"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."
Lunch consisted of the adults explaining what occlumency was, the teenagers still looked apprehensive, but they knew it was for the best. Once Lunch was over, they quickly went back to the book.
CHAPTER THIRTEEN –Gryffindor Versus Ravenclaw.
It looked like the end of Ron and Hermione's friendship.
"You two are being idiots"—Charlie said.
"It sounds more like teenagers, they are angry about everything."
"No, No Ron has a right to be angry"—Luna said—"Hermione is just pretending she believes in Crookshanks innocence."
"Okay, side with Ron, I knew you would!" she said shrilly. "First the Firebolt, now Scabbers, everything's my fault, isn't it? Just leave me alone, Harry, I've got a lot of work to do!"
"I didn't know you had such a temper"—Molly chastised defending her son.
Hermione was about to retort when Remus saved her, -"Molly everyone has a temper, Hermione was thirteen and hurt. She's going about it the wrong way, but Ron isn't trying to fix it either… as Harry said, these books are showing us our bad manners, we can start addressing them"—He gave Hermione a pointed look to let it go.
Sirius was impressed— "You were always the Dad of the group"—he whispered to his friend.
Who shook his head—"doubtful"
Arthur reprimanded the twins. — "Ron had every right to feel sad."
"Yes, but not to start a screaming fight with Hermione every time he saw her"—Fred said— "It was making the whole common room, uncomfortable."
Ron frowned and turned to look at Hermione who had her chin up. Ron knew what it meant, she was angry and ready to explode. He wondered what was stopping her. Hermione was trying very hard not to let the hurt show on her face. She bit her tongue to stop her answer, Mrs. Weasley, she respected the women but her hurtful actions the past year and now her being so crude were getting on her nerves.
"Why is Hooch so impressed with the broom, didn't she strip it?"— Ted asked
"She didn't see it in the air"—Minerva defended
"I remember Monty had a Silver Arrow, he had it framed."
"Maybe I could do the same to the Nimbus"— Harry said
Harry, I've just found out who Ravenclaw is playing as Seeker. It's Cho Chang.
Harry wanted to groan; it came to his mind they would read about his crush on her. He turned to Sirius and Remus, he didn't need his godfather to mock him for it, especially for how horrible everything was going on that topic.
He saw Hermione and Ginny trying to hide their smiles and knew it would be inevitable, Sirius would want to talk about it when the time came.
"Holy shit, we really need to have that game, that broom sounds insane"—Charlie said, amazed by the firebolt description.
Madam Hooch had fallen asleep in her seat.
"CONSTANT VIGILANCE!"—Moody yelled— "Potter would already be dead." Minerva massaged her temples. That year had been a nightmare, everyone had been on edge.
"Why is she getting mad?"—Dora questioned— "She's the one that falls asleep on the job."
"Hooch is also up in years if she had a Silver Arrow, those stooped being made 40 years ago, and she arrived in our fourth year."—Remus said
"You want us to fire all of our teachers?"—
"No"—Remus appeases Minerva—"Just fix their schedules. Sinastra, Hagrid could have supervised the practice or maybe hire more people. I told you Minerva, Hogwarts needs more people."
"I know"—She sighed. Dumbledore frowned; he wasn't enjoying how out of reach the professors sounded.
They were halfway toward the castle when Harry, glancing to his left, saw something that made his heart turn over — a pair of eyes, gleaming out of the darkness.
"It does feel like you do want to scare Harry to death"—Andromeda shook her head at a sheepish Sirius.
Crouching among the budding leaves, was Crookshanks.
"Recruiting?"—Dora mocked.
"Yes, actually"
"Hermione can't control Crookshank, he is still an animal."—Charlie said to his brother. –"Though it should be advised that the pets brought to Hogwarts should be trained"
those eyes had belonged to the Grim.
"I didn't mean to scare you, but I was getting anxious and that was the first time I realize how close Ron was to you. I realize how close Peter was to you"—Sirius said.
"You panicked"—Ron stated.
"Yeah"
Cedric Diggory came over to congratulate Harry on having acquired such a superb replacement for his Nimbus, and Percy's Ravenclaw girlfriend, Penelope Clearwater, asked if she could actually hold the Firebolt.
Percy looked down at his hands. Penny hadn't spoken to him in months. It hurt a little hearing her name, he left things badly with her, he looked up at his family and realized he had left many things badly, but there hadn't been any proof that what Potter said was true.
Percy, in an urgent whisper. "I haven't got ten Galleons.
That made his brother laugh, Charlie took the Micky out of him—"You made Penny pay you?"
Percy almost smiled at the memory but shook his head. — "Of course not"—
"Sure you can manage that broom, Potter?" said a cold, drawling voice.
Draco Malfoy Malfoy's pale eyes narrowed, and he stalked away. They watched him rejoin the rest of the Slytherin team, who put their heads together.
Snape pressed his lips together; he had been forced to reprimand Draco for his little prank.
"Aw, Harry wants you to see him play"—Dora told Remus with a smile.
Cho Chang, was the only girl on their team. She was shorter than Harry by about a head, and Harry couldn't help noticing, nervous as he was, that she was extremely pretty. he felt a slight lurch in the region of his stomach that he didn't think had anything to do with nerves.
Harry rolled his eyes when he felt Sirius laugh. — "Interesting"—he said
"Shut up"
"Since third year?"—Ron said getting a glare from Harry and a questioning look from Sirius, Ron snickered and shook his head.
Harry turned to his godfather who had a wide smile.
— "Shut up, later no, just no"
"Ok, ok"—he said still smiling.
"Ah, Puberty"—Dora said cutely.
"Can we not, isn't this embarrassing enough."—Harry said hiding his face.
Dora bit her lip— "Sorry I don't mean it mockingly."
"I don't like her for you"—Luna said again making Sirius frown.
According to Which Broomstick, the Firebolt's going to be the broom of choice for the national teams at this year's World Championship —"
"Foreshadowing."
"Hey, let Jordan do his job"—Ted said— "He's quite the commentary."
"If I let him, I won't be able to stop him from watching his mouth, he tends to let one or few foul words slip out."
George said— "Yeah, I don't like Cho either, but she is a good flier"— and that made Sirius pause, two people didn't like the girl Harry was crushing on and he hadn't said anything about girls, he sighed, another thing to talk about.
the Snitch was close to the ground, flitting near one of the barriers.
Harry dived; Cho saw what he was doing and tore after him — Harry was speeding up, Then a Bludger, hit by one of the Ravenclaw Beaters, came pelting out of nowhere; Harry veered off course, avoiding it by an inch, and in those few, crucial seconds, the Snitch had vanished.
"Harry do you really want to be in Auror, because professional quidditch sounds more like what you should be doing"—Neville said.
Harry smiled— "I love flying but I feel like Auror is the right thing, I don't know yet."
"You still have time"—Ted assured him.
"Longbottom what the hell are you doing, the boy wants to be in Auror"—Mad-eye said.
"You won't be training him, you retired remember?"—Amelia mocked.
George Weasley vented his feelings by hitting the second Bludger directly at the offending Beater.
"I remember the feeling"—Sirius said— "Especially when it hit one of our players."
"Everyone was mesmerized by the firebolt."
— the Snitch was circling the Gryffindor goal post…
Harry accelerated, eyes fixed on the speck of gold ahead — but just then, Cho appeared out of thin air, blocking him — "HARRY, THIS IS NO TIME TO BE A GENTLEMAN!" Wood roared as Harry swerved to avoid a collision. "KNOCK HER OFF HER BROOM IF YOU HAVE TO!"
"Harry don't believe pretty girls, they lie"—Sirius said.
Fleur laughed— "That's a horrible thing to say, but she did it on purpose."
Harry laughed— "I hadn't even noticed Cho, if I had collided with her, we would have ended in the ground. It was Wood who distracted me."
"He was intense during that game."-George said.
Cho following him… She'd decided to mark him rather than search for the Snitch herself… All right, then… if she wanted to tail him, she'd have to take the consequences…
"Yes!"—Sirius said.
He was winning, gaining on the Snitch with every second — then —
"Oh!" screamed Cho, pointing. Three Dementors, three tall, black, hooded Dementors, were looking up at him. He didn't stop to think. Plunging a hand down the neck of his robes, he whipped out his wand and roared, "Expecto patronum!"
"Again?"—Sirius turned to Remus.
"No"—Remus assured him— "But, for a moment in the distraction of the game, everyone thought so and Harry was already doing the charm."
"You were really into the game you didn't even notice"—Hermione said.
"I wanted to win, that's why I learned the charm." –He stated
"That's my boy!" Wood kept yelling. Alicia, Angelina, and Katie had all kissed Harry; Fred had him in a grip so tight Harry felt as though his head would come off. "Well done, Harry!" said Percy, looking delighted. "Ten Galleons to me! Must find Penelope, excuse me —"
Harry smiled he loved quidditch and was hurt that the toad was missing with that too.
"You did make her pay."
"Neither of us had ten galleons"
Charlie said winking. –"Oohh she paid in another way"—
"Of course, not"—Molly said— "They were too young for that"—
"He was seventeen Mom."—Bill laughed; Molly looked at him in surprise.
He realized their mother thought all of them were still innocent summer children.
"That statement makes you a hypocrite Molly"—Augusta said rolling her eyes.
Remus pushed a teacup to Sirius to keep him quiet.
"That was quite some Patronus," said a voice in Harry's ear.
Harry turned around to see Professor Lupin, who looked both shaken and pleased.
"Why were you shaking, you better than anyone should have…"—Kingsley started saying.
"I forgot you saw it"—Harry smiled sadly.
"Yeah, I was not expecting to see Prongs, but I was very proud."
Sirius wanted to ask Harry to show him, but he knew he wasn't ready. Maybe by the end of the book, Harry turned to him, and he smiled shaking at the silent question. Everyone seemed to realize, and no one dared to ask to see it.
"Aw, you didn't want to break his bubble of excitement"—Ginny said.
"He looked really proud of himself."
"You gave Mr. Malfoy quite a fright," said Lupin.
Standing over them, with an expression of the utmost fury on her face, was Professor McGonagall.
Snape Pressed his lips, he hadn't been impressed either. It made his godson and house look like bullies and fools. Especially after Dumbledore asked him to make sure all the boys had detention.
Sirius was angry— "Idiots boys, it could have hurt more than just Harry"
Snape sneered at his worried expression—"Now a Prank is too much for you?"
Remus tense and Sirius glared at Snape—"For the last time, it wasn't a prank."
"Then it was an attempt…"
"Enough!"—Dumbledore stated, he had remained quiet, he had hoped they would read more quickly but apparently he had been wrong—"All boys suffered double detention and were reminded of how dangerous that stunt was"
They all nodded but Snape and Sirius conversation had left a certain doubt, had Sirius really done an attempt on Snape.
Harry turned to Hermione who had tapped him in the shoulder, but he shook his head— "Later"—He whispered.
Fred and George Weasley disappeared for a couple of hours and returned with armfuls of bottles of butterbeer, pumpkin fizz, and several bags full of Honeydukes sweets.
"Where did you get the money?"—Molly asked them.
"We were already selling some of our products."
"You could have gotten someone hurt"
"Why do you ask if you're going to reprimand?"—George stated, he was getting tired of this back and forth with their mother. She looked angrily at him, but he turned around, they would have to talk to Bill about it.
Hermione, incredibly, was sitting in a corner, attempting to read an enormous book
"Come on, Hermione, come and have some food," Harry said, looking over at Ron and wondering whether he was in a good enough mood to bury the hatchet.
"You were far gone"—Dora said— "You should have realized and turn it over."
"Hey, she wouldn't have been able to save me, but I agree with Dora. Hopefully this taught you to learn limitations."
"It really did, I wasn't sleeping enough, and even though you sleep more because you have all the time in the world, it's not the same, your magic knows."
"He doesn't want me to join in." Hermione burst into tears. Before Harry could say or do anything, she tucked the enormous book under her arm, and, still sobbing, ran toward the staircase to the girls' dormitories and out of sight.
"Now you're just being a cul"—Fleur defended Hermione who looked up surprise. –"You should have sat down by now and discussed it. Beauxbaton has a counselor professor for this."
"Is it functional?"
"Yes, a school mostly of girls and a few Veelas, tension runs high"—
"Oh, I know what night this is"—Sirius said looking uncomfortable.
He was walking through a forest, his Firebolt over his shoulder, following something silvery-white. (…) Harry broke into a run, and ahead he heard hooves gathering speed.
"What a weird dream Harry, your dreams seem to have a little bit of truth to them"—
"Do you have seer blood"—Luna asked.
"No"—Harry said looking at his uncles who frowned and shook their heads.
Ron was sitting up in bed, the hangings torn from one side, a look of utmost terror on his face.
"Black! Sirius Black! With a knife!"
"What?"
"Here! Just now! Slashed the curtains! Woke me up!"
"You broke into the rooms?"
"How the hell?"
"I am sorry Ron."
"You were trying to kill Ron"—Molly said and Arthur shook his head—"Molly!"
"I am sorry …I …what were you thinking Sirius"—She said to the man who had a regretful exasperated look on his face.
"How did you do it?"—Snape asked, he had raged and screamed that Lupin had been involve but Dumbledore hadn't believed him.
"Perce — Sirius Black!" said Ron faintly. "In our dormitory! With a knife! Woke me up!" The common room went very still. "Nonsense!" said Percy, looking startled. "You had too much to eat, Ron — had a nightmare —"
"In my defense, it did sound farfetched."
"We are not saying anything Percy, it was understandable."
"But how, your doors have passwords"—Fleur asked.
Professor McGonagall stared at him. "Don't be ridiculous, Weasley, how could he possibly have gotten through the portrait hole?" "Ask him!" said Ron, pointing a shaking finger at the back of Sir Cadogan's picture. "Ask him if he saw —"
"We weren't informed of this"—Molly said to Dumbledore who opened his mouth surprise, he turned to Arthur.
"Molly dear. Dumbledore did directly to me"
Molly looked outraged and hurt. — "Why didn't you tell me?"
"Because you would only worry, and Dumbledore assures me Ron was fine and unharmed."
"You — you did?" said Professor McGonagall. "But — but the password!"
"He had 'em!" said Sir Cadogan proudly. "Had the whole week's, my lady! Read 'em off a little piece of paper!"
"Who the hell would…"—Amelia stopped remembering Neville. She turned to him and felt pity for him because of the look he was receiving from Augusta. Neville was as red as the Weasley's hair.
Neville Longbottom, trembling from head to fluffy slippered toes, raised his hand slowly into the air.
"Oh Neville"—Augusta lamented.
"I'm sorry Neville"—Sirius apologetic.
Luna asked for a break and Dumbledore paused the book.
"I want to know what the hell was wrong with you?"—Amelia told Sirius.
"I was desperate, and I thought I had a limited amount of time. Peter was too close to Harry, and I had the passwords, in my crazy haze mind I needed to act quickly."
Amelia sighed and shook her head— "Did you consider turning yourself in, talking to Dumbledore, Remus…"
"No, they all gave their backs to me"—Sirius stated, and he felt quite proud of saying it, the only person he directly told this to, was Remus– "Why, should I risk it. In my mind Remus would have killed me immediately and Dumbledore…I don't think would have bothered like many years ago."
Amelia was to answer but she didn't know what to say, she turned to Remus and saw him smiling sadly a Sirius, his hand going for Sirius who took it and when she turned to Dumbledore, he saw the man frowning at the floor.
– "This is getting exhausting."
"No shit Amelia, if you didn't tell us, we wouldn't have noticed."—Augusta said tidying up her skirt with a bored expression.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN –Snape's Grudge
Remus hold on to Sirius's hand tighter. — "Please don't fight"—he whispered. They both heard Harry take a deep breath.
Professor McGonagall came back at dawn, to tell them that he had again escaped.
Flitwick could be seen teaching the front doors to recognize a large picture of Sirius Black;
"Shouldn't you have done it since the first time"—Andromeda stated.
"This should have been informed to us"—Amelia stated— "I don't know who I should be angry with, with you or myself."
"You should be angry at everyone, what kind Law enforcement do we have, all of this has been handled in a shit way"—Charlie said.
A bunch of surly security trolls had been hired to guard her.
"Trolls?"—Fleur asked surprised—"That was your solution? Not calling Aurors or scouting the school?"—she asked perplexed.
"Let me tell you, I was having flashbacks every time I saw them"—Hermione said.
"Harry a mass murder just walked into school, very close to killing you and your friend and you decided not to tell anyone that he was coming through the passages?"—
If the one-eyed witch was boarded up too, he would never be able to go into Hogsmeade again.
"Your friend could have been murdered"—Tonks said.
"He wasn't coming through there."—Harry defended himself – "And Ron said I shouldn't say it either"
Ron had become an instant celebrity. For the first time in his life, people were paying more attention to him than to Harry, and it was clear that Ron was rather enjoying the experience.
Ron blushed and looked down embarrassed. Molly turned to look at her son, she would have to talk to him.
"You did milk it as much as you could"—Percy said to Ron
Harry thoughtfully. "He'd've had to kill the whole house to get back through the portrait hole… then he would've met the teachers…"
"I don't kill children"—Sirius said— "And no one passes Minerva"—
Professor McGonagall was so furious with him she had banned him from all future Hogsmeade visits, given him a detention, and forbidden anyone to give him the password into the tower.
Sirius flinch. —"I'm sorry Neville, but come on Minerva not letting the boy into where he sleeps is cruel"—
"That is uncalled for."
"Imagine if trolls hurt him, then it would be your fault"—Bill said
she sent Neville the very worst thing a Hogwarts student could receive over breakfast — a Howler.
"Oh Neville, of course, I was angry, but you should have told me about the passwords, and I would have talked to Minerva."
Neville shrugged. He didn't want to talk about it, especially not in front of everyone, it had been mortifying. He was always the shy quiet one and the loner, he could have tried getting closer to Harry and the rest, but Harry was always getting in trouble he wasn't ready to involve himself in and he had done good friends out of the tower.
shrieking about how he had brought shame on the whole family.
Sirius looked at Augusta— "You have no idea how much those words hurt and it feels like you like to through them around a lot."
Andromeda who had those words and a slap to the face thrown at her agreed with Sirius—"There are different ways for you to handle your disappointment with Neville Augusta but shaming him in front of the whole school isn't one of them"
Augusta kept her stern look but looked at Neville from the side eye and realize he was staring at the floor. Maybe it was time for her and Neville to talk about certain things, she wasn't liking how he was being described.
"I heard it from many people, you spoke about it to everyone"—Hagrid told Ron who flushed.
He had completely forgotten that Buckbeak's trial was so near, and judging by the uneasy look on Ron's face, he had too.
"You had your own problems"—Hagrid assure them.
"Hermione," said Hagrid.
"She's in a righ' state, that's what. She's bin comin' down ter visit me a lot since Chris'mas. Bin feelin' lonely. Firs' yeh weren' talking to her because o' the Firebolt, now yer not talkin' to her because her cat —"
"Thank you, Hagrid"—Hermione said.
"You know friendship has boundaries"—Fleur said— "Maybe you should sit down and talk about them."
"If she'd just get rid of that cat, I'd speak to her again!" Ron said angrily.
Hermione shook her head—"He's my pet, I couldn't get rid of him"
"I just wanted you to admit that you had been wrong"—Ron said pinching his lips.
"Harry, if you go into Hogsmeade again… I'll tell Professor McGonagall about that map!" said Hermione.
"I am with Hermione. You're being stupid"
"Hermione you are going at it the wrong way"
"Harry never listens"—Hermione stated—"Sometimes there's no way of having him do the right thing if it's not shoved down his throat"
"Maybe ask me not order me"—
"Can you hear someone talking, Harry?" growled Ron, not looking at Hermione.
"Ron, how can you let him go with you? After what Sirius Black nearly did to you! I mean it, I'll tell —"
Molly shook her head— "You boys are being incredibly irresponsible. I thought I had raised you better Ronald, risking your life and Harrys."
Ron tried hard not to roll his eyes.
"So now you're trying to get Harry expelled!" said Ron furiously. "Haven't you done enough damage this year?"
"Hey, that's uncalled for, Hermione is apparently the only one who wants to keep Harry safe" -Tonks stated angrily at Ron.
"You have every right to be mad at Hermione for Crookshank Ron but she's your friend who is clearly in distress."
"You're being in Ass,"—Ginny stated.
"Hey…don't gang up on him"—Charlie said, Ron was turning redder every minute.
"No one is ganging up on him, we are just calling out his bullshit the same way we're calling out Hermione's attitude."
"What about your annoying embarrassment over Harry"—Ron said angrily.
Bill—"Ron! That's enough all of you, what are you gaining by embarrassing each other."
Ginny gave Ron the finger. Molly started putting order— "When did my children become so rude?"—
"Mom, please"—Percy started that's when Ted got involved
—"Just stop."
Hermione opened her mouth to respond, but with a soft hiss, Crookshanks leapt onto her lap. Hermione took one frightened look at the expression on Ron's face, gathered up Crookshanks, and hurried away toward the girls' dormitories.
"You were afraid of him?"—Andromeda asked Hermione but before she could say anything Molly spoke curtly. –"What are you insinuating Andromeda?"
"That your youngest son has a bad Temper that needs to be addressed, he cannot talk to his friends like this"—
"Ron has every right to be angry at Hermione, she's being incredibly rude to him by allowing her pet close to him after his attempt on his pet, whether…"
"Oh, please are you deaf Molly, Hermione obviously has to check her way of doing things, but your son's tone is hurtful, he wants to hurt Hermione. That's intentional or am I wrong, Ronald?"
"Why don't you both mind your business"—Ron said angrily, earning a warning look from his father.
Remus said—"Maybe we let the children solve this, both are realizing they are wrong and as Fleur said, they clearly need to address boundaries. Let them do that in private."
Hermione gave him a grateful smile but, in all honesty, she was feeling the anger and restrain she had felt two years ago. She had wanted to lash out at Ron and Harry for their behavior towards her.
"I still think it's stupid that you're risking your life just to go to Hogsmeade."
"He is just doing what teenagers do, break rules. He's angry. He's grieving. I'm more concerned that no one has decided to sit down and talk with him about this. A lot of things could have been prevented if you only trusted Harry with this information"—Bill said
Molly shook her head.—"It's easy to blame someone Bill but Harry was 13. He's a child. All of them are children and they shouldn't be concerned about things that could frighten them."
"That's the problem. I know that as a mother, you want to keep everyone safe. I had to learn that with Susan." -Amelia told her—"But at this point. Harry has always been a young adult instead of a child. After two attempts of murders, two close calls to death, and with no one willing to do something about it, you can't keep Harry in a cocoon"
Harry who was just sitting there listening to both, kept his mouth shut. There are so many things he wanted to say, everyone wants to talk about what he was feeling, but none of them felt his anger and despair, to this day no one truly knew what was going on with him. He was starting to feel hopeless, and they hadn't even reached the worst moment of his life.
He broke off with a small gasp, looking over Harry's shoulder. It was Snape. Neville took a quick step behind Harry. "And what are you two doing here?" said Snape, coming to a halt and looking from one to the other. "An odd place to meet —"
Amelia had already reached her point with Severus Snape. The fact that he was so terrifying that his students use another student to shield themselves from his presence was alarming. Augusta had already talked to her about her conversation with Dumbledore and she really hoped Dumbledore took action because Severus Snape was an asset, and they couldn't afford to lose him. With everything these books were going to give, having to watch their backs against Snape wasn't the most ideal thing.
"We're not — meeting here," said Harry. "We just — met here."
"Indeed?" said Snape. "You have a habit of turning up in unexpected places, Potter, and you are very rarely there for no good reason… I suggest the pair of you return to Gryffindor Tower, where you belong."
"Excuse me, where you belong?"— Ted said disapprovingly. —"Every student has the right to walk around the school, It's Saturday."
"Am I going to be judged for everything I say?"—Snape Asked.
"If you keep saying things in that tone yes."
Harry managed to shake Neville off at the Fat Lady by telling him the password, then pretending he'd left his vampire essay in the library and doubling back
.
Harry flinched— "Sorry Nev, I realize I've been a shitty friend."
Neville smiled— "No, it's ok. I could have tried to get closer to but with all the rumors around you I wasn't prepared for such adventures"—he laughed.
Harry agreed with him, he couldn't fathom how he would have gotten out of certain things if there were more people involved. Sirius leaned to Harry— "It doesn't make it better; Neville needed a friend."—
Harry turned to Sirius in question, but he paused, he supposed Neville reminded him of himself with how Augusta treated him.
Severus Snape was now back in its office.
Snape frowned in anger, if only he would have interrogated Potter even more. It enraged him how the boy got away with everything just like his father and the other two idiots.
Harry gave Ron whispered orders and passed him some gold from under the cloak., but their pockets bulging with Dungbombs, Hiccup Sweets, Frog Spawn Soap, and a Nose-Biting Teacup apiece.
"And against who did you use them? Mr., I don't like Pranks"—Sirius asked his godson, who smirked—"Too many professors for me to say"
Shrieking Shack, the most haunted dwelling in Britain. "Even the Hogwarts ghosts avoid it," said Ron as they leaned on the fence, looking up at it.
Molly asked him. -"Is the first thing that crosses through your mind is find trouble? You see a hunted house and decide to go in?"- she asked the twins who shrugged
"We didn't understand how it could be haunted. It's so quiet"
Tonks said—"Anthony Devereaux tried to break into the house, by smashing into it and fracturing his collarbone."
"Anthony wasn't so smart was he, you can break out of the shack from the inside."
"How do you know that?"— Minerva asked him.
"You'll find out."
Malfoy had appeared (…) Malfoy looked up at the crumbling house behind Ron. "Suppose you'd love to live here, wouldn't you, Weasley? Dreaming about having your own bedroom? I heard your family all sleep in one room — is that true?"
"When is he going to stop doing the same Comments all the time?"
"It's the only thing he has over us"
"Are the Malfoys really that wealthy?" -Luna asked.
"I believe they're in the top ten of the richest families in Britain." -Amelia said.
"Which one is number one?"—Hermione asked,
"The last time I checked, I am"—Sirius raised his hand.
"And that is why Lucius Malfoy wants you dead."
"For your money?"—Ginny frowned.
"If I don't claim the Black estate it will go to the next male heir, Malfoy through Narcissa, and Harry through Dorea."
"First thing you need to fix once you're free is your will. The money of the Black family will give you- know- who too much power."—Augusta said.
SPLAT!
Malfoy's head jerked forward as the mud hit him; his silverblond hair was suddenly dripping in muck.
Harry laughed he could still remember Malfoys face.
"Nice, Harry." —Fred complimented him. –"That's what you do when you have an invisibility cloak."
Harry felt a great tug, then the cloak slid off his face.
"No"—the Marauders lamented. —"You have to get back to the castle."
"Oh, I didn't even delay it, barely made it."
"Wait, so Snape knew you were going to come out of the passage. Which meant that you knew the passage existed."
"All the professors know where the passages are."
"And yet you let him leave."
"He wants to get him in trouble."
Amelia was getting exasperated he was she was ready to explode. —"Hogwarts and Harry's security is a mess, everyone is doing whatever they want, and both are being left defenseless."
"You can't be angry at us. I never saw you once in Hogwarts." —Snape accused her.
Amelia pressed her lips. —"Yes, you're right. I was never in Hogwarts, I visit Hogsmeade, and now I see my mistake. Hogwarts is running wild. The professors are running wild. Hopefully now we have a possibility to change all of that."
Snape was going to keep talking, but he saw Kingsley shake his head. The Aurors in the room know that Amelia was about to explode. It was better not to anger her more.
"How the hell did Malfoy get there before you?"
"The passage is really long, takes around 15 minutes to get up to the castle."
He approached Harry at a swift walk, his black robes swishing, then stopped in front of him. "So," he said.
Sirius was trying to control his tongue, he could see Remus reaching his limit oh but how did he want to scream at Snape, the man was enjoying it too much. This is exactly what he always tried to do to the Marauders, the man had done horrible things himself and tried to sell everyone the speech about breaking rules when he had broken the law multiple times.
"He tells me that he was up by the Shrieking Shack when he ran into Weasley — apparently alone." Still, Harry didn't speak.
Harry tried to look mildly surprised.
"I don't know, Professor."
Snape's eyes were boring into Harry's.
" I hope you weren't trying to use Legilimency on him. Snape."—Andromeda accused.
"I have never used Legilimency on my students Without their consent."
Andromeda gave him an incredulous look. Harry looked panicky. He whispered to Sirius. —"Would I have realized?"
Sirius who had been clenching his fists swallowed and answered. —"Perhaps not, if you didn't know that Branch of magic existed. You probably felt a headache. None the wiser." —he reassures him. —"He's not stupid, Harry, even Dumbledore would have punished him if he tried."
Harry nodded but he didn't look Reassured.
"Maybe he'd better go to Madam Pomfrey," said Harry. "If he's seeing things like —"
"Yes, Harry, keep to your truth."—The twins said.
Snape snarled angrily this was the problem with Potter. He had too many people encouraging his problematic behavior, even at this moment, the headmaster seeing the lie, the boy was saying he wasn't going to reprimand him"
"It sounds like Malfoy's having hallucin —"
"Hey, personal space."—Fleur demanded. —"You cannot be all over someone's space like that, you're interrogating him as if he was being accused of murder."
"Everyone from the Minister of Magic downward has been trying to keep famous Harry Potter safe from Sirius Black. But famous Harry Potter is a law unto himself. Let the ordinary people worry about his safety! Famous Harry Potter goes where he wants to, with no thought for the consequences."
Sirius couldn't hold it anymore. —"Fuck off Snape, he's stating many times he doesn't like his fame"
"Oh, here we go. You're enjoying this behavior don't pretend, you and Potter did pretty much the same."
"You need to let go of this grudge Snape. Or at least take it to someone who will understand your pity comments. Remus is to floor above go yell at him"
Dumbledore shook his head disapprovingly—"Gentleman we had an agreement…"
Augusta rolled her eyes at Dumbledore— "Mr. Potter might seek trouble but he has never gloated about his fame in the way you're claiming I just don't understand why you so fix…"
"Because he doesn't see Harry"—Sirius said
"Pads, we have in olive branch"
"What Olive branch? If we don't address it now when are we going to… certainly Dumbledore hasn't given a shit"—Sirius pointed at Snape—"Harry isn't James Snape…James has been dead for a very long time and the fact that you're taking out your bitterness in his son is pathetic"
Snape mocked him—"More pathetic, then you trying to change one for the other…"
Sirius went for his wand and Snape stood up. This time Dumbledore interfered- "That's enough, if you two can't control your emotions we will never finish this book. Pulling out your wand to hurt each other while surrounded by people is irresponsible and reckless of both of you"—Dumbledore's voice was stern—"You both did in agreement that you would act rational and right now it seems it was nothing but empty words"
The people in the ballroom were a little surprised he was intervening, but they can see the lingering tension and those who knew the headmaster knew he was reaching high levels of frustration.
"How extraordinarily like your father you are, Potter," Snape said suddenly, his eyes glinting. "He too was exceedingly arrogant. A small amount of talent on the Quidditch field made him think he was a cut above the rest of us too. Strutting around the place with his friends and admirers… The resemblance between you is uncanny."
Harry closed his eyes and prepared himself for the outrage. He now understood why Snape always said those things to him, a part of him was ashamed that his father had done such horrible things in his youth, he had nothing to do with them and yet he was paying for them, he wanted answers about those incidents, he had questions and the one person he wanted answers from wasn't here, had been dead for 14 years. Another part of him was angry, Angry that Snape, who took the mark who bows to Voldemort and kiss his robes, dares to speak ill of his father who fought to protect innocent lives instead of killing them.
Arthur Weasley and Ted Tonks were outraged that a man like Severus Snape was trying to harm the memory a orphan boy had of his father. It was Ted who spoke –"How dare you say that to him"
"Save me your comments I don't need to be reprimanded by the likes of you."
"The likes of me. You need to be reprimanded by everyone; Harry has never met his father…"
"Well, it's about time that he knows the truth of who his father was."
Remus was on his feet and couldn't stop Sirius from running toward Snape, but an invisible wall stopped him.
"That is enough." -Minerva said angrily her voice cracking— "I don't even know what to say… I'm truly disappointed in your behavior Severus, your problems with James Potter should have ended when he died, if you still have unresolved business take it with the other two, not with Harry."— She said slamming her hand on her lap— "And you two, violence isn't the answer, you should know that better than anyone. Stop letting your emotions control you, analyze the situation. Is that the example you want to give Harry?"-
All three men went to sit down, Sirius realize that Harry had leaned more toward Hermione's side who was holding his hand.
"Your father didn't set much store by rules either," Snape went on, pressing his advantage, his thin face full of malice. "Rules were for lesser mortals, not Quidditch Cup-winners. His head was so swollen —"
Dumbledore closed his eyes he hadn't realized how much Severus had projected his past onto Harry and how he allowed that to happen. He turned around to look at Remus and Sirius, all three men were trying to control their tongues, he turned to the boy in question. Harry had his eyes closed his head leaning into the couch. Miss Granger was holding onto his hand but he looked defeated and angry.
Tonks spoke up—"Even your arguments are lousy. Either you want to tell Harry how his father truly was, or you just want to annoy him, because I'm pretty sure your anger towards James Potter wasn't that he was a good Quidditch player."
"This seems more like a family matter."-Kingsley said and that made Harry laugh. Which made everyone stop. Sirius tried to hold his hand but Harry smacked it away.
"A family matter, you say? You're reading my Life from books, my thoughts and you all talk about my feelings and my emotions like you actually are living them, but none of you have. Not even those that have been there with me at the moment. None of you truly understand how I feel. A family matter, you say? I don't have a family Kingsley."—
Remus looked down at his hand's shame and anger coursed through him. Sirius's eyes filled up with tears he had failed he has failed many people.
"Have you been imagining some act of glorious heroism? Then let me correct you — your saintly father and his friends played a highly amusing joke on me that would have resulted in my death if your father hadn't got cold feet at the last moment. There was nothing brave about what he did. He was saving his own skin as much as mine. Had their joke succeeded, he would have been expelled from Hogwarts."
The people in the room gasped.
"Oh go to hell"—Harry said glaring at Snape.
"Does it hurt to know your father…"
"My father was a very capable wizard, one of the reasons you hate him, if he wanted you dead, it wouldn't have taken much. I'm sure he had many opportunities, but my father wasn't a killer…not like some people"
"You insolent…"—Snape said
"That's enough Snape"—
Snape did a double take on his last name in Dumbledore's mouth but he did as he was told.
"Is this true?" -Andromeda asked Sirius.
"It wasn't a prank."
"Stop lying."—Snape said.
"I'm not lying, you moron, it wasn't a prank, James and Remus had no idea of what I had done…I just wanted you to stop meddling in our business."
"And killing me was the best choice…so much like your family."
Sirius laughed bitterly. –"Fuck you"
"You both need to stop this nonsense"—Molly said—"You are a grown man, you should apologize…"
"Apologize…"
"I don't want his apologies…"
"And you won't get them. I don't give a single fuck about you or your life but since you want to tell Harry your side, I'll tell mine…"
"I don't have time…"
But Sirius ignored him— "I was the one who told you how to pass the wimping Willow passage to go to the shack the day of the full moon. Not Remus, not Peter, not James… Peter heard me and ran to tell James and I walked back to the Tower"—Sirius shrugged— "I realized what I had done and went to get Dumbledore…How was I supposed to know that you brilliant Snape was going to go down there on the full moon? You already knew what Remus was, you went down there to Kill him."
The teenagers turned to look at Snape—
Snape wanted to curse Black but knew the headmaster wasn't going to allow it. He looked so nonchalant, and it anger him, years of holding it he couldn't help it— "I was doing the school a favor, Dumbledore has too much affinity for beasts…"
Tonks tried to stand up, but Remus hold her.
"And that's why I wasn't expelled"—Sirius said.
"You should have…all of you were nothing more than wannabe idiots who…"
Sirius waved him off— "I'm too old for the same speech."
Snape slammed his couch and walked out of the room, Dumbledore after him.
Harry went to leave but Sirius stopped him. —"I need a moment, OK."—Harry said, pulling his hand. Sirius who was trying to hold his anger for Harry's sake wasn't taking the teenager's sour mood well and walked the opposite way. Remus was left behind to answer all the questions.
"So …you tried to kill him?"
"George"—Arthur warned
Percy looked up at Amelia—"Are you just going to ignore what was said? He's obviously a murderer."
Remus growled, that was the first time any of them heard him do that sound. Making everybody jump, including Nymphadora.—"Snape is a murderer too, Percy"
"You bullied Snape?"—Neville asked.
Remus closed his eyes—"I…look this fight hasn't even started yet. Once we reach the incident in the shack where we find out about Peter. I'm sure Sirius and Snape will have more to say to each other…"
Dora grabbed onto his hand—"Breath Remus, if you need to step out…"
"No, no we will get nowhere if we keep storming out."
After a few minutes, Andromeda stood up to get Sirius who was trashing the parlor and Ron went to get Harry. Molly wanted to go to Harry but she didn't know how to approach him. This was a side she hadn't seen on him and a side she had never seen on her kids until her situation with Percy and she wasn't going to fool herself she had no idea how to address it. She was starting to see a different side of the people she surrounded herself with and even a different side of herself not that she had understood yet.
Sirius and Andromeda were the first ones to come back, he tried to turn around and go get Harry when Remus stopped him—"He's with Ron, let him be."
Ron and Harry came in. Once Harry sat down Sirius turned to him— "Are you ok?"
"I'm fine."
Dumbledore walked in— "Severus will take a break for the remaining of the chapter."
Minerva addressed him. –"Is he all right?"
"I advised him it would be best if he takes a little bit more to control himself."—he turned to Sirius—"I hope you also take time to control your temper."
Sirius bit his tongue— "Of course Albus"
Everyone prepared to continue reading.
"So!" said Snape, his long nostrils quivering. "Is this another treasured gift Or — instructions to get into Hogsmeade without passing the Dementors?"
"What instructions is he talking about? Where would Harry get them?"
—"Severus had this idea that someone from inside the school was helping Sirius, he was adamant that I was the one doing it."
"So what?"— He thought. – "You gave Harry the instructions. Sirius had mailed them."
"As you can see when it comes to us Severus' mind gets a little clouded"
Amelia sighed—"Mr. Snape needs to talk to someone perhaps the headmaster could be the one."
"Professor Severus Snape, master of this school, commands you to yield the information you conceal!"
"Oh, that's not good"
"Mooney presents his compliments to Professor Snape, and begs him to keep his abnormally large nose out of other people's business."
Snape froze. Harry stared, dumbstruck, at the message. But the map didn't stop there. More writing was appearing beneath the first.
"Mr. Prongs agrees with Mr. Mooney and would like to add that Professor Snape is an ugly git."
Sirius didn't mean to laugh but he remembered how much fun they had putting those comments to different people.
"So, this is what you meant. When you sentence their younger selves Help you?—"Arthur asked the twins.
"Yes. They don't have a conversation with you like the diary."
"We put a few of our personalities in it. I suppose it gave you clues about how to open it."
"Prongs is Mr. Potter?"
"Yes that's Dad"
"Mr. Padfoot would like to register his astonishment that an idiot like that ever became a professor."
"Lupin!" Snape called into the fire. "I want a word!"
"He knows."—Neville said surprised.
"I suppose the moment he saw the nicknames; we would go around the school calling ourselves that..."
"Lame."—Charlie said, trying to alleviate the tension.
Sirius gave him the finger with a smile and Remus chuckled. —"Not so much. People did recognize us by the nicknames and some of them did call us by them when they wanted to get our attention."
Snape pointed at the parchment, on which the words of Messrs. Moony, Wormtail, Padfoot, and Prongs were still shining. An odd, closed expression appeared on Lupin's face.
"I can't imagine what you felt."—
"Oh, I was not expecting that. When I saw Harry, I thought something like Being disrespectful or that he had caught Harry trying to leave school. I was never expecting to see our map"
Lupin looked up and, by the merest half-glance in Harry's direction, warned him not to interrupt.
"I don't think I would have been able to interrupt. I had no idea what was going on and I just wanted to leave."—
"I thought you knew, then when you denied it, I realized that you had come across the map without having any idea of what it meant."
"Indeed?" said Snape. His jaw had gone rigid with anger. "You think a joke shop could supply him with such a thing? You don't think it more likely that he got it directly from the manufacturers?"
Andromeda didn't want to say it out loud because it felt like kicking a puppy when he was down. But she pointed at the book. —"This is why I don't like the man why I find him infuriating right now. He has every right to be angry with Sirius which, by the way, we are going to have a serious discussion about it. But… He is a person that knows Lily and James, I understand why he would not talk to Harry about James. But why not talk about Lily who according to you was his best friend."
Dumbledore came into Severus defense. —"Sometimes the grieve for a friend is too painful."
The marauders gave him an incredulous look.
"More painful than to her own son?"—
"We shouldn't talk about him, he's not here."—Luna said.
"But when are we going to talk about it? He doesn't want to talk about his behavior. He doesn't want to accept his behavior. And now Dumbledore's defending his grief. yes, he has every right, but no one has more right to grieve than Harry. No one has more right to feel pain than Harry. And yet, everyone here believes that their grief is more important than helping a child know his parents."
"The child is right here and want this chapter to end"
Ron came bursting into the office "I — gave — Harry — that — stuff," he choked. "Bought — it… in Zonko's… ages — ago…"
" Perfect timing Ron"
"How did you know?"
"Malfoy was by the entrance gloating that Snape had Harry in his office."
Severus, I'll take this back, shall I?" He folded the map and tucked it inside his robes. "Harry, Ron, come with me, I need a word about my vampire essay — excuse us, Severus
—"
"You sound so serious."—Sirius said.—"No pun intended."
"I was furious."
Harry flinched and roll his eyes.—"Yeah, made me feel horrible by the way."
"I don't want to hear explanations," said Lupin shortly. Yes, I know it's a map," I am, however, astounded that you didn't hand it in.
" It's such a hypocrite you were mad at Hermione for trying to. Give it up."
"I'm a professor. It's my job. And I take my job very seriously."
"Boo."—Sirius said and took cover when Remus tried to smack him in the head, a sign that he was annoyed.
"Why did Snape think I'd got it from the manufacturers?"
"Because…" Lupin hesitated, "because these mapmakers would have wanted to lure you out of school. They'd think it extremely entertaining."
"Do you know them?" said Harry, impressed.
"We've met," he said shortly.
"Why didn't you just tell him because it used to be mine and your father's."
"Because telling him would have to admit that I failed him"—Remus stated plainly.—"And I'm too much of a coward for that."
The statement put everyone uncomfortable. Harry sighed and flex his neck, Sirius went to grab Remus who gave him a painful smile.
He was looking at Harry more seriously than ever before.
"Don't expect me to cover up for you again, Harry. I cannot make you take Sirius Black seriously. Your parents gave their lives to keep you alive, Harry. A poor way to repay them — gambling their sacrifice for a bag of magic tricks." He walked away, leaving Harry feeling worse by far than he had at any point
"Well, that was uncalled for…"
"Yes, but as wrong as both of them explain it. Remus and Snape are right, Harry is being irresponsible."—Arthur said.
"It's my fault," said Ron abruptly. "I persuaded you to go. Lupin's right, it was stupid, we shouldn't've done it —"
"Well, it's a good thing that you understand that, Ronald."—Molly Chastise. —"I understand that you boys don't want to be locked up. Most of the things we do are to keep you safe. Sirius turned out to be on our side, turn out to be not insane, but if he really would have been after Harry, I can guarantee you there would have been nothing to stop him to get to him."
Ronald looked down at his hands. —"We understand, Mom."
"Come to have a good gloat?" said Ron savagely as she stopped in front of them.
"Well, you don't even know what she's going to say and you're already attacking her." —Fred shook his head earning a questioning look from his twin.
Hagrid lost his case. Buckbeak is going to be executed."
Hagrid shook his head sadly, remembering that day.
Amelia asked for a moment—"It will be good if we have a little recess. 30 minutes to get ourselves together, let the tension go, and let Snape rejoin us."
The teenagers agreed and left the room. There was a moment of awkwardness with them in the hallway where they didn't know if all of them were going to leave together or not. Harry really wanted to talk to Ron and Hermione alone, but he couldn't do that to the rest of them. He would talk to his friends later. So, he pulled all of them back to the room the boys were sharing.
…
Amelia turned to look at the adults.
"Whatever happened between Severus, Remus, and Sirius in their teenage years needs to be clarified."
"Good luck with that…"
"I know that Andromeda is talking to Sirius, I don't know who's talking to you Remus, but you need to start talking to someone and Dumbledore, I really hope you start talking with Severus, you want to yell at each other very well, but I will not tolerate you pulling out your wand every single time. You're going to hurt someone."
"That someone being Harry"—Andromeda said sternly.
Sirius had a strained face— "As long as he controls himself, it's been years of anger I don't like him, and I won't pretend."
"I will not let it pass if you murder him."
"I understand."
Here it is guys, I hope you like it. I am going, to be honest, I didn't like this chapter, but no matter how many times I rewrote certain parts it ended worse.
Please Review and remember I do this for fun.