David quickly settled into a routine at Hogwarts. He woke, ran around the lake and had breakfast. He would spend the morning with Remus in their office working on lesson plans and then would disappear after lunch into his rooms to do his own research. Some evenings he spent tutoring Neville Longbottom and others he met up with the staff getting to know them. At some point Remus had mentioned the possibility of a duelling club and so David had started duelling with Remus and Fillius Flitwick for practice. Fillius was better at the magical side, but Remus was able to fight in the muggle way too. Remus had tried to persuade David spar with him physically but he refused, even so they spent some time duelling each day in the Room of Requirement.
One morning David entered the DADA office to find Remus pacing nervously. "What's up?" he asked.
"I'm worried about a friend of mine," replied Remus clenching and unclenching his fists.
"Is he ill? Can I help?"
"No."
"No I can't help? No he's not ill? What has happened to get you so worked up?"
Remus did not answer. David conjured a mug of strong sweet tea and handed it to him. "Drink this, sit down and tell me what's happened," he ordered. Remus eyed the tea suspiciously. "It's only tea, honest. It'll help you calm down, my godmother swore by it, you don't have to drink it, but I would appreciate it if you did tell me what's going on. I might be able to help."
Remus nursed the mug drawing strength from its warmth. "Lily used to dole out tea when someone was upset," he said absently. "My friend, he's been arrested for something he didn't do. Fudge wants him kissed. Albus has gone to try to prevent it and get him a trial but I don't know if he will be successful. Albus doesn't have as much pull at the Ministry as he used to."
David's face went pale beneath his tan. "Remus, are you telling me that Sirius Black has been recaptured?"
Remus stared at him in surprise. "Yes, but he's innocent. It was Pettigrew who killed all those people and betrayed the Potters. I swear it wasn't Sirius."
"I know."
"You do? How?"
"The question should be 'what can I do about it?"
"You mean you can help him."
"Yes," said David, "Or rather I can ask Lord Crimson to help him. I may be gone for a while, please don't tell anyone why I've gone."
David left the office and once he was alone apparated to his bedroom at Lions' Den to change. He dug out his formal attire and morphed his appearance to his natural one as would be required for the pledge. A few minutes later he turned himself invisible, apparated to the Ministry, swept past the bored wizard at the welcome desk and made his way to the holding cells.
David walked up to the auror in charge of the holding cells, reappeared and demanded to see Sirius Black. The man refused. David was not impressed that he had had not signal his presence and he had not been noticed by this supposed elite guard while he sneaked in.
"I will see Sirius Black even if I have to go and get the Minister to let me in personally, which I am perfectly sure he will. So why don't you save me the bother and let me see him."
"Well see here, how do I even know that you are Lord Crimson? You could have just read the papers saying that there was a new Crimson Lord who was camera shy and decided to impersonate him."
The circuit on David's head began to glow and above it the image of a rampant lion appeared. "Satisfied?" he asked impatiently as the image dissipated. "Now let me see Sirius Black." The auror hesitated, obviously wondering what he should do, on the one hand Fudge would not want him to offend and alienate a zia, particularly a ruling zia, on the other Fudge had given strict orders that nobody speak to the prisoner. David took advantage of his indecision to walk past him and towards the cells. David stretched his senses to find Sirius and located his cell. He opened the door effortlessly, and walked inside. The door closed and locked behind him.
Sirius was drawn from his miserable contemplations by the door to his cell opening. Had he been able to do so, he would have exclaimed his surprise when a figure walked in. By his robes the man was the Crimson Lord yet he bore a frightening resemblance to Sirius's old school enemy Severus Snape.
"I have placed a privacy charm over this room, we will not be overheard," said the Crimson Lord as he removed the silencing charm on Sirius. "Mr Black, you should now be able to speak." He pulled something from his pocket and then crimson orchid appeared in his hand, he held it out towards Sirius. "I hope this brings you joy, it was chosen for my house by Godric Gryffindor. I offer it to you."
Sirius gaped and finally took the orchid. "Thank you," he said "Before I can swear allegiance I need to know a few things my lord."
"You may ask your questions Mr Black."
"Thank you my lord. Why are you offering this to me?"
"If you are adopted into my house then Fudge will be forced to give you a trial which should prove you innocent."
"Thank you my lord. Does the Crimson House have any alliances with Death Eaters?"
"At present the Crimson House has no alliances. Were it to come to my attention that someone under my protection was an unrepentant Death Eater I would disown that person."
"Finally, under what circumstances may I end the alliance?"
"You may end it at any time you choose simply by asking me to. Though if a disagreement arises I would prefer to try to settle it amicably first."
"Thank you my lord. I accept your offer." Sirius stood in front of David who placed his hands on Sirius's head. "I Sirius Black pledge my allegiance to the Crimson House. I will uphold its honour as my own and listen to its council."
"I David Roger Severus Godric Antirrhinum, Crimson Lord, accept your pledge and extend to you the fellowship and protection of my house," said David and a crimson glow formed round his hands and then left passing over Sirius's body and disappearing at his feet. As it passed by the orchid it changed it into a gold pendant of a cat, identical to the insignia on the Crimson Lord's robes. Once the glow had disappeared David took the pendant and hung it round Sirius's neck. "Excellent, it's worked. That's the first time I've done that so I wasn't sure it would. No ill effects I hope?"
"I feel fine, a bit shocked, but okay."
"I have a favour to ask you," said David smiling. "One of my public duties is a governorship of Hogwarts. I am free to delegate the post and I hoped you would take it. My spies tell me that Lucius Malfoy was displeased with the loss of his own seat and managed to persuade the other governors that my house had died out and since his mother was a Bolder zia he was next in line for the position. I would dearly like him to be thrown out."
"Ooh, revenge against dear cousin Cissy, count me in."
"Good, I was going to add that you could put forward a proposal for compulsory pranks by students on Professor Snape every Thursday but I see the added incentive is unnecessary. The other bonus is that it will give the headmaster and other teachers the right to visit you on 'school business' during your incarceration. With that sorted I can go to talk to dear Fudgie about your trial date. Just one thing, don't mention my name to anyone I like my privacy; just refer to me as Crimson. Sirius, I'll see you soon. I will know through the pendant if you are in particular trouble."
David exited the cell to come face to face with a flustered Cornelius Fudge, Minister for Magic and the auror they had seen earlier who had obviously been trying to open the door. Albus stood to the side his eyes twinkling brightly.
"Hello Minister, so good of you to save me the journey up to your office," said David suppressing a smile.
"It is a pleasure to see you my lord, I was wondering if there was anything I could help you with?" asked Fudge, ever the politician.
"Not really Minister. I was just here to wish Mr Black the best for his trial."
"Trial?" blustered Fudge.
"Yes trial. Sixteen years is a bit of a delay isn't it? I understand you could hardly give him one the last three years, but loosing the paper work while he was detained in Azkaban for thirteen seems a bit heartless. Naturally I would come to give Mr Black my support since James would be horrified by the situation he's in. Mr Black is a member of my fellowship and under my protection."
"Really Cornelius it would be wise if you informed Lord Crimson of the trial dates you would not want to give the impression that one of the Crimson Fellowship was being denied a trial," said Albus wisely.
Fudge stared pleadingly at the auror for another solution before finally giving in. "The date has yet to be fixed," he stalled. "Trials of this magnitude take a while to organise you understand my lord? As soon as it's finalised I will be certain to send word."
"Thank you Minister. As you know I am somewhat of a recluse, so I would appreciate it if my name was kept out of the press. I will be able to find the trial dates from the papers so please do not contact me or mention my visit." He smiled sweetly. "I'm sure you understand."
David swept out. He left a furious Fudge behind him who was realising that he had to come up with a reason for the press as to why Black was getting a trial instead of loosing his soul to a dementor's kiss.
David apparated back to his bedroom and changed into his more comfortable muggle clothes and 'work' appearance before returning to Hogwarts and the DADA office to find Remus.
"The Crimson Lord just got back from the Ministry," he said. "Sirius has made the pledge and has the full protection of the Crimson House so Fudge has been forced to agree to a trial."