Remus Lupin rubbed the sleep from his eyes as he walk into the small kitchen to make himself some coffee. He flicked his wand at the coffee maker to get it started and a few minutes, was enjoying a hot cup. He went into the living room not once looking over at the box that sat waiting for him on the kitchen table.

He plopped down on the ratty old couch and sipped his drink absentmindedly, his mind wondering through happy memories of his past. A gust of wind from the partially open window stirred Remus from his thoughts.

Muttering to himself about how he should have shut that window last night, he walked over to it and slowly closed it. His eyes casually glanced down as he began to step back and he was surprised to find a small box with a piece of folded paper taped to it sitting on the kitchen table that he had never seen before. He jerked his head around looking for the person who had put it there. He saw no one, so he turned his attention back to the box. Wondering if there was some kind of dark spell on it he cautiously pulled out his wand and slowly picked up the box. When nothing happened, Remus pulled the paper off the box and carefully unfolding, read its contents:

'I thought you might like to have this. A Friend'

Now very confused, Remus slowly opened the box and looked inside. His eyes widened, a strange combination of shock, sadness, regret, and rage filling him as he stared at the familiar looking rat in the box. Without stopping to think, Remus closed the box and magically sealed in case Pettigrew woke up and tried to get out, and then he ran to the fireplace and grabbed some floo powder out of the pot next to him. "Dumbledore's Office" he shouted as he threw the powder and in a flash of green flames, vanished.

That evening, a special issue of The Daily Prophet was sent to baffled subscribers all over the country.

PETTIGREW ALIVE! SIRIUS BLACK CLEARED OF ALL CHARGES!

By Seanna Stevens

This afternoon, Minister of Magic Cornelius Fudge surprised his staff when he ordered them to get convicted murderer Sirius Black out Azkaban and arrange a trial for him as soon as possible. Black's trial commenced only three hours later in front of the whole Wizengamot. This reporter was able to get inside and witness the trial.

"Percy please, Scabbers is probably just hiding again don't make such a fuss."

"But mum I've looked everywhere, he's gone"

Molly Weasley sighed exasperatedly as she looked down at her young son. He had come bounding down the stairs ten minutes ago saying that his pet rat had vanished without a trace and had not stopped complaining since.

"Really Percy, you're always complaining about how boring Scabbers is and how you've been wanting an owl aren't you?" She said.

Percy's expression faltered "well yeah but…"

Molly rolled her eyes a bit "I'm sure Scabbers will turn up soon, now go and play with your brothers alright? I have to cook dinner."

Percy Weasley looked crestfallen but obeyed his mother and walked sadly out of the kitchen. With that, Molly went back to preparing dinner, only to be distracted once again by a tapping on the window. Molly looked up to see a tawny owl holding a rolled up newspaper in its beak. Confused, Molly opened the window to let it in. It did not come in though; it simply dropped the newspaper onto the counter and flew away.

Molly's confusion grew when she realized that the newspaper was 'The Daily Prophet' but they had already delivered the newspaper that morning. Molly curiously unfolded the newspaper and read the headline. She gasped and, dropping the paper to the floor clutched a hand to her heart.

In a large manor in the countryside, a young woman in her mid-twenties sat on a large couch reading a book. She was a good looking woman with long blonde hair that was somewhat curly in places and grey eyes. A popping noise drew her attention away from her book and she saw that the house elf had just entered the room.

"Dinner is ready Mistress" the elf said in a squeaky voice.

"Thank you Dobby, I will be down shortly." The woman replied.

The elf bowed and disappeared with another crack.

Narcissa Malfoy marked her place in her book and set in down on the small end table next to the sofa. She was just about to leave the room when she heard a strange swooping sound behind her. She turned around in time to see an unfamiliar owl fly out the window. Looking down she found that the owl had dropped a newspaper on the sofa. Narcissa picked the paper up and unrolled it. Her eyes widened.

A family of three was just sitting down to eat when a black owl swooped in and dropped a newspaper on to the table.

"Xenophilius dear, didn't we already get the Daily Prophet today?" Asked the wife as she picked the paper up.

"Yes we did, that's odd" said Xenophilius.

The couple's small daughter looked on confused as her mother unrolled the paper and looked at the headline while her husband read over her shoulder. His jaw dropped.

"What's it say?" asked four year old Luna Lovegood.

But her parents were at a loss for words.

In a small flat situated in the middle of London, a young woman lay on her back absentmindedly strumming a guitar. She was around 25 years old and had black hair with red streaks in it that fell a little past her shoulders. Her eyes were dark brown and she was about 5 ½ feet tall.

She stayed in her stupor until a loud knocking at her front door disturbed her. She looked towards the door and sighed as she got up and out the guitar back on its stand next to an amp. She ambled over to the door and opened it. In came a frantic looking young blonde woman waving a newspaper in her hand.

"Tammy what the hell?" the woman yelled.

The woman named Tammy took a few deep breaths and then said "Valerie, have you read the Daily Prophet?"

Valerie rolled her eyes at her friend, "Tammy, you know I haven't been subscribed to the daily prophet for years."

"I know I know" Tammy said shoving the paper into Valerie's chest. "But you have to read this one; you're not going to believe this."

Harry Potter sat in his cupboard with a triumphant smile on his face. Even though he couldn't know for sure, he was positive that his plan had worked, and that Sirius was free to live the life he never could in Harry's time.

Remus Lupin stood outside the ministry office as Sirius Black finished registering as an animagus. He had been fined 1500 galleons for being unregistered in the first place, but that was a small price to pay compared to Azkaban. Remus couldn't believe that this had happened. He had his best friend back now and he hadn't felt this happy since before Lily and James died. As happy as he was feeling, he was also confused. He didn't understand how someone could not only know that Sirius was the traitor but also manage to capture Pettigrew. He had at first thought it had been a member of the order but that didn't make sense, no one outside of Dumbledore, James, Lily, and Sirius knew that the Potters had changed secret keepers, Remus hadn't even known himself. The whole thing just baffled him.

A door opening and closing signaled Sirius's return. As Remus looked his friend up and down, feelings of sadness and pity flew through him. Sirius looked as though he had not had a decent meal in years. His handsome face had become gaunt and very pale. His once cheerful eyes were dulled and almost lifeless. He had been given new robes which hung loosely from his frame due to years of malnourishment.

"Well, that didn't take so long I suppose" Sirius croaked.

Remus smiled at his old friend, "Ready to get out of here?"

"You bet" Sirius laughed.

His laughed sounded much hoarser than it had been but still had that same bark to it. It made Remus glad to see that not everything about Sirius had changed.

"So Sirius, now that you're free, what are you going to do" Remus asked the ex-convict.

"Well" Sirius began smiling, "First I'm going to get some- no scratch that, a lot of food in me."

Remus chuckled, "That can be arranged.

"Then," Sirius continued, "I'm going to take a nap for a few days"

"Right" Remus commented cheerfully.

"Then you and I are going to get custody of Harry" Sirius stated happily.

Remus halted, "What?"

"Well do you expect me to just leave my godson with those muggles?" Sirius asked.

"Yeah but Sirius, Dumbledore says that that's the only place where Harry is safe." Remus explained.

To his surprise and total confusion, Sirius started laughing loudly causing several passer-bys to stop and stare at them.

"Moony please, Harry? Safe with those Dursley people? You heard what Lily said about them, they hate magic, I wouldn't be surprised if they've been mistreating Harry all this time and plus, if I remember correctly, James and Lily left us with explicit instructions not to ever let Harry be given to the Dursley's, it was to be me first, then you, then the Tonks's."

"I know Padfoot I know, but Dumbledore says-"Remus started only to immediately interrupted.

"Dumbledore Dumbledore Dumbledore, Merlin Moony, when did you become such a pushover?" Sirius stated.

Remus was becoming annoyed. "Look, I'm just saying that Dumbledore thinks it's best that Harry stays with the Dursley's so we should except that. I'm sure that they've been treating him fine."

Sirius made a pft sound and rolled his eyes, "Must be fun living in delusionalland Moony." He commented.

Remus scowled.

"Look how about we just check up on him?" Sirius suggested.

"What do you mean?" questioned Remus

"I mean we go over to Privet Drive, disillusion ourselves and just watch through the window or something, we be able to them without them seeing us, and if Harry is okay, then we'll leave him alone." Sirius elaborated.

Remus furrowed his brow in thought, it seemed like an alright idea. "Okay fine" he consented finally.

Sirius grinned for a second but then became serious (no pun intended) again. "But if he is being abused," he began in a low voice, "We're taking him with us and that's that."

Remus nodded, he wouldn't admit it, but he had been thinking the same thing.

A/N: So now Sirius is free, what do you think they'll find when they go to Privet Drive? Well you'll just have to wait for the next chapter to find out.

Also, I have the next few chapters in mind up to the sorting. What I'm having a heard time with is figuring out what house he should be in. Whatever house I pick, Hermione will be in also. I don't want to put him in Gryffindor again though. I've been trying to decide between Ravenclaw and Slytherin but I'm having a hard time choosing, so I've decided to put it to a vote.

Just tell me in your review if you think Harry (and Hermione) should be in Ravenclaw or Slytherin. Or if you have a strong reason why he should be in one of the other two houses, tell me. Voting will continue for the next few chapters. So don't forget to review and vote!