All right, let's do this :D

As time wore on, Harry was beginning to think that he would have to buy himself a broom as the Firebolt was taking forever to de-jinx and badgering McGonagall about it only seemed to anger her. He knew better than to pester Professor Snape. To make matters worse, his lessons with Lupin were not going nearly as well as he had hoped. No matter how hard he tried, his Patronus was just too weak to drive the dementor away and he was getting tired of nearly fainting every time the boggart was loosed from its cage.

"You're expecting too much of yourself." Professor Lupin stated at their fourth week of practice. "For a thirteen-year-old wizard, even an indistinct Patronus is a huge achievement. You aren't passing out anymore are you?"

"I thought a Patronus would...charge the dementors down or something...make them disappear..."

"The true Patronus does do that." Lupin offered the disheartened boy some more chocolate. "But you've achieved a great deal in a very short space of time. If the dementors put in an appearance at your next Quidditch match, you will be able to keep them at bay long enough to get back to the ground."

"You said it's harder if there are loads of them."

"I have complete confidence in you. Here. You've earned a drink...something from the Three Broomsticks. You won't have tried it before."

He pulled out two bottles of Butterbeer and Harry's heart jumped.

"Oh!" He caught himself before he gave him and Professor Snape away. "W-what is that?"

"It's Butterbeer." Lupin, smiling, opened up a bottle and gave it to Harry. "Well, let's drink to a Slytherin victory against Ravenclaw! Not that I'm supposed to take sides, as a teacher..."

As they drank quietly, Harry enjoying the warm substance for a second time, Harry finally asked what was under a dementor's hood and the answer he received led to the topic of a dementor's kiss and how this fate was due to Sirius Black if the man was ever caught.

Harry thought on this for a long time before murmuring, "Do you think he deserves it?"

Lupin glanced at Harry before answering, "Do you really think anyone deserves that?"

Harry frowned. "Maybe...for some things...like...Voldemort...he'd deserve it...or worse."

On his way back to his dormitory, he ran into Professor Snape, who offered out the Firebolt, insisting to Harry that it was fine and that he should practice with it, which of course Harry ran straight to the pitch, where his team already was practicing late, to do so. It rode beautifully, naturally. He couldn't even remember how he managed on his original Nimbus 2000.

As the week wore on, he discovered that Ron's rat, Scutter or something, had been eaten by Hermione's cat, Crookedshack or something, which Harry had thought was the funniest thing to happen to Ron. Well, in all honesty, he did feel sorry for the poor bloke, but the rat had been old and Ron now had an excuse to get something newer and younger. This wasn't the only thing Ron complained about lately either. He was often caught whispering to his gang about finding "that spare bit of parchment". It was fairly important because he kept glaring at his fellows who had, obviously, lost it. Harry was sure he heard a word like, "Map" in there somewhere, but then again he could have misheard.

Then it was the Quidditch match against Ravenclaw. It had been a wonderful match, with Harry zipping around in absolute luxurious speed on his Firebolt and catching the snitch, but the highlight of this game had been when the dementors appeared and Harry had cast a full bodied Patronus (He had no idea what form it took) and chased them down while he continued the match. Of course it wasn't until afterwards that he discovered the dementors were actually Ronald, Dean, Seamus, and Neville who were scolded by McGonagall and punished by Professor Snape for their "low and cowardly attempt to sabotage the Slytherin Seeker!" Amidst all the ruckus of winning the game, Harry was happiest to see the proud looks on not only Professor Lupin's face, but also his Head of house. And then there was partying all night long.

It wasn't until morning that he learned of the attack in Gryffindor Tower. Apparently Ronald had been attacked by none other than Sirius Black, who had been holding a knife. Worse, it seemed that Black had found a list of passwords originally owned by Neville Longbottom, who had lost them, of course, and the rather stupid painting put there at the entrance had let the man in when Black had told him all the passwords. The story was much more elaborate than that, when told by Ron, but this was what Harry had originally heard.

Of course, the Gryffindors blamed him for the attack, but Harry was getting used to that.

The only downside to this attack was that Professor Snape didn't want Harry to visit Hogsmeade at all, even accompanied by an adult, to which Harry had pointed out that Black had attacked inside the castle, not in Hogsmeade, but this didn't seem to matter to the Potions Master. He didn't want Harry anywhere where there weren't several teachers around to protect him.

Then he got the note from Hagrid asking him to meet him in the Entrance Hall, which he did only to find Ron waiting for him as well. It was very awkward and Harry felt an urge in his stomach to run for it. Hagrid met up with them and took them down to his cabin. Apparently, he had a bone to pick with Ron about being so mean to Hermione and he even spread this out to Harry who had promised to help Hermione with Buckbeak's case, only to not. Harry felt bad, he really did, but he had completely forgotten about it and it wasn't as if Hermione ever asked for help.

Afterwards, abandoned in the Entrance Hall, Ron gave Harry an earful about Black, to which Harry had commented coolly, "I thought you were enjoying the attention."

This earned him a black eye, that he refused to tell his Head of House where he had gotten it.

Feeling more and more down with each passing day and with only a couple days before the next Hogsmeade visit, Harry wandered off towards a long abandoned classroom he frequented, only to pause at sight of a rather strange piece of parchment. It was covered with what appeared to be symbols, some of which were moving. Picking it up, he gave it a good look, only to find out that it was a map of Hogwarts, all of Hogwarts with passages everywhere, some he had never seen before, and little footprints with name tags, of each individual on the map. At the top of the map it was beautifully titled: Messrs. Moony, Wormtail, Padfoot, and Prongs Purveyors of Aids to Magical Mischief-Makers are proud to present THE MARAUDER'S MAP. Stunned, he rushed off to the abandoned classroom and hid inside it to study the map. It was incredible! Of course, he shuddered at the thought of perhaps Sirius Black using this map, but he doubted the man would leave something this valuable lying around...

"Ronald." He said aloud, feeling his ears burn. This belonged to Ron Weasley, no doubt about it, and he had probably come in possession of it from one of his older brothers, most likely the twins.

"How do you work?" He murmured and was shocked to see writing appeared, apparently "written" by Mr. Moony.

Mr. Moony informs you that this map is for Mischief-Makers only and to be used to sneak about, if you like.

Then appeared more words:

Mr. Wormtail adds that this map can be used to sneak down to Hogsmeade if you need to.

Then more:

Mr. Padfoot admits that Filthy Filch found out about the Passages of the African Jungle Painting, the Wild Boar Statue, the Dungeons' Drain, and the Hidden Doorway behind the Tapestry of the Unicorn and to not bother with the one behind the mirror on the fourth floor as its now caved in. My recommendation is the the one in the Witch's Hump as it leads straight to the cellar of Honeydukes. (All the while, the places mentioned were circled by some invisible ink.)

And finally:

Mr. Prongs would like to remind you to wipe the map after you use it by tapping it and saying "Mischief Managed" or anyone can read it. To open the map, tap it and say "I solemnly swear I am up to no good". Do cause loads of trouble and thoroughly enjoy yourself.

Harry stared at the map as the words slowly melted away. His heart was racing. His mind was churning. And he was thrilled.

The day of the Hogsmeade visit, Harry, invisibility cloak in hand, wandered to the witch and with the word "dissendium" climbed into the witch's hump and began his long journey to Hogsmeade.

Hogsmeade alone wasn't nearly as fun as Hogsmeade with company, but it was rather entertaining taking what he wanted (he left payment behind for it) and enjoying the weather. He caught sight of the Weasley Gang (minus Neville who had apparently lost his Hogsmeade privileges) and the Malfoy Gang butting heads out by the Shrieking Shack, but he ignored it as it was a rather common sight and moved through the town.

Then he nearly ran into his Head of House, who was giving the snow a rather serious study. Only a moment after dodging the man and then Harry was snatched by him and dragged to an alley.

The cloak was yanked off of him and he was getting a full-face glare from the teacher.

"What do you think you're doing, Potter!" The man spat, scowling at Harry with the epitome of rage. Harry felt himself shrinking.

"Out for a stroll..." He mumbled lamely.

"When you're not supposed to be anywhere in Hogsmeade." Snape snarled. "You're very lucky that I suspected you of doing such a thing. What would have happened had you been caught by a dementor or Black?"

"I wasn't." Harry murmured. "I was wearing the invisibility cloak the entire time."

"And I believe we've already gone over that dementors can see through invisibility cloaks." Snape snarled. "How did you get past?"

"I...I left with a group." Harry lied, feeling his gut churning at the idea of lying to his favorite professor. "I-I'm sorry. I know it was selfish, but...it's just so unfair, professor!"

"Whining won't work on me, Potter." Snape snarled angrily. "Now, put that cloak back on and follow me back up to the castle. When we arrive you will turn out your pockets and give me everything you've stolen."

"I didn't steal anything." Harry shot back. "I paid for all of it. I left them the coins."

Snape gave the boy a studious look before finally growling, "Why, Potter? Why must you so blatantly put yourself in danger for mere whimsical desires? Does the sacrifices of others not matter to you? Do you really not care how much risk everyone else puts themselves in for you?"

"I do..." Harry couldn't stop looking at the ground as he finally admitted, "I just...I'm tired of...always being left out..."

The man gave a great sigh and pinched the bridge of his nose. "Potter...fine. You can stay in Hogsmeade for today."

Harry lifted his head in shock. "R...thank you, sir."

"But you must promise to head back with your classmates." Snape instructed sternly. "And you must never do this again. Understood?"

"Understood." Harry nodded fervently.

"And stay under that invisibility cloak."

"I will."

"Enjoy Hogsmeade."

"I will. Thank you sir."

His Potions Master didn't respond, instead slipping off into Hogsmeade as Harry hid himself beneath the cloak and made his way through Hogsmeade, feeling as if he could make the strongest Patronus ever.

So, for those who think Snape is acting very un-Snape-like and that I should put the words AU in this, let me remind you that any story that wasn't written and published by J.K. Rowling and that is based off of the Harry Potter series IS AU as what she has written is the only possible storyline. As for the un-Snape-like behavior: I firmly believe that he would treat Harry differently when Harry is a Slytherin as he can relate to him. Hope that makes sense. Enjoy! Review if you want!