Chapter Eleven: Offers and Requests

Ah! There you are! Sirius headed towards Kingsley Shacklebolt who he had spotted clearing up some of the burnt out tents. He was working alone, his eyes continually scanning, searching for danger as he flicked his wand at the tents, vanishing them and erasing any marks that had been left behind by the devastation of the fire. He glanced up as Sirius approached and gave him a wry smile.

"What can I do for you?" he asked.

Sirius spoke in a whisper, careful to not allow anyone else hear what he had to say. "I think I know who murdered Crouch Senior, William Davids and enabled Pettigrew to escape from Azkaban."

Kingsley's eyes widened as he considered what he could do. Finally he nodded, and, taking Sirius by the arm led him into the shadows of the forest where they could talk alone. "Go on."

"This may seem totally impossible - it does to me - but I've seen him with my own eyes," said Sirius. "In fact he just tried to kill me," he shook his head. "Sorry, I'm not making any sense am I?"

Kingsley shook his head. "No, you're not."

"I figured. Anyway, I believe the murderer to be Bartemius Crouch Junior." Ge held up a hand to stop Shacklebolt from speaking. "I saw him with my own eyes just now – in fact I dueled with him. He was the one who sent up the Dark Mark. I know he supposedly died in Azkaban - I was there, I saw him being buried - but it is him, I assure you. I don't know how he got away, but I've got a feeling that his father kept him hidden, and then he escaped, killing his father and William Davids."

Shacklebolt was frowning, considering the possibilities. "It is possible that something may have happened. Crouch's wife did die at almost exactly the same time, so maybe they switched taking on each other's appearance? It is possible…And you say he attacked you?"

Sirius nodded. "Yeah, and conjured the Mark."

"We need evidence to support your claim," Kingsley replied.

"Do you want me to give you my memories?"

Kingsley nodded. "It'll give me time to review them and hopefully make a statement confirming that he is alive and that he needs to be captured. Come by my office tomorrow."

"Okay." Sirius shook the Auror's hand. "Thanks for not doubting me."

"You are an innocent man, Black. It does us no good to doubt you, especially when Albus Dumbledore is standing by you."

Sirius allowed a small smile and then he moved into the forest, Apparating away once he was hidden from view. It was, without a doubt, that the darkness that had once encroached their world, was beginning once more.

Tuesday 26th August

The following morning the Daily Prophet was filled with reports about the 'tragedy of the Quidditch World Cup' which Rita Skeeter had blamed Sirius for. She had no evidence to support her theory but Sirius knew she would not stop accusing him of anything. There were some people who could not let the former crimes he had been accused of go.

Early that morning Kingsley Shacklebolt had dropped by their cottage explaining that it probably wouldn't be a good idea for Sirius to turn up at the Ministry, in case Ministry employees decided his intentions were not honourable in the slightest. Sirius had agreed with this, but only for the sake of his own safety.

A lot of the public were going to blame him for the Dark Mark despite the lack of evidence. Rita Skeeter had a way with words, and what she said was more believable then what an innocent man had to say.

Besides, Sirius thought miserably, they think I'm insane anyway.

Having given Kingsley his memories to review, Sirius waited patiently for Harry to rise from bed. His Godson had gone straight to sleep as soon as they had arrived home. Sirius on the other hand had been unable to stay still, let alone fall asleep.

Sighing, he turned the Daily Prophet over and ran his eyes over the crossword but found he could not bring himself to do it. Frustration coursed through him. He hated the fact that the world believed him a liar. Would this be what his life was like from now on? Always being accused of things? Always to be feared? Never to be left alone by the infuriating press?

Left to his thoughts he did not see the flash of light as a letter appeared from nowhere and land on the table. He didn't notice it until he rubbed his tired eyes and looked down. Picking up the letter, he slit it open pulling out an elegant piece of parchment.

Sirius,

Please come by my office today at 10am.

Albus

Simple and to the point, thought Sirius.

Glancing up at the mantle, Sirius read the clock noting that he had twenty minutes before he was due to meet Dumbledore. Retrieving a piece of parchment, he scribbled a note to Harry telling him that he would be back soon and not to worry, before Apparating from the cottage to the gates of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.

"Sirius? Are you there?"

Looking worriedly around Harry cast his glance around the kitchen, his eyes falling upon a piece of parchment with his name written elegantly on the top. Picking it up, he read through it, his fear for Sirius evaporating like dust.

Harry,

Don't worry. I've gone to Hogwarts for a chat with Dumbledore.

Keep yourself busy,

Padfoot

Shaking his head in relief, Harry cooked himself bacons and egg, eagerly awaiting Sirius' return.

"You want me to what?"

Disbelief spread across his face and even Sirius' mind was beginning to wonder if Dumbledore had gone loony.

The old man merely smiled, clasping his hands in front of him before replying: "I would like you to take the Defence Against the Dark Arts position."

Sirius was still shaking his head. "As much as it would please me to be by Harry all year, I don't think many of the 'concerned' parents would appreciate me teaching their children. They'd be afraid I'd teach them dark magic."

"Yet it is not their position to question me. I have asked the school governors and - though they are wary - they have agreed. If you take this appointment, you would make a welcome addition to the teaching staff."

"There's an ulterior motive isn't there?" Sirius asked slowly. There was something more to this. Albus Dumbledore had many other applicants to choose from. Why him? He wasn't even qualified and he hadn't even applied! But he did have ample experience in the field…

"You know me too well Sirius," the headmaster replied. "Yes, other than your experience in the field of Dark Magic, there is another reason for me to offer this position to you."

"It's the recent attempt on my life," stated Sirius.

Dumbledore nodded. "It is. Barty Crouch Junior being alive and serving Voldemort has given me great worry. Harry's dreams are also deeply troubling. Voldemort will not stop until you are dead, just to hurt Harry. It would not be fair for him to lose you so soon after finding you. He has already lost so much in his young life and he does not deserve to lose another. Darkness is coming to our world Sirius, and these children need to be prepared to face what is out there. Whenever this war comes, it will be worse than what it was before. I trust you to teach the students everything they need to know. They need a Professor with experience and knowledge of the old war. And that person is you."

Sirius swallowed. "I don't know…I realise it's for my own safety as well…but the thought of teaching children with my history…" he stopped, wondering what he could say.

"Go and talk to Remus. He may be able to help you make a decision. I cannot force you to accept this position: it is in the end your choice."

"I think it's a smashing idea!" Remus replied, folding his arms across his chest.

"Seriously? You really think me - the famous convicted murderer turned innocent wizard - could teach children?"

"Yeah," Remus responded, "you have the experience and the right attitude. You're not the stupid pranking idiot you were in our school days Sirius. You've grown up."

"Azkaban changes you," muttered Sirius. "I just don't think I could teach children. They might be afraid of me."

"Look at this way, Pads," said Remus as crossed his legs, leaning back in his chair, a grin forming on his face, "if they are afraid of you because of your history they won't do anything to upset you would they? It would be a piece of cake. Besides being with Harry is surely one of the advantages?"

Sirius ran a wry hand through his hair. "I suppose….I just wish it was an easier decision to make. If there is a war coming I want to fight in it – I don't want to be stuck behind a teacher's desk."

"The war is not here yet. Why not ask Harry about this?"

Sirius frowned. "He'd say yes in an instant."

"There you go. There's your answer. If Harry is willing to learn from you, then you should feel proud that at least one student would be listening to your lessons." Remus' eyes darkened. "If a war comes, Sirius, you'd have less time to see Harry, especially if you were fighting in it. Take the chance while you can because in the end, you might very well lose it."

"I suppose I should ask Harry, just in case he doesn't agree with your prediction of his reaction," replied Sirius. His lips twitched. "And you're right about what would happen if a war comes."

Harry was thrilled with the idea of Sirius teaching him Defence. Despite his own reservations on taking the job, Harry's smile alone had convinced him to accept. His Godson deserved happiness in these dark times and if being at Hogwarts was the only way for that, then he would do so. His own personal worry that everything would blow up in his face settled down when Sirius readily began to plan lessons with Remus' help – that is until the day he didn't turn up at all.

He had received a note from Dumbledore explaining Remus' absence was a matter of the 'Order of the Phoenix' and that, in Sirius' estimation, meant only one thing. The headmaster had requested that Remus infiltrate the werewolf underground, retrieving information and hopefully bringing the werewolf community onto the light side.

It was the only logical conclusion to his friend's absence, especially since a full moon wouldn't occur for another few weeks.

With darkness rising, Sirius knew that the headmaster needed all manner of information before it descended upon the world. Whatever happened in the future, Sirius would try his hardest to protect his Godson, but he couldn't protect Harry forever. His Godson's fate meant that he would always be on the front line.

And that scared him the most.

He would die before he allowed anyone to harm his Godson.

Harry doesn't deserve this. No one does, but fate made it this way. All I can do is protect and hope that Harry doesn't lose himself along the way.

Even that thought comforted him, however little it did.

To be continued...