Pardoned

"I am utterly appalled at the fact that no questioning was given to you" Remus and Allen heard Dumbledore through the door as they rushed up the stairs. Remus swung open the door as he heard the next line in a familiar voice.

"I mean, considering how they found me and how enraged I was, I don't blame them too harshly Albus"

The door slammed against the wall and Remus gazed upon the slightly older bedraggled version of his oldest friend. In four strides, the two met in a fierce hug.

"I'm so sorry Siri that I never-"

"I'm sorry that we didn't trust you enough to -"

"No, no I understand it now but I wish that -"

"It's all water under the bridge Moony" Sirius gave him a watery smile and it was only then that Remus took in the others in the room. The apprentices had looked away to give the reuniting friends some form of privacy and Dumbledore was watching them with a beaming smile.

The door opened again.

"Albus, they've convicted him. We've finally convinced them that Black deserves an instant pardon - Black"

Snape entered the room and paused at the sight of his old school bully but, at Kanda's small smile, nodded politely at the man and handed him a piece of paper.

"Where did they find you?" he asked, curiously.

Sirius seemed stunned that the angry teen that he remembered had spoken to him politely and without disgust and failed to utter a word. Severus rolled his eyes and handed the ex convict a piece of paper.

"This is for you from the Wizengamot"

Sirius, still silent, opened the paper and read through its long-winded apology and the giving of a full pardon.

"You're a free man again Black. Where did you find him?" Snape, realising he wasn't going to get any answers from the stunned man, turned to the apprentices.

"Lenalee spotted him in dog form in Hogsmeade" Alma answered.

"And Alma made him a collar" Kanda added with a snort. Sirius snapped his gaze up to glare, readying a retort to whatever Snape was about to say but the professor simply shrugged,

"Understandable given the circumstances. Well, enjoy the reunion. Kanda, we have Potions to prep for tomorrow"

"Sure. See you later. Black, Lupin" Kanda nodded at the two before following Severus out of the office. The other apprentices also made their excuses and headed out of the room.

"He didn't say anything," Sirius finally said. Remus chuckled,

"Quite a few things have changed recently Sirius. Severus is no longer the bitter teen we used to fight with. He's tried his best to right his wrongs and to forgive old ills. I think this was one of those ways" Remus nodded at the pardon in Sirius' hand.

"I'm gonna have to be nice to him aren't I" Sirius sighed. Dumbledore chortled,

"Indeed my boy. Especially as young Harry has become fond of him more recently" the headmaster added. Sirius looked at Remus' sympathetic smile and gritted his teeth. If people were saying the man had changed, well , he probably should as well.

"Alright, I'll try to be nice to Sni - Snape" he quickly corrected. Oh boy, this was going to be harder than expected.

"Thank you" Remus patted his arm before holding in a laugh.

"What?" Sirius could feel himself smiling back.

"It'll probably be a good idea to be nice anyway. He's dating Kanda and that man has a terrifying violent streak" Remus admitted. He had figured out their affection for each other when he had visited the previous evening and noticed the holding hands and glances.

"He didn't seem that violent" remembering the passive way the man had followed Snape out of the room.

"He very nearly murdered my boggart" Remus admitted, remembering the lesson vividly. He didn't want to know what the terrifying skeletal figure was, but Kanda had been incredibly volatile afterwards and it had taken all four of his siblings to calm him down. All of the apprentices had been pretty shaken after that and he'd ditched the lesson early.

"All of the apprentices are exorcists. They came from a war darker than we could ever imagine" Dumbledore added gravely and Sirius frowned. They were young - thinking of Timothy - too young to have been through something like that. Especially something worse than Voldemort.

"Alright. I suppose he must have gotten the pardon then?"

"The pardon came from Kingsley, but Severus was one who gave evidence as he helped to capture Pettigrew" Albus corrected. Sirius blinked in surprise.

"He hated him as much as we do, Siri. You have to remember, though they parted, Lily was one of Severus's oldest friends" Remus admitted gently.

"Only friends? But we thought -"

"I know. And you may have been right, but Severus never made any advances - and James was wrong in so many ways. He was probably one of the reasons why many Slytherins took the path they did"

"Prongs didn't make them go -"

"No, but his prejudice won't have helped"

Remus sighed at his friend's lost expression.

"Come on Padfoot. We have a lot of catching up to do. Albus, is he alright to share my quarters for now?"

"Of course my boy. Enjoy your freedom" Dumbledore waved them out of his office and leaned back in his chair. That was the Rat and Dog of the prophecy checked off. He would have to keep an eye on the Wolf and the Raven. The others he had an idea of their identity, but Remus and Severus he was certain of. He hoped that the head of Slytherin would never have to return to his role, but if evil was to resurface, his talents would be necessary. He just hoped that if such an event occurred, Kanda would be merciful. Dumbledore chuckled at that. He was happy for the two men, one of which he was beginning to care for as a son. But he would pray for anyone who tried to attack either of the pair - they were a good match but probably a match made in Hell rather than Heaven.