According to rumors, Sirius Black's whereabouts had been discovered.
He had reportedly snuck into the fourth floor of St. Mungo's Hospital for Magical Maladies and Injuries, specifically the Potions and Plant Poisoning Ward, attempting to steal several bottles of medicinal potions. Unfortunately, he was caught red-handed by vigilant healers and patients working together.
The once-cleared hero, now reduced to a petty thief, was a truly lamentable sight.
Fortunately, Dumbledore arrived at the scene at lightning speed to vouch for him, preventing Sirius from being hauled off to Azkaban by Aurors once again.
This rumor eventually made its way to Harry's ears.
"This is a gift your godfather asked me to deliver to you," Dumbledore said, pushing a beautiful Firebolt broomstick toward Harry. "He himself won't be able to visit you for the time being."
Harry's eyes were glued to the nearly perfect broomstick, filled with both joy and confusion. He couldn't help but ask:
"But where is he? I mean… is the story about St. Mungo's true? He's already been cleared of all charges…"
"Uh…" Dumbledore hesitated, his face turning slightly red as he recalled the reason Sirius had gone to steal potions. "He's dealing with some… er… personal matters. I'm afraid I can't disclose the details for now."
To be honest, Dumbledore was utterly taken aback when he saw Sirius's current state.
He had expected Sirius, after enduring the torment of Azkaban and months of being on the run, to be gaunt and disheveled, perhaps even on the brink of madness. Instead, he was greeted by a Sirius Black with neatly combed hair, a healthy glow, and even a few extra pounds compared to his pre-prison days.
This vibrant and dashing appearance was a clear indication that Sirius had been eating well and living happily during his time on the run.
For a moment, Dumbledore was at a loss for words, unable to muster the usual "You've been through so much."
Sirius, having already learned from the healers about Peter's capture and his own exoneration, wasted no time pouring out a torrent of grievances to Dumbledore, each tale more heart-wrenching than the last. The emotional outpouring left the headmaster deeply moved.
"Sirius, why did you come to St. Mungo's?" Dumbledore asked, concerned, after a round of heartfelt conversation.
Sirius's expression, initially filled with sorrow and pain, shifted through a series of complicated emotions before settling on an oddly bashful look. He awkwardly covered his midsection, the placement of his hands rather… unusual.
"Cough, cough, cough…" Dumbledore coughed violently, struggling to offer some words of comfort. "Er… this issue, don't worry. I'm sure the healers at St. Mungo's can resolve it in no time."
Sirius then launched into a tirade against Snape for his ruthless actions, describing his torment in such vivid detail that even Dumbledore broke into a cold sweat.
"All I did was rest in the Slytherin girls' dormitory for a while! That vile Snivellus… that greasy bat…"
Slytherin girls' dormitory?
For a while?
Dumbledore could hardly believe his ears. Hesitantly, he asked:
"I must be getting old and hard of hearing, Sirius. Did you just say you were where?"
"The Slytherin girls' dormitory," Sirius replied cheerfully, completely oblivious to any impropriety. "A kind Slytherin girl took me in. Her dog food was fantastic, and she even gave me beef-flavored chew toys. Her bathing skills were top-notch!"
From the look on his face, Sirius seemed entirely unaware that the "kind Slytherin girl" had personally delivered him into the hands of the greasy bat.
"Forgive me, Sirius, but who is this girl you're speaking of?" Dumbledore pressed further, a sinking feeling growing in his chest.
"Jane Yu," Sirius said naturally. "She's amazing! The magical devices she made even helped alleviate my Dementor-related aftereffects—"
Dumbledore had no doubt that if Sirius were currently in his Animagus form, his tail would be wagging like a helicopter blade.
But that was beside the point.
Sirius continued to ramble on, completely unaware that Jane's guardian, Dumbledore, was now staring at him with a "kindly" smile that could only be described as terrifying.
Dumbledore couldn't believe it. After Peter Pettigrew, another Gryffindor had turned out to be a pervert sneaking into the girls' dormitory!
What a disgrace to the House of the Brave! How could he face the lion ancestors?
He had initially thought Snape's actions were overly harsh, but now he wanted to applaud the man with a resounding "Well done!"
"Sirius, I think it's best if you stay at St. Mungo's for a while to… resolve your little issue," Dumbledore said decisively, cutting the conversation short. He couldn't bear to look at his troublesome former student any longer.
"But Harry—I want to see him—" Sirius protested, unwilling to give up the chance to reunite with his beloved godson.
"I don't think this is the right time," Dumbledore replied with a smile that made Sirius shiver inexplicably. "I'll arrange for the best healers to treat the damage your brain suffered from the Dementors."
In Dumbledore's mind, there was no doubt that Sirius's brain had been irreparably damaged during his time in Azkaban.
What else could explain why a man in his thirties would sneak into a thirteen-year-old girl's dormitory and live there so comfortably?
And the fact that Sirius himself didn't see anything wrong with it?
It was utterly depraved, morally bankrupt, and completely shameless!
In the end, Dumbledore swiftly arranged for Sirius to remain confined at St. Mungo's, then returned to Hogwarts posthaste, using a well-crafted excuse to placate Harry.
After resolving the series of issues, Dumbledore finally breathed a sigh of relief.
But as he sat in his office chair, replaying Sirius's words in his mind, he couldn't shake his anger—
Even if Jane had made the first move, Sirius, couldn't you have resisted even a little?
Instead, you brazenly moved into the girls' dormitory?
And then you had the audacity to let her cook for you, bathe you, clean up after you, and even play video games with you…
The sheer nerve of it all!
...
Jane, meanwhile, was completely unaware of Dumbledore's fury.
She only knew that Snape was in an exceptionally good mood.
When a man is in high spirits, it shows. Not only had Snape used Sectumsempra on the culprit Peter Pettigrew, but he had also managed to force-feed his nemesis Sirius Black over a dozen different potions. Having vented his anger, Snape felt he had achieved a significant victory.
This newfound cheerfulness was evident in his behavior during Potions class.
He couldn't help but find excuses to award Jane extra points, spending the entire lesson in a flurry of "+1, +2, +3"—a phenomenon the Slytherins and Gryffindors had grown accustomed to.
"After all, it's Jane Yu!" they chorused.
However, when the Gryffindors blew up their cauldrons or turned their potions into soup, Snape's reaction was shockingly lenient.
"Can you believe Snape only deducted 5 points when Seamus blew up his cauldron?" Ron exclaimed, suspecting that Snape had been replaced by an impostor. "Five points, not fifty! Our house points didn't even hit zero!"
But Snape's good mood didn't last long.
Because shortly after, he received a letter from an old friend—Lucius Malfoy.
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