I do not own any of J.K Rowling's characters

Dumbledore and I had just spent the best of 40 minutes unsuccessfully trying to find the Minster and he suggested that we go back to the hospital wing.

As we approached the hospital wing I could hear shouting and, obviously so did Dumbledore, as he quickened his pace. He opened the doors of the hospital wing he swept up the ward and I practically had to jog to keep up with him. I spotted Minerva, who was trembling with fury and the Minister for Magic who didn't look too happy either.

"What has happened?" said Dumbledore sharply, looking from the Minister to Minerva. "Why are you disturbing these people? Minerva, - I asked you to stand guard over Barty Crouch -

"There is no need to stand guard over him anymore, Dumbledore!" she shrieked. "The Minister has seen to that!"

"When we told the Minister that we had caught the Death Eater responsible for tonight's events," said Severus, in a low voice.

My eyes flicked to him, I hadn't even noticed he was here, as I had been too focused on Minerva.

"He seemed to feel his personal safety was in question. He insisted on summoning a dementor to accompany him into the castle and brought it up to the office where Barty Crouch -"

"I told him you would not agree, Dumbledore!" Minerva fumed. "I told him you would never allow dementors to set foot inside the castle, but -"

"My dear woman!" roared Fudge, who looked angrier than I had ever seen him, "as Minister for Magic, it is my decision whether I wish to bring protection with me when interviewing a possibly dangerous -"

"The moment that - that thing entered the room," Minerva screamed interrupting and pointing at Fudge, "it swooped down on Crouch and - and -"

She didn't need to finish. I knew what she was getting at. Obviously, Barty Crouch Jr no longer had a soul. The thought sent a slight shiver down my spine. That was a pretty stupid thing to do though, I thought to myself resisting the urge to roll my eyes. I turned to look at the Minister.

"By all accounts, he is no loss!" blustered Fudge. "It seems he has been responsible for several deaths'."

"But Minister, he cannot give testimony at trial," I said, frowning slightly. "He cannot give evidence about why he killed those people."

"Why he killed them? Well, that's no mystery, is it Madam Megera?" Fudge spat, spinning around and glaring at me. "He was a raving lunatic! From what I have been told, he seems to have thought he was doing it all on You-Know-Who's instructions!"

"Lord Voldemort was giving him instructions, Cornelius," Dumbledore said from beside me. "Those people's deaths were mere by-products of a plan to restore Voldemort to full strength again. The plan succeeded. Voldemort has been restored to his body."

Fudge looked as though someone had just swung a heavy weight into his face and he stared at Dumbledore as if he couldn't quite believe what he had just heard.

"You-Know-Who…returned? Preposterous. Come now, Dumbledore…" he spluttered.

"As Minerva and Severus have doubtless told you," said Dumbledore, "we heard Barty Crouch confess. Under the influence of Veritaserum, he told us everything-"

"See here, Dumbledore," said Fudge, a slight smile dawning on his face, "you - you can't seriously believe that You-Know-Who - back? Crouch may have believed himself to be acting upon You-Know-Who's orders - but to take the word of a lunatic like that, Dumbledore…"

I looked up at Dumbledore as he explained the events that followed after Harry touched the Triwizard cup. Once he finished, I saw his eyes flick to Harry who, to my surprise, was awake.

Dumbledore shook his head and said, "I am afraid I cannot permit you to question Harry tonight."

My heart twinged as I looked at Harry, pale and looking exhausted and my gaze flicked back to the Minister whose curious smile lingered.

He glanced at Harry, then looked back at Dumbledore, and said, "You are - er - prepared to take Harry's word on this, are you, Dumbledore?"

There was a moment's silence, which was broken by Sirius growling. His hackles were raised, and he was baring his teeth at Fudge.

"Certainly, I believe Harry," said Dumbledore. "I heard Crouch's confession, and I heard Harry's account of what happened after he touched the Cup; the two stories make sense and they explain everything that has happened since Bertha Jorkins disappeared last summer."

I continued to look at Fudge who still had that strange smile on his face. The way he kept glancing around at Harry before answering was starting to annoy me.

"You are prepared to believe that You-Know-Who has returned, on the word of a lunatic murderer, and a boy who…well…"

"I assume that you are referring to the pains Harry has been experiencing in his scar?" said Dumbledore coolly.

"You admit that he has been having these pains, then?" said Fudge quickly. "Headaches? Nightmares? Possibly - hallucinations?"

Dumbledore took a step toward Fudge "Harry is as sane as you or I. That scar on his forehead has not addled his brains. I believe it hurts him when Lord Voldemort is close by, or feeling particularly murderous." He said.

Fudge had taken half a step back from Dumbledore, but he looked no less stubborn. "You'll forgive me, Dumbledore, but I've never heard of a curse scar acting as an alarm bell before.…"

I had always thought of Cornelius Fudge as a reasonable man, I had even looked up to him as our thoughts and values on justice aligned but the way he was acting tonight was really showing me a side of him that I didn't much care for. Why was he being so stubborn about this? I frowned as I pondered this briefly.

"Minister," I said loudly, my voice rising of its own accord. "Cedric Diggory and Mr. Crouch's deaths were not random acts!"

"I see no evidence to the contrary!" shouted Fudge, glaring at me, his face purpling. "It seems to me that you are all determined to start a panic that will destabilise everything we have worked for these last thirteen years! Madam Megera, of all people - I'm surprised at you."

There was a beat where he continued to glare at me followed by a tense silence. Although he didn't scare me, this situation began to unnerve me slightly and I started to think this could cost me everything I had worked so hard to build. Obviously, I believed Harry, and without question but, what would be the consequences of believing him?

"Voldemort has returned," Dumbledore repeated, breaking the strained silence. "If you accept that fact straightaway. Fudge, and take the necessary measures, we may still be able to save the situation. The first and most essential step is to remove Azkaban from the control of the dementors -"

"Preposterous!" shouted Fudge turning to face Dumbledore again. "Remove the dementors? I'd be kicked out of office for suggesting it! Half of us only feel safe in our beds at night because we know the dementors are standing guard at Azkaban!"

"The second step you must take - and at once," Dumbledore pressed on, "is to send envoys to the giants."

"Giants!?" Fudge shrieked

"Extend them the hand of friendship, now, before it is too late," Dumbledore went on "or Voldemort will persuade them, as he did before, that he alone among wizards will give them their rights and their freedom!"

"You - you cannot be serious!" Fudge gasped, shaking his head and retreating further from Dumbledore. "If the magical community got wind that I had approached the giants - people hate them, Dumbledore - end of my career -"

"You are blinded," said Dumbledore, his voice rising now, "by the love of the office you hold, Cornelius! I tell you now- take the steps I have suggested, and you will be remembered, in office or out, as one of the bravest and greatest Ministers for Magic we have ever known. Fail to act - and history will remember you as the man who stepped aside and allowed Voldemort a second chance to destroy the world we have tried to rebuild!"

"Insane," whispered Fudge, still backing away. "Mad…"

And then there was silence again.

I looked up at Dumbledore again who was still standing beside me, a look of furious determination upon his face.

"If your determination to shut your eyes will carry you as far as this, Cornelius," said Dumbledore, "we have reached a parting of the ways. You must act as you see fit. And I - I shall act as I see fit." it sounded like a mere statement, not a threat, but Fudge bristled.

"Now, see here, Dumbledore," he said, waving a threatening finger. "I've given you free rein, always. I've had a lot of respect for you. I might not have agreed with some of your decisions, but I've kept quiet. There aren't many who'd have let you hire werewolves, keep Hagrid, or decide what to teach your students without reference to the Ministry. But if you're going to work against me -"

"The only one against whom I intend to work," said Dumbledore, "is Lord Voldemort."

Fudge said nothing but he rocked backward and forward on his feet for a moment and spun his bowler hat in his hands. Finally, he said, with a hint of a plea in his voice, "He can't be back, Dumbledore, he just can't be…"

Severus caught my eye as he glanced at me and Dumbledore before he strode forward, pulling up the left sleeve of his robes as he went. He stuck out his forearm and showed it to Fudge, who recoiled.

My breath caught in my throat as I realised what he was showing Fudge. Obviously, I had seen the dark mark many times, on many members of my family but was he actually mad - showing the Minister for Magic?

"There," he said harshly. "The Dark Mark. It is not as clear as it was an hour or so ago when it burned black, but you can still see it. Every Death Eater had the sign burned into him by the Dark Lord. The Mark has been growing clearer all year. Karkaroff's too. Which is why he fled tonight. We both felt the Mark burn. We both knew he had returned. Karkaroff fears the Dark Lord's vengeance. He betrayed too many of his fellow Death Eaters to be sure of a welcome back into the fold."

Fudge stepped back from Severus shaking his head. He stared, apparently repelled by the mark on Severus' arm, then looked up at Dumbledore and whispered, "I don't know what you and your staff are playing at, Dumbledore, but I have heard enough. I have no more to add. I will be in touch with you tomorrow to discuss the running of this school."

He turned to me and said severely "Madam Megera, it is time you decide to whom you are loyal."

He crammed his bowler hat onto his head, glaring at me. I had never heard him speak to anyone in such a harsh tone, and I was slightly taken aback.

"Minister, I -" I started but he cut across me.

"I must return to the Ministry." He said and walked out of the room, slamming the door behind him.

I hadn't realised that my breathing had elevated until I noticed that Dumbledore was looking down at me, a slight frown on his face but it vanished quickly as he looked at the group around Harry's bed.

"There is work to be done," he said. "Molly…am I right in thinking that I can count on you and Arthur?"

"Of course you can," said Molly. I looked over at her, she was looking very pale but resolute. "We know what Fudge is."

"Then I need to send a message to Arthur," said Dumbledore. "All those that we can persuade of the truth must be notified immediately, and he is well placed to contact those at the Ministry who are not as shortsighted as Cornelius."

"I'll go to Dad," said Bill, standing up. "I can go now."

"Excellent," said Dumbledore. "Tell him what has happened. Tell him I will be in direct contact with him shortly. He will need to be discreet, however. If Fudge thinks I am interfering at the Ministry -"

"Leave it to me," said Bill.

He clapped a hand on Harry's shoulder, kissed his mother on the cheek, pulled on his cloak, and strode quickly from the room.

"Minerva," said Dumbledore, turning to her, "I want to see Hagrid in my office as soon as possible. Also - if she will consent to come - Madame Maxime."

Minerva nodded and left without a word.

"Poppy," Dumbledore said to Madam Pomfrey, "would you be very kind and go down to Professor Moody's office, where I think you will find a house-elf called Winky in considerable distress? Do what you can for her, and take her back to the kitchens. I think Dobby will look after her for us."

"Very - very well," said Madam Pomfrey, looking startled, but she too left.

Dumbledore made sure that the door was closed before he spoke again.

"And now," he said, "it is time for two of our numbers to recognize each other for what they are. Sirius…if you could resume your usual form."

The great black dog looked up at Dumbledore, then, in an instant, turned back into a man.

I jumped as Molly screamed and leapt back from the bed. For a moment I had forgotten that very few people knew Sirius was innocent.

"Sirius Black!" she shrieked, pointing at him.

"Mum, shut up!" Ron yelled. "It's okay!"

My gaze went from Sirius to Severus who had not yelled or jumped, but the look on his face was one of mingled fury and horror.

"Him!" he snarled, staring at Sirius, whose face showed equal dislike. "What is he doing here?"

"He is here at my invitation," said Dumbledore, looking between them, "as are you, Severus. I trust you both. It is time for you to lay aside your old differences and trust each other."

Sirius and Severus were eyeing each other with the utmost loathing.

"I will settle, in the short term," said Dumbledore, with impatience in his voice, "for a lack of open hostility. You will shake hands. You are on the same side now. Time is short, and unless the few of us who know the truth do not stand united, there is no hope for any of us."

Very slowly - but still glaring at each other - Sirius and Severus moved toward each other and shook hands. They let go extremely quickly. I again fought the urge to roll my eyes.

"That will do to be going on with," said Dumbledore, stepping between them. "Now I have work for all three of you. Severus," Dumbledore turned to him, "-you know what I must ask you to do. If you are ready…if you are prepared…"

"I am," said Severus.

He looked slightly paler than usual, but I noticed that his dark eyes glittered strangely.

"Then good luck," said Dumbledore, with a trace of apprehension on his face. Severus walked wordlessly by me, catching my eye briefly before he swept out of the hospital wing. Dumbledore turned to me.

"Cornelius' attitude, though not unexpected, changes everything. Meghana, as mentioned I need people inside the Ministry but your position there is vital. You must keep on Cornelius' good side - say whatever you need to say to him to make him believe you are loyal to the Ministry and only to the Ministry. Meanwhile, tell the Wizengmont of Voldemort's return and alert, discreetly I might add, the Department of Magical Law Enforcement."

I nodded slowly although I had no idea how I was to pull off this task. My eyes flicked to Sirius who was looking at me, an odd expression on his face that I couldn't quite decipher. He turned to Dumbledore as he spoke to him "Sirius, I need you to set off at once. You are to alert Remus Lupin, Arabella Figg, Mundungus Fletcher - the old crowd. Lie low at Lupin's for a while; I will contact you there."

"But -" came Harry's voice.

"You'll see me very soon. Harry," said Sirius, turning to him. "I promise you. But I must do what I can, you understand, don't you?"

"Yeah," said Harry. "Yeah…of course I do."

Sirius grasped his hand briefly, nodded to Dumbledore, glanced at me, transformed again into the black dog, and ran the length of the room to the door and turned the handle with a paw.

Then he was gone.

I looked over at Harry, the lump in my throat making an appearance again. I swallowed and raised my chin "I will attend the Ministry now" I said quietly glancing at Dumbledore, his bright blue eyes meeting mine.

He studied my face for a second before nodding and said "Good luck to you as well" as I turned and left the hospital wing, my long cloak trailing along the floor behind me.

I was surprised to see the black dog standing on the other side of the door after I had opened it and let it close behind me. I stared at him for a second and the dog stared back at me, almost as though he was trying to speak through the silence. I nodded and Sirius turned and trotted along the corridor as I followed him.

As soon as we were out of the Hogwarts boundaries, he transformed into human form again.

There were no lights along the path that led to Hogsmeade and I could hardly see his face as he stood in front of me to stop me from moving.

"Megs, we need to talk," he said quickly.

"And you think now is the time to do that?" I snapped at him.

"I know you are still angry," he continued, as though I had not said anything.

"Sirius-" I sighed as I started to retort but he spoke over me.

"I need you to understand that I thought I was doing the right thing when I switched with Peter. I thought not telling anyone else the plan was another layer in the protection, I didn't know who I could trust - I never meant to hurt you - I never meant for any of what happened that night to happen." He finished.

My heart ached for him. I heard the pain lacing his voice but I couldn't help but frown as I considered him for a beat.

"Of course, you didn't mean for it to happen," I said quietly. "But I've spent the last 13 years believing you betrayed our best friends - betrayed me. You don't understand what I went through after they threw you in Azkaban." I reached out and touched his cheek and felt him lean slightly into my touch. "But right now we have more important things to focus on."

I felt him nod.

"We'll talk more soon," I said as I let my hand fall to his arm gently and kissed him on the cheek. And giving him a final glance I turned on the spot and disapparated to the Ministry.