Chapter 9: Prisoner of Azkaban

"So." Hermione began, "Our third year starts with a delightful phone call from Ron to Harry. Needless to say, Ron didn't know how to use it and so ended up yelling down the phone instead of talking normally. Harry said it was like they were yelling at each other from opposite ends of a Quidditch pitch, because his uncle started yelling too."

"Told you he wouldn't be able to use it." Remus said smugly.

"Nobody doubted you Moony." James told him. "But I bet Harry gets in trouble for it." He looked over at Hermione, who nodded.

"Well he got yelled at, but that was pretty good for the Dursleys. When he got home from school they had locked up all his school stuff so he couldn't get his wand, or his homework or anything."

"He will get in loads of trouble if he hasn't done his homework." Groaned James.

"It's ok. I think the Weasley twins taught him lockpicking, because one day he snuck downstairs, while the Dursleys were busy, and nicked some of his things so he could do his work."

"Definitely marauder material." Sirius grinned.

"Soon it was Harry's thirteenth birthday. The first year he gets proper birthday cards and presents."

"Stupid Dursleys." Sirius muttered.

"I got Harry a broomstick servicing kit."

"Wow, 'Mione. Hey guys, why can't you be more like 'Mione. She gets the best presents." James complained, looking round at Sirius and Remus.

"I got you that book on jinxes." Remus told him.

"Oh yeah, that was pretty cool." James admitted. "But still...that sounds awesome."

"Ron got Harry a pocket sneakoscope."

"Those are cool too." Sirius said,

"Pretty useful too. Especially for someone like Harry." Remus put in.

"Hagrid got him a biting book, saying it would be useful for next year."

"Oh Hagrid. It's not good if he thinks a monstrous book will be useful." Lily sighed. "I love Hagrid, but I think his pets have given you three enough trouble for your whole lives."

"I totally agree." Sighed Hermione. "Anyway, Ron's brother Percy had been made Head Boy and he was really happy about that. Ron wasn't quite so happy though." Hermione chuckled to herself. Harry also got his Hogwarts letter, which included his permission slip for Hogsmeade."

"Those idiots had better sign it." Sirius growled.

"Well, Harry was most disappointed to find out when he went down for breakfast on his birthday, that his Aunt Marge was going to be staying with them."

"Urgh!" Exclaimed Lily. "She is worse than Vernon."

"There is worse?" Sirius looked at her incredulously. Lily just nodded sadly.

"The Dursleys hadn't told Marge about Harry being a wizard, so they had told her he attended St Brutus's' secure centre for incurably criminal boys."

"They told her what?" Lily looked outraged.

"My son is not a criminal." James cried indignantly.

"How dare they?" Spluttered Sirius.

"Harry told his uncle that if he signed the permission form, he wouldn't tell Marge what he really was."

"That's my boy." James grinned. "Great idea Harry."

"His uncle agreed that if he behaved like a muggle for the whole week, he would sign the form."

"Good job Prongslet." Sirius cooed.

"Marge hated Harry more than the Dursleys. That week was horrible for Harry because she kept throwing out comments about how bad he was and why he was that way. One night he exploded her glass because she insulted Lily."

"Good." James said angrily. "There is nothing wrong with Lily."

"Thank you dear." Lily smiled at him.

"She married you, Prongs, there must be something wrong." Remus grinned.

"Shut it Moony." James replied, sticking his tongue out.

"Other than that he got through, until the night before she left. Marge started insulting both Lily and James, saying there were probably drunks, which was a bit rich seeing how much she had drunk herself, who got themselves killed in a car crash."

The room was silent for a few seconds.

"That bitch!" Exploded Sirius.

"Hypocritical….stupid...how dare she…" Remus was too angry to speak properly. His features became more wolfish and for once, Hermione saw he did actually look scary. James and Lily both looked furious as well.

Even the Professors looked outraged.

"Albus, we should not have left Harry with these people." McGonagall told him sternly.

"I'm sure I have my reasons." He replied, but he looked worried.

"However, Harry then made her swell up like a balloon." Hermione carried on over the noise. Sirius paused in his rant and looked at Hermione.

"What?"

"Harry got so mad that he accidentally caused her to swell up like a balloon." She repeated. The room burst out laughing.

"Great one Harry." Sirius chortled.

"He then decided to run away. He packed up all his stuff and left."

"Oh no. You and Ron are abroad. Where is he going to go?" Lily asked, looking worried.

"Well while he was walking, he decided to bewitch his trunk and fly to London. He was hoping to get to Diagon Alley."

"Good plan." James smiled.

"However, he thought he saw something in the bushes. It appeared to be a big black dog." She smiled. Sirius looked startled.

"It can't be me can it?" He asked.

"Actually, it was you."

"But, if I am there, then why can't I look after Harry?" Sirius asked. Hermione's face darkened. Then she sighed.

"You were supposed to be in Azkaban." Everyone gaped at her. "Sirius became the first person ever to escape." Now they all gaped at Sirius.

"Wow Padfoot." James looked both worried and impressed.

"What did I do?" Sirius asked, he looked nervous. Hermione took a deep breath.

"You supposedly murdered thirteen people with a single curse. Twelve muggles and a wizard." The room was silent.

"What?" Sirius' voice was hoarse. "I would never. Ever." He looked pleadingly at Hermione. "Tell me it wasn't actually me. I was framed right?"

"'Mione did say supposedly." Remus pointed out.

"So it wasn't actually Padfoot then?" James asked. Hermione shook her head. A sigh of relief went around the room.

"So who was it?" Sirius asked. Hermione shook her head again.

"Part of the story. We didn't actually find out Sirius was innocent until the end of our third year, but we all felt that I had to tell you now that it wasn't you. It wouldn't be fair otherwise."

"Thanks." Sirius smiled at her gratefully.

"So, Harry saw the dog and fell over his trunk. As he did, he accidentally called the Knight Bus. He got on and asked to go to The Leaky Cauldron. On the bus he saw a newspaper article that explained about Sirius killing the muggles. He was in Azkaban for twelve years."

Everyone shuddered. Sirius' face was pale.

"He escaped recently though."

"So that's why I was there? Making sure Harry was ok, even if I couldn't actually speak to him?" Sirius asked. Hermione nodded with a smile.

"Thanks Padfoot." James grinned at him.

"Harry told the driver he was Neville Longbottom. He was scared of being caught for underage magic, when he received that warning last year. However Fudge caught him at the Leaky Cauldron."

"He better let Harry off." Growled James.

"He did." Grinned Hermione. "Harry was really confused as to why he wasn't punished. Fudge also refused to sign his Hogsmeade permission form."

"Awww!" Chorused the marauders. "Poor Harry." Groaned James.

"If he is anything like his dad, he will find a way anyway." Remus laughed.

"He better." Sirius chuckled.

"Fudge told Harry to stay in Diagon Alley for the rest of the summer. He got to do his homework. Mr Fortescue gave him free ice creams and helped him with his homework."

"Wow. Lucky kid." Sirius said, practically drooling at the idea of free ice cream.

"Harry also found the new broom out. A Firebolt. International standard broom. Harry was drooling over it." She glanced over and James and Sirius were also drooling thinking about it.

"Awesome! I want one." James moaned in longing.

"It doesn't exist yet." Remus told him. Lily smacked him over the head.

"Ow! Hey! What was that for?" James groaned, rubbing the back of his head.

"You were drooling." Lily said and James wiped his mouth, looking embarrassed.

"He also got all his new books. The Monster book Hagrid had sent him, was for Care of Magical Creatures."

"Ohh. So it was actually useful?" Asked Remus. Hermione nodded, smiling fondly.

"On the day before we went back to Hogwarts, Ron and I arrived. Ron's rat, Scabbers," Hermione tried to hide her distaste when she said the name, "Was looking ill and I wanted to get an owl. Instead I ended up with Crookshanks, my cat." Hermione smiled to herself. "Well, half cat, half Kneazle."

"Cool, they are supposed to be really intelligent." Sirius smiled.

"They are." Hermione agreed. "Well, Mr Weasley had got Ministry cars to take us to Kings Cross."

"Why?" Asked Remus, looking confused.

"Well, they wouldn't tell us. However, that night, Harry went back to our table where Ron had left his rat tonic, he had gotten for Scabbers and overheard Mr and Mrs Weasley talking about him. Everybody thought that Sirius had escaped Azkaban to find and kill Harry."

"WHAT?" Sirius roared. "I would never hurt Harry. He is my best friend's son. He is my godson"

"Everyone thought you had become a Death Eater." Hermione informed him sadly.

Sirius looked around the room. "You guys know I would never do that, right?"

"Of course you wouldn't." James said, firmly. "Even if Hermione hadn't said you were innocent, I would believe you."

"Thanks Prongs." Sirius said, gratefully.

"But Harry now thought Sirius was after him."

"Oh great." Sirius said miserably. This was going to be a long year. He desperately hoped Harry liked him in the end. 'Mione said she knew he was innocent. Hopefully Harry believed that too. It was bad enough that James was dead, let alone his godson hating him.

"We found out Dementors were being posted around Hogwarts."

"What?" Dumbledore asked, sharply. "I would never allow Dementors near Hogwarts."

"You did Professor." Hermione told him. "On that cheery thought, we were then off to Hogwarts."

Everyone, except the teachers, cheered loudly.

"Please tell me Mr Potter manages a nice safe journey on the train." McGonagall said.

"Well, it's on the train." Hermione sighed.

"But not safe?" Sirius asked with a groan. Hermione shook her head. Everyone groaned loudly.

"By the time we got on the train, the only compartment left was one with a teacher in it."

"A teacher? They don't usually travel by train. Is it your new DADA teacher?" James asked. Hermione nodded, grinning broadly.

"Who is it?" Remus asked. Hermione looked at him.

"You." She said with a chuckle.

"ME?" Remus asked, astounded. He turned to Dumbledore. "Professor, you must know it's not safe."

"It is just as safe as when you were a student, Remus. I have no doubts that you will be a wonderful teacher." Dumbledore told him with a smile.

"I can't believe we left you alone with your transformations for so long." Sirius looked guiltily at Remus.

"I'm tough. I can handle it." Remus told them. Although, inside, he wasn't so sure.

"There is a potion in our time. Makes the transformation easier. You keep your human mind so you are harmless really. You know not to attack anyone." Hermione said. "Professor Snape makes it."

"How on earth did you bully Snivellus into that?" Sirius asked Dumbledore incredulously. Lily pointed her wand at him threateningly.

"I'm sure I did not need to bully Severus." He said calmly. James and Sirius snorted.

"Anyway, we sat with Professor Lupin," Hermione grinned.

"That has a nice ring to it." Sirius chuckled, smirking at Remus.

"Don't call me that. It makes me feel old."

"Excuse me?" McGonagall and Dumbledore looked at Remus, eyebrows raised. Lily, James and Sirius laughed.

"I didn't mean it like that Professor." Remus mumbled. Their expressions softened and Dumbledore's eyes twinkled in amusement.

"Harry told us what he had overheard. And then the train stopped. And a Dementor came on."

"What?" everyone exclaimed at the same time.

"Yeah. It was horrible. Thankfully, Remus woke up. Just then the Dementor came in and Harry heard screaming. Then he fainted and Remus sent the Dementor away with a Patronus charm."

"He fainted?" James asked in horror.

"Thank you Remus." Lily said quietly.

"He heard screaming?" Asked Sirius. Everyone was very pale.

"Dementor's make you relive your worst memories. Wait...that means...the screaming...Lily. He was hearing you." Sirius gasped. Lily's face went blank with shock. And then she started crying.

"He remembers that well enough to be his worst memory?" Asked James. HIs voice was hoarse as he held a crying Lily in his arms. Hermione looked pained as she nodded.

"Damn!" Sirius swore. Everyone looked deeply upset. He motioned at Hermione to continue.

"We woke Harry up and remus gave us all some chocolate."

"Thank you Remus." Said James.

"Moony's magical remedy to everything. Chocolate." Sirius said, trying to lighten the atmosphere. Everyone gave a small chuckle.

"He explained what the Dementor was and then left to send an owl. When we arrived at Hogwarts, Professor McGonagall called Harry and me to her office."

"But you haven't done anything." Said Sirius.

"We weren't in trouble." Smiled Hermione. "I was taking too many classes to she had got me a time-turner for class."

McGonagall stared at her. "You must be a very impressive student." She said with a smile.

"Oh my gosh, look James, Minnie is smiling." Sirius whispered. McGonagall turned to him.

"What was that Mr Black?"

"Nothing, nothing." Sirius muttered quickly.

"That's what I thought."

"They just wanted Harry to make sure he was alright. Remus had sent an owl about him." Hermione continued.

"Thank you for taking care of him." Lily said again.

"No worries Lily." Remus smiled at her. He was delighted to finally be a part of Harry's life and to be able to help him even if only a little.

"At the feast Dumbledore introduced Remus and Hagrid, who was our new Care of Magical Creatures teacher."

"Aww!" Chorused Lily and the marauders. McGonagall and Dumbledore smiled. They all knew Hagrid deserved the position.

"OUr first subject the next day was Divination." McGonagall's nostrils flared slightly as Hermione spoke. "It was a disaster. We were doing tea leaves and Professor Trelawney decided to pick Harry to be her student that year who would die. Apparently she picks a different student every year. She saw a grim in his cup."

Sirius and James gasped. McGonagall rolled her eyes and Lily just looked confused.

"Don't worry. It was nonsense. In Transfiguration, Professor McGonagall explained that she picked a new student to die every year and said that if Harry died he wouldn't need to hand his homework in."

Everybody snorted with laughter.

"Only Minnie." Chortled Sirius.

"Then came Care of Magical Creatures. Hagrid decided to show us Hippogriffs."

"Cool!" Exclaimed James.

"A little advanced." McGonagall said disapprovingly.

"They aren't that bad as long as you don't insult them." Sirius shrugged.

"Harry got to go first and he got Buckbeak to bow to him. Hagrid then let Harry ride Buckbeak."

"Wow!" Exclaimed Lily.

"He told me he preferred broomsticks." Hermione grinned. Sirius and James whooped and laughed.

"Everything was fine, until Malfoy decided he didn't want to listen to Hagrid. He was talking to Crabbe and Goyle when Hagrid told us not to insult them. So on his turn, he insulted Buckbeak."

Everyone gasped.

"Buckbeak clawed him and Malfoy went to the hospital wing."

"Trust the Malfoy spawn to mess things up. I bet he was listening and did it deliberately." Sirius spat. Hermione nodded, angrily remembering how much trouble that had caused that year.

"Malfoy told his father, who went to the Committee of Dangerous creatures."

"Scumbag." James growled.

"In Potions, later that week, Malfoy was flaunting his injury, using it to get his way. Snape made Harry and Ron cut up Malfoy's ingredients because apparently he couldn't use that arm."

"Nonsense. Madam Pomfrey could fix that up in a second." Remus said, looking outraged.

"Since when has Snivellus been fair to Harry?" Sirius asked bitterly. James looked down at his hands, ashamed, and Lily sighed remembering the man who had once been her friend.

"Malfoy was taunting Harry. Trying to get him to go after Sirius himself."

"Why would Harry go looking for someone he thought wanted to kill him?" Remus asked, confused. Hermione scowled, but said nothing.

"Thankfully, next was DADA."

"Moony's first lesson!" Grinned Sirius and James. Hermione chuckled, remembering how it had gone.

"Yep." She said. "We were doing boggarts. He got Neville to do a demonstration, apparently his fear was Professor Snape."

"Albus. We need to do something if he is a student's worst nightmare." McGonagall told Dumbledore. Dumbledore himself, also looked concerned.

"He then asked Neville to picture his Grandmothers clothes." Remus suddenly realised what his future self was doing and burst into laughter. "Snape came out of the wardrobe,"

Sirius and James glanced at each other and snorted with laughter.

"Where the boggart had been hiding. Neville cast the charm, and it was suddenly Snape in Neville's grandmother's clothes."

Everyone exploded with laughter. James and Sirius, who had met the woman, were rolling on the floor. Even Lily was chuckling. It was a good few minutes before Hermione could continue with the story.

"We carried on taking turns with the boggart, until it reached Harry. Remus stopped it before Harry could have his turn. It then turned into the moon, which most people thought was a crystal ball." Remus snorted at that.

"I bet she figures out that Remus is a werewolf quicker than we did." Sirius muttered to James. James grinned and shook his hand.

"Five galleons?"

"Deal."

"What are you two doing?" Hermione asked. Sirius looked at her innocently.

"Nothing 'Mione."

Hermione snorted. "Yeah right."

"I'm going to go and get Harry up for a little while." Lily announced and left the room.

"Remus, you need to teach and do that to Snivellus." Sirius turned to him with a huge grin. "That's hilarious."

"Yeah, I didn't know you had it in you." James chuckled. The Professor's were watching with smiles.