CHAPTER FIVE: PROVING BLACK'S INNOCENCE.

At two o'clock I was on the seven floors, the files about Sirius Black in my bag. I was a bit anxious. I didn't know if he was going to take really well what I had to say.

I entered the room; Lupin was already here, in what look like a replica of his office. I guessed he wanted it to be formal after last night. It reassured me in a way. I sat across from him.

"Tea?" he proposed. I nodded. I watched as he poured me a cup of tea, I declined the cream and just took a bit of sugar.

There was an awkward silence. He asked the first question.

"So, you are an animagus."

"That's quite obvious, sir." I replied.

He rolled his eyes. I knew I was being difficult, but I couldn't help it, it was the way I was around people.

"Since when?" he asked.

"Fourth years."

He seemed impressed and surprised as well.

"How? It is quite dangerous things to do, did someone helped you?"

"I did it all alone. Nothing bad happened."

He raised an eyebrow at that statement. He didn't talk for a minute, debating on the question he was going to ask.

"Yesterday, how did you know that it was Dumbledore who would come?"

I cringed. He was quite direct in his question.

"I had reasons to believe that it was Dumbledore who whipped out your memory, and I think he is not as light as he wants everyone to believe."

He wasn't surprised by my statement. I was starting to wonder if he had maybe recovered other memories more ancient that the one I thought were released.

"I want to know those reasons."

It wasn't a question.

"I followed you the other night, when you were going to the headmaster's office."

He grimaced.

"I don't remember going to his office."

I shrugged.

"You seem to have forgotten other things, professor. Any way I followed you. I think you stayed up there about two and a half hour. And when you got out, you were… different. I was even wondering if someone casted you an imperious curse. But I think it was more than that."

Lupin's face was blank.

"What do you mean by different?"

"Before you went up to this office, you were walking silently in the shadows, like it was your home, you were… well it sounds weird, but you were graceful in your steps, it was hard to follow you. And you had some sort of strange power in you. But when you got out of his office, you were pale; tired like never before, you were walking like an elephant, and … something was wrong… about your magic."

Lupin was pale. Whatever it was that Dumbledore did to him, he wasn't pleased. And he looked afraid of something. I wiggled in my chair. He didn't appear to be the type of men to be easily afraid. It wasn't really reassuring.

"Did you have other reasons?" he whispered.

"Yes. And it comes with what I wanted to talk about before you lost your memory."

"Go on."

"It is about your patronus, sir."

He tensed.

"What about it?" he asked a little harshly.

I took out my book on the pureblood family, opened it to the black family and handed it out to him.

He looked at the page.

"You are too clever for your own good."

I didn't take that comment at heart.

"If this Grim is the representation of Sirius Black, who I believe is your former friend, how do you explain that your patronus didn't change?"

"I don't know." Lupin spat out. "And it is none of your concern."

"I know I did poke my nose where I shouldn't, but trust me; you want to hear what I have to say about Sirius Black."

There was anger in his eyes. He wasn't happy about me. I think he really didn't expect me to ask that kind of question, and it appeared to be a sensible subject.

"And what a little girl like you could have to say about him?" he spat.

I took a deep breath.

"I think he is innocent and…"

"You think he is innocent? He is murderer!" roared Lupin. "You don't know anything about him!"

"I know enough!" I replied heatedly.

"And what could you possibly know?"

"I know the magic in relations with patronus never lies. A patronus never lies. Deep down you know as well as I do that he is innocent!"

"And why do you think he is innocent? Tell me!"

I took a deep breath to regain some composure. Lupin glared at me with a triumphant look, like he had won. I glared at him too and took out of my bag my files on Sirius.

I slammed it on his desk.

"Those files come from the ministry's archives. I went there to find out everything I could about him. There is his auror's file."

I putted it in his hands.

"The investigative file made in 1981."

I took out a second file.

"And the file about his arrest."

I took out the last file.

"This is all I found in the archives. All of it. There wasn't any other file on him."

"And so what?" he asked.

"Don't you see it?" I replied.

"I don't see what?"

"There wasn't any file about a trial. He never got one. He was send to Azkaban without the right to defend himself. Doesn't it sound weird to you? Even Bellatrix Lestrange got a trial for goodness sake."

"It doesn't mean he is innocent." He replied harshly. But his hands were trembling slightly, I could convince him, I had to try. He didn't seem so sure of himself anymore.

"I am not stupid, professor Lupin. That's not all of it. Look at the investigation's file. Read it. And tell me that it was done correctly. A five years old could have done better."

He gave me a look, like he didn't believe he was doing that. I let him read it. I watched as he started frowning slightly. He was staring at the diagram.

"Tell me, sir, do you think it could have been him who casted that spells?"

He sighed.

"It is not clear, I don't really know…" he started.

"Ok," I said, "let me help you. Return to the first page."

He did and read it again.

"How many witnesses were there? How many muggles? How many wizards or witches?"

"Twenty-three muggles."

"Do you see their statement somewhere in the file?"

"No, they have…"

"…all been obliviated right away, no question asked."

"I have to admit it is suspicious." He said. I rolled my eyes.

"You are too stubborn. Do you see any trace of an interrogatory of Black? Did someone check if he had the Dark Mark?"

"No… but…"

"I am not finished. Take the diagram. See the type of curse it was? If Black had casted it, it would had have to pass straight through Pettigrew, and it wasn't a kind of curse that could do that and still provoked an explosion as big as this one. They didn't find his wand or Pettigrew's wand. No priori incantatem, no proof."

"You think Pettigrew casted it?" he asked in disbelief.

"Yes I do professor. And it is not the only thing I have on Pettigrew that seemed doubtful. Next page sir."

He took the last two pages, staring at it blankly.

"Right. Corpses. And so what?"

"God, Lupin for a wizard who's quite intelligent, you are really daft. How many corpses?"

"Thirteen." He sighed. "And watch your language." I rolled my eyes at him.

"I disagree."

He looked at me completely lost.

"I think my question wasn't clear enough. How many full corpses?"

"Twelve." He answered becoming a little pale. Maybe he wasn't that daft.

"What were their injuries, their state?"

"Multiple burns, multiple injuries from the blast effects." He reads.

"Any part of body missing?"

"No." he whispered.

"Now, tell me Lupin, what did they find of Pettigrew's body?"

"A single finger."

"Burned?"

"No."

"Clean?"

"Yes."

"Cut out neatly?"

"Yes."

"Like with a knife?"

"Yes." He whispered.

"So tell me now professor, where is the rest of his fucking body?"

"I don't know." He didn't correct me about my language this time, I noted.

"Precisely."

"Any idea on how he could have escaped?" I asked.

"Yes." He whispered. He was stunned. Devastated. Worn out. Heart sick. I pitied him.

"You think he is alive?" he asked.

"I think he is."

"I don't understand. Sirius was the secret keeper…"

I interrupted him.

"Who said that?"

"It is common knowledge…"

"Professor, who casted the Fidelius charm in October 1981?"

"Dumbledore."

"And Dumbledore told you the secret keeper was Sirius, didn't he?"

"Yes, he did."

"Look at the last file, his arrest. Look at who signed the paper that sends him straight to Azkaban."

He took the paper, looked at it briefly and buried his face in his hand.

"Dumbledore." He murmured.

"Now, what is his duty as a chief Warlock?"

"The chief Warlock is supposed to make sure that everyone gets a fair trial."

"So tell me, why did Bellatrix Lestrange did get a trial and why Sirius did not? He was a member of the order of the phoenix. If I was Dumbledore and if he had betrayed me, I would have wanted answer."

"Dumbledore knew he was the secret keeper."

I snorted lightly, god he was stubborn.

"It seems to me that he didn't want Sirius to talk. I think he wanted Sirius in Azkaban, I just don't know why exactly even if I have theories. Anyway, when you go into hiding because someone wants you dead, it's common to put the name of the secret keeper in your last will…"

"I never saw Lily and James's will." Said Lupin suddenly.

"You weren't at the reading? It is usually a month after…"

"I know. What I mean is there never was a reading. I think the will is celled but I am not sure."

"How convenient, isn't it? So all you have is Dumbledore's word that Sirius black was the secret keeper. Frankly, I am pretty sure it was him who whipped out your memory last week, and he sends a man to Azkaban without a trial, I wouldn't put that much of faith in him if I was you."

"I need a break." Lupin said.

"Fine." I sigh.

I watched for the next fifteen minutes as he walked around, halting his course from time to time to put his hands to his head, or in his hair, tiring slightly. It was starting to be slightly boring to watch him walk around. I knew he needed to clear his head but it was really frustrating to watch him.

Five more minute and I was going to shot him right in the head, so at least he would stop passing.

"God Lupin you are going to dig a hole in the floor, ten more minutes and I'll bury you in it."

He scowled at me. I smirked. I can't help it. I love to annoy people.

"You know what?" he said.

"No." I replied rolling my eyes at him. "I don't really want to be in your head right now, it may be confusing."

I love sarcasm. He narrowed his eyes at me, clearly annoyed my attitude.

"Of all the things I learned today, you are still the one I understand the less."

"How flattering."

"Where do you fit in all of this?"

"What do you mean?"

"Why do you have files on Sirius? You are a student, you should be worrying about class homework, quidditch, friends, boyfriend… and there you are with a file on a supposed mass murderer in your bag. Seriously I don't understand you. What were you doing in the archives of the ministry of magic? And frankly I am surprised you did get an access to those files. Did get them illegally?"

I sigh, thinking of what I could tell him. Of all the things he had to think about, he had to think of that.

"The ministry might not be aware that they are in my possession, because when I did get them, Sirius Black was still in Azkaban."

"I don't know if it's possible but I think I understand even less. Why were you doing search on Sirius if he hadn't escaped yet?"

"Hum, it is going to sound a little bit crazy, professor. Do you reckon who Luna Lovegood is?"

"What a second year Ravenclaw has to do with that?"

"She is weird isn't she? Everyone called her Loony. She came to see me at the end of last year, she did get straight to the point, she didn't look loony at all, and she told me I quote "You should watch out for Sirius Black.". She adds something I can't tell you that convince me I wouldn't hurt to take a look. So I did go to the ministry, made a copy of the files. The next day Sirius had escaped and the files were celled. I concluded that Luna was a seer."

He was speechless. He walked around a little more. I groaned and scowled at him. He was going to give me a headache.

"Why you?" he asked.

"I can't tell you."

"Why?"

"Because everybody has secret Mister Lupin, and I am pretty sure you got some too. I may be pocking my nose in Black's case but I am not pocking it in your private life."

"Fine. What do we do now?"

I laughed.

"There isn't really an us there for now, professor, I just wanted answers to some questions you might be able to answer."

"You're telling me you are not finish with questions… it is the last time I accept to have a talk with you, you ask too many bloody questions Ana." He said sternly.

"Sorry, I am a curious person professor."

"I'll try to remember that tiny bit of information in the future."

I chuckled and smile sweetly at him.

"Ok, let's take a look at the situation at hand professor. If my theory is true, and Dumbledore put Sirius in jail on purpose, the question is why did he do that? What does he gain by sending Sirius to Azkaban? Oh and why did he modify your memory about Harry?"

"For Harry, it seems that since the start of the term, Albus had done all he could to keep me away from him. As for Sirius he is the heir of the House of Black, he is really rich as you can imagine but no one but him can have an access to that money. By putting Sirius in jail, you can gain more influence in politic maybe but it doesn't really make sense…"

"Is there any relation between Harry and Sirius, or maybe it is something that has to do with the Black title…"

"Sirius is Harry's godfather." Lupin said bluntly, like something had just strike him.

I sucked in a deep breath; it's crazy how wizard can be all powerful and incredibly stupid. I pinched my nose trying to stay calm. I needed to think a little. Lupin's hatred toward Black had seemed unnatural; the fact that he didn't connect events when they were under his nose was disturbing because he was one of the most intelligent men I ever met. It had taken him only two classes to see right through me. It wasn't normal he didn't see that one from the start.

"Mr Lupin, I got two options there: one you are a bloody moron; two: someone put a completion charm on you and had manipulated you. You don't strike me as bloody idiot so for now I'll take option number two. What do you know of the magical bond between a godfather and his godchild?"

And there it goes.

Lupin collapsed back in his chair, head in his hands, and the magic around him was rising again. I hoped it was not going to become a regular occurrence. Maybe I should advise him to be checked by the goblins. Goblins are pretty good at checking that kind of things. The surge of magic was not as important as the last one. It stopped quickly but I could see that he was tired.

"Oh, god", murmured Lupin, "He is innocent; he couldn't harm him in any way. The bond wouldn't have allowed it, he would be dead or a squib if he had arm Harry."

"Glad we understand each other, professor."

Lupin sighed heavily.

"I think I have reached my limit for today. It will be better if we talk later in the week. I need to think."

"Alright professor, I'll see you later then."

"Oh, Miss Parker?"

"Yes?"

"You are my new assistant."

I scowled.

"What?"

"You heard me you are my new assistant."

"I didn't want to be your assistant; I just needed to talk to you. I have no interest in grading paper."

"It's too late Miss Parker, you volunteered. And just between us I'd rather have you as an assistant than a pet teacher, or a girl who makes gooey eyes at me, even if you do all you can to annoy the hell out of me."

I groaned.

"Fine." I muttered, "But don't expect me to be the little ravenclaw girl who doesn't talk, you told me to not hold back in your class so I will not. Don't complain about your decision later in the year, professor, because it will be entirely your fault."

I slammed the door behind me for good measure. I was pretty sure it was his personal revenge on me for turning his world upside down.