Chapter 25: Newspapers

~*~

For what avail the plough or sail,
Or land or life, if freedom fail?

[Ralph Waldo Emerson~"Boston" ]

~*~

After a much needed rest, Harry rose Sunday morning and got dressed before heading down to breakfast. Thankfully the exhaustion and shock he'd been through had drained the energy needed to even have a nightmare. On his way to the great hall he heard a great commotion and when he entered he soon learned why. He took a seat with Ron and Hermione.  Then Ginny plopped down next to him, handing him a paper. Not only did the paper contain Lucius Malfoy's arrest but right there on the front cover were the word he'd been waiting to see since that day in his third year.

SIRIUS BLACK FREE

 We at the Daily Prophet were about as amazed at this strange turn of events as we know our readers are now. It has been clarified by the ministry that not only was Peter Pettigrew never killed, but that he was in fact the Potter's secret keeper. He was also responsible for the death of the thirteen other residents on the street where the Potter's resided. Sirius Black, wrongly imprisoned for twelve years, was guilty only of caring for his friends' safety.

 Because of this revelation the ministry is also being forced to look at the lack of procedure in Black's case. Mr. Falkin of the Ministry states, "This was probably the worst handling of a case in ministry history. To say the least, I am disappointed." Many other officials echo his sentiments, but we wonder where they were fourteen years ago when Black was imprisoned without any trial whatsoever. The ministry has still not released the circumstances of Black's escape two years ago, though he will not be penalized for it.

 Black has been paid a high sum in reparations. He has also been rewarded his family estate and all his other impounded possessions. And, for those of you who remember and are still wondering; Yes, that does include his infamous flying motorbike.

 Black is expected to move into his house shortly and rumors are circulating that his godson, none other than Harry Potter, will be joining him there. We at the Daily Prophet would like to wish Sirius Black the best of luck and much happiness now that he's back in the real world.

 Harry grinned as he finished the article and surprised Ginny, as well as himself, by pulling her into a hug.

"I still can't believe it," he exclaimed, unbelievably happy. Then he heard gasps throughout the great hall and a voice behind him.

"You'd better believe it," said Sirius, the now ex-convict.

 Harry stood up and hugged his godfather, ignoring the crowd of people in the Great Hall. He examined him and saw that he was now clean-shaven as well as well-dressed. He also must have seen someone about the hair. Harry was slightly embarrassed as half the girls in the hall ogled his godfather. He moved down the bench and made room for Sirius at the table. As he looked down the table and saw the twins inspiration struck him.

"Fred, George," he called as he waved them over.

"What are you doing," asked Sirius.

"You'll see," said Harry as the Weasley twins got up.

"Harry, my good fellow," said Fred. "I believe you called."

"Yes," said Harry. "I would like to reintroduce you to my godfather, Sirius Black, or perhaps I should say Padfoot."

The look on their faces was priceless and Harry grinned for once at the sound of Colin Creevey's flashbulb. He'd definitely want a copy of this.

"Harry," said Sirius uneasily, "What did you have to go and do that for."  He looked pointedly at the dumbstruck twins.

"The Weasleys," said Harry, "are the ones who gave me the Marauder's Map in the first place. I thought it would be fair to let them meet one of the original marauders."

"You're our hero," one of the twins finally choked out.

 Sirius looked at the twins and then at Harry. "I suppose I could give you a few ideas," he sighed.

 The Weasley twins grinned and told him they'd send an owl. Then they rushed off to help poor Neville who seemed to be having some side effects as a result of their newest creation, a Norwegian Nibbler.

"Harry," asked Sirius, "Dumbledore gave me permission to take you out today and I was wondering if you wanted to go see the house?"

Harry's eyes lit up and he agreed quickly.

"Oh," said Sirius, "You might want to grab your broom too."

 So after they finished their breakfast Harry and Sirius headed up to the Gryffindor Tower where Harry retrieved his broom from the dorm. On the way out Sirius admired the banners and pictures that hung along the walls of the common room thanks to the Gryffindor artists and photographers. Finally they made their way back out, only after Sirius had a long conversation with the fat lady causing Harry to roll his eyes as she remarked and extolled his virtues, then reminded him to be a dear and come back for another visit. When they were out of her hearing range Harry burst out laughing and Sirius leaned over and ruffled his hair.

 Harry and Sirius walked out across the grounds and into Hogsmeade where they used the fireplace at the Three Broomsticks to floo out. Sirius told Harry the floo station had been named 'Chapel 27.' He explained that it would be harder for people to find them if they used a name that didn't stand out.

 It would be an understatement to say that Harry was simply delighted when he saw the house. He was overjoyed. Sirius led him inside and began showing him rooms, a few of which were already decorated. Harry was shown the kitchen and adjoining living room before he was led to a tapestry in the entrance foyer. Sirius showed him how the tapestry, which featured a most interesting scene, was password protected and led to the bedrooms and study. The house was good-sized but not humongous and was all on one floor. Sirius showed Harry his bedroom which was undecorated as of yet and then pointed out one of the two windows.

"This window," said Sirius "is not one you want to fly out of. It does not actually exit to the grounds here."

"Where does it go?" asked Harry.

"I'm pretty sure it's a field my parents owned in Norway," said Sirius. "You can decorate this room on your own later."

 Sirius showed Harry the study where he opened the closet and shuffled some robes aside to show Harry another secret exit. Then he proposed lunch and they made their way to the kitchen.

"My specialty," said Sirius "grilled cheese."

Harry grinned and took the proffered plate. When they had both finished eating Sirius suggested a trip to the Quidditch Pitch.

"Quidditch Pitch?" exclaimed Harry.

"Just finished yesterday," said Sirius with a grin. "Now let's see how you fly on that broom I bought you."

~*~

 Two hours later Harry and Sirius returned to the house; Sirius trying to catch his breath still. After he regained the ability to breathe he reluctantly escorted the boy back to Hogwarts at dinnertime. When Sirius left him there he waved to the Great Hall causing more shocked gasps and then walked away again.

 Harry had hoped to go to bed right after dinner, but instead he found himself being dragged to the same empty classroom they'd used to practice last year. He told his friends about the house, though he saved the Quidditch Pitch as a surprise for when Ron came. Talk of this didn't last long though as they were most curious now about what Dumbledore had told him.

"So you're heir of Gryffindor?" said Ron, astonished.

"And Ravenclaw," added Ginny.

"I guess so," said Harry. "Dumbledore had some theories about the blood tie with Voldemort as well."

"Like what?" asked Hermione.

"The optimistic theory," said Harry "is that my blood will serve to make Voldemort weaker and that it would give me an advantage against him."

"The other theory?" asked Hermione as he'd known she would.

"If one of us dies the other goes with him," he said grimly.

"But Harry," said Ron, eyes widening, "You wouldn't y-know.."

"No," said Harry, "Dumbledore told me not to, especially since he wasn't sure, but I think if he could give me proof..."

"Don't say that!" said Ginny. "It can't be right."

"What do you mean," asked Harry.

"It just can't," she exclaimed again.

"You promise you wont try anything, don't you," asked Hermione.

"It's just a theory," Harry assured her. "Besides, it's better than some other theories out there."

"Such as?" prompted Ron.

"Apparently there are people betting that I'll join Voldemort and then overthrow him to become dark lord myself," he snorted.

"Of course you wouldn't," said Hermione. "That's just horrid to say."

"You can see how they got that though," said Harry.

"What do you mean," asked Ginny.

"Try counting the similarities between us sometime."

"But you're different," said Hermione firmly.

"I know," said Harry, "Dumbledore said something about the choices we make being more important than our circumstances."

"Besides," said Ron whose eyes had begun to gleam, "You're too bloody scrawny to be a dark lord."

 Eventually they all began to repeat themselves when discussing the theories and they knew it was time to go to bed. As Harry was drifting off to sleep that night he could have sworn he heard a bird singing. He dreamt something as well, but he would not remember any of it when he awoke.