I sit at the dining room table in silence. My notes are copious, but frustrating. My head hurts from trying to figure all of this out. At this point, the outlook on getting my parents back from Australia is not hopeful. I feel like I've been working on all this forever and not made any progress.

A pecking on the nearby window makes me jump. An owl stands perched on the windowsill. I open it and the owl flies in, dropping off a letter addressed to me. After a moment, I send the owl back off and examine the letter.

It's from Eric Armand, an Unspeakable at the Ministry. I'd almost forgotten that I'd written to him a few weeks ago. I asked him for help with my parents and memory charms, but he never replied. I had assumed that either he didn't care to help me or that my case was hopeless.

As I open the letter now, I feel a spark of hope for my parents.

Dear Miss Granger,

I apologize for not getting back to you sooner, but work demanded my attention.

I do, however, have good news for you: I think I may have something that could help you out with the situation your parents are in. Memory charms are difficult to reverse, but if the right spell is applied, it can work. Judging from the situation you have described to me, the memories of your parents are not permanently lost.

The charm I'd recommend would be a Complex Memory Retrieval Spell. They are fairly easy to master, and I'm sure you can manage. I will work on singling out a particular spell and get back to you.

Hopefully, you'll have your parents back before you know it.

-Eric Armand

A triumphant grin graces my face. At that exact moment, Sirius enters with a plate of two sandwiches. He sees my grin and places the food on the table, giving me an expectant look.

I run at him and jump into his arms, hugging him fiercely. He wraps his arms around my waist and picks me up a little, looking at me straight on.

"You've figured it out, haven't you?" He asks, a grin on his face as well.

I hand him the letter, and he puts me down to read it. After a moment, he looks at me with a big grin, and kisses me for a long moment. I'm so glad he decided to come over tonight. The night we figured it out – well, the night Eric figured it out.

He rests his forehead against mine and looks into my eyes, "I'm happy for you."

His words make me smile once again, and move to capture his lips, this time more passionate and heated. I feel him smirking as his mouth ghosts across mine in a manner that only Sirius Black can pull off.