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Y/N's P.O.V. 

"R- Remus," Pettigrew stuttered out. "S-S-Sirius! My friends...my old friends!" 

Black raised his wand arm, but Remus grabbed his wrist and gave him a warning look. Grumbling, Black backed off. 

"The old friends you betrayed?" Y/N snapped. She didn't know if it was true yet...but...she loved taunting people.

Pettigrew widened his eyes, then Remus turned to him with a cheery smile.

 "We were just having a little chat, Peter! About the night Lily and James died. You might have missed some of the finer points, while squealing around in Ron's hands," he said brightly. 

"Remus!" Pettigrew gasped (annoyingly, in Y/N's opinion.) Y/N could see beads of sweat forming on his face. "You don't believe him...do you? He tried to kill me, Remus!" 

"So we've heard," Remus said coldly. "We've come to clear up some matters with you-" 

"He's come to kill me again!" Pettigrew wailed, pointing at Black.

Y/N noticed that he was using his middle finger, because his index finger was missing. 

"He's come to kill me like he killed Lily and James-" 

"Keep their names out of your filthy, mousey mouth," Black snarled. 

Pettigrew, although looking terrified, repeated, "I knew he'd escape Azkaban to kill me!" 

Y/N furrowed her brows. "You thought he'd escape Azkaban...when nobody has ever done it before?" she asked condescendingly. 

With a nod, Pettigrew said, voice shaky, "He's got dark magic we can only dream of! The Dark Lord must have taught him-" 

Black let out a mirthless laugh. "Voldemort? Teach me tricks?" 

Pettigrew flinched as though Black had cracked a whip at him. "What, Peter?" Remus asked. "Scared of your old master's name?" 

"Don't blame him," Black added with fake sympathy. "His lot aren't too happy with you - you leading him to the Potters...the cause of his demise." 

"I had no reason to hide...from anyone! It was for self defense," Pettigrew defended. Y/N thought that what he said was pretty contradictory. 

"Mister...er...Pettigrew?" Hermione said. Y/N tried to shush her, but she went on. "If you weren't scared of...You-Know-Who's followers because you led You-Know-Who to his death, why hide as a rat for twelve years if you were innocent?" 

"Thank you!" Black exclaimed, pointing at Hermione. 

But, apparently, Pettigrew had a lie for this as well. "Innocent but scared!" he said. "If Voldemort's supporters were after me, it was because I put one of their best men behind bars - Sirius Black!" 

Y/N watched Black's face contort. "How dare you," he said. "I? A spy for Voldemort? I should've known it was you from the start, Peter. Always hanging around people bigger than yourself, people who could protect you. It used to be us...me and Remus...and James." 

There was a silence, then Hermione spoke again. "Professor Lupin...?" she asked timidly with a glance at Y/N. Y/N nodded. "Can I ask something?" 

"Certainly, Hermione," Remus said warmly. 

"Well...Scabbers - I mean, this man - if he was working for You-Know-Who and wanted Harry dead, why hasn't he already killed him?" 

"Exactly!" Pettigrew squeaked. 

"I'll tell you why," Black growled. "Because he knew that he couldn't kill Harry under the watch of Albus Dumbledore. Especially not for a wreck of a wizard who lost power ages ago! It's why he stayed with a wizarding family...keeping a watchful eye for when his master rises." 

Y/N watched Pettigrew open and close his mouth pathetically a few times. He seemed to have lost the ability to speak. 

"Er," Y/N started. "Mister Black? Sirius?" 

The man jumped, making sudden movement. At that, Harry tightened his grip on Y/N's hand, stepping closer to her. He let out a breath when he realized that Black wasn't attacking. 

"Yes?" Black said, eyes wide, as though being spoken to politely was something he'd long forgotten. 

"If you don't mind me asking, and if you do, I'll ask anyway," she said, causing Black to snort a laugh. 

"Definitely your niece," he chortled to Remus. 

"Daughter," Y/N and Remus corrected together. 

Black gave them a confused face, to which Remus muttered, "Later..." 

"Anyway," said Y/N. "If you don't mind me asking, how did you escape Azkaban without using dark magic?" 

Pettigrew clapped his hands together, probably in victory. Everyone looked at him, but Ron's face held the most disgust. 

Black gave a short laugh, then looked away. "Well, I supposed...it was rather easy. Well, I...I mean, maybe the reason I didn't lose my mind was because I knew I was innocent. It wasn't a happy thought, so the Dementors couldn't suck it out of me," he said. 

"That doesn't explain how you did it, though," Ron said. 

"I turned to a dog," Black said simply. "The Dementors can't see...and dogs don't have the same emotions as humans, so they didn't notice when I got skinny enough to slip through the bars. I swam back north to the mainland...been in hiding ever since." 

"Except...for the times you broke in..." Y/N said slowly. "Halloween..." 

Black looked at her. 

It dawned on Y/N..."You broke in on Halloween - the night...er, the night it happened. You wanted to kill Pettigrew on the same day." 

Black took a glance at Y/N, then looked to Remus and raised his brows. "Took after you, didn't she - got the brains?" 

Remus laughed, "It comes with living with me," he said. 

"Why doesn't she live with your sister, her mum? Is it a temporary thing? Are Ayla and Tarrell on vacation?" Black asked curiously. 

Y/N gave an awkward laugh, then realized Black wasn't making a joke. Remus saved her, cutting in, "We'll explain later." 

When Y/N bowed her head a little, her heart making those annoying little palpitations like it did when she was sad. 

Harry squeezed her hand. She looked at him sideways and he gave a small smile. 

"Where have you been hiding?" Ron asked, his eyes still on Pettigrew, absolutely disgusted. 

"The Forbidden Forest," Black admitted. "I haven't been out much...only to see you all...that day under the tree, with the grapes-" his voice wavered, "Harry, you're just like your father...Y/N yelling at you like Lily did with James..." 

Y/N and Harry both went slightly red, but Harry took a sharp breath. 

Now, with tears in his eyes, Black continued, "Believe me," he croaked. "Believe me - I never betrayed Lily and James. I would have died before I betrayed them." 

Harry's grip on her hand was so tight, she was afraid he would cut off her circulation. But she didn't let go. Slowly, making eye contact with Black, Harry nodded. 

And apparently, Pettigrew registered that as his death sentence. "No!" he wailed, throwing himself at Black's feet, gripping the ends of his robes.

"Please!" he pleaded. "Please, Remus, Sirius -" 

Black roughly kicked him away. "There's enough dirt on my robes without you touching them," he spat. 

Y/N thought that if Black really was innocent...they could be good friends. 

"You ready?" Remus said, shooting a dark grin at Black, all while rolling up his sleeves. 

"Like never before," Black replied, matching grin, his sleeves already rolled. "Should we kill him together?" 

But before Remus could answer, Pettigrew gave another sob, crawling to Ron, pleading, "Ron! Ron, I was a faithful pet...please, Ron!" 

Ron was looking down at the groveling man, face twisted in utmost revulsion. "I let you sleep in my bed!" Ron exclaimed in disgust, backing away.

So, instead, Pettigrew shifted to Hermione, seizing the hem of her pants. "Sweet girl, clever girl," he began. "You understand these men are lunatics! You won't let them take me!" 

Horrified, Hermione pushed him away, backing into the wall. Y/N almost snorted when she heard Hermione mumble an, "ew," under her breath. 

At long last, Peter Pettigrew turned to Harry and Y/N. Immediately, Harry tensed. He glared at Pettigrew, making sure the man didn't get too close.

"And Y/N - your mother was always nice to me! Taken after Remus...as Sirius said! You'd be kind," Pettigrew sniveled. "Look exactly like your parents-!" 

At that point, Y/N couldn't take it anymore. The words about her parents felt like taunts, the way Pettigrew spoke was fucking annoying. So Y/N wound up her arm, 

And decked him in the face.

Everyone was stunned for a minute, Pettigrew on the floor. Then, Black, Harry and Ron broke into laughter. Remus and Hermione joined, looking rather scared. 

Pettigrew knelt, trembling uncontrollably. 

He turned to his last and least likely option - Harry. "Harry...you look just like your father...just like him-" 

Harry flinched, Black suddenly yelled, "HOW DARE YOU SPEAK TO HARRY? HOW DARE YOU MENTION JAMES' NAME IN FRONT OF HIM?" 

Pettigrew burst into tears, but Black wasn't finished. "You sold Lily and James to Voldemort! You had been his spy for years!," he said. "Do you deny it?" 

"I...I had no other choice!" Pettigrew answered desperately through wails. "The Dark Lord was taking over everywhere! What was there to be gained by refusing him?" 

"What was there to be gained by fighting the most evil wizard that has ever existed?" Black asked, face set in outrage. "ONLY INNOCENT LIVES, PETER!" 

"You don't understand," Pettigrew whined. Which, was rather pathetic, in Y/N's opinion. "He would've killed me!" 

"THEN YOU SHOULD'VE DIED!" Black bellowed. "DIED, RATHER THAN BETRAY YOUR FRIENDS - AS WE WOULD'VE DONE FOR YOU!" 

Remus and Black stood shoulder to shoulder, wand outstretched at Pettigrew. 

"You should've known," Remus said calmly. "That if Voldemort didn't kill you, we would," he smiled. "Goodbye, Peter." 

Yes! Go dad! 

But before either Remus or Black could do anything, Harry suddenly let go of Y/N. He ran in front of Pettigrew, shouting, "No!" 

"Mate, what?" Ron said, bewildered. Hermione just raised a brow.

"Harry?" Y/N asked. "This piece of shit is the reason your parents are dead!" 

Black added, "This cringing bit of filth would have watched you die without turning a hair. You heard him - his own pathetic life is worth more to him than your whole family." 

"I know," Harry panted, looking to Y/N for reassurance. She nodded, wanting to know why he was doing this. "But we'll take him to the castle - hand him to the Dementors. He can go to Azkaban...just don't kill him." 

Y/N really didn't want to question his judgement, but she was questioning it. 

"Harry? Have you gone insane?" 

"Thank you, oh, thank you!" Pettigrew said, hugging Harry around the knees. Y/N cringed, knowing Harry felt much worse. He shoved Pettigrew off. 

"It's not for your sake," Harry spat...in that incredibly...attractive...voice of his...

Never mind. 

He continued, "I just don't reckon my parents would have wanted their two best friends to become killers for you." 

"Harry, come on," Y/N scoffed. "If we leave my dad out of it...Black can kill him! He already did the time, why not commit the crime?" 

At that, Black barked a laugh. Nobody else did, though. They all had sucky humor anyway. 

"Y/N," Harry said seriously. "No." 

"Fine," Y/N grumbled. 

"He can go to Azkaban," Harry said firmly. "If anyone deserves that place, he does." 

And honestly, that was really valid. 

Remus sighed, "It's entirely up to you...Harry. Very well, stand aside," he raised his wand. 

Harry and Y/N gave him a look, so Remus added, "I'll tie him up, that's all. I swear," he said, looking Y/N in the eye. 

Stepping aside, Harry immediately walked back to Y/N, Ron and Hermione. He hugged Y/N tightly, face buried in the crook of her neck, letting out a deep breath. She rubbed his back, something, she noticed, he found comfort in. 

Still hugging Harry, Y/N watched as thin cords emerged from Remus's wand, twisting themselves around Pettigrew. 

"And if you transform, if you even think about transforming, Peter - we'll kill you on the spot," Black warned. 

He turned to Harry. "You agree, Harry-? Harry! Get off the girl and answer me." 

Reluctantly, and with a groan that made Y/N chuckle, Harry let go of Y/N and turned to face everyone else. Making sure Pettigrew could see him, he firmly nodded. 

"Right then," Remus said, suddenly business-like. "Ron, I can't mend bones nearly as well as Madam Pomfrey...but..." he said walking over to Ron. "Ferula!" 

Everyone watched as Ron's legs wrapped in bandages, supported by a splint. 

"That better, Ronnie?" Y/N asked, walking over to him, helping him up. He gingerly put some weight on his leg and didn't wince, so, to Y/N, that was a good sign! 

"Okay, let's go!" Black said cheerily. 

"What about Professor Snape?" Hermione asked, looking to Snape's still-slumped figure.

"Oh," Y/N said offhandedly. "I sort of...forgot about him!" 

"That's 'cause you were too busy with me," Harry said cockily. Y/N raised an eyebrow. "Fine, that sounded weird. You all know what I meant, I'm not explaining myself," he huffed.

Y/N laughed, "Okay, scarface."

"There's nothing seriously wrong with him," Remus said, peering at Snape. 

"Unfortunately," muttered Ron, glaring at Snape. 

"Just...out cold - you lot were rather enthusiastic" Remus continued, ignoring Ron, looking particularly at Y/N, who gave him a smirk. 

"How about we don't wake him, at least until we get to the castle," Hermione said. "Once we're out of his sight, he can't dock points or give us detention or suspend us." 

Ron's brows shot into his hair, " 'Mione - I didn't know you could even think like that!" 

"She's a woman of many talents, Weasley," Y/N teased, nudging her best friend. The mood had gotten way lighter. 

"Mobilicorpus!" Remus said. Snape's body lifted, suspended in mid-air. His limbs hung limp at his sides, head lolling downwards. 

Remus picked up the Invisibility Cloak and tucked it into his pocket. He gave Y/N a wink - a clear indication that he'd give it back later. 

"Two of us should be chained to this," Black said, jerking his head at Pettigrew. 

"I'll do it," Remus immediately offered, ignoring the...odd (?) look Sirius gave him. Y/N couldn't decipher it.

"And me," Ron said savagely, limping forwards. He seemed to have taken Scabber's true identity as a personal insult. 

Y/N fell into step beside Hermione, while Harry walked with Sirius. Crookshanks leapt lightly off the bed, leading the way out, his tail swinging jauntily. 

Every couple steps, Y/N could hear Snape's head hitting the roof. He was held up by his own wand, which was in the hands of Sirius.

"Oi, Sirius," Y/N called, mostly at ease with the man now. "Pass the wand!" 

"Okay, mini Moony," he chuckled, tossing Snape's wand to her. 

Catching it, Y/N pointed it at Snape, helping him float along, deliberately bashing his head into the ceiling. 

"Moons," Sirius said to Remus. "Your niece? Daughter? Whatever, Y/N is my best friend. I'm replacing you." 

"I'm so worried," Remus said dryly. 

Y/N threw the wand back and Sirius caught it smoothly, winking at Remus, who rolled his eyes.

Y/N didn't think she'd ever been part of a stranger group of people; 

A surprisingly smart cat, herself, the Boy Who Lived, her uncle, her know-it-all best friend, a man who had just escaped Azkaban and a ginger. 

She and Hermione held hands, talking about what the bloody hell was happening. Well, they did, after a very Herms and Trouble exchange.

"So..." Y/N said. 

"So...that happened..." Hermione said.

They stared at each other for a couple seconds, then burst into laughter. 

Y/N knew Harry and Sirius were talking about something important, but all she heard was snippets. Like, "Free," and "Godfather," and "Leaving the Dursleys." 

Sirius guided Snape slowly out of the hole, stepping aside for everyone else to follow. Y/N tripped Harry, who hit his arm into the dirt of the tunnel. 

She snickered when he huffed, but grabbed her hand anyway and pulled her into his side, making Hermione roll her eyes.

Darkness had washed over the grounds, now. The only light came from the distant windows of the castle - the moon was concealed behind an army of clouds. 

"One wrong move, Peter," Remus warned darkly, sleeves still rolled up, wand at Pettigrew's chest. 

Y/N could have sworn she saw Sirius turn red. She narrowed her eyes suspiciously at him, he immediately looked away. 

They began their walk in silence, but not even two minutes in...

A cloud shifted, revealing the ghostly light of the moon, which bathed them all. Remus suddenly went very rigid, Sirius flung an arm out, stopping her, Harry and Hermione from getting closer. 

"Oh, shit, oh fuck!" Y/N said, the realization hitting. "He didn't take his potion!" 

Remus began to twitch, his bones cracking at an unusual angle. 

"Run," Sirius whispered. "Run - Run now!" 

Harry and Hermione took off at a sprint, but Y/N rushed forward to help Sirius untie Remus, Pettigrew and Ron. 

Well, Harry and Hermione tried to help, but Sirius caught them by the arms and threw them back. Then they started sprinting. Not Y/N, though, for she dodged under him. 

There was a terrible snarling noise, Remus's snout was lengthening, hair sprouting on his limbs, his hands turning into clawed paws. 

It may have been incredibly foolhardy (and very, very stupid), but she didn't care. Y/N caught him by the wrist, "Dad!" she said. "Dad - just...let me get you out of the moonlight-" 

Remus, now a werewolf, snapped around. His claws sunk into Y/N's stomach, grazing over the wound the Whomping Willow had caused. 

Y/N let out a hiss of pain, grip still firm on Remus's wrist. When she didn't budge, the werewolf pushed his claws deeper and Y/N felt a searing sensation, almost as though she was being burned from the inside. 

Before she could let go, her werewolf uncle abruptly turned and shook his wrist, sending her flying into the trunk of a tree. Clutching her stomach, she slid to the ground, trying to stay conscious. 

Barely able to keep her eyes open, Y/N watched as Sirius transformed into the bear-like dog, trying to keep her uncle in check. At one point, they were locked jaw-to-jaw in a battle. 

After Remus broke free from the manacles binding him to Ron and Pettigrew, Sirius pulled him away, so nobody would get hurt.

Well, besides her. Looking down, Y/N saw that blood was pooling across her sweater, which was ripped and torn by Remus's claws.

That was one of her most favorite sweaters, too!

Maybe Y/N really was lightheaded...

Pettigrew had dived for Remus's wand, breaking the ties from Ron, leaving the boy unbalanced. and Y/N let out a scream to alert Harry and Hermione. Harry noticed first, rushing to whip out his own wand. 

There was a bang! from Pettigrew and Ron was on the ground, unmoving. "RON!" Y/N yelled. "RON! WAKE UP!" 

Harry yelled, "Expelliarmus!"

The wand in Pettigrew's hand went flying. "STAY WHERE YOU ARE!" Harry shouted, wand brandished at Pettigrew, but it was too late. His body distorted as he shifted into a rat and bounded away into the night. 

The servant of Voldemort...chained for twelve years...would rejoin his master tonight...before midnight.

There was a low howl, a rumbling growl...Y/N turned her head with great difficulty to see her uncle fleeing into the forest. 

"Sirius!" Hermione yelled.

"SIRIUS!" Harry repeated. "Pettigrew - he's gone, he's transformed!" 

Sirius, who was bleeding at the muzzle and had two long gashes on his side, ran away in pursuit of the werewolf. 

Ron had fallen relatively near Y/N, so when Harry and Hermione rushed to him, they were with Y/N as well. 

Since Ron was...out cold, they fussed over him for about three minutes, then turned to Y/N. 

Hermione, worried as always, immediately hurried to Y/N's side, held her hand and whispered comforting things to her. 

Harry...however, stood there for a moment. Something in his eyes darkened, his fists were clenched and his jaw was set. "Did Remus do that?" he asked, a hard edge in his voice. 

"Yes," replied Y/N. "He didn't mean to! He doesn't know what he's doing - it was my fault, anyway!" 

Harry came and crouched beside her, on the opposite side of Hermione. 

He wrapped an arm around her shoulders, unable to access her waist due to the blood. "We have to get her to Madam Pomfrey - she's losing too much blood." 

"And how do you suppose we do that?" Hermione asked. "We could carry her to the castle, no problem...but she'd...well, as you said, she's losing too much blood." 

Harry groaned, "Do you know any healing spells Hermione? Please, please, Hermione..." he said desperately.

"Not for something as serious as this," Hermione said, wringing her hands in panic. 

"You guys are being so dramatic," Y/N huffed. It couldn't be that bad - so she tried standing up, but that was her first mistake. 

A sharp pain shot through her abdomen, there was a loud pounding in her head. Y/N stumbled sideways into Harry's arms, letting him lower her gently onto the ground. 

"Sit down, Y/N!" Hermione reprimanded. "And stay sat." 

Y/N heard a rustle in the grass, she looked to see Snape stirring awake. Then, there was an incredibly loud, doglike whimper from the forest. 

"Sirius," Harry said, turning his head sharply. 

"Go," Y/N urged. "Both of you - go after him!" 

"What about you?" Harry and Hermione asked together, each holding one of her hands. 

Y/N attempted to shrug, then realized it hurt like a bitch. 

"I'll be fine, Snape's waking up. I'll just pretend to pass out and he'll bring Ron and I to the castle, or something," Y/N said in a voice laced with disgust. 

Snape was icky, but her only option right now. 

"But-" Harry started. 

"I'll do whatever you want if you go and help Sirius, now, Harry!" Y/N told him. Sirius was in pain and he was hurt, Harry and Hermione had to go. 

The lightest smirk fell across Harry's face. "Anything?" 

Y/N, too hazed to understand, said, "Anything, now get your arse away from me." 

"Love you, Trouble - we'll come back, okay?" Hermione said. 

Y/N gave her a nod, then watched Harry and Hermione run into the forest and out of sight. 

She let out a loud, suffering sigh. This was dumb, she couldn't even do anything to help! 

Struggling to keep her eyes open and her breathing even, the last thing Y/N saw before she passed out was the billowing of Snape's black robes as he stood. 

Eyes open just a sliver, she watched him look around in a panic. Then, his eyes fell on Ron and Y/N. He hurried over to Ron, his face set in a scowl. 

Darkness took over her vision and Y/N passed out, now at the mercy of Severus Snape. 

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"Shocking business....very shocking...it's a miracle none of them died...especially the Sterling girl! By thunder...it's lucky you were there, Severus." 

"Thank you, Minister." 

"Order of Merlin, Second Class!" said Cornelius Fudge. "First Class if I can wrangle it!" 

Okay...maybe it was heroic, but Y/N never rooted for Snape in any circumstance. So, no. Please don't give him a reward. 

Maybe her thoughts were drowsy but she couldn't see. She assumed she was in the hospital wing, though.

"Nasty cut you've got there, Severus - Black's work, I suppose?" 

Y/N felt her lips curl into the hint of a grin. Not Sirius, just her and her friends. 

"No, Minister," Snape replied. "In fact, it was Potter, Sterling, Weasley and Granger." 

"No!" 

"Yes - must've been under a Confundus Charm," said Snape. "They thought they could catch him...but then again, Potter has always been given incredible leeway by our Headmaster..." 

Fudge chuckled, "I suppose we've all got bit of a blind spot where Harry Potter is concerned." 

Y/N listened as they had an incredibly long conversation about suspension, rule breaking, stupid kids and Harry Potter. 

There was the tiniest groan from her right, so Y/N shifted, pretending she was still asleep. After facing away from the adults, she opened her eyes slightly and saw that Harry was on the bed next to her. 

His eyes, as well, were opened slightly. When he saw her, he gave her a grin and put a finger to his lips. 

She caught Hermione's eye from across the Hospital Wing. Hermione, too, put a finger to her lips and pointed to the door. It was slightly ajar, the conversation she heard being held behind it. 

"Oh, good!" came the voice of Madam Pomfrey. "You're awake!" 

She placed a bar of chocolate on Harry's bedside and broke it apart with a hammer, making them all jump. 

Handing out the chocolate, she brought a bundle of bandages to Y/N, tutting, "A werewolf scratch...dear, I've healed it as much as possible, but magic can only go so far with werewolf scratches. It won't leave any lasting impact, but you need to stay in bed." 

What? She couldn't do that! Sirius Black was about to receive the Dementors Kiss and Y/N and her friends had to stop it. 

But under Madam Pomfrey's hard gaze, Y/N nodded weakly and let the matron change her bandages. 

"How's Ron?" Y/N, Harry and Hermione asked together, looking at their friend, who was still out cold. 

"He'll live - as for all of you, stay in bed. Mister Potter what did I just say?" 

Harry had sat up and put on his glasses, trying to fix his hair. The hair that should stay messy, in Y/N's opinion. 

"I need to see the Headmaster," he said. 

"Potter," Madam Pomfrey said soothingly. "It's alright - they've caught Black and the Dementors will perform their Kiss any minute now." 

"WHAT?!"

Harry and Hermione jumped out of bed. Y/N would've, too, but she physically couldn't. 

"The Dementor's Kiss-" 

"THEY CAN'T!" Y/N yelled from her spot on her bed. "HE'S INNOCENT!" 

The shouts had urged Snape and the Minister of Magic to enter the Hospital Wing and ask, "What is going on?" 

"Minister, listen!" Harry said furiously. "You've got the wrong man! Black is innocent - it was Peter Pettigrew! He faked his death - please, you can't let the Dementors do that thing to Sirius!" 

Fudge was shaking his head with a small smile on his face. "Harry, Harry, Harry. You've been through a terrible ordeal tonight. Lie back down, we've got everything under control." 

"NO YOU HAVEN'T!" Y/N yelled. "YOU'VE GOT THE WRONG MAN!"

"SIRIUS BLACK IS INNOCENT," Hermione added, hurrying to Harry's side. "It wasn't Sirius! It was Peter Pettigrew, he's an Animagus - a rat, Ron's rat-" 

"See, Minister?" Snape asked condescendingly. "Confunded, all three of them. Black's done a very good job."

"WE'RE NOT CONFUNDED!" Y/N and Harry bellowed together. 

"Minister, Professor!" Madam Pomfrey said angrily. "I must ask you to leave - Potter, Sterling and Granger are my patients and you are giving them distress!" 

"I'm not distressed, I'm telling them what happened!" Harry said. "If they'd just listen-" 

Madam Pomfrey shoved a block of chocolate into his mouth, then pushed him onto the bed and tucked him in. 

She again urged the Minister and Snape to leave. The door opened and Albus Dumbledore strode inside the Hospital Wing. 

Y/N watched Harry quickly get up again, disgruntled, but adorably determined. 

"Professor Dumbledore, Sirius Black-" Y/N began, but her voice got lost, for her throat had begun to pain as well.

"For heaven's sake!" Madam Pomfrey exclaimed. "Is this a Hospital Wing or not? All of you, out!" 

Dumbledore bowed his head. "I'm afraid, Poppy, that I need to talk to Harry, Hermione and Y/N for a moment. Then, I will be out of your way." 

Everyone looked at him expectantly, so he added, "Alone." 

Reluctantly, Cornelius Fudge glanced at his pocket watch. "The Dementors will be here soon - meet me upstairs, Albus," he said, turning on his heel and exiting the Wing. Madam Pomfrey strode to her office and closed the door. 

Snape, however, got very close to Dumbledore and said in a stage whisper, "You do not believe their story, do you?" 

"I need to speak with them alone," Dumbledore repeated firmly. 

"Sirius Black has made it clear from age sixteen that he was capable of murder," Snape hissed. "Do you remember when he tried to kill me?" 

Pshh, Snape probably did worse. 

Still, Dumbledore just looked at him. So Snape angrily left, slamming the door closed. Immediately, Harry, Y/N and Hermione burst into speech. 

"Professor, please, we're telling the truth!" 

"He's innocent!" 

"Pettigrew escape when Professor Lupin transformed-" 

"Sirius didn't attack my brother, er, Ron! Pettigrew did!" 

Dumbledore held up a hand to stem the flood of explanations. "Please, it is your turn to listen. Especially Harry and Hermione - sorry, Y/N, but there isn't much you can do here." 

"But-" Y/N began angrily. 

"Please do not interrupt me," said Dumbledore. "There is not a shred of evidence supporting Black's innocence. The word of four..." he glanced at Ron. "Er, three underaged, thirteen-year old wizards does not account for much. A street full of witnesses swore they saw Black kill Pettigrew. I myself gave evidence to the Ministry that Black was the Potter's Secretkeeper." 

"You can ask my uncle-" Y/N said, unable to stop herself. 

"Professor Lupin is currently deep in the Forbidden Forest, unable to tell anyone anything. By the time he is human again, it will be too late. In addition, Sirius and he are old friends, so his word will do nothing."

"But-" Harry tried. 

"Listen, Harry. Severus's story is far more believable than yours." 

"He hates Sirius!" Hermione said desperately. "All because of some stupid prank they played as kids-" 

"Sirius has not acted like an innocent man," Dumbledore said grimly. "The attack on the Fat Lady, entering Gryffindor Tower with a knife. Without Pettigrew, alive or dead, we have no chance in overturning Sirius' sentence."

"But you believe us, right?" Y/N asked hopefully. 

"Yes, I do," he said. "But even I have no power to override the Minster of Magic. What we need, Miss Granger," he turned his twinkling gaze to Hermione. "Is more time." 

Y/N immediately understood. Harry and Hermione needed to use the Time Turner. 

"What-" Hermione said, then her eyes widened. "Oh!" 

"Now, pay attention," Dumbledore said very slowly and carefully. "Sirius is locked in Professor Flitwick's office on the seventh floor, thirteenth window from the right of the West Tower." 

Y/N knew she wasn't going on this mission, but she still repeated the information in her head. 

Dumbledore continued, "If it all goes well, you can save more than one innocent life. But remember - you know the law, Miss Granger...and what happens to wizards who break it. You must not be seen." 

Harry looked incredibly confused, his stare flickering from Dumbledore, to Hermione, to Y/N. It was adorable. 

Hermione walked to Dumbledore, speaking in hushed tones, so Harry took the opportunity to come over to Y/N. 

He grabbed her hand, lifting it off her bedsheets. "Do you know what's happening?" he asked. 

"Yep," Y/N snickered at his expression. 

"This is the part where you tell me," Harry said, squeezing her hand. 

"Hmm," Y/N brought her other hand to her chin in mock-thought. "No!" 

"Y/N," Harry whined. "Tell me!" 

Dumbledore walked over to the door and pried it open. "I'm going to lock you in - it's five minutes until midnight. Three turns should do it, Miss Granger. Good luck."

And Dumbledore turned, closing the door behind him. The four children were alone in the Hospital Wing.

Harry, almost as though he was ignoring everything Dumbledore just said, sat down at the edge of Y/N's bed.

He brought a hand up to cup her jaw. "Y/N...why do you get hurt all the time?" he breathed.

Y/N could barely process what was happening. She kept her gaze on his hand, not daring to look Harry in the eye. "I guess danger wants to divorce you. It's marrying me instead," she joked. 

His grip on her jaw was firm but gentle, he raised her chin. "C'mon, at least look me in the eye while you make fun of me." 

Wrenching her vision from his hand to his face, Y/N saw that he was smirking. Harry Fucking Potter knew what he was doing. 

She felt as though she were about to explode, or something. Her stomach was whirring around, and she knew it wasn't because she just got stabbed.

"You're such a git, you know that?" Y/N grumbled. 

Rubbing a finger across her cheek, Harry's touch was feather-light. "I don't know what you're talking about." 

"You know full well." 

"What's happening, Y/N?" he asked innocently. "Does me touching your jaw arise some emotions within you?" 

"When did you turn into Shakespeare?" Y/N shot back, completely avoiding the question, trying not to melt under his gaze. 

Harry laughed and shook his head. "Y/N-" 

"I'm still here, you know," Hermione scoffed. "We kind of have important business." 

"Right," Harry said, somehow awkwardly. He had just been so confident - now what? He stumbled off the bed and away from Y/N. 

"Come here, Harry," Hermione urged, fumbling with the collar of her shirt and pulling out a thin, gold chain with an hourglass pendant. 

"Wait what are we doing? What's that?" Harry said, his eyes never leaving Y/N.

He had this goofy grin on his face that Y/N absolutely loved. She wished he would come lay in her lap so she could play with his raven hair.

"Just go to Herms," Y/N said. 

Without hesitation, Harry stood beside Hermione, who threw the chain around his neck. Hermione turned the hourglass thrice.

"Good luck, guys," Y/N said. "See you in a minute." 

"What is happening?!" Harry asked, but before anyone could answer, the air warped and Harry and Hermione were whisked into the past. 

Y/N let out a sigh, knowing they'd be back in ten seconds, tops. 

"I saw all of that," came Ron's voice. "Stop getting so lovey-dovey with him!" 

"WHY ARE YOU EVEN AWAKE?!"

─── ☆: *.⋆˖⁺‧₊☽◯☾₊‧⁺˖⋆ .* :☆ ───

hi guys :) 

idk there isn't much to say 🧍

ermmmmm...did u guys like the chapter 😅

imo sirius and y/n would be besties ! 

okokok anywayyy, as always, vote and comment! point out any mistakes :) 

ily guys byeeeeee 

- dizzy :)