Disclaimer: Hadn't change since the last chapter (HP = J.K. Rowling, Bleach = Tite Kubo, no money made with all that stuff etc…)

A/N: Thanks for your patience and good reading guys! See you at the end of the chapter… or not haha Enjoy!

Chapter 9

Operation Kebab the Grim, or how to hurt the Headmaster's pride

"GRIIIIIIIIIM! THE GRIM IS HEREEEEE! GREAT DREAD AWAITS UUUUUS!"

Noemie sighed and rubbed her eyes, watching Sybyl Trelawney ran in circles in the corridor arms in the air, looking like a giant hysteric shawl/pearl covered grasshopper. Beside her Padfoot was on brand new suede leash, sitting like a good dog panting tongue out, amused.

"Hell's Butterflies chill down Madam Irma! He's just a random lost dog that was injured by the centaurs."

"LIES HE FOOLED YOU! GREAT EVIL IS COMIIIIING!"

Some students coming back from breakfast began to gathering, watching the Divination Professor go nuts… under the giggling of her zanpakutoh who was mad before the show…

"Muahahaha I have to admit haha… that after the weirdos of the Twelve and the berserker of the Eleventh haha… Kami-sama this place host the most marvellous specimen muahahaha"

Trying without success to ignore Datenshi, the vein on her forehead seriously pumping and the jaw clenched; the Student Supervisor was slowly to losing patience.

"I swear if you didn't calm down in a minute I knock you out and drag you to your damned Tower you better didn't left in the first place…"

"What is happening here?"

Every heads turned toward the Headmaster and Deputy Headmistress who were coming up from breakfast as well. Sybil hurried to Dumbledore and began to sob.

"Albus it's dreadful! The Grim is walking among us."

"Kami-sama he's just a dog! Do you need a second pair off bottle bottom to see right or what?!"

"Ah there he is your little protégé." Minerva kneeled in front of the dog she had heard the night before, and looked at him straight in the eyes. Padfoot lowered his head and laid on the floor, whimpering. The witch smirked "Sure, such a demon."

The headmaster smiled. "Well I don't see why we should banish your injured little friend; he seems to be a nice dog. If he behaves I don't have a problem with you keeping him here."

Padfoot chose right that moment to jump on Sybil, throwing her on the floor to lick her. "Aaaaah! He's attacking meeeee!"

Datenshi giggled even louder as Padfoot was having a lot of fun despite the funny flavour of the Seer, when he was suddenly throw back by a firm hand clasped on his neck hide almost angrily.

"Couché Kebab! Don't jump to lick random people, you don't know where they used to be and you're still recovering! You're going to open your stitches and be poisoned at this rate! Sorry Headmaster he's kind of playful"

Minerva rose an eyebrow "Kebab? A Turkish speciality… really Miss Khan…"

"What? Despite how much I used to like to eat it, my dad always told that it looked like sliced dog meat. Kebab was named in that honour: with two centaur arrows in the ass he was not far from ready to be roasted when I found him."

A few students chuckled, as did the Headmaster while helping his Seer up and helping her a handkerchief. "As he looks almost like a mummified dog I guess that your statement is not far from the truth. There Professor. Let me escort you back to your Tower."

"Thank you Albus… but you better don't touch me or the curse of that demon will spray to your person."

"Don't worry for me. Miss Khan, I bid you a good day back to your loved ones. Give Yamamoto-sotaicho my regards."

"I will, thank you."

The oddly assorted pair took its leave, leaving Minerva, Miss Khan and Padfoot behind. The students moving away as the fun was over -and with the help of a signature glare from the Head of Gryffindor-. To the great relief of the shinigami, whose zanpakuto began to calm a little. Once alone the witch turned to her young colleague, eyebrow raised. "You didn't tell me how special your dog is."

The student supervisor swallowed at the hint and Padfoot's tail disappeared between his legs. "Crap she already understood… I was taking him to Remus so he could watch him until I'm back, he indeed has a funny character."

"Mind if I join you?"

"Be my guest."

Padfoot looked at the shinigami like she had grown a second head "Okay… She's definitely gone nuts…". A gentle tug on his leash made him move to follow his temporary Mistress. Once in the DADA classroom they were greeted by a pleased werewolf. He barely saw his former Head of House outside school business and was happy that she came to see him.

"Hello ladies. Minerva I'm pleasantly surprised to see you here! Would you both accept to share a cup of tea despite…"

The werewolf stopped dead in his track when he spotted the bandaged dog who was happily wagging his tail: he would recognize him beyond millions. The shinigami smiled and took his arm and pulled him toward his office "With pleasure my friend! I will be able to introduce you to my new pet and all of you guys will be able to catch up!"

Minerva sighed and followed them, the shinigami better had a good reason if she didn't want to be cursed to Oblivion. Once the office locked and Bubble charmed, the witch turned to the shinigami, fuming.

"WHAT THE HELL CROSSED YOUR MIND HAVE YOU GONE NUT?!"

Padfoot fearing for his hide hid behind the shinigami, who was covering her poor ears. "Whoa whoa Minerva chill please, I have my reasons."

"You better have young lady because you're not far from being cursed to Hell and back! Introducing Sirius Black into the castle! Merlin's beard what happened in your head to end with such stupid idea!"

The shinigami winced, she knew that the witch was not a dangerous opponent in the end if she fought seriously, but she was still a scary one. Plus, didn't want to show herself with odd additional body parts or strange appearance at Soul Society. Having already got home with a new unwanted hair colour, a second and even worse following time would leave her pride and credibility at a underground level with non-return point. The young woman gently rose her hand as a sign of piece and gave the Transfiguration Mistress her best smile "First you must know that Amelia was warned, and even approved it. We are meeting tomorrow at the Three Broomstick to clear Kebab's name. Now to justify that, it was better to not let him rotting in the Shrieking shack in the state he was. If I had found him a day later he would be dead. Besides no one would expect the Student Supervisor to host a dangerous running escapee among kids, and even less suspect a poor gentle lost dog shoot by centaur to be a wanted criminal."

The werewolf chuckled "I have to say, Noemie-chan, that you definitely are more Maurauderous than I could have expected."

"Don't support her in her recklessness Remus! And you, stupid mutt, you better have a good explanation for everything!" In one synchronized motion the werewolf and the dog winced, then looked at each other and finished to cock their head to the side. The witch sighed and took a seat, pinching the edge of her nose. "Merlin I'm getting to old for all that shit."

Remus smiled with compassion and helped her a glass of Firewhisky. "You're not THAT old Minerva, you managed seven years of hormonal and stupid young Marauders, I'm sure you can handle the adult and wiser version."

Minerva gladly took the glass but glared at him "It wasn't stated that you would corrupt our until then impartial and quite wise Student Supervisor!"

"Hey I'm still impartial! To your record I didn't cut the throat of the mutt or began House bashing!"

"I'm not done with you yet young lady!"

"Oh please Minnie don't be mean, she's a fair and gentle young Lady." The witch rose her eyes to meet the malicious steel eyes of Sirius Black, still hiding behind Miss Khan. The said Miss Khan sidestepped to dodge a vicious stinging hex… she had barely seen the witch pull out her wand and thanked her reflex and body language skills.

Unfortunately for him, Sirius wasn't as skilled as the shinigami and was currently rubbing his bum. He rose his head in the intent to reply something to the witch, but only saw his brother in all but blood standing right before him… and the second after a fist made a hard contact with his cheekbone.

The Animagus stumbled but avoided to fall, the sudden movement making his flesh pull the stitches on the ribs. He winced but straightened himself, to be hugged by the man not a second later. The shinigami smiled, she was happy that Remus was happy to have his friend back. Even Minerva softened a bit… to better curse the man a second time who yelped under the sudden attack and parted from his furry friend to rub his bum again "Merlin witch! I admit that I more than deserved the first one but what was that for?! I'm bloody recovering!"

"For acting like a stupid fool and leaving your godson behind in the hand of these abject muggles!"

The wanted man's face darkened and he let himself sit on the floor. "I know… I am the one to be fully responsible of all the pain Harry suffered in the hands of these muggles. Lily refused to let Harry in the custody of her sister, should something ever happen to her, at any cost. He had to live with them because I trusted somebody I thought was like a brother to me with his, Lily and James' lives. He had to live there because I couldn't protect them from him. He had to live there because I couldn't put myself together and had to run after that bloody traitor of a rat, instead of taking him somewhere safe and be there for him. He had to live there because I didn't avoid the trap that scum put me in. Everything is my fault. I deserved all these years at Azkaban, I failed to everyone. Lily and James must have rolled in their graves a thousand times, they will never forgive me and I deserve it. Hell I don't deserve to meet Prongsling, I failed him so deeply, I failed them all." Tears were beginning to rain down his cheek as the anger against himself and the guilt were floating back at the surface.

Minerva couldn't be still angry with him. The man had let himself rot in Azkaban because he thought he deserved it, while the real traitor was living free. She rose and gently walked to him, resting a comforting firm hand on his shoulder. "Put yourself together Mister Black, stop crying like a baby and start to honour the House you were sorted in by acting like a man! You have the chance to redeem yourself so take it! I swear if you dare turn it down like the irresponsible stupid coward you used to be, I will to hex you to the moon and back!"

The man smiled at the lecturing voice tainted with Scottish brogue. He dried his tears and took her hand in his. "You are right, as always Professor. I don't deserve this chance, but if I let it down I'm sure that Lily will definitely skin me when I will join them in the after world. It will not be easy, and I am not that stupid proud prat anymore, I won't deny the fact that I will need help…" a flick on his forehead made him yelp. "Hey what did I said wrong this time?!"

Noemie looked at him really bored "Don't be a stupid mutt, Kebab. I already risked too much for your flea-eaten-ass to let you down after the happy family reunion, of course you will need help. Raise a teenager is not easy, even less when you both suffered from traumatic experiences."

Remus smiled and put a comforting hand on his other shoulder "You are not alone Padfoot. Don't forget that you are a member of the pack, like it or not."

"And I certainly will not allow you to transform my cub in the clone of his father. He looks enough like him physically and already finds enough trouble without trying."

Sirius smiled "Seems that I'm really stuck with you, but I couldn't dream of better people to help me raise Harry. Thank you, guys, it means a lot to me."

The shinigami smiled "Well as the bloodshed was avoided I don't see why I should stay; I have a boyfriend that misses me too much for his wellbeing. Have fun guys, but don't mistreat my new friend to much, he's a pain in the ass to stitch. And you Kebab better behave or I will feed you myself to the Dementors."

And with that the shinigami turned on her heels and barely heard Sirius say something like "I swear if she weren't so freaking scary I would chase after her until she consents to marry me." before the door shut behind her, making her chuckle.

oOo*OoO*oOo

The Senkaïmon door opened on the cherry bay mare and her ridder. After polite salutations to the guards and a quick gallop, the Lieutenand of the 13th Squad was greeted by her colleague from the first. She smiled to him as she jumped down the horse.

"Good morning Sasakibe-san."

"Good morning Khan-fukutaïcho. How are you?"

"Glad to be home. What new?"

"Nothing special. How are your colleagues?"

"Minerva is fine, why? Did you miss her?"

The man blushed a little, he didn't mean to be that transparent "To be honest with you, it has been a long time a woman made such good impression on me."

The young woman smiled "She is a brilliant woman, and not the ugliest. If you decide to date, I will be happy for you. You both deserve some happiness. And if the old man has something to say about it I will remind him a thing or two."

"Thanks for your support."

"You're welcome. You are like an uncle to me as Minerva became kind of an adopted Aunty. But I warn you she has a damn temper when annoyed, you know Scottish blood stuff. I almost got hexed this morning."

The man chuckled "I don't intent to, but thank you for the warning. What did you do to annoy her?"

The young woman chuckled "I adopted a dog that happen to be the most wanted wizard in Britain, and is in fact innocent."

The man sighed "Really Noemie-chan you're helpless."

"Hey I followed the orders, that guy spent twelve years under the guard of Dementors and still risks to have is soul sucked away. He did nothing but tried to avenge his brother in all but blood from the real culprit who's running free as we speak."

"As honourable your act is, you're still helpless."

They arrived in front of the office of Yamamoto, and entered after knocking. Miss Khan kneeled and waited patiently to be acknowledged by her grandfather. The venerable warrior drew a last kanji on his paper, rested his pencil and leaned back in his chair.

"Welcome back Khan-fukutaïcho. You may begin your report."

And the Lieutenant did as she was told. The old man listened carefully to everything, waiting for her to finish. When she did twenty minutes later, he stood up and walked to the border of his office, starring the landscape of the Seireitei.

"You did well Khan-fukutaïcho. Now rise and let my granddaughter join me."

The young woman smiled and joined her grandfather. As pain in the ass as he could be sometimes, she still liked the ancient warrior a lot. That's why she slid an arm around his shoulders and kissed him on the cheek. The old warrior opened one of his usually closed eyes, surprised.

"What owe me such honour?"

"Even if I called you all bird names for not letting me coming back home last month, I still missed you infuriating old man."

His lips twitched as he gave her a gentle slap behind her head "You're too emotional child… and far too driven by your desires. It's your duty as a soldier to be focused on your mission and not on your absent boyfriend."

"Well I'm not sorry for being a healthy sexually active young woman who has a hot boyfriend."

"You don't need to remind me."

The young women smiled. As badass the Captain Commander may be, the man had that complex when it came to see his granddaughter like a woman, even if he never knew her as a child. She bites her cheek at the thought of his reaction the day Asa will introduce him to her lover in some future… and really sympathize for the person in question.

"So you did found yourself an apprentice."

Noémie smiled "Sort off. He asked me help to learn how to defend himself, I couldn't disobey the family tradition."

Yamamoto nodded "That boy is special, Albus seems to have a particular interest for him."

The younger shinigami huffed "That infuriating old man had let that kid rot with relatives that abuse him because of his powers, and deal with situation that old goat had the capacity to deal himself with. I don't know what he is playing at and didn't spent enough time in their world to unravel the whole game, but I have a bad feeling about that."

The old man nodded "Me too, the sole approved existence of Soul Sucking creatures is worrying me about those human's attentions. Humans are not to meddle with spiritual matters, they shall remember it. Continue to investigate, I trust you to succeed on that. Now tell me about your little apprentice."

The young women's face soothed and she smiled again "Harry is a good kid despite the lack of care he suffered. Very brave and too selfless for his well being. He has the spirit of a warrior and isn't afraid to face his worse fears to became stronger. That's why he asked my help, because of his inability to face Dementors. He lost consciousness each time he crossed one, he relieves his worst memories -and Kami-sama they are plenty and not easy ones- and his conscience temporary shuts down under the aggression."

The old man frowned "It seems to be a really serious case. How do you intend to help him?"

"I'm teaching him meditation and mind control, to condition his mental for the curse that my Defence colleague is teaching him. But despite all my efforts the same memory keeps to appear each time he faces the fake Dementor…. and it's rather weird in fact… he was way too young to be able to remember such a thing…"

"What is it?"

Noémie paused a moment, clenching her jaw "He hears his mother call him and sees a flash of green… the kid relives the death of his mother each time... but he was too young to be able to remember such a thing! He was one-year-old when it happened!"

The old man began to be seriously interested by that curious case "It is curious indeed. Did you feel any other special thing about the kid?"

The young woman thought for a moment "Except that he is stranger to any loving demonstration coming from an adult, or doesn't know how to trust an adult… and the fact that it seems that he doesn't give everything to master that spells like he wants to hold on that sole memory of his mother…maybe his strange reiatsu. It is like a piece of another reiatsu had synchronised with his."

Yamamoto eyes shot open "Are you completely sure about that?"

Noemie nodded "At hundred percent. What are you not telling me?"

"That kid may have a piece of a soul that is parasitizing his. I suppose it is a piece coming from the man that killed his parents and attempted to kill him, Albus told me that a rare magic protected the child. I think that the memory is not his, but the worst memory of that man. Continue to watch him closely and continue to teach him mind control, we don't know what that piece of soul may be able to do to him beside remind him bad things. You will bring him to Soul Society when the school year is over, we will be able to study this while keeping him out of the reach of his relatives, it will leave his godfather some time to recover from his imprisonment and sort out his things."

The young woman beamed "I'm glad you proposed because I wouldn't have you let a choice anyway."

The old man shook his head "You really are helpless."

The young woman chuckled "I know, Sasakibe-san told me the same not an hour ago."

Yamamoto sighed, he wasn't surprised as he knew the kind of antics her descendant may have "What did you do again?"

Noémie grinned "I avoided to be cursed by an unnerved Transfiguration Mistress, she discovered for Sirius but after hearing what really happened she cursed him, but now is ready to help him."

The old man shrugged "Not as helpless as you seem in the end. How are the little devils that managed to prank you?" Making the young woman laugh "Very good, I doubt they will prank me again. I earned their eternal respect when I rescued Harry, to quote them."

The old man chuckled "Brave little ones. Now tell me, Chojiro has been a little off since he came back from retrieving Naomi and Shunsui from Hogwart. Did somebody curse him or something?"

The young woman burst in laughter "Really? Oh don't worry Ojiisan, he wasn't cursed… bewitched would be more appropriate."

The venerable warrior's lips twitched "She must be quite the woman. I never saw him like that since his late wife."

Noémie nodded "She's quite the pretty one indeed, and is quite brilliant." She cocked her head, smile on her lips and elbowed gently her grandfather "What happened to you, old man? You're really getting soft as you didn't scream outrage at the thought of a shinigami having a crush on a human."

Yamamoto sighed "It seems, but you must know that Chojiro has served me and the Gotei 13 loyally and sacrificed a lot. If somebody deserves some happiness, it's him. If it means myself closing my eyes for it, I will."

The young Lieutenant set her hand on his forehand "Blimey you don't have fever, who are you and what have you done to Yamamoto Genryussaï Shigekuni?"

The old man flicked the hand out of his forehead "Enough young lady, get your pretty face out of my office. Your boyfriend has permission today and you're both expected at your father's house for lunch."

"Haï haï Sir!"

oOo*OoO*oOo

Renji was eating breakfast in front of the TV, when the rice-paper screen leading to the garden glided and two arms hugged him from behind, the suave scent of his girlfriend surrounding him as a brown curl tickled his nose, and lips kissed the edge of his jaw.

"Good morning handsome."

The crimson haired young man quickly rested his bowl of cereals on the coffee table and switched to catch his grinning love and draw her on the couch in a heated kiss.

"Good morning love. Kami-sama I missed you."

He attempted to hug her tightly… only to be slapped by the young woman.

"Aouch! Hey what was that for?!"

"For spending a whole month being such an ass with me idiot! Didn't it cross your mind that I felt at least as bad as you? Renji I had hard times and wanted nothing but to hear your voice, each time you were frustrated and didn't gave a damn about me! Look I really am sorry that my absence pains you, but yours pains me as well. I swear all I wanted the whole month was to come back home and kick your ass for being such one… well to have amazing reconciliation sex after and be with you too… but more to kick your ass!"

Renji's face darkened and he gently cupped the face of his beloved. He hated to see her hurt and hated himself more for being the one that caused her pain. "I'm sorry Noémie, I truly am. I was so bad that I didn't paid attention to how you felt. I hate not seeing you every day, waking at your side and holding you when you sleep, I'm addicted to you love and I couldn't help to be frustrated. It doesn't excuse anything of course… I'm a crap to apologies or to express myself but know that I truly am sorry to have hurt you."

The young woman sighed. She knew that he was genuine, it was one of the things she loved the most with him.

"I know Renji, it's difficult for me as well. Just, don't do that again. It's bad enough to be away from you and from home."

"I promise."

She smiled and kissed him. Leaning against his toned body, resting her head in the crook of his neck, breathing the reassuring scent of the man she loved. The young woman then began to nip and kiss that tanned skin she was so found of, earning a pleased moan from her man. The Lientenant smiled: she was finally home.

oOo*OoO*oOo

The evening was well advanced, Remus was already in pyjamas enjoying a book in front of the fireplace with his friend smoking a cigarette beside him, when somebody knocked. The werewolf rose to answer the door to find a dreamy Miss Khan before him. The werewolf smiled and let her in.

"Padfoot… sorry… Kebab, your mistress is back."

The animagus smiled too at the state of his new friend "My my Fukutaïcho-chan, seems you enjoyed your time back. Judging by your smell, a lucky chap was too. Doesn't seem that he knows about me and the lovely lady that shared a bath with you, does he?"

The shinigami let herself fell on the couch beside Sirius and leaned her head against his shoulder "And you my dear Kebab, were you a good dog?"

The man laughed and put an arm around the shoulder of the lass "I'm always a good dog!"

"You better be because Renji knows, he tells you that if you lay any inappropriate finger on me he promises to cut you balls off. And when he knew what Aurora made me, he made me forget every thought about her."

"Stop talking about sex! I, the Casanova Marauder wasn't able to get laid in twelve years, and you damn sirens made my life a torture during a whole hour yesterday!"

Noémie padded the knee of the wizard with sympathy "Don't worry Sirius, once cleared no witch would resist the charm of the fabulous and handsome Kebab who managed to escape Azkaban to clear his name, and succeeded."

Sirius laughed and pinched her cheek "Cheeky lass, but you're right. Once a little mend up I will be so irresistible that not even you will be able to resist me."

"You'll always be the poor little pup that I found with arrows in the ass. Besides you don't have enough scars."

Remus chuckled and sent her a playful wink "I think on that side at least I have more luck than you Padfoot."

"Hey I have tattoos! Ladies love bad boys with tattoos!"

"Good point Kebab, but they're not as sexy as Renji's. And he has scars, plus crimson hair, plus is a badass warrior who spent years in the berserker Squad in all the 13th. You're as bad boy as a unicorn beside him. And no, twelve years in prison don't count as you were innocent."

Remus was laughing at the broken puppy face of his friend and high-fived the shinigami "She got you mate."

oOo*OoO*oOo

Monday afternoon was as usual rather calm, that was why Rosmerta was surprised to see Amelia Bones enter her inn followed by a Ministry worker, even more when the Head of DMLE asked for a private living room. When Miss Khan showed up moments later, with a dog looking like a mummy trotting on a leash beside her, and asking for Amelia… she began to worry. The shinigami sensing her distress gave her a reassuring smile.

"Don't worry Rosmerta, everything will be alright. Kebab is a good dog he won't ruin any of your property. I just have a little business to tend."

The innkeeper sighed and led the young woman and her pet to the little living room were Amelia was waiting for them. After formal salutations Amelia turned to Kebab and kneeled to be on the same eye-level.

"Well well well Mr Black, do we need to restrain you or will you cooperate?"

The dog barked friendly and laid his head low in submission. The witch smiled and rose.

"You may turn into your human self."

Sirius did as say and smiled to her "Good to see you again Amy. I'm eager to cooperate if I have the guarantee that I won't be sent back at Azkaban. I know the law but I don't trust the system anymore."

Amelia tried to not let her cheeks flush like a teenager. Despite twelve years in Azkaban the man had still some charm on her "Depends what evidences you will be able to provide, but I'm confident that it won't be the case. I am not Bartemius Croupton I will not let someone in the hands of the Dementors until proven guilty."

"Good. I then surrender under the condition to be questioned under Veritaserum and give free access to my memories which I swear on my magic are unaltered." He turned into a dog and back to prove it.

The Head of DMLE nodded and turned to her subordinate "Auror Shackelbolt you may proceed."

The black man nodded and put out a two vial, one empty and another full of a translucid liquid. He approached Sirius. "Mr Black you may sit. I will first pull out the memories that are recurrent to your case. Then we will start the questioning under Veritaserum."

Sirius sat and closed his eyes as the Auror put silver strings out of his temple with his wand. Once the now empty vial sealed and labelled, he made him drink the content of the other vial. The eyes of Sirius went blank. Auror Shacklebolt sat across him next to Amelia who had a quill in hand and a parchment on her lap, ready to write.

"Declaim your name."

"Sirius Orion Black."

"Who are the people in this room?"

"Head of DMLE Amelia Bones, Auror Kingsley Shacklebot and Lieutenant Noémie ."

"Did you betrayed Lily and James Potter to Lord Voldemort?"

"No."

"So you were not the Secret's Keeper of the Fideletas that protected them?"

"No I was not."

"Who was the Secret's Keeper?"

"Peter Pettigrew."

"Did you pursue him to avenge them?"

"Yes."

"Did you kill him and the muggles?"

"No."

"How is it that we only found a finger from him then?"

"He cut it before turning into his animagus form and flee."

"He never registered as an animagus. Is he an unregistered animagus?"

"Yes he is."

"What form does he take?"

"A rat."

"Did you escape from Azkaban to kill him?"

"No."

"Why then?"

"To capture him and prove my innocence, make him suffer what I suffered at his place. To take care of Harry."

"Do you know where he is?"

"Yes."

"Where?"

"Hogwart."

"End of the interrogation.

Kingsley gave him the antidote. He then turned to his boss. "I am done Madam Bones."

"Your conclusions Auror Shacklebot?"

"Innocent on the betrayal of James and Lily Potter, innocent on the murder of Peter Pettigrew, victim of a deep procedure vice coming from the Department of Magical Enforcement."

Amelia nodded "Thank you Auror Shacklebot. In waiting of a trial to officialise his innocence, I Amelia Bones Head of the Department of Magical Enforcement, by the powers granted by my position, take the decision to leave him under the custody of Lieutenant Noemie B. Khan and forbid him to leave Hogwart grounds -residence of his guardian- unless accompanied by her. Any endorsement of the law or of his custody will nullify it and grant him to wait his trial in Azkaban. So mote be it."

The parchment glowed in gold before folding itself. Amelia made a copy of it before banishing the original to her office. Now finished she put out her glasses and sighed.

"Kingsley could you do me a favour and go down stair to ask Rosmerta her best champagne?"

Kingsley looked at her boss puzzled "Madam?"

Amelia smiled "Today is a great day Kingsley, we made up to a huge mistake that occurred in our Department and made justice to an innocent. These occasions are too rare to not celebrate them."

The Auror smiled and nodded before going down stair. Sirius couldn't believe it, he was legally proven innocent by an official. Miss Khan chuckled and shook him.

"Come on Kebab, you're almost free as a bird and we will get free champagne, smile man!"

"I still can't chase after girls…" whined the man

The two women burst in laughter "You really are helpless. Why do you need to chase after girls when you will spend some time in the quarters of a charming one Sirius?"

"You mean that damned siren who's already taken, with the risk of having my balls cut off by an angry boyfriend if I tempted anything? No thank you very much! And until the end of the trial I can't ask you out unless making Nono-chan holding the candle, creating mass panic and make you look biased. But would you like to, when I will finally be free as a bird?"

Amelia smiled to him "It would be a pleasure."

"Well first drink a glass of champagne, because we still need to go to Albus to notify him about your now official presence."

The animagus looked at his friend sceptically "You really believe that he doesn't know that you already kept me in the castle two days long? Remember that we talk about the fact that you tried to fool Albus-too-many-bloody-names-Dumbledore Headmaster of Hogwart and too many bloody other titles."

The shinigami slapped his head "Kebab don't insult me, right after the Captain and Lieutenant I was top member of the Stealth Forces at the time I got promoted to Lieutenant of the 13th Squad. And he may be a worm or fucking Merlin it wouldn't change the fact that I'm not stupid! Why do you think that I banished any magical painting from my room, Remus' office and mine? The old man uses them to spy the whole castle. He was curiously waiting at the main door when we were searching you after your Halloween strike. The man knew you were out, even before I and Remus got to the door. He just let the others search you to comfort the kids and be completely sure you didn't trick the paintings. Only the paints could have guided him so well. If he had known, you wouldn't be here and I would be in his office now."

Sirius looked at her disbelievingly "I turned into a dog after slicing the painting, he either knows that I'm an animagus or was able to track me."

The shinigami rose an eyebrow, annoyed "We tried every tracking charms, magical and spiritual and we failed. I never failed a tracking kido until now, so I concede that he may know that you are an animagus. BUT! Not that Kebab is you, or like I said not two minutes ago I wouldn't be here and neither would you."

Sirius chuckled to the young woman and put an arm around her neck to ruffle her hairs. "Ah dear Nono-chan, you're incredible. If you need anything I can help with I will, I owe you everything. Same with you Amelia."

The usually stern woman smiled to him "You're welcome, I'm just doing my job anyway."

On that Kingsley came back with a bottle of champagne and four glass, with big cheers they celebrated the innocence of Sirius.

oOo*OoO*oOo

Albus Dumbledore, greatest wizard of his times, was rarely surprised. But when the Head of the DMLE, his Student Supervisor and Sirius Black entered the office with big smiles on their faces, he couldn't help but be surprised and puzzled. The feeling didn't weaken when Amelia handed him a golden scroll and he discovered that he let an innocent rot in Azkaban for a dozens of years, he couldn't help but feel guilty. The old man sighed and put the scroll down.

"I don't see where could be a problem, if Sirius stays in his Animagus form indeed." He turned his blue eyes to cross the soft brown of the shinigami "But you still have an explanation to give me Miss Khan."

The Lieutenant shrugged "I investigated, captured and reported to laws enforcement authority. Threat removed."

The old man smiled, trying to surpass the hurt on his pride and the annoyance from being mistrust by the shinigami "I'm sure you can give me more details but I think that I have enough imagination to guess the lost pieces of the puzzle."

"Nosy old man." And a pout from the shinigami was all he got. The childish reaction managed to surpass the negative feelings of the said nosy old man who chuckled "Indeed. Welcome back to Hogwart Sirius."

"Thank you Albus. I promise that I will behave the best I can." Was said with his most friendly grin.

The shinigami scolded her friend "You better do so Kebab or you will really end like roasted dog meat."

The man rolled his eyes "Harry will need me; I can't let him down again. So no, dear Nono-chan, I will not give you any excuse to roast my fine ass."

An elegant raise of eyebrow answered him "Fine is a big word, you are nothing but skin and bone."

Answered by a doggish grin "Oh seems that you actually enjoyed bathing me the other day!"

The shinigami huffed "Dream it if it does you some good, but it isn't healthy for your damaged mind to dwell in your dreams."

Albus and Amelia were watching the playful bickering between the ex-convict and the shinigami. The old man was now amused and a bit worried by the cunning ingenuity of the shinigami: the young woman managed to hide Sirius in the castle three days long, right under his nose. He knew that she was a woman of integrity, but she didn't trust him… that was rather problematic and hurts his pride in the process.

"Well now that everything is settled I want to have a word with Miss Khan. Amelia, I thank you for your good work and would not take you away from your obligation any longer. If you still have some time I think that a certain Hufflepuff third year would be delighted to see you and meet Kebab."

"Sure Headmaster, I thank you for your cooperation. Come Black, time to meet my niece."

Sirius turned into Padfoot and barked happily before following Amelia out of the Headmaster's office. The young shinigami was the only one remaining in the office, looking at the old wizard carefully.

"Have a seat Miss Khan."

She sat and Fawkes took the opportunity to perch on her shoulder again, rubbing his polished beak against her cheek. The shinigami chuckled and stroked his fiery feathers.

"Seems you don't like when I look that serious Mr Phoenix, don't you?"

A melodic thrill answered her. Albus smiled at the scene, a little comforted: if she would be a bad person Fawkes wouldn't be so friendly with her.

"I have to say that I'm a little hurt, I thought that you would trust me enough to keep me up with your plans concerning the castle's security."

The Student Supervisor crossed her arms before her chest defiantly "I return the feeling. You kept a lot from me, and are still… a lot even. But you have to know that I would never do something that would endanger any living soul here."

The Headmaster paused, amused by her proud reaction and by the fact that she wasn't wrong "Why didn't you tell me that you found Sirius?"

"Because I didn't know why you had let him rot in Azkaban. Honestly Albus, you knew the guy. He would never have betrayed James and Lily Potter, you're too smart for thinking a second that it could have been the case."

Albus sighed "I am sorry to disappoint you but I did. I was told that Sirius was the Secret Keeper, I never knew that they switched for Peter, even Remus wasn't aware of it. To be honest I always had some doubts but I couldn't deny the evidences."

Noémie cocked her head to the side and looked at him curiously and a bit accusingly "You couldn't or was it easier for you to not deny them? I'm not stupid Albus. With Sirius innocent, Harry would have grown up in the magical world, so not as easy to manipulate with the influence Sirius would have had on him. I don't know yet what you are planning with the boy in your big chess game, but I warn you: if you dare plan something that may endanger or make Harry unhappy, you will know why the member of the Stealth Forces are feared by even the Eleventh Squad. The kid already went through a lot, mainly because of you, don't you think that it is just fair that he knows his family and be happy?"

The old man sighed. "Harry has a unique destiny already written, I just wanted to do the best so that he would survive it. When Voldemort fell, a lot of his followers were still running free, to be under the blood protection of his mother was the safest for him. If Sirius would have been proven innocent since the beginning I still would have placed Harry with his aunt but let them know each other, I may pass for a chess player but I am not as cruel as you may picture me."

The young woman rose in anger from her seat, not able to sit calm any longer "Did you check on him all those years?! Damn Albus everyone can see that he is way too small and thin for a thirteen-years-old! And he doesn't trust adults! Is sole behaviour and acts saying a lot about how he is threated by his so-called family! How could you be so blind to not notice that!"

The old man frowned "What did you discover?"

Fawkes still on her shoulder and began to pace "The kid confessed to me that he never had the occasion to pay respect to his parents, and he hears his mother scream each time he is attacked by a Dementor! With Remus, we are working to teach him to fight them but he doesn't put all his soul into it, as if he wants to relieve that memory because as much as it hurts him, it gives him a connection to his mother! A child who would have been raised with love by his aunt would not have such behaviour! Because she would have provided him with stories and pieces of memory of his mother! The boy doesn't show it but he is a real mess inside, he lacks guidance and family love, and if you want him to definitely kill Voldemort he will need to be as whole and sane as possible, or on the first occasion his enemy will take him down psychologically and finish him right after."

The old man was gobsmacked. He couldn't believe that he was so blind to not notice… he put his glasses of and rubbed his eyes, trying to fight the tears. As if Harry, hadn't already lost everything, he was denied the right to grow up surrounded by the love of a carring family. Because of him. Where was the point to make him live behind the blood protection, if there nothing answered the power of the feelings Lily had for her son?

After a moment of silence, rose his head and put his glasses back, the twinkle of his eyes gone for sadness and shame "It seems I overrated Petunia's love for her sister… I will not ask of him to go back there. But as loving and good faith he may have and be, Sirius is biased when it comes to Slytherin and Purebloods, and I don't want such influence to feed Harry in his rivalry with young Draco so the already high tension between the Houses. Plus, I doubt he will be able to properly take care of Harry until he mended the after effects of 12 years in Azkaban. What do you suggest?"

The shinigami smiled, relieved that the old man doesn't seem to be as evil as she suspected "I know all of that, in fact Sirius asked me to help him with Harry until he will be well enough to care after him. He is aware that a long road is ahead of him. Don't worry I won't let any intolerance root into Harry, you know my personal view about that. And I talked to Yamamoto-Sotaicho, he told me that if I take him as apprentice, Harry would be allowed to follow me to Soul Society during breaks. Aside from being completely safe from his enemies, it would be an opportunity for him to learn how to defend himself without a wand as well."

The old man thought about it for a moment before unwrapping a sherbet lemon and popping it into his mouth. "It seems like a good idea. Would you have talked to me about that from your own?"

The young woman smiled awkwardly "Well I was searching a way to tell you, but I didn't had time to figure it out since it was decided yesterday and had a lot in mind aside of that."

The old man chuckled "A lot like your handsome boyfriend I guess." The young woman blushed "Don't be embarrassed, being in love is blessing. I am happy to see that your little visit was enjoyable. No seriously I appreciate your honesty, I will remember it."

The young woman chuckled "If you could just return it you will see that they won't be another "Kebab" kind of affair. I hope you understood that to earn my trust, you have to trust me."

Albus Dumbledore nodded, he did indeed and wasn't about to repeat the same mistake. As long the young woman acted toward his interests, he didn't saw where was the point to distrust and alienate her. Plus, she had a point of view rather refreshing and enlightening, after all she just avoided him to unknowingly sabotage the life of the Boy who lived for Merlin sake! They both had Harry's best interest in mind after all. Didn't they?

oOo*OoO*oOo

After an eventful afternoon, our dear Student Supervisor was on her desk doing some paperwork. When somebody knocked, she was not surprised to see Minerva enter in the room.

The young woman rested her pencil and smiled to her colleague "Good afternoon Minerva, what can I do for you?"

"I wanted to know what came out of your meeting with Amelia. But trusting the sleeping mummified mutt in the armchair, it seems to have went rather well."

The shinigami nodded "Yes, Sirius is clear with the Auror Office and must attend a trial later to legitimate is innocence soon… Ah yes! Since you are here I have something to give you!" she rummaged in her papers to pull out a letter and hand it to her with a teasing smile "There, I have to say that you made quite an impression on Sasakibe-san. He sends you his regards."

Minerva's cheeks went a little pink as she took the letter "Thank you Noémie."

"Oh has Minnie a secret lover?" said a Sirius who was looking the fine wrapped letter in the hands of the Transfiguration Mistress over her shoulder. The said Mistress turned and pinched his ear, making him yelp and the shinigami laugh. "That is none of your business ."

At that moment, the door burst open on two fire headed boys with their wands raised toward Sirius and two curses made him fly into the punching bag of the shinigami.

"Khan-sensei, Professor are you alright?!"

The women looked at them wide-eyed. How the Hell did those two pranksters know about Sirius? The shinigami hurried to close the door and warded it with all the Kido she knew before dragging the twins by the ear to the couch. Groaning and rubbing their lobes, they soon began to stiffen when the menacing shadow and energy of the shinigami towered them.

"Pray to tell me, how you two mischief-wonders in chief, managed to know what and who happens to be in my office?"

The twins gulped "But he was about to hurt Professor McGonagall… wasn't he?"

"I'm the one who asks the questions, answer me!"

"Well…"

"… In that case…"

"we want the guarantee…"

"…that our mean will be returned to us…"

The shinigami scolded "That's up to me, hand me the thing!"

The twins exchanged a look before one of them pulled a parchment from his pocket and handed it to the fuming Student Supervisor. The young woman took it in a dry movement and inspected the blank skin. Sirius who was reanimated by Minerva, now sporting yellow feathers, had a huge grin on his face at the sight of the parchment and approached the shinigami.

"That map! How did you get it?!"

Despite his humoristic appearance the twins paled and pointed their wands at him again. The shinigami sighed. "Boys stop hexing that stupid mutt, he won't bite he's clean and innocent. You will hear the story later. Now Sirius what the hell is that thing?"

"That, dear Nono-chan, is the master piece of my schooldays!" he laid a finger on the parchment "I solemnly swear that I am up to no good."

Under the amazed eyes of Minerva, Noémie and the twins who couldn't believe that they had one of the creator of that jewel, ink appeared on the parchment to draw something like a map, entitling it as the Marauders' Map. The shinigami was truly amazed as she opened the map.

"Hell's Butterfly you created that?! It's genius work! Kami-sama we are here! And there is Snape in the dungeons, and here Dumbledore…"

"Pacing in his office…"

"He does that often."

"Mr Black are you…"

"one of the Marauders?!" chorused the twins, looking at Sirius like the best Christmas present ever.

The man nodded proudly "Indeed I am, Padfoot to serve you. You seem to be the valliant successors of us Marauders."

The twins beamed and chorused "Gred and Forge Weasley!"

"We owe you so much!"

"We are big fans really!"

Minerva and Noémie shared a look, that meeting promised future headaches if Sirius and the Twin would ally. The shinigami shook her head disbelievingly and returned to the inspection of the map as Minerva glared at Sirius.

"So that is how you all managed to create such amount of havoc in the school. Don't tell me there is other artefact you created that remains in the school…"

Sirius gave her his best doggish smile "Don't be upset Minnie there is none left in the school." He then turned to the twins "By the way boys, how did you manage to get the map?"

"We kind of found it…"

"When we were in Filch's office…"

"He left us alone two minutes…"

"and of course that beautiful parchment…"

"who was perking out of that drawer…"

"was like calling us to take it with us."

Minerva's nerves couldn't take any more and chose to leave it to her younger colleague, pretexting paperwork for the school who couldn't wait and mumbling something like too old for that… while Sirius was barking in laughter. Noémie raised her head from the map to bid her goodbye. Once the Transfiguration Mistress left she glared at the twins.

"I swear, if you dare touch or steal something from my office I cut your hands."

The twins gulped as Sirius barked in laughter even louder.

"Don't you dare laughing Kebab, if something happens to disappear you will be suspect number one and lose your hands too for the effort."

The Marauder looked at her falsely wounded "I'm wounded you think of me so lowly Nono-chan, I wouldn't dare do such a thing to my dear saviour!"

"So be a good guard dog instead of sleeping in my armchairs like a useless mutt."

The twins tilted at the hint and looked at Sirius with even more adoration "Wow you really are an animagus!?"

Sirius bombed his chest proudly "Of course I am! Every Marauder but one who had another fury problem, was an animagus."

"Wicked!"

The shinigami frowned "Speaking of that, if you saw that Sirius was here it means that the animagus form doesn't fool the map?"

Sirius looked at her puzzled "It doesn't… oh brilliant Nono-chan!"

"Exactly. Boys I will borrow your map for a given time and have a little mission for you."

The twins looked at her horrified "What?! No! It's not fair!"

"It is the main source of success of our missions!"

The shinigami chuckled "Well good for me in that case. And do I need to remind you that by observing people on that map you are violating their privacy so mine along the way? If you may even consider to help me it will reduce my possession time drastically."

Despite being annoyed by the temporary loss of their map, Fred and George couldn't help but be amazed by how that woman always managed to deal with them and get what she wanted. "We listen."

"Your brother has a rat who's missing a finger right?"

They nodded, confused "Yes."

"What's the matter with Scabbers?"

"The thing is an animagus and the one who had to spent twelve years in prison. It would greatly help Messer Marauder here for his clearance trial."

The ginger twin teens were shocked "No way…"

"Perce and Ronniekyns…."

"Were sleeping with a man…"

"All those years?"

And the twins busted in laugher. Sirius smiled, he was beginning to like those two a lot… even a little bit too much for his Nono-chan's sake. The shinigami slapped them both lightly behind their ears.

"Enough with the nonsense you idiots, the guy is a Death Eather and as bloody coward he is, I'm not comfortable until he's behind the bars of a heavily warded cell. So you better get your ginger asses out of my office and begin to search him!"

The boys didn't need to be told twice "Aye Aye Lieutenant!" and as suddenly as they came in, they were out of the office. Sirius finally busted into laughter.

"I love those kids!"

The shinigami sighed pulled out a bottle of umeshu and lit a cigarette, falling into the couch. She blessed Minerva for having survived the Marauders and still surviving the prankster twins of the dead. She exhaled some smoke and sipped the sweet alcohol, her eye caught the map again and she smirked. "Game's resumed damn rat."

A/N: Hey guys! Thanks a lot again for taking your time to read the fruit of my twisted imagination, and even more for being so patient with me publishing my chapters. I hope you still like what I do with those poor characters and the plot!

Thanks for all the favourites and following, and my faithful friend Winmau for his reviews.

And don't be shy guys you're welcome to review of course I'm always glad to have feedback haha

I'm nice, promise, nobody has been bitten… yet = 3 Just kidding, seriously thanks a lot to you all again and see you next chapter!

Take care!

Naomi-chan = )