In the wizarding world, which often seems to linger in the customs of the last century, there are moments of undeniable convenience. For instance, Sirius Black, who had just been rudely awakened by a splash of cold water, found himself in a bewildering situation. His sense of smell had been obliterated by an unfortunate encounter with a dungbomb, courtesy of John, leaving him oblivious to Severus Snape's stealthy approach until it was too late. The voice that roused him was vaguely familiar, yet before he could piece it together, he was coerced into drinking a mysterious potion.
"Come on, Dalang, drink this," a voice murmured, as Sirius, still disoriented, complied without question, only realizing what had transpired after the liquid had been swallowed. He looked up to find John holding a glass, his demeanor eerily reminiscent of a caregiver tending to a patient. The sight of Snape's pallid, grim face prompted Sirius to blurt out, "Snotling?" only to see Snape's expression darken further.
"What did you just make me drink?" Sirius demanded, a surge of anger cutting through his confusion.
"Veritaserum. Didn't I mention it was medicine?" John replied, feigning innocence.
A chill ran down Sirius's spine as he realized the precariousness of his situation, trapped between two of his most formidable adversaries from his school days. It felt akin to being cast back into the horrors of Azkaban.
John, observing the serum's effect, conjured a chair and seated himself with a satisfied smile. "It's fascinating, isn't it, Sirius Black? We've met before. You were responsible for that fog, weren't you?" he prodded, unable to resist the allure of uncovering more secrets, especially those concerning Voldemort. Given his and Voldemort's intertwined fates and the destruction of two Horcruxes, John was particularly eager to delve deeper.
Sirius, whose mental state had been frayed by twelve years in Azkaban, fixed John with a serious gaze. "I'm not the murderer. It was him, the one who hid!" he exclaimed, his voice tinged with madness.
John, reacting instinctively, slapped Sirius, the force of the blow swelling his face. "It's him, the coward who betrayed James!" Sirius muttered, more lucid now.
John turned to Snape, puzzled by Sirius's claim and wondering if his actions had inadvertently caused further confusion. Snape, observing Sirius's condition with a barely concealed eagerness, prompted, "So, you're saying you're not the murderer. Then who is?"
"I wanted to ask about Voldemort," John thought, but he decided to follow Sirius's narrative. "Peter Pettigrew!" Sirius declared, his eyes bloodshot, his demeanor bordering on hysteria.
Snape scoffed, "Peter Pettigrew? You seem to forget that you killed him twelve years ago."
John, hearing Pettigrew's name, couldn't help but think of Ron's pet rat. Snape, sensing an opportunity, pressed on, "Tell us, who aided your escape from Azkaban and entry into Hogwarts? Was it Remus Lupin?"
Sirius, despite his loathing for answering Snape, was compelled by the Veritaserum. "No, not Lupin. I had only two friends in this," he admitted grudgingly. "Crookshanks," he revealed, the name hanging in the air, laden with implications yet to be fully understood. "Tom, they are my friends. Help me catch Peter Pettigrew," John implored, his voice tinged with a mix of hope and desperation. Upon hearing the name Tom, a wave of disappointment washed over him. He absentmindedly twirled his cherry wood wand between his fingers, his tone light yet laced with an underlying chill. "Was this wand a gift from Tom as well?" The thought that his loyal dog might have betrayed him by stealing his wand for someone else sent a shiver down his spine. Given Tom's ability to understand human speech and the significance of a wand to a wizard, this act of betrayal seemed even more profound.
Sirius, who was standing nearby, quickly corrected him. "No, it wasn't," he clarified. "I found this wand near the Whomping Willow."
John's confusion deepened. "What?" he exclaimed, his gaze piercing Sirius as he pressed for more information. "Then who gave it to you?" The idea of his wand mysteriously making its way to someone else was baffling.
Despite John's repeated inquiries, the answer remained the same: the wand was discovered near the Whomping Willow. Frustration evident on his face, John turned to Professor Snape and suggested, "Professor, perhaps the Veritaserum is no longer effective. Should we administer more?"
At this, Snape revealed a sinister smile, seized Sirius, and forcibly administered a dose of Veritaserum. Sirius struggled in vain against Snape's grip. The potion's efficacy was undeniable; Sirius inadvertently revealed trivial secrets from his past, including the age at which he last wet the bed.
However, amidst these revelations, a significant truth emerged: Sirius was not responsible for the betrayal and murder of the Potter family. The Potters had used the Fidelius Charm, entrusting their safety to a Secret Keeper. James Potter had initially chosen Sirius for this role, but Sirius, fearing he was an obvious target, suggested Peter Pettigrew instead—a decision that would haunt him for years.
"We trusted him so much, and we never even considered Remus," Sirius lamented, his voice filled with a mixture of anger and regret. For twelve years, he had lived with the guilt of his perceived betrayal, a guilt that was only compounded when Peter Pettigrew faked his own death, leaving Sirius to be wrongfully imprisoned in Azkaban.
It wasn't until Sirius saw a newspaper article about Pettigrew's supposed heroism that he managed to escape Azkaban, determined to clear his name and seek justice at Hogwarts.
Snape and John listened in silence, the weight of Sirius's words hanging heavily in the air. If Sirius's account was true, and there was no reason to doubt it given the Veritaserum's effect, this revelation would cast a dark shadow over the Ministry of Magic.
"Professor, what do you plan to do with him?" John broke the silence, his question directed at Snape, who seemed momentarily taken aback by the inquiry.
John's smile was disarming, yet his suggestion was chilling. "We could simply claim he attacked a student. No one would question his immediate execution or his being handed over to the Dementors."
The suggestion sent a shiver down the spines of both adult wizards. Snape, astonished by John's ruthlessness, and Sirius, terrified by the young Slytherin's indifference to justice and life.
Snape, regaining his composure, sternly addressed John. "John Wick," he began, his tone a mix of reprimand and disbelief.
John, unfazed, suggested keeping Sirius locked up temporarily while they verified the truth. His intention was not to act on his earlier, cold suggestion but to use Sirius as leverage in negotiations with the Ministry of Magic, especially now that the true story of the events twelve years ago had come to light.
Peter Pettigrew, the real traitor, had been celebrated as a hero, receiving the Merlin First Class Medal for a sacrifice he never made. The irony of the situation was not lost on John, who saw an opportunity to right a grave wrong and bring the true villain to justice. John found himself in a quagmire, with the weight of his next decision resting solely on his shoulders. If Rufus Scrimgeour persisted in his obstinate stance, John was fully prepared to expose the Ministry of Magic's scandals to the public. He envisioned headlines that would shock the wizarding world, painting the Death Eaters in a heroically tragic light. However, if Scrimgeour chose to align himself as an ally to Johnny Silverhand, John was willing to conceal the truth, thereby granting the Ministry a significant favor and preserving its esteemed reputation. Yet, with Professor Snape's presence, John had to tread carefully.
After their encounter in the Forbidden Forest, John and Snape made their way out, walking side by side in an uneasy alliance. Snape, with his usual brisk pace, soon parted ways, leaving John to contemplate his next move alone. Regardless of the path he chose, locating Peter Pettigrew was imperative.
John's gaze deepened as he absentmindedly rubbed the ring on his finger, feeling the weight of its dark curse. The ring, with its pitch-black gemstone, seemed to contain swirling, shadowy waters, hinting at the depth of its malevolent power.
_________
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Direct Link to playlist
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f_Hg-qsW4rM&list=PLKskshYG-OcPTR4-Nw7IWFEBZm07D8pBV&ab_channel=NovelAudioForge