Chapter 3
Harry opened his eyes wearily. His head was pounding. Grimmauld Place? What am I doing here? It was all a dream! He threw back the covers and rushed into the hall. It was still dim outside. Sirius must still be in bed. He bounded down the hall and threw open Sirius's bedroom door.
"Sirius!", he called grinning madly. The bed was unmade and there were dirty clothes in a pile on the floor. He must be down in the kitchen already, Harry thought. He turned and rushed down the stairs. He fumbled a bit on the last chair and bounced off of the wall with a loud, "oof."
Unfortunately, this woke the painting of Sirius's mother. The curtains flew back and she began screeching. "Blood Traitors! Half breeds! Filthy mud blood whores! Get out of my house!"
Remus popped his head out of the kitchen doorway. He was frowning. Harry noticed the dark circles under his eyes and the lines in his face seemed deeper than ever. When Remus noticed Harry he grinned, brightening his face significantly. "Harry, its you." He said.
He walked down the length of the hall and stood in front of the offensive painting. "Oh shut up you old bat!", he said and closed the curtains, quieting her immediately. He turned and smiled at Harry. "Phineas let her have it after he found out about Sirius. She has been easier to manage ever since.", he said walking back to the kitchen door. "Come on in. I made breakfast.", he said apologetically. "Molly will be back with the kids in about a weak. They are in Romania visiting with Charlie."
Harry looked at Remus and tilted his head, "What do you mean ever since Phineas found out about Sirius?", he said. The world around him began spinning. It had all been a dream hadn't it? Sirius was in the kitchen drinking coffee and laughing at the headlines in the Daily Prophet. He had to be.
Harry felt Remus put his arm around him. "Come on, you should sit down." Harry allowed Remus to lead him into the kitchen. He sat down and looked around the room. Sirius was not here. Sirius was dead. He placed his head in his hands, and closed himself off.
"Harry, there is going to be a funeral for Sirius. Dumbledore said that you should come. Here," Remus said placing something in front of Harry. "You should read this."
Harry opened his eyes. In front of him was today's edition of the Daily Prophet.
Sirius Black found innocent!
The Ministry of Magic has released information that Sirius Black was indeed innocent of the crimes he was imprisoned for nearly 15 years ago. Albus Dumbledore gave our reporter Rita Skeeter and exclusive interview giving all of the facts.
Rita: If Black didn't commit the crimes who did?
Dumbledore: Sirius informed me that at the last moment he and James decided to make Peter Pettigrew the Potters Secret Keeper. Sirius thought that -omitted for content-would not believe that Peter was their secret keeper. Sirius thought that --omitted for content-would seek him out, leaving Peter alone. Sirius was the obvious choice for Secret Keeper. Unfortunately, Peter was the spy that -omitted for content-had within the Potters fold. We had suspected that -omitted for content-had a spy for some time. We found out who it was too late.
Rita: Yes. Where has Peter Pettigrew been all of this time?
Dumbledore: Peter was an animagi. He was hiding in a wizarding family as a rat. When Sirius figured out where he was hiding he broke out of prison to track him down. He hoped to protect Harry of course, because he was Harry's Godfather. He managed to capture Peter, but Peter managed to escape, and return to -omitted for content--.
Rita: What family was Pettigrew hiding in?
Dumbledore: No comment
Rita: So, where is Black now? Why is he still hiding when the Ministry of Magic has given him a full pardon, and The Order of Merlin First Class?
Dumbledore: Sirius Black was murdered by his cousin Bellatrix Lestrange in the battle at the Ministry of Magic. Sirius Black, though wanted by the Ministry all of this time, has been helping in the efforts to thwart -omitted for content--.
Rita: Oh, how truly tragic. Now that the Ministry and the Wizarding world know that you-know-who is back are you intending to take a more active role in the Ministry?
Dumbedore: No, I am Head Master of Hogwarts. Cornelius Fudge is the Minister of Magic. I have informed if he needs me at all I am willing.
Rita: So, you have no intention of going for the job?
Dumbledore: Certainly not. Cornelius is doing just fine.
Rita: Is there anything you would like to inform the community?
Dumbledore: We will make it through this. We must work together, and put aside prejudice. ---omitted for content--- thrives on chaos. Working together we will bring he and his followers to justice.
Rita: Of course. Thank you Albus
Harry looked up at Remus. "Order of Merlin First Class?"
Remus nodded, "Yes, and it is about time. Don't you think?"
Harry grinned proudly. "Yes." He began digging into the eggs and hash browns that Remus had made.
Sirius was gone now, but his name had been cleared. Everyone knew he was innocent. He had that.
Harry opened his eyes wearily. His head was pounding. Grimmauld Place? What am I doing here? It was all a dream! He threw back the covers and rushed into the hall. It was still dim outside. Sirius must still be in bed. He bounded down the hall and threw open Sirius's bedroom door.
"Sirius!", he called grinning madly. The bed was unmade and there were dirty clothes in a pile on the floor. He must be down in the kitchen already, Harry thought. He turned and rushed down the stairs. He fumbled a bit on the last chair and bounced off of the wall with a loud, "oof."
Unfortunately, this woke the painting of Sirius's mother. The curtains flew back and she began screeching. "Blood Traitors! Half breeds! Filthy mud blood whores! Get out of my house!"
Remus popped his head out of the kitchen doorway. He was frowning. Harry noticed the dark circles under his eyes and the lines in his face seemed deeper than ever. When Remus noticed Harry he grinned, brightening his face significantly. "Harry, its you." He said.
He walked down the length of the hall and stood in front of the offensive painting. "Oh shut up you old bat!", he said and closed the curtains, quieting her immediately. He turned and smiled at Harry. "Phineas let her have it after he found out about Sirius. She has been easier to manage ever since.", he said walking back to the kitchen door. "Come on in. I made breakfast.", he said apologetically. "Molly will be back with the kids in about a weak. They are in Romania visiting with Charlie."
Harry looked at Remus and tilted his head, "What do you mean ever since Phineas found out about Sirius?", he said. The world around him began spinning. It had all been a dream hadn't it? Sirius was in the kitchen drinking coffee and laughing at the headlines in the Daily Prophet. He had to be.
Harry felt Remus put his arm around him. "Come on, you should sit down." Harry allowed Remus to lead him into the kitchen. He sat down and looked around the room. Sirius was not here. Sirius was dead. He placed his head in his hands, and closed himself off.
"Harry, there is going to be a funeral for Sirius. Dumbledore said that you should come. Here," Remus said placing something in front of Harry. "You should read this."
Harry opened his eyes. In front of him was today's edition of the Daily Prophet.
Sirius Black found innocent!
The Ministry of Magic has released information that Sirius Black was indeed innocent of the crimes he was imprisoned for nearly 15 years ago. Albus Dumbledore gave our reporter Rita Skeeter and exclusive interview giving all of the facts.
Rita: If Black didn't commit the crimes who did?
Dumbledore: Sirius informed me that at the last moment he and James decided to make Peter Pettigrew the Potters Secret Keeper. Sirius thought that -omitted for content-would not believe that Peter was their secret keeper. Sirius thought that --omitted for content-would seek him out, leaving Peter alone. Sirius was the obvious choice for Secret Keeper. Unfortunately, Peter was the spy that -omitted for content-had within the Potters fold. We had suspected that -omitted for content-had a spy for some time. We found out who it was too late.
Rita: Yes. Where has Peter Pettigrew been all of this time?
Dumbledore: Peter was an animagi. He was hiding in a wizarding family as a rat. When Sirius figured out where he was hiding he broke out of prison to track him down. He hoped to protect Harry of course, because he was Harry's Godfather. He managed to capture Peter, but Peter managed to escape, and return to -omitted for content--.
Rita: What family was Pettigrew hiding in?
Dumbledore: No comment
Rita: So, where is Black now? Why is he still hiding when the Ministry of Magic has given him a full pardon, and The Order of Merlin First Class?
Dumbledore: Sirius Black was murdered by his cousin Bellatrix Lestrange in the battle at the Ministry of Magic. Sirius Black, though wanted by the Ministry all of this time, has been helping in the efforts to thwart -omitted for content--.
Rita: Oh, how truly tragic. Now that the Ministry and the Wizarding world know that you-know-who is back are you intending to take a more active role in the Ministry?
Dumbedore: No, I am Head Master of Hogwarts. Cornelius Fudge is the Minister of Magic. I have informed if he needs me at all I am willing.
Rita: So, you have no intention of going for the job?
Dumbledore: Certainly not. Cornelius is doing just fine.
Rita: Is there anything you would like to inform the community?
Dumbledore: We will make it through this. We must work together, and put aside prejudice. ---omitted for content--- thrives on chaos. Working together we will bring he and his followers to justice.
Rita: Of course. Thank you Albus
Harry looked up at Remus. "Order of Merlin First Class?"
Remus nodded, "Yes, and it is about time. Don't you think?"
Harry grinned proudly. "Yes." He began digging into the eggs and hash browns that Remus had made.
Sirius was gone now, but his name had been cleared. Everyone knew he was innocent. He had that.
