When they arrived home, Harry was surprised to see an envelope with his
name on it lying on the kitchen table. He picked it up and read.
Harry,
I would appreciate it if you, Mr Weasley and Miss Granger could meet me at the Ministry tomorrow afternoon. It is of great importance to Sirius Black's trial. The Ministry would like to explain court proceedings to you and your friends, and help you understand what exactly is going on.
Sincerely,
Albus Dumbledore
Harry showed the letter to Remus, who nodded and told Harry that he'd escort him to the Ministry tomorrow.
"But don't tell Sirius yet. He doesn't know you're testifying. He would surely forbid it!" Remus warned Harry just as Sirius entered the room.
"Surely forbid what?" Sirius smiled.
"Me getting a tattoo," Harry quickly supplied.
"I wouldn't rule it out completely. Maybe when you're older" Sirius replied.
"Besides, Sirius has a tattoo himself!" Remus green cheekily.
"Really? Where?" Harry asked.
Sirius glared at Lupin.
"It's....arrgghhh....on my behind," Sirius sounded embarrassed.
"What does it say?" Harry laughed at seeing the uncomfortable expression on Sirius's face.
"I think that's a story for another day!" Remus jumped in to relieve Sirius, who smiled gratefully. Harry went to go upstairs, but Remus grabbed his arm and whispered in his ear.
"Mabye you should send an owl to Ron and Hermione," he suggested. Harry nodded in agreement.
Ron,
Did you get a letter from Dumbledore about meeting him tomorrow at the Ministry. I'm a bit nervous. Hope it goes well for Sirius.
Harry
Harry wrote another note along similar lines to Hermione. He gave both letters to Hedwig, who hooted softly before taking flight.
When Sirius asked where Harry and Remus were headed the next afternoon, Remus told a disgusted Sirius that they were off to visit Anya. Sirius was glad to stay home.
"Why does he hate her so much?" Harry asked Remus as they were throwing Floo powder into the chimney.
"Ministry of Magic" Remus announced in a loud, clear voice, and Harry didn't hear the answer to his question, as they were overcome by a swirling sensation.
"I think Harry, that Sirius will tell you his story when he feels the time is right," Remus helped Harry up off the floor. He turned to the secretary who was staring at the dizzy Harry.
"We have an appointment with Albus Dumbledore and Mr. Gilmore," Remus told her.
"Oh yes, you'd better hurry. The other 2 children are already here. Down the hall to the right. You'll know which door," the secretary clicked something on the desk beside her, and went back to her work. Remus and Harry wandered down the hall, and Harry was surprised to see a massive, neon green sign on one door
'Hurry up Harry, you're late!' it read. Remus pulled him into that room, knocking Harry's hand against the door in the process.
"Ow!" Harry yelped.
"Hello Harry!" Hermione and Ron said without even turning around. Dumbledore smiled at Harry when he entered. Mr Gilmore sat stonily at his desk.
"Right, now we can start. I don't believe that Sirius Black should be awarded a re-trial, but as Albus here has vouched for him, and we do have some evidence, a re-trial will be held. By some miraculous reason, we have been able to find counsel for Black, who will defend him." Glimore took a breath and continued.
"Albus here has stated that you children can back up his story, and so you must appear before the court as well. When Black's lawyer arrives, you will be left alone to have a trial run through. The court date will be next Monday. Your parents have been informed, and have given permission for you to appear. Lupin and Dumbledore, you have given permission on behalf of Harry. Goodbye" Glimore swept out of the door, clutching a fat file under his arm.
"Nice fellow, isn't he?" Ron remarked sarcastically. He had just finished his sentence when Sirius's lawyer walked in. Harry was shocked to see who it was.
"Sirius is not going to like this!" Harry said under his breath. "Professor!" Ron's mouth dropped open. Hermione's eyes widened. Even Remus looked mildly surprised. "Why does everyone look so shocked? I have a law degree you know!" Anya Williamson broke into a big smile, as everyone looked on, still a bit shell-shocked. Finally Harry broke the silence.
"Arrgghh, no offence Prof. Williamson, but arrrr.....we got the impression that you and Sirius, didn't exactly......get along well!" Harry trailed off his sentence.
"How come you're here?" Ron asked, mouth still open.
"Anya, does Sirius know that you're defending him?" Remus asked incredulously. Anya looked a bit taken aback by the questions.
"Well, firstly. I know Sirius and I aren't exactly friends now, but I'm hoping to put the past behind us. I want to help him! And yes Ron, teachers do have other lives outside school, I am allowed to be here!" Anya went to continue in a quieter voice.
"And no Remus, I haven't told Sirius about the trial. The Ministry still haven't located him, and so I can't talk to him. I just hope he knows the trial is on, I'm sure he does," Anya was looking nervously at an assistant who had just entered the room, looking curious. As soon as the young girl exited, Anya continued excitedly.
"Sirius is staying with you, isn't he Remus?" Remus nodded.
"Well do you think I might be able to visit him there?" she asked hopefully. Remus looked a bit apprehensive at first, but finally nodded.
"It's for his own good," he said in a soft voice.
"Ok then, we'll continue this at Lupin's!" she picked up her things, and marched out the door, leaving the 4 remaining occupants of the room feeling slightly nervous about the events to come.
Harry,
I would appreciate it if you, Mr Weasley and Miss Granger could meet me at the Ministry tomorrow afternoon. It is of great importance to Sirius Black's trial. The Ministry would like to explain court proceedings to you and your friends, and help you understand what exactly is going on.
Sincerely,
Albus Dumbledore
Harry showed the letter to Remus, who nodded and told Harry that he'd escort him to the Ministry tomorrow.
"But don't tell Sirius yet. He doesn't know you're testifying. He would surely forbid it!" Remus warned Harry just as Sirius entered the room.
"Surely forbid what?" Sirius smiled.
"Me getting a tattoo," Harry quickly supplied.
"I wouldn't rule it out completely. Maybe when you're older" Sirius replied.
"Besides, Sirius has a tattoo himself!" Remus green cheekily.
"Really? Where?" Harry asked.
Sirius glared at Lupin.
"It's....arrgghhh....on my behind," Sirius sounded embarrassed.
"What does it say?" Harry laughed at seeing the uncomfortable expression on Sirius's face.
"I think that's a story for another day!" Remus jumped in to relieve Sirius, who smiled gratefully. Harry went to go upstairs, but Remus grabbed his arm and whispered in his ear.
"Mabye you should send an owl to Ron and Hermione," he suggested. Harry nodded in agreement.
Ron,
Did you get a letter from Dumbledore about meeting him tomorrow at the Ministry. I'm a bit nervous. Hope it goes well for Sirius.
Harry
Harry wrote another note along similar lines to Hermione. He gave both letters to Hedwig, who hooted softly before taking flight.
When Sirius asked where Harry and Remus were headed the next afternoon, Remus told a disgusted Sirius that they were off to visit Anya. Sirius was glad to stay home.
"Why does he hate her so much?" Harry asked Remus as they were throwing Floo powder into the chimney.
"Ministry of Magic" Remus announced in a loud, clear voice, and Harry didn't hear the answer to his question, as they were overcome by a swirling sensation.
"I think Harry, that Sirius will tell you his story when he feels the time is right," Remus helped Harry up off the floor. He turned to the secretary who was staring at the dizzy Harry.
"We have an appointment with Albus Dumbledore and Mr. Gilmore," Remus told her.
"Oh yes, you'd better hurry. The other 2 children are already here. Down the hall to the right. You'll know which door," the secretary clicked something on the desk beside her, and went back to her work. Remus and Harry wandered down the hall, and Harry was surprised to see a massive, neon green sign on one door
'Hurry up Harry, you're late!' it read. Remus pulled him into that room, knocking Harry's hand against the door in the process.
"Ow!" Harry yelped.
"Hello Harry!" Hermione and Ron said without even turning around. Dumbledore smiled at Harry when he entered. Mr Gilmore sat stonily at his desk.
"Right, now we can start. I don't believe that Sirius Black should be awarded a re-trial, but as Albus here has vouched for him, and we do have some evidence, a re-trial will be held. By some miraculous reason, we have been able to find counsel for Black, who will defend him." Glimore took a breath and continued.
"Albus here has stated that you children can back up his story, and so you must appear before the court as well. When Black's lawyer arrives, you will be left alone to have a trial run through. The court date will be next Monday. Your parents have been informed, and have given permission for you to appear. Lupin and Dumbledore, you have given permission on behalf of Harry. Goodbye" Glimore swept out of the door, clutching a fat file under his arm.
"Nice fellow, isn't he?" Ron remarked sarcastically. He had just finished his sentence when Sirius's lawyer walked in. Harry was shocked to see who it was.
"Sirius is not going to like this!" Harry said under his breath. "Professor!" Ron's mouth dropped open. Hermione's eyes widened. Even Remus looked mildly surprised. "Why does everyone look so shocked? I have a law degree you know!" Anya Williamson broke into a big smile, as everyone looked on, still a bit shell-shocked. Finally Harry broke the silence.
"Arrgghh, no offence Prof. Williamson, but arrrr.....we got the impression that you and Sirius, didn't exactly......get along well!" Harry trailed off his sentence.
"How come you're here?" Ron asked, mouth still open.
"Anya, does Sirius know that you're defending him?" Remus asked incredulously. Anya looked a bit taken aback by the questions.
"Well, firstly. I know Sirius and I aren't exactly friends now, but I'm hoping to put the past behind us. I want to help him! And yes Ron, teachers do have other lives outside school, I am allowed to be here!" Anya went to continue in a quieter voice.
"And no Remus, I haven't told Sirius about the trial. The Ministry still haven't located him, and so I can't talk to him. I just hope he knows the trial is on, I'm sure he does," Anya was looking nervously at an assistant who had just entered the room, looking curious. As soon as the young girl exited, Anya continued excitedly.
"Sirius is staying with you, isn't he Remus?" Remus nodded.
"Well do you think I might be able to visit him there?" she asked hopefully. Remus looked a bit apprehensive at first, but finally nodded.
"It's for his own good," he said in a soft voice.
"Ok then, we'll continue this at Lupin's!" she picked up her things, and marched out the door, leaving the 4 remaining occupants of the room feeling slightly nervous about the events to come.