Chapter 48 - Visiting Black's house
Yule and Christmas were normal that year, calm and warm, but Harry and Dudley had no patience for calm. They were more excited than I had ever seen during any holiday. It wasn't the gifts or the feast this time. It was the visit that would come after the holidays. Every other thought ended with, "And then we will go to Sirius' house."
As usual, Aunt Marge arrived three days before Christmas, announced herself like a marching band, and criticised everything she could find for the next seventy-two hours. She left on Christmas Day at noon, after eating half our pudding and warning my father about "the dangers of spoiling children." Dad only grunted a goodbye and Mum locked the door behind her before Aunt Marge could remember another insult.
The next morning, the twenty-sixth, was our day to go.
Mum and Dad were anxious and worried. Harry and Dudley were running around the house like two happy Nifflers since the departure of Aunt Marge. I had everything ready already. As we were having our breakfast, there came a firm knock on the door.
I reached it first and when I opened it, Sirius Black was standing there again. This time he was looking even brighter, almost glowing, like he had been awake since dawn waiting for the moment he could knock.
"Sirius," I said, "you're here before breakfast."
He grinned. "I couldn't sleep. Too excited. So I thought about coming early."
I let him inside. When Sirius stepped into the room, Dad looked up and announced his name flatly. "Sirius."
Sirius gives a brief nod. "Vernon. Good morning."
Dad folded his arms. "So, you were the one imprisoned back then. And for what crime?"
Sirius raised his eyebrows, clearly struck by the jab. It touched a sore spot, and I saw him stiffen at it.
"Doesn't matter," he said tightly. "It was a false charge. I was not guilty, and I am innocent."
Dad glanced at me. "Let me guess. Arthur told me something about a man who had been jailed for something he didn't do. Was it him you meant, son?"
I was surprised by how sharply he remembers conversation from more than a year back, but I nodded.
Dad leaned forward like a cat cornering a mouse and his eyes squinted.
"Then let me guess, what crime were you charged with? Would it have anything to do with-" He stopped but looked directly at Harry, and the meaning was obvious.
Sirius almost fumed at the insinuation. "I. Am. Innocent," he says, voice tight with anger.
"It was someone else, and I was falsely accused."
Dad muttered sarcastically, "If you say so", just to score points, and I quickly signalled Mum.
She whispered to Dad, calming him before he pushes too far. I steadied Sirius with a quiet word or two until he exhaled and returned to normal, though the tension hung in the air like smoke.
"Breakfast?" Mum asked, already plating food.
Sirius accepted with a cheerful "Absolutely."
And soon he was sitting beside Harry, joking, teasing, and nearly choking on his toast from laughing at his own jokes. He told Dudley about the time James magically dyed his hair bright green for three days. He told Harry about the moving staircases at Hogwarts. And he told me, loudly, about the time a certain boy at Hogwarts fainted during Potions because the cauldron popped like a firework.
Harry and Dudley laughed at everything. Dad pretended not to laugh at the one about Professor McGonagall catching Sirius upside down in a Quidditch net. Mum gave Sirius several warning looks when his jokes became too wild. But it was pleasant. Loud, but pleasant.
After breakfast, it was time.
We put on our coats and scarves and stepped outside. Winter wind brushed past the houses, cold but it was not biting. Sirius walked ahead, cheerful like a schoolboy and led us down the street. We turned into the alley a little distance from our home. Sirius raised his wand high.
Bang.
The Knight Bus appeared out of thin air, tall and purple and shaking slightly.
I felt a cold dread in my stomach. I remembered every horrifying jolt from my last ride. The bus did not "move" on the road, it attacked the road.
Harry and Dudley, however, cheered as if a candy shop had appeared.
We climbed aboard. The conductor recognised Sirius immediately and waved us in. Inside, beds were rattling, lamps were swinging, and the whole bus smelled a little.
The journey began.
Harry whooped once. Dudley shouted, "Faster!"
The Knight Bus granted his wish. It shot forward so hard that my teeth clicked. We swerved between cars, bounced off corners of buildings, spun around a roundabout twice, then launched down an empty road like a runaway dragon.
Harry and Dudley were laughing, arms up, like it was a carnival ride.
I held on to the nearest pole, praying silently.
When we finally came to a violent stop, the doors opened with a hiss.
Harry stepped off and immediately staggered sideways.
Dudley stepped off and stumbled straight forward like he was still flying.
Both of them froze in place, swaying slightly and trying to remember how to walk normally.
Sirius and I burst into laughter.
"Not so brave now, are you?" Sirius teased.
Dudley rubbed his head, "Everything is still spinning."
Harry added, "The ground is too slow."
We walked up the quiet street together. The Black townhouse stood tall as always with its dark, ancient and polished stone. Sirius knocked once and the door opened immediately.
Kreacher stood there.
He looked healthier. His skin had more colour and less folds and even his eyes were more clear than my first visit. Living in fresh air and a warm atmosphere had done him good.
"Master Sirius," he croaked, bowing, "welcome home."
Sirius nodded warmly. "Thank you, Kreacher. These are our guests."
Kreacher bowed again, deeper this time. "Lord Black is expecting all of you."
We followed him inside, past polished dark wood and warm lamps, until we reached the study.
Lord Arcturus Black sat behind the desk, back straight, presence sharp as always.
We bowed.
"Blessed Yule, Lord Black," we said together. I had informed Harry and Dudley earlier that purebloods do not celebrate Christmas, and they remembered.
Lord Black smiled slightly. "Blessed Yule. Very proper. Very correct."
His eyes shifted to me.
"You have done well teaching them," he said. "You will make a good family head one day. Much better than Sirius ever tried to be."
Sirius opened his mouth to protest but Lord Black raised one eyebrow and Sirius closed his mouth at once.
I almost smiled.
The feral Mad Dog had been tamed by his grandfather. At least indoors.
Lord Black turned to me after silencing Sirius, "Arthur, can you please introduce me to the children?" he asked politely.
"It would be a pleasure, Lord Black."
I gestured to my brother first. "This is my brother, Dudley Vernon Dursley."
Dudley gave a small, uncertain bow. Then I placed my hand on Harry's shoulder.
"And this is my aunt's son, Harry James Potter."
I made sure to use his full name. Among old wizarding families, it is proper to introduce someone with their complete name, like how Sirius was formally presented as Sirius Orion Black.
When in Rome, do as the Romans do, so I followed the custom.
Lord Black seems genuinely pleased. "Well met, Heir Potter," he greeted. He did not call him Master Potter or Mr. Potter. Just Heir Potter, stating exactly who he is and what he represents.
Harry looks confused and glanced at me. I nodded at him to encourage, and he replied softly, "Well met, Lord Black."
Lord Black watched the small exchange, and I could tell he noticed how Harry looked to me for cues.
"Teach him well, Mr. Dursley." His voice was calm, but firm. "He needs to be ready. From what I know, he will begin Hogwarts next year. And he must enter that world prepared."
He paused for a moment.
"The world will not be easy on him. Expectations will be high. Many will judge him quickly. Others will try to steer him, or claim pieces of what should be his."
I felt Harry shift slightly beside me, uneasy. Lord Black nodded at both of us again.
"Stay close. He will need people he trusts for guidance or people will make use of his innocence and trust."
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End of Chapter 48 - Visiting Black's house