Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter or Prince of Tennis!

...

...

Dumbledore was frowning as he put the paper down. The bold headline was practically lighting up to him:

SIRIUS BLACK – A MASS-MURDERER OR WRONGLY IMPRISONED IN AZKABAN?!

That was some headline and the article was more informed than he believed when he first saw the headline. He thought it was just another journalist trying to create a name and go for shock and awe tactics, but this… this was so informed that the candidates for Karen Dillon's source were very restricted.

He pressed his fingers together as he pondered this new information. The article had been incredibly on the point and raised a lot of questions about Sirius and the weaknesses in the case against him.

Sirius Black never had a trial and was directly placed in Azkaban where everyone seemed to forget about him until the day he escaped. The chaos of the aftermath of the defeat of You-Know-Who had everyone so distracted that no one questioned why there never was talk about a trial for Sirius Black. He was forgotten and stayed locked up without getting the right of a fair defence like the law states. But was he forgotten by the Ministry or did they simply just decide he was guilty and never bothering to give him his trial?

That was one part of the article and it was right on the point. It would create questions and Dumbledore wondered how Dillon had stumbled upon this. He remembered her from her schooling and knew she was a good writer and always had a sense for justice, unlike Skeeter. He also knew that the Ministry would have some answering to do for this to blow over. If it would.

Then there were the other parts of the article to consider. It brought a different side of the story that was told, and it was why he was so unnerved. This was information that not many people knew. He skimmed the part of Sirius' backstory at school and his friendship with James before he got to the part, he was more interested in.

The fact that Black was laughing when he was arrested just after the murders was another sign of his guilt, or so those who were there thought. They saw it as a sign that he was mad and that he had completely lost it after the defeat of You-Know-Who.

But what if something else happened that made him tip over? What if it wasn't because he was upset over You-Know-Who, but rather the Potter's? I have shown you the close relationship that was between James Potter and Sirius Black. They were so close that James and Lily made Sirius their daughters godfather. So, couldn't it be because he was grieving his best friends?

I will also point to something that no one has written anything about before, namely Peter Pettigrew. How do we know he is dead?

That part really convinced Dumbledore that she had talked to someone who knew. That someone who had talked with Sirius after his escape had leaked this to the press and the candidates for that was few. But which one of them would do this? Peter Pettigrew had not gotten much attention at all, even after the supposed murder. He had been mentioned almost as a last thought in the media coverage of Sirius Black when he first had been arrested.

And the fact that Sirius was Hari's godfather… well, he had worked hard to keep that quiet. He didn't want it known because it would colour the way people looked at Hari. He had done everything he could back after Sirius had first been arrested to stop the information getting out. Luckily, with the war going on James and Lily had been rather private about their lives outside of the Order and even more so when they went into hiding.

With a frown, he kept reading.

There wasn't a body found after Black allegedly killed Peter Pettigrew. The only trace of him they found was a finger. Not much to go on, is it? So, who says Pettigrew really is dead?

"He was caught in the explosion," an old Auror who was there told me. "Black blew him up. He's dead."

Yet, the muggles that were close by was still there and whole. They had some burns but nothing close to being completely gone like Pettigrew. How could that be? No one had a good answer to that and seemed more interesting in waving it off instead of looking at it more closely.

And there's what Hari Potter told Minister Fudge in March when she was accused of helping Sirius Black;

"It wasn't Sirius! It was Pettigrew! He was hiding as a rat!"

Minister Fudge thought she was making it up.

"She was delusional! Seriously, who would believe that Pettigrew had been hiding as a rat for all these years? Maybe Black did something to her, but more likely; she wanted to mess with me!" Fudge told me when I asked him about it. "Forget it! Pettigrew is dead! Black killed him!"

Well, I don't think so. I can see another reason why Pettigrew would hide for 12 years.

You-Know-Who's supporters.

...

Dumbledore finished the reread and again wondered who Dillon had talked to. It was clear that she had talked to someone who knew, but who? He doubted she had talked to Sirius himself. He didn't think Sirius would take that chance. Maybe Remus? But again, that didn't seem likely, but that left… Hari. Could Hari have talked with her?

He wondered because this article was very pro-Sirius and not the normal critical ones where his crimes were portrayed and crying for his capture. But why now? And how? If the journalist had talked to Hari wouldn't she say that? Wouldn't she use that in order to get attention? This wasn't making any sense…

The way Fudge had responded only confirmed Dillon's version of events. And the way Fudge talked about Hari was going to create waves because she was still the hero to a lot of the people and Dumbledore knew that there were those who blamed Fudge for driving her away.

He sighed feeling tired. He was getting too old for this, he thought. He could only think that this article was written to create waves in the magical community and now they had to deal with it. He wondered if he could use this to help Sirius, and maybe this way gets Hari to come back.

He nodded slowly to himself. Yes… that made sense.

There was a knock on the door and McGonagall entered the office.

"Albus," she said looking a little pale and he saw the paper in her hand. "Did you read the paper?"

"Yes," Dumbledore nodded. "I take it you did too."

"It's true, isn't it?" she asked. "What Karen Dillon writes?"

"Yes, it is," Dumbledore said.

"Sirius is really innocent?" she asked.

"Yes," Dumbledore said again.

"I…" she trailed off looking stunned. "How…"

"I think Dillon is very well informed," Dumbledore said with a small smile. "But a few details are missing."

"What details?" McGonagall asked.

"The fact that Sirius is an animagus," Dumbledore said finding it amusing the way McGonagall's mouth dropped open in shock. "Yes, he and his friends all became animagi while still at Hogwarts."

"But… that was dangerous!" McGonagall said.

"Yes, it certainly was," Dumbledore agreed.

"James did too?" McGonagall asked.

"Yes, he was a stag, I believe," Dumbledore said. "Sirius is a dog, while Pettigrew is a rat."

"So, that was what Hari meant when she said Pettigrew was hiding as a rat," McGonagall murmured. "She was not confounded?"

"No," Dumbledore sighed. "Neither she nor Miss Granger or Mr Weasley was confounded."

"And Sirius didn't betray James and Lily?"

"He did not," Dumbledore confirmed.

McGonagall sank down in a chair and Dumbledore watched her serenely.

"Oh my…" McGonagall gasped. "I…I thought Miss Potter had been confounded and that she was mistaken… I never thought…"

Dumbledore sighed. He knew what most of the teacher's thought, and he hadn't done anything to correct their thinking. Maybe he should have, but he had believed it best to keep it quiet.

"You knew," McGonagall said frowning now. "And you let Fudge suspend Miss Potter!"

"I couldn't do anything…" Dumbledore started.

"Don't give me that!" McGonagall interrupted and got to her feet. Her cheeks were flushed as she glared angrily at Dumbledore. "You could have prevented it! I know you could have! It doesn't make sense that the Ministry could suspend anyone from Hogwarts!"

"There's a loophole that says that they can if they suspect the headmaster to be too closely involved with the student in question," Dumbledore sighed.

"Tosh!" McGonagall snorted. "That's ridiculous. No wonder Hari left…"

She bit down on her lip as she slipped up again and called Hari by her first name. Dumbledore knew that Hari was a favourite for McGonagall, probably because of her link to James and Lily who both was favourites of McGonagall and even remained in touch after they finished Hogwarts. McGonagall had a kind and warm heart hidden behind her stern exterior and Dumbledore remember the times she had offered to take Hari in herself. She had been worried about leaving Hari with the Dursley's.

McGonagall didn't understand what he did, that Hari was safest with her aunt and uncle. He dreaded thinking about her without that protection. If she was a little unhappy with her aunt and uncle then that was better than dead with someone else because Voldemort could find her more easily.

"We need to find her, Minerva," Dumbledore said looking at her. "She's not safe out there without the protection she has with her aunt and uncle."

"It's gone now, right?" McGonagall asked. "The protection that was there. She's not calling the place home anymore, so that won't work."

Dumbledore frowned knowing that she was right. It was a flaw in his plans knowing that the protections around the Dursley's were gone and he would need to get something working again by the time he found her.

...

Japan

...

Sirius was covered in blood and Hari felt a scream hitch in her throat as she stared at him. She wanted to move, to run over to him or run away, she didn't know, but she was frozen in place.

"Why did you do it?" Sirius asked.

He came closer and she felt her heart go crazy in her chest.

"See what you've done? Why did you talk to her? They found me…"

Sirius form shifted and blurred and then dementors were there…

"Your fault…"

Hari jolted awake in bed breathing hard and felt her t-shirt cling to her covered in sweat. The covers clung to her making her feel trapped. Her heart thundered in her chest as the nightmare clung to her refusing to let go. It felt so real…

Why did you do it? The question rang in her mind accusing, angry. She fisted her hands trying to push the words out of her mind, but they came back over and over again. Nagging at her.

She pushed herself up into a sitting position even though she felt weak, it was like her body suddenly felt like a sponge. She couldn't really explain it. She wondered if she had screamed… it felt like she had.

"Hari?"

Yeah, she probably had. She looked toward the door and saw Ryoma standing there looking at her worriedly. He stepped into the room and came over to the bed.

"I'm fine," she said.

"You screamed," Ryoma said.

"Sorry," Hari mumbled looking away from him feeling her cheeks heat up. She felt…ashamed.

"Don't be," Ryoma said. "Bad dream?"

"Mm," Hari nodded. "Otou-chan and Okaa-chan didn't wake up?"

"No," Ryoma said. "I was just getting back from finding something to drink. That's the only reason I heard you. Your scream was muffled."

"Oh," Hari said. "Good."

"They wouldn't have blamed you for waking them, you know," Ryoma said. "Maybe you…"

"No," Hari interrupted him. "I won't wake them just because I had a bad dream. I'm not a kid."

Ryoma looked at her for a moment before he sighed but he didn't press the matter.

"Want to talk about it?" Ryoma offered.

Hari considered it before she shook her head. She didn't want to talk about how she had dreamed that Sirius had been found because of what she had done, or the dementors… she shivered.

"No," she said. "I just want to forget."

He sighed softly but just nodded like he had expected her to say that.

"Then go to sleep," he said. "It's still in the middle of the night."

"Sure," Hari said even knowing that she probably wouldn't be able to sleep. The dream was still so vivid in her mind and Sirius… she swallowed as she inhaled shakenly.

"Fine," Ryoma said and got up and before she knew it he grabbed her hand and pulled her to her feet. She blinked. "Come on."

"Ryo-chan," Hari frowned. "What…"

"Come with me," Ryoma said. "We'll put on a movie or something."

"No… you should sleep," Hari protested.

"Only if you do," Ryoma said stubbornly.

She bit her tongue as she watched him grab a blanket and a couple of pillows before he pulled her out of her room and down the stairs and into the living room. Hari was too exhausted and upset to protest.

"Sit down," Ryoma said without looking at her as he put in the movie.

Hari sat down but didn't really move until he came over and sat down next to her and rolled his eyes when he saw how tense she was. Hari couldn't help it, she couldn't relax.

The sound of the movie started to play, and she saw that it was an old Disney classic. She blinked because Ryoma never really liked those movies, but she did and suddenly her eyes pricked with tears. He leaned back and tugged at her hand and she glanced at him.

"Come on," he said. "If you're not going to sleep then at least let a movie distract you from your dream. I'm here, Hari. You're not alone."

Hari smiled a little and nodded.

You're not alone.

She wasn't alone. That was right. She leaned back and tried to focus on the movie.

...

Ryoga yawned as he stepped into the living room before pausing. He blinked as he saw both Ryoma and Hari on the sofa, Ryoma was asleep while Hari was awake but still leaning against Ryoma with a blanket tucked around her. The television was still on and a blue screen was lighting up the room along with the first sunlight of the day.

Hari looked over as if noticing him and blinked as she saw him.

"Hey," she whispered.

"Morning," he said. "You're up early?"

"Couldn't sleep," Hari said and pulled away from Ryoma who muttered something but slept on. "Ryo-chan insisted on keeping me company."

"Looks like he fell asleep," Ryoga said.

Hari shrugged. She hadn't minded when Ryoma had drifted off in the middle of the movie, it helped just having him beside her.

"Doesn't matter," she said.

"Well, come on, I'll make you some breakfast," Ryoga said. "Isn't it your big date today?"

Hari rolled her eyes, "it's not a date."

"Aren't you going out with Yukimura?" Ryoga asked.

"And his sister," Hari said following Ryoga into the kitchen and sat down at the chair he pointed to.

"The one who doesn't like you?" Ryoga asked but he smiled slightly.

"Yes," Hari sighed. "I know I can't force anyone to like me, but I just wish…"

"She's five, right?" Ryoga asked.

"Yes," Hari nodded. "And the only reason she said yes was because I bribed her with a visit from Hedwig."

Ryoga laughed, "I've seen your owl, so I guess I can see how that would help things along. But, Hari-chan, you know that you can only be yourself and that will be enough. She'll come around."

"What if…"

"Stop," Ryoga looked over at her. "Don't second guess yourself or question yourself, Hari-chan. You are good enough and she will see that. Just give her some time."

"I'll try," Hari said and Ryoga smiled at her.

"Good," he said.

Hari pushed the thoughts about the dream away once more, but she couldn't stop thinking about the article or articles that would be published soon. She wondered when… Why hadn't she asked for a clearer answer to when Dillon thought she would have it ready… It was nerve-wracking knowing it was coming, but not having control over how Dillon would present the information.

Hari hoped she would keep to the deal, but she knew that it was a risk. And after that dream… well, she wasn't sure if it was worth it anymore.

Ryoga glanced over at Hari and noticed the distracted look on her face and he wondered if that was the reason Ryoma had spent the night watching movies with her. He had noticed Ryoma staying closer to Hari after they returned from Germany, but again, that wasn't that unnatural. They were best friends.

He sighed. He wished she would confide in him, but for now, he could only make her breakfast and support her from the side-lines.

...

Hari thanked Ryoga for the food and smiled softly to Ryoma who came stumbling into the kitchen just as she was finished eating. He was yawning and rubbing his eyes tiredly looking adorable but she felt a flash of guilt go through her as she watched him. He shouldn't have had to stay up with her just because she… No. She shook her head. She wasn't going to go down that path right now.

She went to her room and grabbed her journal to see if she had gotten a message from Hermione. There wasn't anything, so she guessed that meant that the article hadn't been released yet.

She closed the journal before going to take a shower.

The first thing she did when she finished the shower was to check the journal again but still nothing. She grabbed a pen and had almost started to write when she stopped herself and tossed the pen away while frowning.

She jumped when the phone beeped signalling a text and she grabbed it almost dropping it in the process.

Good morning! We're looking forward to seeing you later, Hari-chan. We'll come and pick you up in a couple of hours, okay? Seiichi.

Hari blinked realising that she was meeting Seiichi and Hana in just two hours. Already?! She had to get ready!

...

Seiichi glanced down at Hana who was looking stoically at the door in front of them and sighed. She was not going to make this easy, he thought. He pushed the doorbell and hoped that this would go okay.

Nanjiro opened the door and scowled lightly when he saw him, and Seiichi did his best to smile.

"Hey," he said.

"Ah, right," Nanjiro sighed. "Hari-chan said something about going out…"

Nanjiro glanced down and smiled charmingly when he spotted Hana.

"Hey there little lady!" He grinned.

"Hey," Hana said shyly pressing closer to Seiichi.

"Otou-chan you're freaking them out," Hari said exasperatedly, and Seiichi smiled wider as he saw her and thought she looked pretty with her hair loose around her face. "Sorry, Hana-chan. This is my dad, Echizen Nanjiro and he's a little kid sometimes. So, just ignore him."

"Hari-chan is mean!" Nanjiro pouted. "Where are you going?"

"I'm not telling you," Hari said and rolled her eyes as she avoided a hug and stepped out. "I'll be back later. And you're supposed to be at the shrine now, remember?"

"AH! The bell!" Nanjiro yelped and ran back into the house.

"Is he always like that?" Hana asked.

"Yes," Hari sighed. "Always."

"He's funny," Hana said.

"He's hilarious," Hari rolled her eyes but smiled a little.

"Ready to go?" Seiichi asked.

"Yeah," Hari nodded and was about to leave the house when Ryoma called her.

"Hari!" he called. "You forgot your phone!"

"Oh," Hari blinked and turned to her brother. "Thank you."

"You're so forgetful today," he said. "Here."

"Thanks," she said again. "Oh, Ryo-chan this is Hana-chan, Sei-chan's sister."

"Hey," Ryoma said looking at Hana for a moment before looking away. "Well, I'm off to meet Momo-chan! See you and have fun!"

He waved and walked away.

"That's your brother?" Hana asked.

"Mm," Hari nodded and noticed Hana staring after Ryoma. She blinked when she saw the smile on her face. "He is."

"Oh," Hana said.

Hari exchanged a look with Seiichi who also looked a little confused.

"Ready to go?" Hari asked and they nodded.

...

Hari restrained from looking over at Hana who was seated between her and Seiichi watching the play. Peter Pan was a great play, but Hari had a little trouble following it as she was too nervous and curious about how Hana would like it.

Seiichi caught her eye in the darkened room and smiled slightly making Hari smile back. She felt herself relax a little as she turned back to the play. She hoped that Hana liked the play.

She kind of wished she could be in the world of Peter Pan, never growing up or having any responsibilities sounded really tempting right now.

When the play was over, she applauded along with the others and noticed Hana smiling as she clapped her hands excitedly.

"That was fun," Hana said jumping out of her chair. "I wish I had a fairy."

"That would be fun," Hari agreed, and Hana looked at her with a considering look.

"Mm," she said. "Do you want her to make you fly as she did with Peter Pan and the lost boys?"

Hari wished she could say that she didn't need Tinkerbell to be able to fly but she couldn't.

"Yes," Hari said. "It would be fun to fly."

"I think it would be scary," Hana said.

"Maybe," Hari agreed. "But I love the idea of flying. It's freeing."

She missed it, she realised. More than she thought.

They talked more about the play as they walked out of the theatre.

"So, do you want to go and get something to eat, Hana-chan?" Hari asked.

Hana looked at her and nodded.

"Can we get burgers?" she asked.

Hari looked at Seiichi who nodded in agreement.

"Sure," Hari said.

Hana grabbed Seiichi's hand as they found a way to a place where they sold burgers and were child friendly. Hari sat with Hana while Seiichi went to order their food and Hari felt…awkward.

This was what she wanted. To have a chance to talk to Hana and bond! This was her shot and she was waiting not saying anything. But what if she said the wrong thing? What if she made it worse?

Hana was sitting on her chair dangling her feet as she looked out of the window. Hari followed her eyes and saw a couple, probably tourists, taking pictures of each other and together as well. Hari could see them laughing and pointing at something she couldn't see from her position.

Hari looked away from them and over at Hana who still was watching them with a look Hari couldn't quite understand. It seemed…curious?

"Sei-chan says you are good at reading," Hari said breaking the silence and almost wished she could take the words back because they sucked. That was lame…

"I'm still learning," Hana said without looking at her.

"Good," Hari said falling silent wishing that Seiichi would hurry up.

Her mind wandered as she sat there, and she wondered where Sirius was now… was he able to eat? Was he safe? Did she make everything worse for him by talking to Dillon?

She jumped when a thud suddenly pulled her out of her thoughts, and she realised that Seiichi was back and had taken the seat next to Hana who had looked away from the window and was grinning at her brother.

"I'm starving!" Hana said. "Did you get my apple juice?"

"Of course, I did," Seiichi said smiling back at her.

Hari shook her thoughts off and tried to focus on the here and now and tried to ignore the way Hana kept ignoring her and only talked to Seiichi.

I'm not jealous, Hari told herself. That's just stupid…

But she couldn't help but feel a little on the outside of whatever this was, and she almost wished she were back home in her bed and checking to see if Hermione had written to her.

"Hari-chan?" Seiichi called her and she blinked realising that she had drifted off again.

"Ah, sorry," she smiled sheepishly. "Got lost in thoughts."

"Okay," Seiichi said. "Ready to go?"

Hari nodded and finished her soda before she got up. She followed Seiichi and Hana out on the street, and she noticed the tourists had left. She saw Hana look around too and she wondered if she was looking for the tourists. She remembered the way she had looked at them and wondered what had caught her attention like that. All they had been doing was taking pictures…

She blinked.

Right. She smiled.

"Wait here," Hari said, and Seiichi turned to look at her confused while Hana looked curious but looked away when Hari looked at her. "I'll be right back."

"Hari-chan?" Seiichi asked but Hari just smiled and ran off hoping she would find the store she had noticed on their walk here. This was not the time to get lost.

...

Seiichi had no idea what Hari had in mind.

"Where is she going?" Hana asked.

"Don't know," Seiichi said and noticed a bench close by. "Come on, Hana-chan. Let's sit down while we wait. Hopefully, Hari-chan won't get lost on her way back to us."

"Why would she get lost?" Hana asked.

"She does that sometimes," Seiichi said.

"Then maybe we should have gone with her," Hana said.

Seiichi glanced down at Hana. "Oh? You worried about her?"

"No," Hana denied. "I just don't want to wait forever."

Seiichi shook his head and sighed. Hana was stubborn and he knew Hari was trying, but it seemed like they just didn't have anything to talk about and he felt bad. He felt bad for having Hari in that position. He didn't want her to give up or anything, and he really wished that Hana and Hari would get along. He had hoped that today would bring them closer, but so far…

"Sorry!" Hari called as she came running back toward them and stopped just in front of them breathing harder and he noticed a small grimace on her face, but it was gone quickly.

"What was this about?" Seiichi asked.

"Thought…about…something," Hari said between breaths. "Sorry…"

"Catch your breath before you talk," Seiichi laughed getting up and grabbed her elbow and supported her. He noticed her smile and felt warm as he always did when she smiled because of him.

"Don't ask questions then," Hari said catching her breath. She flashed Seiichi a smile again and looked at Hana. "Here, Hana-chan."

Hana took the small package that Hari handed her and looked at it before looking back at Hana.

"What is it?" Hana asked but opened the paper bag and turned it slightly so the item inside slid out and she caught it.

Hari waited nervously for Hana to say something as she inspected the disposable camera.

"A camera?" Seiichi asked and Hari glanced over at him noticing his surprise.

"It's a disposable camera," Hari said biting back her nervousness. "I thought we could use it and have some fun with it."

"I can take pictures?" Hana asked looking up at her.

"Yes," Hari said. "You can take 27 pictures with that one."

Hana smiled and nodded. "How?"

"I'll show you," Hari said stepping closer and showed Hana how the camera worked. Hana nodded and looked focused as she followed Hari's expression. "Why don't you try to take a picture of Sei-chan?"

Seiichi was watching them with a soft smile and Hari thought she detected some relief in his eyes as he watched them. Hana nodded and held up the camera and looked through the lens as she shifted a little until she had Seiichi in her focus. The soft clicking noise signalled that she had taken the picture.

"I did it!" Hana squealed excitedly looking at Hari.

"Good job," Hari said. "What about we go to the botanic gardens and take more pictures there?"

"Okay!" Hana said.

"Oi, Hana-chan, wait up," Seiichi called out when it looked like she would take off running.

"Then hurry, nii-chan! You're so slow!" Hana said.

Hari chuckled, "yes, Sei-chan, you're slow."

He rolled his eyes but reached out to take her hand and Hari blushed slightly but smiled. Hana eyed the connected hands but didn't say anything as she took Seiichi's other hand.

...

They arrived at the botanic garden that Hari almost looked at as their spot remembering the times she'd spent there with Seiichi. She really liked this place.

"Oh, pretty!" Hana said running over to a flowerbed by the small lake. She lifted the camera and took a picture.

"You know she'll use up all the film in that camera," Seiichi said.

"Good," Hari said. "I bought it so she could take pictures after all."

Seiichi smiled and nodded.

"Remember that you only have 27 pictures to take, Hana-chan," Seiichi said. "And you've now taken two so you have 25 left."

"Okay!" Hana nodded.

They continued down the path and stopped so Hana could take a picture here and there until they a wooden bridge that went over to a small island in the middle of a lake. It wasn't that big but it was nice. Hari walked up the bridge until she reached the middle of it and looked down.

The clear water showed her reflection and she stared at it for a moment. Suddenly Seiichi was beside her and leaned against the railing next to her and looked down at the water as well. She could hear Hana close by and a glance told her that she was not on the bridge yet but by the flowers close by the bridge.

"You okay?" Seiichi asked.

"I'm fine," Hari smiled.

"You sure? You seem a little distracted," he observed.

Hari wished she could tell him. She found herself wanting to talk to him about it, but the secrecy laws forbid her from doing it.

"I just have some things to think about," Hari said. "I'm sorry it is interfering with our day."

"That's not why I bring it up," Seiichi said. "I just worry."

Hari leaned against him and rested her head on his shoulder.

"I'm fine," she said again. "This…is all I need."

"Good," Seiichi said.

Hana looked over at Seiichi and saw him and Hari talking. She wasn't sure what to think anymore but she liked taking pictures. She directed the camera at her brother and clicked.

...

They had fun taking pictures and Hana directed both Seiichi and Hari to pose in different positions and found pretty flowers until Hana pouted as she looked down at the camera.

"I don't have any pictures left," Hana said.

Hari smiled a little, "but you had fun taking pictures?"

"Yes," Hana nodded. "It was fun."

"Give it to me and I'll have it developed," Hari said holding out a hand.

Hana handed her the camera and Hari pocketed it.

"It's time to get back," Seiichi said.

Hari nodded.

"Oh, we have to go home?" Hana asked.

Seiichi looked at his sister and was a little surprised by the disappointment he saw in her, but he smiled.

"Yes," he said.

"Okay," Hana said not really understanding the disappointment she felt herself.

As they walked Hari held Seiichi's hand like she had for most of their walk but suddenly she felt someone pull at the hand holding Seiichi's and let go only to find a smaller hand gripping hers.

Hari looked down startled and saw what she knew to be true that Hana was holding her hand and with the other hand had grabbed Seiichi's. The softness of the small hand in hers was a new feeling Hari couldn't remember feeling before. She looked up and saw Seiichi smile as met her eyes and she could see the pleased look in his eyes.

"I'm going to be in a play to one day," Hana said looking up at Hari. "Do you want to come and see me then?"

"Of course," Hari said. "What play would you like to do?"

"Peter Pan," Hana said. "But I think other plays could be fun to…"

Hari nodded, "yeah."

"Were you ever in a play?" Hana asked looking up at Hari.

"Um…no," Hari said. She had never been allowed to be in a play when she still lived with the Dursley's and before Hogwarts. Her aunt had told the school that there were reasons, health reasons or other made-up reasons, that prevented Hari from participating in plays or other things the school put together. She remembered being locked into the cupboard under the stairs while her aunt and uncle went to watch Dudley in plays… how alone she felt.

"Oh, why not?" Hana asked.

Hari was quiet for a moment, probably a moment too long because Seiichi gave her a concerned look.

"It just never was something I had the opportunity to do," Hari said. "But I would really love to see you in a play one day."

Hana grinned and they talked more about what plays she liked to do and what part she wanted to play (Tinkerbelle in Peter Pan was one) and Hari couldn't really believe the change in the girl from the start of their day to now. Suddenly she was talking non-stop and Hari barely could keep up with her.

They were back at her house before she knew it and she blinked realising that they had walked her home when she had intended on the opposite.

"I'm not letting you go home alone," Seiichi said with a teasing smile. "Wouldn't want you to get lost."

"I wouldn't get lost on my way home," Hari said rolling her eyes. "But thanks for walking me home."

She looked down at Hana and smiled.

"Thank you for coming today, Hana-chan," Hari said squeezing the hand she still held one more time before letting go. "I had fun."

"Me too," Hana said. "You're not so bad…"

"Thanks," Hari said.

"I still like nii-chan better, but I like you too," Hana said.

"That's okay," Hari smiled. "I never would want to take your brother's place and Sei-chan is really great, so I understand why you like him so much."

Hana nodded and surprising Hari, even more, hugged her. Hari wondered if she had stepped into an alternate dimension or something, but she hugged the girl back for a moment before pulling back.

She turned to Seiichi who looked pleased and grinned when he met her eyes. He reached out and pushed a strand of her hair out of her face.

"Thank you," he said and leaned in a pressed a soft kiss to her lips.

"Anytime," Hari said a little shyly when he pulled back. "Oh… I almost forgot… I have something for you, so I guess it was a good thing you walked me home."

"Eh?" Seiichi blinked.

Hari rushed into the house and up the stairs to her room grabbing the bag she had forgotten on the bed and rushed back down the stairs and out the door finding Seiichi and Hana standing where she left them.

"Here," she said pushing the bag into Seiichi's hands.

"What is it?" he asked.

"Something for you and Hana-chan," Hari said. "From Germany."

"Thank you," Seiichi said. "You didn't have to…"

"I wanted to," Hari shrugged.

...

Hari walked up the stairs to her room calmer this time and unable to stop smiling. The day had been a good one. She felt closer to Seiichi and Hana and had a lot of fun with them.

She sat down on the bed thinking about Seiichi and wished he lived closer so they could have days like this more often. Even with Hana with them, it had been a good day. Hari wished for more.

Was it normal to feel like that? So jittery and giggly just thinking about him? It scared her a little but at the same time, she craved it. It was all so overwhelming, and she already wanted to call him and talk more.

"Did you have fun?" Ryoma asked making Hari jump slightly taking her off guard.

"Make a noise!" Hari scowled.

"Don't daydream," Ryoma deadpanned. "Well?"

"Yes, I had fun," Hari said.

"So, she likes you now?" Ryoma asked.

"I think so," Hari smiled. "She hugged me at least."

"Good," Ryoma said. "It was only a matter of time, everyone likes you."

"Not everyone," Hari said thinking about certain someone's.

"Well, those people don't count," Ryoma scoffed knowing who she was thinking about. "You're great, you know."

"You have to say that you're my brother," Hari smiled.

"Maybe," Ryoma said. "But it still true."

"Thanks," Hari said. "So, how was your day?"

"It was fine," Ryoma said. "I played tennis with Momo-chan."

With a smile he left the room again and Hari shook her head and got up and found the journal. She hadn't thought about it for the last part of her day out with Seiichi and Hana but now it was back in her mind.

She looked at it for a moment feeling her breathing speed up as the dream came back and she felt the uncertainty and fear again. It was like a switch was flicked and it all came back and the break she'd had was over.

She opened the journal and saw one new entry.

Hermione: The article has been published. It's out.

...

...

AN: What do you think? XD

Hope you liked it! XD

Thank you for reading and supporting the story!