Soulbonded

Chapter 11: A Truthful Journey

The morning sun peeked through the clouds as Harry and Ginny boarded the Hogwarts Express, the familiar steam billowing into the air as students bustled around. There was the usual excitement, but for Harry and Ginny, their thoughts were elsewhere. They weren't focused on school, their friends, or even Quidditch. Their minds were set on one thing: proving Sirius Black's innocence and finding Peter Pettigrew, the man who had betrayed Harry's parents.

They found an empty compartment near the back of the train, just as they had hoped, with only one other passenger. A man who appeared to be asleep in the corner, his worn traveling cloak wrapped tightly around him, a briefcase resting at his feet. He looked tired and worn, his greying hair and lines on his face hinting at years of hardship."R.J. Lupin," Ginny whispered, reading the name stitched on his battered suitcase.Harry gave him a brief glance, then turned his attention back to the conversation that had been dominating their minds since they left the Burrow. "We need to figure out how to find Peter Pettigrew," Harry said quietly, leaning toward Ginny.Ginny nodded, her eyes sharp. "Sirius is in hiding. If we can find Pettigrew, we can clear his name and stop him from being hunted."They had spent countless hours talking about it, both through their mind connection and face-to-face. Their dreamland meetings with Harry's parents had left them with the shocking revelation that Sirius Black, the man believed to be the reason behind the Potters' deaths, was innocent. It had been Peter Pettigrew who betrayed Lily and James Potter to Voldemort, and Pettigrew, thought to be dead for years, was still alive.Harry clenched his fist, feeling the frustration boiling inside him. "If only there was a way we could get proof. Something tangible."Remus Lupin stirred slightly but didn't open his eyes. Harry and Ginny, lost in their own world, didn't notice him listening."We can't let him keep running from the law when he's done nothing wrong. Dumbledore has to believe us," Ginny whispered fiercely, her hand resting on Harry's."We'll find him," Harry said, determined, his green eyes flashing with resolve. "We have to."The train chugged steadily along the tracks, the countryside blurring by. They continued discussing their plans, piecing together whatever bits of information they could. Remus Lupin remained still, though his ears were alert, quietly absorbing their conversation. His brow furrowed at certain words—*Sirius Black* and *Peter Pettigrew*—but he chose to remain silent.Suddenly, the train came to an abrupt halt. The usual clattering of the wheels stopped, and a tense, cold stillness filled the compartment. The windows began to frost over, and an unnatural chill crept into the air."What's happening?" Ginny whispered, her breath visible in the cold.Harry stood up, peering out of the compartment. Darkness seemed to descend outside, unnatural and oppressive. He had a sinking feeling in his stomach, one he couldn't quite explain.Then, the door to their compartment slid open, and the temperature plummeted. A towering, cloaked figure glided into the room, its face hidden beneath a hood, but the presence of the Dementor was unmistakable. The cold was bone-deep now, and Harry felt an overwhelming wave of despair wash over him.His vision blurred, his legs felt weak, and then, without warning, he was plunged into darkness. Distant screams echoed in his mind—his mother's voice, pleading, desperate. "Not Harry! Please, no, not Harry!" And then everything went black.---Harry awoke to find Ginny's worried face hovering over him. "Harry, are you okay?" Her voice was shaking with concern.He blinked, disoriented, then slowly sat up, feeling weak and lightheaded. His head throbbed, and he realized he was clutching a piece of chocolate in his hand, the taste of it already melting on his tongue. Remus Lupin was sitting across from him, watching him with a kind, but guarded expression."You'll feel better in a moment," Lupin said softly. "The chocolate helps after an encounter with a Dementor. They drain happiness and light, leaving only darkness and despair."Harry nodded, taking another bite of the chocolate, feeling warmth slowly returning to his body. Ginny remained close, her hand resting on his arm, her worry still evident.Once Harry seemed stable, Lupin leaned forward slightly, his eyes thoughtful. "You were talking earlier, before the Dementor came," he began cautiously. "About Sirius Black... and Peter Pettigrew."Ginny stiffened next to Harry, and Harry's eyes widened slightly in surprise. He hadn't realized their new professor had overheard them."How do you know Sirius is innocent?" Lupin asked gently, though there was an intensity to his gaze.Harry and Ginny exchanged a glance before Harry spoke. "We... we're soulbonded," he said, deciding there was no point in keeping secrets. "And recently, we overheard Ginny's parents talking about how Sirius had escaped Azkaban. Everyone thinks he's after me, but in our dreamland, I talked to my parents, and they told me the truth."Lupin's face paled slightly, but he didn't interrupt, motioning for Harry to continue."They said that Sirius didn't betray them. It was Peter Pettigrew who sold them out to Voldemort," Harry explained, his voice filled with a mixture of frustration and sadness. "Peter faked his death and framed Sirius. That's why he's been on the run all these years."Ginny nodded in agreement. "We don't know where Peter is, but we're going to find him. We have to clear Sirius's name."Lupin sat back in his seat, looking as though he had been struck by a powerful gust of wind. His eyes flickered with emotions too complex to name—relief, shock, and deep, quiet grief."Soulbonded..." Lupin murmured, more to himself than to them. After a moment, he looked up, meeting Harry's gaze. "I knew your parents," he said softly, his voice full of emotion. "James and Lily... they were dear friends of mine. I believe you. What you're saying, it's... it's not impossible."Harry and Ginny were both silent, absorbing his words.Lupin ran a hand through his hair, taking a deep breath. "Sirius Black... he's innocent. I always suspected it, but I never had proof. And if what you say about Pettigrew is true, then everything we've believed for years is wrong."Harry nodded, feeling a strange sense of relief that Lupin believed them."Thank you for telling me this," Lupin said. "I won't say anything to anyone yet, but I'll help you however I can."Ginny squeezed Harry's hand tightly, and Harry nodded. "Thank you, Professor."Lupin gave them a small, sad smile. "No need to thank me, Harry. I owe it to your parents."The train began moving again, but Harry's mind was spinning. He wasn't sure what would come next, but for the first time since learning about Sirius Black, he felt like they weren't entirely alone in their mission.As the train neared Hogwarts, Harry and Ginny exchanged quiet thoughts through their mind connection, feeling a mix of determination and nervousness. They had found an unexpected ally in Professor Lupin, and now, they needed to focus on their next steps to clear Sirius Black's name. Their bond made them stronger, but the path ahead was still full of danger and uncertainty.As the castle loomed in the distance, Harry felt a flicker of hope. He wasn't just fighting for the truth alone—he had Ginny by his side, and that made all the difference.