Chapter 22
SIRIUS BLACK
For many months now, two things had filled his mind. First was the thought of revenge against that traitorous rat, but that was soon replaced by curiosity about the identity of the person who had chosen to intervene on his behalf, to expose that rat, and to save him.
For this was not his doing, and nor was this all a coincidence. This was all planed, and planed well.
After much thought and questioning, he had an inkling about this person's identity, even though his mind refused to believe it all. Yet all the evidence pointed towards one singular identity.
But whoever this individual was, he owed them his life, and the words from the hearing still rang in his head as he sat in a small holding cell at the DMLE as the Ministry tried to clear a path for his removal.
After Peter's confession, the trial had been reduced to a formality, and now it was over.
And he was a free man, a frail, tired, and a much hungry free man, yet free nonetheless.
As the doors to his holding cell opened, the familiar face of Albus walked into the room. The man had aged much in the years Sirius had seen him, and Sirius could tell from his face the sheer amount of guilt and pain that hung over the old man.
"There are many people outside who want to see you," he said, but he shook his head, his mind already made.
"I don't want to see anyone whose name is not Harry," he said as the Headmaster's eyes dimmed.
And it was the one thing he had asked of Albus, and yet the man had still denied him this one chance to see his godson.
"I can understand your curiosit..." but before the man could say anymore the door to his cell opened once more, as a rather familiar face walked strode into the room, and for a second he feared that Bellatrix had come to chase after him, and yet there were subtle differences in their faces, and their hair.
This person had a much fuller face, along with dyed brown hair, rather than the black curls of his deranged cousin, and unlike dear old Bella her eyes were filled with care, compassion and guilt rather the madness that had long filled the dark orbs of Bellatrix Lestrange.
"Harry can wait," she cut in, and he watched as Ted Tonks, his savior and lawyer walked in behind her and closed the room, clearly having failed to stop her.
Though, how could he succeed where even the Black family had failed, for no one could ever stop Andromeda Black.
"Merlin! You would traumatise the boy if you meet him like this," she cut in, and even Dumbledore was smart enough to back away as Andy took out her wand and began to bombard him with spell after spell.
"Fractures, fever, anemia..." and he smiled as he saw her murmur.
"Hello, cous..." and yet she was as short-tempered as always as she looked at him.
"Shut up!" and then she frowned as she began to curse as she began to speak at him.
"How the hell are you even sitting there," and it was the same thing which had kept him sane after all those years in Azkaban.
"I don't..."
"Don't speak, and forget about meeting your godson like this. Any sane boy would run at the sight of you," and even in this situation, he found himself appreciating her humor as he chuckled.
"You are coming to St.Mungo's with me," and then she turned towards the Headmaster of Hogwarts, and perhaps the greatest wizard of their time.
"And you are going to empty out the crowd from outside, or I will have them to remind them all of my last name," and Dumbledore smirked as he gave her a small nod.
"As you say, Healer Black," Albus added.
And as he began to move, he called out after him.
"Albus! I want to see him, I want to see Harry," but before he could answer him, Andy cut in.
"The boys at school," she said, and this time her tone was much softer.
"And you have just spent more than a decade locked up in the worst prison known to humankind. I understand that you wish to meet him," and his patience ran thin as he cut in.
"I have waited for thirteen years, Andy! Thirteen years!" he screamed back at her, yet she did not react with anger but nodded.
"I know," she said in a much softer voice.
"But do you want Harry to meet a broken and ill-looking man and add to his worries, or do you want him to meet his godfather, who can show him the love his parents could not," and the words hit deep, and he had no retort.
"You are barely clinging to life as you are through sheer will. I cannot even fathom what you endured all these years in captivity and then on the run, but your body and mind are in need of healing, and for that, you need to come with me," she said, and he found himself nodding.
"Good," she said.
"And I will see if something can be arranged for you and Mr. Potter," Albus added as he opened the door, yet he turned back and added.
"And I must apologize again, Sirius, for ever doubting your loyalty to James and Lily," he added, and that was something that had wounded him much, but he did not wish to linger on such things.
"It is fine," he said a bit forcefully, and if Dumbledore noticed that, he did not say anything as he left the room to clear out the people from outside and turned to look at his cousin again.
"So, you became a Healer?" he asked, and Andromeda nodded.
"Yes, I always wanted to be one, and when the war ended, I applied to St. Mungo's and got in," and he knew that it must not have been as easy as she made it out to be, but still seeing her fulfill her dream was good.
"She is the head healer now," Ted cut in from the side in his thick, proud voice, and he could see that the years had done little to lessen their love as he saw him smile with pride.
"They are even..."
"Why didn't you tell me that the emergency you were faced with was Sirius's case," she suddenly asked, as Ted's smile stiffened.
"You know how it is. The case was sensitive, and the contract for it made it so that I could not speak about it to anyone until it was finished," and again, Sirius had not drafted this contract, nor had he paid for it.
No, this was the work of his anonymous helper.
"Nymphadora was rather worried; she feared for a second that you might even be having an affair," and he saw Ted's face pale as he shook his head.
"I would never," and Andy's eyes narrowed.
"I know," and then she turned to face him.
"And I must apologise to you as well," she began, and she was the only cousin he had ever been close with because of their shared experience of being kicked out of the family, even though contact between them had run dry during the last years of the war as they all went into hiding to protect themselves.
"After the news about you and Pettigrew came out all those years ago, I was so angry that I never even though to question it..."
"It's okay," he cut in, for he did not wish to live in the past.
"It's not," she cut in.
"Well, then you can make it up to me, by helping me meet my godson in as little time as possible," and she nodded as she helped him up.
"I will..." As Ted opened the doors, the crowd outside was pushed back. Dumbledore stood there addressing the reporters while keeping them back as the Aurors cleared the way.
Questions were screamed at him, yet he ignored them all until suddenly a man came in and stood in their way.
"Ahh, I have been wanting to meet with you for quite some time," and he looked up and recognized that face immediately.
He was a fat plump man of middling height, and he wore a rather nice suit along with a very ostentatious bowler hat, as he put forth his hand.
"This, it was a massive disaster, this whole thing! All because of the previous administration and the DMLE of course," he quickly added, and it reminded him of just who he was.
This was Cornelius Fudge, the Minster.
"A disaster I say! But you need not worry, when I first read the letter, I made sure to do everything..." and the man was nor forcefully shaking his hand, and continuously singing praises of himself, as the reporters began to push in.
"I am afraid this will have to wait, Minister," Ted cut in as he gave the man a smile.
"Mr. Black is in need of serious medical attention, and needs to use the floo to get to St. Mungo's," and the man pretended to be surprised.
"Of course. Of course, but if he could say a few words about the trial to the report..."
"I am afraid that will not be possible," Andy cut in sharply as she began to push him.
"His condition is quite severe," and the man's frustrations were obvious, but he kept himself composed and nodded.
"Of course, but do reach out to me, if you need anything, Sirius, anything at all...." and as they stepped into the floo, he was surprised as she passed him along a fistful of floo powder.
"What did he want from me?" and she clicked her tongue as Ten stopped the horde of reporters rushing towards them.
"I have been told that the man has been looking for a new wealthy donor, given his last one has found himself in quite a trouble," and that made sense, as she gave him a nod, and they both threw the powder down and whispered at the same time.
"St. Mungo's..."
"St. Mungo's..."
.
.
.
And as he found himself tired and sleepy after a rather thorough wash and examination, he felt his eyes close as Andy continued to accompany him.
"Still, who let you enter the cell when even the Minister could not get in?" he suddenly asked, as Andy raised a brow.
"Well, someone was rather worried about your health," she answered as he felt himself grow drowsier and drowsier.
"Who..." he asked in a lingering tone, as the lights began to dim as the Potions began to take their effect.
"Someone who cares about you...."
0000
HARRY POTTER
Harry was still reeling from the high of getting to see Hogsmeade when he was suddenly called into the Headmaster's office during the lectures, and he could think of only one reason for this.
Sirius.
And a part of him was excited, hoping that the man may have come to see him, yet as he walked into the office he found it empty, except for the Headmaster who sat in his usual seat.
"Harry my boy," the older wizard smiled at him, and pointed at the seat opposite to him.
"Come sit," he said as Harry slowly walked up to the chair and sat down, and the office had not changed much since the last time he had been here at the end of the First year.
"I believe you must have an idea about why I summoned you so suddenly," the Headmaster asked softly as he looked at him through those half-moon-tilted glasses.
"Yes," Harry nodded, his heart racing for any news regarding his godfather's trial.
"First of all, I must apologize to you as well," the man began, making him frown.
"Why?" the words slipped out of his mouth as the Headmaster's expression turned grim.
"Because, just like Sirius was wronged, you have been wronged by me as well," he began as he put down his glasses, still lamenting his inaction over Sirius and the allegations against him.
"If only I had looked into the matter before, given it all a little more thought," he whispered, as he shook his head before looking into his eyes once more.
"So, I apologize for my own mistake in robbing you of the love and care of your godfather, and I must add that he is quite eager to meet you," and his heart lept up at those words.
"The Trial?" he asked.
"I have just come from the Ministry," and he had expected as much.
"And Sirius Black has been exonerated of all his crimes and is now a free man," and a smile erupted on his face at those words, for the letter yesterday had proven that the man did care for him at some level.
"Can I meet him?" he asked excitedly.
"Well, he is quite eager to meet you, but I am afraid that will not be possible for some time," and the joy vanished instantly as Harry heard those words.
"You see, the years of imprisonment at Azkaban have left him with some scars, and as of right now, Sirius has been taken to St. Mungo's to help him return back to life, and apart from that, you are still a student," and his mood soured as he heard those words.
"But, after much consideration, I believe some concessions needed to be made given the circumstances, so I will allow you to visit him on the weekend at the Hospital," and his head snapped up in an instant as soon as he heard those words.
"Until then, you will just have to content yourself with letters," and as he looked up, he saw a letter slide forward on the desk for him as the Headmaster gave him a nod to pick it up.
And as he did, he recognised the writing to be similar to what he had received a few days ago.
"He is quite eager to hear from you, and I believe your Owl will quite appreciate the journey," and he did not know that he was grinning, and the Headmaster leaned back, probably seeing his bubbling excitement at receiving the letter.
"Now, with that done, I believe you must be on your way, I would not want you to miss your lunch because of me," and Harry nodded.
"Thank you, Professor," he said suddenly as he was about to run off, and the old man nodded.
"I do hope you enjoyed the chance to visit Hogsmeade, legally yesterday. The village is quite fascinating, isn't it," Harry nodded flushing at the insinuation.
"Yes, it is, Professor...."
0000
In a land far far away, a frustrated Lucius Malfoy saw the new issue of the Daily Prophet, and cursed as he watched Fudge, fawning over Black.
"That bastard!" he cursed as he threw the paper into the wall of the little shed he had found in Eastern Europe, and he was here for but one reason only.
"After all that money, and he still ignores me. I will show him! I will show that bastard," and once he was back and safe, he would go after them all, each and every one of these opportunistic bastards who had turned on him in his time of need.
And to this day, he wondered just who it was that had captured Pettigrew and set this all into motion. And given that Pettigrew was hiding at Hogwarts, it had to be one of the students.
"I will kill them! I will kill the bastard!" he cursed, as he rose from his chair and began to pace.
Was it Potter, but no. If it was Potter, the papers would have made a big show of it, and Dumbledore would have salivated at the chance to show off the so-called Boy-who-Lived.
No. This was someone else. Someone who had chosen to keep themselves anonymous. Someone smart enough to fear him and his wrath.
"But I will know. I will," and he had already asked Severus to look into the matter, and the man had promised him some answers.
And as he was pacing, suddenly a green fire lit up in one of the fireplaces of the small cabin, as a few people stepped out, their faces somewhat familiar to him even after years and years of separation.
"Aha!" the man infront began as he smiled at him, and it irked him to be forced to collude and join hands with beasts such as him, but he was told that what little remained of the Death Eaters back home had made some dangerous plans.
And he wished to be a part of them, if not to exact his revenge on the person who had ruined his life, then to humiliate Fudge as much as he can.
"So, it really was you, Malfoy," and the man infront of him was no man. No, he was a rabid dog and a beast unlike any other, one who would cause much humiliation for Fudge and his cronies.
"Still, I wonder what made you think to contact me out of the blue," he asked as he licked his lips.
"Tell me, Greyback..." he began as he looked the half-breed in the eyes.
"...do you and your pack hunger for flesh?"
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