Disclaimed
Author's Note: Thanks reviewers!
The Basement
By Marz
Chapter 20: The Laws of Lycanthropy
I threw the stick and the dog went tearing after it, nearly bowling over Hermione as it went. She laughed a little, and looked at Ron. He smiled back weakly. We all knew he was still angry with me for not telling him about the rat. Ron never forgives easily, and he never lets anything go. He still complains about how his older brother Bill used to cheat at cards when they were little. The dog brought the stick to Hermione this time. I called him "the dog", even in my head, so I wouldn't accidentally call him Black. I didn't think anyone would make the connection if I said it, but less risks were always better. Hermione threw the stick into a clump of bushes. It would take the dog a while to find it. I took advantage of the short break to go over the rules in my head again. Dumbledore said I needed to have them memorized.
Laws Pertaining to the Prevention and Containment of Lycanthropy
The following laws, regulations and penalties have been authored and approved by the Wizengamot in its entirety, on this day, the fourteenth of December, 1257.
Due to the ease with which the curse of Lycanthropy is spread, the following regulations pertain to all persons or susceptible beings exposed. Anyone bitten, clawed, or in any way injured through direct contact with a werewolf must immediately report to a healer, for treatment and registration, should treatment fail. Anyone exposed to werewolf blood, or other viscera must report to a healer for treatment, and must be quarantined for the subsequent full moon, until the presents or absence of the curse can be confirmed.
I wonder how they define immediately.
Any person or entity with knowledge of an unregistered werewolf or potential werewolf must report the cursed individual to the Department of Magical Law Enforcement. Failure to do so will result in a three month incarceration in Azkaban, for each unreported werewolf.
As I went over that paragraph in my mind my stomach hurt. Hermione, Ron, Hagrid, Dumbledore, and McGonagall, they could all end up in Azkaban with the dementors if anyone found out about me. Dumbledore thought it was better for me to hide it though, and I mostly agreed, but I didn't want them to get in trouble for me. It seemed like an impossible secret to keep.
The dog brought the stick to Ron this time. It was covered in drool and Ron took it gingerly by the end and tried to shake the dog saliva off. Hermione shrieked in disgust as drops of spit splattered her face and robes. Ron apologized and the dog rolled on the grass, making funny chuffing noises. I tried to keep from smiling. Thinking of the rest of the rules helped a lot with that.
The following restrictions pertain to all individuals bearing the curse of Lycanthropy. All cursed individuals must have in their place of residence, a secure and isolated enclosure and restraints, to prevent the injury and contamination of others. The enclosure is subject to inspection, by Ministry officials, at any time. All cursed individuals must be secured two hours in advance of moon rise.
They were going to give me wolves-bane potion, and lock me up with Black and Professor Lupin. I wondered if werewolf Lupin would just stare at the floor the whole time, like Professor Lupin did whenever I was in his class room. In eighteen days I would find out.
A person cursed with lycanthropy must inform all wizards and witches living within a five mile radius of his or her condition, and must receive community approval before taking up residence in a populated area. The cursed individual must inform a healer of his or her condition before treatment is administered. An individual bearing the curse of Lycanthropy must warn any recipient of intimate contact of the danger of transmission.
Oh good, the part where I do something illegal. Dumbledore told me he would take responsibility if I was discovered. He sounded very confident, but I didn't feel reassured. What would Dumbledore be able to do if they sent Aurors after me? I've seen him intimidate people, but I've never seen him use force. What if he couldn't stare the Aurors down?
Any werewolf convicted of violating the above restrictions shall be immediately confined to Azkaban, with the duration of sentence determined with regard to the severity of the violation.
If the Ministry tries to put me in Azkaban, I'll run. I can't go there, not even to await trial. The thoughts twisted my stomach into even tighter knots. I don't think I could get away from them either. They'd drag me to prison or I'd be killed trying to escape. If they forced me into that place I'd probably die anyway. Just thinking about dementors makes me cold and sweaty. I'd probably have a heart attack on the way to the island.
Any werewolf who violates the above conditions, and through there own recklessness injures, kills or infects another individual with the curse, shall be confined to Azkaban, and upon his or her next transformation to a none human state, shall be executed by a member of the Department for the Disposal of Dangerous Creatures.
When Dumbledore gave me the list of rules, he asked me to read over the last paragraph thoroughly. At first I thought he was warning me not to be reckless. Then I thought of Professor Lupin. Would the Ministry consider his behavior reckless? He'd been poisoned and was trying to rescue me from almost certain death. They'd have to let him off. I asked Dumbledore if they would acquit him, because of the circumstances. He told me nothing was certain with the Ministry. He never told me I had to lie, but he made his preferences pretty clear. Kingsley Shacklebolt wrote all my statements for me. All I had to do was memorize them, incase another Auror was reassigned to the case. All I had to do was lie, and I could live my life almost normally.
I looked at Ron and Hermione again. The dog had brought the stick to Ron, but would not let go when Ron tried to take it form him. Ron seemed confused. I don't think he plays tug-of-war very often. Hermione got to laugh at him, as the dog jerked backwards and pulled Ron off his feet.
I couldn't keep from imagining it. I've had nightmares about it since the first night back in the dorms. We'd be out walking, or up in the Gryffindor common room some night, and I'd suddenly look out the window and see a full moon. When I picture it in my head, Hermione always dies first. Blood comes out of her mouth and she stares at me, looking so betrayed. Ron puts up more of a fight and the whole time his eyes are filled with hate. He dies trying to kill me. After that, the dream changes. Sometimes I run off into the forest, and I don't become human again. Other times Black or Dumbledore die too. More frequently I dream about Snape bursting in and killing me with some sort of acidic potion.
I had tired to get them to stay away from me. Ron looked insulted and Hermione looked weepy, and then we couldn't argue about it anymore because Fred and George came into the room, incensed that Dumbledore was now in possession on the Marauder's Map. I'd distracted them by mentioning that Professor Lupin had helped to make it when he was a student at Hogwarts, and they wandered off to bother him about it. Hermione and Ron wouldn't hear a word about it after that.
The dog wrestled the stick away from a very grass stained Ron and trotted triumphantly up to me. I couldn't help feeling a bit better with Black hanging around. Dumbledore let him stay at the school as a dog, to keep an eye and a nose out for Peter the rat. He had to live in Hagrid's hut with Hagrid's dog Fang, and he had to act like a stupid dog, but he didn't have to run anymore. I visited him everyday, but he couldn't risk being human. We played fetch a lot.
I patted him on the head, took the stick, turned, and threw it as hard as I could towards the lake. When the dog didn't go charging after it, I turned back. The dog's fir was standing on end and his teeth were bared in a silent snarl. For I second I thought Pettigrew was back, but it was only Draco Malfoy, and his goons, Crabbe and Goyle. They came swaggering across the lawn, and Ron and Hermione hurried over to us.
"That's the ugliest dog I've ever seen," Malfoy said sneering, "Which end is the head?"
Crabbe and Goyle laughed, in low stupid voices.
"The end that doesn't look like your mother," said Ron.
Hermione and I snickered. Malfoy really set himself up for that one. The dog chuffed a bit too, but followed up with a sneeze so it wouldn't look suspicious.
"Shut up Potter. Everyone knows Dumbledore got you that dog because you're too scared to go back to class on your own. You're still frightened big bad Black is going snatch you out of the hallway again." Malfoy said. He tried to look down his nose at us, but Ron's taller then him and his goons, so he failed again. We stared right back. Well, those of us standing on two legs did. The dog growled and Malfoy did his best to ignore it, but I could tell he was getting paler.
"My father's one of the school governor's, and they won't let you keep a dog Potter. It's against the rules."
"It's not my dog Malfoy. It's Hagrids, so you can cry to your dad all you want," I said confidently.
"Well if it's not your dog, then you won't mind…ARRRGGGGGGG!"
As Malfoy spoke he pulled his wand. I didn't see it coming, and I would've been too later to stop him, but the dog could take care of himself. As Malfoy took aim the dog lunged forward and chomped down on his forearm. He screamed and his wand fell in the grass. Crabbe and Goyle bellowed and Hermione shrieked incoherently. Malfoy pounded on the dog's nose with his free hand but it wouldn't let go.
I pulled on the dog's neck but he wasn't paying attention to me either. There were worse times for Black to go crazy, but I couldn't think of many. It wasn't until I pulled on his ears that the dog let go. He snapped at me and started walking away across the lawn. I had no idea what to do.
Malfoy knelt in the grass and pulled up his sleeve. I was more then a little shocked when I saw his arm. It was badly bruised, but the dog hadn't broken the skin. That didn't stop him from wailing though. Crabbe and Goyle pulled him to his feet and helped him back towards the castle. Just before Malfoy went through the doors he turned back toward us and shouted.
"I'll get you for this Potter! And your little dog too!"
"I just meant to scare him." Black looked sullenly at him feet. He'd said something similar to me a few weeks ago, and from the looks of angry recognition on Dumbledore and Snape's faces, I got the idea Black had done something like this before.
"You meant to scare a thirteen year old boy by nearly tearing off his arm?" Snape said in a voice so quiet we all had to lean in closer to hear it. "Just like you meant to scare me? No convenient werewolf around in mid-afternoon though."
"The sadistic little brat could use a good scare. Maybe he'll learn it's not good to torture people, before he gets arrested for it."
"Mr. Black you are missing the point," Dumbledore interrupted before Snape could respond. "You attacked one of my students. I can not allow you to remain here."
I felt my stomach drop. Dumbledore continued.
"I will see that you are transported to Grimmauld Place, and you will remain there until I am convinced you can control yourself."
"I'm in control," Black said. His eyes had a strange dead look and I knew the next things to come out of his mouth were going to do more harm then good. "I could have ripped out his throat but I didn't. All Malfoy's go bad, but I didn't kill him. A Death Eater if I ever saw one, but I didn't kill him."
I wanted to tear my hair out. Dumbledore's eyes were not the least bit cheerful. Snape looked smugly satisfied. Black sat almost calmly, like he knew he was right.
"I will arrange transport for you later this evening," Dumbledore said. He stood up, and left Hagrid's hut. I knew it was a bad idea to leave Black and Snape alone in the same room, but I thought I could get Dumbledore to change his mind. He walks too fast for an old man. I was nearly out of breath when I caught up with him.
"Please sir, you can't send him away. Malfoy was pulling a wand. He was going to curse him. You can't blame Black. It's because of the dementor's. He's not right in the head."
Dumbledore stopped and put a hand on my shoulder. "Harry, the after effects of Azkaban are exactly why I can not allow him to stay. I thought perhaps human contact with you and your friends and Hagrid would help him adjust, but he has proved today that he is not ready to be around people, especially children. I will see that he receives counseling and treatment. Sirius does have family and friends left who were rather fond of him. Once they are convinced he is not a murderer I am certain they will be willing to help him."
"You shouldn't send him by himself. Let me go with him."
"Harry, that would do much more harm then good. People will never believe he is innocent if you keep disappearing, and turning up weeks later in poor health. Sirius will be allowed to return for the full moon and the days adjacent to it, but he is too much of a risk to be allowed any more permanent residence. If he can prove he is in control, perhaps he can return later."
"But what about Pettigrew? Black won't be able to help if Pettigrew shows up. He has to stay!"
"I don't believe Pettigrew will return to the school Harry. Too many have seen him. He'll be looking for another place to hide."
"You're just going to give up? We'll never prove Black's innocent if we can't catch him."
"We have not given up Harry, but Black can't be a part of this. Not until he is more stable."
Dumbledore turned and walked away.
Ron and Hermione came with me. We snuck out under the invisibility cloak. The sun was setting. McGonagall told me the dog was leaving just after seven, and that I was to stay in the dorm, and not do anything foolish. The three of us ran as fast as we could into the Forbidden Forest. Black, Hagrid, and Dumbledore hadn't gone too far in.
I thought we were being very quiet, but Dumbledore noticed us following the second we entered the clearing behind them. He waved his wand and the cloak flew into his hand, exposing us. To my surprise he waved us over, looking for all the world like we were invited guests who showed up late.
Black seemed very sullen, but he smiled a bit as we came up to him. "Come to see me off to the nut house?" He sounded almost cheerful, but his face didn't match.
I nodded.
"Are you alright?" Black asked me.
I nodded again. I lie a lot now.
Dumbledore took a huge golden pocket watch from his sleeve and opened it. "It's nearly time," he said simply. Then he put the watch in Black's hand.
"Good-bye Harry. I'll see you on the twenty-fifth." He didn't sound as if he entirely believed his own words. "Thank you for believing me."
"No problem Black." I was feeling stupidly miserable. I was sure things would work out better then this.
"You can call me Sirius if you want," he said.
I was about to answer, but he disappeared. There wasn't even a pop. I looked at Dumbledore in surprise.
"It was a port-key," Dumbledore explained as he lead us back to the castle. He was describing how it worked but I wasn't really listening.
I hoped Sirius would be alright.