Chapter Two; Choices or Truth?
Half an hour later, they were in Dumbledore's office. Severus had deemed it prudent to have Black first assume dog form, before stunning him. He knew no one would think anything out of the ordinary if he were carrying an unconscious dog around, but they might just ask a few questions if it were an unconscious escaped convict. He had explained how he had come across Black, and the story the animagus had given him.
"Perhaps it would be best if Sirius joins us then?" Albus said, smiling wryly at the unconscious dog on his hearthrug. "I do not think he is a threat if this story proves untrue, and he is no match for both of us together,"
"Enervate," Severus muttered, pointing his wand at the still form.
He knew Dumbledore would question him, but had no desire for him to find out what he had requested should Black prove innocent. In seconds Sirius was sitting on the floor, blinking owlishly at the Headmaster.
"Severus has explained as much as he could, but perhaps you could explain yourself also? Perhaps why you did not inform me you had changed Secret Keepers?" Dumbledore's eyes had lost their usual twinkle as he surveyed the bedraggled Black. In the hour that followed, he determined through both Legilimancy and personal belief that Sirius was telling the truth.
"Now, there remains the problem of Peter Pettigrew. You say he is here, at Hogwarts?" Dumbledore asked gravely.
"Yes, with Ron Weasley," Sirius replied.
Emotionally, he felt utterly exhausted. He had been certain that Severus would kill him only a few hours ago, and now he was so close to freedom it hurt.
"I will see to it that the rat is confiscated right away. We can't have Peter escaping, now can we?" Dumbledore said.
"I will do it," Severus interrupted, heading for the door. The thought of Pettigrew enjoying even one more minute of freedom for what he had done to Lily had him racing to the door.
"Wait, Snape," Sirius called, following him. "We need to have a wizard's oath, remember?" he whispered, so Dumbledore could not hear him.
"You aren't going to back out?" Severus whispered back. He knew it would be only too easy for him to renege on his promise now Dumbledore knew the truth.
"No. I keep my promises," Sirius answered softly. "Who will you get to perform the oath? Dumbledore?"
"He would never do it. I will arrange it," Severus answered stiffly. In a much louder voice pretended to answer Sirius.
"I do not need your pathetic thanks, Black. You know why I spared your life, and it disgusts me that you would use that against me," he swept from the room without a backwards glance, certain that Dumbledore would know nothing was amiss. Sirius smiled sadly and went to continue speaking to Dumbledore.
The next day the Daily Prophet created a sensation throughout the wizarding world. Sirius Black, convicted mass murderer, was innocent! Cornelius was facing calls to step down, and the Auror division was being investigated on gross misconduct. Pettigrew had been arrested and was awaiting trial, something that had never been granted to Sirius Black.
"Sirius, how do you feel after spending thirteen years convicted of a crime you did not commit?" Rita Skeeter, and a dozen more reporters, had special permission to enter Hogwarts and interview him.
"All the things you'd expect. Anger that I had no trial, sadness that I missed so much of my godson's life, hopeful for the future," he responded. He had not wanted to do this, but Dumbledore insisted he repair his reputation. He felt like he was being torn apart by a flock of angry buzzards, and he knew this was not going to improve his reputation. They were using him as a marketing story, prepared to milk this story for all it was worthwhile people remained interested. No one really cared about him, or how he felt, because no one had defended him when he was sent to prison in the first place.
"Will you and Harry reconcile? Can we get pictures?" a voice from the back yelled insensitively. Sirius scowled, more than prepared to give a cutting retort. He had no idea what Harry's thoughts were on the matter at all, as Dumbledore requested he leave it for a few days.
"I think this interview is at an end," a silky voice said as Severus Snape came into view. It seemed he had been listening to all Sirius had said, waiting for it to finish.
"Severus Snape! Why did you believe Sirius when the rest of the world did not? Have you sustained your belief in silence all this years?" questioned one reporter as quik notes quill worked furiously beside her.
"Anyone who believed Black capable of anything like destroying an entire street is a fool," he replied, taking Sirius by the elbow.
Sirius could have laughed; here Severus was commenting on his lack of magic skill and everyone else thought he was supporting him.
"The Headmaster requires Black's time. I'm sure you can show yourselves out," he said, brushing past them with Sirius beside.
As soon as they found themselves alone, Severus whispered furiously. "Come to my chambers at 8 o'clock tonight. We will see if you truly do keep your promises,"
Sirius spent the rest of the day in a nervous frenzy. He knew what he was sacrificing, and it was almost as bad as being back in Azkaban. But he did owe his life to Severus, and wizards, especially purebloods, had to acknowledge that kind of thing.
'My first day as a free man and I'm about to give it up to Severus Snape,' he thought wryly. 'How could I have let it come to this? I used to be someone, have a life, a future, and friends. Now I have nothing but myself, and I'm about to give that away too,'He badly wanted to back out, to run away and hide himself where no one would ever come looking. The last of the noble house of Black; which was better; a slave or a liar? He had just spent thirteen years convicted of a crime he had not committed, thirteen years of living a lie. He was prepared for truth, and he would not start it by lying and breaking promises.
His sense of truth won out of course, and he found himself knocking gently on Severus' door at five to eight. It opened immediately, and Sirius felt his legs tremble as he looked into the eyes of Severus Snape, his soon to be master.
A/N Just a short chapter this time, because I wanted to leave a cliffhanger. Tell me, am I justifying this? Is it believable? Tell me what you think ^_^