AN: Hope you're all enjoying the story so far. Thanks for the reviews and sorry it took a while to write this. All rights to JK Rowling and Warner Bros.

Rise of House Black

Trials and Tribulations

Harry shot out of the floo and fell face down on the floor. Ten seconds later the fireplace flared to life and James fell to the floor with an ooph next to him as Harry rolled to one side before picking himself up.

"Comfy are we?" Harry asked with a cheeky grin staring down at his friend.

"Just marvellous thanks, give us a hand up would you?" James replied in a similar manner. The fireplace flared again and out stepped Professor Flitwick who gracefully walked out and over to the boys clearing some soot off with his wand.

"Now boys remember to be on your best behaviour here at the ministry. You are representing Hogwarts, Ravenclaw and your own houses so act accordingly. This way to the court rooms" and with that he led them over to a security checkpoint where aurors and guards checked people in.

"Name?" came the bored voice of one guard as they approached.

"Fillius Flitwick" came the squeaky voice of the small professor.

"Purpose?"

"Here for the Sirius Black trial."

"You and half of England. Wand please."

Handing over the wand the guard scanned it, made a note of it then handed it back and allowed the professor through. Then came Harry's turn.

"Name?

"Harry Potter"

"Pur-" the wizard looked up and then down at Harry before grabbing his hand and shaking it firmly. "Mr Potter what a pleasure and an honour! Welcome to the ministry, I hope you have a great day! It's just so great to meet you, thank you for defeating him. Oh it's just so brilliant to meet you in person. Please enjoy your day. Next please. Name?"

"James Peterson, I'm here to see the trial. Here's my wand."

"Er right thanks," said the guard having got over the excitement of meeting The Boy Who Lived. He made a note of the wand before handing it back. Harry didn't bother to point out his wand hadn't been noted as he didn't want to speak to the guard more than he had to after that rather excitable meet and greet. It had been embarrassing enough to have to shake his hand. He took the time instead to observe the Ministry itself. The black tiles and polished dark wood floor glinted in the light and the gold gilding on doors and frames showed the opulence that went into its construction. And there in the centre stood a golden statue. Or statues. It was located in the centre of a pool with water shot from fountains around the side of the pool towards the statues. The tallest of them all was a wizard with a wand pointing straight into the air. Around this statue were the statues of a witch, a centaur, a goblin, and finally a house-elf. The group walked around the fountain towards a large alcove which had a number of lifts arriving and departing. Flitwick, Harry and James got in and requested the courtrooms to the lift operator. After whizzing past various stops and throwing the boys back and forth they arrived. "Level Nine, Department of Mysteries and access stairs to Level Ten, Courtrooms" called the operator. The three walked down the dimly lit, navy blue coloured tiled corridor and to a door on the left hand side labelled 'Level Ten'. Passing down the 2 flights of stairs they came to another corridor that seemed older than the rest of the ministry. Indeed it seemed dingy and forgotten. The dirty, flaky marbled floor led the way to a series of numbered rooms before they arrived at 'Courtroom Ten'.

"Well here we are Mr's Potter and Peterson. Now remain calm, don't get angry or use your magic. I'm here and if you need anything explained just ask. Try to keep quiet as much as possible throughout and respect the court even if some members might not be worth respecting. Now let's take our seats" explained Professor Flitwick. The three walked through the door and into the visitor section towards the back of the room facing the benches of the Wizengamot members which covered three sides of the room which had a chair positioned in the centre of the basin upon which the benches and seating were arrayed around. James noted that it was nearly full already and there were only five minutes until the official start. Taking their seats they looked around the room some more seeing how old it looked, matching the corridor outside and contrasting with the rest of the ministry. The flaky marbled flooring continued in here and large stone arches made up the walls of the room where great bowls stood on plinths alight with large flames casting their light around the room. Indeed there appeared only four or five of the flames and the room seemed well lit if a bit dingy and gloomy in places. The doors opened again and Dumbledore himself came striding through wearing his trademark red and gold robes and half-moon spectacles. He looked around the room, frowning slightly at seeing Harry and James before taking his post at a raised platform that stood to one side of the room where from he could see everyone. He glanced around the room, nodding to a few members and the minister, before checking a time piece and, upon seeing that it was now 10 O'clock, he picked up the gavel on his desk and called the meeting to order.

"Order! Order! I call to order this unexpected meeting of the Wizengamot to oversee the trial of one Sirius Orion Black. Bring in the accused" called Dumbledore. At that command two recessed doors opened inwards and four aurors with Sirius in the middle under escort entered the room. The man looked haggard and pale. His black hair relatively tidy but his face still possessed a fairly gaunt look due to the awful conditions of Azkaban. At the sight of him many gasped and murmurings were carried around the room. Sirius was led to the wooden chair at the centre of the room and then secured to it as all are when on trial.

"Sirius Black you stand, or in this case seated" Dumbledore said with a small smile at his own joke, though seeing that no others smiled he continued "of killing twelve muggles as well as Petter Pettigrew. You are also charged with being a member of a terrorist organisation and causing the deaths of James and Lily Potter. How do you plead?"

"No guilty" he said with a firm but croaky voice from lack of use. This plea sent more murmurings around the room, though this time louder, as many questioned why he'd say that when everyone knew he was at fault.

"Order! Order! Quiet please. Very well then. Prosecution begin your case." At this a man stood up from one of the enches and approached Black.

"Honourable members of the Wizengamot and visitors. We have here a clear case. Sirius Black was the secret keeper of the Potters as we all know and the Potter were found by You-Know-Who leading to their murder. We have the inescapable conclusion that he told You-Know-Who where to find them. Having led to the deaths of the Potters he proceeded to kill the last of their friends, Peter Pettigrew and killed the muggles in the attempt. All that was left of Pettigrew was his finger. Black is also from a well known family who supported the dark lord and it is entirely conceivable this was carried out either at their request or as an attempt to gain favour with his family. The result is that he is clearly guilty and the facts speak for themselves. Thank you." With that said the man returned to his seat without even questioning Sirius.

"Mr Black" Dumbledore began, "What do you say in return? What is your defence?"

"I request the use of veritaserum and Director Amelia Bones to ask the questions agreed to earlier." More gasps were heard at the request for the truth serum, many not believing he'd actually done so due to it forcing the truth and thus revealing anything when asked. Due to the nature of the serum a number of death eater rejected it and merely said they were under the imperius curse. "Why is everyone shocked professor? Surely anyone would want to use the serum to prove they aren't lying?" asked Harry.

"Ah but you see the deaths eaters who had been caught did not take it back in the day as most pleaded the imperius curse and were not themselves. It also helped that they donated a lot to the ministry in exchange for light or no sentences. Even today there are many, though not lots, who would like to see those who plead imperius to go under the serum but it has to be requested. It can't be forced except by a large majority of the Wizengamot and that is unlikely to ever occur." At this point an auror had returned with a small vile of the serum as requested and gave Black three drops into is mouth. Sirius then became vacant and actin as if in a trance. A stern looking but attractive lady wearing a monocle, who appeared middle aged with only a few grey hairs around the edge, walked up to Sirius.

"What is your name?" She asked.

"Sirius Orion Black" came the monotone voice of Sirius.

"What house were you in at Hogwarts?"

"Gryffindor"

"Who was your best friend at school?"

"James Potter"

"I believe we can say it is working my honourable colleagues. Now, were you the Potter's secret keeper?

"Only briefly, I had the duty for a few months before switching to Peter Pettigrew. We thought it would be best for me to pretend to still be it while Peter hid and therefore draw off anyone after James and Lily." Gasps of surprise were heard around the room as many theories that had been held crumbled as the monotone voice of Sirius answered each question.

"Did you betray the Potters to You-Know-Who?"

"No I would never betray them."

"Did you kill Pettigrew and the muggles?"

"No but I wanted to kill Peter but I never got the chance. When I cornered him on the street he yelled that I'd betrayed James and Lily and then he fired a blasting hex which I dodged but it hit a gas pipe which erupted and killed many. He then cut his finger off and turned into a rat so as to escape down the sewer pipes. I was left in the street alone and outclassed by the weakest of our friends. I guess I started laughing at the irony of it all and how it was all my fault for switching keeper." Silence lingered for all of a second or two before pandemonium erupted from various factions and groups saying different things. Dumbledore banged the gavel several times before order could finally be restored though he himself appeared surprised at the results of the serum.

"I believe that after that most interesting of events we should proceed to the deliberations, unless either side wish to add more?" He paused waiting for either lawyer to say anything but continued when nothing came. "In that case those in favour of convicting on all charges?" A handful raised their arms mostly coming from the dark families on the left side of the room. James made a note of each person with a raised arm so as to query their names and deal with them later.

"Those in favour of clearing of all charges?" At this most wands or wands were raised signalling a clearing of Sirius' name.

"Very well. Sirius Orion Black you are hereby cleared of all charges" Dumbledore said happily before banging his gavel. "Now in restitution for false imprisonment the Ministry will pay the sum of 1,000 Galleons per year imprisoned as per the law on Prisons and Justice dated 1747 and updated in 1905. Mr Black, I hope you will forgive us all for this travesty and if you need any help dear boy do come a find me at your old school. Case closed." He banged his gavel and the crowd began to depart all the while talking loudly about what they'd just seen and heard. Harry and James however began to walk down to where Sirius was with Flitwick a few paces behind them. As they approached Sirius turned to face them a questioning look on his face before he saw the scar on Harry's head and recognised the facial features as James, Harry's father.

"Harry?" He asked with a croaky voice.

"Yes Mr Black, I am Harry Potter. It's er nice to meet you. Congratulations on your trial."

"Pish, call me Sirius or Padfoot. Mr Black is my father and it makes me feel old. And who might you be?" He asked turning to face James.

"I'm James Peterson. James Arcturus Peterson. I was found with a house elf back in the summer of '81." He replied nervously, not sure how to broach the topic of 'by the way you're my dad'. However he didn't need to as Sirius' face paled dramatically even more so than it already was.

"Y-You can't be...the fire...nothing left. Are...are you?" He collapsed to his knees in front of the boys as James just nodded.

"Hi, dad. It's, er, nice to meet you I guess. Sorry it's just I'm used to calling my parents mum and dad, I-I'm not sure quite what to call you. Sorry." He said in a quiet nervous voice feeling as bad as if not worse than Harry.

"James" Sirius leaned forward and pulled James into a hug before letting go and pulling Harry into one too though Harry flinched a bit and froze before relaxing into the hug. "My boys, I thought I'd let you both down, I'm sorry. I'm so sorry I failed both of you. Please forgive me I never meant for any of this to happen, just please forgive me". He broke down into tears while holding both boys who glanced at each other over his head before softly patting his back comfortingly. They stood there for a few minutes until Sirius finally stopped and stood up. He cleared his throat before speaking again. "Sorry you two had to see that" he said sheepishly.

"No its alright Padfoot, to be honest we probably feel the same. You're our only family left so we want to get to know you." Harry said looking to James ho nodded in agreement.

"Harry, James as I'm you guardian most likely I was hopping you'd both move in with me." Sirius said nervously.

"Really you'd want me to move in with you?" harry asked hopefully.

"If you'd like? I get if you are settled and would rather stay there but -"

"No I'd love to the Dursely's isn't home its a prison so yes I'd move in, James what about you?"

James stood there not really knowing what to say. Sure he'd like to get to known the man who was his father but his dad was with is mum back home. "Sorry but I live with my adoptive parent's and I like it there, plus I've got access to the Black properties so I could just drop in for a few days at a time or something in the holidays. I have family and Harry doesn't so he needs you more than me. Sorry Sirius." James eventually answered sadly.

"No I get it. I ran away from home at 15 as I couldn't stand my mother any more. I went to the Potters, I was always welcome there with your dad and grandparents Harry. So yes James, I understand wanting to stay with your adoptive family as much as I may want you back. But I guess it's also true Harry does need me more as his only real parent figure left, oh how Lily and Prongs are laughing at me for be 'parental'. Never thought I was much of a father, didn't have you long enough, but may I can correct that now." Sirius said with some warmth.

"As much as I hate to interrupt this reunion I'm afraid I do need to get these two boys back to classes." Came the squeaky voice of Professor Flitwick from behind them. "Mr Black, congratulations on your aquittal I hope you recover swiftly."

"Er thank you Professor, and I'm sure you're right. Go on you two. Be sure to write to me I'll probably be found at St Mungo's for a while before heading home for Yule, er Christmas. You know 12 Grimmauld Place James?"

"I know of it but haven't it visited yet. I didn't have time in the summer to check the properties and deal with accounts so I left them for the holidays to visit to check them then while I sorted out the House finances" explained James.

"Oh how are they doing? We should be well off as the Blacks were among the richest in Britain" Sirius asked curiously.

"I think I've sorted it a bit. The goblins just seemed glad there was someone to speak to about it to be honest. They are better than they were and more active. To be honest I'm just glad I can hand it over to you to deal with as I hope you know more about it than I" James said with a bit of hope in his voice.

"I'm sure I can figure it out. After all it is serious business and I am Sirius about everything" he finished with a smirk but only got groans from the two boys. "Ugh pathetic, you're suppose to laugh. Right be off with you then, go learn something at school kiddos." The two boys gave him a brief hug before following their professor out of the court room and back to the main atrium of the Ministry. From there they headed over to the floos and Flitwick took them home in a flash of green fire.

AN: Well I hope you liked the chapter please review if possible as it helps me to improve things later and for when I go back over past chapters. Many thanks, J signing off.