the_debt_of_time

"There's no proof," he said finally, a sadness in his expression. "Only your word."
"Harry was there, and Remus, and the Weasley boy," Sirius insisted. "And... And
the girl," he whispered, unable to speak the name that sounded wrong being paired with
her face. She was not Hermione to him.
"A werewolf and three teenagers." Dumbledore frowned. "I'm not sure how I can
help you, Sirius. Against the Minister for Magic and a very angry Severus Snape, who is at
present nursing a head injury and insisting that the dementors be brought to this very room
to administer the Kiss to you."
Sirius flinched at the words in genuine fear. He ducked his head and shut his eyes
tightly as he tried to push away the terror that was quickly seeping its way into his skin.
"I... I don't care. Albus, I'm not saying all of this in order to escape. I'm telling
you, regardless of my own fate, Peter Pettigrew is alive. He is a Death Eater, and he has
and will sell out anyone, Harry especially if it means saving his own skin. Keep my godson
safe." Sirius paused and then added, "Keep her safe, too."
Dumbledore nodded thoughtfully. "Do you remember many years ago, Sirius, when
you were brought to my office after a prank had gone awry? Did you ever wonder why you
were not expelled for endangering the life of a fellow student? Why you were not punished
more severely?"
Sirius shook his head. "No. At the time, I was preoccupied with seeking
forgiveness."
"I should like to tell you, then, how I came to decide your fate." Dumbledore
smiled, actually smiled, as though Sirius were not at present being sentenced to a fate worse
than death. "A young witch informed me that Sirius Black was a confused and angry boy
who was lashing out because he did not know how to properly handle the prejudices he'd
grown up with. And then she informed me that Sirius Black was a good man." He chuckled,
stroking his fingers through his beard. "Interesting phrasing, don't you think? Almost as
though she thought of the boy and the man as different people."
And, without another word, Dumbledore left Sirius to his fate.
Sirius moved back to the bench in the corner and collapsed on it, one arm draped
across his waist, holding his sore ribs.
"So, this is it."