As anticipated, Madam Bones was far from pleased when she discovered that some of the spells aimed at Black had inadvertently struck Harry instead. However, with no one stepping forward to accept responsibility and no time to investigate the matter, the director of the DMLE was left to assume the fault lay with her subordinates. Consequently, she would have to allocate department funds to compensate Potter for this incident.
At that moment, though, Amelia Bones had more pressing concerns. Specifically, she needed to arrange a trial for Sirius Black and do so discreetly; she was certain there were influential individuals within the Ministry who would prefer to permanently silence the escaped convict rather than risk exposure during the trial.
Although the Aurors accompanying her knew how to maintain confidentiality, she couldn't control the Hogwarts professors from disseminating news about Black's capture. To make matters worse, Severus Snape was a known associate of one of the Imperiused Death Eaters, making it likely that Lucius Malfoy would learn of today's events before dinner. Madam Bones shook her head resolutely; she would not allow the blond man—or any other Death Eater who had managed to bribe their way out of Azkaban—near the holding cell where Black would await his trial, even if it meant she had to stand guard herself.
~/ *** \~
Madam Pomfrey decided it best for Harry to awaken from the spells' effects naturally, allowing him to rest in the hospital wing for the remainder of the evening and the night. Meanwhile, Albus Dumbledore informed the student body that Sirius Black had attempted to infiltrate the castle, using one of the students as a "hostage." Fortunately, he had been stopped before reaching the entrance.
When Harry awoke early the next morning, he once again found himself the center of attention—a development he was less than thrilled about, especially with the outrageous rumors that had circulated the castle the previous evening. With little he could do to quell the gossip, he focused on his studies, aware of the homework he needed to catch up on since he'd accomplished none the day before.
Reflecting on the events from the Shrieking Shack and the secret tunnel linking it to Hogwarts, Harry questioned whether it was fortunate he hadn't used his implanted eye on Pettigrew. On one hand, his indecision had allowed the man who betrayed his parents and framed his godfather to evade justice once more. On the other hand, he was apprehensive about explaining how Wormtail had been petrified—no student, particularly not a third year, should be familiar with such dark magic. He dreaded the prospect of what the Ministry might do if they discovered his secret eye. Harry was determined not to lose his right eye for the second time.
Further contemplating his eye sparked an idea for another path in his research on how to seal Voldemort's soul away. Until now, he had focused solely on spells or rituals capable of this feat, all of which came with exorbitant costs—extensive preparations or even the sacrifice of a soul, often his own. However, his basilisk eye reminded him that there might exist tools designed specifically for sealing souls. While most likely they would be heroic artifacts he could never wield, there was a slim chance...
Sadly, with the end-of-year exams approaching, the overwhelming amount of homework assigned by professors forced Harry to put aside his quest for soul-sealing artifacts in favor of writing the tedious essays he had been given. Moreover, distractions from intriguing magic found in older tomes didn't help either.
~/ *** \~
The Monday morning 'Daily Prophet' made waves among its readers, featuring a transcript of Sirius Black's trial conducted during an extraordinary session of the Wizengamot the day before. The trial revealed that Mr. Black was innocent of both betraying the Potters to Voldemort and killing Peter Pettigrew—enough to send shockwaves through magical Britain. Yet, this was merely the tip of the iceberg.
Even more explosive were Black's revelations about Pettigrew's fate: the man was still alive and had been the Death Eater who sold the Potters to Voldemort. The 'Daily Prophet' correspondent noted that while questions about Black's credibility lingered—given the years spent in Azkaban—the absence of the Dark Mark and the use of veritaserum lent some weight to his claims.
As a result of Black's innocence, the Ministry would be required to issue a substantial compensation for the years he endured in prison, often referred to as "Hell on Earth," though the exact amount remained undisclosed. Additionally, the Ministry was tasked with reintegrating Mr. Black into society, starting with a mandatory three-week stay in St. Mungo's mental ward, where top medi-wizards would ensure he regained his sanity.
~/ *** \~
The following weeks passed without any significant events at Hogwarts. Even the exams faced by Harry and his third-year peers proved far from daunting, likely due in part to Hermione's insistence on revising every spare moment they had.
Despite Hermione's constant oversight, Harry managed to delve deeper into his research on ways to defeat Voldemort. Unfortunately, he still encountered obstacles; while artifacts capable of sealing souls had existed in the past, they seemed to have vanished over time or their effects were easily reversible. Undeterred, Harry persisted in his quest.
Though he spent most of his time focused on soul-sealing artifacts, he also continued his studies in healing magic, aided by the Room of Requirement, which provided ancient tomes penned by some of history's greatest wizards and witches.
Naturally, the 'Daily Prophet' published a grand article covering Sirius Black's release from St. Mungo's, which came as a surprise since neither Black nor the ministry representatives provided any statements. It seemed magical journalism could turn the simplest event into a sprawling narrative.
As no interviews were granted, speculation ran wild about what Mr. Black might do next. Even Hogwarts' infamous rumor mill, typically insulated from external happenings, buzzed with theories regarding the former Azkaban inmate. Given that everyone knew Harry was Black's godson, many anticipated the man would eventually appear at Hogwarts.
This theory materialized a few days later when a nervous first-year Hufflepuff informed Harry that someone wished to speak to him in one of the first-floor classrooms. Sighing, he closed the book he had been reading for Potions and reassured his friends that he'd be fine before leaving the library.
In the often-unused classroom, Sirius Black—now clean, shaven, and appearing more composed—awaited him alongside Professor McGonagall. Once Harry settled into a chair, the professor nodded to Sirius and exited to grant them some privacy. For about twenty seconds, an awkward silence enveloped the room as neither man knew how to begin. Finally, Black broke the quiet.
"Um… Harry, it's nice to finally meet you… without any troublesome circumstances." Harry studied the man before him for a moment before nodding in agreement.
"Yeah." Another long silence followed, before Sirius spoke again.
"Listen, Harry, I realize I've been a terrible godfather and haven't done anything for your upbringing, but... can you tell me about your childhood? Dumbledore mentioned placing you with Lily's family for your safety… but from what I remember, they were less than ideal guardians." Harry nodded, willing to share.
"Yes, Dumbledore placed me with the Dursleys. And you're right; they're far too 'normal' to properly raise a magical child. But overall, it could have been much worse. Let's leave it at that." Harry replied, noting the disappointment on Sirius's face as he mentally scolded himself for pursuing Pettigrew that fateful night.
"Well, now that I'm free, would you consider living with me? With the compensation the Ministry's giving me, I could buy us a lovely house near some nice beaches..." Sirius said, a dreamy expression on his face. Harry wondered if he should have spent more time around the mental healers. Or was this typical behavior? God help any children he may have...
"Thank you, but I'm already emancipated and living at Potter properties," Harry stated. "I enjoy it there, so there's no need for you to worry about me." He hoped his tone conveyed enough gentleness not to offend Sirius, and after a brief pause, the man silently acknowledged Harry's decision.
"Ah… I also noticed your eye patch. What happened? It's such a shame—Lily had such beautiful eyes, and you've inherited them." Harry sighed; he was uncomfortable discussing his past wounds. Nevertheless, this was his godfather, so...
"Oh, this? You might have heard about last year's Chamber of Secrets incident… I got caught in the middle of it and encountered the beast. It was dealt with, of course, and I received compensation for my loss." He offered only that much.
"Well, at least this gives you a bit of a bad boy edge, and girls tend to like that, right?" Sirius quipped, prompting an exasperated sigh from Harry. This led him to consider whether Sirius had truly been released from the mental ward too soon—or if this was simply his usual behavior.
"Speaking of girls, Harry," Sirius continued, "while I'm glad to see you're enjoying the company of fellow Gryffindors, I worry about you being close with Slytherins, especially those associated with the Death Eaters."
Harry shot Sirius a glare that could send lesser men scattering—he wouldn't tolerate any disparagement of his friends. "They're my friends, so don't speak ill of them." He struggled to keep his emotions in check, eyeing Sirius with an intensity akin to Professor McGonagall's when she was furious.
"But…"
"As I mentioned, Mr. Black, I'm emancipated. I am currently Lord Potter and legally an adult. Even as my godfather, you possess no authority over me, so please don't try to impose your worldview on me. This is my life and my choices. If you can't accept that, perhaps it would be best if we parted ways here." Rising from his chair, Harry added, "Have a pleasant evening, Mr. Black. Our meeting concludes here." Without another word, he departed, heading to the kitchens for some dinner, having no inclination to join the throng in the Great Hall.
The following day passed quietly for Harry, and while Hermione and Neville sensed he was in a foul mood, they opted not to press him, fearful of exacerbating his distress.
However, as the trio made their way to the Great Hall for lunch, Harry noticed Draconica waiting for him by one of the lesser-known passages. Sensing she had something significant to convey, he told his friends to go ahead without him and approached her.
Draconica greeted him with a soft smile and motioned for him to follow her deeper into the concealed passage, where they would be less likely to be overheard.
"So...?" Harry prompted once they were sure they were alone.
Draconica didn't respond right away; she seemed more subdued than usual, her eyes lowered. Finally, she spoke. "Yesterday, during your meeting with Sirius Black, you raised your voice a bit, and… I couldn't help but overhear. Thank you for defending me."
Then, unexpectedly, she kissed him on the lips, leaving Harry momentarily stunned by the suddenness of it. When he finally processed what had happened...
If he were to compare this kiss to those he had shared with Katie, Draconica's was gentler, filled with warmth and affection. It radiated an intensity that made him feel safe and empowered, almost to the point of being able to conjure a corporeal Patronus amidst a swarm of Dementors.
Before long, they had to break their kiss, standing there for a few moments simply gazing into each other's eyes. As reality settled in, both young wizards turned away, blushing fiercely.
~/ *** \~
This encounter with Draconica invigorated Harry's resolve in his research. Soon enough, he stumbled upon an artifact that might solve his Voldemort dilemma, complete with a scroll indicating its potential whereabouts. The fact that it was located on the other side of the world posed little challenge for Harry. He immediately sent an owl to Violet, requesting her assistance in gathering necessary paperwork and booking an international portkey. This summer, he thought, he would finally possess the means to confront Voldemort.
Besides this monumental yet personal breakthrough, Harry performed well on his end-of-year examinations, achieving high marks of 'Exceeds Expectations' and 'Outstanding.' However, he didn't place much value on these accomplishments, much to Hermione's annoyance, as he had far more pressing plans to strategize for the summer ahead.
~/ *** \~
As Hogwarts students made their way home, Bertha Jorkins, vacationing in Albania, entered a bustling local pub, unsure why she had found herself in this village but driven by hunger. The place was crowded, and she ended up seated next to a rat-like man she should have recognized but didn't, her memory muddled. After a few pints of a local beverage, Bertha unwittingly revealed to this man that she worked in the Department of Magical Sports and Games and that she was part of the team organizing the revived Triwizard Tournament.
This was the last time anyone on the right side of the law saw the bubbly witch.