Chapter 12

The moment we got back into the Gryffindor Common Room, there was an awkward silence that filled the room. I didn't blame any of us. Harry and I had a mental breakdown at Hogsmeade today. I wouldn't know what to say to us either if I was them. We sat in silence for a few minutes and then I announced I was heading to bed. I wanted to be alone when I went to sleep. Christmas was coming up and I wanted to get a hold of myself so that I could enjoy the holiday. The moment my head hit the pillow, I was fast asleep, but it wouldn't be pleasant. In my dream, I was flying on a broom, Harry on one side of me and Mum and Dad on the other. We were flying together as a family. I looked down and saw Sirius Black whispering something to a tall figure clothed in black. I guessed it was Voldemort. Voldemort pointed his wand into the sky and I watched as a jet of green light hit father, then mother, then Harry, each sending them down to the ground dead. Before I could do anything I watched as a jet hit me. I fell and heard Sirius Black laughing loudly. I woke up with a start, sweating profusely. Hermione, Rachel and Amanda were still asleep. I was happy they were. I didn't to explain my dream to them. I tried to fall back asleep, but the laughter of Black rang in my ears. I couldn't fall asleep. The laughter of Sirius Black rang through my head and I kept seeing myself falling. Because of these thoughts, I stayed up the entire night. I didn't even realize it either until the sun shone through the tower window and into our dormitory.

I was the first one up, of course, and I immediately headed down into the common room. Everyone was getting ready to head out to go home for the holidays. The Weasleys, Harry, Rachel, Amanda and I were, of course staying. Mr. and Mrs. Weasley were both going to Romania to visit Charlie again. Something about a dragon he wanted them to see. Anyway, Hermione would be leaving that morning and she had sworn she would send our presents by owls the moment she got back. And that's when it hit me! I didn't get presents on our last trip out to Hogsmeade. I was a bit carried away by the news of Sirius Black and Voldemort. No one was going out today, so the only way to get my presents was to go myself. That would be tricky…for ones without the Marauders' Map and an Invisibility Cloak. Good thing I had both. Quickly, I ran upstairs and saw Hermione, Rachel and Amanda starting to head downstairs. "Bloody Hell, Elliot, you look tired!" stated Rachel.

I didn't acknowledge her and quickly grabbed both tools. "Where are you going?" asked Amanda with an accusing tone.

"Uh…Hospital Wing. I'm not feeling well. Have a good holiday, Hermione!"

Before they could ask me anymore questions, I ran out of the dormitory as fast as I could and through the portal before Ron or Harry could stop me. Once I was outside, I threw my cloak over my shoulders, pulled out the map and muttered, "I solemnly swear that I am up to no good."

The map came to life with hundreds of dots in the common rooms, Great Hall and the train. However, the area around the Humpbacked Witch was clear. I smiled and quickly made my way down the Grand Staircase. I was almost caught by a lot of people, what with the cloak swishing past everyone and my feet appearing a couple times, but I made it without getting stopped. The moment I reached the statue, I muttered, "Mischief managed," followed by "Dissendium" to head into the passage. The long passage seemed shorter than before and sooner than I thought, I was walking out to door to Honeydukes.

The streets were barren, due to the lack of students out today. I had to be cautious when I was out here. After all, apparently I am famous and everyone knows what I look like. Quickly, I pulled out my hat from my coat pocket and wrapped my scarf around my neck. Hopefully I wouldn't be recognized. I was just starting to walk down the abandoned street when I heard a growl from behind me. Slowly, I turned on my heel and saw a big, black dog staring at me. Slowly, it got closer and closer. Without thinking, I made a run for it towards the woods. The dog chased after me with haste. I continued running until I came to the fence that blocked the way towards the Shrieking Shack. I turned and saw the dog had stopped and was no advancing on me slowly. His eyes seemed so familiar...but I couldn't place them. This was it. This was the end. I closed my eyes and cringed until I heard a voice shouted, "Stupefy!"

The sound of a spell flew and I heard the dog run off. Slowly, I opened my eyes to thank my savior until I saw who it was. It was Professor Lupin! I was in big trouble now. Not only had I snuck out of bed, but I snuck out of Hogwarts completely. He looked furious and I knew that I was dead meat. "Elliot Potter, what in Merlin's name are you doing out here?"

I had no response. If I tried to explain it to him, I would get into even more trouble by saying I went yesterday. "No, forget that. HOW did you get here?"

"I found a secret passage that led away from Hogwarts into here," I lied. Well, I did find it, but with the help of the Marauders Map. Of course, I wasn't going to tell him about that. He would take it away and I would never be able to sneak out again. "Have you forgotten that there is a murderer on the loose that is looking for you and Harry? What do you think would have happened if he caught you? Your father protected you and this seems a very poor way to repay him."

I hung my head in shame. "I'm sorry, sir. I don't know what I was thinking."

What a load of bull. Of course I knew what I was thinking. I thought it out perfectly. I just didn't expect a teacher to be wandering around Hogsmeade at a time like this. I should have doubled check to see if all the teachers were actually in Hogwarts. "You're going to have McGonagall expel me, aren't you?"

I looked up to see that even though Lupin's face was angry, he showed no signs of doing anything like that. "Not this time. But you do need consequences for your actions. Twenty points from Gryffindor and you will be spending detention with me after the holidays."

I nodded. "Until then, I will be your escort through Hogsmeade. I'm guessing you're here to get presents for Christmas, aren't you."

Again, I nodded, but this time, I had a big smile on my face. "Come."

Together, we walked through Hogsmeade through several shops. I went into Zonko's Joke Shop and bought several presents for Fred, George, Rachel and Amanda. After Zonko's, I headed to the bookstore and bought Stress Relief for the High Maintenancefor Hermione, a book on the Chudley Cannons for Ron and 101 Ways to Get Rid of Annoying Pests for Harry and myself. Thought it might come in handy for Malfoy. Finally, Lupin took me over to Madam Rosemerta's Pub and bought me a Butterbeer. It was the tastiest drink I have ever had. We sat down and enjoyed the warmth of the pub. All the while, I had several questions I wanted to ask him. Finally, the first question blurted out. "Are you really Rachel's Godfather?"

I should not have asked that question. Lupin looked at me and asked, "How did you find out?"

"I overheard some students gossiping in the halls at Hogwarts."

LIE! However, it worked on Lupin. "I do not know how they found out, but yes…Rachel's mother, Felicity, asked me to be her Godfather after she was born. Her father was a deranged man who would be looking for her. Andromeda wanted to keep her safe. A year later, Felicity was killed. Rachel was saved by Dumbledore. I asked if I could take her home with me, but he said in order to keep her safe, she would have to grow up away from all of this. I knew he was right, so I obliged."

"Why don't you take her home with you now?"

"She doesn't know…not yet, at least. When she knows and she is ready, she is welcome at my home anytime."

I felt my heart sink. Rachel knew…because I blurted it out to her in anger. This time, I couldn't lie to him. "Rachel…does know…"

Lupin turned his attention towards me with a look of shock. "She does? How?"

"I may have let it slip last night…"

I was waiting for another lecture from Professor Lupin, but instead, he smiled at me. "Good."

Good? How was me blurting that out to her good? Well, whatever it was, Lupin was fine with it. That saved me from being lectured by him or anyone else. After taking a drink of his Butterbeer, Lupin looked down at his watch and smiled, "Is that really the time? Elliot, it is time for us to go back. I suggest you go back the way you came…and use that invisibility cloak of yours to make sure you don't get seen. I shall be seeing you after the break."

With a smile, Lupin left me to walk out alone and hide underneath the cloak. I wanted to ask him more, but our meeting was cut short. However, I had a feeling that my detention would be where I was going to get all the information I needed.

---o0o---

It seemed that the moment I arrived back in the Gryffindor Common Room, they all knew exactly what I did. Harry and Ron gave me a pat on the back…along with Fred and George. However, Rachel, Amanda and Hermione were furious. "WHAT WERE YOU THINKING?" shouted Hermione right at me.

"Do you want to get caught by a professor?" asked Rachel.

"Or do you have a death wish!" concluded Amanda.

Before I could say anything, they rattled off how Sirius Black could have found me and killed me, or how Professor McGonagall could have caught me and expelled me, which wouldn't have been any better. Quickly, I escaped the three loons and ran off with the boys. Fred, George, Harry, Ron and I decided that we were going to head down to the lake and enjoy the snow. They had originally asked Rachel, Amanda and Hermione to join, but they both said they had homework to do for Ancient Runes, Defense Against the Dark Arts, Transfiguration, History of Magic, Arithmency and so on. So, once we were outside, we started with a brutal out for yourself snowball fight. Ron laughed when he hit me, but when his face fell when I pelted him with six snowballs. Once we were done with that, we were ice skating on the lake. I always loved the winter at Hogwarts. It was a time for fun and enjoyment. Harry and I took a break while Fred and George started chasing Ron around the lake, trying to catch him and toy with him. As we sat and watched, I said to Harry, "Lupin saw me in Hogsmeade."

"He saw you?"

"Don't tell anyone. I have detention with him after the break, but he covered for me."

"So you're not in trouble?"

"Not really."

Harry nodded and looked away. "Did you see Black?"

I shook my head. However, I left out the part about the attack from the Black Dog and how his eyes seemed familiar. After another moment of silence, Harry asked me, "What were you doing up so early?"

"I couldn't sleep. Bad dream."

"Was it us flying with our parents and Black telling a hooded figure and then the hooded figure shot us all down?"

I turned in shock. "How did you…?"

"I had the same dream."

"Guess we really are twins."

There was an awkward silence. Normally when Harry and I had one of these, we were both thinking of something. Then, he blurted out, "You know what I don't understand?"

"No, what?"

"Why would their best friend…OUR godfather…betray them? Surely he must have known our parents were hiding from Voldemort."

"Does it matter? He did! That's all that matters. When we meet him, I won't ask why. I'll just make him suffer."

Just then, Ron fell on the ice, causing all of us to erupt into laughter. Harry and I got up to help him off the ice. It was quite funny. Once Ron and the twins were off the ice, we headed to the Great Hall and got some Hot Cocoa. Rachel and Amanda were nowhere to be found. After our hot cocoa was gone, we headed to the Common Room and played some chess. Of course, Ron won every game. The day went by quickly and before I knew it, I was in the dormitory, falling asleep. My dreams were pleasant. After all, tomorrow was Christmas Eve.

TBC…

Please R&R!