AN: Okay, so this chapter isn't all about Sirius, but generally most of this chapter surrounds Sirius in one way or another. Yay for Sirius!

Chapter Fifty Two

(Present Day)

Harry said nothing of the previous night to Ron and Hermione as they sat at the Gryffindor table. He had left the hospital wing, leaving Kit to Madam Pomfrey's tender mercies, and made it up to the Gryffindor tower to change clothes just as Ron was getting up.

Now he sat with his plate piled high of un-ate food wondering what was going on. Surely someone would fetch him if Sirius was made free...right? His stomach twisted rather painfully and he pushed his plate away from him. Trying to eat now, was simply unthinkable.

"Where do you think Dumbledore is?" Hermione asked pointing towards the head table. Dumbledore, sure enough wasn't in his usual seat, nor was Professor Lupin.

"Do you have to snoop into everyone's business?" Ron replied with a mouthful of fried tomato, it would seem that Ron still harboured ill feelings towards Hermione for keeping Crookshanks even after Scabbers went missing.

Harry groaned, that was another thing...what would be told to Ron about his pet? To make matters worse, Harry was so tired he was fairly certain that if the noise wasn't so loud in the Great Hall, his head would connect with the table. "Are you alright Harry?" Came from Hermione, who was very obviously ignoring Ron.

Harry looked up from his thoughts about his head smashing against the table thanks to his lack of sleep. He nodded his head...he wanted to tell them, about everything...but, not yet..."Just don't feel so well" he said with a sigh, "I think I may go back to bed."

Before Hermione or Ron could object, Harry stood quickly and left the Great Hall. Sleeping would thankfully help him with two things; it would not only keep his mind off thoughts of Sirius and freedom, but it would also keep Harry from telling his friends anything. He just...didn't want to tell them, not until things were...okay.

Not until he knew Sirius was a free man.

Remus hated going to the Ministry of Magic, mostly because his badge he had to wear. Not only did it proclaim he was a visitor, and he was Remus Lupin; but also said that he was a registered Werewolf. Ah yes, times like these he loathed what he was. After telling one of the secretaries that he was there to see the Minister, he was finally sent back after he screamed that not only was the situation very urgent, but it had to do with Sirius Black. That had caught the witches attention.

As he walked towards the Minister's office, passer-by's looked at him like he was filth. Of all the injustice in the world...it wasn't like he was going to change right there, in the middle of the hall, in daylight...and bite them all.

His well worn robes swished behind him as he walked, quickening his pace. He wanted this done and over with. Sirius would be free, Harry would have a Godfather, Kit would have a cousin, and he...he would have a friend back.

Fudge was sitting behind his tidy desk, one hand scribbling slowly with a raven feather quill. His eyes raised as Remus burst into the room. For a moment Remus wasn't sure what to say, all he could do was stand there like a git.

"Sir...I have urgent news." Well, that surely did sum it up now didn't it?

"Urgent enough to have you burst in here without so much as knocking?" The Minister asked, setting his quill down, and removing the small pair of spectacles that he wore.

"Yes, Dumbledore has news on Sirius Black."

And as expected, that sentence caught the Minister of Magic's Attention.

Sirius was curled up in a corner of the Shrieking Shack, his grey eyes half open and glaring up at the ceiling that refused to change into something interesting to look at. He was thankful though, he wasn't as lonely as he once was...but still, it would be nice if the ceiling would change into something interesting. It instead just taunted him with its aged brown wooden look. He sighed and rolled over onto his side.

Although he was so utterly bored, he had promised his friends that he wouldn't go looking for the damn rat that ruined his life. Kit, Harry, and Remus thankfully talked enough since into Sirius. While Sirius might have still been a tad crazy, he wasn't about to ruin his chance at freedom.

After all, if Remus was able to get his hands on the map...and if Peter was as stupid as they all thought he was...then, just maybe. Freedom. He wanted it so bad, so bad in fact that he felt like his bones were screaming...

He wanted to be free, just so he could do things that he once took for granted. The first thing he would do most definitely would be to bathe, feel soap against his body, warm water instead of icy cold, shampoo in his hair (which would have to be cut)...a teeth cleaning charm, pending he had teeth to salvage. New robes, and his favourite...food.

He almost missed food more then anything else. The taste of roast, or chicken soap. His favourite pumpkin bread, and raspberry tarts. Pumpkin juice, and Butterbeer...

"Meow." was what interrupted his thoughts that were causing his stomach to rumble. Not once, but twice had there been a 'meow'. He sat up and arched a brow. My, this was interesting (more interesting then the ceiling that was) "Hullo Crookshanks, I see you've brought a friend."

The orange half Kneazel, half cat that looked like it ran into a wall as a kitten, had indeed brought a friend. Next to Crookshanks was a black and white cat, complete with oddly familiar shockingly violet eyes.

"Spooks?"

The moment the words left his lips, the violet eyed cat lazily found it's way into his lap, and he could only look at it in blank amazement.

Remus took a seat in the chair next to Kit's bed. He was tired, and for a moment contemplated crawling into bed with her. He was so tired in fact, that if it wasn't for Dumbledore pointing out the badge on his robes, Remus would have more then likely walked through the school with the Ministry badge that proclaimed him Remus Lupin, Visitor, Werewolf. That would have ended badly.

Getting back to Dumbledore's office though had been interesting to say the least. The look of shock on the Minister's face when they floo'd in, Dumbledore sipping tea casually behind his desk, while Peter (who was supposed to be dead) was bound to a chair.

Remus had been dismissed, told to get rest, and that Severus would cover his classes (the poor kids...) Before going to his own quarters he wanted to make sure his Kitten was okay though. She was sleeping soundly and he assumed that was due to the sleepless night. Occasionally she would mutter "James" or even "Lily" as he sat there, Remus couldn't help but frown. What was going on in that little head of hers?

He did however, get an amused look on his aged face, once he seen her hands. Or rather, the tips of her fingers. The rest of her small hands were concealed by layers upon layers of gauze. It looked as if Madam Pomfrey went a little gauze happy. Remus shook his head and gave a small smile...maybe, things would go alright for once? Standing, he stretched and yawned before bending down to place a kiss on Kit's forehead.

His eyes caught a glance of a small golden object. Her ring...the one he gave her during winter holiday was resting soundly on a chain around her neck. He grinned...

Was it so wrong to hope for a happy ending?

Sirius had been petting both cats soundly as they shared his lap contently. He had been involved in this for nearly an hour, just petting and zoning out thankful he no longer had to argue with the ceiling to become something more interesting. It was in this moment, something interesting finally happened. The door to the shack --the one that lead to the Whomping Willow opened.

Neither Crookshanks or Spooks stirred, so Sirius assumed simply that it was Kit, Harry, or even Remus...but it was day, didn't they have class?

"It amuses me that you would hide so close to Hogwarts Sirius."

...Dumbledore?

Sirius stood up so suddenly that both cats thudded to the floor with Meows of protest. For a fleeting moment Sirius wasn't sure what to do, surely attacking the Headmaster then fleeing wasn't such a good idea.

"Do not worry..." Dumbledore started, raising one of his hands in a symbol of peace, his lips twisted into a grin, "Some of your friends told me I could find you here."

For a moment Sirius furrowed his brows in concern...would they really have told Dumbledore? Sirius knew Kit was bad with secrets, but the others? ...and to go to the Headmaster. Sirius licked his lips, finding his voice; "Why are you here then? I'm a wanted man."

Dumbledore's eyes seemed to gleam, as he produced a newspaper seemingly out of nowhere. "Oh really? A wanted man you say? That's not what the Daily Prophet seems to think."

In a seconds time Sirius snatched the newspaper out of Dumbledore's hands, looking down at the paper he seen the words that made him want to collapse into the Headmasters body and weep like a baby.

Sirius Black Innocent!

Framed, Says the Minister.

'Earlier today the Daily Prophet received word that Sirius Black has been cleared of all charges placed against him. At this time, details are still coming in...

Dumbledore placed a hand around Sirius's shoulders, "Perhaps it is time for you to step into the world of the free."

Silent tears dripped down his pale, gaunt face. After twelve years...he was a free man. No more unhappiness, fear of being caught. No more being framed for murder. No more blame on him for his best friends deaths.

Free. What a marvellous word.

According to Dumbledore, Peter or rather Scabbers was found early that morning hiding in a sugar jar in Hagrids Hut. Peter was then brought to Dumbledore's office, where the real truth was let out about what when on the night of October 31st, 1981.

The Minister was fetched, and with his agreement Veritaserum was given to Peter. He admitted to killing all of those Muggles on the street that day, betraying Lily and James, and cutting off his own finger in a desperate attempt to let them believe that he was smashed to nothing.

Peter had been hauled off to Azkaban until farther notice, and the Minister put out a statement to free Sirius of free charges...only after a nudge from Dumbledore though.

Now Sirius was in a spare room that the House Elves had prepared for him. All he could do was look at it in wonder. He very honestly just wanted to scream in joy. How else was he supposed to act? He was a free man! He could do what he wanted, when he wanted without feeling like all the joy was being sucked out of him. At first he was tempted to jump on the bed that sat perched under a window...but when it came down to it...he wanted a shower. A long hot, bath where he could scrub his skin until it was dirt free.

His prison robes were torn off with haste and tossed into the fire place. No sense saving them, even if he had a wand to transfigure them they would still smell as if he had been rolling around in dragon droppings. Dumbledore thankfully provided him with spare robes, nothing fancy about them, just plain black robes that compared to his prison dressings looked and felt like the clothes of the Gods.

Naked he made his way back towards the bathroom, slipping into the warm bath water with ease. Surprisingly the dirt was coming off easier then expected. Almost immediately did the clear water turn a murky brown colour.

"I've never been so grossed out in all my life." Sirius said to him self laughing as he made a grab for the soap, splashing at the water as he did so.

Once all was said and done, the bath/shower had taken him over an hour to complete. He scrubbed every inch of his body twice, rubbing the skin raw in order to get the stains of dirt off of him. His hair was a task all of it's own, being down to his elbows was rather annoying. He didn't even think of hacking it off before getting into the tub. Maybe he would have Kit cut it for him, she'd do a better job then he would any day.

He pondered this as he dried and dressed. His hand wiped the mirror, clearing it of the fog from the warm shower. A frown found itself onto his face. Sirius was no where near the good looking bloke he was during his school years. However, with a little weight gain, and a loss of the stubble on his face, then a nice cleaning of his yellowed teeth...he might be back into form.

Sirius canted his head, and let his hands drag along the wall as he walked out of the bathroom and into the adjoining room. His eyes looked around and found sights on a platter of food set up on a table next to his bed. While he was in the bathroom lunch must have been served. He grinned, now he could eat a real hot Hogwarts meal before heading off to find his friends...

It was an amazing thought, as he sat down on the squishy comfortable bed (that he was mighty tempted to take a nap in) all he could think about was the fact that he could walk in the halls of the school a free man. Sure, he would probably scare some students, but...he'd be free. Looking around the room as he picked up a turkey sandwich Sirius gave a boisterous laugh which was followed quickly by a sigh of content.

Freedom.

Kit had woken around one in the afternoon, the sun shining brightly into the Hospital Wing. Madam Pomfrey had checked her hands before proclaiming that Kit would have to wear the massive amount of gauze for another day. Thankfully her hands no longer stung, but was highly uncomfortable for her tiny hands to be immobilized, even if it was for the best. Once Madam Pomfrey left, Kit sighed and sat up in her bed to see that she was the only student in the Hospital Wing that afternoon.

Not that she minded though, having to stay there that is. Kit was just happy she wasn't being forced out to class...she could only imagine how well things would go trying to use a quill with her hands now. Although, when lunch arrived Kit was pretty sure she could compare spoon usage to a quill. Blue eyes looked in question at the food in front of her.

Sure, she could go awhile without eating, but looking at the steaming bowl of chicken soup, turkey sandwiches, and an ice cold goblet of Pumpkin Juice...her mouth was watering and her stomach growled fiercely.

And she couldn't pick anything up with her hands! So she did what anyone else would do in her situation...bend down and eat the turkey sandwich off the plate, no hands required. It would figure, that about the time she did this Remus chose to walk in.

"Well, that's a creative way to eat." He said, sporting a grin as he plopped himself into the chair next to her bed.

"I can't move my hands." Said Kit, as she lifted her face up from her semi-half ate turkey sandwich. So far she had managed to eat the top slice of bread off, leaving the cheese, turkey, and mustard yet to be ate.

"I've noticed, but please--continue eating, it's amusing." He grinned even wider at that, picking up a napkin from her tray and dabbing it at the side of her face to remove a spot of mustard..."That didn't look flattering."

"You're in a chipper mood..." Kit said, looking towards Remus with a smile before it dawned on her. "Is he--"

"Free? Read for yourself." And with that he showed her the Daily Prophet that had been carried in with him. Kit blinked, eyes going wide as they went over the headline. "We...we did it! Where is he?"

"Hopefully taking a shower."

"Remmy!"

"I know, I'm sorry luv...can't help it. I feel like I'm seventeen again. Sirius is free, you're here, we spent last night running around all cloak and dagger like..." Remus explained to her as he took the newspaper and folded it up on Kit's bedside table.

"I don't remember you being this snarky." Kit told him grinning and watching as he picked up her soup spoon.

"I'd be careful what you say dearest...I'd hate to think that your willing to stick your face in the bowl of soup just to eat."

"I'll be good." Was said with a small laugh as Remus dipped the spoon into the soup to feed her.

At this time, for Kit it would figure that the moment she started to get spoon fed by Remus, the doors to the Hospital Wing would open once again.

"So, this is an interesting sight."

Kit grinned and swallowed, Remus rolled his eyes and set the soup spoon down, and Sirius just gave a smirk.

AN: I know, I'm horrible leaving it off here. I'll try and get the next chapter up ina few days if possible. I know I've changed a lot in the present day, but trust me things will work out. So far I still have no idea how long this is, but this story will run until the end of Gof, so probably somewhere between 150-200 chapters...and that is really friggin' long. Also, sometime in the near future it will be changing over to R rated since there is something that happens in the past that will force me to change this to R rating...so yeah.

Woo.