Hermione's choice
Here we are, Sirius is finally in the court room.
Nothing recognizable ever belongs to me.
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Sirius Black was led into the Wizengamot chamber and placed in the defendant's chair. The magical chains wrapped around him and prevented him from looking around very much.
Amelia Bones started the proceedings. "Sirius Black. You are facing the following charges…"
After having the charges read and hearing the evidence from Peter's trial and a short deliberation it was time for judgment. Sirius sat as straight as he could while being chained in his chair and prepared to face is doom.
"… Therefore we, the Wizengamot, find you not guilty of any of the charges against you." Albus Dumbledore solemnly stated and Sirius sagged with relief. "You are free to …"
"Wait! We still have the charge of him being an unregistered Animagus! Amelia didn't add that one!" Cornelius Fudge shouted desperately.
"Very well. On the charge of being an unregistered Animagus, how do you plead?" Dumbledore asked resignedly.
"Not guilty." Sirius replied calmly.
"What? Are you an animagus?" Fudge asked, puzzled.
"Sure am!" Sirius said happily.
"But we checked the registry and your name was not on it." Fudge spluttered petulantly.
"No, it wouldn't have been on the British registry."
"Then you are guilty!" Fudge crowed.
"No, I registered elsewhere." Sirius said smugly.
"Then you are still guilty of not registering appropriately!" Fudge shouted triumphantly.
"Incorrect!" Sirius shouted back. In a milder tone he continued. "I don't know if they have been changed since I was in Azkaban but according to the rules and laws surrounding Animagus registration at the time I registered, and I quote, 'If a person attains complete animagus transformation before the attainment of age of majority they may, at attainment, register with any ICW recognized Ministry of Magic of that persons' choice. This must be done within one calendar month of the persons' attainment of majority.' I was fifteen when I first successfully transformed." Sirius finished smugly.
"That can't be right! He's lying!" many people cried out.
There was a sudden rush to look at law books that had been gathering dust in desks (including one that had been used to prop up the wonky leg of a desk) as everyone wanted to check for themselves the validity of the law.
The court scribe read for several minutes and then nodded to Dumbledore, handing him an open book.
"Witches and Wizards of the Wizengamot. Mr. Black has correctly stated the Law. If he can prove his registration, from any country, he will be not guilty of the charges. Can you offer the court any proof of your alleged registration?" Dumbledore asked.
"As I have not been given access to my personal files that had been in my home when I was arrested, which were then confiscated along with everything else I then owned, I cannot." Sirius started to say.
"You see! He is guilty and trying to stall us." Fudge cried, interrupting Sirius.
Sirius frowned at Fudge and continued "Ahem, as I was saying, I do not have access to my personal copy of my registration. However! My registration will be on file with the Magical Ministry of New Zealand. As, when I turned seventeen, war was on our doorstep I felt that it was safer to not have a local registration and decided to make it difficult for anyone doing a random search to find it."
Everyone stared at him in disbelief.
"What?" Sirius asked innocently. "James Potter and I registered at the Magical Ministry of Taumatawhakatangihangakoauaotamateaturipukakapikimaungahoronukupokaiwhenuakitanatahu*, New Zealand. We thought it was a great way to obey the law and protect ourselves at the same time."
"Was that the only reason?" Dumbledore asked sternly, but his eyes were filled with mirth.
"Well… We also thought it was a great prank on the system." Sirius admitted a little shamefaced. "You try pronouncing that name in the floo sometime."
"Hmm… We will ask that you wait in a holding cell until we can contact the appropriate ministry. Aurors, please escort him to the cells."
A short time later.
"This session of the Wizengamot is resumed. Mr. Black, we have contacted the ministry of magic in Tuanatewhak… You were correct Mr. Black. It is indeed a difficult name to floo call. Ahem, we have contacted the Ministry in New Zealand and they confirmed that you are indeed registered with them." Dumbledore stated. "Therefore, you are found to be not guilty to being an unregistered Animagus. You are free to leave. We will arrange a time to discuss compensation for your illegal incarceration at a later date. The Wizengamot is now adjourned for lunch. We will reconvene at one pm."
Bang! went the gavel and the chains holding Sirius fell to the floor.
"Before you leave Mr. Black, may I please have a word?" Madam Bones called as he stood to leave. Approaching him Amelia said quietly "We are discussing the custody and living arrangements for your Godson after the lunch break. Would you like to stay?"
"I would even stay in this decidedly uncomfortable chair to do that. Thank you Madam. Would you mind introducing us before then?"
XXXXX
As they walked to lunch together Amelia felt that she needed to inform Sirius of some of the changes to their world.
"…And I am very sorry to be the one to tell you that your grandfather, Arcturus Black, died of natural causes last week. You were named as his successor, Lord Black."
"Damn! The old bugger must have ignored my mother and not disowned me." Sirius said, surprised.
"When I talked to him a few years ago he said that he never believed that you did anything to be in Azkaban. He also said, and I don't believe he was entirely joking, 'why couldn't Sirius have taken me away from the PIA** family with him?'" Amelia said with a grin.
"That doesn't entirely surprise me." Sirius chuckled. "After I left home Arcturus often talked to Lord Potter about me. And Charlus Potter said that Grandfather often asked if the Potter's had another spare bedroom. He really wasn't happy with the way the family was heading. He had taught us that the family may have been dark but there were still standards of behavior and lines that shouldn't be crossed. Let's see what I can do to change it. By the way, what was Malfoy doing in the Black seat?"
"As soon as Arcturus's death was announced Lucius approached the Minister and claimed the Proxy as his son is in the line of succession." Amelia said with a grimace. "He was very convincing and if we objected to him other seats proxies could, and probably would, be challenged too."
"Hmm," Sirius hummed thoughtfully. "Now that I am here a proxy is no longer needed. I think I will tell him when we resume."
As they entered the cafeteria Sirius was led to a side booth that already held a large party of people.
"Lord Sirius Black, may I have the privilege of reintroducing you to your godson, Heir Harry Potter." Amelia introduced them.
"How do you do Lord Black?" Harry said politely, standing and offering his hand to shake.
"Heir Potter." Sirius said with a small bow. "After peeing on me, multiple times might I add, when I changed your nappies I don't think that you ever need to shake hands with me. Can I give you a hug instead?" He asked hopefully, holding open his arms.
Harry would never remember moving but for the remainder of his life he would remember that first hug. He suddenly felt safe, he could feel that there was someone that cared about HIM, that there was someone who would protect him.
And then he felt something wet hitting his head.
Sirius was crying.
"I'm sorry pup. I shouldn't have left you that night. I am so sorry." Sirius sobbed, holding Harry tighter.
"We are together now." Harry smiled through his own tears, squeezing back. "That counts for a lot."
Sitting down a smiling Harry eagerly introduced Sirius to everyone.
"… And this is Professor McGonagall." Harry finished.
"We are already acquainted, Mr. Potter. Mr… I'm sorry, Lord Black, welcome back. I hope you will not be as a bad an influence with this Mr. Potter as you were with the last." Minerva said with a sad smile.
"Minnie! You wound me!" Sirius replied with a grin.
"Detention Black!" She snapped.
"Err… You do remember that I graduated many years ago?"
"That doesn't stop me from trying." She smiled wryly. "You still hold the record for detentions but there are a pair of twins that may soon overtake you there." Arthur winced.
As they ordered their lunches the others tried to become unobtrusive as Sirius and Harry got reacquainted.
"… And as your Godfather, you were meant to come and live with me. That offer stands if you want it." Sirius said quietly.
"You would really want me to live with you?" Harry asked hopefully.
"I really want you to live with me." Sirius assured Harry. He then explained "I do have some healing to do, mentally and physically, to recover from what has happened. But by Christmas I should be well enough to look after you properly."
"That sounds great. Do you have a house? Or are we going to look for something together?" Harry asked hopefully.
"I do have a house, but I really don't want to live there. We can look for something together if you would like to. I would need your help to find something good."
"That sounds great. But how will I help choose if I am at school?"
"Mr. Potter, I can authorize you leaving with your guardian on a weekend if you need to." Minerva said softly.
"Yes please!" Harry pleaded.
"But first, we need to get me authorized as your guardian." Sirius said, standing up as a chime sounded.
XXXXX
As everyone assembled after the lunch break and settled people were wondering what other explosive surprises they were in for. Hopefully it would be quieter than the morning session.
"As we resume I, again, give the floor to Madam Bones for any additional matters." Dumbledore said.
"Before you do, Sir, I have some urgent business." Sirius said, standing in the visitors' gallery.
"Very well, Lord Black." Dumbledore said, suspecting what was happening. He, like several others, had noticed Lucius flinch hearing Sirius's title.
"Thank you." Walking to the main floor he turned to the assembled members and said sharply "MR. Lucius Malfoy! You have shown blatant disregard to MY families' traditional mourning time in an attempt to usurp MY families rightful seat and political reputation. YOU, Sir, are churlish skamelarish cox-comb for trying to take advantage of my families' mourning and my absence! As such, I am demanding that you remove yourself from my families' seat immediately and that any actions that you may have taken as proxy are to be disregarded until such time that I can review them." Sirius paused and glared at Lucius. "Why haven't you moved yet?" He asked mildly.
Lucius's face had been alternating between red and white. He slowly stood and walked away without a word. He had been hoping that Sirius would not be told of his grandfather's death so soon.
"Oh, and Malfoy?" Lucius turned and looked at Sirius "We will be discussing this at length later!" Turning back to Dumbledore Sirius finished by saying "Thank you for allowing me to rectify this matter, Chief Warlock." He then bowed and stalked to his seat, where he cast a cleaning and disinfecting spell before sitting.
"Thank you Lord Black. Madam Bones? If you are ready to proceed?"
"Thank you Chief Warlock, I am. I am now asking that members of the Wizengamot to help a young boy with a serious problem. Through no fault of his own, he has not had a magical guardian since his parents were cruelly murdered at the end of the last war. As such he is needing us to ratify his choice of guardian."
Madam Augusta Longbottom stood and spoke calmly. "You have stated that this child is an orphan. I would like to ask if this person's parents had wills and if so, that they be read now. That may answer several questions that we may have."
"Thank you Madam Longbottom. We have found a will, but it was sealed by the Wizengamot in the days after the parents' deaths. I would call on the members here to unseal it so that we can ascertain the parents' wishes." Amelia said simply.
"I second that motion." Several voices called.
Albus Dumbledore sighed, knowing who they were discussing. There had been good reason to seal the will at the time, but it was obvious that circumstances had changed. He looked around the room and called for the vote. It was unanimous. The will was quickly retrieved from storage and the clerk broke open the magical seal.
The clerk then read "This is the final Will and Testament of Lord James and Lady Lilly Potter. I will only be reading the portion of the will regarding the custody of their son, Harry. It reads as follows. 'In the event of the death of one parent, the surviving parent automatically retains custody of our son. If both of us are dead, we wish Harry to go to the following people. This list is in order of our preference. Sirius Black, Godfather, Alice Longbottom, Godmother, Melissa Quinn, friend and finally, Minerva McGonagall, friend and mentor. Under no circumstances is Harry to be placed in the care of Petunia Dursley. She hates magic and we fear for our son's safety if he should be left in her care or in any family that has been accused of being in league with Voldemort or any of his supporters.'" The clerk finished reading and handed the will to Dumbledore.
"As Heir Potter is now eleven years old, he may have a say in who he wishes to have as his guardian. Heir Potter, would you please come forward." Amelia invited.
Harry walked nervously through the stands to the floor of the courtroom. "If I can name my guardian, I would like to live with my godfather, Sirius Black please." He said hesitantly.
Amelia smiled. "As he is the first person listed I do not see a problem with that." She turned and looked at Sirius, sitting in his families' traditional seat. "Do you accept this responsibility, Lord Black?"
"Definitely! I have already spoken to Heir Potter on this matter and am ready to assume this role." Sirius replied, standing proudly. "I know I can never replace James but I will do my best to be a good role-model for Harry. I am also aware that I need to recover from my ordeal with the help of Saint Mungo's, but I am confident that I will be ready to assume physical custody by the end of the current school term."
"Are there any objections to this appointment?" The question was met by silence. "Very well. I am glad you have thought about you own health so I do not have to order you to seek help." Dumbledore sighed, dreading what mischief Harry may be taught. "Congratulations to you both. You are now Guardian and Ward."
The gavel was brought down for the final time that day.
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*Yes, that is a real place. Sorry if I misspelt it.
** Pain In the A… (ahem, donkey's bottom.)