Chapter 14
A day had passed the the news in the Daily Prophet created quite a commotion around the Great Hall during Breakfast when the paper arrived.
PETTIGREW, A DEATH EATER
Last night a group of Death Eaters were captured by a mysterious wizard wearing golden armor, calling himself the Golden Mage. He had stopped three Death Eaters from murdering two muggles, the identities of which will be kept secret. The muggles are, however, parents to a student at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Aurors confirm that one of the Death Eaters is Peter Pettigrew. Pettigrew was supposidy killed by Sirius Black on the night the Boy Who Lived prevailed over You-Know-Who. Under truth serum Pettigrew admitted to framing Sirius Black on his murder, the murder of twelve muggles and the murder of Lily and James Potter. Sirius Black has been declared free of all charges. More accounts of the Golden Mage on page seven by eye witnesses.
As Hermione read this she turned to Harry. "Sirius has been cleared of all charges by the capture of Peter Pettigrew by the Golden Mage."
"I know, but it is too late, Sirius is dead," Harry said sadly.
"Cheer up, at least he is cleared," Ron said while Hermione nodded in agreement. Harry looked down at his food, still saddened.
The rest of the day went by quickly. Harry excused himself early that night. He had plans for the next appearance of the Golden Mage. He apparated to the secret room and put on the armor and hood before disappearing to the Ministry.
When Harry appeared he was standing before the Veil that he would never forget. He hoped that what Merlin told him was true. He hoped that Sirius had not died before entering the veil. It would mean that his Godfather was alive and that he could bring him back.
As he stood in front of the veil he turned his wand into a staff. "Please be alive," Harry whispered. Tears threatened to escape his eyes in the darkened room as he cast a spell around the veil. A bright sphere appeared in the center of the veil.
"ACCIO SIRIUS BLACK," Harry called into the dark folds of the fabric. Something flew out of the veil and landed next to Harry. The spell ended and the sphere disappeared.
Harry just stood there for a moment, resting on his staff. It had taken a good deal of magic to cast that spell. He turned to the form before him. "Sirius?"
Harry fell to the ground beside the pile that had flown out the veil. Harry checked his pulse and quickly apparated the two of them into the Hospital Wing.
"Madam Pomphery?"
The plump medi-witch walked into the room and gasped.
"Please check him. His name was cleared, please help him," Harry said desperately. "I am going to get the Headmaster."
As Harry left he heard her yell to him. "He should be fine after some sleep." Relieved, Harry apparated to the Headmaster's office.
As soon as Harry appeared a hand full of wands flew to him. An Order meeting had been taking place.
"Sorry to bother you all, " Harry said, turning to the shocked looking group of people sitting in the room. "But I think you all should know that Sirius Black is alive and currently in the Hospital Wing. I took him from the veil."
Harry threw their wands up in the air and they flew back to their owners. Harry glanced at the wide-eyed witches and wizards then appareted away.
"Is he telling the truth?" Remus asked, looking at Dumbledore.
"Only one way to find out. Come, let's adjourn and head to the hospital wing," Dumbledore said."Minerva, please go and bring Harry Potter to the Hospital Wing. I believe he will want to see his Godfather."
Not one Order member moved as they stared at the still figure of Sirius. He was lying fast asleep on a Hospital Wing bed.
"Madam Pomphery, is this really Sirius?" Dumbledore asked.
"All my scans show that this truely is Sirius Black. Right now he is exhausted," Madam Pomphery said.
Right after Madam Pomphery had finished this sentence Harry entered the Hospital Wing with Professor McGonagall.
"Is it true?" Harry called out as he raced over to the bed.
"Yes Harry, this really is Sirius," Dumbledore said. "But right now he is exhausted. From what we don't know."
"But how?" Harry asked. "I saw him go through the Veil and you guys said that no one could escape from it."
"We all thought it was impossible, but the Golden Mage was able to save him from the Veil," Dumbledore said.
"Well, we know for sure which side of the war he is on now. Maybe we should ask him to join the Order," Remus said.
"No, not at the moment. We still don't know anything about the Golden Mage," Dumbledore said. "Harry, Sirius will be out until morning, why don't you go back to bed?"
Harry nodded reluctantly and left the room. As Harry left Dumbledore turned to the Order members. "I believe Harry knows more than he is telling us."
"What would Harry be hiding? How could he be hiding anything all this time?" Tonks asked.
"I don't know how, but Harry has been showing signs of being able to hide his magic, he has increased his knowledge overnight. At the same time the Golden Mage suddenly appeared, the Grangers were resuced, three Death Eaters were captured and brought to me, and now Sirius has been returned right after being freed of all charges," Dumbledore said.
"Do you think Harry and the Golden Mage are somehow linked?" Remus asked.
"Look at it this way, who else knew where Sirius was?" Everyone nodded, seeing the connection.
"So what do we do now?" Tonks asked.
"We will wait. Harry will tell us when he is ready. I do not see any reason to force him yet," Dumbledore said, sighing.
"Do you think it might be dangerous for Hary to be around the Golden Mage?" Molly Weasley asked, speaking up for the first time since arriving in the Hospital Wing.
"I believe it is safe for now," Dumbledore said then clapped his hands together. "It is getting late, let's call it a night."
Slowly all of the Order members filed out of the Hospital Wing except for Remus, who stayed at Sirius' bedside all night.
The next morning Harry walked into the Hospital Wing to find Sirius and Remus talking.
"Wow, it wasn't a dream," Harry said, smiling.
"No it wasn't Harry. Whoever the Golden Mage is saved my life," Sirius said, giving Harry a bone breaking hug.
"Wait, if you are free does that mean you can be my guardian now? No more Dursleys?" Harry asked as Dumbledore walked in the room.
"I'm sorry Harry, but you must stay with your Aunt and Uncle because of the blood protection," Dumbledore said.
"But Professor, I can't stand another summer living with them," Harry said angrily. He had no wish to go back to the Dursleys.
"Now Harry, it is for the best..." But Dumbledore didn't get a chance to finish his sentence. Harry waved his hand over the Headmaster, placing a silencing charm on him. Dumbledore's wand flew to Harry's hand.
"No, you listen Headmaster. You will not see me again unless you give Sirius full guardianship of me," Harry said angrily. Before anyone could say anything Harry apparated away right before their eyes.
Once the shock of seeing Harry do wandless magic and apparation on Hogwarts grounds wore off Remus spoke. "How...how did he apparate here?"
"And how did he cast that spell without a wand?" Sirius asked, sounding shocked.
"I don't know how, but I think I have no choice now. I will get the papers ready Sirius, you need to be there to sign it when we bring the papers to the Ministry," Dumbledore said.
Sirius grinned. "I get to have Harry!"
"I sure hope Harry knows what he is getting himself into," Remus said jokingly, looking at Sirius' grin.
A day had passed the the news in the Daily Prophet created quite a commotion around the Great Hall during Breakfast when the paper arrived.
PETTIGREW, A DEATH EATER
Last night a group of Death Eaters were captured by a mysterious wizard wearing golden armor, calling himself the Golden Mage. He had stopped three Death Eaters from murdering two muggles, the identities of which will be kept secret. The muggles are, however, parents to a student at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Aurors confirm that one of the Death Eaters is Peter Pettigrew. Pettigrew was supposidy killed by Sirius Black on the night the Boy Who Lived prevailed over You-Know-Who. Under truth serum Pettigrew admitted to framing Sirius Black on his murder, the murder of twelve muggles and the murder of Lily and James Potter. Sirius Black has been declared free of all charges. More accounts of the Golden Mage on page seven by eye witnesses.
As Hermione read this she turned to Harry. "Sirius has been cleared of all charges by the capture of Peter Pettigrew by the Golden Mage."
"I know, but it is too late, Sirius is dead," Harry said sadly.
"Cheer up, at least he is cleared," Ron said while Hermione nodded in agreement. Harry looked down at his food, still saddened.
The rest of the day went by quickly. Harry excused himself early that night. He had plans for the next appearance of the Golden Mage. He apparated to the secret room and put on the armor and hood before disappearing to the Ministry.
When Harry appeared he was standing before the Veil that he would never forget. He hoped that what Merlin told him was true. He hoped that Sirius had not died before entering the veil. It would mean that his Godfather was alive and that he could bring him back.
As he stood in front of the veil he turned his wand into a staff. "Please be alive," Harry whispered. Tears threatened to escape his eyes in the darkened room as he cast a spell around the veil. A bright sphere appeared in the center of the veil.
"ACCIO SIRIUS BLACK," Harry called into the dark folds of the fabric. Something flew out of the veil and landed next to Harry. The spell ended and the sphere disappeared.
Harry just stood there for a moment, resting on his staff. It had taken a good deal of magic to cast that spell. He turned to the form before him. "Sirius?"
Harry fell to the ground beside the pile that had flown out the veil. Harry checked his pulse and quickly apparated the two of them into the Hospital Wing.
"Madam Pomphery?"
The plump medi-witch walked into the room and gasped.
"Please check him. His name was cleared, please help him," Harry said desperately. "I am going to get the Headmaster."
As Harry left he heard her yell to him. "He should be fine after some sleep." Relieved, Harry apparated to the Headmaster's office.
As soon as Harry appeared a hand full of wands flew to him. An Order meeting had been taking place.
"Sorry to bother you all, " Harry said, turning to the shocked looking group of people sitting in the room. "But I think you all should know that Sirius Black is alive and currently in the Hospital Wing. I took him from the veil."
Harry threw their wands up in the air and they flew back to their owners. Harry glanced at the wide-eyed witches and wizards then appareted away.
"Is he telling the truth?" Remus asked, looking at Dumbledore.
"Only one way to find out. Come, let's adjourn and head to the hospital wing," Dumbledore said."Minerva, please go and bring Harry Potter to the Hospital Wing. I believe he will want to see his Godfather."
Not one Order member moved as they stared at the still figure of Sirius. He was lying fast asleep on a Hospital Wing bed.
"Madam Pomphery, is this really Sirius?" Dumbledore asked.
"All my scans show that this truely is Sirius Black. Right now he is exhausted," Madam Pomphery said.
Right after Madam Pomphery had finished this sentence Harry entered the Hospital Wing with Professor McGonagall.
"Is it true?" Harry called out as he raced over to the bed.
"Yes Harry, this really is Sirius," Dumbledore said. "But right now he is exhausted. From what we don't know."
"But how?" Harry asked. "I saw him go through the Veil and you guys said that no one could escape from it."
"We all thought it was impossible, but the Golden Mage was able to save him from the Veil," Dumbledore said.
"Well, we know for sure which side of the war he is on now. Maybe we should ask him to join the Order," Remus said.
"No, not at the moment. We still don't know anything about the Golden Mage," Dumbledore said. "Harry, Sirius will be out until morning, why don't you go back to bed?"
Harry nodded reluctantly and left the room. As Harry left Dumbledore turned to the Order members. "I believe Harry knows more than he is telling us."
"What would Harry be hiding? How could he be hiding anything all this time?" Tonks asked.
"I don't know how, but Harry has been showing signs of being able to hide his magic, he has increased his knowledge overnight. At the same time the Golden Mage suddenly appeared, the Grangers were resuced, three Death Eaters were captured and brought to me, and now Sirius has been returned right after being freed of all charges," Dumbledore said.
"Do you think Harry and the Golden Mage are somehow linked?" Remus asked.
"Look at it this way, who else knew where Sirius was?" Everyone nodded, seeing the connection.
"So what do we do now?" Tonks asked.
"We will wait. Harry will tell us when he is ready. I do not see any reason to force him yet," Dumbledore said, sighing.
"Do you think it might be dangerous for Hary to be around the Golden Mage?" Molly Weasley asked, speaking up for the first time since arriving in the Hospital Wing.
"I believe it is safe for now," Dumbledore said then clapped his hands together. "It is getting late, let's call it a night."
Slowly all of the Order members filed out of the Hospital Wing except for Remus, who stayed at Sirius' bedside all night.
The next morning Harry walked into the Hospital Wing to find Sirius and Remus talking.
"Wow, it wasn't a dream," Harry said, smiling.
"No it wasn't Harry. Whoever the Golden Mage is saved my life," Sirius said, giving Harry a bone breaking hug.
"Wait, if you are free does that mean you can be my guardian now? No more Dursleys?" Harry asked as Dumbledore walked in the room.
"I'm sorry Harry, but you must stay with your Aunt and Uncle because of the blood protection," Dumbledore said.
"But Professor, I can't stand another summer living with them," Harry said angrily. He had no wish to go back to the Dursleys.
"Now Harry, it is for the best..." But Dumbledore didn't get a chance to finish his sentence. Harry waved his hand over the Headmaster, placing a silencing charm on him. Dumbledore's wand flew to Harry's hand.
"No, you listen Headmaster. You will not see me again unless you give Sirius full guardianship of me," Harry said angrily. Before anyone could say anything Harry apparated away right before their eyes.
Once the shock of seeing Harry do wandless magic and apparation on Hogwarts grounds wore off Remus spoke. "How...how did he apparate here?"
"And how did he cast that spell without a wand?" Sirius asked, sounding shocked.
"I don't know how, but I think I have no choice now. I will get the papers ready Sirius, you need to be there to sign it when we bring the papers to the Ministry," Dumbledore said.
Sirius grinned. "I get to have Harry!"
"I sure hope Harry knows what he is getting himself into," Remus said jokingly, looking at Sirius' grin.