Disclaimer: Again, I own nothing, except maybe the plot.
Chapter 2— The Article
Another week passed and Harry spent most of the time in his room alone. He didn't receive as many letters with Sirius being gone…Sirius. He tried not to think about Sirius.
The way he'd gone…laughing and then just—just dying like that…behind a veil, no chance to say goodbye. Harry opened his newest copy of The Daily Prophet. Since the ministry had agreed that Voldemort was alive again, they had been publishing more stories about how to know if You-Know-Who is around, how to avoid him, protect your family. They really tried to get the word out and known.
Lupin had said in a letter that the Order was recruiting new people all the time. He also said that they were trying to figure out a way to allow Harry to see his friends but they were not having much luck with anything.
"I'll send word right to you as soon as I know anything. Just keep trying to take it easy and try not to worry. As you well know, you are safer there for now. I know you hate it but you are well looked after, believe it or not. Until later, Lupin PS— Everyone thoroughly enjoyed the story of Dudley. And I would not worry about the cat. Maybe you are making something out of nothing. Sometimes, a cat is just a cat."
Harry's mind went back to the paper in his hand as he turned the last page. He was about to throw it aside when something caught his eye. There, written in the top corner on the right side of the page, was a story…about Sirius. He took a deep breathe as he read the headline, 'Sirius Black— Exonerated for Triple Murder, Pronounced Dead.' Harry looked at it again. His heart skipped a beat as he began to read.
Sirius Black, who was sentenced to life at Azkaban for the murders of Peter Petigrew and James & Lily Potter and for being a follower of He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Mentioned, was exonerated on all charges by the Minister of magic, Cornelius Fudge.
Black, who was the only living wizard to escape Azkaban alive, was on the run for nearly 4 years. Fudge said this exoneration could not have been avoided.
"The case was simple. Mr. Black was innocent. He was convicted because the real murder was unknown. At the time, all evidence pointed to Mr. Black but new evidence has come to light that shows it was all a set up," Fudge said.
The new evidence Fudge speaks of is evidence from an 'anonymous but reliable' source that Peter Petigrew, also known as Wormtail, is still alive and working with He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Mentioned. Sources also say that Petigrew faked his death and lived the last 14 years as a rat.
Petigrew was the one who turned in the Potters' whereabouts to He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Mentioned and caused their deaths. As cause of that, three things happened. One is that an innocent man spent years in Azkaban. The other is that a boy grew up without parents and the final is that He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Mentioned has returned to power.
Even more unfortunate is the fact that Sirius Black was not available to attend his exoneration because of his unfortunate death a mere three months ago, on the night He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Mentioned returned at the Department of Mysteries. To some, Black will be missed, to others, he was merely a messed up man who is better off gone.
"I don't particularly understand why everyone is making a deal out of this. He was a criminal. He will always be a criminal, no matter what sources say. I think its all a big joke and nothing more than a way to draw attention away from the situation at hand. Which is our Ministry is incapable of bringing anyone out of this," Lucius Malfoy said.
Whatever the opinion of Sirius Black, it is now sure that he is innocent and no threat to anyone. And as for Harry Potter, the-boy-who-lived, wherever he is, he is surely mourning again, because Sirius was his godfather and now he will never know another person who was taken away because of He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Mentioned.
Harry sat in awe as he finished the story. They did it. They cleared Sirius. He'd be thrilled if he were here. He'd say how it was time they had and he told them all along. They could finally go out in public together and he could get out of the house every now and then…no they couldn't. Sirius was gone now. He couldn't tell them all that. They couldn't go out together. Sirius had already gone out…gone out because Harry feel into Voldemort's trap. Fell hard and almost got everyone killed right along with him. He did get Sirius killed. Because of Harry, Sirius would never do anything again.