Disclaimer: if I were JKR, I wouldn't be freaking out over exams.

Albus Dumbledore had a huge headache. This wasn't a very rare occurrence as he held several very high positions in the Wizarding World, but the headache was not being caused by that. It was the fiasco with the founders' memories.

There hadn't been anything like this recorded in history. This appeared to be the first time such a thing ever occurred. Except... the timing of it was just perfect. Too perfect. He had been scanning the faces of all the students and staff, and there was no indication that they knew what was happening.

Of course, he was happy about this as it would turn several of the students from the dark and possibly unite them. He had seen the Houses beginning to slowly, but surely extend hands to each other after the whole scenario. But the spells the founders used were troubling. And that they quite often killed during battle, even if it was to protect innocents... he thought that Slytherin took his motto too seriously. He was afraid that the students would be influenced. The dark arts were far too powerful and dangerous to be dabbled in. Look at what happened to Tom Riddle. No, it was far too intoxicating to trust people with. If they became far too powerful, it could prove to be a threat to the Wizarding World. Equality was key after all.

Dumbledore turned his mind back to more pressing matters. Someone appeared to be stealing Harry's bank statements. He had to get to the bottom of this before Harry found out. Though he would be careful to regulate what the boy received, the child deserved some happiness after all, before he died. It was necessary to get the horcrux out of his head in order for Voldemort to die. And the only way was to be killed, ironically by Voldemort himself.

Draco Malfoy gazed incredulously at the letter in his hand.

Dear Draco,

I hope you are doing fine, and your school work is up to par. There is a package of sweets I am sending to you along with this letter.

Now, Draco, what I am about to say is not to be mentioned to anyone, even in passing! If your father hears of this...

You have undoubtedly heard about the Sirius Black case. He is in fact my cousin. I do not believe he could have done what he was imprisoned for.

Sirius was always very hot-headed, reckless and very straightforward. He would let no one push him around and always stood up for what he believed in. It was no wonder he became a Gryffindor. When he was sixteen, his parents tried to force him to take the dark mark, and he refused and ran away to the Potters' with nothing but his wand and the clothes on his back.

My point is, I think he is innocent. As to why I am telling you all this; Draco, you have your whole life ahead of you! Don't waste it by grovelling at the feet of a murderous hypocritical megalomaniac. No matter what your father says, that is all the Dark Lord is and ever will be. Keep this information to yourself for now. I will instruct you further on what to do about this.

Sirius Black is our last hope. He is now the Head of the most Ancient and Noble House of Black, which carries a lot of sway in our world. Your father will lead us straight into nothing but ruin. There is a lot I cannot put into a letter for security reasons. But please, for Merlin's sake; stay on Harry Potter's good side! Being the godson of Sirius and utterly famous to boot, he could be of great help to us!

Your mother,

Narcissa

Draco carefully folded up the letter and placed in his pocket. He had a lot to think about.

Kreacher moved slowly through the house. In his trembling hands were several vials of potions he had brewed. He went to Master Regulus' room. Quietly pushing open the door, he sidled into the room decorated in green and silver. He didn't look at the rich tapestries or the various trinkets littering the room. No, his eyes were riveted on the pale, almost unmoving figure on the bed.

Regulus Black lay under the dark green covers, just barely alive, and only so due to the quick thinking, devotion and care of his old house elf. The only traces of his handsome youth were his still silky black hair and his aristocratic jaw line.

Kreacher had very little hope of his waking up. After all it had been fourteen years. But now, there was a bit more hope.

Sirius Black had escaped.

Kreacher didn't like him; he had broken his master's heart after all, like the blood traitor he was. But he knew that Sirius was now his other master, as he had never been officially disowned. He also knew that Sirius was possibly the only hope left for his young master. So, he had to wait.

A large black dog, looking uncannily like a Grim, moved silently through the forest he knew so well. He followed the tracks he and his friends had made so long ago in the dirt. The memories of them playing together under the full moon seemed to be from a different life; a different person.

This dog was no ordinary dog. He was in fact a man, a fugitive, whose name was notoriously well-known in the world he was born into.

The last few days were a messy blur in his mind. Not that he could remember much from the past years either. All he knew were screams and nightmares and pleas for mercy that never came. But one day stood out in his scarred mind. The day Cornelius Fudge visited him and gave him his newspaper.

He remembered the rat. How could he not? It was because of him he had spent so long in that god-forsaken place. When he saw the picture of the rat on the redhead's shoulder, his already fragile mind nearly snapped. Only one thought calmed him down. Harry.

Harry, the reason he had escaped in the first place. Harry, the reason Voldemort was gone. Harry, the reason he was heading to an area that he knew was now infested with Dementors, which were looking for him. Harry, the boy he had vowed to protect, his godson.

He had heard that Remus was teaching at the school this year. He inwardly smiled. Moony (did he even have the right to call him that?) was always very professor-ish. Would he believe him then? Would he believe that Sirius Black, a fugitive with a background as dark as his name, a friend whom he had condemned and cursed, was in fact innocent? It would require further thought.

But for now, his first and foremost duty was to hunt down and eliminate Wormtail from the universe.

I'm back! So updates will be a little slow for now because I have exams coming up but not too slow. About once in nine- ten days is all. Now to those of you who reviewed and gave me ideas- thank you very much! You all have been very helpful to me. This chapter was a bit hard to write as my ideas were all over the place, but the next one will (hopefully) be better. I'm having some trouble sticking to the time frame, especially since there will be time travel from the next chapter onwards so I'll have to work on that. Anyway, please rate and review, and i hope you enjoy this chapter! Until next time!