Chapter 7

He sat looking at the paper spread out on his desk.

Sirius Black Innocent!

In a surprising turn of events, Sirius Black has been pardoned by the ministry over his involvement in the deaths of the Potters. A guard at Azkaban tells us all:

"I had just started my shift and had to feed the prisoners. At first nothing was out of the ordinary and I had no reason to think something had happened. Then I came to Bellatrix Lestrange's cell and let me tell you it was a mess in there. I don't know how but she must have got a hold of something sharp, a sharpened stone or something, and not only slit her own throat but gutted herself as well. It was horrible, almost lost my lunch. I had to move away and figured I would give myself time to calm down before letting people know. The shocks just kept coming as when I got to Black's cell there was someone else in his place. When I realised who this person was, I nearly fainted. Like everyone else, I thought Peter Pettigrew was dead. I immediately ran back to the office to tell the head of both incidences. He and a group of others came up to see for themselves. Pettigrew was so much of a shock that Lestrange's corpse barely got a second glance. All of us were certain we were indeed seeing Pettigrew. The head contacted the ministry and they sent some aurors to see to Pettigrew. Amelia Bones herself was heading the group. She assured us she would find out what happened, and they left with Pettigrew while we dealt with cremating Lestrange. We later heard that he'd been given veritaserum and confessed to be the real betrayer of the Potters. Not even two days later Black handed himself in. We later heard that Pettigrew was Kissed. I don't know how Black was switched with Pettigrew. The guards would have seen him, and if not us then the Dementors wouldn't have let him leave. He did receive visitors not long before the switch was made, but as they consisted of a man and a young boy we're sure they had nothing to do with it. It was a good thing though. I mean all of us thought Black was guilty, and in truth we were keeping an innocent man behind bars. I hope Mr Black recovers and I for one am sorry that he was ever in Azkaban in the first place".

You heard right readers, Bellatrix Lestrange dead and Black switched with Pettigrew. We spoke with Amelia Bones who assured us that Pettigrew was subjected to various tests to ensure he was really Peter Pettigrew. Black was unavailable for comment.

As for Bellatrix, her ashes were reported scattered into the ocean, though one must wonder if it was really suicide, or whoever had switched Pettigrew and Black taking their revenge while they were there. Either way, it's one less deatheater for us to worry about.

Sirius Black now Lord Black!

The title of Lord Black has been claimed! Sirius Black was seen entering Gringotts the day after his pardon, only to emerge as Lord Black. He gave us a brief interview:

"I am just happy to be free. I knew I was cast out of the family, but I thought it had been made official. The Goblins were quick to tell me that wasn't the case. I still need time to recover from Azkaban, but once I do I will use my new title to make sure people are given a trial before being locked up. I'm glad the real betrayer has been Kissed".

When asked about young Harry Potter, he had this to say:

"I'm sure that wherever Harry is, he's being taken care of. Of course I want to see him, he's my godson and the only thing I have left of Lily and James".

We at the prophet wish Lord Black all the best in his future, and hope that he can reconnect with Harry Potter after the tragic events of that Halloween.

Albus growled to himself. This wasn't what he planned. Harry was missing, Black was free, Pettigrew in his place. Bellatrix's death was barely worth thinking about, though he did see the link between her death and Sirius being switched. He glanced at what was left of his gadgets. He'd arrived back from another of Fudge's I-have-no-money-in-the-budget rants to find his office in shambles. He'd immediately went to the Dursleys, to find even more chaos. The wards had fallen, Vernon was under trial for child abuse, Dudley was with his aunt, and Petunia was under investigation. She hysterically explained what happened, pinning him with a glare and blaming him for leaving the freak on their doorstep. Albus left with questions buzzing round his head. Who was this Jonathan Meadow? And why did he have to butt his nose in to other people's lives?!

Albus tried to get Vernon out of prison, only to be blocked by a care worker by the name of Juliet Parker. She, unfortunately, was a stubborn witch who wouldn't give Albus any information other than what he already knew. He might be leader of the light Albus-too-many-titles-Dumbledore, but that did not give him permission to dump a child on a doorstep. When he insisted as Harry's magical guardian to see the boy, she rather smugly informed him that the boy already had a magical guardian. Even fishing information out her head was useless, she as a rule of a magical care worker, knew enough occlumency to keep him out. And unfortunately, she knew her way around the legal system. Albus was getting nothing from her but snubs. Albus tried a last ditch attempt to get Harry by explaining that he needed to stay at his relatives to stay protected. He found himself pinned by an icy glare and felt himself shiver as Juliet coldly told him that blood wards were not considered protection, and that if she had anything to say about it, Albus would find himself behind bars for his involvement in Harry's "care".

With that path blocked, Albus instead turned to this Jonathan fellow. However he got no further than he did with Juliet. Simply put, the Meadows didn't seem to exist. Demon had been working overtime to make sure that anyone looking for Ebony with ill intentions would not find him. After days of getting nowhere, Albus returned in frustration to his office and sat stewing for the next two days.

He glanced at the paper again. Perhaps with Black free he could find a lead on Harry. The man would surely be looking for the boy. All Albus needed to do was offer his assistance. He was sure, once they found Harry, that he could convince Black that the boy was safer at his relatives. He could recast the wards, Vernon wasn't needed. Perhaps he could even place a fidelius on the house, with himself as the secret keeper. That would keep Black and that Parker woman away. Albus smiled. This was a set back, a big set back, but it wasn't ruined completely.

OOO

Remus' first reaction was to burn the letter in his hands. However he took a breath, calmed himself, and started to read. The more he read, the more horrified he was. Sirius was innocent! Pettigrew was alive! Remus couldn't believe what he was reading. He got confirmation when an owl dropped off the Daily Prophet. Pettigrew truly was guilty. It took Remus another two days before he felt comfortable enough to send a letter back to Sirius. The man's reply asked for them to meet up, and Remus gladly accepted. He'd lost everything when Lily and James died. Even Harry had been taken from him. Pack meant everything to Remus, and without it he'd almost lost himself.

The two had met in a small café in London. Lily had taken them to it not long after Harry was born. Remus had taken one look at the dark haired man, choked back tears and rushed into his arms. Sirius put up a notice-me-not charm and sat comforting his sobbing friend, close to sobbing himself. He waved off the Werewolf's apologies, saying he wouldn't have believed either it if he were in Remus' place. When his friend was calm enough, Sirius explained everything he was able. He grinned at Remus' expression, and asked if the Werewolf wanted to see Ebony again. Remus jumped at the opportunity and Sirius led the man back to the Meadow's home. Jonathan and Rose were introduced and greetings were made. Rose took one look at Remus, tutted and pulled the man to the table, placing a delicious meal in front of him. Remus' protests were ignored and Sirius sat laughing at his friend. Jonathan smiled at the pair and called down the children. Ebony had barely noticed the man, before he was running into his arms yelling "Moony!"

'Of course he immediately remembered you. He always liked his uncle Moony more than Padfoot' Sirius grumbled.

Jonathan chuckled and patted the younger man's shoulder as Remus hugged his cub tightly and tearfully. Evangeline giggled and hugged her uncle Padfoot, making him smile. Remus finally allowed Ebony to leave his embrace. He glanced at the other children.

'This must be Julian and young Evangeline'.

Evangeline smiled and went over, holding out her hand.

'Hello. It's nice to meet you Mr Moony'.

Remus smiled as Sirius snorted. He took the tiny hand.

'Aren't you such a polite child. It is nice to meet you as well'.

He glanced up as the older boy came over. Remus found himself lost in those vivid eyes. Julian seemed to pull him in. He started when the wolf woke and prowled close to the surface. There was something about this child, something that was making Moony react.

'Nice to meet you Mr Lupin' Julian spoke quietly.

Remus blinked and shook his head, shaking the boy's hand with a smile. He was pretty sure there was some sort of creature blood in this boy, enough to make Moony interested.

'It is nice to meet you'.

Jonathan noticed the slight interaction between the two. It would appear that Demon was interested in the Werewolf. It didn't bother Jonathan or Rose about Remus' condition, they knew he couldn't help it. Plus it would be kinda hypocritical of them to house a Demon and shun a Werewolf. Rose had immediately started on a batch of wolfsbane so there was no danger to the children. Jonathan had sat down the children and explained what a Werewolf was. Evangeline seemed fascinated that a person could change into a wolf, while Ebony and Julian just nodded.

Jonathan started when he felt a presence next to him. He smiled down at his son.

'Demon can cure him' Julian said quietly.

Jonathan blinked, and glanced at Remus who was currently praising Rose on her cooking.

'Are you sure?' he asked his son.

Julian nodded.

'Demon communicates with me by giving me nudges in my head and sending emotions. He did it with Ebony, but I didn't know why until he found the soul piece. He was nudging me when I shook Mr Lupin's hand. I got an image in my head of a wolf changing into a man with a full moon in the background' he explained.

This was a big discovery. If Demon really could cure lycanthropy it could mean the end of Werewolves! Pity Julian would be hunted himself if it was discovered he had Demon blood. Jonathan sighed, he wouldn't put his son in danger, even if it did mean no more Werewolves. Demon could at least help Remus.

'I'll talk to him son' he replied.

Jonathan waited until late evening, when Evangeline and Ebony were in bed, before bringing up the topic. Both Remus and Sirius gazed at Julian wide eyed when they were told. Well, a little more than wide eyed from Remus who was only hearing this information for the first time. Jonathan told them not to get their hopes up. He felt confident Demon could do it, but it would break the two if there was a chance it didn't work. He asked Remus what he wanted to do.

At least Remus knew why Moony was interested in the boy. But not even his wildest guesses would have come close to Demon blood. He wasn't sure what to do. He'd been a Werewolf since he was six. Would he even cope without Moony? He looked up as his friend patted his shoulder. Sirius told him what Demon had done for him, and the Meadows had also explained what Demon had done for Ebony. He gasped at knowing there was a horcrux in his cub's scar, and Sirius told him his reaction was just the same. Remus took a few moments to really think about it. He'd always hoped a cure would be found for his condition. But he'd been a Werewolf for so long he'd grown used to the pain. He took a breath and looked up, agreeing.

Moony reacted violently to Demon. The wolf was terrified, snapping and lashing out until finally Sirius hit Remus with a petrificus totalus. Remus felt his entire body burn as Demon pulled out the dark magic. It seemed to last forever, but in truth it was only a couple of minutes before Demon changed back and Sirius cancelled the spell. Rose was quick to hold a pain potion to Remus' lips and he gratefully drank. With the help of Sirius he was put back on the couch.

'Did it work?' he whispered, unable to believe he'd been cured.

Jonathan was rubbing the back of a clearly exhausted Julian. He motioned for Remus to wait until his son caught his breath. Remus felt a twinge of guilt for hurting the child. After a few minutes Julian had calmed himself. He glanced up at Remus and gave a smile.

'It worked. I think Demon let you keep Moony though'.

The adults looked at him in confusion, so he tried to explain.

'The Werewolf is gone. Mr Lupin won't transform during the full moon. And he won't be able to infect others by biting them. But I think he still has the wolf in him'.

'You mean an animagus?!' Sirius asked in excitement.

Julian thought for a moment, then nodded.

Sirius whooped and grabbed Remus in a hug.

'Amazing! Bloody amazing!'

Remus was too stunned to speak. He wasn't a Werewolf anymore, but an animagus!

'Well, to be sure I'd say the best thing to do is wait until the next full moon. Not that I don't believe my son, but it will tell for sure' Jonathan said with a smile.

'That's just over a week away. I can clear out a corner in the basement. Though I don't think we'll be needing it' Rose followed.

Her mind was made up. Evangeline and Ebony were sharing a room until they were older. Julian had his own and so did Sirius. This was just the excuse she needed to get her husband to turn the attic into a fifth room. Remus would be staying with them for as long as he wished.

Jonathan noticed his wife's look and groaned to himself. Well, that's what he got for putting off working on the attic.