AUTHOR'S NOTE: HpFanFicLoverXoX, thank you for your kind words! I'm not sure why there wasn't an option to message you, but I still wanted to thank you! And I'm glad you think I have a future in writing, as I hope to be an author someday. There are plenty of surprises down the road in this story so hang tight!

Now for Chapter 39.

Harry was glad Quidditch season (along with his training) began a week later, because flying was pretty much the only thing that distracted him from his falling-out with Hermione. Quidditch, along with the support of Ron and Sirius, was the only thing keeping Harry's life from turning into a complete depression-addled haze.

It had been almost two weeks since the fight on Thursday morning, which happened to be Halloween. Harry and Ron walked to Charms without Hermione, and when they got there, Professor Flitwick announced that they would be making objects fly. Harry's heart fell at a sudden memory.

"Right now. The bigger and heavier the object, the harder it is to make it levitate," said Hermione, grabbing a ballpoint pen from Harry's desk. "So we should start with something small and light, like this pen. Do it like this—Wingardium Leviosa!"

The pen floated up into the air. Hermione let it hover for a moment, then let it down.

"Wingardium Leviosa!" said Harry, waving his wand. The pen twitched slightly.

"See, it's not so much of a wave, more of a swish-and-flick," said Hermione, demonstrating with her wand. "Swish and flick."

"Swish and flick," said Harry, trying to imitate her movements. He was feeling more idiotic by the moment. "Wingardium Leviosa. Wingardium Leviosa!"

Still, the pen just gave a feeble sort of jump.

"Well, that's something," said Hermione.

Harry remembered how he had felt at first that he could never do the Hover Charm, but he and Hermione had worked through it until he'd been able to levitate his pillow, and Sirius had walked into the room just as Hermione had been trying to levitate the bed. She would have been able to do it, too, Harry thought.

Professor Flitwick put them into pairs. Harry was afraid he would be partnered with Hermione, but no, he got Seamus Finnigan and Flitwick partnered Ron with Hermione. They both seemed less than happy about this. Hermione was just as angry with Ron as she was with Harry, and as for Ron, he was furious with Hermione for breaking Harry's heart, and never missed an opportunity to make scathing comments about her or send scorching looks in her direction.

If he had been at his best, Harry thought, he might have been able to make the feather in front of him hover. After all, he had levitated a pillow, and that was just filled with many feathers. But today he was too busy watching Ron and Hermione.

"Wingardium Leviosa!" shouted Ron, waving his arms all around. Hermione glared at him.

"You're saying it wrong," she told him harshly. "It's Win-gar-dium Levi-o-sa, make the 'gar' nice and long."

"You do it, then, if you're so clever."

Hermione did the swish-and-flick, said the incantation, and her and Ron's feather floated four feet above their heads. Professor Flitwick clapped.

"Oh, well done!" he cried. "Everyone see here, Miss Granger's done it!"

"Wow," said Seamus Finnigan next to Harry.

"Has anyone else succeeded?" squeaked Professor Flitwick. "How about you, Mr. Potter?"

It had been awhile since Harry had levitated anything. Still…he couldn't just tell Professor Flitwick he couldn't do it…

"I'll do it instead," Seamus Finnigan offered.

"No! That's okay," said Harry. Seamus Finnigan had been known to set several things on fire by accident during class, and the last thing Harry needed was to have his eyebrows scorched off because he couldn't do a basic Hover Charm. But he felt Hermione's eyes on him, making him extremely nervous; his voice cracked horribly on the "gar" part and the feather barely twitched.

Hermione was watching him with an open mouth now; he cleared his throat and was about to try again but he felt his eyes burning and then he realized Ron was right. The worst thing to do would be to let Hermione know this was getting to him, and she would definitely know now. But he could not stand it, trying and failing to perform the spell she had taught him, while she looked on...Harry kept clearing his throat but it made no difference, and then—

"Oh no, he's having another coughing fit," Harry heard someone saying. "I thought you were over your cold, Harry."

It was Ron; he pulled Harry up by the neck of his robes, then slung Harry's arm over his shoulders.

"I'd better get him to the hospital wing, Professor Flitwick." Ron was looking more serious than Harry had ever seen him. "I think he needs a Pepper-Up Potion."

"Very well then, Mr. Weasley," Professor Flitwick said, looking bewildered, and even though Harry's legs felt like lead, Ron hauled him out of the room. Ron didn't speak or let go of Harry until they had rounded the corner.

"What was that all about?" Ron demanded.

"I-I don't know," Harry said truthfully, his voice still shaky.

"Look. You need to forget about her!" Ron snarled. "She's making you miserable! Do you want to be with a girl who makes you feel like that?"

"But she didn't used to make me feel like that," Harry told him weakly, using his thumb to wipe a stray tear out of his eye. "Things used to be great! She used to make me feel this way I'd never felt before and—"

"Ugghhh!" Ron groaned in disgust. "Come on, Harry! Maybe Madam Pomfrey can give you a Calming Draught."

Harry was still fighting back tears by the time Ron got him to the hospital wing. It was a good thing Madam Pomfrey didn't ask too many questions, because Harry didn't know what he would have said if she had asked him why or how he had gotten so worked up. He didn't even know himself. Ron, still looking exasperated, went back to Charms, and Harry took the potion Madam Pomfrey gave him. Then she forced him to stay in bed.

Sirius came to visit during lunchtime. In his enchanted pockets he had a bunch of food, including Harry's favorite dessert, treacle tart.

"How are you, Harry?" he asked kindly, sitting down on the edge of Harry's bed and setting the containers of food on the bed.

"Lousy," said Harry, grabbing a big slice of treacle tart and biting into it like it was a slice of pizza. Sirius didn't lecture him for not using a fork, nor did he insist that Harry eat some "real food" before he ate any dessert.

"Listen, I know you might not be in the mood, but I'm holding a Halloween party tonight down in the dungeons for everyone in Gryffindor, starting about six," Sirius told him. "Going to the party might cheer you up. Besides, Ron said he had a pirate costume and his mother made you a matching pirate costume too."

"No, I'll go," Harry said listlessly. "Ron is right. Just because Hermione and I aren't friends anymore doesn't mean I shouldn't enjoy myself…"

Sirius looked a little perplexed. "Did you say you two aren't friends anymore?"

"Yeah," Harry said. "Didn't you already know that?"

"Well, actually, I thought—eh, never mind." Sirius cleared his throat. "Are you saying all that happened was you two had an argument?"

Harry nodded.

"C'mere, kid." Sirius beckoned for Harry to sit next to him, and so he did; Sirius put his arm around him and sighed. "Listen. All friends have arguments sometimes. Even me and your dad. But that doesn't mean the friendship is over."

"It doesn't?"

"Of course not," said Sirius. "I'm sure this wasn't the end of your friendship."

"Ron said the best thing to do is to act like it doesn't bother me," Harry told him.

"Well, now, that's not very good advice, is it?" said Sirius. "I mean…the only way you can clear the air is to say what's bothering you. I seriously doubt she knows just how much she hurt you."

"But he said I'm better off without her," Harry insisted.

"I know how you feel about Hermione, Harry," said Sirius, "and I think you are better off with her."

"What do you mean, you know how I feel?" Harry demanded, remembering it. "How could you know?"

"I'm not stupid, Harry," said Sirius softly.

"I never said you were!" Harry said back, feeling frustrated.

"Just think about what I said, all right?" Sirius ruffled Harry's hair and stood up. "I have to get to class now. Seventh-year Slytherin and Gryffindor, you know."

"I'd better get to class then, too," said Harry.

"You stay where you are!" Madam Pomfrey barked. "I want to make sure you're well before you go anywhere!"

Harry didn't complain, for this would mean skipping History of Magic. Sirius patted Harry on the shoulder and left the room. Harry did think about what Sirius said, but he didn't know if he could talk to Hermione. Pretending the fight didn't bother him had seemed like the best thing to do, to hear Ron tell it. But according to Sirius, Harry and Hermione wouldn't be friends again until Harry told her she had hurt his feelings. But when would he tell her? Certainly not tonight. Maybe tomorrow, after Care of Magical Creatures.

Around five, Ron came back to the hospital wing and gave Harry the pirate costume Mrs. Weasley had sewn for him. Ron was already in his costume, and he had Scabbers perched on his shoulder. Scabbers was going to be the parrot on his shoulder, he explained, and he thought maybe Hedwig could be Harry's parrot.

"Well…I don't think she would really want to do that," said Harry. "And your rat will be a very sleepy parrot. But I'll put on the pirate costume."

Harry had to admit, the sight of himself dressed up for Halloween did raise his spirits a little. He had never gone trick-or-treating before, because he never had any friends to go with, and as for a Halloween party, nobody had ever invited him to any party at all. The students were allowed to wear their Halloween costumes to school, but Harry knew that whatever he chose, he'd be laughed at, so he just went as himself every year since his first year at primary school.

"All right now," said Ron. "Sirius's party is at six, and so is the Halloween feast. But Sirius says he knows some secret ways to get into Hogsmeade, and he'll provide refreshments."

…

Harry and Ron hung out in the Gryffindor dorms until six, when it was time to go to the Halloween party in the dungeons. It was only for Gryffindors, so Ravenclaw, Slytherin, and Hufflepuff were all eating at the feast.

Ron put Scabbers in his pocket (he said he didn't want to keep him on his shoulder all night, in case he got cold down in the dungeons), and he and Harry headed to the party.

"Harry! Ron!" Sirius sounded pleased. "So glad you could make it!"

"Us too," Ron told him. "We're pirates."

"I can see that," said Sirius. "Now, go enjoy the refreshments while we wait for the rest of the guests."

Almost all of Gryffindor turned up. Ron said he wasn't surprised when his brother Percy didn't—he wasn't a fan of parties and was at the Halloween feast, telling people off for chewing too loudly, probably. Of course Fred and George showed up. Sirius seemed to like them; he said they reminded him of himself and Harry's father when they were younger. Harry thought Hermione wouldn't turn up, but she did, dressed as a 1960's flower child, although she kept to herself, mostly hanging around the refreshments table.

Sirius had brought a record player and was playing his favorite music, classic Muggle rock. According to him, both he and James had fallen in love with it the moment they heard it. He played "Monster Mash", of course, since it was Halloween, and the song had come out when he was nearly three years old. Harry was glad he had come, because dancing away his troubles felt great.

The older kids started demanding slow songs, so Sirius played "Total Eclipse of the Heart". Harry watched the couples grab each other, like magnets. Nearly all of the first years and a great majority of the second years were sitting out, hovering awkwardly by the refreshments table, shoving Honeydukes chocolate into their faces, while the older kids close-danced.

Ron was one of the people devouring chocolate. The song's haunting melody didn't seem to affect him at all. Hermione was sitting in a chair, sipping butterbeer, her brown eyes wide and lonely. Harry thought her costume looked nice. She was wearing sandals, a halo of flowers, a shapeless white gown, and a big rainbow peace-sign necklace. At the moment, however, you'd think that whatever cause she was supporting wasn't going very well.

Once upon a time I was falling in love…Now I'm only falling apart…

"Oh, cheer up," said Ron, noticing Harry watching her. "Come on, I'll show you something funny."

Harry didn't think there was anything that could cheer him up, but it was a little funny when Ron took Scabbers out of his pocket and moved across the dance floor, pretending to dance with his useless pet rat.

But then they heard Sirius's yell, louder than it had ever been, the music still playing as Sirius ran towards Ron…

I really need you tonight…Forever's gonna start tonight…Forever's gonna start tonight…

"Ron!" Sirius barked. "Give me that rat!"

"What? Why?" Ron said in shock.

"Because he's not a rat," Sirius shouted, "no more than I am a dog!"

As the song finally ended, Harry realized what Sirius was talking about.

"It's Wormtail, Ron!" Harry cried. "Peter Pettigrew! Your rat is the one who framed Sirius!"

Everyone was crowding around now, fascinated. Harry was the only one not focused on Scabbers, because he was too focused on Sirius. There on his godfather's face was a look Harry had never seen before. It was complete, utter loathing, all twisted up in his hatred; he was already drawing his wand from his black Halloween robes.

"What are you going to do to him, Sirius?" Ron asked worriedly.

Sirius didn't listen. Instead, he turned his wand on the rat, and suddenly, he wasn't a rat anymore. He was a man, a fat, short man who had gone mostly bald. His face was still sort of ratlike, and, looking up at Sirius, his expression was one of utter terror.

"How ironic it is, Wormtail," Sirius snarled, "that Halloween will be the day you die!"

"D-d-die?" Pettigrew stammered, sounding like Quirrell.

"Don't you remember what happened on this very night, ten years ago?" Sirius's voice was a growl. "You took away what was most important to me, and now I'm going to take away what's most important to you."

Wormtail looked around frantically. His eyes fell on Harry; he crawled desperately to him and started blathering about how Harry looked like his father. This was a mistake.

There was a collective gasp from everyone in the room as Sirius transformed into Padfoot mid-jump and tackled Wormtail to the ground, sinking inch-long fangs into his left arm. It seemed Sirius didn't believe Wormtail deserved to die a quick and painless death. Wormtail howled in agony as blood gushed from the wound.

Quite apart from being stunned at how big Padfoot was (each paw was bigger than Harry's whole hand spread out, and on his hind legs Padfoot was still several heads taller than Harry, and probably at least one hundred and fifty pounds heavier), Harry couldn't believe he was watching his godfather mauling someone in front of almost every Gryffindor in the school. Was this against the rules? Harry didn't care about Wormtail, but he didn't want Sirius to, say, get sacked.

Hermione came running up to them and squealed, "No, Sirius, no!"

"Stop!" Harry chimed in, trying to wrap his arms around Padfoot and pull him away. Reluctantly, the massive dog turned back into a man.

"What?!" he snapped. Wormtail was rocking back and forth, caterwauling, clutching his utterly mangled arm. It had nearly been bitten in half. His face was turning very white.

"I think he's losing too much blood," Hermione gasped. "Sirius, he's dying!"

"Good," Sirius snarled. "I'll watch you die, Peter, right in front of me, right in front of every Gryffindor. You have shamed your alma mater. You have shamed your friends. You have shamed wizardkind. I don't mind watching you bleed to death."

"If he dies, Sirius, you'll be sent back to prison, this time on real charges," Hermione pleaded. "You can't let this happen."

"But—"

"Sirius, she's right." Harry walked up to Sirius, looked at the dying Wormtail, then back at his godfather again. "When you tried to kill him ten years ago, you didn't have anything. My parents were dead, and you couldn't keep me. But that's not how things are now. This time you have something to live for. Think of me. Think of Barbara. Think of Ron and Hermione. Think of Gryffindor. You have a reason to stay out of prison this time. Don't go, Sirius. I love you so much."

"You're the best teacher we've ever had," Fred Weasley added. "Much better than Professor Kettleburn ever was."

"Yeah, he always gave us loads of homework," George agreed.

Sirius frowned, looked from Harry to the twitching, white-faced Wormtail, then back to Harry again. Then he ran to Wormtail's side.

"I need a belt! Somebody get me a belt!" he barked, his face now quite as white as Wormtail's.

"I-I've got an underwire bra," said a female seventh-year, pulling hers off, to everyone's shock. "Will that work, Professor Black?"

"Wonderfully."

Sirius reached his hand up and caught the brassiere in one hand. Harry couldn't see what he was doing to Wormtail's arm, but he knew it must have been painful, because Wormtail was screaming in pain. When it was all over, Sirius moved aside; Wormtail was as pale as ever, but his arm had stopped bleeding, and the bra, along with Sirius's own wand, was tied above the elbow.

"Oh," Hermione breathed. "It's a tourniquet."

"Someone get him up to the hospital wing," Sirius growled, pointing upwards. "And call the Ministry of Magic. Tell them we've got a criminal to lock up."

Percy wasn't there, but the other Prefects rushed to him and one performed the Mobilicorpus spell, levitating him upstairs to the hospital wing, where hopefully his arm could be fixed, and he could get sent to Azkaban in one piece.

"Sirius," Harry said, "you saved Wormtail's life."

"Don't remind me," Sirius said in disgust.

"How did you learn to do that?" Hermione asked, her eyes wide.

"James and I took a class on it one summer," Sirius explained. "So that we could save each other's lives if the need ever arose. We thought it would come in handy, but I never thought it would happen this way."

"You'd better head up to the hospital wing, Sirius," Hermione said nervously. "I expect the Minister of Magic is going to want to talk to you."

"You're right," Sirius said glumly, giving Harry, Hermione and Ron hugs. "We'll see each other again soon."

The trio watched Sirius go up the stairs, and so did every other Gryffindor. Harry was about to start talking to Ron again when he felt someone tug on his hand. It was Hermione.

"Harry," she whispered. "Will you come with me? I need to tell you something."

Staring into her deep brown eyes, blood pounding in his ears, Harry nodded.