Orion Black paced nervously in the antechamber to the Wizengammott chamber.
"You seem stressed? Are you that worried about the court voting to keep Sirius imprisoned?" Arcturus asked his son.
"Ha! We have mountains of evidence to bury them under. That doesn't frighten me in the slightest."
"Then what does?" Arcturus's brow furrowed.
"Seeing Sirius." Orion collapsed heavily into a waiting chair. "You were on the continent when he left home." He sighed. "I didn't know things were that bad between us. I just thought he was in a little rebellious phase, that it would pass. So I went to the station that summer personally to pick up him and Reg-Regulus." Orion choked a little on the name of his dead son. "I went expecting to have a father son heart to heart. Maybe a little of a screaming match if tempers flared. I didn't expect to not see my son, my boy. I didn't expect him to never come home. Then the war came, and we picked the wrong side. Then when I finally got over myself, and realized I had followed the wrong cause, I thought my son was a traitor." He looked up into the heavily lined face of his father. "Dad, I don't know how to face him. To apologize."
Arcturus looked down at his son. "I'd start by just saying 'im sorry' simple words go a long way."
The door leading to the chamber opened, and a mousey little secretary peeked her head into the room. "My Lords Black, the court is ready for you."
Arcturus gave a stiff nod, and grasped his cane with a firm hand. It was time for the trial to begin.
The two strode out to the chamber to gasps of surprise, it had been five years since a Black had taken up the family seat.
"Objection! The Lords Black should not be present as this matter pertains to their house!" The voice of Lucius Malfoy echoed through the chamber.
Arcturus gave a small smile, he wouldn't admit it to anyone, but he loved the game of politics. "Actually, you'll find that the defendant is not a member of my house."
There was a quiet murmur from the crowd. It was common knowledge that Sirius had been disowned within the family.
"What you declare doesn't matter Lord Black, the Official Record shows the defendant as a member of the house of black." Lucius's blonde eyebrows were creased in a frown.
Arcturus laughed and turned to the crowd. "Apparently Lord Malfoy isn't aware of the fact that the defendant was officially disowned through the goblins, and the Minstrey, as of five years ago. I would advise you check on the status of the old families more commonly Lord Malfoy, it helps lower the amount of surprises you have to deal with."
Lucius was taken aback. "You will need to submit proof-"
"Lord Malfoy!" The voice of Albus Dumbledore thundered through the chamber. "You are not officiating this trial. I have seen proof of the disowning, with my own eyes. Your objection is overruled. Sit down."
Orion grinned fiercely. It wasn't much, but Lucius had just lost a small bit of prestige. Being unaware of the inner workings of the Most Ancient and Most Noble houses was a major social blunder, being told off by the Chief Warlock, more so.
"If there are no other objections?" Dumbledore said. There was silence. "Let the trial of Sirus Vs. The Ministry of Magic begin."
Sirius Was led through a rough stone antechamber by Aurors into the lower courtroom. The Wizengammott sat high above him. He chuckled slightly. He had read about Roman Coliseums, and he now understood what the gladiators must have felt looking up at the crowds cheering for blood.
"The defendant!" One of the Auror's guarding him called out. He was walked forward to a heavy stone chair that rose up from the stone floor, as if carved from the same monstrous block of granite. Chains moving on their own bound him to the chair, twisting around his limbs, and digging into his flesh painfully. "Watch it!" he hissed at the metal.
"The defendant is accused of High Treason against the Ministry, Collusion with a terrorist, three counts of conspiracy to murder, and thirteen counts of murder. How do you plead?" Albus's voice was calm and even, the perfect image of an arbiter of impartial justice.
"Innocent." Sirius whispered hoarsely, the spoke louder.
"The defendant pleads innocent. The prosecution may make their case."
Bartimus Crouch Sr. walked up to a podium near the Chief Warlock's stand. "The accused, was chosen to be the Secret Keeper of the Potter when they were under the Fidaleus Charm. Nothing other than the betrayal of the Secret Keeper could have given the Potters away. In addition, there is the testimony of multiple witnesses who saw the Accused kill multiple muggles, as well as Peter Pettigrew."
"Wrong!" Sirius half spoke half shouted. "I was never the secret keeper for the Potters!" He looked around the room. "I consent to the use of Vertiserum."
There were gasps of surprise from the crowd. It was illegal to force the truth serum upon anyone, and it was rare to have anyone consent to be drugged with the serum.
"Objection! The Accused is a known occulmens, and may have the ability to resist Vertiserum." Crouch roared.
Sirius looked crouch straight in the eyes, and threw his head back in laughter. "I consent to double dose of Vertiserum."
Crouch's face went red with rage. "Deny this request! He is trying to make a mockery of this court!"
"The prosecution is advised to keep quiet, and to watch their words." Albus whispered low and dangerously.
Crouch paled and went silent.
A vial of vertiserum was brought forward, and six drops were placed on Sirus's tongue. Then the questioning began. Sirius watched, in a very detached way as the faces in the crowd became more and more horrified as he explained the betrayal of Peter Pettigrew, the deaths of Lily and James, and the explosion on the street. He explained how he Peter, and James became Animagi, he explained why he had left to hunt Peter down. After a few moments of silence, he was given the antidote to the potion.
"Does the prosecution have anything to say in response" Dumbledore asked.
"No." Crouch's voice was barely above a whisper, but it carried though the whole room.
"Then I believe it is time we move for a vote."
The verdict was unanimous. Sirius was a free man.
As the members of the court began to stand, and the media attempted to rush forward, a single raised voice carried over the noise.
"Wait! Since the whole Wizengammot is gathered here today, I would like to take care of a small order of business. Is that acceptable chief warlock?" Arcturus stood tall and imposing above the crowd.
"It is." Albus said. "You may begin."
"I wish to formally welcome Sirius, back into my house." There was a moment of silence. "and…And I would like to issue my grandson a formal apology, for assuming the worst of him, when he has always been firmly on the side of the light, even when many in my house chose the wrong side of the war. I would also like to propose reparations, and an Order of Merlin for Sirius Black."
"Do I have a second on reparations?" Augustas Longbottom raised her hand. A vote was quickly called, and passed with an overwhelming majority.
"Do I have a second on an Order of Merlin?" Amelia Bones raised her hand. This vote was much quicker but still passed.
"That is all the business I have." Arcturus returned to his seat.
"A committee will be made to determine the exact value of reparations, and to determine the Order of Merlin to be awarded. Membership will be up for a vote next session. Court dismissed." Albus's voice was clear and loud.
Sirius was stunned. He couldn't help staring at his father and grandfather, who's presence he hadn't even noticed until now. He had never expected to be welcomed back into the family. He certainly hadn't expected his grandfather to secure him an Order of Merlin.
He was still basically comatose as he was led out of the courtroom by a group of Aurors, now an honor guard, instead of as Jailors. He was numb as his paperwork was processed, and he was led through a stiff medical acessment.
He was numb when he was led into a board room off the beaten path, away from reporters. He was numb until he saw her.
Amelia Bones stood in one of the disused board rooms of the ministry and nervously played with the chain of the ring around her neck. Fear coursed through her like electricity. She had never truly stopped loving Sirius, simply pushed the emotions to the deepest most hidden recess of her mind. Now though, now that the tension of the trial had drained away, that the man she loved had been proven Innocent without the barest shadow of a doubt, the emotions, and the memories flooded back.
Sirius stared at the woman he had proposed to shortly before the end of the war. "Emmy?" he whispered. Her hair was down, and she had traded her maroon Auror robes for a set of plain black, likely to show that she was here in an unofficial function.
Amelia kept her composure for exactly three seconds before a wave of guilt and grief overwhelmed her. "I'm sorry Sirus, I'm so sorry! I abandoned you! In that hell hole. I could barely stand a walk through that place and I left you there to rot for five years!" Tears streamed down her face.
"Hey, hey don't cry. It's alright. Everyone made the same mistake." Sirius attempted to give an easy grin, that ended looking more like a grimace. "I was supposed to play decoy for the real secret keeper, I just did it too well." He waved his arm as if gesturing at an invisible paper. "Just think of how good it will look on my resumé 'Sirius Black! Guaranteed to keep your secrets come dark lords and dementors. Please note, no actual secret keeper experience."
Amelia gave out a strangled half laugh half sob. "You damn idiot."
Sirius gave a weary grin. "Thats what I'm good at. Besides, I can't exactly blame anyone for not believing me. I was the fool who chased after Peter instead of waiting to get backup, its my own fault really."
"Don't say that! I should have believed you. If anyone in the world should have, I should have. I'm so sorry Sirius. You should hate me, and all you are doing is being so damn understanding!" Amelia tried to fight back tears again and failed once more.
Sirius moved without thinking, and pulled her close. "It's okay. I forgive you. I could never hate you Emmy."
Amelia looked up at Sirus with tear filled brown eyes. "I should have done something!"
"The past is the past. I spent five years doing nothing but dwelling on it. Now I'm free, now i just want to think of the future." Sirius smiled down at her. "I spent a while in hell, I'm just happy to be back in the world of the living." A slightly troubled look spread across his face. "I just want to know where we stand."
Amelia knew that snap decisions were horribly unwise and most often ended horribly, however since she had spent the past week with the question running through her mind, so she thought that just this once, it wouldn't do any harm. "Yes."
"Yes?" Sirius looked confused.
"My answer is still yes, if you will have it, that is." Amelia blushed and looked down, afraid to meet his eyes.
Her answer was a cry of joy, and she was swept off her feet. "I've been hoping for that answer for five years." He set her down, tears of happiness running down his face.
She pulled the chain with its golden band over her head, and slipped the ring back onto her finger for the first time in years.
A slow creaking noise alerted them to company. Sirius tensed when he saw who it was.
Orion Black stood in the doorway. "I, ah was told I could find my son here."
"I don't see Regulus here anywhere." Sirius said through gritted teeth.
Orion flinched as if he had been physically hit. "I am sorry Sirius. You were right all along. We chose the wrong side. We should have listened to you."
Sirius was taken aback. This was his father, the emotionless man who never apologized for anything, admitting he was wrong. "Yeah, well I'm sorry too. Maybe if you had listened Reggie would still be alive." Sirius regretted the words the second they left his mouth.
"Perhaps." Orion sighed. "It's a possibility I have spent many a night torturing myself with." He pulled himself up. "Perhaps Bella, and Narcissa could have been saved from the paths they now walk as well. Unfortunately no matter how much I try, grief doesn't change the past. So now my duty is to those members of my family who are still on the correct path." He gave a sad half chuckle. "Which among the younger generation included you and…Andromeda. Not quite an empire akin to the old house of Black."
Orion's eyes came to rest on Amelia's hand resting on Sirius's shoulder, and the thin golden band upon her ring finger. He burst out laughing.
"What's so funny?" Sirius snapped.
"Eight days ago, I thought our family was entirely doomed to die out, with no heirs, and no younger generation to speak of." Orion wheezed, trying to catch his breath. "Now I'm dealing with more family members than I know what to do with." He locked eyes with Sirius. "I know we haven't even come close to seeing eye to eye in the past, son, but your grandfather and I need you now. We need your help. We will rebuild our family from the ashes, not as a family of the dark, but of the light, and we need you to do it."
"The Blacks? A light house?" Sirius asked incredulously.
"We have already begun to work with Albus." Orion paused. "Speaking of which, Albus has requested your presence at Hogwarts." He looked at Amelia. "You'd probably better come as well."
"Why-" Sirus begun, before being cut off by Orion.
"It's about Aethelind."
"Say no more."
Amelia looked between the two. Then sighed. "There is a floo in my office." The group of three made their way quickly to the office, and stepped though the green flames as Orion called out 'Hogwarts Hospital Wing.'
Albus Dumbledore, Arcturus Black, and Poppy Pomfrey stood in a rough half circle around one of the beds. Sirius dashed from the fireplace across the room in an instant. "Why are we in the Hospital Wing, is my goddaughter alrig-" His words were cut off by a choking noise as his eyes fell upon the little girl in the hospital bed.
Orion looked down at the girl as well. She looked far, far better than she had a week ago. Her skin was now a decent approximation of the color of health, and her bones were far less pronounced. One thing that was worse though, without her being covered in blood and grime, was the twisted tangle of scars that covered the left side of her face. Several lines of scaring crossed her left eye, passing through her brow and lashes, leaving raw pink skin where hair should be. The scars were more and more faded the closer to the edge of her forehead they were, with the scars closest to her nose, and mouth being basically scabs.
"What happened!" Sirius cried.
"Voldemort happened." Arcturus said grimly. "It's the work of the killing curse. Best we can tell, it spreads when her magical core is over taxed, or her body is sufficiently damaged."
"What about the rest? She looks far far too skinny and pale. Is that also the work of the curse?"
"Partially." Poppy answered. "She was sent to live with muggle relatives, and they did not treat her kindly. We rescued her recently, however the damage was already done."
"The Dursleys. I swear I'll kill th-" Sirius snarled.
"No! You just got out of prison for a crime you didn't commit, don't go and get your self put there for one you did." Amelia grabbed his arm tightly. "I just got you back."
"Besides, killing them now would be redundant." Orion said. "There was a house fire a few days ago. Luckily their son escaped the flames, but sadly Vernon and Petunia perished within." He failed spectacularly at sounding even slightly sad.
Amelia gritted her teeth. "I suppose i'll just pretend I never heard that then."
"Heard what?" Albus asked with a twinkle in his eye. "I'm afraid I went momentarily deaf.
"Me too. How odd." Amelia said.
"You know, Dad, maybe we did just get off on the wrong foot after all." Sirius said with a feral grin.
A/N: Okay, I will admit, killing off the Dursleys felt really really good.
Special thanks to amata0221 for the review on chapter 3, and for my second request for a Fem!Harry/ Cedric story. Might have to seriously consider that.
Please read and review, and don't feel afraid to PM concerns, criticisms, ideas, questions and ect…
-AZ