They found a secluded corner and sat down, letting out a soft sigh of relief once they were certain no one was around.
Harry placed the package containing the broomstick on the table in front of him.
This new broom, which he had been desperate to open and admire just moments ago, no longer seemed to hold his attention.
"Did you... did you hear that just now?" Harry's fingers lightly traced the rough wrapping of the package, a strange glint in his eyes. "I... I think I have a godfather... and Professor Wick... he just helped me find the one who killed my parents!"
Hermione peered cautiously around her. Seeing no one, she whispered, "Yes, we all heard it. Your godfather was framed. With Dumbledore's help, he'll be out in no time! When that happens... Harry, you won't be alone anymore! And that murderer will get exactly what he deserves soon enough!"
Harry's breath hitched for a moment at her words.
Professor Wick had unmasked a killer who had been hiding for years. Beyond the gratitude Harry felt, he was consumed by the excitement of finally finding a true relative.
He understood perfectly well what a godfather represented.
In the past, at the Dursleys, he hadn't gone hungry or cold, but their attitude toward him was simply that he was a burden to be kept alive.
But humans were emotional beings, after all—not pets, and certainly not house-elves.
Every time Harry saw his cousin Dudley being pampered to high heaven by his parents, how could he not feel a sting of envy?
Yet Harry knew clearly that such domestic warmth did not belong to him. He would never experience that kind of parental love.
That was why Harry had grown so fond of the Weasleys after meeting them.
Through them, Harry finally saw what a real family looked like.
But now, things seemed different. He was going to have a godfather...
Did this mean he could finally experience the family warmth he had always been denied?
"He... my godfather... I've never met him..." Harry said softly. "Do you think he'll want to see me?"
For a moment, Harry felt a wave of apprehension and vulnerability.
"Of course he'll want to see you, Harry!" Neville clapped a hand on Harry's shoulder. "To be chosen as your godfather, he must have been your parents' best friend! You don't have to worry about that at all. Once he's out of Azkaban, you're the first person he'll come to see! Maybe you'll even get to spend Christmas with him this year."
A smile tugged at the corners of Harry's mouth, his eyes filled with bright hope for the future. Perhaps his life really was about to change.
Hermione and the others watched him, sharing in his joy.
Ron suddenly spoke up. "It's a pity we can't talk about this yet, otherwise my parents would come to the school just to thank Professor Wick in person. I was just agonizing over the fact that I shared my food and my bed with a man, but now that I think about it, I'm actually terrified... that guy was a Death Eater! He stayed in my house for over ten years! That means my whole family lived in danger for a decade!" Ron's mention of it brought a similar chill to the others. They fell into a grim silence.
Harry went to say something, but he quickly closed his mouth as someone approached.
It was a stunningly beautiful girl with long, shining silver hair that was exceptionally striking—it was the new transfer student.
"I hope I am not disturbing your conversation," Fleur said, handing over a thick photo album. "Potter, Professor Wick asked me to give this to you."
"A photo album?" Harry took it, looking puzzled.
Fleur nodded. "Yes, an album. Professor Wick said he was distracted by other matters earlier and forgot to give it to you. He also mentioned that he knew you didn't have a single photo of your parents, so he wrote to many people before the term started to ask for them. He only recently managed to put them all together into this album."
Harry's hands trembled as he slowly opened the album. On the very first page was a photo of a young man and woman.
Below the photo, Victor Wick's handwriting was elegant and strong: [James and Lily at twenty, taken at Godric's Hollow].
James and Lily were standing in a beautiful garden, huddled close and smiling at each other. When they noticed Harry, they turned to look at him, their smiles warm and welcoming.
Harry noticed his father's messy hair—just like his own—and his mother's beautiful green eyes, which were identical to his.
He reached out to stroke the photo gently, his vision blurring as tears began to well up.
If he remembered correctly, this was the first time he had ever seen what his parents looked like.
At the Dursleys, there wasn't a single photograph of them to be found.
Harry looked up to thank Fleur, but she had already slipped away unnoticed.
The others gathered around to look at the album with him.
Harry turned to the second page.
It was a photo that appeared to have been cropped, showing three men.
Besides James, there were two other men. One was tall and handsome with long hair and a reckless grin; the other was sickly pale and thin, with a shy smile.
Victor Wick's handwriting was there as well: [James Potter, Sirius Black, Remus Lupin, taken at Godric's Hollow].
Harry traced the obvious cut mark on the edge... he knew there should have been a fourth person in the original photo, but that person was a traitor.
"Professor Wick is so thoughtful," Hermione whispered.
Harry sat there, flipping through the photos... once, twice... he felt as if he could never look at them enough.
"Harry, that's enough for now. Let's put the album away. We have things we need to do." Hermione placed a firm hand on Harry's, stopping him from turning the page again.
Harry looked up at her, and she pulled out a piece of parchment. "Did you forget? Professor Wick wants me to teach you this spell! He's done so much for you—for all of us. We can't let him down, can we?"
Under Victor Wick's tutelage, Hermione had learned to adjust her tone; her persuasion was far more effective than her usual lecturing.
Harry took a deep breath and slowly closed the album, placing it reverently into his bag.
"You're right, Hermione. I have to master this charm before our first Quidditch practice! I won't let him be disappointed in me!"
At that moment, the image of Victor Wick in Harry's mind loomed even larger than that of the powerful Headmaster Dumbledore.
At the Ministry of Magic.
Minister Fudge looked at the balding man lying unconscious on the floor, his expression incredibly complex.
Dumbledore stood right before him.
Just moments ago, Dumbledore had revealed a terrifying truth to him.
The Sirius Black case from over a decade ago was a miscarriage of justice! The hero everyone thought was dead, Peter Pettigrew, was the real traitor. Not only was he alive, but Dumbledore had captured him!
"The Veritaserum hasn't worn off yet. I shall wake him now and let him confess his crimes to you personally." Dumbledore drew his wand, preparing to revive Peter Pettigrew.
But Fudge blocked his movement.
"This is absolutely preposterous, Albus! Sirius Black has been in Azkaban for over ten years! I can't imagine the suffering he's endured! If what you say is true, then this case must be reopened!" Minister Fudge took a deep breath and continued, "But Albus, to overturn a case settled ten years ago, we must follow every regulation to the letter to convince the public."
Dumbledore's brow furrowed slightly. "Cornelius, what are you saying...?"
"Albus, this matter is of unimaginable gravity. I cannot rashly overturn a judgment from eleven years ago based solely on a single statement. This must go through the proper channels and undergo the most rigorous review. Rest assured, it won't take long. Three days at most. If Sirius is innocent, he'll be breathing the air of freedom in three days' time," Fudge said quickly.
"And how do you intend to handle Peter Pettigrew?" Dumbledore's eyes flashed.
"To ensure the witness's safety and prevent another escape, I will temporarily remand Peter Pettigrew to Azkaban until the investigation committee verifies the case. Then, we will hold a public trial," Fudge said with a serious face.
Dumbledore knew that getting everything settled today was an impossible dream.
Crucially, even as Minister, the Ministry was not Fudge's personal fiefdom.
Fudge had so many political rivals; if he committed even the slightest procedural error, they would pounce on him like wolves and tear him from his position.
Otherwise, Fudge wouldn't have spent so many years constantly writing to Dumbledore for advice.
Given Fudge's character and his obsession with power, even if he had the ability to release Sirius immediately, he would insist on following the rules.
"Very well... we shall do as you say. But remember to bind Peter's magic. He is an unregistered Animagus and can transform into a rat." Dumbledore gave Fudge a long, meaningful look before finally leaving the Minister's office.
Once Dumbledore had left, the warm smile on Fudge's face vanished instantly.
He looked at Peter Pettigrew on the floor, a look of pure disgust crossing his features.
"Anne! Get Scrimgeour in here immediately!"
Soon, Rufus Scrimgeour, Head of the Auror Office, strode into the room.
"Minister, what is the meaning of this?" Scrimgeour asked, frowning at the man on the floor.
Fudge gave Scrimgeour a complicated look and then explained the situation to him.
"Minister, do you truly intend to reopen Sirius Black's case...?" Scrimgeour's eyes were deep as he watched Fudge.
Fudge raised a hand to cut him off.
"Don't speak of such things here! Of course the case must be 'reviewed'..." He turned and sat on the sofa. "First, have men escort him to Azkaban. But... keep this in mind. Pettigrew is an extremely dangerous fugitive Death Eater. Security at Azkaban must be tripled! If... he shows any sign of escape, losing control, or attacking the guards, the Dementors are authorized to handle it immediately!"
Hearing this, Scrimgeour immediately understood Fudge's meaning—find an opportunity to let the Dementors suck Pettigrew's soul!
He knew Fudge would never allow the Sirius Black case to be overturned!
The tragedy of the Potter family had rocked the entire wizarding world because the Potter child had defeated the Dark Lord and become the Savior!
Consequently, as the culprit responsible for that tragedy, Sirius Black had become the most high-profile target among all fugitive Death Eaters overnight!
Back then, it happened right during a crucial power shift within the Ministry.
Consequently, all those involved in the swift capture of Sirius Black had reaped enormous benefits!
Barty Crouch, then Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement, was the greatest beneficiary. He became the most prestigious man in the Ministry and the frontrunner for the Minister's seat!
If it hadn't been for his disappointing son, Barty Crouch Jr., being a Death Eater, the position of Minister would never have fallen to Fudge!
And Fudge, at the time, was only the Assistant Head of the Department of Magical Accidents and Catastrophes. After the Sirius Black case, he was promoted to the top spot.
When Old Barty's chances of becoming Minister were completely destroyed by his son's scandal, Fudge took the seat.
Therefore... if Sirius Black's case was declared a miscarriage of justice, the political careers of all those officials who threw him into Azkaban without a trial would be thrown into chaos!
Fudge's political enemies could use this to kick him out of office!
So, of course, he couldn't allow Sirius to be exonerated!
As one of the beneficiaries of the case, Scrimgeour was naturally unwilling to see it reopened either.
He had risen from a senior Auror to Head of the Auror Office largely on the back of this case!
That was why Fudge felt safe entrusting this matter directly to him.
"This is simple enough, but afterward... what about Dumbledore?" Scrimgeour was still a bit uneasy.
"Accidents happen all the time... you understand," Fudge said softly. "Remember to bind Pettigrew's magic; he's an Animagus. We can't let him escape."
A witness can only be destroyed; he cannot be allowed to escape.
A single, small accident that no one could be blamed for... and the Sirius Black case would never have to be reopened.
That was why Fudge had stopped Dumbledore earlier and refused to let him wake Pettigrew.
As long as he hadn't heard Pettigrew's testimony himself, he would not be forced to become a witness!
"I understand." Scrimgeour drew his wand and gave it a sharp flick. Peter Pettigrew's unconscious body drifted into the air and followed him out of the office.
Dumbledore had just left the Ministry when he encountered Victor Wick on the street.
"You were right, Victor..." Dumbledore sighed softly. "We truly cannot trust the Ministry... Cornelius... he lied to me."
Victor chuckled. "I can't say I'm surprised in the least. Well, since they don't want to play by the rules, I suppose I'll just have to stop playing by them as well."
"Victor..." Dumbledore started, then hesitated.
"Go back, Professor Dumbledore. There's no need for you to get your hands dirty. You aren't suited for this kind of work, but for a former Death Eater like me, it's perfectly fitting."
"Victor, I still hope Sirius can leave Azkaban honorably," Dumbledore said with a frown.
"Don't worry, Professor. I have no intention of staging a prison break. There are many ways to handle those who don't follow the rules... I prefer to use the methods they are best at against them."
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