A.N. oh dear, I didn't update for a while did I? Well everyone thank the board of school directors for calling a snow day, because of that you will have a new chappie!

Disclaimer: Must I really do this, you all know it's not mine…

Harry moved swiftly, anger radiating from his movements that forced everyone in the room that was able to take one step back. He lifted Lucius up by the collar of his robes, forcing the man to look in his face. "What did you say?"

Lucius grinned, a deranged light enveloping his eyes. "You heard me boy. I see no reason to go repeating myself," he said, his voice maddeningly amused.

Harry twisted the collar in his hands, restricting Lucius' ability to breathe. "Tell me or so help me I will not be responsible for my actions," he snarled.

Even though Lucius' face paled noticeably from the lack of oxygen, he forced a laugh of mockery out. "Yes, well, that would be the reason he's been missing so long hasn't it?" There was a resounding thud as Lucius was dropped, and Harry's hands shook with a hopeless doubt that he had fought for months. "Because, you are responsible for his untimely disappearance aren't you? If you hadn't gone charging into the Department of Mysteries, he would still be here with you wouldn't he? He wouldn't have spent months with my Lord, as we tortured every secret his soul ever held from him. I think he's gone rather numb," Lucius mocked.

Ron managed to grab Harry before Harry launched himself at the elder Malfoy, trying to cause him pain beyond all imagination. "Com'on Harry, just let it alone. He got caught, that's all he's worried about. Let's go," Ron said, as he imposed his body between Lucius and Harry. "I'll go get McGonagall, will you be alright mate?"

Harry nodded, a sheen of sweat covering his entire body. Hermione could practically feel the wheels in his head turning. Harry was desperate and a desperate Harry was a rather reckless Harry, and a reckless Harry was the reason Sirius was gone in the first place.

Ron sped out the door quickly, tearing down the halls knocking students, just leaving dinner, over in his wake. 'What if that prat was lying… wouldn't put it past him. But he did seem awful happy about it, what if he wasn't lying? What if Sirius is alive?' he thought to himself, puzzling over it.

Ron burst into the Great Hall and ran up to Professor McGonagall's seat. "Professor, we found them in the halls, we weren't sure what to do," he said senselessly.

"Found who, Mr. Weasley?" McGonagall asked, as her eyebrows rose.

"Lucius Malfoy, Bellatrix Black, and that Macnair person. We found them creeping in the halls, along with four other blokes that Ginny told Professor Dumbledore about," Ron said his breathing short and rapid.

McGonagall stood with a grace that could only come with her age. "Lead the way."

Ron nodded and led her back to the Astronomy Tower.

Hermione watched Harry's looming form stare into the Gryffindor common room fire. He had been there all night and it didn't seem that he would be moving anytime soon. He had gone back into what he was before he had accepted what happened to Sirius. She walked over to him and sat down gently beside him.

"I know telling you that everything will be alright won't help right now Harry. I know that telling you that what happened to Sirius wasn't your fault would be a lie," she said quietly. Harry flinched and glowered at her. "But I will tell you, you have a chance to fix it and trying to melt the fireplace by glaring at it for hours on end, is not going to help," she continued.

Harry sighed. "But… Sirius alive? How do I know he wasn't lying? I don't want to get my hopes up for nothing," he said painfully.

"You have to hope for something Harry. If you don't, then what are you fighting for? Other people? What they want? You can't fight just for others, no matter how noble you are. You have to find something that you need, and if Sirius might still be alive… Isn't that something worth fighting for?" Hermione asked, as she took his face in her hands and turned it towards her.

Harry rested his head on her shoulder. "I'm so tired 'Mione."

Hermione nodded, "I know Harry. We will do all we can."

Hermione was almost surprised at Harry's rather childish behavior, seeking comfort in someone other than Ginny. It made her a tad uncomfortable, but for Harry's sake, she stayed where she was. Harry was just tired anyways.

Hermione looked up and saw Ginny at the top of the staircase. She moved to get up, and Harry moved laying his head on the side of the couch, barely holding his eyes open. Ginny took Hermione's hand once she reached the stairs. "What's wrong with him?"

Hermione looked upstairs and then back at her. Ginny caught on rather quickly bounding up the stairs, Hermione not but a foot behind. Ginny quietly closed the door to her dormitory, which was luckily, devoid of her roommates.

She turned to Hermione.

"Last night, when we found the Death Eaters here, one of them was Lucius, he said that Sirius was alive. Harry's been beating himself up over it, all night and day. Lucius also said that Sirius disappearing was Harry's fault," Hermione said.

Ginny bit her lip, it was well known knowledge that Sirius supposed death was Harry's fault. But no one dared utter that fact. Everyone made mistakes in their lives, Harry's just happen to cost him a lot more than a slap on the wrist. 'Well, someone had to say it sooner or later. Maybe the laundry will be a bit fresher now that it's out in the open air,' she allowed herself to think.

"It had to be said sooner or later," she spoke softly, regretting the truthful words that slipped her tongue.

Hermione nodded, "But it does not need to be exploited."

Ginny was struck with a devilish smile. "You have Lucius locked up in Dumbledore's Library. He's rather unhappy, and he's also rather hungry."

Hermione blinked. "How and why do you know all this?"

"You said I could probably reverse the connection, well you were right. I tried it and it was like, kinda unlocking something, I'm not sure how to explain it. I just know it works," Ginny explained happily.

Hermione smiled. "That's good, but if you'll excuse me. I have to go talk to Remus, you help Harry ok?"

Ginny nodded, "I feel better than I have in weeks. I can actually help you guys out."

Hermione and Ginny descended the stairs back to the common room. The portrait shut with a gentle thud as Hermione left.

Ginny stepped towards the sleeping form on the couch. She knelt next to him, brushing his hair back from his face. "Harry, you awake?"

Emerald eyes lifted the slightest. "Define awake."

Ginny smiled, "Maybe you should skip out on classes today, and sleep?"

Harry gave a soft chuckle. "You know, today is Saturday."

Ginny blushed suitably, ruffling his hair. "Of course I knew that."

"No you didn't."

"Yes I did."

"Did not."

"Did to."

"Not."

"To!"

"Not!"

"Okay so maybe I didn't. You gonna argue?" she asked brushing her lips against his.

Harry grinned up at her rakishly, "Who argues with a beautiful woman? Of course you knew."

Their lips met and Ginny did her best not to melt at the love his words made her feel.

Hermione slipped into the restricted section and walked to the portrait that concealed Remus' room. She laid a hand on it, tracing the contours of the painting. It was a painting of the night sky, each star shone brightly, as a lone cloud or two passed over its visage. "Sugarplums," she said stepping back so it had the room to open.

She stepped inside and noticed with dismay that Remus apparently was not in. She sighed and curled up on the bed, waiting for him to return.

"Yes," Dumbledore said. "They did more than what I asked. They worked well together, thank you, Remus."

Remus nodded. "I'm not the one you should be thanking."

Dumbledore lifted and eyebrow. Remus was being rather cold today. Dumbledore was not sure if it was because he had sent them on a mission, or if it was simply his outlook on life today. "What's troubling you?"

Remus lifted his head. "I am hiding, and I have done no good for the order since the term started."

"They are still looking for the werewolves; I only wish to protect you," Dumbledore implored. He knew that Remus was beginning to get stir crazy, and he was disturbed to find there was nothing he could do.

"Hermione had to fight because of me, because I couldn't protect her. If I had been able to show my face I could have done that. Harry wouldn't know about Sirius and he wouldn't feel so horrible. I just fell that if I…," he trailed off looking hopelessly at the floor.

"What will you tell Hermione?" he asked.

Remus looked up at him resolutely. "I won't. She has no need to worry about me."

Dumbledore lifted and eye brow. "You think that she won't miss your absence?"

"I don't think she needs to know."

Hermione woke up as a soft hand caressed her face. She had obviously fallen asleep waiting for Remus to return. She kissed his hand gently. "I told you I'd return."

"And you did." Remus slid into the bed next to her, pulling her body flush with his. "Sleep you need it. All is well."

Hermione drifted back into her slumber, without the faintest clue about what was to happen in the morning.

"I love you, Hermione."

Hermione once again woke up in her bedroom. She flushed with embarrassment. 'Remus brought me up here, how sweet,' she thought to herself, despite her slight sheepishness.

She dressed and went down to the Great Hall, grabbing a plate full of food and digging in. It wasn't long before Harry, Ron, and Ginny graced her with their delightful company. She laughed and joked all morning. Life in her opinion couldn't be better, she had completed her first mission, she had spent the night in the arms of the man she loved, and on top of all of it, her grades had never looked better.

How wrong she was.