As a warning this takes place a few days before the prologue

Chapter 1

A long overdue trial

It hadn't taken long to verify the claims made by Lord Black about the lack of trial for his grandson. The veracity of his initial claims gave fuel to the belief that his secondary claims about the innocence of Sirius Black might also be true. Gossip was rife on the streets over what was already called the trial of the decade. Was Sirius Black innocent? Was it a plot to by remaining death eaters to free one of their own? Who else hadn't had a trial?

That last question was one that the director of magical law enforcement had asked herself as well, and she wasn't the only one. Purebloods were afraid of the precedent that might be set by incarcerating a member of one the most important families without a trial. Fudge, and others, saw an opportunity to get rid of some political rivals on the cheap. And luckily there were also those, like her, who wanted to see justice done, no matter the outcome.

When the house elf had delivered the letter from Arcturus Black asking for a meeting she had been hesitant. She wasn't too proud to admit that that man scared her, always had, ever since she was a little girl. Nor had she any fondness for anyone baring the name Black. She like everyone else knew where their sympathies lay during the war against Voldemort. There was a high likelihood that one of them was even present at the murder of her little brother and sister in law.

Amelia stomped down on her emotions—Now was not the time.

Lord Black had asked her to come alone—She hadn't even known he was in the country—She brought two of her most capable and trustworthy aurors along with her to the meeting. The castle had been much like she remembered it from parties in the past. Not that it set her nerves at ease. A house elf had escorted them to a sitting room, while another laid out tea and biscuits that stayed untouched. She felt her nerves spike as Arcturus Black entered the room. He always gave her the feeling like a storm that was about to unleash its full wrath. The man seemed to revel in the effect he had on others.

When Lady Black entered the room behind him she calmed down some. It was well known that she was like a calming draught for her husband and had been for longer than Amelia had been alive. The boy behind Lady Black was a surprise. He looked to be about Susan's age, perhaps a bit older, or he was just big for his age. His muggle apparel was an even bigger surprise. It was clear from the looks of him that he was a relation, but in what manner she couldn't say. His relaxed manner calmed her nerves however. While Lord and Lady Black ignored her companions the boy introduced himself to her, as well as them, as Orion.

"Thank you for meeting us on such short notice Lady Bones," Lord Black said genially.

"You wrote that you had evidence about a grave mishap in justice," Amelia replied business-like. "What is it that is so urgent? And why not come through the proper channels?"

Lord Black and the boy snorted at the same time. "I have no intention for evidence to go…missing."

She felt Rufus and Kingsley stiffening at her sides. She felt the sting as well. It was the truth, corruption and incompetence had destroyed more than a few cases or led to the death of witnesses, and it hurt. "What exactly does your evidence pertain to? Can you tell me that?"

He let silence settle, studying her. "Are you familiar with the case of my grandson, Sirius?"

"—He betrayed the Potters, killed another friend of them along with thirteen muggles." Rufus cut in, his anger palpable.

"My papa is innocent." The boy hissed back. Lady Black put an arm around him pulling him close.

That cleared that mystery up. She wondered who his mother was. She didn't think that Black was married or if he was she couldn't remember it.

"As I was saying, it has come to my attention that my grandson has never received a trial"—he paused to let that news sink in—"and as my great grandson so elegantly put it, that he is innocent as well."

If this was true there would be ramifications. The lack of trial alone would be enough for heads to roll. If news got out at the wrong time certain people would do everything to cover their own asses and it would be another case of disappearing evidence. A part of her would even feel joyful about it, a part that wanted this family to suffer. The thoughts disappeared and turned into guilt as soon as she looked at Orion.

Her thoughts turned to Susan. The only memory she had of her parents were from pictures. For Orion it was no different. He must have been only a toddler when his father disappeared behind bars. "The lack of trial can be verified from records and I can promise to do so once I return to the ministry. But what sort of evidence do you have to verify your claim about your grandson's innocence?"

Lord Black seemed to enjoy himself and settled back against the cushions. "Well, I have Pettigrew, the other friend, downstairs. The real secret keeper of the Potters and the one who blew up the muggles to fake his own death and frame my grandson"

Amelia didn't know what to say or what to believe. If what Lord Black was saying was true then they had imprisoned an innocent man for the past decade in the high security ward in Azkaban, the heir of the Black family even. "Can we see him?"

"Of course. But don't you want to finish your tea first?"

She looked down, none of them had touched anything of the food and drink. Lord Black was smirking. He knew precisely why they hadn't and he was enjoying it.

"We can go now. The quicker we can verify your claims, the quicker we can get your grandson out."

Lord Black shrugged his shoulders and let them in procession to the dungeons below the castle.

She shuddered as she saw the expanse of the dungeons and couldn't help but think about the horrors that must have taken place in the distant past, and probably not so distant past.

There was no door in front of Pettigrew's cell, no chains to hold him down, nor any bars to prevent his escape. As she approached the alcove she felt the hairs on her arm rising, she stopped herself. She didn't dare to approach any closer, afraid of what the wards might do to her.

"Calm down child. The ward is harmless to you or me."

"Then what—Bloodwards!" she exclaimed triumphantly, knowing she was right.

"—That's dark magic." Rufus growled, looking to her for help.

"Pish posh, your words stink of ignorance." Black was looking at her as well, but his was a mocking look, daring her. She knew better. Ministry laws didn't apply in the same way in the domains of the lords of the old families.

Black whipped out his wand, causing Rufus and Shacklebolt to reach for theirs, but he waved it at what she had thought was a pile of blankets. The darkness dissipated and a man whom she assumed to be Pettigrew floated into view. She however had no way to verify the claim. Luckily Shacklebolt came to the rescue.

"He looks like him."

"How do you know?" Amelia wondered.

"Seen his file. There is a picture in it from his schooldays and saw him a few times when he was a lad. Charles Potter was my auror captain, brought James and his friends along a few times to show them the office, and saw him a few times at their place." Shackebolt stepped closer to the barrier. "He looks a bit different from what I remember but that is to be expected, I guess."

Amelia turned to Lord Black. "I would like to take him in for questioning."

Black barked out a laugh. "Not going to happen. First bring me my grandson."

"Sirius Black is still considered a criminal and cannot be released into your custody."

"And Pettigrew is in my custody and will remain so until a trial or my grandson is standing before me."

She nodded her assent at the situation. "What do you have in mind then?"

They returned to the sitting room to negotiate the terms and time schedule for how to do this. Getting Sirius Black out of Azkaban and into a safe house was of paramount importance, before any of this leaked. Doing the interviews with Sirius and Pettigrew would follow after. And a trial date could wait for now.

They walked in silence to the floo. Before she called her destination she told her companions to meet her at 'rendez-vous Avalon'. One floo ride and two apparations later she was at her destination, a secure cave in the Welsh mountains. She conjured three chairs and sat down to wait for her companions. Luckily she didn't have to wait long. She could feel the tension leaving her body.

"That was—" Shacklebolt started.

"—They tortured the man!" Scrimgeour shouted.

"Most likely," she said evenly, while looking at Rufus to get a grip. "And we can't do anything about that. If everything Black said is true then Pettigrew has declared himself an enemy to house Black and Arcturus would be well within his right to kill the man."

"I wonder how he found all of this out."

She did wonder the same. And why now all of a sudden? Had Pettigrew grown careless and shown his face somewhere? She hadn't bothered to ask Black because they wouldn't get the answer anyway. But she did wonder. But first business. "Kingsley can you take a team to Azkaban and remove Black from there and have him secured in a safe house? The ministry holding cells aren't safe for this. Only tell the home front you'll be out of contact for a few days. The day after tomorrow is Wednesday. We will know more after that."

Kingsley nodded, already having expected his assignment.

"Rufus, we will return tomorrow to Castle Black. And do the bloody interview then. I want the rest of all available staff to dig into the archives. They are to start with Black's file and search for his trial records. And from there on out comb through every other case done under Barty. I want to know about every discrepancy found. If what Lord Black said is true the case of Sirius Black may just be the tip of the iceberg."

"What are the odds that he isn't?" Rufus asked.

"A part of me hopes this is only much ado about nothing. But he reached out to me, that tells me that he believes what he is saying."

She conjured three glasses and took out a flask of firewhisky and poured one for each.

"What shall we toast on?" Amelia asked.

"To overtime," Kingsley suggested with a laugh. "And to justice perhaps."

She echoed the sentiment, thinking of the little boy she had seen and of her own niece. She wanted to hold Susan close for a bit. The war had stolen too much.