As expected, Zabini, Charlotte and Tracey were all still awake when Blake returned to his dorm.
"So?" Tracey said, arms crossed. "What happened?"
Blake sighed.
"Nothing, really. We just tried to argue for Black's innocence. Anyway, I'm really tired so…"
Tracey snorted.
"Fine, we'll let you get to sleep. But you're updating us properly when Daph's back! I want to hear the whole story!"
Begrudgingly, the girls returned to their dorm, and Blake and Zabini settled into bed.
"You sure you're alright?" Zabini asked quietly.
The muggleborn boy recounted the events of the night.
It was technically a major success - they'd found out the truth about one of the most important events in the Wizarding World, saved an innocent man from a fate worse than death and even maybe began the process of getting him proven innocent, while also starting the process of exposing a heinous traitor. But most importantly of all, Blake had managed to secure access to the Black family library - a resource that very well could be the deciding factor between life and death for Astoria, and hold the secret to the soul splitting spell and Horcruxes.
But even though all of that happened…
He shuddered silently. When it came down to it, in the Forbidden Forest, he'd been unable to cast a corporeal Patronus. Instead, Snape, Daphne and Harry had to protect him and Hermione and Ron.
I was useless, he thought to himself bitterly. If I'd been alone, we all would've died - or worse.
And to rub salt in the wound, Pettigrew was out there, while Sirius was still a fugitive. The rat's going to be trying to revive Voldemort as we speak, Blake thought, jaw clenching. And I've still not found out anything about the soul-splitting spell, or even about Horcruxes.
I can't let Voldemort return - we need to end this before he even has the chance.
"Yeah," he replied. "I'm fine."
/
Daphne returned to normal school life a day later, and the Golden Trio had returned the day after that.
Blake had hoped that his friends would've forgotten about recent events, but, of course, he wasn't so lucky.
"Well then?" Tracey prompted. It was 11pm, and the 5 of them were in the boys' dorm room.
Blake and Daphne sat next to each other.
"Uh," Blake began. "Daphne can explain."
The pureblood girl shot him a scathing look.
"And you call yourself a man?"
"Ok, then, fine, I-"
Daphne cut him off abruptly, and promptly began explaining the story, all the way from the beginning.
As the other three heard about their research to try and find a cure for Astoria, the blackmail of Lupin, the search for Black, and finally, the actual events of that night, their faces shifted from confusion, to sadness, to disappointment, to anger, and finally, to awe.
"That's- that's crazy!" Tracey exclaimed. "You're both crazy!"
Zabini shook his head at them like a disappointed parent, but Blake could see the corners of his mouth turned up ever so slightly.
"You both could've died!" Charlotte scolded.
"Wait just a second," Tracey realised. "This isn't the first time you've both done something like this, is it? I mean, we all knew Blake was involved with the Basilisk last year, especially given - y'know - he's a muggleborn and the stuff with his brother - but in first year, with Quirrell and the Stone - you guys were probably involved with that too, weren't you!?"
Daphne and Blake looked at each other for a second, before they both couldn't help but crack a smile.
"Should we tell them the whole story?" Blake said.
"Fine," Daphne said dismissively. "But I'm not narrating this time - you do it."
And as Blake began reciting all the events of their Hogwarts life - from the first day of school to the present day, he and Daphne relished the looks on their friends' faces - confusion, awe, anger, outrage, admiration, laughter - I guess when I think about it, it is kind of a lot, Blake thought.
"So," he finished. "Any questions?"
/
"Blake!" Harry said, loud enough for the entire corridor to hear. "We need to talk!"
As Blake turned around, he became increasingly aware of the number of eyes on him. I guess rumours spread fast, he sighed. To be honest, he was grateful that his association with the Golden Trio had managed to stay relatively undercover for as long as it had. But realistically, from now on, people will know I've been associated with all the business that they get themselves into. By now, everyone at Hogwarts was aware that Sirius Black had escaped, given the disappearance of the Dementors, and also (given their hospital visit) that the Golden Trio had been involved.
Daphne's lucky she was only out for a day, and that she barely interacts with them too. Otherwise she would have this attention on her too.
As bad as he felt about thinking like this, Blake couldn't help but hope that since it was so close to summer, by the time fourth year began, everyone would have forgotten about him and Harry being friends.
"What's up, Harry?"
"What ended up happening? Y'know - with Sirius?" he said, ending in a whisper. As Blake explained the events of that night, Harry's eyes widened.
"Wait - so - there's a chance that he could be proven innocent?" Harry's smile was wider than Blake had ever seen before.
"Keep your voice down, mate." he responded with a small smile. "And remember, it's just a chance - but we'll see. At the very least, if Sirius gets caught, I don't think he would immediately get the Kiss anymore, anyway. He might even be allowed to get a trial, if Dumbledore gets Fudge on his side and they push for one."
Harry's smile widened even further as he took in the information.
"That's - that's great!" Before he could continue, Flitwick's squeaky voice rang out.
"Mr Potter! Mr Renshaw! Please, save the chitchat for after the lesson!"
Harry and Blake grinned at each other, before taking their seats.
At the very least, I'm glad Sirius is free, Blake thought, watching the grin still on Harry's face.
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