Disclaimer: Still don't own a thing. That's fine by me!

Author's Note: Oh my goodness, thank you so much for the wonderful reviews! The response to the last chapter was stunning, and in a good way.

First, I'd like to acknowledge Yellow 14, who has written yet another spin-off fanfic based on this story. It's called Unexpected Allies, and deals with two characters, a Hufflepuff and a Slytherin, who are original. I asked Yellow 14's permission and they have agreed for me to incorporate those characters into the story! They will appear later, and will have a great part to play. I found the story so good that I don't want to make it obsolete. I'm so glad Yellow 14 agreed for me to do that! Thank you so much again!

And as far as you saying that the last chapter was some of my best work ... I am completely touched by that. I put a lot of heart into this story, and the other one, No Laughing Matter, that I am currently working on. It's amazing when I hear that the work is really paying off. I loved writing the last chapter as well - Harry's been through so much, and having supportive friends on his side is really making things better for him.

One of my other reviewers had some great theories about why Voldemort would target Hogwarts anyway, even if Harry had never attended. I found that very interesting, and don't discount what you say at all. I love hearing what-if scenarios from people in reviews.

Anyway, I really hope you enjoy this chapter.

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It was odd, Sirius mused, how time worked. As he sat with Harry in McGonagall's office at Hogwarts, he felt as though it was only yesterday that he had been in this castle. He'd never forget those frantic moments in the hospital wing when he felt like things were moving at breakneck speed. He'd always remember the feeling of Harry shaking in his arms, the horrified looks that Ron, Hermione, and Ginny wore, the erratic thumping of his heart as he realized how soon the Aurors could snatch Harry from his clutches and do Merlin knows what to him. He remembered the hasty decision he'd made, to just grab Harry and escape. There had been many a time when Sirius had been burned by making a split-second decision, but he felt that, by taking Harry that day, he'd set their lives on a course that he wouldn't change for the world.

But at the same time, even though that day felt like yesterday, it also seemed as though it had been years and years ago. So much had happened since then, and it was difficult to come to terms with all of it. But here they were, sitting in McGonagall's office, ready to have a conversation that neither Sirius nor Harry knew if they were really ready for.

Even though McGonagall had taken over as acting Headmistress for the time being, Sirius understood why she felt more comfortable having this meeting in her old office. He couldn't imagine how daunting it really was, to have to take over all responsibility of Hogwarts, and she hadn't had much time to prepare. Dumbledore's condition had only been found out in the second week of August, after all. Despite the issues Sirius currently had with the woman sitting primly in her chair before them, he felt sympathetic when it came to that part of it.

He looked at his godson, and felt an overpowering surge of love and pride fill him up. He could tell that the boy was more than hesitant to go through with this discussion, but the bravery Sirius knew Harry possessed shone out at him from those emerald eyes. Harry wasn't about to run away from what he felt he had to do. It was a mark of how far Harry had come in his recovery that he could look this woman in the eye and be completely honest about how he was feeling.

After Harry and his friends had gone out to play Quidditch yesterday, Sirius had had a frank discussion with Molly about the situation. He felt that same burning, roaring anger leap to life inside him at the knowledge that the school governors, even after everything Harry had been through, were trying to take Hogwarts away from him. They, after all, didn't know the struggles Harry was facing - they weren't aware that Harry did not wish to return.

Molly had been very understanding. She did not like it at all herself, but Sirius could see the underlying fear in her eyes when she said gently, "I'm not saying it's right, Sirius. In fact, it's horrible, and it shouldn't even be something that's being contemplated. Harry has done nothing that should deny him his place at Hogwarts."

"But?" Sirius had said, sensing that there was more that Molly needed to say.

"But parents are scared," Molly said quietly. "Think about it from their perspective. Imagine that Harry was just an ordinary Hogwarts student, and that one of the other children that you don't know is You-Know-Who's prime target. Wouldn't you do anything to keep Harry safe?"

That line of reasoning had sent Sirius into a tailspin. His instinct was to be furious with Molly, but he reined himself in. It was plain to see that Molly loved Harry like he was one of her own children. She wouldn't have let him spend time at the Burrow if she didn't want him around. She wouldn't let him be around her family if she didn't truly care for him. She could have asked him to stay away, but she didn't.

But she was afraid like any mother would be, and Sirius could see that. He realized that it must take a lot of courage for her to do as she was doing and become so heavily involved in the war when she had such a large family to worry about. She knew Harry was not at fault for any of the danger he posed. The boy brought joy to her and her family, and that, in turn, brought Sirius joy as well.

And honestly, Sirius did not like to think about the hypothetical question that Molly had posed. He'd like to think that he would not hold the other student responsible for anything going wrong. He'd like to think that he would be as strong, as kind-hearted, and as true as Amos and Eileen Diggory. Their strength of character had amazed Sirius - he would never forget the way they had looked upon Harry in the hospital wing. There was no blame or anger in their expressions, only sympathy, understanding, and worry.

"It's a complicated issue, Sirius," Molly had said gently. "And I wish, with all my heart, that things didn't have to be this way."

Sirius sighed, the sound reaching his very bones. "I know, Molly," he said sadly. "I know."

"I'm sorry," Molly had whispered then, looking Sirius directly in the eye. "I'm sorry I made assumptions about you. I was wrong."

Though Molly did not elaborate on exactly what assumptions she had made, Sirius could guess. But how could he be angry about it? He had to admit, he'd felt his hackles rise the first time she had come to Grimmauld Place with Arthur and the children. The way she'd turned up her nose at the house had hit him in all the wrong places. It was only for Harry's sake that he'd held in his temper.

Now, however, with Molly outright admitting she'd been in the wrong, he felt his heart soften. "Apology accepted, Molly," he said quietly. "I know you love Harry."

"I do," Molly had said, sounding close to tears. "And all of this has been so unfair. I know you love him, too, and you've done right by him. Thank you for all that you've done for him." She smiled tremulously at him. "Just ... keep doing what you're doing," she whispered. "If he doesn't go back to school, the children are going to miss him terribly."

"You have my word, Molly, that I will take care of him," Sirius swore, having never meant the words more in his life. "And he's going to miss them, too. We're all going to make sure that one day, he will be able to return."

Before Sirius had left the Burrow to go and visit Remus, Molly had allowed him to use her fireplace to contact Minerva. Softly, the professor had told him that her meeting with the school governors had not gone well. Sirius, after hearing everything she said, had promised to discuss it with Harry that evening and that they would come to Hogwarts to meet with her the next day.

And now, that time had come. Sirius and Harry had indeed talked everything over the night before, and the man's heart truly broke at how calm and accepting Harry had been at the news that the governors were not budging. "It'll just make things easier for me," he'd said quietly.

And now, here they were, sitting in McGonagall's office drinking cups of tea and eating biscuits. Sirius felt a sudden, overwhelming nostalgia grip him - he remembered clearly the days, especially in his seventh year, when the war was beginning to get worse and the Marauders knew that they would be heading directly into it. They all knew what side they would be fighting on - it was the only side that mattered. They were about to fly away from the nest - they were about to leave the safety and security of Hogwarts and head out into pain and fear and uncertainty.

At the time, they - especially Sirius and James - had been young and wild and daring. They'd had the world at their feet, and they were going to be heroes. They would stop the Death Eaters. They would save lives. They would become the legends they always wanted to be. They had ruled Hogwarts - they must be able to rule the battlefield, too. They were invincible, their friendship on the firmest of foundations. Nothing could break them - they'd been through so much together.

Sirius had been positive of this as Minerva - or as he liked to call her, Minnie - had pulled him into her office to have a chat with him on one of their last days of school. "Have a biscuit, Sirius." It meant something when Minerva McGonagall referred to you by your first name. It was her way of showing affection, and Sirius had grinned, knowing that no matter how many times he'd been given detention by the old biddy, she was still fond of him. Minerva had frowned in disapproval at Sirius's expression, although he could see the smile hidden behind it.

Minnie had wished him luck, and told him she was proud of him. But she'd also given him a warning about the times to come, that he must take care of himself emotionally as well as physically. This was extremely unusual for the stern, no-nonsense professor, and Sirius had felt a whisper of unease crawl through him.

But the Marauders knew what they were doing. Minnie didn't have to worry about them, for Merlin's sake. They were young adults now, and they were going to fight. They were going to do the right thing, and save lives.

Sirius reflected sadly that his old Transfiguration teacher had been right to warn him. As the war progressed, Sirius didn't feel like a hero. As he watched innocent victims fall, as he watched people choke on their own blood, as he watched people scream and sob over the dead bodies of their loved ones ... all his childish, ridiculous bravado and his dreams of being a hero flew out the window in the face of the anguish and agony that war really was. War was not glamorous - it was not something that you could tell your grandchildren about with a smile. War was blood, sweat, and tears. War was about watching your friends and allies die and not being able to save them. He'd once heard someone say that war was hell - it stripped you of your humanity and only left primal instincts in its wake. Kill, tear down, destroy, slaughter, all in the name of you and your loved ones' survival.

And growing up in the family Sirius had come from, he should have known it all along. He should have realized just how dark things could get. Out of all of the Marauders, he should have known that he could not just wave his wand and save the day. He knew the hatred and darkness that many a Black possessed, the inherent madness that he knew had a hold over him, too. James had told him that out of all of them, Sirius had been the one most determined to fight the war, because he knew that darkness. But even still, Sirius hadn't truly been prepared for the horror Voldemort and his Death Eaters unleashed upon the world.

"Sirius." Minerva's voice pulled him out of his thoughts, and Sirius suddenly landed back in the present. He was still munching on a biscuit and drinking his tea, but it wasn't his seventh year anymore. He couldn't go back and redo it all, knowing what he did now. It was Thursday, August 24, 1995, not June of 1978 - and Harry Potter, the son of his two deceased best friends, two people who had made plans for years they never got to live out, was sitting beside him, about to tell McGonagall something he did not want to express.

"I'm sorry, Minerva," Sirius said, taking another sip of tea. "I was just ... lost in thought."

McGonagall looked at him knowingly. "I can see that," she said quietly. She turned to Harry, her expression softening. "I hear that there is something you'd like to tell me," she said in a gentle tone that was exceedingly rare for her.

Harry took a deep breath, and Sirius laid a hand on his shoulder. Harry made eye contact with him, drawing strength from his touch and from his expression. "I know the governors don't want me to come back," he said quietly. "And I understand why, too. I don't want to put anyone else in danger."

McGonagall's lips pursed, but Sirius knew that she was angry at this whole situation, not at Harry. "Harry, I am sure Sirius told you that I had a long discussion with them yesterday, and tried to convince them otherwise."

Harry sighed deeply. "I know, Professor. Thank you for that," he said softly. "But ... but ..."

McGonagall looked at him, waiting patiently for him to continue. Sirius squeezed Harry's shoulder, and that simple gesture gave his godson the strength to go on.

"I know you'll continue to try and resolve things with them," Harry said. "But ... right now, I don't feel ready to come back here."

McGonagall sighed as well, and gazed at Harry with that soft expression still on her face. "I have known many a Gryffindor in my lifetime," she said, her tone serious and laced with meaning. "I was one myself, of course - it is one of the rules of being a House Head. You have to have been a student in that house to lead it. I have seen many students through their years at Hogwarts, and have witnessed the bravery of many of them." She looked at Sirius, smiling slightly, and he felt his heart warm.

"But you, Mr. Potter," she said, and Sirius could sense that her emotions were getting the better of her - the fact that she was now referring to Harry by his last name again for this kind of conversation meant that she was attempting to put distance between her and her feelings. "I know how difficult that was, for you to tell me that. That was exceedingly brave of you. I know that you did not quite understand it when I apologized to you back in June for the wrongs I have participated in against you. Me, plus the entirety of the Hogwarts staff, failed to protect you time and time again, both physically and emotionally." She sighed, a deep sadness filling her eyes. "I know you still don't really comprehend it, but I truly am sorry."

Sirius felt the familiar feelings of anger rise within him - detention in the Forbidden Forest. Her disbelief that the Philosopher's Stone was really in danger. Not seeing that Harry's constant near-death experiences were affecting him mentally. Minerva McGonagall had a hell of a lot to make up for.

But so do you, Sirius, he thought as he wrestled the anger back down. What makes you think that she can't make amends too?

"In the meantime," McGonagall said, her expression still sad and serious, "I will work on resolving things with the school governors. And I have no doubt that your friends and many other students will take it upon themselves to see that you are allowed back here. Mr. Potter, you have done nothing to warrant being banned from coming here."

"Thank you, Professor," Harry said softly, and Sirius could sense the deep relief flowing off him in waves - the hardest part was done. Another surge of pride welled up inside him, and it took everything he had in him to keep his decorum and not hug Harry tightly, whispering how proud he was of him.

"What about my education?" Harry asked seriously, and Sirius was struck again by how mature Harry sounded for a fifteen-year-old. Merlin, it hurt deeply. "I don't know how long this will last, and I'm supposed to take the OWLS this year, right?"

McGonagall truly smiled then, looking proud of her Gryffindor as well. "We have an Order meeting coming up in several days - on Sunday night, in fact. It will be in the staffroom here at Hogwarts."

"The Order meetings are still here?" Sirius asked, surprised. "No one's come up with another place to serve as Headquarters?"

"As a matter of fact, they have, but that will begin after September 1," McGonagall answered promptly. "Sturgis has offered his home for our use. September 1 is when his eleven-year-old son starts here at Hogwarts."

"Oh?" Sirius was surprised, but knew he shouldn't be. It would be just like Sturgis to do something like that. The information about his son was new to him - though he'd found out that Sturgis had a child at his trial, he hadn't known how old he was.

"Harry," McGonagall said, using the boy's first name again as she turned back to him. "I would like you and Sirius to attend the Order meeting. We will discuss plans for your education while you are still recovering, and while this situation with the governors is being resolved."

Sirius had mixed feelings about this. He knew that if Dumbledore was leading the proceedings, he'd let Harry nowhere near the Order. Every instinct in Sirius was telling him to keep Harry safe from it, too. He was so young - only fifteen years old. The familiar, vicious anger stole through him - Harry should be concerned about girls and Quidditch, not Voldemort, Death Eaters, and whether he and those he loved would live or die.

But he also knew that if Harry was not told of certain things that were happening ... if he was kept in the dark ... he would not be prepared if Voldemort attacked again. Sirius felt a white-hot, corrosive fear thrum through his body at this - all he wanted to do was make sure Harry was never touched by evil again. The thought of losing Harry was unmanageable - it wasn't an exaggeration to say that if Harry died, Sirius would want to as well. Harry was the only reason he could live in a world without James and Lily in it. If Harry went, too ...

"Sirius." McGonagall's voice was soft. "I am not asking Harry to fight with us. He will only attend this Order meeting so we can discuss his education."

Harry sat up straight, and Sirius saw the resolve in his emerald eyes. "I want to fight in the war," he said with purpose. "I know you're going to say that I'm too young. But Voldemort's not going to stop coming for me, and neither are the Death Eaters."

Sirius felt sick at the thought of the prophecy, and the fact that he was hiding it from Harry. He'd known all along that he was being one of those adults that was hiding things from him. He'd accused Dumbledore of not having Harry's best interests at heart, and he knew it was true. But what about him? What about himself? The entire summer, he'd kept such a huge secret from his godson.

But you know Harry wasn't ready to hear it, Sirius reasoned with himself. He was already struggling with excruciating guilt over Cedric's death. You didn't want to dump the prophecy on him, too - that would have been too much for him.

Sirius truly didn't know what to do. He didn't want to be like Albus Dumbledore. Harry deserved to know why Voldemort kept gunning for him and wouldn't leave him the hell alone. He deserved to know, so he could be prepared.

But I don't want him to fight him! Why should it be Harry? Why? Why? Why? Sirius's mind was so full of fear and anger and hate and sadness and love that it all swirled around him, tossing him into a whirlpool of confusion.

"Sirius?" Harry reached out to him, placing a hand on his shoulder. "I know you don't want me to fight him. But it's the right thing to do."

"I don't want to lose you, kiddo," Sirius choked, suddenly not caring that he was getting all emotional in front of McGonagall.

Harry smiled softly, his eyes looking way too old. "And if I know how to fight, there's less of a chance that you will," he said quietly. "I don't want to die, either. And I don't want to lose you."

McGonagall herself looked like she was having trouble holding it together. "Will you both attend the Order meeting?" she asked, attempting to bring the discussion back on track.

Sirius and Harry gazed at each other, and Harry was the one to speak first. "Yes," he said quietly. "I will."

Sirius looked at McGonagall, a fierce resolve burning in his eyes. "I will be there, too," he proclaimed.

"Good." Minerva sighed, giving both godfather and godson a small nod. "I am very, very sorry it has come to this," she said quietly.

Harry smiled sadly. "Me too," he said. "But thank you for everything you're doing to help me."

"Of course." McGonagall gave Harry a small smile. "It is my pleasure."

After several seconds of silence, Harry asked hesitantly, "Did Mr. Weasley ever tell you about ... about the dream?"

Sirius knew that Harry was going to ask McGonagall this. Fear and sadness churned inside him at the memory of Harry telling him about the dream Voldemort had sent him, of the fake Harry murdering Cedric. Merlin, he was still so relieved he had never seen that.

"Yes." McGonagall looked very serious at this. "The entirety of the Order does not know about this, for it is very sensitive information that should not be revealed to many people. But I have Alastor Moody and Bill Weasley looking into it. Bill is a cursebreaker, and has studied magic not many others delve into. And Alastor ... I knew that he would want to do something to help you, and he, too, has studied dark magic to a large extent. He's very big on knowing your enemy so you can fight them to the best of your ability."

Both Sirius and Harry looked relieved. Moody might be a paranoid old bugger, but he could be trusted. And Bill deeply cared for Harry, because his family did - that was plain. They had two of the best wizards on the case.

"Thank you," Sirius said. "It is very much appreciated."

Harry smiled, some of the worry lifting from him. "Yeah. Thanks, Professor," he said.

"Of course." McGonagall smiled as well. Looking at them both with great solemnity, she said, "I will do whatever is in my power to help you."

And right then, Sirius felt most of his residual anger disappear. He had known Minerva McGonagall for years, and the way she was looking at him and Harry - she was determined to put right what she had done wrong, just as Sirius had. Just as Remus had. They were not going to let their past mistakes stop them from doing the right thing now.

And as he looked at Harry with gray eyes full of love and support, he knew that he had someone else in his corner - someone who would look out for Harry, and make sure that no matter what happened, goodness would prevail.