Chapter 3 – Sirius Black's Trial
"My scar," moaned Harry trying to sit up in his bed, "ugh, it's hurting so bad today and I don't know why…"
"Maybe you shouldn't goto Sirius's trial today," said Ron worriedly in the next bed. He had sat up too.
"No, I have to," said Harry with determination, "I have to see juistice for Sirius. He was unfairly accused and was sentenced to Azkaban unfairly. I am not going to miss it. But Ron, don't you and Hermione worry about me, 'k? I'll be fine. You guys just go on have fun. You've never seen a soccer game before and it'll be great. Believe me, just because you don't fly in the game and it only involves one ball doesn't mean it's not fun." Harry gave a weak smile.
"I seriously doubt it," said Ron shrugging, "but anyway, you scar isn't bleeding anymore, is it?"
"No, it was just that one time," said Harry suddenly frowning, "you don't think that was a sign do you? You know, with Voldemort back again now. He might be ready to start something new. And I don't know, this time, my scar seems to hurt as much as the last time I bled, so maybe something will happen at the trial."
"I sorta doubt it, I mean, all the important witches and wizards will be at the trial," said Ron, "a bunch of Aurors, Dumbledore, my dad the minister…" He smiled at this. Apparently, the first payroll for the minister level was made to them already and it was much more than their original pay. Well, they did donate most of it into capturing Voldemort, but still, Ron's allowerance doubled.
Ron's words did make Harry feel better. Voldemort would not stumble into such a place with all the most powerful wizards of England.
"Oh yeah," Harry took out 30 pounds English money he had exchanged with Galleons before to get ready for the soccer game, "here Ron, you'll need these to buy stuff at the soccer game, I won't have use for it anymore."
~*~
Arthur Weasley drove a ministry car to Hermione's house feeling extremely nervous. Sirius Black was held Azkaban with a couple of Aurors waiting for the trial. (A.N. The reason it's by Aurors is because the dementors have joined Voldemort in Harry's 5th year. I know I haven't wrote the story of his 5th year yet, but that's the way it is anyway.) Mr. Weasley's cracked a grin at the sight of his son standing next to Harry. He shook hands with Mr and Mrs. Granger.
"Well Harry, I guess we ought to go now," said Mr. Weasley, "Sirius and the rest of the court will be waiting."
Harry felt his stomach do a couple of lurches and feeling very nervous, he followed Mr. Weasley to the car. To add salt to wound, his head was in agony because of his scar.
~*~
"Explain, Hemstinger," Voldemort's cold cruel silky voice said. He sat in the biggest tower on his new fortress in the large bruised ocean. It was dark and damp save a fire crackling in the fireplace. Voldemort looked out of the large solemn window into the stormy sky, then turned his head back to Gordon Hemstinger.
"My master, the plan will go beautifully," Hemstinger answered kneeling on the floor at Voldemort's foot, "'Twas an easy thing to do. Of course Black would want the Potter boy at his trial. The plan has not been ruined, just changed, just changed, my master. I, as Weasley was foolish enough to accept me as the judge. The clock of course will be there… and Harry Potter will become trapped forever…"
"Well done, Hemstinger," said Voldemort a muscle slightly moving a centimeter showing a smile that sent shivers down on every one of his servants in the room. He lifted his eyes to look at the other two, a man and a woman. They will become useful soon, thought Voldemort, the most loyal will always be rewarded. "And how is our dear friend Lucius Malfoy?"
"He is exceedingly successful, my lord," answered Hemstinger, "he has recruited up to 500 of an army for you, my master, and his son, Draco Malfoy, currently attending Hogwarts, has become a handsome man of seventeen. He seems devoted… and right under Snape and Dumbledore's noses."
"Very very good," said Voldemort, "now, back to the boy who delares stronger than me… you will leave for the ministry immediately…"
~*~
"Enervirate." Something like a stick tapped Harry on his head. Harry snapped open his eyes. About what seems like a thousand pairs of eyes were on him.
"Blimey, he's gonna bleed to death," said one voice.
"Wait, the spell worked finally, I think he's awake," said another voice.
"Oh poor boy, his head must hurt," another voice said.
"Voldemort!" Harry cried out suddenly remembering the dream, trying to stand up.
"Harry, Harry, lie down," said Dumbledore pressing him down with a firm hand, and then waved his wand at the forehead. The wet and slick feeling was gone. Dumbledore had cleaned up the blood mess. "Alright now, eat up," he handed him a bar of chocolate.
Harry looked around the crowd of people and took the chocolate feeling the warmth spread all over him at the first melting bite. He recognized Remus Lupin, Mr. Weasley, Arabella Figg (an Auror who was also his neighbour), Mundungus Fletcher, and Severus Snape, but the others he didn't recognize.
"Now Harry, please tell us what you saw in your dream," said Dumbledore (A.N. LOL I wrote 'said Voldemort' by accident! And then I changed it to Dumbledore… hehe).
"How did you know?" questioned Harry, but at the look on Dumbledore's face, he started to tell them.
When he finished, there was a long silence, then Fletcher said, "If You-Know-Who thinks that he can trap our Harry Potter, he is wrong."
"Now now Mundungus, you know the dark lord's power," said Lupin, "he's the only person in history to ever come back from the dead."
"Yes, something we all thought to be impossible," added Figg.
"Alright Harry, feel up to the trial?" asked Dumbledore turning his fierce but old blue eyes back at Harry.
Harry nodded and found himself seated between Dumbledore and Lupin. At this, he felt a slight bit safer. But something was still bothering him, what about Hemstinger as judge? He asked this to Dumbledore, but the old man just smiled and said, "It will be judge by us."
Phew, thought Harry, no harm can come of that then.
Harry squinted through his glasses at the judge. It was a bright faced man in his early 40s. He had neat brown hair and a cheerful face. So this was Hemstinger, thought Harry. It was easy to see why he was one of Voldemort's top man, yet ironically, someone who no one would ever suspect. A bright cheerful man was just the thing to fool others. Harry felt a quick flash of pain as Hemstinger set his eyes on him. He shifted uncomfortably in his chair and then looked sideways to make sure that Dumbledore and Lupin were still beside him.
Sirius was brought in by five Aurors, all talking happily. A few people who still believed Sirius to be guilty frowned at this. Harry gave Sirius a smile and received one back. It felt good to be sitting here at his godfather's trial and he wouldn't miss it for the world.
Everyone (from Wormtail to Harry) was given Veritaserum before getting questioned and everything supported Sirius and so it all went successfully. Hemstinger proved to be a fair judge and Harry felt slightly relieved from the thought of something bad about to happen. Maybe the dream was just a dream and nothing more.
When the trial ended, Sirius stepped quickly up to Harry, "Harry!"
"Sirius! Great job! You are free!" Harry couldn't help showing his delight and giving his godfather a bear hug.
"Ahem," someone cleared their throat from behind.
Harry looked up at Dumbledore, Lupin, Weasley, Fletcher, Figg, Snape, and a few other people he didn't know, but he just smiled and muttered, "Thank you."
"Harry, this is Mr. Samis Gorlock, he is the leader of all the Aurors and a very important man," Dumbledore said, "and Mr. Ramound Cockeye, head of the International Cooperation department, and Ms. Lindy Voleman, a reporter.
Harry gave Dumbledore a questioning look and then stared at Lindy Voleman. "Don't worry, she's not here to spill the news," smiled Dumbledore, "she is however an experienced duelist and she will be training a group of people to fight the dark lord."
After shaking hands with everyone, Dumbledore continued, "Also, Mr. Black will be joining us at Hogwarts this year, Harry, as the Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher."
"No way!" said Harry his eyes lighting up.
"Yes way," said Sirius with a twinkle in his eyes, "but first we must have a meeting on dealing with Voldemort. You, Harry, will be an invaluable piece of help, so we would like you to join us."
Harry followed them to a large cozy meeting room in the next building. Most of the seats were already filled except for the front section with about 11 seats available. Harry was just about to sit down when he saw the clock by the wall. He stepped up to it not noticing the hundreds of eyes on him. The clock was the same one he saw before at Hermione's house and right now, it was still beautifully bronze and gold. Harry glanced down at the year numbers and stretched out his right hand out. Sirius, worried about Harry, quickly went up to him and after called Harry out of his trance unsuccessfully, slapped his arm. Harry was just about to touch the year of his birth when Sirius hit him, and Harry hit the year below instead, 1979, the year of Hermione's birth, instead of 1980, his birth year. The silver clip with 1979 engraved and painted on was knocked off the clock and it vanished before it even hit the floor. There was a blinding swirl around Harry's head and then he fell to the floor unconscious.
~*~
At the soccer game.
"Wooohoo! Go England!" cried Ron knocking over Hermione's drink.
"Ron!" Hermione scowled angrily.
The game had finished with England in the lead 2-1. Hermione gave a smile anyway and then said, "Yeah, it was great, wasn't it? I told you muggle games were fun too! Oh well, Germany did enormously well too."
"Yes, it was a good game I suppose," said Ron still waving the England flag, but he was nothing to the hooligans who were cheering and drinking nearby. It was a very rowdy sight.
"Ugh, I feel dizzy…" said Hermione her hand racing up to her head.
Ron caught her in his arms and then said, "Let's get you to a bench… c'mon."
But then, there was a rush of wind and then the whole word seemed to have blacked out. The rowdy party in the distance couldn't be heard anymore for a few seconds and Ron felt liked his feet were swept into the air. Then, his arms were around nothing…
Ron opened his eyes and whispered hoarsely, "Hermione?"
Hurriedly, Ron started looking for Hermione frantically. Where on earth was she? Where?! Then he suddenly spotted the Grangers and raced up to them, "Mr. Granger! Mrs. Granger! Hermione's gone!"
"Hermione? Who's Hermione?" asked Mrs. Granger with a quizzical look.
"Ron, you aren't having hallucinations, are you?" asked Mr. Granger jokingly, "Come on, dear, lets take him home to his father. We did this favor of taking his son to the game, so now we are even."
Ron felt sick. Hermione's very own parents don't even know who she is? And where on earth is she? Meanwhile, three thousand miles away, Voldemort cries out "Crucio" his wand pointing at Hemstinger and Hermione.