Fudge led Harry into a dark room in the Leaky Cauldron and cheerfully explained that aunt Marge had been punctured and her memory modified. 'I don't want you wandering off into Muggle London, all right?' Fudge said. 'Keep to Diagon Alley. Tom will be keeping an eye on you for me.'
'But…' Harry thought about Sirius and Grimmauld Place. 'Do I have to stay here?'
Fudge looked uncomfortable. "Well you see, Harry … in the present climate.'
'Because of Sirius Black you mean?'
Fudge's fingers slipped on the silver fastening of his cloak.
'Oh, you've heard. Well you can see why it wouldn't be a good idea for you to leave.'
'What if I stayed with a friend?' Harry asked. 'I would be safer there than I would be here where anyone could just walk in.'
Fudge seemed taken aback. 'Well, yes, I suppose that's true. You should at least spend the night here though.'
'Thank you, Sir.'
'Yes … So, I'll say goodbye.'
'Er – Minister?' Harry asked. 'Can I ask you something?'
'Certainly,' smiled Fudge.
'Are you sure Black is guilty?'
Fudge's smile fell.
'Of course I am!' Fudge said angrily. 'I was one of the first on the scene after … well after it happened. Black was just standing there laughing.'
'What about at his trial?' Harry asked, 'did he try and defend himself?'
'Black never had a trial,' Fudge said. 'There was no need, not with the overwhelming amount of evidence.'
Harry frowned. That didn't seem right, especially since he believed Sirius's story.
'Well, I'll be off.' Fudge said. 'Enjoy your stay Harry.'
Fudge left, leaving Tom to show Harry to his room.
"Hedwig!' Harry gasped.
The snowy owl was sitting on top of a wardrobe inside the room.
'Very smart owl you've got there,' chucked Tom. 'If there's anything you need, Mr Potter, don't hesitate to ask.'
He gave Harry a bow and left.
Harry sat on his bed, absent-mindedly stroking Hedwig. He could hardly believe that he'd only left Privet Drive a few hours ago.
'It's been a very weird night, Hedwig,' he yawned.
There was a scratching sound at the door. Harry hesitantly opened it to see a large black dog on the other side. The dog walked past Harry wagging his tail.
'Fudge never was very smart,' Sirius said transforming as Harry closed the door. 'He didn't even realise you don't have your trunk.'
'Did you really never have a trial?' Harry asked
'It was a different time back then,' Sirius said seriously. 'There was panic … confusion. The ministry was in disarray. And … and I had no one left who believed in me to speak up.'
'I believe you,' Harry said honesty.
Sirius's eyes looked misty as he answered, 'thank you, Harry.' He cleared his throat. 'You should get some sleep, it's been a long night.'
It took Harry several days to get use to his strange new living arrangement. The morning after Harry's meeting with fudge, he and Sirius had travelled back to Grimmauld Place. Harry spent a lot of his time getting to know Sirius while cleaning the house. Malfoy occasionally watched but never offered to help.
'You have a house elf,' he'd reminded Sirius.
Harry had met Kreacher his second night in Grimmauld Place. 'Filthy half-blood brat! What would my poor Mistress say?' he'd said. Sirius had banned the house elf from insulting him, so now the elf completely ignored Harry and spent most of his time shadowing Malfoy.
Things were strange between Harry and Malfoy. They still insulted each other when they were alone but whenever Sirius was around they both made an effort to be civil. Harry didn't completely trust Malfoy, no matter what Malfoy said about he and Sirius being family.
Harry had walked in on Sirius and Malfoy whispering a few times and knew they were discussing their plan to capture Pettigrew. It made Harry uneasy knowing that Pettigrew was somewhere at Hogwarts. How was he hiding? Even if he was using a fake name, Dumbledore would have recognised him. Polyjuice Potion maybe? Every time he tried to approach Sirius about it, Sirius changed the subject.
Harry was sitting in the kitchen eating breakfast with Sirius and Malfoy when there was a tapping on the window. Harry looked over to see a familiar grey owl, carrying letter on his leg and asking to come in. Harry leapt up with a smile.
'Hey Errol!'
Errol held his leg out and allowed Harry to take the letter before helping himself to Harry's toast.
'Gross,' Malfoy muttered. Harry ignored him and read Ron's letter.
'What does Weasley want?' Malfoy asked.
Harry tried to keep his voice civil when he answered. 'He's back from Egypt.'
The sound of glass shattering startled Harry and he looked up to see Sirius pushing himself away from the table covered in juice. Had Sirius smashed the glass with accidental magic? Malfoy was looking between Sirius and Harry with a concerned look.
'That's … that's nice,' Sirius said. 'Excuse me,' he quickly left the room.
Harry looked at Malfoy, 'what was that about?'
Malfoy shrugged and went back to picking at his own toast. Harry glared at Malfoy's head.
'Would Master Malfoy like Kreacher to fetch him anything?'
Harry jumped, he hadn't heard the house elf come in.
'No Kreacher,' Malfoy didn't even look up.
'Such a good boy, proper pure-blood boy, Mistress would be so proud,' Kreacher walked off muttering to himself, as usual he ignored Harry.
Harry rolled his eyes. Deciding he didn't want to spend any more time with Malfoy he got up and followed after Sirius.
Harry climbed the stairs. He walked past his own room and past the room with R.A.B on the door, where he knew Malfoy was staying. The door to Sirius's room was slightly ajar. Harry saw Sirius sitting on the bed with his head in his hands. He frowned in confusion, what had happened at breakfast to upset Sirius? Not wanting to intrude, Harry backed away and made his way back down the stairs.
He paused outside Malfoy's room. Suddenly desperate for answers Harry looked around and, when he saw he was alone, he pushed the door open.
