Nymphadora escorted a tall, distinguished-looking, painfully thin man into the drawing room of the house at 69 Grosvenor. Long dark strands of hair framed his pale face with careless elegance, which was further adorned by a neatly trimmed moustache and goatee. Faded blue eyes stared in astonishment at Richard as he rose smoothly from his armchair. The man was dressed in a stylish dark three-piece suit; beneath his jacket was a waistcoat decorated with tiny stars, while the gold chain of a pocket watch was prominently displayed.
"Earl Grosvenor?" the guest asked, looking as though he doubted it.
"Good afternoon, Mr Black." Richard gave a polite bow. "Quite right. Please, take a seat."
Sirius Black gave the young aristocrat an elegant bow and settled into the armchair Richard had indicated, opposite Richard himself, who had resumed his seat.
"Miss Tonks, leave us."
"Tonks?!" Black stared at the young woman in astonishment. "Meda's daughter?"
"Yes, Uncle," the bodyguard replied ironically before leaving.
Black watched his niece depart with a stunned expression, then turned an intent gaze on Richard.
"My lord, I must confess, I don't understand what I've done to deserve the honour of being invited here..."
"Mr Black, exactly one year ago, immediately after your escape from prison, I asked the Minister to grant you a pardon."
Black's eyes nearly popped out of his head.
"Then I sent the best detectives available to investigate your case," Richard continued calmly. "They established that you were innocent and even identified the true culprit—Peter Pettigrew. My people subsequently found Peter himself. He had been hiding at Hogwarts disguised as a rat."
With every sentence, Black's face grew longer with sheer astonishment. He could hardly believe what he was hearing. Grosvenor, meanwhile, continued to surprise him.
"I also organised the operation to capture Pettigrew and hand him over to justice. Peter was executed with particular cruelty and cynicism: they used him as a test subject."
The corners of Black's mouth rose slightly, though his smile looked more like a baring of teeth.
"The message on the castle wall," Richie continued, "was my doing as well."
At first Black froze, like a computer of the present day. Once he'd processed the news, he burst into barking laughter.
"Brilliant joke!" he commented. "We'd never have thought of anything like that in our youth."
"And one more thing, Mr Black," Richard added with an unruffled expression. "I asked the Minister to show you mercy and commute your arrest for escaping from Azkaban and illegally entering Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry to a relatively modest fine..."
The amusement was swept from Sirius's face like a beaver's lodge in a flood.
"You mean they could have thrown me back in prison?"
"Yes, Mr Black. Though most likely they would simply have sentenced you to death so that you could no longer cause them any trouble."
"Death?!" Sirius's eyebrows shot upwards in astonishment, while his eyes grew large enough to rival a house-elf's.
"Keeping you out of trouble was no easy matter, Mr Black. I had to use every ounce of my influence and every connection I had to keep you alive and free."
"But why?!" Black couldn't understand. "My lord, why would you do all that for me?"
"Mr Black, I have few friends. Harry Potter is one of them."
"Harry? Little Harry?!"
"Yes, Mr Black. Though he's hardly little any more."
"How is he?" Sirius asked with intense interest.
"Harry used to have a difficult life. We met when I became involved in charity work and went to inspect a troubled household. He was living with his aunt, his mother's sister. His guardians did not treat Harry particularly well. I found his biological uncle and helped arrange for his guardianship to be transferred."
"What uncle?" Sirius asked in surprise.
"Scott Potter, James Potter's elder brother. A Squib whom the Potters threw out of the family home at the age of eleven."
"What? That can't be..." Black sat there as though someone had just emptied a bucket of cold water over him. "James had an elder brother?"
"He did and still does, Mr Black. Harry is happy now, well fed, well dressed, surrounded by love and care, and also receives a generous orphan's allowance from me through my charitable foundation. Harry dreams of joining Her Majesty's secret service after graduating from Hogwarts and earning himself a title."
"Oh, how much I've missed..." Black looked saddened and delighted at the same time. "But I'm happy Harry is all right. My lord, I can't thank you enough. If it weren't for you..."
Richard raised his right hand.
"Think nothing of it, Mr Black," he said, cutting off the effusive gratitude. "According to my information, you still haven't found anything to occupy yourself with..."
"That's right." Sirius nodded. "Nobody wants an ex-convict..."
"Mr Black, tell me, how do you feel about Harry Potter?"
"How?" Sirius drawled thoughtfully. "I love Prongslet. He's my friends' son, my godson."
"Then... Hmm... I'm not even sure whether I ought to let you in on this..."
Intrigued, Sirius leaned forwards. He had fallen for the most childish of tricks for capturing someone's attention.
"My lord, of course! If this concerns Prongslet, I want to know everything!"
"Harry's life is hanging by a thread. All because of a Horcrux."
"A what?"
"A Horcrux," Richard continued. "An object that anchors a wizard's soul to the world of the living, giving him a chance to return to life. On that fateful night, You-Know-Who was killed by his own Killing Curse, Avada Kedavra, reflected from Harry's forehead by some unknown magic. But Harry did not escape unscathed: a fragment of You-Know-Who's soul remained inside him. The little boy became a living Horcrux. As long as Harry Potter lives, You-Know-Who's soul will remain in this world. What's more, You-Know-Who will be able to influence Harry through their spiritual connection."
Concern appeared on Sirius's face.
"That's horrible... Poor Prongslet..."
"That's not all, Mr Black," Richie continued, tightening the noose. "The Unspeakables have learnt about it. Dumbledore either knows or suspects it as well. There's a chance Harry simply won't be allowed to live long enough to finish his education at Hogwarts, just to ensure that You-Know-Who has no chance of returning. Sacrifice one for the good of everyone else..."
(End of Chapter)
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