Harry Potter A New Sirius Black

And she knew, without a shadow of doubt, that it had been because of Voldemort that he was murdered. Harry's words were like a dart shot straight through her heart; there was going to be a second war, and Cedric had been the first casualty. And she was going to fight with Harry, to stand tall in the face of adversity and do battle with the demon that was trying, once again, to destroy the world.

"Sirius," said Harry, and even though his voice shook, the look in his eyes was that of someone who knew what had to be done. "I need to talk to them. Please. Where are they?"

Minerva's mind dredged up the past again as she thought of the First War, and the similar strength of many Order members when they saw their comrades fall in battle. Many had expressed the same sentiment; after their deaths, they wished to comfort the victims' loved ones, because they felt responsible. Upon speaking to Cedric's parents, Minerva had learned that even through their sorrow, they did not blame Harry. They were incredibly grateful, and shed many tears, over the fact that Harry had risked his life to bring their son's body back to them, back home to where he belonged instead of leaving him in that awful place. Looking at the pleading, earnest expression on Harry's face, she knew she had to let him do this. The Diggorys could be instrumental in helping Harry see that Cedric's death wasn't his fault.

Unfortunately, she had also got wind of some of the rumblings and rumors circulating through the school, that Harry had murdered Cedric. And Minerva knew that was the biggest mockery of the truth. From her experience with tragedy, she was very much aware that people tried to find an easy target to blame. It was much easier to believe Harry Potter a murderer than the fact that the monster most thought dead had actually returned to life. Minerva felt sadness squeeze her heart as she thought of the trials and hardships ahead of the young, innocent boy in front of her. And she knew that Amos and Eileen Diggory knew the truth, and they would be in Harry's corner, whatever may come.

So, she faced Harry, and answered his question quietly. "They are with Cedric, in a room off the hospital wing," she said. "I can ask them if they want to talk to you."

Sirius glowered at her furiously. "Minerva, what are you doing? You can't think this is right! Hasn't he been through enough?" he snarled viciously.

Harry shook his head. "Sirius, I need to do this," he said, sincerity shining in his emerald eyes. "I have to."

Minerva got up out of her chair, knowing that the moment had arrived to talk to the Diggorys. The entire time, she heard Sirius begging Harry not to go through with this, that it would only make things worse, but Harry was having none of it. As she left the room, Minerva hoped beyond anything that this would be the first step towards Harry's recovery, and the beginning of her redemption.

 .....

Harry sat dejectedly on his hospital bed, waiting for the Diggorys to arrive. He dreaded this meeting with all his being, but he knew he had to see them. He had to apologize, to let them know that he would have done anything, given up anything, to bring back Cedric safe and alive.

It had been a rough morning for Harry. When he'd awoken, there had been a few blissful seconds where he had remembered nothing from the night before. But as soon as he smelled the sterile scent and recognized the white ceiling of the hospital wing, the memories hit him like a sledgehammer. Lord Voldemort had returned, and he had ordered Peter Pettigrew to murder Cedric Diggory. Harry's blood had been used, against his will, to resurrect the most evil wizard in history. He had talked to his parents for the first time in his memory, and barely had time to learn their faces and voices. Cedric had told him to hold on, to escape, to take his body back to his parents and loved ones.

Most of the evening had been a blur for him, especially the moments after he returned to Hogwarts with Cedric's body. He remembered the screams and wails, remembered his own desperation as Dumbledore had tried to get him to release Cedric's body. He had trouble recalling what he'd said, what he'd done during those minutes of chaos.

But, he surmised, I must have said that Voldemort is back. He recalled the moments when Cornelius Fudge had not believed the truth, and Harry's dread mounted tenfold as he thought about that in the light of morning. If the Ministry didn't believe Voldemort was back, then who did they think had killed Cedric?

Harry was reminded of the events two years ago when the school had been gripped with the terrifying implications of the Chamber of Secrets. Because he had unknowingly shown the whole school that he could speak Parseltongue, suspicion ran rampant in the corridors and classrooms. Harry didn't want to even imagine what people were suspecting about him now; it was too much to bear.

But one thing that had floored Harry beyond anything was the fact that Sirius had stayed by his side the entire night, and had still been with him when he awoke this morning. The man had told him that before he awoke, the others who had stayed by his side the night before which included Ron, Hermione, and Mrs. Weasley had gone to the Great Hall to get breakfast. "They wanted to stay until you woke up, but I persuaded them to leave and come back later," Sirius had said. "They were reluctant, but I told them you wouldn't want to be overcrowded by people right now."

.....

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