AN: Sorry, but I couldn't finish this chapter before Christmas. However now it is here. Read and enjoy and please review! Thank you!
Chapter 5: Rumors
Sirius walked into the classroom in a particularly relaxed mood. This was his second lesson with the sixth-years and he enjoyed the first one very much, especially the Weasley twins caused him some good moments. They were very funny and they reminded him of himself and James. It was very strange to remember those times because it seemed as if their years at Hogwarts were in another life.
So he walked into the classroom and then he stopped dead in his track. Dumbledore was in there with an other wizard who he knew very well. Too well...
"Sirius, I assume you know Lucius Malfoy" Dumbledore smiled politely but Sirius didn't think that he was capable of play his part.
"Yes" he said gruffly and didn't acknowledge the blond wizard's outstretched right hand.
Dumbledore cleared his throat.
"Well, we don't want to disturb the lesson but Mr. Malfoy is here in the comission of the governors. He wants to observe the lesson."
Sirius shrugged and without a second glance at Malfoy he walked over to his desk. He saw the worried look on Dumbledore's face but he didn't care. Malfoy might have cleared himself from the accusations of the Ministry, but Sirius knew for sure that he was a Death Eater and he also experienced on his own skin how much he enjoyed torturing people. For a moment he felt the coldness of that basement and the darkness that engulfed him there and he shivered involuntary but forced back the memories and turned to the children.
"Today I would like to talk about the methods that the so called Death Eaters used during the war that Voldemort led against our society. I think you're old enough to know about the most dangerous curses that exist: the Unforgivables."
This wasn't today's lesson's topic but he couldn't stop himself and he felt a good amount of satisfaction when he saw the frown on Malfoy's aristocratic face.
When the lesson was over, Dumbledore waved him to the back of the classroom with a disapproving expression on his face. Sirius knew of course that this wasn't the most mature thing to do but at the moment he didn't really care.
Malfoy looked at him disgusted and he gladly returned the favor.
"I don't think that the Unforgivables are in the sixth-year curriculum" Malfoy said coldly. "Children shouldn't know about things like these!"
"They wouldn't need to know about these curses if some people wouldn't use them" he answered pointedly.
"I don't know what you are talking about."
"Don't you? As I remember you favored the Cruciatus in the old times."
Sirius felt Dumbledore's hand on his shoulder, but he didn't stop. He didn't even realized that most children stopped around them and listened to the conversation.
"You can't accuse me without consequences! I was relieved from all the charges!"
"Because you had enough money and connections..."
"I won't listen to this anymore! I see that everything is true that I heard about you in the Ministry: you are crazy and paranoid! Professor Dumbledore..." he started to turn away but he didn't have the opportunity to finish the sentence.
Sirius jumped forward and hit Malfoy on the jaw so hard that the man stumbled backwards and fell through the door and into the corridor. The corridor unfortunately was crowded with students and teachers.
Malfoy – still on the ground – pulled out his wand and Sirius followed suit immediately. Sirius would have cursed him without hesitation had Dumbledore not stepped between them.
"Stop this!" he said forcefully. "We are in a school if you forget!"
"You will regret this!" Malfoy said through gritted teeth. "You won't teach her long!"
Sirius wanted to tell something but Dumbledore's face stopped him.
"Professor Black!" he said. "Please meet me in my office!"
Sirius knew when to give up so he threw a last glance at Malfoy, then turned and stormed away.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
At dinner it was the main subject of every conversation what happened in the DADA classroom. And the students started to talk about Professor Black in a different manner.
Susan Bones whose aunt was the head of the Magical Law Enforcement knew some real interesting gossips and she shared it with everybody who listened.
"My aunt talked about him when she heard that Sirius Black would be our new teacher. She was his boss when he was at the aurors, but he was kicked out after some accident. He was banned out of the Ministry. The newspapers wrote that he went crazy."
"I don't understand how Dumbledore could let teach him here!" said Draco Malfoy to his friends loud enough that everybody in the Great Hall could hear it. "My father said that he spent years in St. Mungo's psychiatric ward. How could they let a madman teach in a school? I'm sure my father will soon settle things back to normal."
Ron approached his brothers to find out what really happened because he didn't trust Malfoy's narrative.
"Malfoy's father came as the inspector of the governors. He wanted to observe our lesson..." Fred began.
"...we should have learned about vampires but Professor Black started to speak about the Unforgivable Curses..."
"I thought those aren't in the curriculum!" said Hermione.
"I don't know about that but it was really interesting. I've never known why they are so dangerous."
"Then when the lesson was over, Professor Black accused Malfoy that he was a Death Eater. He didn't say it so, but this was the main point."
"Then Mr. Malfoy said that Professor Black was crazy and that was when he knocked Malfoy out."
"Professor Black seemed to be very angry, then they both drew out their wands and I'm sure they would curse each-other if Dumbledore hadn't stepped between them."
"Do you think that Malfoy is right?" asked Hermione.
"I don't know..." Fred answered hesitantly. "Maybe..."
"He seemed to be very dangerous for a moment" added George. "I watched his face and..." he trailed off.
"And?" asked Hermione.
"And his eyes looked more than grim. You know he's a Black."
"And?" asked Hermione again.
"Mum says that all the Blacks are crazy."
And the different gossips just went on and on.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Sirius wasn't in the Great Hall for dinner.
After he had a not so friendly conversation with Dumbledore he went to his room still grumbling. He hasn't met Malfoy in the last twelve years and if it had been up to him he wouldn't meet him in the upcoming one hundred years, either.
He was in Voldemort's captivity for more than two months. Voldemort wanted the Potters and they thought – as it was planned – that he was the secret keeper. Every Death Eater could have a turn with him and Voldemort promised a great reward to that one who managed to get the secret out of Sirius.
So they tried very hard. He couldn't see them but some of them he could identify by their voices. Malfoy was one of them.
He needed to talk to somebody so he went to the fireplace and dropped in some floo-powder.
"The Black-house!" he said.
A few seconds later 'Dora's head appeared in the fire.
"Hi!" she said with a broad smile that soon disappeared when she saw Sirius' grim expression. "What happened?" he asked.
"I did a very stupid thing" Sirius admitted.
"And why am I not surprised?"
Sirius frowned to the comment, but then answered.
"I knocked out Lucius Malfoy."
"Oh, it must have been great!"
"In front of the half school" he finished.
"Oh... Are you fired?"
"Not yet."
"I don't think Dumbledore would fire you. You are his best chance to protect Harry."
"I don't know. He was rather furious. He wants me to apologize to Malfoy."
"And will you?"
"Not in this lifetime!" he answered vehemently.
"I see."
"No, I mean it!" then he said more calmly. "Maybe I will pretend."
"How are you?" Tonks asked rather gently.
"I'm well."
"Really? You seem to be disturbed."
Sirius sighed.
"Maybe I am. You know this place wakes up a lot of memories and Harry is here..."
"I see. But please take care of yourself and don't forget to take your potions."
"Yes, Mum!"
"Sirius!" she rolled her eyes but smiled.
"I have to go now. Dumbledore awaits me in his office... just like in old times."
"All right! Be careful! Bye!"
"Bye!"
He turned from the fireplace. However they didn't talk long he still felt calmer than before. 'Dora always had a good affect on him. He sighed and left his room to face Albus Dumbledore.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
7
