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_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.