Chapter 11

AN: The amount of time that has passed between this update and my last is not as lengthy an amount as my other currently running fic, but nearly two years is still a rather long time. I apologize for the wait, and I hope many of the first readers of this story are still with me. I can't say that updates will be more prompt from now on, but I do promise to never again leave a story in ambiguity for longer than a period of a couple of months. Also, fair warning- my writing style has changed a bit, so I hope this chapter isn't too jarring compared to the previous ones. Now, for what you've all been waiting for, maybe for a good amount of time...the story.

Upon having apparated just outside the barriers of Hogwarts, Hermione dropped Sirius' arm and started for the gates with a brisk, purposeful trot.

"Hurry!" She called to him from over shoulder, as he had lingered a bit, looking at her with shock, probably due to her speed, rather unnatural in a woman of her age, after all. Thankfully, however, he obediently hurried after her at his own admirably brisk pace.

Soon enough they reached the high, boar-topped gates of Hogwarts. Hermione stood in front of them, clutching a stitch in her side. She managed to gasp, "I need to see Headmaster Dumbledore! Immediately!" The gates swung open silently and Hermione hurried through them, Sirius at her heels. They continued their trek to the great wood front doors of Hogwarts, but before Hermione could lift her hand and knock, the door opened, and Hermione found herself face to face with none other than Dumbledore himself.

For the first time, Hermione could easily see why Dumbledore was the only wizard Voldemort had ever feared, the wizard that had inspired either the ire or awe of anyone who had ever known him. His light blue eyes flashed with all the power and electricity of a summer storm, his eyebrows and mouth were drawn down and creased together in his displeasure, and Hermione could feel his wrath coming off of him in waves, burning her skin like a high noon sun, and yet his displeasure wasn't even directed at her. His blue eyes were trained on Sirius, and Hermione found she could not blame Sirius when he cowered from the Headmaster. Instinctively, though, she went to stand in front of him, her arms spread out, shielding Sirius from Dumbledore.

"Mr. Dumbledore! Please, there's something we must tell you! Things are not as they seem!"

"I should hope so, Mrs. Evans, or else I would have to question your decision to accompany the man who betrayed your niece and her husband," replied Dumbledore rather coldly. Hermione felt Sirius shrink further back behind her. Have courage! She beseeched him, silently and desperately. She made herself straighten up, and look Dumbledore straight in the eyes.

"Sirius is innocent of any betrayal, sir. All will be explained, if you could just listen, we'll explain it all. But time is of the essence, we must hurry…"

"I fail to see how you should know so much about this situation, Mrs. Evans," Dumbledore said, and Hermione felt the barest whisper of accusation in his tone. Her heart fluttered a bit, and she wanted to wet her lips, to stammer out an excuse, but instead she made herself stand to her fullest height, her breast puffing out in indignation.

"Excuse me, sir, but I was the aunt of Lily Potter, and now I am the great aunt of Harry Potter. Lily and James entrusted me, as not only family but one of them, to be Harry's guardian. So I can ensure you, Mr. Dumbledore, sir, that I was privy to such information as who they had picked as Harry's godfather, and I know a good deal about what has happened and what preceded these current events, dare I say, maybe even more than you!" Hermione deliberately made her tone pointed at those last three words, and she cocked her eyebrows at him. The reasoning behind it was to show Dumbledore that maybe, he wasn't as omnipotent as he seemed; to give him the faintest idea that perhaps, someone out there knew just as much as he did, and also so much more.

Thankfully, Dumbledore seemed to lose some of his coldness at her indignation; perhaps her words had reminded him that he was not the only well-informed individual in this situation, or perhaps his many years of being a teacher and hearing the countless tears and angry tirades of students had reared up his peacekeeping side at her tone. Either way, his eyes became a little less electric, and he sighed, studying Hermione and Sirius with a grave air.

"Forgive me, Mrs. Evans, I momentarily forgot your involvement with the Potters. I will...hear your story, up in my office, where we can have peace and quiet. Though, I must ask…" He glanced at Sirius, "That we restrain Mr. Black until your evidence has been heard."

Hermione looked at Sirius; it was up to him after all. A flash of anger passed over his handsome face, but after a second he simply shrugged sullenly, and gave a nod of consent. Hermione turned back to Dumbledore, and nodded at him in turn. The headmaster cleared his throat, and produced his wand, giving it a small little wave. Hermione followed the wand movements with her eyes. The Elder Wand, she thought, her heart hardening a bit. The wand that had killed Harry, in her past, at least. But now wasn't the time to think about such things; she would cross those bridges when she got to them.

Soon Sirius was fully-trussed up, and Hermione followed Dumbledore and a floating, bound Sirius, who was gnashing his teeth. Walking through a series of secret passages, they quickly reached Dumbledore's office, and for the second time that week, Hermione found herself sitting across from Dumbledore, only this time Sirius Black was floating beside her. Dumbledore sat himself in his chair, steepled his fingers, and looked solemnly at the pair from over his fingertips.

"Begin," He said.

And they did. For a solid quarter of an hour, Hermione talked, and Sirius too. They explained the switch between Secret-Keepers that Sirius had coaxed James into. Hermione told an untruthful story of how the Potters had told her of the switch, and a truthful one of how she had tracked Sirius down and stopped him from his revenge. And, finally, with some coaxing, she got Sirius to admit to being an animagi, as had been James and as still was Peter Pettigrew. That was the key part, the crucial part; if Dumbledore didn't know about them being animagi, then they essentially had no proof. She even got Sirius to transform to his dog form, and then back again.

"I'm...sorry for not telling you the truth, Dumbledore," Sirius finished, after transforming back. "We weren't...we weren't thinking about the potential consequences...we were just kids, after all." He glanced away, and Hermione knew he was trying to keep from crying. She and Dumbledore looked politely away until Sirius had regained himself. When he was calm again, he continued.

"So that's what we are. Dog, Stag,..." He spit, "...and Rat."

Dumbledore was leaning back in his chair, drinking this all in. "This...is quite unexpected. But, I believe you. And the Ministry will too. You're quite lucky, you know, that Mrs. Evans convinced you not to pursue revenge. If you had gone after Pettigrew without anyone knowing the truth, I shudder to think what might have happened to you."

You don't even know the half of it, Hermione thought, as Sirius nodded vigorously in agreement. Neither of you even realize what could have happened.

Dumbledore got up from his chair, and wordlessly dispelled Sirius' bonds. "Sirius, you will need to accompany me the Ministry," Dumbledore said, "With all haste. We will tell the Ministry what you have told me, and a manhunt will begin for Pettigrew. With any luck, he'll be caught, and quickly. You will be a free man...though, I must warn you, for being an illegal animagus, you will most likely have to pay a hefty fee."

Sirius merely shrugged. Hermione knew that "hefty fee" would be more than likely just a drop in the bucket to him.

Finally, Dumbledore turned to her. "You have done a great thing today, Mrs. Evans. Will you accompany us to the Ministry? I am sure they will wish to give you their thanks as well."

Hermione felt flattered, and smiled, but she shook her head no. "I have much to do still. Please excuse me," And she swept from the room, a small little smile gracing her lips as she walked away. She had saved a man from twelve years of unjustified time in Azkaban. More importantly, she had guaranteed one other person would be present in Harry's life.

As she walked out of Hogwarts and down to the gates, for the first time in a very long time, Hermione felt like a champion.