Chapter 976: Chapter 976: The Torn Sirius
The same Ministry of Magic. The same Second Courtroom.
This time, there were even more attendees than the first hearing. The tiered seats were completely packed, leaving no space at all.
Voldemort had only recently fallen, and a long line of Death Eaters was still awaiting trial. In such a hectic time, it was hard to believe so many members of the Wizengamot could spare time to attend a hearing this minor.
But that had nothing to do with Kyle. Once again, he used his Second-Class Medal to secure a seat as an observer and quietly took his place on the back row of stone steps.
Coincidentally, the two elderly wizards he’d met at the first hearing were seated beside him again.
Unlike everyone else, they seemed to be here just for the gossip and spectacle. They even brought roasted melon seeds and a bag full of snacks.
"What a coincidence, it’s you again." The old wizard next to Kyle grinned, offering him the snack bag.
Kyle hesitated, but eventually accepted and took a small handful of seeds.
...
Just as Kyle had suspected beforehand, this hearing was purely procedural. Though the crowd had doubled, the efficiency was much higher than last time.
Amelia Bones, the Minister of Magic, looked like she was rushing through a checklist—presenting evidence, voting, and declaring the verdict in one swift sequence.
She immediately announced that Snape was not a Death Eater and dismissed all accusations against him.
Bones even praised him, calling him calm, resourceful, brave, and fearless, and promised to nominate him for the Order of Merlin.
Kyle couldn’t help but chuckle. Calling a Slytherin student "brave and fearless"—wasn’t that just an insult?
As for the Order of Merlin... Kyle figured she was just saying that for effect. After all, Snape hadn’t been with Dumbledore from the very start.
Given that he’d leaked the prophecy, there was no way he’d actually be awarded the Order.
But Snape didn’t care. All he wanted now was an official, public identity—and that was something Dumbledore had promised him.
So overall, he was very satisfied with the outcome.
As soon as the verdict was announced, he immediately stood and led Kanna out of the courtroom, not giving anyone the chance to approach.
His behavior might’ve been improper, but Minister Bones pretended not to notice. She lowered her head, feigning distraction, and only looked up to formally declare the hearing concluded when Snape’s hand was already on the door handle.
Some people rose quickly, but by then, Snape had already left the chamber.
As he pushed open the door, he was met by Sirius’s tense, conflicted face... He had been waiting outside the whole time.
Snape didn’t bother hiding his disgust, as if someone had tossed something filthy onto the floor in front of him.
A second later, Sirius mirrored the expression, almost in unison.
Whatever he had meant to say vanished. What came out instead was, "Lucky you, Snivellus."
He could tell Snape had been cleared. If he’d been found guilty, the Aurors would’ve escorted him out—he wouldn’t be walking out on his own.
"Oh, you filthy, brainless mutt," Snape shot back without hesitation.
Neither man paused. Sirius didn’t try to stop him—he simply watched as Snape stepped into the lift.
By the time others rushed out after him, the lift had already begun its descent, carrying Snape and Kanna away from that floor.
Sirius didn’t leave right away. He stayed in the corridor a little longer.
Mr. Weasley had just told him that Molly had already gone to King’s Cross to pick up Harry, so there was no need to rush back.
After a few unrelated figures left the room, Amelia Bones emerged. She nodded at Sirius as a gesture of acknowledgment.
Then came Professor McGonagall, visibly relieved. With this, the issue surrounding Snape was finally settled.
This had been her first time acting as Headmistress of Hogwarts—and she had seen it through to the end.
"Sirius..." Professor McGonagall looked at him. "What are you doing here? Is it because of Severus’s memory?"
"Yes," Sirius nodded. "I heard it was related to James and Lily."
"Then why didn’t you go in?"
"I wasn’t invited," Sirius said casually.
Professor McGonagall didn’t press further. There really had been too many people in the courtroom. It was the first time she’d ever seen the seats completely filled. Even Kyle, with his medal, had barely managed to get in.
"All right then. So did you come because you already knew something?"
"I did—at first. But now..." Sirius paused before continuing, "I overheard something. I just came to confirm whether it was true. Now I know."
His voice was soft.
He had spent years hunting the person who leaked the prophecy. When he learned it was Snape, his hatred peaked.
But then he learned Snape had spent all those years protecting Harry.
That contradiction left Sirius in the same turmoil as Harry—not knowing how he should feel, or how to face Snape.
But just now, Snape had made that decision for him.
At that moment, another wave of people exited the courtroom.
"Hey, Kyle!" Sirius waved, seizing the chance to change the subject. "Minerva, Molly’s prepared a big dinner to celebrate Harry and Ron’s graduation. You should join us—everyone would love to see you."
"If I go, I doubt Mr. Potter or Mr. Weasley would be thrilled," Professor McGonagall said with a half-smile.
She was well aware of the feud between Sirius and Snape. But since Sirius didn’t want to talk about it, she acted as though she knew nothing.
It was a tangled situation—one that even Dumbledore might not have been able to resolve perfectly.
Professor McGonagall left the Ministry, and Kyle walked over after hearing someone call his name.
"Sirius? Weren’t you going to pick up Harry?"
"Molly’s already gone," Sirius replied. He hesitated for a moment before suddenly asking, "About the hearing... So he’s in the clear, right?"
There were things he didn’t want to say to Minerva McGonagall, Hogwarts’ headmistress—but Kyle was different.
Sirius wasn’t entirely sure why. Maybe it was because of everything they’d been through... Kyle had not only helped clear his name but also brought back his brother Regulus from that cave.
It had earned Sirius’s deep trust.
Kyle was also clever—something Dumbledore had affirmed more than once.
Instinctively, Sirius wanted his help.
"Well... you could say that," Kyle said, glancing at him. "Do you still want revenge?"
Sirius didn’t answer. He just kept his head down.
Kyle didn’t press. Instead, he led him to a quieter spot.
The afternoon sunlight filtered in through the enchanted windows, casting a slanting light across half of Sirius’s face.
It was a long time before he finally spoke.
"Do you think I should take revenge?"
"To be honest, you’re asking the wrong person." Kyle shrugged. "You know Snape is Kanna’s only uncle. It’s hard for me to be truly impartial."
"That’s why I’m asking you..." Sirius blurted out, but quickly shut his mouth again.
"Actually, I think you should talk to Harry," Kyle said.
"He’s still just a kid..."
"He’s already an adult wizard," Kyle replied. "And besides... Sirius, I honestly think Harry’s the better one to make that decision."
Sirius looked up.
"I know you probably don’t agree, but that’s how I see it.
"Harry’s been through so much—rejection, hardship, everything the Dursleys put him through. He’s far more mature than others his age. Sure, he’s got flaws, but his strengths more than make up for them."
"As for you, Sirius... you threw yourself into Azkaban, willingly gave up on your godson, all in the name of atonement or self-punishment."
"Honestly, I still can’t wrap my head around how you made that choice. To borrow one of Snape’s favorite phrases—do you have Troll blood or something?"
"Hey! I’m a proper Black!" Sirius said in a theatrically indignant voice.
But the shifting red and pale tones on his face made it clear—he wasn’t calm at all.
Maybe he couldn’t make sense of it either—why he never stopped to think about what would happen to Harry...
When he’d first heard how badly the Dursleys treated Harry, he’d almost stormed over with his wand ready to blast the place apart. And he’d wanted to curse himself, too.
"Go talk to Harry," Kyle said again. "It’s better than sitting here torturing yourself."
This time, Sirius nodded.
He took a deep breath. "Kyle, you should probably get ready to go home too—back to St. Catchpole."
"Yeah," Kyle replied.
Come to think of it, he realized it had been a long time since he’d last been home. Now that Voldemort was gone and the crisis was over, it was finally time.
The two of them stepped into the lift.
"Are you going back to 12 Grimmauld Place?"
"No, I’m coming with you. Molly’s set up a celebration dinner—I need to hurry back for it."
"At The Burrow?"
"There’ll be more people there," Sirius said. "I think Harry will enjoy that kind of atmosphere."
When they reached the main hall of the Ministry, they crossed into the room opposite the fireplace and Apparated back to St. Catchpole.
...
The area around The Burrow was buzzing with activity. Even from a distance, you could hear the laughter and noise of the Weasley family. Fred and George were the loudest, and Harry’s voice rang out too—he and Ron were playing Gnome Toss.
They’d been playing that game since before Kyle started school, and it remained a firm favorite in the Weasley household.
Sirius watched Harry, who was laughing and energetic in the garden, and suddenly hesitated, standing still instead of walking forward.
"What’s wrong?"
"Nothing... really," Sirius said awkwardly. "I was just thinking... does Harry really want to make this decision?"
"Who knows," Kyle shrugged.
"Then let me go ask him."
"I said if you want revenge, you should talk to Harry first," Kyle said deliberately, "but my point is about you—not Harry."
"You... I..." Sirius stared at Kyle, stunned and speechless.
"Of course, as a friend, I won’t completely sit this out..."
"How about this—if the two of you come to an agreement and decide to go through with it, I’ll give you Snape’s address."
Sirius froze.
"You’re not worried I’ll kill him? What if Kanna finds out you gave us the address—how are you going to face her?"
"You’re overthinking it," Kyle said, waving dismissively.
"You really think Kanna won’t blame you?" Sirius gave a small laugh. "Confidence is good, but too much of it isn’t."
"No, I’m sure about this," Kyle replied, looking at him. "After all, even if I gave you the address, there’s no way you’d be a match for Snape—so what difference does it make?"
Sirius’s body tensed, and his expression instantly turned serious.
Kyle had touched a nerve—his pride, his bottom line, his core.
"You’re saying I can’t beat that greasy bat?" Sirius flailed his arms. "I could hang him upside down and give him a thrashing!"
"Yeah, right... don’t flatter yourself," Kyle shot him a look. "Even if we’re friends, don’t insult my intelligence."
"You don’t believe me?" Sirius yelled, whipping out his wand. "Come on, give me his address—I’ll show you I can hang him up and beat him!"
He was shouting so loudly that he startled Harry and several of the Weasley kids, who immediately came running over.
"Hang him up... If you mean the Levicorpus charm, that was Snape’s invention."
Sirius looked like he’d taken a punch to the gut, stammering wordlessly.
"He invented at least five spells before he even graduated. What about you?" Kyle threw in another verbal jab.
"I—I can do Animagus!"
"I meant original spells... Fine, call it a draw," Kyle said offhandedly.
"And those twelve years you wasted in Azkaban? Snape became the youngest Head of House at Hogwarts during that time."
"Do you think a weak wizard could’ve earned the full support of Slytherin House?"
"And he openly aligned with Dumbledore—yet when Voldemort returned, he rejoined the Death Eaters without issue. Don’t tell me you think Voldemort’s a fool who never suspected him."
"But nothing ever happened to him. Think you could’ve pulled that off?"
With every word Kyle said, Sirius’s face grew paler.
He knew he couldn’t.
And he knew, deep down, that he probably wasn’t a match for Snape. Just coming out of Azkaban without losing his edge was an accomplishment in itself.
Even though his strength had grown through battles with the Death Eaters over the past few years, Snape hadn’t been idle either. In fact, the pressure on him had likely been even greater.
Even with Harry’s help, they might still not be able to beat Snape—but Sirius couldn’t admit that. He didn’t want to.
"I’m saying all this to give you an out," Kyle said, watching him for a moment before smiling, then turned and walked back toward his home.