By the next morning, I feel that I'm back to normal after my panic attack. It was a scare, but I hope I'll be fine.

Harry and Ron don't know about it, I don't want to worry them, but Hermione would not leave me alone until I told her why it took me so long to get back to the Common Room. If Harry worries, I start to worry about him worrying and it all becomes a worrying explosion. And that's not a good thing.

I'm keeping my promise and I haven't told the others about Draco. They would only think that he's trying to manipulate me, but he didn't help them like he helped me. Some things are best kept hidden. I'm not lying to them, I'm just not telling them the whole truth.

But it's a relief on Monday morning when I hear the the usual hustle and bustle of the school. I can tell Draco has been trying to stop taunting Harry, but he's still back to his old ways. I hadn't noticed, but yesterday he had taken off his bandages so he could celebrate Gryffindor's defeat with both arms. He started doing stupid imitations of Harry falling off his broom. What he doesn't realise is that I fell off my broom too.

"If Snape's in there again, I'm going off sick," Ron says as we head off to Defence Against the Dark Arts after lunch. "Check who's in there, Hermione."

Hermione peeks her head around the corner to check. "We're clear," she says. "Professor Lupin's back."

Sighing in relief we all enter the classroom. I haven't seen Dad since Thursday. He'd probably been to see me in the Hospital Wing while I was asleep.

He looks the same as he always does after the full moon. He looks just like he's been ill. He normally loses a lot of weight and looks like he hasn't slept. He never sleeps on a full moon, he's too scared to.

As soon as the class sits down, they burst into complaints about the lesson with Snape while Dad was away.

"It's not fair, he was only filling in, why should he give us homework?"

"We don't know anything about werewolves-"

"-two rolls of parchment!"

"Did you tell Professor Snape that you hadn't learnt about them yet?" Dad asks, frowning. I think he knows something. I'll have to ask him later.

"We did-"

"He wouldn't listen-"

"He told us we were too far behind-"

"-two rolls of parchment!"

Dad just smiles at the look of indignation on each of out faces. "Don't worry. I'll speak to Professor Snape. You don't have to do the essay."

I sigh in relief. I had barely any time to do the essay after all of the homework I have from each of my classes from the week before. I had no time to do the essay, considering I was in the Hospital Wing for the majority of the weekend, as well. All of the classes I'm taking this year is becoming a real hassle, having to use the Time Turner after most lessons. I think I might drop a few classes next semester.

"Oh no," Hermione says from beside me. "I've already finished it."

"Really?" I say, worried she might pick up Dad's symptoms. Hermione's smart. What if she figures out Dad's a werewolf? What if she gets scared of him and won't talk to me because my Dad is a werewolf?

I shake the thought out of my head and focus on the class. Dad made it quite enjoyable by bringing along a glass box containing a Hinkypunk, which is a little one-legged creature which looks like it's made of smoke and seems fragile and harmless.

"It lures travellers into bogs," Dad says as we take notes. "You notice the lantern dangling from its hand? Hops ahead - people follow he light - then-"

"They fall into the bog?" Amy says loudly and Dad nods, smiling.

The bell rings at the end of the lesson. Everyone gathers up their things and start to head out the door.

"Harry, Sarah," Dad calls to us just as we're about to leave. "I'd like a word."

We wait for the rest of the class to go out the door before doubling back over to his desk where he is covering the Hinkypunk box with a cloth.

"I heard about the match," Dad says, now starting to pile books and papers into his briefcase. "And sorry for your broomsticks, is is there any chance of fixing them?"

I shake my head.

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

Dad sighs. "They planted the Whomping Willow the same year that I arrived at Hogwarts. People used to play a game, trying to get near enough to touch the trunk. In the end a boy almost lost his eye so students were forbidden to go near it. No broomstick would stand a chance."

"How expensive is a broomstick, exactly?" I ask, thinking about buying a new broom. I might get the Nimbus 2001 if I can.

"They're not that cheap, Sarah," Dad says, frowning. "But it's not unaffordable."

"Did you hear about the Dementors, too?" Harry asks.

"Yes I did," Dad says. "I've never seen Professor Dumbledore that angry before. They've been growing restless for some time now...furious at his refusal to let them inside the grounds...I suppose they're why you both fell?"

"Yeah," I say. Didn't Dad cast a spell on the train against the Dementor that was in his and Harry's compartment? Why can't he teach us?

"Why?" Harry bursts. "Why do they affect us more than anyone else? Are we just-"

I look at Harry. Is he saying that he hunks we're weak?

"It has nothing to do with weakness," Dad says, reading mine and obviously Harry's minds. "The Dementors affect you both the worst because there are horrors in your past that others don't have. I tried to keep Sarah away from the horrors, but I've noticed it had no effect."

I stare out the window behind Dad's desk. The wintery sunlight falls through the classroom, illuminating where we're standing.

Dad wanted to keep the horror of my past away from me? Is that one of the reasons he wanted me to grow up as a Lupin?

"Dementors are among the foulest creatures to ever walk the Earth. They infest in hpthe darkest, most filthy places, they glory in decay and despair, they drain all peace, hope and happiness gone in their presence. The muggles can feel them near, but can't see them. If you get too near a Dementor, every happy feeling, every happy memory will be sucked out of you. If you are around it for long enough, the Dementor will feed on your happiness so long as to reduce you to something like itself - soulless and evil. You'll be left with nothing but the worst memories of your life. And after what has happened to both of you - including Harry's home environment - it is enough to make anyone fall off their brooms. There is nothing to be ashamed of."

"When they get near me," Harry says quietly. "I can hear Voldemort murdering our mother."

"I can too," I say, and Harry stares at me.

Dad doesn't say anything. He just stand there, looking like he wants to hug us or something.

"I'd hate to be in Azkaban, with the Dementors around you all day, every day," I say bitterly, thinking of the abandoned prison I've seen in the Daily Prophet, the wizarding newspaper, many times.

Dad nods grimly. "The fortress is set on a tiny island," he explains to Harry who has no idea where or what Azkaban looks like. "Way out to sea,but they don't need walls and water to keep the prisoners in, not when they're trapped inside their own heads, incapable of a single happy though. Most go mad within weeks."

"But Sirius Black escaped," Harry says. "He got away before he went mad."

"He already was mad, Harry," I say.

"Yes," Dad says. "Black must've found a way to fight them. I wouldn't have believe it possible...Dementors are supposed to drain a wizard of his powers if he is left too long with them."

"But you made the Dementor on the train go away," Harry says. "Can you teach us how to get rid of them?"

"I don't pretend to be an expert at fighting Demenors, Harry, Sarah," Dad says. "Quite the contrary actually..."

"But what if they come to another Quidditch match, Dad?" I say. "We need to know how to fight them."

Dad just looks into our determined faces. "Well...okay. I'll try to help. But you'll have to wait until next term, I have a lot to do, I'm afraid. I chose a very inconvenient time to fall ill."

Knowing his actual reason, I leave it be. Harry turns to leave the classroom, but stops when I don't follow.

"Are you coming Sarah?"

"You go ahead, I just want to talk to Dad about something," I say. Nodding, Harry leaves the classroom and I turn back to Dad.

"What's up?" He asks, putting his briefcase down.

"I saw your face after you found out that Snape taught us about werewolves and set us that essay, what happened? Does Snape know?"

Dad sighs. "I'm afraid he does know about me being a werewolf," he says. "He was in my year at school. My friends played a little - but big at the same time - prank on him, and he saw me for what I was. He always hated your father and his friends - including me. And now o figure he wants me out of the school, so he's trying to get people to see what I am and get me sacked. I don't believe anyone knows, but it's sure to get out at one point."

"What if it does?" I ask. "You'll get sacked. And you won't have a job."

"Sarah, don't worry about me. I'll figure out a way to get money if I'm sacked. Now, you should probably get off to class."

Nodding, I too leave the classroom.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

By the last two weeks of term, my mood has upturned most definitely. With Dad's promise of helping Harry and I fight Dementors, the fact that Ravenclaw completely flattened Hufflepuff at the end of November, everything was going pretty great.

I've met up with Draco a lot in private after classes, and I've realised he's not that bad of a guy. He just pretends to be all big and bad to fit in the Slytherin stereotype, but he's really nice on the inside. He likes the colour green(no real surprise there), he likes caramel apples - especially in winter - and he likes to swim. He's a great guy.

A buzz of Christmas is in the air, with two weeks left until the end of the term. The snow has lightly fallen outside, and the sky has brightened to a dazzling opaline white. Professor Flitwick has already decorated the Charms classroom with shimmering lights, tinsel and colourful baubles.

Hermione, Bonnie and Ron are all staying at Hogwarts this Christmas, because Dad is already here so there is no reason for Bonnie to leave, Ron doesn't want to spend two weeks with Percy and Hermione is just staying for the sake of staying. At least it will be a fun Christmas with everyone here.

To most people's delight, there's going to be another Hogsmeade trip before the end of term.

"We can do all our Christmas shopping there!" Hermione says happily. "Mum and Dad would really love those Toothflossing Stringmints from Honeydukes!"

On the Friday evening, before the Hogsmeade trip, Draco and I made plans to meet up at Hogsmeade. I told Hermione, Bonnie and Ron that I was meeting up with Fred and George. They believed it.

On Saturday morning I wake up quite early, excited for this Hogsmeade trip. I'll finally get to hang out with Draco not in private. Well, private from my friends, but in a public place.

After I finish breakfast with Amy, we come back up to the common room so I go an get ready. I get dressed into a simple cream sweater, dark denim jeans and a pair of knee-high brown boots. I just brush through my messy red hair and leave it out, putting a matching cream beanie on top. I put in some silver hoops earrings, and make sure I put on my silver locket. I just put on some last minute makeup and grab a small white carry bag with my purse. Perfect.

"Who are you all dressed up for?" Amy asks, eyeing my outfit.

"No one," I say quickly, putting the strap of my bag over my shoulder.

She eyes me suspiciously, but doesn't say anything.

Soon Harry, Ron, Hermione and Bonnie come back up from breakfast and get ready. Harry and Ron just wait down here with Amy and I, while Hermione and Bonnie go back upstairs. When they come back down layered with coats.

"I know it's cold," I say seeing their outfits. "But it's not that cold."

They just glare at me and we all walk down to the Entrance Hall. We say our goodbyes to Harry and Amy as we get our names marked off.

Once we get to Hogsmeade, the first things I notice are the Christmas decorations. The street is filled with happy shoppers and lights twinkling along the shop roofs. Each door has a holly wreath plastered on it and there are decorated Christmas trees in most of the windows.

"What time are you meeting Fred and George?" Hermione asks.

"Uh, eleven," I say.

She nods and we all go down the busy road.

"Where to first?" Bonnie asks, looking in each of the windows as we go.

"I want to go to Dervish and Banges, there was a a few things I wanted to get for Mum and Dad," Hermione says.

"Right, and I just want to go a do my Christmas shopping," I say. "How about we split. We can all go to where we want to get Christmas presents and meet back here, yeah?"

They all nod, and we part. I see Hermione go off to Dervish and Banges with Ron and Bonnie goes to the Post Office.

I pause, I have two hours before I meet Draco at the Three Broomsticks. I start to think of what I should get everyone. I have a lot more choice than he past two Christmases. I go off to a small jewellery store just past the Honeydukes.

Inside I go straight to the necklaces. I might get a nice necklace for Amy here. I manage to pick out a nice silver flower necklace for Amy, also getting a charm bracelet and a book charm for Hermione. I think they'll like them.

After the jewellery store, I go to Zonko's. I move through the shelves and grab two of a few items to give to Fred and George. I then pick up a small box of dungbombs to go with Amy's present.

I then go to Dervish and Banges and pick out two books, one for Hermione and one for Bonnie. I got Hermione a book on House Elves and Bonnie an advanced book for healing.

Lastly I go to Honeydukes and get heaps of sweets for both Harry and Ron.

By the time I'm finished, it's only ten thirty. I still have half an hour before I meet Draco. I end up finding Bonnie at the Post Office, so I wait with her while she gets the last of her gifts.

Then, at five to eleven, I go to leave for The Three Broomsticks.

"Sarah," Bonnie says. "Do you mind if I come with you and Fred and George? I don't know where the others are and I'm finished my shopping so I have nothing to do."

I bite my lip. What am I going to say? Ugh I'm at a dead end, I can't say no because then she'll be suspicious. "Uh...they wanted to talk to me about something we were making over the summer," I lie. "It's a secret, so I kind of have to go alone."

Bonnie's smile fades. "Oh, okay. I'll try and find Ron and Hermione. Have fun."

Sighing, I leave the shop and make my way down to the Three Broomsticks. I wish I didn't have to lie to Bonnie, her being my sister, but I couldn't tell her I was meeting with Draco, she'd flip.

As soon as I get to the Three Broomsticks, Draco is already waiting for me.

"You're early," I say, smiling.

He just shrugs, and we enter the the pub, making sure I can't see any of my friends. We find a table at the back of the crowded pub. Hopefully, even if Ron, Hermione or Bonnie do come in here, they won't see us.

Draco orders us both a hot mug of butterbeer, and we just talk just like we do normally after classes.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

Harry's POV

I wish I could go to Hogsmeade with Ron, Hermione, Sarah and Bonnie, but at least I'm not alone. I have Amy.

"So," Amy says plopping down beside me on the pink couch in front of the unlit-fireplace in the common room. "What do you want to do?"

"I was just going to go to the library," I say. "There was a book on Quidditch broomstick models that I wanted to borrow."

"Well, let's go then," she says, jumping out of the lounge.

Together, Amy and I head down the many marble staircases on our way to the library.

"Psst - Harry, Amy!"

I whip around at the sound of my name as Amy and I walk down the third-floor corridor, to see Fred and George peering at us from behind a statue of a humpbacked one-eyed witch.

"What are you doing?" I ask curiously. "How come you're not going to Hogsmeade? Sarah said she was meeting you guys..."

"Meeting Sarah?" Fred says, furrowing his eyebrows. "No, we came to give you two a but of festive cheer before we go."

I wonder why Sarah lied about meeting up with Fred and George. She must be doing something important, and I have no idea what it is. Hopefully it's not something dangerous.

"Come in here," George says with a mischievous grin.

Amy and I follow Fred and George into an empty classroom to the left of the statue they were hiding behind. George closes the door once we're inside and turns to us, beaming.

"Early Christmas present to you, Harry," George says.

"What about me?" Amy pouts, crossing her arms.

"Don't worry, Amy, you can use it too," Fred says, grinning.

Amy just smiles while George pulls out a piece of old parchment in the shape of a square with nothing on it. I stare at it, I bet this is just one of Fred and George's jokes.

"What's this supposed to be?" I ask.

"This, Harry, Amy, is the secret to our success," George says, patting the parchment fondly.

"And why haven't I been let on the secret?" Amy says, crossing her arms again.

"It's a wrench giving it to you," Fred says, ignoring Amy. "But we've decided last night that your needs are greater then ours."

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

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

"A bit of old parchment, he says!" Fred says, closing his eyes in a grimace as though I'd offended him. "Explain, George."

"Well...when we were in our first year, Harry, Amy - young, carefree and innocent-"

I snort. I doubt Fred and George have ever been innocent. They have to have been causing trouble ever since they were babies, I expect.

"-Well, more innocent than we are now - we go into a spot of bother with Filch."

"We left off a Dungbomb in the corridor and it upset hi for some reason-"

"So he hauled us off to his office and started threatening us with the usual-"

"-detention-"

"-disembowelment-"

"-and we couldn't help but notice a drawer in one of his filing cabinets marked confiscated and highly dangerous."

"Don't tell me-" I say, grinning.

"Well, what would you have done?" Fred says. "George caused a diversion by dropping another Dungbomb, I whipped the drawer open and grabbed - this."

"It's not as bad as it sounds, you know," George says. "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."

"And you know how to work whatever that is?" Amy asks, pointing to the parchment.

"Oh yes," Fred says, smirking. "This little beauty's taught us more than any of the teachers in this school."

"You're winding us up," I say, looking at the raggedy blank piece of parchment.

"Oh are we?" George says and he gets out his wand. He touches the parchment lightly and says,

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

At once, thin ink lines begin to spread like a spider's web from the point where George's wand had touched the parchment. They join each other, they criss-cross, they fan into every corner. Then, words begin to blossom at the top, great, curly green words that proclaim:

Messrs Moony, Wormtail, Padfoot and Prongs
Purveyors of Aids to Magical Mischeif-Makers
are proud to present
THE MARAUDERS MAP

It's a map showing every detail of the Hogwarts castle and grounds. The truly remarkable thing about this map, are the tiny ink dots moving around it, each labelled with a name in minuscule handwriting. I bend over and look at it more closely, and in the top left corner there's s tiny dot labelled as Albus Dumbledore. He's currently pacing in his study. Mrs Norris is prowling the second floor and Peeves is currently bouncing around the Trophy Room. This map is amazing. My eyes trail over the map, there are passageways I've never seen before; secret. The best thing about it that most of them seem to lead-

"Right into Hogsmeade," Amy whispers, trailing a finger over one of them.

"There are seven in all," Fred explains. "Now, Filch knows about these four-" he points them out. "-but we're sure we're the only ones who know about these. Don't worry about the one behind the mirror in the fourth floor. We checked it out last year and its caved in. And we don't reckon anyone's ever used this one,, because the Whomping Willow is planted right over the entrance. But this one here, this one leads right into the cellar of Honeydukes. We've used it loads of times. And as you might have noticed, the entrance is right outside this room, behind that statue of the one-eyed witch."

"Hey, why didn't you ever take us to Hogsmeade?" Amy asks crossly.

"Well, Sarah said she wanted to wait until third-year, and we figured you would too," Fred says. "But, obviously not since..."

"Moony, Wormtail, Padfoot and Prongs," George sighs, interrupting Fred. "We owe them so much."

"Nobel men, working tirelessly to help a new generation of law-breakers," Fred says solemnly.

"Right," George says briskly. "Don't forget to wipe it once you're done-"

"-otherwise anyone can read it," Fred says warningly.

"Just tap it again and say 'Mischief Managed!' And it'll go blank."

"So, young Harry and Amy," Fred says in an uncanny impression of Percy. "Mind you behave yourselves. And don't forget to tell Sarah to behave too."

"See you in Honeydukes," George says waving before they leave the classroom.

Amy and I glance at each other. we could get into Hogsmeade. Filch or Mrs Norris aren't near, and the entrance is right outside this room. It'd be easy, and we wouldn't even have to pass the Dementors...

'Never trust anything that can think for itself, if you can't see where it keeps its brain.'

Mr Weasley's words fill my mind. This is one of those potentially dangerous objects he was talking about. But then, we only want to use this to get into Hogsmeade, what harm can it do? Plus, Fred and George have been using it for years, we should be fine. We don't want to steal anything or attack someone.

"Are we going to do it?" Amy asks excitedly, obviously going anyway.

"Uh, yeah," I say, rolling up the map after tracing the passageway to Honeydukes. I stuff it inside my pocket and we leave the classroom.

We go over to the statue and look at it. How is this supposed to work?

"What do we do now?" Amy asks. "Check the map."

I get the map back out of my pocket and find my tiny dot standing next to the statue. But my tiny dot has turned into a figure. The figure on the map taps the one-eyed witch statue with its wand. I get out my wand at tap the statue. Nothing happens.

I look back on the map, and above my figure, a tiny speech bubble has appeared that says, 'Dissendium'.

"Dissendium!" I whisper, tapping the stone witch again.

"What's that supposed to do?" Amy asks, and her question is answered when the statue's hump widens enough to admit a thin person.

I look over toAmy as if to say, 'there's your answer.'

She climbs in through the gap and I follow after her. I slide down what feels like a stone slide. It's not too long. And I land on a patch of wet earth. I stand up, brush myself off, and look around. It's pitch black.

"Harry?" Amy asks from a small distance away. "Lumos!"

Her wand lights up, and she's standing just a few metres away. We're in a narrow, low, earthy passageway. I raise the map closer to my face as I move toward the light emitting from Amy's wand, and whisper 'Mischief Managed' and the parchment goes blank. I fold it carefully and tick it inside my robe pocket.

"I'm guessing we just go through here?" Amy says, pointing down the passageway.

I nod, and together we walk, my heart beating fast. What if we get caught in Hogsmeade? I'm not like Sarah, just able to bend rules at any time.

The passage twists and turns as we walk through, follow the light radiating off the earthy walls. I stumble every now and again on the uneven floor, before finally, after what feels like an hour, we start going up. We must be nearly there.

Ten minutes later Amy stops rather abruptly at the foot of some worn, wooden steps. Carefully, we go up the stairs, trying to not make any form of sound. I start to could the steps, but I lose count after two hundred. This is tiring, but at least I'll have Honeydukes at the finish.

Without warning there is a large thump and I hear Amy swear from in front of me. She drops her wand and I pick it up, trying to see what happened. There's a trapdoor, and Amy must have hit it, judging by the fact that she's holding her head.

"Are you okay?" I whisper.

Rubbing her head, Amy says, "I will be, what is that?"

"A trapdoor, I think we go through it." I move in front of Amy to examine the trapdoor. There's no sound from above, so I push it open and peer over the edge.

We're in a cellar of sorts full of wooden crates and boxes with labels of different sweets. I climb out, and Amy follows behind silently. I look at the trapdoor - after replacing it - and notice that it easily blends in with the dusty floor, it's hardly noticeable.

We creep slowly toward the wooden staircase that leads upstairs, obviously into the shop. Now. Can hear voices, and a tap inkling of a bell from people entering and leaving. I open the door at the top of the stairs and slip through, Amy following close behind. We're behind the counter, so we dick quickly back into the crowd as though we were never behind the counter and in the cellar.

I look over to Amy who is looking around the shop in awe. This place is crowded with people chatting and looking at different, multicoloured sweets with very weird names. With the crowd like this,no one even notices Amy and I. We edge among them, looking around. I can just imagine Dudley's face if he were here, he'd be at the shelves not even having the tester sweets; he'd be eating the lot.

At the very back of the shop there is a sign that says, 'Unusual Tastes' and I see Ron,Hermione and Bonnie there, looking at the different 'unusual' sweets. I glance at Amy, we have the same idea. We sneak up behind them.

"Ugh, no, Harry won't want one of those, they're for vampires," Hermione says, as they examine a tray of blood-flavoured lollipops.

"How about these?" Ron asks, shoving a jar of Cockroach Cluster under Hermione's nose.

"Definitely not," I say, stepping up behind them.

Ron almost drops the jar.

"Harry! Amy!" Hermione squeals. "What are you two doing here? How did you-"

"Wow, you've learnt how to apparate!" Ron says, looking impressed.

"Of course they haven't learnt how to apparate, Ron," Bonnie says, shaking her head.

"No," I say, and I drop my voice so that no one listens in while I tell them about the Marauder's Map.

"How come Fred and George never gave it to me," Ron says, outraged.

"That's what I said," Amy says.

"But I'm their brother!"

"But Harry isn't going to keep it," Hermione says, as though the idea is ludicrous. "He's going to hand it into McGonagall, aren't you?"

"No I'm not!" I say.

"Are you mad?" Ron says. "Hand in something as good as this?"

"If he hands it in," Amy says. "He'll have to say where he got it from! Filch would know Fred and George nicked it!"

"But what about Sirius Black?" Hermione hisses. "He could be using one of the passages on that map to get inside the castle! The teachers have got to know!"

"He can't be getting in through one of the passages," I say. "There are seven secret passages. Filch knows about four of them, one of them is caved in and the other has the Whomping Willow planted over the entrance. And there's the one we just came through, and it's hard to see the entrance, so unless he knew it was there..."

I hesitate. What if he does know it's there? That could be how he escaped so quickly that night.

Bonnie clears her throat very loudly and points to a notice plastered on the inside of the shop window.

BY ORDER OF THE MINISTRY OF MAGIC
Customers are reminded that until further notice, Dementors will be patrolling the streets of Hogsmeade every night after sundown. This measure has been put in place for the safety of Hogsmeade residents and will be lifted upon the recapture of Sirius Black. It is therefore advisable that you complete your shopping well before nightfall.
Merry Christmas!

"See?" Bonnie says quietly. "I'd like to see Black try and break in here with Dementors swarming all over the village. Give Harry and Amy a break, it's Christmas after all."

"Yes, but - but-" Hermione says, seeming to struggle for another problem. "Look, Harry and Amy still shouldn't be coming into Hogsmeade, they haven't got signed forms! If anyone find out they'll be in so much trouble!"

"Come on, Hermione," Rom says. "Like Bonnie said, give them a break, it's Christmas!"

Hermione bites her lip, looking worried.

"Are you going to report us?" I ask, grinning.

"Of course not!" Hermione says. "But honestly-"

"Have you two seem the Fizzing Whizzbees..." Ron says, and he and Bonnie show us all around the shop,with Hermione trailing behind sulkily.

After Ron, Hermione and Bonnie show Amy and I around the shop and pay for their sweets, the five of us leave Honeydukes for the cold blizzard outside.

I start to shiver and so does Amy; we don't have our cloaks like Ron, Hermione and Bonnie do.

After they showed us some of the shops in the crowded shops, we make our way to one of the pubs called the Three Broomsticks. Apparently they have really good butterbeer, according to Ron, Hermione and Bonnie.

Inside its extremely crowded, warm and smoky. A curvy sort of woman with quite a pretty face is at the bar serving a bunch of wizards.

"That's Madam Rosmerta," Ron says, his cheeks going red. "The barmaid. I'll get the drinks, shall I?"

Nodding, Hermione, Bonnie, Amy and I head off the the back of the pub. On our way, I see Malfoy sitting at a table with some redhead, how he got a girl to go out with him, other than Pansy Parkinson, I'll never know.

We manage to get a table at the back, right next to a tall Christmas tree decorated in colourful baubles and fairy lights, which stands next to the fireplace. Ron comes back five minutes later carrying five foaming tankards of butterbeer.

"Happy Christmas!" He says, raising his tankard.

I take my tankard, and after raising it, take a sip. Then another. And another. It's the most delicious thing I have ever tasted and it warms every part of my body instantly.

A sudden breeze comes from the door and ruffles my hair, sending a wave of cold air down my back. I turn around and almost choke on my butterbeer.

Professors McGonagall and Flitwick have just entered the pub, followed by Hagrid, who is in deep conversation with a man in a lime-green bowler hat and pinstriped cloak - Cornelius Fudge, Mister of Magic.

In an instant, I am pushed down under the table by Ron and Amy follows soon after, plopping down, spilling burnt terser down her front. She glares up at where Bonnie is sitting. I crouch down, making sure not to spill any butterbeer on myself. I watch from under the table the teachers and Fudge's shoes move toward the bar, stop, then come our way.

"Mobiliarbus!" Hermione says out of nowhere, and the Christmas tree that stood by our table, moves in front of the table, shielding us from view.

I stare through the dense branches of the tree and see four sets of chair legs move back from the table beside us, then hear the grunts and sighs of the teachers and minister as they sit down.

Next I see another pair of feet, wearing sparkly turquoise high heels, and a woman's voice.

"A small gillywater-"

"Mine," comes Professor McGonagall's voice.

"Four punts of mulled mead-"

"Ta Rosmerta," Hagrid says.

"A cherry syrup and soda with ice and umbrella-"

"Mmm!" Professor Flitwick says, smacking his lips together.

"So you'll be the red current rum, Minister."

"Tanks you Rosmerta m'dear," Fudge says. "Lovely to see you again, I must say. Have one yourself, won't you? Come and join us..."

"Well, thanks you very much Minister," Rosmerta says, and I see the glittery heels move away, before coming back moments later. My heart starts to pound in my throat. Why didn't it occur to me that not only is this our last weekend, but the teachers' too? How long are they going sit there? I really want to get home tonight, not have to hide under this table until it's safe to leave.

"So, what brings you to the neck of the woods, Minister?" Comes Madam Rosmerta's voice.

I see Fudge's lower body twist to see if there are any eavesdroppers. Funny he doesn't know we're listening in. Then he starts to speak in a small voice, making me lean forward, "What else m'dear, but Sirius Black? I daresay you heard what happened up at the school on Halloween?"

"I did hear a rumour," Rosmerta admits.

"Did you tell the whole pub, Hagrid?" Professor McGonagall says exasperatedly.

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

"I'm sure of it," Fudge says shortly.

"You know that the Demenotrs have searched this village twice?" Rosmerta says with a slight edge in her voice. "Scared all my customers away...it's very bad for business, Minister."

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

"I should think not," Professor McGonagall says sharply. "How are we supposed to teach with those horrors floating around?"

"Hear, hear!" Squeaks Professor Flitwick, his feet dangling a foot from the ground.

"All the same," Demurs Fudge. "They're their to protect you from something much worse...we all know what Black's capable of..."

"Do you know, I still have trouble believing it," Rosmerta says thoughtfully. "Of all the people to go over to the Dark Side, Sirius Black was the last I'd have thought...I mean, I remember him when he was at Hogwarts. If you'd have told me what he was going to become, I would have said you'd had too much mead..."

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

"The worst?" Rosmerta says,her voice filled with curiosity. "Worse than murdering all those people, you mean?"

"I certainly do," Fudge says.
"I can't believe that, what could possibly be worse?"

What could be worse than murdering thirteen people, I wonder?

"You say you remember him at Hogwarts, Rosmerta," Professor McGonagall murmurs. "Do you remember who his best friend was?"

"Naturally," Rosmerta says, with a small laugh. "Never saw one without the other, did you? The number of times I saw them in here - ooh, they used to make me laugh. Quote the double act, Sirius Black and James Potter!"

My tankard slips out of my hands and hits the floor with a clank. I earn a kick from both Ron and Hermione and a whack from Amy. Dad and Sirius Black? This can't be.

"Precisely," Professor McGonagall says. "Black and Potter. Ringleaders of their little gang. Both very bright, of course - exceptionally bright, in fact - but I don't think we've every had such a pair of troublemakers-"

"I dunno," Hagrid chuckles. "I reckon Fred and George Weasley could give 'em a run fear their money."

"You'd have thought they were brothers!" Professor Flitwick chimes in. "Inseparable!"

Of course they were," Fudge says. "Potter trusted Black beyond all his other friends. Nothing changed when they left school. Black was the Best Man at James and Lily's wedding. They even named him godfather to both Harry and Sarah. Young Sarah luckily had two godfathers. They both have no idea, of course. You can imagine how the idea would torment them."

"Because Black turned out to be in league with You-Know-Who?" Madam Rosmerta whispers.

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

"How does that work?" Rosmerta says, breathless with interest. Professor Flitwick clears his throat.

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

"So Black was the Potters' Secret-Keeper?" Rosmerta whispers.

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

"He suspected Black?" Rosmerta gasps.

"He was sure that someone close to the Potters had been keeping You-Know-Who informed of their movements," McGonagall says 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-Know-Who."

"But James Potter insisted on using Black?"

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

"Black betrayed them?" Madam Rosmerta breaths.

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

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

"Shh!" Professor McGonagall says.

"I met him!" Hagrid growls. " I musta bin the last ter see him before he killed all them people! It was me who rescued Harry from Lily's an' James' house after they were killed! Dumbledore'd already left with young Sarah. An' Sirius Black turns up, on that flyin' motorbike he used ter ride. Never occurred to me what he was doin' there. I didn' know he'd bin Lily an' James' Secret-Keeper. Thought he'd jus' heard the news o' You-Know-Who's attack and come ter see what he could do. White an' shakin', he was. An' yeh know what I did? I COMFORTED THE MURDERIN' TRAITOR!" He roars.

"Hagrid, please!" Professor McGonagall says. "Keep your voice down!"

"How was I ter know he wasn' upset abou' Lily an' James? It was You-Know-Who he cared abou'! An' 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. Tole me ter take his motorbike ter get Harry there. 'I won't need it anymore,' he says.

"I shoulda known somethin' fishy was goin' on then. He loved that motorbike, what was he fi in' it ter me for? Why wouldn' he need it anymore? Fact was, it was too easy ter trace. Dumbledore knew he'd bin the Potters' Secret-Keeper. Black knew he was goin' ter have ter run fer it that night, knew it was a matter o' time before the Ministry was after him.

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

A long silence follows Hagrid's story. Then Madam Rosmerta speaks up, "But he didn't manage to disappear, did he? The Ministry of a magic caught up with him the next day!"

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

"Pettigrew...that fat little boy who was always tagging along after them at Hogwarts?" Madam Rosmerta says.

"Hero - worshipped Black and Potter," Professor McGonagall says. "Never quite in their league, talent-wise. I was often rather sharp with him. You can imagine how I - how I regret that now..." She sounds like she has a sudden head-cold.

"There now, Minerva," Fudge says kindly. "Pettigrew died a hero's death. Eyewitnesses - Muggles, of course, we wiped their memories after - told us how Pettigrew cornered Black. They said he was sobbing, 'Lily and James, Sirius! How could you?' And then he went for his wand, but Black was quicker. Blew Pettigrew to smithereens..."

Professor McGonagall blows her nose and says thickly, "Stupid boy...foolish boy...he was always hopeless at duelling...should have left it to the Ministry..."

"I tell yeh, if I'd got ter Black before little Pettigrew did, I wouldn't've messed with wands - I'd've ripped him limb - from - limb," Hagrid growls.

"You don't know what you're talking about, Hagrid," Fudge says sharply. "Nobody but trained Hit Wizards from the Magical Law Enforcement Squad would have stood a chance against Black. I was Junior Minister in the Department of 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 a sewer below. Bodies everywhere. Muggles screaming. And Black stands there laughing, with what was left of Pettigrew in front of him...a heap of blood-stained robes and a few - a few fragments-"

Fudges voice stops abruptly, and there is the sound of five noses being blown.

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

Madam Rosmerta lets out a long sigh.

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

"I wish I could say that he was," Fudge says slowly. "I certainly believe his master's defeat unhinged him for a while. The murder of Peter Pettigrew and all those Muggles was the actions of a cornered and desperate man - cruel...pointless. Yet I met Black on one of my last inspections and I was surprised at how normal he seemed. Most of the prisoners go mad within a few weeks, but Black seemed untouched. It's unnerving. You'd have thought he was merely bored - asked if I'd finished with my newspaper, cool as you please, said he missed doing the crossword. Yes, I was astounded at how little effect the Demempnotrs were having on him - and he was one of the most heavily guarded prisoners in there, Demenotrs outside his gate day in day out."

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

"I daresay that is his - re - eventual plan," Fudge says. "But we hope to catch Black long before that. I must say, You-Know-Who alone and friendless is one thing...but give him back his most devoted servant, and I shudder to think at how quickly he will rise again..."

There's a small chink of glass on wood. Someone has put their glass on the table.

"You know, Cornelius, if you're dining with the headmaster, we'd better head back up to the castle," Professor McGonagall says.

One by one, the pairs of feet in front of the tree take the weight of their owners once more; hems of cloaks swing into sight, and Madam Rosmerta's glittering heels disappear behind the bar. The door of the Three Broomsticks opens once more, and the teachers and Minister are gone.

Ron's, Hermione's and Bonnie's faces appear under the table. All three, now including Amy, are staring at me lost for words.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

Sarah's POV

"Wait, so you hit your head on the wall?" I laugh, as Draco tells me one of his childhood stories.

He nods, also laughing. "I was only five, you can't blame me!"

Shaking my head, I pick up both of the finished tankards of Butterbeer and take them up to the bar.

Draco and I head toward the pub door, arms linked before we see five familiar faces staring at us, looking extremely disappointed.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

A/N

And once again, sorry for the late update, but it's a long one to make up for it.

I was hoping to update this on Monday, but then I had heaps of homework, and each day from school and I had at least one essay to write. I didn't know ninth grade was this stressful.

Anyway, so I hope you enjoyed the chapter!

Peace out guys, love ya!

-Elise