Chapter 2
Sirius couldn't feel a thing besides the hate and anger which had been slowly infesting his heart since this whole segment began. His thoughts were of the Hippogriff who was just pronounced dead and his guilt for not having saved him from the demonic laws of this outcaste group of Leprechauns. Buckbeak was his friend even though he was just an animal. His feelings towards the beast were that of a relative of some sorts being that he had been his only companion since his escape from the Dementors in June. As he sat there on his throne listening to the bogus charges brought forth by this toddler sized evil Chriton, his blood began to boil and vengeance filled his heart.
"I will not give them the satisfaction by showing fear." He said to himself as more questions erupted from behind the bench.
His new enemy appearing to have frustration building at the lack of reaction Sirius was showing to his threats.
"Maybe this was something to remember." Sirius thought but his own frustration was keeping his mind impure and not thinking rationally. He had to regroup and concentrate on a way out of this dismal place.
"It was most unfortunate but our laws are quite clear on this matter Mr. Black, Hippogriffs are deemed loyal to the Reilly's and have been known to attack our members without any warning and with a devastating outcome. Your animal tried to kill one of our guards during the time of your arrest and had to be out down in the forest below." Explained the Chriton.
"However I would not be so concerned with the fate of that blasted beast when your own judgement befalls you. I must admit that your are unlike any Reilly I have ever encountered before, mainly due to your size and manner but strange reports of morphing into Human subjects have been sent back by some of our spies in their faction."
He gave Sirius a most sincere look and continued. "It is therefore my decision that you will be remanded here on the mountain until a full investigation of your past can be verified by the council of inquisitors. Do you have any questions regarding your sentence?"
Sirius was turning red but broke his silence and asked, "And how long will the investigation take? I have important personal matters to attend to and any further delay could cost innocent lives."
"The answer to your question solely remains on your shoulders Mr. Black. If you cooperate with the council and give an honest account of your actions, your could be on your way within the month." Replied the Chriton.
Somehow Sirius found it hard to believe that they would just simply let him go after everything that had happened to him over the past week. He also gave some thought to Damian Malfoy and what he must have done to have been imprisoned for nearly twenty years.
The trial was over and Sirius was blindfolded once again for his trip back to his cell. On the way he tried to be a little more conscious of how many steps were climbed and any inkling of anything that might be familiar such as windows, statues or landmarks to guide the way. The only recognizable aspect were the sounds and the smells. Once he was led out of the chamber and back into the hallway, he distinctly noticed the odor of Sulfur again coming from the opposite direction as well as the sounds of what he could only describe as hammering. As he moved up the long staircase the smell was less prevalent and the banging softer and softer. After three hundred and thirty three foot wide stairs, two left turns and one right, Sirius was back in his cell once again; the restraints and the black hood removed. His homecoming felt almost comforting in a way probably due to the return of most of his senses but in just a short while despair came with the sensations of complete darkness and arctic temperature.
"Your first interview will be with Seamus McCabe in the morning. In the mean time, you will be wanting a meal I suppose." The guard said and tossed a bowl of what Sirius guessed to be porridge and a two flasks, one of water and the second surprisingly filled with rum.
The guard left and immediately Sirius took a swig of water and ate a mouthful of the food. He then turned to his right to find Damian sitting and asked,
"Would you like any?"
Damian obviously pleased by the offer declined on the food but anxiously downed a few gulps of the rum. Both men could feel the sudden warmth left by the alcohol and finished the bottle in no time falling into a stupor on their respective floors.
Sirius awoke to the now familiar sound of rattling chains and sat up as the noise grew closer. Before he could wipe the sleep from his eyes, the same guard from the night before approached and spoke.
"It is time to meet with Inquisitor McCabe Black."
Once again Sirius was handcuffed, a dark hood placed over his face, and led by the guard to the hallway where they began a trip down the steep staircase. The smell of Sulfur getting stronger and the sounds of banging metal penetrated his hearing as Sirius noticed that the once three hundred and thirty three steps now were four hundred and forty four. The two distinguishing aspects of the decline were now twice as strong as before and Sirius felt as though he might not make it another step without being sick. His guide left his side to open what Sirius believed to be an entrance and returned to remove the hood. What Sirius then Saw was astonishing. Here was a room large enough to house a Norwegian Horntail with walls made out of what Sirius could only guess was solid gold. There were only three chairs in the middle, all thrones, although not as intricate as his from yesterday's trial.
"Please be seated." Came a voice.
Sirius noticed that there were two Druids dressed in Red sitting the two of the seats which were facing the other. His first reaction was to rush them knowing that they were much smaller than he was and probably not armed. He was astonished when the Druid who just asked him to sit gave a sharp response,
"I can assure you Mr. Black that although this place may seem much less guarded as the rest of the Mountain, Mr. McCabe and myself are fully capable of spreading Mist throughout the room in a matter of seconds."
This caught Sirius by surprise thinking that he had to watch what he was thinking as well as what he said.
"Now if you would please take a seat I can assure you that your safety will be thoroughly maintained." the same Druid said calmly.
Sirius did as he was asked and stared directly in front at the two tiny men in charge of this inquisition.
At closer glance Sirius realized that not only did these Druids give the appearance of being truly full of themselves but they had also this look of superiority over the rest the world. Almost at once the other of the two began to speak, shifting his small frame around in the throne to seemingly get more comfortable.
"Well, Mr. Black let me introduce myself. I am Seamus Franais McCabe, grand inquisitor of the Druids of Chriton. To my right is my assistant, Ryan McGlone."
Seamus pointed one of his long claws in the direction of his counterpart. Both men looked characteristically similar; both with flaming red beards, emerald green eyes and both dressed completely in red.
Seamus continued, "It is my responsibility to the Chriton to interrogate you for the crimes you are accused and give an objective report to the Grand Chriton personally. So you can well see that your fate rests solely in my hands."
This time Seamus had a weak smile on his face as to say "Don't mess with me!"
After he received the look of anticipation from Sirius he was obviously seeking he lead on.
" Over the course of the next few days I will be asking you to answer some rather personal yet important questions and as I am sure you realize by now there is no use in trying to withhold the truth because both of us will surely know if you are lying."
This was as Seamus mentioned to Sirius understood.
"Whenever these situations arise I find myself needing to as the accused one question that will determine not only the location but also the quality of their stay here."
Sirius nodded in acknowledgment.
"Mr. Black," asked the inquisitor "What do you hope to gain from your experience here on the mountain? Some of the many that do not cooperate with our objectives end up living very miserable lives; wasting away locked in their cells for yeas at a time with no hope of reprieve."
Sirius choked. His fears realized immediately that there was this strong suspicion that his captures had no intention of allowing his ever to walk away from this place a free man. His first thought in this was of Harry. He only just began his new found relationship and the promises he had made could now rest in a group of paranoid and arrogant Midgets. Sirius tried to sound out his answer carefully and with his best poker face he replied.
"I only hope to help you with your investigation, do my time peacefully and leave a free man after your questions are answered satisfactory."
Seamus smiled and said "Mr. Black, I think that we are going to get along smashingly!
Sirius couldn't feel a thing besides the hate and anger which had been slowly infesting his heart since this whole segment began. His thoughts were of the Hippogriff who was just pronounced dead and his guilt for not having saved him from the demonic laws of this outcaste group of Leprechauns. Buckbeak was his friend even though he was just an animal. His feelings towards the beast were that of a relative of some sorts being that he had been his only companion since his escape from the Dementors in June. As he sat there on his throne listening to the bogus charges brought forth by this toddler sized evil Chriton, his blood began to boil and vengeance filled his heart.
"I will not give them the satisfaction by showing fear." He said to himself as more questions erupted from behind the bench.
His new enemy appearing to have frustration building at the lack of reaction Sirius was showing to his threats.
"Maybe this was something to remember." Sirius thought but his own frustration was keeping his mind impure and not thinking rationally. He had to regroup and concentrate on a way out of this dismal place.
"It was most unfortunate but our laws are quite clear on this matter Mr. Black, Hippogriffs are deemed loyal to the Reilly's and have been known to attack our members without any warning and with a devastating outcome. Your animal tried to kill one of our guards during the time of your arrest and had to be out down in the forest below." Explained the Chriton.
"However I would not be so concerned with the fate of that blasted beast when your own judgement befalls you. I must admit that your are unlike any Reilly I have ever encountered before, mainly due to your size and manner but strange reports of morphing into Human subjects have been sent back by some of our spies in their faction."
He gave Sirius a most sincere look and continued. "It is therefore my decision that you will be remanded here on the mountain until a full investigation of your past can be verified by the council of inquisitors. Do you have any questions regarding your sentence?"
Sirius was turning red but broke his silence and asked, "And how long will the investigation take? I have important personal matters to attend to and any further delay could cost innocent lives."
"The answer to your question solely remains on your shoulders Mr. Black. If you cooperate with the council and give an honest account of your actions, your could be on your way within the month." Replied the Chriton.
Somehow Sirius found it hard to believe that they would just simply let him go after everything that had happened to him over the past week. He also gave some thought to Damian Malfoy and what he must have done to have been imprisoned for nearly twenty years.
The trial was over and Sirius was blindfolded once again for his trip back to his cell. On the way he tried to be a little more conscious of how many steps were climbed and any inkling of anything that might be familiar such as windows, statues or landmarks to guide the way. The only recognizable aspect were the sounds and the smells. Once he was led out of the chamber and back into the hallway, he distinctly noticed the odor of Sulfur again coming from the opposite direction as well as the sounds of what he could only describe as hammering. As he moved up the long staircase the smell was less prevalent and the banging softer and softer. After three hundred and thirty three foot wide stairs, two left turns and one right, Sirius was back in his cell once again; the restraints and the black hood removed. His homecoming felt almost comforting in a way probably due to the return of most of his senses but in just a short while despair came with the sensations of complete darkness and arctic temperature.
"Your first interview will be with Seamus McCabe in the morning. In the mean time, you will be wanting a meal I suppose." The guard said and tossed a bowl of what Sirius guessed to be porridge and a two flasks, one of water and the second surprisingly filled with rum.
The guard left and immediately Sirius took a swig of water and ate a mouthful of the food. He then turned to his right to find Damian sitting and asked,
"Would you like any?"
Damian obviously pleased by the offer declined on the food but anxiously downed a few gulps of the rum. Both men could feel the sudden warmth left by the alcohol and finished the bottle in no time falling into a stupor on their respective floors.
Sirius awoke to the now familiar sound of rattling chains and sat up as the noise grew closer. Before he could wipe the sleep from his eyes, the same guard from the night before approached and spoke.
"It is time to meet with Inquisitor McCabe Black."
Once again Sirius was handcuffed, a dark hood placed over his face, and led by the guard to the hallway where they began a trip down the steep staircase. The smell of Sulfur getting stronger and the sounds of banging metal penetrated his hearing as Sirius noticed that the once three hundred and thirty three steps now were four hundred and forty four. The two distinguishing aspects of the decline were now twice as strong as before and Sirius felt as though he might not make it another step without being sick. His guide left his side to open what Sirius believed to be an entrance and returned to remove the hood. What Sirius then Saw was astonishing. Here was a room large enough to house a Norwegian Horntail with walls made out of what Sirius could only guess was solid gold. There were only three chairs in the middle, all thrones, although not as intricate as his from yesterday's trial.
"Please be seated." Came a voice.
Sirius noticed that there were two Druids dressed in Red sitting the two of the seats which were facing the other. His first reaction was to rush them knowing that they were much smaller than he was and probably not armed. He was astonished when the Druid who just asked him to sit gave a sharp response,
"I can assure you Mr. Black that although this place may seem much less guarded as the rest of the Mountain, Mr. McCabe and myself are fully capable of spreading Mist throughout the room in a matter of seconds."
This caught Sirius by surprise thinking that he had to watch what he was thinking as well as what he said.
"Now if you would please take a seat I can assure you that your safety will be thoroughly maintained." the same Druid said calmly.
Sirius did as he was asked and stared directly in front at the two tiny men in charge of this inquisition.
At closer glance Sirius realized that not only did these Druids give the appearance of being truly full of themselves but they had also this look of superiority over the rest the world. Almost at once the other of the two began to speak, shifting his small frame around in the throne to seemingly get more comfortable.
"Well, Mr. Black let me introduce myself. I am Seamus Franais McCabe, grand inquisitor of the Druids of Chriton. To my right is my assistant, Ryan McGlone."
Seamus pointed one of his long claws in the direction of his counterpart. Both men looked characteristically similar; both with flaming red beards, emerald green eyes and both dressed completely in red.
Seamus continued, "It is my responsibility to the Chriton to interrogate you for the crimes you are accused and give an objective report to the Grand Chriton personally. So you can well see that your fate rests solely in my hands."
This time Seamus had a weak smile on his face as to say "Don't mess with me!"
After he received the look of anticipation from Sirius he was obviously seeking he lead on.
" Over the course of the next few days I will be asking you to answer some rather personal yet important questions and as I am sure you realize by now there is no use in trying to withhold the truth because both of us will surely know if you are lying."
This was as Seamus mentioned to Sirius understood.
"Whenever these situations arise I find myself needing to as the accused one question that will determine not only the location but also the quality of their stay here."
Sirius nodded in acknowledgment.
"Mr. Black," asked the inquisitor "What do you hope to gain from your experience here on the mountain? Some of the many that do not cooperate with our objectives end up living very miserable lives; wasting away locked in their cells for yeas at a time with no hope of reprieve."
Sirius choked. His fears realized immediately that there was this strong suspicion that his captures had no intention of allowing his ever to walk away from this place a free man. His first thought in this was of Harry. He only just began his new found relationship and the promises he had made could now rest in a group of paranoid and arrogant Midgets. Sirius tried to sound out his answer carefully and with his best poker face he replied.
"I only hope to help you with your investigation, do my time peacefully and leave a free man after your questions are answered satisfactory."
Seamus smiled and said "Mr. Black, I think that we are going to get along smashingly!