LIGHTNOVELWORLD Chapter 133: The Towering Sirius
Other professors and students, unclear about the context, froze in confusion.
They stared at the newly exonerated Sirius Black, Professor Snape, and an innocent Harry Potter, who had just sat down.
"Black, use your dog brain to think—could Harry's sharp tongue possibly have come from me?" Snape sneered.
The atmosphere grew tense, the air thick with confrontation.
Sirius frowned, deep in thought.
Students and professors were stunned.
Sir, are you serious? Snape just insulted you, and you're actually contemplating his words?
"Harry's words are rather sharp, like yours," Sirius concluded after a long pause. "So stay away from him!"
"Good kids shouldn't be influenced by you."
Snape snorted, ready to retort.
Dumbledore tapped his glass with a fork. "That's enough. It's Christmas—let's be harmonious, Sirius, Severus, no more arguments."
Sirius huffed, sitting back down and turning his attention to Hermione.
This was the first time he had observed the young girl so closely.
Her hair color, eye color, and features were entirely different.
But Sirius couldn't shake the feeling that Hermione was similar to Lily—kind, sharp, and confident.
"Mr. Black?" Hermione squirmed uncomfortably under his gaze.
Sirius snapped back to reality. "Call me Sirius."
"But you're…" Hermione responded politely.
Sirius waved dismissively. "I don't like the name Black. If you'd like, you can call me—"
He paused, catching Harry's sharp gaze. Swallowing his words, he corrected himself. "Just Sirius is fine."
Hermione nodded.
"By the way, what's with that book you gave me?" Sirius asked casually.
Ron's head shot up, instantly alert.
"It was Harry's suggestion," Hermione replied with a small smile. "He said it would be useful."
Lupin tilted his head. "What book?"
"A Muggle book: The Encyclopedia of Feline Species," Sirius answered.
Lupin choked on his pumpkin juice, hastily turning away to recover. His astonished gaze fell on Harry. "Did you really tell Miss Granger to give him that book?"
"Just call me Hermione," she said timidly.
"Yes," Harry answered calmly.
Ron scratched his head. "That's the same book she gave me."
Lupin turned to Ron, now even more astonished. "What's going on with this child? Is he just like Sirius?"
"The same, but not quite," Harry clarified. "He got beaten by Crookshanks."
Ron clenched his fork, staring at Hermione in shock.
So, that's why you gave me the book?
Sirius tilted his head back and snorted. "Crookshanks isn't my match. Recently, even with Hedwig and Baws teaming up, they couldn't beat me."
Snape let out a mocking laugh.
Professor McGonagall looked like she wanted to cast a spell to seal Sirius's mouth.
Sirius Black really belongs in Slytherin.
"A fully grown wizard defeating a part-kneazle cat and two owls—what an accomplishment, my dear godfather," Harry said, cutting into a lamb chop. "Shall I write an article for The Daily Prophet to commemorate it?"
Sirius froze, pondering Harry's words. He finally defended himself, "I was in my Animagus form!"
"Then it would read, 'The century's last Animagus Master defeats a part-kneazle and two owls in his first victory post-Azkaban,'" Harry quickly revised, his tone deadpan.
It still didn't sound like a compliment.
"Harry, no need for that," Sirius said, rejecting the "kind gesture." "I was just playing with them."
Snape snorted again.
"That's enough!" Sirius slammed the table and glared at Snape. "Why are you always making weird noises when I'm talking to Harry?"
"It's Christmas," Snape said, dabbing at his mouth with a napkin. "Everyone's here to celebrate. No rule says only you can talk, while others must stay silent."
Sirius bared his teeth.
"Do you plan to turn into a big dog and bite me?" Snape taunted, waving his hand as he stood. "Go ahead. As a professor, I can't attack a guest of Hogwarts."
Sirius's hand dove into his robes.
Lupin grabbed his shoulder.
Snape shook his head. Before leaving the table, he turned back. "Oh, Potter, when talking to Black, be straightforward. He doesn't understand the art of conversation."
Lupin tightened his grip as Sirius attempted to leap onto the table. "What are you babbling about? Your stinking mouth isn't art—it's garbage!"
"Lupin, let go! I'm going to knock him out!" Sirius growled.
Lupin leaned close and whispered, "Calm down, Sirius. You can't beat him."
Sirius froze, his struggles intensifying.
"Now I really want to beat him."
Dumbledore sighed. "It's my fault. I thought that after all these years, they might reconcile."
"Not a chance, Dumbledore!" Sirius snarled, sinking back into his seat. "I'll never reconcile with that snake—James wouldn't…"
He stopped abruptly, biting his tongue as Lupin's fork jabbed into his leg, pain serving as a reminder not to say anything inappropriate.
"Godfather, didn't the Ministry consider locking you up a bit longer?" Harry asked.
Sirius ground his teeth. "Harry, this time, I understand—you're mocking me, aren't you?"
"I'm perfectly clear-headed now!"
Hermione opened her mouth to speak.
Lupin sighed and removed the fork. "Harry isn't mocking you. He's concerned."
Sirius blinked.
Lupin turned to Harry, who pulled out a vial of Dittany from the Sorting Hat. "Harry's asking why the Ministry didn't punish you for your other charges."
"Money solves everything," Sirius said matter-of-factly. "About five thousand Galleons? They let it go."
Ron's jaw dropped.
Five… five thousand?
Such a huge sum, spoken of so lightly?
He started counting on his fingers. Since he was born—no, since Bill was born—his family had probably never earned that much.
A couple hundred Galleons a year barely got them by.
This year was better, thanks to lottery winnings, Malfoy's settlement, and the twins' "scavenging" in the Forbidden Forest.
"The Ministry sure is greedy," Harry muttered, shaking his head.
The Malfoys had spent thirteen years selling hair-growth and shampoo potions. Even so, their patent payouts to him only totaled a little over ten thousand Galleons.
Sirius waved dismissively. "If money can solve it, it's not a problem."
Ron shivered internally.
In his eyes, Sirius seemed to grow even taller and more impressive.
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