Disclaimer: All recognizable characters and settings belong to J.K. Rowling.

Dumbledore and McGonagall rushed in the room just then. "Where is she?" Dumbledore demanded.

"I found her giving another student detention, with that," Snape pointed to the blood quill still on the desk Hermione had been using, drops of blood still on the floor.

"Where did she go? If she thinks she can get away..." McGonagall narrowed her eyes, looking dangerous.

Dumbledore looked down and sighed. "Severus, I suppose this is your doing?"

McGonagall eyed the pink rat who was glaring up at them and immediately shifted into her Animagus form, chasing the rat around the room.

"Well now, this is even better than getting Mrs. Norris," Snape said in amusement, idly stroking his chin as he watched Umbridge try to get away from McGonagall.

Dumbledore's eyes twinkled for a moment before he turned stern. "Minerva, that is enough! No, put her down." He scolded.

The cat with eyeglass markings around the eyes looked up, the pink rat dangling from her mouth.

Snape bit his lip to keep from outright laughing. "Minerva, you don't know where that thing has been," He pointed out. He watched as she spat the rat out and back up a few steps, shifting back.

"Really Minerva," Dumbledore slightly admonished.

"She used a blood quill on at least two of our students!" McGonagall protested. "She deserves worse than being a rodent."

"She also admitted to sending the Dementors to attack Harry," Snape added, smirking a little as Minerva's eyes darkened.

McGonagall reached for her wand but Dumbledore held his hand out. "I will deal with her," He said firmly. He tilted his head to the side. "Ah, they are here."

"Who is here?"

Cornelius Fudge and Kingsley Shacklebolt walked in. "You requested to see me?" Fudge asked, his tone clear that he didn't appreciate it.

"Yes," Dumbledore flicked his wand and the rat turned back to Umbridge.

"I – I never, how dare you, you – you-" Umbridge blustered, her face red.

"What is going on?" Fudge demanded as Kingsley looked on with interest.

"Delores Umbridge has committed a terrible crime," Dumbledore said solemnly.

"I have not! I have been doing my job!" Umbridge huffed.

"She has been torturing students in detention," Dumbledore continued. "With that," He pointed to the blood quill.

Fudge paled and Kingsley took out his wand, stepping closer to the desk. "Delores, what have you done?" Fudge asked in shock.

"I've done what you wanted! Breaking the boy-who-lived, making sure he can't tell his lies!" Umbridge snapped.

Fudge swallowed and looked nervously from her to Dumbledore. "I -I don't know what you mean."

Kingsley was running diagnostics on the blood quill. "Whose blood is this?" He asked in a low voice.

Umbridge lifted her chin. "It is a student's who dared to question my teaching methods."

"This is an illegal artifact," Kingsley said, pointing his wand at her and with a flick, her wrists were bound.

"Hey!"

"You tried to have this approved last year," Kingsley continued. "I remember you said you invented it yourself."

Snape wondered who was more cruel and insane, Umbridge or Bellatrix.

"You were outvoted, however," Kingsley continued, looking angry. "Cornelius, you yourself said this was clearly a dark artifact and that you would never allowed it to be used on anyone, especially children. It was officially banned."

"I didn't know she still had it!" Fudge protested, glaring at Umbridge.

"You said to do whatever it takes to break Potter!" Umbridge hissed at him. "Or Snape or whatever he calls himself now."

"You used this on Potter?" Fudge whispered. He glanced at Snape with a fearful expression.

Snape glowered at him before turning to Kingsley. "As Harry's father, I am pressing charges for using a dark artifact and child abuse. I am sure Miss Granger's parents will do the same once they find out what Umbridge has done."

Kingsley nodded. "Let's go, Umbridge. You are under under arrest for the use of a banned dark artifact and two counts of child abuse..." He led her from the room, Umbridge protesting loudly. McGonagall followed them out, looking pleased.

Fudge licked his lips nervously. "I didn't know about the blood quill, you have my word Albus."

"But you did send her here to hurt Harry?" Dumbledore raised an eyebrow.

"N -no just to get him to stop with the You-Know-Who stories," Fudge insisted.

"They are not stories, they are the truth and you know it," Dumbledore said firmly.

Fudge shook his head. "You-Know-Who is dead," He said, his voice slightly uncertain.

"Cornelius, do you really believe that I would lie about this?" Dumbledore asked gently.

"The Dark Lord is back and he has been enjoying the help you have been giving him," Snape spoke up.

Fudge looked alarmed. "I have not been helping him!"

"By refusing to believe the truth, by calling Harry a liar, and by sending Hogwarts an incompetent Defence teacher you are helping him." Snape snapped. Merlin, how did such an idiot get elected?

"I thought..." Fudge trailed off, looking uncomfortable.

"You thought I wanted your job," Dumbledore finished. "I do not."

"Hopefully whoever replaces you will be competent," Snape snarled to Fudge. "And not afraid to take the proper action."

"Replaces me?"

"You think the public will stand for you staying in office after sending Umbridge here?" Snape asked incredulously. "After not doing anything when you were told the Dark Lord returned?"

"I haven't seen any proof that You-Know-Who has returned," Fudge said stiffly. "Just word from a boy who likes attention."

"He doesn't like the attention, you foolish man," Snape said angrily. "He does however, want people to be prepared for the war. A war that has already started!"

"You will stop avoiding the truth Cornelius," Dumbledore said.

"Or what?" Fudge asked mockingly.

"I will give an interview," Dumbledore said pleasantly. "How you sent Delores here to keep Harry quiet about the truth because you didn't want to admit Voldemort is back. How you knew she had invented a blood quill and that she wanted it to be approved by the Ministry to use on employees and children."

"I didn't know she would bring that here!" Fudge said, looking very pale. "You can't tell anyone that, I will be ruined."

"Then do your job!" Snape snapped at him.

Fudge winced and looked out the window. "I had really hoped he was gone," He whispered.

"We all had," Dumbledore said. "But he isn't and denying that he is back is only giving him more time to gather more followers. It is time to act, Cornelius."

HP

At the knock on the door, Harry got up off the sofa where he had been reading and murmured the spell that would let him see who was there. "Hermione!" He opened the door with a grin. "You came to visit?"

"Sort of," Hermione said with a small smile. She entered, holding her right hand close to her.

"You're bleeding? What happened?" Harry took her hand in concern and gasped when he saw words cut into her skin, I will not act like a know-it-all. "Umbridge," He whispered furiously.

Hermione nodded. "She's been doing this to you, hasn't she? Why didn't you tell anybody?" She looked sad. "You could have told Ron and I. We're your best friends."

Harry sighed and went to get the same supplies his dad had used on his hand. "Here, I need to clean the wound," He said. "Um, wait you probably need...Accio pain reliever!" The vial flew towards them and he caught it easily. He handed it to her.

Hermione downed it, visibly relaxing. "I only had about an hour before your dad walked in, I don't know how you handled more than one detention with that toad."

"It was a matter of pride, I guess," Harry said as he did as his dad had done, gently cleaning the wound and then putting her hand in the bowl that held the yellow paste.

"Murtlap Essence?" Hermione asked with interest. "Oh, that feels so soothing." She sighed as the paste covered her hand.

"You shouldn't scar since you only had one session with the quill," Harry said, feeling relieved. "I thought she was only going to use it on me. If I'd known she'd use it on others... on you, I definitely would have said something."

"You should have said something for you, Harry. You don't deserve to be hurt," Hermione said fiercely.

"Don't worry, I already got lectured by my dad," Harry said.

"Did you? Good," Hermione nodded, grinning at Harry's frown. "Oh, I'm supposed to help you with some assignment? One you are supposed to be working on right now?"

"My Occlumency book," Harry said, gesturing to where it was laying on the table. "He sent you here to help me?"

"Well, he sent me here for my hand but Umbridge said I hadn't finished my detention yet," Hermione explained. "So Professor Snape said I was to help you and would be held accountable if you didn't learn anything."

"I'm your detention?" Harry asked, slightly insulted.

"Better you than that quill," Hermione teased. She grabbed the book with her free hand. "What page did you leave off on?"

HP

"I'll need a new Defence teacher," Dumbledore said thoughtfully.

"Try to make it a good one, will you? Someone with a brain, who knows what he or she is doing, who won't torture the students," Snape said in a bored tone as he finished filling out his statement.

"Perhaps someone the students had before?" Dumbledore suggested. "Someone who was a very good teacher."

Snape paused, lifting his head.

"I'm sure Remus would be delighted to come back," Dumbledore said happily. "And now that Fudge is seeing reason, it shouldn't be a problem."

"Malfoy is still on the board of governors and will not allow it," Snape said quickly.

"Ah, but I warned the Minister that he is a death eater and not to trust him. I think this time he will listen," Dumbledore said. "I believe a random search of his house will be happening soon. Lucius may soon find that the trust the Ministry has had in him is fading." His eyes twinkled. "You did say someone who knows what he is doing." He reminded him.

"I also said someone with a brain," Snape snapped.

Dumbledore sighed. "It's not like I am suggesting Sirius."

Snape shuddered. "Merlin, don't even joke about that."

HP

"So clearing your mind is just a start," Hermione was saying to Harry as she read through the book. "The reason you don't want to focus on emotions is because Voldemort can use those emotions against you. You can't give him anything to use, ideally you will be able to bring up false thoughts and feelings that he will believe are real." She closed the book. "So, clearing the mind would be a little like meditation, right? Just letting everything go."

"I have a hard time with that," Harry admitted.

"Of course you do, with your relatives and what happened in the graveyard...Until you work through that I don't think you will be able to progress very far in this skill." Hermione said seriously.

"I've worked through it," Harry said.

"No, I don't think you have," Hermione said gently.

"I believe Miss Granger is correct," Snape spoke up, causing the teenagers to jump.

"What happened with Umbridge?" Harry asked eagerly. "You didn't, uh-" Kill her and bury her body in the Forbidden Forest? He wondered worriedly.

"Turn her into a rat and see Professor McGonagall use her Animagus form to chase her around the room? Yes, I did," Snape resisted grinning as the two teenagers mouths dropped open.

"See her taken away in binds by an Auror? Yes, I did," Snape continued smugly.

"She's really gone?" Hermione smiled brightly. "Oh, wonderful! Hopefully now we can get a decent teacher."

"Don't hope too hard, the Headmaster already has someone in mind," Snape said sourly.

"Oh no, who is it?" Hermione asked in concern.

"Lupin." Snape rolled his eyes as both teenagers eyes brightened.

"Oh, he was a wonderful teacher," Hermione said in a pleased voice. She quickly stopped smiling when she saw the sneer on Snape's face. "Well, better than Umbridge," She offered meekly.

"Can't argue with that, I suppose," Snape remarked.

"Do you think...will he want to talk about Sirius?" Harry asked.

"If he does, you do not need to talk about him or to him if you are not ready," Snape said seriously.

Harry sighed. "Maybe I should speak to him. I don't want to ignore him forever."

"It is up to you," Snape repeated. "I will support your decision."

"I know you don't like him," Harry said quietly.

"How I feel about Black should have no influence on your relationship with him," Snape said. "As long as he does not do anything more to hurt you or upset you, I will not interfere." Oh, those words were hard to say as he still hated the flea bitten mutt. But he would give him another chance with Harry, if Harry wanted it. He had to put his son's needs above his own.

Hermione was smiling again at her professor and even when Snape scowled, she just smiled brighter. Seeing that Snape was truly being a good father to Harry warmed her heart.

"Thanks Dad," Harry said.

Snape inclined his head and fixed his gaze on Hermione. "Your hand, Miss Granger?"

"Oh, all healed," Hermione said. "Thank you, sir. I noticed Harry still has a faint mark on his hand though," She frowned.

"It's almost gone," Harry shrugged.

"His will heal, he had more than one session with that blasted quill so it will heal a little slower." Snape said as he examined Harry's hand. "Any more and the scar would have been permanent."

Hermione looked horrified.

Harry decided to change the subject. "Tell us more about Umbridge being a rat and McGonagall chasing her," He said gleefully. "Or better yet, put the memory in a pensive!"

"Harry!" Hermione said in a chastising tone yet she was laughing.

HP

Harry paced the sitting room, waiting for his visitors to arrive. He was nervous and not sure what to say or if he even wanted to say anything. But he couldn't ignore his godfather's letters forever and he thought it was time he finally saw him. Remus was bringing him in his Animagus form as his dad wasn't comfortable with Harry flooing to Grimmauld Place.

"You are going to wear out the rug," Snape spoke up from behind his potions journal.

Harry sighed and tried to stand still but that only lasted a few moments and he was back to pacing.

Snape lowered his journal. "Everything will be fine. If at any time you want him to leave, just say the word and he will be gone."

There was a knock on the door and Harry bit his lip nervously as his dad answered it.

"Lupin," Snape said with a glance at the dog by his side. "He is housebroken, correct?"

The black, shaggy dog growled.

"Snuffles, behave," Remus said as they entered the room. As soon as the door was shut, Snuffles turned into Sirius.

"Harry," Sirius took a tentative step forward. "Thanks for letting me come, I missed you." His eyes were sad. "You never answered my letters."

"I haven't read them," Harry admitted.

"Oh."

Remus cleared his throat. "Didn't the Headmaster want to see us, Severus?"

Snape raised an eyebrow. "No."

"I think he did," Remus said, tilting his head towards Sirius and Harry, trying to hint that they should leave and let the two of them talk.

Snape scowled and paused, not sure he wanted to leave Harry alone with Black. The man had known about Harry being his son and kept it a secret, had gone so far as to charm Harry to resemble James. He didn't trust him and he didn't like him. However, he knew Harry cared about him and that was the only reason he had allowed Black to visit. If Harry wanted to try and forgive Black, then he deserved the opportunity to do so. "Fine. But it will be a quick meeting."

Remus nodded his understanding and then gave Sirius and Harry an encouraging smile. "We'll be right back. Sirius, don't go anywhere, even as Snuffles."

Sirius rolled his eyes. "Yes, Dad." He said sarcastically.

Harry couldn't help it, he laughed.

After Snape and Remus had left Sirius looked around. "It's, uh, nice quarters."

"I like it," Harry said, feeling weird again. "It's nice to have a real home."

Sirius winced slightly and nodded. "I heard about what that woman did to you. Are you all right?"

"Yeah," Harry said, looking at his hand. "Dad gave me Essence of Murtlap for a couple days and the scar healed."

Sirius coughed. "That's, that's good. That's good he took care of it."

"He takes real good care of me," Harry said softly.

"Really? Such good care that he didn't notice that Umbridge was hurting you?" Sirius said sarcastically before he could stop himself.

Harry narrowed his eyes. "I didn't tell him and I put a glamour on my hand. You wouldn't have noticed either, don't try to pretend you would have."

Sirius shrugged, feeling frustrated. "I just want to make sure he's paying enough attention to you."

"He does, he's great with me, Sirius," Harry said. "He's my father, he loves me. He helps me with my homework, he's training me in Occlumency, he makes sure I eat enough, lectures me when he thinks I'm being a dunderhead..." He trailed off, not sure if he was explaining this well.

"You could never be a dunderhead," Sirius scoffed.

Harry grinned. "I've had my moments." His grin faded. "Sirius, I'm still upset that you knew he was my father and didn't tell me. But I'm tired of being angry and I want to forgive you. I'm going to try. But I don't even know if you are really sorry."

Sirius sighed and ran a hand through his hair. "This is difficult for me, I – I don't like Snape."

Harry rolled his eyes. "Yeah, I think I got that."

"Your mum didn't want Snape to know so I had no problem pretending you were James's son," Sirius said.

"But she didn't want to keep it from him forever, she wanted the three of us to be together," Harry said. "And you charmed my hair and eyes without her knowing. That was underhanded of you."

Sirius winced slightly. "I know but at the time I thought I was helping. It was a charm set to progress gradually and I thought it would help if you looked like James. I had hoped your mum would fall in love with him. He really cared about her."

"I appreciate what James did for me, protecting me and everything, I really do," Harry said slowly. "But my mum loved my dad."

"I know," Sirius sighed.

"You should have said something when you got out of Azkaban," Harry said. "When you got out and found out that my dad was a spy for the Order, you should have spoken up."

"I still didn't trust him," Sirius said.

"No, you just still didn't like him," Harry shot back. "You knew Dumbledore trusted him. You should have said something, especially when you knew how unhappy I was with the Dursley's."

"You hated Snape! How could I tell you he was your father?"

"I deserved to know!" Harry yelled. "He deserved to know! Do you have any idea how much better my life would have been if you or Pomfrey had spoken up earlier?"

"I had no idea that the Dursley's were hurting you," Sirius said miserably.

"I know you didn't, no one did," Harry said. "But I wouldn't have been treated that way, wouldn't have been hurt if you or Pomfrey had spoken up. She at least admits her mistake and regrets she held back the truth. Do you regret it?"

"I regret hurting you," Sirius said honestly.

"That's something, I guess," Harry muttered.

"Harry, I do regret hurting you and lying to you," Sirius sighed. "It's just, James was my best friend and he did love you. He would have been a wonderful father to you."

"Their marriage was only temporary, Sirius."

"She may have fallen for him over time," Sirius said.

Harry shook his head in exasperation. "What is with this obsession of my mum and James being together?"

"I'm not obsessed, I'm..." Sirius blew out a breath. "I don't know. I guess, after everything James did for me I wanted the best for him. He was like a brother to me and I wanted him to be happy. I knew he loved your mum and so when he offered to help her, I thought it was his chance to find happiness." Sirius looked pleadingly at Harry. "I didn't get along with my family, not at all. I ran away and the Potter's took me in like I was one of their own. They meant everything to me and Remus too. I just wanted my best friend to be happy and I really thought he would be better for Lily than Snape."

"But when you escaped Azkaban, you still talked about how much my mum and James loved each other, how crazy they were about each other and it wasn't true."

"I did that for you. I believed you were better off not knowing Snape was your father and I wanted to give you happy memories of James and Lily. So I lied and..." He seemed to visibly slump. "I was wrong, okay? Personal feelings aside about Snape, I should have said something. To Dumbledore, if no one else. I'm sorry Harry, really."

"That means a lot to me Sirius, thank you," Harry said sincerely.

"I have to be honest, I still don't like him and don't see how he could be a good father for you," Sirius said. "But you're happy and look well taken care of and that's what matters to me."

"You're letting a schoolboy grudge cloud what you see," Harry said.

Sirius looked at him in amusement. "You sound like Albus."

Harry smiled.

"I'll try, pup. Okay?"

"Okay."

TBC: