Harry opened his eyes one at a time. He felt as though he had been stampeded by a herd of unicorns or those buffalo that used to roam the Western United States. He'd seen a movie with them when he lived with Aurelia and his whole body ached as if one of them had stomped all over him. He lifted his head, which felt like an overripe melon about to burst, and glanced over to the right.

He saw a blurred black figure and immediately reached for his glasses and slid them on his nose. The blurred black figure resolved itself into his father, who had taken up his accustomed post beside Harry's sickbed. Severus was not looking at his son, however, he was staring at the portly form of Cornelius Fudge, who was speaking in rather loud tones to Dumbledore.

"And there he was, right on the ground, like a present waiting to be unwrapped, I tell you! It was a fortunate coincidence, Albus! Very fortunate indeed, that I should capture Black just like-that!" And he snapped his fingers and chortled like a kid given a basketful of sweets before suppertime.

"Yes, Cornelius, but doesn't it seem odd to you that Black would chose now to show himself?" Dumbledore began.

"Oh, who can fathom the criminal mind, Albus? He was mad as a hatter anyhow, you know! Good thing you've got him locked up good and tight now, where he can't escape even in Animagus form. That's how he did it before, you know, fooled the dementors and the guards with his shifting. But no more. His shifting days are done for good and all. I'll be summoning the dementors shortly to perform the Kiss."

Harry was horrified. The Kiss! But Sirius was innocent! They couldn't allow that to happen. It was Pettigrew who was the traitor, Pettigrew who deserved to lose his soul for betraying his mum, not Sirius. Pettigrew, the rogue shape-slipper, who had somehow managed to escape once more, and leave Sirius to take the blame just like eleven years ago.

He gulped and looked about, seeing Aria lying in the bed beside him, also awake and frozen in disbelief and terror, and next to her Ron was snoring. On the far side, closest to the wall was Hermione, also awake and looking as if she were about to start crying any minute.

Harry opened his mouth to protest, but then his father spoke, using that calm even tone that sounded oh so logical. "Minister, aren't you forgetting that Black may have had an accomplice? I myself have reason to believe there was another shifter involved, one that could transform himself into a rat."

"Now, Snape, you admitted that Black knocked you out, so how could you learn about an accomplice?"

"Minister, I was not out that long, and Black did not attack me, I was hit by accident by a Disarming Charm cast by my son and his friends. When I came to, I saw another wizard in the room, boasting about how he had helped kill Lily Snape, my wife, and James Potter. He said he was a spy for You-Know-Who and was still his faithful servant. It was he who attempted to kill my son, Black was innocent."

The Minister snorted in disbelief. "Innocent, perhaps of assaulting you, Snape, but not of the original crimes he was sentenced for-the murdering of Peter Pettigrew and thirteen other people in the middle of the street in broad daylight. He is a criminal who deserves no mercy, and I intend to show him none."

Harry could keep silent no longer.

"Sirius is innocent! You can't kill him, sir!"

Severus whirled around so fast he nearly fell out of his chair. "Harry! You're awake. How do you feel?"

"Never mind me, Dad! You can't let them kill Sirius! He's innocent, you know he is! Pettigrew killed mum and James and all those other people." He started to sit up, only to have Severus push him back down again.

"Harry, lie still."

"No! Minister, you've got to believe me." Harry shoved Severus's hand away and sat up. "It was Pettigrew all along. Everyone thought he was dead, that Sirius killed him, but he didn't, it was all a set up. Pettigrew is a shape-slipper, he can change into a rat and a crow. He was the one who was James and my mother's Secret Keeper and he betrayed them to-to You-Know-Who! He admitted everything to me, Aria, Hermione, and Ron in the Shrieking Shack."

"Harry, my boy, you're distressed, you don't know what you're saying," began the Minister patronizingly. "Black tried to kill you this year, it's a known fact. And Pettigrew is dead, he died in front of fifty witnesses."

"No, you're wrong! It was Peter who killed those people, and Peter who tried to kill me. He removed the safety charms on my broom during the Quidditch match, and hexed my broom, so when I fell off, I'd die. Sirius was trying to PROTECT me!"

"Now, now, child, you're overwrought, it's understandable after what you've been through-"

"I am NOT overwrought, dammit!" Harry shouted, losing it completely. "I'm telling the truth!"

"Harry, that's enough!" rebuked Severus. "Minister, I apologize for my son, he knows better than to raise his voice to an adult."

"Dad, you know I'm telling the truth, you were there when Aria revealed the truth about Peter, that he was a shape-slipper, not an Animagus-"

Severus turned to glare at his son again, putting a finger to his lips and shaking his head slowly. "Hush, son. You're fevered, now lie back down and let Poppy give you another fever reducer."

Harry blinked, wondering what the hell game his father was playing. "No, I'm not sick, I just want you to listen to me. Sirius never killed anyone-he's innocent and you can't bloody kill him! Otherwise, you're a murderer, Minister!"

Fudge looked shocked by the boy's words.

Severus drew in a breath, caught his son's eye once more and winked, then roared angrily, "Harrison Remus Snape, you will not address the Minister of Magic so disrespectfully, am I understood? You ought to be ashamed of yourself, young man. I taught you better than that, boy!"

Harry cringed a little at the harsh tone, though he was almost positive it was an act, otherwise why the wink beforehand? "Yes sir. Sorry, sir. But Dad, I really am telling the truth! Right Aria, Hermione?"

"Professor, while you were knocked out, Scabbers transformed into Peter Pettigrew and said he was the one who served You-Know-Who, Sirius was hunting him down, that was why they fought in the street that day," Hermione said earnestly.

"And he was able to be a rat for years because he wasn't an Animagus, but a shape-slipper, like I am." Aria put in. "I know because a slipper can always sense another of their kind."

"Ridiculous!" blustered the Minister. "Pettigrew couldn't be a shape-slipper, they're rare, even rarer than an Animagus, and besides he is DEAD! You must have seen a doppelganger or been under a Confundus Charm. Yes, you're confused, poor children, you don't know what you're saying . . ."

"What do you mean, sir?" gasped Hermione.

"At least give Sirius the benefit of the doubt!" cried Aria.

"We're not confounded!" Harry growled, ready to hop out of the bed and drag the Minister out of the castle.

"Harry, be quiet!" ordered Severus. "Before I silence you and tie you to the bed. That goes for the rest of you too." He shot them all a scintillating glower that made them quiver in dread. "Please excuse them, Minister, they are tired and cranky . . ."

I'm what? Thanks a whole bloody lot, Dad! You make me sound like a damn two-year-old who needs a nap or something! Harry thought indignantly. He settled back on the pillows with a sulky scowl written all over his face. How could his father embarrass him like this and why didn't Severus just tell the bloody Minister what he'd seen and heard and there would be an end to it?

"Gentlemen, this is my Hospital Wing, and I'll thank you to remember that!" snapped Poppy. "Now lower your voices and quit aggravating these children or else you may continue this discussion elsewhere. Now am I understood?"

The medi-witch glowered at the two men like a fire-breathing dragon.

"Forgive me, Poppy," Severus said contritely.

"Oh, er, you're right, Madam, sorry about that," harrumphed Fudge, coloring slightly at Pomfrey's reprimand. "Severus, shall we continue this discussion elsewhere, so we don't disturb the children?"

"I would prefer not to leave my son while he is ill, sir," Severus declined politely. "I believe I have said all there is to say on this subject."

"Quite right, Snape. Good thing you were there looking out for these young ones. Should earn you the Order of Merlin First Class for sure, all things considered. What do you say to that, eh?"

"I am very grateful for the honor, Minister," said the Potions Master respectfully, though Harry could've sworn underneath Snape's words lurked a sneer.

"Come, Cornelius. Let us retire to my quarters for a spot of tea and some chocolate and scones." Dumbledore invited. He took the Minister by the arm and led him out of the infirmary, leaving Harry, Aria, and Hermione alone with Severus.

"Dad! We've got to stop them!" cried Harry.

"Yes, I know, and we will, but for Merlin's sake, keep your voice down, Harry," hissed the former spy. "Now, I have it from the Headmaster himself that Black is being held prisoner on the seventh floor in Flitwick's office. The office has a window facing the grounds, so it's possible we can free him from the outside."

"Then you're going to help us free Sirius, sir?" asked Aria. "But before . . .it seemed like you hated him."

"While Black and I did not get along very well and he always annoyed me to no end, Aria, that does not mean that I would sentence an innocent man to death. Whatever else he might be, Black is no murderer and he does not deserve to die. Therefore, we must make sure he escapes before the dementors come."

"What's the plan, Dad?" Harry asked eagerly. He should have known Severus wouldn't let Sirius die.

"The plan, Harry, is not one that includes you. I will be the one to rescue Black, along with the aid of Aria and Hermione. You, Mr. Snape, are to stay put in this bed and not get out until I say so."

"What? But-but Dad, I want to help Sirius, why the heck should I stay here while all the rest of you get to rescue him from the dementors?"

"Because I said so, and you're on very thin ice with me as it is, young man," warned Severus. "This once, child, do as you're told without question, because if I find you disobeyed me again, Harry, you'll regret it and that's a promise."

Harry longed to pout and cry that it wasn't fair, but something in Severus's manner told him that would not be a good idea. There were faint lines of stress beneath his father's eyes and his mouth was tight with worry and anxiety. He knew his dad had been through a lot of stress tonight worrying about him especially and he sensed the other wizard was very close to snapping. So for once, he bridled his quick tongue and temper and agreed to follow Snape's dictates without argument.

"All right, Dad. I'll stay here, if it'll make you feel better," he agreed.

"Do I have your word, mister?" asked Snape sternly.

"Yes sir. But why do you want Hermione and Aria along?" he queried, trying to keep the jealousy out of his tone.

"Two reasons. One, Hermione has an item which will prove invaluable to our rescue attempt," Severus eyed the Gryffindor girl knowingly. "Two, Aria also has knowledge which I do not and her ability as a shape-slipper will help me get Black away as quickly as possible."

"It will?" Now Aria looked as puzzled as Harry.

Her Head of House raised an eyebrow. "While you were sleeping off the effects of the Patronus Charm you cast, Hagrid came by to visit you and see how you were doing. He told me that he was very grateful to you, Harry for being with him during Buckbeak's execution. Except the hippogriff was never executed, since a large lion or other wild creature came out of the forest and ate the hippogriff before MacNair could kill it. A strange coincidence, wouldn't you say?"

Aria exchanged glances with Harry and Hermione. He knows, so there's no sense in lying to him. "Very strange, sir. Almost as strange as a prisoner escaping from a locked room."

"Indeed, and if that is to happen, the prisoner must develop wings. Do you understand what I'm saying, Miss Lupin?"

Slowly, Aria nodded, her amber eyes bright.

"As for Miss Granger, she knows how important it is to be on time for class, correct?"

"Yes sir, but how-OH!"

"Indeed." Severus rose from the chair and beckoned to the two young witches. "Come along, ladies. We musn't be late."

The three departed the room, leaving Harry alone to stew and wonder and grumble under his breath about overprotective fathers. Inbetween Harry's feet, Rosie groaned and turned over, snuggling deeper into the blankets. Harry smiled down at the dog and patted her before laying back down and trying to get some sleep. There was nothing else to be done.

• * * * * * *

Severus led the two girls past the infirmary and into the corridor. "There is one thing you must remember, both of you. We must not be seen. By anyone." He looked at Hermione. "Miss Granger, if you would be so kind, we need a little more time on our side."

"Yes, Professor," Hermione removed a long golden chain from beneath her shirt. Suspended from it was an odd pendant with two interwoven circles of gold and an hourglass in the middle. "Please, come over here, sir, Aria. Otherwise this won't work." She tossed the chain, which had somehow enlarged itself, over both her companions and turned the pendant over three times.

Aria felt herself swept away through a dark tunnel only to emerge in the entrance hall. "What on earth?"

"We've gone back in time," explained Severus quickly. "Three hours back, just around the time when I found you two fighting a whole horde of dementors and the Minister discovered Black and arrested him. Come, we must get to Flitwick's office, Miss Granger. And you, Miss Lupin must go to wherever the hippogriff is and bring him back here. He will be Black's transportation out of here. Remember, Flitwick's office is on the seventh floor, thirteen windows down from the West Turret."

"On my way, professor!" Aria said, then she blurred into hawk form and flew out the open door Severus held for her.

As soon as the hawk was away, Severus and Hermione walked into the hall and Severus took a pinch of Floo and tossed it in the fireplace. "Flitwick's office," he said, before stepping into the green flames.

Two minutes later they were coming out of the fireplace into Flitwick's office, which was empty. Hermione glanced around, then said, "Now what, sir? We can't be seen, so now what? We need a place to hide."

"We can hide in plain sight." He pulled her along to a small alcove where Flitwick had a small skeleton of a dragon hanging. Then he waved his wand over both of them and chanted a quick Concealment Charm. "And now we wait for the right moment," declared the professor and leaned back against the wall with his arms folded. He checked his watch. "They should be coming up here in a few minutes."

Hermione tensed when they heard the sound of voices and footsteps in the corridor, then Flitwick muttered the charm and password to unlock his office and entered, Sirius Black tethered and trussed like a dog behind him and the Minister and Dumbledore bringing up the rear. It almost resembled a bizarre parade, Hermione thought, except for the fact that the man they caught was innocent of any wrongdoing. Why wouldn't they listen to us? Is it just because we're kids? Don't they think we know truth from lies?

Apparently not, since here she was with her Potions Master staging a jailbreak. A part of her cringed at the mere thought. Merlin's starry robe, she was breaking Ministry law, aiding and abetting a known criminal! Me, Hermione Jane Granger, who never even got detention after first year and always hands in all my homework early, is now an accessory to a prison break. My parents would just DIE! To keep her mind off the illegal forbidden thing she was doing, she focused on what was going on in the center of the office.

Flitwick had levitated Black into a chair, where Fudge performed a hasty Sticking Charm, but didn't bother removing the ropes about Sirius's shrunken frame, he was probably convinced that even bound, Black could still go for him. Sirius did not speak at all during the entire time, except with his eyes, which snapped anger and frustration and a quiet determination. He seemed resigned to his fate.

Dumbledore leaned over and patted him gently on the shoulder. "I am sorry it had to come to this, Sirius, my boy. I wish it were otherwise, but time is not on our side right now."

"All right, Albus, that's enough!" Fudge ordered brusquely. "How can you pity one who has cold-bloodedly killed so many and attempted murder yet again on these very grounds? You are far too forgiving. The filth deserves whatever he gets." The Minister spat on the ground at Black's feet.

Dumbledore looked faintly reproving. "Even the condemned deserve compassion, Cornelius. Perhaps especially them, or do you no longer believe in the mercy and forgiveness of God?"

Fudge coughed and said angrily, "God may forgive him all he wants in heaven, but here on earth I call the shots and I say he is deserving of the Kiss."

"Ah, Cornelius." Albus shook his head sadly. "Is there no doubt in your mind?"

"None. Now stop trying to persuade me to believe this one's ridiculous cockamamie story and let me give him the reward he has so richly earned!" He fixed Sirius with an uncompromising stare. "I will give you two hours to make your peace with God and whoever else you need to, after that your soul shall be food for the dementors and good riddance!" he whirled on Flitwick, who was standing sadly next to the Headmaster, his normally jolly countenance grave. "You're certain, Filius, there is no way anyone can get in here or he get out of this room?"

"Yes, Minister. The ward on my door is one only I can counter and Albus has scrambled my fireplace so no one can Floo into it now. Black cannot even move and he has no wand, so there is no possibility of escape."

"Good. Just making sure."

Then the three left the room, locking the door and resetting the ward as they did so.

Hermione would have stepped from the shadows immediately, but Snape grabbed her shoulder and shook his head firmly. Wait.

A few minutes passed and Hermione felt them go by, crawling into eternity.

But at last Severus determined the room was not under surveillance and removed the Concealment Charm and allowed Hermione to show herself.

She rushed over to Sirius. "Sirius! Professor Snape and I have come to get you out!"

Sirius's eyes widened in utter disbelief until Snape stepped out of the shadows and walked rapidly towards the window, tapping on the glass with his wand until it vanished, leaving a broad gap where a skinny man could climb out.

Hermione quickly removed the ropes and the Sticking Charm with two passes of her wand. Only then did Sirius look up, a sardonic smile upon his face, and say softly, "If I didn't see it with my own two eyes, I'd think I'd really gone round the bend. I'm being rescued by Severus Snape! Unbelievable!"

"Keep telling yourself that, Black," replied Snape dryly. "Maybe one day you'll believe it really happened."

"Why would you risk your neck for me, Snape?"

"I wouldn't, except for one small reason. I have no wish to see an innocent man die, I have seen too many travel that road to allow it to happen again, even to you, when I can prevent it."

"Lily would be proud of you, Severus," said the Animagus softly.

The Potions Master flinched. "Would she? Somehow I doubt it. I let our son be raised by Muggles and let her true betrayer go free."

"No one's perfect, Snape. Well, except yours truly, but then we can't all be like me, now can we, old boy?" Sirius declared and some of the old sparkle returned to his eyes.

Severus rolled his eyes. "I'd shoot myself first." He checked his watch again. "Fifteen minutes and counting."

Sirius rose and stretched. "So, when are we going to get the hell out of here, Snape? I mean, nice accommodations and all, but the visitors really suck. What are we waiting for?"

"Your friend James to come down from on high with trumpets and angel wings, Black," returned Severus, his eyes glinting with a shade of humor.

"Now that'd be a sight to die for," chuckled Sirius.

Hermione looked from one to the other, astonished at their banter. She had assumed they loathed one another, but perhaps that dislike was not as pronounced as she had first thought, judging from the repartee.

"Seriously, Snape, what are we waiting for?" asked Black after pacing back and forth. "I hate waiting, it drives me nuts."

"Keep your fur on, mutt," scowled the professor. "We're waiting for your ride out of here, Black. Or, as the Muggles put it, the getaway car."

"Oh? Why isn't it here already?" Sirius asked, beginning to sweat nervously. "Didn't you plan this out beforehand?"

Severus shot him a withering look. "No, actually I just did it on spur of the moment, the way you and Potter used to operate. Of course I planned it out, you bloody imbecile! It's just taking her a bit longer to get here than we originally calculated. Now sit down and stop pacing, for Merlin's sake, you're driving me insane!"

"I'm driving you insane?" Sirius repeated. "Last time I looked, you weren't the one facing death row and getting your soul sucked out by a dementor, Snapey old pal! So excuse me all to blazes for being a bit impatient!"

"Sit down, Black!" Severus snapped. "Before you exhaust what brain power you have left imagining what could go wrong. Were you always this fidgety? No wonder your mother was a harridan."

Sirius flung himself into the chair with a huff. "I don't like sitting still. It bores me."

The Potions Master frowned. "Are you sure you don't have attention deficit disorder, Black?"

"Huh? What the hell did you just say, Snape?"

Severus heaved a long suffering sigh. "I take you've never read a Muggle psychology text."

"Nope. I don't crack a book unless I'm half-dead of boredom."

"It's a wonder you ever managed to graduate Hogwarts."

"Funny, that's what my mum said. She didn't know James helped me."

"Figures. Sit!" Severus ordered, as Sirius squirmed and made as if to get up. Sirius scowled and lapsed back into the chair. "You'd think after eleven years, you'd have developed patience in Azkaban. But you're as bad as Rosie, Harry's beagle."

"So I'm a bit antsy. So sue me."

"Definitely ADD," muttered the professor, checking his watch again.

Hermione smothered a giggle.

"Would you mind telling me just what the blazes he's talking about, miss? You look like you're a smart one."

"She's a know-it-all," put in Severus, but there was no real bite to his tone.

"I do, but that's because I'm a Muggleborn. ADD is when you have problems concentrating and sitting still for more than five minutes at a time, you're easily distracted and have trouble focusing on more than one thing at once. At least I think that's what it means," Hermione said.

"You mean there's a subject you don't know all the answers to, young lady? Will wonders never cease?" Severus commented wryly.

Sirius leaned over and said in a stage whisper, "You know, the more he insults you, the more he likes you."

"Black, don't be disgusting!" Severus snapped. "The day I call you a friend is the day hell freezes over."

"Umm . . .don't look now, Snape, but ice has started to form."

Severus just glowered at him.

Suddenly there came a soft skree, as of a hawk calling to hunt.

Severus went to the window and showed himself briefly, making a beckoning motion with a hand.

Two seconds later a golden hawk entered the room and landed on Snape's shoulder.

"Ah, you're the shape-slipper. But how is that going to help me?"

"She's not. That is," Severus replied, indicating the hovering Buckbeak with a finger.

"A hippogriff!" Sirius whistled, bounding off the chair and coming over to the window. He bowed and cast his eyes down, showing respect to the great creature.

After a minute, Buckbeak bowed back.

Sirius straightened. "Well, I think he likes me."

"Oh joy. Get on the hippogriff, Black, we don't have much time left."

"Yes sir, General. Sergeant Black hears and obeys, sir!" Sirius mimed a salute as he flung a leg over Buckbeak's back, sitting just in front of the wings.

Severus rolled his eyes. "Merlin help you, Black. Because this is the last time I'm going to."

"Yeah, yeah, whatever, Sev. Thanks."

"Now don't say I never gave you anything, Black," Snape shot back, then he leaned over and smacked the hippogriff sharply on the rump. "Get, Buckbeak! Take him away!"

Buckbeak squawked indignantly, but did as the professor had ordered, soaring high into the sky, carrying Sirius far away amid the twinkling stars.

"We did it!" cheered Hermione and Aria, who had resumed her normal form.

"Mission accomplished," agreed Severus, with a faint sneer, but the two girls could swear he had a glint of satisfaction in his eye. "Now take us back, Miss Granger. Time's flying."

Hermione cast the chain of the time turner over their heads once more and flipped it forward three times.