A/N: Hey! Here's another chapter for you, cuz I'm nice… Just kidding, anyway. Enjoy—and don't forget to READ AND REVIEW!!

Chapter 15

Buckbeak and Dumbledore

Sirius felt incredibly groggy. He was cold… and tired… and his brain seemed to be working much too slowly for his liking. He could feel something around his wrists and ankles—he was tied up. Moving his mouth, he could tell that he was also gagged.

Carefully, he opened his eyes. He was laying beneath a window, in a small, carpeted room. Everything was dark, except for the chunk of moonlight that fell over him. Through the darkness, Sirius could make out a desk with a very tall chair… and a door on the opposite side of the room.

Sirius tried to pull himself to his feet. He had to get out of here—wherever here was. But Sirius heard voices from down the hall, and he strained to listen.

"Now, honestly, Headmaster! You can't believe a word he'll tell you! Black will say anything to save his skin, you know that." It was Snape's voice. Sirius could recognize that slithery tone anywhere.

"I just need to hear his side before it's too late." Dumbledore.

"And you don't want protection with you? He is a murderer of fifteen—"

"No, Severus. I'm sure I can handle Black on my own." Sirius heard the scraping of a key in his door, and it opened to reveal Dumbledore's silhouette.

"Evening." Dumbledore said calmly, closing the door behind him, after waving his wand so the lights would rise. Sirius tried to answer him, to beg him for help, but the gag refused to let him.

Dumbledore walked over to him slowly, and untied each bind one at a time. Finally, when Sirius was free, he couldn't think of where to start… there was so much Dumbledore needed to know.

"I know you're innocent." Dumbledore said softly. "But I want to know what happened." It wasn't a question, but more like a suggestion.

So Sirius told him. Sirius explained urgently how Scabbers wasn't a rat—but Peter. He told him how he, too, was an Animagus. He told Dumbledore how Snape had barged in, and nearly ruined everything. He told him how Harry had stepped in and saved Peter's life.

Finally, when Sirius paused for air, Dumbledore interrupted. "They want to perform the Kiss, Sirius."

Sirius found it hard to breathe. They couldn't… Sirius was innocent.

"You know I didn't do it. I didn't kill Lily and James—you know it was Peter, why can't you just tell them?" Sirius pleaded. "Tell them, Dumbledore…"

"They wouldn't believe me, Sirius."

"Then why didn't you come to my trial? Why didn't you tell them then?" Sirius asked, anger starting to flare up again. "You helped change the Secret-Keepers… you could have testified!"

"I spoke to the Mistress as soon as I heard you were arrested, Sirius. I told them what happened. She wouldn't listen, and she refused me entry to your trial. They didn't want to believe me then, and they don't now." Dumbledore said evenly. There was a small sparkle in his eye that disgusted Sirius. How could he be happy at a time like this?

"So you're sentencing me to death? You… you're not going to do anything?" Sirius asked him, thunderstruck. He couldn't believe this. He found himself stuttering, struggling to speak. "After everything—I was in the Order… you know I'm not a Death Eater, Dumbledore… how could you—how can you… You're not going to help me at all?"

Dumbledore stood up, and walked towards the door. "Just keep an eye on the window, and you'll be fine. That's a promise."

Sirius heard the door slam, but it didn't register that Dumbledore was gone. What kind of advice was that? Keep an eye on the window? I'll keep an eye on your stupid window… Sirius jumped to his feet and grabbed the closest thing he could find and chucked it with all his might at the glass.

It ricocheted right off, and hit Sirius in the stomach, full force, leaving him winded and frustrated.

He couldn't believe this was happening. He was supposed to be with celebrating with Harry right now—he was supposed to be telling Harry everything about his house… and how things would be when he moved in this summer. But now, he was going to have his soul sucked right out of his mouth.

Sirius sunk down to the floor, and put his head on his knees. He waited for a few moments in silence, wondering what was going to become of him.

"Keep an eye on the window, Sirius…" Sirius muttered nastily to himself, standing up and looking outside.

He couldn't believe his eyes.

Harry and Hermione were riding Hagrid's escaped hippogriff right outside his window. He could feel his jaw dropping to the floor. He struggled to unlock the window, but it wouldn't budge.

"Stand back!" Hermione called to him. Sirius obliged. "Alohomora!" The window sprung open.

"How—how—?"

"Get on—there's not much time." Harry said hurriedly. "You've got to get out of here—the dementors are coming—Macnair's gone to get them."

Without another word, Sirius swung his leg over the hippogriff, and slid onto its back behind Hermione.

"Okay, Buckbeak, up!" Harry urged. "Up to the tower—come on!"

With a huge sweep of its powerful wings, Buckbeak was high in the sky. Wind whipped around them, as Buckbeak beat its wings and navigated to the West Tower. He landed with a clatter, and Harry and Hermione scooted off right away.

"Sirius, you'd better go, quick." Harry told him, breathing heavily. "They'll reach Flitwick's office any moment, they'll find out you're gone."

Sirius couldn't believe this was happening. But it suddenly registered that only Harry and Hermione were standing here before him. "What happened to the other boy? Ron?"

"He's going to be okay. He's still out of it, but Madam Pomfrey says she'll be able to make him better." Harry explained as fast as he could. "Quick—go—"

This was unbelievably amazing.

"How can I ever thank—"

"GO!" Harry and Hermione screamed at him.

"We'll see each other again." Sirius decided, turning Buckbeak away from the castle. "You are—truly your father's son, Harry…" With a squeeze of his knees, Sirius felt Buckbeak take off into the air once more. Sirius turned to watch his godson as he sank into the distance, but both he and Hermione were gone.