"Sirius Black... Acquitted..."
The woman's voice announcing the verdict echoed like the clang of a great bell, thundering in his ears.
Sirius sat still in the chair, his eyes blank and vacant. He didn't hear Fudge's angry huff as he pushed his chair back and strode out. He didn't see the wizards hurrying after Fudge, nor did he notice when Dumbledore's hand left his shoulder.
People gradually left through the aisles on either side. Some spoke in hushed tones, while others looked at him with pity or disgust. He was oblivious to all of it. He stared at the floor ahead, yet seemed to be looking at nothing at all.
Then, someone came and took his hand, pulling him to his feet before embracing him in a tight hug.
Remus...
Sirius silently called out the name of his brother, whom he hadn't seen in far too long. He wanted to speak, but it felt as if something was lodged in his throat. His arms trembled as he slowly raised them, then hugged Lupin back just as tightly. The warmth of a human body was like sunshine, pulling him out of the dark abyss.
After a long while, the two released each other.
"Remus..." The muscles in Sirius's face twitched as he managed a stiff smile. "I never thought I'd get to see you as an old man..."
"I'm so sorry, Sirius," Lupin said in a low, apologetic voice. "For eleven years, I didn't believe you... I should have known. Of all people, you were the last one who would ever betray James..."
"No, I was wrong," Sirius said, a pained look crossing his face at the mention of the past. "I was a fool to make that suggestion. I thought it was the perfect plan... If it hadn't been for me..."
He shook his head, unwilling to say more or listen to Lupin's attempts to comfort him. He saw a boy standing beside Lupin—with messy black hair and green eyes filled with nervousness and anticipation. How much he looked like a young James! It was as if his friend was standing right in front of him again.
Sirius's expression became lost in a daze. His mouth opened and closed a few times before he finally found his voice.
"Harry?"
"Uh... yes, it's me," Harry said, a bit awkwardly. Sirius was a stranger to him, yet also very familiar. He was a stranger because they were meeting for the first time, but familiar because in the past few days, Lupin had told him many stories about their youth.
They had gone to school together, played pranks, lived in the same dormitory, fought against the Slytherins, and often went exploring around the grounds at night. In their second year, they discovered Lupin's secret of being a werewolf, but they didn't distance themselves from him because of it. To keep him company during his transformations, James and Sirius learned to become Animagi in their fifth year. James pursued Lily and was initially rejected countless times, but finally succeeded in getting a date in his seventh year and was as happy as an idiot...
Sirius left the pure-blood-obsessed House of Black at the age of sixteen and moved in with James's family. James's parents treated him like a second son... After graduation, they all attended James and Lily's wedding, with Sirius as the best man. Then, they all joined the Order of the Phoenix to fight against Voldemort and the Death Eaters...
Lupin hadn't mentioned the bad parts and had completely omitted the traitor Peter Pettigrew's involvement. His stories were filled with friendship, adventure, and courage, with energetic young boys creating a beautiful and inspiring tale.
Although this was Harry's first time meeting Sirius, he felt as if he had known him for a very long time. Even though Sirius looked a little scary right now, if he looked closely, he could still see the contours of a handsome man on his gaunt, skeletal face.
Sirius's lips moved wordlessly. After a long pause, he said, "The last time I saw you, you were just this small..." He held his hands up to show the size of a small ball, then, thinking it wasn't quite right, made it a little bigger.
Harry didn't know what to say and just gave a shy smile.
Sirius looked at him and said with hesitation, "I don't know if anyone has ever told you... that... Harry, I'm your godfather..."
"Yes, I know," Harry nodded. He hesitated for a moment before stepping forward and gently hugging Sirius.
Sirius bent down and embraced him, his arms trembling slightly.
"Your parents appointed me as your guardian, in case they ever came to harm..." Sirius's voice was hoarse. "Of course, I know I don't really have the right to ask you to leave your current family... but if you would... if you wanted to... I would hope to take care of you..."
Before Sirius could finish, Lupin interrupted him. His one remaining friend put an arm around his shoulder and said to him with a smile:
"Sirius, you've just been acquitted. There's no need to rush. First, let's go get you a bath and some fresh clothes. I think you also need to eat something nutritious and get your strength back, right?"
Sirius: "..."
What Lupin said made sense, as always, but his smile looked a little... menacing?
"Okay... alright..." Sirius said in a daze. He looked at Harry, but just as he was about to say something, Lupin spoke again:
"By the way, there's someone else I need to introduce you to. Although you don't know him, he was the one who was actually the biggest contributor to getting your case re-examined."
Sirius's attention was immediately diverted. "Who is he?"
"His name is Wade Grey. He's Harry's classmate, as well as my employer and student." Lupin said with a touch of pride. "Even though he's only twelve, he's the cleverest little wizard I've ever seen."
Sirius thought he had misheard. "Twelve? ...Employer?"
"Yes..." Lupin wanted to introduce Wade to Sirius, but when he turned around, he found that Wade's seat was already empty.
"If you're looking for that boy," Moody, who was still there, said. "Dumbledore called him away. He asked me to tell you not to wait for him."
...
The crowd moved up the steps, hurrying to get on the elevator. The underground space was oppressive and gloomy, and no one liked to linger in a place like this.
Wade, however, unconsciously stopped and looked at a corridor beside them. The corridor was pitch black. It had no doors or windows, and there wasn't even a torch on the walls. At the end of the corridor was a black door that seemed to be silently beckoning people closer.
"That's the Department of Mysteries," Dumbledore said. "It's the most highly classified area in the Ministry of Magic. It holds many things whose very existence is difficult to comprehend or control."
"Not even you, Professor?" Wade asked.
"I have to admit, that place makes me feel as ignorant as a child," Dumbledore said with a smile. "Although many people think I have more magic than anyone else, I am but an apprentice on the path of magic."
"What kind of magic is in there?"
"Many kinds," Dumbledore said. "Such as time, death, and prophecies. Many knowledgeable and excellent wizards work day and night there, studying the most mysterious and dangerous magic. They are called the Unspeakables, and they will never reveal the content of their work to anyone for their entire lives."
"Unspeakables..." Wade thought for a moment. "Professor, why did you call for me?"
"I want to thank you, Wade," Dumbledore said calmly. "I made a subjective error in judgment regarding Sirius's case."
"I once testified to the Ministry that Sirius was the Secret-Keeper for the Potters, and after he was imprisoned, I didn't investigate further..."
"If I had visited Sirius in prison, even just once... I would have realized that he wasn't the traitor."
Wade didn't criticize Dumbledore. He thought for a moment and said, "When you thought he had betrayed them, you must have been very angry... and disappointed."
"Indeed," Dumbledore said. "I've seen too many talented young people fall into darkness. I thought Sirius was one of them..."
"But Mr. Black probably won't blame you for it," Wade said. "Their plan fooled everyone... If Peter Pettigrew hadn't betrayed them, it would have been a very good strategy."
"Yes, who could have known?" Dumbledore sighed for a long time. "A close friend can become unrecognizable in the blink of an eye, making you wonder... if you ever truly knew him at all..."
Wade glanced at Dumbledore, seeing only a profile reflected in the torchlight that cast a dark silhouette. He wondered if Dumbledore was thinking of someone.