Hey, sorry for the late update! As always, I have a bad case of writer's block, and not to mention that I have been a little tied up lately. Anyway, to answer a few questions, yes, I know that Hilda and the others could have just used a small Reparo to repair Neville's books, but where is the fun in that?

Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter and any of the characters, but the OC characters belongs to me


Chapter Seven: The Trial

Starlight's Hall
Knockturn Alley

"Say WHAT?"

Ethan's loud and angry yell echoed throughout Starlight's Hall, and maybe it is a good thing in itself that they aren't opened yet.

Hilda would be returning home from Hogwarts that day, and Ethan is longing for a chance to see her. It had been months since he had last seen her, and even though they have often exchanged letters, it just isn't the same.

It was also arranged with the Malfoy and Diggory families that Christmas would be spent at Starlight's Hall as the bar would be closed for that one day anyway. Hermione and her parents would be coming over as well, and so would Neville and Padma.

Remus had been working at Starlight's Hall for about a month now by this point in time, and he seemed to be rather enjoying his work, something which Ethan is pleased to see. No longer would the werewolf need to fear the reactions of his employer once they've found out about his 'little furry problem', and he actually has a place that he could even transform in peace without fear of harming anyone. And it turns out that Remus is actually quite a good cook as well, as he often gave Ethan ideas for new items for the menu, and is quite a help to him.

Right now, however, Remus isn't down, as the bar isn't opened yet, and that day is also the trial day for one Sirius Black. Ethan could understand the nerves of the werewolf, and it is also decided that they would head straight to the Ministry hearing after fetching Hilda at King's Cross station.

Lucius Malfoy would also be attending that hearing as he has been the one to suggest it in the first place. And much to Severus' displeasure, both Ethan and Lucius combined have somehow managed to convince him to come with them.

Currently, a certain female vampire was seated at the bar counter of Starlight's Hall, massaging her sensitive ears that were currently ringing due to Ethan's loud shout.

"Gee, why don't you shout a little louder, Ethan?" Jessica Falsoss muttered sarcastically, massaging her ringing ears.

Ethan blushed a little, though it's kind of difficult to tell with a vampire. "Sorry," he muttered. "And what's this about a three-headed dog?"

Jessica sighed, leaning forwards slightly, resting her chin on an upturned palm as she answered Ethan's question, a glass of Bloody Mary set in front of her. "A Cerberus," she answered. "There's one in the school. From what I know, Dumbledore is the one to actually put it there. And I'm starting to wonder if he hasn't suddenly gone senile. He actually put a Cerberus, one of the world's most dangerous magical creatures in a school that is full of children?"

Ethan frowned to himself. "Sounds like this Cerberus is guarding something or the other," he commented, and Jessica nodded.

"I think so too," said Jessica. "But I'm not too certain about this, as Hogwarts wouldn't let me into the room that this Cerberus is guarding. Good vampire or not, I'm still an intruder in the school, as far as Hogwarts is concerned, and furthermore, Hogwarts don't really fully trust me yet." She then sighed. "But still, Cerberuses are a pretty rare species. That 'Fluffy' must belong to someone."

Ethan nearly choked on empty air. "Fluffy?" he repeated, eyes wide at that ridiculous name. "Who in this world is idiotic enough to name a Cerberus 'Fluffy' of all things?"


All the way in the school grounds of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, a certain gamekeeper sneezed.


Jessica tried hard to stifle her laughter.

"Beats me," she said with a shrug. "Anyway, I'll try to find out more about it for you. It's about time for you to head to King's Cross station, isn't it? Send Hilda my love."

"Okay. And send Lord Alucard my regards as well." Ethan smiled slightly before Jessica smiled and disappeared in a wisp of black smoke.

Remus walked down the stairs just then, dressed in rather decent looking robes. With the man holding a regular job now, he could afford little things like new robes and other stuff that he couldn't before. Ethan then smiled at Remus. "Ready to go?"

Remus nodded, and Ethan smiled.

"Lyra, can you take care of the bar for a few hours until we return?" Ethan asked, kneeling down to the eye level of the head house elf, and said house elf nodded her head enthusiastically. "We'll be back as soon as we can. And I'll appreciate it if you can prepare a hot piping meal for our guest." Ethan winked, and Lyra beamed, nodding, with her large ears flapping as she did so.

"Will do, Master Ethan!"

XXXXXX

Platform 9¾
King's Cross Station

"ETHAN!"

Ethan nearly had all the wind in his lungs knocked out of him as a black blur lunged herself at him, and he would have fallen on his behind if he wasn't a vampire. Ethan chuckled as he hugged Hilda loosely.

"Hi Hilda," he said with a charming smile, causing several young ladies nearby to swoon. "Welcome home."

The Malfoy and Diggory families, along with Hermione and her parents all looked very much amused. And so did Neville's grandmother, though the strict old lady usually never shows her emotions outwardly.

"Hi Ethan, it's good to see you again." Draco grinned, bouncing up to the vampire, with both his parents following him.

"And you too," said Ethan, kneeling down to Draco's eye level. "Well, I'll look forward to welcoming you on Christmas, though I have a feeling that you'll be dropping by sooner. Going to treat Starlight's Hall as your 'second home', do you?"

Draco grinned. "You know me!" he said, and Ethan chuckled.

The whole group of them ignored the curious bystanders, particularly a family of redheads who all paled upon seeing Ethan, immediately recognising him as what he is. Hilda and Draco ignored said redheaded family prominently by turning their backs on that family, and greeted Remus Lupin who is standing in a corner silently.

"Well, we really should make a move to the Ministry," said Lucius Malfoy, glancing at Ethan who nodded. "The hearing will begin in two hours."

Ethan had sent Hilda an extremely long letter explaining about one Sirius Black and his current situation about two days before she is due to return home from Hogwarts. Hilda had promptly written back, stating that if Sirius is indeed innocent, then he shouldn't be taking the rap for someone else.

"I'll get one of the house elves to take Hilda's stuff back to the bar," said Ethan. And right on cue, there was a light crack before a house elf appeared by Ethan before bowing. And with another light crack, the house elf disappeared with Hilda's stuff. "Amos, would you be coming with us?" Ethan turned towards Amos.

Amos nodded. "Yeah. I am one of the jury involved in this hearing," he said. "We should get going."

XXXXXX

Wizengamot Court
Ministry of Magic

Hilda who was seated in between Ethan and Draco glanced nervously at her guardian who smiled reassuringly. Cedric who was seated next to Draco smiled at her. Both Lucius and Amos were seated with the rest of the Wizengamot, with one Amelia Bones heading the defence for Sirius Black.

Ethan was relieved for that. He knew Amelia Bones as being very fair and very forgiving. She was the one who had assisted him in getting his license to open Starlight's Hall when that Dolores Umbridge woman had rejected his applicant without even looking at it, just because Ethan is a vampire.

Amelia Bones had also made it so that no one could take Hilda away from Ethan just because of his vampire nature, not that anyone is foolish enough to try. As technically, Hilda is part-vampire, and if anyone had tried that, they will bring the wrath of the entire Nightwing vampire clan down upon their heads.

But still, the entire Ministry has never been fond of Ethan, save for Amelia, Lucius, Amos and a few others, not that Ethan actually cared.

Among the Wizengamot was also one Albus Dumbledore, much to Ethan, Lucius, Amos and Hilda's annoyance. None of them have actually liked him because of his manipulation tendencies.

Remus was mostly neutral towards Dumbledore, though even the werewolf was starting to change his mind about his former headmaster when he'd found out from Ethan that Dumbledore had chucked Sirius into Azkaban without a trial, despite the aged old wizard knowing that Sirius has never been the Potters' Secret Keeper.

The doors swung opened just then before two Dementors swooped in, with one Sirius Black in chains in between them both. And next to Ethan, Hilda stiffened considerably, and Cedric and Draco both paled.

The effects that Dementors had on humans were actually lessened to a considerable extent because Hilda had vampire blood in her veins, but they still do affect her. Ethan glared at the Dementors with his red eyes flashing as he placed one arm around Hilda in order to calm her down.

The Dementors actually paused in their tracks for a brief moment as they caught Ethan's eye, and what seemed like fear could actually be seen in their demeanour, not that anyone but the vampires could tell.

Dementors were rather afraid of vampires for a reason that only the vampires themselves knew. And thus, the two Dementors hurried with strapping Sirius Black down in the chair with chains before swooping out of the room.

If anyone didn't know any better, they'll think that the Dementors looked like they would rather be anywhere but in this room.

Cornelius Fudge, the Minister of Magic stood up.

"The court is now in session for the retrial of one Sirius Black," said Fudge.

Some unknown Ministry official then stepped forward with a potion vial of Veritaserum in hand, also more commonly known as the Truth Potion. The Ministry official then tilted Sirius' head back and opened his mouth before tipping a few drops of Veritaserum into his mouth and making sure that Sirius swallowed it.

Hilda had learned from Severus during her Potion lessons with him prior to starting at Hogwarts, that Veritaserum is a strong potion, and too many drops of it administered to a human can kill them. That is why there are usually strong restrictions on Veritaserum Potions, and only a number of Potions masters can make them without any restrictions in wizarding Britain, among which included Severus Snape.

Amelia Bones then stood up, ready to set the ball rolling. "What is your name?" she questioned.

"Sirius Orion Black." Sirius answered monotonely.

Good. That means that the potion is now in effect.

"Are you the Potters' Secret Keeper?" Amelia questioned.

"No."

Mutterings broke out all over the hearing hall just then, and Remus looked as if Christmas had just come early. The werewolf looked almost happy, yet confused at the same time. Amelia didn't miss a beat as she asked her next question.

"Who is the Potters' Secret Keeper?"

"Peter Pettigrew."

Amelia narrowed her eyes, and the whisperings grew louder.

"Peter Pettigrew?" Amelia muttered. "Records stated that you killed him, did you not? Can you explain what had happened on the night of 31 October 1981?"

"Lily and James decided to switch Secret Keepers at the last moment on my suggestion. I had thought of it as the perfect bluff, the best way to keep them safe. Voldemort—" More than half of the court flinched at the sound of that accursed name. "—would be sure to come after me. He would never dream that Lily and James would use a weak talentless little thing like Pettigrew as their Secret Keeper. That was what we'd thought at that time."

"On that night when I'd heard that Lily and James were murdered, I ignored Dumbledore's orders to the rest of the Order of the Phoenix to arrest all the other Death Eaters. I knew that Pettigrew is the Secret Keeper, and the only thing on my mind then is to rip the traitor apart myself. I had him cornered in a street full of Muggles, and he yelled out for everyone to hear that I had betrayed Lily and James before blowing the street up with the wand that he had hidden behind his back. He then probably cut off his finger to fake his death, and transformed into a rat, before escaping down the sewers with all the other rats."

"Transformed into a rat?" Amelia asked sharply. "Is he an Animagus then? Ministry records had never stated that Peter Pettigrew is an Animagus."

"All of us – me, Peter and James, we became illegal Animagus during our fifth year at Hogwarts. This knowledge is only privy between the four of us – me, Peter, James and Remus."

Amelia nodded, satisfied with her questioning. She then turned towards the other member of the Wizengamot who would be leading the trial alongside Amelia, who also seemed stunned at what Sirius had said, and everyone knew that it is virtually impossible for anyone to lie whilst under the effects of Veritaserum.

"I think that that is enough," said Amelia, and the other wizard nodded slowly.

Amelia then pointed her wand at Sirius and muttered a string of words beneath her breath before Sirius stirred slowly and opened his eyes, looking a tad bit confused and incoherent at the same time.

The other wizard then stood up, turning around to face the entire Wizengamot. "The Wizengamot will now commence, and will have ten minutes to decide if Sirius Orion Black is to be declared innocent or guilty as charged."

Mutterings started to break out all over the court as Amelia Bones and the wizard walked towards where the rest of the Wizengamot were, and started to converse with them in low tones. Ethan noted that Dumbledore doesn't look pleased at all, and he can guess why too.

Hilda looked almost pale, and Remus is as bad, if not worse than her. The poor man was holding his head in his hands and repeating the words, "What have I done?" over and over beneath his breath.

When silence reigned upon the court, the attention of everyone else was turned towards Amelia and the wizard who have turned to face them. Amelia cleared her throat before reading from a piece of parchment in her hand.

"The Wizengamot have decided that Sirius Orion Black is to be declared innocent regarding the events on the night of 31 October 1981." Amelia announced in her clear voice, and Hilda heaved a sigh of relief, alongside Remus. "He will be awarded a hefty sum of 50,000 Galleons per year regarding his mistaken imprisonment in Azkaban prison for the past ten years, and is to be also fined a sum of 8,000 Galleons, due to Mr Black's case of being an unregistered Animagus."

Ethan whistled a low whistle to himself as he quickly calculated the money that Sirius would be getting. 50,000 Galleons each year that he is imprisoned in Azkaban equals to 500,000 Galleons, with 8,000 Galleons being deducted from that amount, with it equalling to the total amount of 492,000 Galleons.

Sirius could easily not work another day in his life with that much money on hand, though with him being the last male heir of the House of Black, he is already considered wealthy even without that money.

"Come on, Remus," said Ethan briskly, standing up as the court was adjourned. He then turned towards Hilda, Draco and Cedric. "Hilda, head back to the bar without me. Sirius looks like he needs some time to compose himself, and I think that it is best if you do not see him that way." Hilda nodded slowly. "Draco and Cedric, I appreciate you coming here to be with Hilda, but I think that Hilda would like some alone time with Sirius."

Both boys nodded dumbly before following their individual fathers out of the court, with Hilda following them out.

Sirius was still sitting in the chair that he was tried in, still in a daze when Ethan and Remus walked up to him, with Ethan producing a cloak from out of nowhere and draping it around Sirius's shoulders as Remus helped him up.

Sirius's face broke into a warm smile when he saw Remus.

"Remus…"

Remus was smiling as well as he hugged Sirius like a brother. "Welcome back, Padfoot," he said, his voice sounding like he was about to cry. "I'm so sorry! What kind of friend am I when I so readily believed that you've betrayed Lily and James?"

"You look well," Sirius smiled at his friend. "Do you hold a job now?"

Remus nodded. "This is my employer. And yes, he knew about my 'condition'," said Remus, pulling Ethan to stand beside him.

Sirius then studied Ethan slowly from head-to-foot, eyes resting longer on Ethan's crimson red eyes.

"You're a vampire? And also the one that had asked for my retrial?" Sirius asked, not seeming affected or even bothered by the fact that Ethan is a vampire. Ethan nodded. "Thank you. For everything that you've done, and for what you've done for Remus as well. You have no idea how much it actually means to him."

"I do not believe in imprisoning a man without a trial held," said Ethan curtly, and Sirius's eyes widened as he recognised Sirius's voice.

"You're the one from before…"

Ethan sighed and nodded. "I've promised you that I will tell you everything once you are a free man, Sirius Black," he said. "And I shall. But for now, let's just head back to my bar. You're welcome to stay there with us as Remus is. And I'm sure that he would like the company. Furthermore, I'll always welcome an extra pair of hands with the work involved there. I'll explain everything once we're back at the bar. Even the walls here have ears." He then smiled. "Hilda is waiting."

That had the instant effect to cause Sirius's eyes to light up immediately.

"Let's go!"

Remus chuckled before he followed his best friend, with Ethan following.

It was nothing had changed with their friendship at all.

It didn't take the trio too long for Sirius to claim his compensation from Amelia's secretary, and also to pay the fine for being an illegal Animagus. The secretary even greeted Sirius with a warm smile and a nod, welcoming Sirius back in indirect terms.

Remus made a note to go shopping with Sirius in Diagon Alley one day for a haircut and some new robes, along with getting Sirius a new wand, as the Ministry had snapped Sirius's old wand when he was arrested all those years ago. And not to mention the fact that Sirius still has to settle all his affairs at Gringotts, along with claiming his title as the Lord of House Black, and also to get the bank deeds for the Black family vaults, and the title deed for Grimmauld Place.

Sirius shielded his eyes from the warm sunlight as they stepped out of the Ministry building, not having seen any sunshine for the past decade or so, and his skin was unnaturally pale because of it. Sirius staggered in his step for several moments or so as his eyes focused slowly in the warm sunlight, and Ethan and Remus looked at Sirius with concern.

They both knew that he needs some time to compose himself.

A small smile then broke out on Sirius's face as he saw a bird soaring in the sky, trilling merrily, a song falling from its throat. A lone tear dripped down from Sirius's eye.

"Free…" he whispered.