Heya!

General disclaimers apply - I don't own the characters, but I do possess the common sense that they apparently lack in the canon.

What would happen if people thought things through completely when trying to clear one's name? Perhaps the objective could be obtained? Let's find out!

June, 1994 - Shrieking Shack

"He can go to Azkaban," Harry said. "If anyone deserves that place, he does ..."

Pettigrew was still wheezing behind him.

"Very well," said Lupin. "Stand aside, Harry."

Harry hesitated.

"I'm going to body-bind him," said Lupin. "That's all, I swear."

Harry stepped out of the way. With a quick 'petrificus totalus' Pettigrew was rendered immobile. For extra safety, Lupin shot ropes that thoroughly bound Pettigrew up. He then turned to Sirius, and offered him Snape's wand.

"Well, let's get you back to the castle, then."

Sirius grinned.

Harry and Hermione exchanged glances, however.

"Are you stupid?" asked Hermione.

The two men turned to her, with confused and slightly affronted looks.

Harry came to the defense of his friend.

"Look, I'm just as happy about how this turned out as you are, but did you not hear what Snape said?" he asked, gesturing to the unconscious Potions Professor.

Sirius grimaced, "Who cares what the greasy git said? He didn't believe us!"

Rolling his eyes, Harry said "Well, no, but I sure believe him when he said he was going to give Professor Lupin his potion. Anything you'd care to tell us about tonight, professor?"

Lupin gasped.

"I completely forgot! I'll be turning soon! Get out of here at once, Sirius, seal the tunnel!"

Without further ado, he levitated both Pettigrew and Snape and dropped them down the tunnel. He motioned for the teenagers to follow.

Harry and Hermione stepped forward, wands drawn, supported a splinted Ron between them. Sirius briefly embraced Lupin, with the promise to talk when he wasn't feeling so furry.

As they made their way down the tunnel, Hermione started talking logistics.

"Well, I don't think we should wake up Professor Snape just yet, he isn't likely to listen to us. And there may still be Ministry officials wandering around after Buckbeak's... after that, so Mr. Black, you should stay in your animagus form when we get out. We'll go and talk to Dumbledore with Pettigrew, and when we think we've convinced him, we'll come and get you."

Sirius was looking mildly bemused, and just nodded along, levitating Pettigrew so that his forehead scraped the tunnel's ceiling.

Harry was still helping Ron, while Hermione had her wand on Snape. As they exited the tunnel, Crookshanks darted ahead and froze the tree. They handed Sirius Harry's invisibility cloak and told him to stay hidden, and not do anything stupid, then set off towards the castle.

As Harry paused to shake Sirius' hand, a dreadful howl came from the direction of the Shrieking Shack, and they all winced.

Sirius sighed, "Poor old Moony. We'll get this sorted, and have a place for him, hey?"

Harry blinked. "Pardon?" he asked.

Looking suddenly flustered, Sirius stuttered out "Well, I understand if you want to stay with your Aunt, but well, I'm you – I'm not sure if you knew – I'm your godfather and if ... if you wanted – but I'd completely understand if you'd rather..."

Smiling at the escapee, Harry said "Sirius I know you're my godfather. I think it's brilliant. And do you mean... I could maybe, stay with you sometimes?"

"Sometimes?" Sirius exclaimed. "Well, I supposed, but I would love if you would be comfortable living with me!"

"Leave the Dursleys? Brilliant! Do you have a house? Oh, I can't wait to get your name cleared!" Harry crowed.

Shrugging the cloak over his shoulders, Sirius smiled, though he filed away for future reference the fact that Harry was willing to leave his home with someone he had only known for a few hours. The trio waved a cheerful goodbye, and Sirius slipped into the shadows to wait with a patience born in Azkaban. He looked up into the night sky, gazing at the full moon, and allowed himself to hope.

Meanwhile, Harry, Ron, and Hermione had made their way up to the castle. The Entrance Hall was deserted, so they made their way to the Hospital Wing to deposit Snape. Levitating him onto a bed, Hermione rushed to Madame Pomfrey, asking her to contact the Headmaster. The bewildered Mediwitch complied, and Albus Dumbledore appeared with gharish robes and twinkling eye.

He grew far more sober when he saw his Potions Master on a bed and the supposedly deceased Peter Pettigrew bound on the floor.

Looking at the Boy-Who-Lived and his friends, he said, "Explain, please."

Thanks for reading! I'd love reviews with ideas for more WHAT IF. Remember "the saddest is what might have been" but it is endlessly amusing and frustrating trying to fix it in my own little world of fandom :)