Warning: Still same thing, possible Slash in later (much later) chapters. After all, Harry's only 12 years old now!
A/N: Thanks to all my reviewers, who gave me much joy and motivation to continue with this fic. I would like to apologise to one of my reviewers, "Lucasfsf" who requested no slash in my fic. Sorry, but I'm a major slash fan, there will definitely be slash, only not so soon cuz Harry's still young!
To Lady Phasma: Yes, Harry's been abused by his relatives, as they truly believe that Harry's a freak just because he's a wizard.
To Darklights: I have never seen Harry in Azkaban fics where Sirius is there too, so I thought it might be interesting to have a fic on it.
To Torny: This chapter's going to explain a little of what happened in the Chamber of Secrets, though I'm not going to repeat the scene from the book.
To my other kind and generous reviewers: DaughterofDeath, Ookami Kage, FallenPhoenix721, Eriee, Vampyreice – THANK YOU and please review for this chapter as well! Some people collect stamps, some collect bottle caps. Me? I like to collect reviews. Please add to my collection!
Previous Chapter:"I'm Sirius Black, a friend of your parents. Your godfather."
The silence that followed was so thick you could cut it with a knife. A bitter laugh broke it. "Is that a joke? I have no godfather!"
"Harry, please let me explain. It's a long story, but hey, we've got all the time in the world."
And so Sirius Black told Harry about the Fildeus Charm, the switch in secret-keeper and the betrayal of one rat, Peter Pettigrew."
Chapter 2: What Happened?
"So you are innocent? Like me?" Harry stared at the haggard figure with new eyes after hearing the entire story from Sirius.
"Yes, and that's kept me sane in the last 11 years."
"I have a Godfather….." Harry whispered to himself. He smiled for the first time since he's been discovered as a parseltongue.
"You look just like Prongs….." Sirius stretched a tentative hand through the bars separating his cell from Harry. He caressed his godson's face reverently. Harry, not used to physical contact that doesn't hurt, flinched. Sirius apologized profusely.
"No, it's not you, just that…." The Boy-Who-Lived was hesitant to explain how his relatives had abused him all his life. It's not something to be proud of, after all. Trying to change the topic, he asked. "Who's Prongs?"
"Prongs is James, your father. It's a nickname, for he was an animagus and his form was that of a stag, Mine's Padfoot, and I can turn into a big black dog."
"Wow! Can you show me?"
"More than happy to." With a pop, Sirius changed into a grim-like dog.
"Will you teach me to be an animagus too?"
"Not a problem!" Sirius replied after he turned back to himself.
"So, what happened? Why are you thrown into Azkaban by those doddering Ministry fools?" Sirius leaned back and made himself comfortable, sensing that it was going to be a long story, and just as unpleasant as his own.
"Well, first I have to tell you something. Please promise you won't freak out….". Sirius nodded. "I'm a parseltongue." To Harry's surprise, Sirius grinned. "Cool!"
Harry released the breath that he didn't know he was holding. He was so worried that his godfather will think he's evil and hate him. He started his story haltingly, reliving the painful moments again.
(A/N: I'm going to summarize the scene from the book Chamber of Secrets as I don't want to repeat the entire thing again. Lockhart tried to cast a memory charm on Ron and Harry but it backfired, and stones collapsed, separating Ron and Lockhart from Harry. Harry then went into the Chamber, saw Ginny, met Tom Riddle who explained what happened with Ginny, the diary and that he is Lord Voldemort. Riddle then sic the Basilisk on Harry, where Fawkes came flying in with the Sorting Hat. Harry's wounds were healed by Phoenix tears, and he drew the Sword of Gryffindor from the hat. He dueled with the Basilisk and killed it……then, this is where JK Rowling's story changes and my plot began…..)
"Somehow, Tom Riddle managed to get hold of my wand, and tried to cast the Killing curse on me. I dodged and the curse hit Ginny instead. At that point of time I was already desperate, and plunged the first thing I could find into the diary, which happened to be the poisonous Basilisk Tooth. I finally banished Tom Riddle, but was too late to save Ginny. My wand clattered beside me as Riddle disappeared into thin air. Grabbing my wand, I tried in vain to revive Ginny. Ron came rushing in at that moment and misunderstood everything. He thought I cast the Killing curse on Ginny, that I killed my friend." Harry paused as a look of pure grief passed his face.
"I was in a daze, not believing that Ginny's dead, when the Aurors rushed into the Chamber and captured me. After an incredibly short trial, here I am, the newest resident of the Prison of Azkaban."
Harry didn't even realize that silent tears were being shed by himself and his Godfather. Sirius held Harry's hand and tried to comfort the boy as much as he could. The animagus truly understood what it was like to be accused and betrayed by friends.
"No one believed that I'm innocent. Not my best friends, not my housemates, not my professors. Why? Am I such a horrible person that they think I'm capable of murder? They have known me for almost 2 years now, don't they know better? They ignored my pleas, they looked at me with angry, accusing eyes." Harry sucked in a deep breath and screamed. He screamed for the injustice of it all, for the betrayal, for innocence lost.
"Shut up Potter! My eardrums are going to break!" A familiar sneer caught the attention of the two prisoners.
"Snape?" "Snivellus?" Harry and Sirius asked in disbelief at the same time. The black-robed figure stood stiffly outside the cells, eyes widening at the hated nickname from his school-time nemesis.
"Black? Stay away from Potter." Severus Snape drew his wand and pointed it at Sirius Black.
"NO! Don't hurt my Godfather!" Harry shouted.
"Stand aside! He is a traitor! He betrayed your parents and caused their deaths!"
"No, please, you don't understand what happened…." And so Harry retold Sirius' story to a skeptical Severus Snape. With a reluctant nod, the Potions Master examined Sirius with dawning curiosity.
"How did you manage to stay sane in this dementors-infested place?"
"That's none of your business! Now, why are you here? It can't possibly be a visit out of goodwill, could it?"
"I came to repay my life-debt to James Potter, the one that I incurred due to your life-threatening prank. Come on Potter, I am only allowed to visit for an hour, after Albus vouched for me personally." Snape grimaced at the memory of a feral werewolf lunging at him and a frantic James Potter saving his neck, literally. With a look of pure hatred, he glared at the jerk who tricked him into the Shrieking Shack sixteen years ago.
"Professor Dumbledore is back?" Harry interrupted the glaring match between the two adults reluctantly. Though he was curious as to why Snape would owe his father a life-debt, and what Sirius has to do with it, he figured that's not the important thing now.
"Yes, and he has regained his position as Headmaster of Hogwarts. He knows what really happened, Potter. So, I have been granted the honor to save the Boy-Who-Lived." Severus replied sarcastically.
"How?"
"This is a special portkey made by Albus. It will take the two of you to a safe place…" Severus was interrupted by the freezing cold that announced the approaching dementors.
"What the? How could they release a dementor now when there is a visitor?" The ex-deatheater snarled as he shivered involuntarily. Sirius and Harry were similarly affected. The dementor floated closer to the trio and…
-TBC-
A/N: A cliffy!! Aren't I evil? Review please! The more reviews I get, the faster I will update!
Here's a sneak preview of the next chapter:
"I thought you said the Portkey will take us to some place safe?" Sirius glared at Severus with much dissatisfaction.
"How would I know that Albus' idea of safe is in the middle of nowhere, surrounded by nothing but trees?"
"We are safe from wizards that's for sure, but I wonder how safe we are from the creatures in the forest. I hope there isn't any dark magical creatures here." The animagus glanced around nervously.
"Sirius, Professor Snape, what is that huge dark thing staring at us?" Harry asked quietly, albeit a little too calmly.