Harry walked down the centre of the hospital wing for the twentieth time in a row. He paced up and down, while Madam Pomfrey healed Ron's ankle. Finally, Hermione put her hand on his forearm, stopping him halfway down."Harry, calm down. What is wrong?"

Harry stopped looking over to his hurt best friend. Ron was rather occupied with the healing of his leg, which seemed to be rather painful. Harry shook his head, sighing.

"I don't know. I just...I don't want Sirius to go back to Azkaban you know? He is innocent and shouldn't have to go back. He is my godfather after all. It, he...it feels strange. He is the only real family I have left."

Hermione looked at him with a small smile. She knew better than asking about the Dursleys. She had never met these awful people, but what little Harry ever had told about them, made her wish she never would meet them. It was a testament to their horribleness that Harry would consider someone who broke out of prison, even if innocent and had talked to him for only half an hour, more family than people he lived with his whole life.

Hermione strengthened her grip ever so slightly, giving Harry's forearm a reassuring squeeze, while she nodded to him. Harry always had been quite vocal about people being treated unfairly and she was glad he was this was.

"He will be ok. You heard what Professor Dumbledore said. They have the rat up there, he will get the truth I'm sure."

Harry nodded ever so slightly, slumping down. Suddenly the energy that kept him out of the bed up until now seemed to wash out of him, he slumped down. His whole demeanour showed how tired he was. Well, they had to get up early this morning and now it was way after midnight. Hermione herself felt the tiredness in her core, all that kept her up at the moment was her worry for her friends.

"I hope you are right Hermione. You have seen the way McGonagall reacted and she trusts Dumbledore about all."

Hermione raised her chin up, sternly looking at Harry, while she smirked slightly.

"Professor McGonagall and Dumbledore, Harry."

He chuckled a little at her demand to do the proper address at even this moment. It was good to have a little normality because, in the end, it was the thing he had always wanted, a normal life. Well, a normal wizard life, but he could do without the whole 'boy who lived' thing.

"Yeah, Professor McGonagall, but if she acts this way what do you think will the justice system do?"

Hermione shook her head, ever so slightly. She put one hand in her hip.

"I'm sure Professor Dumbledore wouldn't have said something like he did if he wasn't certain he could act up to it. Also, Madam Bones is a fair character."

Harry raised an eyebrow looking at his friend with somewhat disbelieving.

"How do you figure?"

Hermione smiled her special smile, the one she always got when she knew something, someone else did not. Of course, being the smartest witch in Hogwarts and kind of a bookworm, she had this smile very often.

"I have read 'The magic justice in the centuries', 'The structure of the Ministry' and 'Witches, who made it'. She has a place in all three of them and all three say she is a stern but fair and honest person. Loyal to the law and nothing else." She smiled again when another voice joined their conversation. Ron had finished his treatment and sat in his bed, looking at his two friends.

"She is right. Dad said she is one of the good ones. Maybe a little stiff but all in all a damn good person."

Harry and Hermione made their way over to their friend, looking worried at the moment.

"Hey, how are you mate?" Harry said while sitting down next to him. Ron made a swing motion with his hand, shrugging.

"Have felt better, but the pain is gone, so there is that. Still, a little shaken I would say. Not every day you get dragged into a hole in the ground by a mass murderer. Well, a falsely convicted mass murderer but you know I didn't know that by then."

Harry nodded sighing. He knew how afraid he was at that moment, there was no way Ron would have been ok with that at the time. Ron kept on talking.

"Well, still, he does seem a little maniacal never the less, don't you think? The way he stares around and flinches at all sounds?"

Harry frowned a little at the time. Sometimes Ron wasn't the most emphatic person, but he was his best friend and everyone had their flaws don't they? Hermione could be an extreme know it all and he was pretty sure his friends found flaws in him too. The Dursleys found only flaws, so yeah, that is that. Hermione answered, taking it off of Harry for a moment.

"Well, how would you act after being guarded by Dementors for years and being on the run for another, while being innocent."

Ron flinched a little, nodding hastily.

"Yeah, I guess you are right. I guess everyone would turn out a little crazy by that."

"Ron! Don't say it like that?" Hermione reprimanded her red-haired friend while placing her hand to her hips again, her brown untamable hair swinging wildly around.

The boy shrunk down in his bed, for a moment reminded about a certain red-haired witch, who would reprimand him in the same way only being his own mother. His eyes quickly cast down while he mumbled a sorry.

"Yet I think Mister Weasley is not completely wrong."

Harry turned to the sudden new voice. An old hand pulled the curtain around Ron's back and Professor Dumbledore stepped forward, folding his hands in front of his beard. His grey robe was embroidered with stars and circles and on his head, he had his signature wizard hat. He smiled brightly and his eyes behind the half-moon glasses twinkle a little bit.

"Professor!" The three exclaimed, Harry and Hermione, jumping from their seats. The old wizard waved his hands, suggesting them to sit down again.

"Well hello to you three again. I hope Mister Weasley, you're up and alright again?"

Ron nodded a grin plastered on his face.

"A little stiff around the ankle but aside from that I'm fine." Dumbledore nodded once, winking at them.

"That is good. You will stay here tonight and if Poppy is okay with it, you can leave tomorrow morning."

Ron nodded leaning back in his bed. Dumbledore smiled turning to Harry, who is fiddling with his sleeve.

"I guess you have quite a few questions, Harry."

Harry nodded eagerly, breathing a little fast.

"What is about Sirius? Is he okay? Did they let him go? Do they need to talk to me? Can I see him?"

Professor Dumbledore chuckled, waving his hand up and down.

"Slow down young man. Sirius is in custody of the DMLE."

Harry blinked jumping from his chair. He gestured around, talking fastly. Hermione also frowned, sitting up from her chair.

"I have to go, maybe I can talk to them. Didn't they see Pettigrew there? How can they turn him in again he is innocent. Something must be done but-"

"Harry." The old wizard said it with a calm warm voice, stopping Harry from rambling. He turned to the headmaster.

"Sirius has been taken into custody for safety reasons. We have questioned Mr Pettigrew and his statement is helping Sirius a lot. The Kiss on Sight order has been cancelled. Sirius will get a fair trial and I think he will be declared innocent. Up until he is and the Daily Prophet has reported it, it would be too dangerous for him to be in the open. He is not back in Azkaban but in the office of the DMLE. Madam Bones guarantees his safety."

Harry slumped down on his chair again. Suddenly he felt really really tired. A warm hand placed on his shoulder and he looked up to the man he sometimes considered as something like a grandfather.

"He will be all right, don't you worry."

Then the old wizard rose again. folding his hands.

"I'm afraid I have to leave already, there was an incident I have to attend to. Good night you all." The three waved at him. He walked a few steps away then he turned again smiling.

"Oh I almost forgot, Sirius gave me this for you Harry."

He handed him a folded piece of parchment. Eagerly Harry unfolded it, raising it to eye level. It has a text, written in crude and hastily written letters.

Harry,

I'm in a bit of a hurry-. don't worry about me, Amelia is taking care of me, she is a good soul, we know each other from back in school days. There is so much I want to talk to you about, so much I want to tell you. I'm sorry, I left you alone when you needed me most. I don't know if you know, but Lils and Prongs made me your godfather, in case something happened to them. Sadly I couldn't act on this privilege for the last twelve years, but if you want me, I would love to play a role in your life, however small it might be. I understand if you wanted to stay with your aunt and uncle of course, but if you EVER need another home, you will have one with me. Stay safe.

Padfoot

Harry lowered the parchment, staring into nothingness. Sirius...offered him a home. It was...he didn't know...

"Harry are you all right?" Hermione had walked around the bed and stood next to him, looking down.

"You look a little pale. What does it say?"

Without answering Harry held up the parchment, giving it to Hermione. She frowned a little, riding it quickly. Her mouth gaped open a little. Ron leaned up trying to see.

"What does it say?"

Hermione gave the parchment back to Harry, still trying to get a hold of herself.

"Mr Black offered Harry to live with him if he ever wanted."

Ron turned to his friend, worry on his face. He took a moment to think about it.

"How do you feel about that mate?" He asked carefully. Family and living were touchy topics with Harry, but still, he needed to ask. Harry turned, with a wide grin on his face.

"I will say yes of course." Harry felt so happy, he couldn't convey how happy he was.

"Are you sure, I mean he is innocent and all but the whole Azkaban thing has left its marks and you think you are up for that?"

Harry nodded still eagerly, in his head already dreams of a life without the Dursleys.

"Absolutely. I don't care if he has nothing or if he is damaged. So am I. He can't be worse than the Dursleys.

Ron remembered the steel bars in front of Harry's window and how skinny he had been when they rescued him. He had never said anything about the black eye Harry had on that day and he thought he only knew the tip of the iceberg if Harry would jump up and live with someone he didn't know over them.

"Yeah, would be pretty hard to suck more than them."

Harry couldn't find words more appropriate. Then his demeanour plummeted again.

"Still, at first he has to win his trial I guess."