A/N I don't own anything
The weeks leading up to Halloween went by very quickly. Harry had tried to convince Professor Dumbledore that Remus could sign his permission slip, but the lycanthrope categorically refused to go against the headmaster, even if he was still peeved at the man for allowing Harry to be at the Dursleys.
Harry did the appropriate amount of complaining and whining before "giving in". He told Draco and Hermione, though, that he still planned to go to Hogsmeade.
"Harry, no!" Hermione whined.
"Why not? The 'mass murderer' everyone is scared about is currently drooling on my bed, dreaming, supposedly, of chasing Pettigrew off a cliff. At least, that's what he tells me." Harry reminded her.
"But-but that's against the rules." Hermine complained. Draco rolled his eyes.
"You're fine with making Polyjuice in a girls' bathroom without the appropriate approval, don't shy away from sneaking a dragon out of school, and don't even bat an eye at sneaking into the restricted section, but this is where you draw the line? Harry having a little bit of fun?" Draco asked. Hermione huffed.
"It's for his own protection. Black may not be out to get him, but that does not mean that there are not other death eaters willing to line up to take his supposed place. Not only that, but dementors are flying over as we speak. What would Harry do if he found himself up against a dementor?" Hermione almost squealed.
"Use my patronus that I learned before anyone else knew about it?" Harry suggested like she was an idiot.
"And where did you learn this highly complicated, nearly impossible spell, Harry?" Hermione shot back.
"Professor Lupin...this...year. Oh, you mean, when someone asks me? Oh, I didn't think about that." Harry struggled. He hated when Hermione was right. "But that doesn't mean I can't go out under my invisibility cloak and get some candy or prank products from Zonko's." Dragon woke up to the last suggestion and came padding over to the group. He began licking Harry's face.
"Oh yes, the terrifying mass murderer who is currently liking his target's face." Draco drawled sarcastically as Hermione giggled. She sighed.
"I guess I can stay. I really should catch up with Remus anyway." Harry remembered. Dragon perked up. Harry shook his head. "No, not you. You'll go to another part of the castle where I know you won't expose yourself to your best friend." Draco winced.
"Uhm, Harry, wording. Wording, my friend, wording." Draco repeated. Harry looked up confused.
"What?" He asked, scrunching up his face. "Oh, eww. Draco, you knew what I meant. Get your mind out of the gutter." Dragon started gagging. The group laughed.
The day of Hogsmeade came and with it, came promises from Hermione and Draco to bring him back candy and pranks. He thanked them and hugged them before they left.
"Watch out for Black!" Harry warned jokingly. Hermione and Draco laughed and nodded before heading out. Harry then walked towards Professor Lupin's office. Dragon followed.
"Dragon, no. You cannot come with. Leave." Harry ordered. Dragon did so, but whined and showed his puppy dog eyes as he left.
Harry knocked on Professor Lupin's office door. The man opened it and welcomed him in.
"Ah, Harry! What a lovely surprise. I am sorry, again, about the fact you could not go to Hogsmeade today. Maybe next time, when I will be supervising." Remus suggested. Harry held back a moan as he thought of Mother Remus following him around, hovering.
"No, it's fine, Professor Lupin." Harry told him. Remus laughed.
"Harry, when we are alone, you may call me Remus. I was surprised your friends and you didn't have a little party again this year. Last year's was so great." Remus remembered. Harry sighed.
"That's actually why I came. I was wondering if you could tell me a story about my parents. I figured, since I'm stuck here, I might as well hold some sort of a memorial for them."
"Of course, Harry. Have I ever told you of when Lily finally agreed to go on a date with your father?" Remus asked.
"No, I don't think you have." He replied.
"Great! Well as I'm sure you know; your mother was quite against your father until about Christmas of sixth year. James had finally agreed to listen to our advice and stopped asking her out. He also stopped pranking with malicious intent. They became a sort of friends by the summer before seventh year and even wrote a little over the summer. When we found out your father, of all people, was set to be head boy, he had a new mindset. He had to be responsible. I, for one, never thought it would happen. I even said the day James started acting responsibly I would kiss the giant squid. Let me tell you the giant squid wasn't very happy. "
"When we got to school, some friends and I made our bets to when they would either kill each other or kiss each other. Being head girl and head boy, they had to spend almost every waking moment together. Looking back, I wonder if Professor Dumbledore hadn't had some hand in nefariously plotting relationships. Suddenly, James realized Lily might have feelings for him. He started planning different ways to ask her out.
"Finally, it was the big day. He walked into the Great Hall. However, Lily asked him out before he could even say 'Hi'. He stuttered. He didn't know what to do. In all his planning, he had not dreamed of her asking him out. He said, 'No, that's not how it's supposed to happen.' She looked deflated and walked out of the Great Hall. When James had finally recovered his mind, he went after her. The rest is history." Remus finished. Harry smiled.
"She really asked him out?" Harry asked. Remus smiled and chuckled a bit.
"Threw him through a right loop. I thought Sirius was about to shout 'Ten points to Gryffindor'," Remus stopped, looking sad. He swallowed. "Enough about the past. It would not do to look at the past and forget to live in the here and now."
"Thanks, Remus. I really love hearing about my parents. I really appreciate hearing anything I can about them." Harry told his professor. The professor was about to say more, when Professor McGonagall burst into Remus' office.
"The Fat Lady has gone missing!" She informed them. They both rushed after her. Harry had a sinking feeling in his gut. What had Sirius done?
They arrived to find the portrait slashed and Dragon cowering under Harry's stern gaze. All the other Gryffindors gathered around the portrait hole, wondering how they were to get in. Hermione looked just as annoyed as Harry did, but Draco was confused.
"What's going on? Why is everyone so upset?" Draco asked his friends.
"Dragon!" Harry muttered. The dog looked even more cowed. Right then, Professor Dumbledore arrived.
"What seems to be the matter here?" Dumbledore asked.
"That's what I would like to know." Draco mumbled. They all looked around for the Fat Lady, finding her cowering in the portrait she ran to hid in last time.
"I saw him! It was Sirius Black! Sirius Black was here, trying to get in! It was awful!" The Fat Lady cried. Now Draco understood. He glared at the whimpering dog, who looked very sorry for what he had done. Remus looked perturbed.
"Sirius Black? In the castle?" Remus caught Harry's eye and put a protective arm around the lad.
"What exactly happened?" Dumbledore asked her.
"I changed the password today, as it was the last of the month. He came up and muttered the previous password. I told him he had said the wrong word, and then I recognized him. I tried to scream, but he had a knife." The Fat Lady told them. Hermione looked over at Dragon.
"Where did you get a knife?" She whispered. Dragon just whined.
"He became enraged and started attacking my portrait. I had to jump out of it to protect myself. Once I was gone, he ran away. I will never forget his blond head retreating toward the stairs." The portrait cried. Harry looked over at Remus.
"Blond?" Remus mouthed, his face scrunched up in confusion. Harry growled and looked again at Dragon. He motioned for Hermione and Draco to come with him. He grabbed the scruff of Dragon's neck and pulled him toward the Room of Requirement, glad the Fat Lady was such a great distraction. When they made it to the hallway, they were only half-surprised to meet Luna.
"I heard something happened over near Gryffindor Tower. The rumor is Sirius Black has been spotted." Luna informed them, smiling. Meanwhile, Draco paced the length of the hall and opened the door. He motioned for the ladies to go first, which they did. He then let Harry drag in Dragon before he closed the door.
"You do realize they'll pitch a fit when they notice you're gone." Hermione spoke responsibly. Harry ignored her.
"Change. Now." Harry ordered. Meanwhile, Draco was freaking out.
"It's over! We're doomed! We will all be sentenced to Azkaban for harboring a fugitive. I had so much left to live for. I was going to get married, have children, see my parents off to Azkaban..." Draco continued. Hermione sighed.
"Draco! Snap out of it! No one is going to be sent to Azkaban for harboring a fugitive." Hermione promised, putting a hand on his shoulder. He leaned into the touch. His face seemed to relax instantly. He sighed.
"Okay, okay. I'm good!" Draco announced. Luna smiled. By this time, Sirius was once again a human.
"Explain." Harry demanded. Sirius cowed.
"In my defense, I was left unsupervised." The man started. "I was left alone with my thoughts. It was the worst timing possible, really, considering the fact that Pettigrew was up there, nibbling on some cheese, not a care in the world. The people he betrayed twelve years ago will never have that luxury!" Harry looked curious.
"My parents liked cheese?" He asked. Hermione rolled her eyes.
"Not the time, Harry." She reminded him.
"Anyway, I wanted him to pay for what he did." Sirius told them.
"He will. One day, he will." Harry promised. Sirius smiled at him.
"He will, he will." Sirius assured himself. The group nodded and Luna decided to hug Sirius. Hermione followed. Soon, the group was in one big hug, remembering and mourning that day.
CHAPTER END
PLEASE VOTE AND COMMENT
LOVE, ESHA❤