A/N: Well, I'm trying to finish this story before I go t o camp next week. When I come back I'll start a new long one, and maybe start some one part short stories. Thanks Desiree for reviewing. I realized that though I would write better if you review, I can't stop this story, even if no one reads it. Because writing is my hobby, and I can't just stop in the midst of a plot. But is you want me to hurry or write other stories, or just plain be nice, you should REVIEW. THANK YOU!!!! All the hp characters that you know belong to JK Rowling.
Chapter 11: The Trial.
Harry's stomach was turning over and over as he walked in, flanked by Cho with her hand entwined with his, on one side, Ron on the other side squeezing his shoulder. Hermione in the front with a look that dared anyone to talk to him, or even look at him. And Draco in the back holding his wand looking cold like a Malfoy. Professors Lupin and Dumbledore were beside Draco and were conversing silently. Though the trial wasn't to start for another five minutes,
( they had run late, but seats had been saved for them,) t he place was silent, and everyone was seated watching them enter. Even with his bodyguards, Harry felt everyone staring. As they walked to their seats, they passed by Sirius, chained up in the defense chair. When Harry saw him, he pulled himself out of Cho and Ron's grips. He ran over to his god-father, and was going to hug him, but the two guards told him he'd have to return to his seat. 'Everyone probably thought I was running to him, to kill him. Shows what people know.'
"Go Harry." Sirius sounded weak but happy. "Hopefully, we'll enjoy many hugs when we live together." So he went. As they sat down, they heard the judge's voice beginning the trial.
"We have gathered here today to reevaluate the story of Sirius Black. Fourteen years ago, Black was witnessed killing many people including Peter(A/N What's his last name?).
After over a decade in Azkaban Black escaped and was said to be after the famous wizard Harry Potter, savior of wizard kind. Though the full story is not known, according to what Cornelius Fudge says, Harry is not of clear mind, believing Black to be innocent." "He is not" "Hermione. Shut up." " Fudge said the same thing last year, when Harry said the Dark Lord was back, yet, he was unfortunately right. The Dark Lord made an appearance in South America, and is waiting for we don't know what. But he'll be back one day. The esteemed Albus Dumbledore has given us his word of honor that young Harry is of whole mind. It was he who asked us to judge Mr. Black again, and we are now gathered together to hear the words of a few witnesses. I now call up Remus Lupin, the Dada teacher in Hogwarts school."
"How do you know the accused, Prof. Lupin?"
"We were best friends since our days at Hogwarts. I would swear on my life, that Sirius would never do such a thing."
"Is it not true, Professor, that Sirius Black was the secret keeper for Lily and James Potter?"
"No, it is not!" Sounds of disbelief echoed through the room. The judge let out a bang from his wand and the prosecutor continued.
"Then who was it?"
"Sirius had given over his job to Wormtail, hoping to confuse Voldemort. Unfortunately, Wormtail was not trustworthy."
"How can we even believe your testimony when you are a werewolf." Dumbledore looked grave when he heard this. But Lupin just stood up straighter and smiled kindly.
"If I was a werewolf, how would I be able to be sitting here talking to you on good health during the days of a full moon?" The prosecutor looked shocked.
"No more questions professor." And so it was, one by one the prosecutor, and then the defense called up many people. The aurors who had found Wormtail's pinky. The wizards by the scene of destruction. Dumbledore, who produced the photo of the Weaselys in Egypt with Scabbers there and told of the theory of Wormtail being Scabbers. Finally, the defense looking rumpled but not defeated proclaimed.
"I would now like to call upon our last witness. Someone who the magical world is in debt to. No one can say he is under the Imperious Curse, because this boy is one of the few whom it doesn't work on. He should be able to tell us the story of what happened the night he is said to have spoken to Black. Harry Potter, please come forward." And Harry came up. Straight and tall, he stood before the jury and answered all the questions. He told of what had happened to him the night Buckbeak was supposed to be executed. He skipped out his part in Sirius's escape. When he was finished with that the defense looked at him kindly.
"One last question Mr. Potter. In your opinion, do you think Sirius Black is guilty? And what difference will it make to you if he is innocent or guilty?"
"He's absolutely, 100% INNOCENT. And what difference will it make? I'll tell you what difference it will make. I live with my muggle Aunt and Uncle. They give me so little food to eat, I live on the cake and food my friends owl me. I have a cousin whose goal os to get me locked up in my small room and starved even more. I have known no love when I was young, and anything strange that happened was blamed on me. I had no friends in school. I was bullied, and made fun of. I was the skinny boy with taped glasses and baggy clothes. If Barty Crouch would've sent Sirius to trial, and not have just thrown him into Azkaban, maybe he would've been found innocent. Just maybe. And because he was named my god father when I was born, I might have been able to have had a happy childhood. But I wasn't. If Sirius would be believed, then I would have happy teenaged years." He turned to the jury and said very coldly, "Do you want to be held responsible for my unhappy teen years?" Later Malfoy swore that it was that last sentence that had silenced any doubts in the minds of the twelve men sitting there. As one they all stood up and said, "INNOCENT". And Harry flew into Sirius's arms. People around them were shaking Sirius's hand, and apologizing for ever having doubted his innocence. Hermione came pushing through, and hugged Sirius tightly.
"Now I feel that when I broke the law it was worth it," She whispered. Draco slapped Sirius on the back as a pompous voice was heard.
"Ron? How do you do?" Ron groaned and turned to look at Percy.
"I thought I was finished with you." He glared at Percy and Harry and Hermione exchanged amused glances. Sirius joined their group as they walked into the big room where there would be entertainment for the international guests. He had his arm around Harry, and he looked like a proud father when the judge came over to them and said, "We will be seeing great things from you, Mr. Potter. Great things." Ron and Liza had disappeared for a few minutes. When they came back Harry sidled up to Ron.
"You have lipstick on your lips, Ron." Ron looked horrified. "Just joking. Well, that confirmed my theory." Ron's ears turned red.
***
Entertainment was over and a tall man stood up in the front of the room. He had a distinct southern American accent. "I am the minister of magic of Brazil. Where I have come from there is chaos, due to the appearance of you-know-who. We have heard earlier, by the trial of Sirius Black from Mr. Potter who told us about the rebirth of this inhuman monster. It has come to my attention, that Cornelius Fudge had denied the word of Harry saying that you-know-who has returned, and had called him of insane mind. He even threatened to remove Albus as headmaster of Hogwarts and refused to believe anything that was said to him. Besides for just insulting the most important people in the world, he denied the proof that Professor Severus Snape offered calling him crazy. This was the last straw on the camels back, and we have all gathered here today to discuss his capability of ruling Britain." He pulled out his wand and out of it curled the words 'Fernando Marquis, Spain', in bright yellow letters. A short, round man walked up. As he climbed the stairs up to the dais, he tripped and went tumbling down the steps. The room shook with laughter. It took a few bangs from his wand, when he got up there to get the room quiet.
He was a merry man, and he began in a jovial voice.
"Ah yes most esteemed wizards. Though I may be clumsy I shall prove to you I am a wizard. Unicole." A dancing unicorn suddenly appeared before them in all it's beauty. Pure white, it held it's head high. Fernando smiled a gain and took a short bow. A little too low, though. He landed up on his face amid the returned laughter. "Well, will a care of magical creature minister come here please and take care of our guest here? Anyways, I have known Cornelius since he was younger. He was in the same class as me in our school, where he boarded in Spain. He was kicked out of the school in France, where his mother lived because he refused to listen. He was known in out school, to be a little out of touch with reality. Though he may have been smart he often did not believe that things really happened. He refused to believe it when his mother died, still sending her owls daily. When he got kicked out of Beuxbatons (A/N is that in France?) He still spoke French in the beginning, refusing to believe he left. Someone with a mind as such, is quite incapable of ruling England." And so it went. And at the end of the satisfying and enjoyed night for the Hogwarts students, Cornelius Fudge was pronounced unqualified to rule over England.