Runaway Home

Chapter Ten-

Confusion in Both Corners

Name: Sirius Murzim Black

Age: 28

Race: Wizard, pureblood

Suffers from: Severe loss of blood, severe malnutrition, lacerations on both hands and feet, slight concussion, severe depression.

Pomfrey shrieked and clapped her hands to her mouth. She looked utterly horrified as she first stared at the dog, then Remus, then McGonagall.

"Poppy, calm yourself!" McGonagall looked stricken.

"But it's... it's him! It's Sirius Black!"

McGonagall looked lost for words

"And... and that's..." She squinted slightly at Harry, as if trying hard to remember something. "Why, that looks just like James Potter!"

Harry was clinging to Remus, wide-eyed and frightened.

Pomfrey looked at Remus in horror and disbelief. "You've kidnapped him, haven't you? Kidnapped Harry Potter and helped Sirius Black escape!" She stepped back in revulsion, as if she didn't wish to be so near to such a detestable man.

Remus' everlasting calm was beginning to wear. "Poppy, please, let me explain-"

"No! Constringo!" she shrieked. Ropes shot from her wand and bound Remus' hands and feet, and then gagged him. He overbalanced and fell roughly to the floor.

Harry, still holding tightly to Remus' robes, was pulled down next the werewolf. He glared daggers at Pomfrey.

"Come along, then, Harry," she said suddenly, holding out her hand and schooling her expression with a glance at the unconscious dog. "The Minister is right here at Hogwarts, and we can go and talk to him and get these two," her voice was harsh and grating for a moment, "taken care of."

Remus growled softly at her, his eyes daring her to touch the frightened boy. He hadn't known Harry long, but like Sirius, he already felt a sort of fatherly instinct kicking in. Harry was, after all, James' son, and thus Remus felt a connection to him; an uncontrollable urge not to let anything happen to him.

Pomfrey glared at Remus for a moment, looking a little hurt and betrayed. Then she turned her attention back to Harry and smiled gently "Really, Harry, it'll be alright, come on now."

Harry felt very unsure of himself; the only two people he knew and trusted were utterly unable to help him. He certainly didn't want this Minister to find out about Sirius, because then something bad would happen to Sirius. He wasn't entirely sure what, but he didn't want to find out.

And no matter how many nice looks she gave him and kind words she said, he didn't trust the woman who'd tied up Remus (for obvious reasons). He wasn't entirely sure about Professor McGonagall, either, but she seemed to be on the mean woman's side.

Harry looked to Remus, hoping for some sort of comfort or guidance.

Remus raised his eyebrows slightly and glanced sharply at the doors.

"Really now, everything'll be alright, Harry dear, just come along. I know that it must have been awful, staying with these two men, but-"

Remus nudged him gently with his shoulder, glancing at the doors once more.

And with the agility only a child could have, Harry jumped up and sprinted out of the hospital wing.

Despite the circumstances, Remus grinned softly to himself. Prongs would be proud.

***

Severus Snape sighed a long, suffering sigh to himself. Forced to put up with absolute imbeciles all day, and then having to fulfill Dumbledore's every little whim had him out of sorts. What did the old man want a blood replenishing potion for, anyway?

He rubbed lightly at his temples, feeling the start of a headache.

"Umph!"

Snape paused, hand still at his forehead. Something small and yet undeniably human had just collided with his legs.

He looked down and paled slightly.

His headache had just gotten quite a lot worse.

***

Harry ran as fast as he could. He didn't know where he was going, but he had to get away. There was too much happening too quickly for him to know what to do.

So he ran.

Up a staircase, down the corridor... he'd just turned a corner when he ran headlong into something.

Someone, he realized as he looked up from where he'd fallen to the floor.

He cowered a bit as the frightening man stared down at him, looking a bit confused.

"Who are you," the man said very quietly. His jaw was quivering slightly.

Harry whimpered softly. He'd have been better off with McGonagall and that evil nurse.

"I asked you a question!" the man shouted, clenching his fists.

Harry jumped as if he'd been struck. "H-Harry Potter, s-sir."

The pale man's face turned a purple color that would have made Uncle Vernon jealous.

He breathed loudly for a moment, as if he'd just run a great distance, or been punched in the stomach.

"Come along then, Potter," he said finally.

Harry recoiled from the man, but it wasn't any use; Snape grabbed his arm and pulled him up. His vice-like grip didn't relinquish as he led Harry away.

***

"Now I know you don't like the idea of dementors around the castle, Albus, but really! Black is on the loose, and if he got near the students... I shudder to think what might happen. We can't be sure of catching him without upping our security a little!"

Cornelius Fudge mopped at his brow with a handkerchief. His ruddy face was shiny with sweat from the effort of his debating.

"I won't have them near the students, Cornelius." Dumbledore's eyes were like cold stone. "And somehow, I have a feeling that Black will be caught soon enough. Post Aurors at the entrances, if you must, but I have to draw the line at dementors."

There was a sharp knock at the door and Severus Snape strode in.

No manners at all, thought Fudge.

"Hello, Severus. I trust you finished the potion?" Dumbledore asked blandly.

"Yes, but I have... other reasons for being here, Headmaster." He drew a small child out from behind himself. "I found this running about the school," Snape said silkily.

Fudge wondered what on earth was going on; this was a school, wasn't it? Children were supposed to be here.

Dumbledore, however, seemed slightly startled by the appearance of the terrified child. He stood and turned his attention back to Fudge. "I believe, Minister, that we'll have to end our conversation here. I have other matters to attend to, and-"

He was interrupted by yet another unannounced disturbance.

"Headmaster! Headmaster!" A rather excited-looking nurse came bursting into the already crowded room, her hat skewed to one side and hair falling from its immaculate bun. She was closely followed by a sour-faced Minerva McGonagall.

"What is it, Poppy?" Dumbledore's calmness seemed to be wearing off a little; his brows were narrowed in concern.

"Sirius Black! Here! And Harry Potter, too, he ran off-"

"I've got him," Snape said lazily.

"Oh good!" Pomfrey clapped her hands together happily as she caught sight of Harry.

"What's this about Black? Here?" Fudge wondered why Dumbledore wasn't very alarmed by this news.

"He's in the hospital wing, Mr. Minister," she said breathlessly. "He's not going anywhere, he's completely out of it. And guess who it was who helped him escape? Remus Lupin! They were old friends at school, them and James Potter, and poor little Peter Pettigrew! But Lupin kidnapped Harry Potter, and helped Black escape! Lupin's there as well, I tied him up... you'll want to question him, of course..." She seemed like she needed a break to breathe, as if she hadn't during her entire little speech.

"But what on earth are they doing here? Out of any place they could have gone, this seems the least logical..." Fudge stood up and wrung his bowler nervously in his hands.

"Who are we to understand the way madmen think, Minister? Perhaps we should simply go and speak with them? I happen to have some Veritaserum, down in my stores..." Snape suggested maliciously.

"No, no, that's not necessary. I'll just call up the Aurors and let them hand Black to the dementors. I don't know about Lupin, though..."

"I think we ought to question them, Minister."

Fudge turned to Dumbledore, fully ready to give the old man a piece of his mind. Question insane mass-murderers! Indeed!

But the icy look in those twinkly blue eyes made Fudge swallow nervously. "O-Only as a formality, of course. The four of you can act as witnesses..."

"If you would please fetch that Veritaserum, Severus?"

Fudge shivered at the warm smile Dumbledore flashed Snape. One minute, the man was cold as steel; the next he was smiling for all the world as if he were looking at a favorite nephew. Eerie.

***

Harry felt his jaw tremble as he walked silently next to Professor Dumbledore. The old man had a comforting hand on his shoulder, but Harry's attention was on the Minister.

Pomfrey and McGonagall were leading the way, followed by the Minister. Dumbledore and Harry brought up the rear. Snape had been sent for the Veritaserum already, and now the nurse was regaling the Minister with her story, and how she'd been absolutely shocked, because Remus Lupin had always been such a good boy, never one to lie or do any despicable thing like this!

"Ought to call up the Daily Prophet, have them record the interview... though I daresay they'll hear the story well enough from the ones who caught him, won't they?" He smiled pompously at the nurse and McGonagall.

Pomfrey blushed and smiled like a schoolgirl. McGonagall, however, looked stony and tense, caught between believing Lupin and Dumbledore and listening to her own common sense.

Snape had sneered at Harry before swishing off back to his dungeons, to get the... the Vertaserm, or whatever it was. Harry didn't know what it was, but Snape and the Minister seemed happy about it, so it couldn't possibly be good.

"Here we are, Minister..." Pomfrey shuddered as she moved to open the hospital wing door. "The odd thing was how normal he seemed. Lupin, I mean. Black was in his Animagus form," and she gave another little shudder at that, "so I couldn't tell anything about him, of course..."

The Minister strode down past McGonagall and Pomfrey to the end of the row of beds. Sirius lay deathly still on the bed, hardly seeming to breathe. Remus glared from his place on the ground.

Fudge seemed more interested in Black than his accomplice, however. "Fascinating... an unregistered Animagus all this time, and we never even knew..."

He shivered slightly and stepped back from where he'd been observing the unconscious dog. "Wish Snape would hurry up with that potion... I'd just like to get this over with and hand them over to the dementors. Whole mess's been right embarrassing..."

"And how do you know they'll be guilty?" Dumbledore asked vaguely, tightening his grip on Harry's shoulder.

Fudge laughed. "Honestly, Albus, even you know what he did! And now, adding kidnap to the charges..." He tutted softly and then gave Harry a winning smile. "But don't you worry, Harry, we'll have you back at your Aunt and Uncle's in no time, and you can forget any of this ever happ- AGH! What in bloody hell!"

Fudge's robes had just caught fire.

"I won't go!" Harry glared defiantly at Fudge, who looked down at him in surprise after dousing the flames.

"What's this? Harry, I know you must have been through quite a lot, but your aunt and uncle are very worried about you, and-"

"No they're not! They don't even like me!" Harry paused for a moment at that; he'd always known it, but he'd never actually told himself that they didn't like him. It was an odd feeling, a new sort of emptiness.

"But Sirius and Remus were nice to me, and Sirius said that once he was innocent I could go and live with him!"

Fudge tutted again. "Black has clearly charmed him into believing this fairy tale, Albus... maybe we ought to take him to St. Mungos?"

Harry unconsciously moved closer to Dumbledore.

"I don't think that's necessary, Cornelius," Dumbledore said primly, giving Fudge a hard look.

Fudge shrugged; the boy really wasn't any of his concern, anyway. They'd snap a few pictures for the Prophet, then cart him back off to his aunt and uncle's before the public got wind that he'd stuck up for Black. Harry Potter was just as famous as Black, but Black was just the more important matter at the moment.

"I have the potion, Headmaster."

Snape had returned; he handed a small vial to Dumbledore, and Fudge couldn't help but feel a flash of annoyance that Snape had so smoothly ignored him.

Dumbledore took no notice, moving to where Sirius still lay. He tapped the unconscious dog with his wand with a quiet murmur, and Sirius reverted to human form.

Harry let out a small whimper; he'd never seen anyone look so pale. He'd never wanted anything so much as he wanted Sirius to wake up at that moment. To wake up and tell him it'd all be ok, and that he'd never have to go back to the Dursleys.

But Sirius didn't wake up, and Dumbledore proceeded with pouring the contents of the vial down his throat.

"This shouldn't take long, then." Fudge cleared his throat as Dumbledore stepped back from Sirius. "What is your name?"

"Sirius Black," Sirius mumbled.

Harry gave a start. Sirius' eyes were open! He was awake!

But Dumbledore had come back to stand next to him, and when Harry tried to go to Sirius, the old man laid a firm hand on his shoulder that clearly said: not yet.

"Did you kill Lily and James Potter?" Fudge was continuing with his questioning. He was rolling back and forth on the balls of his feet, seemingly delighted by the fact that he'd finally captured Black.

"Yes," murmured Sirius."

"No..." Harry whimpered, looking horror-struck.

Fudge twisted to look triumphantly at Dumbledore. "I don't think we need to hear any more, Alb-"

But Sirius wasn't done answering. "I as good as killed them, even if I wasn't the one to curse them," he said in a stronger, if still monotonous, voice.

Fudge turned again, looking appalled. "What?! What do you mean, you didn't curse them?"

"I didn't use the Killing Curse on the Potters," Sirius answered simply. "I never used any curse on either of them, in all of the time I knew them."

Fudge was aghast.

Dumbledore was smiling in mild amusement. "If I may ask him a question, Cornelius?"

Fudge nodded, still too shocked to speak.

Dumbledore cleared his throat and looked gravely at the semi-conscious convict. "Sirius Black, were you the Potters' Secret-Keeper?"

"No."

Fudge spluttered.

"Whyever not?" Dumbledore could have been asking about the weather, for all the emotion in his voice.

"I was too obvious. Anyone would know I was the one they'd choose. I convinced them to switch to Peter. No one would suspect him. I was supposed to be the decoy; Voldemort would come after me, but Peter would be safe, and so the Potters would too."

Fudge and McGonagall flinched at the mention of Voldemort; Pomfrey shrieked.

Dumbledore ignored their reactions and nodded sagely. "And what happened after Peter was made Secret-Keeper?"

"He betrayed them. He was a Death Eater. He told Voldemort where they were, and he killed them."

"What did you do when you found what had happened?"

"I went to Godric's Hollow. They were dead, and I realized what Peter had done. I found Harry. Hagrid wouldn't let me take him... I decided that I could get my revenge on Peter, then come back and take care of Harry. I promised Harry I'd come back. I went to find Peter."

A tear fell down Harry's cheek, unnoticed by anyone but Remus.

"You see?! He's still a murderer! He killed Pettigrew, and all those Muggles!" Fudge pointed hysterically at Sirius. "You see?!"

"When you found Peter, what happened, Sirius?" Dumbledore asked calmly. The Minister spluttered even more at being ignored.

"He found me first. He cornered me on a Muggle street; there were Muggles everywhere. Neither of us cared; I wanted to kill Peter too badly, and he knew I'd ruin his plan if I lived. He shouted something; I don't remember what. Then there was an explosion... A Blasting Curse... the street was torn apart, there were bodies everywhere... and he was running down into the sewer as a rat..."

"As a rat?! You can't honestly believe this, Albus. The potion must be malfunctioning." Fudge waved his hand dismissively.

"The potion is not malfunctioning, Minister." Snape glared dangerously at the insinuation that his potion wouldn't work.

"Indeed. When Black became an Animagus, I assume that his friends did as well." Dumbledore turned his attention back to Sirius. "Mr. Black, what forms did your friends take?"

"James was a stag and Peter was a rat."

Dumbledore clapped his hands together and smiled. "I believe that we're done here, Minister. As you can clearly see, Black is an innocent man. And thus, so is Lupin." He waved his wand in Remus' direction and the ropes that bound the werewolf disappeared. "Now, you'll be needing to go and tell the Ministry and the Prophet about this, so we'll just keep Black here until you can sign his pardon."

"He's lying! He has to be!" snarled Fudge.

"You saw him questioned under Veritaserum, Minister. How can you suggest he was lying?" Remus was standing stiffly by the bed, trying hard to keep his face neutral.

Fudge continued to glare, turning around to face Dumbledore, then Snape, then Pomfrey and McGonagall. "So you're all against me, then?"

"Believe me, sir, I hate Black more than words can express. I would be ecstatic to see him rot away in Azkaban..." Snape's voice sounded oddly wistful at that. "...but my potions don't malfunction. Ever," he said grudgingly.

"Well... Veritaserum, Minister... Really, he couldn't have been lying..." Pomfrey cowered a bit under the Minister's icy glare.

"As I said, Cornelius, your business is done here. Severus, would you please escort the Minister out?" Dumbledore smiled pleasantly as Fudge, shaking with rage, was led out of the wing by Snape.

"Mmh..." Sirius' eyes closed and he went limp.