Author’s Note: I do not own Harry Potter. All original characters belong to me.

Note: Thank you to Alpha 2 Omega and Dr Meredith Shepherd for your reviews.

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Chapter Twenty-Four

Endings and Beginnings with Wolf

Alex waited anxiously in the Hospital Wing with Madam Pomfrey, as instructed by Remus. Snape couldn’t find Harry or the others in the Forest and he could only go so far in, but he knew that it was pretty pointless to even venture deeper, as Harry and the rest were well and truly in London.

“Things will turn out right,” Pomfrey tried to assure.

“I can only hope and pray,” said Alex with a slight smile that was a little tight.

She paced back and forth for awhile; she just couldn’t sit still …

Somewhere in the Department of Mysteries curses were flying between the Death Eaters and the few members of the Order and the small minority of Dumbledore’s Army. Sirius and Bellatrix Lestrange were duelling; Sirius ducked a jet of red light: he was laughing at her.

“Come on, you can do better than that!” he yelled, his voice echoing around the cavernous room.

The second jet of light hit him squarely on the chest.

The laughter had not quite died from his face, but his eyes widened with shock. His body curved into a graceful arc as he fell … just short of the veil that was hanging from the arch. Bellatrix stood there as Sirius lay on the ground; she looked rather disappointed, especially when Sirius moved to get to his hands and knees.

She turned and made a run for it, she fled. Harry went after her. Remus tried to stop him, but Harry was too quick. Dumbledore went after Harry, while Remus turned to Neville and asked for him to direct him and Sirius to the others.

“But wad about dem?” Neville asked through his heavily broken and bleeding nose, pointing to Tonks, Kingsley and Moody.

“They will be fine, they’ll round up the fallen Death Eaters,” said Sirius.

With that assurance, Neville led Remus and Sirius to the room where the unconscious bodies of Luna Lovegood, Hermione Granger, Ron and Ginny Weasley. Ron was covered in small tentacled brains, which Remus quickly flicked his wand that made the brains fall off of Ron as if their stickiness had washed away.

“We have to get them to the Hospital Wing,” said Sirius.

Remus pulled out a marble, which he had enlarged and made to sprout handles, so that the hands of the unconscious could be placed on, even if they were limp. Within moments they were in Hospital Wing.

“Remus?” said Alex, who had seen them suddenly appear in the middle of the floor.

“Get them on beds!” Madam Pomfrey said at once, as she carefully moved, with Neville’s help, Ron.

Once Ron, Ginny, Hermione and Luna were upon beds, Madam Pomfrey was able to start treating them.

“What happened? Where’s Harry?” Alex was able to ask.

“He went after Bellatrix and Dumbledore followed, we don’t know what has happened to them yet,” Sirius answered. “And to think she nearly sent me through the veil!”

Alex’s brow crinkled with puzzlement.

“Don’t worry about it,” said Sirius, shaking his head.

“Okay,” said Alex.

HE WHO MUST NOT BE NAMED RETURNS

“In a brief statement on Friday night, Minister of Magic, Cornelius Fudge, confirmed that He Who Must Not Be Named has returned to this country and is once more active.

“‘It is with great regret that I must confirm that the wizard styling himself Lord – well, you know who I mean – is alive and among us again,’ said Fudge, looking tired and flustered as he addressed reporters. ‘It is with almost equal regret that we have report the mass revolt of the Dementors of Azkaban, who have shown themselves averse to continuing in the Ministry employ. We believe the Dementors are currently taking direction from Lord – Thingy …’”

“Reading the Sunday Prophet I see,” said Remus to Alexia.

Alex tore her eyes away from the paper and looked at her husband.

“Couldn’t resist,” she said. “Wonder if they have mentioned that Sirius isn’t a criminal yet.”

“They either have or will within the next number of hours,” said Remus, sitting next to her and placing his arm around her.

“Wonder how Harry and all are going,” she said, resting her head on her husband’s chest.

“They’ll be fine,” said Remus, “Madam Pomfrey has been able to work her magic.”

“Guess I’ll have to resign to letters for awhile,” said Alex.

Alex had been advised to leave Hogwarts early by the rightful Headmaster, Professor Dumbledore, so is to be able to fully relax.

“We’ll be seeing Harry, Ron and Hermione at the train station,” said Remus.

“And I can actually walk around without the worry of someone actually wanting me in Azkaban,” said the voice of Sirius, as he walked into the lounge room.

He was staying at the Lupin Farmhouse for a while, mainly because he didn’t want to be at Grimmauld Place for a long, long time. In fact he would be looking for a place to stay; in the meantime he was welcome to stay with Remus and Alexia.

All charges that had been placed on Sirius were dropped and at the moment, Sirius is keen to know if people actually got that message.

“A free man at last,” said Alex.

Sirius just grinned and sat down on the couch opposite to Alex and Remus.

Remus and Alex stood within King’s Cross Station, hand-in-hand. With them were Moody, Tonks, Sirius and Arthur, Molly, Fred and George Weasley. They were all in Muggle like clothing.

“Here they come,” said Arthur, as Hogwarts students came out two or three at a time when the coast was clear.

Harry, Ron, Hermione and Ginny stepped on out and straight away they saw the group.

“Ron! Ginny!” Mrs Weasley called, hurrying forward and hugging her children tightly. “Oh, and Harry dear – how are you?”

“Hello Harry,” said Remus, when Mrs Weasley let go of Harry.

“Hi,” said Harry. “I didn’t expect … what are you all doing here?”

“Well,” said Sirius, with a grin, “we thought we might have a little chat with your aunt and uncle before letting them take you home.”

“I dunno if that’s a good idea,” said Harry at once.

“Oh, I think it is,” growled Moody, who had limped closer to him. “That’ll be them, will it, Potter?”

Alex followed the thumb Moody had placed over his shoulder to see a thin, blonde woman, a beefy looking man with moustache and a large blond boy all standing with appalled looks on their faces.

“Ah, Harry!” said Mr Weasley. “Well – shall we do it, then?”

“Yeah, I reckon so, Arthur,” said Moody.

Mr Weasley and Moody took the lead across the station towards the Dursleys, who were apparently rooted to the floor. Hermione gently removed herself from her mother’s arms to join the group.

“Good afternoon,” said Mr Weasley pleasantly to Uncle Vernon as he came to a halt right in front of him. “You might remember me, my name’s Arthur Weasley.”

Alex saw plain and clear that Mr Dursley certainly did remember Mr Weasley, how she didn’t know. Mrs Dursley looked frightened and embarrassed, while the boy, Dudley, seemed to be trying to look small and insignificant, which proved to be a challenge due to his size.

“We thought we’d just have a few words with you about Harry,” said Mr Weasley, still smiling.

“Yeah,” Moody growled. “About how he’s treated when he’s at your place.”

“I am not aware that it is any of your business what goes on in my house -”

“I expect what you’re not aware of would fill several books, Dursley,” said Moody.

“And on contraire, it is very much my business to know if my Godson is being well treated,” Sirius spoke.

“Y-your Godson!” Mr Dursley repeated.

“That’s right,” said Sirius.

“B-but y-you’re a m-mur …”

Sirius looked at Harry, knowing that he hadn’t really told the Dursleys all that much about him, but obversely enough to be afraid of him.

“Anyway, that’s not the point,” interjected Tonks, “The point is, if we find out that you’ve been horrible to Harry -”

“- And make no mistake, we’ll hear about it,” Remus added pleasantly.

“Yes,” said Mr Weasley, “even if you won’t let Harry use the fellytone -”

“Telephone,” Hermione and Alex corrected him in whispers.

“- Yeah, if we get any hint that Potter’s been mistreated in any way, you’ll have use to answer to,” said Moody.

“Are you threatening me, sir?” Mr Dursley said, so loudly that passers-by actually turned to stare.

“Yes, I am,” said Moody.

“And do I look like the kind of man who can be intimidated?” Mr Dursley barked.

“Well …” said Moody, pushing back his bowler hat. Mr Dursley leapt backwards in horror. “Yes, I’d have to say you do, Dursley.” He turned to Harry. “So, Potter … give us a shout if you need us. If we don’t hear from you for three days in a row, we’ll send someone along …”

Mrs Dursley whimpered piteously, causing Alex to laugh under her breath.

“Bye, then, Potter,” said Moody, grasping Harry’s shoulder for a moment with a gnarled hand.

“Take care, Harry,” said Remus quietly. “Keep in touch.”

“Yes, we have so much catching up to cover,” said Sirius.

“Harry, we’ll have you away from there as soon as we can,” said Mrs Weasley, giving Harry a hug.

“We’ll see you soon, mate,” said Ron.

“Really soon, Harry,” said Hermione earnestly. “We promise.”

Harry soon walked away with the Dursleys following him.

“Well, we best be off,” said Mr Weasley.

“But you better come by for dinner some time,” said Mrs Weasley.

The Weasleys all left and Hermione went to her parents to go home with them. Remus and Alex walked hand-in-hand, while Sirius was going to be home later, after his talks with Moody and Tonks.

Alex then placed her hand on her abdomen, she had felt them moving.

“I think we better get the nursery finished,” she said.

Remus smiled. “Well, we better get back on home to continue on with it,” he said.

Together they made their way to the Leaky Cauldron

The End

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I couldn’t kill Sirius, I just couldn’t. So the story is sooo going to be different now that he’s still here. But since someone begged to not kill him I felt I ought to go by the wishes.

The sequel will be coming soon. Hope you’ve enjoyed it and in the next Acceptance story, the twins will be born, can’t wait to write that.