Chapter 20 All Shook Up

Sirius awoke in a hospital bed with a splitting headache. He slowly opened his eyes and looked around. Severus Snape was in the bed to his right and Remus Lupin was in the one to his left. Seated in a chair beside him was Albus Dumbledore.

"Lie still." Said Dumbledore when Sirius tried to sit up. "You three have been through a rather difficult time."

"Pettigrew?" Sirius asked.

"In custody." Dumbledore smiled, "And from what I hear, he is, as I believe the colloquial expression goes, singing like a canary. He has admitted handing James and Lilly Potter to Voldemort and has taken responsibility for the killing of the Muggles on the street."

"What about the Deatheaters?"

"They, along with Voldemort scattered when faced with a full elite wizard team along with a full grown werewolf." Said Dumbledore, "Voldemort, unfortunately eluded us but we managed to capture several of the Deatheaters including one Lucius Malfoy."

"Malfoy!" Sirius' eyes gleamed, "I'll bet the ministry loved that."

"Prosecuting him may be difficult." Dumbledore said sadly. "He swears that he had nothing to do with any attempt to injure you, Severus or Remus. In fact he claims he was trying to stop the Deatheaters from harming you."

Their conversation was interrupted by a groan from the bed on Sirius' right. Snape was waking up.

"Good morning, Severus." Said Dumbledore. "How are you feeling?"

"Like the floor of a kennel." Snape groaned. "Well Sirius, was it all worth it?"

"Professor Dumbledore says that Voldemort escaped but Peter Petigrew and several Deatheaters were captured, so I'd say things worked in our favor." Said Sirius. Then another thought occurred to him. "Professor Dumbledore, if Peter confessed, does that mean..?"

"I believe I'll let the answer to that question come from someone more official." Said Dumbledore smiling. The door burst open and in came Cornelius Fudge. He hurried to Sirius' bedside.

"Well done, my boy. Well done." Said Fudge as he pumped Sirius' hand. "I'd like to give you the Order of Merlin for this. I can't of course, since your involvement in all this never officially took place but I want you to know I would if I could. With Petigrew captured and the Deatheaters scattered, we have put a huge dent in Voldemort's organization and cleared your name in the process. Of course I knew all along that you were innocent. Your name has been officially cleared and your record expunged."

"You knew?" Sirius blinked. "Then all that fuss and fireworks you made at Azkaban was an act?"

"Yes." Answered Fudge. "Your escape was aided by myself and Professor Dumbledore with no small assistance from his Elf Dobby, who I might add was absolutely superb. My involvement could not be made known however in case something went wrong."

"Why were you helping me?" Sirius wondered.

"The ministry did not know the whereabouts of the Dark Lord." Fudge explained. "And following owls can be a bit cumbersome. When you were recaptured, it occurred to us that you might be the key to unraveling his organization. We threw you the red herring of Petigrew being a multiple animagus to inspire you to do it yourself. We further were hoping that you would use the small owl as your model form and thus you would aquire his directional abilities."

That's a lot of 'ifs.'" Sirius commented.

"Admittedly, yes." Confessed Fudge. "Frankly, I'm amazed it worked as well as it did. But work it did. You led us right were we needed to be."

"What if I had not followed that path?" Sirius thought out loud. "What if I had tried something else?"

"Then your escape, in all likelihood would not have succeeded." Said Fudge. "And we would have smuggled that equipment into Azkaban for nothing. It would do you little good inside the prison. Only when you were out would it be useful."

"You two set up the wand and the carpet?" Sirius wondered.

"Actually the carpet belongs to Hagrid." Said Dumbledore laughing. "Another of his card game conquests. When he offered it to me, I saw an opportunity to get an innocent man out of prison and at the same time smash the Dark Lord's organization and Minister Fudge agreed. I made a small detour to Olivander's and had the chopstick wand made. Bamboo, eight and one half inches, with the core being a whisker from a Chinese Fireball dragon. Fitting, don't you think? It also included a small tracking device so we could keep tabs on you and move the team in to assist you. Incidentally, you may be interested to know that Dobby is one of my Hogwarts House Elves. When it was learned that I would be visiting Azkaban, Warden Cromwell asked if I could spare an Elf for a short time. I outlined my thoughts to Dobby and he agreed to help provide you with the necessary accoutrements. He, the carpet and Pig are now back at Hogwarts."

"So did he plant the potion on me?"

"That was something that I would not ask Dobby to do." Dumbledore explained. "Too much could go wrong and if he were to be caught with a vial of potion, the consequences would be severe. I did not wish to suffer the loss of my Elf because he was merely following my instructions. So I'm afraid that I must take the blame, or credit if you will, for that little parlor trick. When we embraced in Cromwell's office, I took the opportunity to slip it into your pocket."

"There's just one thing I don't understand." Said Snape. "Why did Remus transform into a werewolf? I was sure my potion worked. I had tested and retested it. It could not have failed."

"It didn't." Said Sirius. "I caused the clouds to part and the moon to come out when I blasted that hole in the roof. I also did a transfiguration spell on Remus turning him into a werewolf. You said the potion had a ninety six point four percent chance of working. That other three point six percent was all I needed. I knew the wizard team was close and the presence of a werewolf shocked the Deatheaters and Voldemort enough to disorient them till the reinforcements got there."

"But they hit him with a Cruciatus curse." Countered Snape. "Are you telling me that werewolves feel no pain?"

"Oh, they feel it all right." Said Sirius, "But instead of disabling them, it only makes them madder. Nothing like having an infuriated werewolf on your side."

"Then what about the killing curse?" Snape insisted. "Remus was hit by that at least three times and it barely slowed him down. How could that not have affected him?"

"Come on, Severus." Prodded Sirius. "The answer to that is easier than the last question. This isn't racing broomstick design. Think, man. What is the only thing that can kill a werewolf?"

Snape groaned and slapped his forehead. "Of course." He remarked, "How could I be so blind. Everybody knows that. Silver bullets."

"That's right." Said Sirius. "And because of that, the killing curse is ineffective on werewolves. Voldemort is so blinded with arrogance and power he thinks he can do anything by sheer force. Well, he found out last night that it doesn't always work that way. He believed the killing curse was the answer to everything. He didn't take into account that there are exceptions to every rule. Remember when I told you that I was counting on them using forbidden curses? Now you know why."

"We need men like you in the Auror corps." Said Fudge. "If you like I can make the arrangements."

"Thanks, Minister." Said Sirius, "But I think I've had enough action for a while."

"Well, consider it a standing offer." Said Fudge, "If you change your mind, just call."

"I'll keep that in mind, sir." Sirius replied.

Fudge hurried toward the door. Then paused. "Oh, by the way Sirius." He said. "In light of your hippogriff's contribution to last night's operation, I have rescinded his execution order. Considering his current predicament, I don't believe Mr. Malfoy is in any position to object too strenuously. I trust that meets with your approval?"

"Yes, sir, it does." Sirius grinned. "Thank you, minister."

"No, thank YOU." Said Fudge. "The ministry owes you a great debt of gratitude. As such we are picking up the cost of your medical treatment; for all of you. Good luck to you. If I can ever be of assistance to you, do not hesitate to call."

"I'll do that, sir." Replied Sirius. "Do you know where Beaky and the Thestral are now?"

"Buckbeak and Midnight are at the Ministry Magical Creatures compound." Said Dumbledore. "I'll arrange to have them transported to Hogwarts where I'm sure Hagrid will be most delighted with their return."

Sirius looked over at the other bed where Remus Lupin lay. He had not moved or made a sound while all this was going on. "Professor," Said Sirius slowly. "What is Remus' condition?"

Just then a white-coated doctor entered the room. "I believe the doctor can explain it to you better that I." Dumbledore told Sirius.

"What about it, doctor?" Sirius anxiously inquired. "How is he?"

"His injuries were quite severe since he was in such close proximity to the blast." The doctor began. "Had he been in human form he quite probably would have been killed instantly. However, the werewolf body is large, tough and able to absorb much punishment. It afforded him enough protection so that his injuries, though serious, are not life threatening. I would say that this is the first case on record where being a werewolf actually saved someone's life. I have every confidence he will make a full recovery although it will take some time."

"That's great, Doctor." Sirius sighed. "Well Severus, how does it feel to be a hero?"

"Bah!" Snape snorted, "They could have put up more of a fight. I hardly broke a sweat." Then he broke out in a rare grin. "I'll tell you something if you promise never to tell another living soul." He whispered. "If you ever tell anyone I said this, I'm going to do something..Well, you won't like it."

"Point made." Sirius acknowledged, "Now what is it?"

"That," Said Snape gleefully, "Was the most fun I've had in ages."

Sirius and Dumbledore roared with laughter. "Why Severus," Dumbledore chuckled. "I didn't know you had it in you."

"By the way, Sirius." Said Dumbledore. "I have another proposition for you to consider."

Sirius rolled his eyes. "I hope it works out better than the last one, Professor." He guffawed.