Chapter 14: Until We Meet Again

The four of them hurried up the stairs and met Kurenai, who was also rushing to get back to the hospital wing. They all burst through the doors at once and Kakashi, who was sitting up, looked over at them wearily. He sent them an eye-smile and a weak wave.

Madam Pomfrey was chiding Guy about interrupting her but Kakashi had only been half listening to her speech about reckless behavior. Sirius has been acquitted. Finally some good news, he thought.

Sirius soon joined them in the hospital wing and they all ate their dinner together. Kakashi claimed to not be hungry but he stole quick bites here and there while everyone else carefully looked away.

The next day brought sad news. Professor Lupin had resigned. When Harry and Sirius went to see him he would not be moved. "I could have bit any one of you," Lupin said, angry with himself. "The only reason I didn't was because the guards were there. I was too selfish, wanting a regular life, to think of the danger I was putting you students in. No, I must leave."

"Where will you go Remus?" Sirius asked seriously.

"I have some friends who will still take me in I think," Lupin said sadly.

"Of course you do, he's standing right in front of you," Sirius declared with a smile. Lupin looked up. "I'm the last of the Blacks, I have my parent's old house all to myself and there's plenty of room. Harry's moving in at the end of term, aren't you Harry?" Harry grinned as Black ruffled his untidy hair.

"Do you really mean it Sirius?" Lupin asked.

"Absolutely," Sirius said, smacking Lupin on the shoulder. "It'll be like old times."

"We'll be like a sitcom!" Harry exclaimed. Neither of the wizards knew what Harry meant by that but Harry didn't care. He was too happy to bother explaining.

Sirius was giving Lupin the address and entrance spell when Dumbledore walked in. "Your coach is here Remus."

Remus and Lupin shook hands warmly. Professor Lupin picked up his weathered suitcase and empty grindylow tank, said goodbye, and was gone. His movements and step betrayed the new hope he was feeling even as he left one of the few places he'd considered to be home.

Dumbledore approached Sirius and Harry, the look on his face made Harry worried. "I'm sorry Sirius, but Harry can't live with you. He must return to his aunt's home."

Harry felt like a balloon had popped inside of him. He knew the idea of living with Sirius was too good to be true.

"Why?" Sirius said, anger lining the question.

"Harry has certain protections as long as he's living with family. I know you're his godfather but you aren't blood. I'm sorry but it's not safe for Harry to live anywhere else."

"From what he's told me, it isn't entirely safe to live with them either," Sirius countered. "There's got to be a way."

Harry spoke up, "what if we had a secret keeper? For Sirius and me?"

"That's a fine idea Harry," Dumbledore said, "but no matter whom you choose, there will always be a matter of distrust or concern. Would you want to put one of your closest friends at risk of torture or death simply to keep yourself safe?"

Harry frowned and looked at the ground. Suddenly he looked up, his eyes hopeful, "what if the person we chose was completely out of Voldemort's reach?"

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Kakashi Hatake looked up from his hospital bed as Dumbledore, Sirius, and Harry entered. He pulled the covers off of himself and made to stand but Dumbledore waved his hand, dismissing the need for formality. Guy stood up anyway and greeted them.

"Kakashi," Sirius said, "Harry and I were wondering if you would be willing to do something for us."

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Too soon, Sirius was leaving Hogwarts. He wanted to prepare his house a bit for Harry's arrival. "I haven't been there in years and there's probably only old Kreacher left taking care of the place. Poor Lupin is there already and probably thinks it was a mistake to accept my invitation."

"Well," Harry said, "if you don't mind paying him, I know a house elf who's been looking for a job."

After the trial and Sirius's departure, the news of his acquittal hit the papers and it spread like wildfire among the students. Peter Pettigrew framed Sirius Black and it was Pettigrew who was finally caught? Sirius Black was trying to get into Hogwarts to prove his innocence? What had he wanted inside of Hogwarts? Theories and information passed back and forth but the entire truth wasn't out there. There was no mention of guards apprehending Black or Pettigrew. There was no comment on the fact that the Weasleys had been unknowingly harboring Pettigrew for years. There was equally no explanation as to how Black had escaped in the first place or how he was able to evade the ministry for so long.

The end of year feast was the happiest Harry had ever known. He was going to live with Sirius. He could let Hedwig out whenever she wanted. He could have Ron and Hermione over. He could do his homework like a normal student with Sirius to help him.

The Great Hall was decorated in scarlet and gold, since Gryffindor had won the house cup but only barely. "I heard some students got caught out of bed after exams and lost us a bunch of points," Dean confided to Harry.

Harry turned to Ron and Hermione, "Dumbledore couldn't have possibly punished us for that?"

"We were out of bed," Hermione rationalized but Dumbledore stood to make his end of year speech and the noise in the Great Hall fell to silence.

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The next day dawned bright and clear for the exodus. As the ninja said goodbye to their new friends at the Hogwarts entrance, Ebisu saw papers being handed out. "What's this?" Ebisu asked, pointing at the paper in Hermione's hand.

"End of year warnings to not use magic over the holiday," Hermione answered automatically.

Kakashi barked out a laugh. Ebisu, Kurenai, and Guy stared at him. "What?" He asked. "Nobody else finds that ridiculous? What if something attacks? What if you get into trouble?"

Ron shrugged, "that stuff doesn't usually happen when we're at home."

Kakashi covered the visible part of his face, exasperated. There's something wrong with this school.

Guy called out one last thing to his Slytherins and they waved back in response, some with more enthusiasm than others.

"Bye Kurenai," Cedric said waving to her. His smile glinted in the sun.

Kurenai smiled and shook her head, waving back.

Ebisu's eyebrows went up. "Asuma is not going to be pleased about this. Has your heart has been magicked away?"

Kurenai rolled her eyes then said, "I could ask you the same thing." She followed Ebisu's eyes to Hermione.

Ebisu blushed, trying to hide it by adjusting his sunglasses with his hand. "I don't know what you're talking about," Ebisu sputtered. He took one last glance at the witch and headed back up to the castle. The rest of them following suit. So ended another year at Hogwarts and another mission.

Dumbledore was waiting for them in his office. They had packed just like the students, their backpacks tiny in comparison to the enormous trunks.

"Guy, are you sure you want to take that thing back home with us?" Kakashi asked.

Guy held a pot with a willow cutting protruding out of it. The tip of the branch was stretching itself, trying to grab at Kurenai. Kurenai gathered her hair away from the grasping branch.

"Of course I'm sure," Guy said. "I will nurture it so it will grow strong like the tree here at Hogwarts. The Whomping Willow has been the best sparring partner I've ever had, except for you Kakashi."

"Thanks," Kakashi said flatly. He glared at Kurenai.

"Don't look at me," Kurenai held up her hands. "You weren't helping fend off Professor Sprout's and Guy's enthusiasm. I just got dragged into taking care of it because Guy doesn't know anything about plants."

"Everyone all set?" Dumbledore asked. The ninja nodded.

Kakashi noticed that the silver object that Dumbledore had been using to send Lord Third his reports all year was missing.

Catching his glance, Dumbledore explained, "I've loaned that one out for the summer Kakashi. She traded one magical device for another, you could say. I can always make another if I have need of it."

Kakashi turned and looked at the unsuspecting Ebisu and smiled under his mask. The four ninja gathered together and each took hold of one of Fawkes's legs.

"Give my regards to Hiruzen," Dumbledore said and with a poof they were gone.

The End