147 Black and Potter 3

I swear this is the last copy and paste chapter for a while.

Plus one more thing, I realized more minute differences between the books and the movies.

/———/

Madam Rosmerta let out a long sigh.

"Is it true he's mad, Minister?"

"I wish I could say that he was," said Fudge slowly. "I certainly believe his master's defeat unhinged him for a while. The murder of Pettigrew and all those Muggles was the action of a cornered and desperate man — cruel... pointless. Yet I met Black on my last inspection of Azkaban. You know, most of the prisoners in there sit muttering to themselves in the dark; there's no sense in them... but I was shocked at how normal Black seemed. He spoke quite rationally to me. It was unnerving. You'd have thought he was merely bored — asked if I'd finished with my newspaper, cool as you please, said he missed doing the crossword. Yes, I was astounded at how little effect the Dementors seemed to be having on him — and he was one of the most heavily guarded in the place, you know. Dementors outside his door day and night."

"But what do you think he's broken out to do?" said Madam Rosmerta. "Good gracious, Minister, he isn't trying to rejoin You-Know-Who, is he?"

"I daresay that is his — er — eventual plan," said Fudge evasively. "But we hope to catch Black long before that. I must say, You-Know-Who alone and friendless is one thing... but give him back his most devoted servant, and I shudder to think how quickly he'll rise again..."

There was a small chink of glass on wood. Someone had set down their glass.

"You know, Cornelius, if you're dining with the headmaster, we'd better head back up to the castle," said Professor McGonagall.

Arth heard the Professors leave their seats one by one and exit out the door.

When they had all left, Arth couldn't help but worry about Harry.

Arth peeked underneath the table and saw a completely blank looking Harry.

Not good.

Very not good.

"Harry?"

Ron's and Hermione's faces joined him under the table. They were both staring at Harry at a loss for words.

However, before they could say another word, Harry got up and left the Three Broomsticks without a word.

Ron, Hermione, And Arth stared at the slowly closing door with complex faces.

"Well..." said Ron with a still-not-understanding look, "that went well."

Arth couldn't help but snort back a retort.

"It went absolutely fantastic Ron, just exactly what I would want to hear on a holiday."

"Ey man, chill. I was just being sarcastic."

"Thanks captain, sarcasm was exactly what we needed in this moment."

Ron started to flush.

"What else am I supposed to say? What a fucked up life Harry has?"

Arthur was about to say something when he stopped and furrowed his eyebrows deep in thought.

"Actually, Yes. That would've been better than being sarcastic. Sounds a bit more humane."

Ron shut his mouth due to sheer dumbfound amazement and frustration.

Hermione let out a sigh.

"Poor Harry, of all the things he had to hear, it had to be something so... dark."

Arth shrugged his shoulders.

"Well... I seem to find it weird."

Ron and Hermione stared at Arth with weird looks.

"What do you mean weird? What are you talking about?"

Arth rolled his eyes in annoyance.

"I'm talking about the story that the Minister of Magic was going on about. It was a bit weird."

"What about it?"

"Some parts of the story didn't make sense."

Ron rolled his eyes.

"Are you going to explain what exactly you are talking about or are we just going to be here walking around in circles?"

"Well... don't you find the whole story thing weird?"

"...Unbelievable." Said Ron staring at Arth as if he was an alien. "Absolutely, unbelievable."

Arth sighed.

"It was a joke Ron, calm down."

Ron almost threw his tankard at him.

"Ok, seriously this time, what I found so weird is how everyone thinks that Sirius Black is actually the one that betrayed James."

Hermione frowned.

"How is that weird? It's the one thing that seems to be normal to me?"

Arth sighed in frustration.

"You don't understand. It's not common for someone to betray their friends. Especially with what was going on with James Potter and Sirius Black according to them."

Ron shook his head.

"Man, I think you are just overthinking this too much."

Arth bit his lip.

Fine, I'll go explain my reasoning to people who would actually listen.