CAN YOU SAY NO TO SIRIUS BLACK?
Disclaimer: I don't own any of the character recognizable from Harry Potter's books, they're J. K.'s . Although, she could have given me Sirius... So I could have kept him alive and all for me! *sigh*
To my reviewers:
fantasy - I love your story!!!
Dude Wheres My Cheese - thanks for reading.
luv-jinxy - Here your sequel!
misquided angel 24 - I took your advice! Read MINE before this one.
April Skrutin - MINE is the sequel, this is the third chapter! Enjoy!!!
~*~*~*~*~*~
Harry Potter woke up with the sound of his owl, Hedwig, flapping its wings vigorously. Worried if his uncle and aunt would wake up as well, Harry stood up and opened Hedwig's cage – maybe all that it needed was to dissipate some energy. However, the owl didn't fly through the window as expected, instead of, it dipped towards the floor and emerged some seconds later, bringing together some small animal, which Hedwig released onto Harry's hand.
Surprised, Harry found himself with a rat on his hand. A rat without a finger.
"Pettigrew!" he hissed at the same time that shook it off, making the squirming rodent to fall upon his bed.
Harry quickly grabbed his wand, but when he spun around to face the rat, he found a man in its place. And this man had a metal hand.
"What are you doing here." Harry asked under his breath, his wand pointed to Pettigrew's breast.
"I came here 'cause I know how merciful you are, Harry. He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named..." the short man shuddered. "... He's not happy with me. He found out about my life debt with you and I'm afraid he shall..."
"Kill you?" Harry concluded. "Well, you deserve it!" but then, Harry thought, if the Rat die, it will be harder to proof Sirius' innocence...
"Oh no. Not kill. The Dark Lord reserves a destiny worse than death for those who dare to betray him. I came here to offer a deal."
"A deal? And why should I trust you? You betrayed my parents and my Godfather!"
"It's about Padfoot..." when he noticed he had Harry's full attention, he continued. "I'll tell the Ministry everything I know if you give me your word that I'll be protected from You-Know-Who."
~*~*~*~*~*~
Arabella Figg woke up with the shrill sound of her bell ringing. Slowly she stood up and walked to the door. "Who might be at this hour? I have no age to be disturbed in the middle of night..." She was surprised to see the Boy Who Lived standing in her door-sill, he was holding a bottle with what seemed a mouse inside of it.
"Harry, dear, I'm glad you came to visit me but..."
"Mrs. Figg, I need to contact Dumbledore now. I found Peter Pettigrew."
~*~*~*~*~*~
INNOCENT!
After a surprising turn of the events, Peter Pettigrew, the wizard everybody thought was dead, reappeared and corroborated the theory of Sirius Black's innocence. It seems that Pettigrew was the real Secret Keeper of the Potters and was the one to pass information to He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named for about a year before his defeat.
From Prisoner of Azkaban to Hero, Sirius Black now has all backing of the Wizard Community to rebuild his life. In a exclusive interview to Venus Sanders, Daily Prophet's reporter, he tell us what are his plans as a free man.
VS: So, what is the first thing you'll do now?
SB: Well I intend to buy a house where I can live with my Godson, Harry.
VS: Will this house be shared with a prospective wife?
SB: (grins) Not in the moment.
VS: But I overheard that you have received a lot of proposes...
SB: And I'm really flattered with all of them, but first things first.
VS: I remember you were the greatest Don Juan of Hogwarts, and even after, when you were younger. Do you believe things will be the same?
SB: (laughs) I can't tell the future (winks).
VS: And what career are you taking?
SB: Headmaster Dumbledore contacted me as soon as he heard of my freedom and offered me a job, but it's confidential.
VS: Are you sad that Pettigrew didn't received the maximum punishment, the dementor's kiss, and instead of just was sent to Azkaban?
SB: Fortunately, I was not the one to judge him.
VS: Well that's all for the moment. I congratulate you, Sirius, and give you my best wishes. If you ever need anything...
SB: Thank you, Venus.
Natalie looked at the picture of the Daily Prophet once more. The reporter was so leaned on Sirius – to give him a good view of her breasts, Natalie suspected – that there was no empty space between her and the interviewee. Her hand was dangerously laying on his thigh and Black didn't seem to mind at all! Talking about him...
Sirius was certainly better than the last time she saw him at the Hogwarts grounds, and a lot better than the pictures of his escape. Actually, he could even be recognized as the young man with whom she fell in love...
"Miss Dylan?"
Shooking her head off of her reveries, Natalie turned her eyes to the young woman standing at the door, her secretary.
"Yes, Carla?"
"There's someone here that wishes to see you."
She sighed. "I already told you to cancel all my appointments for the day and to let nobody in."
"I know Miss, but..." she blushed. He had been so kind and polite that Carla couldn't say no. "He insisted."
"And who would be 'he'?" Natalie asked.
"Me." The door swung open to revel the tall man behind Carla. He was wearing a midnight blue robe, matching with his eyes, which had a glint of mischief as Natalie hadn't seen in tears. His black hair was bit longer than the appropriate, as if he had forgotten to cut for some months. Which probably was true, Natalie reminded herself.
Sirius grinned and turned to Carla. "Thanks ,dear, Natalie and I wish to be alone now." He urged her out. "And, please, do not let anyone disturb us."
Natalie gaped at his audacity, her opal-like eyes widened in surprise.
Sirius smiled seductively at her. "I always know how to let you without words!"
Natalie rose of her chair, but then sat again. Mad at herself for her stupid behavior. "What are you doing here?"
He pouted. "What? No welcome kiss?"
She took a deep breath. "Listen, I'm really happy you're free and all that, but would you tell me what do you want?"
He approached her slowly, almost lazily, and leaned both hands on her table, bowing his head until it was a inch apart from hers. "You."
She closed her eyes to force herself to think straight. Sirius was too close. Too close for her own good. Natalie stood up and walked to the other side of the room. Sirius was obvious pleased with her discomfort, now he was sat on the top of her table, arms crossed against his chest and a sly smile playing on his mouth.
Gathering all her courage, Natalie looked into his eyes. "No."
He just smiled. "That's not what you used to say... Remember? At Lily and James' wedding? When you whispered in my ear that you wanted me to make you crazy and..."
Natalie ignored the butterflies in her stomach and scolded at him. "I learned a long time ago not to dwell in the past. You better get out of here and just come back if you need an architect. It's been almost fifteen years Sirius!"
He jumped off the table and, for the first time since he arrived, his face showed angry. "It's not like I had an option!"
"But you had before!" they were almost yelling now. "You could have told me to where you were going that night. And the others nights before! It took me a lifetime to get over all that. You just can't come here and ask me to pretend nothing had happened just for old times sake!"
He smiled sadly and stepped closer to her. "I went to see you the night after I escaped." His voice was nothing but a whisper. Gently, he brushed out the hair that fell on her face, tucking it behind her ear.
Natalie closed her eyes, absorbing all the pleasure of that simple touch. "I know."
Sirius backed away, notably startled. "You saw me that night?" his eyes narrowed suspiciously.
Natalie frowned with confusion. "Not exactly... I kinda knew you were there. I just knew."
A smile of satisfaction slowly formed in Sirius' face. "So, there still is hope..." he muttered to himself. He could feel a plan forming inside his head. "Don't worry. You will hear of me." With that he gave her a peck on her lips and walked out, leaving an open-mouthed, atonished Natalie behind.
