A/N) Thank you to everyone who has reviewed. I am currently working on Chapter 52, and hope to finish it later today. I would also like to notify my readers that I will also begin posting a Doctor Who story within the next couple of days, however this story is mostly already written - I just need to finish it off - and doing so will NOT affect the writing or updating of this story. My main concern is this one. From chapter 51 onwards, the chapters will be longer, and as long as I stay a few chapters ahead of myself, I hope to stay with a usual updating schedule of a Monday and a Thursday.

Without further ado, I present chapter 48...

Chapter Forty-Eight: Hogsmeade

"You do realise he is suspicious of Malfoy, don't you?" asked Sirius as he paced the Headmaster's office. He had come to Hogwarts to get 'permission' to tell Harry the truth, but he already knew that Albus would overrule him. "Malfoy is clearly not being careful enough."

Albus Dumbledore folded his arms across his chest. "I was unaware that he had noticed that... Tell me, Sirius, did he overhear some of the Order's meetings during the summer?"

Sirius scowled. "Of course he did! Or are you implicating something else?" he growled, aware that quite possibly that the Headmaster thought he might be irresponsible enough to tell Harry information he was not privy to.

"I mean nothing of the sort," replied Dumbledore, serenely. "Harry should not be worrying about Draco Malfoy. You know that the situation is in hand and that there are people working on it. If he becomes directly involved, only then can he be told, but at this moment, Harry is not involved. He is not Draco's target – I am."

Sirius sighed, aggravated by Dumbledore's insistence that Harry simply could not be told the truth. It would make things so much simpler if he could. "Can I at least tell him to not investigate Malfoy then? If he's anything like James, he would do."

"You must know by now that even you asking him to do that wouldn't stop him, especially if he felt he had to, for the safety of the school and students."

Sirius hung his head. "Fine, I won't say anything more to him on that subject." He stopped pacing and turned to face the Headmaster. "How are his lessons with Snape going?"

"Very well," smiled Albus. "Severus has told me he plans to hold a test in the coming days. If he passes – which judging by how fast Harry has advanced, he will – then my lessons with him will commence on Saturday 3rd October. I will want you there, Sirius, as I think it is prudent for you to know what I am teaching Harry. Mr Weasley and Miss Granger will also be told, however what I am to show Harry cannot be written about outside these walls, otherwise I would not acquire your presence here. With you on active Auror duty, I must request that you be present at every lesson so that you can accompany us on our journey of discovery."

"Sounds intriguing," commented Sirius. "And this will help Harry survive?"

Dumbledore nodded. "It will give him the knowledge he requires to defeat Voldemort. I was hoping that he would not learn this so soon... fifteen is too young an age, however I do not have long before the curtain of death falls upon me. It is with my regret that Harry has to learn this now and not later on in his life which I had intended on doing so."

"If that bastard had stayed as a harmless spirit then we wouldn't be having this problem," spat Sirius, angrily.

"Lord Voldemort has never been harmless. He has always been dangerous, whatever form he has taken. In an ideal world, Harry should not have had to bear this burden. But he has you to help him through it and survive and that could be all the difference in the world," hinted the Headmaster, his eyes shining brightly behind his half-moon glasses.

"Providing I'm not killed in the process," replied Sirius glumly.

"You are a powerful Wizard, Sirius. I think you'll do just fine."

He said that to James and Lily before they went into hiding, and look what happened to them! Sirius reminded himself. Still, he did not make that remark to the Headmaster, thinking that he would be somewhat foolish to do so.

Thursday 1st October 1995

He had not expected Snape to try something so foolhardy in lessons. But he had.

Harry had been chatting quietly with Ron and Hermione while he cut up some roots, not realising that Snape kept casting looks his way. It was only when Hermione pointed this fact out to him that he wondered if Snape had been employing Occlumency against him, but he had checked and all his barriers were in place: specifically the knowledge of the Prophecy was locked tightly away.

As Snape started his rounds again, Harry kept an eye on the Potion's Professor, nearly tipping over his cauldron in his haste to concentrate on his work at the same time. Hermione growled under her breath, probably thinking him irresponsible in thinking about other things. Still, she did not know.

Snape reached their table and Harry stirred frantically at his potion; the smell coming from it was awful. He had clearly made a wrong turn somewhere. He grimaced, picking up a glass of juice and pouring it into the solution. Surprisingly the horrible smell disappeared and the colour of the liquid turned to a shade of pink. He cast a glance at Hermione's whose potion was shimmering away in a light blue colour.

"Are you trying to create a love potion, Potter?" said Snape, his lips curling.

Harry didn't reply, but he could hear the laughter of the Slytherins echoing from the other side of the dungeon.

"Look at me, Potter," said Snape.

Harry did so and immediately felt something scurrying around in his head. His barriers were all in place and he knew anything that he didn't want Snape to see was well protected. The only thing Snape would see were false memories of what he was searching for.

"Very good," said Snape softly, so quiet that no one could hear what they were saying. "You have passed, Potter." He raised his voice. "It seems you have failed another assignment in this class, Potter. What a pity."

Harry didn't even bother to glare; he had known that was coming. Still, he had succeeded with the Occlumency test that Snape had sprung on him. At least the lesson wasn't a total waste.

Saturday 3rd October 1995

The first of the Hogsmeade trips for students in third year or above arrived two days later after Harry's success at Occlumency. At the end of the lesson, Snape had ordered him to stay behind and had told him that he was no longer required for any lessons. The Potions Professor gave him a bit of advice and to practice every night before he went to sleep – all advice that Harry had heard before. Snape had dismissed him shortly after that.

"So," said Ron, stretching his arms above his head. "Where are we going first?" Angelina had grudgingly given the Quidditch team time off, providing they spent all day Sunday, practicing on the pitch. Ron was improving with each passing practice, however he did struggle with nerves, but once he got into the flow of things he was unstoppable.

"How about Honeydukes?" asked Harry, thinking of the many sweets that awaited him there; he had a big bag of Galleons to spend and he figured he deserved to treat himself to snacks.

Honeydukes was packed by the time they reached the shop, and while Hermione waited outside, Harry and Ron attempted to squash into the shop. After about ten minutes both boys came out with their pockets full of sweets. Ron was already stuffing his face with them by the time they had walked down the crowded street to The Three Broomsticks.

As they entered, Harry saw movement out of the corner of his eye and a grin spread across his face.

Sirius and Remus were sitting at a table in the corner, sipping a butterbeer each. Asking Hermione to get him a butterbeer, Harry moved his way towards them. Sirius glanced up as Harry approached, placing a stray bit of hair behind his ear.

"What are you doing here?" asked Harry. "Aren't you meant to be on duty or something?"

Sirius shook his head. "Day off, so Remus decided it would be a good idea for us to visit."

"I had to drag him here, before he says otherwise," interjected Remus, grinning wolfishly. "He figured you wouldn't want to see him."

"Liar," breathed Sirius.

"It's always good to see you," said Harry. "I don't mind. You're the closest thing I have to a parent. You've got twelve years to make up for first! You'd better be here as often as you can!"

Remus prodded Sirius in the arm. "Told you so, didn't I?"

Sirius scowled. "It's always best to be sure."

Harry laughed.

"By the way," began Sirius, "well done on becoming a master of Occlumency." He patted Harry on the back.

"How'd you know that?" he asked.

Sirius grinned. "It was brought up."

Harry didn't need Sirius to finish; he could guess what his godfather meant.

"Hi Sirius," said Hermione, slipping into another seat at the table with Ron beside her. "Professor Lupin."

"Please, Hermione, call me Remus," he replied warmly. "Odd really, you call me Professor and yet Padfoot was one too."

"Which is still slightly unbelievable," mused Sirius, taking a sip from his drink. "James wouldn't be able to believe it..."

"He'd call you Professor Paddy," laughed Remus. He turned to Harry. "James used to say I'd become a Professor one day, but with Sirius he said 'No one would trust Sirius with their children's education'."

"Oh," Sirius clicked his fingers together, "that reminds me! Since we're on the subject of teaching, I should remind you that Professor Dumbledore is holding lessons with you this year. You've accomplished Occlumency, so your first lesson will be next Saturday at eight o clock."

Harry nodded, assimilating the information. "Do you know what he's going to be teaching me?"

"I genuinely don't know, other then it will help you," shrugged Sirius.

"Okay," said Harry.

They spent the rest of the afternoon talking to Sirius and Remus, both of the Marauders remembering the good times, sharing stories with Harry about their time at Hogwarts. It was getting late when Hermione interjected with the time.

"I guess we'd better get going," said Harry. "We'll probably miss the evening meal if we stay here any longer."

Sirius shoved his hands into his pockets. "See, we'd stay out and sneak back in later, but then we didn't have a Hermione in our group."

"Hey!" said Hermione indignantly, crossing her arms.

"Actually, Sirius, I think you'll find that I was the one who objected and was always overruled because Wormtail always sided with you and James," said Remus painfully. Mentioning Wormtail was hard. He had betrayed everything they had stood for, and for what: to survive and not to die. He felt sad.

"Remus?" asked Sirius.

"I'm fine," he whispered. "You go on. I'll be out in a minute."

Sirius threw him a look, but escorted Harry, Ron and Hermione outside.

Remus cast a glance around him. The Three Broomsticks hadn't changed since he had been a lad: Madam Rosmerta was still in charge, and the drinks were still as good as they had been when he, James, Sirius and Peter had slipped out of school to come here.

Why did you betray us, Peter? Why did you ruin everything we ever had?

Sighing, Remus understood that it was an answer to a question he would never get an answer to. Picking up his coat, he slipped it on, and walked out the door, only to walk into complete silence. He saw Sirius standing with his wand out; Harry, Ron and Hermione standing behind him with their own wands out.

"Sirius?" he asked, grasping his wand and running forward. The sun was just setting and the lights of Hogsmeade were turning on. "What is it?"

Sirius turned intense grey eyes upon him. He didn't even need to say anything for Remus to understand.

Remus swivelled, looking upwards. His mouth fell open in shock: the Dark Mark was hovering in the sky. He swallowed. The students that had not yet returned to the school were in terrible danger. They had to get them out of there.

Laughter echoed around them, and Remus raised his wand, thrusting his free arm out to protect Harry and his friends.

Voldemort was here.

To be continued...

Please let me know what you think!

Next chapter: No chapter title preview, I'm afraid, but I can say that things are going to get worse for Harry and Sirius... Will be posted Monday.

Until next time folks!

the-writer1988