Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter and would never dream of making any money off it. It all belongs solely to my idol, J.K. Rowling.
Chapter Thirteen – A Day of Trials
By Shadow of the Blue Moon
The next week, which was the second week of Hogwarts for Harry and his friends, went by without any major incidents. After his rushed apology on Sunday night – and Harry was being generous when he called it one – then Ron had gone out of his way to avoid Harry and his friends. Fred and George, along with their best friend Lee Jordan, were fast becoming close friends with the ten of them. Dumbledore was almost in hiding as he worked – and even accepted Harry's request to leave school for legal purposes, since Flitwick had already agreed – and even Snape seemed oddly withdrawn like he was thinking about something very difficult.
Sunday soon arrived, and for once then Harry stopped his exercise routine to get ready for the trial. Cygnus and Isabel had promised that they would be ready and waiting for him in the Great Hall at eight a.m. sharp, as they were heading to the trial as well. "So many people seem to be going to the trial," Harry complained to Daphne as they waited in the Great Hall. "Cygnus and Isabel are going, Dumbledore's probably going as he's Chief Warlock, Flitwick and McGonagall say they're coming as well as they've figured out why I need to go, Aunt Amelia's definitely going to be there with the rest of the Wizengamot and there'll be all those reporters and people who have nothing better to do."
"Well, they're always there," Daphne said sensibly. "Plus, isn't it better if more people come? That way, more people can hear firsthand about how your godfather is innocent. The word will spread much faster that way than waiting for the Daily Prophet to come the next morning when they finally report it."
"I suppose so," Harry said. "Anyway, do I look 'sharp' enough for the trial?" He was wearing formal black robes cut in the same style as the plum-coloured Wizengamot robes, but without the elaborate silver "W" that signified those who wore them as members of the Wizengamot. He had attempted to brush his hair and make it lie down flat, but had given up in the end. Daphne looked at him, before pulling a brush and a bottle of water out of her bag and handing them to him.
"Here," she said. "Wet the brush and run it through your hair. You should have come to me earlier, then I could have lent you some of my shampoo to make your hair lie flat."
Harry did as she instructed, before handing the bottle of water and the brush back to Daphne. "Why do you even keep this stuff in your bag anyway?" he asked.
"Just because you don't think they're important, doesn't mean that we girls don't think so either," Daphne said, putting them back in her bag. "The bottle of water is to stay hydrated, which helps your skin, and the brush is in case my hair goes all frizzy from the magic in the air. We also keep other essentials for girls in our bag besides books."
Harry nodded, and they waited in silence for a few moments. Cygnus and Isabel came up to them, wearing robes like Harry's, but in a different colour. Daphne immediately got up from where they were sitting, before throwing herself on them. "Oof! Daphne, you've grown quite a bit since the last time I saw you," Cygnus said, before turning to Harry. "Harry, are you ready to go yet? There'll be quite a lot of people coming, so it's better if we go early."
"Yep, I'm ready," Harry said. "How are we getting there? Floo or Apparation?"
"Apparation," Isabel replied, as Daphne hugged her as well. "The Floos will be full of people." She hugged Daphne back, before the three headed to the trial started to leave.
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They arrived a few minutes later, after Apparating into the Ministry atrium, in the Wizengamot chamber. Quite a few of the Wizengamot members were there, including Dumbledore; a large group of reporters from various publications were jostling for a good seat in the area marked and saved for reporters; a large group of people were there for no apparent reason and of course, there was the very small minority of people who knew what would happen today, including Harry.
"The meeting starts at eight-fifteen," Cygnus told Harry, "so the trials will probably start at about eight-thirty, depending on how long it takes for them to get ready. Isabel's got a copy of this week's Witch Weekly if you think you'll get bored, or Isabel and I can point out all the different people and tell you all the gossip like we do with Daphne."
"You are an evil Lord and Lady, you know," Harry said to Cygnus and Isabel. "But alright, so gossip away."
"Well," Isabel began, "can you see that man with the grey hair with the Wizengamot robes, sitting in the first row? Well, that's Lord Ogden. His family – actually, usually just his second son and his wife – runs their family business, Ogden's Old Firewhiskey. He's also got five grandchildren – two granddaughters and three grandsons – and his youngest granddaughter is called Charlotte Ogden and is unmarried, even though she's already about twenty-three. It's also very well known that the Minister's in love with her."
"But that's not just the interesting part," Cygnus said. "The Minister's actually already married, and since he isn't the Lord of two Houses, polygamy is forbidden to him. So he's just in love with her, and wants to divorce his wife, even though that hasn't occured in quite a while. So at least once every year, he proposes that anybody in Wizarding Britain should be allowed to marry twice if they want to, or at least be allowed to divorce without a great fuss. He's been asking that for... six years?"
"Yes, I think six years," Isabel said, thoughtfully. "But it's also well-known that Charlotte Ogden is in love with another man, who she's currently dating, and hoping to marry soon. She's already old for an unmarried witch – most marry within a couple years of graduating – but since Lord Ogden's not one of those Lords to push the daughters of their House into marriage, she's not married yet. Usually a witch of her age in Wizarding Britain would already have had at least two children, or three if there were twins."
"What about my parents?" Harry asked. "I don't know much about them, since there aren't that many people who I have much contact to and who knew them very well."
"Your parents had you at nineteen," Cygnus said, "and before they went into hiding, they had decided to try for another. In fact–" Cygnus lowered his voice, "your mother was apparently a few months pregnant when she died. This information isn't very well known, just to a select few – your parents' friends, which included us, and the Healers that examined her when she believed she became pregnant with her second child."
"Really?" Harry asked in wonder, looking just like a little boy. "I could have had a sibling?" He looked like he was about to cry for a moment, before he went back to how he was like before. "When's the meeting going to start? I think everybody's here." Just as he finished speaking, Dumbledore rose up from the seat he occupied as Chief Warlock.
"Welcome, everybody, to today's meeting of the Wizengamot," Dumbledore said. "Now, according to what I have in front of me, a schedule of what is planned for today, I see we first have greetings, then there is half-an-hour that is marked 'Trials'. After these trials, which–" He frowned at this. "–for some reason, nobody has informed me about, there is a discussion about Lord Bulstrode, who wishes to have his house be elevated to Noble and Most Ancient, instead of Noble and Ancient. There will then be a break. So I greet Lord Abbott, Lord Avery, Lord Bogden, Lord Bulstrode..." He went on and on, greeting each Lord or Proxy individually.
After the greeting, Madam Bones – as he was told to call her in the Wizengamot chamber – stood up. "As Chief Warlock Dumbledore has stated, this is the half-an-hour that is for two different trials," she said as she walked to the center of the chamber, before telling an Auror with bright-pink hair, "Bring out the first prisoner, please." The Auror nodded and complied, coming back in a minute or so with a gaunt man wearing robes, which were shabby from the prisoner wearing it for ten years straight.
As soon as everyone caught sight of him, they weren't sure who he was, but Madam Bones soon cleared that up for them. "This is Heir Apparent Sirius Orion Black the Third of the Noble and Most Ancient House of Black," she announced. Before she had even finished saying his name, the chamber was in an uproar. Madam Bones immediately fired off a cannon blast noise with her wand, before casting a Sonorous on herself and bellowing, "Be silent, or I will have you removed, unable to return for the day!"
Immediately, everyone quietened down, not wanting to miss this trial, so it wasn't long before Madam Bones canceled the Sonorous and could proceed. "Good," she said. "Now, as I was saying, this is Heir Apparent Sirius Orion Black. According to Ministry records, he was sent to Azkaban for the murder of Peter Pettigrew and twelve Muggles, along with betraying the late Lord James and Lady Lily Potter. But this man has never had a trial, but was summarily sent to Azkaban. I have looked in the Wizengamot court records, which as you may know, cannot be altered and is updated by magic, as well as in the Ministry court records and have come up with only the supposedly commited crime."
Madam Bones paused, before continuing, "So therefore, there is only one thing to assume: that he has never had a trial at all. As soon as I discovered that, I hastened to arrange a trial for him for this Wizengamot meeting, as the act of keeping a man in Azkaban without a trial. So without further ado, let us begin with the trial of Sirius Black, who has waited far too long for a trial." By now, Sirius had been placed in the chair for the prisoner, with the chains draped loosely over him.
But before Madam Bones did anything else, she flicked her wand and parchment appeared on the desks of everyone in the Wizengamot. "This is the interrogation of Sirius Black, who I confirm was under Veritaserum at the time," she said. "But if you still do not believe it, this trial is to prove that this 'prisoner' sitting here is innocent." She turned to Sirius, before asking, "Are you willing to undergo trial by Veritaserum, which will be administered to you in three drops?"
"Yes, I am willing to undergo trial by Veritaserum, Madam Bones," Sirius said, and although he had spent a decade in Azkaban, he was obviously quite healthy.
Madam Bones then nodded to an Auror with dark skin standing at the side, who handed her a vial of Veritaserum. "I confirm that this vial brought to me by Senior Primary Auror Kingsley Shacklebolt is Veritaserum Vial No. 3831, and the seal has been unopened and it has therefore not been tampered with," she said, before going over to Sirius, who tilted his head back and stuck out his tongue. Madam Bones then administered three drops, and Sirius smacked his lips before his eyes began to glaze over. "I confirm that I have administered three drops to the prisoner, which has taken effect," Madam Bones said, before turning to Sirius, "What is your name and date of birth?"
"I am Heir Apparent Sirius Orion Black the Third," Sirius said. "I was born on the third of November, 1959, to Orion Arcturus and Walburga Irma Black."
"A yes-or-no question next," Madam Bones said. "Did you betray the late Lord and Lady Potter by revealing their house which was under a Fidelius Charm to the Dark Lord?"
"No," Sirius said, and it was all that it took to send the chamber back into an uproar.
"Be silent, or I will have everybody but those involved removed from the chamber!" Madam Bones bellowed, and yet again, the room quietened down quickly.
"Were you the Secret Keeper on the night of the 31st of October, 1981?"
"No, that was Peter Pettigrew," Sirius said.
"Why was Peter Pettigrew the Secret Keeper instead of you, when everybody knew you were the late Lord Potter's best and most trusted friend?"
"I thought it was too obvious," Sirius said. "I convinced James and Lily to change Secret Keepers a week before Halloween, on the 24th of October, 1981, so Voldemort would go after me instead of Peter. We didn't know that Peter was a Death Eater at that time, which I only found out later after the Potters had died."
"Have you ever been a Death Eater, or wished you could become one? And why did you kill Peter Pettigrew and twelve Muggles?"
"No for the first question," Sirius answered. "And to answer your second question, I didn't kill any of those thirteen people. After the Potters died, I went to find and confront Peter. I eventually found and cornered him on a Muggle street in London, where he was fake-sobbing. He yelled, 'Lily and James, Sirius! How could you?' for all to hear, not caring about the Muggles at all, before blasting the street apart with his wand behind his back. In the confusion, he cut off his middle finger and transformed into a rat."
"A rat? Is Peter Pettigrew an unregistered Animagus? In that case, do you know where he might be?"
"Yes to both questions," Sirius said. "He's probably in his Animagus form at this moment, with a magical family so he could listen for news and be comfortable."
"Final question. Do you know who cast the Fidelius Charm?" Madam Bones asked. "Was it Lily Potter, who was well known for being a Charms prodigy?"
"No," Sirius said. "It was Albus Dumbledore, who for some reason, didn't see fit to point out that it was Peter Pettigrew who betrayed them as the Secret Keeper to the Potters, instead of me." Madam Bones saw that Dumbledore had turned pale, while everybody was staring at him – a clear sign of his guilt.
"I have no more questions for him, so if anybody is still in doubt of this man's clear innocence, speak up now," Madam Bones asked, turning to the Wizengamot. Nobody spoke for a few seconds before Madam Bones went on. "Very well, Chief Warlock Dumbledore. I will give him the antidote, and then may we vote?"
Dumbledore nodded, and said, "You all know the procedure, fellow members of the Wizengamot. If you believe Heir Apparent Sirius Black should be set free–"
He was interrupted by Madam Bones, who had been whispering with Sirius as the antidote had taken effect. "Excuse me, Albus," she said. "Heir Apparent Black would like to request the sum of one million Galleons be paid to him, as recompensation for the ten years he has unjustly spent in Azkaban, to make up for the time lost."
Dumbledore sighed, before saying, "Very well then. I agree to the terms, if he is set free." He paused, before continuing with his earlier statement, "If you believe Heir Apparent Black should be set free, raise your lit wand when I ask. If you do not agree, raise your lit wand when I ask. All those in favour for granting one million Galleons to Heir Apparent Black and setting him free without any charges of any wrongdoing, raise your lit wand."
Harry could see, without counting, that he'd be set free. Most of the chamber had lit their wands, while only a few hadn't, and when Dumbledore asked again then Harry was proved correct. "Sirius Orion Black, based on the count and evidence in your favour, this court has dismissed all charges against you and exonerated you of any wrongdoing or murder. One million Galleons will be transferred to your family vault from the Ministry vault within the month."
Sirius was almost too jittery for the chains to be unwrapped, but the moment he was free, he ran as fast as he could up to where Cygnus and Isabel were sitting with Harry. "Hello, Harry," he said quietly to him. "Madam Bones has told me that it was you who started this process that led to where we're standing today, both of us free, and I'll always be grateful for that. I know that we've got ten years of time to make up for, and I'm truly sorry that I let you down when you needed me most."
"It's fine, as I've heard that grief can do strange things to a person's mind, making them do illogical things," Harry said, as Cygnus quietly put up a Silencing Charm around the two of them. "And yes, we have got quite a lot to catch up on. It'll take a while before we're done and can move on, but we'll get there." Sirius nodded, almost overcome with emotion, before the two hugged each other tightly, almost as if they would never let go.
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The next trial was the trial of Harry's aunt and uncle, and to his surprise, Aunt Marge was there too. While she wasn't his relative by blood, he had always been forced to call her "Aunt", since she was Vernon's sister. But it wasn't a surprise that Dudley wasn't there, as he was probably at Smeltings – a school that Uncle Vernon had gone to previously, and bragged about to everyone that would listen that was where Dudley was going to go. Another thing that Harry wasn't surprised about was that his uncle and Aunt Marge were struggling with the Aurors to escape, while his aunt simply looked haggard and defeated, like she had already accepted her fate.
As soon as they entered, Dumbledore turned to face Madam Bones and asked, "Who do we sit in judgement for this time? I don't recognise these three as magical folk."
"You are correct," Madam Bones said. "The thin woman is Harrison Potter's aunt, the man is her husband, and the... shall we say, larger woman is the husband's elder sister. All three of them are Muggles, which is why you don't recognise them as magical folk. Of course, according to Harrison Potter's memories from when you sent Rubeus Hagrid to pick him up from the remains of the Potter's house in Godric's Hollow, you would have already met them." She smiled as Dumbledore turned pale. "The name of the man is Vernon Dursley, the name of the thin woman is Petunia Dursley, neé Evans, and the name of the larger woman is Marjorie Dursley."
"What are the charges this time, that has brought three Muggles to the Wizengamot?" Dumbledore asked.
"For Vernon and Petunia Dursley, the charges are: ten counts of child abuse psychologically, ten counts of child endangerment, ten counts of failing to protect a child from physical abuse and attempting to end the line of a Noble and Most Ancient House by abusing the Heir Apparent and only Heir psychologically and physically, as their son has abused this child physically but as he is underage, we will hold his parents account for it instead. For Marjorie Dursley, the charges are: seven counts of child abuse physically and attempting to end the line of a Noble and Most Ancient House by abusing the Heir Apparent and only Heir psychologically and physically."
Harry could see the Dicta-Quill of the court stenographer writing frantically to keep up with the charges.
"Vernon, Petunia and Marjorie Dursley, how do you plead to the charges that have been read?" Dumbledore asked.
"Not guilty," all three of them repeated, one after the other, once the Silencing Charms that they had been placed under had been taken off.
"Your plea of not guilty has been entered," Dumbledore said, before nodding at Madam Bones. "You may now present your case."
Afterwards, a selection of memories played – Harry's memories, along with a few Aurors who had obviously gone to investigate the house after arresting them. There were memories of Dudley's room, compared with Harry's cupboard; Harry-Hunting "games"; Harry's endless chores compared with Dudley's relaxed lifestyle and so on. By the end of it, several people looked queasy. "Now I present the evidence for the case of Marjorie Dursley," Madam Bones said. More memories were played, but this time of each of Marge's visits to the Dursleys and Harry: letting Ripper, her prize bulldog, bite him and chase him up a tree until past midnight; whacking him on the shins and so on.
"Very well," Dumbledore said once Madam Bones signaled she had finished. "As there is no more evidence, and as they are Muggles and Veritaserum would not work on them, I will now call for the vote. Raise your lit wand if you think that the three of them are guilty of those crimes, and should be–"
"Excuse me, Chief Warlock Dumbledore," Madam Bones said. "But according to Harrison Potter's wishes, he wants them to receive justice in the Muggle world, with irrefutable evidence of their crimes of child abuse, as they belong to the Muggle world, even if they have ties to the wizarding world, as well as knowledge."
"Very well, then," Dumbledore said once he saw most members of the Wizengamot were nodding, including those of the Dark Houses. "Raise your lit wand if you believe that the three should be handed over to the Muggle – police? – with evidence of their crimes." It was then a unanimous decision to do so.
"Even though I need not call for this, raise your lit wands if you think they should be set free," Dumbledore said with a chuckle. No wands were raised, as all members agreed they were guilty. He then turned to the three Muggles. "We, the Wizengamot, having sat in judgement, now find you three all guilty. As Harrison Potter was the only one harmed by the actions or inactions of yourselves, we will grant his request and you will be turned over to the Muggle police and your government. Do not try to escape, or this time you will not be so lucky and will receive punishment in the wizarding world."
Vernon, Petunia and Marge all nodded, clearly terrified. "Then this case is closed, and we may move on to other business," Dumbledore said.
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That afternoon, as soon as Harry returned back to Hogwarts through Professor Flitwick's Floo, he was greeted with his friends and his betrothed waiting for him outside his office. Well, more like they were sitting outside the office, either reading, studying or talking. Hermione was, of course, the one that was busy studying, as she hoped to get ahead of where they currently were in class. "So, did the trials go as they should have gone?" Daphne asked, and the group stood up. "Is your godfather free yet?"
"Yes, Sirius is free now, if rather gaunt and not very healthy," Harry said. "Cygnus and Isabel have taken him to his cousin Andromeda Tonks, who's a very good Healer, at St. Mungo's. That's why they sent me through the Floo instead of Apparating me to Hogsmeade and coming up with me. So what are your plans for this afternoon."
"Well," Daphne said, "since it's already about three o'clock, lunch is over already and dinner hasn't begun yet, so we can't eat, so that's definitely out."
Then, she saw Susan, who was grinning. "Who says we can't, Daph? We can always call a house-elf, and ask them to show us to the kitchens."
Daphne sighed at that, rolling her eyes. "Fine then, let's eat. House-elf!" With a Crack!, a house-elf appeared, wearing a tea towel bearing the Hogwarts crest.
"You called for Blizzard, Miss?" The house-elf, Blizzard, squeaked and bowed to Daphne. "What would Miss like Blizzard to do?"
"Blizzard, I would like you to show us–" Daphne pointed at the group and herself "–to the Hogwarts kitchens, as we feel slightly peckish."
With that, Blizzard started to bounce up and down, before saying rather excitedly, "Yes Miss! We house-elves is liking to cook for people! We is having many treats for you! Please follow me, Miss." With that, Blizzard started scurrying down the hallways. Eventually, they reached a corridor that was was located on the basement level of Hogwarts. It could be accessed via the Entrance Hall, through the door on the left-hand side of the Marble Staircase, which was the exact way that Blizzard had shown them. This corridor had several barrels piled in a nook on the right-hand side – Susan told them that this was the entrance to the Hufflepuff Common Room – and several portraits.
"This be the entrance, Masters and Misses," Blizzard squeaked, leading them over to a portrait of a gigantic fruit bowl. "If you be wanting to go to kitchens, you must tickle the green pear." He did so, and the green pear squirmed and laughed, before transforming into a green door-knob. The elf twisted it, revealing a gigantic, high-ceilinged room with five tables placed in the exact same position as the Hogwarts house tables directly above the kitchens, which were magically linked to the house tables. "This be the Hogwarts kitchens, Masters and Misses." He bowed low again, before saying, "What would you like to eat?"
"We'll call for you when we've decided," Daphne ordered. "You may leave us now, Blizzard."
"Yes, Miss," Blizzard squeaked, before rushing over to the sinks to assist the house-elves with whatever they were washing, and the ten friends sat down at the Gryffindor table – at least, the table that was directly under and linked to the Gryffindor table in the Great Hall, which was currently devoid of any food, lunch having been over hours ago. The friends then asked each other what they wanted, so they could all make sure there were no double orders.
A few minutes after they had ordered, the food that the ten of them had requested appeared in front of them. There were many things, ranging from a salad for those who wanted to eat healthy foods to balance out the unhealthy junk foods, to dessert in several different flavours, to drinks of Butterbeer, pumpkin juice and water. Just as they were really getting started on their snack, five third-year students walked in: three boys and two girls. The three boys were the Weasley twins and Lee Jordan, who they knew already, while the two girls were unknown to the ten friends at the kitchen version of the Gryffindor table.
"Hello," Lee greeted the ten of them. "I didn't know you knew where the kitchens were as well and came down here for snacks!"
Harry smiled. "We didn't, but a house-elf named Blizzard showed us," he said. "This is our first time, so come and join us for a snack if you want."
"That'd be fantastic," George said, leading his four friends towards the table. "House-elves, we're feeling slightly peckish, so could we possibly–" Before he had even finished saying anything, several house-elves were already scurrying their way, bearing trays laden down with cakes and surprisingly, some healthier foods. "Oh yes, and I don't think any of you have met these two wonderful girls, who have kindly agreed to come down to the kitchens with us."
One of the girls, a physically fit, dark-skinned girl with brown eyes and long, braided black hair, immediately said, "Don't be ridiculous, Lee. We wanted some food, too. Oliver's been working us hard even though it's only been two weeks into the school year so far. He really is crazy about Quidditch."
"With a capital 'C'," the twins said in unison.
"What does that mean in your twin speak?" Neville asked.
"First of all, we're triplets," Fred said. "Lee's our dreadlocked triplet, he's even got Dad's eyes."
"And second of all, in triplet-speak, it means that Oliver's really crazy about Quidditch to the point where he's got a slight problem with obsession," George said. "Obsessive Quidditch Disorder, I'd say." Then he turned to the dark-skinned girl and said, "So guys and girls, this is Angelina Johnson, Chaser for the Gryffindor Quidditch team."
"And this is Alicia Spinnet, other Chaser of the Gryffindor Quidditch team," the second twin said. Alicia was a tanned girl, also physically fit, with light brown hair and similarly-coloured eyes, and she greeted them with a smile on her face. The ten first-years waved hello to her, as their mouths were stuffed too full with delicious foods. Once the five third-year students had finished eating from the selection of foods that the house-elves had brought for them, they left – with Angelina muttering to Alicia about an essay she still had to do – leaving the first-years by themselves.
Once they were gone, and Hermione had swallowed her last bite of food, she sat up and asked, "So what are house-elves, and can someone explain to me about them?"
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Hey guys!
Thanks for the reviews, follows and favourites! And by the way, did you know that I published 2 chapters of A Treasury of Harry Potter Fanfictions over the time since I last published the previous chapter of this fanfic? One of them's a Christmas one, so read if you're interested, while the other one's just a re-write of the beginning of Voldemort. I also know I said this was going to be a "throwback" chapter, but it was really hard to write one, so I decided to just continue this story.
So anyway, if any of you guys have Instagram, look for harry. potter. mediafessions! I post Harry Potter snapchats and confessions, and I'm also going to do things like fake Instagram messages and text messages soon. (I have to put in the spaces because won't let me write it without the spaces or with the "at" that shows it's an account and save it.) Also, if anyone's also a Pretty Little Liars fan, check out DarkSuspense's Two Sides of Life – it's a time travel PLL fanfiction and really good!
Shadow of the Blue Moon x
Chapter Word Count (rounded to nearest 100): 5,300