Harry Potter A New Sirius Black

"Yeah, right," Jeffrey snorted. "You're delusional. Can't you see it? What I've been attempting to say is that ever since Potter arrived at Hogwarts, there's been nothing but trouble. Every year since he's gotten here, something weird has happened that isn't supposed to."

"Yeah, you're right," chimed in Frank, who was a fifth year. "There hasn't been a peaceful year since Potter started coming here. Remember the end of first year? There were all those rumors about the third-floor corridor, and at the Leaving Feast, all those points were given to Potter, Weasley, and Granger for some heroic deed."

Susan watched with sick fascination as several more people in the room stood, coming alive with animation and energy for the first time in hours. "Second year, there was the Chamber of Secrets," piped up Nancy, who was also a fifth year. "All those people petrified, including Justin."

"Don't bring me into this," Justin Finch-Fletchley snapped as he stood and faced the room as well. "Whatever this conspiracy theory is you're concocting about Harry, I'm not involved. I hate that I used to be scared of him. I was so stupid."

"Pity you still aren't afraid of him," said Zach, looking livid. "He'll end up killing you too."

"Shut up!" Susan roared, her eyes filling with furious tears. Hannah laid a hand on her shoulder, looking nauseated by everything that was going on.

Jeffrey continued speaking, his voice drowning out Susan's. "Everyone knows it was Ginny Weasley who was taken down into the Chamber," he said pompously, jutting his chin out. "And everyone and their grandmother knows that the Weasley family are extremely close to Potter. He's got that whole family wrapped around his little finger."

"Are you forgetting that the boy risked his life to go down there and save her?" Hannah yelled, and Susan saw guilt flood her eyes again as she remembered her past accusations against him.

"Yeah, I do," Frank spat back. "And yet, he couldn't show that same courtesy to Cedric, could he? He couldn't save him, could he? He was more than happy to let him die, because after all, Cedric wasn't one of his precious Weasleys or Granger, was he?"

Nancy pointed a finger at Hannah, Susan, Justin, and some younger students in the room, including the Muggle-born named Elly Beckitt, who the two girls had been comforting earlier. "You're just too blind to see it, aren't you?" She said to them, in a patronizing tone which made the hairs stand up on Susan's body. "None of that stuff would have happened in the first place if Potter didn't attend Hogwarts! You-Know-Who's followers are completely obsessed with Potter, and will do whatever it takes to get to him. If he wasn't here, there wouldn't have been any third-floor corridor, no petrified students, and no rescues of Weasleys even necessary!"

"And no Dementors either," said a second-year named Haley, her soft voice full of fear. "They were only on the grounds because Black was after Potter. And people were saying that Black WAS on the grounds and escaped, and we never found out what happened."

"Exactly," said Jeffrey, who walked over to Haley and patted the frightened girl on the shoulder. "When it comes to Potter, everything he does is covered up, because he's Dumbledore's little darling. After all, this year, nothing was done to stop him competing in the Triwizard Tournament when he shouldn't even have been in the running."

"Yes," said Nancy, her face collapsing into grief for Cedric. "I don't think You-Know-Who's back. He's been dead for thirteen years, that's impossible. But that doesn't mean there aren't Death Eaters out there who aren't obsessed with killing Harry. We still have no idea who was behind that Chamber of Secrets thing. All we ever found out was that Potter saved the sschool from the monster, and that Ginny Weasley was rescued too."

"Right," said Jeffrey, nodding in assent. He then unfolded the piece of parchment he had taken out of his pocket, and held it up for everyone. He cleared his throat again, and said, "I have a better way of getting the staff and Ministry to listen to us. If the people in here who believe Potter murdered Cedric bring their accusations forward, there will be those who don't believe it. But this ..." He waved the piece of parchment he was holding, "if we present this instead, and get other Hogwarts students on board to sign it, it could still make the school a lot safer. I think many, especially parents, will understand where we're coming from, particularly after this year". He straightened up and stared out at the room again, before he slowly and deliberately began to read:

"We, the students of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, strongly believe that Harry Potter should be removed from the premises. His continued attendance here poses a danger to all those who associate with him. Ever since his arrival, a number of unprecedented events have occurred here which has put the entire student body in harm's way.

"Last night, we lost a dear friend through no fault of his own. His life was tragically cut short due to the fact that he was in the vicinity of Harry Potter. We feel it is our duty to protect every other individual in this school by imploring that Potter be relocated to somewhere safe.

Signed:

Jeffrey Bushman."

"Jeff, that's not enough!" shouted Melissa in the ringing silence that followed. "We don't just want him out of the school, we want him in Azkaban! He wasn't just some innocent little lamb who watched Cedric die, he murdered him!"

"How dare you!" Susan shrieked at the same time, ducking and weaving through the crowd, trying with all of her strength to reach Jeffrey so she could snatch the parchment out of his hand and throw it into the fire which was still crackling merrily, oblivious to the horrifying scene which was taking place in the room. But several bigger boys, which included Malcolm and Cedric's third roommate, Andrew, blocked her path, holding her shoulders and keeping her from reaching him. Susan struggled and screamed, but their grip was bruising and far too tight.

And in that moment, the room dissolved into chaos. Susan felt as though reality was spinning out of control as sobs, yells, and whoops of victory at Jeff's actions surrounded her.

And she found herself doing something that had been constant ever since Harry had returned with Cedric's empty, lifeless body: she prayed with every fiber of her being that this was nothing more than a terrible, twisted nightmare.

.....

Join my P*atreon and dive into over 60 advanced chapters!

Link: p*atreon.com/Nebula_Scribe (Remove the *)

Plus, enjoy the next two chapters for free—grab them while they're fresh!