I was a fourth-year student, my boyfriend a fifth-year student. Having already taken my OWLs and NEWTs in transfiguration I had spare time on my hands whilst others were in class. I could have and probably should have done something else with the time but I chose to go to the shrieking shack via a passage in the dungeons. It had always been an interesting place but that year there was another interesting reason to go. Sirius Black. It all started when he “escaped” from Azkaban Prison, he was friends with our teacher Professor Lupin and stayed in the shrieking shack. I had no idea about him being there until about November. Cedric and I had been using it as a place to sneak off to and we were suddenly greeted by a dog. It was big and black. I recognised it as the one I had seen at home but I don’t think it recognised me. I told Cedric to leave but of course he didn’t. He wanted to ensure my safety. Knowing it was an animagus, I started talking to the dog like a human.

“Look, I don’t know who you are, I don’t care. But I will turn into something far worse than you if you don’t leave now.” Or words to that effect. Just know that what I said made an impression. The dog still growled and barked at me. “Go on then attack me if you want” All I wanted to do was stand up to whatever it was. I’d had a lot of training in that. I could feel a tugging on my arm by Cedric and I knew that we had been caught by Professor Lupin.

“Alright, alright now.” He said. He managed to calm down the situation. “Miss Snape, Mr Diggory, I believe you are both out of school grounds, and should return promptly.”

I knew who he was too but I wasn’t going to say anything. The dog knew him. The dog trusted him.