I was released from the Hospital Wing later that day. Most people were very pleasant to me, and constantly tried to cheer me up about the match. It helped to have so many people on my side.

Draco Malfoy, of course, was most discouraging. "Don't worry, Potter," he said, mockingly. "Don't let the dementors get you down. Oh, too late, I guess."

However, there were a perk or two.

"Oh, Cedric!" I called, before I chickened out. He was just exiting a classroom, and I caught up to him.

He smiled a gorgeous smile as I ran up to him. "Hi," he said, still grinning.

"Listen…well, I'm kind of embarrassed about it, but thanks for catching me…again," I said, shyly, tucking my hair behind my ears. I was glad I had taken the time to fix my hair this morning.

"Really, I'm beginning to enjoy it," he laughed, and started walking with me down the corridor.

I just laughed, feeling a little bounce in my step. "I just have to make sure there's no dementors next time," I assured him.

He frowned suddenly. "You know, no one likes them. It's not just you that reacts to them. If I hadn't caught the Snitch in time, we would have had to reschedule."

"You're a good Seeker," I told him, nodding.

"You're a better one when you're not fainting," he told him, with an irresistible half-smile.

"Thanks, but I guess we'll find out next time," I said, taking a right while he took a left. I smiled at him over my shoulder, and he returned it.

I hurried to Defense Against the Dark Arts. Lupin was back, and the class was ecstatic.

When the bell rang, Lupin called, "Haile, I'd like a word."

I lingered behind, and showed up at his desk.

"I heard about the match," he said, gravely. "Sorry about your broomstick…and the dementors."

"Me too. I mean, why do they affect me like that?" I asked, puzzled.

"It's not because you're weak," Lupin said quickly. "Because you're very strong. No, it is because you have more horrors in your past than others."

I nodded, seeing as though this made perfect sense.

"They are one of the foulest, most terrible creatures that reside on this planet. They suck happiness out of everything and anything. If the dementors kiss you, you'll be left soulless. That is a fate worse than death itself."

"Azkaban must be a mad house," I offered.

Lupin nodded. "It's on a tiny island out at sea. The prisoners usually go mad in there, sucked of any hope or happiness."

"But Sirius Black escaped," I protested.

"Yes," he said curtly. "Incredible."

"You fought them, too," I reminded him.

"There is a spell to defend them. However, the more there are, the more difficult it is to perform."

"Professor," I said, getting an idea. "Could you teach me this spell?"

Lupin looked into my eyes and nodded. "Yes, I'll try and help. But it'll have to wait until after the holidays. It's most advanced, and I do not expect you to grasp it immediately."

I thanked him happily and left. My cheerfulness didn't leave either. Ravenclaw had creamed Hufflepuff, which meant us Gryffindors still had a chance. I worked extra hard in practice, to show the team and Wood that I wouldn't let them down again.

As Christmas came along, Ron and Hermione insisted they were staying at Hogwarts. I knew they didn't want me to be alone, but I didn't argue.

I really didn't want to be alone on Christmas anyway.

Also, there was another Hogsmeade trip on the last weekend of the term. I unhappily accepted the fact that I was going to be the only one home again.

On that morning, I said good-bye to Ron and Hermione, and trudged back up to the common room.

Fred and George greeted me, grinning wickedly.

"Aren't you going?" I asked, confused.

"We wanted to give you something first," Fred told me, with a mysterious twinkle in his eye.

"Merry Christmas," George said, handing with a blank sheet of very old parchment.

"Is this a joke?" I asked, a doubtful smile playing on my cheeks.

"No!" George protested.

Fred cleared his throat. "This is a real sacrifice, giving it you. Well, we know it by heart anyway."

"So, what is it?" I asked, curiously.

Fred continued. "When we were first years, young, innocent—don't giggle, we were!—and when we got caught the first time by Filch, we were sent to his office."

George spoke next. "We saw this drawer marked Confiscated and Highly Dangerous. Of course, we were downright intent on breaking in."

"I dropped another Dungbomb," Fred said casually, "and we grabbed this."

"Filch didn't even know how to work it," George said proudly. "So, it was hardly stealing."

"Okay. You've got my attention," I said, grinning eagerly. "Show me!"

"Fine, fine, if you insist," Fred said mischievously. He removed his wand from his pocket and touch the piece of paper with it. "I solemnly swear that I'm up to no good."

I watched as they handed me the parchment. Lines drawn in ink began forming all over the paper, they crisscrossed, intersected, and formed shapes and more lines…

Words appeared about the top. They read, 'Moony, Wormtail, Padfoot, and Prongs are proud to present…The Marauder's Map.'

This map showed every inch of Hogwarts—castle and ground. Also, it had hundreds of dots that labeled every single person in the castle. Fred and George looked gleeful at my astonished face, and they showed me the secret passages to Hogsmeade, and which one for me to use. They also told me how to wipe it blank.

"I can't believe this!" I breathed. "This is fantastic! You two…you two really are…"

"Amazing, we know!" Fred said, beaming.

"See you in Honeydukes!" George chirped.

And with that, they gave me simultaneous kisses on my two cheeks and left.

Laughing giddily, I ran upstairs to grab some money. I thought about bringing my Invisibility Cloak, then decided against it. I wanted to enjoy my time there.

After grabbing a regular cloak, I ran down to the statue Fred and George had told me about. I whispered, "Dissendium!" after checking the map to make sure Filch or Snape or anyone else was coming.

The witch moved, and I slid through the crack it revealed. It was some sort of a slide, and I hit the bottom in a few seconds. Rubbing my sore bosom, I started to run, lighting up my wand. I whispered, "Mischief managed!" and the map went blank.

The passageway seemed to take forever. Once I reached the stairs, those seemed to take even longer. I started to hear voices, and that made me go faster, even though I was already exhausted.

Finally, I came to a trapdoor. I silently lifted the lid, and peered in. It was apparently the storage room, as there were crates and boxes everywhere. I quickly climbed out, running to the door.

I pressed my ear against it, and slipped through it. The bright, colorful store was refreshing for my eyes, as I had just come from twenty minutes or so in the dark tunnel.

The store was crowded. Every student at Hogwarts seemed to be in there, yelling, talking, buying…

I ducked down, and crawled, undetected away from the counter. I walked around the store, my cloak covering my face, until I spotted Ron and Hermione.

"I don't know what to get her," Hermione said, flustered.

"I like lollipops," I put in cheerfully.

Hermione and Ron must have jumped a foot in the air. "Haile!" Ron exclaimed. "How in Merlin's name did you get here!"

I explained about the Marauder's Map. Hermione gasped. "Haile…you're going to turn it in, right?" she said, dropping her voice.

Ron stared at her. "Are you insane?" he asked pointedly.

"Sirius Black could be using one of those entrances to Hogsmeade to be getting into the school!" Hermione exclaimed.

I shook my head. "Hermione, Filch knows about four of the seven. One is caved in, one's hidden by the Whomping Willow…and this one…well…"

Ron pointed at a nearby sign. The Ministry of Magic had posted a notice that explained that Hogsmeade would be closed after sundown due to the dementors patrolling to capture Black.

Hermione narrowed her eyes. "If anyone finds out Haile's here…"

"They won't," Ron said happily. "Let's go to the Three Broomsticks!

I excitedly entered the most-talked about bar in Hogsmeade. The bartender was a gorgeous, curvy woman. "That's Madam Rosmerta," Ron said, his ears turning red. "I'll go get the drinks, then."

Hermione and I found a booth in the very back of the room that was slightly obscured by the enormous, decorative Christmas tree. Ron found us a couple minutes later, setting down three butterbeers.

I took a sip, and felt warmth flow through me. It was delicious. "This is great," I said, sighing, closing my eyes.

Hermione and Ron gasped a second later as the door to the bar opened. The Minister of Magic, Fudge, entered accompanied by Professors McGonagall and Flitwick, and Hagrid.

Without thinking, I slid off my chair and hid underneath the table, where the Christmas tree hid me. "Good thinking," Ron told me, and Hermione rolled her eyes.

We were lucky the bar was so packed.

We decided to be very quiet after that, and we listened to the teachers order. When Madam Rosmerta came back to their table, she sat down with them. "Good to see you, Minister," she said.

"Ah, and you, Rosmerta. Quite sorry about these dementors, you know. However, with Black being sighted in the school we simply cannot take any chances," he replied.

"I simply can't believe it," Rosmerta said briskly. "Sirius Black…impossible he should go over to the Dark Side. I remember him clearly as a boy at Hogwarts…"

"You don't know the whole story," Fudge said, knowingly. "The worst he did was worse than the murders of those innocent people."

"What, then?" Madam Rosmerta said, curious.

"Do you remember his best friend?" McGonagall asked.

"Of course!" Rosmerta replied with a laugh. "Oh, those boys. Inseparable, Sirius Black and James Potter!"

I gasped. Ron and Hermione stiffened.

"Yes. Both exceptionally bright, but oh, the trouble they would cause," Professor McGonagall said wistfully.

"Potter trusted Black more than anyone else. Black was Potter's best man when he married Lily. He's Haile's godfather, for Merlin's sake! I'm grateful Haile has no knowledge of this. What it would do to her…"

My heart sank. So much for that. Sirius Black…my godfather?! WHAT!? I eagerly listened to hear more.

"You see, Rosmerta," Fudge continued. "Not many people know the Potters were quite aware of You-Know-Who being after them. Dumbledore, naturally, had told them their best bet was the Fidelius Charm."

Rosmerta nodded gravely. "I've heard of it. You trust your secret inside a living soul. And the Secret-Keeper hides the information, making it impossible to find unless that person spills. Now, Potter chose Black, correct?"

"Yes," McGonagall said. "Dumbledore, I remember, was worried. He offered himself to be the Secret-Keeper. You see, Dumbledore suspected someone close to the Potters had been feeding info to You-Know-Who. But James insisted on Black."

"A week later," Fudge said, solemnly. "You know. Black had nothing to do, but to run, the filthy traitor."

Hagrid suddenly spoke. "Right after I rescued Haile from the ruins, I met him! Lent me his motorcycle, he did. He was white an' shakin', and he even offered ter take care of little Haile! But no, I had specific orders from Dumbledore. What if I had?!"

Rosmerta interrupted the silence that followed. "But the Ministry caught up with him the next day!"

Fudge shook his head. "No, it was little Peter Pettigrew we found, another one of their friends. He went after Black himself, he was so upset…Muggles told us he cornered Black, sobbing…and Black killed him."

Professor McGonagall blew her nose. "Foolish boy…always tagged along after them…"

"After Black murdered all those—those people, he was sent to Azkaban," Fudge said thickly.

"Is he mad, Minister?" Rosmerta asked.

"No," Fudge said, to the surprise of Madam Rosmerta. "When I visited the Azkaban last, Black was the only one who seemed normal. He was speaking rationally, not like the other mad, muttering prisoners. The dementors seemed to have no affect on him at all."

McGonagall cleared her throat. "We'd best be heading back."

They all agreed, and left the bar within a matter of seconds.

I climbed back up from under the table. Tears were brimming in my eyes, and I told Ron and Hermione I'd talk to them when I got back to the castle.

I hurried along the underground passageway, my thoughts going wild. This was too much to handle at once. Black was the reason my parents were dead. He was the reason You-Know-Who had found them!

I ran up to my dormitory and looked through the old scrapbook Hagrid had given me. I looked at my parent's wedding pictures. A man standing next to my father beamed up at me. He was handsome and laughing and waving.

I went back downstairs to a full common room of people who had just arrived back from Hogsmeade. "Haile…" Hermione said, jogging up to me.

"I hate him more than I hate Snape and Malfoy put together," I told her and Ron darkly. "So, this was what Malfoy was talking about. No one ever told me…"

I went to bed early that night, having terrible nightmares.

The next day was the first day of the holidays so everyone was gone. I sighed, walking downstairs.

Ron and Hermione were already up, talking. "Hello," Ron said, quietly. Hermione looked uneasy.

"Guys," I said, sighing. "I'm fine, really. I just…hate him. I can't believe anyone could do that to anyone. I'm overwhelmed with anger right now! He's the reason my parents aren't alive! I'm just…I'm so…"

Hermione rose from her chair and hugged me. "H…why don't we…use the Cloak and go down and visit Hagrid?" she asked.

Hearing her suggest to break the rules comforted me somehow, and I agreed.

We passed through the grounds undetected and slowly. We knocked on Hagrid's door to no answer. "Where is he?" I wondered.

Then we heard low moans coming from inside. We pushed the door open hurriedly. Hagrid was sobbing uncontrollably.

"Hagrid!" Hermione said worriedly. "What's happened?!"

"It's Buckbeak!" Hagrid cried. "They wanna execute him!"

"No!" I cried. I had become fond of the hippogriff.

Ron said in a very motherly voice, "I'll put on a spot of tea."

If Hagrid hadn't been in such a state of distress, Hermione and I might've laughed.

"You can't give up, Hagrid," Hermione said briskly. "You must put on a good defense!"

"Buckbeak isn't dangerous!" I insisted. "We'll help!"

Hagrid smiled at us weakly. "Thanks…dunno how much yeh can do, though. Lucius has got it in fer me, and fer Buckbeak, too."

We still tried. We went to the library straight away to prepare a defense for Buckbeak. As much as I wished that this wasn't happening, at least I was distracted from the fact that Sirius Black basically murdered my parents.