Title: Strings of Fate
Author: Knife Hand
Feedback: Constructive feedback appreciated, flames unappreciated
Spoilers: Nothing Specific, general for first few books.
Rating: R
Disclaimer: I do not own Hermione, or Luna, or Ginny, or Cho, or... I would buy them all but I am broke.
Summary: Being raised only by his Aunt, Harry comes to Hogwarts not only knowing about the Wizarding World, but with a kind of training no one at the school is expecting.
A/N: Apologies in advance for the dense legal talk in the first scene.
"The story of Halloween 1981 has been circulated through our society so many times that everyone thinks they know the story." The Defence Lawyer said.
It was the final day of the trail of Sirius Black and this was the closing remarks.
"But, let's review what we actually do know and can prove." The Defence Lawyer continued. "Just after their graduation, Albus Dumbledore witnessed for the Ministry that Lord and Lady Potter co-signed a loan for then James Potter and Lily Evans to purchase a home at Godric's Hollow. We know that Sirius Black was James' Best Man at his wedding to Lily Evans."
The Defence Lawyer glanced over at Petunia, quick enough not to be noticed, feeling sorry for the woman who was reliving her Sister's demise. He fixed the Jury with a firm look as he continued. Petunia was sitting in the crowd next to Amelia Bones and a number of trainees from the Auror Academy, including Trainee Tonks and Trainee Zorah.
"We know that the Potters went into hiding using very advanced magic sometime between the 20th and 23rd of August 1981. We know that Albus Dumbledore was attending a meeting if the IWC from the 15th of August to the 3rd of September 1981. We know that the Potters were attacked on October 31st 1981 and that night Sirius Black was found late that night in a ruined street where there were a number of dead Muggles and a finger from Peter Pettigrew. That's the total that we actually know of this case."
The Defence Lawyer saw the confusion on the face of the Jury and a small amount of supressed rage on the face of the Prosecution Lawyer.
"Now, the Prosecution have tried to indicate that there is concrete evidence that Sirius betrayed the Potters. They claim that there is solid proof that Sirius Black was the Potter's Secret Keeper, based on nothing more than everyone 'knows' he was, something supposedly confirmed by Albus Dumbledore, yet they refused to call him as a witness. They claim that Sirius used a blasting curse on Peter and all that was left was a finger. Let's consider how unlikely that is. To completely destroy everything except a finger."
At this the Defence Lawyer held up his little finger on his left hand and used his right to gesture to the rest of his body.
"Honestly?" The Defence Lawyer asked. "And finally, they claim that Peter Pettigrew acted valiantly to bring Sirius to justice. Remember the testimony from various witnesses over the course of this trial. It was at ten thirty-five PM that Hagrid from Hogwarts arrived at Godric's Hollow, tipped off by Albus Dumbledore, who no doubt had monitoring charms on the home. At ten forty, by previous arrangement, Sirius arrived to find Hagrid holding baby Harry and the house destroyed. At ten fifty-five, confirmed by a number of Muggle recording devices, Sirius found Peter. It was Peter who proclaimed 'You betrayed them.' before the Magic used shorted out the recording devices."
The Defence Lawyer glanced at the Prosecution Lawyer who seemed to be grinning, until the Defence Lawyer grinned back.
"Sure, this all seems to support the Prosecution's case, until we remember the testimony from the DMLE personnel. The first report was not submitted to the DMLE until eleven fifteen. A full twenty minutes after we have confirmation of Sirius and Peter's meeting. Sirius was found and captured within four minutes of that first report. So the question remains, how did Peter know that James and Lily Potter had been betrayed. The DMLE did not know at that point. Hagrid and Harry were still on route to Hogwarts to inform Dumbledore what had happened. Given this, there is only one way for Peter to know something had even happened was if he had been at the Potter residence at the time You-Know-Who attacked. And if Peter was there at the time, the only way he would have survived was if he was part of the attack. Consider that as you make your deliberations."
With that the Defence Lawyer took his seat next to Sirius while the Prosecution Lawyer, looking slightly disturbed, stood to make his own closing statements.
Harry and his friends sat around their table in the library. Luna was now a regular member of the study group and there were a few others, like Gryffindor Chasers Angelina Johnson and Katie Bell, who joined in on occasion.
Padma and Hannah were helping Luna with her Charms homework, occasionally having trouble with a few of Luna's more… eccentric personality traits.
"So, any word from the faculty about what happened on Halloween?" Hermione asked.
"Not really." Harry replied. "Apparently Helena and the Bloody Baron are convinced that whatever did it was somehow related to the Founders. It's not showing up on the Wards."
"That's interesting." Hermione said. "We should research the Founders."
"As an additional project only." Susan interjected, noticing the look in Hermione's eyes. "Schoolwork comes first and we do not run off impulsively. Anything we find we take to the Professors."
"But…" Hermione began.
"Susan's right." Neville interrupted. "It is the Professor's responsibility to take care of any threats, not ours."
"Ok." Hermione replied. "But we can still research?"
"Yes, Wells, we can still research." Harry conceded. "And then we tell the Professors, well except The Peacock."
"We loved how you put him in his place, Harry." Fred said.
"That was a classic putdown." George added.
"He's so vain." Harry said. "Even the mention that anything could be wrong is enough to send him running."
"Are you thinking what I'm thinking?" George asked Fred.
"I think so, but where are we going to store the mallet and the radishes?" Luna interjected.
"Umm, we were thinking about constantly mentioning some flaw every time we were around Lockhart." Fred replied.
"Umm… what mallet and radishes?" Daphne asked quietly.
"Never mind. It's Luna." Harry replied equally quietly. "Some things only make sense to her."
"Foreman, have the Jury reached a decision?" the Judge asked.
The Jury for the Sirius Black trial had been in deliberations for four days.
"We have, your Honour." The Jury Foreman replied.
"Foreman, please read out the verdict." The Judge replied.
"We find the defendant not guilty on all charges." The Foreman replied.
"Thank you. The Jury is dismissed with the thanks of the court." The Judge announced.
"No Sirius, you are not going to get drunk and do something stupid enough to get you arrested." Amelia Bones admonished. "We just got you off one false charge, we're not going through this again for something you did do."
Sirius' cheeky grin withered under Amelia's glare. They were back in the safe house that Sirius had been in for house arrest for the last several years. Petunia and Tonks were standing off to the side with Marie Jennings, the Auror from Sirius' guard detail that had been sleeping with him for the last year at least.
Petunia smiled slightly as Amelia continued to rip into Sirius, knowing it was just the Law Enforcement Director's way of working through the stress of the trial. Jennings and Tonks were simply glad that the Director's ire was not directed at them.
"Ami, lay off him for now." Petunia said after a few minutes. "He's still got to face up to Harry and his friends."
"Yes, you're right." Amelia said with a slight sigh. "Make sure you take video. I want to see him squirm."
Amelia jerked her thumb at Sirius when she said 'him', earning a predatory grin from Petunia and a nervous gulp from Sirius.
TBC…