And for Munim who claims that the shielding spell taught during the dueling club was far out of canon, i had Farlan teach it because in the books Snape tells Lockhart that they should teach students to "block unfriendly spells" first and when you look up said dueling club in the HP wiki, those words send you straight to the shielding charm so… *shrug* noncanon or canon?

"I hate Quidditch," I grumbled as I curled my robes tighter around me against the icy bite of the wind.

Dumbledore hummed in mild amusement beside me, somehow keeping hold of his umbrella in the terrible weather as thunder rumbled nearby.

"Why are you letting them play in this? Aren't there rules against it?"

"Quite the contrary. You'll find Quidditch has many obscure rules about various things but weather cannot be controlled and professional players play in blizzards if needed."

I shot him a look. "These are students that you're turning into lightning rods."

"I assure you there is nothing to worry about and if I feel the weather is a danger I will cancel the game."

"It's already a danger," I muttered under my breath as we finally made it to the safety of the stands.

It was a surprise that the stands were holding together as the wind battered the covers and threatened to upend the roof of the staff box. Still, it held and the two teams wandered onto the muddy pitch before taking off when the whistle was blown. I could barely see either team other than when lightning flashed in the distance, but somehow the commentator was keeping track and rattling off who had the Quaffle and when it was scored.

Still, if I had the choice I would have stayed in the castle or my workshed over this. With Lupin down for the next few days though, I had no option. All other staff were here attending and I wasn't to be freed from being escorted until Madam Pomfrey was happy that I was caring for myself properly. Hopefully, I'll be free soon. I've been doing as she's asked since the incident. Sleeping has been the only continuous issue. I sighed lightly as a time-out was called and the students landed on the ground.

They didn't stay long though and were soon back up in the air. I eyed the clouds for a minute, concerned about the weather worsening before I saw something fly quickly by. One of the students was chasing after something, though I wasn't sure who. They drew my attention to the grounds though and the chill that ran up my spine was one not from the cold. I stood at the sight of the cloaked figures stepping onto the grounds and drew my wand with a sharp glance at Dumbledore.

"I'll send them off. The students—"

He nodded, standing himself to ensure they were safe as I hopped over the front of the stands and my shoes squelched in the mud below. A lump formed in my throat as the dementors drifted closer, feeling the same fear and uneasiness from the train. Dementors were something I never wanted to deal with and upon hearing how they worked, I studied hard to learn how to cast a patronus. I had a difficult life, to begin with, and the thought of them reminding me of that—feeding off my few joys and dragging up things I wanted to forget—made me determined to learn how to stop them.

Still, reading how and practicing the spell until I saw results was one thing. Facing them was something far different and much like the first time, that trickle of fear made it hard to think of my happiest memory. I heard a shout though, drawing my gaze above me to the students who were still flying without knowing about the threat. Or so I thought, but there was one who had. One who was sliding off his broom because they had affected him so much. Harry.

"Expecto patronum!" I called out, sending my fox after the dementors as I rushed forward to where Harry was falling and turning my wand to him. "Arresto Momentum!"

His falling form slowed and I turned my wand to the ground, softening it with another spell and glancing around to ensure the dementors were being handled. My fox patronus was doing well, circling where I was and nipping at any dementors that wandered too close as Dumbledore evacuated the stands. Harry landed on the ground in front of me without harm and I let out a sigh of relief as Madam Hooch summoned the other Quidditch players. I knelt down to check on Harry, glad he was okay other than being a bit pale and unconscious, then lifted him from the ground and led him back toward the castle.

Dumbledore was waiting for me at the door, dry compared to my soaking wet robes and hair. He too checked on Harry briefly before nodding to me.

"Madam Pomfrey has been informed. He'll have a bed waiting for him. I suggest you see her as well. You're a bit pale."

"I'm fine," I argued, glancing behind me as my fox patronus bowed and vanished. "The dementors—"

"I will deal with them. They should have never stepped into the grounds."

He swept off into the dark to deal with them and I headed up to the infirmary. I was met by the Gryffindors from the Quidditch team and his two friends whose concern I waved off.

"He's fine, just unconscious. I softened his fall, though I'm not sure where his broom went."

"Professor Flitwick went to find it," Hermione informed me and I nodded as Madam Pomfrey directed me to a bed for Harry. "He'll be okay?"

"Perfectly fine, my dear," Madam Pomfrey reassured as she checked him over.

"Why'd he fall off his broom though?" Ron asked as I took a seat myself, a little lightheaded.

"Dementors do more than suck out the joy of people and give the kiss of death that devours their souls. To those who have more… traumatic memories, things can be a bit harder to deal with. Dementors bring up things some of us try hard to forget."

The group was silent in understanding before Madam Pomfrey clicked her tongue and shooed them away from me.

"You, young man, need to care about your own state as well. Eat your chocolate and don't expect me to just let you go this evening."

I sighed lightly, taking the chocolate from her and begrudgingly eating it as she dried me off with a wave of her wand. Still shivering a bit from the chill, she gave me a Pepperup potion and directed me to a second bed. Harry must have woken up a bit later but Madam Pomfrey dropped by with a Dreamless Sleep potion for me and I happily drank it, drifting off quickly into an easy sleep for the first time in a while.

I was a bit dazed when Monday came around. I'd finally gotten good sleep with the potions Madam Pomfrey gave me but the incident with the dementors was frustrating. Harry undoubtedly had it worse as rumors started up in the halls and I doubled my efforts to find a boggart for him. I understood how it felt to be useless in the face of fear and given his adverse reactions to the creatures, I knew he felt the same. Unfortunately, the holidays were closing in and as I became busier it was harder to set aside time to help him. Eventually, Lupin had to inform him that his learning the patronus charm would have to wait until after the holidays. As much as I want to help, I haven't found a boggart yet, and between lessons, marking, my studies, and holiday decorating I have less time than I'd like.

I sighed and ran a hand through my hair as I wandered the castle in search of said boy. I had managed to convince Dumbledore to let me escort him into Hogsmeade but he wasn't to leave my sight with Sirius Black nearby. Which is fine. I just don't understand why he's here in the first place. If what I think is true, then he wouldn't have a reason to go after Harry… Maybe he's trying to find him to explain? But then why go into the tower on Halloween night when no one is there? I spotted Harry coming out of an empty classroom then and called out to him, making him jump.

"Harry, I was looking for you," I said, seeing his awkward shuffling and glancing around. "Something wrong?"

"Huh? Oh, no. I was just…"

I waited for his excuse but the boy sighed, giving in rather quickly.

"Can you keep a secret?"

I nodded. "Usually do. So long as you're not doing anything that can get you or someone else hurt." I paused, thinking. "Though, suppose I'd keep that secret too after scolding you a bit to stop you."

Harry offered a crack of a smile before pulling out a piece of parchment. "The twins gave me this just now to show me how to sneak into Hogsmeade. They said not to show anyone but… well, I trust you."

I was surprised by that and by what he held as he touched it with his wand.

"I solemnly swear that I am up to no good."

Ink spread across the parchment to reveal a rather detailed map of Hogwarts with four names that were quick to bring my mind back to when I was at Hogwarts.

Messrs. Moony, Wormtail, Padfoot, and Prongs

Purveyors of Aids to Magical Mischief-Makers are proud to present

The Marauder's Map

Not only was it a map of Hogwarts but there were moving dots on the paper with names labeling them. Dumbledore was pacing in his study, Mrs. Norris on the second floor, and even Peeves was shown bouncing around the trophy room. As the twins had promised Harry though, there were a number of passages to Hogsmeade as well; one behind the statue of a witch just down the hall from us.

"Mischief managed," Harry said, touching the map again and making the ink disappear before looking up at me hesitantly. "I just… I wanted to go, is all. I understand if you're mad—"

I shook my head. "I'm not mad. Why would I be?"

"Well, with Sirius Black having broken into the castle, I thought… I thought Dumbledore would say no even if you asked him and then you'd stop me, take the map, or… or, I don't know. Tell McGonagall?"

I hummed, tipping my head and considering what he said. "Well, I wouldn't have known about the map and probably wouldn't have noticed if you weren't around because I would've assumed you were in the Gryffindor Tower. You would have gotten away with it and would have probably been no worse for wear." I shrugged. "No harm done, so no reason for me to be mad."

"But… you know about the map now."

"The twins always snuck around into places I wouldn't expect them to," I waved off. "I knew they had a way of doing their pranks without getting caught. The map explains that though…" I cracked a small smile. "I didn't expect those four to make such a thing. It's an amazing piece of spellwork."

Harry's eyes lit up. "You know who made it?"

I nodded, ticking off my fingers. "Moony was Remus—Professor Lupin; Wormtail was Pettigrew; Padfoot was Sirius Black; and Prongs—"

"My dad."

"Yes. I told you they caused all sorts of trouble in school. Never would have thought they'd explored the castle that well. It's impressive."

Harry smiled down at the parchment, glad to have a piece of his father with him probably, as I hummed to draw his attention back to me.

"That being said, I was looking for you to let you know that Dumbledore gave his permission."

"What?" He questioned, eyes wide.

"So long as you stay close, I got permission for you to come with me to Hogsmeade. I… did have to explain a little bit about the situation regarding your relatives. Apologies, but I assumed you'd rather get the chance to go, over him knowing why they wouldn't sign your permission form."

Harry shook his head, beaming. "No, it's fine. Great even! You'll really take me?"

I nodded. "We can go whenever you like."

"Didn't you have things to sell?"

I pat the pocket of my robes. "Tucked away in here. Shrinking spells are rather convenient. Though, I will happily go wherever you wish first while your friends are there. As long as you're within my sight… and here." I handed him a necklace with a few bones etched with runes hanging from it.

"What is it?"

"Bones carved with blood runes," I explained. "Not as powerful as regular blood magic but one of the more powerful runic types available. Wearing that will do a few things. It will protect you from any magic as a sort of shielding spell as well as prevent Apparation and the use of Portkeys should someone grab onto you before I can get there." I hesitated then, grimacing. "T-There's a bit of tweaking to be done still. You might feel a bit sick should someone attempt those things but otherwise, you should feel no effects."

Harry slipped it on curiously, eyeing the red runes as I winced a bit.

"A-Actually, I'm not sure if you can use magic while wearing it without getting sick. It's still being tested and it was hard to make a pattern that shields the wearer from magic as well as prevents transport. I may have incidentally made it, um… prevent all magic within a 30cm radius of the wearer. Sorry."

"It's okay. I'll just take it off if I need to but I won't, right?"

I offered a small smile as we started walking to the exit of the grounds. "You shouldn't have any trouble."

Harry gave me a glance though, uneasy about something. "If… If you were right and Sirius was framed, why would he have tried to get into the tower?"

I lightly frowned. "I've been thinking about it myself, honestly. My one thought was maybe he would come to find you to try and explain his side. You might listen… but…" I scratched the back of my head. "It wouldn't explain why he went into the tower on Halloween night when no one would be there. Maybe he was searching for something?"

"What would he search for if not me?"

I shook my head. "I haven't the slightest." I gave him a look though, tipping my head curiously. "I'm surprised you are leaning toward me being correct about him. I thought this event might have changed your mind."

Harry frowned lightly in thought. "I mean, him being bad would explain why he came into the castle but not why he picked Halloween night. Your reasoning did the same, so it's not that I'm picking a side, just… I'm still thinking about it."

I hummed as we approached the gate that Filch was guarding. "Thinking about it is all that needs to be done. If people had done so from the start, then perhaps things with Sirius wouldn't have turned out the way they did. Hello, Filch," I greeted the grumpy-looking man before handing him a slip of parchment. "Dumbledore gave permission for us to leave for Hogsmeade."

Filch took the parchment, reading it over with a scowl before shoving it back in my hand as he sneered at Harry. "Fine but I better not hear anything about any trouble."

I cracked a hint of a smile. "I would never."

His frown deepened as Harry and I slipped through, Harry smiling as well as we headed into the village.

"Thank you," he said, "for doing this for me."

"As I said, it wouldn't be right for you to miss out. I missed out on my Hogsmeade weekends too, though not for the same reasons. I wasn't in the right frame of mind to enjoy them and never went, nor gave my permission form to the head of the orphanage to sign. It's only now that I wish I had handled my mother's death better. If Hogwarts was as enjoyable now as it was then… well, I suppose I missed out on a lot. I wouldn't want you or anyone else to make that mistake too."

"Thanks. Really. You're… You're the first person who's stuck their neck out for me like this and I appreciate everything. Talking a-and helping me with lessons and stuff."

I dropped a hand on his head, undeniably fond of the boy after the time we'd managed to spend together, and hearing that he thought so well of me made my heart swell. It felt as though, for the first time in my life, everything I'd done so far was worth it.

"Come on," I said lightly, nodding toward the village. "Where should we go first?"

Harry was quick to find Ron and Hermione in Honeyduke's and Farlan trailed along with the group without complaint; having done his selling first at Harry's insistence. When they got what they needed from the sweets shop, the group chose to take shelter from the freezing weather in the Three Broomsticks nearby. Harry hadn't brought his cloak, after all, and while Farlan had been kind enough to lend him his—warm from the heating charms placed on it—Harry felt bad about the man not having his own. The group was hoping the weather cleared up a bit afterward so they could show Harry the other places, but for now, they needed a warm place to stay.

The inn was very crowded, full of people who had similar thoughts to them, and Harry noticed Farlan grimace a bit.

"Not a fan of crowds?" Harry asked and Farlan hummed as his Grim vanished into his shadow.

"Not really, though I can tolerate them. I'll get the drinks. There's a table in the back by the Christmas tree."

Harry nodded and they headed over there as Farlan approached the woman at the bar. It didn't take him long to return with their drinks, passing the three tankards of hot Butterbeer and setting aside two drinks for himself. Or, well, a hot cup of some dark liquid that he dropped his salamander into—the creature letting out a coo of contentment and keeping just its little head poking out of it—and another tankard of Bungbarrell Spiced Mead that he happily sipped at. The others sipped at their drinks as well, but a chill swept through the inn as the door opened again.

Harry's heart skipped a beat at seeing Professor McGonagall, Professor Flitwick, Hagrid, and Cornelius Fudge—the Minister of Magic. Hermione and Ron glanced at one another uneasily and before Harry could figure out what he should do to avoid their attention, a weight settled on his head. Farlan put a finger to his lips and tapped the top of his head with his wand. A shiver went through Harry as Farlan spoke to the trio who were nervous about the group that had walked in.

"We'll avoid catching their attention," Farlan said calmly, lightly sliding the Christmas tree over to hide them from view as the group of adults started to head their way to sit at the table beside them. "Harry, I have you under a concealment charm. I'm sure you'd rather the Minister not see you."

"Thanks," Harry muttered, not bothered by the Minister himself but uncertain what sort of attention he'd get.

If the Minister was like half the other wizards in this part of Britain, he would undoubtedly make a big deal of Harry being there. Harry hadn't forgotten that the Minister had been the one to pressure Dumbledore into checking on him and that he was the same person who believed Sirius Black to be after him. It wouldn't do if the Minister saw Harry out here in the open after he'd finally managed to get permission to come to Hogsmeade.

"Just keep quiet and we shouldn't be bothered," Farlan reassured them, though his gaze shifted to the tree blocking most of their view of the adults nearby. "Though, it's interesting the Minster is here. We can stay or leave. It's up to you."

"Stay," Harry said quietly, eyeing the tree himself. "It has to be because of Sirius. I want to know."

Farlan nodded and the group went quiet to listen as the other table had their drinks dropped off and Madam Rosmerta spoke up.

"So, what brings you to this neck of the woods, Minister?"

"What else, my dear, but Sirius Black? I daresay you heard what happened up at the school at Halloween?"

"I did hear a rumor."

"Hagrid," Farlan muttered with a roll of his eyes as McGonagall accused the same man, knowingly.

"Do you think Black's still in the area, Minister?" Rosmerta asked.

"I'm sure of it."

"You know that the dementors have searched the whole village twice? Scared all my customers away. It's very bad for business, Minister."

"Rosmerta, dear, I don't like them any more than you do. Necessary precaution. Unfortunate, but there you are. I've just met some of them. They're in a fury against Dumbledore. He won't let them inside the castle grounds."

Farlan scoffed, taking a rather large drink from his tankard as McGonagall shared his unsaid sentiments.

"I should think not. How are we supposed to teach with those horrors floating around?"

"Hear, hear!" Flitwick agreed as the Minister shyly replied.

"All the same. They are here to protect you all from something much worse. We all know what Black's capable of…"

"Do you know, I still have trouble believing it," Rosemerta said, giving Harry a bit of hope that he and Farlan weren't the only ones questioning Sirius's innocence. "Of all the people to go over to the Dark Side, Sirius Black was the last I'd have thought… I mean, I remember him when he was a boy at Hogwarts. If you'd told me then what he was going to become, I'd have said you'd had too much mead."

"You don't know the half of it, Rosmerta. The worst he did isn't widely known."

"The worst? Worse than murdering all those poor people, you mean?"

"I certainly do."

Farlan was frowning now, apparently not knowing there was more to Sirius's story either. McGonagall reminded the adults of how Sirius and James Potter were at school, very much troublemakers as Farlan had told Harry, but also very close friends.

"Potter trusted Black beyond all his other friends. Nothing changed when they left school," the Minister agreed. "Black was best man when James married Lily. Then, they named him godfather to Harry. Harry has no idea, of course. You can imagine how the idea would torment him."

"Because Black turned out to be in league with You-Know-Who?" Rosmerta questioned quietly as Harry clenched his fist around his pant leg at hearing Sirius was his godfather.

"Worse even than that, my dear. Not many people are aware that the Potters knew You-Know-Who was after them. Dumbledore, who was of course working tirelessly against You-Know-Who, had a number of useful spies. One of them tipped him off, and he alerted James and Lily at once. He advised them to go into hiding. Well, of course, You-Know-Who wasn't an easy person to hide from. Dumbledore told them that their best chance was the Fidelius Charm."

Harry looked at Farlan, hoping he might explain the charm but he didn't have to when Rosmerta asked and Professor Flitwick explained.

"An immensely complex spell involving the magical concealment of a secret inside a single, living soul. The information is hidden inside the chosen person, or Secret Keeper, and is henceforth impossible to find. Unless, of course, the Secret Keeper chooses to divulge it. As long as the Secret Keeper refused to speak, You-Know-Who could search the village where Lily and James were staying for years and never find them, not even if he had his nose pressed against their sitting room window!"

"So, Black was the Potters' Secret Keeper?"

"Naturally," McGonagall agreed. "James Potter told Dumbledore that Black would die rather than tell where they were, that Black was planning to go into hiding himself... and yet, Dumbledore remained worried. I remember him offering to be the Potters' Secret Keeper himself."

"He suspected Black?"

"He was sure that somebody close to the Potters had been keeping You-Know-Who informed of their movements. Indeed, he had suspected for some time that someone on our side had turned traitor and was passing a lot of information to You-Know-Who."

"But James Potter insisted on using Black?"

"He did," Fudge replied heavily. "And then, barely a week after the Fidelius Charm had been performed—"

"Black betrayed them?"

"He did indeed. Black was tired of his double-agent role, he was ready to declare his support openly for You-Know-Who, and he seems to have planned this for the moment of the Potters' death. But, as we all know, You-Know-Who met his downfall in little Harry Potter. Powers gone, horribly weakened, he fled. And this left Black in a very nasty position indeed. His master had fallen at the very moment when he, Black, had shown his true colors as a traitor. He had no choice but to run for it—"

"Filthy, stinkin' turncoat!" Hagrid bellowed, silencing half the bar before getting shushed but Harry was dead silent, trying to process everything he was hearing. "I met him! I must of been the last ta see him before he killed all them people! It was me what rescued Harry from Lily an' James's house after they was killed! Just got him outta the ruins, poor little thing, with a great slash across his forehead, an' his parents dead... an' Sirius Black turns up, on that flyin' motorbike he used ta ride. Never occurred ta me what he was doin' there. I didn't know he'd been Lily an' James's Secret Keeper. Thought he'd just heard the news of You-Know-Who's attack an' come ta see what he could do. White an' shakin', he was. And ya know what I did? I comforted the murderin' traitor!"

McGonagall tried to shush him again but Hagrid kept right on going.

"How was I ta know he wasn't upset about Lily an' James? It was You-Know-Who he cared about! And then he says, 'Give Harry ta me, Hagrid, I'm his godfather, I'll look after him—' Ha! But I'd had me orders from Dumbledore, an' I told Black no, Dumbledore said Harry was ta go to his aunt and uncle's. Black argued, but in the end, he gave in. Told me ta take his motorbike to get Harry there. 'I won't need it anymore,' he says. I shoulda known there was something fishy goin' on then. He loved that motorbike, what was he givin' it to me for? Why wouldn't he need it anymore? Fact was, it was too easy ta trace. Dumbledore knew he'd bin the Potters' Secret Keeper. Black knew he was goin' ta have to run for it that night, knew it was a matter of hours before the Ministry was after him."

Harry grit his teeth, turning his gaze down to his lap as his mind raced.

"But what if I'd given Harry to him, eh? I bet he'd have pitched him off the bike halfway out to sea. His best friends' son! But when a wizard goes over to the Dark Side, there's nothin' and no one that matters to them anymore…"

The table was quiet for a moment before Rosmerta spoke up again.

"But he didn't manage to disappear, did he? The Ministry of Magic caught up with him next day!"

"Alas, if only we had," the Minister said bitterly. "It was not we who found him. It was little Peter Pettigrew—another of the Potters' friends. Maddened by grief, no doubt, and knowing that Black had been the Potters' Secret Keeper, he went after Black himself."

"Pettigrew… that fat little boy who was always tagging around after them at Hogwarts?"

"Hero-worshipped Black and Potter," McGonagall explained. "Never quite in their league, talent-wise. I was often rather sharp with him. You can imagine how I… how I regret that now."

"There now, Minerva," the Minister comforted her. "Pettigrew died a hero's death. Eyewitnesses—Muggles, of course, we wiped their memories later—told us how Pettigrew cornered Black. They say he was sobbing, 'Lily and James, Sirius! How could you?' And then he went for his wand. Well, of course, Black was quicker. Blew Pettigrew to smithereens."

"Stupid boy, foolish boy. He was always hopeless at dueling. Should have left it to the Ministry," McGonagall said sadly, blowing her nose.

"I tell ya, if I'd got ta Black before little Pettigrew did, I wouldn't have messed around with wands. I'd have ripped him limb from limb," Hagrid threatened as the Minister scolded him.

"You don't know what you're talking about, Hagrid. Nobody but trained Hit Wizards from the Magical Law Enforcement Squad would have stood a chance against Black once he was cornered. I was Junior Minister in the Department of Magical Catastrophes at the time, and I was one of the first on the scene after Black murdered all those people. I-I will never forget it. I still dream about it sometimes. A crater in the middle of the street, so deep it had cracked the sewer below. Bodies everywhere. Muggles screaming. And Black standing there laughing, with what was left of Pettigrew in front of him… a heap of bloodstained robes and a few… a few fragments…"

More noses were blown as he trailed off and cleared his throat, speaking to Rosemerta again.

"Well, there you have it, Rosmerta. Black was taken away by twenty members of the Magical Law Enforcement Squad and Pettigrew received the Order of Merlin, First Class, which I think was some comfort to his poor mother. Black's been in Azkaban ever since."

"Is it true he's mad, Minister?"

"I wish I could say that he was. I certainly believe his master's defeat unhinged him for a while. The murder of Pettigrew and all those muggles was the action of a cornered and desperate man—cruel… pointless. Yet, I met Black on my last inspection of Azkaban. You know, most of the prisoners in there sit muttering to themselves in the dark; there's no sense in them… but I was shocked at how normal Black seemed. He spoke quite rationally to me. It was unnerving. You'd have thought he was merely bored—asked if I'd finished with my newspaper, cool as you please, said he missed doing the crossword. Yes, I was astounded at how little effect the dementors seemed to be having on him—and he was one of the most heavily guarded in the place, you know. Dementors outside his door day and night."

"But what do you think he's broken out to do? Good gracious, Minister, he isn't trying to rejoin You-Know-Who, is he?"

"I daresay that is his, uh, eventual plan," he replied unconvincingly. "But we hope to catch Black long before that. I must say, You-Know-Who alone and friendless is one thing… but give him back his most devoted servant, and I shudder to think how quickly he'll rise again…"

The group ended up leaving after that since the Minister had a dinner meeting with Dumbledore awaiting him, but Ron and Hermione were eyeing Harry in concern. He was still processing everything and it was Farlan that snapped him out of it.

"Do you want to go, Harry?"

Harry nodded, unable to even mutter an apology to Ron and Hermione as he got up and left Farlan to do that for him. Once they stepped out of the inn, Farlan removed the concealment charm on him and gave him a small glance.

"Do you want to talk about this or would you rather have some time to think?" He asked calmly, drawing Harry's gaze that was full of uncertainty. "I will admit to not having known much of what they said. Him being your godfather, the Secret Keeping, his reaction at the scene… I wasn't privy to that and have some things to consider myself, but…" He lifted a hand, hesitating before placing it on Harry's shoulder and giving it a squeeze. "...If you wish to talk, I will be there for you, should you need me."

Harry hesitated before lowering his gaze. "I… I think I need some time."

Farlan nodded, releasing his shoulder. "Then, when you're ready, let me know. I will probably be in my workshed if you can't find me. Holidays begin tomorrow so you have time and… well, you don't have to speak with me about it if you don't want to. Just… if you feel the need."

Harry hesitated before reaching out and grabbing the man's arm with a squeeze of his own. "Thank you, Farlan."

Farlan hummed and the two returned to Hogwarts in comfortable silence, splitting up once they entered the castle to both take some time to consider what they'd learned.

Things had been quiet for a few days which was fine. I had gotten busy setting up the Christmas decorations in the castle as well as covering for Remus since he would be absent. There was still marking to be done, after all, and him being indisposed meant I was left with what he hadn't finished. Who would have thought, though, that he was a werewolf?

Dumbledore had shared it with me and a select few staff members—namely Snape who made his potions and McGonagall. I had been surprised that he trusted me enough to say but then remembered how disposable I was to the headmaster and that it was also a thinly veiled threat. I say a word to anyone about it and I would undoubtedly be removed from my position and my secret exposed. Not that I planned on it, but maybe that had been my paranoia talking and Dumbledore simply knew of my previous relationship with Remus.

Not that that makes me feel any less suspicious around Dumbledore. I don't think I'll ever truly trust him. There's too much he hides behind that smile. A shiver went up my spine at the thought before I went back to hanging up wreaths. Remus a werewolf… Surely the other Marauders knew. They all would look rather tired the day after a full moon. Some slept in lectures and got detention for it, if I remember right.

When Remus found out I knew, I could tell he was hesitant about how our friendship would change but I wasn't bothered. I knew that most werewolves became so unwillingly—him being proof of that—and it was just a lack of control that made them run rampant. The potion he took allowed him to retain that control and otherwise, Remus was just like anyone else. The same worried, kind kid who found me years ago on the edge of the forest sobbing into my textbook.

I sighed lightly, finishing up and moving toward the Great Hall where I would undoubtedly be needed in a moment. Yet, before I could get there, I was nearly run down by a frustrated-looking Harry with his two friends.

"Ah, sorry, Farlan," Hermione apologized for him as he looked at me with a serious gaze.

"Can we talk?"

I slowly nodded, glancing at the other two and feeling the tension between them even without using legilimency. "We can go to my shed if you'd like some privacy."

Harry agreed and I led them out into the chilly grounds, opening my shed and letting them in as I set my salamander into the fireplace to get it going. Heat filled the shed quickly and once I shushed the few creatures I had scattered around, I conjured some chairs and took a seat myself.

"Would you like to hear what I have to say first or would you wish to offer your own thoughts?" I asked, reaching for my wand and heating up a kettle to pour tea for the trio.

Harry thought about the offer before speaking up. "I… understand why they think he's a bad person. With everything they said, it would make sense…"

"But…?" I asked, sensing he had more to say.

"But even Madam Rosmerta said he wasn't like that. Everything you've told me says he's not a bad person and everyone just believes he is."

"I mean, he did kill a bunch of people," Ron countered, but I glanced at him.

"And was imprisoned without trial or investigation as to who really did the crime. His wand wasn't even checked. Anyone could have blown up the street and left him there to frame him. The Sirius Black I knew in school was hardly a supporter of the Dark Lord. He went against everything the man stood for even when his own family supported the Dark Lord. He was best friends with Harry's father who was also firmly against the Dark Lord as was his uncle who fought against the previous Dark Lord Grindelwald. You'd do best to learn everything you can about something before making assumptions based on the one side you've heard. Whether it be from your parents or the paper."

Ron flushed, scolded a bit, and even Hermione fidgeted uncomfortably.

"B-But if he didn't kill those people, who did?"

I shrugged, handing out tea to the group. "I'm not a seer. I don't know all the answers and these are just things based on my own observations and thoughts. Sirius Black was never a supporter of the Dark Lord. Sirius Black was more likely to betray his own family than James Potter. Those two facts alone don't prove his innocence but they do throw a lot of doubt on what happened that night."

"And what the Minister said?" Harry asked cautiously. "About the Secret Keeping?"

I hummed. "That was where things got messy. As I said, I didn't know that aspect of everything. I wasn't close to any of their group but Remus—Professor Lupin—and even that was just a mild friendship. I was too… focused on my own issues than what happened with them. With the Ministry keeping silent on this fact, it just adds a new layer to what I thought."

"You think Sirius Black is innocent?" Hermione questioned and I nodded.

"Yes. Even with this new information."

"But how?" Harry pressed, looking conflicted himself. "If what Professor Flitwick said about that charm is true, then—"

"Then, under normal circumstances, he would probably be guilty," I agreed. "However, Sirius Black isn't stupid. He might have acted a bit… unfocused when he was a student but the magic he and his group performed was hardly something small. He escaped Azkaban and kept his mind—if what the Minister said is true. In that case, why did he ask for the Minister's paper when he visited?"

Harry looked at the others, confused. "The paper?"

I hummed, sipping my tea and glancing away idly. "It is something that stuck out to me. He was calm, level headed, but he asked for the paper the Minister had. He hardly requested it before and while any prisoner might want a glimpse of the outside world, it can't have been a coincidence that he asked for the paper and then escaped right after. Whatever he saw in the paper had to have been why he left and came here."

Harry frowned. "I wasn't in the paper recently that I know of."

Hermione shook her head to confirm that and I set my tea down.

"Which proves he didn't escape to come after you."

"Why break into the tower on Halloween then?" Ron countered. "We weren't even there."

"I mentioned this to Harry but perhaps there was something he wanted to get to without anyone there. I can't know for sure because I'm not him nor do I have a full idea of what he's up to. Still, it's a thought. The paper might have a connection to the attack too but I don't know when the Minister visited so I don't know what might have been on the front page."

"Why the front page?" Hermione asked.

"It would be the only thing he sees. The Minister hardly went there to read the paper." I shrugged as Harry spoke up.

"And the Secret Keeping?"

"Mm, maybe something changed? Something we don't know about. Whoever was given the secret would've had to betray them and I honestly can't see Sirius doing that and coming back to the scene only to rush to a town and murder people. If anything, it sounded as though he didn't know or found out secondhand that something happened to James and Lily. He then rushed there and saw Hagrid taking Harry, and when Hagrid refused to hand him over he gave him the bike to keep them safe and went to confront—" I cut myself off, having not come to this conclusion earlier when I was thinking about it.

"He went to confront the Secret Keeper," Harry breathed, finishing my thought.

"Pettigrew," I muttered, mildly surprised that my initial feeling about the man had been correct. "Sirius wasn't the Secret Keeper but he knew who was. One of them must have convinced James to switch who the Secret Keeper would be. Sirius was too obvious. They knew the Dark Lord would suspect him so they gave it to Peter Pettigrew."

"Peter Pettigrew betrayed my parents a-and then he framed Sirius," Harry breathed, stunned by this revelation though his friends weren't as convinced.

"But why would this Peter guy betray them?" Ron asked, confused. "He must've been friends with them too, yeah?"

"Peter Pettigrew was like McGonagall said," I explained. "He worshiped James and Sirius but he wasn't even close to their level of skill. He was a shy, fumbling boy who trailed after them because they were far better than he could be. He was easily picked on and bullied and couldn't stand up for himself if he wanted to. He was skilled at potions and nothing more, from what I remember. He was my first thought when someone told me of the betrayal. One can only stand among their betters for so long before they start to wonder when they'll be abandoned as useless baggage. It wouldn't be hard for the Dark Lord or a follower to play on that and draw him in."

"But Pettigrew was killed by Sirius," Hermione argued. "He couldn't have done it and killed those people."

I shook my head. "No, it could have been done as a suicide mission but that doesn't make sense either. There's something I'm missing. What could Sirius have seen in that paper?"

Harry scratched at his head, unsure himself. "Could he have seen something that proved his innocence?"

I frowned lightly. "Possibly, but what? It would have to be concrete and irrefutable. They didn't give him a trial so unless he just walks in there with Pettigrew…" I paused, considering it. "Could he have seen Pettigrew? Proof he was alive?"

"How?" Ron huffed. "They said all that was left of him was a finger."

"Magic is a tricky thing. It leaves many avenues open to a wizard as long as they know how to make use of them. I could throw up a cloth and disappear from behind it and you wouldn't know whether I Apparated or shrank myself or cast a concealing charm or whatever else. He could have splinched himself Apparating and left just a finger behind. He could have purposefully left a finger to place further blame on Sirius."

"No one would go after someone who's already dead," Hermione breathed in understanding, starting to see how my ideas were coming together. "Especially when people thought he was the Secret Keeper. They would assume Sirius betrayed them because only a few people knew who the real one was! Pettigrew would just have to get away and being dead was the perfect alibi."

"But how do we prove this?" Harry asked, hopeful now that he was more convinced about Sirius's innocence but uncertain about what to do with this information.

I hummed, rubbing the back of my neck and thinking. "I can try and go through the papers. Anything around the time he escaped and see if there's any proof there. I'm just not sure how I would know. It's highly unlikely Pettigrew was just on the front page."

"But it's something, right?" Harry urged. "Sirius Black has to be innocent. It's the only thing that makes sense. If he was guilty, then why would he try so hard to escape? Everyone else thinks Voldemort is dead and if he wanted to kill me, he wouldn't have done it here. The castle's too protected. He'd have an easier time at my aunt and uncle's or during the two weeks I was at the Leaky Cauldron."

"Shouldn't we tell someone then?" Hermione asked hesitantly. "If they knew the truth—"

"Sirius Black has been framed for years," I explained. "Even if we did, without proof no one would believe anything. Even Dumbledore would have a hard time doing anything about this if he knew. Figuring out what Sirius saw in that paper is just a step in the right direction."

I paused though, seeing the determination in Harry's eyes and realizing what I was doing. I had given him hope, yes, but I'd also made it sound as though he needed to do this. I couldn't have him looking for Sirius or Pettigrew. I didn't have an obligation to get involved, but it felt wrong to stand by and let someone innocent in this predicament be persecuted when I could potentially help. Harry wanting to do his part only urged me to do it more and I internally groaned. This. This is why I don't like getting attached to people. I sighed lightly, standing up to start heading out with the group.

"I'll look into the papers but you three just focus on your studies."

"I want to help," Harry argued.

"I know, but whether I'm right or not, it's still two well-trained wizards who have snuck around past dementors and hidden themselves away unnoticed. The last thing we need is for you to find them and get hurt while being unprepared. I won't even attempt to approach them without having a proper plan in place. We can't let Pettigrew get away again and if I am wrong, then the last thing we need is any of you getting hurt."

They weren't pleased but nodded and I shooed them off back to the castle, hoping that they would listen and that I hadn't just made a big mistake.