Prompt 29 - Confident
Wolfstar June 29, word count 600
Previous part First part
The silvery-blue Phoenix came two days later than Remus had expected. Remus had braved the walk to the trees behind Hagrid’s hut, under the invisibility cloak and collected the baskets of food the house elves left for them.
They’d had very little to do but sit and wait. Remus had taken Padfoot for long walks in the forest when the solitude became too much for Sirius to cope with. He hadn’t been in Azkaban long, but it had done a number on him. Remus was confident that with time and perhaps a few visits to a healer who specialised in mind healing, Sirius would return to his former self, or as close to that person as he could be without James and Lily in his life.
The Phoenix opened its beak, and Dumbledore’s voice came out of it.
“Peter Pettigrew has been tried and found guilty. He now resides in Azkaban, awaiting his verdict on whether or not to administer the Dementor’s Kiss. Sirius Black has been cleared of all charges, and apart from a fine for being an unregistered animagus, he is free to go.”
Relief flooded Remus. He let out a ragged breath and reached for Sirius, who sat there on the soft moss bed, frozen in shock.
“As for Remus Lupin, who aided and abetted the escaped prisoner Sirius Black, he is to be pardoned of all wrongdoing as a sign of goodwill towards Mr Black for the misunderstanding. The incident will be stricken from his record.”
It was more than he could have hoped for. He’d been so sure that they would want to arrest him and throw him in Azkaban to rot with Peter.
“I have a copy of your pardons from the Ministry waiting for you in my office. And as to the guardianship of Lily and James’s son, Harry. It was stated by both of them that Mr Sirius Orion Black the Third, the boys’ godfather, is to be their son Harry James Potter’s guardian in the event of their death or incapacitation. I have made arrangements for the boy to be brought to the castle tomorrow morning to be placed in your custody. I will see you tomorrow. Congratulations again.”
The message cut off, and the Phoenix faded into non-existence.
“We did it,” Remus whispered, turning away from the spot the phoenix had appeared and looking at Sirius for the first time in minutes.
“We did,” Sirius agreed, his body slowly coming back to life after sitting frozen for so long. “And we get Harry.”
Remus pulled him into their arms, and they sobbed for a long time until their tears ran dry and their breathing returned to normal. It was only then that Remus heard it. The sounds of the forest, almost like cheering. Was the forest cheering for them? He didn’t know, but he felt the lick of wild magic caressing him and filling him with warmth. He smiled, closing his eyes and letting it wash over him. Sirius gasped, and Remus knew the magic was flowing into him from all the spots they were touching. They were free, and now they had their whole lives together to look forward to.
“I love you,” Remus told Sirius, looking into his eyes, brighter than they had been since Remus had rescued him.
“I love you too,” Sirius replied, and with the wild magic still coursing through them, they kissed, falling back on the soft moss and held each other until the first rays of sun found their way into their shelter, and they set off to the castle to get Harry.
Final part
