Nothing Stays the Same
By jessebelle
A/N: Yay, I've finally updated. I've been trying to get back into my groove for this story for a while, but nothing wanted to come out until I saw GOF in the theaters. Oh Merlin, that is THE best movie ever. I want everyone to go see it. I'm planning on taking my little brother to see it, just to watch it again. If anyone wants to talk about it with me, please, email me or something. Expect updates for this story because my juices are flowing and I love this story. I want to finish it, now. I have so many ideas. I'll be honest, after Who Woulda Thunk It, this is my favorite of my stories. Surprise! I even like it better then MMB. Now, without further adieu, here's some more of the story. I plan to start writing the next chapter right away too. So, enjoy!
Huggles and Snuggles,
jessebelle
P.S. I have to go fix some things in the previous chapters. Lily and James don't know about Sirius, which is what the chapter's about. I've also included some things from OotP. I like some of the characters and stuff from the book, but that's where a lot of the similarities end. This story won't follow the books; it's what I want to happen. I took a lot of my favorite ideas and smooshed them together, and here's what you'll get, but enough talking, enjoy the story.
After Severus left Mooney Mansion, Dumbledore flooed Hogwarts to let the castle know he had important business at the Ministry and he wasn't to be disturbed. It was a joyous occasion, and he didn't want interruptions. But before the group could leave, the two returnees needed to clean up. So an hour and two pranks later, it was time to reintroduce the Potters to the wizarding world. But their first problem developed when Sirius changed into his animagus form right before they left, much to the Potter's confusion.
"Uh, Sirius, what's with the dog getup?"
The group paused before Sirius changed back. "Uh, well, I sorta have to be in disguise before I can go out anywhere."
Lily's eyes narrowed. "Why?"
"Um, well,becauseIescapedfromAzkabanoverayearagoandeveryonethinks-Imaninsanekiller."
Lily stared at him in shock. "What? All I heard were escaped, Azkaban, and insane killer."
James also looked shocked, but for a different reason. "I can't believe you understood all that, good job Lils."
Lily smacked him. "Not now James. Remus, Dumbledore, Bella, explain."
Dumbledore nodded. "This may take a while, why don't we all sit down."
Lily nodded and James led her over to the couch. They sat down, Remus and Bella next to them. Dumbledore and McGonagall took the armchairs and Sirius stood, pacing. This was it, the time his secret finally came out. Sure, he'd mentioned a 12 year Azkaban stay when he'd thought James wasn't James, but Dumbledore had interrupted so the bespectacled man hadn't given it any thought. He was nervous, what would they think of him, how would they react to his stupidity?
"Lily, James, there was another reason the Harry grew up with the Dursleys." Dumbledore looked over at them, trying to convey his guilt in his words.
"Yes, please explain why my son had to grow up with some magic hating muggles instead of his godfather." Lily's words were hostile, but no one could blame her.
"Well, you see, Sirius here, he uh." Remus fumbled over the words.
"I was in Azkaban for twelve years. The night you, ah." He paused and everyone knew what he meant. "Well, That Night I had gone over to your house, I knew something was wrong, but when I got there," his voice trailed off as he thought of the bad memories. "I knew it was peter. I let Hagrid take Harry, thinking he'd be safe and Dumbledore would keep an eye on him until I could get there, then they left on my bike. That was the last time I saw Harry up until his their year at Hogwarts."
"But why?" James looked so shocked. Lily however, had figured it out.
"They thought you were our secret keeper, didn't they?"
Sirius nodded. "We never told Dumbledore about the switch."
James turned in anger to the headmaster, his glare reaching the others in the room as well. "How could ANYONE think Sirius would betray me and Lily, not to mention Harry? It's ludicrous!" By now James had stood up and gone to Sirius' side.
Dumbledore bowed his head. "You have no idea how hard it was. At first I didn't believe it, but after…"
James turned to Sirius. "There's more?"
He nodded, solemnly. "I was so upset, hell, you're standing in front of me and I still feel so…" He paused. "You died James, you and Lily were dead and it was all that rat's fault!"
James put his arms around his friend in a hug. "But we're back now."
"But you were gone then. Merlin, I was the one to find your bodies!" He's already begun to cry, James just held him.
"You went after him, didn't you?" Lily's voice came from right behind them; she'd gotten up and joined them.
Sirius nodded. "I tracked him to a street in London, it was full of muggles. He saw me then, and then he started to scream about how I'D betrayed you. Then I was the grin in his face right before he cut off his finger, he'd had it all planned."
The rest of the room stared in shocked silence. Sirius hadn't spoken of any of this before, choosing instead to bury his grief. Remus was the most effected, the older lycanthrope was trying not to cry as Sirius continued his story.
"He pulled out his wand and blew up the street. Little Peter Pettigrew, the incompetent boy who used to follow us, who'd been our brother managed to kill 13 muggles and my future with one curse. Then he transformed into Wormtail and escaped down the sewer." The tears had stopped now and Sirius was filled with the anger he'd had back then. "And I just stood there and laughed. I laughed as they took me away. I wasn't given a trial, just thrown into Azkaban and forgotten for twelve years."
"If you were in Azkaban, then how are you here…now. How do you know Harry?"
Sirius gave Lily a wry grin, a mere shadow of his former, boyish self. "You're looking at he first person to ever escape Azkaban Prison..."
Both Lily and James gasped. "How?"
Sirius sighed and began to pace again. "Padfoot. I didn't go insane because I knew I was innocent, I knew Harry was out there, along with that traitor. I dwelled on it, thrived on it for 12 years until I got a copy of the Daily Prophet, right from the minister himself."
He gave a humorless chuckle. "I saw him in his rat form of course, missing a finger; he was posing at the pet rat of the youngest Weasley boy, Ron. He's Harry's best friend. He was at Hogwarts, with Harry. So I saved my strength and waited, then I turned into Padfoot and escaped from the island. I had to swim to the shore, and then I survived on scraps, posing as a lovable stray. I made it to Surrey, I saw Harry for the first time. He was running away from the Dursleys after inflating his Aunt."
"Petunia?" Lilly looked amused and shocked.
Sirius shook his head. "No, Marge or something like that, Vernon's sister."
Lily scowled. "Awful woman, I met her at the wedding."
Sirius nodded. "I made sure Harry was okay, and then I started for Hogwarts. I hung around, keeping an eye on him until the end of the year when I managed to finally capture Wormtail. Then everything sort of happened at once. Harry and his friends finally learned the truth, as did Mooney here." He gestured to Remus, who nodded at his friends, still feeling guilty.
"I was captured though, and Wormtail escaped, but Harry and Hermione saved me from the Dementors. Then, I escaped on Buckbeak."
"Who's Buckbeak?"
Sirius grinned. "A hippogriff, apparently Harry and Hermione saved him from death that night too. He's quite the hero you know."
"He even saved Wormtail's life." Remus' voice was still filled with regret.
"What?" Lily looked shocked as she asked for an explanation.
"Sirius, myself too, wanted to kill Peter, he deserved it. But Harry wouldn't let us."
"Did he know what the rat did?" James' voice was filled with rage and sadness."
Sirius nodded. 'Yes, he did, but he said you wouldn't have wanted Remus and I to become murderers."
James' anger deflated, instantly to be replaced with pride. He smiled and shared a look with Lily before hugging Sirius again. "He was right."
The room was silent as they all thought of the green eyed boy. Then James gave a shout. "Well, what are we waiting for, let's go free Sirius!"
The room all agreed and once again everyone got up and left, this time when Sirius changed, Lily hugged him in his dog form. "Don't worry; this should be the last time you'll ever have to hide again."
Sirius barked and wagged his tail in excitement. Everyone laughed. "Well then, to the Ministry."
The poor wand inspector at the ministry was extremely confused when the group led by Dumbledore and Padfoot marched into the atrium. He was even more confused when Lily in James, their faces covered by their black cloaks, had no wand. Dumbledore however, managed to get them past the checkpoint and into the magical elevator. Only two people were aboard, and both gave the group a surprised look.
"Wotcher Albus, Remus, Sirius." Nymphadora Tonks smiled at the group and patted the big, black dog on the head.
The other occupant just gave the group a careful look. "Albus, is it really safe to bring Sirius here, I mean, he's still a wanted man?" Arthur Weasley gave the dog a concerned look. Padfoot however, wagged his tail and gave a bark as happy as could be.
Dumbledore, Remus, and Bella had huge smiles on their faces before the lycanthrope spoke. "Not for long."
Tonks looked up. "You mean-?'
Dumbledore nodded. "Two key witnesses have, come alive so to speak and are about to go give the Minister the truth in a way he won't soon forget."
Arthur smiled. "That's wonderful, you must all be so happy. But who?" He looked at the cloaked figures. Dumbledore nodded at them, and Lily and James Potter removed their hoods. To say that Arthur and Tonks were shocked was an understatement.
"Jamie?"
James Potter looked at the cousin of his best friend and held out his arms. "I'm back Nymph, I'm back."
She didn't hesitate to run into his arms, and then smack him in the chest. "Don't call me that. But, how?" She pulled out of his embrace and hugged Lily, too.
"We're not sure, but we will find out, later. For now I think we can all just be happy with this miracle."
Tonks looked over Lily's shoulder to see the blonde that spoke. "Aunt Bella? Oh Merlin, how have you been?"
She reached out and grabbed the smiling blond in a hug. "I've been good, watching over Harry in the muggle world. How about you? I see you're an auror."
Tonks nodded proudly. "Yep, this is my first year on field work though, but, oh this is amazing!"
Just then a cool, female voice spoke. "You've reached level one, the offices of the Minister of Magic." The elevator doors opened. Dumbledore broke his conversation with Arthur, who was still in shock. Dumbledore asked him to keep the news a secret until it was announced to the press. Arthur gave a nod, and Tonks hugged everyone before the group left the two on the elevator.
Lily and James had both put their hoods back up. They followed Dumbledore to the blonde secretary in the center of the room. "We're here for a meeting with the Minister." The blonde gave the group a wide eyed stare before pushing a button.
"Minister, Dumbledore's here to see you."
Instantly the Minister appeared from his office behind her. He looked wide eyed at the group, his gaze lingering on the hooded couple. "Dumbledore, everyone, please, come into my office."
As soon as they were in and comfortable, James and Lily removed their hoods to the minister. He was shocked, hearing that they were alive was one thing, seeing them was another. "Amazing, absolutely amazing. But Albus, are you sure they're, them?"
Dumbledore nodded. "Yes, I've verified their identities in a number of ways. They are indeed James and Lily Potter, back from the dead."
Fudge looked at them, and then sank down into his chair. "Remarkable. It's wonderful to have you both back. If there's anything we here at the ministry can do, anything at all, please just ask. Have you thought about what you're going to do now?
Lily nodded. "Yes, we're going to Hogwarts. The Headmaster has agreed to let us stay there and get to know Harry, as well as find out why we're back."
Fudge nodded. "Yes, that would be the best thing to do. Have you seen young mister Potter?"
Lily nodded. "No, we plan to go get him after our meeting though."
"Well, he's simply a splendid boy. But after the events of June, well, just keep him safe." Lily and James shared a look.
"Cornelius, would it be too much to ask for you to keep quiet about the Potters until after the new school year begins. The press will be in an uproar and-"
"Say no more Albus, I shan't say a word. Now, I'm sure Lily and James are impatient to get to Harry, so I won't waste anymore of your time. I just ask that you keep me informed."
Dumbledore nodded and the group got up giving James and Lily pointed looks. James nodded. "Minister Fudge, there's one thing that you can do-"
"Name it."
"You can tell me why you've imprisoned an innocent man."
The Minister of Magic's face fell. "Pardon?"
Lily stood up next to her husband. "Sirius Black."
Fudge's demeanor changed. "Mrs. Potter, the world knows of Black's betrayal of you and-"
"Sirius wasn't our secret keeper, Peter Pettigrew was."
Fudge's face looked stunned. "What?"
Dumbledore got up and stood behind them, placing a hand on Lily's shoulder. "Cornelius, Mr. Black never received a trial. I myself was fooled, along with many others. It's only recently that the truth has been revealed."
"Are you sure?"
James nodded. "Positive. I'd like him cleared of all charges and given compensation for the twelve years he's spent in Azkaban, plus any other pain and suffering he's had all these years."
Fudge looked shocked. "I need to sit down."
"Why Cornelius, you are sitting down."
"Oh, good for me then." The Minister of Magic looked from one face to another at the assembled group. "I, well, are you absolutely sure?"
"Yes."
Fudge closed his eyes and nodded. "All right." He pulled out a piece of parchment and a quill, then began to right. He handed it to Dumbledore, who looked over it, nodded, and handed it back. The minister then signed it with a flourish. "Here is an official statement clearing Mr. Black's names. I've also included all of the compensations he'll receive. All it needs is Mr. Black's signature. I'm sure you know where he is." He gave Dumbledore a look.
"Right here."
Fudge looked up and shock. "You're an animagus!"
Sirius nodded. "How else do you think I survived Azkaban? Give me a quill so I can sign." In minutes he was done and holding the parchment that cleared his name and gave him his freedom.
"Mr. Black, you have my sincerest apologies on behalf of everyone at the Ministry of Magic. If you'd like we can have a ceremony-"
"No, this is enough." He cradled the parchment.
Fudge nodded. "All right then, copies has been distributed to the rest of the departments and news of your innocence will be immediately given to the Daily Prophet. By tonight you'll truly be a free man. All I ask is that you remain in your… dog form until it's officially released, just to prevent panic of course."
Sirius nodded, not able to speak. Dumbledore smiled. "Thank you Cornelius. We'll talk more later and I'll give you the details, but for now we have to go pick up Mr. Potter from his relatives. Sirius, James, Lily?" The three nodded. James and Lily put their hoods up and Sirius handed his parchment to Remus, who pulled him into a hug, before he turned into Padfoot. Then the group left the office.
The rest of the Ministry was in chaos. Everywhere people were talking. "Did you hear? Sirius Black is innocent!"
"I always knew was, never a doubt in my mind!"
It was all anybody in the group could do not to laugh. Finally they stepped out of the Ministry into the light. Dumbledore nodded at the group. "And now, to Privet Drive."
