Chapter 3: The Last Believer
1st November 1981
It was around 1:00 when Sirius and Harry touched down outside the Leaky Cauldron where Sirius quickly shrunk the bike and put it in his jacket pocket. After making sure that Harry was all right and deciding to let him sleep, as it would be easier to concentrate on the task ahead. Sirius then pulled his hood up and briskly made his way through the Leaky Cauldron where luckily the bars 5 occupants, 2 wizards, a witch and 2 hags failed to notice him. Not looking at Tom the bartender who was glancing suspiciously at the late entrees to Diagon Alley but Sirius only thought "that Tom reckons that I am going to Knockturn Alley considering the attire I am wearing and not seeing the baby strapped to my chest". Sirius quickly made it out the back door and tapping the bricks to enter Diagon Alley and then setting off at full pace, well as fast as you can with a 15 month old baby strapped to your chest, towards Gringotts.
As Sirius approached the white marble building that was Gringotts which was situated part way down Diagon Alley near the intersection with Knockturn Alley. Sirius approached the burnished bronze front doors of Gringotts up steps of white marble. A goblins was standing guard here, dressed in a uniform of scarlet and gold and looking frankly Sirius thought "quite menacing" at this late hour of night. As he passed through the first set of doors into an entrance chamber facing another set of doors. These were silver and were engraved with the following rhyme:
Enter, stranger, but take heed
Of what awaits the sin of greed
For those who take, but do not earn,
Must pay most dearly in their turn.
So if you seek beneath our floors
A treasure that was never yours,
Thief, you have been warned, beware
Of finding more than treasure there.
"Scary Goblins, I hope I don't have any trouble tonight." Sirius pondered to himself as he trying to look as inconspicuous as possible made his way through the last two guards who after a quick look opened the doors of Gringotts to him.
It was quite quiet in Gringotts as it was late at night but there were still many Goblins sitting behind their desk doing various jobs while a few wizards were in discussion with the Goblins. They were near the entrance to the carts which when accompanied by a Goblin takes you down to the vaults. Sirius quickly hurried over to the nearest available counter to the vaults and after seeing the Goblin just looking at him and not saying anything he said in the politest tone he could muster:
"I'd like to make a withdrawal from vault 711" Sirius then carefully slid his key forward to the Goblin who indicated that he wanted to see it. He studied it for a moment and then turned and barked:
"Griphook escort Mr. Black down to his vault" As the young Goblin in question by a cart indicated himself to Sirius as where he had to go.
Sirius wandered over and the goblin told him to sit in the cart. He obliged and then Griphook asked for the vault number and after Sirius answered jumped in himself and the cart sped off at an obscene speed for an old wooden cart. Sirius felt himself and Harry going deep into the catacombs of Gringotts. The Cart finally slowed to a halt and Griphook got out.
"Vault 711, Mr. Black." Griphook told the man who was rising out of the carts.
Sirius nodded and made his way to the vault entrance where he mumbled " Padfoot is a stud" and then proceeded to pull his key out of a pocket of his jacket that had just appeared as though by magic and put it in the door. Sirius then quickly got to work. He undid the strap that kept Harry safely with him and once the sleeping baby was laid down in the nearest corner to the vault door, Sirius set to work. Like a man possessed Sirius with lightning speed enlarged the trunks and proceeded to fill the trunks with as much gold as they could take. Then with two flicks of his wand Sirius shrunk the trunks then proceeded to make them feather light and slipped them back inside the hidden jacket pocket where after picking up Harry and replacing him to where he was previously placed he left the vault. After putting the key in the concealed pocket he mumbled a password which unlike the one he used to make the pocket show itself this one could just be heard and it nearly broke Sirius's heart to say it
"Prongs is more deer than stag" he whispered in what only could be described as a strangled voice as the pocket disappeared from sight. The grief threatened to overwhelm Sirius for a moment before he remembered where he was and who were after him, The Ministry, The Order of the Phoenix and The Death Eaters. With that last thought still floating round his head he rushed his way over to the carts where Griphook now with a look of puzzlement and suspiciousness on his face sat waiting and once the man was seated the cart took off back towards the marble halls of Gringotts.
Sirius quickly got out of the carts once he they stopped and after a quick thank you to Griphook he strode quickly out of Gringotts and out onto the cobbled streets of Diagon Alley.
Unbeknown to him an announcement had gone out an hour before on the Wizarding Wireless Network that Harry Potter has defeated You-Know-Who and that James and Lily Potter were the last two victims of him. It also stated Sirius Black has kidnapped Harry Potter after betraying them and now that You-Know-How has been defeated Sirius Black has now taken command of the Death Eaters. It also stated that Remus Lupin is a Death Eater and that the pair of them are wanted dead or alive for numerous crimes (the minister made half of them up) like murdering and torturing muggles, helping the Dark Lord, being a werewolf and treason. The minister offered 5,000 galleons for the capture of one of them dead and 20,000 galleons if they are alive. The minister also stated that he would have a team of Dementors looking for Black and that the kiss was authorised on sight.
Sirius was nearly at the entrance to the Leaky Cauldron and had just passed Quality Quidditch Supplies when a group of young looking people in their early twenties entered the street from a bar just in front of where he was walking. The group unknown to him had just been celebrating the downfall of Voldemort and mourning the death of the Potters, as they had all been either 2nd year Hufflepuff or Ravenclaw at the time when James Potter and Lily Evans came to Hogwarts. They were also cursing the day that traitor Sirius Black had been born. Sirius knew that he had to hurry up past them and they were just passing each other when of the girls stopped and stood staring at Sirius for a second. "Damn" Sirius thought "I dated her in 6th year for a month on so, she'll recognise me any where." With that he started to run as fast as he could while pulling the motorbike out of his pocket, he had to get away from Diagon Alley. Unfortunately the men of the group behind him had started chasing him shouting out stunners and more painful hexes meant to bring down the Dark Lords supposed number two and new leader of the Death Eaters. Sirius quickly turned down the nearest alley and wandlessly enlarged the motorcycle, as he had no time to get his wand out. He was just about to jump on his motorcycle when he heard two soft pops and a gruff voice.
"Well, well, well, what do we have here then Black, you didn't think you could escape us forever do you. You will gets what's coming to you, you filthy murdering, traitor." Alastor Mad-Eye Moody said to Sirius in what could only be describe as the to one of imminent death. Yet he continued but this time in a much softer voice. "Why Black? Why did you betray Lily, James and the Order? Why did you join Voldemort? I was teaching you everything you needed to become the best Auror ever and even that wasn't even for you, was it?" Moody ended with the demonic glint back in his eye.
"Now Black, tell us where Harry is and we may not kill you." Frank Longbottom who was standing next to Moody and looked just as dangerous.
"He is right here." Sirius harshly told them in a cold voice, unzipping his jacket fully showing the two men Harry as he lay sleeping snuggled up against Sirius's chest. The pair gasped openly as well as the other men who had been chasing them. They looked like they were covering the Aurors/Order of the Pheonix Members' backs in case Sirius tried to fight against them.
"Hand him over now Black, you sick freak! What have you done to the boy?" Moody bellowed reaching for his wand.
"Now listen here Alastor, Frank and listen good. Harry is fine, just sleeping. I did not betray James and Lily. I wasn't their secret keeper. It was Peter. I went to Godric's Hollow after I went to Peters flat where he was supposed to be hiding and found it empty and when I arrived I saw James and Lily dead and Lucius Malfoy, Crabbe and Goyle approaching the cottage where Harry lay on the floor. I managed to beat the three and get away. I was about to contact Albus when I got an owl from Remus saying that you are all after me. You have to believe me." Sirius told them in a hard voice devoid of emotion yet his eyes betrayed the feelings of hopelessness that he felt.
"What a touching story Black but I don't think so. Albus has already assured us that you were the secret keeper and informed us that your werewolf friend has become a fugitive to join you and there is now a very large bounty on the pair of your heads. Now for the last time hand over the boy!" Moody yelled as all the men present had their wands out.
"Don't make us harm you Black" Frank said not wanting to hit the sleeping baby placed over his chest.
"You don't understand" Sirius screamed "I'm telling the truth, Albus is wrong"
Sirius now realised the predicament he was currently in was futile. Albus had poisoned their minds. "I'll get you Albus" Sirius bitterly thought while thinking of a way him and Harry could escape unhurt. He was backed into the corner of the alley with five fully trained wizards blocking his exit. Sure he had the motorcycle but as soon has he moved to get on it they would get him and it would be all over. He had to either distract or stun Frank and Alastor after that the three men would be easy. "Oh yeah" Sirius though cynically "The top two ranking aurors against one trainee auror. That will be easy." He had to do it and do it now as all five of the men looked like they were about to make their move. Sirius could do average wandless magic while using his wand so it was five wands on one wand and a hand.
"If its going to be this way Black, put the boy down, you don't want him getting hurt do you." Frank said in a calming voice as he thought of what he would do if his son Neville who was the same age as Harry was in the same situation. He was slightly confused by Black's behaviour. In the quick briefing earlier by Albus he and the rest were told that Sirius could kill Harry without a second thought and he had obviously been corrupted. But the way he was acting so fatherly perplexed Frank no end.
Sirius thought it over and then undid the slings that held Harry and placing the sleeping boy on the motorcycle, which was to the left of Sirius, ready to go when necessary. He quickly pointed his wand at the boy and not bothering to say an incantation Harry was secured in place by invisible ropes, which you could only see for a second before they vanished.
Suddenly Sirius whipped his wand of his holster while casting three wandless stunners two of which hit their target at the men at the back who were unprepared for such advanced magic in quick succession while waving his wand and shouting "Protego" to deflect back Moody's and Frank's stunners. He shield quivered but held firm. Sirius quickly cast a wandless shield over himself that would deflect minor curses and take some damage of the more major ones.
"Exarmo" Sirius suddenly shouted the stronger version of the disarming curse while waving his hand and sending off a wandless stunner and a powerful earthquake curse at Moody, then quickly dodged another stunner from Frank.
"Protego" Moody shouted and his shield stopped the curse and sent it back and the stunner then hit the shield that Moody just like Sirius had set up round himself. He after taking a step back in shock at his personal shield being struck, strode forward looking to end this duel quickly before Harry got hit by any stray curses but got struck full force by the earthquake curse and was sent 30 yards flying back down the alleyway.
The three men now back in action as the surviving one had reawakened the other two came striding down the alley to get in a better position to disable Sirius after he had taken care of. Sirius quickly saw this while he was now duelling one on one with Frank Longbottom both using wand and wandless magic and after sending a powerful paralysing curse that had Frank diving out of the way and Sirius as fast as he could waved his wand and hand and shouted:
"Stupefy, Petrificus Totalus, Impedimenta" while sending three wandless stunners at the men who all put shields up for the first curses but after the shields barely blocked the curses as Sirius's curses were above the average power for an average wizard. The men all didn't move and as a result the stunners, leaving just Frank and Sirius left standing, struck all three of them. Suddenly Sirius felt an excruciating pain all around his body, which lifted 20 foot in the air and slammed back down to the ground 5 foot behind where he was just standing leaving him in around 50 foot in front of Harry and his escape. Frank though was advancing looking worn down from the duel but still sending stunners and more powerful curses like the disarming curse Sirius had used earlier.
Sirius just managed to roll to the side as the red bolt of the stunner hit a trash can. That gave him an idea. Sirius could use hardly wandless magic anymore and it looked like the same applied to Frank who was sticking to wand magic. All Sirius had to do was lull him in to a false sense of security and it might work.
"Quiesco" Sirius shouted a powerful sleeping charm that would have had Frank sleeping for days had it hit. Frank easily side-stepped the curse and replied:
"Discerpo" Sirius hadn't expected such a powerful curse and had to drop to the floor while the dismemberment curse flew over his head. "Come on Frank" Sirius thought, "Just a little closer" before he sent off his next curse, a stunner which Frank, though fatigued easily blocked the curse and kept advancing on Sirius who was now on his feet.
"Frank, for one last time, you have to believe me. I loved James and Lily and I love Harry like I would my own child. I would never betray them. It was Peter. Believe me" Sirius, said in a desperate last chance for Frank to believe him.
Frank for a second actually believed Sirius but Albus had given him a job to do. While Black's story seemed plausible Albus said that he was sure that Sirius was the secret keeper. With his emotions conflicting Frank evenly replied.
"Just give yourself up Sirius. You are just making it worse for your self. Please!" Frank ended, trying to reason with the man that he was not so sure about being guilty.
Sirius had made his mind up. It was now or never. His fatigue was threatening to overcome him and his head already pounded but it was necessary. Sirius raised his arms up in the air and for one moment Frank thought he was giving up but then Sirius seemly waved his arm at nothing.
Frank put on his strongest shield. Nothing happened for a millisecond apart from Black looking like he was about to collapse when then he heard something. A growl was coming from behind him. The he turned and saw them. Two large dogs, teeth bearing jumped at Frank who dodged the first attack and then when he finally had some time waved his wand to vanish the dogs at the same time as he heard Black call out:
"Congelo" The last thing Frank was sure he heard before the powerful freezing charm hit him was a muttered "sorry" from Sirius Black.
Sirius was nearly dead on his feet and after strapping Harry back to his chest, sat on the motorcycle and started the long flight towards the Isle of Orkney. His last thought after leaving Diagon Alley and putter the invisibility charm on the motorcycle was that " It is going to be one hell of a night"
1st November 1981
It was 5:30am in Albus Dumbledore's office and all of the current occupants have had no sleep at all as they have been discussing the current situation late into the night and subsequently the morning as well. After Moody had awakened after his meeting with a brick wall, he managed to revive all of the wizards on the scene. After taking statements from the three men who had backed up him and Frank, to what use it was and also memory charmed the three and their girlfriends to forget about the whole incident. After they had apparated back to Hogwarts to give news of the duel to Albus, who proceeded to lecture and shout at them for a whole hour straight about how they could let Black slip through their grasp.
Albus had come to the conclusion that Black had obviously like his former Master, had sunk deep into the Dark Arts to gain the power and the fact that Harry was still alive confirmed his thoughts about Sirius trying to harness Harry Potters power. Everyone present, which was the Inner Circle of the Order of the Pheonix. The people present were Albus Dumbledore, Head of the Order, Minerva McGonagall, Alastor Moody, Frank Longbottom, Edgar Bones and Gideon and Fabian Prewett. Six member when the day before there had been eight. James and Lily Potter were also in the Orders inner circle or had been. Sirius Black and Remus Lupin could have been, they were not lacking in the required areas yet Sirius was erratic at best and Remus was not reliable either yet that was not his fault.
The remaining six had been arguing for hours about what to do following the downfall of Voldemort and only certain issues had been resolved. It had been determined that the hunt for Sirius Black, Remus Lupin and Harry Potter would be the primary object of the Order and all three of them were wanted alive. The second objective was to prove the guilt of all known Death Eaters that the Order was aware of and to capture new ones should any more Dark activity be forthcoming. Frank Longbottom had been quiet all night, just either agreeing or disagreeing with the points made. He was thinking of the things that Black said to him after they had been left alone together. It was eating him up, "was Black telling the truth?" He had to know.
"Albus, are you sure that Sirius Black was James and Lily's secret keeper?" Frank started nervously, not knowing how to approach the subject tactfully after all, its not everyday someone argues with Albus Dumbledore.
"Yes Frank, although I was not present at the time of the casting, we met hours before and went over the plan one last time. Sirius Black was the secret keeper." Albus replied firmly with a sigh, a hint of annoyance evident in his voice as the same line of questioning by Remus Lupin had already happened that night.
"So you weren't actually there, so Sirius could have been telling the truth. Peter Pettigrew could have been the secret keeper and we are after the wrong man." Frank answered Albus confidently now that he knew how much Albus knew or didn't know about the secret keeper business.
The other members were now muttering quietly to each other as they were weighing the points that both of the men was making. Unfortunately for Frank, they still came to the conclusion that they believed Albus over him.
"I will tell you now Frank for the last time, Sirius Orion Black was James and Lily's secret keeper, he betrayed them to Voldemort and he has kidnapped Harry for reasons which I believe to be true. Now that is all I have to say on the matter." Albus finished heavily piercing frank with a glare that would distil complete agreement into the hearts of most wizards. Frank wasn't one of them though and proceeded to make one finishing statement to Albus.
"Albus, you do not have one piece of concrete proof to suggest that Sirius betrayed James and Lily. You weren't there when they cast the Fidelius Charm. Contrary to your belief, I do not think that Sirius has become the next Dark Lord. He used no Dark Arts tonight in the fighting and used no spells that could of permanently hurt any of us. He even had the chance to kill all of us present after he had beaten me. Alastor you are always saying that you are amazed by Sirius's power and skill." Frank surmised with a glare on his face as deep thought was plastered over the remaining members faces apart from Albus's who was sitting there with something of disbelief written on his face after hearing Franks last statement. However it was Moody who answered him first.
"Frank, I can see why you are sticking up for the boy, you were in Griffindor together for a couple of years. Yes I was always saying how good he was and how astounded I was with him and now I probably know why, he was at the same time having training sessions with Voldemort and the other Death Eaters and practising torturing Muggles." Moody spouted, going into a fully-fledged rant.
"Alastor, do you really believe the words that you are saying. All I mean by this is do we know that Sirius Black is guilty or are we just assuming." Frank said with an exasperated sigh.
"You must stop this Frank" Albus angrily told the man, his patience wearing thin. "This is what Black wants, he wants us divided, it makes his job easier. United we are strong, divided are we weak" Albus consummated.
"Now I am saying for the last time, and I suggest this to you all. Lets get Peter Pettigrew and question him using Veritaserum today. Then we will see if Black's story is true and that Pettigrew was the secret keeper. If so then we have the chance to undo a terrible mistake before anyone is harmed or we know for sure, 100%, that Black is indeed a traitor." Frank said voice filled with authority as he had his final say on the matter.
A couple of the Inner Circle, the Prewett brothers to be exact we now nodding there head in agreement while the rest still weren't convinced by Frank's impromptu little speech. Albus finished the meeting by saying.
"It has been a long night, I suggest you all get some sleep, I have some thinking to do and will give you my answer to your question Frank tomorrow. Till then ladies and Gentlemen." Albus finished with a weary look in his eye but still Frank got the impression that he had not even dented Albus's believe that Black was innocent and that he may only agree to his idea just to appease the other members.
With that, ten minutes later, Albus Dumbledores office was silent as all the previous occupants were sound asleep in their respective beds, to tired to rationally think about the goings on of the last 24 hours.
1st November 1981
It was approaching sunrise as Sirius and Harry, who even after the sleeping charm was taking off remained fast asleep, approached the Orkney Islands which were situated off the north east coast of Scotland. There was a bunch of tiny islands, most uninhabited and a main island where the majority of the population was.
As Sirius approached the Island he flew lower and at the moment his thoughts were exhaustion filled haze that said "Harry, cottage, safety, Remus, sleep." It felt like he was flying round the island for hours when in reality it was only a couple of minutes. Sirius could recognise the place anywhere; it was a dark, dank two-storied cottage that his mother had showed him at age 12, at Christmas during his first year at Hogwarts as punishment for being a Griffindor. She told him that he better be a proper Black soon or that was where he was going to be spending all his holidays. In Sirius's point of view he was quite glad that she didn't follow up on that threat.
Finally he saw it; it was on the north west of the tiny island and looked to be about half a mile from the nearest house and about three-quarters of a mile from the nearest village. That was quite something as the village was only approximately 4 square miles.
Sirius landed his bike on the overgrown garden path, surrounded by lawn that had not been cut for what looked like a century. He picked Harry up and attempted to make his way up the path, which surprisingly had remained untouched. Now with a superhuman effort made it to the front door where he was just about able to get his wand out and whispered "Alohomora" feeling any strength he had in him finally go as he stumbled in the cottage and shut the door behind him. It was dark but he didn't care he had just sat Harry down in his cot and was just about to fall on the floor and go to sleep when he heard a cold harsh voice say:
"Make one move Black and I will blast you into tiny pieces"
Sirius, doing the only thing he could do, finally succumbed to the world of darkness as unconsciousness overtook him.
A/N
That brings an end to another chapter. I will make the final decision about the number and size of the chapters after I post the next one.
I have gone back and re-formatted the first two chapters and changed minor details but nothing that needs to be re-read.
Thanks to all my reviewers!
Cheers
Halstead