Chapter 2: What? No Trial?
Harry had just finished writing a letter to the Department of Magical Law Enforcement asking for the records on Sirius Black's trial when an owl showed up with a box of candy and messages from Harry's best friends Ronald Weasley and Hermione Granger. After reading the notes, he told the owl. "Pig, you couldn't have come at a better time. I was about to write letters to Ron and Hermione. Would you mind waiting until I write them so you deliver them?" Harry's own owl hooted in protest. "I already need you to deliver a request to the Ministry, Hedwig." Harry defended himself and Hedwig accepted. After Harry gave his owl the request to be sent to the Department of Magical Law Enforcement, he started writing a letter to Ron and Hermione.
Ron and Hermione,
Uncle Vernon learned about my godfather being innocent. He then gave me advice on how to help. I've already sent a letter to the Department of Magical Law Enforcement requesting for the records of Sirius Black's trial. Uncle Vernon also suggested I should buy books about Wizarding Law and that, even if it didn't help Sirius, it'd help me to know the magical law in order to live my adult life. Also, in the Muggle Britain, people who have problem with the law hire professionals known as solicitors or barristers. Are there similar professionals in the Wizarding World? If so, how and where do I find one?
Signed,
Harry James Potter
After writing the letter, Harry asked Pig – short for Pigwidgeon – to deliver it. After sending Pig away, Harry saw his Uncle Vernon entering his room with a glass of water. "Harry, this is water with sugar." Vernon said. "I've watched at the telly it helps underfed children. I don't want to give that godfather of yours any kind of reason to accuse us of mistreatment. And, boy, I still don't trust that crackpot Headmaster of yours. Perhaps you should transfer yourself to another school."
"Mu… Normal school brings me bad memories, Uncle." Harry said, a little angry his Uncle would still try to suppress his magic.
"I meant another school of that kind, boy." Vernon replied, shocking Harry. "Are there others?"
"Of course there are, Harry." Vernon answered. "Don't you remember what that brute who told you about Dumbledore's school said?"
"He never mentioned any other magical school, Uncle Vernon."
"He said Hogwarts was the best, meaning there must be at least one other of that kind for a comparison." Vernon explained.
Harry couldn't believe himself. Three years in the Wizarding World and he just assumed Hogwarts was the only school. Well, he wouldn't transfer anyway but he felt himself a fool for believing there were no other magical schools.
"We can discuss it later, boy." Vernon stated. "You still need the law books. Do you also need a ride?"
"No, thanks, Uncle Vernon." Harry answered. "I can take the Knight Bus."
"I don't think they'd let unescorted minors use the bus." Vernon replied but then it kicked in. "Oh, you mean your lot's Knight Bus?"
"Yes, Uncle Vernon." Vernon then gave Harry a hat. "You might be recognized as a convicted murderer's godson among your lot, boy." Vernon said. "You'd better use this to avoid recognition." He suggested and then told Harry to get back soon. Harry, for different reasons than the one Vernon stated, believed it a good idea to use that hat to avoid recognition. Harry then took the Knight Bus, where Stan Shunpike was glad to see "Neville Longbottom" again. Arriving at Diagon Alley, Harry bought all law books available. He then returned to Privet Drive.
Later on, Harry got a Ministry official letter. The envelope's sender side stated it came from the Department of Magical Law Enforcement. Excited, Harry opened the envelope and found documents and a letter signed by Amelia Bones, Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement. What Harry read shocked him the most.
Mr. Potter,
The evidence gathered against Sirius Black has been declared so strong a trial was unnecessary to establish his guilt. Attached to this letter are copies of the records pertaining to the case. I hope they settle any doubts you might have. If you still have doubts, feel free to come to the Ministry Headquarters and talk to me in person.
Attentiously,
Amelia Bones
Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement
Ministry of Magic
"No trial?" Vernon Dursley asked/shouted in outrage. "How many publicly contested convictions they must face until they understand trials must be held for everyone who pleads innocent to whatever they're charged with? I have no problem against hanging maniacs who have been properly tried and convicted but letting an accused man rot in prison without a trial?"
"What can we do, Uncle Vernon?" Harry asked in desperation.
"Like I suggested, boy, we could read the files to search for any grounds for an appeal." Vernon answered. "In the meantime, just in case those friends of yours still haven't sent their reply by the time we finish, we could read some laws."
Harry and Vernon then started reading the files. Vernon was the first one to point something irregular. "Look at this, boy! Dumbledore's testimony."
"So what?" Harry replied. "It's not Headmaster Dumbledore's fault Sirius and my parents decided not to tell him about the switch of Secret-Keepers."
"Either way, his testimony was about a conversation he held with your parents before they asked your godfather to be their Secret-Keeper." Vernon explained. "Sure, it might prove they intended to ask him to be the Secret-Keeper. However, there's a difference between this and establishing if Sirius Black agreed or not."
Harry nodded in agreement. He was now daring to hope again. Vernon then saw another odd thing. "Harry, is this Fudge listed as a witness the same Minister Fudge you told me about?" Vernon asked.
"Yes, Uncle Vernon." Harry answered. "He worked at the Department of Magical Accidents and Catastrophes back then and was sent to the crime scene."
"He's probably afraid some skeleton in his closet will show up if that godfather of yours is cleared." Vernon commented and then grunted "Politicians." They then kept reading the files and reached the part about the confrontation with Peter Pettigrew. "Look at this: witnesses claimed to have heard a Peter Pettigrew shouting that Sirius was the Secret-Keeper and nobody ever suspects Pettigrew might have been lying or mistaken."
"There was no honest mistake!" Harry shouted.
"Remember what I've told about what to do with that Minister ignoring the new evidence, boy?" Vernon asked. "If it won't be allowed in the due process, we'll just look for grounds for doubt from the original evidence. If that evidence is unable to exclude the scenario of Peter Pettigrew being the real culprit and the scenario of Peter Pettigrew being just mistaken, let's exploit both and hope he'll introduce the new evidence to exclude one."
"They won't listen to anyone suggesting Pettigrew was the real traitor, Uncle Vernon." Harry sadly stated. "Until he's found, everyone will believe Sirius killed him and several mu, er, normal people with an explosion."
Vernon then kept reading the files. "Boy, by what I read from the files, they just assume your godfather caused the explosion. And they can't be sure Pettigrew died just because they found a finger of his at the crime scene. He could have just dropped that finger and used some magic to vanish while the witnesses weren't looking. Explosions tend to make witnesses turn away in terror."
Harry sure hoped this Amelia Bones saw this that way.
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