The Hogsmeade trip was coming faster than everyone could believe. Everyone was excited to go run around the small town looking through the shops, getting lots of candies and trinkets for Christmas. It didn't help Harry or Elizabeth that the sky had cleared and the grounds were covered in a beautiful frost. Professor Flitwick had been decorating his classroom with all sorts of shimmering lights. Actually, they were fairies. How he was able to get fairies in the classroom to flutter around would always amaze me.

Ron and Hermione were staying with us again this year for Christmas. Ron said it was because he couldn't stand two weeks alone with Percy and Hermione kept saying that she needed to use the library. Though Harry and I knew that it was a bunch of excuses just to keep them company over the holiday, we couldn't be more grateful. They truly were wonderful friends.

If you'd have asked Harry and I a few years ago before we even knew what magic was that we'd be in one of the finest schools in the wizarding world and we'd have amazing friends who would do anything for us, I'd have to say you were crazy. But here they were. Being amazing.

Harry and I walked Hermione and Ron to the meeting point for everyone who would be going to Hogsmeade. "We won't be gone long, want us to grab anything for you?" Hermione asked holding my hands. Hermione and Ron were wrapped up tight with their scarves, mittens, and cloaks magically enhanced to keep them warm during the cold trek.

"Yeah we could grab you more sweets from Honeydukes!" Ron called huddled close to Harry for extra warmth.

Harry and I both looked at one another and forced a smile for our friends "We'll be fine. We're probably going to go off doing something to amuse ourselves." Harry assured even though like myself we wanted to go off with the group. See the wonders that was Honeydukes, have a butterbeer with our best friends and laugh over something silly.

"We'll see you when you get back." I called pulling Hermione into a hug. Hermione and Ron quickly caught up with the group glancing back every so often to wave and give a sympathetic smile. They too wished we could go.

Harry and I waved from our spot, watching everyone leave to enjoy the town. It was getting harder and harder to watch them leave. Being the only third years stuck behind, having to watch and listen to everyone talk about Hogsmeade. It was just sad.

The castle was quiet as the two of us walked back to Gryffindor Tower. Neither Harry or I wanted to speak, just mull over our thoughts. Unfortunately so lost in thought I didn't expect to feel two sets of hands launch my body backwards into the warm embrace of my favorite twins.

"Hey Brighteyes," Fred called smirking victoriously.

"Psst! Harry!" George called.

I watched my brother turn around confused. I watched him glance around till he caught sight of us. He looked even more confused staring at the three of us. Looking at the twins and somewhat used to seeing Fred and George attack his sister, it was still strange to see them both holding her back by her arms.

"What are you doing? How come you're not going to Hogsmeade?" Harry asked walking toward the humpback one eyed witch statue.

"We've come to give you a bit of festive cheer before we go," Fred called with a mysterious wink. Harry gave me a 'What are they up to?' look and I could only give him the 'no idea whats going on look'. Because I didn't. I haven't hung out with the twins as much as I'd have liked to. But they were busy and I could understand that.

"Come in here…" Fred nodded toward the empty classroom to the left of us. Harry followed behind Fred and George who practically dragged me in that classroom. George let me go and went for the door. Closing it as quietly as he could before facing Harry and myself beaming excitedly.

Fred released my arm and went to wrap his long arm around my shoulders.

"Early Christmas present for you Harry." Fred grinned down at him. "You'll have to share with Brighteyes though." Fred reminded Harry as he pulled out something from his cloak lying it on the desks. It was just a large worn piece of parchment paper. Nothing was written on it.

Having known Fred and George for three years I knew it either had to be something really good or just a prank. "Uh…thanks guys…" I couldn't help mutter staring at the parchment paper.

"Whats that supposed to be?"

"This, Harry, is the secret of our success," George answered patting the parchment fondly.

"It's a wrench, giving it to you," Fred sighed "but we decided last night, your needs greater than ours."

Our needs? What does that mean? I wished I knew what was going on through their heads! "Anyway, we know it by heart," George said excitedly again. "We bequeath it to you. We don't really need it anymore."

"What do I need with a bit of old parchment?" Harry asked even more confused than he had been. Fred and George gasped horrified. Fred reached up placing his hands over my ears trying to block the words from entering my ears…maybe? I don't know the twins were weird.

"A bit of old parchment!" Fred cried through his grimace, feeling as if Harry had slapped him across the face. "Explain, George."

"Well… when we were in our first year, young, carefree, and innocent…" Harry snorted to himself. Fred and George innocent? Year right. Fred's hands moved from my ears finally opting to resting them on my shoulders again.

"Well, more innocent than we are now. We got into a spot of bother with Filch."

"We let off a Dungbomb in the corridor and it upset him for some reason…" I snickered to myself of course. "I wonder why it upset him so much!" I called smiling to myself thinking of a young Fred and George.

"Right? We have no idea, anyway he had hauled us off to his office and started threatening us with the usual, detention, disembowelment, and we couldn't help noticing a drawer in one of his filing cabinets marked confiscated and highly dangerous."

"Don't tell me…" Harry started to grin now.

"Well, what would you have done?" Fred asked smirking to himself. "George caused a diversion by dropping another Dungbomb, I whipped the drawer open, and grabbed this." Fred motioned to the parchment paper.

"It's not as bad as it sounds, you know." George said staring at the parchment happily, most likely thinking of all the mischief he made over the years with it. "We reckon Filch never found out how to work it. He probably suspected what it was, though, or he wouldn't have confiscated it."

"And you know how to work it?"

"Oh yes," Fred's smirk grew. "This little beauty's taught us more than all the teachers in this school."

"How long did it take for you to learn how to work it?" I couldn't help ask, my eyes trained on the worn paper. Not sure how this could be dangerous.

"About a month. We worked day and night with it then boom. It revealed itself!" George explained this time. Both boys were extremely excited waiting for Harry to realize how amazing their gift truly was!

"You're winding me up," Harry called trying not to laugh at himself.

"Oh, are we?" George called.

George took out his wand, touched the parchment lightly and said "I solemnly swear I am up to no good." In seconds the parchment came to life, ink danced across the paper from George's wand. Words began to appear across the top, large curly green words that said.

Messrs. Moony, Wormtail, Padfoot, and Prongs
Purveyors of Aids to Magical Mischief-Makers are proud to present the Marauders Map!

It was a map showing every detail of the Hogwarts castle and grounds. Strangely enough there were little ink dots that danced across the page as if someone was walking each dot labeled by name in tiny writing.

No way was that any Ginny walking around the Dormitory with Colin. All over the map it showed who was where. "Right into Hogsmeade." Tracing his finger over a trail. "There are seven in all. Filch knows about these four." Fred pointed them out "But we're sure we're the only ones who know about these. Don't bother with the one behind the mirror on the fourth floor. We used it until last winter, but it's caved in, completely blocked. And we don't reckon anyone's ever used this one because the Whomping Willows planted right over the entrance. But this one here, this leads right into the cellar of Honeydukes. We've used it loads of times. And as you might've noticed the entrance is right outside this room, through that one eyes old crones hump."

"Moony, Wormtail, Padfoot, and Prongs," Fred and George sighed patting the heading of the map affectionately "We owe them so much."

"Nobel men, working tirelessly to help a new generation of lawbreakers," Fred said solemnly. "Right," George said briskly. "Don't forget to wipe it after you've used it and or anyone can read it," Fred called warningly.

"Just tap it again and say 'Mischief Managed' and it'll go blank." George demonstrated and sure enough the page went blank. The ink faded away quickly and anything that once was of the map was gone.

"So, young Harry and Elizabeth," Fred called in an uncanny impersonation of Percy, "Mind you behave yourself."

"See you guys in Honeydukes," George winked as the two left the room. Both of them smirking and satisfied with themselves.

I grab the map away from Harry looking it over. How it was able to do this was insane, maps don't come to life and show you who was where and what they were doing. "I solemnly swear I am up to no good." Harry tapped the map. We watched as the ink came back to life. All around the outskirts of the school you could see the Dementors floating around gliding across the fields.

I suddenly felt a cold feeling spread through my veins freezing me in my spot. Staring at the paper. This was almost like the diary Riddle had left…this couldn't harm us could it? Harry took the map away looking it over.

"Harry…"

"Yeah?"

"What if…what if this map is like the Diary…what if it…"

"Lizzy we'll be okay…it's not like we're going to use this map to harm anyone and Fred and George said they've been using this for years…we only would use it to get into Hogsmeade…" but I heard it in his voice. He was uncertain too.

This map was dangerous. If we weren't careful Sirius Black might get ahold of it and...I don't want to think about stuff like that.

Harry and I quickly walked outside the classroom. The map stuffed away in his robes. I followed Harry outside toward the old witch statue watching him look it over. I watched him tap the statue as if that would work but it really didn't do anything. He looked back down at the map reading something before looking back up again. He tapped the statue and whispered "Dissendium."

We watched as the statues hump opened wide enough to admit a fairly thin person. Harry glanced back and forth between the halls before darting forward. "Come on Lizzy." Hesitantly I followed behind my brother watching his movements. He tucked the map back inside his robes before hoisting himself in the hole head first.

Quickly following suit I watched as the light disappeared. We were trapped in the dark passageway.

"Watch out theres a…" Harry tried to warn but I felt my feet fall out in front of me. Wind rushed through my hair as the stone like slide zoomed me down. I couldn't help the cry of confusion and fear as I thought I was rushing to my death.

I landed on cold, damp earth the dark passageway was lit when I opened my eyes. Harry was looking down at me, his wand out and showing off the bright light from the tip of his wand.

"You okay?" He helped me stand as I rubbed my butt. I wasn't expecting the fall and it hurt. Harry gave me a moment or two before we set off into the darkness. The passageway was long and narrow, Harry quickly said "mischief managed" and tucked the map away again.

This passage twisted and turned, went up hills and down. Harry and I kept tripping over our feet from the ground of roots or rocks. The ground was uneven you could easily slip and twist your ankle if you weren't paying good enough attention.

It felt like we had been walking for so long that I felt like we were lost but all we had done was gone straight. There weren't any other passage ways. Finally we made it to an incline. My hands and feet were frozen from the cold. I held my hands under my armpits to get some warmth back in them, I was tired from walking. Harry kept reminding me of Honeydukes and butterbeer to keep my spirits up. I couldn't wait.

Finally we saw some worn stone steps that rose out of site above us. We did our best not to make any noise as we climbed the tall mountain of steps it almost got to the point where I would have crawled up. My heart was racing and I desperately needed water. I haven't walked this much in so long.

"Ow!" Harry moaned in pain. Halting right above me. I gasped for breath sitting on the stone step staring up at my brother, I could feel my face was hot. I watched my brother massage his head.

"You okay?" I whispered softly trying not to make any more sounds.

"Yeah…theres a trap door here." Harry slowly lifted the trap door and peered over the edge. They had made it to a cellar. It was full of wooden crates and boxes. We quietly walked up and looked around. The cellar was full of wooden crates and boxes, there was a wooden stair case leading up and I could definitely hear voices now. We were in Hogsmeade!

Eyes widen in surprise when the door opened. "And get another box of Jelly Slugs, dear, they've nearly cleaned us out," A womans voice called.

Harry hid behind a few boxes a little ways away. I shot toward the other side. I hid behind a few crates of barrels and heard the man shuffling through boxes in the far corner. There wasn't another time to do this. As quietly as I could I shot from my spot noticing that Harry had the same idea. We dash up the stairs and out the door. We were behind the counter of Honeydukes. Ducking down Harry and I crept sideways the straightened up on the other side.

Honeydukes was so crowded with Hogwarts students that no one looked twice at us. There were shelves upon shelves of the most mouthwatering treats you could think of. Pink squares of coconut ice, tubes of honey, so much chocolate, bubble gums that filled the room with bluebell colored bubbles that wouldn't pop for days. Toothflossing stringmints, a kind of candy that would help you breathe fire! I was so getting some of those.

I grabbed onto Harry so I wouldn't lose him, he was squeezing us through the crowds of sixth years dragging us somewhere. I was just so immersed by the sights I couldn't believe what was going on. I couldn't believe we were actually in Hogsmeade.

"Ugh, no. Neither Harry or Lizzy would want one of those, they're for vampires, I expect." I heard Hermione call. Looking over I saw Ron and Hermione looking over some Blood flavored lollipops.

"Well Lizzy might, last time I brought back something that tasted like a pine tree and she still tried it." Ron called putting one of the pops in the basket. "What about these?" Ron called looking over a jar of cockroach clusters.

"Definitely not," Harry called.

I couldn't help grin in the background watching Ron almost drop the jar in surprise. "Harry!" Hermione squealed. "What are you doing here? Lizzy! How did you…?"

"Wow!" Ron was looking very impressed. "You've learned to apparate!"

"Course we haven't." Harry called laughing to himself. "We couldn't even if we wanted to." I couldn't help giggling.

"Though wouldn't it be so cool if we could?"

"Oh yeah, it would great if we were able to apparate." Harry agreed. Ron and Hermione stared at us shocked and confused as to how we were even here to begin with. Last they knew Harry and I weren't aloud to leave the castle.

"But you were right Ron, those Blood lollies do sound cool to try." Ron grinned at Hermione in a 'I told you so' way while Hermione only rolled her eyes.

Harry got to telling the story of how Fred and George gave him the map for Christmas, I noticed the jealous look cross his face.

"How come Fred and George never gave it to me!" Ron was outraged. "I'm their brother!" Ron called crossing his arms over his chest annoyed.

"But Harry isn't going to keep it!" Hermione said as if the idea was insane. Harry couldn't possibly keeps something so dangerous. "He's going to hand it to Professor McGonagall, aren't you, Harry?"

"No, I'm not." Harry answered matter of fact like.

"Are you mad?" Ron called to Hermione "Hand in something this good?"

"Lizzy you know he should turn it in right?" Hermione asked hoping that I could help in some way.

I gave her a sympathetic look, cringing as I rubbed the back of my neck as I started to speak. "I know that the map is dangerous and that Harry should give it in but…"

"If I hand it in, I'll have to say where I got it. Filch would know Fred and George had nicked it." Harry explained.

"I really don't want the twins to get in more trouble." I sighed glancing at the crowds of people.

"But what about Sirius Black?" Hermione hissed. "He could be using one of the passages on the map to get into the castle! The teachers have got to know!"

"He can't be getting in through a passage," Harry called quickly before she could start up again. "There are seven secret tunnels on the map, right? Fred and George reckon Filch already knows about four of them and of the other three one of them is caved in, so no one can get through tit. One of them has the Whomping Willow planted over the entrance, so you can't get out of it. And the one I just came through well its really hard to see the entrance to it down in the cellar, so unless he knows it was there." Harry explained.

But even after that long explanation I swear I could see doubt cross his eyes. He must have been at least a little worried about Sirius Black like I was.

Ron cleared his throat directing everyone's attention to him. Ron had pointed to a notice pasted on the inside of the sweet shop door.

BY ORDER OF THE MINISTRY OF MAGIC

Customers are reminded that until further notice, dementors will be patrolling the streets of Hogsmeade every night after sundown. This measure has been put in place for the safety of Hogsmeade residents and will be lifted upon the recapture of Sirius Black. It is therefore advisable that you complete your shopping well before nightfall.

Merry Christmas!

"See?" Ron said quietly. "I'd like to see Black try and break into Honeydukes with dementors swarming all over the village. Anyway, Hermione, the Honeydukes owners would hear a break in, wouldn't they? They live over the shop."

"Yes, but, but…" Hermione looked like she was struggling to find another problem. "Look, you two still shouldn't be coming into Hogsmeade. You don't have a signed form! If anyone finds out you two are here, you'll both be in so much trouble! And it's not nightfall yet, what if Sirius Black turns up today? Now?"

"He'd have a job spotting Harry or Lizzy in this," Ron nodded through the fogged up windows. You could barely see the swirling snow outside. "Come on Hermione, it's Christmas. They both deserve a break."

"Are you going to report us?" Harry asked Hermione grinning.

"Oh, of course not, but honestly, Harry…" Hermione stuttered her worry clear to read.

"Guys come she's worried and she has a right to be." I called staring at the boys. "Sirius Black could be lurking around in the alley ways or blending in with a disguise of sorts. We can't be too careful. So whats so wrong with her being worried?"

"If we promise we'll be careful and keep an eye out will you calm down?" Harry asked Hermione rolling his eyes. I grumble punching his shoulder. It made me a little mad that he was brushing off Hermione's concerns like they were nothing. Sure she worried a lot but she has a reason to. Some crazy killer escaped Azkaban and wants to kill my brother!

"Have you seen the Fizzing Whizbees, Harry?" Ron asked grabbing Harry and leading him over to the barrel.

"Ignore them, they're just idiots. Even if Harry doesn't say it, we do appreciate your concern Hermione." I pulled my best friend in a hug holding her tightly.

"At least you care," she muttered as we pulled away.

"Course I do, and don't worry we won't be coming back here much more till Sirius Black is caught." Hermione didn't like that answer but she nodded anyway. It was the best she could get right now.

Hermione and I walked to the register and paid for her sweets, we waited for Ron and Harry to pay for the sweets and the four of us could head out and explore. We didn't have to wait long, Ron and Harry joined us by the front a bag of sweets on Ron's arm.

Hogsmeade looked so nice and cozy, the cottages and shops were all covered in snow and every door had a wreath and strings of enchanted candles hanging in the trees.

Why didn't I have a cloak though?! It was freezing outside! I blame Harry for this, he just had to go in behind the statue and get to Hogsmeade. My body crunched into a ball, my arms at my sides. The blizzards winds whipped through our hair. It felt like the wind was stabbing, slicing my skin off. God this hurt.

Ron and Hermione shouting through their scarves pointed out spots.

"That's the post office,"

"Zonko's is up there,"

"We could go up to the Shrieking Shack," Hermione suggested.

"No!" I couldn't help crying out my teeth chattering, my feet freezing, I think my hands were turning blue. Harry wasn't in any shape to be out much longer either.

"Tell you what," Ron called I shifted my body to look at him so that I could at least try to hear him. "Who wants butterbeer in the Three Broomsticks?"

Grabbing Ron's hand he quickly led the way toward the Three Broomsticks across the road. As soon as we entered the tiny inn I felt a wave of heat flush across my face, I couldn't have been happier. My body shivered as Ron led us to a table.

The Three Broomsticks was extremely crowded, very noisy, warm, and smoky. Harry and Hermione soon joined us at the table Harry hunched over shivering like myself. Even through the cold we were looking over everything, this place looked amazing. I never thought a place like this before.

Across the room a very pretty woman was serving a bunch of warlock's at the bar, she had a curvy sort of body and was sort of plump in other areas, but really pretty. "That's Madam Rosmerta," Ron told us watching our gazes. "I'll get the drinks," He called going slightly red as he stood.

I wasn't paying anymore attention to the people I was with, I was warming my fingers over the fire. The flames felt amazing on my chilled skin.

"Merry Christmas!" Ron called startling me with a tankard of butterbeer. Spinning around Harry and Hermione were already drinking up. I was so excited I had heard nothing but the best about butterbeer. Grasping the tankard I felt the warm liquid instantly heat my insides up. It was the most amazing, sweet, spectacular drink I've ever had!

I felt so dazed by this drink I couldn't help yelping when Ron's hand shoved my head down, my body fell off it's stool. I suppressed a cry of pain when the butterbeer spilt all over me, glancing over I saw Ron was motioning me to hide under the table. Uh oh. Teachers.

I clutch my tankard to my chest, heart pounding in my chest as I saw Professor McGonagall, Hagrid, Flitwick, and Fudge's feet move toward the bar then headed our way. "Mobiliarbus!" Hermione muttered. The Christmas Tree beside us rose a few inches off the ground and shifted sideways. With a soft thump the tree was right in front of our table, hiding us from view. Harry and I stared through the dense lower branches. Four chairs moved back from the table that was right beside ours. We could hear the grunts and sighs of the teachers and ministers as they sat down.

Turquoise high heels appeared next. "A small gillywater…"

"Mine," That was Professor McGonagall's voice.

"Four pinks of mulled mead…"

"Ta, Rosmerta,," Hagrid.

"A cherry syrup and soda with ice and umbrella…" Madam Rosmerta called off.

"Mmm!" Professor Flitwick had smacked his lips in anticipation.

"So you'll be the red currant rum, Minister."

"Thank you, Rosmerta, m'dear." Fudge called. "Lovely to see you again, I must say. Have one yourself, won't you? Come and join us?"

"Well, thank you very much, Minister." Rosmerta walked away and returned moments later. Harry gripped my hand nervously. It must mean something bad. He looked at me urgently, then the door, then back at me.

We had to leave but how could we what with the teachers being there. Oh I wish we had the invisibility cloak. It would be so much easier if we had. Hermione's leg stated to bounce with her own nerves.

"So, what brings you to this neck of the woods, Minister?" Madam Rosmerta's voice called. Fudge's feet twisted as I'm guessing he was looking around to see if anyone was eve's dropping, he spoke quietly, if we hadn't been next to their table I'm sure we'd never had heard.

"What else, m'dear, but Sirius Black? I daresay you heard what happed up at the school at Halloween?"

"I did hear a rumor," Madam Rosmerta admitted.

"Did you tell the whole pub, Hagrid?" Professor McGonagall asked exasperatedly.

"Do you think Blacks still in the area, Minister?" Rosmerta asked changing the situation back to Fudge.

"I'm sure of it," Fudge replied shortly.

"You know what the dementors have searched the whole village twice?" Madam Rosmerta's voice was on edge. "Scared all my customers away, it's very bad for business, Minister."

"Rosmerta, dear, I don't like them any more than you do," Fudge sounded so uncomfortable talking about those things. "Necessary precaution…unfortunate, but there YOU are…I've just met some of them. They're furious with Dumbledore, he won't let them inside the castle grounds."

Thank the lord for that, I think if they ever did get in Hogwarts everyone would be scared to do anything or black out.

"I should think not," Professor McGonagall called sharply. Completely disgusted with the idea of Dementors on school grounds. "How are we supposed to teach with those horrors floating around?"

"Hear, hear!" Professor Flitwick squeaked. His feet were dangling a bit away from the ground.

"All the same, they are here to protect you all from something much worse…We all know what Black's capable of." Fudge murmured nervously.

"Do you know, I still have trouble believing it," Madam Rosmerta sighed thinking over something deeply. "Of all the people to go over to the Dark Side, Sirius Black was the last I'd have thought. I mean, I remember him when he was a boy at Hogwarts. If you'd told me then what he was going to become, I'd have said you'd had too much mead."

"You don't know the half of it, Rosmerta," Fudge called gruffly. "The worst he did isn't widely known." I can't believe we're finally finding more information about Black.

"The worst? Worse than murdering all those poor people, you mean?" Madam Rosmerta called curiosity lased with every word that spilled form her lips.

"I certainly do," was Fudge's reply. "I can believe that."

"What could possibly be worse? You say you remember him at Hogwarts Rosmerta," Professor McGonagall asked in a murmer. "Do you remember who his best friend was?"

"Naturally," Madam Rosmerta gave a small laugh. "Never saw one without the other, did you? The number of times I had them in here, oh they used to make me laugh. Quite the double act, Sirius Black and James Potter."

Potter? My eyes widen I forced my body to shimmy closer to hear better, she couldn't possibly mean that my father was best friends with Sirius Black…could she? That's not possible. That can't be possible!

"Precisely," Professor McGonagall nodded her head. I'm only guessing by her tone that she had a deep sad look on her face. "Black and Potter. Ringleaders of their little gang. Both very bright, of course, exceptionally bright, in fact, but I don't think we've ever had such a pair of troublemakers…"

"I dunno," Hagrid chuckled aloud. "Fred and George Weasley could give 'em a run for their money." This can't be real. Sirius Black was our father's friend.

"You'd have thought Black and Potter were brothers!" Professor Flitwick called out. "Inseparable!"

"Of course they were," Fudge had sighed. "Potter trusted Black beyond all his other friends. Nothing changed when they left school. Black was best man when James married Lily. They named him godfather to Harry. Harry has no idea of course. You can imagine the idea would torment him." I glance at Harry only to see his eyes were wide with shock. His mouth dropped. Reaching over I grasped onto his hand. His grip was tight but his eyes never left the floor.

"Because Black turned out to be in league with You-Know-Who?" Madam Rosmerta whispered.

"Worse, even than that, m'dear," Fudge had dropped his voice to a low rumble. "Not many people are aware that the Potters knew You-Kow-Who was after them. Dumbledore, who was of course working tirelessly against You-Know-Who had a number of useful spies. One of them tipped him off, and he alerted James and Lily at once. He advised them to go into hiding. Well of course, You-Know-Who wasn't an easy person to hide from. Dumbledore told them that their best chance was the Fidelius charm."

"How does that work?" Madam Rosmerta was breathless. Her interest on this conversation grew immensely. Professor Flitwick was the one to answer that question.

"An immensely complex spell," He squeaked. "involving the magical concealment of a secret inside a single, living soul. The information is hidden inside the chosen person, or Secret Keeper, and is henceforth impossible to find. Unless of course, the Secret Keeper chooses to divulge it. As long as the Secret Keeper refused to speak, You-Know-Who could search the village where Lily and James were staying for years and never find them, not even if he had his nose pressed against their sitting room window."

"So Black was the Potters Secret Keeper?"

"Naturally," Professor McGonagall answered. "James told Dumbledore that Black would die rather than tell where they were, that Black was planning to go into hiding himself…and yet, Dumbledore reained worried. I remember him offering to be the Potters Secret Keeper himself."

"He suspected Black?"

"He was sure that someone close to the Potters had been keeping You-Know-Who informed of their movements," Professor McGonagall replied darkly. "Indeed, he has suspected for some time that someone on our side had turned traitor and was passing a lot of information to You-Know-Who."

"But James Potter insisted on using Black?"

"He did," Fudge's voice sounded heavy. "And then, barely a week after the Fidelius Charm had been performed…"

"Black betrayed them?" Madam Rosmerta breathed.

"He did indeed. Black was tired of his double agent role, he was ready to declare his support openly for You-Know-Who, and he seems to have planned this for the moment of the Potters death. But, as we all know, You-Know-Who met his downfall in those Potter Twins. Powers gone, horribly weakened, he fled. And this left Black in a very nasty position indeed. His master had fallen at the very moment when he, Black, had shown his true colors as a traitor. He had no choice but to run for it…"

It was his fault. His fault they were dead. Tears welled in my eyes, my parents had trusted him and he…he killed them.

"Filthy, stinkin' turncoat!" Hagrid yelled so loudly that half the bar went quiet.

"Shh!" Professor McGonagall cried.

"I met him!" Hagrid growled. "I musta been the last ter see him before he killed them people! It was me what rescued Harry and 'Izzy from James and Lily's house after they was killed! Jus' got them outta the ruins, poor things, with a great slash across their foreheads, an' parents dead…an' Sirius Black turns up, on that flyin' motorbike he used ter ride. Never occurred ter me what he was doin' there. I didn' know he'd bin Lily an' James's Secret Keeper. Thought he'd jus' heard the news o' You-Know-Who's attack an' come ter see what he could do. White an' shakin', he was. An' yeh know what I did? I COMFORTED THE MURDERIN' TRAITOR!" Hagrid roared. We heard the cracking in his voice.

"Hagrid please!" Professor McGonagall called worried for onlookers. "Keep your voice down!"

"How was I ter know he wasn' upset abou' Lil an' James? It was You-Know-Who he cared abou'! An' then he says 'Give them ter me, Hagrid, I'm Harry's godfather, I'll look after them.' Ha! But I had me orders from Dumbledore, an' I told Black no, Dumbledore said they was ter go ter their aunt an' uncle's. Black argued, but in the end he gave in. Told me ter take his motorbike ter get Harry and 'izzy there. 'I won't need it anymore' he says. I shoulda known there was somethin' fishy goin' on then. He loved that motorbike, what was he givin' it ter me for? Why wouldn' he need it anymore? Fact was too easy ter trace. Dumbledore knew it was a matter o' hours before the Ministry was after him." Hagrid grumbled hating the idea of Sirius Black living a free man.

"But what if I'd given Harry and 'izzy to him, eh? I bet he'd 've pitched them off his bike halfway out ter sea. His bes' friends' kids! But when a wizard goes over ter dark side, there's nothin' and no one that matters to em anymore…"

What would have happened to us had Hagrid not been there. Would we be dead? Tortured, raised worse than living with the Dursleys.

"What about Elizabeth's Godparents? Couldn't they have stayed with them?" Madam Rosmerta asked her foot bouncing under her table.

Professor McGonagall was the one to speak up this time. "Remus said that it would be too dangerous for them to be in the wizarding world. The two would grow up safe with the Dursleys." Madam Rosmerta let out a 'huh' sound not confused but not fully understanding what that meant.

"For fear that Sirius Black would strike him next? I'll never know how Remus must have been feeling. He and Black were best friends."

"Not to mention Peter Pettigrew, he would always follow those three around on all of their shenanigans." Flitwick reminded everyone.

"Pettigrew…that fat little boy?"

"Hero worshipped Black and Potter," Professor McGonagall remarked. "Never quite in their league, talent wise. I was often rather harp with him. You can imagine how I, how I regret that now…" She sounded as if she was holding her emotions back.

"There, now Minerva," Fudge called most likely patting her hand in his trying to make the woman feel somewhat better. "Pettigrew died a hero's death. Eyewitnesses, muggles of course, we wiped their memories later, told us how Pettigrew cornered Black. They say he was sobbing, 'Lily and James, Sirius! How could you?' and then he went for his wand. Well of course, Black was quicker. Blew Pettigrew to smithereens…"

Professor McGonagall blew her nose and spoke thickly. "Stupid boy, foolish boy, he was always hopeless at dueling…should have left it to the Ministry."

"I tell yeh, if I'd got ter Black before little Pettigrew did, I wouldn't've messed around with wands. I'd 've ripped him limb from limb." Hagrid all but growled out. I've never heard Hagrid this angry before it was honestly very scary. To think that Hagrid's happy cheerful self was gone hurt.

"You don't know what you're talking about Hagrid. Nobody but trained Hit Wizards from the Magical Law Enforcement Squad would have stood a chance against Black once he was cornered. I was Junior Minister in the Department of Magical Catastrophes at the time, and I was one of the first on the scene after Black murdered all of those people. I…I will never forget it. I still dream about it sometimes. A crater in the middle of the street, so deep it had cracked the sewer below. Bodies everywhere. Muggles screaming. And Black standing there laughing, with what was left of Pettigrew in front of him…A heap of bloodstained robes and a few…a few fragments…" Fudges voice stopped abruptly. Five noses were being blown.

"Well there you have it, Rosmerta," Fudge said tiredly. The stress of Sirius Black being on the loose and overseeing so many witches and wizards must be affecting him. "Black was taken away by twenty members of the Magical Law Enforcement Squad and Pettigrew received the Order of Merlin, First Class, which I think was some comfort to his poor mother. Black's been in Azkaban ever since."

"Is it true he's mad, Minister?"

"I wish I could say that he was," Fudge spoke slowly. "I certainly believe his master's defeat unhinged him for a while. The murder of Pettigrew and all those Muggles was the action of a concerned and desperate man, cruel…pointless. Yet I met Black on my last inspection of Azkaban. You know, most of the prisoners in there sit muttering to themselves in the dark; there's no sense in them…but I was shocked at how normal Black seemed. He spoke quite rationally to me. It was unnerving. You'd have thought he was merely bored- asked if I'd finished my newspaper, cool as you please, said he missed doing the crossword. Yes, I was astounded by how little effect the dementors seemed to be having on him and he was one of the most heavily guarded in the place, you know. Dementors outside his door day and night."

"But what do you think he's broken out to do?" Madam Rosmerta asked nervously. "Good gracious, Minister, he isn't trying to rejoin You-Know-Who, is he?"

"I daresay that is his, er, eventual plan," Fudge said evasively. "But we hope to catch Black long before that. I must say, You-Know-Who alone and friendless is one thing…but give him back his most devoted servant, and I shudder to think how quickly he'll rise again…"

The sound of glass hitting wood meant someone sent down their cup. "You know, Cornelius, if you're dining with he headmaster, he'd better head back up to the castle," Professor McGonagall spoke looking at the clock on the wall a few feet away.

One by one everyone left the table. I could only stare ahead of me surprised. I was not expecting this to happen today, this is why Sirius Black is after us? Because he's trying to fulfill the Voldemort's wishes?!

"Harry?"

"Lizzy?"

Ron and Hermione's faced appeared under the table, they stared at us not sure what to say just as shocked as we were.

"He was their friend." I couldn't help whispering.

Holy crap it's taken me so long since my last update! Sorry C.S Skywalker that I'm not super imaginative when it comes this early in the series. I'll be better. but I don't know if you even read the story, all you did was read the first chapter. Anyway life's been pretty crazy lately. The only reason this chapter is here is because I'm sitting next to my mom while she sleeps in her hospital bed. I also got into writing Naruto stories and had some fun with that but I wanted Harry Potter again so here we are! I don't own it, never have, never will.

I'm also hoping to have Lizzy meet Newt possibly not sure yet.

I saw Crimes of Grindlewald and OH MY GOD! I LOVED IT AGH!

That's all! Thanks for reading! I love you all!