Author Notes: Enjoy~ Just one more chapter left for this Part in the series.
November 5th came quickly, making everyone involved relieved but antsy. The weeks leading up to the hearing had Severus brewing nonstop, Narcissa and Harry gardening when not in the study for classes, Voldemort was impatiently waiting for a potion to go with the soul mending ritual, and everyone else just trying to keep the peace. Barty Jr. And Regulus having only gone to the manor once to give Voldemort his locket, they decided to stay at home and re-educate one another on what they had missed while being apart.
After that first night back together, Barty and Regulus got back onto a routine they had before Regulus had to fake his death and leave. Both disguised, Barty took him to the cemetery to visit with his parents and grieve since he had missed the funerals. Regulus got caught up on the goings on at Malfoy Manor as well as why they had needed all the horcruxes in the same location as well. While they were out, Barty wandered off to a shop for a second before returning to the cemetery where he had left Regulus since knowing he would take a while to talk to his parents.
Regulus was unaware that Barty had left as he was back so soon but he had been zoned out when Barty spoke, causing him to jump. Barty couldn't help but laugh when he saw Regulus get spooked, ruffling his hair the way he did to console him as an apology. Once Regulus was done visiting his parents they headed back to Barty's flat where a surprise dinner was displayed on their small kitchen table, a gift from their Lord, made by the Malfoy house elves. Regulus was immediately suspicious before noticing that while he had been distracted, Barty had proposed. Regulus obviously agreed and after having the life snogged out of him, quickly sat to taste the wonderful meal before them.
Finally, as everyone gathered in the Atrium, the trial began. Since Severus and Narcissa had already sat with Amelia Bones prior to the trial, it was swift. With proof of improvement mentally, Bellatrix's ability to raise a child had been more than approved as Amelia had granted the Lestrange's custody of Harry. They would still have weekly check-ins for the first three months however. If all was good on their assessment then no further check-ins would be necessary, at least weekly. They would bump it up to once every six months in that case.
Harry had been questioned under veritaserum as well as having his memories viewed for proof of evidence against his muggle relatives and Dumbledore's neglect to check that he was alright in their care. Once this was done, Harry was escorted out of the Atrium alongside Draco. They were brought to a safe waiting area and looked after by a disguised Dark Lord. The children had no clue it was him as they ultimately got on his nerves by asking questions about him since they never met him around the manor. Voldemort didn't hold it against them but he did dangle Draco in the air by his foot when he'd gotten too nosy in questioning him.
Once the hearing was done, Bellatrix had found the boys and their Lord in one of the waiting areas before kneeling to Harry's height to be eye level with him. She had allowed him to hug her before she pulled away and ruffled his hair the way she did when praising him after hearing how quickly he was becoming accustomed to living in the manor and wizarding world after only a couple of months. She then got up and addressed the room, curtsying to their Lord as both boys went pale for a second after realizing who they'd been harassing with questions for the past hour.
Harry had known the Hearing was for custody of himself as he held his breath to see what Bellatrix had to say about the outcome. He'd been hoping that he would get to live with the Malfoys or Lestranges. He tried his best to remain neutral until he would find out. The worst outcome would be if he were brought back to the Dursleys, but saw them being brought in when he had been escorted out of the Atrium. He'd asked what they were there for before he'd been brought to this room, learning they were being charged and most likely sentenced for their crimes against him.
Sure enough, the Dursley's were charged and sentenced to one year in Azkaban with the dementors before they would be transferred to the muggle prison to finish their sentence of fifteen years for neglect, abuse and for also raising their son poorly as well. Dudley was to be placed into care with another household that would slim him down and teach him some respect.
Bellatrix had the rooms undivided attention as she sat down on the chaise, beckoning Harry to sit beside her. "As you have seen, your...relatives have been brought in. You won't have to worry about those filthy muggles any longer, they are being sent away. Your cousin however is being re-homed here with the Longbottoms I think. Though that is not the only news I have." She pulled Harry into her lap and wrapped her arm around his shoulder. "I won, I'm your mother if you'll have me."
To the surprise of nobody in the room, Harry got overwhelmed as he clung onto Bellatrix. Her robes were getting damp but she didn't seem to notice or didn't care as she held onto him securely. After a few minutes Harry had pulled away, wiping his eyes before smiling as he was relieved to not go back to his relatives or with some strange family.
Harry settled in nicely, having been around the Lestrange brothers often as well as Bellatrix. He loved his bedroom at Lestrange Manor but also was still welcome to use the one he'd been in at Malfoy Manor as well. There was only a slight change as the official paperwork for his name as it had been looked at from his parents' will and testament. Bellatrix now called him by his full first name rather than Harry, as it went better with his new last name. Hadrian James Lestrange was finally with a family who loved him unconditionally.