Thanks for all the reviews! Yep, that's pretty much why I find him hard to write. Not just you. It's hard to fix other people's problems (especially when you can't fix your own.) Wow, such unusual foods, I'll have to keep writing so I get to hear about more of them:) Remus might be in it but not as a very big part. James won't be because this part is set around third or forth year. I know it's over the top, that's just how I felt like writing it. Yea Dark Lady Cheese Puff, I don't like Dumbeldore sometimes too. There will be lots more interaction between Sirus and Snape now (except this chapter which was nessessary for the plot.) As you'll see it's a bit AU.

July 30th.

Azkaban Prison.

"I'm sure this personal inspection will allay all of your worries about the island."

Cornelius Fudge, the minister for magic, talked quickly, an artificial smile practically painted on. He wanted this 'tour' over with as quickly as formality would allow. Just being in this place sent shivers down his spine.

"I doubt it Cornelius."

'Merlin that Dumbeldore is meddlesome. This has nothing whatsoever to do with him.'

They entered the prison building. Despite the warmth of the day the temperature instantly dropped below freezing. Fudge shuddered and pulled his robes more securely about his rather ample frame. Hesitantly he followed Dumbeldore along the dank corridors.

From behind heavy iron bars disheveled figures screeched insanely and tried to grab at them. Others who were less far gone shouted insults. A few just huddled by the walls, mumbling incoherently to themselves. Nearly all of them were deatheaters. Nearly all of them had once been students at Hogwarts.

Dumbeldore stopped. It was a few seconds before Fudge noticed, such was his hurry to leave the prison.

"What's wrong?"

In the cell before them a ragged figure was chained to the floor. Heavy manacles around his wrists kept his arms widely spread. His mouth was open as though to scream but no sound was coming out. Repeatedly his hands clenched and unclenched. His legs kicked weakly and his back was arched.

"What's going on here?"

"Sirus Black was declared insane on capture. He was placed in restraints when he arrived in Azkaban for his own protection."

"Alohorama."

"Wait, you can't go in there!" the minister objected, rushing after the grey haired wizard. "What do you think you're doing?"

"That's not insanity Cornelius." Then, pointing his wand at Sirus, "finite incantatum!"

For a second nothing happened. Then the writhing of his body stopped and he slumped down against the ground.

"I don't understand."

There was something like anger in Albus' face as he addressed the stunned politician.

"Are you aware that the crucius curse can be made permanent?"

"Oh Merlin... Are you saying that this whole time?"

"You make yearly visits to this prison. You should have realized." They made to leave the cell.

"Wait..."

The voice was nothing more than a whisper, incredibly hoarse. Yet it was unbelievable that he could talk at all. They stopped - he spoke again.

"Look. Legiloramus... The rat... Look!"

"What's he talking about?" This whole situation made Fudge uneasy.

"I don't know. However I am inclined to find out." He walked back to Sirus and kneeled down beside him. Closer now he could see that at some point several of the man's bones had been broken and left untreated. He could see blood and bruises from constant straining against the chains. He stared past dark hollow sockets to brown eyes which struggled to remain open.

"Legloramus."

"You murdered James and Lilly!" Pettigrew shouted.

Confusion and anger. "But you were their secret keeper! You're the one who betrayed them!"

Wormtail moved closer, so that he could whisper audibly. "That's not what everyone else thinks."

Realization. Rage.

The short chubby man took a step back. He mumbled something under his breath but the word was lost as the street behind him literally exploded. Sirus was thrown back by the blast. He picked himself up from the ground just in time to see a large brown rat disappear down an open man-hole.

Sirus' head dropped back. "Thank you." He allowed unconsciousness to take him.

Dumbeldore was stunned. 'Innocent?'