AU: Third year, all everyone can think about is Sirius Black and his infamous escape. It's not only the students and teachers that are worried though. When Ron's faithful rat makes an escape in the night, he's found by a shocked Remus Lupin, who immediately takes him to Dumbledore for questioning.

Sirius Black is freed at once and Dumbledore hatches a new plan for Harry's safety. The powerful magic instilled upon Sirius by James and Lily would better protect Harry from Voldemort; not to mention, Harry would be a lot happier.

Except, no one's explained to young Harry that Sirius Black is not a murderer. This is a tale of earned trust, patience, and undying love.

These characters are not my own; all rights to JK Rowling.

Dumbledore's perspective - Chapter One

Dumbledore eyed the gaunt man from behind his half-moon spectacles, feeling a mixture of pity and joy. Here stood before him a pupil he had thought to be a traitor, one whose soul he had mourned for many years after the events of October 31, 1981. Yet he was innocent and, miraculously, unscathed from the wizard prison that had broken so many before him. Sirius Black standing there, alive, sane, was a miracle in itself, a cause for celebration, regardless of any other contribution he would make to their war effort.

Sirius met his gaze, and the pity mixing within Dumbledore surged. The man had suffered so; he was sane, he was well, but he had paid the price of the sentence of the wicked, and much of the blame, though Sirius hadn't yet accused him, was on him. Dumbledore had just assumed so many years ago that Sirius was a death eater; he had known there had been a traitor among them, and Sirius Black, of the notorious Black Family, was the perfect fit given the circumstances of the fidelius charm.

But this was never a fair assumption and Dumbledore had known it all along. Sirius had proven from age eleven that he was different from the rest of his family. He had bravely stepped into Gryffindor House, had courageously embraced their war effort. He had fought alongside dozens of Order members, including Dumbledore himself. He was Harry's godfather, the man Lily and James trusted above anyone else.

Why hadn't he questioned it, back when it mattered? He was known for his second chances, and yet, he had failed so miserably this time.

"Sirius," Dumbledore said, choosing to greet him in joy and shield the pain he felt within. He paced toward him, grasping his hand firmly once he reached him. Sirius's gray eyes were haunted and unreadable, but he grinned nonetheless, his mischievous nature shining through for a moment so quickly, Dumbledore wondered if he had imagined it.

"Madam Pomfrey has tended to you already, I see," he said softly, scrutinizing him. Sirius's teeth, which had been rotting hours before, were a pearly white and his skin was healthily flushed. She had even cut and fixed his hair. He looked much like he did the night he was arrested, even with his cold eyes.

Sirius nodded. "Good as new," he said with a smile that lacked sincerity. Dumbledore stared at him, wishing warmth would flow into the man's gaze. It was eerie and yet fascinating, the awful nature dementors had on their captives. Sirius's eyes reminded him of a fire that had not quite burned out; there were embers glowing, a stray flame catching the kindling alight, yet it was burning fast. It seemed there was only a short amount of time before it, no, before he, was lost forever.

It was this Dumbledore feared the most; for his plan to truly work, Sirius had to have some semblance of his old self.

The young man seemed to follow his train of thought. "Why did you wish to see me?"

"I figured," Dumbledore said, wrenching his gaze away and gesturing toward a chair, "you would like to meet Harry."

Sirius glanced at Dumbledore sharply, his expression communicating exactly what Dumbledore had hoped. Sirius's sole goal, now that Pettigrew was out of the picture, was to be with Harry. He could see the hope glimmering within the younger man, the embers burning just a little brighter. "More than anything," he said softly.

"I have a bit of a plan, and we don't have much time," Dumbledore said with a satisfied nod. So far, this was going just as he had hoped.

Sirius sat down in the proffered chair and watched him with rapt attention. "I placed a ward on Lily's sister's house when Harry was attacked as an infant. Under Lily's blood protection, Harry is safe while he stays with his relatives. It's likely what has kept him alive all of these years."

Sirius seemed to deflate with the mention of Petunia, but Dumbledore pushed on quickly. "Yet, it is imperfect in many ways. It only protects him when he is living there, but does not offer him protection at Hogwarts or on holidays spent anywhere else. It has been no matter, thus far. I am here at the school and have been watching him closely. But the ancient magic used in the ritual that named you godfather, I believe, will be a far better solution."

Sirius opened his mouth, then closed it again; Dumbledore could tell he was thinking deeply about something troubling.

"I believe," Dumbledore said quietly, interpreting Sirius's silence, "that Voldemort is not yet finished with your godson."

Sirius's gaze sharpened and he nodded curtly. "It's why I escaped," he muttered. "I saw the photo of Peter Pettigrew in the newspaper Fudge had given me. It said the Weasley boy, his owner, was going back to Hogwarts and… I knew if there was a real sign Voldemort would return, Pettigrew could hurt Harry. I was the only one who knew about him… well, besides Remus, but Remus thought he was dead."

To Dumbledore's surprise, there was no bitterness in Sirius's voice when discussing Remus Lupin; only pangs of regret. It touched him, and gave him the courage to carry forward in voicing his idea. If Sirius still cared for Remus, surely he still loved and cared for Harry. "Your bond with Harry will be tantamount to protecting him when Voldemort returns. The blood ritual connects you to both Lily and James, so I'll be able to put up the same wards wherever you reside. And I have reason to believe this protection will be far superior-"

"Why?" Sirius asked suddenly, raising his eyebrows.

If the subject wasn't so dark, Dumbledore might have laughed at his astuteness. Sirius and James had been brilliant students, after all. Yet, nothing involving Voldemort, or child endangerment, was a laughing matter. "The protection works when the person considers a place to be home. Harry… I don't believe he considers Privet Drive to be his home. They aren't kind to him, Sirius. I think he views Hogwarts as his home, and I don't want to test my theory when Voldemort returns to power."

"You think he could actually be attacked at Petunia's?"

"I do," Dumbledore said with a nod. "I think, when he was a child, his aunt and uncle's house was his home because he didn't know any different, regardless of how they treated him. Now, he knows his identity and has built a life here; he could never consider the muggles, who have often been cruel and neglectful towards him, to be his home."

Sirius narrowed his eyes. "Cruel and neglectful?"

Dumbledore held up a hand. "There will be time to discuss that, and you can rage at me all you would like for leaving Harry there. For now, we must discuss the issue at hand."

"Of course I'll take him home with me," Sirius said dismissively. "But, does that mean my home will be any better than his aunt's? He doesn't know me and he has friends here. In fact, he's probably terrified of me-"

"Precisely why we must act now." Dumbledore interjected. "Today starts the Christmas holidays, and Harry has elected to stay here. I wish for him to go with you instead. I believe, if all goes to plan, by next summer, he will have a new place to call home, with a parent figure who cares for him far more than his aunt and uncle. And you," Dumbledore said kindly, "will be able to take your rightful place as his godfather."

"But the trial hasn't happened yet-"

Dumbledore held up a hand. "Leave that to me. I'll make Fudge see sense. After all, he's heard your testimony, as well as Peter's under veritaserum. The trial will be a formality."

"The public will hate it-"

"They will come around-"

"And Harry? Will he come around?" Sirius said sharply.

Dumbledore inhaled deeply. This had been precisely what he had wondered himself. How much did Harry know about Sirius Black? What had he heard from the other students? The past four months, all of the trusted adults in his life had warned him that Sirius was trying to kill him, and had emphasized how dangerous he was. Would Harry be willing to change his mind within an hour, before he had to leave with Sirius?

It had to be done, though, and it had to be done quickly. They couldn't wait on the ministry to publicly clear Sirius, not if Dumbledore wanted to secure Harry this protection. Everyday they waited, Dumbledore feared Voldemort was growing stronger. He had heard the strangest rumors, and the events of the past two years at Hogwarts itself had done nothing to assuage his worries. If he came to power this spring and Harry was not yet close to Sirius, could Harry truly be protected anywhere?

"That's why Harry needs to spend Christmas with you," Dumbledore emphasized. "I need to know he will come around before I send him to you permanently. And… he needs to know he's not being forced. I've made too many decisions for him in his life."

Sirius stared at Dumbledore, but his expression was no longer politely interested; he looked murderous. "What exactly do you mean by cruel and neglectful, Albus?"

Dumbledore opened his mouth to stall the question, when there was a knock on the door. Both men jerked toward the sound. Sirius stood quickly.

Remus walked in first, looking grim; trailing behind him was Harry, half-awake and wearing a backwards t-shirt.

Albus glanced at Sirius, and saw his expression had morphed again; his mouth was agape as he looked properly at his teenage godson for the first time.