A/N: I really want to thank all of you who are so loyal to this story and review each chapter! I can't say how good that feels. I also want to thank all those who just reviewed for the first time. Thank you! It's all I got as an author for the work I put into this, and it's what makes it worthwhile.

I know this update took a little longer than you are used to with me. Do I have a valid explanation, like 'I was run down by a bus and lay in hospital unable to move'? Well, no. It just... didn't come. Maybe it was the fact, that I suddenly found all my major characters unconscious!? ; ) So I hope you forgive me the longer wait, but I'm trying is to give you a story that is worth the read. And to make up for it, this one is really loooong!!

About the cliffhanger(s). Sorry. It honestly didn't see the last one as being so dramatic. But then it might be that I just am. A little dramatic. I'm sorry if it disturbed you! I think I probably have to warn you then though. Since I like the dramatic, this is a story with a lot of suspense and there won't be any fast and easy solutions in this story. (I hope I haven't just lost half of my readers... *whimpers*)

Alright, let's finish this lengthy author's note and go on with the plot.

Chapter 20 - What Ever May Come

It was a good thing that Albus Dumbledore was not a wizard who was easily shocked. He would admit that he had been surprised. He would admit that he had been unsettled. After all he had not seen Sirius in over seven years. And he did not look very good. To be quite honest he looked like a dead man walking.

When he had broken down in the middle of the living-room, Dumbledore had reacted immediately and on instinct, casting drying and warming charms, before he reached down and pulled Harry out of the arms of the unconscious convict. The boy looked so small, his unruly black hair sticking up at the back of his head and his face as pale as a ghost. The boy was his first concern and he carried him swiftly into the bedroom and after conjuring a second smaller bed, laid him down and pulled the blankets up to the tip of Harry's nose. Dumbledore knew that the best thing he could do was keeping him warm. Stroking back the boys black strands the old wizard stared at him intently. He looked so small and fragile. Could this little boy really one day become the saviour of the wizarding world? Could those thin shoulders carry such a weight? It was not fair to ask him to, and Albus could only hope, that there would still be time. Time enough for the boy to grow up into a man, who then might actually have a chance. If Albus himself had not already destroyed that chance with his unforgivable mistake.

Sighing Dumbledore turned away from the boy and glanced into the living-room. Sirius was still out on the floor. The sight was oddly disconcerting. The man looked too much like little Harry did. Pale and thin and vulnerable. Strange words to associate with an escaped convict. A murderer and traitor. 'Please... help me.' It was disturbing to hear that words from the mouth of this man, his voice almost dying, his eyes pleading. His once so handsome features were gaunt and raw. Most wizards had the image of Dumbledore as an slightly eccentric but amicable man, but he could be very hard and unyielding when faced with the dark side of human nature. So it was rather unsettling, when he felt that he could not harden himself against this sight of Sirius Black. Trying to not give it too much thought, Dumbledore quickly conjured another bed and with a flick of his wand raised Sirius up from the floor and guided him down on the sheets, conjuring a stack of blankets above him. He hesitated a moment before he cast a quick binding charm as well.

He turned away from the wizard who had once been one of his favourite students, and went to the fireplace, reaching for the bag of floo-powder in his pocket. He cast a handful into the fireplace and when the flames turned green stuck his head into them.

„Poppy?" he called out. „I know it is late, but I need you here, immediately."

***

A few minutes later Madame Pomfrey, the school nurse of Hogwarts and quite a capable healer, stepped out of the fireplace of the cabin with a frown on her face.

„Headmaster? What on earth happened? This is quite the hour... was there an accident? And where are- Good Lord! Is that Sirius Black!?"

Dumbledore who sat in one of the armchairs across from her cast a look at the unconscious man, as if he needed to assure himself, before he nodded. „Indeed, Poppy. He is indeed."

Without further ado Madame Pomfrey walked briskly over to the bed, opening her old-fashioned black leather bag. „He looks horrendous, Albus. He's hypothermic and needs immediate medical care. What in Merlin's name has happened?"

Albus raised himself from the chair. „I don't know all the details myself, Poppy, but there is another patient I need you to look at."

The nurse turned around, her eyebrows raised. „As bad as this one?" she asked sharply.

„That I will leave up to you to decide." Dumbledore said. He was not about to take anymore risks where it came to Harry Potter. With a bow of his head he indicated to the room next door.

Madame Pomfrey cast a last look at her patient and waved her wand a few more times, probably making sure he wouldn't collapse in the next minute. Then she rushed past Dumbledore, and into the other room, where Remus and Harry were asleep in their beds. In a calm and quick manner Madam Pomfrey went to work, immediately casting diagnostic spells and murmuring under her breath. She confirmed Dumbledore's diagnosis, that Remus was out of immediate danger. He had suffered a mild form of hypothermia, probably from being in cold water, but luckily had not been exposed to it very long. He obviously had been warmed up right after as well, which had prevented the worst. He would certainly suffer a massive head-cold, but there would be no permanent damage to his health.

„His condition also gives him a somewhat stronger endurance to the cold." she explained before she graced Remus with a fond smile and a stroke over his damp forehead, and then turned back to Harry, waving her wand. „Could you please levitate Mr. Black in here as well, Albus? He is off the worst of them, and it will be easier to tend to them all that way. I will shrink Mr. Lupin's bed a little, and then there should be enough room for him."

With a small smile Dumbledore inclined his head and left the room. A few minutes later there was a row of three beds, with little Harry in the middle and Sirius Black the furthest down from the door. Poppy had sent the headmaster off to make more tea with a lot of sugar, for Harry and Remus to drink when they woke up, and then it couldn't hurt them either. The nurse herself was totally engrossed in the care for the unconscious convict, pulling out potions from her leather bag, waving her wand about and murmuring under her breath again. Finally she stepped back into the living-room, sighing and with a tired hand stroked back a wisp of hair that had escaped her tight bun. She went over to the wooden table where Dumbledore was sitting with the teapot and a mug in front of him and poured one for herself before she sat down.

„There is no need to worry about Harry." She said, taking a deep gulp. „He will probably catch a cold too, but mainly he's fine. He was just really tired. His body was exhausted. It would be no wonder if he was running around outside in that weather. It's good, that you got him inside and warm right away, though. With the temperatures outside it could have gotten really dangerous if he had stayed out for too long." She paused. „Now, with him, it's a little worse. His health condition has been bad before. While Harry shows signs of malnutrition too, mainly in being somewhat underdeveloped for his age, he has been fed properly for a while now, so his all over condition is alright. But he..." Frowning, she pressed her lips together for a moment. „Well, he was in Azkaban, wasn't he? That normally does nothing for your health. And while he seems to have gained some weight in the last months, he is still horribly thin. Then it seems, he was in the water at some point tonight as well, just like Mr. Lupin."

Dumbledore nodded. „Remus was sleeping cosily wrapped up in bed when I arrived. Sirius came in somewhat later with an unconscious Harry and then collapsed himself. As strange as it might be, but from what I can gather, it was probably him who pulled Remus out of the water."

„Exactly."Poppy agreed. „But while Mr. Lupin was kept warm afterwards, Mr. Black ran around outside in his wet clothes and maybe even without a cloak. He was almost frozen when he got here! He was quite literally at the end of his tether. His body temperature was worrisome and it took a while to warm him up again. His heart rate was very low. Now he is falling into a fever. It's quite a struggle for his heart. I don't know if he will get through it, although I will do all I can. Then there are his hands. He has some severe freezes, which will be tricky to repair fully, so that he'll still have feeling in them."

„Try your best, Poppy." Dumbledore sighed. „If it is true what you said, then he has probably saved two lives tonight. It doesn't absolve him from what he has done. But I think it at least gives him the right to expect us to do our best to grant him the same."

Poppy stood up, her tea cup in hand. „That's what I always do, Headmaster. He might be a criminal, but right now he is my patient. That's all that matters to me." And with that she made her way back into the bedroom.

Before Dumbledore could answer, the flames in the fireplace roared up green and two men stepped out, their wands raised. At the same moment the door to the cabin flew open with a bang.

-

Rufus Scrimgeour strode into the cabin, his wand raised and his keen almost yellowish eyes taking in the surroundings. Trailing behind him came another man, shorter, but also with his wand at the ready. In the door on the other side of the room stood Kingsley Shacklebolt, and a man that Dumbledore recognised as Gawain Robards, the Auror who had been given a leading role in the search for the escaped Sirius Black.

Scrimgeour turned to Dumbledore. „Where is the prisoner?"

„Getting medical care."

„Why is that!? Was there a fight?"

„I don't think so, but he collapsed and is in a very dire condition."

„Hmph!? He's not conscious then?"

„I'm afraid not."

„What about the boy?"

„He is fine. But he is sleeping as well. Don't worry, Rufus, the situation is under control. But I'm afraid you won't be able to interrogate anyone tonight."

Rufus Scrimgeour did not look pleased by this development, nor by Dumbledore's cryptic talk.

At that moment Madame Pomfrey came out of the bedroom again. „I'm afraid I have to confirm the Headmaster's words, Sir. The prisoner hasn't gained consciousness and neither has the boy. I have the medical situation under control, but you can't under any circumstances move the patients, nor can you speak to them right now."

Scrimgeour's eyes bore into Dumbledore. „What the hell happened, Dumbledore?" He asked rather sharply. „And how did you find them?"

„It was Mr. Lupin, a friend of the Potters, who found them. I'm afraid he had taken it upon himself to do something, when he heard that Harry had been abducted. He informed me this evening, that he had located Black and Harry, here at this cabin. It was once in the possession of an uncle of Mr. Black, Alphard Black, but probably is not registered as a wizard home."

„Where is Mr. Lupin now? Under these circumstances there are a few questions I want to ask him as well."

„Ah, well, I'm afraid he is also unconscious at the moment."

„What!?" Scrimgeour looked at Dumbledore with his bushy eyebrows drawn into a deep and suspicious frown. „What is all this? Why is everybody unconscious, when you say there was no fight?"

„They have all suffered severe exhaustion and hypothermia to some degree," Madame Pomfrey cut in, „the prisoner even more so than Harry and Mr. Lupin. From what we could gather, there has been an accident. Probably they broke through the ice on the frozen lake."

Scrimgeour turned to Dumbledore again, and the headmaster answered his question, before it could escape his mouth. „None of them was in any condition to answer questions when I arrived, Rufus. And they probably won't be before tomorrow. It's rather late, anyway. Why don't we meet up here tomorrow afternoon and discuss the matter. Maybe by then they will have gained consciousness, and we will be able to bring the events of the last months to light. I find that a good nights sleep is always of great help, when trying to uncover all that tries so hard to remain hidden."

Scrimgeour frowned again. „I don't like leaving the prisoner here. He has escaped Azkaban, Dumbledore, and he is very clever and devious. I don't want to risk him getting away again."

It was Kingsley who spoke up now for the first time. „We can not move him right now without risking his life. If he doesn't survive there will be no possibility to question him. I can stay here and ensure, that he remains where he is, Sir."

„That would be an excellent idea." Dumbledore said with a smile at Kingsley. Then he turned his sharp blue gaze at Scrimgeour „I'm sure you want to know how Mr. Black was able to escape Azkaban and why he took Harry. Believe me, I want to know the answers to these questions as much as you do. Mr. Shacklebolt here can see to it, that Mr. Black stays in bed, which I'm sure Madame Pomfrey would also recommand. And I have already put up all the necessary wards. Mr. Black is also magically bound to his bed and has no wand. Not even taking into account that he is right now clinging to his life, I don't see how he could escape tonight. For us to get the answers to our questions, we have to make sure, he survives, Rufus."

After a moment Scrimgeour gave a curt nod. „Alright, Dumbledore. I entrust you and Shacklebolt with the prisoner. I will come back tomorrow. And then I will get some answers."

„I'm looking forward to it, Rufus." Dumbledore said with a pleasant smile.

Scrimgeour and the two other Aurors gathered around the fireplace and one by one left in the roar of the flames. As soon as they were gone, Dumbledore turned around to the two remaining people in the room.

„We don't have much time. Rufus Scrimgeour is not a patient man. He will be back here by morning."

Kingsley shook his head. „I'm sorry, Albus. He came in when I was talking to McGonagall. I couldn't evade him, and he insisted on joining we with two more of his Aurors."

„It doesn't matter now." Dumbledore sighed. „What done is done. At least Scrimgeour has an interest in finding out what has been going on, even if he might not have that many scruples about the way he obtains his answers. I'm more worried about Cornelius though, since he will only try to hush things up. He doesn't care what happened and how, as long as it doesn't hurt his reputation."

He turned towards Madame Pomfrey. „However ever you do it, Poppy, I need to talk to Remus before Rufus and the Minister show up tomorrow morning."

***

Madame Pomfrey gave Remus some potions to speed up his awakening, all the while clucking her tongue and grumbling something about her patients needing their rest and highly unrecommendable procedures. When she was finished she shot Dumbledore a glare under her raised eyebrows and stated, that this was all she could do, and they had to wait for him to wake up on his own now.

„Thank you, Poppy," Dumbledore said with a sincere expression. „You know I would not ask, if I did not think it highly important."

And then they waited. It was late in the night already, or rather very early in the morning, but neither of them slept. Dumbledore and Kingsley were sitting next to each other in the armchairs in front of the fireplace, neither saying a word. Dumbledore was staring into the flames with a frown on his face, obviously deep in his thoughts, while Kingsley calmly stirred his cup of tea.

Madame Pomfrey was shuffling around her patients in the next room, especially the pale man in the last bed, who was running a fever so high it was alarming. He was drenched in cold sweat, his robes and black hair sticking to his skin, trembling and mumbling words she couldn't quite understand or make sense of. There was a lot of moaning and 'no' and 'please', and she thought she had heard 'James' and something that sounded like 'rat'. But mostly it was unintelligible.

And then a groan came from the bed on the other side of the room, and when she turned around she could see Remus Lupin stirring and slowly opening his eyes. She rushed over to his bed, feeling his pulse and flashing her glowing wand tip at his eyes, making him squirm.

„Mr. Lupin. How good to see you with us again. How do you feel? Do you remember what happened?"

Remus frowned, blinking against the light. „Where am I?" he mumbled.

Madame Pomfrey looked at him sharply. „You're in a cabin at the lakes, that used to belong to a Mr. Alphard Black. Can you remember how you came to be here?"

Remus moved his head in a way, that indicated a nod. „Harry," he said, trying to look around. But all he could see, was a wall, a door and - Pomfrey? How did she get here? „Sirius." he groaned. „What happened? Is Harry... did he find him? Where is Sirius?"

„It's alright, don't you worry." Madame Pomfrey said in a soothing voice. „Harry is lying in bed right next to you. He is sleeping and will be right as rain in a few days. He'll probably catch a cold."

„And Sirius?" Remus asked.

The nurse hesitated a moment, before answering. „He caught a fever and... we'll have to see, how he gets through the night."

Remus looked at her and swallowed hard. „What do you mean?" he croaked. „He's not... he won't... it can't be that bad, can it?"

The older witch looked at the young man, she had attended to so often when he was a boy at Hogwarts, with sympathetic eyes. „I can't say anything, yet. It will depend on his will to fight, and he's not the strong man, you might remember."

Remus slumped back against the pillows, his eyes wide and his heart beating heavy in his chest. „He saved my life," he whispered. „Tonight. He saved my life."

The bed creaked and a shadow fell on the covers. When Remus raised his eyes, he met the troubled gaze of Albus Dumbledore.

„Hello, Remus. I'm glad to see you awake."

„Albus." Remus fixed his eyes on Dumbledore's his voice becoming urgent. „Please. You can't call the Aurors yet. There are things we don't understand, things we misunderstood, I think... I can't explain really, but all that he did... why would he do that? He..." His voice trailed of when Dumbledore sighed „What?" Remus asked, his voice becoming even more anxious.

There was a cough coming from the doorway and Remus looked up to see the solemn face of Kingsley Shacklebolt. Remus eyes went back to Dumbledore's searching for the answer he dreaded to hear.

„I'm sorry to say, that the Ministry is already in the known. I intended to get reinforcements through Kingsley, but Minerva was overheard by Scrimgeour. He was already here with his Aurors and will be back tomorrow. I don't believe we will be able to keep the Minister out of it any longer than that either."

Kingsley nodded. „Scrimgeour might not be a big fan of Fudge's, but he won't do anything to compromise his own position. The Minister has to be informed, it's procedure."

„That's why we need to know what happened, so that we will have a head start." Dumbledore explained. „This is a very troublesome matter, and there are too many variables to act rashly."

Madame Pomfrey came back into the room and handed Remus first a goblet of Pepperup Potion and then a cup of sweetened tea. Remus drowned the first, grimacing when smoke started to curl from his ears and took a gulp of the tea to get rid of the slightly burning taste. He was aware, that all eyes were on him, which made him slightly uneasy.

„How I found him is a long story, and I can tell you all the details later, but the most important thing is... I know I said this before, but I'm sure there is something we are missing, or not seeing or..." Remus eyes were almost pleading. „I don't know," he said helplessly. „I can't explain it really... but this is not what I had expected! He saved my life, Albus! Like he would have done before..." he broke of, stumbling, searching for words, for answers. „And the way he took care of Harry. He said, he took him, because he was abused. He said they hit him! Starved him... he said something about welts... I don't know, maybe he is mixing that up with his own experiences, but... he didn't act like a criminal. Even when I told him, that it was over, that he would go back to Azkaban, his only concern was Harry! And then... he saved my life, Albus!Why did he do that?" Tears welled up in Remus eyes and he tried to blink them away. „He could just have let me drown and run. What if there is something we just don't see? What if..." He paused, suddenly hesitant.

„What is it, Remus?"

„I'm not sure. At that point I simply thought he was mad, but... he said something... about Peter."

„Peter Pettigrew?"

„Yes. He said he was still alive and... that he had been the traitor."

„He couldn't have been, you know that Remus. Only the secret keeper can reveal the information."

„That's just it... Sirius said, that he wasn't the secret keeper, but that it was Peter."

The man they were talking about was moaning, tossing about in the bed and struggling with the sheets. Remus had risen up into a sitting position and was looking at the man who had once been his closest friend. Suddenly Sirius stiffened, his body convulsing.

„No!" he called out, „No! Please..." and then „James, no! James!"

Remus looked at him in despair as Madame Pomfrey rushed to his side, checking his vitals and applying spells once more.

„Please, Lily, please!" the feverish voice called desperately and Remus had to press his eyes close to not let the tears splatter. He felt like his whole world was shattering again, but this time there was no one to blame, no one but him.

-

Sirius was walking through the darkness. There was nothing around him, no forms, no movements and it was cold. There was a faint grey-greenish glow, although he couldn't say where it was coming from. It didn't penetrate the darkness either, but rather seemed to be a part of it. His breath was ascending in frozen clouds. He felt almost naked in the flimsy shirt he was wearing, that provided no defence against the cold. His feet were bare and bleeding. He had no idea where he was going, he just stumbled forwards, holding on to a single thought. He had to find them. He had to save them.

Suddenly there was a shape somewhere in front of him and he rushed forwards, urging his hurting feet to move faster. It was a person, lying crumbled before him. When he reached it he fell to his knees, turning it around, only to reveal the empty staring eyes of Lily Potter. „No!!" he cried. „Please, Lily, please!" shaking her limp body as if it was possible to shake the life back into her. But it wasn't. Life had left this body forever. It would never smile again, never frown again at him. Her hand would never reach out again and slap him over the head, only to shake her own head and laugh and squeeze his shoulder a moment later. Life. There had been so much in her. Where had it gone?

A faint cry came out of the darkness. The whimper of a helpless child. Harry. Where was Harry? He needed to find him. He ran, stumbling, ignoring the pain, but the crying seemed to come from everywhere. He stopped, looking around him wildly, when he suddenly saw black cloaked figures emerging out of the darkness. Their hoods were pulled over their heads and where Sirius would have caught a glimpse of a face, the only thing he saw were masks. Death Eaters. There were more then he could count, surrounding him, advancing, their wands raised. Did they have Harry?

„Where is Harry? What have you done to him?" he yelled, turning on the spot, while the Death Eaters closed in.

A loud bang, a sound like the crack of thunder, when the storm was right above you almost deafened him and he ducked instinctively. The cloaked figures where cast back, hurdling out of sight and there was only one left, standing alone right in front of him. Sirius rose up, his heart beating fast. There was something about this figure. And then the person took a step towards him and the hood fell back, revealing to Sirius the face of his best friend, just like he'd been the last night he saw him. Smiling and alive. Sirius didn't hesitate. He rushed forward, throwing his arms around James before he could vanish. „James. James, James, James!" he sobbed against his shoulder. He wasn't ashamed to cry. This was his brother and he had missed him every single day for seven years. He had hoped, had prayed for this. For the chance to see him again. To tell him all the things that had been left unsaid. „I love you." he whispered into James' robes. „You have always been my brother, my family, and I love you. I'm so sorry, James. It was all my fault. I should have died. I would have died. Just to safe you, and Lily and Harry."

„I know." James said and Sirius raised his head from James' shoulder looking in those bright hazel eyes. „But you didn't. You are still alive, Sirius, and it's up to you now. You can't give up. Harry needs you. He loves you. You are all he has left. Take care of him. Please, Sirius, take care of my son. We chose you because we knew you'd move heaven and earth to protect Harry. The first time I saw you holding him in your arms, I knew you'd never let him down. You would love him till the end of this world. It's the way you are, Padfoot. I always knew. Take care of him..."

And then James form dissolved like smoke, leaving Sirius alone in the grey darkness.

-

„It's unbelievable how he even managed it." Remus whispered. „We tried to follow Harry's tracks, but they were blown over. But Sirius was still moving with a certainty, as if he knew, although he didn't. I know that doesn't make sense. He said Harry went over the ice. He simply stated it as a fact and before I could do anything he rushed out on the lake as Padfoot. His animagus form." Remus explained when Kingsley raised an eyebrow in question.

„That could have been a ploy to get away." Kingsley said in a calm voice.

But Remus shook his head. „At first I suspected something like that too. But then it happened. I broke through. Suddenly there was just splintering ice beneath me and the ground moved and then I was in the water. I remember the impact... Remember feeling like the air was sucked out of my lungs while my body was pierced with thousand knifes... and then... just darkness. My memories after that are jumbled. I remember something like lying on my back in the snow, being wrapped in something warm, hands on me..." Remus blushed. „I can't really distinguish between reality and dreams, but I know he pulled me out. It was Sirius."

Dumbledore nodded. „I'm quite sure that's what happened. And obviously after bringing you here, he went back out to look for Harry. He came back with him and collapsed in the living-room after I arrived. The only question is why he would act that way."

„It's true. I'm to blame. I blamed myself ever since that night I found James and Lily in the ruins of their house."

„I was so stupid to think Voldemort could be tricked. I was idiotic enough to fall for the trap. But I did not kill them. I never betrayed them!"

Remus swallowed hard, staring at his hands that rested on the covers. Then he looked up at Dumbledore and stated the unthinkable. „He could be innocent."

„Or," Kingsley said, „he could have simply suppressed the memories of betraying his closest friend, trying to built up an imaginary life where you are still friends and he is the one applied with Harry's care. Azkaban does things to you. It is quite usual for prisoners to go mad."

„He didn't act mad." Remus said. „And even if he'd gone mad, wouldn't Azkaban make him even less human? The Dementors suck out all your good and happy memories, don't they? He wouldn't forget about the betrayal. He would forget about the people that were his friends and family."

„You said he seemed to know where he was going?" Dumbledore asked, his gaze imploring.

„Yes. Do you think that could have something to do with..."

„It might indeed." Dumbledore nodded.

Kingsley raised his eyebrows in question, looking from one to the other. „With what?" he asked.

„With the promise Sirius Black has made eight years ago." Dumbledore answered.

***

Dumbledore's assessment of Rufus Scrimgeour proved to be correct. He really wasn't a patient man. But he obviously was a man who emphasized the importance of his own position as well. So it was not Scrimgeour who arrived in a surge of green flames, barely after the sun had risen. It was Gawain Robards. He brushed of some ashes from his robes and inclined his head at Dumbledore and Kingsley.

„Gentlemen."

„Good morning to you too, Mr. Robards." Dumbledore said, with a friendly smile at the newly arrived Auror. „I hope you have slept well."

„Not so much," Gawain said with a shrug, „But then that's to be expected in a situation like this. Is he awake yet?" he asked, coming straight to the point of his visit.

„No, I'm afraid Mr. Black has not yet woken. But he made it through the night, which is more than we could have hoped for at this point."

Madame Pomfrey emerged from the patients' room, drying her hands on her apron. „His fever is down a little and I'm trying to keep him hydrated and cool him down. It's all I can do at this point. Luckily his heart seems stronger than I had suspected. That he made it through last night, is a very good sign and I thinkthere is a chance, that he will recover. He started rambling in his fevered mind, but there is no way to say when he will wake up or actually be lucid enough to answer questions." With a curt nod she turned back to the other room.

„Isn't there any way for you to quicken up his awakening?" Robards asked sounding impatient.

Madame Pomfrey turned back, glaring at him. „Not without risking the patients life, so I won't allow it." With a last piercing look she vanished through the door.

„However," Dumbledore picked up the conversation, „Mr. Lupin has woken, and was able to explain the events of yesterday, at least to some point. It so happened, that he spotted Mr. Black and Harry on a Christmas Fair yesterday and was able to trace them here. Apparently Harry was quite distraught by the events and ran out into the blizzard. Mr. Lupin took Mr. Black with him to search for Harry, since the latter knew the area. Then while trying to cross the frozen lake, Mr. Lupin broke through the ice and Mr. Black pulled him out and brought him back here, before he went out again to find Harry. I myself was here, when Mr. Black came back with the unconscious boy. Unfortunately he was quite hypothermic at this point and collapsed."

„Black pulled Lupin out of the water, after he was caught? Why would he do that? Why didn't he just run?" Robards asked with a frown.

„Yes, a very good question, indeed." Dumbledore said with a bright smile. „Hopefuly we will get the answers as soon as Mr. Black wakes up."

Robards nodded, looking unsure. „Alright. I will report this back for now. Scrimgeour said he's come by with the Minister later today."

„We will be awaiting them here." Dumbledore inclined his head in a parting nod and Robards was gone a moment later.

***

Sirius fever had indeed declined, but he was still looking sweaty and pale and from time to time mumbling and screaming in his fevered sleep. Remus, who still felt weak and tried to sooth his aching head and throat with Madame Pomfrey's tea and Pepperup Potion, had at last got the permission to leave his bed to use the bathroom and stretch his legs a little. He just came back into the room, when he heard Sirius voice, rough but coherent.

„Remus... it's Peter... he cut it of..."

Remus stumbled to the bed furthest down. „Sirius? Are you awake? Can you hear me?"

Sirius eyes were wide open, but Remus knew immediately, that they weren't seeing him. His eyes were glazed with fever and he mumbled frantically. „It was all that's left... but it wasn't... into the sewer... all along... James... all lies... Peter..."

„What Sirius? What was with Peter?" Remus asked, but he knew it was useless, Sirius didn't hear him.

Suddenly hands were tugging on his robes from behind him. „Get away from him!" a young voice cried, while the hands were trying to tear him away from the bed. „Leave him alone! He didn't do anything! Don't take him back! Don't hurt him!"

Turning around Remus saw, that it was Harry who obviously had woken up. „Harry, it's alright, get back in bed. You'll catch a fever-"

„No!!" Harry, trying to push Remus aside, clung to the bed and his godfather. „I won't let you hurt him! What did you do to him? Why did you come here?" he yelled, facing Remus and trying to shield Sirius from him. „We were fine! Everything was fine before you came! Why can't you leave us alone?"

„Harry, please. I don't want to hurt you... or him. But you need to calm down and get back in bed."

„He said he missed you. He said you were his friend! But you aren't!" Harry yelled, tears welling up in his eyes. „You want to take him back there, and it will kill him!!"

Remus stood momentarily frozen, not knowing what to think or say. Sirius had missed him? He had told Harry about Remus, saying they were friends?

„Harry!" Madame Pomfrey arrived back in her patients' room at that moment and appalled to see two of them out of bed, went into action immediately. „Harry, you need to go back into bed." she said, trying to take the boy by his shoulders. But Harry wouldn't let her.

„No!! No, no!!" he screamed, fighting against the hands that tried to grab him, holding on to his godfather. „No! Leave us alone! I won't let you take him back! Why can't you believe him!? He only wanted you to believe him!" Harry sobbed. „I know he didn't kill my parents, because he loves me, and he wouldn't do that! He loves me! He loves me!" Harry's voice had turned into a hysteric screech, as Remus pulled him against his chest holding him tight while Harry hit him with his small fists, screaming „He loves me!" until he finally started to cry in loud broken sobs and painful wails. „He...loves...me! Please don't...hurt...him. Please...please... don't let him... die!!"

„I'm sorry, Harry. I'm so sorry. We will sort it out, I promise you! I don't understand all of it right now, but... I promise you we will let him explain. And if he is innocent, I will do what ever I can to help him. I promise!"

Could it really be? Could I have really been so blind? Sirius. Why did you save my life? Can it really be true? And if it's true indeed,... will you ever be able to forgive me? You've been in hell for seven years. How did you get through this without losing your mind? What has Azkaban done to you?

„Harry." Remus finally spoke up again, still stroking the back of the boy who was sobbing in his arms. Madame Pomfrey had given him a meaningful look and a silent nod, before she had left the room. „There is one thing I need you to tell me. Why did you go with Sirius? Did you know who he was?"

Harry hesitated. „He told me he had known my parents," he whispered. „He said they had loved me a lot and that they were wizards and not freaks and that he is my godfather." Harry looked up at Remus with big, pleading eyes. „He is, isn't he? He is my godfather?"

Remus nodded. „Yes. He is."

The joy and relief on Harry's face was so obvious, that Remus had to suppress a smile, before he went on. „But weren't you afraid to go with a man you didn't know? Didn't you want to stay with your aunt and uncle?"

Harry shook his head.

„Why not?" Remus asked.

„They didn't like me that much," Harry whispered.

„Were they mean to you?"

Harry stared at his feet. „Sometimes." he mumbled.

„Harry? Harry, please look at me." Remus gently raised Harry's face, so that he would meet his eyes. „Did they hit you, Harry?"

Harry looked at him, his eyes big and fearful and Remus had to close his own for a moment, already knowing the answer. He pulled Harry against him again, holding his stiff body in his arms. „I'm so sorry, Harry. I promise you, I do what ever I can, so that you will never have to go back there."

Harry looked at him hopefully. „Then I can stay with Sirius?" he asked in a small voice.

Remus looked at him and swallowed. „We will see. Okay, Harry? We will just have to see."

***

It was early afternoon, when Fudge arrived with Scrimgeour, Robards and Dawlish.

„Ah, Dumbledore," Fudge said jovially, „Quite a catch you made here, if I may say so. I didn't know you were actively taking part in this search. One would think you were to occupied with your headmaster duties."

„You are quite right about that, Cornelius." Dumbledore said with an amused smile „.And therefore it wasn't me who found them, but Mr. Lupin, a friend of the Potters'."

„Not only a friend of the Potters', he was also a friend of Black himself, wasn't he?" Dawlish asked with a hint of disdain.

„And he is also a werewolf, isn't he, Dumbledore?" Fudge asked with an air of superiority.

„That's true. All of it." It was Remus, who had come into the room and was now standing next to the fireplace, his voice calm, his face not betraying any emotions. „I was a friend of James and Lily Potter, as well as Sirius Black since school. And I have been a werewolf since the age of five. It is also true, that it was me who found Sirius and Harry yesterday. If you are still interested in my report, why don't we take a seat and I can tell you."

After some coughing and blustering from the Minister and some moving of furniture they finally sat down and Remus told his tale, or rather the crucial parts. He didn't reveal any of the personal stuff he had found out about Sirius and the way he had grown up, and he left out all hints of Peter, as they had agreed before hand. That was an issue that had to be investigated more thoroughly before any suspicions were laid out. At that point it would only let Sirius look even more crazy.

But then Dumbledore had been right in his assumption. Fudge was not all that interested in the 'how' and 'why', but rather wanted to bring a quick end to an embarrassing matter. He wanted the headline of Black's capture in the Daily Prophet, selling it as a success of the Ministry and the wizard world to forget about the troublesome circumstances of the whole affair.

„As soon as we can transport him, Black will be taken to the Ministry restraining cells for further questioning, then we will hand him over to the Dementors," Fudge declared. „Harry will go back to his relatives, that's-"

„NO!!"

All heads in the living-room whipped around, only to see the prisoner, Sirius Black, pale as death, clutching the frame of the bedroom door, trying to stay on his legs, which obviously weren't strong enough yet to hold his weight. „You can't...," he pressed through his clenched teeth. „bring him...back there!!"

„Sirius!" Remus shot up from his chair so fast, that it crashed to the ground.

„I thought he was bound to his bed!" Scrimgeour shouted.

„He was..." Dumbledore frowned. „He shouldn't be able to..."

„Mr. Black! What are you doing out of bed!" Madame Pomfrey cried, just as Sirius' wobbly legs gave out and he started sliding down to the floor.

„Do something!" Fudge yelled at the Aurors and Dawlish acted immediately.

„Petrificus Totalus!" he yelled and the spell hit Sirius straight in the chest, letting him keel over and slump to the floor. Robards and Scrimgeour slowly advanced at the immobilized prisoner, their wands raised.

But then a small form came hurling out of the bedroom and threw himself over the defenseless man on the floor. „No!! Don't touch him! What did you do to him!? Don't hurt him!" Harry screamed, clutching at Sirius robes. „Sirius? Sirius!! What's wrong with him?" Harry turned his scared eyes towards Remus. „Why doesn't he say anything?" he whispered. „Why doesn't he move?" Tears were freely running down Harry's face. „Is he dead?" he sobbed.

The party of adults stood stunned for a moment, but Remus recovered quickly. Crouching down he wrapped his arms around Harry, in an attempt to calm the boy. „He's not dead, Harry, he's only immobilized," he said.

But Harry didn't seem to hear him, still clinging to his godfather, screaming. „No!! Sirius!! SIRIUS!!!" He grabbed the shoulders of the only person that had ever loved him, trying to shake him, but only achieving to let his head roll over, revealing his face to Harry.

And then Harry stared in the still seeing grey-blue eyes of his godfather, that were full of tears and sorrow.

TBC

A/N: Reviews are my cookies. Think you might give me some?

Question for readers:

I had about four more chapters planned for this story. But since then I really got into this story line, and would like to explore a few plot points more thoroughly. Right now I'm tending towards ending this story where I intended to and address the remaining issues (and a few new ones) in a sequel. I would hate to loose the arch of this story and those of you who paid closer attention to the chapter titles might have a clue why I don't want to drag this story out. I'm somewhat uncertain about it, what do you think about it?

Bloom: Ah, I love Sirius too! (As if all of you hadn't guessed until now ; ). So the Aurors DID arrive... sorry! But see, Harry is okay! Sorry the update took a little longer than usual, but I'd say it's still not too bad, is it?

HebHibHob: THANK YOU!! Wow. Your review really made me blush, and I don't blush all that easily. So thank you! Hope you keep enjoying (and reviewing!) ; )

annie: Annie? You alright? Can you hear me? Put your head between your knees and take deep breaths. (I think it was something like that... *looks around helpless*)

Mary: Thank you for reviewing again! Good to see, you still enjoy the story.

Rainey_Dae: Hope you still like the story, although this update took a little longer. And you are right. It's Beedle the Bard ; )

A: Thanks for your review.Why would Dumbledore inform Kingsley and the Aurors and NOT do it all on his own? Catching dark wizards is after all Auror business. Dumbledore went straight to the cabin, because he was worried about Remus and is glad that Harry was found – that's his priority. From his perspective Sirius is still an escaped convict, to be dealt with by the Aurors. I think Dumbledore is more the guy to pull strings from the back-ground, than jumping into action himself. He normally only did that, when no one else was able to deal with the problem.