They remained lost in thoughts for a while. Then Sirius said :
"I asked Dumbledore several times, especially after the Dementors' attack at Privet Drive, why he had chosen to send Harry to the Dursleys' in the first place. It seems that I never got an honest answer. I can forgive him for having thought I was guilty. Everybody did. But not for condemning Harry to such a loveless, joyless childhood when there were other options."
Harry shook his head. "He's right, he should have done something about Crouch dealing with you illegally. I can't forgive him that. Especially for such reasons."
"Well, he tried to make it up, by suggesting the way I could bring you back.", sighed Hermione. "But it seems that Dumbedore, even in the end, couldn't free himself from the idea that he was the only one who knew what do about everything. He's right about Kreacher, but he's not the only one who could have realized what Kreacher was capable of. Many other members of the Order could have thought of it."
"Yeah, including myself", added Sirius.
"No", said Hermione. "Dumbledore's right to say you weren't in a state that allowed you to take such responsability. And no one has given enough attention to the fact that you couldn't stand living in that house, after all you had been through."
"Except you two, if my memory serves me well", smiled Sirius. "You were children. But without you, I don't know how I would have made it in that hellhole".
Hermione's heart swelled suddenly. He remembered…
"We must publish that letter", said Harry. "We all have already testified that we saw Pettigrew alive, but the letter explains why no one ever questioned Crouch's illegal verdict in the first place, as well. You're no longer a wanted man, a fugitive, but I don't want anyone to ever doubt your innocence."
"That we'll do", said Hermione. "Let's send it to the Daily Prophet".
"Do think that the Ministry will allow it to be published ?" asked Sirius.
"Things aren't the way they used to be with Fudge", said Hermione. "You'll see that there have been a lot of changes".
"I imagine so. Three more years… ". Sirius's eyes darkened a little.
Hermione realized this was the moment to deliver the rest of Dumbledore's message.
"Dumbledore wanted to make up for the years you lost as well, Sirius", she said. "He sent that to me as well". She took a small box in the same drawer, and opened it. Inside was a small vial and a card, on which was written, in Dumbledore's handwriting : For Sirius. On drop is one lost year recovered.
"What is this ?" asked Sirius.
"I'm sure Harry knows already. This is the last vial of Nicholas Flamel's Elixir of Life."
"What ?" exclaimed Sirius. "And Dumbledore kept it for me ? Why me ? Because he felt partly responsible for my time in Azkaban ? But he wasn't really. And there are so many people who would need it more. Remus, for example. His illness makes him age faster, and he has a son now, as you told me."
"It's yours now, Sirius", said Hermione. "You can do whatever you want with it. But if I know Remus, he won't take it if you don't. And from what I see, there is enough for both of you, and maybe more."
"Whatever- can you keep it, for the moment ? Especially as I don't know where I will live. I suppose Narcissa, my closest kin, inherited my lovely house, and the Blacks' money."
"No, she didn't", said Hermione. "Nacissa was too busy to claim your property during the war. And after it ended, I filed an application for them to be locked up for ten years. That's the statutory period for a missing person to be declared dead. I used the fact that your death couldn't have been registered officially, and the purpose of my own research. Besides, the Ministry couldn't refuse one of Harry Potter's friends."
"That's great, Hermione !" exclaimed Harry. "I've always wondered how can you always think of everything in any kind of situation. But you're not going to live there, Sirius", he added. "And first of all, you must come to my place, I… "
Suddenly, Harry's face fell. "My God, I almost forgot that tonight we're going to the Weasleys'. It's Fred and George's birthday, you see. But you can come with me."
"Thank you, Harry, but I don't think it's a good idea. The Weasleys will need to be with family only. And on a day like this it would be especially hard for them to see me, being back in the flesh, with what happened to Fred."
"You can stay here", said Hermione, blushing a little. "I have an extra bed in my study. The advantages of a magical flat. Much bigger on the inside."
"Thank you, Hermione", said Sirius, a warm light in his eyes.