"Absolutely not!" The Minister roared, earning an eye roll from Rita as Farlan winced and Dumbledore continued to smile. "I will not have a reporter here!"

"That is not up to you, Cornelius," Dumbledore hummed, gesturing to the fireplace. "You are welcome to leave though if it displeases you so much."

Fudge bristled knowing that if he left everything would be told to Rita and published in the Daily Prophet instantly, but it didn't mean he had to like it. "You are the one who summoned me here!"

"As I felt it was necessary for you to know about the new information that had been revealed to us, as well as take the actual culprit into custody. However, if you do not wish to hear our evidence, then I suppose Miss Skeeter will just have to provide it to the people some other way."

Fudge grit his teeth angrily, stepping up to the headmaster's desk and hissing under his breath. "I will not have you undermine me through a reporter, Albus."

"Then, I suggest you sit down and listen. She is only here to offer my companion reassurance that what he has to say is told to the public. Should you find everything adequate enough, it will all be revealed anyway. He has a right to request her presence and, perhaps, the presence of legal counsel as well?"

Fudge pursed his lips tight, knowing that the reporter alone was bad enough but a lawyer coming in would be far worse; tying his hands and bringing up the potential for a civilian versus the Ministry case. So, he was forced to swallow his hatred for the woman and the young man who'd summoned her, begrudgingly taking a seat in the chair offered to him as Dumbledore smiled innocently.

"Now, Farlan, if you would?"

Farlan nodded, looking pale and exhausted but reexplaining everything he'd just told Dumbledore and the others to Rita Skeeter—whose quill was a blur of motion with every word—and the Minister. When he finished, Fudge scoffed.

"And you expect me to believe this? That this man here has hidden away as a… a rat for twelve years after framing Sirius? There were multiple witnesses!"

Farlan scowled at the man, a look that was usually hidden until he had gotten close enough to someone to properly display his displeasure. It seemed Fudge had managed to frustrate him enough within the last few minutes to earn it early.

"You can have my memory of the event then," Farlan replied, easily drawing it from his mind and standing to drop it in the pensive Dumbledore had brought out.

"Memories can be tampered with," Fudge argued poorly.

"And I can assure you I've had no time to do so, though you're welcome to bring in someone from the Ministry to test it," Farlan countered before giving the man a bland look. "Though, that would mean one more person finding out what we're discussing before it's published."

Fudge bristled but huffed, standing and moving to the pensive. He wasn't in the memory long and came back out of it in surprise, eyeing Farlan uneasily. Dumbledore removed the memory and placed it in a vial as he spoke.

"And I do request that you remain silent about Mr. Daggrow's abilities as the reason he is here at Hogwarts is to be protected from those more nefarious." His gaze turned sharp as he glanced at Fudge. "We will be writing up a contract in a moment about this, which I would ask you both to sign, Miss Skeeter."

The woman smiled, pleased already with what she had access to, even though she wouldn't be allowed to view the memory. "I take pride in keeping all my anonymous sources' information private, especially when they provide me with such good information for my articles."

Farlan wrinkled his nose in mild displeasure before stepping over to Peter and drawing out a memory from him too. "And should you not believe me, you are welcome to his memory as well."

"You can't—"

"I am quite skilled in legilimency," Farlan countered, giving him a look. "I know exactly what information I am gathering from him and will return it to him for your later viewing at trial."

Fudge had to bite his tongue to keep from snapping at the man who couldn't be more than half his age if not younger. Farlan was coming off as very rude to him and while normally he would've spoken up about it, doing so here with the present company was a risk. Not only that but Fudge had his concerns regarding the boy. He'd defended himself from a wanted man while his own wand was not in hand and using runes of all things. His skills in legilimency notwithstanding, the boy was powerful in a way Fudge wasn't sure he wanted to understand. Not just because of his magical skills but because his presence itself seemed to demand a sort of respect. It was strange coming from someone so young and flimsy-looking. Fudge made a mental note that Farlan Daggrow would need to be kept an eye on.

Peter's memory was dropped into the pensive and Fudge begrudgingly stepped over to dive into the memory again. It wasn't surprising that he'd stepped back out of it even paler than before. Everything Farlan had seen with his legilimency had been backed up and with the man himself in custody, there was no way Fudge could try and place blame on Sirius Black any further. He knew this, as did everyone in the room when he'd stepped back.

"You see now why we've summoned you, Cornelius?" Dumbledore hummed, looking far too amused for the current situation as Farlan returned to his seat. "The only discussion we need to have now is what will be done next."

Fudge huffed, sitting back down himself, looking annoyed. "Peter Pettigrew will be taken and imprisoned in Azkaban until his trial—"

Farlan scoffed, drawing the Minsiter's gaze. "A trial Sirius never received you mean? I expected the same treatment for him."

Fudge bristled. "What happened with Sirius Black was not while I was in my current position, Mr. Daggrow."

"But it's your responsibility to resolve what happened now, Minister," Farlan bit back. "The Ministry skipped processes that are vital to every criminal case and wrongfully imprisoned an innocent man for twelve years. Then, you hunted him down with dementors who have since attacked students here more than once because they are obviously not in your control."

"The dementors are fully in control!" Fudge argued, before Dumbledore cleared his throat, intervening before a fight could break out between them.

"Nevertheless, Farlan is correct. Sirius deserves to be compensated for his wrongful imprisonment and it is up to you to right the wrongs of the previous Ministry, is it not, Cornelius?"

Fudge grit his teeth hard enough to send a rivet of pain up his jaw. He didn't want to give Sirius anything if he could help it, but his gaze drifted to the flash of light off Rita's glasses as she waited for his response. Not giving the man something would undoubtedly put his position into question. Public opinion of the Ministry would fall if the people found out about this error and they would find out, so he had to make it appear as though they cared. I can get it tied up legally anyway. By the time he sees any compensation—

"We might need legal counsel here, after all, headmaster," Farlan said then, making Fudge whip to him, wondering if the man had used legilimency to read his mind but he hadn't felt any intrusion.

"Perhaps we will," Dumbledore hummed, going along with him. "I do believe a contract should be written up in the case of Sirius Black's compensation to ensure that even should something happen to Mr. Pettigrew, that said compensation is paid rightfully and in due time. I know someone who could easily write something up quickly."

"N-Now, Albus," Fudge started but Farlan shot him a look.

"Denial of legal counsel is quite a dangerous risk, Minister. Whether Sirius Black is here in the room or not, he deserves to have something written down to ensure his innocence and whatever compensation you will provide."

"We will find him within the next few days, I'm sure," Dumbledore agreed. "So until then, the witnesses here can sign as well as you, Cornelius. He will sign afterward or meet with you to discuss any changes he wants."

Fudge had never felt so entrapped in his life, even when he worked in the Department of Magical Accidents and Catastrophes. Dealing with Dumbledore was hard enough but between him, Rita Skeeter making notes of everything happening, and the cunning of the young Mr. Daggrow he had no chance to get out of this.

"V-Very well," he bit out, highly displeased about being cornered so and wiping sweat off the back of his neck with a handkerchief.

"Excellent. I will summon him at once. It shouldn't be long," Dumbledore replied cheerfully, writing a quick missive and summoning his phoenix before it burst into flames and vanished to deliver it. "Now then, compensation will be paid for Farlan's hard work as well, I'm sure?"

Fudge sent the young man a glare but gave a stiff nod. "Yes. While it's not who we were hoping to catch, given he caught the person responsible, he will get the reward the Ministry offered for Black."

While Farlan would have usually refused a reward, Dumbledore wasn't surprised that he didn't deny it. The young man was conniving when it came to dealing with frustrating people. Dumbledore had seen that himself, given the man's displeasure dealing with him, but when it was aimed elsewhere, the headmaster found it just as enjoyable.

"You will get something from the Prophet too," Rita spoke up, surprising the young man. "Don't let it be said that I allow my prime sources of information to go unpaid for their work."

Farlan sighed begrudgingly at that, running a hand through his hair as Fawkes returned with an immaculately dressed wizard who looked only mildly displeased about his summons.

"Albus," he greeted as the headmaster did the same.

"Phineas. We have quite a few things for you to write up this afternoon."

The man sighed but was quick to get to work as everything was laid out. A privacy contract for what was witnessed in the pensive and discussed about Farlan's abilities and skills came first—quickly signed by Rita and the Minister. Then, a contract ensuring that should anything happen to Peter Pettigrew upon being handed over to the Ministry it was on their heads and wouldn't affect any compensation or declaration of innocence of Sirius Black. Finally, a contract was signed to ensure compensation was paid quickly and effectively to cover the twelve years Sirius was wrongfully imprisoned that Farlan was quick to add to.

"I want him given rights to his godson as well."

The group paused, even Dumbledore being surprised by this declaration.

"I'm sorry?" Fudge questioned. "You want a wanted criminal—"

"An innocent man," Farlan corrected, making him flush.

"Y-Yes, well, you want to give Sirius Black rights to his godson?"

"Legally, he has such rights as someone who was innocent of all his crimes, correct?" Farlan asked Phineas who nodded.

"A godfather is legally allowed to care for his godson so long as the parents are no longer able and he is under good standing."

"He deserves the right to take care of Harry then," Farlan announced, but Dumbledore was the one to counter this.

"However, Harry is currently in the placement of his aunt and uncle."

"Neither of whom are caring for him properly," Farlan argued, eyeing Dumbledore in question, having not expected his input to be stopping this. "I would know. I have been in a muggle orphanage and seen many kids go in and out of there. Abuse victims, neglect victims. Harry has always been thin and small for his age. He… He has confided with me a few things that explain his neglect and I am certain there is more he has yet to share. His relatives refused to sign his permission form for Hogsmeade and when he had a minor bout of accidental magic, he ran from the home. He… He flinches when kind gestures are offered. Those are not the actions of someone well cared for."

"Sirius will have just escaped from prison," Dumbledore pressed further. "He may not be mentally capable—"

"Then, he will have time to properly recover as anyone should," Farlan said, starting to grow more suspicious and now eyeing the headmaster to try and figure him out. "However, even the Minster has claimed that he was far saner than those others in Azkaban. While I agree he might need help—help the Ministry should provide since this was caused by them—he should still have the right to remove Harry from his relatives should he wish to. He is first in line for custody before they are, especially as muggles."

Dumbledore wanted to argue further but the lawyer he'd brought in was now a double-edged sword. Legally, everything Farlan said was true. As Harry's godfather, Sirius Black had the right to request Harry move in with him.

"There is still the question of Harry's security. Let us not forget who may be after him."

The Minister scoffed. "The Dark Lord is dead."

Dumbledore ignored him, having had this discussion with him many a time before.

"Sirius is a Black," Farlan dismissed. "The last of the Blacks other than his cousin who is imprisoned. He will have access to everything they own and I may not be a pureblood myself, but even I know of the extensive security their homes are provided with. Harry would be far safer at the Black family home than with his muggle relatives who have no protection at all."

Dumbledore had to bite his own tongue to stop himself from countering that point. There were too many ears listening here and, as much as he was reluctant to admit it, Farlan had bested him. Dumbledore had no choice but to let Sirius Black take custody of Harry if he wished, and it was added to the contract. Should it have been a private discussion between just the two of them, Dumbledore could have easily countered his argument but it was impossible now, and already their talk had drawn the curious gaze of Rita who suspected something herself. He had to let it go.

With the contracts signed, Phineas took his leave to ensure they were filed away and the Minister huffed before taking Peter and returning to the Ministry. Rita spared a few whispered words to Farlan, who again looked displeased but she too left and Farlan stood to go himself. Dumbledore stopped him though, not happy with how things had gone at the end and needing to at least have Farlan understand what he'd done.

"Farlan, one moment."

He hesitated, glancing over his shoulder before reluctantly turning around; not sitting down to show he hoped their talk would be short. He would wipe the floor in the Wizengamot. What a troublesome young man I've picked up.

"I wish for you to understand something so you are not mistaken in why I was attempting to prevent Sirius from taking Harry."

Farlan looked as though he wanted to say something sharp, undoubtedly still wound up from dealing with the Minister and potentially having his potions wearing off which were helping him with the pain he was in. Yet, he said nothing and let Dumbledore continue.

"Harry is in a… complicated position. What happened between him and the Dark Lord has provided—shall we say—a unique protection. A protection he could only get while staying at his aunt's home."

"I have a headache, sir," Farlan grumbled, letting him know that he wouldn't stay if Dumbledore didn't explain properly.

"When Harry's parents were killed, his mother sacrificed her life for him. Harry has her protection from the Dark Lord in a way that would stop him from ever getting a hold of him until… until this protection wears off."

Farlan frowned, eyeing him. "A protection from his mother?"

"A ritual was incidentally performed. One that even I have very little understanding of, but I used a piece of it in order to protect him while he stayed within the home of Lily's blood relative; his aunt. The protection will end upon Harry's seventeenth birthday and I had hoped to keep him there until then."

"With all due respect, sir," Farlan started, though they both knew there was little respect held between them. "I don't care. My own life wasn't exactly great but that was because of my own doing. Harry shouldn't have to go through a similar experience just because you believe you are doing what's best for him. The Black home has just as much protection as whatever you put up, possibly more. If Harry has a chance to escape the possible abuse and neglect of his muggle relatives, then you—as a headmaster of this school, whose one job is to care about his students—should have agreed with me to let him go live with someone who actually cares."

A brief welling of guilt swam through Dumbledore at his accusation—the accusation that he didn't care about his students—and he felt the urge to defend himself.

"I care very much about Harry and about you as well. I may not have been the best headmaster while you were dealing with what you were, but I did care."

Farlan scoffed, turning away and heading to the door. "Then, you are telling the biggest lie I've ever heard."

"Farla—"

"You didn't even ask how I was," Farlan bit out, voice tight with anger and hurt. "I was failing all my classes and you didn't once stop me to question anything as headmaster. None of the professors did either, and you can't tell me Minvera or Flitwick said nothing to you. So sorry, if I don't think you care about Harry when you would rather leave him in that house."

He stormed out and slammed the door behind him, leaving Dumbledore to sigh heavily, dropping his head onto his steepled hands.

The search for Sirius had been postponed, unfortunately, until after the holidays. It took me days to recover from my ordeal and the Minister had demanded to hold back the article Rita was writing for at least a week. She finished it within three days and started quickly looking for a loophole in his order, threatening him with holding back her freedom of expression, but she couldn't do much but wait for his approval to publish. Until the article was published, there wouldn't be any proof to show Sirius should we find him and we all knew he wouldn't just appear to anyone if we walked into the forest calling that he'd been proven innocent. The one plus was that the dementors were removed from the edges of the grounds but McGonagall and Dumbledore weren't pleased to search for the man while students were back in class.

It was a risk. None of us knew how Sirius would react upon meeting him and without the article, the students were still convinced he was a criminal. Having time to search for him was hard as well, once the students returned to their lessons and, of course, the only one with free time at that point was me. I wasn't thrilled to have to step out on my own and confront him after having the experience I had with Pettigrew but hoped to have some help. Namely, from our mutual friend who had just managed to recover from his werewolf problem by the first day of classes. He would have questions once the article was out and, undoubtedly, he would come to me to explain.

It wasn't until the third day of classes that the paper was finally out, drawing stunned comments and surprised murmuring from the students that morning. Harry had caught my eye from the Gryffindor table—the professors all at the head table this morning well-informed that something would happen—and I brought a finger to my lips. I couldn't talk to him now, not yet. I wanted to get Sirius first because Harry deserved to hear the truth from him… And it might help Sirius, who undoubtedly blames himself for what happened. Knowing Harry believed in his innocence and seeing his forgiveness would significantly help.

There was another pair of eyes staring at me though, and I glanced at Remus who was paler than he had been, hands quivering around the paper before he got up and stepped out. I had seen the tears in his eyes and, despite knowing we weren't close friends, I chose to get up and head after him. He knew I was following as he stepped into the Dark Arts classroom and once I joined him, I latched the door to give us some privacy.

"Remus—"

"Did you know?" He asked, and I took a breath.

"I am the source for that article. Everything was resolved over the holidays but—"

"And you couldn't tell me?" He snapped, whipping around looking hurt. "He was my friend, Farlan."

I sank into myself a bit, knowing that I could have told him sooner. I just simply didn't. It hadn't crossed my mind until after his and the students' return, and even then, it had only been something I was doing for my own benefit. I felt a little sick at that and unsure of what to say to him.

"S-Sorry," I murmured and he turned away with a heavy sigh, leaning over his desk and bowing his head. "I… I thought he was innocent… before all of this. It never made sense to me that he was… that after how he'd been at school that he would…"

He was silent for a moment before speaking softly. "You never told me that."

"I didn't…" I rubbed the back of my neck, uneasily. "I never thought about him until his escape. Harry asked about him and I-I just told him what I knew. He's the only one I really… told. It's… It's not something anyone would've said. With how everyone viewed him, it was—"

"I thought he was guilty," Remus admitted, surprising me slightly.

"But he was—"

"I know," he said sharply, making me wince before he lowered his voice again. "He was my friend but I… I had been so blinded by war, by what happened… It only seemed right that he was the Secret Keeper. I thought… maybe, it had been his family that caused him to change. Maybe it was us. That we, as his friends, had failed in some way, and now…"

I hesitated, taking a slight step toward him. "W-Would you help me? Help me look for him?"

"I can't," he breathed, shaking his head.

"Remus—"

"What would I say?" He asked, turning toward me looking torn. "How could I face him after what I'd done? I abandoned him. He needed someone on his side, anyone, and I…"

"But if you don't help me, I-I don't know if he'll listen," I urged him. "He needs to know that it's been proven. That Peter was caught and he can stop now. Remus, he needs to come back. Harry needs him. You need him."

He still looked uncertain, glancing at the paper on his desk. "How did this happen? How did you find him; Peter?"

I explained what occurred as I had many times already. I told him what my initial thoughts on Sirius's crime had been, how I overheard the Secret-Keeping information at the Three Broomsticks, checking over Ron's rat and incidentally catching Pettigrew. His eyes went wide at that, raking over me in concern as I brought a light hand up to my shoulder.

"I-I only got hit by a cutting curse and…" I bit my tongue, shivering at the remembrance of the other spell. "A-And the one spell he could pass through my shield."

"He could have killed you, Farlan!" Remus blurted out, in front of me now and eyeing my shoulder.

"It's fine, Remus. Not even scarred thanks to Madam Pomfrey," I reassured. "And… well, I-I apparently am very good at buying time. I sealed the shed so he couldn't kill me even if he wanted to. He already knew I was skilled in legilimency too, so the Imperius wouldn't have worked. Cr—T-That spell was all he could've used a-and I wouldn't have let him out."

"You don't even know Sirius," Remus breathed, eyeing me. "Why? Why would you go so far for him? I was his friend and I didn't even… I didn't even try."

I flushed a bit in embarrassment, bowing my head sheepishly. "I-It will sound stupid."

"Stupid? You risked your life for him. Any reasoning wouldn't be stupid, even if it was just a whim."

"I-It was… because of Harry."

Remus stared at me for a moment, confused. "Harry?"

I nodded awkwardly. "H-Harry is… He is what I wish I could have been. After my mother…" I swallowed thickly. "I-I couldn't do anything right. I-I forgot how to live, have fun, enjoy things, and be useful. Harry is… He's everything I could've had. The student I could have been. I've never… I've never been trusted by someone as much as him. I-I… Merlin, I-I-I wanted to be better because he believes I can be. He thinks I-I'm some amazing person and after what I said, what I told him about Sirius… I-I couldn't let it go. I needed to do something for him. Sirius was the way I could a-and now Harry has a chance to leave his aunt's."

"Leave? Farlan, he's safe there."

I frowned slightly, knowing that Remus had to have been close to Dumbledore to know that and wondering what he knew of Harry's actual life with his relatives. "He is safer with Sirius at the Black's home. Remus, Harry is… He hasn't told me everything but his relatives are not kind. Sirius actually cares for him. You cannot look at Harry and tell me you don't see it. You remember how I was, back in school. I-It's not what Harry's going through but it should be obvious, shouldn't it?"

Remus grimaced slightly, recognizing the signs of neglect Harry had been presenting now that he considered the possibility. "Dumbledore let you do this?"

Now it was my turn to wince, glancing away awkwardly. "I-I didn't exactly give him a-a choice."

Remus's brows raised in surprise. "You pressured Dumbledore?"

"T-The Minister was in the room and the reporter I hired a-and maybe a lawyer?"

"A lawyer?"

"We needed contracts to ensure the Minister didn't try to get away with ignoring what happened to Sirius a-and that he would be compensated…"

"You…" Remus dropped his hands onto my shoulders. "You are impossible, Farlan. Found a murderer and caught him without a wand, discovered Sirius's innocence, forced Dumbledore to give in, and ensured that Sirius would be compensated for being wronged all those years." He released me with a once-over. "I hope to never end up on the other side of your wand."

I flushed vibrantly, hastily waving my hands and trying to wave off his praise. "I-I'm not—I-I can't—Remus, I-I—"

He cracked a smile before rushing forward and abruptly wrapping me in a tight hug. I stiffened, unused to affection as he curled around me.

"Thank you," he breathed. "Truly, honestly, thank you, Farlan."

I hesitantly reached around him and lightly pat his back with a hand, unsure of what I should be doing before he finally pulled away; eyes shining with unshed tears and a small smile on his face.

"I will help you find him. I believe I… owe him an apology, among other things."

Relief flooded through me and I nodded, relaxing now that I knew I wouldn't be facing him alone.

"Do you have an idea of where he might be?" Remus asked as he went back to his desk and picked up the paper, tucking it into his robes.

"The forest, probably. I… I think I know how he got out of Azkaban and if I'm right, then he's using it to his advantage to hide there."

"The forest isn't small, Farlan."

I nodded but looked at him eagerly. "But I know someone who can help."

"...a cat."

Farlan looked up at Remus from where he was crouched on the ground petting the fluffy orange cat that had been given to them by Hermione. "Yes?"

"When you said we would be getting help, I expected a… person."

Farlan wrinkled his nose, as though the idea of another person assisting was disgusting. "No. Crookshanks is part Kneazle. Very intelligent and has already met him."

Remus looked at him in shock. "What?"

"Moony, Wormtail, Padfoot, and Prongs," Farlan recited.

"How did you—"

Farlan cracked a smile. "Harry recently received an interesting gift from the Weasley twins. The map has excellent charms placed on it. That was you, I take it?"

Remus smiled fondly, remembering the map they created. "Yes, but how did you find out we were animagi?"

"Pettigrew," Farlan answered simply. "He could change into a rat and I hadn't considered Sirius was one as well until I used legilimency on Crookshanks to find out why he hated the rat so much. He showed me he spoke with a dog, not unlike my Grim. Wormtail for the rat, Moony for you, Padfoot for Sirius, and I'm assuming Prongs was James."

Remus nodded as they started to trail back outside with the cat leading. "He could become a deer. They… They did it for me. They found out what I was and… wanted to be there for me."

Farlan hummed, head tipped slightly. "Perhaps I should try."

Remus snorted, not surprised Farlan would consider it. "They never registered with the Ministry, of course. If you ask McGonagall to explain the process, I don't believe she will allow you not to."

Farlan huffed in annoyance but didn't look deterred. "It would be helpful now if I could change. Instead, we have to rely on Crookshanks and the creatures."

"Creatures? Plural?"

"As you said, it's a big forest," Farlan replied with a hum as they reached the edge of the forest and he lifted his hand and whistled.

His usual Swooping Evil rushed out of the trees to greet him, grabbing onto his arm and making snapping motions with his jaws in a way that anyone else might think was threatening. Farlan watched it for a moment before the creature screeched and flew back into the trees. While Remus had heard of Farlan's ability to use legilimency on creatures it was still something he hadn't often seen nor did he quite understand it. It would be something he needed to talk to Farlan about but it would always be an interesting sight.

They headed off into the forest with Crookshanks in front once more, only stopping on occasion for Farlan to check with nearby creatures. The Bowtruckles on a tree near the forest's edge shook their heads but a group of stray Cornish pixies from Lockhart's old lesson pointed further in. They moved quietly and cautiously, knowing there were far more dangerous and unpleasant creatures within the forest keeping their distance. Then, a shuffle of bushes drew their attention only for a thestral to step through. It eyed them with pale white eyes for a moment before letting out a breath and craning its neck, twisting it around toward a small side path. Farlan bowed his head and they moved in that direction next before Crookshanks took off far quicker than before.

"He's close," Faralan warned, eyes sharply looking around the thicket they were walking into before there was a screech overhead and he whipped around.

Remus was stunned by his quick reaction, not even having realized Sirius was there until he was already upon the young man. "Farlan! Sirius, stop!"

The dog snarled dangerously, snapping at Farlan who was holding him in a headlock, somehow unharmed other than the small scrape on his cheek from a branch when he'd fallen.

"If you would stop, we could explain!" He argued with the dog as he squirmed in his hold. "We're not here to hurt you! Crookshanks wouldn't have led us here if we were!"

"Sirius, please!" Remus agreed, wand drawn but not wanting to use it. "Listen to him! We're here to tell you you're innocent! Sirius, we found him! We caught Peter!"

Farlan either lost his grip or released him and Sirius shoved off him, knocking him back to the ground before facing the two with bristled fur, untrusting. Taking the lull as his chance, Remus removed the Daily Prophet he'd brought with him and tossed it at the dog's feet as Farlan sat up and wiped the back of his hand over his cheek, smearing a dab of blood.

"Sirius, we got him. Really, we… You can stop now. I… I'm sorry I didn't… Why didn't you tell me you switched?"

The dog slowly stopped snarling, eyes bouncing between the article in the paper and Remus, and then Farlan as Crookshanks sank into the young man's lap contently. Farlan stared back for a moment and Remus wondered if he was using legilimency now as well before Sirius shifted back into his human form.

He looked absolutely terrible after twelve years in Azkaban and then running around in the forest. His cheeks and eyes were sunken in and he looked gaunt; his clothes hanging off him in more than a few places. His hair was mangy and greasy, growing down past his shoulders, and his clothes were torn and ragged. He hardly looked like the man Remus had grown up with, but there was still that glint of mischief in his gaze when he looked at him.

"Remus," Sirius breathed, hesitant. "Is this true?"

"It is," Farlan replied, drawing his gaze to him. "You saw him in the paper, didn't you? Pettigrew in his rat animagus form. It was why I didn't see it when I looked at the papers at first. I was looking for a man but he was the rat sitting on Ron Weasley's shoulder in the paper taken for them winning a trip."

Sirius eyed him cautiously, glancing at the happy Crookshanks on his lap and back up to his face. Remus, seeing the hesitation, stepped closer to Farlan.

"He's the one who found out, Sirius. He caught Peter on accident but… he was looking into it. He believed you."

Sirius scoffed. "No one believed me."

"I couldn't say anything," Farlan muttered, looking ashamed. "I… I didn't know you well, just what I heard from when I was in school and through Remus. I hadn't thought to try and help. I'm sorry."

Sirius made a face and huffed, stepping over and offering a hand to help him onto his feet. "Why are you apologizing? You didn't put me in that hell hole. Come on. Up. Get up."

Farlan hesitated but took his hand and accepted the help up, despite the disgruntled yowl Crookshanks made in the process. "Still. I should have done something, mentioned something sooner. I… I only did because of… because of Harry."

Even Remus could see how Harry's name brightened Sirius's face.

"Harry," he breathed, still holding Farlan's hand. "How is he? He's alright, isn't he?"

Farlan nodded awkwardly, glancing at the hand still held between them and lightly tugging it free. "H-Harry is fine. He wasn't there when I… w-when I caught Pettigrew."

"Mangy rat," Sirius spat, eyes taking on a mad tinge. "He's dead then?"

Remus shook his head. "He was turned into the Ministry. He'll be held on trial this week."

"The Ministry?" Sirius bit out angrily. "He doesn't deserve that. If he escapes—"

"He won't," Farlan interrupted, making Sirius whip around to him again. "T-They're probably going to just let the dementors have him."

"Even if they don't," Remus interjected, seeing that Farlan was losing his confidence when speaking to Sirius. "It's been taken care of. Sirius, everyone knows now. The Ministry, Britain, everyone. You're innocent."

Sirius cracked a grin, wide and slightly unhinged as he cackled and suddenly drew Remus into a hug. Remus didn't mind, happy for his friend and hugging him in return, until he pulled back.

"So? Who do I get to thank for this?"

Farlan fidgeted and Remus cracked a small smile, gesturing to him.

"Farlan Daggrow. He's an apprentice at Hogwarts studying ancient runes and magical creatures. He's also managed to wiggle his way into teaching a bit of the Dark Arts when I'm otherwise occupied. He went to school with us. I mentioned him before."

Sirius hummed, eyeing Farlan for a moment before seeming to remember. "Ah! That Ravenclaw guy you picked up, right? The one who was moping around behind the castle."

Farlan flushed, embarrassed and turning away as he picked up Crookshanks with a grumble about returning to the castle. Remus cracked a small smile and glanced at Sirius as he watched Farlan in confusion.

"He's a bit… awkward. Given time he's far less reserved. We do need to return though. I believe you have to meet with Dumbledore and sign some things."

Sirius frowned. "Sign?"

"Farlan was rather determined to help you for Harry's sake. He had the Minister sign a few things to ensure your innocence was guaranteed no matter what occurred to Peter, as well as you getting compensated for your wrongful imprisonment."

Sirius's eyes went wide and he stared at Farlan's back in surprise. "You really went that far for me?"

"For Harry," Farlan clarified, grumbling something under his breath as the tips of his ears reddened.

"And we can just walk right in there?" Sirius wondered, still a bit uneasy about this sudden news. "I feel like it's too easy."

"It was hardly easy," Remus explained. "He fought Peter off and captured him without his wand then immediately had to sit with Dumbledore and the Minister."

"And the reporter," Farlan grumbled, glancing over his shoulder at them. "And a lawyer."

"Yeah, how'd that go then? A mess, right?"

Farlan shifted as they reached the doors to the castle. "I… may have angered the headmaster…"

Sirius let out a bark of laughter. "You? Anger Dumbledore? I don't think anyone's really capable of that. What did you do? Make him take the credit or something?"

Farlan ran a hand through his hair uneasily, letting Crookshanks down as he glanced at the floor. "I-I fought for your rights a-as Harry's godfather."

Sirius's smile faltered. "S-Sorry?"

Farlan looked over at his stunned expression uneasily but with a hint of a smile. "I… m-may have ensured that you have the right to… take Harry away from his aunt's to live with you."

Sirius couldn't say anything for a moment as that registered and when it did, he abruptly wrapped Farlan in a hug. Farlan held his hands up, completely stiff and uncomfortable as he looked at Remus for help. Remus just smiled though, happy himself at Sirius's reaction as the mess of a man choked out a half sob into Farlan's shoulder.

"Thank you," he repeated over and over before finally pulling away and clapping his hands on Farlan's arms, making him flinch. "You need anything, you let me know. I might not look like much but I will do anything I can to help you. Anything for getting Harry back to me."

"Y-You still need to sign," Farlan fumbled, taking a step back out of his reach and looking anywhere but him. "T-The contract can still be altered o-on your side and r-resigned by the Minister when agreed upon. I-I requested that a-any help you might need recovering be held accountable by the Ministry. T-They need to ensure you're sound enough to care of him a-and have somewhere to stay."

Sirius leaned over to Remus as Farlan continued to ramble about the contracts. "He always like this?"

"Well, usually not as bad but I believe your hug might have broken him somehow."

Sirius snorted, heading back over to Farlan who stiffened in preparation for another hug but he simply smacked his back harshly with a grin. "You're alright, Farlan. I like you. Anyone who can pull something like this off and piss off Dumbledore at the same time is great in my books."

"T-Thanks?" Farlan stuttered out as Remus opened the doors and nodded them inside.

"Come on, before you give him an aneurysm."