Disclaimer: I am not JK Rowling, and I do not own Harry Potter. I make no money from the writing of this fan fiction.

A/N: I would like to thank Nichole Stewart, aka nikkistew2, for her help with keeping me organized for this story. Thank you for letting me bounce ideas off you and giving me an idea of what might or might not work for a particular scene.

Chapter Six

Sirius Black sat staring at the wall of his cell in Azkaban Prison. His mind was focused on two things: the fact he was innocent, and his godson Harry. It was those two things that helped keep him sane in this thin slice of Hell. He assumed it was only the fact those thoughts were more an obsession than happy or cheerful that the Dementors in this place hadn't stolen them from him yet. He did his best to keep track of how long he'd been there, but it wasn't always easy. The days blended together too well to really keep track. He shook his head slightly to stave off a bout of tears and focused instead on Harry. His godson by oath, and the son of one of his best friends in the world. How old would he be now? Seven? Eight? Without someone to tell him what year it was, he only had vague guesses.

I keep hoping someone will come tell me I'm going to finally have a trial. At least then I would know why I'm in this Merlin-damned hellhole. But no one ever told me anything; they just loaded me in a boat and brought me here, he thought, still trying to hold on to those thoughts that he knew to be true.

Sirius had no way of knowing that at that very moment, someone miles away was trying to do everything possible to allow him to leave Azkaban for good.

OOO

Brian Greengrass of Greengrass, Morton, and Stanton, looked carefully around the room he'd been shown into moments before by a house elf. It looked to be a small, well-appointed study, with shelves of books off to the side and a large mahogany desk near the window. It was at the desk that he saw the current Head of House Black, Lord Arcturus Black. He briefly inclined his head in a gesture of respect.

"Lord Black, thank you for taking the time to see me, my name is Brian Greengrass."

"You said in your letter that you had something of importance to discuss with me, Mr. Greengrass. What is this matter of importance that you would travel here from London to speak to me about?"

"As I said in my letter, sir, it's a matter regarding your grandson, Sirius Black."

"Sirius is in Azkaban. Has been ever since 1981. Why would you want to discuss him?"

"Lord Black, it came to the attention of one of my partners while working on another case that there may be some-irregularities-regarding your grandson's incarceration. What I would like to do, with your permission, is look over the copy of the transcript for your grandson's trial, and make sure that everything is in order."

"I'm sorry, but that's impossible."

"My apologies, Lord Black, but are you saying it's impossible because you won't give permission for me to read the transcript?" Brian asked, confused.

"No, Mr. Greengrass, I'm saying it's impossible because I was never given a copy of the trial transcript. I can't give you permission to read what I don't have."

"And you didn't find that unusual, sir? Ordinarily the Head of a family is given such documentation in the event the Head wishes to change things in regard to the estate, such as bequests in a will or property transfers."

"I was put off every time I asked about it, Mr. Greengrass. And yes, I found it unusual. The Wizengamot was quick enough to send me the transcript when they tried and convicted one of my cousins, Bellatrix Lestrange. Sirius is my Heir, so of course it's unusual I don't have the transcript for the trial. I was only notified he'd been taken to Azkaban and what his prisoner number was, nothing else. So why don't you tell me why you're asking about my grandson after all this time that he's been in prison?"

"Lord Black, are you familiar with the name Harry Potter?"

"I'm old, Mr. Greengrass, but I'm not senile yet. Of course I'm familiar with the name. The boy is Sirius' godson, as well as a designated Heir for Sirius until and unless he has a son of his own. Why do you ask?"

"The irregularities my partner became aware of are related to Harry Potter, sir. Apparently your grandson Sirius was supposed to have custody of Harry Potter should anything happen to James and Lily Potter. Sirius was incarcerated within days of the deaths of James and Lily Potter."

"That's absurd, Mr. Greengrass. Having heard my share of trials as part of the Wizengamot, I know it takes at least a few weeks to bring a trial before the Wizengamot. The only way Sirius could have been sent to Azkaban within days is…"Arcturus trailed off, a look of fury coming over his face.

"Lord Black? Are you alright, sir?"

"You're saying that it's likely my grandson was incarcerated without trial, aren't you?"

"That is, unfortunately, what my firm believes, sir. We have found no record of the trial, or even an arrest and interrogation regarding Sirius Black."

"What would you say your record as a solicitor is like, Mr. Greengrass? Are you the kind that would offer a deal to the opposing side to shorten the trial, or are you the kind that would go for the jugular to avenge a wrong done to an Heir of an Ancient and Noble House? Think carefully before you answer, because if I don't feel you're right for the job, I'll be contacting a firm I know of that handled my late wife's affairs, and I can't stand any of those pompous windbags."

"Lord Black, chances are good that one of two people would be prosecuting the case against Sirius; Amelia Bones or the Minister of Magic, Millicent Bagnold. If I were going to wager between the two, I would put my money on the prosecutor being Madam Bones. She's tough enough when prosecuting that she's been compared to a barracuda. However, where Madam Bones is a barracuda, I'm more of a shark."

"And one of the only two creatures capable of taking down a barracuda is a shark, the other being a killer whale," Arcturus mused, eyes narrowed in thought.

Brian simply nodded, waiting.

"I expect the contract for your services to be delivered within the next few days, Mr. Greengrass, including the receipt for the retainer. As of now, I want you to consider my grandson your client. I'm giving you carte blanche to do anything you legally have to do to bring my grandson home, and if I think you're vicious enough, I may extend your services to helping me not only sue every person responsible for Sirius being put in prison illegally for every Galleon they ever earned, but returning the favor by putting them under Azkaban. Are we clear?"

"Crystal, Lord Black. I'll get started as soon as I return to the office."

"And I'll have the retainer deposited in you firm's vault before the end of the day. As I expect this won't happen overnight, I would appreciate a weekly progress report."

"As you wish, Lord Black. Good day, sir."

"Good day, Mr. Greengrass."

With another respectful nod, Brian left the study, and was met at the doorway by a house elf and escorted to the Floo. He let out the breath he hadn't realized he'd been holding, and mentally began a list of things he would need to do if he was going to help Sirius Black regain his freedom.

OOO

Once back in the suite of offices used by his firm, Brian went to Kyle's office. He was still a bit shell shocked by how his meeting with Lord Black had went, but knew Kyle would need to know the outcome. He knocked lightly on the doorframe to get his attention.

"Well?" Kyle asked, knowing he wouldn't need to say more.

"I need to have my assistant put together a contract for services, and then ask someone in accounting to write a receipt for Lord Black. Whoever does it will need to look at the summary for the firm's vault to find the amount, however. Lord Black didn't say how much he was transferring as a retainer for services. After that, I need to go to Azkaban to confer with our new client."

"So not even Lord Black was given a trial transcript for Sirius Black. Sometimes the sheer stupidity and short sightedness of some people who are in positions of power actually frighten me. You would think the person-or people-responsible would stop to think, and figure out someone would realize something was wrong when no one could remember reading anything in the Daily Prophet detailing the trial and start asking questions. Anyone with half a brain would at least have made a mockup of a transcript."

"Anyone with half a brain would have made sure that Sirius Black was given a trial in the first place; then a mockup of the transcript isn't needed."

"True. So are you going to visit Azkaban this afternoon or tomorrow?"

"More than likely tomorrow. First depositions take time, and I want to be certain that there are no potential holes in the case, so I'll take today for all of the tedious paperwork and other minutiae involved. Lord Black has given me carte blanche to do anything I need to legally do in regard to Sirius Black."

"Really? Now that would set a niffler among the treasure."

"Yes it does. He also told me something that relates to your young client, Harry Potter."

"Oh?"

"According to Lord Black, Harry Potter is the designated Heir for Sirius Black until and unless Sirius has a son of his own."

"Oh, sweet Merlin," Kyle breathed, a look of shocked comprehension crossing his face.

"What? What do you think is going on?"

"We were trying to figure out what Albus Dumbledore had to do with all of this. The sealed wills, Sirius Black being in Azkaban, Harry Potter living with –frankly abusive-relatives who don't give a damn if he lives or dies as long as he does all of the work they assign him, plus the fact he's Headmaster of the school Harry will likely be attending in a few years. If Dumbledore sets himself up as Harry's 'rescuer' from his relatives in giving him a place in Hogwarts as a student, then chances are high Harry would hero-worship the man, believing anything Dumbledore told him."

"Which would effectively allow Dumbledore to control Harry and how he thinks of the Wizarding world," Brian said, following Kyle's train of thought.

"With Harry Potter not only Heir-and later Head-of the Potter family, with access to their vaults and other assets, he's also the designated Heir Presumptive to the Black family, meaning in time he would have access to, and eventually control of, those funds and assets if Sirius has no Heir of his own. So whoever can find a way to control Harry Potter…"

"Will also have a way to control the Potter and Black fortunes, assets, and their votes on the Wizengamot."

"Exactly. The Chief Warlock sits on the Wizengamot, but has no vote unless there's a tie of some kind on an issue or trial. And if there is no designated guardian able to fill the role, he is also de facto guardian for orphaned magical children until they come of age. Which tells me I also need to request a hearing to have a guardian ad litem appointed for Harry Potter, and soon."

OOO

Kyle had only been home for a half hour when he vaguely registered hearing the back door close and lock. In order to keep his promise to Harry, he made sure to leave the door slightly ajar so he could come in if needed. As he got up to greet him, he heard Harry saying his name, but his voice sounded faint, not strong like a child trying to get an adult's attention would use. He hadn't taken more than a few steps when he heard a soft thud coming from the kitchen. Now more than a bit concerned, Kyle hurried toward the sound. He stopped and stared in horror for a moment before instinct and training came into play, and he grabbed a small pouch from under the sink before crossing the floor to the source of the sound.

Harry lay on the kitchen floor, his face covered in a mix of blood from what looked to be a split lip and possibly broken nose, and bruises, mainly around his eyes and cheeks. Being careful not to jostle him, Kyle cleaned away the blood and checked for other injuries. Although he wasn't able to find any additional injuries, that didn't mean they weren't there. Briefly stepping out of the kitchen, Kyle conjured his Patronus, a fierce cheetah.

"Go to Brian Greengrass. Tell him I need both him and his wife here immediately. Our young client has been injured and the injuries look severe. The Floo will be opened, and the client is in the kitchen, lying on the floor."

Returning to Harry, Kyle picked up his hand; he tried to let Harry know he was there, that he wasn't alone. A moment later, his Floo activated, and soon after that Brian and his wife were in the kitchen. Kyle soon found himself pushed to the side as Brian's wife Amy knelt at Harry's side, wand already scanning for any injuries, whether or not they were visible.

"Kyle?" Amy Greengrass spoke, her voice low.

"Yes, Amy?"

"If it is at all possible, I want to be there when, not if, whoever did this to this child is brought to trial. And make sure that by the time you're finished with them, a Dementor's Kiss would seem like a mercy sentence. So far I've found a broken nose, cracked cheekbone, bloody lip, spiral fracture in his upper arm on both arms, and a bruised spleen. Why haven't you taken him to hospital yet?"

"Because his so called guardians live next door and they're muggles. I doubt they would allow him to be treated, since that would bring what they've done to the attention of the authorities."

"That's going to change soon, right? Because this child is magical. The last thing a magical child needs-" she stopped speaking abruptly, finally seeing the tell-tale scar-"sweet merciful Circe and Nimue! Harry Potter!"

"I already know who he is, Amy. And yes, I'll do everything in my power to make sure his relatives no longer have the care of him. You have my word on that."

The slow smile that graced the face of Amy Greengrass after hearing that was chilling.