Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter.

Chapter Twenty-Two

The Press

Sirius 'Padfoot' Black could only remember being this nervous on one other occasion and that was the day that Harry was born. As he walked out of Kingsley's office he tried to think of what he wanted to say to the press. If he could he would have asked Kingsley for a Calming Draught just to calm the nerves some or maybe some Firewisky. Both would have worked for him. "Sirius, are you all right?" Kingsley asked him before they went up on the stage.

"I'll be fine. Let's just get this over with." Sirius said stepping onto the stairs leading to the stage that would be the focus for the conference. Looking out over the crowd looking to see which publications showed to get a glimpse of the only person to break out of Azkaban on his own. Sirius just wanted it done as he saw the only reporter he thought would be out of a job by now. "Kingsley, why is Skeeter still employed. I thought that she would have lost her job by now. Why is she here? Who is she here for?"

Kingsley thought about how to tell him. "Skeeter is still employed because the new owner likes keeping her on a tight leash. He reads each and every article that she writes and he has made her make an oath to always write the truth and only the truth. So I wouldn't worry. I know for a fact that the owner will read this story very strictly and he knows the facts of the case." Sirius thought this through and wondered who the new owner was and who brought him out was.

Before he could ask Kingsley moved up to the podium. "Ladies and Gentlemen of Great Britain I would like to introduce you to Sirius Black; a man who overcame immense struggles to keep his godson safe. Now to tell you his story Sirius Black." Kingsley stepped back and waved Sirius forward. As Sirius walked toward the podium he stumbled due to his nerves.

"Hello. I am Sirius Black and no Mr. Lovegood I was never and will never be Stubby Boardman of the Hobgoblins. I have been asked to come before you today to allow you and all of your lovely publications to widespread my innocence. Since Fudge declared me innocent but didn't tell the rest of the world." Sirius stopped there to catch his breath before continuing. "The esteemed Minister didn't really give me a model to follow so I am just going to allow you to ask questions. This will be done in an orderly fashion. You will raise your hand and I will call on you. I do hold the power to just not answer a question; so think of that as you think of your questions. Also when I call on you will state your name and the name of your publication. Now who has a question for me?" He stopped to look around only to see that each of the reporters were thinking through their question; well all except one. "Yes." He said pointing at Rita.

"Rita Skeeter, Daily Prophet. I am wondering why you went after Peter Petegrew to begin with. Why not just go to the Ministry and demand to be given Veritaserum to prove that you were not the Potter's Secret Keeper and go get your godson?" Rita asked with a smirk that she was trying to pass off as a smile.

"Rita, I went after Peter because I didn't want Harry to be in danger from the man that willing gave him and his parents to the worst sort of person ever. I did go to Godric's Hollow first and dug out my brother in all but blood, the sister I never had, and my godson; who I was surprised was still breathing and alive. It took me and Hagrid several hours to sift through the demolished house. I made the decision to leave my godson in Hagrid's hands and to go and capture the man responsible to making Harry an orphan. Yes." Sirius pointed to Lovegood.

"Xenophillis Lovegood, The Quibbler. Mr. Black, why didn't this come up in any reports or a trial? Even your extremely deranged cousin got a trial and she was caught while using the pain curse. Why didn't you seem to have a parchment trail of a trial?" He asked with a slight frown.

"Xeno I wasn't actually given a trial. They didn't take a statement from me. I was just herded off to Azkaban. Had I had a trial I would have been free to raise my godson. Even if I had to buy a house next to his aunt so that he would be protected. One more question, yes." Sirius said pointing to a young woman who looked about Harry's age.

"Lavender Brown, Witch Weekly. Mr. Black I know your story because Harry is in my year but what I don't know is why they didn't question you when you got captured back in 1994 before they tried to administer the Kiss. Why did you not demand as a pureblood first born son of an ancient and noble house to be given a trial?" Lavender asked being a half-blood girl didn't mean that she didn't know the noble houses and the power they held.

Sirius smiled at her before answering, "I was disowned when I was sixteen and I ran from home. I wasn't aware until after Harry and Hermione rescued me and I was able to look into things that my father had reinstated me as heir and that I was at that time Lord Black and could demand that. Now I just want to tell you all before I am passed into the warden's care at Hogwarts that I had always intended to drag Peter to the Ministry to have us both questioned. I only had my wand out to cast a body bind curse at him. Thank you all and I am sorry I must cut this short but I am getting very weak and must leave or I would answer more questions from you. I look forward to reading all of your articles." With that Sirius stepped away from the podium and headed back into the Minister's office.

Kingsley came in about five minutes later. "You did great, Sirius. Now let's get you to Hogwarts. We are going to appeaate so that the Ministry can see you walk through and so that you can get use to walking again. Hopefully then you will be ready physically and mentally to see Tabitha."

Sirius paled then thinking of the woman that he got pregnant in France. "Kings, I don't know how to tell her that I got another woman pregnant I am going to have to find her and unfreeze that pregnancy." Kingsley laughed at this only to have Sirius look at him incredulously and prompting him to ask. "Why are you laughing this is very serious? This could ruin my relationship with not only Tabitha but with the other woman and my godson."

"I wouldn't worry just yet. Let's just get you to Hogwarts and then you can discuss this with Tabitha." Kingsley said still with a slight laugh to his voice.

AN: Just wanted to put out a quick thank you and to say I'm sorry I ment to get this up on Sat. but I forgot that I had a wedding to go to. Now this chapter has been beta'd by iscarescaresyou my best friend and greatest inspiration for most things.