Hey everyone,
This chapter is going to cover a short OC cameo of mine. I am also going to create a bit of Head canon when it comes to the ICW and the importance of Carmelita's position in regards to Magical Law Enforcement. Oh and Albus is going to find out that Snape did a few things wrong. However, while I am not going to make him the DE to help Riddle in the Third Task like I did in the original, I am not going to arrest him either.
Not yet,

Venquine1990

Chapter 16
Recognition and Testimony

25th of November 1994
Hospital Wing, Hogwarts
Harry's POV

I grimace and turn thoughtful at this for a few moments before I think: "I can think of only one way to do this. I just hope he's willing to take responsibility. And that he's available." I climb over Carmelita's side of the bed and mutter: "Sorry, but the next portion, while part of the finale, could get me in a lot of trouble if I just report it. And I know the Ministry. They'll try to use this bit to distract everyone away from Sirius' case.
I know a way to keep that from happening, so I'll be right back." The others nod, but just as I head for the curtains they open. And my eyes widen as I think: "Is he able to read minds or something?" Dumbledore steps into the cubicle. "Mr. Potter, don't you have Charms, right now?" The man asks and I answer: "Professor Flitwick gave me free for the first hour, because I am helping Carmelita set up a case, Professor."

The man seems genuinely intrigued by this and then he spots Sirius. His eyes widen shortly, but then he turns somber. "Albus?" Lupin asks and the man explains: "I'm sorry, Mrs. Cooper. I don't believe Cornelius will allow you to take this case. After last year, he is quite adamant against anything he doesn't want to believe to be truth." I stare at the man in disbelief and think: "How can he give up, just like that?"
Despair and disbelief rage through me, but then Carmelita speak up. And her tone means business. "Headmaster, with all due respect. You were willing to help total strangers find their missing friend, but you're not willing to help a friend of your own regain his innocence due to the stubbornness of some man in power? I'm sorry, but I'm not going to accept that. I did not become an Inspector for Interpol to work for people like that."

Lupin glares at her, yet I mutter: "She means Fudge, duh." And the man looks at me startled. Yet Dumbledore also looks startled and asks: "Mrs. Cooper, did you just say that you're an Inspector for Interpol?" Carmelita nods at him and Dumbledore continues: "What rank?" The urgency in his voice renews my hope and Carmelita answers: "Third, the highest rank. Being on my husband's case allowed me to solve many other high-level cases.
Allowed me to grow above my station in only five years' time." Dumbledore nods and mutters: "Then there might be hope, after all. Give me a few minutes, Inspector. I need to make a quick Floo call." Carmelita nods and the man leaves, while relief and excitement have now replaced the disbelief and distress within me. Madam Pomfrey is also grinning and says: "Good thing you set him straight, Mrs. Cooper. Or I would have done it for you.
And before you open your big, biased, devoted mouth, Remus Lupin. Albus is human and makes mistakes. But he's not always able to recognize those himself and sometimes that stubbornness of his makes it so that others need to be firm when they point him out his mistakes. It's just the way you get through to stubborn wizards like yourself, Albus and Fudge." Lupin grimaces at this and I think: "Seriously, what a kid."

Sly, in the mean time, happily pulls Carmelita close against his form and purrs: "I love it when you let that sense of justice of yours out on the world. My powerful, relentless beloved." Carmelita giggles and says: "Oh really, because I happen to remember a conversation where you wondered what had happened to the – what did you call me again – oh right. Sweet and demure girl you used to know." The gang laughs and Sly grins:
"Ah, the Riviera in Venice. Yes, I remember that too. I do believe you said something along the lines of – she grew up and stopped taking crap from guys like you. Got to say, that shocked me. After all, I did ask if that meant that I had competition to your affections." By now Sirius and I are laughing as well and Carmelita grins as she asks: "Well Ringtail, I do believe what you are able to hear and feel answers your question, doesn't it?"
Sly grins back and says: "You're the only one in my sight right now. Your words, love, and I intent to keep you to them." Sirius has tears running down his face by this point, yet while I laugh along, I can't help but feel as if there's something Sly isn't saying. And for some reason I don't believe that he is relying the rest of the message through his mental link with Carmelita. Then, for the second time, the curtain opens and two men step in.

"Inspector Cooper, meet Marcus Solde. He is my second in the International Confederation of Warlocks and the next in line for Supreme Mugwump if I were to ever step down. Marcus, Inspector Cooper needs official recognition of her station if she wants to get her case through to Fudge. I could help her, but I don't want to alienate Cornelius too much, especially now that we know that dark times are just around the corner."
I grimace as the man's explanation has certain logic to it that I can, begrudgingly, understand. Solde also rolls his eyes and shakes his head as he says: "Albus, that level of care you have for the people of your country is both a curse and a blessing. And I'm sure that, if not for Inspector Cooper, you probably would have put Black here on your list of long term plans, regardless of his rights or usefulness to you and your case.

Anyway, Inspector Cooper, what degree is your station in your world?" Carmelita gives the same answer as before and Solde grins as he says: "I can understand that. I take it you are his wife?" Carmelita nods and Sly's grin almost splits his face in half, again. Solde notices this and he grins as he asks: "How long exactly have you been married?" Sly happily and lovingly pulls Carmelita close and answers: "Soul bond, less than a day now."
Solde's eyes widen and Dumbledore says: "I'll explain later, Marcus." But the man shakes his head and says: "Let me guess. The wall brought them here, but they were not all here and you needed to save Lord Cooper. But that almost went wrong and in an effort to save his life, you performed the soul-bond ceremony?" All of us stare at the man and Bentley mutters: "He's almost entirely correct. That's impressive."

Solde grins and says: "Simple deduction based on the location, the fact that Mr. and Mrs. Cooper are in a Hospital bed and that Mr. Cooper looks to be the one that needs Madam Pomfrey's care. Anyway, onto business. I, Marcus Solde, as Deputy Supreme Mugwump of the ICW hereby recognize Carmelita Montoya Cooper's role as Third Degree Inspector for Interpol to be on the same level as a Body guard to the Third Rank members of the ICW.
May this role allow her to act above the stations of those on the fourth rank or lower and may it be part of her job description from this day forward until the day she resigns her position. So I swear, so mote it be." Sirius, Bentley, Sly and I grin widely at the man, yet Dumbledore seems hesitant before he swears the same vow. As he finishes, the badge on Carmelita's collar lights up as well as one of the pockets of her jeans.

Carmelita grins and nods at the two men and Solde grins back at her before he turns to Dumbledore. "I know why you hesitated, Dumbledore. But the fact that you continue to pick Fudge's little ego over the rights of one of your oldest friends is just outright wrong. A Leader needs to be held in check, preferably through the people. A role of power, no matter how high and mighty, should never be more important to a leader than his people."
I nod in agreement to the man's words and think: "At least the ICW will be in good hands if Dumbledore ever steps down from his position there." I remember why I was standing up and say: "Headmaster, I reached the lake portion of my testimony. But if I bring that up just like that, Fudge will surely try to use it against us. He will try to use it to divert the trial away from Sirius and his rights for freedom."

The man nods at this and then he grins as he says: "Give your testimony, my boy. And when this comes out, I will take full responsibility. I could have used my position as Supreme Mugwump last year, but because Sirius' soul was on the line, I just let Cornelius walk. I now realize that I should have met him in his office the next day if not over summer. I am glad and grateful that you and yours are now fixing my error and I will contribute however I need to."
"What exactly did you let this kid do, Albus?" Solde asks and yet I answer: "My friend Hermione had a Time Turner. The Headmaster had us use it to free Buckbeak the Hippogriff before he could be executed. And to free Sirius from the office he was being held in. And before you object, sir. It had to happen. When we were at the lake, Dementors were attacking us. After I fainted, I thought I had seen my dad drive them off.

It wasn't him, sir, it was me. I cast the Patronus myself. If the Headmaster hadn't done that, I wouldn't have been able to – well, save myself." The man's eyes are wide and he says: "I thought the Dementors were ordered to take down your godfather, not you." I shrug and mutter: "They were. He was on the lake with me. But, while some feasted on him, bit by bit, and after my Patronus failed – one of them turned on me."
Instantly everyone is gawking at me and I grimace as I say: "Yeah, I'm the first to survive a Dementor's Kiss. The first to escape one that was about to perform one, that is. I can tell you exactly what is under that hood. Though, to be honest and frank, I'd rather not." And as I say this, the memory of that night makes me start to shudder uncontrollably. Instantly Sirius is on me, hugging me close to his form.

I cling to him as I try to push away the memory of what that monstrosity looked like and I vaguely hear Lupin snap: "Poppy, he needs chocolate!" I hear hurried footsteps and I only vaguely determine them to be more than one pair. A minute later two more pairs run back in and suddenly I am surrounded in the warmest, strongest hug I have ever felt. I feel warm skin and strong arms surround Sirius and me and realize something.
"It's Murray." And the strength of this powerful hippo, combined with how strong I can feel his emotions coming through his embrace, finally helps me push away the horrifying vision. I relax and slump against the two forms that are holding me close and whimper a soft word of gratitude. "Here Harry, eat this. It'll help." I hear Lupin and he sounds closer this time. I finally open my eyes, yet I notice that my arms are still trembling too much.
Sirius sees this as well and he takes the big chunk of chocolate from his friend with a word of gratitude of his own. Sirius keeps his arms around me as he breaks off a bit and lifts it to my lips. I feel my face heating up a little, but then Sirius whispers: "It's alright, pup. You need this just like your brother did the other day. You deserve the care. Now please, take it." I turn my head to see Sly smile reassuringly and happily take the bite.

I feel the magical effects of the treat fill me from within and sigh in relief as it allows me to feel the warmth that is also coming off of Sirius and Murray. "You okay now, little coon?" Dimitri asks and I realize the other pair of footsteps I heard must have been him getting Murray. I nod at him and Madam Pomfrey says: "Put him in the bed with his siblings, Mr. Murray. He can finish his testimony in there." Murray nods at her and he complies.
Sly and Carmelita instantly embrace me from both sides and the feeling of being surrounded by strong bodies of fur is incredibly pleasant. I feel like the last bits of imaginary cold that came with the memory are being pushed away and I sigh in relief and thank them both. "The more I hear, the more I want to go through with the contingency plan right now." Sly growls and Carmelita nods, but then she says: "But we won't, Sly."
Sly looks at her and he sighs before he says: "You're right. We've never let something like this get us down. Even when Le Paradox had all of the canes, had the documents to make him stand above royalty and had you hostage, we didn't give up." Carmelita grins at him and whispers: "Exactly. And in the end, you saved me and I saved you. We're in this together, Ringtail. Soul bond or not." Sly nods back at her and I grin at them both as I say:

"Right, so Sirius managed to drive Lupin away from us. I chased after them as I worried for Sirius, for the man who had only just offered me a home. I watched as Lupin threw Sirius against a rock, but just as he was going for the finishing blow, a howl was heard. And another one after that that made Lupin chase after the one howling instead of Sirius. Sirius himself transformed back and struggled towards the lake, where the Dementors found him.
I tried to stop them with my Patronus, but the amount of Dementors was too many. But then we were saved. An hour or so later I woke up and there was a confrontation between Hermione, Fudge, Snape, Madam Pomfrey, the Headmaster and myself. Hermione and I tried to convince them that Sirius was innocent, but Fudge believed Snape's lies about the Confundus. Like the Headmaster said, Sirius' soul was at stake.

So Dumbledore led Snape, Fudge and Madam Pomfrey out of the hospital and then told Hermione to use the Time Turner. With it, as I said, we saved Buckbeak. I won't deny that when we saw the whole thing happen at the Willow that I wanted to chase after Pettigrew or stop him from escaping, but Hermione stopped me. She told me how dangerous it would be if my past self saw my present self, even if I was only an hour or so older."
Sirius grins while it's obvious that he's confused about all this, yet Bentley nods in understanding. I grin at the intelligent turtle and continue: "Well, instead of that we chased after Sirius and Lupin from a distance. And, when we saw Lupin about to strike, Hermione had the genius idea of pretending to be a wolf herself. She just didn't think of the fact that that would make Lupin come at us instead. So we ran and ran, but – to no avail.

Luckily, we had Beaky with us and he scared Lupin into the forest. Just as the Dementors started heading for the lake. We headed there ourselves and I kept trying to convince Hermione that my dad would show any minute. He didn't and when Hermione said you're dying, both of you, it hit me. I hadn't seen my dad, I had seen myself. Wait, does that negate what I thought about the whole one hour older thing or – never mind.
Anyway, I cast the Patronus and warded off all of the Dementors. We got onto Buckbeak and flew up to where Sirius was being held. We got him out of the office and flew to the Clocktower Courtyard. Hermione and I got off and we tried to make him leave. But Sirius got off as well and said." But then Sirius grins and quotes: "It's cruel that I got to spend so much time with James and Lily and you so little. But know this.
Those who love us never truly leave us. You can always find them, in here." We all grin at the man and while I fight back tears, I mutter: "I grinned at the man as he put his hand on my heart, but then I pushed him back towards Buckbeak. He got back on and flew off. After that, Hermione and I made sure we were back in the Hospital Wing before the Minister realized that Sirius had escaped. And that's the whole tale."

Whew, that happened,
What a chapter. It might only be four pages long, but it has CONTENT! And don't worry, Dumbledore will find out about Snape and his little actions. How he planted that spell on the sling and how he was willing to submit Sirius to the Dementor's Kiss with Harry and the others there. It's all going to happen next chapter, when Carmelita decides that she is not going to wait for the grass to grow and get to work.
Have fun,

Venquine1990