Reading Past Present and Future

by Read and Fly

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix read the Saga. How many things would change? Would they see the errors of their ways?

13. Boggart

"I do not own Harry Potter or any of the related characters. The Harry Potter series is created by JK Rowling and owned by Warner Bros. This fanfiction is intended for entertainment only. I am not making any profit from this story. All rights of the original Harry Potter story belong to Warner Bros."

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For a moment. The only thing you could hear was the clicking of the forks and spoons.

It was George who broke the silence. "So, Sirius would you teach us how to become Animagus?"

Molly paused, she looked at Sirius who was munching his food in thought. – "I can teach you, but it won't happen from one day to another. It took us three years; you need dedication and discipline."

Minerva hummed in approval. — "Yes, you also need to understand it doesn't happen for everyone. You can do everything right and when it comes to choosing your form, there won't be any. For example, Albus here doesn't have one."

They all turned to Dumbledore who smiled— "I won't deny it was disappointing."

"But we can try."— Ginny Said Ignoring her mother's look.

"You can start with meditation."—Minerva smiled. — "I'll give you some techniques."

Alastor moved his plate to the side. — "It would be best if we start training. I'm curious about your skills, so today after dinner. Potter, Granger, and Weasley also little Weasley will train with me in the dining room."

Ginny nodded excitedly. She didn't want to be in Auror but all the talks she had with Nymphadora about her training made her curious.

"Is there any room?"—Amelia asked.

"It can be expanded if you use the space from the sitting room and the small parlor. I can move the wards a little for them to readjust."—Sirius said.

"Is it necessary?"—Molly said, she was trying hard not to deny her children from any of the activities. Arthur had already asked her to stop fighting everything, but she didn't want Alastor to teach her children anything that might put them in danger.

"It is. The moment these books finish, the time bubble will break and we won't have enough time to prepare them. These kids should know the basics and I still remember all the trainees that came with lousy defense techniques. So ill judge where they are at. Tomorrow its Longbottom, Lovegood, and the twins turn"—

"Won't that cut time in the reading?"—Snape said controlling his tone.

"Perhaps but reading fast or slow won't change the fact that we are trapped, might as well do something useful."

"All of this is escalating"—Fleur said— "We don't know what future books might reveal and we might find ourselves in need to stop"—

They all sighed. This was getting exhausting, and it was only getting worse. Harry didn't want to think that he would have to read about Cedric's death and Sirius was putting off having to tell Harry about the prophecy, not that he knew everything about it, but he was afraid of Harry's reaction.

"Let's just keep reading"—Minerva said.

CHAPTER SEVEN -The Boggart in the Wardrobe

Malfoy didn't reappear in classes until late on Thursday morning when the Slytherins and Gryffindors were halfway through double Potions.

"Bloody git"—Ron murmured.

"Sir," Malfoy called, "sir, I'll need help cutting up these daisy roots, because of my arm —" "Weasley, cut up Malfoy's roots for him," said Snape without looking up. Ron went brick red. "There's nothing wrong with your arm," he hissed at Malfoy. Malfoy smirked across the table.

"I'm sure Professor Snape could have realized he was faking"—

Ted accused.

"I don't question my students' wounds. I had no reason not to believe him."—Snape defended himself. In all honesty, he knew Draco had been faking his pain to an extent, but it was the least of his concerns at that moment.

Snape approached their table, stared down his hooked nose at the roots, then gave Ron an unpleasant smile from beneath his long, greasy black hair.

"Change roots with Malfoy, Weasley." "But, sir —!" Ron had spent the last quarter of an hour carefully shredding his own roots into exactly equal pieces. "Now," said Snape in his most dangerous voice.

"I don't like the tone you speak to the children. The older years I might understand but they are thirteen."—Fleur chastised, and Snape glared at the girl, but she waved him off. Bill had to bite his cheek to not laugh.

"And, sir, I'll need this shrivelfig skinned," said Malfoy, his voice full of malicious laughter.

"Potter, you can skin Malfoy's shrivelfig," said Snape, giving Harry the look of loathing he always reserved just for him.

Sirius closed his eyes in exasperation. He knew this year would be difficult to read because of how many emotions played a part in it but damn he wished Jamie was here so he and Snape could have a go at it, maybe Snape would realize, son and Father, are not the same.

"That's not right"—Luna said breathing heavily— "When is that boy going to learn to work for something himself?

"None of your business," said Ron jerkily, without looking up.

"I'm afraid he won't be a teacher much longer," said Malfoy in a tone of mock sorrow. "Father's not very happy about my injury —"

"Keep talking, Malfoy, and I'll give you a real injury," snarled Ron.

"So that's why you're putting it on," said Harry, accidentally beheading a dead caterpillar because his hand was shaking in anger, "To try to get Hagrid fired.""Well," said Malfoy, lowering his voice to a whisper, "partly, Potter. But there are other benefits too.

Hagrid frowned— "What have I ever done to the boy? I don't believe we have ever had a conversation outside class."

"Nothing, he's just a git"—Ron stated.

"Perhaps he still angry about Norberta"—Bill shrugged.

A few cauldrons away, Neville was in trouble.. His potion, which was supposed to be a bright, acid green, had turned —

"Orange, Longbottom," said Snape

Neville was pink and trembling. He looked as though he was on the verge of tears. "Please, sir," said Hermione, "please, I could help Neville put it right —" "I don't remember asking you to show off, Miss Granger," said Snape coldly, and Hermione went as pink as Neville.

Neville hold on to his grandmother— "Stop fighting"—He whispered but Augusta only glared at Snape. Neville let out a breath, he was still terrified of Snape, but he knew his confidence had grown a little after that year, now with the D.A. it was growing more. He would have to talk to his grandmother about it before she killed Snape.

Dumbledore frowned; he knew Severus had to remain partial regarding all students but he didn't realize he had missed this insensitivity of his towards students.

"Longbottom, at the end of this lesson we will feed a few drops of this potion to your toad and see what happens. Perhaps that will encourage you to do it properly." Snape moved away, leaving Neville breathless with fear.

"Help me!" he moaned to Hermione.

Augusta's eye twitch— "How dare you? You threaten his familiar, how many more has he killed like this?"

Dumbledore put his hand up to appease everyone— "I'm sure Trevor was fine."

"It doesn't matter if he was, what kind of professor does that?"—Andromeda stated angrily.

"Hey, Harry," said Seamus Finnigan, leaning over to borrow Harry's brass scales, sirius Black's been sighted." But Malfoy's eyes were shining malevolently, and they were fixed Harry. He leaned across the table.

"Thinking of trying to catch Black single-handed, Potter?"

"This is why I need to know things. You might want to "protect" me, but other people know and enjoy making me look like an idiot."

The adults looked around not knowing what to say, the fact that Lucius Malfoy knew information about them wasn't unknown but the fact that he shared it with his son, well they hadn't contemplated that.

"Yeah, that's right," said Harry offhandedly.

Malfoy's thin mouth was curving in a mean smile.

"Of course, if it was me," he said quietly, "I'd have done something before now. I wouldn't be staying in school like a good boy, I'd be out there looking for him." "Don't you know, Potter?" breathed Malfoy, his pale eyes narrowed.

"Know what?" Malfoy let out a low, sneering laugh.

I'd want revenge. I'd hunt him down myself."

Minerva pressed her lips; she had missed this kind of behavior on Mr. Malfoy. Not even his father ever behaved like this. Snape narrowed his eyes and passed a hand over his face; he had told Lucius multiple times to control what he said to Draco because the boy didn't know how to control his tongue.

"What did Malfoy mean?" Harry muttered to Ron as he stuck his hands under the icy jet that poured from the gargoyle's mouth "Why would I want revenge on Black? He hasn't done anything to me — yet."

"No wonder you went shit crazy when you had me in front of you"—Sirius said shaking his head— "All this taunting and then being thrown "the truth"—he air coated— " in the face was too much"

Harry shrugged dismissing him, it was always like that. He believed there wasn't much of a shock reaction in him anymore, he just took the information as it went.

"Everyone gather 'round," said Snape, his black eyes glittering, "and watch what happens to Longbottom's toad.

"You fucking dared"—Tonks shook her head.

The Gryffindors watched fearfully. The Slytherins looked excited. Snape picked up Trevor the toad in his left hand and dipped a small spoon into Neville's potion, which was now green. He trickled a few drops down Trevor's throat.

"I can't believe all the Slytherins were excited"—Fleur frowned.

"Perhaps those that only concerned Harry."—Charlie said.

There was a moment of hushed silence, in which Trevor gulped; then there was a small pop, and Trevor the tadpole was wriggling in Snape's palm.

The Gryffindors burst into applause. Snape, looking sour,

"Five points from Gryffindor," said Snape, which wiped the smiles from every face. "I told you not to help him, Miss Granger. Class dismissed."

"If Hermione hadn't helped, Trevor would be dead"—Luna said displeased— "I don't like this behavior of yours professor. You've never treated my class with such…no no I don't like it"—

Luna had raised many eyebrows in surprise at her talking back at the feared professor and they turned to look at Snape who rolled his eyes at the girl and pretended he didn't hear her.

Ron looked around. "Where is she?"

Harry turned too. They were at the top of the steps now, watching the rest of the class pass them, heading for the Great Hall and lunch.

"She was right behind us," said Ron, frowning.

"There she is," said Harry.

Hermione was panting slightly, hurrying up the stairs; one hand clutched her bag, the other seemed to be tucking something down the front of her robes.

"How did you do that?" said Ron.

"What?" said Hermione, joining them.

"One minute you were right behind us, the next moment, you were back at the bottom of the stairs again."

Tonks full-on laugh— "Boys are so obtuse."

"Miss Granger, I thought you had been more careful"—Minerva said.

Hermione shook her head but mumble under her breath "you try doing it then."

"Finally!"—Sirius clapped his hands. — "I've been waiting for our favorite professor to show up"—Remus rolled his eyes at him but he secretly smiled. After all his suitcase had been a Christmas present from the Marauders.

Professor Lupin wasn't there when they arrived at his first Defense Against the Dark Arts lesson. Lupin smiled vaguely and placed his tatty old briefcase on the teacher's desk. He was as shabby as ever but looked healthier than he had on the train, as though he had had a few square meals.

"Did Remus just make an entrance?"—Charlie mocked.

"I did. For both, the entrance, and the meals."—he shrugged. It wasn't a secret that he didn't have a stable job so he wouldn't hide it. He tried to not look to his left where the Tonks were and focused on Sirius who smiled at him.

They had never had a practical Defense Against the Dark Arts class before,

He led them along the deserted corridor and around a corner, where the first thing they saw was Peeves the Poltergeist, who was floating upside down.

"Loony, loopy Lupin," Peeves sang. "Loony, loopy Lupin, loony, loopy Lupin —" Everyone looked quickly at Professor Lupin to see how he would take this; to their surprise, he was still smiling.

Sirius laughed— "I see Peeves still remembers you"

"Don't remind me, bloody menace he was that year."

"I'd take that gum out of the keyhole if I were you, Peeves," he said pleasantly. "Mr. Filch won't be able to get in to his brooms."

Peeves. However, Peeves paid no attention to Professor Lupin's words, except to blow a loud wet raspberry. Professor Lupin gave a small sigh and took out his wand. "This is a useful little spell," he told the class over his shoulder. "Please watch closely." He raised the wand to shoulder height, said, "Waddiwasi!" and pointed it at Peeves. With the force of a bullet, the wad of chewing gum shot out of the keyhole and straight down Peeves's left nostril; he whirled upright and zoomed away, cursing. "Cool, sir!" said Dean Thomas in amazement. "Thank you, Dean," said Professor Lupin, putting his wand away again.

"From that moment forward Professor Lupin became the coolest person ever"—Neville smiled making Remus blush a little.

Snape had a sour look on his face, knowing what was to come. He knew the dog would get a laugh out of it.

"Shall we proceed?"

They set off again, the class looking at shabby Professor Lupin with increased respect.

Remus gave Harry a questioning look, for the shabby part. Harry shrugged—"I notice everything and your shabby look is part of your Aesthetic."

"Big words Harry, I'm impressed"—Hermione mocked him, Harry stuck his tongue out.

Professor Snape was sitting in a low armchair, and he looked around as the class filed in. His eyes were glittering and there was a nasty sneer playing around his mouth. "Leave it open, Lupin. I'd rather not witness this." At the doorway he turned on his heel and said, "Possibly no one's warned you, Lupin, but this class contains Neville Longbottom. I would advise you not to entrust him with anything difficult. Not unless Miss Granger is hissing instructions in his ear." Neville went scarlet. Harry glared at Snape; it was bad enough that he bullied Neville in his own classes, let alone doing it in front of other teachers.

The indignation in the group was palpable. Everyone complained, Minerva, pressed her lips and turned to Dumbledore who sighed.

Augusta was the one that spoke.—"I believe, Mr. Snape, that it's time for me and you to have a little conversation… In private."

Amelia wrote on her parchment, she would have to speak to Dumbledore, Snape's behavior has been left unchecked for a reason and she wanted to know exactly why.

Professor Lupin had raised his eyebrows.

"I was hoping that Neville would assist me with the first stage of the operation," he said, "and I am sure he will perform it admirably."

"Thank you, Mr. Lupin."—Augusta said

Remus gave her a small smile; he had been expecting disdain from Severus when he arrived at Hogwarts but he never expected that comment toward Neville. Thankfully he mastered the poker face many years ago, but it had caught him off guard.

As Professor Lupin went to stand next to it, the wardrobe gave a sudden wobble, banging off the wall. "Nothing to worry about," said Professor Lupin calmly because a few people had jumped backward in alarm. "There's a Boggart in there."

Molly frowned, she shook her head at the memory of the Boggart she encountered a few months ago.

Most people seemed to feel that this was something to worry about. Neville gave Professor Lupin a look of pure terror,

"Boggarts like dark, enclosed spaces," said Professor Lupin. "Wardrobes, the gap beneath beds, the cupboards under sinks — I've even met one that had lodged itself in a grandfather clock.

Sirius smiled—"Potter Manor, 76 scared the living hell of Moony here."

"I wasn't prepared was I"—Remus spoke.—"That's why I also didn't warn them what it was, Boggarts just jumped out of nowhere."

"So, the first question we must ask ourselves is, what is a Boggart?"

Hermione put up her hand.

"It's a shape-shifter," she said. "It can take the shape of whatever it thinks will frighten us most."

"Couldn't have put it better myself," said Professor Lupin, and Hermione glowed.

"I don't glow"—Hermione defended herself.

"You do"—the teenagers said

Nobody knows what a Boggart looks like when he is alone, but when I let him out, he will immediately become whatever each of us most fears.

"This means," said Professor Lupin, choosing to ignore Neville's small sputter of terror

Neville was smiling at the memory. He had never told his grandmother what happened.

"I have a question"—Tonks said turning to Mad-eye—"Do you know what a Boggarts look like?"

Everyone turned to see Alastor who rolled his eye— "They look like an egg but covered in fur with big eyes, no nose, and thin lips. Ugly buggers."

Remus's eyes glowed just like Hermione's—"Can you draw it"—they both said making a few laugh.

"No. keep reading."

"that we have a huge advantage over the Boggart before we begin. Have you spotted it, Harry?" Trying to answer a question with Hermione next to him, bobbing up and down on the balls of her feet with her hand in the air, was very off-putting, but Harry had a go. "Er — because there are so many of us, it won't know what shape it should be?"

"Oh, I'm sorry Harry"—Hermione frowned at her description. She had gotten better. Or she thought she had.

I once saw a Boggart make that very mistake — tried to frighten two people at once and turned himself into half a slug. Not remotely frightening.

"Ah Potter Manor, Marlene, me, and James were with Remus when we found the Boggart. Poor thing didn't know what to do"—Sirius said, Harry, nodding at the story. –"Monty vanished it when he started turning into multiple small slugs"
Remus pinched up his nose at the memory. He hated slugs since then.

What you need to do is force it to assume a shape that you find amusing.

"We will practice the charm without wands first. After me, please… riddikulus!"

"Riddikulus!" said the class together.

"Good," said Professor Lupin.

McGonagall was nodding at Remus's explanation. She wanted the man back; he was a little green regarding the administrative part of academics, but he was good at the whole teaching thing and that's what she needed.

The wardrobe shook again, though not as much as Neville, who walked forward as though he were heading for the gallows.

"Right, Neville," said Professor Lupin. "First things first: what would you say is the thing that frightens you most in the world?"

Neville's lips moved, but no noise came out.

"I didn't catch that, Neville, sorry," said Professor Lupin cheerfully.

Neville looked around rather wildly, as though begging someone to help him, then said, in barely more than a whisper, "Professor Snape." Nearly everyone laughed. Even Neville grinned apologetically. Professor Lupin, however, looked thoughtful.

"Of course, he's thoughtful they have soul-sucking monsters out the window, but your worst fear is a professor. That's not right"—Charlie said he had feared Snape in his time but never to that degree. He was just scared of cleaning cauldrons.

Snape kept his face blank. Longbottom was never going to learn if they cuddle him, the boy was a joke to wizards, and even he could admit that Longbottom lacked the power his parents had.

"Professor Snape… hmmm… Neville, I believe you live with your grandmother?" "Er — yes," said Neville nervously. "But — I don't want the Boggart to turn into her either."

Augusta turned to her grandson. —"What Is that supposed to mean?"

"Your terrifying"—Neville added like it was obvious.

"Yes, I know that. But I didn't know I was terrifying to you."

Neville shrugged but the room stayed silent. Ron and Hermione shared a look, apparently more people were being shown their mistakes.

"No, no, you misunderstand me," said Professor Lupin, now smiling. "I wonder, could you tell us what sort of clothes your grandmother usually wears?" Neville looked startled, but said, "Well… always the same hat. A tall one with a stuffed vulture on top. And a long dress… green, normally… and sometimes a fox-fur scarf."

Fleur couldn't hide her horror. – "Madam Longbottom have you considered a stylist?"

Alastor turned to the girl— "Is this relevant now?"

"Yes, you need one Mr. Moody a few in this room actually"—Fleur said giving a turn around the room.

"What is that supposed to mean?"—Molly said angrily.

Sirius was enjoying himself and Luna beat him to speak— "Clearly that we all lack fashion sense, I agree Miss Delacour, but one has to dress to their personalities, perhaps you can assist those in need after the readings, you know to cause a statement."

Fleur nodded— "Absolutely."

"Right then," said Professor Lupin. "Can you picture those clothes very clearly, Neville? Can you see them in your mind's eye?"

Sirius barked a laugh— "Oh Moony your brilliant."

"Yes," said Neville uncertainty, plainly wondering what was coming next.

"When the Boggart bursts out of this wardrobe, Neville, and sees you, it will assume the form of Professor Snape," said Lupin. "And you will raise your wand — thus — and cry 'Riddikulus' — and concentrate hard on your grandmother's clothes. If all goes well, Professor Boggart Snape will be forced into that vulture-topped hat, and that green dress, with that big red handbag."

Snape hold on to his wand, Black was enjoying himself too much but the noise next to him caused him to focus on Amelia who started laughing and had to cover her mouth with her hand.

Professor Lupin. "I would like all of you to take a moment now to think of the thing that scares you most, and imagine how you might force it to look comical…" The room went quiet.

Amelia asked—"You didn't give them a chose to see if they didn't want to participate?"

"Unfortunately, Amelia that's not an option in Defense, I did realize I should have, given the circumstances of who I had in the class."—Remus signaled to Harry who made a face at him— "But I did do it for the others."

Harry thought… What scared him most in the world?

His first thought was Lord Voldemort — a Voldemort returned to full strength. But before he had even started to plan a possible counterattack on a Boggart-Voldemort, a horrible image came floating to the surface of his mind… A rotting, glistening hand, slithering back beneath a black cloak… a long, rattling breath from an unseen mouth… then a cold so penetrating it felt like drowning…

Sirius put his arm around Harry and brought him closer.—

Many people had their eyes shut tight. Ron was muttering to himself, "Take its legs off." Harry was sure he knew what that was about. Ron's greatest fear was spiders.

"The acromantulas came to mind."

"Everyone ready?" said Professor Lupin.

Harry felt a lurch of fear. He wasn't ready. How could you make a Dementor less frightening? But he didn't want to ask for more time; everyone else was nodding and rolling up their sleeves.

Remus turned to Harry— "Sorry, I should have been paying more attention."

"No, it's alright"—Harry smiled—"Ready or not I don't think I would have been able to do it, on the first try"

"On the count of three, Neville," said Professor Lupin, who was pointing his own wand at the handle of the wardrobe. "One — two — three —now!"

A jet of sparks shot from the end of Professor Lupin's wand and hit the doorknob. The wardrobe burst open. Hook-nosed and menacing, Professor Snape stepped out, his eyes flashing at Neville.

Neville backed away, his wand up, mouthing wordlessly. Snape was bearing down upon him, reaching inside his robes.

"R — r — riddikulus! " squeaked Neville. There was a noise like a whip crack. Snape stumbled; he was wearing a long, lace-trimmed dress and a towering hat topped with a moth-eaten vulture, and he was swinging a huge crimson handbag.

Augusta gave a few taps on his grandson's hand. — "Good, job"

Sirius was trying hard not to laugh out loud, though he was enjoying himself immensely. Snape's face was a poem, the man was trying very hard not to throw a curse at everyone.

Tonks leaned to whisper at Remus—"Your brilliant you know that right"

"I'm not."

—Tonks rolled her eyes at his dismissal.

"Parvati! Forward!"

"Where did she see a mummy?"—Ted asked.

"Seamus!" roared Professor Lupin.

"Forget about it, where did he see a banshee?"—Charlie asked.—"Those are nasty things"

Ron leapt forward. A giant spider, six feet tall and covered in hair, was advancing on Ron, clicking its pincers menacingly.

Ron shuddered—"If only they knew it wasn't my imagination and there's literally thousands like those miles from the school"—he stated making everyone remember there was a nest of Acromantulas that needed to be exterminated.

it came to a halt at Harry's feet. He raised his wand, ready, but —

"Here!" shouted Professor Lupin suddenly, hurrying forward. Crack!

"Ah"—Remus said—"Now I see why you were angry at me"

"Why did you do that?"—Sirius said accusingly.

"I panic. I thought it would be Voldemort."

"It's alright, I told you I understand, and even if it wasn't Voldemort I probably would have frozen"

Then they saw a silvery-white orb hanging in the air in front of Lupin, who said, "Riddikulus!" almost lazily.

Sirius sighed and leaned to pat Remus' shoulder— "Still the moon I see"

"Haven't changed in years."—he shrugged,

Andromeda frowned. She turned to look at her daughter's concerned face and her hand holding on strong to Remus. She took a deep breath but turned back to the book.

"Forward, Neville, and finish him off!" said Lupin.

"Thank you professor"—Neville said—"It helped me a lot"

Remus smiled kindly at the boy who looked so much like his mother—"No need Neville, I'm happy it did and you can call me Remus"

Sirius whispered to Remus. — "We are proud of you Rems."

CHAPTER EIGHT –Flight of the Fat Lady

In no time at all, Defense Against the Dark Arts had become most people's favorite class.

"Yeah, no wonder why."— Charlie said.— "Sounds like a great class."

Only Draco had anything bad to say about Professor Lupin. "Look at the state of his robes," Malfoy would say in a loud whisper as Professor Lupin passed. "He dresses like our old house elf."

"Hey."— Remus said –"I certainly dress better than a house elf."

Serious. Shook his head. —"Oi Fleur…"

"No."— Remus warned him at the same time that Fleur look up.—"Yes?"

Sirius waved Remus off—"I'm going to be the first one needing your Style advice if Amelia does come true to her word, You'll be free to use all the contents of Black vaults to give our favorite Professor a Sharp intellectual look" —Sirius felt Harry laugh at Remus' indignation. —"Oh, and Harry Because if I must see another flannel shirt, I'm going to choke him with it."

"Hey. I like flannel. Just different size."

Fleur nodded excited—"Shopping spree in Paris, oh Harry the thinks I could do with you"—she said making Harry blush to his ears and Sirius laugh.

"You have no idea what you have done."— Bill warned him.

"Your thriving"—Sirius said to Remus—"James would've loved it.

Harry only wished he was as happy with some of his other classes. Worst of all was Potions. The story of the Boggart assuming Snape's shape, and the way that Neville had dressed it in his grandmother's clothes, had traveled through the school like wildfire.

"Like wildfire? it was the only thing everyone talked about."— George said. His twin agrees with him.—"Actually there was a chat between the seventh years about asking one of you for the memory"

Snape didn't seem to find it funny. His eyes flashed menacingly at the very mention of Professor Lupin's name, and he was bullying Neville worse than ever.

"Of course, I didn't find it funny."— Snape said.—" Lupin just proved that he was still the same bullying self as in his youth. Finding ways to humiliate me."

Remus rolled his eyes and Sirius was about to retort. But it was Neville to the surprise of everyone who spoke.

—"Funny how you speak about humiliation, professor, and it is exactly what you do, Gran, stop"— Neville turned to Augusta. -"Put your wand away."

Dumbledore pressed his lips together. He looked at Severus with a stern look and then at the Marauders, just a few days ago they had come to an agreement, a certain olive branch given by both parties, and now it felt like it was sooner or later that a fight would unleash.

Harry was also growing to dread the hours he spent in Professor Trelawney's stifling tower room, , trying to ignore the way Professor Trelawney's enormous eyes filled with tears every time she looked at him..

"If you were dreading the class, Harry, you should have told McGonagall and got out."—Sirius told him, -"I'm a little concerned that no professor has told Trelawny to calm down with the death prediction. Not every child in your hallways is mentally stable and might take these predictions seriously."

Parvati Patil and Lavender Brown had taken to haunting Professor Trelawney's tower room at lunch times, and always returned with annoyingly superior looks on their faces, as though they knew things the others didn't.

"It was the most annoying thing."— Hermione said.—" They kept asking me if Harry was ok."

They had also started using hushed voices whenever they spoke to Harry, as though he were on his deathbed.

"Well, that's rude."

Nobody really liked Care of Magical Creatures, which, after the action-packed first class, had become extremely dull. Hagrid seemed to have lost his confidence.

"I really did."— Hagrid said sadly, he had been very excited about his classes.

"You did a really good job Hagrid. But someone should have put a stop to Malfoy."

"This is our last chance —my last chance — to win the Quidditch Cup," he told them, striding up and down in front of them. "I'll be leaving at the end of this year. I'll never get another shot at it.

"We've got three superb Chasers."

Wood pointed at Alicia Spinner, Angelina Johnson, and Katie Bell.

"We've got two unbeatable Beaters."

"Stop it, Oliver, you're embarrassing us," said Fred and George Weasley together, pretending to blush.

Fred laugh— "He was embarrassing us a little, you could see he was really nervous about the season."

"It was his last and he was going pro. I guess it was his way of telling us that he needed us to be at our best without pressuring us…more than he normally did, of course."— Harry said.

"And we've got a Seeker who has never failed to win us a match!" Wood rumbled, glaring at Harry with a kind of furious pride. "And me," he added as an afterthought.

"We think you're very good too, Oliver," said George.

"Spanking good Keeper," said Fred.

"Well, you certainly can hear the desperation in his voice." –Ted mocked—"The boy is on a mission."

"Harry, I'm sure you'll be able to go next time," she said. "They're bound to catch Black soon. He's been sighted once already."

"I know you were trying to be Optimistic, but that was doing nothing for my humor."

"Black's does not fool enough to try anything in Hogsmeade," said Ron. "Ask McGonagall if you can go this time, Harry. The next one might not be for ages —" "Ron!" said Hermione. "Harrys supposed to stay in school —"

"Ronald, Hermione is right, Harry was supposed to stay in the castle, and encouraging him to leave was putting him in danger."— Molly reprimanded. The twins tense and shift in their seats, their mother would go crazy when they realized it was them who help Harry leave the castle.

"But I don't see why he shouldn't ask. There's nothing wrong with asking, Hermione is acting all outraged like Harry's planning an escape."

Hermione opened her mouth to argue, but at that moment Crookshanks leapt lightly onto her lap. A large, dead spider was dangling from his mouth.

"Does he have to eat that in front of us?" said Ron, scowling.

"Clever Crookshanks, did you catch that all by yourself?" said Hermione.

Crookshanks; slowly chewed up the spider, his yellow eyes fixed insolently on Ron. "Just keep him over there, that's all," said Ron irritably, turning back to his star chart. "I've got Scabbers asleep in my bag."

"He's just doing what a cat does, Ron"—Charlie—"Especially kneazels They're very picky of who they choose as friends, and you probably annoyed him with all that indirect hate"

"Oh, it wasn't indirect I still don't like him"—

"You can copy mine, if you like," said Ron, labeling his last star with a flourish and shoving the chart toward Harry. Hermione, who disapproved of copying, pursed her lips but didn't say anything.

Minerva narrowed her eyes. – "I hope you don't do this for all of your classes."

"Only for the ones we hate."

"Give them a break, Minerva."— August said. –"The boy is doing homework for a class where the teacher tells him he's going to die every time he walks into the room."

Crookshanks was still staring unblinkingly at Ron, flicking the end of his bushy tail. Then, without warning, he pounced. "OY!" Ron roared, seizing his bag as Crookshanks sank four sets of claws deep inside it and began tearing ferociously. "GET OFF, YOU STUPID ANIMAL!" Ron tried to pull the bag away from Crookshanks, but Crookshanks clung on, spitting and slashing.

"Holy… Crookshank was really going for it."

"It's the kneazel in him. He didn't trust Peter since the moment he saw him. He saw him as a threat, so he was going to keep pouncing on him until the threat was eliminated."—Remus stated.

"Ron, don't hurt him!" squealed Hermione; the whole common room was watching; Ron whirled the bag around, Crookshanks still clinging to it "Look at him!" he said furiously to Hermione, dangling Scabbers in front of her. "He's skin and bone! You keep that cat away from him!"

"I can understand why Ron's angry."—Luna said to Hermione. —"You're being very inconsiderate."

Hermione crossed her arms but kept her head up.

"Crookshanks doesn't understand it's wrong!" said Hermione, her voice shaking. "All cats chase rats, Ron!"

"Yes, Hermione but"—Andromeda started explaining to her –"We know what scabbard is now. But at that moment, you didn't. At that moment, your cat, who is your responsibility, was trying to eat your friend's familiar, and you're not being considerate about it. You assumed that it's correct because that's what cats do. But I'm pretty sure that Crookshanks isn't the only cat in the tower."

Hermione pressed her lips together to stop herself from lashing out at them. Ron kept his head low, but he was a little grateful that people were seeing his side. Harry was messaging his temple remembering the entire year of confrontations between those two.

Sirius whispered to Harry. —"I don't think Hermione likes to be reprimanded."

"She doesn't, it will only get worse."

"There's something funny about that animal!" said Ron, who was trying to persuade a frantically wiggling Scabbers back into his pocket. "It heard me say that Scabbers was in my bag!"

"Oh, what rubbish," said Hermione impatiently. "Crookshanks could smell him, Ron, how else d'you think —"

"That cat's got it in for Scabbers!" said Ron, ignoring the people around him, who were starting to giggle. "And Scabbers was here first, and he's ill!"

"Well, yes, dear, But the way you're taking the situation…"

Hermione took a deep breath and answered Mrs. Weasley—" Yes. I understand…"

"Do you?"— Ginny asked her, amused— "You do realize we're trying to tell you that you're always trying to think you're right, but you're not"—Ginny couldn't finish because Hermione threw her a jinx making the redhead laugh.

Lavender Brown seemed to be crying.

"What's the matter, Lavender?" said Hermione anxiously as she, Harry, and Ron went to join the group.

"She got a letter from home this morning," Parvati whispered. "It's her rabbit, Binky. He's been killed by a fox."

"Oh," said Hermione, "I'm sorry, Lavender."

"I should have known!" said Lavender tragically. "You know what day it is?"

"Er —"

"The sixteenth of October! 'That thing you're dreading, it will happen on the sixteenth of October!' Remember? She was right, she was right!"

Augusta huffed—"So she's not a complete farce? But what, she only predicts death omens?"

Snape rearranged himself in his seat, uncomfortable. Augusta had no idea how right she was.

Hermione hesitated; then she said, "You — you were dreading Binky being killed by a fox?"

"Was Binky an old rabbit?"

"N — no!" sobbed Lavender. "H — he was only a baby!"

Parvati tightened her arm around Lavender's shoulders.

"But then, why would you dread him dying?" said Hermione.

Parvati glared at her.

Tonks face palmed herself. —"Hermione, no. This is the moment when you say, oh Lavender I'm sorry. And then you pat her on the back, and you tell her that Binky is probably now with more rabbits in heaven."

Hermione made a face at her.

"Well, look at it logically," said Hermione, turning to the rest of the group. "I mean, Binky didn't even die today, did he? Lavender just got the news today —" Lavender wailed loudly. "– and she can't have been dreading it, because it's come as a real shock —" "Don't mind Hermione, Lavender," said Ron loudly, "she doesn't think other people's pets matter very much."

— "You're horrible at this thing called, giving comfort."

Hermione rolled her eyes. —"Well, it was the most logical thing. Binky didn't die on the 16th. That's when she got the news so Trelawney wasn't necessarily right."

"And was it necessary for you to prove that? wouldn't have been better if you comfort your friend"—Andromeda asked.

"They're not my friends."— Hermione said in such a tone it raised a few eyebrows in surprise.

Neville put up his hand.

"Please, Professor, I — I think I've lost —"

"Your grandmother sent yours to me directly, Longbottom," said Professor McGonagall. "She seemed to think it was safer.

"Clearly it was the right thing to do."

"Ask her now," Ron hissed at Harry.

"Oh. but —" Hermione began.

"Go for it, Harry," said Ron stubbornly.

"Hermione, for heaven's sake."—

Hermione was already getting fed up—"I already knew she was going to say no. I was trying to save Harry the disappointment, Sirius."

"Oh, cause you and Ron making plans in his face about how much fun you both were going to have, wasn't part of him being disappointed?"

"We didn't…"—Hermione wasn't able to finish because Ron stopped her.

Sirius to was about to open his mouth but Harry stopped him. — "If you make my friend cry, I'm going to punch you again."— He whispered harshly to his godfather, making Remus snort and Sirius raised his hand in surrender.

"Yes, Potter?" Harry took a deep breath. "Professor, my aunt and uncle — er — forgot to sign my form," he said. Professor McGonagall looked over her square spectacles at him but didn't say anything. "So — er — d'you think it would be all right mean, will It be okay if I — if I go to Hogsmeade?" Professor McGonagall looked down and began shuffling papers on her desk. She turned to look at him, with an odd expression on her face. Was it pity? "I'm sorry, Potter, but that's my final word. You had better hurry, or you'll be late for your next lesson."

"This is the fifth opportunity you'll have to tell me the truth."—Harry raised his hand again. —" It would have been very simple."

"Maybe they didn't tell you because you tend to act Rashly."—

Harry was going to defend himself, but he thought better about it. —"Probably but it would have been better than just being it thrown to my face and letting me meet the consequences later"

"How did you find out?"— Amelia asked him but Harry shook his head.

Ron called Professor McGonagall a lot of names that greatly annoyed Hermione; Hermione assumed an 'all-for-the-best' expression that made Ron even angrier.

"Ronald!"— Molly and Arthur reprimanded.

Minerva just turned around to give him a glare.— "Well, I would apologize, Mr. Weasley, but I did what I thought was right."

Ron looked everywhere but at his parents and professor.

"Hermione. Aren't you tired of trying to be right all the time?"

"I don't try to be right. George. I always tend to be right."

"Ego much"— Fred said through a pretend cough.

"There's always the feast," said Ron, in an effort to cheer Harry up. "You know, the Halloween feast, in the evening."

"Yeah," said Harry gloomily, "great."

"Can I ask you something?" —Amelia said to Harry. Harry asked her to continue. –

"Have you ever associated Halloween with your parent's death? Because it's been three years since you've talked about Halloween, but I haven't seen you react to it as the anniversary of what happened."

Everyone turned to look at Harry.

"My first year, I never really thought about it because of how different everything was and the troll. I was more concerned with understanding everything that was going around. In my second year, I did, I had many months to analyze who I was and what happened to them, but I didn't linger in the thought, again I also had many things happening around me to focus on the date and in 3rd year I did remember it more, I believe because of the dementors. But I try not to dwell on the fact that it's my parent's murder anniversary…"

"Have you mourned them?"— Luna asked.

"Miss Lovegood!"— Minerva said sternly.

Harry looked thoughtfully at the girl. He couldn't believe he was answering these questions, a few weeks ago probably a few days ago he would have kept quiet or told them to mind their own business but with every day, the more they read about his life and his thoughts, he realized that he no longer had any privacy. —"I've found myself missing them and there have been moments from my first year, too right now where I wish I could have them. But if I've mourned who they were? No, I have no idea who they were. I don't know what to mourn."

Remus closed his eyes and leaned into Dora. Sirius hold on to Harry's knee for support and tried hard for the pain to not show on his face.

Everyone in the room just nodded solemnly.

Ron halfheartedly suggested the Invisibility Cloak, but Hermione stamped on that one, reminding Ron what Dumbledore had told them about the Dementors being able to see through them.

"You shouldn't really be encouraging him to leave the castle."—Arthur said sternly.

"We'll bring you lots of sweets back from Honeydukes," said Hermione, looking desperately sorry for him.

"Don't worry about me," said Harry, in what he hoped was at, offhand voice, "I'll see you at the feast. Have a good time."

"You really can't catch a break, can you?"—Bill said in sympathy.

"Harry! Harry! Hi, Harry!"

It was Colin Creevey, a second year who was deeply in awe of Harry and never missed an opportunity to speak to him.

"Aren't you going to Hogsmeade, Harry? Why not? Hey —" Colin looked eagerly around at his friends — "you can come and sit with us, if you like, Harry!"

"Er — no, thanks, Colin," said Harry, who wasn't in the mood to have a lot of people staring avidly at the scar on his forehead.

"I was wondering where your admire had gone to."—Sirius said trying to dissipate the tension that had fallen into the room.—"It does look like he has a crush"

"He's gotten better, he's still a little intense, but he's learned to tame it down."

"Do you realize that you could've sat with them and told them whatever you wanted, and they would believe it. They would have taken your word as preaching."—Fred said, shaking his head.—"All that power, Harry."

Harry laughed out loud at the Nonsense the twins could say.—" You realize we are in a war for that exact reason"

Alastor surprised everyone by laughing at that.

"Well, get back to your common room where you belong!" snapped Filch, and he stood glaring until Harry had passed out of sight.

"Something needs to be done about this man. He is getting bitter and bitter with every year that passes by. I understand it, he's in a magical school and he can't do magic himself, but there's no rule that says Harry can't walk around."

"I will be speaking with Filch."— Dumbledore said. – "Perhaps a few holidays would bring him joy."

"Or retirement."— Ron whispered.

"Harry?" Harry doubled back to see who had spoken and met Professor Lupin, looking around his office door.

"What are you doing?" said Lupin, though in a very different voice from Filch. "Where are Ron and Hermione?"

"Hogsmeade," said Harry, in a would-be casual voice.

"Ah," said Lupin. He considered Harry for a moment. "Why don't you come in? I've just taken delivery of a Grindylow for our next lesson."

Sirius wrinkle his face, Remus sounded so awkward—"You sound so unsure of approaching him like he's going to bite"

"When it could be the other way around."— Harry said, Remus gave him an incredulous look, and Sirius snickered.

-"I was apprehensive approaching him because I was his professor and you didn't see the poor face on him, he looked so sad."

"Cup of tea?" Lupin said, looking around for his kettle. "I was just thinking of making one."

"All right," said Harry awkwardly.

Lupin tapped the kettle with his wand and a blast of steam issued suddenly from the spout.

"Dear god"—Tonks said. — "There's nothing more awkward than trying to see two socially awkward people trying to make conversation."

Her father agreed with her. —"Harry, please come join me for a cup of tea. You seem like you need company. Thank you, Professor Lupin. I prefer milk with my tea. Can I sit"

Andromeda laughed sounding like Sirius. —"Not everyone is adapted to a social conversation like you two. Some people know boundaries."

"I've only got teabags, I'm afraid — but I daresay you've had enough of tea leaves?"

Harry looked at him. Lupin's eyes were twinkling.

"How did you know about that?" Harry asked.

"Professor McGonagall told me, "said Lupin, passing Harry a chipped mug of tea. "You're not worried, are you?"

"No," said Harry.

He thought for a moment of telling Lupin about the dog he'd seen in Magnolia Crescent but decided not to. He didn't want Lupin to think he was a coward, especially since Lupin already seemed to think he couldn't cope with a Boggart.

"Oh, Harry, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to give you that impression."

"I know. I didn't realize how much it was bothering me until that moment. Also, this is the 6th perfect opportunity to tell me what's going on."—Harry raised his hand to stop Remus—"I know why you didn't but I just pointed it out because I'm keeping count here."

"You're really not going to let it go, are you?"—Kingsley said.

"Oh no. Isn't this what the books are supposed to be about, seeing our errors? Some of you have fucked up."

"Mr. Potter!"— Minerva said. –"I had no idea you had this kind of foul mouth."

"In my head. But since you are in my head, I don't see why I should filter myself."

"For the respect of the ladies,"— Minerva said, pointing at Ginny, Luna, and Hermione.

Fleur leaned into Bill and whispered—"She didn't count me as a lady."

"Maybe she thinks you're made of tougher skin"— he whispered back.

"Or she doesn't like me."

"Yes, that's probably it"—

"Anything worrying you, Harry?"

"No," Harry lied. He drank a bit of tea and watched the Grindylow brandishing a fist at him. "Yes," he said suddenly, putting his tea down on Lupin's desk. "You know that day we fought the Boggart?"

Minerva's eyebrows rose in surprise. —"I can't believe he's talking to you. If I would have asked, he would have said he was fine, closed off, and asked me if he could leave."

Harry said nothing. But Remus had given him trustworthy vibes since the beginning. He believed that it was probably because he subconsciously could remember him, the same way he had made a quick connection with Sirius. But he knew that saying it out loud caused a lot more questions and a lot colder looks from Mrs. Weasley, he didn't want to fight.

"Yes," said Lupin slowly.

"Why didn't you let me fight it?" said Harry abruptly.

Lupin raised his eyebrows.

"I would have thought that was obvious, Harry," he said, sounding surprised.

Harry, who had expected Lupin to deny that he'd done any such thing, was taken aback.

"I wouldn't deny something that I know very well I did. I'm just sorry I didn't tell you why immediately."

"Why?" he said again.

"Well," said Lupin, frowning slightly, "I assumed that if the Boggart faced you, it would assume the shape of Lord Voldemort."

Harry stared. Not only was this the last answer he'd expected, but Lupin had said Voldemort's name. The only person Harry had ever heard say the name aloud (apart from himself) was Professor Dumbledore.

"Just like that, you gained my respect."— Harry told the wolf.

Remus beamed at him.

"So what? All the others who can't say his name don't have your respect?"—Percy asked, annoyed.

But the only thing he got in return was Harry's Surprised look. –"I forgot you were here. And no, of course not, but it's a name if you're afraid of the name then you have no opportunity to face the man. Believe me, he's 1000 times more terrifying."—

Percy didn't know what to say to that. So, he just swallowed and went back to facing the book.

"I didn't think of Voldemort," said Harry honestly. "I — I remembered those Dementors."

"I see," said Lupin thoughtfully. "Well, well… I'm impressed." He smiled slightly at the look of surprise on Harry's face. "That suggests that what you fear most of all is — fear. Very wise, Harry."

"I can see it. They give you memories you didn't know existed. That to this moment you have no idea what they are but you can feel the dread and fear"—Kingsley said.—"Fudge made a horrible decision allowing them into the school"

"Well… yeah," said Harry. He was suddenly feeling a lot happier. "Professor Lupin, you know the Dementors —"

He was interrupted by a knock on the door.

"Come in," called Lupin.

The door opened, and in came Snape. He was carrying a goblet, which was smoking faintly, and stopped at the sight of Harry, his black eyes narrowing.

Snape's eyes narrowed again. He remembered it had taken him by surprise for a moment and his mind had gone back to James Potter and Lupin, the only missing piece would have been Black right there in the middle of them.

Snape set down the smoking goblet, his eyes wandering between Harry and Lupin. "I should probably have some again tomorrow. Thanks very much, Severus." "Not at all," said Snape, but there was a look in his eye Harry didn't like. He backed out of the room, unsmiling and watchful.

"What's his problem now?"

"Probably childhood memories."—Sirius said out loud.

Harry tried not to look at Snape. He still had to decide about apologizing on his father's behalf, he knew Sirius would say it didn't matter and Remus would tell him to do whatever he thought was best but Harry had forgotten how horrible Snape had been this year, he remember the snide comments and glares but now so in detail, Snape hadn't even tried to be better.

Harry looked curiously at the goblet. Lupin smiled.

He picked up the goblet and sniffed it. "Pity sugar makes it useless," he added, taking a sip and shuddering.

"What does it taste like?"—Charlie asked curiously.

"It is incredibly bitter, and it has an aftertaste of rusty pipe, you must drink it hot for it to work better. So, it burns down but, in the end, it's worth it."

"Why —?" Harry began. Lupin looked at him and answered the unfinished question.

"I've been feeling a bit off-color," he said. "This potion is the only thing that helps. I am very lucky to be working alongside Professor Snape; there aren't many wizards who are up to making it."

Sirius trying to do a poor imitation of Remus' voice. — "Because you see, Harry, I am a werewolf, and if I don't drink this Potion I might eat every person in the school."

"Not everyone."—Remus said, giving him a stern look. –"I'm pretty sure that after a couple I would start getting full, plus don't joke about it, it almost happens."—He reminded his friend.

Some of them look at them strangely because of the bad taste joke, but Amelia shook her head.—"You are so used to it that you don't care about how a room full of people would react to that joke."

"We tried to make it easier for him. We were 12 years old when we confronted him about it. Still, remember we found him trying to pack his things. Do you want to talk about a bad-taste joke? You should have heard the ones, James would say…"

"No"—Remus stopped him. —"Some of them are really not for our public"—

Sirius knew who the public was. Better not let the Snake strike yet. — "Fine, I apologize for my Black taste humor"—

Professor Lupin took another sip and Harry had a crazy urge to knock the goblet out of his hands.

"Aww look at our little pup here trying to save your life."

Harry blushed at the endearment—"Shut up"— Harry said. Pushing his godfather's hand off his head.

"Professor Snape's very interested in the Dark Arts," he blurted out.

That made everyone laugh except Snape. Dumbledore made a frown; He hadn't realized how quickly Harry had trusted Remus.

"Really?" said Lupin, looking only mildly interested as he took another gulp of potion. "Some people reckon —" Harry hesitated, then plunged recklessly on, "some people reckon he'd do anything to get the Defense Against the Dark Arts job." Lupin drained the goblet and pulled a face. "Disgusting," he said. "Well, Harry, I'd better get back to work. See you at the feast later."

"You completely ignored his concern and pushed him out the door."— Ginny said frowning.

"I didn't really want to Defend Severus and the side effects of the potion the first time you start drinking are quite severe. That's why I was very sick until Christmas, it wasn't because I didn't want to spend time with him, but after that first goblet, I remember I took a long nap."

"What are the side effects?"— Andromeda asked him. Remus froze for a moment. –"They go from headaches to migraines to nausea to bloodlust to vomit, to extensive back pain, fainting, and Prolong Exhaustion. That's why it took me a while to recover after the first full months. But eventually, your body gets used to it and adapts."

Andromeda nodded her healer mind was working with what might be the contents of the potion, to be very honest, she had never paid too much attention. But it was her motherly concern on high alert. She knew Nymphadora was falling for the man. And she still didn't know how she felt about that.

"No," said Harry. "Lupin made me a cup of tea in his office. And then Snape came in…"

He told them all about the goblet. Ron's mouth fell open.

"Lupin drank it?" he gasped. "Is he mad?"

Snape looked incredulous. – "When have I ever poisoned a professor for all of you to be so concerned?"

"Not their professors, their pets."— Amelia reminded him.

Harry kept glancing at the staff table. Professor Lupin looked cheerful and as well as he ever did; he was talking animatedly to tiny little

Professor Flitwick, the Charms teacher. Harry moved his eyes along the table, to the place where Snape sat. Was he imagining it, or were Snape's eyes flickering toward Lupin more often than was natural?

"You were imagining it, Harry."—Remus told him, though he knew very well that Severus had been looking at him. He knew what Severus had imagined when he saw him with Harry.

"Let me through, please," came Percy's voice, and he came bustling importantly through the crowd. "What's the holdup here? You can't all have forgotten the password — excuse me, I'm Head Boy —"

"Do any of my children have manners?"— Molly said out loud. —"Excuse me, coming through. Can I please pass, what is going on? So many ways to express Yourself."

"You want to educate him now?"—Ginny asked her mother—"No offense, mom, but it's a little too late."

Percy defended himself. —" I have impeccable manners. Better than most of you"

"Percy is saying that he wants us to hex him again."—Ginny said to the twins, who snickered.

They heard Percy say, in a suddenly sharp voice, "Somebody get Professor Dumbledore. Quick." People's heads turned; those at the back were standing on tiptoe.

"What's going on?" said Ginny, who had just arrived.

"Hey, there I am. I was getting a little concerned."

"With what?"—Luna asked her.

"Well, it's October and I hadn't shown up. I like to hear the sound of my voice."

"At least you're showing up."— Luna told her— "I haven't even been mentioned. Starting to question why I'm here?"

"You're probably important for the future."— Neville said kindly.

"Oh, my —" Hermione grabbed Harry's arm.

Dumbledore took one quick look at the ruined painting and turned, his eyes somber, to see Professors McGonagall, Lupin, and Snape hurrying toward him. "We need to find her," said Dumbledore.

"Not one of your finest moments, padfoot. Scared the living hell out of me when I saw how you left her."

"The only thing she had to do was open the Door."

"What do you mean, Peeves?" said Dumbledore calmly,

Dumbledore quietly.

"Oh yes, Professorhead,"

"He got very angry when she wouldn't let him in, you see." Peeves flipped over and grinned at Dumbledore from between his own legs. "Nasty temper he's got, that Sirius Black."

"In my defense."—Sirius said to everyone. –"I wasn't in the right state of mind."

"No…. Really."—Tonk said sarcastically. —" Never would've imagined it"

Sirius gave her the finger—"Oh, shut up. I had just recently arrived at Hogwarts no more than a couple of days and I had to pass the dementors on my way into the forest and just that day I realized it was Hogsmeade day and that I had an opportunity."

CHAPTER NINE –Grim Defeat

Professor Dumbledore sent all the Gryffindors back to the Great Hall,

"The teachers and I need to conduct a thorough search of the castle," "I'm afraid that, for your own safety, you will have to spend the night here.,

Amelia said. —" you told Fudge, and he decided to keep that information to himself. I received a letter two days later from Susan's asking me for information. Fudge had the audacity to tell me the dementors had the situation under control."

"Everyone into their sleeping bags!" shouted Percy. "Come on, now, no more talking! Lights out in ten minutes!"

"Oh, come on, Percy, you know very well no one's going to sleep."

"There are rules to follow, William. That's how you Maintain control."

"I understand Percival but from Head boy to Head boy, in these situations, the children need comfort. Not rules and orders and being yelled at. You make sure that they are with their friends, with people they feel safe"

"It's very lucky he picked tonight, you know," said Hermione "The one night we weren't in the tower…"

"Well, yes. that's why I did it. Obviously, I just miscalculated my time."

"Because the castle's protected by more than walls, you know," said Hermione. "There are all sorts of enchantments on it, to stop people entering by stealth. You can't just Apparate in here. And I'd like to see the disguise that could fool those Dementors. They're guarding every single entrance to the grounds. They'd have seen him fly in too. And Filch knows all the secret passages, they'll have them covered…"

"Miss Granger is correct."— Dumbledore said. – "The only person that is capable of apparating inside Hogwarts is me and the dementors were outside. I did not have them so close to any entrance for our safety."

"What about the secret passages?"—Alastor asked – "Did you have those check?

"Filius and Remus did"—

"I did tell you they had to be closed."—Remus remembered him.

"Headmaster?" It was Snape. "Have you any theory as to how he got in, Professor?" asked Snape. "Many, Severus, each of them as unlikely as the next." "You remember the conversation we had, Headmaster, just before — ah — the start of term?" said Snape, who was barely opening his lips, as though trying to block Percy out of the conversation. "I do, Severus," said Dumbledore, and there was something like warning in his voice. "I do not believe a single person inside this castle would have helped Black enter it," said Dumbledore, and his tone made it so clear that the subject was closed that Snape didn't reply.

Dumbledore sighed, at the look, Snape and Sirius were giving each other. He had been disappointed in Severus that night, all three men decided to hate each other until their last living day.

"Oh yes," said Dumbledore coldly. "But I'm afraid no Dementor will cross the threshold of this castle while I am Headmaster."

"A statement I, Unfortunately, couldn't prevent the following year."

"Well, no one was expecting Fudge to Act how he did"—

The school talked of nothing but Sirius Black for the next few days. The theories about how he had entered the castle became wilder and wilder; Hannah Abbott, from Hufflepuff, spent much of their next Herbology class telling anyone who'd listen that Black could turn into a flowering shrub.

Sirius chuckled. –"How would that work exactly?"

Harry's was now being closely watched. Teachers found excuses to walk along corridors with him, and Percy Weasley (acting, Harry suspected, on his mother's orders) was tailing him everywhere like an extremely pompous guard dog.

"7th Perfect moment to tell me the truth."

"Well, excuse me for wasting my time on keeping you alive, Potter."

"Seems like you want to fight with me, Percy. I'm not even going to raise my wand. But they will."— Harry said pointing at Remus and Sirius.

Arthur cleared his throat—"And actually, Harry he was acting on my orders. I felt a little on edge regarding the conversation we had in kings cross."

"There's no point hiding it from you any longer, Potter," she said in a very serious voice. "I know this will come as a shock to you, but Sirius Black —"

"I know he's after me," said Harry wearily. "I heard Ron's dad telling his mum. Mr. Weasley works for the Ministry of Magic."

Professor McGonagall seemed very taken aback.

"I was shocked because Dumbledore had given us specific orders to not tell you anything, so someone had not followed through".—Harry nodded but he was more than ready to see her reaction to how he had found out.

She stared at Harry for a moment or two, then said, "I see! Well, in that case, Potter, you'll understand why I don't think it's a good idea for you to be practicing Quidditch in the evenings. Out on the field with only your team members, it's very exposed, Potter —"

"That's incredibly unfair."—Charlie said angrily on behalf of Harry.—"You know very well the Dementors have an effect on him, so you know that he can't go out to just sit and contemplate the sunset. He can't go to Hogsmeade something that his entire year and over 70% of the school is doing to pass the time and you want to take away the only enjoyment he has?"

Tonks, Kingsley, and Amelia agreed with him. Amelia still believed that Harry should be seeing a mind healer.—"Mr. Potter. Going back to our conversation when this started have you thought about what I said regarding the mind healer?"

"Yes, I'm still thinking about it."

Amelia nodded but she would have to talk to Remus or Sirius. Harry would need encouragement.

"We're not playing Slytherin!" he told them, looking very angry. "Flint's just been to see me. We're playing Hufflepuff instead."

"Why?" chorused the rest of the team.

"Well, that's a shit move."

"That shouldn't be allowed. If the team that is to play won't play, then you lose the game or you reprogram the entire thing."

"I am not disagreeing; I'm realizing that there are some rules that need to change regarding quidditch in Hogwarts"—

"Well, that's a relief. How about if we add a mind healer? A counselor, a better defense against the dark arts teachers, Binns retires, and we control our professor's harassment towards students."—Amelia said, tapping her parchment that said Hogwarts, which was now quite thick.

Hermione wanted to ask madame Bones if she could read her parchment of all the changes, she wanted to do for the school so she could add her own. She leaned into the boys. —" Do you think she would let me read them?"

"I hope not."—Ron said earning himself a smack on the shoulder.

"Flint's excuse is that their Seeker's arm's still injured," said Wood, grinding his teeth furiously. "But it's obvious why they're doing it. Don't want to play in this weather. Think it'll damage their chances…"

Harry furiously. "He's faking it!"

"I know that, but we can't prove it,"

"You actually can its been two months. Tell Professor McGonagall and have her take him to Pomfrey. If it's been two months, he should have gone to St Mungo's by now."

"Bill, dear old brother. We really Didn't think that."

"Maybe if you would write More often, tell me about your days. I probably would have given you some advice."

"I feel like we're not talking about Quidditch anymore."

They've got a new Captain and Seeker, Cedric Diggory —"

Harry felt Pain in his chest. This was the beginning of Cedric's Introduction to the books. He had been trying not to think about what they would read in a few days; He shook his head. He couldn't feel like this every time they said Cedric's name.

"He's that tall, good-looking one, isn't he?" said Angelina.

"Strong and silent," said Katie, and they started to giggle again.

"He's only silent because he's too thick to string two words together," said Fred impatiently.

"Fred, we don't speak ill of the dead."

Fred made a face that his mom. – "He wasn't dead there."

"Can we probably not talk about Death and Cedric in the same sentence?"— Ginny said, giving Harry a quick look.

"We were playing in completely different conditions!" Wood shouted, his eyes bulging slightly. "Diggory's put a very strong side together! He's an excellent Seeker! I was afraid you'd take it like this! We mustn't relax! We must keep our focus! Slytherin is trying to wrong-foot us! We must win!"

"Oliver, calm down!" said Fred, looking slightly alarmed. "We're taking Hufflepuff very seriously. Seriously."

"He did scare us there a little bit."

"He was going pro, the quidditch cup does matter when you are trying to get recruited. He just wanted us to pay attention."

"Sorry I'm late, Professor Lupin. I —"

But it wasn't Professor Lupin it was Snape.

"From all the professors they could have given us they gave us him."—Ron said, shaking his head. Hermione leaned to whisper—" This isn't going to end well."

"I know Prepare your wand."

But Harry didn't move.

"Where's Professor Lupin?" he said.

"He says he is feeling too ill to teach today," said Snape with a twisted smile. "I believe I told you to sit down?"

But Harry stayed where he was.

"What's wrong with him?"

"You really thought he had poisoned him ha?"

Harry shook his head in affirmative. But he was also remembering their class and decided to put his wand out. He shared a look with Remus who was shaking his head negatively.

"As I was saying before Potter interrupted, Professor Lupin has not left any record of the topics you have covered so far —"

Sirius let out a growl. —"Calm down, Pads."

Bill got his wand out, and so did Alastor, and Amelia roll her eyes exasperated. Everyone felt the atmosphere in the room change.

"Please, sir, we've done Boggarts, Red Caps, Kappas, and Grindylows," said Hermione quickly, "and we're just about to start —"

"Be quiet," said Snape coldly. "I did not ask for information. I was merely commenting on Professor Lupin's lack of organization."

"Why Snape, so many teachers…"

"Severus schedule was the only one available."

"He's the best Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher we've ever had," said Dean Thomas boldly,

"You are easily satisfied. Lupin is hardly overtaxing you — I would expect first years to be able to deal with Red Caps and Grindylows.

Everyone gave Snape an incredulous look. – "They are third-year material for a reason. It's been 20 years. You need to let go of whatever is it you're still carrying and I'm not only talking about Snape."—Andromeda said sending a warning look to Sirius.

"— Today we shall discuss —" werewolves," said Snape.

That was enough for Sirius—"You slimy... You just couldn't keep quiet, could you? You had to go and try to do what you thought was best. You haven't changed much from your young years, always putting that big nose of yours where it doesn't belong."

"Can we please not do this again?"— Molly said Tensely.

"But, sir," said Hermione, seemingly unable to restrain herself,

"You were really risking your life there, huh?"

"Some of us read the following chapter he was disrupting my whole study."

I am telling you all to turn to page 394."

"All of you! Now!"

"I'm not liking the tone. I feel like a broken record, but this can't keep going, this was two years ago, so that means that for the last five years. This man has been treating these children Horribly."

"Mrs. Longbottom, I'm really getting tired of you…"

"Oh, you can't be tired of me, Professor Snape"— Augustus said in a droll tone. –"I'm the one getting tired of you. I don't care what these two"—She pointed at Remus and Sirius— "Did to you, it doesn't justify your treatment of the children. You're a grown man, you can't be getting tired of me, I haven't even started with you…"

Snape was about to speak when Dumbledore raise his hand to stop him— "Let's continue please."

"Which of you can tell me how we distinguish between the werewolf and the true wolf?" said Snape. Everyone sat in motionless silence; everyone except Hermione "Anyone?" Snape said, ignoring Hermione. "Are you telling me that Professor Lupin hasn't even taught you the basic distinction between —"We told you, "Said Parvati suddenly, "we haven't got as far as werewolves yet, we're still on-"

Between the pleading look that Remus was giving him, and the tight grip Harry had on his shoulder. Sirius was trying very hard not to yell back at the man in front of him. He was trying to take a deep breath. He was trying to remember the olive branch they had promised each other for the sake of finishing these books quickly and fixing this situation and never having to see each other's faces again.

"Silence!" snarled Snape. I never thought I'd meet a third-year class who wouldn't even recognize a werewolf when they saw one.

Tonks felt indignation on Remus's behalf, how dare a man like Severus Snape to try to divulge his secret, as if he had no secrets of his own and even more morally shameful.

"Please, sir," said Hermione, "the werewolf differs from the true wolf in several small ways. The snout of the werewolf —" said Snape coolly. "Five more points from Gryffindor for being an insufferable know-it-all."

The outrage in everyone was simultaneous. Amelia was the one that turned around and glared at Snape. – "Do you have any idea what that does to the confidence of a child? Miss Granger is answering your questions if you don't want them to talk. Don't ask questions, do what Binns does."

"The point is that he wants to insult them because I have no idea why he's asking questions and then he's going to pretend to be deaf."— Andromeda shook her head.

Hermione went very red, put down her hand, and stared at the floor with her eyes full of tears.

"Oh Hermione"— Ginny said, remembering that this was the year she became friends with her and how much crying she had done. Hermione shrugged like she didn't care, but Harry knew, he went to hold her hand. She gave him a shy smile. "I'm used to it."

"You shouldn't Hermione, no professor should treat you like that"— Hermione smiled at him.

"Oh, now You're the defender of the abuse."—Snape said unable to contain herself.

Remus gave up. No matter how much he tried to be the adult, no matter how much he tried to be the one to control Sirius' tongue. Snape had a way of getting under his skin and no one could stop the inevitable.

"Your grown men"— Minerva said, intervening immediately. —" Can you please behave"

and Ron, who told Hermione she was a know-it-all at least twice a week, said loudly, "You asked us a question and she knows the answer! Why ask if you don't want to be told?"

They nodded at his words.

Snape advanced on Ron slowly, and the room held its breath.

"Detention, Weasley," Snape said silkily, his face very close to Ron's. "And if I ever hear you criticize the way I teach a class again, you will be very sorry indeed."

This time, Molly was the one that surprised everyone, with her wand pointing at Snape—"I've always been very respectful of you but I don't like how you believe you're the only one important in this room. Are you threatening my child? What were you planning on doing to him? Your job specifies detention if they misbehaved, but it sounds like you are planning something else, what were you going to do? Ask to filch for one of his torturing devices."

Snape tried to keep his face blank. Ron Weasley reminded him so much of Sirius Black, it was disgusting. – "Your son would have been punished accordingly. For the disrespect, he gave a professor. His friend was speaking out of turn. I, of course, would have told his head of House."

"Please. No one believes that."— Molly said. She said no more but turned to look at Dumbledore with a face that clearly stated they were going to have words after this chapter was done. He just sat there thinking of how he was going to have to justify Severus' behavior, only to realize he had nothing. It was going to be a long night.

"You will each write an essay, to be handed into me, on the ways you recognize and kill werewolves.

"Kill werewolves."—Fleur joined the already tense situation—"You couldn't have said protect yourself against werewolves. You're asking them to look for killing another human being."

"I'm helping them understand how to protect themselves from… beasts"—

Remus took a deep breath and hold on to Nymphadora, who was about to stand up. Ted Tonks, holding her from the other side. Andromeda looked at Snape with disdain. Sirius had almost all of Harry's weight on his side.

"Ç'est des conneries,"—Fleur stated not everyone knew what she had meant but they understood from the tone it was an insult— "Passing your prejudice to your students…"

"I didn't know you were a huge defender of dark creatures Miss Delacour, given how badly you spoke of our school and…"

"Your school isn't perfect, and I stand to what I said, and I defend those who need defending and you seem to forget Mr. Snape I'm a Veela, I am considered a dark creature."

Dumbledore's resounding voice called for Order. No one said anything but it was the first time since the reading started that Dumbledore wanted the book to end.

Ron caught up with them five minutes later, in a towering rage.

"D'you know what that —" (he called Snape something that made Hermione say "Ron!") "— is making me do? I've got to scrub out the bedpans in the hospital wing. Without magic!" He was breathing deeply, his fists clenched. "Why couldn't Black have hidden in Snape's office, eh? He could have finished him off for us!"

Snape huffed bitter laughter.

"Ronald Weasley no matter how mad we are, we do not wish death on anyone"—Arthur said and Ron look up apologetically.

As Harry opened the door, something brushed against his leg. He bent down just in time to grab Crookshanks by the end of his bushy tail and drag him outside. "You know, I reckon Ron was right about you," Harry told Crookshanks suspiciously. "There are plenty of mice around this place — go and chase them. Go on," he added, nudging Crookshanks down the spiral staircase with his foot. "Leave Scabbers alone."

"Was he working for you already Mr. Black?"—Neville asked him. Sirius took a moment to realize they had spoken to him because he was staring at Snape. – "No not yet. I guess he was so adamant to get peter because of how close he was to Hermione."

Wood had pointed out Cedric Diggory to him in the corridor; Diggory was a fifth year and a lot bigger than Harry. Seekers were usually light and speedy, but Diggory's weight would be an advantage in this weather because he was less likely to be blown off course.

Harry tensed again. How quickly life changed, from worrying about losing a game to Cedric to a year and a half later seeing him die.

They waited for Wood's usual pre-match pep talk, but it didn't come. He tried to speak several times, made an odd gulping noise, then shook his head hopelessly and beckoned them to follow him. Diggory smiled at Wood but Wood now looked as though he had lockjaw and merely nodded.

Sirius could feel the tension coming out of Harry. He started rubbing circles on his back. Sirius knew hearing about the boy was difficult for Harry, what Sirius didn't know was that Harry had just realized what they were about to read and his hands were getting sweaty.

-"I…maybe you don't hear the next part"—

Sirius gave him a concerned look and Remus understood. Would they hear his friend's voice just like they could hear theirs? He immediately waved his wand to the tea, not knowing who would need it more.

Within five minutes Harry was soaked to his skin and frozen, hardly able to see his teammates, let alone the tiny Snitch. He couldn't hear the commentary over the wind. Twice Harry nearly hit another player, without knowing whether it was a teammate or opponent;

"Games shouldn't be played like this."—Charlie said.

"We're fifty points up," said Wood, "but unless we get the Snitch soon, we'll be playing into the night." "I've got no chance with these on," Harry said exasperatedly, waving his glasses. Hermione appeared at his shoulder; she was holding her cloak over her head and was, inexplicably, beaming. "I've had an idea, Harry! Give me your glasses, quick!" "Impervius!"

"There!" she said, handing them back to Harry. "They'll repel water!"

Wood looked as though he could have kissed her.

"He would've if we hadn't been under the clock"—George told her.

"Certain spells are illegal in professional games, I think that one is one of them though I don't know why"

Harry saw something that distracted him completely, the silhouette of an enormous shaggy black dog, clearly imprinted against the sky, motionless in the topmost, empty row of seats.

Amelia shook her head— "No one saw him?"

"With how much it was raining it was a miracle we could see the person next to us."

"I was fascinated with how well you were flying. I didn't mean to scare you"—Sirius said turning to Harry who was leaning against the couch again. His left hand trembling. Sirius went to grab it but Harry tensed and crossed his arms.

An eerie silence was falling across the stadium. Harry had gone suddenly deaf — what was going on? Harry had taken his eyes off the Snitch and looked down. At least a hundred Dementors, their hidden faces pointing up at him, were standing beneath him.

They all had horrified looks.

"Oh, that sounds terrifying"—Luna said.

"That's what high-security prisoners in Azkaban see day and night"—Sirius said and turned to Harry—"Pup what is going on…"

"Sirius no…"—Remus said, and Sirius looked even more concerned. Harry had his palms in his eyes. Hermione concerned whisper was heard— "Harry you can leave the room"

It was as though freezing water were rising in his chest, cutting at his insides. And then he heard it again… Someone was screaming, screaming inside his head… a woman…

Harry couldn't hear it again. He couldn't, it had taken a lot of him those first times. He wanted to be strong, but this was already to much, he jolted up and left the room so quickly no one could react before the book kept going making everyone freeze in horror.

"Not Harry, not Harry, please not Harry!"

"Stand aside, you silly girl… stand aside, now…"

"Not Harry, please no, take me, kill me instead —"

white mist was filling Harry's brain…He needed to help her… She was going to die… She was going to be murdered…

He was falling, falling through the icy mist.

"Not Harry! Please… have mercy… have mercy…"

A shrill voice was laughing, the woman was screaming,

"Is that?"—Andromeda covered her mouth in shock.

"That's Lily"—Sirius said in disbelief – "That's…"

Remus gulped his tea— "Every time a Dementor is close to him he hears his parent's last words."-

Sirius ran out of the room to go find Harry.

"Pads!"—Remus called for him.

Snape didn't know how to react, he saw Dumbledore pause the book and everyone started to react, he had to excuse himself. He felt the wolf's eyes on him, he made it to the bathroom before the shudder passed through his body and he leaned into the door.

"No one should hear that"—Ginny said— "Is that why always faints?"

"I believe he just hears the voices; he doesn't remember the event. He faints because his brain is fighting with the repressed memory."

Molly, Luna, and Minerva had tears in their eyes. Hermione was sniffing loudly.

Sirius walked into all the rooms until he found Harry up with Buckbeak. He walked in slowly. — "Pup…Harry"

Harry looked up, red eyes staring back—"Sorry for running away"

"No, no don't apologize. Harry, I'm so sorry no one should hear that you…"

"I hear dad too"—Harry said noticing how Sirius paused.—"I… he sounds like me I think"

"A little, is that the only time you've heard their voices?"

"Apart from the memory you showed me, yes"

Sirius shook his head, neither had been a nice moment. – "We will show you a better memory later"—Sirius said no more and just let Harry calm down.

After a while and a break, they heard Harry and Sirius making their way down. No one said anything, they could see Harry had been crying. Dumbledore continued the reading.

Harry could hear the voices whispering, but they made no sense whatsoever.

"That was the scariest thing I've ever seen in my life."

Scariest… the scariest thing… hooded black figures… cold… screaming…

"When I saw the dementors I ran away, I didn't see you fall. Who stopped you?"

"I did"—Dumbledore said—"I almost didn't see him."

"Harry!" said Fred, who looked extremely white underneath, the mud. "How're you feeling?" It was as though Harry's memory was on fast forward. The lightning… the Grim… the Snitch… and the Dementors… "You fell off," said Fred. "Must've been — what — fifty feet?" "We thought you'd died," said Alicia, who was shaking.

Sirius kept a tight arm around Harry who was playing absently with his oversized sleeve. Remus gave them a sad look, Harry was reaching his breaking point, and the fact he had left the room had been an the indicator. He would have to talk to him.

"Diggory got the Snitch," said George. "Just after you fell. He didn't realize what had happened. When he looked back and saw you on the ground, he tried to call it off. Wanted a rematch. But they won fair and square… even Wood admits it." "Where is Wood?" said Harry, suddenly realizing he wasn't there. "Still in the showers," said Fred. "We think he's trying to drown himself."

That little joke broke some of the tension. Harry spoke—"That was the first time I lost a game"

"It happens to the best, that's how you learn."—Tonks said giving him a smile.

"Dumbledore was really angry," Hermione said in a quaking voice. "I've never seen him like that before. He ran onto the field as you fell, waved his wand, and you sort of slowed down before you hit the ground. Then he whirled his wand at the Dementors. Shot silver stuff at them. They left the stadium right away… He was furious they'd come onto the grounds. We heard him

—"

"Cornelius guaranteed me the Dementors were in control, that moment show how untrue that was and I made sure he knew but alas Cornelius' mind works in mysterious ways"

"The problem was the amount. In the official report,, only fifty Dementors were authorized outside of Azkaban. It's clear he as always did whatever he wanted"—Amelia frowned.

"Well… when you fell off, it got blown away," said Hermione hesitantly.

"And?"

"And it hit — it hit — oh, Harry — it hit the Whomping Willow."

"Professor Flitwick brought it back just before you came around," said Hermione in a very small voice.

Slowly, she reached down for a bag at her feet, turned it upside down, and tipped a dozen bits of splintered wood and twig onto the bed, the only remains of Harry's faithful, finally beaten broomstick.

"That's always sad"—Charlie said—"Do you still have it?"

"Yes, Ron is keeping it for me in the Burrow."

CHAPTER TEN –The Marauder's Map

The marauders, the golden trio and the twins shared a look.

but he wouldn't let her throw away the shattered remnants of his Nimbus Two Thousand. Harry couldn't help it; he felt as though he'd lost one of his best friends.

"It is"—the Weasley boys nodded.

Hagrid sent him a bunch of earwiggy flowers that looked like yellow cabbages Ginny Weasley, blushing furiously, turned up with a get-well card she had made herself, which sang shrilly unless Harry kept it shut under his bowl of fruit.

That made all the Weasley brothers laugh

— "Oh shut up, it was supposed to be a gag gift. They kept saying he was sad I thought I would make him laugh."

"By screaming at him?"—Tonks asked amused.

"Did it work?"—Ginny asked Harry.

— "No, I had to tie it but thank you though."

He hadn't told anyone about the Grim, Harry knew who that screaming voice belonged to now. He had heard her words, heard them over and over again during the night hours in the hospital wing while he lay awake. When the Dementors approached him, he heard the last moments of his mother's life, her attempts to protect him, Harry, from Lord Voldemort, and Voldemort's laughter before he murdered her…

Harry stiffened again and Sirius hold on to him.

Malfoy spent much of their next Potions class doing Dementor imitations across the dungeon;

Snape pressed his lips together. He would be having a long conversation with Draco.

Professor Lupin was back at work. His old robes were hanging more loosely on him and there were dark shadows beneath his eyes; nevertheless, he smiled at the class as they took their seats, they burst at once into an explosion of complaints about Snape's behavior

"The side effects were taking a toll on you"—Sirius said looking at Remus who nodded. He knew Remus' poor condition also had to do with the Dementors and his depression, being back in the war wasn't helping.

"Did you tell Professor Snape we haven't covered them yet?" Lupin asked, frowning slightly. Professor Lupin smiled at the look of indignation on every face. "Don't worry. I'll speak to Professor Snape. You don't have to do the essay." "Oh no," said Hermione, looking very disappointed. "I've already finished it!"

No one said anything. Not wanting to fight again.

"That's when you found out?"—the twins asked Hermione.

"The moment I finished the Essay it clicked."

"Why not tell someone?"—Amelia asked curiously.

"Professor Dumbledore allowed him into the school, Professor McGonagall and Professor Filius talked to him with care and respect and Professor Lupin had until that moment been kind and respectful, I had no reason not to trust him"—

Remus sent her a quick smile.

"Wait a moment, Harry," Lupin called. "I'd like a word."

"I heard about the match," said Lupin, turning back to his desk and starting to pile books into his briefcase, "and I'm sorry about your broomstick. Is there any chance of fixing it?"

"No," said Harry. "The tree smashed it to bits."

Lupin sighed.

"I was feeling very guilty"—

"It's not like you told the tree to smash it"

"Did you hear about the Dementors too?" said Harry with difficulty.

Lupin looked at him quickly.

"Why? Why do they affect me like that? Am I just —?"

"It has nothing to do with weakness," said Professor Lupin sharply, as though he had read Harry's mind. "The Dementors affect you worse than the others because there are horrors in your past that the others don't have."

"I wasn't reading your mind, your face said it all, and the tone."

A ray of wintry sunlight fell across the classroom, illuminating Lupin's gray hairs and the lines on his young face. "Dementors are among the foulest creatures that walk this earth. They infest the darkest, filthiest places, they glory in decay and despair, they drain peace, hope, and happiness out of the air around them.

Sirius closed his eyes remembering the despair he had felt all those years. How cold it would get and how even now he was cold all the time.

Even Muggles feel their presence, though they can't see them. Get too near a Dementor and every good feeling, every happy memory will be sucked out of you. If it can, the Dementor will feed on you long enough to reduce you to something like itself — soul-less and evil. You'll be left with nothing but the worst experiences of your life. And the worst that happened to you, Harry, is enough to make anyone fall off their broom. You have nothing to feel ashamed of."

"So, Dudley saw every bad thing he has ever done?"—Harry turned to Remus.

"Most likely or he like you only hears the worst moments of his life. It can make him change an attitude or probably it traumatizes him"

"Maybe we can get him some help"—Harry said

"They don't deserve it"—Sirius told him.

"When they get near me —" Harry stared at Lupin's desk, his throat tight. "I can hear Voldemort murdering my mum." Lupin made a sudden motion with his arm as though to grip Harry's shoulder, but thought better of it. There was a moment's silence, then —

"Well, that's not awkward."

"I wanted to hug him, but Harry didn't know me and he also doesn't like physical contact I wasn't going to force it"

"Why did they have to come to the match?" said Harry bitterly.

"They're getting hungry," said Lupin coolly, it was their idea of a feast."

"That's disturbing"

"How are Dementors born?"

Sirius shook his head—"Better if you don't know. It's disturbing and disgusting and loud."

Remus looked at his friend and silently asked him if he was ok. Sirius nodded.

"Azkaban must be terrible," Harry muttered. Lupin nodded grimly.

"The fortress is set on a tiny island, way out to sea, but they don't need walls and water to keep the prisoners in, not when they're all trapped inside their own heads, incapable of a single cheery thought. Most of them go mad within weeks."

"Not all of us, there are different types of madness you know."

"I'm sure"—Snape sneered

Sirius give him a little smirk— "Yes, I wonder…"—he said looking at Snape—"I wasn't always very mentally stable… or that's what Remus always said…I wonder if those who got away with excuses and pretentiousness of goodness would survive their sins."-his eyes never left Snape who was focusing on the book with a tense frown.

"Pads, you're scaring the children."

"But Sirius Black escaped from them," Harry said slowly. "He got away…"

Lupin's briefcase slipped from the desk; he had to stoop quickly to catch it.

"Yes," he said, straightening up, "Black must have found a way to fight them. I wouldn't have believed it possible… Dementors are supposed to drain a wizard of his powers if he is left with them too long…"

"it is a belief, Fudge was idiot enough to get close to my cell but there are some others who would love for Fudge to get close. Rookwood, Yaxley, Bellatrix, Dolohov, Rabastan, are as sane as me. I found out about Frank and Alice because Bella gloated, we knew about Karkarovs betrayal and let me tell you they were angry. And poor Peter, the things they want to do to him."

"I've gone to Azkaban; they yell and scream…"—Kingsley said.

"Ah yes, I said they were sane, but we weren't all very sane to start. Dear Bella, was always crazy. She has her moments of despair like all of us"—Sirius said shrugging.

Augusta was tense. She didn't know if Sirius was doing it on purpose or if his own bitterness had left him with no filter. Neville grabbed her hand and give her a supportive smile. Neither liked the idea of Lestrange being fully capable of more damage.

"There are — certain defenses one can use," said Lupin.

"What defenses?" said Harry at once. "Can you teach me?"

Lupin looked into Harry's determined face, hesitated, then said, "Well… all right. I'll try and help. But it'll have to wait until next term, I'm afraid. I have a lot to do before the holidays. I chose a very inconvenient time to fall ill."

"We know you can do a full Patronus but I imagine it took a toll on you?"

"A little"

Both Ron and Hermione had decided to remain at Hogwarts, and though Ron said it was because he couldn't stand two weeks with Percy, and Hermione insisted she needed to use the library, Harry wasn't fooled; they were doing it to keep him company, and he was very grateful. there was to be another Hogsmeade trip on the very last weekend of the term.

"Of course Harry"—Hermione said—"We wouldn't have left you alone"

"Why wasn't he invited to the Burrow."—

Molly looked affronted at Sirius' question, -"because Dumbledore said he had to stay in the castle."

Harry bid good-bye to Ron and Hermione,

"Psst — Harry!"

He turned, halfway along the third-floor corridor, to see Fred and George peering out at him from behind a statue of a humpbacked, one-eyed witch.

"Creepy"

"We've come to give you a bit of festive cheer before we go," said Fred, with a mysterious wink. "Come in here…"

"No Harry is a trap"—Neville said mockingly.

"We have never pranked Harry…

….. we know he doesn't like them."

"Early Christmas present for you, Harry," he said.

It was a large, square, very worn piece of parchment with nothing written on it. Harry, suspecting one of Fred and George's jokes, stared at it.

"See, he doesn't like them."

"So you were pranking him?"—Fleur asked confused.

"This, Harry, is the secret of our success," said George, patting the parchment fondly.

"I want to know how you found it"—Sirius asked.

"Anyway, we know it by heart," said George. "We bequeath it to you. We don't really need it anymore."

"We memorized it in first year, only used it when emergencies."

Every professor and parent was very curious about what they were talking about.

"And what do I need with a bit of old parchment?" said Harry.

Sirius put a hand over his heart—"Piece of old parchment! Do you have any idea how many hours and months it took to make?"

"No"—Harry said truthfully—"I've never given it much thought"

"Well… when we were in our first year, Harry — young, carefree, and innocent —" Harry snorted. He doubted whether Fred and George had ever been innocent.

Their brothers agreed with Harry.

"— and we couldn't help noticing a drawer in one of his filing cabinets marked Confiscated and Highly Dangerous."

"Don't tell me —" said Harry, starting to grin.

"Well, what would you've done?" said Fred.

"He must have put it there later because we tried to look for it and we couldn't find it"

"It's not as bad as it sounds, you know," said George. "We don't reckon Filch ever found out how to work it. He probably suspected what it was, though, or he wouldn't have confiscated it."

"Probably. He found us many times with it in our hands. But since he never saw what it was…

"And what the hell is it?"

"You will see."

He took out his wand, touched the parchment lightly, and said, "I solemnly swear that I am up to no good." And at once, thin ink lines began to spread like a spider's web from the point that George's wand had touched. They joined each other, they crisscrossed, they fanned into every corner of the parchment; then words began to blossom across the top, great, curly green words, that proclaimed: Messrs. Moony, Wormtail, Padfoot, and Prongs

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

THE MARAUDER'S MAP

Snape felt a vein pop in his temple. He knew Lupin had known what it was.

"My baby"—Sirius said hands to his chest

Remus coughs— "Our baby"

It was a map showing every detail of the Hogwarts castle and grounds. But the truly remarkable thing were the tiny ink dots moving around it, each labeled with a name in minuscule writing. A labeled dot in the top left corner showed that Professor Dumbledore was pacing his study; the caretaker's cat, Mrs. Norris, was prowling the second floor; and Peeves the Poltergeist was currently bouncing around the trophy room. And as Harry's eyes traveled up and down the familiar corridors, he noticed something else.

This map showed a set of passages he had never entered. And many of them seemed to lead — "Right into Hogsmeade," said Fred, tracing one of them with his finger. "There are seven in all. Now, Filch knows about these four" — he pointed them out — "but we're sure we're the only ones who know about these. Don't bother with the one behind the mirror on the fourth floor. We used it until last winter, but it's caved in — completely blocked. And we don't reckon anyone's ever used this one, because the Whomping Willow's planted right over the entrance. But this one here, this one lead right into the cellar of Honeydukes. We've used it loads of times.

The adults had a surprised look. Molly narrowed on her children— "You have sneaked out of school? Using that?"

"Haven't I told you… neither learned from your sister's experience?"

"It's totally safe"—Sirius said.

"That's how we never… you boys!"—Minerva said –"you were far too brilliant for your own good."

Dumbledore looked pensive and turned to Harry— "Do you, have it?"

"Are you going to take it away?"

"No"—Dumbledore said realizing Harry was protective of another family heirloom—"I am just curious about how it looks."

Harry pulled his wand out— "Accio Marauder map."

They all heard the swish and something entering the room until Harry caught it. Harry gave it to Sirius who was bouncing on his seat. He quickly grabbed it and said— "I solemnly swear I'm up to no good."

Sirius looked at it for a moment before he passed it to Dumbledore. —"Extraordinary, the time it must have taken you"

"We worked on it between second and third year"—Remus said.

Dumbledore passed the map around, Snape didn't even glance at it. Fred said— "It's frozen."

"Probably from the time bubble"

"How did you do it?"

Remus let Sirius answer—"First we had to make blueprints of the entire castle. We did the inside first, we only made it to the border of Hagrid's house. The passage to the willow was the last piece we added, we tried the Forest but it was too much work and too dangerous. Once we sketch the castle, we did a Homonculous Charm. It was a little hard since it's a very difficult charm, but we realize that putting it in the specific parts of the castle was enough. Like the great hall and the main entrance, also we added it in Dumbledore's office…"

"But you have the… you were in our private rooms?"—Minerva said perplexed examining the map.

"The Homonculous charm is very invasive, it tracks down everything so the students and professors moving around, finish smoothing the edges of certain rooms."

"Yes, but you also track everyone that comes in and out, how did you do that?"

"Ah, well… we missed with the wards just a little"

"The wards?"—Dumbledore asked impress.

"Yes, but only a little. The four of us we did the Homonculous charm together and a strong Revelio. It took a while to string it to the map and we had to put a little of our magic in it, so it has our personalities but nothing like the diary."

Harry was perplexed. He had never given it much thought to how the map function, and he finally realized that his father and friends had been powerful wizards and brilliant …was he not powerful enough, or had he been limiting himself regarding his potential?

"That's brilliant boys. Far too smart for your own good"—Minerva said smiling proudly.

Remus and Sirius thanked her.

"Moony, Wormtail, Padfoot, and Prongs," sighed George, patting the heading of the map. "We owe them so much."

"Noble men, working tirelessly to help a new generation of lawbreakers," said Fred solemnly.

"You're welcome, but it wasn't planned. It was supposed to pass to our children"—Sirius said with a tense smile. Harry looked at him and wonder if Sirius had wanted children of his own. Had he been dating Marlene when she died?

Harry had once heard Mr. Weasley say came floating out of his memory.

Never trust anything that can think for itself, if you can't see where it keeps its brain. Harry reasoned, he only wanted to use it to get into Hogsmeade, it wasn't as though he wanted to steal anything or attack anyone… and Fred and George had been using it for years without anything horrible happening…

"Yes I wonder if any of my kids listen to me?"

"We were careful, and the only thing it does is insult you. Actually they"—Fred pointed at the marauders—"Well their younger self, took the Mickey out of us and help us open it and told it to keep it safe."
"That doesn't sound dangerous at all."

"Wait? You saw your brother sleeping with peter for three years and never said anything?"—

"No, um"—Remus called for attention— "The map will never reveal us unless you ask him to. That was added after they completed their transformation, we could get away with a lot with Peters' form, small and invisible. Only one of the creators is able to break that charm… the animals are only shown as cat, toad, rat, dog, stag and we put wolf there for me in case of emergency."

"Only Mrs. Norris is shown with name and let me tell you. It took a lot of time to catch her by herself and charm her. James got scratched all over his arms, but he was able to get her alone, coming back from quidditch practice."

Amelia became thoughtful, could she do that for the ministry or Azkaban?

He pulled out the map again and saw to his astonishment, that a new ink figure had appeared upon it, labeled 'Harry Potter'. Harry watched carefully. His little Ink self appeared to be tapping the witch with his minute wand. He looked back at the map. The tiniest speech bubble had appeared next to his figure. The word inside said, 'Dissendium.'

"Of course, you added the passwords."

"Not for all of them. Where's the fun in that."

"Harry was in danger"—Molly hissed at the twins.

"We didn't know that…we knew Harry wasn't allowed to go because of his uncle. Not because Sirius was after him."

"Sirius was not"—Sirius said.

"This is why it's important to talk to us. We can handle it, we never want to put him in danger but we thought we were helping a friend stop being so depressed."

Molly leaned back down in a frown. She looked at the twins and nodded. She couldn't fault them for that.

Harry climbed out of the trapdoor and replaced it — it blended so perfectly with the dusty floor that it was impossible to tell it was there.

Wondering what he ought to do, he suddenly heard a door open much closer at hand; somebody was about to come downstairs.

"You're not going to close it right?"

"Do the owners know?"

"I thinks so, when we went during the night we always left money on the table and eventually Timmy started putting a basket with change"

Dumbledore laughed— "You were the respectful thieves that always paid."

"Yes, Albus laugh… I will think about it"—Minerva said to the twins.

Remus chuckled at the twins—"We used to do the same"

"Harry!" squealed Hermione. "What are you doing here? How — how did you —?" "Wow!" said Ron, looking very impressed, "you've learned to Apparate!" told them all about the Marauder's Map.

"If only it were that easy"

"How come Fred and George never gave it tome!" said Ron, outraged. "I'm their brother!"

"But Harry isn't going to keep it!" said Hermione, as though the idea were ludicrous. "He's going to hand it in to Professor McGonagall, aren't you, Harry?"

"No, I'm not!" said Harry.

Hermione rolled her eyes at the glares she received, even Remus had looked at her in disbelief. — "Why are you looking at me like that? You took it from him."

"Yes, I was a professor, and I took it from him because I wanted to catch Sirius before he got to Harry. You are a teenager, and the map with or without Sirius as a threat was/is helpful, for someone who gets in a lot of trouble should have realized how valuable it was. It even would have helped you get away with the time turner a lot easier"

Hermione— "Troublemakers, the lot of you. I was protecting Harry."

"You give up pretty quick."—Ron said— "Plus you can't go around calling us troublemakers when you go around causing as much trouble."

"But what about Sirius Black?" Hermione hissed. "He could be using one of the passages on that map to get into the castle! The teachers have got to know!" "He can't be getting in through a passage," said Harry quickly.

"We knew"—Minerva said

"I know that now"
"It was very noble of you Hermione"—Molly said

Harry hesitated. What if Black did know the passage was there?

"Not all of them. We knew Hogwarts has more secrets to give but they weren't ours to know."

"Like the Room of requirement"—Neville said.

"What's that?"—Remus asked.

— "It's the room given by Rowena Ravenclaw, It's on the seventh floor, it hides"

"Given by Rowena?"—Hermione asked.

"Yes, all the founders gave a special room to the school"—Luna said—"Rowena gave a secret room that gives help when needed, Salazar I suppose was the chamber, and there was no specification of what the others gave, though Helena said that Godric left a chamber for dueling… who knows what Helga must've left"

"Whose Helena?"—Hermione asked.

"A friend"

"Yes, but — but —" Hermione seemed to be struggling to find another problem. "Look, Harry still shouldn't be coming into Hogsmeade. He hasn't got a signed form! If anyone finds out, he'll be in so much trouble! And it's not nightfall yet — what if Sirius Black turns up today? Now?"

"I'm trying to understand both parts"—Tonks said—"But the Aurors weren't expecting Sirius to show up at Hogsmeade after his breaking in, we also had Aurors patrolling but Harry was being irresponsible. Many people were there to protect him"

"Me? I'm sure no one was there for me."—Harry said

"Well not entirely no"

"Well that wasn't much of a fight"-Ron said to Hermione

"Tell you what," said Ron, his teeth chattering, "shall we go for a butterbeer in the Three Broomsticks?" . A curvy sort of woman with a pretty face was serving a bunch of rowdy warlocks up at the bar. "That's Madam Rosmerta," said Ron. "I'll get the drinks, shall I?" he added, going slightly red.

"Dear Rosi, still being a heartbreaker"

The door of the Three Broomsticks had opened again. Harry looked over the rim of his tankard and choked. Professors McGonagall and Flitwick had just entered the pub with a flurry of snowflakes, shortly followed by Hagrid,

Ron and Hermione had both placed hands on the top of Harry's head and forced him off his stool and under the table.

Minerva narrowed her eyes at them and seemed to comprehend what was going on—"Oh"—She said covering her mouth.

"Yeah"—Harry agreed—"You spoke rather loud"

Somewhere above him, Hermione whispered, "Mobiliarbus!"

"Good thinking Granger"

Hagrid blushed at the reminder of how lose his tongue gets when he drinks.

"All the same," demurred Fudge, "they are here to protect you all from something much worse… We all know what Black's capable of…"

"Fudge is talking about me like he knows me"—Sirius said

Madam Rosmerta thoughtfully. "Of all the people to go over to the Dark Side, Sirius Black was the last I'd have thought…Professor McGonagall. "Do you remember who his best friend was?"

"Naturally," said Madam Rosmerta, with a small laugh. "Never saw one without the other, did you? The number of times I had them in here — ooh, they used to make me laugh. Quite the double act, Sirius Black and James Potter!" Harry dropped his tankard with a loud clunk. Ron kicked him.

"This is how you found out?"—Amelia asked Harry turning around to look at Minerva—"You just reprimanded Hagrid for talking Hogwarts business…"

"I know, I'm sorry Mr. Potter…."

Harry shrugged. –"Seven opportunities, it always happens like this. I'm either the last to know or I find out at the very last moment. It's a good thing I don't go into shock or something."

"No you just stew until it bursts"—Hermione added.

Fudge. "Potter trusted Black beyond all his other friends. Nothing changed when they left school. 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."

"You have to be joking."—Andromeda said angrily. —"This is delicate information and the Minister himself is gossiping it around."

Dumbledore put both of his hands in front of him and turn to Minerva with a disappointed stare. She had been one of the first to agree not to tell Harry given the boy's hasty response to delicate information.

"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.

Remus and Sirius looked at each other and turned to Dumbledore.—"You have never told us which spy?"

"It's not important"
"I had so many, it was a friend of that you don't have to worry"

Dumbledore told them that their best chance was the Fidelius Charm."

"Involving the magical concealment of a secret inside a single, living soul. The information is hidden inside the chosen person, or SecretKeeper, 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!"

Luna raised her hand like in class— "What about torture?"

"What about it?"—Kingsley asked.

"I mean, what if he was tortured for the information"?

"No"—Said Dumbledore—"No torture, legilimency, or veritaserum works. The secret keeper must willingly give the information. He has to want to reveal the secret."

"So he wanted to give away his friends…"—George stated understanding for the first time the story of Harry's life. – "That's sick"

"That's why he's going to die"—Sirius said

"Sirius…"-Harry warned but Sirius shook his head, it was time he started talking to Harry about what being in the war truly was.

"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."

Sirius took a deep breath and reached for the bottle of fire whiskey, Remus let him take a sip and then ripped it out of his hand when he went for another. Sirius glared at him and was starting to fight for it when he felt Harry's hand on his shoulder.

"Why didn't they accept?"—Neville asked, if the most powerful wizard of the time asked to protect me he would have accepted.

"Because James was an idiot"—Sirius said

"Padfoot. Stop."

"No! give me the bottle…"

"Sirius stop"—Harry started but was interrupted by Dumbledore.

"Because James like any sane person trusted his friend, you Sirius"—Dumbledore said—"Didn't kill them. James and Lily didn't choose wrong."

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

"You thought it was me"—Sirius pointed at Dumbledore—"Didn't you? It couldn't be wolf boy over here because he was doing your dirty work and you…no, we thought peter was weak, so it had to be me."

Dumbledore didn't react to Sirius's words. But the bitterness in his tone was enough that he had to fight the flinch.

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

"Black betrayed them?" breathed Madam Rosmerta.

"He doesn't even know the story"—Sirius said angrily. — "I was the secret keeper for a month before I realize I was being followed. it took peter three days, that's all it took him…"

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.

Sirius rolled his eyes, Remus frowned remembering how easily it had been to believe those lies, and felt the guilt and shame wash over him, he should have known better and no matter how many times he apologized and how many times Sirius punched him and forgave him, he would always feel guilty for not fighting for his friend.

"Filthy, stinkin' turncoat!" Hagrid said, so loudly that half the bar went quiet.

"I met him!" growled Hagrid. "I musta bin the last ter see him before he killed all them people! I COMFORTED THE MURDERIN' TRAITOR!" Hagrid roared.

"I'm truly Sorry Sirius"—Hagrid said ashamed.

"No need Hagrid."

then he says, 'Give Harry ter 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 ter go ter his aunt an' uncle's. Black argued, but in the end he gave in. Told me ter take his motorbike ter get Harry there. 'I won't need it anymore,' he says.

Amelia turned to Dumbledore knowing she was about to get involved in what was to be a very aggressive fight— "You had no right. Sirius had legal right over that boy."

"It was of great importance to get Harry out of the wizarding world."

"Without questions asked?"

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

Sirius couldn't handle the idiotic story of poor Peter Pettigrew; he stood up and started pacing not before taking the bottle of fire whisky from Remus who tried to get it back but knew better than to antagonize Sirius even more.

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 —"

"Good, I hope it torments him for the rest of his fucking life."

"Why were you laughing?"

"Because I was tricked by little Peter because my girlfriend had been murdered a few months before because one of my best friends and I had a horrible fight before he disappeared because James called me one night to come quickly to his house where he explained to me over a hysterical crying Lily that Voldemort was after his son, because the day before I walked into the house of my friends and saw their fucking bodies, I tried… I tried waking Jamie… and Harry was crying… crying for Lily who was dead in front of him… because…"—Sirius couldn't finish, he threw the bottle of fire whiskey at the wall making everyone jump.

Andromeda stood up and pulled him out of the room. Harry stared at them until they disappeared, hands trembling and unshed tears in his eyes.

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.

"It was vengeance and guilt"—Hermione said out loud. – "That's what he told us in the shack. They weren't happy feelings, but they were strong enough to keep him going"

"Harry?" Ron's and Hermione's faces appeared under the table. They were both staring at him, lost for words.

Dumbledore paused the book and Harry just sat there.

"That was a horrible way to find out, you should have…"—But Harry didn't hear what Ted was saying to him. He got up and left the room, he wanted to go to Sirius to see if he was ok but he realize that maybe he wanted to be alone. Harry looked too much like his father and he knew that hurt him sometimes. So, he went to his room and locked the door.

---

So here it is, sorry for the delay but I didn't realize how long these chapters were until I started writing and I didn't want to split it, but from now on I'll probably do two chapters or one individually if it's too long.

I know Augusta and everyone being angry at Snape is getting a little repetitive but for me, Snape's behavior was the worst in POA so obviously that will make people angry but I think after POA ends, ill stop antagonizing Snape for his teaching, After all, there is going to be more things to get angry about.

I hope you like it and please review

Remember I do this for fun.