Hello! I'm adding HP to my PR fics; I own neither.

This begins at the end of chapter 18 in PoA but gets very AU very fast. ;)

This one will cover the summer of 1994, as well as the tail end of Harry's third year.

Chapter One: But tonight Harry didn't make a wish.

Severus Snape pulled off the invisibility cloak, pointing his wand at Remus Lupin. He hadn't heard much of what Lupin and Black had been telling Potter, Weasley, and Granger but what did it matter? Lily was dead.

Granger screamed, while Black leapt to his feet. Potter looked shocked, and those eyes of his that could be Lily's were wide. The youngest Weasley boy was lying down on a battered bed, and one of his legs looked nasty. Careful to keep his wand pointed at Lupin's chest even as he tossed aside the Potter cloak, fully aware of just how dangerous the werewolf wizard could be, Snape noted, "I found this at the base of the Whomping Willow. Very useful, Potter, I thank you..."

Their shock was still evident on their faces; Snape decided why not and began a monologue despite knowing fully well what clichés they were. When would he get another chance to do one, after all, especially one so well deserved? "You're wondering, perhaps, how I knew you were here? I've just been to your office, Lupin. You forgot to take your potion tonight, so I took a gobletful along. And very lucky I did, lucky for me, I mean. Lying on your desk was a certain map. One glance at it told me all I needed to know. I saw you running along this passageway and out of sight."

Lupin started, "Severus-"

But Snape overtook him, a deep, vindictive rage welling up. "I've told the headmaster again and again that you're helping your old friend Black into the castle, Lupin, and here's the proof. Not even I dreamed you would have the nerve to use this old place as your hideout-"

"Severus, you're making a mistake," said Lupin urgently. "You haven't heard everything- I can explain- Sirius is not here to kill Harry-"

And I'm bald, Snape cynically told himself as he continued tightly, "Two more for Azkaban tonight. I shall be interested to see how Dumbledore takes this… he was quite convinced you were harmless, you know, Lupin… a tame werewolf…"

Remus John Lupin was heavily tempted to call Snape a fool but barely restrained himself, one of Snape's earlier comments making him realize just why he was so emotional this evening. Calmly, softly, he stated, "Sirius and I will come along quietly-"

"WHAT THE BLOODY HELL!"

"After you cast the Accio spell for Peter Pettigrew," Lupin finished, raising an eyebrow at his old friend who had made the outburst. Keeping his wand aimed at Lupin Snape cast the spell. Why not humor the pair?

"Accio Peter Pettigrew."

With a wild, frantic squeak Scabbers flew out of Ron's grasp and onto the end of Snape's wand, where he grappled desperately in order not to fall. Snape gaped.

"Weasley's rat?"

Sourly Black went, "Fitting, isn't it?"

Potter looked back and forth between the three men. "Wait. What? I'm confused."

"You're always confused, Potter," Snape commented dryly, picking up the rat by the scruff of his neck. Eying it he realized, "The rat is missing a claw in the right place… he was certainly close enough to the Potters… and he lacked- or should I say lack?- the strong will to withstand the Dark Lord, to become his servant."

Suddenly Potter looked almost sick. "Then we can't let him escape… I think Trelawney made an actual prophecy… one where if he escapes, the Dark Lord would revive."

Lupin snorted. "Her?"
But Snape knew better, but remained skeptical. "Oh, really?"

"She went out of it, more than usual, really, and spoke in this deep voice… afterwards she acted as if nothing had happened," Potter rushed on. "It said twelve years, that the servant had been chained for twelve years. And if it had been Black surely he would have just gone to the Dark Lord instead of going after me?"

"Although it was my idea to switch Secret-keepers, just like it was my idea for that 'prank'," Black spat out. With a shiver Snape realized something truly horrid. He and Black had something in common. Just as he had been blaming himself for his role in Lily's death, Black had been blaming himself for his role in James' death. But neither of them had actively tried to cause their deaths, it seemed.

Pointing his wand at the rat Snape silently cast the required spell, still not quite trusting Lupin or Black. In jerks and gasps the rat reverted to his true form, that of Peter Pettigrew. As his mind cleared Snape remembered his skill at Legilimency and used it to cast the creature's mind. It was indeed Pettigrew, a short and balding man who seemed scrawnier than Snape recalled, and he was the one who sold the Potters to the Dark Lord.

All three adult men snarled at Pettigrew. Binding him, Snape walked over to Lupin and Black. With a sour sigh he held out his hand.

"I'm sorry, Black. I should have known you were too much of Potter's dog to bite him. And Lupin, should I apologize you as well?"

Squeezing Black's shoulder Lupin admitted, "I thought Black was the traitor as well. I need to apologize to him."

Warily Black shook Snape's hand. "Thanks… I guess."

Looking over at Lupin he assured the werewolf, "How were you to know? Really, we thought about telling you but we figured the fewer people who knew the better."

Pettigrew tried to wiggle but ended up falling down onto his nose.

Lupin sighed. "What should we do with him?"

"Kill him!"

Then Black and Snape exchanged a horrified look as they realized they had spoken in tandem. Meanwhile Granger spoke up timidly. "But I mean, what really happened?"

"Simple. I decided that I'd be the public Secret-keeper and talked James into really using Peter over there. It didn't go as planned."

An odd emotion flickered across Lupin's face, making Black roll his eyes.

"I would have used you but for the little fact that I didn't know how you being a werewolf would affect the Fidelius charm."

"Oh…"

Harry walked over to Pettigrew and nudged him in the ribs with his foot. "I don't think we should kill him. He's not worth getting blood on your hands- any of you."

"But-" Black whined. Snape snarled, "He betrayed Lily!"

"What's James, a house-elf?" Black retorted. Offended Potter commented, "Hey! No insulting Dobby!"

"What?"

Snape looked back at the still-struggling Peter, opting not to react to Potter. "Black, how did you know about Pettigrew though? About him being at Hogwarts…"

For a response Black got out a crumpled up piece of newspaper, handing it silently to Snape. On the front page was the image of the Weasley family- complete with 'Scabbers' on Ron's shoulder. Softly Snape reasoned, "This was the edition Fudge gave you during your visit, isn't it?"

Black nodded curtly, his grey eyes gleaming hungrily at the prone Pettigrew. Darkly he commented, "The caption told me the boy would be going to Hogwarts… I remembered a bit about Ron, how he was only a few months older than Harry while Ginny was just over a year younger. If they were at Hogwarts…"

"So was Harry," Lupin finished, peering at the yellowed page. Ron shifted uncomfortably. "I didn't know! Honest!"

Lupin gave him a kindly smile. "Of course not. Although how his unusual longevity was explained is beyond me."

Ron shrugged. "Errol has lasted for ages too… we figured it was a Weasley pet trait."

Granger groaned and began to rub at one of her temples; Snape couldn't blame her. Snape noted, "You were afraid if word reached Pettigrew of any sign of the Dark Lord's return he'd kill Potter."

"Pah!" went Ron, sitting up a little straighter. "Compared to the last two years, this one was a breeze… although," he realized with concern, "we really didn't know until afterwards just how close You-Know-Who was to regaining power…"

Lupin chuckled tiredly, "Do I really want to know?"

"No," groaned Granger. But Snape wasn't paying attention anymore, feeling Potter's gaze on him. Crossly he demanded, "What?"

"I just realized how odd it was that Voldemort didn't kill my mum right away…" His eyes were far too much like Lily's, distracting him from the fact that both of his friends had flinched at the Dark Lord's name. Taking a step towards Snape he pointed out, "Those times in my first year weren't about evening the score with my dad, were they? They were for my mum."

"Did we miss something?" Lupin puzzled. Also frowning Granger questioned, "But what about the finger? Did he cut it off himself?"

"Yes," Black growled. "I chased him down, he yelled that I had betrayed Lily and James, and blew up the street. Then he cut off a finger and went down the sewer as a rat…" His eyes went bleak. "It was all just too much."

Snape looked over at the large, purring vaguely cat-like orange creature who had hopped up onto the bed with Ron.

"Where does this… creature come into play?"

"Oh Merlin's beard Snape and I agreed that Crookshanks is absurd!" Weasley shuddered, but Snape saw that it wasn't just horror at the idea- there was pain in there as well. What exactly had happened to his leg? It looked to be in fairly bad shape. Black shrugged, "After a bit of convincing he became my ally… telling me about the rat, getting a list of passwords from a boy's bedside table, trying to get Peter for me. I suppose he must have faked his death again."

Everyone turned to the squirming man on the floor. With a gulp Ron realized, "My rat is the reason Harry's parents are dead."

"It was my idea to switch Secret-keepers," Black observed bleakly, Lupin looked at him sympathetically. Potter shook his head, troubled.

"No. It's between me and Voldemort."

Both Granger and Weasley flinched. Plaintively the latter inquired, "Do you really have to keep saying his name so freely?"

Potter rolled his eyes. Quietly Snape inquired, "What exactly does that mean, Potter?"

"He told me so, when we met again before the Mirror of Erised. He wasn't after my parents; he was after me."

Bitterly Snape conceded, "True. But I…"

Granger smacked her palm to her forehead. "Can we please play the blame game some other time? All that matters is getting Pettigrew to the castle before he escapes to rejoin You-Know-Who."

"Or we could just kill him," Snape observed mildly. Black perked up. "I never thought I'd agreed with Snape, but hey people used to say it was impossible to break out of Azkaban!"

Wryly Snape observed, "That means so, so much to me."

"Anytime," Black assured Snape.

Lupin eyed the silently struggling Pettigrew silently. "Well…" There was a vengeful hunger in his eyes as well.

"I don't think you should kill him; I don't think that he's worth that. I don't think my parents would want any of you to end up as killers," Potter spoke up, his chin held up high. Even though Snape knew that Black and Lupin would see the James in him, all he personally could see at the moment was the Lily. Ugh. Grimly Potter continued, "If anyone deserves to be sent to Azkaban it's him."

Black smirked. "True… I've heard the real Death Eaters in there. They're all pretty peeved at Peter. I bet that they'd be more than willing to give him a welcoming party should the chance arise."

Pettigrew blanched and looked imploringly at Ron. When Ron looked away, sickened, he turned his gaze on Granger who just stepped back. Finally he looked at Potter and forced himself to speak. "You all don't understand! The Dark Lord was taking over; he had power! He would have killed me!"

All three men snarled. Granger pointed her wand at him. "Silencio…"

Turning to Black she commented, "But… ah… Mister Black, how did you escape from Azkaban?"

Black looked away, seeing things none of them wanted to see. "I knew I was innocent of the crimes they put in for. It wasn't a happy thought, but it kept me sane. And well, Lupin and Snape can guess the rest."

Illuminated Snape nodded. Granger looked over at Pettigrew. "I see. Lupin's a werewolf, while Pettigrew's an Animagus but so are you. You used your Animagus form to escape Azkaban and avoid being caught. And you must have done it illegially since you aren't on the official list."

"Exactly," Lupin nodded. Guiltily he acknowledged, "I betrayed Dumbledore's trust in me by doing so… he let me come to Hogwarts, he gave me a job, and I had repaid him by letting my three best friends become Animagi to keep me company when I was transformed. It helped me keep my humanity during the full moons, yes, but at what cost?"

"And your father was an Animagus as well," Sirius murmured, looking at Harry. Out loud he said, "We were young and foolish, and clever enough to get away with it."

Snape looked sullen.

Black scratched the back of his head, looking ashamed as he studied Snape's face. "Snape found out because I was a git. James and Remus wouldn't speak to me for a month."

"Really?" Snape commented, stunned. He had missed that part of the aftermath. But it made an odd sort of sense as he hadn't been pranked during the month following the 'prank' and thus the foursome must have reunited when Potter and Lupin forgave Black and the pranks had resumed. Plus Black looked… guilty over the prank. How odd. Huh. Perhaps Potter hadn't been so awful as he thought, or was that the overload of information speaking?

Grimly Lupin said, "We'll have to beware the Dementors."

"Of course," Black snapped as he hauled a cowering Pettigrew to his feet. "We won't let the rat get away, now will we?"

Snape lifted an eyebrow. "Ah… Lupin. You forget yourself. Tonight is a full moon; perhaps you should stay behind in case the cloud cover lifts."

Lupin blanched. "Good idea. But first-"

He pointed his wand at Ron, casting the spell 'Ferula' to bandage Ron's leg. Then he gave his wand to Black. "Keep an eye on it until I'm… back, all right?"

Crookshanks led the way, Snape and Pettigrew following, with Granger helping Weasley along while Potter and Black brought up the rear. As they strolled along the tunnel leading back to the Whomping Willow, having closed the passageway behind them, Black scratched the side of his head awkwardly.

"Do you know what this means, Harry?" he asked abruptly. Harry blinked up at him. "You're free."

"Yes… but I'm also- I don't know if anyone ever told you- I'm your godfather."

Harry nodded slowly. "Yeah, I knew that."

"Well…" Black continued stiffly. "Your parents appointed me your guardian. If anything happened to them…"

Harry blinked again. It couldn't possibly mean what he thought he meant. Anxiously Black stated, "I'll understand, of course, if you want to stay with your aunt and uncle instead."

"What- live with you?" Harry gaped. Misunderstanding Black added hurriedly, "Of course, I thought you wouldn't want to. I understand, I'd just thought I'd offer…"

"Are you insane? Of course I want to leave the Dursleys! Have you got a house? When can I move in?"

Black paused, his eyes wide. "You want to? You mean it?"

"Yeah, I mean it!" Harry exclaimed. Black beamed, looking for a moment like the best man Harry had seen in the moving photograph of his parents' wedding. Then Snape had to break into the moment. "You'll learn, Black, that young Potter here is as brash as both of his parents combined- a dangerous combination that leads him to often say things that he means when he shouldn't."

"Well, he should this time," Weasley defended his best friend wearily. Glancing back, Snape saw that Weasley seemed to be taking this turn of events hard. Of course, if Snape had learned that his beloved pet had been responsible for the deaths of Lily's parents he'd be fairly miserable as well. But it was no reason to mope. So he rolled his eyes and instructed Weasley, "It's not your fault your pet rat turned out to be a Death Eater responsible for the deaths of Potter's parents. If you don't cheer up soon I'll have to take five points from Gryffindor."

Weasley gaped at him, furious, but Snape didn't like the appraising look Granger was giving him. But luckily they were soon out and walking across the castle grounds. As they did so the clouds melted away, the full moon lighting everything in sight. Granger let out a shudder of relief.

"Imagine if… oh, poor Professor Lupin…"

A clammy chill suddenly filled Harry. He looked around fearfully. "Dementors."

"I know," Black shuddered, tightening his grip on Lupin's wand. Potter lifted his wand. So did Snape. From everywhere they came, well over a hundred of them. Looking oddly confident Potter came to the fore. Remembering the simple fact that he had a godfather now, and perhaps a chance at a real family for the first time he could remember-

"EXPECTO PATRONUM!"

A giant silvery stag erupted from Potter's wand, its nimbus driving off all of the Dementors. Snape observed, "Not half bad, Potter. But it does confirm the fact that you take after your father."

"Yes, we know. James and I were gits a lot during our years in Hogwarts, especially to your lot," Black sighed. "But Snape, be fair. You were gits back just as often."

Snape couldn't argue with that. So he just ignored Black.

Tail held high Crookshanks resumed leading the moonlit way back to Hogwarts. No one was surprised to see Professor McGonagall there, in a quilted crimson dressing gown. She looked down at them from over her glasses, although her eyebrows went high when she realized just who made up their strange little group.

Quietly, somberly she observed, "It was Pettigrew all along, wasn't it?"

Black held up his head high. "Yes."

Dourly Ron explained, "He was Scabbers, professor. I didn't know…"

McGonagall decided, "Perhaps you all should go see Dumbledore. Save for Ron, of course. He needs to go to the infirmary wing."

"EH?"

Black looked more closely at Granger and Weasley. "Well, well, well, Harry. You got yourself your own Sirius and Remus here."

Darkly he added, "But you were smart enough to avoid having a Peter."

As Sirius had made these comments Ron had insisted on accompanying the others and McGonagall had surrendered.

As they followed her into Hogwarts Snape had to grumble, "Hasn't this night been long enough already?"

McGonagall shared the lead with Crookshanks to the statue leading up to Dumbledore's office. Sharply she spoke the password.

"Chocolate Frogs."

In silence they went up the newly revealed stairs, finding Dumbledore writing at his desk while a sleeping Fawkes nearby. He looked up, and blinked his eyes in surprise.

"Ah. Welcome. Please sit down."

"Food?" Black and Weasley chorused hopefully. McGonagall raised her eyes to the ceiling as the others got comfortable. Clasping his hands together Dumbledore inquired, "Now, I would like the full story."

It took a while, with everyone interrupting everyone, but at last the gist of the story came across. Black had conceded the fact that he, Pettigrew, and the elder Potter had become Animagi to be with Lupin even on the full moon- turning into a vast, shaggy black dog.

Potter yelped, "You're the Grim?"

That had had led to an interesting tangent of conversation but at length everything had been sorted out. McGonagall exhaled heavily. "I'm sorry, Black."

"Eh, it's okay. I am a Black after all; that's not a fact easily forgotten," Black stated simply without rancor. By this point Weasley, Granger, and Potter were all looking rather tired yet relieved. McGonagall requested, "Dumbledore, may I escort the trio to the infirmary wing?"

"Yes, of course. But one last thing- I found the most unusual artifact on my desk this evening," Dumbledore's eyes twinkled as he revealed a battered, smelly black sock. "Do any of you know what it means?"

"Dobby," Harry smiled fondly, understanding the meaning at once. "Of course he would- Buckbeak's situation is a lot like his was. Good old Dobby."

So the assistant headmistress led the trio away from the office. Looking back at the still-bound Pettigrew Snape commented, "I wonder how the Ministry of Magic will take this."

"Not well," Dumbledore conceded. "But they will have to accept it."

"Good," Black almost-growled. More calmly he said, "Well, I'd better start house-hunting for me and Harry."

"Ah- for you and Harry?"

"Yeah, I mean he is my godson after all."

"I'm afraid Harry will have to stay with his aunt and uncle for at least part of the summer holiday," Dumbledore shook his head. Black's jaw dropped.

"WHY?"

Snape rubbed at the ear closer to Black. "Could you stop shouting so often?"

"Shush," Black retorted but not as bitterly as he could have, leaning forward in his chair. "Well, why? He wants to live with me, I want to live with him, his parents wanted him to live with me rather than them…"

"It's not that simple, I'm afraid. A blood bond was created when Lily sacrificed herself in an attempt to save Harry; that is part of the reason he still lives. But that blood bond's power keeps Harry safe when he is at his mother's relatives' home. He must go there for at least some time. At the very least until you find a home."

"But Black doesn't have to find a home," Snape intervened, knowing very well he'd probably end up regretting this. "He and Harry can come live with me. For that matter, Lupin can tag along as well."

"Er… see?" Black decided not to question Snape's motives. "It'll be fine!"

Dumbledore frowned. "The blood bond keeps Harry safe at the Dursleys' home."

"I do not like that implication," Black huffed. Belatedly Snape realized that as the official owner of the potential home he was part of that unwelcome implication so he added, "Any of us- Black, Lupin, or I- would lay down our lives for Harry. Admittedly I would do it for a reason different than they, but it'd be just as strong."

"The blood bond charm makes such sacrifices unneeded."

"He's my GODSON. I'm going to be a proper guardian at last, and not even you Dumbledore can stop me!" Black snapped. Dumbledore leaned back in his chair, looking at a determined Black from over his half-moon spectacles.

"I can see no point in trying no further… perhaps at least an afternoon's visit to ensure that Harry has all of his things from his relatives would be better than nothing…"

"That sounds reasonable," Snape acknowledged. It would be interesting at least to see Petunia again after all these years. Black grumbled, "Fine."

Dumbledore stated calmly, "Now that that has been sorted out, perhaps Snape you could go make up a guest chamber for Sirius while I contact the Ministry?"

Grimly the two black-haired men left. Keeping an eye on the quelled Pettigrew Dumbledore began a long night.

Meanwhile Harry Potter had sat straight up in his bed in the infirmary wing. Ron was already conked out, his leg already on the mend, but Hermione sat half-way up.

"What is it, Harry?"

"Now that Sirius is free do you think I'll get in trouble for what I did for Marge?"

"Doubtful; I think there's a statute of limitations on such matters," Hermione assured Harry as she laid back down for sleep.

Lying down, Harry stared out the window. It all seemed like a dream, yet better than a dream at the same time. He wouldn't have to live with the Dursleys anymore; he would live with his godfather. Across the sky shot a shooting star. But tonight Harry didn't make a wish.