A Change in Fate || Cedric Diggory [1]

Chapter 35: Revelations

A/N: HAPPY SEPTEMBER 1ST! 🥰

There was one person who wasn't all that happy that Harry had been let off that easily from his case — it was Sirius Black. It turned out that Sirius had wanted Harry to move in with him as soon as possible, so part of him wished that it would happen sooner rather than later. Since Harry was let off the hook from his case and he'd still be attending Hogwarts that year after all, Sirius had resorted to sulking around the house because he was now sure he would still be stuck alone in it.

Harry expressed his concerns about Sirius's moodiness a few days after his hearing. He, Hermione, Ron, and Analeigh were in the middle of cleaning out a moldy cupboard on the third floor when he confided in them about it.

"Don't you go feeling guilty!" Hermione said sternly after Harry finished telling them how he felt. "You belong at Hogwarts and Sirius knows it. Personally, I think he's being selfish."

"That's a bit harsh, Hermione," Ron frowned as he tried to remove some stubborn mold. "You wouldn't want to be stuck inside this house without company."

"He'll have company! It's headquarters to the Order of the Phoenix, isn't it? He just got his hopes up that Harry would be coming to live here with him."

"I don't think that's true," Harry said. "He wouldn't give me a straight answer when I asked him if I could."

"He just didn't want to get his own hopes up even more," said Hermione. "And he probably felt a bit guilty himself, because I think a part of him was really hoping you'd be expelled. Then you'd both be outcasts together."

"Come off it!" Harry and Ron said indignantly, but Hermione shrugged shamelessly.

"Suit yourselves. But I sometimes think Ron's mum's right, and Sirius gets confused about whether you're you or your father, Harry."

As much as Analeigh appreciated Hermione's honesty, she felt like she was starting to go out of line. Harry adored Sirius, and this certainly wasn't something he'd like to hear about his godfather.

"So you think he's touched in the head?" Harry said, his voice rising.

"No, I just think he's been very lonely for a long time."

"Well, of course he's been lonely. He's been in Azkaban for years and didn't exactly have the best family," Analeigh defended him. Harry stared at her for a moment before clearing his throat.

"While we're on the topic of Sirius's family, he actually showed me the Black Family Tree a few days ago."

Analeigh tensed a little but continued scrubbing the side of the cupboard she was cleaning.

"Did you know your dad and Sirius are cousins, Leigh?"

Hermione and Ron stopped what they were doing and whipped around.