Disclaimer: None of it is mine. Not Harry Potter or Bon Jovi sigh

o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o

Chapter 24: I'll sleep when I'm dead

o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o

22nd May 2000

The Atrium of the Ministry was a sight to behold. On one side were protesters against the removal of Elizabeth from her parents care. On the other were supporters of the Ministry. In the middle witches and wizards who were still working made their way across the expanse to and from their lunch breaks.

In the mass Sirius and Hermione tried to make their way across unnoticed. A feat almost impossible with both still limping slightly, pallor faces with the odd bruise and Sirius' strange magnetism that seemed to draw people's attention towards him.

"Mister Black!"

"Shit," Sirius murmured as a reporter caught sight of the pair, "come on"

Grabbing Hermione's hand Sirius increased his pace as he headed for the elevators.

"Mister Black. Please, just a few quick questions!"

Sirius and Hermione reached the elevator and quickly slipped inside, the doors closing before the eager reporter could reach them.

Looking down at a pale Hermione Sirius wove his arm around her waist to pull her against his side.

"Are you feeling alright?" he asked quietly as he reached out to push the number 2 button on the board beside the door.

"I'm ok, just a little tired."

"You don't have to be here, I can take you back to the castle if you want me to."

Hermione looked up at Sirius' concerned grey eyes and shook her head, "I can sleep when we have our baby back."

Sirius pulled Hermione closer and kissed her forehead. "That's why we're here love."

o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o

Draco wandered wearily through the corridors of his former school looking tired and drawn out. In two days he'd had barely any sleep, dark circles had formed beneath his eyes and his blonde hair, normally tied at the nape of his neck, fell around his face.

Opening the door to Sirius and Hermione's chambers the blonde was thankful at least that Blaise had lent him some clean robes, ridding him of his training uniform he had been wearing the day Elizabeth was taken.

Entering the room he looked around at the activity taking place. Tonks, Remus and Graham were pouring over what looked like blueprints, Harry, Ginny and Bill were reading through texts with the youngest Weasley fighting a futile attempt to keep her eyes open. Fred was taking a nap on a transfigured bed in the corner and Molly was preparing tea for everyone when she glanced up and saw the new arrival at the door.

"Draco!" she exclaimed, "Where have you been?"

Her voice raised the other heads in the room as they all glanced towards the door.

Harry cracked a wry grin, "You look like shit, mate"

Draco returned a smirk and shook his head, "Looked in a mirror recently?"

Harry shook his head, his grin slipping slightly, "No seriously, have you have any sleep?"

Draco ignored the question and took a seat on the couch next to Ginny.

"What are you looking for?" he asked gesturing at the books in front of them, picking one up from the top of the pile and opening it to the first page.

Harry looked around at the others for support.

"Maybe you should get some sleep," Tonks suggested as she watched her cousin attempt to focus on the page in front of him, "We've got it covered here."

Draco looked back down at the book, the words blurring in front of his grey eyes. Sighing he placed the book back from where he'd picked it up and got to his feet.

"You can stay here if you like," suggested Tonks. "There's already a spare bed transfigured in Sirius and Hermione's room."

Draco nodded, stifling a yawn, "Wake me if anything happens."

o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o

"Level Two Department of Magical Law Enforcement including Improper use of Magic Office, Auror Headquarters and Wizengamot Administration Services"

Sirius and Hermione stepped out of the elevator and made their way down the corridor occasionally passing the odd wizard or witch hurrying about their daily job.

Making their way past the Auror Headquarters and the Improper use of Magic Office they reached the main doors for the Wizengamot Administration. Tall dark wood greeted them with a large silver W on either door.

Stepping in they would not have been held to blame if they mistook the place for the Daily Prophet. Memos were flying around heads as witches and wizards bustled around from desk to desk and through one door and out another.

After watching for a moment Sirius lent over to Hermione to be heard over the noise. "I pictured it being somewhat more…"

"Subdued?" Hermione finished.

"Yeah"

They stood in the doorway not sure where to start when a familiar witch exited a door at the end of the room.

"There she is," said Sirius, slipping his hand into Hermione's and making his way over to the Judge from his trial the day before.

"Ahh," The grey haired witch exclaimed spotting the pair, "I was expecting you earlier."

"Sorry," Sirius apologized, "we had a rather rough night."

The Judge nodded shifting her gaze to Hermione. "You don't look very well dear, are you quite alright?"

Hermione offered a small smile, "I'm fine, just a little tired." She said repeating what she'd told Sirius. "You said you would be able to help us?"

The Judge nodded, "Right, yes. Sorry. My name is Marlene McKenzie." She said as she led the pair into her office, "I'm a member of the Wizengamot. Please, have a seat" she continued indicating to the leather chairs in front of her desk.

"I believe" she continued taking a seat behind her desk and resting her arms on it, "that the only way you can get your daughter back legally is through the Wizengamot."

Sirius frowned and shared a glance with Hermione, "We can do that?" he asked swinging his gaze back to Marlene.

"Well, I admit circumstances like yours have never arisen but I'm sure the Wizengamot will convene on a case such as this."

"How will it work?" Hermione asked.

"You'll need to find someone to represent you, someone who has an acute knowledge of wizarding law. Unfortunately that person can neither be Dumbledore or I as we are members of the council."

She paused to let the pair process this information before continuing.

"Then we appear in court, I will call a vote to withdraw the usual interrogators, instead having the floor open to the Wizengamot, your representative and that of the Ministry's."

"When?" Sirius asked.

"As soon as I can get the owls out, the trial should begin no more than two days from now."

"Two days?" Hermione's voice was barely a whisper but it traveled through the room like thunder.

"I'm sorry" Marlene said, her soft eyes filled with concern as she watched Sirius stand from his seat and move to crouch next to his wife, gently taking her hand in his as he swept her hair back gently from her face.

"Hey," he said gently forcing her to meet his eyes, "We'll get her back ok? I promise you I'll have Elizabeth in your arms again."

o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o

Elizabeth was all cried out. No matter how many tears her blue eyes spilt people would still come in, pick her up and stare at her with eyes full of wonder, curiosity or confusion. They made her feel tingly and warm at the same time as they continued to try to remove the bracelet from her small wrist.

There were no familiar faces that she'd known her whole life though, no familiar scents of cinnamon or chocolate. Just a sterile white room that held nothing comforting for a small child wanting familiarity.

o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o

Sirius and Hermione wandered to the apparition point in the Ministry's Atrium, silent since they'd left Marlene's office.

"Sirius?"

"Yeah?"

"If we don't get her back…"

"We will." Sirius interrupted.

"…I mean in the trial, do you think we'll be able to find her?"

The corner of Sirius' mouth twitched as he looked down at his wife, "you picked up on the 'legally' comment too?"

Hermione nodded.

"Good, because we're getting our daughter back. No matter what."

o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o

Evening Prophet, Special Edition.

22nd May 2000

Wizengamot to Decide!

The Wizengamot has been called to decide the fate of Elizabeth Black. Will she stay in the protective care of the Ministry of will she be reunited with her parents? Opinion around the Prophet office is mixed; some believe she is better off in the Ministry's care, others with her parents.

The Wizengamot is representative of the wizarding public so the trial should be fair and a decision will be based on matters including those of the public, Elizabeth herself and her parents.

The trial begins on the 24th of this Month with select Media and Public allowed to attend.

o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o

A/N sorry for the short chapter, but I couldn't fit anything else in without mucking up my plan of the next four chapters. Getting into the business end of the semester but I'll try to update when I can.