After more than ten minutes—nearly twenty—when Hermione had already begun yawning incessantly, the large black dog's silhouette appeared through the dog flap on the Shrieking Shack's ground floor, precisely as Glenn and Hermione had anticipated.
Sirius Black had taken quite some time to reach the Shrieking Shack, likely delayed whilst evading the Dementors patrolling the perimeter as he departed Hogwarts.
The great black dog panted heavily, tongue lolling, as he slowly climbed to the Shrieking Shack's second floor. The two young observers immediately switched their surveillance angle, directing the camera feed upstairs.
The black dog's form reappeared in their view. With a graceful leap, he tumbled through the air and transformed back into human shape.
Sirius Black's face finally emerged.
The Shrieking Shack's second floor boasted an exceptionally luxurious four-poster bed. Dust shrouded the curtains surrounding it, though the mattress bore little dust after days of physical contact and friction. The sheets and blankets, however, remained distinctly grimy.
Sirius appeared exhausted. He collapsed directly onto the bed, then retrieved the tattered newspaper Glenn and Hermione had spotted in the Shrieking Shack that afternoon from the bedside table, holding it before his face.
He stared for an age, gaze unwavering, as though attempting to incinerate the newspaper through sheer intensity of vision alone.
He maintained this posture for considerable time before Sirius slammed the newspaper violently against the bedside table, then lay back with hands behind his head, staring vacantly at the ceiling.
"That newspaper he's examining shows photographs of Ginny's family during their holiday."
Rubbing her eyes and forcing herself alert, Hermione magnified the real-time surveillance feed, rendering the contents of the newspaper Sirius Black had struck against the bedside table clearly visible on screen.
"If I'm not mistaken, when Sirius Black encountered us this afternoon, he was reading this very section... Could the Weasley family somehow be connected to this affair?"
Hermione voiced her speculation, and Glenn nodded agreement.
"You're quite right. I share that view. His retention of that battered newspaper and constant attention to that particular section can no longer be dismissed as coincidence. The truth may well be exactly what we suspect."
"But there's a more pressing matter now. Whether our speculation proves correct can be discussed after completing this task, wouldn't you agree, Professor Dumbledore?"
Glenn addressed Dumbledore, who'd been standing behind them, silently absorbing their analysis. Seeing the two students had concluded their examination of events and located Sirius Black, Dumbledore decided to cease observing and take action.
If possible, Dumbledore genuinely wished to personally apprehend Sirius Black—after all, he retained certain doubts about that tragic case from years past.
Just as Dumbledore had never once publicly mentioned Sirius Black to young wizards or the general populace, and even in private conversations touched upon the matter only superficially before redirecting discussion. Though rationally, when the trial verdict was delivered years ago, he'd accepted that Sirius Black was indeed the traitor who'd betrayed the Potters, emotionally he still harboured reservations.
Peter Pettigrew—whereabouts unknown, presumed deceased in that catastrophic explosion, with only a single finger recovered. If this were true, then the traitor could only be selected from Lupin and Black of that era.
Silent Legilimency had naturally been employed by Dumbledore upon both Lupin and Black long ago. For a wizard of his calibre, penetrating others' thoughts proved effortless. Both Lupin and Black had passed Dumbledore's invisible judgment, yet compared to the steadfast, honest Lupin, Sirius Black—who'd served as the Potters'Secret-Keeper, had once attempted to orchestrate a fellow student's death (though ultimately unsuccessful), and emanated a subtle arrogance and dangerous aura—appeared far more suspect.
There's truth in the saying: negative impressions someone leaves in others' minds become magnified several-fold when confronting momentous events or peril.
Therefore, despite his heart's inability to fully accept that the loyal, courageous Sirius was that year's traitor, at the time—faced with his own logical deductions, others' judgments, the tense circumstances... under multiple influences—Dumbledore could only passively accept this conclusion by default. When he finally recovered from the tragic events' emotional impact and began thinking clearly, Sirius Black was already beyond reach in Azkaban.
Without further contact opportunities, he couldn't pursue the genuine truth. Even had he wished to meet Sirius Black again, the Ministry of Magic wouldn't have consented.
They already resented Dumbledore's interference in governmental affairs.
So Dumbledore had accepted this outcome by default—until learning of Sirius Black's escape.
If circumstances permitted, Dumbledore privately hoped for a face-to-face conversation with Sirius Black.
However, it now appeared his wishes would remain unfulfilled—hope seemed rather dim.
Before Dumbledore, whom Glenn had addressed, could respond, from behind the trio, within shadows cast by candlelight upon the wall, an exceptionally cold and presently rather irritable voice emerged eerily:
"If my hearing serves correctly, you've discovered that Sirius Black fellow's hiding place through certain means?"
Snape's voice.
The old bat emerged from darkness wearing his signature black robes, regarding Glenn and Hermione with particularly sharp eyes before curling his lips into a sinister smile.
"In that case, lead the way. I believe it prudent to catch him unawares whilst he's fatigued from recent exertions and lacks proper defences."
"Besides, the sooner we return that wretch to Azkaban, the better for everyone—wouldn't you agree?"
But Professor Snape, that expression hardly suggests you're planning to bring Sirius Black to justice.
You're intending to kill him outright, aren't you? Your murderous intent is practically radiating from you!
Hermione observed Snape's terrifying expression and silently complained to herself.
But such thoughts could only remain unspoken. Were she to voice them aloud, she'd likely meet her doom before Sirius Black faced his.
The clever girl understood perfectly—whoever wished to prod that particular nerve was welcome to try.
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