Beyond the Darkness - Chapter 7
By Rainsong
A/N: Chapter 7! I'm trying to do as much writing as possible before I leave on vacation Thursday. Sorry to deprive everyone of updated fic for four days! In a perfect world, I'd complete chapter ten before leaving. I'll do my best! Thanks to prongsjr and Luna Rose for reviewing again! We're up to 13!
~~~~ Fudge led Harry, Remus, and Sirius down the marble hall to one of the elevators. He led all three of them onto the wiry carts, then said clearly 'Seventh floor!" The cart suddenly began to climb the levels, passing each floor as it went. They watched as two wizards fought over a document on the third floor, and saw what looked like a very confused house elf running in circles on the fifth floor. Finally, the cart arrived on the seventh floor, and the Minister's office came into full view.
The carpet was a rich crimson, and tall windows were shaded by silverly curtains. Fudge's well polished desk was cluttered with an assortment of papers to be signed, and more than a few owls rested on the three-foot perch that was set up in the corner. Fudge opened the door of the cart, and the four of them proceeded into his office. Fudge took a seat behind is desk, and conjured up a chair for each of them. They sat down, and waited for Fudge to speak.
"When I received word that Peter Pettigrew had been found alive, I was shocked." he began, folding his hands on the desk top. "I can assure you, the first person I thought of after hearing that news was you, Mr. Black. Suddenly, the events of years
past came into question. My worst fears were confirmed after hearing Pettigrew's confession. An innocent man had been put into Azkaban, and had suffered needlessly for over a decade." Sirius continued to stare at Fudge coldly.
"I remember well the months after your escape. I was the prime advocate for your recapture. I can do nothing more than congratulate you on staying well-hidden, or else we could have made another grievous error. And speaking of errors, we must be cautious not to commit another. That is why I have prearranged a joint trial for Pettigrew and yourself, assuming that you would come forward. And its quite lucky you did. Freedom is more or less dancing in your hands right now. Pettigrew is guilty." Fudge said, sounding as though he had been rehearsing his speech for
days.
"May I see Pettigrew?" Sirius asked. This seemed to catch Fudge off-guard.
"I - I suppose, if thetas what you wish. Follow me." Fudge said, standing up. He
crossed the room, pulling his wand out of his pocket. "Alohomora!" Fudge said,
and with his words, a door appeared out of the wall of the office. Fudge opened
it, and stepped through, beckoning for Sirius to follow him. Harry and Remus
stood up to follow, but Sirius shook his head, and said softly, "I'll be back."
With that, the door disappeared, and Sirius continued down the passageway,
leaving Harry and Remus to sit and wait in the office.
When Fudge came to the next door, he turned back to face Sirius. "Here he is." Fudge said, and threw the door open. Sirius walked through, and gazed down
at what was beneath him.
Behind a thick wall of glass, which surely must have been enchanted, sat Peter
Pettigrew. He looked thinner and more sickly than ever, and his pinkish skin
seemed too baggy for his body. His watery eyes darted around in fear, and he
was fussing with the sleeve of his robe nervously.
"Can he see us?" Sirius asked, still staring at Pettigrew.
"No. He only sees the Dementors."
It wasn't until then that Sirius noticed the hooded figures looming in the corner
of the area. Surprised that he couldn't feel their presence, he turned to Fudge
questioningly.
"I installed the glass to keep the aura of the Dementors out. I couldn't very
well conduct meetings outside of this room with them lurking around. The glass
is also sound-proofed and double-sided. He only sees himself." said Fudge,
shaking his head and looking disgustedly at Pettigrew.
Sirius walked closer to the glass. He put placed a hand on it, and glared at
Pettigrew.
In that instant, he felt all of his own emotions from the past 14 years come
rushing back. Hatred, grief, anger, hopelessness, and pain seemed to well up in
his chest at the same time. Before he could stop himself, Sirius bashed his
clamped fist into the glass. As shattering debris rained down upon him, he
stopped to notice the horrified look on Pettigrew's face. Sirius gently reminded
himself that it wouldn't be the last time he saw that look on that traitor's face.
Pettigrew would die, and Sirius would not rest until it came to pass.
~~
By Rainsong
A/N: Chapter 7! I'm trying to do as much writing as possible before I leave on vacation Thursday. Sorry to deprive everyone of updated fic for four days! In a perfect world, I'd complete chapter ten before leaving. I'll do my best! Thanks to prongsjr and Luna Rose for reviewing again! We're up to 13!
~~~~ Fudge led Harry, Remus, and Sirius down the marble hall to one of the elevators. He led all three of them onto the wiry carts, then said clearly 'Seventh floor!" The cart suddenly began to climb the levels, passing each floor as it went. They watched as two wizards fought over a document on the third floor, and saw what looked like a very confused house elf running in circles on the fifth floor. Finally, the cart arrived on the seventh floor, and the Minister's office came into full view.
The carpet was a rich crimson, and tall windows were shaded by silverly curtains. Fudge's well polished desk was cluttered with an assortment of papers to be signed, and more than a few owls rested on the three-foot perch that was set up in the corner. Fudge opened the door of the cart, and the four of them proceeded into his office. Fudge took a seat behind is desk, and conjured up a chair for each of them. They sat down, and waited for Fudge to speak.
"When I received word that Peter Pettigrew had been found alive, I was shocked." he began, folding his hands on the desk top. "I can assure you, the first person I thought of after hearing that news was you, Mr. Black. Suddenly, the events of years
past came into question. My worst fears were confirmed after hearing Pettigrew's confession. An innocent man had been put into Azkaban, and had suffered needlessly for over a decade." Sirius continued to stare at Fudge coldly.
"I remember well the months after your escape. I was the prime advocate for your recapture. I can do nothing more than congratulate you on staying well-hidden, or else we could have made another grievous error. And speaking of errors, we must be cautious not to commit another. That is why I have prearranged a joint trial for Pettigrew and yourself, assuming that you would come forward. And its quite lucky you did. Freedom is more or less dancing in your hands right now. Pettigrew is guilty." Fudge said, sounding as though he had been rehearsing his speech for
days.
"May I see Pettigrew?" Sirius asked. This seemed to catch Fudge off-guard.
"I - I suppose, if thetas what you wish. Follow me." Fudge said, standing up. He
crossed the room, pulling his wand out of his pocket. "Alohomora!" Fudge said,
and with his words, a door appeared out of the wall of the office. Fudge opened
it, and stepped through, beckoning for Sirius to follow him. Harry and Remus
stood up to follow, but Sirius shook his head, and said softly, "I'll be back."
With that, the door disappeared, and Sirius continued down the passageway,
leaving Harry and Remus to sit and wait in the office.
When Fudge came to the next door, he turned back to face Sirius. "Here he is." Fudge said, and threw the door open. Sirius walked through, and gazed down
at what was beneath him.
Behind a thick wall of glass, which surely must have been enchanted, sat Peter
Pettigrew. He looked thinner and more sickly than ever, and his pinkish skin
seemed too baggy for his body. His watery eyes darted around in fear, and he
was fussing with the sleeve of his robe nervously.
"Can he see us?" Sirius asked, still staring at Pettigrew.
"No. He only sees the Dementors."
It wasn't until then that Sirius noticed the hooded figures looming in the corner
of the area. Surprised that he couldn't feel their presence, he turned to Fudge
questioningly.
"I installed the glass to keep the aura of the Dementors out. I couldn't very
well conduct meetings outside of this room with them lurking around. The glass
is also sound-proofed and double-sided. He only sees himself." said Fudge,
shaking his head and looking disgustedly at Pettigrew.
Sirius walked closer to the glass. He put placed a hand on it, and glared at
Pettigrew.
In that instant, he felt all of his own emotions from the past 14 years come
rushing back. Hatred, grief, anger, hopelessness, and pain seemed to well up in
his chest at the same time. Before he could stop himself, Sirius bashed his
clamped fist into the glass. As shattering debris rained down upon him, he
stopped to notice the horrified look on Pettigrew's face. Sirius gently reminded
himself that it wouldn't be the last time he saw that look on that traitor's face.
Pettigrew would die, and Sirius would not rest until it came to pass.
~~