"Professor!" Harry called after the back of McGonagall who was briskly walking towards her destination. "Please, is Sirius okay?" She quickly stopped and turned around.
"I know you're concerned, but please just wait until we reach the Head Master's study." She said in a quiet but strict voice. She began walking again and Harry trailed after her still. Behind him he could hear the footsteps of Ron, Hermione, and Ginny doing the same.
"Have you heard from Lupin, or Embry? Does this mean Dumbledore is back? Do you know about Sirius being at Malfoy Manor?" Harry asked, firing the questions out as soon as they came to his mind. He was desperate for information, on any of them.
"Mr. Potter, we're talking about Order business which is to be kept a private matter at all costs. You attract enough attention as is, and if I may remind you, you're also covered in blood." McGonagall said her voice sharp and commanding this time.
Harry lowered his head and kept it down to avoid the eyes of other students as they passed them. People were heading towards the great hall for supper from their common rooms spread across the castle. She had been right, they were all staring at what must look like quite the scene. He practically felt their eyes on him. Harry Potter covered in blood and in a mess of some kind again.
"Harry it'll be okay." Ginny's voice said softly into his ear as she picked up the pace to walk beside him. All he could do was give her a short nod in response, he didn't dare open his mouth for if he did he'd spit out questions about Sirius again.
He pushed up his glasses on the bridge of his nose and felt just how lopsided they were from having been knocked to the stone floor. They were broken and needed to be repaired, he'd have to ask Hermione later for help. She was better at the spell then he was. Just moments ago his mind had been fuzzy from the blows, but right now he was thinking crystal clear. It was probably just the adrenaline pumping through his veins that kept him level headed. He knew later on once he calmed down he'd probably feel the aftermath of getting beat up by the three Slytherins. Two of which were twice his size, a piece at that too.
They reached their destination and Harry saw the Gargoyle statues just ahead as they rounded the corner. Answers lay just beyond them he thought to himself, starting to feel more anxious. He started to picture the fact that bad news instead of good could live behind the two statues.
"Lemon Drop!" McGonagall commanded in a loud and clear voice as she stopped directly in front of the gargoyles. Harry stopped too and watched as they leapt aside and expose the small staircase that led to the headmaster's study just above.
"Come with me Potter." She said turning around to allow Harry to enter first, but her eyes met with Hermione, Ron, and Ginny who were panting from the long walk up at a fast pace. "Very well, you three come too." She said apparently deciding it wasn't worth the fight to attempt to keep them behind.
Harry began to climb the steps quickly, his friends trailing along behind them, and McGonagall bringing up the rear. He heard the Gargoyles slide back into their position outside the study, guarding it once more. He reached the top step and arrived in the familiar study belonging to Dumbledore. Comfort swept over him to be in the familiar place, with the trinkets that made strange noises, and Fawkes upon his perch. He caught a glimpse of Hermione who was looking around the room in utter awe.
"Harry! We've done it!" A voice cried out and Harry's head snapped over towards Dumbledore's desk. In his chair sat Dumbledore himself, looking tired but wearing a polite smile. In front of his desk were several chairs, the person who had called out to him was sitting in the first one beaming, it was Embry. Next to her sat Lupin, who was looking pleased and at ease. There was one more person present though, they were not sitting but instead standing by the fire near the others, wearing an expression of nervousness.
"Sirius!" Harry cried out, relief flooded his body as he saw his godfather standing there. He looked travel worn and tired, but he was okay. Rushing forward Sirius embraced him into a tight hug in which he gladly excepted. The adrenaline was leaving him and he felt as ease for the first time in weeks.
"I'm sorry Harry, we can talk later. I'm sorry." He muttered quietly so that only Harry could hear. Harry felt bad for him, he wasn't so unlike his godfather, he understood what he had been trying to do in helping Embry. Both of them were Gryffindor's, always being maybe a little bit too reckless trying to help the ones they loved. If anything, now that it was all said and done, he only admired Sirius more.
"It's okay. I talked to Embry, I understand." Harry replied quietly, he found himself thinking of what he would do for Ginny if she had been the one in Embry's place. "I really do."
Sirius pulled out of the hug but grabbed Harry's shoulders as he did. The guilt and solemnness was wiped off his face and instead replaced with concern.
"What's happened to you?" He demanded, looking over at the others and then back at Harry. He suddenly remembered that he was coated in blood from his brawl with Malfoy, Crabbe, and Goyle.
"Well Draco Malfoy wasn't too pleased that you managed to get away, I reckon he took it out on me a bit." Harry admitted embarrassedly. Sirius's concern was immediately replaced with a look of anger. He half sighed, half growled but composed himself.
"Let me see your glasses." He said and Harry took them off and handed them to him. He couldn't see well without them but could make out Sirius pulling his wand out of his pocket and muttering a spell. Sirius then placed the glasses back in his hand, sliding them on his face Harry felt them sitting correctly again, fixed of all harm done.
"Thanks Sirius." Harry said gratefully and Sirius placed a hand on his shoulder affectionately.
"Professor McGonagall, perhaps you could escort Mr. and Ms. Weasley, and Ms. Granger back down to supper now that they know all is well?" Dumbledore suggested lightly. Harry had almost forgotten about everyone else in the room.
"Yes, of course." McGonagall said, and Harry noticed her eyes were a little watery. He smiled at her and she even returned it.
"I'm really glad you're alright, Sirius." Ginny said, Ron and Hermione nodded as well, both looking happy and relieved.
"We'll see you in the common room, alright?" Hermione asked and Harry nodded before she turned to walk out with Ron. Ginny lingered for a moment and gave Harry a smile and a look that screamed "I told you everything would be alright." Harry smiled back at her, and she too turned to leave them room. Turning back towards the people left in the room, Harry noticed Sirius watching him with a raised eyebrow and smirk on his face.
"As you can see, Embry and Remus have helped return Sirius from the Death Eaters." Dumbledore said with his eyes twinkling in the direction of the two. Embry and Lupin gave him short nods of in response. Embry turned and gave Sirius a warm smile, Sirius took her hand in his and gave it a light squeeze.
"I must ask that you all be much more careful from now however. Embry you're now as much of a target if not more than any other Order of the Phoenix member. Remus, you must take a break from working with the Werewolves and lay low, you'll be seen as a target as well." Dumbledore explained gently and they both nodded again, this time more solemnly.
"Sirius, you're a free man to do as you please, I am in no way confiding you to your house. However, I think it's best you lay low and refrain from work for the Order that puts you close to the Death Eaters. We know now, more than ever, that they will use you to target Harry." Dumbledore continued, addressing Sirius now who was listening with rapt attention.
"I agree, I've come to that realization." Sirius said and Dumbledore nodded at him approvingly.
"I know it is not of your nature to stay locked up, after you already lost thirteen years of your young life to Azkaban. I also know that Harry is willing to go the distance to help you, and that he snuck off into Hogsmeade to deliver that cloak Remus used to retrieve you." Dumbledore continued, Lupin bowed his head at the mention of this while Sirius was watching Harry now and wearing a strange expression.
"Remus and Embry, you're free to go now. I need a word with Sirius and Harry, please." Dumbledore asked politely. Embry and Lupin both stood up and walked towards the door. Not before Lupin stopped at Harry and placed the invisibility cloak into his arms.
"Thanks, Remus. For everything." Harry said and Lupin nodded with a smile. He then left with Embry who Harry offered a kind smile towards and in which she returned to him before disappearing down the winding staircase.
"Please, sit." Dumbledore said gesturing to the two seats at the desk in front of him where Embry and Lupin had both sat just moments ago. Harry took the first chair and Sirius the other.
"I'm glad you're found safe, Sirius my old friend. Now we must talk of business with Harry. I'm sure you now know that Horcruxes are in play with Voldemort. Harry and I are studying his past and figuring out how many there are."
"Multiples?" Sirius asked his voice full of dread. He placed his head in hand momentarily lost in thought. Dumbledore watched him carefully before continuing.
"The most important point is that no one else can know of what's going on in these classes between Harry and myself. The Death Eaters are taking anyone and everyone into capture that may have some value to Voldemort, even if that just means killing them. If Voldemort gets word of what we are trying to learn about him, he will regroup and become stronger, and any progress we will have made towards finding these things will be lost. That is why it is imperative that not even our close friends such as Remus, Embry, Molly, or any order members in general, can find out about this." Dumbledore explained, he looked tired and older than ever.
"None of them would sell me out to Voldemort." Harry said at once, feeling a protective nature towards all the people Dumbledore had just named surge through his chest.
"Alas Harry, even those who love us can have magic used against them to reveal things they wouldn't such do normally. I would have preferred even Sirius to remain out of the loop, but as your guardian and closest family member, that just isn't possible." Dumbledore explained, and as much as he didn't want to, Harry understood. Glancing at Sirius he saw he was wearing an expression that screamed 'your damn right you couldn't keep me out of the loop on this'.
"I must return to some business that needs taken care of. Harry, I request that you be present for our next lesson later this week. I will send note with a student or teacher when I know which night exactly. I trust you both to close my office when you leave, please feel free to use it to talk for a bit before saying goodbye. I think you both could use a few moments with each other." Dumbledore explained with his eyes twinkling and a friendly smile. He stood up and shrugged on his travel cloak that had been slung over the back of his chair.
"Thank you, Sir." Sirius said appreciatively and Dumbledore nodded at him.
"It's my pleasure to be of service to you, and once again I'm glad you're alright and back with us. Do take care" Dumbledore finished before whisking down the staircase like all the others had in turn this evening. The gargoyles moved below them, sliding against the stone floor and leaving just Sirius and himself in the office.
"Look Harry, I never intended for anything to happen the way it did. It was an ambush, they knew I would try and come for her." Sirius said, bursting into explanation and running a hand through his unshaven beard on his chin. He looked stressed, and tired.
"It's okay, really it is. I would have, well in fact I already have done similar things for the people I love." Harry said back quickly Sirius nodded but still looked at odds with himself.
"Embry told me about how you two used to have a thing." Harry said this time he gave Sirius a smile, trying to brighten the mood that had been cast over the room. Sirius, much to Harry's surprise, gave right in and smirked back at him.
"Did she now. Well, it's true… I'm looking forward to spending sometime with her after all these years. Since She and I will be laying low we will have time to catch up. Remus will be staying at the house as well too, he's had a time of it with Tonks this year." Sirius said still smiling.
"Tonks?" Harry asked in surprise but Sirius quickly waved him off.
"Perhaps a story for another time, and one that's not exactly mine to tell." Sirius said hastily. "However, I noticed something between you and that younger Weasley girl." He said mischievously and Harry felt himself go red at the mention of Ginny. He was glad though, to be sitting here having a normal moment with his god father about normal things people his age would be talking about. He couldn't stand to admit anything to Hermione and have her say she told him so. He still wasn't keen on being honest about his feelings with Ron. In fact, the more he thought about it the more he was grateful to have someone to confined his feelings for ginny in.
"Yeah, Ginny's really something. She's my best friends mate though." He said looking over at Sirius who was watching him.
"Yeah that can be tough, but of all people to date his sister I'm sure he could come around to the idea of it being you." Sirius said with a smile, he looked so proud to be giving him this advice. "I like that girl too, she's got spunk." Harry laughed thinking of the story Ginny had told him about meeting Sirius.
"Anyways, Harry, I have to let you get back to your common room soon as it's getting late. I wouldn't put it past Minerva to come chew me out over keeping you out of bed so late even though I'm not a student." Sirius began, and Harry smirked knowing he wasn't wrong about that even though it had been a joke. "I will keep in touch with you as much as possible, now that Embry, Remus, and I are all safe I don't want you to be worried about us. Focus on what Dumbledore is teaching you, it sounds like it will be more crucial than I thought before."
Harry nodded back at his god father, giving him a determined look. Sirius stood up and offered Harry a hand in which he took. He was feeling tired now, his adrenaline had long passed and his face felt sore. Sirius pulled him into a tight hug, Harry leaned his head against his godfather's chest and took in the last of the normal moment before things were bound to get crazy again.
"Keep in touch, and stay away from the Malfoy boy. He's in deep if the bits I were catching are true." Sirius said pulling back and Harry nodded, he didn't want to push his luck with his suspicions on Malfoy. Together he and Sirius walked from the office and back into the stone hallways of Hogwarts.
"I miss being here, I do hope you're enjoying your time here the most you can despite everything you have to deal with." Sirius said looking around the hallways as he walked beside him.
"It's the only home I've known until I met you, it's been rough but it holds spot for me regardless." Harry said and Sirius smiled down at him. They reached a fork in the road in the form of a staircase. Harry would go up to reach his common room, while Sirius would go down to apparate out of the area and back home.
"Tell Embry and Lupin I appreciate what they've done one more time for me?" Harry asked and Sirius nodded.
"Be safe Harry, and I will see you soon." Sirius said clappingg him on the shoulder one last time before beginning to take the stairs down towards the entrance hall. Harry watched him for a moment and began to climb up towards the portrait of the fat lady. His night wasn't over yet, he'd meet with Hermione, Ron, and Ginny and be asked to tell them everything that had happened. He didn't mind, he actually was looking forward to clueing them in. He thought about how he would maybe even mention that Sirius may have heard word that he was right about Malfoy.
That wasn't the problem that ate at him currently. It was that he would have to keep Sirius in the dark in the future if things went the way he thought they would. Sirius would risk it all for him, and he wasn't going to let him this time. These Horcruxes were dangerous, Dumbledore was seeking his help in finding them and that may involve going deeper. If it did he was prepared to lie to his godfather and keep in the dark about such things if need be. Although with what Dumbledore had said tonight, and knowing it was the right thing to do to protect Sirius. His heart was still dreading doing it, dreading the reaction from Sirius if he ever found out.
Author note: Hey guys! I started this story on a whim one afternoon after finishing Order of the Phoenix (for the millionth time). When I started it, I had a rough idea of where it was going to go and just started writing it. I wish I had planned it out a little bit better, at times it probably feels random and messy, and that's because it is a little bit. I'm just having fun with it, being it's the first time I've given fanfiction a shot. I hope you're enjoying it and baring with me. I think my writings improved since I first started it back in July. Thank you to those who leave reviews, favorites, and follow it. I get so stoked to check my email and see feedback. The fanfiction community is so fun. I love the Harry Potter series, but after OOTP when Sirius died I felt the story was missing some life without his character. This is just me playing around with the story with him still in it, and Embry who I created. I own none of these characters or anything to do with the Harry Potter universe, that all belongs to JKR. This current story is nearing its end and I have plans to start up a sort of sequel to it. The sequel will take place in the Deathly Hallows and shine more light on Lupin and Tonks, what happened to Ron when he left, Sirius and Embry, Sirius and Harry's relationship had he still been alive, Harry and Ginny, and just some over all different perspective with Sirius still alive for it. Thanks for reading!