Chapter Two-More Freedom
REPOST
Mentions of Abuse. Yaoi- HPDM and RLSB. Rating may change.
SPOT THE STARDUST QUOTE!!!!
Enjoy!
Don't own Harry Potter.
Remus Lupin stood nervously in front of the guard as he gave in his wand and any sharp objects he might have. It was a precaution for those visiting Azkaban. He could already feel the effects of the dementors around him.
He waited until the guard nodded to the other guard and yet another guard opened the barred door.
"It's the last cell on the right. You have fifteen minutes." The Guard said and Remus nodded hurrying down the filthy grey corridor ignoring all of the yells and pleas of the prisoners. He stopped at the last cell and stood by the bars.
He stared at the person who had once been his best friend. Sirius' once silky black hair was now knotted and limp. He was painfully thin and was staring up at the ceiling with large grey eyes that were once so full of life but they were now dull.
"Sirius." He said and Sirius started. He spun around so fast it was a wonder he didn't hurt himself.
"R-Remus." He rasped his voice rough from disuse. "Is it really you?!"
He crawled closer until he was leaning against the bars.
"Yes it's me." Remus said coldly as he remembered what this man had done.
"P-Please Remus you have to get me out! I didn't do it! I swear. I loved James like a brother! Why would I kill him?! Please you have to believe me." Sirius begged tears falling from his eyes leaving streaks down his dirty face.
"I wish I could Sirius." Remus said bending down to Sirius' height.
"No! It's true! Peter! He killed them! He told! He was their secret keeper. I made them switch because I didn't think I'd be able to keep the secret! He killed them!" Sirius pleaded and Remus shook his head.
"You killed Peter Sirius." Remus said and Sirius shook his head frantically.
"I didn't! He escaped! I would have though, that worthless rat! He killed them Moony!" Sirius said before he closed his eyes and started sobbing. Remus' own eyes filled with tears and he couldn't take it anymore. He left, still hearing Sirius' cries and begs for him to come back.
Remus gathered his wand before he left quickly. He wiped the tears from his face and apparated home to his small flat in a muggle apartment building. He lay down on his bed and cried again as the pain of what happened came back.
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Three weeks later…
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"Remus are you okay?" Severus asked as they walked through Diagon Alley. It was almost the beginning of a new school year so Severus was buying supplies as he had been offered the job of Potions Professor at Hogwarts. Remus had offered to join him.
"I'm fine. Why do you ask?" He asked.
"You've been really quiet ever since you went to see him." Severus said and Remus closed his eyes sighing.
"He just gave me a lot to think about." Remus said. "He said that it wasn't his fault. That Peter was their secret keeper. That he was the one who gave them away."
"But Pettigrew is dead." Severus said.
"I know. Sirius said he wasn't, but that he would have killed him if he had the chance." Remus said, they stopped walking and Severus turned to Remus.
"Remus, you need to move on. What happened; happened. It's in the past and although the pain won't go away it will fade. I know. I've had my fair share of scars." Severus said and Remus nodded.
"I know." He mumbled.
"Well then, Lucius and Narcissa have invited you to join us for lunch. Draco's excited to see you too." Severus said and Remus smiled slightly. Draco had really taken to Remus at dinner that one time. Especially after he had told some of the famous Marauders' pranks to him.
"That'd be wonderful." He said but as they were walking back to the Leaky Cauldron they bumped into the Weasley Family. Charlie and Bill were buying their Hogwarts things and they had brought the whole family along. Remus suddenly stiffened and he sniffed.
"What is it Remus?" Severus asked and Remus turned to Fred who was holding a rat in his hands.
"Wormtail." He muttered and the rat started squeaking like mad and struggling to get out of Fred's hands.
"Ow you damn rat! Stay still." He cried dropping the rat which tried to scurry away but Remus caught it.
"Remus what's wrong?!" Molly asked as Remus stared at the rat.
"This is an animagus." He said.
"But that's impossible. Fred and George found Scabbers in our field." Bill said and Remus took out his wand holding the rat tightly. He pointed his wand to it.
"Apperio." He hissed before dropping the rat. It lay on the floor and for a second nothing happened but then suddenly 'Scabbers' started to writhe and grow. The Weasley family and Severus stared with wide eyes as the rat turned into a short fat man.
"Pettigrew?!" Severus said disbelieving and the man tried to run away but Arthur saw and grabbed him by the collar.
"Sirius was telling the truth." Remus whispered. He pointed his wand at Pettigrew's face threateningly. "You killed Lily and James."
"N-No! Remus I didn't! I swear! It was Black he gave them away!" Peter yelled and Remus glared at him pushing his wand closer.
"Don't lie." He hissed.
"Remus, calm down. We'll take him to the Ministry and get this all sorted out." Arthur said and Remus clenched his fists before he dropped his wand. Peter began to whimper and Severus sneered at him.
"Arthur, I'll take him to the Ministry. Will you help Remus home?" Severus asked.
"I'm coming too." Remus snapped before Arthur could answer.
"Remus, you-"
"I'm fine. And I'm coming." Remus said angrily before he pointed his wand at Pettigrew again. "Move."
Severus quickly followed as Remus marched Pettigrew through the streets back to the Leaky Cauldron where he forced him into the fireplace. He flooed with him and Severus soon followed.
They walked straight through the Ministry until they reached the Dangerous Criminal holding area. Remus pushed Peter into one of the cells which were guarded with anti-magic barriers so he wouldn't be able to transform back into a rat.
"Lupin! What is the meaning of this?!" Fudge demanded as he ran huffing and puffing behind him.
"Peter Pettigrew is alive. He gave away the location to Lily and James Potter's house. He's the reason their dead. Sirius Black is innocent!" Remus said turning to Fudge.
"Now Remus that's a ridiculous statement." Fudge said and Remus glared at him.
"See for yourself. Pettigrew has been going around in his animagus form of a rat, hiding so we would think that he is dead. He is the reason Lily and James Potter are dead!" Remus shouted at the Minister and Fudge took a step back before he peered around Remus to look inside the cell. His eyes widened as he saw Pettigrew cowering in the cell.
"We'll have to use veritaserum to prove what you've said is true." Fudge said and Severus nodded.
"I'll brew it myself." He said putting a hand on Remus' shoulder to try and calm him down.
"Very well. We shall have a trial next week." Fudge said. "Until then he shall stay in this cell."
"That's very good Minister. We'll be attending the trial." Severus said and Fudge nodded.
"I'll owl you the date and we'll have to get Sirius Black out of Azkaban and use veritaserum on him too." Fudge said lifting his bowler and scratching his head.
"Thank you Minister. We'll be going now." Severus said clenching Remus' shoulder as he was about to protest.
Severus pushed Remus to an apparition point and he side-apparated with Remus to the gates of Malfoy Manor. When they landed Remus broke down in tears. Severus grabbed him before he fell over and half-carried, half-led him though the gates until they reached the door.
He opened the door without knocking and called for Lucius and Narcissa.
"Merlin Severus! What happened?!" Narcissa cried coming to help him carry Remus inside.
"We just found Pettigrew. He's been hiding as a rat in the Weasley family." Severus explained. "We now think that Black in innocent."
"Well fuck." Lucius breathed falling into a chair opposite Remus who was leaning on Narcissa as she calmed him down.
"Fuck is right." Severus sighed running his hands through his hair.
"Daddy? What's wrong with Remus?" A small voice asked and they turned to see Draco standing in the doorway.
"Nothing Dragon. He's okay." Lucius said standing and moving towards Draco but his son ran past him and over to Remus.
"Remmy? Are you okay?" Draco asked and Remus looked up wiping his eyes. He nodded and smiled weakly at Draco. "Don't cry then. You make me worried!"
"Sorry Draco." Remus said sitting up straight and smiling more firmly at the little boy.
"Why were you crying Remmy?" Draco asked biting his lip worriedly.
"I just found out that my friend who I thought did something wrong didn't do it." Remus said before a laugh burst out of his throat. He stood and picked Draco up spinning him in circles. Draco giggled loudly. "He didn't do it!"
Remus collapsed back on the sofa with Draco giggling in his arms.
"He didn't do it." He whispered.
"When's the trial?" Lucius asked.
"Next week. They'll be using my veritaserum." Severus said and Lucius frowned.
"Why didn't they use veritaserum in the first place when they trialled Black?" He asked.
"He didn't have a trial they arrested him and put him straight into Azkaban. Everyone was panicking there wasn't time for a trial." Severus said sighing. "But if Black does turn out to be innocent and they've locked an innocent man in Azkaban for four years the press is going to have a field day."
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Remus sat in the stands looking down at Wormtail who was in the chained chair at the centre of the hall. He was cowering in the metal chains under the eyes of the Council. There was a loud bang as the doors opened again. Remus watched with pain filled eyes as Sirius was led into the room his eyes flinching closed from the bright light.
He was put in a chair next to Wormtail's and he looked around him in wonder until his eyes fell on Wormtail, he instantly tried to get to him.
"You bastard!" He roared.
"Calm yourself Black." Amelia Bones said and Sirius stilled with his fists clenched breathing heavily.
"Snape is the veritaserum ready?" Fudge asked and Severus nodded walking forward. He handed a small vile of it to Sirius who drank it with no pretences, his eyes instantly clouded over and he stood with a dazed expression on his face. Severus then gave a vile to the Guard next to Wormtail's cage and the Guard force fed it to the rat.
"Peter Pettigrew. You have been charged with aiding to the murder of James Harold Potter and Lily Marie Potter. Do you deny it?" Fudge asked. It was clear to any that were watching that he was trying to fight the effects of the veritaserum but he failed.
"N-No." He stuttered out violently.
"Sirius Orean Black. Is it true that you were the Potter's secret keeper?" Fudge asked.
"Yes… But I asked for them to change it from me." Sirius said and Remus' eyes widened.
"Why?" Amelia Bones asked.
"I was afraid I would not be able to keep their secret." Sirius said.
"Why? Were you afraid that you would crack under torture?" Fudge asked and Sirius shook his head.
"If someone had threatened my other best friend Remus Lupin at the time I was not sure if I would be able to stop myself from telling them just to keep him safe." Remus gasped quietly and he pulled back away from the edge of the stands.
"Did you know Peter Pettigrew was a Death Eater when you offered him as a secret keeper?" Amelia asked.
"No." Sirius said.
"Peter Pettigrew. Is it true that you gave away the location to Lily and James Potter's home?" Fudge asked.
"Y-Yes." Wormtail said through gritted teeth.
"And when he was alive did you support You-Know-Who?" Fudge asked.
"Y-Yes." Wormtail said a murmur went through the crowd before Amelia Bones stood and silence rang throughout the courtroom.
"Peter Pettigrew we find you guilty of aiding to the murder of Lily and James Potter and for the crime of being a Death Eater." She said. "Your sentence is lifetime imprisonment in Azkaban."
"No! Please!" Peter yelled. Severus moved and gave the antidote to Sirius and to the guard in front of Peter's cage. Aurors took Peter Pettigrew away and a Guard unlocked Sirius' chains and he stood.
"Sirius Orean Black we find you innocent of all crimes put to you. You are now a free man." Fudge said and Remus watched as Sirius broke down in front of the Court, tears of relief flooding from his eyes.
"Court dismissed." Amelia Bones said and Remus moved quickly through the stands. He walked quickly over to Sirius and knelt down beside him pulling him into a hug. Sirius sobbed into his shoulder.
"I'm sorry." Remus whispered. "I'm so sorry."
"Remus. I think it would be best if we moved out of here. You can bring Sirius to our home since he has no where to live at the moment he can stay in one of our guest rooms." Narcissa said putting her hand on Remus' shoulder
"Thank you. You are too good to me." Remus whispered.
"Nonsense and anyway Sirius is my cousin. We are family." Narcissa said gently. Remus stood slowly pulling Sirius to his feet. Sirius clung to Remus as if he was the only thing keeping him there.
They slowly moved from the Courtroom and to one of the floo places. They all flooed one after the other Remus holding Sirius as he flooed.
Sirius fell to the floor as they reached the other side.
"Sirius dear. Come on let's get you into a nice hot bath and then you can go sleep for a while." Narcissa said and Sirius looked up at her. Their silver eyes meeting.
"Cissy?" He whispered.
"Yes it's me Siri." Narcissa said pushing Sirius' dirty hair away from his forehead. "You're going to be staying in my home for a while. Now let's get you up to a bath."
Remus helped Sirius to his feet. They slowly made their way up the long flight of stairs and through numerous corridors until they reached a bathroom. Remus helped Sirius inside. He filled the bath (which was about as big as a small swimming pool) and he helped Sirius inside after pulling the clothes off of Sirius. He threw them in a pile in the corner, reminding himself to ask to have them burned later on.
"Remus." Sirius whispered after a while. He was sitting in the warm water. His skin was pink from where he had scrubbed so hard to get the dirt off of him.
"I'm sorry Sirius." Remus whispered and Sirius frowned. He lifted a wet hand and placed it against Remus' cheek leaving a wet mark on Remus' face.
"Don't be stupid." He whispered back.
"I'm not. I'm being serious." Remus said angrily.
"No you're not. I'm Sirius." Sirius said with a hint of his old self in his voice.
"It's not funny Sirius. I didn't believe you! Even when you begged me too in Azkaban! I just sat there and did nothing." Remus said tears falling from his eyes.
"You found Pettigrew. You're the reason I'm out of jail." Sirius whispered and he wiped away a few of Remus' tears. "Thank you."
Remus began crying and Sirius hugged him. Remus hugged back uncaring of the fact that he was now soaking wet. After a while they parted from each other and Sirius was helped from the bath into a soft bathrobe.
Remus helped Sirius down the corridor and into one of the guest bedrooms Narcissa had pointed out on their way there. Sirius looked around himself in wonder. He sat down on the bed smiling softly as he sunk into it.
"Get some sleep and I'll bring you some food later." Remus said softly as Sirius lay down. He was about to leave when he heard a whimper.
"Remus." Sirius whispered and Remus walked over to the bed. He sat down next to Sirius who grabbed his hand. "Please stay with me."
Remus nodded and he lay down next to Sirius who didn't let go of his hand the whole time.
"Thank you." Sirius whispered before he fell asleep. Remus lay there a while watching his friend's face before he too drifted off.
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The next morning when Remus woke Sirius was gone. He sat bolt upright and ran from the room quickly. He ran downstairs looking in every room he passed. When he reached the kitchen he sighed in relief to see Sirius there sitting at the table ravenously eating a cooked breakfast that the elves had made for him.
"Is Master Remus wanting breakfast?" Asked a house elf that Remus remembered was called Dobby.
"Yes please." Remus said sitting down at the table opposite Sirius who was so engrossed in his food he didn't notice.
"Remmy?" Remus turned to see Draco standing in the doorway his hair still mussed from sleep and his silver eyes hazy.
"Hey Draco." He said smiling at the boy.
"Who's that?" Draco asked walking into the kitchen and sitting down next to Remus.
"This is Sirius. He's an old friend of mine." Remus said and Draco nodded he smiled as a plate of muffins were placed in front of him and he began to eat. A cooked breakfast was placed in front of Remus and he began to eat slowly.
"Good morning all!" Lucius called as he walked into the kitchen. He sat down next to Remus and opened the daily prophet which sported an image of Sirius, as he was led through the Ministry by Remus, on the front page. 'BLACK IS INNOCENT!' was the headline.
"Thank you for letting me stay here Lucius but I will be moving to Grimmauld Place as soon as I can. I don't want to impose on you or Cissy." Sirius said quietly and Lucius shook his head.
"Nonsense Sirius. You are family. Stay here for a while. You shouldn't be alone in that god forsaken house." Lucius said.
"How is he family Daddy?" Draco asked brightly from his seat.
"He's Mama's cousin." Lucius said and Draco nodded his eyes wide in understanding.
"So does that make him my Uncle? Like Uncle Teddy?" The child asked and Lucius pursed his lips.
"Well no technically he's your cousin too. But if Sirius doesn't mind I'm sure you can call him Uncle." Lucius said and Draco turned to Sirius who had watched the exchange with wide eyes.
"Well? Can I call you Uncle?" Draco asked innocently and Sirius snapped out from his shock before he nodded slowly.
"Cool. Now I have three Uncles. Uncle Teddy, Uncle Sev and Uncle Sirius." Draco said with child-like glee.
"Uncle Sev?" Sirius said confused and Remus nodded.
"It's what he calls Severus." Remus said and Sirius almost chocked on the coffee he had been drinking.
"Severus Snape?" He asked and Lucius nodded.
"Yes Severus is Draco's Godfather." He said and Draco nodded happily.
"He always, always brings me presents." He said proudly and Sirius nodded still half in a daze but he snapped out of it as he remembered something.
"Harry. I'm Harry's Godfather." He whispered and Remus nodded. "I'll have to look after him."
"Not necessarily. If you don't think that you will be able to he is with his Aunt and Uncle, he could always stay there." Remus said slowly but Sirius looked up with horror filled eyes.
"Horse face?!" He gasped. "What were they thinking giving him to her?! She hates all magic! Remember when we went there last time and she spat in Lily's face?"
"Yeah and then you hexed her." Remus said smiling faintly at the memory.
"Harry can't stay with them! I'm going to look after him if it's the last thing I do!" Sirius said angrily slamming his fist down of the table just as Narcissa entered the room. She sat down next to Draco and put some fruit on her plate before she turned to Sirius.
"Lucius holds a lot of sway down at the Ministry. He could find out where they live for you so you can go see him first if you want. It wouldn't do for Harry to be suddenly taken from a stable environment with someone he doesn't know." Narcissa said and Sirius frowned but nodded.
"That makes sense." He said slowly. "But I'm sure Petunia wouldn't let me in her home."
"If you explain that it's to see Harry I'm sure she wouldn't mind." Narcissa said and Sirius shook her head.
"You missed what Remus said about our last meeting. I hexed her." Sirius said.
"Merlin Sirius! Why on earth would you do that?" Narcissa asked.
"She spat in Lily's face! I wasn't just going to sit there and do nothing. Plus James would have done worse if he were there." Sirius said shrugging.
"Why were you there and her husband not?" Lucius asked.
"Lily was picking up her Mother's wedding dress and at that time she didn't have many female friends so she asked me and Rem to go." Sirius said not noticing that Remus' breath caught at the nickname that he hadn't heard in over three years.
"So would you like me to ask around?" Lucius asked and Sirius nodded.
"If you wouldn't mind." Sirius said.
"Of course not, if this woman is as vile as you say then I have no problem taking Harry away from her." Lucius said.
"Now Sirius. Before you even think of going out anywhere we're going to get you some proper clothed and a hair cut." Narcissa said going immediately business-like clapping her hands together. "I can have my personal tailor here in minutes and I can do your hair."
"I'm fine Cissy." Sirius whined slightly and Remus smiled at the childish display of emotion.
"You are wearing a bathrobe." Narcissa pointed out and Sirius pouted.
"It's comfortable." He grumbled.
"Uncle Sirius you can't stop Mama when she's like this. She always forces me to go shopping too. It's horrible. I wish Daddy came more often so I could go to the quidditch shop. Mama doesn't like going in there." Draco said and everyone laughed.
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"Number 4, Privet Drive, Little Whinging, Surrey." Lucius said one evening a week as he sat down in the lounge where they were all relaxing. Sirius had had his hair cut and new clothes all paid for by Sirius himself now that he had access to his vaults again even though Narcissa had offered he had refused adamantly.
He was wearing a smooth red silk shirt and black slacks. His hair was cut to just below his jaw line so it framed his face perfectly.
"What?" Severus asked frowning. He had come over and although Sirius was not his favourite person in the world he was better than he had been. Draco was sitting on the floor playing with his toy dragon that moved and snorted smoke occasionally. Sirius and Remus looked up from their discussion.
"The Dursley's home. Its address is Number 4, Privet Drive, Little Whinging, Surrey." Lucius said smugly. "It took a while but I found it."
"That's where they live." Sirius whispered.
"We can go there in the morning." Remus said putting his hand on Sirius' shoulder. Sirius nodded and closed his eyes his head hitting the back of the sofa.
"I was thinking that I might move into Grimmauld Place before I get care of Harry. If he has to move to here and then to Grimmauld Place then that's a lot of change especially for one so young." Sirius said and Remus nodded.
"That's a good idea. But we might have to clean it up a bit first." Narcissa said. "The last time I went there half of the rooms were mouldy and most had dust covering them. We should get some more house elves for it too. The only one that stayed was Creature."
"Urgh. He always hated me." Sirius groaned. "But half the house has always been mouldy for as long as I can remember."
"Well we'll have to change that." Narcissa said smiling as images of colour schemes entered her mind. "We could brighten up to place too. It would only take a week or two."
They left Narcissa as she went on about fabrics to use that would match the colour schemes she already had in mind.
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