"An Animagi, eh?" Professor Slytherin was saying as Adhara ran into the clearing, "Well, we shall soon see about that. I do recall there is a certain spell which can force an Animagius wizard into his original form, I don�t recall the exact spell . . ."
"Divulgiarmus, I think. Is it not, Professor Slytherin?" Adhara called, ignoring the looks of surprise from the other two professors, "I think I read about it somewhere." Professor Slytherin nodded, still staring at the stunned dog.
"Rather complex spell," Professor Gryffindor pointed his wand at something behind Adhara and whispered a few words. Without looking behind her, she knew that he had put an invisibility shield around the corpse of James Potter and the unconscious body of Lucius. Although she respected his desire to protect her from the sight of her friend in such a state, she felt that she ought to have permission to at least see her friend.
Adhara shivered in the night, was Lucius to be all right? Where was Severus? The three others in the clearing knew nothing of his disappearance . . . what if he was in danger? What if Sirius had already done something to him? Sirius?
Tears poured down her face as she cursed herself for even thinking that Sirius could have possibly done anything to any of her friends, but if it wasn�t Sirius, than who was it? Who was this in front of them anyway? There had to be more than one wizard in this world who was Animagi and could turn into a large black dog . . .
"Enervate!" Purple sparks shot out of Professor Dumbledore�s wand, un-stunning the dog who instantly tried to flee, but all three wizards pointed their wands at him. The dog looked at each woefully, but seemed to understand the situation and did not move. Indeed, it was a wizard, for a dog would have just fled into the woods behind him as the presence of wands would mean nothing to a dog.
Professor Gryffindor closed his eyes for a moment of concentration and then opened them again, the despair present before had vanished. Instead, searing hatred ripped through them as he whispered "Divulgiarmus!" In the brilliant flash of blue-white light, the dog had vanished and the one who appeared in his place surprised all in the clearing, but Adhara the most. How could it be?
"Sirius Black!" Professor Gryffindor�s eyes flamed with hate, "I never would have guessed that it was you, of all people! James Potter was your best friend! How could you have . . .?!" Sirius jumped from the ground and took a step forward, but here, Professor Gryffindor stopped him, wand clutched in hand. "Move one step and I swear I shall kill you!"
"Gryffindor . . ." The Head of Slytherin house sneered, his voice cold and enraged, "I shall never rest until I have ensured revenge for my student!" He raised his wand, but Professor Dumbledore raised his hand to stop him. They both stared furiously at each other, but neither spoke. Professor Slytherin lowered his wand to his side, respecting that the other�s shock was beyond what spoken words could describe.
"Sirius?!" Adhara gasped in horror, backing away from what could not seem possible. In front of her, Sirius took a step forward, his eyes wide with pain. Ghastly white, he called to her, "Adhara! No, it�s not what you think!"
"What else is there to think?!" She screamed, tears flowing freely down her face, "Sirius, How could you do this to Lucius and your friend?! How could you do this to me? Sirius, I thought that you . . ." Adhara trailed off, staring into his eyes, the rest of her sentence echoed in their eyes, tauntingly.
Sirius . . . She turned and fled back to the castle, ignoring Professor Slytherin�s calls behind her. Adhara had to escape . . . how could Sirius . . . ? Miti ran by her side, and together they burst into Hogwarts Castle startling all that had gathered in the Entrance Hall.
"Oh my . . ." Madam Promfrey rushed to Adhara and placed an arm around her, "Adhara! What�s wrong?!"
"Sirius . . ." Adhara moaned, slipping to the ground, "He . . ." She could not continue, trembling in Madam Promfrey�s arms. How could Sirius deny what he had done? How could she have been stupid enough to believe that he had been telling her the truth?
"Everything is going to be fine, Adhara . . ." Madam Promfrey whispered softly, but as Adhara drifted off from her present world of sorrow, she severely doubted that anything was ever to be fine again. Severus was gone, Lucius unconscious, and Sirius . . . oh, Sirius!
Sirius, I thought that you loved me . . . Sirius stared after Adhara in shock. Severus was right, who was to believe that Lord Voldemort had been the one to kill James and Malfoy? Who was there that would even listen to his story? Sirius looked around and felt the hate penetrating towards him, and he then knew that no one would listen. He was going to Azkaban.
As the sunlight of a new day filtered in through her filmy white window coverings, Adhara remained perched at the end of her bed, wand clutched in hand. Her mind wheeled over the previous nights events, all of which seemed to be a horrific nightmare. None of it really happened, did it? She would run down to the library and he would be there waiting for her . . .
There was a soft knock at her door, but Adhara jumped as if the knock had been pounding. "Come in," She whispered, her heart racing, "Is that you, Madam Promfrey?" Miti bounded off Adhara�s four poster bed and rubbed her head against the Hogwarts school matron�s leg.
"Oh, Adhara," Madam Promfrey placed a full breakfast tray on the trunk at the end of Adhara�s bed, "After a throughout examination, it seems as though Lucius is in a coma. I�m so sorry, we haven�t been able to successfully wake him, yet. However, I can assure you that we shall keep on trying. I also came to bring you breakfast, and to tell you that he�s going to Azkaban this morning . . . I arranged it with Professor Dumbledore so that you can see him -"
"Why would I want to see that murderous traitor?!" Adhara screamed, furious, but instantly calmed with an apology, "I�m sorry, Madam. I know you meant for the best, but I really could not see him now . . ."
Although Adhara tried to bury it, a dull ache in her heart reminded her that she truly missed Sirius. But she shoved it off, for it was the old Sirius she missed, the one who would tease her and had the most wondrous laugh, the one she truly loved. Not this new demon that had hatched itself in her friend�s soul and taken over his physical form . . .
"Adhara, I don�t think you understand." Madam Promfrey sighed and glanced down at Miti, avoiding Adhara�s eyes, "You�ll never be able to see him again. Once he goes to Azkaban to serve his life sentence, he shall be literally wiped of the face of the earth. No one shall ever hear from, nor see him ever again."
Tears gathered in Adhara�s eyes, "Madam, help me! I don�t know what to do! Sirius has slain Lucius and James, and I should be seeking vengeance against him, but why is my heart telling me that I still love him?"
"Your heart speaks only the truth, Adhara." The other smiled kindly, "Now hurry down to Professor Dumbledore�s office, Sirius has to go soon." Adhara nodded and Madam Promfrey walked from the room, rather glad that her young friend had agreed to pay Sirius a final visit.
"Sirius . . ." Adhara took the crystal from around her neck and gazed at it lovingly. She knew she would have to do it . . . but could she? Indeed, she still loved Sirius, but yet, her choice was for the best. Closing her eyes, Adhara forced her wand onto the crystal, knowing what her decision would mean.
"Professor Dumbledore?" The other seemed startled as Adhara prodded him softly with the tip of her wand when he did not respond, "I�m here to see Sirius." The other stared at her, not blinking for a few seconds as if he had forgotten who Sirius was.
"Sirius?!" He choked with obvious pain, "Adhara, are you sure that you want to see him?" Although she knew that he did not say that to be discouraging, but like a small twinge of fear in the back of her mind, really doubted if she could do this.
Adhara nodded, not trusting her voice as he let her into his office where Sirius awaited. Checking to make sure the crystal was still in her pocket, Adhara�s hand bumped against her wand which she hoped she would not be forced to use. "Adhara!" He looked up and instantly, Sirius brightened, "Listen to me! Lucius was a Death Eater and -"
Although she held up a hand to interrupt him, Sirius continued to tell of the previous night�s events. She had to know the truth, and he was the only one who could tell her. At the end of his tale, Adhara did not look surprised at all, but she had a rather knowing look in her eye.
"So it was Voldemort . . ." Adhara whispered, her voice dull, "But Sirius, how do I know that you are telling me what really happened?" Tears pooled in their eyes as they stared at each other, both standing in Professor Dumbledore�s circular stone office. Sirius took her hands in his and whispered, "Trust me, Adhara. As unbelievable as it may seem, I speak the truth."
"Sirius, you are destined to Azkaban for a crime you did not commit?" Adhara�s tears cascaded down her cheeks, "I�m so stupid . . . I don�t believe that I suspected you . . ." He held her as she trembled with fear, weeping softly.
"Adhara . . ." He whispered, but she drew away from him suddenly, backing away. Sirius stared at her in surprise, but his question was soon answered when she withdrew two separate crystals from her pocket. One scarlet, the other green. "Sirius, I didn�t know . . . I�m so sorry . . ."
Sirius forced a smile, and took both crystals from her hand, "Adhara, we don�t need a united crystal signify that we love each other. We only have to look to our hearts and know the truth." She smiled weakly and he drew her close, wishing to comfort her for as long as he could.
They both knew that their time together would be short, but they had no idea how fast time ran past them until Professor Dumbledore opened the door slowly, "The Minister for Magic is here, Sirius."
Although Adhara wished that Sirius would never have to go, she felt him nod to acknowledge Dumbledore. She stepped back and forced a smile as Sirius handed her his wand, something they would not let him keep in Azkaban. How could life be so unfair? But at least she now knew of Sirius�s innocence . . .
Gazing deeply into her eyes, he took her hand and pressed the crystals firmly into her palm. Professor Dumbledore beckoned and Sirius headed for the door . . . and to Azkaban. "Adhara," Sirius paused at the door and turned with a smile, "I suppose I�ll see you later, eh?" She nodded, but they both knew that this was to be their last meeting.
"I�ll miss you," Adhara called softly after Sirius, tears misting in her eyes, "Sirius, no matter where you are, even if you�re a Gryffindor, I shall always love you with all my heart."
The soft, silvery glow of a full moon over the grounds of Hogwarts illuminated only a large, grey wolf and a small rat by his side. Peter Pettigrew lay on his back, staring up at the bright, yet distant stars that lit up the night sky. A cold November breeze rustled through the grasses as Peter turned to Remus, "Isn�t Mirzam rather bright tonight?"
The wolf raised his head skywards, "Mirzam . . . Do you know what this means, Peter? Mirzam is the star that announces the return of Sirius! Our friend is to return, Peter!"
"Sirius?" Peter asked, "How is Sirius to escape from Azka-" Remus scowled and bared his fangs, sinking to the ground. They both were silent for a moment, gazing at the star far above their heads.
Remus suddenly rolled over and gave his friend a small smile. "Peter, the stars have told of Sirius�s return and they always speak the truth. Have faith my friend, for it has been foretold that Hogwarts has not seen the last of Sirius Black!"