By Admiral Albia
Synopsis; As a test to see what side he's on, Sirius is sent to Hogwarts for a year; Remus goes with him.
Note; Despite the fact that this is set in the same year as Raindrops and Rosebuds, all the character backgrounds are the same. Note; the storyline isn't, the BACKGROUNDS are. James and Lily are NOT alive in this, nor will they come to life. I will reintroduce all the backgrounds though, so don't worry about that.
Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter, more's the pity *sniffs*. I also
don't own any and all of the song lyrics which will be appearing in later
chapters.
Chapter One; Prologue
"This is ridiculous," Sirius growled. "How am I
meant to persuade you of my innocence if you twist everything I say?" He
smiled suddenly. "Would you like me to find another way of convincing you?"
"Sirius," Remus said patiently, "I don't think they want to listen to the courtroom speech from Time doth Fly. Yes, it's a very moving speech, and yes, you do it very well, but please don't declaim it now..." But his friend wasn't listening. Almost before Remus had finished speaking, he was standing with his hands folded across his stomach, and speaking a part which, years ago, had brought tears to the eyes of even the toughest critics.
"Then how shall I prove myself? For to speak is to die, and yet to remain silent is to die also. Must I sacrifice myself to such an injust cause?" He turned towards the table, facing an imaginary crowd, and spread his arms. "Brothers, sisters all, I speak my heart... yet my heart cannot speak save through my lips, and my lips they do lie...or so I am told, and who am I to decide what truth is in my speaking? I am no judge, no jury, no lawyer. Yet I speak truth, I think, for my heart tells me it is true. Whyfore then can I not speak? Is my heart's speech so terrifying that it must be silenced? Is that why I must now be convicted, sentenced, killed? I tell you again, my heart says I am innocent. And what man does not trust his heart? A cold man indeed, I think, for why should not a man with a heart trust his heart? I am told to eat my words; should I now eat my heart? For surely if they are the same, then-"
The assembly sat in silence. Occasionally someone sniffed, but eventually Remus got himself enough under control to say softly, and in a voice which trembled, "Sirius... I think... you can stop now..." Sirius sighed, nodded, sat down and watched the effect his speech had had on the assembly.
Dumbledore produced a large hanky and blew his nose, saying softly, "Yes, well... as I was saying... surely a trial, Cornelius...?" Fudge dabbed at his eyes, which looked rather red, and nodded.
"Yes... yes, of course he should have a trial... how about... Hogwarts?"
"I'm not going into another courtroom as long as I live," Sirius said quickly. "No matter where it's set." He sighed. "Can't you give me some other sort of test?" Fudge nodded mildly, still somewhat under the spell of Time doth Fly, as performed by Sirius Black.
"Of course. How about..." Fudge paused. Dumbledore spoke.
"Why not send him to Hogwarts and see how he does for a year? He'll be near people who he supposedly wishes to kill, so surely that would be a good test?"
"Yeah, why not?" Remus suggested. "I'll even go with him if you like.... you know, to hold him back..." The Minister for Magic considered this. Then he nodded.
"Seems fair to me. Why not Sort him, too?"
"The Hat would only put him in the same house as before," Dumbledore said calmly. "It contains safeguard spells to prevent students from trying to get themselves re-Sorted, you see."
"Ah."
I solemnly swear that I will endeavour to finish this story!