Chapter 2 – Returning
Sirius remained in his cell in the Jakarta police station for two days. The guards walked by about once an hour and meager meals were delivered in the morning and evening, but no one spoke to him. He had been contemplating what to do and wondered how
long they could hold him without charges. Sirius knew nothing about Indonesia and even less about their legal system. He had finally decided that he would demand to speak to a lawyer. As he waited for the next guard to make his rounds, Sirius was
startled when a woman appeared before the usual patrol was due. The woman peered in at him and then smiled as she began to speak.
"Hello Mr. Black. I am Budiwati, a liaison with the local British consulate. We received word yesterday evening that you were being held here. Your arrival has caused a fair bit of confusion, but I think we have it sorted now. I am here to see to your
release. You are being remanded to consulate custody on the condition that we guarantee you will leave the country within twenty four hours. Ah, here comes the guard now."
Sirius stood back as the guard arrived and unlocked his cell. He stepped out and followed Budiwati out into the main office. As they walked down the hall, Sirius began to question her.
"Thank you for your assistance. So, are my records all clear? The captain said I was listed as dead, but obviously that's not true. Where am I going after I leave the country? Back to England?"
"Mr. Black, more information will be given to you in time. For now we need to handle local politics. Please remain quiet and let me get you out of here first."
Looking into the woman's determined eyes, Sirius desisted and stopped talking. They reached the office and the she took over, filling out and signing the appropriate papers. Within minutes everything was complete and she took Sirius by the arm and led
him out the door to a waiting taxi. The taxi pulled away quickly and Sirius was about to begin his questions again when a sharp look from Budiwati quelled him. After a half hour spent in jostling traffic, they pulled up in front of the local Hilton
and she escorted Sirius inside. They bypassed the front desk and made their way to the lift, where Budiwati punched the button for the fifth floor. They reached the floor and she led the way to a room and produced a key for the door. They entered
the modest but comfortable room and thenshe became instantly alert as she checked the entire place, from the bathroom to the closet. Once she realized they were alone, she did something unexpected and wonderful when she drew her wand and cast
privacy and silencing charms.
Sirius grinned. "You're a witch! Thank Merlin!"
"Yes Mr. Black. Now that we have a bit of privacy, I can talk. I work with the local consulate in a strictly Muggle administrative capacity, but with a secondary job of being the primary in country liaison between the local Board of Magic and Muggle authorities.
The magical community here is much smaller and the Board is comprised of about sixty people total, much smaller than your Ministry. When the local consulate received notice that you were in custody and began queries with the British authorities, sources
within Britain notified your Ministry who then contacted the Board of Magic here. The Board then arranged for me to make the arrangements for your release. This required a good bit of coordination, which is why you had to remain in jail for several
days, which I apologize for. We have managed to keep the secrecy statute in place, but several local consulate members are suspicious. So, the sooner I can get you out of here and stop the questions, the better we all will be. Now, details on your
travel. I have arranged a portkey that will be leaving in approximately three hours. Due to the distance, you will make two portkey jumps. The first portkey will deposit you in the apartment of an agent in Dubai. You will spend two hours there resting
before the second jump that will take you to the Department of Magical Law Enforcement at the Ministry. I am told there are no legal charges pending against you, but they have quite a few questions. Now, do you have questions for me?"
Sirius took a minute to assimilate what he had just been told. The fact that he had no charges pending was a happy bit of shock. The idea that he would be traveling all the way back to England via portkey was also fascinating and he was happy he wouldn't
have to do a single long jump. As he continued to think, Sirius still had a lot of questions, but none that he felt the Indonesian woman could answer.
"No, Budiwati, I have no questions. It seems that this has all been well arranged. Thank you."
"You're welcome. Now, the portkey is this old shoe. It leaves in two hours and forty seven minutes. This hotel room is maintained by the consulate for emergency use. You will find personal items in the bathroom and a selection of clothes in different
sizes in the closet. The refrigerator is also stocked with snacks. Please take the time to clean up and relax before your departure. I ask only that you do not leave the room for any reason. The staff has been advised to not disturb you. I have to
leave now. Good luck Mr. Black."
Sirius said goodbye to the young witch as she left the hotel room. Looking around, he decided a shower was his first priority and made his way to the bathroom. A half hour later he was clean and shaven, thanks to the items left by the consulate. He had
found a decent fitting pair of trousers in the closet and a simple button down shirt that were a large improvement over the old clothes he had been wearing for days, or years as the case may be. Sitting down on the bed, he sipped a beer and ate some
crackers and cheese. Not wanting to miss the portkey, Sirius refused to lay down and instead flipped through several English magazines that the consulate had left. Watching the clock, Sirius took hold of the old shoe that had been designated as his
portkey. Two minutes later, he felt the familiar tugging at his navel as he tumbled into a twisting nothingness. Minutes later Sirius landed on a plush rug in an opulently decorated Baroque living room. His arrival was none to graceful as he landed
on his bum and looked up into a round, smiling face.
"Ah, hello my friend. You would be Mr. Black. I am Ahmed and welcome to my apartment. In case you haven't been told, you are now in Dubai. I understand you traveled from Jakarta, which is a long trip to make by portkey. You must be tired. Or are you hungry?
You have a couple hours until your next connection and my home is open to you."
Sirius stood and greeted his host. "Good day Ahmed. You may call me Sirius. My apologies on my rough entry. I've never traveled that far by portkey. I must admit I'm quite tired."
"Of course, of course. Come! You may rest in one of the guest rooms. I will wake you when it is close to the time for the next portkey."
Sirius followed the happy little wizard down a hall and into a bedroom that was almost as opulent as the living room. A large bed covered in an elaborate damask spread occupied most of the room and Sirius stumbled toward it. Ahmed smiled as Sirius collapsed
on the bed and closed the door to let Sirius rest. Two hours later, Ahmed woke Sirius with a small shake.
"Sirius. It is almost time. You have five minutes if you wish to use the water closet. The portkey is this bottle."
"Excellent, thank you Ahmed."
"My pleasure Sirius. I will leave you now. May Allah be with you."
Sirius made a quick stop in the loo before returning to the bedroom and taking hold of the old bottle. A minute later the familiar tugging signaled the start of the second leg of his journey. Fifteen minutes later Sirius stumbled and found himself arriving
in a Ministry office. A tall witch stepped forward to shake his hand.
"Good day Mr. Black. I'm glad you arrived on time. I am Mathilda Foret and you are in the Department of Magical Law Enforcement. We have a number of questions for you, but we need to summon someone who wants to see you first. The news of your return has
caused quite the buzz here in the Ministry. Can you please take a seat while we call an old friend of yours?"
Sirius nodded and took the offered seat, more than a bit curious about who was being called. After everything that he had been through in the past several days, he decided not to question and just to wait. Mathilda left briefly before returning to sit
across the desk from Sirius while they waited. The wait didn't last long when a knock at the door signaled the arrival of someone else. Mathilda waved her wand to open the door and Sirius' jaw dropped as Hermione strode in.