Prisoner of Azkaban
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Aftermath, pt2
Central City
Fuhrer's Mansion
Yuery, Roy, and Edward had returned to their apartment as the men discussed whether to recall the rest of the family or wait until they had secured a decision on how to handle Sirius Black. Yuery followed behind, listening silently though his expression showed his desire to add his own opinion on the matter.
Since he had already told both his father and grandfather, he wished to speak to Black personally, they both assumed that was what was on his mind. They had not decided yet if they were going to allow it, neither man thought it was a good idea, and Severus Snape agreed with them. Remus Lupin seemed to think talking with Yuery may have a positive effect on Sirius Black and his intent to claim the child. None of the other men wanted to risk the chance of him trying to snatch the boy.
Alphonse had remained behind to offer moral support to the soldiers who were still recovering from the attack along with Heymans Breda. Alex Armstrong followed the family after quietly asking the Tringham brothers to keep an eye on everything. Neither leader had thought to assign them that job though they had assumed, correctly, that the brothers would watch over the recovery ward.
"I will have to address the men, and then the nation regarding this attack. So many were injured, thankfully few were killed, but it must be dealt with. I refuse to consider anything less than a prison sentence for this." Roy said angrily as he glared at the latest set of reports coming in.
"A prison cell is what he deserves, He isn't being sent back there not after this. I don't trust they can keep him contained." Edward agreed.
"Don't we need him to finish your project though Dad?" Yuery asked, he didn't know a lot about it, just that his father, grandfather, uncle, and Severus had been working on something together for a few years, and that they had said Sirius Black was key to the last part. "Maybe if you let me talk to him, I can get him to tell me where what you need is located."
"We already know where it is, kiddo, just can't get to it. Why do you know so much about it anyway? Listening at doors again? You know I will always tell you the truth, but sometimes it isn't time yet." Dad said with a frown.
"Yeye let him live because you need something from him." Yuery said with a stubborn frown. "Why not try to get it out of him the best way possible."
"He's alive because I confronted him, not your grandfather. If were a matter of simply questioning him, Severus has a potion that would force him to tell us what we need to know. We don't need truth, unfortunately, we need him." Ed said with a tired sigh. "He still may face a firing squad after all he has done, I cannot allow personal quests to interfere with law."
"He will not be executed at this time, provided he co-operates and does not attempt a second escape. His powers are bound, he is as harmless as every other murder in the cellblock." Roy added as he sat down to draw up the paperwork with an angry scowl. "Though given his history, I would hazard to guess his days are rightly numbered. He will cause trouble, pushing up his trial date."
"Perhaps we should allow Remus another chance to get through to him?" Severus asked.
"Remus is compromised, at least on this matter. I want him back in Xerxes as soon as he has finished helping the cleanup in Reseembool. He will not be allowed another chance to reason with Black, he's already conflicted on where he stands with the man, and I will not risk him deciding to aide him in any way." Edward scowled.
"I still think I should speak with him. Severus and you could come with me. If his powers are bound and he is harmless it could only help?" Yuery added.
"My presence would not be an aide should you want him to speak truthfully, not without a potion. He has hated me since we met." Severus sighed.
"No one is speaking to him today; I have to get back to Reseembool to help with the aftermath. Your grandfather has to sort out the trouble here, and your young man are staying put in this apartment." Edward waited for Yuery to reluctantly nod before turning to Severus. "I need a lift, it's bad enough I risked returning here on my own, we don't need to have someone seeing my magic at this point. Luckily no one was paying much mind as we left, Remus assumed I had an extra portkey provided by you, I believe."
"I will come with you, help smooth any ruffled feathers with our resident werewolf, then return here to help with the cleanup." Severus nodded. Roy waived them away and gestured for Yuery to sit next to him without looking up from his paperwork. He wasn't going to trust the boy out of his sight right now, he had learned from the child's father.
Xing Royal Palace
Emperor's Office
Ling sighed tiredly as he read through the reports as they came in. Amestris had at least secured the prisoner, but now Ling had a problem of his own to add to their stress. According to the Border Guards, a wizard using some sort of spell to disguise himself as a resident had slipped through, after attacking the actual resident who apparently was student on her way home.
The newest report, based on the clothing she was found in (the assailant had switched their clothes so at least they hadn't simply stripped her and left) appeared to belong to a name he had the misfortune of hearing repeatedly the last few years. Albus Dumbledore, Headmaster of Hogwarts and constant thorn in the side of the Amestrian ruling family.
There was a spell, he knew, that kept Dumbledore from entering Amestris itself, Ed had explained it all years ago, but that didn't keep him from causing harm elsewhere. It was time to contact the Fuhrer and let him know the issue, now that the identity of the wizard had been discovered. He would also contact the English Ministry of Magic to demand they sanction man in some way because if he could cause this level of headache then simply return to his school in the fall then clearly none of Ling's people should bother to attend the school in the future.
Reseembool
Elric House
Edward and Severus arrived in the yard and quickly entered the house which was still teeming with soldiers. Jean Havoc was currently standing on the porch, smoking the first cigarette Edward had seen him with in half a decade. He chose not to comment on the habit, even as he stepped far enough onto the porch to notice the handful of discarded filters in one of the flowerpots.
"How many injured?" Edward asked instead, not bothering to ask how the man was doing. The question was pointless, he knew the man was a mess.
"Altogether, six. Not as bad as Central from what I've heard of the chatter. Still, more than I've had to worry about in recent years." Jean shrugged. "Yuery's safe?"
"Black has been captured; he didn't get close to Yuery." Edward said.
"Good. Though he would be well put to have a bullet instead." Jean growled.
"Agreed." Severus said quietly, as Jean stubbed out his cigarette and lit another. "You should slow down before you make yourself sick."
"Does it matter? My wife is gone, Fuery's taken over my post for now- thank you for that sir- and my men were tortured under my watch. I little sick won't end me." Jean shrugged, addressing the issue directly. "When will you get that damned sympathizer off my crime scene Boss?"
"Now. Has he said anything else unfortunate?" Ed asked.
"Not really. He apologized for my loss and tried to tell me Black is confused and scared. I walked away and came out here before I was tempted to punch the bastard. I never had an issue with him, met him a few times and seems like a nice guy. His 'good friend' who is just 'so confused' murdered my wife in cold blood. I don't want to hear his excuses."
"I'll tell him to head ack to Xerxes immediately." Severus nodded to the other two and headed into the house to gather his somewhat friend leaving the two men to stand silently in the porch.
Inside, Remus sat in the corner of the great room looking miserable at the space where Rebecca Havoc had fallen less than an hour ago. The boy had been removed, along with the injured as soon as backup from the command center had arrived.
He knew he had handled his own shock terribly, trying to convince everyone around him that Siri- no Black he was just Black now, was simply confused. He didn't want to return to thinking one of his best friends was a murderer. He had already spent so many angry years believing him a traitor. Now that the shock had worn off, or perhaps just settled in, he realized though hat Black was just that, a murderer.
He had murdered Rebecca Havoc, and at least six others from the reports he had overheard. He was beyond their help after all of this. Remus didn't blame Havoc for his anger, or Edward for refusing to allow him to join them in the hunt. He had been to soft on Black for to long and where had it gotten him?
Dead allies and loss of trust. For a man who seemed less and less like the boy he had been friends with all those years ago. When Severus came in, he expected to be arrested for treason, so when Severus sat beside him with a tired sigh he was surprised. "I've been waiting for this; don't worry I won't resist not after what I said. I know I sounded like I was siding with Black, but I'm not."
"I believe you. I came in here to lecture you on the terrible choice of friends you picked as a students. Then I saw your expression. No lectures, just the message from the Family." Severus frowned tiredly. "Return to Xerxes, your help is not wanted or needed at this time. They will contact you in good time for whatever information they still require."
"Xerxes is probably the best I can hope for at this time. Thank you. For skipping the lecture." Remus gave Severus a grateful and tired smile as he stood to make his way out to the yard. Edward and Jean finally stepped inside as he disappeared.
"I won't say I blame him or anyone other than that bastard Black, but I also can't stand the sight of him right now. Not after he tried to defend his good friend while I held my WIFE'S lifeless body. No, I can't just let it go right now." Jean said, his tone defeated yet angry.
"Precisely why he was sent away. He never should have attempted to defend Black. Not after all the man has done." Severus sneered. "Every time either of them did something terrible in school, Remus was there defending their actions. It's hardly surprising it is still his default reaction, just disappointing."
"Was Black always evil? I never truly believed children could be evil, though you knew him as a young adult and teenager, correct?" Jean asked.
"Yes, I did. Let me give an example of his behavior. Once when we were in school, before I knew what Remus was, Black 'allowed' me to overhear how to get passed the defensive measures in hopes I would explore. I did just that and found an uncontrolled werewolf at the other end. I was pulled to safety, though not by Black who seemed to think the whole matter was amusing. Recently as Remus and I discussed this it came to light how horrified he himself was by the whole thing as well. Yet his friend thought of it as a prank."
The other two men scoffed in disgust at the idea of both endangering a child, and putting someone he considered a friend in such a situation. Edward had already felt the idea of allowing Yuery a visit was terrible but was more determined now to avoid such a meeting. Clearly, despite Remus' claims, Black had violent tendencies for a very long time. Shaking his head, Ed turned his attention to other matters.
"Jean, would you prefer here or Central? It is completely up to you where we hold the funeral." Edward asked.
"Central. Eventually, probably sooner rather than later, I will be reassigned. I would rather she was placed in the Honor's Cemetery where her friends and family can visit easily. I will be there often enough." Jean sniffed but refused to cry, not yet, not until everything was readied.
"I can arrange to have you transferred back into my office if that would be easier for you, or if you would like to take an extended leave." Edward offered.
"Transferred would be good, back with most of the old team." Jean nodded and Ed agreed. The three men then turned their attention to recording the scene and cleaning it after the photos were taken. With Severus' help the cleaning process was much quicker. He was even able to repair most of the broken glass from various picture frames and trinkets that were broken in the scuffle.
Edward answered the phone on the second ring with fear deep in his gut. He was worried Black had somehow managed to escape or cause more damage. Instead, alarmingly, he was warned that Dumbledore was somewhere in Xing, where his wife and other children were currently hiding. Severus offered to collect them and take them to the summer house where he would remain with them until they were given the all clear to return to the mansion.
Forest somewhere in Xing
Late Evening
Albus admitted, to himself, that he may have underestimated the size of Xing. He vaguely knew where he was and where he was going, but with no clear picture in his head of Xerxes he couldn't simply apperate there. He needed to be able to visualize the location to do so. Therefore, he was stuck traveling on foot.
According to the map and leaflet he picked up a while back, the next town was roughly an hour further down the track. From there he would be able to ride to a hub and buy a ticket to Xerxes. He just needed another, better disguise. With this plan and destination in mind he was greatly cheered, soon he would catch Harry out and convince him Returning to England was not only his birthright, but the others also needed him to help save them. Especially with everything that happened. It would not be hard to convince the boy, he seemed very headstrong last year. The boy was key to everything.