A/N: Standard disclaimer; see chapter 1 for details.

Neville slid off his house bench and moved to sit beside Hermione. "I can tell you're not okay," he passed her a handkerchief, "but do you want to talk about it?"

She sniffed. "My mother didn't want me to be blind-sided with the news, so she sent this clipping from an Australian paper."

The Hufflepuff's eyes widened and he let out a low whistle. "That's low...and disgusting!"

"He never loved her." She placed the cotton square over her face and laid her head on the table.

Neville handed the article to Draco then Harry, who arrived a few moments later. Taking note of the stares, they nodded and pulled the witch upright to lead her out of the Great Hall and into the year's common room.

"Now, Hermione," Neville began, "remember what I said before."

"I know," she blew her nose, "the boys will be fine. But they are married! How could he be so callous and flaunt his mistress about?"

"Truthfully, while it's an open secret within The Firm, it's all been just rumour in the press." Harry shrugged. "And the conversation was illegally recorded, so I think you can acquit him of 'flaunting'."

"This lack of decorum and discretion is one of the reasons magicals thought for decades that muggles were barbarians." Draco held up his hands in surrender. "Hey, acquit me of believing that, but, come on, when's the last time you heard about something like this in the Prophet or even Witch Weekly?"

"Not helpful, Draco," Harry hissed.

Hermione swiped the last of her tears away. "I knew that things were rocky, but this situation–"

"It's rubbish," Neville said firmly. "I mean, he can't help who he loves, but if he truly cared for her, he should have fought harder to have the Palace accept her when they first met."

"We've studied history," Harry reminded him. "Lots of societal tenets were in a state of flux at that time."

"Still," the Hufflepuff persisted, "he could have just told everyone to fuck off about her dating history."

"Neville!" Hermione's eyes grew large. "You used the F-word."

"Sorry, not apologizing. I think he treated both of them nasty. I mean, he had two women who loved him and he flip-flopped around, and what he ended up doing hurt both of them."

"You know," Harry said, "if he had stood up for her then, he might have been disinherited. I mean, it's been done before, losing the throne for love's sake."

"His great-uncle didn't appear to lack for anything," Draco pointed out, "except for, you know, not being king."

Hermione got to her feet. "In the end, it's really none of our business what they do. All we can do is support our friends however we can, which is just what you have done for me." She hugged each in turn. "I'm so lucky to have you."

"Well, you said it yourself," Harry put an arm over her shoulder, "'all for one and one for all'."

"Getting senile in your old age," Neville thumped him in the arm, "you're the one who said that!"

"And that, my young friends, is the true history of the Sacred Twenty-Eight." Sirius Black bowed with an elaborate flourish.

"Thank you very much, Mr. Black," Steadman said wryly. "It is always helpful to hear wizarding history from one who grew up with it. With the depredations caused by the half-blood usurper, young Mssrs Malfoy and Longbottom have been raised in an entirely different environment, and, of course, Mr. Potter and Miss Granger had no chance to learn of any of those...interesting tales."

Hermione's lips pressed together in a tight line, while the boys' expressions varied from horror to revulsion. "Having pure blood is one thing," Draco stated, "but marrying your sister–" He shuddered.

"You're safe from that, Draco," Sirius informed him jocularly, "but there are lots of double first cousins in the Black family." He frowned. "Actually, prior to my Gryffindor sorting, the adults were proposing to match me with your mother."

"Hear that, Draco?" Harry elbowed him. "All three of us could've ended up godbrothers!"

Hermione spoke up. "So, to whittle this down to basics, 'pureblood' is pretty well synonymous with 'inbred'."

Sirius winced. "Painful, but true."

"The truth often is, Mr. Black," she apprised him.

"Well," the former Marauder clapped his hands, "none of you have to worry about it now. With that particular clique out of power, you boys have a lot more options as far as the ladies go."

Hermione rolled her eyes at that, while the boys snickered.

"And I believe I saw quite a few of them following you down from the castle," Sirius waggled his eyebrows. "Anything you want to tell this old dog?"

Draco leaned forward with a grin. "Neville and I get our share of admiration, but it's Harry here who has a target placed on his back." That person groaned, and Hermione shook her head before stepping out of the room to attend to personal business.

"That's my boy!" Sirius crowed. "C'mon, it's not as if I have the babes lining up for me right now. Give me a little vicarious pleasure."

"He has the youngest Weasley staring soulfully down the Gryffindor table at every meal," Neville related.

"Huh, I still can't believe Arthur let his wife henpeck him enough to try seven times for a girl. He had a much stauncher disposition in the earlier days of the Order."

"In point of fact, it was only six times," Draco put in, "since there's a set of twins in there."

"They're a couple of pranksters," Sirius' eyes brightened, "but not as vicious as you guys."

"Aw, Harry," he whined, "remember that it was wartime." Seeing that the argument still did not impress his godson, he turned to the other boys. "Any others?"

"Most girls our year are comfortable acting as friends with him," Hermione stated as she re-entered the room, "but even last year he was approached by some older girls."

"And you were supposed to take care of them since they're Ravenclaws," he complained, scowling.

She scowled back. "They're a year ahead of me, and I don't have that much influence there. However, you must admit that they have been quieter this year."

Sirius sighed. "Harry must be going to be a late bloomer. Now, James, he had his sights set on Lily from his first sight of her."

"And she had nothing to do with him for years," his godson shot back.

"So perhaps you're like your mother." He shook a teasing finger at him. "There will come a time, I promise, that you won't try to avoid the girls."

"Maybe so, but by then they may have moved on. I think Chang already has a crush on the Hufflepuff seeker."

"Cedric?" Hermione asked. "Are you sure?"

Neville studied his fingernails. "I believe our Countess has noticed him. Outside of this room, how many Quidditch team members' names does she know?"

She flushed. "It's just that he's so...nice and always smiles."

"Is that why you were doodling 'CD+HG' in the margins of your Charms notes?" Harry decided to get some of his own back.

"You!" She gritted her teeth.

"But Harry's right," Draco said. "She's also a seeker, and if she had tailed Diggory any closer during the Ravenclaw/Hufflepuff game, her broomstick would have molested him."

That struck Sirius as so funny that he soon collapsed on the floor with laughter, Hermione glaring at his juvenile behavior.

Steadman cleared his throat. "As this is a Hogsmeade weekend, it is time for you to depart." They had decided to mingle with the other students on those Saturdays to save their guardian a trip up the hill.

"I'll accompany them." Sirius regained his gravity and rose. "They'll come to no harm, plus I can check out who's checking out Harry."

"Hey, Hermione," Neville said, "if you roll your eyes any farther back, you'll be able to see your brain."

Neville, Draco, and Hermione outstripped Harry and Sirius, desiring to give them a few private moments.

The older man shivered then cast a warming charm on both of them. "Ever since Azkaban, I haven't been able to stand any sort of cold," he explained. "Sometimes I feel as if it has settled in my bones."

"If it bothers you that much, feel free to head back to the Lodge. I'll be perfectly fine on my own."

"No," he hunched his shoulders, "I don't want to waste a second that I could spend with you. I have to say again, I'm so sorry–"

"Stop it, Sirius," he held up a hand, "you're forgiven for that moment of idiocy. We've been over this, remember?"

"I know, but I still feel like it was yesterday, since time just ran together during those years. I mean, I almost feel like I'm headed back to Hogwarts after a weekend trip."

"Yeah, that's sort of what I told my–"

"Say!" One fist pounded the other palm. "I have a great idea! Why don't I change into my animagus form and spend the night with you?" His eyes grew distant. "It's been a long time since I saw the Gryffindor common room."

"No. Stop. Absolutely not." Harry's voice was firm but seeing that he was not getting through, he resorted to threats. "If you ever try that, I'll floo-call Remus and Cousin Dora to haul your arse away."

"But, why?"

"Two words: Jail. Bait. You're not a student any more; you're over thirty years old. You'd be sent straight back to the island if it became known that you were in a dorm with underaged witches. Or wizards, for that matter, depending upon your sexual preference."

"Oi!"

"Look, if I'm going to be allowed to visit with you, you need to start acting like a responsible adult and not a pervert."

"Oh, well, when you put it like that…"

Harry held out his hand, and Sirius reluctantly shook it. "Thanks for walking me back. I look forward to seeing you in a few weeks."

"Hey!" he shouted after him. "Make sure and let me know if you receive any potions this Valentine's Day!"