Chapter 2 The Attack
Mrs. Figg and Harry did as they were told, and just in time as well. At that moment, about a dozen death-eaters came out of the fire!! Spells were flying around everywhere that you could see. People here and there getting stunned and cursed.
Having adapted to his quick agility ability on the quidditch pitch, Harry was able to dodge the curses that were being sent his way by the death- eaters. However, the death-eaters weren't as lucky. Having the brains that they had, the death-eaters were being stunned and tied up before they even knew what was happening.
Once all of the death-eaters had been stunned and tied, Professor Dumbledore went over to the fire and through some powder in. This time the fire roared a bright orange colour. Knowing that this was not floo powder, Harry began to wonder what it was. Luckily, his question was answered for him.
Harry had only seen this happen once before; when he was at the Weasley's house before he began his fourth year at Hogwarts, and in the Gryffindor common room before he faced the Hungarian Horntail dragon for the first task in the Triwizard Tournament.
In the fire, was a head. The head of the Minster for Magic himself. Though he was not in his full body. It showed his head right down to his neck.
'What is it Albus?' he queried.
'Nothing Cornelius, only I thought that you might want to round up, and question about a dozen death-eaters that are here in my office,' replied Professor Dumbledore.
Seeing the look on the minister's face, Harry had to lead himself from the room so that he could release the fit of laughter that he was holding inside of him. He couldn't believe it, Professor Dumbledore, headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, reply this way in front of a 'serious' Minster for Magic.
When Harry had finally calmed down his laughter hysterics, he re- entered Professor Dumbledore's office, only to find that Mrs. Figg and the professor were now not the only ones in the room anymore. The Minister for Magic, Cornelius Fudge himself was also standing in the office.
'Harry! What are you doing here? Shouldn't you be at your aunt and uncle's house enjoying your summer vacation?' asked Fudge.
'Well, Cornelius, if you would kindly seat yourself, I'm sure that Harry would be glad to tell you the reason in why he is here sitting in my office.' Dumbledore replied. 'But that is, after we take care of some necessary arrangements first.'
'What kind of necessary arrangements Albus?' Fudge asked suspiciously.
'You'll see.' Then turning to Arabella, Dumbledore asked, 'Arabella would you kindly please go and ask Severus Snape to come to my office straight away, and, if he could please bring his strongest veritaserum?'
Harry had a confused expression on his face. Why would Dumbledore want Professor Snape come and listen to the reason why Harry was here? Why did Dumbledore want Snape to bring his strongest veritaserum? Harry just looked at Dumbledore with a quizzical look, but Dumbledore gave Harry a look that told Harry not to ask, and that he would find out in a minute.
About five minutes later, Mrs. Figg returned to the office, except this time she was accompanied by Professor Snape, who looked just as quizzical as Harry did.
'Ah, thank you Severus,' responded Dumbledore.
Professor Snape nodded and was about to leave, when Dumbledore asked him if he could remain to listen. Snape nodded once again and took a seat.
Dumbledore, to everyone's complete surprise, once again walked over to the fire and summoned Remus Lupin, one of Harry's old professors and to everyone else's complete surprise, except for Harry, Dumbledore also summoned Sirius.
The minister looked up at Sirius when he came out of the fire, and Sirius stared back, except that his eyes showed shock and nervousness.
Feeling that the air was tense Dumbledore broke the silence. 'Don't worry Sirius, you'll be fine. Minister, there are some things that must be cleared up. The first one being that Sirius will get a fair trial right here, and now, under the power of a veritaserum.'
Everyone looked up at Professor Dumbledore not knowing if they actually heard him correctly. But Dumbledore just smiled, which meant that there was no mistaking him. Fudge being to stunned to speak, just nodded in approval.
So the trial began. Sirius took the veritaserum and had a few drops. The minister, as well as Dumbledore, questioned Sirius about the night that the Potter's were killed, and the fact that Peter Pettigrew was supposedly dead. Finally, after what seemed like about an hour of questioning Sirius about his 'guiltiness,' the minister realized that there was not much point of asking anything else, for Sirius, had been proven pretty much innocent.
'Very well Dumbledore,' said Fudge after the questioning was completed. 'I shall notify the daily profit about your innocence Mr. Black. We apologize for our mistake and hope that you will accept our apology. We will add quite a bit of money for you in your vault, find you a nice house, and try to find you a job.'
'Ah, yes, about the job. Sirius, we need a new Defense Against the Dark Arts professor, and since that has always been your favourite and best subject, I was wondering if you'd like to accept the position?' Dumbledore queried.
Sirius looked stunned, but Harry could tell that he really did want the job, and told Dumbledore that he'd take it!!
Harry was highly stunned at this time. The only thing that burst his bubble was the next thing that Dumbledore stated.
'Sirius, Remus, Severus, Cornelius, we need to talk about a few things. Harry you're going to have to go return to your dormitory in the Gryffindor tower.' Dumbledore simply stated.
Noticing that there was no twinkle in Dumbledore's eyes, Harry quickly left the office, but paused outside for a minute. What he heard, told him that he was not to listen to the rest of it.
'Sirius, Remus, you're going to have to te...
'We know professor. We shall tell him in the morning.' Remus replied.
With that Harry went up to his dormitory and went to sleep.
Mrs. Figg and Harry did as they were told, and just in time as well. At that moment, about a dozen death-eaters came out of the fire!! Spells were flying around everywhere that you could see. People here and there getting stunned and cursed.
Having adapted to his quick agility ability on the quidditch pitch, Harry was able to dodge the curses that were being sent his way by the death- eaters. However, the death-eaters weren't as lucky. Having the brains that they had, the death-eaters were being stunned and tied up before they even knew what was happening.
Once all of the death-eaters had been stunned and tied, Professor Dumbledore went over to the fire and through some powder in. This time the fire roared a bright orange colour. Knowing that this was not floo powder, Harry began to wonder what it was. Luckily, his question was answered for him.
Harry had only seen this happen once before; when he was at the Weasley's house before he began his fourth year at Hogwarts, and in the Gryffindor common room before he faced the Hungarian Horntail dragon for the first task in the Triwizard Tournament.
In the fire, was a head. The head of the Minster for Magic himself. Though he was not in his full body. It showed his head right down to his neck.
'What is it Albus?' he queried.
'Nothing Cornelius, only I thought that you might want to round up, and question about a dozen death-eaters that are here in my office,' replied Professor Dumbledore.
Seeing the look on the minister's face, Harry had to lead himself from the room so that he could release the fit of laughter that he was holding inside of him. He couldn't believe it, Professor Dumbledore, headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, reply this way in front of a 'serious' Minster for Magic.
When Harry had finally calmed down his laughter hysterics, he re- entered Professor Dumbledore's office, only to find that Mrs. Figg and the professor were now not the only ones in the room anymore. The Minister for Magic, Cornelius Fudge himself was also standing in the office.
'Harry! What are you doing here? Shouldn't you be at your aunt and uncle's house enjoying your summer vacation?' asked Fudge.
'Well, Cornelius, if you would kindly seat yourself, I'm sure that Harry would be glad to tell you the reason in why he is here sitting in my office.' Dumbledore replied. 'But that is, after we take care of some necessary arrangements first.'
'What kind of necessary arrangements Albus?' Fudge asked suspiciously.
'You'll see.' Then turning to Arabella, Dumbledore asked, 'Arabella would you kindly please go and ask Severus Snape to come to my office straight away, and, if he could please bring his strongest veritaserum?'
Harry had a confused expression on his face. Why would Dumbledore want Professor Snape come and listen to the reason why Harry was here? Why did Dumbledore want Snape to bring his strongest veritaserum? Harry just looked at Dumbledore with a quizzical look, but Dumbledore gave Harry a look that told Harry not to ask, and that he would find out in a minute.
About five minutes later, Mrs. Figg returned to the office, except this time she was accompanied by Professor Snape, who looked just as quizzical as Harry did.
'Ah, thank you Severus,' responded Dumbledore.
Professor Snape nodded and was about to leave, when Dumbledore asked him if he could remain to listen. Snape nodded once again and took a seat.
Dumbledore, to everyone's complete surprise, once again walked over to the fire and summoned Remus Lupin, one of Harry's old professors and to everyone else's complete surprise, except for Harry, Dumbledore also summoned Sirius.
The minister looked up at Sirius when he came out of the fire, and Sirius stared back, except that his eyes showed shock and nervousness.
Feeling that the air was tense Dumbledore broke the silence. 'Don't worry Sirius, you'll be fine. Minister, there are some things that must be cleared up. The first one being that Sirius will get a fair trial right here, and now, under the power of a veritaserum.'
Everyone looked up at Professor Dumbledore not knowing if they actually heard him correctly. But Dumbledore just smiled, which meant that there was no mistaking him. Fudge being to stunned to speak, just nodded in approval.
So the trial began. Sirius took the veritaserum and had a few drops. The minister, as well as Dumbledore, questioned Sirius about the night that the Potter's were killed, and the fact that Peter Pettigrew was supposedly dead. Finally, after what seemed like about an hour of questioning Sirius about his 'guiltiness,' the minister realized that there was not much point of asking anything else, for Sirius, had been proven pretty much innocent.
'Very well Dumbledore,' said Fudge after the questioning was completed. 'I shall notify the daily profit about your innocence Mr. Black. We apologize for our mistake and hope that you will accept our apology. We will add quite a bit of money for you in your vault, find you a nice house, and try to find you a job.'
'Ah, yes, about the job. Sirius, we need a new Defense Against the Dark Arts professor, and since that has always been your favourite and best subject, I was wondering if you'd like to accept the position?' Dumbledore queried.
Sirius looked stunned, but Harry could tell that he really did want the job, and told Dumbledore that he'd take it!!
Harry was highly stunned at this time. The only thing that burst his bubble was the next thing that Dumbledore stated.
'Sirius, Remus, Severus, Cornelius, we need to talk about a few things. Harry you're going to have to go return to your dormitory in the Gryffindor tower.' Dumbledore simply stated.
Noticing that there was no twinkle in Dumbledore's eyes, Harry quickly left the office, but paused outside for a minute. What he heard, told him that he was not to listen to the rest of it.
'Sirius, Remus, you're going to have to te...
'We know professor. We shall tell him in the morning.' Remus replied.
With that Harry went up to his dormitory and went to sleep.
