Hogwarts: Becoming the White Lord from Breathing

Chapter 184 Harry's Determination

After listening to Dumbledore's instructions, Damon, still under the Illusion Charm, walked along the back of the Great Hall to the table in Gryffindor and sat down in the seat that Ron had specially reserved for him.

"Wow! You scared me! When did you get here?"

Ron was startled to see Damon suddenly appear.

Harry instinctively felt that what had just happened was related to him, and asked urgently:

"What does Professor Dumbledore want with you about? Is it related to me?"

The Sorting Ceremony had just begun, and one after another, young wizards excitedly sat on the benches they had once sat on, while the Sorting Hat began singing its awful song again.

"It is indeed partly related to you; it's about Sirius Black."

Harry's expression turned wary. "Really? About what?"

"Did you know, Harry, Sirius Black is actually your godfather?"

"My godfather? But now he wants to kill me?"

"Not necessarily, Harry, that's just what you heard."

"So what is the truth?" Harry's expression remained relatively calm, but Damon could tell that he was extremely nervous, and that Occlumency was showing signs of spiraling out of control.

After thinking for a moment, Damon decided to reveal part of the truth.

"This involves a very early secret—when you were born, Harry, Voldemort approached your parents, but this should never have happened."

"How to say?"

"Your home was once under a spell of unwavering loyalty, an extremely complex spell that uses magic to forever hide someone's secret within the soul of a living person. That secret is hidden in the heart of the chosen person—the confidant—and will never be discovered unless the confidant reveals it voluntarily."

As long as the confidant doesn't reveal it, even if Voldemort pressed his nose against the glass of your living room, he wouldn't be able to find your parents.

So, on the day you were born, your parents should have been perfectly safe; Voldemort couldn't have possibly discovered them—but as you know, clearly, the Secret Keeper leaked the information.

"After that, Sirius Black blew up a street full of Muggles and was arrested on charges of murder. The Ministry of Magic believed that he was the one who betrayed your parents."

Harry's breathing became rapid, but he tried his best to suppress it.

"But from what you're saying, there's a misunderstanding here, isn't that right?"

“Yes, Harry, this is a crucial moment.” Damon put his hand on Harry’s shoulder. Cheers and applause for the new students were erupting in the Great Hall, but the two brothers were embracing. Harry heard Damon’s voice clearly in his ear, “Take a deep breath, control your emotions, don’t let them control you. It’s precisely at times like these that you are the best time to practice your Occlumency.”

I know this is difficult for you, but I also believe you can do it.

Take a deep breath—Harry—Do you feel anger and sadness? Don't suppress these thoughts, let them flow—but don't let them control you. Try to amplify them, or diminish them—for example, do you want to tear Black to pieces? Or do you forgive him simply by asking him to kneel down and apologize? Put all thoughts and extreme emotions that don't belong to you on the surface of your mind, but hide your deepest thoughts—”

Harry listened to Damon's calm voice and subconsciously did as he was told—his mind and heart were in turmoil, and he couldn't help but overthink. He didn't think he was as good as Damon thought at all. He wanted to shout, "I'm not as good as you think! I can't do it! You want me to be calm about the truth of my parents' murder? That's impossible!" But he couldn't say any of that to Damon.

The long-standing adoration had even overwhelmed all reason. Harry simply followed the voice, taking slow, deep breaths to expel all the negative emotions that were about to arise in his mind.

“Yes, Harry, I know you can do it, which is why I’m telling you all this. You’ve faced Voldemort several times. You’re a brave fighter. You can handle anything. You can make your own decisions, right?”

Harry felt a warm current flowing through his heart, and his gaze gradually hardened. Ron, standing beside him, watched the two with concern, but his face revealed envy—for a ridiculous moment, he wished it was him who had lost his parents. Well, he just wanted to take Harry's place.

Ron lost interest in the Sorting Ceremony, focusing all his attention on the conversation between the two. Hermione, sitting opposite them, looked rather anxious—she seized an opportunity, leaping onto the table amidst applause and plopping down next to Harry—"Excuse me, thank you."

Simo, who was watching the Sorting Ceremony from the side, was startled, but still made way for him.

"Damon, I'm ready."

“Well—then continue—both Professor Dumbledore and many people who know Sirius Black believe that this could not possibly have been done by Sirius Black—he was best friends with your father during his student days, and if necessary, he would have been willing to die in place of his friend.”

If he weren't this kind of person, he could never have become your godfather.

Harry, do you think someone like that—your father's former best friend, the Secret Keeper whom your parents trusted implicitly—would betray them?

"I don't know. That's certainly possible. But since there are doubts about this matter, we should find out the truth before deciding what to do, right?"

“You’re right, Harry, and I’ll help you—we’ll find out everything, and if Sirius really is the culprit, there’s no doubt you can avenge your parents.”

"But if my godfather is innocent, and we should help him clear his name, would you help me?"

“Of course, Harry.”

“And me, I’ll help you too!” Ron, who had been listening the whole way, finally chimed in.

“Me too—Harry, we’ll figure everything out.” Hermione joined in.

Boom!

Harry felt his heart pounding, fast and strong.

He calmed down and was no longer afraid or worried about anything.

Damon is right, he can do it. With such a good friend to help him, he dares to face anything in the world!
Moreover, if Sirius Black was truly innocent, then that person would be his only family in the world. Harry sincerely hoped for that.

Just then, Professor Dumbledore's voice rang out in the Great Hall.

“Welcome!” said Professor Dumbledore, his beard gleaming in the candlelight. “Welcome to Hogwarts for the new school year! I have a few words to say to you all, one of which is very serious, and I think it’s better to make it clear before you get too confused by this delicious meal.”

(End of this chapter)