Present Day.....
Sirius remembered this argument, because he could recall how upset he'd been when he found out what Amy had done. He was actually more angry at how it had hurt Anya, rather than how it had hurt him. Sirius still flinched at the thought of hurting Anya, but he decided that didn't mean he still loved her, just that he was concerned for her welfare. "But she's seen the pendant now, so there's no telling what she thinks of me," he said softly to himself, later in the night. Anya arrived back at the Leaky Cauldron. She was staying at a room there while the trial was on. She was still a little flustered about the fact that Sirius was wearing her pendant. Then she smiled to herself.
"So he still cares for me!" she said happily.
"Pardon dearie?" the old witch behind the counter said. Anya smiled at her, and retrieved her messages.
"Oh, don't worry. Just the loony rantings of a busy witch-lawyer," Anya said, laughing at herself. The old witch smiled somewhat curiously and went back to reading Witch Weekly. Anya picked up her case, and made her way back to her room, ready to spend another night eating alone. The next few days passed quickly for everyone involved in the trial. Paranoid court personal were busy putting anti-escape spells on the holding bay, so Sirius couldn't get free. Finally, Monday dawned, a bright and clear day. Harry woke early, his heart beating fast. At first he didn't know why, but he soon realised it was the day of the trial.
Anya, Hermione and Ron were waiting in one of the meeting rooms at the courthouse. Ron's parents had come to watch the trial, and Hermione had been placed in their care. Anya was just over procedure one more time for Ron's benefit when Harry and Remus arrived. Sirius had checked in with the bailiff earlier, and had been spellbound with magical handcuffs, and had been dealt with a massive lecture on escaping.
A loud clock chimed, signifying the start of the trial. Anya smiled calmly at everyone, but inside she was a barrel of nerves.
"This is my one chance to help him, I have to win!" she said quietly, before opening the doors of the court.
The first thing Anya noticed was that the courtroom was absolutely packed with people. The re-trial of Sirius Black was all anyone had been talking abut for days, and now it appeared the whole British magical community was here. As Anya and Sirius walked in, a deathly hush fell over the crowd. Gradually the noise in the room regained, but Sirius was still aware of the thousands of eyes set upon him.
A bailiff led to him a holding dock, where he was bound with magical rope. Sirius looked a little disgruntled but said nothing.
"We are here, for the re-trial of Sirius Black, who was sent to Azkaban 14 years ago, for the very serious crime of murder. Nice to see you again Mr Black," the judge was a bitter, sarcastic wizard, and Anya looked a little worried.
"Right, you may begin Ms Williamson," the judge finally said. Anya inhaled slowly, and exhaled through her mouth. She looked very composed to the crowd, but inside her heart was hammering. "I would like to call upon Albus Dumbledore," she announced in a loud clear voice. The noise of the crowd rose to fever pitch, Albus Dumbledore was trying to help Sirius Black! People couldn't believe it. Dumbledore took his place, and the questioning began.
"Mr Dumbledore, please tell the court what happened the eve of Mr Blacks escape from Hogwarts," Anya asked Albus, who launched into a detailed account of the day's events. Anya was listening but could see the judge scribbling on a parchment, and the gallery looking shocked at Dumbledore's words.
"And, do you have any evidence to back this claim up?" Anya asked him.
"I have the word of three of my students at Hogwarts. Hermione Granger, Ron Weasly and Harry Potter," at them mention of Harry's name, and audible gasp was heard from everyone in the gallery. Anya nodded.
"Thankyou, Professor Dumbledore," Anya stressed the work Professor, as she knew it would make a good effect on the judge. The opposing counsel rose, and tried to pick apart Albus's story, but he stayed very strong, and the opposing wizard only succeeded in making himself look stupid.
"I would now like to call upon Hermione Granger," Anya said after the counsel's cross-examination.
"Do you agree with what Prof. Dumbledore said?" Anya asked her.
"Yes," Hermione nodded. Anya then shocked everyone by telling Hermione she could step down, after asking opposition if he wanted to question her.
Hermione looked a bit disbelieving that Anya had only asked one question, but she stepped down, just the same.
A similar thing happened with Ron and Harry as well.
Anya's next announcement came as a shock to everyone, including Sirius.
"I would now like to call upon my next witness," she said. At that moment, her next witness walked in, and Harry could not stop his jaw from dropping. Next to him, he heard Ron curse, and Hermione quietly shush him. Sirius turned to look at the witness, and almost exploded with anger. "Severus Snape, please take the stand!" Anya's voice rang out over the silent courtroom.
"What the hell is he doing here?" Ron asked through clenched teeth. Harry just shrugged he couldn't believe it. What could Snape possibly say in Sirius's defence. His question was soon answered.
"Professor Snape, were you a pupil at Hogwarts at the same time as Sirius Black?" Anya asked him.
"Yes, we were in the same year," he answered back, not even smirking at Sirius.
"Would you say you knew Sirius Black well?" she asked.
"Our paths crossed occasionally, yes," Snape's eyes narrowed, no doubt remembering all the pranks Sirius had pulled on him.
"Sirius Black was best friends with James Potter, wasn't he?" Anya queried, with a slight smile.
"Yes," Sirius answered shortly.
"In your opinion, is there any chance, that Sirius Black, would have wanted James Potter dead, at any stage in his life?" Anya now became demanding. Harry was shocked at her brash question, and Hermione saw Sirius shake his head in despair. Ron looked ready to jump out and beat Snape if he didn't give a good answer.
"NO, I don't believe there was ever a stage in their lives, where they wanted the other dead," Snape answered well, sparing him a beating from Ron.
"So, you don't believe that Sirius Black could have joined with Voldemort, and helped in the murder of James and Lily Potter?" Anya demanded. Remus looked over and saw Harry was looking a bit upset, but he said nothing.
"No, I don't believe that," Snape answered solemnly.
"Did you know that Lily Potter was Muggle born?" Anya had yet again changed her line of questioning.
"Yes, I am aware of that fact,"
"Voldemort did not believe that their should be Muggle-born witches did he?" Anya asked.
"NO, he though all wizards should be pure blood," Snape answered, looking slightly ashamed.
"And how do you know this?" Anya asked harshly.
"I was a follower of his for a very brief period of time," the Professor almost whispered the words, but every member of the gallery heard them. Voices were raised, and the Judge banged the gavel.
Sirius remembered this argument, because he could recall how upset he'd been when he found out what Amy had done. He was actually more angry at how it had hurt Anya, rather than how it had hurt him. Sirius still flinched at the thought of hurting Anya, but he decided that didn't mean he still loved her, just that he was concerned for her welfare. "But she's seen the pendant now, so there's no telling what she thinks of me," he said softly to himself, later in the night. Anya arrived back at the Leaky Cauldron. She was staying at a room there while the trial was on. She was still a little flustered about the fact that Sirius was wearing her pendant. Then she smiled to herself.
"So he still cares for me!" she said happily.
"Pardon dearie?" the old witch behind the counter said. Anya smiled at her, and retrieved her messages.
"Oh, don't worry. Just the loony rantings of a busy witch-lawyer," Anya said, laughing at herself. The old witch smiled somewhat curiously and went back to reading Witch Weekly. Anya picked up her case, and made her way back to her room, ready to spend another night eating alone. The next few days passed quickly for everyone involved in the trial. Paranoid court personal were busy putting anti-escape spells on the holding bay, so Sirius couldn't get free. Finally, Monday dawned, a bright and clear day. Harry woke early, his heart beating fast. At first he didn't know why, but he soon realised it was the day of the trial.
Anya, Hermione and Ron were waiting in one of the meeting rooms at the courthouse. Ron's parents had come to watch the trial, and Hermione had been placed in their care. Anya was just over procedure one more time for Ron's benefit when Harry and Remus arrived. Sirius had checked in with the bailiff earlier, and had been spellbound with magical handcuffs, and had been dealt with a massive lecture on escaping.
A loud clock chimed, signifying the start of the trial. Anya smiled calmly at everyone, but inside she was a barrel of nerves.
"This is my one chance to help him, I have to win!" she said quietly, before opening the doors of the court.
The first thing Anya noticed was that the courtroom was absolutely packed with people. The re-trial of Sirius Black was all anyone had been talking abut for days, and now it appeared the whole British magical community was here. As Anya and Sirius walked in, a deathly hush fell over the crowd. Gradually the noise in the room regained, but Sirius was still aware of the thousands of eyes set upon him.
A bailiff led to him a holding dock, where he was bound with magical rope. Sirius looked a little disgruntled but said nothing.
"We are here, for the re-trial of Sirius Black, who was sent to Azkaban 14 years ago, for the very serious crime of murder. Nice to see you again Mr Black," the judge was a bitter, sarcastic wizard, and Anya looked a little worried.
"Right, you may begin Ms Williamson," the judge finally said. Anya inhaled slowly, and exhaled through her mouth. She looked very composed to the crowd, but inside her heart was hammering. "I would like to call upon Albus Dumbledore," she announced in a loud clear voice. The noise of the crowd rose to fever pitch, Albus Dumbledore was trying to help Sirius Black! People couldn't believe it. Dumbledore took his place, and the questioning began.
"Mr Dumbledore, please tell the court what happened the eve of Mr Blacks escape from Hogwarts," Anya asked Albus, who launched into a detailed account of the day's events. Anya was listening but could see the judge scribbling on a parchment, and the gallery looking shocked at Dumbledore's words.
"And, do you have any evidence to back this claim up?" Anya asked him.
"I have the word of three of my students at Hogwarts. Hermione Granger, Ron Weasly and Harry Potter," at them mention of Harry's name, and audible gasp was heard from everyone in the gallery. Anya nodded.
"Thankyou, Professor Dumbledore," Anya stressed the work Professor, as she knew it would make a good effect on the judge. The opposing counsel rose, and tried to pick apart Albus's story, but he stayed very strong, and the opposing wizard only succeeded in making himself look stupid.
"I would now like to call upon Hermione Granger," Anya said after the counsel's cross-examination.
"Do you agree with what Prof. Dumbledore said?" Anya asked her.
"Yes," Hermione nodded. Anya then shocked everyone by telling Hermione she could step down, after asking opposition if he wanted to question her.
Hermione looked a bit disbelieving that Anya had only asked one question, but she stepped down, just the same.
A similar thing happened with Ron and Harry as well.
Anya's next announcement came as a shock to everyone, including Sirius.
"I would now like to call upon my next witness," she said. At that moment, her next witness walked in, and Harry could not stop his jaw from dropping. Next to him, he heard Ron curse, and Hermione quietly shush him. Sirius turned to look at the witness, and almost exploded with anger. "Severus Snape, please take the stand!" Anya's voice rang out over the silent courtroom.
"What the hell is he doing here?" Ron asked through clenched teeth. Harry just shrugged he couldn't believe it. What could Snape possibly say in Sirius's defence. His question was soon answered.
"Professor Snape, were you a pupil at Hogwarts at the same time as Sirius Black?" Anya asked him.
"Yes, we were in the same year," he answered back, not even smirking at Sirius.
"Would you say you knew Sirius Black well?" she asked.
"Our paths crossed occasionally, yes," Snape's eyes narrowed, no doubt remembering all the pranks Sirius had pulled on him.
"Sirius Black was best friends with James Potter, wasn't he?" Anya queried, with a slight smile.
"Yes," Sirius answered shortly.
"In your opinion, is there any chance, that Sirius Black, would have wanted James Potter dead, at any stage in his life?" Anya now became demanding. Harry was shocked at her brash question, and Hermione saw Sirius shake his head in despair. Ron looked ready to jump out and beat Snape if he didn't give a good answer.
"NO, I don't believe there was ever a stage in their lives, where they wanted the other dead," Snape answered well, sparing him a beating from Ron.
"So, you don't believe that Sirius Black could have joined with Voldemort, and helped in the murder of James and Lily Potter?" Anya demanded. Remus looked over and saw Harry was looking a bit upset, but he said nothing.
"No, I don't believe that," Snape answered solemnly.
"Did you know that Lily Potter was Muggle born?" Anya had yet again changed her line of questioning.
"Yes, I am aware of that fact,"
"Voldemort did not believe that their should be Muggle-born witches did he?" Anya asked.
"NO, he though all wizards should be pure blood," Snape answered, looking slightly ashamed.
"And how do you know this?" Anya asked harshly.
"I was a follower of his for a very brief period of time," the Professor almost whispered the words, but every member of the gallery heard them. Voices were raised, and the Judge banged the gavel.