With the letters written, Harry attached them to Hedwig, making sure to tell her to deliver Rita's letter last as he wouldn't put it past her to look through the rest. The white bird was excited for her task and jumped on Harry's shoulder for a moment to nuzzle his hair, before she took flight.
"She's a sweet bird," Sirius commented.
"Hedwig is great - she was my first friend," Harry said. Although he was not as close with this version of her, Harry still held a lot of love for his snowy owl.
"I need to look at getting an owl and a wand," Sirius said, coming to sit by Harry.
"We can look to see if there are any family wands in the Black vault," Harry said.
"I tried that when I was younger; they didn't work," Sirius said sadly.
"Getting a new wand made could also work, if Ollivanders doesn't have what you need," Harry said.
Sirius frowned. "But Ollivander doesn't make wands for people, he just makes them and you find a match," Sirius said.
"There's a wand show in Knockturn Alley which makes wands; you pick the wood and core that you react best with," Harry said. Sirius frowned. "How do you know what's in Knockturn?" he asked, worried about the thought of the small boy wandering the streets of Knockturn without an adult even with an adult it was dangerous.
Harry shrugged. "I like to investigate," he hedged.
Sirius sighed. "I know you've never had an adult you could depend on, or who worried, but please, for me, don't go to Knockturn Alley," he said, then seeing Harry's frown, he added, "or at least, don't go without telling me so I can come with you."
"I think I can agree to that - for now," Harry said. "So, this wand shop - you think I will be able to get a match?" Sirius asked. He would no longer deny something just for being Dark and, if Harry trusted the shop, Sirius would consider it.
"You should be able to. It's where people go to get second wands made as the wands created will always work, just maybe not as well as original wands," Harry warned with a wince. Sirius had, in his last life, bemoaned the loss of his wand when it had been snapped while he was in Azkaban.
Sirius held back the pang he felt and Harry sympathised. Although his holly wand was his, he had loved having the elder wand. That wand had made his magic sing and surge. He couldn't wait to obtain it again. "Think we will have time to go tomorrow?" Sirius asked, anxious to get a wand back.
"We should be able to fit it in before the interview. If not, the shops in Knockturn stay open later," Harry said, making Sirius realise just how much time the boy must have spent down the darker Alley. His family had always been Dark and, growing up, he had tried to distance himself from that. As soon as he got his Hogwarts letter he had fought to be everything they weren't: Light, Gryffindor, and good.
Having had his blood inheritance results and being cleansed, Sirius realised now that most of his behaviour was influenced by his Hogwarts letter and the compulsions placed on it; not that his family wasn't awful, but they were not awful because of their magical classification. They were just awful people in general - well, most of them.
Sirius though, he had denied his own magic and forced himself to become something he was not. He was a Dark wizard. Not a bad person or a sadist, but his magic was naturally Dark. Forcing himself to only do Light magic and become a Light wizard was unnatural for him; it had made him weaker. He would be dammed if he would force Harry to be anything other than who he was and, in the short time he had been with the boy, he suspected the boy was Dark. How Dark, he didn't know, but he would support his godson no matter what.
Harry had given Sirius back his freedom, both from Azkaban and from Dumbledore. He would do anything for him now.
The next morning, Harry and the two men had breakfast together before Sirius left for his appointment at St. Mungo's. Harry's appointment wasn't until noon, so he and Remus had some time.
Harry was waiting for Hedwig to return with his letters and the daily newspaper, anxious to see how the paper reported Sirius' release and trial. Setting aside his replies, Harry gave Hedwig some treats and unrolled the paper.
~
Ministry Blunders - Who Else is Innocent? By Rita Skeeter
Yesterday in a shock trial, which had members of the Wizengamot unaware until the trial itself, revealed shocking ministry injustices.
Sirius Black, renowned for being a mass murderer and supporter of You-Know-Who, was found to have been innocent of all crimes! The man, now 31, was imprisoned without a trial in Azkaban ten years ago after being accused of the murders of Peter Pettigrew - who has been found by aurors in the last few days - and twelve muggles. In a great twist, it has been revealed that it was Pettigrew who betrayed the Potter family to You-Know-Who, resulting in their murder and it was Pettigrew who killed the twelve muggles. The man is an unregistered rat animagus and was found just days before the trial of Mr. Black by Auror Kingsley Shacklebolt.
What happens next? Who knows, but it begs the question: if Mr. Black is innocent, how many more are?
This reporter aims to find out.
~
Harry smirked as he read the article before handing the paper to Remus. Picking up his letters, Harry was slightly relieved that Susan hadn't sent a howler. Reading her letter first, Harry opened it. ~
Harry,
Harrison James Potter, you don't know how lucky you are that this letter isn't a howler. My aunt refused to do the charm for me - so you should thank her later!
How could you keep this from us?! You know we would have helped you!
Screw Dumbledore - yes, I swore - we're your friends, Harry! We will always stand by you and help to support you.
You had better not keep anything from us again without a great reason! When we meet up on the 1st, you had better be prepared to answer all my questions mister, or I will not be happy.
I hope your summer has been okay regardless. I was getting ready to send my aunt after you because I hadn't yet heard!
So, don't be a stranger and write! I want to hear all about it!
Love, Susie,
Your still frustrated but loyal friend
•
🚀New updates on my Ko-fi!🚀
Support me and read the novel, now available in PDF, with the advanced chapters.
•
https://ko-fi.com/cmrowling