#223 - Chapter 223 Harry: The truth is so cruel

Sebastian subtly raised his eyebrows upon hearing Harry's request.

Among the Marauders, only Lupin got along well with him because he was reasonable.

James, Sirius, and he had an extremely poor relationship.

Sebastian was too lazy to plead for Sirius.

He silently sat aside, waiting for others to answer Harry's questions.

Hagrid's breathing became heavy, his broad shoulders rising and falling with each breath, as if he was trying his best to control his emotions.

Finally, he took a deep breath and said in a muffled voice, "He was a shameful traitor, nothing more to say."

Traitor?

Harry's heart sank abruptly.

Who did he betray?

If it was related to him, could it be that he betrayed his parents?

His breathing became rapid, and he turned to look at Lupin, hoping he could explain in more detail.

Lupin remained silent, his eyes fixed on the ground, his brow slightly furrowed, as if lost in distant memories.

His fingers gently caressed the teacup, trying to soothe the turmoil in his heart with this action.

"What exactly did he do? Can you tell me, Professor Lupin?" Harry's voice trembled slightly.

Finally, Lupin raised his head, his face complex, his eyes full of pain and struggle.

Originally, he didn't want to tell Harry the cruel truth, but when he saw the look in Harry's eyes, his heart ached, and he completely softened.

Forget it, let's just tell Harry.

In any case, he had the right to know the truth of what happened back then.

"Harry," Lupin's voice was low and hoarse, as if he had chewed on every word for a long time before speaking, "If possible, I really wouldn't want to mention this person to you."

"Sirius was originally..."

"Remus!" Mia interrupted anxiously, cutting off what Lupin was about to say, "Today is Harry's birthday!"

"Aunt Mia," Harry pleaded, "Let Professor Lupin tell me."

"Just take this truth as my birthday present, okay?"

Hagrid's anger, Lupin's hesitation, and Mia's obstruction made Harry's heart feel like it was being gnawed by millions of ants.

His heart was in utter chaos and he couldn't find peace at all.

He felt that if he didn't figure out the truth, he would go crazy.

Seeing Harry's pained expression, Mia's heart softened, she opened her mouth, trying to say something.

But she ultimately chose to remain silent, only coming to Harry's side and holding his hand.

"Mia," Lupin looked at Mia and gently persuaded, "If we don't tell Harry."

"He will definitely piece together the truth himself, searching for what happened back then."

"Rather than that, it would be better for us to tell him what exactly happened back then."

Lupin took a deep breath, turned to face Harry, his gaze deep, with an unspeakable sorrow.

"Harry, I know you are eager to know the truth," his voice was full of heaviness, "The reason we didn't tell you is because we didn't want you to be hurt."

"But, I've figured it out, some truths cannot be avoided, especially when you are already standing at the center of the vortex."

Lupin paused, as if he had organized the following words.

"Sirius Black was once your father's closest friend. They were brothers, not brothers by blood, but the affection between them was even deeper than that of blood brothers."

"He and James, and Peter, the four of us..." A bitter smile appeared on the corner of his mouth, "The four of us were the closest partners in Hogwarts."

Closest friends?!

Just like himself and Ron?

Hearing this answer, Harry's pupils shrank suddenly.

Sure enough, this guy betrayed his parents.

A complex emotion surged in his heart, both curiosity and a hint of hidden fear.

His body tensed, leaning forward slightly, listening intently to Lupin's words, afraid of missing a single word.

Lupin continued: "At that time, the power of the Dark Lord was growing, and the shadow of war shrouded the magical world. Many people trembled under the Dark Mark. Betrayal and framing became the norm in the war."

"For some reason, your parents James and Lily, they were chosen and became the main target of the Dark Lord."

"And you were just born not long ago. For safety's sake, your parents decided to use the Fidelius Charm to hide your home."

"It is an extremely powerful magic that can hide secrets forever in the soul of the Secret-Keeper."

"As long as the Secret-Keeper does not leak the secret, no one will know where your home is, even if that person is the Dark Lord himself."

Secret-Keeper?

Leak the secret?

Harry's heart was racing, he could almost hear his own heartbeat. Although he had vaguely guessed something, he still couldn't believe the facts he was about to hear.

"James chose his most trusted friend—Sirius Black as the Secret-Keeper." Lupin's voice became lower and lower, each word as heavy as a mountain, pressing on Harry's heart.

"Are you saying..." Harry felt his head buzzing, his thoughts in chaos.

He tried hard to say something, but the words stuck in his throat.

Lupin's voice was full of pain: "Yes, Harry. Sirius, he betrayed your parents… He revealed your parents' hiding place to the Dark Lord."

So that's how it is...

Harry felt the whole world was still.

He couldn't believe it, and even didn't want to believe the facts he had just heard.

He had thought that his parents were directly found and killed by Voldemort.

But the truth was so cruel, who would have thought that their closest friend betrayed them, personally pushing them into the abyss.

"But why?" Harry's voice was a little trembling, full of anger and grief, "Why did he do that?"

"We all don't know why, Harry, no one can understand the motive for his betrayal." Lupin closed his eyes, as if suppressing the pain in his heart.

"Maybe it was fear, maybe it was the temptation of Voldemort... But no matter what the reason, the result is the same."

"Your parents were killed by Voldemort, and Sirius, after killing Peter, was caught by the Aurors and imprisoned in Azkaban."

"And now he has escaped from Azkaban, and is likely coming for you."

Hagrid could no longer suppress the anger in his heart, stood up and roared in a low voice, "If I catch him, I will break all his bones."

"That bastard doesn't deserve to be your godfather at all, Harry!"

As soon as the words came out, everyone stared at him, as if blaming Hagrid for not saying this news.

Hagrid knew that he had misspoke, and quickly covered his mouth, and sat back on the sofa dejectedly.

Harry felt like he was standing on a glacier, with no temperature around him, making his hands and feet a little cold.

"Godfather?" He repeated in a low voice, "That person is my godfather?"

"Heh heh—"

He wanted to stand up and yell hysterically, but a wave of powerlessness filled his whole body.

He stood up, and in everyone's worried eyes, staggered towards his room.

"I'm too tired, I'm going back to sleep..."

Without a doubt, Harry had insomnia.

He lay on the bed with tears streaming down his face, and the faces of his parents, Voldemort's sneer, and Sirius's hideous appearance on the wanted warrant kept flashing in his mind.

Sirius Black.

I must catch you and make you atone for my parents!

Early the next morning, as soon as it was dawn, Harry dressed neatly and came to the small dueling arena of Swan Manor.

He desperately practiced all the attacking spells, even if he was so tired that he was sweating, he refused to rest for a while.

There was only one thing in his heart, and that was to improve his strength and then take revenge with his own hands.

At nine o'clock in the morning, Harry saw Sebastian walking towards the gate of the manor, then opened the door and welcomed in a short, fat man.

He heard Sebastian's voice coming from afar.

"What wind has brought you here, Minister Fudge?"