A/N: I KNOW. I have NEVER kept you waiting this long. I'm really sorry! Unfortunately it couldn't be helped, I had neither the time nor the inspiration to write fanfiction. I'm really sorry!
So what's my excuse? Well, I got married! :)
Have you ever planned a wedding? Have you ever planned your wedding? In practically four weeks? If you have (which I doubt since no one else is so insane), you know why this took so long. In my hubris I thought I could manage all the preparations AND finish a new chapter before the big day. I managed half a chapter of crap between 2.5 nervous breakdowns – a day. My head was simply so full that things kept falling out left and right and I was not in any state to write decent fanfiction. I hope this new chapter finally qualifies as such.
So I post this with much love to you from the newly wed Zaira :).
Chapter 8 - Serenity
When Remus came home, Sirius was on his feet immediately and the werewolf couldn't help but smile at the eagerness in his friend's face, which made him look almost youthful. Sirius' long black hair was bound at his neck, but a few stubborn strands were falling in his face anyway. His body was still too thin after the long years in prison, but his face had filled out a little and he finally didn't look like a dead man anymore.
''So...,'' Sirius was fidgeting, almost bouncing on his feet.''How was it? How was Harry?''
''Very happy to hear from you,'' Remus reassured him with a smile. ''Molly was very civil, even bordering on charming actually. I think she might have forgiven me my trespasses.''
''You mean, associating with me?'' Sirius asked, rising one sardonic eyebrow.
''Exactly.''
''Hmph. And Harry? Did he read the letter?''
''His face almost exploded with joy when I gave it to him. But Molly came in again before he could read it. I'm sure by now he has engulfed it, though.''
''And did you give him the hug from me?''
Remus gave an exasperated laugh. ''Yes, you pathetic mutt! And then I gave him one just from me when I said goodbye, just so you know it!''
''Well,... I guess that is okay.'' Sirius had the decency to look sheepish.
Remus rolled his eyes as he went to the stove. ''So what have you been up to?'' he asked, putting on the kettle. ''Any more unwelcome visitors?''
Sirius sighed. ''Only if you'd count Albus.''
''Do you?''
Now it was his friend who rolled his eyes. ''No.''
Remus watched as Sirius ran his hand through his strands in a gesture he knew to associate with frustration or confusion. Not that there was a lot of difference between them with Sirius. He had always felt the need to know the why and how of everything around him. Maybe it had something to do with a need for things to be stable and in his control, seeing how his life at home had been so much out of it.
Sirius sank down on the couch with another sigh.
''We were talking about the trial. He said Peter might confess soon.''
He didn't sound very convinced. Neither was Remus.
„Hm."
„What?"
''He never was good at confessing, remember?''
''Yeah... He was a right little coward,'' Sirius mumbled, disgusted. ''Always needed James and me to stand up and take the blame.'' He hesitated for a moment. ''Then again, it mostly was rightfully ours, I guess.''
''No, not alone.'' Remus shook his head firmly. ''Peter was most times involved somehow. He wanted to be involved, but he didn't want to take the consequences.''
''Yeah. I never saw it like that back then.'' Sirius shook his head. ''He was just little-''
''Peter. Yeah, I know. That's what we all thought. You and me and...''
''James.'' It was a whisper.
''Yes.'' Remus hesitated. ''Padfoot...-''
''I can't understand it. How could he...? Why? James! He loved him!''
''No,'' Remus said softly, shaking his head. ''You loved him. Peter admired him. He didn't really understand him. Peter loved the image of James, the idol, and the glow he irradiated and that would fall upon those around him.''
Sirius raised his eyebrows in a frown.
''Oh, not on you, you had your own dark shine of glory after all.''
''What are you talking about?''
''Never mind. The thing is... one day school was over, Sirius. We were suddenly confronted with real life, and somehow I think Peter was even less prepared for that than the rest of us. He probably was scared shitless.''
''That's not... WE WERE HIS FRIENDS!''
''Yes.''
''I-... Remus...'' Sirius shook his head. ''I really wanted to kill him, Remus. Sometimes I think I still do... I don't know if I can bear to see his face. THIS... all of it... it's his fault...''
Sirius buried his head in his hands and Remus started to wonder how long he had been sitting here, agonizing over this. Sirius didn't work well in closed confinement after all.
''This wasn't how it was supposed to happen...'' Sirius whispered almost to himself. ''This wasn't where our lives should have ended up. We were supposed to grow old and always be together... They... you were my family. The only family I ever had. And, fuck, they were not allowed to-...''
''Die?''
Sirius closed his eyes, and Remus sank down on the couch next to him, squeezing his shoulder.
''You know,'' he began again after they had been sitting some time in silence. ''I almost felt like it had been a long time coming. Like all those years before were just a lucky break. A dream, that wasn't supposed to be real from the beginning.'' He laughed helplessly. ''I am a werewolf after all. I guess I was never supposed to have friends...''
''Moony-''
''No, please, let me say this, Padfoot. I know you never saw it that way, but I am and will always be different from you. I'm... a monster. Something to scare little children and old grandmothers and probably every normal adult man in his right mind-''
''What? You're calling me insane now? And I thought we'd put that behind us, Moony,'' Sirius managed to pout in an obvious attempt to break the depressing mood.
But right now, at this point, Remus could have screamed and wept as Sirius once more shoved away the seriousness of his friend's infliction so casually. It was always the same with him. Making werewolf jokes, calling his lycanthrophy his 'furry little problem'... Like all Remus had to worry about were hairy toes. He closed his eyes to rein in his own frustration.
''That is exactly the problem with you,'' he mumbled tiredly. ''For you it is nothing but a joke.''
Stiffly he stood up and went into the kitchen. He didn't exactly feel like more tea, but he needed something to busy his hands so that he wouldn't use them to strangle his friend.
''What?'' Sirius asked from the couch, and the surprise and confusion in his voice only stirred Remus' anger further. ''What did I say?''
''Nothing. Just... forget about it.''
-xox-
The New Year's Eve celebrations at the Weasley's were rather quiet that evening, even though the twins had set off some Filibusters after dinner, having spent almost their whole allowance on them at Diagon Alley the previous day. After dinner Mr. Weasley had opened up a bottle of Elf-made sparkling wine and Butterbeers for the kids to welcome the New Year.
''What about Harry?'' Ron asked, when the clock neared midnight.
''He didn't seem too well earlier, and was sleeping when I went up to look after him. Maybe we should just let him rest.''
''But he'll miss out on the Filibusters!'' Fred exclaimed horrified.
''We could wake him and see if he is up for it,'' Bill said with a smile at the twins.
''Now really, Bill, he was positively feverish when I sent him to bed! I don't want him to catch a cold while standing outside in this freezing night air!''
''I will take a look,'' Mr. Weasley said, patting his wife's shoulder. ''If he still has a fever, I will let him sleep.''
Arthur Weasley made his way up to his youngest son's room, now shared with Harry. He knew his wife could be a little over-protective and she seemed to have taken Harry into her heart very quickly. And who wouldn't? He was an endearing little boy. But the way Molly embosomed him might be a little overwhelming for a boy who had been through so much at such a young age.
Carefully Arthur opened the door and lit his wand, letting the light wander over the sleeping form of their little charge. His black fringe was falling in his face, and he seemed to be sleeping soundly. Then Arthur's gaze fell on something in the limp hand of the boy. He picked it up.
It was a photography of three young people and Arthur knew immediately who they were. Even if he might not have recognized James Potter from the few times he had met him at the Ministry, Harry was the spitting image of his father. He had never met Lily Potter, but it was self-evident who the smiling young woman in the white wedding dress was. What shocked him maybe the most though, was the third face, laughing joyfully, between the happy couple. He knew that man as well, but had seen a very different picture in very different circumstances plastered all over every wizarding location for months. Sirius Black didn't look mad and filthy in this picture. He looked handsome and cheerful and very young. Not much older than his eldest son. Arthur turned the picture around and read the elegant handwriting on the back.
Your Mum and Dad on their wedding day.
They loved you very much.
And so do I.
Arthur took a deep breath. Who had given this picture to the little boy? Dumbledore? No. The old man wouldn't make such declarations of love. Maybe Harry's Muggle aunt? But it was a wizard picture and the handwriting looked distinctly male. He had the feeling the boy's uncle would not have done such a thing, so that left... Remus Lupin? That was the obvious conclusion, the man having visited that very day, and still... something told Arthur that it had not been Mr. Lupin who had written those lines and it made him shiver. He turned the picture around again looking at this younger version of a man he believed to be a murderer and possibly an insane one. He tried to wrap his mind around the thought that Sirius Black would send Harry such a message. What was he trying to gain? Did he hope Harry would testify for his kidnapper? Or was it something else?
Arthur knew that Molly believed fiercely that Black was the devil and to be blamed for the deaths of her brothers as well as numerous other crimes. That he was a charmer who deceived people to trust him, just to betray them, only looking for his own advantage.
That is exactly the attitude of all of the Blacks... up to their necks in the Dark Arts... they only ever served their own goals... no surprise he turned out just the same!
But Arthur felt there had to be more reason than that. He looked at the picture of the smiling people, captured in a moment of pure happiness, even while a war was waging. And just a little later one of them had betrayed the others.
Dumbledore seems to believe differently though, doesn't he?
Yes, he seemed to, didn't he? Or why else would he speak for Black's defence? Was it only Dumbledore's sense of justice, or did he really believe this man to be innocent? Innocent... and imprisoned in Azkaban for seven years? What was the truth? One could only hope that the upcoming trial would bring it to light.
Hesitantly Arthur gaze wandered between the sleeping boy and the picture.
He was kind to me... I thought he was the coolest.
Arthur placed the picture next to the boy, pulling the blanket over both of them. He had the feeling that Harry would be better off to miss the fireworks this time.
-xox-
''You should go out, you know.''
''Huh?'' Remus raised his head from his glass of Firewhiskey with a puzzled expression.
They were sitting opposite each other. Remus on the couch and Sirius in one of the old armchairs. Dusk had come and gone, and the last light of day was just vanishing in that deep blue colour that only exists just before the dark of night creeps in. Remus had lit the lamps and candles with his wand, immediately creating a cozy golden glow.
''It's New Years Eve, Moony,'' Sirius said.
''I know,'' Remus answered with a frown.
''You should go out! Celebrate! There is no need to stay and hold my hand. Really, I appreciate the gesture but-... what?''
Remus shook his head with a low, hollow laugh, which made a familiar anger spur up in Sirius.
''I'm not an invalid and I'm not a child!'' he raised his voice. ''I'm not a puppy either, although I see how you might get confused there. But you can leave me by myself, you know? I won't burn down your house and I won't piss on the couch either!''
''I never do.''
''Huh? You never do what? Piss-''
''Celebrate!'' Remus snapped rather unsuspectedly. ''Not since then. If you must know,... this is pretty much the way I've spent every New Year's Eve. Or any Christmas or Halloween for that matter. At least in the last seven years.''
''You sit at home brooding?'' Sirius frowned. ''Why?''
Remus looked at him as if he were crazy. ''Whom would I celebrate with, Sirius? Tell me, which of my friends should I go out with to a party? Gideon and Fabian? Alice and Frank? Maybe Marlene? Dorcas? Or James and Lily!''
Sirius frowned, suddenly unsure. Remus rarely raised his voice, only when he was really upset. Once more Sirius realized how little he knew about this older Remus. There was not much Remus had missed of Sirius' life in the last seven years. Azkaban did not hold much diversion after all, just nightmares. Endless and ever repeating nightmares. But Remus had been free. He had been able to live his life, even if he had always been restricted due to his lycanthrophy. Or that's what he'd thought. How had it been for Remus? Had he really been all alone these past years?
Once there had been three teenage boys, trying everything to help their friend. They couldn't find a cure, but they could make it a little easier. And Sirius was well aware of the huge difference it had made to Remus' condition after a full moon night. How had it been for Remus without them? Without his pack? He had imagined that it had been bad. One look at Remus' greying hair and thin, scarred body was all it took to understand that much. But in his imagination it had always been Remus' bloodied body in a hospital bed. But now... there was something else. Had Remus secluded himself, turning away from everybody in his life? Why?
His hands were shaking and since he didn't know how to occupy them, what to do or say at all, he stood up and moved to the window, looking out over the fields behind the cottage.
''Still,'' he managed in a calmer voice after a moment, trying to resume their conversation. '''It has been seven years, Moony. There have to be some acquaintances. Colleagues. Or a relationship?''
A little sigh from the direction of the couch. ''Yeah, because I am such a people person.''
''You used to have friends-... I mean, other than... us. In school. You had friends you studied with. Lots of Ravenclaws, if I remember correctly. You were in the Gobstones Club, too. Didn't you stay in contact with any of them? Richard. And that Kathrine... That dark haired bloke who went to work for Gringotts, what's his name?''
Remus looked away, like he was trying not to meet his eyes. ''It's... we... a lot of friendships disintegrate after leaving school.''
Sirius frowned. ''But you still used to meet with Richard once in a while. Right before... well, you know.''
''Yeah, well, not so much after 'you know', alright?'' Remus pressed out, his voice raising a little in what Sirius understood was badly suppressed anger.
But Sirius still didn't get it. ''Why?''
''Well, maybe they didn't want to be friends with a werewolf who was suspected of having helped a murderer and probably was in league with VOLDEMORT!''
''What!''
Remus, had leaned forward to hiss that last sentence, but now fell back against the back of the couch, his body slumping like he was drained of all energy.
''Well what did you think?'' he sighed, sounding weary. ''Everybody knew we were friends. And with James and Peter dead, I was the only one left. It's only normal that they took me in and questioned me. With Voldemort gone, they really started to hunt for his followers. Of course I was on their list of suspects. And the Prophet was just eager to broadcast every little detail about our victory, about how the Ministry was rounding up all the dark wizards, about the werewolf suspect who might have been in league with the infamous traitor Black!'' He gave a mirthless laugh. ''Oh, I doubt many still remember my name. It didn't make the headlines. Not like yours. But those who knew me... they read it and... it stuck.'' He shrugged. ''Many hadn't known I was a werewolf. And... I guess some felt disgusted and some maybe just doubtful and suspicious. Its only natural that they would retreat, distance themselves...''
''Natural?'' Sirius gasped. ''They were your friends! They should have known better! How can you even defend them?''
Another ugly laugh, full of self-loathing erupted from his friend. ''Yeah, well, I was your friend too, wasn't I? And I still believed you to be a murderer.''
And wasn't that the truth they had been so beautifully dancing around these last days. Trust Remus to bring it up again. ''Yeah. You did.'' Sirius finally said quietly. He felt almost reluctant to agree. He just didn't like to think about it too much. Remus had taken him in and he wanted to believe that it was more than guilt which had motivated that. He knew the mistrust should sting a whole lot more, and it did. A little. But it was such an old feeling and even back then he had never felt angry with Remus. Just disgusted with himself. For believing the worst of his friend. For mucking the whole thing up that way. For trusting the wrong people and getting James and Lily killed. They had been right to put him in Azkaban. He had as good as murdered his only family.
And looking back he knew how it must have looked to Remus. To everybody.
''You thought there was evidence.'' He shrugged, not meeting Remus' eyes. ''Hell, there was evidence! I get that. But you... Moony, you were obviously innocent! Your name was cleared! How could they all snub you just because you were a friend of mine?''
''I was also a werewolf, and that was pretty much a hard and undeniable fact.''
Sirius snorted. ''That doesn't mea-''
''It does for most people, Sirius! Most people don't think a werewolf to be all cute and cuddly!''
Well Sirius didn't think that either, did he? ''You are only a werewolf one day out of thirty. And it's not like you are a real danger to anyone since you lock yourself away!''
Remus buried his face in his hands. In a tired voice he said, ''Most people still don't see it like that, Padfoot. And especially not back then with Greyback and-''
''You are nothing like Greyback!'' Sirius spat. How Remus could even think himself in the same category as that monster, who purposely placed himself in close proximity to his victims before a full moon, who tried to bite as many children as possible, hoping their parents would abandon them, stealing them away if they didn't...
Remus nodded, but Sirius could see that it wasn't in agreement.
''At least one night out of thirty I am,'' Remus whispered. Maybe he thought Sirius wouldn't hear.
''Remus-''
What Remus didn't know was that Sirius had met Fenrir Greyback. He had met him in the very own Noble House of Black, when his father had invited him to stay for dinner after a business meeting. A sixteen year old Sirius had been surprised to find out that their creepy and sinister looking guest was a werewolf, since his parents usually thought themselves above the company of such 'half-breeds'. That was, until Greyback looked at him with an oily smile and said,
''I think we have a mutual friend.''
Sirius frowned, looking up from his pheasant vol-au-vent. ''We do? I can't think who-''
Greyback's smile got even wider. ''As I understand, you are friends with the Lupin boy? You see, I knew his father quite well, and that way I got to know the son. I have to say I found him rather...'' He licked his lip with a feral glimmer in his eyes. ''...tasty.''
Dong... Dong... Dong...
It was the old grandfather clock, that pulled Sirius out of another horrible memory. He could still recall the sickness spreading through his whole body, until only his vast training in self-discipline had prevented him from throwing up his pastry on his mother's elf-woven damask table-cloth.
Dong... Dong... Dong...
He had understood immediately that the unusual company was just for him. To hurt him, to humiliate him, to break him. He could still see the amusement in his mother's eyes when he understood that he was dining with the man who had mutilated and hurt his friend and condemned him to a life of pain and fear, of being an outcast. How she had wallowed in his disgust and inevitable self-loathing. And his father, sneering at him... Only Regulus seemed to be oblivious to the situation, at fourteen he just looked frightened to sit next to their strange dinner guest.
Dong... Dong... Dong...
It had been one of the last straws. After that he had only one thought left, to get out, to get away before the darkness swallowed him whole. But getting away had not come easy, had it? Getting away had come with a price. Sirius pressed his eyes closed against all those awful images and feelings. It was too much, sometimes it simply felt like too much.
''You want to to toast the new year with something else than Firewhiskey?'' Remus voice entered his conscience, and Sirius only now realized that the clock was actually striking midnight, announcing the beginning of the new year.
Dong... Dong... Dong...
He shook his head. He had got out and made his own family, never looking back. Until everything disintegrated... no, now was not the time to think about this. Remus was still here. He had Moony back. And he wanted Remus to understand that he wasn't a monster. He had always tried and failed to make Moony see himself the way he, Sirius, saw him. A man with a handicap, who coped the best he could, who always thought of others first and who was only a stronger and better man due to his infliction. But tonight was... Probably not the right moment to force those issues. They had time, hadn't they? At least Sirius hoped so.
When he finally answered, he did so with a deep sigh. ''No. Let's save the champagne for after the trial.'' He looked his friend in the eye, trying for a smirk. ''And also, I feel like we really need the booze tonight.''
Remus nodded and raised his glass then. His smile seemed a little forced, but his eyes were warm. ''Happy New Year, Padfoot.''
''Happy New Year, Moony,'' Sirius said, and he meant it.
When they clanked their glasses, their smiles became a little broader and more genuine.
It was a new year after all. And one could always hope for the better.
-xox-
Harry had woken up early to a faint light coming through the small window and the regular sound of Ron's snores. His red-haired friend was lying on his back, limbs sprawled out and his head almost hanging over the edge of the mattress. His mouth stood wide open and the sheets were tangled all around him.
Harry grinned. He felt lighter somehow this morning, like he had carried a heavy burden for weeks and some of that had been lifted. It had been the first night in a long time that had not been haunted by nightmares. Normally they were his regular nightly companions and then there was always the small blond boy in his dreams nowadays. He was about Harry's age, but Harry was sure he had never seen him. Sometimes the boy looked lost and scared, but sometimes he grinned at Harry, like he knew something Harry didn't, and then he didn't look all that much like a little boy anymore. It was creepy, and when he woke up from those dreams his head always hurt.
But not last night. Last night his dreams had been pleasant and really, really good. Closing his eyes Harry tried to recapture his dream, but all he could recall were disentangled pictures and a warm feeling of being welcome, of being where he belonged, of someone loving him.
Remembering those feelings, Harry was suddenly filled with so much longing that he thought he would explode. He reached for the letter and the picture he had received the day before and stared at it, clutching it fiercely in his small hands. Sirius. And his parents. Smiling at him. Looking at him. Loving him. They loved him. They were a family and Sirius would come and take him home when it was all over.
Harry just wished the day had come already.
Folding the letter he slipped both it and the picture into the pocket of his jeans and got dressed. A look at the clock on the night table showed that it was not yet seven o'clock, but Harry didn't care. He was not used to sleeping in or snuggling back under the covers, like Ron seem to like so much. Sleeping in a cupboard wasn't very comfortable and Aunt Petunia had always woken him rather roughly.
When Harry came down the stairs, he heard that Mrs. Weasley was already up and rummaging in the kitchen. Harry almost turned around to go back up to his room, but Mrs. Weasley had already spotted him.
''Harry, honey, you're already up? Do you feel better? Come here, let me look at you.''
Mrs. Weasley pulled him down the remaining two steps and pressed her palm to his forehead and then pulled out her wand waving it around him.
''You don't seem to have a temperature anymore. Do you feel better?''
Harry nodded. He never had been ill after all. Mrs. Weasley smiled at him fondly and stroked his unruly hair out of his forehead trying to flatten it. Harry tried not to squirm. Aunt Petunia too had hated his stubborn hair, and she had never ever managed to tame it either.
''I'll make you some breakfast. I doubt that the others will be up soon, but then they went to bed rather late and you can always have a second one later with them. Eggs and bacon, I think.'' Once more Harry was guided to the kitchen table, so there was no way around it. ''Do you want tea or pumpkin juice, Dear?''
''Juice, please,'' Harry said shyly, sitting down at the far end of the table. He desperately wished one of the many other Weasleys would come down already, but they were all probably sleeping in, and now he had to be alone with Mrs. Weasley and that always made him uncomfortable.
She was just so unpredictable. One moment she would smile at him and give him more food than he could possibly eat, and in the next she would yell until Harry thought her head would explode or say mean things about his godfather. And even if she sometimes acted kindly, Harry didn't like it. He really did not want to like Mrs. Weasley, and he almost thought he'd like it better if she didn't like him either or at least ignored him. So when she asked him how he had slept and if something called 'Feely-Bursters' had woken him, he tried to give polite and unsuspicious answers, so she hopefully wouldn't start yelling or blaming Sirius for anything else, like the cold weather or Fred and George blowing a hole in the roof above the attic.
After a while their rather one-sided chat thankfully was interrupted by a knocking at the window.
''Oh Harry dear, would you go and get that?'' Mrs Weasley asked with her hands full of bacon. ''It's just the Owl with the Prophet. I also need to take a look if there are more eggs. Back in a minute.''
Obediently Harry went and opened the window, and untied the paper with the insanely flashing pictures. When the owl took off again and Harry closed the window against the cold morning air, his gaze fell on the front page and he froze to the spot, his heart starting to beat like mad.
In the middle of the front page was a large picture of a wild looking man he had seen before. It was his godfather. It was Sirius, looking similar to the day he had met him for the first time in that park in Little Whinging - what felt to Harry like a lifetime ago. But what really left him breathless was the headline.
'First Day of the Black Trial set for tomorrow! - Wizarding community expects a fast Conviction'
For a moment Harry simply stared at the flashing picture of his godfather, chains wrapped around his arms and body, his long black hair falling in his gaunt face. He looked wild and some time ago Harry might have thought he looked dangerous too. But now all he could see was the man he loved like a Dad, hurt and desperate. Harry felt like crying, but he couldn't let this opportunity go by to learn more about what was happening.
...In an official statement the Ministry announced late last night that after the sensational capture of Sirius Black, vicious mass-murderer and devoted supporter of You-Know-Who, an earlier date has been set for the controversial trial. Last summer Black had escaped Azkaban Prison in inexplicable and still unknown circumstances, probably involving magic as black as his name. While on the run, he proceeded to kidnap eight year old Harry Potter, famous saviour of the wizard world, from the house of his relatives, thereby nearly killing the boy's uncle. After a long flight, in which Black managed to escape the authorities for months, Auror commandos finally managed to capture the dangerous murderer, who is said to be insane, and free the poor, tortured child from his evil clutches.
The announcement of Minister Cornelius Fudge just before Christmas, in which he revealed that a trial would be held to judge Black for his crimes, went not without surprise. Even more surprising is that none other than Albus Dumbledore, Headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry and Supreme Mugwump, has taken up the position as Black's advocate. What reasons Dumbledore, who has been You-Know-Who's hardest opponent in the past, could have to lend his support to one of the most vicious criminals of this age can only be speculated, although there are rumours that Dumbledore's assistant – none other than Black's old school friend Remus Lupin, a registered werewolf – withdrew large sums from the Black family vault at Gringotts a few days ago.
It was announced that the position of Head of the Wizengamot will be filled in by long time member Amelia Bones. Ministry official Dolores Umbridge will be acting as the prosecutor. It can only be hoped that the issue of Black will be solved for good this time. Rumours have it that the Ministry is indeed aiming for the Kiss...
Harry didn't understand all of what he had read. The words and the sentences were all so strange and really long. A Ministry wanted to kiss someone? What was a Wizengamot, a Gringotts or a Mugwump? And wasn't Remus too old to stand in the register? And why was he a werewolf? Was that some kind of wizard code? And what was that about some famous saviour? He tried to read it again, but it didn't make any more sense. But he still understood enough to make him feel sick with worry and dread. He wouldn't be able to get down any breakfast for sure now.
Sirius' trial would start tomorrow! And all those nasty things they were saying about him...
Vicious murderer... insane... kidnapping...
They weren't true! It were all lies! Sirius hadn't kidnapped him! He had not been tortured and Uncle Vernon had not been harmed that badly, had he? And it wasn't Sirius fault! He had only tried to protect Harry! He had to tell them! But how could he... no one ever listened to him, no one ever believed him...
Footsteps on the stairs interrupted Harry in his frantic inner ramblings. He looked up from the paper only to see the tall form of a sleepy looking, long-haired redhead enter the kitchen.
Bill. The young wizard had said he believed Harry, hadn't he? And had written to Remus, so that Harry could meet him. He had said he would look out for Harry like a real brother... would he be able to help him?
When Bill saw him standing next to the window, tense and with tears brimming in his huge green eyes, he frowned and came over immediately.
''Harry?'' He bent down to be able to look at him better. ''What is up?'' Then his gaze fell on the newspaper. ''What in Merlin's Great Name... tomorrow? I thought the trial wasn't supposed to start for weeks!'' He pulled the paper from Harry's hand, starting to read.
''Bill? It says that Sirius kidnapped me... That's not true! He asked me if I wanted to go with him. I didn't want to stay at the Dursleys! All I ever wanted was to live with Sirius!''
''I know Harry.'' Bill gave him an absentminded smile.
''Yes, but...'' Harry was writhing frantically. ''But what if they don't believe... Sirius... what if they put him back in prison? I need to tell them that they are wrong, can't I... can't I just tell them?''
''I'm not sure...'' Bill looked at him apologetically. ''I don't know if you would be allowed to speak in front of the Wizengamot since you are so young.''
''But can't I go? If Sirius is there... I wanna see him! Please, Bill, PLEASE!''
Harry bit his lip and looked imploringly at the older boy. Bill sighed.
''I'll see what I can do, okay? But you know my Mum will be dead against it.''
Harry nodded, feeling torn somewhere between resigned and hopeful.
''I will be against what?'' Mrs. Weasley asked from the doorway, a basket full of eggs in her hands.
''Chocolate for breakfast,'' Bill said cheerfully. ''Although I'm still saying it's the best way to start the day.''
''Bill, really, one would think you're still a little boy sometimes. Harry needs a healthy and nutritious breakfast!''
Harry looked at the older boy, confused. But then Bill winked and mouthed 'don't worry', and Harry gave him a little anxious smile of hope.
-xox-
At roughly the same time Harry read about his godfather's prosecution, Albus Dumbledore stepped out of the fireplace in Rufus Scrimgeour's office. The Head of the Auror Department had one of the few fireplaces in the Ministry that was directly connected to the Floo Network.
The tall man with the hair like a lion's mane was standing at the window looking out at the illusion of a foggy early morning London.
''Rufus,'' Dumbledore spoke up when the other didn't turn, almost as if he hadn't heard him arrive. ''You said it was urgent?''
A deep sigh came from the old Auror. ''It is. And of course he left it to me to give you the bad news. I think you ought to be prepared to be cancelled off the Christmas card list. He isn't very favourable of you at the moment. Which says something.''
Dumbledore raised an eyebrow, otherwise his face kept the calm and slightly amused expression he always wore. ''I assume you are speaking of Cornelius?''
''Yes. I'm speaking of the Minister.''
''And what dreadful news does he have this time for me?''
''It's Pettigrew. He is dead.''
Dumbledore's face didn't show much of a reaction, apart from a hint of sadness. ''Is he?'' he asked after a moment. ''Poor Peter. He missed out on all that is important in life.''
''Is that all you have to say? That he missed out on life?''
''I always felt that, in whatever circumstances, a moment of sympathy and regret is the least one can take when a life has been extinguished. Rest assured that my next question will be 'How did this happen right here in the Ministry itself, while he was in your custody?'. I'm assuming of course that his death had no natural cause.''
''Your assumptions are correct,'' Scrimgeour said stiffly, not liking the insinuation that he might be the one to blame, or at least his department. There was only so much influence and control he had over the happenings in the Ministry after all. ''He was murdered, probably late last night. Avada Kedavra. There are no witnesses. The guard seems to have been oblivated with great skill.''
''I see.'' No real surprise there after all. ''I have to ask. Has he changed his testimony in anyway since we spoke the last time?''
''You want to know if he confessed and painted Black the innocent lamb you seem to believe he is? No. He blamed everything on your client until his very last breath, or at least the last breath anyone witnessed. Looks pretty bad for Black. If you ask me, it will be a really quick thing tomorrow.''
Dumbledore smiled mildly at the Auror. ''I was under the impression that you believed Pettigrew to be guilty.''
Scrimgeour gave a barking laugh. ''Oh, he was guilty for sure! A grown man, an illegal animagus even, living as a rat for seven years straight? You bet he was guilty. But that doesn't mean that Black is innocent. It just means they might have been in it together.''
''Well, I think we will have to wait and see what conclusions the Wizengamot will draw from the evidence.''
''Evidence?'' Scrimgeour snorted. ''I know the evidence, and there is no way in hell they will let Black walk out of this.'' The yellowish eyes of the Auror met the sparkling blue ones of the other wizard, studying him for a few moments. ''And you must know that. You have a lot of influence, but even you, with all your power, can't pull him out of that noose around his neck.''
''Oh,''Albus Dumbledore smiled serenely. ''I never planned to.''
-xox-
At the Weasleys, breakfast had been a strangely tense event, and when her eldest son volunteered to help her with the dishes, Molly Weasley became very suspicious indeed. Rightfully so, she thought, when Bill finally opened his mouth and said: ''I want to go to Sirius Black's trial with Harry.''
Turning towards her nonsense-sprouting, supposedly adult and mature son, Molly tried to calm her temper with a deep breath, but failed halfway through her first sentence.
''You want to do WHAT! Where in Merlin's GREAT UNDERPANTS is this coming from! Are you out of your MIND! Of course you can't take Harry to the Black Trial! You also can't go and break into Gringotts or ADOPT A DEMENTOR!''
''I don't want to do any of the other things,'' Bill said, almost sounding petulant. ''It's never wise to steal from your future employer and Dementor's are... slimy.''
''Well taking an eight-year-old, scared little boy to a MURDER TRIAL is just as out of the question! Seriously, Bill, what are you thinking?''
''I was thinking I would ask you because he begged so pitifully!''
Molly drew a breath in through her nose with a hiss. ''How... how does he know...?''
''Oh, for Merlin's sake Mum. He is eight, not three! He can read!'' And with that Bill slammed the Prophet down in front of her. Right in the middle was the picture of a wild and totally insane looking Sirius Black, almost no resemblance remained to the handsome young man she remembered from her brothers' partys all those years ago. How anyone could look at this face and think that man was one of the good guys was beyond her.
''Well, he can't go. Such things are not for children's eyes, Bill. I don't even want YOU to go there!''
''Well, I'm of age, so you can hardly stop me. You can't keep us all from everything ugly or unpleasant for the rest of our lives. And you know, some people might actually think it's educational to see how our legal system works. Not that it works very well...''
''But not at Harry's age! He is much too young! And you want him to watch the Black Trial of all things! That man kidnapped him!''
''So you keep saying, but Harry denies it. He will throw a fit again if you don't let him go. I really can't see what the harm would be!''
''Maybe it really would be a good idea to let Harry go.''
Molly jerked around in outrage. ''Arthur!''
But her husband simply looked at her with his calm and serious expression. ''You said it yourself, Molly, that Harry has a glorified view of his godfather. Maybe seeing the reality of the trial will help him to put things in perspective and understand the situation better.''
''He's an eight year old boy!''
''Who obviously has seen more than the average child at his age. And also Bill and I will be with him.''
''YOU want to go to the trial too! Don't you have to go to work?''
''I can take another day off. I... I had not planned to watch the trial, I'm not a big fan of these things as you know, but in this case... I think I might benefit from seeing a few things with my own eyes.''
''But Harry...'' Molly tried again. ''It could be traumatic for such a small boy.
''Maybe,'' Arthur sighed, ''but in this case it might be a more traumatic experience for everyone if we don't let him go. Including Harry. He is already agitated as it is. All he did with his breakfast was shuffle it from one side of the plate to the other.''
''Harry almost never demands anything, Mum. If you want him to gain a little more trust and feel a little more comfortable around us, I think we should indulge him.''
Molly gave an unsatisfied grunt. ''Very well. If you two think you know better than me...'' she turned around and started to bang with her pots and pans. ''... I'm only raising seven children, what do I know after all...'' she mumbled under her breath.
Arthur went around the table to hug his wife from behind. ''And you do it marvellously. But you said it yourself, Harry is not like any other child. He has seen and experienced more bad and horrible things than any child should have at his age. But you can't undo that. We have to help him deal with it.''
''Hmph.''
''Let us give it a try, I don't think things could get really any worse this way.''
Molly sighed. ''Fine. Fine! He can go. But you are with him at all times, and he stays away from Black! And if it gets too bad or gruesome you bring him home. And-''
''Yes. We will take good care of him. Nothing will happen to him. I promise!''
''I just still get the chills when I think of what happened the last time he went there,'' Molly whispered.
''I know. But this time everything will be different. There will be lots of Aurors and Ministry officials and he will also be with Bill and me. He won't face any Dementors this time.''
''That's not what I'm afraid of. I'm afraid he will face a much more dangerous and evil monster.''
-xox-
Somewhere else, in a wizard home of much more luxury and grandeur, Lucius Malfoy was sitting in his high-backed chair in front of the crackling fire in his otherwise dark study. It was still early in the morning, but Lucius Malfoy was not a man to indulge in sleeping in. In another hour the sun would rise over Malfoy Manor and Lucius would see if his plans were coming to fruition. He was confident. He was not a man to fail. It was all about strategy and flexibility really. About planting your figures right, about thinking ahead and planning your steps and still being flexible enough to adapt. To cut your losses and sacrifice the pawns without getting burned and in the end coming out on top. Lucius Malfoy was a master in this game.
And this particular game with this particular opponent had been opened a long time ago and it thrilled Lucius to take it up again, sure that this time he would destroy him. And the best of it was, that it was just a necessary step for the really big game. He would savour destroying his opponent, and just before that happened he would tell him that he too had been nothing more than a pawn. A means to the cause. Oh he would savour that maybe even more.
''You look rather satisfied, '' a voice came out of the darkness, and when Lucius turned his head he saw a slightly translucent figure step into the light.
He frowned. ''You shouldn't draw too much energy when it isn't necessary. I doubt I have to remind you that if he dies the deal is off.''
''Well then, you'd better hurry and bring me what I want, Lucius. I'm tired of waiting, and I'm tired of being bound to a book or your pitiful offspring.''
''Don't worry. I have taken care of the last obstacle. Tomorrow will see that bastard go down and then there is nothing that can stop us.''
TBC
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-x-
Reviewers anonymous: HebHibHob: Here! I am here! Sorry! Oh, and you write such nice reviews, I'm feeling more bad by the minute! Thank you! I know I don't deserve cookies this time! Super!Dumbledore? Hm... not indefinitely! I think Molly and Remus could connect, but I think they only got closer while both were in the Order. BloOm: Sorry for keeping you waiting so long! Please forgive me! One trial coming up, well and I guess the chapter answered your questions about Harry. And thank you for the praise! Humbly! Bisous! Roonil Wazlip: Oh thank you! I'm glad you liked the way I wrote Peter, I felt he at least had to have one POV before he got snuffed out. And yepp, devious Remus is definitely fun. Glad you liked and Thank You for the praise and the full marks! ;) Tanka: Well, I hope you don't think I lied about reviews feeding my updates. They do! The one thing that really made me write this damn chapter were your wonderful reviews! And yes, everything will be alright! ;) Grinsekatze: Thank you. No never the easy way, always going for the scenic view. And yes, paying attention to details is very important to me, it's what brings a story to life. :) Miss Meow.: Oh god, I felt really bad reading your review again just now. Making you addicted and then not updating for weeks! Mea Culpa! Glad you like Remus wicked side – I do too! ;) And you know, thank you for the kind words and, really, sorry! Chrissi14: Thank you very much and welcome to the show!:) star145: Don't worry I'll keep on writing! Thank you and sorry for the long wait! Volleyballgirl12: Thank you! I'm glad you enjoyed both stories so far! What will happen to Sirius? That's the question, isn't it? Fridolin das Pferd: Wow! After such a lovely review you are more than forgiven! And you can see I know about real life! ;) Your review really made me happy and I'm glad you find my characters understandable, realistic and true to character. Thank you! And that I got Ron right, since he worried me some. Writing children always is more of a challenge. I'm glad you like me bringing Bill in – he's a comfort isn't he? - and the business with the diary. Would love to write more, but readers will accuse me of cluttering up the chapter – All of you: I really would love to give you better replies! Maybe you'd consider getting an account? Thousand kisses to ALL my wonderful reviewers! x Zaira
