The Pacifist Necromancer of Hogwarts

Madam Pomfrey's tone softened: Even so, Mr. Black, you should never have secretly left the campus hospital in the first place.

Sirius leaned on the bed and said hoarsely: I see... I made a mess, but I still couldn't kill the traitor. Well, how bad is it, Albus?

Before Dumbledore could answer, Snape sneered and said, Beyond anything your poor brain might be able to consider.

I guess Cornelius wouldn't be particularly happy, Dumbledore mused, but, Sirius, I think I need to tell you...

At this moment, the door of the school hospital was pushed open again. The professors turned their heads and saw Harry standing at the door, with messy hair, wearing pajamas and slippers, breathing rapidly. Mrs. Norris approached him from behind maliciously, and paused in surprise when she saw the bright campus hospital and a row of professors.

Mr. Potter! said Professor McGonagall, surprised and sternly.

I'm sorry, Professor McGonagall, I couldn't sleep. I saw red warning sparks. Harry said eagerly, You found him, didn't you? Is he injured?

Sirius sat up straight in bed and said in a louder voice, Harry, I'm fine!

Sirius! Harry said, sounding relieved. Professor McGonagall hesitated and nodded towards Harry. Harry immediately ran into the ward and stood in front of Sirius' bed.

There was finally a hint of regret in Sirius's expression.

I promise I didn't mean to break the contract, Harry, he said.

It's okay. Harry said nonchalantly, looking at Sirius's scruffy cheeks and the bruise on his forehead, Where have you been? You look terrible.

I'm not surprised. Sirius shrugged, Azkaban, you know where that is.

Sirius! Professor McGonagall said disapprovingly, clearly not thinking this was a topic that a second-year student should engage in.

But Harry had already begun to ask: What, what did you do there? Didn't you say it was a small island hidden in the sea? How did you find it?

I lived there for a long time, Harry - if you call that life. Sirius said as calmly as he could. Believe me, I will never mistake the dementors for the coldness of Azkaban. , the smell of decay, or the feeling that you can never be happy again... Just swim towards the worst place, which is Azkaban. But promise me, don't try. He seemed Trying to make that last sentence sound like a joke, but failing.

Harry didn't laugh either: You said it was a bad place. Why did you go back?

Sirius hesitated and didn't answer him.

Snape said softly: Let me tell you, Potter, because your godfather wanted to make his charges more realistic. He wanted to be an out-and-out murderer.

That's impossible! Harry said flatly, turning to glare at Snape.

Sirius said in disgust, No one is inviting you to talk!

Snape had a malicious smile on his face and stared at Harry. His voice became softer and softer: You just say that because you don't really understand Black. You used your delusions to create a person in your heart. Image——

Shut up, snot-nosed! Sirius said angrily, reaching out to lift the quilt, looking like he was about to get off the bed and start a fight with Snape. Snape, still wearing his dueling robes, drew his wand with astonishing speed and pointed it at Sirius with a sneer. Harry jumped up, glanced at the staff aside, and reached for his wand, which was thrust sideways into his pajamas pocket.

Madam Pomfrey angrily knocked the potion bottle on the small table next to her, making a very loud noise.

Please, Severus, Dumbledore said seriously, and you, Sirius.

Snape stared at Sirius, put his wand back very slowly, took half a step back, and returned to Professor McGonagall's side.

Seriously, Severus! whispered Professor McGonagall.

Sirius stared at Snape warily on the hospital bed for a while before leaning back against the head of the bed. He looked at Harry next to him, looking a little struggling.

I went to Azkaban because I wanted to kill Peter Pettigrew, he finally admitted. You can't help but agree that he did deserve to die. But, he added, looking at Harry, I didn't. Success. The traitor is still alive and well in Azkaban.

Actually... Anthony said.

You don't want to try it again, do you, Sirius? said Professor McGonagall sternly.

Madam Pomfrey said angrily: Very well, no one wants to let a patient rest! Remember to close the door when you leave - and close the curtains, if the sun is up by then.

She turned and left, slamming the door to her little room.

He betrayed his friends, and he deserves to die! Sirius said loudly, without being affected by Madam Pomfrey at all. If he turned to Voldemort to save his life, then he should have thought that we would kill him!

But, Sirius, he has been imprisoned in Azkaban! Harry said.

What does Azkaban matter? Sirius said fiercely, waving his arms, He has escaped for too long. If he is given a chance, he will still escape. Don't you know better? He is betraying James. He had already passed information to Voldemort for a year before he and Lily... This rat has betrayed us long ago! He turned to Harry and said sincerely, James once trusted him so much - I once trusted him so much - -I was so stupid. I knew he had to die-

Don't kill him, Harry said. No, you can't kill him.

Harry! Sirius said almost angrily, He killed James and Lily! If it hadn't been for him - if I hadn't convinced James to change the Secret Keeper - they wouldn't have died at all, and you wouldn't have to fight with you. The hell aunt and uncle live together! James will live, Lily will live, you will be a family! Remus won't be struggling to find a job! He held Harry's shoulders, Do you understand? , Harry?

I understand. But you can't kill him. Harry said stubbornly, and his voice sounded a little choked. I think my father is not willing to let you become a murderer...especially for someone like Peter Pettigrew. .”

Sirius paused.

He's already cost me two family members, Harry said, catching his breath. Don't let that number get any higher.

Sirius grabbed Harry's shoulders and stared into his face. After a while, he let go of Harry, nodded with difficulty, and fell back to the bedside.

Sirius whispered, I promise you. He repeated, a little louder, I promise you, Harry. You have the right to decide whether he lives or dies.

The ward fell into silence, and only Sirius' still slightly heavy breathing could be heard.

Dumbledore said softly: You have a heart of gold, Harry. Harry and Sirius seemed startled, and Harry looked very embarrassed. For a moment, he must have forgotten that the professors were still around.

Anthony cleared his throat: However, I think you need to know one thing. Peter Pettigrew is dead.

What? Sirius said in surprise.

It's surprising, Black, how you always seem to miss something relatively important and just talk to yourself, Snape said contemptuously. He had been livid since the conversation between Sirius and Harry, as if he was disgusted.

That's the possible trouble I mentioned, said Dumbledore, but that's for the future. Now, before the sun rises and the rooster crows, he smiled at Harry. I guess you can finally relax and go back to your dormitory, Harry?

Yes, Professor Dumbledore. Harry also showed an embarrassed smile.

Very good. Dumbledore nodded, Sweet dreams, Harry.

…

After Harry left, Sirius couldn't wait to ask: Wormtail is dead? How did he die?

Well... said Dumbledore, I'd say mostly Dementors.

A dementor? said Sirius. A dementor's kiss? He deserves it.

Professor McGonagall said in confusion: Dementor's kiss? But didn't Pettigrew lose his breath?

Because there is something else, Minerva, Snape added diplomatically. Dumbledore glanced at Anthony.

Yes, something else, Anthony agreed.

Something else? Professor McGonagall's eyes flickered back and forth between several people. Dumbledore glanced at Anthony again, and Anthony met his eyes and smiled.

Professor McGonagall seemed to suddenly understand something and gasped: No way!

Snape just sneered.

Do you agree that I know or don't you agree? Sirius protested, I thought I was the one who went to kill Wormtail?

Snape said, feigning confusion, If you find that you are indeed not smart enough to understand all this, why don't you keep quiet?

Dumbledore interrupted them: Rather than dwell on the cause of Pettigrew's death, we should consider several things that need to be dealt with more. First of all, Pettigrew's cemetery -

He doesn't deserve it! said Sirius.

—should be arranged in a suitable place. I thought you were involved in his mother's burial, Minerva?

Professor McGonagall nodded: Yes.

It would be great if you could find a suitable open space nearby. Dumbledore said. Second thing, Connelly will not like us and his Auror Office Director breaking into Aziz late at night. Caban's story, I just don't know how much he would dislike it. Before his reaction reaches our ears, I hope you are all prepared - mentally. Connelly can be very Stubborn.

Most of the time, Professor McGonagall corrected. Her mouth was set tightly.

The third thing is that we met an old acquaintance in Azkaban, Bella.

Sirius said in disgust, Oh, her! Is she still yelling?

That's right, Dumbledore said easily with a smile. I think she had the same idea as me, that Voldemort would come back one day. Very impressive, especially considering that she - unlike We - all these years have found no evidence that Voldemort is not gone. She just believed it very firmly.

After realizing how weak Azkaban's defenses were, I must admit I was a little worried that she - and, of course, the other fanatical followers - might have some thoughts of leaving Azkaban. On the other hand, , Connelly will definitely regard my concerns as nonsense.

Sirius asked perceptively: You say 'not like us', Albus? What do you mean? Have you found evidence?

Oh, yes, said Dumbledore, I presume Harry or his friends have told you about their Defense Against the Dark Arts professor?

Sirius nodded: Lockhart?

Professor Lockhart is the Defense Against the Dark Arts professor this semester. Dumbledore said in a brisk tone. Last semester it was Voldemort.

The lights in the school hospital are a bit dazzling. Anthony saw Sirius blink: I'm sorry?

Last term, the Defense Against the Dark Arts professor was Lord Voldemort, Dumbledore repeated, or, more strictly speaking, at least the followers who were directly trying to aid his comeback. Quirinus Quirrell, if you're curious. As his name suggests, he was trying to help Voldemort steal the Philosopher's Stone hidden in Hogwarts.

The Philosopher's Stone hidden in Hogwarts. Sirius repeated blankly, and then seemed to suddenly realize what Dumbledore had just said, and said loudly, Are you crazy, Albus? He turned to Mai Professor Gerard, Minerva, is it because I just left Azkaban-

That's the fourth thing I want to say. Dumbledore said seriously, The situation has come to this, and I hope we remain united. Severus, Sirius -

Snape and Sirius looked at each other, both seemed to understand what Dumbledore was about to say, with expressions of hatred and disgust on their faces at the same time.

Stop being so hostile, at least not openly, okay? said Dumbledore. Just shake your hand.

Sirius and Snape glared at each other with a hatred that Anthony had never seen before.

Dumbledore seemed to sigh: Henry, Severus?

Anthony didn't expect that he had something of his own to do: Sir?

Shake hands. Dumbledore said, Azkaban is obviously not safe. Voldemort is waiting for an opportunity to come back in the dark. We are about to face Connelly's accusations.

Uh... okay. Anthony stretched out his hand, Professor Snape?

The muscles in Snape's face twitched. He stared at Anthony's hands, then glanced behind him as if there was a huge bear there.

Professor Anthony, Snape said through gritted teeth, grabbing Anthony's hand. Sirius let out a thinly veiled scoff.