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After graduating from Hogwarts some time ago, you never thought you would be back as a teacher. But when Albus Dumbledore comes to you personally and asks you to be the new Muggle Studies professor, you just can't say no.
Growing up as a half-blood, your father being a muggle and your mother being a witch, Muggle Studies was a breeze for you. Teaching it has also been a fairly easy task.
It's now your seventh year teaching at Hogwarts, and it feels like your whole world is crashing. News of Sirius Black's, your "technical" husband, escape from Azkaban is roaming throughout campus, and it feels like the walls are closing in on you. No one knows that you're married to him, though. You decided when you took the job to use your maiden name to stop any potential questions.
And, coincidentally, Remus Lupin is at school this year, too. The two of you have spent many days and nights reminiscing over your time at Hogwarts. He was truly your best friend all those years ago. After Lily and James died, with Sirius in prison and Peter dead, you and Remus fell out of touch. It was too hard for both of you to come to terms with what happened that night.
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Now, a couple months into the school year, Sirius Black has broken into the school and into Gryffindor tower. No one exactly knows what he's looking for. But Dumbledore and McGonagall have their suspicions.
You and Remus are now sitting in Dumbledore's office, waiting for one of them to tell you what is happening.
"We believe that Mr. Black is after Harry Potter..." Minerva says.
"That ridiculous, Minnie!" You shout. "Why would he want Harry?"
"To finish what Voldemort couldn't," Albus replies.
You scoff. "He would never. James was a brother to him, and I don't know what really happened with Peter. But I know, for a fact, that Sirius would never hurt Harry."
"Do we really know that, (y/n)?" Remus asks.
"I do, Remus."
With that, you leave the office to head back to your sleeping chambers to be alone. Classes are over for the day, and you just want to relax and get away from the chaos of the school term.
You lie awake for most of the night. Sleep would not come easily.
You cannot stop thinking about Sirius and what he was looking for in Gryffindor tower. It was Halloween night, so he must've known that the students would not be in the common room or their dorms. If he was really going after Harry, why would he choose that night, where no student would be able to spot him?
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It's close to the end of the school year, summer holiday just creeping around the corner. No signs of Sirius Black have been found in quite a while.
You and Remus are on good terms again after that meeting with Albus. The two of you are wandering around the castle together, as are a couple other professors, for a night watch.
You are walking around a corner when your hear Snape's dark voice coming from the hall.
"Read it," he says.
A new voice appears, belonging to Harry Potter. "Messrs. Moony, Wormtail, Padfoot, and Prongs offer their compliments to Professor Snape and..."
His voice now sounds so distant to you. Hearing those names brings back so many memories. Before you know it, you're standing with Lupin in front of Snape and Harry.
"A Zonko product, it seems..." Lupin says, a knowing look on his face. "I'll take it, since it is my area of expertise, as you said."
He pulls you along with him, beckoning Harry to follow. The three of you end up in his office.
"I'm honestly astounded that you didn't turn this in. If this were to turn up in the hands of Sirius Black, he could have used this as a way into the castle!" Lupin sounds furious, but you know it's only because he fears for the safety of the students.
"I didn't think of that..." Harry says. "I should tell you, I don't think that map always works. Because I saw a name on there of someone I know to be dead... Peter Petigrew."
You shake your head. "That's impossible.."
Harry shrugs before saying, "Just saying what I saw. Have a good night, professors."
Once he leaves, you grab the map from Lupin. "If he's right... we can prove that Sirius is innocent, Rem."
"I can't believe I thought that he could have done this... I'm a terrible friend."
"No, you're not. The evidence against him was critical. You couldn't have known."
"But you did."
"I'm his wife, I always have had faith in him."
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A few nights pass when Remus comes running into your office.
"He's here, with Peter."
He doesn't have to say anything else to you, as you're now following him out to the willow, and entering the tunnel towards the Shrieking Shack.
Everything starts to happen so fast. Remus gets Harry's wand away from him, and your daughter and Hermione pull Harry off of Sirius.
"Harry, just hear us out..." you say. "You said that Peter was on the map... This map has never lied in all the years I knew about it. Sirius didn't sell your parents out. He tried to save them, but the damage was already done. Peter had told you-know-who already. There was nothing any of us could have done."
"We trusted you..." Harry said. "And you didn't even tell me that the two of you were my godparents! You're his wife, and no one knows. Why should I believe you now?"
Severus shows up now, his wand pointed directly at Sirius. "I should have known that you were helping him. Dumbledore swears that you had nothing to do with his escape and breaking into the castle... but I knew."
You raise your wand at him. "Don't make me do this, Severus."
You pause, giving him a moment to lower his wand. When he doesn't, you yell, "Expelliarmus!"
His wand comes flying towards you as his body flies backwards towards the dusty bed in the corner of the room.
With that, Sirius grabs "Scabbers" out of Ron's hand.
"If we're wrong about this, I'll go back to Azkaban... But if we're right..." Sirius says.
"The right person will be punished for the death of your parents.. our friends," Remus finishes for him.
Peter is here, actually here. And it takes everything in you to stop Sirius from killing him. But Harry seals Peter's fate with one sentence.
"I don't reckon my dad would want to see his best friends become murderers."
Everyone starts to make their way back to the castle, when the clouds part in the sky, the full moon now shining down on the group.
"Get to the castle, now!" you yell to the kids.
Remus's body starts to transform in the moonlight.
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You help Harry and Hermione get Ron up to the hospital wing as quickly as you can.
Harry and Hermione try to tell Professor Dumbledore what happened, but he puts a stop to their rambling.
"You know the laws, Miss Granger, you must not be seen. Mister Black is in the topmost cell of the Dark Tower. Maybe more than one innocent life can be spared tonight."
"Of course, sir..." Hermione says, pulling Harry aside.
"I'll lock you in. Mind the time," Dumbledore says before leaving the wing.
You follow the two students, "I'm coming with you... He's my husband, and I need to be there."
Hermione throws the chain of her necklace around the three of you and turns the charm three times.
It feels like a rush of wind, and then everything stops. You are still standing in the hospital wing, but the sun is still up and Ron is nowhere to be seen.
"Where were we at 7:30?" Hermione asks.
"I don't know... Going to Hagrid's?"
The three of you rush down to Hagrid's house, and Harry stops suddenly upon seeing himself, Ron and Hermione enter from afar.
"How are we here but also there? This is not normal!" Harry exclaims.
Hermione shows him her necklace. "This is how I've been getting to all my classes this year. It's a time-turner. McGonagall gave it to me and the beginning of term."
Before you know it, it's time to go rescue Sirius. You tell the kids to stay hidden as you and Buckbeak fly to the highest tower.
You find Sirius sitting against the wall in the dark cell, and you whip your wand out to break open the locks.
"Let's go, we don't have much time..." you say.
The escape is fast and painless, and you meet Harry and Hermione in the courtyard, away from any potential student gazes that could give your plan away.
"I owe you all... Thank you," Sirius says.
"I want to go with you," Harry tells him.
"One day... but for now, my life will be unpredictable.. Stay here with (y/n) and I'll try to contact you as soon as I can," Sirius pulls Harry into a tight embrace.
When he lets go, Sirius reaches his hand out for you.
Hermione pulls Harry away so the two of you could have some space before Sirius has to leave again.
Sirius rests his hands on either side of your face. "Thank you for believing in me, love. Maybe one day, we'll be together again."
You feel tears start to fall down your cheeks. Sirius is quick to wipe them away.
"Be safe, please."
"I'm going to let some muggles spot me far away from here... Hopefully that will keep the ministry away from the school. I didn't mean for it to be like this..."
You sigh, "I know... I wish I could help you get through all this, but I can't just leave. I am a professor, after all."
Sirius grins. "You'll have to tell me all about it when we reunite again."