Black Letters
By Neurotica
Eight: The Rest of the World
Harry came to stay at Number Twelve a few days after the Order had been informed about Sirius Black's miraculous return. He was happy to finally realize that it hadn't all been a dream, after all, that Sirius really was back.
The next step, according to Dumbledore, was to inform the Ministry of Magic. The moment Sirius was told of this, he grew understandably anxious. "Why would we want to do that?" he'd asked. Dumbledore explained that Fudge would have no choice but to believe Sirius' innocence. Dumbledore had been right about everything else, after all.
Everybody tried to assure Sirius that everything would work out, that his innocence would be declared. But behind closed doors, far away from Sirius, Harry dropped the façade and grew just as anxious as his godfather.
"But what if Fudge decides just to throw him back to the Dementors?" Harry asked Hermione and Ron the morning Sirius was to meet with the Minister.
"There's no way he can, Harry. Sirius is innocent, and once Fudge hears the evidence – I'm sure they'll use Veritaserum – he'll have to set Sirius free," Hermione said patiently, knitting some hats for the Hogwarts house-elves with some of Mrs. Weasley's charmed needles.
"But what if–"
"Harry, if you don't stop, I'm going to tell Fred and George that you've volunteered to be their next test subject," Ron said, smirking.
"Right, sorry," Harry muttered. "It's just… he's back now, and…" he trailed off looking helpless.
"We know, Harry. It'll be okay, you'll see," Hermione smiled gently.
Sirius followed Dumbledore to his office in dog form. Remus was next to him to provide moral support for the meeting with Fudge. Sirius, however, could smell his friend's nervousness; apparently he wasn't the only one who believed this could go very badly.
"Ice Mice," Dumbledore said happily to the stone gargoyles guarding his study. Sirius wanted to bite him in the ankles for being so calm. But one didn't bite Albus Dumbledore, Animagus or not.
The two wizards and dog silently made their way up the revolving staircase and into the office.
Cornelius Fudge waited in front of Dumbledore's desk, twirling his lime green bowler hat. "It's about time, Dumbledore. I've been waiting for nearly half an hour," the soon-to-be-replaced Minister said, irritated.
"My apologies, Cornelius, for your wait. Thank you for coming this morning," Dumbledore said calmly, forcing a smile. "I assume you know Remus Lupin?"
"Yes, yes, hello," Fudge said to Remus. "What's this about, Dumbledore? And whose dog is that?"
"Funny you should mention the dog, Cornelius. I'm sure you'll recall a few years ago when Sirius Black escaped from Azkaban?" Dumbledore asked.
"How could I forget? One of the worst moments in my career."
Remus exchanged a skeptical glance with the large black dog sitting beside his chair.
"Do you also recall when I informed you that Sirius Black is in fact innocent of all charges?" the headmaster asked lightly, sitting behind his desk.
"Yes," Fudge said tensely. "What does that have to do with anything? You said Black died."
Dumbledore gave a clear nod to the dog causing Fudge to look over his shoulder. The dog hesitated, looking at Remus. Remus scratched the dog behind the ears and softly said, "Go ahead. Molly's making a large dinner tonight."
Fudge was now looking as if he was ready to book Remus a bed in St Mungo's.
Slowly, the dog transformed into a tall man with long black hair, and dead looking gray eyes.
"Black!" Fudge yelled, jumping so fast from his chair that it fell over.
"Cornelius, please calm yourself for a moment and have a seat," Dumbledore said quietly.
Fudge's face was beet red, and he was pointing a shaking finger at the man he believed to be a deadly escaped convict. "What are you playing at, Dumbledore?" he asked through gritted teeth.
"Sit down, Cornelius," Dumbledore said again. Reluctantly, Fudge sat down again, not once taking his eyes off of Sirius.
Harry sat fidgeting in the basement kitchen of Order Headquarters. Molly had decided to wait on the large dinner until the others returned and made the children some bacon sandwiches and a cauldron of soup. None of them could bring themselves to eat. All of their minds were on what was happening at Hogwarts. They hadn't heard anything, good or bad, from Dumbledore, and Harry was assuming the worst. Sirius could be soulless by now, for all he knew.
Harry had only had his godfather back for a week. He'd been happier than he had been in years. If Harry lost Sirius again, he didn't know what he would do.
The kitchen door opened and Remus Lupin led Sirius Black, still in dog form, down the stairs. They all looked up eagerly for news, but were disappointed to see that Remus' face was void of all emotion. It couldn't have been too bad; Sirius was standing right in front of them.
"Well?" Harry demanded of Remus.
When Sirius transformed back, his face was also empty. The only two remaining Marauders looked at one another, and, very slowly, both faces were filled with large grins.
