Reason to not post two stories at the same time, there are too many chapters sitting in my document manager, and I might accidentally post the wrong one.
Thank you Stephanie O and meyers1020 for pointing it out. I feel like an idiot.
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Ginny cracked her eye open and looked up at the light that was shining through a crack in the curtains hanging around the four-poster bed and wondered when she'd even stumbled into it. Her head was pounding and her stomach was rolling. The nausea definitely needed to be dealt with right away before she threw up all over herself.
Ginny wasn't entirely sure she could follow the events of the previous night. They had won their Quidditch game against Slytherin. She knew that much. There was a big celebration in the Gryffindor common room, she knew that too. Everything after that was pretty fuzzy.
The only other time she'd gotten this drunk was the first time she'd ever gotten drunk. Charlie had just returned from Romania with a little Kenneth bundle in his arms. While the sleeping baby was passed around the whole clan had gathered to hear Charlie's story of how the mother, Alina, had failed to tell Charlie about how their one night had resulted in the little boy until right before she gave birth. And now she wanted nothing to do with either of them. Kenneth's red hair was a clear indicator of his paternity and the whole family had been in a bit of shock. The Elven Wine had been poured all around. There were a lot of tears, and a lot of different types of liquor to follow. The next morning she'd awoken to a screaming baby very close to her head as she'd passed out on the couch by the bassinet.
Sirius Black had actually brought her a vial of hang over potion. Her mum had thought enough to have them ready on the counter for the morning.
That dog was a genius.
If only he was here now.
The light was hitting her directly in her eye and she couldn't muster the strength or coordination to move, or close the hanging tighter. Moaning was her only ability at that point.
The loudest, most god awful noise followed her moan as the hanging on the other side of her screeched open. "Hey Ginny." Whispered a boys voice that she couldn't quite place.
The horror that she may have done something unforgivable last night gave her the determination to roll over and find out who it was that was talking to her. She made out the shape of Neville and let out a sigh of relief that she regretted. As the sigh came up her throat, so did whatever she consumed last night. She regurgitated all over the floor by Neville's feet, thankfully he backed up when she did.
He carefully stepped around it and climbed half on the bed to hold back her hair. "Let it all out." He soothed rubbing her back through the sheet wrapped around her.
Upchucking had made her feel loads better. Ginny looked up and around. They were in the sixth-year boys dormitory, and this was Harry's bed. She'd been here several times before now. She'd even taken naps with Harry in this bed before. Sometimes actual naps, and sometimes not. But where was Harry?
Neville must have judged that she was done and went over to his bed to grab his wand. He banished all the sick from the floor and gone across the room to their powder room and got her a cool wash cloth for her face. "Feeling a bit better?" He asked as she moaned again laying against the pillows.
"What happened?" She managed to get out.
"What happened is you scored ten points against Slytherin and decided that meant you needed to take ten shots. In a row." He chuckled under his breath. "You then dragged Harry up here and passed out not too much later."
Yep. That about covered it. She remembered flashes of red and gold, shot glasses, skin on skin, and emerald eyes. "Where's Harry?"
"Pretty sure he went to see about getting you some hang over potion." Neville assured her. "You think you're done with the vomiting for now?"
She could hear the smile in his voice. Her eyes weren't cooperating with checking on that or not. "Yes." Her voice was the safer choice than nodding at the moment.
The sound of a door opening and closing had her praying that it was Harry with her cure. "Uh, hey Neville." She heard Harry's voice say unsure. "What's up. Is she okay?"
"Yeah." Neville replied. "She was just sick on the floor. Cleaned it up and wiped her face."
"Uhuh. Thanks. And, erm. The bed sheets didn't ride down, did they?"
Why was he worried about bed sheets? Ginny wondered. Why was he not sounding happy about Neville helping her out? They were friends. He'd been super nice. Most people would bail at the sight of someone being sick like that. She wiggled a bit and realized that she could perfectly feet the sheets against her skin, because she wasn't wearing anything above her waist.
"No! I swear, they didn't. She just moaned, and was sick over the side of the bed. I didn't see anything!" Neville said quickly. And too loudly. Ginny moaned again. "I'll, just leave you to it." He whispered.
She felt the shifting of someone getting off the bed to be replaced by someone else. "You're going to have to try to keep this down." Harry told her. She felt something cool touch her lips gently. Slowly she opened her mouth to sip it down little by little. He was giving her soft encouragement until she finished taking down the potion.
There was the sound of something being placed on the bedside table, and the mattress moved an annoying amount before she felt his body right beside her. She hoped he wouldn't try talking to her, or even touching her much right now. The potion took a few minutes to kick in, and until then any sort of jostling was complete torture.
He remained mercifully silent.
Harry was truly wonderful.
She'd joked a few times that he was pure evil with his practices, but really he wasn't, it was all dependent on the weather.
They'd been together now for over a month, and in that time they'd had a lot of fun slipping off to snog. She'd taken him back to the prefect's bathroom to give impromptu swimming lessons, that ended in them snogging. They'd done a Hogsmeade trip together where he suffered through meeting Fred and George. He'd wisely taken her advice about not accepting anything they offered him because it may turn him into a Canary, and they'd finished the day snogging.
He'd really developed some skills in the snogging department. Their first kiss in the common room was pants compared to how hot he was making her in the broom cupboards now. His hands had begun to wander, and she was eager for them to continue. That must have been what led to her being topless, and, she shifted her legs around slightly, only in her knickers it would seem.
She remembered skin on skin from last night. She couldn't remember how far they'd gone. Her head was clearing up now though, she didn't think she was going to be sick again. Her stomach wasn't gurgling any more.
"Harry." She whispered. Whispering was good. It didn't hurt her head.
"Yeah." He whispered back.
"What happened?"
He chuckled a bit. "Well Miss Weasley." Oh, he was going to use his teasing voice. "After you pounded several shots and crowned yourself the Queen of Quidditch, you tried to start a dance party, and when that didn't work you poured some whiskey down my throat and dragged me up here to ravish me." He said softly. She could hear the humor in his voice.
"And exactly how much ravishing took place?" Ginny was worried about the answer. Not because she didn't want to do more things with Harry than what they'd been doing, but because she wanted to remember it all.
Harry put an arm behind her head and she rolled on her side to cuddle into him. She had the bed sheets tucked around her fairly tightly just under her arm pits. The movement didn't cause her any strife, the potion had almost completely worked its magic, but she still didn't want to open her eyes.
"Well. You. Erm, I." He couldn't seem to find the words.
"We didn't shag." She hadn't meant to say that out loud. That much had been obvious by the fact that she was still wearing her knickers, and she wasn't sore down there.
"No."
"Then why are you having trouble telling me? Did I do something embarrassing?"
"No. It was really hot actually." She could basically hear him biting his lip.
"Please don't make me pry it out of you." She whined and buried her head into his chest.
"You kind of - stripped for me."
"Kind of?" She tried to remember it happening.
She felt his hips shift a bit followed by a sigh then started in a strained voice. "You said I had been so super amazing that I deserved a treat, then you slowly stripped down to your knickers and pushed me into bed. We snogged for a bit, you took off my shirt, stuck your hand." He paused to clear his throat. "Stuck your hand down my trousers and almost immediately passed out."
"Did." She didn't know how to form this question. She had never stuck her hand down his trousers before. "Did I get you to…"
"Uh, no. You literally fell asleep as soon as your hand went in there. Uh. Over the boxers."
She sighed in relief. Properly touching him for the first time was something she wanted to be cognitive for. "That's good." He squirmed a bit more beside her. The potion was properly kicked in now and she felt normal. A little hungry actually. "Is my wand up here?"
"Oh. Yeah." He pulled back the curtain and grabbed it from his night stand. Ginny cast a freshening charm on herself. That worked almost as well as the hang over potion. Her mouth had felt disgusting.
"How are you feeling this morning?" She asked him.
"I'm fine. Wasn't as drunk as you, but I also took some hang over potion and already had a shower."
She could smell the soap on him now with out gagging. "Where is everyone else? Your dorm mates?"
"Erm, it's actually about lunch time."
Ginny smiled. "Thank you for letting me sleep this long." She kissed his chest and waved her wand to close the curtains around them before casting a silencing spell.
"Did you want some more sleep?" He asked her confused.
"Actually." She drew herself up on her elbows and loosened the bed sheet around her so she could slide over top of him, throwing one leg over him. She'd been forcing the confidence when she first got to Hogwarts, trying to carry on with everyone how she'd carried on with her brothers at home. But she'd actually been completely nervous. But now. After being with Harry. The confidence when it came to the two of them wasn't quite so forced. He just made her feel so desired. "You've been so super amazing that I think you deserve a treat." She whispered as she rocked against him. He rocked back against her and groaned.
"That wasn't just Drunk Ginny then last night?" He breathed out the question.
"Drunk Ginny is just a little more forward than Sober Ginny." She whispered as she kissed up his neck and jaw line. She'd slept beside him topless all night, and was feeling shameless. She sat up on him and pushed the sheet away completely. His eyes went wide and dark with lust as his hands went to her hips to help set the pace that she was grinding into him.
His hands moved up to touch her breasts and she let her head fall back at the sensations he was evoking. He sat up and buried his head in her chest and she loved it. He was massaging and kissing her. He sucked on one of her nipples and she started rocking more desperately into him. She'd wanted their rendezvous to get a little more carnal for a while, and this was exactly what she wanted.
He didn't seem capable of tearing himself away from her breasts. It felt amazing, and she loved how he seemed to desire her as much as she did him, but if they continued like this there was a chance he was going to cum in his pants. Drunk Ginny had stuck her hand down his trousers, and damn it, Sober Ginny was going to see that action through.
She reached down for the hem of his shirt and pulled it over his head. She ran her fingers through his hair and felt a jolt of desire down to her core with the awe-struck look he was giving her. She leaned down to devour his lips as she pushed him back against the mattress. His hands were roaming all over her back and sides, down to her bum.
She moaned and rocked against him one last time before shifting herself off him to lay beside him instead. He moaned in protest at the loss of warmth, but she smiled against his mouth. He moved to roll over and she stopped him with a hand on his shoulder. She didn't stop kissing him as her hand trailed down his torso. She popped the button on his trousers open and slowly pulled down the zipper. She wanted to give him an opportunity to stop her, he didn't seem inclined to do that.
He shivered as her fingers ran along the elastic of his boxer's waist band, then she dipped her hand under and gently wrapped her fingers around his erection. He groaned against her mouth heartily. She carefully stroked him up and down. He pulled away from her mouth and leaned his head back at her ministrations. She didn't know if she was doing it right, or if there was another way, but he was definitely enjoying it.
He thrust into her hand and pushed his trousers and boxers down lower so she could have more range of motion. She licked her lips as she took in the sight of him. Harry, it seemed, was well past the point of attempting modesty with his arousal. He wrapped one of his hands around hers and showed her how to set the pace he wanted. His erratic breathing made her think he might be close. It wasn't much longer before she watched as his balls disappeared seemingly up into him before he arched his back and cum shot out of him.
His hand guided her to keep stroking him gently until he was properly sated. It was fascinating to watch his erection subside. Slowly she pulled her hand away, and with her other one she cast a cleaning charm.
Harry looked thoroughly relaxed, and he had a satisfied smile on his face. Ginny grinned at that and then tucked in beside him. He wrapped his arm around her and kissed her forehead before she pulled the sheets around them and they fell asleep again.
()()()()()()
Ginny looked down at her fingers. Her hand was covered in ink from trying to finish all of her assignments yesterday after she woke up from her nap in Harry's bed.
Her stomach had finally demanded she get out of the bed and feed herself otherwise she would have stayed there for days.
Thankfully she'd had a quick shower before heading to the kitchens, then on to the library. Hermione had already been situated at her usual station and gave Ginny a stern look before giggling along with her. Hermione had actually been the one to brew the hangover potion, and Ginny promised her something good for Christmas.
But now she couldn't help noticing the horrible state of her nails. She looked over to where Hermione was sitting ahead of her in DADA class. Her nails looked better. Lavender and Parvati were across the aisle from her and Harry's desk. Theirs were fantastic.
"Ginny?" Lavender got her attention. Apparently she'd been making a face while staring intently at Lavender's fingers, and the girl had noticed.
"Sorry!" Ginny laughed. "Off in dreamland." She bit her lip a second. She was never one to put a lot of time into the small details of her appearance, her hair yes, her nails, no. Eyebrows, sometimes, shaving her legs, regularly. But all the little things she noticed Lavender and Parvati doing, like tinting, and hair clips, mascara and the like, she didn't really know where to start. Harry didn't seem to mind though. "Erm, Lavender? Do you have a spell for that?" She indicated to her perfectly filed and polished finger tips. "Or do you do it manually?"
Lavender grinned at her. "Manually. I have a manicure kit if your free tonight." Lavenders eyes lit up.
Parvati leaned over excited too. "Oh! Girls night! You can tell us all about what happened to you on Saturday night!" Parvati winked at her.
"Urgh. Don't remind me. Thank God for Harry and Hermione! Neville too actually. I was in rough shape the next morning." Ginny chuckled.
"Never had anyone as cute as Harry to hand deliver you hang over potion, eh?" Lavender waggled her eyebrows at her, grinning ear to ear.
Ginny pretended to think really hard about it. "I don't know. Sirius Black was pretty darn cute when he did it." She teased Harry, knowing he was listening in.
"What was that?"
Ginny jumped at the sudden voice behind her and turned to see Professor Lupin. He looked startled.
"He's her dog." Harry clarified hurriedly. "Ginny has a weird sense of humor."
"Sorry!" Ginny she smiled. "I keep forgetting not everyone knows that's what I named him." She looked sheepish.
"Why would you name your dog that?" The professor looked angry.
"Because he too is a murderer." Ron chimed in under his breath.
"Shut it Ron. You hated that rat, and he was looking about ready to die anyways." Ginny told him off.
"You have a dog named Sirius Black and he killed your pet rat?" The professor repeated with an almost vacant look on his face.
"Yeah." Ginny said slowly. He was talking so seriously about something so ridiculous.
"How long did you have these pets for?"
Ginny exchanged a look with Ron before he answered. "Uh. The rat for about ten or twelve years, and the dog we've had for about three."
"You got the dog three years ago and he killed your pet rat right away." It wasn't a question. He was getting paler by the minute.
"Um, professor, are you okay?" Ginny asked him.
"No. Harry, can you teach everyone how to do the Patronus Charm please. I may be back." He was appearing completely lost in thought. "Everyone, pay attention to Harry. Two feet on the Patronus charm will be due next week." He stated absently before he turned and almost ran out the door.
"That was super weird." Ginny said out loud. She turned to Harry. "Why would he be so concerned about our pets?"
Harry didn't answer her right away. He exchanged a look with Hermione that spoke volumes. "I'll talk to you about it later." He whispered before rising from his seat and going to the front of the class to begin instruction and demonstrating the Patronus.
()()()()()()()()()
"Sirius Black was friends with Professor Lupin?" Ron was shocked.
They'd all finished up with classes for the day and finally got the opportunity to sit down in the common room to talk about what had happened in DADA.
"Didn't you say that Lupin was good friends with your parents too?" Ginny asked Harry.
"Yeah." He nodded.
"So then…" Ron trailed off.
Ginny scooched in closer to Harry on the couch. She rested her head on his shoulder and tried to bring him some comfort. "Why was he so interested in Scabbers though?" She wondered aloud.
"Scabbers?" Hermione asked.
"My rat." Ron explained. "Was he though? He was more interested in your dogs name."
"No. When I mentioned he killed the rat, Lupin almost stopped breathing. It was like something clicked for him. Then he sounded even more panicked."
"Maybe I should go talk to him." Harry said.
"I don't think he's here." Hermione shook her head, concerned.
"He and Dumbledore were missing at dinner." Ron stated.
Ginny saw Lavender and Parvati come in through the portrait hole and waved her over. She waved back in acknowledgment.
"Alright. Let's put a pin in this, we can only speculate right now. If he's probably gone tonight, perhaps we can track him down tomorrow. For now, though, Hermione, you and I have an appointment upstairs." She tilted her head back and gave Harry a kiss under his ear. "You did an excellent job teaching us today." She whispered to him. "Professor Potter." She purred and was rewarded with the sight of goosebumps appearing on his arm.
Ginny quickly stood up and headed towards the girls dorms with her dorm mates before he could try to kiss her back.
()()()()()()()()()
"I realize this seems an odd request, but we were wondering where your dog might be." Albus Dumbledore and Remus Lupin stood in the sitting room of the Burrow with an utterly confused Arthur and Molly Weasley.
"I think he's outside chasing down some game or something." Molly replied puzzled.
"Why do you want to know about our dog?" Arthur asked him.
"It may be nothing, it may be something." Dumbledore told them calmly.
Remus' shoulders sagged and he shook his head. "This is ridiculous. It has to be a coincidence." He said quietly to Albus.
"What is a coincidence?" Molly asked him kindly.
"You wouldn't have brought it to my attention if you truly thought that." Dumbledore told the man before turning back to the Weasley's. "If you would just entertain us a little longer. Is there any chance that you happened to have buried Ronald's pet rat a few years back?"
Arthur and Molly exchanged a look. "He's buried in a box out by my shed." Arthur replied curiously, giving them both a look as though their sanity was questionable.
Dumbledore nodded. "Mind if we dig him up and check something?" Remus smiled feebly, as though attempting to make Albus' request seem less outrageous.
Molly Weasley headed into the kitchen to brew up some tea while the men headed out to the shed. The sun hadn't yet set over the hill as they marched to the small out building. "He was somewhere around here." Arthur pointed to the overgrown weeds beside the length of the building.
Dumbledore performed a small tracing spell and located where the box would be. Arthur grabbed a shovel and started digging. It only took a few moments to find the box, which was rather decomposed after three years.
Remus took the box from him and laid it down on the ground opening the lid. The small body of the rat inside was quite withered away, but it hadn't been desecrated by other animals. He looked up at Dumbledore. In a moment he would know if the last fifteen years of his life had been a lie. He almost didn't want the spell to be performed to turn this rat into what might have been his departed friend.
He stepped away from the box and Dumbledore cast the spell. Remus, and Arthur, watched in horror as the body of the rat transfigured into that of Peter Pettigrew.
The silence was palpable as the three men stood over the decaying body.
One of the amazing things about becoming an Animagus was how the clothes shifted shape with the wizard. Peter was still wearing the tan suit jacket and slacks he had been that day in November fifteen years-ago when everyone thought he'd been blown to smithereens.
Dumbledore gently pulled up the sleeve on his right arm and there it was. The dark mark. Remus crumbled.
Arthur turned to Dumbledore. "Do you mean to tell me that this man, this Death Eater, was living in my house for over a decade in hiding? Who is he?"
"Peter Pettigrew." Dumbledore answered softly.
"Peter Pettigrew?" Arthur blinked owlishly. "But. Sirius Black killed him."
"It would appear that he did in fact kill him. Just not when everyone assumed he did." Dumbledore corrected him.
"No." Arthur was confused. "The dog killed him." Arthur then leaned forward slightly, as though he might fall over. His face went white, then puce. "Oh Merlin."
Remus was sitting on the ground with his back up against the shed. His palms were pressed up against his eyes with his elbows resting on his knees. "Peter was the secret keeper. Not Sirius." He sobbed. "Peter betrayed James and Lily, and Sirius must have gone to confront him when Peter killed all those Muggles before transforming into his Animagus."
Arthur fell to the ground on his hands and knees. "How did he know? How could Sirius Black have known that he was here?"
"Very good question." Dumbledore pondered. "Do you remember anything you were doing when he escaped?"
Arthur groaned and rocked back and forth a bit. "We. We weren't even in the country. We had just come back from Egypt and it was all over the news."
"I remember that." Remus said. "There was a photograph of your whole family in the Daily Prophet."
"Can I assume that the rat was in that photograph?" Dumbledore asked him.
"Ron did bring him." Arthur sat back on his heals. "We've been harboring a murderer for three years." He said astounded. "He's been the best dog we could have ever asked for." He chuckled a bit despite the atmosphere. "It's no wonder he won't eat dog food."
The other two men couldn't help but allow themselves to chuckle a bit as well.
Remus let out a low cry. "My best friend. I turned on my best friend."
"You couldn't have known." Dumbledore assured him. "I will see about getting the charges against him dropped, now that we know he was actually innocent."
"What about" Arthur gestured to the remains of Peter Pettigrew.
"I believe that was an accident, was it not?" Dumbledore suggested. Arthur and Remus nodded.
"Justified. He was a Death Eater responsible for killing multiple people, and causing someone years of false imprisonment." Remus agreed. "I don't fault Sirius for this. I'd do the same thing." He shuddered.
"We have to get him out of here." Arthur told them. "Molly will have a hard time with the story, I don't need her seeing this too."
"I will transfigure him for the time being and take him directly to the Auror's from here." Dumbledore turned him into a match box and placed him in his pocket. "And now? Remus. How would you like to proceed with informing Sirius we know of his innocence?"
Remus turned to Arthur, wiping a few stray tears from his cheeks. "Does he usually go off like this?"
Arthur nodded morosely. "Yes. Most evenings. He's usually back just after dark."
Remus let out a sigh. "Then let us go back into the house. Molly was making tea. We'll tell her what's happened and hopefully catch Sirius unaware before he tries to run again."
()()()()
"I am a little concerned that he may smell us and take off as well." Remus admitted to Albus when they were comfortably set up in the sitting room.
Molly had fainted at the story the men had told her. She'd been levitated to the couch and the men took up seats around the fireplace.
"That is an excellent point." Dumbledore waved his wand and, seemingly no change occurred, that they could tell anyways.
"At, erm, what point should I worry about her not waking?" Arthur asked concerned, pointing to his wife.
"Enervate." Dumbledore cast the spell at her.
Molly's eyes popped open and she sat up looking around wild eyed. "Tell me I dreamt it." She asked them. They did not reply verbally. However the cringing looks on Remus and Arthur's faces told her the answer. "Three years we've had him in our home. And the rat…" She lay back down again and threw her arm over her eyes. "What'll we tell the kids?" she mumbled, more to herself.
"He is actually innocent." Arthur placated her.
"Well the bloody rat wasn't, was he? That monster was in our home forever. I just. I can't. I'm going up to bed."
Before she got up though there was a scratching at the door. Arthur froze a moment before nodding to them and getting up to open the door. He let the dog in and instantly locked it securely once it shut again. The dog bounded happily into the room and stopped short when its eyes found Remus. The two stared at each other. Remus was having difficulty breathing and there were a few tears running down his cheeks.
"We found Peter." Dumbledore said. The dog turned to him abruptly. Then looked between all four occupants in the room. "We know you are innocent Sirius. And Arthur and Molly know of your true identity now as well." He continued.
Sirius backed up a few steps before he sat down where he was and looked at Dumbledore with sad upturned eyes, who raised his wand to him. The dog bowed his head and quickly morphed into a man that no longer resembled the haggard, slightly insane looking, escaped convict. Sirius Black the man looked healthy and well kept, despite the torn and dirty prison clothes he'd been wearing over three years ago when he escaped his prison.
He looked between the Weasleys. "Arthur, Molly." He said in a raspy voice. It had been a long time since he'd used it. He cleared his throat. "I am so sorry for deceiving you for so long. You are remarkably kind and decent people, and I grew very attached to your family. After so long in Azkaban, your home and your children were such a comfort. I did what I could to try and be helpful around here to thank you." He bowed his head. He turned to Remus. "Remus." He choked. "I couldn't. I couldn't let him get away with it. When I found out." Tears ran freely from his eyes. "James. Lily. They meant too much to me. I couldn't stop myself from ending him for all he'd done. His betrayal."
Remus let out a cry and lunged towards him, wrapping him up in his arms. "I am so sorry." Remus sobbed. "I should have trusted you. I should have fought for you. I shouldn't have believed what everyone was saying."
"I don't blame you for anything. I know how it looked. I should never have talked them into making him their secret keeper."
"Oh!" Molly cried and flapped her hands a bit, overcome with emotion. "I have to make some biscuits." She jumped up and headed for the kitchen.
Remus looked after her retreating form confused. "It's how she copes." Arthur shrugged.
"Arthur. I really am very sorry." Sirius went on. He and Remus moved to the couch. Remus was unable to remove his arm for around his friends shoulder.
"Wait." Arthur held up a hand and went to the liquor shelf. "I can understand. Especially after everything we've already seen tonight, why you did what you did. And you took care of the actual Death Eater that we'd been unknowingly housing right away. But let us get your full story over a drink, shall we?" He started pouring and handing out glasses of Scotch. "We'll move this into the kitchen so Molly can hear."
Over the next hour Sirius told them all he could about the events leading up to, and after, Halloween 1981, of his imprisonment, why he didn't go crazy around the Dementors, and also about having to overhear the Death Eaters in the surrounding cells for over ten years. How he got the paper from Cornelius Fudge that led to his escape. "The first thing I did when I got out was go to visit Harry. I had to see he was okay." He turned to Dumbledore. "He is still doing okay isn't he?"
"Why don't you ask Professor Lupin?" Dumbledore smiled and nodded to Remus.
"Professor?! That's great. Professor of what?"
"Defense Against the Dark Arts. Fourth year now. And Harry is great. Gryffindor Quidditch Captain, Seeker, he's bright, brave, capable and happy. Especially right now." Remus smiled widely and leaned forward conspiratorially.
"Oh! Has a lady friend does he?" Sirius barked a laugh.
"Finally got his first girlfriend and he's completely smitten. Just like his dad was." Remus grinned, thinking back to how much razzing they did to James about Lily.
"What's the lady like? Worthy?" Sirius asked.
Remus paused a minute and exchanged a look with Dumbledore, who had a twinkle in his eye, then glanced over at Arthur and Molly, who looked rather calm now that their belly's were full of drink, and rather like they were enjoying seeing the comradery between the two men. "Hope I'm not betraying any confidences right now, but to hell with it. He's with Ginny Weasley."
Sirius dropped his glass.
"What? When did that happen?" Arthur asked with a dazed smile.
Molly was drunkenly beaming. "She had such the crush on him when she was younger! Do you remember?" She put a hand on Arthur's arm.
Sirius got over his shock and raised two fists in the air. "Yes!" He yelled excitedly. "That's fantastic! Ginny's probably the best girl out there! So sweet, so nice, so feisty and stubborn. Great at Quidditch."
"Yep, yep, all those things." Remus nodded. "They looked pretty friendly as soon as they got to Hogwarts, but I think she told him what was what about a month ago?" He screwed up his face thinking back.
"Ginny's had a boyfriend for a month and she didn't tell us? And it's Harry Potter?" Molly asked slightly offended.
"Probably because it's Harry Potter." Arthur told her.
"Did Ronald tell you about his girl?" Remus asked them.
"Ron has a girlfriend and he didn't tell us either?" Molly looked angry.
"Yep. Hermione Granger. Brightest witch in her year. And the one above. She and Harry are actually best friends." He pointed out to Sirius.
"Gryffindor too?" Sirius asked.
Remus nodded and finished his drink.
"Erm. What now?" Sirius turned to Dumbledore.
"In regards to clearing your name?"
"Yeah. That, and… the kids have to know."
"We should tell them soon. Once we start the process with the Ministry, the Daily Prophet will be running the story. Their version anyways." Remus confirmed.
"I owe those kids the truth first." Sirius told them all with a serious face.
"Tomorrow." Remus said. "After the way I reacted in class today, Harry will probably track me down first thing in the morning."
"What'd you do?" Sirius eyed him humorously.
"Overheard Ginny saying Sirius Black was cuter bringing her hang over potion that Harry was." He laughed so hard he had trouble breathing. Sirius howled with laughter and the rest of the table chuckled too.
"I can only imagine your reaction to that."
Remus wiped the tears of mirth from his eyes and went on to tell the rest of the story and how all the students had looked at him like he was crazy.
"Ah. That girl." Sirius shook his head. "Blew my mind when she gave me the name Sirius Black. Totally astounded. She thought it was funny!"
"I refused to call you that for months." Molly said laughing.
"I remember. You just called me 'dog'. But I'd been called that enough before too." He winked at Remus. They all laughed again. "Oh!" Sirius sobered up. "I'm going to have to go back to Grimmauld Place." He looked concerned.
"Grimmauld Place?" Arthur asked.
"The Black family home. Can't possibly expect you to let me stay here any longer, can I?"
"Oh! Yeah… hadn't thought about it." Arthur said.
"Why don't you come stay at mine tonight, and we'll call the kids to the Headmasters office first thing tomorrow?" Remus looked to Albus who assented to the plan.
"Molly, Arthur, do you think you could join us?" Dumbledore asked.