Veritas 11
I am so surprised that the multitude of protests that have been led across the country over the past few days regarding the endless "let's recount these votes until we get the answer we want" shenanigans in Florida have been ignored by the media. ;0 We had several thousand marching here, I can tell you. We are seeing a really ugly underbelly of the 'democratic' process. And if I have to hear Daley, the son of the original "Vote early, vote often" politico, go on about 'justice' once more, the telly is going to suffer an injury. Whoever ends up with this Presidency is doomed to four years of suspicion and accusations, period. A four-year 'lame duck' government; that'll prove interesting. It's a shame to see the experiment that was the original draft of the first modern attempt at a 'by the people, for the people' government come crashing down like this.
Shakespeare would have loved to get his hands on this little melodrama, don't you think?
Act I, scene i; a polling office near Stratford….
Lord Daley: Gadzooks! We're still behind! Ordeth another handcount! Tell Sir Warren Christopher to stall the papers with another indignant sounding meaningless address so that we may prepare. Thank goodness we did not kill all the lawyers….
(I know, I know; get over it and get on with the story….)
This chapter ended up getting too big, so I've split it – also, I needed to switch back to Harry's POV near the end, so that next bit (details of the dreaded detention) will be up in a day or two.
***
Sirius was sitting in the kitchen with Katie when the owl arrived. He absently stood up to open the window, not even looking at the owl, and was very surprised when it stood on the table in front of him, holding its leg out impatiently.
"Better get that," smiled Katie.
Sirius took the note, and sent the owl on its way. Then he looked at the note.
"I don't believe this! He's only been back two weeks!" he waved the letter, with its unmistakeable seal , at Katie. "I told him to stay out of trouble! What does he think he's doing…." He trailed off as Katie started to giggle.
"Sorry; but honestly, listen to yourself. You have to admit it's a little ironic."
"Katie-girl, I have every right to be upset. Harry isn't like me, or James; he doesn't look for trouble. I only get these when something reasonably serious has happened…." He opened the letter.
"Oh. My. God!"
Katie leaned over to take the letter. Sirius let her do it, staring at the ceiling.
"Now, Malcolm dear, pay attention. These are the sort of letters I never expect to get from you, despite what Daddy and Sirius try to do to you."
Sirius groaned.
"Sir- This is to inform you that Mr. Harry Potter has received detention for fighting in the hallways. As you know, this behaviour is not condoned at Hogwarts. He has also lost 10 points for Gryffindor house. He and the others involved, Mr. Ronald Weasely and….." Katie looked at Sirius. "Ah."
"What could they possibly have been thinking?"
Katie shrugged. "I doubt thinking had much to do with this. So it's detention with Malfoy for them. Why is it I can actually hear McGonagal in my head as I read this?"
Sirius gave her a withering look. "Remus suspects she charms them. Sort of an evolved howler." He took the letter back from her and scowled at it. "I can't wait to hear the explanation for this."
At that instant, another owl arrived. Katie got up this time.
"Hello, Pig."
Pigwidgeon flew in and hopped back and forth across the table. It took Sirius a few seconds to actually hold him long enough to get his note.
"Thank you. This should be interesting, I susp… Katie, this is for you. From Hermione."
Katie took the note after she gave Pig a small bowl of water. Sirius grimaced as Pig just jumped into it.
"Oi, you. Don't splash on the baby."
Katie smiled and opened the letter. Sirius watched her reading it, drumming his fingers on the table. I can't wait to hear this one. Must have been Malfoy's fault. What if we were wrong about him? Or maybe, maybe Draco started it to make sure everyone still understands how much he hates Harry and Ron… "Well? Tell me Draco started it."
Katie was now grinning, and shaking her head. "No. Actually, Hermione started it."
Sirius froze. "Hermione started it? Hermione!?"
"Uh huh. Very clever girl, that."
Sirius managed to swallow his next comment, but saw Katie smiling at him out of the corner of her eye. When he gained a little control he managed to ask, in a reasonably civil tone, "Why exactly did she see fit to start a fight? And why isn't she on the detention list?"
"It would appear that Hermione simply leveraged a little information to, well, set up Ron and Harry. Ron actually, knowing that Harry wouldn't be far behind. She made a fuss over Draco insulting her, again, knowing that nothing gets Ron's goat more than Draco calling her names."
Sirius thought about this. "Are you telling me she took advantage of Ron's confused hormones to get those three put on detention together?"
"Yes. Not original, but very effective. Sirius, are you blushing?"
"No."
"Fallen prey to this age-old game yourself?"
"No."
"Then you must have set someone else up."
Now Sirius had to smile. "Maybe. Maybe I paid for it, too. Your husband is very, very resourceful you know."
Katie raised an eyebrow but still smiled. "I know. Well, well, well, what exactly did you do?"
"Can we get back to the immediate issue? Why did she do this? I thought that tomorrow they were supposed to…."
Katie stopped him. "Change of plans. Hermione has never been very convinced that Draco simply having the good luck to stumble across Harry and Ron would be the best bet. Seems that Snape let them know that Professor Sprout was next on the list for 'assistance'; Hermione thought that this was too good to pass up. Not only would it assure that Draco knew that hostilities were on the same level as always, but it would be much more likely that Draco would 'overhear' them when they were all in detention together. I actually agree with her. Clever girl. And not just book smart it would seem."
Sirius leaned over to Malcolm. "Are you listening to all this? The same fate awaits you. You can't escape it, just try to be graceful about losing to the whims of women."
"Well she may have got more than she bargained for…." Said Katie, continuing to read the letter. "Seems Malfoy said something a little unfortunate."
"What?"
Katie shook her head and tucked the letter in her pocket. "No, that part's for me, sorry. You got what you needed. She wants me to make sure that you and Remus don't get cross with Ron and Harry over this. Harry seems convinced that you are going to explode."
"I promise not to explode."
"Neither will Remus, I'm safe in assuming. I'm going to send a note back with Pig that everything is copasetic and you and Remus are not incoherent with fury over this."
"Just a little sputtering, but we'll get over it. And tell Hermione to be kind to Ron."
***
Remus actually laughed when Sirius and Katie explained what happened over dinner.
"Very skilful set up. Poor Ron, he didn't have a chance." He gave Sirius a meaningful look.
Liz was laughing too. "I have to agree. And I also think that Hermione was right about this. So, we'll know by the weekend if this is going to work."
Sirius was still relatively unamused, but he did manage a small smile. "I still think this was a bit much."
Remus shook his head. "You just don't like it when well set plans are changed at the last minute, Padfoot. I know that. But don't worry about this one, the basic concept is the same and I will also agree that Hermione actually managed to establish a 'better setting' as it were. Nothing to do now but wait."
"And finish the counter spell. Another week or so and it should be ready," added Liz.
Sirius looked at her. "Really? So soon? Can't it wait till the thaw?"
"Really, Padfoot. We're experts at slowly freezing to death by now. Letting your years creep up on you?"
"Moony, my years have little to do with this. When in all of our numerous years together, did you ever once know me not to complain about being cold?"
"Good point. His brave Gryffindor heart certainly didn't include being sturdy once the temperature dropped."
Liz smiled at Remus. "I seemed to do a fair amount of complaining about the temperature in the Hogwarts dungeons myself. Brian never did get used to me keeping our flat temperature in the 70s."
"The 70s?" said Katie, "my God, you and Sirius are made for each other. I've actually caught him wearing jumpers in July."
Sirius pushed the remains of his dinner about for a moment before dropping his fork and leaning his head in his hands. "You know, I've a good mind to go up there personally tomorrow and have a 'chat'; see how they enjoy Hogsmead then…."
Liz laughed. "Oh, yes, Sirius. Just going to stroll into the Three Broomsticks are you?"
"Of course not, I'll just…." He stopped suddenly, then stood up and left the room. He ignored Remus calling after him and just went out through the back door of the kitchen to one of the greenhouses. I can't believe I just said that. Talk about stupid….
He sat down on one of the benches, staring at the orchids Katie kept in here. Very beautiful, and totally pointless. He smirked. Hidden away too, aren't you?
After a while Remus appeared. Sirius saw him hesitate, once he had discovered that Sirius was in fact in the greenhouse, but finally he walked in. Sirius said nothing as Remus came over and sat next to him.
It was silent for a long time. Finally Sirius couldn't stand it anymore.
"You wife's orchids are lovely. She's developed a real talent for these."
Remus nodded, but said nothing.
Sirius sighed. "Sorry about all that."
Remus nodded again, slowly. "I know you don't like it when something that has been set is changed. But I honestly think that what Hermione did was okay, and really, when you think about it, it is a better approach."
Sirius shook his head. "Draco is still such an unknown in this. Harry and Ron have a point, you know. And they know Draco better than we do. Certainly better than I do. What was it like to teach him?"
Remus idly played with the orchid closest to him for a few moments while he thought. "Well, it was a few years ago. Draco behaved every inch like a pompous, arrogant and very self-righteous boy. Took every opportunity to remind me that I did not present the most…appropriate…figure. Made sure I knew he was better than I was, even if I was a teacher. But that was in front of others. He was very preoccupied with getting good marks, and would not hesitate to come and see me if he needed clarification on something. On those occasions, as I've said before, he was actually quite civil. And he wasn't just there trying to learn only what he needed to to get by; he truly was interested and thoughtful about what we discussed. He truly wanted to do well."
"Probably worried what his father would say if he didn't."
"Draco did not have the best marks the year before, and I think you're right; I think his father made it clear that that was unacceptable. Especially from the son of such an important family. There was no reason for him not to do well; he is bright. Personally, what I really think is that at that time Draco was suddenly realizing that he was not a son. He was an heir. There is a difference, you know." Remus looked at Sirius and gave a small smile.
Sirius nodded grimly. "Yes, I'm well aware of that. I've always imagined what the first words out of my own father's mouth when I was arrested. Something to do more with the disgrace this brought to the family, not even a question as to why, or if it was right. Thank goodness I had such appropriate cousins to carry the family on; cousins who will never again say my name in anything over a guilty whisper at a cocktail party."
Remus said nothing.
"Remus?"
"Hmmm?"
"Did you ever see my parents after everything happened? Did you ever talk to them?"
Remus nodded once. "A few times. I don't think they were happy to see me, actually. Remember, I was one of the reasons you weren't Head Boy. Bad influence, you know. They always looked like…like they believed the rumours…." He stopped.
"What rumours? Did they know you were a werewolf? God I'm sorry Remus."
"Not that. I always figured if they knew that they would have me publicly denounced. Sorry…."
Sirius gave him a sad smile. "Don't be. I think I was more afraid of them finding out than anyone. You're right, they probably would have. Not the nicest people who ever lived, were they? But if it wasn't that, then what?"
Remus looked at him for a long moment, his smile twisting into a wry grin as he shook his head. "Sirius…."
"What?"
Remus sighed and leaned back on the bench. "The rumours that I was helping you. Remember, I was the only one of us 'untouched' by what had happened. People either seemed to feel that I was very lucky that you had been captured before you could get to me, thanks to 'brave Little Peter Pettigrew', or that I had managed to evade being implicated, and that you had taken the knowledge of my involvement with you to Azkaban."
Sirius viciously kicked an empty pot sitting next to the bench, shattering it. Swearing, he took out his wand and fixed it, not looking at Remus. I used to wonder what it was like for you, Remus; I just to sit there and worry that maybe people were thinking just those things; until I couldn't bear to think about you anymore, because it would always make me feel a little better, knowing you were okay, and then the Dementors would come.
"Gods, Remus, what a sorry pair we turned out to be."
Remus shook his head. "Oh, all things considered, I think we've done amazingly well. We were never cut out for a 'normal' life anyway, were we? I certainly never was."
"You've done damn well, if you ask me."
Remus frowned. "It was a long time getting here, Sirius. And it's hardly a scene of domestic tranquillity. More like an odd dream."
"I don't think Katie would be thrilled to hear you describing your life together as 'an odd dream'."
Remus smiled a little. "Katie's hardly your everyday individual, is she? That's why we do get along so well. We're both a little…off. So we understand that part of each other. It's still a struggle for us, you know. We still have to fight the instinct to just hide from each other when we get upset about something, to just fend for ourselves and shut out others because they 'don't get it'. Katie would understand what I meant. That's why we are together, and will stay that way."
Sirius thought about this, but said nothing.
"Sirius, you got upset back at the dinner table because you still haven't told Liz about you being an animagus; you almost let it slip back there. You are still shutting Liz out; you're still hiding that. And by the way, I think that going to Hogsmead and telling them off would be an incredibly foolish thing to do."
"I never really intended to. I said I was of a mind to."
"Hmmm. Well, I think you need to decide once and for all if you're truly serious about Liz. Because if you are, you need to tell her about Padfoot. It's just too big to keep a secret. You can't go any further with her, personally, without doing it. Think I enjoyed finally telling Katie my own little secret? At least yours isn't taught in DADA."
Sirius scowled. "I have never liked you joking about this Remus, so don't. It's not funny."
Remus said nothing but stood up, and walked out with one last look at Sirius.
Sirius stared at the flowers for a long time. I just can't do it. I'm not sure I'm really… I can't do anything with Liz anyway, not until my name is cleared. So that's that. One more thing in limbo. She told me she'd wait; I guess we'll just have to see if that's true.