Hey, everybody. Back with another chapter.

Let's get to it.

Chapter 8- Momentous Occasion

(August 24, 1995)

As the sun rises high over Virginia, Harry and Hermione are enjoying the day. They have only days before they start classes at Ilvermorny. Later today, they'll be watching a Phoenix Force training exercise at Fort Bragg. However, before they go to business, they have decided to go on a date together.

Harry and Hermione had been dropped off at a sit-down Italian restaurant in Richmond by Mr. Granger, who had promised to come back in 2 hours to pick them up and left them with enough money to pay for their meal. A pair of plain clothes cops were parked outside the restaurant for security purposes. The Richmond Police Department knew of Harry, although they'd been told he was in Witness Protection and needed a car following him whenever he went out on the town. This was an incident where the police were handling security for Harry.

Harry and Hermione had just ordered their food and their waiter had brought their drinks. Now, they were just left to wait and talk while their food is being prepared.

"It feels strange that this is kind of our first official date," Harry says, drawing a slight laugh from Hermione.

"I always imagined, if we ever went out, it would be somewhere in Hogsmeade or something. I never thought it would be in a restaurant in Virginia," Hermione says, making both of them laugh.

Harry reaches across the table, taking Hermione's hand. After a moment of the two just smiling at each other, Harry finally asks, "Hermione, when did you know you had feelings for me?"

"That's quite a question," Hermione responds with a smile. She sits there for a moment, thinking about how to answer that question honestly before she finally says, "I think the first time I thought I had a bit of a crush on you was that night when we went after the Sorceror's Stone. When you went on to face Quirrel and Voldemort, I just knew I had a bit of a crush on you. As for when I knew for certain I was falling in love with you…I think that was during our 4th year, during the Triwizard Tournament. I knew I loved you, but I felt we could never be together, so that's why I got involved with Viktor. I think that's why I didn't try to continue the relationship: I knew I could never forget you."

Harry can't help but smile in return. Hermione then asks, "When did you know you had feelings for me?"

"I don't think it was as clear cut as you. I never really had a 'I love Hermione Granger' epiphany until you kissed me in Director Deutch's office. I guess that my feelings just built up over time, but I never suspected it myself," Harry says.

"Of course you were the oblivious one," Hermione says in a teasing tone.

"Hey!" Harry protests, and the two laugh together.

(International Court of Magical Justice, The Hague, Netherlands)

Standing outside the doors of the main courtroom in the judicial complex of the International Court of Magical Justice, Sirius is standing with a bit of cocky smile on his face, with United States Attorney General Janet Reno, his lawyer in this case, standing next to him. They are surrounded by a crowd of reporters and photographers. Photo after photo is being snapped as the reporters are waiting for Sirius and Reno to speak up.

Only minutes earlier, the panel of judges who were trying Sirius' case had announced their verdict They declared that they had found Sirius' imprisonment illegal and that there was no evidence of Sirius' involvement in the crimes he was accused of. His escape from Azkaban had not proven enough to stop the case, given the extent of injustices against him by the Ministry. The judges had awarded Sirius an extensive settlement, which included the complete expungement of his criminal record, a promise of protection from persecution by the magical community in Britain, a promise of a formal apology from the British Ministry of Magic, and a monetary settlement of 2 million galleons (with the threat of doubling that fine if the other terms of the settlement were not met), as well as the restoration to his ownership of two Black family properties that had been seized by the Ministry after his arrest. Already, it had come out that Fudge had been using one of the properties, a vacation home, for his own use, and was in serious trouble for this. He and the other Ministry officials who had been present at the trial had slunk out of the courtroom after the verdict was announced, unwilling to face the international press, knowing they couldn't influence it like they could the Daily Prophet.

Attorney General Reno begins speaking first as the noise of the crowd of reporters dies down. "Today, justice has at last been served. A man who has been imprisoned or on the run because of a crime he never committed has finally been set at liberty. We are very pleased at all of our witnesses and those who helped us put together our case, and we are very pleased that the panel assigned to this case saw through the lies and assumptions brought forward by the British Ministry of Magic and award justice to my client, Sirius Black."

"Mr. Black! Mr. Black!" come a series of exclamations from the assembled reporters.

"Yes, the pretty lady with red hair in the front," Sirius says, pointing at her.

The reporter smiles a blushes slightly at Sirius' attempted flirtation before she says, "Mr. Black, Jennifer Halston, Los Angeles Sun. What do you think of the outcome announced today?"

"I am very happy that the judges were able to see the truth and that my innocence has been proven. I have spent years wondering if I would ever be a free man again, and I am very pleased that that day has come at last," Sirius answers the question.

A man raises his hand and speaks in a distinctive French accent, "Monsieur Black, do you intend any further legal action against your Ministry?"

"At the moment, no. I feel that the settlement decided upon by my counsel, the Ministry, and the judges is fair, and I wish to put this behind me," Sirius responds.

Another reporters calls out, "Mr. Black, Wizarding Times Magazine. What do you think of the British Ministry's efforts to defend their imprisonment of you during the trial?"

"Nothing can excuse their actions. It is clear that in my case, they threw me in prison because they needed to look as if they had won a big victory. I personally believe that they felt ashamed that Voldemort had seemingly been defeated while trying to kill a baby, and they wanted a similar victory on their own record. Learning more about things that have gone on in the Ministry since I was first imprisoned, I have noticed an alarming trend of the policy of 'innocent until proven guilty' being ignored in Britain. And i think it is clear from what I witnessed in the trial that they were desperate to cover up the fact that they had grossly mishandled my case. While I intend no further legal action against the British Ministry of Magic, I intend to use my newfound freedom to push for reforms within the British Ministry and work to ensure fairer treatment for people accused of lawbreaking."

"Do you mean you intend to run for office in the British Ministry?" the same reporter asks.

"I am not positive what path I intend to take, nor am I saying I want to be Minister of Magic. But trust me when I say I intend to work with the British Magical community to bring about greater accountability from their leaders and a more fair system of government, including petitioning the Prime Minister or the Queen herself for intervention if required," Sirius answers, drawing a few mutterings from the crowd at his declaration.

There are a few moments of silence as the reporters digest what they just heard. Then, a reporter asks, "Mr. Black, what do you plan to do now that you're free?"

"Well, I first intend to go on a long vacation in the Bahamas," Sirius says jokingly, drawing some laughs from the crowd. Then, after a moment, Sirius says, "But, in all seriousness, after I take some time to enjoy my freedom, the first thing I intend to do is attempt to locate my godson, Harry Potter. As has been reported, Harry has not been seen for weeks now. I intend to work with some old friends across Britain and the rest of Europe to try my best to find my godson. I feel I owe it to my late friend, James Potter."

Sirius has to keep himself from smiling. He's hoping that this public declaration will convince Dumbledore and the rest of the British magical public that he was not involved in Harry's disappearance. Hopefully, he can continue to keep Harry's current location a secret from the international wizarding community.

(Fort Bragg, late afternoon)

In a special observation post set up overlooking the exercise area, Harry and Hermione are anxiously waiting for the exercise to begin. They are there with General Schoomaker and two Aurors to watch this training exercise.

The exercise area is a compound specifically constructed for training purposes. It's designed to resemble a relatively nice residence, similar to the kinds of buildings the Phoenix Force would expect to assault in Britain in pursuit of Voldemort. Magical barriers had been set up around the building to prevent apparition into the building. The goal of the exercise was simple: two dozen commandos would assault the compound, wipe out all of the guards inside, including several dark creatures, and capture a HVT (High Value Target) in the compound and extract that target.

"Alright. Exercise beginning in three, two, one, now," General Schoomaker says. Exactly one second after Schoomaker finishes his countdown, two dozen Phoenix Force commandos suddenly apparate just outside the boundary of the anti-apparition wards. Half are carrying M16 assault rifles, aiming them outwards for any threat, while the other twelve have their wands drawn.

Harry and Hermione watch as the commandos quickly take an assessment of the situation and their surroundings before they move forward quickly on foot into the compound.

Harry and Hermione now turn their attention to the series of screens showing feeds from multiple cameras mounted inside the training building. As they watch, the commando teams enter the building. The human "enemies" for this exercise are all being played by paratroopers from the 82nd Airborne and a few commandos from the Delta Force.

The commandos separate into half a dozen fireteams. Each fireteam has two of its commandos holding their firearms, and the other two with their wands. The fireteams separate, moving in different directions to clear the compound.

Soon enough, the commandos start encountering the adversaries. The teams and the adversaries begin exchanging fire, with spells also flying from the fireteams. However, it's clear how much better the Phoenixes are than their adversaries. Adversary after adversary is knocked out of the operation.

The fireteams move with a speed and fluidity that Harry and Hermione have never seen. One fireteam enters a room with 10 enemies, and have all of them Stunned or hit with training rounds in 2 seconds.

It takes only a few minutes before one of the fireteams reaches the room where the man playing the High Value Target is holed up with two guards. The fireteam breaches the door with an explosive charge, and the lead commando, with his wand drawn, has the two guards stunned in just seven tenths of a second. He then stuns the HVT before the man can react.

"This is Phoenix 2-7. Target in custody. Heading out," the commando who stunned the HVT says over the radio.

Harry and Hermione look at each other, then at General Schoomaker. "Wow. These guys are quick," he says.

"It's not really that they're quick. They're efficient," Schoomaker responds.

Harry smiles a bit. Just maybe, this team will be the advantage they need to kill Voldemort and his Death Eaters for good.

And, I'll end the chapter there.

Next one will be up by the end of the year. Until it's up, please leave a review, and stay tuned!