Disclaimer is in chapter 1.
"Bolt for the wards!" Xander snapped, shoving Harry towards Hogwarts.
The three of them broke into a run, the frost chill rushing along ahead of the Dementor line as they raced on ahead of it.
"They're going to catch up!" Sirius panted out.
"Change into Padfoot!" Harry yelled, "You can outrun them!"
"What about you!? I'm not leaving you!"
Harry paused, twisting around, and snapped his wand out. "Expecto Patronum!"
A silver mist formed, flowing out from his wand in the direction of the approaching monsters, but it only slowed them slightly.
"Damn it! Run!" Xander grabbed Harry by the shoulder and pulled him along. After they were moving he glanced over his shoulder, "What was that anyway?"
"Patronus Charm!" Sirius shouted back, "only spell known to affect Dementors!"
"Hard to cast?"
"Devilishly tricky."
"Great." Xander muttered, weighing options as he ran. After a moment he glanced over, "Can I assume you know it, Mutt?"
"Used to." The wanted man puffed out.
"Here." Xander flipped his wand over and thrust it over in Sirius' direction.
The disheveled man blinked but took it as they ran, then glanced back. "Thanks."
"Just get them off our ass."
"Right. Harry?" Sirius said, slowing. "You up for a little Godfather/Godson bonding?"
Harry broke out into a smile and nodded.
"On three then."
"THREE!" They shouted together, flicking their wands out, "Expecto Patronum!"
Two silver beasts, a prancing stag and panting grim like dog rushed out and charged into the midst of the oncoming Dementors, scattering them somewhat.
"That bought us some more time," Sirius said, "How far to the ward line?"
"Not sure, we'll have to cut through the forest to get there, though." Xander said as he looked ahead.
Sirius winced, "not good."
"We can make it." Harry said, sounding more confident than any of them were really feeling. "We have to."
"Alright, let's go."
The three broke for the forest, leaving the milling monsters behind to regroup from the Patronus charge. They reached the forest line before the Dementors gave chase again. The thick undergrowth slowed them, but it also kept the wraiths from dropping down on them from above, so they were thankful for the scratches they endured as they moved.
"Will the wards keep them out?" Harry asked, panting with exertion.
"They didn't last time." Sirius muttered.
Xander shook his head, "Dumbles was pretty pissed over than, my money says he's done something about it."
"That'd be fine if it were our money you were betting." Sirius muttered.
"Got a better option?" Xander snapped.
"Guys!" Harry growled, "Can we not do this now?"
"Right. Sorry." Sirius muttered, "And no, I don't. So let's move on."
They all nodded in agreement and pushed towards Hogwarts wardline with as much speed as they could muster.
Fenrir was no fool, in fact the wolf rather thought highly of himself and his intelligence, which many may not consider meaning much but those people were prey more often than not so their opinions didn't exactly count. That said, tangling with a cursed wolf was not on the young wolf's list of things he loved to do.
Life with his human had so far been pretty quiet, quiet enough that the wolf had to admit that he was becoming... domesticated.
That explained why the tussle had gone on as long as it had, and Fenrir decided that it was time to maybe consider a little exploration of his wolven roots. Later. Like when he wasn't fighting off the dripping maw of a cursed wolf.
Ignorant mongrel.
Fenrir twisted, rolling them along the ground as he got his teeth dug into the cursed wolf's flank and growled out a statement of dominance.
MY turf, lapdog!
The Cursed Wolf wasn't one to give up, however, and Fenrir felt its claws rake along his own flank, drawing blood as his flesh was sliced open. Its mangled howl filled the night air as it responded in badly accented wolven.
Me Alpha!
Fenrir snorted through the tainted blood filling his mouth. That would be the day. The damned Curse Born couldn't even speak the language, and it wanted to be Alpha? Fat chance.
In the words of my Human, Bring it on Mutt.
"A... are they ok?" Hermione asked, chilled both in spirit and flesh.
They were flying above the Dementor wave, unnoticed by the creatures, and while Hermione wanted to rush down to save Harry and the others, Wednesday refused. The Addams girl knew that while she may be able to stand off a single Dementor, even her father would have difficulties with the massive wave of them below.
"I do not know."
"We have to help them!"
"We will. When we can." Wednesday responded, "At this time, we cannot. We don't know where they are, but then... neither do the Dementors, from what I can tell."
"Then... they're ok."
"There are more dangers below than Dementors."
Hermione looked down again and swallowed as she finally noticed how close they had strayed to the Forbidden Forest.
"Difindo!"
The spell lashed out, cutting an Acromantula in twain as Sirius spun around and looked for more targets. "Bloody hell! Where did these things come from?"
"Aragog's nest," Harry replied. "He's a friend of Hagrid's."
Sirius stared for a moment, then barked out in laughter, "That just figures. I don't remember them being here when I was in school."
"They were probably smaller in number then," Harry shrugged. "And Aragog was younger, more in control. Their nest is a long way east of here, that was probably just a scout."
"Sorry if I killed a friend of yours," Sirius said, half seriously as he wondered just what the hell his godson had been getting into.
"Don't worry about it," Harry sighed, "without Aragog around we couldn't reason with them, and even with him it would be touch and go at best."
"We need to keep moving," Xander said, feeling a little twitchy without his wand. He would have to start carrying backups, he decided.
"Right." The others agreed.
Sirius sighed, he had to get Harry and this other boy... Xander... back to safety before he could leave. With Peter escaped, he was still a wanted man with no way to prove his innocence. The disheveled man ground his teeth at the thought of his onetime friend. Peter would get his comeuppance, that was destined like the rising of the sun. If he had to hunt his old friend from this life to the next, he would make him pay.
"We're almost through," Xander said suddenly.
The three broke out into the open and looked up to see the lights of Hogwarts in the distance, only to be blinded when a score of Lumos spells erupted around them and they looked to see men and women in Aurors robes approaching.
"Sirius Black, you're captured. Give it up!"
Sirius looked around slowly, grimacing.
"He has hostages!"
"No!" Harry screamed, jumping in front of Sirius, "He's innocent! He's..."
"Stupefy!"
The red bolt dropped Harry in his place, causing Sirius to snarl and start to flick his wand outward. A hand locked on it, plucking the wand from his grip at the last second and he looked back to see Xander shaking his head as he gripped the wand in a read grip.
Sirius looked down at Harry, then sighed and lifted his hands.
"I surrender."
The trudging walk up to the castle was a grim one as the Aurors kept Sirius under wandpoint the entire way and refused to enervate Harry on the belief that Sirius had confounded the boy. Xander kept his peace, knowing that he wouldn't be believed anyway.
At the castle they were met by an entourage of people that included the Minister for Magic, Lucius Malfoy, and the Headmaster among others. The Minister was puffed out, immensely proud of having captured Sirius Black, while Malfoy merely smiled an oily sort of smile that was filled with satisfaction. A blond woman behind them looked sick, but she was alone in that as even Dumbledore was more focused on Harry's state and gave no indication that he had even noticed Sirius' presence.
"Black! You'll have the Kiss for the trouble you've caused us." Fudge announced pompously.
Sirius just glared at him, then looked back to Harry, but said nothing. What was there to say? They hadn't listened to him after he was incarcerated, why would they begin now?
"Hey Black," A younger voice spoke up, one that Sirius would pay attention to, "I need to know something, before you get what's coming to you."
"What is it, Xander?" Sirius asked.
"You really kill all those people?"
"Of course he did, boy." Fudge blasted out.
Xander and Sirius ignored him, just looking at each other.
"No." Sirius said finally. "I didn't."
"Liar!"
Xander just nodded, hand reaching up to scratch his collar. "When you get where you're going, Black... Take some advice. Ask them for asylum."
Black looked confused, as did everyone else but Albus Dumbledore who looked up in alarm and started to move toward Xander. "My boy, don't...!"
Xander snapped his hand out, throwing something at Black, who caught it on reflex. His eyes widened as he felt a tug at his navel and was suddenly yanked away by portkey.
Everyone gaped for a moment, then the place exploded into chaos.
"What have you done!?" Fudge roared, "Aurors arrest that boy!"
"Where did he go!?"
"What happened!?"
"My God! Black escaped!"
Xander didn't say anything for a moment as the Aurors turned on him with their wands. Then he let his clatter to the floor and slowly interlaced his hands behind his head.
"My name is Alexander Harris and I am a citizen of the American Ministry of Magic. As I am a minor please contact my embassy or my legal guardian, Professor Hardy from the Salem Institute."
"Embassy!?" Fudge sputtered, "You'll get Azkaban for this!"
"You can't, Minister." Dumbledore said, eyes blazing. "He's a minor, all you can do is kick him out of the country."
"But... but...!"
"Minister, if I may," Dumbledore said slowly, "I think that the boy may be safely ignored for the moment."
"But he let Black escape!"
"He sent Sirius Black to the American Embassy in London, Minister." Dumbledore told him, "Even now, Black is being taken into custody by the Americans. The faster you demand extradition, the faster this is ended."
Cornelius Fudge blinked, "Are you certain?"
"I made that port key myself, Minister. The Americans were rightly concerned after you let the Dementors barge onto the grounds the last time."
Fudge reddened, "Ah, well... nothing to be done now then. I have to get to London!"
Fudge turned and rushed out, Aurors following along with Lucius Malfoy. The blond woman stayed behind for a moment and nodded at Xander. Then she too was gone.
Jennifer Simmons sighed when her secretary informed her that the British Minister for Magic was in the waiting area outside. She'd been expecting him, but that didn't make dealing with the idiot any easier. Officially, Jennifer was assigned to the American Embassy in London as a senior secretary who, for some reason no one not in the know could figure out, didn't actually work for any of the ambassador's people.
In truth she was the Ambassador for the American Ministry of Magic, and represented the rights of any Canadian, American, Cuban, and Mexican Witches and Wizards visiting England. Oh, and a smattering of Caribbean nations as well.
For the most part it was a dull job. London was a reasonably safe destination for American Witches and Wizards, and that translated to the rest of England. Compared to Bulgaria and other Eastern European nations Britain was a free thinkers paradise.
And then, earlier in the evening, one Alexander Harris' emergency portkey tripped. The Marines on station had been told that a couple kids had been issued those, but it was no kid who showed up. A rather confused looking Sirius Black had landed, roughly, in the middle of the Magical Receiving Zone and been greeted by a half dozen M-16s and eight very burly Squib Marines who wanted to know where their kid was.
All things considered they hadn't roughed him up too badly, at least he'd been able to speak in order to ask for asylum with the American Ministry. She almost wished that they'd broken his jaw, however, cause this was looking to be an international incident.
"Send him in." She said, pressing the button on the intercom.
Minister Fudge bustled in the door, followed by an aristocratic looking blond, which was in turn followed by another aristocratic looking blond. Jennifer sighed as softly and unobtrusively as she could.
Purebloods.
It was worse than she'd feared.
"Ah, Minister Fudge." She forced herself to smile, rising from behind her desk to offer her hand. "Please take a seat, I've been expecting you."
"I should hope you have," Fudge blustered. "We've come for Black. Release him at once, we have Dementors waiting to administer the Kiss."
Jennifer stiffened, her smile vanishing. "Minister, surely you are aware of American legislation concerning 'Cruel and Unusual Punishment'?"
"What does that have to do with anything?"
"The American Ministry ruled that the use of demonic entities as punishment for crimes qualifies, Minister."
"This is London, Woman! Not the back woods of the colonies!"
"This is American Soil, by treaty agreement," She returned coldly. "Which means we have a problem."
Fudge was about to blow when the blond man stepped smoothly in, "Perhaps, Minister, if we were to guarantee that Black would merely be returned to Azkaban?"
The Minister looked between them for a moment, then back at Jennifer, who shrugged. No need to remind them that the mere presence of Azkaban's guards qualified. So long as they guaranteed not to administer a death penalty, it would make things smoother on the legal side of things.
"That would simplify matters on a legal level, in that case we merely need to begin extradition processes."
"Finally." Fudge muttered.
"Now, I'll need the court records of Mr. Black's trial," She began, only to trail off when the Minister went a very ugly shade of white. "Minister? Are you alright?"
"F... fine. Why do you need those?" Fudge stammered out, "Everyone knows Black was the right hand man of the Dark Lord."
"Aside from the fact that it's required for my paperwork, Mr. Black claims otherwise."
"Of course he would!"
"He has also volunteered to undergo Veritaserum questioning."
"Which can be beaten by a skilled occlumens," the blond man said smoothly.
"Which is why we have Master Legilimens on call to perform interrogations." She countered, rolling her eyes.
What was it with these people, trying to tell her how to do her job? Despite public belief, Veritaserum wasn't some infallible source of truth. There were many ways to spoof it, including Occlumency and Judicious use of Obliviates. Either of those could be detected by a skilled interrogator, however, and she had a few names in her rolodesk who were known to be VERY good at what they did.
"That being established, we'll need to see the court documents of his trial as part of your request for extradition." She repeated herself, "Access to any evidence you still have, his wand in particular, would also be highly useful to your case."
Fudge, still that pasty white, stammered again, "H... His wand was snapped."
Jennifer grimaced, but wasn't particularly surprised. That was standard procedure in Britain, as well as many of the old world ministries. The Pride would be screaming right about then, since American LEOs didn't believe in destroying evidence. Old World Aurors, however, operated on the other side of the debate, believing that separating a wand from its wizard permanently would significantly affect the wizard's ability to use magic on any level.
It was even true, in the short term. That was a well-researched effect, for several hours to days after the snapping of a bonded wand, a magic user's powers were severely reduced. American LEOs didn't believe it was worth destroying evidence of spells cast for most cases, however.
"Very well," She said calmly, "The court documents, then?"
When the minister continued to pale and didn't answer, an ugly thought crossed her mind.
"Minister, there WAS a trial, correct?"
Xander let out a long slow breath as he sat on the stone wall just outside the front gates, thinking about what had just happened. He was very possibly in deep, deep crud but honestly he was more worried about Wednesday.
Hermione had shown up shortly after the fireworks calmed down, but had immediately been hustled into the infirmary to see Harry so he couldn't ask her where Wednesday was. Most everyone involved in the mess was back, everyone except Lupin and Fenrir. Xander hoped his dog was ok.
"Well Mr. Harris, an eventful evening I dare say."
Xander started, then glanced back to see Albus Dumbledore coming up behind him. "Yeah. So, am I to be booted out of the country?"
The headmaster chuckled, "I think we can avoid that outcome, though I dare say you may want to avoid the Minister for a while."
"I doubt that'll be a problem."
"Indeed. I thought I would inform you that Miss Granger and Mr. Potter are both fine."
"I know. Harry was just stunned by the Aurors." Xander shrugged, "He's lucky they were competent. Cops in LA might have shot him dead for doing that, you've got to be touched in the head to jump in front of twitchy people with guns... er... wands. Whatever."
The headmaster chuckled again, "True, true. I will, in fact, try to impress that on young Harry."
"Good luck." Xander said dryly.
That brought a sharper laugh from the old man, "I see that you hold the same confidence I have in his ability to learn that particular lesson."
Xander just snorted.
The Headmaster sighed after a moment, "May I ask if you too support the story that Mr. Potter has told me?"
"What? About Black being innocent?" Xander shrugged, "Don't know."
"I see."
"What I do know is this," Xander paused, frowning for a moment. "Peter Pettigrew is alive. Sirius had Harry and his friends under wand point several times last night, and not only did he not attack them, he defended Harry. I also know that the ministry snapped Hagrid's wand for something he didn't do, then later threw him in Azkaban for something he, again, didn't do. You do the Arithmancy, Headmaster, what answer do you get?"
"You make very cogent points, Mr. Harris. This is why you gave Mr. Black your portkey?"
"The guy deserves a chance to be heard. I don't know if he'll get it at the embassy, but he sure as hell wasn't getting it here."
Dumbledore nodded, then frowned slightly as movement on the grounds caught his eye. "What is..."
"Fenrir!" Xander grinned, jumping up and rushing out.
He and the Headmaster rushed out to meet the wolf, noting that Fenrir was dragging the battered and bloody body of the school's defense teacher. As they arrived the wolf dropped Lupin's arm and barked at Xander.
"Boy... is that really you?" Xander whispered, kneeling as he looked the huge wolf in the eyes. "God... you look... big."
The wolf seemed to grin, teeth glistening in the lights from the school behind them and Xander grinned back as he lunged in and hugged the big wolf just as it shrank and reverted back to the puppy he knew.
"Most fascinating." Dumbledore said, looking over from where he had examined Lupin. "I don't believe I have ever seen a more complete familiar bond, Mr. Harris. Save perhaps... well, another time. Come now, I must get Mr. Lupin back to the infirmary, and you can't stay out here alone."
Xander nodded and got up, carrying Fenrir back to the school as the headmaster floated Remus Lupin along with them.
By morning, when most of the school was just learning of the excitement, Xander was well down off the adrenaline rush and mostly ignored the rush of questions. There were a couple, however, that he couldn't avoid.
"What did you do with him?" Harry was angry as he approached, his wand in hand and clenched tightly. "No one will tell me anything except that you did something."
Xander blinked, then looked down at the wand in Harry's hand. "You planning on using that, Harry? Don't miss."
Harry looked down himself, then flushed. "What happened to Sirius!?"
"I sent him to the American Embassy in London." Xander shrugged, "It was that or the kiss. He'll get a chance there, I figure."
"A chance? A Chance!?"
"Harry!" Xander snapped, "What else was I going to do?"
Harry slumped, but nodded. "I know. I... I'm sorry."
"Yeah. Don't worry about it. I get it, ok. If I hear anything, I'll let you know as quick as I can."
Harry nodded, "thanks."
That was the first encounter Xander couldn't ignore. The second, well that came from a different place.
"What were you THINKING you traitor!?"
"Gee, Draco," Xander didn't look up from his food. "I didn't realize that I was in any kind of alliance with you."
"You're a Slytherin! You can't go helping Gryffindors!"
Xander glanced around the table, noting that everyone was listening. "Dude, you're raving. You're also spitting in my food, cut it out."
Draco turned an alarming shade of puce, then slowly ground out, "Why would you help them?"
"Hermione's my friend."
"She's a mudblood!" Draco hissed, glaring at him.
"Wouldn't matter if she were a House elf or a Goblin, or anything else."
"What are you talking about?"
"Think about it, it'll come to you eventually, Draco." Xander sighed as he pushed his food away and got up.
"Don't you walk away from me!"
Xander ignored him, or at least appeared to. In fact he kept one eye and both ears on the people around him. When a firstie gasped, Xander stopped.
"I'm going to tell you the same thing I told Potter, Draco. Don't miss."
When nothing happened for a moment, Xander kept on walking.
Behind him, Draco was gripping his wand tightly as everyone in the Great Hall stared at him.
Xander, for his part, was just glad to be going home. It had been a long year.