Chapter 20

We had left the Hospital Wing at noon the next day. Everyone was going to Hogsmeade but seeing as how Rachel and Ron had leg issues, Hermione and Amanda did not feel like going and so we decided to wander around the grounds and enjoy the sun. It was funny because we had to keep at an easy pace for Ron and Rachel since they had to hobble. As he walked down towards the Lost Lake, Hagrid approached us with a tear stained handkerchief. "'Ello you lot. Why aren' you at Hogsmeade?"

"Just wasn't feeling like going today," replied Hermione before indicating the handkerchief, "Why are you crying?"

"Oh, I know I shouldn' feel happy, after wha' happened las' night. I mean, Black escapin' an' everything' but guess what?"

We shrugged, doing our best to look curious. "Beaky! He escaped! I've bin celebratin' all night!"

"Brilliant," I said, giving Ron an elbow in the arm when he was about to start laughing.

"Yeah, I was worried this mornin', hoping Professor Lupin didn' meet 'im in the forest las' night but Lupin says he never ate anythin' las' night…."

Our looks must have been a giveaway because Hagrid continued, "Blimey, haven' ye heard? Snape was spreadin' it aroun' all mornin'. Ye see, Lupin's a werewolf and he's packin' now, o' course."

"He's packing?" asked Harry alarmed.

"Yeah. Resigned firs' thin this mornin'."

Harry and I quickly ran off as the rest of them watched us disappear. We had to talk him out of this. Lupin was, by far, the best Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher we have ever had. Mind you, one tried to kill us and the other was a fraud, but Lupin was the best! He couldn't leave. We reached his office and saw his door opened. Inside we could see that he had packed most of his things already. Lupin was bending over his desk and looked up when we knocked. "I saw you coming," he greeted, pointing to the Marauder's Map on his desk.

"Hagrid just told us you resigned. It can't be true," I said.

"I'm afraid it is."

"Is it because of Sirius?" Harry asked.

Lupin shook his head. "No, Dumbledore managed to convince Fudge otherwise. Snape wasn't too thrilled about that, as you can imagine. So, in return, he told everyone I'm a werewolf this morning. By this time tomorrow, owls will start arriving from parents. They will not want a werewolf teaching their children."

"But you're the best Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher!" argued Harry.

Lupin smiled. "From what Dumbledore told me, you two saved a lot of lives last night. If I'm proud of anything I've done, it's how much you learned. Now, seeing as how I am no longer your teacher, I have no regrets on giving this back to you. Mischief managed."

The map's ink disappeared once more. "Something tells me you will put it to great use in the future. Especially you, Elliot, if the rumors about you being exactly like your father are true."

Lupin grinned as he picked up his suitcase. "What about Rachel? I mean, you're her godfather," I asked.

"I've left a letter on her bed explaining the situation. As much as I would like to have her come stay with me and be a proper godfather to her, I can't. Not with my condition."

He briefly set his suitcase down as he placed a hand on each of our shoulders. "Well, this is goodbye, Harry and Elliot. It has been a real pleasure teaching you. I feel sure we'll meet again sometime. Good luck."

After picking up his suitcase, he left the office. We watched him go, saddened and depressed before following suit. Oh how I hated Snape. We were just heading back to find the rest of the group when Dumbledore stopped us. "Excuse me, Harry, but may I borrow Elliot from you."

Harry nodded before leaving us alone. Once he disappeared, Dumbledore pulled me off to the side and said, "I've been thinking this year and I have come to the conclusion that, now that you know of who you really are, it may be best if you spend part of your summer with Harry and the Dursleys."

"What? But professor…"

"Everything is already in place. The Weasleys and Dursleys are already aware of the arrangements."

"But why? I mean, the Dursleys are vial creatures…"

Dumbledore smiled. "Perhaps in due time, Elliot. Now, I really should be going. I have a lot of things to do to prepare for the end of term feast and it seems I am again in need of a Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher. This may become quite a habit."

And then he was gone before I could protest. When he had vanished, I hit my head against the wall. Oh WHY did I have to go the Dursley's?

-oOo-

The tale of Sirius and Buckbeak's escape was all the rage during the final weeks and the tale became more and more stretched with each retelling. Malfoy was furious that Buckbeak had escaped. Oh it was lovely to see Malfoy not getting what he wanted. The end of term feast was brilliant. Gryffindor had won the Quidditch Cup and the House Cup. Oh the look on Snape's face. How I wish I could rub it in. Soon we found ourselves on the Hogwarts Express, pulling away from the castle and back to good old London. Hermione, Amanda and Rachel had informed us that they had dropped Muggle Studies as well and, seeing as how they weren't taking Divination either, they turned in their Time Turners and were reverting back to a normal schedule. Oh all the trouble I could have caused with those. Oh well. I had the Marauder's Map again and Dad's Invisibility Cloak. Amanda had disappeared, telling us that she needed to find Fred and have a chat with him. Hopefully they were reconciling. As we chatted in our compartment, Ron pointed out the window. "Look!"

We watched as a small grey and brown owl flew right alongside our window, looking in as if he wanted to join us. Hermione quickly opened the window and the owl flew in, perching on the table between me and Ron and stretching out his leg for Harry and me to take the letter. Once we got it off his leg, he jumped onto Ron's shoulder. I unraveled the letter and read aloud, "Dear Harry and Elliot, I hope this finds you before you reach your aunt and uncle. I don't know whether they're used to owl post. Buckbeak and I are hiding. I won't tell you where in case this owl falls into the wrong hands. I have some doubt about his reliability, but he is the best I could find and he did seem eager for the job. I believe the Dementors are still searching for me but they haven't a hope of finding me here. I am planning to allow some Muggles to glimpse me soon a long way from Hogwarts so that the security on the castle will be lifted. There is something I never got around to telling the both of your during our brief meeting. It was I who sent you the Firebolts…"

"Ha! See! We were right! It was from Sirius," gloated Rachel.

"Yeah but he didn't jinx them!" argued Ron. I smiled as I continued, "Crookshanks took the order to the Owl Office for me. I used your names but told them to take the gold from my own Gringotts vault. Please consider them as thirteen birthday's worth of presents from your godfather. I would also like to apologize for the fright I think I gave you that night last year when you left your uncle's house. I had only hoped to get a glimpse of the pair of you before starting my journey north but I think the sight of me alarmed the pair of you. I am enclosing something else for you which I think will make your next year at Hogwarts more enjoyable. If ever you need me, send word. Your owl will find me. I'll write again soon. Sirius."

Harry grabbed the second bit of parchment and held it up before reading, "I, Sirius Black, Harry and Elliot Potter's godfather, hereby give them permission to visit Hogsmeade."

"That will be good enough for Dumbledore," I smiled before finding the post script. "PS, I thought your friend Ron might like to keep this owl as it is my fault he no longer has a rat."

Ron's eyes widened as he heard the news. "For me? I love him already."

Our happy moment was abruptly interrupted by a pair of raised voices down the corridor. We each peered down the hall to see Amanda, angry as ever, yelling at a bewildered Fred…again. "I can't BELIEVE you forgot!"

"Forgot what?"

"Exactly!"

"Okay, you are really starting to confuse me. What on Earth are you talking about?"

"The plans? Remember? After Christmas we discussed plans for just the two of us this summer! You said you would come up with some ideas for the train ride home! I mean, this is EXACTLY why we've been fighting all year! You never listen to me!"

"Oi! I do listen to you! And don't go blaming this on me, Amanda. You're at as much fault as I am."

"And what exactly is that supposed to mean?"

I smiled as I grabbed a box of Bertie Bott's Every Flavor Bean and began popping them in my mouth. This was entertaining. "Whenever we're together, you only ever talk about Quidditch! Perhaps if you actually talked to me about us…"

"Oh, so it's all my fault, is it? I was trying to get your attention! Whenever we were together you always had your nose stuck in a book!"

The entire train was watching them now. I thought it would end with both of them storming off but I never expected what came next. "You know what? That's it. I've had it with all of your excuses! It's over! We're done!"

Amanda went to walk away when Fred muttered her name and grabbed her arm. "Don't touch me!" she spat at him, knocking his hand away.

When he went to stop her again she turned around and slapped him across the face. His hand found his now stinging face as Amanda stormed off in our direction. I went to see if she was alright when she pushed me back into the compartment, falling on top of Ron. Everyone looked at me as I quickly got off Ron and said, "What did I do?"

"I'm going to see if Amanda is alright," Rachel muttered as she hobbled off.

"Be careful! She might kill you!" I shouted after her. Oh my, this summer would be an interesting experience with Fred and Amanda living under the same roof. And yet, I had to miss it for a while! Why oh why did I have to give live with the Dursleys?

End of Part 3