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All characters are property of J.K. Rowling (except Mr. Wattling)

The Trial of Sirius Black  - Chapter 3

"Well…" tried Professor McGonagall, but she didn't seem to be able to find the words. This gave Harry a very weird feeling, but he had to ask her.

"Erm, Professor?" he ventured, "did Professor Dumbledore tell you? About Sirius I mean?" he couldn't see any reason why she shouldn't know that Sirius was innocent, but he wanted to make sure that she didn't think he was crazy.

Professor McGonagall shifted awkwardly. "Yes, Potter. He did," she said at last.

"And you did believe him?"

"I would follow Professor Dumbledore to the ends of this earth, Mr. Potter."

It was clear that they were both feeling incredibly uncomfortable about being in this car together. Professor McGonagall because she was trying to escape the fact that she had been as blind as the rest of the world in seeing the truth of Harry's parents' deaths, and Harry because, well, first because she was his teacher, and not his favourite one at that, and also because he was incredibly aware of the Transfiguration homework he had slipped into his pocket to read through on the journey.

"I am sure that the judge will let Mr. Black go free," said Professor McGonagall, although it sounded as though it hurt her teeth to say it. "Lucas Wattling is a fairer Head of Department than…" her voice trailed off. Harry knew she had wanted to say 'Mr. Crouch'.

His worries hardly resolved, Harry resorted to staring out of the window. No one spoke for the rest of the journey.

They were the very last to arrive, but no one had been allowed into the Ministry building yet. There were protesters lining the streets, holding up signs bearing slogans like 'Black is bad!' and 'no more trial!' and, most alarming of all, 'death to the murderer!' The stairs that led to the great double doors were sealed off, and people who were due to enter the courtroom were standing or sitting on them.

Harry kept his head down as he got out of the car and about a hundred cameras flashed in his face. The people on the stairs turned as all the photographers started muttering excitedly and shoving each other out of the way. Voices he recognised called his name.

Professor McGonagall's glare cut a small path in the crowd around them. Harry stayed close behind her, turning his face away whenever someone tried to take a picture of him, which was hard because the blinding flashes were coming from all directions.

As soon as a harnessed looking Ministry wizard showed him and Professor McGonagall onto the stairs, Hermione ran to him and flung her arms about his neck.

"Gerroff," he muttered. "You're bigger than me." Hermione stepped back, letting Mrs. Weasley have a shot.

By the time Harry had managed to wriggle away from her, all the Weasley children were grinning like mad, apart from Percy, who was looking sombre. Fred and George were practically in fits. Harry would've liked to stick his tongue out at them, but thought it might be too childish, so he ignored them. He shook hands with Ron.

"You all right?" asked Ron.

"Yeah," Harry lied. "You?"

Ron snorted. "Not as much terrified as embarrassed," he said. "Why did they all have to turn up eh? I'll look really stupid with m whole family in the front row! It's not like this is nursery and I'm in the Nativity play."

"Funny," said Harry, "I always ended up as a tree in Nativities."

"Must have been a very small tree," said Ron with a smile.

** OK! I know it wasn't a very interesting part, but I do tend to drag these stories out a bit so you want me to hurry up and get to the main point – does Sirius get off? Well guess what? I'm not going to tell you unless you review! That is what the little button down in the corner is, you know? You press it and then * dun dun! * You tell me how good you thought my story was! And if you don't like it, tell me why! By the way I don't really know what that thing with the tree at the end is all about. Maybe it's author's licence.   Oh yeah, and please review! And you can check out my other wonderful works as well! **