Chapter 109 The Lone Avenger
Evan ascended the dim staircase to the second floor, where the old black wooden floor creaked beneath his feet. Occasionally, owls fluttered overhead.
The layouts of the postal office on the first and second floors were similar. Owls were everywhere. On the shelves beneath them, variously colored codes were arranged.
Crookshanks lay on a semicircular balcony. Upon spotting Evan, the cat began to purr with contentment.
Wait, where is Sirius Black?
Suddenly, Evan realized what was happening; he spun around swiftly, and behind him, in the shadowy hallway, a dark figure pounced.
At that moment, Evan was thrown to the ground, dust sprinkling around him.
Several grayish owls with long ears spread their wings and soared higher, startled by the scene of Evan and the large black dog atop him.
Sirius Black leaped nimbly and snatched the wand from Evan's hands.
His body transformed swiftly mid-air and upon landing back on the floor, Evan witnessed a middle-aged man who bore an exact resemblance to the one sought by the Ministry of Magic: his dirty, tangled hair reached down to his elbow. There was no light in the dark pupils of his eyes, and his waxen skin clung to the bones of his face, making him appear more like a skeleton.
"You've been too careless, boy!" Black firmly gripped Evan's wand and grinned, revealing his yellowed teeth. "Do not resist. Since you are Harry's friend, I will only use the Memory Charm on you and erase all memories about me from your mind."
Black's voice was deep and hoarse. It sounded as if he had been long deprived of speaking.
"Listen, I need to speak with you, Sirius!" whispered Evan. "I won't resist. You can keep my wand if that makes you feel safer."
"Hah, safety means nothing to me!" Black smirked with a ludicrous grimace. "If you, like me, were locked up in Azkaban for twelve years, and just like me, were tortured by hundreds of Dementors day and night, with your mind filled with the darkest memories, enduring the suffering caused by the loss of your best friends that's tearing your mind apart; if you endured all of that, you would forget everything about fear and safety too."
"That sounds truly dreadful," said Evan, concerned.
"Do you know how I overcame it?" Black's expression suddenly turned fierce. "It was revenge. It was the power of revenge that kept me sane. That's what prevented me from becoming a walking corpse like all the others there."
"Perhaps I can help you seek your vengeance," Evan rose from the ground.
"Help me?" The smile on Black's face intensified. The wand in his hand pointed firmly at Evan. "I doubt it. You better be honest and not play tricks with me. I have been observing you for a few months since our first encounter in the Muggle world in August. I know that in reality, your abilities are astounding. I was not as strong at your age."
"Thank you for the compliment. If I were as powerful as you say, I wouldn't be in this situation right now!" Evan paused and continued, "But I want to assist you. Do you remember when we met on the edge of the forest for the second time on the eve of Halloween? I covered for you so you could escape; otherwise, Professor Lupin would have discovered you!"
Evan quietly gathered magical power. Since witnessing Tom Riddle using Ron's broken wand to unleash the curse last semester, he had been studying Magic without a Wand.
Though he found many theoretical books on the subject, the actual process was extremely challenging. Evan had been practicing for almost a year, but he could not control his magical power well, and all he managed was a light even less impressive than that of a young wizard with his wand.
A light like that held no value in real combat.
But perhaps it could distract Black if he caught him off guard.
Evan had to be cautious. If communication failed, he would be cornered. He did not want to be turned into a fool by Black's memory charm.
"If it weren't for you, I would never have been discovered," Black murmured, and the wand glowed slightly. "And I don't need anyone's help!"
He waved his wand, but Evan was faster than him.
His magic surged, and a dazzling white light flew like a bolt, causing Black to subconsciously shut his eyes.
Hundreds of owls soared into the sky, and the entire second floor was in chaos.
Seizing this opportunity, Evan rose from the ground and crashed into Black. Though short and slender, far from his tall opponent Black, it was a swift onslaught, catching Sirius off guard.
Black didn't raise his wand in time. One of Evan's hands quickly gripped his weathered wrist, forcing the wand's tip away; the knuckles of his other hand collided with the side of Black's head, causing him to fall back against the wall.
The strong impact finally awakened Black. The wand in his hand sent a spray of sparks into the air, narrowly missing Evan's face; he felt his arm twisted under his wildly writhing fingers but held on, his other hand striking every part of Black he could find.
But Black was much stronger than him, and his free hand had found Evan's throat.
Just as Evan felt desperate, Crookshanks, lurking on the balcony, suddenly leaped into the fray. He deeply sunk his front paws into Black's arm.
Black grunted and released Evan. He tried to get rid of Crookshanks but failed. Taking advantage of this opportunity, Evan landed several punches to Black's stomach, causing him pain. He curled up, loosening his grip and dropping his wand.
Evan seized his wand and quickly stood up. He aimed it at Black's chest and stared at him.
Black slumped against the wall with his limbs splayed out, his slim chest rising rapidly.
"Well done, Crookshanks!" Evan gasped.
Crookshanks purred softly and leaped back onto the window balcony, as if he had finished a trivial matter. The owls in the air returned.
Evan looked at Black. He could vaguely see the handsome man he used to be in his pale, faded face. Twelve years of life in prison had hardened his character. Before killing Peter Pettigrew, he wouldn't trust anyone or need help.
Like a solitary avenger, he would use his own power to capture Peter.
He wasn't as skilled as a cat in trusting others.
"I have underestimated you. You are much better than I thought. Wandless magic! I haven't seen a wizard with such skill in a long time," the corners of Black's lips curved again with his sarcastic smirk. "What do you intend to do, hand me over to the Ministry's Aurors or the Dementors?"
"I'll say it again, I only want to help you, whether you believe it or not!" Evan wiped blood from his mouth, and there were some sparks at the tip of his wand. "But if you prefer this form of conversation, we'll understand each other well."
"Speaking of which, I truly want to thank you," Black said calmly. "I appreciate the Hogwarts Magic Diary you lead. When Fudge visited Azkaban, he gave me a copy. There were photos of him presenting special awards to several of you. On the front page of the newspaper, on the boy's shoulder, I recognized him immediately. I saw him transform so many times. He was still alive. He was actually at Hogwarts, near James and Lily's son... That night, I escaped from Azkaban because I knew I had to kill him. That is the only way I can make amends for my mistakes, even if I have to face death."
The body of Black trembled slightly, and his voice was filled with sorrow.