It had been one week since Hermione had revealed Silos to be Sirius. She was planning to get Harry to come with her so Silos could tell Harry who he really was. She didn't want Harry to lose his temper, so she would need to find a way to keep Harry calm. She just needed to get him to see reason, which would be hard because his feelings usually cloud his judgment. She was taking him out that day though, to go to the secret room. She was planning on locking Sirius, Harry, and herself in there so Harry couldn't storm off. It was a good plan.
It was Sunday afternoon at the moment, and everyone was eating lunch. Hermione turned to Harry and whispered to him, "I want to show you something." He turned his emerald eyes to her in curiosity and asked, "what?" She rolled her eyes and answered, "one of my secret rooms. I want you to see it."
"Are you sure? We're supposed to have to have rooms to ourselves. You don't have to share everything."
"You'd really enjoy this one though. I've been thinking about it for a while and I've decided that I want you to see it."
Harry looked at her hesitantly and then nodded. Hermione smiled and waited for him to finish eating. In the week of then to now, her, Sirius, and Remus talked about a plan of action. They didn't want to involve her originally, but after a glaring contest, Hermione won out. They decided to have Sirius keep his position in Hogwarts as Silos Banther. It would help him get closer to Pettigrew who was avoiding him. He most likely knew Sirius was Silos, but it worked both ways then. All they had to do was outsmart each other. Which, Hermione thought was precisely why she was the brains of the operation.
After Harry was finished eating, she grabbed his hand and lead him away, not noticing Ron's angry look at being ignored. Again. Ron honestly understood that Hermione and Harry had something special, but he was becoming a bit annoyed. He wanted to be Harry's friend and he still was. They talked and hung out all the time! That wasn't good enough for Ron though. He wanted to be Harry Potter's best friend. He could feel the envy every time they leave without him. The worst part was, they didn't know that they were doing it!
Ron turned to his sister Ginny who was looking on in envy, but for a different reason. Ginny had a major crush on Harry. So much, that she couldn't even speak around him. She was getting better at it though. She had a whole conversation with him without stuttering. She was jealous of Hermione though. She heard the rumors and felt completely determined to win Harry's affections. Ron asked Ginny, "we're always going to finish last, aren't we?" Ginny sighed and shook her head. "No! We will be noticed. They'll have a fight some time and that's when our chance will come." Ron nodded. It sounded completely Slytherin, but maybe if Harry was out of the way, Hermione would notice him too. He liked the bushy haired know-it-all, but he didn't stand a chance. He would move on though. There were better girls and he would get over it. Ginny though. Ginny had been crushing on Harry her entire twelve years of life. She would not be swayed.
Meanwhile, Hermione was leading Harry to Sirius, who was placed in the secret room in the form of Silos. Remus was hidden in a wall, just in case things got too out of hand. Hermione didn't know how Harry would take the news. He could be completely ecstatic that he had family or angry for not telling him sooner.
The two reached the wall and Hermione shoved Harry through. She quickly followed through and sealed the door. Harry got up from the ground and looked at Hermione confused. He looked around and spotted Silos. His guard went up and he faced Hermione. She didn't touch him or go closer to him, just spoke softly. "I want you to keep an open mind and try not to blow up. So, give me your wand." Harry trusted Hermione, but he was a bit frightened. What would he get so mad about? Harry hesitantly handed over his wand and Hermione pocketed it. She looked to Silos and motioned for him to explain. Silos turned his artificially blue eyes on Harry and said, "I'm not who I appear to be. I'm going to show you who I am and I want you to not attack me." Harry nodded, but still stepped in a defensive stance. Silos lifted his wand and pointed it at himself, whispering "finite incantatem." Harry watched in horror mixed with fascination as Silos grew taller, bigger. His features changed and where there was brown hair and blue eyes, held black hair and silver eyes. What made him angrier was the fact that Silos Banther had shifted into the form of Sirius Black. Harry looked to Hermione with an angry (and slightly impressed) expression, "you were hiding a criminal?!" She scoffed and said, "only for a week!" Harry threw up his hands and muttered, "unbelievable." Sirius cleared his throat and Harry's attention moved back to him. He asked Harry, "do you know why I was put into Azkaban?" Harry shook his head. Which was strange because that should be common knowledge.
"I was wrongly convicted of leading the Dark Lord to your home to kill you, James and Lily. As well as blowing up thirteen muggles and killing one Peter Pettigrew." Harry's jaw dropped and his mind almost skipped over the wrongly convicted part. Harry needed to rationalize. Hermione was a smart girl and she obviously analyzed his story. Harry trusted Hermione's judgement and knew that she would rather kill this man than let him near Harry, if he was aiding the Dark Lord in killing him. He took a breath and said, "I trust Hermione. I know she trusts that you're innocent. So, explain."
Sirius physically relaxed. Hermione had told Sirius of Harry's major temper. If it was anything like Lily's, then he wanted to keep the kid calm. Sirius began to explain, "I was friends with James, Remus and Pettigrew in school. When we left school though, things in the war heated up. You were born and I was named your godfather." Harry nodded excitedly. Godfather! That meant he had a relative that weren't stuck up snobby sticks or three ton walrus's? That was great news! Sirius continued, "Then, Voldemort came around. We don't know why he did, but he did. I came to the house and watched as it caught fire. I saved you. Hagrid came and whisked you away to where Hermione tells me is your god awful Aunt and walrus of an uncle's house." Harry sorted and Hermione blushed. She really hated Harry's current living conditions. Sirius went on, "I let my emotions get the better of me and went after the actual traitor who was-" he didn't get to finish because Harry had interrupted and said, "Peter Pettigrew. Yes. You went after him and he framed you. Cut off his own finger, the only piece of him they found! I did read the article. It makes perfect sense." Hermione smiled at Harry's skills of figuring it out while Sirius was amazed. He could only say, "what the actual Fuck!" Harry and Hermione gave him an amused look. The other thing they could hear was the sound of chuckling behind the stone wall. Harry eyed Hermione wearily and asked, "you're not hiding another murderer are you?" Hermione looked down in mock shame. "I couldn't resist." She tapped the wall and Remus came out. Harry looked at her confused and she smiled. "Meet the man who helped hide the convict!" Remus blushed and she smirked while Harry just sat on the floor. Hermione laughed at Harry's completely confused face. "Hermione, are you sure you weren't supposed to be a Slytherin? I'm sure this would win you an award from them." She chuckled and sat next to him. The two adults in the room felt a bit on the odd out.
Hermione motioned in front of her and Harry and said, "gave a seat my fine, furry friends." Remus and Sirius's eyes widened and she clamped her mouth shut. "Oops." Harry looked at her confused and Sirius stuttered out, "how in the hell did you know!" Hermione twisted her hands nervously and said speedily, "well, if you escaped from Azkaban, you needed to be small enough to do it. Also, you don't look insane from extended exposure to Dementors, so you must have found a way to neutralize their effects. So, an animal. I figured if you were an Animagus, you would be something known for loyalty, given all the facts. Definitely not an insect, that much was for sure. Based on your personality, I guessed dog. Also, Remus calls you, Padfoot and taking that information, dog Animagus, furry friend." She gave a nervous chuckle as she got strange looks from all three guys. Remus pointed to himself and asked, "and me?" Hermione shifted on the floor and said nervously, "well, uh, I was looking at your family tree because I thought Silos was a relative. and came across your father. I heard his name in the news once and I looked it up. It was an article about his son being, uh, bitten due to a deal gone bad with Fenrir Greyback. Also, I went to your office in the night to drop off an important note and heard scratching and barking and such. If anyone were to open their eyes, they would notice that you get sick before and a after the full moon. Also, you're not in class on the day of the full moon. For further evidence, Sirius calls you Moony and everything just sort of…..clicked. So. Uh. Furry friend."
Hermione was stared down by both men and Harry scooted closer to her. Then, Remus blurted out, "she really is the brightest witch of her age Padfoot." Sirius couldn't help, but agree. Remus looked to both of them and asked bewildered, "you're not running in terror?" Hermione and Harry looked at eachother confused. Harry looked at Remus and asked, "what on earth for?" Remus stuttered, "uh, well, I'm a werewolf!" Hermione snorted, "yes, I figured that out." Remus sat down heavily and placed his hands over his face. "What the bloody hell!" Sirius chuckled, "that was my exact reaction." Sirius sat down too and they just sat for a few minutes.
Remus was wondering what on earth screwed with these children's heads that made them sit in front of a werewolf with no disgust or fear. Sirius was wondering if his godson would begin to date this girl because he would be a bit worried if that happened. Harry was wondering how on earth Hermione got so good at reading people and when on earth did he pick up the skill? Hermione was just wondering how she could have been so loose lipped.
Hermione looked up and asked, "what are we to do about Pettigrew?" Harry looked at her confused and asked, "what about Pettigrew?" Hermione rolled her eyes. "Think Harry!" Harry looked to everyone and then stared at the wall. Hermione could see the facts turning over in his head. After a minute, she could hear the puzzle pieces snap into place. He exclaimed, "the rat!" The two men shouted, "how!?" While Hermione patted him on the back. "Good job Harry. Now, how are we going to expose him and get Sirius free?" They all sat for a moment and thought. Well, the answer was simple really. Hermione snapped her fingers and said, "we need to force his transformation publicly and then he would accuse Silos of being Sirius. You two would go to trial, a fair trial this time, and Sirius will be released!" Remus looked at her and asked, "how will he get a fair trial? The ministry will want to keep the fact that they made a mistake under wraps." Sirius nodded and said, "unless Dumbledore is there. On my side this time. He has a lot of influence." The group agreed on that plan and to tell Dumbledore of Silos' real identity. Hermione bet ten galleons that he already knew. Sirius thought for sure that they tricked the old man. That was the start of their bet! (A/N Who do you think will win the bet?)
Hermione snapped her fingers and said "we have one more topic to discuss." They looked at her oddly and Hermione turned her eyes to Sirius. "When your going to get custody of Harry." Harry smiled brightly and nodded. Sirius stuttered out, "well, uh. I hadn't thought of that. Well, when I'm free I'll be Lord Black. I'd have a pick of all the houses and enough finances to support Harry. That is, if he wants to live with me." Harry scoffed and said, "are you kidding me! Of course I want to live with you. Anywhere would be better than with the Dursley's!" Hermione smiled and stood up. She patted both Sirius and Harry on the back and said, "well. You two better get to know each other then! I have a task to do." They looked at her questionably and she replied with an evil smile, "I need to find some sissors to cut this idiots hair." Sirius grabbed the ends of his hair and he whispered in horror, "please, not my gorgeous hair." Hermione took a piece of his hair and pulled it. "Yes. I'm going to cut your hair and you won't fight with me Black. Harry fights with me every time I try and cut his and he's more than half your age." She gave it one last tug and left. "Have fun!"
Sirius looked at Harry in horror and asked, "she's being serious isn't she?" Harry snorted and said, "no Sirius. She's being Hermione." Remus cracked up laughing and Sirius couldn't believe his own terrible joke was being used against him. He chuckled and said, "definitely James' son."
Harry came back to the Gryffindor common room late at night with a serene smile on his face. He walked straight up to a reading Hermione, took her book away and when she jumped up to get her book, he gave her the biggest hug he had ever given. "Thank you, Kitten! Thank you so much!" Hermione hugged him back and chuckled. "You men are so sappy." Harry chuckled and released her. They spent the rest of the night chatting about their next step in the freedom of Sirius Black.