Order Only: Sirius' cover is about to be officially blown

[alt_bill]

I got a tip from one of my inside sources at the Prophet. They're going to be printing some explosive news tonight.

Specifically, an explosive photo: the notorious Sirius Black, very much alive and entirely recognisable, at the site of the mayhem of the World Cup. My source says he's got an unidentified body hoicked up over his shoulder. Doubtless either a nefarious confederate he had murdered or an innocent bystander whose body he was stealing to render into parts for dark potion ingredients.

This is not good.

Sirius, I suspect that the Protectorate is about to get really hot for you, really fast. As of the release of this evening's edition.

One (feeble) bright spot: I knew better than to ask, but there was no mention made to me whatsoever of the presence of a large, friendly black dog.

Comments

[alt_kingsley]

Oh, my.

No, not good at all.

[alt_molly]

Oh, NO!

[alt_arthur]

I'm disappointed, but not surprised. Really, when you think about it, it's a miracle we got away with him being declared dead as long as we did.

[alt_kingsley]

There's another bright spot: this is really going to ruin Bellatrix Lestrange's day.

[alt_bill]

True. Not to mention the Lord Protector's. And if we're really lucky, he'll take his ire out on her.

[alt_mcgonagall]

For once I am grateful that this damned tournament has taken up every possible moment of my time: I am nowhere near the line of fire. And that woman is.

[alt_sirius]

Well.

It had to happen, I suppose.

And in a way, it's good. I mean to say, we've said for ages that I've got to play along with the charade as long as they'll believe it - or pass it off as real. Honestly I'm surprised theyhaven't known long ago that their corpse was a fake.

But if I am to be 'revealed' to be alive, it means there's no reason not to write Grim Truths anymore, is there?

I guess I'll just have to make sure Padfoot is the only public face anyone gets to see.

Moony, Dora: Guess your family dog is going to take up residence with greater regularity.

[alt_nymphadora]

Good. We're happy to have you.

And honestly, I'm not sure it's all bad that you've been seen, either. Seems backwards, but I think you're right that it could set you free to do more than you've been able to do since you've been pretending to be dead.

And if that makes you less snappish, Padfoot, it'll be good for all of us!

[alt_sirius]

Of course, if we're really lucky, Lucius Malfoy will die of his wounds and everyone will blame him for the odd way Voldemort looks these days.

[alt_nymphadora]

Talk about someone who looks like he's next door to a corpse! You Know Who, I mean, not cousin Lucius--we can only hope his injuries are really dire--what do you make of the way HE's changed? Lost his hair, for one thing. And so thin. You don't suppose HE's got something terminal, do you?

[alt_sirius]

There are worse rumours to put about.

[alt_poppy]

Merlin's mustache!

We're beyond fortunate if none of us are in the background of that picture. Or in other pictures taken at the same time.

I didn't see anyone taking photographs, but it also never crossed my mind.

[alt_alice]

Oh, bugger.

I suppose it was only a matter of time, but I'm sorry to hear it.

[alt_sirius]

Well, I'm not. Sorry to be back among the living, that is.

[alt_macnair]

How'd you survive that curse in the first place? Always wondered.

Bellatrix developed it when she was first brought in as a hit wizard. I remember how she used to bring in her victims while they were still alive, then watch as they grew progressively worse, vomiting their guts up. All while taking down notes like she was observing a potion.

[alt_sirius]

Well, I keep a whole storehouse of anti-Lestrange curse mixtures down my hollow leg, don't you know.

Actually, I can't claim anything other than blind instinct. First off, I wasn't even sure she hit me at first. Then when I did feel it, and started sicking up, I did the thing that felt most natural, which was change to Padfoot. I headed for water, as well - that was more or less instinct, only Bill here found a source that confirmed salt-water would neutralise many curses of that type. So I waded in shoulder-height, rinsed out my mouth with saltwater, and just kept right on doing that until it felt more or less safe.

Changed once too early. Had help from then on, looking after me in dog form and keeping me well salted.

Otherwise, yeah. She'd have done for me.

[alt_macnair]

Interesting.

Salt-water wouldn't have worked if you hadn't transformed. Bellatrix knew of that very possibility, so she tested it, along with other possible neutraliser.

Salt water sometimes made them feel a little better, for a time, but never for long.