"WAKE UP RON!" Harry bellowed into his ear. Ron immediately jumped up out of bed.
"What is it? Whats going on!" He yelled incoherently as his limbs flailed under the blankets. Harry collapsed with laughter. Ron clued in after a moment.
"Oh, you git!" He said, throwing his pillow at Harry, but he caught it.
"Come on! Breakfast!" Harry shouted. This got an immediate response from Ron. He jumped up, not even bothering to change.
The two of them rushed down to breakfast together. When they entered the kitchen, they found Mrs. Weasley directing the cooking of pancakes, eggs, and bacon with her wand. A large bowl of fruit adorned the table.
Ron gave a happy groan. "Oh! It s like I haven't eaten in ages!" He said as he rushed over to the table, the pain from last night s stomachache completely forgotten.
"Good morning, dears." Mrs. Weasley said with a smile toward Harry and Ron. Mr. Weasley and Moody were both reading The Daily Prophet at the table.
"Good morning, you two." Said Mr Weasley over his paper.
Mrs Weasley set two full plates down in front of Ron and Harry and they didn't hesitate to tuck in, Ron a bit more enthusiastically. A few minutes later, Hermione and Ginny descended the stairs, yawning.
"Oh, that smells wonderful, Mrs Weasley!" Hermione exclaimed.
"Eat up!" She said as she placed two more plates on the table. The pair took a seat next to Ron and Harry.
"I wonder who our new defense teacher is going to be this year." Ginny asked after a few moments of silence.
"Who knows. After Umbridge, theres no telling, really." Harry replied.
"Are you going to do the DA again, Harry?" Hermione asked with an eager look on her face. It was his doing alone that the members of the DA were prepared for their OWLs. With Umbridge "teaching" that year, they surely would have failed.
"Maybe..." He said lightly, "I mean, we would have to get permission from Dumbledore, after all the trouble it caused last year..."
"But it also caused a lot of good." Ron added.
"From the way these two have talked," Mr Weasley looked up from his paper, gesturing to Ron and Ginny, "You re a very good teacher, Harry."
"Well, maybe I could think about it..." Harry trailed off, blushing. In truth, he really did want to start it up again.
He knew for certain that loads of people would be interested in it - especially after what happened last year. But at the same time, he knew some people would be there for the wrong reasons the last thing he wanted to do was try to instruct a room full of people asking endless questions about the events at the Ministry last June.
At that moment, Remus descended the stairs.
"Hello you four." He said. "Harry, I think we should probably leave at about 2:00. We'll be taking a Portkey.
"OK Remus, sounds good." Harry said with a smile. He wanted to be strong for Remus - He had so much to bear. The last full moon was three nights ago, and he was still recovering. He seemed so alone now, after Sirius' death. Sirius was really the last person he had left, besides Harry, but unlike him, he and Sirius had been friends for ages.
The hours slipped by mercilessly. Ron, Ginny, and Harry spent most of the day in the backyard playing quidditch. Hermione, still terrified of brooms, sat safely on the ground, watching them.
"Try and block this, Ron!" Ginny yelled as she zoomed towards Ron, who was guarding a makeshift goal post. She brought her arm back, as if to throw, but at the last second, she swerved to the left and shot from the other direction.
Harry watched from above as Ron jerked his broom to the right and managed to save the Quaffle from entering the hovering ring.
"Lucky save!" Ginny yelled as the two descended to the ground.
"No way! That was skill!" He replied. Only after they were on the ground did they notice that Harry was still hovering in the air on his firebolt..
"Hey, Harry!" Ron yelled, "Are you going to stay up there all day, or what?".
Harry gave himself a mental shake and realized that Ron and Ginny were on the ground, walking toward the back door. He lowered himself to the ground after them.
"Is something wrong, Harry?" Ginny asked, "You seem a little out of it."
"Well...its just...I've been debating over whether I should...tell you guys something..." Harry had been having a mental battle with himself for a long time whether or not he should tell them the prophecy. He knew they would find out eventually, so he figured he might as well.
Hermione looked at him inquisitively. "What is it Harry?" Hermione asked. "Go on, please, you can trust us."
"Alright...but its not going to be easy..." He stared, taking a deep breath. "You all might want to sit down." The three of them sat together on the ground. "Do you remember that prophecy the department of mysteries?"
"How could we forget?" Ron replied. The prophecy had been the whole reason for the battle that had taken place.
Just then, Remus stepped out into the yard and called for Harry.
"Its time to go, Harry." Lupin said.
"Oh...I'll have to tell you later, then." The three of them didn't look too happy with this announcement, but still followed him to the door, not objecting.
They entered the house again and Harry handed his broom to Ron as Remus appeared again with a small vase. A sickening feeling washed over him as he realized where the portkey would take him.
"Harry?" Remus asked, looking intently at him, "Are you OK? You look a bit pale."
"Yea..." He lied, "I m fine."
But Remus had an idea why Harry had suddenly turned to pale as he looked at the portkey. The last time he had seen his godfather had been at the Ministry of Magic. It was also the last place where Harry had had to face Voldemort. "Grab hold, then. This is taking us to the visitors entrance." Remus held out the porcelain vase to him.
"See ya, mate." Said Ron as Harry reluctantly took hold of the vase.
"...See ya." They were gone in an instant.
Harry and Remus were whisked away into the void and suddenly landed with a thud behind a red telephone booth. Remus straightened and reached down to help Harry.
"Alright there, Harry?" Remus asked as he helped the teen get to his feet.
"Yeah..." Harry stood and brushed off his robes, the full weight of what they were doing finally coming over him. He did not want this harsh reminder of his Godfather, and he strongly wished that he could skip the whole thing. A thought occurred to him. "Remus?"
"Yeah Harry?" Remus responded as they walked to the front of the booth. They pulled open the door and stepped inside.
"Who else is going to be here...besides you and me?"
Remus thought for a moment as Harry lifted the telephone receiver and dialed 62442. The familiar female voice sounded through the booth, sending chills down Harry's spine as he remembered the last time he had heard the voice.
"Welcome to the Ministry of Magic! Please state your names and business."
"Remus Lupin, Will reading."
"Harry Potter, Will reading."
"Well Harry," Remus continued, "I m not very sure...I very much doubt he would have left anything to his relatives, seeing as he hated them all so much...It very well may be that it s just you and me.
Just then, two badges slid from the coin slot. Harry picked them up and passed one to Remus.
"Thank You! Visitors, please take the badges and attach them to the front of your robes. Visitor to the Ministry, you are required to submit to a search and present your wand for registration at the security desk, which is located at the far end of the Atrium."
The booth descended into the ground. A few seconds later, the beautiful Atrium of the Ministry came into view. Harry had a horrible feeling wash over him as he remembered his previous trip to the place. They came to a stop and emerged from the booth.
As Harry had expected, he attracted a lot of stares and whispers, only a few moments after he and Remus stepped out of the booth. He huffed angrily, and sped his walking pace. Remus could sense his discomfort.
"Don t pay any attention to them, Harry." Remus said knowingly as a portly wizard approached them.
"Well! If it isn't 'arry Potter!" The wizard shouted, in a scouse accent, attracting the eyes of anyone who hadn't been looking before. Harry tried miserably to smile politely at the man.
"Always believed ya, son, through the whole mess!" He yelled, waving his arms around widely.
"Er...Thank you..." He muttered as he tried to sidestep the man.
"The names Artie Pleane." He said, holding out his hand. Harry took it reluctantly, wincing as the man crushed his knuckles in a firm handshake.
"Pleased to meet you.." He forced the words out, trying to keep his temper in check. "Well we've really got to get going." Harry said, struggling to hide his annoyance.
"...Oh...o' course." He said, giving Remus a wary look. " 'S an honor meetin' ya
The pair walked away quickly, Harry huffing under his breath. Remus looked down at him, sympathetically.
They walked to the security desk and had their wands weighed, and retreated to the back of the Atrium to the lifts. As Harry passed the newly constructed Fountain of Magical Bretherin, he was struck with a pang of anger, and guilt.
"If it wasn't for that fountain..." Harry whispered under his breath.
"What was that, Harry?"
"Nothing."
They boarded a lift and descended once more. The paper airplanes fluttered on and off at every stop. As people got on the lift, they stared at Harry once more, eyes darting between his badge and his forehead. He angrily ruffled his hand through his hair in an attempt to hid his scar. The passengers noticed this and turned away quickly, feeling embarrassed.
Remus and Harry got off on the floor where the Department of Magical Law Enforcement office was located. They were immediately met by a tall wizard in black robes. He had sandy colored hair, and brown eyes. His chin stuck out from his long face, and a tan mustache hung under his nose.
"Hello, you must be Remus Lupin. I'm Paul Chatkins." He said, extending his hand to Remus, who shook it. "And Harry Potter, it s quite an honor." He said extending his hand again in Harry's direction. He forced a smile as he shook his hand."Well, if you two will follow me, we can get started." They followed the man to an office at the far end of a row of cubicles.
They seated themselves around an oval table. There was one other witch in the room already. Remus did a double take and stared at her in amazement.
"Mary?" He shouted. The witch looked up at Remus and her eyes lit up.
"Remus? Remus Lupin?" She bellowed. She jumped up and enveloped Remus in a hug. Harry stood back and watched the two, warily.
"Oh my goodness, Remus! Its been...10 years maybe!" She exclaimed, releasing him finally.
"I know!" Remus replied, "How have you been?"
"Oh, just wonderful, really..." She trailed off. "...It s terrible about Sirius..." Then her eyes came upon Harry.
Remus turned back to Harry.
"Oh, Harry, this is Mary Calloway, and old friend from Hogwarts. Ravenclaw." He explained, "Mary, this is Harry Potter, Sirius Godson."
"Please to meet you." He replied, grinning. He always enjoyed meeting his dad s old friends. He wondered if she really knew that Sirius had been innocent all his years in Azkaban.
"What a pleasure." She said serenely, shaking his hand.
"She's a Seer." Remus said. This really didn't impress Harry at all. He didn't like seers, too much. To tell the truth, he hated them. Professor Trelawney had nearly tainted his view of them all and the entire field of Divination.
It was as if she could tell what he was thinking (which made sense, after all) because then she said. "It still makes my blood boil, thinking about what happened to him and all..."
So she did know then.
Mr. Chatkin came back into the room. They took their seats around the table and the reading began...
The whole process took about an hour. Harry almost found it difficult to hold back the emotion he felt welling up at hearing his Godfather s words, but he managed to keep his dignity. Pangs of guilt struck though him as the items that he was to receive were listed off. He felt bad taking Sirius things...almost as if he was profiting off his godfather s death. The thought was sickening.
Harry had received 3000 galleons, and some of Sirius old school things, including a memory book from their graduation. It was full of pictures, and notes from his parents and Remus, and to Harry's disgust, Peter. He also got some quidditch things, and Sirius' broom. It wasn't a bad broom at all - A Nimbus 2000, just like Harry's first broom.
Remus received Grimmauld Place, and everything in it, and plus another 5000 galleons, which Harry was extremely glad of. Remus desperately needed that money, and Harry swore that he saw a twinge of relief enter the werewolf s eyes briefly as it was named. It was tough to get work in his condition and money was always a problem for him.
Mary received 500 galleons, and several books that Sirius didn't know who else would want, but Mary flipped through them ecstatically.
After they signed some contracts, the meeting was over. Remus, Mary and Harry left the office and gathered in the hallway.
"Hey Harry, would you like to go to Diagon alley for a while before we head back?" Remus asked.
"Sure." This cheered Harry up a little. Mary and Remus began discussing something, but Harry really wasn't listening. He couldn't help but think about how little Sirius had. He was almost poor, really. When he suddenly heard his name he was drawn out of his daydream.
"...Potter in Sirius Black's will? Isn't that strange?" A brown haired witch was talking to Mr. Chatkin by the office door, throwing occasional glances at Harry, as if he weren't standing there, feet away.
"Your guess is as good as mine...but he was a madman." Mr Chatkin whispered, clearly unaware that their conversation was being overheard.
At these words, Harry snapped. He twirled around on one foot and faced the whispers. They had suddenly realized he had overheard and they glowed bright red.
"...Sirius Black was innocent..." Harry whispered haughtily.
Remus heard and realized what was going on, "Harry, I don t think "
"What? Oh of course not! He killed 13 muggles and laughed about it." The brown haired witch said. If she hadn't been so skinny, she would have reminded Harry of Umbridge. Her silky voice sounded all too familiar.
"That s a lie." Harry said, a little louder. "It was Peter Pettigrew. He's an illegal animagus. He cut off his finger and has been in hiding ever since!" Harry knew he should stop talking, but he could no longer control his outburst, " He's the one who betrayed my parents to Voldemort and he has yet to come to justice for it while my godfather wasted 12 years of his life in Azkaban!" Harry was now shouting, and several people were staring and listening intently. A wave of gasps flooded the office when he said Sirius was his godfather. Mr Chatkin and the witch just stared at him, eyes as wide as galleons.
"Ok Harry! Lets go!" Remus said suddenly. Harry glared around the office as he turned and headed to the lifts with Remus and Mary, who was blushing.
"It s the TRUTH!" Harry shouted one last time before he reached the lifts. The three of them climbed aboard, and Harry was suddenly glad it was empty, because leaned up against the wall and slid to the floor, breaking down into sobs. Remus put his on his shoulder.
"There there, Harry...its alright.."
"No..no its not Remus" He said angrily, "...theres no justice in this at all...he didn't even get a trial.."
"Its all in the past, now...theres nothing anyone can do.." He said quietly. Mary watched on silently.
"Yes..." Harry said. He didn't even notice as witches and wizards climbed on and off, staring at the three of them.
From that moment on, Harry vowed to himself - he was going to find Peter Pettigrew, and bring him to justice. Whatever it took, he was going to do it, or die trying. Sirius' name was going to be cleared if it was the last thing he did.