Chapter 303 The Strange Godfather
At the edge of the Forbidden Forest, Hagrid kept walking back and forth in the direction of the Forbidden Forest, as if he couldn't rest for a moment.
"How could Harry and his friends break into the Forbidden Forest after dark? I told them to wait inside the house."
"Principal Dumbledore, it's curfew time. Do we really not have to go to the Forbidden Forest to look for Harry and the others?"
"The Forbidden Forest is not safe at night, especially since I heard the wolf howling earlier."
Dumbledore looked up at the moon in the sky. His face was expressionless, making it hard to guess what he was thinking.
After hearing what Hagrid said, he smiled and comforted.
"Hagrid, be patient. Sebastian and Severus have gone in to look for Harry and the others. I think they will be back soon."
"Look, that's their figure."
Hagrid looked carefully and found that there were indeed lights flashing in the Forbidden Forest.
He could no longer bear it and strode towards the person who was coming.
"Harry, Hermione, Ron, how could you run into the Forbidden Forest..."
Before he finished speaking, he saw a thin-faced man following behind Harry.
The man's face was extremely familiar; he had seen him on various wanted posters not long ago.
"Sirius Black! How dare you show up at Hogwarts, you bastard? I'll break your bones."
Hagrid roared, waving his fists and was about to pounce on Sirius.
Looking at the angry Hagrid, Harry and the other two quickly spoke out to stop him.
"Don't be impulsive Hagrid! There are some misunderstandings here."
At the same time, Harry took a step forward to block Hagrid, fearing that if he was a step slower, Hagrid's fist would fall on Sirius.
"Misunderstanding!" Hagrid glared at Sirius. "What misunderstanding could there be? He is the one..."
Before he could finish his words, he saw a short figure. In an instant, all the words were stuck in his throat, choking him and making his face turn red.
Merlin!
This looks like Peter Pettigrew!
Wasn't he killed by Sirius a long time ago? How come he suddenly came back to life?
Hagrid stared at Peter Pettigrew in a daze, unable to figure out what was going on for a moment.
Dumbledore stepped forward, his sharp eyes scanning the crowd through his half-moon glasses.
"The unusual movement of the Dementors has alerted the reporters and Aurors in Hogsmeade. They are waiting for the truth outside the gate of Hogwarts."
"Before we let them in, we need to find a place to talk about what happened tonight."
"Principal," Sebastian suggested, "why not go directly to the duel hall? That way we won't disturb the students."
"Let Harry and the other three tell the details later."
Dumbledore nodded, agreeing with Sebastian's suggestion.
The crowd came to the dueling arena in a mighty manner. As curfew approached, the arena had become completely quiet.
Sebastian waved his wand and set up a rest area in the dueling hall.
Dumbledore sat in his chair and nodded slightly, looking around at everyone, indicating that they could start talking now.
Harry nodded and started talking about going to Hagrid to check on Scabbers, telling him all the details of what happened tonight without leaving out any details.
Hermione and Ron sat next to Harry, occasionally adding comments as he explained.
Dumbledore listened quietly without interrupting.
After listening to what Harry and the other two had to say, a slightly emotional expression appeared on his face.
"So that's how it is. I now completely understand what happened."
"Sirius, I want to say sorry to you. If I had trusted you more and went to Azkaban to see you after you were arrested, maybe I wouldn't have let you stay in Azkaban for so long."
"Don't say that, Headmaster Dumbledore." Sirius did not mean to blame Dumbledore at all. "It was my own choice at the beginning."
It was he who suggested to James to change the secret-keeper on his own initiative and did not tell anyone, which indirectly led to the deaths of James and Lily. So he voluntarily let himself be arrested by the Aurors and never protested for his injustice.
"It was my mistake after all..." Dumbledore sighed, stood up and said to everyone.
"Mr. Potter, Miss Granger, and Mr. Weasley, it's getting late, you should go back to your dormitories and get some rest."
"Hagrid, go to the school gate and help the reporters and Aurors get visitor passes. Let them come in as witnesses."
"As for Sebastian and Severus, you two..."
Before he finished speaking, Snape stood up and said, "I'm a little tired tonight, so I'll go back to the dormitory to rest."
He walked out without hesitation, with no intention of staying to see Sirius clear his name.
Sebastian also stood up, "Headmaster, I will take Miss Granger and Mr. Weasley back to the castle and will come back after I get something for Severus."
"As for Harry, let him stay here for a while. After all, there is a special relationship between him and Black. They may have something to talk about."
"Okay," Dumbledore nodded, "Let's do it this way. I'll also go and inform Cornelius."
"The Aurors can't handle such a big matter. Cornelius must come forward in person."
People gradually dispersed and the dueling hall became quiet again, leaving only Peter Pettigrew who was entangled in alchemical chains, and Harry and Sirius who were staring at each other.
Harry was feeling somewhat embarrassed now, he didn't know how to face this strange godfather.
Thinking that the other person was his father's best friend, he hesitated and spoke haltingly.
"Godfather..."
"Harry," Sirius tried to put on his friendliest smile, "just call me Sirius."
Feeling the other party's gentle attitude, Harry slowly relaxed.
"Sirius, congratulations on your freedom. From now on you will no longer be hunted by the Ministry of Magic, and you don't have to live in fear."
"Thank you," Sirius smiled in relief.
He looked at Harry and said unnaturally: "By the way...your parents once asked me to be your guardian."
"Of course, if you want to continue living with your aunt and her family, I have no objection."
"I'm just saying, if you want to move out..."
"I moved to Aunt Mia's house a long time ago," Harry said, "I only go back to live with my aunt for a month every summer vacation."
Sirius was a little stunned when he heard this.
It turns out that Harry went back to Mia's house during Christmas.
Harry would indeed be better off with Mia taking care of him.
After all, he was almost penniless now, and even if he wanted to take care of Harry, he was powerless.
Sirius smiled self-deprecatingly and swallowed back what he was about to say.
At this moment, there were chaotic footsteps outside the duel hall, and then dozens of reporters swarmed in.
After seeing Sirius, their eyes lit up and they ran over frantically, carrying all kinds of equipment, like hungry wolves seeing delicious food.
