A/N- I have decided to spread the final massive chapter over 3 different
mini-chapters. So if things carry on as they are, the story will conclude
at the end of Chapter 5. Thank you as always to those who reviewed my
story, it is appreciated greatly. Some people have expressed a concern
though that despite being allegedly serious, the story is too funny....I
cannot be blamed for this!!! I just naturally like adding humour to the
characters; it makes the whole thing more interesting then if it was
endlessly cynical. Consider this chapter slightly rushed! I admit it this
freely, it is completely irrelevant to the stories overall plot, who
cares.....I just felt like writing a chapter where nothing happened!!!!
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Chapter III
"Moony you are my Rembow"
Sirius had no idea why he said it, but it was something that needed to be said. Possibly the loneliness of being a dog for the daylight hours was getting to him. Sure, it was nice to have Muggle children tossing him unwanted junk food and patting him on the head every now and then, but Sirius craved some attention from someone he knew, and Remus Lupin was the only Marauder left who he would be able to engage in a conversation without whacking in the face.
Anyway, fantasies of whacking Peter aside, Sirius had spent the last 3 days living as that enigmatic and lovable stray dog on the streets of Plymouth.
The swim from Azkaban had been tough, but as a dog, easier then it would've been otherwise. It had taken two hours in total, but as each second passed and he travelled further from the fortress island he felt his anxieties and pain drift away.
Sirius Black, Sirius White, Sirius Green, Sirius Blue, Sirius Yellow, Sirius Purple.
Nothing more then a pointless memory now, the constant nights of colours flashing through his mind were gone forever.....hopefully. Sirius couldn't help but remain pessimistic that one day they would drag him back to Azkaban kicking and screaming, his sanity leaking away every step of the journey.
He was going nowhere yet though, not until his mission was complete. Not until Peter Pettigrew was lying in a morgue.
It was bad enough for Harry to be at threat from one of Voldemort's supporters, but it was even worse when Sirius thought of the embarrassment to Gryffindor if a 3rd year was killed by fat talentless Pettigrew, who used to struggle to outwit comatose Flobberworms.
The goal of destroying Pettigrew was a long way off though, but Sirius still found himself obsessively entertaining the notion as he lay messily eating an abandoned Big Mac in Plymouth city centre. He knew that if he returned to his default human form he would be caught instantly.
He had already sighted the Auror's wondering the streets of the city by night interrogating the homeless Muggles for information, so it was too risky to attempt changing until their search had moved northwards. Then, he would keep a few towns behind....slowly making his way up through the country until he reached Hogwarts. There he would find the proof of his innocence, and would walk as a free man once again.
For the time being he had to put up with just being a free dog.
Not exactly something to boast to your friends about, but he was still free....unlike the rest of those poor bastards languishing in Azkaban waiting for their appointment with insanity and eventually death. The dementors actively encouraged suicide. Suicide meant an empty cell. An empty cell meant a new prisoner. A new prisoner meant someone new to feed on. New emotions to extract.
The Ministry were furious, but Sirius knew deep down that the dementors were glad he had gone. Though their proficiency as guards was now in doubt, when Sirius was eventually dragged back to his cell they would have the essence of his crushed hope to play with....a new feeling to sample.
Padfoot finished his burger and used his front paws to toss the wrapper into a plastic bin. An elderly passer-by raised an eyebrow, and did a double take as Sirius trotted off back down the road.
Had that dog just disposed of his own rubbish?
The elderly passer-by would never know the truth, because Sirius was already in the distance, walking briskly past a supermarket.
*
Peter Pettigrew sat in a dusty and dilapidated armchair in the corner of the shrieking shack. He ate a fried chicken wing with his left hand, his right hand held a newspaper in front of his face. It was extremely rare for Peter to return to his human form, but he had taken this rare opportunity to sneak into Hogsmeade during Ron Weasley's Potions lesson and read the Daily Prophet.
BLACK STILL AT LARGE
"Sirius Black, possibly the most infamous prisoner ever to be held in Azkaban fortress, is still eluding capture, the Ministry of Magic confirmed today. 'We are doing all we can to recapture Black,' said the Minister for Magic, Cornelius Fudge, this morning, 'and we beg the magical community to remain calm.' Fudge has been criticised by some members of the International Federation of Warlocks for informing the Muggle Prime Minister of the crisis. 'Well, really, I had to, don't you know,' said an irritable. Fudge. 'Black is mad. He's a danger to anyone who crosses him, magic or Muggle. I have the Prime Minister's assurance that he will not breathe a word of Black's true identity to anyone. And let's face it - who'd believe him if he did?' While Muggles have been told that Black is carrying a gun (a kind of metal wand which Muggles use to kill each other), the magical community lives in fear of a massacre like that of twelve years ago, when Black murderer thirteen people with a single curse.'
Next to the article, there was a passport sized photograph of Black. He wasn't smiling, but instead just staring directly out of the camera though the tangle of beard. As he caught Sirius' eye, Peter Pettigrew shuddered.
"So....Sirius Black has escaped from Azkaban" Peter muttered, a combined feeling of fear and annoyance audible in his voice.
Peter tried to think of himself as brave when he smartly escaped from Black's wrath 12 years previously, but deep down he knew the same as Sirius....he was a pathetic excuse for a human being, who wished desperately that he hadn't betrayed his friends.
"Maybe If I tell the truth, they'll forgive me for betraying Lily and James" he spoke quietly, not realising that he was vocalising his thoughts.
"After all, because of me....the dark lord disappeared."
Peter threw aside the remains of his chicken wing and folded up the paper, praising himself.
"Maybe they'll even give me an award for playing a part in destroying him" he gleefully squealed, his delusional behaviour causing him to shout a little louder then necessary. Sadly though, Peter knew the truth. Sirius was coming to kill him. Sirius didn't care about the dark lord; he was coming to kill him because he betrayed the Marauders and the Order of the Phoenix.
With no hesitation, Peter transformed into Wormtail and scurried off back down the tunnel towards Hogwarts.
Meanwhile, down the road, a middle-aged witch was pushing a trolley full of books along.
"For gods sake, won't those ghosts ever shut up!"
TO BE CONTINUED....
Chapter III
"Moony you are my Rembow"
Sirius had no idea why he said it, but it was something that needed to be said. Possibly the loneliness of being a dog for the daylight hours was getting to him. Sure, it was nice to have Muggle children tossing him unwanted junk food and patting him on the head every now and then, but Sirius craved some attention from someone he knew, and Remus Lupin was the only Marauder left who he would be able to engage in a conversation without whacking in the face.
Anyway, fantasies of whacking Peter aside, Sirius had spent the last 3 days living as that enigmatic and lovable stray dog on the streets of Plymouth.
The swim from Azkaban had been tough, but as a dog, easier then it would've been otherwise. It had taken two hours in total, but as each second passed and he travelled further from the fortress island he felt his anxieties and pain drift away.
Sirius Black, Sirius White, Sirius Green, Sirius Blue, Sirius Yellow, Sirius Purple.
Nothing more then a pointless memory now, the constant nights of colours flashing through his mind were gone forever.....hopefully. Sirius couldn't help but remain pessimistic that one day they would drag him back to Azkaban kicking and screaming, his sanity leaking away every step of the journey.
He was going nowhere yet though, not until his mission was complete. Not until Peter Pettigrew was lying in a morgue.
It was bad enough for Harry to be at threat from one of Voldemort's supporters, but it was even worse when Sirius thought of the embarrassment to Gryffindor if a 3rd year was killed by fat talentless Pettigrew, who used to struggle to outwit comatose Flobberworms.
The goal of destroying Pettigrew was a long way off though, but Sirius still found himself obsessively entertaining the notion as he lay messily eating an abandoned Big Mac in Plymouth city centre. He knew that if he returned to his default human form he would be caught instantly.
He had already sighted the Auror's wondering the streets of the city by night interrogating the homeless Muggles for information, so it was too risky to attempt changing until their search had moved northwards. Then, he would keep a few towns behind....slowly making his way up through the country until he reached Hogwarts. There he would find the proof of his innocence, and would walk as a free man once again.
For the time being he had to put up with just being a free dog.
Not exactly something to boast to your friends about, but he was still free....unlike the rest of those poor bastards languishing in Azkaban waiting for their appointment with insanity and eventually death. The dementors actively encouraged suicide. Suicide meant an empty cell. An empty cell meant a new prisoner. A new prisoner meant someone new to feed on. New emotions to extract.
The Ministry were furious, but Sirius knew deep down that the dementors were glad he had gone. Though their proficiency as guards was now in doubt, when Sirius was eventually dragged back to his cell they would have the essence of his crushed hope to play with....a new feeling to sample.
Padfoot finished his burger and used his front paws to toss the wrapper into a plastic bin. An elderly passer-by raised an eyebrow, and did a double take as Sirius trotted off back down the road.
Had that dog just disposed of his own rubbish?
The elderly passer-by would never know the truth, because Sirius was already in the distance, walking briskly past a supermarket.
*
Peter Pettigrew sat in a dusty and dilapidated armchair in the corner of the shrieking shack. He ate a fried chicken wing with his left hand, his right hand held a newspaper in front of his face. It was extremely rare for Peter to return to his human form, but he had taken this rare opportunity to sneak into Hogsmeade during Ron Weasley's Potions lesson and read the Daily Prophet.
BLACK STILL AT LARGE
"Sirius Black, possibly the most infamous prisoner ever to be held in Azkaban fortress, is still eluding capture, the Ministry of Magic confirmed today. 'We are doing all we can to recapture Black,' said the Minister for Magic, Cornelius Fudge, this morning, 'and we beg the magical community to remain calm.' Fudge has been criticised by some members of the International Federation of Warlocks for informing the Muggle Prime Minister of the crisis. 'Well, really, I had to, don't you know,' said an irritable. Fudge. 'Black is mad. He's a danger to anyone who crosses him, magic or Muggle. I have the Prime Minister's assurance that he will not breathe a word of Black's true identity to anyone. And let's face it - who'd believe him if he did?' While Muggles have been told that Black is carrying a gun (a kind of metal wand which Muggles use to kill each other), the magical community lives in fear of a massacre like that of twelve years ago, when Black murderer thirteen people with a single curse.'
Next to the article, there was a passport sized photograph of Black. He wasn't smiling, but instead just staring directly out of the camera though the tangle of beard. As he caught Sirius' eye, Peter Pettigrew shuddered.
"So....Sirius Black has escaped from Azkaban" Peter muttered, a combined feeling of fear and annoyance audible in his voice.
Peter tried to think of himself as brave when he smartly escaped from Black's wrath 12 years previously, but deep down he knew the same as Sirius....he was a pathetic excuse for a human being, who wished desperately that he hadn't betrayed his friends.
"Maybe If I tell the truth, they'll forgive me for betraying Lily and James" he spoke quietly, not realising that he was vocalising his thoughts.
"After all, because of me....the dark lord disappeared."
Peter threw aside the remains of his chicken wing and folded up the paper, praising himself.
"Maybe they'll even give me an award for playing a part in destroying him" he gleefully squealed, his delusional behaviour causing him to shout a little louder then necessary. Sadly though, Peter knew the truth. Sirius was coming to kill him. Sirius didn't care about the dark lord; he was coming to kill him because he betrayed the Marauders and the Order of the Phoenix.
With no hesitation, Peter transformed into Wormtail and scurried off back down the tunnel towards Hogwarts.
Meanwhile, down the road, a middle-aged witch was pushing a trolley full of books along.
"For gods sake, won't those ghosts ever shut up!"
TO BE CONTINUED....