A/N: I'm BAAAAACK! Enjoy the extra-long chapter!
Remus spent the week before the trial with Wizarding Family Services trying to get James to sleep, or, if that failed, eat something more than toast and weak tea. When that failed, he deemed it prudent to call in the cavalry.
"I don't know what else to do," Remus said. "He doesn't sleep for more than an hour at a time, and when he does, he wakes up screaming. I had to spell Harry's room so sound could get out but not in, and -"
"I understand," Minerva McGonagall said. "Have you tried a Dreamless Sleep?"
Remus stared at Minerva. "No," he said finally. "As a matter of fact, I did not think of the obvious solution."
"Too busy trying to be clever, were you?" She smiled fondly.
"Too busy keeping life from collapsing," Remus said. He looked aggrieved. "It's been three weeks, Professor. I don't know when to push back when he's being stubborn and when to be sympathetic. I've been hiding the Prophet, because they're publishing newer and more vile rubbish by the day. No one knows what's happening, and right now, I feel like I'm nothing more than a rubbish bin for emotional outbursts. I'm dragged into doing things because it might be what James needs; it's like I'm fourteen again."
"You're doing marvelously," Minerva said. "You're holding this family together, and they're all the better for it. Your friendship is a boon to all of us, and you don't get nearly enough thanks for it." She stood. "Why don't you and Harry go to the park, while I speak with James." She hesitated. "Perhaps you should consider speaking with someone with more experience in these matters."
"I...will think about it," Remus said, eyes bright. "Thank you, Professor."
000
Minerva sent Remus and Harry down the walk with a wave. When they were gone, she settled herself in the kitchen and put the kettle on. Tea made difficult conversations easier.
Ten minutes after Minerva poured her first cup, there was a thud, a muffled swear, and then the sound of running from upstairs. James emerged seconds later, disheveled and wand out.
Minerva's heart broke to look at him. He was grey and haggard, enormous dark circles under his eyes.
"Harry," he said, frantic. "Where's-"
"Remus took him to the park," Minerva said. "Tea?" She didn't wait for a response and flicked her wand at the tea service, which obligingly served James.
James didn't sit so much as he fell into the chair opposite Minerva. "Why?" he asked.
"Because you're still putting yourself back together, and we all need help when that happens," she said.
James looked unconvinced. "I need to be strong-"
"You do not," she said firmly. She closed her eyes and thought of all of the people she had lost. None of her losses, she realized, had been as total as James's. "You mustn't hide yourself away," she said.
"Why not?" James folded his arms and stared at the table. "I'm not much good these days; it's not as though anyone would notice."
"That's not true." Minerva pointed at a photo of Harry on the wall. "Harry needs you. Remus needs you."
"They'd be fine without me."
"They most certainly would not."
James's head snapped up to look at her.
"You listen to me right now, James Potter. No matter what you think, you are good and valued and wanted here, right now. Our lives would be significantly diminished without you. You have done and will continue to do great things, starting with raising your son and reuniting old friends." She grasped his hand. "But you can't do that if you hide from the world forever."
"I'm scared, Professor," he whispered. "And I'm failing everyone."
"How do you mean?" Minerva asked. She knew that James was decidedly not in a good space to discuss this, but, well, sometimes one just needed to purge that which was poison.
"Sirius is in prison and it's my fault," he said, and Minerva bit back the diatribe that threatened to spill out, full of words like interference and incompetence and scapegoats. "And Remus is...he's different, he's not like when we were in school."
"You've grown up significantly from when you were seventeen," Minerva said carefully.
"Yes, but I mean-" he ran a furious hand through his hair. It trembled minutely when he placed it on the table. "It's...strained, our friendship; it's tight, it's…" he shook his head, frustrated. "He shouldn't have to take care of me, but he is, and I don't think he's very happy about it."
Minerva thought she understood. "Would a full night's sleep help, do you think?" She handed him the vial of Dreamless Sleep potion.
James stared at it, and Minerva saw the moment that the label registered. "I-maybe," he said. He stared at it some more. Then he nodded. "All right."
000
By the morning of the trial, James was significantly better. He'd gotten a full night's sleep, and had started eating again. On the morning of the trial, James woke feeling apprehensive, but ready to stand before Wizarding Family Court. He had prepared extensively for the trial with Minerva, and he was ready. Her words rang in his mind as he dressed and forced down his breakfast.
"Do not bring up Sirius," she had said, repeatedly. "This is Family Services, and they are not prepared to discuss prisoner release or wrongful imprisonment. Furthermore, that shall be seen as a distraction on your part, and may convince certain people that the Ministry need interfere in your lives."
"But it isn't right," James had fumed.
"And while I agree with you, the Ministry has expedited things so as to not place Harry under any sort of foster care. Family Services is one of the few areas of the Ministry that is mostly-staffed. Every department is overworked with trying criminals, and unfortunately, Minister Bagnold has decided that Sirius makes a very appealing scapegoat."
James's anger had been difficult to contain at that.
"Think of it this way," Minerva had said, "should you prove competent and level-headed, the Ministry will continue to listen to you for more severe cases."
James had fumed, but his anger cooled to barely-glowing embers - contained, but ready to ignite.
But now, as he waited for their group to be called into chambers, James could think only of Harry.
"You're sure they'll let me keep him?" he muttered to Minerva.
"If they rule unjustly, I shall flee with him to America myself," she said staunchly, and James nodded shakily. Finally, they were called into chambers.
"Are we assembled, then?" James, along with McGonagall and Dumbledore nodded. "Very well, then let's get started, shall we?" and Madam Bones rapped her gavel twice sharply.
James took a deep breath. He was still nervous, and tried not to show it.
"Do be calm," Minerva muttered.
"This is intended to be a short hearing through Wizarding Family Services regarding young Harry James Potter and the suitability of Mr. James Tiberius Potter, his father by blood, to retain guardianship of Master Harry Potter," Madam Bones said, and James nodded again. "Present are Mr. James Potter himself, Professor Albus Dumbledore, Headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, of which Mr. Potter is a recent graduate; and Professor Minerva McGonagall, Transfiguration teacher at Hogwarts School and Head of Gryffindor House, to which Mr. Potter belonged while he was a student at said school. Is this correct?"
"Correct, Madam Bones," Dumbledore said.
"Very well," she said, and flipped a parchment. "Also present are Court Scribe, Mrs. Patrice Edgecombe; and myself, Madam Amelia Bones."
They got on with the court proceedings. James tried not to fidget.
"Normally, given that Mr. Potter is the child's blood relative, there would be no hearing whatsoever; however, recent events have sparked the interest of the Ministry, and it is therefore in the child's best interest to make certain that his guardian be of sound mental capabilities. Do you understand the reason the Ministry has called you here, Mr. Potter?" she asked.
James stood as Minerva's elbow dug into his side. "Yes, I understand," he said. He thumped back to the bench at Minerva's tug on his robes.
"Very well. Now, Professor Dumbledore, the court asks you why you believe the child should remain with his father."
Dumbledore stood and nodded politely. "I myself have performed Legillimency on Mr. Potter and believe him to be of sound mental and emotional capabilities," he said. "I am submitting into evidence a copy of James Potter's memory of the attack on Godric's Hollow, extracted by myself. I also submit into evidence a summary of my thoughts on Mr. Potter's mental state, written after extensive Legillimency, which was undergone willingly."
"Mr. Potter, do you agree with the statement that said Legillimency was performed with your consent?"
James didn't need Minerva's elbow to stand this time. "Yes, Madam Bones," he said. She nodded at him and he sat back down.
Madam Bones Summoned the memory and scroll from Dumbledore. She placed the memories aside and opened the scroll with Dumbledore's findings, skimming through it quickly. "This seems to be in order," she said, and placed it aside. "Have there been any medical examinations performed, so as to verify that there are or were no adverse physical side effects on Mr. Potter?"
James stood again. "Yes, Madam Bones," he said, desperately trying to remember what he was supposed to say. "I would like to submit for evidence my own medical records from November the eighteenth, which you can see include an extensive physical examination by Healer Rudolph Atwood, a Healer whom I had not met before that day, so as to provide an unbaised medical opinion. I also submit my medical history prior to that day, much of which was recorded by the Auror Medical Team, for comparison."
The scrolls left the table upon which he placed them and again, Madam Bones glanced over them. "Very well, this will do nicely. Is there anything else the witnesses would like to submit for evidence to the court?"
Minerva stood. "While I do not believe they are strictly necessary, I have here several written character witnesses of Mr. Potter to submit for evidence, including testimonies from various other Hogwarts Professors, and Auror Kingsley Shacklebolt." She placed a bundle of envelopes on the table for Madam Bones to Summon and read.
"Very well," she said again, after she had flipped through the envelopes. "Thank you, Professors, Mr. Potter. If there is no further evidence for submission, I call for a recess of two hours so I may review the evidence submitted and make a judgement." She paused for five seconds, then rapped her gavel once again. "Court is in recess for two hours. We will reconvene in this place." She stood, along with Patrice Edgecombe, and left the courtroom.
"Well done, James," Minerva said, and stood.
"That was it?" he asked, dazedly.
"Were you expecting the full Wizengamot?" she asked dryly.
"Sort of?" he said, at an utter loss. "What do we do now, then?"
"I believe there is time for a short meal, if you're hungry," Dumbledore said happily. "Otherwise, I'm afraid there isn't much else to do but wait for the recess to come to a close. Unfortunately, I told Minister Bagnold that I would meet with her today, and this seems to have provided the perfect opportunity. I shall see you in two hours." And with that, he marched off.
"Why so long?" James asked, trailing after Minerva.
"I suspect Amelia needs time to decipher the Healer-ese," Minerva said out of the corner of her mouth. "She never was well-suited to medicine."
James laughed incredulously. "So that's really all that it takes, then?"
"Yes, James, that's all it takes," she said. "Well done; I was afraid you'd lose your head in there and start shouting. Is it true that you and Barty Crouch rowed in the Auror Office?"
James grinned sheepishly, but did not answer. Minerva sniffed and marched down the hall.
000
When they reconvened, two hours later as requested, James felt simultaneously more confident and more nervous. He had done well, he thought, and the evidence seemed clearly in his favor.
He, Minerva, and Dumbledore all stood as Madam Bones entered the courtroom once more, hopefully for the last time. She glanced around, cataloging those present, and rapped her gavel on the desk. "This court is now in session," she said, and James sat.
"Mr. Potter, after reviewing the evidence submitted, I see no reason that you be declared unfit as a guardian. You will retain guardianship of your son by blood, Harry James Potter, barring any reason that may deem you unfit, whether that be mental, physical, medical, magical, or any other reason not listed." She tapped her gavel. "Court is adjourned."
She rose, and James imitated her. He felt relieved, and almost - but not quite - disappointed.
"Congratulations, Mr. Potter," Dumbledore said as they left the courtroom.
"Thanks," James said, feeling bewildered. "I honestly wasn't expecting it to go that well," he confessed.
"Oh, James, the Ministry are, by and large, a group of fusspots who can't keep their noses out of anything," Minerva said, not bothering to keep her voice down. "You should know this by now."
James grinned.
Thanks for the reviews. Keep them coming - I have no idea if this story is working or not, otherwise!
I've got a couple more chapters lined up, then probably another brief hiatus. Cheers!