CW: discussions of custody, discussions of death, life-changing events, forgiveness, school

:SIXTY-EIGHT:

Very early the next morning, Remus and Sirius were up and about. They had been restless all night, but now felt more in control because there was something they could do. So, they quickly marched up to the castle while everything was still quiet, then made their way over to Professor McGonagall's office. She was there, looking through paperwork when they arrived.

"Good morning, you two." She said, glancing up from her work. "Bit early for a visit, don't you think?"

"I'm afraid we're here on business, actually." Remus said apologetically. "Do you happen to know the password for Dumbledore's office?"

McGonagall nodded in understanding, getting up from her desk. "I'll take you - I could use a break anyway."

She led them back down the corridor, complaining about the tournament.

"It's brilliant, sure," McGonagall shrugged. "But it's been a nightmare getting my students to focus in classes. They're all too busy giggling over the new students or gossiping about the first task."

"I imagine so." Remus smiled slightly. "How's Harry doing in your class?"

"He's doing well." She returned the smile. "I suspect Ms. Granger is involved with his homework assignments getting turned in on time, but he is right on par with the practical application."

They had arrived at Dumbledore's office, so she recited the password and then left them to return to her grading. Sirius took a deep breath, bracing himself for the conversation they needed to have. They hadn't seen Dumbledore since that night in the forest, which was both an unusual and welcome change.

Remus reached out, holding Sirius' hand, and then led them both up the stairs and into Dumbledore's office. The door opened for them, revealing Dumbledore at his desk. He looked mostly the same, except for his hand and the expression he gave the pair of them. His hand was more obviously different, as it had changed to a blackened shriveled thing. His expression...Sirius couldn't quite understand.

"Welcome," Dumbledore said kindly, gesturing to the chairs in front of his desk with his good hand. "Please, have a seat. Would you like a saltwater taffy?"

"Saltwater taffy?" Remus smiled, taking a seat. "That's a new one."

"Yes," Dumbledore smiled back, taking one out of the bowl and unwrapping it. "I found them in a muggle village recently and quite like them."

Sirius took a seat, looking curiously at Dumbledore's hand. Harry had asked Dumbledore about it, but Sirius hadn't caught the answer. Dumbledore saw him looking and smiled kindly.

"Yes, I would be happy to explain the circumstances behind this." He held up his destroyed hand. "But first, I suspect you both have a reason for coming to see me this early morning?"

"Right," Remus took a deep breath. "I know we've asked you for many favors over the years, Dumbledore. But we were hoping to ask just one more of you, for Harry's sake."

And he explained the situation with custody and the press, particularly Rita Skeeter's interaction the night before. Dumbledore listened politely until Remus had finished, then reached into his desk. He pulled out a scroll of paper, handing it over to them both.

Remus took it, looking confused at first. As he read the parchment, though, his jaw slacked in shock. It was a form for magical custody, completely filled out save for Sirius and Remus' signatures at the bottom.

"How long have you had this?" Sirius asked, dumbstruck.

"I filled it out immediately after leaving your home." Dumbledore murmured quietly.

"I suspected that with so much attention on Hogwarts this year, your family might need more protection. I would have come to you both with this myself, but I didn't want to assume."

Remus nodded reverently, taking the quill Dumbledore had on their side of the desk and signing the document. He gently pushed it over to Sirius, who signed it as well. They handed it back to Dumbledore, who then sent it off with Fawks.

"Fawks has direct access to the Ministry, so it should be finished within the hour." Dumbledore retook his seat at the desk, looking tired. "It's unlikely Fudge will say anything, especially with my signature on it and so much international attention already on Britain."

"Why did you decide to have the Triwizard Tournament the same year as the Quidditch World Cup, anyway?" Sirius asked curiously, feeling more relaxed in front of the Headmaster than he had in years.

"Well," Dumbledore looked down at his hands. "Part of it was simply because the other schools and their ministries finally agreed to allow their students to come here. But, I admit, I had a more selfish reason as well."

"As I'm sure you both know, I am not the perfect or all-knowing figure wizarding kind has asked me to be."

Sirius scoffed here, but Dumbledore merely smirked slightly and continued.

"I have done incredible things, but I have also done shameful things in my life. And, I suppose, now I want to add just one more decent thing to my life before it's over."

"...What do you mean, over?" Remus asked, his brows furrowing.

Dumbledore smiled sadly, holding up his hand. "This curse has set my expiration date for sometime this summer, I'm afraid. I must say, it is sort of convenient to have so much notice in advance though. Makes setting my affairs in order easier."

Sirius and Remus sat on the other side of Dumbledore's desk, stunned. They had...mixed feelings towards the man, but he was right about one thing. Dumbledore had always been a force - a presence in the Wizarding world which could not be denied. He had, up until this moment, been the sort of person who seemed incapable of dying.

"We're...sorry, Dumbledore." Remus murmured, looking down at his own hands. "Are you, are you in any pain?"

Dumbledore smiled. "No, Remus. Professor Snape was able to postpone the curse's progress, so I'm not currently in any pain. I do appreciate your kindness in asking though."

"I don't say any of this to make either of you feel badly for me." He continued gently. "But because I want you to know how much longer you can use my influence. Please, while you can, use me to help you secure Harry's future. I am very aware of how difficult the Ministry and the reporters can make your lives, and I will use everything in my power to make sure that doesn't happen. You need only ask."

Remus sat there, still stunned by all of the information Dumbledore had just given them. But Sirius spoke up.

"It was you, wasn't it?" He asked. "I've always wondered why it took so long for reporters to approach us. Why no one tried to get to Harry. You've been shielding us this whole time, haven't you?"

Dumbledore nodded slightly, a look of understanding crossing between him and Sirius in that moment. Sirius didn't know if he could forgive Dumbledore entirely. But the silent support he had been giving their family this whole time, and the fact that his death was on the horizon, made Sirius' confrontational side relax somewhat.

He could see it now, the difference in Dumbledore's expression. The perspective he'd gained, probably a combination of his impending death and that night when he'd helped save Harry's life, had irrevocably changed him. Dumbledore now saw the pair of them as human beings rather than tools. And, for the first time, Sirius could see him as a flawed human being, rather than a corrupt symbol.

Remus asked Dumbledore a few more questions, the contact information of a reporter they might feel safe speaking to if they needed to, ways to protect themselves from Skeeter's attempt at misinformation. But Sirius didn't really hear any of it, too lost in his own revelation. Only when Sirius felt a hand on his arm did he look up.

"It's time to go, Sirius." Remus said, a small smile on his face. "Harry will be waiting for us in the Great Hall."

"Right," He brushed himself off, getting up and looking at Dumbledore. "...Dumbledore?"

"Yes, Sirius?" He had stood up too, and looked at Sirius more openly than he ever remembered before.

"Would you mind if I took one of those taffies now?"

Dumbledore beamed, then held out the bowl. "Try the purple ones - they're my favorite."

Notes:

This one took longer to write for me because I had to think carefully about how to convey everything. I hope I succeeded. Dumbledore is not a perfect person, we've already thoroughly established that. But death changes us, and there are certain events that can also be life-changing too. I think the events our Dumbledore went through have changed him for the better. And I always wondered why Harry didn't face much more press-related problems growing up, and I think it was because Dumbledore was behind the scenes protecting him.

But anyways, now that we've ensured the family cannot be broken apart, let's go see some dragons!

Happy Reading!