Harry and Merope to the Rescue - Chapter 18

Disclaimer:

I don't own the HP universe, unfortunately.

Ministry, Approximately 11 o'clock:

Arriving just a few seconds later in the Ministry's holding cell, everyone let go of the portkey and Moody returned it to one of his many robe pockets. Next Moody turned to Sirius, who already had his shackled hands raised towards him, giving him the saddest puppy dog eyes that he could manage. Moody just shook his head, muttering to himself, and then nodded to Shacklebolt that he could remove the shackles.

"Now listen, Black," Moody said, "Jones and Shacklebolt, here, are going to be your guards, though they'll be alternating shifts, which I'll leave them to work out on their own." After Sirius nodded, Moody continued. "We were trying to get you moved here quickly and keep it low-key, but with the fact that your mother came in screaming like a banshee yesterday, it's not going to take a genius to guess that you were brought back to the Ministry somewhere. But since these are not the usual holding that should make it more difficult for you to be found."

Sirius had a confused look on his face and asked, "Not that I'm complaining about being held away from the general populace," glancing at Shacklebolt and Jones, he added, "nor the choice of guards, but why all the extra caution?"

"We don't really believe you're guilty," Moody said, eye whirling around, keeping a lookout for enemies, "but we don't want the ones that do believe it to be able to take things into their own hands, because they don't think you should have a trial to prove it."

"Or give easy access to the ones who were trying to prevent your trial in the first place," Jones added.

Sirius nodded in understanding and took a turn around the cell. It was considerably nicer than his cell in Azkaban. There was an actual bed in the corner, for instance, and it had an actual pillow, with sheets and a blanket. In the opposite corner, there was a toilet and a sink. Turning his attention back to the aurors, he asked, "So how long do you think it will take to get a trial?"

Moody said, "It's hard to say, but it's my understanding that your mother demanded it be done before Christmas, which is two days over two weeks from now, so perhaps it will happen before then." Looking at his watch, he said, "Well, your mother ordered you here by noon, so I imagine she'll be here soon to make sure we followed her orders."

After a few more minutes, Moody took his leave and left Sirius alone in his cell, while Jones and Shacklebolt moved outside of the cell and decided which shifts they would take. It was decided that Shacklebolt would the day shift, and Jones the night shift; then they would switch out after the weekend and do the opposite.

Sirius decided to make as much use of the soap as he could before his mother came. He hadn't seen her since he was 16 years old, but after what she did to help set him free, he decided he could try to clean up as best he could and try to be respectful when she came.

Ministry, Noon:

Walburga arrived back at the Ministry at exactly 12 o'clock. When she walked up to the wand check-in, the wizard at the desk asked in a bored voice, "Name, wand, and purpose of visit."

Passing over her wand, she said, "Walburga Black."

Before she could state her business, the clerk perked up and said, "Oh! Madam Black, no need to state your business, I was instructed to inform Auror Moody as soon as you checked in. Here is your wand back and if you will have a seat in the waiting area, Auror Moody will escort you to your destination." Walburga raised an eyebrow at the wizard, but complied and took a seat in the waiting area. Then the clerk quickly penned a note and spelled it to deliver to Moody, then sat at his desk and waited until the next visitor came to check in.

Within five minutes, Moody arrived and greeted Walburga politely and indicated for her to follow him, without announcing where they were going. Neither one of them felt the need to carry a conversation, so it was a quiet trip down to the cell where Sirius was being held.

When they finally arrived, Walburga inhaled her breath sharply at the first sight of her son in at least five or six years. She fought for control of her emotions that wanted to bubble up, but she didn't want to show herself as vulnerable before she knew he would give her a chance; however, Sirius heard her sharp intake of breath and turned around in time to see her brief display of emotions before she was able to mask them entirely. Sirius felt his throat tighten a little and cleared it. "Mother," he said by way of greeting, nodding his head.

Walburga gave a small hopeful smile and walked closer, "Son, you're looking considerably well for having been in Azkaban even for the relatively short amount of time that you were there." After taking a good look at his clothes, she added, "Though they could have at least allowed you to bathe before I arrived."

Sirius gave a little helpless shrug and said, "Well, I haven't been here long enough to really get cleaned up good, but I have access to soap and water now, when I didn't before." Looking down he added, "I did try to clean up a little at the little sink here, but I couldn't do much about my clothes, since I had nothing to change into."

Clearing her throat Walburga said, "Well, I had expected I was going to have to demand accommodations for you to bathe," looking at Moody as she said that, who nodded as if to say it would be done, then adding, "and I took it upon myself to bring you some of your father's old clothes for you to change into, as I believed none of the clothes remaining at home would not have fit anymore."

Sirius blinked his eyes that threatened to burn with the emotions he could feel wanting to burst forth. Placing his hands around the bars of the cell, he said hoarsely, "Thank you, Mother." They were words that he never thought to say in his life. Even when he was a child, she had never given him cause to thank her, only resent her.

Tentatively, she reached up to cover one of his hands with her own, and when he didn't make an attempt to pull away she said, "Oh, son." Blinking back her tears, but not trying to hide the emotion any longer she said softly, "You're welcome. I only wish I had realized what was happening to you sooner." Leaning her forehead against the bars and taking a breath, she continued to speak softly, "I'm so sorry for not being the mother you needed and deserved when you were a child, but I promise that if you give me another chance, I will do everything in my power to be the mother you deserve from now on."

"But what about our opposing beliefs?" Sirius asked quietly. "As much as I want to believe you and reconcile with you, how would that be possible if you still continue to believe in the same things Voldemort was preaching, and I still believe the opposite?"

Sighing, Walburga said, "Sirius, this last part of the war really opened my eyes. While it will be hard for me to let go of many of the beliefs and prejudices that I learned as a child, I want to learn how to see a different perspective. I'm willing to try to, for your sake and my own."

"Truly, Mother?" Sirius asked longingly. James' mom had always been like a mother to him after becoming friends with James, but he had always wished he could have had the same good, loving relationship with his own mother. He was really hoping that this offer of reconciliation was not just some elaborate trick.

"Of course, son." Walburga said, "I have done a lot of soul searching during the last few months and I've come to realize that I have been blinded by too long. I was so consumed with hatred of anything that didn't fit with the ideals I was raised to believe, that I couldn't see the truth of anything beyond that." Sighing she said, "I can't tell you when exactly I started, but I do know that it was after Regulus was killed by the Dark Lord that I began to have my doubts. I kept thinking to myself, that it was my own fault that one son was dead, and the other was also out of my reach, but just in another way."

By this time, tears were running down her face, but she hadn't noticed until Sirius reached out to wipe them away with his hand, which, of course, made the dam break loose, causing her to begin sobbing in ernest, for probably the first time in her life she showed her emotions, uncaring of the spectacle she was making of herself in front of the aurors.

Sirius tried to comfort her the best he could through the bars. He spoke softly and soothing to her until she was able to calm down. Then Sirius said, "Mother, I do want to reconcile and try to be a family again, but I can't promise that we'll always get along, because we are both stubborn Blacks." Walburga gave a watery smile at that and squeezed his hand in response.

Walburga conjured herself and Sirius each a chair, casting a challenging look to Moody, who just snorted in amusement and continued to watch and guard. Then they sat speaking quietly about how they were going to handle the trial. Walburga hinted that she was planning to meet with someone the next day that she felt would be willing to defend him in his case, but she very carefully didn't say anything that would hint at who it was, just in case the aurors were not as trustworthy as they were supposed to be.

After a couple of hours, Moody cleared his throat and said, "Well, I'm sorry to break up the reunion, but it's been about two hours. Madam Black, I think you ought to be giving him the change of clothes you spoke of, and then I'll escort you back to the entrance hall."

Walburga nodded, and she vanished both chairs after she and Sirius stood up. Walburga then pulled the change of clothes out of one of her cloak pockets that was equipped with an expansion charm, then handed them to Sirius through the bars. They grasped hands briefly in goodbye and Walburga whispered, "I'll be back to see you again when I can, and I hope I'll have more news on a trial date, etc., the next time I'm here."

Sirius nodded, squeezed her hand in answer and said, "Thank you for coming, Mother, and for helping me get this far." Looking down at the clothes in his hands he said, "And especially thank you for the clean clothes."

Smiling, Walburga said, "You are most welcome. I'll be back to see you again soon." Backing away from the bars, she turned and walked back over to Auror Moody, so he could escort her out. She gave one more look over her shoulder before she walked out the door, where she saw him staring after her with a hopeful look on his face, she smiled once more before she walked out.

After Walburga had gone, Shacklebolt said to Sirius, "So, you'd be honest and tell me if she tucked a spare wand up in those clothes, wouldn't you?"

Sirius blinked, he hadn't even thought of that being a possibility, but said, "Well, I guess there's only one way to find out if she did." Then he began shaking out the clothes as if getting ready to fold them up the muggle way, and nothing fell out. "Well," Sirius said, "I don't know whether to be disappointed there was no wand, or grateful."

Shacklebolt chuckled and said, "Well, would you like me to escort you to the showers down here, or would you prefer to eat first? I don't imagine you've had much to eat and we have both skipped lunch."

Sirius said, "If you don't mind waiting, I really would love to have a shower first. I haven't been clean in what feels like years."

Shacklebolt nodded and said, "That's fine. I can call one of the Ministry elves to get us some lunch ready while you're in the shower and have it delivered to your cell."

"Thanks, mate," said Sirius. Then he gathered the clothes back up that he had shaken out to confirm there was no secret wand and Shacklebolt unlocked the cell and led Sirius to the showers.

While Sirius had wanted to spend extra time under the water, he decided he ought to hurry up as a courtesy to Shacklebolt, who had agreed to wait a little longer before eating.

Later that night, as he laid down to sleep, Sirius thought about his visit with his mother in amazement, and for once had hope that they would be able to actually maintain a healthy relationship this time and to become a true family. He drifted off to sleep with a smile.

Author's note:

See profile for updated notes.