Harry straightened his robes for what felt like the hundredth time as he looked at himself in the mirror.
He had ordered new ones just for today as soon as soon as he was informed of what would take place today.
The day was finally here. The day of the two trials. Sirius would have his first and then would come Ron and Malfoy's.
Harry sighed. It only felt like a dream up until now. His best friend up until this past year would be going to prison. There was no other way around it. He had admitted to ambushing Astoria. It was basically an open and shut case. He could however argue that he had been coerced into doing so. Dumbledore had told Harry after all that he had taken a potion that made him give in to his deep desires. Whoever was representing him would try to reinforce that point a million times over to try and get some time from Weasley's sentence.
Malfoy however didn't have a shot. He had instigated the plan to hurt Astoria. He hadn't been drugged, manipulated, cursed, or anything of that measure. He was nothing short of an evil little ferret and if justice really existed, he would spend a very long time in an Azkaban jail cell.
If justice prevailed today. Lucius Malfoy was a very powerful man and even though Mr. Greengrass had told him that his rival had lost favor with the Minister he still had more than a few friends on the Wizengamot. Friends that could get his son a reduced sentence. They would have to tread carefully that day.
And what the fates had in store for those two boys was nothing compared to what it had planned for Joseph Duffy. When the Aurors had kicked the doors in at the Hogs Head they had found nothing but a few startled drunk wizards and an angry Aberforth Dumbledore. Duffy had left only minutes before Dumbledore had told the Aurors. They immediately searched the village and the area surrounding it but to no avail. The man was gone, and they had no leads on where he could possibly be. Aurors were sent to his exporting business back in Dublin but no dice. The man had become a ghost.
If he wished to live, he would stay one as long as possible. If Daniel got to him first, he would die a very slow and painful death plain and simple. Lord Greengrass had even set a bounty on the man's head through the Ministry. One thousand Galleons and it was growing larger every day. The man could run and hide all he wanted but in the end it wouldn't matter.
What Daniel had in store for Joseph was a mercy compared to what the Ministry did, however. Assault, attempted murder was only a few of the charges that they would levy against him. He had more than a few priors before that he had managed to use his influence to wiggle out of, but they were even more ammo that the courts could use against him. They would call for the ultimate punishment against him: The Dementors Kiss.
The guards of Azkaban had attempted it on Harry last year. Thank Merlin they had failed. He had felt…drained. Like his very being was being ripped away from him. That everything that made him Harry was being taken away from him. Thankfully he had saved himself.
But when Duffy was captured there would be no one to save him. No past version of himself there to cast a Patronus. Harry wasn't even sure if Dark Wizards could cast a Patronus. They had to think of a good pure memory. What was good and pure about the evil they wrought upon others?
Speaking of evil. These two trials hadn't been the only things on Harry's mind the past week. His conversation with Dumbledore kept replaying itself in his head like some movie.
"Harry, there is much I need to tell you." Dumbledore sighed. He looked to Daniel Greengrass. "If you like we can speak in pr-"
"Mr. Greengrass has my trust." Harry said immediately. "He can stay."
Daniel sat back down next to Harry. "What's this all about Dumbledore?"
Dumbledore sighed. It was time to come clean with the boy. "There is much I need to tell you Harry, but I will start with this."
"You of course know that thirteen years ago Lord Voldemort killed both your parents." Harry did nothing except give a small nod. Beside him, Daniel gave a small flinch at the use of the Dark Lords name. "You also know that he gave you that scar."
"What you do not know however is that he gave you something else that night."
"What is that?" Harry asked his expression not changing but Dumbledore heard the curiosity that crept into his voice.
"Tell me Harry. Have you ever heard of a Horcrux?" Harry shook his head. Again, Daniel flinched. Harry turned to look at him.
"What is a Horcrux sir?" Harry asked.
"A Horcrux is a foul piece of magic." Daniel said darkly. "It is a perversion of everything that is good in the world."
"Men have been lived for millions of years. Wizards have been around for hundreds of thousands. Both have shared a common goal among others since their inception: immortal life. There are those who wish to live forever and will do anything to achieve that. Those that practice the Dark Arts most of all."
"Is that what a Horcrux is sir?" Harry asked still not getting it. "Like the Philosophers Stone?"
"No!" Daniel snapped. "The two are nothing alike. The Stone is just a stone. It grants you life as long as you drink from it."
"A Horcrux on the other hand is your very soul." Dumbledore said taking the lead. He received a nod from Daniel telling him to continue. "It is a way of transferring a part of you into an object. It rips a piece of your soul away and embeds it into that object."
"T-That's horrible." Harry couldn't believe what he was hearing. Somebody would be so desperate to live forever they would go through such pain?
"Do you know what it would take for such a feat Harry?" Dumbledore asked. "What would make all this possible?"
"Murder." Harry said quietly. Dumbledore nodded.
"It makes sense. To prolong your own life, you would end others." Dumbledore said forlornly.
"W-What does this all have to do with me sir?" This was the first time in a long time that Harry had referred to the man as such.
Dumbledore sighed. "You can make anything into a Horcrux, Harry. Even a boot if you so wish. It's almost like a Portkey. But the few who have made these evil things over the years have chosen something that is personal to them. Such as Lord Voldemort."
"So, he's not dead then." Daniel muttered. "He's still out there."
"Correct Lord Greengrass." Dumbledore responded. "When Harry stopped him that night, he only wounded Voldemort. It was a grievous wound but still one the Dark Lord is recovering from. He still seeks to return to full strength."
"You haven't answered Harry's question." Daniel pressed on. "What does this have to do with him?"
Dumbledore sighed. "As I said anything can be made into a Horcrux, Harry. That includes another being."
"No." Harry said. This couldn't be true.
"I am afraid so Harry. That night when Voldemort tried to kill you, you managed to stop him. But before he fled, he transferred a bit of himself into you. That's why you have your scar."
"You're telling me that's why I can speak to snakes?" Two years ago, Dumbledore had told him exactly what he was telling him now. That Voldemort had put a bit of him inside of Harry. But Harry could never have guessed this. That he had some of that monster's soul inside of him.
Dumbledore nodded slowly. "This can't be." Daniel said. "How could the Dark Lord transfer part of his soul over to Harry?"
"I do not believe that it was intentional Lord Greengrass. We all know that Voldemort was there to kill Harry that night. Not make another Horcrux."
"Another?" Harry repeated. "He made others."
"Six others if I am correct." Dumbledore replied.
"Six." Daniel repeated. "Merlin. How can someone rip apart their soul six times?"
"How could Voldemort do many of the things that he has done? He is not a good man. Not even a bad man. He is nothing short of pure evil."
"Why hasn't Voldemort's soul taken control of me yet sir?" Harry asked. He already knew the answer. He just wanted to hear the man say it.
"As I said he has been weakened since that night. You already know that he has attempted to return since that night, but you have managed to stop him and even managed to destroy one of his Horcrux's."
"I did?" Harry was confused. "Whe-" He stopped himself and thought about it for a second. What was dear to Voldemort? "The Diary."
Dumbledore nodded. "You destroyed a piece of him that night and it weakened him but it's only a matter of time before he returns. And the stronger he becomes the stronger that piece of his soul in you will also grow."
"You asked me Harry about this anger that you have been feeling these past few months. It is his soul attempting to dominate you. It wishes to seize control of you. If you are under Voldemort's domination, then none can stop him."
"So, he's been trying to control me all this time?" It all made sense now. Why he felt the way he did when he was pummeling Weasley. Why he wished torture and murder on Krum. It was that thing inside of him.
"No." Dumbledore replied. "I do not believe that Voldemort is even aware of the Horcrux inside of you. If he was you would've fallen under his control a long time ago. I believe that the soul piece inside of you is acting of its own accord. To prepare you for its master."
"I have wronged you here Harry and I apologize." Dumbledore said sincerely. "I didn't think you were ready to hear any of this. It was my error. I should've told you this long ago."
Harry didn't speak so Daniel did it for him. "You're damn right you should've Dumble-"
"Was it you in the Black Lake, Headmaster?" Harry interrupted.
"What are you talking about Harry?" Daniel looked over the confusion reigning over his face.
"The Squid has never attacked anything that didn't try to attack it first." Harry continued. "Was it you who caused it to try to kill me."
Dumbledore didn't respond immediately. His eyes closed and he refused to look at Harry. "Yes." He said silently. "I did not want it to kill you only attack. I would never let it harm you."
Harry didn't respond for the longest time. "And did you know that Krum was the one who attacked John?" What the Headmaster would say next would be all too important to Harry.
"No. I swear it." Dumbledore said and then looked to Daniel. "I admit Lord Greengrass that I could've taken a bigger interest in the case with your nephew and I apologize. I have been so invested in Harry this year however that I haven't made time for anything else."
"Then do something now." Daniel said standing up. "You have the power to look into this Dumbledore. All you have to do is call Krum and his thugs here right now and request to see their memories of that night."
"It is not that si-"
"It is Headmaster." Harry said interrupting him. "I can't forgive you for all that you've done. But you can try to make amends by doing what's right!"
Dumbledore didn't respond and then nodded. "I will request Igor come to my office after you leave. I will instruct him to bring his Quidditch team."
"Thank you." Daniel said nodding. "And if it turns out that Krum and his goons had nothing to do with it, I will offer a full apology to them."
"I will inform you of the results Lord Greengrass." Dumbledore stood up from his seat and offered his hand. Daniel hesitated a second before taking and shaking it. "Before you both leave could I have a private word with you Harry?"
Daniel looked over at Harry letting him answer.
"Yes, but I can't stay long. I have a lot of homework to do." Harry replied. He would give the Headmaster a second of his time. He would never have blind faith in the man ever again, but he was willing to work with him if Dumbledore would be honest with him.
"I'll be right outside Harry." Daniel patted the boy on the back. "Headmaster." Daniel nodded at the man before taking his leave.
"Harry my boy." Dumbledore began. "I wou-"
"Let's get one thing straight Headmaster." Harry interrupted. "I'm not your boy so please stop calling me that."
Dumbledore sighed. "Very well."
"And another thing sir I do not forgive you for all that you've done to me." Harry said. "I need to know one thing before I leave today."
"What is it?" He would tell Harry anything at this point to help mend the divide between the two.
"Did you know about my relatives?" Harry gritted his teeth. "About how they treat me." Dumbledore didn't respond. "I need an answer or you can expect me to never speak to you again."
"I had my suspicions." Dumbledore finally admitted. "I knew that they hated magic. I knew that your mother and her sister never saw eye to eye growing up. But the love one has for one's family is-"
"Love?" Harry laughed with no humor. "Nothing about what they've given me is even resembling love. The fact that they locked me in a fucking cupboard under the stairs till I was almost eleven."
"But you already knew that didn't you? My letter was addressed to "Harry Potter. The Cupboard under the stairs"."
"If they've hurt you in any way Harry, I am sorry." Dumbledore said again. "I swear that if I knew that they abused you th-"
"Abuse? That's an understatement." He pulled up his left sleeve. "That one is where Dudley punctured my skin with a screwdriver." He pulled up his shirt. "That one is where I pleaded with Vernon to allow me to make my mother a card for Mother's Day and bring it to her grave. He kicked and belted me long after I had passed out from the pain."
Dumbledore hadn't spoken since he had been interrupted. What was he supposed to say? All this was his fault. A tear began running down his cheek.
"The scar on my forehead might be what people see when they first meet me. But the ones that really make up who I am are the ones you can't see."
"I swear to you Harry I didn't know." Dumbledore pleaded tears streaming down his face. "I swear upon my only life I didn't know."
Harry shook his head. "Then you failed me Headmaster. You weren't there to protect me when I needed you. You. The one who had me placed with my bloody relatives in the first place."
"I can't ever forgive you for that."
"I am so sorry Harry." Dumbledore said again and again. "There's nothing I can ever do to make up for what I've done. I admit that. I will do whatever I can for you now. I promise."
Harry stood up. "We'll see Headmaster." With that he left the office.
The door shut behind the boy and Dumbledore broke down. Harry was right. He had failed him. Figg had told him that Harry's family (if you could even call them that) weren't the most loving towards him but she had never reported any bruises or any scars for that matter. If he had learned of anything like that, he would've moved Harry immediately to another family. What use was the love magic that Lily had left behind if there was no love in the home that he was in. The magic was useless in that case.
He swore that very day to Merlin. To his sister. He would make up for what he had done and what he had failed to do.
He would do right by Harry.
A knock came at the door and in came Neville. "You okay in here Harry? You've been in here a while."
"Yeah I'm fine." Harry sighed. "Just have a lot on my mind."
"I don't doubt it." Neville stepped forward and put a hand on his best friends' shoulder. "We really should get going. The trial starts in an hour."
Harry nodded. He was glad Neville would be there to offer him moral support. He just couldn't wait for this day to be over with.
"New robes?" Neville asked as they made their way down the stairs to the Common Room.
Harry nodded. "Thought I might as well look respectable. I don't want to hurt Sirius' chances just because I show up looking like I just came in off the street."
Neville snorted and nodded at Harry's head. "Might've wanted to get a haircut then. You look like a woman with that hair."
Harry shrugged. "I was going to have Hermione cast a slicking spell or something. I don't real-"
"Were you going to ask Hermione first?" Said witch asked, her arms crossed as the two boys entered the Common Room. She was wearing a set of red robes that weren't unlike her school attire.
"Oh- Well I-" Harry sputtered.
She rolled her eyes. "Get over here." She said drawing her wand. "Lubricus Capilum."
Harry felt his hair move of its own accord and flatten against his head. "How do I look?" Harry asked.
"Like a million Pounds." Hermione responded with a smile. "Wouldn't want everyone thinking that Sirius Black's goddaughter had shown up."
Neville laughed as Harry tinged pink. "Let's just get going. Daphne, Susan and John are waiting on us."
"Why couldn't Tracey come again Neville?" Hermione asked as they left the Common Room and started walking towards the Headmaster's Tower. Dumbledore was allowing them to use his floo to go to the Ministry and then return.
"She's been feeling under the weather the past couple days." Neville responded. "Blaise must have it too. He wasn't looking one hundred percent last time I saw him."
"Hope John doesn't get it." Hermione said and then added. "Or Daphne as well."
Harry nodded absentmindedly. His mind was on other things.
"I still can't believe Krum is gone." Neville said. "I heard they sent him and the others back to Durmstrang that same day Dumbledore called them and their Headmaster to the Tower."
"What do you think he's going to do about the Tournament." Hermione asked. "If he doesn't compete, he could lose his magic." Not that she'd be complaining.
"They're allowing him back for the final Task." Harry responded. "It's the only reason they didn't ban him from Hogwarts grounds."
"The sooner he's gone the better." Neville said. "Same goes with this damn tournament."
Harry nodded and why shouldn't he? He had more cause than anyone to hate the Triwizard Cup.
The rest of their path passed in relative silence until they finally arrived at the gargoyle. Daphne, Susan, and John were already there waiting for them.
"Hey." Daphne said greeting her boyfriend with a kiss on the lips.
"Hey." He responded. The very second that he had stepped out of the Headmaster's office last week she had been waiting for him in ambush. Her father had wisely melted into the woodwork after giving her a "Ask Harry".
Harry had taken her to an empty classroom nearby, sat her down and told her everything. How much his rage had been truly taking ahold of him lately. Of the thing that was growing inside of him that was doing it.
And how it was only inevitable that Voldemort would return.
This had scared her the most. To everyone their age the Dark Lord was only a thing of the past. A monster that their parents had fought against (and in some cases fought for) that was long dead. Someone that had committed countless atrocities against the Wizarding world.
And now that monster was returning.
"This Horcrux." Daphne finally said after a long silence between them. "It's inside you?"
"Attached to my own soul." Harry nodded. He still shivered thinking about it. Voldemort had killed his parents and now they were connected so intimately.
"And it's just…connected to yours?" Daphne asked beating around the bush.
"Yes." Harry said.
"Can they get it out?"
Harry sighed. "I don't know. If we can destroy it that means he's one step closer to death once he does return."
"But if we destroy it won't that mean… Never mind." She turned away from him.
"What?" Harry asked moving so she was in front of him again. "What were you going to say?"
He noticed she had begun to shake. "Dap-"
"What if it kills you too Harry?!" She yelled pushing him away. Tears began to stream down her face. "T-That thing might be so connected with your body that killing it might kill you too."
Harry hadn't really thought about it like that. He obviously had but not that deeply.
A year ago, this really would've only been his problem. Hermione would've helped as best she could but even, she couldn't hope to help him for long against someone like Voldemort. Hermione was strong but their enemy was stronger.
But now it was different. He had someone who he loved and who loved him. He had friends. True friends. People who would mourn him if he dropped dead today.
He grabbed Daphne by the shoulders. She tried to shrug him off, but he held firm. "Look at me." He said. When she didn't, he moved his head, so his face was in front of hers. "Daph." She finally met his eyes. "I'm not going to die from this damn thing."
She snorted. "You don't know that Harry." She wiped her nose with her robes leaving a long-wet streak across the cloth on her arm. "We all plan not to die but it doesn't always work out that way."
"I don't care. I'm not going to die." He insisted. "Me and Dumbledore are going to sit down figure out a way to beat this and make sure that Voldemort has one less piece of his soul when he does come back."
"How are you so certain?" She asked sniffling. To her credit he noticed she didn't flinch when he used Voldemort's name.
He smiled at her. "I'm too stubborn to die Daph." He said. She glared at him. "Sorry." He apologized. Maybe this wasn't the best time to joke about all this. "I just know. As much as you and I may distrust him he is still one of the greatest wizards to ever live. I'm sure there's some old spell to combat this thing or some potion."
"That's really what we're going to have to do?" She sighed. "Trust Dumbledore?"
"Might be our only option on the table." Harry responded.
"Really wish you wouldn't have said that." She shook her head.
He put his arms around her and pulled her close. "This isn't an ideal situation love and I know I'm a prick for bringing you into it."
"Shut up Harry." She glared at him again. "I love you, you big dumb idiot. Your battles are my battles."
"I can't ask you to fight this with me." He said trying to draw back from her.
She grabbed him by the shoulders. Now it was her who forced him to meet her gaze. "Harry." She said firmly. "Whether you to ask me or not I'll be there. There is nothing that you could ever say that'll stop me from being there at your side."
He didn't say anything at first. He didn't want her to die because she was stupid enough to follow him. But then he remembered who this was. Daphne Greengrass was by no means stupid. Besides Hermione she might be the most brilliant student in the school. Of course, he was biased but her grades spoke for themselves.
"I doubt I could stop you right?" He smiled sadly at her.
She returned his smile and kissed his cheek. "That is correct."
"Alright." He sighed. "I guess I can look forward to the same response from Hermione then?"
She shrugged. "Most likely. You guys are family. She knows that you'd do the same for her."
"Come on." She continued. "My dad is probably wondering where we are."
"I doubt that he'll come looking." Harry argued. "He knows not to mess with Daphne Greengrass."
She rolled her eyes. "Just come on."
"You guys ready?" John asked the rest of them. His face had finally begun to heal from the beating he took from Krum and his goons. He would have the scar above his right eye for the rest of his life. They had offered to try and remove it, but he had refused. He liked it.
They had beaten him almost as badly as Weasley and Malfoy had beaten Astoria.
Daphne hadn't seen her sister since her parents had withdrawn her from Hogwarts. She didn't even want her sister to have to come to the trial. To be put through all of this again. But it was necessary. If Tori was well enough to come to the trial, the Ministry demanded she should be there to testify. She wouldn't be going to Sirius' trial. There was no reason for her to attend that. She would be waiting in a room just off the courtroom with her mother and three guards that her father had hired personally. He would be taking no chances today.
"We best get going." John said as they walked up to the Gargoyle.
"New Beginnings." Harry stated.
"Indeed." The Gargoyle responded and the stairway began to open
"Is your mum going John?" Harry asked as they ascended the stairs.
"Yeah she is actually. To your Godfather's trial you mean?" John asked looking back at Harry who nodded. "Not sure why. All she'll tell me is that she and Black knew each other back at school."
Harry looked over at Daphne who was struggling to keep a straight face. "You could say that." Daphne responded. "Apparently they were very close."
John was clueless to the implication and just nodded absentmindedly. "Doesn't explain why she wants to come to the trial. She probably hasn't seen him since they graduated."
"Maybe they've seen each other a lot sooner than that." Harry offered.
"He'd have been on the run." John looked back. "What are you getting at?"
"Ahh students!" Dumbledore said before any more questions could be asked. He was at the top of the stairs and wearing the grandest robes that Harry had ever seen. "Right on time."
They entered the office, and everyone assembled around the fireplace. "Normally you would all have to enter through the visitor's entrance at the Ministry. But you have been given special permission from the Minister himself. This floo will take you to a waiting area just off the courtroom where Sirius Black's trial will take place."
"Why though?" Hermione asked. "That seems like it breaks a lot of regulations."
"Perks of being friends with the Boy Who Lived." John muttered and Hermione swatted his arm.
"I'm sure that's not it." She argued.
"Mr. Duffy happens to be correct Miss Granger." Dumbledore said. "The Minister is worried about Mr. Potter's safety, so they are allowing him this one time access. You will however be searched by Ministry security when you arrive."
"As long as they don't fondle me while they're searching me, I'll be alright." John muttered and received another swat from his girlfriend.
"We should really get going." Harry said. He didn't like being singled out like this. He just wanted to be normal like the rest of his friends but knew that would never happen.
"The floo has already been prepared so all you must do is just step inside and drop the powder. Harry how about you go first?"
Harry nodded and grabbed a fistful of powder from the jar. "See you guys in a second." He said to the rest of his friends and took a step inside the fireplace. Dropping the powder, he was gone in a flash of green light.
Stumbling out of the grate he was immediately greeted by Hannah Greengrass. "Harry! So good to see you." She smiled and gave him a hug.
"Miss Greengrass." He responded returning her hug. "Nice to see you as well."
"Harry." Daniel came forward and the two shook hands. Behind them the fireplace would flash green light as Harry's friends arrived. There was nothing special about the room. There was a table with about ten chairs around it. It looked like a conference room at a big company.
"Mum." Harry heard John ask his mother. "Can I ask you a question?"
She shrugged. "You can ask any question you like. You're not guaranteed an answer."
Hermione rolled her eyes. Now she knew where her boyfriend got his cheeky mouth.
"Why are you here exactly?" John asked his mother.
"What do you mean?" Hannah asked a bit insulted. "Today's the day of the trial."
"Yeah but Weasley and Malfoy's trial doesn't start till later. Why are you coming to Black's?"
"Well uhm. Me and Sirius were good friends back at Hogwarts." Hannah sputtered.
"But that-"
"Excuse me." A witch interrupted. It was the Auror from Hogwarts that had come with Madam Bones. The one with the pink bubblegum hair. At least Harry thought it was her. She had brown hair now. Had she dyed it? "The trial is about to start. If you all will follow me."
Hannah was first in line no doubt ready to be rid of this conversation followed by Daphne who acted as a buffer between her aunt and her cousin.
"Thank you Auror…?" Daniel started as they proceeded down the hallway towards the courtroom.
"Tonks, sir." She responded.
"Are you related to Theodore Tonks?" Daniel asked.
"He's my dad." She said proudly.
"A good man. You must be Nymphadora."
She scrunched her nose and Harry could tell she was holding back a retort. "I prefer Tonks if you will, Lord Greengrass."
"Very well." He nodded.
"Here we are." She said as they stopped at a wide set of double doors that was guarded by two wizards. "Before you enter, I'm afraid you will have to be searched."
"Understandable." Daniel said and nodded at one of the wizards who had retrieved his wand. The wizard waved it over Daniel and the tip of his wand flashed green when he was done.
"You're clear sir." The wizard said gruffly and then waved Hannah forward. Another green.
The rest of their party came forward and everyone was given a green flash. "You're all cleared to go in." The wizard said and then took his position back at the side of the double door.
The doors opened of their own accord and in they went. The room they entered wasn't a room at all but an amphitheater. In a large semi-circle, there were benches upon benches for people who had already started to fill them up to capacity. And at the head of the semi-circle was a small tower filled with five long benches. Each of them was also filled to capacity but not just by any regular person. These people were wearing very official robes and caps. The Wizengamot. Harry saw Lucius Malfoy on the man's very left of the tower. He gave Harry his usual icy glare which the boy ignored.
"Please everyone take your seats." The Minister announced from the very center of the podium. Where his fellows had grey robes his own were red signifying his importance. "We are about to begin."
Harry and the others took the row that had been set aside for them at the very front of the area facing the podium. "Where is Sirius, Harry?" Hermione asked her friend as she looked around.
"I'm pretty sure-" Harry began.
"Now that we all have assembled." The Minister announced as the noise in the room slowly died down. "We can address why we are here. Wallabee." He nodded at a familiar red headed young wizard.
A very red-faced Percy Weasley cleared his throat as he unfurled a scribe. "We are gathered here on March Eighth, Nineteen Ninety-Five, to determine the innocence of one Sirius Orion Black. Will he step forward now?"
The whole courtroom started turning their heads left and right. The infamous Sirius Black was nowhere to be found.
"Sirius Black?" Fudge called out as if that would make the man reveal himself. "Sirius Black?" Again, no response. "Well as it seems Mr. Black is not here I will be forced to-"
The double doors came bursting open and in came the man of the hour. "Sorry I'm late!" Sirius called out as he sauntered in his robes billowing behind him. "Overslept a bit."
A couple of the people in the crowd laughed nervously but most edged back in their seats as if they were afraid that Sirius would kill them all with a flick of his wrist.
"Mr. Black." Fudge cleared his throat and stared down at Sirius. Obviously, he hadn't expected Sirius to actually show up that day. He considered the trial only a formality. "Take your seat please."
As if on cue a chair materialized in the center of the amphitheater facing the tower.
"Not really my kind of chair but I'll try it out." Sirius wrinkled his nose before taking a seat. "Not exactly comfy is it?"
"For the love of Merlin, you idiot just be serious for once in your fucking life." Hannah muttered causing her son to look over at her.
"The charges against Mr. Black today in-" Percy continued.
"Excuse me young Weasley." Sirius raised a hand. "If I'm not mistaken, I do believe that it is Lord Black correct?"
"You are no Lord!" Lucius said snidely to the agreement of a few of the men beside him.
"There will be order!" Fudge demanded thundering his gavel that had materialized next to him. "Mr. Black until your innocence has been proven or disproven your status as a lord is in question as well. If you are proven to have not committed these crimes your titles will be restored to you."
Sirius shrugged. "Go on." He waved at Percy to continue.
Percy looked like he wanted to retort but swallowed his pride and continued. "The charges against Mr. Black today include murder, attempted murder, breaking the Statute of Secrecy, resisting arrest, and escaping imprisonment."
"I would very much disagree with the last charge Mr. Weasley." A familiar voice rang out in the court. Albus Dumbledore walked in from the double doors. He came to stand at the side of Sirius who didn't look at all surprised to see him there. "As the defense has made clear there was never a trial in the first place, so the fact of the matter is Mr. Black was imprisoned without cause."
"What are you doing here?" Fudge all but growled at the man.
"I am here to defend Lord Black of course." Dumbledore said as if it was the most obvious thing in the world.
"I was not informed of this." Fudge narrowed his eyes at the man.
"There is no law that states the defense, or the prosecution must inform the jury of their representative. Mr. Black and I are well within our rights. Now shall we begin."
Fudge glared at Dumbledore but waved to a man who was standing by the bottom of the tower. "Stephens, begin."
The man nodded. He was a tall dark wizard who had a hammer pin attached to his laurels. "Ladies and Gentlemen." Stephens began. "I would just like to call attention to why we are here. Mr. Black here is a criminal and I intend to prove it. He not only murdered those Muggles that night but risked exposing our world. He also killed another wizard that night. A man who thought Black to be one of his closest friends. Peter Pettigrew."
"Fucking rat." Harry muttered under his breath. Beside him Daphne squeezed his hand in support.
Stephens continued. "I intend to prove that Mr. Black is guilty and belongs in Azkaban. The prosecution rests."
There was a scattered round of applause as the man sat down at a chair by the podium. Dumbledore left his place by Sirius and paced up and down the bottom of the tower making eye contact with a good majority of the Wizengamot gathered. "Witches and Wizards." He began. "The imprisonment of Sirius Black was a travesty of justice. The defendant was falsely accused of a crime and imprisoned without a trial. One must only examine the case closely and you see that I am correct. I not only intend to prove Mr. Black's innocence but when this trial is over, I do believe that this man is owed an apology for his twelve years in Azkaban."
He went back to stand next to Sirius who gave him a nod.
"Defense." Fudge ordered. "Please call your first witness."
"I call Amelia Bones." Dumbledore called out.
Sirius vacated his seat and it was filled by Madam Bones. She was dressed in robes not unlike the Wizengamot. "Madam Bones." Dumbledore began as he walked around her. "Could you please describe your occupation?"
"I am the head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement." She answered her expression stone faced.
"You must have been in the Department for some time then." Dumbledore continued. "I doubt they would award this position to a mere novice."
"Yes." She answered. "For over twenty years."
"Twenty years." He repeated. "Then you must've been part of the Department during the alleged murders committed by Mr. Black."
"Yes. I was actually the head of the unit assigned to the scene that night."
"Interesting." Dumbledore stroked his beard. "Then you would have more insight on this case than any other law enforcement officer yes?"
"I suppose." She raised an eyebrow. She knew what he was getting at.
"Can the defense speed this along?" Stephens asked irritably.
"I will take however long is needed sir." Dumbledore looked to Fudge who grudgingly nodded in affirmation. "Madam Bones the night of the alleged murders did you see anything out of the ordinary?"
"Yes." She nodded. "There was only one wand in the vicinity of the crime."
"Interesting." Dumbledore said. "There was another wizard there that night? Would he have not had a wand? Or could it have been destroyed?"
"Perhaps but very unlikely." Amelia answered.
"You sound most certain." Dumbledore said.
"The destruction of a wand would leave a very large magical residue. Even a Muggle could feel it from a mile away. What's more my unit combed the area for hours afterwards and found nothing."
"Interesting." Dumbledore repeated and then turned to the Wizengamot. "The defense rests."
He stepped back towards the benches and in came Stephens. "Madam Bones." He said gruffly. "There was another wizard there that night yes?"
"Yes." She answered. "Peter Pettigrew."
"So could Black have not overpowered Mr. Pettigrew and taken his wand. Maybe he didn't bring his wand at all?"
"First off Mr. Stephens I might that very unlikely. Would you ever know a wizard or witch to leave their wand behind when going anywhere?" Amelia answered. "Second of all there were more than a few Muggle witnesses who testified to their police that they thought the two men were carrying "guns" which is basically a Muggle wand. That means Pettigrew must've had a wand as well and it is not accounted for."
"Very well." Stephens gritted his teeth. "The prosecution rests."
"You may take your seat Madam Bones." Fudge said. It was clear that he had wanted to speak up again and again during that time but had to hold his tongue, so he didn't look biased. "Call your next witness, Dumbledore."
"The defense calls Harry Potter." Murmuring broke out amongst the court. The Boy Who Lived? Why was he being called?
"Order!" Fudge knocked his gavel down repeatedly. "I demand order!"
"Dumbledore." He continued. "Is there a reason for this?"
"I agree." Stephens said annoyedly. "Do we really need to hear the testimony of a child?"
"There is most certainly a reason for Mr. Potter being called." Dumbledore replied. "You'll find his knowledge most interesting."
Fudge sighed and then looked to the row of benches at Harry. "Mr. Potter." He waved Harry forward.
Harry wasn't surprised in the least by being called up. He and Dumbledore had discussed it beforehand.
"Hello Mr. Potter." Dumbledore said as Harry took the chair.
"Professor." Harry nodded at the man. He felt every word boom in his chest. Some sort of magic that made sure everyone in the court could hear him.
"Could you tell us your relation to Mr. Black?" Dumbledore asked. There was a few in the court who probably already knew but the majority didn't.
"He's my Godfather." Harry answered evenly and the crowd began murmuring again and were silence by a sharp rapping of the gavel and an "Order!" from Fudge. "He was one of my parent's best friends back at Hogwarts as well."
"And to the best of your knowledge did they have any other close friends?" Dumbledore asked.
"Yes sir. Remus Lupin, Daniel Greengrass, and Peter Pettigrew were the ones I knew about."
"Peter Pettigrew?" Dumbledore asked raising an eyebrow for effect. "The man that Black is accused of killing that night?"
"Yes sir." Harry spat.
"You sound very angry about it. Is everything alright?"
"He didn't kill those Muggles or that rat Pettigrew." Harry said with venom.
"Objection! There's no reason to speak ill of the dead." Stephens piped up.
"Overruled. But please do not make a habit of this Mr. Potter." Fudge said. He clearly didn't want to chastise Harry, but he had to remain in control or at least appear in control.
"He's not dead for one." Harry muttered.
"Could you say that again Mr. Potter?" Dumbledore asked even though he and the rest of the courtroom heard him clearly the first time.
"Peter Pettigrew." Harry repeated. "He's not dead."
The courtroom again broke out in frantic whispering. "I demand order!" Fudge cried out hammering his gavel. Even with this demand the crowd didn't die down until a full minute afterwards. "What are you talking about Mr. Potter? Pettigrew was confirmed dead that night."
"How so Minister?" Dumbledore asked baiting him and the Minister stupidly took the bait.
"There was a finger left behind that was identified as Pettigrew's therefore it must've been him that night." Fudge said proudly.
"Last I checked you could remove a body part from yourself without dying Minister." Dumbledore countered. "You must only be sure to cauterize the wound."
Fudge's face went beat red. "J-Just get on with it!"
Dumbledore turned back to face Harry. "Now Mr. Potter how do you know that Peter Pettigrew isn't dead?"
"I saw him myself last year." Harry replied.
"You saw him?" Dumbledore knew all of this already of course he was just playing the crowd. "Where did you see him?"
"Hogwarts. At the end of my third year." Harry said.
"Objection!" Stephens piped up. "This is all hearsay and dare I say it, lies."
"I must agree with Mr. Stephens." Fudge said quickly. "I'm sorry Mr. Potter but unless you can produce proof that you encountered Mr. Pettigrew, we'll have to throw out your statement."
"You can ask my friend Hermione." Harry said. Back in their row, Hermione sat up in her seat as if just waiting to be called on. "She was there as well."
"Or we could just draw upon Harry's memory of that night." Dumbledore said instead. "That should give us clarity on the situation."
Fudge bit his lip until it looked like he was going to bite the thing off. "Very well." He all but spat. "Bring out a Pensieve."
It took a minute at most. A wizard in a top hat that appeared too large for his head wheeled out…well something. It was some sort of sink that had many runes emblazoned across its surface. At first Harry thought it was filled with water but what actually some sort of potion.
"Have you ever used a Pensieve before Mr. Potter?" Dumbledore asked as the Pensieve was placed in front of the chair. Harry shook his head. "It is very simple. You must only concentrate on the memory you wish to produce, draw your wand to your temple, and it will do the rest."
Harry nodded and closed his eyes. He pictured that night he and Sirius finally met. How the tunnel under the Whomping Willow led them to the Shrieking Shack. How he discovered it was Pettigrew who betrayed his parents. How the little rat got away. When he felt he had gotten everything in order he drew his wand to his temple as instructed and felt a pull. A thin tendril of whiteness came forth attached to the wand. "Now just place it in here." Dumbledore gestured to the Pensieve. Harry did as he was instructed, and the memory disappeared into the Pensieve.
"Shacklebolt!" Fudge called out and a dark skinned Auror stepped forward. "Enlarge it for us."
Shacklebolt nodded and walked to the Pensieve and tapped it with his wand. A broad light shot out of the device and displayed itself in a cube. Harry's memory was now visible to the entire court.
He watched the memory play out as he was living it again. The crowd gasped when the man known as Peter Pettigrew was shown and again when he escaped into the night. When the memory was over not one person said a thing until Dumbledore spoke up. The cube faded back into the Pensieve as if it was never there at all. "As you can see Mr. Potter is clearly telling the truth about Peter Pettigrew being alive. That casts serious doubt on this case. The defense rests."
"Mr. Potter." Stephens stepped forward before Dumbledore had even walked away. "Is it possible that your memory could've been tampered with?"
"No." Harry responded resisting the urge to glare at the man.
"You're certain?" Stephens raised an eyebrow. "Because I don't believe that you would remember if it had been tampered with."
"And how do we know that Voldemort was a terrible wizard?" Harry ignored the shudders and the gasps when the name was mentioned. "Maybe he didn't murder my parents. Maybe someone else did and all of our minds have been altered."
"Now you're just being ridiculous Mr. Potter." Stephens scoffed.
"Why? Why is what I'm saying any more ridiculous than what you are?" Harry challenged.
"Well- I- The prosecution rests." This time Stephens glared at Harry with seething hatred which the boy ignored.
"Call your next witness." Fudge had almost sunk back into his chair. He could see that this trial was quickly turning against him.
"I call the defendant Sirius Black to the chair." Dumbledore said.
Sirius walked to the chair. "I call for Veritaserium!" Dumbledore continued.
A vial of the liquid was brought forth immediately with the teenage intern scurrying back to his seat in fear that Sirius would kill him. Sirius popped the vial open and drained it in one gulp as he sat down.
"What is your name?" Dumbledore asked.
"Sirius Orion Black." The man answered in a soft voice that still rang throughout the amphitheater.
"Where are we?"
"At the Ministry."
"What is today's date?"
"March Eighth."
Dumbledore nodded. "Mr. Black, I will ask you outright: did you kill Peter Pettigrew."
"No." Sirius answered. "But the bloody rat deserved it."
"Did you kill any of those Muggles?" Dumbledore ignored the last part.
"No." Sirius answered.
"Who killed them?"
"Pettigrew." The whole room exploded into murmurs again, but these didn't last long because of course everyone was curious to see this continue.
"Why would he kill them?" Dumbledore asked.
"He was trying to fake his death. He wanted to pin this all on me." Sirius answered.
"Why would he do this?"
"Because he knew that if he didn't then I would kill him."
"Why would you want to kill him though? Was he not one of your closest friends?"
"Wormtail was never one of my good friends. I only tolerated him because of my friendship with James."
"James Potter you mean?"
Sirius nodded. "The man who Peter Pettigrew betrayed to Voldemort." Again, shudders but Dumbledore ignored them.
"There have been people who were close to the Potter's who said they were under the Fidelus Charm and that it was you, Mr. Black, that they chose as their Secret Keeper."
"That was only a ruse. I was too obvious. We thought that nobody would ever suspect Wormtail." Sirius sighed. "But we were wrong. The little rat betrayed us all."
"Objection! Does he have any proof?" Stephens piped up but his face had gone deathly white. He knew how close he was to losing this entire thing.
"Want to see my memories too?" Sirius raised an eyebrow. "There've been some rather racy ones lately so it might take me a moment to find the right one." Harry saw Hannah's face go completely red. No need to guess what memories those were.
"Shacklebolt!" Fudge called out nervously. He knew that he was unable to stop any of this now. Better to just try to ride the wave and see if he could come out on top. "Help him."
The Auror again stepped forward and produced his wand prodding Sirius' head gently with it. A nod from Sirius told the man he was ready. Shacklebolt drew the memory back and placed it in the Pensieve.
Again, the memory was displayed for all too see. They saw everything. How Sirius confronted Pettigrew over the betrayal of their friends. How Peter had cut off his own finger that night. How he had blown up the street and killed those Muggles using his own wand.
When the memory was over Dumbledore turned to face the silent crowd. "As you can see the overwhelming evidence is in the favor of the defendant. They imprisoned an innocent man for twelve years. They owe him not only his freedom but an apology. The defense rests."
"Prosecution." Fudge said quietly. "Would you like to ask any more questions?"
"No." Stephens knew when he was beat. There was no use of fighting against this tide.
"Defense do you have any more witnesses?" Dumbledore shook his head no. "We will now take a vote. Any wizard who believes that Mr. Black should be deemed guilty?" Only a small percentage of hands went up mostly from Lucius Malfoy and his associates. A witch that Harry didn't recognize also voted against Sirius. She looked like a toad. "All those opposed?" Every remaining rose. It was an overwhelming majority. "Let it be known that hereby on March the Eight of Nineteen Ninety Five, that the Wizengamot pronounces Lord Sirius Orion Black innocent of every crime he has been accused of." Fudge's face went deathly white as he rang his gavel. He was glad that he didn't have to preside over this second trial. He needed to meet with his people and figure out a strategy to stay in power. This would have dire ramifications for him and his government.
Sirius let a big grin take ahold of his face as everyone in the first row began to clap frantically. "YES!" He shouted putting his arms up in the air in celebration. "Did you hear that Harry?!" He whirled around to look at his Godson. "I'm fr-"
Harry had a grin on his face that matched his uncle's but before he could respond somebody pushed past him and shot towards Sirius.
Hannah was like a whirlwind. She embraced Sirius and wrapped her arms around his neck as she pulled him close. There in the middle of the courtroom and in front of almost a hundred wizards their lips met in a searing kiss.
There was a long silence that was only broken when John spoke up.
"WHAT THE FUCK?!"
A/N: So close to the end I can almost taste it. Three chapters at the very least maybe five at most.
Comin up next: Weasel and the Ferret go to court.
