When the group got inside the castle and shut the door firmly behind them, Hagrid dumped Pettigrew on the floor. He dug a foil-wrapped packet from one of his coat's pockets and unwrapped it to reveal a large hunk of chocolate, which he broke into pieces to share among the students.

Harry told him, "You should have some too. Thank you for trying to take the worst of it with the Dementors."

The others added their own thanks. Hagrid gave them a weary smile and insisted looking after them was all part of his job as Keeper, but he agreed to take a share of the chocolate.

The headmaster was away from the school, so they headed for McGonagall's office, where she often worked late into the evening. Hagrid carried the still-immobilized Pettigrew.

As they walked through the corridors, the reality of having reached safety started to fully sink in. Their escape from the Dementors was just part of it. They'd spent most of the school year worrying about a deranged mass murderer and a doubly-cursed werewolf Defense teacher, but both had turned out to be allies rather than threats. The two wizards they'd been so wary of were barely even homicidal at all, aside from their less than kind feelings towards Pettigrew.

Harry summed it up. "The rest of the year is going to be rather dull in comparison."

Ginny giggled, threw her arms around him, and planted a noisy kiss on his cheek.

He flushed, and looked at her in surprise. "What was that for?"

"You are adorable when you're all heroic and… What's the word, Hermione?"

"Nonchalant?" the other witch suggested.

"Exactly. Heroic and nonchalant really works for me."

"Uh, thanks?" Harry said. "That shield spell you pulled off was amazing too."

She gave him a goofy grin in response.

Ron frowned at his sister's behavior, but let it pass. He told Harry, "Don't worry, mate. Hermione will find a way to turn final exams into a crisis, even without any Dark wizards around."

Hermione said, "Excuse me if I think caring about my entire future is important."

Ginny turned to her. "Hermione, you are nonchalantly adorable too."

As Ginny reached for her, Hermione held up her hand and said, "Thanks, but I'll take the compliment without the saliva."

Ginny stared at her for a second, then burst out laughing.

"What's gotten into you?" Ron demanded.

Hermione looked at Ginny with concern, but then brightened and said, "Oh! I've read about this. Feuertrunken!"

"Gesundheit," Harry said, earning him an annoyed scowl from Hermione.

"It means drunk with fire," she explained. "I'm pretty sure wizards adopted the term from the Beethoven symphony, or the Schiller poem the text came from. Not that any magical scholar would bother to credit a Muggle writer. At least, I couldn't find any use of the term before Schiller, though the magical phenomenon was known for some time before receiving a proper name. In fact, the earliest–"

"Hermione," Harry interrupted. "Is she going to be alright?"

"Oh, sorry. She'll be fine, just a bit of temporary giddiness."

"Nonchalant giddiness," Ginny added, before bursting into more giggles.

Hermione went on, "It's common for someone's first major breakthrough with fire magic. I'm assuming she never tried to use so much during your lessons with Professor Lupin?"

"Not even close," Harry confirmed. "He almost always has her work on controlling tiny amounts of fire."

"No fun at all," Ginny muttered.

Hermione nodded. "That explains it. Like I said, the reaction is temporary and harmless. In fact, a similar effect is part of what gives Firewhisky its unique intoxicating qualities."

Ron said, "I can't believe my sister is drunk. Mum'll go spare if she finds out."

"She's not drunk. I said it's part of how Firewhisky works. There's also, you know, the alcohol part?"

"You're the one who said she's drunk."

"Fire-drunk. It's not my fault if you're insensitive to metaphor." She turned to Ginny. "Even so, I don't think Professor McGonagall will be amused if she notices."

Ginny nodded and put on her most sober look, the sort of look that truly sober people never wore.

Hermione sighed. "Just let us do the talking."

When they reached Professor McGonagall's office, Hagrid thumped his massive fist several times against the door, rattling it in its frame.

McGonagall opened the door. "Hagrid, what on Earth? Who is that you're carrying? And what are you all doing roaming around at this hour? Especially you, Mr Potter?"

"Sirius Black is innocent," Harry rushed to explain. "Peter Pettigrew betrayed my parents, and killed all those Muggles. If you don't believe me, Hagrid has him right there, so you can ask him yourself."

"He's a rat Animagus, and so something of a flight risk," Hermione added in warning.

Ron grimaced and said, "He's been sleeping in my bed. Actually, can we keep that bit from getting around?"

"I'm looking forward to trying Firewhisky," Ginny chimed in. "Though that may be less relevant right now."

McGonagall stared at them. "I suspect Firewhisky may prove quite relevant for dealing with all this. Just not for any of you."

To her credit, McGonagall soon recovered her composure as she ushered them into her office. She drew her wand and Transfigured a metal cage large enough to hold Pettigrew in human form, but with a mesh too fine for even a rat to slip through.

"You'd better tell me everything," she said.

She offered them chairs–conjuring an extra large one for Hagrid–then sat down at her desk to listen as Harry related the night's events, the others chiming in as needed. Ginny stayed silent, either on Hermione's advice, or because the after-effects of her magical breakthrough were wearing off. Hagrid didn't say much either, and instead sat staring grimly at Pettigrew.

McGonagall jumped up when she heard Lupin had been running loose on the grounds in his transformed state, but resumed her seat when they reassured her he had taken the Wolfsbane Potion, allowing his human mind to stay in control.

Though McGonagall had heard Harry's quick summary at the door, she paled when he related Pettigrew's confession in detail. She exchanged a horrified, guilt-stricken look with Hagrid.

"I should have known Sirius Black could never betray James Potter," she said at last.

Hagrid gave a morose nod in response, as they both turned to glare at Pettigrew, who was either still petrified, or playing possum.

When McGonagall heard there'd been another Dementor attack on school grounds, she fumed and muttered as she pulled chocolate from a desk drawer, but Harry thanked her and explained Hagrid had already given them some.

McGonagall praised Ginny and Harry for the spells they'd used against the Dementors, but advised that when speaking to the Ministry, they should omit mention of Ginny's spell, due to its classification as Dark.

Harry said, "Speaking of which, shouldn't we let them know they can call off the Dementors and stop searching for Sirius now?"

McGonagall gave a heavy sigh. "I wish the headmaster were here. He's so much better at dealing with the Ministry."

"What is there to deal with?" Harry asked, jabbing a finger towards Pettigrew's cage. "We have the real traitor right there."

She shook her head. "If there's one thing Cornelius Fudge hates, it's admitting a mistake."

"I don't see how he has much choice."

"You may be right, but it's better if Professor Dumbledore gently guides him to that conclusion. For now, I need to contact the DMLE, to have them come pick up… that," she said with a gesture towards Pettigrew. "Hagrid, I'll need you to stay, but the rest of you should run along to bed now."

"You'll let our parents know about… everything?" Ron asked, also gesturing at the caged wizard.

"I will. They'll probably need to give statements about your family's history with the rat. I assume they'll also want to talk to the two of you, and your brothers as well, but I think that can wait until tomorrow. You all look exhausted, and no wonder, after the Dementors and everything else you've been through tonight."

Harry said, "Hagrid, Sirius, and Professor Lupin stood in the way and took the worst of it from the Dementors."

"You're calling him 'Sirius' now?"

"He told me I could, since I'm going to be staying with him during the summers."

After a pause, she said, "I see. I wish he hadn't made you such a promise before we've had a chance to straighten things out."

Hermione asked, "Won't the Ministry want to talk to us for that? As witnesses?"

"At some point, perhaps, but Hogwarts has a fair degree of discretion when it comes to allowing the Ministry access to students. None of you stand accused of any crimes."

Hermione shook her head. "I'll never understand all the special exceptions in the magical world's legal system."

"The relative independence of Hogwarts is less a matter of law, and more a matter of ancient tradition. You must have noted the limited Ministry involvement in some of your previous misadventures. The posting of Dementors outside Hogwarts is unprecedented, and with how that almost turned out tonight, I expect the Ministry will be cautious in further antagonizing the headmaster."

Harry asked, "But shouldn't we tell them what we know anyway? Even if they can't make us?"

"I certainly won't prevent you from speaking to the Aurors if you insist, but they will arrive here expecting to arrest Sirius Black, and will pay little attention to any attempts to change their minds. It will take time to… shift the Ministry's view of the matter, and there are political considerations of the sort Professor Dumbledore has spent decades navigating."

Harry looked at Pettigrew. "But he's right there. Alive. Obviously Sirius didn't kill him."

"Yes, the fact of Pettigrew's survival establishes that much, but there's still the matter of the street full of Muggle victims at the scene of their confrontation. Not to mention the question of who actually betrayed your parents. For tonight, Hagrid's statement should be enough. I promise you, if there's anything you can do to help by adding your voices, you'll have the chance to do so later."

"Alright. I guess I get it, with the way we've seen the Ministry handle other things."

"Good. Now, I will trust you all to go straight to your rooms and stay there. Or do I need to escort you and tuck you in myself?"

"No, Professor," they chorused, and rose to leave.

Harry went out last, turning back at the door to look at Pettigrew. "You're sure he won't get away?"

In response, McGonagall picked up her wand from the desk and used it to cast several spells through the cage at Pettigrew. She reinforced the Body-Bind Curse Ginny had cast, but also stunned him and tied him up with magical ropes.

"Will that suffice?"

"Yes, thank you. It's just that so much depends on people finding out the truth."

"They will. Good night, Mr Potter."

"Good night, Professor."

As the four friends made their way to Gryffindor Tower, the night's events caught up to them. They spoke little as they trudged wearily along, other than to agree that if anyone from the Ministry did question them, they should avoid eye contact.

Doing so probably wouldn't help their credibility, but if anyone would find learning Legilimency to be worth the effort, it would be members of the DMLE. It went unsaid that besides the Dark Magic Ginny had used, the Ministry would likely not look favorably on her attempt to execute even a criminal like Pettigrew.

~*~

The next morning, McGonagall summoned the five Weasley children currently attending Hogwarts to her office, to meet with their parents.

Harry and Hermione waited in the common room for their friends to return. When they did, they were all clearly reeling from the intrusion of having a stranger–let alone a Death Eater–hiding in their home and their dorm rooms for years. Although Ron and Ginny had learned of this the night before, they hadn't really had time to process it.

Harry and Hermione rose to try to offer what comfort they could, but Ron mumbled to Harry that his parents wanted to speak to Harry in the corridor.

Harry went out and found Mr and Mrs Weasley waiting for him. They exchanged greetings, and Mrs Weasley gave Harry a hug.

Harry told them, "I don't even know what to say. It's all so awful. I'm so sorry."

Mr Weasley nodded. "Thank you, Harry. We'll get through it, as a family. We wanted to come update you on what's going on, and perhaps offer advice on the need for patience. The DMLE has arrested Pettigrew, but they still want to question Black before they'll consider officially clearing him. To be clear, if you know where Black is hiding, I am not asking you to tell me, or anyone else. It'll be best for everyone if we let Dumbledore play intermediary between Black and the Ministry."

"Is Dumbledore back at Hogwarts then?"

"He is."

"Then I guess I'll have to trust him to handle it. This all just seems more complicated than it should be."

"That's true, but I'm afraid these complications are unavoidable. We do have one thing in our favor on the Ministry side, which is that Amelia Bones is supervising the case personally. I know her. She'll be fair, and will get to the truth."

"Have they called off the Dementors?"

"Amelia doesn't have the authority to order them back to Azkaban herself, but they should be gone soon."

"They should be gone now! Sirius is in danger as long as they're after him. What the hell is the Ministry doing?"

"Dumbledore won't let anything bad happen, but you have to understand that this situation will take time to resolve."

"McGonagall said the same thing, but I still don't understand why."

Mrs Weasley answered, "It's just politics, dear. Nothing you need to worry about at your age."

"I certainly do need to worry about it, if it's going to get my godfather's soul sucked out when he didn't even do anything! By the way, I really wish someone had filled me in on the whole story about him. It would have been nice to know what everyone but me knew about what happened to my parents. Or thought they knew, even if it turned out to be wrong."

Mr Weasley frowned. "We all regretted the need for that, but everyone was afraid the more you knew, the harder it would be to keep you away from Black."

Harry shook his head in frustration. "I never intended to go looking for him. These things keep happening no matter what I do. I was having tea with Hagrid when Black came after Pettigrew, and I just happened to be there."

"Then I'm sorry I misjudged you, but try to see things from the perspective of the adults who care about you and your friends. As you say, one way or another, somehow you keep winding up in danger."

Harry started to object, but Mr Weasley held up his hand. "I realize most of that was beyond your control. But part of it was because you seem unable to stand aside when you discover a dangerous situation. That's noble, but also frightening. Molly and I will never forget what you did for our little girl last year, but it's hard to keep from worrying that the next time may not turn out so well, for you or the friends who stand by you. I hope you can see that."

Harry stopped to consider whether he was holding onto his anger because that was easier than facing his guilt over all the times his friends had wound up in danger because of him. Did Hermione's parents know as much as the Weasleys about that went on at Hogwarts? Did they also fear for their daughter's safety because of her friendship with him? It was just as well he didn't have more friends to put in danger.

"Yes, I suppose I can," he answered in a subdued tone.

Arthur said, "Good. We're proud of you, Harry, but we worry. Please try to bear both of those things in mind."

Harry looked down and nodded. "I will."

"We should be going now, but Molly and I look forward to having you visit the Burrow this summer."

"I'm looking forward to that too. Sorry for snapping, Mrs Weasley."

Molly shushed him and wrapped him in another hug.