"You've got to stop them! They've got the wrong man!"

"Sirius is innocent! Scabbers was Peter Pettigrew! It was Peter that did it!"

That was what Brooklyn and Harry had woken up to, Hermione had joined them when she came to visit. When Brooklyn first woke, his throat felt so dry and sore, along with his body shivering from having nearly been kissed by a blasted Dementor, and feeling sore on his face after being scratched by a werewolf. But when he had his chocolate, he felt a little better, until he heard the news of Sirius going to be subjected to the Dementor's kiss!

He was currently being held hostage in Flitwick's office awaiting his terrible fate, that had resulted into Brooklyn, Harry, and Hermione shouting at Dumbledore to stop this madness after nobody else believed their story, with Snape concluding them being Confunded, of all things!

Dumbledore eyed them with sympathy. "I do believe you three. But I'm sorry to say that the words of two thirteen year old wizards and a gargoyle who have convinced few others."

Brooklyn growled, stomping his foot. "But why do you follow them blindly? And can't Professor Lupin tell them—?"

"Professor Lupin is currently deep in the forest, unable to tell anybody, and nobody in the Ministry would believe a werewolf, either. By the time he is back to normal, Sirius would be worse than dead, like how you almost were, Brooklyn."

The gargoyle shut his eyes tightly, his hands gripping hard, struggling not to shout out at the Headmaster. But then he said something that interested him a little, but not very much, for he had a few things to discuss with Dumbledore personally.

"What we need is more time. Three turns should do it, Miss Granger. Good luck!" He then walked out, Brooklyn following in his wake, glancing back just a bit to see Hermione pulling out a small hourglass, just as the door closed.

As soon as they were alone, Brooklyn suddenly felt pretty guilty. Once more, he had failed being the Guardian of Hogwarts by almost having his fate sealed by a Dementor this time instead of a cursed diary, and for failing to protect Harry and his godfather.

"You have something to say?" Dumbledore asked, making Brooklyn start a little, before looking down.

"I-I'm sorry, sir. I tried to protect Harry and Sirius by the lake, I really did. I actually attempted a Corporeal Patronus, that delayed them long enough, but my stupid fears got in the way again and almost got them killed, if it hadn't been for the second Patronus that saved both of us. You should just let me go. I failed twice," he mumbled in a despondent tone, to Dumbledore's surprise at Brooklyn blaming himself.

"Now listen, Brooklyn. I didn't blame you for the diary, and I'm not blaming you now. It is hard for any man or gargoyle to conjure up a Patronus to get rid of 100 Dementors. But I'm impressed you were capable to cast one at all. And what form did yours take?"

Brooklyn was surprised at this out of topic question, but answered with a little enthusiasm, for he himself was happy for being able to find his Patronus this year. "It was a Phoenix, sir," he replied, some of the guilt in his voice gone.

Dumbledore's eyes looked shocked, but only for a moment, and Brooklyn felt like the old man was keeping something, but didn't bother to ask.

He then smiled. "The Phoenix Patronus for you, Brooklyn, represents somebody who wouldn't give up, even in their darkest hours, when they've been beaten down by their inner demons, denied of love, or anything, they always rise from the ashes, stronger than ever. You have the spirit of a Phoenix, young one. And that strengthens my respect for you and your kind. But, you won't be able to protect Harry all the time, for there will come a moment, even if you're there, that he would have to fight his own battles." He turned to walk down the corridor.

Brooklyn called back to him, though. "But, Sir, did you see the caster of the Stag Patronus?" He asked curiously. Dumbledore shook his head.

"I don't know, but your brother and Miss Granger shall be able to tell you when they return. In fact, look out the window, you'll see something that might lift your spirits."

Raising his brow, Brooklyn obliged, walking over and looking out. What he saw, his heart soared in shock and joy, his mouth falling open.

For there was Harry and Hermione down on the battlements of Hogwarts, with Sirius on Buckbeak, back from the dead! Brooklyn felt happy tears coming down at the sight as he watched Harry and his godfather saying some last minute inaudible words to one another, before Sirius took Buckbeak to the skies, flying out against the moon, both of them free at last!

Brooklyn just couldn't say anything at the moment, hard to take it all in. When he turned to speak to Dumbledore about it, the Headmaster was gone, leaving behind a very confused gargoyle, who had big questions for his friends later.


Brooklyn was glad now that this year was finally over. He had woken up in his bed in the hospital wing the next day, his heart light that Harry had taken a stand into rescuing his godfather that involved time travel of all things of what he had been told by them. When Harry revealed that he had been the one who casted the Patronus that warded away the dementors before Brooklyn had passed out, Brooklyn was speechless with disbelief until chocolate was shoved into his mouth courtesy of the nurse.

On his last nights in the hospital Pomfrey kept giving/force feeding Brooklyn chocolate, since she insisted he had double doses after nearly being kissed by a dementor.

He accepted it without complaint, but Brooklyn himself knew that he was going to have a break from chocolate for at least a month or two. Before he left the wing, Brooklyn gazed into the mirror, wincing at the sight of his new scar over his right eye. The eye itself seemed unharmed, for he could still see out of both.

Boy, I almost look like Hudson with this thing, he thought in a slightly humorous tone. But he wondered now how Goliath and the others would react to it. They would probably freak.

When they left, Harry and Brooklyn heard the news of Lupin leaving, they immediately went to see him just as he was packing his bags in his office. He looked up, smiling at them, though his eyes looked sad at the sight of Brooklyn's werewolf scar.

"Hello, Harry and Brooklyn. I saw you two coming," he greeted, pointing to the Marauder's Map he still had in possession of.

"You've been sacked?" Brooklyn asked in disbelief, not wanting to believe that the only werewolf he liked, the best Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher ever, was leaving just like that! Lupin shook his head.

"No, I resigned, actually," he corrected, ripping up some papers and throwing them in the fire. Harry looked horror struck.

"Why?" He cried in sadness. Lupin gave them a small smile.

"It would seem that somebody let slip nature of my condition, and for hurting the Guardian of Hogwarts. But, let's just say I'm used to it by now."

But Brooklyn felt more hot guilt and anger, causing Lupin to watch him in surprise. "Why do you two look so miserable?" He asked.

"Nothing we did made a difference," Brooklyn grumbled, shutting his eyes, feeling furious at himself for not catching Pettigrew. "Pettigrew still escaped, despite my efforts to catch him for Sirius!" Harry agreed.

"Yeah. Without Peter in custody, Sirius is still the murderer in the Ministry's eyes," he said in an equal angry voice. But Lupin didn't buy what they said.

"Didn't make any difference? Harry, and Brooklyn, it made all the difference in the world. You helped uncover the truth, you saved an innocent man from a terrible fate. And Harry, since you saved Peter, he owes you a great debt. It creates a strong bond between two wizards with this life debt."

Harry growled. "I don't want a connection with Peter! He betrayed my parents!" Brooklyn nodded in agreement.

"That is magic at its deepest, and most impentrent. In the end, you will be glad that you've saved his life, I guarantee it," Lupin said, smiling softly.

Brooklyn could hardly imagine when that would be, and was shocked that Lupin would ever say those words about the best friend who betrayed them. But then he remembered how he and the others saved Xanatos's child, Alex from being stolen by Oberon, and him saying he owed them one. That was then returned after they defeated Demona and he rescued them from being caught by the authorities.

Lupin folded up the map and handed it to Harry. "Now, if I am proud of anything is of how much you have learned this year. Since I am no longer your teacher, I feel no guilt whatsoever by giving this back." He turned to Brooklyn after that, looking quite sorry indeed.

"And Brooklyn, I really am sorry about—." Brooklyn shook his head. "No, you don't need to apologize, for I already forgave you. We're friends, Remus Lupin, if that's what you want," he offered in a sincere voice, that caused Lupin to smile widly.

"Yes, I do like that, thank you, my friend," he answered, and werewolf and gargoyle shook hands, sealing their new friendship.

"Now, I'll say goodbye, I'm sure the three of us will meet again sometime," Lupin said, as he exited out the door, leaving the two brothers standing there, looking sad to see him go.


As all the students made their way out to the Hogwarts Express, Fred and George kept complimenting over Brooklyn's new scar, as he constantly reminded them that Lupin didn't mean to do it, but it didn't do any good as they questioned him again about their fight, so he gave in, telling them, along with revealing Harry being able to become a gargoyle, which his brother showed off to them, in a private spot.

"Wicked! You really look like Brooklyn that way, Harry!" Fred had exclaimed, much to Harry's embarrassment.

Brooklyn gave them both stern gazes. "But you'd better not tell anybody about this yet, for he's an unregistered Animagus now, and he must be kept secret for the time being until the time is right to show everybody else, except for the Weasleys, since you two already know."

The twins held up their hands, as though they were pledging an oath. "We swear, nobody not in our family will part these lips about gargoyle Harry. Cross our hearts or we hope to die!" They promised, making Brooklyn groan a little at their exaggerated promise, but accepted it, since they didn't cross their fingers.

He was also glad of the removal of the Dementors from the school. But Brooklyn had a feeling this wouldn't be the last he saw of those soul sucking fiends.

On the train ride, they got a new visitor: a small little owl bearing a letter from Sirius, who is still on the run with Buckbeak. He granted Harry permission to visit Hogsmeade, and Ron was also happy because the little owl that kept zooming around their heads along with pecking Brooklyn on the head constantly, was for him to keep.

"Just great," Brooklyn had grumbled, as the little owl pecked him for the fifth time in a seemingly loving way. Wyvern took a dislike to this midget almost immediately, same with Hedwig, clicking their beaks in disapproval.

As they exited onto King's Cross, Brooklyn couldn't help but cast glances over towards the Dursleys who had spotted him, Dudley scampering behind his mother, while Vernon tried to match his gaze with a steely expression, but failing, for the gargoyle knew he would always win a staring contest with this whale. Brooklyn still wondered how they still accepted Harry at the end of each year when they hated him. He figured it was because of Dumbledore. One day though when the time was right Brooklyn was going to bring Harry to Manhattan with him when he is old enough to leave the Dursleys for good.

"I'll call about the World Cup!" Ron cried out, as Brooklyn gave Harry his own farewell hug before joining the Weasleys for the summer.

As he walked away, he could hear his brother conversing with his 'relatives'.

"What's that?" Demanded Vernon, staring at Harry's letter.

"A letter from my Godfather," Harry grinned, much to Brooklyn's pleasure. Those pigs better watch out now, Harry has both a brother, and a godfather now to protect him from you all! He thought with triumphant savagery, as he caught up with the Weasleys, looking forward to this summer with them and what further adventures awaited him with his brother, Harry Potter!