The Art of Forgivness

Albus Dumbledore expected a great many people to try and storm his office over the next few days. She was not one of them. In fact he hadn't even been sure she was alive, but he did his best to maintain the all-knowing-look so many people attributed him with as a tall, athletic woman in dark slacks, and a leather jacket stormed into his office. Of course she was older, her honey blond hair was shorter, there were faint wrinkles that hadn't been there twelve years ago, but it was most definitely her.

"Sophia," he nodded not all that surprised she'd discovered his password. Her house had been Ravenclaw after all.

"Where is he?" she demanded without preamble.

"I'm afraid I'm not sure what you're speaking of, but please have a seat."

"Don't play games with me. He was here, and you helped him escape."

"Ah, Sirius Black. Half the wall was blasted away. Don't you think I would have been a little more subtle?"

"Maybe you have finally lost it," she shook her head, "but I still remember he's the reason my best friend is dead."

"Sophia," he replied in a hard, commanding voice, "Sit down."

They eyeballed each other for several moments before Sophia finally did as he said.

"Thank-you," he smiled the kindness back in his voice.

"Where is he?"

"I can't tell you that as I honestly don't know," Dumbledore sighed, "Sophia, I know you've been hurt very much, and I know it's been a very long time since we've spoken, but I have to ask you to take what I'm about to tell you at face value."

"I learned a very long time ago to trust is to be betrayed."

"Twelve years and you're still that bitter?"

"Well, I wasn't until this morning."

"I could open some of my shields to you. Let you see I'm telling the truth."

"That would mean mine would be weaker. Besides you're capable of feeding me false memories. Just tell me what it is you want me to hear."

"Oh, my dear, dear rebel," he shook his head sadly.

"I'm not your dear anything anymore."

"Fair enough. Last night Sirius Black entered the grounds of Hogwarts. Three students were witnesses when it was revealed that Peter Petrigrew is indeed alive. He was an ani..." Dumbledore was cut off by Sophia.

"Animagus. I know. I don't see what it has to do with anything."

"If you would let me finish? Very good. It has every thing to do with this. Sirius was not James Potter's secret keeper. Believing there was a spy among you he suggested that they change to Peter at the last minute, but when he went to check on Peter he was gone. Sirius was suspicious and he went to warn James. He was too late. He cornered Peter in the street with every intention of murdering him, but before he could Peter cut off his finger, blew up the street, and fled into the sewer as a rat."

The headmaster of Hogwarts watched as his former student swallowed hard, then stood up and began to pace. Something she never would have done when she was in school.

"This can't be right," she muttered half to herself, half to him, "It can't be. Everybody said, twelve years, Oh God. What have we done?"

"We have made a very, very terrible mistake."

"You son of a bitch." Sophia rounded on him, "You told me, you told me there was no way he was innocent."

"As I said we made a very terrible mistake."

"Does Remus know?"

"Remus was there."

"Where is he?"

"I don't know. He left this morning after handing in his resignation, but I'm sure he could be found. I assume you'd like to speak with him?"

This brought a pause from the witch.

"You assume a lot of things," she said slowly, "I don't think it's a good idea."

"Why not?"

"Why not? I haven't seen him in more than a decade. He probably thinks I'm dead."

"Actually he's clung to the hope you weren't. Probably because at the time you disappeared the thought of another member of his family dead would have destroyed him. You do realize you left behind people who cared about you very much?"

"Don't lecture me."

"I was not trying to lecture you."

"Right," she snorted, "Oh well.. You may want to have a medi-wizard on hand. He'll probably have a heart attack."

"Unfortunately." Albus began but was cut off once again. Very few people had the gall to do that. It was refreshing in an annoying sort of way.

"Don't worry. I'll find him myself."

"Oh, Sophia," he called as she reached the door, "Have you ever considered teaching?"

It was an off the wall question, but her answer was almost immediate.

"I am a teacher," she replied, and then she was gone.

"Lovely to see you again Mrs. Black," he said to thin air, and one of his portraits snickered.