Chapter 9: Preparations for Next Year

Lord Voldemort was upset over losing Quirrel and his last chance to obtain the Philosopher's Stone. "M-Master, perhaps we can try some other plan to get the stone." Wormtail suggested.

"Fool!" Voldemort shouted. "Dumbledore will obviously destroy the stone to make sure I'll never get it. Assuming he hasn't destroyed it already."

"Then what will we do?" Wormtail asked.

"First, we'll need to find another servant to help us with another way to fully restore me." Voldemort replied. "We'll do it even if I have to go to Bulgaria to enlist that treacherous Karkaroff."

Through the rest of the school term, the only trouble Harry had to face after Voldemort fled was Dumbledore trying to convince him that Sirius Black was the Death Eater who betrayed his [Harry's] parents. "Honestly, Headmaster." Professor Snape commented. "It should be obvious by now that, just like most jurors at Black's trial, the brat won't consider the evidence against him enough to deem him guilty. If even they were naïve enough to fall for Black's excuses, it's obvious the brat would as well."

"I agree with Severus, Albus." Minerva McGonagall added. "We'll need more proof to make Mr. Potter finally see Sirius Black for the Death Eater he is."

"Perhaps Severus will agree to spy on him to find evidence." Dumbledore commented. "What do you say?"

"Headmaster, in case you forgot, Black and I hate each other." Snape replied. "He'd never let me get that close to him without the Dark Lord to force him."

"Are all of you really sure of Sirius Black's guilt or just doubting his innocence?" Professor Flitwick asked.

"Of course we're sure of his guilt, Filius!" Hufflepuff Head Pomona Sprout answered in shock that someone would suggest that Sirius Black is innocent. "I expected the Ravenclaw Head to have the intelligence to see through Black's trickery."

"I am intelligent enough to think over Sirius Black's defense and realize he might be telling the truth." Professor Flitwick argued.

"This argument is going nowhere." Headmaster Dumbledore declared. "Have all of you already graded the end of year exams?"

Meanwhile, everybody was commenting on how much the Weasley Twins were improving on their studies. "I'm glad you're taking education more seriously." Percy Weasley commented. "Keep going like this and one of you might become a Prefect."

Fred and George Weasley were horrified at the idea of becoming Prefects. However, they kept it a secret since their main focus was making a new Marauder Map. Fortunately, they already memorized every corner of Hogwarts so there was no need to explore it all over again.

During the End of Year Feast, it was revealed that Gryffindor won the House Cup. "Yes!" Ron exclaimed. "The Quidditch Cup and the House Cup! Take that, snakes!"

At Platform 9 ¾, several parents and guardians were disgusted that Sirius Black was among them. "Aren't you ashamed of yourself for being anywhere near the boy whose parents you betrayed?" One of them angrily asked him.

"Aren't you ashamed of yourself for being too stupid to see through Pettigrew's trickery?" Sirius asked in reply. He was tired of people refusing to doubt his supposed guilt.

"You dare insisting on that lie?" The angry parent drew his wand and was interrupted by Auror Kingsley Shacklebolt. "Sir, please stop disturbing the others."

"Why don't you point your wand at Death Eaters like Sirius Black?" The parent asked Shacklebolt. "Aren't you Aurors supposed to protect us from Dark Wizards?" Other parents nodded in agreement.

"There's no proof that Sirius Black is or ever was a Death Eater." Shacklebolt neutrally replied.

"Headmaster Dumbledore assured us that Sirius Black is guilty." Molly Weasley protested.

"He might have assured us that he believes Black to be guilty but his reasons to believe don't rule out the possibility of Headmaster Dumbledore being mistaken." Shacklebolt explained. Several wizards were upset at hearing this. Meanwhile, Lucius Malfoy was amused. Even those who didn't believe his claim that he was under the Imperius Curse wouldn't show anger towards him because they were too busy focusing on Sirius Black, who was really innocent. The potential fight was averted by the students arriving. They quickly embraced their parents or guardians.

"Welcome back, Harry." Sirius happily said. "Did Headmaster Dumbledore bother you too much with his refusal to consider my innocence?"

"Yes, Godfather." Harry answered with a frown. "Why won't he give up?"

"Would you rather be home educated?" Sirius suggested.

"I don't want to give up on my friends because of some stupid people who fall for Peter Pettigrew's lies, Godfather." Harry sternly replied.

"Okay, Harry." Sirius replied. "But if you change your mind, just say it." Sirius knew that, even if Harry didn't do so, Dumbledore would probably be afraid of insisting too much if it meant Harry not returning to Hogwarts. "Now, let's go home and enjoy the summer together." They left Platform 9 ¾ while ignoring the angry and/or worried stares.

End chapter.