Chapter 268

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-Hogwarts – Great Hall, Staff Table-

"This…this can't be true," Professor Lupin said, having a shocked and pained look on his face.

He, as well as every Hogwarts professor, had read the article in the Daily Prophet, and if his expression was any indication, he was seriously stunned.

"H-He... He can't be innocent... There's no way this is possible... Sirius is a murderer, everyone said so" Professor Lupin muttered, having trouble breathing, feeling like something was squeezing his heart inside his chest.

The other teachers were also reacting strongly to the article, but none of them were as bad as Lupin, who looked like he was having a panic attack.

However, no one could blame him for reacting like this, since of all the people sitting at the staff table, he was the closest to Sirius and James, being best friends, almost brothers in everything but blood.

Lupin was confused, not knowing whether to believe the things said in the article or not, but the more he thought about it, the more he realized that Sirius couldn't have betrayed James and Lily, or put his godson in danger.

He knew that Sirius was different from everyone else in his family, and that's why he was in Gryffindor. He also knew how faithful and protective Sirius was to his friends, to the point of transforming himself into an Animagus, something very dangerous to do without supervision, just to keep him company on full moon nights.

Even though he didn't want to, the thought that Sirius might be innocent crossed Professor Lupin's mind, and he began to imagine how much Sirius had suffered in Azkaban for a crime he possibly didn't even commit.

Of course, everything written in the article could be a lie, but the description of the events of that night were so detailed that Lupin really couldn't imagine that a journalist had actually made it all up.

And Professor Lupin wasn't the only one who thought the same, and so many of the teachers who were in some close relationship with the Potters and Sirius at the time wore expressions of doubt and dismay.

Professor McGonagall was looking down at the table in front of her with her lips pressed together in a thin line, and from the slight trembling of her hands and the frown of her brows it was clear that she wasn't really well, but that she was in control of her emotions.

If anyone asked she would deny it, but she really missed the troubled little group that were the Marauders and the enthusiastic, kind Lily, and she had a great fondness for them, even if at times they almost made her wish for an early retirement.

Professor Flitwick didn't know whether to swoon or curse, but he decided the better choice was to squirm in his seat while muttering under his breath.

Hagrid wasn't present at the staff table today, which turned out to be a good thing as nobody knew how he would react to the article, being one of the most emotional people in school, especially when it came to something involving his friends.

Professor Snape even having a great grudge against all Marauders could not deny that the chances of Pettigrew being the traitor were greater than Sirius, since he always saw how cowardly and treacherous that damn rat was.

And even though he hated Sirius faithfully, Snape still managed to think rationally, and reflecting on the possibility that Pettigrew was the traitor caused a great anger to well up in his chest, thinking that useless, weak, cowardly and ugly man was to blame for the death of his beloved.

Headmaster Dumbledore, who had also read the article, was sitting in his seat with his hands clasped in front of his face, looking down at the newspaper on his desk in contemplation.

No one could tell what he was thinking, but the Headmaster's mind was as troubled as Professor Lupin's, as he had always suspected that Sirius had not been the traitor.

Being the one who launched the Fidelius at the Potters' home, the Headmaster had always felt partly to blame for their deaths, and now knowing that probably an innocent man had suffered for years in one of the worst places in the world for yet another mistake of his made him feel felt much worse.

'And now?' the Headmaster wondered. He then raised his head and looked towards the Gryffindor table, paying attention to a certain black haired boy, seeing his pale face.

Realizing that Harry was probably being the person most affected by the article and the whole situation, the Headmaster let out a tired and sad sigh.

'I can't let things go on like this' he thought, and the sparkle returned to his gaze as a new conviction dawned on him.

While everyone else was lost in thought or gossiping I analyzed the faces and emotions of everyone in the Great Hall, focusing especially on the teachers and Harry, who until now was staring blankly at the newspaper in front of him, ignoring their friends who tried to get his attention with worried looks.

I didn't expect everyone's reaction to be this strong, and I didn't even expect everyone to believe what was written in the article so easily, but I seem to have underestimated the power of the Daily Prophet in everyone's minds.

I had expected the teachers and Headmaster to have some major reaction to any news involving Sirius, and seeing how distressed and confused they were I wasn't surprised.

I knew they would be smart enough to notice all the discrepancies in Sirius' case.

But even with all that going on, something that really surprised me was the speed with which Andromeda was able to convince the Daily Prophet to publish this article.

I expected a little more difficulty and delay for this to happen, but apparently she is not a Black and a lawyer for nothing.

But I guess I shouldn't have been that surprised, as I may or may not have told her that she could use as much money as she wanted from my Gringotts vault to complete her part of the plan.

Probably a few threats here and a few bribes there was good enough incentive for the Daily Prophet.

'Hmm, things are about to get messy' I thought, and I couldn't stop a slight excited smile from appearing on my lips, which I wisely hid with the newspaper in front of me.

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-Malfoy Manor-

"Good morning dear" Narcissa said to her husband, Lucius, as he sat down at the table to eat breakfast with her.

"Good morning honey" he greeted back after sitting down, a plate of scrambled eggs and bacon appearing in front of him along with a cup of coffee.

He picked up his fork to start eating, but then he noticed a package on the table next to his copy of today's Daily Prophet.

Raising an eyebrow he picked up the package and saw that it had no a sender, and puzzled by this he set the package aside planning to inspect it for harmful spells or potions later.

He then picked up his Daily Prophet, planning to read the section on investments and hair gel when the lead article on the cover caught his eye.

Lucius read the article and immediately felt a sinking feeling in his stomach, and without wasting any time he started reading the rest of the article.

With each word he read his sense of uneasiness increased, and when he finished reading the article he felt a great headache coming over him, knowing that he was not the only one reading today's Daily Prophet, and knowing that this was not a good thing.

"I need to go," Lucius said hurriedly to his wife, having already gotten to his feet with the newspaper in hand.

"Wait, aren't you going to finish your breakfast?" Narcissa asked, but Lucius already had his wand in hand, summoning his cloak for him.

With his cloak folded over his left arm and his snake' cane that also concealed his wand in his right hand Lucius prepared to leave, but stopping a little he looked at the package on the table, and feeling a strong feeling that he should pick up it Lucius went and took the package.

Now fully prepared Lucius went to the living room, where there was a fireplace connected to Floo ready for use, and meanwhile Narcissa accompanied him with a worried expression, not knowing why her husband was reacting like that after reading the newspaper.

Arriving in front of the fireplace, Lucius took some Floo powder from the pot on top of the fireplace.

Taking the floo powder he threw it into the fireplace, causing the red and orange flames to turn an emerald green.

Straightening up his coat, Lucius prepared to go to the Ministry, and as soon as he put his first foot into the emerald-flame fireplace, the package in his hands shook.

He looked at the package in confusion, and he didn't even have time to react when the package exploded, causing a small but concentrated burst of blue light.

Narcissa who was looking at her husband had to cover her eyes because of the light, but as soon as it ceased she could open her eyes again, and the first thing she saw was her husband, who was lying motionless on the floor.

"Lucius!" Narcissa screamed, running hurriedly to her husband.

Arriving beside him and kneeling down, Narcissa noticed that he had no injuries but that he was still unconscious, and she began to get worried.

She then started to get up to go ask for help, but before that she saw the newspaper lying on the floor beside her, and out of reflex and curiosity she read the title of the main article that was on the cover.

"Is Sirius Black Innocent? The truth behind the events of Halloween '81" she read, her eyes widening and her mouth falling open in shock in an unbecoming way for a pureblood lady.

"Merlin's beard" she said, now understanding the reason for her husband's overreaction, that she forgot was still lying unconscious on the floor.

End.

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(End AN: Last week I had to go to the hospital for an exam, and I had to be anesthetized, and one thing I say is that being anesthetized is horrible.

I felt like I'd been knocked out by an elephant.)