Chapter 5

I was next through the fireplace-transporter thingy, and let me tell you right here and now, mister, I thought I was gonna loose my dinner and lunch all in one embarrassing shot. But luckily right before that happened , I shot through to the other side and into Wonderland.

Sirius, now back into his human form, caught me as I stumbled out of the fireplace. He looked down at me and I'm sure I was green to the gills.

"You get used to it." My legs still didn't feel like they would hold me and he helped me to one of the several couches. I dropped my carry all on the floor and coughed as I sat down.

I watched as the flames reared up again and Buffy shot out yelling and trying to keep herself balanced. The travel didn't seem to upset her stomach as much as mine and she turned and waited for the last of our gang, Xander.

Faith was taking in the indoor scenery like a kid with a new Harry Potter book. "So, where's the Wesley's?"

Sirius shook his head. "I have no idea." He thought about it for a second. "I'm sure the Grimmauld Place address is useless now. That house-elf, Kreacher, betrayed me and he'll wind up dead in my hands if it's the last thing I ever do."

The look in his eyes was murderous and I suddenly felt very sorry for whatever a house-elf was. The flames shot up for the last time and Xander slid out on his belly, stirring a large cloud of ash into the air. He tried to sit up immediately and spat ash out of his mouth.

Once Buffy could see he was fine she turned to Sirius. "Now that we seem to be out of the thick of things, you wanna explain why we were sneaking around and who that guy was at the other place that seemed to understand dog quite fluently. Not to mention why you just didn't poof us here."

When she was done, she shook out her hair just in case there were any remnants of ash.

Sirius looked at her and then to me. "Erm ..."

Buffy pulled her head back up. "You don't have to answer them all in order or anything. Start anywhere."

Faith stood in front of a large grandfather clock, looking it up and down. "Relax, B. Wizard's can only make themselves go poof. Sirius Black was convicted of a crime he didn't commit and the Ministry of Magic is after him so they can throw him back into Azkaban." She turned and walked back into the living room or den or whatever this was. "The end of the book wasn't too clear about whether or not he was cleared of the charges since Fudge finally accepted Dumbledore's not trying to take over his job."

Xander was still patting himself off, making smaller clouds in the air. "So there's candy involved? Finally, my kind of adventure."

Sirius crooked an eyebrow. "Cornelius Fudge is the Minister of Magic." He twisted to stare back at Faith. "And it's getting increasingly difficult listening to you talk about my life like it is some kind of children's book. Please stop."

Faith gave him a lopsided smile. "I also know you haven't had any unnnhh in quite a while. Been about fifteen years hasn't it."

His eyes widened. "That's none of your..."

Buffy intervened. "Faith, haven't we had this talk about you and grunting?"

She tried to fake boredom. "I'm going out back to look at the garden gnomes."

Sirius huffed and went back to the fireplace. He grabbed a handful of ash from the bowl sitting on the mantle and tossed it in the fire. "Hogwarts school of Witchcraft and Wizardry, Headmaster's Office."

He waited for a second and put his head into the flame. "Dumbledore."

The conversation seemed to be a little one-sided, but I figured out most of it.

"Yes, I'm alive."

Probably asked if he was alive.

"In Hell!"

Probably 'where have you been'

"Is Harry alright?"

"Good. What's the date."

Probably 'Yes.'

A rather long pause held up his next statement. "What?"

"Fine, we'll be there tomorrow morning then. Don't mention this to Harry, I want to surprise him."

He pulled back from the flames and look astounded.

"What happened?" I asked.

Buffy crossed her arms, "Yeah, spill or somethin'."

His eyes shifted back down to me. "Fudge's cleared me. With Tonks and Shacklebolt's testimony and Dumbledore's reinstatement, the Wizengamot cleared me, posthumously, of all charges." He paused and the biggest grin took over his features. "I'm free!"

He rushed forward and grabbed me up from the couch and spun me around. I laughed a little, but the spinning was too much like the fireplace thingy, which made me a little queasy again. That is until something happened that I wasn't expecting. He kissed me.

It wasn't like Gone With the Wind or anything, but still. His face came up again and I was tossed aside onto the couch and his screams of celebration echoed around the house.

Xander leaned toward me. "What's with Mr. Depression and does he know you're gay?"

I pushed him away. "He's just happy, Dusty."