has Godric, and you've got Errol…"

"I haven't," Ron said. "Errol's a family owl. All I've got is Scabbers." He pulled his pet rat out of his pocket. "And I want to get him checked over," he added, placing Scabbers on the table in front of us. "I don't think Egypt agreed with him."

Leaning over I frown at the thinner than usual Scabbers. There was also a definite droop to his whiskers.

"Poor Scabbers," I muttered petting his head with my pointer finger.

"There's a magical creature shop just over there," Harry said. I pointed over at Magical Menagerie. I've know Diagon Alley very well now.

"You can see if they've got anything for Scabbers, and Hermione can get her owl."

We paid for our ice cream and crossed the street to Magical Menagerie.

There wasn't much room inside, every inch of wall was hidden by cages. It was smelly and very noisy because the occupants of these cages were all squeaking, squawking, jabbering, or hissing. The witch behind the counter was already advising a wizard on the care of double-ended newts, so we all waited examining the cages.

There were so many animals in here and it was amazing. A pair of enormous purple toads sat gulping wetly and feasting on dead blowflies. A gigantic tortoise with a jewel encrusted shell was glittering near the window. Poisonous orange snails were oozing slowly up the side of their glass tank, and a fat white rabbit kept changing into a silk top hat and back again with a loud popping noise. Then there were cats of every color, a noisy cage of ravens, a basket of funny custard colored furballs that were humming loudly, and on the counter, a vast cage of sleep black rats that were playing with some sort of skipping game using their long, bald tails.

The double ended newt wizard left, and Ron approached the counter.

"It's my rat," he told the witch. "He's been a bit off color ever since I brought him back from Egypt."

"Place him on the counter," the witch said while pulling a pair of heavy black spectacles out of her pocket.

Ron lifted Scabbers out of his inside pocket and placed him next to the cage of his fellow rats. Said rats stopped what they were doing and scuffled to the wire for a better look.

Like nearly everything Ron owned, Scabbers the rat was secondhand and was a bit battered. Next to the glossy rats in the cage, he looked especially woebegone.

"Hm," said the witch, picking up Scabbers. "How old is this rat?"

"Dunno," Ron said. "Quite old. He used to belong to my brother."

"What powers does he have?" said the witch, examining Scabbers closely.

"Er…" the truth was that Scabbers had never shown the faintest trace of interesting powers. The witch's eyes moved from Scabbers's tattered left ear to his front paw, which had a toe missing, and tutted loudly.

"He's been through the mill, this one," she said.

"He was like that when Percy gave him to me," Ron said defensively.

"An ordinary common or garden rat like this can't be expected to live longer than three years or so," said the witch. "Now if you were looking for something a bit more hard wearing, you might like one of these…"

She indicated the black rats, who promptly started skipping again. Ron muttered "Show offs." Under his breath.

"Well, if you don't want a replacement, you can try this rat tonic," said the witch, reaching under the counter and bringing out a small red bottle.

"Okay," Ron said "How much…OUCH!"

Ron buckled as something huge and orange came soaring from the top of the highest cage, landed on his head, and then propelled itself, spitting madly, at Scabbers.

"NO, CROOKSHANKS, NO!" the witch cried, but Scabbers shot from between her hands like a bar of soap, landed splay-legged on the floor, and then scampered for the door.

"Scabbers!" Ron shouted, racing out of the shop after him, quickly getting to work I grab the ginger cat with ease.

"Easy Crookshanks, easy." I whispered holding the little guy in my arms happily. Hermione's eyes lit up as she stared at the cat in my arms.

Hermione reached over petting his head. The cat's purr could be heard all around.

"He's so cute." Hermione gasped out. The look in her eyes made me smile. I only saw her this way when she was around a good book.

From the moment she laid eyes on Crookshanks she was in love with the large cat.

"You should get him," I suggested, I knew she wanted to get an owl but she can just use Godric.

"I want to, but…"

"But…?" I continued placing Crookshanks in her arms watching as he cuddled into her neck happily.

"I told the guys I was going to get an owl, you heard me I was complaining how I didn't have one." She whispered blushing like a school girl.

"You know you can use Godric as much as you like." I spoke scratching Crookshanks behind the ear.

She smiled brightly nodding her head excitedly before rushing to the counter. "I'll see you outside! I'm going to see if Harry or Ron found Scabbers yet."

Walking out the door I saw Ron and Harry looking over Scabbers. Ron was rather scared that the cat had hurt him.

"Is he okay? Where was he?" Ron looked up nodding his head holding Scabbers to his chest.

"He was hiding under a waste bin." Ron said sadly "That stupid cat almost killed him."

I wasn't sure what to do. Ron was having a small panic attack. I reach out placing my hand on his shoulder, his eyes shot toward mine. I gave a comforting smile before I spoke. "Scabbers will be okay, don't worry." He nodded calming down now.

"Are you sure?"

"I'm positive. He's a pretty strong rat, besides you've been taking great care of him ever since you got him!" He blushed looking away. Why was he blushing? Whatever that's weird.

"O-okay," I glance at Harry who was staring at Ron confused as well as myself.

I shrugged off Ron's weird behavior and took Harry's hand dragging him and Ron back to Magical Menagerie to find Hermione. I smile brightly seeing her arms were clamped tightly around the enormous ginger cat.

"You bought that monster?" Ron said his mouth hanging open.

"He's gorgeous, isnt' he?" as Hermione spoke she was absolutely glowing with joy.

Crookshanks ginger fur was thick and fluffy, he was bowlegged and his face looked grumpy and oddly squashed. But he was simply beautiful and liked attention. Plus, Hermione loved him and that's all that counts.

Since Scabbers was out of sight Crookshanks was purring contentedly in Hermione's arms.

"Hermione, that thing nearly scalped me!" Ron exclaimed.

"He didn't mean to, did you, Crookshanks?" Hermione cooed.

"And what about Scabbers?" Ron said pointing at the lump in his chest pocket. "He needs rest and relaxation! How's he going to get it with that thing around?"

"Ron! Crookshanks isn't a thing! He is a kitten. You can't just call him a thing." I scolded crossing my arms over my chest. Harry's hands appeared on my shoulders squeezing them comfortingly.

"You forgot your rat tonic, Ron." Hermione said going back to the original topic at hand. Slapping the small red bottle into Ron's hand. "And stop worrying, Crookshanks will be sleeping in my dormitory and Scabbers in yours, what's the problem? Poor Crookshanks, that witch said he'd been in there for ages; no one wanted him."

I gasped throwing both my hands over my mouth letting out a small 'aww' while looking down at Crookshanks.

"Wonder why," Ron said sarcastically as we set off toward the Leaky Cauldron.

"Poor kitty!"

Ron rolled his eyes shaking his head.

"I don't know what you were expecting. Lizzy loves animals." Harry said walking beside Ron as I shifted to stand next to Hermione.

"Honestly Ron is such a jerk sometimes. Can't he be happy I have a pet? Besides, Crookshanks didn't mean to hurt him." Hermione whispered angrily.

"Don't take it personally. He just has to be more careful with Scabbers. Crookshanks is a cat and cats eat rats. So, I'm guessing when Crookshanks saw Scabbers his first instinct was to kill him for dinner." Hermione nodded in agreement.

Entering the Leaky Cauldron, I saw Mr. Weasley sitting in the bar, reading the Daily Prophet.

"Harry! Elizabeth!" he said smiling as he looked up. "How are you?" he asked joyfully.

"Fine, thanks," Harry said as we all joined Mr. Weasley with their shopping.

"Great! How was Egypt?" I asked watching as Mr. Weasley put down his paper to talk to us. "It was wonderful, the kids had a blast and I think Molly enjoyed herself too. It was great seeing Charlie again."

"They still haven't caught him, then?" Harry spoke staring down at the paper with a picture of Sirius Black staring up at him.

"No," Mr. Weasley said looking extremely grave. "They've pulled us all off our regular jobs at the Ministry to try and find him, but no luck so far."

"Would we get a reward if we caught him?" Ron asked. "It'd be good to get some more money…"

"Don't be ridiculous, Ron," Mr. Weasley said. He looked very strained. "Black's not going to be caught by a thirteen-year-old wizard. It's the Azkaban guards who'll get him back, You mark my words."

At that moment Mrs. Weasley entered the bar, laden with shopping bags and followed by my twins. Fred and George. They were going to start their fifth year at Hogwarts. Next was the newly elected Head Boy, Percy; and the Weasley's youngest child and only girl, Ginny.

"Fred! George!" I called out jumping from my seat dashing to the twins jumping up latching my arms around their necks and pulling them into a hug.

I missed the dejected look in Ron's eyes as he watched this go down.

"Brighteyes!" The twins exclaimed together excitedly as we hugged. The three of us laughed as I dangled off the ground by a few inches.

Mrs. Weasley giggled at the scene between the three of us.

Ginny who had the hugest crush on my older brother went red and muttered a quiet 'hello' without looking at him.

Percy rolled his eyes and walked past the twins and straight to Harry as if they had never met. "Harry. How nice to see you."

"Hello, Percy," Harry said trying not to laugh.

"I hope you're well?" Percy said pompously, shaking hands. It was rather like being introduced to the mayor.

Fred and George let me drop to the ground getting a wicked idea course through their brains.

"Very well, thanks…"

"Harry!" Fred said, elbowing Percy out of the way and bowing deeply. "Simply splendid to see you, old boy,"

"Marvelous," George said, pushing aside Fred and seizing Harry's hand in turn. "Absolutely spiffing." I snickered beside Mrs. Weasley who crossed her arms over her chest.

Percy was scowling.

"Hi, Mrs. Weasley." I said smiling up at the pretty red head. She smiled pulling me into a hug which I happily returned.

She gave the nicest hugs!

"That's enough, now," Mrs. Weasley said after pulling away toward the twins.

"Mum!" Fred started as though he only just spotted her and seizing her hand, too. "How really corking to see you…"

"I said, that's enough," Mrs. Weasley said while depositing her shopping in an empty chair. "Hello, Harry, dear. I suppose you've heard our exciting news?" she pointed to the brand-new silver badge on Percy's chest. "Second Head Boy in the Family!" she said, swelling with pride.

"And last," Fred muttered under his breath.

"I don't doubt that," Mrs. Weasley said frowning suddenly. "I notice they haven't made you two prefects."

"What do we want to be prefects for?" George said looking revolted by the very idea. "It'd take all the fun out of life."

Ginny and I giggled.

"You want to set a better example for your sister! Elizabeth, you aren't helping." snapped Mrs. Weasley. I blushed looking away, Fred pulled me close to his chest.

We smiled up at each other, he was awesome.

"Ginny's got other brothers to set her an example, Mother," Percy said loftily. "I'm going up to change for dinner…"

As he disappeared, George heaved a sigh.

"We tried to shut him in a pyramid," he told us. "But Mum spotted us."

I doubled over laughing. I would have loved to see that.

Mrs. Weasley glared down at me. "Elizabeth!"

My laughter turning into soft giggles as I sobered up. "Sorry, they just crack me up."

Fred and George gave cheeky smiles, linking arms with mine. "We'll see you at dinner Mum!" George said.

"We got some catching up to do!" Fred finished.

I felt my body being lifted off the ground as the twins dragged me away. I squeak out fearing I'm going to fall.

They dragged me all the way up to their room, plopped me on the bed and smiled down at me. "So Brighteyes!"

"How was Egypt? Did you see any mummies!"

"Yeah lots!"

"Percy was treating us like idiots!" Fred said hatefully.

"How dare he!" I spoke exasperated.

"And all because we were dressed as pharaohs and ordering everyone around." George finished plopping on the bed and lying on his back. Fred was leaning against the wall looking out the window.

"That would have been fun to watch. I wish I could have seen it."

Fred turned faced me a large smile on his handsome face.

"See, this is why we should have owl'd you." George yelled from on the bed.

"I would have been more than happy to owl Lizzy but Errol would have died from the trips!" Fred yelled glaring down at his brother.

Shifting my legs so that they were sitting on the bed, I had to keep turning my head to watch each of them talk.

"It's okay, I figured you two were busy or something. And I don't want poor Errol to die." George sat up, curving his back so that he was hunched over. His chin resting on my left shoulder as he had a cheerful grin on his lips.

"How was your summer, Brighteyes?" Fred asked plopping down on my right.

"Didn't you hear about my aunt Marge?" they cackled with laughter. Fred fell to the floor unable to sit in his position any much longer.

"That was brilliant!" George cried out holding his gut.

Fred finally sobered up and whipped the tears free of his face. "We found out from Dad, Percy was…well Percy. We were so proud." Fred held my cheek happily. His touch was soft.

I glance at his wrist and quickly look up to his eyes. I could easily tell he was happy, but it looked like he wanted something.

I shifted away from him laughing it off.

I glance at the wall clock and realize we've been up here for half an hour. Time really does fly.

Turning to the left I saw George staring at the ceiling, lying on his back yet again. "I've missed this," Fred and I linked arms, flopping down on the bed so that we were all staring at the ceiling.

"Me too, I've missed you two like crazy." I exclaimed shifting my arm through George's so we were all chained together.

"We need to come up with a name for the three of us!" I giggled nodding my head in agreement.

"Makes sense, we're almost always together." George agreed.

"Good for me! You two figure it out, I'm going to go to dinner!" I shot up out of the bed and leapt onto the floor dashing through the door and down the steps.

"Wait for us!" they yelled in unison chasing after me.

At dinner, the innkeeper put three tables together in the parlor. The seven Weasleys, Harry, Hermione, and myself ate our way through five delicious courses.

"How're we getting to King's Cross tomorrow, Dad?" Fred asked between bites of his chocolate pudding.

"The Ministry's providing a couple of cars," Mr. Weasley explained.

I looked up between Fred and Ron.

"Why?" Percy asked curiously.

"It's because of you, Perce," George said seriously. "And there'll be the little flags on the hoods, with HB on them…"

"for Humongous Bighead," Fred said.

I snorted into my pudding at the twins. Man, I loved those two. Mrs. Weasley and Percy didn't look pleased.

"Why are the Ministry providing cars, Father?" Percy asked again, in a voice that said he was better than us.

"Well, as we haven't got one anymore, and as I work there, they're doing me a favor…"

Mr. Weasley's ears had gone red, kind of like Ron's when he was under pressure.

"Good thing, too," Mrs. Weasley said briskly. "Do you realize how much luggage you've all got between you? A nice sight you'd be on the Muggle Underground…You are all packed, aren't you?"

"Ron hasn't put all his new things in his trunk yet," Percy said in a long suffering voice. God he gets on my nerves. "He's dumped them on my bed."

"You'd better go and pack properly, Ron, because we wont have much time in the morning." Mrs. Weasley called down the table. Ron scowled at Percy. I placed my hand on his giving him a slight squeeze.

That got Ron's attention on me. He wasn't paying attention to Percy anymore.

"Don't worry, I'll help you pack." He nodded lacing his fingers with mine. That was weird but I didn't pay much attention to it.

After dinner, I felt very full and sleepy. One by one we made our way upstairs to our rooms. Except Ron and I were busy packing his trunk properly. Thankfully Ron's room was right next to mine, so when I was done I could finish packing my own trunk.

"It was here, on the bedside table, I took it off for polishing…" Percy yelled glaring down at Ron.

"I haven't touched it, all right?" Ron roared back.

"Whats up?" Harry asked at the door.

"Percy thinks Ron took his Head Boy's badge." I snapped folding his clothes with ease.

"He did take it!" Percy snapped.

"So's Scabber's Rat Tonic," Ron said staring throwing things out of his trunk to look. I felt my eye twitch at all my hard work gone down the drain, or should I say floor.

"I think I might've left it in the bar…"

"You're not going anywhere till you've found my badge!" yelled Percy.

"I'll get Scabbers's stuff, I'm packed," Harry said. I glare at Percy.

"Just because you lost your badge doesn't mean Ron took it." I snapped clenching my fist.

"He was the only other person in this room." I groan smacking my head.

"How do you know that it was Ron? How do you know if it wasn't Fred or George?" I snapped while pulling Ron's clean rumpled clothing back to nice and folded.

With Harry:

Harry was halfway along the passage to the bar, which was now very dark. He heard another pair of angry voices coming from the parlor. A second later, he recognized them as Mr. and Mrs. Weasley. He hesitated, not wanting them to know he'd heard them arguing, when the sound of his own name made him stop, then move closer to the parlor door.

"…makes no sense not to tell them!" Mr. Weasley was saying heatedly. "Harry and Elizabeth have the right to know. I've tried to tell Fudge, but he insisters on treating them like a child. They're thirteen years old and…"

"Arthur, the truth would terrify them!" Mrs. Weasley said shrilly. "Do you really want to send Harry and Elizabeth back to school with that hanging over their heads? For heaven's sake, they would be happy not knowing!"

"I don't want to make them miserable, I want to put Harry on his guard! If Elizabeth knows too she can help. You know what Harry and Ron are like, wandering off by themselves, they've ended up in the Forbidden Forest twice! But Harry mustn't do that this year! When I think what could have happened for them that night they ran away from home! If the Knight Bus hadn't picked them up, I'm prepared to bet Harry and Elizabeth would have been dead before the Ministry found him."

"But they aren't dead, they're fine, so whats the point…"

"Molly, they say Sirius Black's mad, and maybe he ism but he was clever enough to escape from Azkaban, and that's supposed to be impossible. It's been three weeks, and no one's seen hide nor hair of him, and I don't care what Fudge keeps telling the Daily Prophet, we're no nearer catching Black than inventing self-spelling wands. The only thing we know for sure is what Black's after…"

"But Harry will be perfectly safe at Hogwarts."

"We thought Azkaban was perfectly safe. If Black can break out of Azkaban, he can break into Hogwarts."

"But no one's really sure that Black's after Harry…"

There was a thud on wood, Harry was sure Mr. Weasley had banged his fist on the table.

"Molly, how many times do I have to tell you? They didn't report it in the press because Fudge wanted it kept quiet, But Fudge went out of Azkaban the night Black escaped. The guards told Fudge that Black's been talking in his sleep for a while now. Always the same words: "They're at Hogwart…They're at Hogwarts." Black is deranged, Molly, and he wants Harry dead. If you ask me, he thinks murdering Harry will bring You- Know- Who, and he's had twelve years alone in Azkaban to brood on that…"

There was a silence. Harry leaned still closer to the door, desperate to hear more.

"Well, Arthur, you must do what you think is right. But you're forgetting Albus Dumbledore. I don't think anything could hurt Harry or Elizabeth at Hogwarts while Dumbledore's Headmaster. I suppose he knows about all this?"

Harry knew why them kept saying Lizzy's name. He knew that if Sirius Black was going to kill him, Lizzy would try and protecting him or die trying.

"Of course he knows. We had to ask him if he minds the Azkaban guards stationing themselves around the entrances to the school grounds. He wasn't happy about it, but he agreed."

"Not happy? Why shouldn't he be happy, if they're there to catch Black?"

"Dumbledore isn't fond of the Azkaban guards," Mr. Weasley said heavily. "Nor am I, if it comes to that…but when you're dealing with a wizard like Black, you sometimes have to join forces with those you'd rather avoid."

"If they save Harry…"

"Then I will never say another word against them," Mr. Weasley said wearily. "It's late, Molly, we'd better go up…"

Harry heard chairs move. As quietly as he could, he hurried down the passage to the bar and out of sight. The parlor door opened, and a few seconds later footsteps told him that Mr. and Mrs. Weasley were climbing the stairs.

The bottle of rat tonic was lying under the table they had sat at earlier. Harry waited until he heard Mr. and Mrs. Weasley's bedroom door close, then headed back upstairs with the bottle.

Fred and George were crouching in the shadows on the landing, heaving with laughter as they listened to Percy dismantily his and Ron's room in search of his badge. There was a threat every now and then from Elizabeth.

"We've got it," Fred whispered to Harry. "We've been improving it."

The badge now read Bighead Boy.

Harry forced a laugh before he spoke. "Better make sure Lizzy doesn't know. She's been in there since I left and she can't stand Percy." The twins nodded in agreement. "We'll take care of it."

Harry went to give Ron his rat tonic and noticed the murderous glare Elizabeth was giving Percy. "Come on Lizzy you got to pack yourself."

She glared at Percy again before nodding at Harry.

"Touch his trunk again and I'll murder you myself!" she snapped before turning on her heel and walking out the door to her own room, blind to the two red heads snickering to themselves.

Harry laid on his own bed and stared at the ceiling.

"What took so long?" Lizzy asked looking over at her brother.

"I overheard Mr. and Mrs. Weasley talking."

"About?" she urged him.

"Sirius Black wants to kill me." She stared at him for a moment or two. "That explains everything." She muttered "Mr. Weasley is afraid that he's going to kill us both." She smirked. "Of course, he would. If he wants to kill you he has to go through me first."

Fudge had been lenient with them because he was so relieved to find them alive. He'd made Harry and Elizabeth promise to stay in Diagon Alley where there were plenty of wizards to keep an eye on them. And he was sending two ministry cars to take them all to the station tomorrow, so that the Weasleys could look after Harry and Elizabeth until they were on the train.

The Potter twins listened to the muffled shouting next door and wondered why they didn't feel more scared. Sirius Black had murdered thirteen people with one curse; Mr. and Mrs. Weasley obviously thought the Potter Twins would be more panic stricken if they knew the truth. But Harry happened to agree wholeheartedly with Mrs. Weasley that the safest place on earth was wherever Albus Dumbledore happened to be. Didn't people always say that Dumbledore was the only person Lord Voldemort had ever been afraid of? Surely Black, as Voldemort's right hand man, would be just as frightened of him?

And then there were these Azkaban guards everyone kept talking about. They seemed to scare most people senseless, and if they were stationed all around the school, Black's chances of getting inside seemed very remote.

No, all in all, the thing that bothered Harry most was the fact that his chances of visiting Hogsmeade now looked like zero. Nobody would want Harry or Elizabeth to leave the safety of the castle until Black was caught; in fact, Harry suspected his every move would be carefully watched until the danger had passed.

He scowled at the dark ceiling. Did they think they couldn't look after themselves? They had escaped Lord Voldemort three times; they weren't completely useless…

Unbidden, the image of the beast in the shadows of Magnolia Crescent crossed his mind. What to do when you know the worst is coming.

"I'm not going to be murdered," Harry said out loud.

"That's the spirit, dear," said his mirror sleepily.

"Wouldn't let it happen anyway." Lizzy muttered lying on her side halfway across the bed.

Hope you all liked this chapter! I hope you all had a great Hanukkah, Christmas, and New Year! I wanted to update earlier but I got busy with work and home life. I'll try to update soon! Till then please leave a review if you liked it or not.

Oh! If you have any ideas on what Fred, Lizzy, and Georges nickname should be leave a comment! I'd love to see what you all think they should be called.