Conversations from Within

By:

LiL Pippin Padfoot

&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&

Summary: "Nobody cares, 'cause I'm alone in the world and, nobody wants to be alone in the world." -

I'm Just a Kid - Simple Plan

&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&

Chapter 3

Accusations

&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&

Sirius had seen the headlines. The Chamber of Secrets had been opened. Sirius couldn't believe it. Him, James, Remus, and Peter, well, not so much Peter, dreamed of opening it someday. Not to empty the school of the unworthy (excepting certain Slytherins named Snivelly and select relatives of Sirius's) they would ride through Hogwarts on this supposedly 'deadly' beast. Of course, they only knew that because Remus had read Hogwarts, a History about a million times. It had been his and James' idea to ride it through Hogwarts, even though Lupin claimed it was a horrible monster and only the heir of Slytherin could control it. James always said that since Sirius was Black, and who was eviler and blacker than the Blacks? Lupin would shake his head, and go along with them. It easier than arguing.

Sirius read into the article. It said that they had a suspect taken into custody.

Speak of the Devil. The Dementors were bringing someone in.

This person, judging by the shadow, was some one that was huge. Both broad as they were tall.

Sirius paled, he knew this person. Hagrid.

Hagrid had long ago chased all of them away from the Forbidden Forest. Back when...back when James was still alive, back when Lily's red hair shined in the sun, when even Remus smiled, back when he was a free man. Back before they were betrayed, all of them, betrayed.

Hagrid stopped briefly at Sirius's cell.

Sirius looked into Hagrid's beetle coloured eyes, and Hagrid looked into Sirius's stony gray eyes.

"Hagrid." said Sirius, his voice raspy, as he had not used it in some time.

"Black." growled Hagrid. "Betrayer." he spat

Sirius looked helplessly at Hagrid, as he walked passed.

Sirius bowed his head. What was the use? If not even Remus, the most forgiving of the Marauders could not believe Sirius's story, than Hagrid, who was the hold-a-grudge type would not believe, much less listen to Sirius's side of things.

But Sirius had to try, if only one person would believed him...

Lucky for Sirius, Hagrid's cell was right across from his, Sirius blinked, remembering Barty Crouch's son, who had once occupied that same cell. Had that been so long ago?

"Hagrid!" said Sirius, in a loud whisper, trying not remember the image of a skinny boy with blonde hair and freckles crying for his mother.

Hagrid, who was now very pale, turned his back on Sirius.

"You have to believe me! I didn't want Lily and James to die!"

Hagrid's back stiffened at the mention of Lily and James.

"I didn't mean to...I admit, it was my fault! But not in the way you think!"

"That's righ'." growled Hagrid. "It is your fault. Admit it, Black! Lily 'n James, they were your best friends! How could you?"

Sirius thought for a moment. "I don't know. I was trying to protect them-,"

"A ruddy right way to do it!" said Hagrid. "Giving them to him. Real great job protecting them, Sirius!"

Hagrid stopped. He had called him Sirius. This wasn't Sirius. Hagrid scowled, trying to block out the memories of a laughing Sirius, as the snitch got away from James and zoomed inside Hagrid's hut. A good amount of Hagrid's pots and dishes were broke as James chased the snitch around, getting no help from Sirius or Remus, who had been savoring that moment. Peter had tried to help, but had been to clumsy for his own good. But that was happy memory, and it soon slipped away.

Sirius opened his mouth, not quite knowing what to say, besides attesting his innocence.

"Don't, Black." Hagrid held his hand, Sirius noted that Hagrid had grown pale, and was shaking. Azkaban did that to you. "Jus', jus' don't." Hagrid couldn't listen to Sirius, he might believe him. Sirius and James had silver tongues. They could almost always talk themselves out of any situation. Atleast, with most teachers, it did not cut it with Minerva or Albus, if Filch even so much as saw the hem of their robes, they were in detention.

Sirius leaned back on the flat piece of wood that Azkaban called a bed. Sirius sighed, closing his eyes. It was no more use convincing Hagrid. He was set in his ways.

Sirius tried to recall one of his memories of Lily and James. He did that to punish himself, most memories had slipped away, but Sirius could still recall a few memories, as they involved Peter, and thinking of Peter made him anything but happy. Sadly, Sirius's mind was clouded. He wanted a happy memory, he tried to shake the thought. He learned a long time ago, he became sadder with everytime he thought like that, and that only made the dementors happy.

Hagrid glanced across the way. There was a window in Sirius's cell, and the moon shown through the bars, casting an eerie pattern in his cell. Hagrid looked out his tiny window, hoping for stars, but apparently, the heavens did not smile down on Azkaban.

"Hagrid?" an new thought had arisen in Sirius.

Hagrid looked toward Sirius who now sitting up.

"I believe that you didn't open the Chamber."

Hagrid's mouth dropped open. He was speachless.

"You may not believe me." said Sirius. "But, I do believe you didn't do it." And with that, Sirius didn't say another word, he lay back on his bed, and left Hagrid to his thoughts.

No more words passed between the two. What could have been a month, or a week, or maybe a few days later, Hagrid was released. Sirius watched as the Minister of Magic himself came, twittering down the isle, obviously extremely nervous, came and wished his apologies to Hagrid, who's reply was "You better be, sorry, Fudge."

Before he left, he stopped at Sirius's cell, Sirius looked at him hopefully.

"Thank you." said Hagrid curtly, but as Sirius looked into Hagrid's eyes, he saw the truth. Hagrid no more believed Sirius's story as he did when he walked in.

Sirius sighed. No one would ever believe him. Sirius wished it was a happy thought, so the Dementors could take it. But it stayed.

No one believes me.

&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&