Harry Potter and the Founders Vault
Disclaimer: The same as always.
Year 1: A Merry Christmas
The few weeks before Christmas break seemed to fly by – Harry, Harper and Hermione had been busy with their classes and exams and making little progress on the next clue to the Founders' Vault. It was the day before the Hogwarts Express was due to take students back to London for the holidays that Harry, Harper were meeting Hermione in the library.
That was until they noticed a toad on the floor. "Trevor!" Harper said, going to grab the toad. "You escape from Neville again…."
It was then that Neville came running up with Susan Bones besides him, his round face red, but his mouth wide in a grin. "You found him!" Neville said, happy. "I was packing for the train tomorrow when I noticed he was gone."
"We've been searching all over the castle for him," Susan added with a smile.
"Going home, you two?" Harry asked his two Hufflepuff friends.
"Yeah, my aunt is going to be introducing me to her new boyfriend," Susan said with an eye roll and a chuckle.
"Going home too," Neville said, not seeming as excited as Susan.
"What's wrong?" Harry asked.
"Gran is not happy I am a Hufflepuff instead of a Gryffindor," Neville sighed. They had heard Neville talk about how his grandmother almost worshipped her son, Neville's father, to the point she wanted Neville to be the reincarnation of his father – going so far as to give Neville his father's wand, which just didn't seem to agree with the boy. They didn't know what had happened to Neville's parents, but given the number of orphans created in the wizarding war with Voldemort, they had concluded that they had died.
"Hey Nev, tell her you're happy, that it really doesn't matter what house you're in," Harper said, knowing, while he had been disappointed at first, Neville had grown to love Hufflepuff house.
"We all get the same education," Harry added, still not quite understanding the houses they had here or the loyalty towards them. "If she wants you to be brave, well you are, and she should respect that."
"Thanks," Neville said, his already red face going deeper in color due to the praise he was receiving.
"Have fun at home you two," Susan added, knowing the siblings were heading back home themselves for the holiday.
"Yeah, bet you two are happy to get out of the snow," Neville added, the pair giving a laugh as the two Hufflepuffs left them; Harry and Harper hadn't taken to snow at first, but they did have some fun helping Fred and George enchant snowballs to hit into the back of Professor Quirrell's turban recently.
Now entering the library, it was to find Hermione was sitting alone, waiting at their normal table. But it wasn't Hermione that drew their attention, as, sitting at the other end of the table of Hermione was Harry's dormmates: Ron, Dean, and Seamus.
"What exactly are you doing here?" Harry asked the trio as he and Harper took seats. They had never seen these three Gryffindors in the library; Dean was the only one of Harry's fellow Gryffindors that Harry liked as the pair talked sports often and even kicked around a soccer ball, or football to Dean, when it was nicer out.
"None of your business," Ron snapped back. He was still sour over the pranks Harry and Harper had pulled on him after Halloween.
"Well, they are clearly not doing homework," Harper pointed out.
"And how do you know this?" Ron asked giving Harper a glare.
"Besides the fact it's the day before Christmas break and I can't see you doing any of our holiday assignments before the day before they are due," Harper pointed out as she picked up one of the many books the trio were looking though. "Famous Wizards of the Twentieth Century? None of these would be used for any school work."
"Hagrid let it slip that Dumbledore and Nicholas Flamel–" Dean started, but Seamus hit him in the arm to shut him up.
"What's that got to do with anything?" Harper frowned at this.
"Well Dumbledore and Nicholas Flamel are friends," Harry pointed out, not concerned with the end of Dean's sentence.
"And how would you know that?" Seamus asked.
"It's on the back of Dumbledore's chocolate frog card," Harry explained.
"Oh yeah. Hermione read it out loud on the train," Harper herself realized; Hermione looking up from her own books to her two friends at this.
"I have like ten Dumbledore cards and never saw that!" Ron said, glaring at the two.
"My bet would be, you didn't read the back," Harper smirked, making Ron give her a nasty look at this.
"But if you're looking for information on Nicholas Flamel, you're looking in the wrong place," Harry said, looking at the books, knowing Nicholas Flamel would not be in any of these.
"Really wrong place," Harper added. "He might still be alive but he's no modern famous wizard. He's very old. Like over 300 years old."
"What do you two know about him?" Ron sighed. "I bet you a gallon they know nothing," he added to Dean and Seamus.
"Bet taken," Dean said with a smile and wink to Harry. Seamus remained quiet. "Come on you two, tell us all you know."
"Nicholas Flamel is a famous alchemist," Harper said.
"Born in the 14th century," Harry completed.
"He's the only know creator of the Sorcerer's Stone," Harper said.
"The Sorcerer's Stone?" Seamus asked.
"Philosopher's Stone," Hermione added in. "It's an American and British difference. They call it the Sorcerer's Stone, while we call it the Philosopher's Stone."
"Oh, like football and soccer," Dean realized, and Hermione nodded at the comparison.
"What is it though?" Ron asked, clearly getting annoyed.
"It's a magical stone that alchemists have tried to create for a long time," Harry said.
"It is said it produces an elixir from it," Harper said.
"Known as the Elixir of Life. It's what has kept Nicholas and his wife alive so long," Harry finished.
"It's also supposed to turn anything to gold," Harper added.
"Oh," Ron said, looking to Dean and Seamus at this. "You don't think he wants to make gold from it?"
"Who?" Harper asked casually.
"None of your business," Ron snapped.
"Considering we just gave you information on the Stone…" Harper started, agitated by Ron's attitude.
"Come on," Ron stood at this, "we can figure this out back in the common room," he gave Harper another glare at this before moving off, out of the library, Seamus following.
"Sorry," Dean gave Harry an apologetic glance as he too followed the two Gryffindors out of the library.
"What is going on with your roommates?" Harper now turned to Harry at this.
"Not a clue," Harry said with a shrug. "I think it started when we accidentally told them about Vault 713. They became friendly with Hagrid to get information, then Draco Malfoy challenged Weasley to a duel – they went out in the middle of the night, but of course Draco didn't show."
"Oh, that's what that was about. He was bragging about how he was going to get three Gryffindor expelled," Harper realized.
"And now Hagrid's let them know something about Nicholas Flamel… and we just told them the rest," Harry sighed at this.
"They're going to get themselves expelled at this rate," Hermione sighed from her position at the table.
"Or killed," Harry mused.
"Which does lead me to the question on why we tell them anything?" Harper mused, causing a laugh from Harry and Hermione.
"I'm very impressed with your knowledge on the Flamels. Your junior schooling covered a lot," Hermione spoke.
Harry and Harper looked at each other at this. "Actually… the Flamels are characters in a fantasy book series we like," Harry explained.
"Mom and dad made sure we knew the real history of them," Harper added, to a raise eyebrow from Hermione. "So, Mione, got anything?" Harper changed the topic quickly now.
"Oh, erm, nothing," Hermione sighed, shaking her head as she finally took the Quest Book from her bag. "I tried combining the numbers to letters but there are numbers are higher than the number of letters there are. I have tried addition and subtractions. Other kinds of math formulas… I can't figure it out."
"I've got an idea," Harry spoke, making the girls look at him. "Let's take a break until after the holiday?"
"I think that's a good idea," Hermione said, closing the book. "Given anymore thought on the Hufflepuff that will join us?" They had been talking over which Hufflepuff to invite into their quest and they had gotten it down to Susan or Neville.
"Not a clue," Harper said with a shrug.
"We'll figure it out," Harry said with a smile, the two girls agreeing with him. They had time to figure out which Hufflepuff would be the perfect Hufflepuff for their mission. "Anyway, I've got to pack a few other things. Merry Christmas Hermione."
"Yeah, Merry Christmas," Harper said.
"Merry Christmas too you too," Hermione said with a laugh as the two walked out.
"Did you send Hedwig to her house with our gifts for her?" Harper asked once they were out of the library and far from earshot.
"Yes, and to our other classmates," Harry confirmed with a nod as they went separate ways to get to their own common rooms.
-Harry Potter-
The next morning, escorted by Professor McGonagall again, Harry and Harper used their Portkey to get back to America with their pets and luggage. Tim was waiting for them again, but they were pleasantly happy to see their grandparents, Annika, and Lewis Janeway in the living room when they got home; even though it was insanely early, the couple being up and watching TV. Harry and Harper went to give their grandparents a hug.
"Now, I can make you two breakfast as you tell us everything about Hogwarts," Annika said, Tim having gone back to bed again.
Harry and Harper gladly told their grandparents about all their adventures as Harper let Daisy out of her carrier and Harry played with Lucy. They had just got to Halloween when Lewis interrupted their ramblings.
"A troll?" Lewis said, raising an eyebrow to this.
"Yeah. No one believes that, but it's true," Harper stated. They had told their Junior Magic School friends about the troll, but they didn't believe the two.
"Are you sure it's safe, going to Hogwarts?" Lewis added.
"No safer than any other magic school," Harry stated.
"Well, you two seem like you're having a lot of fun," Annika chuckled. "And being with the older students in two classes?"
"They don't educate their kids before 11," Harry explained.
"Which is a bit worrying," Tim said, having finally come out for breakfast himself, followed by Cassidy. "If you two ever wanted to transfer to Grand Canyon Academy of Magic…"
"Dad," Harry and Harper cut Tim off and Tim knew not to say anything more. Despite being ahead of a lot of their classmates, they wanted to be at Hogwarts. Tim knew that from the letters and their faces, although they didn't want to explain their unknown magical connection to the place, that feeling of welcoming the castle itself gave them.
Harry and Harper were happy when Cassidy and Annika proclaimed that they were making a fresh batch of Christmas cookies that day. They loved newly baked, homemade cookies. Tim and Cassidy had also left some of their favorite ornaments off the tree to let Harper and Harry hang them.
A few days later, on Christmas morning, Harry and Harper were the first ones up, followed by their grandparents. They had to wait for Tim, Cassidy, and Boyd to get up before they could open up their presents though
"So, Christmas 1991," Tim stated with a smile as Harper, Harry, and Boyd rolled their eyes. Tim always made this speech before they could open their presents. "Now, it's not all about presents, but I know you all want to get to them. So, remember how this works. There's one present that's for all three of you together. Your solo presents are in your piles, including a present from your grandparents, Mato, Newt, and a couple of packages arrived from England for you two also. First off the combined present." Tim picked up the gift. "Boyd gets to open it this year."
Boyd grabbed the large present and ripped it open to reveal a Super Nintendo – a new game system that came out over the summer. This was the magical version, that had magical enhancements to it, and games not available for muggles, which this one was. "I can play this more than you two!" Boyd laughed, happily going to get it connected to the TV and ignoring his pile of other presents.
"Have fun with it," Harper chuckled as they went to her pile. Annika and Lewis had gotten both of them a Disney beach towel, explaining for them to bring it that summer when they visited – Harper was more than happy with it. Fred and George had both sent them some prank items from Zonkos in Hogsmeade, while Neville and Susan had sent each of them sweets. Hermione had gotten them both books, which the two smiled at.
Then, Mato had given them both dream catchers, with a note saying they could use these for Hogwarts, since they were now living away and both had dream catchers at home, but not at school – there was also a small book with them explaining magical properties of dream catchers and ways to use them. Newt had sent presents for their animals as well, both Daisy and Lucy fast to taking to the pet toys. For Harper, he had also sent over a hard-to-find comic book, while Harry had gotten a rare baseball card, a note included that he had found these on his travels and thought they would like it.
Next were what Tim and Cassidy had got them. They each had a videogame for the system, then there was a box for each. The two opened their boxes, to see both had gotten a cute shirt and sweatshirt with their house symbol and name on it – for Harry, a lion cub in the Gryffindor logo, and for Harper, a baby snake in the Slytherin symbol.
"Wait, what's this?" Harper said taking a jewelry box out of the larger box the Slytherin stuff had been in to see a ring inside. "It's beautiful…" Harper breathed, taking the ring out of the box – it was a snake ring, which curled for several layers, with the most intricate detail on it.
"It's a Cleopatra snake ring," Cassidy informed her daughter. "it's said if you wear it with the heads facing up your arm it brings good luck." Harper putting the ring on and smiling at it.
Harry had a ring box in his hand too, and, upon opening it, saw a lion's face staring back at him. The lion was beautiful, again with such detail, and it fit his hand perfectly. "Thank you," Harry said, staring at the ring. "Where did you get all this?"
"The rings were just from our local jewelry store," Tim stated.
"As for the rest, there's actually a market for Hogwarts-themed merchandize. Strangely, not in England though," Cassidy explained.
"They never wear anything but robes and hats," Harper chuckled; they had worn their normal outfits on weekends and free times but noticed other students did not. Hermione had seen them and started herself wearing normal clothes too, feeling more comfortable with them on.
"Why don't you two see if you can get Boyd off the Super Nintendo so you two can enjoy it some, before we have people over?" Tim said, but before the family could react, they were shocked by a flash of fire as a phoenix arrived, carrying two packages.
"Fawkes?" Harper asked, recognizing the bird, and Fawkes rubbed his head against Harper in confirmation.
"Hello there," Harry said; he hadn't managed to get to Dumbledore office to meet his phoenix, so he too went to pet the bird, who seemed to love all the attention. Boyd turned from his videogame to look, which caused him to lose attention and cost him his game.
"Harper?" Cassidy questioned.
"This is Dumbledore's phoenix," Harper explained. "I think you're looking around for Helia?" She had been true to her word and asked Helia to visit Fawkes and had noticed Helia had started to come to Hogwarts often – sometimes just with letters that Hedwig could have taken.
"Look, Lewis, aren't these creatures beautiful," Annika pointed out, with a smile.
"Helia is at our reserve," Cassidy told Fawkes. Helia did live in the reserve herself, but often stayed here as well. "You're welcome to go visit. I am sure you can find…" Cassidy stopped speaking though as the familiar phoenix of Helia appeared; Fawkes and Helia then rubbed each other's heads and flew off to a perch. "That is cute," Cassidy had to smile.
"What did Dumbledore send you?" Tim instead asked, indicating the parcels Fawkes had left behind. Harry went to reach for them.
"This one's from Hagrid," Harry said, taking the card from one of the small packages. "I contacted some of your parents' friends and made this up for you. Happy Christmas, Hagrid." Harry removed the paper covering the parcel to see a leather-bound photo album; opening the first page he saw a picture of his parents with him as a baby, smiling up at him and waving. Turning over, he saw more pictures which he'd never seen before.
"That was really sweet," Tim said, smiling down at the images, his eye lingering on his cousin. He really liked Hagrid. "And there are some blank pages too. I have some pictures of Lily that we can add. Actually, I found some recently of Lily and Severus Snape when they came to visit me when they were young."
Harry and Harper both turned their heads to Tim at this. "Does Professor Snape have these pictures?" Harry asked.
"I doubt it," Tim said. "I took them myself. Want me to make copies for him?"
"Yes," both said instantly. They had been looking for a way to get on Snape's good side and this seemed to be a good way. Severus Snape and Lily Evans had been good friends when younger, so maybe some images of them both would make Snape less strict toward Lily's own relations.
Tim chuckled and gave a nod. "I'll teach you the copy spell to use on photos. You can help," Tim said and pair two smiled.
Harry grabbed the other package, reading the note first: "Your father left this in my possession before he died. I think it's time it be returned to you," Harry read aloud. "Albus Dumbledore."
"Well, open it," Harper said, curious, and Harry opened the package to see a most unusual cloak; it was silky to the texture and floated almost like water in Harry's hands. "Put it on!" Harper added, enthusiastically.
Harry threw it around his shoulders and looked down to see his body had seemed to have disappeared. "It's an invisibility cloak!" Harry said, shocked.
"That's awesome," Harper moaned as Harry put up the hood, so he was completely invisible, laughing as he did as he looked to his lack of reflection in a nearby mirror.
"Does it work by reflecting light?" Lewis asked, looking at where his grandson had previously been.
"Lou, stop trying to put science to magic," Annika cooed to her husband, the man having tried many times to find scientific explanation to magic
"Harry!" Cassidy called out as the remote of the super Nintendo was taken from Boyd's hand by an invisible force and Boyd screamed. "Take it off."
Harry took off the cloak; both he and the cloak reappearing as Boyd swore at his big brother's joke. "You know, Lily once said James owned one of these, but I figured it was destroyed that night," Tim spoke as he took the cloak and he and Cassidy shared a look; both had been concerned, knowing the person who betrayed Lily and James was still free somewhere in England. Harry having that cloak could be an advantage for both their children should they get into danger. "We expect you to be responsible with it," Tim handed the cloak back to Harry.
"You're not going to take it away?" Harry said, surprised. He had almost expected his parents to take it until he came of age.
"It was your father's. It is now yours," Tim said simply. "But like I said, be responsible."
"Absolutely," Harry said, giving Harper a smirk. This cloak could also really help them with their quest for the Founders Vault.
-Harry Potter-
Harry and Harper had a good holiday at home. Mato and his family had come over for Christmas dinner as usual, they did it every year, and they had gone to a party with friends from Junior Magic School for New Year's Eve. In the very early morning on Friday the third of January when they were preparing to return to England.
"I'm coming with you," Tim surprised the siblings as, while he had gone with them to Diagon Alley originally, on the first day of school he had trusted them to take public transport to get to Kings Cross on their own – they had actually gone over those travel plans for a whole week before leaving on how to summon the knight bus and pay for the journey. "I have business back in England to take care of."
From experience Harry and Harper knew they weren't going to get more details from their father, so they let it go as Tim also took hold of the portkey that took them to the American Embassy's magical branch in London.
Arriving at Kings Cross somewhat early, the trio waited outside the barrier between platforms 9 and 10 and smiled when Hermione came running up, the three students hugging.
"I love the book you sent me! And that communication notebook is great – we can send messages to each other easily now. Even in class!" Hermione said. Both Harry and Harper had split on sending Hermione a book about American magical history and a communication notebook like the ones they had to talk to each other while away from each other. Hermione's was already connected to theirs.
"I guess you're Hermione?" Tim said to the young girl.
"This is our dad," Harper introduced quickly.
"Mr. Evans," Hermione said happy, holding out her hand.
"Please call me Tim," Tim said, reaching out to shake her hand.
"And these are my parents," Hermione said. Her mother and father had been waiting patiently as the kids greeted each other. "Wendell and Monica Granger."
"It's nice to meet you Mr. and Ms. Granger," Harry was the first to say as both bemused adults nodded to Harry.
"Please, Wendell and Monica," Wendell spoke with a smile. "We have heard a lot about you two."
"We're very happy Hermione has made such good friends so quickly," Monica added, now shaking their hands. "And Tim, it's nice to meet you. Hermione has said when Harry and Harper go home it's very early in the morning for you?"
"Extremely," Tim said, with a nod but smiled.
"Well, we'd gladly let Harry and Harper spend the day with us so they can return at a more reasonable time for you," Wendell offered; the couple had clearly talked about this and were glad to be able to make the offer to Harry and Harper's father.
"That's very nice. I think I will take you up on that," Tim said with a smile as Daisy gave a loud meow from her carrier. "Why don't you three go on to the platform. It should be open now," as they had talked, Tim had noticed a few students vanishing through the barrier between the platforms, completely unnoticed by the muggles. With that, Harper and Harry hugged Tim goodbye and Hermione hugged her parents as they went through the barrier and on to the platform.
Once on the train, the three found an empty compartment and easily got their belongings secure; Harper letting Daisy out to sit with her. "So, I was wondering if I could ask you a question…" Hermione voiced, taking out the book on American magical history that they had given her. "On page 23, paragraph 5, there's mention of–"
"Wait," Harry cut Hermione off, but the way she had worded her question had sparked something. "Give me the book," Hermione handed over the American history book in confusion. "No, the vault book."
"Oh," Hermione said, taking that out as well and giving it to Harry.
Harry opened it to the page containing the numbers linked to the password for the Griffin outside of Dumbledore's office. "It's a book cipher," Harry breathed, looking it over. "The set of three numbers. The first number is a page, the second number is a paragraph, and the third is a word in the paragraph. Like if we were using this book, the first word in the cipher would be…" Harry paused as he flipped the pages of Hermione's American magical history book and looked "American. It's obviously not this book, but…"
"Harry, that was genius!" Harper said as Hermione also blinked, catching up. "It's so simple but so hard at the same time."
"The hard part is we have to find the right book," Harry said. "The line just above the cipher has to be a clue. I'm not sure to what book."
"I'll check every book in the library if I have to," Hermione said with a smile.
They couldn't say anymore as the compartment door opened. It was Neville with Susan Bones. Daisy gave them a meow. "Mind if we sit?" Susan asked.
"Come on in," Harper said as Hermione quickly put the books away. "Have a good holiday?"
"Yes, thank you for the book," Susan said to the siblings.
"Oh, and thank you for the aquarium for Trevor," Neville spoke, holding up a small tank showing Trevor was inside. "I have it on travel size right now, but when we get back to Hogwarts, I can tap my wand and make it bigger."
"Neville don't thank us," Harry said with a laugh. "Half the reason we got it was because we're tired of looking for Trevor with you." They laughed at that as they started chatting about their holidays and what they got, Harry leaving out the information about the invisibility cloak. He would tell Hermione about that later when they were in private.
-Harry Potter-
Tim hated this place. Azkaban prison was the worst prison on Earth and the only one who used Dementors as guards. True, there were certain places that used Dementors as torture devices to get information from prisoners of war, but to have prisoners every day be tortured by them was a whole other matter. It was one of the reasons the American magical government had no interest in friendly relations with the British magical government.
Tim had used the spell known as the Patronus Charm the minute he arrived on the island, his Patronus, a shield against the Dementors dark magic, was a bear that stayed near him. There were human guards too, with one currently leading him through the halls also had a Patronus summoned as well, this one of an owl. Tim recognized some of the faces in the cells and had to pause momentarily as a pale woman with long matted hair momentarily reached out to him before backing away as a Dementor moved closer.
Next to that woman, whom Tim realized was Bellatrix Lestrange, was a much younger woman; she had to be about Barnaby's age. She had dark brown hair with unusual orange highlights to one part. She was screaming about being "the most powerful witch in the world"
Bellatrix, however, seemingly caught in a moment of sanity turned and snapped. "You're in Azkaban sweetie. I highly doubt your power..." Tim wondered for a moment what someone so young could have done to end up here but almost had to chuckle at Bellatrix's reply.
"Black, you have a visitor," the guard spoke, bringing Tim's attention away from the two women to see the guard was several feet ahead, in front of a new cell. Reaching the unit, Tim knew the face of the man within.
Lily had sent a picture or two with Sirius Black in, and Tim had met him briefly at Lily and James's small wedding. He had been James's Best Man, after all. But the man he was looking at now looked far worse than what Tim remembered. It was no surprise, considering where he had been for the last 10 years.
"Mind giving us some privacy?" Tim asked, and the guard shrugged and walked away.
"Who are you?" Sirius Black asked, moving forward, surprising Tim that he seemed conscious of where he was, and what was real. The Dementors had a very negative affect on a wizard's mental health.
"Timothy Evans," Tim said. "I'm…."
"Lily's cousin," Sirius smiled, obviously remembering as he moved closer to Tim. "Harry? Is he with you? Is he okay?"
It actually warmed Tim's heart that the first thought of the man was to Harry. Here was an innocent man in the most horrible prison in the world and his thoughts went straight to his godson. "Harry is fine. My wife and I adopted him a few days after Lily and James died. He grew up in America with me," Tim explained, and saw Sirius's relieved look.
"Can you tell me a bit more about him, about Harry?" Sirius asked, obviously wanting some details on his godson.
"He's a good kid," Tim smiled at this, deciding to give Sirius some hope before he went into the darker details. "He's smart. He likes having fun. He plays baseball and really likes all sports – except Quidditch," that earned a small chuckle from Sirius. "Come to think of it… here." Tim took a picture of Harry and Harper out of his wallet and handed it to Sirius. "Taken before they left for school in the summer."
"Ladies man already. Just like his dad," Sirius said.
"Oh no," Tim said with a laugh. "That's my daughter, Harper. The two of them are inseparable. They are attending Hogwarts together right now. Harry is a Gryffindor. Harper a Slytherin."
"I won't hold it against her," Sirius said as he looked at the picture. "Does he know about me?"
"He knows the stories of what you supposedly did," Tim said. "I haven't told him your innocent yet." Sirius eyes looked up at that. Tim hadn't mentioned until this moment that Tim believed he was innocent. "I can't tell him the wrong person was caught with no way to get you out. I can't give him hope."
"I don't remember hope," Sirius said, sadly, about to hand the picture back to Tim.
"No. Keep it. It's yours. I have another copy anyway. Maybe it will give you that hope you so desperately need," Tim said.
"Thank you," Sirius smiled again, taking the picture. "But I have a feeling you're not here to give me a picture of my godson."
"You're correct there," Tim knew it was time to get to business. "I am here about you."
"I figured," Sirius sighed.
"You made Harry your heir," Tim started, "and due to that, the Gringotts Goblins have let me in on some information. Are you aware James and Lily made a Will before going into hiding?" At this, Sirius shook his head, he was not aware. "In it, they specifically said who their Secret Keeper was. And it wasn't you. It was in fact–"
"Peter Pettigrew," Sirius snapped, darkly at this. There was vile in the way he spoke the name too.
"Indeed," Tim nodded. "Because of that, because of witness statements when Pettigrew died, I've been trying to arrange a proper trial for you. The problem is though, is that Lily and James's Will was suppressed and destroyed by the Ministry. The only copy left is in the hands of the Goblins," Tim explained, and Sirius almost laughed at this.
"And by the laws of the Ministry, proof given by non-human creatures is inadmissible," Sirius concluded. "Especially Goblins."
"Yes… it's the most backward system of law I have ever seen," Tim sighed. The more he learned about the wizarding British legal system, the more he disliked it. "I've tried getting you a trial under Veritaserum, truth potion, on the basis you never had a trial, but the furthest I got was them admitting you never had a trial in the first place. For them, the evidence was so clear it would be a waste of time to take you from here to do a trial and bring you back. I'm at a dead end. So, you need to walk me through that night, starting with why everyone believed you were their Secret Keeper?"
"I was the red herring," Sirius explained solemnly. "They wanted me to be the Secret Keeper, but I told them everyone would suspect me. No one would think Peter. I wish I had taken the spot now… I would have died rather than tell Voldemort where they were," Sirius growled as he began to tell Tim about that night…
Post Chapter: I know I took a while to get Sirius Black into this, but I want to slow burn this plot, even if we won't really see Sirius properly until year 3. I have big plans on how to change the 3rd book that needs Tim investigating getting Sirius out. But you will have to wait and see for those.
Karry Master OUT!