Serena opened her eyes to someone's familiar voice yelling in rage. Her vision was blurred, but her hearing perfect. She realized it was Harry's voice roaring in the hospital wing, arguing with Snape, the Minister of Magic, and Madame Pomphrey. Hermione's voice could be heard in spurts, but not nearly as much as Harry's. Serena rubbed her head and sat up slowly in the confusion.

"Miss Belle!" said Madame Pomphrey rushing to her side. "Here, have some chocolate."

"What is going on?" she asked looking at all of the people who were arguing. "Is it really necessary for you all to be yelling so much?"

"Serena, they're going to kiss him," said Harry quickly. "They don't believe he's innocent."

Serena frowned and looked at Snape with a harsh glare and then the Minister.

"I want to see my Father."

"That is simply out of the question," said Snape.

"I want to see him," Serena said more forcefully. She got out of the bed, throwing the chocolate down on the sheets.

"Miss Belle, please get back in bed you need to rest. Minister, Professor I'll ask you to leave—"

"Sirius Black is innocent!" Harry yelled.

"He is not Harry," said Fudge quickly. "He is not. You're confused. Rest and eat your chocolate. Miss Belle, you will not be allowed to see your Father."

"I want to see him whether he be guilty or innocent," she hissed wrestling with Madame Pomphrey who was trying to get her back into the bed.

"Will everyone please leave?" she called as the door opened and Dumbledore entered.

"Professor!" said Harry jumping out of bed and almost choking on a piece of chocolate. "Sirius Black—"

"For heaven's sake!" said Madame Pomphrey. "Headmaster, I insist that everyone leave—"

"I am very sorry Poppy," said Dumbledore raising his hand to silence her. "But I need a word with Mr. Potter, Miss Granger, and Miss Belle."

After more arguing, Snape, the Minister and Madame Pomphrey finally left the three students and Professor Dumbledore alone. Once Dumbledore has escorted everyone out, Harry and Hermione both burst into speech at once while Serena remained by her bed, silent. Dumbledore silenced the other two and his eyes fell on her with a sad smile.

"Professor," she whispered. "May I go see my Father?"

"Yes," he said. "Professor McGonagall is waiting in the hall to escort you up to the tower he's in."

Serena nodded and moved forward. Harry grabbed her hand and she looked at him. He forced a smile and squeezed her hand tightly. He released her hand and she walked past Dumbledore.

"Thank you," she muttered.

"Of course Miss Belle," he said watching her leave.

When she stepped out into the hall she found Professor McGonagall standing next to Snape and the Minister. McGonagall was red, looking as harsh as ever. Serena smiled slightly.

"Come along Miss Belle," said McGonagall.

"Where are you taking her?" asked Fudge.

"To see her Father," McGonagall said walking away done the hall.

"You can't be serious!" snapped Snape.

"Yes, Severus," said McGonagall. She motioned for Serena to follow her. "Come along Miss Belle."

Serena moved quickly to follow McGonagall as she walked briskly up a set of stairs towards the seventh floor.

"Where exactly are we going?"

"Professor Flitwick's office," McGonagall said. "We don't have much time."

Serena picked up the pace and to match McGonagall's and they reached Flitwick's office in no time. McGonagall tapped her wand against the door three times and it opened. She pushed it open farther and allowed Serena in.

"I'll be down the hall if you need me," she said softly to Serena as she entered.

Serena nodded.

"Thank you," she said.

Sirius Black was sitting in a chair in front of the desk motionless. Serena feared that he had already been kissed as she approached him. He looked up at her with sad eyes and frowned.

"I thought you were…" his dry voice trailed off. He stood up and looked at her violently. "What are you doing here? You shouldn't be here."

"I wanted to apologize first of all," she whispered standing by the door that was now closed.

"For what?"

Serena laughed softly. "For hating you. For blaming you for everything, for not believing you were innocent…"

"Serena," said Sirius standing up and crossing his arms in front of his chest. "You should not be sorry for anything—"

"—it wasn't your fault you got thrown into Azkaban!"

"No," he agreed. "It wasn't. But, my dear Serena, I do not blame you for not believing in me. And I don't blame you for hating me. You thought I was dead, a lie that your Mother told you. And when you learned the so called truth about me you learned I was a mass murderer according to the Wizarding society and completely innocent according to your Mother. I don't blame you for finding your own reasons to think I was guilty. All of the evidence pointed at me, I can see why you believed it. Don't be sorry Serena."

"Then I am sorry for hating you when I didn't even know you," she said. "I'm sorry for judging you."

Sirius sighed.

"I forgive you," he whispered to appease his daughter even though he felt that she had no need to be forgiven.

"Can I ask you something?" Serena asked.

"Anything," said Sirius.

"Well," she started. "If you were cleared would you take care of us? Like you said to Harry? Would you be our Father?"

"Of course," said Sirius. He looked surprised that she was even asking that. "I am your Father. I have always been your Father Serena, and nothing can ever change that."

When she said nothing, just looked at her hands he continued. "I don't think any of us would get a long though…I'm sure your sisters hate me. And if they're anything like you they won't believe my story unless they hear it from me with their own ears. Amber and Amelia, and what was the baby's name? Alice wanted to name her Sable, but I wanted Kendra. What did she name her?"

Serena was shocked by the look in her Father's eyes. He actually looked human, like he cared about her and her sisters.

"She named her Kendra," Serena said moving closer and sitting on the desk. Sirius leaned against the back of the chair and nodded.

"And you're all here at Hogwarts? In Gryffindor I would imagine. That's where your Mother and I were both sorted."

"No," whispered Serena. "Amber is studying in Spain this year. She'll be back here next year."

"That is good for her," he said softly. "She was always a very independent child, you out doing her a little though."

"And Amelia?"

"Was spoiled," said Sirius smiling at the memories of his three beautiful daughters playing. "I gave her anything she wanted just to keep her from crying. She could cry louder then the other two of you combined."

"She's in Slytherian," said Serena softly. She wasn't sure how her Father would respond. He frowned deeply.

"My whole family was in Slytherian," he said. "Don't condemn her for it Serena. Just because she's in that house doesn't mean she's a Death Eater."

Serena cringed at the implication but nodded. She'd try not to be so hard on Amelia. When she said nothing else, Sirius spoke.

"I saw the pictures of you four at the house," he whispered. "You all look so beautiful. But only you look like me…"

"I sometimes wondered if I had been adopted," said Serena. "When were you in the house?"

"I stopped by just after your term started," he said. "It would have been easier to get into the house and see just Alice. If you four had been there…well I risked putting you all in danger as well."

"Mother believed you were innocent," she whispered. "Is that why you went to her?"

"I went to her because I loved her," he said. "And I could have been caught any day…I needed to see her again."

Serena was surprised by the tear that formed in her Father's eyes and ran down his cheek. She felt all hatred for him melting away slowly as she realized that this man was just as much a victim as she was in all of this. He was a victim just like Harry who had lost his parents, except Sirius had lost twelve years of his life, and now his freedom. Serena shuttered at the thought, but within the hour her Father would also be losing his soul.

"It seems cruel that I should live and Alice has died," said Sirius from far away. Serena blinked as he brought her back to reality, away from her deep lost thoughts. He looked at Serena. "You all needed her so much. She was such a good Mother. And like you've said, I've been dead your whole life, why should it matter if I live?"

"Could you have saved her that night?"

"No," he whispered. "I had just seen her, two nights before, and had returned here to the Shrieking Shack. I read about her death in the paper. I'm sorry Serena. I'm sorry for all the pain that you have experienced in your life." He glanced at her. "Who will you live with now?"

Serena frowned. She did not like the idea of living with someone else when her Father was free and actually innocent.

"Grandmama and Grandpapa in Ireland," she whispered. "We arranged it so that we just live there over the summer, return here for school."

Sirius nodded.

"Father," said Serena awkwardly. Sirius looked surprised to be addressed as such, but a small smile crept across his lips.

"Yes?"

"Who was Page exactly?" she asked. "And Chloe? How are they related?"

Before Sirius could answer his daughter's questions there was a pounding on the glass window behind the desk. Both Serena and Sirius turned to see Harry and Hermione on the back of a midair Hippogriff, floating just behind the glass. Serena moved to the window and pulled it open.

"What the bloody hell are you doing up here? Isn't he dead!?" she pointed at Buckbeak the Hippogriff.

"No time to explain," said Harry helping Hermione through the window. "Quick, Sirius you have to get on. It's you're only escape."

Sirius smiled with pleasure, and a thrill for adventure entered his eyes.

"Harry, you are definitely your Father's son," he said preparing to step out of the window and trade spots with Harry. Harry was beaming at Sirius's compliment. He was looking at his godfather very seriously.

"Part of me wants to go with you," he said.

"As James surely would," said Sirius. "No doubt for the adventure. But you must stay here Harry. The life of an outlaw is not the life that you deserve, nor want. You belong here at Hogwarts."

Sirius stopped from climbing out the window and turned to Serena. He went to her, and pulled her body into his arms. She was shocked by his action, and felt slightly uncomfortable pressed between his thin chest and surprisingly strong arms. But, she wrapped her arms around him to not give herself away.

They pulled apart and Sirius climbed out the window, onto the back of Buckbeak. Harry jumped into the office and all three of the students looked at Sirius, as he sat in midair. He waved to them.

"How will I ever thank you?" he said. "Miss Granger, you truly are the cleverest witch of your time." Hermione blushed slightly and muttered a thank you. "Harry, Serena, I will be seeing the both of you, I have no doubt in my mind, in the near future. Be good, stay out of trouble and keep each other safe."

Serena and Harry nodded and waved. All three watched as Sirius Black sailed off into the night, disappearing into the darkness. Hermione grabbed Harry's hand.

"Harry," she said. "We have only a few minutes!"

"What?" asked Serena looking at them as they headed for the door. Harry took a few steps back and grabbed her hand.

"Come on," he said quickly.

Serena followed them out of the classroom. She was surprised that Professor McGonagall was not in the hallway, like she said she would have been. They raced down the halls and stairs and came to a halting stop outside of the hospital wing doors, where Professor Dumbledore was standing. He had just closed the doors and turned, glowing at them.

"You were successful?"

"Yes sir," said Harry.

"Good," said Dumbledore. He leaned closer to the door and looked at his pocket watch. "I think you've just left."

"What is going on?" asked Serena.

Dumbledore smiled at her.

"Do not worry Miss Belle," he said softly. "I'm sure all is well. Good night."

He walked off down the corridor quickly leaving the three standing somewhat shocked. Serena was utterly confused she looked at Harry and Hermione with raised eyebrows and they both smiled.

"We'll explain inside," Harry said taking her arm as Hermione opened the door.