A/N: Hey! I'm back from our family cabin in Lassen! It was lots of fun. I'm really glad that you all like the story. I was actually considering doing a sequel and a… three-quel? Yeah. We'll see how the last chapters of this one does first.

Chapter 14

The Dementors

Walking down the tunnel was much more difficult, Sirius realized, when he wasn't a dog. Sirius was directing Snape, and occasionally bumping Snape's head on the low ceiling purposefully.

Peter was going to Azkaban at last, and Sirius was going to be a free man the moment that they entered the castle. He was free and—

"You know what this means?" Sirius asked Harry, as though Harry had heard all of Sirius's previous thoughts. "Turning Pettigrew in?"

"You're free." Said Harry.

"Yes… But I'm also—" Sirius broke off. "I don't know if anyone told you—I'm your godfather." Sirius turned back to Snape's lolling body; just to escape from the awkward silence he was afraid would follow.

"Yeah, I knew that." Harry said right away.

"Well…" Sirius continued, surprised that Harry wasn't shunning him, "your parents appointed me guardian, if anything happened to them…" Sirius wasn't even sure where he was going with this, but he wanted Harry to move in with him… he wanted to be the father Harry never had. "I'll understand, of course, if you want to stay with your aunt and uncle. But… well… think about it. Once my name's cleared… if you wanted a… a different home…"

"What—live with you?" Harry asked, and Sirius heard a crack as Harry hit his head on the ceiling in shock. "Leave the Dursleys?"

Sirius recovered immediately, "Of course, I thought you wouldn't want to…" Sirius felt his face starting to burn. Why was this so embarrassing? "I understand, I just thought I'd—"

"Are you insane?" Harry sounded thoroughly excited. "Of course I want to leave the Dursleys! Have you got a house? When can I move in?"

Sirius stopped in his tracks and turned to look at Harry. There was a wild sort of smile on his face and he was looking at Sirius expectantly.

"You want to? You mean it?"

"Yeah I mean it!" Harry grinned.

Sirius smiled back at him, truthfully happy for the first time… in a long time. Harry wanted to live with him—he was going to be free… and Harry wanted to live with him…!

They didn't talk again until after they had exited the Willow. Up ahead, Sirius could hear Remus muttering to Peter, as they started out towards the castle. The grounds were dark, until a cloud shifted and moonlight fell onto the grass. Sirius looked up, and saw the full moon peeking out from behind the clouds…

Full moon.

Remus.

Sirius flung out an arm to stop Harry and Hermione from getting any closer. Remus went rigid, and he started to tremble.

"Oh, my—he didn't take his potion tonight! He's not safe!" Hermione breathed.

"Run." Sirius told Harry and Hermione. "Run. Now."

But Harry had his eyes on Ron, who was still chained to Remus and Peter. Harry made to move towards his friend, but Sirius caught him and threw him back. "Leave it to me—RUN!"

Remus started to snarl, and his head and body were lengthening into a wolf's. Hair was covering his face and hands, which were rapidly turning into clawed paws.

Sirius glanced over at Crookshanks, who was spitting madly.

Sirius left Harry and Hermione and transformed into a dog. Remus broke his part of the manacles and he started to growl deeply at Ron and Peter, who were cowering in the grass. His eyes flashed dangerously.

Sirius bounded forward, and grabbed Remus around the neck with his mouth and started to pull him away from Ron. Snarling, Sirius pulled and Remus pushed back. His teeth were bared, and he didn't seem to recognize even Padfoot.

From a few paces away, he could hear bangs, and screams, and he inwardly prayed that they were all right. Sirius slashed at Remus, anything to get him to go away. Remus sliced his claws across Sirius's face, and Sirius fell to the grass.

Come on, Remus… get out of here…

Remus howled, and Sirius sprung back to his feet, ready to fight again, growling menacingly. But Remus had decided to leave, and the werewolf tore off towards the Forbidden Forest.

"Sirius, he's gone, Pettigrew transformed!" Sirius heard Harry yelling. Sirius looked up at him, blinking blood out of his puppy-dog eyes and took off at a run.

Damn it, Peter, you will not get away this time… I've chased after you too long… Sirius's big paws thundered on the grassy ground as he hurtled after the skittering movements ahead of him. This time he would win, for certain.

Peter was leading him towards the lake, and Sirius followed willingly. But when Sirius reached the edge of the sparkling lake, Peter was nowhere in sight.

But there were at least 100 dementors.

They circled in around him, all their breaths rattling, sucking in everything from the warm summer air, leaving Sirius as cold as winter. Sirius transformed back into a man, but stayed where he was, physically unable to move, or breath, or do anything. There were so many of them… never were there this many in Azkaban.

"Nooo… noooo… please…" Sirius barely whispered. Everything was covered with a misty fog that was enveloping Sirius's body and mind. Everything was going dark… so dark…

Sirius could hear Harry and Hermione running towards him. They stood right next to him, both with their wands out protectively. He heard Harry shout something, but he couldn't tell if it was to Hermione or himself… Sirius could hardly keep conscious much longer… but he had to keep it together… Harry was chanting something, so subconsciously, Sirius started to chant too… be strong for your godson… be strong for your godson…be strong for… but he couldn't do it. He gave a huge shudder, and he fell to the ground, cold and lifeless.