Disclaimer: I own none of the characters or places in this story they all belong to J K Rowling
A/N: Set during and after Order of the Phoenix and Half Blood Prince. Most people thought Sirius Black died that day in the ministry of magic, but the whole story was not told. Sirius Black lived and this is his tale. Sort of a prelude to my Harry Potter stories, picking up where J K Rowling left it and telling how Voldemort was defeated and the series ends. Written from Sirius' point of view.
I am alive! I am updating! Everyone can relax! Or you know not. Sorry for the long delay but I've been really busy with starting Sixth Form. Honestly it's been really hard. But anyway, no fears I haven't discontinued this or any of my other stories so don't panic if you're waiting for updates. In fact this story, it's sequel, it's sequel's sequel and so on have all been finished and as far as writing goes I've completed the time line as much as I plan on doing. However posting will happen eventually. Also for note this is definitely not my best piece of writing and as it was written and completed well over a year and a half ago I have better stories, but this one snot changing, mostly cos I'm lazy and can't be bothered. But please don't let that stop you from reviewing!
04 – July – Half Blood Prince – Northern Canada
I was out in the woods when Fawkes found me, exploring as a dog. I was so shocked by him appearing I transformed straight back. I had only written to Dumbledore the other week, he had never replied so suddenly before. I walked over to Fawkes, something was different this time, he was crying and impatient to leave. I stroked his head as I took the letter off him. As soon as I had freed him of his burden he cried out and burst into flames his ashes being swept away on the breeze. I knew what had happened before I had opened the letter. I had read enough about phoenixes to know when one committed suicide. That meant Dumbledore was dead and his faithful friend with him. My hands trembled as I opened the letter, it was the middle of summer but Northern Canada was still freezing cold and I wore only a set of thin robes. Despite this I read the letter not moving a muscle.
Sirius –it read- If you are reading this then I am dead, and if my suspicions are correct it will be at the hands of either Draco Malfloy or Severus Snape. By the morning it will be common knowledge more than likely, if you still have lots of polyjuice potion go to my funeral and talk to Minevera she will need to know that you are alive, my suggestion persuade her to my… her office and don't tell her until you transform back. Don't do something reckless like talk to Harry, he knows you better than you think, as does Remus, that's why I never asked you back. I don't think it will be hard to find out when the funeral is, it will most certainly be at Hogwarts. Be careful Sirius, I won't see you but my portrait will now hang in my… Minevera's office, though he won't have all of my memories, I made sure of that as some of my memories could be dangerous, he certainly won't have any details of your escape or location. I believe that will be too dangerous for him to know. Albus Dumbledore.
I re-read the letter at least three times before I could move. I slipped it into my pocket and transformed, anyone nearby would have been serenaded by the cries of wolves and a lone dog as I paid tribute to the greatest wizard of all time.
By the time I returned to the lodge my friend was home from his job in the Canadian Ministry for magic, where he was the equivalent of an Auror. He asked where I had been but I didn't answer, I couldn't. I just went straight to where we stored the polyjuice potion to take stock of how much we had and how much I would need for two weeks in England. He came up behind me and asked again and I sighed.
"Professor Albus Dumbledore is dead, other than you he was the only one who knew I was alive, I'm going to his funeral," I said, if my friend noticed the tears that ran down my face he ignored them, instead he just put a sympathetic hand on my shoulder.
By the next afternoon I knew when the funeral was and had arranged a bed for a couple of days in the Three Broomsticks, I was lucky apparently they only had one room left. The next morning an invitation to the funeral had arrived, I smiled sadly, I hadn't wanted to have to gate crash, but it seemed Dumbledore had made sure his colleague 'Jacques' had got an invitation. I left that day apparating to Hogsmede with a case full of polyjuice potion and a large supply of hair from my friend.
The funeral was the next day and the pub was full to bursting, yet Rosemerta, apparently having been relieved from Draco's control, was just as friendly and welcoming as if it had been a quiet day when she had far more time. She led me up to the room I had rented where food was waiting, she said I had travelled so far that I deserved some peace and quiet. Thanking her I ate the food and fell asleep without even getting changed.