Severus had decided that they would stay the extra night in Paris, going out and having a wonderful meal in the City of Lights, and gone to sleep with filled stomachs. Early the next morning, they had breakfast at a café before heading back home, easily getting into the Channel Tunnel. Dropping the car off in the driveway of Severus and Alexander's home, the trio then took a Portkey to Hogsmeade.

Hermione and Alexander left Severus in their dust, racing up to the school and turning quickly to head to the forest, calling out the second they breached the trees, "Nye! Firenze! We're back!"

The second they entered Firenze's home, they were overrun by an ecstatic Golden Pegasus, "I've missed you both so much! How was your holiday? Did you miss me? What did you see? Did you see any other Pegasi? Ooh, were there monsters?"

"Nye, settle down," Mia laughed loudly, wrapping him into a tight hug, "We missed you so much too. Come and sit down, we'll tell you all about our trip. Where's Firenze?"

"He went to see the herd about something he spied in the stars but should be back later on," the horse collapsed on the moss bed and spread his wings invitingly.

The teens laughed and fell in there with him, getting comfortable and told him all about their travels. The Pegasus was rapt at everything they said, giving off the appropriate gasps or chuckles when needed. He actually licked the demigods when they told him they were officially going out, causing them to elbow him in the side, which he barely felt. When talking about their weapons, they drew them, allowing Nye to look them over, his feathers shuddering from the power.

Finally they were done, and the sun was high in the air, beating down on them through the break in the tree canopy. As they were sweating, and because they really wanted to, the teens changed into swim suits and raced to the Black Lake, Nye on their heels. Just as they were able to dive in, they felt a set of teeth grasp their pants waists and lift them into the air. Nye had grabbed them and was soaring up. When he was high enough, the Pegasus let them go, eliciting excited screams from the teenagers, who gracefully entered the water.

When they emerged, Nye was snickering on the bank, "You look funny Lex."

"Oh yeah?" With a large reach, both demigods were able to pull the horse into the lake with them.

Nye hated swimming, it was one of the things he really didn't do at all if he could get out of it, so when he breached the surface, he was quickly out of the water and glaring at the laughing teens, "Not funny."

"Yeah, it was hilarious"

Eventually Nye settled back down on the bank, though he did watch carefully whenever the demigods were near him, not wanting to be dragged back in. After an hour, they had a visitor from the forest. Firenze had heard their playfully banter from his home and came out to find them, "Hello there."

"Firenze!" Lex and Mia leapt out of the water and hugged the centaur, "We missed you."

"And I you my foals," the half-man said caringly, "I sense you collected your weapons."

Nodding, the pair drew them and handed them over to their teacher, who scrutinised them before passing them back. Lex asked the man, "Why were you seeing the herd?"

"Come back to my home, we will talk there"

Once they were all settled around the softly burning fire, Firenze sighed, "For 2 weeks I have been seeing a Grim in the future, but no deaths that join it. I was concerned as I thought it would be a sign that the Dark One was returning soon, but then I heard from Professor Grubbly-Plank that there was an escape from Azkaban prison a couple days ago. So I went to see the herd to find out if they have had any different readings than me. I was in luck as they had seen the Grim also, only their interpretation was different to mine. It was not a Grim I was seeing, it was the Canis Major, the greater dog; particularly the brightest star in the constellation, Sirius. Bane saw that it was in stress, turmoil, over a wrongdoing and a need to keep one safe; of course, he then said it was a waste of his time to look over a human's future. Everything fell into place when I remembered the name of the escaped prisoner; Sirius Black."

"Who is Sirius Black?"

"A man that you should ask Severus about, I was a foal myself when he attended Hogwarts and do not know much about him or the crimes he is said to have committed. All I know is that the stars believe him to be innocent," Firenze began ushering the pair out, "Talk to Severus and I intend on having you both down here tomorrow morning for training with your weapons. And to hear all about your holidays."

"Okay Firenze. Bye Nye, be good," placing a kiss on the Pegasus' forehead, the couple ran from the forest.

They found Severus in the Great Hall, talking to Minerva heatedly, "You cannot allow those monsters around the school; it isn't safe for the children."

"It is not my choice Severus, the bloody Minister wants them here in case Black shows his face, so go yell at him," the Scottish brogue was thick, the woman was annoyed.

"You're the Headmistress of this school, tell Fudge to shove his suggestion up his bowler!"

Lex and Mia stood there listening to the adults arguing before clearing their throats, "Hi."

"Oh Harry, Hermione, we didn't see you there," Minerva said, surprised.

"Yes, well we were looking for Severus and heard you both arguing," the couple walked further into the room, "May we enquire as to what these monsters are that the Minister is placing within the school? If we are to be assistant professors this term, we will need to have all necessary information to keep the other students safe."

"Yes, yes you will," the headmistress sighed, "A couple days ago a prisoner escaped from Azkaban…"

"Sirius Black, yeah, Firenze told us about that. He said that we should ask Severus about him, and also that the stars tell a story of a man who was done wrong, which wouldn't be that surprising the Ministry and the stories of how insane things were back then."

Both adults were slightly stunned but the witch continued, "Well he was heard saying that 'he' was at Hogwarts. Now, Severus will explain who everyone believes 'he' is later but the Minister has insisted that Dementors be placed around the school's boundaries to capture him should he attempt to enter. The creatures are worse than evil, they suck out every happy thought, leaving you cold in the hottest of places. I'd rather have death himself come for me than be around them."

"So why can't you just tell the Minister that you don't want them here?"

"Because he can't see anything past the headlines that would come if he was to do nothing," Minerva said, stressed to the point of cracking, "These things should be destroyed, not placed around a school, a feeding frenzy for them as all children have at least one happy memory. If you'll excuse me, I need to go yell to a moron again. It is a pleasure to see you both back and will have your teaching schedules ready in a week."

"Thank you ma'am," as soon as the witch was gone, the demigods turned to Severus, "We can talk later, we need to Floo somewhere."

Severus just sighed and walked to his quarters, he had known that this would happen as soon as he saw the coupe standing there, listening. Once they were standing in front of his Floo, he asked, "Do you need me with you?"

"We'll be fine, we're just going to go see Madam Bones," the demigods embraced the man before stepping into the emerald flames together, "Ministry of Magic."