After listening to Dumbledore's instructions, Damon, maintaining the Disillusionment Charm, walked along the back of the hall to the Gryffindor table and sat down at the seat Ron had reserved for him.
"Wow! What a surprise! When did you get here?"
Ron was startled when he saw Damon suddenly appear.
Harry instinctively felt that what had just happened was related to him and asked anxiously,
"What did Professor Dumbledore want to talk to you about? Does it have anything to do with me?"
The Sorting Ceremony had just begun. One by one, the young wizards excitedly sat down on the stools they had sat on before, and the Sorting Hat began to sing its ugly song again.
"It does involve you in part. It's about Sirius Black."
Harry's expression grew alarmed. "Really? About what?"
"Did you know, Harry, that Sirius is actually your godfather?"
"My godfather? And now he wants to kill me?"
"Not necessarily, Harry. That's just what you heard."
"So what's the truth?" Harry's expression remained relatively calm, but Damon could see that he was extremely nervous, and his Occlumency was already showing signs of losing control.
Damon thought for a moment and decided to reveal part of the truth.
"This matter involves a very old secret - when you were born, Harry, Voldemort came to your parents, but this should not have happened."
"How?"
"At that time, your family was cast under the Fidelius Charm. This is an extremely complex spell that uses magic to hide a person's secret forever in the soul of a living person. The secret is hidden in the heart of a chosen person - the Secret Keeper, and will never be discovered unless the Secret Keeper reveals it.
As long as the Secret Keeper doesn't reveal it, even if Voldemort put his nose against the glass of your living room, he wouldn't be able to find your parents.
So, on the day you were born, your parents should have been very safe, and Voldemort should not have been able to find them - but as you know, it is obvious that the Secret Keeper leaked the secret."
"Afterwards, Sirius blew up a street of Muggles and was arrested on charges of murder. The Ministry of Magic believed that he was the one who betrayed your parents at the time."
Harry's breathing became rapid, but he tried his best to suppress it.
"But from what you said, there is a misunderstanding here, right?"
"That's right, Harry. Now's the crucial moment." Damon put his hand on his shoulder. The Great Hall was erupting in cheers and applause for the freshmen, but the two brothers were hugging each other. Harry heard Damon's voice clearly ringing in his ear, "Take a deep breath, control your emotions, don't let them control you. Times like this are the best time to practice Occlumency.
I know it's difficult, but I believe you can do it.
Take a deep breath - Harry - do you feel anger and sadness? Don't suppress these thoughts, let them out - but don't let them control you, try to amplify them or minimize them - for example, do you want to tear Black apart completely? Or do you forgive him by gently asking him to kneel down and apologize to you? Put all thoughts and extreme emotions that don't belong to you on the surface of your mind, but hide your deepest thoughts -" Harry listened
to Damon's calm voice and subconsciously did as he was told - his mind and heart were in a mess, he couldn't help but have wild thoughts. He didn't think he was as good as Damon thought. He wanted to scream, "I'm not as good as you think. I can't do it. You want me to remain calm when facing the truth about my parents' murder. That's impossible!"
But he couldn't say this to Damon.
His long-held admiration overwhelmed all rationality. Harry simply followed the voice, taking slow, deep breaths and clearing away any negative emotions threatening to arise in his mind.
"Yes, Harry, I know you can do it. That's why I'm telling you all this. You've faced Voldemort many times. You're a brave fighter. You can withstand anything. You can make your own decisions, right?"
Harry felt a warmth coursing through his heart, his gaze gradually firming. Ron, watching them closely, looked on with concern, a look of envy on his face. For a moment, absurdly, he wished it were him who had lost his parents. Well, he just wanted to take Harry's place.
Ron lost interest in the Sorting ceremony; he was completely focused on their conversation. Hermione, sitting across from them, looked anxious. She found a gap and, amidst the applause, leaped onto the table, plopped down next to Harry. "Make way, thank you."
Seamus, who was watching the Sorting ceremony nearby, was startled but made way.
"Damon, I'm ready."
"Well - then go on - whether it's Professor Dumbledore or many people who know Sirius well, they all think it's impossible that Sirius did this - he was your father's best friend when they were students, and he would be willing to die in place of his friend if necessary.
If he wasn't that kind of person, he could never be your godfather.
Harry, do you think that person - your father's former best friend, the secret-keeper deeply trusted by your parents - would betray them?"
"I don't know. Of course it's possible. But since there are doubts about this matter, we should get to the bottom of it and then decide what to do, right?"
"You're right, Harry, and I will help you - we'll get to the bottom of everything. If Sirius is really the culprit, there's no doubt that you can avenge your parents."
"But if my godfather was wrongly accused, we have to help him get his name cleared too. Will you help me?"
"Of course, Harry."
"And me, I'll help you too!" Ron, who had been listening all the way, finally interrupted.
"And me - Harry, we'll get to the bottom of everything." Hermione also joined in.
Boom!
Harry felt his heart beating violently, fast and powerfully.
He calmed down and was no longer afraid or worried about anything.
Damon was right, he could do it, with such a good friend to help him, he dared to face anything in the world!
And if Sirius Black was really wronged, then the other party would be his only relative in the world. Harry sincerely hoped for this.
At this moment, Professor Dumbledore's voice rang out in the hall.
"Welcome!" said Professor Dumbledore, the light from the candles making his beard sparkle, "Welcome to Hogwarts in the new school year! I have a few words to say to all of you, one of which is very serious. I think it is better to make it clear before you get confused by this delicious meal."
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(End of this chapter)