C38 Ron
It's odd seeing this man so vulnerable – the stories you've heard of him show him as almost as bad as You-Know-Who and here he is; relying on Lupin to stay up, shaking and terrified. Of course seeing Harry this excited about a man he doesn't know is also odd and worrying but you know that Hermione is focusing on that. You turn your head to confirm this but find that she has gone.
The door opens and the room is crowded with everyone else in the house. "Miss Granger informs us that Mr. Black has awoken." Dumbledore says looking towards Lupin who looks like a mother bear guarding her cubs. Lupin shoots an irritated glare at Hermione and you can't say you blame him. From what you've heard today if Black is innocent then Lupin will have his friend back but the chances of Fudge giving them a chance aren't high.
Black shrinks away from the crowd and into Lupin who wraps his arms tight around him. Dumbledore steams past Lupin's look and continues. "So I was wondering if we could have a little chat. Alone." He says pointedly. It is Lupin's turn to ignore him.
"With all due respect Albus, Sirius isn't really in any condition to talk at the moment."
"Does it matter?" Says Fudge from somewhere near the door, "He's a criminal, his health isn't the problem."
"But he's innocent." Harry protests, "Didn't you see Pettigrew?"
"All we have seen is a rat, Potter." Oh, you had been hoping Snape would have left now that there was no need for him, "Hardly concrete proof. You are all obviously under a confundus charm."
"He doesn't have a wand." Harry says obstinately. Snape just sneers at him.
You are horrified to find yourself agreeing with Snape but there isn't exactly a shortage of wands with the ten of us (not including Black) having all brought them. You sidle over to Hermione.
"What did you do that for?"
"He's a criminal, Ron." She sounds very condescending.
"I know but look at Harry."
Finally. I'm uploading the next chapter too as an apology for taking so long.