I love everyone, to all the beautiful and constructive reviews, to the person who only clicked onto the story once. All of you have been as kind enough to give this story a chance and that's all I can thank you for. This chapter is for everyone who kept reading and reviewing.

Pairing: Viktor Krum/Hermione Granger

Rating: MA

Warning: Abuse against minors

Harry Potter belongs to J.K. Rowling.

"Hermi-own-ninny, vhat is vrong vith your hand?" Viktor asked her as she cradled her hand gently at Dinner. Though she didn't answer, and it seemed that in the days following her detention with Umbridge it only got worse and worse. Harry as well, the messy headed teen had wrapped his tie around his hand, whereas Hermione held a crimson cloth to her hand. "Its been hurting you for days luff, and you too comrade!' he exclaimed as he saw Harry tenderly use his hurt hand to get food off their plates.

A fourth year Ravenclaw behind him began to sob quietly, matching some of her fellow classmates. As he looked behind him he noticed that many others had the same type of somber expression or they cried out in pain every time their hand brushed against something. In fact it looked like all houses except for Slytherin had many hands wrapped in various cloths. He turned to the Ravenclaw and asked if he could see her hand, and when she obliged he was horrified at what he saw.

I must not tell lies to my Professor.

"Vhat happened to you?", he asked the blonde girl, but she only pulled her hand back and re-wrapped it again but with a napkin from the table.

He looked back to Hermione in confusion, the other professors had noticed that something was wrong with many of their students and began to leave the table. "Please luff, just tell me," he begged her. The siren looked to her mate and slowly held out her hand to him, Viktor gently took her dainty hand in his calloused one and unwrapped her hand. A startled gasp left his lips as he realized what was going on.

On her hand wounds spelled out a small sentence, but unlike the Ravenclaw he could see blood cover a white substance. It was carved into her hand so deep that bones were showing. These words chilled him to his magical core: I will not disobey my betters. He looked up in rage and silently beckoned for Harry's hand, and underneath his tie was I must not tell lies.

All around him students were unwrapping their hands, similar phrases were carved into flesh; while some were barely scratched others were light wounds. Hermione's by far was the worst. "Vhat is going on here?" he asked to nobody in particular, the other professors seemed just as confused as he did. "How did this happen to you luff?" he asked Hermione, she only shook her head. Professor McGonagall was mostly worried that many in her house sported the same type of injuries, Snape was tending to some Ravenclaws who tried to shy away from him.

Umbridge was the only professor that was seemingly indifferent to the students' infliction, she happily focused more on her dinner than her charges.

Hermione looked at the table, the floor, her lap; anywhere but his eyes. Oh how she loved Viktor's eyes, they showed her all the emotions he felt and at the same time she didn't want to be devastated at the look of disgust he held today. She wasn't sure if it was aimed at her or her torturer, the pink bitch was probably sitting smug all by herself. She could understand her punishment, simple lines.

But not for four hours a day for one week.

It was beyond her comprehension that others around the castle were beginning to show the same symptoms she did, for they had done nothing wrong to deserve such a punishment. Hell, Hermione didn't even know what she had done wrong to warrant a weeks worth of torture. She had caused many in the castle to loath her and it wasn't even Halloween!

"It was Umbridge! She made us use this quill and it hurt!" a young Hufflepuff yelled as Flitwick questioned them. The diminutive professor looked over to the staff table and narrowed his eyes at the toad. "And by what right do you have using a blood quill?" he asked the pompous woman. She stood carefully from her seat and walked to the podium, "The Minister for Magic has given me his express permission to use any means necessary in the discipline of a student. He feels that it is best to straighten out children before they learn bad habits, and in this fine institution I would expect nothing less than perfection."

Viktor's rage that was boiling under the surface finally snapped at her, meaning he didn't give a fuck anymore.

"Does perfection mean that students are subjected to torture methods?! Look vhat you haff done, students are covering from a teacher! They should trust us, not fear us!" he yelled at her. His shoulder were shaking with visible anger, how dare she even touch a hair on the student population's head!? "I vill be taking this up vith the Minister and maybe even the ICW, this is serious breach of moral protocol. And it vill stop or I vill quit, for I vill not be part of a staff that harms children," he finished, a voice so low and calm that it was deadly.

She only smirked at him and said, "We'll see how far that gets."

He fumed as she stood down the middle aisle in the Great Hall and brushed by him, Viktor almost hit her as she passed. His nose could practically smell the blood in the air as she passed, but not today. Maybe some other day he could bloody her nose, and when the day came that she received her just desserts he was going to laugh. "Taking the initiative he looked around him to all the students and said, "If your hand needs healing come vith me so that I can escort you to G-zho Pomfrey!"

As he walked to the door he heard the footsteps of many students, and when Viktor finally turned around he saw maybe three dozen students or was it four? Hermione was at the head of the group with the deepest cut, followed by Seamus, Dean, Luna, Neville, Terry, Padma, Parvati and many others. "G-zho McGonagall, please divide the others into their houses and I vill be back to escort them to their dorms!" he called out to her.

"It will be alright Viktor, the others and I will handle it!"

As the group crossed many corridors and doors Filch ran behind them screaming, "STUDENTS OUT OF BED! DETENTION TO EVERY SINGLE ONE OF YOU!" Spittle flew from his foaming mouth and into a first year Hufflepuff's face. Her baby blue eyes filled with tears as the elder students tried to defend her, Viktor raised his wand and pointed it to the caretaker's chest. "Son't ever speak to a voman like that, understand?" a slight nod was all her needed before he stormed off, the students running to keep up with his pace.

Once the Infirmary became noticeably he stepped aside and let the students file in, Madame Pomfrey was soon seen bustling around tending to students. He waited for every student to get done, and every time one was done he sent them to their house with a ghost to accompany them. His main concern is first and foremost Hermione, as it will always be.

When Madame Pomfrey was done with her, seeing as she was the last student to get seen too, he picked her up in held her tenderly to his chest. Bidding the nurse a good night he left the wing and made his way to their room. Her hand was scared slightly, the words were only a little silvery elegant line. She was relaxed in his arms for the first time in a week, and that by itself was a relief.

"Krasivi Sirena," he murmured to the Italian Maiden, she only swung the portrait open without a word. It seemed that news and speculation traveled faster than anyone in the castle could. Viktor bypassed the bedroom and went straight to the bathroom, and when Hermione had looked up when he stopped moving she was dazed. He had originally got the house-elves to set up the bathroom like he instructed.

Rose petals on the floor leading to the larger-than-it-needed to-be bathtub and tested the water with his free hand, frowning only slightly when he felt the cool water touch him. Viktor used his wand to cast a heating charm on the bath water, and when it was at a desirable temperature he grinned before turning to Hermione. "Come on luff, lets get you cleaned up."

Though when the first piece of clothing hit the floor, sleep was the last thing on their minds.

~.~.~.

Dirt, grime, and blood clung to his form as Sirius pressed on through the Forbidden Forest, at the time he thought it was much easier said then done, but now he was rethinking his decision. But none of that mattered to him at this point, he had to see them. He needed to know if his name could be cleared, he wanted to know why he was denied his rights all those years ago.

He was denied custody of Harry by Hagrid, he was denied the right to a trial.

Sirius Orion Black was having a shitty life.

Though he was willing to make the best with what he had left to live for, Hermione and Harry; they were the light that shown through the darkness for him. But when Remus flooed him to tell him the great news that Harry shared with him via Hedwig. Nymphadora and Remus were to meat him in the Shrieking Shack, and he was so anxious to hear the news.

As Padfoot he easily jumped over a giant root and narrowly dodged some centaurs as he ran by; his lungs burned for air but he refused to stop in this hellhole. He could see the edge of the forest and that spurned him to go faster. As he broke through the tree line he noticed that the cheerful atmosphere that the castle always held had disappeared.

Something's wrong, he thought.

Something very wrong was happening within the castle and he could feel it; the tense air was choking him. His body leaped over the hills of the courtyard with ease, something he hadn't done since his time at Hogwarts. With speed and precision he dodged the branches of the Whomping Willow and headed for the little passage to the meeting place.

Once inside he noticed the two figures sitting on the piano bench, both waiting for him;when he changed back into his human form he waved at them. Remus and Tonks waved back, a smile on both of their faces. Before any had the chance to move an elderly voice rang out "Stupefy!" A look of shock spread over Sirius's face as he fell to the ground, momentarily paralyzed from the stun.

"Sorry Sirius," the voice told him, "Petrificus Totalus!"

Sirius could only find the strength in him to move his eyes around, and he saw his best mate and cousin shift before his eyes turning into aurors. Something was wrong, he thought. He was tricked and very well, Dumbledore knew where he was and he knew how to get him out of hiding.

Is this it for me?

"Take him in for questioning at the Wizengamot, don't let him out of your sights," one of the aurors said, and the last thing he saw before blacking out was Dumbledore watching the entire situation unfold before him. The man's obscene colored robes stood out against the night as he and the aurors left the shack, all members of the small group ready to apparate to the Ministry.

Hopefully this capture of the escape convict can renew his place in the public's eye, people won't doubt him as much and eventually his word can be accepted as the truth once again. He would regain the trust of the minister, and the ICW would get off his case about his neglect to Harry. As Sirius and the auror warped out of the area he whispered to himself, "Its for the greater good."

Hours passed as the Wizengamot decided the fate of their newest frozen prisoner, all in attendance trying to find a way to deny his rights a second time. Those in the ancient court room had been split into to sides, ones that they all knew very well but were not able to prove. The Death Eaters and the Order members, that's what it came down to.

One group trying to save a man, and another trying to completely destroy him.

In the middle of all this was a man, broken by circumstance, hated by society, and it was his future but he held no say in what would happen. Sirius stood in the cage as people bickered around him, he looked around for familiar faces. Sirius was reassured slightly when he saw Amelia openly yelling at Umbridge, though he loathed the hated glares from Lucius. "SILENCE!" Fudge managed to roar over the room's noise. People stopped to glare at their opponent before straightening their cloaks and sitting down. All eager for the vote to come.

"We of the Wizengamot shall make the accused testify under the influence of the Veritaserum potion, if any soul objects to this man's legal rights speak now."

No one spoke, all the Death Eaters were stunned, after thirteen years of taking away all rights Sirius had Fudge had just given the most important one back. How could they vote against him when the truth was coming out in front of them. Sirius opened his mouth willingly as an intern came out with the truth serum, all waited the few seconds it needed to kick in nervously.

"To test if the potion works we will ask you a few simple questions before we proceed. Understood?"

"Yes."

Fudge rifled his papers around before deciding on a question, "You were friends with a James Charlus Potter, Peter Pettigrew, and Remus John Lupin in your years at Hogwarts?"

"Yes."

"And you attended with your given name."

"Yes."

"Which was?"

"Sirius Orion Black."

He checked over the files before getting the nod from Amelia, "What happened on the night of October 31, 1981?" Time seemed to stop for all, this was the moment of truth and after this there was no going back. Sirius looked dead into Fudge's eyes as he answered, "I was at home, until I felt wrong, like all the world had stopped. It made me nervous, I was paranoid, wondering whether or not I should check on the Potters or Pettigrew. Eventually I went to Peter's house, but to my horror it was empty."

The court's scribe wrote down everything that was being said, and the parchment was starting to fill up. Just as the eyes of many did, they all filled with tears.

"The cottage was just destroyed, and there was James; he was laying there with his eyes wide open. His wand was no where near him, Harry's little toy broom was broken along with most of the house. Hagrid was there, and when I asked for him to give me Harry, he refused. Said he was taking him on D-" he was interrupted by said wizard. "And why did you not invoke your right as his godfather?" Dumbledore asked.

"He denied my rights, by your order. From there I apprehended Pettigrew, when I learned of his betrayal. I admit to having the intent to kill him, but the slippery bastard cast a large explosion hex before he turned into a rat. He only left behind a single finger in his haste to leave. I regretted that decision for over fourteen years, all because an old coot wouldn't let me raise Harry!"

Minutes after Sirius finished his story, the Minister tried to hold back all the outrage in his court room, the roar of protest from the Death Eaters, and anguished cries of outrage from the Phoenix members. "Silence!" Fudge screamed once more, using his wand to amplify his voice this time.

"And with the truth from the escaped convict we of the Wizengamot shall vote, whether or not Sirius Orion Black is guilty of murder. Those who agree raise your wands," he watched as more than half of the witches and wizards raised their wand, right before he put his own up. "Those who oppose," as the wands were raised everyone knew that there was no escaping it.

Sirius Black was released from his cage, a free man for the first time since over a decade ago.

"What about the time required for being an unregistered animagus, as well as escaping Azkaban?" Umbridge's snotty voice rang out. Fudge looked and at her said, "He served that time and more, he needs not to serve anymore."

~.~.~.

"Sirius Black! What are you doing here this fine Saturday?" McGonagall asked with a small smile on her face, truth be told he and the Marauders were some of her most favorite students. He, Remus, and James always found a way to put smiles on everyone's faces. Sirius was all everyone was looking at, despite his still somewhat haggard appearance all could see the joy on his face.

This was what he was waiting fourteen years for.

"I couldn't wait to see your lovely face again McGonagall!"

His smile was infectious and the old woman could only return it, the morning after Madame Pomfrey healed all the students' hands was a solemn one. They all needed some laughter, and that's what the early birds got. Joy was being spread through the Great Hall as some people greeted Sirius, some stayed back for they were wary of him, others despised him openly.

"Sirius!" The two people he wanted to hear most in the world ran through the Great Hall's doors at high speed, well one ran the other flew. Hermione slammed into her cousin happily, picking him up and twirling around with him in the air. "Is it true? It has to be!" she yelled as she swooped into the air. Sirius was turning a cartoon shade of green as the young siren twirled around, "Help."

Harry laughed happily, his green eyes brightened with delight; he knew where he would be going for Yule Holidays. No more Dursleys, no more pain, no more hunger, Sirius was sure to take care of him. "Surely the great Padfoot isn't calling for help," he teased. Hermione got the hint that he was about to hurl and gently lowered him onto the floor, and when she did Sirius looked Harry in the eyes.

"Don't call me Shirley."

Minerva watched the small family, and chuckled. "Still a smartass," she mumbled, but nonetheless her faith in humanity was restored. It was things like Umbridge that made her hate the human mind and wants, but when she saw this heartbreaking moment her faith was rejuvenated. All were happy, and the Weasley twins were astonished to see their inspiration for pranks.

"You're telling me-"

"That the great Marauder-"

"Padfoot was your-"

"Godfather," the twins asked, perfectly finishing were the other left off. Harry only laughed at their awestruck face, everyone was laughing all until Sirius caught the scar on Hermione's hand.

Cutting it off there! I feel great, I pushed past my writer's block and got a chapter out for you all. I hope you like it and leave a review.

Ragehappy Mavin Fan