Chapter 24: Trials and Tribulations

Azkaban Prison, North Sea

Sirius Black curled into a ball in the corner of his cell. His hair was an oily mass of black waves and curls that fell into his face, acting as a curtain to shield him from the guards whom were even now opening his cell doors. That the guards were coming into his cell confused him. Never, not once, in all his years of imprisonment had the human guards entered his prison cell. They had come by the door, looking within and taunting him in smug superior voices at the fact that they were free and he was locked away like a criminal.

"Murderer," they had called him.

"Betrayer," they had spat at him.

"How does it feel to have betrayed and murdered your best friends?" they had asked him.

Sirius had always responded the same. He was not a murderer and he was no betrayer. He knew he wasn't. No matter how many times the Dementors came near him he held firmly to the truth. He was innocent of the charges against him. He had not betrayed James to his death. He had not even killed Peter, the real traitor. He had meant to capture Peter only, to take him into Auror Custody and force him to explain why he had betrayed their best friend. Now, he would not mind getting his hands on Peter and ending his miserable little life. Vengeance burned in his blood. It was, he remembered vaguely as he stared at his uneasy guards, a Black tendency to feel their blood boil with the need for revenge.

"Up now Black," one of the guards finally spoke to him. "Get up now, you are wanted for questioning at the Ministry."

The thought of going to the Ministry of Magic, of leaving Azkaban was incredibly appealing and so Sirius slowly pushed himself up, using the wall to help support him in his weakened state. He was weaker than usual due to his lack of food. The guards had stopped feeding him a week ago and he did not know why. Now he began to suspect it was to make him more malleable for transport to the Ministry and more malleable to their questioning.

Sirius let the guards come to him and put him in the restraints necessary to transport him. He was an innocent man, wrongfully imprisoned. He had nothing to hide and no reason not to cooperate with the Ministry. He was an Auror who had defended and protected the public.

He held to those thoughts as he underwent transport. He kept to those thoughts when he was forced to sit in a chair that viciously wrapped chains around him holding him tight so he could not escape, so he could barely even move. He also struggled to keep it in mind when the chair was raised up into a cage in the center of a room surrounded by the Wizengamot, the Court of Justice, several Reporters, and to his surprise a few members of his birth family. Before Sirius truly had a chance to process what was going on the court was being called into session.

"Black vs. the Department of Magical Law Enforcement," was read out by a man that Sirius recognized as Tiberius Pucey. The man was arguably one of the most dangerous of the Hit Wizards that the Ministry had ever employed. "Lord Tiberius of House Pucey, Lady Adelia of House Dunbar, and Lord Andreas of House Spinks residing over the court."

"House Black you have the floor," Lady Adelia Dunbar added.

"Thank you, Lady Dunbar," came the smooth and cultured voice of Sirius' maternal grandfather, Pollux Black. "House Black felt it appropriate to file complaint against the Department of Magical Law Enforcement due to their abuse and ill treatment of a member of House Black, one Sirius Orion Black, Auror for the Department of Magical Law Enforcement, Ministry Employee."

"In what way has Sirius Orion Black been mistreated?" Sneered Lord Spinks. "Were his accommodations in Azkaban not to his liking?"

There was laughter from the section that held the press and some snickering from within the Wizengamot. Sirius felt himself go stiff at the snickers, righteous anger burning in his breast. He was innocent. Innocent!

Pollux Black smirked as the snickers and laughter died down. "I do not think that Azkaban's accommodations would be to the liking of a rat let alone a scion of the Most Ancient and Noble House of Black. Never-the-less, it would be most deplorable to a man who was innocent of the charges against him."

This was met with swift silence followed by soft whispers from those that watched the proceedings. Sirius glanced at Pollux with confusion. Why was his grandfather doing this? It was obviously at the order of Lord Black. Was Arcturus still alive or was there a new Lord? If there was a new Lord then he knew that the new Lord was his son, his Leonis. He often pulled up those golden memories of when he had spent time with Leonis. He had been in his animagus form at the time and had dared much in sneaking onto the grounds of Ivy Hall but he had done it and he had been at last rewarded with that little time with his son. He just wished he could have transformed into a man and held Leonis. He also remembered the very first time Hadrian James Potter had been placed in his arms. All his memories of baby Harry had helped to save him in Azkaban as well; though they, like his memories of Leonis, were always tinted in bittersweet sadness.

"You claim that Sirius Orion Black is in fact innocent of the crimes he was convicted of," Lady Dunbar prodded.

"Convicted of, ah yes," Pollux said, and he sounded far too smug. "Perhaps I shall first begin with that." He said and then he moved to pace around the courtroom, he walked around Sirius' chair. "Lord's, Ladies, and Gentlemen, before you sits a man in the chair of the convicted. He has served five years of a lifetime prison sentence in Azkaban Prison, the most dangerous prison that our kind could devise. He has suffered deprivations that would have weakened the strongest of men and women. He has been the prey of Dementors," He paused to let that sink in to the assembly. "Yet, here sits a man who was never actually convicted of any crime."

Once the last words sank in, a furor rose within the ranks of the Wizengamot. It was, much to Sirius' own surprise, Lucius Malfoy who stood to his feet to demand "If Sirius Orion Black was imprisoned for five years without an actual trial then his release must be undertaken immediately."

"That is precisely what we of the House of Black demand," Pollux stated firmly, regaining the attention of the room at large. "We demand the immediate release of Sirius Orion Black due to the Department of Law Enforcement's own incompetence in keeping to the laws. A man or woman can be held no more than a year awaiting trial before they must be released if said trial has not yet transpired. Sirius has been kept for five years. Even allowing for the extreme duress the Department of Law Enforcement was under during the days after You Know Who's defeat, this is a catastrophe."

There were more murmurs and the press were furiously scribbling down notes for how they were going to spin the story unfolding before them. Sirius wished he could snarl at the little vultures. He sent them an icy glare. Why though, why was his family doing this? He had disavowed them, cut himself away from them. Was his little Leonis the Lord Black now and was he longing for his father? Did he owe this to a child's longing?

"Order!" Tiberius Pucey called for and was swiftly obeyed. He stared at Sirius for several moments and Sirius met his eyes refusing to be afraid. He was an innocent man. He clung to the knowledge the way Regulus used to cling to him during a thunderstorm. Regulus, his memories of him were hazy. The Dementors had fed upon them during his time in Azkaban. They had also fed on his memories of Olivia Greengrass, no Macmillan, it was Olivia Macmillan and she had a child with Malcolm. She might have more by now. Pollux had said five years. Five years he had missed. They had begun to bleed together as he fought to stay sane in Azkaban.

It was when he heard the voice of Albus Dumbledore that he could regain control of his meandering thoughts. His head jerked to where the Hogwarts Headmaster, Chief of the Wizengamot, and an array of other titles sat. Why had Dumbledore not come for him and saved him from Azkaban?

"It is indeed a travesty of justice that has happened here," Dumbledore said. "Sirius Black had a right to due process and he did not receive it. And yet, to let him go on these grounds does not give justice to Peter Pettigrew nor to those that Sirius betrayed, James and Lily Potter."

Sirius jerked forward then only to feel the chains tighten around him slamming him into the back of the chair. He grunted in pain but it did not stop his mouth. His voice sounded like a harsh croak as he spoke. "I never betrayed James and I didn't kill that traitor, Peter. I am innocent!"

His voice had risen on the end and it rang clear in the courtroom. Everyone remained silent for several moments staring at him, even his Grandfather Pollux.

Dumbledore was the first to recover. "I wish I could believe you, my dear boy," he said sadly.

"Then, why can't you?" Sirius begged of him. He needed to know his answer. Sirius had given so much for Dumbledore. He had sacrificed so much that was sacred for the man.

Albus Dumbledore looked at him with sad blue eyes. "Your past counts against you, I am afraid. You know of what I speak, Sirius. Events from your last few years at Hogwarts."

Sirius felt devastated at Dumbledore's words. He had given up his family for Dumbledore and his cause, the precious Light. He had thrown away his bond to his parents. He had pushed away his baby brother whom had still needed him. He had stood in the office of the Lord Black and been offered access to his son if he would just forswear his vows to follow Dumbledore. He had refused to be forsworn to the vows he had made, had given up even his son for Dumbledore and his cause. He had wanted so desperately to be a Light Wizard, but he was never seen as one, was he? He was always seen as a pretender. Once a Black, always a Black and there were no Darker Wizards than the Black's.

"Yet this does not a traitor make," his defense came from the unexpected source. Severus Snape had stood from his seat beside Lucius Malfoy. He wore the proper elegant robes of the Wizengamot and Sirius idly wondered just when had Snape become a member. Then he remembered that Snape had taken up the Prince seat just half a year before James was murdered.

Albus Dumbledore looked on Severus with curious eyes. "What are you saying, Severus?"

"I am saying, Dumbledore, that Sirius Black might do anything to get rid of an enemy, his Auror Record speaks for itself in his diligence to defeat Death Eaters and see that the good people could move about safely, but this does not mean he would betray a friend. James Potter was a brother to Sirius Black. He would never have betrayed him." Snape defended him.

Albus nodded, looking thoughtful. "I too have struggled with this. I think all of us have."

"I didn't betray James," Sirius once more insisted.

Pollux searched his face, watching him with a calculated look to his gray eyes. Then he turned to face the Wizengamot. "I propose we see Justice properly served here today. Sirius shall be given his trial here and now and we shall once and for all know his innocence or guilt. If he be guilty, despite the Department of Law Enforcement's slip, the House of Black will drop its charges and Sirius Black will go to Azkaban. However, if he is found innocent then the Department of Law Enforcement will issue full pardon, public apology, and he will be given the back-pay owed to him as an Auror working in the Department of Law Enforcement."

Tiberius Pucey looked amused as the Wizengamot murmured behind his back. He turned his gaze to the Chief of the Wizengamot, one Albus Dumbledore. It was Dumbledore who stood and said on behalf of the Wizengamot, "We are agreed."

"In this case, I demand that Veritaserum be administered to Sirius Orion Black at once," Pollux said. "The sooner we may question him the sooner I shall have the pleasure of watching you apologize to my Grandson for the hell you have put him through," the last was said with a sneer.

Sirius heard childish giggling to the left and he glanced toward it, wondering who would have allowed a child into the court room. His blue eyes widened when he saw his Great-Aunt Cassie sitting with a black-haired boy who had gray eyes beside her. A boy with pale blond hair and gray eyes was seated beside the boy. The two looked to be the same age and thick as thieves. It was the black-haired boy though that held his attention. At first glance he thought of Regulus but upon further study he realized that the boy had a touch of Olivia and himself to the boy's features. He knew without a doubt that this was his son.

"Leonis," he whispered the child's name.

The boy looked at him as if he had heard him. He stared at the child for a few moments and the boy gave him a gentle smile. It was an encouraging smile and Sirius no longer had a single doubt that this child had stirred his family into seeking justice on his behalf. The rest of the Black family would have let him rot in Azkaban. It would have suited their sense of revenge. He had insulted them, consistently defied them, and he had embarrassed them. They would have thought it fitting to let him lie in the bed he had made for himself. How had he managed to do it? He had never had the ability to gain what he wanted from his family at any age. Regulus had been that gifted though. Was his little Lion more like his baby brother than he was like Sirius?

He let his attention remain on his child as the boy whispered with the blond-haired boy. The blond-haired boy had delicate features that reminded him of his cousin Narcissa. He had always thought that 'Cissa was the most beautiful of her sisters. Bellatrix and Andromeda had a sinful sort of beauty that one came to expect in the Black's. It held an aura of danger. Narcissa was more like a bright shining jewel. This boy was like that. He wondered if this was her little Dragon, her Draconis Lucius Malfoy.

"Sirius," Pollux said to him and with a soft groan Sirius slowly turned his attention to his Grandfather. He did not want to look at Pollux. He wanted to rest and watch the children until he could just drift to sleep. He could not drift off though, no. Not now. He was weak, the lack of food had played hell on his system but he could not give up yet. His name needed to be cleared. He could drop after that, but not before it.

"Yes?" He managed to verbalize.

Pollux seemed to understand that Sirius needed to conserve his energy. "Save your strength. The serum will compel your compliance as you well know. After this, Arcturus has arranged for you to reside at Alphard's home in Trieste, Italy. The weather will be good for you and you will be tended to by healers to help correct the damage of your incarceration. You will see a mind healer," and Pollux smirked as he saw the objection in Sirius' eyes. "You cannot object Siri," the older man said gently and softly so that others could not hear his words. "If you refuse the mind healer, then you will be kept from seeing Leonis and Hadrian until they are seventeen."

Sirius let his grandfather's words sink in. He hated mind healers. He had ever since he became an Auror and they were ordered to see one once a month due to the fighting they were doing against the Death Eaters. He could not deny he had seen terrible things as an Auror. He had seen awful things in Azkaban as well. His thoughts tended to wander without his control. He knew that his weakened body was part of this, but his Mental Shields were weakened from years of fending off Dementors. He could benefit from a mind healer this time. Besides, Leo and Harry were worth the fiery hoops they wanted him to jump through.

"Very well," Sirius whispered to Pollux.

Pollux nodded and then withdrew from his position of being so close. "We are ready to begin when the court is."

A man that he remembered from his days as an Auror came forward then to administer the dosage of Veritaserum. Sirius, felt it take effect almost instantaneously. He felt the dazed almost dreamy sensation that it was supposed to put him in. He idly remembered it would be far more potent if taken on an empty stomach.

"Is your name Sirius Arcturus Black?" asked Lady Dunbar.

"No. My name is Sirius Orion Black," Sirius responded in a monotone drone.

There were nods to indicate they believed him to be affected by the potion and then the true questioning began.

"Sirius Black, were you the Secret Keeper for James and Lily Potter?" Albus Dumbledore asked.

"No," Sirius responded to the shock of the courtroom.

Albus looked shocked at this news. It took him a moment to recover enough to ask, "Do you know who was the Secret Keeper?"

"Yes."

"Who was it Mr. Black?" Dumbledore urged him to tell. There was an urgency in the older man's voice and grief as well. There was guilt in those blue eyes.

"Peter Pettigrew."

There was a rush of noise as people began to shout and mutter due to this revelation. It took a few moments for order to once more be returned to the court. Sirius took advantage of the time to study Dumbledore. The old man looked grief stricken and full of remorse. So, it seemed that Dumbledore had been fooled by their switch as well. He had believed that it would be Sirius who would be the Secret Keeper, as had everyone else. It was mildly gratifying to know that Dumbledore had been fooled. It was not easy to pull the wool over those twinkling eyes.

"Is that why you killed Peter Pettigrew?" Lord Andreas Spinks asked of him.

"I did not kill Peter Pettigrew," Sirius answered in the same monotone and he was grateful that the potion did not allow one to answer with emotion. Just the facts, no feelings. He felt oddly and blissfully detached from the proceedings.

"Mr. Black, please take us through the events on the night of October 31, 1980," Lord Pucey commanded.

"I was the Secret Keeper for Peter Pettigrew's hiding place. It was under the Fidelius. He in turn was the Secret Keeper for James and Lily," Sirius explained. "I felt the Charm break over Peter's hiding place and I went there immediately but could find no sign of Peter. I then went to Godric's Hollow, fearing that somehow a Death Eater had gotten a hold of Peter and tortured him into telling the secret of James and Lily's whereabouts. When I arrived in Godric's Hollow, I could see the house and I could see that a hole had been blown out of the roof upstairs. I entered the home and found signs of a struggle. James was dead on the floor and I wept over his body before pulling myself together to further search the house for Lily and Harry. I heard Harry crying upstairs and found him in the nursery in his crib. A lightning bolt scar was now upon his forehead. Lily lay on the floor and she was dead. I took Harry from the wreckage of the House and was met by Rubeus Hagrid. Albus had sent him to collect Harry."

"Why was Rubeus Hagrid sent to collect young Hadrian Potter?" Lord Pucey demanded to know and he glanced out of the corner of his eye at Dumbledore.

"That I do not completely understand," Sirius said. "He said that Dumbledore somehow knew that the Potter home in Godric's Hollow was attacked and he was sent to look in on the situation and to take Harry to Hogwarts," Sirius stared at Tiberius Pucey. "I did not want to hand him Harry. I had just lost James and Lily and I feared releasing Harry but Hagrid made a good point when he said that Harry needed to see a healer. Madam Pomfrey was at Hogwarts and she would be able to look him over. I knew that he would be safe at Hogwarts so I reluctantly agreed. Then I began to search Peter's usual haunts until I found him leaving one of them. He ran from me and I gave chase. He turned on me when I had him cornered and he screamed at me that I was the traitor, the one who had killed James and Lily. He then cast a spell on me, a laughing charm, simple magic but effective for the situation. He then cast explosion hexes around us. He cut off his finger and then transformed into his animagus form and fled into the sewers. The Aurors were swiftly upon me as I laughed and laughed like a madman due to the laughing charm."

"Pettigrew is an animagus?" Lady Dunbar demanded to know.

"Yes."

"What is his form?" she persisted.

"He is a rat," Sirius answered.

"Was he ever registered?" Lord Spinks asked.

"Not to my knowledge," Sirius answered.

"What happened to you after you were brought into Auror Headquarters?" Lord Pucey asked.

"I was placed in a holding cell for a night and after a day I was transferred to Azkaban Prison. I remained there until today when I was brought before this body for this case," Sirius finished.

Tears danced in the eyes of Albus Dumbledore as he spoke next, "My boy, we do indeed owe you a great apology. You tried so valiantly to protect your friends and even sought justice for them by going after the real traitor and yet you were the one who was forced to pay the price. You are a true credit to Gryffindor."

"He is a credit to himself and to the House of Black," Pollux interjected.

"I think it is clear that Sirius Black has suffered a grievous wrong," Lord Pucey declared. "This court declares that Sirius Black was an innocent man wrongfully incarcerated. His record shall be cleared. He shall be paid back-pay as well. Court adjourned."

Dumbledore came rushing toward him as the chains began to, rather reluctantly, unwind themselves from his body. "Sirius, my boy, I am sorry for the great wrongs done to you. I cannot apologize enough for not believing in you. I should have known that you would never betray James."

"Yes you should have," Pollux said with a slight snarl. "However, you did not. You let your grief over the loss of your favorite pupil cloud your judgement. Perhaps you are getting too old to hold such important positions, eh Dumbledore?"

Dumbledore glanced at Pollux. "I am relieved that the House of Black finally did right by Sirius."

Sirius almost chuckled as he watched that barb strike home. He noted his Grandfather stiffen but whatever Pollux would have said was lost when Dumbledore looked again at him. "Do you have plans for where to stay, my boy? I can offer you…" but Sirius never learned what Dumbledore intended to offer him.

"He's staying with me, where he belongs, of course," the voice was childish, yet cultured and it was achingly familiar. It sounded like Reggie's voice from when they were just children. He felt tears sting his eyes as he felt a small hand slide into his and squeeze. Then he felt another small hand take his other hand. He glanced to the left to see that the blond-haired boy had taken his left hand and his right was held by the black-haired Leonis.

"Forgive me child, I have not had the pleasure of an introduction," Albus said as he looked at the little boy who was opposing him. Sirius felt a flair of protectiveness and he squeezed Leonis' hand in warning. Dumbledore was not someone one should make an enemy of. His warning did not matter. Leonis was determined to push the buttons of the older man.

"I am Leonis Regulus Black, the Heir Black," he said. "And you are Albus Dumbledore, the Chief of the Wizengamot and Headmaster of Hogwart's."

"I am indeed," Albus said as he looked over the child. "It is a pleasure to meet you, Heir Black."

"Yes, I imagine it is," Pollux said as he placed a protective arm around his great-grandson. "You'll forgive us now, Dumbledore but we have much to do in very little time. Sirius was not fed during the last few days of his incarceration and he needs to rest in the care of medical professionals."

Dumbledore's eyes went wide. "Oh yes, of course, I am sorry to have kept you, poor boy. I do look forward to visiting you soon Sirius. We have much to catch up on, much to discuss."

"I am sure that he'll be seeing you Dumbledore, whether he likes it or not," the voice of Cassiopeia Black said from behind Sirius where she had been carefully watching over the young scions of the Black bloodline.

Sirius said nothing. The truth was that he dreaded the idea of seeing Albus Dumbledore when he was not at full strength. Dumbledore had been fooled by his ruse, that he knew. He did not hold it against Dumbledore to have been so fooled and yet, Dumbledore was the Chief of the Wizengamot. Having known Sirius and James so intimately, surely Dumbledore should have pressed for his trial. He was too embittered now to properly deal with Dumbledore and he had the wisdom to know it. He was now even more grateful that he would be convalescing in Trieste.

He watched Cassiopeia exchange a few more barbs with Dumbledore and he felt affection well up in his chest for the older Dame of House Black. He was still suffering the effects of Veritaserum and likely would do so for a few more hours. It seemed that Cassiopeia likewise knew it because she kept Dumbledore from being able to ask him any questions.

"It's alright, Leo and I will not let the man near you," the blond-haired boy whispered the promise to him.

He glanced at the boy and gave him a gentle smile, "You must be Draconis. You have your mother's looks. Not sure where you gained the protective streak though."

"He gained it from Cousin Lucius," Leonis spoke up, "Lucius is quite protective of all of his loved ones. He almost did not let Draco come today but he realized that I would need Draco with me, particularly since Harry could not come."

"Harry?" Sirius wanted to know about his god-son. Leonis had just spoken as though he and Harry saw each other often. Pollux too had used Harry as a threat against him. Obey their whims and he would get to see Leonis and Hadrian, disobey and they would keep the boys from him.

Leo squeezed his hand in reassurance. "He wanted to come but Aunt Petunia refused to allow it," he explained. Sirius vaguely remembered Petunia Dursley. Blond haired woman who was not very pretty. She was rather a plain Jane compared to Lily. Petunia had the most beautiful blue eyes though, her only great feature as far as Sirius was concerned.

"Harry lives with her and that whale of a husband?" Sirius asked because he could not remember the name of the man she had married.

"No, she is married to Uncle Marius. She is a proper Black. Uncle Marius has been helping her to raise Harry and Dudley," Draco explained.

Sirius took a moment to wonder at how strange his day was becoming. He had been freed from prison, exonerated of all charges at the whim of a child and now he was finally able to talk with his son. It felt unreal. He wondered if he would awaken soon to find himself back in his cell in Azkaban and realize that he had been dreaming of being exonerated, of holding Leonis' hand in his own. Yet if it was a dream why was Harry not there? Surely he would have dreamt of Harry there instead of Draco Malfoy.

He allowed himself to be escorted, the two boys never released his hands. He cringed slightly as they entered the Ministry Atrium and many lights went off at once. He felt the comforting presence of his Grandfather at his side. The older man's hand gently rubbed his back in a soothing gesture meant to help him to calm down. Sirius was surprised that it worked to some extent. It was the man's hand on his back, warm and comforting presence, that helped him to smile slightly for the camera's as they made their way to the floo.

"Mr. Black how do you feel about being a free man?" one reporter shouted at him.

"Mr. Black, are you angry at the Ministry? Do you want revenge for what they did to you?" another shouted out.

They continued to shout out their questions. Sirius fought against the need to answer the questions he heard, the serum still thrumming in his system. He was shielded by Cassiopeia who stood as a wall between him and the reporters. Her voice was loud, amplified by spell craft as she informed the reporters that Sirius would be willing to give a few interviews in a months' time after he had been given more time to rest and recover from his ordeal. In the meantime, the papers could send questions to Pollux Black and he would ensure that Sirius answered a few of the questions for the papers without overtaxing himself during his recovery. This seemed to at the least temporarily appease the media beast. Sirius felt both gratitude and envy at Cassiopeia's deft handling of the situation. He felt Draco push closer to him and grip his hand tightly, the better not to get left behind. Leonis, he noted, glared pointedly ahead of him refusing to look at the reporters.

It was a relief to reach the large floo place. Leonis led him into the fireplace and it was the child who took up the floo powder. "Pollux Black Residence, York Terrace East, Regent's Park," the boy cried and then Sirius felt his body undergo the terribly unpleasant sensation of floo travel.

He ended up on his knees on the floor of a tastefully decorated parlor, or at least what little he saw of it was tastefully decorated. He had not seen much more than a side table, a lamp, the material of a pale cream and dark blue sofa. He dug his hands into the lush thick carpet beneath him as he fought to calm down the nausea that roiled through him. He ignored the firing of the floo behind him and the noise of Pollux and Draco stepping through.

"What's the matter with father?" Leonis' voice held worry and Sirius longed to comfort the boy, but it was taking all of his strength to keep himself from vomiting on the beautiful rich carpet.

"He is ill, but he will get better," he heard Pollux promise the worried boys. "It will take some time boys. Azkaban is an awful place."

This settled the boys but did not stop them from staring at him with worry. It was Pollux who ordered a House-Elf to bring him a potion to assist with nausea. He tried to resist taking the potion out of fear that the vile taste would force him to heave it all over the carpet, but Pollux managed to convince him to drink it and he managed to keep it down. After a few moments, he was beginning to feel better. Pollux helped him to his feet and then led him through the hall and up the stairs. He was finally able to enter a guest bedroom that was decorated tastefully. He was laid upon the bed and his clothes suddenly vanished. He glanced up at Pollux who was completely unapologetic. Instead the man pulled the covers up to Sirius' chin.

"I would have insisted that you bathe, but I don't think that anyone could keep you up so for now I will let you sleep," he began. He then did something that nearly broke Sirius. Pollux ran his fingers through the strands of his hair and said gently, "I will be here in the morning Sirius. I will be your guard this night."

They were soon joined by the two boys who got comfortable on his bed. Pollux continued to run his fingers through Sirius' hair. They were joined by Cassiopeia a few moments later. Once she was settled into a chair by the window, Pollux began to speak softly and it took Sirius a moment to realize that he was telling the boys an old fairytale, one that he had once told him and Regulus. He smiled softly and wondered if his brother could hear the fairytale from wherever he went after his death? He fell asleep with Leonis Black the Heir Black and Draco Malfoy the Heir Malfoy pressed against his sides.


Thank you for your patience waiting for this chapter. My sister came to visit me for a few days and I had a wonderful time with her. Of course during that time I spent focused on her and so I did not write. I hope that this chapter pleases everyone. I want to give a special thanks to fellow fanfiction author LeonisAriesBlack for encouraging me. LeonisAriesBlack has a nice fanfic titled "Unexpected Family". If you like Harry and Hermione pairings then you should check out this story. Next chapter we are going to check on on the Longbottom family and see how little Neville Longbottom has been getting along over the last few years.