Amelia Bones

Chapter 1: The Dark Lord

The wind howled through the Hogwarts grounds. Narcissa Black gaped at the sight of her beloved sisters dueling amongst themselves. They were so happy, thought Narcissa.

“Can we not watch your stupid sisters stupidly battle? We have better things to do,” commented Lucy. Lucy was what the three Black sisters called Lucius Malfoy because he was quite possibly the biggest moron in the world.

“No one’s forcing you to stay, Lucy.” sneered Narcissa, not even taking her eyes off her dueling sisters.

As Lucius struggled for a comeback, Narcissa heard her sister, Bellatrix Black yell at her, “Put your wand in, Cissy!”

Stepping into the wide circle created by the watching Slytherins, Narcissa shoved her wand into the string of light that connected her sisters’ wands.

BOOM! A stream of fireworks erupted from their wands.

“See this, you Mudbloods,” shouted Rodolphus Lestrange, a Slytherin in the same year as Bellatrix said at a group of Hufflepuffs nearby, “this is proof that purebloods really are superior.”

“Shut it Lestrange,” snapped Andromeda Black, not paying attention to the idiotic Slytherin.

“I foresee…” started Sybill Trelawney, “I foresee—”

But she was quickly hit by three well-aimed stunning spells from the Black sisters.

It was at this moment that Minerva McGonagall chose to intervene. She had been watching with a lot of interest for quite some time. “What is going on here?!” she screamed, acting as if she had just entered the scene. “Albus! Come quick!”

After what seemed like ten hours of relentless shouting, Albus Dumbledore decided he’d like to grace the audience with an appearance.

But, as busy as always with chocolate frogs, he took one quick glance at the scene and hurtled away. Professor McGonagall sighed; she was used to these kinds of antics from the eccentric headmaster. After scolding the three Black sisters, all of whom looked as if they really didn’t care at all, about hitting Sybill Trelawny with stunning spells, she let them go with only 20 points taken from Slytherin. This was because privately, Professor McGonagall hated Trelawney as she thought that Trelawney was the biggest fraud ever.

“Practice for Hogwarts Gobstones Team after lunch!” shouted a random Ravenclaw.

~~~-~~~

Noise of cutlery, chattering, and munching from the Great Hall was heard all the way in a Slytherin dormitory. However, with a few well done silencing spells, the noise was not heard in the Slytherin common room where there was a very important meeting. Only select Slytherins were present, Bellatrix and Narcissa being two of those present. Andromeda Black had mysteriously been taken ill the day before the meeting and was not there.

There was one incredibly obnoxious woman who shouted, “I heard that people are going on a treasure hunt to find the Chamber of Secrets!”

The old scrawny man in the center with a gigantic reticulated python around his neck immediately seemed agitated. “You may leave,” he said to the obnoxious woman.

Her expression grew solemn and then scared. She left the room within a moment.

“Now, Slytherins, we are gathered here because you are the only house capable of joining a very… special cause…” said the man in the center quietly.

The Slytherins listened with rapt attention, hanging on to the man’s every word. The man, despite appearances, was the powerful and renowned “Lord Voldemort”. The Dark Lord Voldemort, Tom Riddle, was a powerful dark wizard who had been slowly gaining power over the past few years. He was the epitome of all things Slytherin, and the group that was meeting in the common room had heard many things about this new leader.

“As you know, we must get rid of all mudbloods. They are impure.”

The room erupted into shouts of agreement.

“SILENCE!” the Dark Lord yelled. “If you should be this chaotic and unruly, then I suggest you leave right away, like that insolent little brat who decided to ‘hold a search party’ for the renowned Chamber of Secrets. I shall make this very clear for those who need explanation; the Chamber of Secrets shall be reopened, but it is not for your generation. Now, I will say your names one by one. If you shall join me, say yes,” he said, taking out a list of names.

“Evan Rosier?”

“Yes.”

“Wilkes?”

“Yes.”

“Mulciber?”

“Yes.”

“Rodolphus Lestrange?”

“Wholeheartedly!”

Voldemort’s face grew grim. “I told you to say yes, and not anything else. If you should join me, you will follow my exact instructions. If not, you will suffer the immense consequences.” The enormous serpent hissed at Rodolphus, and he shrank back. “Now, Rabastan Lestrange?”

“Yes.”

“Andromeda Black?”

“My sister is ill and will not be able to attend the meeting, my Lord.” said Bellatrix. Voldemort gave a quick nod in understanding and continued reading off the names.

“Bellatrix Black?”

“Yes,” Bellatrix replied, her voice filled with undisguised awe and admiration.

“Regulus Black?” Everyone turned to the cowering young man in the far back of the room. “Ye… Yes…”

“Very well. Narcissa Black?”

“N…”

“Sorry?”

“No.”

~~~-~~~

“Frank and Alice, sitting in a tree. K-I-S-S-I-N-G.”

“Oh shut up, Sirius,” said Frank Longbottom to Sirius Black, a rebel a year senior of him.

“Yeah Sirius. Don’t you have better things to do, like transform into a big black dog?” teased Alice.

Sirius’s face grew pale. “W-what do you-what do you mean?”

“You think I haven’t noticed? How whenever you disappear, that big dog comes along? Must be your Anima—”

Alice was cut short, much to Sirius’s relief, because Professor Filius Flitwick walked into the Great Hall in a great hurry.

“Alright, everyone, I am terribly sorry, but will the house prefects please lead their house to their respective dormitories?”

The hall shouted and screamed in concern and panic.

“As your professor,” Flitwick continued, “I am compelled to tell you the reason. We suspect that the You-know-who is in the school premises.”

While the prefects led the entire school to their dormitories, Narcissa dragged Andromeda to the back of the school, who had recovered from her illness just a few minutes after the meeting with the Dark Lord had ended.

When they were about a mile away from Hagrid’s hut, Narcissa shouted, “Dromeda! I saw you talking to that Muggle-born, Ted Tonks… affectionately! What is wrong with you?”

“What is wrong with you?! Can you please mind your own business?!”

“You realize that we are pureblood, don’t you? We’re not supposed to be mixing with Muggles, Muggle-borns, Squibs or even half-bloods!”

Before the argument could go on any further, Bellatrix, Lucius and Rodolphus came out of nowhere.

Bellatrix spoke first, “ Cissy, why—”

But she didn’t complete it, because of Andromeda randomly staring at her like she was a maniac—and she was one.

“Dromeda, why are you here?”

“Why don’t you ask Narcissa? She’s the one who dragged me here.”

“Is that right, Cissy? Well you’re not supposed to be here. There are dangerous creatures here… like that porlock.” She pointed to a tiny, shaggy horse-like creature hiding in the bushes of the Dark Forest.

“How could you call that little guy dangerous?!”

The porlock disappeared into the shadows of the forest.

Previous Chapters:

Chapter 1: https://harrypotter.fandom.com/f/p/4400000000003622070

Chapter 2: https://harrypotter.fandom.com/f/p/4400000000003623371

Chapter 3: https://harrypotter.fandom.com/f/p/4400000000003624429

Chapter 4: https://harrypotter.fandom.com/f/p/4400000000003627163

Chapter 5: https://harrypotter.fandom.com/f/p/4400000000003627566

Chapter 6: https://harrypotter.fandom.com/f/p/4400000000003628099

Chapter 7: https://harrypotter.fandom.com/f/p/4400000000003629240

Tags: @Bellatrisblack @CatsAndRoblox @Heli aesthetics

Chapter Eight: The Hearing

Harry gasped; he could not help himself. The large dungeon he had entered was horribly familiar. He had not only seen it before, he had been here before: This was the place he had visited inside Dumbledore’s Pensieve, the place where he had watched the Lestranges sentenced to life imprisonment in Azkaban.

The walls were made of dark stone, dimly lit by torches. Empty benches rose on either side of him, but ahead, in the highest benches of all, were many shadowy figures. They had been talking in low voices, but as the heavy door swung closed behind Harry an ominous silence fell.

A cold male voice rang across the courtroom.

'You’re late.'

'Sorry,' said Harry nervously. 'I-I didn’t know the time had changed.'

'That is not the Wizengamot’s fault,' said the voice. 'An owl was sent to you this morning. Take your seat.'

Harry dropped his gaze to the chair in the center of the room, the arms of which were covered in chains. He had seen those chains spring to life and bind whoever sat between them. His footsteps echoed loudly as he walked across the stone floor. When he sat gingerly on the edge of the chair the chains clinked rather threateningly but did not bind him. Feeling rather sick he looked up at the people seated at the bench above.

There were about fifty of them, all, as far as he could see, wearing plum-colored robes with an elaborately worked silver W on the left-hand side of the chest and all staring down their noses at him, some with very austere expressions, others looks of frank curiosity.

In the very middle of the front row sat Cornelius Fudge, the Minister of Magic. Fudge was a portly man who often sported a lime-green bowler hat, though today he had dispensed with it; he had dispensed too with the indulgent smile he had once worn when he spoke to Harry. Amelia Bones, a square-jawed witch with very short gray hair sat on Fudge’s left; she wore a monocle and looked more forbidding than Harry remembered from his childhood. On Fudge’s right was another witch, but she was sitting so far back on the bench that her face was in shadow.

'Very well,' said Fudge. 'The accused being present—finally—let us begin. Are you ready?' he called down the row.

'Yes, sir,' said an eager voice Harry knew. Ron’s brother Percy was sitting at the very end of the front bench. Harry looked at Percy, expecting some sign of recognition from him, but none came. Percy’s eyes, behind his horn-rimmed glasses, were fixed on his parchment, a quill poised in his hand.

'Disciplinary hearing of the twelfth of August,' said Fudge in a ringing voice, and Percy began taking notes at once, 'into offenses committed under the Decree for the Reasonable Restriction of Underage Sorcery and the International Statute of Secrecy by Harry James Potter, temporary resident at number four, Privet Drive, Little Whinging, Surrey.

'Interrogators: Cornelius Oswald Fudge, Minister of Magic; Amelia Susan Bones, Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement; Dolores Jane Umbridge, Senior Undersecretary to the Minister. Court Scribe, Percy Ignatius Weasley—'

'—Witness for the defense, Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore,' said a quiet voice from behind Harry, who turned his head so fast he cricked his neck.

Dumbledore was striding serenely across the room wearing long midnight-blue robes, a matching handbag, and a perfectly calm expression. His long silver beard and hair gleamed in the torchlight as he drew level with Harry and looked up at Fudge through the half-moon spectacles that rested halfway down his very crooked nose.

The members of the Wizengamot were muttering. All eyes were now on Dumbledore. Some looked annoyed, others slightly frightened; two elderly witches in the back row, however, raised their hands and waved in welcome.

A powerful emotion had risen in Harry’s chest at the sight of Dumbledore, a fortified, hopeful feeling rather like that which phoenix song gave him. He wanted to catch Dumbledore’s eye, but Dumbledore was not looking his way; he was continuing to look up at the obviously flustered Fudge.

'Ah,' said Fudge, who looked thoroughly disconcerted. 'Dumbledore. Yes. You—er—got our—er—message that the time and—er—place of the hearing had been changed, then?'

'I must have missed it,' said Dumbledore cheerfully. 'However, due to a lucky mistake I arrived at the Ministry three hours early, so no harm done.'

'Yes—well—I suppose we’ll need another chair—I—Weasley, could you—?'

'Not to worry, not to worry,' said Dumbledore pleasantly; he took out his wand, gave it a little flick, and a squashy chintz armchair flung from his handbag and landed next to Harry. Dumbledore sat down, put the tips of his long fingers together, and looked at Fudge over them with an expression of polite interest. The Wizengamot was still muttering and fidgeting restlessly; only when Fudge spoke again did they settle down.

'Yes,' said Fudge again, shuffling his notes. 'Well, then. So. The charges. Yes.'

He extricated a piece of parchment from the pile before him, took a deep breath, and read, 'The charges against the accused are as follows: That he did knowingly, deliberately, and in full awareness of the illegality of his actions, having received a previous written warning from the Ministry of Magic on a similar charge, produce a Patronus Charm in a Muggle-inhabited area, in the presence of a Muggle, on August the second at twenty-three minutes past nine, which constitutes an offense under paragraph C of the Decree for the Reasonable Restriction of Underage Sorcery, 1875, and also under section thirteen of the International Confederation of Wizards’ Statute of Secrecy.’

'You are Harry James Potter, who in the summer months are of number four, Privet Drive, Little Whinging, Surrey?' Fudge said, glaring at Harry over the top of his parchment.

'Yes,' Harry said.

'You received an official warning from the Ministry for using illegal magic two years ago, did you not?'

'Yes, but—'

'And yet you conjured a Patronus on the night of the second of August?' said Fudge.

'Yes,' said Harry, 'but—'

'Knowing that you are not permitted to use magic outside school while you are under the age of seventeen?'

'Yes, but—'

'Knowing that you were in an area full of Muggles?'

'Yes, but—'

'Fully aware that you were in close proximity to a Muggle at the time?'

'Yes,' said Harry angrily, 'but I only used it because we were—'

Amelia Bones cut across him in a booming voice, 'You produced a fully fledged Patronus?'

'Yes,' said Harry, 'because—'

'A corporeal Patronus?'

'A—what?' said Harry.

'Your Patronus had a clearly defined form? I mean to say, it was more than vapor or smoke?'

'Yes,' said Harry, feeling both impatient and slightly desperate, 'it’s a stag, it’s always a stag.'

'Always?' boomed Madam Bones. 'You have produced a Patronus before now?'

'Yes,' said Harry, 'I’ve been doing it for over a year—'

'And you are fifteen years old?'

'Yes, and—'

'You learned this at school?'

'Yes, my fath-er-my Defense teacher, Professor Lupin taught me in my third year, because of the—'

'Impressive,' said Madam Bones, staring down at him, 'a true Patronus at that age...very impressive indeed.'

Some of the wizards and witches around her were muttering again; a few nodded, but others were frowning and shaking their heads.

'It’s not a question of how impressive the magic was,' said Fudge in a testy voice. 'In fact, the more impressive the worse it is, I would have thought, given that the boy did it in plain view of a Muggle!'

Those who had been frowning now murmured in agreement, but it was the sight of Percy’s sanctimonious little nod that goaded Harry into speech.

'I did it because of the dementors!' he said loudly, before anyone could interrupt him again.

He had expected more muttering, but the silence that fell seemed to be somehow denser than before.

'Dementors?' said Madam Bones after a moment, raising her thick eyebrows so that her monocle looked in danger of falling out. 'What do you mean, boy?'

'I mean there were two dementors down that alleyway and they went for me and my cousin!'

'Ah,' said Fudge again, smirking unpleasantly as he looked around at the Wizengamot, as though inviting them to share the joke. 'Yes. Yes, I thought we’d be hearing something like this.'

'Dementors in Little Whinging?' Madam Bones said in tones of great surprise. 'I don’t understand—'

'Don’t you, Amelia?' said Fudge, still smirking. 'Let me explain. He’s been thinking it through and decided dementors would make a very nice little cover story, very nice indeed. Muggles can’t see dementors, can they, boy? Highly convenient, highly convenient...so it’s just your word and no witnesses...'

'I’m not lying!' said Harry loudly, over another outbreak of muttering from the court. 'There were two of them, coming from opposite ends of the alley, everything went dark and cold and my cousin felt them and ran for it—'

'Enough, enough!' said Fudge with a very supercilious look on his face. 'I’m sorry to interrupt what I’m sure would have been a very well-rehearsed story—'

Dumbledore cleared his throat. The Wizengamot fell silent again.

'We do, in fact, have a witness to the presence of dementors in that alleyway,' he said, 'other than Dudley Dursley, I mean.'

Fudge’s plump face seemed to slacken, as though somebody had let air out of it. He stared down at Dumbledore for a moment or two, then, with the appearance of a man pulling himself back together, said, 'We haven’t got time to listen to more taradiddles, I’m afraid, Dumbledore. I want this dealt with quickly—'

'I may be wrong,' said Dumbledore pleasantly, 'but I am sure that under the Wizengamot Charter of Rights, the accused has the right to present witnesses for his or her case? Isn’t that the policy of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement, Madam Bones?' he continued, addressing Susan's aunt.

'True,' said Madam Bones. 'Perfectly true.'

'Oh, very well, very well,' snapped Fudge. 'Where is this person?'

'I brought her with me,' said Dumbledore. 'She’s just outside the door. Should I—?'

'No—Weasley, you go,' Fudge barked at Percy, who got up at once, hurried down the stone steps from the judge’s balcony, and hastened past Dumbledore and Harry without glancing at them.

A moment later, Percy returned, followed by Mrs Figg. She looked scared and more batty than ever. Harry wished she had thought to change out of her carpet slippers.

Dumbledore stood up and gave Mrs Figg his chair, then pulled a second one from his handbag for himself.

'Full name?' said Fudge loudly, when Mrs Figg had perched herself nervously on the very edge of her seat.

'Arabella Doreen Figg,' said Mrs Figg in a quivering voice.

'And who exactly are you?' said Fudge, in a bored and lofty voice. 'I’m a resident of Little Whinging, close to where Harry Potter lives in the summer,' said Mrs Figg.

'We have no record of any witch or wizard living in Little Whinging other than Harry Potter,' said Madam Bones at once. 'That situation has always been closely monitored, given...given past events.'

'I’m a Squib,' said Mrs Figg. 'So you wouldn’t have me registered, would you?'

'A Squib, eh?' said Fudge, eyeing her suspiciously. 'We’ll be checking that. You’ll leave details of your parentage with my assistant, Weasley. Incidentally, can Squibs see dementors?' he added, looking left and right along the bench where he sat.

'Yes, we can!' said Mrs Figg indignantly.

Fudge looked back down at her, his eyebrows raised. 'Very well,' he said coolly. 'What is your story?'

'I had gone out to buy cat food from the corner shop at the end of Wisteria Walk, shortly after nine on the evening of the second of August,' gabbled Mrs Figg at once, as though she had learned what she was saying by heart, 'when I heard a disturbance down the alleyway between Magnolia Crescent and Wisteria Walk. On approaching the mouth of the alleyway I saw dementors running—'

'Running?' said Madam Bones sharply. 'Dementors don’t run, they glide.'

'That’s what I meant to say,' said Mrs Figg quickly, patches of pink appearing in her withered cheeks. 'Gliding along the alley toward what looked like two boys.'

'What did they look like?' said Madam Bones, narrowing her eyes so that the monocle’s edges disappeared into her flesh.

'Well, one was very large and the other one rather skinny—'

'No, no,' said Madam Bones impatiently, 'the dementors...describe them.'

'Oh,' said Mrs Figg, the pink flush creeping up her neck now. 'They were big. Big and wearing cloaks.'

Harry felt a horrible sinking in the pit of his stomach. Whatever Mrs Figg said to the contrary, it sounded to him as though the most she had ever seen was a picture of a dementor, and a picture could never convey the truth of what these beings were like: the eerie way they moved, hovering inches over the ground, or the rotting smell of them, or that terrible, rattling noise they made as they sucked on the surrounding air...A dumpy wizard with a large black mustache in the second row leaned close to his neighbor, a frizzy-haired witch, and whispered something in her ear. She smirked and nodded.

'Big and wearing cloaks,' repeated Madam Bones coolly, while Fudge snorted derisively. 'I see. Anything else?'

'Yes,' said Mrs Figg. 'I felt them. Everything went cold, and this was a very warm summer’s night, mark you. And I felt...as though all happiness had gone from the world...and I remembered...dreadful things...'

Her voice shook and died.

Madam Bones’ eyes widened slightly. Harry could see red marks under her eyebrow where the monocle had dug into it.

'What did the dementors do?' she asked, and Harry felt a rush of hope.

'They went for the boys,' said Mrs Figg, her voice stronger and more confident now, the pink flush ebbing away from her face. 'One of them had fallen. The other was backing away, trying to repel the dementor. That was Harry. He tried twice and produced silver vapor. On the third attempt, he produced a Patronus, which charged down the first dementor and then, with his encouragement, chased away the second from his cousin. And that...that was what happened,' Mrs Figg finished, somewhat lamely.

Madam Bones looked down at Mrs Figg in silence, Harry almost swore he saw her smile slightly; Fudge was not looking at her at all, but fidgeting with his papers. Finally he raised his eyes and said, rather aggressively 'That’s what you saw, is it?'

'That was what happened,' Mrs Figg repeated.

'Very well,' said Fudge. 'You may go.'

Mrs Figg cast a frightened look from Fudge to Dumbledore, then got up and shuffled off toward the door again. Harry heard it thud shut behind her.

'Not a very convincing witness,' said Fudge loftily.

'Oh, I don’t know,' said Madam Bones in her booming voice. 'She certainly described the effects of a dementor attack very accurately. And I can’t imagine why she would say they were there if they weren’t—'

'But dementors wandering into a Muggle suburb and just happening to come across a wizard?' snorted Fudge. 'The odds on that must be very, very long, even Bagman wouldn’t have bet—'

'Oh, I don’t think any of us believe the dementors were there by coincidence,' said Dumbledore lightly.

The witch sitting to the right of Fudge with her face in shadow moved slightly, but everyone else was quite still and silent.

'And what is that supposed to mean?' asked Fudge icily.

'It means that I think they were ordered there,' said Dumbledore.

'I think we might have a record of it if someone had ordered a pair of dementors to go strolling through Little Whinging!' barked Fudge.

'Not if the dementors are taking orders from someone other than the Ministry of Magic these days,' said Dumbledore calmly. 'I have already given you my views on this matter, Cornelius.'

'Yes, you have,' said Fudge forcefully, 'and I have no reason to believe that your views are anything other than bilge, Dumbledore. The dementors remain in place in Azkaban and are doing everything we ask them to.'

'Then,' said Dumbledore, quietly but clearly, 'we must ask ourselves why somebody within the Ministry ordered a pair of dementors into that alleyway on the second of August.'

In the complete silence that greeted these words, the witch to the right of Fudge leaned forward so that Harry saw her for the first time. He thought she looked just like a large, pale toad. She was rather squat with a broad, flabby face, as little neck as Uncle Vernon, and a very wide, slack mouth. Her eyes were large, round, and slightly bulging. Even the little black velvet bow perched on top of her short curly hair put him in mind of a large fly she was about to catch on a long sticky tongue.

'The Chair recognizes Dolores Jane Umbridge, Senior Undersecretary to the Minister,' said Fudge.

The witch spoke in a fluttery, girlish, high-pitched voice that took Harry aback; he had been expecting a croak.

'I’m sure I must have misunderstood you, Professor Dumbledore,' she said with a simper that left her big, round eyes as cold as ever. 'So silly of me. But it sounded for a teensy moment as though you were suggesting that the Ministry of Magic had ordered an attack on this boy!'

She gave a silvery laugh that made the hairs on the back of Harry’s neck stand up. A few other members of the Wizengamot laughed with her. It could not have been plainer that not one of them was really amused.

'If it is true that the dementors are taking orders only from the Ministry of Magic, and it is also true that two dementors attacked Harry and his cousin ten days ago, then it follows logically that somebody at the Ministry might have ordered the attacks,' said Dumbledore politely. 'Of course, these particular dementors may have been outside Ministry control—'

'There are no dementors outside Ministry control!' snapped Fudge, who had turned brick red.

Dumbledore inclined his head in a little bow.

'Then undoubtedly the Ministry will be making a full inquiry into why two dementors were so very far from Azkaban and why they attacked without authorization.'

'It is not for you to decide what the Ministry of Magic does or does not do, Dumbledore!' snapped Fudge, now a shade of magenta of which Uncle Vernon would have been proud.

'Of course it isn’t,' said Dumbledore mildly. 'I was merely expressing my confidence that this matter will not go uninvestigated.'

He glanced at Madam Bones, who readjusted her monocle and stared back at him, frowning slightly.

'I would remind everybody that the behavior of these dementors, if indeed they are not figments of this boy’s imagination, is not the subject of this hearing!' said Fudge. 'We are here to examine Harry Potter’s offenses under the Decree for the Reasonable Restriction of Underage Sorcery!'

'Of course we are,' said Dumbledore, 'but the presence of dementors in that alleyway is highly relevant. Clause seven of the Decree states that magic may be used before Muggles in exceptional circumstances, and as those exceptional circumstances include situations that threaten the life of the wizard or witch himself, or witches, wizards, or Muggles present at the time of the—'

'We are familiar with clause seven, thank you very much!' snarled Fudge.

'Of course you are,' said Dumbledore courteously. 'Then we are in agreement that Harry’s use of the Patronus Charm in these circumstances falls precisely into the category of exceptional circumstances it describes?'

'If there were dementors, which I doubt—'

'You have heard from an eyewitness,' Dumbledore interrupted. 'If you still doubt her truthfulness, call her back, question her again. I am sure she would not object.'

'I—that—not—' blustered Fudge, fiddling with the papers before him. 'It’s—I want this over with today, Dumbledore!'

'But naturally, you would not care how many times you heard from a witness, if the alternative was a serious miscarriage of justice,' said Dumbledore.

'Serious miscarriage, my hat!' said Fudge at the top of his voice. 'Have you ever bothered to tot up the number of cock-and-bull stories this boy has come out with, Dumbledore, while trying to cover up his flagrant misuse of magic out of school? I suppose you’ve forgotten the Inflating Charm he used two years ago—'

'It was an accident, I didn't even use my wand!' said Harry.

'YOU SEE?' roared Fudge, gesturing flamboyantly in Harry’s direction. 'Excuses! A thirteen year old wizard shouldn't be able to cast wandless, silent magic—'

'But he did, and you very kindly did not press charges on that occasion, accepting, I presume, that even the best wizards cannot always control their emotions,' said Dumbledore. 'You can not use an incident the Ministry has already delt with as evidence against Harry's current actions.'

Fudge was beginning to panic, attempted to scrub the ink off his notes.

'And I haven’t even started on what he gets up to at school—'

'—but as the Ministry has no authority to punish Hogwarts students for misdemeanors at school, Harry’s behavior there is not relevant to this inquiry,' said Dumbledore, politely as ever, but now with a suggestion of coolness behind his words.

'Oho!' said Fudge. 'Not our business what he does at school, eh? You think so?'

'The Ministry does not have the power to expel Hogwarts students, Cornelius, as I reminded you on the night of the second of August,' said Dumbledore. 'Nor does it have the right to confiscate wands until charges have been successfully proven, again, as I reminded you on the night of the second of August. In your admirable haste to ensure that the law is upheld, you appear, inadvertently I am sure, to have overlooked a few laws yourself.'

'Laws can be changed,' said Fudge savagely.

'Of course they can,' said Dumbledore, inclining his head. 'And you certainly seem to be making many changes, Cornelius. Why, in the few short weeks since I was asked to leave the Wizengamot, it has already become the practice to hold a full criminal trial to deal with a simple matter of underage magic!'

A few of the wizards above them shifted uncomfortably in their seats. Fudge turned a slightly deeper shade of puce. The toadlike witch on his right, however, merely gazed at Dumbledore, her face quite expressionless.

'As far as I am aware, however,' Dumbledore continued, 'there is no law yet in place that says this court’s job is to punish Harry for every bit of magic he has ever performed. He has been charged with a specific offense and he has presented his defense. All he and I can do now is to await your verdict.'

Dumbledore put his fingertips together again and said no more. Fudge glared at him, evidently incensed. Harry glanced sideways at Dumbledore, seeking reassurance; he was not at all sure that Dumbledore was right in telling the Wizengamot, in effect, that it was about time they made a decision. Again, however, Dumbledore seemed oblivious to Harry’s attempt to catch his eye. He continued to look up at the benches where the entire Wizengamot had fallen into urgent, whispered conversations.

Harry looked at his feet. His heart, which seemed to have swollen to an unnatural size, was thumping loudly under his ribs. He had expected the hearing to last longer than this. He was not at all sure that he had made a good impression. He had not really said very much. He ought to have explained more fully about the dementors, about how he had fallen over, about how both he and Dudley had nearly been kissed...

Twice he looked up at Fudge and opened his mouth to speak, but his swollen heart was now constricting his air passages and both times he merely took a deep breath and looked back at his shoes.

Then the whispering stopped. Harry wanted to look up at the judges, but found that it was really much, much easier to keep examining his laces.

'Those in favor of clearing the accused of all charges?' said Madam Bones’ booming voice.

Harry’s head jerked upward. There were hands in the air, many of them...more than half! Madam Bones had also raised her hand, which Harry was grateful for. Breathing very fast, he tried to count, but before he could finish Madam Bones had said, 'And those in favor of conviction?'

Fudge raised his hand; so did half a dozen others, including the witch on his right and the heavily mustached wizard and the frizzy-haired witch in the second row.

Fudge glanced around at them all, looking as though there was something large stuck in his throat, then lowered his own hand. He took two deep breaths and then said, in a voice distorted by suppressed rage, 'Very well, very well...cleared of all charges.'

'Excellent,' said Dumbledore briskly, springing to his feet, pulling out his wand, and causing the two chintz armchairs to vanish into his handbag. 'Well, I must be getting along. Good day to you all.'

And without looking once at Harry, he swept from the dungeon.

Previous Chapters:

Chapter 1: https://harrypotter.fandom.com/f/p/4400000000003511265

Chapter 2: https://harrypotter.fandom.com/f/p/4400000000003514336

Chapter 3: https://harrypotter.fandom.com/f/p/4400000000003520568

Chapter 4: https://harrypotter.fandom.com/f/p/4400000000003526224

Chapter 5: https://harrypotter.fandom.com/f/p/4400000000003532106

Tags: @MeowTasticCat @IMPERIAL TRANSMISSIONS @HxnyFlxwers @HRRYPTTERFN234 @Brystal Granger @Widelymisunderstood @Stxrryskiesxx @TsundereGrl @William Perks @Madiblox @Girlyball @RoséChaeRosé @LiviaBlackthorn.47 @LePotateofOh @V from bts

(Yes when I don't have names I often write a characteristic of the character I am trying create and put it in google translate, translate it to latin and see if it sounds Harry Potterish. I did this with Canini in the first book, but she had double meaning as she is of Italian decent and I thought it fitting to give her a name from the oldest language in that region.)

Warning: This is a long one and it is filled with angst, you have been warned.

Chapter 6: The Six Weeks of Tragedy

Over the next week there was very little change in Remus and Sirius’ relationship then before Christmas night. They still had the same routine, they worked, they played with Harry and taught him skills, and cooked and ate supper together, the only difference was now they also started doing newly couple things. They talked about how they felt for one another, they started holding hands when next to one another, and now kissed on occasion however it was still new so the more physical stuff was currently at a minimum.

January fourth Remus came home to a distraught and nervous Sirius, who was clearly waiting for him. Remus puts his work briefcase down.

‘What’s wrong, what has happened?’

‘I don’t want you to worry, but I have been fired.’

‘What, what happened. Why would they fire you?’

‘They told me it was due to lack of sales, but I think had to due with my darkened mood for the first couple months I was working. I never said anything impolite or sarcastic, but I hardly ever smiled or looked happy either and I think that made customers uncomfortable.’

‘That’s hardly fair though, you should go and explain to them that you are better now and need to be able to support Harry. I can afford our food and rent, but not the nanny and part of the custody agreement was you having a job.’

‘Remus, I think it’s ok, I told you not to worry because back in November I applied to several stores and I was accepted to a few. I chose to work at the broom shop, but I talked with Flourish and Blotts Bookseller and they said there offer still stands and that after some training I can start in a couple days. See, it’s going to be ok, that and Flourish pays its employees well, in a few years we could afford a house, maybe even a nice vacation every so often.’

‘A vacation does sound nice, ok, then tonight we should celebrate your new job. After supper me, you, and Harry are going out for ice cream.’

Remus kisses Sirius on the cheek, blushing Sirius replied, ‘Can’t wait.’

The night before his new job Sirius had a hard time sleeping so he barely managed to keep his eyes open the whole day, but he was wide awake when he opened there flats door.

‘Bloody "religious location"! What happened?’

There was stuff thrown everywhere, the smaller furniture was all broken, and he could hear sobbing. He carefully walked to Remus’ room and found the man in emotional agony.

‘What the bloody "religious location" is going on Remus, what have you done to our flat?’

‘He’s dead, she killed him!’

‘What do you mean he’s dead, your father?’

‘No it’s not my father, if you paid attention at all these past few months you’d know we aren’t on speaking terms. No, it’s the man who saved me and my parents life, the man who’s the bloody reason I’m not a registered werewolf, the man who’s made it possible for me to be an auror in the first place. Vincent MacBones has been murdered and it is my fault!’

After learning Remus got Sarah to babysit Harry away from the flat, Sirius have Remus the time to calm down and after a quick mending the two men where sitting at the dinner table. Sirius did not wish to upset his new romantic partner but they had to talk.

‘Do you want to tell me what happened?’

‘Yesterday, while I was locked up here, Vincent went out on a field mission. He hardly does anymore because of how old he is, but I was out so I guess they were down a man. They managed to find the whereabouts of one of You-Know-Who’s deadliest followers, Ronna Trooner. They caught her, but not before Trooner cast the killing curse at Vincent. If I had only been there he might be dead.’

‘But it sounds like if you had you would have taken his place, Remus you are alive because of him.’

‘But he shouldn’t have died, he shouldn’t have even been on the force, he’s only an auror because of me.’

‘What are you talking about, he’s been an auror for decades. You mentioned that he saved your life and is the reason you are employed, what was that about?’

‘That night, when I was four, it was him who came to my family’s rescue and forced Greyback away. He knew I was bitten, but he wrote up the attack as one of a Manticore and that it happened the following night, it might have been because he knew my dad, or because he was an unregistered animagus, but he lied and kept me off the werewolf registry.’

‘What animal was he?’

‘He was an Eurasian eagle-owl, that’s how he got down from his office to your trial so fast, no one really questions the occasional owl flying around. Anyway he retired to a desk job not long after, but went back on active duty when he saw I was accepted for auror training. He was my personal trainer and didn’t report my absences on full moons, he’s the one who suggested taking a nomadic position so it would be harder for them to track my transformations, and he became my reporting officer. If I hadn’t became an auror he’d still be safe at a desk or even fully retired right now, but instead he is dead.’

‘Again, Remus I am so sorry, I had no idea he was such a big part of your life. However his death isn’t your fault, you had no control over becoming a werewolf, and you didn’t ask him to take all those risks. It’s not your fault.’

They sat in silence for a long time, Remus’ head still down. After what seemed like hours but was only a couple minutes, Remus spoke.

‘You may go pick up Harry, but I think I need to be alone right now. I’ll be in my room.’

And indeed he went to his room where he remained.

On January ninth there was a full moon, so they asked Sarah to watch Harry at her place for the day again and Remus did not go to work. He had to chain himself up as Sirius would not be home from work in time and he couldn’t risk being fired again by leaving early. Remus transformed alone, and was in pain without anyone by his side for hours.

Sirius eventually came home with Harry, rushed him to his room and locked him there, and then transformed himself to try and calm his lover, he spent the entire night with him. It was always a risk to have Remus alone as if he got to agitated he could turn the damage he couldn’t cause to others onto himself.

The next morning, despite the pain, and the exhaustion, they both went into work.

Time passed, over the next month Remus continued to mourn and was a bit broken inside, however Sirius didn’t notice as Remus put up a facade of recovering. He didn’t want to upset Harry any further, nor Sirius, however deep down he was really hurting and really wanted Sirius to comfort him.

Because of his closed-offness there relationship remained vague, some affection here, a date there, but never changing. Neither fully noticed however due to there jobs. All the problems of the last six weeks came to a head when Remus was summoned during his shift to the Department of Magical Law Enforcement and was not so warmly greeted by Cecil Lee of the Werewolf Capture Unit, Negotium Perficitur of the Werewolf Registry, and Gethsemane Prickle of the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures.

‘Sit down Mr Lupin.’

His heart was racing out of his chest but he knew if he showed fear then it would be over. Before he could speak, Cecil Lee turned towards his fellow interrogators.

‘I don’t see why I am here, my job deals with known werewolves, currently Remus Lupin here is not documented.’

Ms Prickle answered his question.

‘Your job pertains to determining whether a werewolf in question, in human form, is safe to be in society, or if they are "too far gone". That will most likely be needed for this case.’

‘Why am I here today Ms Prickle.’

‘I think from those that are currently present it is quite obvious the reason you have been summoned. It has come to your new supervisor’s attention that you have missed a day of work this past month. After further investigation we believe you are a werewolf and are here to officially determine that. Now Mr Lupin-‘

Before she could continue, Amelia Bones, head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement, along with Canem Amans burst into the room.

‘Good day Lee, Ms Prickle, Mr Perficitur. Mr Lupin will not be subjected to any questions without Mr Amans beside him. I will also be standing in this interrogation.’

‘Who even is Mr Amans?’ Ms Prickle asked.

‘He is head of Werewolf Support Services and as a suspected werewolf Mr Lupin is entitled to his council.’

‘Very well, if there will be no further interruptions, Mr Perficitur, you may begin your questioning.’

‘Thank you. Mr Remus John Lupin, born March tenth, 1960, you officially have missed ten days over the last forty-three months however going deep into your records you have actually missed sixty-four days, almost all of those days being on or right next to a full moon. What is your petty excuse for that?’

‘Objection, please refrain from insulting my client.’

‘I still need an answer from his lips.’

‘I am sure you are all aware I am now raising a toddler, do you know how germy they can be, I get sick a lot.’

‘This was happening before you and Mr Black adopted the young Mr Potter.’

‘Yes, before we adopted him we were fighting against the dark lord, so that the blood bath can end, apologies for not coming in when we were preventing murders of innocent people.’

‘Now could you explain the large amount of claw-like scarring covering both your face and body.’

‘On records I was attacked by a wild Manticore as a child. The more recent scarring comes from my dangerous life as an auror.’

‘Funny, that a Manticore would attack you with its claws instead of its tail, like it is so well known to do. Also curious how this alleged attack happened the night after a full moon when the vicious Fenrir Greyback was spotted in that area, and that the now deceased Vincent MacBones was the one to save you who would later be both your mentor and boss. Sounds to me like he repeatedly covered for you.’

‘I have no comment, I was attacked by a Manticore, not a werewolf.’

‘Ms Prickle, he is not being very cooperative, might I suggest the use of Veritaserum or the Where-Wolf charm?’

Remus got mad at this, ‘Using Veritaserum on me is against my rights.’

‘As a werewolf you have very little of those.’

‘You have yet to prove that. Veritaserum is only permitted in criminal interrogations and trials, which this is not as I have committed no crimes.’

Canem Amans then spoke up.

‘And as Mr Lee well knows, the Where-Wolf charm can only be used on suspected werewolves in custody the day before or of a full moon to insure the safety of the other inmates. If you are not going to charge Mr Lupin with a crime, then you can not cast that spell.’

‘They are both correct, you may not use Veritaserum or the Where-Wolf charm on Mr Lupin as of yet,’ Ms Bones concluded.

Ms Prickle spoke up, ‘Then I guess our only option is to ask Mr Scrimgeour to fire you.’

‘Under what pretenses? As you have not proven anything today the Werewolf Restriction Law does not apply to me.’

‘That is true, that is why you are being fired for taking fifty-four paid undocumented sick days. We also have enough evidence to place “probable lycanthropy” on your permanent record.’

In shock, Remus turned to Amelia Bones, who nodded sadly.

‘They do have the right to fire you under those pretenses. I am sorry. However you could fight these charges or seek an appeal.’

Mr Perficitur smiled a nasty grin, ‘True, sadly the only available hearing day in the coming weeks is the eighth, tomorrow, which as I am sure you are aware is a full moon. Would you like that time slot Mr Lupin?’

Remus hung his head low, ‘No, I am busy that day.’

Ms Prickle then spoke, ‘Then I regret to inform you Mr Lupin, but you are hereby stripped of your title as auror and the privileges the job entails. You may take the day to collect your things but after that you are no longer permitted in the auror offices unless under civilian means. Your final check will be available in a week. Good day.’

Remus was in shock, he wasn’t sure if he could move. He just lost the job he had worked so hard for. Ms Bones lead him out.

‘I am so sorry Mr Lupin, when I heard that you would be interrogated today I tried my very best to turn the tides in your favour, but I couldn’t change the law or there verdict.’

In his immense anger he snapped at the head of Law Enforcement.

‘I’m sorry, but who are you to me, we have never met before so why intervene like that?’

Thankfully Amelia Bones did not take this as an insult.

‘We have more in common than you think Mr Lupin, you fought side by side with my brother Edgar Bones. My sister, Edgar, his wife and children were all murdered by deatheaters and I have been raising my niece Susan for the last six months. I know the hardships of the war and the raising of an orphan just as you do, I didn’t think it fair you be punished for something not in your control, especially when you risked so much every day to keep our world safe.’

‘I’m sorry, I didn’t realize you were Edgar’s sister. I do appreciate what you did, but I think I got to go now. There is a lot I have got to do.’

‘Fair enough. If you ever need anything let me know. Good day.’

And with that she was off, and so was Lupin. He went straight home and entered to Ms Baker feeding Harry lunch.

‘Mr Lupin, you are home early again, there hasn’t been another awful murder has there?’

‘No Ms Baker, but I sadly must dismiss you permanently today. We can no longer afford your services. I will pay you today’s full salary. I am so sorry for such short notice.’

She looked a bit emotional but put on a smile.

‘It’s ok Mr Lupin, you and Mr Black have been so kind, I wish you luck.’

‘I wish you luck as well, if you every need a job reference let me know.’

‘Thank you Sir.’

He paid her and she left. After finishing feeding Harry he put him next to his play tent and then got to work. He spent the rest of the afternoon crunching the numbers and calculating how much money him and Sirius had in total. He also was writing down job ideas for him to apply to. By the time Sirius arrived home, Remus had covered there entire dining room table in paper and was physically and emotionally exhausted.

‘Remus, why are you home, why is there paper everywhere?’

‘I was fired today, under suspicion of Lycanthropy, I am trying to figure out how long we can afford rent and food.’

‘Woah, woah, slow down. That’s terrible, and there was no warning?’

‘No, there was plenty of warning. There was the Werewolf Restriction Law passing in December, and Vincent, who was my main cover, dying last month. I told you this was coming and you didn’t believe me.’

Sirius didn’t respond, seemingly not knowing what to say that wouldn’t upset Remus.

‘How long do we have?’

‘Until we can no longer afford rent, three weeks.’

‘But I have a job, I already told you how good it pays.’

‘I was paid a little under double your current salary, just enough to pay your combined rent and buy essentially, once we started splitting the rent we both started saving our extra money, but your current payment isn’t enough, and the saving don’t compensate.’

‘Well what do we do? How do we get more money?’

‘I’ve already let Sarah Baker go, if I manage to get another job we’ll figure out who watches Harry then, I have started separating my essential items from ones I can sell, and I have compiled a list of jobs I am able to perform however I fear that I will not be excepted for any of them because of my new status.’

‘Remus, it’s going to be ok, not everyone in the wizarding world cares about whether your a werewolf or not, me James and Dumbledore didn’t, nor did your boss.’

‘But half of the people you mentioned are now dead. Sirius you aren’t taking this seriously. This is really important.’

Remus was now quite red in the face.

‘I know Remus, but please calm down, you don’t need to get upset.’

‘Get upset?! Get upset?! I have been upset for over a month now, Sirius!’

‘Wait, what do you mean?’

‘My entire life has been falling apart and you haven’t noticed at all, I have been drowning, but you have been so wrapped up in your own head to notice!’

This turned very quick into a very long and loud argument that went back and forth for over an hour. Both yelling each other’s fallacies and flaws at each other while proclaiming the other was right. It finally came to a head around eleven at night.

‘You are acting completely bloody insane Remus, for bloody sakes it was just a job.’

‘That job was the reason Harry isn’t living with his horrible aunt and uncle right now, I have been working my butt off while you go on little solo adventures every other weekend. We are supposed to split raising Harry and yet I feel as though I am doing this job more than you are.’

‘Well at least I have an actual job, unlike you now.’

‘That is so immature!’

‘I’m sorry that I don’t have quippy comebacks like you’ve been using all night. I have been dealing with the murder of my best friend slash brother and his wife.’

‘And you think that I haven’t! I have been helping you through your pain and trauma for months now, and I know it doesn’t just go away, but not once every have you asked how I’m doing with it, and after the law was signed you told me that it was fine, and after my mentor was bloody murdered you treated it as a sad thing and not a completely soul wrenching event. That is it, you are out!’

‘Excuse me?!’

‘You heard me perfectly well Sirius Black, get out!’

Sirius looked as he was about to explode, however he just turned on his heel and went to pick up Harry.

‘Oh no, you have absolutely no idea where you are going, I am not risking having Harry on the streets in the middle of the night.’

‘But tomorrow is a-‘

‘A blasted full moon, is aware, I will figure it out, now get lost!’

And so Sirius left and slammed the door behind him. Remus just wanted to keep screaming, but he didn’t have the energy. He deactivated the one way sound proofing he had cast so that Harry could not here them arguing, and found the infant sound asleep in his tiny tent.

‘Come on Harry,’ Remus whispered, ‘Time for bed.’

He scooped up the sleeping tot and tucked him into the crib that was starting to get to small. He then proceeded to pass out on his own bed, not even getting changed or under the covers.

The following day he wrote up resumes, and with Harry in arm, started delivering them to many businesses within Diagon Alley. He also stopped by the The Junk Shop and Wiseacre's Wizarding Equipment to sell off some of his unprized possessions.

‘Please Mr Colpitts, I bought this broom for 100 Galleons, I think 80 is fair to ask for it. It’s only a year old.’

‘But brooms go out of date really quickly, and it wasn’t even top of the line when you bought it. 30 is my final offer.’

‘50, please sir.’

‘45, take it or leave it.’

‘Thank you Sir.’

Remus managed to get a hundred and twenty-five Galleon by selling many of his personal effects, but in the long run that was nothing. And even as he was making his way towards the Dursley’s at four in the afternoon he was already receiving rejection owls stating they could not risk a having a werewolf employee.

Very down, he knocked on the Dursley’s front door. After three minutes of waiting Petunia entered the doorway.

‘You aren’t supposed to be here until Friday, why are you here?’

‘I need your family to watch over Harry for the night.’

‘Out of the question, I have plans, I will not accept-‘

‘One, I’ll pay you, and two if you don’t accept there’s the chance I might eat him tonight.’

‘Eat him?’

‘Yes, best not to ask questions. I have thirty muggle pounds on me, will you watch him.’

‘For that low of compensation, I hardly think so.’

‘Fine, here is forty, that’s literally all I have.’

‘Fine then. This is highly regular though, and where is your boyfriend?’

Anger once again rose in Remus.

‘He is not my boyfriend!’

‘My goodness, it was only a joke, obviously you two are not homosexuals.’

‘I don’t know what that term means, however it doesn’t matter, I must go. Good evening Petunia.’

And with that he apparated away.

He chained himself up as best he could, however he knew that without anyone there he would turn all his attention towards himself. It became a long and tortuous night.

At 7:26 AM the sun rose and Remus morphed back to human. In agony he undid the chains and entered the small bathroom to look in the mirror. The chains had prevented his claws from reaching his face, but there were new deep cuts along his back and arms. Wincing, he treated them and applied bandages, but he knew that would only save them from infection and that every single one of them would scar.

After cleaning himself up a bit he apparated to the Dursley’s house where he picked up Harry, Vernon met him at the door.

‘I don’t want anymore of these surprise drop offs, you hear me, we are not your babysitter. Of course what would a couple of pansies know about raising a child. Ha.’

‘Pansies?’

‘I spoke with my wife, she said how defensive you got when she said you were, ug, boyfriends. You and that Black fellow are a couple of homosexuals for sure now that I think about it.’

‘I’m not going to satisfy you with an answer, but with a statement. We in the wizarding world don’t put such stigma on what kind of people we love or the colour of ones skin, we apparently save it all for people who were born or became different not under there control. Now I can’t promise there won’t be anymore surprise drop offs, but I will try to limit them. Good bye Dudley.’

‘I’m Vernon, not Dudley. Bloody "religious location".’

With that Remus went home with his adopted son in his arms. They spent the day playing, but whenever Harry took a nap Remus would turn his attention to his ever bleakening financial situation. He believed it would be possible to get a job again, the problem was he couldn’t guarantee that it would be within the next few weeks.

Another thing that was worrying him was Sirius. Regret had been washing over Remus for the last few hours now, he was still really mad but now he just wanted him back. He was worried too because Sirius had seemingly left his motorcycle behind.

By that evening Remus was a mess and stayed up most of the night not being able to sleep.

The next day Remus was now very worried, he didn’t know where Sirius was and was fearing the worst.

“What is one of you-know-who’s followers got him? It’s all my fault he’s who knows where and alone. Why did I have to take it all out on him, why can’t he be here now. What am I going to do?” He thought over and over again in a spiral of doubt and stress. He was only brought out of it a little by the one and a half year old wobbly standing next to him.

‘Moony, where’s Paddy?’

‘Oh, don’t worry Fawny dear, Paddy is ok. He will be back soon.’

Harry then did a little dance. ‘Paddy, Paddy, Paddy, I love Paddy.’

‘I know love, I know.’

The day crept by and soon Remus concluded that the three of them weren’t getting out of the situation they were in without outside help, a temporary support for them to fall back on if everything does turn for the worst. He knew right away who he much get in contact with, but he procrastinated making the floo call all evening.

At quarter to nine he had the floo powder in his had and was about to say the name “Lyall Lupin” when the fireplace erupted in emerald flames and Sirius’ face was in the fire.

‘Sirius! Oh thank goodness you are ok! I am so sorry, I didn’t mean almost any of what I said and I-‘

But Sirius cut him off. ‘We can discuss what happened later. But I’ve been doing some thinking and I believe we need a little help. I’ve run into a cousin I didn’t think I’d ever see again. Pack up yours and Harry’s stuff, I’ll come and get mine, and then we are moving in my cousin and her family.’

‘But I thought Narcissa Black was the worst of the worst.’

‘What, no! We’re going to Bedford Bedfordshire, where going to stay with Andromeda Tonks.’