Sirius stepped out of the floo into his office at Sablewood. He quickly removed his formal Wizengamut robes and tossed them onto a nearby chair, before pouring himself a glass of firewhiskey. He had still not adjusted to his new schedule or the new life thrust upon him and some days he felt like he was being pulled in a million different directions.
Today had been one of those days. Sirius, as part of his position on the Wizengamut, had been forced to participate in the ongoing trials for people accused of being deatheaters. For those on the council, it was an exhaustive experience. The evidence which was presented was often horrifying at best. The guilt or innocence of people had to be weighed carefully, lest an innocent person be sent to Azkaban for crimes which they didn't commit, or had been imperiused into, something which Sirius believed happened far less than many of those on trial were claiming. For Sirius personally, the trials brought back entirely too many memories of his rather unpleasant childhood, as many of those accused were people he had grown up with and known since birth. Today, however, the one on trial had been family, Bellatrix Black Lestrange.
There was no question in Sirius' mind that Bellatrix was guilty. She had followed Voldemort with reckless abandon from the time she was old enough to do so. No, the most difficult part of this day's proceedings for Sirius had not been determining the guilt or innocence of the accused, but contemplating the what ifs and the whys. Why had he and Bellatrix, two people raised in the same family in essentially the same manner, turned out so radically different? What if he had never met James Potter? Would he have been on trial right alongside Bellatrix?
He could remember a time when Bellatrix wasn't so evil, so twisted, when she had played with Sirius, Andromeda, Narcissa, and Regulus in the dark hallways of Grimmauld Place. Shortly after she had left for Hogwarts, however, Bellatrix had begun to change. She had started playing rougher, intentionally hurting him and Regulus, the youngest of the cousins. She began to order the houselves to punish themselves, even when they had done nothing wrong. She became cruel and twisted and started to take pleasure in others pain. Things became worse, as she found others similar to herself and began to delve into the dark arts and started to follow Voldemort. To this day, Sirius had no idea what had triggered the darkness inside of Bellatrix, and he couldn't help but wonder if she would've been different had she had someone like James to show her how wrong her behavior was. He sighed tiredly and drained the last of his firewhiskey as a knock sounded on his door. The smiling face of his cousin Andromeda peeked around the corner.
"I thought I heard you come in. Are you done for the day then?" Andromeda asked. Sirius nodded.
"Thankfully. Where's Harry? Did he give you any problems today?" Sirius asked, flopping down into his desk chair.
"He was an angel, as always, and he is out in the back garden with Nymphadora and Remus," she said.
"Moony is back?" Sirius said with genuine delight. The werewolf had left again shortly after Christmas to continue his search for the traitor. He had been gone for over five months and, though they talked via floo as often as possible, both Sirius and Harry had felt his absence keenly. Andromeda nodded.
"Yes he is, much to my daughter's delight," Andy said grinning. " You know, last time he was home, she informed me that she was going to marry Remus some day."
"Really?" Sirius said chuckling. "He'd make a fine addition to the family, I'm sure."
"I'm sure," Andromeda agreed. "So how'd it go today? It was Barty Crouch's trial right?"
"It was supposed to be," Sirius said, sobering instantly.
"Supposed to be? Did they change it?" Andromeda asked frowning.
"No, Andy. They decided to try everyone who participated in the attack on Frank and Alice today, instead of trying them separately," Sirius said. Andromeda paled, and slid into a nearby chair.
"I see," she said in a carefully controlled voice. "And did they reach a verdict?"
"I'm sorry Andromeda. They found them all guilty. Bellatrix was sentenced to life in Azkaban," Sirius said quietly. Andromeda drew in a deep shuddering breath.
"I.. did she... was she ok Sirius?" Andromeda asked, her eyes glistening with tears.
"She was the same as she always was. I honestly think that she has gone mad. She is completely dedicated and fanatical to her Dark Lord. She didn't even show any remorse. They seriously contemplated the dementor's kiss for her," Sirius replied.
Tears began to trickle down his cousin's cheeks. She hastily wiped them away, as Sirius rose to comfort her. He hated to be the one to cause Andromeda such pain, but he knew that the story would be in The Prophet anyway. It was better for Andy to hear the full, true story, from him.
"I'm sorry Andy," he said once again.
"I know Sirius. It just hurts to think of my sister in that place. I mean, I know what she is... I do, but she's still Bella. She's still my sister, even if she hates me for who I married and how I live my life. I can still remember how she used to be, that's who I mourn for," Andromeda said, rising to her feet, and wiping at her eyes.
"Oh Andy..." Sirius began only to be interrupted by the sound of childish laughter and running feet burst into the room.
"Papa!" Harry squealed, launching himself at Sirius. "Look Moony's home!"
"I see that, pup," Sirius said, picking up Harry and twirling him around. "'Lo Moony."
"Padfoot. I see you've managed to keep the house standing while I was gone," Remus said grinning.
"Only barely," Andromeda said, putting on a brave face. "He's been cooking again."
"Merlin!" Remus exclaimed in mock horror. "And we still have a kitchen?"
"Ha-ha... very funny you two. I'll have you know I make a perfectly acceptable grilled cheese sandwich. Isn't that right Harry?" Sirius said indignantly. Harry nodded vigorously.
"It's yummy. You dist dotta pull off da icky burned parts," Harry said seriously, much to Sirius' chagrin and Remus' delight.
"I'm sure they are tasty, Harry, but how about if we give your Papa a break tonight. Let's go to the kitchen and make a chicken pie for dinner before Nymphadora and I have to leave ok?" Andromeda said.
"Mkay," Harry answered. "Can we have tart for dessert pwease?"
"Harry what have I said about dessert?" Andromeda asked.
"It's not for evwy night, dust da special ones," Harry said as though reciting from memory. "But Moony's home so dats special wight?"
He turned luminous green eyes on his aunt and smiled up hopefully at her. Andromeda threw her hands up in defeat.
"Oh good grief, how can I say no to that face?" she said laughing. "The girl's at Hogwarts are doomed when you get there Harry."
"Dey are?" Harry asked puzzled.
"Without a doubt. Let's go you two," Andromeda said, taking Harry's hand and leading him and her daughter out of the room.
"Bye Mr. Moony," Nymphadora said, smiling and waving to the rather embarrassed man as she followed her mother and cousin out of the room.
"Those two are quite the handful," Remus said chuckling as the door closed.
"You have no idea Remus," Sirius said, pouring Moony a glass of firewhiskey before refilling his and resuming his seat in the desk chair.
"I cannot believe how much Harry has grown since I've been gone, and his speech... He talks extremely well for a child his age," Remus said.
"I swear he talks himself to sleep some nights," Sirius said, grinning.
"I noticed that he calls you Papa now," Remus said tentatively. Sirius nodded.
"It just sort of... happened. I think it evolved from Padfoot. Andromeda might have encouraged it some too possibly. She was worried about how other people would look at Harry and my relationship if he wasn't calling me his Dad... that they'd think that I wasn't taking it seriously enough or some such rubbish...and I... well I'm his father now and James was his Daddy and he couldn't call me that so..." Sirius began to explain, almost guiltily.
"Padfoot, calm down. I think it's a good thing, although it caught me off guard when we were out in the garden and he was telling me about the flowers and said his Papa had told him about them," Remus said.
"He's entirely too smart for his own good. He has Lily's intelligence and James' sense of adventure," Sirius said with a smile.
"He's also got your energy. He talked non-stop when we were outside and was constantly on the move. I don't think I've seen him walk anywhere," Remus added.
" Merlin help me, if he ends up being a combination of James and I, Moony. You will never believe what I caught him doing the other day," Sirius said.
"Oh?" Remus replied, taking a sip of his drink.
"He was in the kitchen, standing on his toy broom, about four feet off the ground getting into the biscuit tin. He flies like a phoenix. Those things aren't supposed to go over two or three feet. Can you imagine what he is going to do on the quidditch pitch when he gets to Hogwarts? He very nearly gave me a heart attack. I'm positive I have grey hairs now," Sirius said putting his booted feet up on his desk.
"Don't worry Sirius, you'll look very distinguished with grey hair," Remus said laughing.
"Not funny, Lupin," Sirius said, glaring.
"On the contrary, it's really rather hysterical when you think about it. I mean it was you and James, as I recall, who had the same effect on Professor McGonagall that time you decided to race on your brooms from the top of the astronomy tower to the dorm windows on Gryffindor Tower in first year. I believe that was the reason they initiated the no brooms for first years policy, actually," Remus said, his eyes twinkling merrily.
"I'd almost forgotten that, and I was right by the way. Minnie looks fabulous with the grey in her hair," Sirius said, smiling.
"True," Remus said tipping his glass in acknowledgement and propping his own feet on the edge of Sirius' desk.
"So how'd the search go? I assume you didn't find him or we'd have heard," Sirius said. Remus shook his head in frustration.
"We've had no sign of him in over a month. I'd heard rumors coming out of one of the werewolf colonies in France that he had passed through there and was possibly heading to Romania, but I just can't see that. The little mouse was absolutely terrified of vampires and Romania is their home territory. Although, if he did go there, he knows I couldn't follow him. The Lycan-Vampyre pact of 1883 prevents any non-allied lycan from entering Romania, so who knows," Remus said.
"I can't believe he's eluded everyone so far," Sirius said, running his finger around the rim of his glass.
"I can. Peter always did excel at sneaking around and hiding to stay out of trouble," Remus replied.
"True," Sirius conceded.
"So... how goes things at the Wizengamut oh great and powerful Lord Potter-Black?" Remus questioned, taking another sip of his drink. Sirius grimaced.
"It's kind of a mixed bag. We've managed to wade through most of the trials. There are only a handful left. Most of those whom I truly believe to be deatheaters have been sentenced to Azkaban, although there are a few who have wormed their way out like Malfoy did. Dumbledore, Augusta, Amelia, and I have managed to stop most of the rush to judgment cases and keep some innocent people out of Azkaban, as well," Sirius said.
"It sounds like you're doing well then, Sirius. What's wrong?" Remus said frowning.
"I'm very uncomfortable with some of the people who are claiming power in all of this. Cornelius Fudge is a corrupt, incompetent sycophant on his best day and he is very close to becoming our next Minister of Magic. Still, I suppose he is better than Bartemius Crouch would've been. That man is cold as ice. He probably would've been Minister if not for that son of his," Sirius said, shivering.
"Isn't there anyone else who could do it?" Remus asked. Again, Sirius shrugged.
"A lot of people want Dumbledore, but he won't leave Hogwarts. I suppose Amelia wouldn't be a bad choice, but she is too young and untried yet really. Augusta could do it as well, but she is getting up there in years, and she's been very busy helping Alice with Neville," Sirius replied.
"What about Arthur Weasley?" Remus asked. Sirius considered that for a moment.
"You know, Arthur wouldn't be a bad choice... assuming we could get a majority vote for him which could be an extremely tricky thing as things stand right now. He's a bit eccentric sometimes, but he's even tempered and fair. Merlin knows that the man is a natural born organizer. He has to be with all of those kids he has. He's a bit young too, but... I'll have to bring it up with Augusta and Albus and get their take on it. I would've never even thought of Arthur. See Moony, I've been absolutely floundering without you," Sirius said.
"Naturally," Remus responded. "You lot would've been lost without me, I'm sure."
"Indubitably," Sirius agreed, raising his glass in silent toast.
The two men were interrupted when little Harry, once again, burst into the room, followed closely by Andromeda and Nymphadora, who characteristically tripped when coming through the door. Harry immediately ran over to his father and climbed up into his lap, getting flour all over him, not that Sirius cared.
"Guess what Papa? I maded dessert. We're having tart!" Harry said enthusiastically.
"We are? That's my favorite son," Sirius said, gently wiping a smudge of flour off of the small boy's nose.
"I knowed that Papa. It's mine too. I wuv it. You wike it Uncle Moony?" Harry asked turning to the other man.
"I do Harry. Thank you for making it for me," Remus said, his eyes twinkling.
"I helped too," Nymphadora chimed in.
"Well then thank you too, Miss 'Dora," Remus said. The young girl's face lit up in a smile and her hair became an even brighter shade of pink.
"Come get your coat on dear. It's time for us to go. The pie is in the oven, boys. It should be ready to go in about a half an hour," Andromeda said, buttoning up the cloak which she had thrown on.
"You leaving Andy?" Sirius asked. She nodded in reply.
" I've got to get home. Ted should be back soon and I need to get our dinner started," Andromeda said. "Do you have to go back to the Wizengamut tomorrow?"
"No," Sirius replied. "Trials are done for the week. I do have to work the graveyard shift tomorrow at the auror office though."
"I'll still be here to watch Harry, Andromeda. You won't have to worry about that," Remus interjected. "What do you say pup? Want to have a sleep over with Moony tomorrow night?"
"Yay!" Harry cheered, clapping his hands. He scrambled down off of his father's lap and onto his uncle's.
"Traitor," Sirius said, teasingly, before rising and giving Andromeda a hug.
"Are you ok, Andy?" Sirius asked. She nodded.
"It's tough Sirius, but I'll make it through," she replied.
"If you need me.." Sirius began.
"I know, " she said smiling up at him. "Harry, come give Aunt Andy a hug before I go."
The young boy obediently scrambled off of Lupin's lap and ran over to his aunt hugging her.
"Wuv you Aunt Andy," he said then turned to his cousin. "Bye Dorwa."
"Bye shorty," Dora grinned ruffling his already messy hair in an affectionate gesture. "Bye Sirius. Bye Mr. Moony."
"Keep him out of the kitchen," Andromeda said, winking at Remus before grabbing Nymphadora's hand and stepping into the floo.
"I hope they didn't rush home on my account, " Remus said, frowning.
"It had nothing to do with you Moony," Sirius hastened to reassure his friend. "Bellatrix's trial was today. Andromeda is understandably upset."
"I take it she was convicted?"
"Yes, on all counts," Sirius answered grimly. "She'll spend the rest of her life in Azkaban."
"That must've been rough for Andromeda to hear," Remus said. Sirius nodded, sitting down on the floor with Harry who was playing with some toys he had pulled out of a box Sirius kept in the corner of his office.
"It was. Andy can remember when Bella was different than she is now, so can I for that matter," Sirius said. "Even if I hadn't already seen what Bellatrix was capable of though, I'd have had no doubts that she belonged in Azkaban after I heard Alice's testimony."
"Alice testified?" Remus asked, his face mirroring their concern for their friend. "Is she ok? That had to have been horrible for her."
"That woman is one of the strongest people I know Moony. You should have seen her. She never wavered, not even once. She stared Bellatrix down and relived what had to be the most painful thing to ever happen to her. She was amazing," Sirius said, his voice holding genuine admiration for the young widow.
"She's regained all her memories then?" Remus questioned. Sirius nodded.
"She's completely recovered from the attack. She misses Frank desperately, of course, but she is devoting herself to Neville and I think that helps her," Sirius said, at the mention of Neville, Harry perked up.
"Neville is my fwend. We pway dwagons together, wight Papa?" Harry interjected. Sirius smiled down at the boy.
"Yes you do, Pup. Which reminds me, Mrs. Alice told me to tell you that she and Neville will be over tomorrow afternoon to play just like always," Sirius told his son.
"Hooway! Harry cheered. Remus raised his eyebrow and shot his friend a significant glance.
"I take it this is a regular play date?" Remus questioned. Sirius shrugged.
"It's good for Harry and Neville to have another child to play with, besides Alice says it gives her an excuse to get away from Augusta. I gather the woman has become a bit overbearing to her since Frank's death. It's been nice for both of us to have someone to talk to about things too," Sirius admitted. Remus gave his friend a searching look.
"So you and Alice are becoming... close then?" Remus questioned. Sirius frowned at his friend.
"It's not like that Moony. I know my reputation isn't exactly sterling with women, but I thought you at least would give me enough credit to know that I'm not going to try to shag a vulnerable woman who has just lost her husband," Sirius said stiffly. Remus shook his head at Sirius.
"I didn't mean it like that Padfoot. It's just... I remember how you were in fifth year when the two of you broke up. You'd gone out with her for almost a year. It was the longest relationship you've ever had, and then in sixth year when she started dating Frank..." Remus defended himself, remembering how awful that time had been for his friend.
James and Remus had not understood exactly how strongly Sirius had felt for Alice until the night she had started dating Frank Longbottom. Sirius, in a family where love was almost a taboo, had had no idea what to do with himself when he had realized that he was in love with the then Alice Fawcett. He had panicked and proceeded to break it off with her and start shagging anything in a skirt. When the Marauders had, the following school year, stumbled upon Frank and Alice in an empty classroom, Sirius had bolted. By the time the others had found him, he was more than a little drunk. He had confessed to the others how stupid he had been. He had lost the girl he loved. It was the start of a very dark time for Sirius, filled with drunkenness, detentions, and a string of girls who meant absolutely nothing to the young man. He had finally come back to his senses when he had very nearly lost James' and Remus' friendship after he had sent Severus Snape out to the Whomping Willow on the full moon in what the Marauders had termed The Incident.
"That was a long time ago, and we are different people now. People who are friends... nothing more," Sirius stated with an air of finality, interrupting Remus' silent musings. The werewolf put his hands up in concession.
"All right Pads. No need to bite my head off. I was just concerned for you. I don't want to see you hurt again. You're one of the only friends I have left, you know?" Lupin said. Sirius sighed.
"I know Remus, and I know what I'm doing. I promise," Sirius replied. Remus nodded.
"All right then," he said, hoping his friend was right. He did not want to have to pick up the pieces of Sirius' broken heart if it was shattered by Alice Fawcett Longbottom for a second time.
A/N: Just wanted to put a quick thank you here for all of the reviews I've been getting. I really appreciate all of your kind comments and helpful input. Hope you all enjoyed this chapter, and I'll have another ready for you next sunday. -less than 3 WeasleyMum0105
A/N2: It was pointed out to me that I accidentally switched Andromeda and Bellatrix's birth order... all I can say is...ooops! It should be fixed now though... sorry about that.
