Interlude I
It took only two days for the electronic shop's employee to get back in touch with Kingsley. Kingsley had shortened his lunch break to rush to the shop and watch again the video in the back store, and it confirmed Remus Lupin' testimony. As the man had said, Sirius Black was not Animagus the surveillance cameras had recorded killing the muggle on the supermarket's parking lot, instead, he identified the Animagus as Peter Pettigrew, a man who was to die a few hours after that event.
After leaving the shop, Kingsley went back to the ministry of magic and headed directly to the department of magical law and justice, more exactly to the improper use of magic office. Fortunately, the office kept a close eye on witches and wizards who could become animals at will, keeping on the record their identity, the animal they could transform to, marks and objects that could identify them when transformed. The register was public record, to ensure that those registered weren't abusing their skill, as an Animagus was always required to register even before starting to learn the process. Failing to register, was a criminal offence punished by imprisonment in Azkaban.
Kingsley borrowed the register and took him with him to his box where he sat to study it, flipping its pages until he reached the twentieth-century records. Unlike certain places around the world, such as some African countries, mostly due to Uagadou's outstanding level in transfiguration, where the pupils amazed the wizarding world with their capacity to turn into cheetahs, elephants and other exotic animals, Great Britain had only seen seven Animagi in the twentieth century, among them, Professor McGonagall... But no one named Peter Pettigrew.
Kingsley sighed, raising his eyes from the pages and leaned back on his chair, rubbing slowly his index on his lip...He could keep pushing but the pieces of the puzzle would never fit. First, his report disappeared, more precisely intercepted and destroyed by Dolohov. At first, he assumed Dolohov had done it to cover Sirius Black, only he had just found out that it was Pettigrew on the video and not Black, even though it was his motorbike according to Hagrid's testimony. Then, Dolohov didn't even try to deny or come up with an explanation during his trial. He rushed to confess his crime and turned in Black after taking all the risks…And named him 'Wormtail', a code name that was more fit for a rat, in Kingsley's opinion.
In a criminal investigation, detectives had to keep in mind that when 'B' event followed an 'A' event, it didn't inevitably mean that B was event A source. Only, what would be the odds that 'Wormtail' was, in reality, Pettigrew, and that Dolohov was trying to help Pettigrew instead of Black? He did get the chance to wander any longer in his thought as loud sound expanded in the office as an Auror drummed his fist on the door, directing his attention towards it.
"Moody wants everyone in the briefing room, right now!"
Kingsley's eyes paced around the room, noticing many of them sighing before standing up to follow the Auror to the briefing room. Kingsley closed the register and followed the group as well, to a semicircular 'classroom' with a blackboard facing the chairs, where he found Moody and Rufus Scrimgeour, the office's number two, standing on the room displaying a stern expression on their faces Kingsley hasn't seen for a year.
Once all the Aurors settled in the room, looking anxiously at the two veterans, Moody reach for a daily prophet's copy on his desk and slammed it on the blackboard behind him, while the pile of copies on the desk flew to each Auror. Kingsley grabbed one and his eyes widened as soon as he read the articles first lines.
Dark wizard arrested!
Sirius Black accomplice or hero?!
Last night, soon after midnight, the French Ministry of Magic Affairs Aurors proceeded to the arrest of Gilles de Rais, a French dark wizard supposed to have been executed in 1440. Gilles de Rais became famous in France and England during the 100 Years war, where he fulfilled the function of Marshal of France and was a key figure in several battles of the conflict. After graduating from Beauxbatons, where he was the most brilliant student of his generation, he devoted himself to dark magic, causing terror in the north of France and the south of England until his fall in 1440 after a clash with the famous alchemist Nicolas Flamel.
No information has at the moment been revealed on how he managed to survive his execution. It was standard at the time for wizards condemned to be burned at stake in the Middle Ages to cast a spell of Freeze-Flame and then pretend to be writhing in pain. However, wizards had made sure of his death afterwards. According to our consultants, it is even more mysterious how he would have survived for more than five centuries, although the hypothesis of having managed to obtain a philosopher's stone or used unicorn blood is the most probable.
The dark wizard was arrested in one of the few remaining estates of his family, where his Muggle descendants have been living since the French restoration while. performing a ritual involving human sacrifices. According to our information, another notorious criminal was involved, Sirius Black, who recently escaped from Azkaban.
However, the Muggles who managed to flee the massacre, despite the horror which they were subject to, unanimously testified that Sirius Black was himself a prisoner of the dark wizard and swore he freed them then, stayed behind to deal with him. Unfortunately, Sirius Black was not captured, and his real motivations nor the reason for his presence on the site, will most certainly, be the subjects of a joint investigation that has already been opened by the Aurors of both nations.
Rufus Scrimgeour stepped forward and his voice silenced the whisperers who had started commenting on the news.
"Let's go straight to business...Mr Moody and I have just come back from Paris where we met with the French minister for magic and the head of their Auror office. The survivors' memories have been thoroughly examined and as stated in the daily prophet, not only a supposed dead dark wizard was found pretty much alive and arrested, but also a short duel took place between him and Black...We do not know at the moment why Black was there or why he was his prisoner, however, we can advance the hypothesis that he sought his help to try bringing back the dark lord...Wrongly assuming he would accept helping him." Scrimgeour said.
"The French ministry is quite upset, as they hold us responsible for letting Black travel so far from Azkaban and enter France undetected...As if their borders depended on us...Anyway, we've met halfway and decided to take some common measures. Some of us will immediately deploy on the continent and team up with the French, Belgian, Spanish, German and Italian Aurors office to intercept Black before he crosses the French border...As to those who will stay here, I've got plenty of work for you..." Moody said.
"Black's evasion and last night event could wake up the dark's lord followers still hiding and regroup around Black as a new leader..." Scrimgeour said, waving his wand, conjuring a pile of files on the desk before him. "You all have been assigned a mission, so get to work and do not disappoint us!"
The Aurors stood at the same time and headed to the desk, each picking up a file from the pile before leaving, some already flipping the pages. Kingsley also approached the desk but instead of picking a file too, he made to talk to Moody, who nodded his head toward the door and looked away, letting him understand to keep what he had to say for a private conversation in his office. Kingsley obeyed and silently followed him to his office after Scrimgeour left the briefing room and waited for woody to close the door and sit across him to talk.
"Sir...I managed to enhance the quality of the video I talked to you about. The one showing the murder...Only I have now more questions than answers, to be honest." Kingsley said.
"Questions concerning what?" Moody asked.
"I did identify Peter Pettigrew on the video. He is the one who murdered that muggle and also an unregistered Animagus...I had just finished checking the register before you called us to the briefing room. In my report, the one Dolohov stole, I made clear that the murderer is an Animagus, a rat to be more precise. Only, during his trial, Dolohov confessed he did it to protect Sirius Black, who was not even there...Dolohov also said Black's code name was Wormtail...I do think it's a nickname the rat Animagus would use..." Kingsley said.
"Where are you going with this?" Moody asked sharply, making him understand he was turning around the bush.
"I...I think Dolohov lied to us...I think Peter Pettigrew was 'wormtail' and Dolohov oriented us towards Sirius. We could consider the eventuality that both Sirius Black and Peter Pettigrew were death eaters, and their face to face the next morning was a count settling. Only, why would Dolohov accuse Sirius Black, who is at large instead of Pettigrew who's dead? " Kingsley said.
Moody remained silent, looking impassively at Kingsley. Kingsley knew if Moody hadn't already started barking at him or chased out his office it could only be because Kingsley had put pressed his finger on something that also had his boss intrigued. So, Kingsley felt confident to carry on talking.
"There is also something else I can't explain..." Kingsley said.
"What is it?" Moody asked.
"Why did Pettigrew murder a muggle?" Kingsley asked.
"He obviously mistaken him for Black," Moody said, but more in a way to test Kingsley than to make an affirmation.
"That what I thought at first...Only at that time, the potters were still alive, in fact, they died about an hour later...Until they got murdered, there couldn't be any traitor as no treason had been committed. And let's assume he somehow found out Black was an undercover death eater, why didn't he warn the Ministry of Magic? As an employee at the magical transportation department, he had access to a direct line to the Auror office, and we could have deployed immediately to neutralize Black...Even if the Potters were well hidden, he could have contacted Dumbledore, right?" Kingsley asked.
"Your point is?" Moody asked.
"We have Dolohov's confessions, he stole my report, lied about Pettigrew not being an Animagus, accusing Black instead...I think Pettigrew knew the Potters were going to be killed that night." Kingsley said firmly.
"You think Pettigrew is the traitor?" Moody asked.
"I believe we should dig into that...The official version is that Pettigrew tracked Black to kill him for revenge...Only they confronted each other so close to the apartment Pettigrew was renting, that would mean Pettigrew hunted Black to find him around the corner? One minute walking from his own place? No...It seems that it's Black who was looking for Pettigrew...Anyway, why in hell Pettigrew would have gone chasing Black if he thought he already killed him the night before on that parking lot?" Kingsley asked.
Again, Moody remained silent for a moment, his fifers tips taping on his desk before suddenly standing up.
"I need to talk to Dumbledore," Moody said.
"Dumbledore? Why?" Kingsley asked.
Moody seemed to doubt a moment before he sat back. "Listen...There is a good reason we locked up Black that fast...It's supposed to be classified, but as you are working on this case, I guess It would be better to tell you more, only, keep in mind that it is confidential...To hide from You-know-who, The Potters used the Fidelius Charm and according to Dumbledore, they chose Sirius Black to be their secret keeper. As you must know, you can't force the secret keeper to reveal his secret as it is hidden in one's soul, so even torture and legilimency wouldn't force him to reveal it. So, inevitably, Black willingly betrayed the Potters." Moody said.
"You mean Dumbledore knew Sirius was the secret keeper? He confirmed it to the ministry?" Kingsley asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Yes, he did, I was present along with Crouch, and you better show some respect and lower that eyebrow before I rip your face" Moody said.
"Sorry...So, Sirius Black would have known that after betraying the Potters, Dumbledore and the ministry of magic would be after him if not the entire world, as he would have revealed himself. If You-know-who would have succeeded, he still would have lost in Sirius Black a well-positioned spy in Dumbledore's close circle and a potential seat at the wizengamot..." Kingsley said. "Wouldn't it have been better for Black to find another way to deliver them to the dark lord, than rushing to reveal the secret and reveal himself?" before adding. "After all, staying a long time confined in a house would most certainly drive them crazy or at least reckless, therefore easier to catch"
"If I get your reasoning...You doubt Black was the secret keeper?" Moody asked.
"I think It wouldn't make sense, knowing the chronology of the events..." Kingsley said.
"Fair enough...Go back to your box and focus on the case I assigned you. I need to go to Hogwarts and have a chat with Dumbledore about all of this..." Moody said.
"Sir, I would like to join the team going to the continent to help catch Black," Kingsley asked.
"No, you'll stay here..." Moody said, waving a hand towards his office's door.
Kingsley didn't protest, instead, he went back to his box, where he noticed that a good quarter of the office was absent, deducing they were the ones assigned to go on the continent. Sitting in his small box, he read again the daily prophet article. Nothing made sense to him, the survivors claim that Sirius Black saved them...Why would a man accused of murdering twelve Muggles and being the dark lord's right hand, save muggles? He could believe with not much difficulty that Black and the dark wizard had a dispute that would have escalated to a fight, but why did he save the muggle he is supposed to despite?
Alastor ''Mad-eye'' Moody never lowers his guard, not even inside his own office or home. The only place in the world he allowed himself a break was inside Albus Dumbledore's office at Hogwarts. Slowly progressing in the stairs leading to the headmaster's office, wooden leg challenging him each step he climbed, thinking about the days he used to climb these same steps running. After his conversation with Schaklebolt, he also doubted now and that's the reason he came to seek Dumbledore's advice. He didn't have to push the door as Dumbledore opened it for him and invited him to take a sit.
"When will you ask the school board to put some elevators in this school Dumbledore?" Alastor asked.
"It would be shameful to deprive our students of some exercise Alastor!" Dumbledore replied.
"If what they need is exercise, they can carry me back to the bridge when we are done talking... Anyway, I'm here for an important matter..." Moody said, before telling all about the conversation he had earlier with Schaklebolt.
"So, what do you think?" Moody asked.
"To be honest Alastor...Nothing would surprise me from Voldemort. It is quite possible he could have rallied both of them"
"They probably didn't know they were...They could have spied on each other for him..." Moody said." Not to mention the fact that Pettigrew was an undeclared Animagus, did you know about it?"
"Not the slightest idea...However, I will get in touch with Remus Lupin, he was a close friend of both Sirius and Peter, so I guess he might enlighten me about their past." Dumbledore said.
"Fair enough...As to last night's events..." Alastor said.
" I was about to contact you when your owl arrived...The ICW made sure to inform me first, and I immediately crossed the channel, only I arrived too late. As soon as Gilles de reis was locked in a cell, he killed himself. In the morning, Nicolas left Devon to meet there and helped me examine the body…The body wasn't the original but the little of magic that still hadn't faded from it confirmed his identity" Dumbledore said.
"How could that be possible?" Alastor asked. "I know Flamel's stone made him immortal, but if what I hear is right, he is barely able to walk two steps. Only, the witnesses claimed de reis duelled Black."
"To be precise, Nicolas is not immortal. The elixir maintains his organism and somehow holds his soul in his body…In other words, Nicolas Flamel's body is the same he had five hundred years ago, only he is older and weaker…Barely alive… But De reis' body got destroyed the day he was executed. Apparently, his soul lurked inside his muggle descendent until it completely took control of him" Dumbledore said.
"How could his soul travel in time?" Moody asked.
"I don't know" Dumbledore said.
"What about Black? Is there...An order mission I haven't been told about?" Moody asked.
"No...I am myself confused about Sirius Black after hearing the muggle survivors testimony...So, it is crucial to capture him alive and this time, make him stand trial...I already sent Fawkes to Remus. I will contact you after I meet him" Dumbledore said a second before the bell ring, announcing the lunch break.
"Rufus Scrimgeour is leading our Aurors who went to France, I'll update you as soon as I get his report... " Moody said, standing up.
As soon he had left the headmaster's office, and passed the gorgon guarding the stair, he heard a stampede before a wave of teenagers appeared, behind him, swamping him as they rushed towards the great hall for lunch. He grumbled to himself, asking himself how Dumbledore could live in this place when he would rather spend an entire year locked up in his own trunk.
As a little boy, the sunset was the moment of the day when a gloomy sensation took residence in Remus's heart. The moment he helplessly became worn out, irritable, anxious. Now, overload of dark thoughts and a constant state of nausea. Later, when he started attending Hogwarts and met who would become his best friends, guilt made it to the list, as he always had to overcome himself to come up with an excuse to justify his monthly absences, during the year. One day, they discovered his secret and for the first time, all his dark thoughts were washed away by the affection they sprinkled him with.
As he stood near the black lake, getting ready to face the situation he most dreaded, it was his demons who wrapped their arms around him, crushing his chest. The years of happiness and carelessness he had enjoyed, had to unfold at the expanse of the trust placed in him by Albus Dumbledore. The headmaster not only offered the chance to receive an education like all the other children despite the terrible danger he potentially represented for the other kids but also for the highly demanding arrangements the school's staff had to adapt to, so the castle could safely host him. For years, Remus had been ashamed of himself for betraying Dumbledore's trust and the mercy he had for him.
He turned his back at the lake and headed towards the castle. A castle he was sure nobody had explored more than him and his friends. The castle had no secret for him, as he was sure he could walk to the headmaster's office blindfolded. Once, at the gates, a sound of falling leaves and sticks reached his ears, freezing him in his spot. He slowly turned his head towards the direction from where the sound came, to land his gaze on the old knocking willow three. The three represented the starting point of all his incredible youth adventures.
However, it wasn't the time to daydream as he was soon expected to be at the headmaster's office and didn't intend to make him wait. As he crossed the great hall, climbed the stairs, and walked the hallways, he had continuously been followed by the students' eyes. A short moment after, Remus arrived in front of the gorgon to which he told the password Fawkes had previously delivered to him, then slowly claimed the stairs.
Today would be the first time Remus would be invited to the headmaster's office, despite having been prefect for three years. James and Sirius had been repeatedly summoned there to be lectured as their own house head, had given up on their cases. Remus could remember how much he had harassed James to tell him more about the office, only so James would patronizingly say:
"I'm sorry moony, but you must prove you're worthy of it...But if you let me polyjuice to take your appearance and patrol with Evans, maybe I'll ..."
Remus took a deep breath before timidly knocking on the office's door, dreading the conversation waiting for him inside. As Dumbledore had not contacted him even once since James and Lily deaths, he had no idea about the kind of welcome he would get from him.
To his great relief, Dumbledore was smiling when he met his eyes. The headmaster stood near the perch on which Fawkes, displaying a soft expression, the kind of face a grandfather would show when visited by his grandchildren. Albus Dumbledore walked towards and welcome him warmly, laying his hands on Remus'shoulders.
"Remus! What a pleasure to see you again. Thank you so much for agreeing to meet me at short notice." Dumbledore said.
"Nice to see you too sir, and no need to thank me, all you need is to say the word," Remus replied, smiling.
Dumbledore invited him to follow him to his desk where he sat across for him on a comfortable armchair and tanked the headmaster for the hydromel, he had offed him.
"Remus...You must have an idea of why I asked to talk to you...But first, how are you doing?" Dumbledore asked.
"I'm fine sir, are you?" Remus asked back.
"Old...But I'm satisfied." Dumbledore said, smiling before adding."I apologize, but I must insist, how are you doing?"
Remus understood that it would lead nowhere to lie again, Dumbledore had obviously read the anxiousness he hid behind his smile. "About what professor? James and Lily death? My best friend who turned out to be a death eater and killed Peter? Or not visiting Harry once since it happened?"
"Remus, I can only imagine how painful it must be for you, James and Lily's deaths was a tragedy for all of us, but for you, more than the rest of us...I wish I could have given my life to save them. Unfortunately, most of the time we find ourselves powerless" Dumbledore said gently.
"I know...Only I still can't accept it. Life can be unfair, but in this case, it's not only unfair but cruel. Why should Harry grow up an orphan?" Remus asked.
"All we can do is honour their memories and prevent it from happening to others," Dumbledore said.
"I agree...Professor...How is Harry doing?" Remus asked.
"He is doing fine. He lives with his aunt and uncle, away from the wizarding world, for his own safety. For now, I rather keep him away, hidden among muggles, so he could grow up safe from any potential plot, in a home where he would be well taken care of. It's only a matter of time before he joins us in this castle."
"Did you visit him?" Remus asked.
"No, I did not...I rather not disturb the Dursley's quiet life and Harry is only two years old...Anyway, I am constantly keeping an eye on him as I entrusted Arabella to watch for him. I have made some arrangements so she could reside near their house...And for the moment, expect a minor incident with a dog belonging to his aunt Marge, Vernon's sister, nothing more happened." Dumbledore said.
"Sure…It might be better for him to be away until he is in age. Soon or later his past will catch up, so if we can let him be happy for a few years, I won't interrupt" Remus said.
"I am glad you share my opinion..."Dumbledore said.
"Professor...Speaking of dogs..." Remus said, his voice shaking.
"Nothing to worry about, a simple prank from his little cousin Dudley, according to Arabella... Of bad taste, but children." Dumbledore said.
"I wasn't referring to that...But to Sirius." Remus said.
"Sirius?" Dumbledore asked. "Should I deduce that Sirius is also an animagus?"
After his interview with Kingsley, Remus knew it would be only a matter of time before Peter's secret gets uncovered...For the rest, he could always count on Dumbledore's sharp mind to connect the dots.
Remus sighed before nodding at Dumbledore, his eyes meeting Godric Gryffindor's sword behind the headmaster's back. So as the Gryffindor Remus was, he decided to come clear.
"Professor...How much do you know about our extracurricular activities back when we were in Hogwarts?" Remus asked.
"I am pretty much aware of your respectable 'criminal record'. only James and Sirius got more in trouble than you." Dumbledore said.
"Sir...After what I am about to tell you, I would understand if you chase me from the castle..." Remus said.
"Remus...Why would I ever do that?" Dumbledore said.
"Professor, back when I was still attending Hogwarts, the staff weren't the only ones to know my secret... James, Sirius and Peter quickly discovered my secret too. After discovering my situation, the three of them decided to become animagi so they could join me during my transformation on full moon nights...At first, I thought it was no more than empty words to cheer me up, only after various failed attempts, I woke up one day to find a stag sleeping in James' bed...A few days later, Sirius succeeded too, then peter, a few months later, as he was forced to start all over again." Remus said.
"In their company, I was able to control myself, to stay more lucid than when alone. Only, in my happiness, I didn't think about the danger I was for my friends...I am ashamed more you could imagine for betraying your trust, after all the risks you took for me...For that, I will never forgive myself." Remus said.
"Remus...You are too kind my friend." Dumbledore said, smiling.
"Professor...Did you hear what I just said?" Remus asked.
"I didn't miss a single word...Only, I am afraid we've drawn different conclusions, as what I take from your story is how much your friends rightfully placed your friendship and happiness above all the risks. Of course, it could have gone wrong, but it didn't..." Dumbledore said.
"Sir, aren't you upset?" Remus asked.
"Remus, the day I came knocking at your parent's door to hand you your letter, I did it because I considered and still consider banning a child or anyone else from acquiring an education is an evil crime. I wanted you to have a normal youth, and what would be more normal for teenagers than to be careless? I might look wise now, but believe me, I wasn't much different from you at your age...The mistakes I made, I regret them until this day...Even decades later...So, on the opposite, I admire you Remus for being brave enough to admit your share of wrong while you still could...Anyway, may I ask you a question?" Dumbledore asked.
"Sure..." Remus said.
"What definition would you give te 'learning'?" Dumbledore asked. "Or, what is the purpose of school?"
"I guess... getting good qualifications..." Remus said.
"You most certainly excelled at that...Minerva has always been proud of you, and I didn't think twice before appointing you as prefect" Dumbledore said. "Only this time, you are wrong...School is made so you could fail and learn from your mistakes."
"Another headmaster wouldn't even have looked at me," Remus said.
"Them, He would have missed the pleasure to have as student and friend, "Dumbledore said.
"Thank you, professor...Sir, you should know, James could turn into a stag, Peter into a rat while Sirius could transform into a dog."
"Yes...Alastor mentioned you've been interviewed by Kingsley Schakelbolt lately..." Dumbledore said.
"Yes...He mentioned a murder committed by an animagus he identified as Sirius...Asked me if Sirius could transform into a rat, I denied knowing, but to you, I can confirm that Peter was the one who could transform into a rat."
"Alastor claims his office has enough evidence to prove Peter killed that muggle...their first impression was that he did it because he mistook the poor man for Sirius..." Dumbledore said.
"Sir, I find it hard to believe that Peter could kill someone..." Remus said.
"Does the word 'Wormtail' ring a bell to you?" Dumbledore asked.
"Of course...Wormtail was Peter's nickname, Prongs for James, Padfoot for Sirius and I was Moony " Remus said." Sir, if you ignored what we use to do during the full moon nights, how could know about Peter's nickname?"
"I didn't until recently...During his trial, Dolohov declared that 'Wormtail' was Sirius's code name as a death eater." Dumbledore said.
"That's a lie, sir...James gave that nickname to Peter because of his wormy tail shape." Remus said.
"He also said that Sirius led the group that murdered Fabian and Gideon...Sirius would have taken off his mask, that's how he recognized him." Dumbledore said.
"That doesn't add up with the intel I have...I remember greyback mentioning the Prewetts murder...He said the mission had been assigned to Voldemort's close circle, those who sat at his war councils, unmasked. If Dolohov and Sirius were among the group that attacked them, they would have known each other before" Remus said
"So you agree with Alastor...Dolohov was trying to direct our attention towards Sirius, instead of Peter." Dumbledore said.
"That wouldn't be smart...If Sirius was a death eater, selling him out would be the same as writing a suicide note. If we were wrong about Sirius turning his back on his family, then the Malfoys and other families he is related to, would have a bounty on Dolohov's head, and if by any means Voldemort ever managed to come back, Dolohov would have been shredded to pieces..." Remus said.
"If Sirius was a death eater...If we were wrong about Sirius..." Dumbledore said slowly. "Tell me, Remus...When was the last time you saw or talked to Sirius?"
"It was before Harry's birth..." Remus said. "Our relation wasn't the best...I suspected him to be watching me and confronted him about it...For being a werewolf..." Remus said, taking a sip from his drink."Then, when James and Lily chose Sirius as Godfather for Harry and they stopped updating me, I thought James agreed with him."
"Could they have, secretly decided to make Peter their secret keeper instead of Sirius...Without informing any of us?" Dumbledore asked.
"Maybe...If they believed me to be the spy, they would probably have...The Sirius I was friend with, would have liked to serve as a diversion" Remus said.
"In that case, to whom their choice would have been directed?" Dumbledore asked.
"If for some reason, Sirius nor I couldn't have assumed that role...I guess the only one James would have trusted is Peter." Remus said.
Dumbledore remained silent, deep in thought before he stood up, silently walked around his desk and approached Fawkes. He whispered a few words to the phoenix who a few seconds later left the headmaster's office, flying out the window. Then, Dumbledore turned back to Remus.
"I sent Fawkes to Alastor and Crouch, asking for a meeting...But, before I'll pay a visit to Dolohov in his cell, he must be questioned again, and this time, by myself. As to Peter, he might still be alive and should be captured. A task that should be discreetly handled"
"You think he is? You think Sirius is innocent?" Remus asked standing up.
"At least I admit we rushed in throwing him in prison...Anyway, maybe it's not too late..." Dumbledore said." Remus as you might have read in the daily prophet, Sirius has been involved in a sordid event last night, and the story the survivors told fits more the narrative that would make Sirius a victim than a traitor." Dumbledore said.
"What should we do? Should I go after Sirius?" Remus asked.
"As we speak, Aurors from different countries have been mobilized to capture him...Even if they've received clear orders to capture him alive and only alive, to clear up what happened in that dungeon before sending him back to London, I rather If we get to him first, without making any waves..." Dumbledore said.
"I got this sir! I'll fly to Folkstone, I'll take the ferry to Calais dissimulated among the muggles to enter France undetected." Remus said.
"Remus, I understand the importance of the situation for you...Only, the entire area is actually closely under surveillance...Anyway, it is possible that Sirius would stay hidden for a good while until things calm down. Instead, I suggest you wait before, as the full moon is a week from today after all...At Hogsmeade, you'll find an Inn, the Hog's Head, the owner is an old acquaintance of mine, so he will make a room at your disposition." Dumbledore said.
After his meeting with Dumbledore, Remus didn't linger in the castle and headed straight to the Inn. The place was empty, the Bartender, a lone tall man, strangely familiar put a key on the counter when Remus arrived in front of him and simply nodded his head towards the stairs that led to the rooms. Despite the shabby exterior appearance of the Inn's facade, the room's interior was cozy, simply furnished as a fire was crackling in the fireplace. Remus undressed and laid down on the single bed, recalling his conversation with Dumbledore, briefly thought about Sirius and Peter as now, he was sure of nothing. He closed his eyes and slowly, at the soft sound of the wood burning in the fireplace, fell asleep.
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