Merry Christmas everybody, here is your Christmas Present! Thought you might love a new chapter!
Chapter 9
Sirius Black gives himself up to the Queen
Last night the Queen announced to the wizarding world in a surprised announcement that Sirius Black gave himself up, appearing to her. He allowed himself to be questioned under veritaserum and a trial date has been set. The trial will be overlooked by all Heads of the wizengament, which means all the heads of Ancient and Noble house but they shall not decide the fate of Sirius Black, the Royal Magical Court shall but as it is law, each magical court must have a member of the wizengamot in their members. The Queen has yet to choose a member. Still, as most future Heads of Houses are at Hogwarts, certain students of Hogwarts are being summoned to oversee the presiding. The trial itself has been set for today, it seems like the Queen has no wish to fool around with this case.
List of people to be present:
Amelia Bones (Head of the DMLE and temporary head of the Bones Family)
Susan Bones (Future Head of the Bones Family)
Augusta Longbottom (Temporary Head of the Longbottom Family)
Neville Longbottom (Future head of the Longbottom Family)
Narcissia Malfoy (acting as head of the House of Malfoy as her husband is on business outside the country)
Elphias Doge
Griselda Marchbanks
Tiberius Ogden
Organ Crabbe
Barty Crouch Sr.
Astuce Goyle
Edgar Greengrass
Sever Nott
Christopher Zabini
Rowena Potter (Future Head of the Potter Family)
…
"Wow, imagine the reaction in the Great Hall." Ron whistled causing Rowena to laugh as she tried to get ready for the trial a head. She of course would have to wear robes and thankfully owned a nice set of them.
Pushing the curtains to her changing room aside she walked out only to be met with eyes as both Ron and Hermione looked at her as if she had grown a second head.
"What's wrong?" She asked.
"Nothing, it's just never seen in you such robes." Hermione remarked causing Rowena to frown but she turned to look at herself in the mirror.
For robes, they were rather modern. The under layer was actually a flowing skirt that was done in an ice blue color, the top layer was a long sleeved robe. He sleeves were wide like that of a kimono from Japan. It was a bit low cut but not too much and it had a slit that allowed the fabric to move and show of the skirt bellow it. It was trimmed in a thick ruin encrusted trim that was done in silver while the main part of the dress was dark blue. For shoes, she wore a simple pair of heeled blue pumps to give her some height.
"You look really great Rowena didn't think you could pull off such robes." Hermione remarked.
"I didn't either." Rowena sighed while going over and grabbing her silver jewelled belt. Wrapping it tightly around her waist she made sure it was in position before getting the rest of her appearance in order.
Taking her wand, she tapped her head causing her hair to curl into ringlets and then form a rather complicated hairdo. Finished with that she pulled a pendant from her box put it around her neck then grabbed the Potter family circlet, something every female head of house wore, or even future head of house wore to wizengamot meetings. With that in place, she did a bit of make up before turning to Ron and Hermione.
"Wow, you sure look different." Ron whispered but just then a knock was heard and then Professor Snape walked in. He seemed to freeze slightly the moment he saw Rowena but got over it.
"Miss Potter I have been asked to lead you to the Entrance hall so that you may leave with the others." He stated.
"Thank you Professor."
Going over she hurried up the steps and swiftly left the dorm. Walking through the halls of Hogwarts, she smiled as most of the students who passed them by stared at her in shock.
Arriving in the Entrance Hall she found the others waiting, also dressed in their family garb. Just then, Amelia Bones entered the hall.
"Is everybody present?" She questioned while looking over them. "Well, let us be on our way. We will be taking a portkey to get there."
With that they left the grounds of Hogwarts and in little time arrived at the Ministry. Following the Head of the DMLE, they walked into the Wizengamot to find multiple people already in their places.
Swiftly locating her seat, she had to smile at the fact that it was in-between the Longbottom chair and the Black chair. Going over she took her seat and Neville took his own next to his grandmother.
As the minutes began to pass, Rowena began to think about various things until at long last the trial began. The Queen entered the room and took her seat while her own Magical court took their seat as well.
"As the law states I must have a member of the wizengamot join the Royal Magical Court. I have gone through multiple files and I have decided to continue with the tradition. The Potter Family shall be the continuous member of the Royal Court as they have never failed in upholding the law." The Queen announced and with that statement done Rowena found her chair to have changed from the normal high backed chairs of the rest of the wizengamot to one that was rather more ornate.
"Your Majesty do you really think it best to choose a child as the representative in your court!" Somebody shouted earning whispers of agreement from most.
"The Potter family has served as members of my court for many centuries she might be young but she can learn and she will learn many things with these meetings and the lessons that will follow her involvement as a member of my court. Now then let us begin this trial, bring is Sirius Black." She ordered and with that order, the doors to the chamber opened and two guards walked in with Sirius in-between the two.
Rowena had to smile as she saw how well he was dressed. Sirius was taking this opportunity to show the rest of the wizarding world that you couldn't simply push him down to his knees and expect him to stay there. With his official Black Robes in order and in pristine condition, she was very happy to see that some people were giving him respectful looks, although those were few and far between.
As Sirius took his seat in the chair that sat in the center of the room, she waited patiently for things to commence.
"Sirius Black you have agreed to take Veritaserum, is that correct?" Came an elderly male voice that was the head of the Magical court.
"I did." He agreed.
"Then let it be administered."
Frowning slightly Rowena looked around the room before gently taking out her blue crystal wand, she flicked it and unknown to many, a ward against curses and controlling spells formed around Sirius to stop any meddling. Slipping her wand back into her pocket she clasped her hands together and watched as the web of lies the old Ministry had formed de-tangled itself and fell apart showing nothing but the truth.
By the end of the questioning, many of the wizengamot were enraged and Rowena had to hold herself back from shouting at them to be silent.
"A great injustice has befallen a member of my country. He has been sentenced to Azkaban for no crimes he has been accused of. For that, I order a full compensation to be met. Also one request to be met at full honors." The Queen announced causing silence to fall. "Lord Black what is your request?"
Standing from the chair he sat in Sirius looked around the room before his eyes landed on her causing a smile to form on his lips.
"My request is for the guardianship of Rowena Potter and Athena Black be placed to me as their rightful guardian. Rowena Potter is my goddaughter and Athena Black is my daughter. I have clam to both, higher than any here." He stated causing Rowena to gasp.
She didn't think he would actually request guardianship over her, Athena yes but her no.
"I object your majesty, how do we know if Lord Black is sane! To be given guardianship over two children is absurd. Firstly Rowena Potter is in a safe guardianship with the Zabini family, to pull her away from that would be mad!" Lord Zabini exclaimed.
"Lord Black mental state has been taken into consideration and my Healers have informed me that he is very much sane. I will agree to give Lord Black guardianship over his daughter and goddaughter." The Queen announced causing outrage to form. "Court adjourned."
With that declaration, Rowena smiled before rising to her feat with the others. It was over, an innocent man was free and for the first time in a long time, his life would be going back to normal. As their eyes met, he gave her a wink that she returned with a smile. Then she remembered the meeting between daughter and father.
Flashback:
Rowena smiled down at Athena who stood nervously at her side after her introduction. She could tell the young Black heir was nervous; after all, it wasn't every day you met a father that was supposed to be a convicted of murder but who was innocent. Looking up at her godfather, she clearly saw the shock that was lacing his face. Apparently being told you had a daughter but seeing it for real was two different things.
"Go on Athena." She whispered while gently pushing the first year forward.
With a hesitant look towards her Athena took more steps forward before she finally stood only inches from her father who still hadn't lost the shocked and amazed look on his face.
"I never… I never knew about you… I… Merlin's beard you… you look like me." He whispered causing Athena to blush and smile a bit. "You're mother… mother had red hair and… wow…"
"I never knew mum had red hair… I mean… um nice to meet you." Athena whispered and the moment she spoke it seem to push Sirius into happiness as with a chuckle he wrapped his arms around her and pulled her into a bear hug that had Athena squeaking in shock. But after a few moments the eleven year old wrapped her arms around her father and buried her face in his neck soft tremors running through her body showing that she was crying.
Smiling from her place near the door, Rowena watched on with hope filling her heart. At least one orphan still had a chance at finding a family that was truly hers.
End of Flashback
Sirius Black innocent!
Earlier today, Sirius Black underwent his trial to see if he would be made a free man or forced to return to Azkaban. In attendance as you all well know from the earlier addition of the prophet, was Rowena Potter, the man's goddaughter and the Girl who lived. During this trial, Rowena Potter was chosen by the Queen to be made a member of the Magical Royal court just like many generations of Potters before her. Cry of objection ran through the courtroom at this announcement, shouts of Miss Potter being too young to be chosen. The Queen remained with her choice though by remarking that Miss Potter would be the best choice for the position. From there the trial began and the veritaserum given. With questions being asked only by the Queen herself the Wizengamot could only watch. Questions go as followed.
Queen: What is your name?
LB: Lord Sirius Orion Black
Queen: Well then Lord Black, are you a Death Eater?
LB: No.
Queen: Did you ever support Voldemort and his Death Eaters or even their ideas?
LB: Never.
Queen: Were you James and Lily Potter Secret Keeper?
LB: No.
Queen: Do you know who was the secret keeper and why people thought you were it?
LB: People thought I was the secret Keeper because that was the image we wanted to give to people; we switched to Pettigrew thought because we didn't think anybody would think the secret keeper was him.
Queen: What happened on November 1st?"
LB: I knew that Pettigrew was the traitor, we always suspected a traitor was in our midst We didn't think it would be Peter thought. November I finally caught up with him and we shouted. I started to shout about how I had betrayed James and Lily then he cut off his own finger and blew up the street.
Ladies and gentlemen, for twelve years the people of our world have thought that Sirius Black was the murderer and betrayer of the Potter Family when in fact it was the man we celebrated as a hero. In the end, Sirius Black was given a full pardon and compensation. He was also given one request. He requested Guardianship over his goddaughter, Rowena Potter and his Daughter, a person we have no information on, Athena Black. Against the wishes of some members in the wizengamot, he was given guardianship over both girls. Rowena Potter had been under the temporary guardianship of the Zabini Family while the little information we know on Athena Black tells us that she was in an orphanage.
Severus Snape was not a happy man. For the past three years, he had come to care for Rowena Potter as though she was a part of his family, but now all that would fall apart, the girl would come to hate him because of Black. The man would poison her mind and turn her against him the moment he knew that he was her Head of House. Then there was Athena Black, she trusted him as her Head of House but the moment her father knew of him her mind would turn from respect to hate.
"Why is it that Black can always screw things up even when he doesn't even know it." He sighed before turned his head to stair at a picture of his current Quidditch team. In the center was his seeker, his prized seeker, Rowena Potter. Decked in her Quidditch uniform a brilliant smile on her face she looked like her mother with the exception of her black hair.
Shaking his head, he drew a deep breath before letting it out. Maybe he was just over reacting and since when did he care about the thoughts of others he was the head of Slytherin, he expected hatred to come his way.
"Black is going to be the death of me." He sighed before taking a sip from the brandy he had poured moments ago.
