Chapter 260: Padfoot and Moony
If he could choose, Fudge would definitely not have cleared Sirius's name.
You should know that while Crouch had presided over Sirius's original trial, it was Fudge who had directed it. Although there were many problems involved that weren't solely Fudge's fault, he was still the main person responsible and bore significant responsibility for this matter.
But Fudge had no choice but to do it. Not only because Dumbledore had intervened, but also because the evidence was conclusive, with both witness and material evidence complete. Dumbledore had also found his friends to work behind the scenes, making it impossible to handle the matter ambiguously. This left Fudge in an awkward position, having no choice but to clear Sirius's name.
Of course, on the premise that he had to clear Sirius, Fudge quickly adjusted his strategy. He had the Daily Prophet publish several consecutive articles with Sirius as the protagonist, emphasising how he had endured humiliation and heavy burdens. Because he had made the mistake of choosing Peter Pettigrew as Secret-Keeper, he had entered Azkaban to monitor Death Eater activities while torturing himself to atone to his friends. The articles were written movingly, highlighting Sirius's tall, glorious image and noble character.
Never mind whether the articles were reasonable or logical. The readers were moved to tears anyway, and Sirius almost became a hero in readers' hearts who surpassed even the saviour, Harry Potter.
It had to be said that Fudge's strategy was correct. Several consecutive front-page articles in the Daily Prophet shifted the focus to Sirius, downplaying Fudge's original mistakes. Now he just needed to find an opportunity to take a photo of himself and Sirius chatting happily together, supplemented with some articles and selectively edited interviews, and he could maintain his approval ratings and ensure his continued reelection as Minister of Magic.
Sirius grimaced with a stiff and helpless smile. Although he was very disdainful of acting with Fudge, for the sake of walking freely in the sunlight in the future and being able to openly stand beside Harry as his elder, he had agreed to this performance with Fudge after Lupin's persuasion.
The Daily Prophet reporter took photos three times before getting something barely usable. Fudge looked at Sirius. The two could be said to dislike each other mutually, but they had to play along. After exchanging a few pleasantries, they immediately turned and left, with Fudge going to curry favour with Dumbledore.
The current Fudge hadn't yet broken with Dumbledore. Regarding this wizard who had great fame even in the worldwide magical community, Fudge naturally wouldn't give up maintaining their friendly relationship.
Watching Fudge leave, following behind Dumbledore, Sirius curled his lip disdainfully and said to Lupin: "That someone like Fudge could become Minister of Magic shows the Ministry has fallen."
"He's been Minister for many years. If the Ministry was going to fall, it would have fallen long ago."
Curling his lip, Sirius looked around and suddenly asked Lupin: "Remus, where's Harry?"
"It's Wednesday today. Harry's still in class."
"Speaking of classes, you're now Hogwarts' Defence Against the Dark Arts professor, right?"
Hearing this, Lupin gently shook his head: "I'm no longer the Defence Against the Dark Arts professor."
"Why?" Sirius frowned and asked: "I know your abilities very well. Being the Defence Against the Dark Arts professor is completely no problem for you. Besides, when Harry came to see me a few days ago, he mentioned that he learnt the Patronus Charm from you. Without you, Harry wouldn't have been able to learn the Patronus Charm. Your qualifications as Defence Against the Dark Arts professor are unquestionable."
Lupin smiled helplessly and said to Sirius: "Hogwarts students are very clever. I previously used the excuse of health problems, but observant people had already noticed that my problems always occurred during full moons. Later, when Severus was substitute teaching, he also covered content about werewolves, so..."
Before Lupin could finish, hearing him mention Snape, Sirius immediately shouted angrily: "I knew it, I knew it, Remus! The reason you can't continue being a professor at Hogwarts is because Snivellus interfered. I'm going to settle accounts with him right now!"
"Sirius, it wasn't Severus..."
"You don't need to persuade me, Remus. You're just too kind. I must..."
"Sigh..."
Sighing helplessly, Lupin elbowed Sirius in the stomach. There was a muffled grunt from Sirius as he collapsed onto the hospital bed, slowly writhing without making a sound.
"Remus, why..."
Hearing Sirius's voice that seemed to emerge from his throat like someone dying, Lupin immediately felt a headache and said helplessly: "This matter actually has little to do with Severus. Mainly, some Hogwarts children guessed my identity, then went to ask their families for confirmation. It happened that among some people, my werewolf identity wasn't a secret, so my werewolf identity was exposed. Do you understand?"
Sirius sat up.
Lupin hadn't hit him hard just now, so he had recovered by this time.
Sitting on the hospital bed, Sirius looked at Lupin and asked: "So, Remus, all these years, this is how you've been living, isn't it?"
When they first met, Sirius had been somewhat puzzled seeing the obviously down-and-out Lupin. In his view, Lupin's abilities were outstanding. How could he be living so poorly? Now he immediately understood. For him, Lupin's werewolf identity was inconsequential, but for others, the werewolf identity was enough for them to negate everything about Lupin.
Seeing Sirius's rarely serious expression, Lupin smiled: "It's alright. I've gotten through it, and besides, after all these years, I haven't starved to death, have I?"
"Don't worry. Now that I'm out, we'll both live well."
"The way you're talking makes it sound like I'm going to spend my whole life with you."
"We'll be lifelong friends. There's no doubt about that."
"That's not wrong, but hearing it from someone as unreliable as you, I still find it somewhat jarring."
The two laughed as they looked at each other, seeing each other's teenage appearance in their eyes. Compared to their teenage years, many things had changed, but many things remained the same.
Sirius Black and Remus Lupin.
Padfoot and Moony.
Their friendship had experienced misunderstandings and setbacks but had finally brought them back together again.
The two stood up simultaneously and came to the ward's window, looking at the Quidditch players training on the distant Quidditch pitch, as if seeing their former selves.