Author's notes:  Here I go, trying to get as much in before the next book as possible.  Yes, after the release of the next book, my fic, like all others, will be shunted into the world of Alternate Universe as I sincerely doubt JK is planning on writing in a Muggle psychologist.

I sincerely hope you all continue reading this as I plan to finish it.  A special thanks to those who have reviewed and who have written to me, personally.  It has been quite an adventure.

As usual thanks to Diane for making this readable.  Any mistakes you see are my own.

Chapter 24 – Allies

His eyes met hers, and he smiled. He hasn't changed much, has he? she thought. The room was silent, waiting for something to happen as it surely would, but Sophie did her best to keep her composure. She looked at the gentle face of Remus Lupin and smiled back trying desperately to control the turmoil that was going on in her mind…in her heart….everywhere. Sophie could not bring herself to look at Severus; the anticipation of the conversation that was going to follow this meeting was already filling her with dread. Mingled with the joy of seeing Remus again was the apprehension of the difficulties his presence was going to cause in her still fragile relationship with Severus.

Severus watched the way they looked at each other and felt an ominous pit growing in his stomach. He was afraid to think of what that gasp and those glances meant. He sat stoically, waiting for Dumbledore to resume the discussion. Whatever he was feeling personally was nothing compared to what was happening in the rest of the world. At least this is what he was trying to convince himself. 'Things were going so well,' he thought bitterly, 'which only proves if things appear to be going well then you've obviously overlooked something.' The staff room watched the exchanges. The already tense room was now almost unbearable. They were bewildered to say the least; no one really knew what it all meant, but they all knew it could not be good.

It took a minute before Dumbledore began again. "As I stated previously we, are looking to some outside sources to protect Hogwarts and those who are under our supervision. You are familiar with Arthur Weasley. He and his son, Percy, who is not with us today, are working for us within the Ministry. They have been working tenaciously to try to convince people of the dangers that are approaching. They have managed to convince many of the people in the Ministry, but most of those in positions of power have sided with Cornelius Fudge, the current Head. With the help of Alastor Moody, he has managed to convince the Auror Academy to increase their training in preparation for what lies ahead. Arthur and his elder sons, Charles and William, have spent the last four months in a very intensive and accelerated instruction regimen and will join Remus Lupin in patrolling the school. William will also be in charge of training the faculty in some basic but highly successful defensive skills that the academy has been developing these last few months."

Dumbledore braced himself as he revealed the next bit of information. "For what you are going to see now, I need you to remain composed until I have a chance to speak." Everyone remained in silent consideration. Suddenly the room erupted in bedlam as the shaggy dog transformed into a man. Sophie remained quiet as she studied him. He looked familiar and then, in the commotion that was going on around her, she heard his name, Sirius Black. Searching her memory, it struck her, Sirius Black was Remus's childhood friend, the man accused of turning Harry's parent's over to Voldemort, the man accused of killing Remus's other friend. Sophie struggled to remember his name …Paul …Patrick…no, Peter. It seemed to matter little. She had a vague recollection of his escape from Azkaban a couple of years ago and if she remembered correctly, he was headed here, to Hogwarts ………to kill Harry. She could feel Severus stir in the seat next to her. Oddly enough, he did not seem terribly surprised.

Dumbledore raised his hand and called for calm. Everyone complied. "I realize this comes as a shock to many of you but things are not always as they appear in the Daily Prophet. Sirius Black was wrongly imprisoned. Peter Pettigrew is alive and is the main reason that Voldemort threatens us today. Sirius is Harry's godfather and has been in contact with him since his escape. His sole reason for being here is to protect Harry. Harry trusts him and I trust him. I hope you will as well."

There seemed to be dissent until Severus got up to speak. "If I may, Albus." Dumbledore nodded and Severus continued, "As many of you are aware there is no love lost between Black and myself. So, as much as it pains me, I will personally assure you that he is innocent and has been working not only to protect Mr. Potter but to supply the information that Headmaster has shared with us today at great personal risk to himself." The room was stunned into silence. The revelation that Sirius Black was innocent was difficult enough to accept, but Severus Snape vouching for him made no sense at all. And, despite knowing the truth of his own innocence, no one was more stunned than Sirius himself. Remus simply smiled.

A shaken Minerva McGonagall spoke, "You trust him, Severus?"

Severus Snape straightened his back and stood at his full height. His voice was clear and solid. "In matters that concern Harry Potter and Hogwarts, yes I do."

The staff was hesitant, but knowing that the rivalry between these two spanned decades and knowing the levels of that rivalry, Severus' s endorsement seemed to be enough.

Dumbledore gave a sigh and continued the discussion. "Sirius will be here as a personal bodyguard to Harry. He will remain in his Animagus form. You are to refer to him as 'Snuffles.' He will be allowed entry into all of Hogwarts. If we are to succeed we will need your complete cooperation. You will need to make arrangements with the Weasleys as to your training. I will also ask you to keep me abreast of anything that seems unusual, no matter how trivial you think it is. I thank you for your efforts and your continued support." With that, the meeting was over. Dumbledore motioned for Sophie and Severus to approach. The Weasleys began to schedule times with the staff, leaving Sophie and Severus to join Remus, Sirius and the Headmaster. The friction in the air was suffocating.

Black stood looking at Snape. He was unsure what to make of his adversary's support. His natural distrust for the man was making it difficult to believe what had just happened; then he noticed that Severus was holding the hand of the woman next to him. A very attractive woman. Sirius paused. She looked familiar. Very familiar. He watched as this woman released Snape's hand and walked over to Remus. She put her arms around him. 'Holy Shit!' He remembered where he had seen her before. Her picture was in Remus' place. In his bedroom, actually. Sirius' s glance went from the couple in an affectionate embrace to Snape, back to the couple, and then back to Snape. Snape was seething, quietly, but seething nonetheless.

It was Dumbledore who spoke first. "I gather you both know each other."

Sophie released Remus and blushed. She turned to the onlookers and said, "Remus and I are old friends we've known each other for many years and it has been ages since we saw one another." She turned to Lupin, "Did you know I was here?"

"I only found out a few days ago when Albus contacted me about coming back to Hogwarts. I wasn't sure how you would feel about seeing me. I am glad to see you are as happy to see me as I am to see you." He smiled warmly.

"I am thrilled," she exclaimed as she threw her arms around him again. "I thought I would never see you again and then with the rise of Voldemort, I was afraid of what you might do."

"I knew my place was here. I am just glad that I could be useful now."

Sophie gave him one last squeeze before letting go. She moved over to Severus and took the previously abandoned hand. "I believe you two know each other as well."

Remus saw the pleading looking her eyes and understood what she was trying to tell him. "Yes," he replied, "Severus has actually been good enough to supply me with Wolfsbane potion for a few years now."

"Anything to advance the cause." He remained stoic.

Dumbledore turned to Sophie, "I believe Sirius here is a possible solution to our little problem with Harry."

She gave him a knowing smile. "I was wondering if you had ulterior motives for bringing him here. It seemed an awfully huge risk to take merely for a bodyguard."

The others looked on in confusion. Sophie explained, "I am afraid Harry is in danger of taking matters into his own hands. He has been dealing with current events by himself, suffering in silence, not opening up to me or apparently any of his friends about the things he is feeling. I was hoping we could find an adult he could trust enough to open up to who could help me treat him without him knowing I was treating him."

"That's right," Sirius started, "You're a Muggle head doctor."

Sophie smirked, You have a way with words, don't you?"

He ignored her observation. "What do you mean by, 'Taking matters into his own hands'?"

Sophie was unsure of how much to say. Now did not seem like the right time, but would there ever be a right time when a life was in jeopardy? "I am afraid that when Voldemort shows his hand, Harry will attempt to battle him alone."

Sirius shook his head. "Harry would never do anything so foolish. "

'Denial, what a surprise,' thought Sophie. "I think you should talk to him, but I beg of you to choose your words carefully. He will shut you out if he thinks you will try to stop him. He is intent upon saving his friends even, if it means sacrificing his own life. At least he thinks he will be saving others. He feels responsible for Cedric's death as well as Voldemort re-birth I need you to talk to him and tell me what he says and I will tell you what I would like you to ask him and what to look for."

It seemed straight forward enough to Sirius. "I can do that," he replied.

"Excellent….Well, I think that is quite enough for today. We will need to meet later, of course." She turned to Remus and said, "I am hopeful we could meet later as well."

He nodded. "We will be settling into Gryffindor for most of today. I will be available this evening."

"I will visit as soon as I can. Goodbye." She gave him a soft kiss on the cheek. Turning to Sirius and Dumbledore, she nodded. "Good day, Gentlemen." She turned to leave and Severus went to follow, looking preoccupied.

Sirius stopped him "Wait, Severus……….I wanted to say thank you for sticking up for me. I must say, I was surprised." He gave a smirk, "It must have really hurt to say it."

"You have no idea………But keep in mind, Black, should you do anything to make me regret my overture, I will spend the last days of my life hunting you down and using you for Dementor bait."

"Now that is the Snape I know and love." Sirius was glad to hear the familiar venom.

"Good day." Snape gave a curt nod and walked away.

After they left Sirius turned to Dumbledore and asked, "Are they a couple?"

"They are in a relationship," he replied.

"How did he get so lucky?"

"I hope he realizes how lucky he is," Remus muttered under his breath. He turned to his companions. "I think it is time for us to get to work."