Invenio Veritas
By Penpunk
Disclaimer: Meh, you should know by now.
Chapter 27: Free
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Dumbledore entered the dark room with his wand lit in front of him. Swirls of dust clouded his path as he made his way in.
"Who's there?" cried out a gruff voice. Sobs sounded as if they were being suppressed as the voice spoke. Dumbledore walked to the voice and came across Sirius.
"Sirius, are you alright?" asked Dumbledore as he scanned the man's face. Sirius' eyes were red with tears as he nodded. He looked down to the floor. Dumbledore followed the gaze and saw that Sirius was holding onto the hand of a lifeless Harry. Laying nest to him was Severus, protectively holding onto his son but just as still. Dumbledore lowered to the ground next to Sirius, laying an ancient hand on the man's shoulder.
"We were so close," whispered Sirius, his voice rough and choked. Dumbledore gave his shoulder a squeeze.
"What happened?" asked Dumbledore quietly.
"We were so close," he said again. "We were almost out, but we were stopped. Voldemort killed them. He killed them both.
"Where is he?"
"Dead," said Sirius flatly.
"How did it happen? Who killed him?"
Sirius shrugged halfheartedly.
"He used the killing curse on them both and then there was a green flash…blinding…I opened my eyes and everyone was dead."
"Everyone?" asked Dumbledore. Sirius nodded. Dumbledore stood and began to walk around the room.
There was absolutely no life to be seen. Deatheaters scattered the floor, the sign of life gone from all of them. Dumbledore walked the perimeter of the room, coming across the lifeless body of Peter Pettigrew, lying in a corner. A few feet from him was Lucius Malfoy, his eyes open and staring at the ceiling. He looked strange lying there without the usual smugness that forever graced his face. Malfoy had died in fear of something and had never looked so human. Strange thing considering he was dead.
Finally, Dumbledore looked to the middle of the room. A pile of ash, interspersed with scraps of once fine black cloth, rested on the floor boards. On top of the pile was a wand. The last remnants of Lord Voldemort.
He walked back over to Sirius, who continued to star down at the body of his Godson.
"Is he really gone?" asked Sirius as he looked up at the headmaster.
"I believe he is," said Dumbledore.
"How did you know to come?" asked Sirius.
"I only came here when I felt a break," said Dumbledore. "A break in the world. When someone like Voldemort has a great hold on the world…on the existence of people, you can feel when that presence is gone. I can safely assume that he is no more."
Dumbledore bent down next to Harry and Severus and looked them over closely.
"Voldemort cursed them both, is that correct?"
Sirius nodded.
"And then a bright
flash and then Voldemort was dead?"
"Along with everyone else."
Dumbledore thought for a moment while continuing to stare at both. A strange look drifted across his face.
"What?" asked Sirius as the look came over the man's face.
"These two aren't dead. Come Sirius, we must get them to St. Mungo's."
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Warm.
Everything felt warm.
This is it. I'm finally dead. No longer the Boy Who Lived.
Bright white.
Am I in Heaven?
Floating.
Am I flying? It sure feels like it.
Warm.
I thought death was supposed to be cold. I thought being dead meant not feeling.
Clear mind.
My scar feels…nothing. I must be dead. I've never felt like this. Wait…I'm dead. I'm not supposed to feel. I'm supposed to be liberated. Free.
Free.
I'm free. Free of Harry Potter. Free of pain and suffering.
"Harry?"
No. That isn't me. Not anymore.
"Are you awake?"
No, I'm dead. Can't you tell?
"Please Harry, wake up."
No, go away. Let me be dead.
"Harry, open your eyes."
The light is too bright. It'll burn my eyes. I'm dead now, go away whoever you are.
"Harry, it's me, Sirius."
Sirius? You aren't dead too, are you? You weren't supposed to die too. Just me. I'm supposed to be dead.
"Harry, wake up."
Dumbledore? He's dead too? But he wasn't even there.
"It's okay Harry."
No it isn't. Everyone is dead like me. That's not how it's supposed to be. I'm dead…just me. I killed everyone. No…no…no….
"Open your eyes Harry."
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Sirius' heart skipped a beat as Harry's eyes began to flutter slightly. He started to mutter incoherently as he stirred.
"That's it Harry," said Sirius as he combed some hair out of Harry's face. "It's alright."
Harry opened his eyes slowly as he listened to his Godfather's encouraging words. His vision was blurred and for a second reached for his glasses out of habit of not seeing. Sirius stopped his hand and took it in his own. Harry blinked a few times to clear his vision and saw that Sirius and Dumbledore were at his bedside.
"I'm not dead," said Harry with a rough and quiet voice.
"No," said Dumbledore with a chuckle. "You most certainly are not."
"Thank Merlin for that," said Sirius with a warm smile. "I don't know what I would have done if I had lost you."
"Where am I?" asked Harry as he quickly looked around his surroundings. He was in a large white room. It looked like the hospital wing at Hogwarts but much larger.
"You are at St. Mungo's," answered Dumbledore.
"Where's my dad?" asked Harry after realizing that Severus was no where to be seen.
"He's in the next room," said Dumbledore.
"Is he okay? I want to see him," said Harry as he started to get out of bed. Sirius put a hand on Harry's shoulder and gently kept him from getting out of bed.
"He's fine," continued the headmaster. "He is recovering, though he took the hit a little harder than you, but he'll be just fine. I can assure you."
Harry thought for a moment before sinking back into bed.
"So he's okay? He'll wake up and be back to normal?"
"Unfortunately, he will," said Sirius, though with far less venom than was usually in his voice.
"Though he did sustain one injury in the attack by Voldemort," added Dumbledore.
"Voldemort?" said Harry. "What happened to him? Where is he?"
"Dead," said Dumbledore with satisfaction, "never to return."
"He's gone?"
Sirius and Dumbledore both nodded. Harry looked at them both for a while before drifting into thought. Voldemort was gone. He never thought he would live through to see this moment. No wonder he felt so free.
"I thought I was dead because the pain in my scar was totally gone," said Harry after a few moments. "I've never felt like this before. The weight was always there, even before I knew I was a wizard. It grew heavier as Voldemort grew stronger, but now there is nothing."
"You're free," said Dumbledore with a wide smile and the usual sparkle in his eye. "As is someone else, for your information."
Harry looked at Dumbledore with confusion. He smiled at Harry before turning to Sirius and nodding. Harry looked at Sirius, who stood and pulled something out of his robe pocket.
"I wanted you to be the first to hear the good news," said Sirius as he unrolled the roll of parchment in his hand.
"Is that…?"
Dumbledore held up a hand to silence Harry. Sirius cleared his throat, grinning widely before reading:
"Sirius Black, Azkaban Prisoner seven-five-three-nine-zero (75390), is hereby freed of the charges brought on him on November the first, 1982. Evidence regarding Mr. Black's arrest was found to be false and the presentation of the body of one Mr. Peter Pettigrew and Mr. Black's recollection of the events under the influence of Veritaserum administered by a ministry official provided sufficient evidence of Mr. Black's innocence. Therefore, his rights as a wizard will be restored to him immediately as will all of his assets and holdings confiscated at the time of his arrest. In addition, the amount of 20,000,000 galleons shall be awarded to Mr. Black for compensation for his false imprisonment. The Ministry of Magic takes full credit for the grievous ill-treatment of Mr. Black and is deeply sorry for the pain cause by this ordeal."
Harry looked from Dumbledore back to Sirius quickly after his Godfather stopped speaking.
"You're joking," said Harry dumbfounded.
"That would seem like the logical response," said Sirius with a wide grin, "but I can say with confidence and sincerity that I'm not joking."
Harry thought about it for a moment before rising quickly and embracing Sirius. Sirius met him with much enthusiasm.
"I can't believe it," said Harry. "You're free. You don't have to hide anymore. How did you do this without being caught by Fudge? He would have never let you off."
"It was easy," said Sirius," seeing as how he's not the Minister anymore."
"He's not? What happened?"
"Mr. Fudge was a confused and corrupt man," said Dumbledore. "That was a known fact by most that worked with him. What no one knew was that he was involved with Voldemort."
"What?"
"When Aurors came to clean up the mess at the meeting, they discovered Fudge behind one of the Deatheater masks," said Sirius. "He was in with the Dark side this whole time."
"But if he was in with Voldemort, why did he announce Voldemort's return?" asked Harry.
"To cover up his involvement most likely," said Sirius.
"So who is the new Minster of Magic?" asked Harry, trying to wrap his head around all these turn of events.
"Arthur Weasley," answered Sirius. "How else do you think I got off so easily without controversy?"
Harry smiled at the news. Mr. Weasley deserved to be where he was now. He could just imagine the celebration going on at the Burrow.
"So much has happened," said Harry. "How long have I been out?"
"Almost a week," said Dumbledore. "You took quite a hit, not to mention being held under the Cructius a couple of times. But you're making a speedy recovery, I'm happy to say."
"What happened?" said Harry after a brief pause. "I shouldn't be here… I should be dead."
"So you should," said Dumbledore. "And we thought you were at first. But Voldemort made a crucial mistake when he attempted to kill you and Severus."
"What is that?"
"He forgot about the thing that brought his downfall the first time. You see, you were saved by the love of your mother. She died protecting you and that love and sacrifice left a mark. A mark that left you protected from his killing curse. Voldemort attempted to kill you and your father. You both tried to take the blow at the same time, tried to save the other. So the same thing happened. You each left a mark on each other. The blow backfired onto Voldemort but with double the force. That was enough force to eliminate him completely. As cheesy and simple as it sounds, love saved you both."
"That still doesn't explain why the rest of the Deatheaters are dead," said Sirius.
"That, Mr. Black, is something that baffled me as well," continued Dumbledore, "but I believe I have that part explained somewhat. When opposites are involved in magic, many interesting things can take place. The love and good of Harry and Severus reacted not only with an evil and hateful curse, but also with the evilness and hate of the people in the room. Sirius didn't die because he is good at heart. The Deatheaters, on the other hand, were evil and they paid for it."
"That makes sense," said Sirius as he pondered over it.
"So not only did it save us both, but also killed everyone else," said Harry.
Dumbledore nodded.
"That's some power right there," said Sirius. "Voldemort should have tried love. Would have worked a lot better. Look where evil got him."
Harry laughed a little. Dumbledore smiled before standing.
"I'm going to pay a quick visit to your father. Once you get the okay from the nurse, Harry, you can see him too. But for now, recover your strength. And watch out for your Godfather. There is no telling what he'll do now that he isn't a wanted convict."
"Alleged convict thank you very much," said Sirius.
"That may be," said Dumbledore as he made for the door, "but you are a troublemaker nonetheless. Goodbye."
"Why doesn't anyone trust me?" asked Sirius with a grin.
"I don't even trust you," said Harry.
"My own Godson," said Sirius as he shook his head.
"So what are you going to do with your freedom?" asked Harry as he settled himself comfortably in bed. "And your 20,000,000 galleons."
"Well, I don't really know. I've been on the run so long. I'll buy myself a house, I suppose."
Harry thought back to the night he had met Sirius for the first time. His Godfather had offered him a place to live as soon as his name was cleared. He was so excited to get away from the Dursleys. But now… he had a home with his father. It made the news of Sirius' freedom almost bittersweet.
"Sirius, I-."
"Harry, I know what you're thinking, but I'll be fine. You're place is with your dad. Besides, it won't be like I'm alone all the time. I'm sure Moony could use a new place to live during the summer holiday and don't think you won't be visiting me."
"Deal," said Harry with a smile.
"Now you should get some rest," said Sirius as he adjusted Harry's blankets. "I'll stay here and make sure no one does any weird tests on you."
"Gee, thanks," said Harry as he pulled the blankets up to his neck. He smiled at Sirius before closing his eyes and drifting back to sleep.
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Well, it's been a while, hasn't it? Sorry for the wait. The next chapter is the last official chapter, and then there will be an epilogue after that.
Hope you all liked this chapter…I'll try and be faster next time.