Sirius Black strode from the fireplace in the Gabby Goat, his face set in a fierce scowl that had the few patrons there looking away nervously. He was nearly to the door when a wizened old hand clasped him firmly by the shoulder. "It might, for your own sake as well as theirs, be prudent to take measures so as not to be recognized." Aberforth suggested quietly, nodding towards a heavy black cloak hanging from a nearby peg.

"I have my own ways of not being seen, Aberforth." The agitated man responded, shrugging free of the old barkeep's grip as he did so. "Thank you for the suggestion, however, I was being foolhardy. I will be cautious."

The older man nodded allowing the young Black to continue on his mission.

Sirius disappeared in a nearby alley to be replaced by a large shaggy dog, loping off towards Hogwarts. His ears twitched as he raced along the path, worn by centuries of young wizards and witches. Hoping beyond hope to catch a sound or a whiff of his godchildren. He was so focused on his task, so desperate to catch their scents or a glimpse or any sign of them that he nearly missed the tiny whimper as he rushed past Hagrid's hut.

The large dog froze mid-step, his ear perked at attention his snout sniffing the air curiously. Caelen! Caelen and....dirt...centaurs...and blood. Padfoot realized nervously. He padded over to the door, resuming his human form in a flourish as he reached for the handle and slowly, nervous of what he'd find, pulled the old wooden door open.

A shaft of late afternoon sunshine shone through the hut straight to the old cot. Had he not heard a whimper Sirius might never have noticed the tiny girl peering blearily at him from the half-giant's bed. "Is that you puppy?" He questioned gently, tentatively approaching his goddaughter. "Hey pup, whatcha doin here?" He tried to joke, his voice cracking as he took in her pained expression and pallor. Sirius scooped the girl gently into hi arms, cradling her against his chest like a baby. "Where's it hurt little one?"

Caelen merely sniffled burrowing into his shoulder and clinging to him with all the strength she had left. "I tried to stop him uncle Sirius," she nearly sobbed. Her tone was pleading as if she felt personally responsible, which, when Sirius consisted Remus' propensity to blame himself, wasn't all that surprising.

"It's not your fault baby," Sirius murmured kissing the girl's forehead as he carried her out the door and up towards the castle. Sirius fumbled for his wand, intent on sending his patronus to Remus. "Remmy, Harry thought I was being held at the ministry Caelen followed him to Hogwarts through the floo, I've got her. Look after Harry for me, see you at headquarters after." With the message composed and a flick of his wrist the patronus vanished in a flash of light.

"We're gonna get you fixed up alright pup? Have you met madam Pomfrey?" Sirius continued to ramble talk about his visits with Pomfrey as a child and teenager. "Course I didn't have to go nearly as often as your dad, poor Remus, but I had my fare share of visits to the hospital wing. Not exactly a cautious lad as you might imagine. But you're not so much like your old godfather are you, no you're far too clever for that. Ill bet you don't even have to stay more than twice your whole time at Hogwarts. Not like Harry either huh? Although to be fare he doesn't really ask for it either does he? Still the boy could be more careful." Sirius knew he was rambling. His breathing was short and raspy between words as he hurriedly climbed the staircases. "Caelen, baby, stay awake for me." He whispered worriedly as her eyes fluttered.

"I'm wake, unc sir-us" she mumbled tiredly.

Sirius' steps advanced to a run as her eyes closed again. It had been years since he'd raced like this towards the hospital wing. The experience reminded him of helping to carry Remus after a full moon. He remembered with a pang of sadness times when he and James had raced through the corridors, Remus supported between them, desperate to reach Poppy before he bled out. He had learned minor healing charms, cuts and bruises broken noses that sort of thing, as a teen. This, Sirius wasn't even certain what had happened. All he knew was his little goddaughter was clearly hurt and in need of Poppy's expertise.

The man skidded into the hospital wing, completely missing the shocked expression crossing the matron's face. "Poppy!" He shouted placing Caelen cautiously onto the nearest unoccupied bed. "Madam Pomfrey!" He bellowed again spinning around to be faced with the mediwitche's wand. "Bollocks," he murmured suddenly remember he was wanted and his sudden appearance in Hogwarts might cause a stir.

Sirius raised his hands in surrender, "now Poppy, it's not what you think. Stun me till Dumbledore returns, incarcerous me, whatever you must, but you have to help Caelen."

The matron's eyes flashed between the girl lying deathly pale and still on the crisp white sheets and the disheveled, fugitive before her. Sirius breathed the faintest sigh of relief as her healers instincts took over and she went to work, her wand traveling above the little body.

Sirius cringed worriedly as she tisked every few moments. Fierce eyes met his, "Mr. Black, go and get me a blood-replenishing potion, deflating draught, murtlap essence, and wide eye potion if you please, and don't try anything funny!"

At any other moment Sirius might have smiled, reminiscing on all the moments she'd hurried him out of the hospital wing, or brought him an extra blanket when he was behaving, while Remus had recovered. As it was he simply nodded hurrying toward the potion cupboard to retrieve the requested bottles.

"If you're going to keep twitching next to her while I work get yourself a calming draught!" The old matron instructed across the hospital wing.

Sirius chuckled lightly as he hurried back over, hands full. "Here you are madam Pomfrey," he offered respectfully, handing over the vials. Sirius tried to ignore the sideways, mistrustful, glance she aimed at him before snatching to potions away.  "What happened to Minnie?" He questioned, attempting to break the ice between them.

Madam Pomfrey scowled angrily, "that old bat's 'inquisitorial squad', Minerva tried to stop them attacking Hagrid and they collectively stunned her for it. Lift her gently Mr. Black," she ordered, nodding at Caelen and unstoppering the murtlap essence.

Sirius knelt, one knee on the bed, and cradled his goddaughter into his side as the matron began to pour the potion into her, now tangled and dirty, brown hair.

"She has a concussion, Black." Poppy supplied noticing his questioning expression. The longer she watched him worry and fuss over the girl the less she glared, assuming there must be things she did not know.

"How did that happen?"

"Generally from a blow to the head," the matron responded unnecessarily. "No I know what you were asking Mr. Black, I simply do not have the answer. I was unaware Caelen was anywhere near Hogwarts."

Sirius nodded his head, his eyes showing his worry. "She followed Harry through the floo, he thinks I'm at the ministry, he's gone ahead. I'd have gone to retrieve him, if Caelen hadn't needed me."

"Why would Harry want to rescue you? I'm not trying to be cruel Mr. Black but it was my understanding you were wanted for betraying his parents and murdering several people." Her first task finished she lay the empty vial on a stand nearby and motioned for him to tilt the girl's head back a bit. "This one will help with swelling," she explained calmly pouring a few drops down the child's throat.

Madam Pomfrey  continued her ministrations administering a blood replenishing potion next the pausing. "Caelen will need rest but not the sort she's getting right now."

Sirius was puzzled, "what's the difference? Rest is rest yeah?"

"Would you feel rested if I hit you upside the head and you passed out?" There was a hint of exasperation in her tone as if he should have known already. "No, Mr. Black, passing out from an injury is not restful. We have to wake her from her unconscious state, then she can rest properly." Her plan explained, the matron poured the final potion down Caelen's throat and waited for it to take effect.

Mere seconds passed before Caelen's chocolate colored eyes blinked open, clear and curious as ever. "Uncle Sirius?" She mumbled sleepily before gasping and sitting up hurriedly. This proved to be a bad move combined with the concussion and potions and she promptly vomited.

Madam Pomfrey cast a quick scurgify, completely unfazed. "You'll what to take it slowly young lady." She scolded gently. "If you'd just move her to another bed Mr. Black."
Sirius obeyed immediately, knowing better than to test the strict witch.

Once settled in her new, vomit free, bed Caelen looked up guiltily at her godfather. "I'm sorry uncle Sirius I tried to stop him. I told him you wouldn't have left me alone. He wouldn't believe me since I hadn't seen you though, said he couldn't go by that. I really tried..."

"I know you did puppy," Black responded kissing her head gently as he gathered the troubled child into his arms. "It's gonna be alright, Remus will look after Harry. I'm just glad you're alright. Can you tell me what happened?"

As Caelen preceded to share what had happened since she'd heard Harry speaking through the floo, Sirius felt his blood boil. His fury grew more and more until he wanted nothing greater than to waltzed out into the forest, find the nasty old hag that had dared harm his goddaughter, and treat her to a demise worthy of his family name. Such dark thoughts vanished, however, as Caelen nuzzled into his side, a tiny squeak escaping as she yawned tiredly. "It's all over now puppy, you should rest. Don't worry I'll be right here, no one's going to hurt you again."

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Remus glared at the older werewolf before him, "you can't honestly believe that?" He said incredulously, barely containing his frustration. "We're talking about Voldemort here!" The others assembled around them mumbled uncomfortably at the mention of his name. "He hates us, just as much as he hates muggles and muggle borns. Hell, a lot of us are muggle born! What do you think will happen once he's won? Once he's used us in his war? There's no cure, there never has been, he's not out to help us, any of us! Once he's beaten the muggles borns and those who stand for them he'll come for us, all the 'halfbreeds', we're just as filthy to him as anyone."

"How is he different than any other wizard, than the ministry itself?!" Snapped the older man. "I've spent my life protecting those in my pack. There's hatred from all sides for us, if he who must not be named offers acceptance why shouldn't we accept?"

Remus growled in frustration, pinching the bridge of his nose as he did so. "You're not that gullible."

"Mr Lupin is right,"  a confident voice called pushing his way through the crowd, "they don't want to help us, Jake, Izzy, and I went to join. They told us they didn't want our help, we were too tame for them, didn't have the killer instinct apparently. We'd never have made it out without Remus."

"We all know how you can be Malcolm," a middle aged woman responded with a long suffering expression. "You and Jake, you're always mouthing off, strutting around and smirking as you do. Jake, well everyone knows he's a hothead. The pair of you probably provoked them."

"You don't have to provoke them!" Jake snapped coming to stand next to his cousin.

"The guys are right," Izzy agreed quietly, grasping Malcolm's hand as she did. "We nearly died, Mr. Lupin was badly hurt, they don't want to help us."

Grumbling sounded throughout the pack. Remus glanced to his left where the three young werewolves had taken their stance. "Thank you," he murmured quietly.

"You saved our lives," Izzy responded with a small smile, "we'll never forget that."

"Izzy's right," Malcolm agreed pulling the girl into his side.

Jake nodded, his eyes wandering skeptically over the other members of their pack.

The group was starting to settle the pack leader clearly taking control again, ready to decide their stance. "Remus, you've made some good points, while I can't in good conscience lead my pack into danger, I also won't align us against you and your order."

Remus sighed in relief, opening his mouth to respond when a shimmering silver Phoenix flew into sight. His heart nearly stopped in his chest as he waited for it to speak.

"Harry's gone to the ministry, Caelen may be with him, he believes Sirius to be held there." Albums Dumbledore's voice informed quickly. "Assemble at the ministry, hurry."

Remus' mouth went dry and he stumbled back a step in horror. It was bad enough Harry was headed into what was almost certainly a trap, but why was Caelen involved? Where was Sirius? He was meant to be watching her. How had this happened? Two hands steadied him and he looked back questioningly.

"Friends of yours?" Jake asked from his right.

"Cubs," he murmured through, what he was convinced, was a rapidly closing windpipe.

"Family then," Malcolm clasped his left shoulder, "we'll help."

Remus opened his mouth to protest but was cut off with a growl from Jake, "we're going, this is wasting time."

Thoughts of his daughter terrified in the company of death eaters propelled Remus to action. "Let's go then, we're going to the ministry." With a quick twist the three wizards vanished.

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Hey guys!! New update! I really figured this whole ministry thing would only cover a chapter or two. Clearly I was mistaken. Anyway next up Remus and Harry at the ministry will Sirius join them? Will someone die? Who knows. Anywho I love all your comments I honestly do you guys make me smile so thank you. I will update again as soon as possible and I hope you like this chapter. Laters 😊