The Protector

Wondering About The Corridors

"He's going to turn it into Professor McGonagall, right?" Hermione asked.

"Why should he?" I asked. "It's awesome. I don't know anybody besides you, 'Mione, who would turn that in. Use it."

"Yeah," Harry nodded, "I think I'm going to keep it for myself."

"Oh look who's over there," Hermione giggled. "Madam Rosmerta. Don't you fancy her, Ronald?"

"No," he said, frantically.

"Shush, guys," Harry put out his hand.

I looked over towards Madam Rosmerta was. She had been boarding up a sign when Fudge came riding up with McGonagall and Hagrid. I thought this was pretty odd.

"Professor McGonagall?" I muttered under my breath.

I heard them say something about Sirius Black that really perked me up. "Well what would Sirius Black be doing here?" Madam Rosmerta asked.

They whispered something in her ear, and she seemed baffled, "Harry Potter?!" I saw them shush her and take her inside. Before I could blink, Harry was gone.

"Harry!" we all yelled after the invisible boy. I followed his footprints up to the pub. I knew I wasn't allowed, but Hermione and Ron sure did try.

"NO UNDERAGE WIZARDS!" the heads told them. They rushed out and stood next to me. I went over and sat on a bench nearby.

"What should we do?" Ron asked.

"Be ready for him to come back," I nodded. "And I have a feeling they're going to tell him false information."

===

Only a few minutes later, the foot prints appeared in the snow ahead of them. I got up and followed. I watched as Harry ran into a group of carolers. "I'm sorry," I apologized for Harry, and continued to run after him.

He ran back to where the Shrieking Shack stood and sat on a pretty big rock. It was different than the one I sat on though. I walked up to him. I heard him crying underneath this cloak.

"Harry?" I asked, sitting besides him.

He just kept crying. I took the cloak off and I rolled it up on my legs. I took hold of Harry's left hand. I didn't realize how cold it was. I still held onto it though. "What'd you hear Harry?" I asked.

"He was their friend," He spoke to me. "He was their friend!"

I sighed. Knew it. False information.

"I really hope he finds me!" Harry was so angry. I don't think I'd every seen him this way. "Because when he does, I'm going to be ready! When he does, I'm going to kill him!"

"Harry," I squeezed his hand, "you're talking about Sirius, aren't you?"

"Of course," he huffed. "Who else would it be?"

"Listen to me, Harry," I sighed. "I know more than you do. And I've been right for the past two years, haven't I?"

I heard him take a big breath, "Yeah. I guess so?"

"So, listen to me when I say, they are giving you assumptions and false information. They don't know all the facts. They weren't there. Promise me, Harry, that you'll take my words into concideration."

"Okay," he squeezed my hand, "I promise."

____

"What a beautiful day," Hermione spoke as we exited the castle.

"Yeah, I guess so," I smiled. It was now a couple months since that...snowball fight. The snow was cleared up, but the weather was still sort of chilly. My meetings with McGonagall were going really well. I was able to transform without doing anything and just thinking about it. I've been able to control myself more. I was able to go watch Harry do his Patronus charm and I showed him mine. He thought it was pretty cool.