Harry found that he did not have to wait speak to Professor Snape about his botched boggart lesson. Professor Snape came to him.

It was an evening several days after the boggart lesson. Harry was just sitting down to dinner with Aria when Snape swooped behind them looking as bat-like as ever.

"Potter," he said, "come to my office after dinner. Don't be late." He stalked off towards the staff table where he sat between McGonagall and Lupin.

"What did you do?" Daphne asked.

"I didn't do anything," Harry insisted, glancing at Aria who was no help. She simply shrugged.

"Good luck," she said.

No help at all.

After dinner Harry made his way to Professor Snape's office. His Head of House had left dinner early so Harry knew that he had to be prompt or else.

Once inside the man's office, Professor Snape gestured to a chair in front of his desk which Harry took.

"Did I do something wrong, Professor?" he asked.

"Guilty conscience?"

"No, sir!" A small twist of Snape's mouth showed Harry that the man was amused before his face went back to its customary sharp gaze.

"Professor Lupin shared with him your struggle to defeat a boggart in his class the other day," Snape told him. Harry groaned. "He was less concerned about your inability to defeat a boggart on your first try and more concerned that it took the form of a dementor and that said dementor affected you like much like a real one."

"Are they not supposed to do that?"

"They are, but not in the way it affected you. The full effects of a dementor should not have been felt with a boggart." Professor Snape leaned forward, resting his chin on his hands.

"Professor Lupin and I have decided that it is imperative that you learn how to defeat dementors." Harry perked up. Extra magical lessons?

"Who will teach me?" he cried eagerly.

"Professor Lupin and I will split the duties until you are able to perform the magic adequately," Snape told him. "It's very advanced magic, usually only undertaken by exceptional NEWT students or fully fledged adult wixen. Our hope, and my belief based off your current performances in school, is that you will be able to produce enough of a Patronus that you can negate the worst effects of the dementors."

"Is that what it's called?" Harry asked. "Aria said on the train Remus – I mean – Professor Lupin created a white mist from his wand to chase off the dementors. Is that a Patronus?"

"A type of one, yes," Snape answered. "It comes in different strengths. For now, I want you to go and think about a memory. A Patronus is not just created by an incantation, it is fueled by the overwhelming emotion brought on by a happy memory."

Harry blinked at the professor.

"A happy memory?" he questioned, perhaps a bit skeptically. Professor Snape nodded.

"Dementors specialize in bringing forward the worst memories and feelings someone has ever experienced. The only way to combat that is with equally strong or stronger happy memories."

"Oh." This was going to be harder than Harry had first believed.

He was dismissed with a promise that he would be told when to report to either Lupin or Snape for extra lessons. He immediately went to find Aria. She was studying on the couch in front of the fire in the Slytherin common room. There were a few other Slytherins in the common room, the only other third years were Theo and Draco in a corner having what looked like an intense argument over a chessboard.

"What did Professor Snape want?" Aria asked as Harry sat next to her, marking her place in her Charms book.

"He and Remus want to give me extra lessons," Harry told her, "so that I can learn to defend against dementors."

"That's cool!"

Harry sighed. "Yeah, except that the incantation is fueled by a happy memory or emotion. One that is equally strong or stronger than the negative memories and emotions the dementors bring up."

"Okay. That doesn't sound too bad. It makes sense too. Dementors make you feel sad so you combat the with happiness. And chocolate."

"Yeah, except I don't think I've got anything that's equal to or stronger than the woman screaming," Harry told her. "It's awful. Her scream echoes in my head long afterwards and it's . . . like I just know the woman's dead. What could possibly . . . what could possibly override that?"

Now Aria was frowning. At least she was now understanding his plight.

"That does sound tricky," she said. "I suppose you'll just have to go through all the happy memories you can think of."

"And that's another thing," Harry admitted, "I . . . I don't really have any good memories. Not until Hogwarts at least."

Aria was now looking at him sharply.

"No happy memories?" she questioned. "At all?"

"If you'd lived with the Dursleys as the unwanted family member you wouldn't have any pleasant memories either."

"What about school memories? Friends before Hogwarts?"

"No and no. Dudley chased away anyone who tried to befriend me in primary school. Aunt Petunia and Uncle Vernon managed to convince my teachers that I was a generally bad behaved child at home and a compulsive liar. Dudley would blame me for his wrongdoing at school and they wouldn't let me do better than Dudley on schoolwork so eventually all the teachers just . . . gave up on me. In fact, most of the families on Privet Drive believed the Dursleys when they called me a criminal hooligan. It wasn't until—" Harry cut himself off as he suddenly remembered that Aria did not remember her visit to him on Privet Drive.

Aria gave him a sharp nudge.

"Until what?" she asked.

"Nothing," he hurried to answer. "It's just . . . this past summer one of the families on Privet Drive took me in a few times when the Dursleys were too busy or had . . . locked me out. The Franksons."

"I think you mentioned them in a letter or two."

"Yeah. Mrs. Frankson sorta leads the group of women in the neighborhood who don't think my aunt walks on water." Aria laughed.

"What about those good memories?" she asked. Harry shrugged.

"Maybe."

"Well then!" Aria snapped her book shut. "Guess we're just gonna have to do our very best to make some happy memories for you!"

Harry raised an eyebrow.

"Who's "we"?" he asked.

"Anyone and everyone," Aria replied, looking around the common room as if looking for inspiration on how to make Harry happy. "Course, I won't tell them why or anything, but I bet between my brilliant ideas and friends, we can make some great memories for you."

A warm feeling blossomed in Harry's chest. His eyes suddenly burned, and he pressed his fingers under his glasses to keep the tears from falling.

"Damn it! I made you sad, didn't I?" Aria cried. "We don't have to involve anyone else if you don't want to. It can just be you and me if you want."

"No," Harry managed to choke out. "No, you didn't make me sad. It's just a bit of dust. That's all."

The first Hogsmeade weekend happened early in October. Every student year three to seven was excited. The third years were especially excited, finally able to access the coveted trip to Hogsmeade. They had passed in their permission slips to Professor McGonagall the day before and were now ready to take on the town.

The day was sunny and crisp. The heather of the highlands was no longer purple, but the beauty of the surrounding countryside had not diminished. Now they got to walk through this beauty towards the town.

Hogsmeade was half a mile down a mildly sloping hill from the main gates of Hogwarts. Aria, along with the other third year Slytherins, Hermione, and Ron, took a few seconds to admire Hogwarts from the gates before continuing on their journey. They had never come down to the gates of Hogwarts during the school year, there had been no point before, and they had usually been too busy making their summer plans and saying good-bye to take a look back in the carriages on their way to the train station at the end of the school year.

At the bottom of the hill, at the town's sign, the group split. Aria, Harry, Hermione, and Ron went off in one direction while Daphne, Tracey, Blaise, and Theo went in another, and Draco, Pansy, Millicent, Crabbe, and Goyle went off on a third way.

The first place Aria and her friends visited was Honeydukes, the candy shop. With dementors running about, they wanted to have their own supply of chocolate on hand, and Ron wanted to introduce his friends to more wizarding candy. Aria was just excited that she had money to actually spend in Hogsmeade. She had not received her October allowance yet from the bank, she received it on the 5th of each month, but she still had the 15 Galleons from September that she had not spent and what little she had had left over from August for a total of 20 Galleons.

She had seen the other Slytherin girls counting out their coins this morning. While no one had directly asked how much each was bringing to Hogsmeade, she had noted that Daphne and Pansy were bringing at least 50 Galleons each while Tracey and Millicent seemed to be taking around 30 or so. She had remembered that Professor Snape had said that most of her Slytherin year mates were used to allowances larger than her 15 Galleons, but that 15 Galleons was more than enough to keep her entertained in Hogsmeade.

She did not doubt Professor Snape, but it had still been a little jarring to see her dormmates have so much more money, even compared to her respectable amount.

Aria chose several different chocolate bars and a box of four hot chocolate bombs supposedly filled with marshmallows and exploding sprinkles. She also decided to try a small box of sugar quills and got the ever-beloved Cauldron Cakes. Every box with food in it was also spelled to keep the food fresh for several weeks so she knew this could last her for a while. Harry chose the chocolate wands, Exploding Bon Bons, and Peppermint Toads. Ron picked out Droobles Best Blowing Gum and a couple of chocolate bars. Hermione decided to stick with normal sounding candy and, besides choosing a Pumpkin Cake, went with Butterbeer Fudge and crystallized pineapple.

Purchases placed into bags the friends left the candy store to explore Zonkos, the joke shop. They passed Fred and George on their way in, the two surrounded by Lee Jordan, Angelina Johnson, Alicia Spinnett, and Katie Bell. All of them had purchases and Aria wondered if a massive prank war was about to begin with the amount that was bought.

Inside the joke shop Aria discovered a world of products that she had no clue how to use. This was clearly more than changing the sugar for salt pranks or hiding pepper under the top of the saltshaker in the school's cafeteria. There was Frog Spawn Soap and Hiccough Sweets, a Nose-Biting Teacup, Fanged Frisbees, and so much more! Ron and Harry went off and were soon whispering in a corner of the shop over some boxes. Aria and Hermione decided to go outside to a bench and wait for them and split the Pumpkin Cake.

Once Harry and Ron emerged from Zonkos, the four of them decided to just walk around the village and take in the sights. Around them were dozens of Hogwarts students and other visitors to Hogsmeade. They strolled past The Three Broomsticks, which they knew to be the largest pub and inn in Hogsmeade, they passed an apothecary, a scrivener, a wizarding barber shop, a small post office, and even a small Gringotts branch. There was a tearoom called Madam Puddifoot's which was painted a light mint and pink that had Harry and Ron grimacing. At the far edge of the village the road continued out into the highlands towards various nature trails and other sights. It was here that the road also verged off towards the Shrieking Shack, supposedly the most haunted place in all of Hogsmeade. Aria thought that was a bit ostentatious since Hogwarts was just half a mile away. The four of them wandered down the path towards the Shrieking Shack, stopping at the fence that kept people from going onto the property.

They were not the only students visiting the Shrieking Shack. Dean, Seamus, Neville, Lavender, and Parvati were already there, peering through the barbed wire fence and past the KEEP OUT signs at the dilapidated building a good fifty yards from the road.

"Do you really think it's the most haunted place in the village?" Dean was asking Seamus as they approached.

"It's probably the most haunted place after Hogwarts," Seamus answered.

"Who's supposed to haunt it?" Lavender asked.

"No one knows," Hermione piped up. "I read that people hear the most monstrous sounds come from the shack on a monthly basis. A few people have tried to investigate, but so far nothing has been proven to be there. However, pictures from the shack do show that things are moved so something's there."

"I wouldn't want to meet an angry entity," Neville said with a shudder. "I've already had to live with my grandmother." Lavender cackled.

The Shrieking Shack certainly had the haunted look, Aria mused as she peered through the fence at it. It was dilapidated, the worse kind she had ever seen. On her side of the river some of the houses, even those with families living inside, were not the most well-kept, and even a few of the long-standing empty houses were falling apart. However, this shack took the cake. Not only was the outside paint peeling, but there were shutters that were hanging off one hinge and glass that was broken. Long grass and weeds were growing up around the shack and through what should've been a yard and walkway.

"I wonder what happened to make it haunted," Parvati said as they all turned back towards the village. "I mean, usually ghosts stay because they still feel connected to this world. Either through their own choice or because their end was so . . . tragic or violent."

Aria thought of Moaning Myrtle and the Bloody Baron. The Slytherin House Ghost had a giant blood stain on his chest. No one knew where it had come from, and no one had the courage to ask the ghost. Nearly Headless Nick's head hung on by some skin. The Fat Friar seemed to have had a peaceful death, but she might need to ask Susan or Hannah about that.

The group of Gryffindors and two Slytherins had lunch at the Three Broomsticks and roamed around Hogsmeade for a couple of more hours before deciding to head back to Hogwarts. They were joined by the other third year Slytherins who had just finished checking out the Shrieking Shack. The two houses were mostly cordial to one another, though it was clear that most of the other Slytherins were still not as comfortable with the Gryffindors as Aria and Harry was. Draco managed to keep most of his snide comments to himself, though he did say that the Shrieking Shack would be an excellent starter home for someone of Aria's background.

It was, surprisingly, Neville that people had to stop from hexing Draco. Draco was too surprised at almost being attacked by Neville that he was silent for more of the walk back up to the castle.

As they approached the front doors of the castle they spotted McGonagall, Snape, and Lupin waiting for them out on the steps.

"Oh, who's in trouble now?" Daphne teased as they approached. "Who didn't do their homework?"

"It's not a stipulation to going to Hogsmeade," Hermione said. "I mean, you can lose your Hogsmeade privileges, but—"

"It was a joke," Tracey cried, bumping Hermione's shoulder. The Gryffindor's face went pink. "Besides, look at who you're talking too. We've done our homework."

Hermione glanced at Crabbe and Goyle.

"Most of us," Tracey amended, "have done our homework."

"Mr. Potter," Professor McGonagall called as they approached. She held up a hand, holding a familiar piece of paper. Harry swore under his breath and every Slytherin sent him sympathetic looks. "Would you care to tell me whether or not the signature on your Hogsmeade permission slip is forged or not?"

"Forged?" Ron cried. The Gryffindors all began to look fearful for Harry's life. Aria was pretty sure none of the professors would kill Harry, though if looks could harm someone, Professor Snape's glare would have landed Harry in the hospital wing already.

Harry looked between the Deputy Headmistress and his Head of House. He looked to Aria and the other Slytherins for help, even though he already knew none of them were going to say anything.

"We are waiting, Mr. Potter," Professor Snape hissed. Harry sighed.

"It's forged," he muttered. The Gryffindors gasped. Professor McGonagall snapped the sheet down and gave such a disappointed "tsk" that Aria thought she would melt into the ground, and it wasn't even directed at her!

"I cannot believe you would do such a foolish thing, Mr. Potter," Professor McGonagall cried.

"They would've signed it!" Harry defended himself hotly. "If I had been at Privet Drive when the letters arrived."

"But you were not," Professor Snape bit out. "Nor did you have further contact with your relatives over the summer. Did you really think none of us would notice?"

"No," Harry retorted, crossing his arms. "I didn't think Professor McGonagall would notice."

"Well, it's a good thing then that I check who has checked out of Hogwarts on Hogsmeade weekends," Snape said. "There is a mass murderer out there, Mr. Potter. Looking for you!"

"It's not like that would've made my relatives not sign the permission slip!" Harry cried, his voice rising. Aria wondered why Harry was arguing. Did he have a death wish? Everyone around them seemed to think so. Neville's face was steadily growing paler and more worried while Lavender's mouth was hanging open.

"In fact, my relatives probably would make sure I was able to go to Hogsmeade," Harry continued, "if it meant making me an easier target for Black. Hell, if they knew a mass murderer was after me, they'd probably hand me over the first chance they got."

"Harry!" Parvati cried.

"We are not talking about any actions or inactions your relatives may or may not take," Professor Snape lectured. "We are talking about your actions. You know that there is a mass murderer after you and yet you still went out of your way to forge a document that would allow you to put yourself within easy reach of this man. You have purposefully put your life at risk and the lives of your friends. Do you think Sirius Black would wait until you're alone to try and kill you? Would you put your friends in danger just so you can have a fun day out on the town and drink butterbeer at the Three Broomsticks?"

Harry's head bowed and Aria watched his fingers curl into fists.

"I didn't think 'bout that," he muttered.

"What was that?" Snape demanded.

"I said, I didn't think about that," Harry said louder.

"No, it was clear that you didn't," Professor Snape said. "You're on restriction for the rest of the weekend, I'm taking one hundred points from Slytherin, and you will serve the standard week-long detention for sneaking down to Hogsmeade. You better march yourself to your dormitory and I better not see out except at mealtimes. Understood?"

Harry nodded.

"Go!"

Harry shoved past Professor Lupin as he all but ran into the castle. Professor Snape rounded on the remaining students. The Gryffindors all took a step back while the Slytherins held their ground, even if they too wanted to turn tail and run.

"Who's idea was it?" Snape demanded. The students looked at each other. Professor McGonagall and Lupin appeared confused.

"What do you mean, Severus?" McGonagall asked.

"Mr. Potter is generally a rule follower," Snape answered. "So I want to know which one of my Slytherins gave him the idea of forging his aunt's signature on the permission slip?"

Every third year Slytherin refused to meet Snape's gaze.

"Well, you can't prove anything," Lupin finally said.

"I can put them on restriction too."

"We didn't do anything!" Millicent cried.

"Then who did?"

Millicent's mouth snapped shut.

"I think it best if you Slytherins returned to your common room," McGonagall suggested, her voice still stern. "And not emerge until dinner."

Thankful for the ability to get away from their Head of House, the Slytherin third years raced after Harry, arriving in the common room in time to hear the distant slam of a dormitory door. The students in the common room looked over from where they had clearly watched Harry storm up the stairs.

"What happened?" Ginny asked from an armchair. She was draped over the two armrests, a book in her lap.

"Harry forged his aunt's signature on his Hogsmeade permission slip form," Goyle answered. The third years hissed at him. He stumbled back, suddenly abashed at having just blurted out the reason.

"How many points did he loose?" an upperclassman asked.

"One hundred points," Pansy admitted. Several students groaned. The third years split up. Aria took her purchases to her dormitory, followed by Daphne and Tracey and the three of them showed off their purchases. Daphne and Tracey had gone accessory shopping and had bought several bracelets, necklaces, and hair products such as headbands and barrettes.

"Do you really think Sirius Black would hurt us to get to Harry?" Tracey asked as Aria showed them the candy she had purchased.

"Professor Snape seems to think it a real possibility," Aria answered. "But I don't know."

"Dad says the Blacks are known for their madness," Daphne told them. "We're related to the Blacks through marriage, though the marriage happened like . . . four generations ago. Dad said that the Black Madness only really effects the main family. Extended family and cadet branches don't seem to struggle as much."

"Professor Snape said it's because of the inbreeding," Aria added, barely glancing up as Pansy and Millicent came in. "Apparently the Blacks intermarried a lot?"

"Many families do," Pansy said, "it's not uncommon. The Crabbes and Goyles intermarry. And my parents are first cousins."

"Yeah . . ." Aria said, "see . . . Muggles don't intermarry like that because we found out it causes problems. Like physical and mental problems. Which is why the Blacks probably have a family madness. And it's probably why Crabbe and Goyle struggle so much, if their families intermarry all the time."

"So how do you keep families pure?" Millicent demanded.

"You don't," Aria retorted. She sighed at Millicent's shocked face. "I mean . . . are there families that intermarry family? Yes. But I'm pretty sure there are laws or something about how close a person has to be. Like I do know it's illegal in the Muggle world to marry your first cousins, your siblings, aunts, uncles, parents. You get the picture. I think the queen and prince consort are cousins, third or fourth cousins. Even that can make some Muggles a bit weirded out."

"But how do you keep everyone in their place?" Millicent asked.

"I mean . . . you don't? I guess . . ." Aria thought about Cokesworth. This was not a topic she had given much thought about. Her mind went to Pride and Prejudice which she had read over the summer. Both Darcy and Elizabeth were gentry, but Darcy was of a better kind of gentry than Elizabeth. There were real social concerns to their match, but in the end, it all ended well. In fact, from what little Aria had read about the time period, it should have been more scandalous for Jane to marry Bingley since he was not a part of the gentry like she was.

"Muggles just care if it's a good and happy match," Aria settled on saying. "Money and class are important, but in the end, no one's ostracizing other people."

"We don't ostracize people!" Tracey cried.

"So, what would happen if one of you married a Muggleborn?" Aria asked. "If one of you decided to marry Dean or Justin? Your families would be happy for you? They wouldn't get mad?"

Her dormmates were silent.

"All this," Aria continued, "just to say that Muggles don't intermarry. There's science behind this. I can find you books and have my dad send them if you'd like."

"Actually, I would!" Millicent retorted, surprising everyone in the room. "I want to see what you Muggles have to say about it."

Aria doubted Millicent would be able to understand half of what she read, but she shrugged and promised to write her dad soon.