Nobody at Hogwarts now knew the truth of what happened the night that Sirius, Buckbeak, and Pettigrew had vanished except Harry, Matthew, Hermione, Alfred, Ron, and Professors Dumbledore and Kirkland. As the end of the term approached, Harry heard many different theories as to what had really happened, but none of them came close to the truth.

Malfoy was convinced that Hagrid had let Buckbeak free, afraid of the threats Malfoy had made on behalf of his father. Percy Weasley, meanwhile, had much to say on the subject on Sirius's escape.

"If I manage to get into the Ministry, I'll have a lot of proposals to make about Magical Law Enforcement!" he told the only person who would listen. His girlfriend, Penelope.

Though the weather was perfect, and the atmosphere was cheerful, Harry had never approached the end of the school year in worse spirits.

He certainly wasn't the only one to see Professor Lupin go. The whole of Harry's Defense Against the Dark Arts class was miserable about his resignation.

"Wonder what they'll give us next year?" Seamus Finnigan wondered gloomily.

"Maybe a vampire," Dean Thomas suggested hopefully.

Professor Lupin's departure wasn't the only thing weighing heavily on Harry's mind. Professor Trelawney's prediction still bothered him. Had Pettigrew gone to seek sanctuary with Voldemort yet? Alfred and Matthew had recently brought something else to his attention that made things even worse.

"What classes are you signing up for, next year, Matthew?" Hermione asked. "Neither you or your brother had filled out your forms yet."

The Canadian shifted uncomfortably. Alfred rubbed the back of his head, looking down at his shoes.

"Er...we might not be coming back next year," Matthew confessed quietly.

Ron's jaw dropped in dismay. "What?!"

"We kinda have...responsibilities back home," Alfred elaborated sadly. "We'd love to come back. We really, really would...But we probably won't be able to. Our bosses are pissed that we disappeared for a whole year as it is."

Harry was devastated. Some of the best friends he'd made...and he'd never see them again.

Hermione bit her lip, seeming to think about something. She looked at Matthew, and then she looked at Alfred. Her mind was made up. She rushed forward and enveloped them in a tight hug. "Well I expect you back. Maybe not next year, but if you don't come back to Hogwarts before we graduate then I'll will go to North America, find you both and drag you back, kicking and screaming."

"Okay, okay, we promise to come back!" Matthew managed with a gasp.

"I need air!" Alfred wheezed.

She released them, gave them both a pointed look, turned on her heel, and marched off, leaving the four remaining Gryffindors in shock at her audacious outburst.

Harry couldn't imagine life without Alfred and Matthew. But apparently, he was about to find out what it was like. But the thing that lowered Harry's spirits the most, was the prospect of returning to the Dursleys. For maybe half an hour, a glorious half hour, he had believed he would be living with Sirius from now on, the closest thing he had to getting his father back. And while no news of Sirius was good news, since the man was in hiding, Harry couldn't help feeling miserable when he though of the home he might have had, and the fact that it was now impossible.

The exam results came out on the last day of the term. Harry, Ron, Hermione, Matthew, and Alfred had passed every subject. Harry was amazed that he'd gotten through Potions. He had a shrewd suspicion that Dumbledore might have stepped in to prevent Snape from failing him on purpose.

Snape's behavior towards Harry the past week had been alarming to say the least. Somehow, his dislike for the boy had apparently increased exponentially. A muscle twitched unpleasantly at the corner of the Professor's slim mouth every time he looked at Harry, and he was constantly flexing his fingers, as though itching to place them around Harry's throat. This would always earn Snape a smooth, reproving glare from Matthew, or a challengingly raised eyebrow from Alfred, which made the severe teacher back off...but it still unnerved Harry to no end.

Percy had gotten his top-grade N.E.W.T.s; fred and George had scraped a handful of O.W.L.s each. Gryffindor House, meanwhile, largely thanks to their spectacular performance in the Quidditch Cup, had won the House championship for the third year running. This meant that the end of term feast took place amid decorations of scarlet and gold, and that the Gryffindor table was the noisiest of the lot, as everyone celebrated. Even Harry managed to forget about the impending journey back to the Dursleys the next day as he ate, drank, talked, and laughed with the rest.

As the Hogwarts Express pulled out of the station the next morning, Hermione gave her friends some surprising news.

"I went to see Professor McGonagall this morning, just before breakfast. I've decided to drop Muggle Studies."

"But you passed the exam with three hundred and twenty percent!" Ron exclaimed.

"I know," Hermione sighed, "but I can't stand another year like this one. Professor Kirkland was right about that Time-Turner, it was driving me mad. I've handed it in. Without Muggle Studies and Divination, I'll be able to have a normal schedule again."

"Good on you, girl!" Alfred said happily. "You'll need to hang with your friends more, anyway...since I won't be there to spread my awesome American-ness to you poor, deprived, British people."

"As your brother," Matthew said exasperatedly, "I advise you to shut up. We're still in the United Kingdom, you know."

Alfred rolled his eyes. "People think I'm obtuse and ethnocentric. Who am I to prove them wrong by being polite?"

Harry disregarded this as he glanced out the window in time to see Hogwarts disappear behind a mountain. Two whole months before he'd see it again...

"Oh, cheer up, Harry!" Hermione pleaded sadly.

"I'm okay," Harry said quickly. "Just thinking about the holidays."

"So have I," Ron said. "Harry, you've got to come stay with us. I'll fix it up with Mum and Dad, then I'll call you. I know how to use a fellytone now-"

"A telephone, Ron," Hermione reminded. "Honestly, you should take Muggle Studies next year..."

Ron continued as if he hadn't heard. "It's the Quidditch World Cup this summer! How about it, Harry? Come and stay, and we'll go see it! Dad can usually get tickets from work."

This proposal caused Harry's heart to feel much lighter. "Yeah...I bet the Dursleys'd be pleased to let me come... especially after what I did to Aunt Marge..."

Feeling considerably more cheerful, Harry joined his friends in several games of Exploding Snap. Their game was soon interrupted when Matthew peered over Harry's shoulder. "Um, Harry? What's that thing outside your window?"

Harry turned to look outside. Something very small and gray was bobbing in and out of sight beyond the glass. He peered closer and saw what was possibly the tiniest owl to have ever lived. It was so small, in fact, that it kept tumbling over in the air, buffeted this way and that by the train's slipstream. Harry quickly pulled down the window, stretched out his arm, and caught it. It felt like a very fluffy Snitch. He carefully brought it inside.

The owl dropped its letter onto Harry's seat and zoomed around the compartment, apparently rather pleased with itself for having accomplished it's task. Hedwig clicked her beak with a sort of dignified disapproval. Kumajirou eyed the small bird suspiciously for a moment, snorted, and turned over to resume his nap. Crookshanks sat up in his seat, tracking the tiny owl's movement with his great yellow eyes. Ron noticed this and snatched the owl out of harm's way.

Harry picked up the letter. It was addressed to him. He ripped open the letter, read the first few lines, and exclaimed, "It's from Sirius!"

"Read it aloud!" Alfred urged excitedly.

Dear Harry,

I hope this finds you before you reach your aunt and uncle. I don't know whether they're used to the owl post.

Buckbeak dropped me off and flew west...I assume he knows where he's going. I am now in hiding, but I won't tell you where, just in case this owl still falls into the wrong hands. I have some doubt about his reliability, but he is the best I could find, and he did seem eager for the job.

I believe the Dementors are still searching for me, but they haven't a hope of finding me here. I am planning to allow some Muggles to glimpse me soon, a long way from Hogwarts, so that the security on the castle will be lifted.

There is something I never got to tell you during our brief meeting. It was I who sent you the Firebolt-

"Ha!" Hermione said triumphantly. "I told you it was from him!"

"Yes, but he hadn't jinxed it, had he?" Ron pointed out. "Ouch!" The tiny owl, now hooting happily in his hand, had nibbled one of his fingers in what it seemed to think was an affectionate way.

-Crookshanks took the order to the Owl Office for me. I used your name but told them to take the gold from my own Gringotts vault. Please consider it as thirteen birthdays' worth of presents from your godfather.

I would also like to apologize for the fright I think I gave you that night last year when you left your uncle's house. I had only hoped to get a glimpse of you before starting my journey north, but I think the sight of me alarmed you.

I am enclosing something else for you, which I think will make your next year at Hogwarts more enjoyable.

If you ever need me, send word. Your owl will find me.

I'll write again soon.

Sirius

Harry looked eagerly inside the envelope. There was another piece of parchment in there. He read it through quickly, feeling warm and contented as though he'd swallowed an entire bottle of hot butterbeer in one gulp.

I, Sirius Black, Harry Potter's godfather, hereby give permission to visit Hogsmeade on weekends.

"That'll be good enough for Dumbledore!" Harry said happily. He looked back at Sirius's letter. "Hang on, there's a PS..."

I thought your friend Ron might like to keep this owl, as it's my fault he no longer has a rat.

Ron's eyes widened. "Keep him?" He regarded the cheerfully hooting owl uncertainly. Then , to everyone's great surprise, he held him out for Crookshanks to sniff.

"What do you reckon?" Ron asked the cat. "Definitely an owl?"

Crookshanks purred in approval.

Ron nodded. "Good enough for me. He's mine."

Harry read and reread the letter from Sirius all the way back to King's Cross station. It was still clutched tightly in his hand as he and his friends stepped back through the barrier of platform nine and three-quarters. They were met with several surprising sights as they reentered the Muggle World.

Mr. and Mrs. Weasley were there, happy smiles on their faces at seeing Ron and Harry both returned safely. On the other side of the platform, however, were two men in somber black suits and shades, their hands at their sides and their shoulders tensed as if ready for anything. It reminded Harry of just about every espionage-spy movie Harry had ever managed to see. Professor Kirkland stood off to the side, his customarily grumpy expression belied by his relaxed posture. And there, in the middle of it all was Uncle Vernon, looking supremely uncomfortable with the whole thing.

Vernon's suspicions about the Weasleys were apparently confirmed when Mrs. Weasley hugged Harry in greeting. His porkish face twisted unpleasantly, and he none-to-covertly beckoned for Harry to hurry up.

The two men in black walked forward and placed themselves at either side of Alfred. "Your flight to Washington D.C. has been arranged, sir."

"Why can't I return with my brother?" Alfred inquired.

The taller one answered, "Your boss expects you in his office within an hour of you disembarking your plane. We are to accompany you and ensure that you do not disappear again, as is your habit." He placed his hand on Alfred's shoulder as if to punctuate his point.

"I'm in trouble," Alfred guessed, "aren't I?"

"Yes, sir," the shorter one said. "You are in a whole lot of trouble."

The American's shoulders sagged. "Crap..."

"A-Are you going to be alright, Alfred?" Hermione asked worriedly.

"Oh, I'll be fine," the blond reassured. He brushed the guard's hand off. "Watch it, Quinn. Don't let my size fool you, because I can still throw your ass to Oregon from here."

"Alfred," Kirkland scolded. "Behave, it'll make things much less painful for all of us."

Uncle Vernon coughed. Loudly. Harry grimaced as he thought of the summer he had ahead of him. Alfred noticed this too, however. He pulled Harry into a suffocating hug. "Dude. Don't forget to call. Use the number I gave you." He pointedly eyed Vernon, who gulped. "And if you ever need help...I know people. No matter what it is, I'll come. 'Kay?"

Harry nodded. That was all he could manage as his lungs begged for air. Alfred released him, and looked at his brother. "If they place me under house arrest, use whatever political jargon-filled excuse to get me out of there. Seriously, bro."

Matthew smiled impishly. "Oh, we'll see. I might be held up."

Before the American could answer, the shorter guard checked his watch. "We need to go. Now." He placed his hand on Alfred's back, and began steering him away. The other one, Quinn, fell into step behind them. They disappeared into the crowd.

Harry bid the rest of his friends goodbye.

"I'll call about the World Cup!" Ron called as he was lead away.

It was just icing on the cake as Professor Kirkland came forward and actually shook Vernon's hand saying, "I am a professor at Hogwarts and I feel I should congratulate you. Harry's an incredibly bright boy, with lots of potential. You should be proud." He smirked, and walked off, Matthew on his heels.

Vernon noticed the envelope still clutched in Harry's hand and snarled, "If that's another form for me to sign, you've got another-"

"It's not," Harry said cheerfully. "It's a letter from my godfather!"

"Godfather?" Uncle Vernon sputtered. "You haven't got a godfather!"

"Yes, I have," Harry retorted brightly. "He was my mum and dad's best friend. He's a convicted murderer, but he's broken out of wizard prison and he's on the run. He like to keep in touch with me, though...keep up with my news...check if I'm happy..."

And, grinning broadly at the look of horror on Uncle Vernon's face, Harry set off toward the station exit, headed for what looked like a much better summer than the last.

AND IT'S DONE! DESPITE EVERYTHING THAT HAS STOOD IN MY WAY, THIS STORY IS NOW COMPLETE! HAAAAAAHAHAHAHAHAHAAAA!

Expect the first chapter of Avatar: The Last Airbender x Hetalia soon. Or, if you don't like A:TLA...wait for the sequel to this story which will come later. But I will most likely be skipping Goblet of Fire and doing the Order of the Phoenix. AND I HAVE A GOOD REASON FOR THIS. Not because I don't have ideas for it, but because the twins' absence from Hogwarts during this year will be VERY IMPORTANT TO THE PLOT.

Thank you ALL for reading this story. And thank you ALL for showing your support by following, favoriting, and reviewing. Cue the loud announcer's voice, "WHAT IS YOUR FINAL VERDICT OF THIS STORY?" Tell me in a review!

Later dudes. ^J^