Chapter 02
Both men are totally insecure

Dumbledore's POV

To know that this fall is only one of the weakest things – danger concerned – that my little grandson will go through, I hate Voldemort with every fiber of my body and person for endangering my family like this and fear more than ever what other terrible emotional things my family will have to go through this book.
I then take a deep breath and ask: "Could you please inform us of the next chapter, Mr. Jeremy?" The elder boy nods and says: "It's called the Marauder's Map." This makes Minerva and me share a shocked glance as Severus growls and the twins shout: "WE'LL READ!" Shocking those sitting around them senseless.

Fred's POV

I share a glance with my brother and know he's thinking the same. Harry deserves that map, but we need to be the ones to explain it to him. But then Lupin summons the book and says: "Sorry boys, but I knew the Marauders quite personally so I'll read." We feel amazed that this man knew the Marauders and nod in acceptance.
The man smiles, but I suddenly tilt my head and notice that telltale devious sign of amusement and mischievousness that George and I are so well-known for. Wondering if the man could have been a friend or rival of the Marauders, I share a questioning glance with George, who noticed the same and settle back down.

Remus' POV

The idea of our old Map still in this school is something I didn't think possible when I took this job, but I should have expected it after the twins became so determined to prank me and so well-known of all the secret getaways that I was using to – sometimes easily – avoid their pranks, something I've had practice with since my youth.
Trying not to think back on that as James and Lily's death just brings tears to my eyes and the thought of Black – no matter how confusing after last chapter – still angers me beyond words, I focus on the book and page through it, trying not to get captivated by the amazing detail written in the first chapter before I start to read.

The Marauder's Map
Madam Pomfrey … Two Thousand.

"It was one of the first things given to me by someone else. I – I don't even want to think of how it would have looked had we not read this book." Harry explains to some of those looking at him weirdly and their weird looks turn into concerned looks as Malfoy sneeringly asks: "What about birthday gifts? Don't those count?"
And before I know it, does Harry say: "They do, if your first gift ever was when you turned eleven, something you will never understand, prince High and Mighty." But then he seems to realize what he said and hides his face in Albus' beard, which makes me realize that he fears the reaction of everyone around him to this.
I look at my fellow teachers in shock, while on the inside my shock isn't all that great as I had always known that the Dursleys are the worst when it comes to human beings, let alone Muggles, especially after James once said that even he would hate Muggles if they were the only ones. Shaking my head at this, I focus and read on.

He knew … of fruit

"That doesn't sound like the best ways to cheer Harry up." Jack says and Eddy goes on: "Especially not after losing something as precious as a first magical gift." This makes me smile at the two and then the twins ask: "How long have you done it?" And the other set – Jack and Eddy – answers: "We were born with it."
The Gryffindor Twins – as I decide to call them – look at the younger twins in shock and Jack asks: "You didn't?" The Gryffindor twins shake their heads and Ronald answers: "They didn't get it perfected until I was five years old." Making the younger twins look at their Gryffindor counterparts before I read on.

The Gryffindor … troubling him.

"I knew telling Harry not to tell others about us would cause secrecy problems in the long run, I just knew it!" The young girl named Rosaline shouts and Harry smiles at her guiltily, the smile making the Elemental twins laugh as they say: "Rosaline Eddingburgh, the only girl that can actually make Harry Potter feel guilty."
This makes Mss. Granger look at the girl in shock and Rosaline shrugs as she says: "Harry and I have been like siblings since he and Jeffrey saved me. It was bound to have some consequences, don't you agree?" And while Harry and Jeffrey now mock-glare at the girl in question, does Mss. Granger nod with a smirk and I read on.

He hadn't … the beast

This makes me have to hold back a snicker and I think: "Only better Black isn't here right now. If he was in that form, he'd be howling us all deaf with guilt." And while I can still barely believe that Black is innocent, let alone that he used Padfoot – his dog Animagus form – to escape Azkaban, do I quickly read on.

And then … dying parents.

"That still isn't reason to laugh about those effects." Young Mss. Greengrass snaps at Mr. Malfoy and while he tries to glare her into keeping silent, does she say: "And neither." But then I cough and say: "Mr. Potter knows this, Mss. Greengrass. It's the next line." The girl nods and turns away from Malfoy angrily as I read on.

For Harry … mother's voice.

This takes away the last bits of happiness that had been felt over the match read about last chapter out of everyone and Harry once again buries himself in his grandfather's shoulder, Dumbledore having his eyes closed in deep pain as he softly strokes his grandson's hair, pushing his own pain aside to aid to that of the young lad.
My fellow teachers and I are also grieving and I feel the same pain as when I was told that Harry had, as only one, survived the attack. It had been a horrible way to discover as well as I had been waiting in the Leaky Cauldron for Albus to tell me about the progress of the Fidelius Spell and suddenly had felt my back slapped.
I had turned around and had seen that, while I had been wondering about this spell, the pub had filled and that everyone around me was celebrating. Wondering what could have happened, I had felt my stomach disappear and my small glass of Butterbeer rise back up as I had heard the back slapper hiccup and shout:
"HOORAY FOR HARRY POTTER! HOORAY FOR THE BOY-WHO-LIVED! HOORAY FOR THE DEFEATER OF YOU-KNOW-WHO!" Instantly, even though no words of Lily and James' death had been uttered, I had known that they had not – as the man had called it – lived and the fact that they were dead hit me like a brick wall.

I shake my head, still hating that I had been there that night and not at home, where Albus could have told me of their deaths in private and had quickly cancelled my appointment with Albus, running out of the pub and running on and on until I had actually reached the Forbidden Forest, where I had stayed for a full long week.
I then look around and see that several of the students – especially Mr. Malfoy – are looking at me as if urging – or in the case of Mr. Malfoy ordering – me to read on. I take another deep breath and say: "I'm sorry, but they were my friends and I still miss them dearly." Most of the students looking at me nod and I read on.

It was …Malfoy's taunting.

"Not about him falling of his broom and nearly to his death, I may presume, Mr. Malfoy?" Minerva almost spats in anger and I quickly read on, feeling relief at first, until I read into the second paragraph and growl: "Among other things. And Mr. Malfoy, your convenience is almost sickening." The boy glares at me and I read on.

Malfoy was …the dungeon.

"MR. MALFOY!" Minerva and several other teachers shout and then the woman spats: "DON'T EVEN START, SEVERUS, EVEN JAMES WOULD HAVE NEVER MADE FUN OF A NEAR DEATH EXPERIENCE AND YOU KNOW IT!" And the man recoils as he had obviously wanted to defend the blonde.
I shake my head and then suddenly Irma reads: "You will soon find out that your rival was never your rival. The family Harry will get will prove she was never his. Never yours, but never his either." Everyone looks at her and I can tell that only Severus, Dumbledore and I myself understand the strange message.
I send the man a look as he whitens, obviously wondering how Harry knows about his feelings for Lily and while I wonder the same, does this strange message also make me wonder about Harry's heritage and I look at the young child, suddenly wondering if he even himself knows about it. I then shake my head and read on.

Ron finally … from Gryffindor.

This – to my confusion – seems to make Dumbledore look from his grandson, to Mr. Longbottom, to Mss. Granger and he says: "In light of the events that transpired around House Points in the school year of 1991 to 1992 and in light of this new discovery, have I now come to a new decision, regarding the House points."
Everyone looks at him and he says: "From this day forth, Halloween 1993, will all House point deductions and additions of more than 40 points first have to be discussed with me or another teacher who is not a Head of House before they can be instated. In name of Hogwarts, so I swear, so –." But then he suddenly stops.

We all look at him and he looks down at his grandson, who has his hand in a firm grip as Harry says: "Your idea has merit, grandpa, but over 320 points are given a day and over 240 points are taken a day, it would cause the other teachers and yourself too much work." The man smiles and says: "Harry, I can –."
But then Jeremy says: "Harry never interrupts someone or disrupts their plans unless he has one of his own. What's your idea for a solution, Harry?" And while Snape glares at the boy in a challenging manner, do I see Harry shrink down on himself as the students all look at him expectantly and Albus squeezes his hand comfortingly.

Harry takes a deep breath and says: "At the start of every school year, each and every student will have 20 points, all to themselves. If they do right they earn the points. If they break the rules, they lose the points, it won't affect the House, just their own pride and sense of self-worth. It will keep students from depending on one another."
This makes the Gang – as I decided to call them – smile at Harry in pride, while many students now look at each other in shock – and some of Harry's year and higher even in slight guilt – as Harry says: "The only thing you have to add to that are a few ceremonies where small trophies are awarded, like during Christmas and Easter.
Awards you have to discuss with the other teachers to make sure the right prize goes to the right student, like Daphne Greengrass earning a Best Potions of the Semester Award or Susan Bones earning a Best Written Essay award. Small things, that still matter to the student's performance while in class."

Now the shocked and few guilty looks that had been shared between the students have been exchanged for highly interested and even quite a few excited looks and I almost feel myself hoping to stay here another year, if only to see this amazing plan come to life myself and giving my own contribution to its brilliance.
Dumbledore also has a proud smile on his face and asks: "Does everyone agree that after the books this new set of House Point Rules will be set into motion?" The whole school nods and to Harry's shock, he even sees Mr. Malfoy give a small tentative nod. His wide eyes make me smile at the young lad before I read on.

"If Snape's … his eyes

This, to my confusion makes Irma clutch the file she has in her hands even closer and I wonder if James could have been my Destined Soul Mate, but then shrug the idea away as I would have died a year after James did if he had been as that is the fate of a Mated Werewolf, a fate I sometimes actually wish upon myself.
Looking at the little guy, of who I know is at least the son of James, but not Lily if I have to believe what Irma just told us, I know I have to get rid of these thoughts as Harry needs more than just a grandfather – he needs a guardian a little closer to his own age. Agreeing with myself with a silent nod, I determinedly read on.

Nevertheless he … finished it."

This makes everyone in the Gang look at each other and Jack says: "That sounds." And Eddy finishes: "Like Isaac." And all other members – except for Isaac himself – nod in agreement, Harry doing so with a joking smile and Isaac says: "Oh shut up, Harry. You always had your homework finished five minutes after me."
This makes Mss. Granger and Mr. Weasley look at Harry shocked, but I smile as I had already expected as such from the son of the ever talented, yet silently studious James Potter – a bookworm who liked to show himself off so much no one would ever suspect him to be one. This makes me snicker yet again and I read on.

They had … a word."

This makes Albus smile at me as Severus asks: "Taking favorites, are we?" To which McGonagall asks: "Are you really the one to make that accusation, Severus?" Before Albus says: "Remus knows Harry and has perfect reason to care for him, especially after the match we just read about. He has all reason to ask Harry to stay behind."
Snape grumbles and then Edena asks Elena in a fake-whisper: "He does realize that he's all alone in his grudge against everything everyone else loves the most, doesn't he?" Making the man glare at her, but the girl is amazingly enough unfazed and Snape keeps glaring at her, his anger growing as she continues to ignore him.
Then she finally turns to him, but raises her eyebrow as she does and asks: "Is that the best you got?" Before shaking her head and turning her attention back to me, to the shock of not just Severus, but many younger students that have started to shiver the darker Snape's glare became. I look at the girl in admiration and read on.

Harry doubled … a chance."

"Now that is a most interesting way of bending the truth – without truly bending the truth." Albus tells me and I smile as I say: "Hiding who you are for twenty-four years makes a man a master, Albus." The man nods, but sighs and Irma says: "When this is all read and done, you will have no reason left to hide."
She then shows me the note she was reading from and puts it in the back of her file, like she has been doing all the time now. I personally wonder what Harry did that makes me believe I no longer have to hide and suddenly fear that the books will reveal my secret to the student body. Sharing a look with Albus, I see he fears the same.
The man sends me a glance and I feel him softly probing against my natural mental shields, which in turn makes it harder for me to lower them and so I only faintly hear the man say: "If Harry trusts the school enough to write about your secret, then you have no reason for concern." I nod, slightly relieved and read on.

"Did you … Harry's mind.

"I can honestly say that I cannot think of any other reason as to why you would fall of your broom, Harry. I'm sure I was just checking to see if you were truly as brilliant as your father when it came to flying. And showing my concern in my own way, is probably another reason for this question, I can safely presume."
I tell Harry as some students had been looking at me as if wondering what I thought of my favorite student – not that teachers were supposed to have favorites – and the wondering students now smile at me, while Harry shows me a small grateful smile, making my heart soar like it always did when he was young and I read on.

"The Dementors … don't have."

"Something anyone with even a bit of knowledge about Dementors would know, Malfoy!" A girl with pale blonde hair and sharp blue eyes says, spatting at young Mr. Malfoy at the end and the boy spats: "Mind your own business, Greengrass." The girl glares at him, actually causing him to shrink into his sleeping bag a little and she says:
"Not when people like you ruin the reputation of Slytherin House. I did research and back in the seventies Slytherin had a 32.7% chance of winning the House Cup, because Professor Slughorn had favorites in all Houses, never gave more than 35 points to any student and because there were equal talents in all four Houses.
Now we have you trying to ruin a School Hero, we have Snape hating everyone not with a green trim on his robe, which makes the other Houses angry and try to let their anger out on those with a green trim and we have cheaters like you with your arm and Crabbe and Goyle with their fathers in our once Noble House.
I know the Legend of the Chamber of Secrets just as good as anyone else here, but I also know one thing. If Salazar Slytherin had seen us today at the start of Founding Hogwarts, he would have left Hogwarts right away just to prevent our House from ever existing and he would have done it out of pure shame."

Everyone looks at the girl in shock and she hisses at Malfoy in pure rage: "And it's all because people like you and Professor Snape makes the students of Slytherin look Loud, Boisterous and Stupid, instead of Cunning, Ambitious and To the Background, like they were from Nineteen-Thirty to Nineteen-Sixty-Nine."
Everyone looks at the girl in shock and then suddenly clapping is heard. Looking around the room, I am pleasantly surprised as I see Ron Weasley applauding the girl and he says: "Anyone who can talk down on Malfoy and Snape like that is a hero in my book." And his siblings seem to agree as they also start to cheer.
Soon all of Gryffindor, Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff is cheering and then Daphne seems to point to something and says: "And that is your popularity within our own House." And to my shock does it seem as if half of Slytherin House is cheering along with the other three Houses, to the absolute devastation of Malfoy himself.

Then Dumbledore holds up his hands and like being the first to applaud, Ronald is also the first to stop, causing his brothers and sister to stop and causing all of the other students to stop, a few at the time. When all is silent, I suddenly see something that Harry sees as well and that makes the little 13 year old laugh hard.
Amongst the now sitting students between Gryffindor and Ravenclaw, the Gang is calmly sitting and seem to be discussing things they read in the file Irma is holding open only so far they can read it, but not far enough other students can read what's inside it over the shoulders of the Gang members themselves.
Then Jeffrey looks up and says: "Hey guys, I think the public humiliation applause just stopped." And everyone looks shocked at his comment while the other Gang members look around and nod in agreement with him. Daphne also turns red, apparently realizing her mistake and – not wanting her to feel bad – do I read on.

A ray … ashamed of."

During this explanation, which I try to read as if I am tutoring a class about it, do many students shiver and squeak softly, but at the end they all nod at the young man still sitting in Dumbledore's lap. Knowing that the old man won't let go of his newly reunited grandson any time soon, I smile at the two and read on.

"When they … of it.

This makes Harry look at me curiously and I say: "James and I shared a dorm. We were quite like you and Mss. Granger. I'm sorry I didn't tell you this earlier, but I feared after twelve years of my letters coming back without response, you would just like to see me as your teacher instead of someone your father knew quite well."
But then I see how Harry tilts his head in confusion and he asks: "What letters?" Making me shake my head in shock and Isaac says: "Harry never got a single letter, from no one. Sure there were fake-coded letters we send to him as a joke, but his first ever letter from someone outside of our community came from Hogwarts."
This makes me look at Albus and he says: "I only activated the Blood Ward Protection Lily left him and put a small Notice Me Not Ward around Privet Drive to make sure those that might follow Harry if they found him in the village nearby would lose his trail there. I never did anything with any letters anyone send my grandson."

He then looks at Harry and goes on: "Speaking of which, does this mean you never received my monthly letters either? Or my ten to twelve birthday and Christmas presents that I send you each year." But then Harry infuriates us all and shouts: "Ten to twelve? No wonder Aunt Petunia could buy Dudley so many presents."
"That woman gave that whale of a cousin your presents?" Ronald asks in furious shock and Harry says: "She has to have done; Dudley had thirty-seven birthday presents for his eleventh birthday and even two more on his tenth – and that number has only been growing since." Everyone looks at Harry in shock and he asks:
"Was there a gold watch included in one of the gifts you send me?" Dumbledore nods and says: "That was one of my Gifts for you for Christmas when you turned ten." Harry growls and says: "Yeah, it ended up as Dudley's eleventh birthday present. I remember it very well because the band barely fitted around two of his fingers."
He then looks at his own wrist and says: "No wonder, because two of his fingers are the same size as my entire wrist." Then suddenly I see Jack and Eddy smirking at each other and Jack says: "Then I guess it's a good thing." And Eddy goes on: "That we caught it when Dudley threw it out of the car on the way to the zoo."

"HE DID WHAT NOW!" Harry shouts furiously and he asks: "What the devil did he do that for? He got that watch on that same day! Why the hell did he throw it out already?" And Jack holds up the watch as he says: "Maybe because what was written on the back freaked him out?" And even from this distance, do I read:

For my Grandson,
Your loving Papa Al.

Harry looks at the words in shock and Dumbledore says: "Yes, that is indeed the watch I gave you for Christmas three years ago. Thank you for keeping it, Jack." Jack nods and runs over to Harry, happily giving it to him. Harry takes it from the boy with a thankful nod and then puts the watch on before hugging his grandfather tightly.
I smile at the boy and Dumbledore seems to actually be fighting back tears as he hugs Harry back. Then he whispers to Minerva and my strengthened hearing makes me hear: "After this chapter, you and I visit the Dursleys. I will have them pay me back every gift I ever send Harry, whether through the gifts or through money."
Minerva nods and Harry seems to have heard as well as his grip seems to strengthen just slightly and ever so shortly, but enough for Dumbledore and Minerva to notice and to both smile at the young lad in happiness. Happy that my little Pack-Cub is getting the love and attention he deserves, I take a deep breath and read on.

There was … a feast."

"If that's their idea of a feast, then why in bloody God's name are they around a school filled with teenagers, that are just the age where their hormones either start kicking in or screw around inside them the entire year?" Isaac asks in pure agony and then Dumbledore asks: "Now why didn't I use that argument to Cornelius' idea?"
This makes Isaac and Jeremy look at each other and they – to everyone's shock – hit each other on the head with their own heads, hard enough for my sensitive hearing to pick up a soft thonk sound. Everyone looks shocked and Rosaline says: "Don't worry, they do that at least once a month." To this I shake my head and Isaac says:
"Harry wasn't kidding when he said the Wizarding World has a lot of easily-fixed idiotic issues." This makes Harry look up and he asks: "I said that?" Isaac nods and Edena says: "You told us that if those issues had been handled between your first and fourth, your fifth wouldn't have been the disaster it had been."

"What kind of disaster?" The Weasley twins ask eagerly and Elena, showing that her Icy Elemental Powers have fused with her character, tells them with a voice icier than Severus': "One that resulted in Harry blaming himself for the death of a man who was murdered long, long before his time – even when we left."
The twins look shocked, their enthusiasm gone and Ron asks: "Wh-wh-who died?" But Elena shakes her head and says: "If I tell you now, you won't believe me when I say that Harry still blames himself –." She then looks at Jeremy and while he has thin lips, does he nod at her and she says: "Just like he does for all the other deaths."
Ice forms in my heart at these words and Hermione shivers as she asks: "Other deaths?" Elena sighs and Irma says: "We don't know for sure as Harry didn't tell us much about the war, but he did say that the last battle was the worst of them all. A month after it, he had the Minister agree to call it the Apocalypse of the War."

Everyone looks at this shocked and young Percy says: "Then – that – that must mean that – that that one battle – that it took more lives than the entire – entire war together – didn't it?" He asks in a very soft and tiny voice at the end and Jeremy says: "We thought the same, but Harry never confirmed it." Percy nods and Ron asks:
"Do you know anyone who died?" And Rosaline answers: "Other than Aunt Rosie, no. All we know is that the final Battle was on the second of June. We didn't dare leave our hide out until the end of that month and by that time all the deaths had been buried and Harry had the minister agree to the name." Ron nods and I read on.

"Azkaban must … fight them –"

"Mr. Potter, I'm sorry to say this, but I do think you're a little too young to learn such a complex spell." McGonagall says, but then I hear Irma rummaging through her files again and smile as McGonagall says: "It can't be." But the girl finds what she's looking for and while walking over does she mutter:
"I really need a second file for the stuff I already read out and showed." Before handing the item – which I now recognize as a picture – to the woman. Peaking over her shoulder, I see a young man of seventeen – maybe eighteen – standing on the picture, his wand loosely in hand, but it's what stands next to him that shocks me.
Glowing white and almost too brightly for the picture to properly show it, his antlers high and strong and his head softly lying on Harry's shoulder is a stag I have seen so many times I can barely believe I'm seeing it on a picture that is taken four to five years from now and I whisper: "Prongs." Making McGonagall look at me.
Thinking quickly, I see Dumbledore smile and nod at me as he lies a calming hand on McGonagall's arm, making her look at him as he shakes his head, indicating she shouldn't ask further. The woman looks from me to the man and back and then nods at me, accepting that I want my secret to remain secret. I smile at her and read on.

Lupin looked … the entrances.

"They better, I won't even have them there by the end of this reading if I have anything to say about it." Dumbledore growls softly and I smile at the man as Harry suddenly asks: "Does that mean I won't be needing these lessons?" And I suddenly see that he now holds the picture, looking at it something very akin to love in his eyes.
Knowing that the child has recognized his father in the stag, I smile and say: "Just to see that stag in real-life, I'll try and see if you can learn the spell. But I first want to see proof that my lessons will work, so we'll start after the reading, okay Harry?" Harry nods at me enthusiastically and I smile at him before reading on.

Two weeks … very grateful.

This makes Harry smile at a blushing Ron and a shy-smiling Hermione and I suddenly notice something. Draco Malfoy, while sneering at the sappy feature, seems to be holding back on an emotion I can almost smell well enough that he could have just as well been sitting two seats away from me.
The emotion is quite well hidden in his eyes thanks to his sneer, but I wonder why the blonde who has so much love from his mother, so much pride from his father and so much devotion from his friends – still looks at Harry with such envy and jealousy. Deciding not to let him know that I can smell his envy, I quickly read on.

To everyone's … different makes.

"Good idea, Harry. Good thing you won't be needing it after this reading, but still a very, very good idea. It always pays off to know what broom surpasses others and what broom you can best use for what position and –." Oliver Wood tries to say, but then the twins have their hands on his mouth and one of them says:
"Oliver." And the other goes on: "Not now." And the burly seventh year pouts as he sits down, away from the two, and crosses his arms. I shake my head as James had been quite as crazy over Quidditch as the young man and bless my soul – and those of Ron and Hermione – that Harry isn't the same nut as his father as I read on.

He had … his own.

"You could have borrowed one of ours, you know?" The twins chorus and Irma reads: "I did, they were too thick to make the quick turns and speedy dives that I need for my position." The twins cringe and Malfoy laughs as he says: "Like I said, worthy of a museum." To which Harry spats: "But your Beaters had even worse."
"WE DID NOT!" The Slytherin Team spats and Harry says: "You did, I saw the brooms your Beaters were playing with back in my first match, they weren't even Cleansweep Fives, just regular Cleansweeps. So I'm not surprised Lucius Malfoy bought you those Nimbus 2001's, you were in more need of them than we were."
The Slytherin team glares at him and he says: "Hey, Seekers have to notice even the slightest of things. Why do you think I sit outside every three days, looking to be doing nothing?" And Severus spats: "Because you're lazy and arrogant like your father." Only to have McGonagall bristle at him as Harry retorts:

"No, because I study the wind patterns and keep an eye on them, wherever they go. The Snitch flies with and against the wind almost every minute or so, so to know how the wind blows improves the Seeker's ability to see the Snitch faster, allowing for a faster game." He ends with a proud smile and his arms crossed.
Everyone looks at the kid in shock and Harry asks: "What? It's in Quidditch Through the Ages. One of the first paragraphs." I then hear some bags being shuffled through and see quite a few students grabbing their own copies, purging through the pages until their eyes widen and a Seventh year Hufflepuff says:
"He's right." Everyone looks at each other shocked and suddenly the Elemental Twins start laughing. Everyone looks at them and they say: "Sorry, but it's just." And the other says: "You all look like." And the first goes on: "Harry taking something serious." And they chorus in ending: "Is something new to you."
To this Hermione says: "Well, it's not and definitely not Quidditch, it's just that Harry has always been on the average skill with his knowledge and intelligence." But then the twins chorus: "Are we talking about the same Harry James Potter here?" Shocking the girl and making Dumbledore and me share a proud smile.

"Mate, are you holding back?" Ron asks and Harry holds his head down as he says: "Back In Surrey, I was always grounded and forced onto nasty chores when I beat Dudley, even if it was only a single point on a stupid spelling test. It's a habit I kind of can't let go of. I only really showed my intelligence around the gang."
The two friends of my little cub look at each other shocked and Hermione says: "But Harry, the Dursleys aren't here and you said for yourself that they would never care for your testwork, so why still hold back after three years of studying away from them?" And Harry shocks me deeply as he whispers hurtfully:

"Because they aren't the only ones expecting me to be worse than others." Hermione looks shocked and Harry takes a deep breath, finally standing up from his grandfather's lap, while Dumbledore looks at him with deep concern in his eyes and he walks away from the group of teachers at the Great hall doors.
He walks to where Dumbledore always holds his speeches and I see even Malfoy glancing at him with some interest. Harry then looks around and says: "While living at the Dursleys, I was a nobody. I was just the freaky nephew of the paranoid Dursleys. The freak of primary school and the disgrace of the Privet Drive community.
Then I come to the Magical World where everyone knows my name, everyone knows my story and everyone who lived there has had ten years to create the craziest and most incredible stories – while forgetting about the person behind the scar." This last part is said with such sadness I feel like howling in pain as I listen on:

"I was never myself. Not at Privet Drive where I was to be the House-Elf and Punching bag of my family and my cousin's gang, or at Hogwarts, where I was to be the hero and savior of everyone and the one who always beat Slytherin for the House Cup. And trust me, you brought that message home quite clearly two years ago."
Now moods are divided as some Slytherins look slightly disgusted with the talking Harry does, the First and Second Years look confused and intrigued and the rest of the Houses seem to look down as if ashamed of what they did. Wondering what they could have done over the two years I wasn't there for my cub, I listen on.

"I was never Harry to you. You applauded more for me when I got in Gryffindor than for anyone else, even Ron who was doing his family proud by becoming a Gryffindor too. I wasn't Harry to anyone of you in the hallways either, as you constantly gawked at my scar and even took passageways twice just to look at it.
I had only one place where I could be myself and still have a major pressure of all of you on my back – the Quidditch Pitch. There I was able to share that burden with the rest of my gang and it didn't feel like I was the Boy-Who-Lived, like I was some kind of made up hero – there I felt as free as when I'm with my gang."

Tears are now shining in Harry's eyes and many girls are sniffling in guilt as Harry goes on and says: "You always judged me on my scar, always. When I won a Quidditch match, when I almost broke the Record for Fastest Caught Snitch, when I lost or won points, even when the battle for the House Cup was between four Houses.
It was always the scar you looked at, always the sign of my victory over Voldemort, but what I just heard in that book makes me know something, something I have known since the end of my first and something I hope will ridden this school of its idiotic belief in a thirteen year old they all want as their undefeatable hero."

Harry slams on the Owl stand, causing the candles in it to shake and he shouts: "My mother died for me. You heard her yourself. She begged Voldemort not to kill me and that while he was letting her – a Muggleborn – step aside and live. If she had stepped aside, I wouldn't be here and neither would any of you.
Voldemort was beaten, not by some amazing, mysterious power that I have, but by nothing more and nothing less than my mother's determination and love for me. So if you want a hero, take a heroin, because my mother is the only one who deserves the title Conqueror of Voldemort – an action I will never be able to thank her for."

By this time the urge to howl for my lost pack mate is unbearable and without realizing at first, have I gone to sit closer and closer to my little cub. Then Harry takes a deep breath and says: "You all ask so many things of me, but you never asked the one question I have the simplest and yet most meaningful answer to."
I see the Elemental twins share a look with each other and they – along with the rest of the gang, asks: "What do you want, Harry?" Everyone looks at them shocked and Dumbledore smiles at them in pride as Harry sends them a thankful smile and while I can see some disbelieving looks being shot at the Gang, does Harry say:

"I want what I've wanted for the last two years and for the next five. For the Train to London to be something I can look forward to, instead of dreading it time and time again. To know that, when I get off that train and walk through that barrier, I will have people – blood related to me – waiting for me on the other side, only for me.
A mother that worries over my adventures, over my health, over whether or not I ate too much of the desert and not enough of the regular meals and to gush over my grades and plans for the future and to talk with when it comes to my wishes for the holiday and birthday parties and perhaps even, when I need it, over my homework.
A father that says that he's proud of my achievements, that hangs my rapports in a frame near his desk or pastes it into a book he keeps in his office or in his nightstand. Someone to play Quidditch with, who takes me to amusement parks and keeps me away when my mum has her period again or grounds me because I broke the rules."

He now looks down and says: "All I want – is a family I can call my own. To – to know that – that I have people outside this castle that care for me and want me. To have what so many of you take for granted. To – when I'm at school – write letters to and get letters and cakes and presents back – especially for Christmas."
He then walks away, his fist in front of his mouth and his eyes closed tight, obviously fighting back the tears as everyone looks at him, mouths open in shock and eyes brimming with tears. Moony howls loudly in my chest and I have laid the book away as I curl onto myself in shame for failing my cub all these years.

Ron's POV

"I know Harry wants a family more than anything, but that he dreams of it this much and longs for it this badly. I need to have dad talk to the Department of Child Welfare first chance I get." I think, having my head on one arm and punching the floor under me with the other as I hear Harry's footsteps fading in the background.
I've known since First year Christmas that Harry longed for his parents, but I never thought a family meant that much to him. Then again, with the family he does have, I should have realized it a long time ago. Hating myself – and my mum slightly – for not taking action after we saved Harry back in second, I shake my head in anger.

Hermione's POV

"My parents may have always pushed me to my limits and my intelligence may have scared most people off – but why did Harry never confide this in me? Have I not changed enough? And does Ron know? What can we do to help Harry solve this problem?" I think sadly, my head down and tears leaking onto my sleeping bag.
I've always known that Harry and I are quite the same when it comes to people liking us and trying to fit in when you have something that makes you different, but even I never saw further than that and thus – I think with a cringe and pain breaking my heart apart as I realize the truth – I too never saw further than the scar.

Fred's POV

To know that our little brother longs for a family of his own that badly breaks my heart as it sounds as if he's not missing his parents, but missing his twin – and that is something I don't wish on either him or George. I look at my brother and sigh, thinking back to the day we were born as that day is quite clear to me.
Quite like all Twins born from a Prewett, George and I were blessed with a first view upon our day of death and our greatest achievements as soon as we escaped our mother's warmth. My death day we never spoke of, even if George sometimes tells me the great story on my request, before I distract him from me telling my own.
I know George will be onto me by now and so never asked him of retelling the story again, but I just can't break the news to my twin that I will die long before he passes the Weasley Wizarding Wheezes onto his own son, who – and this still brings tears to my eyes, even if George himself doesn't realize it – he named after me.

I then look at Harry, who walks slowly, with his fist in front of his mouth and his eyes closed tightly, a few stray tears escaping his eyelids to fall down his cheeks and I think: "I won't let either of them lose their most dearest person, not now that I have a chance to stop it." I then look from Harry to the Elemental gang and think:
"Why else would they be here and warn us about the many deaths Harry from the future feels guilty about?" But then my thoughts make me halt myself and I think: "No way, he wouldn't feel guilty over my death, would he? He wasn't even there." I then look at where he went again and think: "I'll help you little brother, I promise."

Percy's POV

"To get high achievements that make your father proud. Harry and I are more alike than I thought." I think with shock, going over everything Harry said and feeling for the four year younger boy immensely. I then look at my own siblings and think: "We have so much love to give, why are we holding back on Harry then?"
And just by looking at Ron, Fred and George, do I know that the same thoughts are going through the minds of my brothers as they go through my mind. For the first time since they started Hogwarts do I again feel connected with my family and I shake my head and think: "No, this is wrong. Harry's pain shouldn't bring us together."
I then look as Harry walks into the Antechamber, leaving the door open without probably caring about it and I think: "But maybe us taking Harry's pain away can unite us as well." I then look at the Elemental gang and suddenly something Irma told Snape rings through my mind: "The family Harry will get."

I shake my head and turn it from Harry to the Gang to the Headmaster and whisper: "No." Causing my siblings to turn to me as I say: "No, it can't have been him. They told Snape Harry'll be getting a new family after he had revealed to be Harry's grandfather." I then look at Irma and the file and whisper: "Then who?"
And the twins shock me as they ask: "Who did they mean?" I look from them to Irma and she apparently feels us looking as she turns her face to us. I quickly glance from Harry to the file to her and she shakes her head with a wry smile, proving to me that she doesn't know either and I sigh in defeat, but nod in understanding.

Remus' POV

What Harry just said makes me want to run after my cub and never let him go again, but my senses made me hear what Mr. Weasley said and the idea that Harry could still have family – outside of his grandfather – makes a teary smile appear on my face, one I send to the Weasleys to thank them for realizing this.
Ronald seems to be the only one who notices after they silently converse with young Irma and he nods in understanding before young Rosaline walks into the Antechamber and only two minutes later does she return, a softly crying Harry in her arms and her right hand softly causing for a Cascadian flower to bloom in his hair.
The fragrance of this flower seems to calm Harry down and his crying lessens to a soft, but still heart-broken, sniffling and Albus, Minerva, the Weasley siblings, the gang and I myself quickly go sit with him, Harry taking the middle slab and all of us sitting around him with Rosaline, Albus and I myself sitting closest.

Feeling happier than ever that Harry wants me around as Rosaline has her hands around his shoulders while Albus and me hold his hands on his lap and the boy shows this need for my presence as he squeezes my hand hard enough that I'm glad to be a werewolf because any other person would have needed medical help by now.
Albus then softly, with the hand not held by his grandson, caresses Harry's tear-stained cheek and Harry looks up, shocking me as he whispers: "Sorry." But Albus seems unfazed and shakes his head as he mutters: "Later, after this." Harry nods, smiling softly enough I barely see the smile at all and I quickly read on.

On the … one-eyed witch.

This in turn makes the two boys smile at each other happily and then Percy says: "Normally I'd be against whatever you two have planned, but seeing how you two are the best to cheer Harry up, I'm turning blind eyes on this one." The twins smile at their older brother widely and I hear Harry whisper to Isaac:

"They'll get there. They need some communication and consideration, but they'll get there." And while Ron sends his best friend a mocking-glare, do I have to agree with the young lad, which makes me feel proud and sad at the same time as someone so young shouldn't be so wise and with a sigh, do I read on.

"What are … said Harry.

By now I really have trouble holding back laughter and I say: "Harry, if your father had heard that one, he'd had faked fainting right on the spot." Harry smiles with a raised eyebrow and then the Weasley twins ask: "How does Harry's dad know about our greatest possession?" And I quickly wink at Harry as I say:
"It's all part of the Seventies Students' History. You'll probably find it in the left-over notes of our yearbooks, which I believe James left behind in confidence that his family would find it." Harry shakes his head and asks: "He – he wants me to find it?" I nod at him with a large smile and Albus says:

"You can do so after this chapter. I believe, seeing the message Mss. Irma gave us at the end of last, that it will be a good way to keep your mind off of any more worries." Harry nods eagerly and asks: "You coming, Ron, guys?" But while Ron wants to answer with happiness, does Jeremy say: "No Harry, this one is yours."
Ron looks at him and he says: "Your father left that yearbook all for you. You should be the only one there to read it when you find it. We don't want our eagerness – which will surely come up when we find it – to take that chance away from you." And Harry smiles as all other members of the Gang nod in agreement with the lad.
Then Ron sighs and says: "He's right." Making Harry look at his friend in shock and Ron says: "I've been hanging around you, borrowing your stuff after you're done with it – like the chocolates we shared and our little trip to the Mirror – for far too long. This one's all yours, mate." Harry smiles and nods as I read on.

"A bit … "– detention –""– disembowlment –"

This makes Dumbledore shake his head and even my eyes widen a bit as, no matter how angry Filch was at the Marauders, he never threatened us with disembowelment and Albus asks: "And that threat is something you hear often, Misters Weasley?" The twins nod and say: "Quite often. At least once for every time he catches us."
This makes Albus thin his lips and Harry's asks: "This probably isn't a good time to refer to my first meeting with Filch, is it?" Albus and I look at him and he says: "Ron and I had been trying to follow Percy's way back from the common room the first day of classes and we got lost on the – well, you know where."
Everyone of Harry's year and up nods, while I share a look with young Ginny and the Elemental Gang and Harry says: "Well, we were trying to get into the corridor, because we believed it one of the secret passageways Percy had shown us, when Filch showed up, Mrs. Norris by his side and started shouting at the two of us."

Harry then looks worried and asks: "What was it he said again? I – I can't fully remember, but it certainly scared me back then." This makes Albus sigh and he says: "I better have the portraits keep an eye on Argus for when he catches another student. If he keeps up with such threats, I will have to let him go, I'm afraid."
"You sure, Professor? I mean, we know he's a Squib and – well, with how Purebloods treat Muggleborns – where will he go after being let go?" Harry asks, showing me a shocking change from worry over his past to worry over another person and I smile as Lily was just as caring, even if she wasn't that fast in mood changes.
Then Albus seems to shock him as he says: "I will have Arabella fetch him and teach him how to live in both worlds while in the Muggle world. With his obsession for Mrs. Norris, I believe those two will go along quite well." Harry looks at his grandfather in shock and I decide to take the boy's mind off of the caretaker as I read on.

"– and we … grabbed – this."

"And you two can assure me that there is no dangerous magic attached to that parchment whatsoever?" McGonagall asks the twins and they chorus: "On our lives, we would swear to the safety and healthy use of that parchment, Professor McGonagall." The woman nods, while I smile at their serious behavior and read on.

"It's not … no good."

"And now everyone knows how to use it." Fred moans and I see Albus looking at me. I have to keep the eagerness out of my smile as the man catches my eye and he smiles back, nodding ever so slightly before he says: "If you promise to give this piece of parchment to Mr. Potter, then I will make sure he has first rights to use it."
The twins look at him and one of them says: "Well, seeing everything we already read." And the other goes on: "And seeing as how we've already been toying with the idea to pass the Map onto younger years." They then nod in sync and say: "It's a deal." Dumbledore smiles and I wink at Harry, who smiles at the two widely.
I then look at Ron, knowing he will probably feel bad over the fact that his friend got to have something his brothers wanted to pass on and whisper to the boy: "Harry's legacy." Making the redhead's eyes widen, before I lie a finger on my lips, telling him not to tell. Ronald nods and smiles at me and I read on.

And at … Marauder's Map

By now even Albus and Minerva have wide eyes and Minerva whispers: "I knew they had talent, but that? They must have made it while still in school or it wouldn't have been left here. How long have they hidden talent like that?" And I snicker as I think: "More talents than you know." And while trying not to laugh, do I read on.

It was … his finger.

"And here, what was supposed to be a warm and welcome gift, ended in a disastrous weekend." Irma reads and I ask: "So whatever we hear that we aren't supposed to believe is told to us in Hogsmeade?" Irma nods and then reads: "Not directly, but yes." Harry looks confused and I wonder what it could mean myself as I read on.

"There are … completely blocked.

This makes me wince in knowledge as that one had been close to the Hospital Wing and always allowed me to leave the grounds and enter the Wing without anyone seeing me after a full moon. Glad that the tunnel only caved now, while I hide myself in my office instead of the Shrieking Shack, I read on, to keep others from noticing.

And we … the entrance.

Now I have to control every fiber of my being as that one was used hundreds and hundreds of times between 1971 and 1978 and I think: "Only once a month by one person for the first four, but once a month by four afterwards. Yes, that tunnel is better used than they will ever know." And again to distract others, do I read on quickly.

But this … Fred solemnly.

"They really have no idea." I think as I slightly shake my head, trying to keep everyone entertained with the book so they don't notice how my facial features might betray my well-found knowledge of the Map and secret Passageways and then I almost drop the book in my need not to laugh as Albus stands up and says:
"Any hidden passageway written about in this book and any other secret location on Hogwarts grounds revealed during these stories will not be closed off or restricted, unless I myself and Professor Burbage feel that they could endanger the health and safety of the student body." The twins smile widely at this and I read on.

"Right." said … its brain.

This shocks me deeply and I ask: "When did you hear such a threatening message?" And Harry says: "Ginny came across a cursed diary that she wrote in and it caused for some school-related and personal issues as she did. Ron and I were just there when Mr. Weasley found out about the diary and gave her that warning."
I nod and Harry says: "Although his timing was quite a bit off, seeing she had just been liberated from the damn thing and was still in shock over the problems it had caused." This makes Ron cringe as well and Albus says: "Arthur was probably assured you would remember it better if he had told you then instead of later."

Harry shrugs and says: "Maybe, but I personally don't think Ginny remembers anything from when we came to see you, him, Mrs. Weasley and Professor McGonagall. I think she only remembered the events before then, seeing what happened." Albus nods and my curiosity has never been higher but then I notice something.
Minerva tries valiantly to catch my eye and when she does, she motions for young Ginny, who seems as white as I sometimes feel after a full moon. Remembering that she looked just like that when the Dementor had passed the train, I can only blanch in worry over what she could have gone through and read on, if only for her sake.

This map … horrible happening.

Hearing my reading voice and what Harry thought of the Map seems to pull Ginny out of her fearful trance and she looks up as Albus says: "Harry, it's that I know who the Marauders are, but next time you come across a book or piece of parchment with someone's name on it, I would like it if you would meet me before using it."
Harry nods and the twins try to open their mouths as he says: "I don't mean for the Map, but I do have proof – given to me last year – that sometimes the most dangerous forms of magic can be hidden in the most commonly used items, such as books, quills and pieces of parchment. Just like we use garbage as Port Key Items."

The twins nod and Harry asks: "A Port Key?" But I suddenly notice his eyes shining quite brightly and then Isaac says: "Harry, stop hiding the fact that you know about such common garden stuff. I know it's a hard habit and that you like to give people the feeling that they're important, but you're really undermining your own education."
The boy's eyes dull a bit and he lowers his head as Ron asks: "Hey, how many times do you remember Harry's eyes shining when he asks something?" And Hermione whispers back: "How many times do you remember Harry even asking about something?" The two share a worried glance and I feel with them as I read on.

Harry traced … said "Dissendium."

"That really is impressive magic. To have that Map react to such situations and give out such instructions. How on earth did –." But then I stop the woman as she was planning to reveal my secret as Moony and she quickly goes on, the slip up barely noticed as she asks: "They produce enough magic for that and their pranks?"
I sigh in relief and Harry asks: "Maybe they're wolves in sheep-clothing, in a good way, that is." The woman looks at him and he says: "I just think that true Slytherins are those not standing out, but staying to the background with a cunning ambition to prove themselves worthy of their House and their talents.
Maybe the Marauders were the same. They showed off with so many immature pranks and were goofing around their homework so much, no one ever expected them to be the amazing creators of something like this. It would certainly help them keep the Map a secret." He ends with a thoughtful frown on his face.

In the mean time is everyone looking at him with wide eyes and I shake my head, feeling stupid over the fact that a thirteen year old figured out our seven-year long strategy as the Marauders had agreed to only during exam time perform to the same precision and dedication as we did whenever we planned a new and brilliant prank.
Shaking my head at this wonderful memory, I suddenly feel strange as I think: "We sure were a bunch, the four of us." And as I think so, I can't help but feel as if – somehow – I'm lying to myself. Looking at the file in Isaac's hands once again, I wonder what could be in there that I seem to have forgotten and read on.

"Dissendium!" Harry … sustain him.

Now the twins wince and one of them says: "We should have warned you." And the other goes on: "That passageway has two pathways." Then the other goes on: "One to distract and fend of intruders." And the second ends: "And the other to quickly help students escape in case of war or danger." They then chorus: "Sorry about that."
But Harry shakes his head and says: "Seeing that I'm about to discover something I'm not even supposed to believe, I'm glad it took me a little longer than necessary. Even if Book-me doesn't even know it yet." The twins smile at him while the Elemental twins shake their heads and Albus holds his hand again as I read on.

After what … was there.

This makes my face fight between a fond smile and an angry grimace as I still have trouble believing in Black's innocence and then suddenly I realize what the discovery will be. I look at Harry, feeling horrible and terrified that he has to find out like this and squeeze his hand, making him look at me before I read on.

Albus' POV

I can already tell that the reason behind the trap door blending in with the rest of the floor is Sirius Black's work, if Remus' face showing conflicting emotions is anything to go by, but I can't help but wonder why he suddenly whitens and then squeezes Harry's hand, making my grandson look at him before he reads on.
Looking at the book, I can't help but realize that it was the discovery that made pity shine in Remus' eyes ever so shortly and while wondering what about this discovery could have made my younger friend worry for my grandson, do I look at Remus, wondering what Sirius Black could have to do – and then it hits me.
Looking at my grandson, my heart breaks as he was never supposed to find out all that Sirius did – or supposedly did – to land himself in prison and certainly not in this way. Wondering who could be stupid enough to discuss such terrible events during a Hogsmeade weekend, in Hogsmeade, I shake my head and listen.

*Back to the reader*
Harry crept … a box.

This makes some of the more fashionable students hold back on their dinner coming back up and Ron says: "Mate, there is such a thing called too much information." But then Harry says: "I didn't write these books, remember? And even if I did, they were made of the memories of my future self. I didn't live this yet."
The redhead shrugs with his head tilted slightly to the left and he smiles awkwardly as he says: "Good point, but future you still saw that." This makes Harry in person shudder and Lavender and Parvati chorus: "Exactly!" Making Hermione roll her eyes at the two, which in turn causes them to glare at her and I quickly read on.

Harry reached … was now.

This makes the twins laugh hard and then one of them asks: "Hey Harry, can we send them a postcard with a picture of Honeydukes perhaps?" But Harry shakes his head and says: "No sorry guys, but I don't want my uncle to become an animal killer, thank you." To this the twins nod in an understanding I don't get and I ask:
"What does that have to do with sending them a letter?" And Harry answers: "Let's just say that when I first got Hedwig, summer before my first, I had to use Hagrid as a threat to allow her to fly out safely and last summer I had to promise not to write my friends before I could let her out of her cage again during the night."

I look shocked that anyone could – or would – do that to an animal and Harry shrugs as he says: "So yeah, my uncle doesn't really like it when owls fly into his so-called normal household, so sending him one with mail attached to his leg – I prefer not to risk it." I nod and then Minerva makes me look at her in shock as she asks:
"I take it is safe to say that my several attempts to get you your first letter also had a hand in your uncle's new hatred for birds with mail attached to them, Mr. Potter?" Harry shrugs and I ask: "What do you mean, several attempts? Why didn't you just visit him like you do all Muggleborn and Muggle-raised students?"
To this Harry asks: "Yeah, why didn't you? Hermione told me about when you told her, so why didn't you do me as well?" And Minerva answers: "I was under the impression that your relatives had raised you with some of your father's Pureblood etiquettes and rules and thus that your letter should be addressed the Pureblood way."

Harry snorts and says: "No offence, Professor, but after three days of unanswered letters, wouldn't it have been better if you had come and visited me yourself? Instead of sending those hundreds of letters to that hotel and then sending Hagrid through that storm and all. Not that I didn't enjoy his company, but still, why didn't you just come?"
By now Harry looks at his Head of House, desperate for an answer and Albus says: "Harry, the Hundreds of letters send to that hotel are not Minerva's fault. When a letter gets destroyed before the receiver can read it, a magical copy gets formed and copied in order to make sure the rightful receiver can get at least one sample."

Harry tilts his head and McGonagall says: "When your hundred letters at Privet Drive all came back unanswered, did I indeed come visit, but I didn't find you or your relatives there and feared the worst, thus contacted Dumbledore and he send Hagrid, because the man is the only one with enough strength to face the storm that was foretold."
"Okay, that makes sense. And it explains where all those letters went. I kind of wondered about that when I got back home, but Uncle Vernon was so happy to have a letter-free house and I had already been to Diagon Alley, so –." Harry shrugs carelessly here, making me smile as he says: "I didn't really care much, in all honesty."
The woman smiles and asks: "So you understand now? Why we waited so long before sending someone and why it was Professor Hagrid and not myself or Fillius?" Harry nods and Minerva smiles at him as she sits across from him on her own slab and I smile at the bond forming between the Head and her student as I read on.

There were … exploding bonbons.

Then suddenly the sleeping bags divide themselves in several neat rows, the students in them shouting and screaming in shock and when there is a little bit of space between all sleeping bags, does a tray with snacks and fruit appear on the right side of every students, the gang getting theirs on a large platter in the middle of their group.
Everyone looks shocked and Rosaline quickly dips a few strawberries and kiwi pieces in chocolate and syrup sauce and hands them, laid together in a small bowl, to Harry, who accepts them with a smile and happily bites on one of the kiwi parts first, cringing a little at the taste, before biting in a chocolate covered strawberry.
I smile at the great way that the young girl helps my cub eat healthy food and then Jeffrey and Irma make sure all fruit parts are covered in different sauces and hand the bowls to everyone in the group, even Albus, Minerva and myself. All three of us smile at the two of them gratefully and the rest of the gang thanks them as I read on.

Harry squeezed … the jar.

This makes the twins hold back a snicker and then the Elemental twins shock them as they chorus: "Harry, stop doing that!" They look at the Elemental twins in shock and one of the twins asks: "What?" And the other ends: "He does it all the time." And they chorus: "Edena is the only one who is safe from him."
This makes Edena smirk in glory and Harry grumbles something that sounds like: "Better barber than aunt Petunia ever was." And he rubs a spot in the back of his head where I suddenly notice how his hair seems shorter than the rest. Wondering how that could be, I hear Isaac snickering and Harry spats: "Shut it, Isa."

Isaac rolls his eyes and he says: "Harry, you know darn well it's your own fault. We tried warning you, but you were on that stupid sugar high of yours." He then turns to me and says: "Seriously, never give that kid more than 2 bars of chocolate. You'll regret it." But then he sees how Albus and Minerva try not to snicker and asks:
"What did I say?" And I smile as I say: "Isaac, I am – kind of – the last person that you should talk to when it comes to restricting someone on how much chocolate he can get. I have this little illness of mine that easily makes me depressed, so I need a lot of chocolate. Do you understand?" Isaac nods and I smile as I read on.

"Harry!" squealed … said Harry.

"You can't apparate while inside Hogwarts." The gang says as one and then they all laugh, while Harry pouts and pulls his hands away from me and Albus to cross them over his arms, making me snicker as he did this once before when he was still an infant and now looks quite the same as he did then, all those years ago.
Then Jeffrey says: "Oh, the many, many times Harry drilled that into our minds during his short month with us before Hogwarts. That and what the Feasts were like, how the history of the four Houses was described and – well, quite a few other things, really." And everyone else nods while Harry turns red and I snicker as I read on.

He dropped … their brother!"

I quickly send a wink Ron's way and he smiles back at me before the twins ask: "What do you know?" And with his arms proudly crossed and his head tilted just slightly does he say: "That is between me and Professor Lupin – for now at least." And he winks back, reminding me of the Cat, Rat, Dog chapter. I nod and read on.

"But Harry … to know!"

"I would have certainly appreciated it if you had at least told me of the Map, Mr. Potter, but seeing who the first owners are, am I without proper reason to take it from you." Minerva tells the young boy, who now has a small bit of chocolate sauce dripping down from the right corner of his mouth and he looks at her confused.
I smile at this, but then notice something worrying – or at least slightly worrying. Oliver Wood seems to have noticed the dripping sauce as well and now he is looking at it with an intention that quite disturbs me and so I send a quick glance at the person sitting next to him. Alicia Spinnet catches my glance and I motion for Oliver.
She looks herself and groans, but with her hand in front of her mouth and her eyes raised skywards, before she hits him on the head and quickly casts a Silencing Spell before starting to – what looks like – shout at him, the words unable for even my werewolf senses to pick up on. Still what I do pick up on is the finger aimed at me.
Alicia does this halfway down her rant and when Oliver sees me looking at them does he turn beet red – almost Weasley red – and does he shoot a last quick glance at Harry, obviously to see if he noticed too, before looking down. Hoping to find out what is going on with that young man soon, I turn back to the book and read on.

"He can't … Merry Christmas!

"Wait, Merry Christmas? Does it really say Merry Christmas after telling the customers that Dementors will be able to attack them if they don't get back to Hogwarts quick enough? Who in Merlin's saggy left –." But then Edena stops as Jeremy puts his hand on her mouth and she glares at him as he says:
"There are first years here, Edena. We don't want eleven year olds to use the same language your parents taught you since age 5 now, do we?" The girl shakes her head and when Jeremy lets her go, does she say: "Still, that writer is a right-out idiot." And to this Jeremy says: "Thank you for holding back, Edena dear."
The girl glares at him and sticks out her tongue, making Harry, the twins and Jeffrey laugh and then suddenly Harry yelps and Rosaline shouts: "EDENA! STOP THAT!" But Edena asks: "Stop what?" While looking at her nails as if she hasn't a care in the world. Harry glares at her and Rosaline says: "You know darn well what."
Edena smiles at the two and then holds up two fingers, before pulling back one and says: "One more, Harry. One more and then I'll forgive you for sneaking up on me and jumping on me, only to tickle me under my arm pits on our first meeting." To which Harry snickers, while Albus, Minerva and I look at him in shock.

Then Isaac says: "Like I said, don't get that kid on a sugar high or you'll regret it." And everyone else in the group nods in agreement as Harry grumbles and says: "I'm not that bad." But this makes everyone in the group look at him in shock and Jack says: "You tried to tickle the most volatile of our entire gang – on your first meeting."
Harry now turns red and I hear Minerva whispers: "Even Remus wouldn't have done that on a sugar high." And Albus laughs as he asks: "When was the last time you saw Remus on a sugar high then." And I grumble at this myself as my friends constantly make jokes about me having a chocolate addiction before reading on.

"See?" said … honestly, Harry –."

Then Rosaline says: "Hermione, I don't want to insult you – especially because I don't know you well enough to know when I do – but it almost sounds to me as if you care more for Harry following the rules than for him having fun and getting some good health." The girl looks shocked and Rosaline cringes as she asks:
"I did insult you, didn't I?" But Hermione shakes her head and says: "I just still have a problem with my need to always follow the rules, know every single one of them and to always believe that those rules are set up for my own safety and the safety of others." To this Rosaline nods with a smile and Jeremy says:
"Rules are indeed important – my gang and I made our own when Harry and Jeffrey joined us, but we constantly made sure of one thing – that each and every one of our rules could be crossed if it meant that breaking them would mean more fun for us all. And with the people we grew up with – we really needed it."

The girl looks at him with a tilted head and Harry says: "Let's just say that we were known as the Gang inside and outside of our group, only outside we were called the Misfit Gang, because each of us had something – whether it was our hair, our clothes or our overall behavior – that made us stand out from the rest of the community."
And the whole gang says: "And the community didn't like that." And they all shake their heads, making me send a worried glance at Albus and the man nods back at me, promising me silently that he will look into this worrisome matter. Relieved that I might get answers at the end of all this, do I quickly continue reading.

"Seen the … my tongue.

At this one of the twins cringes, while I had already noticed them doing so at the start of this tale and then Harry says: "Ron, it wasn't Fred that gave you that Acid Pop; it was George." Ron looks at him shocked and Harry says: "I know they always make that I'm Fred, no I'm George joke, but when they end it, it really is them.
You can use that to see their differences. Like seeing the differences in a strategy where you use your left Knight from a strategy where you use your right Knight, you understand?" Ron nods and asks: "But why?" And Harry interrupts him as he says: "First train ride." Making Ron's eyes widen, to which Harry nods firmly.

Ron's POV

The idea that my ever-smiling, ever-joking brothers could feel just as insignificant when my brothers and I can't keep them apart as I felt when I first rode the train to Hogwarts is mind-boggling and still, I can't help but understand how they feel as I always – ever so slightly – believed that mum couldn't separate me from Ginny either.
Understanding, for the first time ever, how my older brothers must have felt, I send them an apologizing look, but they just smile at me. But then, as I look in their eyes, do I see a gratefulness I never saw there before – and certainly not aimed at me – and I smile back, knowing that my brothers and I bonded right here.

Remus' POV

Happy that Harry just helped another part of the Weasley family to grow closer, I smile at the boy near me and again take his hand in mine, this time giving it a little squeeze, causing him to look at me and he sends me a small smile back when he sees the proud smile I am carrying. Proud of my little cub, we both look at the Weasley family.
Ron and the twins are sitting quite a few seats apart, even if they have gone to sit closer to each other – the twins moving their sleeping bags – after Harry's speech and still – even at that distance – is it easily visible that a new bond – a new understanding – has grown between the three and I smile at this before reading on softly.

I remember … tiny inn.

"You actually held on until we started getting cold?" Ron asks his best friend in shock and Harry shrugs as he says: "What can I say? I have a strong immunity system, I guess." Ron still stares at him shocked and Rosaline says: "And how that is possible with how little you eat, is something I'll never understand, really."
Harry smiles at her, not at all offended apparently and Hermione seems to tilt her head, making me know Harry would have reacted quite differently had she been the one to say this. Then Isaac says: "If there is one person that can speak to Harry directly without his temper rising to the surface, then it's definitely Rosaline."
This makes me smile at the two as they still sit quite close together and then I suddenly see Oliver glaring at the closeness between them and finally I realize why Oliver was so obsessed with the bit of chocolate sauce dripping down Harry's mouth earlier. Shocked that the 17 year old has a crush on my cub, I read on, shaking my head.

It was … and choked.

"And here it goes wrong." Hermione and Ron groan and I ask: "Who on earth could Harry have seen that makes him choke and make you two know that things go wrong?" And Hermione answers: "We don't know who entered, but Harry doesn't easily panic and him choking means that he was indeed scared by this person."
I nod at this, while I can already guess who it is as the people that know of Sirius betraying Lily and James – or supposedly doing so – can be counted on one, maybe two hands and I send a very short glance at Albus and Minerva, the former being the only one who nods when I do and I nod back at him before reading on.

Professors McGonagall … for Magic.

"Can it get any worse?" Hermione now groans and I read on silently before saying: "Yes, he could have been seen." This makes everyone sigh in relief and Hermione whimpers: "Well, at least there's that." And everyone nods, before I suddenly pick up someone snorting softly and looking around, I see that it's Elena snorting.
She sees me looking and says: "Oh please, if someone is careful not to get caught in anything others don't want him doing, it's Harry. He's been friends with us for three years before he left for Hogwarts and if there is one thing Dudley didn't want it was for people to even like Harry. So I think it highly unlikely Harry will ever be caught."
By this time Harry is looking quite red, the other Gang members are nodding and Hermione asks: "How much have you been holding back from us, Harry? You get caught at least once a year every year since we started Hogwarts. How did you not do that back at Privet Drive?" And Harry laughs as he says:
"I know Privet Drive better than I know Hogwarts. I even know it better than Dudley, because he sits behind the TV too much to really pay attention to his surroundings, something I did every time I left for either the Gang or school." The girl seems to accept this answer, even if she does seem shocked at his answer and I read on.

In an … sat down.

"I just cannot believe that I am one of the people who tells Potter of – of this – this terrible event." Minerva says softly and Harry asks: "What do you mean, Professor? What is it you haven't told me?" The woman sighs and I say: "Harry, just let the book tell you, alright?" Harry nods, looking at his Head of House as I read on.

Next he … at Halloween?"

"Wait, this is about Black?" Harry asks and Minerva, Albus and I myself nod as he turns his head to Jeremy and asks: "Okay, I'm sorry if I overrule your leadership here, but what is it about that man that you know and aren't telling me? And why did you tell me not to believe whatever will be revealed during that conversation?"
Jeremy sighs and says: "We just told you what we were told, Harry. Like we said, we were going through the files when we found this, we brought it to you and when you read it, you actually cried for a whole long time and said that everything about this year could have been different, had you known this all along."
This shocks Harry while I feel confused and wonder what Harry could have discovered about Black that actually made him cry about whatever was in that file and Harry asks: "In – in what way was I crying? In – in pain – or in anger?" And Rosaline takes a deep, shuddering breath as she says: "In pain, Harry, heartfelt pain."

This concerns me and Harry says: "Then that can only mean one thing." We all look at him and he says: "Black is innocent of whatever I am told during this event in the book and between that event and the time where you bring me the file, Black dies, hurting me because he and I must have grown close in some way."
Realizing that – as Harry's godfather – Sirius could have had a very good chance of growing close to Harry, it hits me like a Bombarda curse combined with the Cruciatus and a Mind-Numbing potion that another one of my friends is bound to die between now and a few years time. Trying not to think of it, I read on with a thick voice.

"I did … McGonagall exasperatedly.

"Minerva, why would you suspect Hagrid? Between his teaching, his worry for Buckbeak and his preparing for that case against the Committee for the Disposal of Dangerous Magical Creatures, when would he have had the time to tell even anyone?" Flitwick asks the woman and I can't help but agree as she says:
"I can't be sure, Filius, this is long after today and I don't know what Hagrid's schedule will be after this day. If I had known that, I could have come up with an answer. And Hagrid, I do apologize for accusing you so openly." The Half-giant smiles and waves off the apology while Flitwick nods in acceptance and I read on.

"Do you … castle grounds."

"And I never will either." Albus says as Harry asks: "Were there ever anymore encounters with Dementors after this year, guys?" And the Gang cringes as Jeremy says: "One, before your fifth. It inspired you to talk us into going down under and all. To know that Dementors could come there scared us into doing so."
He then turns Jack and says: "After all, Jack is the only one who can even remotely keep a Dementor away with his Sun Elemental ability and he was one of the last of us who was ready to head down under, so it was much too dangerous for us to stay outdoors while he was preparing with Eddy, especially seeing their condition."

This shocks me and Hermione asks: "Their condition?" While I suddenly see Harry sending me a very quick look – so quick I'm not even sure I really caught it myself and Jeremy says: "Their need to be outside during Full moon. They can't be indoors while that happens so Rosaline, Isaac and I had to build two different hide-outs."
The girl looks shocked and Rosaline says: "Mine was made of nothing but rocks and dirt and plant vines that were able to open small windows, no bigger than our hand and Isaac and Jeremy's was made of iron bars and lots of rocks build in-between the bars of iron to give extra sturdiness to the entire structure.
We basically stayed in the iron-stone room for most of the month, but moved to the stone-vine room during the two days before and two days after the full moon. It wasn't easy as we had to make the door of vines and small pebbles to make sure it wouldn't make any sound that could betray us when we moved it."

Hermione nods, while I look shocked as even Lily and James hadn't done this when they tried to protect Harry and I can't help but feel ever so proud of these people as they obviously went through so much, even as creating an extra room in their hide-out, just for when two of their own needed to be outside during full moon.
I look at Harry and the guilt that I had felt this entire time of having left him alone is appeased for the slightest of bits as Harry was able to gain even better friends than I did during my time at Hogwarts. Feeling nothing but happiness for my young Pack-Cub, I smile at him lovingly, Harry looking back at me and I read on.

"I should … much mead."

"And that isn't reason, even for the slightest bit, to believe that he might have been innocent, not even in the slightest bit?" The Elemental Twins ask confused and Minerva says: "If you hear what you are about to hear, you will understand why we were devastated enough to believe Black a dangerous, deranged criminal."
And with that, do I see her trying very hard not to look at Harry. I personally worry for the cub as well and feel that Albus will do well in putting Harry back on his lap, but I know – like Albus probably knows as well – that Harry will only feel embarrassed if he doesn't initiate the contact himself and so I quickly read on.

"You don't … friend was?"

"What does Professor Lupin have to do with anything?" A boy who is in Percy and Oliver's year asks and I smile as I say: "This is not about me, Mr. Williams, it's about my other friends." Young Jacob seems no better in understanding the situation as he has his head tilted, but then I see Harry's eyes widening and he asks:
"My – my parents? Black did something to my parents? Is that why no one wants to tell me? Because he was friends with my parents and did something to them?" And I hear Pomona sigh: "Too bright for his own good." But while part of me agrees with her, does another part of me feel proud of his intelligence and I say:
"Yes Harry, Black, I myself, James and – one other person – were very close. We were also widely known and popular during our school years, but the friendship between your father and Black was legendary far before they graduated. Which made it all the harder to believe he did what he did when he –." But here I stop and sigh.

Harry's POV

I still don't understand what Sirius Black supposedly did that I later discovered he apparently didn't do and while I really want to know, does it almost seem as if the adults around me are afraid of my reaction. Looking at the three of them, I also see pain in Lupin's eyes as he apparently tries not to recall those events.
Feeling for the man that has already done so much for me – even if he was just being a good teacher and someone who kept me company during the Hogsmeade weekend – do I sigh and say: "Well, we won't find out what Black supposedly did and then later discover he didn't, if we keep interrupting this chapter, will we?"

Everyone looks at me shocked and I ask: "What? That must be what the Cat, Rat, Dog chapter is about. About Black proving to us that he's innocent. I mentioned that before, didn't I?" To which the Weasley twins ask: "When?" And I groan as I say: "When I mentioned he would die between now and their time."
And I motion for the Gang, making the twins look at each other and they say: "Ooooh, right." Making me and Percy hit ourselves on the head before grandpa asks: "Are you sure Black could not have done what he did, Harry?" And I groan again as I say: "No, I can't be sure, because I don't know what it is that he did."

Lupin's POV

The idea that Harry supports Black's possible innocence makes me fear for how strongly he will believe that when he hears what Black actually did. Hating myself for having chosen this chapter, hating Book-Harry for having snuck away and hating the teachers for believing it right to tell Madame Rosmerta about, I sigh in anger.
Then Harry says: "No, I can't be sure, because I don't know what it is that he did." And I cringe again as I think: "No, but he will find out very soon." And I look down at the book, hating that this chapter has only another three pages, I say: "You can find out now, Harry, although I wish you didn't have to." And I read on.

"Naturally." Said … their money."

This makes the Weasley twins smile, but then Harry laughs and says: "Then you haven't met these two, Hagrid." And to my shock does Harry not aim for the Elemental Twins, but for Rosaline and Isaac, who both try to look as innocent as possible by looking straight at me and the book with wide interested eyes.
But, being the Marauder that I am, I see their eyes sending very short, very quick glares at the lad and Jeremy says: "As if you didn't accompany them on just about all of their pranks, you little twerp." And Harry scowls at who I can only describe as the leader and he says: "Only to keep them on their revenge is sweet pranks."
And the leader seems to agree as the Weasley twins ask: "Revenge is sweet pranks?" And while Percy lets out the softest of groans that I only pick up with my heightened senses, does Harry say: "Pranks that always targeted Dudley and his Gang in such a way it made them feel how we felt whenever they bullied us and got away with it."

This seems to shock Severus and I can understand that as James often did the same with him, making him feel humiliated, but then at such random times it was obviously not to get back at him for something he had done to James – or us – before that – which is exactly where Harry differs from James in a really big way.
I smile at the man in victory as I have been preaching to him that Harry is more unlike James in class and behavior than like his father and now have ultimate proof of this. The Potions Master sees my smile and glares at me, knowing exactly what I'm thinking, but I just raise my eyebrows at him and then read on.

"You'd have … married Lily.

"Wait, he was?" Harry asks shocked and Hermione says: "Harry, you look at that picture all the time. How could you not notice that?" And Rosaline answers: "Maybe because he only has eyes for that what he longs for the most?" And the brown-haired girl cringes as the voice of the girl is sharp as thorny vines.
I then gulp and say: "And here is why we didn't want you finding out what Black did, Harry." Harry looks at me and asks: "Because he was their Best Man?" But I shake my head and say: "Because Black betrayed the one person James loved more than anyone – he betrayed you." Harry looks confused and I read on.

Then they … torment him."

I read this all very fast, hoping that only my heightened senses actually pick up on what I'm reading, but then Harry says: "More like shock the living crap out of me, but not torment. If I knew what he had done, maybe, but now that I'm almost sure he's innocent and that I discovered this later on in the year, no, it doesn't torment me."
I look at the boy in shock, having not expected such a mature answer to this terrible revealing bit of information and then a tall, skinny boy, who I remember to be in Harry's year, but then in Hufflepuff, says: "Well, that proves it. We were right last year, when we said that Potter was evil. I knew it, I knew it along."

To which Pomona, I myself and Albus all shout: "EXCUSE ME!" And then we are followed by the gang, who stand up as one, tower over the sleeping-bag-seated lad and ask: "Care to repeat that?" Actually scaring him as they stand over, all of them glaring menacingly and I even feel a small shiver going down my spine.
Then he says: "E-everyone suspected Potter last year. He – he's a Parsletongue and – and everyone knows – knows that Parsletongue are evil. You – you – you-know-who was one too and look what he did." To which Isaac asks: "And who did you believe for the last twelve years had actually defeated that madman."
The boy looks shocked silent and Isaac spats: "Exactly." Before Harry suddenly asks: "Just a sec, how does a person I haven't known or seen for the last twelve years – and of who I didn't even know he was my godfather – prove that I'm an evil person?" And by now young Zacharias Smith is lying down in his bag, looking beet red.
I smile widely at my Pack-Cub and Jack laughs: "Harry's Logic." And Eddy goes on: "Harry's wit." And they chorus: "You can't top either of them, you don't want to live without them." And everyone in the Gang nods in agreement, while Harry turns slightly red, sitting around Rosaline, Albus and myself and I read on.

"Because Black … his throat.

But then suddenly I get interrupted and looking up, I see Rosaline faking a cough as she asks: "Harry, what is the Fidelius Charm?" And while I strangely enough notice a disbelieving look being send Harry's way from Filius' position in the room, does Harry turn red and do his eyes sparkle as brightly as they did before.
Realizing that he actually knows, I send a look at Albus, who seems to realize the same as he lies a hand on Harry's shoulder and says: "You can tell us what you know, my boy, we won't judge you." And the Gang and I nod in agreement, making Harry, who had looked up to see us nod, smile slightly before he says:

"The Fidelius charm was created in 1777 when Arlurous Weasley wanted to hide as he had been diagnosed with Dragon Pox and did not want his mother, who was a Healer, but with a very bad defense mechanism inside her herself, to find him in her need to cure him of his – back then – unknown disease.
He created the spell by accident, because his wife was still in the house when he cast several spells on it and when she shocked him, he mixed two very powerful spells together, creating a single spell and connecting them to his wife. He never let her go afterwards and their disappearance has been known as legend since.
The only reason people knew was because Arlurous had a son that escaped the confines of his safe house and revealed it, when he was sure his father was dead, to the world in a book retelling his life inside that house. This book is worth millions, has thousands of copies being sold yearly and is a treasure for every reader.
The Fidelius charm does nothing more and nothing less than hide a certain location away by making it so unplottable, only those that were there when the spell was cast and were chosen to be there when the spell was cast, can reveal the secret of the location. This person is known as a Secret Keeper, a name invented in 1812."

Everyone looks at Harry in shock, Filius more than anyone and I wonder about this, while at the same time feeling amazed as Harry showed more knowledge of the Magical World than he has done in any of my classes and then the Gang choruses: "And that's the Harry James Potter we know." And they all smile at the boy.
This itself seems to be it for Harry as he again hugs his grandfather – again letting go of my hand – and Albus laugh as he says: "Intelligent, but shyer than a newly Sorted Badger. You truly are one of a kind, dear boy." And Harry shows him a very small smile, turning his face enough to look at the man as he does so.

Hermione's POV

"And that's the kind of genius I'm missing out on? WHAT THE HELL WERE THOSE DURSLEYS THINKING?" I scream silently on the inside, steaming in anger that anyone can force another person to hide this much intelligence and I ask – almost snapping: "And this is the level of intelligence Harry always showed you."
The Gang nods, but then Ron taps me on the shoulder and when I look at him, does he motion for Harry. Looking at my best friend, I see that the happy smile he showed his grandfather is gone and that he is hiding in the man's robe. Understanding why within a second, guilt eats me alive as I look at him and say:
"Harry, I'm not mad at you, I'm beyond furious at those Dursleys for daring to hide and suppress so much intelligence. I feel terrible that I missed out on such a genius for all these years." Harry looks at me, peaking through only a single eye and he asks: "Really? You're not mad – or – or jealous? You – you still want to be friends?"

And shocked that Harry thinks I won't be his friend if I'm not smarter than him, I ask: "Harry, how many times do I feel annoyed that you and Ron don't read and that I have to explain things?" Harry smiles a little now and says: "A lot of times." And I ask: "And how many times of those was it just Ron not understanding?"
And Harry blushes as he says: "About a quarter of the times – and that was over the last half year or so. Since Easter, I think." I shake my head and ask: "So why didn't you just take Arithmancy or Ancient Runes?" And then suddenly Jeremy and Isaac shock me as they ask Harry: "You didn't take Ancient Runes?"

And Isaac says: "Harry, you're a Runeral and you know it. You've been studying Runes and reading and deciphering them with Aunt Rosie since you were ten. Why not take the Subject you would – Ooooooh, now I get it." And just by listening to that speech, do I understand as well and say: "It was that block of yours."
Harry nods and says: "Isaac is right. I love Runes, I read them all the time. Heck, I've been borrowing your Rune book all year and that of Fred last year." I look shocked and Fred asks: "You have?" Harry nods and says: "But – but Runes and Arithmancy are the two top Electives and – well, the habit made me fear standing out like that."
He then looks down and I say: "Because it was always your intelligence you were punished for." Harry nods and says: "And asking questions." Making just about all of his teachers share a shocked glance and making Lupin smile in pride, which I know is because of that first lesson we had with him months ago.

Lupin's POV

"We're only a few pages away and still we discover so much about my little Pack-Cub." I think, feeling slightly stupid and still I can't help but feel proud that I helped Harry with that new problem he told us about as the boy obviously has problems asking and answering questions and I am glad I made him answer one months ago.
I then decide to pull attention away from this little discovery, as I feel awful just looking at the shocked looks shared by my co-workers and say: "If that is so, then I am very proud of you answering my question during our first class, Harry. You are obviously improving." Harry smiles at me a little and I read on.

"An immensely … sitting-room window."

"That would have been a funny sight." A first year whispers and her friend, sitting next to her, shudders and says: "Whatever rows your boat, Annette." Then the Elemental Twins chorus: "We liked Harry's better, more history. We're History geeks." And the rest of the Gang nods in agreement, making me smile as I read on.

"So Black … their movements."

I nod at this as I remember the many, strange attacks Lily and James suffered from after they left school and I say: "And because Black was never there during any of those attacks, did Albus start to believe that he was the spy, working for Voldemort to undermine Albus' resistance." Harry nods and asks:
"And did he have any excuses?" I lie my hand on my temple as I try to remember and say: "If I remember correctly, he – he always gave them to James personally and James accepted them. I don't remember ever hearing them myself." And Elena says: "And that made all of you suspect him even more." I nod and read on.

Said Professor … he fled.

"Wait a sec there!" Harry shouts in shock and he asks: "Did the minister just say, forever gone – like so many do – or – or did he say horribly weakened?" Everyone looks shocked, some of the first to third even look terrified and then Irma says: "Trust me, that guy really ate his own words two and a half years later."
We all look at her and she says: "Apparently there was an article in the Daily Prophet where Fudge admitted to have believed Voldemort horribly weakened, but not gone – a year and a half after trouble really started." She then tilts her head and Hermione asks: "What trouble?" But she shakes her head and shrugs as she says:
"I don't know, I'm just reading what Harry had written for extra information with this little note of his. Some other notes also have side information, but not many and they're not really very clear either, more vague hints pinpointing to something happening in the future." Hermione nods, looking highly curious and I read on.

And this … after him –"

"Wait a second, that doesn't sound right." Isaac suddenly shouts and he says: "If Black really said that, he must have been desperate for some form of normality, something that proved to him his life wasn't over yet." This shocks others and he says: "Hagrid, I think you're partly responsible for those Muggles getting killed."
Now everyone looks wide-eyed and Hagrid asks: "What – what makes you – you say that?" And Isaac says: "I'm sorry, that came out too bluntly, I have that sometime. What I meant is that Black's murder of those Muggles was his way – his heart-broken, mind-fogged-up way – of letting go of the pain of losing his friends.
And he wouldn't have done that, had you given Harry to him, because then he could have something that could tie him to his earth, something that really needed him – his godson." And I look at Harry, having never known this, but knowing Black well enough that Isaac might actually be right about this. And with that do I read on.

Ha! But … after him.

"Okay, now that just contradicts everything I know. I'm totally confused now." Isaac moans and Rosaline says: "Maybe Black thought that the Wizard that he killed could have hurt Harry, so he made sure that wizard couldn't reach Harry and then went to go and distract that wizard, but in his grief ended up killing him."
This makes Albus and me look at each other in shock and Albus says: "Hagrid did deliver Harry to me in Black's motorbike." And I add: "And we both know that thing was enchanted to fly." And Minerva goes on: "And if Pettigrew was one thing, it was that he was a terrible flyer." To this Harry breathes: "Black protected me."

Susan's POV

The stories my Aunt always told me about Sirius Black – mass-murderer extraordinaire – now no longer make sense as they contradict each other as much as Isaac believed the things he heard Professor Lupin read to contradict one another and I decide to write a letter to my aunt with this info after this chapter.
Glad that Harry will be taking a break after this chapter to look for that yearbook of his dad's I already slip some parchment, ink and a quill out of my backpack and hide them all in the opening of my sleeping bag, writing a long, detailed letter to my dearest aunt, all the while hoping she will read it while at work.

Hannah's POV

"That someone I was always told to be so evil – was actually nothing more than a heartbroken man that had lost everything he ever held dear. I can't believe I never saw heartbroken sorrow as a reason for someone like him to turn evil. It all makes sense now. That man never had a dark bone in his body, he was just lost in pain."
These thoughts go through my head and my heart, breaking it as the man that never really did anything wrong – as he was just too filled with grief to think clearly – has spend over a decade in the last place anyone ever deserves to be and I can only smile in faint hope as I see Susan writing a letter, which I know will be for her aunt.
Wishing that I had family in the Ministry as it would help Black if more people there believed in his innocence, I whisper: "Tell her you have the confidence of the Abbott Family supporting your claims on Black's innocence. The least I can do." My best friend smiles at me and quickly writes it down, finishing her letter soon afterwards.

Ernie's POV

I know that Susan and Hannah are already in the belief that Black is innocent, but I also believe that Susan is betraying her own aunt by thinking that the Ministry would just send people to Azkaban like that and I whisper: "Don't forget who put Black in Azkaban in the first place, Susan, or better which Department did."
The girl glares at me and spats: "My Aunt wasn't working for the Department of Magical Law Enforcement yet when Black was arrested, MacMillan, so this will only come in her benefit as she'll be seen as the person who righted the wrong of her predecessor and cleansed the Department of its terrible failure in history."
I grumble at this as the girl is actually right and spat: "As if Fudge will ever believe this. He's been after Black way too long to believe a single letter stating different from his own beliefs." But again the girl makes me feel heavily embarrassed – a personal talent of hers – as she asks: "Who do you believe stronger; Fudge or my Aunt?"

Remus' POV

I can hear the argument between Susan and Ernie and know that soon Ernie will stop whispering in his anger, even if he is currently on the losing side, something I have a hard time understanding. Wondering why it is so hard for me to believe that my best friend could be innocent, I shake my head in slight denial.
Then I realize what I'm doing and think: "How can I betray Sirius like that? If he really is innocent, then I should start believing that – and spreading stories that will convince the other students that Sirius is innocent also." And motivated by the fact that I think of him as Sirius once again, do I read on with a confident smile.

But what … any more…"

This makes me look at my Pack-Cub in worry and Harry catches the glance and smiles at me, grabbing my hand while still in his grandfather's lap. He then says: "I don't believe it. Hagrid is still hurt by the betrayal and that's why he says this. He cares for me too much." This makes me smile at the lad and I say:
"There is never such a thing as caring too much for a person. And definitely not someone like you, Harry." Harry smiles back at me and then plucks a strawberry from the plate he had taken with him when Albus put him on his lap and Rosaline smiles at her best friend in true pride as he munches on it and I read on.

A long … Potters' friends.

"Is that the other person you were friends with, Professor?" Harry asks me and I curse him for remembering that I said it like that, before nodding in confirmation as Hermione asks: "Why didn't you just say his name? Did you forget it?" But then Ron snorts and says: "Of course not." Hermione glares at him and he says:
"Pettigrew must have been the wizard Black killed. That's why Professor Lupin didn't want to say his name. He has trouble coping with the fact that, in two days time, he lost three of his friends to death." The girl looks at him in shock, while I give the redhead a grateful smile and as Hermione apologizes, do I read on.

Maddened by … Black himself."

"He what?" Isaac asks shocked and then he goes on and asks: "Wait a minute, so it wasn't Black looking for Pettigrew in a way to deal with his pain, it was Pettigrew who went looking for Black." To which everyone looks shocked before a young first year girl named Heather Snowlen asks: "Why would he do that?"
And Isaac says: "We know that Black wanted Harry after Lily and James were killed and we know that, when he was denied Harry, he went and took out thirteen people in a heartbroken state of mind where he couldn't think straight. If Pettigrew went to look for Black, I can only imagine that – oh dear lord Merlin."
The boy almost shouts and he goes on: "Black might have killed Pettigrew, but that went exactly against Pettigrew's plans. He wanted to kill Black – to kill him when he was most vulnerable, when he was at a point in time where no one would miss him – the moment where everyone would think he worked for Voldemort."

Everyone looks shocked and Susan says: "So – so Black didn't commit murder – he – he defended himself. In his insane state of mind, he was barely sane enough to realize he was in danger and in an act of self-defense, he killed Pettigrew, but because he was insane, he couldn't control his own magic and killed the Muggles too."
"That's the only logical explanation I could come up with." Isaac agrees with the girl and I can barely believe that these two kids – who didn't even know my best friend – stand up for him enough to make me see the truth – much and much better than I did, even after eleven long years of solid, loyal, trustworthy friendship.
Hating myself for having doubted the one man James always preached about – sometimes with a bit more love than should be normal – I whisper: "Forgive me, James. Please, please forgive me. You always valued our friendship and the loyalty that came with it. I should have been like you – when it mattered the most."

Unknown POV

I don't know what's happening, but for some reason, I feel as if friends I have long since lost are remembering me again and looking at the large open wall that keeps me trapped in this hellhole – and has done so for 12 long years – I faintly whisper: "Moony?" But then shake my head, knowing I am just eluding myself.
Then the red-haired woman sitting next to me, who is playing cards with the man that looks so much like my true love, even if he is a year younger, turns to me and asks: "Are you alright?" I nod and say: "Just remembering the old days. Just eluding myself, like always." The woman sighs and lies a hand on mine.
I smile at her as she, the man next to her and the red-haired twins have been the only people I have known for the last twelve years and like the last ten, do I go back. Back to believing that we are the only ones on earth. Back to believing that no one else lives outside this hellhole. Back to believing that this hell – is heaven.

Remus' POV

Not sure if my best friend can hear me up there, I take a deep breath and look out the windows of the Great Hall, wishing more than ever that Sirius was here. Deciding to go look for him while Harry looks for the yearbook, I go and sit a little closer to my Pack-cub, giving his hand a loving squeeze before I read on.

"Pettigrew … that … could you!"

"Yep, that sure sounds like a set-up to me." Isaac growls and then suddenly Harry asks: "So wait, if Pettigrew set Black up, why did he start on Black supposedly betraying my parents?" And everyone looks confused, while I suddenly get the same epiphany as when I realized that Black was using Padfoot as means of escape.
Unable to believe that Pettigrew didn't just set Black up, but that he also took me all of my three friends, I again have to fight that painful stitch that I feel shooting up my temple and rub it temporarily before focusing back on the fact that – in more ways than one – I only have one true friend left. And with that I read on.

And then … a while.

I shake my head and say: "He might have been unhinged for a while, but at least we now know that it wasn't because of Voldemort's disappearance. It was because, like me, he lost the dearest and best friends he had ever had." And a lone tear escapes my eyes as I think back to that terrible month after Halloween night.
The whole month parties had been going on for the Boy-who-Lived, until finally Albus had gone for the Ministry and told the Department of Magical Law Enforcement to put a stop to it. They had done so and the next day – at the end of the month – the funeral had been held, with closed off coffins like James had wanted.
Shuddering as I can still vividly remember those closed off coffins, holding the last remains of my dear friends forever, I shake my head and take a few bites of fruits, covering them in a lot of chocolate to make sure the magic of the flavor helps calm me down. Feeling warmer and more calm, I eat my last strawberry before reading on.

The murder … and night."

This shocks me and I ask: "Albus, did you ever get to hear what the previous Minister thought about her visits to Sirius?" Albus nods and says: "Yes, she was quite unnerved, because after a year of visiting him, he actually seemed to get used to the Dementors and after another year or so, she called that behavior his behavior."
This shocks me and I mutter: "So he could have gone mad, but used Padfoot to keep him steady. But then why escape after reading a paper? What could there have been on that paper that inspired him to escape, when he would be sane enough to know that would cause everyone to go hunt him down and lock him up again?"
Not knowing the answer, I whisper to Albus: "Ask Cornelius what paper he gave Sirius. I'm sure there will be a copy of it in the Library and we can look for that later." The man nods and says: "I was planning to meet with Cornelius after the search. I will do so after this chapter." I nod, smiling at the man and read on.

"But what … is he?"

"No, apparently not." I mutter and then Hermione gasps as she says: "Wait a second, what did we realize at the start of this reading?" And Ron gasps: "That Black was looking for something inside the Gryffindor common room. It must be something that could prove his innocence." And a young second year named Isabelle asks:
"What could we have that could prove Black was actually innocent?" Harry then gasps and says: "Not what could we have, but what do I have? I am the only one who survived the attack Black supposedly caused, I must have something – Black must have given me something when he gave me to Hagrid – that proves his innocence."
"But I didn't see him give you anything." Hagrid says and I shake my head as I say: "If anyone can sneak another person something, it's Sirius. The number of times he snuck other people's wands out of their pockets to pull pranks with them – I lost count in Fourth year. He must have done that, Hagrid, and now he's looking for it."

Everyone looks at each other shocked and then Harry asks: "Do you think that that is what that Sneakoscope you gave me is constantly ringing about? That it's actually lying near something Black gave me to prove his innocence?" Ron shrugs and says: "I'll go check it later. Then you can still search for that yearbook."
Harry looks shocked and says: "Ron –." But Ron shakes his head and says: "Harry, I know how much you cherish everything that once belonged to your parents – from your photobook to that badge in the Trophy room of your Dad being Quidditch Captain. It's only right you go and find that yearbook as quickly as you can."
Harry smiles at his best friend with tears shining in his eyes and Albus says: "You are showing more and more what a wonderful friend you are, Mr. Weasley, and I can only thank you for that. I would have awarded points, but I don't believe that will make that friendship look any better." The two boys smile and I read on.

"I daresay … rise again …"

"Wait, didn't you say that a war would break out during the Fourth to Seventh book?" Harry asks, suddenly white and Jeremy nods and then Harry says: "So Black escaped to prove his innocence, but someone doesn't want that and will try something during the Cat, Rat Dog chapter. That will fail and he'll join his master."
Everyone looks shocked and Hermione asks: "Harry, you don't think Black could be in danger, do you?" And Harry shudders as he says: "As long as he can evade the Dementors, I have evidence to believe he will be able to evade whoever is trying to stop him as well." Hermione nods in relief and I read on, relieved myself.

There was … for words.

"It's a good thing we're all here now, because I'm glad for that note you read before this chapter." Harry sighs in relief and he says: "It was an emotional chapter, but at least we got to realize that this whole tale was sold to us by Pettigrew and whoever really betrayed my parents and that Black deserves his freedom."
He then sighs in relief and says: "And once he has it, I will have a Godfather and a Grandfather." Making Albus smile widely, while I know that the man had been fearing his grandson not wanting him around anymore once he had his godfather back and I shake my head as the two really share one resemblance. Both men are totally insecure.