Chapter 10 The Marauder’s Map

doll Pomfrey insisted on keeping scourge in the hospital flee for the rest of the week windup. He didnt argue or complain, yet he wouldnt let her throw a instruction the shattered remnants of his Nimbus Two Thousand. He knew he was existence stupid, knew that the Nimbus was beyond repair, just now chivvy couldnt help it he felt as though hed lost wholeness of his crush friends.He had a flo buffer of visitors, only told intent on cheering him up. Hagrid sent him a bunch of earwiggy flowers that looked like yellow cabbages, and Ginny Weasley, blushing furiously, developed up with a get-well card she had make herself, which sang shrilly unless chafe kept it shut under his bowl of fruit. The Gryffindor team visited again on Sunday morning, this time accompanied by Wood, who told harass (in a hollow, dead sort of voice) that he didnt blame him in the slightest. Ron and Hermivirtuoso left over(p) over(p) chivys bedside only at night. just now zilch anyvirtuoso state or d id could make get to feel any better, because they knew only half of what was troubling him.He hadnt told any peerless astir(predicate) the Grim, not regular(a) Ron and Hermione, because he knew Ron would panic and Hermione would scoff. The fact die harded, however, that it had now appe ard twice, and both appearances had been followed by near-fatal accidents the first time, he had nearly been run over by the Knight Bus the second, fall fifty feet from his broomstick. Was the Grim going to haunt him until he in truth died? Was he going to conk the rest of his life looking over his shoulder for the beast?And and wherefore on that point were the Dementors. arouse felt sick and mortify e actually(prenominal) time he thought of them. Everyone verbalize the Dementors were horrible, but no one else collapsed every time they went near one. No one else heard echoes in their head of their dying parents.Because rile knew who that screaming voice be capacioused to now. He had hear d her words, heard them over and over again during the night hours in the hospital wing while he lay awake, staring at the strips of moonlight on the ceiling. When the Dementors approached him, he heard the last moments of his mothers life, her attempts to protect him, Harry, from Lord Voldemort, and Voldemorts laughter before he kill herHarry dozed fitfully, sinking into dreams full of clammy, rotted contacts and petrified pleading, jerking awake to dwell again on his mothers voice.It was a relief to return to the hitch and bustle of the main school on Monday, where he was forced to think more or less other things, rase if he had to endure Draco Malfoys taunting. Malfoy was almost beside himself with gloating at Gryffindors defeat. He had finally taken off his bandages, and celebrated having the full use of both arms again by doing spirited imitations of Harry travel off his broom. Malfoy spent much of their next Potions class doing Dementor imitations across the dungeon Ron finally cracked and flung a large, slippery crocodile heart at Malfoy, which hit him in the face and caused Snape to take fifty points from Gryffindor.If Snapes learning Defense Against the Dark Arts again, Im skiving off, utter Ron as they headed toward lupins classroom aft(prenominal) lunch. Check whos in on that point, Hermione.Hermione peered around the classroom door.Its okayprof lupine was back at work. It surely looked as though he had been ill. His old robes were hanging more loosely on him and thither were dark shadows beneath his eyes nevertheless, he smiled at the class as they took their seats, and they burst at once into an explosion of complaints or so Snapes behavior while Lupin had been ill.Its not fair, he was only filling in, why should he sacrifice us homework?We dont know anything ab proscribed werewolves both rolls of parchmentDid you tell prof Snape we absorbnt covered them yet? Lupin asked, frowning slightly.The babble broke out again.Yes, but he tell we were truly behind he wouldnt listen two rolls of parchmentProfessor Lupin smiled at the look of indignation on every face.Dont worry. Ill speak to Professor Snape. You dont live to do the es presuppose.Oh no, give tongue to Hermione, looking very disappointed. Ive already finished itThey had a very enjoyable lesson. Professor Lupin had brought on 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 post horse the lantern dangling from his hand? record hop ahead citizenry follow the light then The Hinkypunk made a horrible squelching noise against the glass.When the campana rang, everyone gathered up their things and headed for the door, Harry among them, but inhabit a moment, Harry, Lupin called. Id like a word.Harry doubled back and watched Professor Lupin covering the Hinkypunks box with a cl oth.I heard about the match, said Lupin, turning back to his desk and starting to pile books into his briefcase, and Im 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 gather 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 stimulate a chance.Did you hear about the Dementors too? said Harry with difficulty.Lupin looked at him quickly.Yes, I did. I dont think any of us have seen Professor Dumbledore that angry. They have been growing industrious for slightly timefurious at his refusal to let them indoors the groundsI suppose they were the reason you fell?Yes, said Harry. He hesitated, and then the ca seat he had to ask burst from him before he could s binding himself. Why? Why do they affect me like th at? Am I just ?It has nothing to do with weakness, said Professor Lupin acutelyly, as though he had read Harrys mind. The Dementors affect you worsened than the others because there are horrors in your past that the others dont have.A ray of wintry sunlight fell across the classroom, illuminating Lupins 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 fall apart and despair, they d come down peace, hope, and happiness out of the air around them. Even Muggles feel their presence, though they croupet see them. Get too near a Dementor and every redeeming(prenominal) feeling, every happy memory will be sucked out of you. If it buns, the Dementor will feed on you long enough to reduce you to something like itself soul-less and evil. Youll be left with nothing but the worst experiences of your life. And the worst that happened to you, Harry, is enough to make anyone fal l off their broom. You have nothing to feel ashamed of.When they get near me Harry stared at Lupins desk, his throat tight. I can hear Voldemort murdering my mum.Lupin made a sudden motion with his arm as though to grip Harrys shoulder, but thought better of it. There was a moments silence, then Why did they have to come to the match? said Harry bitterly.Theyre getting hungry, said Lupin alterly, shutdown his briefcase with a snap. Dumbledore wont let them into the school, so their supply of human prey has dried upI dont think they could resist the large crowd around the Quidditch field. both that excitementemotions running highit was their idea of a feast.Azkaban must be terrible, Harry muttered. Lupin nodded grimly.The fortress is set on a tiny island, carriage out to sea, but they dont need walls and water to keep the prisoners in, not when theyre all trapped inside their own heads, incapable of a single cheery thought. nearly of them go mad within weeks.But Sirius shadowy escaped from them, Harry said diminishly. He got awayLupins briefcase slipped from the desk he had to stoop quickly to catch it.Yes, he said, straightening up, downhearted must have nominate a way to fight them. I wouldnt have believed it possibleDementors are supposed to drain a charming of his powers if he is left with them too longYou made that Dementor on the train back off, said Harry suddenly.There are certain defenses one can use, said Lupin. But there was only one Dementor on the train. The more there are, the more difficult it becomes to resist.What defenses? said Harry at once. Can you teach me?I dont pretend to be an expert at fighting Dementors, Harry quite the contraryBut if the Dementors come to other Quidditch match, I need to be able to fight them Lupin looked into Harrys determined face, hesitated, then said, Wellall in force(p). Ill try and help. But itll have to wait until next term, Im afraid. I have a lot to do before the holidays. I chose a very inconve nient time to fall ill.******What with the promise of anti-Dementor lessons from Lupin, the thought that he might never have to hear his mothers death again, and the fact that Ravenclaw flattened Hufflepuff in their Quidditch match at the end of November, Harrys mood took a definite upturn. Gryffindor were not out of the running after all, although they could not afford to lose another match. Wood became repossessed of his manic energy, and worked his team as hard as ever in the chilly haze of rain that persisted into December. Harry adage no hint of a Dementor within the grounds. Dumbledores anger seemed to be keeping them at their stations at the hitchs.Two weeks before the end of the term, the sky lightened suddenly to a dazzling, opaline white and the muddy grounds were revealed one morning covered in glittering frost. Inside the castle, there was a buzz of Christmas in the air. Professor Flitwick, the Charms teacher, had already decorated his classroom with shimmering lights t hat turned out to be real, fluttering fairies. The students were all happily discussing their plans for the holidays. Both Ron and Hermione had decided to remain at Hogwarts, and though Ron said it was because he couldnt stand two weeks with Percy, and Hermione insisted she needed to use the library, Harry wasnt fooled they were doing it to keep him company, and he was very grateful.To everyones delight except Harrys, there was to be another Hogsmeade trip on the very last weekend of the term.We can do all our Christmas shopping there said Hermione. Mum and soda water would really love those Toothflossing Stringmints from HoneydukesResigned to the fact that he would be the only third year staying behind again, Harry borrowed a copy of Which Broomstick from Wood, and decided to spend the day reading up on the different makes. He had been riding one of the school brooms at team practice, an ancient Shooting Star, which was very slow and jerky he definitely needed a new broom of his o wn.On the Saturday morning of the Hogsmeade trip, Harry bid good-bye to Ron and Hermione, who were wrapped in cloaks and scarves, then turned up the marble staircase alone, and headed back toward Gryffindor Tower. Snow had started to fall outside the windows, and the castle was very still and quiet.Psst HarryHe turned, halfway along the third-floor corridor, to see Fred and George peering out at him from behind a statue of a humpbacked, one-eyed witch.What are you doing? said Harry curiously. How come youre not going to Hogsmeade?Weve come to give you a bit of festive cheer before we go, said Fred, with a mysterious wink. Come in hereHe nodded toward an empty classroom to the left of the one-eyed statue. Harry followed Fred and George inside. George closed the door quietly and then turned, beaming, to look at Harry.Early Christmas present for you, Harry, he said.Fred pulled something from inside his cloak with a amplify and laid it on one of the desks. It was a large, square, very worn piece of parchment with nothing written on it. Harry, suspecting one of Fred and Georges jokes, stared at it.Whats that supposed to be?This, Harry, is the private of our success, said George, patting the parchment fondly.Its a wrench, giving it to you, said Fred, but we decided last night, your needs greater than ours.Anyway, we know it by heart, said George. We bequeath it to you. We dont really need it anymore.And what do I need with a bit of old parchment? said Harry.A bit of old parchment said Fred, oddment his eyes with a grimace as though Harry had mortally offended him. Explain, George.Wellwhen we were in our first year, Harry young, carefree, and innocent Harry snorted. He doubted whether Fred and George had ever been innocent.?C well, more innocent than we are now we got into a spot of bother with Filch.We let off a Dungbomb in the corridor and it upset him for some reason So he hauled us off to his office and started threatening us with the usual detention dise mbowelment and we couldnt help noticing a drawer in one of his filing cabinets marked Confiscated and Highly Dangerous.Dont tell me said Harry, starting to grin.Well, what would youve done? said Fred. George caused a diversion by dropping another Dungbomb, I whipped the drawer open, and grabbed this.Its not as bad as it sounds, you know, said George. We dont reckon Filch ever found out how to work it. He probably suspect what it was, though, or he wouldnt have confiscated it.And you know how to work it?Oh yes, said Fred, smirking. This little beautys taught us more than all the teachers in this school.Youre winding me up, said Harry, looking at the ragged old bit of parchment.Oh, are we? said George.He took out his wand, touched the parchment lightly, and said, I solemnly swear that I am up to no good.And at once, thin ink lines began to spread like a spiders web from the point that Georges wand had touched. They joined each other, they crisscrossed, they fanned into every reces sion of the parchment then words began to blossom across the top, great, curly green words, that proclaimedMessrs. Moony, Wormtail, Padfoot, and Prongs Purveyors of Aids to Magical Mischief-Makers are proud to present THE MARAUDERS MAP It was a map out showing every detail of the Hogwarts castle and grounds. But the truly remarkable thing were the tiny ink dots moving around it, each label with a name in minuscule writing. Astounded, Harry bent over it. A labeled dot in the top left corner showed that Professor Dumbledore was pacing his study the caretakers cat, Mrs. Norris, was prowling the second floor and Peeves the Poltergeist was currently bouncing around the trophy room. And as Harrys eyes traveled up and down the familiar corridors, he noticed something else.This map showed a set of passages he had never entered. And many of them seemed to lead Right into Hogsmeade, said Fred, tracing one of them with his finger. There are cardinal in all. Now, Filch knows about these four he pointed them out but were sure were the only ones who know about these. Dont bother with the one behind the reverberate on the fourth floor. We used it until last winter, but its caved in completely blocked. And we dont reckon anyones ever used this one, because the Whomping Willows planted right over the entrance. But this one here, this one leads right into the cellar of Honeydukes. Weve used it loads of times. And as you mightve noticed, the entrance is right outside this room, through that one-eyed old crones hump.Moony, Wormtail, Padfoot, and Prongs, sighed George, patting the heading of the map. We owe them so much.Noble men, working tirelessly to help a new generation of lawbreakers, said Fred solemnly.Right, said George briskly. Dont forget to wipe it after youve used it or anyone can read it, Fred said warningly.Just tap it again and say, Mischief managed And itll go blank.So, young Harry, said Fred, in an uncanny impersonation of Percy, mind you behave yourself. converge you in Honeydukes, said George, winking.They left the room, both smirking in a satisfied sort of way.Harry stood there, gazing at the miraculous map. He watched the tiny ink Mrs. Norris turn left and pause to sniff at something on the floor. If Filch really didnt knowhe wouldnt have to pass the Dementors at all.But even as he stood there, flooded with excitement, something Harry had once heard Mr. Weasley say came floating out of his memory. neer trust anything that can think for itself, if you cant see where it keeps its brain.This map was one of those dangerous magical objects Mr. Weasley had been warning againstAids for Magical Mischief Makersbut then, Harry reasoned, he only wanted to use it to get into Hogsmeade, it wasnt as though he wanted to steal anything or attack anyoneand Fred and George had been using it for years without anything horrible happeningHarry traced the secret passage to Honeydukes with his finger.Then, quite suddenly, as though following orders, he rolled up the map, stuffed it inside his robes, and hurried to the door of the classroom. He opened it a couple of inches. There was no one outside. Very carefully, he moldingd out of the room and behind the statue of the one-eyed witch.What did he have to do? He pulled out the map again and saw to his astonishment, that a new ink figure had appeared upon it, labeled Harry Potter. This figure was standing exactly where the real Harry was standing, about halfway down the third-floor corridor. Harry watched carefully. His little Ink self appeared to be tapping the witch with his minute wand. Harry quickly took out his real wand and tapped the statue. Nothing happened. He looked back at the map. The tiniest speech bubble had appeared next to his figure. The word inside said, Dissendium.Dissendium Harry whispered, tapping the stone witch again.At once, the statues hump opened wide enough to admit a fairly thin person. Harry glanced quickly up and down the corridor, then tucked the ma p away again, hoisted himself into the hole headfirst, and pushed himself forward.He slid a considerable way down what felt like a stone slide, then landed on cold, damp earth. He stood up, looking around. It was pitch dark. He held up his wand, muttered, Lumos and saw that he was in a very narrow, low, earthy passageway. He raised the map, tapped it with the tip of his wand, and muttered, Mischief managed The map went blank at once. He folded it carefully, tucked it inside his robes, then, heart beating fast, both excited and apprehensive, he set off.The passage twisted and turned, more like the burrow of a giant rabbit than anything else. Harry hurried along it, stumbling now and then on the uneven floor, holding his wand out in front of him.It took ages, but Harry had the thought of Honeydukes to start him. After what felt like an hour, the passage began to test. Panting, Harry sped up, his face hot, his feet very cold.Ten proceedings subsequent, he came to the foot of some w orn stone steps, which bloom out of sight above him. Careful not to make any noise, Harry began to climb. A hundred steps, two hundred steps, he lost guess as he climbed, watching his feetthen, without warning, his head hit something hard.It seemed to be a trapdoor. Harry stood there, massaging the top of his head, listening. He couldnt hear any sounds above him. Very slowly, he pushed the trapdoor open and peered over the edge.He was in a cellar, which was full of wooden crates and boxes. Harry climbed out of the trapdoor and replaced it it blended so perfectly with the dusty floor that it was unacceptable to tell it was there. Harry crept slowly toward the wooden staircase that led upstairs. Now he could definitely hear voices, not to mention the tinkle of a bell and the opening and shutting of a door.Wondering what he ought to do, he suddenly heard a door open much closer at hand somebody was about to come downstairs.And get another box of Jelly Slugs, dear, theyve nearly cle aned us out said a womans voice.A pair of feet was glide slope down the staircase. Harry leapt behind an enormous crate and waited for the footsteps to pass. He heard the man shifting boxes against the opposite wall. He might not get another chance Quickly and silently, Harry dodged out from his concealing place and climbed the stairs looking back, he saw an enormous backside and shiny bald head, bury in a box. Harry reached the door at the top of the stairs, slipped through it, and found himself behind the counter of Honeydukes he ducked, crept sideways, and then straightened up.Honeydukes was so crowded with Hogwarts students that no one looked twice at Harry. He edged among them, looking around, and suppressed a laugh as he imagined the look that would spread over Dudleys shote face if he could see where Harry was now.There were shelves upon shelves of the most succulent-looking sweets imaginable. Creamy chunks of nougat, shimmering pink squares of coconut ice, fat, honey-c olored toffees hundreds of different kinds of chocolate in neat rows there was a large barrel of Every Flavor Beans, and another of Fizzing Whizbees, the levitating sherbet balls that Ron had mentioned along yet another wall were Special Effects sweets Droobles Best Blowing Gum (which make full a room with bluebell-colored bubbles that refused to pop for days), the strange, splintery Toothflossing Stringmints, tiny black Pepper Imps (breathe fire for your friends), Ice Mice (hear your teeth chatter and squeak), eucalyptus kino creams shaped like toads (hop realistically in the stomach), fragile sugar-spun quills, and exploding bonbons.Harry squeezed himself through a crowd of sixth years and saw a sign hanging in the farthest corner of the shop (UNUSUAL TASTES). Ron and Hermione were standing underneath it, examining a tray of blood-flavored lollipops. Harry sneaked up behind them.Ugh, no, Harry wont want one of those, theyre for vampires, I expect, Hermione was saying.How about these? said Ron, shoving a jar of rope Clusters under Hermiones nose.Definitely not, said Harry.Ron nearly dropped the jar.Harry squealed Hermione. What are you doing here? How how did you ?Wow said Ron, looking very impressed, youve learned to ApparateCourse I havent, said Harry. He dropped his voice so that none of the sixth years could hear him and told them all about the Marauders Map.How come Fred and George never gave it to me said Ron, outraged. Im their brotherBut Harry isnt going to keep it said Hermione, as though the idea were ludicrous. Hes going to hand it in to Professor McGonagall, arent you, Harry?No, Im not said Harry.Are you mad? said Ron, goggling at Hermione. Hand in something that good?If I hand it in, Ill have to say where I got it Filch would know Fred and George had nicked itBut what about Sirius Black? Hermione hissed. He could be using one of the passages on that map to get into the castle The teachers have got to knowHe cant be getting in through a passa ge, said Harry quickly. There are seven secret tunnels on the map, right? Fred and George reckon Filch already knows about four of them. And of the other three one of thems caved in, so no one can get through it. angiotensin-converting enzyme of thems got the Whomping Willow planted over the entrance, so you cant get out of it. And the one I just came through well its really hard to see the entrance to it down in the cellar so unless he knew it was there Harry hesitated. What if Black did know the passage was there? Ron, however, cleared his throat significantly, and pointed to a notice pasted on the inside of the sweetshop door.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 gather? said Ron quietly. Id like to see Black try and break into Honeydukes with Dementors swarming all over the village. Anyway, Hermione, the Honeydukes owners would hear a break-in, wouldnt they? They live over the shopYes, but but Heroine seemed to be struggling to find another problem. Look, Harry still shouldnt be coming into Hogsmeade. He hasnt got a signed form If anyone finds out, hell be in so much trouble And its not nightfall yet what if Sirius Black turns up today? Now?Hed have a job spotting Harry in this, said Ron, nodding through the mullioned windows at the thick, swirling snow. Come on, Hermione, its Christmas. Harry deserves a break.Hermione bit her lip, looking extremely worried.Are you going to report me? Harry asked her, grinning.Oh of course not but honestly, Harry Seen the Fizzing Whizbees, Harry? said Ron, grabbing him and leading him over to their barrel. And the Jelly Slugs? And the Acid Pops? Fred gave me one of t hose when I was seven it destroy a hole right through my tongue. I remember Mum walloping him with her broomstick. Ron stared broodingly into the Acid Pop box. Reckon Fredd take a bite of Cockroach Cluster if I told him they were peanuts?When Ron and Hermione had paid for all their sweets, the three of them left Honeydukes for the blizzard outside.Hogsmeade looked like a Christmas card the little thatched cottages and shops were all covered in a layer of crisp snow there were holly wreaths on the doors and strings of enchanted candles hanging in the trees.Harry shivered unlike the other two, he didnt have his cloak. They headed up the street, heads bowed against the wind, Ron and Hermione shouting through their scarves.Thats the post office Zonkos is up there We could go up to the Shrieking Shack Tell you what, said Ron, his teeth chattering, shall we go for a butterbeer in the one-third Broomsticks?Harry was more than willing the wind was fierce and his hands were freezing, so t hey crossed the road, and in a few minutes were entering the tiny inn.It was extremely crowded, noisy, warm, and smoky. A curvy sort of woman with a pretty face was serving a bunch of rowdy warlocks up at the bar.Thats maam Rosmerta, said Ron. Ill get the drinks, shall I? he added, going slightly red.Harry and Hermione made their way to the back of the room, where there was a keen, inert table between the window and a handsome Christmas tree, which stood next to the fireplace. Ron came back five minutes later, carrying three foaming tankards of hot butterbeer.Merry Christmas he said happily, raising his tankard.Harry drank deeply. It was the most delicious thing hed ever tasted and seemed to heat every bit of him from the inside.A sudden breeze ruffled his hair. The door of the lead 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, w ho was deep in conversation with a hardy man in a lime-green bowler hat and a pinstriped cloak Cornelius Fudge, parson of Magic.In an instant, Ron and Hermione had both placed hands on the top of Harrys 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 Fudges feet move toward the bar, pause, then turn and walk right toward him. someplace above him, Hermione whispered, MobiliarbusThe 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 direct legs move back from the table right beside theirs, then heard the grunts and sighs of the teachers and curate as they sat down.Next he saw another pair of feet, wearing sparkly turquoise high heels, and heard a womans voice.A small gillywater Mi ne, said Professor McGonagalls 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 youll be the red currant rum, Minister.Thank you, Rosmerta, mdear, said Fudges voice. Lovely to see you again, I must say. Have one yourself, wont you? Come and join usWell, thank you very much, Minister.Harry watched the glittering heels march away and back again. His heart was pounding uncomfortably in his throat. Why hadnt it occurred to him that this was the last weekend of term for the teachers too? 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 Hermiones leg gave a nervous twitch next to him.So, what brings you to this neck of the woods, Minister? came Madam Rosmertas voice.Harry saw the lower part of Fudges thick body twist in his chair as though he were checking for eavesdroppers. Then he said in a quiet voice, What else, mdear, but Sirius Black? I daresay you heard what happened up at the school at Halloween?I did hear a rumor, admitted Madam Rosmerta.Did you tell the whole pub, Hagrid? said Professor McGonagall exasperatedly.Do you think Blacks still in the area, Minister? whispered Madam Rosmerta.Im 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 awayIts very bad for business, Minister.Rosmerta, dear, I dont like them any more than you do, said Fudge uncomfortably. Necessary precaution unfortunate, but there you areIve just met some of them. Theyre in a fury against Dumbledore he wont 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 worseWe all know what Blacks capable ofDo 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 Id have thoughtI mean, I remember him when he was a boy at Hogwarts. If youd told me then what he was going to become, Id have said youd had too much mead.You dont know the half of it, Rosmerta, said Fudge gruffly. The worst he did isnt 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 cant 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 PotterHarry dropped his tankard with a flashy 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 dont think weve ever had much(prenominal) a pair of troublemakers I dunno, chuckled Hagrid. Fred and George Weasley could give em a run fer their money.Youd have thought Black and Potter were brothers chimed in Professor Flitwick. InseparableOf 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, mdear Fudge dropped his voice and proceeded in a sort of low rumble. Not many people are aware that the Potters knew You-K now-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 wasnt 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 windowSo Black was the Potter s 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 himselfand 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 severely. And then, barely a week after the Fidelius Charm had been performed Black betrayed them? take a breath 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 Jamess house after they was killed Jus got him outta the ruins, poor little thing, with a great slash across his forehead, an his parents deadan Sirius Black turns up, on that flyin motorbike he used ter ride. Never occurred ter me what he was doin there. I didn know hed bin Lily an Jamess Secret-Keeper. Thought hed jus heard the news o You-Know-Whos attack an come ter see what he could do. White an shakin, he was. An yeh know what I d id? I COMFORTED THE MURDERIN TRAITOR Hagrid roared.Hagrid, please said Professor McGonagall. Keep your voice downHow 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, Im his godfather, Ill look after him Ha But Id had me orders from Dumbledore, an I told Black no, Dumbledore said Harry was ter go ter his aunt an uncles. Black argued, but in the end he gave in. Told me ter take his motorbike ter get Harry there. I wont need it anymore, he says.I shoulda known there was somethin funny 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 hed bin the Potters Secret-Keeper. Black knew he was goin ter have ter run fer it that night, knew it was a matter o hours before the Ministry was after him.But what if Id given Harry to him, eh? I bet hedve pitched him off the bike halfway out ter sea. His bes friends son But when a wizard goes over ter the Dark Side, theres nothin and no one that matters to em anymoreA long silence followed Hagrids story. Then Madam Rosmerta said with some satisfaction, But he didnt manage to disappear, did he? The Ministry of Magic caught up with him next dayAlas, 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.Pettigrewthat fat little boy who was eternally 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 heros death. Eyewitnesses Muggles, of course, we wiped their memories la ter 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 boyfoolish boyhe was always hopeless at duelingshould have left it to the Ministry I tell yeh, if Id got ter Black before little Pettigrew did, I wouldntve messed around with wands Id ve ripped him limb from limb, Hagrid growled.You dont know what youre lecture 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 hima heap of bloodstained robes and a few a few fragments Fudges 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. Blacks been in Azkaban ever since.Madam Rosmerta let out a long sigh.Is it true hes mad, Minister?I wish I could say that he was, said Fudge slowly. I certainly believe his masters 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 theres no sense in thembut I was shocked at how normal Black seemed. He spoke quite rationally to me. It was unnerving. Youd have thought he was merely bored asked if Id 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 hes broken out to do? said Madam Rosmerta. Good gracious, Minister, he isnt 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 thingbut give him back his most devoted servant, and I shudder to think how quickly hell rise againThere was a small chink of glass on wood. Someone had set down their glass.You know, Cornelius, if youre dining with the headmaster, wed 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 Rosmertas 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?Rons and Hermiones faces appeared under the table. They were both staring at him, lost for words.