The Dogfather
Chapter 25
Disclaimer: J.K. Rowling owns everything.
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Harry shifted uncomfortably under his mother's cold stare.
"Look, Sirius, my godfather, got arrested for something he didn't do and I've been helping him hide."
Shacklebolt and Moody's eye brows cocked up.
"Didn't do?" growled Moody skeptically towards Sirius who simply shrugged.
"And what were you charged for?" questioned Harry's mother, steadily disliking more and more Harry's connection with his godfather.
"Mass murder." he answered lightly.
Harry cringed at his family's reaction.
"Erm, I think Moony was right, I think this can wait until tomorrow." mumbled Sirius timidly while Harry nodded vigorously.
"Of course, I'm always right." said Remus, wisely crossing his arms.
"This has been very enlightening, but I've got a few reports to approve." muttered Shacklebolt, checking his watch. "I'll send up one of the trainees, Mad-eye, you won't need too much help."
Harry finally convinced his mother to cease her fierce interrogation.
"And here I thought I was beginning to grow on her." said Sirius with a huff after Harry bid a weak farewell.
Suddenly there was a commotion down the hall, some skidding and what sounded like a rattling of the bars. A young witch, could probably past for nineteen, with a heart-shaped face and electric blue spiked hair came tumbling into view, out of breath.
"Erm sorry sir." she panted. "I kind of upsetted the fire extinguisher..."
Sirius was staring at her with interest and slight curiosity. The witch caught his gaze in slight bewilderment.
Suddenly, his face shone brightly and he let out a manic laugh.
The poor trainee stepped back from the cell, even more bewildered.
"Er, who is that, sir?" she asked timidly as he dropped to the floor.
"Sirius Black." muttered the auror.
The Witch did a double take. "You caught him? Where was he?" she asked, in amazement.
Moody let out a bitter laugh, "Hogwarts, helped by the boy who lived himself."
"Padfoot, what's wrong with you? Well... besides the obvious..."
Sirius finally stood up and wiped tears of laughter from his eyes. "This, my dear Moony is my little cousin..."
The trainee went rigid in alarm. "DON'T SAY IT! DON'T SAY IT1 DON'T SAY IT1 DON'T SAY IT1"
"... Nymphadora."
The witch slumped down in defeat.
"Nymphadora?" muttered Moody, his real eye widening in delight. "We've been trying to get it out of her since she got here; she even somehow got it erased from her file."
"Aw, poor Nymphypoo, don't worry, it's not your fault that our family is incompetent at naming." grinned Sirius. "Take mine for example... 'The black dog'." he said dramatically.
"Better than mine." muttered Remus "Dead give away, did I piss off some god before I was even born?"
Finally Nymphadora looked up from her sulking position on the floor. "One, I am not your cousin, I am your second cousin, two the name's Tonks for the last time."
"Same thing." said Sirius happily. "I always liked Andromeda, only sane person in the family, always ready to lend me a hand in filling Regulus' favorite slippers with crickets. Narcissa and Bella on the other hand were bi-"
"Language Padofoot!" said Remus sharply.
"Of course I wasn't going to say that... they were... witches of course." he finished innocently.
Remus rolled his eyes and Harry sniggered, catching Tonks' attention.
"Who are you." she said slowly, obviously taking in his age.
"Harry." he said simply.
Her eyes fell on his scar. "What's the bloody boy who lived doing here?"
"Short term memory is a harmful trait...like I said, he admitted to hiding Black." said Moody.
Tonks looked from her cousin to the boy. "... why?"
"Oh, because he bribed me with a few licorice wands of course." said Harry simply.
Remus made a low whistle, "Wow, Sirius' sarcasm is rubbing off on you."
"And who's he" she questioned, gesturing to Remus.
"That's just Moony, leave him alone and he won't bite." remarked Sirius lightly.
"Thank you for that warm introduction that comes with meeting every member of your family... my ears are still ringing from the last one." muttered Remus.
"And I've still got the marks." said Sirius happily.
xXx
"Wake up!" sounded a sharp voice.
Harry and co. arose from their cots to find two young aurors standing outside of their cells.
"Well, good morning to you too sunshine." yawned Sirius.
"Watch it Black, we're the ones with the wands here." snapped the other auror, pointing his wand threateningly through the bars.
"Nimphy and Mad-Eye were much nicer than you two, this is what happens when you give power to people who can't handle it." sighed Sirius. "Can I get some robes? I'd rather not get the kiss in my pajamas."
The aurors grunted and called for a house elf.
Ten minutes later the aurors lead the trio from the holding cells (which a large quantity of was encased with Dr. Filibuster's instant anti-heat foam) toward the courtroom, Padfoot in a stiff black robe.
Harry's stomach was steadily growing sicker. Even Sirius, who was flicking off staring people with a smile, was a tad green.
They passed a through a long stone corridor until they met a plain wooden door labeled 'Courtroom 5'.
The Aurors prodded their prisoners inside and were met with a sea of flashing lights.
"Smile for the cameras." muttered Sirius grimly.
In the center of the room were three chairs with chains on the arms. Once the three took a seat, the chains glowed and pinned them tightly. Mutterings, not exactly friendly, immediately emitted from the spectators.
Harry craned his neck to spot any familiar faces in the crowd. His stomach squirmed as he noticed his family seated in the front row.
Cornelious Fudge was perched on a high platform, smugly observing the prisoners. Amelia Bones, Dumbledore, and several ministry officials were positioned on a lower platform.
"Isn't Bones supposed to be head judge?" remarked Sirius thoughtfully.
"Yes, but the minister can step in any time he or she wants... I suppose Fudge wants to play glory seeker." replied Remus.
"I knew I never liked the guy."
Fudge banged his hammer much harder than necessary, calling for order.
"Erg, my ears are going to be ringing from that even longer." said Sirius, cringing.
"Yeah, who does he think he is!" agreed Harry.
"Order in the court!" repeated Fudge angrily.
Sirius simply looked up at the minister with mock sweetness and said "I'm terribly sorry, were you saying something?"
Fudge simply glared and shook his head.
"Sirius Black, you are charged with the murder of Peter Pettigrew and twelve muggles, betrayal to Lily and James Potter, association with the dark side escaping Azkaban prison, eluding capture and recruiting death eaters, how do you plead?"
"Not guilty for all charges." he replied confidently, ignoring gasps from the crowd.
The minister stared. Even the whizzing quill acting as court clerk stalled for a second. Dumbledore simply smiled.
"I'll say it once, I'll say it again, the defeated turtle look does not suit you!" remarked Sirius with a huff.
"Again, are you joking?" said Fudge slowly, ignoring his comment.
"Well, if I was, then I am still in the land between coffee and bed, and in which case, I have missed the bus and really must be going."
Fudge gave Sirius another stunned look and continued.
"Remus Lupin, you are charged with aiding and hiding an escaped criminal, how do you plead?"
"Not guilty."
"Harry Potter, you are charged with aiding and hiding an escaped criminal, how do you plead?"
"Not guilty."
"Sirius Black, how do you explain the murders of Peter Pettigrew and the twelve muggles?"
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A/N: Nice way to end a too short chapter. Fwap, I had this ready last Sunday... but I had to spend all week at my Grandma's... and she doesn't have internet connection. So, the next chapter will be a) up in the space of at most five days, b) much longer than this one c) come with a pickle. (Most likely c) Um, I'm not sure how trials work. i'm kind of basing this off of the Barty Crouch ones, but in Harry's hearing, Fudge was the judge. I suppose Fudge judges when he wants glory... I reread chapter 24 and I'll probably be reposting it sometime soon...