Chapter 533: The Cellmate in the Next Cell
Chapter 533: The Cellmate in the Next Cell
"Did I interrupt your meeting, Professor?" Wade asked.
"No, I should thank you for rescuing me from a boring and meaningless argument. Now I can do something useful", Dumbledore said. His gaze fell on the squirrel, and his blue eyes twinkled with amusement.
The squirrel was so excited it almost jumped off Wade's shoulder. It let out a series of short chirps, its paws moving rapidly, and its tail swayed back and forth.
"Oh..." Dumbledore stared at the squirrel for a moment, then smiled and said, "This is indeed Sirius."
He extended his long fingers and gently picked up the squirrel, then turned to Wade. "Come with me."
Wade followed Dumbledore to a nearby ordinary-looking tent. Dumbledore pulled aside the rope hanging at the entrance, and Wade noticed that this dusty canvas tent could easily blend into a Muggle park without any sense of incongruity.
Once inside, Wade realized it was still a wizard's tent. The interior was spacious, and everything was neatly organized. Even the cushions on the high-backed chairs were all facing the same direction. A mirror and a detector hung near the entrance.
Wade thought to himself: This definitely isn't Dumbledore's own tent.
Dumbledore placed the squirrel on the ground and pointed his wand at it. A pale blue light emerged from the tip of the wand, enveloping the squirrel like water.
The squirrel's bones made a faint cracking sound, its fur rapidly retracting, its limbs stretching and swelling, and its furry head contorting as its features transformed. In an instant, a tall, dark-haired man was kneeling on the ground.
Sirius gasped and stood up, his body trembling slightly. He looked down at his restored hands, his eyes still showing a hint of confusion.
Although Sirius was an accomplished Animagus and had long been accustomed to maintaining his animal form while in Azkaban, being transformed into a squirrel by someone else and unable to change back was a terrible experience for him. The issue wasn't the transformation itself, but the loss of control over his own body. For a few seconds, he almost forgot who he was, feeling as if he had returned to that cold, desolate prison.
Wade handed him two pieces of chocolate from his pocket and, seeing the kettle on the stove, picked up the teapot to pour him a cup of hot tea.
"Don't give me that", Sirius said, shoving the chocolate into his mouth. "Wade, can you get me a bottle of whiskey?"
"Me too", Dumbledore said. "Ah, I remember there's a good bottle of brandy in the kitchen fridge."
Although they could summon the brandy with a wave of their wands, Wade still went to fetch it, bringing two glass goblets as well. He then took a porcelain cup from the coffee table and slowly brewed himself a steaming cup of hot water.
Sirius downed his glass of whiskey in one gulp, exhaled, and seemed to come back to life.
Dumbledore leaned forward, concern in his eyes, and asked, "Sirius, what did you track down?"
Sirius's lips moved, and he spoke in a hoarse voice, "I followed Lucius Malfoy all the way to the woods. I didn't expect there to be someone else lying in wait... During my fight with Malfoy, the guy suddenly attacked me from behind and turned me into a squirrel..."
Dumbledore's eyes narrowed slightly.
Given Sirius's abilities, there weren't many who could sneak up on him from behind, and even fewer who could transform him and keep him from changing back for an entire night.
"Did you see who that person was?" Dumbledore asked.
Sirius was silent for a moment, then nodded slowly, his gaze distant with the weight of memory.
"I ran away immediately, but I returned later... I saw someone come out of the woods... I recognized his face, and I saw him turn two Veela into monsters, but..."
Sirius paused, pouring himself a full glass of wine. After taking a large gulp, he wiped the liquor from his mouth and continued:
"Barty Crouch Jr. I remember how he was taken to Azkaban... the Dementors dragged him past my cell, and he looked no more than nineteen years old..."
Dumbledore's brow furrowed slowly, and Wade turned to look at Sirius.
"The boy was terrified, crying and screaming, shaking all over... He never admitted to being a Death Eater, constantly calling for help, and screaming for his mother in the middle of the night... But a few days later, he fell silent..."
Sirius paused again before continuing, "A year later, he died... They said he died, and I saw the Dementors drag his body out and bury it outside the fortress..."
"I used to think that maybe the boy was innocent, that he was just in the wrong place at the wrong time..."
Sirius raised his eyes to meet Dumbledore's, "But I was wrong, Dumbledore... You should have seen his face then, the genuine pleasure he took in the suffering and death of others..."
"Barty Crouch Jr. was undoubtedly a complete Death Eater!"
"I spoke with Barty Crouch Sr.", Dumbledore said. "The conversation was not pleasant, but in the end, he was willing to confess that he did make some mistakes... At his wife's request, Barty helped his ailing wife and son switch places in secret."
Knowing the truth of the past didn't help the current situation. After Barty Jr. drove the Veela into a frenzy, Sirius, even in his Animagus form as a squirrel, rushed into the tent to try and save the victims. Not only did he nearly get torn apart by the Veela, but he also lost track of Barty's whereabouts.
Dumbledore didn't blame Sirius for his rash actions. When Sirius apologized, troubled, Dumbledore simply asked, "Sirius, tell me, what were you thinking when you saw those people trapped?"
"I... I didn't think, Dumbledore. I just reacted instinctively and rushed in..."
Dumbledore nodded. "Sometimes, the right choice comes from our instincts. I'm glad you didn't ignore the lives at stake to chase after the enemy."
He smiled. "What could be wrong with wanting to protect the innocent?"
...
Sirius left with renewed determination and a weary body. Dumbledore turned to Wade and said, "Wade, I noticed your expression changed earlier. Is there something you want to tell me?"
Wade's gaze shifted over Dumbledore's features, noting that the headmaster's eyes remained unchanged, seemingly unaffected by Grindelwald's words. He rubbed his nose and said:
"Tonight, I also encountered Barty Crouch Jr. ..."
(End of Chapter)
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