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Harry\'s Shadow	By : SpeedyTomato Category: Harry Potter > Slash - Male/Male > Harry/Sirius Views: 41818 -:- Recommendations : 5 -:- Currently Reading : 16
Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter and make not a knut off this strange work of fanfiction.

Chapter List
- 13
- 14
- 15
A reminder of what's on my profile; reviews whinging or complaining about the lack 'o smut in stories get deleted. If you want something that is one long, smut-filled story, find something else to read as my work isn't for you.

Beta'd by the most wonderful, amazing and stupendous Tenchi. Woman, you are the best and love you for all you do for me!
With help from Lynn who works with me when it comes to flow, continuity, laying out this complicated mess to make it work and other issues.
Also, to Tash who spent several long hours working with me to make sure this would come across right.

WARNING! CHARACTER DEATH AND SUICIDE!

Chapter 14

The rest of the month leading up to Halloween wasn’t nearly as stressful as the first part. By now, Harry had settled into a routine for everything and dealt from there with it. The issue with Peter Pettigrew was sorting itself out. He was taking a plea that involved a full confession and a life sentence in Azkaban. Sirius told him that was punishment enough as it was what he had been sentenced to. Harry felt it was just and agreed to it. The day after tomorrow, he’d be escorted to the Ministry to hear the official sentencing then come back. Of course, his aunt would meet him there, something he didn’t like, but it wouldn’t be for long then he would come back. Once this part finished, he could settle back and not worry about anything until winter break.

As he wiggled into his pyjamas, Harry leaned back against Sirius like normal. Even this small contact was something he adored and didn’t want to break it off even for the scant few moments it would take to dress himself in his night attire. “You won’t be here tonight then?”

“Right,” Sirius nodded, holding him and smiling as he dressed. “I’ll wait until you go to sleep then I’m going to go talk with a couple people.”

“Let me guess...” Harry grinned as he tugged everything in place, “Remus and Peter?”

“Oh yes,” Sirius told him with a malevolent grin. “Remus needs reminding about what a coward and follower he is. Peter—for me to point out his betrayal finally caught up with him. Plan to give both a good bollocking over everything. Just have to make it short for obvious reasons, but want it out there. Besides, I want to finish with Peter before he’s transferred. What I have to say should help the Dementors make his already miserable life plenty worse.”

“Good,” Harry nodded, grinning himself. “He deserves it and more.” Then he asked, curious, “Are you coming to the sentencing. If there’s the least little chance of you ending up discovered, I don’t want you to try, Sirius.”

“I’m coming with, but there is nothing to worry about, my word. It’s something I’ll make sure of. This is something I wouldn’t miss for anything,” Sirius assured him with a squeeze. “Besides, I need to make sure I keep watch over you. I’m sure plenty members of the press will be there for this and we want you staying as far away from them as you can, the same with your Aunt.”

“Didn’t think about that,” Harry admitted, snuggling back against Sirius. “We’ll have to watch for those.”

“Your solicitor will be with you, so he can take on whatever. I’ll just point them out and you can ask who they are then go from there,” Sirius explained, giving Harry the best plan for this. “And we might want to see what he can do about ensuring no one gets a picture of you to plaster all over the front page of the papers.”

“Definitely don’t want that,” Harry shook his head, looking sour over the prospect.

“No, we don’t,” Sirius agreed. “In tomorrow’s letter, mention it to your Aunt. She can take it up with your solicitor before they arrive here. This way they can have a plan in place.”

“Will do,” Harry told him, sounding determined.

“Hermione is upset again,” he then told Sirius with a sad shake of his head.

“What about now?” Sirius asked, assuming it was the same issue.

“The normal.” Harry said with a roll of his eyes. “She heard some people talking about what a nightmare she is and ended up with hurt feelings. Now she won’t talk to most people. She will speak with me a little, the same with Seamus, Dean and the twins, but not most others. Even when she does talk to us, it’s the same problem as the ones people talk about. She’s not learned a bit from it.”

“Until she changes a bit or finds some people who it doesn’t annoy the hell out of, it’s going to continue,” Sirius grumbled, shaking his head. “And I don’t see it happening, what with how she is.”

“I don’t either, honestly,” Harry sighed, enjoying how it felt to have Sirius hold him.

“Ron and Neville are still looking into whatever is going on,” Harry then told him, slumping slightly. “Even the twins have tried talking them out of it, saying whatever it is will end up very dangerous. I heard, from them talking when they didn’t think anyone was listening, they are roaming around at night and even going outside. There was also something about Hagrid having a dragon as a pet. Malfoy is still giving them grief as well.”

“Most we can’t do anything about if they aren’t listening, but we can about Hagrid. Tomorrow night we’ll go see him and try what we can. If not, we’ll find out another way,” Sirius assured Harry. “The rest—if it gets worse, we’ll come up with something. I don’t think they realize how dangerous this is. Not sure what exactly is going on, but Voldemort is involved. Anytime he is, it’ll end up deadly.”

“I figured it was bad,” Harry nodded.

Not wanting to dwell on that, though planning to check it out, Sirius then began to ask about the typical, such as homework and whatever, the standard before Harry went to bed.

Peter was miserable. While he was in warm clothes, fed and taken care of, he was curled up on the far end of the cot in the cell down in the basement of the ministry, leaning against the bars. Though it was late and quiet, since he was the only prisoner down here, he still couldn’t sleep. Of course, he knew it had to do with being caught and what he was facing. Though being Kissed was off the table, thanks to his plea bargain, facing a life sentence in Azkaban wasn’t a walk down a flowery path.

Forehead resting on his bent knees, arms wrapped around his legs, he just sat there pondering his fate, not wanting to think how miserable the rest of his life would end up. It was already plenty bad. His mother had visited him, something not pleasant. Though it had been nice to see her, he didn’t like what she had to say to him or the talk about how he had shamed her so much. While he had, he didn’t want to hear about it. The rest to come would end up just as bad.

Though Sirius was dead, something that made his gut curdle a bit knowing he had been the cause, he had to face court. Remus would be there. Though the man couldn’t say anything to him, just the looks he would get would be more than enough to make him cringe. The worst though, in his estimation, was he would have to face James and Lily’s son. From what he knew, Harry would be there to witness the sentencing. He didn’t want to face this, at all. It was bad enough in the dorms, knowing what he caused, to have to look at him in court and for the boy to know he had caused his parents’ deaths would end up really horrific. While it wouldn’t be for long, he was sure whatever looks he would get, not to mention what would end up said, would probably haunt him for the rest of his life. No, he didn’t want to face this, but would. After all there were worse things in the world. If all he heard was correct and the Dark Lord wasn’t really dead, he would end up safe from that maniac when he made his return. That was at least an upside!

With a shake of his head, he let out a morose sigh then decided to lie down. Though he doubted he would sleep, what with all that was coming, he needed to rest some anyway. After all, he couldn’t change what he would face and had made the choice to take the plea. Now he just had to work out how to make this all as easy on himself as he could in the future. There were ways, he just had to figure out how.

Since he now had a lot more power than he used to, moving to faraway places wasn’t as much of a hassle for Sirius. He could now do a form of Apparation to get somewhere rather than have to attach to shadows. It was far better and he could do more this way. Tonight would be busy because he was making a visit to two people. Since he waited for Harry to go to sleep, he had gotten a late start.

After an internal debate of who should be first, he decided on Peter. It would actually be the trickiest because of protections on the Ministry, therefore he wanted it over and done with. So, after honing in on his ‘old friend’, he Apparated himself into the Ministry and found himself right outside the cell Peter was in. Staying in the shadows and not revealing himself, he watched Peter tossing and turning, trying to sleep. This gave him a grim smile. It also gave him an opening to move forward.

“You might want to sleep now, Wormtail, since you won’t ever get a full night’s rest once you’re in Azkaban,” he snarled, revealing himself. Like with Remus, he made sure to look like a Revenant rather than a ghost.

Up off the cot, trembling, eyes darting all over, Peter’s heart hammered faster and he began to sweat. This—he didn’t know what this was and didn’t like it. As he was under tight security and knew Sirius had died, he figured this wasn’t a real person. While part of him wondered if the guards, who treated him with great disdain, had set this up to torture him, he discounted it. No, he could see straight through Sirius and he was similar to a ghost, though blackish. Stammering, he squeaked out, “Sirius?”

“Just wanted to see you one last time before I moved on,” Sirius told him with a malevolent grin. Then he glowered at him and hissed, “About time you ended up caught. Couldn’t be a man and loyal then tell us what happened, had to try for being important. Cost three of us our lives and orphaned Harry. How pathetic, just like always.”

“S-s-s-irius, you don’t understand,” Peter squeaked out, panicked eyes bulging while sweating up a storm. “The Dark Lord—you have no idea how bad he was. There are people you don’t say no to in this world and he’s one of them.” Then he pondered calling for the guards for help. While he was certain Sirius couldn’t hurt him, it was just the idea.

Snorting, Sirius sneered, stepping closer to the bars, loving how Peter cringed back, wringing his hands, “The rest of us would have died before we gave up our friends, Peter. All of us. We would have died to protect you and save your worthless skin. You, though, were always a rat, just like your Animagus form. I don’t believe anything you tell me. What I think is you wanted power and to end up looked up to since you couldn’t manage on your own. You couldn’t get that either with this stunt, just became a rat then hid from what you had done. Then you decided to take the easy way out and be someone’s pet. Pathetic.”

“Now, Sirius,” Peter started, teeth chattering from fear and cringing from guilt. He didn’t get to say anymore, though. Sirius cut him off.

“Don’t want to hear it,” Sirius snorted, stepping right up next to the bars then clutching onto them. “Nothing you can say, I don’t care what, will mitigate what you did, Peter.” Stopping, he then grinned malevolently again before adding, tone weaving with sadistic glee, “Now you get to pay, though. For the rest of your life. Want to know what it’s like to live with the Dementors, Peter? Well, before you learn firsthand?” Without waiting for an answer, though hearing the rat stammer, Sirius then began to detail what it was like to be around the evil creatures day after day for years on end, making sure he pointed out the worst and just how bad the prison was.

By the time he finished, Peter was once more on his bunk, curled up in a ball holding himself, teeth chattering and pale as a sheet. Wicked grin growing, Sirius told him, “That’s what you get to look forward to, what you sentenced me to, Peter. I died there and you’ll do the same. Poetic justice, don’t you think?”

“Please, Sirius,” Peter begged, though not sure what he meant by that. All he knew was he was terrified even more, worried about what awaited him. Not the mentally strongest of people, something he would admit, he now feared spending years in that prison more than the thought of being Kissed.

Sirius then stepped through the bars, approaching Peter, though staying far enough away, he snarled, “I won’t visit you again, Peter, at least this way. I have better things to do with myself. Though you’ll see me plenty of times, especially as you relive the worst that’s ever happened to you in your life, repeatedly. You’ll get to think and remember how you betrayed all of us and how I suffered for your cowardice. Rather fitting if you ask me.” Then, with an evil chuckle, he faded into the shadows, planning to go visit his next victim to rub it in more. However, he couldn’t help but wait for a couple of minutes to watch Peter’s reaction. And it didn’t disappoint.

Now shaking madly, as if he were having a seizure, Peter stared at the last place Sirius had been then broke into soft sobs, terrified. No, he needed to find a way out. There was no way he could face this! Something, anything had to be better! He would just find a way.

Remus puttered around in his house, cleaning and just generally wandering. While it was late, far later than his normal bedtime, he couldn’t sleep. No, too much had happened for him to rest well. And there was guilt, tons of it, over so much. The what-ifs started as well. Those he tried to shunt aside, like he always had, but they wouldn’t go easily. It was guilt that was the worst, though. So much of what Sirius said to him during his infrequent visits had all been proven true.

Those things—well, they had him second guessing so much. He had spoken to Albus about plenty, though not saying where he heard it. The aged Headmaster had soothed him, making it clear there was nothing he could have done about so much. While it helped, it didn’t put the guilt to rest like it usually would have. No, it was still there and poking him.

He had decided the next time Sirius visited him, something he was certain would come as the ghostly crows and ravens were still there, he would apologize then try to prod him to move on. After all, the reason for him lingering in this plane was now gone. While it might take time, he was certain he could manage.

When he finished his puttering, he took a seat with a nice warm glass of milk. His hope was the old home remedy would allow him to get some rest. One thing he did know was he would be better able to cope after some sleep. Then he could formulate whatever when it came to plans. First would be to visit Sirius’ grave. They all knew his body had been moved off that horrid island and was laid to rest by his family. Yes, a visit to him was in order then he would go see James and Lily. That would probably dissipate most of the guilt.

Just as he finished the milk, feeling himself key down and tired creeping in, he heard the familiar howl. In an instant, the fear returned and he stood, clutching his wand though it would do no good in driving off Sirius. Waiting, trembling as he did, he watched the door for Padfoot to enter. While he had a plan for this, hoping it worked, the fear was there, making it harder for him to concentrate.

As normal, Sirius came in through the door and transformed back. With a menacing glower, he hissed, “I told you, Remus! It wasn’t me! Peter did it!” Then he waited to see what Remus would say before he launched in with the normal.

“I was wrong, Sirius, so was everyone else. For that, I apologize,” Remus told him gently. “I should never have doubted you, ever. He’ll get justice, though. Your mission is complete, now you can rest and move on.” This was the first step to persuading Sirius to move on to the next life and find peace. It wouldn’t be that easy, but it was a start.

“On no,” Sirius told him, grinning manically, taking a few steps towards Remus. “I’m nowhere near done with what I want to do, Remus! This is just the start. The proof is there that I was innocent. Now we work on the rest.”

Remus was about to launch in and continue with the his plan when what Sirius said threw him. “What do you mean ‘the rest’?” He asked, unsure what Sirius could be going for.

“It’s time for those of you who either did nothing or broke their words to pay. And I’m the one who will make sure you do,” Sirius told him with a cackle, advancing on Remus. “I’m not a ghost, as you’ve figured out, and can do plenty, Remus. You’re still a coward and follower, something you need to pay for. You’ve done nothing to take responsibility for what you promised. You’ve done nothing to set things right. Harry—I doubt he knows you, Remus. Now that it’s been proven I was innocent, I want to make all of you pay.” Unlike times past where he tormented Remus for a while, he didn’t. Instead, he changed back to Padfoot and left, his last words hanging in the air. Let Remus worry about what he meant and try to dissect it from there. It would give Remus something to worry about while he planned plenty.

As Remus stood there, he trembled, wand still clutched in his hand. He had no idea what Sirius meant, but didn’t like any of the visions which came from it. No, it could mean nothing good. With a shaky sigh, Remus stared at the door for another few seconds then picked up the beaker he had the milk in. No, sleep wasn’t coming now for sure. He had to figure out what Sirius meant and try to prepare for whatever it was. While he would have some more milk to calm down, he doubted sleep was coming anytime soon.

It was about four in the morning when Sirius finally slid in bed with Harry, looking plenty smug. Though his godson didn’t wake, Harry knew he was back in some way as he turned over and curled up to him, mumbling in his sleep. With a smile, Sirius held him close, giving him a kiss on the top of his head. Good. It all went perfect. While he wasn’t done with Remus, he was with Peter. As he knew the rat so well, he knew what he said would torment him plenty, what he wanted.

With a soft sigh, he shut his eyes and felt Harry’s power start to flow into him once more. Yes, things were going according to plan.

Just about the time Sirius was relaxing into the state similar to sleep, a guard assigned to watch Pettigrew made his rounds. While there was no chance the pathetic traitor could escape and the spells told him no one had come in, the rules required him to check on the man a couple of times a night.

After doing the standard check and running the report with a spell, Auror Ryce stepped in and did a visual check. That’s when he stopped cold. With a groan at the paperwork this would involve, he then sent off the signal for help and a medical team before stepping over to the cell.

One look at the body slumped over on the bed and all the blood told him everything he needed to know; Peter Pettigrew was dead, having chewed through his wrists and bled out. While it saved the taxpayers plenty of money, the traitor had once more denied his victims justice. The death, though not painless, was the easy way out.

With a shake of his head, Ryce then began to cast the standard spells to determine the obvious and rule out any conspiracies that might crop up. Just a standard coward’s death, unable to face the punishment for his crimes, nothing more. They had all seen this before and now would record another one.
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Harry\'s Shadow