Escaped
Black matted hair...raging sea...Brick walls...dark haunted eyes...a black dog...
Well, this can't be good.
Walking into the kitchen, snake wrapped around his neck, there wasn't the usual happy chatter he'd hear and wake up to. Instead, Cyrus and Luna were met with hushed whispers between the two men. They glanced at each other, then at their father and Remus.
"What's going on?" Cyrus is the one to ask. They look at each other, then at the children. Remus sighs, setting the Daily Prophet on the table. The front cover had a man with the same tangled hair and lifeless eyes he'd seen in his dream.
"Something happened." Xenophilius started rather ominously, and by the sounds of it, Cyrus is correct, it can't be good.
"Sirius Black, your godfather, escaped Azkaban. I don't know if you know what that is, but it's a prison on a little island, guarded by dementors, dark creatures, we'll tell you about those later." Cyrus nods, still a slightly confused.
"Sirius was said to have been a death eater, one of Voldemorts most trusted. He was the secret keeper, as far as I remember anyway. Everyone thinks that he had told Voldemort where we were located. Witnesses say he had murdered Peter Pettigrew, one of his best friends, and thirteen muggles."
Remus had his head on the table, clutching at the blasted paper. For years, he's been torn between thinking he's innocent, and thinking he's the convicted killer everyone knows him as. 'I'm going for a walk." Is all he says, leaving the paper on the table.
"Right, let's make breakfast sorted then." Xenophilius lets his friend be. There were so many questions Cyrus wanted to ask but knew he shouldn't push.
He will just have to ask and find out himself some other time. Breakfast had been served, Remus had come back by now, looking a little better. Thy eat in relative silence, Sirius all on their minds.
The two got breakfast for the day, afterwards, Cyrus decided to start reading his schoolbooks, wanting to be a little more prepared, not that he could concentrate with Sirius on his mind. Sighing, and unable to help himself, he puts the potions book down. "Dad?"
"Yeah?" Xenophilius already knows what he's going to ask. "Can you tell me more about Sirius, please?" Xenophilius gives a small sad smile. "Of course, my boy, what would you like to know?" "Did Sirius ever have a dog? I saw one in my dream."
"Not exactly, he's an animagus, do you know what that is?" Cyrus nods. "Yeah, Professor McGonagall, she's able to turn into a cat. Does Sirius turn into a dog?"
"Yes. James was a stag. Sirius is a dog and Peter was a rat. All illegal mind you, but they did it for Remus."
"Really? They must've been great friends if they were willing to do that for him."
"Anything else you want to know, before you go sticky-beaking?" Xenophilius says light-heartedly, having heard the tales of Harry Potter from Luna."
"How did people know he was a death eater? Or was it just a rumor? How did the rumor start? Did anyone see Sirius murder those muggles? How long was he in prison for? Did he at least get a fair trial?" Question after question left his mouth, curiosity getting the better of him.
"It was just a rumor, that's what I believe anyway. I don't think I've seen the dark mark on him either. His family, the Black family, have always been dark. The Blacks studied the dark arts, all been followers of Voldemort and practiced the old traditions. Yes, people say they sawm him blow everyone up. The only thing left was Peters finger. He's been in prison for twelve years. I don't know about the trial; I couldn't make it." He makes sure to answer all of his son's questions as best he can.
"Just a finger? Shouldn't there be more?" The man shrugs. "I'm not sure, it was quite a powerful spell. How about this, I will research more about it, and you stay out of trouble?"
"Okay."
Satisfied with his questions and the answers he got; Cyrus goes back to his book. Now that all these blocks are off of him, he finds reading and his school subjects much more interesting.
Xenophilius, however, might have just found his next topic for the Qibbler, besides exposing Dumbledore that is, although that one will have to be a little more careful, for the safety of himself and his family. Of course, once Cyrus goes back to school, there's bound to be articles about it, not to mention they still have to find Charlie Potter, who knows where she is? Hopefully she's been raised better than Cyrus.
So many things to do and seemingly not enough time.