Chapter 43: The Mangy Black Dog Flees Towards Birmingham

Chapter 43: The Mangy Black Dog Flees Towards Birmingham

In all his years in Azkaban, Sirius Black had never once thought of escaping.

It wasn't that the Dementors' chilling presence had broken his fierce spirit. It was that from the moment James and Lily fell in Godric's Hollow, guilt and remorse had transformed the entire world into a larger Azkaban. Escaping would only mean trading a physical cage for an endless prison of despair.

But everything changed with the arrival of that boy in the black suit.

"It was a very fat rat... shifty-looking thing... missing its right front paw." The boy's words had struck him like lightning, tearing through the fog of his memories.

A fat rat... missing its right front paw.

Peter Pettigrew... who had cut off his own right finger.

Could it be... a coincidence?

But if Peter hadn't died... if he had just sacrificed a finger to fake his death...

The implications hit Sirius instantly. A spark ignited in his withered heart, and his mind, sluggish for so long, began to race.

After Moody had left with the strange young wizard, Sirius had doubted himself. Was his hatred for Peter so deep that he was imagining things?

But in the end, he decided he had to escape. For one reason only: his godson might be in danger.

He didn't hesitate. The Animagus transformed, shrinking into the corner of his cell, fooling the mindless Dementors.

Through unimaginable hardship, Sirius Black finally escaped the dreaded prison.

Ten years had passed since the twenty-two-year-old Black had been incarcerated. Time had ravaged the once-dashing young man, etching suffering and bitterness onto his features. But Sirius didn't care. His only thought was for his godson.

And so, the mangy black dog fled, heading relentlessly towards Birmingham.

The Ministry reacted swiftly. Aurors set up roadblocks and watchpoints across the country, but nothing could stop a desperate godfather. After countless hardships, Sirius finally evaded all pursuit and slipped unnoticed into Birmingham.

Finding the so-called "Shelby Manor" proved surprisingly simple. The city's homeless community spoke of it as a place run by the kindest of men. A brief chat with a fellow vagrant by the roadside, and Sirius knew exactly where to go.

He politely declined the man's offer to share whatever scraps he'd found, and headed straight for the manor.

Arriving at the gates, Sirius understood why it was considered a haven. Inside the grounds, a large man in a suit was tending a pot over a fire, boiling massive bones. Every time a stray dog approached, the man would toss one over the fence.

As Sirius stared, dumbfounded, the man spotted him—or rather, it. A large bone came sailing through the air towards him.

He let out an involuntary bark, but choked it off a second later. The bone landed at his paws, rolled over, and revealed a line of faintly inscribed words.

"To the misunderstood traitor: In the largest shop in Knockturn Alley, around Halloween, you might find the answer you seek."

A pang of grief shot through him. James and Lily had died on Halloween night.

Shaking off the pain, Sirius thought for a moment, then without hesitation, shoved aside a long-haired mongrel that was gnawing on its own bone nearby.

The mongrel yapped angrily—"Bloody outsider, never seen a decent bone, comin' all the way to Birmingham to nick ours"—but seeing Sirius wasn't easily intimidated, it slunk away, still muttering.

Sirius pawed at the half-eaten bone the other dog had dropped. The inscription was identical.

Though he couldn't fathom what was happening, Sirius vaguely remembered that the largest shop in Knockturn Alley belonged to Borgin and Burkes. It was risky, but he had to go.

And just like that, all the preparations Leon had made before leaving for Hogwarts finally fell into place.

A few days later, Sirius arrived in Knockturn Alley. He looked at the familiar spot where Borgin and Burkes should have been, his expression grim. The shop was transformed. But then he saw them: several large men in black suits and flat caps, identical to the boy he had met in Azkaban. And the sign above the door—"Shelby Arms"—confirmed he was in the right place.

Halloween was still a few days away. Remembering the surprisingly tasty bone, Sirius settled into the shadows to wait for the boy in the black suit. He had patience now. Ten years wasted had blurred his sense of time. A few days, compared to what he had endured, was merely a few painful blinks.

Black remained hidden in the alley's gloom, occasionally catching a hapless rat to sustain himself. Halloween came and went. Finally, one morning shortly after, the boy appeared.

Sirius trailed him from a distance, his skills in stealth honed to perfection. The Ministry's Aurors couldn't find him; the boy certainly wouldn't notice.

Hidden in the shadows, Black then witnessed a scene that chilled him to the bone.

The boy suddenly drew his wand and, with ruthless efficiency, dispatched three Dark Wizards who had tried to ambush him. He then calmly and expertly disposed of the bodies, leaving no trace. Finally, he walked away as if nothing had happened.

Sirius had known the boy wasn't ordinary, but this... this was something else entirely.

He watched the boy enter the shop bearing the 'Shelby Arms' sign. Still, Sirius did not reveal himself. He continued to watch, observing.

The shop did brisk business, customers coming and going all day, even after nightfall. Finally, close to midnight, a 'Closed' sign was hung on the door. The employees left, and the lights went out.

Sirius waited another full hour before finally emerging from the darkness. He crept silently towards the closed shop.

Suddenly, the door swung open inwards. Moonlight spilled into the dark interior.

The boy stood silhouetted in the doorway. Seeing the black dog, he politely removed his cap, straightened up, and gave a slight bow.

Meeting Sirius's wary gaze, Leon appeared perfectly calm and composed. He held up a copy of the Daily Prophet, his voice steady.

"A pleasure to finally meet you, Mr. Black."

"I am Leon Shelby."

"Azkaban to here... quite a journey. You must be exhausted."

He paused, then added, holding out the newspaper. "Oh, by the way. I have a report here about Harry's brave encounter with a troll. Would you care to read it?"