Chapter 7: The Ministry of Magic

Alex lay wide awake in her bed at half past five in the next morning. She had woken up abruptly as if someone had yelled in her ear. For a few moments she didn't move, while her heart beat loudly in her chest, and she could only think about the disciplinary hearing on which her future depended. Unable to bear the tension anymore, she leapt out of bed silently and put on her best clothes. A black blouse and a pair of tight jeans. Neither Hermione nor Ginny stirred when she crossed the room, grabbed her shoes and with one last look, left the room, wondering if she was going to see these two in Hogwarts again and closed the door softly behind her. Still in her thoughts she made her way down the stairs, past the heads of Kreachers ancestors and down into the kitchen. Alex expected the kitchen to be empty but when she reached the door she heard the soft rumble of voice on the other side.
She pushed the door open and saw Sirius, Remus, Mr. Weasley, Mrs. Weasley, Tonks and Rigel sitting around the table. They all looked up at her and it seemed as though they had been waiting for her. They all were fully dressed and smiled at her and Mrs. Weasley immediately jumped up, her wand in her hand and announced, "Breakfast!"
Alex took a seat between Sirius and Remus and felt them both eying her.
"Good morning, cub." Remus whispered and gave her a smile.
"Morning." she responded silently and couldn't even fake a smile. She bit her lip nervously and looked at Sirius who also smiled at her. His smile didn't reach his eyes though and he also seemed to be nervous.
"Sleep good, pup?" Sirius asked softly.
"Yeah… alright" they could easily tell that she was lying. Mrs. Weasley hurried over to the fire and asked with a lot of enthusiasm, "What do you want, Alex? Porridge? Muffins? Kippers? Bacon and Eggs?"
She rubbed her forehead unconsciously and answered, "I don't want anything, Mrs. Weasley, thanks!"
The woman's face fell slightly and her fake smile seemed to ease a little.
"Alex…try to eat something, sweetheart" Remus suggested gently. She shrugged and said, "Um…Toast is alright, Mrs. Weasley"
Remus and Sirius still glanced at her then continued their conversation.
"What were you saying about Scrimgeour, Tonks?"
Before the young auror could answer, she yawned loudly, "Oh…yeah…well, we just need to be a little bit more careful, he's been asking Kingsley and me funny questions"
Alex was more than happy that her godfathers knew her good enough to know that she didn't want to be included in the conversation. Her insides were squirming and she also felt either Sirius, Remus or Rigel looking at her with concern in her eyes. Mrs. Weasley placed a couple of pieced toast and marmalade in front of her but it was hopeless, she couldn't each much, it was like trying to chew a carpet. She felt a pair of eyes on her again and noticed Rigel looking at her worriedly. After holding eye contact with her for a moment he smiled at her, he suddenly stood up, made a cup of her favourite tea and placed it right before her. A slight blush creased up her cheeks and she mumbled a silent, "Thanks". He smiled at her softly, "It's alright"
She sipped on her cup of tea and discovered that it actually helped a little with the tense feeling in her stomach and concentrated on their conversation again.
"….and I'll have to tell Dumbledore that I can't do night duty tomorrow, I'm just way too tired!" Tonks finished, yawning loudly again.
"I can cover for you, if you want to" Rigel suggested nicely and smiled at her, "I haven't been on duty for a long time now, anyway"
Tonks smiled at him gratefully, "That'd be really great, Rigel!"
The young member smiled at her as Sirius and Remus turned again to their pale goddaughter.
"I'll need you to stay calm while being in court, alright?" Remus ordered carefully.
She nodded and Sirius rubbed his hands nervously, "Only talk when you're asked, pup. Don't tell them anything you don't want them to know."
"And tell them the truth you've got nothing to worry about!" Mr. Weasley added enthusiastically with a big smile.
"Everything will be alright, you'll see", Tonks smiled gently. Out of the corner of her eye she could see Rigel staring at her and giving her an encouraging look.
Of course she understood that they only wanted to cheer her up and help her but nevertheless she could see Sirius nervously rubbing his hands and the way his laugh didn't reach his eyes, she could easily tell that Remus always staring in her direction carefully and anxiously wasn't a good thing and the way Mr. Weasley was over enthusiastic, and let alone Mrs. Weasley who was cooking eggs and bacon while rubbing her hands on her white skirt. She knew that probably everyone in this house beside Kreacher and Sirius' mother was scared that she might be thrown out of Hogwarts. And hell, nobody as much as she was.

"Alright, pup", she heard Sirius voice shake her out of her thoughts, "We'll need to go now, or we'll be late"
With trembling feet she made her way to her coat where she took a last look on herself in the mirror, deciding that she wouldn't show any signs of weakness while being in court.
"Ready?" Mr. Weasley asked.
With a determined look on her face she nodded and all three of them made their way to the trial.

She had always liked Sirius' office, Alex thought that it perfectly represented him and it reminded her of their home. Sirius always liked showing his character to the people surrounding him. His desk was messy with paperwork he still hadn't done, his feather lay forgotten next to a map with a lot of circles on it, on the left corner of the map he had scribbled some notes. There were also some heavy looking books on the wooden table, some open, others only in stacks. Sirius' desk was decorated by pictures of himself and Alex, in which they were laughing into the camera. Another one showed probably 6 year old Alexandra on his lap while he kissed her temple. She looked around the auror's office and noticed some notorious deatheaters faces looking at her, the headlines all were written in large and bold letters and said: Wanted.
She frowned as she noticed that those were all cases he had finished months ago.
Sirius grinned at her, "So how do you like it?"
"It hasn't changed at all Siri" Alex chuckled.
"I know" he laughed.
She pointed at the pictures of all the deatheaters he had caught, "You should update these though, don't you think? I mean you caught them all some weeks before my fourth year ended"

He suddenly ignored her gaze and started tidy up his desk. "Yeah… you're right. I'll do that when I get the time."
Just in that moment the door to his office opened and his colleague, another Auror he worked with on different cases, entered. At the sight of them he froze instantly, his gaze wandered from Sirius to Alex. For some reason Sirius also tensed visibly.
"What are you doing in here, Black" the other man spat. His eyes fell again on Alex and he starred at her coldly, causing her to swift uncomfortably. Sirius stepped in front of Alex protectively and glared back.
"I am in my own office, McClaggen!"
"Own office?"
"That's what I said"
A smug smile appeared on McClaggen's face once again. "You know, you could have been great. Even the head of the department"

He paused looking at Alex again, "But you clearly choose your side"
Sirius approached his colleague dangerously close, "Well, yes I did"
"Shame, Black. But I guess now, you'll have time for godfather's duties."
Alex frowned at that. What was he playing at?
"Is that all?"

The other man grinned evilly and leapt forward to his desk where he snatched one of the heavy books.
"Scrimegeour send me", McClaggen claimed. "He said seeing as you aren't working and won't be getting any new cases you don't need those anymore." He gestured to the books.
"What?", Alex whispered. Sirius threw her a quick gaze to make her understand not to interrupt once again and then turned to the man.
"Get out of my office!"
McClaggen grinned and made his way to the door.
"As far as we can see, you also won't be needing the room anymore, so let's see for how long this is going to be your office, Black!"
"I said get OUT of my office!" Sirius voice was shaking dangerously.

With that McClaggen disappeared and left them both in silence.
Sirius looked miserable and Alex finally found her voice. "What did he mean, you're not working anymore?"

"Come on, let's go to your hearing."
"Sirius!", Alex protested, "You love your job! At you're bloody good at it! Why wouldn't you work anymore?"
"Alex", he retorted sternly. "This is nothing that you should be worrying about"
"Cmon!"
"Alex!"
"I just don't understand, this doesn't make sense! Why did he treat you like that! Don't tell me you refuse to work because of the paperwork!"
He turned to her sternly and screamed, "Alexandra, that's enough, don't push it!"
She didn't say anything further because she knew when it wouldn't make much sense to discuss with Sirius. Whenever he called her by her full name sternly, she knew that she had to stop and just let him cool down.
She nodded and they both left the room going along the corridors next to each other in silence when loud noises made them both look back.
"Is that…Kingsley?", Alex whispered.
At the other end of the corridor they saw Kingsley running towards them, Kingsley who normally was very calm seemed to be stressed out and anxious about something. As soon as he reached them, the auror made an abrupt halt and he told them, "Hearing – they changed time – already started!", he panted resting his hands on his knees and then clutching one on his chest.
Sirius and Alex both paled at once, looked at each other and then again back to Kingsley.
"What are you waiting for?! Go. GO!" Kingsley shouted at them and goddaughter and godfather started running at once.

Sirius and Alex sprinted through long corridors, some crowded others were empty, used the elevator two times and after passing long and dark corridors, they stopped in front of a massive wooden door with a large handle on it.
She turned to him frightened to death, listening to her own heartbeat and was lost for words.
"Good luck" was the last thing Alex heard before her godfather pushed her through the door and gave her one last encouraging look, sending her alone to the trial.

She stumbled back into the room and turned around only to notice a large group of people, one part in blue, the other in violet robes starring down at her. The air was filled with tension and mysterious whisper erupted at her presence, some were even adjusting their glasses to have a better view on her.
"You are late" a loud, booming voice said and silenced the others around him. Alex swallowed loudly as she noticed the Minister of Magic, Cornelius Fudge starring down at her with furrowed brows and narrowed eyes. Alex swallowed hardly, she just couldn't see how she was going to get out of this safely.

Hello people,

sorry that I let you down for such a long time, I just had to study a lot for my A Levels. Please don't be disappointed by this chapter, I know that it's not the best, I just didn't want to loose you as readers, so just see this as a small present. I will try my best to improve with the next chapters, and you won't have to wait this long again. Promise.

Bene

P.S.: Let me know what you think.