Chapter three

Harry and Susan headed back to Hufflepuff house. Harry asked if she would come up to the boys dorm rooms so they could have some privacy. Harry noticed Susan blushed so he reassured her it was just to talk even if he thought she was pretty. When he said that Harry blushed but quickly ran up the stairs.

'So…um what did you want to talk to me about?'

'Your aunt, I heard she was an auror and years ago she was friends with my parent's, so were your parents.'

'Yes, I heard they were all friends. Aunt Amelia is now the head of the department of magical law enforcement.'

'Oh, I never knew she was head. I need your opinion on her…well, on how she is. Would listen to a very farfetched story but a true story that could save an innocent person's life?'

'Aunt Amelia is fair Harry, is she is given enough information then she would investigate before making up her mind. I can tell you that she doesn't like the minister or any one on his staff. She got the promotion as she had the most experience out of all the aurors.'

'If I explain something to you will you tell me what you think she might do? But you have to promise to keep this to yourself. Someone's life could be in danger if it gets out.'

'You have my word.'

Harry knew this was a risk but he also thought Susan was a good person, 'Okay, Sirius Black isn't trying to kill me, in fact he wasn't the one that betrayed my parents or killed those muggles. Do you know the story about that?'

'When he escaped we all read about it. But how do you know he isn't the one?'

'At the end of last year we saw Peter Pettigrew for ourselves and he confessed. We also got to see his dark mark. He was the real secret keeper for my family and he killed those muggles to set Sirius up. We told Fudge, Snape said we were confunded as he hates Sirius, so Fudge wouldn't believe us. Well, I helped Sirius escape, Hermione and Dumbledore helped as well. Remus, um Professor Lupin also heard it all, he was friends with my parents and Sirius. He thought Sirius was the secret keeper as well, until he heard the truth. It seems my parents and Sirius thought it would be best to change secret keepers as everyone would believe it was Sirius, he was too obvious.'

'Then if you saw Pettigrew's dark mark and he confessed then why did you not take him to Fudge?'

'He escaped, it's a long story which I can fill you in later if you want. But your aunt, would she listen to me, and Dumbledore and Lupin as well. I would even let her question me using veritaserum.'

'She would listen then if she thought there was a chance you were telling the truth I'm sure she would use the truth potion, that or memories. She is trained to see if memories have been altered or tampered with. She has told me they use them sometimes in trials.'

'That would be perfect, she could see exactly what he said. Oh, Ron's rat, that was Pettigrew, he's an animagus. See what I mean about a farfetched story. But when you hear the rest it makes sense. Everyone knows about Remus being a werewolf, well, my dad, Sirius and Pettigrew learned to become animagi to keep Remus company on the wolf nights. As you know werewolves are dangerous to humans not to animals. My dad and Sirius became large animals to keep the wolf in line. That's why they changed secret keepers to Pettigrew, he could change into a rat and escape if he got caught. They did it illegally and never registered.'

'I was just going to ask about that, I know there has only been three animagus registered in the last one hundred years. But if you what you say is true and I think you are, then there could be lots more out there.'

'I'm sure there is, especially amongst the death eaters. So should I write to her, ask if she could meet me in Hogsmeade?'

'Yes, but I'll write as well, ask her to listen to you and if she will watch your memory. If this is true then Sirius Black could be given the kiss if he's found.'

'Yes, he could. He's my godfather and if he gets his name cleared I might be able to get away from the muggles.'

'Muggles, what muggles?'

'I live with my mother's muggle sister and her husband. They hate us, hate anyone not normal, well, normal to them. They aren't very nice to me because to them I'm a freak. They basically treat me like a slave. At the time Dumbledore had to think of my safety and Sirius was sent to Azkaban. He used blood family to create some type of wards to keep me safe from Voldemort's death eaters. Anyway, I'll get this letter done.'

'Give me a quill and some parchment, I'll write at the same time.'

'Then Hedwig can take both our letters,' Harry smiled at Susan then grabbed two quills, ink and two pieces of parchment. When they finished they walked together up to the owlery where Harry called down the snowy owl.

'She really is beautiful,' Susan gave the owl a pat.

'And she knows it, look at her, showing off,' Harry grinned then kissed Hedwig's chest, 'These are both to go to Madam Amelia Bones at the Department of Magical Law Enforcement. I don't want anyone else to get these, okay.'

Hedwig hooted then took off through the window, 'Well, I should get Hannah and head to the library.'

'Do you mind if I join you, I have some work to finish?'

'I don't mind,' Susan blushed again then headed down the steep steps.

'We're not used to seeing you in here very often Harry,' Hannah said as they stepped into the library.

'Because of Hermione, it's hard enough to study with her around. I can't concentrate because I think she's going to start criticising me. She annoys the shit out of me, especially when she tells me I'M not doing it right, right to her only though. This is one place she likes to spend her time, but since we're now in different houses, I will sit with my fellow house mates, the puffs,' Harry smirked.

'To be honest Harry, none of us can stand her,' Susan said as she put her book bag onto the table.

'It's her attitude, how do you put up with her?'

'I try not to, but usually I block her whiny voice out just so I can read my assignments. Most of the time I end up doing them in bed just to get away from her. She can be a great friend, but her attitude and belief's just annoy me. Ron's no better though, all he wants to do is skive off homework and play games. It's a wonder I'm doing as good as I am in classes.'

'He does seem lazy. He didn't look happy when you're name came out,' Hannah said.

'He thinks I entered and never told him. But the truth is, he's always been jealous of me. You know, the-boy-who-lived, then he finds out I have money, it made it worse. I told him a dozen times I would rather be poor and have my family back, he just doesn't realise how lucky he is to have a family.'

'No, he doesn't, I'm lucky to have my aunt.'

'Is she nice to you?' Harry asked in almost a whisper.

'She loves me and treats me like I'm her daughter. She raised me since I was eight months old.'

'At least she cares, not like my aunt, she hates the sight of me. Anyway, I need to get stuck into my transfiguration homework. I doubt McGonagall will be too happy with me at the moment.'

'If she never helped you then it's her own fault that you deserting Gryffindor.'

'It is, but it's also all of them, it's their fault. They would like me one day then hate me the next. I have no idea most of the time. That is one thing I noticed about Hufflepuff over Gryffindor, you're loyal, most of that lot aren't. I'm big on honesty and loyalty, along with trust.'

'I think it's who you spent time with. We know most of the students don't like Granger, Ron is obnoxious and a bit of a bully. How can you sit with him when he eats, he makes me sick when I see him in the great hall?' Susan asked.

'I was sort of happy to have a friend, the Dursley's made sure I had no one. Ron was the first person, apart from Hagrid, who was nice to me. I know he has a lot of bad habits, and Hermione has made herself unpopular even with the Gryffindor's. I know the quidditch girls don't like her, well, hardly any of the Gryffindor's like her. They only speak to her because of me and Ron. At least I don't have to put up with her snotty know-it-all attitude anymore. She really was starting to piss me off.'

'You won't get us acting like that, if you don't want to do your work then it's your fault if you fail,' Hannah smirked making Harry and Susan laugh.

'You're right, it would be my fault, she doesn't understand that. As far as she is concerned she can tell us what to do,' Harry sighed. He missed his friend but she just wouldn't let up.

The three puffs didn't know that Hermione was listening from behind one of the bookshelves. She never knew Harry felt like that, not about her or Ron. It seemed there was no use trying to talk him into returning to Gryffindor when it's obvious he didn't like most of them, including the two people who had been his friends for more than three years. She understood why Harry was angry with Ron, he often got jealous of Harry. But now she knew what he really felt about her, but she not only knew about Harry, but everyone else. She didn't realise so many people inside Hogwarts didn't like her.