- - Chapter Three - -
Standing in the middle of the sea, far away from civilization, was a rocky fortress. The building itself gave off the feeling of dread. Its jagged gray walls were pelted continuously with cold rain. Thunder and lightning storms never ceased around the area surrounding the dreaded island; the Ministry liked to give the island's residents a taste of their future. And if the sight of Azkaban Prison wasn't enough for the prisoners to sense their impending doom, the Dementors would surely finish the job.
There was only one way on or off the island Azkaban resided upon: a small wooden Muggle boat. Aurors officials bringing in new prisoners would have to brave the cold hard rain, followed by the meeting of the Dementors awaiting their arrival. More than one Auror had sworn never to go to Azkaban again.
The inside of the prison was worse, if possible. There was never a moment's peace. Most prisoners went mad in a matter of days after meeting with the first Dementor.
Most, because there was one prisoner of Azkaban who seemed unaffected by the Dark Creatures. Not totally unaffected; that wasn't possible. But for the amount of time he'd been a resident of Azkaban, this man was relatively normal. He had somehow found a way to guard himself from insanity.
The wizard guards claimed it was Dark Magic the prisoner used. Dark Magic taught to him by He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named.
Anyone who visited cell number 382 in the maximum security ward would merely find a man who seemed bored. Though he was surrounded by his fellow inmates - screaming for insanity to take them - this prisoner sat in a corner of his cell, merely staring at the wall opposite him, completely oblivious to the world around him. Well, not completely oblivious, more like not caring, and...bored.
Who was this man you ask? Who could possibly have enough power to keep himself from insanity? He was the most feared wizard in the prison. More feared than the Lestranges, who were insane before they were even arrested for their crimes; a man who killed twelve Muggles, and one of his best friends, with a single curse; a man who sentenced two of his other best friends to death; a traitor to the cause he was so eager to be a part of when he was younger. The Dark Lord's second-in-command. This man was none other than Sirius Black.
Contrary to very popular belief, however, Black wasn't using Dark Magic to keep himself from losing his mind to the Dementors. There were two things that kept this from happening. The first was the fact that Black was innocent; he'd been framed by the rat. But, unfortunately for Black, only he and the rat knew this, and the rat wasn't telling.
The second was something only two other living souls, besides Black, knew about. Since the age of fifteen, Sirius Black had been an illegal Animagus. The Grim-like animal sheltered Black from the Dementors; they could not see, but they could sense Black's less-than-human emotions coming from the cell. So, every time Black began to feel the cold brought on by the Dementors, he would transform.
A third, unspoken fact helped reinforce the first two. It was his wife, or soon to be, and his son, Galahad, who would be waiting for him when the idiots who threw him in here would be waiting for him on the outside. It was a happy thought he kept buried away from the Dementors.
The Dementors stood guard just outside the ward, and would enter at their leisure to torment the prisoners. They had just finished having their fun for the afternoon and had retreated back to their posts. If one was to happen to catch the prisoner of cell 382 off guard (which could never happen), they would instead find a large, black dog.
The dog's once shiny black fur hung matted and dirty from its thin body. Its ribcage was clearly visible beneath its thin fur due to five years of prison food. It sat, shaking, in a far corner of the small cell, listening to the tortured screams of other prisoners. The screams didn't bother the Animagus as much as they had when he'd arrived; after some time in Azkaban, you learn to block things out.
The dog lay on the dirty, cold cement ground head between his paws and attempted to drift off to sleep. He didn't bother with the 'bed' Azkaban had provided him with. It was merely an un-sturdy wooden cot with what looked like blankets.
Footsteps.
The dog's ears perked up. Even over the terrified, insane screams, he could hear them clear as day. And they were coming closer. Four sets, if he could hear right.
The dog transformed back to his human-self, but still stayed curled up in the corner, arms tightened around his knees.
Two tall figures stopped directly in front of Sirius Black's cell. One of which was the last person he thought he'd see in the prison.
Albus Dumbledore looked at Sirius with an unreadable expression upon his old face. Sirius stared back.
The second figure (I thought there were four, Sirius thought.) was an Auror; Kingsley Shacklebolt to be precise. Sirius - along with James - used to work with Kingsley when he was an Auror just five years previous. It seemed so long ago...
Shacklebolt unlocked the cell door, allowing Dumbledore entrance. The Headmaster crossed the threshold of the cell wordlessly, sat down on the 'bed', and looked out expectantly to the corridor.
A moment later, a man walked nervously to the edge of the cell. A man that made Sirius' heart leap into his throat. He'd definitely never expected to see Remus Lupin ever again. From the time he'd entered Azkaban, Sirius had been convinced he was friendless. There was no way in the world that Remus would believe he was innocent. Not after all the evidence that had pointed to Sirius. And as far as Remus knew, Sirius was the Secret Keeper; therefore, he was guilty. Remus stared at Sirius with the same expression as Dumbledore: none. He was completely void of any emotion on his face. Remus was good at this; he'd learned young to keep his emotions to himself.
The fourth, final person peered in at him before ducking out. It was her face more than her comforting presence that caused the turmoil to subside. The sound of waves in his mind and ears seemed to drowned out by the beating of his heart as he looked at the momentary face of his wife. Her face was as expressionless as the first two, but it was her eyes that had the flickering of emotion. The look, a yearning for truth. It was something too easy to see in her eyes if you could read anything from her. She simply stood out of sight, probably hyperventilating by the sounds of it as his hearing came back.
Sirius couldn't find his voice. It was lost in the millions of thoughts going through his mind. There was so much he had wanted - needed - to say to his old friend and fiancée, but at the moment, found it impossible.
After long moments of uncomfortable silence, Dumbledore spoke. "Hello, Sirius. I'm sure you are wondering why we are here?" Sirius barely nodded. "Remus and I were hoping to ask you some questions, to possibly clear some things up. But perhaps we should find someplace more comfortable." He looked to Shacklebolt. The black, bald Auror moved to where Sirius sat staring unblinkingly at Remus, and beyond to Evelyn Prince, hidden from view.
"Come on, Black. Up you get." He said in a deep, booming voice.
Slowly, Sirius began to rise. His legs were weak with lack of use, and Sirius had to be held up by the Auror to keep from falling.
Silently, Dumbledore walked from the cell, followed closely by Remus. Shacklebolt held a firm grip on Sirius' arm, not to keep him from falling any longer, but to keep him from running. Sirius wouldn't try to run if he could; he was too curious to find out what could possess his former best friend and headmaster to come for a visit. He had hoped for the longest time that she would visit. Perhaps she had convinced them. He hoped for it. He prayed for it.
The four wizards and one Auror walked silently through the corridors of the prison. Screams of pain sounded all around them. The Dementors had been placed on the opposite side of the prison while the visitors were inside.
Sirius looked straight ahead at the back of Remus. What the hell is going on? He wondered.
After five years of no contact whatsoever, Remus and Dumbledore show up. Not that Sirius blamed Remus for his lack of contact. If Remus were the one locked up, convicted of killing thirteen people, being a Death Eater, and responsible for Lily's and James' deaths, Sirius wouldn't want to see him, either. It must have been Evelyn, his mind feverishly thought. She's convinced them of my innocence.
They walked for another five minutes until they arrived in front of a large metal door. Dumbledore turned the handle, walked in, and awaited for the others to enter, before closing it and crossing the room.
An interrogation room.
A long metal table stood in the middle of the cement room. It was surrounded by uncomfortable looking metal chairs. Shacklebolt led Sirius to one, and sat him down. The Auror stood just behind Sirius - wand out - as if daring him to try something. Dumbledore and Remus walked to the opposite side of Sirius. Evelyn merely hovered near the doorway, before deciding to sit a bit nearer. The man looked at her with some longing. He wished he could reach out and kiss her. Do anything to tell her her Padfoot was still here. He wasn't as mad and dark as they told her. Must have convinced her he had been. How else do you calmly laugh at your friend's apparent demise?
Before he sat, Dumbledore removed a large block of chocolate from his cloak. Once he'd discarded the wrapper, he broke the chocolate into four pieces, and passed them to the others before eating his own. Evelyn had a few chocolate frogs, one she handed to Sirius with a mute look in her face. He tried to smile, but for the pain in his body.
Sirius stared from the chocolate in his hand, to Dumbledore and Remus; neither looked back.
He took a bite of the chocolate and instantly felt a warmth and energy he hadn't had in years.
Remus sat in his chair, eating the chocolate given to him by Dumbledore, wondering if this had been the right thing to do, after all. He looked across the table at Sirius. His face, once so full and tan, was now pale and sunken. His eyes, once so full of life and bright gray, now dull and deadened. He looked as though he hadn't eaten in months; Remus could see the man's ribs through the tattered and dirty Azkaban robes. Frankly, he looked like shit. Galahad's similar look was what unnerved him. When he had first laid eyes on little five year old Galahad, it had scared him that a boy could be so…ill looking. Bed ridden, that's what Monty had said. The boy had been very badly bed ridden.
But, Remus had to remind himself, Sirius has been in Azkaban for five years. There's no telling what he's like now.
Remus wasn't sure what to expect. By the end of the afternoon, he would have the answers he so desperately wanted. And if Sirius was innocent...
"What's going on?" Remus jumped at the unrecognizable voice his former friend now used. Sirius was looking to Remus for answers. Remus averted Sirius' gaze, and looked instead to Dumbledore.
"Well, Sirius," the old wizard spoke, "we just have a few questions. It shouldn't be much longer."
Just as he spoke those words, the metal door opened. Two more men walked in. The first was not much younger that Remus and Sirius. In fact, if Remus' memory was correct, he was a year behind them at Hogwarts. The younger man had short, blonde, curly hair with light blue eyes. He carried with him a stack of parchment and a handful of quills and ink.
The second man was one Sirius knew all too well. He was one of the Ministry officials on the scene the day of his capture. He was the one who'd visited Sirius' cell on numerous occasions to - as Sirius believed - check on the stability of his sanity. He was one of the reasons Sirius never received a trial. He was the Minister of Magic, Cornelius Fudge.
This afternoon, the Minister looked very perturbed, indeed. The question on Sirius' mind was why? That seemed to be the only thing going through the - accused - convict's mind since the arrival of Dumbledore and Remus just a short time ago. Why?
With a look of disgust and hatred, Fudge passed Sirius (who returned said look), and walked straight to Dumbledore. The older wizard stood with what looked like a very forced smile and shook hands with the Minister. Evelyn merely greeted him emotionlessly, her blue eyes staring the slightly quaking man from doing anything other than accepting her greeting. Sirius couldn't stop the smile. He knew that glare all to well. She had used it to chase boys off. She had tried to use it on him, before her own heart won out, and she had gone out with Sirius.
"Cornelius, how are you this afternoon?" Dumbledore asked.
Fudge's frown increased. "Not very well at all, Dumbledore. I don't know what you are getting to with this," he gestured to Sirius, "but I would like to get it over with as quickly as possible. There are more important things I need to be doing." Sirius resisted the urge to roll his eyes. Evelyn was looking the man down.
Dumbledore bowed his head and reached into his robes once more. This time, however, he pulled out a vile of blue liquid and placed it directly in front of Sirius.
Sirius looked from the vile to Dumbledore in question. Dumbledore sat and folded his hands on the table. Fudge nodded to the man he had arrived with, who unrolled his parchment, dipped his quill in the ink, and waited.
After a few moments of silence, Dumbledore finally spoke. "Sirius, sitting in front of you is Veritaserum. We ask that you take three drops so that we may ask you some questions. You may, of course, refuse. At which time, you will be taken back to your cell." He paused. "Do we have your consent to administer the Veritaserum, Sirius?"
Sirius looked from Dumbledore's eyes to Remus. His old friend had quickly looked down at the table. Sirius looked back to Dumbledore and nodded his consent. (Was that a smile?) Evelyn was looking down as well, but that was perhaps to conceal the look she was trying to hide. The look of curiosity that had drawn her from whatever miniature palace she had been living in before she had been drawn here.
Shacklebolt moved forward and uncorked the vile of Veritaserum. He removed a small amount of the liquid with an eye dropper, and replaced the cork.
"Open wide, Black," he said.
Sirius opened his mouth and waited for Shacklebolt to place the drops on his tongue. One... two... three... the cold liquid trickled down his throat. The room began to fade.
Remus watched as the Veritaserum was swallowed. Moment of truth, he thought. The play on words had no meaning to the werewolf as he watched Sirius' eyes become unfocused; the Veritaserum was taking effect.
Evelyn leaned forward, her eyes studying Sirius' slack face before she nodded tightly to Albus.
Once again, Dumbledore spoke.
"What is your full name?" he asked.
"Sirius Orion Black," Sirius replied in a distant voice.
"Date of birth?"
"December 12th, 1960."
A number of simple questions were asked to be sure of the Veritaserum's worth, as was Ministry procedure. Finally, the tough questions.
"Did you know Lily and James Potter?"
"Yes."
"How did you know them?"
"James and I had been best friends since the age of five. Lily and I met at Hogwarts."
"When was the last time you saw Lily and James alive?"
Remus sat straighter in his seat.
"Two days before they were killed."
"Sirius, were you Lily and James' Secret Keeper?"
Remus held his breath.
Evelyn sat straighter, her gaze fully upon Sirius. The Minister seemed woefully ignorant of it.
"No."
"Who was their Secret Keeper?"
"Peter Pettigrew."
Remus dropped his head into shaking hands.
Evelyn's soft gasp drew Albus and Fudge's attention. She covered her mouth, sitting back.
"Why did the Potters switch?"
"I asked them to. Voldemort-" a shudder from all but Dumbledore and Remus went through the room "-would have known that I was their Secret Keeper. So I suggested they switch to somebody less likely."
"Why didn't you inform anybody of the switch?"
"We wanted people to think I was the Secret Keeper. Peter was to go into hiding. It was supposed to be the perfect bluff. But it turned out that Peter was the spy."
"Sirius, what happened the morning of November 1st, 1981?"
Evelyn shot him a glance. Was it fury or embarrassment on her face, Remus wondered.
"After I left Godric's Hollow, I went to London. I was looking for Pettigrew. When I finally found him, I cornered him. He had his wand and a knife behind his back I didn't see. I took my wand out. I said some things to him, and he shouted for the entire city to hear that I had betrayed Lily and James. He cut off his finger, blew up the street, transformed into a rat, and ran into the sewers."
The entire room sat in stunned silence for a few minutes. Even the Minister couldn't find anything to say. Remus wiped away tears that threatened to spill from his eyes. Evelyn was already crying, her face covered by her long, pale fingers.
Dumbledore glanced at Remus before turning his attention back to Sirius.
"Is Peter Pettigrew an illegal Animagus?"
"Yes." Sirius' head fell to his shoulders, signaling the end of the Veritaserum's effect. Evelyn seemed on the very edge, but Sirius wasn't aware of anything.