Once again, this took a while to update, and I apoligize. I have no excuse. I'm just tired of this story -- It'll end in less than ten chapters- all in all, it'll probably be fifteen chapters. Then I may do a Marauder's Era fic, can I have your thoughts on that? Also, can you give me your thoughts on the ending (whether it should be happy or sad?)

Sirius lifted his head from the stone floor, a sharp pain in his knee.

Ericson Perion cackled, getting to his feet. "Thank you, Black," he sneered, his eyes flashing from gentle blue-green to a dark violet. "I've been trapped in there for the longest time."

Sirius gaped. He'd been tricked! Instinctively, he thrust his hand into his pocket- but his wand wasn't there. Ericson cackled again, and Sirius looked up. His wand was in Ericson's hand!

Twirling it idly between his long, spider-like fingers, he laughed again. But this time, the laugh was cut short by an old man sweeping into his office.

"Perion!" Dumbledore exclaimed, hatred etched in the hard lines of his face.

Ericson sneered. "Ah, Dumbledore. It's been a long time."

Dumbledore narrowed his eyebrows and raised his wand. Ericson, seeming to gain some sense, dropped Sirius's wand and did something like DisApparation, except he disappeared with a hiss.

Sirius looked angry as he snatched up his wand. "Who the hell was that?" he snarled, looking agrivated.

Dumbledore turned from where he had been staring at the spot where Ericson disappeared. "Ericson Perion, a Mage of the Dark," Dumbledore sighed. Sirius suspected no less- after all, why would Dumbledore hate a Mage of the Light?

Dumbledore regained the twinkle in his electric blue eyes. "So you escaped, Sirius. Harry will be very happy," he commented, smiling at Sirius. "But first, we have some temporary visitors in the school. Have you read the scrolls of time travel written by Merlin?"

Sirius thought for a second, nodding slowly. "One of them..." he said, looking at the Headmaster. "Why?"

"Ah, we have some guests here from 1976," Dumbledore said jovially.

o0o0o0o

"Finally, lunch!" Ron groaned, sitting at the table between Sirius and James. Harry sat on the other side of James while Remus and Hermione took seats across from them.

Hermione arched an eyebrow. "Ronald, it's been three hours since breakfast."

"Yeah, but I didn't eat breakfast," Ron reminded her.

"And who's fault is that?" she sniffed.

Harry ignored their bickering and dug into his roast beef sandwich, while Sirius and James delayed eating so they could flick bits of corn at the Slytherins, who mysteriously had targets drawn on the back of their robes.

Harry had just finished his sandwich when he felt a tap on his shoulder. Practically falling off the bench in surprise, he turned around to see greasy Snape himself.

"Potter, the Headmaster wishes to see you," he said smoothly, sneering at the rest of the group. James fell into laughter for no particular reason, Sirius following suit within seconds.

Snape scowled at them as Harry got to his feet and started for the marble staircase. Snape followed briskly.

When they reached the two gargoyles, one of them chuckled at Harry. "You're up here all the time, aren't you?" he chortled. Harry's mouth eased from a curious frown to a half smile.

"Oh, shut up. 'Canary Creams'," Snape said, and the gargoyles obediently moved aside. Harry vaguely wondered how Dumbledore had heard of the Weasley twins' pastry, before wondering if he had actually been in the shop.

Several minutes later, Harry was alone and knocking on the Headmaster's heavy oak door with the brass doorknocker. Snape had swept away once the gargoyles moved aside to admit Harry.

Dumbledore opened the door, eyes twinkling. "Harry, come in," he said cheerfully. Harry could see that Dumbledore had a visitor, although the person was sitting in a chair with the chair's back to Harry, and the latter could only see the top of the visitor's head.

"I'm sure Sirius will be most happy to see you," Dumbledore said suddenly, a large smile spreading across his wrinkled face. Sirius stood up, smiling at Harry.

Harry took a step back, eyes wide. "Wha- wha-" he stuttered, staring at Sirius icreduously. "But- but you fell! You fell behind- behind that viel!"

Sirius sighed. "It's just a pit. I... got out," Sirius said, choosing his words carefully, deciding to leave out the details.

A smile slowly spread across Harry's face. "You're back!" Harry suddenly crowed, looking so much happier than he had in several months.

Dumbledore looked pointedly at Harry, and Sirius was suddenly filled with anticipation. "Harry, you would'nt mind fetching Remus, Sirius, and James, would you?" he asked. "Ron and Hermione may come too. You are all excused from your next class."

Harry nodded and ran off to get his friends.

This is a filler chapter, which means the next one will be up probably by the weekend.