8 December 1992
Sirius Black, Heir of the Most Noble and Ancient House of Black, reputed Death Eater, right-hand of the Dark Lord, and Betrayer of the Potters, lay huddled under a ratty old cloak in the small, dark cell. The days, weeks and months had blended together. At times it seemed he'd only just arrived in the cell a short time ago. At other times he'd been here forever.
His cell was made of thick stone walls with the floor and ceiling of the same material. A small window high up on the wall was the sole source of light in the cell. The door was made of vertical metal bars to close together for a human to fit through. While the door allowed the Dementors to get close and the occasional human jailor to check on the prisoners without opening the door, there was a blind spot on either side of the door. It was in this blind spot he was able to take the form of Padfoot without taking the chance that a human guard would see him in his Animagus form. His dog form was the key factor in retaining his sanity along with his knowledge that he was innocent of the charges against him. It was cold comfort but it was still some comfort.
Sirius's cell was the first one in his corridor. The cell across the way had been occupied a Death Eater named Oscar Beliemy that ironically had been captured by James Potter and Frank Longbottom. He had only survived a while before giving up and dying. The cell next door was occupied by his cousin, Bellatrix LeStrange. Bella was the 'perfect' Black and held up by Sirius's mum as the role model for her sons to aspire to. Now she'd lost the little sanity she had remaining screaming her loyalty to her master and calling for him to save her.
Sirius wondered how the 'perfect' Black was one willing to swear undying loyalty to someone outside the family. It never made sense to the family 'white sheep'.
A sudden little 'pop' snapped Sirius out of his absent musings.
"Yous is Sirius Black?" a voice asked.
"Wonderful," the ragged man rasped. "Now I am having delusions with house-elves. At least it's not that evil git of Mother's."
The house-elf cringed but took a tentative step forward. "Did dark dogwizard betray Great Harry Potter and his family?" the elf demanded in a squeaky voice.
Sirius surged forward in his anger. "I NEVER BETRAYED THE POTTERS!" Before the enraged wizard could reach him though, the elf was gone. Sirius stood there in his rage; revelling in the brief moment of life that filled him even in his anger.
"Finally joined up, cousin?" Bella called out mockingly. "Losing your mind in here? If you truly had joined the Dark Lord your reward would have been glorious!" She started to cackle.
"Shut up, you hag!" Sirius roared. "You lost your mind when you became a slave kissing her master's arse!"
Bellatrix's answering screech degenerated into screams and indecipherable shrieks that stirred up the other crazies. Soon that were all screaming and carrying on. Eventually, they attracted the Dementors and the screams turned into whimpers. But long before the Dementors arrived, Padfoot was curled up in his corner trying to ignore the screams. Instead he was wondering on the strange elf and what he wanted.
....
The next morning, Sirius Black woke to another delusion.
Next to his head was a silver platter with fine china and silverware. On the plate was an omelette filled with cheese and vegetables. Buttered toast lay next to the eggs. A glass of pumpkin juice stood next to the plate. Sirius almost wanted to cry at the smells coming from his delusion. His stomach clenched painfully as though suddenly remembering real food.
Sirius reached out a tentative hand; fearful of disturbing his delusion lest it go away. He was shocked when his hand made contact with the plate. He gently prodded the eggs with his dirty fingers. It didn't go away.
With an odd groan, the famished wizard fell on the plate of food foregoing the fancy silverware. The food tasted so good going down. He couldn't help eating faster in fear that someone would suddenly come to take it away. Even when his stomach rebelled from the sudden arrival of so much food, he kept eating.
Eventually, the pain grew too much and Sirius had to push away from the meal's remains. Sirius lay on the ground and fought to keep the food down. He barely noticed when the platter blinked away only to be replaced by a small blue vial. A part of his mind recognized the potion and he gingerly drank the small vial's contents. The Stomach-Reliever Potion quickly did just that leaving Sirius Black to enjoy his first full stomach in far too long.
After that morning, the meals arrived at regular intervals although never with as much food as on that first time. Along with the meals would be the occasional potions. While never a potions prodigy like Lily, Sirius was able to recognize most as being common Healing and Nutrition potions. After some time of this, Sirius began to see signs of returning weight and health. His mind also began to clear which was something of a mixed blessing.
It was late in the afternoon when a meal arrived that Sirius finally whispered out, "Hello? Who is helping me? Please talk to me." But nothing happened. He kept trying at the next few meals as well.
Then one morning the same house-elf from weeks ago appeared in front of Sirius again.
"Great Harry Potter's Dogfather feeling better?" he asked in a tentative, fearful voice.
"Yes, thank you," the animagus acknowledged. "I feel much better. Why are you helping me?"
The house-elf looked up with an earnest expression on its big-eyed face. "Harry Potter sir needs a safe place to live. Dobby promise to find him one. Dobby able to follow Potter family magic connection to Dogfather. Innocent Dogfather best choice for Great Harry Potter sir. But Dogfather can't help Great Harry Potter stuck in cell licking hisself all day."
Sirius had to wince at that last piece of imagery. "Harry needs help?" he asked. "How old is he now? He must still be a little boy."
"Great Harry Potter is Second year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Dangerous things going on at Hogwarts. Harry Potter must be kept safe!"
"A Second year?" Sirius muttered. "I've been here that long?"
"Yes, Mr Dogzard, sir," the odd elf answered nodding his head. Floppy ears went everywhere.
"How are you here?" Sirius asked. "Don't the wards prevent family elves from coming here?"
"Wards keep house-elves from serving bad masters sent to Evil Place. Mr Dogzard is not Dobby's master or master's family. Since master not send Dobby wards not stop Dobby."
Sirius was struck by the loop-hole. "And no one knows about this hole?"
The little elf shrugged. "No one ask elves."
Sirius snickered at the answer. The little guy may seem all meek and beaten down, but Sirius recognized the elf had the makings of a Marauder with that answer.
"Can you get me out of here, Dobby?"
...
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