Snow

Chapter Four: Christmas Warnings

"I saw him, Hermione! You did, too," insisted Harry, after throwing on a robe over his p.j's, and Hermione had done the same.

Instantly, Harry was yanking Hermione through the portrait hole, down the silent corridors, down the stairs and out into the courtyard, towards the same wing as the Gryffindor tower.

The black dog was gone. Groaning in frustration Harry continued searching the grounds.

"He couldn't have gotten far...he was right here!" he shouted, pointing at the spot he had seen the bear-sized dog known as Padfoot.

"Harry...maybe it wasn't him..." Hermione suggested softly. She didn't want to upset Harry.

"You saw him too, Hermione! I know you did," Harry repeated, his eyes wide with confusion as he seethed with worry and anger.

"You know he's not allowed around here...the Ministry is still after him," Hermione gently reminded Harry.

"I saw Sirius. He was here," Harry said, not backing down. The fact that he had spotted his godfather was enough to make him obsessed with finding him.

Hermione sighed. She loved Harry, and so with that thought alone she chose to agree with him, to once again, go against the law and look for the innocent escapee from Azkaban.

They didn't have to wonder far though, because the sound of heavy footsteps reached their ears.

"Stop," Harry whispered, raising an arm to block her.

"Jeez, Harry, you and your insistent nature to prove everyone wrong," came a familiar masculine voice.

"Sirius!" Harry shouted gleefully, throwing himself at the now human formed Sirius Black.

The older man hugged his godson, beaming at him and then at Hermione.

"You both look so much older...Merry Christmas to you both," he greeted, sending a wink to Hermione. She smiled in return, also finding herself wrapped in a large hug.

"What are you doing here, Sirius? You're not supposed to be seen," Hermione warned him, yet again for the hundredth time.

Sirius gave a hearty laugh.

"Like I said, Merry Christmas," he repeated, grinning widely at both of them.

In turn, Hermione and Harry exchanged looks of pure confusion.

"How does that answer our question?" Harry asked.

Sirius shook his head from side to side, grinning from ear to ear.

Then Harry's eyes widened.

"You've been cleared?" he breathed, watching Sirius's face turn from mischief to pure happiness.

"Why haven't we heard anything about it!?" Hermione shouted gleefully.

"It's supposed to be a surprise. It's a long story, but in short… Pettigrew has been caught. A poor blunder on his part, but for the past few months now I've been kept busy trying to clear my own name. I suppose it helped that Pettigrew came clean. I'm surprised really, that he admitted to everything. It's been a long trial," he sighed.

"So that means you can stay here at the castle...at least for Christmas?" Harry said.

This had to be one of the greatest things that had ever happened to him. Sirius was cleared. He would actually have a home to go to for the holidays. Providing Sirius still wanted him.

Sirius gave another sigh, and shook his head.

"I'm afraid not, Harry. Though my name's been cleared, there are many people that are terrified of me. Until people learn the truth, I must remain incognito. Even the professors here at the school don't trust me, yet. It will all change, I have faith that it will. But until then...I'm sorry, Harry, Hermione. That's the reason I came here, that--and another reason."

"What?" asked Hermione, also disappointed that Sirius would not be staying.

"Now that Pettigrew has been caught, it's caused quite a trifle among the Death Eaters...more so involving Voldemort . I came to warn you, Harry," Sirius glanced meaningfully at Hermione. "I hate to say it...but right now it's not exactly the best thing to have Muggles for parents, especially when you're Harry Potter's best friend," he finally said.

Hermione's eyes widened, and a new form of panic clutched at her.

"Harry…"

"What are you saying, Sirius? That Voldemort is after Hermione?" Harry asked, fury being easily detected in the tone of his voice. His emerald eyes took on a fierce look.

Sirius nodded slowly, understanding very well the anger Harry felt. Sirius had felt it on more than one occasion.

"Harry...I..." Hermione choked, trying to fight back a sob. She wanted to be brave like Harry. She did not want him to feel responsible for her life. He had his own to worry about.

"It's not going to happen, Hermione. I promise. Remember the ring I gave you? Don't ever remove it," Harry whispered as he pulled her into a comforting hug.

Sirius watched them both with mild admiration and amusement. So that's how it is...

They reminded him vaguely of Lily and James, Harry's own parents.

"Good for you, Harry. You gave her the Friendship ring. You'll be well protected with that, Hermione," Sirius told her, catching a glimpse of the silver and gold ring that lay within her robes.

"But I'm not his responsibility...I have to learn to defend myself," she insisted, feeling very much like a child.

"You can't do it on your own, Hermione. Harry is probably the only one who can protect you," Sirius said, keeping to himself how to work the very powerful and magnificent ring. He turned to Harry. "Her wearing the ring will not be enough, I'm afraid. It takes much more than that," he said.

"Well... what?" asked Harry, not completely sure what Sirius was getting at.

"That, I'm afraid, will be for you to find out. I must leave you two, and return to Hogsmeade," he told them.

"Do you have to?" whined Harry, and they all laughed.

"Soon, Harry, we'll have our own house. I'll be able to look out for you, take responsibility for you, and fulfill my duty to you as godfather."

Harry's smile brightened and he nodded furiously.

"Thank you, Sirius. For everything," Harry said, again giving him a quick hug, not at all ashamed that he was a 16 year old teenager, hugging a grown man. Hermione followed suite and they waved goodbye as Sirius transformed to his Animigi self, the large black dog, and he ran at high speed towards the direction of Hogsmeade.

"That was informative," Harry finally said, as they trudged through the snow back to the Hogwarts castle.

"I imagine we missed breakfast," Hermioe sighed as they stepped into the Entrance Hall, and up the steps to their tower.

"Mr Potter, Miss Granger, a word please."

Harry and Hermione spun around to find Professor Dumbledore behind them. His bright blue eyes twinkled beneath his half moon spectacles, and a smile curved his lips beneath his abnormally long beard.

"Happy Christmas Professor," greeted Hermione, automatically smiling at the wonderful Headmaster.

"And to you both," he replied, taking a few leisurely steps toward them.

He smiled back and forth between Harry and Hermione and he motioned for them to follow him.

"I know why you both missed breakfast," he said, cutting right to the point. This was no surprise to the both of them, and they were not afraid that Dumbledore had known that they had been talking with Sirius. Dumbledore was one of the few that believed Sirius to be innocent, and was also the one that had allowed Harry to speak with his only worth-speaking-to relative.

"We're sorry about that, Professor, but it was necessary," Harry quickly apologized.

Dumbledore quickly waved a hand to dismiss the apology, the smile and twinkle in his eyes not faltering.

"I was merely addressing the subject, to bring up a most grave of circumstances," he said softly, his blue eyes focusing on Hermione. She looked to Harry uneasily, the panic suddenly returning.

"It's alright, Professor. Harry gave me this." Hermione then produced the ring from under her robes.

"Ah, the Friendship ring. Excellent. Always trust Harry Potter to come up with such a clever idea. The fun part will be finding out how to work it," Dumbledore said.

Hermione crossed her brows in confusion.

"I thought, Harry, that you said you had it custom-made," she said, turning to her best friend.

"That he did, Hermione. The Friendship ring is a rare object, so rare in fact, that Harry could not find one on his own. So he took it upon himself to have it custom-made," Dumbledore explained. He looked to Harry, raising a quizzical brow. "Am I right?" he asked.

Harry's nervous glance to Dumbledore faded once Hermione looked to him for confirmation. He nodded, pushing down the lump in his throat.

"I suggest you grab some food, before it is left to go bad," Dumbledore said, ending the conversation. Harry grinned, knowing that food in this castle could never go bad.

"Thank you, Professor. We will," Hermione answered as Dumbledore strode gracefully down the corridor and out of sight.

Harry turned to the woman that meant more to him than life itself, and held out an elbow. She looped her arm through his.

"Shall we, Milady?" he drawled. Hermione giggled and nodded, turning her head to hide a blush.

A question remained unanswered to them both, silent, yet thunderous: How exactly did the ring work?

To Be Continued...