After eventually getting free from the ministry, with Sirius barely managing to worm his way out of being admitted to Saint Mungo's for 24 hour care (instead promising to attend daily sessions), the three of them returned to their rooms at the Leaky Cauldron. They made sure to keep their hoods up as the public wouldn't know about the trial until tomorrow's papers.
Entering the rooms, Harry insisted Sirius go bathe and ordered food for them all. It was only just after 12, but still he felt drained. They had a lot to sort out before the week was out and Harry wanted to get started on it right away.
After he bathed, Sirius decided to cut his hair and his beard before he re-joined them. Eating the food quickly and savouring every bite, the three didn't talk until Sirius slowed down.
"So… ," Sirius said, eventually looking up at the faces surrounding him.
"Hi," Harry said sheepishly. Now that the drama had calmed down, Harry didn't want to upset Sirius again.
Sirius smiled. "You're just like your father, he always had to break the ice," he said.
"He sounds like a great man," Harry said.
Sirius's smile faded. "He was."
"I don't even know where to start," Harry admitted.
Sirius frowned slightly. "Maybe with why I ended up in there in the first place. Dumbledore knew I was innocent - he was the binder for the spell. Hagrid had seen me," he said, his voice stronger but still raspy.
Remus cringed. "I'm so sorry, Sirius. By the time I got back to England you were already in jail. Harry was just gone and everybody said it was you, your fault. Dumbledore, the papers, everybody. I just couldn't cope… ," Remus said, his voice fading as he looked away.
Harry, knowing that the wolf had been controlled, placed a hand on his knee in support.
"I think I should start," Harry said, interrupting Sirius, who looked angry. "When I reentered this world, I visited the goblins. They performed a blood inheritance test on me as I had grown up ignorant of magic with my muggle aunt and uncle - well, mostly ignorant. The test revealed magical blocks and compulsions; Dumbledore placed them on me. There was even a blood glamour on me to make me look like my father."
"After I had them removed, I didn't know what to do; my memory has always been exceptional, that's why I say mostly ignorant. I can remember you Pads, giving me lifts on your back when I was a baby - that's the only real thing I remember about my life before that night. I asked about you, thinking you had just abandoned me like everybody else seemed to have, when I was told about your imprisonment. That's when I hired Dodge through the goblins."
"Wait, you remember that far back?" Sirius asked, shocked.
"Yes - my memories are vague, but I remember that night clearly. Anyway, after I hired Dodge, I went to Hogwarts. It was my first year, obviously, and I was sorted into Ravenclaw. Dumbledore was weird all year and was overly interested in me. I made friends with Neville Longbottom, Hannah Abbott, and Susan Bones, and even they noticed Dumbledore was weird with me. I also then found out he is my magical guardian. However, until the day I saw him at the opening feast, I had never met him. I grew up with my magic hating muggle relatives; abused, beaten, and starved. I had no idea about being the Boy-Who-Lived or any other nonsense. He left me alone, unchecked."
Sirius looked angry and confused, reminding Harry he would have to be cleansed of magic as he probably had compulsions making him want to remain loyal to Dumbledore.
"I met Remus last week; I wrote to him and told him about your trial. I made him get checked out and, like me, he had compulsions on him. Dumbledore has done this before," Harry said.
Sirius was shaking and Harry watched as he seemed to fight with himself.
"They hurt you?" he asked eventually. His voice was abnormally calm.
"It wasn't that bad. This year I had help! Madame Pomfrey and Professor Snape really cared and supplied me with great healing ointments and potions," Harry said.
"They hurt my pup on purpose. Dumbledore abandoned you! He locked me up and abandoned you to be hurt!" Sirius continued.
"Sirius, calm down," Harry said, moving to hug him.
Sirius latched onto the small boy and held him tightly. "I will kill them," he promised.
Harry shook his head. "Killing the ones who hurt you doesn't work automatically," he said, thinking about Hermione for a moment. "Or, at least, it doesn't make you feel instantly better. However, I won't stop you. I will even help," Harry promised, making Remus laugh as he thought Harry was joking.
Sirius smiled lightly as well, however he picked up the slight tension in Harry's body as he promised. "I think I need to visit the goblins," he said.
"I think that's a good idea," Harry agreed, still in his arms.
....
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