Harry awoke in Uncle Remus's arms. He could hear him whispering and he lifted his head to see who his uncle was talking to. Only Mr. and Mrs. Weasley were there in the kitchen and they stopped talking as soon as they saw that Harry was awake.

"Hey, Harry. We're going home, okay?"

"But—"

"Shh. We'll talk at home."

"Okay." Harry was still too tired to have a conversation anyhow. He let Uncle Remus carry him out to the Weasley's garden and apparate them back to Privet Drive. They landed in number 4's garden and went in through the back. Remus carried Harry up to his room and then set him down.

"Why don't you go ahead and get your pyjamas on and brush your teeth? I'll be right back."

Harry did as he was asked and when he came back from the bathroom Uncle Remus was sitting on the edge of his bed.

"Bill told us that you heard everything."

Harry nodded.

"Ask me anything you like."

"Do you think Peter is the real spy?"

"Yes, I do Harry."

"What about Sirius Black? What happened to him?"

"He was sent to Azkaban prison."

"Do you think he'll get out now that you found the real spy?"

"If we can prove that it was actually Peter, then nothing will stop Professor Dumbledore from getting Sirius out."

"Good," Harry said.

Uncle Remus smiled. "Was there anything else you wanted to ask me?"

Harry took a deep breath. "What did you mean when you said you were a monster?"

"I should have told you this sooner but you'd been through so much and I didn't want to scare you," Uncle Remus said. "I'm a werewolf."

"So all of that about you being sick and getting a potion from Professor Snape?"

"That was all true. I was bitten when I was a little boy. The curse makes me sick in the days leading up to the full moon and Professor Snape makes a potion that lets me keep my mind so I can just curl up somewhere and sleep through most of it instead of running wild and hurting myself or someone else."

Harry thought for a few moments and then asked, "Did people really think you were a spy because you're a werewolf?"

"Yes. People are naturally afraid of werewolves. We can be very dangerous. There are a lot of us who don't take the necessary precautions and there are even a few who deliberately attack people."

"Well, I'm not afraid of you."

Harry hugged his uncle. Uncle Remus didn't say anything but he returned Harry's hug. Harry yawned and Uncle Remus made him get into bed properly.

When he was under the covers, Harry said, "You're like the boggart."

"What?"

"You can be scary but you're not dangerous. I mean you could be dangerous but you take the potion so that you aren't."

At that, Uncle Remus laughed. "I suppose so."

"One more question?" Harry asked.

"Sure, but then bedtime."

"How'd you know that Scabbers was Peter?"

"When I went to Hogwarts, I had friends for the first time: Sirius Black, Peter Pettigrew, and James Potter. Now, my three new friends could hardly fail to notice that I disappeared every month. I was terrified they would desert me the moment they found out what I was. But, of course, they worked out the truth. And instead of deserting me like I feared, they did something to help me. They became animagi."

"How did that help?"

"They couldn't keep me company as humans so they did it as animals. Under their influence, I became less dangerous. My body was still wolfish, but my mind seemed to become less so while I was with them."

"So Peter was a rat. What about Sirius and my dad?"

"Sirius became a huge black dog, and James was a stag."

"Cool," Harry said.

"It was very cool," Uncle Remus agreed. He ruffled Harry's hair. "Off to sleep with you now."

The holidays ended and Harry went back to school, once again not in the same class as Dudley. Actually, Dudley had very nearly not been in the same year as Harry given how poorly he'd done on his exams. But the headmaster had been convinced to let Dudley advance, likely by a check from Uncle Vernon.

Uncle Vernon had dreams of Dudley going to his old public school, Smeltings. He wouldn't make it in if he didn't start passing his exams. So now Dudley was being made to sit at the kitchen table and do his homework. Aunt Petunia demanded that Harry do the same so that Dudley wouldn't feel so bad. To Harry's surprise, Uncle Remus not only agreed but sat at the table with them and helped both boys understand the work.

On one such evening, they were sitting together at a table covered in snake fangs. Uncle Remus had shown both of them how to use the little objects to visualize the problems in their homework. Dudley was still moving fangs around on the table while occasionally eyeing a large chocolate bar that Uncle Remus had promised to let them split once both their assignments were finished. Harry had finished the assignment quickly, but he'd stayed at the table to learn how snake fangs were used in potions. He was carefully crushing six of them using a mortar and pestle when there was a knock at the door. Uncle Vernon answered it and shortly after they heard him bellow, "Lupin."

Uncle Remus escorted the guest back into the kitchen. She was very obviously a witch. No muggle ever went about in sparkling purple robes like hers.

"Care for tea, Madam Bones?" Uncle Remus asked.

"That would be lovely, thank you."

While Uncle Remus was making the tea, Madam Bones turned her eye on Harry.

"Hello Harry."

"Hello."

She noticed the table and asked, "Are those snake fangs?" in a curious tone.

"Yep," Harry answered, continuing to gently tap fangs with the pestle.

"What are you planning on doing with them?"

"Well, first we used them to figure out how to reduce fractions," Harry said, matter-of-factly. "Now I'm crushing them so we can make a potion to cure boils."

Madame Bones looked impressed. "Oh, do you like potions?"

"Not really but Uncle Remus says aurors have to be good at a lot of stuff so it's best to start early."

"Is that what you want to be when you grow up? An auror?"

Harry nodded.

"What's an auror?" Dudley asked.

"It's like the police but you catch bad wizards instead of bad muggles."

"Why don't they just call them police then?"

"That's because the aurors were created before muggle police." Uncle Remus said, returning with two cups of tea.

Madam Bones accepted the cup of tea and sipped it carefully.

"Now then, the reason for my visit is that there's been a development in the Pettigrew case."

That got Harry's attention. He set down the mortar and pestle and listened closely to what Madam Bones had to say.

"We've won a hearing to have the case reopened."

"That's great news," Harry said, but Madame Bones didn't look so happy. "It is good isn't it?"

"It is good news Harry, but I'm afraid the fight is just beginning." Then she turned to Uncle Remus. "Are you familiar with Cornelius Fudge and Barty Crouch?"

"Crouch was the head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement during the war. I remember him being quite...zealous in his pursuit of justice. I don't know Fudge."

"He's the junior minister in Magical Accidents and Catastrophes. Some think he might have a shot at Minister when Bagnold retires."

"So a politician."

"Yes." Madame Bones said. "One who was responsible for the cleanup after Black and Pettigrew duked it out. They've fought us the whole way and they're going to be worse during the investigation. We've already run into problems."

"What sort of problems?" Uncle Remus asked.

"For starters, we're unable to find any records from Sirius Black's trial."

"That's because there wasn't one."

"Yes, but there should still be some record of a hearing. We found nothing."

"What, some bloke got chucked in a cell with no trial. What was his barrister doing?" Uncle Vernon said. He'd come into the kitchen and was poking through the fridge.

"Sorry, his what?" Madam Bones asked. She looked at Uncle Remus but he just shrugged.

"You lot don't have barristers? Solicitors?"

Uncle Remus and Madam Bones shook their heads.

"Any kind of lawyer?"

"Oh, that's what you're talking about." Madam Bones said. "Black would have needed a hearing to be able to declare a Witness to represent him in court. He wouldn't have had the opportunity to secure one."

Uncle Vernon wandered off muttering about stupid freaks and apparently having forgotten what he came in for. Uncle Remus and Madam Bones paid him no mind.

"Well, Dumbledore did try to get him a proper trial. There just weren't enough members of the Wizengamot willing to go against Barty Crouch." Uncle Remus said.

"That's what we're facing this time, unfortunately. If it gets out Crouch and Fudge are going to be raked over the coals. They've managed to keep Pettigrew quiet so far but it's only a matter of time before the press has it."

Uncle Remus sighed. "What's the plan?"

"Well, Scrimgeour wants to go public with the whole thing. It'll embarrass Crouch and Fudge and force them to hold a public trial and release Black. I've convinced them that it will do more harm than good. For starters, the press will go nuts. It will come out where Harry is and who he's associated with. I give it a week before Rita Skeeter publishes an exposé about the werewolf raising Harry Potter in a muggle house."

"I think we'd like to avoid that."

"Naturally. My recommendation is to work out a deal with Fudge. He gets to be the hero, Pettigrew is tried and convicted, and Black is released to correct a grave miscarriage of justice."

"The downside there is it's unlikely that Sirius will play nice with Fudge. And Barty Crouch still has allies who won't let us just throw him under the bus."

"Then it will have to be your job to convince him to play along when the time comes," Madam Bones said. "I will deal with Crouch's allies."

Harry listened to them talk a while longer. When Madame Bones finally left, he was full of hope for the plan to get Sirius Black out of prison. That evening, he'd been certain that it would take days or at most weeks to put things right. But, as the months wore on he grew less and less sure.

First, the auror office had to do a new investigation. They spent months tracking down old evidence and gathering statements from witnesses. Between all of their current cases and needing to keep the Pettigrew case out of the press, everything took twice as long as it might have. But finally, after the new year, Madame Bones informed them that they were ready to file charges. Harry was elated until Pettigrew's witness, Etheldred Bullstrode, seemed to find a reason to delay every other week. It finally took Professor Dumbledore, acting in his role as Chief Warlock of the Wizengamot, calling a hearing and refusing to let anyone leave until all matters were settled. After 6 hours locked in a courtroom, Bullstrode and Pettigrew said they were ready for trial.

The trial itself was a long, drawn-out affair. The proceedings had been sealed so the press knew that there was a trial but nothing else. Since Peter Pettigrew had supposedly died a hero, there was outrage everywhere. Some people were outraged that a war hero was on trial and everyone else was outraged that Pettigrew hadn't actually been blown up by Sirius Black. Without any news from the courtroom, the press was left to speculate on literally everything from what Pettigrew had been up to for nearly 10 years to what he'd had for lunch yesterday. The most outlandish claims had come from a publication called the Quibbler. The latest issue featured an article suggesting that the Peter Pettigrew on trial was actually someone named Stubby Boardman next to an article about the vampire that had secretly replaced the Queen of England.

Harry bothered Mr. Weasley and Uncle Remus for updates near daily even though neither had any more access to the courtroom than Harry did. He was left to speculate like everyone else and his imagination fed nightmares about Pettigrew convincing the court that Uncle Remus was the real spy. It was bad enough that even Dudley left him alone. Of course it wasn't like Dudley bullied Harry nearly as much since the teachers were actually paying attention now. But he'd even given up taking a shot at Harry anytime that Dudley knew he wouldn't be punished.

Months later, the last day of the trial arrived. Harry had been allowed to come along partly because he already knew most of what would be discussed and partly because Madam Bones and Professor Dumbledore thought that seeing him would motivate some of the more reluctant members. Mrs. Weasley altered a set of Percy's old robes for him so he'd look smart in front of all those people. That was another problem. Harry had no desire for a repeat of the incident in the Leaky Cauldron and the pictures he'd seen of the people packed into the ministry's atrium made him wonder if he actually wanted to go.

Thankfully, the adults around him had planned ahead. Instead of taking the usual visitors entrance, Madame Bones arranged for Mr. and Mrs. Weasley to bring Harry by side along apparition directly into the Auror office. They boarded the lift and rode it all the way down from level 2 to "Level 9: Department of Mysteries" according to the cool female voice that announced each level. From there, Harry followed the Weasleys down a staircase to a lower level with bare stone walls lit by torches.

Courtroom ten was huge. It was a round room with benches that went up in rows like a stadium. At the center was a large wooden chair with chains hanging from it. Harry took his seat with Mr. and Mrs. Weasley. Uncle Remus was sitting a few rows behind them on the highest row. He was glaring directly at the door opposite the one where Harry had entered. Harry and the Weasleys had argued but Uncle Remus had insisted on arriving separately just in case.

The benches quickly filled up and then the members of the Wizengamot filed in. Each was wearing a plum robe with an elaborate W embroidered on the left side of the chest. There were about fifty of them and Professor Dumbledore was among them. He took a seat at a large desk built directly in front of the chained chair but higher so he could look down on whoever was in it.

Dumbledore banged his gavel and the room quieted.

"Bring in the accused."

The door that Uncle Remus had been watching opened and Peter Pettigrew was led into the room gripped tightly by two aurors. Behind him came a witch in a robe not too dissimilar from the sort that muggle barristers wore although she wasn't wearing a wig. Harry supposed this was the Chief Witness for the defense. Behind him came several more witches and wizards who took seats in the first row of benches behind the chair that Pettigrew was presently being chained to.

Once everyone was seated, Dumbledore said, "This court will now hear the testimony of Sirius Black."

Sirius Black entered the courtroom in much the same way that Peter Pettigrew had except without the fleet of legal advisors. Two aurors flanked him at a podium set to one side of the floor. Black glared directly at Pettigrew and didn't look away.

Madam Bones began the questioning. "Mr. Black, please recount the events of the 31 of July, 1981."

Sirius's voice was harsh and dry as if he hadn't spoken in many years. "That night, I'd arranged to check on Peter, make sure he was still safe, but when I arrived at his hiding place, he'd gone. Yed there was no sign of a struggle. It didn't feel right. I was scared. I set out for the Potter's house straightaway. And when I saw their house, destroyed, and their bodies...I realized what Peter must've done."

"All prior accounts say that you were the Potters' secret keeper."

"I...I persuaded Lily and James to change to Peter at the last moment, persuaded them to use him as Secret-Keeper instead of me. After the Prewetts' I was certain that one of our oldest friends had betrayed us." Harry heard a snarl in Black's voice. "I'll never understand why I didn't see it was Peter from the start. He always liked big friends who'd look after him."

"What did you intend to do to Mr. Pettigrew when you found him?" Asked Pettigrew's witness with a sneer.

"I intended to kill him."

"A confession?"

Black laughed derisively. "Hardly. Peter played me like a fiddle. He lured me into a trap. Made sure plenty of people would hear him accuse me of killing Lily and James. I realized what was happening when he cut his finger off. He blew up the street then vanished."

Harry knew that finger had ended up in a box delivered to Pettigrew's mother for burial. She was there in the courtroom too, sitting like a statue looking anywhere but at her son. Harry wondered what she must be feeling, knowing her son had hidden even from her all this time.

"Why should we believe your version of these events?" Asked another wizard on the court.

"You asked me that question nine years ago Crouch, before you threw me into Azkaban without a trial. My answer now is the same as my answer then. Check my memories, dose me with a truth serum, or examine my wand. There's no evidence I did anything but chase that traitor over there into a crowd."

"Isn't it convenient that your wand has been lost?" Crouch said.

"Remind me whose job it was to keep track of my wand once I'd been arrested."

"I must say Crouch, he does have a point," A woman in the back row said. "No trial, evidence lost, you couldn't have mucked this up more if you'd tried."

Several mutters of assent came from the Wizengamot and from the people watching.

"What say you Dumbledore? Are we prepared to vote and put this whole absurdity to bed?"

"Very well Mr. Diggory," Dumbledore said. "Are there any further questions for this witness? No? Then Mr. Black you are dismissed. However, please stick around for a moment if you have the time."

Harry saw a twinkle in the old headmaster's eye. The old man did love his silly jokes.

"Mr. Pettigrew, anything more to say in your defense?" Pettigrew started to say something but he didn't. Instead, he lowered his head.

"Very well, all in favor of conviction?"

Hands went up in the Wizengamot, there were about fifty people in the court and it looked to Harry like nearly thirty had their hands up including Dumbledore.

"All opposed?"

The remaining hands shot up. Mr. Crouch's hand was the first one.

"Then this court hereby convicts Peter Pettigrew of murdering twelve muggles and providing vital assistance in the murders of four witches and wizards: Gideon Prewett, Fabian Prewett, James Potter, and Lily Potter. The court scribe will note that Molly Weasley, sister of Gideon and Fabian Prewett is present in the gallery today as is Harry James Potter, the son of James and Lily Potter.

"Mr. Pettigrew, as each one of these crimes carried a life sentence in Azkaban, I must state the obvious. You will be delivered immediately to Azkaban prison where you will remain for the rest of your life."

Two aurors gripped Pettigrew tightly. The chains binding him to the chair released and he was lifted out of the chair. He wept silently as the aurors led him out of the courtroom.

"Now to you Mr. Black. You are immediately released from custody and cleared of all charges."

The chains binding him dropped away and vanished. The aurors flanking him stepped away from him. Black looked around as if he was shocked that he was actually free.

"You are free to go Mr. Black, with this court's apology."

"That's it?" Mr. Black said.

Dumbledore looked surprised when he said, "Pardon?"

"Nine years of my life gone and all I get is a bloody apology?"

"Surely, a man of your means does not want monetary compensation?"

"I'll take my family's seat on the Wizengamot. I assume it was passed to Narcissa when mother died. Since the Malfoys can't hold two seats, it was likely auctioned off. I want it back."

"Are you suggesting that we remove Madam Pierce from a seat she obtained lawfully?" Dumbledore asked.

"I'll take Crouch's seat. This whole mess is his fault anyhow."

"Over my dead body," Crouch sputtered, face red.

"All those in favor of Mr. Black's proposal?" Dumbledore asked.

Slightly fewer hands went up this time but still more than half.

Crouch exploded. "This is an outrage."

"The outrage Barty is that you were allowed to undertake so many abuses of justice in the name of protecting us from he who must not be named." Madam Bones said, gravely.

Dumbledore cleared his throat. "Shall we continue? All opposed."

The remaining hands went up except for Crouch's which remained clenched in fists at his side in protest. He looked to Harry like a child who'd been told no biscuits before dinner.

"Well with that I declare these proceedings closed." Dumbledore banged his gavel and people gradually filed out of the room. Uncle Remus went to Mr. Black and embraced him like a brother.

"Remus, please forgive me," Mr. Black said. "I was the one who thought you might be the spy. James and Lily would have told you everything otherwise."

"Not at all, Padfoot, old friend. If you will forgive me for believing that it was you who betrayed them."

Black smiled. "I still can't believe you didn't kill the little rodent when you had the chance."

"I might have if not for the Weasleys and Harry," Uncle Remus said sheepishly.

"Harry? Where is he?"

Uncle Remus waved for Harry to come over. He went, suddenly feeling hesitant.

Mr. Black dropped down on his knee to look Harry in the eye.

"Well, you've grown a fair bit since last I saw you," Black said. "You're what 4-5 now?"

Harry laughed. "I'm 10."

"Good heavens, I was in there a long time. Glad to be out though."

"I'm glad you're out of prison too Mr. Black."

"Ha. You were right Moony, he is like Lily."

Harry was confused. "But everyone always says I look like my dad."

"And they're right. But, between you and me, James wouldn't know polite if it bit him in the-" Mrs. Weasley coughed, interrupting Mr. Black who, upon seeing her expression, very wisely did not finish his statement.

"Anyhow Harry, I don't know if anyone told you — I'm your godfather."

Harry felt his eyes widen in surprise. He looked up at Uncle Remus and asked, "What? Why didn't you tell me?"

"I was worried things might not go our way and didn't want to add to your burdens."

"We, on the other hand, were certain justice would be done," Mr. Weasley said. "That is why there is a house full of people waiting to celebrate your freedom Sirius."

"That sounds amazing. Come on then, I want to know everything you two have been up to while I was bored out of my mind."