The Figure Clothed in Black

Chapter Eleven: Explanations II

Sirius was in the back seat of a car riding through the middle of a muggle town on his way to one of Kingsley's friends to floo to St. Mungo's and see Harry. He was looking at the apology the ministry had given him saying he was free and how sorry they were for imprisoning him for 12 years on false accusations. It also stated that one million galleons would be deposited into his Gringotts bank account. He put that at the bottom of the stack of papers, it was several inches high, and looked at the sheet on top, which was about becoming Harry's legal guardian. Sirius smiled at the thought. Tonks and Kingsley had prevented him from getting the Dementor's kiss immediately though Fudge had tried. They had forgotten to tell them they would be arriving with an ex-convict and had taken the Minister of Magic by surprise to say the least. Tonks and Kingsley explained what happened and after begging, threatening, and finally Dumbledore coming in they allowed Sirius to have a trial. He was questioned under Veriteserum* and had been proven innocent. He had signed many papers at the ministry just to get released and then had to sign even more after stating he wanted to be Harry Potter's legal guardian and legally he had the right to be since Lily and James had stated it in their will. Even after signing all the papers he still ended up with a stack several inches high to sign and return in two weeks time.

The car stopped and Sirius got out following Tonks and Kingsley into the little cottage sitting just off the road. Tonks knocked on the door and a tall skinny woman with dark brown hair opened the door and gave Tonks a hug before inviting them in nodding at Kingsley and Sirius. She didn't scream in fright when she saw Sirius because he still had the appearance altering charms on. Tonks quickly explained to the woman what they needed, knowing that Sirius was anxious to get the hospital and would kill her if she wasted anytime with chit-chat. The woman obviously wanted Tonks to stay and Tonks promised to come back later and talk before flooing after Sirius and Kinglsey who had went ahead, Sirius no longer able to stay in the house.

Sirius and Kingsley were trying to figure out were they where when Tonks came out of the fireplace. A nurse passed by them and they asked for directions and, as they found out she was the nurse in charge of Harry while he was there. When Sirius found this out he immediately started asking questions about his condition. She told him thankfully he had only cut deep enough to damage some nerve cells. Sirius nodded and asked, "What about his emotional condition? I know someone who has just tried to commit suicide won't be in the good emotional condition, but considering everything how is he doing?"

"Pretty bad; he won't talk to anyone, though that is common among patients. Everyone has tried to get him to respond, but he refuses. I understand that his godfather died before school let out and that is what led to this, or at least that's the conclusion they have come to. I'm going to honest and frank with you. I really don't know if he'll make it through. Yes, his reactions are similar to other patients who have done the same thing, but for some reason I fell like if he doesn't have his godfather back in his life he won't be able to pull through this and we all know him getting his godfather back is impossible."

He will pull through it. I know he will. I won't let him not pull through it. I'm here; he'll be fine, Sirius thought reassuring himself. He nodded at the nurse and fell into silence. They reached Harry's room a few minutes later and went through as the nurse opened the door for them and then left. Remus, Kirsten, Dustin, Kayla and her parents were in the room either beside the bed, in chairs, or against the wall sitting in chairs.

Sirius focused his eyes on the bed as he took the charms off himself. He could only see the back of Harry's head since he still had his head buried in the pillow. He walked over to the bed and sat down beside Harry. "Harry?" he said while stroking his hair gently. "Harry? Will you please turn over? It's Sirius. I'm alive. I was only stunned and fell through the veil. The curse wore off, and I managed to get out of the veil. I'm here. Please just turn over. We need to talk." Harry didn't respond and Sirius just kept stroking his hair waiting, hoping he would respond. Sirius was about to give up and try again in the few minutes when Harry turned over though there wasn't any of the relief, happiness, or confusion that he had anticipated. Instead his green eyes were dull and cold and he was glaring at Sirius. Sirius stopped stroking his hair and let his hand drop to the bed cover waiting for Harry to say something.

"You're not my godfather. My godfather, Sirius Black, is dead. He died at the end of the school year in June at the Department of Mysteries in the Ministry of Magic," Harry replied voice hard and cold. "I don't know who you are, but you aren't Sirius. If you're a Death Eater go ahead and kill me. I don't care. I tried, but it didn't work. They found me before I could bleed to death since I remember that we just get nerve cells in the wrists, even though you can see the veins they are deeper than they look. Since you are not Sirius, even though you look exactly like him, either kill me or leave."

Sirius sat there shocked, at a loss for words. He blinked several times before saying, "What do I have to do to prove to you that I am Sirius Black, your godfather? Do you want me to answer questions? Ask me anything about your parents, the Marauders, the Marauder's Map, secret passageways out of Hogwarts, about stuff when you where a baby, anything and I'll answer it."

Harry dull cold eyes stared into blue gray eyes. I'll ask him questions just to see how bad he does. Maybe it will somehow be amusing.

"Give the first and last names of all of the Marauders, including you, their animagus forms, what year my parents started dating, what I asked you about during the school year concerning my father, you, and Snape, and my birthday."

"James Potter, Sirius Black, me, Remus Lupin and Peter Pettigrew were the Marauders. James's animagus from was a stag, Peter a rat, and I am a grim like dog. Remus doesn't have an animagus form. He is a werewolf. Your parents, James Potter and Lily Evans, later Lily Potter, started dating in their seventh year. What you asked be about during the school year was a memory you had seen in Snape's pensive where James was humiliating Snape by turning him upside down because I was bored and I helped egg him on. Your birthday is July 31 and you were born in 1980," Sirius replied giving some information that Harry hadn't asked for.

He got all those right answers, but with Kreacher in that house he could have told somebody.

"How did you get caught in 1993, but then escape that same night? Tell me in detail."

Sirius explained everything, and Harry was silent thinking. "Why did you come back in the summer of '93 and where did you stay late summer early fall '93 to summer '94?"

"I came back because you wrote to me saying your scar hurt and I wrote to Dumbledore asking what I should do. I wanted to come back to be near you. I stayed in a cave on the outskirts of Hogsmead, the only completely wizarding town in Britian, as it was the closest thing to Hogwarts and I knew I would get a chance to see you since third years and above are allowed to visit on certain weekends."

The questioning went on for two more hours; Harry asking question after question and Sirius getting question after question correct. Harry asked him about the Tri-Wizard tournament and what happened at the Third Task. Harry was getting frustrated. The imposter, as he was referring to him, kept getting all the questions right. There's got to be one question that I know he will get wrong. I know. I'll ask him what nickname he asked me to call him in fourth year when talking about him. I, Ron, and Hermione are the only ones who know about that.

"What nickname did you ask me to call you in my fourth year when talking about?"

"Snuffles," Sirius replied automatically.

Sirius would see surprise and disbelief on Harry's face; obviously he hadn't thought he would get the question right.

He wasn't supposed to get that one right. This can't be Sirius. Sirius is dead. This just can't be him. Not after everything that happened.

Harry suddenly realized all eyes were on him waiting for him to say something. Harry looked around the room and suddenly felt overwhelmed. Harry pushed the cover off him and jumped out of bed running for the door, but never made it. The minute his feet touched floor his knees buckled beneath him. Sirius saw Harry was about to fall and reached to prevent him from falling and accidentally grabbed his wrist making him cry out in pain, Sirius let go startled by Harry's sudden yell, and Harry fell to the floor tears now rolling down his cheeks. Harry's arms were over his head in a protective gesture and he had curled into a ball. Sirius bent down and gently lifted Harry off the floor and put him back in bed whispering in his ear: "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to grab your wrist. I really am Sirius. Please, you have to believe me." Harry didn't respond just turned over on his stomach and buried his head in the pillow once more.

~*~

It was nighttime and everyone was asleep except Harry. He was lying on his side looking at the man who claimed to be his godfather. Harry wasn't sure why he didn't believe him; didn't know why he wouldn't accept it. Wasn't it what he had been wishing for all summer? It just seemed too good to be true. His live just didn't get this good.

But he got all the questions right. Every single one, even the one about snuffles. Why couldn't it be him? The hopeful part of Harry's mind reasoned. Another thought occurred to him: why in the world was he here? Voldemort knew his animagus form he could follow him and kill him. No, he can't kill him!! I just got him back! Harry didn't know when he had decided that it was Sirius and not an imposter, but he needed to know the answer to this. He also knew he was bone tired and needed to sleep, but knew he wouldn't get any sleep until he knew why he was here. He reached over and shook Sirius's shoulder. Sirius's head snapped up. He rubbed his eyes and blinked a few times before focusing in on Harry. "Is something wrong?" he asked alarmed. Harry shook his head.

"I was just wondering why you're here. I mean Voldemort knows about your animagus form, and he could be following you, planning to kill you, not to mention you're on the run from the ministry and I don't want anything to happen to you when I just got you back," Harry said quietly suddenly shy. Sirius was surprised by what Harry said and then smiled gently.

"So you believe that I am alive and not an imposter?" Harry nodded and was glad that Sirius couldn't see him blushing.

"I don't know why I didn't believe you in the first place. I was just so confused about everything. It just seemed too good to be true, and I've just tried to kill myself..." Harry trailed off. Sirius could just barely hear the last part. Sirius stood up and sat down on the bed beside Harry and enveloped him in a bear hug. Harry stiffened at first, but after a few seconds relaxed in his arms, laying his head on Sirius's chest. Harry finally felt safe; like nothing in the world could harm him. Harry wrapped his arms around Sirius and started crying. Sirius realized Harry was crying and wrapped his arms tighter around him. Harry realized slowly that he was falling asleep in Sirius's arms and the last thought he had was: I didn't get my question answered.

*~*

Next Chapter: Harry goes home and another twist.