"MISS BLACK"'

Cassie winced internally at McGonagall's sharp voice, but she immediately forged her expression into one of innocence.

"Yes, Minnie?" she replied innocently.

"I suppose you are responsible for half the school missing from the first lesson?" McGonagall questioned, her tone stern.

"Not at all," Cassie said, smiling sweetly.

"So you are telling me it has nothing to do with the fact that your birthday was yesterday and the havoc Peeves was causing after 9 pm?" McGonagall pressed.

"Nope," Cassie responded, her smile widening.

"Don't you 'nope' me, Cassiopeia Black!"

"I have seen that expression on your father many a times to know what's--"

 McGonagall stopped suddenly , choking up slightly, reminding herself Cassiopeia's father wasn't the mischievous boy she taught...he was a mass murderer , Cassie noticed tears welling up in her eyes.

"Oh, come on, Minnie... even if it was me, you'll never have any proof," Cassie said, winking mischievously...before walking off to the Great hall

McGonagall gave her a grim smile before moving on.

**********************

In the Slytherin common room, Marcus Flinch boomed, "So I gave the excuse Malfoy's arm is still injured," prompting laughter from the Slytherin team.

"Keep up the acting, Malfoy, and we'll be fine," Marcus added, and the team nodded in agreement.

*******************

with pottah

Meanwhile, in the Gryffindor common room, Oliver Wood delivered some unwelcome news to his team.

"We're not playing Slytherin!" he announced angrily. "Flinch's just been to see me. We're playing Hufflepuff instead."

"Why?" the team chorused, bewildered.

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

Harry interjected, "There's nothing wrong with Malfoy's arm! He's faking it!"

"I know that, but we can't prove it," Wood replied bitterly. "And we've been practicing all those moves assuming we're playing Slytherin, and instead it's Hufflepuff, and their style's quite different. They've got a new Captain and Seeker, Cedric Diggory."

Angelina, Alicia, and Katie began giggling.

"What's so funny?" Wood asked, puzzled by their reaction.

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

"Strong and silent," added Katie, causing them to giggle again.

"He's only silent because he's too thick to string two words together," Fred chimed in impatiently. "I don't know why you're worried, Oliver. Hufflepuff is a pushover. Last time we played them, Harry caught the Snitch in about five minutes, remember?"

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

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

**************************

The day before the match, the winds reached howling point and the rainfell harder than ever. It was so dark inside the corridors andclassrooms that extra torches and lanterns were lit. The Slytherin teamwas looking very smug indeed, and none more so than Malfoy.

Harry skidded to a halt outside the Defense Against the Dark Artsclassroom, pulled the door open, and dashed inside. 

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

But it wasn't Professor Lupin who looked up at him from the teacher'sdesk; it was Snape. 

"This lesson began ten minutes ago, Potter, so I think we'll make it tenpoints from Gryffindor. Sit down."

Draco gave a snort of laughter 

But Harry didn't move."Where's Professor Lupin?" he said."He says he is feeling too ill to teach today," said Snape with atwisted smile

. "I believe I told you to sit down?" 

But Harry stayed where he was."What's wrong with him?" 

Snape's black eyes glittered."Nothing life-threatening," he said, looking as though he wished itwere. "Five more points from Gryffindor, and if I have to ask you to sitdown again, it will be fifty."

The Slytherin group was down with silent hysterics

Harry walked slowly to his seat and sat down. Snape looked around at theclass."As I was saying before Potter interrupted, Professor Lupin has not leftany record of the topics you have covered so far --"

 "Please, sir, we've done boggarts, Red Caps, kappas, and grindylows,"said Hermione quickly, "and we're just about to start --" 

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

"He's the best Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher we've ever had,"said Dean Thomas boldly, and there was a murmur of agreement from therest of the class. 

Snape looked more menacing than ever."You are easily satisfied. Lupin is hardly overtaxing you -- I ,Wouldexpect first years to be able to deal with Red Caps and grindylows. Today we shall discuss --" 

Harry watched him flick through the textbook, to the very back chapter,which he must know they hadn't covered. 

"Werewolves," said Snape

Ah. Cassie rolled her eyes. Seriously Snape? You are actually hoping someone recognizes Lupin? This class is dumber than rocks...except Hermione. She will figure out sooner or later

"Which of you can tell me how we distinguish between the werewolf andthe true wolf?" said Snape.

Everyone sat in motionless silence; everyone except Hermione, whosehand, as it so often did, had shot straight into the air.

"Anyone?" Snape said, ignoring Hermione's raised hand. His twisted smile returned. "Are you telling me that Professor Lupin hasn't even taught you the basic distinction between --"

"We told you," Parvati suddenly interjected, "we haven't got as far as werewolves yet. We're still on --"

"Silence!" Snape snarled. "Well, well, well, I never thought I'd meet a third-year class who wouldn't even recognize a werewolf when they saw one. I shall make a point of informing Professor Dumbledore how very behind you all are...."

"Please, sir," Hermione spoke up, her hand still in the air, "the werewolf differs from the true wolf in several small ways. The snout of the werewolf --"

"That is the second time you have spoken out of turn, Miss Granger," Snape interrupted coldly. "Five more points from Gryffindor for being an insufferable know-it-all."

Well that was new low, As much as Cassie dislike the Gryffindor's...Snape was just downright being an asshole at this point

It seemed she wasn't the only one infuriated.

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

Snape advanced on Ron slowly, the room holding its breath.

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

"I'll show this git," Cassie remarked snarkily to Theo.

"amaryllis permanentes" she whispered, pointing her wand at Snape.

Snape's hair turned hot pink, and Cassie stood up, her wand still raised. For the first time, Gryffindors and Slytherins cheered for Cassie together, showing looks of admiration and respect. 

But Snape looked murderous

 "SILENCE!"

"Well, Miss Black... Like your father after all," he spat.

Cassiopeia's hands clenched in rage, and the Slytherin group looked terrified; they knew how much Cassie hated to be compared to her murderous father.

"Funny you should say that, SNIVELLUS," spat back with venom.

The class didn't understand, but by the look on Snape's face, Cassie knew she had gone too far. "Twenty points from Slytherin, Miss Black, and detention on Saturday."

Cassie smirked, knowing she had gotten under his skin, and she slid back down in her seat.

But Theo however stood up "Incendio," he muttered, pointing his wand at the slide Snape was showing, causing it to burst into flames.

"MR. NOTT," Snape said unbelievingly, his voice dripping with disdain. "Detention for you too."

Theo smirked in victory and sat beside Cassie. "At least we have it together."

Cassie looked surprised but impressed. "You didn't have to do that, Nott."

"I wanted to," he replied simply.

"Ew get a room, guys," Blaise shot mimicking puking

Snape, meanwhile, was attempting to reverse the pink hair charm but was seemingly unsuccessful.

"You will each write an essay, to be handed in to me, on the ways you recognize and kill werewolves. I want two rolls of parchment or, the subject, and I want them by Monday morning," Snape snided before storming out of the room.

As soon as he left, the room burst into applause, with many people coming to congratulate Cassie on finally teaching Snape a lesson.

*************

"MISS BLACK!" .

"What's up, Minnie?" Cassie smirked

"What charm did you put on Professor Snape?"

Cassie's smirk widened even further. "Can't seem to undo it, can you?"

"No! Tell me what charm it is this instant or--" McGonagall's voice trailed off as she contemplated the consequences.

"Or what? I already have detention," 

"Or your friends get detention for the rest of the year," McGonagall threatened.

"What did we do?" Blaise wailed,

"Come on, Cassie, it's not worth it. Tell her," Draco said

"Fine," Cassie relented, "But promise I won't get in any more trouble."

"Fine," 

"What charm did you use?"

"Its a hex....amaryllis Permanentes," Cassie admitted

McGonagall's shock was evident. "Miss Black, that is a very--"

"Old and dark hex, I know," Cassie interrupted, her tone nonchalant.

 "But don't worry, he's not going to burst out in painful hives and turn pink all over. I modified the spell to only permanently change his hair color."

"What was that even used for?" Pansy asked

"Public humiliation of the enemies spies" Cassie said uninterested

"But that is irreversible!" McGonagall exclaimed

"Nah, I figured out a counter charm," Cassie smirked

"Alright, then. You come and perform it on Professor Snape this instant," McGonagall ordered, holding out her hand expectantly.

"Ugh, fine," Cassie grumbled

*****************************************

"Albus, the girl uses dark curses like it's nothing," McGonagall said, 

"I have tried explaining countless times, Minerva... she would never agree," Dumbledore replied, his tone heavy with resignation.

"But she is an amazing witch... her spellcasting, modifying are spectacular," McGonagall insisted, 

"All we have to ensure Minerva, is that the dark side doesn't get her first. She could be our best asset or one of the most dangerous enemies," 

***************************************

Someone (Totally not Blaise) had taken a Polaroid print of Snape in pink hair and had distributed it all among Hogwarts. Snape, of course, thought it was Cassiopeia and Theo, so he decided to make Saturday's detention a nightmare.

"Rearranging all potion equipment by size and ingredient? Without a wand?! That's outrageous," Theo exclaimed, 

"Oh yes, Mr. Nott," Snape said, sneering. "Better finish it in an hour," he drawled as he walked off, slamming the door behind him.

The pair stared at each other in silence as the thunderstorm howled outside, intermixed with the oohs and aahs of the ongoing Quidditch match.

"Okay, how the heck do we finish this in one hour?" Theo asked, 

"Snape doesn't know I can do wandless magic," Cassie smirked.

"Oh- fuck yes...I forgot too... you're the savior," Theo said, relieved. "But I thought you can only disarm?"

"I have been practicing levitating... let's see, honestly," Cassie said

Cassie walked towards the huge mess, concentrating hard, feeling her magic flow within her, giving her an ethereal feeling as her hand glowed slightly.

"Wingardium Leviosa," she incanted.

The huge pots began floating as Cassie directed them to the designated shelf of the big pots

"That. was. beautiful. You. are. beautiful. Wow," Theo exclaimed, exhilarated.

"What?" Cassie said, bewildered.

"Nothing, continue," Theo said with a grin.

And they finished in half an hour. Snape arrived to see them comfortably chatting while all ingredients had been arranged. He looked livid but begrudgingly gave back their wands nevertheless.

Cassie and Theo walked out to see a huge chaos outside. The Gryffindor team looked horrified, rushing towards the hospital wing, while the Hufflepuff captain trailed behind Madam Hooch arguing about something.

The Slytherins looked pleased, and Dumbledore appeared furious.

"Looks like we missed some drama," Theo remarked dryly at the chaos.

"Cassie! You won't believe what happened," Pansy said, rushing forward.

"What?" Cassie inquired.

"Dementors lost control and attacked Potter," Blaise said, his tone serious. "Dumbledore was furious."

"And then Potter fell off the broom," Draco chimed in, chortling as he did spirited imitations of Harry falling off his broom.

"Ah, I don't know why, but I was expecting something more interesting," Cassie said uninterested

*****************************************

Draco spent the next week mocking Harry falling off the broom, which continued till Cassie threatened to hex him if he doesn't stop

Professor Lupin was back at work, but it was evident that he had been ill. His old robes hung more loosely on him, and dark shadows lurked beneath his eyes. Nevertheless, he greeted the class with a smile as they took their seats, and they immediately launched into a barrage of complaints about Snape's behavior while Lupin had been absent.

"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 we haven't covered them yet?" Lupin asked, frowning slightly.

The babble erupted once more. "Yes, but he said we were really behind! He wouldn't listen --" "-- Two rolls of parchment!"

Professor Lupin smiled at the look of indignation on every face. "Don't worry. I'll speak to Professor Snape. You don't have to do the essay."

"Oh no," said Hermione, looking very disappointed. "I've already finished it!"

Cassie wondered if Hermione had figured out something. They had a very enjoyable lesson. Lupin had brought along a glass box containing a hinkypunk, a little one-legged creature who looked as though he were made of wisps of smoke, rather frail and harmless-looking.

"Lures travelers into bogs," said Professor Lupin as they took notes. "You notice the lantern dangling from his hand? Hops ahead -- people follow the light -- then --"

The hinkypunk made a horrible squelching noise against the glass. When the bell rang, everyone gathered up their things and headed for the door, Harry among them, but --

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

With Pottah

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

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

Lupin sighed. "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 called Davey Gudgeon nearly lost an eye, and we were forbidden to go near it. No broomstick would have a chance."

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

Lupin looked at him quickly. "Yes, I did. I don't think any of us have seen Professor Dumbledore that angry. They have been growing restless for some time -- furious at his refusal to let them inside the grounds.... I suppose they were the reason you fell?"

"Yes," said Harry. He hesitated, and then the question he had to ask burst from him before he could stop himself. "Why? Why do they affect me like that? Am I just --?"

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

A ray of wintery sunlight fell across the classroom, illuminating Lupin's gray hairs and the lines on his young face. "Dementors are among the foulest creatures that walk this earth. They infest the darkest, filthiest places, they glory in decay and despair, they drain peace, hope, and happiness out of the air around them. Even Muggles feel their presence, though they can't see them. Get too near a dementor and every good feeling, every happy memory will be sucked out of you. If it can, the dementor will feed on you long enough to reduce you to something like itself... soulless and evil. You'll be left with nothing but the worst experiences of your life. And the worst that happened to you, Harry, is enough to make anyone fall off their broom. You have nothing to feel ashamed of."

"When they get near me --" Harry stared at Lupin's desk, his throat tight. "I can hear Voldemort murdering my mum."

Lupin made a sudden motion with his arm as though to grip Harry's shoulder but thought better of it. There was a moment's silence, then --

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

"They're getting hungry," said Lupin coolly, shutting his briefcase with a snap. "Dumbledore won't let them into the school, so their supply of human prey has dried up.... I don't think they could resist the large crowd around the Quidditch field. All that excitement... emotions running high... it was their idea of a feast."

"Dumbledore is fucking dumb man"

 "Miss Black?" Lupin said

 "Came back for my bag" She said lifting it up 

"Anyways since im here listen....I have no idea why Dumbledore is letting the ministry make decisions at Hogwarts...and dementors honestly? they have never been loyal to the ministry isn't that obvious? From the start they have been loyal to Voldemort only"

Lupin looked slightly taken aback by her frankness

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

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

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

Cassie snarled at his mention "What's with everyone talking about that bitch?" she muttered under her breath. 

Lupin's briefcase slipped from the desk; he had to stoop quickly tocatch it."Yes," he said, straightening up,

 "Sirius Black must have found a way to fightthem.

 "its not impossible...but it requires intense wandless dark magic" cassie added indifferently

"You made that dementor on the train back off," Harry pointed out, addressing Cassie, who simply shrugged.

"So did you," Harry added, turning to Lupin.

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

"But there wasonly one dementor on the train. The more there are, the more difficultit becomes to resist."

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

 "I don't pretend to be an expert at fighting dementors, Harry, quite thecontrary..." 

"Its not that tough potter...It requires practice mainly" cassie said interrupting lupin 

 "if the dementors come to another Quidditch match, I need to be ableto fight them --" 

 "Well... all right. I'll try and help. I am sure Miss black can help too... But it'll have to wait until next term, I'm afraid. I have a lot to do before the holidays. I chose a very inconvenient time to fall ill."

******************************

Two weeks before the end of the term, the sky lightened suddenly to adazzling, opaline white and the muddy grounds were revealed one morningcovered in glittering frost. Inside the castle, there was a buzz ofChristmas in the air. Professor Flitwick, the Charms teacher, hadalready decorated his classroom with shimmering lights that turned outto be real, fluttering fairies. The students were all happily discussingtheir plans for the holidays.

The Slytherin Group decided to stay back for the holidays
the purebloods were holding a ball once again which no one wanted to attend

There was to be another Hogsmeade trip on the very last weekend of the term

*******************************

we are gonna have potter's pov for the Hogsmeade...lets just time skip to the overhearing part

A sudden breeze ruffled his hair. The door of the Three Broomsticks had opened again. Harry looked over the rim of his tankard and choked. Professors McGonagall and Flitwick had just entered the pub with a flurry of snowflakes, shortly followed by Hagrid, who was deep in conversation with a portly man in a lime-green bowler hat and a pinstriped cloak — Cornelius Fudge, Minister of Magic.

In an instant, Ron and Hermione had both placed hands on the top of Harry's head and forced him off his stool and under the table. Dripping with butterbeer and crouching out of sight, Harry clutched his empty tankard and watched the teachers' and Fudge's feet move toward the bar, pause, then turn and walk right toward him. Somewhere above him, Hermione whispered, "Mobiliarbus!"

The Christmas tree beside their table rose a few inches off the ground, drifted sideways, and landed with a soft thump right in front of their table, hiding them from view. Staring through the dense lower branches, Harry saw four sets of chair legs move back from the table right beside theirs, then heard the grunts and sighs of the teachers and minister as they sat down.

Next, he saw another pair of feet, wearing sparkly turquoise high heels, and heard a woman's voice. "A small gillywater —"

"Mine," said Professor McGonagall's voice.

"Four pints of mulled mead —"

"Ta, Rosmerta," said Hagrid.

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

"Mmm!" said Professor Flitwick, smacking his lips.

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

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

"Well, thank you very much, Minister."

Harry watched the glittering heels march away and back again. His heart was pounding uncomfortably in his throat. Why hadn't it occurred to him that this was the last weekend of term for the teachers? And how long were they going to sit there? He needed time to sneak back into Honeydukes if he wanted to return to school tonight.... Hermione's leg gave a nervous twitch next to him.

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

Harry saw the lower part of Fudge's thick body twist in his chair as though he were checking for eavesdroppers. Then he said in a quiet voice, "What else, m'dear, but Sirius Black? I daresay you heard what happened up at the school at Halloween? Mrs Malfoy was most furious about what happened with her niece"

"I did hear a rumor," admitted Madam Rosmerta.

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

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

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

"You know that the dementors have searched the whole village twice?" said Madam Rosmerta, a slight edge to her voice. "Scared all my customers away... It's very bad for business, Minister."

"Rosmerta, dear, I don't like them any more than you do," said Fudge 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," said Professor McGonagall sharply. "How are we supposed to teach with those horrors floating around?"

"Hear, hear!" squeaked tiny Professor Flitwick, whose feet were dangling a foot from the ground.

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

"Do you know, I still have trouble believing it," said Madam Rosmerta 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 a boy at Hogwarts. If you'd told me then what he was going to become, I'd have said you'd had too much mead."

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

"The worst?" said Madam Rosmerta, her voice alive with curiosity, "Worse than murdering all those poor people, you mean?"

"I certainly do," said Fudge.

"I can't believe that. What could possibly be worse?"

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

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

Harry dropped his tankard with a loud clunk. Ron kicked him.

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

"I dunno," chuckled Hagrid. "Fred and George Weasley could give 'em a run fer their money. Cassiopeia is no less too"

"You'd have thought Black and Potter were brothers!" chimed in Professor Flitwick. "Inseparable!"

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

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

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

"How does that work?" said Madam Rosmerta, breathless with interest.

Professor Flitwick cleared his throat.

"An immensely complex spell," he said 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 Lily and James were staying for years and never find them, not even if he had his nose pressed against their sitting room window!"

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

"Naturally," said Professor McGonagall. 

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

 "He suspected Black?" gasped Madam Rosmerta. 

"He was sure that somebody close to the Potters had been keeping You-Know-Who informed of their movements," said Professor McGonagall darkly. 

"Indeed, he had suspected for some time that someone on our side had turned traitor and was passing a lot of information to You-Know-Who."

 "But James Potter insisted on using Black?" 

"He did," said Fudge heavily. 

"And then, barely a week after the Fidelius Charm had been performed --" 

"Black betrayed them?" breathed Madam Rosmerta. 

"He did indeed. Black was tired of his double-agent role, he was ready to declare his support openly for You-Know-Who, and he seems to have planned this for the moment of the Potters' death. But, as we all know,  You-Know-Who met his downfall in little Harry Potter.

 Powers gone, horribly weakened, he fled. 

And this left Black in a very nasty position indeed. His master had fallen at the very moment when he, Black, had shown his true colors as a traitor.

 He had no choice but to run for it--" 

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

 "Shh!" said Professor McGonagall. 

"I met him!" growled Hagrid.

 "I musta bin the last ter see him before he killed all them people! It was me what rescued Harry from Lily an'James's  house after they was killed! jus' got him outta the ruins, poor little thing, with a great slash across his forehead, an' his parents dead... an' Sirius Black turns up, on that flyin' motorbike he used te ride. Never occurred ter me what he was doin' there. I didn' know he'd bin Lily an' James's Secret-Keeper. Thought he'd jus' heard the news o'You-Know-Who's attack an' come ter see what he could do. White an' shakin', he was. An' yeh know what I did? I COMFORTED THE MURDERIN'TRAITOR!" Hagrid roared.

 "Hagrid, please!" said Professor McGonagall. "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 waster go ter his aunt an' uncle's. 

Black argued, but in the end he gave in. Told me ter take his motorbike ter get Harry there. 'I won't need it anymore,' he says. 

"I shoulda known there was somethin' fishy goin' on then. He loved that motorbike, what was he givin' 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 ferit that night, knew it was a matter o' hours 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 over ter the Dark Side, there's nothin' and no one that matters to em anymore...."

 A long silence followed Hagrid's story. 

Then Madam Rosmerta said with some satisfaction, 

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

 "Alas, if only we had," said Fudge bitterly. "It was not we who found him. It was little Peter Pettigrew -- another of the Potters' friends.

 Maddened by grief, no doubt, and knowing that Black had been the Potters' Secret-Keeper, he went after Black himself." 

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

 "Hero-worshipped Black and Potter," said Professor McGonagall. "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 sounded as though she had a sudden head cold.

 "There, now, Minerva," said Fudge kindly, "Pettigrew died a hero's death. Eyewitnesses -- Muggles, of course, we wiped their, memories later -- told us how Pettigrew cornered Black.

 They say he was sobbing, 'Lily and James, Sirius! How could you?' And then he went for his wand.Well, of course, Black was quicker. Blew Pettigrew to smithereens...."

 Professor McGonagall blew her nose and said thickly, "Stupid boy ...foolish boy... he was always hopeless at dueling... should have left itto the Ministry...." 

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

 "You don't know what you're talking about, Hagrid," said Fudge sharply. "Nobody but trained Hit Wizards from the Magical Law Enforcement Squad would have stood a chance against Black once he was cornered.

 I was Junior Minister in the Department of Magical Catastrophes at the time, and I was one of the first on the scene after Black murdered all those people. I -- I will never forget it. I still dream about it sometimes. A crater in the middle of the street, so deep it had cracked the sewer below. Bodies everywhere. Muggles screaming. And Black standing there laughing, with what was left of Pettigrew in front of him... a heap of bloodstained robes and a few -- a few fragments --"

 Fudge's voice stopped abruptly. There was the sound of five noses being blown."Well, there you have it, Rosmerta," said Fudge 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 has been in Azkaban ever since. "Madam Rosmerta let out a long sigh. 

"Is it true he's mad, Minister?" "I wish I could say that he was," said Fudge slowly. 

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

 "But what do you think he's broken out to do?" said Madam Rosmerta. 

"Good gracious, Minister, he isn't trying to rejoin You-Know-Who, is he?"

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

 There was a small chink of glass on wood. Someone had set down their glass. 

"You know, Cornelius, if you're dining with the headmaster, he'd better head back up to the castle," said Professor McGonagall. One by one, the pairs of feet in front of Harry took the weight of their owners once more; hems of cloaks swung into sight, and Madam Rosemerta's glittering heels disappeared behind the bar.

 The door of the Three Broomsticks opened again, there was another flurry of snow, and the teachers had disappeared.

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

****************************************

"You knew, didn't you?"

Harry confronted Cassiopeia in the passage, his wand pointed at her throat with fury etched across his face.

"What the fuck, Potter?" Cassie snarled back, her own wand drawn in response.

Harry's accusation cut through the air like a knife. "You knew about your dad betraying my parents, didn't you?" he spat.

Cassie's eyes narrowed. "How the hell do you know?" she demanded.

"It doesn't matter," Harry replied tersely. "You didn't think it was important to let me know your dad is the reason why my parents are dead?"

"Because I knew you would react like this!" she shot back, her voice rising. "You want revenge, and you're going to seek out Sirius by yourself!"

"Maybe I will!" Harry retorted. "What's it to you? You want me dead anyway."

Cassie's lip curled in a sneer. "I don't care if you die," she said coldly. "But I will be the one to take revenge on Sirius, and that's that."

She turned on her heel and walked away, leaving Harry seething with anger and confusion.

*******************

hiii 

FIRST- like thank u for helping this reach 400+ reads. like thank you so much...i wouldnt mind some constructive criticism in comments.

and also Unfortunately- My entrance exams are on peak so i wont be able to update...i do have some pretty long gaps after 2 exams. i might update then

till then--feel free to vote and comment

mx riddle