(Author's Note: Listen, guys, I can't promise you a happy ending to this story. I should think that would be obvious from the summary, but I feel the need to point it out to you. Things could turn out great, but things could also be horribly depressing and dark in the end. If you don't want to risk it, get out now.

Jet: Thanks for the review! You were my first one ever. ^_^ I hope you enjoy the rest of the story.)
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Chapter 3.
Allies and Friends. (October 1993)

Sirius blanched. "Ruth. It's not what you think."

Ruth dropped her purse. "I don't think anything. I don't know what to think. What are you?" Her voice was trembling.

"Please, sit down, Ruth," he said. "I know this is a shock for you-"

"No!" Ruth interrupted. "A shock? Why won't you just answer my question? Are you some kind of... dog man? What are you?" She edged toward the chair, but didn't let her eyes leave him for a moment.

Sirius sighed and leaned against the edge of the table. "I'm not a dog man. I'm just a man." He scratched his forehead and thought how to explain things to Ruth.

"Oh my God," she shouted suddenly, jumping out of the chair. "You're Sirius Black!"

He sighed. "That's right Ruth. But I'm not going to hurt you."

She narrowed her eyes. "You're a dangerous criminal. Why should I trust you?"

"Just let me explain? I'll tell you everything. Everything you want to know. I've been her for months and never hurt you--why would I want to start now?" He scratched his head again. "Look, if you don't trust me, then call the police now. I won't stop you."

Ruth stared at him for a moment in silence. Then she walked over to the phone. She lifted the receiver and dialed in silence. Sirius slumped into a chair and stared at the ceiling. 'So this is how it ends. Back to Azkaban,' he thought.

"David? It's Ruth. I'm really sorry for the late notice, but I've got a nasty stomach flu. Could you take my class for me today? I've left a lesson plan in the desk. Thanks David. I owe you."

Sirius's heart lifted as Ruth hung up the phone. "You didn't turn me in," he said quietly.

"No," she said. Her back was to him and she didn't turn around. She drummed her fingers against the wall and then snatched up the kettle. She filled it with water and put it on the stove. "But don't try anything, or I will. I want to know how you did that. I'll make us some tea."

Sirius couldn't help smiling. It had been... what, twelve full years? Since he had tea. He couldn't wait. "I'll explain everything to you, Ruth."

She pulled two cups out of the cupboard, and sat them on the table. "Start with my first question."

"I am just a man, Ruth. Not unlike lots of other men in Britain..." he began. He explained everything as they drank tea. Wizards and muggles. Animagi. The Ministry of Magic. Hogwarts. Everything.

Ruth poured him another cup of tea. She seemed to be accepting it all well. "So why do the wizards hide their existence from us... muggles? Why bother?"

Sirius shrugged. "It's better for everyone, really. If muggles had magical solutions to their problems, they'd never come up with the sorts of inventions they've managed. They'd always be asking wizards for help."

"I can see that," Ruth nodded. "And I suppose it's just better to keep our worlds separate. Stop us from hero-worshipping the magical folk. So-why were you in prison?"

He stared into his teacup for a moment. Then, he took a long sip before speaking. "I was accused of murder. Twelve years ago there was a... a bad wizard on the loose. A Dark wizard. Many had died or been tortured, wizards and muggles both. I tried to help my best friend hide..." He explained about Voldemort, and the Fidelius charm over James and Lily. He explained about Pettigrew.

"So I tracked him down," he finished, growling, "only he was expecting me. He framed me for the murder, and killed a whole group of innocent muggles in the process. I went to jail without a trial, and I've been there ever since."

"And what happened to Pettigrew? He killed himself in the explosion?" Ruth asked.

He shook his head. "He was an animagus too-a rat. He's spent the last twelve years living as the pet rat to a wizarding family." He sipped his tea again. "That's why I left," he murmured. "I saw a picture while I was in-in there. He was sitting on the shoulder of a boy. I had to find him. To commit the murder I was imprisoned for. To avenge James."

Ruth raised an eyebrow. "You're going to kill him?"

"I can't expect you to understand," he growled, "But I have to. I was planning to leave on Halloween."

"Why did you stay this long? If you know where he is, you could have gone after him at any time," she interjected.

"I was recovering. If I had been on my own all this time... trying to steal food and keep warm... to hide out... Frankly, Ruth, I wouldn't be this coherent. That prison-it's not just walls and barred windows. There are creatures called Dementors. Wizards keep them as the jailers in Azkaban. They suck all the good feeling out of a place." He shivered. He felt very far away as he remembered it. "Most people go mad right away. I knew I was innocent. They couldn't take that away, and so I kept my mind. But the nightmares. Constant nightmares. You can't sleep or eat or anything in a place like that. Every ounce of energy is devoted to just staying alive. If it weren't for your kindness and the safe haven of this cottage, I'd still be half out of my mind. You've been... like a lighthouse in the dark."

Ruth flushed. "I have to admit, you've been good for me, too. I always wanted a dog." She stood up, carrying their cups to the sink. "But, Sirius-how do I know all this is true? For all I know, you're lying to me to win my trust. Can you prove any of this? Wizards, Pettigrew, anything?"

Sirius frowned. "You saw me change, Ruth. So you know that much is true. As to the rest of it-well, all I can ask is that you take it on faith." He spread his hands.

Ruth scrutinized him for a moment before returning to her chair. "So what's the plan? How do we get to-what was it, Hogwits?"

"Hogwarts," he corrected. "And we aren't going. Just me. It's too dangerous to bring you into it. Besides," his eyes narrowed, "It's a personal matter."

"Which is exactly why you're bringing me along," she said smugly. "If you go in there, guns blazing, the whole thing will be botched totally. You need a rational third party to handle things."

"It's too dangerous for you," he dismissed her. "And I will have my revenge on Wormtail. I've waited too long not to." He practically snarled the last words. "I'm not taking any guns, blazing or otherwise."

"It's just an expression," Ruth said, exasperated. "I just mean, that if you let your temper run the show, it'll never work. You need me there to... to be your lighthouse. To keep you rational. And," she said, raising her hand as he tried to interrupt, "You won't talk me out of it. Either you let me go with you, or I'll keep you here."

He frowned. "What about your job?"

"Who'll miss me?" she shrugged. "The kids like David. He'll take over for me. It's not like I have family or anything to worry about."

"Your mother?" Sirius prompted.

"Lives in America. So long as I give her a call a few times a year, she'll be happy. Really, Sirius, it's time for me to go. I don't even have a dog anymore. And you could use... a companion."

He sighed. "Fine. We'll go together."

She grinned. "Great. Wait here-I'll be right back." She stood up and walked off into the bathroom.

"Where are you going?"

"To get scissors. That hair is coming off."

Sirius grabbed his hair. Well, sure, it was a little long and not as stylish as it could be, but thanks to his time as a housepet, it was at least clean. Okay, a little matted, but clean. And it had always been longish anyway. "Not too short, right?" he shouted to her.

"It'll hardly be a crew cut," she shouted back. She returned, wrapped a towel around his neck, and began to comb. "The thing is, your picture has been all over the news for weeks. People are looking for you. You're not as thin as you were when that was taken, so that's one plus. But everyone expects you to have long mangy hair. So if it's short and well-trimmed, people may not make the connection." She reached out with the comb. He ducked out of her reach.

"But Ruth, it's my HAIR," he said. "You can't cut it short! It's never been short. I'd feel... naked!"

"Oh Sirius," she sighed. "You're a great and powerful wizard. I'm sure if you really hate it, you can grow it back."

He muttered something about a wand as Ruth tackled his hair. A few snips of the scissors, and his long mangy locks were on the floor. Ruth went to work with the comb and scissors, and when she stepped back, she smiled. Sirius stood up and scrutinized himself in the mirror.

"I look," he grumbled, "like a wanker."

"You're lovely," Ruth winked. "Now just wait until we get you some clean clothes. What are you wearing, anyway?"

"Robes!" he said, exasperated. "You weren't this fussy when I was a dog!"

"Well," she shrugged, "You weren't wearing clothes when you were a dog. Anyway, if we're going to travel together, you need to be dressed properly, don't you?" She winked. "I figure we can take the hatchback most of the way, and then you can sneak us into the school."

Sirius shook his head. "We'll need to make it to Hogsmeade. Can't take the car there. It'll be hard enough to get you in, what with all the muggle-repelling charms on the area. I'll need a wand."

She frowned. "What, are there wand shops around?"

He nodded. "Of course. I might be able to steal one in Hogsmeade, if I can beg my way into a house somewhere."

"We need a gameplan," she added.

"That's easy. Get in. Get the rat. Kill the rat."

"Oh yes," she nodded. "That'll get your name cleared and all. I can see it now. You'll hand over the body, and say, 'See, I didn't kill him. Well, I did now, but I didn't back then.' Yes, that'll go over well."

"You have a better suggestion?" Sirius growled.

"Isn't there some sort of wizard authority we can turn him over to? Someone who will listen to your story? Someone we can trust?"

Sirius noted the "we" in that statement. He thought for a moment. "Dumbledore," he said finally.

She smiled. "And now we have a plan."