A/N) Is it Thursday already? The days are just blurring by fast! I really enjoyed writing this chapter, especially the last scene.

I also believe I should address the question why the Order/Aurors didn't take Narcissa and Barty Crouch Junior into custody. They were seriously injured, but because Voldemort knew they were planning on attacking Malfoy Manor, the knew he would grow suspicious when the third group didn't turn up as scheduled. So they had to choose between getting out there quick or faffing around and wait for Voldemort to find them because the injuries Narcissa and Barty Crouch Junior sustained meant they would would not be able to Apparate with them as it could have killed them, and I believe that the Order wouldn't kill unless they really had to. Same for the Aurors. :)

Onto the chapter...

Chapter Fifty-Four: Plans Afoot

Thursday 8th October 1995

"Hello Sirius," grinned Harry.

It was lunchtime and Harry and Ron had gone to the Hospital Wing to see if either Sirius or Hermione were awake yet. When they had visited in the middle of the night both had been asleep, put under by a Dreamless Sleep Potion, allowing their bodies and minds to rest, and since they wouldn't wake for a while, both boys had gone back to bed, though neither had barely slept.

His godfather gave him a small smile. He looked weary and exhausted but any wounds he may have sustained had been healed before they had been allowed in to see him. Hermione was still unconscious. Her parents had been informed of her condition and were being escorted to the school to stay by their daughter's side to aid her in any recovery; undoubtedly she would need her parents there. With Hermione still asleep, Ron had left the Hospital Wing to allow Harry some time with his godfather.

Sirius bit into a piece of toast that Harry had brought him from the Gryffindor table, swallowing it before speaking. "Hey."

"How are you feeling?"

"I've been better," his godfather replied wearily. His voice sounded hoarse.

"Good." He felt awkward, unsure of what to say. He didn't even know what had happened to Sirius during the time he had been in Voldemort's hands, though he knew that Hermione had been tortured. How could he ask him about that?

It was as if Sirius knew what he was thinking. "Hermione will heal, Harry. She's a strong person. You don't need to worry about her." He sighed. "I saved her from more permanent damage but she was unlucky that she became Bellatrix's victim in the first place." He sounded bitter. "It was me they came for... but Bella has always been able to tell when a pureblood is not around, rather it's the kind she finds unworthy to be a part of our world. Seeing Hermione there... she probably couldn't resist the temptation and it worked to their advantage."

"Sirius," began Harry, swallowing the lump that had formed in his throat, "what did you do?"

He caught Harry's eye, assessing him. Finally, he said: "You'll find out soon enough, there's no point in keeping it from you now... I told Voldemort the Prophecy."

"WHAT?" yelled Harry, his mouth falling open in abject horror.

"It's not what you think," continued Sirius. "I only told him what he already knew..."

"And then what?" Harry felt very afraid.

"And then I made the rest up." A small grin covered his godfather's face. "You're not the only one with Occlumency training. I told Hermione this. Being able to use Occlumency is not something I advertise I can do. I was taught it growing up."

"So instead of Snape teaching me, you could have?" Harry's tone was almost accusatory.

Sirius gave him an apologetic smile, leaning back into his puffed up pillows as he did so. "It's not something I wanted people to know. Could've easily got back to Voldemort and even then I wouldn't have been able to save Hermione if he knew I was capable of using it. He would have found some other way to force the proper truth from me."

"Oh." Harry shifted uncomfortably in his seat. "I should be glad then that you have fooled him for now then, huh?"

"Yup." Sirius reached forward and took a sip of water. "I have the week off to recover and I'll be staying here, so if you want to talk, just come and find me."

Harry crooked his head to the side. "It sounds like you're dismissing me."

Sirius rolled his eyes. "It's a school day and it's your O.W.L year, and if memory is serving me correctly, don't you have a Charms lesson to get to?"

Harry bit his lip. "Erm, yes..."

Sirius merely raised an eyebrow. "Your mother would kill me if she knew I was encouraging you to skip lessons. It's my job as your parental guardian to ensure that you get a proper education."

"Sirius!" groaned Harry, leaning back in his chair. "All right, I'll go, but I'm coming back after dinner!"

Sirius just grinned. It was good to laugh.

"Good afternoon, Sirius."

Sirius opened his eyes and saw Professor Dumbledore sitting in a chair beside his bed; his hands were clasped together in his lap, a sombre expression on his face. "First, let me say I understand why you told Voldemort the prophecy, I do not blame you. When faced with such a choice, especially when a child is involved, one would do everything in their power to protect them. And, Harry does need Hermione. She will be a great asset to him."

Sirius blinked. How did the Professor know? But the answer came to him almost immediately. They all knew that Snape was spying on the Dark Lord – or they all assumed he was and it wasn't the other way around, since the Headmaster had not explained his reasoning for Snape's own betrayal of the Dark Lord in the first place.

"I didn't tell him the Prophecy. I told him what he already knew..." he hesitated, "and then lied about the rest of it, sort of."

For a brief second Sirius was sure that shock had flickered across the Headmaster's face, and then a warm smile spread across it. "You're an Occlumens."

Sirius nodded once. "Not a skill that I advertise upon having," he said dryly. "Up until now no one knew I could, but now Harry, Hermione and you know." He lowered his head. "I hadn't used Occlumency in years. I took the risk and it paid off, thankfully. It's probably the only useful skill my father ever managed to teach me. And before you ask, I was only taught this since I was the male heir of the Black family name. I doubt my Uncle Cygnus taught any of his daughters... I think it was just my father who knew the technique. He might have instructed Regulus once I was disowned though."

Dumbledore looked thoughtful. "I never ever considered that you might be able to employ Occlumency," mused Dumbledore, his blue eyes twinkling, "but what you did was very risky, especially since, on your own admission, you haven't used Occlumency in years."

"I know," sighed Sirius, pulling a strand of dark hair out of his eyes. "I couldn't let Hermione be hurt any further – they wouldn't have let her die either... It was either tell him the real thing or take a big risk. As long as Voldemort is misled, that's the main thing, right?"

"What exactly did you tell him?"

Sirius glanced around the Hospital Wing, his eyes briefly hovering on Hermione's unconscious form, before swinging back to Dumbledore. "He only acted on the first part all those years ago, the part which said: 'The one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord approaches... born to those who have thrice defied him, born as the seventh months died...'"

"That is what the spy overheard before they were caught," confirmed Dumbledore. "Go on."

"I repeated that to Voldemort and then I left out the rest of the prophecy, choosing to only tell him that 'and he will have power the Dark Lord knows not... the one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord will be born as the seventh month dies' which is the end of the prophecy. I hid the fact about the marking and the part about either must die at the hands of the other... I figured that telling him the 'he will have power' bit was okay to do because Voldemort already suspects that. He thinks he knows all of it – now he will be preoccupied trying to figure out what power Harry has that he does not, hopefully giving us time to make other arrangements that gives Harry the advantage in this war."

"I am very relieved that you kept it from him. The most important part of the prophecy remains out of his grasp. We can only hope that he does not learn that you lied," said Dumbledore, peering at Sirius over his half-moon glasses. "The prophecy is hidden in a secure location so unless he finds it, he should remain in the dark."

Sirius was frowning. "Why not just smash it? Stops him from finding it altogether and then learning the truth? If we need to keep Voldemort in the dark, surely that is the best option? Other than me, you and Harry, who else knows the full prophecy?"

"Severus does."

Sirius groaned. "You had to trust him, didn't you? I suppose it is a good thing that Snape is an excellent Occlumens then. He wouldn't suspect Snape of knowing the full thing."

"No, he wouldn't." Dumbledore was smiling, his eyes alight. "And that is where we continue to have the advantage. Severus will not betray me or the Order. We are very fortunate that your father saw fit to train you as an Occlumens."

Sirius couldn't but recognise the irony. He had spent years trying to ignore and forget all his parents had taught him, which had been one of the reasons why he had never used Occlumency in the past because he had wanted to forget. It had only been because they were being held in Malfoy Manor that his past had come running up to him and he had remembered. "If he hadn't..." He didn't want to think about what would have happened if he had really informed Voldemort of the full contents on the prophecy.

The Lestranges, despite being brought in and sentenced to Azkaban, had managed to escape on route to Azkaban prison. Kingsley Shacklebolt and Mad-Eye Moody were furious. They knew by then that there was definitely a traitor in the Auror department at the Ministry; it was just trying to find that leak and exposing them for the Death Eater they really were.

An internal investigation was underway, but both senior Aurors doubted they would find anything. The traitorous Auror had managed to stay hidden for a long time; it wouldn't surprise them if they continued to do so, especially if they were also a long-standing member of the Order of the Phoenix and had been the one passing information on the whereabouts of both Sirius Black and Harry Potter.

Only time would tell if the traitor was caught; for now, the Aurors had managed to acquire the Lestranges, only to lose them once more.

The curtains around Hermione's bed had been drawn. Harry and Ron walked towards the curtain, not knowing what they would find behind it. How would Hermione react? Ron, in an effort to cheer Hermione up, had brought her the homework she needed to do. Surely she'd appreciate that little gesture? Harry glanced over at Sirius' bed; his godfather had gone for a walk when they had entered the Hospital Wing, choosing to give them the privacy they deserved.

Harry pushed the curtain aside and stepped towards Hermione, who had awoken from her potion-induced sleep only an hour ago. "Hello, Hermione." He and Ron took chairs beside her bed and waited for her to respond.

Hermione raised her head; her eyes were deadened and she had a slight shake on. She didn't say a word.

She's in shock, thought Harry. He nudged Ron with his elbow.

"Err... I... err bought your homework for you," said Ron, carefully placing the work on Hermione's beside table. "You don't have to do it, of course... I'm sure even Professor Snape would understand..." His face reddened.

"I'll do it," she said. There was sharpness to her tone, as if she was afraid of being hurt more then she had already been.

Before they had visited her, Professor McGonagall had taken them aside and explained that Hermione had been tortured and that she was in shock, but love and friendship could go a long way to healing the wounds physically and emotionally. But neither of them knew what to say to her. They made small talk, trying to tell her what she had missed in the lessons they shared, but a glazed look had come over her face as if she was lost in memories.

In the end Madam Pomfrey had told them to leave, explaining that they should come back tomorrow. Healing would take time; it was best not to push Hermione. She would speak when she wanted to.

"I have already informed Kingsley that I will be requiring your presence at Hogwarts at random intervals. He has promised to let you go off without any question. I do not intend on seeing Harry again until later on this month. For now you are excused from Auror duties until after Harry's next lesson."

Sirius was about to object but Dumbledore raised a hand, silencing him with a stern look.

"You need to recover and, yes, I am aware your physical injuries have been healed, however it is Miss Granger I am more concerned about. You were there and are best placed to help her through her ordeal. She will need someone familiar to talk to. She may not turn to her parents as they are Muggles; you can help them understand too... I think considering the circumstances that they be brought up to date with affairs in the Wizarding World, that's if Miss Granger has not already been doing that," explained Dumbledore.

Sirius shifted uncomfortably in his seat. "You think her parents should know that there is a war going on? The history of Voldemort and what he wants to do to people like Hermione? You really believe her parents should know about that?"

"I do," replied Dumbledore, "they deserve to know what their daughter faces. As long as Hermione stands by Harry, she will always be in danger. Her parents should be aware of this. Sirius, I am asking you to make them understand. But they should know the truth of what our world faces, what there only daughter faces."

Sirius sighed. "But –"

"You wanted Harry to be prepared. You asked me to tell him the prophecy," continued Dumbledore, "and I did, against my better judgement, but I must concede that you were probably right. He deserved to know why Voldemort had tried to kill him as baby; just as Hermione Granger's parents have a right to know why their daughter will be hunted down."

He had to concede that Dumbledore had a point. He had lobbied for Harry to know the truth; he would have been angry if someone in authority had been keeping important information from him. Was it really fair that the Grangers were kept from the truth? "You have a point, but just so you know it's against my better judgement to tell them without Hermione's backing."

Dumbledore inclined his head. "If she has not kept them up-to-date, and you can get her to talk, then try to get her co-operation. It is best her parents knew. Also, Sirius before you go, -" for the younger wizard had risen to leave the office "- the reason I am including you in Harry's lessons with me is because I know you won't let him go it alone and for that I am grateful. The task that he needs to do will be a long and difficult road. Events are accelerating faster than they should have done, it is imperative for Harry to have a wizard who can perform magic without the Ministry detecting it by his side."

"What must he do?" asked Sirius. He really wished that his godson didn't have to deal with the prophecy but Voldemort had acted with incomplete knowledge. Still, at least if he could accompany him it would be make things easier for Harry to handle.

"I cannot say what Harry must do yet. That information will become known in time."

Sirius scowled. "Typical."

"It is all part of his lessons with me. He will learn exactly what he needs to do to defeat Voldemort but he has to understand his enemy first. I find that is essential when defeating a Dark Lord."

Sirius looked at the elder wizard quizzically, wondering what he meant. Dumbledore had defeated Grindelwald in the year 1945, was he, the Headmaster, saying that he knew and understand Grindelwald's entire history?

But Dumbledore did not elaborate and merely dismissed Sirius from his office leaving him with more questions than answers.

Friday 9th October 1995

Mr and Mrs Granger arrived Friday morning; the Muggle-repelling charms had been taken down to allow the Grangers into the school, but had swiftly been put back up to stop any other unwitting Muggle, who might be in the area, to stumble across the school of magic. Albus Dumbledore and Minerva McGonagall met them in the Headmaster's office where they briefly explained what had happened to their daughter. To say that they were confused was an understatement; however Dumbledore promised them that they would learn the full reason as to why their daughter had been taken when they saw her.

After their initial meeting, Professor McGonagall escorted the Grangers to the Hospital Wing where Sirius was waiting outside. He would be the one overseeing the reunion between parents and child. He had been the only one that Hermione had been willing to talk to; even with Ron and Harry she was still a bit off, but that was understandable. She didn't expect them to understand what had happened to her, however in time she would share with them what had fully occurred but she needed time. She was slowly coming out the stupor she had been sucked into upon her rescue.

"Paul and Marie Granger, I'd like you to meet Sirius Black," introduced Minerva McGonagall. "He was with your daughter during her ordeal."

Sirius held out his hand and shook first Marie's and then Paul's hand. Marie had bushy brown hair just like her daughter but Hermione's eyes came from her father. As he pulled his hand away from Paul Granger, his noticed the man scrutinise him. He suddenly felt weary.

"Weren't you on the news a few years ago?"

"Erm..." Sirius' eyes flickered to McGonagall's, wondering what he should say. He had known that the Muggle Prime Minister had been asked to put out a warning when he had escaped Azkaban, but he didn't know if the Muggle public had ever been told he was innocent or had been recaptured.

Marie was now looking at him oddly. "Yes... I seem to recall that too... You killed a lot of people...You're a wizard?" A look of horror washed across her face and she stepped back away from him, grabbing hold of her husband's arm.

"Mr and Mrs Granger, this might never have got to the Muggle world, but we discovered that Sirius was innocent of all the crimes against him. He spent twelve years in prison for something he didn't do, while the real culprit remained free. Your daughter was instrumental in saving Sirius' life and proving his innocence. You have nothing to fear from Sirius; he is a good man and saved your daughter's life."

"I'm sure you'd rather go see your daughter," interrupted Sirius. "You are here to see her and help her." He opened the door to the Hospital Wing and stepped inside. He pointed to the bed down at the end of the ward with curtains around it. "She's down there. If you need anything let me know. I'll be waiting outside." He was about to step out again when Hermione's voice came from behind the curtains.

"I want you to stay, Sirius."

He hesitated, glancing at her parents.

"Hermione wants you to stay..." Paul hesitated, "I think we should respect her choice."

Sirius nodded and walked behind the Grangers. It was not his place to be here, but Hermione had requested his presence.

Marie reached the curtain shielding Hermione and pulled it back.

"Hello mum," said Hermione, quietly. She was dishevelled; her bushy brown hair unusually limp around her shoulders and her face was pale, and a slight shake still availed her. "Dad."

"Hermione!" Marie pulled her daughter into a fierce hug. Hermione seemed to flinch but then settled into the warm, familiar embrace. Only Sirius seemed to notice her reaction. "How are you, honey?"

"I'm okay," swallowed Hermione, her voice devoid of emotion.

Small talk began between daughter and parents while Sirius watched who remained uncomfortable being privy to such a private moment. It soon became clear that Hermione could not stave off what she had to say to her parents.

"Sirius, I need your help, explaining a few things to mum and dad," she said quietly.

Dutifully, Sirius pulled up a chair beside Hermione's bed and sat down upon it, facing Paul and Marie.

"What is it?" her father asked; a hint of weariness in his voice.

Hermione bit her lip. "I haven't told you everything about the Wizarding World. You know about my friend Harry, Harry Potter, well, Sirius here, is his godfather. You know that when Harry was a baby, there was a bad wizard who murdered his parents and tried to kill him and it backfired and Harry defeated him?" Her voice began to shake and Sirius grabbed her hand, calming her.

Her parents nodded.

"He's back. Voldemort is back." Any fear Hermione had, had of saying the name had been burned out of her during her captivity. "And the Wizarding World is at war. People like me are being targeted because I am unworthy."

"What does that mean? How can you be unworthy?" asked Marie, confusion evident in her face.

Hermione glanced to Sirius. This was where he came in.

"The Wizarding World is split. There are those who care about the purity of blood and lineage and there are those who simply do not care. Hermione is classified as a Muggle-born witch, which means she is the first in your family to have magic, but to some people, specifically the old pure-blood families, they find that Hermione's parentage makes her not worthy to study magic or join our world. Voldemort, in short, is a racist who believes that anyone of Hermione's parentage should be killed; he also wants to rule over the Muggle world. He started this when I was still at school and I fought against him." He glanced at Hermione and she gave him a small nod, urging him to continue. "I come from a family that is riddled with the Dark Arts, the type of magic that is outlawed in our society. My family also believed that Muggle-born witches and wizards as well as half-bloods were unworthy and should be eliminated. I didn't buy into that philosophy. Those that do think that believe Hermione and any others like her are polluting our world. They wish to end this. The majority of the pure-blood families buy into this way of thinking; there are only a few pure-blood families that do not think that. Harry's father, my best friend, James Potter was a pure-blood, but his family didn't care about the purity of blood. James married a Muggle-born witch which makes Harry a half-blood. This is a war about controlling the Wizarding World and subjecting the Muggle world too. Hermione and any one born of her blood are in danger."

Sirius took a deep breath, wondering how far he could go. Once again he sought Hermione's approval.

"Tell them about what happened and why it did," she instructed.

"My godson, Harry, is a target of Voldemort's. He has been ever since he defeated him when he was a baby. Voldemort attacked Hogsmeade in an attempt to capture me, he succeeded, but my cousin, Bellatrix Lestrange, caught Hermione. I do not think they intended on taking anyone else at the time but Bella has it in for those of Muggle parentage." He bit his lip. "Your daughter was unfortunately subjected to torture –"

Marie's face went white as a sheet, and she grabbed for her husband's hand.

"I was given an ultimatum: tell them what they wanted to know or watch Hermione be tortured. I told them what they wanted to save her life. They turned on me after that. We were rescued not long after but we were held for nearly five days. Before I was given the choice to save Hermione or betray an organisation I am a part of, she was subjected to pain. I couldn't stop that," he explained. "The war is ongoing and inevitably because Hermione is a friend of Harry's, she will remain a target."

"So, this could happen again?" whispered Paul. "Our daughter could still become a casualty of war?"

Sirius nodded. "Unfortunately, yes. Mr Granger, there are people working to stop Voldemort. I'm an Auror and my job is to protect people, people like your daughter. I can promise you that I will do everything in my power to keep Hermione safe, but no matter what I do - because of her being a Muggle-born - she will always be a target."

"If our daughter can't be kept safe," began Marie.

"- then we must pull her out of school," finished Paul, crossing his arms.

"NO!" yelled Hermione. "Dad, I have to stay! I have to fight! And –" she faltered. "And, Harry needs me. I have to fight back, to prove that I am worthy of being a part of this world. If I come home, I won't be safe. They'll still track me down, just to get at Harry. Harry's my friend and he'll play an important part in this war, even Sirius can't stop that! The least I can do is support him! If I don't then I'm not much of a friend, am I?"

Her parents exchanged glances, the decision to their daughter's safety a hard one to make.

"Hogwarts is safe from Voldemort," said Sirius. "While Dumbledore is Headmaster, he won't be able to take the school, nor will he be able to touch Hermione. We were unfortunate that the village that students are permitted to visit was attacked. On any other day, Hogwarts is the safest place your daughter can be. Going back to the Muggle world won't help her, because when the Death Eaters learn that, they will come and find her and they won't hesitate to kill her." He felt that they deserved the blunt truth, no matter how much he hated saying it.

"Mum, dad, please, I know I have to stay. But I need you to help me through this. I can't deal with what happened to me while knowing that you don't want me to stay... I need to fight back otherwise I'll just be proving them right about Muggle-borns not being worthy to be a part of the magical world. I have to fight back to prove them wrong." Hermione's face was glistening with tears. "Please?"

Marie reached forward and grasped her daughter's hand, slowly stroking the top of it. A quick glance at Paul confirmed that he was thinking the same thoughts as her. "Hermione, we love you and we don't want to lose you ... but if you feel you have to stay and fight, then we'll support you."

Tears slid down Hermione's face, a small smile began to form on her face; the first one that Sirius had seen since their capture. She took hold of her mother's hand in hers and her father's in the other. "Thanks mum, thanks dad."

To be continued...

Please let me know what you think!

Coming next: Acceptance - in which Harry discusses his options, and Sirius and Hermione have a talk. Preview below...

"Friends are your greatest ally."

"Do you think I stand a chance, Professor?"

"But you don't want to involve us?"

"I want to fight back."

"You've done nothing wrong..."

"I did wonder why Mr Weasley was looking at me like I was mad."

Pretty ambiguous I think... Will be posted on Monday.

Until then,

the-writer1988