Disclaimer: If I said that I was J K Rowling, would you believe me?

OK, no excuses. I've been a terrible updater. What can I say? I could blame it on the fact that my RL has reared its ugly head, but to be honest, I think that I've probably had plenty of chance to update, even though I still haven't finished chapter 6 (though exams are over and summer holidays approach! So hopefully boredom will reawaken my imagination.)

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Realisations

Sirius – Wednesday, 2:45pm

Sirius sighed and rubbed his tired eyes. He'd just been to yet another Order meeting, the fourth this week.

Stifling a yawn, Sirius waited for Dumbledore to return from his trip to the Ministry and a meeting with the new Minister, Scrimgeour, concerning Voldemort, as per usual.

After the mess in the Department of Mysteries Dumbledore has a lot of explaining to so, mainly trying to explain why Bellatrix's lifeless body was lying in the middle of the Death Chamber, why several Ministry employees were injured and why in Merlin's name five hundred prophecy orbs were in smithereens.

Dumbledore had told the truth. Or a slightly tainted version of it. He had stated that Bellatrix had been killed in the battle, but no specifying who had killed her; Sirius could imagine the uproar that would cause throughout the wizarding world. Dumbledore had also neglected to mention Harry's disappearance to anyone not in the Order. Luckily no one had asked where Harry was at that point, most assumed him to be at Hogwarts. However, Sirius was expecting to tell Scrimgeour about Harry at some point; during planning Harry's rescue there had always been the worry that there weren't enough members to combat the Death Eaters and Voldemort without losing several members and Harry. Sirius knew that as ex-head of the auror division Scrimgeour could defiantly pull the right strings to get the aurors on their side.

Sirius yawned again; he was insanely tired. He hadn't been able to get a bad night's sleep, let alone a good one. The farthest he'd got was lying down on his bed and staring at the ceiling, images of Harry's lifeless body streaming through his mind like a restless Boggart.

Sirius wearily looked towards the fireplace as Dumbledore stepped gracefully from the flames, his face sombre and looking more elderly than Sirius had ever seen it.

"Well?"

"I had to tell him about Harry." Dumbledore sighed and strode over to the window instead of taking his usual position at his desk. It was very nearly the end of term; most of the students were sitting by the lake, enjoying their freedom despite the peculiar chilly breeze.

"It's not certain if he'll help, but he does seem to be supportive."

"He's going to keep it from the press, right?" Sirius frowned at Dumbledore's second sigh. "What!" Sirius was furious; "so tomorrow we're going to find that the whole bloody wiz-"

"Calm yourself, Sirius." Sirius quietened, although he was still glaring angrily at Dumbledore. "He gave me his word to only inform anyone when Harry is safe and if he uses his power to aide us in his rescue."

Sirius closed his eyes, it was really the best they could do under the circumstances, but that didn't mean he was allowed to be happy about it.

"I have the feeling, Sirius, that today's meeting with the Minister wasn't the only thing you wished to speak about with me." Sirius scowled at Dumbledore's uncanny ability to read his mind at times like this. If he hadn't known Dumbledore better then he would have sworn Dumbledore was using his legilimensy on him. Sirius opened his eyes to see that Dumbledore had returned to his desk and has his fingers steeples, his eyes surveying Sirius over his half-moon glasses.

Sirius nodded. "I want to know what's going on," Sirius felt his frown deepen, "what's really going on with Harry and the full story about Snape?" Dumbledore's eyes widened.

"I beg your pardon, Sirius."

"Don't try to fool me, professor. I could see that you weren't giving us all the information you knew in the meeting. Perfectly understandable with the possibility of a spy; if you will remember I was in the same situation with my friends at one time. But this is my Godson we're talking about! I deserve-"

"Yes, you do," Dumbledore interrupted, unsteepling his fingers and staring at Sirius as if finally noticing that he was no longer eighteen years old. "Please forgive me, Sirius; I should have understood that you would need to know. I should have known that you needed to be informed."

Trying to keep exasperation out of his voice, Sirius said, "Remus knows you're hiding something. And Mad-Eye. Possibly Arthur and Molly as well.

"I shall bear that in mind, Sirius," Dumbledore paused to clean his glasses on his deep purple robes to Sirius's annoyance; he wanted to find out about Harry as soon as possible.

Just as Dumbledore opened his mouth to continue there was s timid knock at the door, followed by hurried muttering before a louder but just as hesitant knock. Sirius gave a low growl in frustration before a forced himself into his animagus form.

Sirius relaxed slightly as Ron, Ginny and Hermione entered the room, looking awfully nervous. However, Sirius didn't change back; a boy he vaguely recognised as Neville Longbottom and an eccentric looking girl who he assumed to be Luna Lovegood were both supporting Hermione, who's jaw was clenched, obviously still feeling pain in her chest.

"Good afternoon children, please, Hermione take a seat." Everyone stared at Dumbledore (including Sirius), slightly stunned that Dumbledore had chosen to use Hermione's first name; Sirius couldn't remember any student being called by their first name, Harry being the exception

As everyone helped Hermione to her seat, Ginny broke from the group and crouched down to stroke Sirius, giving him a short hug.

"You must be feeling terrible," she whispered. Sirius answered with a quiet whine before Ginny joined the rest of the group standing either side of Hermione's chair.

"Now, how may I help you?"

Sirius scowled as much as it is possible for a dog to scowl; it was obvious what the group wanted. The same thing as him.

"Professor," Hermione spoke first is what Sirius knew would be a well-practised speech. "Neville told us what happened to Harry; how he was taken in the Department of mysteries," Neville was staring at his shoes, obviously plagued with guilt, "and it's obvious that Harry's in serious trouble." Hermione's eyes glistened with unshed tears. "We want to know what's going on, whether you've heard from…" she drifted off, shooting glances at Neville and Luna, "your contact; if you have, what new is there? And what can we," he gave reproachful glance to her chest, "or they," she gestured to the others who were all healthy, excepting the still healing welts on Ron's arms, "can we do to help?"

Sirius growled at Dumbledore, warning him not to refuse. Not only would it be hypocritical with what he had said in the Order meeting but it was obvious that Harry and his friends not having all the information from the adults was a large factor in what had caused this mess. If Snape or Dumbledore had told Harry that Voldemort could send fake visions. If Harry had known of the damn prophecy's existence, even if he didn't know the content, then Harry would never have been lured to the Department of Mysteries and he would never have been…

Sirius shook his head, trying to clear his visions of Harry's body in the middle of a circle of Death Eaters, and sighed (cringing on the dog's equivalent of a sigh); he was playing the blame game again.

"I'm afraid that you are correct in your assumptions that Harry is still trapped with Voldemort," Neville and Ron winced, "and his Death Eaters. However, our contact, as you put it Hermione, has assured me that Harry is alive and although he is injured he is coping fairly well under the circumstances."

There was a short silence, while everyone processed the information. Harry was injured, he was hurt… But-

"What circumstances, sir?" Hermione interrupted his thoughts. Sirius grinned at how perceptive she was. "Do we know precisely how good or bad Harry's circumstances are so we can have an accurate picture of his welfare at this point?" Ron and Neville were staring open mouthed at Hermione whilst Luna was nodding. Ginny was frowning; she had barely let any other expression cross her face since entering the office. "After all, depending on the circumstances Harry could have a broken arm or… or…" Hermione shook her head and didn't continue. She didn't need to.

Dumbledore didn't seem to be surprised at her insight. "Unfortunately the letter I received from my contact did not specify," noting everyone's frowns, Dumbledore explained, "bear in mind that our contact is in a very dangerous situation. To ensure his own and Harry's safety he must under no circumstances get caught. If Voldemort finds he has a spy in his ranks then he will kill the spy, cutting off our supply of information, and most likely either kill Harry or change his plans and location. This means that I cannot contact him and when he contacts me his letters are often hasty and contain the bare minimum about matters pertaining to Harry's current situation and more about how we are going to get Harry out of his current situation."

Hermione nodded and Sirius begrudgingly admitted that it made sense.

"You will also be please to hear that I have recently heard from my contact and it is finally possible to attempt a rescue." Sirius's ears shot up at this; Dumbledore hadn't mentioned this in the meeting! Whilst the students gasped and bombarded Dumbledore with questions Sirius marched up to Dumbledore and nipped his ankle… hard.

"Erm…" Sirius snorted as Dumbledore made this extremely unDumbledore-like sound and discreetly rubbed his ankle, "indeed, the Order has already planned a rescue," Sirius saw that Neville and Luna didn't look too surprised at the mention of the Order, "and the word from my contact merely means that it is now safe to go ahead tomorrow. Just be warned that I haven't mentioned this to any members of the Order yet as if word was to reach Voldemort it would be catastrophic.

"As to your final question, Hermione, I'm afraid that it would be impractical for you to help in rescuing Harry given that you are neither members of the Order, nor have you completed your education. Not to mention that fact that the adults responsible for you would strongly object." Sirius amused himself for a second with the image of what Molly would do if Dumbledore told her that every single one of her children would be portkeying off to Voldemort's lair tomorrow. Ron grinned a little but Ginny just grimaced.

"However, if Pop- Madam Pomfrey approves you may certainly help her in the Hospital Wing, I'm sure she would appreciate somebody to retrieve potions or other such necessities whilst she tends to her patients. However, I must ask that you-"

Sirius never did find out what Dumbledore didn't want toe kids to do for at that moment there was a swoosh as Kingsley arrived in the office through the floo (Neville had turned a yelp into a cough).

"I was wondering if I could have a word with you, Albus," he eyed the children suspiciously.

"You may indeed, Kingsley, whatever you have to say can be said in front of everyone in my office; they are trust worthy." He nodded to the children who had shuffled slightly closer together and looked a bit awkward at the presence of Kingsley (Sirius was trying not to look awkward, when you're a dog pretty much everything looks imposing).

Kingsley nodded. "We tested all of the teachers past and present, with a few obvious exceptions, with veritaserum. All were willing except for Umbridge."

"Big surprise," Ron muttered under his breath.

"But we tested her anyway, of course. Obviously Quirrel and Barty couldn't be tested, and Lockheart, well, even if he was responsible; its' not likely that he would remember it," Sirius could feel Ron fidget nervously.

"Well, we do seem to have a little problem with out Defence teachers."

Everyone in the room rolled their eyes. Calling it a 'little problem' was like calling Voldemort a harmless troublemaker. Sirius himself would volunteer if it wasn't for the fact that ninety nine percent of the world thought that he was a madman who went around blowing up streets, escaping from high security prisons with dark magic and hanging out with Death Eaters and Dark Lords in his spare time.

"I found that no teachers were working with Voldemort or passing on information about Harry." Sirius frowned; that didn't make sense. "Of course, it is possible that Voldemort had obliviated the informant, or it could have been Crouch junior."

"I'm afraid the later is out of the question, Kingsley. The information Voldemort has had access to includes our talk after the Tri-wizard tournament. The only real option now is to ask Severus whether he can remember being as careless to leave any student alone in his office."

Looking at Ron, Ginny, Luna, Neville and even Hermione, Sirius could tell they had no idea what on Earth was going on. Their eyes had been darting from Kingsley to Dumbledore as if watching a – whatever that muggle sport was called – match.

"You should also know that as a precautionary measure we asked whether they had deliberately harmed a student."

"And?" Dumbledore's eyes flashed dangerously as he saw Ron and Hermione shoot each other looks.

"You might want to have a word with your caretaker, he spent twenty minutes telling me of how he wanted to bring back medieval punishments. But other than that… Well, I'll cut to the chase. It turns out it was Umbridge who ordered the dementors after Harry last summer."

Sirius sat up and started growling loudly; that cow almost had Harry expelled! He could have lost his wand! The thunder in Dumbledore's eyes was nothing like the hurricane in Sirius's.

"I'm afraid this is not all, Albus. I believe you were informed of the fact that Harry was given numerous detentions." Dumbledore nodded, his face growing paler. Sirius continues growing, what that that cow done to Harry?

Dumbledore nodded and gestured for Kingsley to continue. Sirius could see that Ron's ears were starting to go red and Hermione was staring at her shoes; they knew what had happened.

"She used a blood quill on him, Albus."

There was instant uproar, Dumbledore stood up so sharply his chair fell backwards, tumbling to the floor and knocking over a spindly table with a delicate silver instrument that looked like it was worth the Malfoy's fortune placed on it. Sirius didn't hear him thunder about manhandling his students. Nor did he head Luna, Neville or Ginny's gasps; Sirius's head was filled with his own deafening barks.

That bitch! How many times had Harry been forced to mutilate his own hand? What had she made him write? Why in Merlin's name hadn't he told anybody?

Sirius ran to the door, intent on storming to the Hospital Wing and chewing Umbridge's hand off in punishment. How dare she? As id Harry didn't have enough wrong with his life! Why did everyone seen to have it in for him?

"NO SNUFFLES!" Sirius froze at Dumbledore's commanding tone. He vaguely noticed that Ginny was gripping his shoulders, trying to prevent him from scratching the door to pieces; Sirius knew he was going to regret those long claw marks on the exquisitely carved door later, but right now he didn't much care.

In the next instant, Dumbledore was crouched by his side, a firm hand on his shoulder. His eyes were now calm, soothing Sirius's frantic ones.

"She will be punished later, Sirius." He whispered, "right now Harry needs you." Sirius pushed his anger down and let the guilt bubble through

Following back to Dumbledore's desk, Sirius growled at Ron and Hermione, letting them know that as soon as he was back in his human form he was going to make Molly Weasley seem like a cute little kitten when she was angry.

"You knew about this?" Ron and Hermione winced at Dumbledore's ability to make you feel like you were three inches tall. Sirius was almost sure Hermione was going to start crying soon; it was the bookworm's worst nightmare, the Headmaster himself being disappointed in her.

"Yes, sir." Ron's voice was barely audible. His eats were the same colour as his hair and he seemed to be fascinated by his shoelaces.

"Why didn't you tell me, or professor McGonagall?" Sirius could hear the slight tinge of guiltiness in Dumbledore's voice. Sirius found it hard to ignore the anger he felt towards the man; he had ignored Harry for an entire year when Harry needed his guidance, but this wasn't hid fault. He wasn't to know the extent of Umbridge's punishments.

"Harry didn't want us to. He asked us not too."

"Why, Mister Weasley? Do you happen to know just why he refused to tell a responsible adult?"

"BECAUSE YOU IGNORED HIM FOR THE WHOLE YEAR, THAT'S WHY! AFTER ALL THAT HAPPENED! AFTER THE TRI-WIZARD! AFTER CEDRIC! AFTER EVERYTHING! YOU JUST IGNORED HIM! HE LOOKED UP TO YOU, SIR, HE RESPECTED YOU! YOU WERE LIKE A SODDING GRANDFATHER TO HIM! AND YOU IGNORED HIM! YOU COMPLETELY BLANKED HIM!"

There was a stunned silence. Sirius would have willingly bet the Black fortune against Hermione Granger yelling at Dumbledore at the top of her voice, but here it was; Hogwarts' most conscientious student telling off Albus Dumbledore. And what was even more amazing was that Hermione was right.

"You have no idea how much it hurt him, professor," Hermione said softly before she clutched her cheat and fell unconscious.

"Hermione!" Ron was by her side in an instant, lightly shaking her shoulders, staring at her now calm face.

"Kingsley, if you could please take Hermione back to the Hospital Wing." Kingsley nodded and with a swish of his wand Hermione rose into the air, "oh, and inform Madam Pomfrey that her condition is completely my fault."

Kingsley had nearly disappeared from view when the occupants of the office heard his voice call out, "one more thing, Albus. I think you should consider getting that dog neutered."

Sirius made a mental note to bite Kingsley when he next saw him. And maybe Ginny, if she kept that smile on her face for any longer. Even now Sirius somewhat resented his animagus form. Of all the amazing creatures in the world, he had to be a dog; he could have been a lion, or a leopard, or some other infinitely cool animal. Instead he gets a ruddy dog that looks like the Grim. Still, it was better than a rat. There was a long silence in which just about everybody in the office that knew of Sirius's identity looked at him with a mock thoughtful gaze.

"Hermione was correct, as per usual. I made a lot of mistakes this year. I hope you will forgive me if I blame them on my age. I have forgotten what it is like to be youthful as you are." Sirius had the feeling that he was included in this statement.

"If you don't mind, sir" Ron's tone made it perfectly honest that even if he did mind he wanted answers, "why did you completely ignore Harry this year?"

"I'm afraid that is a matter for me to discuss with Harry on his own." Ron shrank slightly under Dumbledore's gaze, "if he wishes to inform you later then it is his own choice. However, I assure you there was a valid reason, even if it were not the most sensible course of action." Ron nodded, seemingly contented with this. "Now, am I correct in assuming that we have discussed everything you came here to discuss." Ron nodded and made towards the door.

BANG!

The fireplace exploded into life, sending soot through the office as someone fell onto the rich carpet.

"They took her…" Dumbledore and Luna had rushed over to tend to the man on the floor. His arm was obviously broken and his robes were singed. Sirius could smell burnt flesh. "Couldn' stop 'em… They took 'er…"

Ron and Ginny were rooted to the spot. Arthur Weasley has just fallen unconscious in Dumbledore's arms.

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OK, I didn't really like that chapter. I struggle with transition chapters, which is why I'm useless at anything other than oneshots. Next chapter is probably my favourite.