Chapter 487: Every Glass is an Elixir of Euphoria
With Dumbledore's help, Sirius finally rose to his feet and slowly made his way toward the door.
As the retrial concluded, word of what had happened spread through the Ministry like wildfire. By the time Sirius emerged from Trial Chamber 3, the corridor was packed with people, all watching him, applauding.
Sirius wasn't even sure how he managed to walk down the long corridor and into the elevator, through the lobby, which was also filled with people clapping for him. It felt as though minutes had passed, or perhaps hours, and when he finally became aware again, he was standing on the bustling streets of London, surrounded by strangers and free at last.
He lifted his arms to the sky and simply stood there, soaking in the feeling, oblivious to the puzzled glances of passersby.
Behind him, Dumbledore and Kyle took their time following. Kyle was mulling over whether he should stop by Diagon Alley for some shopping, but when he glanced up, he noticed Dumbledore looking at him with a strange expression. There was a fleeting look of apology mixed with pity, but it vanished as quickly as it had appeared.
Seeing Dumbledore's usual gentle smile, Kyle brushed off the moment, figuring he was just a little lightheaded from the dim, stuffy courtroom. After all, Dumbledore had done so much to secure Sirius Black's acquittal—what could he possibly feel sorry for?
Kyle looked again toward Sirius, who was still standing with his arms outstretched, as though he could remain that way forever if no one urged him to move. At that moment, a man in a suit, mistaking Sirius's stance for some kind of performance art, hurriedly dropped a coin onto the step in front of him before scurrying away.
A few minutes later, an owl flew overhead, and suddenly, Dumbledore had a copy of The Daily Prophet in his hands. He sat down on a nearby bench like an elderly gentleman enjoying a peaceful stroll and unfolded the paper.
The headline on the front page read in bold print: