Chapter 162: Sirius Black and Remus Lupin
Chapter 162: Sirius Black and Remus Lupin
"Sirius Black... acquitted of all charges..."
The woman's pronouncement of the verdict resonated like a tolling bell, reverberating in the ears of those present.
Sirius Black sat stunned in his chair, his eyes vacant and dazed.
He didn't hear Fudge's angry huff as he pushed back his chair and stormed out, nor did he notice the wizards who hurried after him. He was unaware of when Dumbledore's hand had left his shoulder.
People gradually filed out along the aisles, some whispering to each other, others casting looks of sympathy or disdain in his direction, but Sirius was oblivious to it all.
He stared at the floor in front of him, yet it seemed he saw nothing.
Until someone approached him, took his hand, and pulled him to his feet, before embracing him tightly.
Remus...
Sirius thought of this brother he hadn't seen in far too long. He wanted to speak, but his throat felt constricted, as if something was blocking it. So, his arms shook as he raised them and returned Remus' embrace with equal fervor.
The warmth of another human being felt like sunshine, pulling him out of the dark abyss he had been dwelling in.
After a long while, the two men released each other.
"Remus..." Sirius' facial muscles twitched as he managed a stiff smile. "I never thought I'd live to see you grow old..."
"I'm sorry, Sirius," Remus confessed in a low voice. "For eleven years, I didn't believe in you... I should have known, out of everyone, you were the least likely to betray James..."
"No, I was wrong," Sirius said, his face twisting with pain as he recalled the past. "I foolishly made a suggestion, thinking it was the perfect plan... If it weren't for me..."
He shook his head, unwilling to say more or hear Remus absolve him.
His gaze fell on the boy standing next to Remus—messy black hair, bright green eyes filled with tension and anticipation.
He looked so much like James when he was young!
It was as if his friend was standing before him once again.
Sirius' expression turned dreamy, his mouth opening and closing a few times before he finally found his voice.
"Harry?"
"Er... yes, it's me," Harry said awkwardly.
To Sirius, Harry was both a stranger and someone familiar.
A stranger because they had never met, but familiar because, over the past few days, Remus had shared many stories of their youthful adventures.
They had attended school together, played pranks, shared a dormitory, clashed with Slytherin students, and often sneaked around the castle grounds at night.
In their second year, they had discovered Remus' secret—that he was a werewolf—but it had only brought them closer together.
To keep Remus company during his transformations, James and Sirius had learned to become Animagi in their fifth year.
James had pursued Lily, facing constant rejections before finally succeeding in their seventh year, making him happier than he'd ever been...
At the age of sixteen, Sirius had left the pure-blood obsessed Black family and moved in with James. James' parents had treated him like a second son...
After graduation, they had all attended James and Lily's wedding, with Sirius as the best man. Afterward, they had joined the Order of the Phoenix and fought against Voldemort and his Death Eaters...
Remus had omitted the darker parts of their story and completely skipped over the involvement of Peter Pettigrew, the traitor.
His tales were filled with friendship, adventure, and courage—a vibrant narrative of youthful exuberance and camaraderie.
Although this was their first meeting, Harry felt like he had known Sirius for a long time.
Despite Sirius' current fearsome appearance, one could still discern the handsome features that must have been present in his gaunt, skeletal face.
Sirius' lips quivered as he said, "The last time I saw you, you were just a little tyke..."
He gestured with his hand, indicating a small ball-like shape, then enlarged it slightly.
Harry didn't know what to say, so he smiled shyly.
Sirius looked at him, hesitated, and said, "I don't know if anyone has told you... but, Harry, I'm your godfather..."
"Yes, I know," Harry nodded.
He paused, then stepped forward and hugged Sirius gently.
Sirius bent down and returned the embrace, his arms trembling slightly.
"Your parents appointed me as your guardian, should anything happen to them..."
Sirius fell silent for a moment, then continued in a hoarse voice, "Of course, I know I'm not really qualified to take you away from your current family... But, if you're willing... if you want... I hope to take care of you..."
Before Sirius could finish, Lupin interrupted him.
His only remaining friend placed a hand on his shoulder and smiled as he said, "Sirius, you've only just cleared your name. There's no need to rush. Why don't you go back, take a shower, change your clothes, and get some nutritious food to take care of yourself?"
Sirius: "..."
Lupin's words made sense, but his smile seemed a bit sinister?
"Uh... alright..." Sirius mumbled. He turned to look at Harry, intending to say something, but Lupin spoke up again.
"By the way, there's someone I want you to meet. Although you don't know him, he's actually the one who deserves the most credit for getting your case re-examined."
Sirius's attention was immediately diverted, and he asked, "Who is it?"
"His name is Ved Gore. He's Harry's classmate and also my employer and student." Lupin said with a hint of pride: "Even though he's only twelve years old, he's the smartest young wizard I've ever met."
Sirius thought he must have misheard: "Twelve years old?... Employer?"
"Yes..." Lupin turned to introduce Ved to Sirius, but when he looked back, he realized Ved's seat was already empty.
"If you're looking for that kid," Moody, who was still there, said, "Dumbledore called him away. He asked me to tell you not to wait for him."
...
People hurried up the stairs, eager to board the elevator. The underground space was oppressive and dimly lit, not a place anyone would want to linger.
Yet, Ved found himself pausing and looking towards a corridor beside him.
The corridor was pitch-black, devoid of doors, windows, or even torches on the walls. At the end of the corridor was a black door that seemed to beckon silently.
"That's the Department of Mysteries," Dumbledore said: "A top-secret room of the Ministry of Magic. It contains many things whose existence is difficult to comprehend and control."
"Can't even you enter, Professor?" Ved asked.
"I must admit that place makes me feel as ignorant as a child," Dumbledore smiled. "Although many believe I possess more magic than others, in the path of magic, I am but an apprentice."
"What kind of magic is there?"
"A lot." Dumbledore said: "For example, magic related to time, death, and prophecies. Many erudite and exceptional wizards research the most mysterious and dangerous magic day and night. They are called the Unspoken, and throughout their lives, they never reveal the content of their work to anyone."
"The Unspoken..." Ved pondered for a moment and asked, "Professor, why did you want to see me?"
"I wanted to thank you, Ved," Dumbledore said calmly: "In the matter of Sirius, I made a subjective mistake."
"I once presented evidence to the Ministry of Magic that Sirius was the Potters' Secret-Keeper, and after he was imprisoned, I didn't investigate further..."
"If I had visited Sirius in prison, even just once... I should have realized that he wasn't a betrayer."
Ved didn't blame Dumbledore. He thought for a moment and said, "When you thought he had betrayed you, you must have been very angry... and disappointed."
"Indeed." Dumbledore said: "I've seen too many talented young people fall into darkness, and I thought Sirius was one of them..."
"But Mr. Black shouldn't blame you for that." Ved said: "Their plan deceived everyone... If Peter Pettigrew hadn't betrayed them, it would have been a brilliant strategy."
"Yes, who would have thought?" Dumbledore sighed: "Close friends can turn into strangers in the blink of an eye, making you doubt if you ever truly knew them..."
Ved glanced at Dumbledore and saw only half of his profile illuminated by the flickering torchlight.
He didn't know if Dumbledore was thinking of a particular person.
Chapter 2 will be delayed until tonight.
(End of Chapter)
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