Sirius and Harry spent several hours in the RoR discussing the events of the past year and their plans for the future. Sirius was both shocked and furious when his godson told him about what had been happening at the school all year – especially when he found out about Umbridge's use of the blood quill (from which Harry still carried scars) and her admission about sending the Dementors after the boy. Sirius would have hunted down the woman and torn her apart as Padfoot if she had still been in the castle. However, apparently after Dumbledore retrieved her from the centaurs, she had been treated by Madame Pomfrey in her chambers for exposure and exhaustion, but had left the castle in secret before breakfast the next morning. Therefore, Sirius determined that he would bring the matter up to Kingsley at the next Order meeting and see if the MLE could handle it. Harry gave a sigh of relief at this decision and was glad that he had finally told his godfather.
He also considered telling him about the prophecy as well, but then Sirius told him about Hermione's situation, and that drove his own personal worry right out of his mind for the time being. In fact, Harry had again been devastated with guilt when he learned about what Hermione had been going through with her parents. He had been so wrapped up in his own problems and little obsessions all year that he had not noticed how much she had been hurting. Then, to top it off, he went and almost got her killed, as well!
Therefore, when Sirius told him about his plan to magically adopt Hermione as his sister, Harry's first thought was to offer to do it himself. Then he could share all of the galleons in his vault with her as a small way to start making amends to her. That way, she could pay for school and even buy as many books as she wanted. Then, next year, when he came of age, maybe they could buy a little house together - so that neither of them would ever be without a home or a family again. He lost himself to the dream of making a home with his best friend for a minute until he heard his godfather clear his throat in amusement in order to regain his attention. He soon realized, however, that adopting Hermione might not be such a great idea when Sirius gave him a both a knowing look and a bit of advice.
"You might want to rethink that, Harry. People, whether magical or muggle, tend to think poorly of those who date their own sisters."
Harry immediately started in surprise and then flushed with embarrassment at this statement. "But…we aren't…she doesn't…I haven't…" he stammered out. Then he paused, clearly thinking about something that he had never allowed himself to seriously consider before. He had wasted so much of the last two years focusing on Cho, that he had not seriously considered anyone else – especially not his best friend…with her lively hair that was determined to escape from any restraint in which she put it and that she would often blow impatiently out of her face - with her full lips that were always just a little bit shiny because of the cherry lip balm that she liked. Then there were her eyes – deep, intelligent, brown eyes that sparkled when she laughed or quickly filled with tears when she noticed a hurt or an injustice. Eyes that were often turned to him - whether she was helping him with his homework, cheering him on in Quidditch, lending an ear when he talked about his problems (even with other girls), or when she was actively engaged in saving his arse in some manner. As he thought about all of this, he realized with some surprise the maybe he had subconsciously noticed Hermione in that way, after all! A sudden smile brightened his face, but it quickly turned into a frown when he thought about the third member of their little group. "What about…Ron?" he asked slowly. "He wouldn't be very happy about it if Hermione and I…were…well…together."
"Relax, Pup!" Sirius said with a little laugh. "You don't have to make a decision about that right this minute. I just wanted to give you a little something to think about…something to consider for the future when we get all the rest of this mess straightened out. If someone else doesn't realize how amazing that girl is and snatch her up before then, that is." Here Sirius paused and gave Harry another meaningful look before continuing. "As for Ron…well, this morning he seemed more likely to want to date those chocolate frogs of his rather than to treasure our little lioness in the way that she deserves, didn't he?"
As much as Harry wanted to argue with that statement, he had to concede that it was true. He knew that Ron cared about Hermione in his own way, but he wasn't very good about showing it since his own wants and needs always had to come before hers. He also often spoke without thinking and therefore sometimes said very hurtful things to their best friend - who was usually only trying to help. He had also often shown jealousy when she was with someone else, like Viktor, even though he didn't really want to date her himself. Harry suddenly realized that he felt very uneasy about the thought of Ron and Hermione together – especially since he was just beginning to realize just how great of a friend she had always been to them – and that neither one of them had been that good of a friend in return. Suddenly he realized that he might have more than just friendly feelings towards her - especially now that he…um…they…had almost lost her. Then Harry realized that he was still in danger of losing her…if her parents had their way.
"Do it!" he therefore exclaimed desperately. "I'm glad that McGonagall and Dumbledore thought that it is a good idea, but even if they didn't, I would still want for you to do it anyway. Hermione deserves it. Are you sure, though, that the Goblins at Gringotts will honor it? You are still a wanted man…until we can get your name cleared, that is."
"Prongslet, my dear boy, something that Binns apparently didn't teach you or maybe you slept through that particular lecture while Hermione took notes for you," here he paused to wink at the suddenly embarrassed (again!) boy before continuing, "is that the Goblins aren't subject to Wizarding Law. That's something that those at the Ministry are prone to forgetting, as well. The goblins are a nation unto themselves - with their own set of laws – even though they do pretend to go along with the whims of wizardkind, simply for sake of convenience. However, they control the flow of money and, therefore, possess one of the greatest powers of all. That's why you never want to get on their bad side. Fortunately, for me, I have never committed a crime against goblinkind, nor have I ever been convicted of a crime in the wizarding world. Therefore, I still have access to my accounts…and to the Black family vaults, as well – since I am now the direct heir of that bloodline. Remember, that's why I was able to order the Firebolt for you a couple of years ago – even though I had just recently escaped from Azkaban." Then he paused for a moment and pulled up a devious smile before continuing. "By the way, that was something else that the brilliant little Miss Granger was right about as well, as I recall. You know, Pup, I really can't wait for that girl to join our family…in one way or the other!" Then Sirius waggled his eyebrows suggestively and had to laugh at the flush that automatically crept up his godson's neck at his words. That really told him all he needed to know about that situation! He had planted the seed that made the young man finally look at what had always been there in front of him. That was all he could do about that particular situation – at least for now! The rest was up to those two young people.
Therefore, he changed the topic and asked Harry why he had not used the mirror to contact him during all of these happenings. Harry just stared at him uncomprehendingly until his godfather explained about the two connected mirrors, one of which he had given to Harry during his visit to Grimmauld Place. The older man then just shook his head unbelievingly at his godson when Harry explained that he had forgotten about the gift and, therefore, never unwrapped it and that it was still in his trunk. He became excited about it though when he realized that he could use it while at the Dursleys to speak to Sirius and Hermione anytime he wanted – since, hopefully, they would be at Grimmauld Place together! After clearing that up, the two of them stayed and talked about their plans for a little while longer - until they were suddenly interrupted by a loud mewing sound in the direction of the door. Then, in just a moment, Crookshanks had joined them and was purring loudly and happily flexing his claws in Sirius's lap. "Well, aren't you a smart one to figure out, not only that we were in here, but how to get in here yourself?" the man asked rhetorically before continuing. "You are certainly one of a kind - just like your human," he said affectionately while stroking his feline friend. The two of them had become quite close since joining forces during Harry's third year in order to try and catch the rat also known as Peter Pettigrew. Plus, the cat had often kept Sirius, both in his human and dog forms, company during the past summer and Christmas holidays when the kids were off doing something else or when the man was up late at night dealing with the madness of insomnia - in addition to the slow burn of creeping insanity at being trapped in the nightmarish home of his childhood.
"I know that Ginny has been taking good care of him, but I bet that he is missing Hermione," Harry said, reaching over to scratch Crooks behind his ears. He then laughed when the cat seemed to mew in agreement.
"Well, let's take him to his Mistress, then!" Sirius exclaimed as he stood up, still holding the cat, while Harry called for Dobby. Then, in a whirl - much to the displeasure of the feline member of their group, they all apparated back to the infirmary together.