Author's Note; I debated whether to put this at the beginning or the end of the chapter and in fact whether to include it in at all. Anyway here goes:

The following chapters in this fiction will feature the character of Severus Snape. After this and subsequent chapters were looked over by my associate, it was observed that in their words, the Snape character was "nicer" than they would have expected him to be. I would not put it exactly that way although some might just call it semantics. I prefer to call him "Less Angry." My Snape character is portrayed more as a very talented, semi- arrogant, wise guy with something of a mean streak, that feels somewhat under appreciated as opposed to the wicked, evil, mean and nasty Snape that Ms. Rowling renders. I don't do those types of characters real well because I find it difficult to maintain the persona.

By and large, I don't think you will find him changed all that much. Just lightened up some.

I apologize if this has been a distraction. Anyway on we go.



Chapter 16 In the Midnight Hour

Sirius and Lupin watched as Dobby and Pig flew the carpet, a little unsteadily, out of sight.

"Do you trust that Elf to get the carpet back where it belongs?" Lupin inquired. "I'd be worried about him getting back at all."

"Pig won't let him get lost." Sirius replied. "And as Elves go, Dobby is about as sharp as they come."

"I don't find that very reassuring." Lupin shuddered, "Still, an elf is an interesting choice for an accomplice."

"It's not like choice had much to do with it." Said Sirius. "He came to me. Apparated right into my cell, which I thought you could not do especially in Azkaban. All he said was that Elf magic was different."

"That is true." Lupin acknowledged. "Research has been going on for hundreds of years trying to understand how Elves can do the things they do. I don't believe that anyone has found the answer as yet. But surely he is not working alone is he?"

"No way." Said Sirius. "He provided me with the carpet and this wand." He pulled it out and Lupin examined it closely. He looked up amazed.

"Extraordinary." He breathed. "This is almost a work of art. No Elf could have done this. Only an experienced wand maker could produce something of this precision and quality." He gave it a wave and turned a small rock into gold easily. "Fully functional as well, very well thought-out."

"I agree." Said Sirius. "Now the only question is who. Dobby would not say and if he was sworn to secrecy, he would not tell even under torture, so I didn't push it with him."

"What about the carpet?" Inquired Lupin.

"Dobby brought that too." Sirius answered. "Turns out I arrived at just the right time. This group of well meaning, but seriously misinformed, women wanted to make things more comfortable for the 'patrons' of Azkaban. Their first action was to put rugs in the cells and someone took advantage of that to have Dobby plant a flying carpet. We almost got it taken from us but for Dobby's idea of leading them on a wild goose chase until it was too late to do anything about it until in the morning. Pretty clever actually. The only other thing I don't understand was how the potion got put into my pocket."

"Potion, what potion?" Inquired Lupin.

"I was taken to the Warden's office and met with him, Fudge and Professor Dumbledore. When I was back in my cell I found it in my pocket. The note attached said it was to help ward off the effects of the dementors. I asked Dobby about it but he acted like he didn't know what I was talking about."

"Did it work?" Asked Lupin.

"Seemed to." Sirius replied. "Before, anytime I was near a dementor I could feel the energy being drained out of me, but after taking that potion, I didn't feel a thing."

"What did they want?"

"Apparently, Albus wanted to use me to track down the rumors of Peter Petigrew being a multiple Animagus." Said Sirius, "But Fudge put a big veto on that."

"Multiple Animagus!" Lupin exclaimed, "Impossible, especially for him! He could barely handle becoming a rat."

"It's not impossible." Sirius told him. "It can be done."

"How can you be so sure?" said Lupin skeptically. "People have been trying for centuries and it has never been accomplished."

"It has now." Sirius grinned.

"Don't tell me that you..." Lupin started, flabbergasted.

Sirius smiled and nodded.

"How? When?"

As Sirius was about to answer there was a knock at the door.

"You expecting somebody?" Said Sirius anxiously.

Lupin glanced at the calendar. "Actually, yes." He said. "Let me see who it is but I think I know. I just was not expecting him this late. Go in the other room while I make sure."

Sirius crossed to the next room while Lupin went to the door. When he was sure Sirius was out of sight, he opened it.

"Well." Lupin exclaimed. "I was expecting you but not this late. What bring you here at this hour?"

"I came to bring you this." Said a somewhat familiar voice that Sirius tried desperately to place. "And to bring you my answer on the other matter that I promised to consider."

Suddenly it came to him. The voice belonged to Severus Snape. Sirius felt a cold chill go up his spine. It was known that Snape was a former Deatheater. He still bore the mark. Lupin was trusting him? This was more than Sirius had bargained for. They stepped into the house. Sirius stayed hidden. Snape gave Lupin another smoking flask of potion. Lupin took it and drank it without hesitation. Snape spoke again.

"This is the final formula." He pronounced.

"Severus." Lupin said. "Do you mean that this is the permanent cure?"

"I won't bore you with the details." Said Snape. "But I have every reason to believe that this potion has approximately a ninety six point four percent chance of success. Again, I can't be completely sure until I see the results for myself, but the research has been most encouraging and all tests have been positive"

"Severus." Said Lupin admiringly. "You are a miracle worker."

"A miracle?" Said Snape, "That's yet to come."

"And the other matter?" Said Lupin expectantly.

"I have given that a great deal of thought." Said Snape. "I have thought of many reasons not to get involved in Mr. Black's affairs. However the events of two years ago cannot help but give me pause."

"You saw it for yourself." Lupin pointed out.

"At the time in question, my cognitive faculties were not exactly one hundred percent." Replied Snape. "Especially since the spirited Mr. Potter and Miss Granger had rendered me unconscious at the time you forced the rat into his human form." (See Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban)

"An unfortunate accident." Said Lupin. "A double shot of the Expelliarmis Spell can be somewhat overpowering. And one, in light of the circumstances, that I hope you will not hold against them. They were only attempting to protect Sirius and did not understand the situation."

"I am not .." Began Snape then stopped, staring. Sirius had emerged from the next room. "You!" Said Snape abruptly, "What are you doing here?"

"Hello, Severus." Said Sirius calmly. "Nice to see you, too."

"I reiterate." Snape insisted. "Remus, when you mentioned helping him, I somehow did not think it would involve aiding and abetting an escaped convict. Now he has apparently escaped yet again and if we are found with him, we face Azkaban as well."

"He has a point, Sirius." Mused Lupin. "If you are to be caught again, the absolute best you could hope for is isolation in the Azkaban dungeon where your survival would probably be only a matter of months if not weeks. That is, assuming you are not executed on the spot."

"Look." Said Sirius firmly. "Someone has gone to a lot of time and trouble to get me out of jail. I think it is to give me the chance to clear my name and bring the real perpetrator to justice and I plan to do exactly that. Alone if necessary."

"Don't be an idiot." Snape snapped. "You couldn't possibly go up against You-Know-Who and the Deatheaters by yourself."

"Who says that is my quarry?" Asked Sirius.

"You are as ignorant as some of my students." Snape smirked. "Do you think I know nothing? I am aware that Peter Petigrew is the one you seek. I am also aware that he is in the service of the Dark Lord, which makes it stand to reason that they would be surrounded by the Deatheaters. How am I doing so far?"

"Not bad." Sirius admitted.

"Sirius." Snape thundered, "If you think I'm going to accompany you on such a foolhardy quest against such overwhelming odds, pitting our ragtag band against the power of Lord Voldemort and his ilk, not to mention there is a very real possibility we would encounter the ministry, well you would be absolutely right."

"Severus." Said Lupin slowly, "Am I to understand that you accept the challenge?"

"Yes, yes." Said Snape irritably waving his hand. "Now tell me how we are going to find them before I change my mind."

"Well, I haven't quite figured that part out yet." Said Sirius, "I was hoping someone might have some contacts for us to follow."

"I haven't lately." Said Snape. "I've had no word in the last two years."

"Well that aside," Said Lupin quickly, "What was that you were saying about being a multiple animagus."

Snape choked. "Out of the question!" He sputtered. "It has been tried and it can't be done."

"No?" Said Sirius "Watch." He first assumed the shape of his black dog form.

"Fine." Said Snape sarcastically. "Everybody knows you can do that. I hope there is more to this because so far, I'm not impressed."

As if to answer, as Snape and Lupin watched in amazement, the black dog shimmered and shrank into the form of a small owl. Sirius flew around the room and alighted on the back of a chair. Snape and Lupin exchanged looks.

"If I hadn't seen it with my own eyes I would not have believed it." Lupin stammered shaking his head.

"I'm still not sure I do." Said Snape.

Sirius assumed his human form again. "Well here's something that might convince you." He said.

The other two looked at him expectantly as he spoke.

"I know where Petigrew and Voldemort are."