Harry did not leave the sides of his friends for the whole evening. The Dursleys, he had learned, had once more been summoned to a non-existing conference by Tonks, where they would also have to stay overnight until they would realize they've been tricked, so that they had the whole evening and at least half of the next day without being interrupted by Petunia's hysterical screams or Vernon's lion-like roars.
Molly Weasley and Remus had re-joined them after about twenty minutes and had found the friends huddled together, clinging to each other, saying nothing. When they entered the room, however, Harry looked up and loosened his grip on the others. Hermione stepped back (as far as she could, for Ron was still standing close behind her), and Ginny moved aside a little as well, though she still had an arm around Harry's waist, and Harry did not take his own arm off Ginny's shoulders.
They turned to Mrs Weasley and Remus, who stood there smiling.
"We did not mean to disturb you," said Remus. "We just heard Hermione say a little while ago that she knows what's going on with our eyes. As we didn't want to eavesdrop on you, we decided to ask you afterwards to repeat what you said."
Hermione looked at Remus, whose eyes were so much different from before, and then to Mrs Weasley. Harry followed her gaze and now noticed it, too. Mrs Weasley's formerly bright blue eyes seemed to have dimmed a little. The change wasn't as big as that with Ron, but it was there, clearly visible.
Hermione repeated her explanation.
When Mrs Weasley spoke, she seemed to be on the verge of tears. "Oh Hermione, dear," she said. "That's such a moving thought."
"I really think it could be true," said Hermione, who felt like being forced on the back foot by Mrs Weasley. "This change is biggest with those who loved Sirius most."
"You're right," said Remus. "You're absolutely right, Hermione. I wonder now how I could forget that. I've read about this phenomenon before. It occurs when a person dies completely unexpectedly and... and..." He broke up, and a look of immense surprise came onto his face.
"And what?" asked Ron.
"Not rightfully," said Remus in a low voice. "That's what it said, I'm pretty sure. Unexpectedly and not rightfully."
"But what does that mean?" asked Ginny. "Why do you look so excited about it, Remus?"
Hermione stared at Remus. Harry could virtually see her brains working.
"Remus," she whispered, "Remus... does it have anything to do with the story of this wizard in Scotland in 1927? What was his name again... Saturnus McGraw..."
"Yes," said Remus. "It's exactly the same situation, Hermione."
"But then..." Hermione went pale and could only whisper. "Remus, that means we could..."
"Could someone please explain what you're talking about?" said Ginny impatiently.
"Saturnus McGraw was a wizard who was killed by a Chimera in 1927," explained Hermione. "It was an accident... the Chimera had been shipped from Greece, and McGraw was supposed to look after her while she was transported to the Ministry. Newt Scamander (you know, the one who wrote the book 'Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them') had ordered one for study purposes or something... well, what does it matter. Someone from the crew of the ship was careless and accidentally lifted the spell from the cage the Chimera was kept in. She could escape and attacked McGraw, who died at once. His friends and family were shocked to the core. Saturnus had adopted a son two years ago, who was, naturally, grieving half to death. This adopted son now tried everything, but he didn't find anything useful. And then he did something that really made Saturnus return, unscathed and mentally completely healthy, as though that incident with the Chimera had never happened. I don't know what he did, it doesn't say in the book, I only remember that it had something to do with fate... Remus, do you know anything more?"
Remus nodded slowly. "I also don't know what he did, but I do know that it said that Saturnus's death wasn't rightful. After his return, he defeated the most evil wizard of that time, Nero Redsnake... what I want to say is that Saturnus was meant to remain on earth until his fate - probably defeating Redsnake - had fulfilled, and his death before that interfered with his fate. So his adopted son was given the opportunity to do something which brought Saturnus back to life."
"But what about the eyes?" asked Ron. "If that change occurs only when such an opportunity will be given, Hermione's theory must be wrong - or do others who lose a beloved one, and whose eyes remain the same, not have a soul?"
"No," said Remus, "of course the others also have a soul. But every kind of emotion affects your soul, and your eyes don't change their color when you're angry or sad or happy, do they? Death and grief are a part of life, so they are bearable. But these deaths I am talking about are unbearable; the grief over them exceeds the normal grief; it's simply more than your soul can take. Saturnus's death, for example, caught everyone completely unawares. And the eyes of his friends and family were changing as well. I suppose our eyes are changing because we grieve more than we actually should, if Sirius's death had been rightful."
Ginny squirmed. "Does that mean..."
Remus turned to her. "Basically it means that Sirius's death was not only unexpected but it should not have happened. His fate was meant to be a different one. And Bellatrix Lestrange offended Fate by killing him. Someone needs to settle the matter."
"What do you mean?" Harry did not dare trusting the idea he had; he did not want to allow that wild thrill of hope rising in him... he could not bear to be disappointed... he needed to be sure.
Remus's voice remained calm, but Harry saw a wild flickering in his eyes. "It means, Harry, that maybe - just maybe, if Hermione's and my deduction is correct - there is something we can do to bring Sirius back."
xxx
For a while, nobody spoke. Harry's thoughts were spinning in his head. He needed some time to fully take in what Remus had explained. Bringing Sirius back to life... there was nothing in the world he desired more, and he would have done or given anything for that.
"How... how did that adopted son do it?" Ron asked in a shaky voice.
Remus shrugged. "It doesn't say in the book I read."
"Is there any way to find out?" asked Ginny. "He might still be alive... do you know where he lives? What's his name, anyway?"
"I don't know his name," said Remus. "It's kept secret; nobody mentioned it."
"So what can we do to find out?" asked Harry bitterly. "If we don't know his name and if he still lives, and where, how can we find out about him?"
"I'll ask Dumbledore about it," said Remus. "If anyone knows, then Albus."
Mrs Weasley, who had remained silent all the time, suddenly spoke again. "You needn't do that, Remus," she said. "I think I know who he is."
All the others spinned around and looked at her.
"You all know him," Mrs Weasley continued. "It's Kingsley Shacklebolt."
