Chapter 14 - King Sirius White
Sirius was sitting alone in his room in the Shrieking Shack. He didn't have anything to do except for staring out of the window and look at the people who were walking merrily in the streets of Hogsmeade.
Snow White has visited him in the morning to tell him that he was going on a secret mission. After sending the letter to Remus, Sirius sat in his room and waited for Snow White to return.
"I hate it when they make me wait!" he said to himself.
He paced the room and couldn't find anything to distract him. At that moment a white light flashed across the room and Snow White appeared.
"There you are!" Sirius said.
"Hello again Sirius." Snow White replied with a calm smile on her face.
"May I know where am I going?"
"You are going to the Fourth Kingdom." Snow White said. "As there is no one to rule the kingdom at this moment, you are going to replace my grandson."
"And who's that?"
"King Wendell White. He is here with Wolf and Virginia. They cannot go back until they solve the mysterious problem that is threatening the Nine Kingdoms."
"And does anyone at the Fourth Kingdom knows that I'm going to replace him?" Sirius asked.
"No, and no one should ever know about it. You have to keep it a secret. I will disguise you as Wendell and you will rule the kingdom with my help until he returns."
"What about clearing my name? I don't want to stay hidden for the rest of my life!"
"Dumbledore is working on that issue. Now, I have some advises to give you regarding your new position." Sirius listened carefully as Snow White spoke. "First of all, you need to be patient. Most of the Lords in the palace might bring up some issues concerning the kingdom that would make you feel disturbed or even angry. You have to learn to deal with them, and never act, as you don't know anything about the kingdom. If you do not know how to reply to them, just ignore the question, or tell them to come back later for the reply. Act like you are going to study their request and will give them a reply in a couple of days. That's how it works, and Wendell has the habit of studying the issues carefully before making a decision. Of course, I will be by your side all the time to help you and to advice you."
"How nice of you." Sirius said with an obvious disapproval in his voice.
Snow White decided to ignore his tone and continued. "The most important thing that you will do is to gather any information you can about the Evil Queen and Voldemort. Any kind of threat in the kingdoms always has a connection with her, and since we have Lia as a key to our success, I'm sure that Voldemort is also involved."
"Whom should I be careful of?" Sirius asked.
"Anyone that you suspect and of course the trolls."
"You also have trolls?"
"Have you ever seen a magical world without trolls?"
"I guess not. Since this is the only world I know." Sirius replied. "And is there anyone who could see who I really am?"
"No one, unless it's a goblin. They are unique creatures and they have so many abilities. But don't worry, they don't live in the Fourth Kingdom."
"That's a relief."
"Now, if you're ready, we better leave now."
"One more thing, how am I supposed to inform anyone about anything?"
"I'll be there with you all the time. Also, I'll give you a communicating mirror that will allow you to speak to Dumbledore. Any more questions?"
"None at this moment."
"Good, let's go then. Hold my hand." Snow White extended her hand and Sirius held it.
Suddenly he felt strangely warm inside and it was white all around him. He felt like he was floating in the air, just as the night he fell behind the veil at the Department of Mysteries. He closed his eyes and when he opened them, he found himself standing in a huge room decorated with different paintings on the walls, and there was a big four poster bed covered with white sheets. The windows covered the walls and they showed a forest that didn't seem to have an end.
"Where are we?" he asked.
"In Wendell's room." Snow White replied.
"What should I do now?"
"Get dressed, you are about to meet Queen Red Riding Hood the third."
"What? Isn't she supposed to be a fairy tale?"
"You are in the world of fairy tales Sirius. And the red Riding Hood you know, is the grandmother of the current Red Riding Hood."
Sirius looked confused. "And what am I supposed to tell her? Why is she here?"
"A few weeks ago Wendell signed a Royal Pardon for the Wolves in his kingdom. Everyone approved except for Red. She rules the Second Kingdom and there are many full-blood wolves and half-wolves who live there. As you know from the story, the Riding Hood family never liked wolves. She tries to force them to go out of her kingdom, and the Royal Pardon has made it harder for her."
Sirius nodded, as he was lost in thought. "So, she wants Wendell to take his decision back?"
"Exactly. And I do not think that it would be a good idea to do so. The people have loved and respected Wendell, and without a Royal Pardon, the wolves would raise an alarm, and we don't want that to happen." Snow White said.
"Alright, I'll meet her now." Sirius said.
"See you soon, Your majesty." Snow White said with a smile and disappeared.
"Yeah right! I finally got rid of my mom telling me I'm royalty, and now I'm actually going to live as a king for Merlin knows how long!"
Sirius walked to the wardrobe and opened it. Most of the royal suites were in white. He searched for something else and he found a Navy colored one. He threw it on the bed and started to change his clothes.
When he walked in front of the mirror, his mouth dropped open. A man who had blond, curly hair and blue eyes was staring at him. Sirius moved his hand in front of the reflection he saw and the man waved back in the same motion, at the same time!
"This is amazing." He said. "I have changed. So, this is how Wendell looks." He smiled to himself. "Alright, Little Red Riding Hood prepare to meet the Big Bad Wolf."
He got out of the room and stopped in the corridor.
"Where am I supposed to go now?" he asked himself.
"Go straight, then turn right and go to the Thrown room which is on the first floor. Red Riding Hood the third is waiting for you." A sound told him in his mind. Snow White kept his mind connected to hers. She could hear whatever he said or thought and she would reply to him in his mind.
Sirius stood there in silence and shock. He walked at the direction that Snow White told him, and he finally reached the first floor. Servants bowed to him as he passed. When he finally reached the door of the Thrown room, two servants opened the doors and Sirius walked in. There he saw a woman in her late twenties standing in the middle of the room. She was wearing a red gown with red little roses on her hair, as if she was going to a ball.
"Where were you? Do you know that I've been waiting for more than twenty minutes?" Queen Red Riding Hood the third said angrily.
"Well, someone has to be late, and I think I'm the best person who fits."
Red looked at him with suspicious eyes.
"What?" Sirius said and took a seat on the Thrown.
"I cannot believe you Wendell." Queen Red said. "You sign a Royal Pardon that is about to ruin my kingdom and here you are being late to meet me, and you think that I'll accept any kind of jokes?"
"I wasn't joking." Sirius said and that made her furious.
"I'm here to discuss this stupid pardon thing with you. I don't have much time, so I'll just tell you what I want."
"I'm all ears." Sirius said.
"Take it back."
"What do you mean?" Sirius asked, although, he knew very well what she meant.
"The pardon. Cancel it." Red demanded.
"Don't do it." Sirius heard Snow White speaking to him again.
"I will not." Sirius replied to Red.
"Wendell, you know that wolves are dangerous creatures. They kill our kind!"
"A wolf has saved the nine kingdoms, and her kingdom is one of those nine. Tell her about that Sirius." Snow White said.
"I'm starting to think that you are suffering some kind of a memory loss Your Majesty." Sirius said. "I hasn't even been a month since the nine kingdoms were saved from the Evil Queen, and one of the people who saved the kingdoms is a wolf. And as a matter of fact, he was the reason that you are alive now." Sirius was speaking about things that he never knew, but the information was filling his brain as he spoke. "If he didn't change the poison for troll dust you would've been dead. He just made all of you sleep so he could trick the Evil Queen, he could've killed you if he wanted to."
Red stood there unable to answer back. All of what she heard was true. On the night of Wendell's Coronation ball the Queen Christine has ordered Wolf to prepare the champagne for the royal toast, and ordered him to prepare a poison to be added to the drink. Wolf prepared everything that he was ordered to, but instead of the poison he put troll dust; which made everyone fall asleep instantly. Queen Red Riding Hood the third was one of the guests who drank from that champagne.
"So? Did I refresh your memory?" Sirius asked.
Queen Red looked puzzled. "I…"
"You know that I'm right, so why don't you admit it?" Sirius asked.
Queen Red put her hands on her waist. "I still demand that you change your decision. One of them has saved the kingdoms, but not all of them are like him."
"Are all the humans, or should I name them… our kind all innocent and good people?"
"No." Queen Red replied carefully.
"So you admit that I'm right."
"I didn't say anything about that."
"You have just admitted that not all of our kind are innocent. We also have some evil in us. Have you checked on the wolf families for once in your life? Do you know if they are good or bad? Besides, don't forget that most of them are half-breed, which means they belong to our kind too."
Queen Red thought for a moment. "Alright Wendell. I am not signing any similar pardon and I don't want our kingdoms to have any kind of relations with each other anymore. See you at the Council meeting." She said and left the Thrown room.
"Have a nice… day?" Sirius said and waved his hand. He sighed and got up. "What a horrible start of a day."
"You will get used to this kind of meetings." Snow White told him.
"Will you please stop talking in my head?" Sirius said, looking around the room. "I can't talk to myself like this, please appear in front of me."
A white light flashed around the room and Snow White appeared. "Is this better?" she asked.
"A lot. Thank you." Sirius replied.
"I can't stay for long, though. Lord Rupert is on his way."
"Who's that?"
"Your Chancellor."
"Oh." Sirius nodded.
"He's even worse than Queen Red." Snow White said and disappeared.
"Not again!" Sirius shouted.
"Your Majesty!" Lord Rupert entered the room, with an obvious panic on his face.
Sirius turned to him. "Yes?"
"I just saw Queen Riding Hood leave the palace, and she seemed to be angry. I hope that she will come back tomorrow."
"And why would she do that?"
Lord Rupert's face turned pale. "Oh my goodness. You don't even remember?" he put his hand on his heart, looking shocked.
"Remember what?"
"It's your birthday tomorrow!"
It was Sirius' turned to turn pale. "What?!"
"It's your birthday Your Highness." Lord Rupert said and some color came back to his face.
"Oh, yeah… that… I remember. Of course." Sirius said, unsure about how to react. Snow White didn't tell him about that one.
"I've sent invitations to all the kingdoms and received a reply from Queen Cinderella and Princess Leaf Fall. They will attend the ball tomorrow."
"A ball?! You don't expect me to go to a ball!"
"As a matter of fact, I do." Lord Rupert replied. "I have been preparing this event for three weeks now! Everything is almost ready. The ball will begin at eight o'clock in the evening."
"Alright. I will be in my room if you need me." Sirius said and walked to the door. "And try not to need me until the ball begins." He added and walked out of the Thrown room. He cursed under his nose and headed to Wendell's room. As soon as he entered he saw Snow White waiting for him over there.
"Why didn't you tell me?" he asked.
"About Wendell's birthday? Well, he never liked it either. Therefore, I thought that it would be best not to remind you of this event. Because no matter how Wendell thinks, Lord Rupert prepares a ball for him every year."
"He sure is annoying."
"You haven't seen anything yet. Have you been to the ball room?"
"No. Should I?"
"Only if you don't want to be shocked tomorrow evening." Snow White smiled. "Now, I wanted to tell you that I have been feeling a new source of evil magic in the kingdoms, and it comes from far away, possibly from your world. I highly recommend that you remember every detail you can about any suspicious thing you notice. And here's the mirror that I promised you." She gave him a small mirror. "Whenever you have something to report, just ask the mirror to show you Dumbledore. He will know that you want to speak with him."
"Okay." Sirius took the mirror and sat on the bed. "What am I supposed to do next?"
"Enjoy your evening." Snow White said merrily and disappeared.
"This is just perfect." Sirius said and sighed. He never thought about himself as a king, and he was already tired of this new position. "First, I'm a murderer and now I'm a king!" He put the mirror on a small table that was near the bed.
It was dark already. Sirius changed his clothes and went to bed. He stared at the ceiling for a while until he fell asleep.
O o O o O
At the time Lia was turning in her bed. She couldn't sleep. She felt that something was wrong and her scar was burning. No one knew what was happening deep in the swamp of the Seventh Kingdom.
Acorn the dwarf was preparing his dinner when he heard a knock on the door. He was surprised. No one came to visit him in there. So, he got up and opened the door without even asking.
A black hooded man was standing there, his face covered, but Acorn could tell that he was in trouble. The man's while skully chin appeared from under the hood and Acorn took a step back.
"Who are you?" he asked in a shaky voice.
"I'm your worst nightmare." The man replied and raised his wand and pointed it at Acorn. "Avada Kedavra!"