Chapter Five - Freedom

"Like I said I expected a better welcome but I was not expecting this."

"I told you she was taking it hard." Lupin said

"I guess it was a bad idea to prolong my death huh?"

"How's she now?"

"Hermione told me she's fine, still in shock though, still resting upstairs." Sirius leaned to his chair. "But she already saw me in the mirror…"

"It looked a lot like the Mirror of Erised, Dobby seem to have gotten carried away with the decorations, so it's likely that she mistook it."

"I guess you're right. I'll visit her again later."

"I suggest you join us later in the backyard, we're teaching them how to defend themselves."

===========================================================

"How are you, mate?" Ron asked.

Jullianna sat up, "What happened?"

"You fainted." Ginny said.

"Here, have some soup. Mrs. Weasley made this just for you." Hermione said and helped her eat.

"I fainted? Why?'

"When you saw Sirius you -"

"I see.. so it was not a dream then."

Ron smiled, "Of course it's not a dream, he's -"

"How long have you been keeping this from me?"

"We're not keeping anything, Jullianna." said Hermione, "We didn't know he was alive not until he showed up last night. Everybody in the Order seem to know he was alive all this time except for us. I reckon that they must have planned this."

"We were surprised to see him too." said Ginny.

"I see."

"Well.. uhh.. what are you going to do now?" asked Ron.

"Nothing.. I guess."

"Well, you have to talk to him." Hermione said as she puts the empty bowl aside.

"What do you mean -"

"Oh Julianna, don't think that we don't know what you're doing here," Hermione said as a matter-of-factly. "We know you and you've been trying to ignore reality here. I reckon that you're already thinking how to avoid him now that's he's here."

"What do you mean avoid him?" It was Ron that asked her this time.

"Ron, you obviously do not know anything about girls do you? Julianna will avoid Sirius because all this time she's blaming herself for Sirius' death and now that he's back she can't afford to repeat the same mistake again by creating another bond with him. You were talking in your sleep Julianna, no use denying it now." Hermione said when Jullianna started to shook her head.

"She's been talking in her sleep?" asked Ginny.

Breakfast, lunch and dinner have been a disaster for Julianna, actually every time she saw Sirius who was obviously trying to talk to her. She can't bring herself to even look at him in the eyes anymore. She always found herself telling a lame excuse just to get away from him.

"I told you." Hermione whispered as she watched Jullianna helping Mrs. Weasley pick up the dishes.

"Maybe we should talk to her again." Ginny whispered back, nudging her brother Ron in the ribs.

"Wha- don yah let Seerius do dath?" Ron said while munching his sandwich.

Hermione sighed heavily and rolled her eyes upward.

"What?" Ron asked.

===========================================================

"I've got great news, great news indeed!" Mr. Weasley came into the house excitedly, waving a piece of paper in his hands. Mrs. Weasley greeted him.

"What's that Dad?" asked Bill.

"Sirius, you're free! The Ministry of Magic, actually, Cornelius Fudge just signed your freedom notice this morning stating that you're as innocent as the day you were born."

Sirius took the parchment from Mr. Weasley's hands and began reading.

"Innocent as the day you were born?" Lupin repeated as he went beside Sirius to read the parchment too. Everybody gathered around him.

"Congratulations, Black!" Moody said.

"Way to go Sirius!" Charlie shouted.

"Look it's on the Daily Prophet already," Ginny said and began reading, "Sirius Black the mass murderer was release of all charges by the Minister of Magic, Cornelius Fudge early this morning at 8am. Apparently there was a secret hearing in the Department of Ministry's regarding Black's case…"

"So that's why you faked your death." Ron said, pointing at him. "I reckon it's Dumbledore's orders eh?"

"Well, most of it." said Sirius grinning and looked about the room and spotted Julianna at the corner. "Look," he said and handed her the parchment, "I'm free!"

Everybody waited for her response as she reads the parchment, she looked up and smiled. "Congratulations, Sirius."

"I'm free! I can go out now!" he said excitedly and to Julianna's surprise, Sirius hugged her and twirled her around the room. When he released her they were both panting. "I've been waiting for this the whole day."

"Sirius, this calls for a celebration." cried Mr. Weasley and by the wave of his wand, butterbeers appeared on top of the table.

"Sirius, this is indeed great news!" Lupin said smiling.

"Foooooooor -" Fred and George began, "his a jolly good fellow! For his a jolly good fellow!"

Everybody joined them, "FOR HIS A JOLLY GOOD FEEEELLLLLOOOOOWWWWW!!!!" THAT NOBODY CAN DENY!"