Part Twenty-Four

James stared at Sirius. He had never seen Sirius look worse. Even though it had been over an hour since they had found out what the wizarding world was holding back from Harry, the shock and confusion had not faded from Sirius's eyes. There were lines on his face that had never been there before. He had a cut across his face from his right temple to the corner of his mouth. It was so deep that part of Sirius's cheekbone was visible. There were several other deep cuts on his body and his hair had stayed white.

He looked down at Sirius's leg and saw the way that it was crooked and wouldn't support him.

"Sirius, I think that you should transform back to a dog. The injury to your leg won't be as much of a problem and we have to get out of the Forest. It will be all right, I promise, something doesn't make sense about the story. I mean, besides the fact that you would never betray me. When we get back, Lily will probably know a spell to help your leg."

Sirius nodded and transformed back into a dog. As James had said, it was a big help to have three legs to walk on and not one, but it was still very slow going as they walked back towards the Whomping Willow. It took them well over three hours to make it to the entrance where James used a branch to press the knot on the tree's trunk.

Lily- Thank goodness, Sirius, I was really worried about you. I don't care what everyone says, you couldn't have done what they say you did.

Remus- Yeah. I mean, Fudge said that nothing changed after Hogwarts. If nothing changed, then you wouldn't have been capable of betrayal.

Sirius- Thanks, guys. I had a talk with Firenze before James showed up. He told me to remember that things are not always what they seem. I know that it sounds cliched, but it's true.

Lily- Here, Sirius, I can help with your leg. I can't do anything for the cut, though. It will leave a very definite scar.

Sirius- It doesn't matter. I was becoming too handsome anyway.

Others- (shaky laughter)

Lily- Ferula.

Sirius- Thanks.

Lily- Well, I think we had better continue with the book so we know what really happened.

I didn' know he'd bin Lily an' James's Secret Keeper. Thought he'd jus' heard the news o' You-Know-Who's attack an' come ter see what he could do.

Sirius- But, if I had betrayed James and Lily, I wouldn't have shown up at all. I would have known that everyone thought I was a traitor. I would have been in hiding.

White an' shakin' he was.

James- Of course he was! He just found us dead!

An' yeh know what I did? I COMFORTED THE MURDERIN' TRAITOR!" Hagrid roared.

Sirius- Thanks, Hagrid, you probably stopped me from doing something really stupid.

"Hagrid, please," said Professor McGonagall. "Keep your voice down!"

"How was I ter know he wasn' upset abou' Lily an' James?

James- of course he was! What else would he be upset about!

It was You-Know-Who he cared abou'! An' then he says, 'Give Harry ter me, Hagrid, I'm his godfather, I'll look after him-'

Sirius- Of course I'd look after him! If there was no hope for James and Lily, I would need someone to love and protect.

Ha! But I'd had me orders from Dumbledore, an' I told Black no, Dumbledore said Harry was ter go ter his aunt an' uncle's. Black argued, but in the end he gave in.

Remus- That's another reason that Sirius is innocent. He would never have given in if he was working for Voldemort. Heck, he wouldn't even have argued, he would have just killed you.

Told me ter take his motorcycle ter get Harry there. 'I won't need it anymore," he says.

James- That doesn't sound good, Sirius. That sounds like you were about to do something either stupid, suicidal, or both.

"I shoulda known there was somethin' fishy goin' on then. He loved that motorbike, what was he givin' it ter me for? Why wouldn' he need it anymore? Fact was, it was too easy ter trace. Dumbledore knew he'd bin the Potters' Secret Keeper. Black knew he was goin' ter have ter run fer it that night, knew it was a matter o' hours before the Ministry was after him.

Remus- True. It wouldn't have taken them long to try and capture him.

James- Dumbledore probably sent them a message before Hagrid even left Hogwarts.

"But what if I'd given Harry to him, eh? I bet he'd've pitched him off the bike halfway out ter sea. His bes' friends' son! But when a wizard goes over ter the Dark Side, there's nothin' and no one that matters to 'em anymore..."

Sirius- That may be true, but I never went to the Dark Side and I never will.

I'm not like my family. I thought that I had convinced everybody of that.

James- You have convinced everyone who matters. And the Remus in the book will see the light, eventually. You'll explain yourself to him, I'm sure of it.

A long silence followed Hagrid's story. Then Madam Rosmerta said with some satisfaction, "But he didn't manage to disappear, did he? The Ministry of Magic caught up with him next day!"

"Alas, if only we had," said Fudge bitterly. "It was not we who found him. It was little Peter Pettigrew- another of the Potters' friends.

All- Peter!

James- This is making even less sense. Why would Peter confront Sirius? He hates confrontations.

Maddened by grief, no doubt, and knowing that Black had been the Potters' Secret Keeper, he went after Black himself."

Sirius- (sarcastically) Ha ha, that's a good one. Peter wouldn't even accuse me of pouring water over his head if I had a bucket in my hand.

"Pettigrew... that fat little boy who was always tagging around after them at Hogwarts?" said Madam Rosmerta.

James- Yeah, and sometimes it gets really annoying.

"Hero-worshiped Black and Potter," said Professor McGonagall.

"Never quite in their league, talent-wise.

Sirius- I'll say.

I was often rather sharp with him. You can imagine how I- how I regret that now..." She sounded as though she had a sudden head cold.

Remus- Wait, didn't Stan say that when Sirius blew up the street, a wizard died? You don't think...?

James- Why would Sirius kill Peter? He may be annoying, but he's loyal.

"There now, Minerva," said Fudge kindly, "Pettigrew died a hero's death. Eyewitnesses- Muggles, of course, we wiped their memories later- told us how Pettigrew cornered Black. They say he was sobbing, 'Lily and James, Sirius! How could you?' And then he went for his wand. Well, of course, Black was quicker. Blew Pettigrew to smithereens..."

Sirius- (goes white) I would never kill someone like Peter. Especially not when he is so bad at dueling.

Professor McGonagall blew her nose and said thickly, "Stupid boy... foolish boy... he was always hopeless at dueling... should have left it to the Ministry..."

"I tell yeh, if I'd got ter Black before little Pettigrew did, I wouldn't've messed around with wands- I'd've ripped him limb- from- limb," Hagrid growled.

All- (shudder)

"You don't know what you're talking about, Hagrid," said Fudge sharply. "Nobody but trained Hit Wizards from the Magical Law

Enforcement Squad would have stood a chance against Black once he was cornered. I was Junior Minister in the Department of Magical Catastrophies at the time, and I was one of the first on the scene after Black murdered all those people. I- I will never forget it. I still dream about it sometimes. A crater in the middle of the street, so deep it cracked the sewer below. Bodies everywhere. Muggles screaming. And Black standing there laughing,

James- That still doesn't make sense.

Remus- What?

James- Why he was laughing. Sirius has never found death funny. Any time someone brings it up, he changes the subject.

Remus- True.

with what was left of Pettigrew in front of him... a heap of bloodstained robes and a few- a few fragments-"

Fudge's voice stopped abruptly. There was the sound of five noses being blown.

"Well, there you have it, Rosmerta," said Fudge thickly. "Black was taken away by twenty members of the Magical Law Enforcement Squad and Pettigrew received the Order of Merlin, First Class, which I think was some comfort to his poor mother. Black's been in Azkaban ever since."

Sirius- Wait a minute. Didn't I get a trial?

Remus- It doesn't sound like it.

Sirius- That's not fair. What if there was something that they didn't know. If they had given me Veritaserum (sp?) they would know I spoke the truth.

Madam Rosmerta let out a long sigh.

"Is it true he's mad, Minister?"

"I wish that I could say that he was," said Fudge slowly. "I certainly believe that his master's defeat unhinged him for a while. The murder of Pettigrew and all those Muggles was the action of a cornered and desperate man- cruel... pointless. Yet I met Black on

my last inspection of Azkaban. You know, most of the prisoners in there sit muttering to themselves in the dark; there's no sense in them... but I was shocked at how normal Black seemed. He spoke quit rationally to me. It was unnerving. You'd have thought he was merely bored-

Sirius- I probably was. Staying in one place for too long really gets to me.

Especially if I'm alone.

asked if I'd finished with my newspaper, cool as you please, said he missed doing the crossword.

James- Wait, Fudge gave him his paper?

Lily- Sounds like it. Why?

James- I don't know. I just have a feeling that this will be important later in the story.

Yes, I was astounded at how little effect the dementors seemed to be having on him- and he was one of the most heavily guarded in the place, you know. Dementors outside his door day and night."

All- (shudder)

James- I wonder what helped you fight the effects.

"But what do you think he's broken out to do?" said Madam Rosmerta. "Good gracious, Minister, he isn't trying to rejoin You-Know-Who, is he?"

All- NO!

"I daresay that is his- er- eventual plan," said Fudge evasively. "But we hope to catch Black long before that. I must say, You-Know-Who alone and friendless is one thing... but give him back his most devoted servant, and I shudder to think how quickly he will rise again..."

Remus- Why do I get the feeling that statement will prove all too true?

There was a small chink of glass on wood. Someone had set down their glass.

"You know, Cornelius, if you're dining with the headmaster, we'd better head back to the castle," said Professor McGonagall.

One by one, the pairs of feet in front of Harry took the weight of their owners once more; hems of cloaks swung into sight, and Madam Rosmerta's heels disappeared behind the bar. The door of the Three Broomsticks opened again, there was another flurry of snow, and the teachers had disappeared.

"Harry?"

Ron's and Hermione's faces appeared under the table. They were both staring at him, lost for words.

Sirius- I don't blame them. If I knew that someone had betrayed my best friends and heard it second-hand. I don't know what I would do.

James- Don't worry, this will never happen.

Lily- That is the end of the chapter. James, I think it is your turn.